The MLB Headlines That You Missed…
May 11, 2010
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Posted by Mike Rosenbaum
May 11, 2010
Every single day(and night) I spend an exceptional amount of time combing the internet, searching for various baseball related articles. Of course, I love ESPN.com and all of their MLB writers and fantasy gurus, but I have also come to enjoy articles written by MLB, beat writers and bloggers like myself. To some, the tedious bookmarking of so many sites and remembering to visit them regularly may be problematic. Sure, I can agree with you on that one. However, these days there are ways to consolidate all of your favorite sites’ updates and view them at your own convenience. In my opinion, two most common(and best) ways to do so are through RSS Feeds and Twitter. I have been heavily involved with Twitter for probably a year and a half and believe it is the ultimate tool for staying up-to-date with all-things baseball, as well as consistently reading an assortment of articles. Over this past week, there were so many stories that caught my attention for different reasons, that I feel compelled to share them with everybody.
R.I.P. Ernie Harwell
Last Tuesday, we lost the legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell at 92 years-young. The response by the MLB writers and fans has been tremendous and illustrates his the impact that he has made. Due to his agelessness, Harwell touched has touched many generations and represents a voice that people have come associate with unique moments in their lives. Ernie Harwell was and will always be, baseball. Here are various recollections and articles that I found most enjoyable.
Tweets
Scott Merkin, MLB.com, beat writer for White Sox:
“Very sad news about the passing of Ernie Harwell. He was the utter depiction of what people should strive to be. Harwell was pure class and it was my honor to have had a chance to talk with him on a few occasions. “
Mark Feinsand, Yankees writer for NY Daily Times:
“I only met Ernie Harwell once. Although we spoke for 5 minutes or so, he acted like we’d known each other forever. Huge loss for baseball.”
Articles/Tributes:
Vin Scully Remembers Ernie Harwell
Harwell was an emblem of the Tigers – Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports.com
Ernie Harwell will be missed – Steve Gilbert, Diamondbacks beat, writer
A Fond Farewell to Ernie Harwell – Larry Grinello, wezen-ball.com
Losing Harwell is Losing Family – Steve Phillips, National MLB Analyst
Eric Byrnes released by Mariners after dismal performance(s)
On Friday, April 30th, I witnessed the single most nauseating display of executing a suicide squeeze while watching the Mariners take on the Rangers. In the bottom of the 11th inning, and still no score in the game, Seattle had the bases loaded with one out and Eric Byrnes at the dish. With the suicide squeeze on, Byrnes failed to get down a bunt and left Ichiro out to dry. Even worse, Byrnes actually threw his bat out to bunt it and then pulled it back at the last moment. Then, he once again proceeded to awkwardly throw the bat head out after having that “oh, shit!” realization. Wow. The Mariners released Byrnes on Sunday after he hit .094/.237/.156 over 38 at-bats but we all know the real reason why. Personally, I just think it’s because he looks so awkward.
Since his release, he has been discussing a potential retirement and immediate involvement in men’s beer league softball.
BA on the bump
Like I mentioned in my last post, I am a White Sox fan. Spare me your comments, I know. I’m frustrated as well. Their 2005 World Series team is my favorite team of all time so I always keep an eye out for info regarding the likes Willie Harris, Cliff Politte, Brian Anderson, Pablo Ozuna, Ross Gload, Geoff Blum and more. I just recently read that fan-favorite Brian Anderson, now with the Kansas City Royals, is transitioning to the bump. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Anderson and the Royals believe a rejuvenation as a pitcher is possible. He last pitched in 2005 at the University of Arizona where he was clocked in the low 90’s.
Please Tell Me You’re Kidding..
I have always loved it when a player lands on the DL due to a freak or hilarious injury. I’m not sure if anything can compare to Kaz Matsui hitting the DL with an “anal fissure” 2 seasons ago. Yet, nothing makes my day more than when a player lands on the DL due to his own wrong doing. This past week, I came across some of the best examples of hilariousness/stupidity that I have seen in some time.
– Garrett Jones missed a game on Saturday, May 1st after being taken to the hospital earlier that day. According to reports, Jones ate some beef on Friday night which proceeded to get lodged in his esophagus. No, I’m not kidding. He woke up with all sorts of chest and throat discomfort on Saturday morning and spent the following six hours at the hospital. Apparently, his esophagus was swollen and he was unable to take down any liquids all day. Doctors actually had to use anesthesia in order to cram some tubes down his throat to break up the beef…which sounds eerily similar to the plot of ‘Armageddon.’
I now have an image of Garrett Jones eating his food like a bird does a worm.
– Nearly two weeks ago, after blowing a save and getting pulled from the game, Ryan Madson decided to let out his frustrations on an unsuspecting chair in the clubhouse walkway. However, the chair proved to be way more of a foe than Madson anticipated. Madson “walked” away from the encounter with a broken toe that required surgery and a trip to the DL. Luckily(if you can call it that ), Brad Lidge was coming off of the DL that very day and is now in-line for all future blown saves. The finally tally, chair 1, Madson 0.
– And now, my favorite; one that now ranks among the most outrageous injuries I have ever read about. Chicago Cubs second basemen Jeff Baker missed nearly a weeks worth of games due second degree burns on his ass. How did this happen? He and a few of the Cubs’ pitchers were lighting their farts on fire in the clubhouse. While the validity of this story is still in question, it’s hard to make up something so ridiculous. Here is what was originally reported,
“By the way, there is a reason Baker has not been starting until today. I know someone in the Cubs organization, who informed me last week that Baker and two pitchers, one of them a starter, were lighting farts in the clubhouse, when something went awry, and Baker suffered second degree burns to his patoot. Even worse, a pitcher got a slight burn on his throwing hand. The hair on Bakers behind got singed, so he is now hairless there. In tonights game, he was lifted for a pinch hitter, something Lou never does. The reason—–the blisters on his bottom burst, causing so much water, that Theriot accused him of wetting his pants. He never came out of the clubhouse, so Lou was forced to put in Fontenot.”
I’m willing to bet that one of the pitchers involved was Ryan Dempster.
Trade Away the Rays
I don’t have much to say regarding all of the trade rumors surrounding the Rays’ Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford. I will let these articles do the talking:
Carl Crawford Says That He and Carlos Pena Will Leave Rays in 2011 – hotstove.com May 4, 2010
Crawford: No decisions, quote was wrong – Marc Topkin, tampabay.com May 4, 2010
Tampa Bay Rays’ Carlos Pena okay waiting on team to determine future – Marc Topkin, tampabay.com May 6, 2010
Reading Suggestions
For those who might be interested, there have been a few notable, baseball related book releases this spring:
– The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran by Dirk Hayhurst
I actually purchased this book as a birthday present for my father based upon the rave reviews throughout the baseball community. Here are a few:
“A bit of Jim Bouton, a bit of Jim Brosnan, a bit of Pat Jordan, a bit of crash Davis, and a whole lot of Dirk Hayhurst. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant. This is a really enjoyable baseball read.”–Bob Costas”
“Dirk Hayhurst has written a fascinating, funny and honest account on life in the minor leagues. I loved it. Writers can’t play baseball, but in this case, a player sure can write.”–Tim Kurkjian, Senior Writer, ESPN The Magazine, analyst/reporter ESPN television
“Bull Durham meets Ball Four in Dirk Hayhurst’s hilarious and moving account of life in baseball’s glamour-free bush leagues.”–Rob Neyer, ESPN.com
– The Game From Where I Stand: A Ballplayer’s Inside View by Doug Glanville
Here is a description of “The Professor’s” upcoming book:
“Doug Glanville, a former major league outfielder and Ivy League graduate, draws on his nine seasons in the big leagues to reveal the human side of the game and of the men who play it.
In The Game from Where I Stand, Glanville shows us how players prepare for games, deal with race and family issues, cope with streaks and slumps, respond to trades and injuries, and learn the joyful and painful lessons the game imparts. We see the flashpoints that cause misunderstandings and friction between players, and the imaginative ways they work to find common ground. And Glanville tells us with insight and humor what he learned from Jimmy Rollins, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, and other legendary and controversial stars.
In his professional career, Glanville experienced every aspect of being a player—the first-round pick, the prospect, the disappointment, the can’t-miss, the cornerstone, the veteran, the traded, the injured, the comeback kid. His eye-opening book gives fans a new level of understanding of day-to-day life in the big leagues.”
– Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball by Batting Stance Guy(Gar Ryness)
I’ve been a big fan of the BSG since he burst onto the scene last year. Not only are his impersonations dead on, but they highlight some of the most obscure aspects of players’ swings and mannerisms. He calls his talent, “The least marketable skill in America,” I call it the sign of a true fan.
Second Spitter
This is an instant classic. During the Mets’ extra-inning win over the Giants on Saturday, Mets’ broadcaster Keith Hernandez actually fell asleep in the booth on a commercial break. Don’t act like you’re not impressed.
Grinnell College hosting 2010 MWC Tournament; Greg Suryn ’11 recognized
Much like some of the other guys here at the Sombrero, I’m extremely excited to be headed back to Grinnell College this weekend to watch my friends and former teammates do some work in the MWC Tournament. After last weekend’s double-header sweep at Monmouth, the Pioneers enter the tournament with 12-0 conference record(21-14 overall).
For those of you in the greater Des Moines area, you might have seen KCCI 8 – Des Moines’ piece on the Pioneers’ Junior outfielder Greg Suryn. Suryn, currently hitting a robust .446 this season, is one of the reasons for the Pioneers’ great season. Please read the article below:
Grinnell Baseball Player Overcomes Hearing Loss
Now in the words of Dallas Braden, “Let’s go eat!”
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