The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 37,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 9 Film Festivals
Posted in A4 Uncategorized
My favorite holiday group, “The Priests”, made up of three Roman Catholic priests all from Northern Ireland. Fr Eugene and his brother Fr Martin O’Hagan are originally from the village of Claudy, County Londonderry with the family now residing in Derry whilst Fr David Delargy is from Ballymena, County Antrim. I hope you enjoy this no matter what your religious persuasion.
GFBB Note: With all the money MLB makes, it seems like they could come up with something better than this. Maybe they could talk to NASA, or what’s left of it. Seems like some of those astronauts were decked out in classy looking protection that could be configured to the inside of a baseball cap, with maybe an ear flap or two. Just kidding ….kinda, sorta.
Posted in A4 Uncategorized
Great story from MLB Fan Cave. Ichiro Suzuki started his baseball career in high school as a pitcher, regularly throwing 75-85 and occasionally 90 mph. But in his last year, playing as an outfielder with a .505 batting average and 19 home runs, it was determined he should remain in the outfield.
I love these Japanese baseball videos. The fans are always wild and enthusiastic, a little crazy. They love their baseball! Listening to the announcers is a hoot, and even though I don’t have the faintest idea what they’re saying, you can always use your imagination. Japan has won the last two World Baseball Classics and has won their first round for the 2012 Classic. We might be seeing them in San Francisco at the Finals in March, minus Ichiro, who’s decided to sit this one out.
A World Classic Final between Japan and USA at AT&T Park in March, 2013. Now that would be something to see. It could happen ~ stay tuned!
“December 10, 1972. The American League adopts the designated hitter rule on a trial basis for three years.” Forty years later we’re still stuck with it. Whether you like the DH or not pretty much depends on which league your favorite team plays for.
I’m a bit obsessed with this designated hitter thing. I mean why not have a designated catcher that doesn’t have to do anything except “catch”. Once the opponent has a runner on third, the DC can step in and take the hits for the regular catcher as the runner heads for home , thereby assuring the regular catcher’s safety. The next inning, or maybe even the next play, the regular catcher can resume his position at the plate.
I tackled the subject earlier this year when I wrote about it based mostly on fact, but also with a tad bit of emotion:
“The official rules of Major League Baseball, Rule 1.01, states clearly:
“Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each …..”
I’ve been trying to wrap my arms around the designated hitter since it was first introduced by the American League back in 1973, but Official Rule, 1.01, that first rule of baseball, keeps getting in the way. The Designated Hitter Rule got thrown into MLB Miscellany as an official rule which states that a hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher in any game. This came about in 1973 and the “any game” thing meant not only the American League but also the National League.
This was news to me. I never realized the National League had a choice in the matter. But for some reason I can’t explain I’ve always thought the National League to be just a little superior in that they played the game with nine players as the game was originally intended to be played, not with the ten players the AL chose to protect their prima donna pitchers from getting a little ruffled.”
I can’t imagine any scenario that would allow me to wholeheartedly accept this notion. If anyone has any ideas, other than you’re trying to protect the pitcher, I’d like to hear them. It’s rather like a sacred cow you know, and it’s one of the reasons I find the National League just a little superior to the American League.
Okay then. I got that off my chest this morning. Wonder what’s in store for the rest of the day?
“Happy Birthday Zoe!”
I’ve reblogged this guy before. Something about that New Jersey sense of humor I guess. And it’s a gentle reminder that Spring Training is coming. Some days that’s the best thing we have to look forward to, besides Christmas and the spirit of, of course
The high priests have looked to the sky and determined that the Baseball Solstice will coincide with Christmas this winter, to be celebrated from sundown on Christmas Eve to sundown Christmas Day.
The Baseball Solstice, noted in this blog a year ago, marks the midpoint of the long layoff in play between the final out of the World Series and the first exhibition game of Spring Training.
Sergio Romo struck out A.L. MVP Miguel Cabrera in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 4 of the series on Oct. 28 to complete a San Francisco sweep of the Detroit Tigers.
The next games between major league opponents begin Feb. 22 in Arizona and Florida.
As fate would have it, that makes the midpoint Dec. 25, the second most holy day in Christendom. (The first is Easter, which coincidentally marks the point at which fans of the Chicago Cubs traditionally…
View original post 229 more words
Posted in A4 Uncategorized
Socks Up! Play Ball!
15% Discount ~ Use Code 72F5ZSB5 at Checkout.
"David Freese on Defense"
Shortstop for the Redmond's for 11 great years!
Society for American Baseball Research
Garlicfriesandbaseball's Blog 