Teddy Ballgame | The Baseball Zealot

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE TEDDY BALLGAME???

Hello all… It has been a long time since I’ve posted anything to the Baseball Zealot. I apologize for my absence and hope I was missed. I did miss writing, but please don’t ask me to account for my time away. All I can say is that I’ve been having fun, living large, and enjoying … Continue reading “WHERE HAVE YOU GONE TEDDY BALLGAME???”

Hello all… It has been a long time since I’ve posted anything to the Baseball Zealot. I apologize for my absence and hope I was missed. I did miss writing, but please don’t ask me to account for my time away. All I can say is that I’ve been having fun, living large, and enjoying summertime. Now that it’s after Labor Day, the baseball season is coming to an end, and the playoffs are just around the corner, I’m back at my usual post as the Baseball Zealot’s Wingman, if he’ll have me.

Even though my White Sox have had a terrible season on the Southside, I’ve been out there as a Sox Supporter about 40+ times this year. To be honest, it’s been tough to watch. Maybe that’s why I haven’t been so eager to write about baseball. You know what they say, if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything.

Went to the Cell last night to see the White Sox play the playoff bound Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, hoping to see Jim Thome hit his 500th home run of his career. It would be the first time a player would hit number 500 representing the Southside Hitmen, but alas this would not be the night.

Was in my usual spot 35 rows behind home plate, right by Nancy Faust’s organ. Nancy only plays during day games, so her organ was silent. Her mother has been ailing and is in my thoughts. It’s too bad baseball has gone to canned music and away from organ music. There’s something about organ music at a baseball game that can’t be beat.

While watching the game last night with CLuke, his daughter, and Tade, we got to talking with Mike the caramel-corn guy. Mike had comprised a list of 14 players gone from the 2005 championship team, we came up with three more. A few innings later an older gentleman said, “that’s my son batting”, turned out to be Jermaine Dye’s Dad. He struck up a conversation with CLuke, Saying 17 players are gone from the 2205 team, he must’ve been talking with caramel-corn Mike, CLuke didn’t have the heart to tell him that he’d helped come up with the 17 names on the list.

Then there was a large gathering of fans in front of us. I asked if they were having a family reunion, turns out 19 people from Scot Shields’ family were on hand to watch the ballgames over the weekend. Scot’s two little girls were there horsing around with their aunts. It really brought it home that these ballplayers are people too. Most of Shields’ family is from Milwaukee, but some folks came from Michigan.

A couple more examples of ballplayers being people too were right there in front of us. Mark Buehrle’s wife was on hand with their four week old son Braden, CUTE! Also in attendance were members of Jim Thome’s family, hoping to be on hand for Jim’s 500th Big Fly, the Thome’s are from Peoria.

If Jim hits his 500th in one of the next two days, I’ll be there to witness the event, and will cover it for the Zealot. DonS might even come out to see his Halos with me on Sunday.

NO BRAINER TO PROMOTE BRAUN

Ryan Braun I first saw and heard of Ryan Braun when I went to watch prospects in the Arizona Fall League. Then I saw him again in Spring Training. I’ll be the first to admit that I may be a “Johnny Come Lately” when it comes to noticing this kid, but I’m TOTALLY sold!!! Ryan … Continue reading “NO BRAINER TO PROMOTE BRAUN”

Ryan Braun

I first saw and heard of Ryan Braun when I went to watch prospects in the Arizona Fall League. Then I saw him again in Spring Training. I’ll be the first to admit that I may be a “Johnny Come Lately” when it comes to noticing this kid, but I’m TOTALLY sold!!! Ryan can flat out MASH!!!

DOUBLEHEADERS & A HANUKKAH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

jeter3

Buck called to say he had an extra ticket for Tuesday night’s game between the White Sox and the Yankees. I told him I’d take it, but thought better after checking the weather and seeing thunderstorms in the forecast. Sure enough the game was called at about 9:30 PM, without ever starting. The White Sox kept their fans in the ballpark watching the Bulls win a game over the Detroit Pistons on the scoreboard TV. Actually White Sox ballplayers left the park about 7:30, but fans weren’t told about the rainout for
a couple of more hours. There was plenty of time to buy overpriced beer. When it was time to shutdown the beer concessions, the game was called, the Bulls game was shutoff (even though there was over six minutes left in the game, although Chicago had it well in hand). The fans were told the game would be made up the next day as part of a day/nite doubleheader.

Wednesday looked much better, so I decided to head down to the Cell with Buck & his wife for game #1 of a split doubleheader. The Yankees hold over a 1,000 win advantage over Chicago in the alltime series between the two clubs. So it was time for a little payback. Rather than assuming my usual spot next to Nancy Faust (she was there, as it was a day game), we went out to the sunshine of the bleachers. It was a little chilly, so I wore a black sweatshirt, big mistake, I roasted in the sun, still much better
than freezing in the shade. Paul Konerko put the Sox up one with a 4th inning solo shot off Mike Mussina, the Yanks tied it in the 5th, the Sox took a one run lead in the bottom of the 5th, and the Yanks tied it in the 6th, but then Chicago posted three in the bottom of the 6th, and never looked back. As John Danks picked up his 2nd career win, Matt Thornton recorded the save, 5-3 final.

After the game we went over to Berucci’s on 24th, Buck & his wife went home after a fine Italian meal, but dropped me back at the Cell for the nightcap. I told the ticket guy I wanted the worst seat in the house, he looked at me a little strange, before charging me $25 for a seat way up in the leftfield upperdeck. It started cooling down, with nasty looking clouds rolling in, as I headed for my spot behind homeplate. It was good to see Tade there, although he looked cold from tailgating with friends between
games. Tade also said it was a bit nippy watching the first game in the shade. By sitting in the bleachers for the first game, I did miss out on seeing Al, Anthony, & Steve, not to mention NANCY! But I really did not miss freezing my butt off at a ballgame.

The night game was delayed one hour and all I could think of was deja vu all over again, but this time there was no Bulls game on the centerfield scoreboard. NickyV (my baseball traveling companion & big Yankee fan) was there with his buddy Ed. Nick & I would hang all the time, but that was pre-girlfriend (yikes, how things change, hadn’t seen NickyV since March). Also CLuke was in the house, with his main squeeze, but I ventured down to see him three times, before we finally hooked up, he gave me a ride
home, which was well appreciated.

A Wang fan from Taiwan was standing behind homeplate with me, rooting his hurler on to victory, in actuality, he didn’t need much help, although I’m sure he appreciated seeing his country’s flag in the hand of this fan. It was an old fashioned pitcher’s dual through six innings 2-1 Bombers. NY scored a couple of more in the 7th, before blowing it open with four in the 9th, final score 8-1 bad guys.

Thursday would be another doubleheader, but this time the Chicago Bulls/Detroit Pistons game would be the nightcap. The on-the-band-wagon/off-the-band-wagon Chicago sportswriters were big Bulls supporters once again. The Bulls got clobbered in games one & two in Detroit, then blew a big lead in Chicago, to go down three nothing. But with a win Mother’s Day in Chicago and a win Tuesday in Detroit, there was life, even though it was a 3-2 Piston series lead. I truly thought a win Thursday night would result
in a hard fought seven game series win for the Bulls, but I honestly didn’t think we were going to win game six.

But there was a daytime baseball game between the Yankees and the White Sox before basketball. Again it was a sunshiney/cool day, so I’d be watching much of this game from the bleachers. I took the Redline to the Cell, Buck was stuck in traffic, so I stood behind homeplate with Tade & Nancy, till Buck got there. Jon Garland was matched up against DeSalvo. When Buck got there, we headed out to the bleachers, Buck said, “Let’s watch Jermaine Dye’s homer”, the next pitch was GONE! Bobby Jenks was called on to
save the 4-1 win.

Buck dropped me off at Wishbone after the baseball game, where I met my Dad, for a bite, and it was time for Bulls playoff basketball. The Bulls came out strong and had a halftime lead, it looked like the Bulls might advance after all. But then reality set in, the Pistons won, and it was time to look to next year.

As for me, even though my guys would be headed for Wrigley, I was Waupaca bound for my niece’s Hanukkah birthday celebration (the celebration lasts for a week it seems). The highlight would be a trip to Build-A-Bear and Shrek 3 for my niece & all her friends.

WALKOFF WALK

Michael Wuertz Jose Reyes singled for the Mets with two outs in the bottom of the 9th of a 4-4 game. Everyone knew he was going to steal, so Wuertz threw to first a number of times, before delivering a pitchout to Endy Chavez, but Reyes was safe at 2nd anyway. Three more balls to … Continue reading “WALKOFF WALK”

Michael Wuertz

Jose Reyes singled for the Mets with two outs in the bottom of the 9th of a 4-4 game. Everyone knew he was going to steal, so Wuertz threw to first a number of times, before delivering a pitchout to Endy Chavez, but Reyes was safe at 2nd anyway. Three more balls to Chavez put runners on 1st & 2nd. Carlos Beltran received three straight balls before being intentionally walked. The Shea crowd was going crazy as Carlos Delgado fought through a ten pitch at bat, before Michael walked him too, forcing in the winning run. 5-4 Mets over the Cubbies.

Later I was watching Greg Maddux on TV dispose of the Cincinnati Reds in a complete game, little over 90 pitch gem. The Reds announcers said that Maddux has only gotten to a 3-0 count on 18 batters, in his career, AMAZING!

MVP: JACK CUST

Jack Cust

Oh Mother’s Day – Jack Cust hit a three run walkoff homer. It was his sixth home run in seven games this season with the A’s. Cust had hit only five home runs in his parts of five seasons in the majors. Jack is batting .346 and has 14 RBIs, he only had 19 RBIs in his career before these last seven games. Maybe he’s been listening to his own instructions, checkout his Baseball Academy.

HE’S NOT A WEEKS FIELDER NOW

rweeks

In 2005 he had 21 errors in 95 games and in 2006 he had 22 miscues in 92 games, but this year he has made only one error in 30 games. Last night I was watching the Brewers on TV, flipping back and forth between watching the Pistons humiliate my Bulls once again, and saw Rickie Weeks backhand a ball up the middle & fire a strike to first to get the out. Then I heard the announcers say, Rickie has really improved in the field, and only has one error on the year. I had to check it out and sure
enough, just one error. Then the announcers said something that would have been considered a joke not long ago, the DP combo of Hardy & Weeks reminded them of Trammell & Whitaker.

Is there hope for B.J. Upton? Finally the Devil Rays have found a place for Upton, secondbase. He’s leading the league in batting .371 & strikeouts 37, that’s never happened before. But my question is whether Upton can find the same magic fielding dust that Weeks found and sprinkle some on his glove. B.J. made 13 errors at thirdbase in 2005 in 50 games. Thus far Upton’s committed nine errors in 27 games this year at secondbase.

I ALREADY CANO’D IT

When I was in Clearwater this spring watching the Yankees play the Phillies I knew something was up. Robinson Cano had switched his number from 22 to 24. There was this buzz in the air, Roger Clemens was returning to the Yankees. So I had to laugh when it was finally made official yesterday. Do … Continue reading “I ALREADY CANO’D IT”

canojersey

Do you have any new news to report?

THESE BREWERS ARE FOR REAL!

Yesterday I checked in to see the owner of Uptown Pizza. Uptown Pizza is the best pizza you can get in Waupaca, WI. Waupaca was celebrating its 150th birthday. Brad, Uptown’s owner, is a big Brewer fan, even before this year. Brad checks out the Zealot from time to time and he says, “I scrolled … Continue reading “THESE BREWERS ARE FOR REAL!”

jjhardy

Yesterday I checked in to see the owner of Uptown
Pizza. Uptown Pizza is the best pizza you can get in
Waupaca, WI. Waupaca was celebrating its 150th
birthday. Brad, Uptown’s owner, is a big Brewer fan,
even before this year. Brad checks out the Zealot
from time to time and he says, “I scrolled and
scrolled and scrolled and scrolled, looking for
something about his beloved Brewers and was
disappointed to find nothing”. So here goes…

A friend of mine asked whether he should keep JJ Hardy
on his fantasy baseball team. I told him JJ was a
.260 hitter, at best, and would end up hitting 12
homers. Since giving my advice, Hardy has had two 4
for 5 games and has hit his 9th home run of the
season. I’m afraid to see whether my friend took my
bad advice, well it could have been worse, I could’ve
cut him from my fantasy team.

I’m not going to lie and say I saw this coming. But
it is nice to see, the Milwaukee Brewers in 1st place
in the NL Central Division. I picked the Cardinals to
win the Central, but with Chris Carpenter out for
three months, even the magicians of LaRussa & Duncan
look to be overmatched.

But the Brewers success has much more to do with
Milwaukee taking care of business rather than the
misfortune of the Redbirds. The Brew Crew has won two
thirds of the games they’ve played thus far. Granted
it’s very early in the season, only 30 games played.

And living in Chicago I know firsthand a good start
doesn’t always translate to a successful season, the
Cubs have won many a April Championships, only to
falter as the year wore on.

But I don’t think that will happen to this year’s
Brewer squad. First off they have a steady manager in
Ned Yost who seems to roll with the punches, he
doesn’t get too up and he doesn’t get too down. The
Brewers have a good lineup 1-8, with a good mix of
young guys and veterans. But pitching is where it’s
at, and this is where Milwaukee really has it all
together. The starting staff is made up of Ben
Sheets, Chris Capuano, Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, and
Claudio Vargas. You’d be hard pressed finding a
better starting five in baseball. And Coco (could
there be a better nickname?) Cordero has been closing
the door everytime out and Derrick Turnbow seems to
have found his game as the setup man.

Now everybody, ROLL OUT THE BARRELS & WE’LL HAVE A
BARREL OF FUN… Can I get a bratwurst with
sauerkraut & a brewski?

4/19/07: BACK TO THE CELL

No sense crying over spilled beer My sister-in-law asked me, what it was like to miss seeing Buehrle’s no-hitter. “Was it like missing a really big sale at Nordstrom’s?”, she asked. “No, bigger”, I replied. “How about if I didn’t really have tickets to see Oprah?”, “No, bigger!” I then felt my eyes starting to … Continue reading “4/19/07: BACK TO THE CELL”

No sense crying over spilled beer

My sister-in-law asked me, what it was like to miss seeing Buehrle’s no-hitter. “Was it like missing a really big sale at Nordstrom’s?”, she asked. “No, bigger”, I replied. “How about if I didn’t really have tickets to see Oprah?”, “No, bigger!” I then felt my eyes starting to get watery. That’s when it hit me, I’m a guy! Guys don’t talk about their feelings. We just bury them under beer. So I wasn’t gonna cry over spilled beer. I went out to the Cell to watch some baseball. Who knows, maybe I’d catch another no-hitter, the very next night.

It was a good game, wish the Sox fans would leave the booing of Sammy to the Cub fans. Joe Crede busted up a three-three tie with an RBI single, Rob Mackowiak hit a two run shot, and Bobby Jenks closed it out for a 6-4 winner over Texas. Scott Feldman the losing pitcher for the Rangers serves up alot of meatballs, don’t grab him for your Fantasy Team.

4/19/07: LINESCORE OF THE DAY – AROD

AROD

Alex Rodriguez 1 for 5, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 run, 1 GAME OVER

In the top of the 9th there was a chopper to ARod that he had to wait on as a runner passed in front of him, by the time he got the ball & sidearmed it over to firstbase the runner beat it out, but because his throw was high, and this is NY, and this is ARod (not Derek Jeter), Rodriguez was credited with an error that put the Yanks down 6-2. Alex was 0-4 up to that point, with two strikeouts.

Then came the bottom of the 9th. Cleveland closer Joe Borowski retired the first two hitters before Josh Phelps cut it to 6-3 with a solo shot. Then Jorge Posada dribbled one up the middle, Johnny Damon walked, Derek Jeter delivered an RBI single, and Bobby Abreu followed suit. Which brought up Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte had told Alex to be ready cuz he might get one more at bat. That premonition came to fruition as ARod stepped to the plate. And was he ever ready to crush the 1-0 offering high & deep over the centerfield fence for a walkoff home run! The fans went crazy! As did Rodriguez & his Yankee teammates! He knew it as soon as he connected, looking over to his dugout, and tossing his bat aside upon contact. He is the first hitter in AL history to reach the ten homer plateau in his first 14 games. After being interviewed on the field about his accomplishments, he tossed his batting gloves into the stands of screaming fans.

The next day at Fenway ARod hit two more home runs, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it and the Yanks lost to the Bosox. So far though Rodriguez’ home run totals for the year remind alot of folks of the Bambino’s, he has more homers at this point than alot of TEAMS!