And its a no-hitter for Weaver!!! (kind of)

Short post this morning. As I have a baseball game at 12:15 (the Atlanta A's look to go 8-1 on the season)

From last night:

1. The Tigers won another game they had no business winning. Ok, they should have won the game going into the 9th with a 5-2 lead. However, Todd Jones was too busy perfecting his Magglio impersonation and gave up 4 runs in the 9th. Not to worry, Miguel Cabrera stepped up in the 9th and doubled home the tying and winning runs. Miraculously, the Tigers now stand at 40-40 after starting 0-7. There is a lot of season left and the Tigers are starting to remember how to win.

2. In probably the best pitch to be the official spokesperson of this blog: Jered Weaver. Weaver's line from last night 6.0 IP 0 H 1 R (0 ER). Weaver was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 7th. Jose Arredondo relieved Weaver and threw 2-innings of hitless relief. Final stats for the game Dodgers 1 Angels 0. For the Dodgers 1 run on no hits. I think Jered Weaver needs a hug.

Top 10 Baseball checklist for the second half of 2008

I feel like I really need Paul Shaffer here for this. Here is tonight's top-ten things to do in the second half of the baseball season (drum roll please). Each baseball season is unique and exciting, and therefore each season creates different summer opportunities. As we approach the halfway point of the season I present you with a top-ten check list for the 2008 major league baseball season.


10. Get to know your Rays. These guys have been the laughing stock of the AL east since they were created in 1998. This year is different the Rays are talented, they are young, and they are really fun to watch. Find time this summer to see Scott Kazmir pitch, watch Carl Crawford play (its the least you can do for the guy - he's been on your fantasy team for years), and get caught up in Ray-fever! Heck buy yourself an Eric Hinske jersey.

9. Attend a bobblehead day. Any bobblehead day. (I checked this one off my list last week by attending Brian McCann bobblehead day). It will give you a reason to attend a random game(Braves vs Brewers Wed at 1 pm. No way I would have gone to this game w/o the Bobbling-incentive) and they will drive you wife crazy. Its win/win!

8. Pick a team that is currently 5-10 games out of the playoff picture. And root like hell they make a run. Get behind their mid season trades and late season call-ups. Your team may already be in this position, however if you are a Cubs or Red Sox fan 1. Seriously - get some imagination 2. Pick a team in the other league to pull for. If you are a fan of the Mariners or Padres - you need something to cheer for this year. I recommend picking a team that has a player that used to be on your team. For me the Braves have both Jair Jurrgens and Omar Infante. Its great getting caught up in magical late season runs. You could jump on the next one early. Imagine if you had picked the Rockies last year. Granted, you may have your heart broken - but as they say its better to have loved and lost.......

7. Attend batting practice. As I have gotten older I find myself showing up to games closer and closer to the National Anthem. As a kid I remember getting to the stadium as the opened the door to watch BP and go for autographs. Watching BP is such a great experience. Sit yourself either in the outfield (hello - cheap HR ball) or down near the field behind the plate. Typically teams will let you go down to the field level. If you have cheap seats this will give you a chance to see the players up close. I still remember watching a steroid juiced Ken Caminiti throwing with Tony Gywnn in Pittsburgh from about 10 feet away.

6. Go to a minor league game. It makes no difference it is A or AAA or independent. If you have never been to a minor league game, shame on you. The tickets are inexpensive, you get to sit close,the stadiums are typically very cool, and most teams spend every minute between pitches trying to entertain you. I once won a 40 dollar gift card to Old Navy because I was holding the ginormous beach ball when the music stopped in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Find a time when there is a great promotion, or better year a major leaguer on a re-hab outing. This year alone in the Tigers minor league systems you could have seen Dontrelle Willis, Joel Zumaya, Fernando Rodney, and Gary Sheffield.

5. Play catch. I don't care how old you are, there is no excuse for not doing this at least once a summer.

4. Stop at a baseball stadium on your summer vacation. Better yet, plan your vacation around a stadium or stadiums you have never seen. There are tons of new parks or if you time it right you could see the last season of Shea and Yankee Stadium on the same day, or at least same weekend. (I highly recommend PNC and the Great American Ball Park as two good Midwestern destinations).

3. Have a hot dog with everything. I mean everything. Look. I am as health conscience as the next guy, probably more so, but at least once a season you have to sit down at a game with a foot-long heartburn-dog on your lap. I am talking about catsup, mustard, relish, chili, jalapenos, cheese, onions, and anything else they may have at the stadium. Its not officially summer until you come home from a baseball game, run directly to the bathroom, and thank God you are live in America.

2. Get caught up with a rookie and have a 'man-crush'. Every year there is a crop of rookies that come up to the majors and take off like gang busters. This year we have already seen Jay Bruce, Armando Gallaraga, Aaron Laffey, etc. There is nothing like watching a rookie in his first weeks in the majors, hitting 0.500, and loving every second.

1. And the number 1 baseball related checklist for 2008 - Find something to cheer for in your favorite team. If you are a Cubs fan, I don't want to hear one word about a goat. If you like the Phillies - who cares if Ryan Howard can't hit his weight - its not his fault we weighs .305. Stay positive on your team - its a long season, but the second its over, you know you will be counting down to 2009. As for my Tigers - I promise not to lose hope - no matter how bad it may seem or how many injuries we incur, I know I will be able to keep my head held high because deep down in my heart I know that the following is true: The White Sox are going to fold like a cheap cheap suit.

Enjoy the second half.

Curt Schilling for the Hall of Fame?

Look, I have no beef with Curt Schilling. Ok, I have tons of beef with Curt Schilling. He is like an unfunny Shaq. It annoys the crap out of me that he will sit and chastise Kobe from the first row, and I can't stand Kobe. I hate how he claims he doesn't care about the HOF because to me, its obvious he cares very much about what the media thinks about him. (remember when he went ballistic because he was accused of not getting along with Pedro in Boston - I love how he used the term 'grab-ass' in his response) I used to love this guy when he threw for the Phillies. He got no run support (shameless plug), he struck out everyone, and he was cocky as hell. However, as he grew older he never grew up. He's not funny, he's no longer interesting, he whines, he blogs (what a loser), and he flashes his world series ring(s) at basketball games. He epitomizes what everyone in the rest of the country thinks about Boston sports these days - "SIT DOWN AND SHUTUP". He was a lovable loser and is an intolerable winner. The bloody sock game was great, it was heroic, and it has been blown so far out of proportion. It was game 6 of the ALCS - it wasn't the world series. But, because it was Schilling, and because it was Yanks and Red Sox it will never go away (much like Carlton Fisk's game 6 HR in Boston). I loved watching that game, but now I am over it. Watching the Red Sox win has gotten boring. They are just another team that wins a ton of games by buying a great team.

Ok - I have vented. I dislike Curt Schilling. However, I want to keep the rest of this conversation about Schilling's stats on the field.

Since it was announced Schilling would have season-ending-shoulder-surgery (seriously just say that once) - there has been a lot of speculation that he may retire. This speculation has lead to the discussion - is Curt Schilling a HOFer. I wasn't going to comment on this until every analyst I have heard has claimed Schilling is a no doubt first ballot HOFer. This is disgusting. Not because I think he shouldn't be in, but because if Curt Schilling makes it and Jack Morris is still on the outside, I believe the HOF will become a travis-sham-mockery (well more of one - since they still haven't opened their doors to Alan Trammell!)

Let's look at the resume's:

Curt Schilling - Career Stats:
216-146, 83 CGs, 20 SHO, 3116 K's, and 3.46 ERA
Post season:
10-2, 2.23 ERA, 120 K's in 133.1 innings
3 world series wins - 2001 (Ari) and 2004 + 2007 (Bos)

Overall
- Very very solid numbers for the Orioles, Phillies, D'Backs, and Red Sox. 216 wins and 3116 strikeouts are his most impressive stats.
- He has 3 rings and was a big part of all 3.
- He has 'the moment' - game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. The Sox were down 3-0 in the series. Schilling was called upon in New York to extend the series. He threw with a torn tendon in his ankle. There was a bloody sock. It was amazing. Schilling's final line in his "moment" 7 IP 1 ER 4 K's

- Look a very solid career. But there is nothing amazing in the regular season. He didn't get to 250 wins. He never won a Cy Young award. He doesn't have 4,000 K's.


Jack Morris - Career Stats
254-186, 175 CGs, 28 SHO, 2478 K's, 3.90 ERA

Post-season:
6-1, 3.80 ERA 64 K's in 94.1 Innings (remember only 2 rounds in the playoffs when Jack played.)
3 World Series wins 1984 Detroit, 1991 Minnesota, 1992 Toronto

Overall
- 250 wins. The conversation should be over right now. He should be in. But he's not, so we move on. Nearly 2500 K's
- Also has 3 rings, also was a huge part of each title run
- Has 'the moment' 1991 world series game 7. The elimination game saw Jack Morris and John Smoltz trade 0's on the scoreboard for 9 innings. And then Morris came out to pitch the 10th. Final line 10 IP 0 R 8 Ks - in my opinion the most underrated sports performance of the past 25 years. Try to imagine how many times you would have seen the highlight of Jack Morris coming out to pitch the 10th inning if it had been in New York.

Final Score - the regular season and post-season numbers are eerily similar. I would argue Morris' moment is more impressive. It was in the World Series (not ALCS), it was in game 7 (not game 6), he threw 10 shutout innings (not 7 giving up a run). In my opinion they are basically one in the same, and I am sorry Curt, but if there isn't room for Jack Morris there certainly isn't room for you and your bloody sock.

No need for coffee this morning, just this.

Todd Jones is a roller coaster. If he has a 3-run lead he is going to give up 2. He always seems to have 2 runners on base. However, he almost always gets the save. Everything I have ever heard about Mr. Jones has been extremely positive - good clubhouse guy, good citizen, etc.

This makes me like the guy that much more: Todd Jones impersonating Magglio's 2006 ALCS walk-off home-run

Enjoy.

The NL < 0.500 All Stars (part 2 of 2)

As promised: Here are your lone representatives from the NL teams under 0.500 as of 6/24.

New York Mets -  Jose Reyes SS: The Mets are a virtual who's who of big names playing badly. Reyes has been fairly solid so far .297 avg, 55 runs, 26 sb, and 36 extra base hits. 

- Also could make a case for - David Wright, Billy Wagner (Santana immediately DQ'd for giving up a grand slam to King Felix)

Braves - Chipper Jones 3B - Chipper has fallen off the 0.400 pace a bit. However, .393, 16, 46, and a 0.485 OBP more than reserve his ticket to the Big Apple.

- Also could make a case for - Brian McCann, Tim Hudson, and Jair Jurrjens

Washington Nationals - Jon Rauch RP: 3-1 record 2.39 ERA and 15/18 in saves. Very solid stats for a closer on a very bad team.

- Also could make a case for - Christian Guzman

Pittsburgh Pirates - Nate McLouth OF: 0.292, 15 HR, 51RBI , 58 R, and 9 SB. This guy has been phenomenal and it will be great for the national audience to see him play.

- Also could make a case for - Xavier Nady, Ryan Doumit, Matt Capps

Houston Astros - Lance Berkman OF: The teddy bear has been sick with 0.354, 20, 60. He also has 23 2Bs and score 66 runs. If it weren't for the Astros' record and Chipper chasing 0.400 there would be a lot of MVP talk.

- Also could make a case for - Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee

Cincinatti Reds - Edison Volquez SP: Not only should this guy make the team, he should start the game. 10-2, 1.71 ERA, 110 Ks. If he keeps this up the NL Cy Young could be living in the basement of the NL central

- Also could make a case for - Griffey (for nostalgia), Joey Votto, Jay Bruce (because you know he would do something amazing)

Los Angeles Dodgers -James Loney 1B - solid stats for the rising star 0.310, 6, 39. Also sporting a 0.368 OBP. Nothing flashy, but no one really stands out on this roster.

- Also could make a case for - Russell Martin, Chad Billingsley, Joe Beimel

San Fransico Giants - Tim Lincecum SP - if you want an alternative for Volquez - Lincecum would be a fine choice to start the game. 8-1, 2.54 ERA, and 103 strikeouts. The sky is the limit for this guy. He's everything the Giants had hoped Barry Zito would be.

- Also could make a case for - Bengie Molina, Aaron Rowand, Brian Wilson

Colorado Rockies - Aaron Cook SP - 10-4, 3.57 ERA (in Coors). A bright spot on an otherwise disappointing team.

- Also could make a case for - Matt Holliday, Garret Atkins

San Diego Padres - Adrian Gonzalez OF: 0.294, 21, 65 - playing in a ginormous park in San Diego for a bad, bad team. Poor guy could use the short porch in NY for a night.

- Also could make a case for -  Jake Peavy - but that's a stretch

The best of the rest! - is that Robert Fick? Oh Yay!

All-star balloting wraps up in the next 10 days. And this year, I must say this year the fan's have done a great pretty solid job (at least in the senior circuit).

The NL is shaping up to be: Berkman, Utley, Tejada, C. Jone, Soriano, Fukudome, and Griffey

(you could argue against the outfield, but overall it wasn't too bad - and you know deep down you really want to see Griffey at the game and Soriano's hurt).

The AL is a disgrace....a Boston and NY disgrace. I am embarrassed to be an AL fan - there are other teams than Boston and NY: Youklis, Pedroia, Jeter, A-rod, Papi, Manny, Ichiro, Hamilton. (I am glad to see Hamilton there).

 

Today, I am going to discuss a time-honorer all-star tradition - Each team gets at least one representative. I love this rule. I am sick of people complaining about it. For the average baseball fan the only games we get to see on national TV are Yanks, Cubs, Sox, Braves, etc. There is no national love for KC, Oak, SF, Cle, etc. There are fans of all these teams - and they all deserve an all-star, even if they don't have millions of ballot stuffers putting an injured Papi into the game. If having one all star from each team means that a deserving Damon or Ellsbury doesn't make it in favor of a Jose' Guillen or Brian Roberts -that is fine by me. The average fan is so sick of Yankees and Red Sox. NY and BOS fans are already voting in non-deserving Jeters and Papis The small markets should be represented as well. So here are your 2008 All-star(s) from all teams below 0.500 as of June 22. I am paying no attention to position - if 20 middle relievers are deserving, then that is who I will select. I will let Francona and Hurdle deal with that problem.

Today we will go through the AL - NL later this week:

Baltimore Orioles: Aubrey Huff DH - besides saving my fantasy team Huff has solid stats 0.271 14 42. He is also slugging .500 and has scored 42 runs.

- you could also make a case for - Brian Roberts, Jim Johnson

Toronto Blue Jays: Roy Halladay SP - run support? hello run support? maybe this should be Doc Halladay's blog.  He is only 8-6 but has 93 strikeouts, 5 CGs, and a 2.90 ERA

- you could also make a case for - Alex Rios

Detroit Tigers: Magglio Ordonez OF - the 2007 AL MVP runner-up has been having another solid solid season .301 11 45. Also slugging .482 and has scored 41 runs. 

- you could also make a case for - Carlos Guillen, Armando Galarraga, Placido Polanco

Cleveland Indians: Cliff Lee SP - no doubter here. 10-1, .245 ERA, 79 k's, and 1 saved career.

-you could also make a case for - Grady Sizemore, Ben Francisco

Kansas City Royals: Jose Guillen OF - strong season, called out his teammates, and managed to hit .289 12 57. He has been on a terror of late and every all-star team needs that crazy guy.

- you could also make a case for - Joakim Soria, Zach Greinke

Texas Rangers - Josh Hamilton OF -  has been the feel good story of the year. Wait. What's that? The Rangers are at 0.500? Your kidding. Your not kidding? Ok - well let's move on. 

Seattle Mariners - Ichiro Suzuki OF - the fans will once again vote in Ichiro, and its really hard to argue 0.293, 52 runs, 32 SB. He is going to have 200 hits again this year, and he has a hose in the outfield

- you could also make a case for - Jose Lopez, Felix Hernandez (Roy Halladay lite)

Those are my 2008 sub 0.500 AL all-stars - we will go through the NL a bit later. Anyone else you think I missed - toss it in the comments section.

Marcus Thames for the derby!

The all-star game is quickly approaching. I love the midsummer classic. Growing up a Tigers fan, that was my one chance a year to see one Tiger in the national spotlight, usually an 8th inning pinch hit. You could argue that Robert Fick or Brad Ausmus weren't exactly traditional all-stars, but I pulled for them just as hard. In an upcoming post I will discuss why having an all-star from each team is essential. However, today I am going to pitch (pun alert) Marcus Thames being invited to the HR derby. I fully realize this is a homer pick (there's another one). I want the whole country to know Marcus. His last 8 hits have been bombs. Eight! This guy is country strong, and now is finally getting a chance to play full-time. Also, Thames is a throwback to home-run hitters of yore. He swings hard, strikes out a ton, and when he connects..... look out. Earlier this week launched a ball at Pac Bell where only Barry had ventured before. In the age of steroid hysteria, and a 2008"coincidental" power outage, why not have Thames. It would be a great story, the one time Yankee farmhand comes back to close the house Ruth built by dropping bombs all throughout the Bronx.

Why it won't happen:

1. Thames hasn't been playing full-time all year so he only has 120 at-bats.

2. He's doesn't have a home run hitting name. If his name were Ortiz, or Hafner, or Griffey and kids everywhere has his jersey he would warrant the invite.

3. You have to think MLB doesn't want a disgruntled ex-Yankee coming into the stadium dropping bombs all over Hank's world

Why it will happen:

1. Injuries are everywhere: Hafner, Manny, and Papi - all currently hurting. Other than sentimental favorites Carlos Quentin and Josh Hamilton; and hometowner A-rod there are no shoe-ins ahead of Thames in HRs this season (Giambi, Sizemore, Crede, Manny, Drew, Beltre, and Bradley)

2. No Yankee wants a Red Sox to have the derby title the last year of the stadium. And I have no confidence A-rod can win this thing.

3. 120 at-bats......13 bombs - if he can get to the 17-18 plateau I think he has a chance.

Here's to you Marcus, hitting taters the old fashion way using the best philosophy in baseball: swing hard, you might hit the ball.

My AL only fantasy team thanks you!

It seems like the score-keepers in Toronto are giving errors whenever then can when Doc Halladay is on the mound to keep his ERA lower. I was read this and realized I owe the score keepers in Toronto a beer. I have Roy on my AL only fantasy league and his ERA has helped me climb out of an early season funk. The more I think about this the funnier it is, ERA is a pretty overrated stat and it really only affects fantasy baseball, stat geeks, and Roy's wallet.

Marbles? .....Juevos?

Edwin Encarnacion just dropped a 2-out 2-strike game tying homer against John Papelbon at the Great American Ball Park. This was a fantastic AB. Encarnacion fouled off several pitches, kept fighting, and eventually tattooed a pitched into let to tie the game. This wasn't a cheap HR off a tired Papelbon, Encarnacion saw several tough two-strike pitches and was able to foul them off. This is why baseball is the greatest sport ever. There was no time winding down, no clock to contend with, just Encarnacion vs Papelbon. Scrumtrulescent.

This almost made it ok that Fox decided to show me Reds/Red Sox and not Tigers/Dodgers.

More from this game as it pans out.

Update 6:50 pm Youklis solo shot in the 10th inning with one out. By the time I finished writing this sentence your favorite breakfast cereal (Coco Crisp) went back to back jacks. 6-4 Sox. I love this game.

Week in review

My apologies for not having more posts this week. Now its Saturday and I have some time to catch up on thoughts around the MLB this week. Here's the week that was:

The Braves are an enigma wrapped inside a riddle: For the moment let's look past all of the injuries they have sustained this year, including Chipper Jones' latest - fouling a ball off his face......on Friday the 13th. This may not be Atlanta's year. The Braves are second in the NL in both batting average and ERA, yet they only sport a 33-35 record. They have lost a record twenty-one straight one run games on the road. This is beyond impressive - its crazy. I have not counted the Braves out yet, usually these things even themselves out, but man are they a strange team to watch.

Let's give some love to America's wang: The teams from Florida this year are playing out of their mind. The Marlins are 30th in league in payroll. Their payroll is almost 1/2 that of the 29th place team in payroll. And as of yesterday they were 36-31. Who are these guys? They have shipped out Josh Beckett, AJ Burnett, Miguel Cabrera, Pudge Rodriguez, Dontelle Willis  -
(ok that was a great call), etc. Raise you hand if you are a baseball fan and can name 5 current Marlins. This team is scrappy, they have great young players, and they deserve a lot better than the 7 people that show up each night in Miami. As we move to the gulf side of the state the Tampa Bay Rays have lost the Devil (apparently, it went down to Georgia) Their pitching is solid, they hit, and they are becoming a thorn in the AL east's paw. Strange as it seems, I think their scuffle with the Red Sox was important to their season. They need to be taken seriously. They are no longer the doormat of the AL east. These two teams are squaring off in the best interleague match up of the weekend and nearly 19,000 saw the game in Tampa last night. That is sad. Let's hope these teams can rally the support from Del Boca Vista - phase 2.

Aaron Laffey is the AL ROtM (rookie of the month): I blogged earlier this week about Aaron Laffey of the Cleveland Indians. Aaron has been pitching out of his mind. Here at norunsupport.blogspot.com we were relieved to find out we don't share the SI cover jinx. After being featured on norunsupport, Aaron threw another gem this week after the posting. In the post, I linked to a vote for Rookie of the month and your voice has been heard, the voice of Aaron's 0.76 ERA for the month has been heard as well. He was named the AL rookie of the month. Congrats to Aaron who, to my knowledge, is the first Allegany Camper to win such an honor.

SHHHHHHH!!! Be very very quiet. The Tigers are showing signs of life: Well it was a great week for the Tigers, except for the Monday night ESPN game when I had my friends over for a housing warming and the "D-train" gave up 8 runs in 1 and 2/3 innings, but I digress. This week saw the Tigers split a 4 gamer with the Tribe, sweep the Chi-Sox, and take the first game from the Dodgers. This wasn't your average good week for this team. These were low scoring affairs, where the Tigers had to come back late, and get timely hitting, and solid pitching. It almost looked like a baseball team out. The month or so the all-star game is crucial for Detroit. If they can keep up their winning ways, take some momentum into the break, I think they could be poised for a solid second half run, because the White Sox are not the type of team to run away and hide with the division. Rodney and Zumaya are both back later this month, and Armando Gallaraga looks like a very solid big league pitcher. I am down right giddy, or at least as giddy as possible for a team still 7 games under .500

Enjoy the interleague ball.

I'm only happy when it rains.

Growing up I  feared rain in the summer. Rain meant your baseball game might get rained out. And if you grew up loving baseball like I did, that could ruin your week. 

Last night was the first time that I can remember I was rooting for rain. The Tigers fell behind the Indians 8-0 in about 2 and 1/2 minutes. While the D-train was getting 4 outs he managed to give up 5 walks, three hits, two bombs, and 8 runs. Not his finest outing. The score remained 8-0 into the 4th inning, yet I was given a ray of hope. The skies in Detroit opened up. It began to rain and by the time it was 8-2 the tarp was on the field. If the skies could have remained open, the game would have been rained out and not official. Dontrelle's terrible start would have been a dream, albeit a nightmare. Sadly, the rain stopped and the Tribe salvaged a split in Detroit.

If you follow baseball long enough - you will eventually root for everything, including a rain-out.

Sophie's Choice.

How does one choose?

1. I love the Tigers and 2. I played high school ball with Aaron Laffey of the Indians. Vote here for Laffey for the AL rookie of the month award.

- Aaron was called up by the Indians last year and threw well in the late summer. As strange as it seems now, Aaron got his break because Cliff Lee was so unbelievably terrible. This was amazing - the Allegany Campers are not exactly known for producing tons of Major League prospects. I would be considered a success story for the baseball program, and I sat the bench of a DIII school in Ohio (go Bishops). Aaron threw well enough in August and September make the post-season roster and threw in the ALCS, in Fenway. Unreal. This year he has been very impressive since his call-up sporting a 3-3 record with a 3.02 ERA This is so cool. My friends in Atlanta following now root for and follow Aaron. My Father-in-law and I discuss his starts and future with the team (my father in law being part of Chief Wahoo's tribe). I love rooting for Aaron. Not just because we played together, or that I really like the guy, or that we were the only 2 lefthanded picthers on the same team, or that Cumberland, Maryland isn't exactly the hotbed of professional athletes. I don't root for Laffey just because I have him on my AL only fantasy league. Also a surreal moment - drafting a guy you know. I root for Aaron because this is my Kevin Bacon moment. At any give Indians game, every 5th day - I am only 2 degrees of separation from facing Big Papi, Ichiro, and A-rod. And when I play in my 'old man' league on Sundays, when I toe the rubber, I know Allegany's lefties have a proud tradition to uphold. Thankfully, Aaron's major league career has never once faced me with a conflict of interest, until today. Aaron was facing the Tigers. Both teams really needed a win. And I couldn't of asked for a better outcome.

Laffey threw a great game, and the Indians bullpen blew it late - Tigers win. Crisis adverted.

That was some good news to take the day Bonderman was pronounced he was done for the year. Maybe the Tigers can trade for Laffey.

400, 500, 600!

Props to Chipper Jones last night for dropping no. 400 into the seats at Turner field. Manny Ramirez deposited no. 500 at Camden earlier this week (or Fenway light as it should be termed). And we are all waiting on Jr. to send some lucky fan to Ebay with no. 600.

I feel terrible for all of these guys. In an age of steroids where 61 became 70 and then in the blink of an eye 73, and 755 became 762******** I am finding that numbers have less meaning. Growing up as a kid I remember following Eddie Murray's every at-bat as he was chasing no. 500. Eddie was old and tired when he hit no. 500 and it felt like that's how it should be. A great milestone towards the end of a great career. 

Since Murray we have seen the following sluggers hit no. 500: All in varying clouds of performance enhancing controversy.

Barry Bonds -  The Don of steroid controversy

Sammy Sosa - Roids and Cork - a true two-way player 

Mark McGwire - "I am only here to talk about the future, and not why I have no neck"

Rafael Palmeiro - Don't point that finger at me sir, I don't know where its been

* Thome, Frank Thomas, and A-rod have also joined the list since Murray - steroid-controversy free as of 6-6-8

With the above list including 2 members of the 600 home run club, 3 people who at one time held the singe season home run record (Sosa had his 15 minutes in 1998), the all-time home run champ, and a guy who pitches Viagra I have to ask, how does anyone else have a chance to be celebrated? The numbers are tainted, they don't mean anything today because the players with the greatest numbers are the biggest cheaters. Numbers are part what make baseball great, and steroids have ruined that. Now to the worst part - Griffey and Chipper - both would have much more impressive numbers if they weren't both frequent fliers on the DL, which could have been avoided by steroid, but these guys have way too much class. Here's to you Larry and Ken! And yeah we will even drink one for Manny (just don't tell my wife - Indians fans don't take too kindly to Manny).

The stache'

Two thoughts from last night's games:

1. The next nutrisystem ad on TV: Fade in to Jason Giambi and his porn stache. Sad music is playing and a single tear drips down Giambi's face. Giambi talks about the food in NYC, how steroids made him hungry, etc. This is followed by Tom Selleck holding pants with a 42 inch waist screaming "Potroast!" (if you can think of a good song for the "after" picture place it in the comments section) 

2. Bobby Cox has marbles the size of grapefruit: Braves vs. The Fish last night. Big game in the NL east. John Smoltz  returns to his role as a closer with blown save. However, the Braves rally to a wild pitch in with 2 outs in the 9th. However, it was the bottom of the 10th that Cox showed why he has been a great manager for the past 350 years in A-town. Here's how it played out.

Bottom of the 10th game tied 5-5:

1. Kelley Johnson leads of the inning with a walk

2. Johnson advances to second on a wild pitch with Yunel Escobar batting

3. Escobar works the count to 3-0

4. Bobby gives Escobar the green light

5. 2-run Bomb to dead center. Drive home safe, remember there is construction on 85/75 through downtown.

Here's why I love this. Conventional wisdom says: You have the winning run on second with no outs and your leadoff hitter up. BUNT! Put him at 3rd with one out. However, when you take a step back the move makes sense. If Yunel bunts you have KJ on third with one out and Omar Infante up. I love Omar, he is a former Tiger, but he is 0-4 on the night. If Omar gets out the Marlins would then walk Chipper and Tex to load the bases and take your chances of getting a hit with Jeff Francoeur. So you have placed your chances to win the game on guys hitting .250 and .256 respectively. What if Bobby has Yunel take 3-0. Yunel walks. Omar bunts KJ and Yunel to second and third. Again Chipper walks. And you have Tex, who is not the fastest guy in the world, up where a double play ends the inning.

However, Bobby let Yunel swing. I love this for the following:

1. The pitcher had just walked KJ and went 3-0 to escobar. This guy is due to groove a strike. He does, game over.

2. Even if Yunel had popped out to second I like the move. Infante is then up and gets tons of pitches to hit since Kensing will do everything in his power not to face Chipper with runners on first and second. Infante is a very solid contact guy and Kensing is coming right around the plate.

I know you can over think these things, and I am sure bunting would have been entirely acceptable. However, giving Yunel the green light was unconventional and effective.