6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog: Pickoff Moves

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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Pickoff Moves

Today's Birthdays

Kent Bottenfield ANA b. 1968, played 2000, All-Star: 1999. How the heck did he get to be an All-Star? Whatever, Richard's bête noir wasn't worth a damn, but that's what you expect when you trade guys like Jim Edmonds under duress. Thank God for Adam Kennedy...

Harry Howell BRO b. 1876, played 1898, 1900, d. 1956-05-22

Jim Piersall CAL,LAA b. 1929, played 1963-1967, All-Star: 1954, 1956. The subject of the 1957 biopic Fear Strikes Out, Piersall was more famous for being the crazy guy who got his mental health demons under control than he was for his impressively long (17 years!) career in the majors. Another thing he was famous for: running the bases backwards when he hit his 100th career homer (June 23, 1963, with the Mets). He hit fairly well for the Angels in 1963-64, but collapsed the last two years with the team, his playing time decreasing.

Red Sheridan BRO b. 1896, played 1918, 1920, d. 1975-11-25

More Dodger Talks With Glendale, Ariz. Over Spring Training

The Dodgers are in talks with Glendale, Arizona to move their spring training to a shared facility with the White Sox, according to the Arizona Republic. One hitch in the deal is that the Chisox presently train in Tucson, and Arizona solons are questioning whether state money should be used to move a team from one end of the state to the other.

Don Newcombe, Man On A Mission

Don Newcombe still gets up every morning, because he's on a mission:

"Sixty years ago I became a part of changing the makeup of baseball with Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella," Newcombe said. "They can't talk about it now. I can. I wish more people would know about the Dodgers and what they did and the rich history they have.
"Jackie, Roy and I felt like people needed us. We had to succeed. So many people depended on us - people of color all over the world."
Newcombe is troubled because Jackie Robinson isn't in many historical textbooks schools use. When he speaks to students, he brings books about Robinson with him. He also sends books to other schools, particularly in the South.
...
There was no official community relations department in any baseball organization 36 years ago, when Newcombe wrote a proposal to Peter O'Malley, the former Dodgers owner. O'Malley created the position and Newcombe made $5,000 his first year.
"I needed the Dodgers and the Dodgers needed me," Newcombe said.
"The Dodgers mean more to me than baseball. They're part of my intestines. They're part of my insides. As long as I've been here, they've always been good to me."

And Other Stuff

Ritchie Sexson is an albatross the team needs to rid itself of, says USSM.
The A's have dropped Trey Hillman in their managerial search; it's now certain the final winner will be bench coach Bob Geren.
The Mets plan on making a strong run at Barry Zito following the news that the Red Sox won the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding (warning: painfully slow SI.com link).
The Nationals will introduce Manny Acta as their new manager today. Acta was previously the Mets' third base coach.