Coming out of high school, 51s third baseman Zach Lutz narrowed his college choices to Notre Dame, South Carolina and Alvernia.
Aviators
My pal Steve and I were talking about old baseball cards the other day, and that segued into a discussion about how sometimes they airbrushed the logos off the caps of guys who had been recently traded — and then that segued into another discussion, about “Who’s Who in Baseball.”
It looked like Matt Mitchell’s day might be over after one batter on Monday.
UNLV right-hander Bryan Bonnell was named the Mountain West co-pitcher of the week on Monday. The Centennial High grad shared the weekly award with Fresno State’s Tim Borst.
According to ESPN the Magazine’s poll of 143 major league ballplayers, Las Vegas’ Bryce Harper is the most overrated player in the game. But at least one American League All-Star thinks he is going to be pretty good.
On opening night of the 51s’ season, I saw a guy wearing a Bad News Bears jersey at Cashman Field. On the back, where the name of the sponsor usually goes, it said “Chico’s Bail Bonds.”
Two things were evident in the 51s’ 6-5 walkoff win over Fresno on Sunday afternoon at Cashman Field: Wally Backman is still an intense competitor, and he still has a pretty good arm.
Out of baseball since 2012, Bobby Abreu is attempting a comeback at age 40.
Imagine stepping into the batter’s box and seeing “Rocky IV” villain Ivan Drago on the mound. That’s essentially the scenario hitters will encounter this season when they face 51s starter Noah Syndergaard — the 6-foot-6-inch, 240-pound right-hander armed with a fastball that was clocked at 100 mph last season.
What would a baseball lineup of Batman characters look like? Who would play first base? Or steal it?
A sports radio host has apologized after criticizing on-air New York Mets player Daniel Murphy’s decision to take three days’ paternity leave after the birth of this son.
One of the most fiery members of the 1986 New York Mets title team, Wally Backman still has the same passion for the game as the 51s’ manager.
Jordan Hand lined a ball up the middle for what appeared to be a routine single leading off the bottom of the sixth inning.
Former Bishop Gorman and College of Southern Nevada standout Donn Roach made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres Wednesday, facing seven batters against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Under the guidance of manager Wally Backman, the fiery former member of the Mets’ 1986 World Series title team, the 51s won the Pacific Southern Division title in 2013 to clinch the club’s first PCL playoff berth since 2002.