Category: Uncategorized

Today is an important day.  Yes, I know yesterday was Opening Day.  But today is the first day we all get to browse to our favorite sports web site and see the full unadulterated list of box scores from the day before (for the record, I prefer USA Today’s site since they will list all box scores on one page. No clicking back and forth).

Today these box scores are full of extreme averages such as Zito’s ERA of 47.25 and Julio Lugo’s batting average of 1.000.  Of course, after a few games, these averages will eventually mellow out (Zito’s may take a while). 

I get to scroll down and see a relative unknown Japanese catcher with HR (1) by his name, his first career hit. 

I look through the box scores, screening them for players on my APBA team or my money draft team.  I see that Glavine allowed just one run in 6 innings and went 2 for 2 (he even was involved in a double play).  Albert Pujols was 2 for 2 with 2 homers (yess!).

And yes, despite a poor performance by Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs scored 16 runs and are in first place with a record of 1-0. 

The best part is that there will be a whole new set of box scores to look at tomorrow.

 

 

Freddy Garcia White Sox starter in game #2 versus the Cleveland Indians did his best Barry Zito imitation, Zito let up seven runs in only 1 1/3 innings in the A’s opener against the Yanks yesterday. Freddy allowed seven runs on nine hits, two walks, over 4+ innings of work. Garcia gave way to rookie Boone Logan with two on & nobody out in the 5th, Logan allowed both runners to score. The disturbing fact was that he didn’t have his fastball, which topped out at 89 rather than his usual 93 MPH fastball. Neither Hawk nor DJ brought up the fact in spring games that Garcia was trying something new, but today it was the topic of conversation. It wasn’t like Freddy was hurt or couldn’t throw hard, it was like he was trying to fool hitters rather than blow them away.

Before the game the White Sox received their World Champion rings. It was a nice ceremony. Some guys that were traded away were back to receive their hardware, El Duque, Willie Harris, Timo Perez, & Aaron Rowand all showed up. But Rowand received the biggest ovation and seemed to mist up. Jim Thome, the guy the Sox received for Aaron jacked his 2nd in two days far into the RF stands. Final score 8-2 Bad Guys. I’ll be at the Cell tomorrow.

LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

The Chicago White Sox were back on the field for the first time since the rifle arm of SS Juan Uribe cutdown any chances the dillusional Astros might have had in last year’s Fall Classic. Here is a picture of Teddy Ballgame along side the World Series Trophy from spring training and this is what it’s all about. Defending their World Champion status is what the ’06 season is all about. Certainly there are some questions going into the year, but this White Sox team may be better the team that won it all in ’05. People might say, “there goes Teddy Ballgame again off on crack”, and the experts have the Tribe winning the division. But the experts didn’t predict last season’s outcome and they’ve been wrong so often in the past that I pay them no more mind than the weather man. This year’s team has newcomers Jim Thome, Rob Mackowiak, Alex Cintron, & Javier Vazquez. Gone are Carl Everett, Timo Perez, Willie Harris, & El Duque. I’ll take that trade any day of the week. Also gone is the Big Hurt, but enough has been made of that departure already. Replacing Aaron Rowand is rookie Brian Anderson, trusting their own talent. Newly acquired lefty Matt Thornton will take Damaso Marte’s spot in the bullpen. And the good looking youngster Brandon McCarthy takes his talents to the pen. The LARGE MAN Bobby Jenks is again the closer, with Neal Cotts setting him up. But everyone knows the White Sox strength is their starting rotation. In a game where Championships are won with pitching & defense the White Sox can’t be beat. There isn’t a team in baseball that has a stronger five man rotation than the Sox Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, & Javier Vazquez. And the team’s defense is right up there with the best of them. Chicks may dig the long ball, but baseball people will tell you pitching & defense is what it’s all about. Was at the Cell (US Cellular Field) last night for the Opening Day Ceremonies & the unveiling of the World Championship banners. Got the opportunity to take it all in from 34 rows right behind the dish. Doesn’t get any better than that! There was a LONG rain delay and ended up getting home about 2:00 AM, but our seats were covered so I was warm enough in just a sweatshirt. I know it’s a long season, but last night’s opener did alot to address some of my concerns about this year’s ballclub. Brian Anderson handled centerfield and hit at the plate. Both Brandon McCarthy & Matt Thornton looked sharp out of the pen after rocky springs, Coop seems to have turned Thornton around. Jim Thome launched a 431 foot rocket into the night over the rightfield wall, his eighth homer since last Sunday. Checked out ESPN to see what games were going to be televised today and then remembered I’ve got the MLB package and can pretty much watch whatever I’d like. Don’t bother calling me today cuz I’ll be watching a little baseball. Next games on my schedule are the Sox hosting the Indians Wednesday and then the Cubbies home opener Friday versus the Redbirds. LET’S GO WHITE SOX!!!

It was hard enough to believe that Nick & Jessica were no longer an item, especially after the breakup of Jennifer & Brad, but now the baseball world is rocking at the news that Anna & Kris are done. Rumors have it that the Oriole clubhouse was visibly upset when the news was announced. An unnamed source was quoted as saying, “I was really looking forward to the team’s Christmas party this year”.

Update:  Anna Withdraws her request for a divorce -TBZ

 

Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth once ate between a dozen and 18 hot dogs before collapsing. Ruth was renowned for his ferocious appetite for hot dogs, beer, & women. I know hot dogs weren’t illegal, nor were they a banned substance, but they added bulk to the Babe’s frame giving him the strength to hit baseballs out of ballparks. His beer drinking eased his mind so he didn’t have to worry about which pitch a pitcher was going to throw him. All he had to remember was his home run trot. And all the women in his life relieved tension, making it easier for him to perform on the baseball diamond. Now you can’t tell me these weren’t unfair advantages over the typical major leaguer. Back in his day the Bambino hit more home runs than several teams.

Barry Bonds
Have you seen the picture of Bonds in drag? Enough said. Hasn’t this man suffered enough? Everybody knew Barry was doing steroids, but baseball chose to ignore the situation. Bonds wasn’t the only one doing it either, the problem came to a head when several stars needed more than one baseball card to fit their picture on. While juice wasn’t a banned substance, it was illegal, but baseball was rebounding from a strike and home runs were great theatre. I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy, but there certainly was some complicity.

Hank Aaron
And we’re certainly not going to let Hank Aaron off the hook. Hank was larger, stronger, and possessed greater hitting skills than most of his fellow ballplayers. Just looking at Aaron’s physique you could tell he worked hard to sculpt his body into the Hammer he’d become. Alot of other players weren’t paid as much as he was, making it necessary for them to take on offseason jobs, while Henry could just work on his baseball abilities. Talk about an unfair advantage!

I guess what I’m trying to say is, Give it a rest Bud Selig! Go back to selling used cars! Baseball decided not to test for steroids and “allow” players to use them while other sports weren’t, live with that decision. Now steroids are banned and there’s a testing system in place. You can’t go back and change what’s happened. Stop pretending you didn’t know it was happening! I’m tired of the hypocricy! Let’s not whine about unfair advantages of the past, LET’S PLAY BALL!!!

Kevin Appier was sent to Seattle’s minor league camp in a move that gives him time to improve his health and possibly return to the major leagues. The year was 1989 when Appier was first brought to the bigs by the Kansas City Royals. It was a Royals team that won 92 ballgames and featured such stars as George Brett, Bo Jackson, Bret Saberhagen, & Mark Gubicza. This is the same Kevin with a 169-137 mark, a lifetime 3.74 ERA, and 1,994 strikeouts. He didn’t pitch at all in 2005 and only brief appearances in 2003 & 2004. The 38 year old right hander last pitched a full season with the Angels in 2002 when he was 14-12 with an ERA of 3.92 in 32 starts. His best years were in 1993 when he was 18-8 with a 2.56 ERA & 1992 when he had a 15-8 record and a sparkling 2.46 ERA. He had a 2.84 ERA with two wins this spring with the Mariners before being shipped out to give his calf time to heal.

George Brett has always been a prankster, a joker of sorts.  I used to be good friends with the mother of Nick Swartz, the trainer of the Royals so I would hear stories of Brett’s kangeroo court and practical jokes he would play on KC rookies.

But his latest “prank” has gone a little too far as far as I’m concerned.

Brett’s target was Andre David who was born in Afghanistan.  Brett wrote “Ahmed Mohammed Ahi” on David’s cap before a trip to the Orlando airport.  TSA officials immediately profiled David and took him to a special room to process him.

The “joke” didn’t end there.  While processing David, TSA officials found plastic knives that Brett had put in David’s bag.  Fortunately, all was explained away. 

What’s wrong with a little, harmless prank?  Well, Brett fails to understand that, in this day and age of heightened security, you don’t play games especially in an airport.  As a white man, Brett may not fully appreciate this but post-911 attitudes have done an injustice against innocent Muslim men and women simply because of their background.  I don’t seriously think David would have gotten in trouble because of plastic knives but do you really want to take that chance?

 

This goes under the rumor mill category.  You know, a guy heard from a guy.  Neverless, it’s interesting.

I was talking to my distributor this afternoon.  He’s a die-hard Cubs fan and we often catch up on the latest Cub news between placing orders.  Turns out one of his co-workers just got back from Vegas.  He was hanging out at Caesar’s Palace and who should he see from afar but Pete Rose. 

Oh, the irony of it all.

My friend is actually planning to go to Vegas himself.  He’s planning to catch a Cubs game if he can get tickets.

 

I’d just like to officially note that my trip to Arizona for some spring training baseball was a success. This my 3rd trip west to watch Cactus League exhibition baseball and what a fun time it was. Met up with DonS, his brother Kevin, sister-in-law Dawn, and DonS’s friend Tom. Kevin participated in the White Sox fantasy camp this past January, it was cool to see him interacting with Harold Baines, Kevin Hickey, & Man Soo Lee. Also Kevin & Dawn rent an RV, which makes tailgating all the better. DonS arranges EVERYTHING for the trip, from lodging to game tickets. Tom & Dawn are two of the coolest people you’d ever wanna hang with. Also got a chance to see my friend Lora who recently relocated to Scottsdale, it’s been a couple years, way too long! Thanks to everybody, it was a BLAST!!!

Edinson Volquez didn’t have it as he allowed five runs over two innings, on five hits, and three bases on balls. Corey Koskie hit two balls over the wall and Gabe Gross hit one, both came over to the Brewers from Toronto. Geoff Jenkins hit two doubles, one about 430 feet, high off the centerfield hitting back drop. Tomo Ohka struckout seven over five innings for the Brew Crew, but did allow seven hits, and four runs (two earned). Knuckleballer Jared Fernandez pitched two shutout innings for Milwaukee, who ended up doubling up the Rangers 10-5.