World's Fastest Pitch!

Not every milestone of sports is hyped to the sky beforehand, and often the greatest moments in sports are completely unexpected. Consider Aroldis Chapman's 105-mph pitch which was the fastest in baseball history.

“I didn’t see it until the ball was behind me,” Gwynn said. “I was trying not to look at the radar reading because I’d be intimidated. I saw how hard he was throwing and just tried to be slow and work my hands.”

The 105-mph pitch was inside for a ball and evened the count at 2-2. Gwynn had fouled off the previous two pitches and fouled off the next before striking out. He ought to be pleased with his effort, forcing Chapman to make seven pitches, the slowest of which was 102 mph.

Randomness - Baseball Dogs

Nothing profound here. Just ready for break from World Cup Mania.

In honor of Opening Week for Major League Baseball

Found this floating around the web. Not sure where it came from originally.

So proud to be an American!

Yes, this is real. So very cool.

Great Site to See Baseball Stadiums New and Old

This is a great site that has pictures of old time baseball stadiums. Want to know what the Polo Grounds or Old Yankee Stadium looked like? Just check out this site.

How can you NOT be a Phillies fan after seeing this?

Phillies - Going to the WORLD SERIES!

ya gotta believe
Originally uploaded by pompomflipflop.

I first became a baseball fan in 1980 when I was living near Philadelphia and watched the Phillies become World Champs against the Royals. I am thrilled to see it (maybe) happening again, as the Phillies beat the Dodgers to top the NLCS and head to the WORLD SERIES. Here is hoping this is only the start of the celebration and the greatness this year!

P.S. Sorry Joe Torre. We would have all enjoyed the irony if you had beat the Yankees to the World Series. But this was the year of the Phanatic!

Water banned from MLB dugouts

We have posted plenty of criticism here of the bottled water craze: it is too expensive, it creates waste, etc. But it seems strange to ban bottled water from baseball dugouts at Major League Baseball games!

White Sox clubhouse personnel said if players take bottled water onto the bench, all the bottled water will be removed from the clubhouse as punishment.

So remember, the biggest threat to baseball isn't steroids or HGH or amphetamines or runaway ticket prices or four-hour games.

It's water.

Hopefully, they allow the water if it is delivered in gatorade-logoed cups instead. {{Roll eyes.}

Construction Worker Tries To Curse Yankees

Perhaps it's because I have no love for the Yankees, but I find this story funny. A construction worker buried a Red Sox jersey in the concrete of the new Yankees stadium being built. The funniest part is the reaction... the Yankees spent 5 hours drilling it out of the concrete and have discussed criminal charges with the DA. Should he have buried the jersey? No, but the way they are going on about it, you'd almost think that he buried somebody and not something.

Welcome back baseball!

Today is opening day for baseball. Yes, the devil's spawn Redsox did play their opening day game last week, but today is when all the real teams start their seasons. Here's hoping that the with a new manager the Yankees can win it all or at least that the Redsox will have a miserable season.

Poor, poor Phillies

Well, my celebration was short-lived. The Phillies fought had to win their division, but could not hold out against the red-hot Rockies and have now gone home to watch the rest of the post season from their recliners. It was a nice dream while it lasted. Maybe next year can be a better repeat of 1980.

Also, congratulations to the Diamonbacks over the Cubs, and the Red Sox over the Angels. We're watching the Yankees game now, which I hope ends out better, for Shadowmom and Sean's sakes.

Go Phillies!!!

I am not a big sports guy in general. But I have been a faithful Phillies fan since 1980 when they last won the world series. I want to congratulate my beloved team on winning the National League East pennant. And I hope they go on to the World Series.

And my sympathies to CRChair on his poor Mets.

NFL Season Begins

The NFL season begins tonight as the reigning Super Bowl champs the Colts play against the Saints. Many look forward to each new professional football season like a child looking forward to Christmas. (Or Nomad looking forward to a Mac media event) I enjoy football and love the J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets but am busy enjoying baseball right now. I hope the Jets' still have something to play for when I tune in for real following the Mets season. The Jets have a hard schedule this year and I'll be surprised if they do better than 9-7.

Shelton Little League Continues the Dream!

In 1988 my hometown little league team won the World Series. (That was Trumbull, CT. I was in High School at the time and had never been anywhere NEAR a game, if you are wondering. I was in Marching Band Camp at the time.) It was a great time for the town and for the kids, and I did not think I'd be seeing that again in my lifetime. Well, since we moved to Shelton, it appears I was wrong!

Jacob Lennertz never dreamed of pitching a three-hitter in this spot. Nick Petrovich just wanted to hit it hard. They both surpassed their hopes Thursday night, and Shelton National is within one game of the Little League World Series. It avenged its only New England Regional loss with a 6-0 semifinal win over Portland (Maine) North at Breen Field. Lennertz struck out 13, and Petrovich went 3-for-4 with a game-clinching home run and four RBIs. With a win Saturday over Walpole (Mass.) American, Shelton National would be the first Connecticut team to reach Williamsport, Pa., since Trumbull National won it all in 1989.
"It feels really good," said Petrovich, who was on the mound last Saturday in a pool-play loss to Portland. "I wouldn't rather do it with anybody else."
The regional final is Saturday at 2 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN.

Go Shelton Nationals!!! Go all the way!

Other problems with Barry Bonds home runs than steroids

I found this article yesterday and it raises an interesting question - are there more problems with Barry Bonds's breaking of Hank Aaron's home run record than just his steroid use?

As a student of baseball – and currently a mechanics consultant to a major league baseball team -- I believe I have insight into the Bonds "achievement." I have studied his swing countless times on video and examined the mechanical gear closely through photographs.

For years, sportswriters remarked that his massive "protective" gear – unequaled in all of baseball -- permits Bonds to lean over the plate without fear of being hit by a pitch. Thus situated, Bonds can handle the outside pitch (where most pitchers live) unusually well. This is unfair advantage enough, but no longer controversial. However, it is only one of at least seven (largely unexplored) advantages conferred by the apparatus.

I reviewed this article with CRChair, and he was right in noting that it appears none of the "advantages" of the body armor appear to be illegal under MLB rules. However, one must wonder how well it compares with Hank Aaron who used only muscle, bone, tendon, and a wooden bat.