41: Cycles this decade. That's by far the most ever, surpassing the 1970s (20).
86: Major league players making at least $10 million this year, according to figures compiled by the Boston Herald. That's 11 percent of the workforce.
UP NEXT: The best rivalry in pro sports - Red Sox vs. Yankees - resumes for the first time this year at Fenway Park. Boston has won seven straight, averaging nearly eight runs per game during that streak. The Yankees, meanwhile, have won three in a row.
Weeklings
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro, on the Tribe's slow start: "So far we've dug a rut, not a hole."
BRAIN CRAMP OF THE WEEK:
Wilson Valdez, shortstop for Triple A Columbus, came to bat in the bottom of the ninth Monday with the Clippers trailing Louisville, 7-6.
The tying run was on third base with two outs. There were two strikes on Valdez when he ... tried to bunt? Yes, he tried to bunt, fouled it off. He was out and the game was over.
That's right. A walkoff foul ball. You don't see that very often.
INSIDE INSIGHT OF THE WEEK:
Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was asked why Boston's offense has started to hit in the last week after a slow start. "Because we've got good hitters," he explained.
BEST-LAID PLAN OF THE WEEK:
Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson is an ardent environmentalist. He had it all figured out. To celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday, he was going to use a silver glove with green stitching and a bat with green lettering stenciled on it. Then he was going to auction off the equipment to raise money for ecological awareness.
It was a nice idea. The only problem was that the Cubs started a lefthander, Ted Lilly. So Dickerson, a lefthanded hitter, didn't play.
Finally
Most managers don't admit being concerned if a player gets off to a slow start. Most managers don't publicly downgrade players. We were reminded again that the White Sox' Ozzie Guillen isn't most managers.
The Ozman on shortstop Alexei Ramirez, batting .149 going into play last night: "I'm concerned a little bit. He's worrying about too much ... This kid is going to swing at a lot of pitches. We know that. But when you swing at as many pitches as he does and you don't make an adjustment, that is going to kill him."
On the release of Mike MacDougal, despite being owed nearly $3 million: "We tried to do different things with him because we believe he has one of the best arms in the league. [But] you cannot keep believing in him when he doesn't give you any ammunition."
This approach wouldn't work for everybody. But in a mostly mealy-mouthed era, it sure is refreshing.
