June 16
Some guys have all the luck
None of the teams with the 13 lowest payrolls in 2001 has a winning record in both 2000 and 2001.
The Oakland A's are the closest, but they fell one game under .500 in that span after losing in
San Francisco June 15.
What do you do when it stops being new?
Braves attendance at Turner Field:
1997: 3.464 million
1998: 3.361 million
1999: 3.284 million
2000: 3.234 million
2001: 2.787 million*
* projected, using games through June 14
Can't buy me love
As of the morning of June 16, these items were for sale on eBay:
4,909 Barry Bonds items, topped by a rookie card for $1,136;
3,859 Mark McGwire items, including a $2,000 rookie card;
2,101
Ichiro items, topped by a $3,155 jersey;
1,061 Pedro Martinez items, including
a $2,100 rookie card;
643 Vladimir Guerrero items, including an $800 rookie
card;
three Omar Olivares items, topped by a $1.29 rookie card;
six Harold Reynolds items, topped by a $5 autograph;
801 Pamela Anderson items, topped by a $2,700 painting;
300 Bono items, including a $290 signed tambourine;
6,474 Tiger Woods items, topped by a
$75,000 signed card;
230 Bill Clinton items, including a $314 item signed by
Clinton, George Bush and Ronald Reagan (not a rookie card);
128 George W. Bush items, topped by a $99.99 signed photo;
and 2,778 Allen Iverson items, topped
by a $1,000 "masterpiece." Not Master P, Masterpiece.
Olivares, however, is the only one in the group who demanded to be traded
after being asked to take his 2-7, 7.10 record to the bullpen.
Sail on, Sail on, Sailor
If it's so easy to hit balls into McCovey Cove, how come of the 11 balls
hit there through June 15, 10 were hit by Barry Bonds?
Listen my friend ...
Guitarist Bill Guerra was on tour with Todd Thibeaud when Thibeaud -- who
wrote and recorded the song "Omaha" (no relation to the Moby Grape tune) which
ESPN uses in its College World Series telecasts -- was asked to sing the anthem
before one of the CWS games.
Guerra was in the dugout during a home run derby when a voice behind him
boomed, "Son, is that a Gibson guitar?" Yes, it was Bob Gibson, who began
playing the guitar. So, before leaving, Guerra had his Gibson autographed by
the Hall of Fame Gibson.
"Has anyone ever asked you to sign one of these?" asked Guerra.
"No," replied Gibson. "But I've been waiting for you to ask me."
In my room
Why some American League relief pitchers should never take batting
practice: Paul Shuey strained his elbow taking BP Thursday and had to go on
the DL. It is the fifth straight season the Indian reliever has been on the
DL.
Drifting sideways
Last Nov. 22, the Cincinnati Reds cleared payroll by sending RHP
Steve Parris to Toronto for LHP Clayton Andrews and RHP Leo Estrella.
On June 13, the Reds lost Estrella to the Mets on waivers and
outrighted Andrews to Double-A Chattanooga.
On June 14, the Blue Jays put Parris on irrevocable waivers. Asked
why they would do that, one AL GM said, "two obvious reasons -- salary and
performance."
Pieces of the past
Bob Finnigan of the Seattle Times points out the best RBI seasons of the
Family Boone:
116: Ray, 1955 for Detroit
66: Bob, 1977 for Philadelphia
95: Bret, 1998 for Cincinnati
Mountain of love
Since Coors Field opened, there have been 21 visiting managers who have
managed more than 10 games. Best? Billy Russell (8-4) and Jack McKeon (12-7).
Worst? Tony La Russa (9-19) and Jim Leyland (5-18). Poor Leyland then
managed the Rockies to their worst home mark (39-42).
Home wrecker
When the Tigers traded for Chris Holt, it was thought he would benefit
from moving out of Enron Field to Comerica Park. He was 4-6, 4.91 at Enron,
and is 1-5, 6.90 at Comerica.
I remember you
Howe Sports Bureau reports that Midre Cummings leads the minor leagues in
batting average, .400 for Tucson.
House of love
The San Diego Padres sold out Friday night's game with Seattle, had a
near-sellout Saturday and promoted Father's Day by allowing children to bring
their fathers onto the field after the game for a catch.
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