Week one is in the books for the MLB season and the standings for the Longball League have been posted. Some teams had a great start and others know that there are still about 25 weeks left to play. Now, onto league business.
Roster Moves
No roster moves were made in the league this week
Who's Hot/Who's Not This Week
Hitters
Hot: Baltimore DH Chris Davis hit four homers and drove in 17 runs this past week. Wow.
Not: Josh Hamilton. The new high-priced Halo is batting a whopping .160 with 0 HR 2 RBI and 10 strikeouts in just six games.
Pitchers
Hot: Hurler Yu Darvish of Texas won two games and struck out 20.
Not: Cole Hamels is 0-2 with a 10.97 ERA to start the 2013 campaign.
Closers
Hot: White Sox Stopper Addison Reed picked up three saves and struck out four batters last week.
Not: Carlos Marmol of the Cubs had one blown save and one loss in three save opportunities. He was demoted from the closer's role on Sunday.
This Week's Three Trivial Things
1. Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers hurled a 4-0 shutout and hit a home run on opening day v. the Giants. How rare a feat was that? Well, the last time a pitcher hurled a shutout and hit a home run on opening day was 60 years ago. On April 14, 1953 Indians righty Bob Lemon shutout the White Sox, 6-0. Lemon hit a solo shot in the fourth inning off Chicago's Saul Rogovin.
2. The Angels struck out 17 times on opening day, yet managed to beat the Reds, 3-1 in 13 innings. That's a high K total, but the Halos have done that before. On April 12, 1966, the Angels struck out 17 times in a 14 inning, 3-2 opening day loss to the White Sox. The two starters in that game were Dean Chance for California and Tommy John for Chicago.
3. Emilio Bonifacio of the Blue Jays struck out four times and committed three errors at second base as he helped his team lose 6-4 to the Red Sox. Bonifacio became only the second player in the last 100 years to accomplish this dubious single-game feat.
Cool Baseball Card of the Week: 1965 Topps #519- Bob Uecker
With all the seriousness that permeates the game, I have a special thing for those who help us all remember that baseball is fun. Whether you've heard him as the voice of the Brewers on WTMJ, saw him as a Miller Lite pitchman, or laughed out loud at his Harry Doyle character in Major League, The Ueck has been doing this for a good 50+ years. This card makes me laugh every time I see it. I laugh because I know why Bob is smiling in this classic baseball card shot. Old Ueck pulled a fast one on Topps. He's actually right-handed.
Pun-tastic!
With the season starting, I ran across some punny fantasy team names. Here's five groaners.
1. Angels in the Troutfield
2. D'Jeter Unchained
3. The Kemp-ire Strikes Back
4. Horse Walks into Aybar
5. Yu Da Man
Old Sporting News Quote of the Week
"During spring training the Yanks had an extraordinary run on injuries."
I guess baseball is a cyclical game. That quote came form an article by C.C. Johnson Spink in the April 13, 1963 issue of TSN
Until next week folks, you gotta get hits with runners in scoring position. You can't put it on the board, if you don't get 'em in.
-The Commissioner
