On May 1 in Baseball History...

    * 1899 - The 1899 Cleveland Spiders win their first home game of the season over the Louisville Colonels. In the nightcap, they suffer defeat 2-1, when Louisville's Malachi Kittridge scores from second base on a single. Not so unusual, except.... Kittredge bypasses third base altogether, as the umpire is occupied with the play in the outfield. Despite vigorous shouting from the Cleveland nine, the Colonels get away with the game.

    * 1901 - Herm McFarland and Dummy Hoy homered in the Chicago White Sox's 19-9 rout of the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers committed an American League record twelve errors, ten by the infield, in the loss.

    * 1906 - Johnny Lush of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a no-hitter at Brooklyn, beating the Dodgers 6-0.

    * 1920 - Babe Ruth hits his first home run as a Yankee as New York beat Boston 6-0 at the Polo Grounds.

    * 1920 - In Boston, Brooklyn's Leon Cadore and the Braves' Joe Oeschger duel 26 innings to a 1-1 tie in the longest game ever played in the major leagues. Oeschger shuts out the Dodgers for the last 21 innings, topping Art Nehf's 20 scoreless frames in a row on August 1, 1918. He gives up nine hits and Cadore allows 12.

    * 1924 - Chicago White Sox's Bill Barrett stole home twice, in the first and ninth innings, against the Cleveland Indians.

    * 1925 - The A's introduce another future Hall of Famer, 17-year-old catcher Jimmie Foxx, who pinch-hits and singles against Washington.

    * 1926 - Satchel Paige, 19 years old, makes his debut in the Negro Southern League, pitching Chattanooga to a 5-4 win over Birmingham.

    * 1944 - George Myatt of Washington went 6-for-6 as the Senators beat the Boston Braves 11-4.

    * 1947 - For the first time, Cleveland will play all its games at Municipal Stadium. The Tribe abandons League Park, where most weekday games have been played. New owner Bill Veeck installs an inner fence to cut power alleys from 435 to 365 feet at Municipal Stadium.

    * 1949 - Elmer Valo is the first A.L. player to hit two bases-loaded triples in a game, leading the A's to a 15-9 win in the first game of a doubleheader. Valo has a third bases-loaded triple during the season to tie the league mark set by Shano Collins in 1918.

    * 1951 - The Yankees' new phenom, Mickey Mantle, connects for his first major league home run off Randy Gumpert of the White Sox. Minnie Minoso becomes the first black to play for the White Sox. He plays third base and, facing Vic Raschi in his first major league at bat, rips a home run to center field. The Yankees win 8-3.

    * 1959 - Early Wynn of the Chicago White Sox pitched a one-hitter, struck out 14, and hit a double and home run for a 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox at the age of 39.

    * 1968 - Phillies pitcher John Boozer is ejected by umpire Ed Vargo at Shea Stadium for throwing spitballs during his warmup pitches. He is only the second major league pitcher to be ejected from a game for throwing spitballs.

    * 1969 - Houston, no-hit the day before by Cincinnati, answers back as Don Wilson pitches a 4-0 no-hitter (with 13 strikeouts) over the Reds. Houston ties an N.L. record with just one assist. In Wilson's previous start against Cincinnati, he gave up six runs in five innings in a 14-0 loss.

    * 1975 - Hank Aaron has four hits and drives in two runs in the Brewers' 17-3 win over Detroit. This brings his career RBI total to 2,211, breaking Babe Ruth's published record of 2,209. On February 3, 1976, the Records Committee will revise Ruth's total to 2,204. In actuality, Aaron set the record April 18, 1975.

    * 1980 - Pittsburgh's Bill Mad Dog Madlock is fined $5,000 and suspended 15 games by N.L. president Chub Feeney for poking umpire Jerry Crawford in the face with his glove after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded. Madlock appeals and remains in uniform, but finally withdraws the appeal and begins serving the suspension on June 6 — after disgruntled N.L. umpires threaten to eject him from every game he tries to play in.

    * 1987 - Free-agents Ron Guidry (Yankees), Rich Gedman (Red Sox), Bob Boone (Angels), and Tim Raines (Expos) all re-sign with their former clubs on the first day they are allowed to do so. Doyle Alexander will re-sign with the Braves on May 5.

    * 1991 - In Texas, 44-year-old Rangers right-hander Nolan Ryan strikes out 16 Blue Jays en route to his seventh career no-hitter, a 3-0 win at Arlington Stadium.

    * 1991 - Rickey Henderson surpassed Lou Brock as baseball's career stolen base leader with his 939th steal as the Oakland Athletics beat the New York Yankees 7-4.

    * 1992 - Rickey Henderson starts his own club with his 1,000th career steal. He already holds the major league stolen base record.

    * 2002 - San Diego's Trevor Hoffman set the major league record for the most saves with one team, 321. He broke Dennis Eckersley's record of 320 with Oakland.

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This date in HOCKEY History
NHL:

    * 1965 - Stanley Cup: Montreal Canadiens beat Chicago Blackhawks, 4 games to 3

    * 1975 - Islander Parise & Potvin score within 14 seconds in playoffs Flyers 5 - Isles 4 - semifinals - Flyers hold 2-0 lead

    * 1980 - Sabres & Islanders play to 1:20 of 5th period in a playoff

    * 1982 - Nordiques 4 - Isles 5 (OT) - semifinals-Isles hold 3-0 lead

    * 1992 - New York Rangers wins their 1st ever 7th game of a playoff (vs New Jersey Devils)

ECHL:
1995 - Richmond Renegades win the championship over Greensboro, and the series 4-1.

While I know I'm going to take a lot of heat for this BLOG, I'm willing to throw this out there thanks to Mark Crunutte from the Enquirer. 



Reasons that the Bengals should at least TALK to Alexander:

1. In his Career he averages 4.3 Yard Per Carry

2. In years that he has played all 16 games, he has 1,000+ yard seasons 5 out of 6 season

3. 100 TDs vs. Rudi's 48

4. 214 Receptions vs. Rudi's 101

Reasons that tbe Bengals should NOT even consider Shaun Alexander

1. He's not played 16 games in the last two seasons.

2. in his last two seasons, he's only averaged 3.55 yards per carry.

3. Rudi averages more yards per carry in the fouth quarter.

4. With Chris Perry, DeDe Dorsey, Kenny Irons, and Rudi Johnson, if those 4 are cleared to play by the Medical Staff and can stay healthy, they have plenty of backs to choose from.

- Personally, if Alexander is willing to take the league minimum, I'd bring him in for training camp and give him a shot.  I'm not really sure how the CAP works and I'm not sure that he would even pass a physical at this point.  Rumor was that he failed his physical and that was the reason that the Seahawks cut him to begin with.  *Begin flaming me now*

Shaun Alexander, cut loose by Seattle less than two weeks ago, will be contacting his favorite boyhood team, the Bengals.

At least the Bengals will have a chance to talk about it.

“Making calls to teams. Bengals are on our list!” Jim Steiner, Alexander's agent, told The Enquirer in an e-mail Wednesday.

The Bengals did not use any of their 10 draft picks on a running back.

Coach Marvin Lewis said the team is optimistic that tailbacks Rudi Johnson (hamstring) and Chris Perry (ankle, lower leg) will return to health and the field in 2008. There is depth with Kenny Watson. There is the untapped potential of DeDe Dorsey, who has been a regular during the offseason at the facility.

There is Kenny Irons, who probably won't be ready for the start of training camp as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL injury, but he was the Bengals' second-round pick in 2007.

Alexander, NFL most valuable player in 2005, when the Seahawks won the NFC title, played eight seasons in Seattle. He played college ball at Alabama after a record-breaking prep career at Boone County High School. He was born in Covington and brought up in Florence.

He hit some impressive statistical milestones in 2007. His four rushing touchdowns give him 100 for his career. He added another receiver touchdown and has 12 in his career. He rushed 207 times for 716 yards. He now has 2,176 attempts for 9,429 yards. He started 11 games and played in two more, pushing his career totals to 97 starts and 119 games played.

But he will turn 31 on Aug. 30 and sustained a series of injuries since signing an eight-year, $62 million contract after the 2005 season.

In 2006, Alexander fractured the 4th metatarsal in his left foot in Week 3 of the season and missed six games. He missed six more games in 2007 because of a fractured left wrist and problems with his ankles and knees.

Alexander, in an Enquirer profile from Super Bowl week 2006, said he would not be against playing for the Bengals.

4.30.08

USBANK ARENA-
The Cincinnati Cyclones, of the ECHL, overcame a miserable effort on the power play to a 5-3 victory against the Reading Royals tonight to tie the best of seven series at two games apiece. Everyone in attendance knew that the night was going to be rough when a fight started only three seconds into the game. Referee Nick Suey called a number of penalties, which equaled 42 minutes in tonight's contest. Despite the abundance of penalty minutes, the Cyclones went 0-6 on the power play.

The Cyclones took a two to nothing lead into the first intermission and looked to be on their way to an easy victory as they put their third goal in the net at the 2:32 mark of the second. Reading countered with three goals, including two on the power play, which tied the game at three at the 7:50 mark of the third period.

Thomas Beauregard scored what was the game winning goal at the with only 4:47 seconds left in the game. The Cyclones' Barret Ehgoetz put the game out of reach with an empty net goal with only 48 seconds left on the clock.

Cedrick Desjardins made 22 saves on the night while Reading's Danny Taylor made 27 in a losing effort. Both teams will hook up tomorrow night at 7:30 pm at US Bank Arena for Game 5 of the best of seven series.

SCORING

Twenty-five years ago, on his 98th pitch of April 27, 1983, Nolan Ryan became baseball's all-time strikeout leader with 3,509 career punchouts, surpassing Hall of Famer Walter Johnson's lifetime mark of 3,508.

What makes it even more interesting... while he was an all star 8 times, he was NEVER voted the Cy Young Award winner or was he the Leagues MVP.

He was the Cy Young runner-up while playing for the ANGELS in 1973, and his highest MVP ranking was 14th in the same season. He struck batters out 383 that season in only 326 innings and only gave up 18 Homeruns!!!

Interesting note, Aaron Harang had 218 Strikeouts last season...which tops RYAN 14 out of his 27 seasons. *Yes, I know Aaron Harang is not a Nolan Ryan but, I thought that it was an interesting comparison.*

While I've watched Barry Zito's fall from grace with great interest, and because he's got enough money to live the rest of his life, I don't feel too bad about him being sent to the bullpen, I found it very intersting when I spent some time on Baseball-Reference.com today looking at their stat of the day. Any of MY COMMENTS, are underlined... the rest should be credited to baseball-reference.com

http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/649

This streak is for guys that had 6+ losses in their first 6+ starts- LOOK AT A COUPLE OF NAMES ON THE LIST! Jack Morris- Dave Stewart- yes, that is the same Dave Stewart that pitched against the Reds in the 1990 WS.

                   StreakStart  Streak End Games   W   L   GS  CG SHO  GF  SV   IP     H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR   ERA  HBP  WP  BK Teams
+-----------------+-----------+-----------+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 Chuck Stobbs       1957-04-16  1957-05-24     9    0   9   9   1   0   0   0   42.1   56   41   38   21   25   8   8.08   1   1   0 WSH                                  
 Mike Boddicker     1988-04-04  1988-05-14     8    0   8   8   1   0   0   0   46.1   56   38   30   18   35   6   5.83   7   2   4 BAL                                  
 Josh Towers        2006-04-05  2006-05-09     7    0   7   7   0   0   0   0   30.1   54   35   34   12   18   9  10.09   2   0   1 TOR
 Edgar Gonzalez     2004-06-05  2004-08-24     7    0   7   7   0   0   0   0   34     54   34   33   13   20  11   8.74   3   2   1 ARI
 Mike Maroth        2003-03-31  2003-05-01     7    0   7   7   1   0   0   0   41.1   44   27   26    5   24   4   5.66   3   2   0 DET
 Dave Lemanczyk     1978-04-07  1978-05-13     7    0   7   7   1   0   0   0   31.1   39   31   30   18   11   8   8.62   0   3   0 TOR                                  
 Barry Zito         2008-03-31  2008-04-27     6    0   6   6   0   0   0   0   28.2   41   30   24   15   11   4   7.53   0   1   0 SFG
 Jeff Weaver        2007-04-10  2007-05-10     6    0   6   6   0   0   0   0   22     50   35   35    7   12   4  14.32   1   1   0 SEA
 Jack Morris        1989-04-04  1989-05-01     6    0   6   6   3   0   0   0   37     45   21   18   15   33   3   4.38   0   3   0 DET
 Dave Stewart       1984-04-05  1984-04-29     6    0   6   6   0   0   0   0   30.1   36   25   25   18   19   7   7.42   1   2   0 TEX
 Ray Burris         1982-04-11  1982-05-09     6    0   6   6   2   0   0   0   36.2   43   21   16   15   13   4   3.93   0   1   0 MON
 Mike Morgan        1979-06-27  1979-07-24     6    0   6   6   0   0   0   0   33.2   48   29   23   26    4   2   6.15   0   0   0 OAK
 Fritz Peterson     1972-04-17  1972-05-14     6    0   6   6   0   0   0   0   37.1   41   22   16   11   19   1   3.86   2   0   1 NYY
 Luis Tiant         1969-04-08  1969-05-07     6    0   6   6   1   0   0   0   33.2   46   33   31   19   24  11   8.29   1   0   0 CLE

I’ll add just a few quick notes.

1) Zito’s streak will end with a relief appearance. Here is what ended the 13 previous 6+ game streaks:

a) Win: 6 (Morris, Stewart, Towers, Lemanczyk, Morgan & Peterson)

b) No Decision 6 (Boddicker, Gonzolez, Maroth, Weaver, Burris & Tiant)

c) Relief Appearance 1 (Stobbs)

2) 3 of the pitchers (Stobbs, Maroth & Tiant) lost 20 or more games.

3) Fritz Peterson was the only one to come back and finish over .500. Mike Boddiker (with the help of a team change) came close.

4) Edgar Gonzalez only made 10 starts all season. He went 0-9. This is the 4th most losses by a winless pitcher. His ERA+ of 50 ranks as the 9th worst in a season among pitchers with at least 10 starts.

If you look at this list, it seems as though ZITO could have a decent few wins ahead of him...or he could fall off the face of the earth. Either way, he's still getting his paycheck. 126 million dollars for a bullpen guy, not a BAD DEAL for him. :)