Talking Points: Big leagues has Little League look

1

In a throwback to Little League days, balls and strikes were called from behind the pitcher’s mound for a brief period in Tuesday’s exhibition between the Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee after an umpire was injured.

Home plate Seth Buckminster was hurt with two outs in the top of first inning. Brewers starter Wily Peralta threw a pitch that hit Albert Pujols, and the ball deflected and struck Buckminster on the left arm near the wrist.

Buckminster left the game along with umpire Anthony Johnson, who changed into home-plate gear. After a brief delay, with only two umpires left on the field, play resumed for four batters with Tim McClelland calling pitches from behind the mound.

2

President Barack Obama is picking Florida, Indiana, Louisville, Ohio State to reach the Final Four.

President Obama filled out an NCAA tournament bracket for ESPN for the fifth year in a row. On the women’s side, he selected Baylor, California, UConn and Notre Dame to advance to New Orleans.

ESPN will reveal his full men’s and women’s brackets Wednesday morning — unless Sen. Rand Paul holds a filibuster for the selection of Western Kentucky.

3

Mark Sanchez will be given every opportunity to remain the New York Jets’ starting quarterback.

He’ll have to beat out David Garrard, Greg McElroy — and maybe even Tim Tebow — in what coach Rex Ryan insists will be an open competition. Wow, tough competition.