Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
I guarantee a lot of fantasy team owners with Vladimir are making this exact same face as they read about his injury. Vlad jammed his shoulder while trying to avoid a tag at home plate during a game against the Dodgers yesterday. Reports confirmed that he indeed jammed his left shoulder but as of yet … Continue reading “Vlad’s Jammed”
I guarantee a lot of fantasy team owners with Vladimir are making this exact same face as they read about his injury. Vlad jammed his shoulder while trying to avoid a tag at home plate during a game against the Dodgers yesterday.
Reports confirmed that he indeed jammed his left shoulder but as of yet there is no idea how long he will be out.
To add possible injury to injury, Jarrod Washburn left early with tightness in the same game.
Today’s University of Illinois baseball game is being billed as “Dog Day Afternoon”. It says in part: Bring your dog to the park and receive free admission for yourself and your four-legged friend Yes, and don’t forget to bring your pooper scoopers. And I’m sure your dogs will behave just fine with a hundred other … Continue reading “Promo Idea Best Left on the Drawing Board”
Today’s University of Illinois baseball game is being billed as “Dog Day Afternoon”. It says in part:
Bring your dog to the park and receive free admission for yourself and your four-legged friend
Yes, and don’t forget to bring your pooper scoopers. And I’m sure your dogs will behave just fine with a hundred other dogs in a small enclosed area.
I attended the Illini game last night and it wasn’t pretty. They lost their fifth in a row and their magic number remains at two. With three games left against Iowa this weekend, they need to win the next two to clinch the Big Ten title. Brian Blomquist took the loss last night and it … Continue reading “Another Illinois Loss: Now I’m a Bit Worried”
I attended the Illini game last night and it wasn’t pretty. They lost their fifth in a row and their magic number remains at two. With three games left against Iowa this weekend, they need to win the next two to clinch the Big Ten title.
Brian Blomquist took the loss last night and it was evident he didn’t have his stuff. Iowa exploded for a 7-run inning in the fourth which pretty much sealed up the game though Illinois did make it interesting by scoring a few in the later innings.
Final score: Iowa 12 Illinois 9
As seen here, Iowa used the hit and run pretty frequently.
Iowa starter Jeff Maitland held Illinois in check until the 6th inning when he was pulled for a reliever.
Maybe it’s me but Iowa has the ugliest road uniforms. Talk about dingy looking.
A frustrated Illini Coach Itch Jones walking off the field after not scoring any runs.
Seems to me I remember when Coach Jones came on board with the Illini years ago, his nickname was “Itchy”. For some reason, the Athletic Dept at the U of I thought that “Itchy” was unsavory or something. So they decreed to change his nickname to the much more acceptable “Itch”.
Whatever.
We moved back behind the plate towards the end of the game. This is probably the worst seat in the park and it ain’t too bad. We stood next to these guys who were riding the umps really hard. I had to admit the home plate ump was pretty inconsistent with his balls and strikes.
Tonight there is a twi-night doubleheader and tomorrow an afternoon game. It sure would be nice if they could sweep tonight and play tomorrow “just for the fun of it”.
Abreu? Hall of Fame? I never considered the thought. But Baseball Musings makes the case that Bobby Abreu may be HOF material. So I looked up his stats and I must admit his stats do warrant attention. Six straight years with 20+ homers (and certainly on his way to a seventh). Six years with 20+ … Continue reading “Abreu HOF Material??”
Abreu? Hall of Fame?
I never considered the thought.
But Baseball Musings makes the case that Bobby Abreu may be HOF material. So I looked up his stats and I must admit his stats do warrant attention.
Six straight years with 20+ homers (and certainly on his way to a seventh). Six years with 20+ steals (again on his way to a seventh). Three 100 rbi seasons and four 100 run seasons. And maybe overlooked, six straight years with 100+ walks.
He is probably the best chance at a 40-40 season in the MLB right now.
I’ll be watching Bobby a little closer now.
Joe Mays, Minnesota Twins 9 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K Somebody out there joked that the Twins management must be fining the Twins pitchers for every walk they issue but I’m starting to believe it. Let’s take another look: In 39 games, the Twins have allowed 56 walks. That … Continue reading “5/19 Linescore of the Day”
Joe Mays, Minnesota Twins
9 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Somebody out there joked that the Twins management must be fining the Twins pitchers for every walk they issue but I’m starting to believe it. Let’s take another look:
In 39 games, the Twins have allowed 56 walks. That works out to 1.44 BB/9 IP for the entire team.
To put it in perspective, the Yankees are in a distant second place with 98 (2.44 BB/9 IP). Colorado is last with 188 walks (5.12).
Quick Summary… Maddux obviously had an off day. And Garcia, who had horrendous outings in his two previous starts, was on his game. Both pitched high and tight as they hit opposing batters prompting the men in blue to issue a warning to both benches. Lee had a rare and costly error and Crede got … Continue reading “Sox Get Lucky in First Game of Series :)”
Quick Summary…
Maddux obviously had an off day. And Garcia, who had horrendous outings in his two previous starts, was on his game.
Both pitched high and tight as they hit opposing batters prompting the men in blue to issue a warning to both benches.
Lee had a rare and costly error and Crede got out of his slump just in time to smack one out.
Damn.
Sidenote worth a chuckle: Apparently, Guillen was not happy about the parking arrangements the last time these teams met. He had to park in a fast-food restaurant parking lot.
This time things were more to his liking. He got to park next to Dusty.
Sean Casey, Cincinnati Reds 5 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 4 rbis Unfortunately for the Reds, Casey’s performance was for naught as the Mets won 10-6.
Sean Casey, Cincinnati Reds
5 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 4 rbis
Unfortunately for the Reds, Casey’s performance was for naught as the Mets won 10-6.
I love stories like these. In a Little League game, eleven-year-old Katie Brownell from Oakfield, NY threw a perfect game against an all-boy team. Not only that, she struck out every batter she faced. Not only that, she never got to a three-ball count to any batter. Her coach almost pulled her until the scorekeeper … Continue reading “Throws Like a Girl”
I love stories like these.
In a Little League game, eleven-year-old Katie Brownell from Oakfield, NY threw a perfect game against an all-boy team. Not only that, she struck out every batter she faced.
Not only that, she never got to a three-ball count to any batter.
Her coach almost pulled her until the scorekeeper informed him she had a no-hitter in progress.
Cesar Izturis, Los Angeles 5 for 6, 2 2B, 2 runs, 2 rbis a few Dodgers could have qualified for the LSOTD yesterday. Kent had 3 hits and 4 rbis and Saenz had 3 hits and 5 rbis. But nothing stands out like a 5 in the “H” column. Interestingly, Cesar was taken out for … Continue reading “5/17 Linescore of the Day”
Cesar Izturis, Los Angeles
5 for 6, 2 2B, 2 runs, 2 rbis
a few Dodgers could have qualified for the LSOTD yesterday. Kent had 3 hits and 4 rbis and Saenz had 3 hits and 5 rbis. But nothing stands out like a 5 in the “H” column.
Interestingly, Cesar was taken out for Oscar Robles, who I mentioned a couple days ago. Is Robles a defensive whiz?
In what hopefully will not be a trend, the Illini lost their fourth game in a row against #20 Missouri. Despite 3 Missori errors, they lost 6-2. It was a game of lost opportunities as they stranded 6 runners in scoring position. Illinois remains first in the Big Ten but their lead has slipped to … Continue reading “Illini Lose 4th in a Row”
In what hopefully will not be a trend, the Illini lost their fourth game in a row against #20 Missouri. Despite 3 Missori errors, they lost 6-2. It was a game of lost opportunities as they stranded 6 runners in scoring position.
Illinois remains first in the Big Ten but their lead has slipped to 3 games.
The last regular season series is at home this weekend. They play second-place Iowa. This is a BIG series for them.