Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
Football Beer The NFL is in negotiations for the “NFL official beer” for the 2006 season now. For those who care, Anheuser Busch and Miller Brewing are attempting to grab the honor away from Coors.
Football Beer
The NFL is in negotiations for the “NFL official beer” for the 2006 season now. For those who care, Anheuser Busch and Miller Brewing are attempting to grab the honor away from Coors.
I went to the White Sox/Yankee game yesterday at the Cell in hopes of a victory. There was even some laughter as we left the hot dog stand on 35th Street south of the ballyard that this would be the day a one game winning streak would begin for the Southsiders. The reason for thinking … Continue reading “ONE GAME WINNING STREAK”
I went to the White Sox/Yankee game yesterday at the Cell in hopes of a victory. There was even some laughter as we left the hot dog stand on 35th Street south of the ballyard that this would be the day a one game winning streak would begin for the Southsiders. The reason for thinking another L would appear on this year’s record for the Palehose after the day was through was obvious enough, Randy Johnson versus Jose Contreras. More nervous laughter was uttered after observing Pablo Ozuna, Chris Widger, and overmatched rookie Brian Anderson would be in the Sox starting lineup against The Big Unit. It was a true story of David versus Goliath.
The game started off true to form when Pablo Ozuna after singling to open the contest, stole 2nd, and was picked off after Tadahito Iguchi failed to advance him to third. Of Course the Bronx Bombers scored a run to seemingly put the game away with an insermountable lead of 1-0.
But then came the 4th inning! This would not be an inning you’d have wanted to have missed in the bathroom. Tadahito Iguchi launched a solo homer over the rightfield wall to knot the score at one. Aaron Rowand followed suit with a carbon copy of Tadahito’s blast. And then with two strikes on Paul Konerko, Randy Johnson tried to fool Paulie with a breaking ball, the only fool was Johnson, as Konerko made it back-to-back-to-back jacks deep into the leftfield stands. After a couple of singles Chris Widger of all people sealed the deal with a three run gong to left. After each home run the GO SOX GO Fight Song was played. It was only the 3rd time in White Sox history they’d hit three consecutive home runs, the last time being 5-3-00.
Final score Good Guys 6, Yankees 2. GO SOX GO!!!
Austin Kearns, Cincinnati Reds 2 for 4, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis This one isn’t easy for me. You see I come back from vacation to find out that two outfielders on my APBA team knock heads and one, Cameron, is assuredly out for the season. Then Kearns, the player I traded to get Cameron, … Continue reading “8/19 Linescore of the Day – Austin Kearns”
Austin Kearns, Cincinnati Reds
2 for 4, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis
This one isn’t easy for me. You see I come back from vacation to find out that two outfielders on my APBA team knock heads and one, Cameron, is assuredly out for the season. Then Kearns, the player I traded to get Cameron, starts hitting the cover off the ball.
I drafted Kearns in the first round when he was a rookie. I heard all the right stuff about him back then. He was going to be a five-tool player, “you like Dunn? Wait till you see Kearns!”, everything. Well, that may have been true but Kearns could never stay off the DL to prove it. Frustrated, I traded him for Cameron who may never be what they said Kearns was going to be but he came ready to play. So much for that.
This may be the “now or never” point for Kearns. He almost has as many homers this month than he had for the rest of the season (of course he spent time in the minors). His batting average remains low (.237) but that could change.
I was on the phone with my buddy Brando today. Turns out he’s back east in Boston. He told me he’s there for his girlfriend’s daughter’s wedding. I was like yeah, yeah, but are you going to a Red Sox game while you’re out there? Well, no but he’s going to see their Triple-A team, the … Continue reading “Longest Game”
I was on the phone with my buddy Brando today. Turns out he’s back east in Boston. He told me he’s there for his girlfriend’s daughter’s wedding. I was like yeah, yeah, but are you going to a Red Sox game while you’re out there?
Well, no but he’s going to see their Triple-A team, the Pawtucket Red Sox play.
I told him the one piece of trivia I can remember about the Pawsox is that they played in professional baseball’s longest game. That spurred me to look up the info on the web. One quick Google search and the info wasn’t hard to find.
It was a game between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings on April 18th, 1981 in Pawtucket. The game was completed 2 months later on June 23. Ironically, from that point, it took only 18 minutes for the PawSox to win the game. Interestingly, losing pitcher Steve Grilli wasn’t even with the Red Wings when the game started in April.
Some of the players whose names may ring a bell include:
Some of the records set:
• MOST PUTOUTS – one team – 99 (Pawtucket)
• MOST PUTOUTS – both teams – 195 TIME – 8:25
• MOST AT BATS – one team – 114 (Pawtucket)
• MOST STRIKE OUTS – one team – 34 (Rochester Batters)
• MOST AT BATS – both teams – 219
• MOST STRIKE OUTS – both teams – 60
• MOST ASSISTS – both teams – 88
• MOST “CHANCES ACCEPTED” – one team – 142 (Rochester)
• MOST “CHANCES ACCEPTED” – both teams – 283
• MOST INNINGS – 33 PITCHES THROWN – Rochester 423, Pawtucket 459, Total 882
• MOST AT BATS – Dave Koza, Lee Graham, Chico Walker – 14 (Pawtucket)
• MOST PLATE APPEARANCES – Tom Eaton, Cal Ripken, Dallas Williams – 15 (Rochester)
Two of my favorite quotes (check out this web page for more):
“When we walked off the field at 4 o’clock in the morning, it was like, ‘You mean we’re not done with the game yet?'”
–Pawtucket catcher Rich Gedman“A lot of people were saying , ‘Yeah, yeah, we tied it, we tied it!’ And then they said, ‘Oh, no, what did you do? We could have gone home!'”
–Pawtucket’s Wade Boggs on his game-tying hit in the 21st inning
Check out Pawtucket’s web site for the box score.
Today was August 20, 1858. At least that was the date at Kennekuk Meadows in Danville, IL. I made a second trip there to see the Vermillion Voles play two against the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels. Check out my post, with pictures, from my last visit. The crowd was sparse. There were no more “cranks” … Continue reading “Another day of vintage baseball”
Today was August 20, 1858. At least that was the date at Kennekuk Meadows in Danville, IL. I made a second trip there to see the Vermillion Voles play two against the Rock Springs Ground Squirrels. Check out my post, with pictures, from my last visit. The crowd was sparse. There were no more “cranks” (fans) than you would see at a little league game, which actually helped make for another personal “Field of Dreams” experience.
My family and I grabbed our own shade tree right behind home plate and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon watching baseball as it was originally played in 1858. The Voles dropped the first game 3-2 and had a 4-2 lead in the second game going into the final inning. The Ground Squirrels really “put the willow on the onion” and displayed some incredibly aggressive baseruning to tally six aces and make the score 8-4 in their favor. The Voles were not discouraged, loading the bases with “no hands dead” (no outs) and tallying two aces to make the score 8-6. But the Ground Squirrels held on for their second victory of the day.
Afterwards, the two teams lined up and the team captains and umpire congratulated each other on the day’s fine competition. Then both teams shed their wool uniforms into clothing more appropriate for the summer heat and enjoyed a picnic dinner together. The Voles next home game is September 10 at 2pm against the Deep River Grinders. If you are fan of the game of baseball, I guarantee you will enjoy this. Huzzah!
Juan Rivera, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4 for 5, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis Rivera banged out two dingers and knocked in six in the Angels’ 13-4 win over the Bosox. In the same game, rookie Casey Kotchman hit another homer. That gives him 5 in 50 at-bats. Special Mention: Rookie Pirate Zack Duke, … Continue reading “8/18 Linescore of the Day – Juan Rivera”
Juan Rivera, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
4 for 5, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis
Rivera banged out two dingers and knocked in six in the Angels’ 13-4 win over the Bosox. In the same game, rookie Casey Kotchman hit another homer. That gives him 5 in 50 at-bats.
Special Mention: Rookie Pirate Zack Duke, after giving up 8 runs in his two previous starts, went back to his normal form for the season. He gave up no runs in 7 innings for the win. He’s now 6-0 with a 1.87 ERA.
Mark Mulder, St Louis Cardinals 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (Win) This is Mulder’s second shutout of the year and first since April. It brings his ERA down below the 4.00 mark.
Mark Mulder, St Louis Cardinals
9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (Win)
This is Mulder’s second shutout of the year and first since April. It brings his ERA down below the 4.00 mark.
I finally had the chance to check out vintage baseball and see the Vermilion Voles in action on Saturday. Unfortunately, their opposing team couldn’t show up due to a variety of reasons but the Voles didn’t disappoint and played a split squad game. Despite it not being an official game, I enjoyed seeing the Voles … Continue reading “The Voles take some practice”
I finally had the chance to check out vintage baseball and see the Vermilion Voles in action on Saturday. Unfortunately, their opposing team couldn’t show up due to a variety of reasons but the Voles didn’t disappoint and played a split squad game.
Despite it not being an official game, I enjoyed seeing the Voles in action. Here are some photos:
Jim Knoblauch makes the lineup for his side.
Ringing the bell after tallying an ace.
Most of the players were in full uniform even in practice.
There’s a game this Saturday (Aug. 20) in Danville. Check out their web site for more details for when and where.
Pedro Feliz, San Francisco Giants 5 for 5, 2 2B, 3B, 4 runs Deivi Cruz, San Francisco Giants 5 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 5 rbis When one player goes 5 for 5, it’s pretty special. When two players do it on the same team in the same game, that’s extraordinary.
Pedro Feliz, San Francisco Giants
5 for 5, 2 2B, 3B, 4 runs
Deivi Cruz, San Francisco Giants
5 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 5 rbis
When one player goes 5 for 5, it’s pretty special. When two players do it on the same team in the same game, that’s extraordinary.
#1- Dominic Valila, the New York Mets groundskeeper, is expected to lose his job because he has been part of a Mafia-run gambling ring. He allegedly used the Mets phones to place bets. According to Dominic himself, “What happened is I started gambling and betting on games,” Valila said. “People would see me go nuts watching … Continue reading “Baseball Oddities- They Abound”
#1- Dominic Valila, the New York Mets groundskeeper, is expected to lose his job because he has been part of a Mafia-run gambling ring. He allegedly used the Mets phones to place bets. According to Dominic himself,
“What happened is I started gambling and betting on games,” Valila said. “People would see me go nuts watching football. They’d say, ‘Listen, would you put $20 down for me?’ … It’s a guy thing. It’s in my blood.”
He avoided jail by pleading guilty to the crime.
#2- When Nats pitcher Livian Hernandez threw his glove into the stands in a frustrated fit, he wanted it back. It seems the fan that retrieved it wasn’t so willing to give it back up. The team offered him an autographed jersey and glove.
That didn’t seem to be enough. The fan’s asking price?
My two thoughts:
I hope the playoff tickets aren’t for the Nationals.. and $18,000? wow, that fan’s got some brass cajones.
Hernandez’ appropriate response?
”He can have it,” Hernandez told the newspaper. “He thinks it’s my lucky glove, but I’m not superstitious.”
#3- The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League are holding a “Hairiest Back at the Ballpark” contest.
Winner gets a laser hair removal service worth $2500.