Category Archives: Baseball

Good enough to do it twice

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I confess I did not follow the World Series very closely this year. I caught a few bits and pieces of games, including the latter innings of Game Six, but for the most part missed them. My first thought after … Continue reading →

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Astros to the AL update

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I remain puzzled by this. Major League Baseball is discussing with prospective Astros owner Jim Crane possible compensation for agreeing to move the team to the American League. Three people familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday that MLB has … Continue reading →

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Will the feds get another shot at Clemens?

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Probably. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton is considering the possibility that putting Clemens on trial again would subject him to double jeopardy. Walton, who declared a mistrial on July 14, has ordered both sides to submit their arguments in writing … Continue reading →

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Judge declares mistrial in Clemens case

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve got to be kidding me. The judge declared a mistrial Thursday in baseball star Roger Clemens’ perjury trial after prosecutors showed jurors evidence that the judge had ruled out of bounds. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said Clemens could … Continue reading →

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Der-ek Jet-er!

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Clap-clap-clap clap clap. After Derek Jeter fouled off consecutive full-count pitches in the third inning on Saturday, the Yankee Stadium organist tickled the ivories to the tune of “Let’s-Go, Yank-ees!” Impulsively, the 48,103 fans who made up the sold-out crowd … Continue reading →

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MLB needs to stand by all of its players

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A brief history of baseball’s other color line. There is no Latin American Jackie Robinson, no single Hispanic ballplayer who lifted his people onto his back and crashed through baseball’s racist barricades. But there always has to be a first, … Continue reading →

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MLB realignment?

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is interesting. A simple form of realignment being seriously considered has been raised in the labor talks between Major League Baseball and the players’ association, according to four sources: two leagues of 15 teams, rather than the current … Continue reading →

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Start ’em young

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Jordan Lyles, whom the Astros hope will be a big piece of their future, has arrived. The Astros took an injury to lefthander Wandy Rodriguez as a cue to summon Lyles to make his first major league start tonight against … Continue reading →

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Astros sold

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

With everything else that’s been going on I’ve only been peripherally aware of the ongoing sale of the Astros to a new owner, which is now official. Jim Crane stood behind the microphone Monday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, in … Continue reading →

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RIP, Bill Gallo

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The great sports cartoonist Bill Gallo has passed away at the age of 88. Bill Gallo, treasured cartoonist and columnist for the New York Daily News, passed away Tuesday at the age of 88 due to complications from pneumonia. Gallo, … Continue reading →

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A night with the Skeeters

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I learned a couple of interesting things from this Richard Justice column about the forthcoming Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball team. Among them: You may think you know what a Skeeter is, but you don’t. If you’re wondering what … Continue reading →

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Bike to the ballpark

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the CTC email list, this is very cool: Bike to the Ballpark – May 1 Play Green Week at Minute Maid Park runs today through Sunday, May 1st. Throughout the week, the ballclub will be raising awareness of green … Continue reading →

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Bonds found guilty on one charge

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A mixed result for Barry Bonds and the feds who have been pursuing him. Just like the whole Steroid Era: We’ll never really know. Even the one charge that left Barry Bonds a convicted felon didn’t specify steroids. Instead, a … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Joltin’ Joe

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was my dad’s birthday. In his honor, here’s a classic clip of his favorite baseball player, Joe DiMaggio, appearing as the mystery guest on “What’s My Line” in 1955. All together now: Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, a … Continue reading →

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Alomar, Blyleven enter HOF

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to Roberto Alomar and (at long last) Bert Blyleven for their election to the Hall of Fame. Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were chosen to the baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday, in an election in which voters again … Continue reading →

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The Skeeters have a stadium name

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We now know the name of the stadium that will someday house the Sugar Land Skeeters. Fun at the ol’ ballpark will now officially take place at….StarTex Power Field. It’s named, as you already know if you work for this … Continue reading →

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The 2011 Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourself for lots of posturing and moralizing about the eeeeevils of steroids and the general decline of society. Suspected steroid users Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez are on baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, joining Bert … Continue reading →

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Will their first fan giveaway be flyswatters?

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sugar Land Skeeters? For serious? Sugar Land’s minor league baseball team has yet to be formed, but planners have begun selling tickets for its 2012 inaugural season Wednesday after unveiling the team’s name, the Skeeters. Hair Balls has a … Continue reading →

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An early peek at the Sugar Land baseball stadium

Posted on November 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the city’s web page: Sugar Land recently began the process to select a final design-build contractor for the construction of a minor league baseball stadium northeast of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A. A final decision is expected … Continue reading →

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Spreading the wealth

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s something that occurred to me after this year’s World Series concluded: In the past ten seasons, an awful lot of teams have celebrated milestones. Consider: In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks won their first pennant and their first World Series … Continue reading →

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Halladay makes history

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Roy Halladay waited his entire life to pitch in the postseason. Then he delivered the game of a lifetime. Halladay threw a no-hitter Wednesday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Reds at Citizens Bank … Continue reading →

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Clemens indicted on perjury charges

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Not a good day for the Rocket. A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for allegedly lying to Congress about using steroids and growth hormone. Clemens faces charges of obstruction of Congress, making … Continue reading →

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Comparing stadium experiences

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sugar Land Sun has an interesting three-part series comparing the minor league baseball experiences in Fort Worth and New Orleans to what we might expect in Sugar Land with its forthcoming stadium. Here’s the introduction: Both cities provide key … Continue reading →

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RIP, Bob Sheppard

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Preceding George Steinbrenner in death was the legendary PA announcer Bob Sheppard, known as both the voice of Yankee Stadium and the Voice of God. If you watched the All Star Game on Tuesday night, you got to hear a … Continue reading →

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RIP, George Steinbrenner

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It was kind of a rough week for the New York Yankees, as they lost two of their icons while I was on vacation. I’ll have something to say about Bob Sheppard, their legendary and longtime public address announcer, in … Continue reading →

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Nightly News Update: One Last Time

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Greg Wythe

Kuff will be return soon enough after camping out with Sasquatch, Jason Voorhees, and the wild Basselope of Bloom County. If he were here, these might be things he’d be tempted to remark on. Since he’s not, here’s me running … Continue reading →

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Nightly News Update: Monday Edition

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Greg Wythe

More up-to-date linkage while Kuff sings Kumbaya in the wood goes on a snipe hunt. » Chron: Kids’ failure is adult’s ‘success’ (Rick Casey) Maybe it’s just me, but the immediacy of this column seems a bit like an afterthought … Continue reading →

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Sugar Land stadium site selected

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The location for the Sugar Land baseball stadium has been chosen. Sugar Land City Council has chosen an area near the northeast corner of Hwy. 6 and U.S. Hwy. 90A as their preferred site for a minor league baseball stadium. … Continue reading →

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Eri Yoshida’s American debut

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve blogged before about Eri Yoshida, the 18-year-old female knuckleball pitcher from Japan. Last week, she made her Meet American debut as a professional baseball player. With the spotlight of the media from both sides of the Pacific, Yoshida made … Continue reading →

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So how about that instant replay?

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I presume you’ve heard about the perfect game that wasn’t, thanks to the blown call by the umpire with two outs in the ninth inning. If not, see here, here, and here for the details. All I have to say … Continue reading →

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Sugar Land gets its stadium

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

They’ve been working on it for over two years now, and at long last, the city of Sugar Land has struck a deal to build a minor league baseball stadium. The project promises to create 120 jobs, generate $7.7 million … Continue reading →

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Selig avoids All Star Game issue

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We always knew he was a weenie. With a lengthy non-answer, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday gave no indication he would move the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix in response to Arizona’s immigration law, saying MLB has … Continue reading →

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More pressure on MLB over the 2011 All Star Game

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Keep it up. A New York congressman who called for the league to move the 2011 game from Phoenix is the latest person to push for an economic boycott against the state in protest of the new law. Companies have … Continue reading →

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MLBPA opposes Arizona immigration law

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. New York, NY, Friday, April 30, 2010 … The following statement was issued today by Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner regarding the immigration law recently passed by the state of Arizona. “The recent … Continue reading →

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