In his final start, Andy Pettitte had a complete game, giving up only five hits and one earned run. That makes him the MVP of Yesterday.
Standings, as usual, after the jump:
MVP of Yesterday (September 28, 2013): Andy Pettitte
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Author Archives: danglickman
Bizarre Baseball Culture: BILLY THE MARLIN guest-starring SPIDER-MAN
In Bizarre Baseball Culture, I take a look at some of the more unusual places where baseball has reared it’s head in pop culture and fiction.
What if I told you there was a comic about Doctor Doom invading 90s Miami in order to kidnap Jeff Conine, only to be foiled by Spider-Man and Billy the Marlin? And what if I told you that Robb Nen also had a brief cameo? Would you be interested in this comic?
Well, seeing as how you are currently looking at this, the answer is probably yes. And, guess what? You are in luck, as this comic does exist:
Yes, it’s time for Bizarre Baseball Culture to jump into Billy the Marlin, guest-starring Spider-Man! Read below to see the background of it, or go below the jump for an overview and analysis:
The comic, as far as I can tell, was given out in either 1996 (that’s the copyright date in the book and also fits with some of the Marlins portrayed) or 1999 (that’s where it’s listed on some online websites, but doesn’t fit since Conine and Nen weren’t on the 1999 Marlins team) for Billy the Marlin’s birthday, a nice little treat for kids who were at the Marlins game. Based on what I could find, Billy the Marlin’s birthday is usually celebrated in August, so presumably this comic came out in August of 1996 or 1999 (I personally think 1996).
The writer and colorist of this comic was Mark Bernardo, who primarily worked as a colorist and editor at Marvel during the 1990s, primarily in Spider-Man books- he was one of the many cooks in the kitchen during the disastrous “Clone Saga” (which was apparently so complicated both in-story and out that I don’t quite understand it even from what I can find online).
Pencilling the story was Alex Saviuk, a prolific artist who is, according to the “Comic Book DB”, best known for his work involving Spider-Man, including a Sunday newspaper strip.
Greg Adams did inks, Janice Chiang did letters and Glenn Herdling was the Editor. All three had plenty of experience in comics.
End of background, go BELOW THE JUMP for overview and analysis (Warning: image-intensive!):
MVP of Yesterday (September 27, 2013): Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee threw a 3-hitter and had 13 strikeouts, but one of the three hits he gave up was a home run to Chris Johnson, causing him to lose a 1-0 squeaker to the Braves (of course, the Phillies hitting for him could have helped him avoid this- but Kris Medlen only gave up two hits, although he “only” had 7 Ks). Still, he’s the MVP of Yesterday, and the standings are after the jump:
MVP of Yesterday (September 26, 2013): Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward went 5-5 with a HR yesterday, becoming the MVP of… well, Yesterday.
Standings, as usual, under the jump:
1,000th Post Spectacular: The Best (So Far) of the Baseball Continuum
If my WordPress is to be believed, this is my 1,000th post on the Baseball Continuum! So, let’s take a look back at some of the best posts here:
The First “Big” Post
The first “big” post here, the first to get any attention beyond the small group of friends and family that I told about the Continuum, was Baseball in the Year 2044: A look at “Rockets on the Mound”. The look I did at the obscure 1950s baseball sci-fi story was written about over on Hardballtalk, and It provided the template and something of a prologue to the Bizarre Baseball Culture segments I’ve done, which are probably the most popular things on this site.
The Most Viewed Posts
The top 10 most-viewed posts on the site all have to do with the World Baseball Classic, which isn’t surprising, given the fact I was one of maybe eight on the baseball blogosphere (at least in English) to give it the time of day and may well have been the first to start projecting out rosters. The most popular post that isn’t WBC related? Why, it’s the first Marvel/AAA Baseball Crossover. In case any of you who have read it missed it, I’ve actually talked to that comic’s writer as well as Chris Hill, who was one of the main people who made that promotion happen. The most viewed post that doesn’t involve the WBC or Bizarre Baseball Culture in any way was the post about strangest stadiums.
My Favorite Posts to Write
Two posts come to mind as my favorite to write, in no particular order:
The first is the one about international team names, just because it was so fun looking at all of the creative names abroad. One team, the Bolton Robots of Doom, liked it so much they sent me a t-shirt. I really need to find that t-shirt, it’s around here somewhere….
The second was the one on favorite baseball memories, simply because I was so glad and a little surprised at all of the ones I got back. I was expecting some from some of the bloggers I’d been in contact with before, but I was pleasantly surprised when I heard from some big-name writers and/or editors like Joe Posnanski, Howard Megdal and John Manuel. Besides, it was just cool to see all those memories.
Stupidest Post
This one. What was I thinking?
Most hilarious-in-hindsight post
The time I wrote an obituary for the 2012 Baltimore Orioles’ playoff hopes.
The One With the Most Photos
Probably the post on the Pepsi Legends game.
The post that got the most attention in my hometown
The Rochester Red Wings tweeted and Facebooked about my post about Jeff Clement and a miracle comeback.
The one that got the most attention in Hollywood
My recent post on Parks and Recreation‘s tie-in book got the attention of both show co-creator Michael Schur and Mets reliever David Aardsma.
And finally…
Thanks to everyone who has been reading the Continuum, promoting/linking to it, and helping to make it possible! The best is yet to come, and here’s to 1,000 more!
Better Late Than Never: My entry at @BaseballDeWorld’s Blogathon
I missed it due to being out of town at the time, but I contributed an article to Baseball de World’s charity blogathon, so check it out- it’s about my favorite baseball memories.
MVP of Yesterday (September 25, 2013): Kyle Lohse
Kyle Lohse had a complete-game shutout, which is one of those ways that instantly make you a good MVP of Yesterday candidate.
Standings, as usual, under the jump:
MVP of Yesterday (Sept. 24, 2013): Michael Wacha
He was just a weird bounce away from a no-hitter, of course Michael Wacha is the MVP of Yesterday.
Standings, as usual, after the jump:
On Manny Machado’s injury
Short version:
Longer version:
Injuries happen in all sports, and they can happen at all times, to all players. Nobody is immune. And yesterday’s injury to Manny Machado is further proof of that. Since arriving in the big leagues, he had not missed a game and he had been a staple of highlight reels both on the field and at the plate. And now, in a freak injury, his season is done and it’s entirely possible he may miss a good chunk of next year as well. And, worst of all, who knows how this knee/leg injury may affect him in the future:
Could this slow him down and turn all of those doubles into singles?
Could it make it so that he will never be able to move to SS, which is technically his natural position?
We don’t know, and that is the thing that makes his injury so sad. Baseball lost one of it’s brightest young stars yesterday for the rest of the (admittedly short) season, and now, all everyone can do- in Baltimore and across the world- is wait, and hope that this injury isn’t as bad as it looked.
MVP of Yesterday (September 23, 2013): Alexis Rios
With apologies to his teammate Derek Holland, Alex Rios– who cycled last night- is the MVP of Yesterday.
Standings, as usual, after the jump:
The Baseball Continuum 