The Golden Sombrero presents Rookie Card Corner: Nomar Garciaparra 1992 Topps Traded Team USA

Fun Fact: The only shortstop in history to win more consecutive batting titles than Nomar was Honus Wagner, who won four straight from 1906 to 1909.

Let’s just say that Adam LaRoche has had better games than Friday night’s contest against Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The strikeout-prone first baseman, who has cooled off after a productive month of August, notched four strikeouts in four atbats in Friday’s loss.

As if wearing the golden sombrero wasn’t humiliating in itself, LaRoche looked utterly bewildered in his three at-bats against Kershaw.  However, it was his third and final at-bat against the young lefthander that truly epitomized the extent of LaRoche’s struggles at the plate.

(more…)

It has been an extremely long season for Matt Kemp and an even longer season for his fantasy owners.  Coming off All-Star caliber seasons in both 2008 and 2009, Kemp was regarded as a top 5 fantasy outfielder and top 10 overall player headed into the 2010 season.  According to ESPN, Kemp’s average draft position this season was 8.8, and the only other outfielder with a higher average draft position was the Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun(4.9).

Needless to say, Kemp has been a major disappointment in 2010, falling well short of the career highs–runs, hits, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, OPS–that he established in 2009.  With the season almost over, Kemp’s fantasy owners will be forced to reflect on their decision to draft him in the top 10, when players like Carl Crawford and Josh Hamilton were still available.

(more…)

On Labor Day weekend, my dad and I woke up at 5AM and flew all the way to the other side of the country.  We battled hellacious Los Angeles traffic with tiny maps and bad directions.  We spent $34 on parking—for the first night.  And we drove six hours across the desert, dozens of miles from civilization but just one engine breakdown away from a grim fate at the hands of the 105-degree Arizona heat.

Some might wonder if we were out of our minds, all our months of frustration with the economy, global warming and LeBron’s Decision to take his talents to South Beach having finally driven us over the edge.  But no.  Our motivation for the four-day trip was much simpler—to watch four baseball games in four ballparks in four cities.  And while I can’t confirm or deny Pete Rose’s willingness to actually walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball, I can certainly say that driving through hell in a Toyota Corolla merely to watch it was very well worth it indeed.  This is the first in a four-part series chronicling each ballpark we visited along the way.

(more…)

According to Rotoworld, Manny Ramirez is not currently in the Chicago White Sox starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Indians.  After many were disappointed that Manny was not available for Monday’s contest, we quickly learned that Ramirez’s flight from Los Angeles was scheduled to arrive in Cleveland this afternoon, and that he would undoubtedly be in Tuesday’s lineup.

For those who wish to remain hopeful about Ramirez making his White Sox debut tonight, remember that there are still several hours until the game’s scheduled start time.

Considering that Ramirez has been a regular on the All-DL Team this season, it wouldn’t surprise me if his inclusion in the starting lineup was a game time decision.  Ozzie will most likely let him stretch and take batting practice before having a street-spanish-riddled coversation with him about whether he is able to play.

Currently, Mark Kotsay has been penciled in as the White Sox DH for tonight’s game against the Tribe.