I'm healing rather nicely, thank you!

This is to all my teammates out there. I'm healing rather nicely, thank you. It's been 36 days since my foot operation and I'm starting to get out and get around town on one leg. My trusty boot on my right foot gives me plenty of cushion, allowing me to make three of my grandson's Little League All Star games last week. I also hobbled over to Udall Park and watched my teammates on the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) play ball. I even made it down to Reid Park one night and watched my teammates on the 38-and-over team play an MSBL game. I head back to the doctor in a couple of weeks with the hope he'll okay a couple of months of rehab. If that happens, I can put my best foot forward and proceed to the next step in recovery. Needless to say, I miss playing baseball. 

NL West tightening up

Things are getting interesting in the National League West division. The Diamondbacks won last night behind the hitting of Aaron Hill and Paul Goldschmidt (eight hits and 6 RBI combined for the two). And you can put an asterisk alongside Hill's name. The Diamondbacks second baseman has hit for the cycle twice in the past two weeks. As for Goldy, well he's on my fantasy team and collected a lot of points for me yesterday. The Diamondbacks are 39-37 and will try for their third win in a row when they send Wade Miley to the mound today in Milwaukee. The LA Dodgers are now out of first place and currently the loser of six straight games. The Dodgers are 43-35 and are one game back of the division leader, San Francisco. The Giants lost to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday by a score of 5-1 and are setting at 44-34. The D'backs are just three games back in the loss column! Go, Diamondbacks!

I'm all alone in last place in my fantasy baseball league

Fantasy Baseball League

I'm all alone in last place in the Weekend Baseball League (WBL). I just can't get anything going with my star players all out of action. Off the board are Longoria, Halladay, Tulowitzski and now C.C. Sabathia. Wow? Could it get any worse? Going into this week's action my team, the Blackbirds, has accumalated 2,570 points. The top four in our 12-team league are Batter Up with 3,023 points, followed by Bronx Bombers (2,995), Rebels (2,988) and Mongo & Sons (2,975).  I made some pitching changes this week and a couple of minor adjustments with my position players. My starting lineup this week includes: Saltamacchia...Goldschmidt...K. Johnson...Zimmerman...Barmes...Choo...Harper...Reddick and Quentin at DH. Five-man pitching rotation: E. Jackson...A.J. Burnett...Scherzer...Westbrook...and Oswalt. Burnett and Westbrook are newly acquired. Kimbrell continues to be my relief pitcher. Let's see what happens this week.

Blackbirds fall to Braves

The Blackbirds fall to 4-7 on the season after their 9-7 loss at Reid Park last night in a 38-and-over Mountain Division matchup. The Blackbirds once again fielded a skeleton crew, so to speak, as they were missing their top hitter Sean Rollins and their worst hitter, yours truly (just kidding). With my boot on and my crutches at my side, I managed to cheer on my team while keeping the scorebook. As each inning went by I sat quietly, knowing full well it could be months before I'll be able to return to the playing field. My teammates tried their best to pull out a victory as they received a huge effort from three pitchers last night -- starter Sean Flynn and relievers Hector Iglecias and Jaime Cuesta. But, once again, it was one disastrous inning -- the fourth, which caused the Blackbirds' downfall. The Braves plated six runs in the inning and then held off the Blackbirds the rest of the way. Third baseman Allen Gillespie led the Blackbirds with two hits and reached base four times, while making a couple of dazzling plays at third base. Unfortunately, the Blackbirds were able to muster just seven hits in the game -- the two by Gillespie, one by Cuesta, one from Dave Delk, two singles by Tom Bolen  and a double by Iglecias.  The Blackbirds take on the Beantown Bombers next Thursday at Reid Park.

Thornydale All Stars lose heart-breaker to Coronado

The Thornydale All Stars lost to the Coronado All Stars 8-5 tonight at Kreigh Park in a District 5 elimination game. Thornydale finished at 1-2  with a win over Tanque Verde and back-to-back losses to Canyon View and Coronado,which broke open a close game tonight with a four-run fourth inning. Thornydale stranded base runners in just about every inning, but couldn't get the key hit when they needed it. My grandson, Jadon, walked twice and scored a run. Jadon also made two running catches in center field. Great job, Jadon and the Thornydale All Stars.

Thornydale Little League All Stars fall to Canyon View

The Thornydale Little League All Stars ran into a hard-hitting Canyon View team tonight at Mehl Park, dropping their first District 5 game, 10-3. Right-hander Eric Barrett was a handful at the plate and on the mound tonight, pitching four shutout innings and clobbering two home runs to lead his Canyon View team to victory. Down 5-0 in the fourth inning, Thornydale sent right-hander Jadon Price to the mound in hopes of cooling off the Canyon View bats. Price did just that as he shut down CV for two innings. Unfortunately, Thornydale could muster only one run until the bottom of the sixth when they were able to plate two more runs. Thornydale falls to 1-1 and will need a win tomorrow against the Coronado All Stars to remain alive in the tournament. Good job, Jadon. Go get 'em tomorrow night.

Photo: Jadon Price takes a cut.

Thornydale All Stars win opener

My grandson, Jadon Price, and the Thornydale Little League All Stars won their opener tonight 13-2 over the Tanque Verde All Stars. Humberto Saurez was the winning pitcher for Thornydale. Jadon reached on an error and scored a run as the game was called in the fourth inning due to the mercy rule. Thornydale moves on to face the Canyon View All Stars tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Mehl Park. One win in the books. Way to go, Jadon and the Thornydale All Stars!

Photo: The Thornydale All Stars

Arizona wins the national baseball title

Congrats, Arizona Wildcats! The Wildcats won the 2012 National Championship at the College World Series in Omaha tonight. Arizona beats Michael Roth and the South Carolina Gamecocks, 4-1, thanks to a three-run rally in the top of the ninth inning. With the score deadlocked at 1-1, Arizona  (48-17)  gets a down-the-line double by Brandon Dixon to score the go-ahead run and Trent Gilbert follows with a two-run single to give the Wildcats a three-run cushion, heading into the bottom of the ninth. James Farris pitched 7 2/3 innings and reliever Mat Troupe (6-1)  shut the Gamecocks down the rest of the way as the Wildcats go unbeaten at the College World Series with a perfect 5-0 record. Robert Refsnyder, who had two hits in the finale and went 10 for 21 in the series, won the MVP award. South Carolina (49-20) was in search of its third straight national championship. The Arizona Wildcats are the new CHAMPS!

Lopez sends Farris to the mound in Game 2

College World Series Update

The Championship Series

Arizona coach Andy Lopez will send the Wildcats' No. 3 starter James Farris to the mound tonight in the second game of the three-game series against South Carolina at the College World Series in Omaha. Lopez will keep Kurt Heyer on the bench and will send the Wildcats' No.1 hurler to the mound in Game 3 if necessary. Go get 'em Mr. Farris. As for South Carolina, they have no choice and will send their ace, Michael Roth, to the hill tonight. There is no tomorrow for the Gamecocks if Roth can't get the job done.

The road to Williamsport begins here...

The road to Williamsport begins here...in Tucson, at Mehl Park, beginning at 7:30 p.m. It's the dream of all 11 and 12-year-olds across the country who participate in Little League to begin their journey this week with hopes of making it to the Little League World Series. My grandson, Jadon Price, will get his chance starting tonight as his Thornydale All Star team takes on the Tanque Verde All Stars. Jadon will start in center field for Thornydale as his team will try their best to advance through the regionals, the state tournament in Phoenix and then on to San Bernadino, California with a chance to win it all and become one of eight teams in the country to make it to the Little League World Series. The competition will get tougher as they progress from one game to another. But there's always that chance for a Tucson team to make it all the way to Williamsport, Pennyslvania. One thing is for certain, every Little Leaguer will give it their all and won't give up until the scoreboard tells them so. It's one of those journeys in the life of a young ball player that never gets old. Hats off to all the Little Leaguers across the country.

Williamsport dates:
Aug. 16 to Aug. 26 – South Williamsport, Pa. (Lamade/Volunteer Stadiums) – 54th season in South Williamsport; 66th season overall

2011 Champion: Ocean View Little League (Huntington Beach, Calif.)

Photo below: Thornydale All Star center fielder Jadon Price

Arizona Wildcats one win away from title

The Arizona Wildcats did everything right tonight. They received outstanding pitching from their starter, put together key hits -- the first one coming from Robert Refsynder who provided a two-run homer in the first inning, and added some remarkable defensive plays through out the game. The result: Arizona beats South Carolina 5-1 at the College World Series in Omaha and takes a 1-0 edge in the best of three series to determine the national champion. South Carolina, the returning College World Series champion from 2010 and 2011, couldn't solve the offerings of right-hander Konner Wade, who pitched another gem as he went the distance, allowing just six hits, walking one and striking out three batters.  As for the Arizona Wildcats, they bang out 12 hits and looked, at times, as if they were locked in at the plate, treating all the Gamecocks' pitchers the same. See the ball, hit the ball, which is pretty much what the Wildcats have done since the season started. Arizona will face the Gamecocks' best pitcher tomorrow night. Michael Roth will get his chance to dismantle the Arizona hitters. Or, will it be the other way around? The Wildcats are one win away from the title. Go, Wildcats!  

Diamondbacks sweep Cubs, move to 37-35

The Arizona Diamondbacks sweep the Chicago Cubs as lefty Wade Miley tosses eight strong innings today at Chase Field in the final game of the three-game series. Justin Upton drove in  three  runs, Aaron Hill knocked in a run with an infield hit and Jason Kubel homered as the Diamondbacks won 5-1 and improved  their record to 37-35.  Miley allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out seven. He threw 116 pitches.

Arizona will face the Gamecocks' best

The Arizona Wildcats will face a formidable opponent  in South Carolina today at the College World Series in Omaha.  As it should be. And by the same token, the Gamecocks will go up against the best hitting team in the country. Sure, on paper there are three teams -- Utah Valley, Hofstra and Stony Brook, which finished with better batting averages, but they are not playing for the national championship today. The Wildcats have hit the ball all season long and take an unbelievable .330 average into today's first game. The Wildcats will send Konner Wade against Forrest Koumas in the  game today.  Sure, the Eastern seaboard is probably placing bets that fireballer Michael Roth will silence the Arizona bats in either Game 2 or Game 3, but, on the other hand, the Wildcats will counter with the hard-working, go-the-distance mentality of  Kurt Heyer in Game 2 or Game 3 and he bends but does not break. In short, Heyer is an animal who devours innings much like a Mountain Lion devours his prey. Roth and Company own the 10th best ERA (2.95) in the country, and yes the nine teams ahead of the Gamecocks in that category are not playing for the title. It's 2 out of  3 to decide the nation's best college baseball team this year, First one to win two are the champions. The fact Arizona and South Carolina are the best two college teams in the country is icing on the cake. Can Wade and Heyer shutdown the Gamecocks? Can Koumas, Roth and the South Carolina heralded bullpen do a number on the Wildcats? Or the big question, will our Wildcats continue to hit with authority?  I'm hoping for the latter. Good luck, Wildcats!  

Diamondbacks beat Cubs

The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field tonight 6-1 in the first game of a three-game series. The Diamondbacks are now 35-35 on the season and have a shot of adding two more wins before they head out on another road trip. Ian Kennedy will get the start against the Cubs on Saturday and Wade Miley will take the mound on Sunday.

Way to go, Diamondbacks!

Arizona to play defending champ South Carolina in CWS final

One team remains in the way of our Arizona Wildcats winning the national championship at the 2012 College World Series in Omaha. The team the hot-hitting Wildcats will have to beat in a three-game series, starting Sunday night, will be the South Carolina Gamecocks, the same team that has won the national title in 2010 and 2011. South Carolina battled the Arkansas Razorbacks for nine innings tonight in Omaha and came away with a 3-2 victory, eliminated Arkansas from the series.  The Wildcats will take a .330  team batting average into Sunday night's opener, which is 61 points higher than the Gamecocks' season average of .269. Bottom line: Arizona hits...Arizona wins!

Blackbirds go after 5th win

The Blackbirds broke out of a hitting slump last Thursday at Reid Park  as they banged out 17 hits en route to an 11-5 win over the Phillies and picked up a much-needed victory -- their fourth of the season in the Mountain Division -- a 38-and-over highly-competitive wood bat league. The Blackbirds (4-6) will go after their fifth victory on Thursday night when they tangle with the Braves (5-5). One of the Blackbirds' losses this season came at the hands of the Braves by a score of  7-5 back in April, so they would like nothing better than to pull out a win and pull even with the Braves in the standings. The Blackbirds are still nursing their share of injuries -- including yours truly. Hard to believe I've been on the DL four weeks already. Hector Iglecias continues to pound the ball for the Blackbirds, including three more hits last Thursday against the Phillies and also was the winning pitcher, going the distance for his fourth win of the year. Iglecias is batting .571, while Sean Rollins leads the team with a .578 average. Both players are among the league leaders in batting average, Rollins is fifth and Iglecias is sixth in the league.

South Carolina still in it

South Carolina blanked Arkansas 2-0 tonight in Omaha as they handed the Razorbacks their first loss at the College World Series and in doing so set up a rubber game between the two teams tomorrow night  to decide who will face Arizona for the national title. From an Arizona fan perspective, it would be nice to see tomorrow's game be a high-scoring affair, say about 15 innings with both teams forced to deplete their pitching staffs. The Wildcats will certainly be well rested for the three-game series which starts on Sunday. Let's hope our Wildcats continue to hit and pile up the runs.

Miami get its NBA title

Lebron James scores 26 points, grabs 11 rebounds and dishes out 13 assists as the Miami Heat roll in Game 5 with a 121-106 victory over Oklahoma City and capture the NBA title tonight in Miami. Congrats, Miami Heat.   

Arizona reaches championship series at CWS

Robert Refsynder and Bobby Brown went yard and the Wildcats banged out 15 hits en route to a 10-3 win today in Omaha over Florida State to advance to the 2012 College World Series championship series. The Wildcats (3-0) will open the three-game series on Sunday to decide this year's national champion and will take on Arkansas or South Carolina. The Razorbacks and the Gamecocks play tonight. If Arkansas (2-0) wins they will eliminate South Carolina (2-1), but  if the Gamecocks win they will force another game tomorrow. However you look at it, the Wildcats are in great shape as they'll enjoy another two days off before they tangle with their final opponent in Omaha. Once again, it was Kurt Heyer who got the job done on the mound for the Wildcats as he hurled 7 1/3 innings and threw another 123 pitches. That's 251 pitches in two games at the CWS for Heyer, who improves to 13-2 this season. Hats off, to Heyer and the Wildcats!

South Carolina eliminates Kent State at CWS

Michael Roth allowed two hits and just one run in a complete-game performance as South Carolina eliminated Kent State 4-1 at the College World Series in Omaha today. Just four teams remain. South Carolina moves on to face Arkansas in the late game tonight, following our Arizona Wildcats and their game against Florida State at 2 p.m. this afternoon. The pitching is getting tougher and tougher. Come on Kurt Heyer we need another gem from you today. Go, Wildcats!

The Yankee Clipper

What possibly could the late Joe DiMaggio have in common with me?  Bone Spurs! At the age of 33, the Yankee Clipper started 1947 off with a bone spur operation. DiMaggio had surgery to remove a 3-inch bone spur from his left heel. He recovers, returns to the Yankees, and ends up as MVP, batting .343 and making  just one error in 141 games.

He backs that up in 1948 with 39 home runs and 155 RBI despite recurring pain from another bone spur. I've been browsing the Internet to find something positive about my heel operation and I ran across this bit of history.

Now,  I understand Joe was 33 in 1947 and I'm pushing 67 (in 11 days), but there's hope that I'll play again. It's been 28 days since my operation and I'm dreaming off the day I can return to the ball field.

Thanks, Joe, you've lifted my spirits. DiMaggio died in 1999. He was 84 years old.

Diamondbacks plate 30 runs in 3-game series with Seattle

The Arizona Diamondbacks are midway through a six-game home stand and if nothing else they are showing their fans that they can hit. The Diamondbacks take 2 of 3 from the Mariners and in the process plate 30 runs, 14 of them coming today at Chase Field as they rip five homers over the fence and one inside-the-park job by Ryan Roberts to make it a total of six. Arizona pummels the Seattle pitching staff for 16 hits, win 14-10 today and move their season record to 34-35. And once again, the D'backs will take their shot at getting over the .500 mark as they take on the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series, beginning on Friday night.

Heat sizzles, own a 3-1 lead

The Miami Heat, playing at home, survives a 43-point effort from Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook and some late-game cramping by their own Sir James and go on to edge the Thunder, 104-98, tonight to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Lebron scores 26 points, grabs 9 rebounds and dishes out 12 assists, but spends the final moments of the game on the bench. Oklahoma City blew a 17-point lead and allowed the Heat to come storming back. The Miami Heat need one more win to grab the title and finally get the HEAT of their back.

Florida State eliiminates Bruins at CWS

Florida State is back in the hunt. The Seminoles send UCLA home today with a 4-1 win at the College World Series in Omaha. The Bruins, co-champions in the Pac-12 with the Arizona Wildcats, just couldn't get anything going offensively and are the third team to be eliminated at the national tournament. As for Florida State, they stay alive and take on our Arizona Wildcats on Thursday. It should be a real barn-burner.

Could we be headed for an Arizona-Arkansas showdown?

Could we be headed for an Arizona-Arkansas showdown at the College World Series? It's a strong possibility. The Razorbacks sent defending champion South Carolina into the losers bracket with a 2-1 victory last night in Omaha, putting Arkansas alongside our Arizona Wildcats as the only undefeated teams in the national tournament. If that scenario comes to pass, it would pit the best hitting team, Arizona, at .329, against the Razorbacks, the team with the best earned-run average at 2.84.  Of course, the other four teams left at the CWS -- Florida State, South Carolina, UCLA and Kent State (all with one loss), still have a lot to say about that, but Arizona and Arkansas are certainly in the driver's seat as of this morning.  

Top-ranked Florida second to go at CWS

Kent State pulled the upset today as they knock off top-ranked Florida 5-4 in an elimination game at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha. Six teams are left: Arizona, Arkansas, South Carolina, Florida State, UCLA and Kent State. Congrats, Kent State for your first ever win at the College World Series.  Kudos for knocking off the top seed.

The Thunder feels the Heat

Lebron James scores 29 points and grabs 14 rebounds as the Miami Heat have their way at home tonight and defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 91-85, to take a 2-1 advantage in the NBA Finals. Sad to say I missed it, as I watched my Wildcats from Arizona go 2-0 at the College World Series with their win tonight over the UCLA Bruins. Congrats to James and the Heat, and especially to my Wildcats! 

Arizona remains unbeaten at CWS

The Arizona Wildcats strung together five hits to score four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and rode the right arm of Konner Wade the rest of the way as they knock off  UCLA, 4-0, to capture their second win at the College World Series in Omaha. Johnny Field, Alex Mejia, Robert Refsnyder, Sean Mejias-Brean and Bobby Brown all hit safely in the fourth as the Wildcats gave Wade all the runs he would need. Wade pitched a complete-game shutout and allowed the Bruins just five hits, while striking out four. He did not walk a batter. Arizona gets a rest for three days and will play in the national semi finals on Thursday. How sweet it is!

Simpson wins U.S. Open

The 17-year-old Beau Hossler faltered down the stretch. Tiger Woods did the same. And, in the end, Jim Furyk and  Graeme McDowell  faltered as well,  leaving Webb Simpson, the man in the clubhouse, as the winner of the 2012 U.S. Open. Simpson's 1-over-par 281 was enough to capture the championship trophy. McDowell finished at 282, Furyk finished with a 3-over-par 283, while Woods carded a 7-over 287 and Hossler finished 6 strokes over par  on the final day to finish with a 9-over 289. In short, the Olympic Course won out. What a tough OPEN!

Stony Brook first to go at CWS

Stony Brook falls to Florida State 12-2 today in Omaha and is the first team eliminated at the 2012 College World Series. The Sea Wolves get just seven hits off the Florida State pitching staff and finish the season with an outstanding 52-15 record. Florida State improves to 1-1 at the series and 49-16 overall and await the loser of tonight's Arizona-UCLA game in an elimination game on Tuesday.

Getting back to .500

The Arizona Diamondbacks will try again to get back to .500 as they finish off a three-game series with the Angels today. Ian Kennedy will be on the mound for the D'backs as they hope to even their season record at 33-33 and split another six-game road trip. Arizona will then head home for a six-game stand with Seattle and the Chicago Cubs. It's such an uphill battle for the D'backs right know. Good luck, Diamondbacks!

D'back Update:  Diamondbacks can't get it done. They lose to the Angels 2-0 today and fall to 32-34.

When I was seventeen...

After three rounds, the mind-boggling story at the 2012 U.S. Open is not that of Jim Furyk or Tiger Woods, or the other grizzly veterans, but instead its the play of 17-year-old Beau Hossler. I've watched just about every hole of this U.S. Open due to the fact I'm laid up from my foot surgery, and I'm simply amazed how the University of Texas-bound golfer (once he graduates from high school) maneuvers his way around the tough course at the Olympic Club, battling all the obstacles which accompany all the golfers who are trying to garner the championship trophy on the grueling 18-hole course which overlooks the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the city of San Francisco. When I was seventeen, I spent my summer trying desperately to pass an Algebra course. I was a naive kid with my heart set on making the junior varsity baseball team. My big day or night included the cruising of Johnny's Drive In on Speedway Blvd. I certainly wasn't grown up enough to play golf at a country club, much less play in the U.S. Open...and to top that have a chance at winning the U.S. Open, for goodness sakes. There is so much available for the youth of today, They are growing up fast. A few months from now, Hossler will be sitting in the classroom at his high school, staring out the window and rehashing what he accomplished on Sunday, June 17, 2012. The young man may falter today, or he may win it all. He may turn in another sparking 70, or 71, or 72. Whatever happens, his future is set. Good luck today, Mr. Hossler.

Still unable to make a move with my fantasy team

I'm still not scoring many points on my fantasy baseball team. I did make a move this week and picked up Washington's third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Still clinging to 10th place in the 12 team league.

My roster this week:




C Saltalamacchia-BOS

1B Goldschmidt-AZ

2b Kelly Johnson-TOR

3b Zimmerman-WAS

SS Barmes- PIT

OF Reddick-OAK

OF Harper-WAS

OF Upton-TB

DH Quentin-SD



P rotation: Sabathia-NYY, Jackson-WAS, Scherzer-DET, Gomez-CLE, Buehrle-MIA



RP Kimbrell-ATL
 
Players still on DL: Troy Tulowitski, Roy Halladay and Evan Longoria
  

Cinderalla teams get off on the wrong foot at College World Series

Stony Brook and Kent State, the two Cinderella teams in the 2012 College World Series, have put themselves in the hole in Omaha. Stony Brook lost to UCLA yesterday and today Kent State falls to Arkansas, 8-1. Kent State eliminated Oregon last week to reach the College World Series, but today, they just couldn't get anything going as Arkansas gradually pulled away for the win.

Wildcats edge Florida State in 12 innings

Joey Rickard doubled to the gap in left-center field and Johnny Field knocked in his teammate with a double to the gap in right-center field in the top of the 12th inning as the Arizona Wildcats edged Florida State 4-3 tonight in the first round of the College World Series in Omaha. Right-hander Kurt Heyer did his thing early on. He threw 128 pitches and left the mound with two outs in the eighth inning with the score tied at 3-3. Tyler Crawford and Mathew Troupe shutout the Seminoles the rest of the way. Offensively,  the Wildcats banged out ten hits off the Seminoles' pitching staff, but it was the back-to-back doubles by Rickard and Field that sealed the deal for the Wildcats and sent them into a second-round matchup on Sunday against the UCLA Bruins, who knocked off Stony Brook 9-1 earlier today. Way to go, Wildcats!

A trip at the movies

It's been 21 days since my foot operation, so I thought I'd celebrate by getting out of the house and take in a movie with my better half. With my trusty crutches and my right foot in a boot, Sue and I headed to Park Mall to see the Tom Cruise flick, Rock of Ages. I hobbled into the theater and we took the elevator to the main floor. I made my way up seven steps and sat down in an aisle seat and we prepared to watch Cruise and his supporting cast rock out for two hours. Rock of Ages turned out to be an x-rated Grease, but the rock and roll music was outstanding. Following the movie, I quickly hopped down the seven steps and made a quick right. With 50 people behind me, I preceded to trip and fall on my face as my crutches and my glasses went flying. It kinda reminded me of sliding in to second base. As luck would have it, I didn't hurt the foot and managed to get back up, using my good  foot. We made it home without any further incidents. My crutches look like they have been through batting practice. I'll try to venture out of  the house again in a few days. Oh well, such is the life of a 67-year-old broken down baseball player. 

Staples removed today...one by one

The doctor removed the twenty staples from my heel today...one by one. Glad that's over. Doc says I'm progressing nicely from my  May 25th  foot surgery. I still have another month of down time, but can start putting a little pressure on the foot each day. Still no driving until I see the Doc on July 16, by that time we're looking at almost two months into the initial operation. It sure is slow going. I sure miss playing ball. About those staples, I guess the staples work better than stitches. The Doc says when they finish operating it is faster to staple you together rather than seal you up with stitches. At any rate, I'm glad the staples are out of there.

Goldschmidt's hitting streak ends

Paul Goldschmidt is my first baseman on my fantasy team and for the past two weeks has kept my fantasy club above water with a 17-game hitting streak. The streak ended last night in Arlington when Goldschmidt went 0 for 3 during the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-1 loss to the Rangers. In Goldschmidt's final at bat, he sent a Colby Lewis fastball to the wall in left field, but Josh Hamilton made the catch and ended the streak. Goldschmidt hit six homers and blasted nine doubles in that span. Come on, Goldy, start a new one!

Teams are set for College World Series

The Arizona Wildcats will take on Florida State Friday in the first round of the 2012 NCAA College World Series, while UCLA will tangle with Stony Brook. Two Pac-12 teams make it in, while the SEC will send  three  teams to Omaha:  Arkansas, Florida and South Carolina. Kent State gets in after its 3-2 win over Oregon today. Go get 'em Wildcats!

Diamondbacks back to the .500 mark

Lefty Joe Saunders got his fourth win of the season and Paul Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to 17 games as the Arizona Diamondbacks edged Oakland 4-3 at Chase Field today and evened their season record at 30-30 as they now head for Texas and a three-game series with the Rangers. The Diamondbacks needed a 5-1 record on their latest home stand to reach the .500 mark and that's exactly what they did, taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies while sweeping the Oakland A's.

Miami Heat move on to NBA Finals

Lebron James and the Miami Heat rolled over the Boston Celtics tonight 101-88 to capture the  Eastern Conference Championship, setting up a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday in the first game of a seven game series to decide the NBA title.  James scores 31 as Miami comes back from a 3-2 deficit to win two in row to grab the title. The Heat and Thunder should put on a great show.

Union Rags wins Belmont

Union Rags squeezed through on the inside rail and won the Belmont Stakes today at the wire as Bob Baffart settles for second as his horse, Paynter, loses by a neck at the finish line. That's three runner-up finishes in a row for Baffart.  Baffart's horse Bodemeister came in second at Churchill Downs and in the Preakness, finishing behind I'll Have Another on both occasions. Baffart didn't have to worry about I'll Have Another today, instead, it was Union Rags that kept the University of Arizona grad from the winner's circle.  Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks.

Big bucks for a former Wildcat

A couple of years ago Rob Gronkowski probably roamed the campus at the University of Arizona with just a few bucks in his pocket. The former Wildcats' tight-end will not have to worry too much about what's in his wallet now, as he agreed on Friday to a $54 million deal with the New England Patriots. Congrats, Mr. Gronkowski. Don't forget the UofA!

Wildcats punch ticket to Omaha

Super Regionals at Hi Corbett

The Arizona Wildcats are heading for Omaha. The 'Cats beat  St. John's 7-4 today at Hi Corbett Field to clinch the Super Regional and now head for the 2012 NCAA College World Series and their first appearance at the coveted event since 2004. Arizona  (43-17) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings and then held off the Red Storm (40-23), thanks to a complete-game performance from right-hander Konner Wade. Wade (9-3) allowed just six hits and four runs (only two earned) as he went the distance for his ninth win of the year. The Wildcats are the first team to clinch a berth in the College World Series. Congrats, Wildcats!

Wildcats win Game 1 in 10th inning

Super Regionals at Hi Corbett Field

The Arizona Wildcats captured Game 1 in the Super Regionals at Hi Corbett Field today with a dramatic 7-6 victory in 10 innings over St. John's. Trent Gilbert provided the big blow with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th, plating Bobby Brown, who earlier in the inning tied the game at  6-6 with a single to center  field. The big story was the pitching of Arizona's Kurt Heyer. Heyer pitched 9.1 innings, allowing 17 hits, but never gave up, until he was relieved by Mathew Troupe with one out in the 10th inning.  Heyer left the mound with the game tied at 5-all . He watched anxiously from the dugout as his teammates rallied for the win. The Wildcats do it all over again tomorrow as they face St. John's at noon, just one win away from the College World Series. Congrats, 'Cats!

Disappointment at Belmont

I'll Have Another was scratched from the Belmont Stakes earlier today. The owner, the trainer, the jockey and everyone close to the Triple Crown threat are probably at the local tavern, having another and another. How disappointing it must be for them and a real downer for horse racing fans across the country. What a shame. A swollen tendon is the culprit. Now, I'll  Have Another is laid up, kinda like me. The only difference, the thoroughbred will be sent out to the pasture and I don't have a pasture to go to. I'll Have Another won't run again, the question is, will I? It's Day 14 for me and my second day in a boot. Stitches come out Wednesday, or should I say staples. I'll be glad to get rid of those.

Visit to Doc was an eye opener

I visited the doctor today. It's been 13 days since my foot operation and today I got a quick look see at the back of my right heel. It isn't pretty! There's an L-shaped dark figure with somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 staples visible. I think the L stands for loco -- as in crazy for having the operation done.

Guys, I'm in for a long haul. They fitted me for a boot and I go back in six days and have those god awful staples taken out. Supposedly, there are two anchors (they call them) inside my heel which dissolve in time, at least there's no bolts or screws to worry about. The doctor says it'll be a year before I really discover if the operation was a complete success or not. Til then, it is more down time, no driving and of course, no playing ball. This week I still can't put any weight on the foot, even with the boot on. Down the road, I hope to be able to drive and of course I have months of rehab to go through.

This old ball player is going to go crazy.

Arizona 4th in the country in team batting average

The Arizona Wildcats are 4th in the country with a team batting average of .333 as they head into the Super Regional on Friday at Hi Corbett Field. On paper, the three teams ahead of the Wildcats are Utah Valley (.350), Stony Brook (.336) and Hofstra (.334).  In comparison, UCLA is batting at a .312 clip and St. John's comes in to Hi Corbett Field with a .287 average.

Thunder rolls!

The Oklahoma City Thunder are headin' for the NBA Finals. The Thunder, behind Kevin Durant's 34 points and 14 rebounds, edges San Antonio, 107-99, tonight in Oklahoma City to win the Western Conference Championship and now await Boston or the Miami Heat in the first game of the NBA Finals on Tuesday.

And how about the guy with the beard? James Harden, the former Arizona State Sun Devil who gave the Arizona Wildcats fits a few year back, scores 16 to help the Thunder reach the NBA Finals. Now, the big question remaining: Can the Miami Heat win two in a row or will the Boston Celtics return to the NBA Finals? We'll know soon enough. The Heat and the Celtics meet in Game 6 tomorrow night.

The running at Belmont

I look forward to Saturday and the 2012 Belmont Stakes. Could we have a Triple Crown winner by the mid afternoon on Saturday? I'll Have Another will be hard-pressed to make it three in a row though, as the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness this racing season goes up against 11 other horses and will break out of the 11th position to boot.

I remember the 1970s when Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed captured the Triple Crown, Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978. I was in Omaha then and remember going to the Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track, getting my first taste of Thoroughbred racing. By the way Ak-Sar-Ben is Nebraska spelled backwords. On May 15, 1959, horse racing's 1935 Triple Crown winner, Omaha, was laid to rest at Ak-Sar-Ben  Nice track and great racing.

Place your bets, guys!

Arizona selected for Super Regional

T

he University of Arizona was selected late yesterday to host the NCAA Super Regional next weekend at Hi Corbett Field. The Arizona Wildcats will take on St. John's in a three-game series. The winner will head for Omaha and the College World Series. Back in early May, St John's lost a three-game series to Louisville. Just saying!

One-third of the MLB regular season in the books

With one-third of the regular 2012 MLB season in the books, only the Los Angeles Dodgers are above the .600 winning percentage mark. So, no team is poised to run away and hide thus far as the Dodgers are 12 games above the . 500 mark in the NL West at 33-21 and enjoy a three-game lead over second place San Francisco. while Texas enjoys its 10-game spread in the AL West at 32-22 and a 4 1/2 game lead over the second place Los Angeles Angels.

The surprising Cincinnati Reds are atop the NL Central at 30-23, while the Chicago White Sox lead the AL Central with a 31-23 record. The two most competitive races are in the NL East and the AL East. Washington (30-22), Miami (31-23)  and the New York Mets (31-23) own just a two-game advantage over Atlanta  (29-25) and just 3 1/2 over cellar-dweller Philadelphia (28-27). Tampa Bay at 31-23 is just one game up in the lost column over Baltimore (30-24) and the New York Yankees  (29-24), while the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays are in a last place tie with identical 28-26 records.

 Looks like it's going to be a very competive June and July. As for our Arizona Diamondbacks, they're still struggling at 25-29, but they have won two in a row. That's a good sign.

Goldschmidt stock on the rise

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is helping out my low-scoring fantasy baseball team. Goldschmidt has put together a career-high 12-game hitting streak, batting .419 with four homers, five RBIs and six walks during that run. Goldschmidt has hit three of those home runs in the past four games, including a solo shot Sunday. Colorado in town this week for a three-games series, which gets underway tonight.

Wildcats continue to hit and hit...and hit!

The Arizona Wildcats ignited by a grand slam home run in the third inning by Johnny Field captured the Tucson NCAA Regional last night at Hi Corbett Field with a what-else-is-new 16-3 thrashing of Louisville. Field goes 4 for 6, scores four times and drives in seven runs, while James Farris throws a complete-game as the Wildcats prepare to host the Super Regional next week against St. Johns.

Riley Moore also turns in a box score that reads 4 for 4, 4 runs scored and one run batted in as the Wildcats record 15 hits in the regional championship game, giving them 58 hits and 47 runs scored for the three-games. If I was a player from St. John's, I'd be shaking in my cleats right about now.

Way to go, Wildcats!


Super Regional: The Wildcats await word on the site and dates for the Super Regional, but there's a good chance Arizona will host the event. Arizona is 41-17 and St. John's is 40-21, after winning the Chapel Hill Regional over North Carolina this weekend.

Wildcats hit...and hit...and hit!

Luckily, ESPN 3 carried the Arizona-Louisville game last night. So, I propped up my healing right foot on a couple of pillows, positioned my laptop in the center of my bed and watched the Wildcats scatter 23 hits around Hi Corbett Field en route to a 16-4 second-round Tucson NCAA Regional win over the Cardinals.

My goodness, can the Wildcats hit! That's 43 hits in two days. Alex Mejias, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, certainly acted like an MVP, reaching base six times with five hits and a walk. Seth Mejias-Brean rattled four hits around the Hi Corbett confines, while the rest of the Wildcats' lineup got into the hitting barrage as well, including reserve Brandon Dixon, who homered in the seventh inning with a three-run blast over the left field fence. Up til then, it was all singles, doubles and triples by the  Wildcats, who will now sit back and await the winner of  Sunday's 4 p.m. game between Missouri and Louisville. The Arizona Wildcats may not need batting practice before the championship game, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. I think they've had enough!

Way to go, Wildcats! Rest up and reload!

Ali watch:   Muhammad Ali was on hand to watch his hometown Louisville Cardinals play the Wildcats last night. What a treat that must have been for the 4,007 fans in attendance. Just another moment in time to add to the glamour of the historic ball park, Hi Corbett Field.

Blackbirds fall to league-leading A's

The 38-and-over Blackbirds (3-5) have been in every game this season in the Mountain Division of the Tucson MSBL, except Thursday night as they fall to the undefeated A's, 15-3. The Blackbirds avoided the shutout with some late-game runs, but the A's rolled from the start and never looked back. Sean Rollins led the Blackbirds with two hits in three trips to the plate with a single and a double to go along with two runs batted in. Paul Smith singled twice and drove in the Blackbirds' third run.

Another bye week is on tap for the Blackbirds before they return to action on Thursday, June 14, against the Red Sox. Game time 7 p.m. at Reid Park.

What is going on with all these injuries?

My fantasy baseball team continues to get hit with injuries as I continue to hold on to 10th place in the 12-team league. My DL  list includes Evan Longoria, Roy Halladay, Troy Tulowitski, Chipper Jones and Cody Ross. I've dropped Ross this week and picked up the former D'back Carlos Quentin, but my roster is thin. Below is my roster this week, so you can see what I'm up against.

My roster this week:

C Saltalamacchia-BOS
1B Goldschmidt-AZ
2b Infante-Mia
3b Alvarez-PIT
SS Barmes- PIT
OF Suzuki-SEA
OF Harper-WAS
OF Upton-TB
DH Quentin-SD

P rotation: Sabathia-NYY, Jackson-WAS, Scherzer-DET, Gomez-CLE, Buehrle-MIA

RP Kimbrell-ATL

The Wildcats know their field

The Arizona Wildcats know their field and the Missouri Tigers simply do not. Result: The Tigers ran all over Hi Corbett Field last night trying desperately to run down every one of the Wildcats' hits -- all 20 of them as Arizona bested Missouri in the Tucson NCAA Regional opener, 15-3. Every player in the lineup collected hits -- including four by Bobby Brown -- as the Wildcats received a complete-game performance once again from Kurt Heyer. Over 5,000 happy Wildcat fans cheered on an Arizona team which went 20 for 37 on the night. Next up Louisville at 8 p.m. tonight.

Go, Wildcats!

Santana hurls no-hitter

The first no-hitter in the history of the New York Mets organization was thrown tonight by left hander Johan Santana. Santana threw 134 pitches in nine innings as the Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 at home in front of an appreciative crowd. Santana (3-2)  walked five and struck out eight en route to his first ever no- hitter.

Johnny Field still the main man

I posted way back in the beginning of the college baseball season that the man with the cool name was the Arizona Wildcats left fielder Johnny Field. The young man can flat out field, hit, throw and will lead his club into the opening round of the NCAA Tucson Regionals tonight at Hi Corbett Field. Field leads the Wildcats into post season play with a .379 batting average with 80 hits on the season and 59 runs scored. With a name like that, he can't go wrong on the ball field.

Good luck, Wildcats! Let's show Missouri how we play ball out West.

one week in the books

It's been just one week since my foot operation. One week on my back with very little to do...just wait for the pain to come and go...take the pain killers and watch the clock. Somewhere, my teammates are playing baseball, while I squirm in front of the television hour after hour. I'm catching up on the soap operas, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. The plots move slower than I do and the characters need a score card to keep up with who's with whom from one week to the next.

I think I should come up with my own soap opera about an old ball player who just  wouldn't quit playing baseball...until a doctor comes along and single handily ruins his "days of summer". And maybe, the fall, the winter and the spring, too. The old coot moves to Genoa City and a string of unsolved crimes suddenly send the  local  District Attorney bonkers. All the orthopedic centers in a 500-mile radius have been vandalized...damaged beyond repair.

The only clue a Louisville Slugger left in the doorway.