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I’m a St. Louis Cardinals fan. I always have been.
But having spent most of the last 20 years of the past century in Texas, I reached the point of making the Texas Rangers my “American League team.”
Sometimes I record the Rangers game to watch late at night after I watch the Cardinals game. Yes, I’ve enjoyed seeing Benton and the U of A’s Cliff Lee pitch since his trade from the Seattle Mariners 10 days ago. But the part I really enjoy is seeing Elvis Andrus play shortstop for the Rangers.
I first noticed him at Arkansas Travelers games when Andrus came through North Little Rock playing for the Rangers’ double-A affiliate, the Frisco RoughRiders, at Dickey-Stephens Park in 2008.
He was signed by the Atlanta Braves in 2005, but was one of five minor-league players sent to the Rangers for first baseman Mark Texiera and pitcher Ron Mahay on the major-league trade deadline July 31, 2007.
Andrus is not the finished product yet, but he is fearless and makes spectacular defensive plays that some players would not consider attempting. He continues to improve each year.
His first year in the minors, 2005, he posted a fielding average in the .920s, and gradually improved into the .940s by the time he played for Frisco. He had a .968 fielding percentage his rookie year with Texas in 2009, and so far this year is fielding at a .974 clip. And, he has hit a respectable .270 or so at the plate, stole 33 bases last year and has 24 to date this year.
The native of Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela, will not be 22 years old until Aug. 26.
My goodness I’m glad I didn’t threaten to hold my breath until the National League won the Major League Baseball All-Star Game again because 1996 was a long time ago and my face would be quite red by now.
Yes, the Nationals defeated the Americans 3-1 Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif., thanks to the bases-clearing double by the Atlanta Braves’ Brian McCann. I wasn’t happy when Phillies and National League manager Charlie Manuel pinch-hit McCann for Yadier Molina after only one at-bat by the Cardinals’ catcher (in which he produced a single), but it sure worked out later.
I liked it when sports writers used to call the teams representing the respective leagues the Nationals and the Americans. I don’t know why they quit, though I can probably blame it on the late Bowie Kuhn, whom I thought was the worst commissioner possible until Bud Selig showed me just how bad he could be — Exhibit A: the 2002 All-Star Game, which ended 2-2 after Selig let managers Joe Torre and Bob Brenly whine until he bought their excuse about not having any pitchers left and declared the game a 2-2 tie after 11 innings. He should have acted like a commissioner and said, “Boo hoo, boys. You should have thought about that instead of trying to win a popularity contest by playing everyone on your bench so early.” But I digress … I don’t suppose the powers-that-be would “allow” the team names of Nationals and Americans now because the Washington team nickname is Nationals.
Also, imagine my surprise when Marlon Byrd, the only Chicago Cubs player in the game, turned out to be the defensive star of the game by forcing out David “Big Papi” Ortiz with an alert throw to second from right field in the bottom of the ninth inning.
St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright bowed his neck and worked out of a jam in the seventh inning after teammate Matt Holiday misplayed a line drive to left field into a double.
Way to go, guys. Let’s not wait another 14 years (2024?) before we win the next one, since idiot commissioner Selig has the winner receiving the home-field advantage for its league champion in the World Series in October.
One more thing … I’m sorry that George Steinbrenner died Tuesday morning, but you would have thought the longtime New York Yankees owner was Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox Sports, the way the Fox broadcasters went on about him. I didn’t even mind having a segment about what he meant to the Yankees, New York and even baseball during the pregame show. But Fox had to keep pounding us with it by breaking into play-by-play coverage during the game with interviews of various Yankees managers, players and former players. Enough is enough. We realize that New York is Fox’s biggest market, but the rest of us can’t stand the arrogant jerks — yes, even players I like are arrogant jerks when they play for the Yankees.
Mike Dougherty's Blog 