I am unofficially retiring this blog.

Why?

Because I’m merging it with my NBA 2K10 My Player blog for one mega-My Player blog. I think this will benefit both myself and the reader. Be sure to let me know what you think!

So don’t fear, the fun hasn’t ended. Just hop on over HERE and keep following my misadventures. I hope you enjoy it!

Well, May ended ok, for me, but we finished the month 13-15. I also finished June since my last update, finishing that month an improved 15-12.. However, compared to my offensive explosion in May, June was unbelievably quiet.

This was my biggest highlight of the month, sliding into home to win our last game of the month against the Giants. I’m still hitting well, but my power has disappeared.  I get allot of groundball singles now and no long towering drives. It’s very frustrating.

My lowlight came against the Padres, when they walked me my last two plate appearances to break my 37 game hitting streak. I’m still bitter.

All in all, I’m still hitting a league-leading .434 with 26 home runs, 27 doubles and 87 RBIs. I think I might make the All-Star team with those numbers.

- Bud Daniel

I’m continuing to slug the ball in May. I’m now hitting over .400, which is nice – but it won’t last. A recent series with the Texas Rangers in Arlington saw me go 7-9 in the first two games of the series, but only 1-4 in the last game. However, that lone hit happened to be a home run. I’ll check in again once the month is over.

Another month down, and we’re still clogging up the basement of the Central Division. We went 14-15 in May, which is better but no where near great. Personally, I’m a little down on my stats, but I shouldn’t be. I’m hitting .388 (best in the league) with 17 doubles, 17 homers and 57 RBIs. I had 17 doubles and 18 homers in 12 more games all of last year, so I’m well on pace for an MVP-candidacy run. I lead the league in batting average and RBIS, and I’m second in home runs. This picture features me turning on a very high fastball against the Angels. If our pitching staff can every get straightened out, we have  the offense to win games – but I don’t have high hopes.

Well, April is over and I’m getting hot. I’m now batting .380 with 11 doubles, 8 home runs, and 24 RBIs.I’ve also taken 2 walks, which is how many I too all of last year. In all, I’m looking good. I’m second in the league in doubles, homers, and RBIs, which is nice. We won two of three against the Royals to end the month 8-14, tied for worst in the AL Central division with Minnesota. We’re also second worst in the power rankings (just ahead of the Florida Marlins). Man, maybe I oughta take my big bat and get out of here…

– Bud Daniel

Well, it’s crisis averted, for now. I’m now hitting .365 and have slugged 4 homers since my last post. We also  nearly swept the Twins at their place, but came up short in a rally to end game three of the series. We were down 6-1 when I came to the plate in the eight inning (we scored our first run when I was listening to the announcers talk about a shutout, pissing me off to the point that I blasted a dinger into the left field bleachers. That’ll teach ‘em). We had a runner on first and I hit a single to extend the inning (we had one out at the time). Matt LaPorta knocked me to third and brought in the run to make it 6-2. Later, I scored, along with LaPorta to make it 6-4. We ultimately made it 6-5 before falling short.. Oh well, can’t win ‘em all. Or most of them, for that matter.

- Bud Daniel

Despite what the above picture would tell you, I am now batting under .300. I don’t know what changed, but I need to do something. My team is counting on me, and after we lost eight straight games, it’s getting stressful. We’ve now won two in a row against Oakland, but I’m not confident because my bat continues to grow colder. I hope I can get it turned around quick!

- Bud Daniel

So much for setting the league on fire. Coming out of spring training, I’m hitting around .340, but it’s mostly been on dink singles and the occasional double. I have a hit in all six games we’ve played thus far, but I’m not pleased. I had zero RBIs until game six of the 2011 campaign.

The sixth game (after we dropped the last two of our opening series with the World Champion White Sox – we won our season opener – and the first two to the A’s) was in Oakland. It was another relatively poor showing, but I had one good swing and I made it count. I blasted a 465 ft. three-run dinger to give us a 5-2 lead. We ballooned it to a 9-2 lead before our bullpen blew it and we lost our fifth straight game, 12-9. Damn bullpen.

- Bud Daniel

Well, spring training is over, and man did I rake the ball. Here’s my final spring line:

• Bud Daniel – .478, 19 2Bs, 16 HRs, 55 RBIs in 30 games

Compare that to my 2009 season stats.

• Bud Daniel – .332, 17 2Bs, 18 HRs, 66 RBIs in 73 games

I think I’m ready for the regular season.

On a side note, I’ve been moved back to first base. Apparently I’m now the team’s top first baseman. I wish they’d stop moving me around!

- Bud Daniel

I figured this was as good a time as any to unveil Bud Daniel’s baseball card.

Enjoy!