AA Bobbles - Eastern League

Akron Aeros - Aug 19 - Don Plusquellic

Bowie Baysox - July 19 - Al Bumbry
                           August 15 - Matt Wieters

Harrisburg Senators - July 21 - Bryce Harper

New Hampshire Fisher Cats - Aug 19 - Carlton Fisk

Portland SeaDogs - July 2 - Dustin Pedroia

Reading Phillies - July 23 - Jimmie Rollins
                             Aug 27 - Harry Kalas

Richmond Flying Squirrels - July 31 - Justin Verlander

Trenton Thunder - July 6 - David Robertson
                              July 27 - Ivan Nova
                              Aug 17 - Robinson Cano
                              Aug 29 - Andy Pettitte
                              May 11 - Manny Banuelos
                              May 21 - Francisco Cervelli
                              May 22 - Jesus Montero
                              May 23 - Austin Romine

Phillies Make the Dead List

Happy Day Indeed!

The Phillies have become the 6th team on the Dead List.  Heading into the All-Star break, they are 10 games out of the closest playoff spot - making them part of the Walking Dead for the second half.

Will they stay?  Will they be like Jason and Freddie Kruger and keep on coming back?

But for now, they're on the List, which is good enough for me.

FU Philly!  Craig Carton will be proud.

Dead List - July 7th Edition

Last weekend before the All-Star break.  Non-Waiver trading deadline later this month.  What teams are on the Dead List?

In the American League - there's only 1 - the Seattle Mariners.  (Although the Twins are knocking on Death's Door and are 9 games out of the Wildcard.  One more, and they can be back on the list).

In the National League - there are 4:

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies

Chicago Cubs

Houston Astros

The Philadelphia Phillies are close - they can be on the list shortly, just like the Twins.  They're also 9 out of the Wildcard.  

More Minor League Bobblehead Dates

Pacific Coast League

Albuquerque Isotopes - Aug 19th - Green Chile Pepper Bobblehead

Colorado Springs Sky Sox - July 21 - Jim Thome
                                             July 28 - Carlos Gonzalez
                                             Aug 11 - Charlie Manuel
                                             June 9 - Todd Helton

Fresno Grizzlies - Sept 1 - Brandon Belt

Iowa Cubs - Aug 18th - Andy Garman

Las Vegas 51s - July 21st - Cosmo

Memphis Redbirds - Aug 10th - Elvis

Nashville Sounds - July 24 - Corey Hart
                               July 19 - Richard Sterban

New Orleans Zephyrs - July 21st - Bobble TBD

Oklahoma City Redhawks - August 17 - Bobble TBD

Reno Aces - July 14 - Bobble TBD

Tucson Padres - Aug 10th - Trevor Hoffman

Minor League Bobblehead Dates

International League

Buffalo Bisons - Aug 23rd - Earl of Bud

Charlotte Knights - July 6 - Dayan Vicedio

Columbus Clippers - June 10 - Jack Hanna
                                 July 8 - James "Buster" Douglas
                                 July 29 - Jesse Owens
                                 Aug 12 - Woody Hayes

Lehigh Valley Ironpigs - June 26 - John Mayberry, Jr
                                       April 23 - Rich Thompson
                                       May 1 - Vance Worley
                                       May 15 - Jamie Moyer

Pawtucket Red Sox - July 28 - Daniel Bard

Toledo Mudhens - Aug 3 - Casey Stengel
                              Aug 10 - Jamie Farr

Upcoming Bobbleheads and Hats

Orioles - July 15 - hat
              July 27 - floppy hat

Yankees - July 13 - hat

Rays - July 1 - James Shields
           July 22 - Matt Moore

White Sox - July 7 - Alexi Ramirez

Indians - July 4 - Sandy Alomar, Jr.

Tigers - July 4 - Hat

Royals - July 21 - Buck O'Neil

Twins - July 15 - hat

Angels - July 24 - Hat

A's - July 4 - hat
         July 8 - hat

Mariners - July 28 - Randy Johnson & Dan Wilson

Marlins - June 27 - Josh Johnson

Mets - July 21 - Edgardo Alfonzo

Cubs - July 14 - Hat

Reds - July 18 - Jay Bruce

Astros - July 7 - Mike Scott
            July 27 - Orange retro hat
            July 28 - Chris Burke

Brewers - July 1 - Sausage Bobble
                July 26 - camo hat
               July 29 - Bob Eucker

Diamondbacks - July 21 - hat
                          July 28 - Justin Upton

Dodgers - June 28 - Eric Karros
                July 3 - Hat
                July 14 - Tommy Lasorda & Walter Alston
                July 31 - Kirk Gibson

Giants - June 30 - 1 of 5 random bobbleheads
              July 15 - Madison Bumbgarner

Johan No-Hitter Reprint Replica Tickets

The Mets are doing a bad job by re-selling no-hitter reprint tickets.  What it really should be is a promotional giveaway for next June 1st on the anniversary of the game (provided the Mets are home that game next year).  Other teams have given replica tickets away as part of a promotion.  The Mets should, too.

They'll make more money from people buying tickets to the game to get a reprint ticket than they will from selling reprints themselves.  Would you buy a replica for $50/pop?  I wouldn't.  Would you buy a $50 ticket to a game so you can get that same replica ticket?  I bet there are more people that would do that instead.  And you get people in the park to buy other things along with it.

The Next Gregg Jefferies?

Now I'm feeling old.  Gregg Jefferies son was drafted by the Nationals.  I remember when the elder Jefferies was in the minor leagues at the border crossing going into Canada.  He was in his electric blue Camaro that was being driven by his Dad and he had a license place with a NY Mets holder that said "4FOR4GJ".

We rolled down the window and asked him if he was Gregg Jefferies, and it was.

The Good is Good. The Bad is Bad

As of today, 9 of the 14 American League teams are .500 or better
In the National League, 10 of 16 are.

19 of the 30 teams are at least .500.  That's nearly 2/3 of the teams.  That number should be between 14-16, statistically speaking.

That means that the bad teams are getting beat up.

That also means that there are a few pretenders that will fall by the wayside as they start playing better teams.

Will the Mets be one of those teams?

I sure hope not.

ESPN Screwing Things Up Again

Not only did ESPN screw up the game time tonight, but they've robbed Mets fans from being able to see the Hall of Fame ceremony on TV.

A Celebratory Injury

I just heard that Ramon Hernandez hurt himself running in from the bullpen to celebrate Johan's no-hitter.

Looks like he'll end up on the DL.  That's almost as bad as ending up on the DL from sneezing.

Lucas Duda's Statistics

I was just looking at Lucas Duda's career stat line.  This is his first full season in the bigs - so up until now, he's had only 555 at bats, or the equivalent of one full time season.

Here's his line:

.268  22 HR  93 RBI.  32 Doubles, .346 OBP.  .456 slugging.  555 at bats, 60 BB, 70 runs, 149 hits.

That's quite respectable.

He's been proving me wrong.  At this time last year, I didn't think he'd amount to much.  I think he's got a shot at having a good major league career and may even be a big time power guy as he matures.

Updated Dead List

Now there are three.

Twins
Cubs
Padres

27 contenders left for 10 spots.

Missed Johan Santana's No Hitter

I was at work yesterday when I got a call at 5:50 offering me tickets to last night's Mets game.

I wanted to go - however, there was no way I'd be able to get to the park in any reasonable amount of time.  I was still at work, and if I had gotten the call about two hours earlier - I could have left work early and made it to the game.

Unfortunately, I had to pass.

By the time I got home from work, Johan had just gotten the third out in the top of the 8th - so I caught the end.  I've already watched the end of the game 4 times today.

Way to go Johan!

We're now 1/3 of the way through the season, and they're hanging tough.

May they end up surprising everyone?  We shall see.

Upcoming Hat Days and Bobbleheads

Rays - June 3 - Desmond Jennings
           June 15 - Joe Maddon

Blue Jays - June 3 - Yuniel Escobar

Braves - June 9 - Sid Bream Slide
              June 11 - Hat

Marlins - June 27 - Josh Johnson

Mets - June 3rd - Hat
           June 17 - Keith Hernandez

Phillies - June 3rd - Hat

Indians - June 3rd - Carlos Baerga
              June 18 - Asdrubal Cabrera

Royals - June 2nd - Hat

Cubs - May 29th - Jeff Samardzija
           June 12 - Hat

Reds - June 23 - Sean Casey

Astros - June 20 - Hat
             June 22nd - Craig Biggio

Brewers - June 6 - Hat
                June 10 - Nyjer Morgan

Pirates - June23 - Hat

Mariners - June 15 - Felix Hernandez
                 June 17 - Fishing Cap

Diamondbacks - June 23 - Ian Kennedy

Rockies - June 8 - Hat

Dodgers - May 29 - Cey, Russell, Lopes, Garvey
                 June 12 - Mike Scioscia
                 June 28 - Eric Karros

Giants - June 10 - Hat
             June 30 - one of 5 random bobbles

2012 Dead List

At the moment, there are two teams on this year's official "Dead List".

This year, I'm starting the dead list at 10 games out of both the division and the wildcard.  Last year, Tampa Bay hit the list and came back from the dead.

Right now, we have two dead teams walking.

Minnesota Twins - 11 out in the wildcard, 13.5 division
Chicago Cubs - 10.5 wildcard, 12 division.

I don't think many people would argue that they're both toast.

Banner Day Details?

The Mets have given the times for registration... but they've never come out and said exactly when the festivities will begin.  Why not?

NY License Plate EPX 1576

This is the license plate of a jackass who should not be driving.

While driving home tonight, this moron got impatient because  I didn't feel like running over the pedestrian in the crosswalk.

If the driver of EPX 1576 recalls from his driver's exam, pedestrians have the right of way.  You can't run them over while they're legally crossing.

I'm sorry, but I don't feel like killing some old guy because you're leaning on your horn.

So EPX 1576 broke another traffic law after growing impatient.   He sped around me, crossing the line into the oncoming lane so he could speed past me, only to end up stopped at the red light ahead, where I ended up right behind him.

So Mr. EPX 1576, you broke two traffic laws and where did it get you?  There 5 seconds earlier.

So for those 5 seconds, you were willing to risk the life of an old guy in a crosswalk.

I hope the DMV looks at this and revokes your license.

Have a nice day.

Jose Reyes a Yankee in 2014?

See my last post.  I think it's likely.

Marlins to Sell off after 2013?

So I'm looking through Cot's Baseball Contracts at the Marlins.   Could they be looking at another potential selloff after 2013 if their attendance doesn't quite live up to the expectations of the new ballpark?

The team has done it before.  They've even gotten rid of players once the larger salaries kicked in after the contracts started (remember Carlos Delgado?).

What happens after 2013?  The big contract Jose Reyes signed?  The salary jumps from $10 million to $16 million.  Mark Buehrle?  He goes from $7 million this year to $12 million in 2013 up to $19 million.

What also happens after 2013?  Josh Johnson's contract for $13.75 million is up.  Ricky Nolasco for $11.5 million is gone.  Even John Buck for $6.5 million is off the books.

People aren't coming after a two year experiment?   No problem.  You have three large contracts going away.  You have two other salary jumps for players you can potentially dump off to one of the big teams for just taking the contract off the books.  (Let's not forget - Jose Reyes loves New York and Derek Jeter will be age 40 in the 2014 season - who better to take that contract?)

It's not a stretch to say that Jose Reyes may be back in New York as a Yankee.