It appears as though Manny Ramirez is finished with baseball in Taiwan. Devoted Manny in Taiwan blogger Brandon DuBreuil relayed a series of reports early this morning, noting that Ramirez is expected to leave the country on June 21.
Archive for the ‘HardBall Talkin’’ Category
These Are Truly the Last Days of Manny Ramirez… In Taiwan
Posted by Scott Lewis under HardBall Talkin' on Jun 19, 2013
Video: Carlos Gomez Overcomes Gimmickry, Makes Great Catch
Posted by Drew Fairservice under Carlos Gomez, HardBall Talkin', Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers on Jun 19, 2013
You know that hill in centerfield at Enron FieldMinute Maid Park? It’s pretty much the dumbest thing in baseball and the worst part of the tricked up (but lovely, I’m sure) ballpark in Houston.
One day, somebody less capable than Carlos Gomez is going to run up that hill and they won’t make a terrific catch, as Gomez did. Some poor schmuck will traipse up that incline and everything will go horribly wrong, resulting in naught but twisted limbs and ligaments rather than the wry smile/look of amazement worn by Gomez after reeling in this long drive.
And then, somebody will realize this goofy gimmick in the goofiest, gimmickiest park in the league should go.
It will be too late for that chump but not too late to admire Carlos Gomez for making a great play. Way to go, Carlos. That was pretty cool.
Today in Baseball Miscellanea: Puig Destroyer
Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', Yasiel Puig on Jun 14, 2013
You like baseball, right? Well how do you feel about things tangentially related to baseball? It’s Friday, you love stuff like this!
First, there is this Kenny Powers tattoo which made its way around Tumblr (coming to me via Pitchers and Poets) today. Credit to Laughing Buddha Tattoo in Seattle for creating this masterpiece. Remember this show/guy? He was a baseball player and used frequent profanity. Good times.
Next comes something from Getting Blanked’s own Riley Breckenridge of Productive Outs – Puig Destroyer. Pig Destroyer was/is a grindcore band of some acclaim who play fast, offensive metal with insane blast beats.
Puig Destroyer plays fast, aggresive grindcore…about baseball, and Yusiel Puig specifically. Featuring Rily and Ian (the other half of Productive Outs who also plays in the great SF band Kowloon Walled City), Jon (from KWC), and Mike (formerly of Curl Up and Die), Puig Destroyer is amazing. That’s it. The song they posted today is perfect, as I’m sure the rest of the songs of this fun EP will be. Go buy a shirt.
Video: Run for Cover, A Sniper Roams Citi Field!
Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin' on Jun 13, 2013
Childish as it might be, this viney video makes me laugh a whole lot. The forced perspective makes it seem as though Trevor Rosenthal actually looks over his shoulder to check on this poor, tumbling bastard.
I dunno, I’m a simple man with simple tastes. Give me a husky dude rolling down three rows of seats and I’m content. Sue me.
Hat tip to Matt Sebak on twitter.
Today in Amazing: Inspirational/Telerobotic First Pitch
Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', Oakland Athletics on Jun 13, 2013
There is nothing about this video that isn’t tremendous. A young boy in Kansas City, stricken with a rare blood disease which makes taking in live baseball games difficult. Big Data, stepping up in an attempt to do a good thing and score some good PR. And, most importantly, the words “telerobotic” appearing on MLB.com and, now, Getting Blanked.
The A’s and reliever Ryan Cook teamed with Google to provide Nick LeGrande the chance to throw out the first pitch in Oakland before an A’s/Yankees game…from his home in Kansas City.
Video: Dodgers and Diamondbacks Brawl After Greinke Drilled
Posted by Scott Lewis under HardBall Talkin' on Jun 12, 2013
Last night’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers got ugly after after Ian Kennedy threw at Zack Greinke’s head in the seventh inning, causing both benches to empty.
It was a HBP-filled evening. Cody Ross was hit by a pitch earlier in the game, then Yasiel Puig took one off the face, which led to Greinke planting one between Miguel Montero’s numbers… to which Kennedy would retaliate in the most idiotic of manner by throwing at Greinke’s melon.
Video: Giancarlo Stanton Announces His Return
Posted by Drew Fairservice under Giancarlo Stanton, HardBall Talkin' on Jun 11, 2013
Fresh off the disabled list, having missed more than forty days with a hamstring strain, Giancarlo Stanton takes Brewers reliever Jim Henderson deeeeeeeep to left center field to put the woeful Marlins ahead of the nearly-as-woeful Brewers in the bottom of the 8th inning.
A healthy Stanton makes the 2013 season at least 22% less crappy! And not a moment too soon. For the Marlins, I mean. Not my own personal well-being, or the well-being of their color commentator who screams “HE’S BAAAAACK!!!!!” when the ball leaves the yard. One man can only take so much Marlins baseball, I fear.
By the way: is anybody else completely enamored with the home run statue thing now? It’s pretty much the best.

