Sad news from the world of baseball this weekend, as John Robert "Red" Murff, the former Milwaukee Braves pitcher who discovered Nolan Ryan and gave Phil Niekro the confidence to use his knuckleball in game situations, passed away at the age of 87. Ryan spoke of Murff in his 1999 Hall of Fame induction speech:

"He thought when he saw me at 6-foot-2 and 140 pounds, he wasn't discouraged by my build and by the way I threw the baseball as many other scouts were. And I appreciate the fact that Red spent so much time with me and worked to help me become a better pitcher. Thank you, Red."

Tonight's Dugout is in tribute to the man who gave so much to the game of baseball, and if you don't like what I did, pretend I wrote something heartwarming about him going to Scout Heaven and hanging out with Buck O'Neil and the little girl from To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Dugout

	PapasMurff: TIME! Time out! /calls for time out Kid, c'mere, get over here.
	NolanOnTheRiver: /trots over to stands Yessir, Mr. Murff.
	PapasMurff: Looka that. Do you see what you coulda done better?
	NolanOnTheRiver: /looks around Nosir.
	PapasMurff: Nolan, take a look at the batter. Notice anything strange or unus'ial about what he's doing?
	NolanOnTheRiver: you mean the way he's layin' on home plate with blood comin' out his face?
	PapasMurff: And what could you'a done to keep the front part of his skull from breakin' through the skin and exposin' the brains like that?
	NolanOnTheRiver: I could've... not... thrown the ball at his... forehead?
	PapasMurff: There you go. Everybody makes mistakes, get back in there and try'er again. /pats Nolan on shoulder
	Online Host A kid from some farm who is totally in over his head has stepped into the batters box.
	ScootJo'Ohnson: I uh, uhhh... /carefully positions self in puddle of innards gathering around home plate
	NolanOnTheRiver: Don't worry, Scoot! Th' major league scouts are watchin'! I'm sendin' the "Nolan Ryan Express Train" right down broadway!
	ScootJo'Ohnson: whewwww, that's a r'lief! /puts bat on shoulder
	NolanOnTheRiver: /winds up /throws ball directly at batter's face
	Online Host Scoot Jo'Ohnson has been struck in the throat by a 104 mph fastball.
	ScootJo'Ohnson: gah aahhhh /weakly reaches for ball still lodged in center of neck /collapses
	PapasMurff: Time! /makes T-hands Ryan. /waves him over
	NolanOnTheRiver: /trots over to stands Yessir, Mr. Murff.
	PapasMurff: "Broadway" means "the middle."
	NolanOnTheRiver: Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought broadway meant "your throat." That's why I said I was going to throw it DOWN broadway. You can't throw a ball down the middle.
	PapasMurff: You keep tryin', you'll get it soon enough. Try thorwin' the next guy a curve.
	NolanOnTheRiver: Yessir, Mr. Murff!
	Online Host A sixties teen who would've probably died in Vietnam anyway has entered the batters box.
	SlobsReilly: Scoot! Aw, Scoot, you were m'best friend!
	NolanOnTheRiver: Bats up, Slobs! I'm about to throw you my "Derailed Caboose" pitch! See if you can hit this'n!
	SlobsReilly: But Scoot! He's dyin' right in front a'me! We were gonna start a gen'ral store!
	NolanOnTheRiver: just move him out of the way with your foot
	SlobsReilly: Sellin' pop an' licorice... aw Scoot, m'bro! /nudges corpse out of way with foot
	NolanOnTheRiver: You ready? Here it comes!
	SlobsReilly: Hold on a second, I forgot to grab a bat
	NolanOnTheRiver: /winds up /throws ball directly at batter's head
	Online Host Slobs Reilly has been decapitated by a 108 mph fastball.
	SlobsReilly: /headless body makes an empty "why" gesture, collapses
	PapasMurff: JESUS CHRIST, TIME OUT.
	NolanOnTheRiver: /trots over to stands How'd you like that curve ball?
	PapasMurff: IT WAS FASTERN'N YOUR FASTBALL! DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT A CURVE BALL IS!?
	NolanOnTheRiver: Of course I do, I just wanted to kill these guys.
	PapasMurff: /stares at pile of mutilated sixties teens /has epiphany /smiles
	NolanOnTheRiver: I'm f***ing awesome, aren't I
	Johnny: EXCUSE ME! /approaches stands
	PapasMurff: whatta you want, kid
	Johnny: My name's Johnny, and I'm up to bat next. You'd better not tell that yeehaw to throw a pitch at me!
	PapasMurff: and what are you gonna do if'n I do
	Johnny: I'm gonna... I'm gonna... RRAAAAH!!! /charges into stands
	PapasMurff: /grabs Johnny in headlock /noogies violently
	NolanOnTheRiver: hahaha
	Johnny: /stumbles to ground, scoots away on butt /runs away yelling
	Johnny: YOU'LL BE SORRY! ONE DAY I'LL GET MY REVENGE ON YOU, YOU JUST WAIT!
	Online Host Johnny has left the chatroom.
	PapasMurff: who'n the hell was that pissant
	NolanOnTheRiver: That was Johnny Ventura. What's the worst he's gonna do, run at you with his head down again
	NolanOnTheRiver: oh hey watch this, I'm gonna pull out a pistol and shoot the next guy, they can't do anything about it