Did you know Matt Stairs is a not just a star in the United States and Canada, but his fame extends over the entire North American continent?
Here's a gem from SI.com chronicling the adventures of Matt Stairs
south of the border during his winters playing in Navojoa, Mexico. While the "goateed and neckless Canuck" was initially regarded with skepticism and even contempt, he grew to become a legend among the natives that Santa Clause
wishes he could live up to.
"He's part of us," says Navojoa mayor Carlos Quiroz. "When Matt is hitting well, the people are happy. When he's not, the people are sad." Victor Cuevas, Los Mayos' principal owner, says, "People love Matt Stairs." And he's right. They love Stairs because he wins batting titles and hits long home runs over the Tecate beer sign in right-centerfield. They love him because he'll play any position at any time. They love him because even though he makes his living as a leftfielder and cleanup hitter in the major leagues, he comes to play in a rickety-bus league. They love him for his jovial unshaven face and his big belly and the way, between spits of chewing tobacco, he takes hard puffs off his cigarettes like a hard-boiled Navojoan."
Funny, that's exactly why I love Matt Stairs. The article goes on to talk about how Matt Stairs dominated this Mexican League for a few years by leading the league in average, RBIs and homeruns, playing every position (except catcher) and even taking on a manager/player role to lead the team into the playoffs. He was eventually offered a 10% ownership of the team as a thank you. Unfortunately, not everyone was aware of Matt Stairs star status in the small Mexican town. Kevin Millar, now a major league vetern, enters the hall of shame by not knowing who Matt Stairs was. Said Millar,
"I'd never met Matt," says Millar. "He was supposed to hit fourth that day, but it was 20 minutes before the game and he hadn't shown up. It got to be 10 minutes before game time, then five, and still no Matt. Finally, when the umpires were meeting at home plate, this guy walked into the dugout wearing jeans and boots and smoking a cigarette. He just pulled on his uniform, went up there and yanked a home run. I was like, Who the f—is this guy?"
The town mayor, Carlos Quiroz, also decided to add another fact to the Stairs Fact Vault: "Whenever I meet kids, I ask them what they want to do when they get older," says Quiroz. "Many say, 'Be
Matt Stairs.' " If only all children across the world had such glorious ambitions.
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Due to being on vacation the only Phils/Yanks baseball I witnessed was the Saturday night Brad Lidge meltdown. I did my best to drink that one away and I am still paying for it now.
Sorry no funny pics to go with this one, only straight SCIENCE.
It was a rough weekend for those Phightin' Phils after a great outing by Mr. Hollywood Hamels on Friday night. The only good thing that came after the 10-6 win was Mateo contributing the best he could by going 2 for 2 with an RBI double to take the lead on Sunday. Unlucky for us, Jack Taschner was brought in to hold down the fort and he let it collapse worse than the Cowboys' practice facility (when does JC come back again?). Although Matt did a decent job relieving Jayson Werth for the day he couldn't carry the team all by himself. It would have been nice for the top of the line-up to set the table and contribute some base runners... *cough* Jimmy Rollins *cough*
Matt Stairs can smoke his own weight in meth and then sleep for 4 days straight.
There you can see #12 clearly written for the man himself, Mateo Escalera. Thanks to our friends over at theFightins.com for the tip!
Check it out on the right column and cast your vote.
Looks like another pitcher succumbed to the fear of the Canadian Wood. This time it was none other that the Mets' Sean Green (pictured left). Scared that putting one pitch anywhere near the plate would result in a bottom of the 10th walk off moon-shot homerun, he instead hit Matt Stairs with the first pitch.
As we all know, Matt is a man of many words (ie this gem). Recently the Inquirer caught up with him after breaking up the Brew Crew's Dave Bush's no-hitter. They asked him if he had ever broken up a no-no to which he replied, 
