Thursday, May 18, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Cy Barger BRO b. 1885, played 1910-1912, d. 1964-09-23. Barger was named Eros after the Greek god; his father wanted him to have an impressive-sounding name but didn't know the source. How often do you see a pitcher who plays a little infield anymore?
And incidentally, who are these goofuses sponsoring his page?
Ken Hamlin LAA b. 1935, played 1961
Jim Hicks CAL b. 1940, played 1969-1970
Reggie Jackson CAL b. 1946, played 1982-1986, All-Star: 1969,1971-1975,1977-1984, Hall of Famer: 1993 (BBWAA). A hero for Angels fans (and a member of the recently completed top 100 Angels of all time list), the enemy (and an unacknowledged cheater) to Dodger fans, he hit .227/.298/.380 in 11 League Championship Series games but .357/.457/.755 in five World Series games; contrast that with his .262/.356/.490 career numbers. The truth lies somewhere inbetween, but there is absolutely no doubt that Mr. October earned his place in the Hall. Too bad he did so little for the Angels in the postseason along the way.
Don Lund BRO b. 1923, played 1945, 1947-1948
Jack Sanford CAL b. 1929, played 1965-1967, All-Star: 1957, d. 2000-03-07. Also 1957 Rookie of the Year and a legitimate All-Star with the Phillies, he led the league in strikeouts in the era just before the rise of the truly dominant Sandy Koufax. He never had another season anywhere near as good; the 1965 Angels bought him for cash. Moved to the bullpen, he led the league in relief wins in 1966. He also twice led the league in hit batters.
Eric Young LAN b. 1967, played 1992, 1997-1999, All-Star: 1996. Dodger fans remember the big travesties like the multiple trades of Mike Piazza, or Delino DeShields for Pedro Martinez; but Young was in his way just as significant, because it indicated a failure to recognize useful talent at every level. Between the time the Dodgers left him unprotected in the 1992 expansion draft and they re-acquired him in a midseason trade in 1997, the Dodgers counted Lenny Harris ($900,000), Jody Reed ($2,500,000), Delino DeShields ($8,700,000 over three years), and Wilton Guerrero ($150,000). Meanwhile, his production (although at Colorado) put him in the top ten second basemen three of those years while Young was still arbitration-eligible.
No Baez Pun Here: Dodgers 3, Rockies 2
Two sentence recap: Nomar does it again. Denys Baez is Jeff Shaw.Roster Notes
- Will Carroll says we should expect Eric Gagné back within a week if his session facing live hitters this Friday goes well.
- Bengie Molina, on the fan reaction at his return:
"It just made me feel so good," he said of the response. "I'm a very emotional person and that really touched my heart."
Bengie Molina's stolen base in Tuesday's game was taken away and ruled defensive indifference. - Rookie 2B Ian Kinsler won't return to the Rangers until this weekend.
- Rich Harden is throwing off a mound and might be back by the end of the month.
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