No-Hitter has a better story

The last no-hitter was Arizona's Randy Johnson's perfect game against Atlanta 2-0 May 18, 2004. This is the longest Major League Baseball has gone without a no-hitter, 2+ years. And on this night Randy Johnson, who is having one of his career's worst seasons, was staring into bookending that dry spell.

Bottom of the 7th...to this point Johnson faced 18 batters. This is the minimum number of batters possible. There was a walk in the 2nd inning to RF Emil Brown but 1B Ryan Shealy grounded into a double play. To this point, entering the 7th, Johnson had a no-no going. That was shattered with a lead-off triple.

The no-hit drought continues...

Maybe what happened was more fitting for the 2006 season. Incredible rookies flood the ranks of the majors this year. Liriano, Ethier...so many. And last night another stepped up.

Anibal Sanchez made his 13th career start and his 14th appearance. And what a start it finished as.

Anibal Sanchez was standing behind the mound when the scoreboard caught his eye, confirming what he already knew: He was one out from a no-hitter.

He froze. For a couple of seconds, the Florida Marlins' rookie didn't move.

"I said, `Wow. This hitter is the last one,"' Sanchez said.

That quote, to me is incredible. No matter what happened that hitter was last. An out or a hit...well, a couple of other outcomes that would send another hitter up in a no-hitter, but c'mon, the insightfulness is still there.

A no-hitter. 4 walks and 1 error. A no-hitter in only 103 pitches (though we tend to pay too much attention to pitch counts). 67-36 strike-ball ratio...fantastic.

A no-hitter to end the drought since the last no-hitter...which was Arizona vs Atlanta by Randy Johnson. Somehow it is fitting that the record span is ended with a complete reversal. Johnson's no-hitter was 40 years old, an 18-year veteran and the Diamondbacks won. Last night Johnson comes close but cannot complete the task. Last night the streak was ended by a 22-year old rookie to beat the Diamondbacks.

Congratulations to Anibal Sanchez.

MLB 2006 Comeback Player of the Year Finalists

This was announced yesterday via the mlb.com wire...the 2006 Comeback Player of the Year Finalists have been announced. (Yes, I was a little slow to actually post it...sorry.)

The American League finalists are...
1. Magglio Ordonez - Detroit Tigers
2005: .302 AVG, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 17 2B, 38 R
2006*: .296 AVG, 16 HR, 77 RBI, 22 2B, 57 R

2. Corey Patterson - Baltimore Orioles
2005: .215 AVG, 13 HR, 34 RBI, 15 2B, 47 R
2006*: .284 AVG, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 13 2B, 54 R

3. Curt Schilling - Boston Red Sox
2005: 8-8 W-L, 5.69 ERA, 87 K, 22 BB, 1.53 WHIP
2006*: 14-4 W-L, 3.78 ERA, 142 K, 20 BB, 1.14 WHIP

4. Rafael Soriano - Seattle Mariners
2005: 7 G, 2.45 ERA, 9 SO, 1 BB, 7.1 IP
2006*: 43 G, 2.06 ERA, 58 SO, 17 BB, 52.1 IP

5. Frank Thomas - Oakland Athletics
2005: 34 G, .219 AVG, 12 HR, 26 RBI, 19 R
2006*: 88 G, .259 AVG, 24 HR, 67 RBI, 45 R

6. Jim Thome - Chicago White Sox
2005: 59 G, .207 AVG, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 26 R
2006*: 99 G, .301 AVG, 33 HR, 84 RBI, 83 R

The National League finalists are...
1. Carlos Beltran - New York Mets
2005: .266 AVG, 16 HR, 78 RBI, 83 R, 17 SB
2006*: .281 AVG, 33 HR, 97 RBI, 84 R, 14 SB

2. Joe Borowski - Florida Marlins
2005: 43 G, 4.47 ERA, 27 SO, 12 BB, 0 SV
2006*: 46 G, 3.20 ERA, 43 SO, 20 BB, 22 SV

3. Johnny Estrada - Arizona Diamondbacks
2005: 105 G, .261 AVG, 4 HR, 39 RBI, 31 R
2006*: 86 G, .317 AVG, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 37 R

4. Nomar Garciaparra - Los Angeles Dodgers
2005: 62 G, .283 AVG, 9 HR, 30 RBI, 28 R
2006*: 79 G, .327 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 60 R

5. Edgar Renteria - Atlanta Braves
2005: .276 AVG, 8 HR, 70 RBI, 100 R, 36 2B
2006*: .311 AVG, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 73 R, 25 2B

6. Scott Rolen - St. Louis Cardinals
2005: 56 G, .235 AVG, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 28 R
2006*: 98 G, .316 AVG, 15 HR, 71 RBI, 68 R

When will we know who won?

The American League and National League winners will be announced during the 2006 MLB postseason. To further involve fans in the selection process, Viagra will conduct an online sweepstakes in conjunction with the "Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award Presented by Viagra® (sildenafil citrate)." As part of the program, one lucky sweepstakes winner will have the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a 2006 MLB World Series® game.

OK, I can try to make it sound like it is exciting, but honestly it is right there in excitement with the Silver Slugger Awards. But still, it is interesting. And it gives me a chance to use some more of those profile shots.

(Profile pictures courtesy of mlb.com)