This is a Picture of Great American Ballpark

So Long, Mr. Wood. It's Been Fun.

Kerry Wood was a good Cub.  His many years and accomplishments will be remembered fondly by all Cubs fans and baseball fans in general.  Baseball players, as we know, die twice.  The first when the game passes them by, the last when life does.  He performed admirably in his baseball life, and millions of fans thank him for it.  May the continuance of his real life play out as grand.  

If you wish to read more of this Cub fan's appreciation for Wood, check out this previous post.

"Speed Provides the One Genuinely Modern Pleasure."

It's that damn Hamilton! He's so hot right now!

The legend of Billy Hamilton is growing.  He is off to an insane start this season, swiping bags at a record pace for the Bakersfield Blaze.  Tales of his speed on the basepaths have been spoken about in hushed tones since the Reds drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2009 amateur draft.  Hamilton was a three-sport star athlete in high school, playing baseball, basketball and football.  He turned down a scholarship to play wide receiver at Mississippi State, deciding to give his attention to the better sport, with  a little help from a $600K signing bonus.  After getting his feet wet in the Gulf Coast League (low level rookie league) at age 18, he had a solid year in advanced rookie ball in Billings, Montana (.318/.383/.456 with 48 SB in 64 games).  But it was last year that Hamilton really began to turn heads when he stole 103 bases in 135 games at low A Dayton.