Hey All,
In the major leagues this week we saw the Red Sox break out of their early season funk, and the Angels slip deeper into theirs. Things got a little heated in the Longball League as well, with the standings doing an early season flip-flop.
Who's Hot
Hitters: Matt Kemp (LAD), Josh Hamilton (TEX), this is a recording.
Pitchers: Tim Lincecum (SF), Felix Hernandez (SEA)
Who's Not
Hitters: Albert (No Homers) Pujols (LAA), Mark Teixeira (NYY)
Pitchers: Cliff Lee (PHI), J. Verlander (DET)
Roster Moves
4/19/2012
Tax Dodgers dropped Jose Bautista (TOR), added Josh Hamliton (TEX)
4/24/2012
Scorpions dropped Jose Bautista (TOR), added Josh Hamilton (TEX)
4/29/2012
Scorpions dropped Albert Pujols (LAA), added Miguel Cabrera (DET)
San Pedro Sea Monkeys dropped Albert Pujols (LAA), added Josh Hamilton (TEX)
This Week's Three Trivial Things (Angels Deep Dive Edition)
1. No four or more; The Halos have 0 wins when their opponent scores four or more runs in a game.
2. No help at all; Halo hurler Ervin Santana is 0-5 with no help from his teammates. In four of his five losses the Angels have scored 0 runs. The Angels have been shutout four times already this season. All four shutouts happened when Santana has pitched.
3. You know it's going really bad when; When Torii Hunter makes an error that costs his team a game. Hunter made such an error on Sunday. How rare was such an error? Hunter has the highest lifetime fielding percentage of just about any outfielder ever. The error was just the 36th in a career in which he's had 4557 fielding chances. Boy, it is going bad for the Angels.
Baseball Card of the Week: This week's honor goes to the new rookie phenom of the Washington Nationals, Bryce Harper. In his weekend debut vs. the Dodgers, the 19-year old showed that he does have every one of the five tools we were told he has. So, here's a look at the kid's Topps Rookie Card. It was unveiled by Topps over the weekend and should be included in the second series of their 2012 set.
Until next week folks, remember that if you expand your strike zone, your batting average will droop like a rock.
-The Commissioner
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Week 2
Hey All,
Well, we're coming into the third week of the regular season and there has already been a perfecto thrown in one game and an epic 9-run comeback in another. Here's things to check out...
Who's Hot:
Hitters: Matt Kemp (LAD), Andre Ethier (LAD), and Josh Hamilton (TEX)
Pitchers: Jered Weaver (LAA), J. Verlander (DET)
Who's Not:
Hitters: Jose Bautista (TOR), Albert Pujols (LAA), Kendry Morales (LAA)
Pitchers: Cliff Lee (PHI), Tim Lincecum (SF)
Perfect Game Salute
Here's a big salute to Chicago White Sox hurler, Philip Humber. The 29-year old right-hander faced less batters than his age when he retired 27 straight Seattle Mariners to record just the 21st perfect game in major league history. The last pitch he threw was outside, but pinch-hitter Brendan Ryan let loose a check swing that umpire Brian Runge called a strike for the final out, but the game wasn't over yet. The third strike got by catcher A.J. Pierzynski who had to chase down the ball and throw Ryan out at first. A.J. did and Humber was officially perfect. Pierzynski said his only thought on the dropped third strike was, "Get the ball and get it to first base as fast as possible because If I screw this up, I'm going to be a goat forever."
This week's Three Trivial Things:
1. A note on batters faced; While Philip Humber faced only 27 batters in his perfect game, the New York Yankees sent 25 batters to the plate in the 7th and 8th innings alone in their 15-9 come-from-behind win over the Boston Red Sox.
2. The Chicago White Sox have had two pitchers throw perfect games in the last four years. The San Diego Padres and the New York Mets have never had a pitcher throw so much as a no-hitter in their franchise history.
3. Of the 21 perfect games thrown in MLB history, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers each lay claim to one game on the list. Ironically, they beat each other to get there. In 1984, Angels' Ace, Mike Witt threw a clean slate at Texas in the last game of the 1984 season. Ten years later, the Rangers' Kenny Rogers beat the Halos by throwing a perfect game of his own. Both perfectos happened in Texas. Witt's was at old Arlington Stadium and Rogers was at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Baseball Card of the Week: The man who achieved perfection gets this week's honor. Here's a look at Philip Humber's Topps Card. It's #254 in the 2012 set.
Until next week folks, remember that baseball can show you something new every day.
-The Commisioner
Well, we're coming into the third week of the regular season and there has already been a perfecto thrown in one game and an epic 9-run comeback in another. Here's things to check out...
Who's Hot:
Hitters: Matt Kemp (LAD), Andre Ethier (LAD), and Josh Hamilton (TEX)
Pitchers: Jered Weaver (LAA), J. Verlander (DET)
Who's Not:
Hitters: Jose Bautista (TOR), Albert Pujols (LAA), Kendry Morales (LAA)
Pitchers: Cliff Lee (PHI), Tim Lincecum (SF)
Perfect Game Salute
Here's a big salute to Chicago White Sox hurler, Philip Humber. The 29-year old right-hander faced less batters than his age when he retired 27 straight Seattle Mariners to record just the 21st perfect game in major league history. The last pitch he threw was outside, but pinch-hitter Brendan Ryan let loose a check swing that umpire Brian Runge called a strike for the final out, but the game wasn't over yet. The third strike got by catcher A.J. Pierzynski who had to chase down the ball and throw Ryan out at first. A.J. did and Humber was officially perfect. Pierzynski said his only thought on the dropped third strike was, "Get the ball and get it to first base as fast as possible because If I screw this up, I'm going to be a goat forever."
This week's Three Trivial Things:
1. A note on batters faced; While Philip Humber faced only 27 batters in his perfect game, the New York Yankees sent 25 batters to the plate in the 7th and 8th innings alone in their 15-9 come-from-behind win over the Boston Red Sox.
2. The Chicago White Sox have had two pitchers throw perfect games in the last four years. The San Diego Padres and the New York Mets have never had a pitcher throw so much as a no-hitter in their franchise history.
3. Of the 21 perfect games thrown in MLB history, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers each lay claim to one game on the list. Ironically, they beat each other to get there. In 1984, Angels' Ace, Mike Witt threw a clean slate at Texas in the last game of the 1984 season. Ten years later, the Rangers' Kenny Rogers beat the Halos by throwing a perfect game of his own. Both perfectos happened in Texas. Witt's was at old Arlington Stadium and Rogers was at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Baseball Card of the Week: The man who achieved perfection gets this week's honor. Here's a look at Philip Humber's Topps Card. It's #254 in the 2012 set.
Until next week folks, remember that baseball can show you something new every day.
-The Commisioner
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Week 1
Hey All,
Baseball is back! Everything from inside-the-park homers to a triple play happened in the first week of Longball League action. You can all see on the standings ladder how the two divisions are aligned for 2012. It should be a great year!
Who's Hot:
Hitters: Matt Kemp (LAD), Andre Ethier (LAD)
Pitchers: Jered Weaver (LAA), Justin Verlander (DET)
Who's Not:
Hitters: Mark Teixeira (NYY), Jose Bautista (TOR)
Pitchers: Yu Darvish (TEX)
This week's Three Trivial Things :
1. San Francisco's Matt Cain threw a one-hit shutout in the Giants home opener last week. Pittsburgh pitcher, James McDonald accounted for the Bucs only hit. The hit by McDonald made Cain just the 7th pitcher ever to have a perfect game foiled by allowing the pitcher to reach base.
2. Kansas City pitching coach Dave Eiland holds a unique place in baseball history. I say unique, because Eiland's statistical feat is truly unique. Eiland is the only pitcher in MLB history to give up a home run to the first batter he ever faced and also hit a home run in his very first MLB plate appearance. On August 3, 1988 Eiland gave up a home run to Brewers leadoff man, Paul Molitor in an eventual 6-5 loss to the Brew Crew. Four years later, Eiland landed on the Padres roster. On April 10, 1992, Eiland took Dodger pitcher Bob Ojeda deep in the second inning of San Diego's 8-3 win over Los Angeles.
3. With Tampa Bay's 1-0 win over Boston Monday, Rays Manager Joe Maddon got his 500th win. The makes Joe Maddon a member of an exclusive club. Only five managers have 500 or more wins with their current teams. The other four mangers are Mike Scioscia (LAA), Ron Gardenhire (MIN), Charlie Manuel (PHI), and Jim Leyland (DET).
Baseball Card of the Week: For his unique place in baseball history, here's a look at Dave Eiland's 1991 Topps card.
Until next week folks, remember that a backwards K in the scorebook is the symbol used for when a batter strikes out looking.
-The Commissioner
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