Preview 1000

Here we are just past the half way mark of 2012 and I have reached the milestone 1000th post to this blog. When this team of one first ventured into this in January 2011 I just kicked out one or two posts a month as I got my feet wet. The pace picked up during the season but it was not near the same as this year. In the off season I made the decision to offer more daily and weekly segments during the 2012 season and it has kept me hopping. In 2011 I had 169 posts total so I wouldn't have imagined that I'd hit 500 or even 1000 within the next year. Yet here I am chugging along and the MLB season just passed the half way point.


As with my 500th post I'm going to give a glimpse into a couple more offerings I plan to roll out in the 2013 season. The first will be weekly updates on players with MLB experience that are playing in the Nippon League over in Japan. These examples are accurate through today (July 16).


Wladimir Balentien is playing with the Tokoyo Yakult Swallows and is hitting .264/.405/.627 with 24 HR, 57 RBI, 42 R and 0 SB in 68 games.


Tony Blanco is playing with the Chunichi Dragons and is hitting .266/.359/.542 with 16 HR, 42 RBI, 31 R and 2 SB in 66 games.


Wily Mo Pena is playing with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and is hitting .240/.308/.452 with 12 HR, 42 RBI, 31 R and 2 SB in 73 games.


Bryan Bullington is pitching with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and is 5-9 with a 4.04 ERA, 82 K, 1.27 WHIP in 100.1 IP over 17 games.


Randy Messenger is pitching with the Hanshin Tigers and is 5-8 with a 3.04 ERA, 93 K, 1.21 WHIP in 103.2 IP over 16 games.


Brian Falkenborg is pitching with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and is 0-1 with a 2.12 ERA, 24 K, 1.06 WHIP, 13 saves in 17.0 IP over 17 games.


The second addition for 2013 will be a daily home run and steals report. While I don't think every home run is sacred and they don't always guarantee a mention in the daily top performers I think there is enough interest to warrant the segment. It will cover all the MLB teams and each level of the minors. The examples below are from games played on July 13, 2012.


American League


Los Angeles Angels
Home Runs: Erick Aybar (3), Mark Trumbo (23)
Steals: Mike Trout 2 (28)


National League


Milwaukee Brewers
Home Runs: Ryan Braun 2 (26), Cody Ransom (8)
Steals: Ryan Braun (16), Martin Maldonado (1), Aramis Ramirez (3)


Triple A


Buffalo Bisons (Mets)
Home Runs: Fred Lewis 2 (7), Josh Satin (10), Matt Tuiasosopo (8)
Steals: Fred Lewis (17)


Double A


Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox)
Home Runs: Bryce Brentz (12), Jeremy Hazelbaker (11)
Steals: Bryce Brentz (4)