Luke Holko Update

MiLB.com had a story on Luke Holko today, including a link to a web site that has been set up to provide updates on his condition.  The most recent post, published by his mother Nicole about half an hour ago, is hopeful:

So…today my precious baby boy moved his eyes and eyelids and his mouth!!! God is showing us little signs each and every day! He squeezed papa’s hand today and coughed alot when suctioned.  He get anxious when he hears them getting ready to do that or start meds so his ICP’s go up…last night was a little of a rough nite so the started sedating him more…which from what i’ve been told is a good thing cause its a sign he’s becoming more aware of his surroundings! His vitals go a little up and down but overall remain close to the same through out the day…

Not gonna lie, it got a little dusty in my living room when I read that first sentence.  Keep fighting, kid.

Donations can also be made through that web site to help with Luke’s medical costs.  The surrounding community, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, other New York-Penn League teams, and the Cleveland Indians have all made generous contributions of time and money thus far.

The Minor Links

More good stuff about the world of minor league baseball. If you read something that belongs in The Minor Links, please do pass it along to onemoredyingquail@gmail.com.

Raul Ibanez loves “The Office”?  I think I heart Raul Ibanez (The Hog Blog)

John Sickels breaks down the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Minor League Ball)

Nick Hill may be a darkhorse candidate to help out the Mariners bullpen within the next year or two (U.S.S. Mariner)

Rhett Barber must have broken a mirror during his senior year of high school; fortunately, his seven years of bad luck appear to be over and he is pitching well for the Alexandria Aces (The Town Talk)

“Sugar” is being released on DVD and Blu-Ray (Baseball Musings)

Marty Popham, a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians Short Season affiliate in Mahoning Valley, pitched seven no-hit innings on Wednesday before being pulled; Austin Adams gave up an infield single with two outs in the ninth to end the no-no (Indians Prospect Insider)

Cooper Brannan lost part of his left hand in Iraq about 3 1/2 years ago; he was just released by the Padres, then caught on with the American Defenders of New Hampshire (Nashua Telegraph)

Photos: Mahoning Valley Scrappers, courtesy of MCBias.

Today we’ve been set up with a handful of photos via our good friend in blogging, MCBias.

If you like your writing to approach the status quo with a healthy dose of skepticism, MC is your man. He has definite ideas about how blogging should grow, and how it should be conducted from an ethical standpoint. His most recent interview is a two-parter with WNBA star Erin Beuscher. If that’s up your alley, check him out at Moderately Cerebral Bias.

But I’ve made him sound like a wonk. He’s also a lot of fun, as these photos of MC and friends at a Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Indians Short-Season A) game will attest.

Looks like a good time, MC. To us, this is what the Bus Leagues are all about.

If you want to share your photos, contact us at busleagues (at) gmail (dot) com.