MLB Off-Season

Josh Hamilton: The Legend Continues

obitoftheday — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:04:58 -0400

It was the bottom of the 13th, no outs, two men on, and the Rangers were down by two runs. Josh Hamilton came to the plate against Blue Jays reliever Jason Frasor. Frasor had a 4.50 ERA when Hamilton stepped in the batter’s box. A few minutes later and that ERA had climbed to 5.00 as Hamilton crushed his 20th home run of the season, giving the Rangers an 8-7 win.

Hamilton is currently on pace to hit 69 home runs…and earn a heck of a lot of money in a contract season.

foldback: 31 years ago today, at the age of 41, Carl...

winstonwolfe — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:34:59 -0400

foldback:

31 years ago today, at the age of 41, Carl Yastrzemski played his 3,000th career game, starting at first base for the Boston Red Sox. The announced attendance that day was 20,860, but from the looks of it, it seems like there were about 50 people in Fenway that day.

And thus, we have what my friends and I call the “Sad Yaz card,” issued by Fleer in their 1982 set. All that’s missing are the sideburns. And the fans.

There’s actually a very interesting backstory to this moment: As Yaz prepared to be photographed, a fan entered the Park, behind home plate, wearing a pink Sox hat —it had been mistakenly bleached by a young boy’s Mom who thought her son’s hat was filthy. A girl scout troop was at the game, saw the pink hat, & all squeeled in a chorus of glee at how “cool” the hat looked. Yaz witnessed the moment & his look of complete dread was captured. And now you know…the rest of the story.

Hey gurl.

winstonwolfe — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:56:21 -0400

Hey gurl.

(via @jeffpassan)

sportscentr — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:17:41 -0400

(via @jeffpassan)

If the playoffs started today...

obitoftheday — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:21:00 -0400

is one of the most annoying hypotheticals ever. But I was bored and this is what I found out.

- Of the teams with the top ten payrolls (Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, Rangers, Marlins, Giants, Cardinals, and Brewers) two teams would be in: Rangers, AL West and Cardinals, NL Central

- Of the teams with the bottom ten payrolls (Indians, Rockies, Blue Jays, D’backs, Rays, Pirates, Royals, Astros, A’s, and Padres) three teams would be in: Indians, AL Central; Blue Jays, Wild Card; and Rays, Wild Card.

- Of the teams with the middle ten payrolls (White Sox, Dodgers, Twins, Mets, Cubs, Braves, Reds, Mariners, Orioles, and Nationals) five teams would be in: Dodgers, NL West; Braves, Wild Card; Reds, Wild Card; Orioles, AL East; and Nats, NL East.

Other random note: The teams with the top ten payrolls in 2012 have all won (Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Angels, Marlins, Giants, and Cardinals) or been in (Tigers, Rangers) the World Series in the past ten years - except for the Brewers.

Thanks to StevetheUmp.com for payroll numbers.

Cleveland Sweeps Detroit

obitoftheday — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:44:00 -0400

Over the three game series:

Detroit Tigers hitters: .215 batting average (.107 with RISP)

Cleveland pitchers: 2.00 ERA (0 ER in 5 2/3 of relief)

Detroit is now 6 games behind Cleveland, but $53 million ahead in payroll.

huggingharoldreynolds: facebook.com/nikkisixxofficial: This...

winstonwolfe — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:28:58 -0400

huggingharoldreynolds:

facebook.com/nikkisixxofficial:

This Sunday the Los Angeles Dodgers have asked me to throw out the 1st pitch of the game.Being from Los Angeles this is a a huge honor for me.I don’t know if any of you remember but I was part of the Dodgers billboard campaign a few years ago..The whole Sixx Sense gang,my kids and Courtney are all going…Bad ass…:)

I love Metallica…

nymetsfans: Jerry Seinfeld on Watch What Happens Live!

winstonwolfe — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:41:11 -0400

nymetsfans:

Jerry Seinfeld on Watch What Happens Live!

David Wright is still struggling with this whole “hipster...

winstonwolfe — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:27:50 -0400

David Wright is still struggling with this whole “hipster in NY” thing…

Kerry Wood will retire after today's game versus the White Sox

obitoftheday — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:10:00 -0400

….unless he doesn’t get in the game, then he’ll retire on Saturday….unless he doesn’t get in the game, then he’ll retire on Sunday…etc. The retirement will occur after Wood’s next appearance regardless according to ESPN1000’s John Greenberg and Bruce Levine.

Wood exploded on the scene in 1998 striking out 20 Astros in only his sixth start, tying a record held by his idol Roger Clemens. (The very next game Wood struck out 13 more.) He was voted the 1998 Rookie of the Year. Twelve of his fifteen seasons were with the Cubs, the first six as a starter (minus the 1999 season which he missed due to injury) before transitioning to the bullpen. He was selected as an All-Star in 2003 as a starter and 2008 as a reliever.

For many Cubs fans, Wood’s second most memorable moment was his infamous performance in Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS. Pitching after the “Bartman game,” the Cubs still had a chance to win and advance to their first World Series since 1945, but Wood gave up 7 runs in 5.2 innings.

You can find Wood’s career stats here.

Note: Wood and his family were active in the Chicago community especially through their Wood Family Foundation.

Puny ump (click for gif)

deceptacle — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:33 -0400

Puny ump

(click for gif)

Obit of the Day: “Better Stuff Than Anyone from 40...

obitoftheday — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:04:00 -0400

Obit of the Day: “Better Stuff Than Anyone from 40 Feet”

Kevin Hickey played parts of six seasons in major league baseball over ten years. And he got there because he hit four consecutive home runs off Chicago Sun Times columnist Mike Royko in a 16-inch softball game in 1977.

Up till then Kevin Hickey’s life was disappointing. He had lost a basketball scholarship in high school due to drinking and poker playing. He was fired from his first real job after only 30 days. He was 21, jobless, divorced with two kids, and living at home without much of a future.

Then he hit those homers. In the crowd was White Sox scout Joe Begani and he invited Hickey to an open tryout at Comiskey Park. When Hickey arrived and found there were 250 other guys trying to make the team, he nearly walked out. Instead Begani arranged for Hickey to pitch, and the next day the Sox signed him to a minor league contract - for $500 a month with a $500 signing bonus.

After three years in the minors, Hickey made the White Sox roster in 1981 and pitched in 124 games over three seasons. In 1983, as the Tony LaRussa-led Sox headed toward the American League West division pennant, Hickey blew out his shoulder. His career looked over.

Then six years later Roland Hemond, former Sox general manager and now leading the Orioles, found him and signed him to another minor league deal. He worked his way back to the big leagues in 1989. He pitched with the O’s until they released him in the middle of the 1991 season. (Here are Hickey’s career stats.)

Once again Hickey was rudderless. He worked as a greeter at Oriole Park at Camden Yards hoping for his next break. And it came in the guise of the casting director for the upcoming Major League II. Hickey was not only cast, but given a line, and befriended Charlie Sheen (to whom he sold his AAA championship ring) and Corbin Bernsen.

Then nothing. Again. Until the White Sox found him at the 1983 White Sox team reunion and asked if he wanted to pitch batting practice. He agreed, tried out, and for the first time in two decades, Kevin Hickey was wearing a White Sox uniform again. Hickey would pitch batting practice and travel with the team for $30,000 a year. He loved it, and the White Sox loved him. After winning the 2005 World Series, the Sox players voted Hickey a full share of the bonus - ten times Hickey’s salary. (As a pro the most Hickey made was $250,000 in 1990.)

On April 5, 2012, the day before Opening Day against the Texas Rangers, Hickey was found unconscious in his room. He had an apparent seizure. After six weeks in a coma, Hickey passed away. He was 56 years old.

Additional source: baseball-reference.com

(Image of Hickey, circa 1982-1983, is courtesy of rattleradio.mlbblogs.com.)

Note: This was also posted on my other site, www.obitoftheday.com.

mightyflynn: thetenssf: It smells like Derek Jeter’s...

winstonwolfe — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:48:00 -0400

mightyflynn:

thetenssf:

It smells like Derek Jeter’s balls.

Allegedly.

Arod bought a bottle & sprayed his pillowcases with it…

Allegedly.

upnorthtrips: HEAVY HITTERS CHET LEMON PHOTO-BOMB!

winstonwolfe — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:45:04 -0400

upnorthtrips:

HEAVY HITTERS

CHET LEMON PHOTO-BOMB!

Happy Monday & whatever you do this week, keep your girl out...

winstonwolfe — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:30:00 -0400

Happy Monday & whatever you do this week, keep your girl out of Philly.

Don’t let her get “Burrell-ed” on May 19th, please.

(h/t hot clicks)

Listening to the Rays and the Orioles battle for 1st in the AL East

obitoftheday — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:11:00 -0400

Just like we all thought they would.

Derek Jeter Tied With Tony Gwynn

obitoftheday — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:29:41 -0400

Jeter singled against the Mariners’ Tom Wilhelmsen for hit number 3141, tying him for 18th with Tony Gwynn on MLB’s all-time list.

Up next for Jeter:

17th - Robin Yount, 3142
16th - Paul Waner, 3152
15th - George Brett, 3154

the4040life: Happy Birthday Yogi Berra! Three Cheers for this...

winstonwolfe — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:10:45 -0400

the4040life:

Happy Birthday Yogi Berra!

Three Cheers for this Yankee Hall of Famer!

Known as much for his catching abilities as his “Yogi-isms”, Yogi Berra played on 10 World Series championship teams and appeared in 14 World Series with the New York Yankees. Berra was selected to the All-Star team every year from 1948 to 1962 and was a three-time American League MVP. He called three no-hitters, one of them Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

**This photo hangs in the Corzo Lounge at the 40/40 Club**

seanfennessey: John Axford, hero.

winstonwolfe — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:05:49 -0400

seanfennessey:

John Axford, hero.

Orioles beat Rays on Nick Johnson's first home run in two years

sportscentr — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:30:02 -0400

Orioles beat Rays on Nick Johnson's first home run in two years:

Unfortunately, Johnson pulled a hamstring running the bases, sprained his wrist high-fiving a teammate, and then an allergic reaction to the celebratory post-game whipped-cream pie has left him partially blind in both eyes.