After a slower than molasses stretch fueled by two separate lockouts, the sports world has been hit with a kick in the pants that a lifetime supply of Five Hour Energy couldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole.  This sounds like a job for Throwing Tomatoes!

The resurgence has of course been a direct result of the NFL’s return, as well as as the upcoming trade deadline in Major League Baseball.

So as the sports world turns, the stories pile up and more sports frustration emerges.  Don’t sweat it,throwingtomatoesbanner The Wife Hates Sports has them all covered – in lycopene, that is.

Throwing Tomatoes: July 27, 2011

Target: The Donovan McNabb Trade

It appears that the one-year experiment of Donovan McNabb in a Redskins uniform is all but over with, and after a subpar 2010 campaign, die-hard Washington fans could let him go faster than the Eagles’ front office could say, “I told you so”.  But wait, there’s more…

Sub-Target: Washington Redskins

It’s understandable that McNabb’s contract situation – and the fact that they were publicly displeased with his performance in DC – likely added to the challenge in obtaining a significant return, but a maximum of two 6th-round draft picks?  That’s it?  Something tells me a team like the Patriots would have managed to get a better return from a player of McNabb’s caliber.

Sub-Target: Redskins Fans

Currently, the roster will now be left with a QB depth chart featuring John Beck, Rex Grossman and Kellen Clemons – certainly nothing to write home to Mom about.  Then again, perhaps Beck can prove people wrong.  After all, he’s had a great attitude and is highly motivated.

Innocent Bystander: Minnesota Vikings

I actually like the deal for the Vikes.  With the departure of Brett Favre, it was clear that Minnesota needed a veteran presence at the QB position – and with so much talent on that roster, the Vikings have the pieces in place to make a run.splatteredtomato

Target: Hanley Ramirez

Once again, the Marlins superstar – and one of the best shortstops in baseball – is in the headlines for negativity and controversy.  Ramirez responded to Jeff Conine’s radio show comments – where Conine suggested that he would trade Ramirez if in charge – by calling him a “chicken”, and saying that the former Marlin should “come over and talk to me like a man”.

But here’s the thing: While Conine could have chosen a better avenue to express his thoughts, Hanley further proved that Conine is indeed correct with what he said.  Ramirez is a streaky player that often causes too many clubhouse issues, and with the Marlins being a young team that needs another year to grow and compete, Florida could pull a major return from a team looking for a bat like Hanley’s.

Innocent Bystander: Chickens of the World

Oh, the poor chickens, what did they ever do to be used as such a negative comparison?

Target: Jay Cutler

The latest news involving Cutler is the fact that the Chicago Bears QB reportedly got “cold feet” and called off his engagement with actress Kristin Cavallari.

kristin-cavallari-hot-bikini

The beautiful Kristin Cavallari is reportedly no longer engaged to Jay Cutler

This most certainly opens up a whole new can of jokes on Cutler, many of which can be linked back to his second half absence in last year’s NFC Championship game.  But dropping Cavallari faster than Braylon Edwards can drop a deep ball?  C’mon Jay, that’’s just crazy – she’s beautiful and talented.

Innocent Bystander: Kristin Cavallari

Again, getting dumped on a national stage.  It’s a shame, but not to worry, there will be plenty of men waiting in line.

Target: Seattle Mariners

Sure, Seattle finally broke its 17-game losing streak.  That was mostly thanks to ace Felix Hernandez, who shut down the Yankees on Wednesday.  But that doesn’t mean that the team didn’t earn this barrage of red fruit.  Because Seattle’s play (in July) should have been set to the theme of The Benny Hill Show.

Target: Jerry Meals

He’s the umpire who blew the call during Tuesday night’s 19-inning extravaganza between the Pirates and Braves.  Meals later admitted to blowing the call.  If you haven’t seen the mistake, it was a major one – and it cost the upstart Pirates the game.

Innocent Bystander: Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates clearly suffered a blow during this loss.  We’re talking a 19-inning game loss on a painfully bad call – the worst of the year.  It’s a situation that can send a team into a downward spiral, especially a group that hasn’t been in that position, well… ever.

jerry-meals-blown-call-pittsburgh-pirates-and-atlanta-braves

Jerry Meals’ botched call in the 19th inning of the Braves-Pirates game Tuesday night was the worst of the year

Target: The Colby Rasmus Trade

Early Wednesday, the first major deal of the week dropped, when the Blue Jays, White Sox and Cardinals got involved in a trade that sent Cardinals OF Colby Rasmus to Toronto, SP Edwin Jackson to St. Louis and more.

Sub-Target: St. Louis Cardinals

If the reports of a stressed relationship between LaRussa and Rasmus are true, then it’s not a shock that the young star was dealt.  It’s clear that the Cardinals had a need for pitching.  However, it’s disappointing that arms like Octavio Dotel and Edwin Jackson were all the Cards could reel in for a 24-year old player with tons of talent.

Innocent Bystander: Toronto Blue Jays

The deal is a good one for the Jays.  Toronto takes on a talent that could flourish in an offense featuring a number of young stars.

 

And finally, the current faces of team frustration in sports:

 

Tampa Bay Rays – Losers of 7 of 10, the Rays have fallen 11 games back in the division race

Seattle Mariners – Again, 17 straight losses, and only five wins in July to this point

Houston Astros – 34-70 and 8 games worse than any other team in baseball

 

This has been Throwing Tomatoes, where the red fruit doesn’t taste like chicken.

Throwing Tomatoes is a feature that Kevin Paul started five years ago when blogging in the Fox Sports community.  It has been featured numerous times, including on the Fox Sports home page on several occasions.