Week 21

Hey All,

What a week! The east coast got hit with an Earthquake and a Hurricane. The weather sure played havoc with the MLB schedule. There will be a not of makeup games down the stretch. Those games will have a big impact on the Longball League standings. Once again in the LL, we see the SV Coachwhips are hanging onto the top spot. Can they hang on for one more month?

Here's this week's Three Things from the Major Leagues...

One, it's a rare thing when you see something that has never happened before in an MLB game, but that did happen this week, when the New York Yankees blasted three grand slams off the hapless Oakland A's. The Yankees won the game, 22-9. So, always be aware at the ballpark, you just might see something that you've never seen before.

Two, Hurricane Irene is causing rainouts all over the east coast. This will make for some crazy makeup games and could really alter the pennant races in the east.

Three, September is almost here. That means roster call ups and new players who could have big impacts on the pennant races. An extra pitcher down the stretch or fresh set of legs on the bases could be huge factors down the stretch.

Trivia: With Hurricane Irene whipping on the east coast this week and causing rainouts all over, I decided to find out what team has been rained out the most over the last decade. The Boston Red Sox have been rained out the most over the last decade. They've had 35 games postponed due to bad weather. In contrast, there has only been one game rained out on the west coast during the same time span. The lone west coast rainout was in San Diego on April 4, 2006. The Padres game with San Francisco Giants was postponed due to the wet stuff.

Baseball Card of the Week: In honor of his hitting the Yankees' 3rd Grand Slam v. the A's, the honor goes to Curtis Granderson. Here, we see him pictured on his 2011 Topps Heritage #169.

Until next week folks, remember the Angels are now starting to phase Vernon Wells and his .205 batting average out of the lineup.

-The Commissioner

Week 20

Hey All,

The last week of August is at hand. Football season is around the corner, but baseball is season is getting ready for its' stretch run. Scoreboard watching and September callups are soon at hand. Meanwhile, in the Longball League it looks like we've got a two team race down the stretch for the pennant. The SV Coachwhips and the Invisible Hands look to fight it out down to the wire.

Here's this week's Three Things from the Major Leagues...

One, The Philadelphia Phillies are on their way to 108 wins and nobody is saying a word about it. It must be weird to be that good and draw no attention.

Two, The San Francisco Giants are hanging in the NL West race depute losing seven players to injury in the last five days. A week ago the G-Men had so many players that they couldn't find roster spots for them all. Now, they look like a MASH unit.

Three, The Angels are keeping hope alive. With some dramatic wins in the last few days and some fun players to watch like ROY candidate Mark Trumbo and speedster Peter Bourjos, the stretch drive will be interesting.

Trivia: The Houston Astros are on pace to lose 111 games this season, however that wouldn't be the worst record in the majors since 2000. That would belong to the 2003 Detroit Tigers. The toothless Tigers were a dismal 43-119 that year. Lefty pitcher Mike Maroth was the staff ace with a big 9-21 record.

Baseball Card of the Week: In honor of that lousy Tigers team, here's a look at the card of their manager, Alan Trammell. The great old Tiger player, couldn't manage the club at all. Here we see Alan pictured on his 1990 Topps card.

Until next week folks, remember it's time to get your fantasy football teams in order. HaHa!

-The Commissioner

Week 19

Hey All,

Scoreboard watching can be tough when your team has a bad week, but such is life in the Major Leagues and the Longball League. Boy, those SV Coachwhips just keep hang in' on despite a lousy week from Mark Teixeira.

This week's Three Things in the Major Leagues...

One, Dan Uggla's hit streak ended at 33 games on Sunday. Congrats to the big Atlanta Brave on hitting .377 during that streak along with 15 homers. Rest easy Joe DiMaggio, your record looks safer than ever.

Two, where would the Angels be this year without 12 blown saves? Rookie Jordan Walden has eight to lead the majors and Fernando Rodney owns the other four. Well, one thing is for sure, they wouldn't be four games back in the AL West coming into this week.

Three, the Brewers are hot and looking at an NL Central title. They just look like a team that is on a mission to win it.

Trivia: On this date in 1919, the Brooklyn Robins and the Chicago Cubs split a double header. They played both games in a total of 2:17! The first game, the Cubs won 2-0 behind the arm of Grover Cleveland Alexander in a quick 1:10. In the second game, the Dodgers won, 1-0 behind Zach Wheat's 5th inning hit. That game took a whole 1:07.

Baseball Card of the Week: In honor of that quick double header, here's a look at Brooklyn star Zach Wheat's 1909 T-206 card.

Until next week folks, remember that Vernon Wells is still hitting just .204, that makes him 154th out of the 155 players that qualify for the batting title.

-The Commissioner

Week 18

Hey All,

August doesn't bring the dog days of summer to us, it also starts us on our scoreboard watch for the season. If your team is in a pennant race right now, odds are you are a scoreboard watcher. Now it's time to watch the scoreboard in the Longball League.

There's a small jumble to the standings this week, but it's clear there are five teams left with a legitimate shot at the title. On top still are the SV Coachwhips with a lineup that has been strong every week of the season.

Here's this week's three things from the Major Leagues

One, "The Curse of Jerry Meals" has hit the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ever since losing that 19 inning game in Atlanta where HP Ump Jerry Meals' blown call cost them the game, the Pirates have gone 1-12. They have lost 10 in a row and are now back in fourth place, 10 full games back of NL Central Division leader Milwaukee.

Two, Thank God for the MLB Network! Without 'em all we'd ever hear is about are the Yankees and Red Sox. ESPN's baseball coverage just flat out sucks and has for years.

Three, Dan Uggla's hitting streak has reached 28 games. His streak is great, but he is just halfway to catching Joe DiMggio.

Trivia: After throwing a no-hitter last week, Ervin Santana won his next start, but failed in his attempt to tie Johnny Vander Meer's great feat throwing two consecutive no-hitters. Vander Meer did his feat back in 1935 for the Cincinnati Reds. So, who has come closest to tying JVM? It was Ewell Blackwell. Blackwell was also pitching for the Cincinnati Reds when he threw a no-hitter v. the Boston Braves on June 18, 1947. Four days later vs. Brooklyn, Blackwell took another no-no into the ninth inning only to have it broken up by the Dodgers' Eddie Stanky. Blackwell finished a mere three outs away from tying Vander Meer.

Baseball Card of the Week: In honor of those who come close, Ewell Blackwell gets this week's honor. He's pictured here on his 1951 Bowman issue.

Until next week, remember that Vernon Wells is still hitting just .212

-The Commissioner

Week 17

Hey All,

With the beginning of August comes the dog days of summer. The heat is beating down on the country while tempers become short and ejections become commonplace. However, the game rolls on in both the Majors and the Longball League.

In the Longball League, the Sierra Vista Coachwhips are just looking stronger as the season wears on. Justin Verlander is a big key to the snakes' success. Meanwhile, the Invisible Hands are still within striking distance of the lead.

This week's Three Things form the Major Leagues...

One, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in it to win it!!! With trading deadline additions of Ryan Ludwick and Derek Lee, the Bucs are looking for a division title. Pirate baseball hasn't been this exciting since Jim Leyland was the manager.

Two, speaking of Jim Leyland, I agree with his opinion that Magglio Ordonez wasn't trying to show-up Angel Ace Jered Weaver after he homered off Weaver early in Sunday's game with the Halos. However, Weaver didn't think so and if you saw the highlights you know how the game deteriorated.

Three, it must just be painful to be an Orioles fan. They haven't won in 20 years and it looks like they won't win for 20 more.

Trivia: Hooray for Ervin Santana ninth no-hit game in Angels history on July 27th. What makes this no-no even more rare is that it is the only one in Halo history where the opposing team scored a run. On the way to his no-hitter, Santana allowed a run by throwing a wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning.

Baseball Card of the Week: Who else but Ervin Santana? Here he is pictured on his 2010 Topps card.

Until next week folks, remember that Vernon Wells is hitting just .212.

-The Commissioner