Random Collection of Thoughts re April 18 in MLB

Houston Astros uber-prospect George Springer collected his first MLB RBI and stolen base.  Shame his Astros were already 8-0 by the time he stole his first base in the top of the 3rd.  Not that it's any consolation to Mr. Springer but Chicago White Sox Cuban sensation Jose Abreu & Philadelphia Phillies sophomore starting pitcher Jonathon Pettibone also found themselves down by more than 8 runs in their respective games.


A late season call up by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012, relief pitcher Josh Wall is still struggling to find his groove in the MLB.  Mr. Wall never made it past last April with the Dodgers and Friday had his first appearance with the Anaheim Angels.  Mr. Wall never even got out of his inning.  Luckily he was "protecting" an 11-1 win.


The San Francisco Giants have played in 8 straight one run games with a .500 record of 4-4. Playoff wildcard runs by the 2013 Cleveland Indians (30-17) and the 2012 Baltimore Orioles (29-9) were in part fuelled by their record in one run games.  On the other side of the coin, the Boston Red Sox won their division and the 2013 World Series finishing .500 in one run games.  The Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers are currently tied for first place in the NL West.  The Giants have taken four of six meetings this young season against the Dodgers with a 2-1 record in one run games against them.


The Arizona Diamondbacks finally caught a lucky break!  A wild pitch on an INTENTIONAL WALK scored a runner from third base to give the D'Backs a 2-1 lead in the top of the 9th.  The curse that has been 2014 meant that naturally the bullpen would cough up the lead in the bottom of the ninth but the D'Backs would win the game in the 12th!


Remember ladies and gentleman, boys and girls of all ages, if you play baseball, don't use your face to stop the ball.  There has to be a less painful way to make it into the pages of Sports Illustrated.

One Series From Every Division to Look Forward to This Weekend

AL EAST - - Red Sox vs Yankees


The Yankees took the 1st game of the four game series on Thursday.  If the Red Sox were not World Series champs, the nod for AL East series of the weekend would have went to the Blue Jays vs Orioles.  I can't imagine the Red Sox not making the playoffs in 2014 but this weekend could start rubbing the sticks together to start that fire.


AL CENTRAL - - Indians vs White Sox


Remember to the 2012 Baltimore's Orioles and their improbable playoff berth?  That's exactly how I feek about the Cleveland's run to the playoffs last season.  Much like the O's failed to make consecutive post season appearances, the same fate awaits the Tribe. My bold prediction is that the White Sox that will challenge them for 3rd place in the division.  The series began Thursday night with the Sox breaking a 14 game losing streak against the Tribe...a sign of things to come!


AL WEST - - A's vs Mariners


"To the man, you've gotta beat the man" Ric Flair The Mariners lost 2 of 3 in Oakland to the A's and (pardon the exaggerated tone in April) can ill-afford to do the same during this weekend's series at Safeco Field.


NL EAST - - Nationals vs Braves


The sexy pick last season to win the AL East was the Nationals.  The sexy pick to possibly knock the Braves out of first place in 2014 is again the Nationals.  The Nats lost 2 of 3 against the Braves in Washington.  Sure it's their only two losses of the season but feasting on teams like the Miami Marlins and New York Mets only makes you pretenders not contenders.


NL CENTRAL - - Cubs vs Cardinals


The argument here is simple, the Cubs hold the power in the NL Central to decide who wins the division.  The Cardinals play their first three of 19 games versus the Cubbies after seeing the Pittsburgh Pirates took 4 of 6 from Chicago.  If Chicago finds a way to take two games this weekend...who am I kidding!


NL WEST - - Tigers vs Padres


This may not be an inter-divisional game but this series has me wondering, how do the Tigers not sweep the Padres?  Porcello, Verlander, Scherzer pitching in the cavernous Petco Park against a team that has scored only 20 runs in 9 games this season.  If the Padres find a way to take 2 of 3, Royals fans should cry if they don't take 2 of 3 from Twins and make up a game on the Tigers "the easy way".

Reaction to Game 1 Version 2 and Other Items

The most exciting part of the North American MLB opener, http://drawntomlb.com/post/81255210712/padres-ballgirl-you-are-amazing?partnerId=as_mlb_20140331_20985264  Thanks to MLB on Tumbler for the GIF but a catch by a ballgirl should not be the biggest highlight. 


Then again as a fantasy baseball guy, maybe I'm just bitter cause Seth Smith and his homerun was missed by approximately 99% of fantasy players (according to Yahoo Sports anyway).


Other Items:


The negotiations about stiffening the penalties in the MLB drug policy have revealed a new wrinkle I absolutely love!!  If at anytime during the season a player serves a suspension, that player(s) would be banned from the post-season also.  Sure this only truly effects about half the teams in the league but it just might be the kick in the baseballs some players need to stay off the juice.


Feel good story out of Cleveland has to be Travis Wood.  From Tommy John surgery on May 25, 2012 to making the Indians opening day roster.  With TJ surgery becoming so commonplace, I'd better have a long list of pitchers here but there's a twist.  Indians Manager Terry Francona told him the news on the mound, during a game he was pulling him out of the game.


A fable exists that winning co-relates with crowd growth (ask the Tampa Rays).  The Pittsburgh Pirates are reporting the season ticket base has grown 40%.  So then, if the fable is true, what the hell is happening in Tampa?


"Dice-K to Vegas"  Ya know, if you're not baseball fan, that has a meaning of its own.

MLB Stories: Shutter to Think, Shed a Tear, Celebrate and Ask

The Atlanta Braves have placed FIVE starting pitchers on the disabled list.  Ask yourself, how would your team look if they were in this situation?


Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio baseball rivals, not many people will deny that.  So when miscommunication was the word of the day in regards to the use of the designated hitter, you know what happened?  A great father/son moment when Indians Manager Terry Francona gave the DH start to outfielder Nick Hamilton, his father watching from radio booth.


Many teams celebrate "Cinco De Mayo".  None of them will top the Durham Bulls and their Star Wars jersey's the team will be wearing on May 4th.  Picture from the Durham Bulls Twitter account.


The Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Club attempted a simple social media concept.  Using the Twitter hashtag #askNeal, fans could tweet a question to the star player.  The results were many targeted questions about the players past transgressions.  Imagine if you will #askARod or #askPierzynski or maybe #askBraun.

Umpire Safety, Slips From Grace and Clown Blood in the MLB

As a kid, I remember riding around in my Dad's car with no seatbelt on EVER.  As a teenager, I remember riding a bicycle NEVER wearing a helmet.  As an adult, I watch baseball and wonder why umpires play the field in baseball caps and not batting helmets.  In an era where everything is about safety, why do umpires who cover first and third base not wear protective head wear?  It's not like they have baseball gloves on to protect themselves if a ball does come at them!  Sadly, it will likely take a serious head injury to an umpire before any level of baseball ushers in protective headwear for the most defenseless people on the field.


Seeing that the Astros released former Cardinals 1st round pick Brett Wallace and the Mariners have demoted uber-prospect Jesus Montero, made me wonder how Philip Humber was doing in Oakland.  You know, the guy who throw a perfect game ONLY two years ago.  Even with the A's missing Jarrod Parker AND A.J. Griffin due to injury, Mr. Perfect Game is still not on the Major League roster.  When you go to work tomorrow, hug your boss!


How much longer before St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny sets up a meeting between relief pitcher Jason Motte (actively attacking his rehab from injury) and uber-prospect Oscar Taveras (shying away from his rehab).


Kenny Lofton thinks making the shiny new "one and done" wildcard playoff game and losing the game doesn't count as making the playoffs.  The former Cleveland Indian is now being given the cold shoulder by current Cleveland Indian players because a lack of respect deserves a lack of respect back.  I fully support the 2014 edition of the Indians.


Jimmy Rollins is 60 hits shy of overtaking Mike Schmidt as the Phillies’ all-time leader. IF that's his main motivation to stay a Phillie, I hope he gets his selfish ass stapled to the bench!


Cincinnati Red Trevor Bell, a 27-year-old reliever trying to make the team, is the grandson of Bob Bell, who played Bozo the Clown on WGN in Chicago from 1960 to 1984.  THAT'S AWESOME!  Great find by John DeMarzo of the New York Post.

Baseball Blog Entry for the Casual Baseball Fan

Headline from MLB.com "(Grady) Sizemore passing all tests, could win starting job".  Even if you are a Yankees fan, this news from Boston should put a smile on your face.  Two years removed from the game to possible opening day Red Sox center fielder, I wonder what size Cinderella slipper Mr. Sizemore wears?


Cris Carter, the Houston Astro and MLB league leader in strikeouts last season (212), has been given some sound advice by manager Bo Porter: " Swing at more pitches he can hit, and swing at fewer he can't." My official guess for 2013, based on 145 games, 190 strikeouts.


Staying with the theme of  making an "official guess" here come two more!  1) The Miami Marlins, who stroked out 19 hits in one game versus the Mets, will require three full regular season games versus the Rockies to get 19 hits.  2) The 2013 NL West last place Colorado Rockies will finish over .500 in 2014.


C.J. Wilson of the LA Angels: “I need to learn to be more efficient. Today was a good example of that. I didn’t walk anybody, so I was popping apple-cider ginger ale in the dugout for that one.” Yup, that's making the "Words to Live By" column!  Quote provided by Alden Gonzalez blog.


Having watched the Marlins/Red Sox situation go from disrespecting each other to having one of the hottest trade rumours around, I'm waiting to see the trade rumour that comes from the "Twitter Battle" going on between the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, and Cleveland Indians mascots.

Today's Check-in of the Fun Side of the MLB

Thanks to the website "Bleacher Report" for the following two great finds:

1) Ian Kinsler Hopes the Texas Rangers Go 0-162

Title says it all and the words have been added to the "Words to Live By" Column on the front page.

2)Justin Verlander Dares Torii Hunter to Kiss an Alligator

Click the link to see the hilarious photo!


Moving over to the "MLB Fancave":

1) they posted video of Brian Wilson,

known for many things except throwing a knuckle ball,

throwing a freakin knuckle ball

2) Wondering whether or not Cincinnati Reds speed demon Billy Hamilton

can break the single game record for stolen bases.  NO, conversation over! 

The better discussion to have about the shiniest new toy in the stolen base ranks is whether Mr. Hamilton can break 70 stolen bases in season, a feat only accomplished 3 times in the new millennium!!  In case you are curious:  Scott Podsednik 70 in 2004, Jacoby Ellsbury 70 in 2009 and Jose Reyes 78 in 2007.


You won't remember this but the other day, I wrote about Mr Hamilton's Cincinnati Reds and their owner complaining about ticket sales growth not being where he wanted it to be.  MEANWHILE, in Cleveland, the Indians home opener sold out in 15 minutes!!


Lastly, with rumours getting stronger that Joe Saunders is signing with the Texas Rangers, I get to dust off the bobblehead I have of him.