It’s the weekend and I’m in a giving mood. Actually, I just found all 3 of these stats pretty darn interesting, so who am I to discriminate?
Juan Pierre went 1 for 6 with 3 Ks against the Rockies on Saturday night. It’s the first time JP has struck out three times in a game in FIVE YEARS. What’s more, coming into the game, since the All Star break, he’s struck out only FIVE times.
That’s five. As in, one more than four. One less than six.
In this age of swinging for the fences, that’s pretty remarkable.
...
Boy, the Diamondbacks could’ve saved themselves a lot of money this weekend. Instead of flying the whole team out to Atlanta, all they needed to do was send Micah Owings into town on Saturday.
Not only did the rookie go seven innings, giving up 3 earned, no walks and seven strike outs leading AZ to a 12-6 victory -- but he also went 4 for 5 with 2 home runs, 4 runs scored and 6 RBI.
Couple of notes on that:
- He’s the first pitcher in history with 4 hits, 4 runs and 6 RBI in one game. EVER.
- His 11 total bases is the most by a pitcher in the last 50 YEARS.
- And lastly, forget being compared to just pitchers. Nobody in MLB (regardless of position) has posted 2 HRs, 4 hits, 4 runs and 6 RBI in a game since 2005. A hitter by the name of Alex Rodriguez did it. You may have heard of him.
A native of Gainesville, GA., Owings also had about 50 friends and family in the crowd cheering him on.
Not a bad night at the ballpark.
...
And finally, switching gears to the NFL.
Congrats to the Houston Texans. They beat the Cardinals 33-20 in preseason on Saturday.
The 33 points represents the most points the Texans have ever scored – preseason or regular season. EVER.
For reference, NFL teams scored over 33 points 58 times last season alone – six teams even did it in ONE week last year (Week 4).
How pathetic is that?
Way to get off the 30-point schnide Houston.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
UPDATE: 10 Bold Predcitions For MLB 2007
At the beginning of the season, I submitted my 10 Bold Predictions for the 2007 baseball season.
A quick look at where I stand after 122 games...
1. Ryan Howard Won’t Break the 40-HR Mark – After only three home runs in the firs month of the season, it looked like Prediction #1 was off to a hell of a start. Sadly, one month does not a full season make. Ry-How is now sitting 7 bombs short of 40 with 40 games to play. Still possible he doesn’t get there, although not very likely… unless we get a repeat of April!
2. The Mets Will Miss The Playoffs – Come on, who saw John Maine, Oliver Perez and El Duque et al putting together the season they have thus far? With a 4.00 ERA, they M-E-T-S trail only the Padres for best team ERA in the league. Ugggh. Sitting at 68-53 with a 3.5 game lead over the Phightin’ Phills for the division lead, this one never had hope out of the gate.
3. St. Louis Will Finish Fourth In The Division – Yet another pick that had the early makings of a nice notch in my belt. But no time was hotter than the Cards over the last month and while they are still in third place, they’re equally far out of first as they are out of fourth – 4 games in both directions.
4. Aaron Cook Will Throw The First No Hitter – 2007 has seen two no hitters and not even by scrambling the letters in Mark Buerhle and Justin Verlander’s names can I spell Aaron Cook. Now that he’s on the DL (which ironically appears to have also ended my fantasy season), this one was dead in the water long ago.
5. A-Rod Will Be The MVP – Finally a pick that appears dangerously close to coming to fruition. I just don’t buy Magglio stealing it from the 3B. The Tigers have too many other reasons why they’re as good as they are, including Gary “I’m Not A Racist, I Just Don’t Like White People” Sheffield, who should steal enough votes from his teammate to give the award to A-Rod.
6. Arizona Will Win The NL West – Wow, two in a row? It sure looks that way. Four games up on the Padres. Six games on the Dodgers. And neither of those teams could hit their way out of a paper bag if needed. The Bax will hang on to win the division.
7. Barry Bonds Will Ruin My Birthday – Ok, this one is scary. Before the season started, I said Barry would need 108 games before hitting his 22rd Home Run on August 4 to break Hammerin’ Hank’s record. He actually tied Aaron on that day. He’d break it three days later, but come on, that’s pretty damn close.
8. CAN’T TALK ABOUT THIS ONE FOR THE SOLE REASON OF NOT WANTING TO JINX ANYTHING…I’M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.
9. Carl Pavano Will Lead The Yanks In Wins – My run of good picks had to end sometime. This is it. Thanks Carl.
10. Get Ready For The Return Of The Tomahawk Chop – The Bravos are 5 games out of first… but only .5 games out of the Wild Card. I’m not as sold on Atlanta as I once was, but if they should make it into the postseason, having to face John Smoltz (if he can get healthy) and Tim Hudson (if he can get right) twice in a 5 or 7 game series is still no easy task. Of course, I also didn’t see Andruw Jones hitting .215 this late in the season. Forget hitting your weight, dude, you’re barely hitting my weight. Probably a safe bet to put this one in the “Miss” column.
So there it is so far. Some good, some bad… some really bad. Damn you Aaron Cook!
Check back at the end of the season for a final tally. Since I love the prediction game, I’ll say I finish with 4 correct calls. Hey, I'll take a .400 average any day of the week.
You can just call me the new Teddy Ballgame.
A quick look at where I stand after 122 games...
1. Ryan Howard Won’t Break the 40-HR Mark – After only three home runs in the firs month of the season, it looked like Prediction #1 was off to a hell of a start. Sadly, one month does not a full season make. Ry-How is now sitting 7 bombs short of 40 with 40 games to play. Still possible he doesn’t get there, although not very likely… unless we get a repeat of April!
2. The Mets Will Miss The Playoffs – Come on, who saw John Maine, Oliver Perez and El Duque et al putting together the season they have thus far? With a 4.00 ERA, they M-E-T-S trail only the Padres for best team ERA in the league. Ugggh. Sitting at 68-53 with a 3.5 game lead over the Phightin’ Phills for the division lead, this one never had hope out of the gate.
3. St. Louis Will Finish Fourth In The Division – Yet another pick that had the early makings of a nice notch in my belt. But no time was hotter than the Cards over the last month and while they are still in third place, they’re equally far out of first as they are out of fourth – 4 games in both directions.
4. Aaron Cook Will Throw The First No Hitter – 2007 has seen two no hitters and not even by scrambling the letters in Mark Buerhle and Justin Verlander’s names can I spell Aaron Cook. Now that he’s on the DL (which ironically appears to have also ended my fantasy season), this one was dead in the water long ago.
5. A-Rod Will Be The MVP – Finally a pick that appears dangerously close to coming to fruition. I just don’t buy Magglio stealing it from the 3B. The Tigers have too many other reasons why they’re as good as they are, including Gary “I’m Not A Racist, I Just Don’t Like White People” Sheffield, who should steal enough votes from his teammate to give the award to A-Rod.
6. Arizona Will Win The NL West – Wow, two in a row? It sure looks that way. Four games up on the Padres. Six games on the Dodgers. And neither of those teams could hit their way out of a paper bag if needed. The Bax will hang on to win the division.
7. Barry Bonds Will Ruin My Birthday – Ok, this one is scary. Before the season started, I said Barry would need 108 games before hitting his 22rd Home Run on August 4 to break Hammerin’ Hank’s record. He actually tied Aaron on that day. He’d break it three days later, but come on, that’s pretty damn close.
8. CAN’T TALK ABOUT THIS ONE FOR THE SOLE REASON OF NOT WANTING TO JINX ANYTHING…I’M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.
9. Carl Pavano Will Lead The Yanks In Wins – My run of good picks had to end sometime. This is it. Thanks Carl.
10. Get Ready For The Return Of The Tomahawk Chop – The Bravos are 5 games out of first… but only .5 games out of the Wild Card. I’m not as sold on Atlanta as I once was, but if they should make it into the postseason, having to face John Smoltz (if he can get healthy) and Tim Hudson (if he can get right) twice in a 5 or 7 game series is still no easy task. Of course, I also didn’t see Andruw Jones hitting .215 this late in the season. Forget hitting your weight, dude, you’re barely hitting my weight. Probably a safe bet to put this one in the “Miss” column.
So there it is so far. Some good, some bad… some really bad. Damn you Aaron Cook!
Check back at the end of the season for a final tally. Since I love the prediction game, I’ll say I finish with 4 correct calls. Hey, I'll take a .400 average any day of the week.
You can just call me the new Teddy Ballgame.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Here Come The Cardinals (Boooooooooooo!)
Is Jay Cutler the next John Elway? Who is about to be crowned the next NFL MVP? And which team will finish with the league’s worst record (here’s a hint: it rhymes with Balcons). For all these answers and more, check out my SEVEN BOLD NFL PREDICTIONS FOR 'O7 at Sports Central.
Here’s what else is in my brain fighting to get out...
If you would’ve told me before the season started the Cubs would be .5 games out of first place on August 16, I would’ve been a happy man.
And actually, I’m not too worried about catching the Brewers. In fact, I think it’s a forgone conclusion. The team most likely to come between Chicago and a division title – those freakin’ St. Louis Cardinals.
Written off for most of the year, the Redbirds now found themselves just 2.5 games out of first and 2 games behind the Cubs. Oy.
To be honest, I’m not sure how they’re doing it. As opposed to years past, their lineup is anything but scary from top to bottom. Their rotation includes guys named Looper, Pineiro, Wells, Wainwright and Reyes. And I don’t care what the stats say, I’ll bet against Jason Isringhausen any day of the week.
But having said that, in the last 8 games, those starters I just mentioned are 7-1 with a 1.64 ERA. Ugggggh.
I’m chalking it all up to the Rick Ankiel factor. Although Josh Hamilton can’t be happy Wild Thing Ankiel is stealing all of the “feel good story” headlines.
Who would’ve thunk it?!?
The Cards come in to Wrigley for a four-game set beginning on Friday. I’m gonna say winner of this series wins the division. If it’s a tie, all I can do is continue to rub my lucky wishbone and pray for the best.
Oh by the way, the Brewers begin a streak of three straight series on the road. They’re 23-36 away from home this season.
They’re about to collapse. Just watch.
...
It’s only preseason, but ladies and gentlemen, we have our first NFL Stat of the Day.
The Dolphins and the Chiefs (“That’s great man, but who are the Chefs?) played an absolutely meaningless preseason game on Thursday night.
And besides Phil Dvorak being stoked for an 11-10 win over Ellner’s Chiefs, this game was significant for one reason.
And it wasn’t because the Chiefs through their first preseason TD pass since 2005 (true story), but it was because no regular season or postseason game in the history of the NFL has ever ended 11-10. Ever.
How ‘bout that.
...
And finally, with Aaron Cook placed on the DL just minutes before Thursday night’s game against San Diego, my fantasy baseball season is all but over, thanks to Seth Doria of Left Calf fame.
This was a must-win for the Holy Cows. And before you even say it, yes I realize if I’m relying on Aaron Cook to save my season, it was probably lost long ago.
Thank God football is right around the corner… I’m in two leagues and I have the 8th and 9th picks respectively.
Hoping for the same guy in each. And guess what, I’m not afraid to reveal who I’m hoping for with my first pick, even though I know my fellow league mates read this blog…
Here it is… you ready?
I want Rex Grossman!
He’s headed to the Pro Bowl. Just remember, you heard it here first.
Go Bears!
Here’s what else is in my brain fighting to get out...
If you would’ve told me before the season started the Cubs would be .5 games out of first place on August 16, I would’ve been a happy man.
And actually, I’m not too worried about catching the Brewers. In fact, I think it’s a forgone conclusion. The team most likely to come between Chicago and a division title – those freakin’ St. Louis Cardinals.
Written off for most of the year, the Redbirds now found themselves just 2.5 games out of first and 2 games behind the Cubs. Oy.
To be honest, I’m not sure how they’re doing it. As opposed to years past, their lineup is anything but scary from top to bottom. Their rotation includes guys named Looper, Pineiro, Wells, Wainwright and Reyes. And I don’t care what the stats say, I’ll bet against Jason Isringhausen any day of the week.
But having said that, in the last 8 games, those starters I just mentioned are 7-1 with a 1.64 ERA. Ugggggh.
I’m chalking it all up to the Rick Ankiel factor. Although Josh Hamilton can’t be happy Wild Thing Ankiel is stealing all of the “feel good story” headlines.
Who would’ve thunk it?!?
The Cards come in to Wrigley for a four-game set beginning on Friday. I’m gonna say winner of this series wins the division. If it’s a tie, all I can do is continue to rub my lucky wishbone and pray for the best.
Oh by the way, the Brewers begin a streak of three straight series on the road. They’re 23-36 away from home this season.
They’re about to collapse. Just watch.
...
It’s only preseason, but ladies and gentlemen, we have our first NFL Stat of the Day.
The Dolphins and the Chiefs (“That’s great man, but who are the Chefs?) played an absolutely meaningless preseason game on Thursday night.
And besides Phil Dvorak being stoked for an 11-10 win over Ellner’s Chiefs, this game was significant for one reason.
And it wasn’t because the Chiefs through their first preseason TD pass since 2005 (true story), but it was because no regular season or postseason game in the history of the NFL has ever ended 11-10. Ever.
How ‘bout that.
...
And finally, with Aaron Cook placed on the DL just minutes before Thursday night’s game against San Diego, my fantasy baseball season is all but over, thanks to Seth Doria of Left Calf fame.
This was a must-win for the Holy Cows. And before you even say it, yes I realize if I’m relying on Aaron Cook to save my season, it was probably lost long ago.
Thank God football is right around the corner… I’m in two leagues and I have the 8th and 9th picks respectively.
Hoping for the same guy in each. And guess what, I’m not afraid to reveal who I’m hoping for with my first pick, even though I know my fellow league mates read this blog…
Here it is… you ready?
I want Rex Grossman!
He’s headed to the Pro Bowl. Just remember, you heard it here first.
Go Bears!
Monday, August 13, 2007
I'm Never Going To 'Cincinnati'
I know this space is usually reserved for sports talk, but I’ve got to get this off my chest.
For anyone else who labored through 8 head-scratching weeks of “John From Cincinnati,” I have one simple question for you…
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?
I’m a huge fan of smart TV….and you can’t argue with a Dylan McKay – Zach Morris showdown, but come on.
And while I love to brag when I do, I really hate being able to figure out an entire story line before it plays out. But there’s cliffhanging, puzzling TV… and then there’s this.
“Some things I know. Some things I don’t,” says John.
Yeah, join the club buddy. I know a lot of things but one I may never know is what the hell that entire season was supposed to be about.
To make matters worse, the show hasn’t even been picked up for a second season, so I hate to break it to you, but that could be it.
If you have any clue, any notion as to what the heck was going on in that show, please tell me.
I’m begging you. Please help me regain my sanity. It’s seriously keeping me up at night and I need to sleep!
Just The Cubs Being Cubs
Just two weeks ago, all of Cub nation was riding high with dreams of a playoff run dancing in our heads as we sat at 55-49. Just one game behind the Brewers for first after a dreadful start.Fast forward 14 days and one really expensive torn quad later…
The Cubs are now 60-57 and 1.5 games out of the lead.
We’ve hit a very worrisome slide (we can’t score and our pitching has been wildly inconsistent), yet have managed to only lose a half-game in the standings.
Not so bad, right? Not so fast.
I’ve been saying it all year. As all young teams do, the Milwaukee Brewers were bound to hit a slide. You’ll remember me saying it wasn’t a matter of IF, but WHEN.
Well guess what, WHEN is NOW.
In their last 23 games, the Brew Crew has gone 8-15… and not only could we not take advantage, but as only the Cubs can do, we actually figured out a way to fall farther back.
I’d say it’s unbelievable, but this is just how Cubs baseball goes. I should be used to it by now.
But still, there’s hope. There’s about 45 games left and I still say just above .500 ball from here on out gets us that division.
The Brewers rotation is proving to be quite mortal, Francisco Cordero is a blown save waiting to happen on the road and some of their bats have finally cooled… with the exception of Ryan Braun.
Fans and critics alike shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the notion this kid could win ROY and MVP. This kid (and yes, when you’re born in 1983, you are most definitely a kid) is hitting .348 with 22 HRs, 59 RBI, 54 runs and 10 SBs… and he didn’t even get called up until May 25. For all of you without a MLB calendar in front of you, the rest of the league started playing on April 2.
If this team ends up hanging onto the division and barring an awful slump, you tell me one player in the NL who is more valuable to his team’s success.
Cub fans, if you’ve got any voodoo dolls stored away, now is the time to get ‘em out and paint Ryan Braun’s mug on it.
Hey, if a freaking goat can cause several generations a lifetime of heartache, why can’t a stupid doll buy us a few games in the standings?
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Seven. Fifty. Six.
Barry. Lamar. Bonds.Love him or hate him, if you’re a true baseball fan, you better tip your cap.
From the Pirates to the Giants, I can’t recall a time I’ve ever rooted for the guy, but I’m well aware this is a true living legend in every sense of the word.
Steroids might make you stronger, but they got nothing to do with putting the bat on the ball.
All time ranks:
HR – 756 (1st)
Walks – 2,540 (1st)
Runs – 2,212 (3rd)
RBI – 1,981 (4th)
514 Stolen Bases
.298 career batting average
And guess what, with another 90 hits, he joins baseball's illustrious 3,000 hit club too.
Until he takes the uniform off and someone else puts up numbers anywhere close to this, he's the greatest hitter my generation has ever seen. Hands down.
And way to go Mike Bacsik, you just made yourself the answer to a trivia question for the ages. But hey, at least you got an autographed bat out of it.
And an even bigger congrats to 22-year-old Matt Murphy from NY – one souvenir has just made you an instant millionaire. Lucky shit. How do you SF fans let a kid in a Mets jersey catch that ball?!?
And finally, a big jeers to Bud Selig for not being there when it happened. It was your league. It was your rules. If you had a problem with it, you should’ve done something years ago.
Congratulations to baseball’s new home run king.
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