[Posted early Monday a.m. Long day, Sunday, as I had to get up super early for a 5:25 flight out of Des Moines, to Chicago, and then home…whereupon around 7:00 p.m., I conked out. Back to a more normal schedule for the balance of the year.]
Baseball Quiz: [Reader Shu wanted to note how the art of stealing a base has largely been lost in today’s game.] If you include Billy Hamilton (1888-1901) and Arlie Latham (1880-1899…and a stupid game in 1909), Willie Wilson is No. 12 on the all-time steals list with 668. I of course think any player’s record if they played mostly in the 1800s is suspect, so Wilson should be No. 10. That said, Paul Molitor is No. 37 with 504 steals. Name the top four active players who are all between 450 and 499. Answer below.
—Nice sweep for the Mets in Colorado this weekend…identical 14-9 victories Friday and Saturday, and then a 5-1 victory behind spot starter Logan Verrett…his first major-league start and first win. All he did was go 8 innings, allowing just the single run on four hits in Mile High Denver to lower his ERA to 0.84 in 30.1 innings, as he has been up and down from the minors all season.
The reason why he started, though, is significant because the Mets are determined to limit their pitchers’ innings. Verrett pitched in place of Matt Harvey, who was on track to easily handle his OT. The Mets have already announced they will give a day off to Noah Syndergaard.
On Friday, the Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes was 5-for-6, three home runs and a career-high seven RBIs. The next day the Metsies had 21 hits.
–After watching a series of wild pitches by Rockies pitchers yesterday, Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez said, “Please commissioner, don’t expand for another 50 years….there’s a lot of dreck around.”
–The Nationals’ Michael Taylor hit a home run on Thursday in Colorado off Yohan Flande that MLB’s Statscast measured at 493 feet, the longest home run hit in the majors all season. ESPN’s home run tracker had it at 474 feet, the longest by a National this season, 10 feet shorter than a Giancarlo Stanton blast. Taylor seemingly has it all…it’s just about consistency.
–San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner did it again. He picked up the win in the Giants 6-4 Friday night victory over Pittsburgh to go 15-6, and he also hit his fifth home run of the season.
–The Astros Mike Fiers no-hit the Dodgers 3-0 on Friday, striking out 10 and throwing a whopping 134 pitches (for today’s game) in the process. He was acquired from Milwaukee on July 30.
“The day after the Dodgers were the victims of a no-hitter, images of a shiny substance on pitcher Mike Fiers’ glove were circulating around the clubhouse.
“ ‘I don’t want to take anything away from his night,’ outfielder Carl Crawford said.
“Manager Don Mattingly also viewed the social media-driven controversy as a non-issue, saying, ‘I think it sounds like you’re whining if you look at it and talk about it.’
“The consensus around the clubhouse was that a significant number of pitchers use something to improve their grip on the ball.
“ ‘I think it’s pretty much accepted, unless it’s blatantly obvious somebody’s doing it,’ Mattingly said.
—August 22, 1965…San Francisco pitcher Juan Marichal swings a bat at Dodgers catcher John Roseboro as Sandy Koufax tried to break it up.
“Fifty years ago this weekend, (Marichal) brought a baseball bat down upon the head of (Roseboro) in a pounding moment in sports history.
“It was a brawl that forever defined one of sports’ fiercest rivalries, with an ugliness that offered a new and frightening definition of sports violence.
“Yet, 50 years later, the most enduring memory of baseball’s most famous fight is that it did not define the men.
“Monday marks the 13th anniversary of a far more powerful moment, one occurring at Roseboro’s funeral, when, in a hall filled with old Dodgers, an old Giant suddenly walked to the lectern.
“It was Marichal, who wanted to say goodbye, and thank you.
“ ‘Johnny’s forgiving me was one of the best things that happened in my life,’ Marichal told the surprised gathering. ‘I wish I could have had John Roseboro as my catcher.’….
“The brawl was included in the first line in Roseboro’s obituary when he died in August 2002, listed even above his four All-Star games, three Dodgers World Series championships, and his role in two Sandy Koufax no-hitters….
“(In the midst of an intense series at Candlestick Park,) both in the heat of a pennant race…Marichal and Koufax had exchanged brushback pitches to Maury Wills and Willie Mays, respectively, (when) Marichal took it a step further by throwing at Ron Fairly, at which point Roseboro told Koufax he would take care of it….
“Sure enough, with Marichal batting, Roseboro returned the ball to Koufax by throwing it behind Marichal’s head, allegedly clipping his ear. Marichal questioned the catcher, then Roseboro cursed the pitcher and stepped toward him, at which point Marichal raised the bat above his head and brought it down upon Roseboro’s bare head, the lumber landing above his left eye, causing a two-inch gash and raising a welt….
“The ensuing tussle lasted 14 minutes, yet the (Neil Leifer) vision of Marichal pounding Roseboro with the bat will live forever….
“Marichal was suspended for eight days, barred from joining the Giants at Dodger Stadium for two late-season games, and fined $1,750. Roseboro, who required 14 stitches and suffered headaches the rest of the season, sued Marichal, settled out of court for $7,500, and that was the end of it. Or so everyone thought….
“Ten years after the brawl, the two men shook hands for the first time since then, when they met at a Dodgers old-timers game. By that time, Marichal actually had joined the Dodgers briefly, as a free agent at the end of his career….
“But a chill still lingered when, 17 years after the brawl, Marichal phoned Roseboro with a request.”
Marichal had failed to receive enough votes for the Hall of Fame in his first two seasons of eligibility and he knew the fight was the reason for the exclusion.
Within weeks, Roseboro flew to Marichal’s golf tournament in the Dominican Republic and announced to the world, all was forgiven. Within months, Marichal called again. He had just been voted into the Hall of Fame.
“That gratitude was felt by Roseboro for the rest of his life. As the catcher lay dying from a failing heart at age 69 in the summer of 2002, Marichal phoned me from the Dominican Republic with desperation in his voice.
“Marichal’s voice broke as he added, ‘A wonderful, wonderful man. I have long ago forgiven him and I truly hope he has forgiven me.’
“Upon Roseboro’s death on Aug. 16, 2002, Marichal continued to honor him by flying to Los Angeles to serve as an honorary pallbearer and deliver one of the eulogies at his funeral.”
–For the archives I have to note that last Tuesday, Alex Rodriguez had his major league-leading 25th career grand slam, breaking a 1-27 skid in the process as the Yanks beat the Twins 8-4.
–The New York Post reported Mets ownership, chiefly the Wilpons, refinanced $700 million in debt, which definitely had a role in the team acquiring the likes of Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline. [The team took on $8.5 million for the balance of the year in acquiring Cespedes, Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson and Tyler Clippard…all of whom have expiring contracts.]
–What a great moment at the Wyndham Championship as Davis Love III, age 51, became the third oldest in PGA Tour history to win an event, his 21st in his career and first since 2008. Only Sam Snead (52 years, 10 months) and Art Wall (51, 7 mos.) were older than Love (51, 4 mos.).
Tiger Woods, after a 64-65 start, finished 68-70, -13 and T-10. Woods’ season is officially over.
Wake Forest’s Bill Haas and Webb Simpson finished T-6 before the home fans in Greensboro.
–Certainly looks as if Judge Richard M. Berman of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is preparing to squelch the four-game suspension handed down by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to New England QB Tom Brady over DeflateGate; at least according to some legal experts.
After attorneys for the NFL and the NFL Players Association made their cases on Wednesday in oral arguments, both sides are due back in court Aug. 31. Brady and Goodell were absent Wednesday, but are required to attend next time. Berman does not seem impressed by Goodell’s action.
–I have to admit I couldn’t give a damn about exhibition football. Sorry, I won’t watch a minute of it. I just want everyone healthy (which of course is never the case). For example, it looks like the Packers’ Jordy Nelson suffered a serious knee injury this weekend, which is a huge blow for Aaron Rodgers and the offense.
It’s almost impossible to keep up with all the key injuries in the sport but Cleveland may also have one on its hands with Johnny Manziel, who hurt his arm in practice on Saturday throwing a deep pass. Manziel has had elbow soreness and coach Mike Pettine ordered him to take the rest of practice off, but insisted it is not a long-term thing.
—Jason Pierre-Paul posted two messages on his Twitter account Sunday. First: “What happened to me was not a setback. God has greater plans for me. No man can judge me accepted (sic) God himself.”
Then, two minutes later, he added: “My bad except lost a finger LOL.”
This was the first official confirmation from Paul himself he had indeed lost his right index finger. JPP of course has yet to sign the franchise tender of $14.8 million. If he did, the Giants could put him on the injured list and save at least six games’ worth of compensation.
—Robert Griffin III was cleared to play just three days after suffering a concussion. Clearly it was not a serious one.
But the controversy is over how coach Jay Gruden left Griffin in in a senseless exhibition game, while the Redskins’ offensive line was getting mauled; RG3 thus suffering a beating.
–Bob Baffert is bringing American Pharoah to Saratoga and next weekend’s Travers Stakes. It sure is an interesting move…Saratoga having the nickname “Graveyard of Champions.” As I wrote a few weeks ago, it was Saratoga where Secretariat lost in the Whitney to a horse named Onion. And Affirmed was disqualified for interference in a race against rival Alydar.
But Pharoah has been turning in great workouts at his summer home out in Del Mar and Baffert said the colt was ready. In fact one training run at seven-furlongs had both Baffert and long-time track watchers blown away. [Joe Drape / New York Times]
I’m prepared for Pharoah to lose. Selfishly, I think it was important for him to win the Haskell and that anything after is gravy. But I’ll certainly be glued to the tube on Saturday.
–I watched the video of Usain Bolt’s win over Justin Gatlin for the world championship in the 100 in Beijing at least five times and I don’t see how Bolt did it. But he did; 9.79 to Gatlin’s 9.80. You have to see it for yourself.
The bronze was also a tie between Andre de Grasse (Canada) and Trayvon Bromell (U.S.) – 9.92.
Both Bolt and Gatlin stumbled at different stages, Gatlin’s at the end perhaps being the most costly. [Bolt almost didn’t make the finals when he stumbled in a heat.]
It was Bolt’s record ninth world championships gold medal, breaking his tie with Carl Lewis.
But Renaldo Nehemiah, Gatlin’s agent and former star hurdler, said after that the American “was way overextended before (the finish line). I told him, When you look back on this, you’ll realize you gave him that race.’
Nehemiah added: “Justin wanted it very badly. I feel badly for him because of all the negativity that’s been surrounding him these last two years.”
Gatlin, 33, has twice served doping suspensions.
Nehemiah said Gatlin broke down afterwards. I feel sorry for the guy, having seen him perform in person. As Nehemiah said, “(This) was the only way for him to kind of feel vindicated, by just winning, because nobody else was in his corner media-wise.”
A reporter told Gatlin afterwards that many saw this race as a morality play, an important one for the sport. Gatlin replied, “I’m thankful.”
But of the nine finalists, four were convicted drug cheats: Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Mike Rodgers.
Alyssa Montano, an American 800-meter runner, tweeted, “Give me a break.”
The gold in the men’s 10,000m went to none other than Britain’s Mo Farrah again. Kenyans were 2 and 3.
Ghimay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea won the men’s marathon.
—Joey Logano won the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, with Kevin Harvick finishing second a 10th time this season.
–The New York Times had a story by Richard Sandomir on how activists want Greg Louganis on a box of Wheaties. I don’t see why this would be an issue, after 30…30…years. Go ahead, put him on the cover.
Louganis won diving gold in 1984 and 1988. He came out in 1994, but did not acknowledge until the release of his autobiography the next year that he had tested HIV-positive before the ’88 Games.
–In Premier League action this weekend, Manchester United was held to a 0-0 draw by visiting Newcastle, while newly promoted Bournemouth, for the first time in its 125-year history, scored goals in the top level of English football, and won a game as Callum Wilson scored a hat trick in a 4-3 victory at West Ham. Now that’s cool.
But my Tottenham Spurs are winless after three, following their second draw, 1-1 at Leicester. My man Harry Kane is goalless thus far.
Chelsea defeated West Brom 3-2, while Manchester City took Everton 2-0.
Big one Monday morning (U.S. time) as Liverpool tussles with Arsenal.
–The AP College Football poll is out, Ohio State a unanimous top selection.
1. Ohio State
2. TCU
3. Alabama
4. Baylor
5. Michigan State
6. Auburn
7. Oregon
8. USC
9. Georgia
10. Florida State
11. Notre Dame
Well, I’m not bucking the pollsters…your Bar Chat, unexciting, “Pick to Click” is indeed Ohio State.
“USC head coach Steve Sarkisian has apologized for his behavior at Saturday night’s Salute to Troy event, where according to sources he was intoxicated, used foul language and insulted other programs.
“Sarkisian appeared to be drunk and was slurring his words, a team source said.”
Athletic Director Pat Haden was seen berating Sarkisian backstage afterward.
Among other things, Sarkisian disparaged USC opponents, saying “they all suck.”
–So you all saw that ‘cute’ bear video from Rockaway Township, New Jersey, mama bear and her five cubs playing in a pool.
But what did I tell you just the other week? That New Jersey’s bear population was exploding and one reason was the kinds of trees we have and the food they provide…how it allows mother bears to fatten up before winter and have two cubs instead of just one.
But five?!!! Good lord. Sorry, bruin lovers. The bear hunt needs to be extended by a considerable sum this year and in years hereafter.
–As of a few days ago, bulls had gored seven people to death during festivals across Spain since the beginning of July – four of them last weekend. But as the news website El Diario reports, last year more than 7,200 bulls and steers were killed by bullfighters across Spain.
‘Bull’ is No. 89 on the All-Species List. ‘Man’ remains mired at No. 339.
Top 3 songs for the week 8/24/74: #1 “(You’re) Having My Baby” (Paul Anka with Odia Coates) #2 “The Night Chicago Died” (Paper Lace) #3 “Tell Me Something Good” (Rufus)…and…#4 “Feel Like Makin’ Love” (Roberta Flack) #5 “I Shot The Sheriff” (Eric Clapton) #6 “Waterloo” (Abba) #7 “Wildwood Weed” (Jim Stafford) #8 “I’m Leaving It (All) Up To You” (Donny & Marie Osmond) #9 “Rock Me Gently” (Andy Kim) #10 “Keep On Smilin’” (Wet Willie)
Baseball Quiz Answer: Four active players between 450 and 500 in steals: Ichiro, 497; Jose Reyes, 474; Carl Crawford, 473; Jimmy Rollins, 462.
Then you have to go way down to A-Rod at 325. Of course we’ll see how long the Reds’ Billy Hamilton’s career is.
