Lina’s Blog Bloopers…quick observations about the season thus far!  This week we’re catching numbers 1 through 5.  It’s easier than catching a Mark Buehrle pitch, right A.J. Pierzynski?  Oh yeah…sorry, Jeff Kellogg.

#1) Well, 1.7 to be exact.  This was the average number of runs per game the $138 million Detroit Tigers scored in their opening series with the $58 million Kansas City Royals.  The 1.7 runs per game average would put the Tigers scoring 275 runs this season, falling well short of the 1,000 run total my Tiger devoted friend predicted.  Hope it gets better for you buddy.

#2) The number of hits Jake Peavy allowed on Saturday vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Can you believe this guy threw a 2 hitter with a head cold?  I am a baby when I am sick!  I can’t even get out of bed to microwave chicken noodle soup!  Guess that might be the reason I didn’t make it to the majors…

#3) Okay.  This is a bit of a stretch, I know.  But the number 3 to me means luck.  (My lucky number, remember?)  So, a lucky charm this season will be if a team’s starting pitcher can go 7 innings or more.  Those teams will have the best chance at making the playoffs.  The 2007 Cleveland Indians led the AL with 71 games where the starter went 7 or more innings.  The tribe finished first in their division.  Now take a look at the NL.  The 2007 Arizona Diamondbacks had 59 games and they also stood atop their division.  This has been the case for the past 5 years!  (Okay, okay not in 2006).

#4) As in 434.  That is the number of consecutive games Juan Pierre HAD played.  He didn’t make it into the Dodger’s season opener and thus his streak is now pushing up daises.  In case you were wondering, the longest active streak in baseball now belongs to a man who has many ladies wrapped around his finger, Grady Sizemore.  (He played in his 364th game on Sunday.)  What I’m wondering is if Rotohog would fly me to Cleveland to see if I could make it as one of Grady’s Lady’s!

#5) The Atlanta Braves 5th game, the one Mike Hampton was supposed to start.  Alas, it was not to be.  The injury prone Hampton strained his left pectoral muscle in warm ups the day before and missed what was going to be his first major league start since August 19, 2005.  Braves fans shouldn’t be shocked at all.  Since acquiring Hampton in 2002, the left-hander has taken a trip to the DL 11 times.  Mikey boy, the DL is not a hot new vacation spot!  Did a sneaky real estate agent convince you to buy a condo there?