FanHouse Jackcassel

The sports world is clearly entering its endgame. Suppose that you are playing a game of chess. You've lost several crucial midgame pieces, such as your Bishop (Wandy Rodriguez), and worse, your Queen (Tom Brady). You don't have the position to go after the opposing King, so your objective is to move a pawn to the furthest rank and promote him (develop/trade/sign other talent). Which pieces are left to help get the pawns across? Your Cassels, naturally.

Today's Dugout is after the jump.

You know those freaky coincidences, like the one where President Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln, President Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy, and Lincoln Kennedy became a serviceable offensive tackle? Well, those Kennedy/Lincoln things were urban legend. But feel free to bring on the legend of the Cassel brothers. Everyone knows by now that Tom Brady is reportedly out for the season, and that he was replaced by Matt Cassel. Here's the strange part:

Turns out, Matt Cassel wasn't the only one who was summoned that day to replace an injured starter. Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez exited Sunday's game in Denver after just one inning with a right oblique strain, and manager Cecil Cooper called for Jack Cassel, who has experience starting and relieving and was stretched out after making 17 starts for Triple-A Round Rock.

"I just had this gut feeling that once Matt got in there, I was going to pitch today," Jack said after the Astros beat the Rockies, 7-5. "Unfortunately for Wandy, it came so soon. But I was happy to get in there and make the best of it."

Creepy. Two injuries, two sports, two brothers ready to step in. There's a joke there somewhere, but I'm finding it increasingly more painful to type. Perhaps there's a third Cassel brother that can finish this blog for me? Actually, no there's not. But there is a third Cassel brother in the White Sox organization ... Justin Cassel is a pitcher out of UC Irvine. (If I'm Monday starter Javier Vazquez, I'd be nervous.)

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups

San Diego Padres (73-60) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (70-63)-10:05PM Est.

Way back, in the long long ago, David Wells played for the San Diego Padres. It was August 2007, and the world was a funny place back then. People were walking around the streets playing with their iPhones, debating who was more Now, and most inexplicably, the Cubs were in first place. They were strange days my friend, very strange days indeed, and I'm just proud I survived. Now, just over three weeks later, Wells returns to San Diego to face his former team. In his only start as a Dodger, Wells lasted five innings and gave up two runs to pick up a victory. The Dodgers are currently riding a four game win streak, and have gotten back in the race in the NL West. The Padres send Jack Cassel to the bump, and I had never heard of Jack Cassel until I just typed his name over there. The reason Cassel is in there is because he was called up from Triple-A to fill a void in the Padres starting rotation. A void that was created by the departure of David Wells. See that? It all comes full circle man. It's life. The circle of life.