June 30
I didn't know the world would last this long
Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick is on the disabled list. Who is the last regular Orioles shortstop to be on the DL before him? Mark Belanger in 1979.
According to research by industrious Orioles PR man Kevin Behan, that was Belanger's only stint on the DL. Luis Aparicio, before him, was not disabled and the last regular O's shortsyop before Belanger to go on the DL was Ron Hansen in 1963.
Paint by numbers
The potential for Cal Ripken notes are now boundless. Broadcaster and former Ripken teammate Mike Flanagan says "there are endless numbers to play with," and in this past week, with the 20th anniversary of the 33 inning Triple-A Pawtucket-Rochester game in which Ripken played, that the time of that game was 8:07, and he got his 3,000th hit at 8:07 p.m.
Out of your life
David Bell has the background to understand the ballot-loading controversy he finds himself embroiled in as he leads AL third basemen in the AL All-Star voting (hey, Al Martin was in the top six outfielders). His grandfather Gus Bell and Wally Post were removed from the 1957 starting lineup for a couple of guys named Henry Aaron and Willie Mays when the commissioner's office determined there had been ballot-stuffing in Cincinnati.
If I had it all
"Unfortunately, I'm catching Bonds."
-- Curt Schilling on giving up his 23rd gopher ball.
A short winter
Mike Stanton has been in the postseason every year since 1990.
Recovering the satellites
If one takes the average 1998-2000 post All-Star Game performances of the Yankees and Red Sox starters, you know why the Red Sox are praying for Pedro Martinez's health and a trade for pitching and why Stanton has his October plans booked.
Yankees pitchers
Roger Clemens, 8-3, 3.06
Andy Pettitte, 8-5, 4.21
Mike Mussina, 7-5, 3.52
Red Sox pitchers
Pedro Martinez, 8-3, 2.31
Hideo Nomo, 5-5, 4.92
Frank Castillo, 2-1, 4.20
Tim Wakefield, 4-5, 5.32
David Cone, 5-6, 4.64
Rolando Arrojo, 5-6, 4.57
Drive South
Ben Grieve's OPS (going into the weekend and for the previous four seasons): .717; 2000: .836; 1999: .839; 1998: .844; 1997: .879.
Who wants yesterday's papers?
Don't think the Internet hasn't spawned a whole new media world. Newspapers in Los Angeles and Seattle this week responded to reports from the Korean News Agency that Chan Ho Park could be headed to the Mariners.
Ridin' with the king
During Thursday's game at Turner Field, a fan circled the stadium with a sign that read, "Bring Back Rocker!"
It was sponsored by WKLS-96 Rock, on which Rocker appears.
Gods' dice
Since being put in the lineup at third base by Bruce Bochy on August 1, 1999, here are Phil Nevin's numbers (going into the weekend's games): 272 games, .307, 62 HR, 216 RBI.
Catapult
Texas third-base prospect Hank Blalock, who had been hitting .375 in the Florida State League before being elevated to Double-A Tulsa, hit for the cycle twice in four games this week. The 20-year-old carried a .387 average into the weekend combined on the two levels.
Breakerfall
It doesn't pay to be the Devil Rays' MVP. Quinton McCracken won it in '98, broke his leg the next season and was released. Roberto Hernandez won it in '99, and was later traded this past offseason. Gerald Williams won it last season, and was released this past Monday.
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