So many tears I’ve cried.  So much pain inside.  But baby it ain’t over ’til it’s over.  -Lenny Kravitz

Earl Wilson, the first black major leaguer to pitch an American League no-hitter, once said, “A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.” Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes.  Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown.  Actually, its only the Royals’ 4th nervous breakdown, but who’s counting?  I’m counting.  That’s who.  By my count, after the Melkman delivered a single that drove in Chris Getz to end a game the Royals trailed 4-0 in the first inning, 6-4 in the eighth, all four of the Royals’ wins have come in their final at-bat.  By my count, that matches an American League record.  By my count, only two other AL teams have had their first four wins come in their final at-bat.  Only the 1901 Tigers and only the 1989 Royals.  How about that?     Read More »

I’ve been everywhere, man.  I’ve been everywhere, man.  Crossed the desert’s bare, man.  I’ve breathed the mountain air, man.  Of travel I’ve had my share, man.  I’ve been everywhere.  -Johnny Cash

Public Service Announcement:   OK, here we go!  This shout out goes to Livan Hernandez.  This shout goes to the guy who put the word journey in journeyman pitcher.  But even for a guy like him, there’s no place like home.  Last night, Livan allowed only one run in seven innings in his start against the Mets in Washington.  Hernandez has not given up more than two runs in any of his nine starts at Nationals Park this season.  How about that?  How about this:  That’s the second-longest streak of consecutive home starts allowing two or fewer runs by any pitcher in Expos/Nationals franchise history.  Scott Sanderson did that in 10 straight starts at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium in 1980. 

So in honor of Livan Hernandez, I bring you this.  I bring you Six Degrees to Livan Hernadez.  Just like Six degrees to Kevin Bacon, where any actor can be linked, through their film roles to actor Kevin Bacon, I believe any player in baseball can be connected to Washington Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez.  Are you ready,  Steve?  Aha.  Andy?  Yeah!  Mick?  OK.  All right, fellas, let’s go!  Lets play Six Degrees to Livan Hernandez.          Read More »

Everybody’s talking ’bout the new kid in town.  Everybody’s walking’ like the new kid in town.  There’s a new kid in town.  -Eagles

Public Service Announcement:  OK, here we go.  Rookie, rookie.  Who gets the cookie.  Who’s got the Woh oh oh oh, woh oh oh oh, right stuff?  Freddy Lynn had the right stuff.  That marshmallow fluff.  Sho’ nuff.  The best rookie season evah.  Evah!  Sherman, set the way back machine to 1975.  Fenway Pahk.  Rookie Fred Lynn in center.  Rookie Big Jim Ed Rice in left.  The Gold Dust Twins.  But Jim Ed got hurt, and Freddy turned out to be goldener.  Stay gold, Freddy.  Stay gold.          Read More »