Mark Bellhorn!

Photo by Kelly O

My first RS boyfriend - after a long lapse in the late 90s - was Mark Bellhorn. The scruffy second baseman - who had a career year with the Sox in '04 - just stole my heart! When he was scuffling at the start of the post-season in 2004, I was ill. And then, came his big turnaround - including two homers off the pole in ALCS Game 7 and WS Game 1. Be still my heart.

Unfortunately, Mark's post-World Series career hasn't been noteworthy. He's played in New York (boo), San Diego, and for a couple of minor league teams. He was actually due to play here in the Scenic City in August - but was released by the Suns before that date. Oh, well..

But now, here's some news!!

On Jan. 13, the Brewers will hold a tryout in Arizona. Yes, [Randall] Simon, who is only 33 and played last year for the independent Newark Bears, plans to be there. So does second baseman Mark Bellhorn, among others.

WooHoo! Good luck Mark!!

Two other old favs

Forgive me if I go all fan-girly here for this post. But I had some updates on two of my past favorites!

First - Gabe Kapler returns to Fenway Park tonight!
Last year at this time, Gabe had retired from active playing, and was managing the Red Sox' single-A affiliate, The Greenville Drive. I hear he did a great job over there, but apparently his heart was still on the playing field. He decided this spring to give it another try, and landed on the Milwaukee Brewers. He got a lot of playing time when Mike Cameron was unable to play due to taking steroids, and really played well. Unfortunately, Cameron served his suspension and is back playing full-time. Which means, Gabe is "riding the pine" (as I'm sure Hazel Mae would put it). Still, it'll be great to see him!



And this even more exciting news: Mark Bellhorn is back playing baseball! Yes, he has just been added to the roster of the Jacksonville Suns, the double-A affiliate of the LA Dodgers. He's actually one of the oldest guys on the team (the other? Tanyon Sturtz!) - so he's looking like the stereotypical older minor league player. The guy who had a short run in the "show," and isn't willing to quit baseball as long as someone is willing to pay him. So he hops on the bus every night, perhaps hoping to recapture some of the magic that propelled him to the Majors in the first place.

The good thing for me? Jacksonville is part of the Southern League, to which our local affiliate of the Reds (the Chattanooga Lookouts) also belong. The Suns will visit the Scenic City in mid-August for FIVE games!! Five opportunities to see the Bell in action - if he's still with them. Yahoo!