SB Nation User Blog: Brotz13

The 2008 Yankees in a nutshell

Brotz13 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:00:52 -0000

Kei Igawa and the Famous Chicken (via brotz13)

I've been meaning to post this scan since the Yankees were officially eliminated from the playoff race, but good intentions and all that. I went to an SWB Yankees game in August, and the promotion was an appearance by the Famous Chicken (aka the San Diego Chicken). As if it weren't funny enough that Kei Igawa spent most of this year at Scranton, this is his second year spent largely at AAA (the photo is from 2007). Let's see: $26 million posting fee, and a five-year, $20 million contract on top of that. Money well spent, guys.

My interview with John O'Donoghue

Brotz13 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:02:58 -0000

My interview with John O'Donoghue

Hey guys, I just did an interview with John O'Donoghue, who pitched for the O's in 1993 and is the son of the other John O'Donoghue, who pitched for the 1968 O's and the immortal 1969 Seattle Pilots. John's a funny guy and he really put some thought into his responses. No one-word answers. Check it out at my website!

Game-Used Jerseys

Brotz13 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:50:23 -0000

Okay, I've noticed that things are a little dead around here. Sure, the O's are showing signs of grinding toward another listless finish, but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun! I just did a little rooting around on eBay, and the following game-used jerseys could be yours...if the price is right!

2005 #61 John Maine Home (from his first career win - autographed to boot!)

1999 #41 Jason Johnson Road

1999 #13 Mike Figga (!) Black Alternate

Pretty entertaining stuff. There few a few obscure ones the last time I searched, months and months ago. Doug Linton and Francisco de la Rosa come to mind.

B-R.com: Who to Sponsor?

Brotz13 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:35:11 -0000

Hey guys, I'm checking in with a little diversion today. As I may have mentioned once or twice, I'm the guy behind the NumerOlogy site and Orioles Card "O" the Day blog. I've intended for some time to sponsor a player page on Baseball-Reference.com, because 1) it's an awesome site that's totally worthy of support and b) throwing up a link to my site totally couldn't hurt my traffic. I'm asking for your input: which Orioles player, past or present, should I sponsor? Here are the guidelines:

1) It should be someone who's not currently sponsored. If you could check it out yourself before making a suggestion, that'd be a big help.

2) I'm a cheap bastard. I'm looking to spend $10, no more and no less. That could be one O.K. player, like Billy O'Dell (who wore 4 different numbers with the O's, making him relevant to my site), or it could be two $5 scrubeenies (like Eli Whiteside and Paul Carey).

3) Obviously, if you have any rationale for your choice, explain yourself.

Thanks,

Kevin

P.S.: While surfing for examples, I found that John Wasdin costs $10. WTF?

Confirmed: Roch Leaving the Sun

Brotz13 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:45:51 -0000

Roch Kubatko has confirmed on his blog that he has accepted the Baltimore Sun's buyout package and his last day is this Friday, August 1. He says that he's still "weighing his options", and has not decided what to do yet. But never fear, he will be taking his blog with him. Say what you like about Roch, but he brings readers to that site and they're taking some self-inflicted damage by letting him walk. I still read him every day; the jokes are groaners, but he's got a lot more access to the team than almost anyone. The occasional quote or bit of breaking news makes it worth reading to me.

Brian Roberts Final Vote: Did You Say Over??

Brotz13 — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:53:59 -0000

According to the latest tally from mlb.com one hour ago, Brian Roberts is still in FOURTH for the All-Star Final Vote, with balloting ending today at 5PM. Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria still leads Jermaine Dye of the White Sox, and they've apparently distanced themselves from (h)G(h)iambi, Brob, and that jackass from KC...

(puts on "COLLEGE" sweatshirt)

NOTHING IS OVER UNTIL WE DECIDE IT IS! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! And it ain't over now! 'Cuz when the going gets tough...

The tough get going! C'mon, who's with me? C'mon, let's go! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!

(runs out of CC alone, comes back to see everyone still sitting around morosely)

Hey! What's this lying around shit? What the fuck happened to the Birdland I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Kevin, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Longoria, he's a dead man! Dye, dead! Giambi...

DEAD!

Seriously, you guys. We're not gonna let some pissant rookie from that concrete retirement home down south take what rightfully belongs to the best damned smurf second baseman in the league, are we? We've got six hours and UNLIMITED VOTES to make a little more Orioles Magic happen.

Let's do it!

Cito's Back!

Brotz13 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:04:18 -0000

Cito's Back!

Holy crap, Toronto fired Crazy John Gibbons and replaced him with our old nemesis, Cito Gaston. That takes me back.

Bravo, ESPN.

Brotz13 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:14:38 -0000

Turned on ESPN in time to catch the O's-Stros highlights on Baseball Tonight. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment. Anyway, that ESPNews reject Dari Nowkhah was hosting, but at least it wasn't that ass-clown Steve "Fill Thine Horn with Oil and Go Kill Yourself" Berthaiume. Boy, was Dari in rare form. Over the course of the highlights, he managed to state the following:

1) That the Orioles won in the bottom of the ninth.

b) Kevin Millar drove in both runs.

Later, during Touch 'Em All, he noted that Luke Scott was part of the Erik Bedard trade. That's strike three, but hey, who's counting? It's just the Orioles.

Just can't help piling on Bedard

Brotz13 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:18:20 -0000

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times quotes Mariners manager John McLaren on Erik Bedard :

"I think that's basically what he is,'' McLaren said. "That's the way he was in Baltimore. Basically, he's programmed to go 100 pitches.

"There's not an easy way to put it. I'd love to see him go further, but if he's not capable, he's not capable....There's no use dwelling on it. It is what it is. He's a 100-pitch pitcher."

A pain that O's fans know all too well. Talk about selling high on a guy. It's also worth noting that the genius who brought Bedard to Seattle, M's GM Bill Bavasi, was fired today. Of course, that Bedard trade was the least of his problems. Trading Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez, counting on beat-down, power-deficient Jose Vidro as an everyday DH, paying top dollar for Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn, Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson...eugh. This guy made Mike Flanagan look like John Schuerholtz.

Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi told a Seattle newspaper that he wasn't disappointed in Bedard...

Brotz13 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:17:34 -0000

Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi told a Seattle newspaper that he wasn't disappointed in Bedard yet but ... "He cannot seem to get his feet on the ground in Seattle. He cannot get his arms around it yet. You see a brilliant outing, and then you see an awful outing. Right now, I wish his wheels didn't come off so easily."

Bill Ordine in Today's Sun