More about, the little ballplayer that could.....

Much has been written in this space about the amazing season Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has been having. Yes, you could say we have a man crush on the star. That's fine. He deserves it. The 24-year-old leads the majors in hits (by 23!), batting average (.343) and paces the AL with 56 stolen bases.

Wondering how many players have ever collected more than 220 hits and 50 steals in a season? Here's the list: Ty Cobb (three times), Tris Speaker, George Sisler, Willie Wilson, Lance Johnson, Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Altuve.

I included that nugget in power rankings this week, and a Twitter buddy of mine (@crewsett, who is a highly-recommended follow for Cubs fans, by the way) asked about 50 doubles. Altuve has 46 right now.

Here's the entire list of players in MLB history with at least 220 hits, 50 steals and 50 doubles in a season:

Tris Speaker, 1912.

That's it. With four more doubles, Altuve would join the Hall of Famer.

Speaker hit .383/.464/.567 (wow) with 222 hits, 53 doubles, 12 triples, 10 homers, 90 RBI, 136 runs and 52 stolen bases that season for the Red Sox.

Altuve is hitting .343/.379/.455 with 222 hits, 46 doubles, three triples, seven homers, 57 RBI, 84 runs and 56 steals.

Mighty impressive for anyone, let alone a 24 year old. And you know what's funny? That was Speaker's 24-year-old season, too.

This should be worth a few bucks.....

Philip Hughes DECLINES the Twins offer to possibly get him the $500,000 Bonus!

www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24724651/phil-hughes-passes-on-chance-to-pitch-out-of-bullpen-collect-500k-bonus

You'll recall that Twins right-hander Phil Hughes, who's enjoyed an excellent first season in Minnesota, recently missed out on a chance to collect a $500,000 bonus because rain cut short his final start just one out shy of qualifying for said bonus. Expensively tough break, that one.

In light of those circumstances, the Twins offered to do their right-hander a solid ...


Nice gesture by the Twins and at the very least an interesting gesture by Hughes. Most of us wouldn't pass up the chance to, in essence, nab half a million bucks for a single relief appearance, but most of us, unlike Hughes, aren't already millionaires several times over.

Topics: Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Derek Jeter wore two uniforms last night. One Jeter will keep. The other will presumably be sold.

"game worn" - which he didn't wear will be sold I bet

I heard on the radio on the ride into work today a Game used Sock was selling for about $406 so far. Jesus Jeter Christ!

It must be discounted.  Yesterday, it was $ 409.00.  Some place called Steiner Sports is selling this item, and others.


www.steinersports.com/

maybe it was $409, I couldn't remember the number I heard

A likely correct answer, but not the answer I was going for. 

Nope.  Not that.  You are in the right ballpark, as it is kind of odd and a bit obscure.

Much of the Derek Jeter hype has passed, now that he's played his final game at Yankee Stadium and shortstop. He still has his final series at Fenway Park this weekend with the New York Yankees before wrapping up a career that's likely to lead him to induction to the Hall of Fame.

And just because Jeter can't be elected until 2020 at the earliest doesn't mean the Cooperstown, N.Y. area can't start to get ready. In fact, they've already started thinking about Jeter, who probably will gain election on the first ballot and might set a record for highest percentage of votes. Although that's only part of the hype. The number of fans wanting to attend his induction ceremony also could break records, which will put a strain on the village of 1,800, along with the surrounding region.

A reported 48,000 fans jammed in to see Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and a trio of famous managers get inducted in August. For a player as popular as Jeter, who knows what the draw might be under ideal circumstances? The likely induction of Mariano Rivera in 2019 will be a worthy appetizer, but also will pale by comparison with the Jeter party.

Alex Dunbar of CNY Central writes:

"You can say maybe it will be 100,000. Maybe a 120,000? What if it's 200,000? Every ten or twenty thousand is a huge amount,” says Cooperstown Mayor Jeff Katz.

Katz says Otsego County, emergency services and state troopers will all work together with the hall. The mayor already expects to close down all the streets in the business district to cars.

"In 2007, when Cal Ripken Jr. was inducted, we had 80,000 people. The county took a good leadership role and got farmland to park cars and arranged shuttle buses to the induction site,” Katz says.

Two-hundred thousand like a lot, but if Ripken could draw 80,000, a guestimate of 100,000 isn't unreasonable. It all depends, of course, on the national economy. And other factors. Will Pete Rose get in that year, too? Maybe MLB will have folded by then and we'll all be converted to soccer. No?

King Jeter was never ejected from a game.  I forgot where I found this, but know that he is in the top 5 in games played without one, with Stan Musial being # 1.

Kind of makes sense when you think about it.  But, why would one ever think of it.......?

Allen Trammel was let go as well.  So, now both Torre and new G.M Dave Stewart can bring in their own guy, and everyone will get a fresh start in AZ for next year.

I myself will be surprised if their choice does not have a strong Yankee connection somehow.

I saw this happen in last nights game. And, I thought it was a great move, but, then quickly forgot about it. Only as I see it kind of became "a thing", and as I now have a GIF, here is a Yankee ballboy who knows what a pice of history he has. One of, if not the final, foul ball of Jeter's career.

It was so bad, that the local to me Comcast station that aired it is taking heat for it, and may have to pay a penalty to the F.C.C because of it.

To me, it is very much "shades of Will Clark, circa 1989" as the F-Bombs were flying at the same rate then as last night.