Image courtesy of Deadspin (in a way)
The good people at Deadspin came across a tidy little piece of information: a game-used bat belonging to Mickey Mantle is scheduled to go up for auction later this month. When the authentication expert noticed a few imperfections in the bat’s surface, he got out the x-ray machine and discovered, lo, the Great American Hero used a corked bat at the end of his career.
Get out the fainting couches and Valium, Billy Crystal is going to need a minute or two.
Ryan Howard might not be the perfect baseball player but he sure seems like a pretty cool dude. This picture was posted on DJ Premier’s instragram page and includes a very important detail: Ryan Howard had DJ Premier as the DJ at his wedding. Which, I think we can all agree, is the kind of thing we would all do provided a $125 million guaranteed contract.
Secondary to posing with hip hop royalty, Ryan Howard also appears to have a Tottenham Hotspur shirt on at this time. As a West Ham supporter, this offends me. But Ryan Howard deserves credit just for not supporting one of the Big Four. The bar is set incredibly low but were he sporting a Manchester United jersey in this photo, I’d probably have a few more snide comments about his contract in this piece.
There is art and beauty in everything in our world, so long as you bother to look. Sure, this Pittsburgh Pirates tribute/ripoff of the Saturday Night Live opening credits is ripe for the mocking. It wouldn’t take much work to snark on it for a few minutes and then call it a day.
Instead, let’s admire this 2:00 minute video which plays on the PNC Park videoboard to introduce the Pirates lineup for its production values and and loving devotion to the source material. The only thing it’s missing is the Keenan Thompson “bicyclists high five” that I enjoy whenever I catch SNL.
If you still think this video is cheesy, at least admire Pedro Alvarez‘s sweet Thundercats tshirt. He’s just the best.
Hit the jump for another great Pirates scoreboard video, probably the best scoreboard video in the history of the world.
Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, who intends to pay for $500 million worth of renovations to Wrigley Field out of pocket, says that moving could be an option if plans for an outfield videoboard and other signs get nixed.
Ricketts is staring down a battle with owners of the buildings surrounding Wrigley Field over the possibility of obstructed views from rooftop seats across the street. In speaking at an event this morning, Ricketts intimated that moving the Cubs remains a possibility if he doesn’t get his videoboard and additional signage:
Ricketts at AM event: If team can’t put up OF signs, “we’re going to have to consider moving.”
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) May 1, 2013
Rooftop owners currently have an agreement with the Cubs to share revenues from the seats. It’s entirely reasonable that they would be upset about the likelihood that this revenue stream could be diminished, or extinguished, if the proposed renovations obstruct patrons from viewing Cubs games.
At this point, it seems like Ricketts will be getting his giant videoboard and signs, rooftop owners be damned. A compromise would appear to be in order, which could mean compensation for potential lost revenues to rooftop owners, or strategic placement of signage. Whatever the case, Ricketts’ seemingly empty threats come across more than a little bit dramatic.
Wrigley Field is almost set for nearly $500 million in renovations. While fan enthusiasm for the ballpark’s overhaul seems to be mixed, Tom Ricketts and co. appear to be hellbent on ushering the Confines into the modern era. An artist’s rendering of the proposed changes, via CSN Chicago, shows off several of the highlights for the nearly 100-year old park.
Click through to CSN for a look at some of the changes planned to the entrances and a look at the office building outside of the field. The sketch above shows off the giant videoboard planned for left field, and a ‘Wrigley Field’ sign pegged for right field. The club is reportedly willing to work with local businesses to come to an agreement on sign placement, in an effort to keep nearby rooftop patio seats functional.
Throwing a baseball is a rather violent motion. Pitching, in particular, puts incredible strain on nearly the entire body. The twisting motion, the rapid acceleration of very touchy body parts and connective tissues, it is a small wonder it doesn’t end in disaster more often.
Once this herky jerky motion begins, it isn’t a good idea to stop it suddenly. When a batter attempts to call time with a pitcher already into his motion, it only increases the chance for injury. Most coaches tell pitchers not to stop your motion, go ahead and throw the pitch anyway.
This pitcher from NPB game takes this advice to heart. He also appears to take the affront to his muscularture personally, as he fires the ball directly at the chest of the offending batter. An equally dangerous move with an even higher likelihood of wounding than stopping one’s windup, though one considerably more badass and therefore acceptable. It’s the way of the world – put another man’s health at risk only in a giffable moments. Tough but fair, badasses must be rewarded.
H/T to @Royal_Heritage on Twitter.
Update: Deadspin has more detail on the incident, as well as video. That’s Bryan Bullington on the mound!
The Toledo Mud Hens will wear Chewbacca jerseys in their game against the Charlotte Knights on the weekend as part of Star Wars Weekend the team has planned.
Their slogans for the weekend. “May the fourth be with you” and “Revenge of the fifth”.
Only in the minor-leagues!
H/T to bigleadsports for the photo
