Spotlight: AJ Minter

The way the Braves play fruit basket turnover with their relievers (and bench) it’s sometimes hard for me to associate names with faces. Guess I don’t watch enough, so I really shouldn’t be commenting. Seems like so many of those relievers are husky with long hair and beards.

Today someone pointed out that last season AJ Minter’s ERA was 0.83. Only allowed 2 earned runs in 21-2/3 innings. Only 7 unintentional walks compared to 24 strikeouts. This year his WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched) is almost the same as last year. Perhaps he can soon recapture some of that 2020 mojo. My theory: Minter pitched well until he started wearing white shoes. Husky guys look better wearing dark cleats, that don’t stand out as much.

I hate pitchers who never throw strikes. Just ball after ball, hoping the batter will swing. With about a month to go in his last season someone told Greg Maddux that he had 999 career walks. He decided to not issue a walk the rest of the year, and he didn’t. In his career he rarely even got to a three ball count on a batter.

A few weeks ago while Ceil was out of town she wanted my to get her some pine straw. I put it in the garage between the cars. We haven’t put it all out yet. Before the kids came over I cleaned out the garage on the side where you walk into the door to the house, so at least that part is looking good.

Thursday: Ceil made BBQ chicken again, this time with mashed potatoes and tossed salad. Watched the 2015 movie “Bound & Babysitting” also known as “Adventures in Love & Babysitting.” Not too bad. Nice lead actor and actress. But you know it’s a B movie when one of the supporting actors is Booger from Revenge of the Nerds.

Seinfeld: the one with the gymnast, and Kramer’s kidney stone. At 11:15 pm I went out looking for gas, but didn’t see any. Starting to get worried.

Finished my John Lennon book. Not sure yet of what book I will start on Monday. So far in 2021 I’ve read 19 books, a record pace.

Denison: a good overview of the conflict in Israel, both past and present.

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/this-is-something-that-is-new-this-is-horrific-this-is-unbearable-the-latest-on-the-conflict-in-israel-and-four-biblical-responses/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=127149139&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_lq-5O9uAfkFZI1i_K6LVzmGjREK0bP2PYLZ3yq02R157bvj69VM1PLdkTyJ-jpgITMgElDrg5_vWxcbBNxR7T4EC9Sg&utm_content=127149139&utm_source=hs_email

 

SLOPPY THURSTON  [B-R Bio] threw the first Immaculate Extra Inning. He threw nine straight strikes in the 12^th inning on 22-Aug-1923, fanning Beauty McGowan, Chick Galloway & Sammy Hale. It was only the 2nd immaculate inning in AL history, and only one of two in MLB history ever to do it in extras. He was Double-Unique until Joe Thurston suited up for the Dodgers in 2002. They are the only two Thurstons in MLB history. Sloppy was D-U for 79 years & 132 days. His signature pitch was notably employed by The Meal Ticket and El Toro. Thurston, Carl Hubbell & Fernando Valenzuela made good use of the screwball pitch.