Home Run Derby

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

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.

Last week, we showed you an outdated portrait of Aaron Heilman at Safeco Field (who now plays for the Cubs) that needs to be taken down.

This week we’re going to head to San Francisco to peek at a Hot Dog Menu at AT&T Park.  You tell me what’s wrong with this picture …

First of all … $6.75 for a freakin’ plain Hot Dog?  Sweet Merciful Crap. That is just criminal.  I’d have to get Federal Bailout Money just to eat lunch at AT&T Park.  I don’t even want to know how much the Dungeness Crab Sandwich costs at the Crazy Crab stand at AT&T. 

Second … what in the Hell is SWISH Cheese?   You know -scratch that – I really do not want to know.  Seems kinda apropos for San Francisco, mind you … not that there’s anything wrong with that.  That typo might make sense if Nick Swisher played for the Giants.

And what the Hell is a “San Francisco Dog?” 

Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, Onions, Pickle, and Thousand Island Sauce.  When did this strange combo of a Reuben sandwich and a Hot Dog become the “San Francisco Dog?”  Has anyone ever had one of these things?  Please tell me this abomination isn’t any good … if you’re willing to admit you paid $6.75 for one, that is.

Thousand Island Dressing on a Hot Dog.  Only in California. 

I’m trying to decide what’s the bigger desecration to a Hot Dog … Ketchup or Thousand Island Dressing. 

Or paying $6.75 for one.

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If this keeps up, I’m going to have to add a “Sign of the Week” category alongside ”Jersey of the Week.”

Whatever happened to Jersey of the Week anyway?

So – we have news about the Case against Barry Bonds.  And this will be the end of Barry Bonds.

Apparently, the Feds will be subpoenaing former ballplayer Bobby Estalella to testify against Bonds in early March.  And he’s gonna spill. 

Now seriously … does Bobby Estalella look like a man who would know anything about performance enhancing drugs?

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First of all, a big congratulations goes out to 2008 National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. 

Lincecum (18-5, 2.62 ERA, 265 K) was one of the few bright spots for the San Francisco Giants this season, who simply couldn’t score runs (a mere 3.95 R/G) and slogged to a 72-90 record.  

He was also one of the most cost-effective players in all of Major League Baseball – Lincecum finished 2nd in wins, 2nd in ERA, and 1st in Strikeouts in the National League.  That’s nice return on a guy who was paid *only* $405,000 this season.

As a result of his stellar season and bright future, Lincecum should be rewarded by the Giants. 
Immediately.

Why not give him his teammate Barry Zito’s contract?  Zito sure as hell didn’t do anything to deserve the $14.5 MILLION he was paid in 2008.  

We ragged on Barry Zito earlier this year when his Fathead poster went on clearance.  Let’s do it again.  Let’s compare their 2008 stats …

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Somehow I missed this in Home Run Derby’s Top MLB Promotions of 2008.  I think it was because I excluded bobbleheads from the list.

But Friday Night (July 18) was Crazy Crab Bobblehead Night in San Francisco.  Who’s Crazy Crab?  Well, The Crab was a mascot the San Francisco Giants paraded out in 1984 as an anti-mascot to rival the recent influx of mascots into Major League Baseball.

Why an “anti-mascot” instead of a regular mascot?  Well, then-Giants exec Pat Gallagher explains …

Our fans were too hip, too sophisticated and way too baseball oriented to put up with anything as stupid as a mascot.

And you wonder why San Francisco gets portayed as the Smug Capital of the World?  It’s beacuse it’s true.

The fans would boo the Crab (when they weren’t throwing things at it), the players would abuse it with rosin bags and bats, and the Crab would give it right back on talk radio and taunt fans and management, even after it was retired in 1985 – barely a season after it had debuted. 

But over the last decade, The Crab has seen a surge in popularity among fans. 

• There’s been an online petition to Rehab the Crab and bring it back as a mascot. 
• In 1999, he threw out the first pitch at the second-to-last game at Candlestick Park. 
• In 2006, the Crab appeared and interrupted a race between the Giants’ new mascot (Lou Seal) and the A’s mascot (Stomper the Elephant). 
• The Crab has its name on an upscale vendor booth at AT&T Park. 
• And Friday Night the Crab had its own Bobblehead Night. 

And he even made an appearance …

Last season, Crazy Crab won his first round matchup in Home Run Derby’s Mascot Brackets .. and he’ll be up again real soon when the tournament continues (beginning on Monday 7/21/08).  He’s a real dark horse in the tournament.

Let’s hope Stomper the Elephant doesn’t meet him in the finals.

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

How bad are things for SF Giants’ pitcher Barry Zito?

• He’s 4-12 this season with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP
• He started the season 0-8 with a 6.25 ERA
• Opponents are batting .305 against him with an .863 OPS
• His record is even worse in San Fran – In 9 games he’s 1-8 with a 6.66 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP 
• The Giants’ offense only supports Zito with 2.8 runs a game (only 2.4 at home)
• The Giants are 5-13 in games he’s pitched this season.
• Earning $14.5 Million this season, he’s got to be the most overpaid pitcher in MLB.

But aside from all that … Fathead is now selling his life sized wall decal at a bargain price. 

That’s right – usually Fatheads go for $99.95 – but you can get Barry Zito on your wall for a mere $19.95 – that’s 80% off the original price.

That kid must be wondering what he did to make his parents hate him so much.

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Usually at a ballgame, you need to keep you eyes on your beer.  At $7.75 for 16 ounces … it’s a near-tragedy when some oaf stumbles down your row and knocks over your brew.

But in the bleachers at AT&T Park in San Francisco - you gotta be aware of the wind … 

Watch as the wind tries to knock over a nearly-full beer …

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 Day 6 of 30 and we move on to the San Francisco Giants (Please check out Sky’s preview too!). 

Speaking of moving on, I understand that a certain outfielder is no longer with the team.  I jest of course, this post is about the 2008 Giants, and with Barry Bonds in the rearview mirror, I intend to look at the team that will be in uniform, not the prima donna that is still looking for a job.

One of my favorite players in the league is a brand new Giant, Aaron Rowand.  He will bring a different type of attitude to the Giants, because he is a player that gives it all for the game and the team.  I am willing to bet he and Omar Vizquel will get along very well.   All I know is that San fran Fans will appreciate Rowand the first time he does this.

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