Thursday Thoughts

Good Afternoon baseball fans, time for some thoughts on the great game of our youth, the game of baseball.


Thanks to the Blue Jays Jose Bautista for getting 2 hits for me last night in my FOX Sports Baseball Hot Streak, which now stands at 3 in a row.


Bautista, the big league HR leader, singled twice last night at Kansas City, and hasn't gone deep since May 28th against the White Sox.


Tonight I'm all about the Tigers Justin Verlander, and 5+ strikeouts vs, the Mariners,


Here's my history of selections.

It was very sad to hear of the passing yesterday of former Detroit Tigers outfielder Jim Northrup.


Jim was a member of the 1968 World Series Championship Tigers, and his  2 run triple in the 7th inning of Game 7 was the series winner.


The Gray Fox was a terrific player for the Tigers, and I've written before about his home run into the depths of the right field bleacher one night in 1972.


The ball landed about 10 rows, or so, in front of me, and is as close as I've ever had a HR ball come near me.


The firing of manager Bob Geren today by the Oakland A's is one of those firing's that always makes me wonder why.


The A's have been depleted by injuries, including four starting pitchers who are currently on the DL, and closer Andrew Bailey, who was hurt for two months.


The A's have a bad offense, yes, but the last time I looked the manager doesn't draft the players.


Geren will be replaced by Bob Melvin, who has experience as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.


I see where the Yankees didn't like it when the Red Sox David Ortiz flipped his bat after hitting a home run on Tuesday night in Boston's win over New York.


Really?


In a rivalry like the Yankees-Red Sox, showing emotion after hitting a big HR is part of the game.


If the Yankees don't like it, maybe they should try getting Big Papi and the other BoSox players out.


Boston is 9-1 this year against the Bronx Bombers.


The Pittsburgh Pirates are 30-30 on the year after winning last night over the Diamondbacks.


It's the first time since 2005 that the Bucs have been at the .500 mark this late in the baseball season.


One of my favorite players to watch is the Pirates young center fielder, Andrew McCutchen, who's walk off HR in the 12th inning of last night's game gave the Pirates a 3-2 win.


The Rockies Tod Helton doubled twice last night, his 541st double of his big league career, tying him with Bobby Abreu of the Angels, and Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby for 27th All-Time in the big leagues.


Boston's knuckleballer Tim Wakefield won his 182nd game with the BoSox, and is now within 10 games of joining the legendary Cy Young and Roger Clemens with the most All-Time wins as a Red Sox pitcher.


Until next time, batter up!