It's all whoop-duh-dee-doo-dah in baseball land of late. Aside from the pesky steroid talk and what not.

This past weekend was one of the most stirring and heavily attended Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies in recent years and included two of the really great guys in the history of the game of baseball. Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. are clearly class acts, true gentlemen and deserving of their plaque in Cooperstown. That goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway.

We have a few milestones and records that'll be toppled here in the next few weeks. Barry Bonds and the Home Run record (heavily talked about, by me included), Tom Glavine's 300th victory (the last by a pitcher in the Bigs for a while, I presume), A-Rods 500th dinger and Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th tater are on deck, at the pole and just waiting.

But, this weekend an occurance/milestone came and was passed by a man not unnoticed by baseball fans around the country, ****, the globe. The actual event went unnoticed for the most part. I feel that is a shame, and so I'll bring it to light here.

Ichiro Suzuki's 1,500th hit.

I didn't know it happened until I read the article on Seattlepi.com. Here is what it said:

Ichiro's Latest Milestone: 1,500 Hits

By JOHN HICKEY
P-I REPORTER

I can only imagine what it's like to be in the minor leagues and get the call into the managers office after a game and be told, "You're going to the show". Personally, I've seen it happen twice. Once was in Bull Durham, if that tells you anything.

I can imagine that the excitement and the adrenaline that flows inside of a person are mind-boggling. I can imagine feeling in awe of the whole major league experience for the first time, walking into a baseball cathederal like Yankee Stadium or a modern day gem like Petco Park...****, even a piece of garbage like Tropicana Field would be cool, too. Thousands of fans, white baseballs for batting practice, infields like pool tables, pristine pitchers mounds and silky smooth batters boxes. I can only imagine.

I can imagine that is how John Lannan felt when he was called up to the Washington Nationals the other day. Lannan was called up by Washington after he went a combined 12-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 20 games with three minor league teams this season. His call up told him he'd be on the bump at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelhpia. The southpaw pitcher three years pro out of Siena College made his first major league start yesterday against the Philadelphia Phillies. That's big. The Phillies can hit, and they're in the thick of the National League pennant race, they have intimidating marquee sluggers like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to deal with. A daunting task for any pitcher, really. Let alone a rookie on day one. 

According to Hoyle, all things were going OK for Lannan. He was working four innings, giving up three runs and scattering six hits. Until something unraveled with one out in the fifth.

Lannan, known for his control, let loose with a few wild ones and in the process, matched history, if not set it all by his lonesome.

First, he hit Utley on the right hand. The next batter he faced, Ryan Howard, was plunked in the shoulder. The home plate umpire, Hunter Wendelstedt, without any warnings, immediately ejected the rookie pitcher, set off a tirade from Nats manager Manny Acta, getting him tossed and sending Lannan into baseball history.

Outrageous.

I tried checking with the Elias Sports Bureau on whether or not a rookie pitcher was ever thrown out of a game in his Major League debut. I looked and looked, I couldn't find squat, so I am going to assume that it has either a) never happened before, in which case, kudos to Lannan on being numero uno or b). it has happened before but I just can't find it anywhere, in which case, congrats to Lannan on tying numero uno!

Lannan's line for the day in his major league debut: 4 1/3 innings pitched, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, 8.31 ERA, 1 Broken Hand (Utley), ejected in the fifth inning, for a total of 1 broken (or tied) major league baseball record.

Now, the stories he has to tell about his time in "the Show" for many years to come will be priceless.

I can only imagine what they'd sound like.

It's inevitable. Sometime this week, best guess.

Yes, Barry Bonds will catch, then pass, the great Hank Aaron's Home Run record.

So, with all of the "breaking news" and the Barry watches going on, I ended up in a debate with a friend of mine about Mr. Bonds and the record. I just wanted to get my point across.

I don't understand the hullabaloo over whether or not the passing of the torch is legit. I can't figure out why Bud Selig has to debate whether or not he is to be in attendance when one of Baseball's most hallowed record gets eclipsed. I don't understand the bitterness towards Bonds outside of his town of San Francisco.

Personally, I've never been a Bonds fan. He has never been a lovable character in the game he owns. His demeanor towards the press and even fans to some degree comes across as crude, rude and standoff-ish. Let's say he is no Cal Ripken, Jr. That in itself is not news. And, yes, I am aware of the tell-all book "Game of Shadows" that has painted Bonds as a cheater and a liar. Nobody can argue with the stance taken or the many signs pointing to Barry as a steroid using cheater.

Here's my problem.

Nobody has ever officially proven he has done anything illegal or used any newly banned substances. Not that I am aware of. If that is the case, rip me a new one. But, I am sitting here unaware of them.

The truth is Barry Bonds had to still swing the bat against high caliber pitchers at the highest level of the game, some who have presumably cheated as well. He has done so for almost two full decades. He has been a steady ball player with a Hall of Fame career and stats for all of those years. Oh yeah, he hasn't had the immense advantage of being a Designated Hitter, either. Every day he's been patrolling the field, the wear and tear of such now showing itself. How can you not admire that?

If we are going to throw stones at the man for being under suspicion of using the cream or the clear or horse steroids or HGH, then we need to take a hard look at the rest of the athletes that have perhaps done the same. Even if he did do it, it wasn't against the rules of baseball. And he was not alone. Trust me.

If we are going to throw him under the bus for being a jerk and use it as argument for him not basking in the glory of a wonderful record, shame on us. But, in this country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and the court of public opinion, last I checked, was not grounds for banishment, asterisks or anything of the sort.

So, go for it Barry. I'll still be watching.

I have been a Cubs fan since I was nine years old. My family had just subscribed to cable telelvision and during the afternoons in summer, the only game on TV was the Cubs versus whomever. Harry Caray would bellow into his microphone the latest game developments, pause for the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch, and pester Arne Harris with an "I need a camera on the tube top hottie in left" reference and from then on I was hooked. I was now a lovable loser.

It was 1984, and living in Detroit during that summer was a special thing. But, the Cubs were having one **** of a season as well, and while my little league buddies would rile me up with Tigers this and Tigers that, I simply reminded them that the Cubs were in the hunt too...and to watch out.

Fast forward 23 years. The Tigers are fresh off of a World Series appearance, essentially reviving a town decimated baseball wise with years of futility. And, yes, the Cubs have yet to get back there themselves, coming within five outs the last time around...in 2003. I have a family of my own. My son is almost nine himself. He likes the Tigers, loves Justin Verlander, whereas I still pull for the Cubs with passion like no other, because I have what all good Cubs fans have come to need...Hope.

In case you haven't noticed, the Cubbies are making a little run here of late. They are starting to garner the attention of the rest of baseball with their winning ways since mid-June. I've watched with the excitement and fervor of a nine year old all over again, simply because of hope.

This past week, I purchased a new Cubs hat. I bought one for my son actually, but while I was there I decided, "what the ****" and got myself one, too. The Cubs were fresh off of a three game winning streak, 19 of 26 since June 22, and I go and screw it up by messing with karma...since of course the Cubs lost that night. I was ready to burn the **** hat.

It was all superstition of course. And really was a bunch of ****, since they rattled off four of their next six anyway.

But, superstition is as much baseball as it is a part of anything. When I was a player in college, I believed that we were on a 25 game winning streak because I never once, (and my ex-girlfriend/wife can verify this), changed my socks. Ever. Until we lost. Then they disintegrated. Gross, yes. But, who was going to argue with the streak? Or as Crash Davis said so eloquently in Bull Durham, "If you believe you're playing well because you're getting laid, or because you're not getting laid, or because you wear women's underwear, then you ARE!" We were winning because of my socks. The Cubs lost because of the hat. What baseball player at heart doesn't get it?

I've kept the hat. I will continue to keep it. My son asks me about the Cubs score all the time. I tell him and pray they come through this time. At least before I hit 90 years old. The Cubs will hopefully do what they haven't been able to do since 1945, get back to the Series. I'll be there. Watching each step along the way.

With my hat on...proudly.