Posted on Sun, Apr. 20, 2008
It's a good thing he has a Pinto as a backup
While driving to the ballpark for Friday night's game in Anaheim, Angels centerfielder Torii Hunter was at a stoplight when his brand-new Bentley was rear-ended.
"My Bentley's pretty much in bad shape," Hunter said. "She's going to have to go in the hospital for a while."
No one was seriously injured, but Hunter was seriously frustrated.
"I went out there and tried to take it out on them in the game," he said.
Hunter had three doubles and three RBIs, and took a two-run homer away from Richie Sexson as he leaped over the fence for the game's final out in Anaheim's win.
But they were six VERY GOOD games
Remember when a player had to prove himself before becoming wealthier than some tiny nations?
Not anymore. Tampa Bay super-prospect Evan Longoria, a 22-year-old third baseman who had played exactly six big-league games - he was hitting .300 with one home run and three RBIs - signed a guaranteed six-year, $17.5 million contract Friday. Options could bring it to more than $44 million over nine years. Longoria called the deal "very humbling" and said it will "definitely make me work a little harder, to get in that [batting] cage a little earlier."
The Rays may save money by avoiding arbitration and free-agent years, but we think some of today's players need some perspective. In 1980, the world champion Phillies had a
team payroll of $7 million, for a roster that included Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.
This doesn't compute
Entering the weekend, the Kansas City Royals had averaged more road fans (29,014 per game) than the Yankees (28,150).
What's next? Charles Manson Night?
Baseball teams give fans caps, calendars, bobbleheads, bats, lunch boxes, umbrellas and a gazillion other things. The Yankees this year are giving away jar grippers.
But no team scheduled a stranger promotion than the Kansas City T-Bones, an independent minor-league club in the Northern League. The T-Bones planned a Michael Vick "Welcome to the Neighborhood" night May 28, with prison uniforms, spotlights and escape sirens. Events promoting the care of animals also were scheduled. Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, is serving a 23-month sentence at a prison in nearby Leavenworth after pleading guilty to federal charges related to dogfighting.
After receiving complaints, the T-Bones said Friday that they would drop the Vick-related events and focus only on events promoting animal safety and adoptions.
Notable
New York Yankees pitcher Kyle Farnsworth was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball for intentionally throwing at Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, after Ramirez had homered twice.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181
or scarchidi@phillynews.com.
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