All is right with the world: the Cubs cannot hit to save their lives, Milton Bradley is winning ballgames for the Mariners*, and protesters are gathering to fight against the Arizona anti-immigrant law . . . outside of Wrigley Field, where the Arizona Diamondbacks begin a four-game set against the hapless Cubs.

A certain brand of sports fan hates the intersection of sports and politics. Sports, they like to think, should be a realm apart, a sanctuary from the other pressures of American life. Well, bullshit. Sports are a part of American culture, and as such they both reflect and create American identity, and issues that drive our politics are as much a part of baseball as the crack of the bat, over-priced beer, and under-performing free agents.

Meanwhile, today in Baseball History, the Cincinnati Reds had to cross-dress back in 1913

Wearing the uniforms of the White Sox, the Reds lose to the Cubs, 7-2. Cincinnati forgot to pack uniforms and had to don those worn by their opponents' crosstown rivals.

and in 1999

At the Kingdome, the Mariners set a team scoring record beating the Tigers, 22-6. Half the M's runs score in the 11-run fifth inning which includes a grand slam hit by center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr

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*Sorry no Live-slogging M's games lately, been too busy with my actual paying job. . .