Good career, there, Roy. Best of luck in the future. Dude seemed to own the Cardinals when he was with the Astros.
Nolan Ryan joins the Astros front office... Ryan: 'No Hard Feelings' for Rangers Execs - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/1...stros-says-had-no-hard-feelings-texas-rangers
Derek Jeter to hang up the spikes at the end of this year... Jeter Says 2014 Will Be Final Season - ESPN http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/sto...jeter-says-2014-last-season-via-facebook-post
Jim Fregosi is gone. Not a famous baseball name by any stretch, but he was the guy received by the New York Mets in exchange for Nolan Ryan in a notorious 1971 deal. One of the great "bad trades" of all time. I remember this poor guy being excoriated by the Mets faithful back then and eventually run out of town. His best years were in the 60s when he and Bobby Knoop formed a very effective double-play combo for the California Angels. RIP, Jim. Jim Fregosi, Ex-Manager, Dies at 91 - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10454930/former-major-league-manager-jim-fregosi-71-dies Jim Fregosi at Baseball Reference: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fregoji01.shtml Manager stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/fregoji01.shtml
Well, I'm sure I join Buck Showalter in being thrilled the O's finally did something this off-season.
MLB Limits But Doesn't Bar Plate Blocking - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10512206/mlb-bans-home-collisions-1-exception
Given that both things were already against the rules, this amounts to just asking the umps to call it now and then. There's no effective difference in the rule.
Carl Pavano (aka American Idle) has announced his retirement. Good riddance, stiff. Pavano Decides to Retire Following 14 Seasons - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10523071/carl-pavano-retires-14-major-league-seasons Carl Pavano at Baseball Reference: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pavanca01.shtml
O's still on the move! Johan Santana Signs with Orioles - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10549490/baltimore-orioles-sign-johan-santana-one-year-deal
That's actually not that bad of a deal. If he stays in the minors* it's a gamble that didn't pay off and you lose some chump change. In the unlikely event he becomes a candidate for comeback player of the year, the front office looks brilliant, and he's a bargain. *if he's pitching for Norfolk when they come to Scranton, I'll be there.
I heard that in recent workouts, his velocity barely topped 80 MPH. It would be a miracle if he managed to contribute. He isn't due to be back on the mound till June or July anyways.
The doctor who pioneered Tommy John surgery has passed away. RIP. Frank Jobe, Surgeon Who Saved Pitchers' Careers, Dies at 88 - N.Y. Times http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/07/s...gery-dies-at-88.html?hpw&rref=obituaries&_r=0
From the Jobe obit: "The Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax retired at 30 after the 1966 season because of an elbow injury similar to John’s. “I’ve seen him many times in spring training and, sure, he’s brought it up,” Dr. Jobe told The Daily News of Los Angeles in 2012. “He’d say, ‘Why didn’t you do that on me?’ We simply didn’t know what to do for them back then.” 5-6 more years of prime-time Koufax? Yikes.
Koufax' last four seasons: W-L K's ERA 25-5 306 1.88 19-5 223 1.74 26-8 382 2.04 27-9 317 1.73 Complete career stats: http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/23910/sandy-koufax
We were in Cooperstown on induction weekend last year and saw Dr. Jobe outside the Doubleday Café... signing autographs. He seemed to be having a blast that weekend.
Remember, the baseball season officially opens early this season for the Dodgers and Diamondbacks in Australia on the weekend of March 22 & 23. Dodgers' Kershaw, Ryu to Start in Australia - ESPN http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/...alia-los-angeles-dodgers-arizona-diamondbacks
Diamondbacks Plate Up $25 Corn Dog - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10626853/arizona-diamondbacks-sell-25-d-bat-corn-dog
I went to a Braves game years ago and made a point to try one of their huge Polishes. I'd like to try this dog, but $25?????? Don't think sooooo...
Aroldis Chapman Takes Liner to Face - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/1...incinnati-reds-hit-face-line-drive-carted-off
Hockey goalie facemask. Cricket helmets. Pitcher's helmet next? I'm for it. Ball off the bat these days is really coming at you, particularly with hard-throwers like Chapman. Scary stuff.