Baseball Randomness

The Mocking of the Kimbrel

Philadelphia fans don't have the best of reputations.  Throwing batteries, attacking Santa Claus, puking on little girls.  But this is funny, and seemed pretty good-natured.  The fans behind home plate were making fun of Kimbrel's signature pose, looking for the sign.

Matt Wieters and cats

Corky and Buddy

Catcher Corky Miller and Louisville Bats mascot Buddy Bat.

Looks like Buddy donned Corky-esque facial hair in honor of Corky Miller Day.

Are you ready for some football?

Apparently, the Colorado Rockies are.

The Willard Suitcases

The Willard suitcases were found, forgotten, in the attic of a closed psychiatric hospital in upstate New York.

This suitcase, belonging to "Mary R," held newspaper clippings, fine needlework...and a souvenir baseball bat engraved Syracuse Chiefs, Syracuse, NY.

Batting Bigfoot?

Finding Bigfoot was in Kentucky tonight.  They stopped by the Louisville Slugger Museum (pictured above) to get some new baseball bats.  They use them to bang on trees, as a sort of bigfoot call.

Walk like an Egyptian?

The Memphis Redbirds wore these Egypt-themed jerseys yesterday, in honor of Memphis, Egypt.  It was to celebrate 15 years in AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.

The hieroglyphs actually spell out "Memphis," and Redbird mascot is depicted in Egyptian style.

Tara Throws Out the First Pitch

Not the Winner

The season finale of Survivor is airing now.

Stephen Strasburg is at top left and Mike Leake is top center (fourth from left).  Thomas Neal (top, second from left) and Brett Bochy (bottom left) are also in the photo.

Former teammates face each other tonight

Stephen Strasburg and Mike Leake are the starting pitchers tonight, when the Reds and Nationals square off.

Dirk Hayhurst writes about the poor pay of minor leaguers.

In spring training, you were given only $120 per week in meal money, no paycheck. That $120 was gone in three nights at a sit-down restaurant—or you could stretch it by eating fatty fast food all week. Ironic, since there are rules about proper diet and being in shape; they go out the window when you're barely paid enough to eat.

In Single-A, we developed a term for guys on the team that would eat more than their rationed amount before a game. We called them "Spread Killers." They were often the pitchers who came off the field before batting practice officially ended, thus giving them early access to the pregame spread. All it took for them to kill it was an extra peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This made it impossible for one of the later arrivals to get a full sandwich, and forced him to play hungry.

Man, given the amount of money MLB makes, it seems grossly unfair that minor leaguers get paid less than burger flippers at McDonald's.  

They should get at least minimum wage.  Some minor leaguers are actually suing. 

(KBAK/KBFX photo)

Caturday, in the (ball) park...

Actually, it will be Tuesday, but we all know every day is Caturday!

Tara, the hero cat who rescued her young owner from an attacking dog, will throw out the first pitch at a Bakersfield Blaze game.  (Bakersfield is a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.)

Andy Phillips

Dec. 3, 2007 - Former Yankees first baseman Andy Phillips at a charity event on behalf of the Yankees.  Ironically, he was non-tendered that same day.

Many players got similar unwelcome news this week, as the non-tender deadline was Monday

Cat Latos

Jose Canseco was pulled over by the cops.  With goats in his car.