Prince Fielder hit two dingers yesterday in the Rangers win over the Astros. He’s the MVP of Yesterday.
Standings, as always, after the jump:
MVP of Yesterday (September 16, 2015): Prince Fielder
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Category Archives: Baseball
Rochester Red Wings Programs of the Past: “Summer Fun in ’81” (and misspelling Cal Ripken’s name)
In this recurring piece, I look at the programs and yearbooks of my hometown Rochester Red Wings. This is the first part of the series.
In 1981, the Rochester Red Wings were, if nothing else, notable. They played in the longest game in baseball history- a 33-inning loss against Pawtucket that was begun in April and finished in June. Cal Ripken played his last full season in the minor leagues for Rochester. Future All-Star and Gold-Glover Mike Boddicker also played for Rochester that season.
So it’s as good a place as any to begin our look back at Rochester Red Wings programs/yearbooks.
(GO BELOW THE JUMP TO SEE)
World Baseball Classic News for 9-17-2015: Qualifier Pools Announced!
Well, I told you that more news was probably coming, and today it was confirmed, as the World Baseball Classic qualifying pools have been announced! They are (all qualifiers in 2016):
Qualifier 1 (Sydney, Australia on February 11-14th):
Australia
New Zealand
Philippines
South Africa
Qualifier 2 (Mexicali, Mexico on March 17-20th):
Mexico
Czech Republic
Germany
Nicaragua
Qualifier 3 (Panama City on March 17-20th):
Colombia
France
Panama
Spain
Qualifier 4 (Brooklyn on Sept. 22-25th):
Brazil
Great Britain
Israel
Pakistan
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As you can see, they’ve mixed up the locations (only Panama is a return qualifying host), the pools (no pool has more than two teams that were in the same individual pool last time), and also teams (Pakistan has replaced Thailand). Some things to note here:
- MLB players will be able to participate in Qualifiers 1-3, but not Qualifier 4.
- It is again a modified double-elimination, meaning it’s double elimination until there are only two, at which point it’s a winner-take-all championship game. I’ve always had a problem with this format and feel a straight-up double-elimination would be better, but I understand how the organizers would like the drama of a winner-take-all game.
- Qualifier 4, in Brooklyn, is clearly meant to be a pool of teams that don’t have pro-worthy stadiums in their countries. It’s likely Brooklyn was picked due to New York’s diverse nature, with MLB and the other WBC organizers no doubt hoping that the city’s large Jewish population will turn up for Israel games.
- Looking at this right now, I’d say that Qualifier 2 will probably have the highest level of talent, Qualifier 3 will be the hardest for any one team to get out of, and Qualifier 4 will be the hardest to predict. Qualifier 1, by contrast, looks like it should be a fairly easy draw for Australia.
- I’m somewhat surprised that the Philippines is in Qualifier 1. I had a feeling they might make it an All-Commonwealth pool and have the Philippines be in New York City. At least, that’s what I thought after reading Jon Paul Morosi’s original post before it was official.
So, look in the coming days and no doubt more news will come out and I’ll take a look at some of the teams and other aspects of the qualifying tournament- like Pakistan’s baseball program.
MVP of Yesterday (September 15, 2015): Stephen Strasburg
An excellent night on the hill yesterday for Strasburg, as he gave up just one hit and struck out 14 against the Phillies.
Standings, as always, after the jump:
World Baseball Classic News for 9-15-2015: The WBSC makes it official
The WBSC (the World Baseball-Softball Confederation, formed from the combination of the IBAF and it’s softball counterpart to pool efforts to again make the Olympics) has officially sanctioned the 2017 World Baseball Classic and it’s qualifying rounds. This is mainly a formality that ensures that the official baseball federations are taking part and that it counts for certain international purposes, such as the world rankings.
So, with the tournament now officially official, it seems likely that more WBC news will start coming out soon. So stay tuned…
MVP of Yesterday (9-14-2015): Jayson Werth
Jayson Werth only had two hits yesterday, but they were both homers, helping the Nationals eek out a victory against the Phillies. He’s MVP of Yesterday.
Standings, as always, after the jump:
Over at @HOVG: “Wisdom and Links” looks at #FerrellTakesTheField
Aside
Over at Hall of Very Good, I have a new Wisdom and Links that has the normal links as well as a look at Ferrell Takes The Field.
MVPs of the Weekend (September 11, 12 and 13)
The MVP of Friday was: Colby Lewis
The MVP of Saturday was: Mike Moustakas (This was going to be really, really hard if Bumgarner had gotten a no-hitter)
The MVP of Sunday was: Zack Greinke
Standings, as always, after the jump:
For #NationalVideoGamesDay: How many sports has Mario played?
The question of who the greatest video game athlete of all time is a hard one. Many go with Bo Jackson, with good reason. Still others (such as the Cespedes BBQ duo) wisely go with the Secret Weapon himself, Pablo Sanchez. But for sheer variety, none can defeat Mario, the most versatile athlete in video game history, who, by coincidence, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of Super Mario Brothers today!
And today, to honor National Video Games Day, which I just found out exists like ten minutes ago on Twitter, I’m running down every single sport Mario has ever played.
(Go below the jump for more)
Where You Can Buy “Bizarre Baseball Culture”
Alas, this is not proof that I have written a book about “Bizarre Baseball Culture”, as great as that would have been. Instead, it’s a rundown of places where things I have covered from Bizarre Baseball Culture can be purchased. Also, note that in many cases, particularly with the comics, it probably is cheaper to just look for the individual issue on eBay or elsewhere. In cases where the piece of Bizarre Baseball Culture is in the Public Domain or is available legally for free, I have not included it:
“The Double Trouble Header” can be found on Amazon on the DVD “Pokemon All-Stars: Chikorita”.
Mr. Go is available, with English subtitles, from YESASIA or from Amazon.
“Pinky At The Bat” is available on Pinky and the Brain Vol. 3, available at Amazon.
Action Comics #50 can be found in Superman Chronicles Volume 9, available from Things From Another World and Amazon.
Brittle Innings is available from Amazon.
The Franklin Richards baseball story can be found in the Franklin Richards: Son Of A Genius Ultimate Collection at Things From Another World and Amazon.
Captain America’s “Death Loads The Bases” story is collected in Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Captain America Volume 2, available from Things From Another World and Amazon.
Peter Parker: Spider-Man #33, about Spider-Man and the Mets, can found in
Peter Parker, Spider-Man Vol. II: One Small Break, available from Amazon.
It’s Tokyo, Charlie Brown! can be found at Things From Another World and Amazon.
“The Twisker Pitcher” can be found in Popeye The Sailor: 1933-1938: The Complete First Volume, available from Amazon.
Fallout 4
I will be updating this post in the future and will also be including it in all future Bizarre Baseball Culture run-downs.
The Baseball Continuum 