Clearing the mechanism

Just took some time off...from work and the blog.

Regular posting will begin again in a few days.

Meanwhile, why don't you take a look at the 2008 Timber Rattler schedule. The release is HERE.

The rest of the Midwest League Game Ones...

...and a few other things.

Swing can't snap skid in playoffs

The second season began the same way the first one ended for the Swing of the Quad-Cities — quietly.

Beloit bunched four of its seven hits together and scored all of its runs during the fourth inning of a 3-0 win Wednesday at John O’Donnell Stadium.

You are going to want to read the following article in its entirety.

Q-C manager fined $500

After a Labor Day weekend confrontation during a game in Beloit, Midwest League president George Spelius has slapped Swing of the Quad-Cities manager Keith Mitchell with a $500 fine.

Mitchell called the fine unwarranted and excessive and said after Wednesday’s league playoff opener that he believes it was handed out with malice.

Spelius had Mitchell physically removed from the stands at Beloit’s Pohlman Field when the Swing manager attempted to talk to the league president several innings after Mitchell had been ejected from Monday’s game for disputing a call at third base.

“All I wanted to do was talk to the guy. He didn’t want to listen. All he wanted to do was put me down, demoralize me in front of the crowd,’’ Mitchell said. “I’m not going to let anyone defame me. I’m not going to let anyone discriminate against me. I’m not sure why, but he has something against me, and it’s personal.’’

It gets better....or worse depending.

Dragons post playoff win in South Bend

Depth in the Reds farm system — missing in recent seasons — showed itself Wednesday night for the Dayton Dragons, who used it in an opening-round playoff game against South Bend.

Brandon Waring, Carson Kainer and Todd Frazier — three players who did not start the season with the team — provided the big hits and pitcher Daniel Guerrero, who also joined the party late, went eight innings at Coveleski Stadium to beat the SilverHawks 3-1.

The South Bend Tribune is not confident

Hawks face playoff knockout

The best-of-three series continues tonight at Dayton, and from South Bend's viewpoint, hopefully will continue on Friday. The Hawks need to win twice to keep their season alive.

Caps strike first in playoffs vs. Lansing

The performances of West Michigan starting pitcher Duane Below and outfielder Jeramy Laster stopped Lansing's momentum in its tracks.

West Michigan bounced back from its three-game whipping to beat the Lugnuts 6-2, snapping Lansing's 14-game home winning streak, but more importantly, taking a 1-0 in the best-of-three series in a contest played before a crowd of 1,238.

The Whitecaps' six runs were scored on four home runs after two were out. Laster cleared the fence twice on a pair of two-run homers. Scott Sizemore and Ryan Strieby hit solo shots.

And whom to thank for Jeramy Laster? Why Mom, of course.

Mom's pep talk works for Laster

There was a time in spring training when Jeramy Laster considered another line of work.

After hitting .233 with nine homers with the West Michigan Whitecaps a year ago, Laster started this spring at high A Lakeland but was re-assigned to the Whitecaps by mid-March after collecting one hit in six spring games. His situation did not greatly improve after breaking camp, with him hitting .238 through June 1.

That is when a call to his mother, Jeantella Laster, not only changed his season, but likely salvaged his career with the Detroit Tigers.

The Lugnuts are wishing that call never happened.

Lugs drop Game 1

"He's done a lot of damage against us (this season)," Lansing manager Gary Cathcart said. "He got two pitches up in the zone and he doesn't miss too many of those."

Too good to pass up

I'm having breakfast at an undisclosed location (for now) with wireless access. I wasn't going to post anything this morning, but while checking the stories on the Midwest League Playoff games.....

Kernels victorious in playoff opener

CEDAR RAPIDS - In the baseball comedy ``Major League,'' a fictitious member of the Cleveland Indians wanted to sacrifice a live chicken for good luck before a big game.

A couple members of the Cedar Rapids Kernels unintentionally sacrificed a live deer while driving just outside of town Tuesday night.

It wasn't particularly good luck for the deer or designated hitter Matt Sweeney's truck. It sustained about $1,500 worth of front-end damage.

But if you're the superstitious type, you could say it turned out to be a good thing for the Kernels in their Midwest League playoff game last night. They ran over the Clinton LumberKings, 4-1, before 1,219 fans at Memorial Stadium.

For the record, it was Pedro Cerrano who wanted to sacrifice the live chicken. Pepper and Jake Taylor got the bucket of KFC. Willie Mays Hayes said that they should've gotten the live chicken.

More on the MWL playoffs in a bit. Just, let me finish my breakfast.

I'm outta here

On the road
Where the night is black.
On the road
Where you don't look back.
There's a white line in the distance.
Where it's goin' nobody knows.
If it's anywhere, you'll find it
On the road.

Back...some time.

Major League Debuts

Congratulations to:

Wladimir Balentien ('04) 1-for-2; 2 RBI

Jeff Clement ('05) 0-for-1

Rob Johnson ('05) 0-for-1

These September call-ups of the Mariners all made their major league debuts last night at Yankee Stadium.

Go HERE and scroll down a bit for some of the stuff on Balentien and the parade of pinch-hitters. A brief taste:

Having his first hit come at Yankee Stadium made it doubly sweet for a right fielder rewarded with a September call-up spot after hitting .291 with 24 homers and 24 doubles at Class AAA Tacoma.

"It feels great, you know, like something I'll never forget," said Balentien, the seventh major-leaguer from his Caribbean island nation. "It feels even more great that I got it done here at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are one of the best teams ever and I got the opportunity to prove myself and let everybody know what I can do."

Midwest League Playoff Previews

MiLB.com has a Preview article on the first round series in the MWL:

EASTERN DIVISION:

West Michigan vs. Lansing

Dayton vs. South Bend

WESTERN DIVISION:

Clinton vs. Cedar Rapids

Beloit vs. Quad Cities

Some of the Local Newspaper Takes:

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Kernels confident entering playoffs

``Really, we've been playing playoff baseball the last two weeks or so,'' Magallanes said. ``I think that has prepared us, kind of gotten us ready. I think we're in a good spot going into the playoffs.''

QC Times: For Quad-Cities, postseason is a new beginning

“We’re anxious to get this going. We feel like we’ve got our losses out of the way. Now it’s time to go win some games.’’

Dayton Daily News: Playoffs are big for minor-leaguers

"We're good and we're bad; we're good and we're bad," Dayton manager Donnie Scott said. "Which one are we going to be?"

Dayton Daily News: Jet-lagged Waring brings bat, little else, from Billings

"I didn't have any of my stuff with me," Waring said Tuesday as he went through a final tuneup for the playoffs at Coveleski Stadium. "I couldn't go back (to Billings) and get stuff out of my locker. I just went to Dayton with the stuff I took to Great Falls."

South Bend Tribune: Hawks primed for playoffs

"A lack of consistency has haunted us this season, but we're coming together now,'' said manager Mark Haley, who has the Silver Hawks in the playoffs for the fifth year in a row, and the third straight time in his tenure.

Grand Rapids Press: Caps welcome crack at Lansing

Despite leading the league in wins and strikeouts, [Duane] Below is the poster child for the Whitecaps' lack of success against the Lugnuts. He is 0-2 with 8-3 and 16-9 losses.

Lansing State Journal: Lugnuts, Whitecaps to open Midwest League playoffs

"The development is over," Cathcart said. "Winning is part of the development, and you want to see how they react to playing meaningful games in a playoff situation. But it is different - we are playing to win these
games."

Mariner System Report (Games of 9/4)

SEATTLE (AL West, 74-63; 2nd): Seattle lost 13-2 at New York. The Yankees scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the game away. Alex Rodriguez (Foxes '94) homered for the Yankees.

EVERETT: (Northwest League, 35-40): The AquaSox beat Vancouver 4-3. Everett scored twice in the seventh to tie the game and one time in the ninth for the win.

Mariner system schedule 9/5:
Seattle (Jarrod Washburn 9-12) at New York (Phil Hughes 2-3) 6:05pm CDT
Everett at Vancouver 9:05pm CDT

Baseball History -- September 5

Complete entry for September 5 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entry

1974
Milwaukee hands Boston its 7th straight loss as rookie Gorman Thomas hits a 2-run shot in the 9th inning. It was Thomas' first game of the year for Milwaukee after hitting 51 homers for Sacramento (PCL) this year. Billy Champion (10-3) picks up the win for the 5th-place Brewers.

Just felt like using this one for two of my favorite Brewers.

Your 2007 Timber Rattlers

Here are all 56 of the players who played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2007:

Nathan Adcock
Gerardo Avila
Cha Seung Baek
Andrew Barb
Calvin Beamon
Juan Beltran
Leury Bonilla
Tony Butler
Juan Diaz
Ougi Diaz
Gavin Dickey
Natividad Dilone
John DuRocher
Reed Eastley
Tom Ellis
Eddy Fernandez
Jair Fernandez
Drew Fiorenza
Ron Garth
Nolan Gallagher
Rollie Gibson
Greg Halman
Andy Hargrove
Rob Harmon
Julian Henson
Joe Kantakevich
Brian Kappel
Shawn Kelley
Trevor Lawhorn
Alex Liddi
Kuo Hui Lo
Jamie McOwen
Alex Meneses
Israel Nunez
Luis Nunez
Blake Ochoa
Ricky Orta
Kyle Parker
Carlos Peguero
Keith Renaud
Matt Renfree
Kevin Reynolds
Steven Richard
Kalian Sams
Danny Santin
Justin Souza
Chris Tillman
Carlos Triunfel
Steve Uhlmansiek
Anthony Varvaro
Mike Wagner
Guy Welsh
Joe White
Sean White
Harold Williams
Fabian Williamson

2007 record by month and day

MONTH:
April:......4-16
May:........12-19
June:.......10-16
July:.......8-18
August:.....17-13
September:..2-2

DAY:
Sunday:.....10-17
Monday:.....8-8
Tuesday:....5-15
Wednesday:..7-7
Thursday:...7-13
Friday:.....9-12
Saturday:...7-13

2007 Team vs. Team

...................ALL....HOME...ROAD
Beloit.............5-7....5-1....0-6
Burlington.........3-5....1-1....2-4
Cedar Rapids.......6-7....2-4....4-3
Clinton............5-3....2-2....3-1
Kane County........5-11...4-6....1-5
Peoria.............8-9....4-4....4-5
Quad Cities........6-10...2-6....4-4
Western Division..38-52..20-24..18-28

..................ALL...HOME..ROAD
Dayton............1-7...0-4...1-3
Fort Wayne........4-4...1-3...3-1
Great Lakes.......4-4...2-2...2-2
Lansing...........1-7...1-3...0-4
South Bend........3-5...1-3...2-2
West Michigan.....2-6...1-3...1-3
Eastern Division.15-33..6-18..9-15

2007 Individual Highs & Lows

Longest Hitting Streak:...15 – Joe White 22-for-51; .431 (8/2-8/19 G-2)
Most Hits, Game:..........4 – Juan Beltran (4/29 vs. FW)
...............4 – Kuo Hui Lo (4x: 5/23@KC; 6/17@CR; 6/25@PEO; 7/28vs.GL)
..........................4 – Jamie McOwen (8/4 @ FW)
..........................4 – Ron Garth (8/5 @FW)
Most Runs, Game:..........4 – Kuo Hui Lo (2x: 5/30 @BUR; 6/25 @PEO)
Most Doubles, Game:.......2 – Several; Last: Jamie McOwen (8/26 @ BUR)
Most Triples, Game:.......2 – Carlos Peguero (7/2 @ QC)
Most Home Runs, Game:.....2 – Andy Hargrove (5/13 GM 2 vs. PEO)
Most Total Bases, Game:...8 – Andy Hargrove (5/13 GM 2 vs. PEO)
..........................8 – Carlos Peguero (6/15 @ CR)
..........................8 – Gavin Dickey (6/25 @PEO)
Most RBI, Game:...........7 – Carlos Peguero (6/15 @ CR)
Most Stolen Bases, Game:..3 – Calvin Beamon (8/28 @CLN)

Most Innings Pitched, Start:..9.0 – Tony Butler (8/26 @Burlington)
Most Innings Pitched, Relief:.5.0 – Steve Richard (5/8 @Great Lakes)
Most Strikeouts, Game:........12 – Ricky Orta (7/28 vs. Great Lakes)
Most Walks, Game:.............6 – Tony Butler (5/19 vs. LAN)
..............................6 - Ricky Orta (7/12 @LAN)
..............................6 - Nolan Gallagher (8/3 @FW)
..............................6 - Steve Richard (9/2 [G-2] vs. KC)
Low-Hit, CG:..................4 – Kyle Parker (6IP: 5/27 @PEO)
..............................4 – Ricky Orta (7IP: 7/4 GM 2 vs. CR)
..............................4 – Tony Butler (9IP: 8/26 @BUR)
Low-Hit (Combined):...........2 – Butler, Souza, Renaud (7/20 @Beloit)
Longest Winning Streak:.......4 – Tony Butler
Longest Losing Streak:........7 – Tony Butler

2007 Team Highs & Lows

Longest Winning Streak:..................4 - (2x) Last: 8/7-8/10
Longest Losing Streak:...................14 – 7/5-7/22
Most Runs, Inning:.......................7 - (2x) Last: 2nd vs. PEO (5/12)
Most Runs, Game:.........................19 – @ FW (8/5)
Most Hits, Inning:.......................6 - (4x) Last: 8th @ FW (8/5)
Most Hits, Game:.........................20 – @ FW (8/5)
Most Doubles, Game:......................6 - @ FW (8/4)
Most Triples, Game:......................2 - (3x) Last: vs. GL (7/28)
Most Home Runs, Game:....................5 – @ KC (7/8)
Most Extra Base Hits, Game:..............7 – (4x) Last: @FW (8/5)
Most Stolen Bases, Game:.................6 - @ CLN (8/28)
Most Left on Base, Game:.................15 – vs. CLN (8/17)
Most Errors, Game:.......................7 – vs. PEO (4/5)
Most Strikeouts, Game (Rattler Hitting):.18 – vs. KC (6/8)
Most Strikeouts, Game (Rattler Pitching):15 – vs. GL (7/27)
.........................................15 - @ FW (8/3)
Most Walks, Game (Rattler Hitting):......10 – @ PEO (5/28)
Most Walks, Game (Rattler Pitching):.....12– @ FW (8/3)
Longest Game by Innings:.................13 vs. BUR (6/1)
.........................................13 @FW (8/3)
Longest Nine Inning Game (by Time):......3:29 – vs. SB (7/24)
Longest Extra Inning Game (by Time):.....4:33 – @ FW (8/3)
Shortest Nine Inning Game (by Time):.....2:03 – @ QC (6/14)
Largest Crowd (Home):....................7,243 – vs. WMI (8/11)
Smallest Crowd (Home):...................506 – vs. BEL (4/18)
Largest Crowd (Road):....................11,354 - @ KC (7/7)
Smallest Crowd (Road):...................344 - @ BUR (5/30)

Biggest Deficit Overcome in Win:
4 – Trailed Great Lakes 4-0 after 1st on 5/9 (won 6-4)
4 – Trailed Fort Wayne 6-2 after 5th on 8/3 (won 9-8 in 13 innings)

Largest Lead Lost in Loss:
7 – Led Kane County 7-0 after top of 4th on 7/8 (lost 11-8)

2007 season at a glance

Last 5 GameS:.............3-2
Last 10 Games:............7-3
2007 Best Mark:...........2-7
2007 Worst Mark:.........34-72
First Half:..............22-46
Second Half:.............31-39
Home Record:.............26-42
Road Record:.............27-43
Daytime Record:..........15-27
Night Record:............38-58
Starters:................27-55
Relievers:...............25-31
Quality Starts:.............37
Saves/Chances:...........28/49
Longest Win Streak:.....4 (2x)
Longest Losing Streak:......14
Rattlers Score First:....39-32
Opp. Score First:........14-53
Comeback Wins:..............19
Lead Entering 8th:........35-5
Tied Entering 8th:........13-9
Trail Entering 8th:.......0-58
Lead Entering 9th:........37-3
Tied Entering 9th:........10-8
Trail Entering 9th:.......0-60
Wins in last AB:............15
Opp. Wins in last AB:.......14
Extra Innings:.............9-2
Double headers:...........5-13
Shutouts:..................4-8
One-run game:............19-22
Scoring 4 or less:.......20-69
Scoring 5 or more:.......33-16
Allowing 4 or less:......46-31
Allowing 5 or more:.......7-54

The horror...the horror

I was clearing off some pictures on my digital camera. The following picture is from the concourse in Clinton where they have a stand that features Kettle Corn, Funnel Cakes, and either the greatest or scariest innovation in food...ever!


Oh, yes. There is a recipe...

The highlights

Combine pancake mix, milk, eggs and oil.

Mix until there are no lumps.

Dip Oreos into batter, make sure both sides are covered and put the Oreos into the deep fryer.

The cookie will float so make sure you flip the cookie over so that both sides are golden brown.

I had always wondered if Oreos would float.

Back Later...

Spent too much time at the keyboard today. I have to get outside. Back later with some season-ending stuff on the Rattlers.

Seattle September Callups

I saw this over at USS Mariner and its been out a few days. THIS concerns some ex-Rattlers whom the Mariners have made part of their September callups. DMZ at USS Mariner has a bit of commentary on the players.

The ex-Rattlers on the list are in bold. First-time Major Leaguers are also in italics:

OF-R Mike Morse
OF-R Charleton Jimerson
C-R Rob Johnson
LHP Ryan Feierabend
LHP John Parrish
RHP Sean White coming off the DL
OF-L Jeremy Reed
OF-R Wladimir Balentien
2B-R Nick Green
C-L Jeff Clement

Sean White's rehab assignment with the Rattlers doesn't count as being an alum.

MWL News and Notes

I'm guessing that the main palyoff preview articles will be out tomorrow. But, here is an early one that also covers the season finale between Dayton and South Bend.

Playoff drama transplanted from Montana is about to be rekindled

South Bend-Dayton a virtual rematch of 2006 Missoula-Billings rookie league playoff matchup

Forget the theme that the Dayton Dragons had something to prove, that the bulk of the team that played in rookie league Billings, Mont., last year was going to make up for a playoff loss in the Pioneer League.

This year's Dragons — the best team here in five years and arguably the best team ever — will limp into the Class A Midwest League playoffs Wednesday on a loss, and losses in eight of their final 11 games, all against playoff teams they will face in the first and second rounds.

News on the new name of the SWING.
River Bandits likely among candidates for name of Q-C team

An old favorite is expected to be among the six names the Swing of the Quad-Cities will announce today as possible new nicknames for the Midwest League franchise.

The Swing will unveil the finalists in the Your Team, Your Name contest during an afternoon news conference in Bettendorf, where the River Bandits nickname is expected to be one of the selections fans will have a chance to vote on during the upcoming month.

...

Although the name and logo have popped up elsewhere around the nation — including an exact replica used by the Woodstock (Va.) River Bandits of the college wood-bat Shenandoah Valley League and a similar club in Chicago — Swing team president Kevin Krause said his group has retained ownership rights to the “River Bandits” name and logo.

The transfer of those rights from the club’s current owner, Seventh Inning Stretch, to prospective buyer Mainstreet Iowa is part of the pending transaction that needs only major-league approval to be finalized.

“Seventh Inning Stretch has maintained ownership of the River Bandits name and it would be up to new ownership to go out and enforce it if they choose to do so,” Krause said. “We probably haven’t been as aggressive in that area in recent years since our name change.”

Season ending articles

Here are a few of the end-of-the-season articles that I've stumbled upon this morning...

Jaxx end summer of growth

The metal roller doors of Pringles Park's concession stands rattled shut Labor Day afternoon, signaling the close of a local Double-A baseball season that drew increased attendance and helped secure the team's presence in Jackson for at least another year.

Paid attendance at this year's West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx games increased by 16,929, to finish at 113,351 this year - a 17.6 percent increase over last season's 96,422 paid attendance.
...
The majority of credit, however, goes to Jaxx players, Parker said.

"A lot of it had to do with the players and their willingness to participate in the community," he said.

Parker said player visits to area hospitals and participation in community activities such as baseball clinics helped endear the Seattle Mariners' minor league players to West Tennesseans.

"While they may not have always been winners on the field, they won the hearts of the community," Parker said.

Loons thank fans after final game of inaugural season

Lance Parrish had two strong feelings Monday night: Gratitude for the Great Lakes Loons' fans support all season, and disappointment that his team didn't give the fans a better showing.

The Loons' manager thanked the final Dow Diamond crowd of the Loons' inaugural season -- and the 30th sellout -- after his team's 6-2 loss Monday night to the Fort Wayne Wizards. Afterwards, the players stood at the stadium exits to thank fans for their support.

Also from Midland...

Stavropoulos excited about first season

Bill Stavropoulos hopes that the Great Lakes Loons have benefited a lot of people in this region. The founder and president of the Michigan Baseball Foundation knows they've helped him.

My wife, Linda, never was much into baseball," Stavropoulos said Monday night during the Loons' season finale at Dow Diamond. "Now that's changed. Now she's saying, 'What are we going to do tomorrow for a date when the season is over?'"

Poor win-loss record aside, Wizards staff sees progress

There are several ways to celebrate an anniversary. This wasn’t one of them.

The Fort Wayne Wizards completed their 15th season Monday. It will go down as one of the worst.

There may be more out there, as I find them, I'll get post them.

Midwest League Action -- 9/3

Complete Labor Day scoreboard HERE.

@Rattlers 1, Kane County 0: The Timber Rattlers finished what was a disappointing season on a positive note, scoring a run in the ninth inning to defeat the Kane County Cougars in a Midwest League baseball game at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute on Monday.

South Bend 8, @Dayton 5: Monday’s game between the Dayton Dragons and the South Bend Silver Hawks was the final tune up before the two teams meet Wednesday in the first round of the playoffs. South Bend jumped out to a big lead early, and held on for the 8-5 victory over the Dragons in front of 8,211 fans at Fifth Third Field.

Burlington 7, @Clinton 5: Jeff Bianchi's two-run double in the sixth inning gave the Burlington Bees (31-38, 61-77) the final advantage for a 7-5 win over the Clinton LumberKings (29-41, 70-67) in a back-and-forth battle at Alliant Energy Field this afternoon. The Bees haven't qualified for the playoffs, but did get a win in their final home game and final game overall.

@Peoria 5, Cedar Rapids 2: Because of a three-way tiebreaker based on season-long winning percentages against the other two teams, the Chiefs will be the first MWL team to at least share a division championship and not qualify for the postseason.

Fort Wayne 6, @Great Lakes 2: After giving up eight runs in the fourth inning of Saturday night's second game, the Loons were sailing along before allowing five runs in the seventh inning as the Wizards came away with a 8-3 win.

@Lansing 12, West Michigan 3: The Lansing Lugnuts finished the regular season Monday night with a resounding 12-3 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps, sweeping the weekend series at Oldsmobile Park. The win makes this team the winningest club in franchise history with 78 victories. Lansing has also taken 14th straight home games and will enter the playoffs winners of 11-of-12.

@Beloit 6, Quad Cities 2: Matthew Fox and the Snappers swept away the Swing of the Quad Cities on Monday, 6-2, to close the regular season on a winning note. Beloit’s win gives them a 35-35 second half record and momentum heading into the playoffs.

Mariner System Report (Games of 9/3)

SEATTLE (MAJ: 74-62; 2nd AL West): The Mariners beat the Yankees 7-1. Felix Hernandez (’03) allowed one run over seven innings for the win as Seattle snapped a nine game losing streak.

TACOMA (AAA: 68-76; 3rd Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Division): The Rainiers beat Colorado Springs 5-2. Bryan LaHair (’04) had a pair of his and an RBI in Tacoma's season-ending victory.

WEST TENNESSEE (AA: 60-79 overall; 29-40 second half; 5th second half Southern League North Division): The Diamond Jaxx lost 7-5 to Chattanooga. Luis Valbuena (’06) had three RBI for West Tennessee in their last game of the season.

HIGH DESERT (High-A: 54-86 overall; 23-47 second half; 5th second half California League South Division): The Mavericks lost 12-4 to Lancaster. Chris Tillman (’07) allowed four runs on four walks and three strikeouts over five innings for the loss in their last game of the season.

EVERETT (Short Season-A: 34-40; T-3rd Northwest League West Division): The AquaSox beat Vancouver 8-5.

Mariner system schedule 9/4:
Seattle (Horacio Ramirez 8-4) at New York (Chien-Ming Wang 16-6) 6:05pm CDT
Tacoma – Season over
West Tennessee – Season over
Lancaster – Season over
Everett at Vancouver 9:05pm CDT
AZL Mariners – Season over 38-19, Arizona League Champions

Baseball History -- September 4

Complete entry for September 4 is at BaseballLibrary.com HERE.

Highlighted entry

1916
In Detroit‚ the Coveleski brothers appear together in the same game for the only time in their careers. Stan starts for the Indians and gets knocked out in Detroit's 5-run first inning. Harry relieves later on in the game as Detroit wins‚ 7-5.

Stan is the one who has the stadium in South Bend named after him.

It's weird

You wake up one day and everything you've woken up for since April is gone.

First, I apologize for going silent over the last few days. There were a lot of things to do over the final days of the season. I had hoped to find time to post, but it never appeared.

Second, here is the plan for the next few weeks.

I'm going on vacation from now until September 17. I really don't have any plans. Maybe, I'll post some pictures. Maybe, I'll post about what's going on in the Midwest League playoffs. Maybe, I'll have 50 or so posts ready to go when I get back.

Not sure what I'll do when I get back. There is a lot to do and I'd like to continue updating every day or at least when there is something interesting during the off-season.

Right now, the regular posts will be going up on the site. Tomorrow, I'll try to put up some posts before heading out. After that...

Hey, Ernie. What do you say?

Let's play TWO today!

Also, let's see if the writer of this blog can find five minutes to do a few updates later tonight.