2009 MLB Weekly Forecast : Week 2 Hindsight
More Tragedy, Sheffield's Home Run Milestone, and the Yankees Woes
Apr 20, 2009
Harry Kalas and “The Bird” Fidrych Found Dead While Working
Hall of Fame broadcaster, Harry Kalas, collapsed on Monday in the Nationals press box shortly before first pitch at noon. He died shortly thereafter at The George Washington University Medical Center, Kalas was 73 years-old.
Kalas called Phillies games for almost a half decade, he also did narrating for NFL Films since 1975.www.nfl.com/videos He will be missed by many.
Later in the day, not so far, in Massachusetts, former MLB pitcher Mark Fidrych was found dead at his home. Fidrych, 54, apparently suffocated while working on the dump truck for his gravel business. mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp
Mark 'The Bird' Fidrych was well known for his eccentric style from 1976 to 1980. He did things such as walk around the mound talking to the baseball between outs, and also had a goofy windup. Injuries cut his career short, and limited his playing time throughout his stint in Detroit.
The first year and a half was Fidrych's career highlights, playing in the 1976 and '77 All Star Games. Also in '76, 'The Bird' won the AL Rookie of the Year Award winning 19 games in 29 starts; throwing all nine innings in 24 of those starts. He retired in 1980.
Yankees Embarrassed By Indians In Opener
The Yankees(7-7), suffered a 10-2 defeat to the Indians in the inaugural game at the new Yankee Stadium. The Inians(5-9), came into the four game weekend series as early disappointments, having started the season 0-5.
After splitting the series 2-2, the Yankees are the more dissapionting team so far in 2009. CC Sabathia had another bad outing on thursday, and the bullpen was even worse throughout the series.
In the third game, Cleveland hit six home runs in a 22-4 thrashing of the underacheiving Yankees. There was 20 home runs hit between the teams in four games, 14 of them to rightfield. It appereared that that side of the field just sucked the balls out of the park.
The Yankees are playing .500 ball; but barely. The offense is as shaky as the pitching. With Oakland coming to town, trips to Boston and Detroit for three games apiece; the Yanks could be at the bottom of the division. Toronto leads the AL East at 10-4, 2.5 games ahead of New York.
First Pinch Hitter to Hit 500
Gary Sheffield got his first hit as a Met against the Brewers on Friday. Sheffield became the 25th player to hit 500 home runs. As a pinch hitter in the 7th facing Brewers pitcher Mitch Stetter, Sheffield tied the game 4-4 with a blast down the leftfield side. The Mets would win the game 5-4 and the series 2-1.
The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Sheffield in 1986, Sheff' made his big league debut in 1988. He joins Hall of Fame great Jimmie Foxx(with Boston in '41 against the A's) as the only players to hit number 500 against his former team.
Sheffield has played for 8 teams in 22 seasons, winning a World Series ring in 1997 with the Florida Marlins.
MLB 2009 Weekly Forecast
Somethings to watch during week three of the MLB season include the Yankees woes. They face Oakland, and are at Boston for three games to end the week. Another lackluster performance could start some grumblings inside the Yankees orginazation.
The Los Angeles Angels(4-8) off to a slow start, received more bad news this past week. All-Star outfielder, Vladimir Guerrero, will be out for at least a month with a torn right pectoral muscle. The Angels offense relied heavily on Guerrero's ability to produce runs, it'll wil be interesting to see how they replace his bat.
The Angels are favored to win their third straight AL West Division crown.
MLB 2009 Week Two: Show Stopper Players of the Week
Gary Sheffield (NYM) : For pinch hitting for his 500th home run against his rookie team the Brewers.
Johan Santana (NYM): 2-0, 20 strikeouts, 0 earned runs allowed in last 2 starts. 2-1, 0.46 ERA, 27 SO, on the season.
