Snakebitten

Wilpon's comments have done the impossible - make this photo even more awkward.

The full New Yorker piece is here.

Where Did Everyone Go?

Click to enlarge.

Get to Know: Larry Corcoran

Larry Corcoran: Baseball Pioneer

First and foremost, Larry Corcoran was a trailblazer:

• Member of the first rotation ever assembled (a two-man rotation with Fred Goldsmith) for the Chicago Whitestockings
• Supposedly the first pitcher to signal his pitches to the catcher from the mound, shifting a wad of chew when Uncle Charlie was coming to town (it seems like a stretch - pun intended! - that no pitcher had yet thought to signal a catcher; maybe we'll just credit him for being the first to have it documented)
• Switch-pitcher
• Originator of the one, true template for Washington Nationals acquisitions.  Once highly regarded, he had demonstrated his skills were completely eroded (dead arm), then had the Washington Nationals take a flyer on him anyway.  Corcoran performed predictably terribly for the Nats (establishing what everyone already knew) before being discarded.  The likes of Daniel Cabrera, Wily Mo Pena, Eddie Guardado and countless others from the past few years owe Corcoran a tremendous debt of gratitude.
• First pitcher to record two no-hitters
• First pitcher to record three no-hitters

Chicago won six of the National League's first ten pennants (NL began in 1876), staking claim to the title of baseball's first dynasty.

Seven No-Hitters

Is the single-season record.  It feels like that is well within range this year with all the near-misses we've had lately.  Jaime Garcia, Anibal Sanchez, and Yovani Gallardo all took a bid into the later innings recently.  Honestly, you probably have to discount Sanchez's because it was against the Nats, but still.

The record (seven no-hitters in 1990 and 1991):
1991 - Nolan Ryan, Tommy Greene, Bob Milacki/Mike Flanagan/Mark Williamson/Gregg Olson, Dennis Martinez, Wilson Alvarez, Bret Saberhagen, Kent Mercker/Mark Wohlers/Alejandro Pena

1990 - Mark Langston/Mike Witt, Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Dave Stewart, Fernando Valenzuela, Terry Mulholland, Dave Stieb

Although those were tough times for the Phils, they did get no-hitters in both seasons (Greene and Mulholland):

Tommy Greene's no hitter

Currently on sale.

Or if baseball cards aren't your thing, there is always the giant replica ticket of Mulholland's no-no:

Vance 'Cy' Worley

If I know the Philadelphia sports scene - and I like to think I do a little bit - talk radio and the papers are feeding Worley Fever as we speak.  As a general fan of unrealistic expectations, I'm fully encouraging it.

The Nat (and Joe Blanton's Career) Killer

I'm also happy to partake in this controversy because it allows for my impeccable pronunciation of Joe Blanton's last name.  One thing that has to be noted, though: it's easy to look good against the Nats.

Hitting coach Rick Eckstein should be fired, right after Bruce Boudreau