THIS WEEK IN MLB
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK MLB: Houston 1B Marwin Gonzalez
Gonzalez is not considered a huge power hitter but don’t tell him that. Over his last seven games entering Saturday, he was batting .476 with six homers and 13 RBI. For the season, he had 9 homers and 21 RBI.
BREWERS: RHP Oliver Drake
Gotta love the Drake. Sorry, but the “Seinfeld” reference is too good to ignore. Since being acquired from Baltimore on April 14, Drake has moved into a high-level position in the bullpen. He recorded both victories in St. Louis when the Brewers took a series from the Cardinals for the first time since April 2014.
BREWERS THIS WEEK
The Boston Red Sox will take a break from their ongoing war with the Baltimore Orioles to make a rare visit to Miller Park for a three-game series beginning Tuesday. After that, the injury-ravaged New York Mets check in for a weekend set against the Brewers.
DID YOU KNOW?
Jackie Robinson’s 1949 contract with the Dodgers recently sold at auction for $276,000. The document indicates Robinson earned $21,000 that season, the equivalent of $215,000 in today’s dollars.
YOU FIGURE IT OUT
Cincinnati centerfielder Billy Hamilton, perhaps the fastest player in the majors, likes challenges. With that in mind, he said he’d like to race Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick John Ross in a 40-yard dash. Ross, a wide receiver out of the University of Washington, set a record at the NFL combine by running the 40 in 4.22 seconds. Nevertheless, Hamilton would like to race him. “I know he’s really, really fast but it’s something I look forward to,” Hamilton said. “I’m a competitor. We’ll do it for a charity event. I’m willing to do it. Set it up. I’m ready.”
QUOTE
“I’m not a rookie. I’ve got a hundred-plus home runs in The Show. I do the same trot every time, wherever it is.” — Baltimore’s Manny Machado, after a 30-second home-run trot against Boston.