1/4 THROUGH – Milestones To Look Forward To During The 2013 Major League Baseball Season

1/4 THROUGH – Milestones To Look Forward To During The 2013 Major League Baseball Season

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Well friends, we are amazingly 1/4 through with the 2013 baseball regula season, so I thought we should go back to the list of milestones I was going to track this season and see how these players are progressing.

For this 1/4 update all notes wil be added to the original post in GREEN.

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I had a great time doing this prior to the starts of the 2011 and 2012 baseball seasons, so I thought I would give it another go as we prepare for the start of this upcoming campaign.

So, without further ado, I bring to you some of the milestones I will be looking for in 2013…

Ichiro’s push towards 2,800 career hits in the major leagues. He starts the season with 2,606.

37 games in and Ichiro has 32 hits – Not great, but not horrible either. As other Yankees return to the line-up, he should be helped.

Todd Helton marches towards 2,500 career hits. He starts the 2013 campaign with 2,420 hits.

Helton only has 18 hits in 23 games. 2,500 is still a strong possibility but it may not happen as soon as it should have….

David Ortiz looks to capture the 2,000th hit of his major league career. He will start the season with 1,863 career hits.

Ortiz has 28 hits in 22 games and has been hot since returning to the Boston line-up.  He needs 109 to reach 2,000.

Albert Pujols looks to join the ’500 HR Club’. He will start his 13th major league season with 475 homers on his resume.

Pujols has only clubbed 7 home runs this year.  He needs 18 more to reach 500!

Ryan Howard looks to drive in the 1,000th run of his big league career. He will start the season with 920 RBI.

Hoawrd has only driven in 22 runs in 38 games.  He is going to have to step it up to get to 1,000 by the end of the season.

Ryan Braun looks to add another 30/100 season to his resume. He has done it for the last 5 seasons. Can he make it six in a row?

Braun has 8 home runs and 26 RBI in 35 games.  If he can remain healthy, he is on pace to hit the 30/1000 milestone again.

CC Sabathia looks to lock up career victory number 200. He will start the season with 191 career wins.

CC has 4 wins so far and is well on his way to 200 career victories.  I’d like to see him do it before the All-Star break if possible.

Matt Cain is out to capture career victory #100 – he is currently sitting at 85.

Cain has 3 wins in 9 starts this season and is not off to the same pace he had in 2012 when he won 16 games.  He’ll have to step it up if he wants to reach #100 this season.

Justin Verlander is approaching 1,500 career strikeouts. He needs just 46 to hit the mark.

DONE!!!  This guy is a beast and he is well on his way to 1,600 and beyond.

Tim Lincecum is nearing 1,500 career strikeouts. I’m still unsure of what his role may be this season, Lincecum needs 183 K’s to reach the mark.

Lincecum is faring well so far in 2013.  He has 52 strikeouts in 48 innings of work.  If he can stay on this pace, he will do it!!

So there you have it – These are some of the baseball milestones that I will be tracking as the 2013 season gets under way. Just like in previous seasons, I will offer up recaps of these possible baseball milestones as the season progresses – please stay tuned for that.

What are you going to be watching for this year??

Thanks for reading!!!

Play Ball!!!

Play Ball!!!

Finally we get to hear those two words we’ve been wanting to hear since November – ‘PLAY BALL’!!!

I am very excited that the 2013 baseball season is here. And since the Marlins are on the road facing the Washington Nationals in their first game of the season, I am going to make every effort possible to sneak over to the sports bar across the street for my version of an ‘Executive Lunch’ so I can catch a little of the action.

As a kid, I always wanted to go to an Opening Day game, but there was no team in Florida during my youth. And as an adult, I guess that work and other priorities have gotten in my way as I have still not been able to conquer that dream.

I promise that one day I will!!!

Until then, ‘PLAY BALL’!!!!

Milestones To Look Forward To During The 2013 Major League Baseball Season

Milestones To Look Forward To During The 2013 Major League Baseball Season

I had a great time doing this prior to the starts of the 2011 and 2012 baseball seasons, so I thought I would give it another go as we prepare for the start of this upcoming campaign.

So, without further ado, I bring to you some of the milestones I will be looking for in 2013…

Ichiro’s push towards 2,800 career hits in the major leagues.  He starts the season with 2,606.

Todd Helton marches towards 2,500 career hits.  He starts the 2013 campaign with 2,420 hits.

David Ortiz looks to capture the 2,000th hit of his major league career.  He will start the season with 1,863 career hits.

Albert Pujols looks to join the ’500 HR Club’.  He will start his 13th major league season with 475 homers  on his resume.

Ryan Howard looks to drive in the 1,000th run of his big league career.  He will start the season with 920 RBI.

Ryan Braun looks to add another 30/100 season to his resume.  He has done it for the last 5 seasons.  Can he make it six in a row?

CC Sabathia looks to lock up career victory number 200.  He will start the season with 191 career wins.

Matt Cain is out to capture career victory #100 – he is currently sitting at 85.

Justin Verlander is approaching 1,500 career strikeouts.  He needs just 46 to hit the mark.

Tim Lincecum is nearing 1,500 career strikeouts.  I’m still unsure of what his role may be this season, Lincecum needs 183 K’s to reach the mark.

So there you have it – These are some of the baseball milestones that I will be tracking as the 2013 season gets under way. Just like in previous seasons, I will offer up recaps of these possible baseball milestones as the season progresses – please stay tuned for that.

What are you going to be watching for this year??

Thanks for reading!!!

And This Is Why If I Owned An MLB Team That I WOULD NOT Let My Players Compete In The World Baseball Classic!!!

And This Is Why If I Owned An MLB Team That I WOULD NOT Let My Players Compete In The World Baseball Classic!!!

From Yahoo Sports – Hanley Ramirez Expected To Miss Eight Weeks Of Action

Now I don’t know about you, but if I had giants stacks of money invested in a player and he was competing for something that did not involved the potential success for my ballclub, I would have a problem with that.

Putting aside the pride to play for the country that you were born in, the players have to get that right??  And the owners too, wouldn’t you think??

For the life of me, I just cannot understand how any owner of a professional sports team that had put millions and billions of dollars into the salaries of its players would ever let something like this happen.

And now, one of the stars of the Los Angeles Dodgers could have his season and his team’s season ruined as a result.  I know Hanley pretty well, he played for my team for six years.  He gets effected by quite a bit – and he shows it in his play often.  An injury like this takes a lot to recover from – his swing my have to change, his wrist speed may be effected, and his power may decline as a result.  This surgery does not just affect Hanley Ramirez - it affects the players that were slated to bat before him in the lineup and the ones batting immediately after him too.

All MLB owners should take note of this situation.  And if you do are not a part-owner of the Dodgers, be thankful that this did not happen to one of your players.

We’ll see if/how this affects the rosters of the next World Baseball Classic…

Hanley, I wish you a speedy recovery.  And I hope that you can quickly regain your form as I really enjoy watching you play baseball.  Best of luck to you for a fast recovery!!!

Topps Locks Up MLB-Exclusive Baseball Card License Through 2020

Topps Locks Up MLB-Exclusive Baseball Card License Through 2020

From Beckett.com

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

Topps and MLB Properties are extending their exclusive licensing agreement for baseball cards.

Their deal is extended through the year 2020, according to an announcement made by the company today.

“Since making Topps our exclusive baseball card licensee, they have continually validated that decision by bringing clarity to the marketplace and reinvigorating the hobby, especially among young people,” said Howard Smith, the MLB Senior Vice President, Licensing, in a prepared statement. “Generations of baseball fans have grown more attached to the game through collecting baseball cards, and Topps is continually coming up with new and creative ways to reach the next generation.”

The longest-running manufacturer of baseball cards, Topps has made baseball cards since the 1950s and first signed its licensing deal with MLB Properties in 1969. Its current run as an exclusive licensee began in 2010. It will keep exclusivity on “MLB, Jewel Event and Club trademarks, logos and other intellectual property, for use on baseball cards, stickers and certain other product categories.”

Topps said it will aims to “improve the retail and collecting experience and make cards increasingly relevant to children” in its statement.

“Topps has been making baseball cards for over 50 years, and with the ongoing support of MLB, we will continue to produce the most innovative and exciting collectibles in the marketplace,” said Doug Kruep, Topps’ Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Sports & Entertainment. “We value our relationship with MLB and look forward to being in business with them for many years to come.”

Panini America Signs Nationals Ace Stephen Strasburg To Exclusive Autograph Deal

Panini America Signs Nationals Ace Stephen Strasburg To Exclusive Autograph Deal

**Hat-tip to reader Matt for passing this story over to me.

From Beckett.com

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

The ace of the Washington Nationals has a new home.

Panini America announced on Tuesday that it has signed Stephen Strasburg to an exclusive autograph deal.

Terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed. The right-hander was previously a Topps-exclusive player beginning in 2010, when he captivated the baseball world with his dominating debut that was later derailed by injury.

“Stephen Strasburg is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game today; and one of baseball’s most popular and collected players,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop in a prepared release. “His exclusive presence in our licensed MLBPA trading card releases is a huge development for us and will add even more excitement to our roster of products. We’re honored that Stephen has entrusted us – exclusively – to represent and protect the integrity and collectability of his autographed trading cards.”

Strasburg, a 15-game winner last season, will have his first autographs in 2012 Prizm, which arrives in April. There, he will appear in his USA Baseball uniform. Panini also has the USA license locked up exclusively.

Strasburg appears on 942 different baseball cards from his career valued at more than $24,700. He appears on exactly 150 certified autograph cards.

“I’m excited to announce my relationship with an innovative company like Panini and deliver my autographs to baseball collectors exclusively in Panini trading card products,” Strasburg said. “I’m looking forward to working with Panini and joining the ranks of their other exclusive athletes for trading cards.”

Strasburg is the company’s first exclusive baseball player. He joins the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving from the NBA and Andrew Luck of the NFL, who is a Panini Authentic(memorabilia) autograph-exclusive player.

Today, I Begin To Pay Homage To Stan ‘The Man’ Musial On A Daily Basis, Weekends Excluded…

Today, I Begin To Pay Homage To Stan ‘The Man’ Musial On A Daily Basis, Weekends Excluded…

This is probably not what you think, but it could be…

Monday through Friday, I take my lunch breaks outside of my workplace.  It allows me a little time to step away from the hectic activity and stress that often accompanies the job.

99% of the time, I can be found in my car enjoying a snack and reading a book during these breaks.   They only last for 30 minutes, but I am usually able to knock out 12-15 pages of a book in that time.

Starting today, I am reading a new book.

And for me, this is just one of the many ways that I plan to educate myself about the Hall of Fame career of a true baseball legend, Stan Musial!!!

I cannot wait to get this one started.

Have a nice day everyone!!!

St. Louis Cardinals Hire Former MVP Willie McGee As Special Assitant To The GM

St. Louis Cardinals Hire Former MVP Willie McGee As Special Assitant To The GM

From ESPN.com

JUPITER, Fla. –  The St. Louis Cardinals have hired former great Willie McGee as a special assistant to the general manager focusing on the minor leagues.

The 54-year-old McGee, added to the staff on Wednesday, served a special instructor at spring training last month. McGee is in the franchise top 10 in games played, triples, stolen bases and pinch hits and was a career .295 hitter over 18 seasons.

McGee was a member of the 1982 World Series championship team and was National League MVP in 1985 with a league-leading .353 average for a pennant-winning team. His batting average from 1985 and 216 hits are franchise bests for switch hitters.

Curt Schilling’s Bloody Sock From 2004 World Series Sells For $92,613

Curt Schilling’s Bloody Sock From 2004 World Series Sells For $92,613

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A bloody sock worn by Curt Schilling while pitching for the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals was sold for $92,613 at a live auction on Saturday night at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion.

Schilling had loaned his sock to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum but when his Rhode Island-based video game company ”38 Studios” went bankrupt, he decided to sell the sock that was bloodied as he pitched on an injured ankle.

Bidding began at $25,000 several weeks ago. Texas-based Heritage Auctions anticipated it would get more than $100,000.

An anonymous bidder submitted the winning bid.

”It’s a one of a kind item, so it’s really tough to gauge what kind of interest you’re going to get,” Chris Ivy, director of Sports Auctions for Heritage Auctions said. ”Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle where a piece will take off like the Buckner ball. This particular time, it’s the first time we sold a sock with blood on it so it’s very hard to gauge what kind of final number it’s going to end up.”

Schilling helped end Boston’s 86-year championship drought – the ”Curse of the Bambino” – by pitching on an ankle that had been sutured more than once through the postseason. Pitching with a damaged tendon resulted in bleeding through the sock. Still, Schilling allowed only a run in six innings.

Former Dodgers And Padres Great Steve Garvey Battling Prostate Cancer

Former Dodgers And Padres Great Steve Garvey Battling Prostate Cancer

From The Sports Xchange

Former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres standout Steve Garvey is battling prostate cancer, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Garvey, a 10-time All-Star and the 1974 National League MVP, told the Times his prostate was removed at UCLA Medical Center in October after his cancer was diagnosed in September.

Garvey, 64, made the announcement in a press release in which he stated he is putting up for auction several personal baseball items, including his MVP trophy. He said 70 percent of the proceeds with go toward prostate cancer awareness.

“I was thrown a pretty good curveball by God,” Garvey told The Times’ Dylan Hernandez. “I felt I was being challenged to work for prostate awareness for men and the women who love them.”

Garvey did not declare that he was completely out of the woods regarding his cancer, “but you want to be cautiously optimistic.”

Garvey had worked for the Dodgers in their community relations and marketing department before being fired by Frank McCourt, then the team owner, in 2011 after Garvey had spent time trying to purchase the team.