By Juan Páez
- Yordan Álvarez received on Tuesday his sixth intentional walk of the season, something that is not very common for Cuban hitters. In fact, in the last decade there have only been two left-handed hitters who received, at least, six intentional free passes in the same tournament: Álvarez and Yonder Alonso (2). As for the Astros, Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve were the last Houston players to receive that many, both in 2016. Speaking of Yordan, Astros general manager James Click said they don’t expect “any kind of limitation for the rest of the year” regarding Alvarez’s hand injury.
- AnythingForTheTeam.com: Johan Oviedo flew from Cincinnati to Miami, went to the Canadian consulate to complete immigration formalities and then flew to Detroit to then drive three and a half hours. All this to get to Toronto in time for the series between the Cardinals and the Blue Jays. “I wouldn’t forgive myself if I had an opportunity to be with the team and not take advantage of it,” said the right-handed pitcher. The Cuban hopes to complete his application for U.S. citizenship in the upcoming dead season. Many should learn from Johan!
- Néstor Cortés Jr. has pitched only twice in the last 19 days, but apparently the left-hander was happy to have the break. In those two starts for the Yankees, against the Reds and Orioles, he threw 13.0 innings, allowed 10 hits, only one earned run, gave up one walk and struck out 11 (0.69 ERA). Sometimes, a little break doesn’t hurt. I think, don’t you?
- Since 2016, Tom Tsuchiya, a Cincinnati-born man of Japanese descent, has been in charge of creating the plaque artwork for each figure inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The process begins each January, with the announcement of each new class of immortals, and lasts until the first days of June. “I’ve always, since I was a kid, loved baseball,” Tsuchiya confessed. The artist, by the way, was the sculptor of the statue of Cuban Tony Pérez at Great American Ball Park, home of the Reds.
- In honor of Orestes Miñoso, the White Sox will hold a ceremony this Saturday to celebrate the Cuban’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, prior to the game against the Athletics in Chicago. The ceremony will be attended by his wife, Sharon, his son, Charlie, and his daughters, Marilyn and Cecilia. One of them will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Fans will be able to take pictures with Minnie’s plaque, which will soon be forever hang in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Good opportunity!
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Top performers, July 26, 2022:
- José Adolis García vs Mariners: 2 for 4, 2 2B (19), 2 RBI (61), R
- Yordan Álvarez vs Atletics: 2 for 3, 2B (13), RBI (66), R, IBB
- Aroldis Chapman vs Mets: 1.0 IP, K
On this day:
Born on this date:
1927: Higinio Vélez
1961: Nelson Santovenia
1963: Félix Benavides
Happened on this date:
2000: The Rockies and Red Sox complete a trade involving seven players, including Cuban pitcher Rolando Arrojo to Boston. Arrojo spent his last two and a half seasons in the major leagues with the Reds.
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Trivia:
Although it is not related to any Cuban, let’s go with a rather curious trivia. In the history of the Major Leagues, there are only six hitters who hit a home run on their 40th birthday. Bob Thurman (1957), Joe Morgan (1983), Wade Boggs (1998), Tony Phillips (1999), Chipper Jones (2012) and Alex Rodríguez, who did it on a day like today in 2015. Of that group, Morgan homered twice.
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Quote of the day:
“Be on time, bust your butt, play smart, and have some laughs while you’re at it.”
Whitey Herzog
