Daily Links 4-25-14

Back just in time for the weekend with a huge roundup of links. In today's edition: lots of baseball-related links (naturally), how to make perfect hard boiled eggs, the house that Bond built, was Colonel Sanders a real colonel, and more.

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It's been a week of baseball anniversaries. First (and most importantly), Wrigley Field marked its 100th anniversary this week. Although I've been fortunate enough to attend games at such wonderful parks as Fenway Park and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Wrigley Field is still my hands down favorite. Here's the incomparable Vin Scully on what makes Wrigley such a special place.



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Meanwhile, Wednesday also marked another anniversary: the 50th anniversary of the only pitcher to hurl a no-hitter and lose. 

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Speaking of anniversaries, it is the 25th anniversary of Field of Dreams. Here's a fun list of 12 things you probably didn't know about the film (including who was really supposed to star in the movie instead of Kevin Costner). Tip of the cap to Neatorama for the link. Appropriately enough, the anniversary will be marked with a celebration on Father's Day.

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Two New York booksellers claim they bought William Shakespeare's dictionary on Ebay. You can decide for yourself whether to believe them. (Hat tip: Book Riot)

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How do you make perfect hard boiled eggs? Alton Brown has a suggestion: bake them in the oven instead of boiling them.

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On Tuesday, Albert Pujols hit home runs number 499 and 500 of his career. That is by itself a remarkable achievement. But as Jayson Stark points out, there's a lot more to appreciate about Pujols than his home runs. 

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Answering the important questions: Was Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders a real colonel? It's a fascinating profile of a true American success story.

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The house that Bond built: a profile of Ian Fleming's Jamaican estate Goldeneye. Interestingly enough it has now been converted into a hotel.

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This season Major League Baseball adopted expanded instant replay. Needless to say it has not gone as well as officials thought it would. I have never been a supporter of instant replay and the difficulties that have been experienced thus far have only reinforced my view that it was a mistake.

Albert Pujols A Cub? Is That Even Possible?

Michael Wilbon makes a compelling case for the possibility that Albert Pujols could, in fact, be in a Cub uniform next season.

I think it's a safe bet that since the Cardinals didn't sign him in the offseason that they are not likely going to be able to afford to offer him the $30-35 million a year over 7 or 8 years it's going to take to keep him in Cardinal uniform.

"Wait 'Til Next Year" could be a hopeful refrain after all.

The Lost Art of the Triple and Other Thoughts

Only 45 days until Opening Day and pitchers and catchers report to camps today. Optimism abounds, even for me.

I ran across this piece that makes a very interesting point: the triple is a lost art. With all the focus in the past few decades on home runs it's no surprise that triples are becoming a rarer feat. It makes for interesting reading.

As I write this, the Cardinals haven't signed Albert Pujols to a contract extension. I think Tom Verducci is exactly right: Pujols' age is going to be a big hinderance in giving him the 10 year contract he's looking for. If the Cardinals can't get him to agree to a five or seven year deal then he's likely going to be a free agent at the end of the year. Then it will be interesting to see who would be willing to commit the kind of money and number of years he's looking for.

Finally, this book should make for some interesting reading as we get ready for the season.

Let's play ball.