Well, that might be a bit of a stretch in terms of changing the world, but at the least Lou Brock is responsible for a kid growing up in Northeast Ohio becoming a Cardinals fan even when he had no affiliation with the St. Louis area.

Lou made his MLB debut on September 10, 1961 for the Chicago Cubs.

Lou was traded on June 15, 1964 in what many people call “The Worst Trade Ever”  The Chicago Cubs traded Lou Brock, Jack Spring, and Paul Toth to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, Doug Clemens and Bobby Shantz.  As we know Lou Brock went on to have a Hall of Fame Baseball career over the next fifteen years and Ernie Broglio went on to win 7 games over the next 2.5 years.

His final game was was September 30, 1979.  In his final season at the age of 40 he was still able to steal 23 bags and hit .304 in 120 games.

Lou was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOU!

Don’t forget that Sunday May 17th is Lou Brock statue day at Busch Stadium against the dreadful Milwaukee Brewers.  According to the MLB website the first 25,000 fans will receive a Lou Brock replica statue.

Hey, why don’t you send me a picture of your statue.  Send it to 938@brockabrella.com

Should be fun!

Alberto IS the machine!!!!

I’m posting purely because it looks like the guys name is “Cubbie” and I can’t help but to link him to the Chicago Cubs.

Without further ado, I present “Cubbie dances to Beyonce’s Single Ladies”

I don’t feel the need to write multiple times a day here, there are plenty of great writers that earn a living doing such a thing and they do soooo much better than I ever could.  But when I do write, it’s usually because I feel a need to.

Tonight it’s because one of my favorite writers Derrick Goold conveyed a story that resonated so much with me as one of the reasons why I love Baseball so.  One little moment, probably no more than 3 minutes of what is typically a hour affair makes all the difference in the game.  Heck, at this point it could be the difference in making the team…if it’s the regular seasons it could be the difference in staying up at the big leagues or making the playoffs or in the right moment winning the World Series.  Three minutes of a game.

I’ve taken the liberty of adding an excerpt from that Post-Dispatch article here (please forgive me, there is a link at the bottom t make it up to you).

In the fifth inning, the Cardinals and the Dominican Republic were tied, 1-1. Rasmus, batting ninth, reached base with a walk. On the first pitch to leadoff hitter Skip Schumaker, Rasmus takes a lead, and La Russa reads the Dominican as watching Rasmus to steal. They are eyeballing him to see if he flinches, if he lurches, if he does anything to give away his intentions. He does not. The pitch is made, taken, and Rasmus eases back to first base.

With Schumaker up — a lefthanded hitter — and speed on base in Rasmus, the levers La Russa likes to pull all lined up, so he signalled: Hit & Run.

This is the lead that La Russa lauded this morning. Having received the sign, Rasmus takes his lead from first. The Dominican team has fixated on him, watching him for any hint that he’s going on this pitch. If he settles in a half stride further away from the bag. If his hands are fidgeting, if he’s bouncing on his feet — anything that any number of young players do once they get a sign to do something. They are reading Rasmus to see if there is a play called and what that play might mean.

According to La Russa, Rasmus did exactly what he did on the pitch before. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Team Dominicana doesn’t do a pitch out, doesn’t do anything to shoo Rasmus back to the bag and, La Russa assumes the next day, believed that Rasmus was just doing on that pitch what he had done on the previous pitch. He didn’t “do anything different,” La Russa said. Rasmus sold status quo with his lead. And then, with the pitch, he was off …

Schumaker scalded a grounder through the hole opened on the right side of the infield. Rasmus sped around second and reached third, and then scored the go-ahead run on a groundout. The Cardinals scored two runs in the inning, pulling away for good.

Makes the hairs stand up on my neck.

If you’re a patient person, Baseball is the most beautiful of symphony’s being played.  Mr Goold’s insight makes me love the game even more.

Via Birdland via @dgoold via The game itself

Jay Bell for Felix Fermin....wouldya?

Via BizOfBaseball.com

Jay Bell stats

ARTHUR FONZARELLI STATUE TO BE UNVEILED IN MILWAUKEE!

Via Milwaukee Business Journal

It’s nice to know that fictional TV characters can go home. I certainly expect that we will see Bullwinkle J. Moose receiving an honorary PhD. from Whatsamatta U.

Lou was there to plug his annual golf tournament which this year will be on Monday August 4, 2008 at Forest Hills Country Club in Chesterfield.

The Echo Foundation really does a great job of helping disadvantage kids in the St. Louis community.  Here’s a little bit about this long running charity.

Since its establishment in 1889, ECHO Children’s Home has provided critically needed care for children and families in the Greater St. Louis area. As the needs of our community changed, ECHO adapted its programs and services to meet those needs, expanding our outreach to include family services and eventually becoming a residential program for teens and young adults.

So if you were looking for a reason to play hooky on Monday August 4, give this cause your attention.  Click the logo below for more information.

So let’s mix it up a bit and talk about Baseball, Cold Beer, and beautiful summertime weather. Check THIS out for the whole story!

Your home for Cubs Bashing, Cardinals information, Baseball talk, and general discussion and love for the beautiful game of baseball.

I’m never going to have the insight and intelligence of Rob Neyer, but my  views and comments won’t cost you a monthly fee either.

Why Brockabrella?  That’s for later.

What can you expect?  Not much really.  Just views on the game of baseball, making fun of the cubbies, complaining about Buuuuuuuuud Selig, MoneyBall thoughts, and anything else that interests you or myself.

Let’s have some fun, and PLAY BALL!