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Cobb Has the Fire in his Belly
I like that Tampa Bay Rays prospect pitcher Alex Cobb was visibly upset when he got his marching orders to lug his gear and equipment to the "other clubhouse" on Monday. Cobb has done a lot to rehab and get himself into position to fight for not only a roster spot, but now is not his time. Sometimes channeling that emotion, taking that fire churning in your belly and refocusing it to making yourself better and more versatile can make you attractive as a vital tool at the MLB level.
But his attitude shows me something special. A lot of times guys go down after a bit of a rant, but do not show the frustration and fight. Cobb definitely made his displeasure known, and that is a good thing because that kind of fire and commitment to getting back to that level could be critical to Cobb early on this season. It could be the bonding moment where the Rays saw his fire, his passion, but his present skill set might be just a touch below the Rays first 5 penciled in starters at this moment.
Still Cobb has to be realistic that with the exception of David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and James Shields, the injury bug to the bottom two starters gave him his first taste of MLB life in 2011. Maybe that chance before his injury and surgery that effectively ended his season awoke an internal burning to stay at this point, to settle in with fellow golfing buddy Hellboy and thrust one of the Rays 2011 starters off that special rotation list.
That little nibble of the MLB lifestyle in 2011 got him hungry, got him committed, but somehow the numbers did not factor up in his favor…for now. I still remember seeing him get hit around a bit in his first 2 starts, possibly tipping off his pitch selection a hair, but suddenly he firmed up, got stingy with his offerings and showed us he was up for the MLB task.
Best case scenario Cobb takes that fight with him to Triple-A Durham and lets the ball be his messenger early on in the Triple-A season. Dominate, show improvement and make his not only his name, but his game on the mind of Rays Pitching Coach Jim Hickey if anything goes South with one of the Rays "Golden Arms". Cobb did a great job of adjusting to the MLB game on and off the mound in 2011, and should be the first righty to get a return gig to the majors.
But right now, as the embers of the demotion are still fresh Cobb needed to re-focus, re-energize, re-commit not only his game but his mental attitude that he has to show not only himself, but the Rays that he is ready, healthy and can be a vital cog in the Rays pitching machine.
I think we will see him in mid-May, but then again I like people who have something to prove.


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New Downy Unstopables Give Laundry a Boost of Scent
If your favorite thing about doing laundry is the scent that your detergent or softener imparts to your clothing, you are in for a treat. Launching in stores right now is Procter & Gamble's new Downy Unstopables ($7, left), the first in-wash scent booster we have ever seen. No, it's not a fabric softener. Unstopables are tiny beads of fragrance that you pour into the washer at the start of the cycle. P&G claims they have four times the scent-enhancing ingredients of liquid Downy and can keep clothes and linens smelling fresh until you are ready to use or wear them.
In our tests, we found them to be very neat and convenient to use. Simply shake as many beads as you want (a little for a light boost, or a lot for a major scent sensation) into the cap and pour them directly into the tub of either a front- or top-loading washer. They dissolve completely in all water temperatures without leaving any residue on fabrics or in the machine. Unstopables can be used alone or in combination with Downy liquid softener or dryer sheets and the "Fresh" and "Lush" scents compliment the current fragrances of P&G's detergents and Downy softeners. The towels we washed with Unstopables smelled fresh even after being tucked in a linen closet for several weeks. And, unlike traditional softeners, Unstopables will fragrance items, like fleece robes and children's sleepwear, without compromising the fabric's flame resistant properties. If you give Unstopables a try, post a comment to let me know what you think!
To learn how to save energy and money while doing laundry, read The Daily Green's advice on how to Green Your Laundry Room. Are you in the market for new laundry appliances? Check out the results of our latest Good Housekeeping Research Institute (GHRI) tests of the newest washers and dryers. For a firsthand look at how we test appliances, cleaning products and more, sign up for a tour of our GHRI labs.

subset: commoncrawl