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4/28/2008
Billy-Ball Daily
Bill Chuck (Billy-Ball his own self)
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The only spin here is on my screwball
Monday, April 28, 2008
Top of the 1st
ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER…
A little stream of consciousness always brings me to my inevitable conclusion…
What about that great match-up yesterday between Brandon Webb and Jake Peavy? Webb and the Diamondbacks defeated the Padres, 2-1 making Webb perfect, getting a win in all six of his starts this season. This marks just the fourth time in MLB history a pitcher was 6-0 by the end of April. Randy Johnson did so twice, taking Cy Young honors both times. Arizona will play just six games against the NL West from now until July 4. The D-backs just ended a 22-game stretch in the division with a 17-5 record and has built a six-game lead over the second-place Dodgers.
Which leads me to…
The other great match-up yesterday between Chien-Ming Wang who shut down Cleveland for seven innings and outpitched C.C. Sabathia, who gave up a home run to Melky Cabrera as the Yankees defeated the Indians, 1-0. Wang (5-0) allowed four hits, struck out a season-high nine and became the AL's only five-game winner. It's the first 1-0 win for the Yankees in Cleveland since 1981. It's also the first 1-0 win in the majors with the only run coming as a solo homer since June 13, 2006 (also Yankees over Indians with Wang as winning pitcher).
Which leads me to…
Grady Sizemore sprained his right ankle and as a result his 382 consecutive game playing streak, the longest active one in the big leagues, came to an end yesterday when Franklin Gutierrez took over in center and David Dellucci filled the leadoff spot for the Indians. Sizemore missed a game for the first time since Aug. 22, 2005. Baseball’s longest active streak-holder is now the Braves' Jeff Francoeur, who has played in his 351 straight games.
Which leads me to…
The Braves’ John Smoltz is hurting and he needs to have his sore shoulder checked to see how bad the wear and tear has become and whether he needs to take some more time off. Yesterday he allowed four runs and seven hits in just four innings in a 6-3 loss to the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Smoltz entered with a miniscule 0.78 ERA and .179 opponents' average. But those stats didn't matter Sunday, when Smoltz barely touched 90 mph with his fastball and couldn't make his slider bite. Several Mets players said he wasn't the pitcher they were used to seeing.
"Smoltz did not throw as hard as he normally throws," center fielder Carlos Beltran said. "He didn't have as his normal break or velocity."
Which leads me to…
The Yankees’ Jorge Posada had never been on the disabled list in his 13-year career. The streak is over now, due to a tear in his subscapularis muscle (that’s a damaged right shoulder). “It’s the biggest disappointment of my career, probably,” Posada told the New York Times. “Being on the D.L., not being able to participate in games, it’s really tough for me. I thought it was coming along, but it’s not. We have to find out what’s really bothering me.” José Molina, a strong defensive player batting .267, will become the Yankees’ everyday catcher. The problem is finding a backup. Posada came into this season ranked second in the majors, to Jason Kendall, in games caught during the last eight years. He is first among catchers in home runs, runs batted in and walks in that stretch. This season, he is hitting .302 with a homer and 11 R.B.I. Posada is lucky that this didn’t happen last season, his contract year.
Which leads me to…
The same thing could be said for Mike Lowell, third baseman of the Red Sox. Lowell finished a three-game rehab assignment, going 1-for-4 with a sacrifice fly for Triple-A Pawtucket yesterday and is expected to be taken off the disabled list tomorrow, after going 3-for-13 with three RBIs in his rehab stint. Lowell was put on the DL April 10 with a sprain (read: a tear) in his left thumb. Boston has an off-day today and plays Toronto at home tomorrow.
Which leads me to…
The Tampa Bay Rays. Hold your head up Rays fans, your team is tied for first. On average, the Rays have been about eight games out of first after 25 games and they did it by sweeping the Jays and the Red Sox. Yes those teams have been beset by illness and injuries but Rays have been beset by the devil. So far, good starting pitching, timely hitting, supported by a strong bullpen resulting in sitting in first place. They have done this without their ace, Scott Kazmir, the 2007 AL strikeout leader disabled since spring training with an elbow strain, will pitch "five/six innings" or "85 pitches max," in his third and final start for Durham today, Maddon said. The left-hander will join the Rays in Baltimore and the rotation this weekend barring setbacks.
Which leads me to…
The Oakland A’s, the other shocking team in the AL. Oakland's Joe Blanton pitched seven solid innings, and the A’s scored four in the 8th off Seattle's Felix Hernandez enabling a 4-2 Oakland win.
Which leads me to…
The team right across the Bay. The San Francisco Giants have got to figure out what to do with Barry Zito, who is 0-6 in six starts, and has allowed an opponents' batting average of .338. Yesterday, Zito became just the third pitcher in MLB history to end April with an 0-6 record after the horrible Reds defeated him 10-1. The last NL pitcher to lose 20 games was Phil Niekro, in 1979.
Which leads me to…
“Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs – Baseball’s Grand (and not so grand) Finales,” written by yours truly, with Jim Kaplan and a forward by Jon Miller of ESPN. To order an autographed first edition, just send $14.95 + $2.50 (Massachusetts state residents add $1.00 tax) to:
Billy-Ball
258 Harvard Street, #145
Brookline, MA 02446
Thanks to a gift from great friend. Jim Mooradian, the cost will remain the same while supplies last.
And if you are enjoying the book, please add you comments to the Amazon buying page, like loyal Billy-Ball reader Brian Englehardt has, please do so. Just go to http://www.amazon.com/Walkoffs-Last-Licks-Final-Outs/dp/0879463422/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209044572&sr=8-1
Top of the 2nd
THE MARTIANS ARE COMING
Mars, the makers of M&M’s, is near a deal last night to acquire the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, the chewing gum concern, for more than $22 billion, people involved in the talks said. The transaction would create a confectionery behemoth.
Commissioner Selig reportedly has little reservations about moving the Cubs to Mars.
Top of the 3rd
TALE OF THE TAPE - NOMAR GARCIAPARRA
April 26, 2008 Placed on 15-day DL (Strained left calf)
April 16, 2008 Removed from 15-day DL
April 16, 2008 Recalled from minors rehab
April 12, 2008 Sent to minors for rehabilitation
March 30, 2008 Placed on 15-day DL (Microfracture in right hand)
September 4, 2007 Removed from 15-day DL
August 14, 2007 Placed on 15-day DL (Strained left calf)
December 1, 2006 Signed as free agent
October 28, 2006 Declared free agency
August 9, 2006 Removed from 15-day DL
July 30, 2006 Placed on 15-day DL (Right knee sprain)
April 22, 2006 Removed from 15-day DL
April 22, 2006 Recalled from minors rehab
April 20, 2006 Sent to minors for rehabilitation
April 4, 2006 Placed on 15-day DL (Strained ribcage muscle)
December 19, 2005 Signed as free agent
August 5, 2005 Removed from 60-day DL
August 4, 2005 Recalled from minors rehab
July 22, 2005 Sent to minors for rehabilitation
May 28, 2005 Transferred to 60-day DL
April 21, 2005 Placed on 15-day DL (Torn left groin muscle)
December 7, 2004 Signed as free agent
December 7, 2004 Signed with Chicago Cubs
July 31, 2004 Traded from Boston Red Sox to Chicago Cubs four-team, eight-player deal
June 9, 2004 Recalled from minors rehab
June 9, 2004 Recalled from minors rehab
June 9, 2004 Removed from 15-day DL
May 30, 2004 Sent to minors for rehabilitation
May 30, 2004 Sent to minors for rehabilitation
March 31, 2004 Placed on 15-day DL (Right Achilles tendinitis)
July 29, 2001 Recalled from minors rehab
July 24, 2001 Sent to minors for rehabilitation
April, 2001 Wrist surgery
March 5, 2001 COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED – “A Cut Above”
March 11, 1998 Signed with Boston Red Sox
March 4, 1997 Signed with Boston Red Sox
August 31, 1996 Purchased from minors
Drafted: 12th Overall Selection
Top of the 4th
I WOULD HAVE DONE IT FOR $30,000
Dan Johnson, claimed off waivers from Oakland, proved to be an expensive insurance policy for Tampa Bay. He was in uniform only one game before being designated for assignment after the Rays acquired outfielder Gabe Gross from Milwaukee. The St. Petersburg Times' Marc Topkin figures it cost the club about $40,000 to sit him on the bench for that one day.
Top of the 5th
LOVE IS IN THE AIR?
Lawyers for Roger Clemens' former personal trainer Brian McNamee say they intend to capitalize on allegations of an extra-marital affair involving Clemens and a country music singer in defending a defamation suit Clemens filed against McNamee.
The New York Daily News, citing "several" unnamed sources, reported on its Web site last night that Clemens and country singer Mindy McCready had a decade-long affair. Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said Clemens and McCready had a friendship and nothing more.
I have a fear this is going to result in testimony about back acne and shrinkage.
Top of the 6th
BILLY-BALL-SITE –OF-THE-DAY
Very cool site for kids and adults alike - http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/
I guarantee you will learn something.
Top of the 7th
PROBABLE PITCHERS
AL
Orioles (Daniel Cabrera) at White Sox (Javier Vazquez), 2:05
Yankees (Mike Mussina) at Indians (John Laffey), 7:05
A's (Chad Gaudin) at Angels (Jon Garland), 10:05
NL
Pirates (Ian Snell) at Mets (Johan Santana), 7:10
Reds (Bronson Arroyo) at Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer), 8:15
Astros (Chris Sampson) at Diamondbacks (Dan Haren), 9:40
Rockies (Franklin Morales) at Giants (Matt Cain), 10:15
Top of the 8th
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that 22.22% of all no-hitters have been thrown in September? Only 13.25% in July.
Top of the 9th
LARRY STONE LINES OF THE WEEK
Billy-Ball loves Larry Stone of the Seattle Times and here are a couple highlights of his weekly MLB Power Rankings:
• Manny could win the triple crown — average, home runs, misplayed fly balls
• Rockies desperately need Tulowitzki to get untrackedzki
Bottom of the 9th
BUY THE BOOK
Bill Chuck is the creator of Billy-Ball.com and, with Jim Kaplan, is the author of the book, “Walk-Offs, Last Licks, and Final Outs – Baseball’s Grand (and not so Grand) Finales,” with a Foreword by Jon Miller available now from ACTA Sports.
Autographed first editions are available by contacting, Bill@billy-ball.com or order directly from Acta Sports, http://www.actasports.com/detail.html?&id=3427 or from your favorite bookstore worldwide.
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258 Harvard Street, #145
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Information provided in Billy-Ball has been gathered from A.P. reports, espn.com, sportsline.com, mlb.com and numerous other e-sources. Opinions expressed in Billy-Ball are obviously solely the opinions of the author of Billy-Ball and do not reflect those of source material no matter how off the wall they may be.
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