Bear Down…and Blog!
Current and former University of Arizona athletes are always making news and not always in traditional mediums. We scoured the Internet and found Wildcats online by visiting these lynx
PHOTO
Trevor Hoffman (left) is congratulated by former college teammate J.T. Snow during a Hoffman's retirement ceremony prior to the game against the Florida Marlins at Petco Park. Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE
Trevor Hoffman and J.T. Snow have shared many experiences together on the baseball diamond, dating back to the late 1980s when the two were teammates at the University of Arizona. Back then, Hoffman-to-Snow set up a 6-3, put-out combo that helped lead the Wildcats to the 1989 PAC-10 title.
Where Snow went on to become one of the game’s premier fielding first basemen, Hoffman’s career as a canon-armed shortstop didn’t last very long, before the Cincinnati Reds converted him into a pitcher.
On Sunday at Petco Park, the Padres, with Snow among those on hand for the festivities, retired Hoffman’s jersey number.
The Major League’s all-time saves leader with 601, Hoffman’s No. 51 will never be worn again by another Padre. It joins the likes of Steve Garvey’s No. 6, Tony Gwynn’s No 19, Randy Jones’ No. 35 and Dave Winfield’s No. 31 in the Padres’ rafters.
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WEB
The next Trevor Hoffman could be right around the proverbial corner. Former Wildcats, such as The Hoff, are making their marks in the minor leagues. Preston Guilmet is recent proof. The Carolina League named the closer its pitcher of the week for allowing just two hits in five innings of work to pick up three saves for the Kingston Indians. Guilmet has 33 saves (second-most in the entire minor leagues) and a 1.33 ERA this season. He’s been so dominant, he hasn’t allowed a run in 17 of his last 18 appearances, a run-less streak of 11 innings that includes the entire month of August.
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STATS
Trevor Hoffman fanned 1,133 batters in his 18-year career in the Big Leagues. But he’s not the Wildcats’ all-time leading strikeout king in the Majors. That honor belongs to Arizona alum Hoffman’s ex-Wildcat teammate Scott Erickson with 1,252. Ryan Perry, 121 career K’s, is the current leader among active, former ‘Cats — ranking him 11th all-time on the school’s MLB alumni list.
The Detroit Tigers recalled Perry on Aug. 13, after an extended stay in Triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens.
It should also be noted that former Wildcat outfielder and current Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona (one career strikeout as an emergency pitcher) has as many or more strikeouts in the Big Leagues than ex-Cat pitchers Leon Hooten (one) and Tim Plodinec (none).
Plodinec faced four batters, yield three runs, registered one out and ended his career with a 27.00 ERA in 0.1 innings of work in 1972 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
As a hitter, Francona was tough to strikeout, fanning once every 15 trips to the plate. Ex-Cat Kenny Lofton holds the distinction as the Wildcat hitter with the most strikeouts at the plate, whiffing 1,016 times.
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TWITTER
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“Looking hard for a good reason not to be happy and positive today. #icantfindone”
- You’re a Big League ballplayer, former Wildcat Trevor Crowe. Why would you go looking for a reason to be miserable? But if you really need one, here goes: Your Cleveland Indians haven’t won a World Series since 1948.
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“i am loving life 
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- Arizona volleyball outside hitter Courtney Karst.
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“Coil worked awesome. Looks like he might be Travers bound. If he looks great tomorrow.”
- Arizona alum and world-renowned trainer Bob Baffert Tweeting from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., home of this week’s Travers Stakes Festival, about the three-year colt who recently won the Haskell (N.J.) Invitational.
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“He got a new paint job. According to @maggieschiltz he looks "nifty" and "snazzy” - UA golfer Nikki Koller admiring the lumberjack that guards Leo’s shopping center on the corner of Glenn Street and Stone Avenue in Tucson.
“About to lay down naked but keep my socks on… Is that still considered naked ? Hahahaha”
- That’s not considered naked, just really creepy, Arizona hoops guard Jordin Mayes.
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“Playing in the sand. As a neat freak I have had to change my clean standard since I had kids…”
- Former Wildcat great Annika Sorenstam, who spent very little time in sand traps when she was the No. 1 women’s golfer in the LPGA
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“for future reporters”u cant attack sumbodies OPINION by giving ur own OPINION”only stupid ppl do that and ur professionals..cut the crap”
- Perhaps, but you can attack their grammar, Gilbert Arenas
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“Just landed back in Vineyard after circling because airport shutdown for arrival of the President. Saw cool looking chopper I think he took”
- NBC golf announcer and Arizona alum Dan Hicks.
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