Home Run Derby

Let’s head to St. Louis for our next Jersey of the Week, where this Cardinal fan felt the need to (pre-emptively) tweak the nose of Chicago Cub fans everywhere with his choice of clothing …

… by reminding them of a long futility streak and a recent Cubbie scapegoat.

100 YEARS AND COUNTING

Ouch.  Well played.

Mind you, there’s a couple things we have to nitpick about the jersey …

First, he’s a little ahead of himself here.  The Cubs won their last World Series on October 14, 1908.  So it’s not TECHNICALLY 100 Years yet - but I think he’s trying to make a statement by betting that the Cubs won’t win it this season … or next.   

But we give the guy credit - he’s got stones to put down $250 for an authentic jersey that could be 100% obsolete in just a few months.  Plus he’s risking a beatdown, what with the new breed of Cub fan out there.

Next, he called out Steve Bartman … who DID NOT cause the Cubs to blow Game Six AND Seven of the 2003 NLCS.  He should really have “BAKER” written across the back.

Last, my biggest gripe about this guy - he’s got the Jersey tucked in. 

Don’t tuck in a baseball jersey unless you’re on the field, jackass!  It’s a blatant violation of rule #8 of JSF’s Baseball Jersey Wearing 101 - something I thought they handed out to anyone purchasing a Cardinals jersey of any kind.

100 Years and Counting Jersey Rating

• Cleverness: 7
• Originality: 10
• Understandability: 10

If you see a great baseball jersey that everyone else needs to see … let us know at the HRD JotW tip line !!

So last week, Home Run Derby found video made by some blue douchebag who dumped a bucket of water on a Mouthpiece Sports reporter (Ms. Molly Dapier)

Well Ms. Dapier has spoken …

“I was shocked at first, but once I realized it was just water, it wasn’t that big of a deal,” said our reporter Molly Dapier. “I was going to dry off eventually. I really didn’t think this whole thing would be that big of a deal and I’m just glad everyone could get a good laugh from it all!”

Well, as you might recall, the MPS video guy kept rolling as Dapier got doused and even after the event. 

Wouldn’t you like to see that angle?

Here’s the video taken by the Mouthpiece Sports camera.

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Okay … I have no idea whether this is a set-up or publicity stunt …

On Wednesday, 8/6/08, some online sports video site called Mouthpiece Sports was doing some interviews outside Wrigley Field.

Some blue-painted idiot decided to dump a Gatorade tub full of water on the head of a lovely blonde reporter who was interviewing people.

That young lady’s reaction makes me think that it she was not expecting it - she looks flabbergasted and at a complete loss for words (except for the “WTF” she mouths). Her sound guy seems pretty stunned too. Nice how her camera guy just keeps recording. Part of me still wonders if it was a setup. Gatorade tubs full of water don’t just sit at Clark and Addison.

The young lady has been identified as Molly Dapier. She was doing dome freelance work for Mouthpiece Sports and it’s not a publicity stunt. Deadspin confirmed all this for us (as I have a day job).

Watch out Erin Andrews … you might be next.

Hopefully there’s another video of that kid getting his ass thrown in jail. What the Hell is wrong with this new breed of Cub fans?

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Be sure to check out Home Run Derby’s daily recap over at Yahoo’s Big League Stew

It’s been over ten years since Harry Caray left us.  Home Run Derby did our own little tribute back in February, with some great Harry Caray quotes and a recollection of my 1989 phone conversation with Harry.

But there’s always room for more Harry Caray memories … especially when they involve photos of Harry which are undoubtedly (in my mind, anyway) the last pictures taken of Harry Caray at Wrigley Field.  Shannon Blosser-Salisbury sent us the pics and her recollections of the day.

September 21, 1997 was Harry’s last game at Wrigley and it was also Ryne Sandberg’s last game at the friendly confines.  The Cubs whomped all over Curt Schilling and the Philadelphia Phillies, posting four Home Runs en route to a final score of 11-3.   Sandberg was substituted in the fifth for a pinch runner, garnering a standing ovation from the 29,922 fans who attended the game to say goodbye to the future Hall of Famer.   Little did they know they were saying goodbye to Harry Caray as well.

A few of those fans hung around the stadium for a while, and as they were leaving the ballpark, noticed that Harry Caray was leaving as well.  Shannon and her friends took the following pictures of Harry getting ready to get in his car.

As always, Harry was jovial and gracious with his time and talked to some fans as he was getting ready to go …

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So during the opening pomp and circumstance before last night’s All-Star Game, the Living Hall of Famers at each position were in Yankee Stadium to greet the starting 2008 All-Stars as they were introduced to the crowd.

It was a great moment to see living legends from the Hall of Fame out there on the same field with the 2008 All-Stars. 

But there was one glaring omission. 
And it was at second base. 

As Chase Utley and Dustin Pedroia came out during the introductions, they got to meet Hall of Fame Second Basemen Rod Carew, Bill Mazeroski, and Ryne Sandberg. 

But not Joe Morgan. 

Did Morgan develop another flareup of the dreaded disese Ryne-itis (also known as Sandberg Syndrome) wherein those afflicted can’t be anywhere near the man who broke Morgan’s HR record for Second Basemen?  As you’ll recall, Joe Morgan was conspiculously absent at Sandberg’s Hall of Fame induction in 2005. 

It’s not like Joe didn’t know how to get to Yankee Stadium … he was in the building the night before when he announced the 2008 Home Run Derby. 

No, I think this is just another case of Joe Morgan not wanting to share ANY stage with Ryne Sandberg. 

It’s a shame when the Vice-Chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame doesn’t show up for events like this if Sandberg is there. 

It perpetuates the belief that Morgan’s putting himself before the game for personal reasons … even if that’s not the reason.

Update:  We have learned Joe Morgan was a participant in the All-Star Parade before the Game, so it’s not as if he left New York after the Home Run Derby. 

Parade Hat Tip - the not awful Awful Announcing, who agrees with HRD that Joe Morgan is ducking Sandberg.

So this afternoon, it was a hot one at Wrigley Field as the Cubs beat the Giants 3-1. 

Temperature was in the mid-eighties, humidity in the 50-60% range - it probably felt closer to 90 degrees.   It’s enough to make a kid sitting in the front row at Wrigley really dehydrated. 

Better drink something kid …

… wait a minute … is that a beer? 

That’s not Water or Pepsi or Mountain Dew.

That looks like a beer cup to me.  And that looks like beer in that beer cup.  That kid’s in the wrong section … the bleachers are in the outfield, dude.

What do you think?

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If it’s not beer - what is it?
Is it a big deal if he is?

Update: Posted better video

While out at a party tonight I saw Kerry Wood flipping somebody off at U.S. Cellular Field …

When I got back from dinner … damn if Hugging Harold Reynolds hadn’t lassoed the video already …

Anyone that tells you that Wood was flipping off White Sox fans is just trying to stir up some crap. Wood wasn’t looking (or flipping) anywhere near the stands.

And really … what is up with all the Cubs posts at this site lately?

And here we go … a new feature here at Home Run Derby. 

Baseball Jersey of the Week.  We’re going to highlight the most creative personalized baseball jerseys/shirts we can find.  And we’ll start with a good one …

In honor of the continuation of the White Sox vs Cubs Interleague Series (The Black and Blue Series) … here’s a Chicago Baseball fan who apparently has two favorite players in the Windy City.  The Cubs’ Kosuke Fukudome and the White Sox’ Jim Thome.

FUKUTHOME !!

I love it.  It’s a Frankenstein-like creation.  Mind you, the name looks a little off center … but it’s pretty sharp and self explanatory to most knowledgeable baseball fans (which will exclude most of the overserved patrons in the Wrigley Bleachers during a Night Game.)

FUKUTHOME Jersey Rating:

• Cleverness: 8
• Originality: 10
• Understandability: 8

Does the guy have a matching White Sox jersey? 

Home Run Derby would love your pics for Jersey of the Week. 
Drop us a line right here.

Jon Lieber’s not getting a lot of playing time this season with the Cubs … he’s only pitched 37.1 innings in 21 appearances (20 out of the bullpen for a 1.78 ERA and a 2-2 record - don’t ask about that one start). 

Because of that, there’s speculation that the 38 year old Lieber might call it quits if he can’t get a starting gig.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not getting some pitching in at Wrigley Field.  Check out this video of Lieber pitching to one of his sons (5-year old Justin Lieber) after a recent game.

Oh yeah - a warning … this is the same guy who recorded Joe Smith of the Mets swearing and heckling at some Cub fans … so get set for a lot of unnecessary commentary unlees you hit mute …

Yep.  Even five-year old lefthanded hitters can hit Lieber (for his career … lefties hit .310 against him while righties only hit .244).  Kid hit four balls out of twelve pitches that I counted - .333 average.

To Lieber’s credit, he’s putting balls right in Justin’s wheelhouse.  I think 7-year old Jared Lieber is shagging flies.

Jon might have a future as a Little League coach when his MLB career is over.  Because his kids might have a future in baseball.