Blum injured in ST game vs. Marlins

[Gizzmonic]

I was listening to today's Spring Training game and apparently Blum was hit in the throat by a batted ball while playing shortstop.  He was taken out immediately.  His injuries are not life threatening.  I didn't hear anything else about the injury that might indicate how long he would be out.

[remy]

Throat?  That's not what Duarte says,

JUPITER, Fla. -- Astros infielder Geoff Blum left the game with a bruised left heel, a team spokesman said.

Blum said he aggravated the injury during his first at-bat in the first inning.

The injury is the same problem that kept Blum out a couple of days earlier this spring. He originally hurt the heel March 15 against Cleveland.

http://blogs.chron.com/astrosblog/2008/03/heel_not_chest_bothering_blum.html

[Lefty]

Don't know if this is the culprit here, but any idea why the clubs don't spend the extra money to have better quality fields?  I know they get used a ton & that some of the problems are inevitable (and I also know that the probable answer to the above is "because it costs money"), but from what I've heard, they are in really, really poor shape.

[OregonStrosFan]

Throat?  That's not what Duarte says,

I'm listening sporadically.  He did get hit by a ball (chest or throat, I can't remember but there were some discussions about it), but he left because of the lingering foot problem (that he re-aggravated in the 1st). 

In the 9th right now, and WW has allowed 1 run and bases are loaded (0 out).  Good test for the kid (one hit was a bloop on an 0-2, got behind on a couple of batters, was 0-2 on the current hitter and is now 3-2, missing on a couple of decent pitches). 

[Gizzmonic]

All I have to go on is what the Marlins play-by-play announcers said.  They seemed more interested in talking about Matsui's ass troubles than Blum's injury anyway.  According to the Marlins announcers, "hemorrhoids have a very negative connotation in Japan."

Throat?  That's not what Duarte says,
 

http://blogs.chron.com/astrosblog/2008/03/heel_not_chest_bothering_blum.html

[OregonStrosFan]

In the 9th right now, and WW has allowed 1 run and bases are loaded (0 out).  Good test for the kid (one hit was a bloop on an 0-2, got behind on a couple of batters, was 0-2 on the current hitter and is now 3-2, missing on a couple of decent pitches). 

Ended up allowing another run on a sac fly with the bases loaded, then loaded them up again with a walk, but struck out a leftie (called strike 3 on full count) to get out of the inning allowing 2 runs.  They're going to the 10th now.

[TheWizard]

All I have to go on is what the Marlins play-by-play announcers said.  They seemed more interested in talking about Matsui's ass troubles than Blum's injury anyway.  According to the Marlins announcers, "hemorrhoids have a very negative connotation in Japan."

If this was an old samuri movie, this is where Matsui would get his tanto ready for Seppuku.

[Taras Bulba]

I've been curious ever since first reading the thing about hemorrhoids and the poor regard in which they are held in Japan.  Can someone explain this?  Is it bad form in a business situation in Japan to present one's card while proclaiming enthusiasm for hemorrhoids and anal discomfort?  Did Hirohito blame defeat on overwhelming odds and a generally raging case of hemorrhoids?

[MusicMan]

So, class, what have we learned?

- Duarte displays baseline competence in his Astros coverage, a refreshing change for the Lackey Rag;
- the Marlins, unsurprisingly, have poor announcers;
- common misperceptions of Japanese culture will be a common 2008 TZ theme, most likely resulting in many unnecessary "Major League 2" references.

What did I miss?

[Taras Bulba]

The Ham Fighters to change to Anal Fissure Fighters.

[Gizzmonic]

Me, I thought "are there any cultures in which hemorrhoids are held in high regard?"

I've been curious ever since first reading the thing about hemorrhoids and the poor regard in which they are held in Japan.  Can someone explain this?  Is it bad form in a business situation in Japan to present one's card while proclaiming enthusiasm for hemorrhoids and anal discomfort?  Did Hirohito blame defeat on overwhelming odds and a generally raging case of hemorrhoids?

[Matt]

Me, I thought "are there any cultures in which hemorrhoids are held in high regard?"

I think they are mandatory if you live in the Hemorrhoid Islands of the south Pacific.

[Kent's Moustache]

Me, I thought "are there any cultures in which hemorrhoids are held in high regard?"

Wherever the manufacturer of Preparation H employs the most workers...

[Kent's Moustache]

The Ham Fighters to change to Anal Fissure Fighters.

There's a joke in there that also includes the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and/or the Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks, but I can't seem to put my finger on it... the joke, I mean.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Me, I thought "are there any cultures in which hemorrhoids are held in high regard?"

I'd say not likely or at least probably not. Well maybe, France... and Greece. 

[chuck]

Sorry to disrupt the reverie, but the ground ball in question hit Blum in the chest and was not all that hard hit. He stayed in the game and if I'm not mistaken had an at bat in the top of the next inning prior to leaving the game.