Articles from May 2011

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – As the sun set and the air cooled over Veterans Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, Kane County Cougar pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon (Low A-Royals) kept getting hotter. His fastball popped, his splitter vanished and the hometown Kernels, slogging under the weight of an eight-game losing streak, couldn’t connect. The 22-year-old Columbia native had held them hittless through seven innings, and it seemed to the few hundred fans still remaining that Marimon was on pace to notch a feat that’s sweeter than his first name: a no-hitter.

But after a Kernel reached on an overthrow by the third baseman with two out in the eighth, Kane County pitching coach Jim Brower abruptly pulled Marimon. The pitcher wasn’t hurt or tired – he had walked just two batters. But with only  four outs to go, he had barely eclipsed the 100-pitch limit that the Royals set for all minor league pitchers in the franchise.

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Bottom 1: Adam Dunn struck out swinging against Jon Garland

Bottom 3: Dunn struck out on foul tip against Garland

Bottom 4: Dunn walked against Ramon Troncoso

Bottom 6: Dunn struck out swinging against Troncoso

Bottom 8: Dunn called out on strikes against Lance Cormier

Final Line: 0-4, 4K, BB

Notes: Dunn, who has yet to record a hit off a left-hander this season, was the only White Sox starter without a hit on Saturday.  Furthermore, the White Sox only struck out five times as a team, four of which belonged to Dunn. The slugger is now hitting a dismal .190 this season.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 27

Top 2: Chris Iannetta struck out swinging against Kyle Kendrick

Top 3: Iannetta called out on strikes against Kendrick

Top 5: Iannetta struck out swinging against Danys Baez

Top 7: Iannetta struck out swinging against Scott Mathieson

Top 9: Iannetta flew out to right field J.C. Romero

Final Line: 0-5, 4 K

Notes: Not only did Iannetta wear the golden sombrero on Thursday, he also was kind enough to leave six runners on base in the Rockies 7-1 win over the Phillies.  Luckily for he and the rest of the Rockies’ offense, Jason Giambi picked up the slack, accounting for all seven runs thanks to three home runs.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 26

It has been announced that Drayton McLane and Jim Crane have reached an agreement on the purchase of the (my) Houston Astros.  This sale brings closure to the end of an era that has seen the Astros reach the World Series, and then become the laughing stock of all MLB organizations. (Except maybe Pittsburgh…maybe.)  McLane took over the Astros in 1993.  While Drayton is leaving this franchise amidst one of it’s lowest points, he also gave Astros fans plenty to be thankful for.  While my view on things tends to lean towards the more cynical, I am always, always, always grateful for baseball and what baseball brings to my life.  So instead of focusing on where Drayton has left us, I want to thank him for what he brought us during his tenure as owner of the Houston Astros.

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