Home Run Derby

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Home Run Derby continues its celebration of the Mexican victory over French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Anyone shocked that France was defeated in a battle?

And we’re gonna celebrate by showing you pictures of scantily clad cheerleaders (big shock that Home Run Derby would do something like that) who probably speak a different language than you do. Aren’t you the lucky ones?

Anyway, The LMB (Liga Mexicana de Beisbol) is a Triple-A Minor League affiliated with Major League Baseball. And they’ve been doing this Baseball Cheerleader thing for some time now. Which means they know what they’re doing – and they’re really good at it.

After the Jump are Five (again, Cinco equals Five) Cheerleading Squads I could find South of the Border …

Me Gusta! Vayamos!

(more…)

A couple of Months ago when I profiled US Cellular Field as a Home Run paradise, I told you Ozzie Guillen was a Snake Oil Salesman and his Snake Oil was his White Sox playing “Small Ball” …

”We have a different way.  We’re going to play games — give bunt situations, give pointers, the way they used to teach … I’ll be in charge on that field because we have to do stuff better.”

- Ozzie Guillen in Spring Training

Bunting, stealing, positional hitting, hitting and running, sacrificing, general dinking and dunking the other team to death.  That’s Small Ball.

In the White Sox last 37 innings, they haven’t scored a run which wasn’t driven in by a Home Run.  And that’s been while their big Home Run slugger, Jim Thome, has been on the DL with sore ribs.   They’re 0-4 in that span.

Through 25 Games, the White Sox rank dead last in the MLB with a team batting average of .221, have the fewest hits (180) in the MLB (the stinking Nationals have 221!), and they’re 2nd to last in the AL with only 10 steals. 

Mind you, they’re tied for the fourth most Home Runs in MLB with 32.

Maybe Ozzie will get a refresher course in Small Ball next week when the White Sox visit the Minnesota Piranhas – I mean Twins. 

Small Ball?  Smart Ball? 

Try Piranha Ball.

So, What’d you do last Night Manny?
Nothing much, really … I was Just Being Manny

Standings Update

There’s a fabulous scuffle at the top for Home Run Derby supremacy.  Human Growth Hitters and Empire of Dirt are tied for the lead (87 HR), with The El Guapos sitting two back in Third Place in front of 16 teams within striking distance.  This is by far the most competitive Derby ever.

There’s a fabulous scuffle at the bottom for Home Run Derby Futility.  Sea Dog JV and The Komodos trail all with 58 HR.  Is that really competition?  There’s no prize for last, guys. 

Hey Nick - David Wright hit another one!

Injury Update

• Chad Tracy (back) is questionable for this weekend
• Jim Thome (ribs) is on the 15-Day DL until Mid-May
• Michael Cuddyer (back) is questionable for this weekend
• Jason Giambi (leg) is questionable for this weekend
• Mike Piazza (shoulder) is expected to go on the DL and be out until June
• Nick Swisher (hammy) is questionable for this weekend
• Sammy Sosa (head) is questionable for this weekend