One heck of a starting rotation on today's Birthday Team. Center field is a bit of a problem, though. Darrell Miller's a catcher who made eight appearances in CF and is the third-best athlete among the Miller siblings.

C: Johnny Blanchard
1B: J.T. Snow
2B: Dustin Ackley
3B: Kelly Gruber
SS: David Howard
LF: Danny Gardella
CF: Darrell Miller
RF: Mark DeRosa

SP: Pete Alexander
SP: Preacher Roe
SP: Rip Collins
SP: Don Lee
SP: Josh Towers
RP: Ron Negray

Heisman Winner: Vic Janowicz
Not that one: Jose Reyes, Francisco Rodriguez

"The past is a different country" -- Some old guy

Sometimes, reading old newspapers is like peering into a universe I barely recognize.

You don't know any tea-baggers?

Certainly I don't hang out with people I know to use racist slurs. I have friends of all political persuasions, but racism is something I can't deal with.

Who would you send down there to mix it up with the greasers?

Who would you send down there to mix it up with the greasers?


"Handy Andy" Pafko?

Sometimes, reading old newspapers is like peering into a universe I barely recognize.

You don't know any tea-baggers?

Aaaaand we're off...!!

Who would you send down there to mix it up with the greasers?

Ponyboy?

I read that as peeing into a universe I barely recognize. and wondered what the people of 2113 are peeing into our universe.

wondered what the people of 2113 are peeing into our universe.

Maybe we'll get juicy lemons

Who would you send down there to mix it up with the greasers?

You can never go back to the greasers. Best you can do is pick up the pieces.

Who would you send down there to mix it up with the greasers?

Who was it who got Jeff Conaway hooked on the pain pills? Whoever that is, he did a number on at least one greaser.

Who would you send down there to mix it up with the greasers?

Wait - I thought mods were the natural enemy of greasers? If Pete Townshend lied to me through song/film, I am going to be so mad, you guys.

Primates,

Sorry to leap in, but I've a question. The wife nd I are visiting Southern California / Central Valley in August an were wondering where we could see some low-key minor league baseball in small, welcoming ballparks.

Anyone help us out with some ideas where to start looking?

Fresno and Bakersfield both have minor-league teams.
(I've never been to a minor-league game that wasn't low-key, and in a small welcoming ballpark)

There's a nifty "travel guide" on BB-Ref you might find useful, too.

And the Bakersfield team is one of 2 baseball teams with female general managers. (she dates a guy I work with), and they had that really fast guy (Billy Hamilton.. dont know where he starts this year) who stole 160 bases last year.

I live in Los Angeles and go to Lancaster (northern LA County) JetHawk games a couple of times a year. I've also never been to a minor league game that wasn't low-key and welcoming, except for a game at old Comiskey in about 1988. Even AAA games seem quaint if you're more used to MLB games.

Billy Hamilton.. dont know where he starts this year

Probably back at Pensacola (AA). I suppose there's a chance he could be at Louisville, but I don't expect it.

The wife and I are visiting Southern California / Central Valley in August an were wondering where we could see some low-key minor league baseball in small, welcoming ballparks.

I went to San Bernardino (Inland Empire) and Lake Elsinore when I was in LA for SABR in 2011. Of the two, San Bernardino is smaller, more like the feel of an old-time ballpark; Lake Elsinore is laid out kind of like a mirror image of Fenway Park, with the tall wall in right and the nooks and crannies in left-center.

-- MWE

Thanks for the suggestions, please keep them coming!

#14 - I live in Fresno and would advise you to avoid it like the plague. The ballpark, surrounding area and people will almost assuredly make you regret spending the time and money. Visalia is a great place for a very low-key ballpark (and it's new-ish) with a good crowd and would be a MUCH better choice.

Though not that near the central Valley. The san jose giants are a fun team... and they often win! But then again I live in SF, and its too far for me...

I've never been to any of the Central Valley ballparks. If I had to pick one I'd probably pick Modesto - it's an older park that has been completely renovated and from what I hear combines the old and the new very well. Visalia's park was also renovated recently, but it's really tiny (it seats around 2500; Modesto seats around 4000). Bakersfield, from what I've heard, is on the dismal side - there's a reason they've had trouble holding affiliations recently.

Fresno's park is big (for the minors) and new, as befits AAA; if you want small and welcoming one of the Class A ballparks probably fits better.

-- MWE

I also haven't been to the Central Valley, but would echo Mike's comment.

I've posted this as a news item (and am probably not the only one) but B-Pro has a very good piece by former pitcher Eric Knott on PEDs. Beat the rush, read it now.

Who would you send down there to mix it up with the greasers?

Little Mr. Boyd popped a teeny erection, excited at the excuse to type an ethic slur, and get away with it.