I want this to happen more

This was extreme but I want to see more of this in the future

Bryan Fuller told his Campbellsville University coaches he was never going to play baseball professionally, so he was willing to sacrifice his arm.

With much debate and reluctance, but knowing what was at stake and what their other options were, his coaches acquiesced.

Fuller, a senior, ended up pitching 21 shutout innings in 26 hours as Campbellsville (Ky.) advanced to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, where on Friday it will face Lee (Tenn.).

Campbellsville had fallen into the loser's bracket in its NAIA super regional, and needed to win three straight to get the World Series berth. Against Lindenwood on Thursday, Fuller, who throws sidearm, pitched three scoreless innings for the save.

With just 25 minutes between games, Campbellsville's coaches decided to start Fuller in the next game, against Kansas Wesleyan, which had won 26 straight. Fuller, according to assistant coach Jake McKinley, "is an undersized kid" who had started only once previously in four seasons.

"We were nearly out of pitching and he looked comfortable," McKinley said. "We told Fuller we would need him to make his second career start and if he could give us three or four innings, that would be great, and it was in the biggest game in the history of our program against a team that had won 26 straight games."

Fuller ended up pitching a complete game as Campbellsville snapped Kansas Wesleyan's winning streak with a 11-0 victory.

That put Campbellsville in the final. According to McKinley, the coaches were prepared to start their No. 1 pitcher on two days' rest, but Fuller wanted the start.

"We told him no way, because we didn't want to hurt him ... He just threw 12 innings the day before," McKinley said. "He told us that he was a senior that will never play pro ball and he was going to be an accountant in just a few weeks. He said he didn't care about his arm and told us he will give us a chance to win."

And he did, using just 77 pitches in his second consecutive complete-game shutout as Campbellsville (39-10) beat Kansas Wesleyan again 4-0, giving the Tigers their first NAIA World Series appearance in school history.

"We're not sure yet, but we are not opposed to using him in any role," McKinley said. "At this point, we'd be fools not to start him."

Old Time Baseball

The notion that Alex Rodriguez has tipped pitches to opposing players in return for their tipping pitches to him -- one of the more bizarre allegations in the new biography of the Yankees third baseman -- has generally shocked players and executives throughout baseball. It shocked Jim Price, too. But Price, a Detroit Tigers television broadcaster, at least spoke from experience. Price was the Tigers' catcher on Sept. 19, 1968, when he and pitcher Denny McLain conspired to give Mickey Mantle a going-away gift. A few weeks from retirement and tied with Jimmie Foxx with 534 career home runs, Mantle came to the plate in the eighth inning with the Tigers comfortably ahead, 6-1. Detroit had already clinched the American League pennant -- this was before leagues were split into two divisions, let alone three -- and McLain had already won his 30th game. Price, a second-year reserve who was playing to give Bill Freehan a rest, walked out to the mound to give the 9,063 fans in Tiger Stadium one last chance to pay their respects. "When I got there, Denny said, 'Hey, big guy, should I let him hit one' " Price recalled Thursday night in a telephone interview. "I said it was a great idea. Mickey was always nice to me. So I went back behind the plate and Mickey, like he always did, was tapping the plate with his bat when I said, 'Want us to groove one for you' " Mantle apparently didn't believe Price, but when he saw McLain nodding on the mound, he understood what was going on. "High and tight, mediocre cheese," Price said Mantle responded. McLain served up a few that were apparently not gift-wrapped quite as neatly as the Mick preferred. But then came exactly what Mantle was looking for, and he hit a rocket into the upper deck in right field, the next-to-last home run of his career. "McLain was clapping as Mickey was rounding the bases," Price said. "And when he crossed home plate, Mickey thanked me. The next batter was Joe Pepitone, and he said, 'Give me one, too.' And I go, 'No way, you're not Mickey Mantle.' "

New York Times

Wow!

NEW YORK – Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball, becoming by far the highest-profile player ensnared in the sport's drug scandals.

The commissioner's office didn't announce the specific violation by the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, who will lose about one-third of his $25 million salary.

Majored in what?

Check out these guys playing beer pong at Olivet University in Bourbonais, Illinois. Their parents will be proud.

Some thoughts

Bulls- I have not been a big fan of the NBA since the Bulls had Michael Jordan. Not that I'm a front runner, it's just that it was fun to watch how they played as a team. Today's game is more about individuals, thugs, and big contracts.

However, the Bulls/Celtics series has been amazing. Four overtime games and coming up Saturday the decisive seventh game to declare a series winner. I have not seen this many exciting games in the NBA for a very long time with all the back and forth scoring. Neither team has been pretty and without a doubt MJ, Pippen, Rodman and company would trounce both of these teams. But it has been fun for six games.

Sox- Another White Sox experiment has failed in outfielder Jerry Owens. If he could just steal first base he'd still be around. Amazing how a player with his speed and not listen to coaching can kill a career. Hit the ball on the ground, bunt, and draw walks was all he had to do. So this means 2005 star Scott Podsednik is back. How long before we hear strained groin? I think Kenny Williams is going to have to make a move.

Cubs- I wonder if they wish they still had Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood. Milton Bradley and Carlos Marmol aren't doing much.
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