Tuesday, January 10, 2012

HERE AND THERE

***CONGRATS TO BARRY LARKIN***
A good player who had decent numbers and benefited from being on the ballot with people who will probably never make it. An excellent fielder and active in the community (Cincinnati), a clubhouse presence and a very popular player. I'm a tough sell and wouldn't have voted for him, but I'll accept him over some others on the ballot. And you know who you are, McGuire.

***ANDY CAREY DIES***
A good fielding thirdbaseman and a decent hitter. Hidden in a Yankee lineup that included guys like Mantle, Berra, Skowron, Bauer, Howard and Billy Martin, he quietly went about his business as a true professional.
Two things stand out in my recollection of Andy:
During Don Larsen's perfect game, Jackie Robinson smashed a hard grounder to Andy's left which Carey managed to get a glove on and deflect towards SS Gil McDougald, who promptly threw Jackie out at first, preserving the perfect game.
While at bat in a game, Andy swung and missed two pitches in a row. Mgr. Casey Stengel told Billy Martin to go tell Carey to hit a home run. Billy just stared at him, until Casey screamed at him to go ahead. So Billy ran out, called Andy over and said, "Casey says to hit a home run." As Billy got back to the dugout, Andy hit a home run. Casey turned to Billy and said, "I just needed to slow him down a little." (This story came from Billy himself, so I'm not going to swear that it's true.)

***IS SCOTT BORAS WORRIED?***
Gee, maybe he should be. There's only about five weeks left before spring training opens, and there isn't even a hint of who's in play for Prince Fielder. Boras, of course, tells you nothing, saying he has agreement with some General Managers that he will not reveal any negotiations. It may be an easy promise to keep, since there doesn't seem to be ANY negotiations and the ODO (One Dumb Owner) is more elusive than ever before.

***THEY SAID IT***
"Illinois beat UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Should Kraft really be sponsoring that? The makers of Cheez Whiz, Nabisco and Stove Top Stuffing need to tell their customers to start eating a little less." -- Jim Barach
"Bowl games were traditionally named after fruit -- the Orange Bowl, the Peach Bowl, the Citrus Bow but now fast food companies are getting into the act. At the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl, the fans were constantly reminded of the sponsor. For the coin toss, instead of a coin, they used pepperoni." -- Bob Mills
"Kodak is reportedly working on filing for bankruptcy. Apparently they realized they were in trouble when it was pointed out they haven't sold a roll of film since 2005." -- Jim Barach
"The NBA season has begun. Lakers fans will find Kobe Bryant in three positions this season. Front court, back court, and divorce court." -- Alan Ray


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