Believe it or not

I'm rooting for the Cubs (and my cuñado Andrew).  They are playing the Red Sox at Timberview Middle School.  Let's go Cubbies!

Andrew at the bat, drawing a walk.

Andrew ready to go first to third.

Today's free baseball-themed fragrance sample of the day

UPDATE: the free samples are all gone.

New York Yankees:
https://www.facebook.com/Yankees/app_382726845085676
Hurry, only 6997 samples remain, as of press time.

"The hardest three outs"

Take note Bizarro Royals, the Seattle Mariners might have found their new closer.

Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images

Last night, with the game in the balance, M's skipper Eric Wedge turned to Hisashi Iwakuma to slam the door and secure a series win against division rival Texas.  Despite giving up three runs, Iwakuma rose to the occasion and recorded the save.  Not only did he record "the hardest three outs," (not really) but he also recorded six others.  That's right, Hisashi Iwakuma earned a save in the Mariner's nail-biting 21-8 win over the Texas Rangers.  Check out the must-see highlights of his dominating performance here. 

That's why closers are so important, because they get the hardest three (or nine, or one, or what have you) outs--even if the leverage index of those outs are microscopic.  That's why saves are worth 8 points in the PFBL.  That's why saves are the one way to subvert the IP maximum in the PFBL.  That's why every MLB closer must be owned in the PFBL.

That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

Thor's Day Thoughts

Three HR in three consecutive AB?  This calls for

Happy Birthday Jay!

Our faithful and fearless Commish turns thirty-something today!  This year, as always, he continues to do an awesome job as commissioner of the best fantasy baseball league in existence.  Have an awesome day and keep up the great work!

Friday Fathomings

I know that the Mets tanking is an annual tradition, but this is ridiculous!

Thor's Day Thoughts

This is really cool:

It reminds me of this:

Odin's Day Oddity

So how does that injured hand feel, Panda?

Interesting facts about the 2012 Colorado Rockies

1) The Colorado Rockies have a good offense.  They have scored 195 runs entering play on Tuesday 5/22/2012.  Only two teams in the National League have scored more: St. Louis (221), and Atlanta (217).  However, both of those teams have played more games (42 and 43, respectively) than the Rockies (41).  Both of those other teams occupy first place in their respective divisions.

2) The Colorado Rockies do not have good pitching/defense.  They have allowed 225 runs against entering play on Tuesday 5/22/2012.  Minnesota has also allowed 225 runs, but no MLB team has allowed more runs.  Both Colorado and Minnesota occupy last place in their respective divisions.

To wit:

Tuesday Two-seam

Hey Blue, you got your shoes on?

Now that Aroldis Chapman

is the new closer for the Reds, Sean Marshall just earned a save on my bench. 

You're killing me, Dusty.

Monday Minutiæ

The Rockies are 4-14 in May. I think I might know why.

Hmm...

Sunday SIERA

Chen-oke?

Saturday Shuuto

The Rays have great defense, on and off the field!

Friday Fathomings

Well, like my Pappy always used to say, even the blind hog finds the occasional acorn.

Two hands, Dante!

Thor's Day Thoughts

Kerry Wood should also throw his 1998 Rookie of the Year award to its rightful owner . . . but then, that might land him on the DL again.

Odin's Day Oddity

One of the most epic moments in baseball history:

Tuesday Two-seam

I don't think an Humberto Quintero HR ball is worth taking the plunge, but maybe that guy was just his biggest fan or something.

Monday Minutiæ

Question: if a pitcher is in the middle of a no-hitter, and the broadcast booth loses their audio feed, and the color analyst writes on the telestrator that the pitcher has given up no hits, does it still count as a jinx even though he didn't say it out loud?

Sunday SIERA

Ladies and gentlemen, Austin Wates:

Best HR robbing catch ever?

Future's So Bright? —Better Wear Shades

Bryce Harper will probably have a very promising MLB career. If he can quit hitting himself in the face with the bat after each time he pops out. Had to be replaced in the 7th. C'mon Rook!

Saturday Shuuto

What can you say about Giants fans?
They're all a bunch of...

Friday Fathomings

Despite the strong start

There is no Washington Nationals gear for sale in the C/D concourse of Dulles International Airport...

Thor's Day Thoughts

Things might be a bit automatic for a while, as I will be in the basement watching my new favorite show:

Odin's Day Oddity

Further proof that Sutton and Gracie are the best broadcast team in baseball.

There's a 1st for everything & Looking back at the PFBL draft

The "I homered before Albert Pujols" club closed it's door to new membership on Sunday afternoon with 272 players homering ahead of Pujols this season (according to baseballmusings.com). Perhaps the best part of the 2-run dinger was the the Angels dugout celebration.

Only the Bizarro Royals can hope that this means bright days ahead for the Halos slugger, as the first round pick had only 34 points heading into Sunday. However, Pujols was not alone in the "I'm a first round pick and I've only scored 34 points so far this year" club. He's joined by Colorado Tumbleweed's Cliff Lee. Though Lee has somewhat more of a solid alibi having been sidelined  on the DL for the last few weeks. After the jump we'll take a deeper look back at breaking down the PFBL draft just over a month into the season.

Friday Fathomings

Check out what hits theaters today!

Thor's Day Thoughts

Please tell me that Walgreens will not be selling these.

Jerry Hairston is out!

Animated .gif after the jump.

Odin's Day Oddity

A high school pitcher in Illinois recently pulled a Randy Johnson:

Don't worry, the bird survived and flew away.

OSITF Odyssey - Week 1

The sons of Jerry have all been eliminated, but Matt and Basil are still picking.

D.C. Nats: softball team?

This video is everywhere now, but if you haven't seen Bryce Harper playing softball at the Washington Monument on his first off-day in The Show, here it is:

"You gotta hustle, rookie!"

Tuesday Two-seam

MLB The Show is incredible. If I had a late-night talk show, this is probably all I would do: