Thursday, September 14, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
John Douglas BRO b. 1917, played 1945, d. 1984-02-11
Bob Perry LAA b. 1934, played 1963-1964. Had a great deal of success in the minors that never translated to the majors; he hit 30 home runs for the Columbus Jets as a 22-year-old in single-A.
Tim Wallach LAN,CAL b. 1957, played 1993-1996, All-Star: 1984-1985, 1987, 1989-1990. Bill James called him "a poor man's Brooks Robinson" because of his defense. A five-time All Star, three-time Gold Glover, and twice a Silver Slugger, he also led the league twice in doubles, and once each in hit-by-pitch and GIDPs. He is in the Expos/Nationals franchise top ten for single-season RBIs. (He took the record in 1987 with 123; he is presently third behind Vlad Guerrero's 1999 and 2000 seasons, and still owns the career mark with 905.) In 2004 and 2005, he was the Dodgers' hitting coach, though unlike Jim Colborn, he didn't make the transition to Pittsburgh. A Golden Spikes winner with CSU Fullerton, he homered in his first professional at-bat, in 1979 for the AA Memphis Chicks.
Stan Williams LAN b. 1936, played 1958-1962, All-Star: 1960. The fourth man on the rotation in the emerging years of the Koufax/Drysdale era, he was an enormous man on the mound (6'4", 224 lbs.), sharing Drysdale's penchant for the brushback pitch. He had a really fast fastball, but control issues prevented him from becoming a truly great pitcher; the Dodgers traded him to the Yanks in November, 1962. He signed with the Angels in early 1972 but never appeared in that uniform.
One (Or More) Buwwet(s) Weft
- I'm not a fan of T.J. Simers but occaisionally he makes a useful point, like this one:
"I think we have the best record in baseball since July 1," Scioscia said, which doesn't say a whole lot when you consider the fact the Angels were six games behind Oakland on July 1, and today they are 5 1/2 back.
- Bill Valentine gets the Arkansas Travelers of North Little Rock love. Gad.
- The Angels made rookies wear dresses, and isn't that an adorable chiffon gown, and where are the photos of Jered Weaver in a taffeta dress when you need them?
- The Twins called up Alexi Casilla, shipped there for J.C. Romero.
- Andre Ethier, "mentally tired"? Well, they can blame it on his youth, but don't expect me to sing about it.
- Update: Brad Penny's 16th win yesterday made him tops in the NL; it's the latest any pitcher has ever had so few wins to lead the league in the history of the Senior Circuit.
I can tell you I laughed my behind off, though!!!!!
: 9/14/2006 07:11:00 AM : 9/14/2006 08:37:00 AM : 9/14/2006 10:06:00 AMNewer› ‹Older
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