Hellboy

Hellboy hot against Halos as Rays regress

Who’s hotter than Hellickson? The Ray’s rookie rocked with 10 strikeouts but still took the loss as the Bay-area bats remained flat, save for one. B.J. Upton continued to impress in the 5-1 loss against the LAA – The Team With Too Many Words In Its Name. Upton went long to lead off the home half of the fifth inning, sending an 0-0 pitch into the seats in left field. With the bomb, Upton is hitting a solid .333 to start the year. Sure, when broken down, that percentage is based on going 6-for-18, but with four out of five of the Rays losses coming with one run on four hits – including this 5-1 setback to the Halos – fans need to find things about which to get excited wherever they can.

Hellickson faced off against Angels’ starter Dan Haren; each man started the game off by striking out the side in the first inning. The difference between the two frames was that in between outs 1 and 2 in the top of the first, Hellickson issued a walk to Howie Kendrick, who scored on a double by Bobby Abreu. Hellickson then got Torii Hunter to go down swinging before catching Vernon Wells looking.

The Rays’ rookie sensation picked up two more K’s in the 1-2-3 second, courtesy of some whiffs by Alberto Callaspo and Jeff Mathis. Another 3-up, 3-down in the fourth, closed out by Abreu swinging at air.

After the Angels left a man on in the fifth, Hellickson started out the sixth inning strong, striking out Wells once more. Callaspo popped out before Hellickson gave up a base hit to Mark Trumbo, prompting his exit from the game based on pitch count. Reliever Adam Russell allowed Trumbo to easily steal second and then gave up a double to Mathis, charging another run to Hellickson’s tab when Trumbo crossed the plate.

In addition to Upton’s bomb, LF Sam Fuld went 2-for-3 on the day, including a leadoff double in the sixth, after which he stole third. Reid Brignac picked up the other Rays hit in the eighth, a single to right field.

Manager Joe Maddon has said that he will not worry about the wins or losses so long as the team is playing well. As of now, they’re simply not hitting but are benefiting from solid pitching and generally good defense. One has trouble arguing the pitching issue on a day like today, with Hellickson fanning 10 men in 5 and 2/3 innings,

There’s always the trite contention that its’ a long season and this is simply the beginning. There will be losing streaks; it is inevitable. However, based on said inevitability, it is bound to happen again so the team gains nothing by “getting it out of the way early.” And fans may not want the season to last too long if this skid continues. Hopefully a trip to take on the White Sox in the Windy City can stir some life into those Rays bats; with as fickle a fan base as the one in the Trop – the same one that booed Manny Ramirez four games into the year – this kind of underperformance will mean an even smaller payroll next year based on poor attendance. They may have to result to buying recycled jock straps or selling Dave Martinez’s beard to a wig maker.

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2011/04/06/hellboy-hot-against-halos-as-rays-regress/


Hellboy and More Make Wardrobe Changes, Thanks to Glen Brogan [Art]



Should Dark Horse ever publish a Hellboy/Super Mario Bros. 3 crossover in which their big red brawler dons a frog suit, they'll undoubtedly find no shortage of readership interest. Until that day comes, though, we'll have to settle for the sugary artwork or illustrator Glen Brogan. Brogan's mashups of video game characters, popular cartoon faces from the '90s and comic book icons would put the creativity in most sketchbooks to shame, but they make for one heck of a gallery.

Brogan's space girls and pop culture homages hang out on his website AlbinoRaven.com. His Street Fighter work makes a strong case for a supermarket bonus level if Capcom's looking for ideas, and his "Scott Pilgrim" pieces are really first rate.

Have fun looking at those and picking apart the many levels of humor going on his Spider-Man/Sandman fight scene after the jump. Numerous Muppets and round bottoms await you there.

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/04/06/glen-brogan-art/