1.   Even after I took the mound, people kept walking by, standing, talking, and laughing behind home plate.

2.   Amidst the Houston madness, Johnson takes the mound against Atlanta tonight.

3.   Although Miller reserves the right to be nervous when he takes the mound for the Astros against the Milwaukee Brewers, his cool demeanor is definitely in the minority.

4.   And just how skewed are the expectations of those expecting near-perfection every time Martinez takes the mound?

5.   And now, not only does Johnson take the mound Thursday night in Arlington against the Texas Rangers for his final start of the season . . .

6.   And now that he finally has another opportunity to pitch in the big leagues, Sparks takes the mound with a do-or-die attitude.

7.   And then I took the mound, and I was facing nine angry men who wanted to get even.

8.   And neither had taken the mound for the Sox since the last week of spring training in Florida, nearly two weeks ago.

9.   Andy Pettitte will take the mound for the series finale on Thursday.

10.   Andy Pettitte takes the mound against Aaron Sele with the World Series berth on the line, and without being snide, whom do you like?