Category Archive:
Roch Kubatko
Big League advantage
Double-A Akron has taken a 6-0 lead over the Bowie Baysox in the third inning of Game 3 of the Eastern League Southern Division playoffs.
It doesn't hurt to have a major league player in the lineup.
The Cleveland Indians sent Travis Hafner to Akron on an injury rehab assignment, and he hit a grand slam off Bowie starter David Hernandez as part of a five-run second inning. He walked in his first at-bat.
Couldn't the Orioles have sent Nick Markakis to Akron, claiming that he had the sniffles and needed to get his timing down?
Nolan Reimold Watch: The Bowie right fielder is 1-for-2. No home runs yet.
jim hunter just asked why it's called the "funny bone". tell him that it's because the actual name of the bone is the humorous bone. the "funny bone" started as a doctor's joke.
Actually, it should be called the funny nerve, because the radial nerve transerses the humerus at the point at which the ball struck the batter,
there should be a rule that doesn't allow major leaguers to join minor league playoff rosters...
Actually, Travis' homer was a total fluke in comparison to his other rehab starts recently. He had an accidental double in Buffalo last week, and that was his hardest hit ball all season. He's clearly channeled his "Inner Bedard" and was limiting himself to only 3 at-bats per game. He was real good at striking out for most of them, it seemed. And Canal Park is NOT a hitter's park, it's just huge. Anyone who plays there can't wait to get moved up & go to... Buffalo (really? I mean, I have to go to Akron periodically for work and hate it, but I have the luxury of knowing I get to go home to... Cleveland. Okay bad comparison... but Buffalo? Really? Been to dozens of games there, too, and can't imagine wanting to go there over Canal Park in Akron...)
Conversely,Victor Martinez hit his first home run of the season in Akron on HIS rehab stint. Go figure. Maybe Adam Jones should have had some rehabbin' to do in Bowie, if this was to be the trend...
And why are the Bowie fans always so QUIET at Canal Park??? Arrrgh. I'm always the only @ss out there cheering for them. Out loud, anyway. Don't make me be "that fan"....
Well at least our starters in Bowie are getting to face major league hitting this season.
No reason to keep someone on a minor league rehab assignment after rosters expand, its tacky and cheap.