Rocky

Owings after one of his HR swings tonight.

Owings and the Big Night Owings and the Big Night*2007-08-18 17:54by Bob Timmermann Pitcher Micah Owings of Arizona has hit two home runs and a double in his first three at bats against Buddy Carlyle of the Braves tonight in Atlanta. Owings is the first pitcher to have two homers and a double in a game since Jack Harshman of the Orioles on September 23, 1958. Owings also has 5 RBI, the most by a pitcher since Robert Person of the Phillies had 7 on June 20, 2002. And then Owings had an RBI single in the seventh, making him 4 for 4 with 6 RBI and 11 total bases. No pitcher in the last 50 years has surpassed 10 total bases. Two pitchers have hit three home runs in a game: Guy Hecker of Louisville of the AA on August 15, 1886, and Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves on May 13, 1942. Owings is just the fifth pitcher in the last 50 years to have a game with at least 6 RBI. Owings is also the first Arizona pitcher to hit two home runs in one game as well as the first pitcher to hit two home runs in a game at Turner Field. Owings also gave up three home runs (the only hits he allowed) and I believe he is the first pitcher to give up three home runs in a game while hitting two.

The national baseball pundits are finally starting to realize something special has been going on with the Diamondbacks. Earlier this week, they were claiming it couldn't last, because the stats did not support the Dbacks continuing to win so much. But the Dbacks have the best record in the NL and are pretty much the hottest team in all of MLB since the All-Star break. They've won something like 8 consecutive series, even though they've been outscored due to three blowout losses. HOWEVER... today that particular tide is turning. Rookie pitcher Micah Owings is cruising in Hot-lanta, limiting the Braves to one solo HR by Chipper Jones, now heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. However, the Dbacks bats are NOT so silent today... ESPECIALLY that of ROOKIE PITCHER Micah Owings... who is a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, has TWO HRs and has driven in 6 of the Dbacks 12 runs. Those HRs are Micah's second and third HRs of the season... ssssst.... be careful... don't touch... they are SIZZLIN hot! oh... and Owings is batting .279 on the season.

I cannot even imagine the pain that must have caused you. I'm sooooooo sorry.

Holy Cow! Lot's of VERY intriguing responses... btw, in case anyone didn't pick up on it, I too had a spouse that was VERY passive/aggressive... I would characterize my situation as a shaky win... except for the fact that I haven't heard my daughter's voice in more than two years (she's 17 now)...

Well, I can understand that person's viewpoint, and how it would seem to be the "utmost in cowardice" but I believe that label is way too simplistic. And in being too simplistic, it's ultimately misleading, IMO. I had some pretty intense life experiences that brought passive-aggresive behavior to my awareness in the early to mid 1990s. That conduct was being employed by someone VERY important to me (not myself) at the time, someone from whom it took a great deal of effort and too much money and heartache before I was able to extricate myself therefrom. And having been subject to that person's coping method (of choice?), I probably would have said the same thing (that it's the ultimate in cowardice) during the nearly two year period marked by the litigation that actually just began the extrication process. In the years since, I have become acutely aware of when I am inclined, tempted, or actually use such tactics to cope with a wide variety of situations. IF emotional/psychological defense mechanisms were employed (by humans in general) exclusively (or even just primarily) as a result of conscious choice/decisions, it might be fair to label it as cowardice. But that really is NOT the case. I understand that defense mechanisms are often employed by any given human without giving the matter even the smallest amount of thought. And because it's likely that the person picked up the "habit" as a child, I would hesitate to make any conclusion that would suggest it is done with any kind of overt intent.

Thanks for the article, Excie... The Cardinals' David Eckstein today is sorta in the mold of Rizzuto... Not tall, but gives it every ounce of effort he can muster.

Thanks for that clip Mstar!

It's my understanding that google ads are placed based on reading ALL words on the page in which the ads are to be posted. That's how it works on GMAIL (as I have a gmail account). Google has been emphatic that it is not a compromise on privacy because even though the words on the page are read and related ads placed, there is no tracking and it's pretty obvious (to most, I believe) that the ads do NOT always make sense based on what is actually being discussed on the page.

I caught an inning (watched on TV, NOT played the catcher position) of Chandler National's last qualifying game... what is it about these kids... it's like NONE of them has had a haircut in the last year. :blink: Of course, I haven't had a haircut since June 2006! But I keep what's left of it (thinning on top) pulled back in a pony tail most of the time when I go out amongst the people.

Indeed, I did. I guess I had a bit of ADHD, since the Cards have been playing the Dodgers more recently. And without a doubt the Ankiel situation would make the Cards games more exciting to watch.

Don't you mean the Dodgers? Indeed, I'm thankful for that... though (as our good friend Hiway29 will attest) those Trolley Dodgers don't seem to be playing very well lately against anyone. And to the degree your Cards have beaten the Padres, I'm also thankful for that. Either way, Dbacks got several games against each of their division rivals before the end of the season... lots of baseball still to be played... And how about that Rick Ankiel!? What a story that is... no doubt the fans at the stadium get really worked up when he comes to bat!

Sounds like fun.... I guess the Angels' Rally Monkey has become part of the culture of the team. Beats the heck out of "the wave" (which I find absolutely repulsive). I can relate to your view of relief pitching/pitchers. I don't believe Melvin and the Dbacks just change pitchers for the sake of maintaining some arbitrary pattern. Their primary relief guys (the ones that work innings 7-9 when the team is ahead) have done an outstanding job. And given the number of wins earned by the bullpen staff, I'd say they haven't come in prematurely in most cases. It's always good when the starter can go longer than anticipated and still hold a lead. Webb's last two outings have been complete game shutouts. I hope the Angels hold on to their division lead and you can get to some of their playoff games. I wouldn't mind seeing an Angels/Dbacks WS... but I won't hold my breath.

Okay.... Webb's thrown 33 consecutive scoreless innings... breaking his own team record of 30 set last year. AND... Chandler National beat Solano Beach (CA) to earn their trip to Williamsport...

I guess so! Last year's NL Cy Young winner needed no relief tonight... extending his scoreless inning streak to something like 30 innings. Dbacks 1, Nationals 0. Padres lost. Dodgers lost. Dbacks extend division lead. :)

Yes... Mike Benjamin. I kept thinking Mark Belanger, but knew that was wrong. I had the position right, but not the age or the team(s). Might be others also. perhaps Ankiel's wildness had to happen, or else he would have been doomed to playing only once every five days! ;) I can't imagine it took Babe Ruth getting wild for the power that be (or, were) figured he needed to play everyday. Ankiel threw what, 5 wild pitches in an inning once?

Well, they have some former major leaguers for coaches/dads... yes, it was just a couple of years ago they were in the LLWS also. Before that, it had been about 40 years since any Arizona team had gone to Williamsport. btw, anyone here following the latest on Rick Ankiel? I guess it was just the other day he made his return to the Cards... as a position player. He hit a HR last night and did it again this afternoon with one runner on base in the bottom of the first against Hiway's team, the Dodgers. Correction, Ankiel has TWO HRs in today's game... so far.

The Dbacks continue to play well. And JD's little brother is in the middle of it. But if the Dbacks had to count on Stephen Drew to be the big bat in the line up, they'd be in a world of hurt. The young Drew plays a mean SS and occasionally gets some key hits. But his avg. still is less than .250. Also, the young Mr. Drew, personality wise, is just as low-key as JD. He won't provide team leadership anytime soon. But, again, he plays SS very well. As you guys may have heard by now, the Dbacks appear to be overachieving these days. I'd have to attribute it mainly to smart moves (last winter) to strengthen the bullpen as well as some key coaching that's doing a great job getting these kids to play very well. Bob Melvin's pretty low key, but his bench coach is Kirk Gibson. That, by itself, almost says it all. Melvin's learned from mistakes regarding in game pitching moves and his pitching coach (Brian Price) has obviously done a fine job. Gibson provides intensity and his player experience commands respect without him having to flaunt it. The team KNOWS he knows how to win. They listen and he holds them accountable. During last night's game against the Nationals, the play by play and color guys (Daron Sutton and Joe Garagiola Sr.) were talking about how Gibson keeps a stop watch in his hands at all times during the game. And how Gibby times just about everything. He'll get on players if they're not playing all out. Of course, Eric Byrnes is a tremendous example of someone who plays all out... and leaves it all on the field every night. And this new "phenom" Justin Upton (age 19) seems to be ready to live up to the hype that has preceeded him. He's played less than 10 major league games and teams are already (Pirates AND Nationals) intentionally walking him to get at the next guy (usually Mark Reynolds, another rookie, who hits well but strikes out a lot). In Upton's first home game with the Dbacks, he came up only a single shy of hitting for the cycle. However, because the Dbacks are so young overall, the sports pundits seem to think they'll not really contend this year... but to me, it looks like they have an excellent chance of making the playoffs. But getting past the Mets will be pretty tough. ------------ On another baseball topic... I just read the following article in the NY Times about Bonds and Aaron. Bonds/Aaron story in the NYTimes August 12, 2007An Appreciation Bonds Chased a Record, but Aaron Chased Justice By MIKE TOLLINHenry Louis Aaron is a man of few words. But on the edge of his wooded tennis court in suburban Atlanta, he gave me two that would raise some eyebrows. “No asterisk,” said Aaron, who reigned as baseball’s home run king for 33 years and 121 days. “I’m not interested in the controversy. Let’s just congratulate Barry and give him his due.” For months, people wondered how Aaron was really feeling about Barry Bonds’s relentless assault on No. 755. “Fine, just fine,” he said. “I’m happy for him.” He was clearly leaving something out, but it was not ambivalence about whether the record was tainted, nor was it sadness at losing his claim to fame. (continued) -------- The writer is a filmmaker and a co-founder of Aaron's Chasing the Dream Foundation He made a documentary about Aaron's chase to overtake the Babe. Besides the fact that Aaron is happy for Bonds, the article has some interesting and poignant insight on what it all meant back in the 1970s when Aaron was on the verge of taking the HR crown.

I know the feeling. I did pretty much the same thing just over 2 years ago... and got the highest price for a house in that neighborhood. The buyer remodeled and sold it a couple months later for about $70K more than they bought it from me for... THAT was at the peak of the housing boom here in AZ... Now I have no mortgage and live a modest life... I'm VERY thankful. I rejoice with you. :)

Thanks... that's certainly more than I asked for, but I appreciate the additional info also. Indeed, where I live, we get 100+ degree weather as much as 6 months out of the year. I freeze a 1.5 litre bottle of water to take with me everytime I go to my local community college to work out... and whenever I exercise outside (which would be riding a recumbent bicycle in temps lower than 90, which is currently my personal heat limit). and as Dave Miller also provided the link, I will explain one way to do so. simply copy the entire URL from the top of the browser page and paste it into your post. The difference is that it will include the http:// and look like this http://www.wqa.org There is also a button on top of the posting box, the second one to the right of the smilie and directly underneath the font title being used in your post. And I didn't see doojable's suggestion until after I made this post.

Love him, hate him, or not be so sure, but Barry just hit number 756.

For reference, I looked here at snopes.com

Please clarify. Are you saying that there IS a problem with freezing bottled water in plastic bottles or that there is NOT a problem with doing so?

But the runner was left on base, so no harm done ... ;)

That's easy... "chicks dig the long ball!" Of course, so do guys. I do agree on your point regarding Glavine. It's hard to believe he's been pitching for 20 years... as well as his buddy Maddux. No doubt Glavine had his ticket to Cooperstown validated Sunday. I like how Maddux has done it... mainly because Maddux can't even buy a win against the Dbacks... the ONLY team that gives (or has given) him such trouble. And let's not forget Randy Johnson. One of only two possible reasons he hasn't retired yet is that he feels the need to get his 300 wins. I personally think he's done, but heck, let him try to do it... (oh, the other reason... to squirrel away even more acorns than he already has... the guy's got more money than God (but not as much as Bill Gates I suppose)).