It's baseball season

“It's okay to come out from under the rock, Bowlderman. Los Gigantes have left Filadelphi! And no, I'm not brandishing a broom.”

“Ouch. I didn't even know about last night's game until just now, since we had a little league game last night. Hope you appreciate us making you look like champs!”

“All donations gratefully accepted. We'll probably drop three in a row to San Diego now.”

“Vasquez vs. Padilla rained out. A blessing or a curse postponed?”

“Wow! Padilla pitched like Vasquez and Vasquez pitched like Padilla. Bobby Abreu hit two dingers and Thome added another. That took care of Game 1. Placido Polanco took care of business in the nightcap.

I've died and gone to baseball heaven. Who are these guys? For two months they could not play baseball, and now they can't lose.”

“Dang, six in a row. The Fightins are out of the basement. Who are these guys?”

“I know how you feel! The Cubs have been winning a lot lately too.

Jeez they beat the heck out of the Pads last night.”

“Charlie Manuel in February: "We'll be alright!"
Charlie Manuel in March: "We'll be alright!"
Charlie Manuel in April: "We'll be alright!"
Charlie Manuel in May: "We'll be alright!"
Charlie Manuel in June: "We'll be alright!"

Okay Charlie, I hope you're singing the same tune in October.”

“Ohhhhhhhhhh, they're human after all.

They rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but came up two runs short.”

“Kittle Book

Charity case? Barry, Barry disappointing

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Ron Kittle is no fan of Barry Bonds — not after his tense encounter with the slugger at Wrigley Field in 1993. Here's an excerpt from Kittle's book, describing how he approached Bonds with a couple of Bonds' game-worn San Francisco Giants road jerseys, asking him to autograph them for an auction for Kittle's charity for children with cancer:

"I paid about $110 of my own money for them, so they could be auctioned off at the golf outing. I did that all the time for stars like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Derek Jeter and Roger Clemens. When I tell them how their autographs help the cause, every player gladly signs — with one exception.

I walked up to Bonds at his locker in the Wrigley Field visitors' clubhouse, introduced myself and said, "Barry, if you sign these, they'll bring in a lot of money for kids who need help."

Bonds stood up, looked me in the eye and said, "I don't sign for white people." If lightning hits me today, I will swear those were his exact words. Matt Williams and other Giants were in the room and they heard what Bonds said.

I stood there for a minute, and the veins in my neck were popping. I've only been that mad a few times in my life. I was going to beat the (heck) out of him, really kick his (butt), but Williams saw what was happening, so he came over and got between us. Matt said, "Ron, that's just the way he is."

I said, "White guys aren't the only ones who get cancer," but Bonds had turned his back on me and walked out of the clubhouse. Somebody must have run in and alerted Dusty Baker, who was the manager of the Giants then.

So Dusty came out of his office, put his arm around me, gave me a big old hug and said, "Aw, Kitty, he's just got that (bad) attitude again." Dusty gave me an autographed team ball for the auction, but I never got the Bonds jerseys signed. Later, I gave one of them to Scott Paulson, the Wilson sporting goods representative, and shredded the other one. But that day, I drove from Wrigley Field at about 150 miles per hour and sat there, fuming.

I'll never forget what that man said. So if Barry Bonds is looking for a breath of fresh air to live and I'm the only one who has to give it to him, unfortunately, the man will die. I just don't like guys like that."

Asked about the incident, Kittle replied, "It's a true story. How could I make up something like that?"

Bonds' spokeswoman declined comment on Kittle's story. A Giants team spokesman also declined comment.”

“Shoot, the Fightins may never lose again. They went 12-1 on the homestand. Off to Seattle!”

“Meanwhile, the Gnats have been matching the Fightins. Hmmm, a pennant race!

Hey Bowlder, your guy just signed a multi-year deal (WoooooooHooooooooooooooooo!):

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has agreed to a $40 million, five-year contract extension with the Phillies through the 2010 season, Vice President and General Manager Ed Wade announced today.
Rollins, 26, was eligible for free agency after the 2006 season. His contract, which includes a $5 million signing bonus, is broken down as follows:

2006: $4.0 million
2007: $7.0 million
2008: $7.0 million
2009: $7.5 million
2010: $7.5 million

The Phillies hold a club option for 2011 at $8.5 million or can exercise a $2 million buyout. Should the Phillies exercise the 2011 option, it would bring the total value of the contract to $47.5 million.

Originally selected by the Phillies out of Encinal High School in the second round of the 1996 draft, Rollins has spent his entire career with the club. From 2001 through the 2004 season, Rollins had the best fielding percentage among all NL shortstops at .981, which matches his career percentage to date. Going into play tomorrow night, Rollins has a .269 career average with 157 doubles, 45 triples, 52 home runs, 143 stolen bases and 428 runs scored in 698 games.

Rollins was selected to the National League All-Star squad in 2001 (his rookie season) and 2002, when he was voted in as the starting shortstop. In both of those seasons, he led the NL in triples and, in 2001, tied for the league lead with 46 stolen bases.

This season, Rollins is hitting .263 with five home runs, 19 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 62 games.”

“GATORS are in the College World Series Championship game!!!”

“Dick Dietz, "The Mule," passed away yesterday. He was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded by Don Drysdale during "the streak," but the ump said he didn't really try to get out of the way, so ruled that it was simply a ball. Drysdale got Dietz out and the streak continued to however many shutout innings it ended up.”

“What a claim to fame!”

“Damn Dodgers always got the breaks in those days!”

“Funny Drysdale story, if you haven't heard it.

The Phillies had a pitcher named Turk Farrell. Turk, like Drysdale, was a head hunter. Drysdale kept the numbers of players he planned to drill on the sweatband of his hat, and Turk's number was supposedly on that sweatband.

Farrell ended up with the Dodgers at one point and went up to Drysdale and asked him if it was true his number was on Don's sweatband. Drysdale took off his cap and showed the sweatband to Turk, and there his number was. The trade saved his butt.

Drysdale was a broadcaster with the Bums in 1993. Early in the season, Curt Schilling threw a pretty good game at the Dodgers. After the game, Don went over and got Curt when he was done with his post-game interview and took him into the Dodgers dugout, where they talked about 10 minutes. Basically, Drysdale told Schilling he could be a great pitcher and gave him some advice.

I saw that happen. I was sitting in my seat totalling up my scorecard, waiting for the traffic to die down. Schilling's career certainly took off after that.”

“They suck!

Next game: Smoltz vs. Padilla

Now there's a prospect for a pitcher's duel!

Where the hell did I put my gun? I can't take it.”

“From Paul Hagen's column in today's Daily News:

WARM AND FUZZY MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Before Tuesday night's game in Texas, Angels backup catcher Josh Paul had the following conversation with a youngster in the stands:

Fan: "You're my favorite player. Can I have your autograph?"

Paul: "What's my name?"

Fan: "I don't know."”

“Great weekend for baseball!
Yankees lead season series against the Red Sox 7-6 with 6 games left to play.”

“Are they still playing baseball during Le Tour de France?”

“Gigantes take 3 of 4 AT Chavez Ravine. Woo hoo!!”

“yawn”

“Beating up on the Trolley Dodgers ... pathetic!”

“Geez, they never win when I'm around; only when I go backpacking!”

“NYY 11, TEX 10 -- We're coming for ya...
”

“I guess the Phillies have joined the Beat up the Weak club.”

“Huh? They didn't even play the Giants....”

“I got tickets to the afternoon game today (ChiSox vs. Tigers) as well as well as tickets to 3 of the 4 games vs. Boston this weekend! WHOO HOO!”

“I was talking about the Trolley Dodgers Bowlder.”

“I've got Sox vs. Sox tickets for tomorrow night Knee. 100 level, 1st base side in line with home plate.”

“Hey! We're tied for 3rd! Who woulda thunk it?!”

“Hah! We have sole possession of third!”

“Made it out to see the Gigantes lose again to the Fish yesterday. Despite the result, we had fun. It was about 80, sunny, with minimal wind. I had 2 corn dogs, a beer, and garlic fries. No foul balls came our way. We had a great usher, Ike, who routinely encouraged us to cheer louder. The Giants grounded into 4 DPs, including ones in the 8th and 9th. Our pitcher gave up a HR to their pitcher. The Marlins made 4 errors, only 3 of which were applied. The SS made two on one play - he botched a one-hopper hit right to him, then threw it over the pitcher's head after the play was over, allowing the runner to get to 2nd base. They inexplicably didn't give him an error on the initial part of the play, instead giving the batter a single. I guess fielding standards are lower these days. The game took 2:29 - within our family's limit of 2:30. Got to see the new statue of Juan Marichal - BowlderSon said, "So that's what you were talking about with that high leg kick!"”

“The Phutiles swept the San Diego Putters after losing two of three to the Drudges. Go figure. Get up for the big guys, let down for the little ones.

Sometimes I wonder whether pitchers these days would not do better with the old style wind-ups and leg kicks. Maybe those old guys knew something.”

“Dontrell Willis seems to do okay with his. But you gotta be fast with it or you'll get stolen on a lot.”

“That is why they pitch from the stretch with men on base.”

“Willis is the only guy we could hit the whole weekend!!!

He was out there at SS shagging balls during BP.

The SF Chron had an article about his mom and her favorite hangout, which is our favorite Mexican restaurant, La Piñata. They even named a menu selection after her!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/22/SPGNDDS1V21.DTL&hw=willis&sn=005&sc=664”

“Dontrelle seems to be the real deal. I get a kick out of that commercial where he's talking to the kids, showing them the leg kick.”

“I was at the Chi White Sox victory against the Bo Sox this past Friday night.

Boston has some real dedicated fans, I tell you! I would guess that the attendance of 37K was split half and half, Chicago/Boston fans. These were not Boston fans that lived in Chicago either! These bastards all flew in for the series!

We won and I drank more than the big fuker sitting next to me. He was very impressed that I was able to drink as much as I did. He finished 9 and I drank 11 beers.

Cheers!”

“I got into it with some Boston fans years ago at the Vet. They kept yelling "Go Sox," and I kept telling them, "They were going as quietly as they can."

Then they guy yells, "Nomar Rules!"

I said, "Finally you said something I can agree with."

He said, "You like Nomar?"

I said, "Yes, ever since I saw him in Trenton."

He replied, wonder in his voice, "You saw Nomar in Trenton?"”

“Headed down to Minute Maid in a little while see if the 'Stros can continue their winning ways.”

“I certainly hope not!”

“We were noticed the Ass-stros/Nats score when they went into extra innings at 1-1. BowlderSon says, "I bet Jeff Kent made an error to let the Nationals' run in." That's my boy!!”

“Jeff Kent is with the Drudges now.”

“Bums, Ass-tros - what's the difference?”

“The uniforms and a few gazillion bucks.”

“Hmmph! Friggin Ass-trolls”

“Hmmph! Friggin Ass-trolls”