Scherzer a Broken Bat Away from No-Hitter

June 15,2015

Milwaukee centerfielder Carlos Gomez broke his bat in the seventh inning in yesterdays loss to the Nationals. The ball that looped off that broken bat landed in short right field, perfectly positioned between the second baseman and the rightfielder. That broken bat bloop single would be the only hit against Max Scherzer who later walked one for the only two baserunners in the whole game. Scherzer also struck out 16 in the 4-0 shutout win, his 7th of the season. Gomez said he would have been happy to break up the perfect game, just not with a hit like that ""I'm happy because I hit it, but not really because when a guy had a game like that, and stuff like that, I mean I don't enjoy it. I would enjoy it if I hit a real base hit." said Gomez after the game.

2000+ RBIs for A-Rod

June 14,2015

Alex Rodriguez drove in runs 2000 and 2001 in yesterdays 9-4 Yankee loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. A-Rod is third on the all time RBI list behind Hank Aaron at 2297 and Babe Ruth at 2213, that's some pretty elite company. After missing more than a year because of illegal substance suspension, A-Rod has surprised many this year by his age defying performance. he is batting 273 with 12 homers and 32 RBIs, while staying mostly in the DH role for the Yankees.

Astros Dethrone Felix

June 13,2015

Felix Hernandez couldn't make it out of the first inning yesterday in Houston. Hernandez pitched just 1/3 of an inning, tying the shortest start of his career. He agreed after the game , "I killed the bullpen, Its my fault, this is the worst start of my career.".

Houston scored eight runs in the first inning, all eight off Hernandez. His ERA jumped from 2.51 to 3.38. Houston went on to win 10-0. The game also featured the first homerun by rookie Astros Carlos Correa, and Seattle back up catcher Jesus Sucre take the mound in the eighth and pitch a scoreless inning.

Pujols passes Mantle

Jan 12,2015

Albert Pujols rocketed homerun number 537 yesterday passing Mickey Mantle on the all time homer list. The blast helped secure a 7-2 Angels win over the Rays. Pujols is now 11 homers behind Mike Schmidt as he edges into even more exclusive company.He is second only to Alex Rodriguez among active players, ARod has 665 homers.

Royals sweep Twins to Extend AL Central Lead

June 11,2015

EDINSON VOLQUEZ pitched seven innings to pick up his fifth win of the season, completing a three game sweep of the second place Minnesota Twins. Coming into the series the Royals were one game behind the Twins, but now lead the Al Central by 2. ALEX GORDON helped the Royals by blasting his seventh homerun of the season. Frustration was obvious on the Twins bench as both TORII HUNTER and Manager Paul Molitor were ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Giants Rookie Throws No-Hitter

June 10, 2015

Giants rookie CHRIS HESTON threw the first no-hitter of 2015 yesterday. Heston was only 3 hit batsmen away from a perfect game as the SF Giants shutdown the NY Mets 5-0 in New York. Heston finished the game with 11ks and struck out the side to finish the game in the ninth. This is the fourth year in a row that the Giants have thrown a no-hitter and the 17th overall in franchise history.

CUBS SIGN FREE AGENT SORIANO

June 9,2015

The Cubs have shored up their bullpen by signing free agent reliever RAFAEL SORIANO to a minor league contract. Soriano pitched for the Nationals last year and had remained a free agent despite the dearth of talent in some major league pens. Cubs skipper Joe Madden knows Soriano well from his days that he relied on Soriano as a setup man out of the Tampa Bay bullpen.

Sources indicate Soriano signed a $4 million dollar contract (prorated) with an additional $4 million in incentives potentially available.

2015 MLB DRAFT

June 9,2015

The 2015 MLB Amateur Draft was held yesterday and for the first time in history the top three selections were all shortstops. Arizona had the number 1 overall pick and selected Vanderbilt's Dansby Swanson. The first round included eight shortstops total, another first for the MLB Draft.

Rounds 1 and 2 were selected on Monday with rounds 3 through 10 to continue today.

WEEK 9 UPDATE

STANDINGS

NL EAST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
NYM	31	27	0
WSH	30	27	0.5
ATL	27	29	3
MIA	24	33	6.5
PHL	22	36	9

NL CENTRAL

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
STL	38	19	0
PIT	31	25	6.5
CHI	30	25	7
CIN	24	31	13
MIL	20	37	18

NL WEST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
LAD	32	25	0
SF	32	26	0.5
SD	29	29	3.5
ARI	27	29	4.5
COL	25	30	6

____________________________________________________________________

AL EAST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
NYY	32	25	0
TB	31	27	1.5
TOR	28	30	4.5
BOS	27	31	5.5
BAL	26	30	5.5

AL CENTRAL

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
MIN	33	23	0
KC	31	23	1
DET	30	28	4
CLE	27	29	6
CHW	25	30	7.5

AL WEST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
HOU	34	24	0
TEX	30	27	3.5
LAA	28	29	5.5
SEA	25	32	8.5
OAK	23	36	11.5

_________________________________________________________________________________

AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

ADAM JONES  - OF -  BAL                                 14/29 - 3 HR -  4 RBI  - 8 RUNS

NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

ANTHONY RIZZO   - 1B -  CHC                          11/26  - 2 HR  - 5 2B -  6 RBI  - 6 RUNS -1 SB

AL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

CHRIS ARCHER   -  TB                                        2-0  -  0.60 ERA  -  26 K

NL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

JACOB DEGROM  - NYM                                    2-0  - 1.20 ERA  -  18 K


TRADE/INURY/MILESTONE NOTABLES
Rockies trade MARK TRUMBO OF to Colorado for WELLINGTON CASTRO C
Red Sox fan suffers life threatening injury from broken bat

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News Catch Up

June 7, 2015

Its been way too busy in the real world to blog this week, so here is a little catch up list with links to the stories we missed since Monday.

Yasiel Puig comes off the DL in a tear.

Red Sox Fan Seriously Injured by Broken Bat

King Felix gets his 9th Win 

A-Rod passes Bonds for 2nd on RBI List

Boston's Switch Pitcher makes MLB Debut

Mariners Trade for Mark Trumbo

TEXAS CALLS UP TOP PROSPECT GALLO

June 2, 2015

The Texas Rangers places Andre Beltre on the disabled list after spraining his left thumb. In the meantime the Rangers will call up their top prospect 3B JOEY GALLO. A Rangers spokesperson explained that the call up is for the expected three week period that Beltre is expected to be out. " There is not going to be any Quarterback controversy" they said, referring to a third base log jam.
However as other teams have found out, the problem is much harder if Gallo performs beyond expectations.

WEEK 8 UPDATE

BAKER BOWL (Phillies)

June 1,2015

STANDINGS

NL EAST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
WSH	28	22	0
NYM	28	23	0.5
ATL	25	25	3
MIA	20	31	8.5
PHL	19	33	9

NL CENTRAL

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
STL	33	17	0
CHC	26	22	6
PIT	26	24	7
CIN	22	27	10.5
MIL	17	34	16.5

NL WEST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
LAD	29	20	0
SF	30	22	1.5
SD	25	27	5.5
ARI	23	26	6
COL	22	26	7.5

____________________________________________________________________

AL EAST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
TB	26	25	0
NYY	26	25	0
BAL	23	26	2
TOR	23	29	3.5
BOS	22	29	4

AL CENTRAL

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
MIN	30	19	0
KC	29	19	0.5
DET	28	24	3.5
CLE	24	26	6.5
CHW	23	26	7

AL WEST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
HOU	31	20	0
LAA	27	24	4
TEX	26	25	5
SEA	24	26	6.5
OAK	20	33	12

_________________________________________________________________________________

AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

JOSH DONALDSON  - 3B -  TOR                                   11/25 - 6 HR -  11 RBI  - 11 RUNS

NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

TODD FRAZIER  - 3B -  CIN                                            11/22  - 4 HR  - 7 RBI  - 7 RUNS

AL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

JESSE CHAVEZ   -  OAK                                                    1-1  -  0.00 ERA  -  10 K -  16 IP

NL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

CARLOS MARTINEZ  -  STL                                             1-0  - 0.00  ERA  -  16 K -  14 IP


TRADE/INURY/MILESTONE NOTABLES
Houston Astros become the first team to 30 wins (first time since the 90s for the franchise).
Los Angeles Dodgers traded 3B JUAN URIBE and RHP CHRIS WITHROW to Atlanta Braves for 3B ALBERTO CALLASPO, LHP ERIC STULTS, LHP IAN THOMAS and RHP JUAN JAIME.

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RANGERS CHI CHI GONZALEZ STARS IN DEBUT

May 31,2015

Texas rookie CHI CHI GONZALEZ started his major league debut with five hit-less, scoreless  innings against Boston on Saturday. The rookie right hander looked pretty seasoned before he was lifted with two outs in the sixth.

Along the way he did give up five walks and threw 105 pitches, but Rangers players and coaches had nothing but praise for the youngster, who had made a case to make the team out of spring training. Rodriguez stated he knew he had a no-hitter going after five and he acknowledged that he was very amped up.

The Red Sox never did score, and the Rangers went on to win 8-0.

PADRES WIN ON WALK OFF GRAND SLAM

May 30,2015

Walk offs are exciting, a walk off grand slam is really exciting. Last night the Padres beat the Pirates 6-2. The unlikely hero was DEREK NORRIS the Padres Catcher who went 1 for 5 in the game, the other four at bats....all strikeouts. So when Norris came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, with the winning run on third base, the crowd was a little pessimistic. Norris changed everyone's mind though as he rocked a fastball over the fence in between left and center fields.

This was the first walk off victory for the Padres in 2015 and puts them just two games below 500 in their quest to get back into the mix in the National League West race.

RED SOX ROOKIE SPOILS HAMILTON'S HOMECOMING

May 29,2015

Red Sox rookie starter EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ made his major league debut in Texas last night, which also happened to be the first home game for JOSH HAMILTON in his return to the Rangers.

The home crowd gave Hamilton several long ovations and he responded well, going 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and an RBI.

But the rookie was baffling, going 7 2/3 scoreless innings and leaving the game with a 5-0 lead. Rodriguez struck out seven allowing only three hits and two walks. The Red Sox hope he can perform at this level and give them the good problem of having six starters in the Major Leagues.

The Red Sox held on to win the game 5-1.

SYNDERGAARD HOMERS IN SHUTOUT

May 28,2015

   NOAH SYNDERGAARD helped himself out in the NY Mets 7-0 win over the Phillies at CitiField. Besides throwing 7 1/3  scoreless innings on Wednesday with six strikeouts, Syndergaard also lit it up from the other side, batting 3 for 3 with a mammoth homerun.

    Only this type of performance could overshadow the day LUCAS DUDA had going 3 for 4 with a double and two long balls.

    Syndergaard received his second consecutive standing ovation as he left the CitiField mound in the eighth. The Mets completed the three game sweep of the Phillies and are off on Thursday before traveling to Florida to take on the Marlins

DONALDSON GOES ON A TEAR

May 27,2015

JOSH DONALDSON had a pretty good night at the plate. The Toronto slugger went 4 for 4 with a walk, highlighted  with 2 homeruns, and four RBIs, he also scored five runs. Oh, and by the way the second homer was a walk off in the bottom of the ninth to win the game for the BlueJays 10-9 against the WhiteSox.

WEEK 7 UPDATE

STANDINGS

NL EAST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
WSH	26	18	0
NYM	24	21	2.5
ATL	22	21	3.5
PHL	19	27	8
MIA	18	27	8.5

NL CENTRAL

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
STL	28	16	0
CHC	24	19	3.5
PIT	21	22	6.5
CIN	18	25	9.5
MIL	16	29	12.5

NL WEST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
LAD	26	17	0
SF	25	20	2
ARI	21	22	5
SD	21	24	6
COL	17	25	8.5

____________________________________________________________________

AL EAST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
TB	24	21	0
NYY	22	22	1.5
BOS	21	23	25
BAL	19	22	3
TOR	20	26	4.5

AL CENTRAL

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
KC	28	15	0
MIN	25	18	3
DET	26	19	3
CLE	20	23	8
CHW	19	22	8

AL WEST

TEAM	WINS	LOSS	GB
HOU	29	16	0
LAA	22	22	6.5
TEX	21	23	7.5
SEA	20	23	8
OAK	16	30	13.5

_________________________________________________________________________________

AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MIKE NAPOLI  - 1B -  BOS                                    9/21 - 5 HR -  10 RBI  - 6 RUNS

NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

ANDREW MCCUTCHEN  - OF -  PIT                      9/20  - 3 HR  - 5 RBI  - 5 RUNS

AL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

COREY KLUBER   -  CLE                                      1-0  -  1.96 ERA  -  19 K

NL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

COLE HAMMELS  - PHL                                         2-0  - 1.17 ERA  -  12 K


TRADE/INURY/MILESTONE NOTABLES
Cardinals MICHAEL WACHA is first to 7 wins.
Cubs trade C Wellington Castillo for RHP Yoervis Medina of Seattle

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HOUSTON"S TRIPLE PLAY SNAGS THE WIN

May 24,2015

The fifth inning turned out to be crucial for Astros rookie pitcher LANCE MCCULLERS who was in a jam. With no outs and runners on first and second, Detroits IAN KINSLER hit a sharp grounder to third. Utility infielder JONATHAN VILLAR snagged the grounder, made a strong throw to JOSE ALTUVE covering second who avoided a take out slide by ANTHONY GOSE and fired to CHRIS CARTER at first beating Kinsler and recording Houstons first triple play since 2004.

McCullers was able to notch his first major league win, thanks to the fifth inning ending triple play.

METS' WRIGHT SUFFERS ANOTHER SETBACK

May 23,2015

Mets all-star third baseman DAVID WRIGHT has suffered another setback in his attempt to come off the disabled List. Wright who has been on the DL since April 15 with hamstring tightness, has neen diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a tightening of the spinal column. The diagnosis comes after Wright suffered lower back pain that kept his rehabilitation from proceeding as scheduled.

The Mets released a statement that the condition does not appear to be degenerative and they will change their rehab to introduce strengthening exercises for the lower back to alleviate the problem. Needless to say, Wright will not be with the club anytime soon.