Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
(Photo: Chris Usher, TIME) Hey look, Karl Rove’s a Twin fan now. Almost makes me want to root for the Sox. I said ALMOST. Rove was showing the Twinkie colors while in Minneapolis.
(Photo: Chris Usher, TIME)
Hey look, Karl Rove’s a Twin fan now. Almost makes me want to root for the Sox.
I said ALMOST.
Rove was showing the Twinkie colors while in Minneapolis.
I don’t know who Uncle Joe is but he’s putting on quite a shindig. Those of you who are in the east central Illinois area who enjoy vintage base ball should mark August 18th on your calendar. Six games are scheduled with three including the Vermilion Voles: 10:00 am Rock Springs Ground Squirrels v. Vermilion Voles … Continue reading “Uncle Joe’s Jamboree Aug 18th”
I don’t know who Uncle Joe is but he’s putting on quite a shindig. Those of you who are in the east central Illinois area who enjoy vintage base ball should mark August 18th on your calendar.
Six games are scheduled with three including the Vermilion Voles:
10:00 am Rock Springs Ground Squirrels v. Vermilion Voles
11:10 am Rock Springs Ground Squirrels v. Chicago Salmon
12:20 pm Chicago Salmon v. New Baden Juniors
1:30 pm New Baden Juniors v. Rock Springs Ground Squirrels
2:40 pm Chicago Salmon v. Vermilion Voles
3:50 pm New Baden Juniors v. Vermilion Voles
Admission is free.
The Jamboree will take place at the Danville stadium, home of the Danville Dans. MAP
(hat tip Vermilion Voles)
No waiting for Glavine,
Today, those us in the Illowa APBA League were trying to nail down a date for our annual All-Star game. I tacked this on the end of one of my emails:
By the way, God Bless Tom Glavine. I rooted for the Cubbies the whole
way and swore a blue streak when Ohman essentially put the game out of reach. But when the game was over I felt good for Tom G.Glavine has been on my team for 17 years, more than any other player.
His career record in the IAL is 229-174. Not only that, he is getting
better with age, in the last two years (06-07), he is 28-7.Way to go, Tommy! I’ll be there at Cooperstown when you get inducted,
buddy.
Speaking of the IAL All-Star Game and Glavine, I wouldn’t be too surprised if he makes a showing. He’s in the running for the starting role. Through 87 games, he is 10-2 with a IAL leading 2.42 ERA.
Sunday’s game between the Cubs and Mets was full of sub-plots and storylines as if Glavine’s quest for 300 wasn’t enough. Alfonso Soriano pulled up short with a strained quad muscle on his way to third base. Anyone who saw that surely had sympathy pains.
Kerry Wood made his first appearance for the Cubs this season. Luis Castillo got injured and had to be pulled. Even the home plate umpire (whose name escapes me) appeared to suffer a concussion from a foul ball to the face mask. Blurred vision almost took him out of the game but since when was sight a requirement for umping? Hwe was back after 5 minutes. (That was a shot at our resident ump, Todd).
Congrats to Glavine! Despite the Cubs loss, it was nice to see a milestone accomplished that everyone (including MLB and ESPN) could get behind.
Finally, if you’re interested, here’s the audio for Tom Glavine’s press conference from MLB.com Also includes ARod’s and Bonds’ press conferences, too.
Tom Glavine’s 2005 APBA card At 7:05pm CT tonight, Tom Glavine will face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field to make his attempt at 300 wins. It will be a difficult game for me to watch. Of course I’ll be rooting for the Cubs. That’s what makes it so difficult. Tom Glavine has been a … Continue reading “It pains me to say it… 300 must wait for Glavine”
Tom Glavine’s 2005 APBA card
At 7:05pm CT tonight, Tom Glavine will face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field to make his attempt at 300 wins. It will be a difficult game for me to watch.
Of course I’ll be rooting for the Cubs. That’s what makes it so difficult. Tom Glavine has been a favorite of mine for a long time. You see, Tom Glavine is on my team in the Illowa APBA League
I hear some of you snickering out there. Before you judge, consider this. This is no fly-by-night web-based fantasy league. I’ve had Tom Glavine on my Twin City Thunderchickens since he was a throw-in in a trade in 1990. I traded Kirk Gibson (near the end of his career) and Pete Smith (who?) for Glavine. I think Melido Perez was the other player involved on my end.
Of those players, Perez and Gibson played until 1995. Smith didn’t even last a year. And Glavine… well, it’s 16 years later and he’s still a Thunderchicken.
Since then Glavine has become a favorite of mine.
So me being a Cubs fan, you see how difficult this is for me. It would have a hard enough time any other year. But tonight with the added factors of Glavine going for 300 plus the Cubs being 1/2 games back. Yikes!
Oh, Glavine’s career IAL record? He’s 229-174.
Go Cubs!
(Photo: Lenny Ignelzi/AP) Bonds is tied in career homers with Aaron at 755. If you are a baseball fan of any sort, that’s not news. Chances are you’ve seen the video clip and read a few news articles about it. Maybe I’m jaded but so many mainstream news articles are filtered with the “right” things to … Continue reading “755”
(Photo: Lenny Ignelzi/AP)
Bonds is tied in career homers with Aaron at 755. If you are a baseball fan of any sort, that’s not news. Chances are you’ve seen the video clip and read a few news articles about it.
Maybe I’m jaded but so many mainstream news articles are filtered with the “right” things to convey they don’t capture the essence of the moment.
On the other hand, I did enjoy this short posting on McCovey Chronicles. It’s written by a Giant fan who works as a Padre employee and saw the whole thing. Despite the controversy, despite the scandal, he saw the magic in the whole event.
While on the topic of Bonds and Giants fans, here’s a Giants fan, who tongue in cheek advocates for an asterisk by Bonds homerun stat. Read his posting and find out why.
And finally, here is an interesting factoid. Clay Hensley, the pitcher who gave up #755, was tested positive for steroids in 2005. The irony… you can cut it with a knife.
Illini 2B Ryan Hastings signing autographs for the kiddos during the 07 season
In the past, secondbaseman Ryan Hastings had intimated that 07 would be his last year for the Illini.
Well, everyone has the right to change their mind. Since he was red-shirted two years ago, he has one more year left of eligibility and according to the (Mattoon-Charleston) Journal-Gazette Times-Courier, Hastings plans to take advantage of that while he goes to graduate school.
“I believe I’m going to be playing baseball again,” Hastings said. “The idea of playing again has not been totally out of my head. It should be good. I’ve registered for school and I think I’m going to play again.”
Hastings has played an important role with the Illini squad. After hitting .315 in 48 games as a freshman, he was redshirted with a wrist injury in 2005. In 2006, he was named third team All-Big Ten when he hit .319 playing every game of the season. This season, he hit .330, slugged .487, with 6 home runs.
He is hoping to continue playing second base in 08.
“I hope so,” Hastings said. “Nothing is guaranteed. I think we’ll have an influx of new guys coming in. Playing second base is my first choice but I’ll do whatever is best for the team.”
Between this morning’s rain and this evening’s drizzle, there was enough good weather for a good ol’ fashion base ball game. The Vermilion Voles took on the Deep River Grinders at the Voles’ home field at Kennekuk Cove State Park. Here are some of the photos I took.
Here’s a sight I’m not used to. Jim “Weed Eater” Knoblauch, the captain of the team, traded his bowler and suspenders he wears when he umps the games for a ballplayer uni.
Here’s our own Shawn “General” Lee up to bat. Shawn is an occasional co-host of Baseball Zealot Radio. He has lent his talents as webmaster towards the Voles’ website the last few years. This year, he thought he try playing on the team, too. Nice form, Shawn!
This shot of Marty “Tumbleweed” Rife shows that while vintage base ball may be an “exhibition” sport, they play for real. Check out the grass stains on his shoulder!
A Grinder striker (batter) hits one to right. Remember, a fielder can catch it on one bounce and he is dead (out).
The Deep River team were a bit short on players so the Voles lent them their starting catcher, Rita “Hustler” Hostetler. They may have regretted that since she ended up scoring a run for the Grinders. Nice hustle, Rita!
The hurler for the Grinders. The purpose is not necessarily to blow it by the striker. The hurlers purpose is to throw it so the striker will hit it (hopefully at a fielder).
And finally, here is the “dugout”. I like the cozies that someone had made for the coolers to give them an old fashioned look.
I took more photos today than what you see here. If you want to see the whole lot of ’em, check them out here.
Baseball Prospectus has interviewed University of Illinois physicist Alan Nathan who focuses much of his research on the physics of baseball.
Of course, the name should be familiar to Zealot readers. Our podcast, Baseball Zealot Radio interviewed Nathan for our last show. It was a fascinating show so be sure to take a listen.
Here is a link to Baseball Prospectus’ interview. Unfortunately, you’ll need a BP subscription to read the whole thing.
(hat tip True Blue LA)
Vintage Base Ball If you live in east-central Illinois and you’re looking for something to do Saturday afternoon, check out the Vermilion Voles. They’re playing the Deep River Grinders at 1pm. They play at beautiful Kennekuk Park in Danville. There are signs to the park from the highway. The Voles’ website has a good map. … Continue reading “Vermilion Voles vs Deep River Grinders August 4 1pm”
Vintage Base Ball
If you live in east-central Illinois and you’re looking for something to do Saturday afternoon, check out the Vermilion Voles. They’re playing the Deep River Grinders at 1pm.
They play at beautiful Kennekuk Park in Danville. There are signs to the park from the highway. The Voles’ website has a good map.
Go Voles!
(AP Photo) CBS 2 has a tribute to Thurman Munson whose fatal plane crash was 28 years ago today. It includes a video of an interview of Munson. On personal note, my buddy Brando and I did a APBA replay of the 1979 baseball season. When August 2 rolled around, it was a somber reminder the Yanks … Continue reading “Thurman Munson August 2, 1979”
(AP Photo)
CBS 2 has a tribute to Thurman Munson whose fatal plane crash was 28 years ago today. It includes a video of an interview of Munson.
On personal note, my buddy Brando and I did a APBA replay of the 1979 baseball season. When August 2 rolled around, it was a somber reminder the Yanks no longer had Munson’s services. Kinda put some perspective on things.