Happy 4th America And Vinny Castilla

[They ate 147 snausages in 7 minutes]

Joey Chestnut ate 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win another championship in an American classic. That's just the perfect way to celebrate the United States Independence Day. Over-zealous eating. Frankly, I'm surprised those competitive eaters aren't dunking their hot dog buns in bacon fat yet. But it's kinda, sorta 'Merica's brithday so we should breakout some Carvel Ice Cream cake and sprinkle it with hamburgers and beer. I'm worried about your health.

But before you blow your eyebrows off with a Roman Candle, let's celebrate some of baseball's Fourth of July birthdays...

Sergio Santos, 1983, Los Angeles, CA.
What seemed like a steal for the Blue Jays in a trade with the White Sox, Santos injured that thing used for throwing a ball and has missed much of the season.

I gave him
Another set back, I'm terrible at gift giving and wrapping. Lots of papercuts.


Amauri Sanit, 1979, La Habana, Cuba.
He pitched 7 innings for the Yankees in 2011 and gave up 10 earned runs on 12 hits and 3 walks.

I gave him
A new birth certificate that named him Ami Sant and made him 22-years-old. If that doesn't work out, free raft ride to the destination of his choosing.

Brendan Donnelly, 1971, Washington, DC.
Part of the unhitable Angels bullpen that won the World Series in 2002.

I gave him
My authentic J.T. Snow California Angels jersey to try to get it signed and sent back to me.

Vinny Castilla, 1967, Oaxaca, Mexico
He hit 191 home runs and .302/.348/.545 playing for Colorado between 1995 and 1999.

I gave him
A reverse humidor for all of those away games.


José Oquendo, 1963, Rio Piedras, PR.
The comedy twins/duo/sportsfans, Sklar brothers, lobbied for Oquendo's induction into the Hall of Fame. It's not going well.

I gave him
A Cooperstown t-shirt. Not a Hall of Fame t-shirt, just a Cooperstown t-shirt. It's not his size, either. Lots of disappointment.

Dan Larson, 1954, Los Angeles, CA.
Not the guy who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Which would have been extremely impressive for a two-year-old.

I gave him
The name Don Larsen.

There are plenty more including names like: Dot Fulghum, Stump Edington, Milt Reed, Duke Kenworthy, Pinky Swander and Chief Roseman.

So happy Fourth, everybody, and enjoy that cheeseburger stuffed porterhouse. I'm sure Obamacare will cover that heart attack.

Curveballs for Jobu 4/11/11

Curveballs for Jobu is Offbasepercentage's daily trip around the ballparks. Unless we skip a day or two.

Today's honorary bat boy is Juan Beniquez.




We've had a few days of no Jobu and we apologize. Here's why we missed Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday - MTD's fight with a hobo, Darryl, results in both being hauled off in the padded van for a period of evaluation. MTD released Sunday morning into the custody of hobo, Darryl.

Sunday - Derwood gets a call back for a role in the upcoming play Bag Boy on the Roof. Doesn't get part, outside theater eats entirety of a three-pound bag of popcorn "in protest". Dozes off at approximately 8:13 p.m. EST.


Angels 3, Bluejays 1. Much to the delight of MTD and the salamander living in MTD's hair, Jered Weaver has been the best pitcher in the AL through the season's first week and a half. Weaver moved to 3-0 with a 7 2/3 IP, 15-strikeout game against Toronto, and in three starts had an 0.87 ERA (2 ER in 20 2/3 IP). Brandon Wood: 1-for-3, 2 K.

Nationals 7, Mets 3 (11). We'll try to get MTD out from under his couch to write a Sombrero for Willie Harris, who fanned four times in five plate appearances. The Mutters struck out 17 times and fell behind in the top of the 11th when Ivan Rodriguez, pronounced "breathing" before the game, got the go-ahead single and Laynce Nix followed with a three-run home run off Blaine Boyer, who stinks. It wasted a great start by Chris Young, who gave up one hit and one earned in seven excellent innings.

Athletics 5, Twins 3. Future HOFer Jim Thome hit career home run No. 590, but it wasn't enough for the slumping Twins, who've scored 24 runs in nine games (3-6).

Phillies 3, Braves 0. Brooks Conrad: 0-for-1.

Diamondbacks 10, Reds 8. Arizona trailed 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth when Nick Masset happened. The Cincy reliever did his best Lee Guetterman impersonation, allowing Stephen Drew's tying single and a three-run home run to Chris Young that got Arizona to .500 at 4-4.

Rangers 3, Orioles 0. Texas keeps winning, improving to a franchise-tying-best 8-1 with Sunday's win. Derek Holland pitched six scoreless, and 82-year old Darren Oliver, Darren O'Day and Neftali Perez followed with three more scoreless for the Rangers, who bounced back from a shutout loss in game one of the series to outscore Baltimore 16-1 in the final two games.

Time for a visit from Crazy Hot Dog Guy:



Astros 7, Marlins 1. That's two wins for the 2011 Houston Astros, so if you had the under on victories, I'm terribly sorry.

Royals 9, Tigers 5.
Indians 6, Mariners 4.
KC wins to move to 6-3, Wilson Betemit goes 4-for-4. Tribe now 7-2. Forget cows flying, can raccoons drive yet?


Other games, but down here...

Rockies 6, Pirates 5
Whitesox 6, Devilrays 1
Brewers 6, Cubs 5
Redsox 4, Yankees 0
Cardinals 6, Giants 1
Padres 7, Dodgers 2