Whew. Corey Patterson smashed two home runs on Tuesday night as the Cubs beat the Pirates 3-2. In twelve innings. Corey's second homer finished the game.

The Cubs are now 78-64 with two wins so far in their home series against Pittsburgh, but they are still half a game behind the Giants. San Francisco beat Milwaukee 3-2. Bonds is still on 699.

It's scary to think that G.Dubya Bush could have been Commissioner of Baseball when Fay Vincent retired. Bud Selig got the job, and we can only guess how (and if) that would have changed the course of history. Bush, part-owner of the Texas Rangers from 1989 to 1998, is being backed by many of the major league's current owners in his re-election campaign, as Associated Press research has discovered. Not too many owners contributing to the JFK cause, not at all that surprising really. A-Rod is among the players putting their money on Bush.

More news on the AAA World Championships which wrapped up in Taiwan on the weekend. A good wrap from USA Baseball on the tournament, and their team's 10-5 loss to South Korea in the third place playoff. I have only been able to find brief reports of Cuba's 4-0 win over Japan in the final, this from the official website in Chinese and English.

The Australian Baseball website has details of its dismal performance in Taiwan.

Cuba also won a tournament at under-16 level on Sunday, beating USA 3-0 in the final of the Panamerican AA Championships at Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. Team USA hammered all of their opponents except for Cuba, scoring 12 or more per game against Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala and Aruba. The earlier meeting between USA and Cuba was won by the Cubans 3-2 in the 11th.

Mexico was the third team from the Panamericans to qualify for next year's AA World Championships