make that 4 for 4!

4 for the day. I think he has now surpassed Brady Anderson's hit total during his brief stay with the Tribe.

I think I mentioned this a while ago in the Spring Training folder, but in case you missed it, here is a book I recommend:
It was written about 4 years ago, so it's somewhat outdated, but it's a great recap of spring training and how it changed through the years. There are sections on Homestead, Goodyear and Winter Haven, also about Al Lang, Joker Marchant and other pioneers in attracting teams to the cities.

Here's a review:

There is nothing in all of American sport quite like baseball's spring training. This annual six-week ritual, whose origins date back nearly a century and a half, fires the hearts and imaginations of fans who flock by the hundreds of thousands to places like Dodgertown to glimpse superstars and living legends in a relaxed moment and watch the drama of journeyman veterans and starry-eyed kids in search of that last spot on the bench. In Under the March Sun, Charles Fountain recountsfor the first time the full and fascinating history of spring training and its growth from a shoestring-budget roadtrip to burn off winter calories into a billion-dollar-a-year business. In the early days southern hotels only reluctantly admitted ballplayers - and only if they agreed not to mingle with other guests. Today cities fight for teams by spending millions in public money to build ever-more-elaborate spring-training stadiums. In the early years of the 20th century, the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, Al Lang, first realized that coverage in northern newspapers every spring was publicity his growing city could never afford to buy. As the book demonstrates, cities have been following Lang's lead ever since, building identities and economies through the media exposure and visitors that spring training brings. An entertaining cultural history that taps into the romance of baseball even as it reveals its more hard-nosed commercial machinations, Under the March Sun showswhy spring training draws so many fans southward every March. While the prices may be growing and the intimacy and accessibility shrinking, they come because the sunshine and sense of hope are timeless.

In case you were mourning the loss of Ubaldo. This makes 2 crap starts for him:


Ubaldo Jimenez - S - Orioles

Ubaldo Jimenez took the loss in Monday's start against the Yankees, allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Jimenez battled control problems throughout the day, walking five and allowing eight hits while striking out five.

While the right-hander has struck out 10 batters in 10 2/3 innings, he has been shaky to start the regular season.

U is nothing if not inconsistent!

But he got consistent the last half of last year, finally.

Certainly the argument can be made that paying him a contract (indeed gambling) based on that is a somewhat reckless gamble.

CC Lee up, and Pestano down.


Vinnie Pestano - R - Indians

Indians optioned RHP Vinnie Pestano to Triple-A Columbus.

Pestano gets the boot after being knocked around for three runs -- one earned -- on three hits over two-thirds of an inning Tuesday. He holds a 13.50 ERA and 3.38 WHIP over three appearances this season.

Pestano simply hasn't been the same guy since the beginning of last season and the Indians are hoping he can figure things out on the farm.

I'd now think that Elliot Johnson goes down when Bourn comes back. As we discussed in Gametime, Nyjer Morgan has been too good to send down.

We'll still be at 13 pitchers after today's transactions, so the bullpen is overly large. Lee is in danger of being the guy bouncing back and forth all summer.

TAMPA STEVE:

More on the catch/no catch rule:

http://www.closecallsports.com/2014/04/ ... ation.html


Rule 2.00 [Catch] provides that, "In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that he has complete control of the ball and that his release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. If the fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught."

I don't see how yesterday's play could NOT have been ruled a catch!

I agree. He dropped it when he tried to throw it. And had it for quite awhile first.

Total F-up by MLB.

Why didn't Tito challenge the call!?!? Hell! Everyone else in the league does.

I can't recall the situation, but didn't that call effect the outcome of the game !?!?!?

joez wrote:Why didn't Tito challenge the call!?!? Hell! Everyone else in the league does.

I can't recall the situation, but didn't that call effect the outcome of the game !?!?!?

He did challenge it, but they didn't change the call.