Baseball

[njbill]

Nope. Didn’t wash the shirt.

Sure hope you are right.

Well, for one thing, the Phillies are undefeated in game sevens.

[DMac]

Am thinkin' you gotta take that shirt off for the last 3 outs, njb.
Somthin's gotta change, aint much workin' right now. Down 2, 3 outs left.

Wow, Phillies fell hard, D'BACKS absolutely shut 'em down.
Never would've thunk it.

[njbill]

Yeah, big disappointment around here. Schwarber, Turner, Harper, and Castellanos were 1-28 in the last two games. Phils ain’t gonna win too many games with production like that from the stars.

Credit to the Diamondbacks. As the press said, they are scrappy. They’ve got good starting and relief pitching. They got timely hitting and ran the bases well.

[youthathletics]

Yeah, big disappointment around here. Schwarber, Turner, Harper, and Castellanos were 1-28 in the last two games. Phils ain’t gonna win too many games with production like that from the stars.

Credit to the Diamondbacks. As the press said, they are scrappy. They’ve got good starting and relief pitching. They got timely hitting and ran the bases well.

Its crazy, the game of baseball, so many hot and cold innings....it's actually what makes it so damned fun and suspenseful to watch. The curse of Jobu and the curve ball, is a real thing.

[DMac]

Yeah, big disappointment around here. Schwarber, Turner, Harper, and Castellanos were 1-28 in the last two games. Phils ain’t gonna win too many games with production like that from the stars.

Credit to the Diamondbacks. As the press said, they are scrappy. They’ve got good starting and relief pitching. They got timely hitting and ran the bases well.

Its crazy, the game of baseball, so many hot and cold innings....it's actually what makes it so damned fun and suspenseful to watch. The curse of Jobu and the curve ball, is a real thing.

Yup, baseball is indeed a crazy (and great) game. Any time I see a team/player as hot as the Phillies were in the first two games I can't help but think the law of average is going to catch up with them. You might be hitting 600 for awhile but after all is said and done you'll be lucky to end up at 300. It's a tough game and Yogi was right. Phillies looked unbeatable in the first two games but it wasn't over yet. They get three runs in the last 18 innings. Post season baseball is fantastic. Up next, WS.

[DMac]

Just a bump to get rid of the limp bats ad on top.
Missed game 1 but see Garcia's still on a roll.
Game 2 tonight, won't miss it.

[DMac]

Young girl steps up and does the National Anthem nicely, well done.
Game time.
Sandwich with sides time.
If you didn't know better, you'd think my name was Hans Reubenmeister.
That's pretty top shelf tasty.

[Brooklyn]

^ that's the way to eat!



Series now tied at 1-1. More fun to follow ...

[Brooklyn]

Rangers win 2023 World Series!!

[Brooklyn]

Jim Leyland in HOF!

Cito Gaston failed to get in but I believe he had a slightly better managerial career record.

Lou Piniella also failed to get elected though he had a better record than both. I don't get it.

[Brooklyn]

News from Lake Wobegone ~ baseball Coach John Anderson to retire after 43 years:





https://gophersports.com/news/2023/12/1 ... 024-season


The 2024 season will be Anderson's 43rd year leading the Gophers

The longest-tenured coach in the history of Gopher Athletics, head baseball coach John Anderson has announced that the 2024 season will be his last. Anderson will have been the head coach for 43 seasons at Minnesota.

Anderson joined the Gophers as a player in 1974. With his time spent as a player on the team, student assistant coach, graduate assistant and assistant coach, Anderson will have been at the 'U' for 49 years when he retires.

"It's been the professional honor of my lifetime to work alongside some of the most talented and dedicated coaches in college baseball, support staff members, gifted colleagues, amazing student-athletes and an impressive group of alumni and donors who provided unwavering support throughout my tenure," said Anderson. "I am grateful for the support of all the athletic directors I worked with throughout my career. The University and the tradition-rich Golden Gopher baseball program have impacted me and my family with so many special opportunities and wonderful memories. My hope is, as the leader of the program, I have been able to make the same impact in return. I will forever cherish my time as a student-athlete and coach and the important lifelong friendships and special relationships that were made during the past decades. There will be time to reminisce and share all the great stories that were created on this special journey when the 2024 season is over. But right now, my staff and I are focused on preparing our team for the season ahead and mentoring them into their best version of themselves, so they can reach their potential in the classroom and on the diamond."

Anderson is the winningest baseball coach in the history of the Big Ten with a 1,365-997-3 (.579) overall record and a 614-414 (.598) record against conference opponents. Inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2008, Anderson has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year eight times, most recently in 2018 after leading Minnesota to a Big Ten Championship and the Super Regional for the first time in program history.

In his tenure, the Gopher baseball team has 11 Big Ten titles, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships and made 18 NCAA tournament appearances. The first was during Anderson's inaugural season, 1982, and the most recent was in 2018. Twice in Anderson's tenure, the Gophers have put together four-year streaks of NCAA Regional appearances: 1991-94 and 1998-2001.

"John is Minnesota baseball," said Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "He is one of the finest coaches and individuals in all of college athletics, and our University and state are better off because of his contributions. We look forward to celebrating his final season as the leader of the Gophers."

Under his watch, 115 Gophers have been drafted to the MLB. With two selections in the 2023 draft, the Gophers extended their draft streak to 36 consecutive years. The streak is the longest in the Big Ten with Ohio State (12 years) and Michigan (10 years) as the next closest Big Ten teams.

Anderson has coached 28 All-America selections, nine Big Ten Players of the Year, three Big Ten Pitchers of the Year and four Big Ten Freshman of the Year during his tenure. He's had winning records at Minnesota in 36 of his 42 seasons.

Anderson has been inducted into four different organizations' halls of fame: the American Baseball Coaches Association (2008), the University of Minnesota "M" Club (2002), the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association (2013) and Hibbing Community College.

With his induction into the ABCA Hall of Fame on Jan. 4, 2008, Anderson joined his mentor, Dick Siebert, and another former Gophers coach, Frank McCormick. Anderson was the eighth coach from the state of Minnesota and the 15th Big Ten coach to receive that honor.

He was inducted into the MHSBCA Hall of Fame despite never having coached at the high school level. Anderson's contributions to high school baseball in the state include organizing camps/clinics and fall leagues and fundraising for Siebert Field, which frequently hosts high school level games.

The 'U' finished the 2023 season with an 18-34 overall record and was 10-14 in the Big Ten. Minnesota went 6-4 in its final 10 games, which included a road win at No. 19 Maryland. With a core group of players set to return this season, the Gophers will look to build on their end-of-season success in 2024.

John Anderson's Gopher Timeline:
1974 – Anderson arrived at the University of Minnesota as a sophomore baseball player
1975 – Anderson retired from baseball due to injury
1976 – He became a student assistant coach as a junior in 1976, a role he stayed in through his graduation in 1977.
1978 – He became a graduate assistant under Dick Siebert in 1978.
1979 – Anderson was named a full-time assistant coach by Siebert's successor, George Thomas.
1981 – In September, Thomas resigned and Anderson became the head coach at 26 years old (youngest in Big Ten history).
1982 – Anderson's first team went 33-22-1 and earned an NCAA Regional bid, his first of 19 tournament appearances at Minnesota. His team also won the Big Ten Tournament title, his first of nine as a Gopher. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
1986 – The '86 Gophers went 40-19, Anderson's first of 10 40-win seasons at Minnesota.
1991-95 – The first of four straight NCAA Regional appearances for the Gophers. They finished second in the Big Ten each season.
1998-01 – Anderson's second four-year run of NCAA Tournament bids.
2000 – The Gophers went 38-24 (20-8 Big Ten) winning their first conference title under Anderson.
2002-04 – The 'U' took home three straight Big Ten titles and made the NCAA Tournament in both 2003 and 2004.
2009 – The 'U' went 40-19 (17-6 Big Ten) and made an NCAA Regional.
2010 – Minnesota won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament once again.
2016 – The Gophers took home their 10th Big Ten regular season title under Anderson after going just 21-30 (9-15 Big Ten) in 2015. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 18th time in Anderson's career.
2018 – Perhaps the greatest season in Anderson's tenure at the 'U'. Minnesota went 44-15 (18-4 Big Ten), winning both the regular season and Big Ten tournament crowns. Minnesota hosted a regional and went 3-0 to advance to the Super Regionals, where it fell to future CWS champion and No. 1 seeded Oregon State. It was Minnesota's furthest NCAA Tournament run since making the 1977 College World Series.
2024 – Set to be Anderson's 43rd and final season as the head baseball coach at the University of Minnesota, where he's worked or attended school for the past 49 years of his life.

Longest Coaching Tenures at the U of M:
45 years – John Anderson, Baseball (1979 to present)
44 years – Terry Ganley, Swimming & Diving (1977-78 to 2020-21)
44 years – George "Butch" Nash, Football (1947 to 1980)
38 years – Niels Thorpe, Swimming & Diving (1919-20 to 1956-57)
38 years – Ralph Piper, Gymnastics (1930 to 1962, 1963 to 1968)
36 years – Russ Fystrom, Gymnastics (1981 to 2016)
35 years – Wally Johnson, Wrestling (1951-52 to 1985-86)
34 years – Lynne Anderson, Track & Field (1980 to 2013)
34 years – Fred Roethlisberger, Gymnastics (1971 to 2004)
33 years – Roy Griak, Track & Field / Cross Country (1963 to 95)
33 years – Rob Fornasiere, Baseball (1986 to 2018)
31 years – Dick Siebert, Baseball (1948 to 78)
31 years – J Robinson, Wrestling (1985-96 to 2015-16)
31 years – Jean Freeman, Swimming (1973-74 to 2003-04)
31 years – Les Bolstad, Golf (1946 to 76)
30 years – Dennis Dale, Swimming (1984-85 to 2013-14)



I attended a team banquet many moons ago, met and spoke with Coach and his beautiful wife. Really good people. Years ago he was offered a cool million to coach at Georgia or Georgia Tech (don't recall which) but turned it down. You don't see that type of loyalty so often nowadays.

[Brooklyn]

Larry Doby, the second Black player to break the MLB's color barrier, was posthumously honored by Congress on what would have been his 100th birthday. Doby received the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday at the National Statuary Hall in Washington D.C.1





https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/larr ... old-medal/

https://apnews.com/video/mlb-baseball-m ... 3464b6ea07

[Brooklyn]

Hey Joe Mauer!

Big rumor circulating here in Lake Wobegone that you're on the inside track for the HOF vote. Will know for certain in about 2 weeks.

[Brooklyn]

Everybody is awaiting the HOF vote:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ps ... 72a0&ei=24


Especially in the Twinks:

https://www.startribune.com/joe-mauer-t ... 600337650/


Every day here there is repeated talk of Joe Mauer and the likelihood that he will be a first ballot winner.



Noticeably absent from all consideration is Yadier Molina: Molina is one of only 8 catchers with 2000+ hits and 1000+ RBIs, seven of whom are in the HOF. Nine time Golden Glove.


http://tinyurl.com/bdh4n74h


I just don't know how or why he has missed out.

[Brooklyn]

Hall of Fame!



https://www.startribune.com/joe-mauer-b ... 600337976/

Joe Mauer elected to Baseball Hall of Fame on first ballot
Joe Mauer, a Twins legend made in Minnesota, joins an exclusive club as the third catcher elected on the first ballot to the Baseball Hall of Fame.


That about sums up, to borrow Joe Mauer's own calm-and-unflappable vocabulary, the bulletin that the Twins' retired superstar received on Tuesday: Mauer has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

"He's what a Hall of Famer is all about," said Bert Blyleven, a Hall of Famer himself who watched most of Mauer's career from the broadcast booth. "He's such a class individual, on the field and off the field. Of course he'd never say it about himself, but he's very deserving."

The voting members of the Baseball Writers' of Association of America agreed, as Mauer cleared the 75% of votes necessary to receive the sport's highest honor by getting 76.1%. He got 293 votes -- four votes more than the 289 needed.

"It was unbelievable," Mauer said on the MLB Network of getting the call from the Hall. "I kind of laid low during that time of a possible call and just spent it with family.

"Leading up to today you reflect on all the people who had an impact on your career and who you are as a man. A lot of emotions. It's been a whirlwind, that's for sure."

The St. Paul native, whose career included three AL batting championships, the 2009 American League MVP award and three Gold Gloves, will be inducted on July 21 at the museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., where a plaque bearing his image will be permanently displayed.

Mauer will be joined by power-hitting third baseman Adrián Beltré and former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton. Beltré won five Gold Gloves and hit 477 home runs over a 21-year career with the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers. Helton batted .300 a dozen times in his 17-year career.

Beltré was on 95.1% of the ballots and Helton on 79.7%.

Longtime manager Jim Leyland, chosen by a special non-player committee in December, will also be in the Class of 2024.

Mauer, now 40 and retired for 4 ½ years, is only the third catcher ever to be elected on the first ballot, joining Johnny Bench in 1989 and Iván Rodríguez in 2017.

"His career, being [drafted] first overall and accelerating toward the big leagues, it was almost as if it was scripted," said Paul Molitor, a fellow St. Paul baseball legend who served as Mauer's manager for the final four seasons of the catcher-turned-first-baseman's 15-year career, entirely spent with the Twins. "He obviously kept surpassing expectations, high as they were. Three batting titles, the defensive skill he showed as a catcher — the Hall of Fame seemed like his natural destination."

Narrowly missing election were Billy Wagner, a relief pitcher who saved 422 games over 16 seasons with five teams and received 73.8%. Slugging outfielder Gary Sheffield also fell short in his 10th and final year on the ballot, receiving 63.9%.

Mauer is the fourth overall No. 1 draft pick to reach Cooperstown, after Harold Baines, Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones, and the 13th Hall of Famer ever to play for the Twins. Perhaps most remarkably, he is the fourth St. Paul native to reach baseball immortality, having grown up less than 2 miles from the boyhood homes of Molitor, Jack Morris and Dave Winfield.

"It's pretty amazing. You'd never predict that from a northern climate," said Molitor, who like Mauer is a graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall High School. "I attribute some of it to coaching we all experienced, and the opportunities, all the numerous youth programs available to us. You could play every day, in a Babe Ruth league, and a rec league and on a traveling team."

Mauer was such a superior athlete, he also quarterbacked during football season and played point guard for the basketball team, and starred at each. But baseball was his true love, Mauer said, and when the Twins chose him with the first overall pick in the 2001 draft, he pursued that dream.

He arrived in the majors just three years later, and by 2006, he was an All-Star at 23. Mauer became the first catcher ever to win the American League batting title that year, hitting .347 for the AL Central champions. He would win two more over the next three seasons, and in 2009, added a career-high 28 homers to his .365 average en route to his selection as Most Valuable Player.

But injuries took their toll, and a concussion in 2013 forced him to give up catching. He played five more seasons as the Twins' first baseman, before memorably donning his catcher's mask for one more pitch in his final game in 2018.




Mauer's election wasn't a surprise, given that 83.5% of voters who revealed their ballots ahead of Tuesday's announcement had checked his name, according to the website bbhoftracker.com. But the fact that he got in without waiting a year or two as so many do, was striking.

Now he knows that he will travel to Cooperstown to hold a news conference in a Hall of Fame jersey and cap at the museum on Thursday.

"I'm all over the place with emotions," Mauer said. "Can't wait to get there and show my kids some of the history of the game."

He'll return to Minnesota in time to attend TwinsFest at Target Field on Saturday and sign autographs for fans. And he'll begin thinking about what to say in his induction speech in July.

Figure on this father of three to mention prominently his own father, Jake Mauer, who died almost exactly one year ago.

"He [had a] huge impact on my career, but also me as a person. I'm just thankful for the time we had and the lessons that he passed along to me that I'm trying to relay to my kids," Mauer said. "I think about him every day. [Today] is another reason to think of all those great memories that we had.






Three time Golden Glove is in. NINE time winner Yadier Molina missed out again. Such is MLB.

[JoeMauer89]

Hall of Fame!



https://www.startribune.com/joe-mauer-b ... 600337976/

Joe Mauer elected to Baseball Hall of Fame on first ballot
Joe Mauer, a Twins legend made in Minnesota, joins an exclusive club as the third catcher elected on the first ballot to the Baseball Hall of Fame.


That about sums up, to borrow Joe Mauer's own calm-and-unflappable vocabulary, the bulletin that the Twins' retired superstar received on Tuesday: Mauer has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

"He's what a Hall of Famer is all about," said Bert Blyleven, a Hall of Famer himself who watched most of Mauer's career from the broadcast booth. "He's such a class individual, on the field and off the field. Of course he'd never say it about himself, but he's very deserving."

The voting members of the Baseball Writers' of Association of America agreed, as Mauer cleared the 75% of votes necessary to receive the sport's highest honor by getting 76.1%. He got 293 votes -- four votes more than the 289 needed.

"It was unbelievable," Mauer said on the MLB Network of getting the call from the Hall. "I kind of laid low during that time of a possible call and just spent it with family.

"Leading up to today you reflect on all the people who had an impact on your career and who you are as a man. A lot of emotions. It's been a whirlwind, that's for sure."

The St. Paul native, whose career included three AL batting championships, the 2009 American League MVP award and three Gold Gloves, will be inducted on July 21 at the museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., where a plaque bearing his image will be permanently displayed.

Mauer will be joined by power-hitting third baseman Adrián Beltré and former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton. Beltré won five Gold Gloves and hit 477 home runs over a 21-year career with the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers. Helton batted .300 a dozen times in his 17-year career.

Beltré was on 95.1% of the ballots and Helton on 79.7%.

Longtime manager Jim Leyland, chosen by a special non-player committee in December, will also be in the Class of 2024.

Mauer, now 40 and retired for 4 ½ years, is only the third catcher ever to be elected on the first ballot, joining Johnny Bench in 1989 and Iván Rodríguez in 2017.

"His career, being [drafted] first overall and accelerating toward the big leagues, it was almost as if it was scripted," said Paul Molitor, a fellow St. Paul baseball legend who served as Mauer's manager for the final four seasons of the catcher-turned-first-baseman's 15-year career, entirely spent with the Twins. "He obviously kept surpassing expectations, high as they were. Three batting titles, the defensive skill he showed as a catcher — the Hall of Fame seemed like his natural destination."

Narrowly missing election were Billy Wagner, a relief pitcher who saved 422 games over 16 seasons with five teams and received 73.8%. Slugging outfielder Gary Sheffield also fell short in his 10th and final year on the ballot, receiving 63.9%.

Mauer is the fourth overall No. 1 draft pick to reach Cooperstown, after Harold Baines, Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones, and the 13th Hall of Famer ever to play for the Twins. Perhaps most remarkably, he is the fourth St. Paul native to reach baseball immortality, having grown up less than 2 miles from the boyhood homes of Molitor, Jack Morris and Dave Winfield.

"It's pretty amazing. You'd never predict that from a northern climate," said Molitor, who like Mauer is a graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall High School. "I attribute some of it to coaching we all experienced, and the opportunities, all the numerous youth programs available to us. You could play every day, in a Babe Ruth league, and a rec league and on a traveling team."

Mauer was such a superior athlete, he also quarterbacked during football season and played point guard for the basketball team, and starred at each. But baseball was his true love, Mauer said, and when the Twins chose him with the first overall pick in the 2001 draft, he pursued that dream.

He arrived in the majors just three years later, and by 2006, he was an All-Star at 23. Mauer became the first catcher ever to win the American League batting title that year, hitting .347 for the AL Central champions. He would win two more over the next three seasons, and in 2009, added a career-high 28 homers to his .365 average en route to his selection as Most Valuable Player.

But injuries took their toll, and a concussion in 2013 forced him to give up catching. He played five more seasons as the Twins' first baseman, before memorably donning his catcher's mask for one more pitch in his final game in 2018.




Mauer's election wasn't a surprise, given that 83.5% of voters who revealed their ballots ahead of Tuesday's announcement had checked his name, according to the website bbhoftracker.com. But the fact that he got in without waiting a year or two as so many do, was striking.

Now he knows that he will travel to Cooperstown to hold a news conference in a Hall of Fame jersey and cap at the museum on Thursday.

"I'm all over the place with emotions," Mauer said. "Can't wait to get there and show my kids some of the history of the game."

He'll return to Minnesota in time to attend TwinsFest at Target Field on Saturday and sign autographs for fans. And he'll begin thinking about what to say in his induction speech in July.

Figure on this father of three to mention prominently his own father, Jake Mauer, who died almost exactly one year ago.

"He [had a] huge impact on my career, but also me as a person. I'm just thankful for the time we had and the lessons that he passed along to me that I'm trying to relay to my kids," Mauer said. "I think about him every day. [Today] is another reason to think of all those great memories that we had.






Three time Golden Glove is in. NINE time winner Yadier Molina missed out again. Such is MLB.

I'm ecstatic guys! My favorite MLB Player, a 1st ballot HOF'er!

Joe

[Brooklyn]

I'm ecstatic guys! My favorite MLB Player, a 1st ballot HOF'er!

Joe

Many congrats, Joe. Followed your entire career from CDH to the Twins and now to the HOF. KUDOS!!

[6x6]

Everybody is awaiting the HOF vote:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ps ... 72a0&ei=24


Especially in the Twinks:

https://www.startribune.com/joe-mauer-t ... 600337650/


Every day here there is repeated talk of Joe Mauer and the likelihood that he will be a first ballot winner.



Noticeably absent from all consideration is Yadier Molina: Molina is one of only 8 catchers with 2000+ hits and 1000+ RBIs, seven of whom are in the HOF. Nine time Golden Glove.


http://tinyurl.com/bdh4n74h


I just don't know how or why he has missed out.

He missed out because he’s not eligible….players have to wait 5 years from retirement. So he and Pujols will probably be in on first ballot in 2028.

[6x6]

I was disappointed Billy Wagner didn’t get in this year, only needed five more votes…..he’ll probably get in next year, sure hope so as it will be his 10th and last year on the list.

[Brooklyn]

He missed out because he’s not eligible….players have to wait 5 years from retirement. So he and Pujols will probably be in on first ballot in 2028.

You're right! Read somewhere that MLB ended that rule but whoever the genius was that said it was dead wrong. Thanks for that tip.