-
Recent Posts
Archives
Baseball
Cricket
Author Archives: rightoffthebatbook
Farewell King Kallis
First there was Rahul Dravid (in 2012); then there was Ricky Ponting (2012); and then Sachin Tendulkar (2013). Now Jacques Kallis—the greatest all-rounder of his generation—has retired from Test cricket. Tendulkar (15921), Ponting (13378), Kallis (13289), and Dravid (13288)—giants of … Continue reading
The Urn Returns Down Under
It was, perhaps, only a matter of time. In 2013, the England cricket team flattered to deceive: barely holding on to draw the series with New Zealand in New Zealand; beating the Kiwis soundly—but without much conviction—when they came to England; and then … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, England
Tagged Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Mitchell Johnson, The Ashes
Leave a comment
Masahiro Tanaka in the New Year
The major-leagues’ sweepstakes for twenty-five-year-old Masahiro Tanaka, who had an incredible 24-0 record for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the 2007 Japan Pacific League in 2013, is on. Teams figuring to bid high (a lot of money) and far … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Cricket, Right Off the Bat Website, Yankees
Tagged 2007 Japan Pacific League, Albert Pujols, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Clayton Kershaw, Japanese baseball, Josh Hamilton, Literature, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Leave a comment
Smoky Joe Wood, Mort Cooper, Dick Wakefield, and Other Random Notes on Players at the Winter Solstice
As 2013 comes to a finish and activity at ROTB HQ reaches a fevered pitch (poor pun intended), I (Evander) would like “to close” (not Mariano-style) the year with Random Notes on fine, even great, baseball players who are by … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Website
Tagged Al Kaline, American League, Arky Vaughan, Bob Feller, Bobby Shantz, Cal Ripkin, Cleveland Indians, Cy Williams, Dave Winfield, Dean Chance, Derek Jeter, Detroit Tigers, Dick Wakefield, Doc Gooden, Gil McDougald, Herb Score, Jack Hamilton, Joe Medwick, Joe Sewell, Johnny Allen, Johnny Vander Meer, Literature, Luke Appling, Major League Baseball, Mariano Rivera, Mort Cooper, Most Valuable Player Award, National Baseball Hall of Fame, National League, New York Yankees, Sandy Koufax, Smoky Joe Wood, Spud Chandler, Tony Conigliaro, Travis Jackson, Vida Blue, World Series
Leave a comment
The New Breed Is Old Hat
Robinson Cano could not leave $70 million on the table. That is roughly the difference between what the storied New York Yankees offered their star second baseman and what the Seattle Mariners are paying. The Mariners have set Cano for … Continue reading
Trott Walks
When the South African–born batsman Jonathan Trott joined the England cricket team in 2009, commentators noted how in taking his guard at the start of his inning Trott went through a routine of scratching at the pitch that could only … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, England
Tagged Jonathan Trott, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Yardy, The Ashes
Leave a comment
Ten-inning Gem from 1965
Jim Maloney threw 187 (!) pitches, walking ten batters, in his ten-inning, August 19, no-hitter versus the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Wrigley, which turns 100 in 2014, is a spry 51 here. Thanks to FOROTB (friend of Right off … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Book
Tagged Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Ernie Banks, Jack Brickhouse, Jim Maloney, Pete Rose, Wrigley Field
Leave a comment
Ashes Time Again
The Ashes is upon us again. “Wait,” we hear you cry. “Didn’t Australia and England just play a tournament this summer, and isn’t this contest meant to occur in the respective countries once every two years?” The answer is “yes” … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Cricket, England
Tagged Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Broad, The Ashes
Leave a comment
Farewell, Sachin
Regular Right Off the Bat readers (we few, we happy few) will have noticed that the cricket half of this blog has fallen silent for the last few weeks. Life has taken your cricket correspondent away from the blog for … Continue reading
Great Stadiums (7): Turner Field (R.I.P.)
Reported November 11, 2013: The Atlanta Braves will leave Turner Field after 2016 for a new stadium in nearby Cobb County. Turner Field is what’s left of the 1996 Summer Olympics Stadium, modified for baseball. Its shelf life of barely … Continue reading
Posted in Baseball, Right Off the Bat Website, Stadiums, Yankees
Tagged Alex Rodriguez, Atlanta Braves, National League, Turner Field
Leave a comment
Right Off the Bat 