The 2011 season has begun. On Sundays I will be recapping the week that was (save for the ESPN game of the week. I don’t want to write at the crack of dawn; any great moment in that game will be on next week’s blog posting). Among the highlights are the fast starts of the Orioles, Phillies, Reds and (sorry Red Sox fans) Rangers. Each of these teams has begun 3-0. Carlos Quintin of the White Sox and Ryan Howard of the Phillies are the best offensive so far in their respective leagues, honorable mentions go out to Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz of the Rangers as well as Mark Texieira of the Yankees for hitting 3 home runs apiece. Rookie J.P. Arencibia of the Blue Jays hit 2 home runs on opening day. Jeremy Guthrie of the Orioles turned in a fantastic pitching performance at their season opener giving up only 3 hits over 8 innings, but the top performance goes to the Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia for his complete game, 4 hit shutout over the Padres. The Mariners’ Felix Hernandez deserves a special mention for his complete game victory over the A’s. The complete game is such a dying commodity I think I am going to feel the need to mention each and every one of them. The best offensive performance thus far goes to the Tigers’ Brennan Boesch going 4 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBIs over the Yankees today.
On an unrelated note….
I was in Florida during spring training in 1988. It was Haines City, Florida at the new spring training facility for the Kansas City Royals. It was a part of the “Boardwalk and Baseball” theme park. The fact that it was out in the middle of nowhere eventually led to its demise. A man walked by me that I recognized. Spring training back then wasn’t as in vogue as it is today so the place wasn’t flooded with Red Sox fans so I asked the man to sign my baseball. It was general manager of the Red Sox, Lou Gorman who we lost April 1st.
I talked to Lou for a few minutes about Ellis Burks who had recently got hurt, he talked in great detail about the bone chip that had to be removed and how Ellis was not going to be ready for opening day and that future star Brady Anderson had been given the job in the interim. I have never shaken a male hand that was so soft before. Not much manual labor there but he couldn’t have been a nicer guy. By this time people got wise and a crowd had gathered and Lou would not be leaving anytime soon but he did not seem to mind.
Rest in peace Lou
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