Category: Uncategorized

Kudos to Trevor Hoffman who just reached the 400 save mark today. In the Padres 6-5 win against the Cardinals, he retired the side in order to reach the historic mark.

Those with 400 saves:

Lee Smith 478
John Franco 424
Trevor Hoffman 400

Dontrelle Willis won today to up his record to 6-0, best in majors. He defeated the Rockies to extend their losing streak to 9 games.

Jon Garland isn’t far behind at 5-0. He has his chance tomorrow against the Blue Jays. Not only that, he’s got a 23 inning scoreless streak going

Also of note today, Jamie Moyer lost his first of year. He’s now 4-1. Well, it couldn’t last forever but here’s one Moyer fan that hopes he keeps going strong throughout the season.

I was browsing through MLB.com’s Milestone Tracker for pitchers and noticed that Buddy Groom just tied Ron Reed for 36th all time in Games Pitched.

I know it’s due to the trends in use of relievers in today’s baseball but it’s hard for me to believe that Buddy Groom would be 36th all-time in anything.

Put this in the “Whatever” Dept.

Lawmakers in California voted to force the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to put a disclaimer on all LA Angels’ tickets sold in Anaheim that clarifies the team plays in Anaheim not Los Angeles.

Assemblyman Tom Umberg was quoted:

“This product contains no Los Angeles”

How’s that state budget comin’, guys?

While up in Chicago, I had the great opportunity to attend the White Sox game against the Tigers. Thanks go to my friend, Tyler who secured the ticket and acted as host and guide for the day.

We entered US Celluar Field about 20 minutes before game time and things were looking pretty dreary. It was a bit cool and it was drizzling rain. Tyler and I took cover in the concourse.

Finally, it was 2:05pm, gametime but no sign of the game starting. The grounds crew rolled out the tarp on part of the basepaths between second and third but stopped there as if waiting for further instructions.

Finally, three things happened at once…

Over the PA system, we heard Frank Sinatra’s Chicago- My Kind Of Town.

The Sun came out.

and the crowd broke out into a big roar.

The Tigers never really stood a chance with the way Jon Garland was pitching. He came into the game 4-0 and fresh off a 4-hit shutout against the A’s. He showed no signs of slowing down. He ended up pitching another 4-hit shutout to extend his record to 5-0.

This is Joe Crede up to bat. He drove in the first run of the game with a sac fly.

We were 6 rows up along the line near rightfield. As a result, Timo Perez was a fan favorite of those sitting around us. After he hit his 2-run homer in the 7th, he became even more popular.

“Timo!! Timo!!” Everyone was trying to elicit a reaction from Timo. Finally, between pitches, he raised his hand and acknowledged his fans.

This guy here was a real work of art. When the Sox were up, he spent the whole time riding rightfielder Bobby Higginson and riding him real hard. I mean this guy’s language would make a sailor blush.

It got me to thinking… what if I went to this guy’s workplace and stood right next to him and yelled at him all day. Just saying…

It is interesting that he would be yelling at Bobby Higginson of all players. Higgy was batting .090 with 1 rbi for the year.

Another interesting transpiration of the game was the near brawl that took place. Garland threw a pitch that went behind Rondell White. White took offense at that and took a few steps toward Garland and the benches emptied. No punches were thrown but White was booed quite loudly the next time he was up.

Seems to me that everyone (pitchers,batters, teammates, managers, fans) gets a little too defensive when it comes to the HBP question. Then again, I haven’t had a ball come at me at 80-90mph.

It didn’t rain once the game started (though it was slightly chilly) and the good guys won. US Celluar is a top notch park. The only downside as Tyler noted, is that as good as the Sox are doing, their fan base is just isn’t there. That was noticeable as there were many empty seats. As a Cub fan, I’m not used to that. With the Cubs, first place or last, winning or losing, they always pack Wrigley Field.

Anyway, a good time was had. Thanks again to Tyler!!

-TBZ

Cubs starter Kerry Wood came out of the game Saturday in the 3rd inning. As usual, Al from Bleed Cubbie Blue has the latest.

Looks like he’ll be out for at least 3 weeks.

Just got back into town from Chicago. Saw the White Sox and Tigers game on Sunday. Write-up and pics coming soon…

by Teddy Ballgame

Finally got out to see my cousin Kevin Kaminski play baseball for Harper College. It was a cold day with the north wind whipping as we pulled up to Oakton College field in Des Plaines, IL. As I approached the stands the first batter #18 for Harper hit a shot into the hole for a base hit and later that inning Kevin scored the first run of the game on a sac fly. Going into the bottom of the 1st Harper had a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the frame Oakton’s first hitter ripped a screaming meanie ticketed for centerfield, but secondsacker Kaminski dove full out, punched the batter’s ticket, & threw him out at 1st. Sadly Harper went on to lose the game 3-2 with the go ahead run scoring on a squeeze play. Kevin got on two other times in the game, once when he took one for the team (HBP) and once on an error on a hard hit ball to third. He moved a runner along on a hit & run groundout in another plate appearance. He also showed a good arm turning a nifty 6-4-3 DP. Kevin Kaminski is doing quite well at Harper, but hasn’t decided where his baseball life will take him next. It should be noted Kevin launched one over the wall at the Metrodome earlier this season. Who knows someday we might be watching him play at Wrigley Field.

Chase Utley hit a homerun for the Philles Friday night in a 6-4 loss. Unfortunately this has been a somewhat rare starting spot. To be fair, he’s been starting about half the time but my sources say that Utley is the real deal.

In 16 games, Utley is hitting .292 with 3 homers with a .500 slugging pecentage. Right now, the Phils are playing Placido Polanco for most of the balance of the games at second. I’m wondering what the Phils are waiting for.

Much has been made in the sports media of the Maddux/Clemens matchup aka “The 300-somethings” on Friday.

Not so much has been made of the combined season total of wins of both pitchers going into Friday’s game.

That would be a long skinny one.

As you probably know by now, the Cubs and Maddux won. I found the trailer to ESPN’s coverage of the game rather weird. Something to the effect of Maddux won Friday’s game but Clemens gets bragging rights.

This was due to Clemens going 2-2 against Maddux.

As Clemens made very clear in his post-game interview, that’s not why he’s being paid. At least he understands that if the media doesn’t.