One of baseball’s unwritten rules, along with not talking to a pitcher throwing a no-hitter, requires major league players on rehabilitation assignments to furnish a post-game meal for their often under-funded minor league teammates. [snip]
Tradition holds that the big leaguer will approach the clubhouse manager about picking up something for post game on their last day with the minor league club.
And the team’s players have the chance to suit up alongside an established star, who following established protocol, nearly always pays for a primo postgame food spread.
And why not? The usual Minor League spread is akin to pasta, cold cuts, or peanut butter and jelly and typically costs the players $3-10. MLB players get paid their normal salary even while they’re (usually briefly) in the minors. Add to that the fact that they’re taking away playing time from a guy trying his heart out to make the bigs and the gesture is a small one that goes a long way.
A tangible perk for the players of these assignments is that a post-game spread is usually purchased for us by the Major Leaguers.
“Nearly Always?” ”Usually?”
What Major Leaguer would stiff their rehab teammates on such a tradition? The name should not surprise you.
Manny Ramirez.
According to the Modesto Bee, Manny stiffed both his Minor League teammates at Albuquerque and Inland Empire of their traditional post-game meal during his little warmup stint before he returned to the Dodgers from his 50-game suspension for taking a banned substance.
Never heard of this tradition before? Here’s some examples from the past couple years…
In 2007, D-Backs pitcher Randy Johnson bought the Visalia Oaks a $3,000 dinner from a “national chain steakhouse.”
Roger Clemens refurbished the Lexington Legends clubhouse with “four new black leather couches, two love seats, a 42-inch plasma television, a 20-inch television, a microwave, DVD and a VCR.” In 2007 Clemens bought the Tampa Yankees a post-game spread from Outback Steakhouse.
Kei Igawa and Hideki Matsui bought the Tampa Yankees a spread from Lee Roy Selman’s. It’s a barbeque joint. Yum.
Rick Ankiel bought a ping-pong table for a minor league clubhouse.
Jose Valentin treated the St. Lucie Mets to Outback.
And the big names aren’t the only ones who do it …
Last season, Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson bought dinner for the Jupiter Marlins. The year before that he bought a flat screen TV for the Class-AA Carolina Mudcats.
In May, the Colorado Rockies’ Ryan Spier and Jeff Baker (now withthe Cubs) each bought a postgame meal for the Modesto Nuts.
Of course, during his stint in the Minor Leagues, Manny was still officially under suspension and wasn’t being paid a dime (which raises a whole new question of why MLB players under suspension are allowed to play in the minors) … but that’s no excuse.
Manny will be paid nearly $16.5 Million this season even after pulling out the cash ($7.4 million) he lost as a result of his suspension.
So it’s been a few weeks since we did a Jersey of the Week post here at Home Run Derby. So we’ll make it up to you. With a bunch of them.
And all of them pertain to one of our favorite baseball-related activities.
Drinking. Sometimes, just going to a baseball game isn’t enough. You’ve got to get your drink on.
And unfortunately for some people … sometimes that isn’t enough either … sometimes people are going to be loudmouth, stumbling drunks while they’re at it. If you’re going to do that … at least have the courtesy to pre-identify yourself as such …. by wearing a personalized Jersey which lets everyone know that you’re going to be … that guy.
We’ll start off early in the game, where this White Sox fan is going to let everyone know what he wants.
Gotta tell ya – I like that Jersey a lot. I saw it on TV last season … and danged if someone didn’t capture it.
Whoa. Manny’s absence will wreak absolute havoc in our little Home Run Derby contest … where 89 of 194 people took Ramirez in Group A3. Say goodbye to the First Half Championship, gentlemen.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the substance is supposed to boost sex drive. It is not Viagra, but a substance that treats the cause rather providing a temporary boost in sexual performance, the source said.
Double Whoa.
I wonder how Manny’s wife, the lovely Juliana Ramirez, is going to feel about that little tidbit of information hitting the public airwaves?
Because that news isn’t good for either of the Ramirez’ images.
Everyone’s going La-La over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 13-0 start at Dodger Stadium so far this season. Even though it is indeed an MLB record for most consecutive wins at home to start a season … I would like to remind everyone that it’s how you finish, rather than how you start.
And teams that start off REALLY hot at home … well, let’s just say that none of them have ever enjoyed a home-field advantage in October.
So far as I can tell, there have been six MLB teams (including the 2008 Dodgers) who have started a season 10-0 or better at home. The previous five didn’t make the playoffs.
Best MLB Home Starts
Team and Year
Home Start
Season Record
Season Result
2008 LA Dodgers
13-0
1911 Detroit Tigers
12-0
89-65
2nd Place - AL
2003 KC Royals
11-0
83-79
3rd Place - AL Central
1983 Atlanta Braves
10-0
88-74
2nd Place - NL West
1918 NY Giants
10-0
71-53
2nd Place - NL
1970 Chicago Cubs
10-0
84-78
2nd Place - NL East
Mind you, most of those teams made their early run before the advent of Baseball’s current three-divisional format, and all but one of them would have made the playoffs if there was a WildCard playoff entry.
That would be the 2003 Royals, who went 29-40 at home the rest of the season. To make matter worse for the Royals – there was a WildCard that year … and they still couldn’t make the playoffs.
This week’s HRD Wayback Machine takes up back into the 1970’s and early 80’s.
Back then, big name sports stars weren’t lining up to do commercials for Gatorade. Instead, they were lining up to do commercials for Aqua Velva.
Okay, Aqua Velva looks a lot like Gatorade, but it was (still is) a men’s aftershave. I think it was orginally meant to be a mouthwash. Your dad probably used it. Personally, I don’t know anyone who used that stuff.
And with the tagline “A man wants to smell like a man” … the cheese factor in the Aqua Velva spots was simply priceless. Even worse than that Johnny Bench commercial for Bubble Fudge.
Pete Rose was the posterboy for Aqua Velva … and he wasn’t afraid to sing the Aqua Velva jingle.
The cameo by Vic Tayback (Mel from the TV show Alice) makes that whole commercial for me.
But that’s not Charlie Hustle’s best work. Here’s Rose simultaneously taking batting practice and putting on the charm on a female reporter.
Two of the last three Debates between the Republican and Democratic candidates for President and Vice-President have all been in direct competition with Playoff Baseball.
The Debate committee has got to get its priorities straight.
The Vice-Presidential Debate on October 2nd was up against Game 2 of the NLDS between the Cubs and Dodgers at Wrigley Field. And last night’s Presidential Debate was up against Game 5 of the NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers.
I had a hard time choosing between the events. I was using the clicker to flip back and forth between that Dodgers-Cubs game and the Palin-Biden debate.
Apparently, I wasn’t alone.
Here’s a screen shot of CNN Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin during the October 2nd VEEP Debate - he’s at MLB.com’s GameDay, following the Cubs-Dodgers game on his laptop.
Continuing Home Run Derby’s quest to find the most unique and creative personalized baseball Jerseys/shirts we can find … we’ll stay in Dodger Stadium for a second week with a slightly more disturbing Jersey of the Week.
Apparently … The Devil is a Dodgers fan.
Frankly, I’m a little surprised. I totally had the Prince of Darkness pegged as a Yankee fan. Maybe he’s a Joe Torre fan and followed him to LA. Or maybe ol’ Satan got a little disenfranchised when the Tampa Bay Rays changed their name from “Devil Rays” and started winning baseball games.
I’m kinda even more surprised that MLB would allow “SATAN” as a name on a Customized Authentic (or Replica – I can’t tell) Jersey.
Mind you, you can’t get “666” as a number through the MLB.com shop. I guess you gotta know someone to be able to pull that off. Or put it on. Take your pick.
SATAN 66 Jersey Rating:
Cleverness: 6
Originality: 6
Understandability: 6
The Jersey loses points because it’s missing the third 6.
This really shouldn’t shock anyone, seeing as how fundamentalist preachers have been telling us that Los Angeles is a pit of sin for years. And Dodgers uber-fan Alyssa Milano once played a Vampire in a movie, didn’t she?
So I guess a few weeks back (on May 19th) - The Simpsons were at Dodger Stadium to see the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Cincinnati Reds.
Homer Simpson (or at least a seven-foot tall facsimilie of him) got to throw out the first pitch. I guess Universal Studios was hyping up the new Simpsons Ride at their Theme parks.
At least you get a cool picture of a baseball-capped Homer Simpson on a popsicle stick.
Then again – shouldn’t Homer be wearing a Dodgers cap?
So far there have been only four games wherein the Dodgers have hit a Home Run in the fifth inning (4/15, 5/5, 5/6, and 6/24) at Chavez Ravine – and only one of those games occurred after the press release on May 15th (6/24). I’m not sure if the promtion was live before the press release of May 15th, 2008.
Even if the promotion was in effect during April and early May – all three of those games were night games during the school year – where there are likely to be less kids than during the summer or on a weekend. And none of the games have been sellouts.
So Universal Studios is making out like a bandit on this promotion if you ask me.
You can watch Homer throw better than most celebrities right here … video after the jump.
“Nearly Always?” ”Usually?” 
I wonder how Manny’s wife, the lovely Juliana Ramirez, is going to feel about that little tidbit of information hitting the public airwaves? 
This week’s HRD Wayback Machine takes up back into the 1970’s and early 80’s. 
Two of the last three Debates between the Republican and Democratic candidates for President and Vice-President have all been in direct competition with Playoff Baseball.
It’s Jersey of the Week time!!
At least you get a cool picture of a baseball-capped Homer Simpson on a popsicle stick. 
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