Of course, Davis struck out.
If you've ever seen Carlos Ruiz run, you'd know why they call him 'Chooch'.
With every rolling step, he seems to be saying, 'I think I can, I think I can....'
If you had the....
Hagadone/Sipp/Francisco/Padilla/Motte/Thayer closer lotto ticket yesterday, turn that ticket in for millions....and turn in your license to play fantasy baseball as well........
Bryce Harper will get all the press this year. Whether he wants it or not. That's nice.
But, there is a better story.
There is a player in baseball who is 36 years old and has been in the Majors for over 10 years.
Not extraordinary?
How about this. During those 10 years, he has never had more than 80 at bats in a season.
He has worked in relative obscurity, never fantasy relevant.
Until now.
Ryan Roberts has struggled this year and is on the verge of losing his job to Cody Ransom.
Ransom is more known on youtube for a standing 60 inch vertical jump.
Until now.
Given the chance, Ransom has four homers and 12 rbi in just 37 at bats.
Now THAT, is a feel good story.
By the way, last night Jeff Samardzija hit Jason Heyward ON PURPOSE.
After what happened to Cole Hamels, he'll have the good sense to keep it to himself.
Heyward had hit a home run that he may have admired a little too lovingly for Samardzija's tastes.
So, when Heyward got up again, Samardzaja hit him.
Later, the Braves plunked David DeJesus in retaliation. Matter settled on the field.
But, you never know since it was the first game of a series. It'll be fun watching that series
The point being, that since Bryce Harper was not involved, there will be little coverage on this incident.
By the way again, Heyward was visibly upset and it looked like thoughts may have been running through his head to charge the mound. It must be unsettling to be pissed at getting plunked, look out at the mound, and see a former All-American tight end at Notre Dame looking back with a, 'So what? ' look on his face.
By the way again, I can almost guarantee you that the Atlanta GM will not call the Chicago pitcher 'gutless'.
Lance Lynn has been great on his own. He has a 1.40 ERA, with an 0.85 WHIP.
Lynn has six wins. The Twins have seven.
He's given up six runs this year. That's like one inning of work for Luke Hochevar.
But, it is not even those stats that make Lynn the most comfortable pitcher in fantasy baseball to own.
The Cardinals have scored 44 runs during Lynn starts.
44-6.
Get a hammock and enjoy Lynn's games, Lynn owners.
Dusty Baker got his favorite toy back yesterday.
Yes, Miguel Cairo. Cairo is a fantasy buster. A player who is not on a single fantasy roster, but takes time away from players who are.
Cairo is Vizquel-lite since Vizquel can still play defense.
Cairo will spell Rolen, Phillips, and Cozart, frustrating fantasy owners, while Dusty plots, wondering if Votto needs a blow.
During the off season, there were SO many comments about how the Yankees had fleeced the Mariners by trading Montero for Pineda.
Seattle looks to have the better of that trade now since injury has hit Pineda.
So, what could be the worst trade of the off season?
How about Melky Cabrera for Jonathon Sanchez....
At the time, it was thought of as a shot in the dark for the Royals, hoping to get the 'Good Sanchez'.
It's turned out to be a shot in the head and the Royals have found out that no pitcher can eat up a bullpen better than Jonathon Sanchez.
Lean more towards the everyday player over a pitcher in a trade almost every time.
I can say the two words 'Cy Young' and immediately folks will think about an award.
But, if I say the two words' Cy Young' and say I'll tell you something about Cy Young, most likely, I'll get a
So, I'll do it anyway.
Cy Young pitched during a time when pitchers were more prolific than dominant. Home runs were a mistake.
' Hit 'em where they ain't ' was the hitters mantra.
Young will be forever thought of as the man with 511 wins.
More extraordinary is that he had 16 seasons with over 300 innings pitched.
Even with all of those innings, 7,355 of them. 2,000 more than Nolan Ryan.
Cy Young only ranks 20th on the all time strike out list.
Young only averaged three strike outs per game.
The swings back then more resembled cricket swings of today. Shortened swings designed to make contact, not for power.
It was a different game and while Young's 511 wins makes for good trivia, he was far from being a dominant pitcher. It would surprise some to find out that while dominating for the day, Walter Johnson only had about six strike outs per inning. Batters were trying NOT to strike out, not try and hit the ball 500 feet as they are now.
So, the next time you see an old geezer (besides myself) extolling the virtues of Young or Johnson, tell them you bet that even a crappy pitcher like Jonathon Sanchez had more strike outs per innings.
Don't bet too much though, the realization that both Young and Johnson weren't all that dominant, will come as a worse blow than forking over a few bucks to a young whippersnapper.
