I live in Connecticut, and I like to take in minor league games at Dodd Stadium in Norwich. Last summer the Connecticut Defenders were hosting the Portland Sea Dogs, the AA club for the Red Sox, which is the team I root for. In the first inning, the Dogs are pounding the Defenders' starter, and somebody big...it might have been Lars Anderson, comes barreling into home plate and flattens the catcher, who drops the ball. I turn to my wife and say, "that guy will never make it in the bigs." He looked groggy, and I wasn't sure he would finish the game.

Fifth inning he comes up and nails a rope over the wall in dead center. I turn to my wife and say, "guess I was wrong." Scoreboard flashes, today it's his birthday!

Player: Pablo Sandoval. Gets the call two days later. I immediately add him to my fantasy baseball team. Go Pablo!