** Their stellar play thus far this season says that the BULLDOGS are still up for mad props, and they lead the NPL in both total hitting and pitching points with no sign of slowing up.
** The other teams are banking on time. In other words we have played 17% of the schedule to this date, and thus, 83% of the baseball calendar remains.
** Speaking of the baseball calendar, the VULCANS now have an interesting dilemma. Or, maybe not. Rich may have his mind made up and we’ll find out on Wednesday, but what’s the best thing to do with the Manny 50 gamer? That’s 50 games out of the approximately 130 remaining on the Dodgertown schedule.
** Manny was ranked 13th in NPL batters scoring at the time of the suspension.
** For this mistake, Manny may be in more hot water these days than Jon Gosselin.
Kate treated Jon like crap before he went astray, geez just think what he’s in for now!!
** And in regard to not quite suspensions – but suspended games. Astros at Washington suspended this week with a 10-10 score in extra innings. The upper right side yellow panel of the NPL home page offers the CBS website explanation but basically it’s the same as in the past and suspended games seem to happen once or twice every year. All those individual stats are counted into the current totals, and as the game is finished on July 9th, the rest will be added in after they occur. CBS does a good job of getting this right as I’ve looked at it closely when it has taken place.
** Back to the Vulcans and the M-Ram situation…… This news overshadowed the fact that the Vulcs were the top hitting team for the 7 day period #4 with 373 points.
** I also understand that Rich was obviously shook up by what took place at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. No, I’m not talking about the news conference announcing the 50 game ban for an illegal substance……
** Rich was taken aback at the celebrity throwing out the ceremonial first pitch that night at Dodger Stadium..
** Just what type of baseball spike is Kim Kardashian wearing? And where’s Reggie Bush?
** The PITTSBURGH O’s must have been sick last Monday night when Paul Maholm was pulled with the lead and the middle relievers gave it up. But O had a shot later at the Save when the Bucs got the lead back but The Mad Capper then blew the save as the O’s closer. Two nights later, the O’s cut the Capps.
** Good news O’s… As we start into this week 5, CC gets his first CG-Shutout of 2009.
** And….. Brian McCann is wearing glasses, back on the field..
** The 69’ERS may have made a discovery we will talk about for a while in Tribe Outfielder Matt LaPorta. As long as the Indians can give him the playing time.
** Piff had just recently returned from competing in the annual Transportation Association Bowling Tourney for keglers in the Eastern U.S. This year the event was held in Zelienople, PA. When I asked Piff how it went, he said everyone liked the venue as the lanes In Zelienople were managed by “an all girl staff”.
** At that time I thought it better to ask no further questions. After all, as the famous saying goes…… “What happens in Zelie, stays in Zelie."
** The BIG TRAIN is having a hard time keeping an 8 man starting staff healthy. Seems like every week another SP hits the DL.
** ROCK CATS cut bait with Kosuke Fukudome this week. His brief history shows he’s an April wonder and then it’s a steady downhill trend. And since April is now over………..
** The H-BOMBS have had good hitting. In fact, they’re 3rd in overall Slugging to date. Big D knows he has to find some points from the all-important Pitching WINS category. At this time only 12 Wins in 50 Games Started.
** Remember when the Train lost out on Freddy Sanchez late in the draft? He then “settled” for Aaron Hill in round 23. Well, only Ian Kinsler has more points from the 2nd base position. Hill is out-hitting such guys as Chase Utley and Dustin Pedroia and is currently at .356 with 8 HR and 28 Ribbies.
** The OWLS seem like they have found their wings. John wanted to be in the top 5 of the standings when A-Rod returned and it looks like the plan is working.
** Oh yeah, Justin Verlander appears to have got his groove back as an Owl.
** LOCKHORNS Rick Ankiel and Aramis Ramirez both hurt as we hit into week #5.
** After Jonathan Broxton, the RP of the Rock Cats who is putting together big points with Saves and Wins, the next top RP in scoring is Harv’s Frank Francisco. 1 Win, 9 Saves (tied for MLB lead) and an ERA of 0.00.
** Oh yeah, Francisco was taken in the 26th round, the final Closer taken on draft night.
** Worth watching ---- Tonight (SATURDAY) the Bulldogs Zach Greinke toes the rubber in Anaheim against the Angels (69’ers) Joe Saunders (4-1).
** This past Wednesday the Train cut Ian Snell. It’s only early May but Snell seems worn out and the velocity is down.
But hey, I’m glad he was able to pitch his heart out in March for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC. But wait…. Snell was born and raised in Delaware – in the USA, right? Color me as someone who doesn’t get that. It’s only May but I can’t even remember who won the WBC. I’m just saying….
** While on the subject of the hometown Bucs, things seem to be going downhill fast. When this happens we usually hear the critics get on Bucco Skipper John Russell for being too laid back and easy going. This got me thinking……………. I wish I could have had John Russell as one of my college professors back in the day……… The conversation would have probably gone like this………
ME: "Ah, Mr. Russell…… Sir….. Is it possible I could get the grade for my Final Paper?"
RUSSELL: "Well Dave, that wasn’t the greatest paper you ever turned in. Many typos and the last two pages were missing. But you came to class on time and you tried your best. Here’s an A-minus!"
ME: "Sweet!!"
** It’s May 9th and still no Matt Wieters for the KOOPERSTOWN KIDS! Okay, let’s check him out and see what he’s doing in AAA for the Norfolk Tides…… Hmmm…. Batting .286 with only 1 HR and has been nursing a sore hammy. (Gulp!)
** The catcher I would have otherwise taken in round 26, picking just ahead of the Dawgs, was John Baker of Florida. He’s currently the 5th best hitting catcher in the NPL with 85 points in 80 At Bats and hits 2nd in front of Hanley Ramirez. (Damn!)
Enjoy the upcoming week!
** And in regard to not quite suspensions – but suspended games. Astros at Washington suspended this week with a 10-10 score in extra innings. The upper right side yellow panel of the NPL home page offers the CBS website explanation but basically it’s the same as in the past and suspended games seem to happen once or twice every year. All those individual stats are counted into the current totals, and as the game is finished on July 9th, the rest will be added in after they occur. CBS does a good job of getting this right as I’ve looked at it closely when it has taken place.
** Back to the Vulcans and the M-Ram situation…… This news overshadowed the fact that the Vulcs were the top hitting team for the 7 day period #4 with 373 points.
** I also understand that Rich was obviously shook up by what took place at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. No, I’m not talking about the news conference announcing the 50 game ban for an illegal substance……
** Rich was taken aback at the celebrity throwing out the ceremonial first pitch that night at Dodger Stadium..
** Just what type of baseball spike is Kim Kardashian wearing? And where’s Reggie Bush?
** The PITTSBURGH O’s must have been sick last Monday night when Paul Maholm was pulled with the lead and the middle relievers gave it up. But O had a shot later at the Save when the Bucs got the lead back but The Mad Capper then blew the save as the O’s closer. Two nights later, the O’s cut the Capps.
** Good news O’s… As we start into this week 5, CC gets his first CG-Shutout of 2009.
** And….. Brian McCann is wearing glasses, back on the field..
** The 69’ERS may have made a discovery we will talk about for a while in Tribe Outfielder Matt LaPorta. As long as the Indians can give him the playing time.
** Piff had just recently returned from competing in the annual Transportation Association Bowling Tourney for keglers in the Eastern U.S. This year the event was held in Zelienople, PA. When I asked Piff how it went, he said everyone liked the venue as the lanes In Zelienople were managed by “an all girl staff”.
** At that time I thought it better to ask no further questions. After all, as the famous saying goes…… “What happens in Zelie, stays in Zelie."
** The BIG TRAIN is having a hard time keeping an 8 man starting staff healthy. Seems like every week another SP hits the DL.
** ROCK CATS cut bait with Kosuke Fukudome this week. His brief history shows he’s an April wonder and then it’s a steady downhill trend. And since April is now over………..
** The H-BOMBS have had good hitting. In fact, they’re 3rd in overall Slugging to date. Big D knows he has to find some points from the all-important Pitching WINS category. At this time only 12 Wins in 50 Games Started.
** Remember when the Train lost out on Freddy Sanchez late in the draft? He then “settled” for Aaron Hill in round 23. Well, only Ian Kinsler has more points from the 2nd base position. Hill is out-hitting such guys as Chase Utley and Dustin Pedroia and is currently at .356 with 8 HR and 28 Ribbies.
** The OWLS seem like they have found their wings. John wanted to be in the top 5 of the standings when A-Rod returned and it looks like the plan is working.
** Oh yeah, Justin Verlander appears to have got his groove back as an Owl.
** LOCKHORNS Rick Ankiel and Aramis Ramirez both hurt as we hit into week #5.
** After Jonathan Broxton, the RP of the Rock Cats who is putting together big points with Saves and Wins, the next top RP in scoring is Harv’s Frank Francisco. 1 Win, 9 Saves (tied for MLB lead) and an ERA of 0.00.
** Oh yeah, Francisco was taken in the 26th round, the final Closer taken on draft night.
** Worth watching ---- Tonight (SATURDAY) the Bulldogs Zach Greinke toes the rubber in Anaheim against the Angels (69’ers) Joe Saunders (4-1).
** This past Wednesday the Train cut Ian Snell. It’s only early May but Snell seems worn out and the velocity is down.
But hey, I’m glad he was able to pitch his heart out in March for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC. But wait…. Snell was born and raised in Delaware – in the USA, right? Color me as someone who doesn’t get that. It’s only May but I can’t even remember who won the WBC. I’m just saying….
** While on the subject of the hometown Bucs, things seem to be going downhill fast. When this happens we usually hear the critics get on Bucco Skipper John Russell for being too laid back and easy going. This got me thinking……………. I wish I could have had John Russell as one of my college professors back in the day……… The conversation would have probably gone like this………
ME: "Ah, Mr. Russell…… Sir….. Is it possible I could get the grade for my Final Paper?"
RUSSELL: "Well Dave, that wasn’t the greatest paper you ever turned in. Many typos and the last two pages were missing. But you came to class on time and you tried your best. Here’s an A-minus!"
ME: "Sweet!!"
** It’s May 9th and still no Matt Wieters for the KOOPERSTOWN KIDS! Okay, let’s check him out and see what he’s doing in AAA for the Norfolk Tides…… Hmmm…. Batting .286 with only 1 HR and has been nursing a sore hammy. (Gulp!)
** The catcher I would have otherwise taken in round 26, picking just ahead of the Dawgs, was John Baker of Florida. He’s currently the 5th best hitting catcher in the NPL with 85 points in 80 At Bats and hits 2nd in front of Hanley Ramirez. (Damn!)
Enjoy the upcoming week!
