This week's three things from the Major Leagues
1. The San Diego Padres walked away with a 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners the other night. What makes this result so unusual is that the Padres lone run scored after originally reaching base on three ball walk. Yes, a three ball walk. The scoreboard showed a 3-2 count on Padre Cameron Maybin. So, when the next pitch was a ball, the umpire, Phil Cuzzi, awarded Maybin first base. Only the count was really 2-2 and the umpire, and both teams missed it. The official scorer had it right, but he was never consulted. Maybin later scored the game's only run in the inning on an Alberto Gonzalez single. Wow.
2. Two games were won in walk-off fashion on the 4th of July without a hit being recorded. In Washington D.C., the Nationals won when Jason Werth scored on a wild pitch thrown by the Cubs' Carlos Marmol. Later in the day, the Chicago White Sox won when A.J. Pierzynski was balked home by Kansas City pitcher Aaron Crow. Is that called a balk-off win instead of a walk-off win?
3. Thank you, and good-bye. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vance Worley pitched seven strong innings to lead the Phigten' Phils to a 1-0 win over the Florida Marlins. So, how was he rewarded for his effort? He was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Phillies' management said that with their rotation set for the next 10 days, they wanted Worley to remain hot and keep pitching eve if that meant another stint at the Triple-A level.
Trivia: Here's a neat bit of trivia for this weekend. On July 4, 1929 the New York Giants became the first team to use an electric public address system. Until then, only starting lineups were introduced, then you had to rely on the scoreboard and your mind to remember who was up to bat. Pretty scary, Huh? hahahah.
Baseball Card of the Week: Here's to Cameron Maybin and his three ball walk. I honor Cameron by showing him on his 2011 Topps card.
Until next week folks, remember Vernon Wells is up over the Mendoza line, hitting .215
-The Commissioner
