Yankees release Chan Ho Park

He just never got used to pitching without that batting practice screen in front of him.

That certainly has a value but not at $1.2 million a year.

Most teams just have a coach do it.

Reds hit Braves pitchers two days in a row!

Tomorrow's game is going to be great!

Hey, this can work for the Braves!

Kyle Farnsworth is coming in.

Use Farnsworth to get even and then suspended!

A win all around!

Send a private jet!

John Montefusco

On this date in 1975, Giants pitcher John "The Count" Montefusco predicts that he will shut out the Reds and strike out Johnny Bench four times.

He was a little off as the Reds score seven* runs in 1 1/3 innings off Montefusco with three of the runs coming on a Bench homer. The Reds win, 11-6.

Evidently, he did not "count" on the "tipped pitches" thing.

Throw a curveball the same way you throw a fastball!

*"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7" says The Count!

Bullfighting might be inhumane...

....but at least they dress up for it.

Don't accept imitations!

Hank Bauer

Born on today's date, Hank Bauer.

"Just remember, if you ream me, I get the last ream."

"His face looks like a closed fist." Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times

Come on already!

We can't be following you around like a travelling circus!

The Babe had ONE AT BAT between home runs 599 and 600! One!

No drugs either. Well maybe ethyl alcohol. (Proof above)

Here is a tip.

Swing with all your might! Watch the ball hit the bat! Follow through on the swing! Neither a lender nor a borrower be! (Um...forget that last one. I am doing two things at once here.)

Well anyway, pick it up! We got things to go!

You used to be the #1 or #2 pick in fantasy baseball for cripes sake!

The Edwin Jackson World Tour is coming!

Los Angeles - Dodger Stadium - 2003/2005 (Sold Out!)
Tampa Bay - Tropicana Field - 2006/2008 (Sold Out!)
Detroit - Comerica Park - 2009 (Sold Out!)
Phoenix - Chase Field - 2010 (Sold Out!)
Chicago - U.S. Cellular Field - 2010 (Tickets on sale Saturday at Live Nation!)

"Takin' America by Storm Tour"

"Throwin' all the hits"

"One after the other!"

"Oh Yeah!"

Special Guest with his hit "Been Playin' around Towns" - Omar Vizquel!

Don't Miss it!

A "Rock City" Production.

Ever seen Alexei Ramirez and Jack Skellington in the same room together?

Me neither!

Sumpins up.

On this date in 1976....

...in an International League game in Memphis, the Blues' Art Gardner hits a 3rd inning shot off the center field wall and, while Syracuse outfielder Rick Bladt searches for the ball, Gardner circles the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

When the ball could not be found, the umpires rule the hit is only a double.

Steve Trout

Born on today's date, Steve Trout.

Steve supplemented his income during his playing days by playing in an Ian Hunter cover band.

He was particularly adept at singing the song "All the Young Dudes". He was also pretty good with "I wish I was your mother".*

*Listening to this song as a kid, I was always a little moved by the music and heartfelt singing. Then I listened closely to the lyrics and thought "This is so dumb!"

"I've already been made fun of about 50,000 times"

"Any time you go to the hospital, and the next day in the papers it says 'He went with a bruise', and they call an ambulance, you have to wear it."

Huston Street to Thomas Harding of mlb.com after being carted off the field after being struck in the mid-section by a line drive during batting practice before Tuesday's game.

Oh, come on!

You just can't just listen to the paramedics!

They just don't want a lawsuit!

Unless you are incapacitated, walk on out of there!

You can make it!

Before the fall

(Skate Kid, CC, Computer Boy)

It is funny how local sports talk radio has abruptly stopped talking about the Mudhe....err Tigers and now it is all Lions.

Just go for singles the rest of your career

You will be on television forever!

Hurry up or Keith Richards will miss it!

Brandon Phillips hit Bernie Brewer's slide!

Brandon Phillips of the Reds hit Bernie Brewer's slide with a 450 foot grand slam shot last night!

Does Bernie throw these back like Cubs fans?

It's like living near a golf course!

The realtor never said anything about this!

I hope he's got a parking pass at least.

(That green thing on the Cubs fan's arm is a little mystifying)

Ryan Braun

Born on today's date, Ryan Braun.

Yes, the other one.

John Kennedy had the same problem.

So Jim Leyland was suspended for the game tonight

This was the lineup.

Rhymes (155 lbs soaking wet)
Damon
Larish (worst swing this side of Neifi Perez; it looks uncorrectable)
Cabrera (still learning names)
Boesch
Rayburn (no booing on the road at least)
Sizemore (car-pooled up from Toledo with Larish, Rhymes and Worth)
Avila
Worth
Bonine pitching

A long walk?
Simultaneous weeping?
Thinking hard about this "Detroit thing".
Chain-smoking is a given.

(This is much too easy)

So the Mudhe....I mean Tigers just got this "Joehawnee" guy

Well ok but I don't know about clubhouse chemistry here or that he will fit in very well as he hasn't played in AAA for some time.

I don't know how they are going to handle a guy with "experience".

Actually I don't think the Tigers have had a player with a misspelled first name since Heinie Elder in 1913.

Unfortunately, they were 66-87 that year and good enough for 12th place.

I hate omens.

Leading off tonight for the Mudhe...(I mean Tigers)....

in their "push for the pennant", Will Rhymes.

No that picture was not taken before a growth spurt.

It is recent. That is him!

I saw him on field Sunday before the game and thought Security was surely going to throw all 155 lbs of him (that's what THEY say) off the field as an imposter.

Go Will!

By the way, those catwalks are "in play" at that Tampa stadium. Just track the ball and don't take your eyes off of it. Just like little league.

"Push to the Pennant!"

Ron Leflore

On today's date in 1980 in Montreal, the Expos defeated the Reds 5-4. Ron Leflore of the Expos stole his 62nd base of the year in the 7th inning and the Montreal scoreboard noted that the first stolen base was 115 years earlier. As Leflore stepped off the base to read the message, he was picked off.

Hey, I am sure a Detroit* born and bred guy like Leflore probably struggled with those bilingual messages. He was also always interested in history.

So give him a break, ok?

*I know the French founded the city but they got out real quick. No traces now. They even asked for the name back a few years ago but negotiations broke down after some initial talks. Nothing is free, you know.

Vida Blue

Born on today's date, Vida Blue.

"I just take the ball and throw. Hard! They either hit it or they don't."

"I think I already signed some scrap of paper for every man, woman and child in the United States."

They paid for Stephen Strasburg and got Miggy Batista?!

They gotta do something "extra" for the fans, right?

Miggy for Strasburg?!

Think quick and now!

Do they have any explosives on site? Could they do an impromptu fireworks show after the game?

Gotta do something.

What about that famous U.S. Marine Band? They gotta be close, right?

If the clarinet guys can't make it, this still might be ok. The fans will probably accept a bunch of horns but would at least want tubas.

I am sure that the Nats can scrounge up a bunch of chairs and arrange them in a semi-circle.

MUST. DO. SOMETHING!

Photographers talking

"How come you are just standing here like a zombie? We need pictures for the paper tomorrow! Are you high again?!"

"I am waiting for Zambrano to stand just right and throw the ball near the "W" so it integrates the wall design for a curve ball look."

"Give me a break! Dude you spent too much time in art school! Time means money. Get some shots! Ok? You are wasting your time with this art stuff! This is a business!"

Click

Don't feel bad for them!

They are used to it.

Floyd Rayford

Born on today's date, Floyd Rayford.

When Cal Ripken Jr. began his streak of 2362 consecutive games, Rayford was the player Ripken replaced (and then for 2362 games) in the lineup.

Who knows what might have been.

Congratulations Matt Garza.....

....on being the 72nd guy to throw a no-hitter this year.

If no perfect game before the end of the week, you might even get to be the "pitcher of the week".

It's still early though so don't get your hopes up.

You ARE in the running though.

Cleveland it is

I guess it is apropos that considering that nobody seems to be much interested in A-Rod's upcoming 600th home run, that he now might just have to hit it in Cleveland.

I wonder if the Indians will sell one additional ticket to a Cleveland person with this as the draw. I doubt it, really.

Maybe the midges will show up.

Whitey Herzog

"He got hit so hard that I had to get all the married men off the field," - Whitey Herzog on pitcher Ken Dayley

Always looking out for others, that Whitey!

Congratulations to Whitey Herzog on his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Now that Andre Dawson is in the Hall of Fame....

....I guess we don't have to hear about his knees anymore.

The guy has other (pretty neglected) body parts too, you know!

John Knox

Born on today's date, John Knox.

Putting aside the goofball hairstyles (and that is certainly hard to do) why would Maury Wills be posing with lowly utility man John Knox of the Tigers?

Was Knox a friend of Bump's?

Priorities!

Th AP story on Saturday's Pirates/Padres game notes that some in the San Diego crowd of 36,967 drawn primarily because of a post-game Steve Miller concert booed when the game resumed after a rain delay, preferring to continue to watch a pre-recorded Lynyrd Skynyrd concert that was playing on the scoreboard.

You know, I can't blame them if they hadn't got to "Free Bird" yet.

(Take a guess on the two words spellcheck doesn't like)