This man, better than Bonds

Normally, we like to find our own juicy goodness around these parts.

But there’s nothing wrong with giving you some love from around blogdome, and this was too good to pass up.

This story comes first from the Washington Examiner, then Deuce of Davenport, then Deadspin. If anyone was left out of this progression, sorry.

Anyway, this dude on the left is Ray McDonald. And besides looking a little like Ray Liotta and having a name straight out of “Field of Dreams,” he has a very sad claim to fame.

He says he had a better batting average than Barry Bonds while both attended Serra High School in San Mateo.

Now, that is a cool little fact. We would probably tell family and friends (who would probably already know). However, once it defined our existence, that would be the end of it. Not for ‘ol McDonald.

He would sit in the outfield seats at Candlestick Park watching the Giants and, when the topic of left fielder Barry Bonds came up, McDonald would casually mention he actually had a higher batting average when the two were senior teammates at Serra High School in San Mateo. The claim would be met with disbelief and then a bet. That is when McDonald would pull a card out of his pocket with the official 1982 West Catholic Athletic League stats showing he hit .490 to Bonds’ .450. Thus, his appetite at many games was satiated.

That’s correct. McDonald walks around with a card in his pocket that proves he had a better batting average than Bonds. And evidently, such a card makes one delirious.

He’s the greatest player of my era. The greatest player that I’ve ever seen, you know. . . . And I was very fortunate that I had the opportunity to go to high school and play with him.

Oh high school glory days, we…well actually, we don’t remember them because we didn’t make any rosters.

Also, props to Matt Elliser of the Examiner for digging up this gem.

The Fynal Out: The Brewers are done

Like the sign says, “It’s gonna happen.”

Although we don’t necessarily think this means the Cubs “are gonna” win the division. It just means the Brewers will complete this giant collapse of theirs.

The struggling Crew has dropped 11 of its last 14 games, including five L’s in a row. Right beside them (for now) is St. Louis, a team that’s won three in a row and six of its last 10.

Brewers 3, Cubs 5: It was said Milwaukee needed a great game out of Jeff Suppan to win this crucial series opener. Well, Suppan was pretty stellar, giving up just two runs in six-plus. As soon as he was gone, though, the Cubs had their fun, scoring four runs in the seventh inning. The suddenly hot Jacque Jones had a two-run double and scored the game-winning run.

Red Sox 3, Yankees 5: Although maybe a case of too little, too late, New York got its statement win Tuesday night at the Stadium. Johnny Damon broke a tie in the seventh with a two-run shot that prompted the headline “Johnny Drama: Damon beats former entourage.” Is there a pop culture reference hiding in there?

Tigers 3, Royals 6: A day after showing they could win a series against a top team (Yankees), Detroit managed to lose its opener to Kansas City. Strangely enough, the Tigers had 16 hits in the game and Placido Polanco tied a club record for the most three-hit games since 1957 (23). Worse yet, Cleveland beat Minnesota again.

Diamondbacks 4, Padres 6: Ace Brandon Webb was off his game, walking three and hitting a batter, and San Diego took advantage. A four-run sixth inning propelled the Padres to the win, and the club is now just one game back in the West. Didn’t this used to be the Dodgers’ division? Like three months ago?
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