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Last Tuesday, we lost the legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell at 92 years-young<\/em>.\u00a0 The response by the MLB writers and fans has been tremendous and illustrates his the impact that he has made.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Ernie Harwell was and will always be, baseball.\u00a0 Here are various recollections and articles that I found most enjoyable.<\/p>\n Tweets<\/span><\/p>\n Scott Merkin<\/a>, MLB.com, beat writer for White Sox:<\/p>\n “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. “<\/p>\n Mark Feinsand<\/a>, Yankees writer for NY Daily Times:<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Articles\/Tributes:<\/span><\/p>\n Vin Scully Remembers Ernie Harwell<\/a><\/p>\n MLB Network’s Tribute<\/a><\/p>\n Harwell was an emblem of the Tigers<\/a> – Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports.com<\/p>\n Ernie Harwell will be missed<\/a> – Steve Gilbert, Diamondbacks beat, writer<\/p>\n A Fond Farewell to Ernie Harwell<\/a> – Larry Grinello, wezen-ball.com<\/p>\n The New York Times Obituary <\/a><\/p>\n Losing Harwell is Losing Family<\/a> – Steve Phillips, National MLB Analyst<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n Eric Byrnes released by Mariners after dismal performance(s)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n On Friday, April 30th, I witnessed the single most nauseating display of executing a suicide squeeze while watching the Mariners<\/a> take on the Rangers<\/a>.\u00a0 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<\/a> at the dish.\u00a0 With the suicide squeeze on, Byrnes failed to get down a bunt and left Ichiro out to dry.\u00a0 Even worse, Byrnes actually threw his bat out to bunt it and then pulled it back at the last moment.\u00a0 Then, he once again proceeded to awkwardly throw the bat head out after having that “oh, shit!” realization.\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0 The Mariners released Byrnes on Sunday after he hit .094\/.237\/.156 over 38 at-bats but we all know the real reason why.\u00a0 Personally, I just think it’s because he looks so awkward.<\/p>\n Since his release, he has been discussing a potential retirement and immediate involvement in men’s beer league softball.<\/a><\/p>\n \n \n \n BA on the bump<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Like I mentioned in my last post, I am a White Sox<\/a> fan. Spare me your comments, I know. I’m frustrated as well.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I just recently read that fan-favorite Brian Anderson<\/a>, now with the Kansas City Royals, is transitioning to the bump.\u00a0 According to MLB Trade Rumors<\/a>, Anderson and the Royals believe a rejuvenation as a pitcher is possible.\u00a0 He last pitched in 2005 at the University of Arizona where he was clocked in the low 90’s.<\/p>\n \n \n \n Please Tell Me You’re Kidding..<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I have always loved it when a player lands on the DL due to a freak or hilarious injury.\u00a0 I’m not sure if anything can compare to Kaz Matsui hitting the DL with an “anal fissure”<\/a> 2 seasons ago. Yet, nothing makes my day more than when a player lands on the DL due to his own wrong doing.\u00a0 This past week, I came across some of the best examples of hilariousness\/stupidity that I have seen in some time.<\/p>\n –\u00a0 Garrett Jones<\/a> missed a game on Saturday, May 1st after being taken to the hospital earlier that day.\u00a0 According to reports<\/a>, Jones ate some beef on Friday night which proceeded to get lodged in his esophagus.\u00a0 No, I’m not kidding.\u00a0 He woke up with all sorts of chest and throat discomfort on Saturday morning and spent the following six hours at the hospital.\u00a0 Apparently, his esophagus was swollen and he was unable to take down any liquids all day.\u00a0 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.’<\/p>\n I now have an image of Garrett Jones eating his food like a bird does a worm.<\/p>\n –\u00a0 Nearly two weeks ago, after blowing a save and getting pulled from the game, Ryan Madson decided to let out his frustrations<\/a> on an unsuspecting chair in the clubhouse walkway.\u00a0 However, the chair proved to be way more of a foe than Madson anticipated.\u00a0 Madson “walked” away from the encounter with a broken toe that required surgery and a trip to the DL.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The finally tally, chair 1, Madson 0.<\/p>\n –\u00a0 And now, my favorite; one that now ranks among the most outrageous injuries I have ever read about.\u00a0 Chicago Cubs<\/a> second basemen Jeff Baker<\/a> missed nearly a weeks worth of games due second degree burns on his ass.\u00a0 How did this happen? He and a few of the Cubs’ pitchers were lighting their farts on fire in the clubhouse.\u00a0 While the validity of this story is still in question, it’s hard to make up something so ridiculous.\u00a0 Here is what was originally reported<\/a>,<\/p>\n “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\u2014\u2013the 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.”<\/p>\n I’m willing to bet that one of the pitchers involved was Ryan Dempster.<\/p>\n \n \n \n Trade Away the Rays<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I don’t have much to say regarding all of the trade rumors surrounding the Rays’ Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford.\u00a0 I will let these articles do the talking:<\/p>\n Carl Crawford Says That He and Carlos Pena Will Leave Rays in 2011<\/a> – hotstove.com<\/a> May 4, 2010<\/p>\n Crawford: No decisions, quote was wrong<\/a> – Marc Topkin, tampabay.com\u00a0\u00a0 May 4, 2010<\/p>\n Tampa Bay Rays’ Carlos Pena okay waiting on team to determine future<\/a> – Marc Topkin, tampabay.com\u00a0 May 6, 2010<\/p>\n \n \n \n Reading<\/em> Suggestions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n For those who might be interested, there have been a few notable, baseball related book releases this spring:<\/p>\n – The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran<\/a> by Dirk Hayhurst<\/p>\n I actually purchased this book as a birthday present for my father based upon the rave reviews throughout the baseball community.\u00a0 Here are a few:<\/p>\n “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”<\/p>\n “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<\/p>\n “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<\/p>\n \n – The Game From Where I Stand: A Ballplayer’s Inside View<\/a> by Doug Glanville<\/p>\n Here is a description of “The Professor’s” upcoming book:<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n In The Game from Where I Stand<\/em>, 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.<\/p>\n In his professional career, Glanville experienced every aspect of being a player\u2014the 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.”<\/p>\n \n – Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball<\/a> by Batting Stance Guy(Gar Ryness)<\/a><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 He calls his talent, “The least marketable skill in America,” I call it the sign of a true fan.<\/p>\n \n \n Second Spitter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This is an instant classic.\u00a0 During the Mets’ extra-inning win over the Giants on Saturday, Mets’ broadcaster Keith Hernandez actually fell asleep<\/a> in the booth on a commercial break.\u00a0 Don’t act like you’re not impressed.<\/p>\n Grinnell College hosting 2010 MWC Tournament; Greg Suryn ’11 recognized<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Much like some of the other guys here at the Sombrero, I’m extremely excited to be headed back to Grinnell College<\/a> this weekend to watch my friends and former teammates do some work in the MWC Tournament.\u00a0 After last weekend’s double-header sweep at Monmouth, the Pioneers<\/a> enter the tournament with 12-0 conference record(21-14 overall).<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.\u00a0 Suryn<\/a>, currently hitting a robust .446 this season, is one of the reasons for the Pioneers’ great season. Please read the article below:<\/p>\n Grinnell Baseball Player Overcomes Hearing Loss <\/a><\/p>\n Now in the words of Dallas Braden<\/a>, “Let’s go eat!”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/ernieharwell.jpg\" "\\"ernieharwell\\"")
<\/a>R.I.P. Ernie Harwell<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thegoldensombrero.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/dbperfecto.jpg\" "\\"dbperfecto\\"")
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