Dugout-Talk.Com

AP Photo/Douglas Healey
If you haven’t heard about this, go here to read about it. I’ll give you a quick run down.

Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a kid that throws a baseball around 40 MPH when he pitches, which is equivelant to probably 90+ MPH in the major leagues. He has been told that he is not allowed to pitch anymore. Now it has been reported in the printed news and on TV that Jericho has not beaned anyone, that he has outstanding control.

The other day, even after the Gestapo…oops!…I mean, the league told the head coach that Jericho could not pitch, his coach sent him to the mound to start a game. The other team forfeited without ever sending a kid up to bat.

Now the league is trying to disband the team, and spread them out through the rest of the teams in the same age group.

My take? (I knew you would ask) WHAT TOTAL BULLVINE SCATOLOGY!!!!

Look, I grew up playing little league my WHOLE CHILDHOOD, so I have “street cred” on this subject.

Listen up, people…Every year, and I mean every year that you played or your child has played, or will play…there is the strong chance that there will be a “ringer” in the league. I faced them, you faced them, and your children will face them. The ones I faced didn’t all had great control. Did I get hit? yeah, a couple of times…I remember taking a fastball to my knee from a 12 year old, that knocked me to the ground. I saw stars, but the coach rubbed the side of my knee, threw some dirt on it, winked, and said don’t worry about stealing a base, because you are slow to begin with…I wiped my tears away, laughed at what he said, got a “go get’em” slap on the behind and went to first base. No biggie.

Was it fair that I got hit by this man child? YES IT WAS!!! I’ll say it again…YES IT WAS!!! Mr. Manchild was the same as me, a kid, who even though was bigger than me, was the same age. He deserved to be in the same league.

I lived, so did you, so will your kids.

By the way…this kid sounds like the next Danny Amonte, but of proper age…I bet in a couple of seasons, those same parents that pulled their kids and forfeited the game would be cheering their hypocritical asses off he Jericho leads his local all-star team to the Little League World Series.

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Gotta give it to those Tampa Rays, after yet another victory last night, again the Al leading Angels, even if they have to put up with that spoiled brat B.J. Upton. Here the manager’s quote last night…

“That’s a mental mistake he made right there. It’s not a lack of effort,” Maddon said.

Oh really. You expect me to believe that? He has been benched by you three times in the past two weeks for lack of hustle!!

Oh wait, teammate Cliff Floyd was quoted as saying…”I’ll tell you one thing about tonight, he’s hurting,he’s hurting bad”. Oh, so we have a carrer clown standing up for a spoiled brat…niiiiiiiiiiiice. This is NOt what the Rays need in the P.R. section. Maybe it is because that this team is so new to success that they don’t know how to mantain their clean cut approach.
Someone in that organization better use sit Upton down and and chew his ass out, NOW. Tampa has a good thing going. Hell, this is a good thing for the MLB. One of the largest TV markets in the country, neat park, fans with money. Vacation hotspot….you see where I am going with this?

Grow up B.J., you have the oppurtunity that I bet YOU can’t even imagine for years to come, whether to career it out in Tampa, or hit the free agent avenues down the road. Don’t blow this.

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1. Look at all these rumors…. Stories flying around all over Red Sox Nation. Hottest rumor I heard this morning was that one of the “big three” in the Front Office would be moving on this year. We know Theo’s contract Is up, but how’s about the possibility of Lucchino moving on to work with Frank McCourt? In Manny drama, in addition to the investigation that he intentionally forced the Sox into a trade – I heard scufflings about some suggesting that if (and that’s a huge “IF” at the moment) the Sox were to win the World Series – that Manny wouldn’t be invited to attend the ring ceremony. Now that’s one rumor that I certainly think is not true. I highly doubt that the Red Sox organization would do such a thing. That would be poor taste. And of course while I try to disregard the gossipy rumors, I’ve heard over the last few weeks from different sources (including one inside Fenway, though honestly I don’t know the reliability of) some very disappointing news regarding my very favorite person in all of the MLB, my dear Captain. They can’t possibly be true, because let’s be honest — we all know the truth of the matter is that he loves me! (come on, give a girl a break would you?)

2. Speaking of Jason….he’s the next focus of attention regarding contract talks amidst the media circles in town. I’m sorry, if I’ve said it once – I’ve said it a million times – he’s too valueable to this team to let go. What he brings to the Sox is intangible. If he’s not slugging – that shouldn’t be that big of an issue, keep him in the “8” spot. It’s his catching, leadership, and defense that round off everything else. Oh, and with Scott Borass being under so much scrutiny these days, negotiating may very well be in the favor of the Red Sox organization. Rumor has it that he’ll be looking for another four years. Will he get it? I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s even true….but if I was a gambling girl, I’d say the Sox give him at least two – with options.3. Pitching is an issue. Have I not been beating the “Clay Buchholz isn’t ready” drum all season long? It’s really hard when the shoes you have to fill are your own! Throwing a no hitter your first time out is almost unheard of, plus everyone then expects you to be solid, at a minimum – if not great – from there on in. It’s going to be fun tonight to watch “the new kid” Charlie Zink pitch. It’s always fun to watch a knuckleballer and a new guy at that. But back to pitching for a minute – our lineup is good, but we have no real dominating threat at bat outside of Papi. Everyone is strikeable. Not that Manny wasn’t – but again, might I ask whom else would you see step up at 0-2 with 2 outs and think “oh yeah, we can get a run out of this…it’s possible”. I know the end was coming eventually – I just wish it wasn’t this season, especially where our pitching is seemingly…struggling at times – and most definitely lacking middle relief. Hitting wins games….pitching wins games. It’s ying and yang. You can’t be great at just one of them – there has to be a good balance of both.

4. Okay, off topic of baseball and a quick Patriots thought…did anyone else notice how visibly disappointed Brady looked at his backup? He and Cassell didn’t even speak when the rookie came off the field and Matt Gutierrez went on. Now THAT was painful to watch. Sack. Sack. Sack. Oh – he’s got the ball? Sack. The only bright light was Kevin O’Connell who actually did something with the ball and made things happen.

Football is definitely one of the best parts of fall….that and of course, post-season baseball.

-Rebecca, “I’m just a girl”

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1. The Rays & The Angels both still look really hot….don’t they.

2. Nice to see that Giambi has lost the pornstache. I still can’t stand him, but I dislike him a little less without that horrible excuse for facial hair on his mug. Now, my visceral reaction to seeing him onscreen is just slightly less….physical.3. Joba Chamberlain – tons of talent, but not enough discipline in my opinion. I think this little shoulder injury (which hopefully won’t be anything serious, he is truly so talented) – is God’s way of saying “maybe you should think twice about trying to take off someone’s head intentionally, dumbass”.

4. Clay Bucholz is not ready for starting rotation. I think he needs to be switched to middle relief and the Sox need to find another starter – fast. I get that he’s getting no run support, there’s definitely batting issues at the moment. But I’ve just never been convinced that he’s ready.

5. Still missing Manny…sigh.
And David Ortiz seemed like his was missing him too, during his pre-game interview. Big Papi was a little…somber it seemed. He also mentioned during the interview that his wrist twinges now and again and probably will for the rest of the season. If this clicking from last night is serious – and he goes on the DL, I just don’t know how we’ll keep it together.

Speaking of number 24…sure, everyone balked at the dugout scuffle between Manny & Youk and the contributing comments from other ball players who said that things like that happen more frequently that one would know – it just isn’t televised. Did anyone catch the dugout display by Prince Fielder towards Manny Para last night? Second scuffle for the Brewers in a year caught on HD. Guess that lends a little more credibility towards the fact that when you have competition and testosterone floating around – anything can happen.

-Rebecca (also found at “I’m just a girl” )

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That’s right, I’m showing some man love for Ryan Ludwick of my beloved cardinals.

Ludwick is NL Player of the Week. He hit .538 with four homers, eight RBIs last week.
Since being named to the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, Ludwick has been on a tear, raising his batting average 17 points while adding six home runs and 13 RBIs in 17 games.

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1986 — Steve Carlton becomes the second pitcher in history to record 4,000 strikeouts.
1921 — Pirates beat Phillies 8-0 in first baseball game broadcast on radio (KDKA in Pittsburgh).

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It has been reported that Skip Carey, longtime baseball announcer, son of Harey, father of Chip, passed away in his sleep Sunday morning. The cause of death was not immediately known, but various health problems had limited Caray to calling only Braves home games this season.

While his father was known for his declarations of “Holy Cow,” Skip Caray was able to declare “Braves Win! Braves Win!” with regularity as the team won 14 consecutive division titles beginning in 1991 and the 1995 World Series.

“Our baseball community has lost a legend today,” Braves president John Schuerholz said. “The Braves family and Braves fans everywhere will sadly miss him. Our thoughts are with his wife Paula and his children.”

Caray is survived by his wife and four children.

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This post comes from a very passionate baseball fan, and even more passionate Yankee lover for life. His name is Crotchety Old Joe. He is very wise for such a young and vibrant man (I trying to angle myself for Yankee tickets down the road). Enjoy!!!