Joy of Stats

Houston has struck out 56 times in the first four games. That's 12 more than any team to open the season. Even if they strike out only four times tonight they will STILL have more K's to open the season through five games than any team in history.

The Dodgers haven't struck out 14 times in a game since 2010. The Astros are averaging 14 K's through 4 games.

And then there's Chris Davis. Four home runs in the first four games becoming the fourth player to do that in history. His 12 RBI off those four HR's is something that hasn't been done in any four game stretch (much less to start a season) since 1937.

My point? That we can know all this, to this level of detail in a historic context, is one of the reasons I love baseball.

If I Had a Ballot

In no particular order:

• Jeff Bagwell - MVP, 59th career WAR, 22nd career OPS, 449 HR, 1500 RBI
• Larry Walker - MVP, 3 batting titles, 7 Gold Gloves, 3 Silver Sluggers
• Dale Murphy - 2 MVPs, 5 Gold Gloves, 4 Silver Sluggers, Roberto Clemente award
• Tim Raines - 2500 hits, 808 SB (5th all-time)
• Jack Morris - best pitcher of the 1980s & all in the AL East
• Craig Biggio - 3000 hits, All-Star at 2 positions, 4 Gold Gloves, 5 Silver Sluggers, Roberto Clemente award
• Mike Piazza - best hitting catcher of all time
• Kenny Lofton - 2400 hits, 600 SB, 4 Gold Gloves

Someday, but not today (why is for another day):

• Barry Bonds
• Roger Clemens

Discuss.

Update:

2013 Hall of Fame Vote a Shutout

Friday Video - Who's on First? Redux

We could all use a little levity (and not just Minnesota Twins fans scratching their heads at the gaping hole in starting pitching being filled by three moves to compete for the 5-spot in the rotation because, "Hey, 'we can't call this a rebuilding year'"). Here it is brought to you by the genius of Jimmy Fallon's Late Night.



For those who can't place the guy playing "What," he is AD Miles, an actor who is the show's lead writer. Link to video.

Compare it to the original Abbott and Costello.

25 Years Ago

Willie McGee hits a little bouncer down to Gaetti, there's the throw to Hrbek ... and the Twins are world champions! The Twins are world champions! - Herb Carneal, Minnesota Twins play-by-play man

Image: Minnesota Twins

I didn't hear that call. I was watching it on TV, and then I opened a Mickey's Big Mouth and lit a victory cigar in the Phi Delt lounge in Ripon, WI.

The day before we had been at Game 6, where the Twins evened up the series in dominating fashion and included the loudest sound I still may have experienced following Kent Hrbek's screaming shot grand slam to center field.

After the game, standing on the curb outside the stadium, the whole town was buzzing, and then we saw it, the sign that we had seen earlier in the post-season on TV, "Is this gread, or what?" Now the owner of the sign was hanging it out of a car that was circling the dome. Yes! That sign summed it all up.

It had been more than 30 years since the Twin Cities had had a professional sports title with the Lakers. The Twins had lost the World Series before I was born. I did remember the Vikings' 4 Super Bowl losses and a North Stars' Stanley Cup loss. Heck, the Kicks had even lost the NASL final. Throw in Humphrey's and Mondale's losses in the presidential elections, and you can see why people used to talk openly about the Twin Cities being a second place town. The only thing that might have gotten the metro area through the 70's was the hockey Gophers.

But not that night. The feeling I still remember: "Is this great, or what?"

What Would You Do?

The Troglodytrix had a chance at a foul ball in Tuesday's Twins vs. Orioles game. The rules call for fans to not interfere while the ball is still in the field of play.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman, Mark Reynolds, tumbles into the stands after catching foul ball in Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Reynolds broke Troglotyke #4's cup holder; he wasn't in his seat at the time. (Getty Images)

Check out the video, and then you be the judge. The funny thing is we had talked about that exact situation happening about 2 innings before. Gotta side with her... integrity of the game, baby.

Flag Day

Today commemorates the 235th anniversary of the adoption of the Star Spangled Banner (aka the Stars and Stripes) by the Second Continental Congress as the national flag of the United States. In recognition, I offer a light edit of my post from six years ago, one of my favorite flag stories:

It has been 36 years since then-Chicago Cub center fielder Rick Monday, after noticing two protesters jumping onto the field and attempting to burn a Star Spangled Banner while kneeling on the outfield grass, ran immediately toward them and snatched it away during an early season game against the Dodgers in LA.

As a nine year-old child at the time, I have only fond memories of the extended celebration of the country's Bicentennial, but in a post five years ago, Ed Morrissey recalls the state of the national psyche, just removed from Vietnam and Watergate, and the power of Monday's action:

[W]hen Monday took off with the flag, all of the cynicism and defeatism of the past two years melted away. Watching Monday rescue the flag from two lunatics who tried to hijack a baseball game for their protest, which would have provided the perfect nadir of American morale at that time, the crowd did something no one expected. [Then-Dodger third base coach Tommy] Lasorda recalled in his book that starting softly, the crowd started singing "God Bless America," completely unprompted, until all of the tens of thousands of Dodger fans had joined together to sing it. It was one of the few unscripted and spontaneous patriotic displays in our Bicentennial, and one of the most moving at any time.

The entire scene has been included in a list of 100 Classic Moments in the History of the Game published by the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The flag was presented to Monday, a 19-year major league veteran and 6-year veteran of the Marine Corps Reserves, later in the '76 season. He has it proudly displayed and has refused an offer of $1 million.

That little piece of cloth represents a lot of rights and freedoms that people have given up their lives to protect... But the flag is not for sale. What this flag represents, you can't buy.

7 Quick Takes

for the weekend of April 20th

The Baseball Commercial with a Local Connection Edition


In no particular order...

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What's the local connection on that one? Tom Glavine, co-starring in the Nike commercial, pitched in Game 2 of the 1991 World Series (won by the Twins, of course) during which this play occurred:

Jesse Jackson Wants All-Star Game Yanked from Arizona over Immigration Law

Like moth to a flame, Jesse Jackson has inserted himself into the debate over Arizona's recent immigration law and is dragging Major League Baseball in with him by issuing an open letter to Commissioner Bud Selig. I suppose he figures, "Why not? It worked with the Super Bowl." I'm sure Bud is jazzed about this. (HHT: DailyPitch)

Here's the letter:

Dear Bud,

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition appeals to Major League Baseball to take a public stand against the recently passed Arizona immigration law. We also urge you to move the scheduled 2011 all-star game from Diamondback Stadium in Arizona unless this law is repealed.

America's democracy is based on the values of freedom and equality--a level playing field for all of its people. The passage of the Arizona immigration law is an affront to these principles, representing the most divisive and polarizing approach to immigration reform. It is morally reprehensible and will be challenged as unconstitutional in the courts. This law – and the social "movement" that has inspired it – will have a negative impact on all of America's people.

Major League Baseball is truly an international sport. Well over 25% of MLB players are of Latino descent, and players, coaches, managers, and staff come from many countries other than the United States. From Jackie Robinson's breakthrough moment in 1947 to today, they make major league baseball one of the world's most popular sports. They come here legally, documented, with the single goal of showcasing their skills and contributing to the growth and success of Major League Baseball. They should not be subjected to humiliating and illegal harassment.

The Arizona law will have a devastating impact on the integrity and public image of Major League Baseball. Imagine if players or their families are stopped and interrogated by law enforcement – not just during all-star week, but during any games – spring training (where half of the teams locate in Arizona) and regular season – played in Arizona. That would truly be a dark day for Major League Baseball. We urge MLB to take all necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of your players, coaches, staff and their families.

Sincerely,Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
President and Founder/Rainbow PUSH Coalition