Week 8

Hey All,

Happy Memorial Day!  Here's the latest around the Longball League.

Who's Hot/ Who's Not This Week

Hitters
Hot: I don't even have to put the numbers up, Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is an offensive machine.

Not: Jesus Montero has worn out his welcome with the Mariners. The highly touted catcher came to the Mariners in a trade with the Yankees in 2012 and has never lived up to expectations.  He was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma this week.

Pitchers
Hot: John Lackey won a pair of games and fanned 13 for the BoSox.

Not: Jeremy Guthrie gave up 12 earned runs and picked up two losses in 12 1/3 innings pitched for the Royals.

This Week's Three Trivial Things

1. Hits are down, but time is up. The average number of total hits per game is at a low for the DH era. The last time this stat was so low was 1972, the year before the DH was instituted.  However, game time is up by about 20 minutes per game.  Combine these two stats and you have a recipe for boredom at the ballpark.

2. Boy, I thought dishpan hands were a problem . Ian Kennedy will miss his next scheduled start for the Diamnondbacks because he cut his pitching hand while doing dishes a couple of days ago.

3. There hasn't been a no-hitter yet this year, but one pitcher has retired 29 batters in a row. St. Louis hurler Miller threw a one-hitter back on May 10 where he allowed a hit to lead off the game then retired the next 27 batters.  Then, on May 15, he retired the first two batters in his next start before surrendering a baserunner.

Cool Baseball Cards of the Week: 1984 Fleer #182 Glenn Hubbard, #301 Tony Gwynn, #495 Jay Johnstone, #599 Darryl Strawberry.

The 1984 Fleer set has always been one of my favorites.  It has clean lines with a simple design that makes for an attractive card.  The set's strength is that it relies on good photos that combine with the simple design to make top notch cards.  Just take a look at the Darryl Strawberry and Tony Gwynn cards.

However, the set did have some cards that make you shake your head and wonder how some pictures ever made it onto a card.  The Jay Johnstone and Glenn Hubbard cards are prime examples of this.

The Budweiser sun hat that Jay Johnstone is sporting makes a funny picture, but just a goofy card.  As for Glenn Hubbard,  this is as bad as a baseball card can get.  Hubbard shares my opinion of this card.  For years he refused to autograph the card for fans and states how much he hates it quite regularly.  However, some autographed copies of the card have surfaced so either Glenn has mellowed over the years or the money is good on the card show circuit.

Until next week folks, remember that a pitcher's best pitch is strike one.

-The Commissioner

Week 7

Hey All,

Miguel Cabrera is looking like he's gonna make a serious run at another triple crown and there are several teams that are making a serious run at the Longball League crown.

Roster Moves

5/14/2013
The Eclairs dropped G. Gonzalez WAS and picked up A. Wainwright STL.

5/16/2013
The Sierra Vista Coachwhips dropped S. Strasburg WAS and picked up M. Scherzer DET

Who's Hot.Who's Not This Week

Hitters
Hot: Seattle's Raul Ibanez had 5 HR 11 RBI week.

Not: What a surprise, Josh Hamilton. He had 1 HR and 1 RBI for Halos to go with a robust .216 BA.

Pitchers
Hot: Chris Sale went 2-0 with 19 Ks and a pair of shutouts for the Pale Hose.

Not: Jim Johnson allowed 7 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched with 2 blown saves for Orioles.

This Week's Three Trivial Things

1.This past may 17th is a great day in baseball history as two Hall of Fame players reached the 3,000 hit milestone.  In 1925, Tris Speaker became just the fifth man to hit that magic statistical plateau.  He joined Cap Anson, Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, and Ty Cobb. Then, 45 years later in 1970, Hank Aaron became just the ninth man to reach 3,000 with a first-inning single off the Reds' Wayne Simpson.  There are currently 28 members of the 3,000 hit club.  Yes, 28.  From 1869-1969 the club had only eight members.  So, 20 more players have reached that mark in the last 43 years.  

2. Let's now refer to Trivial Thing #1.  As the number of 3,000 hit clubbers dramatically expanded, 300 win pitchers declined.  However, not by much. Only 24 pitchers have won 300 games ever, and there have only been 10 men to reach that historic plateau in the last 43 years.  Another thing to remember is that 10 of men on this list achieved the feat in the Dead Ball era.

3. Break up the Indians!  The Erie Warriors are in first place in the AL Central.  Most scribes like to talk about Jason Kipnis as one of the main reasons for the Tribe's success.  Don't forget about 1B/DH Mark Reynolds.  He's got .909 OPS with 12 Hrs and 37 RBI.


Cool Baseball Cards of The Week: 1960 Topps #377, 1963 Topps #120

Ahhhhh, the depressing case of Roger Maris. By now, most baseball fans know the absolute hell Roger Maris went through in 1961 when he broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run mark. Now, what's also known is that Roger wasn't the most ebullient of personalities to ever play the game.  He was a hard-working quiet guy who just wanted to go about his job and be left alone.  The toll of his struggle to live through this time can be seen in his cards.  Let's look at his 1960 card.

Roger was never big on smiling. He was a pretty stoic guy, but he looks like a ballplayer taking one of many pictures a player takes during the season. Now, let's look at the 1963 card.

  

It's easy to see that Maris looks like a beaten man.  The New York media, the fans and the pressure of breaking, then trying to live up to being the player that bested The Babe's record has taken a heavy toll.  I ask you, does that look like a guy enjoys playing the game?

Just like the Babe

Evidently people around baseball believe that only does Bryce Harper have a sweet swing, he's go a swing that reminds people of the Bambino.  Check out this link from the Washington Post.  Thanks Pam of the Taylor Run Red Foxes for send me this story! 

That Sweet Swing

Until next time folks remember that there are plenty of mental errors made in the field that never show up  in the scorebook.

-The Commissioner

Week 6

Hey All,

I hope everybody had a happy Mother's Day.  Let's now take a look around the Longball League.

Roster Moves

5/6/2013
The AngelsSox dropped C.J. Wilson LAA and up Y. Darvish TEX

Who's Hot/Who's Not This Week

Hitters
Hot: Evan Longoria hit three HRs and drove in 11 runs for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Not: Albert Pujols drove one whole run for the Angels.

Pitchers
Hot: Ubaldo Jimenez won two games and struck out 16 for the Cleveland Indians.

Not: Philip Humber lost two games, (one as a starter, and one out of the bullpen), allowed 13 earned runs on 13 hits and the lost his job.  He was designated for assignment by the Houston Astros on Sunday.

This Week's Three Trivial Things

1. At the 33 game mark earlier this week, the Dodgers checked in at 13-20, while the Angels sported a truly ugly 11-22 record.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau that is the worst combined start for both Los Angeles area MLB teams ever.

2. You never know what you're gonna see at the ballpark.  Last Friday night, Tampa Bay pitcher Alex Cobb had a rather weird top of the third inning v. the San Diego Padres.  He struck out four batters in the inning.  The first batter Cobb faced was Will Venable who reached base on Cobb's strike three wild pitch.  Venable then stole second as Chase Headley struck out.  Venable then stole third during Carlos Quentin's at bat.  After Quentin struck out, Yander Alonso stepped up to the plate.  Cobb then balked, which brought in Venable from third to score.  Then, to the end the inning, Alonso struck out.  That made Alex Cobb the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out the side and give up a run in the same inning.

3. This past May 10th marked an interesting anniversary of sorts for Hank Aaron. 46 years ago on May 10, 1967 Hammerin' Hank hit the only inside-the-park home run of his illustrious career. He did it in the 8th inning of the first game of a double header off Philadelphia's Jim Bunning.

Cool Baseball Cards of the Week: 1975 Hostess #s 28-29-30, Bert Campaneris, Pete Rose, and Buddy Bell

As if the moms of America didn't have enough trouble keeping their kids from begging for junk food in the supermarket back in 1975, Hostess added baseball cards to their "Family Sized" boxes of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Cupcakes, and Suzy Q's. The set was issued as three card panels on the bottom of the boxes.  The set totaled 150 cards, so you'd need to buy 50 boxes to complete the set. For those of you scoring at home, that would mean you would have to buy:

A. 400 Suzy Q's or Cupcakes (8 per box)
Or
B. 500 Twinkies (10 per box)
Or
C. 600 Ding Dongs  (12 per box)

Needless to say, complete sets aren't so easy to find.

Of Salaries and Men

Luci, The GM of the Eclairs,  sent me this great link last week. If you ever wanted to check on how your team stacks up against other teams payrolls in MLB, check out this link from the LA Times. 

Look at all that money!

Until next time folks remember that sometimes even the umpires don't know the rules.

-The Commissioner

Week 5

Hey All,

It was another fun week in the majors.  The Tigers had a lot of fun at the expense of the Astros.  While the guys wearing the Olde English D were racking up stats, so were the teams in the Longball League.

Roster Moves

4/29/2013
The Tax Dodgers dropped J. Hamilton LAA and picked up P. Fielder DET

5/3/2013
The A Team dropped J. Hamilton LAA and picked up M. Trout LAA

Who's Hot/Who's Not This Week

Hitters
Hot: The Tigers' Miguel Cabrera had a 4 HR, 13 RBI week.

Not: Josh Hamilton picked up one RBI this week for hapless Halos.

Pitchers
Hot: Another hot Tiger is Max Scherzer who won two games and struck out 18.

Not: R.A. Dickey lost two games and gave up 10 earned runs in 13 innings pitched for the Blue Jays.

This Week's Five Trivial Things

Why five?  It's in  honor of the Angles-A's 19 inning marathon last Monday night. Which, by the way, all  five trivial things will be about.

1. The 6 hour 32 minute affair was the longest game ever in regards to time for both clubs.  As far as innings, it was not.  The Angels have two 20 inning games (1971, 1982) in their history, while the A's went 21 innings with Senators in 1971.

2. Here's some crazy game totals. The two clubs combined for 156 plate appearances.  That breaks down to 141 at-bats, 12 walks, 1 hit by pitch1 sacrifice fly and 1 sacrifice bunt.  Also for stat geeks like me, nobody reached by interference or obstruction, but Halo SS Brendan Harris was called for obstruction in the second inning which allowed the A's Brandon Moss to advance from 2nd to 3rd.

3. The Best stat line in the game belongs to Albert Pujols who went 4 for 8 with 2 HRs and 3 RBI.  The record for most hits in an extra inning game is held by Johnny Burnett.  On July 7, 1932 he went 9 for 11 for the Cleveland Indians in a 18-17, 18 -inning loss to the Philadelphia A's.  He had two doubles and nine singles with just two RBIs.

4. The worst stat line in the game belongs to Josh Hamilton, of course!  0 for 8 with a sacrifice fly. Sad as 0 for 8 is, that's not the record for worst showing in an extra inning game. On June 3, 1989 Dodger CF John Shelby went 0 for 10 in a 5-4, 22-inning loss to the Astros.

5. The teams combined to use 16 pitchers in the game who threw a total of 597 pitches. Back on May, 1920 the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves played a 26-inning, 1-1 tie.  The starting pitchers went the distance! pitchers Leon Cadore and Joe Oeschger combined to throw 664 pitches according to great people at SABR.

Cool Baseball Cards of the Week; 1966 Topps #s 159 Chico Ruiz, 370 Chico Salmon, and 594 Chico Cardenas

Hey it's time for the three Chicos!  With the great influx of latin ballplayers in the 1960s, The guys at Topps had no clue about the names of the latin ballplayers. They thought Chico was a just another latin name like Jose or Guillermo. That's one big reason why there are three Chicos in the 1966 set.

It's a cultural facepalm for Topps, but just a funny part of baseball card history. The most valuable card of the bunch is Chico Cardenas.  He's an elusive high-number in the hard to complete set and can command upwards of 50 dollars in Near Mint condition. 

Until next week folks, try not to swing at pitches outside the zone.

-The Commissioner