You suckers missed the fact that I was blogging spring training all weekend. Don’t try to deny it. I see the web traffic stats. You were spending time with your families or watching that godforsaken Oscars show or something instead of reading my dispatches from Arizona. Shame on you. But I now give you a second chance to catch up:
- Mike Trout is happy to be here, just wants to help the ballclub, is taking them one day at a time and all of that rebop.
- Mike Scioscia is not very good at keeping secrets.
- Matt Kemp: Lord of Hustle.
- Nothing to see here. Just a bunch of ballplayers walking down the third base concourse in uniform. And hey, look! Deschutes beer at Tempe Diablo Stadium!
- I can’t tell you how happy I am that there will be a major leaguer named “Rubby” soon.
- It’s cute watching Arizonans freak out about a few showers and a cloud or two.
- In which I ponder the sheer ridiculousness of five million people living in a desert.
- So it looks like I’m going to be suing the Cincinnati Reds and Ryan Hanigan over the grievous personal injuries I received at their hands.
- I taught a South Korean baseball writer what a footlong chili dog is. I suspect I have made a war more likely as a result.
- In which I argued with a man over the fact that Marty Brennaman is not Bob Uecker.
Of course, there was baseball news that didn’t have anything to do with me being a jackass at multiple spring training complexes:
- Duke Snider passed away. Joins Mickey. Willie still going strong.
- Carlos Gonzalez just cashed in big, so of course it makes sense for the Rockies to put him in the defensive position that makes him less valuable than any other.
- Chad Durbin and the Indians get together.
- Jason Bay is playing real baseball games again.
- Justin Duchscherer is hurt? Shocking.
- Miguel Cabrera is almost a go. I worked with someone who got a DUI once. He was in the office the day after his wife bailed him out, so pardon me if I’m not overly impressed with Mr. Cabrera at the moment.
- The Yankees are interested in Francisco Liriano? Color me gobsmacked.
- Some people say that Adrian Beltre is going to miss only two weeks. Heyman says a month. Who ya gonna believe? Oh, and did I mention that Beltre is represented by Scott Boras?
- Rich Harden is still battling injuries. Color me double-gobsmacked.
- Kyle McLellan is going to try to replace Adam Wainwright. Kevin Millwood immediately starts Googling “Kyle McLellan.”
- Chase Utley is feeling creaky, but the MRI says things are mostly cool. Welcome to what the rest of your 30s are going to feel like, Mr. Utley.
- Remember when McNulty got inside Stringer Bell’s apartment after he died and was shocked to find the high art and the weighty reading on the bookshelf and said “who was I chasing?” I sort of feel like that with Jody Gerut. Who was this guy? I mean, crap, if I knew he was this interesting I probably would have paid closer attention.
Four more days of spring training action ahead. Hohokam Stadium and the Cubbies later today. After that I’m gonna visit the White Sox and A’s. Thursday is a wild card, though. Anyone with suggestions of where I should go — ballpark wise, that is — leave them in the comments.
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- kiwicricket - Feb 28, 2011 at 5:45 AM
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When does all the gang-banging take place again? (Or was that a different blog I clicked on last year?)
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- cur68 - Feb 28, 2011 at 10:08 AM
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Hey. Welcome back Kiwi. Utley was asking after you a few days back. More shaken than stirred?
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- Utley's Hair - Feb 28, 2011 at 11:46 AM
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KIWI!!!! Welcome back. Hope all is well—or as well as can be expected—down there.
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- Old Gator - Feb 28, 2011 at 7:41 AM
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On Thursday, skip another meaningless spring training game and drive down to Tucson and get those green corn tamales at Leruas.
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- hep3 - Feb 28, 2011 at 9:56 AM
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As long as you are down in Tucson, try the Guadalara Grill and the salsa made fresh at the table and the giant Margaritas.
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- Old Gator - Feb 28, 2011 at 7:42 AM
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Oh, and when in Tucson don’t forget to go to the Tanque Verde cactus nursery and see if they have a Euphorbia that mimics Bud Selig. Betcha they do.
Be especially careful not to step on a horned toad in Tucson. Just a reminder.
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- proudlycanadian - Feb 28, 2011 at 7:48 AM
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What is the difference between a horned toad and a horned frog?
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- yankeesfanlen - Feb 28, 2011 at 8:24 AM
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One plays for the Yankees and is FAT.
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- Old Gator - Feb 28, 2011 at 10:56 AM
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A horned toad is a lizard. A horned frog doesn’t merely mimic a frog, like some kind of Euphorbia. A horned frog is a real honest to Buddha frog. Just horned.
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- Cold weather Stupid Bowls should be banned! - Feb 28, 2011 at 7:53 AM
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You’re the real sucker Craig – allowing yourself to be tricked into going to AZ. Real spring training is in full swing and is taking place in Florida.
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- jon kk - Feb 28, 2011 at 8:39 AM
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Awesome photo? Did you take it?
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- Craig Calcaterra - Feb 28, 2011 at 8:40 AM
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Nope. Stock photo.
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- PanchoHerreraFanClub - Feb 28, 2011 at 8:41 AM
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Craig, have the police stopped you yet and ask you for your green card?
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- Utley's Hair - Feb 28, 2011 at 11:49 AM
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I’m guessing they see either see Craig as undead, or the sun shining off his dome temporarily blinds them so he’s gone before they get their vision back.
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- sportsdrenched - Feb 28, 2011 at 10:09 AM
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You’re probably right about the web traffic. But I did drop by while I was GameDay Audioing a couple of games….during the useless awards show last night.
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- Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward - Feb 28, 2011 at 10:16 AM
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Interesting ‘Wire’ reference, but I see the link. Let me know if you can match up a player that is similar to Omar, b/c that would be noteworthy.
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- cur68 - Feb 28, 2011 at 10:28 AM
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Kay, see, I’m piqued here. Usually these comments are read by me for the purposes of amusement and enlightenment. This one may have been posted in order to make me read the entire blog and comment section again, and then again, and then AGAIN looking for the Omar reference. If it was posted to make me re-read this stuff, well played Mr. Heyward, well played. Us Jays fans are gullible (we believe, for instance, that we got a shot at the AL East) but curious. Since I’m always interested in what random guys named “Omar” are doing, can you explain this one to me?
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- Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward - Feb 28, 2011 at 10:43 AM
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I’m pretty sure you’re just missing Craig’s reference to the HBO show ‘The Wire’ if I’m reading your comment correctly. Omar, McNulty and Stringer Bell are all characters of the (awesome) program.
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- cur68 - Feb 28, 2011 at 10:55 AM
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Ahhhh. Ignorance exposed. Don’t watch the show (I pretty much only watch sports, Top Gear, and the Daily Show). Now my curiosity is really piqued. I shall have to see if my cable provider is so endowed. Cheers.
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- Alex K - Feb 28, 2011 at 11:08 AM
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The show is over. DVD is the only way to consume it now. I highly recommend it, though. It is my favorite show ever.
And for players that match-up with Omar……ummmmm…….I’ll have to think on that. Indeed.
