Technically, my answer was also correct.

I know.

By the way, out of curiosity, what Hall of famers in the last question made you get the Texan question right

I hate to admit it but I never heard of Ross Youngs before. I read a Wikipedia article on him and noticed he was from Texas. Seeing some of the other players didn't help me.... I cheated and typed all the names in a Google lookup and a website for Texas ballplayers came up.

Good trivia question!

Anyone see the video of David Wright getting hit in the head by a pitch?? GEEZ!

Is that the pitch from Matt Cain? I was listening on the radio and I'm sure it wasn't intentional. Cain isn't the type of pitcher to go after guys like that. Especially with a guy on first and no outs. I know New York fans were pissed and booing like crazy, but there's no way it was intentional. I hope there's no bad blood in the next two games.

It happens. I'm sure it wasn't intentional - not a head shot. If he had gotten hit in the leg or arm, maybe, but I can't believe any pitcher would go for someone's head.

that's an amazing feat too. I believe there's some kind of reasoning behind it, no? did Finley had a great strikeout pitch that used to bounce off the catcher's glove or did this happen out of sheer luck?



I know SC has mentioned his story a few times and one of these days I just ran across this article about Tony Conigliaro of the 1967 Red Sox who took a Jack Hamilton pitch into his eye and almost got blinded. that's a great article, written by Tony C himself.

I'm sure SC can provide the details again but thing is Conigliaro was never the same player again. we can only hope that doesn't happen to Wright.

a few days ago wright complained about the looks of the new helmet that can take a 100 mph fastball, and that he wont wear it. well now hopefully he learns that looks doesn't matter, and his playing career does.

To be fair, Bud Selig should get his shit together and stop the beaning. People have been killed from baseballs to the head. I'm not saying Cain intentionally threw at Wright, but look at the Red Socks/Texas game...the same thing could've happened to Ian Kinsler. They Socks threw everything but the kitchen sink at that kids head.

Thankfully, Kinsler handled himself with some incredible decorum, instead of running at the mound and getting dumped by Rick Porcello ala Kevin Youkilis.

Maybe his catcher couldn't catch.




Good article; thanks for posting it, TM!

Tony C. was part of the greatest outfield to ever play for one team at the same time (along with Carl Yastrzemski and Reggie Smith). He missed the entire 1968 season but played in '69 and '70 and had FAIRLY decent years although he never regained his full composure and his eyesight problems caused his permanent retirement a few years later. Very sadly, he suffered a heart attack and stroke that left him a vegetable for the last eight years of his life. He died in the early '90s at age 45.

damn that's even worse than the beaning. I feel sorry for him

also in SI.com there's another article about the guy from the Cubs who got beaned by the first pitch he ever saw in the majors and still hasn't came back.

More trivia, SC:

David Ortiz is the only player to do this 3 times. It's been done in MLB about 103 times. The players, who did it twice are Paul Blair, Bernie Williams, Goose Gossage, Alfonso Soriano and Edgar Renteria. It was not done in 2008, but had been done every year from 1995 to 2007. It remains to be seen whether it's done in 2009.

I guarantee you if I name certain players in the 90s, 70s and 60s, who did it once, you'd get it in a heartbeat. What is the feat?

I'd guess it has something to do with post-season play but I give up.

Your instincts are spot on. Before I tell you the answer, the following list of a couple of HOF players, who've done it once, will steer you to the answer:Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench.

Game winning home runs in the post-season?

I'll give you credit. It's walk-off post-season hits.

Blibble, that was a heartbreaking loss for the Giants the other night. I watched thathat game til the 12th inning before I fell asleep.

Lidge blew another save last night. He was the primary strength of the Phillies last year; now he is their biggest question mark. Brett Myers, who had what was thought to be a season ending hip injury, has been throwing the past few weeks in simulated games. His velocity is back in the mid-90s, and I'm betting he's going to replace Lidge as the closer very soon.

I'm still getting over that one... That was the most gut wrenching regular season loss I've ever seen.

The Giants offense is making me want to rip my beard off! It's so frustrating to watch the pitching staff hold the the best offense in the NL to only three runs in three games, and only walk away with one win!

Kly, your lucky to have such a great team to root for. I can only dream... if the Giants had just one of your big sluggers batting behind Sandoval they might be battling the Dodgers for first. If they had Utley, Howard and Werth... goodnight!

This pitching staff is going to waste and it's a shame. I just hope the Giants can improve their offense significantly in the next year or two before it's too late.

I've been following the SF-PHI games too, BL and you're right, there have been some fantastically pitched games gone to waste.

It is a potent offense, but they've been down the past week or so, except for Howard, who is making a name for himself as one of the the best Aug./Sep. players in history. The offense is high risk/high reward. Theyget a lot of homers by the long ball and they hit as many on the road as they do at home. They are not, however, one of the better teams at getting runners in from third with one out or less.

Where have all the playoff races gone? The media are trying to get excited about the Twins, but they are still 4 1/2 back. The only race may be the NL wild card and the Rockies got a big win last night to go 3 1/2 up.

You might as well start the playoffs this Tuesday and avoid as much of the cold, wet weather as possible.

I mostly agree with you Kly, but I wouldn't count out the Twins or the Giants. Yesterday I was bummed and figured the Giants are done, but all it takes is one night like tonight when they beat the Dodgers combined with a Rockies loss and I get all my hope back again. I can't help but think this whole year has been a big tease though. I'm pulling my hair out on a nightly basis. I haven't been this excited about my team in years!

Okay, season is over for the Giants, but the twins are only 2.5 games out.

Either way, I'll be rooting for either the Tigers or Twins in the AL, only because I used to like both of those teams as a kid, thanks to baseball cards.

In the NL, I think the Dodgers are the weakest team. Not because I want them to be, but they have issues in their rotation and the Phillies are better offensively and at least equal or better at pitching. I think the Cardinals are the team to beat, but those darn Rockies are a pain in everyone's side for a long time now so I wouldn't be surprised to see them do well. They have a VERY underrated team, especially their starting rotation.

Giants had a very good run, Blibble. They were definitely a fun team to watch. I think the best scenario for the Phillies to repeat would to take an opposite route to last year's run where their bullpen was superb. They will look to Lee and Hamels to go very deep into the game with Pedro and Blanton also pitching more than was expected. Their lefthanded relief pitchers are injured, and if they're not ready, Moyer and Happ will be mid-relief.

By the way, if the races end up with the present leaders, 7 of the top 9 payrolls will be represented in the playoffs. Surprise, surprise.

I think the Dodgers are pretty dangerous even though they have more questions in their starting rotation than the other division leaders. Yes, St. Louis has to be the team to beat, and the way to (try to) beat them is to take Pujols out of the game the way teams tried to do against Bonds. Thus if Holliday has a "good" postseason, he can end up having a "dreat" postseason.

In the AL the Yankees have to be slight favorites as they will likely start with the Tigers, or possibly the Twins. The AL Central was very weak, probably the worst division in baseball. The Angels do well against the Yankees, and the Red Sox have a deeper and more solid rotation than the Yankees, so the AL championship should be interesting.

I should point out that, while I would root for the Tigers or Twins, I don't think they will make it past the first round.

All in all, I wouldn't mind seeing a Yankees/Cardinals World Series. Baseballs best team, the Yankees, against the Cardinals who have baseballs best hitter in Pujols, as well as two of the NL's top two pitchers Carpenter and Wainwright.

I'm ready for the post season. This has been a very exciting year for Giants fans even though they are blowing up at the end. It shows a lot of promise for the future because they have an incredible pitching staff to build on. If they can pick up one big hitter (Jason Bay possibly?) it would change the entire offense for the Giants. Very exciting going into the next two years!

Congrats to the Red Sox for clinching the AL Wild Card. This should be a really exciting postseason!

I just can't get pumped up for the post-season this year....

There are so many teams that have played well. I'm really looking forward to it.