FROM THE BILL CHUCK FILES...
The Sunday Notes are FREE FOR ALL
SUNDAY NOTES FROM THE BILL CHUCK FILES
There are 78 days remaining in the regular season and 17 days until the 6 pm EST trade deadline on July 31.
It was Byron Buxton Bobblehead Day at Target Field yesterday. Buxton responded by becoming the 12th player in Twins history (since 1961) to hit for the cycle. It was the first cycle in the history of Target Field, which opened in 2010. Buxton went 5-5 and completed the cycle in his last at-bat when he hit his 21st homer of the season. Buxton now has 55 RBI, just one shy of his single-season high.
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO WORSE
The Twins defeated the Pirates 12-4 on Buxton Bobblehead Day. On May 8, Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton was fired after losing seven straight. Pirates’ interim manager Don Kelly’s Bucs have now lost eight in a row.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU CALL THEM, THEY ARE A .500 CLUB
Here’s an interesting guy to follow in the upcoming MLB Draft. There is an Illinois high school left-hander, by the name of Jack Bauer, who has been clocked at 103 mph. And, yes, he was named after the “24” character played by Kiefer Sutherland.
Paul McCartney is bringing his “Got Back” tour to Coors Field. He’s playing there on October 11. Hey, what’ll happen if the Rockies are in the postseason?
We all have heard about “Triples Alley” in San Francisco’s Oracle Park. There have been 15 triples hit there this season. Four parks have allowed 20+ triples: Coors Field has allowed 29 triples, Chase Field 23, Kauffman Stadium 22, and Nationals Park 20. There have only been four triples hit at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.
ANOTHER MULTI-HOMER GAME! REALLY? NOT REALLY, RALEIGH!
Competing with Aaron Judge for the home run crown this season is Legal Chair, an anagram for Cal Raleigh. Raleigh now has a career-high 38 homers in 93 games. And he’s not going anywhere. At the end of spring training, the Mariners signed Raleigh to a $105 million deal that keeps him under team control through 2030.
JUDGE HIM BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS
I hope you appreciate how thrilling it is to be watching baseball during the Aaron Judge era. Yesterday, the Yankees lost, but Judge became the fastest player in major league history to reach 350 career home runs. The Yankee captain hit number 350 in his 1088th game. After Judge, the next five fastest to that figure are Mark McGwire (1280 games), Juan Gonzalez (1298), Alex Rodriguez (1301), and without PEDs: Harmon Killebrew (1319), and Albert Pujols (1320).
Judge is now tied with Chili Davis for 103rd all-time in homers. Next up for Judge are Nolan Arenado and Dick Allen (351 each), and then, Ellis Burks and Ryan Braun (352 each), and then Judge will be among the top 100 home run hitters all-time.
MAKE IT NINE IN A ROW FOR THE SIZZLING RED SOX
Garrett Crochet threw his first career shutout as the Red Sox won their ninth straight by defeating the tumbling Rays, 1-0. You have to beat the bad teams, and that’s what Boston has been doing, winning four straight series over the Reds, Nationals, Rockies, and now, the Rays. Tampa Bay has lost 7-of-10, 11-of-15, and five straight series.
Crochet was magnificent, throwing just 100 pitches to record his first career complete game. He finished the day with nine strikeouts and has an MLB-leading 160 Ks. He lowered his ERA to 2.23 (fifth-lowest in MLB) and his WHIP to 1.04. Crochet is the first Red Sox pitcher to record a shutout in a 1-0 game at home since Pedro Martinez in 2000. It’s the first complete game shutout in a 1-0 game at Fenway Park since September 2, 2001, when Mike Mussina and his Yankees were one strike from perfection before Carl Everett’s opposite-field liner dropped for a single.
Boston’s nine-game winning streak is its longest since April 2021. After the break, the Sox face the Cubs, Phillies, and Dodgers. Now, I’m not telling you who to root for, but I can’t bear to read again that Donald Trump is posting, “They haven’t lost since they saw me in the Oval.” Go, Rays!
The impressive difference Roman Anthony has made for the Red Sox has been his patience at the plate. Since his arrival on June 9, he has drawn 15 walks. No other teammate has walked more than 10 times. He is hitting .265 and despite exhibiting little power (.402 slug pct.) and 27 strikeouts, Anthony has scored 18 times, and only Trevor Story (21) exceeds him.
IT’S A MONDAY SUNDAY
I’m a big fan of Rick Monday. he does a terrific job as the color commentator on the Dodgers radio broadcasts. His work with Tim Neverett this season makes them a must-listen. I feel as if I should get continuing education credit for all that I learn while listening. Today, he will join his regular partner (and my partner), Charley Steiner, on the Dodgers’ pre-game show. He will then do the game with Tim. And then, I understand if you watch the opening of today's MLB Draft, you will see him again. Rick Monday was the first player selected in the inaugural 1965 Major League Baseball draft.
THE SUNDAY FUNNIES
The current rendition of Superman is soaring at the box office. This edition of Superman is from 1950.
OH, BY THE WAY
With all the hoopla about all the other teams, the Dodgers ended their seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Giants on Saturday. Shohei Ohtani started on the mound for the Dodgers and pitched three scoreless innings, his longest appearance. Ohtani struck out the last six batters he's faced. One of my favorites, Emmet Sheehan, pitched 4.1 innings in relief to earn the win.
It’s easy to take them for granted. The Dodgers have been in first place for 97 days this season and have the best record in the NL at 57-39 and trail only the Tigers (59-36) in the majors.
THOSE OLDIES BUT GOODIES REMIND ME OF YOU
The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, left-handed starter Dallas Keuchel, signed a minor-league contract with the Kansas City Royals. Since the start of the 2022 season, the 37-year-old has pitched for the White Sox, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Twins, and Brewers in the majors. In addition, he has pitched for five different minor league teams and Chiba Lotte in Japan.
He will be assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, where the 45-year-old Rich Hill is currently pitching. Hill is 4-3 with a 6.17 ERA. In Hill’s last two starts, he has tossed 4.0 IP in each and allowed 14 runs (12 earned). I wonder if Kuechel will look to Hill as a mentor.
TODAY IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIVE AID
Here’s Phil Collins performing at Live Aid in front of 100,000 people in the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia, on July 13, 1985.
YESTERDAY WAS THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY OF DISCO DEMOLITION NIGHT AT COMISKEY PARK
“Fun is Good” Mike Veeck
If you don't know the significance of this picture, to quote Mrs. Landingham, "Well, God, Jed, I don't even want to know you."
Much love and thanks to Maxie, my soul and inspiration. That’s righteous, brother.