Happy Birthday–September 26

Gus Schmelz (1850)
Bob Coleman (1890)
Bobby Shantz (1925)
Mel McGaha (1926)
Dave Duncan (1945)
Jim Gideon (1953)
Rich Gedman (1959)
Steve Buechele (1961)
Dave Martinez (1964)
Brian Shouse (1968)
Brian Looney (1969)

Gus Schmelz managed several teams in the late 19th century.  He is one of the few who became a manager without having played professionally.

Bob Coleman managed in the minor leagues for thirty-five years.  He had the most wins as a minor league manager when he retired, 2,496, a mark since passed by Stan Wasiak.

Former Knicks player Mel McGaha was the manager of the Kansas City Athletics from 1964-1965.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–September 26

Game 157: Only Five More To Go After This

Fister (13-9, 3.71 ERA) vs. Diamond (6-11, 5.54 ERA)

I can't tell you how happy I am that Gardy's new favorite player's name is so close to Punto its almost comical. Its a little disappointing his walk-off last night wasn't a dropped third strike in which he slid head first into first to beat the throw (which I presume there would not have been a throw what with the runner from third, in this hypothetical scenario, was coming home), though. Ah well, not everything can be perfect.

So anyway, we're down to the final stretch of another bad season. I had to go to a birthday party for a one year old on Sunday at one of them "adventure" farms. It was not the most pleasant thing to do with my recent surgery, feeling like I was getting kicked lightly in the balls over and over from walking around all day. But, my daughter loved it (goats!), so it was worth the discomfort. The point, however, is that while sitting in the barn where the party was set up, I had no choice but to listen to the Packer game on the radio. (ugh, it was like listening to two Hawk Harrelsons without any of the "cute-ish" catchphrases but all of the awful bitterness and over-seriousness.) It reminded me that I would rather watch the Twins (even though I really can't watch them) during a third straight 90-loss season than ever go back to caring about the Vikings. Blech.

 Anywho, on to another attempt to thwart clinching the division at Target Field.