SB Nation User Blog: Brian B

Bill Bray discovered baseball in 1755

Brian B — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:29:41 -0000

No really, it's true.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26664476/

In his diary entry of March 31, 1755, he says “Went to Stoke Ch. This morning. After Dinner Went to Miss Jeale’s to play at Base Ball with her, the 3 Miss Whiteheads, Miss Billinghurst, Miss Molly Flutter, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Ford & H. Parsons & Jelly. Drank Tea and stayed till 8.”

But then, "Mr. Baker pulled me to allow Mr. Weathers to confront the righty and prompty blow the bloody game to hell." Buggers.

On a side note, why did they hide the "new diary post" link in its current location? This format sucks. JD, can we end this trial period and go back to the old site?

Pete and A-Rod

Brian B — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:32:40 -0000

Pete and A-Rod

ESPN The Magazine insight into A-Rod's personal hitting coach. Pete's 67 now and not getting any younger. The article isn't about this, but what's the harm in letting him come back for a year or two before the guy, you know, buys the farm?

Rick Sutcliffe has cancer

Brian B — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:55:53 -0000

Wow, I missed this announcement last week:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AkVI3lR6REYP1g6yKrk5pMyFCLcF?slug=txsutcliffecancer&prov=s t&type=lgns

BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT (TICKER) --Former Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe has been diagnosed with cancer.

A baseball analyst for ESPN, Sutcliffe was diagnosed with colon cancer following a routine physical, the network said in a statement.

"I deeply appreciate the support of the ESPN family and my family and friends around the country," Sutcliffe said in a statement.

The 51-year-old Sutcliffe will undergo chemotherapy and surgery over the next four months.

In a 15-year career in which he played for five teams, Sutcliffe compiled a record of 171-139 and a 4.08 ERA. He won the National League Rookie of the Year in 1979, the NL Cy Young Award five years later and was a three-time All-Star.

I'm no doctor, but colon cancer sucks. Hopefully they caught it early like they did with ED. (And I hope they caught his ED early too.)

On a related note, I can't think of any other broadcaster who is as bad as Rick Sutcliffe in the tv booth. Except Jeff Brantley, I mean. So, have a speedy recovery, Rick. But please, don't call ESPN when you're ready to come back to work.

3rd Party Bowden Analysis

Brian B — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:36:56 -0000

If that's what you want to call it.

If you haven't already seen it, mlbtraderumors.com </insert link here> took a stab at analyzing Jim Bowden as a GM. Part I is Leatherpants' 10.5 years with the Reds.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/02/jim-bowden-trad.html#comments

To say the least, it's a cursory observation. However, I do like the handy spreadsheet of Bowden trades through mid-2003. And Big Mike Glab(who is new to the site) does single out JimBo's common trade trade partners.

However, the report's draft analysis looks only at Assface's first round picks, ignoring other gems that Boy Wonder grabbed in "later" rounds (see Dunn, Adam, sidnancy, comments).

And Big Mike claims that the October 30, 1999 trade for Dante Bichette was a playoff-stretch deal. So Trader Jim was just a couple months late on that one or what?

All in all, it's a fun feature. But this one was written by either (a) some dude who did a book report on someone else's article on Jim Bowden, (b) a Reds fan who knows what we know but tried to dumb it down for a larger audience, or (c) some respectable guy I don't know who will beat me down with my own arm.

Bereavement pool update: Apparently, Edna Parker of Shelbyville, IN, may not be the oldest living human after all. A 120-year old dinosaur in Israel has applied for an identity card.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23173016/

Sorry, Fat Vegas.

Second Bereavement Update [2008-2-16 12:0:18 by Brian B]: Steve Fossett has been declared legally dead on February 15, 2008, not the date he went missing (September 3, 2007). I still don't feel like he fits into the Osama Rule, but that's okay. There should be a rule against missing persons anyway.

Poll

Who looks better in leather pants?

Reds in on Cameron?

Brian B — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:46:42 -0000

This from mlbtraderumors . . .

Reds In On Cameron?
According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mike Cameron's agent tonight said he has a new suitor. Krasovic makes an educated guess that the Reds are that team. He cites Cameron's desire to play for Dusty Baker, the possible defensive improvement, and the availability of Josh Hamilton as factors. It would be odd for the Reds to spend their remaining money on a position player though.

Cameron enjoyed his time in Cincinnati in 1999, hitting .256/.357/.469 as a 26 year-old before being included in the Griffey trade. Wouldn't it be interesting if the Reds brought back Cameron and Brett Tomko? And Antonio Perez is probably kicking around somewhere too.

This is pretty much garbage. How can this guess be educated? I like Mike Cameron and all, but seriously. Still, I thought it was worth a post so we can laugh it off before it actually happens. This would be just the thing that could start another classic Wayne Krivsky bender . . . with Castro getting an extension through 2012.

My "educated" guess is the mystery team is Washington, because . . . well, you know why.

Lidge to Phillies

Brian B — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:26:02 -0000

In the first big trade of the winter, the Phillies acquired Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett from the Astros for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo today. This means Brett Myers is back in the starting rotation.

Didn't they do this with Billy Wagner a few years ago?

Does anyone honestly see the Reds dealing anyone this winter? If so, who makes the wish list?

Blood Pool

Brian B — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:23:38 -0000

Okay, here it is. No write-in candidates. Your choices are limited. And as they say, One-line diaries are prohibited on Red Reporter. Give your diary a bit more thought, then give it another shot. If you have nothing to add to your proposed diary, then it probably belongs as a comment under another appropriate thread.

Conduct yourselves accordingly.

Poll

Who do you want to manage the Reds for the next four seasons? Boobs would be an option, except that both of these guys are boobs already:

Angel Hernandez is a prick

Brian B — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:22:39 -0000

I was at a Cubs game a few years ago (2002?) when Angel Hernandez made a bad call on a tag at home plate. The next half-inning, Steve McMichael (the ex-'85 Bear) took the mic for Take Me Out to the Ballgame saying he's "gonna have words with the umpire after the game." Hernandez stands with his hands on his hips looking up at Mongo in the tv booth. McMichael was ejected from the park.

Tonight, Hernandez is behind the plate for the Angels-Astros matchup in Anaheim. Wandy Rodriguez throws a beautiful looking overhand curve for what appeared to be strike three on Chone Figgins. Wandy takes two steps off the mound expecting the strike three call, except Hernandez never makes the call. Wandy turns and walks back onto the mound, no grimace, no words, no signs of disappointment. Meanwhile, Angel Hernandez stands at home plate with his arms out and palms to the air saying "what? . . . what? . . . you got a problem out there, boy?"

Phil Garner comes storming out onto the field and gets in Hernandez' face. No doubt Garner's bitching about Hernandez showing up his pitcher, while Hernandez is bitching about Garner's pitcher showing him up. Eventually, Garner turns and heads back to the dugout. He gets about half way when he realizes that Hernandez is on his way out to the mound to have a chat with Wandy Rodriguez. Garner turns and runs out to the mound and gets in between his pitcher and Hernandez.

From there, things settle down and everyone goes their own way. Until Mike Scioscia comes out to argue that Garner just used one of his trips to the mound . . . but that's another story.

One out later, Wandy throws another curve ball right over the plate for strike three. Same thing. He takes two steps off the mound, freezes, and doesn't get the call. Wandy bites his lip and retreats to the mound, but Hernandez steps forward like he's going to charge the mound. Unbelievable. Not only can the guy not call a game, but he's now he's looking for a fight.

Seriously, Sportscenter better show the replay, because Wandy Rodriguez did absolutely nothing wrong.

Rex Hudler just told a story on the air about how Hernandez was umping a game in A-ball in Tampa when he was coming up. Some of his teammates were talking back to him about balls and strikes, and Hernandez threw some guys out of the game. The trainer passed out some tape to the guys on the bench to put over their mouths. They did, but Hernandez didn't find it funny. He ran every single one of them.

Share your favorite Angel Hernandez story here.

Griffey Onion

Brian B — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:05:20 -0000

Nice to know that the world hasnt' forgotten Griffey. The Onion is a good barometer:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nation_to_ken_griffey_jr_we_wish

"I would be proud to have Ken Griffey Jr. break my home-run record," current record-holder and Hall of Fame legend Hank Aaron said upon being told of the nation's statement. "I would most certainly attend any game in which he had a chance of doing so. And I would come down from the stands and hug him fiercely after he crossed the plate and had been congratulated by his teammates. I really don't think I'd be able to help myself."

"Hell, I'll probably attend the game he's playing in when my record is broken in any case," Aaron added.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, responding to overwhelming demand, has confirmed that an asterisk will be placed next to Griffey's name in the record books in order to indicate that, in a perfect world where dignity is always rewarded, cheaters never triumph, and people always get what they really deserve, Griffey would have hit one more home run than Barry Bonds' career total.

"Angus" jokes

Brian B — Sun, 27 May 2007 17:58:29 -0000

Although some of you don't get Jack-in-the-Box commercials in your area, you may have seen some of them on Extra Innings when the Reds were on the west coast. Anyway, they always have some of the funniest commercials on tv, and now they're being sued because of their latest Angus commercials.

Check it out:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18894390/

I don't have a YouTube login ID, so maybe one of you can post the commercials I'm talking about. At YouTube, they're called Jack-in-the-Box "Chuckles" and "Angus Diagram".