1-0!



GO DODGER BLUE!!!

Best,

Geoff

Hey Silver Dragon Sound, your Giants are in first place at 1-0!

(Everyone else in the NL West is 1-1.)

Best,

Geoff

I should remember this day. It might be the highlight of the season for me.

Ugh, so sorry to hear about the death of Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart, in a hit and run car accident right after his first start of the season. Terrible.

I can't even imagine what his parents must be feeling right now... terrible news.

Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart killed in car crash

Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
Three people, including Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, were killed and one person was seriously injured early today when the silver Mitsubishi they were in was hit by a red minivan at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street in Fullerton.
The 22-year-old, who had started the game for the team on Wednesday, was among three fatalities in the hit-and-run accident in Fullerton this morning.
By Mike DiGiovanna and Bill Shaikin
10:14 AM PDT, April 9, 2009
Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was among three people killed in a crash in Fullerton when a driver ran a red light, an associate of the rookie player said this morning.

The crash occurred hours after the 22-year-old appeared in Wednesday night's Angels game. He died in the accident that occurred shortly after midnight at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street in Fullerton, said Lt. Craig Brower of the Fullerton Police Department.

Several witnesses told police that the driver of a red minivan ran a red light at the intersection, hitting a silver Mitsubishi carrying four people. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, authorities said. Two others were taken to a nearby hospital, where a third person was later pronounced dead, Brower said.

The driver of the minivan fled on foot shortly after the accident but was taken into custody on suspicion of hit and run when police found him a mile away, Brower said.

Further charges are pending as the investigation continues, he said. A passenger in the minivan was taken to Western Medical Center, authorities said. The condition of that person was unknown. A third vehicle also was involved, but there were no reports of any injuries.

Adenhart's rise with the Angels reflected his faith in the team and the team's faith in modern medicine. As a senior at Williamsport High School in Silver Spring, Md., in 2004, Adenhart was projected to be one of the top picks in baseball's annual draft, which would have made him an instant millionaire.

However, two weeks before the draft, Adenhart suffered an elbow injury so severe that reconstructive surgery would be required.

The Angels picked him anyway, in the 14th round of the draft, where signing bonuses generally run four figures instead of seven. At that point, Adenhart had planned to have the operation, then attend the University of North Carolina, play for its baseball team after rehabilitation and rebuild his status as a prospect.

But the Angels, confident in the success of the procedure popularly known as "Tommy John surgery," convinced Adenhart to sign with them and rehabilitate under their care. They persuaded him in part with a $710,000 signing bonus, roughly what he would have made had he been drafted in the second round.

It's a real tragedy.

Best,

Geoff

Harry Kalas, longtime Phillies voice, Dead At Age 73

My condolences, Dave.

Best,

Geoff

I'm way bummed. He's the only voice of the Phils I've never known.

dB

Wow, the MLB RIPs just keep coming!

Former AL Rookie of the Year All-Star pitcher Fidrych dead at 54

Best,

Geoff

Geoff did you see the game today? The O'Dog hits for the cycle in front of a record crowd?! First time in Dodger Stadium, first cycle in 39 years?

Man!! ...and I don't mean Manny!

No, I missed it. Wow!

Orlando Hudson hits for cycle as Dodgers smash Giants



GO DODGER BLUE!!!

Best,

Geoff

Yeah I guess it was 29 years ...

Last year went to Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis games on a great baseball road trip. This year we're setting up San Diego, L.A./Anaheim, S.F./Oakland, Seattle for late August or early Sept!!

I was just thinking about that yesterday while listening to Vin Scully do the Dodger game. Vin was the voice of the NBC game of the week when I was a kid (Vin & Joe Garagiola) and the voice of the Dodgers since. He is the Voice of Baseball to me!! He's still at it - amazing.

The game was rebroadcast last night, so I taped it. I'm looking forward to watching it unfold. Thanks for letting me know, drawback.


Wow, cool -- sounds like fun. Let us know how it goes.

Best,

Geoff

With all due respect to Orlando's big day at the plate, hitting for the cycle is the most meaningless and arbitrarily numerological of all "big, rare achievements." I mean, if he had gone 2B, 2B, 3B, HR, he would have had a BETTER day, but much less notoriety. A perfect game, by comparison, truly is better than any other kind of pitching performance (though of course great defensive plays and hard hit balls right at fielders might tell a different story).

True dat, John. Yeah, it's imposing the rules of cards on baseball -- a straight is better than a near straight with two of a kind, to use your example.

Hudson is the first Dodger ever to do it at Dodger Stadium, so it's the rare part of "big, rare achievements" that's especially notable here. Man, that's over a half-century!

And while other achievements may be bigger, hitting for the cycle ain't bad -- especially against a future hall of famer like Randy Johnson (in his prime or not) -- and it's a great way to open at home.

Best,

Geoff

Hey, as I said, BIG day for Hudson, no doubt. But is pure numerology that it is somehow more important than any other 4 for 5 day that involves a home run.

I mean, I do love triples. They are rare.

Agreed on all counts.

Best,

Geoff

How about Ian Kinsler yesterday? 6 for 6 and the cycle.

I hereby predict (whoop de doo) that Pujols is going to make a major run at a triple crown this year.

Showoff!



Very impressive!

(And from an Arizona native, former Sun Devil, I might add. )


Albert sure has been favored for a few years now to do it. Talk about rarities -- it's been a long drought since either league had a batting triple crown winner, but especially in the National League -- 72 years!

Best,

Geoff

Is the new Yankee stadium a "home run-type" park?

Best,

Geoff

I think the verdict is still in question regarding the new Yankee stadium but the evidence is piling up to support a launching pad. Maybe they can call it Coors East.

Don't look now, but the Dodgers are off to the best home start in National League history:


They're also 5.5 games ahead of the second place Giants -- that's more than twice the lead of any other first place team in MLB!

There's still a long season ahead, and plenty can change; but I'll happily take this start.



GO DODGER BLUE!!!

Best,

Geoff

And now, the Dodgers are tied for the best home start in MLB history:




Best,

Geoff

How about my Blue Jays!!!!

Impressive start indeed. Would make a great story with all the money spend by the Yanks and Bosox in that division.

Dodgers beat Nats to improve to record 13-0 at home




Best,

Geoff

Best,

Geoff