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!
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
