Wisdom and Links: What I Did On My Unplanned Vacation

Well, I’m back. Miss me? I mean, it’s been awhile. Haven’t had one of these since before the draft. You know, issues with my computer, Shawn had issues with his computer, stuff like that. So, uhh…what’d I miss?

The Draft Happened

Yeah, I mentioned that already. And, remember those people with interesting, awesome or unfortunate names? A lot of them got drafted! Kyle Funkhouser, for example, went to LA at the 35^th pick. Skye Bolt went in Round Four to Oakland. Beau Brundage was drafted late in the draft by the Phillies (probably because he’s likely already decided to head to college). Rock Rucker went in the 20^th round to the Reds. Sadly, not everyone was drafted. Olajide Oloruntimilehin, for example, will not grace affiliated baseball just yet. Maybe after some time in college.

A-Rod hit his 3000^th hit, and it was a homer, and (in)famous ballhawk Zack Hample caught it

What were the odds?

The Cardinals-Astros Hack

I’m still sort of surprised that something like this actually happened. Hollywood would laugh you out of the room if you were to suggest it for a film.

Two No-Hitters!

Chris Heston and Max Scherzer! Sadly, I only was able to get free pizza on one of them. I know that you probably considered my pizza situation the most important thing about those no-hitters. Don’t lie to me.

Ryne Sandberg escaped from Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Phillies are a pit of despair and horror beyond the mortal mind. Just ask Ryne Sandberg, who has survived, barely, the experience, resigning so that he could avoid a fate worse than death. That fate, of course, is being the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

How bad is that fate? Well, let’s consider this: Ryne Sandberg played for years for the Chicago Cubs. He never played in a World Series. And then, he got a managerial job the old-fashioned way: working his way through the minors, switching organizations when he got passed over for his dream job as manager of the Cubs. He didn’t just get the Phillies job because he was Ryne Sandberg, he earned it, dang-nabbit.

And yet, after all of that, and with no guarantee he’ll ever be able to manage again… he still left the Phillies job.

It was just that bad of a gig.

Giancarlo Stanton got hurt

What I have to think about this is unprintable.

Darryl Hamilton was killed

There are no words, printable or otherwise, to describe how this must feel to the people who knew and loved him.

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LINKS!

How Wally Backman tells his AAA players they’ve been called to the big club.

Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post on Vin Scully.

SB Nation writers (all female) on the meaning of Melissa Mayeux, the French ballplayer who became the first female player to be technically eligible to be signed as an international free agent.

Gregg Doyel on a one-handed 12-year-old ballplayer.

An article on the architects behind many modern stadiums.

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So, hopefully we can now have ordinary and regular releases of Wisdom and Links. So, make sure to come back next week and the week after that.