The Painted Baseball

Tommy Lasorda & Earl Weaver Caricatures

2011-08-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

Fernando Valenzuela & Mark Fidrych Caricatures

2011-08-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

Two great pitchers who exploded onto the big stage.

Oscar Gamble, Dick Allen & Thurman Munson Caricatures

2011-08-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Dave Parker, Mike Schmidt & Ozzie Smith Caricatures

2011-08-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

Fred Lynn, Rickey Henderson, Mike Schmidt Caricatures

2011-08-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

Jose Bautista Clutch Single

2011-07-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

There have been a lot of baseball songs written and produced throughout the history of the sport, but like everything else, great baseball songs are rare, like Jose Bautista Clutch Single. I was just lamenting yesterday how musicians don't seem to write songs about specific ballplayers any more. I was wrong, sort of. Songwriter and producer Alex Cantrall and his partner, Jeff Hoeppner have created an excellent music video and song that is not only compelling to listen to but reflects the era in which is was created, namely using an R&B style. To more fully appreciate this song, it helps to listen to it in light of 'Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball' or 'Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song).

Pete Rose, Steve Garvey & George Brett Caricatures

2011-07-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

George Foster Caricature

2011-07-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

Garret Anderson Caricature

2011-07-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

Just for fun.

Baseball Photos on Zimbio

2011-07-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you've searched Google Images for photos of your favorite players past and present. Recently, I discovered the power of Zimbio, an online magazine publisher, which has a nice gallery to view ballplayers as well as other celebrities.

There are different ways to get to the galleries, but the easiest one I've found is by manually typing in the person's name like so into your browser's navigation toolbar:

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Joey+Votto
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Prince+Fielder
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Albert+Pujols

Zimbio immediately tells you above the first photo how many press photos (usually from Getty Images or AP Photos) it has archived of the person. You can also preview the thumbnails to the right, similar to Yahoo's MLB Gallery. The main difference is that Yahoo managed to pull an archive of 80 photos for Joey Votto, whereas Zimbio pulled a 247 photo archive. Zimbio also has a black background, providing better contrast for viewing the photos.

One caveat is that while Google Images pulls earlier images from the entire world wide web, Zimbio only pulls press photos. So if you're looking for that 1964 Topps Willie Mays card, you're better off using Google Images or EBAY. However, if you're somehow interested in following retired players in the press, Zimbio is a nice place to start your search. For example:

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Willie+Mays
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Mike+Schmidt
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Nolan+Ryan

Watching MLB without Cable or Satellite in Los Angeles, Part 2

2011-04-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Last year I became one of the thousands, if not millions, of cord cutters who ditched their cable/satellite subscriptions and instead put a fraction of that money to use by subscribing to on demand services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video, or simply redirected that money towards more practical things like food, gas and medical bills. For me in particular, I opted to purchase a Roku box, a Netflix subscription, an MLB.TV subscription as well as watching over-the-air TV. Although I had unexpected and mixed results, it was clear that I could not follow the bulk of live Los Angeles Angels games on television without paying my cable or satellite company. Instead I had to resort to watching the occasional local broadcast or paying $120 to watch the glitchy archived games via MLB.TV on my Roku device. I wondered how the 2011 season would unfold for me.

Well, the 2011 season is already underway, and this year I made a decision to hold off on paying the $120 to MLB.TV so that I could observe how other subscribers would respond to the spotty and imperfect service. It didn't take long to discover that the number of complaints about the service was already accumulating rapidly like Pittsburgh losses. Still, I might consider subscribing to the service midway through the season when the price drops significantly.

In the meantime, I'm only watching live games on the local broadcasts and listening to games on radio. Additionally, I'll watch archived condensed games, game recaps and highlights on MLB.com. All of this is without cost. So far after a few weeks, I really haven't missed watching the games all that much, especially with radio broadcasts available for every game. If anything, this is the way it was when I grew up following games in the 80's sans the internet. During that time, games were typically only broadcast on television during the weekends, so you learned the art of listening to baseball on the radio. I've found that as much as I love baseball, I don't really need to watch every single game anymore. This is coming from someone who lives and breathes baseball year-round.

The blackout policy with MLB.tv is a raw deal for consumers because it essentially forces consumers to purchase a cable or satellite subscription or else watch most of their in-market games as archived games via MLB.tv, since a much smaller percentage of games are broadcast over the air for free. So if you're a cord cutter like me, ask yourself if it's really worth paying $600 a year just to watch every one of your local team's games? Not for me and especially not in this economy. Neither does MLB really have any motivation to change such arrangements--not when teams are reaping multi-million dollar television contracts year after year. In the end, consumers, in particular the cordcutters, are the losers and big businesses are the winners. And here's the irony, I would gladly pay $120 directly to FOX in order to watch in-market games on FOX Sports West (FOX doesn't currently offer such an online service), but if I subscribed to cable or satellite (currently the only option for all live broadcasts), my cable or satellite provider would only pay FOX perhaps $2 dollars for my subscription while passing the cost on to me. It's time for FOX to move beyond the current cable/satellite deals of the past and begin offering their own subscription-based online service.

The Natural in 1080p HD

2011-01-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

THE OTHER DAY I watched The Natural in high definition on my father-in-law's 55" Samsung 1080p LED/LCD TV. It was nothing short of amazing as the picture quality was so sharp that it felt quite real, as if I was actually on the movie set standing next to the director with his video camera. But therein lies the problem. See, while it felt like I was priviledged enough to be on the set with the director and one of the greatest actors of our generation in Robert Redford, it also felt, well... fake.

See, if I feel like I'm on the set, then I'm no longer being drawn into the movie, relating and emoting with the characters. Instead, I found it fascinating, in virtual reality, to be observing the actors acting on the set. And I found myself quite critical of them. In particular, I thought Wilford Brimley, the manager, exaggerated a bit too much, almost coming across as being too cliche. On the other hand, I thought Redford's acting stood up quite nicely to the virtual reality of 1080p.

I don't necessarily feel like 1080p ruined movies for me. If anything, I'm enjoying the feeling of being on set with these great actors and in a baseball setting, so much the better.

NOTE: The Natural came out in 1984, that's 26 years ago, but you can still feel like you were there or at least 26 years younger. I also watched Back to the Future II (1989) and Jaws (1978). Have you ever watched a 32 year old movie from the 70's and felt like you were standing next to authentic and plaid polyester? I'm telling you, it's pretty amazing.

Jackie Robinson Painting

2010-07-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

Jackie Robinson
36" x 36"
acrylic on canvas

I RECENTLY FINISHED this painting of Jackie Robinson, the second in a series of ballplayer portraits I started painting last year. I decided to paint an image of him without a smile, since his career embodied the fight and struggle against racism where life was anything but a cake walk for him and minorities in general. It's hard to capture the true vibrancy of the colors used, but this image still does some justice to the actual painting.

Babe Ruth at the Polo Grounds in MLB2K10

2010-06-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME anymore to play video games, I'm still a huge fan of baseball games. I wasn't privy to the ultra old school RBI Baseball or Baseball Stars games on Nintendo, but I did take my baseball gaming more seriously around 1996 with Old Time Baseball and the Tony LaRussa series. It was both exciting and frustrating to see the potential and limitations of those games. Fast forward 14 years and although there have been previous player editors, including Triple Play's face upload feature for custom ballplayers, I was pleasantly surprised to see the custom player creator in MLB2K10.

The player creator now includes the ability to customize a player's entire body including numerous head editing options, all done in a 3D environment. So I decided to take it to task and bring Babe Ruth back to life in MLB2K10. The pictures below are a few samples of him playing right field at the Polo Grounds. It's not a perfect editor, but I was surprised at how close I was able to get to a young Ruth.
Combined with MLB2K10's visual implementation of depth of field in which backgrounds become blurry while the player remains in focus, I've come to the conclusion that not only is MLB2K10 a beautiful baseball game to look at, but it's also a nice tool for generating 3D baseball pictures. And it's the latter that actually interests me moreso than playing the game.

Red, Cream and Blue Colored Jerseys

2010-06-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

AS I WAS WATCHING Stephen Strasburg pitch against Cleveland on Sunday, it occurred to me how much of a throwback feel the Indians home alternate jerseys have. Part of it is the simple block letters in the front as well as the red-on-blue "C" logo on the cap. But the back of the jersey also stands out to me because of the absence of the nameplate. So the only two things you see are the small MLB logo at the top and the number. It's dead simple, yet has that old-fashioned, All-American look to it.

It made me wonder if there were any other jerseys out there like this one with red and blue, and the only other one you'll find is the Minnesota Twins home jersey which includes pinstripes. The Phillies, Giants and Mets also make use of the cream-colored jersey, just that they also have nameplates and/or an alternate color such as orange in the MLB logo.

Watching MLB without Cable or Satellite in Los Angeles

2010-04-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

THIS BASEBALL SEASON, I DECIDED that it was time to pull the plug on my cable tv subscription and instead opt for MLB.tv to watch my local Angels battle it out for another A.L. West title. My new setup consists of a $120 subscription to MLB.tv, $100 for a Roku box that allows me to stream online games to my tv, and a $30 over-the-air antenna to pick up local channels for both FOX11 and KCOP13 baseball broadcasts. For all that planning, boy, did I get a rude awakening on Opening Day a couple of weeks ago. Not only did MLB & ESPN blackout the Yankees/Boston opener nationwide (though you could watch it on ESPN3), but I realized after reading the fine print that I would be blacked out from watching my Angels LIVE.

While some fans are very much aware of MLB's blackout policy that prohibits users from watch ing LIVE, in-market games, the majority of fans aren't aware of this arcane restriction. For $120, most fans expect to be able to watch their local teams play LIVE. In fact, I would gladly pay the $120 to watch ONLY Angels and Dodger games. Unfortunately, I was one of the duped. As a result, I'm forced to watch archived games 90 minutes (yes, nine-zero) after their conclusion. That means that if an Angels games ends at 10 PM, I must wait until 11:30 PM to begin watching it. For most fans, 11:30 PM is bedtime, NOT prime time — at least not that same day.

So, without cable or satellite, I quickly came to the conclusion that MLB.tv does NOT replace cable or satellite, where I can watch an additional 130 odd games on FoxSportsNet, but instead serves as a supplemental tool for those who wish to follow teams outside their market area. Anyone considering buying MLB.tv, should seriously consider this.

However, where it doesn't seem fair is that MLB.tv inadvertently rewards fans who live outside their team's market area, rather than the majority of fans who live in the same market as their favorite team. So, an Angels fan in New York can watch every single game live on MLB.tv (except when they play the Yankees or Mets), but an Angels fan in L.A. cannot watch any of their live games (nor the Dodgers) on MLB.tv because he lives in the Angels' and Dodgers' market area. This silliness is just one reason why the blackout policy is bad for MLB. The whole MLB blackout controversy is well documented on the web, so I won't go into that, but what I did want to share is how many games an Angels fan can watch up until the end of prime time, both live and archived.

In taking a closer look at the Angels 2010 Broadcast Schedule, WITHOUT cable/satellite, here 's the breakdown for watching LIVE Angels games:

KCOP13 (26 games)
FOX11 (6 games)
ESPN3 (2 games online)

That's a total of 34 games or 21%. Paltry to say the least.

Then, I remembered that since the Angels play at least 23 day games on FSN and at least 2 day games on MLB.tv (starting by 1:10 PM), this means that these games will most likely be archived by MLB.tv before 7 PM prime time, give or take a 17-inning nailbiter. Awesome. I could fire up the archive version and watch the game after dinner and still make it to bed on time. So, in terms of prime time or LIVE viewing, I can watch a total of 57 games (2 other games on FSN have start times pending).

So, 57 games or 35%. Not happy, but I'll take it for now.

But there's a big caveat as I write this. Currently, Roku has had numerous issues delaying the launch of their MLB Channel, now already two weeks into the season. So right now, it's either wait for those rare KCOP13 broadcasts or FOX's Saturday Baseball Game of the Week or watching games via my desktop or laptop. As much as I love watching baseball every day during the regular season, perhaps a longing makes the heart grow fonder.

Now, I could resubscribe to cable for 6 months and pay $300 just to follow every Angels game or stick with my current setup and watch 35% of the games at $120. In this current economy, it's a no brainer as on those blackout dates, I can immerse myself in the art of listening to baseball on radio, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with Terry Smith in the booth.

2010 Angels Baseball TV Schedule
----------------------------------------------------
MLB.TV EXCLUSIVE Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6/20 CHC (TBD)
8/22 MIN 11:10 AM
9/19 TB 10:40 AM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FSN Cable/Satellite Day Games = Prime time archive viewing
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/11 OAK 12:35 PM
4/13 NYY 10:05 AM
4/14 NYY 10:05 AM
4/17 TOR 10:07 AM
4/18 TOR 10:07 AM
4/25 NYY 12:35 PM
5/1 DET 10:05 AM
5/2 DET 10:05 AM
5/22 STL 11:15 AM
5/31 KC 11:10 AM
6/3 KC 11:10 AM
6/6 SEA 1:10 PM
6/10 OAK 12:35 PM
6/18 CHC 11:20 AM
6/19 CHC 10:05 AM
6/27 COL 12:35 PM
7/8 CWS 11:05 AM
7/21 NYY 10:05 AM
7/28 BOS 12:35 PM
8/11 KC 12:35 PM
8/25 TB 12:35 PM
9/26 CWS 12:35 PM
9/29 OAK (TBD)
10/3 TEX 12:05 PM
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FOX Channel 11 (6 games)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/24 NYY
5/29 SEA
6/5 SEA
8/21 MIN
9/4 OAK
9/11 SEA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN3 (2 games free online viewing)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5/3 BOS
7/4 KC
---------------------------------------------------------------------
KCOP Channel 13 (26 games)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4/2 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
4/7 Wed MIN 7:00 PM
4/11 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
4/18 Sun TOR 10:00 AM
4/25 Sun NYY 12:30 PM
5/9 Sun SEA 1:00 PM
5/16 Sun OAK 12:30 PM
5/23 Sun STL 11:00 AM
5/30 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
6/11 Fri LAD 7:00 PM
6/12 Sat LAD 7:00 PM
6/13 Sun LAD 1:00 PM
6/23 Wed LAD 7:00 PM
6/24 Thu LAD 7:00 PM
7/3 Sat KC 6:00 PM
7/11 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
7/18 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
7/25 Sun TEX 5:00 PM
8/1 Sun TEX 12:30 PM
8/8 Sun DET 10:00 AM
8/15 Sun TOR 12:30 PM
8/29 Sun BAL 12:30 PM
9/5 Sun OAK 1:00 PM
9/12 Sun SEA 12:30 PM
9/18 Sat TB 4:00 PM
9/25 Sat CWS 6:00 PM

It's Official: GA in LA in 2010

2010-04-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

IT'S OFFICIAL, GARRET ANDERSON WILL PLAY the 2010 season as an LA Dodger, having secured his spot as the team's lefthanded pinch hitter and backup for Manny Ramirez. Most people won't find this to be much news, but as most baseball fans have a favorite player, GA is that guy to me. And although he's definitely in the twilight of his career, I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to watch him play for another year. Beyond that, who knows. See, it's not so much about whether he'll do well this year, but rather you never want to see your favorite player retire. So, here are a couple of screenshots of him in MLB2K10, which not only a videogame, but an awesome photo-generating baseball application.

Joe Mauer Dips into Mr. Pohlad's Wallet

2010-03-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

WOW, THAT'S A HUGE CONTRACT the Twins just gave Joe Mauer. $182 million for only eight years! But you know what's even more amazing? That the Pohlad empire has finally loosened the purse strings after so many years of creative bookkeeping and supposed negative cash flow. All money talk aside, this easily trumps the bad news about the other Joe (Nathan) in the Twin Cities.

Albert Pujols Painting Finished

2010-02-23T16:20:00.000-08:00

THE FINISHED VERSION of Albert Pujols after adding the dots. This is the first in a series of ballplayer portraits I'll be doing. This one took roughly half a year to complete in working around my normal work schedule. Will be working on a Jackie Robinson portrait next.

David Wright's Matching Helmet & Bat

2010-02-10T11:39:00.001-08:00

ALL SIGNS POINT TO A SERIOUS POWER FAILURE OVERHAUL when the team's best player opts for an extra-padded, extra-large batting helmet and the outfield wall is chopped down in half. It's hard to say whether New York Mets' third baseman David Wright's power numbers were hurt due to shattered confidence after getting beaned or the 16 foot high wall in center field at Citi Field. So rather than guess, Wright and the Mets took measures to overcome both possible hindrances. Personally, I think his power drop had more to do with the team finishing 23 games behind the Phillies than anything else.

Tim Lincecum's Bullet-Proof Arbitration Vest

2010-02-04T17:10:00.000-08:00

IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS this offseason, Tim Lincecum's arbitration case, that is. $8 million or $13 million? It probably would be more exciting if the Lincecum party asked for, say oh, $18 million. I mean, not since Roger Clemens have we had a 2-time, back-to-back Cy Young Award winner go to arbitration. It's silly to even think about reasons why Lincecum should not deserve to win, and that's exactly what the Giants have to do. The back-to-back Cy Young Awards are like a bullet-proof vest that ought to deflect any criticism. The Giants are in a tough spot. They don't necessarily want to give Lincecum a deal yet like the one Justin Verlander got if they can go cheaper by going the arbitration route. But I can't imagine either party wanting to go to arbitration for the next two years as well. Lincecum will get his $13 million, but the Giants should really begin considering a long-term package for their franchise of a player.

McGwire's Steroid Admission & the Heavier Load

2010-01-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK and anger towards Mark McGwire since his admission to using steroids during the bulk of his career, and much of that anger is justified. There's nothing like rooting so hard for a guy only to find out that he was a fraud. Baseball fans have been left with feelings of anger, sadness, disappointment, betrayal and other negative feelings juxtaposed against these incredible memories of greatness from 1998. It's impossible to reconcile the two types of feelings. One thing is sure, McGwire's admission only puts additional pressure on guys like Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens to come forward and admit their wrongdoing.

2010 BP Caps

2010-01-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

MLB recently announced their new authentic batting practice caps for 2010. These are slightly different from the previous years cap that featured the small side panel arch. I thought I'd post some of the interesting ones here for discussion:

The Rangers cap is probably the cap that takes full advantage of the new style, the white piping and the red side panels on the bill.

The Rays cap made me hesitate. MLB teams have routinely shied away from pastel colors as being less-aggressive, so this one definitely stands out. I'm not as fond of it, but it's a bold move, and at least it'll keep heads a tad cooler in that Florida summer sun.

The Tigers road cap is my personal favorite. The orange against navy has always worked so well for Detroit, and this is just another example of that. An orange bill with navy side panels would have been primo.

The Braves cap is also a nice cap, but doesn't fully commit to fully extending the white piping down the bill. Still, it's a nice classic look.

As classic as this Indians cap looks, it doesn't at all utilize the style of the cap, so the piping appears awkward. A missed opportunity.

The A's cap is not all that different from the Tigers road cap, but my pet-peeve with it is the logo. The double outline on the logo is a no-no in my opinion. All it does is make the logo look fuzzy. Terrible.

Andre Dawson, Hall of Famer '10

2010-01-07T13:50:00.001-08:00

Farewell #51

2010-01-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

Vintage LIFE Baseball Photos: Donn Clendenon

2010-01-06T21:23:00.000-08:00

RECENTLY I CAME ACROSS some vintage LIFE baseball photos on Google Images, including this outstanding image of former New York Mets Donn Clendenon. Having been born after the '69 Mets made history, looking at a photo like this is the closest I'll ever get to experiencing baseball before my day--the wool, the felt letters, the high sleeves, the tiny wristband, the thin cap. But it's quite obvious that the photo needed a bit of optimizing in order to make viewers feel as if they're standing right there next to Mr. Clendenon. So I decided to optimize the photo using three adjustment steps in Photoshop that I typically use with vintage photos in order to get more accurate colors. These steps aren't necessarily all that I would use to optimize a photo professionally, but they help give me a quick look at a photo's restoration potential. This is not a tutorial, but rather a quick step thru of the process leading to the final result.

STEP 1: Adjusting light levels

STEP 2: Adjusting Color Balance

STEP 3: Adjusting Saturation

After

Before

(NOTE: It is not my intent to use these photos without permission, but rather through what I consider to be "fair use", I'm posting these photos for those who share an appreciation of vintage baseball photography. For this reason, I have posted smaller, low-resolution photos than the originals.)

Trading Aces: Halladay for Lee

2009-12-19T16:22:00.001-08:00

Chone "Gone" Figgins to Seattle

2009-12-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

THIS ONE WAS TOUGH to stomach as an Angels fan, Chone Figgins as a Seattle Mariner, wreaking havoc alongside Ichiro throughout the American League. In this day and age when true leadoff hitters are so hard to find, the Angels weren't all that interested in the end. Yes, the up-and-coming Brandon Wood was out of options and needed to be given a chance to truly prove himself, but sheesh...I can't help but feel like Reagins let a good, no, a great one get away.

In Progress: Albert Pujols N.L. MVP '09

2009-11-25T12:16:00.001-08:00

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I've been working on an Albert Pujols painting, and thought what better time to post my progress with The Machine claiming his third N.L. MVP award. And if not for Barry Bond's tainted legacy, this might have been Pujols' fifth MVP award. I'll be posting the finished version eventually.

Vintage Joe Mauer: A.L. MVP '09

2009-11-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

A MUCH DESERVED AWARD for Minnesota Twins backstop and hitter extraordinaire Joe Mauer. Whenever I think about Mauer, the first thing that comes to mind is the vintage Twins catcher's helmet he wears. So in honor of his MVP award, I've chosen this view for this sketch.

Funny Things Happen: Timmy Lincecum, 2009 N.L. Cy Young Winner

2009-11-19T16:14:00.001-08:00

OK, SO I COULDN'T RESIST A LITTLE POKE at Tim Lincecum for his youthful indiscretions with pot earlier this month, but winning consecutive Cy Young Awards is some serious stuff. Nobody can call 2008 a fluke because little Timmy dominated National League hitters once again. Oh, and his 15 wins is one less than Zack Greinke's total in '09. Hmm, maybe voters are finally starting to look beyond win totals.

Zack Greinke A.L. Cy Young 2009: The Last Shall Be First

2009-11-17T19:41:00.000-08:00

GREAT FEEL GOOD STORY TODAY with the announcement of this year's A.L. Cy Young Award going to Zack Greinke. Considering the fact that the Kansas City Royals finished in last place again this year (though no fault of Greinke's), it's quite an accomplishment to nab the award. An instance of when the last shall be first.

Yankees World Champions of 2009

2009-11-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

Halos Sweep Away Wally and the Sox

2009-10-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

HISTORY WAS MADE last Sunday when the Angels finally defeated the Red Sox for the first time in their playoff history after having previously lost all four series. So while I'm super late on this sketch, it's better late than never!

#2722: Derek Jeter Surpasses Gehrig

2009-09-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Earth to Pittsburgh!

2009-09-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

AFTER YESTERDAY'S LOSS to the Cubs, I'm not sure what's worse: 17 straight losing seasons or over 100 years without a World Championship? I mean, the Cubs have had some pretty exciting seasons that, yes, ultimately ended up short, but the Bucs just haven't given their fans much of anything to hold on to these past 17 years.

Adam Lind the Monster

2009-09-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

EIGHT RIBBIES FROM A NO-NAMER? That is on monday night when Adam Lind became a monster at the plate, hitting his first career slam enroute to defeating the Texas Rangers, 18-10. Well, no-namer no longer as Adam Lind is one of the fastest rising stars in baseball.

The 2009 New York Mets: Putting a Fork In It

2009-08-26T11:09:00.001-07:00

FORGET THE PEN as MLB's 2009 reality show. If there was a storyline that qualified as true dramedy, it would have to be the 2009 New York Mets. From the adventures of Oliver Perez to the loss of Reyes & Delgado to K-Rod's tussle with Brian Bruney to Luis Castillo's error to David Wright's beaning to Eric Bruntlett's game-ending triple play to Johan Santana's bone chips, this was the ultimate train wreck of a season. Just about everyone expected this team to be duking it out with the Phils at the top of the NL East, but now it's high time to just stick a fork in it, let the September callups play and look to next year.

Eric Bruntlett's Game-Ending Triple Play

2009-08-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

A Fenway Bash

2009-08-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Trevor Bell and the .300 Hitters

2009-08-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

THAT'S GOTTA BE AN AWESOME FEELING for Trevor Bell, notching his first career win last night while being backed up by a full lineup of .300 hitters. The Halos have been absolutely scorching the ball over the past month and it definitely conjures up images of that magical 2002 season.

Stephen Strasburg Nats $15 Million Bonus

2009-08-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY compared to what CC Sabathia got last winter, but $15.1 million is a boatload for a phenom who has only pitched competitively at the college level. Yes Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jose Contreras landed at least twice that amount, but for all competitive purposes they were much more seasoned than Strasburg and were either entering or in their prime, even if never having pitched at the big-league level.

John Smoltz Looking for a Ride

2009-08-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Derek Jeter: Hit King Among All Shortstops

2009-08-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

IT'S OFFICIAL, DEREK JETER SURPASSED LUIS APARICIO yesterday to become the all-time hits leader among major league shortstops. Of course that record may wind up being north of 3000 when Jeter finally hangs up his spikes.

A Pictorial Memo to Adrian Beltre

2009-08-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

IT CAUGHT UP WITH ADRIAN BELTRE in his twelfth big league season—a torn testicle as a result of shunning the cup all those years. Beltre swears that he'd rather give up a year's salary rather than wear a jock strap, but was it worth it? There's a reason why infielders wear a cup, but you never really think of the ball hitting them in the groin mainly because it rarely ever happens. That may be Beltre's argument, just that he paid the ultimate price the other week.

Luis Tiant: A True Baseball Legend

2009-08-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LUIS TIANT was when I was a youngster collecting baseball cards. I thought he was just one of those ballplayers with scraggily facial hair, overweight and an average pitcher. Oh, and he had that funny windup. I just didn't know enough about life at that age to have had a decent perspective.

After having watched The Lost Son of Havana the other day, I came away with as great a respect as one could have for a big-league pitcher. Tiant has aged quite a bit over the years, but the mustache remains, albeit much more white. I never realized how good a pitcher he was when he first started out in the big leagues. But even more impressive was the way he reinvented himself as a pitcher after suffering a career-threatening injury midway thru his career. The slow motion film of him slinging the ball sidearm and finishing the delivery with a punch is etched in my mind. The Lost Son of Havana is easily one of the best baseball documentaries I've ever seen.

Salary Dumped: Alex Rios

2009-08-11T10:56:00.001-07:00

WITH SO MANY TEAMS LOOKING TO SHED pricey contracts, the Toronto Blue Jays made a straight salary dump after the White Sox claimed Alex Rios' contract off waivers. That's still roughly $60 million over the next five years. If not for gloomy economics, a year ago we might have seen this parlayed into some kind of return for the Jays in the form of prospects.

Texeira and the Yanks Sweep Up Boston

2009-08-10T15:56:00.000-07:00

HE HELD THE BAT UP FOR A LONG TIME on his way to first base like a torch, or perhaps a broom, something you don't see too often. But the message was loud and clear. Texeira and the Yanks were on their way to sweeping the stumbling Red Sox at new Yankee Stadium after going back-to-back with Johnny Damon in the eighth inning last night. It must feel good for the Yankee brass to see Texeira launching a bomb against their archrival, who failed miserably to land #25 during the offseason.

Big Papi Squashes the Doubts

2009-08-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

BIG PAPI SQUASHED A LOT OF DOUBTS YESTERDAY, when he came across convincingly to many as not only NOT having used steroids, but also as the victim of reckless media allegations. Furthermore, both the Players Union and the Boston Red Sox defended his case, if not to limit damage to the public perception of their own organizations. And I've got to admit, I tend to believe him with his open and honest approach with the media. The irony is incredible.

Cliff Lee Joins the Phanatic

2009-07-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

Daisuke Matsuzaka Dialing It Down?

2009-07-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

DAISUKE'S RECENT FACE OFF with Red Sox management might be one of the pivotal baseball stories of the year, particularly how it potentially impacts future pitchers from Japan. With Matsuzaka's firm belief that MLB's dialed down approach to pitcher workouts on off days is the reason for the quick decline of Japanese pitchers in the league and the Red Sox firmly entrenched in the belief that such training is a recipe for injury, this debate extends beyond the realm of mere selfishness as a player. Conventional wisdom says that Matsuzaka ought to fall in line with his employer's decision at the risk of continued poor performance. But what if Matsuzaka is in fact right? Would MLB be doing a disservice to Japanese pitchers?

Matsuzaka's argument holds some weight if you examine the records of Hideo Nomo (whose ERA inflated also in his third MLB season) and Shingo Takatsu (whose ERA doubled in his second season).

Josh Willingham's Grande Double Latte

2009-07-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

COFFEE IS MY CHOICE OF PICK ME UP, but the other evening when I ordered a medium (or grande or whatever you want to call it) cup of coffee at the local bookstore the cashier asked me if I wanted the large for 10 cents more. I declined by telling her that I didn't want to drink that much coffee. Now I don't know what Josh Willingham drank prior to hitting those two grand slams last night, but if he drank coffee, it must have been a customized Grande Double Latte. And if I were the marketing department for the Nats, I'd immediately rename the largest drink The Josh Willingham.

Happy Holliday!

2009-07-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

THIS YEAR CHRISTMAS IS IN JULY for Matt Holliday, soon-to-be free agent outfielder who just went from the cellar in Oakland to the top of the arch in St. Louis. It has to be a strange feeling for guys like Holliday to spend three months with a rebuilding franchise, being unsure about their future, and trying to perform at a high-level. Christmas couldn't have come quicker for Matt Holliday.

PERFECT #56: Mark Buehrle

2009-07-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

Rural Baseball

2009-07-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

WHAT DO YOU GET when you combine the innocence of youth with baseball? Flickr member lanier67 captured the answer perfectly with this charming photo. There is no real baseball bat, nor is there a real baseball. All these two kids needed was part of a tree branch and a pine cone, and it doesn't get any more natural than that.

(Photo credit: flickr/lanier67)

Insta-Gro Erick Aybar

2009-07-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

WATCHING A YOUNG AND TALENTED PLAYER grow and mature into his full potential is one of the many ways that baseball charms us. It's hard enough to hit a round ball with a round bat, let alone hit it where they ain't. So when a guy like Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar puts on a 7-for-9 performance, scoring six runs while driving in four in a doubleheader yesterday against the Royals, you can't help but applaud. He's small, lean, fast, acrobatic, effective. Just add water and watch him grow!

Roy Halladay Ready for Lift Off

2009-07-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

HE'S CONSIDERED BY HIS PEERS to be the best pitcher in the game today, and Roy Halladay will likely see lift off from Toronto in the coming weeks. If and when it happens, this will be THE trade of the season.

Atlanta Retires Maddux's #31

2009-07-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

#13 Carl Crawford Helps A.L. Make It 13 Straight

2009-07-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

SO KING FIELDER HAD HIS DAY and Albert Pujols had his standing ovation, but Carl Crawford and the American League left their mark again at the 80th All-Star Game with a tidy 4-3 victory. That's 13 straight All-Star Games without a defeat. Crawford's grab of what would have appeared to be a home run by Brad Hawpe tops the highlight reel of this year's game, earning him MVP honors. How about that? No. 13 helping to clinch 13 straight for the Junior Circuit.

Pedro in Philly

2009-07-14T16:52:00.001-07:00

Prince Fielder: King for a Day

2009-07-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Survivor Washington...and the Winner Is...

2009-07-13T16:17:00.001-07:00

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME before Nationals manager Manny Acta got the boot. The original sketch was posted back in March and it looks like team president Stan Kasten is THE WINNER...well, okay, not really. With the Nationals on pace for a paltry 48 wins this year, the dog days of summer will be long and hot in D.C.

The Broken Record: Angels Come Back to Beat the Yanks

2009-07-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD the Angels defeated the Yankees in comeback fashion for the second straight day. But really, this is just an extension of what the Angels have dished out to the Yanks the past several years. From the 2002 and 2005 ALDS's to today, let's face it, the Halos own the Bronx Bombers.

The Stars Align: Jonathan Sanchez Tosses a No Hitter

2009-07-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

WHAT ARE THE ODDS that with a rotation boasting three Cy Young Award winners and a Cy Young Candidate in Matt Cain that Jonathan Sanchez would throw a no-no tonight? 500 to 1, 1000 to 1, or maybe 10,000 to 1? Some may call it a fluke, but you can't help but be happy for a guy who has been working and searching for the stuff that extends a career another ten years. Could this be the beginning?

Magglio Ordonez Platooned and the End of an Era

2009-07-09T15:54:00.001-07:00

USUALLY IT'S THE YOUNG MEN who get platooned in the U.S. Army, but in the baseball world it's a sure sign that your better days are behind you. Just two years removed from winnning the A.L. Batting Title, Magglio Ordonez is finding himself platooned in the outfield with rookie Clete Thomas. But it's not just Ordonez who has been fighting to keep his spot in the lineup. With guys like Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza and Luis Gonzalez now retired and David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero and Ken Griffey Jr. becoming human again, this is the beginning of the end of an era. So long to the hey days of the 2000's as we welcome the new guard in hitters like Ryan Howard, Justin Upton, Evan Longoria, Prince Fielder, Nick Markakis and Ryan Braun.

Frank McCourt's Nightmare: Andruw Jones Goes Deep Thrice

2009-07-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

A FEW PLAYERS HAVE HIT THREE HOMERS in a game this year, Andre Ethier, Torii Hunter and Paul Konerko to name a few, but did anybody expect Andruw Jones' to make the list? Certainly not Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. A closer looks at Jones' numbers: 14 HR/34 RBI in 160 AB, a .581 slugging percentage and a .929 OPS.

Marty Foster's Brain Freeze

2009-07-08T12:22:00.001-07:00

UMPIRE MARTY FOSTER IS PROOF that umpires are in fact human and sometimes too proud to admit mistakes. Earlier this week Foster called Derek Jeter out on a stolen base attempt, giving a no-tag-was-necessary explanation because the ball beat him to the bag despite Scott Rolen never having applied the tag. For a 10-year veteran, you expect more, but who knows, maybe Foster was suffering from a serious case of brain freeze.

Phillies Bury Reds

2009-07-07T22:55:00.001-07:00

GOOD THING THE REDS BOUNCED BACK today with a win over the Phillies because they were absolutely buried after yesterday's 10-run first inning. Poor Johnny Cueto sucked up nine earned runs.

Brett Tomko the Painter

2009-07-06T17:32:00.000-07:00

I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED HEARING ABOUT BALLPLAYERS who enjoy painting and Brett Tomko is the latest to show his craft in this video.

Hanley Ramirez Drives 'Em In

2009-07-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

HANLEY RAMIREZ PUT UP A FINE STREAK of 10 straight games with an RBI came to an end this past week, and there's a good chance he'll put up another such streak or two before his career is through. During his streak which ran from June 21st to July 1st, Ramirez drove in a total of 24 runs, roughly half of his RBIs on the season.

Albert Pujols: Halfway Up Mt. Maris

2009-07-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE since Big Mac and Sammy both broke Roger Maris' single-season homerun record, but all we've been left with is all the steroid garbage that has littered the baseball landscape since then. Yet just over halfway through the 2009 season, Albert Pujols has rekindled thoughts of ascending Mt. Maris having launched 31 big flies in 82 games. We used to marvel at the greatness of recent right-handed hitters like Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero and Edgar Martinez, but Pujols surpasses them all. Somehow the ESPN SportsCenter Pujols commercial doesn't seem too far from the truth.

Andre "the Giant" Ethier

2009-06-30T23:35:00.000-07:00

NO, L.A. FANS HE DIDN'T JOIN THE DARK SIDE, but Andre Ethier has been absolutely HUGE this year. What is it, four walk-off hits this year and counting? Nine homeruns in June? Other than Brad Hawpe, there is no better rightfielder fit to make the N.L. All-Star team this year.

Pirates Still Repairing: Nyjer Morgan Traded

2009-06-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

EARLIER THIS MONTH THE PIRATES traded outfielder Nate McLouth, prompting this post. So I've updated the original sketch here. Who would have expected them to trade yet another outfielder in Nyjer Morgan, this time to the Washington Nationals. Granted they did get a power-hitting prospect in Lastings Milledge, but time will tell if this trade pays handsome dividends.

Mariano Rivera at #500

2009-06-29T15:37:00.001-07:00

MARIANO RIVERA NAILED DOWN HIS 500th save, but it just didn't seem as big a deal as, say, Randy Johnson's 300th victory. These milestone saves for Rivera don't mean much because most fans believe that he is the greatest closer the game has ever seen with sincere apologies to Trevor Hoffman, the current all-time saves leader. Adjectives like 'dominant', 'consistent' and 'automatic' are all appropriate Rivera. Ideally it would be nice if Rivera ended his career as the all-time saves leader, so for now #500 is just another milestone that Rivera should tuck away in his back pocket.

The Return of Joey Votto

2009-06-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

JOEY VOTTO IS BACK after coping with his father's passing, and he came back with a bang, driving in three runs with a home run and a double on his third day back from the DL. Votto expressed finding comfort in the daily rituals of baseball to help him focus on moving forward after losing his hero, his father. Reds fans must be thrilled because Votto is having an incredible season thus far at the plate: a 1.101 OPS with 9 HR and 88 total bases in only 138 at bats.

LSU Tigers: College World Series Champs '09

2009-06-25T17:46:00.001-07:00

Vladimir Guerrero Gets Un-Locked

2009-06-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

SUPER VLAD. BIG DADDY VLADDY. VLAD THE IMPALER. Those are names that Angels fans love to spout. Personally, I always thought his hair resembled the look of that alien warrior Predator. Attempting to change his fortunes at the plate, Vlad clipped off each and every dreadlock, opting for a shiny new beginning. And it worked. Two days after getting un-locked, Guerrero drove in three runs with a home run and a double.

Donald Fehr: A Players Union's Winner

2009-06-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN one of the most hated men in baseball, but not in the eyes of the Major League Baseball Players Association. They should be thanking him immensely for helping them secure the financial future of their grandkids' grandkids. While Marvin Miller established free agency with as shrewd a move as you'll ever see in baseball, to borrow a football phrase, Donald Fehr took the ball and ran with it into the end zone. As a result, players are exponentially richer than they were 26 years ago when he first began leading the players' union. Everything bargained for was about securing player salaries, even at the expense of player reputations as a result of the steroids scandal.

Reds Civil Rights Jersey: Reflections of a Backwards Time

2009-06-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

THE JERSEY WAS WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE, the 1964 Cincinnati Reds throwback jersey the team wore for this year's Civil Rights game. I love seeing teams wear throwback jerseys, and the '64 jersey the Reds wore as a tribute to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was, well, backwards with the player's name below the jersey number. This flipped treatment reminded me of how backwards the sixties really were when it came to race relations. And yet watching Brandon Phillips running around the bases in throwback style made me think of just how far we've come as a country. Of course, we haven't yet arrived, but '64 was a big step. I look forward to next year's game.

Rock, Paper, Beckett!

2009-06-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY'S MATCHUP AT FENWAY PARK featured Boston's 2004 world champion ace Derek Lowe against the 2007 world champion ace Josh Beckett that lived up to its billing. Beckett delivered an efficient 3-0 shutout of the hapless Braves, while Lowe received a standing ovation after departing the game having pitched a quality start.

The Weaver Brothers: An LA Story

2009-06-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

LAST NIGHT L.A. BASEBALL FANS WERE TREATED to the hometown matchup between brothers Jeff and Jered Weaver. Raised in Simi Valley, the Weavers are only the eighth pair of brothers to pitch against each other in Major League history, and I haven't checked yet but possibly the first to pitch head-to-head in their hometown region.

Ivan Rodriguez Catches No. 2227

2009-06-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

BASEBALL IS POETRY. How fitting it was that Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez would set the all-time games record for a catcher by facing the Texas Rangers, the team where it all began for him. Pudge caught his 2227th game, surpassing the other "Pudge", Carlton Fisk to become the most durable catcher of all-time.

Do You Trust Sammy Sosa?

2009-06-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

NOT THAT IT WAS ANY REAL SURPRISE that a lawyer involved in baseball's steroid investigations leaked news that Sammy Sosa tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs as one of 104 ballplayers in 2003, but what did surprise me was hearing about his new role as one of the Dominican Republic's ambassadors for investments. A terrible match it is. Imagine Mr. Sosa asking you to make a financial investment in his country. After his deceptive statement about never having taken PEDs at the Congressional Hearings back in 2005, would you trust him and his government with your money? Would you shake on it?

Prince Fielder's First Grand Salami

2009-06-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

IRONICALLY IT WAS A WALLSCRAPER, Prince Fielder's grand slam yesterday, but a slam nonetheless. Surprisingly it was the vaunted slugger's first career grand slam. That is, it was also his 130th career homerun now into his 5th big league season. To explain the drought one could argue that Fielder gets pitched more cautiously with the bases loaded than others, but still 130 is a lot of roundtrippers without the sacks ever having been full. Last year White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez hit four grand slams during his rookie season. Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason in baseball, which is one reason why it is such a great game to watch.

Won-drous Colorado Rockies Go 11 Straight

2009-06-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

A FEW TEAMS HAVE PUT TOGETHER NICE WINNING STREAKS this year like Boston, New York, Florida, San Diego, but 11 straight wins by the Colorado Rockies is impressive for a team that used to be 12 games under .500. Now if only they could get above .500.

Luis Castillo Takes Over Oliver Perez' Dog House

2009-06-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

Coco Crisp: One for the Birds

2009-06-12T17:02:00.001-07:00

Manny's Futurama

2009-06-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

IT'S A REAL SHAME that Manny is choosing to avoid discussing his past regarding his drug-related supsension as he really owes it to the fans. If he only cheated this past winter, then wouldn't it serve him better to tell? Or does his silence suggest that he cheated, say, for an entire decade? Part of the problem is the blind support of some of his fans who don't care one bit that he cheated. Because they don't care, he doesn't care. I guess I was foolish to hope that Manny might be that superstar who chooses to be forthcoming about his past mistakes, forsaking any Hall of Fame chances and becoming a spokesperson against PEDs? How liberating it would be. Manny has made more money than he could ever spend in his lifetime, but it's clear that it's just not enough for him because in his eyes fame belongs with fortune.

Big Papi's Prescription: Play the Bronx Bombers

2009-06-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, you just sit back in wonder, that is, Big Papi emerging from his season-long slump by hitting a 2-run bomb against the Bronx Bombers. In six games against New York this year, Big Papi is slugging a hefty .609 with 7 RBI. Apparently the best prescription anyone could have given him is a spot in the lineup against the Yankees. Or was it really the eyedrops?

Boras' New Stephen Strasburg Shades

2009-06-08T22:57:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY IS THE FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT, but it'll only be the tip of the iceberg for the team that selects phenom fireballer Stephen Strasburg. The real fun won't start until negotiations begin. While the average Joe may balk at Scott Boras' $50 million dollar bonus suggestion, the real question is whether Washington Nationals' owner and billionaire Ted Lerner will balk at that figure? Lerner has the money, but there's also the question of whether it sets a very dangerous precedent for the rarest of talent. SI's Jon Heyman breaks down the options in his article.

Pittsburgh Pirates: A Constant State of (Dis)Repair

2009-06-07T22:44:00.000-07:00

THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES HAVE LOST three outstanding outfielders in less than a calendar year in Jason Bay, Xavier Nady and recently departed Nate McLouth. That can't feel good in the clubhouse or fanbase regardless of how it's spun. But the Pirates do have a brain child in GM Neal Huntington and so continues the smart albeit painful approach of dealing proven players for multiple farm talents. Eventually Huntington and the Bucs will reap the rewards with a fully-stocked farm system to complement a highly-talented major league roster while having saved a boatload of money.

Tom Glavine Mulling Retirement?

2009-06-05T17:20:00.001-07:00

IT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED MUCH BETTER, the way the Atlanta Braves and Tom Glavine parted ways earlier this week, but after what happened with John Smoltz during Spring Training, perhaps it shouldn't have been all that much of a surprise. It's understandable for a pitcher to want to go out on his own terms, but with a Hall of Fame resume like Glavine's, there's really nothing left to prove.

Randy Johnson: #300

2009-06-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

Joba Chamberlain Flops and Makes the Catch!

2009-06-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

ALL 230 POUNDS OF HIM hit the infield grass at Jacob's Field when Joba Chamberlain made a heckuva bellyflop catch on Monday of Kelly Shoppach's failed bunt attempt. I'm sure it's happened before, but I can't remember a larger pitcher than Chamberlain laying it out like that. And 230 pounds seems a bit on the conservative side, yet not for any of the bugs and midges that might have been between him and the earth. This catch will likely make it onto MLB's season highlight reel.

If You Need Anything Right Now, Just Ask Frank McCourt

2009-06-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

THINGS ARE GOING SWELL IN DODGERVILLE, just ask owner Frank McCourt. His recent approval of the prospects of Manny being in this year's All-Star Game just confirms how fine things are in the Land of Blue. Who could have guessed that the Dodgers would have the best record in the majors after Manny's suspension? Nobody. But that's not all, we all know that McCourt has $7 million cash back coming to him for Manny's indiscretions via his pro-rated salary and also a fresh and well-rested slugger for the second half of the season. Who needs steroids when you get 50 days off? And how about not asking your best slugger to give account for his cheating? It's no wonder McCourt has his head in the clouds these days.

Texas #44: Austin W-0000000000000-D

2009-05-31T21:54:00.000-07:00

NOT KERRY, NOT BRANDON, BUT AUSTIN WOOD. On Saturday of last week, Texas beat Boston College 3-2 in a marathon 25 innings, the longest in NCAA history. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, Texas Longhorn relief pitcher Austin Wood threw 12 innings of no-hit ball and 13 shutout innings. Think about that. Wood threw a total of 169 pitches, which amounts to 13 pitches an inning, very efficient and perhaps the reason why he was left out there for so long. Wood is no Steven Strasburg, but on that particular night, Wood pitched the game of his life.

Kendry Morales the Getaway Jet!

2009-05-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

MY 3-YEAR OLD LIKES TO WATCH Jay Jay the Jetplane. Personally, I find it a little eery looking at giant faces mounted on the front of airplanes, but my son doesn't seem to mind. So when Kendry Morales walked up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, tie game, bases loaded on getaway day sporting a new thick, dark goatee, I figured something was due to happen. No way they wanted to take a flight out of town after getting swept by Seattle. Shortly thereafter, a squibbler past the shortstop, the Halos were ready for takeoff.

Rick Porcello's Postgame Coca-Cola!

2009-05-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

IMAGINE BEING 20 YEARS OLD in the Big Leagues and running off a 5-game winning streak. Rick Porcello and his devastating sinker has been one of the feel good stories of the first half. Not since the likes of Doc Gooden have we seen such a young arm, so successful, so quickly. It's gotta be a nightmare for opposing hitters facing Verlander's high heat and Porcello's sinker. If not GM, at least Detroit's starting pitchers are motoring along quite nicely these days.

Carlos Zambrano Is Dynamite

2009-05-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

CARLOS ZAMBRANO IS A RARITY. Yesterday's explosion after failing to tag out Nyjer Morgan at the plate was reminiscent of his manager, Lou Pinella. Zambrano ejected homeplate umpire Mark Carlson , slammed his glove into the brick wall, threw a ball into the outfield and took his signature hacks at the Gatorade cooler. It was over the top, comical. I haven't quite pinpointed what differentiates this guy from other hotheads in baseball. He's such a dynamite player in every kind of way. Dynamite pitcher. Dynamite hitter. Dynamite explosive. So what makes him different than a Milton Bradley? If anything, at least Zambrano owned up to his mistakes afterwards.

Milton Bradley Pours on the Gasoline

2009-05-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

IT'S THE KIND OF THING YOU READ ABOUT and instantly frown upon, that is, Milton Bradley blaming the umpires for his recent slump—a victim's mentality. If Bradley thinks the umpires are expanding his strike zone as a personal vendetta, wouldn't spilling it to the press just irritate the umpires even more? As Lou Pinella said it, "Blaming the umpires isn't a good solution."