Week 7

Hey All,

The Texas Juggernaut rolls along, while the Nationals keep up their fine year, and the Phillies continue to underachieve.  Things were pretty lively in the Longball League too.

Who's Hot: Hitters
A. Pujols (LAA), J. Hamilton (TEX)

Who's Hot: Pitchers
J. Verlander (DET), C.C. Sabathia (NYY)

Who's Not: Hitters
D. Jeter (NYY)

Who's Not: Pitchers
T. Linceum (SF), R. Halladay (PHI)

Roster Moves

5/21/2012
Thunder Mountain Lightning
Dropped M. Kemp (LAA), Added J. Votto (CIN)

Rubber Band Men
Dropped M. Kemp (LAA), Added J. Hamilton (TEX)

This Week's Three Trivial Things

1. Giancarlo (formerly Mike) Stanton of the Miami (formerly Florida) Marlins hit an epic home run off the Rockies' Jamie Moyer last week.  It was a good blast because it was the 22-year old Stanton hitting a grand slam off the 49-year old Moyer that gave the Marlins a win. It was epic because it broke the scoreboard in left field.  That Roy Hobbs-like hit, brings me back to the story of the original hit that was the inspiration for the Roy Hobbs fictional feat. I've told this story before, but I'll tell it again now...

Back in 1946, William "Bama" Rowell of the Boston Braves smacked a ball off the Bulova Clock that sat atop the scoreboard in right field at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field.  Rowell's shot shattered the glass in the clock, thereby showering Dodger right fielder Dixie Walker with broken glass.  The clock continued running, then stopped dead at 4:25 PM, exactly one-hour  after being hit.  The Bulova company promised a new watch to anybody who hit the clock in a real game.  Rowell never received that watch though.   Some 41 years later in 1987, Rowell finally received his watch as part of the ceremonies on "Bama Rowell Day" in his home town of Citronelle, AL.  Rowell enjoyed showing off that watch, and telling the story behind it, until his death in 1993.  

2. Here's a pretty odd stat.  The Seattle Mariners pitching staff has not picked a runner off base all season.

3. The Curly W's are really piling up some Ks.  The Washington Nationals starters are averaging 8.8 strikeouts per game this season.  That is an incredible number of whiffs.  If the Nats staff does this for the whole year, they will set a new MLB record for KPG.  The current record is 8.3 Ks Per Game by the Cubs starting staff.  That staff had then-young phenoms Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.

Baseball Card of the Week

In honor of his being the inspiration for a feat by a hero of american literature, Bama Rowell gets this week's honor.  Unfortunately I couldn't find a card image of ol' Bama so here's a look at a press photo of him flanked by Boston Braves teammates Tommy Holmes (left), and Johnny Hopp (Right).  The players are sporting the Braves new silk uniforms.  These uniforms were worn for night games by the Braves for only one season, 1948.

Until next week folks, remember the umpire sometimes get hit by a pitch too.
-The Commissioner

Week 6

Hey All,

Interleague play started again this week in the Major Leagues.  Something that will be an almost daily occurrence starting in 2013 when the Houston Astros move to the American League Western Division, thereby leaving each league with 15 teams.  Actually, I'd love to see a radical realignment in baseball where all five California teams are put together in the same division.  I realigned the rest of baseball as well, so if you want my full plan... just kidding let's get on with this blog.

Who's Hot: Hitters
Miguel Cabrera (DET), A. Dunn (CWS)

Who's Hot: Pitchers
Justin Verlander (DET)

Who's Not: Hitters
Derek Jeter (NYY), Kendrys Morales (LAA)

Who's Not: Pitchers
Tim Lincecum (SF)

Roster Moves
5/14/12
Tax Dodgers: Dropped Matt Kemp  (LAD), added Curtis Granderson (NYY) injury move
Scorpions
Oxford Otters
2nd Semester Seniors: all three teams Dropped Matt Kemp (LAD), added Adam Dunn (CWS) injury move.

This Week's Three Trivial Things...

1. A lot of teams wore throwback uniforms this weekend, but nothing tops the San Diego Padres throwback threads.  The Friars wore their 1978 uniforms that even sported the 1978 All-Star Game patch on the side.  Love that swinging friar!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. The American League loves inter league play.  The American League had a nearly 200 game edge over the NL going into this weekend and nothing really happened to change the AL's dominance.  In fact, the NL hasn't posted a winning record in these match ups since 2003.


3. Here's some trivia you can win a few bar bets bets with.  There are five pitchers who have thrown three or more no-hitters in the majors.  The first four are Nolan Ryan (7), Sandy Koufax (4), Cy Young (3), and Bob Feller (3).  The fifth is Larry Corcoran.  Who?  The first four names on this list are baseball royalty.  Who was Larry Corcoran?  Well, I'll tell you.  Larry Corcoran was a pitcher for the Chicago White Stockings, New York Giants, and Indianapolis Hoosiers in the National League from 1880 to 1887. All three of his no-hitters were hurled for Cap Anson's White Stockings.  He achieved his fame as a switch pitcher.  He could pitch with either arm! Larry did not get to enjoy his baseball fame too long.  He died at age 32 of Bright's Disease, in 1891.

Baseball Card of the Week:  In honor of his three no-no's Larry Corcoran is the week's honoree.  Here's a look at his Old Judge brand card circa 1887.

Until next week folks, remember that it's almost always better to throw out the batter when he bunts than to go after the lead runner.

-The Commissioner

Week 5

Hey All,

The other 29 teams besides the Texas Rangers played in the majors this week, but Josh Hamilton stole all the headlines.

Who's Hot
Hitters: Josh Hamilton (TEX)  Nobody even comes close!

Pitchers:  Justin Verlander (DET) 2 Wins and a bunch of Ks is cool for this cat.

Who's Not
Hitters: Mark Teixeira (NYY) 1 RBI for the week!

Pitchers: Tim Lincecum (SF)  Definitely not looking he did in his Cy Young years.

Roster Moves: There were no moves in the league this week


This Week's Three Trivial Things

1. Everyone must have heard by now of Josh Hamilton's four home run game this week.  That was only the 16th time it has ever happened in the majors.  Hamilton's Texas teammate, Adrian Beltre has had a ring side seat for two of these historic games.  Beltre batted behind Hamilton in the lineup for this week's game.  Back in 2002, he hit in front of the Dodgers' Shawn Green when he went on his four homer tear.

2. C.J. Wilson of the Angels toed the rubber as the starter in back-to-back games this week.  Due to a rain delay in the first inning on Friday, Wilson was removed and then placed back into the lineup as the starting pitcher on Saturday as well.  Wilson lost one game and got a no decision in the other.  If he had lost both games he would have been the first starting pitcher to lose on consecutive days since Jack Sanford of the San Francisco Giants lost to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 8th and 9th, 1965.  Sanford lost both games with a total of 3 1/3 innings pitched. He was traded a little over a month later to the California Angels.

3. This isn't trivia, but I think the Baltimore Orioles are winning because they went back to the Earl Weaver era caps from the 1970s through the 80s.  

Baseball Card of the Week:  How could it be anybody but the Ranger's Josh Hamilton.  He only had the hottest week anyone has ever had in the majors.  So, here's a look at Josh's 2011 Topps Heritage card.

Until next week folks, think about how you could below 240,000,000 dollars.  I don't think I'd buy a first baseman with it.

-The Commissioner

Week 4

Hey All,

Well, there was a 17-inning game, a no-hitter, and one much anticipated home run this week in the big leagues.  That just helped tighten up the standings in the Longball League.

Who's Hot
Hitters: Ryan Braun (MIL)

Pitchers: Jered Weaver (LAA), Feliz Hernandez (SEA)

Who's Not
Hitters: Josh Hamilton (TEX), Miguel Cabrera (DET)

Roster Moves
4/30/2012
Oxford Otters:
dropped Albert Pujols (LAA), added Josh Hamilton (TEX)
dropped Cliff Lee (PHI), added Jered Weaver (LAA)

This Week's Three Trivial Things

1. I saw something pretty weird happen in the Angels-Blue Jays game last Saturday night.  Toronto's Jose Bautista was hit by a pitch, but not awarded first base.  He actually swung at the pitch that hit him.  The swing was strike three.  So, Bautista was called out on strikes despite being hit by the pitch.

2. I mentioned Ervin Santana's run support woes, but it got worse this week.  Santana receive no run support again as the Halos were shutout Friday by the Blue Jays.  That made 5 straight time that the Halos were shutout when Santana has pitched.  That has never happened before in Major League history.

3. The Orioles beat the Red Sox Sunday in a 17-inning war of attrition, 9-6.   The hero of the game for the O's was DH Chris Davis.  Oh, he didn't help his team with his bat.  He went 0 for 8 on the day.  He did it with his arm.  Having exhausted their bullpen, Davis came in from his DH slot and pitched two scoreless innings to get the win.  He gave up two hits, walked one, and struck out two in his stint on the mound.  In all, 38 players played in the game.  18 pitchers threw a total of 570 pitches, and the game lasted 6:07.

No-Hitter Salute:  Last wednesday night, the Halos Jered Weaver threw a no-hitter v. the Twins.  Weaver was nothing short of dominant in the 9-0 win.    Weaver will take the hill again on May 7th with a shot to tie Johnny Vander Meer's incredible feat of back-to-back no-hitters.  Ironically, Weaver will face the Twins again.  This time the game will be at Target Field, in Minneapolis.

Baseball Card of the Week: Two words: Jered Weaver.  Here's a look at Weaver's 2012 tops card.

Until next week folks, remember that it's good to late a few bunts down against a shift.

-The Commissioner