On this day in 1949, Cleveland owner Bill Veeck and a group of players held a funeral service to bury the 1948 pennant in centerfield. The Indians were mathematically eliminated from the American League pennant race 24 hours prior on their off-day. Here's the latest news and stories making headlines from around the league…
- Finding a reliable backup for Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop should be a priority for the Indians this offseason, opines Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland has relied on the services of Brent Lillibridge and Jason Donald for the majority of the season but mixed results and general inconsistency have left manager Manny Acta in search of another option. "We really need somebody, when we give Cabby a day off or he goes down, who can step in help us out. It's been an issue… It's been an issue."
- Pawtucket pitching coach Rich Sauveur's big league aspirations may soon come to fruition with Boston's coaching staff facing uncertainty this offseason, writes Brian MacPherson of The Pawtucket Journal. "I want to be a pitching coach in the big leagues," Sauveur said. "I've wanted that ever since 2000 when I retired." The former Major League left-hander will spend the final two weeks of the season with the Red Sox as a reward for his strong contributions to the PawSox.
- Orioles top prospect Dylan Bundy's Major League debut against the Red Sox on Sunday didn't come without a hitch, reports MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko. The 19-year-old right-hander couldn't find his glove when the call came to the bullpen requesting his services on the mound. "Tommy Hunter answered the phone and told me I was going in. I said, 'What?' and I couldn't find my glove. Took me about a minute to find it," Bundy said. "He told me to get going, so I was like, OK, its happening, and I got loose as quick as I could."
“Tommy Hunter answered the phone and told me I was going in”
Was making sure it was Tommy Hunter the baseball player and not Tommy Hunter a bullpen coach. Isn’t that the job of the bullpen coach?
That’s exactly what I thought.
If I’m the Orioles, there’s no way my #1 pitching prospect has to “hurry” to get ready. Take as much time as you need and don’t hurt yourself.
Well, they do have the luxury of keeping him in the pen, which lots of other contenders don’t have. (mainly due to injuries, etc.)
Scutaro could be a fit for the Indians. Might have to get a little creative with him; say, he starts at third, Chisenhall slides to first/left, and Hannahan and Donald stay on as backups for when Scutaro needs to play short?
That could work but Chisenhall is still learning at the ML level, moving him to a new position might cause him some trouble, better to put Scutaro in left where he’s played before.
Not even one “Bundy had to warm up the old Dodge first” joke?
Sauver has spent his time in the vineyards. Time to make him the pitching coach of the varsity team at Fenway. He knows most of the staff and has been helpful to many.
Someone probably hid Bundy’s glove. That bullpen is full of pranksters.