MLB misc.

First of all, an article about Angels outfielder Reggie Willits and his becoming a fan favorite of Angels fans. Here's a quote:

And Willits loves it when the Angel Stadium crowd turns his first name into a sing-song chant, like the serenade offered a generation ago to another Reggie named Jackson.

"I'm not really sure why they do it," Willits said in the soft drawl of his native Oklahoma. "It's humbling to hear something like that. For them to recognize you like that, to care enough about you, that means a lot."

Here's the article: http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-elliott24jun24,1,7293227.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-mlb-angels&ctrack=2&cset=true. (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070625&content_id=2048059&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp)

Next, another article about the Indians visits to two military hospitals in the Washington, D.C., area while in town to play the Nationals last weekend. Those that went from the team were manager Eric Wedge, C.C. Sabathia, Victor Martinez, Casey Blake, Paul Byrd (a Christian), Joe Borowski, Jason Michaels, Travis Hafner, Josh Barfield (a Christian), Trot Nixon (a Christian), Aaron Fultz, Kelly Shoppach, Jake Westbrook (a Christian), Cliff Lee, and coach Joel Skinner. Here's the article: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1182674913106490.xml&coll=2. (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070625&content_id=2048059&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp)

Also, an article about Royals outfielder Emil Brown about finally sticking in the Majors after going back and forth to the Minors and independent leagues. Here's a quote:

When I was out of the Major Leagues, I was praying to get enough of a chance. Even if it were a chance over a 10-day period, I would have taken it. I wanted to show what I could do. Luckily, my body was always there for me -- I never lost my speed or my pop or by ability to play defense. That helped keep me positive.

Playing baseball is all I've ever really wanted to do.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070626&content_id=2050019&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Lastly, a neat article about a promise that Reds outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., made to former teammate and current Tigers closer Todd Jones (a Christian) about a home run bat three years ago: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070626&content_id=2050019&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.