Diamond Notes - 5/11/12

PETTITTE SET TO DEBUT SUNDAY

Photo Credit: thetimes-tribune.com

After just four starts in the minors, Andy Pettitte is ready to return to the show. The 39 year old lefty will make his 2012 Major League debut on Sunday when he takes the mound for New York against Blake Beavan and the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. Pettitte was 0-2 with a 3.71 ERA in his 4 minor league appearances, but showed good command walking just 3 and striking out 13 in his 17 innings of work. The Mariners (15-18) are hitting just .234 as a team, the second lowest average in the American League.

VLAD SIGNS MINOR LEAGUE DEAL WITH TORONTO

Photo Credit: tsn.ca

Vladimir Guerrero isn't done yet. They 37 year old veteran designated hitter just inked a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Guerrero hit .290 in 145 games with the Baltimore Orioles last year, but hit just 13 home runs, his lowest total since his rookie year back in 1997 with the Expos. Guerrero needs just 1 home run to reach 450 for his career and he'll enter the season sitting on 2590 hits. While there's no guarantee he'll suit up as a Blue Jay, it's certainly not a bad gamble for a team struggling to get production from first base. While Guerrero can't help them there, current DH Edwin Encarnacion can fill in at first base while pushing the struggling Adam Lind (.190 3 HRs 10 RBIs) to the bench.

HAMILTON'S HUGE DAY

Photo Credit: pinstripedbible.com

Josh Hamilton bashed 4 home runs against the Orioles on Tuesday becoming just the 16th player in major league history to accomplish the feat. Hamilton finished the day 5 for 5 and drove in eight runs. How does he stack up compared to the other 15 guys who hit 4 homers in a game? Let's take a look:

Bobby Lowe - Boston Beaneaters vs Cincinnati Reds - May 30, 1894 - 71 Career HRs
Ed Delahanty - Philadelphia Phillies vs Chicago Colts - July 13, 1896 - 101 Career HRs
Lou Gehrig - New York Yankees vs Philadelphia A's - June 3, 1932 - 493 Career HRs
Chuck Klein - Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates - July 10, 1936 - 300 Career HRs
Pat Seerey - Chicago White Sox vs Philadelphia A's - July 18, 1948 - 86 Career HRs
Gil Hodges - Brooklyn Dodgers vs Boston Braves - August 31, 1950 - 370 Career HRs
Joe Adcock - Milwaukee Braves vs Brooklyn Dodgers - July 31, 1954 - 336 Career HRs
Rocky Colavito - Cleveland Indians vs Baltimore Orioles - June 10, 1959 - 374 Career HRs
Willie Mays - San Francisco Giants vs Milwaukee Braves - April 30, 1961 - 660 Career HRs
Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies vs Chicago Cubs - April 17, 1976 - 548 Career HRs
Bob Horner - Atlanta Braves vs Montreal Expos - July 6, 1986 - 218 Career HRs
Mark Whiten - St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds - September 7, 1993 - 105 Career HRs
Mike Cameron - Seattle Mariners  vs Chicago White Sox - May 2, 2002 - 278 Career HRs
Shawn Green - Los Angeles Dodgers vs Milwaukee Brewers - May 23, 2002 - 328 Career HRs
Carlos Delgado - Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays - September 25, 2003 - 473 Career HRs
Josh Hamilton - Texas Rangers vs Baltimore Orioles - May 8, 2012 - 133 Career HRs

*Hall of Famers in Bold