BATTER UP!

[2jakes]

 

[Harp]

Ain't lookin too good for the home team. Darvish still holdnout. Dodgers in play, agent wants a fiver. A slow hand of shirtfront poker.

Word heard on the street (Michigan Avenue) and listened to the wind flying past the Options Exchange, the Cubs will sign Yu Darvish within twenty-four-to-forty-eight hours.
Hubba hubba. A rumor still, but well placed.

A bit late but Theo nailed it.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Pitchers and catchers report today. There is reason to go on living a while longer.

 

[Frunobulax]

Pitchers and catchers report today. There is reason to go on living a while longer.

Actually, yesterday for many teams. Workouts begin today. Soon there will be spring training games on the radio.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[2jakes]

Verlander: Don't crown the Yankees just yet

It's officially the first week of Spring Training and Justin Verlander is already bringing the heat.

 

[Harp]

It's officially the first week of Spring Training and Justin Verlander is already bringing the heat.

I was sorry the Cubs didn't land V last season; however Brad Peacock pitched
exceptionally well with a 2.45 Series ERA and a professional's methodical cool approach-
unlike some of the Dodger hurlers-one of whom threw a right cross at Mr Gatorade Cooler.

 

[LizzieMaine]

While we wait for the action from Florida to get started, here's action of a different kind as Ted Williams appears on "What's My Line?" in 1954. As one who grew up knowing T. Ballgame as a rather tubby, shopworn-looking fellow in bread commercials, it's always a bit of a jolt to see what an astoundingly good-looking man he was in his prime and out of uniform. I'm also not surprised to learn that Bennett Cerf was a baseball fan, all the best people are.

I wonder what Ted did with the $15? We can be certain, at least, that he didn't use it to buy a necktie.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And equal time for Yankee fans, here's Mystery Guest Joe DiMaggio in 1955.

 

[triple-d]

And equal time for Yankee fans, here's Mystery Guest Joe DiMaggio in 1955.

HAHA...That was great.....that was a wonderful show, I'm surprised they haven't re-done it.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Baseball was a constant presence on WML. Here, in 1956, the panel meets a big chunk of the Cincinnati Reds. Ted Kluszewski is spokesman for the team, and is good looking even with sleeves on. Note also a very young, very shy-looking rookie named Frank Robinson.

 

[Harp]

With spring training dawns another season and the acknowledgement that for the Chicago Cubs, now that the bullpen is locked down,
its overall lack of consistent hitting needs resolve. Ted Williams, maverick that he was, was a slugger
with a sharp eye, attitude-lots, and a highly disciplined strike zone. And he hit .408 or thereabouts in '46.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Ted's last cuts at Fenway Park, in an Old Timer's Game played in 1986.

There's something terribly surreal about even the idea of Ted Williams batting against Mark Fidrych, which is probably why they pulled The Bird. "When Eras Collide."

 

[Fading Fast]

Ted's last cuts at Fenway Park, in an Old Timer's Game played in 1986.

There's something terribly surreal about even the idea of Ted Williams batting against Mark Fidrych, which is probably why they pulled The Bird. "When Eras Collide."

The sentence works this way too: There's something terribly surreal about Mark Fidrych.

As any good editor will tell you, the less words the better.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Bird is the Word.

All the wacky antics aside, he should have a much longer career than he did, with that whippy Walter Johnson sidearm thing he had going. But what the elbow giveth the rotator cuff taketh away.

 

[Harp]

Ted's last cuts at Fenway Park, in an Old Timer's Game played in 1986.

The Lion in winter.

 

[Fading Fast]

Bird is the Word.

All the wacky antics aside, he should have a much longer career than he did, with that whippy Walter Johnson sidearm thing he had going. But what the elbow giveth the rotator cuff taketh away.

Notice Gamble was on first?

 

[triple-d]

 

[Harp]

Yu Darvish, ranked third in the Cubs bullpen is slated to pitch this afternoon against the Rockies, who successfully caught ex-Cubs closer Wade Davis.
Lester, Hendricks, Yu, Quintana, and Chatwood backed by Montgomery with new closer Morrow acquired from LA, this season seems tuned to the right pitch.
Or southpaw as the case may be.

 

[Harp]

Yu Darvish, ranked third in the Cubs bullpen is slated to pitch this afternoon against the Rockies...

Yu scratched yesterday for illness but pitched two simulated innings and took batting practice. Darvish will face the Dodgers later instead.

 

[Cornshucker77]

"I had to get away from those damned cows." Having grown up on a farm that quote always cracks me up.