Talkin' baseball

Good evening. Just got back from Long Island's sympathy vigil for Darcy Tucker and the rest of the Leafs. But for some reason, nobody showed up.

Anyway, I wanted to talk a little baseball this evening. Actually, and I don't have much practice saying it, a little first-place baseball (sort of). The Quakers are in a virtual tie with Cornell atop the Lou Gehrig division with Penn at 6-4 going into a makeup doubleheader against Brown and the Red at 5-3.

Here are some things to think about as Penn chases its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1995.

Stat of the weekend: 4-1, as in 4-1 in conference games started by freshman pitchers Jim Birmingham and Todd Roth. Roth will try to make that 5-1 in one of today's games in Providence.

Player of the weekend: Matt Toffaletti. A great replacement for Jim Farrell at third, Toffaletti had a 5-for-10 Saturday against Yale, including his first homer and five RBIs in the nightcap.

Wimps of the weekend: Baseball players. It's cold outside. Football players play. Soccer players play, I think. From the majors to the college game, there's been a lot more sitting around by the fireplace than playing ball this weekend. So cover up like B.J. and play ball.

Spring Fling forecast: I'm tired of the usual forecast sites, so I'm going to my new favorite, the Magic 8 Ball. Here goes:

Magic 8 Ball, will it be above 55 degrees on Spring Fling Friday?
My sources say no.

Magic 8 Ball, will it be above 52 degrees on Spring Fling Friday?
Ask again later.

Magic 8 Ball, will it be above 52 degrees on Spring Fling Friday?
Absolutely.

Magic 8 Ball, will it be sunny on Spring Fling Friday?
No way.

Magic 8 Ball, will it rain on Spring Fling Friday?
Definitely.

So we have low 50s and rainy. Beautiful. One more question, Magic 8 Ball. Will the Pistons cover a seven-point spread in New York tonight?
Don't push your luck, Levine.