Friday, May 12, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
A mostly undistinguished class...
Ralph Botting CAL b. 1955, played 1979-1980
Rafael Bournigal LAN b. 1966, played 1992-1994
Lave Cross BRO b. 1866, played 1900, d. 1927-09-06. Cross was part of the 1900 Brooklyn Superbas who won the NL title, before the World Series. A "bowlegged wonder", he spent much of his career as a catcher and used a catcher's glove when he played other infield positions until that was outlawed. Exclusively a third baseman for the proto-Dodgers, he played all infield positions and a little outfield for nine different major league teams across four major leagues. He also had the distinction of helping to manage the Cleveland Spiders to the worst record in major league history, 20-134 (for 38 games).
Bob Heise CAL b. 1947, played 1974
Dutch Henry BRO b. 1902, played 1923-1924, d. 1968-08-23
I'm Not Dead Yet: Astros 4, Dodgers 2
Lowe produced a quality start and lost anyway, an effort far from any of his worst catastrophes. The Dodgers had their opportunities, although it may be the case that I'm being fooled by atmospheric effects from this day game. I recall a J.D. Drew warning track flyball in the eighth that probably would have been on the grass at night, thus taking away my breath for the moment. As well, Bill Mueller hit one almost to the warning track that just happened to be at a glove. In other words, the Dodgers were hitting the ball hard, and even unto the ninth, when they left the game with the bases loaded and two out, there was hope in this one. Even saddled with a loss, it was a good game, and with the right guys healthy and hitting reasonably well, the Dodgers are starting to play good baseball. It's about time, and while I don't pretend that this team is anything like a contender, at least they're getting to be an interesting team to watch — which is more than you could say for them last year.Roster Notes
- Bryan Smith thinks the Rangers would be well-served to draft and sign Luke Hochevar. Sure, he's a sinkerballer, but, well, that whole maturity thing... the Angels might agree.
- Update: Inside The Dodgers has a brief piece about Luke Hochevar in which Roy Smith writes, "As happened with Jered Weaver, who signed at the last minute with the Angels last year before the deadline to reenter the draft, anything is possible." While there's certainly less of an incentive for him to sign (he's from Fowler, CO, where Weaver's family is in Southern California and his brother was playing across town), there could be more news down the road. Stay tuned, Dodger fans...
- Bill Plaschke has the kind of story he's good at, a tearjerker about Brett Tomko's mother's struggle with breast cancer. Do they have pink pitcher's gloves?
- Casey Kotchman will see team physicians today to reconfirm his diagnosis with mono.
- Ozzie Guillen, charmer:
Escobar said he carried no ill will and the fastball to Pierzynski's right calf merely slipped. Escobar had already developed a blood blister when he hit the White Sox' catcher and that is what manager Mike Scioscia blamed for the errant pitch.
Classless. Classless. Classless. Notice how they're not reporting on this in Chicago (RR)?The fallout from that incident is that while Escobar and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen were once acquaintances, the native Venezuelans are on the outs now. Escobar is certain that Guillen was not joking when he called the Angels pitcher a "dumb (expletive)."
- Reports in tcpalm.com, the Times, and the Arizona Republic all indicate the Dodgers continue serious talks with three Arizona cities to move their spring training facilities.
- Eric Chavez missed his third straight game due to a bacterial infection.
- Frank Thomas is day-to-day with a strained quad.
- Joe Kennedy is day-to-day with a strained quad. The A's have a lot more injuries so far this year than even I thought they'd have.
: 5/12/2006 11:21:00 AM
: 5/12/2006 12:04:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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