• Splashing Pumpkins takes a look back at some of the more notable home runs hit by the San Francisco Giants in 2010 thanks to information provided by Hit Tracker.  With sluggers like Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff, and Pablo Sandoval, you will never guess who owns the year’s biggest bomb…

• These days I feel like most of us have forgotten how good Grady Sizemore was from 2005-2008.  Over those four seasons, Sizemore appeared in three All-Star games while playing in 639 of 748 possible games for the Cleveland Indians.  But after several injuries – the most recent being a microfracture in his knee – Sizemore has only played in 139 games over the last two seasons.  Now in the last year of his contract, Craig Calcaterra speculates whether the Indians will pick up his $8 million option for 2012.

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When Dad and I woke up for the final day of the Four Ballparks, Four Cities, Four Days trip, we realized immediately that we had some serious ground to cover.  Although we could walk to Ballpark #3 from our Los Angeles Hilton, it was located a full 375 miles from Ballpark #4—Chase Field in beautiful downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

So off we went into the desert, our trusty Toyota Corolla pointed directly toward The City that Sleeps at 7PM.  I wasn’t sure what to expect in the six-hour drive, save for a colleague’s admonition from before I left the office—make sure your air conditioning works.  At first I wasn’t sure how seriously I needed to take this on a beautiful 80-degree day in Los Angeles.  However, as we drove deeper into the desert, the temperature steadily climbed into the 90’s before finally cracking the triple digits.  Before we crossed the Arizona state line, the Corolla’s thermometer read 105, which (not coincidentally I am certain) represented a higher number than the populations of several towns we passed along the way.

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The Beard makes an appearance on national television…other than that whole World Series thing:

If this video is either not working or taking forever to load, you might have better luck viewing it on The Tonight Show’s official website.

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The Golden Sombrero presents Rookie Card Corner: Brian Wilson 2006 Topps ’52

Fun Fact: In his MLB debut on April 23, 2006, Wilson actually tore his oblique in the first inning of what would be a two inning effort.  Rather than alerting the medical staff, Wilson headed to the locker room where he realized the severity of his injury.  Still, he did not inform anyone on the team or staff of his injury.  Instead, Wilson said, “Screw it, Red Bull time,” and went out to pitch another inning. Final line: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K.

Goose Gossage Award (Reliever of the Year)

National League:
First Place Vote – Brian Wilson (San Francisco)
Second Place Vote – Billy Wagner (Atlanta)
Third Place Vote – Heath Bell (San Diego)

American League:
First Place Vote – Rafael Soriano (Tampa Bay)
Second Place Vote – Neftali Feliz (Texas)
Third Place Vote – Joakim Soria (Kansas City)