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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Yuma Sun: Baseball legends coming to casino

or…Quechan Cecil Fielder’s thirst for gambling

he famous players coming to Yuma for the event are Cecil Fielder, Rudy Seánez, Kenneth Landreaux, Tim Raines and Kevin Mitchell. All five have been recognized by the Major League and have won prestigious awards in the Major Leagues, such as MVP, hitting titles, best stealing record percentage, Babe Ruth Award and World Series Co MVP.

Cecil Fielder says that getting to meet his fans remains one of his favorite aspects of being in professional baseball.

“It’s very important to me to be there and interact with the kids and parents,” Fielder told the Yuma Sun in a recent phone interview. “I remember back in the day, when I got into the big league, I was humbled as heck that someone would want my autograph. That’s the way I still feel today. I am a down-to-earth person and just enjoy what I am doing.”

Repoz Posted: December 18, 2012 at 01:58 PM | 50 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: gambling, mlb

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1. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:06 PM (#4327732)

Prince, daddy's gonna need another loan...

2. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:09 PM (#4327736)

Prince, daddy's gonna need another loan...

Seriously. What a sneaky way to get big Cecil to the casino. Really, though, Tim Raines I would cross the street to meet, maybe. But Ken Landreaux? Rudy Seanez? Really?

3. Kiko Sakata

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:14 PM (#4327744)

All five have been recognized by the Major League and have won prestigious awards in the Major Leagues, such as MVP, hitting titles, best stealing record percentage, Babe Ruth Award and World Series Co MVP.

What an odd collection of awards - from MVP down to "base stealing record percentage". And I looked up Ken Landreaux to see which of these he might have won and I'm not seeing it. His only "black ink" is that he led the league twice in fielding percentage as a CF and, somewhat ironically, once in errors as a CF (just in case you weren't convinced of the worthlessness of fielding percentage / errors as a measure of fielding quality). He did make one All-Star team - which is one more than I would have guessed.

That said, I might actually cross the street to get his autograph (but I probably wouldn't go any farther than that).

4. SoSH U at work Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:24 PM (#4327757)

I looked up Ken Landreaux to see which of these he might have won and I'm not seeing it.

Who's the World Series co-MVP? The 1981 Dodgers had three co-MVPs in the WS, but none of them were Landreaux.

By the way, Kenny's biggest claim to fame was his 31-game hitting streak as a Twin.

5. Daft Wullie Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:26 PM (#4327759)

6. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:33 PM (#4327771)

I don't know, Rudy Seanez was playing professional baseball when he was 17 years old, and when he was 40 years old, despite being a 5' 10" righty. I bet he's got some great stories, I'd like to talk to him.

Don't get me wrong, I'd have a beer and shoot the crap with any of these guys. I just have no interest in getting a handshake and an autograph and fawning over them.

7. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:40 PM (#4327781)

As I recall Seanez was big into the MMA type stuff early in the decade. There is probably a crowd at the casino that he would blend in well with.

8. Daft Wullie Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:45 PM (#4327787)

What if you could get Kevin Mitchell (5' 10" 186 according to BB-Ref, 255 pounds according to his gravitational interaction with our solar system) to autograph the glove he used when starting 20 games at shortstop for the 86 Mets?

9. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:47 PM (#4327788)

It's just understood that Jose Canseco will be there. There's no need to mention it in the press release.

10. Random Transaction Generator Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:49 PM (#4327790)

So who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

Retired MLB - Buck Martinez (for "The Play", and I'd ask him to sign it "Break a leg!")

Active MLB - John McDonald

11. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:49 PM (#4327791)

12. Daft Wullie Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:53 PM (#4327796)

I'd buy Mitch a beer any day.

You should be expecting a knock on your door any moment now...

13. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:53 PM (#4327797)

So who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

Retired - Desi Relaford
Active - Erik Kratz

14. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:57 PM (#4327803)

So who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

Shooty Babbitt, of course.

15. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:57 PM (#4327804)

So who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

If you change it to "walk across the bar to talk to," it's Larry Yount.

16. Daft Wullie Posted: December 18, 2012 at 02:59 PM (#4327807)

Jeff Manto, for his Grover Cleveland+ tours with the Indians of my youth.

17. Random Transaction Generator Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:00 PM (#4327810)

If you change it to "walk across the bar to talk to," it's Larry Yount.

Well, that's pretty much the default winner, isn't it?

18. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:01 PM (#4327812)

Retired - Chad Bradford Wannabe. ;-) If we're talking MLB players, Bob Tufts. In the non-Primate division, probably Doug Glanville.
Active - Is Casey Daigle still active? I'd chase him down since he went to my high school.

19. Kiko Sakata

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:04 PM (#4327815)

So who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

Kiko Garcia or Lenn Sakata, of course.

20. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:04 PM (#4327816)

If we're talking MLB players, Bob Tufts.

I would've said Bob, too, but I've crossed town to meet him!

21. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:06 PM (#4327819)

Kiko Garcia or Lenn Sakata, of course.

Until Game 5 of the 2005 ALCS, Lenn Sakata's first career hit against the White Sox was the most memorable baseball moment I'd attended in person.

And the internet does have video.

22. BDC

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:14 PM (#4327826)

who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

Retired: Steve Jeltz, Brian Sikorski.
Active: Chris Davis? but he's had some success now. I don't tend to hear about less-successful guys than him.

This presumes that I would recognize them across a street. Anybody much more obscure than Ernie Banks, that's unlikely. Unless Chris Davis were sitting under a large sign that said CHRIS DAVIS AUTOGRAPHS TODAY.

23. dlf Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:14 PM (#4327828)

I worked on a case with Alan Koch for a year before I knew him as anything other than a pretty good in-house attorney for a nursing home management company. Never did get an autograph, but eventually got him to tell stories of playing with Don Zimmer on the old Senators, Kaline, Lolich and the mid 60s Tigers and of deciding to go to grad school when he was sent down to Hawaii after a bit more than a year in the show.

I'm betting most of the good stories would come from the bullpen arms and bench guys rather than the stars and, as such, I'd rather have a beer and chat with folks like Bob Tufts than with Vida Blue.

24. just plain joe Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:17 PM (#4327836)

Shooty Babbitt, of course.

You will be intrigued to know (or not), that I have Shooty Babbitt in the minor league system of an OOTP team. So far he has done reasonably well in A ball; we shall see how he does as he progresses. For what it's worth Bob Tufts is the closer on this same A ball team.

25. dr. scott Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:19 PM (#4327839)

im not sure Id cross the street to try to meet any baseball player, but it really depends on my priorities at the time I guess. I did just learn that Sergio Romo (one of my fav Giants) frequents a fantastic Mexican resturant in my neighborhood (Don Pistos!). Im pretty sure if I saw him in there I'd probably just leave him alone.

Speaking of Don Pistos and baseball, they had the 2012 world series trophy in the house last night for a charity thing. I biked by and saw it in the window. I even went 1 block out of my way to do so. does that count?

26. puck Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:21 PM (#4327842)

And I looked up Ken Landreaux to see which of these he might have won and I'm not seeing it.

He was traded for Rod Carew, as he once noted. (Him and a bunch of guys...)

He was also an all-star once and led the league in fielding percentage once.

27. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:28 PM (#4327852)

What if you could get Kevin Mitchell (5' 10" 186 according to BB-Ref, 255 pounds according to his gravitational interaction with our solar system) to autograph the glove he used when starting 20 games at shortstop for the 86 Mets?

You could pair it with the glove Cecil Fielder (6' 3" 230 according to BB-Ref, which as Bill James said, leaves unanswered the question of what would happen if he put his other foot on the scale) used in his two games at 2B for the 88 Blue Jays. Would make a nice display.

28. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:35 PM (#4327858)

Which gets me thinking - any takers on putting together the Fattest Team of All Time? We've got our middle infield.

29. SoSH U at work Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:35 PM (#4327860)

What if you could get Kevin Mitchell (5' 10" 186 according to BB-Ref, 255 pounds according to his gravitational interaction with our solar system) to autograph the glove he used when starting 20 games at shortstop for the 86 Mets?

I'd prefer the glove Mitchell wasn't using when he caught the ball barehanded.

I wouldn't cross the street for any autographs, and I can't imagine I'd cross the street just to say hi to any ballplayers either (I might make an exception for Wakefield or Mike Squires). If I happened to strike up a conversation with a big leaguer, I'd undoubtedly enjoy the hell out of it. But I don't have any desire to simply exchange pleasantries.

30. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:36 PM (#4327862)

who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

Dan Szymborski

31. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:37 PM (#4327865)

You could pair Fielder's glove with Kelly Gruber's glove, if Gruber was a legend.

Kelly Gruber 2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B
Cecil Fielder 3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B-2B-3B

32. Random Transaction Generator Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:40 PM (#4327868)

Out of Position Roster

C: Raul Ibanez
1B: Omar Vizquel
2B: Cecil Fielder
3B: George Bell
SS: Kevin Mitchell
LF: Eddie Murray
CF: Matt Stairs
RF: Eddie Collins
P: Ted Williams

They all had at least one appearance at that position.

33. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:43 PM (#4327872)

I'd prefer the glove Mitchell wasn't using when he caught the ball barehanded.

You want Kevin Mitchell's severed hand in your display case??

34. dlf Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:58 PM (#4327887)

They all had at least one appearance at that position.

From the Pine Tar game: 2B Don Mattingly & CF Ron Guidry

Fernando Valenzuela got into a games in the OF - switching back and forth between the corners depending on the batter -- and some years later 1B.

Lineup gimmick: Lou Gehrig SS. Earl Weaver also used to do that in road games putting one of his bench bats in at SS to "pinch hit" for Belanger in the top of the first.

35. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat Posted: December 18, 2012 at 03:58 PM (#4327888)

Out of Position Roster

I prefer

1B: Fernando Valenzuela
LF: Roy Oswalt
RF: Jesse Orosco/Roger McDowell

36. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:00 PM (#4327893)

So who is the least successful baseball player you would "cross the street to get his autograph"?

Retired - Al Nipper, any of the lesser known members of the 2004 team particularly Curtis Leskanic

Active - Jeff Francoeur - he just seems like such a nice freakin' guy.

37. Walt Davis Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:07 PM (#4327896)

cross the street for: Carmen Fanzone
have a beer with: Dale Murphy (cheap drunk)

38. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:12 PM (#4327906)

From the Pine Tar game: 2B Don Mattingly & CF Ron Guidry

I'd put Mattingly at 3B (18 innings including two starts (?!) in 1986), and keep shuffling him and Fielder back and forth between there and 2B.

39. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:12 PM (#4327907)

Active - Jeff Francoeur - he just seems like such a nice freakin' guy.

Yeah, gotta be Francoeur for the active list.

40. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:18 PM (#4327913)

Baseball legends at a casino and no Pete Rose?

41. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:20 PM (#4327914)

Yeah, gotta be Francoeur for the active list.

OK, so you'd cross the street, but would you take a Delta flight?

42. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:23 PM (#4327917)

OK, so you'd cross the street, but would you take a Delta flight?

I miss that blog. I figure the intern who wrote those entries is probably writing scripts on spec for Disney now.

43. Papa Squid Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:23 PM (#4327918)

When I was 12, someone had heard that Juan Guzman was seen walking into the church across the street. As soon as school got out, I ran over there, walked into the church, quickly turned a corner and crashed into a guy. I looked up and realized... I had crashed into Guzman. I apologized, he laughed, and kept walking. I was too shocked to ask for an autograph or anything.

44. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:37 PM (#4327933)

45. depletion Posted: December 18, 2012 at 04:42 PM (#4327937)

Baseball legends at a casino and no Pete Rose?

Yeah, really. Does this mean the participants, if paid, are banned from MLB work like Mickey and Willie were?

46. Steve N Posted: December 18, 2012 at 05:13 PM (#4327956)

Didn't Ken Landreaux suffer from bipolar syndrome?

47. Bob Meta-Meusel Posted: December 18, 2012 at 07:15 PM (#4328071)

Let's not forget:
CF - Ron Guidry

48. Ted Williams Carlos Williams Posted: December 18, 2012 at 07:19 PM (#4328074)

1B: Fernando Valenzuela

The Dodgers routinely played three players out of position last year:

Kemp - CF
H. Ramirez - SS
Victorino - LF

49. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 10:07 PM (#4328161)

Lineup gimmick: Lou Gehrig SS.

Not to mention Mark McGwire at 2B.

Under current rules, though, Gehrig's appearance doesn't count as having played SS (just as McGwire didn't get credit for games at 2B). A player is required to be in the field at a position for one pitch or play in order to get credit for a game at that position.

-- MWE

50. J.R. Wolf Posted: December 18, 2012 at 10:10 PM (#4328162)

Least successful player? Easy. Earl Weaver.

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Yuma Sun: Baseball legends coming to casino

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