Had arthroscopic knee surgery 20 years ago; back surgery 15 years ago. Pretty much down to swimming;biking; elliptical to put off further injuries/surgeries

Yeah first base (and now DH) are career savers for big hitters. I remember when Orlando Cepeda ended his career with the Red Sox he'd ride a stationary bike between at bats to stay limber.

But orthopedics is a different world now. Smokey Joe Wood's fabled "dead arm" probably just needed Tommy John Surgery. When Babe Ruth had knee surgery it was an open wound and they basically took out all his cartlidge to unlock a "trick knee" Mantle's injury in the 51 series was almost undoubtedly an ACL; MCL and medial meniscus triad. That would be fixed now.

It's a whole new ballgame

Nice day for Independence Day baseball yesterday. 'tis all American. I bopped in and out watching a few games. Cubs actually won a game. And my Tiggers won a game (shock). We were going to go to one of the Tiggers/Sux games this week but the one we were going to go to was rained out.

But yesterday:

Flubs win.
Tiggers win.
White Sux lose.

Nice day!

On the way to the south side of Chicago to see the Flubs / White Sux game. Gooooooooooooooooooooo Flubs!

Gotta like free food and beer!

Andrew Cashner (9-3) is on pace to be to lowly-O's in 2019, what Lefty Carlton was to Phils in 1972

you were right Lee, was premature to call it sewed up, Tribe is W6 and has closed the gap to 5 1/2 games in Centl -- Dodgiz have NL West sewed up tho -- Houstros 7 1/2 up

in their 1st year after the retirement of manager/all time Angel Mike Sciosia, LAA floundering at .500 -- Mike Yastrzemski, Pablo Sandoval & SF poised to escape cellar 2nd half

Overtaking TB Is The Priority -- Mitch Moreland & Steve Pearce need to show up 2nd 1/2 of season -- same Steven Wright -- NY is a real juggernaut this season

BOSTON RED SOX

[Edited on 7/9/2019 by Stephen]

Anyone looking forward to tonight's All Star Game? I was watching The MLB Network and they were showing highlights from early 90s games which was neat. A lot of great players (and future HOFers) played in those games.

Today? Eh for me. Not too many of today's game really excite me which is unfortunate. Will still watch some of it. Going to be muted so I don't have to listen to the annoyance of Joe Buck.

They never did say what that pitcher for LAA, Tyler Skaggs, died of --
RIP Jim Bouton, still recall the cap flying off his head during his followthrough
David Ortiz is still laid up & had to have another surgery yesterday
we start 2nd half w/LAD visit -- we'll show em, nothing's changed from last fall -- let's go Sox

I don't understand why the cause of Skaggs death hasn't been revealed. I have a feeling there is something that someone doesn't want disclosed.

Bouton was quite the character. I've read a ton of baseball books and his was one of the best. I read it at a young age and even then I thought it was hilarious. Wasn't so much a baseball book though. More comical. He did kind of break an unwritten code about talking about things that you just didn't say. However, it was no secret what some of the Yankees did back then.

I thought his second book kind of sucked.

Really disappointing news about Bob Gibson. Wish him the best. 🙁

Braves are now over .600

Braves win again, now at .609 5th highest in MLB and 2nd in NL

They never did say what that pitcher for LAA, Tyler Skaggs, died of --
RIP Jim Bouton, still recall the cap flying off his head during his followthrough
David Ortiz is still laid up & had to have another surgery yesterday
we start 2nd half w/LAD visit -- we'll show em, nothing's changed from last fall -- let's go Sox

it's reported that the autopsy has been finished, but the cause and manner of death is waiting results of a toxicology report that is expected to be completed by October2.

The conspiracy theorists are already having fits over what might have caused his death.

Crew have a mini-slump, can't afford that in such a tight division. Hopefully last night's thrashing of the Braves continues.

Yankees quietly have the 2nd best record in MLB, even down a few starters and a shaky rotation.

What does the Crew mean?

What does the Crew mean?

Brew Crew duh

The Brew Crew (Brewiz)
Our bullpen has had a few too many brews lately -- or maybe they need to quaff down a few more

We sign all these great pitchers like Sale, Price, Porcello, ERod, Cashner etc -- who then hand the ball off to a shaky-at-best bullpen

We need CGs from those starters, also Wright and Eovaldi when/if they return -- yes I know, it won't happen -- neither will our chances at the rate we've been going -- let's go Sox

[Edited on 7/17/2019 by Stephen]

What does the Crew mean?

Brew Crew duh

Do you mean the Milwaukee Brewers of the National League Central Division, formerly in the American League East Division?

Duh.

What does the Crew mean?

Brew Crew duh

Do you mean the Milwaukee Brewers of the National League Central Division, formerly in the American League East Division?

and technically once of the AL West for their season as the Seattle Pilots. Glad we could bring you up to speed.

I'm not a Brewers fan. And I could have brought up the 1969 season but didn't. I think that might have been a one time only thing when a team moves after only one year at a location. I want to say Lou Piniella was on that team.

Just to get up to speed.

I'm not a Brewers fan. And I could have brought up the 1969 season but didn't. I think that might have been a one time only thing when a team moves after only one year at a location. I want to say Lou Piniella was on that team.

Well, jolly for you. I'm not a Pirates fan but I know people call them "The Buccos". And close - Piniella was drafted by the Pilots in the expansion draft but was traded before the season started.

Actually, the Baltimore Orioles spent their first season in 1901 in Milwaukee as The Milwaukee Brewers.

Jolly for you? Are you British? 😉

And I think you are right about Piniella. Forgot about it. I thought Bouton might have had something to do with all that but I could be wrong.

RIP, Pumpsie Green

Yeah I saw that. I think the Red Sux were the last team in MLB to have an African American player. It could have been him, I don't recall.

It's one of the great occurrences in bball history, 20 years ago on this day
"On Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium, David Cone becomes the 16th pitcher in major league history and the third Yankee to toss a perfect game when he beats the Expos, 6-0. In pregame ceremonies, Don Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Yogi, commemorating his 1956 World Series perfect game."

It's not rocket science, we need to crush the lowly-O's w/offense this wknd to keep our bullpen out of the game -- Chris was good today -- let's go Sox

Ernie Broglio died ... I was a big fan when he was with the Cardinals, and an even bigger fan when the Cardinals got Lou Brock for him and he flamed out with the Cubs...... he always had a great sense of humor about the trade... RIP Ernie!

It's one of the great occurrences in bball history, 20 years ago on this day
"On Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium, David Cone becomes the 16th pitcher in major league history and the third Yankee to toss a perfect game when he beats the Expos, 6-0. In pregame ceremonies, Don Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Yogi, commemorating his 1956 World Series perfect game."

I don't recall the circumstances but that is pretty cool. I remember Cone dropping to his knees.

Speaking of perfect games, I really think it is odd that so few of them were thrown. Perhaps one of the most difficult things to do in sports.

Speaking of perfect games, there are two Detroit Tigger almost ones.

In 1983 Milt Wilcox was one out away from throwing one against the White Sox. I was a kid watching it at home when Jerry Hairston hit one up the middle with two out in the ninth. I almost cried.

In 2010 Armando Galarraga had one all locked up with two outs in the ninth and a play at first. Galarraga covers the bag, the guy is out, right? Nope. Umpire Jim Joyce calls the runner safe. He was kind of obviously out. Lost his perfect game.

The next day Joyce was the home plate ump. Galarraga brings out the lineup card and he and Joyce had a nice embrace. Joyce felt horrible but at the time there was nothing that could be done about it.

NY has pulled into a tie overall w/LA -- we won't catch them, but overtaking TB is a must for Sox -- it's getting crowded at the top, MN & Hou are still right there, we're not, & the WC seems the only way right now -- Chief Wahoo & Tribe are way ahead of us, also Oak

Chris was sharp in his alloted IPs last nite, we need that caliber of pitching, & for the offense do everything in its power to render the bullpen unnecessary, a non factor & outta close games whenevr psbl

THERE IT IS -- it's almost the deepest he's ever gone into a season uninjured, now a monster has awoken in STEPHEN -- 1st NL P to 12 games, top 5 as usual in K's, & if he makes it the rest of the way -- w/all the rest/rehab stored up in his body over the course of his career -- who knows what Stephen could have in store

WHEN HE ISN'T BELTING THE BALL OVER THE FENCE -- did you see that -- look out NL, slugging Stephen & the Sens are poised to rampage to East div title -- Max possibly might return Sunday they're saying

Ups to MadBum too, he went 9 last nite -- good one 2nite in Texas w/Mike Minor v Justin Verlander, both top 5-7 in most categories

BOSTON RED SOX

[Edited on 7/21/2019 by Stephen]

THERE IT IS

Yep, the monster is loose -- another hit to help his own cause, & where German of NY failed to get #13, STEPHEN is 1st to 13 wins -- the guy is an automaton -- the line he put up -- 6 IP, 3 hits, 9 K's -- he's posted throughout his career, with just the slightest variation -- rw/Max back Thurs, Wash will go on a streak similar to SF's

"Mike Yastrzemski, Pablo Sandoval & SF poised to escape cellar 2nd half"
DAMN I'm good -- 17 of 20, Cueto possibly back down the stretch, & Giants have barged into 2nd place & the WC picture

NY is in this wknd --
Last nite was just another example -- Chris was good, scrubs come in, give up 3 walks, 2 hits & a run in the 9th -- luckily we escape w/the bases loaded 5-4, after a few more heart attacks/gray hairs

it's 3-2 in the 5th right now in aftrn matinee -- both teams are 10 games over .500 & 10 GB NY --
if it's that score in crunch time....
time was when your top pitchers would finish a close crucial game, Esp with a bullpen full of pyros & a sweep at stake
...that's another era tho, so let's go Sox

[Edited on 7/26/2019 by Stephen]

NY & LA still tied for 1st at 30 games over, & Dodgiz-Wash is a big wknd series --
it pales to ours -- WS champions vs team sporting best record in baseball in top rivalry in sports
the pitching can't be topped in the other series tho -- Stephen, Scherzer & Corbin vs Ryu, Clayton & Walker Buehler

He went all 9 innings, & ups to Bieber of Cleveland, a 1-hitter Wed nite -- best pitching since Noah blasted an HR in his 1-0 complete-gamer in May -- but whoa, Mets are actively shopping Noah, according to espn

Troy Tulowitski retired, guessing Dustin & Felix Hernandez will too b4 end of season

We may have blown all our offense last night -- so a good time for Andrew Cashner to emulate Bieber/Noah & pitch lights out 2nite -- he's been lit up his 1st 2 starts
3 of 4 is what we're after -- long way to go yet in season -- let's go Sox

[Edited on 7/26/2019 by Stephen]

With his biggest fan, his grandpa, cheering him on while phoning in the occasional tip, Mike Y (4 hits ystrdy) & the rampaging G-men can overtake Phils for WC this week -- Yaz has gotta be the happiest guy on the planet -- holy makarel tho, who would he root for in a Sox-SF WSeries....

"Prized hitting guru" Robert Von Scoyoc has indeed made LAD a fearsome squad
but even they were no match for Stephen last nite -- yep, he smacked an RBI basehit, scored a run, & w/his league-best 14th win, is in line for his 1st 20-win season & the Cy -- if he stays healthy he'll break 200 IP for just the 2nd time in his career -- he'll try to tie his career best w/his 15th win this wknd vs AZ (he's won 15 three times) --

envision Wash getting closer to Atlanta/pulling away from Phila this week, late word tho, Max Scherzer remains sidelined with something they're now calling "a right rhomboid strain"

Obviously this 2-week stretch is, well not our season, but still major -- no complaints so far, we won both series last week, & That HAS To Happen Again This Week -- we gotta win em both (TB this week, at NY this wknd) -- we need to be 4-5 GB NY, same ahead of TB next week -- it's the pivotal juncture of our season

BOSTON RED SOX

[Edited on 7/30/2019 by Stephen]