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Facts and Figures, Baseball and Otherwise

March 8, 2015 @ No Comments

Sunday smorgasbord: Promising prospect Kris Bryant hit a home in the Chicago Cubs’ 7-5 loss Saturday to the Colorado Rockies. You may read similar sentences before his big-league career is over. Well, as soon as his big-league career begins.

Ashley Kaltwasser won her second consecuitive Arnold Classic pro bikini title.

Ashley Kaltwasser won her second consecuitive Arnold Classic pro bikini title.

* Ex-Cub of the day: Outfielder Justin Ruggiano hit a three-run homer in Seattle’s 11-7 victory vs. the White Sox.

* On the bright side for the Sox, newcomer Melky Cabrera posted his first hit of the exhibition season. And starting pitcher Hector Noesi threw two perfect innings.

* Ex-Cub of the day: Right-hander Carlos Villanueva was the losing pitcher (seems about right) for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 6-5 decision vs. the Washington Nationals. Villanueva gave up four runs on six hits in 1 2/3 inning. Then again, maybe Villanueva wanted to work on backing up home plate and third base.

* Ex-White Sox of the day: Left-hander Mark Buehrle was the winning pitcher (seems about right) for the Toronto Blue Jays in a 4-2 decision vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. He started and threw two scoreless inning of two-hit ball with no walks or strikeouts. Some things never seem to change.

* And a reminder that stats from exhibition games are meaningless. Unless, of course, you want to pick and choose some and make them meaningful.

* Thank goodness for MLB Network, which provides fans of various team with spring-training games of their teams to watch. Truth be told, however, few things in life are more painful than having to endure the opposing team’s telecast. OK, that last statement might have been a bit of hyperbole. But you get the picture (not to mention the audio).

* There are few things in life better than watching your team rally late in an exhibition game — even if it really is your team’s minor leaguers against the opponents minor leaguers. OK, that last statement might have been a bit of hyperbole, too. But for a baseball fan, it’s still fun to view.

* Speaking of baseball and fun, the memorial service for former Sox star Minnie Minoso was held Saturday in Chicago. Such occasions generally are not fun. But thinking of Minnie and the joy he provided and derived from baseball is. Said Sox senior executive vice president Howard Pizer: “We miss him now, we will miss him on Opening Day, and we will miss him throughout the seasons. We will think of our friend Minnie often, and we will smile. Because that sense of share and love for baseball — for one another and for the White Sox — is what he taught and shared with all of us throughout his magnificent life. God bless you, my friend.” Yep.

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