George Springer led off for the Astros in Arlington yesterday against the Rangers just like he did for most of last season. And just like last season, he started the Astros season with a leadoff home run. He ended last year on a crazy tear with eight extra-base hits and 29 total bases in the World Series (both records) and apparently the winter wasn’t long enough for him to cool off. Springer took the third pitch of the game and smacked it into the right-field seats. Houston went on to win the game 4-1 while Springer made history. According to Elias, Springer is the first player to ever hit leadoff home runs in consecutive season openers. It is also the first time the defending World Series champs have started the next season with a leadoff home run. What was that I was saying about history in baseball? Oh yeah, it’s awesome, and I love when new stuff happens. If you don’t get it, check out my last post. Opening Day definitely did not disappoint this year and if it is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for one hell of a season.
Baltimore is making it a habit to win their season openers in dramatic fashion. Yesterday’s game against the Twins went 11 innings before Adam Jones sent the crowd home with a walk-off home run against the new Twin Fernando Rodney. If this seems familiar, its because it is. Mark Trumbo hit a walk-off home run in last year’s opener against the Blue Jays, and Matt Weiters was the hero of 2016’s opener with a walk-off single against Minnesota. The Orioles have become the first team to win three consecutive season openers via the walk-off in MLB history, according to Elias. While it doesn’t say much about the team (Baltimore lost the Wild Card game in 2016 and didn’t make the playoffs last year) it is an incredible stat. It amazes me that after 140+ years of professional baseball we still see things that have never happened before. That’s just one of many reasons to love baseball and I guarantee that this won’t be the only time history is made this season. But don’t worry, I’ll be right here to tell you when it happens.
The Yankees season couldn’t have gotten off to a better start yesterday. The team cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Blue Jays thanks to dominate pitching and 11 hits from the much-hyped lineup. Giancarlo Stanton looks more than comfortable in the DH spot with the Yanks. He smacked a monster2-run home run to right field in his first at bat. The last Yankee to hit a home run in his debut? None other than Aaron Judge. Stanton wasn’t done though. He would add an RBI single and another home run in the ninth. Giancarlo joined rare air and became the first Yankee to hit two homers in his debut since Roger Maris. It seems fitting as Stanton and Judge are already expected to put up numbers comparable to the historic combo of Maris and Mantle. Brett Gardner added a home run and Judge, Sanchez, and Walker all had doubles. The pitching staff was equally as impressive. Severino turned in a great 5 and 2/3s, giving up only one hit and striking out 7. Chad Green and Chapman struck out two and three respectfully in their turns as well. The only blip on the radar was one mistake pitch from Betances that ended up in the seats off the bat of Kevin Pillar. Overall, the Yanks looked great. Yeah it is only one game but it does show the formula will work. The Yankees just have to score enough runs to turn the game over to the bullpen with a lead and they have more than enough fire power to do that. This is the type of lineup that can survive a couple of guys having bad stretches. Didi went 0-3 right in the heart of the order and they still put up 6 runs. If the starters can keep a respectable ERA, the Yankees will be in great shape all year long. They’ll be back at tonight in Toronto. First pitch is at 7:07 PM.
March Madness is always filled with great storylines. Smaller schools upsetting power programs. A young kid playing out of his mind and making a name for himself. This year, family will be the best story. As we get set for the Final Four games on Saturday, news broke that brought a big smile to my face. Kansas’ star center Udoka Azubuike will be reunited with his mother for the first time since he moved to America for basketball in the ninth grade. Azubuike, originally from Nigeria, told reporters “I’m pretty excited. It’s going to be an emotional moment for me.” I can’t imagine putting an ocean between my mother and I. Florence Azubuike had her travel visa approved and will be in San Antonio when Kansas tips off against Villanova. This will be the first time she’ll see her son play basketball, as he played soccer in his native Nigeria. Silvio De Sousa and Svi Mykhailiuk will also have their parents traveling in from overseas (Africa and Ukraine respectfully) to watch them compete in the Final Four. No matter who wins the games, family will always win and this is great to hear.
Welcome back my fellow hip hop lovers. Today we’re bringing it back to 1988 for an album that changed the commercial outlook of hip hop and rap forever. On March 29th, 1988 DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince released their second album He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper. Will Smith (yes, that Will Smith) and Jeff Townes created the classic duo in the early 19080s when Will Smith filled in for Townes’ hype man at a local house party that Townes was performing at. The two went on to be pop icons. Their music made them popular and their success transferred to the screen quickly, but we’re gonna focus on the music.
He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper became the first double album in hip hop music. 85 minutes of dope beats and clean rhymes over two vinyl discs. It reached triple platinum status in 1995 and was placed on the The Source magazine’s 100 Best Rap Albums list. The album’s second single “Parents Just Don’t Understand” will stand forever as the first ever winner of the Grammy for Best Rap Performance. DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince were crucial in bringing hip hop to the pop scene. Will Smith will always be remembered for his clean, family friendly lyrics. He thought it was very important to keep his raps clean and didn’t feel the need to curse on his records, both with Jazzy and in his own solo music later in his career.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince opened the door to the Grammys for rap and hip hop. This gave the genre the mainstream respect it had deserved, but not received, for years. And for that, we have to pay respect. Without this iconic duo, who knows where hip hop would have ended up. We’d definitely be short one of my all time favorite songs, “Summertime” even though it is not off this album. We are here to show love to those who paved the way for the artists of today, and these two are worthy of all kinds of love. Check out the Grammy winning track below and make sure to look up some more of their music while you’re at it. I’ll see you same place, same time tomorrow for another hip hop history lesson.
