Joe was a fixture of my baseball memories, NBC game of the week. Yogi gone and now Joe, two buddies from the Hill in St.Louis. RIP.
Ugh! Four teams are doomed because they were on the regional covers of Sports Illustrated: Cubs, Astros, Mets, and Giants. I don't care about the other three, but I'm disappointed that the SI jinx has been cast on the Cubs. I was hoping that this was "the" year.
Well it didn't take long for some controversy to come up. Astros SS Carlos Carrera ran out of the baseline just enough to get in the way of the Yankee pitcher trying to make the throw to 1st base, but instead of plunking him in the back and getting the automatic out for interference he tried to throw over him and airmailed the 1st baseman. Savy play by Carrera and dumb play by the Yankee pitcher. The Yankee's of course played the game under protest, which is futile, I think I read that it's been something like 30 years since MLB upheld a protest and had the game replayed from that point. Then in Toronto a new rule this year, the Chase Utley Rule, was enforced last night giving the Blue Jays a win they wouldn't have if not for the new rule. It wasn't just the new rule though as nobody on the field thought the runner had interfered at 2nd base, but the new rule allows for instant replay review and in the frame by frame you could see a "technical" violation of the rule and so he was out! Not everybody likes the new rule of course and they really don't like it being reviewable.
Opening Day Baseball Trivia.... I didn't know very many of these questions. http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will040216.php3
Interesting fact Victor Martinez of the Tigers is fourth in the AL in HRs. Not that impressive unless you consider that the Tigers have only played 2 games so far. Those games were in a NL park (Marlins) where Vmart isn't in the lineup because he DHs. He's pinch hit twice. He has 2 HRs!
So every time you go to a ballgame you hope you get a shot at catching a ball hit into the stands. I've gotten one my whole life. How about this guy???? http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2016/04/11/tigers-fan-mini-celebrity-after-grabbing-five-foul-balls/82909836/
When I was in Jr and Sr High my brother and I would take our gloves to Astro's games....never had one even come close. Since then I've wised up and if a ball comes my way I'm stepping aside!
Terry, several years ago, my youngest brother went to a Cubs game and reached to catch a line drive foul ball. It hit him square in his palm and deflected elsewhere, but he ended up with a massive, ugly bruise. I consider it advisable to do what you would do if a ball comes at me.
I have never caught one but Anne has. Carlos Gomez hit foul ball near where we were sitting. Four young guys sitting behind us started climbing over everyone to snag the ball and Anne went into a fetal position to protect herself. The ball bounced off one of the guy's hand, hit the floor, and rolled underneath Anne's seat. Still in the fetal pose, she started giggling and said, "I got the ball!" All of the women in the section started high fiving with her while the young guys behind us sat in sullen silence.
Only a week or so into the season, but the Cubs are looking like Champs even with the loss of the Schwarber. Cardinals struggling...help me out here AJ why the slow start? But how about 33rd round draft choice out of W.Carolina in 2013, Tyler White, making the opening day roster as the starter at 1st base for the Astro's. So he rewards the Astros by leading them in pretty much every category, BA (.545) Hr's, RBI's, OBP, ...dude is off to a great start. I hope he's the real deal and not just an April flash who once the league see's him a second time they will have him figured out.
Not so fast my friend.....Cards 0-3 to start....4-0 since......2 games out.....but like George says..."It's April"... I would use the inhury thing, but it has opened up the door for minor leaugers such as: http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/player/571757/jeremy-hazelbaker Who's making the most of his chance after key outfielder injuries along with Diaz and Garcia, who weren't on opening day rosters. MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY MADE YESTERDAY IN ST. LOUIS: http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/171302342/hazelbaker-diaz-and-garcia-set-mlb-record Pitching has been so so.....Walden (Trade from Braves) is hurt again....he's pitched like 10 pitches for cards in 1 1/2 years..... I think we'll be fine......best front office in Baseball will keep them in the picture come Sept..... Re: Cubs.....they're the Cubs....they'll find a way not to get to the WS..... :twisted:
Cubs look very strong this year. But losing Schwaber doesn't help. He however did help our Fantasy team last year as we came on late to win with him being a big part.