Home Run Derby

Frank Thomas, designated hitter for the Blue Jays, just made things even more interesting in the American League East … by hitting three Home Runs in a win over the Boston Red Sox.

Coupled with the Yankees’ win in Baltimore … the Red Sox lead in the American League East is now down to 3 1/2 games with 13 days left in the regular season.

The milestone is Frank Thomas’ second career Three Homer Game and his first since September 15, 1996 in a game against … the Boston Red Sox.

That’s kinda cool.

So before yesterday’s Reds-Brewers contest in Milwaukee, Cincinnati pitching coach Dick Pole was reading the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. And came up with the line of the year …

Dick Pole comes up … and he has the Milwaukee paper in his hand. “Do you know this guy?” as he points at a picture of Milwaukee columnist Michael Hunt. No, we answer.

“His parents weren’t thinking any better than mine where when they named him.”

I wonder if Dick Pole ever met Pete LaCock?

Other stuff that happened this week

• Alyssa Milano scores a reporting gig with MLB.com for the MLB Playoffs.
• Sooze from Babes Love Baseball won third place in the Win a Date with Alyssa Milano contest.
• OMDQ scored an interview with NESN reporter Tina Cervasio. No word on any scoring after the interview.
• Some Blue Jays fans threw virtual beanballs at A-Rod and made Joe Torre mad. The Jays won’t let that happen again.
• Early reports say Mr. Met was elected to the Mascot Hall of Fame. He’ll be up soon in Mascot Brackets
• Ozzie Guillen got his contract extended even though his team is in last place (South Side Sox).  Happens in the business world all the time.
• Twins GM Terry Ryan called it quits (Twins Geek) Imagine what he’ll do when he lands with a club that spends money.
• Nobody’s going to Marlins games anymore (Nationals Enquirer)
• Fenway Franks can’t be called Hot Dogs anymore (Call of the Green Monster)
• Red Sox fans continue to drink weird stuff. First Mustard, now Salsa. (Red Sox Monster)
• MLB announced that there will be 10-foot tall bobbleheads during the playoffs.
• Bugs and Cranks give you 40 Reasons to hate the Cardinals.

So last night in Toronto, some Blue Jay fans got to throw beanballs at Alex Rodriguez.

What is this world coming to? Oh wait, it was only a video game …

In a video game promotion in the middle of the sixth inning, two Jays fans were playing a baseball game on the scoreboard screen, pitching to A-Rod. Twice they threw at him, missing once and hitting him once and leaving Joe Torre unhappy.

Of course, Yankees Manager Joe Torre said it was “ridiculous” and that it “lacks good sense.”

Some of the videos they have period, it’s all about violence … To me, this game is about playing it and not about hurting somebody.  To me, if you show it at a ballpark, you’re telling the youngsters it’s OK to do it and that’s not a good message to send.

Wait - it’s okay to try to bean someone in real life, but not while playing a video game?

Joe … do you mean to tell me that when your pitcher Joba Chamberlain intentionally throws two balls at the head of Kevin Youkilis it isn’t “ridiculous” or it’s not “about hurting somebody” or you’re not “telling the youngsters it’s OK to do it?”

It’s not like after the pixellated pitcher beaned the digital A-Rod, the pitcher heard Shang Tsung say “FINISH HIM” and then charged the plate and ripped A-Rod’s spine out of his body or anything.

But everyone’s missing the big news story here …

People are playing Video Games on a freakin’ JumboTron.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

(more…)

Sluggerrr is well on his way to the second round, so let’s head to the Feather Division for a new matchup …

#3 The Bird (Baltimore Orioles) vs. #6 B.J. Birdy (Toronto Blue Jays)

(more…)

Last week, the Baltimore Orioles gave up 30 runs in a ballgame to the Texas Rangers.  The visiting Rangers got 29 hits in the contest. 

That’s a lot.  But it’s not the most I remember.

That spurred my memory banks to a game 15 years ago when the Brewers went North of the Border and put a 22-2 ass-whupping on the Blue Jays.

The Brewers cranked out 31 Hits that night.  The most hits in a game since 1932.  Here’s some of them now …

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Recapping the last matchups, the Swinging Friar barely worked up a sweat in dispatching Captain Jolly Roger (with 72% of the vote) thanks to a well-coordinated effort by the Padres fanatics at Gas Lamp Ball. 

Pirates fans didn’t have a chance to save their Pirate.  I’m told by some Padres fans that the Friar will be in the finals. 

Meanwhile, TC Bear laid early claim in the Mammal Division with a solid whomping of Junction Jack with 88% of the vote. 

However, there was a lot less voting in that battle of woodland creatures (only 33 votes) -  which could bode poorly for TC in the second round.

Moving on, we have our first international competition in the Mascot Brackets, as we head to the Feather Division …

#4 Ace (Blue Jays) vs. #5 FredBird (Cardinals)

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This past Sunday, we wrote about some hecklers who got a ball from Blue Jays CenterFielder Vernon Wells. Wells politely gave back some of the heckling he was getting during the game …

The Toronto Sun originally told one side of the story … Vernon Wells’ side.

They’ve since come out with another article about the Heckler ringleaders, Jeff Raycher and Tom Montague.

Last Wednesday during a game at Cleveland’s Jacobs Field, Raycher and some of the other “Bleacher Creatures” had a running, good natured banter going with Wells that ended with Wells tossing a ball to Raycher complete with a tongue-in-cheek message.

“Usually all we get is a tip of the hat or a wave,” Raycher said of their heckling of whomever the centre fielder is that’s playing against their beloved Indians. “This night we had at least 100 or so (fans) jumping on board and getting on Vernon pretty good.”

Home Run Derby also had a chance to talk to Jeff Raycher - the guy who actually has the infamous ball. And as you can see, Jeff sent us pictures. I haven’t seen them anywhere else.

Home Run Derby: Based upon the report of heckling that I read in the Toronto Sun, I called your comments “lame-ass criticism.” Care to refute me?

Jeff Raycher: Our heckling was superb. You cannot get that kind of response (the ball) from something that didn’t work. Vernon has a great sense of humor, and we commend him for it.

HRD: Tell me what you guys were saying then.

JR: There were many chants … While the gist of the quote is close, it’s not the same … If you were there listening, you’d see it was humorous and not lame.

HRD: Did you ask for a ball?

JR: We never asked for a ball. That was his idea.

HRD: Do you plan on putting the ball up for auction on eBay, like I speculated?

JR: The ball is not for sale, so you won’t see it on eBay.

HRD: Any plans to keep on heckling?

JR: Next up: Road trip to Detroit in September for the Tigers/Blue Jays rainout make-up game (Sept 10). Vernon is getting another dose In the mean time, the Blue Jays still suck. GO TRIBE.

HRD: We are so going to Detroit - ROAD TRIP !!

Home Run Derby would like to thank Jeff Raycher for his time, his wit, and his pictures.

And we wish him continued success in heckling millionaires who play a kid’s game.

MAY 10 UPDATE - Read Jeff Raycher’s story in his own words … Only at Home Run Derby.

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Blue Jays CF Vernon Wells had a very unqiue way of handling some loudmouth hecklers while he was in Cleveland last week.

He heckled back - via a baseball.
This past Wednesday, a group of Cleveland Indian fans were tossing some lame-ass criticism towards Wells …

“You Suck!” “You like men”

How original. Randy Quaid did a better job of heckling Rick Vaughn in Major League II.

One of the Hecklers wanted Wells to give him a ball. Why he thought he’d get one is beyond me, but I suppose it never hurts to ask.

Wells gave him a ball. And even personalized it for the guy …

“Here’s your ball, now please tell me what gas station you work at so I can come and yell at you when you’re working. Please sit down, shut up and enjoy the game. From your favorite centre fielder, Vernon Wells.”

How long until the ball ends up on eBay?

Hat Tip: The lovely ladies at Babes love Baseball, via Sox and Dawgs

5/8/07 UPDATE: Please check out our interview with the Heckler, Jeff Raycher. Exclusive pics of the infamous ball!

5/10/07 UPDATE: We also have Jeff Raycher’s story in his own words.

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