Home Run Derby

Mother’s Day is coming (May 11th, guys - don’t forget) … which means MLB will be going Pink.

Once again, MLB and the Susan G Komen Foundation will to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer research.  So you can expect to see Pink bats (Louisville Slugger), Pink wristbands, Pink lineup cards, Pink ribbons on the bases, etc., on Mothers Day.  With auctions on the bats to raise money afterwards.

But this season … Chicago White Sox players Nick Swisher and Bobby Jenks might be upping the ante in Baseball Pinkdom.

From Swisher’s blog …

… here’s a little insider tip …we’ve got something — shall we say, colorful … brewing in the DirtyCat for Mother’s Day!

The “DirtyCat” is the name of the fake salon Swisher (nickname: Dirty30) and Jenks (JenksyCat) have established in the White Sox clubhouse where they dye and groom their beards.  Both Swisher and Jenks have sported the blonde goatee this season.

I think I have an idea where Swisher is going with this … and he might just take Jenks with him …

Those would be hilarious and hideous at the same time - and they’d stand out great against the White Sox’ black unis, which they usually wear on Sundays.  And they might just top Scott Spiezio’s red soul patch in the history of Great Baseball Beards.  Primarily because of the reason they might do it.

Too bad the White Sox will be on the road this Mothers Day. US Cellular might have been packed with fans sporting fake pink goatees.

Nick Swisher isn’t a stranger to doing things for women’s cancer charities.  Last season, he grew out his hair so he could donate it to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths foundation - which makes wigs for women with cancer - in memory of his grandmother, who passed away from cancer.

And Home Run Derby will once again pledge $10 to the Komen Foundation for every Home Run hit on Mothers Day. 

Last year, Home Run Derby donated $280 for the 28 balls that left the yard on Mothers Day 2007 - May 13, 2007.

You knew this was coming …

Remember that slump Geovany Soto was in? The one in which he had eight straight at-bats for Strikeouts, including the dubious Platinum Sombrero (0-5, 5 K’s) on Saturday?

The Slump is over. 

One could say it was over Tuesday night when Soto went 2 for 4 … but that could have been an anomaly.  Two three-run Home Runs in a 19-5 Cubbie plastering of the Brewers last night is no anomaly.

  Kali Speta, my friends.  It’s been a long time since the diner has been open, but hey we are through the first month of the season and the Derby has a bunched up leaderboard.  It seems like a good time for the Greek to rattle off the things that are on his mind, share some interesting links and more importantly say something stupid.  Let’s get dinging.

Ding:  I am kind of sad to see Jo-Jo the Idiot boy fall from the top of leaderboard.  Probably because Tommy Boy is one of my favorite movies, and the scene where the Jo-Jo alter ego is introduced is a classic … and I pet it, I stroke it … you’re a naughty pet, your naughty!!!  And then … sccrrunnch, sccrunnch … Oh, no, I KILLED IT.   Oh screw it, let’s go to the tape.

Ding:  Last time I checked David Wright is still to dead to me.  Wait, hold on…yep, still dead to me.

Ding:  Last season’s doormat the Komodos are back and apparently have learned about picking catchers in the Derby (rule #1 don’t pick catchers, they don’t get enough at bats).  The Komodos are respectably in the middle of the pack and are almost closer to first (-15) than last place (+13).

Ding:  Cub Fans … Soto’s 8 consecutive strikeouts was post worthy and not “overblown Cubs hate.” Deal with it.

Ding:  On a brighter note, Soto had an outstanding bounce back with 2 Home Runs last night, 1 short of the magic 3 Home Run night that would have led to another feat feature for him.  That would have been pretty incredible … Platinum Sombrero to 3 Home Run night in the course of a few days.

Ding:  Super Rays fan David Chalk at Bugs and Cranks has been able to paste together two of man’s greatest vices, baseball and hookers. Too bad, no pictures.

Ding:  Apparently, Home Run Derby mascot Rich “El Guapo” Garces (one of many HRD mascots) hasn’t hung them up yet. He was recently re-signed by the Nashua (NH) Pride of the Canadian-American league.  (Hat Tip to El Guapo’s Ghost).

Ding: 35 of us, including the Greek, are not happy to see A-Rod on the DL.