It's Too Late to Turn Back Now

Does that phrase ring a bell? (It was a 1972 hit song by The Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose.) Josh Hamilton might be humming that tune this morning... wondering if the extra money was worth leaving Texas. After five ultra productive years with the Rangers -- including 2010 when he was named American League MVP -- the ultra-talented but emotionally fragile slugger signed a nine-figure deal with the Angels last winner. And the results so far have bordered on disastrous. As of this date, which just happens to be his 32nd birthday, Hamilton is hitting just .216 with just five home runs and 12 RBI. Over the weekend, manager Mike Scioscia decided Hamilton needed a "recharge day," apparently to clear his head after the worst seven weeks of his major league career. Sometimes, leaving a comfortable situation for the lure of the big bucks just doesn't work. Ask Jason Bay. Do you think he'd give back the money given him by the Mets to return to the productive days of being with the Red Sox? And then there's Albert Pujols, who also moved to Anaheim and saw his numbers tumble. Of course, we're all capitalists at heart, but which player do you think would give (some of) the money back to again be in the right situation?

Teammates Who Share a Birthday

May 20th is chock full of birthdays in baseball. Two of them are guys that played together on the 2010 Phillies: utilityman Wilson Valdez and outfielder Jayson Werth.
Never a star or even a regular, Valdez is cut from the same cloth as a Luis Sojo, Joe McEwing and Jose Oquendo -- baseball savvy players who "do the little things," especially at crucial moments. Who can forget in May 2011 when Valdez moved from shortstop to the mound, and pitched a scoreless 19th inning, earning a victory over the Reds?
Werth is a different story. Projected for stardom early in his career as a Blue Jay and Dodger, injuries held him back until then-GM Pat Gillick picked him of the scrap heap and watched him emerge as a key player on the Phillies run of dominance in the NL East. Werth then cashed in, signing a nine-figure contract with the Nationals, just before they became a powerhouse.
As for those other May 20th birthday boys, check out this list of impressive names:
Ken Boyer, Bobby Murcer, Todd Stottlemyre and Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser.

Yankee Rookie David Adams

With Alex Rodriguez and Kevin Youkilis both sidelined, the Yankees have turned to David Adams as their fill in at 3rd base. A promising hitter whose minor league progress was slowed by several injuries, Adams has endured both peaks and valleys over the last six weeks. After being released by the organization to clear roster space, he was resigned. His impressive play at Triple-A Scranton put him back on Brian Cashman's radar -- leading to his recall on the 15th. Last night in the bottom of 2nd inning against the Mariners, he doubled to the right field wall (notice the ball bouncing off the H on the scoreboard) for his first major league RBI. Even though Seattle went onto win, it's a nice memento for a young player whose future might be in the Bronx.

Inspired by Raul Ibanez

Part of my challenge in posting every weekday is finding a picture that's timely, as well as visually appealing. I went looking for one of Raul Ibanez to honor his triumphant return to New York. After all, he's smacked three home runs in his first two games back at Yankee Stadium since re-joining the Mariners as a free agent. Just recall that remarkable performance in game three of last year's ALDS against the Orioles -- coming off the bench to hit the tying and winning homers. All told, he's hit nine home runs in his last 11 games in the Bronx... quite a homecoming! Keep in mind Ibanez was born in New York but moved with his parents to Miami while still a baby. So New York is always a part of his soul.

Turns out that I didn't have any unused images of Ibanez. But I did find this nice panorama of the Stadium from a game he sat out last June. So you can just mentally pencil in last night's grand slam and two-run blast while soaking in the pre-game vibe from a sunny spring afternoon in the Bronx.

There's No Scientific Explanation, But...

Have you ever noticed how often a player has a great game the first time he plays against the team that just traded him or let him leave? Melky Cabrera is the latest example. Last night at Rogers Centre in Toronto, he banged out four hits (and drove in a pair of runs) as the Blue Jays opened an interleague series with the Giants. Toronto pounded San Francisco 10 - 6 -- a score that became closer due to a rough outing by Jays' reliever Brad Lincoln.

5-15-2005

May 15th, 2005 was a standout date in Tino Martinez' Yankee career, as he slammed a pair of home runs -- giving him eight in his eight last games -- in a 6 - 4 win over the Oakland A's. The game helped two others reach landmarks:

• It was the 1800th victory for Joe Torre as a manager. 
• The 250th career victory for winning pitcher Randy Johnson. 

(These images are from the 2012 Old Timers Game.)

What Wish Will He Make Blowing Out the Candles?

Turning 36 today, Roy Halladay's major league future is very much up in the air. Days away from undergoing shoulder surgery, the former Cy Young Winner -- and the only man ever to throw regular- and post-season no-hitters in the same year -- hopes to return to the Phillies before October. With two Cy Young Awards and 201 career victories between Philadelphia and Toronto, he's a borderline Hall of Fame candidate. But how much more is left in the tank? Will he ever fulfill his dream of pitching in a World Series? His club fell shy in 2010, losing to the Giants in the NLCS. So when he gets his cake and candles today, what do you think he'll wish for?

Who Says Catchers Can't Steal Bases?

John Buck has seemingly done it all for the Mets this season -- including stealing 2nd in the bottom of the 2nd inning during Sunday's game with the Pirates.

Think Pink

Players from the Pirates and Mets were among those taking part in Major League Baseball's  annual Mother's Day promotion with the Susan G. Komen breast cancer charity. (Above: Starling Marte of the Pirates; below: Daniel Murphy of the Mets)

The game-used pink bats, undershirts, wristbands and other gear will all be auctioned for charity. 

(Above: Garrett Jones of the Pirates; below: Ike Davis of the Mets)

(Below) Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates makes a fashion statement.

The Tuiasosopo Who Plays Baseball

Matt Tuiasosopa took the long road to the majors. A Seattle native, and son of a popular former Seahawks lineman, Matt played both football and baseball in high school, choosing baseball after being drafted by the Mariners. He spent eight uneventful years in their farm system, including three at Triple-A Tacoma. In 2012, he moved on to the Mets' Buffalo club, again without making waves. Landing an invitation to Tigers camp, he became their unexpected Grapefruit League star. And he's kept hitting after making the club. Providing a spark off the bench -- appearing in 20 games, batting .324 including a pinch-homer this week against the Nationals. (These pictures are from a spring game where he homered against the Mets ).
One thing has changed since he got to Detroit: Matt got a lower number. Now, he wears 18. Sharing May 10th with former Met and Cub Jim Hickman and former Giant Robby Thompson, happy birthday to Matt Tuiasosopo.

Stepping Up in a Pinch

Vernon Wells has gone from Angels benchwarmer to vital cog for the Yankees. The outfielder, who'd never duplicated the numbers from his best days with the Blue Jays, was virtually given away late in Spring Training. The Yankees, missing such key names as Jeter, A-Rod, Granderson and Teixeria, slipped Wells into left field. And he's been a productive player ever since. Last night, he had a hand in all three New York runs -- homering for the first two, then scoring the game-winner in the to the 9th -- as the Yanks slipped past the Rockies. And if that wasn't enough, he even filled in at 3rd base and made a nifty fielding play after Joe Girardi emptied his bench. Thanks to Mark Feinsand of The New York Daily News, who noted that Wells had played 13,751-2/3 big-league innings as an outfielder -- without ever playing even an inning on the infield. Stepping in on short notice (albeit after taking ground balls in practice for several weeks) and helping an injury-riddled team win, Wells deserves this bonus posting today.

Freeze Frame

At the end of the pre-game warmups for the White Sox on Tuesday night, 3rd baseman Conor Gillaspie flipped a ball away. Like a knuckleball, it floated a bit, resulting in what you see here.