Monthly Archives: April 2013

UPDATED — Tuesday, Monday, Sunday game notes

For all you squeaky wheels….

Giants 2, @D-backs 1: “It seems like every time I leave one of those up it’s getting crushed right now,” said J.J. Putz. Well, there’s “up,” and there’s “thigh-high roller in the geographic center of the QuesTec zone.” Good luck getting that pitch past those thighs. Panda’s 15 for 29 with RISP so far.

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Rulebook 101: Coaching out of the box

In Oakland Sunday afternoon, the Orioles screwed up two bunt plays in the 10th and lost, the run scoring on an overthrow at third base. They probably would have lost even if A’s third-base coach Mike Gallego had not been allowed to get so close to his runner, while alerting him to the overthrow, that he stepped on the foul line (which is fair territory) just afterwards, while the play was still on.

Did Gallego violate the rules?

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Quiz – Touch ’em all … and not so much

Here’s a unusual list of players, with a healthy dose of HOFers, including some all-time slugging leaders. Plus … some other players.

But there is a common thread that connects only these players, among all those to play their entire careers since 1901.

  1. Hank Aaron
  2. Babe Ruth
  3. Willie Mays
  4. Jimmie Foxx
  5. Rogers Hornsby
  6. Ron Fairly
  7. Phil Cavarretta
  8. Waite Hoyt
  9. Jay Johnstone
  10. Elmer Valo

Hint: think Thomas Wolfe.

Congratulations to Nomar’s Ghost and Richard Chester who teamed up to identify the players on the list as those to play in 20 or more seasons, starting and ending in the same city, but with a different franchise.

Miley’s Wild Ride, and a few Saturday game notes

@D-backs 3, Rockies 2 (10): Patience at the plate usually pays off, but don’t tell that to the Rockies right now. They drew 7 walks from Arizona starter Wade Miley in his 4.1 innings, including 4 in the opening frame, but didn’t score off him.

A start with 7+ walks in 13 outs or less, but no runs, hadn’t happened in more than 50 years. But we’ll get to that.

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Looking back on Wednesday games, plus Tuesday late action

@Padres 2, Brewers 1: A tricornered streak-buster, as the Pads had skidded through 5 straight overall and 7 straight home games, winning only their opener. In perhaps his most efficient outing ever, Edinson Volquez blanked the Brewers for 7 innings on 94 pitches, a personal low for that distance. Until 2 outs in the 9th, Milwaukee had gotten just one man to 2nd base, and that chance died when Carlos Gomez attacked a 3-0 pitch and grounded out.

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Tuesday game niblets (microwave edition)

Enjoying the April roller-coaster? Already, five streaks of 7+ wins by five different teams, while 10 teams have lost 5 in a row. The Brewers are dead! No, they’ve won 8 straight! (Is it 9?) The Braves can’t be stopped! Wait, they lost 4 in a row? But now they’re flying again! The Rox streaked for 8, they’re perfect at home! Whoops, is that 3 home losses in 2 days?

Braves 4, @Rockies 3 (game 1): You can’t contain him. El Oso Blanco expanded his range to the mountains. He’ll soon be in your back yard, turning over your trash cans….

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