The Original Vulture: Phil Regan '69 Cubs

Might have been one of the most valuable middle relievers/setup/closers in one year in the history of pre-Rotisserie baseball.

Take a look at these numbers:

1969
Cubs
71 games played
0 games started
49 games finished
12 WINS
6 losses
3.70 era
17 SAVES
112.0 INNINGS PITCHED

Villareal has a lot of work to do this year on both the wins and saves to gain Regan-esque stature. Believe it or not, his nickname...The Vulture--try googling "phil regan vulture"

the fourth man

...you hear it in football (12 man--Texas A&M) and hoops (6th man), but in baseball, the extra player is an outfielder, and the fourth man. I watched the game today with the Knot Hole Gang (some 600 folks strong today), and watched 715 leave the bat and was in place on the walkway between the ball yard and the Cove for the ball that never came.

What was even more fascinating than the "historic" blast, was watching Finley play center, while Winn played right during batting practice for Col. vs. Jamey Wright in the top of the 4th. Rockies scored 6 runs, most with two outs, and were peppering line drives in between the 3 outfielders in the top of that inning. Even Pitcher Kim roped one--knocking in 2 runs which essentially put the game out of reach.

Watching those other outfielders field their positions, AT THE SAME FIELD LEVEL as them made it pretty impressive, re how they do their jobs over 162 days. I felt like I was on the field with them--like a fourth outfielder in softball.

My souvenier from 715--two metallic orange ribbons that were shot out of the cannon and landed at the harbor master's station, nestled and wind-wrapped around my dog's favorite hydrant.

Hope he doesn't get a whif of them hanging on my mantle.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:
Josh Johnson
Fla
7.0 IP
2 Hits
1 Runs
0 Earned Runs
2 Walks
8 K's
1 WIN

The Bad:
Taylor Buchholz
Hou
3.2
11
9
9
1
5
1 Step Closer to the Waiver Wire

...sorry Don (75 years old this year, and still posing).

Name 'dat bum?

47 ab's, .179 average, no hr, no rbi's, no sb's--Box of Cracker Jacks to the first correct responder--must put in comments.

What's my line?

Through 6 & 2/3rds in Miami; Will the real Pedro please stand up?

P. Martinez
6.0 IP
2 Hits
1 Run
1 Earned Run
0 Walks
1 HR
7 K's
2.74 Season ERA

J. Johnson
6.2 IP
2 Hits
1 Run
0 Earned Run
1 Walk
0 HR
7 K's
2.23 Season ERA

birds in my blefary

... not a typo in the title.

Was staying at the Crowne Plaza in Seattle last night. Woke up this morning to birds in the lobby--Baltimore Orioles to be exact. I'm watching Jeff Conine sign a couple of autographs for a handful of fans, and I paused for a minute.....nope, never owned him in the NL. Didn't really recognize the others (tejada was not there, at that time). One thing about today's baseball players--they're almost uniformly all tall and wear suits well. No Wally Moons or Moe Bergs in this crew. Darwinism at it's best?

Stat-less in Seattle

Night on the town with NW Ales, or the Orioles/Mariners at Safeco? Not a hard choice for this NL ONLY guy. Where's the interleague play when you need it?

The Incredible Mr. Baer

From his seat above the visiting Giants dugout, Larry Baer signaled Felipe Alou to pull Barry Bonds in the 9th Inning today in Oakland, with the Giants leading 6-0. Thanks to Ticketmaster this a.m., I was able to get a $38 seat in Oakland and was sitting 5 rows behind Baer, when he made the slashing throat gesture to the 71 year old Alou.

Fans at the ballyard, myself included, were sorely disappointed to miss the slugger's last AB, but Mr. Baer figured it was worth at least $1M more in tix and concessions tomorrow at home vs. St. Louis.

Check out what those seats are going for on ebay and stubhub now--yowza!

If you don't have tix already...that's a shame.

Rock 'em Sox 'em

Gotta like the authors of Rotoworld:

Michael Barrett was ejected from Saturday's game in the second inning for throwing a punch at A.J. Pierzynski. It was a good punch, too. Barrett took offense to the way Pierzynski instigated a collision at home plate on a play in which the White Sox catcher scored.

Quick Quiz, Hot Shot:

Name the only .227 hitter who is 5-5 with bases loaded this year, with 12 rbi's?

No cheating!

...and Fitch

Won't show up on the Pecklers' totals, but Sir Reggie might have one of the best CF arms around. Threw out the formerly fleet Brian Jordan with a one hop strike to the plate to maintain a 3-3 tie in the 10th.

Plus, they finally (and mercifully) sent Eric Reed down to AAA to get some playing time, ensuring that Sir Reg gets the whole season to prove his worth.

Over/Under on when Reed is back: July 19

Deal or No Deal

I doubt this will help me trade Jacques Jones, but my duty as a journalist requires that I report the following:

5/16/06 - Chicago

Jacque Jones was nearly hit in the face by a ball thrown from the bleachers by a woman at Wrigley Field during the ninth inning of Tuesday's game.Cubs fans were upset with Jones who had yet another base running blunder in the game.

The House that Ruth Built...

was Woodbine Raceway on 5/9/06.

The 7th Race Trifecta came in:

1st - # 7 Maris

2nd - # 1 Steinbrenner

3rd - # 3 Yankee No

*7-1-3 Trifecta.

*Coincidence that someone else was sitting on 713 that day?? You saw it here first.

More Park's Sausages, Mom...Please!

Might have also called this one:

"Please sir, may I have another"

3 innings, 8 earned runs, and he kept throwing 92 mph fastballs over the plate. That's my boy, Taylor Bucholtz of the Astros. Doesn't really bother me this time, because:

1) I'm out of the BABI Race
2) It was against the Giants

Speaking of the Giants, for those in BABI, they play the Cards on 5/22 (Monday). Kevin (homer), Seth, and I are going, along with Julio (our Auctioneer).

Our pre-game is at 21st Amendment Brewpub/Restaurant (563 Second Street - near Brannan)--they of the canned beer micro.

Why not come down at 6 p.m. and tip an ale back with us, even if you do not plan to go to the ballyard.

If you do want to go, I can get discounted seats from the Giants, as a season ticket holder. So, just email me or post a comment on this entry. We can probably all sit together--might be a nice evening, especially if the weather is like tonight.

Cheers!

This Bud's for You!

New application for the jingle.

From the Northern League (Independent)
05/01/2006
Schaumburg assigned (traded) the contract of RHP Nigel Thatch (Rookie) to Fullerton of the Golden Baseball League in exchange for 1 pallet (60 cases) of Budweiser beer.

the Gladiator vs. the Pharoah

if you don't have mlb.tv for 79.99 a year, you have no business reading this blog. For 80 bucks, you get 2400 games a year. that's 3 cents a game.

without it, you missed Sir Albert crush the Pharoah the other night in the 8th, when Col. actually thought they had a shot at a .500 record this yr. Mesa gives him a strike, and it was wheelie nice (as in, in the proverbial wheelhouse). - 3 run job.

...for those of you still in the babi race, $60 would have been cheap for the new king.

About time! ....Part Deux

From Rotoworld:

Giants designated LHP Jeff Fassero for assignment.Fassero, 43, is coming off his best season since 2001, but he opened this year by giving up 13 runs in 15 innings. That he's left-handed and will pitch in any role he's asked to undertake has helped keep him in the league, but his 16-year run may have just come to an end. May. 8 - 8:00 pm et

...wonder how he'll look in that flattering D-Ray teal??

Breaking news...

Any 9's ERA under 5.00 for the first time this year....watch out for the 9-Train!