Remembering Rod Beck

This past weekend, former DMBLer Rod Beck passed away. "Shooter" was a key member of the early Arkansas World Series run in 1993 and 1994. Although he didn't win in those seasons, Beck finally earned that World Series ring in 2001 as a member of the Newark Sugar Bears. Beck's finest season was either 1994 with Arkansas (12-6, 3.04 ERA, 11 saves, 113 K) or in 2004 with Carolina (3.69 ERA, 34 saves). Beck ended his career after that 2004 season with 91 career saves, a 3.74 ERA in 381 appearances. Beck also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagle Wings and the Louisiana Lightning. Beck was 38 years old.

Carolina and Vancouver played a marathon 14-inning game yesterday, with the Mudcats winning in the bottom of the 14th on an Aramis Ramirez homer that led off the inning. Brian Sweeney, taking one for the team, had already pitched four innings and began his fifth when he surrendered the solo shot. Carolina's bullpen held Vancouver hitless for the final seven innings of the game, while Vancouver surrendered only four hits in the final seven.

Hoboken picked up their fifth straight victory by routing the Mighty Men in Marietta yesterday. Omar Vizquel was 4-6 and Miguel Cabrera and Josh Bard each hit a homer and drove in three runs in the 11-5 victory.