Game Preview of the Best in Baseball June 30, 2008, 8:45am Mark Topkin writes a preview of the Rays/ Red Sox Series, where not only will the series decide the best in the division, but also the best in baseball. Yep, its true. Half-way through the season, the Rays aren't just playing the spoiler, they actually have the best record in baseball going into tonight. Gordon Edes writes from the Boston point of view as the team, in second place, heads to Tampa to try to knock off the team in first. They thought the important series would be played in the Bronx this week...little did they know. And even though I don't think brawling is appropriate... thats not to say I don't enjoy it when it happens... I think its great that Rays have really made their presence known as they step into AL East contender seat. The brawl that Topkin refers to is still being felt as players continue to serve suspensions. And remember the brawl with the Yankees from spring training? Nope, the Rays aren't going to be pushed around on the diamond or or pushed out of the media spotlight. Try to listen to a broadcast without the announcer mentioning the Rays. Momentum is on their side. Can't believe it, but this is the series that I am excited to watch this week, so expect to hear more about these two teams... the best in baseball.
No-hits and a Win-- The ups and downs in Dodger-land June 29, 2008, 10:05am So, this I am sure many of you saw on Sportscenter, but here is game story by Bill Plunkett, a great baseball name, about the Dodgers/Angels game in which the Dodgers didn't get a hit, but still won the game on two errors. It's the 5th a team has no-hit the home team and lost in MLB history, it happened once where the home team no-hit the visitors and lost. The other fact I learned from this is that it can't be a true no-hitter if 27 outs aren't recorded. Anyway, thought it was a great story from the west coast. And while we are in Dodger-land, here is a column by TJ Simers about why the Dodgers aren't getting hits. See, apparently all of Joe Torre's World Series rings aren't impressive enough to the Dodger kids to get them to by into the old baseball philosophies of Torre, Larry Bowa and Bob Schaefer. Simer's calls for the return of Mattingly as hitting coach so that they can relate to some youth, even though Mattingly was retired before these guys every started paying attention to the Yankees. Simer's point is also how much the youth is running the show there, and how little the verterans, usually the cornerstone of team expected to lead the way, don't matter. Anyway, its a interesting peak into why the Dodgers can't, overtake the Diamondbacks.
Who wins the Subway Series in 2010? June 29, 2008, 9:30am So with the Yankees/Mets nearly finished for 2008, looking to the future is always an interesting thing. Ken Davidoff wrote earlier in the week about the state of both teams farm systems. The Yankees are in far better shape from all reports than the Mets, and why is that? Money. Selig and those that run MLB have set up a system where they put a monetary value on each draft slot, based on the money that has been given as a signing bonus in previous years, and in line with all the other slots. These are recommendations only, as Selig would upset too many owners if he started telling them what to do. The idea is that it keeps signing bonuses lower so that any club should be able to afford any player, but it also is supposed to take some leverage away from agents since if every team follows the guidelines there is a max amount the guy can get. Sure the player can not sign and sit out a year, he might even get taken higher, or he might get injured and be taken much lower. The risk is primarily on the player in that system. Some teams, like the Mets, pride themselves on being "good citizens" and working under the parameters set forth by MLB. They may see the bigger picture, or they may be looking for a reason to be cheap....hard to say. It may also make them feel that if they follow this rule, then they can vary from MLB somewhere else without creating too much disfavor. Anyway, the Mets follow the slotting recommendations, and are very strict about it. The Yankees do not, not since 2005, as Davidoff's article points out. And whose farm system has improved markedly since 2005? And who's major league payroll has climbed markedly since 2005? Sure, if the Yankees and the few other teams that don't pay attention to slot money followed it, the agents would lose the power, but as long as one team ignores it-- Tampa Bay or Arizona-- then the slot system only creates disparity because the Royals or even the Mets have to take a lesser player who they believe will sign. The slot system does help a team plan its budget, as if knows 9 months ahead what slot it will be picking and therefore how much money they will spend on those picks maximum, ad if you are following it, you have to follow it for all picks otherwise you will only sign the guy that you do give over-slot money for. The Yankees have shown that the free market works, if you have the money and restrictions half-way, as in "recommendations", only create ore disparity. Drafting is all a gamble, but so is signing free agents to big contracts. Thoughts?
Actual thoughts about July June 28, 2008, 3:30pm So I captioned the next post "thoughts about July" and then never gave those thoughts, I just wrote the introduction to them and then posted. The part I didn't add is that beginning in July, LoveMyTeam is going to start running some contests... some trivia baseball and, with the All-Star game we are going to be looking for the best fan from each team. Yes, prizes will be given. This is just a little tease, to keep you checking back, but stay tuned, because good things are gonna happen here!
Thoughts about July June 28, 2008, 12:10pm Since we may have a few new eyeballs I thought I would take a moment to talk a little about the website and let you know where we are going. The mission of the site is to bring the business of baseball into the conversation for the fan, and to bring the fan back into the business of the game. Sponsors have taken over, and Sponsorship dollars have become so important that teams have begun to forget why and how to fill the seats. Smarter fans can change that. Though lately there has been a bunch of Yankees and Mets talk, that isn't always the case, but the great thing is the readers can take a look at the message board and get the discussion going themselves so that we talk about what you want to talk about. Hopefully, we all get a new perspective about the teams we love, and the teams we don't know so much about. We also have columnists that give you a little perspective on various areas in baseball, the front office, the prospects oh and of course, your summer reading. Take a look around, and if there is something you want to know more about don't hesitate to let us know.
On Carlos Delgado and other Random thoughts on Yankees/Mets June 28, 2008, 9:55am So, obviously, Carlos Delgado has a career game yesterday, at least the first one. At the start of the second game, upon his introduction, the Shea faithful stood and cheered. One of the guys that sits in front of me turned, rolling his eyes and muttered "Band-wagon fans." After two months of booing Delgado's play, suddenly the fans are giving a standing ovation. That doesn't make them band-wagon though. That makes them good fans. They could have ignored it, they could have clapped politely, instead they stood and acknowledged Delgado's outstanding and atypical performance. It wasn't waffling, it was giving credit where credit is due, just as some of the booing has been placing blame where the blame should lie.
Now Delgado may have upset some of the press because he was unwilling to discuss the day in one on one interviews. Why? The talk radio guys I heard the morning seemed baffled by it, but yet it seems very much in keeping with Delgado's normal m.o. He doesn't take curtain calls for doing his job, and with the way he has performed to this point for the Mets in 2008, a 9 RBi day is really just him doing his job. Sure its special production, and if he had been driving a few runs every day or even on most days it might be special to him, I think, but one 9 RBI game doesn't make up for all those runner's he has left stranded. I'm sure he appreciated the fans acknowledging the act, but does he need to strut around like he did something amazing? I don't think so, and based on his past behavior, I'm betting he doesn't think so either. If he drove in a handful in the evening, maybe he might have changed his tune. Until he becomes the guy he was signed to be, though, I bet he is going to do his best to go about his business, and I think that is a good thing. I hope Carlos has a few more days like yesterday before we see Andy Phillips playing first base everyday.
So, the good thing about last night, after being as Shea on Tuesday for one of the worst games I have ever seen, was the energy. Shea Stadium was full, with even the very last seat of the last row in the upper deck being occupied. There always is excitement for the Subway Series as much as the media says they are tired of it. To top it all, Pedro was pitching for the Mets and he also always brings a buzz. Couple that with the Yankees running a reclamation project out to the mound, and the afternoon game results and Mets fans had some reason to be excited. Yankee fans always have some reason to be excited. Its been a long time since I sat on the edge of my seat at Shea, and both teams gave that gift to those in the stands, at least for a few innings yesterday. Sidney Ponson was pretty good, and got better as the game went on. Sir Sidney though, was pitching for a job. Pedro, for his part, isn't the guy he used to be, and though he did pretty well for awhile, particularly adjusting to the new type of pitcher he has to be, wasn't the Pedro anyone hoped to see. His ability to dig deep and find a little extra to make that out pitch seems to be gone. He can still be effective, he just needs to know that he can't dial it up, ever. Without that skill, he needs to rely more on command, and he still has that, he just isn't sure of it right now. Still, he and the Mets kept me excited about the game despite having the bases loaded twice and failing to score a run in the early innings. The problem came, just as it came for many, when the key hitters for the Mets began to phone it in. The Yankees pressed, and the Mets gave way. When it doesn't come easy to these Mets, it falls apart and they go home. Even if the Phillies collapse completely, as they have lost 8 of their last 9 and the Braves fail to put up a fight, I don't think the Mets have the fight to make it out of the first round of play-offs. The Yankees on the other hand, don't relax or give up. That even showed in the day game.
The fans at the game last night were great. Trying to cheer for each team throughout. When either stadium is full here in NY, there is an electricity that is unmatched, and events like the Subway Series guarantee excitement. I only saw one fight as well, and I think that was between two Yankee fans so had little to do with the rivalry. When a "Let's go Yankees" cheer got going though, rather than countering with a "Let's go Mets", fans chose to use the "Yankees suck" response. If the Yankees suck when they are up 7+ runs, what does that say about the Mets? Guess it says the Mets suck more, and they have classless fans. The other response I heard was a chant of the afternoon games score, which is not only living in the past, but opens the door for a "26 rings" response. If we are living in the past then the Yankees have everyone beat. The only response to a "let's go Yankees" is a much much louder "lets go Mets" or else Mets fans are just bitter. Not how any group of fans wants to show themselves, is it?
Shawn Chacon June 27, 2008, 3:55pm So, with the announcement that Shawn Chacon was about to be put on waivers, many fans from around baseball probably thought, "Great, let's get him!" I thought he would be a good fit, until I read quite a few more details about the actual altercation, and the other events of the week, I can't imagine any club will want to give him a chance. Not only did Chacon push the GM to the ground, twice, in front of the entire team, he earlier in the week turned his back on his pitching coach while on the mound, and then later walked away from his manager in the clubhouse. No organization can allow a player to be that disrespectful to those in power. Buster Olney, in an article on ESPN, said that he heard this was an example of tension in the clubhouse, but problems like that can be addressed by grown men going to the person above the pitching coach. When someone doesn't go through appropriate channels but is willing to let things boil to the point where altercations like this are possible, then that isn't really the employee anyone wants. Sidney Ponson got into a screaming match with his GM, and was released. The screaming was overheard but the whole act didn't happen in front of the clubhouse, it also didn't include anything physical, so it can be written off to a personality conflict, where emotions got out of hand. In the case of Chacon, the player was asked to come and deal with the situation as a grown man, as any employee would. He refused. Then he proceed to escalate the situation to the point where he lost control, and he did it in front of the other employees. Doesn't matter if Chacon can still pitch, without some act of contrition on his part, a General Manager that claims him off of waivers is simply saying, come pitch, and if I upset you, feel free to disrespect me in front of your teammates, because honestly, I don't respect myself.
For what this means to the Houston organization, I have to point you to Richard Justice who has a message for Drayton McLane. The interesting thing about the article is it could also be Peter Angelos he is talking to. Think about Miguel Tejada for both fo them.
Dial-up has killed my spirit June 27, 2008, 8:25am I'm away from home but heading back later today. Trying to blog this morning though has been an exercise in frustration, as I want to read about all the good stories, Shawn Chacon screaming at Ed Wade, Brian Runge getting suspended etc etc, except it takes so long for the pages to load, I managed to fold a load of laundry, shower and dress, and I still couldn't get to the actual story from the Houston Chronicle. So, all that being said, if you have checked in this morning for something new, I am afraid to say that I need to ask you to come back later. I will get a fresh post up mid-afternoon. Thanks for your patience. In the meantime, don't forget to peruse the message board. Its got some great threads going, and we are on pace to break our previous high record for pageviews. What's the problem? Not enough of you are sharing your thoughts... so get to posting!
Exciting game in Toronto! June 26, 2008, 10:55am First an apology. Yesterday, I was rushed, too rushed to take some time and really sort out the key points about the game at Shea, I wrote completely on emotion. Those emotions were fuzzy and dissatisfied, and so you all got a post that was exactly that, fuzzy and dissatisfied. I will work on not repeating that problem in the future. Part of the reason I was rushed was that I am in the process of moving, and rather than move everything at once, its happening piecemeal, not what I consider the best way to do things, but necessary on this particular go round nonetheless. So after the truck was packed with the big furniture, we headed out for a long drive, and under the cover of darkness sought out a number of games on the AM radio dial. (Can you still call it a dial?) Of course, the Mets and Yanks were of interest, but early big leads, and failing reception created interest in looking for other games. For a bit we listened to the Nationals/Angels game, but that could only hold interest for a bit. The Red Sox game came in for moments, but really not long enough to follow, and finally we found the Toronto/Cincinnati game, where, it was tied 5-5 in the 7th. Actually, Marco Scutoro had tied it for the Jays in the 6th. Roy Halliday was still pitching, his last batter as it would turn out was Griffey Jr. who had hit a two-run shot earlier in the game, his 602nd of his career. David Weathers came in for the Reds in the bottom of the 7th, loaded the bases on 3 pitches, then managed to get to get three outs, including a pitcher to catcher to first DP, to keep the game tied. We listened to the game, moving back and forth between the others as reception became necessary, as the game went through the 8th, 9th and finally entered the 10th. We pulled into our destination, just as the signal faded, and so we had no idea how it ended, much like the way we really had little idea how it had begun. This morning though I turned to Hal McCoy to find out, much like I did when I was a girl that had gone to bed before the final out. McCoy's game story fills in the blanks, neatly and concisely, and adds some flavor, just so you know how Dusty Baker felt about having to face Roy Halliday. It was nice to know the Reds won, and that we hadn't missed to much more as we settled in for the night.
Worst Baseball Game I have ever seen June 25, 2008, 9:35am So last night I was at Shea, and though I hate to use this space to talk about the Mets one more minute, I have to rant a bit about what I believe was honestly the worst baseball game I have ever seen. The Seattle Mariners, the worst team in baseball, could have been playing themselves and it would have been more exciting and honestly felt like it meant more. Oliver Perez body language from the start looked like he wanted to be any place but on the mound, and if it started that way, it never got any better. I was excited to see the knuckle baller, R.A. Dickey pitch, and he was something to see. After Jose Reyes first at bat, which was might quick, he exchanged words with Castillo, something I'm sure like "I have no idea what I just swung at." Castillo's at-bat had him flailing at pitches that started low and jumped up as only a knuckle ball can do. There wasn't much patience, though, again with a knucle baller there can't be. Any pitch can start way high and drop or low and bounce up. Dickey was also a little wild, and may have even hit Perez in his first at-bat, though the umpire said it hit his bat. In the fourth with the Mets trailing, Carlos Beltran questioned a call, and instead of just telling him to get back in the box, the umpire, in the middle of the at-bat walks around to dust off the plate, to make sure he makes his point to Beltran. After quite a few earlier questionable calls, Jerry Manuel went out to discuss the situation with Runge and Runge takes off his mask and steps into Manuel, and then ejects Manuel for contact! Beltran was ejected soon after, and then the Mets went back to sleep. Perez pitched one more inning, but was no better, and Claudio Vargas came into the game and gave up four more runs. The Mets were lifeless and miserable throughtout. Made me a little angry I had spent money and time. At least I got to see the knuckleball. I sure liked it more than the Mets. Final Line Score: 11 15 1 0 8 1
For the part of R.A. Dickey though, the game was fantastic. A knuckleballer is such a treat to see since it is unlike any other kind of pitch, and when its effective, you literally watch hitters make fools of themselves. Sure the umpire helped him out a bit, but the knuckle is so hard to control, no really knows where it will go. This John Hickey game story from the Seattle P-I is mostly about Dickey and his best start in ages. Dickey had spoken to Tim Wakefield the 41 year old knuckler from Boston and gotten some advice and the advice truly shut down the already anemic Mets offense. The M's have now won their first two consecutive games since late May, and I say good for them. Their shake-ups in the past two weeks have taken their toll, and I bet its nice to get off the west coast and come to a city where the teams have more problems than they have. The Mariners need to run into a team like the Mets. Can they come back from their awful start? Highly doubtful. The A's and Angels would have to have major collapses, which is unlikely in the same season. But to pull themselves out of the cellar for a team expected to contend would be huge. Leave the worst record in baseball to the Washington Nationals.
Adam Dunn June 24, 2008, 2:00pm I keep hearing callers into talk radio stations and seeing posts on message boards saying their team should trade for Adam Dunn. Don't get me wrong, the boy can hit things far, but other than that the guy is useless for a team. He's a good guy, I've met him a couple of times, in social situations. The guy is pretty harmless, and if you didn't know would think he's the guy kept in the frat because he can carry two kegs at once. But for anyone who has watched him play, you know he can't catch, and considering he is an ex-football quarterback, he can't throw. He can't situationally hit. He isn't patient at the plate, unless someone tells him to be. He's a great guy to hang around, but he doesn't work at his craft. In fact, from what I hear, he doesn't even know its a craft. While he has become good friends with Ken Griffey Jr., he doesn't take the game nearly as seriously, doesn't work at it at all. I have wondered out loud with mutual acquaintances about how he could watch Griffey, a true natural, work so hard and not even want to try to keep up. Yet he doesn't. So when JP Ricciardi said he wonders if Dunn still wants to play, there is a reason why-- because he doesn't seem to want to play. What's kind of interesting is this story by John Fay from the Cincinnati Enquirer which basically says Walt Jocketty isn't going to say anything about Dunn, and it points out a few reasons why. First, he doesn't want to put down his own player, who he may want to resign. Second, he doesn't want to build up his own player to other teams that may want to sign him. Third, he doesn't want to warn other teams against taking him if they can trade him. Really a lame story, but sometimes you just need to fill space on the off day. Still, if you want Dunn, just be careful what you wish for.
Staten Island Yankees June 24, 2008, 10:07am You may have noticed that a couple of our columnists also work for the Staten Island Yankees. In honor of that fact, I thought I would make a quick post to link to SIyanks.com so you can take a look at their schedule and find out more about the team. The SI Yanks are one of the few minor league teams owned by their affiliated Major League club. If you live in the area you gotta go check out the team. Great place to watch a game. Here is a photo taken last year. See what I mean?
Other lessons from baseball June 23, 2008, 12:10pm Since we are so concerned with winning, at least in this thread on the message board, I thought I would post this newsletter bit from the The Newberg Report written by Jamey Newberg about the Texas Rangers. Jamey, from time to time shares stories of his son Max, who played his first year of T-ball this spring. The following is today's email post. The photos that appear in his original email, I have not added.
This weekend was the final one of a three-year-old's first T-Ball season.
And the first of a big league career [for Max Ramirez of the Rangers].
The Jr. T-Ball Rangers had no win-loss record, no scoreboards, no batting averages, no stakes. The idea was for the kids to learn the game, to learn to be teammates, to learn that they can do this.
The objective is very different at the major league level, where I suspect a rookie going 0 for 3 isn't too deflated since, when you boil it down, he not only was a big leaguer for the first time but also contributed to a team that won a game, something that we hope our kids will learn to appreciate and value as they grow. Baseball is a game that teaches about failures, about missed chances, about losses and how to handle them and put them behind you.
Is it better to go 3 for 4 and have your team lose, or 0 for 3 in a win? Somewhere along the line the latter becomes more important.
As Max and I watched today's Rangers game on TV, my excitement as I sat forward on the couch to watch a young player's first major league at-bat was matched by my son's excitement that number 51 shared his first name.
Max Newberg was disappointed when Max Ramirez's eight-pitch at-bat in the second inning ended in a strikeout, but there are no worries. There will be plenty more Ramirez at-bats, and another T-Ball season before we know it.
When C.J. Wilson coaxed that game-ending double play, one Max jumped from his seat on the couch and the other, I suspect, jumped from his seat on the bench, and any disappointment over the end of a T-Ball season or over an 0 for 3 was momentarily forgotten, I'm sure.
As the baseball education continues, and Max and I talk about understanding that the best hitters get out more than they don't, about shaking off an error and getting ready to make the next play, and about having his teammates' backs, I'm not sure I'll be able to come up with a good answer for why he shouldn't be disappointed when a season comes to an end, or when the schedule says that the big league team he cares about so much isn't playing the next day. I guess the response is that disappointment is OK (it would be hypocritical for me to suggest otherwise), but mix in a little patience and everything will work out.
We'll probably fill the time Monday night by having a catch in the front yard. Maybe even a little BP, with a new Rangers hitter for him to imitate
Though baseball is about winning and losing, it has a few more things to offer, for that I am very thankful.
George Carlin on Baseball June 23, 2008, 11:50am With George Carlin's passing, I thought I would post this very funny bit about the differences between football and baseball. Tip of the cap to you, Mr. Carlin--the first commedian I ever thought was funny enough to remember his name.
The Giants and The Royals June 23, 2008, 10:25am Did anyone who doesn't have Tim Lincecum o their fantasy team see the Giants/ Royals game yesterday? Lincecum pitched, and the Giants scored 10 runs behind him, that's run support the phenom pitcher has not experienced this season. The shocking part is he didn't get the win, because after being up 10-3 through 5 innings the wheels fell off for the Giants and the Royals came back to win. The good thing is that many Giants were coming off of bad hitting streaks and seemed to break out of those slumps. The problems though began when Lincecum ran into trouble in the 4th and 5th innings and his pitch count reached 109. Yes, I know, pitch counts are ridiculous, but he was in the 5th inning. He ended up giving up 5 runs, three in the third, and then two more before he was pulled. The bullpen came in and handed the game back to the Royals. Well, that's probably not fair. There are 9 players on the field. The great thing is, 2-3 years ago, the Royals just give up after being down 7 runs, now they battle back. Its a change that is great to see. Sure, neither team is a play-off contender, and there was some terrible baseball being played by both teams, but I the Royals are still moving along. Come from behind wins are things teams can build on, can use to work towards winning. They raise your belief in yourself and in your teammates and teach you that you can overcome odds, a point David DeJesus makes in this Sam Mellinger piece. And the Royals have come a long way since they shed their last great player in Carlos Beltran in 2005. They have two young pitchers that could be formidable competitors in Greinke and Hochevar, if both continue to develop, and no one lets them get too used to losing. Brian Bannister is a heck of a back-end of the rotation guy as well. They have some young hitters in Alex Gordan and Billy Butler, who have a ways to go, but still have time on their side. They also have Mark Teahan and David DeJesus who won't be perennial All-Stars but certainly have enough talent to help a team compete, and lastly they have what could be the next great closer in Soria. Every scout I speak to salivates just a bit when his name is mentioned. Are they going to make it back into contention this year? Nope. But, they depending on the rest of the AL Central, they could very well be the surprise of 2009. The Giants are a lot further away from contention, unless they decide to spend like crazy. Maybe, in a couple of years, I will turn hopeful for them too.
Adam Rubin is a genius! June 22, 2008, 12:22pm This could be the best newspaper piece I have seen since I started doing the blog. Adam Rubin manages in one article to not only shed a huge amount of light on the goings on in a clubhouse, but also to shed light on the natural bias of beat reporters. The piece, which is essentially about the so-called rift that exists in the Mets clubhouse because of ethnic origins and, heaven forbid, diversity, really is fiction. Does everyone love each other? That would be hard to believe. Do we all love all of our co-workers? But this myth of disdain that has erupted on talk-shows lately isn't based in fact, its based on quite a few pieces of information that have been strung together. Rubin's stories about Ollie Perez being teased after a post-game interview when his English isn't very good, as well as reporters who are seeking out the good quote and may not be patient enough to get one from someone who has trouble speaking English shed a lot of light. Most reporters deadline is midnight, so if the game ends at 11 or later, that's a lot to get done in a short amount of time. Look at stories the day after a very late game... rarely will you actually see a quote from a player that wasn't given before the game. I also have to say, I'm surprised the Daily News published this story, as it doesn't stir up controversy. Of course, it does put down the main competition for sports information, talk radio, which helps the Daily News. Still, this piece is insightful and informative with many different points of view, something I find the News rarely does without also inciting. Well, that's more than I thought I would post today, but I think we got some good stuff. I'll keep my eyes peeled for some other stories from around baseball, and outside of New York.
Quick piece on Ozzie June 22, 2008, 11:50am Probably too much New York Times, but Karen Crouse writes a pretty good bio piece on Ozzie Guillen, something that I thought some of our White Sox fans might enjoy seeing, as it comes from outside Chicago. It also gives a good enough picture that you can see why Ozzie will never be fired, at least not for anything to do with his managing...maybe for something he says. Konerko is the telling piece... "play hard and show up on time." Can't fire a guy who just expects that of you and calls you on it when you don't do it. The Seaver/Fisk story is golden too... though Crouse could do a better job of explaining how Ozzie scored the winning run in a 4-1 game... was it the second run? the last run? I don't understand. Still, a nice picture of Ozzie.
Like 1976 or maybe 1999 June 22, 2008, 11:35am So the Reds have taken two games from the red-hot Yankees, someone wrote to me yesterday to say it reminded them of 1976... if only it were true. I had to point out the Reds pitching is much better this year than it was in 1976. Well, the game may have reminded this friend of mine of 1976, but Friday's game reminded the New York Times' Jack Curry of 1999, when Jolbert Cabrera started a spring training game against the bombers. You might remember it, not for Cabrera, but for the pitcher that allowed the base-hit because he didn't cover first--that "fat, pussy toad"--Hideki Irabu. What's great is this blog post links back to Curry's original story, which not only talks about the play, but also about the crazy whims of George Steinbrenner on that day. Don't you miss George? Hank is trying, but really not quite the same. Imagine of the the fat toad had been hurt covering first, do you think we would have heard George say that's an antiquated idea and pitchers shouldn't run... like in the National League? I do miss George. And to bring my morning full circle, I want to ask Al, who wrote the most fantastic rant to me about Willie, his firing and George and Yankee fans to post a version to the message board, or to at the very least drop me another note with his email address, and permission to quote it. Truly brilliant. Anyone else got a rant? Don't be shy. Think of it as contributing to the success of LoveMyTeam... we need your voice!
Cito Gaston June 21, 2008, 9:35am With John Gibbons being fired yesterday, something everyone saw coming, even before the fates of Willie Randolph and John McLaren were clearly visible, I, like the Blue Jays, turn to Cito Gaston. In this message board thread, we have been bouncing around the top 5 best and worst present MLB managers. That list changed a bunch this week, as a few of the worst picks have been let go. But in the thread there has been some banter (and hopefully you all will take a look at share your two cents, even if its already been said) about what makes a good manager. In this Dave Perkins piece, he points out that Gaston may not have been the best X's and O's manager in his two World Series championship run, but he was a great motivator, getting guys to play past their potential. In some ways its a shame for the Jays that this move didn't happen weeks ago. The Yankees were stumbling, and the Red Sox had a full disabled list. Now, both are starting to pick up steam, and will be much harder to conquer. A couple of weeks ago, there would have only been the Rays and Orioles to worry about, and we all know the Orioles are the rightful owner of last place in the AL east. Even if the timing isn't perfect, Cito is the right choice, even if he was already fired once by the organization. Why? Because he is the guy who brought the 1989 team to the post-season even though they were 12 under .500 when he arrived. That's managing. And if you are the guy that did it once, you are the voice that can remind anyone that it can be done again. The Blue Jays are that good, they just don't seem to know it. Cito will remind them.
John McClaren June 20, 2008, 9:30am So the Mariner's finally made the last move they could make before completely dismantling the team, and that was fire the one person that still had any kind of passion that was wearing a M's uniform. McLaren lost his job, according to David Andriesen because the team needed a new voice. Maybe it did. And maybe these piecemeal firings were steps towards awakening some sleeping talent, but I'm not sure that's really possible. The article points out that it might be a funny message to fire everyone besides the players to send that message, but as we all know, the worst thing that will happen to the players is they will get sent to play for a contending team that needs a missing piece. They aren't going to be released into oblivion. What's amazing is that the Mariners are still 5th in attendance in the American League, which says that no matter how badly they do, the team is still making money... so there isn't that much pressure to turn the thing around. They can always just try to unload as much as possible, and, well, punt. When I first heard about the McLaren firing, I thought why bother? The team is in last, its probably not climbing out of last, why waste the money. But, interim GM Lee Pelekoudas though made a great point that maybe a new voice can get some of these players to respond so we can see what we have. What he didn't say was that maybe the new voice can get the players to respond so other teams can see what we have and give us a ton for them.
Bill Bavaisi, the former GM for the M's was fired earlier in the week, and though perhaps honest in his responses seemed to throw his players under the bus, particularly Erik Bedard. Bedard is not well liked in the pacific northwest these days, as he actually asked to come out of a game because his pitch-count reached 100. The great quote when Bavasi was asked about that was "You gotta ask him. Good luck. And he's gonna have some stupid answer, some dumbass answer." Maybe Bedard was unhappy because he actually found himself traded to a team worst than the Orioles. Hard to believe but true. But Bavasi didn't show too much class making statements like that on his way out the door. Bavasi may have the same last name as his father, but clearly not the same amount of class. After all, no one can be blamed for Bedard but Bavasi. The good news is that the culture in the Northwest will change, and there is even talk of Kim Ng, the very talented asst. GM in the Dodgers organization getting a chance at the job. Is it pure feminism that gets me excited about such a thing? No, not really, though I am sure there is a touch of that. But, the day a woman moves into one of these positions is the day that the "you had to play the game to understand" mentality begins to go away. Ng is super-talented, having worked in the Yankees organization along-side of Gene Michael while he built the 1996 team. She moved to the Dodgers when Cashman ascended to the GM role in New York, and has been up for a few other GM jobs over the years. The Mariners job might be the best fit for her though, because Seattle is known for its liberal outlook, so might just support the M's because of a ground-breaking move like hiring a woman. The expectations are low at this point, so it would be hard to fail, and truthfully, if she does, she is in the Northwest with little news coverage so its doubtful it will be the lead story on Sportscenter ever. Of course, the other candidate who has been up for quite a few jobs, and probably is next in line to get a GM job is the Indians asst. Chris Antonetti, who by all accounts is one of the most talented men in baseball. Hopefully, in this search, the Mariners take their time, and get the right person, not the right name.
Chicago Broadcasters June 19, 2008, 9:35am OK, so one of these days, I am going to rate all the coverage of a baseball team by the local newspapers... because it always surprises me when I city loves its teams, but the coverage is poor, like Chicago. I went hunting for a 'Zambrano is hurt, how will the Cubs hold on story' but couldn't find it. I did find a semi-interesting rating of the local broadcast teams written by Teddy Greenstein who doesn't look old enough to know who Ryne Sandberg is, let alone Ron Santo. Nonetheless, I like the piece and what he points out as each team's strength. I haven't heard each team, so I can't tell if all his points are valid, but I know a few Chicago fans who read this will let me know if its way off base. His description of Santo though, could be any aging broadcaster... think we all know that guy. Bob Murphy was like that for the Mets for years. The Yankees have the worst guy, who doesn't have the excuse of being infirmed in anyway. Still, amazing the voices that we grow accustomed to. Again, as the summer moves on, I am going to spend some time with this subject, as I think the newspaper and the broadcast teams are the keys to keeping fans involved with the teams. I spend so much time on New York teams, not just because I live there, but because there are 7 major papers that cover the teams so there are a lot of interesting angles. Most cities couldn't support that many papers, but if they covered the team just a little bit better their one paper might actually sell better. That's my two cents.
A little more on the NY teams....sorry June 19, 2008, 9:05am OK, the Yankees have to be out of their mind to sign Sidney Ponson again...makes me sick, but hey, he doesn't like playing in the NL either. As for the Mets, Filip Bondy writes a telling piece about Manual's first night on duty, and Ken Davidoff'sblog post from today. Also, take a look at Davidoff's column about Tony Bernazard. Davidoff ca be a little snarky too, but if he is writing about his skepticism about Bernazard then most likely the slant isn't too far off-base. That being said, I am not convinced about his feelings about the Rally Monkey.
C.C. Sabathia and the Indians position June 18, 2008, 10:20am Well, despite Asst. GM Chris Antonelli's hopeful spin that the Indians are still in the running for a chance at the AL Central title to Paul Hoynes the chances with the injuries they have sustained that they really have a chance are slim. The Indians do have some talent squirreled away, especially in the pitching dept, but still. That makes GM's Mark Shapiro look more like the guy who is really giving the clear answer to Ken Davidoff. Davidoff throws out a few more options to land Sabathia than Hoynes, though I think Hoynes has the choices pretty well nailed. I also like the Hoynes, for his local readers gets the quote comparing this potential deal to that of the Bartolo Colon trade a few years ago. It was to Montreal, a team that was fighting to stay in existence, and made my a GM who was trying to show he was relevant and had the power to make such a deal-- Omar Minaya.
Quick overview of the sports world June 18, 2008, 9:50am Well, I have been too focused on the Mets, though with what has gone in the last week, I'm sure I am not alone. You couldn't make that stuff up. Omar's hand may have been forced to fire Willie late at night because other members of the Mets organization were busy dancing on Willie's grave to reporters, but if so, Fred Wilpon should be getting rid of those "other members" whether they are related to him or not. Classless. Anyway, to hit on every other recent sports story, including inter-league in the Bay area, I turn to the The Betting Fool, a part time columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Though not straight journalism, his opinion speaks for what many in that part of the country, shoot what many sports fans are thinking. Especially when it comes to the crazy outburst (maybe I should say craziest outburst) by Hank Steinbrenner that the National League should join the 21st century by getting a DH so pitchers don't have to run the bases. How about making sure your pitchers are in good enough shape and are experienced enough at -- "running"-- to run the bases. His other points about the Giants and A's are right on as well. The Giants are clearly anemic and are playing some guys who shouldn't have made it out of AAA, while the A's are in trouble because they use their tarp to cover seats, not the infield. (To be clear, the A's decided a couple of years ago not to sell up deck seats, to keep the fans close together and to save money on opening concessions and hiring ushers. They now sell the advertising rights produced on a tarp that covers the upper deck and can be seen by any air traffic flying over. That's how poor their attendance is.) Anyway, I think many of my readers will enjoy this column. It certainly made me giggle more than once, as The betting fool is someone we all have watched a game with.
Omar, Willie and Jerry Manuel June 17, 2008, 10:50am Got a little bit of late start this morning after a rough nights sleep, but having been greeted with the news that the Mets have finally fired Willie, there can be no other place to start. I should also note that, Lee Lowenfish sent me an early note telling me to go easy on Jerry Manuel, so even though I don't feel he is significantly different than Willie, I won't even get into whether he is the right person for the job or not. I just have to take Omar to task for the way he has handled this. Ridiculous. Why would you make Willie fly to Anaheim to be fired. Classless, and if Willie deserved anything, it was to be treated as well as possible in his lowest moment. Perhaps the Mets needed to wait for the the replacements from the minors to make their way to Anaheim and for their replacements to make their way to the respective affected minor league teams. Still, letting Willie dangle like this for days, with reporters circling and perhaps snickering is unforgivable. The good news is that this is on Omar now. Willie can no longer take the blame and if Manuel isn't the answer it will show exactly where the blame should fall. Did I understand the a change had to occur? Yes, I felt something had to happen, but when it didn't happen after Friday, and the GM started making moves to fill holes, I thought that would obviously be preferable. This is just ridiculous. It almost seems to me that Willie finally was fired because Omar had told someone that he was going to do it, and didn't want to look like he was a liar or a coward. Dan Lerner shares my thoughts on the replacements, so I will let him say it. (Sorry Lee.)
I want to throw one more concept out there that fans need to remember. Though this season was about the play-offs and getting to the World Series for most Mets fans, for the Mets it was about something else. With the economy heading into the tank at the same time as the Mets and Yankees are opening a new stadium, and the new Meadowlands is being built and the Nets are getting a new stadium, the Mets are worried about their ability to sell all those luxury boxes that they have built in that other ballpark going up outside the outfield fence. The Mets ability to win, to be decisive to fix the perceived problems and to create an exciting product is essential for selling that new stadium to the major corporations that they had expected to be able to sell it to. With each loss, or with each negative appearance on the back pages of the tabloids, that gets harder. If you are a decision maker and can spend millions of dollars on one luxury box, why would you pick to spend it at CitiField, rather than the Yankees or wait for the Meadowlands stadium to open. It's as simple as that. Now, I don't see this firing as being a positive for selling seats, but that is because the GM only understands the baseball side of it. Funny enough, I was speaking with an Asst. from the Orioles org yesterday, and he made the point the GM used to be the top guy in the organization, the decision-maker. Now he is the #5 guy at best, and few understand that. Let's be clear. The guy in charge of selling out Citi-field is higher on the totem pole and more important to the team than Omar Minaya. And Omar knows it.
Sabathia June 16, 2008, 11:25am With Chien-Ming Wang going down yesterday, the Yankees got in the mix with Sabathia. They probably already had a scout in Cleveland yesterday, but now C.C.'s great start become more important to the bombers... and to Cleveland. Here is Paul Hoynes game story, which highlights the positions Sabathia and Cleveland are in.
Earnie Harwell Spins tale of fired Managers June 16, 2008, 10:55am Here is Ernie Harwell tells about some memories of fired managers that he saw through his many years in baseball. Some good stories.
On Willie June 16, 2008, 9:55am So Willie Randolph made it threw one more day with his job in tact, and even showing some guts by pinch-hitting a journeyman catcher who hasn't had a hit in the majors in years. The team is turning it around, as they even started to rally back in the late innings something we haven't seen from this team since 2006 really. I have gone back and forth about whether to fire Willie, not that I believe there is a viable replacement (certainly not worth the bother if Jerry Manual is the choice), nor it it his fault. On occasion I have thought something needs to change, and since the manager is the available piece, it might have to be him. The truth is this whole thing has been handles poorly by the team. The team didn't play well this weekend to save Willie's job, and he didn't make smarter moves because he was worried about his job. He is a competitor and expects to be able to win every game. In some ways, I think he pinch hit Cancel, the journeyman catcher, to say to the team, "You gave me these players-- I'm using them the best way I can." And he is right. Why bring Cancel up, especially in the place of Moises Alou, if you don't see a need for him to be there. Willie uses the guys he has, and most likely, he uses them in the role for which the GM has told him to. Sure, its Willie's discretion in the moment, but when the team was built, the front office, above Willie, made a plan for the team. This is your right hand off the bench, this is your long man in the bullpen, this is your 7th inning guy, this is your LOOGY. Willie doesn't have to stick to the plan, but if you don't have a clear option of another route to go why would you go that way. Its like being late to a meeting in a city you haven't been to. You are driving and stuck in traffic. You have no map. You have driven the way you are going a few times and its been fine, but this time its not working, do you get off the highway and try to find your way? Sometimes you might, but if you encounter trouble at every turn, don't you find your way back to the familiar in case its still the best way? You can mix up the bullpen, but if every option is unreliable, why not stick to the mapped out plan. The move to get Trot Nixon was a step in the right direction to give Willie the support he needs to fix the problems. I championship caliber team can't be getting by for long periods with more than one of Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis, Angel Pagan or Chris Aguila in the line-up. One maybe, but not two or three. In related news, John Harper makes the point today that the Wilpons are playing a game with Willie, leaking news that they intended to fire him no matter what over the weekend to the press on Friday and then not following through. Willie, or some of his coaches may still be fired this week... but that really is a bad way to manage any kind of business, let alone one where public opinion is so important. No one wants to make a bad decision, so instead lets leak the decision and see what happens? Harper's point that this wouldn't be happening across town is partially valid. Instead of leaking the story with no name behind it, a Steinbrenner, either George or Hank, would have told the reporter to quote him. That's not to say it wouldn't change the next day, its just that the rumor would have come from a clear source. Joe Torre always knew who was saying what. Willie Randolph doesn't have the luxury of honestly knowing who is in his corner and who is not. Reporters that I know were going on the radio, both ESPN and WFAN, and saying 100% Willie would be fired by Monday. Its Monday, and Willie is in Anaheim. Its just been handled so poorly, its shocking. I want to tip my cap to Willie playing the cards he has been dealt so gracefully. Lets' see if the Wilpons, the older of which is considered one of the classiest men in baseball, can be just as classy.
Updated at 10:10am-- One more article which has some great quotes from players about the Willie situation by Tara Sullivan. Its definitely worth the read.
The Tribe June 15, 2008, 12:15pm So, the two teams I havn't written about much this season, though I had a ton of fun writing about them last season are the Tigers and the Indians. Well, that's going to change very soon. They both have been terribly disappointing, but the season is still young I say! The White Sox, as strong as they have been thus far, are old and could very well break down the second half. So now that I can let go of the NL West-- see post below-- I can focus a little more on the AL Central. I'm starting today by sharing this nice, glass half full post from The DiaTribe, blog for the Indians. It will catch you up quickly on the Indians woes, without falling into 'the all sucks why should I care trap.'
Mrs. Met and Tom Terrific June 15, 2008, 11:30am So, one of my neighbors at Shea has long pondered the question of where is Mrs. Met. Mr. Met often has a young Met with him, and so the question comes-- Where is Mrs. Met. (I've taken to calling her Annie Met.) Its a question for the ages, I know you are thinking. But, recently, my business manager found this fine link to a petition to bring back Mrs. Met and the kids (plural) that appeared in an ESPN ad in 2003. Now I am not sure if the organizer of this petition is still watching it, but I thought it was worth a post, since I have heard the query more than once about the whereabouts of Mrs. Met.
Last Mets bit for today, Steve Serby has a terrific interview with Tom Seaver.
NL West June 15, 2008, 11:05am Happy Father's Day! So back in spring, I, along with most of the baseball community, went as far as to say the NL West was going to be one of the toughest divisions in baseball. In part, that is still true, since they are having a tough time among themselves, but really, they are all showing themselves to be quite week. At Shea last week I was asked if I thought the Cubs were the best team in the league, and I couldn't answer yes. The Mets, who are the best on paper were playing the Diamondbacks, and honestly both I thought could give the Cubs a run for their money. The Cubs pitching staff does little to impress me, and with Soriano going down, the Cubs are falling back to earth. Their offense has been carrying them for sure. The D'backs have little offense, but their defense and pitching is very strong, the type of team that can win in the post-season, and most likely against the other NL West teams because of the ballparks. According to John Shea the D'backs are only leading the West because the other teams are letting them. Arizona gained a half of a game in May-June despite going 17-24. Once you see that-- correction once I saw that--- I had to retract my thought that the Diamondbacks were the best team in the league. Their pitching staff is phenomenal, with the league's lowest ERA. Their bullpen is ranked 4th, according to Shea. So, as of June 15th, I formally retract the notion that the NL West will end as the toughest division, and return that title back to the East, for both leagues. I guess I am kind of happy about that, since it is easier to watch east coast ball when you live on the east coast... but I was looking forward to some new faces to root for as the season moved into Sept. The Diamondbcks, most likely, will win their division, but that could be by default rather than by a knock-out.
Here are two quick newspaper pieces that give you a lot of fun bits about the Yankees and the Mets of late. If you haven't heard, the Mets, instead of firing Willie, acquired Trot Nixon who had been toiling in the Diamondbacks minors. He really is a tough player, and as a former teammate of Pedro Martinez, really well suited for stepping into the Mets line-up. He may not be there for long, maybe Moises Alou will actually be healthy at the end of the month, but as someone who has won a ring, and has had to suffer through the Minor leagues after doing so, he might be just the voice called for in that clubhouse. This New York Times piece talks about the addition of Nixon and about the show the Rangers put on last night, despite the game being called. Please note they were out signing autographs in the rain, prior to sliding on the tarp. Even seen the Mets do that? The second new York Times article by Tyler Kepner takes a look at the biggest disappointment from my fantasy team... Robinson Cano. He's killing me, and of course the Yankees. Several folks who follow the team have mentioned that Cano might be a little lost without Larry Bowa kicking his a** all the time, and so I find it amusing that Cano points to Bowa as a teacher, explaining that his offense shouldn't affect his defense. Too bad fantasy baseball doesn't take into account defense. Too bad for me anyway. The Yankees still benefit from Robbi's glove. The second bit in this article though is about Johnny Damon switching to an ash bat instead of his maple. Maple bats have stirred a bit of controversy lately as they are breaking a lot, but also splintering which could be a huge hazard as pieces fly around the infield. Damon though has already broken two ash bats... so maybe they break just as much. No word on how they break in Tyler's note though.
Da Mets June 14, 2008, 1:55pm Sorry for the last post today, had some bigger issues with the LoveMyTeam domain name that have come up.... you may hear more about that in the week to come. Enough about that though, since I was at the Mets v. Rangers game last night, and it was an interesting experience. I have been looking for something positive to say about the Mets for days, and even started a messageboard thread, in hopes a Mets fans would help me out. I just hadn't found it. If you are not in New York, you may not have realized that all the talk yesterday was about the fact that Willie Randolph will be fired by Monday. Though Omar Minaya came out in the late afternoon and said he and ownership support Willie 100%, he wouldn't go so far as to say that wouldn't change in the near future. With the way the team has played, including 3 blown saves by Billy Wagner in his last three attempts, it was a morose day to go to a game. The fact they were playing the Rangers, with former Met manager Art Howe as bench coach and Mets Manager finalist Rudy Jaramillo as their hitting coach, the whole thing seemed downright ominous. Fans with regular season tickets to the game had a hard time giving those seats away last night. The regulars on each side of me, in fact didn't come, though the right side gave their tickets to an employee, a single mom with three kids. As I arrived, the guy behind me suggested that it was going to be a quiet night at Shea, but I suspected that he was wrong. I figured the boo-bird would be present and show themselves quickly. The boo-birds though didn't have much of a chance at the start. Oliver Perez, despite a solo home run to Josh Hamilton started strong, and the Mets came right back to score in the bottom of the first. The fans were cheering in support and it got loud quickly. The regulars around me and I had seen this before. A very positive start that dissolves into big comeback by the opposition, so I wasn't ready to buy in just yet. It isn't how you start its how you finish. So, I was happy to see the team hitting, not overly distracted by the events of the day, but I wasn't convinced that trouble was behind. Then, the lady with her kids came. Immediately to my right sat her oldest son, who was so into the game, with every strike the pitcher threw he counted down until there was an out. It was soon clear that he was mentally challenged, but that he knew his baseball. As each Met's name was called as they strolled to the plate he called out to them in excitement. He yelled "Rats" when they made an out. When his favorite, Carlo Delgado, came to the plate, he lit up even brighter. Whereas so many of us fans felt defeated with each step Delgado took towards the batters box, this young man saw hope. The negativity, the sense of inevitable defeat, that I as well as many around me felt coming into the ballpark didn't exist in this young man. He saw only opportunity. It didn't matter what the team did yesterday. It didn't matter that the Rangers were the best hitting team in baseball. It only mattered that the Mets could win, that the aging Delgado could hit the ball and get his second stand-up double in a week. And that got me clapping. He cheered with every prompt the team's scoreboard gave, and he got me doing the same. Sure, at first I did it to help him, but then slowly, as the game rolled along and Oliver Perez stayed on track, I bought into it. The cynic in me jetted away with the airplanes flying over head. The Mets held their lead, adding on as the game went along and for one night relief was in the air. I asked my neighbor to the left who this team was at the end of the game. They were a vision from 2006 in many ways, but the feeling I had, which came from this hopeful innocent to my right was also a feeling I hadn't had sitting at Shea since 2006. A streak is only as good as the next days starting pitcher, so who knows if the Mets will look the same today.... it will take a few more days of games like last night to save Willie's job, but for one night, for me and maybe for Willie, hope and joy came back to the Shea experience. Thanks to that young man, and his beautiful mother and to Sammy who gave them the tickets.
Pitcher's records June 13, 2008, 10:45am In that horrible season in 2003, pitcher Mike Maroth had a record of 9 and 21 for the Detroit Tigers. Though certainly embarrassing to have lost so many games, time and time again, the point was made that you have to be a good pitcher to lose 20+. Why would you say that? Because if you are that bad, the team will not let you start that many, they can find someone else who is at least as good. In Maroth's case, the team wasn't putting up enough runs for him to win, or was playing such bad defense that there was little way he could win much more. Sure. Maroth's ERA was over 5 that year, but think how errors are charged. If a player could have made the play he is given an error if he doesn't. If the player wasn't good enough to make the play, or was no where close, than its not an error...very arbitrary. So far this season, the two pitchers with the most losses are pretty darn good pitchers. Justin Verlander, you may have heard of the guy that won the Cy Young last year, and Joe Blanton of the Oakland A's both have 3- 9 records. Verlander's ERA is 4.65, while Blanton's is 4.23. Both are clearly on pace to lose 20+ games, but neither is completely responsible for that, since both are pitching behind anemic offenses. Both pitchers, I want to point out both lead their team's in innings pitched, so neither is getting pulled from the game ridiculously early. I also want to point out that the guy leading the AL in wins with 10, Cliff Lee, has pitched fewer innings than either Blanton or Verlnder. Wins are important. Keeping your team in the game is what determines if you are a good pitcher though, not the wins or losses. Its a very misleading stat, since it is carried around by the pitcher but it really represents the team effort. OK, so, this is just what those Baseball Prospectus guys have been saying for years... I know I'm not necessarily breaking new ground here... but with Blanton and Verlander leading the loss column, I don't think it hurts to pull it out again.
Oh Milton... June 13, 2008, 10:05am So, at this point everyone has heard about the fiasco in Kansas City involving Milton Bradley. It's National News in part because the guy who is leading the league in RBI's has done it again, he has proved he is the bad apple everyone has said he is. Last year he got it a fight with an umpire, who, if you remember was heard on a mic worn by the 1st base coach to bait the hot-tempered player. That's a fact that seems to be missing from all references to that incident in stories this week. Anyone who stirred up some trouble in their early 20's knows its hard to get rid of the reputation, so how is Bradley supposed to do that? Sure, he did run up 4 flights of stairs, and I have had some trouble walking up those 4 flights in the past, but if all the media, including the local media who have gotten to know you are only pointing out the bad stuff, how can anyone ever believe you are any different. Josh Hamilton, who could have the greatest story ever written, had the luxury of not having lived his mistakes in the newspapers as they were happening. They may have made a headline for a few hours on ESPN, but rarely did something happen that was talked about for days, as continues to happen to Bradley. OK, so it may sound like I am trying to tell you that Bradley is a great guy... which I am not. I am just saying that once someone gets that reputation, it becomes easier for reporters to continue to write that story, and much harder for them to look at any other angle. Ken Sherrington says that Ron Washington was surprised by how open and calm Bradley had been so far this season, but expected him to blow. Why didn't someone write the story about how calm Bradley had been? Why didn't they write about the support he had gotten from his teammates? Why did they have to wait for the other shoe to fall? See, I think, writers often look for the easy story, and unfortunately that shades our judgement. All the time, I hear stories portraying players in a bad light, yet you have to figure that was just a bad day, yet once a player shows a negative side in public, then you can no longer hear a good story. At the end of Sherrington's column there is a list of every public Milton Bradley incident, including dumping baseballs on the field. Lou Piniella has done far worse. If you strung my 10 worst moments together, the list might actually look worse, with the exception of the domestic violence assertion, which didn't even result in an arrest. OK, so I have gone on about this long enough. All I ask is that you read the negative stories about players and ask yourself why the writer is writing it. Is it to sell papers? Is it because its easy? Is it because everyone else is doing it, and so the writer (or the editor) doesn't want to seem out of touch or left behind? I often tell fans that if you think they are a bad guy, they probably are... but I also believe that we all need to give each other the benefit of the doubt.
Prospects June 12, 2008, 1:35pm Next week, former Catcher Eric Minshall joins the LoveMyTeam staff by contributing to the Love My Prospects section of the site. Until then I thought you might be interested in my recent interview with Dallas Trahern about his experience being drafted.
A few thoughts about the Red Sox June 12, 2008, 9:35am So, the Red Sox moved the time of their games up an hour this week so that they would not conflict with the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals. Great idea on one hand, as you know that they share fan bases, but on the other aren't you saying another sport is more important? Sure its the finals, and as Red Sox Nation is a pretty strong bunch, and the team certainly wants to support the city, but it still has been eating at me. I wonder how many fans with tickets didn't hear about the time change and showed up for a 7pm game? How about those fans that had to work until 5 and maybe couldn't get to the game in time for first pitch? Well it got me thinking, and I'm gonna start a thread on the message board about it. With that on my mind though, this morning, its interesting that everywhere I went there was something else interesting about the Red Sox. Big Papi for instance, became a US Citizen yesterday. I always find this fascinating when players become citizens, especially i the case of Ortiz, since they have the means to come and go as they please. Ortiz is married to a citizen and his children are citizens, so unless he commits a felony he isn't going anywhere. His kids are one of the reasons he mentions that it was important to do it though, and, well, I think its cool. The interesting thing in the article is how the representative from Immigration says that Papi received no special treatment, yet there was a chair reserved for him and luncheon thrown... ah well, its all how we define special I guess.
So, after finding that I go to Tyler Kepner's blog filled with some random thoughts about the A's. I disagree with his estimation of the elephant on the A's uniform, though agree wholeheartedly that the A's shouldn't have a black uniform. But, Tyler, too, mentioned the new rivalry between Curt Schilling and Kobe Bryant, which of course piqued my interest. I had to head to Schilling's blog and find out what the big mouth had said this time, and well, he did it about as tactfully as he could. He worked hard not to be critical, though Schilling can't help it. What seems to be the result? Kobe is now a Yankee fan.
On a last note, we are starting to expand out blogs listings for each team. Only the AL West is done so far, and hopefully we have managed to get some good sites up there, so take a look, and if you have some recommendations for good ones for your team, send them in!
All You Can Eat in the Twin Cities June 11, 2008, 5:10pm In keeping with Natalie's Spedaliere's recent front-office column, I thought I should point out that the Twins announced yesterday that they are adding six "All-You-Can-Eat" nights following the success of two earlier events this year. Featured menu items offered will include hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, soft pretzels, fountain soda and water.
The cost is $33 per seat, and $29 per seat for organizations purchasing 25 or more tickets. Tickets are available now at www.twinsbaseball.com/allyoucaneat or by calling 1-800-33-TWINS. The seats will be located in Upper Club sections 232 and 233, and will be limited to the first 600 tickets purchased for each game. The added dates are: * Monday, June 30 vs. Detroit Tigers 7:10 p.m.
* Tuesday, July 1 vs. Detroit Tigers 7:10 p.m.
* Monday, July 28 vs. Chicago White Sox 7:10 p.m.
* Tuesday, July 29 vs. Chicago White Sox 7:10 p.m.
* Monday, August 18 vs. Oakland Athletics 7:10 p.m.
* Tuesday, August 19 vs. Oakland Athletics 7:10 p.m.
Getting the Finger June 11, 2008, 11:12am Just got the heads up about this from Jamey Newberg of The Newberg Report. Jeff Wilson adds a note to the end of his game story which tells of a new practice going on in the Rangers dugout which may have helped them get back to .500 baseball. Here it is as reprinted from the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram.
Anytime a Rangers player does something extraordinary in the field or on the mound, they get the finger.
A foam finger, that is.
It was during a series against the Royals at the end of April with the Rangers struggling when Hank Blalock got the idea for some team spirit.
Maybe it's working. Since the finger's first appearance, the Rangers have gone 21-12.
The youngest player on the bench who's not playing that day is in charge of the finger.
If a stellar defensive play is made, that player is greeted with a finger in his face when he returns to the dugout, third-base coach Matt Walbeck said. The same goes for a pitcher who goes out and shuts down the other team.
The foam finger was in Brandon Boggs' locker before Wednesday's game, but he said he'll pass it over to David Murphy, who had the night off.
"There's no ceremony," Boggs said. "They just need to come get it and make sure it's down there. It's something that's fun and helps us loosen up in the field."
What if things go south?
"We don't think about that," Walbeck said. "We're not going there. For now, the finger is working."
PS- to the Isotopes story June 11, 2008, 11:00am Here is a great shot of Bobby Keppel taking his warm-up pitches.
Albuquerque Isotopes June 11, 2008, 10:45am Finally, I get to post about the Isotopes, one of the great names and logos in minor league baseball. The park itself, Isotopes Park is very nice, modern facility, rebuilt on the site of the old field and re-openeded in 2003. The amenities are top-notch. The food included classic baseball fare, and also local favorites including southwestern fare and desserts like ice cream and funnel cakes-- who knew they had left the fairgrounds? The night we were there was $.50 hot dog night.... and the turnout was great for a Monday night just about anywhere. The team sold 22,687 hot dogs to a crowd of 8,930 fans, so it seems as if the promotion was a success. The number of hot dogs sold may also have had something to do with the travel delay of the Round Rock Express, which had trouble getting all their players to Albuquerque due to flight delays because of weather. In the end, the team had to send the starting 9, three bullpen guys, 1 utility guy for the bench, and two coaches on one flight and leave all the rest behind in Dallas, hoping to get on the later flights. The few that did arrive, arrived late enough that the game had to be pushed back to a 7:40 start, from the original 7:10. This, I am sure you can imagine, gave folks plenty of time to stand in line for $.50 hot dogs!. As I am sure you can tell from the photo from Monday night, it is a lovely park, but what you can't see from that shot is the terrific setting. Past the right field wall are beautiful mountains, that change colors as the sun sets behind the 3rd base grandstand.
You can also see the outfield seating, which is set up just in front of an inflatable amusement section. The grass is tiered, as well, to create sort of a grand-stand feel, and perhaps also keeps folks from sliding on top of each other. Late in the game though, kids could still be seen rolling down the far right side, without a care in the world or for the action of the field.
The game it self was pretty good. The starting pitcher for the Isotopes was Bobby Keppel who never really hit about 92mph on any of his pitches but managed to keep Round Rock pretty much off the bases until the 6th inning when the game quickly fell apart. There was some sloppy defense on both parts, some guys calling for balls then stopping short in fear of collision before they caught it, that sort of thing. Keppel's opposing pitcher was Ron Chiavacci, a journeyman pitcher who has been around so long that the few scouts in attendance didn't even pick up their radar guns when he pitched. A couple of guys to point out in the game, JR Towles, catcher, who had just been sent down from the Astros to Round Rock, had a pretty good night going 3-5. He had struggled with the big club, but in his three games back with Round Rock, he has made some adjustments with his hands, and that has made some difference with his ability to make contact. David Newhan, formally of the Mets and Orioles, also was playing for Round Rock. In this night, he was OK, but despite his extended play with the Orioles only two years ago, he barely looked like he could play above AAA. Robert Andino, a highly touted Marlins prospect looked great, some great defensive plays at short, and some great at-bats. He, too had just come back from the big league club, and I think it showed. Both he and Towles really stood out in how they handled their at-bats, and took advantage of the pitcher. The controlled their own at-bats, something you didn't see with the players who hadn't had a taste of big-league pitching. Andino's problem is Hanley Ramirez, so either the team is going to have to move him in a trade, or move him to a new position. Hard to know which will actually happen. Jai Miller who is also one of the Marlins highly touted prospects looked good but raw. He runs like the wind, and made a few great catches in the outfield, but he often didn't get a great jump on the ball, so he needed to use his speed. His first at-bat was terrible, but he make adjustments and worked the counts later in the game. He is young, but as they say, raw. Here is one last shot of the park... it is a lovely place to watch a game. Go 'topes!
Jason Wood June 10, 2008, 10:40pm **Note: I wrote this in the am but couldn't get the wireless to work until I was home. Look for a longer post bout the Isotopes tomorrow, as well as the Mets game tonight. *** So, near the middle of the game, my business manager and I found ourselves sitting behind home plate, and in conversation with a lovely woman. It turned out that she was an Isotopes player's aunt. That player, Jason Wood, was drafted in 1991 by the Oakland Athletics, and didn't spend an entire year in the Majors until last year with the Florida Marlins. Though he's back in AAA, he's lucky enough to be close to family in Albuquerque, including this aunt and his biggest fan, his Great-aunt Ida. Ida, who is 92, attended 52 of Jason's games. When Jason won organizational and league awards through his minor league career, he gave them to Great-aunt Ida, to thank her for supporting him along the way. Of course, Ida was already a baseball fan, but not she listens to every game on the radio and follows the team closely. What's great is that the career minor-leaguer loves the game and appreciates the support of his family. While we are quick to look at the rising stars, coming through the system-- and I will be talking a little more about Dallas Trahern, a Marlins prospect in the coming days-- a look at a guy
who loves the game, like Jason does, serves as another kind of inspiration. He's a hard-working, family-loving player, and that is one that we should all be rooting for. Here is a photo.
Albuquerque Isotopes! June 9, 2008, 9:40pm Tonight, I am visiting the Isotopes, AAA team for the Florida Marlins. I'll be traveling tomorrow so at the mercy of airport wireless, but should get a blog post about the game up midday or so. The game was delayed 30 minutes because Round Rock Express, the AAA team for Houston owned by Nolan Ryan was delayed by poor weather in Dallas. Here though is a lovely pic of the ballpark to make your mouth water for more.
TV and Baseball June 9, 2008, 12:00pm Richard Justice made a great point about this push to have instant replay for home run calls in baseball. While it came to a head during a nationally broadcast game. most games are produced on the local level with the producer and announcers hired by the team. While the idea that an extra umpire sits in the press box and review the available game feed shot for the broadcast seems like a good idea, what happens when the producer decides not to show the definitive shot that goes against the team that pays his health insurance? The umpire can't know what footage has been shot... the umpire has to rely on the team to provide him with all the information to make that call. In football, the network is a neutral party, hired by the league. In baseball, that is not necessarily the case. That's why this is a strategy much easier to implement in the MLB post-season, since those are neutral broadcasters. Post-Season review may begin this season, but it will be a while before it carries to the regular 162.
Sir Sidney June 9, 2008, 11:55am I'm a little behind on commenting on Sidney Ponson's release, and normally I would just let it go, but I do want to say something before anyone starts to think the Ponson might be a great pick-up for their team. Evan Grant gives a run-down of Ponson's past poor choices, but I also have some personal experience on this one. One night in Minnesota when he was still with the Orioles he sat with me an two teammates, a broadcaster and a female guest of one of the teammates in the bar and spewed profanity about women. He even disrespected his mother and sister while claiming to be close to them. The other two players, also latin, tried to calm him and pull him back, but Sir Sidney kept on going. I can't quote him because the language was so offensive this website would have to begin requiring proof of age to read it. He showed me the big-talk "I dare you" bravado that seems to keep getting him in trouble, and with the way he treated what seemed to be the two guys who would hang out with him then and their guests, I wouldn't want him anywhere near my team. I wouldn't want kids watching him. I wouldn't want anyone cheering for him. The incident I am describing was a tiny moment, one of those that I would have held onto but never shared, had it not become completely apparent that he lacks respect for everyone, including himself. Hopefully, with his departure from the Rangers, we have seen the last of Sir Sidney.
The name on the uniform... June 8, 2008, 1:20pm Here is a story which may not get too much national coverage, but still has an interesting line. The Baltimore Orioles, in 1972 following the move of the second incarnation of the Washington Senators to Texas, removed the name Baltimore and added the nickname--Orioles-- to the front of their uniform. Yes, even back in 1972, the owner wanted to create an appeal to the larger Baltimore (meaning DC) region. With the return of baseball to Washington, there has been a small ground swell of support for the return of the cities name to the uniform. The team must petition MLB for that, and its doubtful, since their is now a team in DC, that the petition will be denied. Still, the team has yet to make the announcement. This Jeff Zrebiec article gives some background, and tells the story in more detail, and some local fan reaction. The older fans, the ones that remember the Frank Robinson years, and those early 70's teams are very excited about it. But David Steele writes an opinion piece about the fans who loved the team who aren't from Baltimore. The piece is not that well written, honestly, but it gets to the heart of falling in love with a team, and then having the team-- or even MLB-- tell you who you should actually extend your loyalty to. Sure the name on the uniform can't change the memories the team has given you, but there is something that feels more than a little ungrateful to have the team change that name... to cast away those fans, who may not be making their way to Camden Yards every night to watch losing baseball, but who remember the Oriole way and want to be able to return. It may sell more jerseys, but at what cost.
Draft Tidbits June 7, 2008, 12:50pm So, after perusing the stuff thats out there, I found a couple of draft stories/blogs/notes pieces that I thought would be fun. First, Tyler Kepner writes an overview of the Yankees and their first three picks, and truly shows the arrogance of how the Yanks go about the task. They will overpay whoever they sign, seemingly just to show everyone that they can. Its why agents try to make the first few players look like they will be difficult to get a contract done in hopes that the player might fall a bit, and then be picked by the Yankees. The agent has to be pretty sure though that its their guy who will fall, which means if Boras has one of the top guys, it most likely will be his fella that the Yankees take. Boras has fewer guys in the top 30 this year than in years past... perhaps a result of the bad press over the ARod opt-out deal. This is still one of those things that gives a big-market team a serious advantage. The Mets, across town, though, aren't given permission by ownership to go beyond the signing bonus recommendations given by the commissioners office, so they have to be a little more careful that the guy they draft in the first round will be happy with that number. The Kepner article also sells the Yanks draft choices, which is part of the scouting directors job. Can't wait to see how this all turns out.
Dan Connelly writes a quirky column about the Orioles last few #4 overall picks, as well as the last few #4 picks across baseball. The piece is all about coincidence, but still interesting, since the health track record for #4s is quite questionable. I'd be willing to be the track record for #1s, #2s and #3s follows a similar patter though. Baltimore took LHP Brian Matusz with their #4 overall pick.
The next best LHP was taken by the Rockies at #25. Patrick Saunders writes a story about that LHP, Christian Freiderich. Its pretty shocking that the second best lefty was around at #25, especially as a college pitcher, but it shows that the popularity of pitchers in the early rounds in the past few years really is starting to wane as teams are realizing there aren't enough quality infielders for 30 MLB teams. The Rockies definitely need pitching, as anyone who has been watching them this year can tell.
That's a manager! That's a player! June 6, 2008, 9:50am I haven't seen sportscenter in days... its what happens when you grow up around non-sprts folks and you have to spend 3 days staying their house. It seems rude when you rush to turn on their TV in the middle of a gathering, especially with folks who you actually aren't related to. (My sister is getting married, so there is much going on.) To give you a sense of it, yesterday my future brother-in-law asked me if the Dodgers were a National League team. Guess it should be a good sign he knew there were two leagues. All that being said, a reader noted on the messageboard this story about Charlie Manual benching Jimmy Rollins for not running out a pop-up which turned out to be misplayed. He was pulled from the game at the next inning. According to this David Murphy article, Rollins seems to agree with his manager. He is the reigning MVP (that's National League, just to be clear) and he didn't pout, he didn't tell his manager he can't do that, he didn't complain to the press. In fact, he offered up that Manuel had spoken to him about it twice before, and so not surprised the third time he was pulled from the game. Much different, at least in the way its portrayed, than Jose Reyes who, if you read the press, began a 6 month slump because he was mad at his manager for pulling him when he didn't run hard to first. This story shows me that Rollins really is the real deal, and the kind of player I might want to build my team around. He's got skills o both offense and defense and he has some leadership. He lead his team past the favorite Mets last year, and he is man enough to admit when he did something wrong. Hats off to Jimmy Rollins.
Big Talent: Past, Present and Future June 5, 2008, 10:50am With the amateur draft starting today, there can be no other place to begin my post. The Tampa Bay Rays, again, have the top pick, and this Marc Topkin article breaks down the two players that ther Rays have narrowed the field to. The first is Brian Posey, a college catcher from Florida State, the second is high school shortstop Tim Beckham. Both sound like strong candidates, it will just be interesting to see if they decide that the college player is less risky as he has a longer track record. The catcher position though could mean more wear and tear not under the teams control. Interesting problem to have. The part of the article I like is where Exec Vice President says that "hopefully, we aren't picking this high for awhile." The way the team is playing right now, that could be the case. The article makes a lot of nice points about draft philosophy that every team spends time discussing a lot over the past two weeks. I try to follow up in the next couple of weeks with several of the scouting directors to see how they feel about who they got and how it went.
Present talent included Edison Volquez, who dominated the Phillies last night, despite the fact that they have seen him 4 times, if you count a couple of spring training games. This Hal McCoy article, one of his most recent best, gives you an idea how good he was last night. Volquez, if you can possible not know this since it is one of the most talked about subjects lately it seems, was the pitcher the Reds got in the Josh Hamilton trade with the Rangers. Hamilton may have a shot at the triple crown this year, and Volquez could be a Rookie of the Year, if not Cy Young. I'm going to be in Ohio later in the summer and I am truly hoping he will still be going strong so I can get a look once or twice.
Talent from the past, well technically still the present, but certainly entering the twilight is Ken Griffey Jr, once thought to be the guy who would put up the greatest numbers in the history of the game. Well, he sits a 599, and though he has been on the bench in Philly with "general soreness" that has lasted three days, he did pinch hit last night, missing 600. Sure, the Reds think they can make a run at teh NL Central, but the fans aren't flocking to the ballpark, Griffey hitting 600 at home is really important to them raising their season attendance figure. The team doesn't return home until Monday, which is a long time to get Griffey out of the game. He could lose his timing. The Reds to go to Florida for the weekend, and that stadium is a lot tougher to hit home runs in, so perhaps the Reds are just keeping him out of games in homer-happy Philly. A whole week of not playing is a little tough to justify, if you really want people to believe you are trying to compete. Jay Bruce though, I guess, does help make that story line possible.
I'm excited to read about the various team draft results as the day goes on. If anyone has any thoughts on who your team takes today, I encourage you to start a thread on the message board.
Traveling June 4, 2008, 3:50pm So sorry, am traveling, and you would be shoocked at how hard it is to find wireless internet in southern NM... well, you might not be shocked, but it makes searching the web difficult.... I will be back tomorrow with a real post. Until then, why not do a little more reading to get ready for the draft! Here are the guys from SaberScouting.com to give you some insight.
Joba June 3, 2008, 11:10pm So Joba had a rough 62 pitches... here is Pete Caldera's story which sets the stage nicely. Hopefully, Pedro does a little better for the Mets, so I don't have to write about all the wasted ink the last few days. Enjoy!
Traveling June 3, 2008, 9:10am I am doing some traveling today, and so posting the next couple will be spotty, but since I have been of short voice, I thought I should give you one more bit to while away some time. This time from another girl who blogs. Girls Don't Know Anything About Baseball has become a regular site, and though she isn't as regular a poster as I would like, I enjoy the things she finds to focus on. Here recent post has many little hidden gems, especially the ERA's of some recent high priced mediocre pitchers. Will post this afternoon while in some airport, so don't disappear for long!
Don't look Mets fans June 3, 2008, 8:45am So, instead of focusing on how when Pilver Perez pitches, Mets fans and even coaches can do nothing but shake their heads, I thought I would pull out the other side's game story by Henry Schulman for some good news. The Giants this year have used 8 rookies, and the 8th Brian Horwitz came up with his first home run last night. Despite their poor play, the Giants have two winning pitchers Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez. Bengie Molina also got his 1,000th hit.
News out of Chicago June 2, 2008, 9:00am I can't believe the White Sox are in first place. After seeing them in the spring, I honestly thought they might be battling the Royals to stay out of first. Sure their pitching looked good then, but their hitting looked abysmal. Here we are at the beginning of June, with both Chicago teams at the top of their respective divisions though. That, though, has a lot more to do with the others in the division, at least for the south-side team. The White Sox hitting is abysmal, but now, their Manager is telling them so...and telling us, and telling his boss. Having only read the quote, without hearing Ozzie, it doesn't sound like that much of an indictment of Williams. He actually says maybe Kenny should replace Guillen himself... the quote from Williams could be made without hearing exactly what Ozzie actually said, as well. I wouldn't look for Guillen to be gone on Tuesday, not would I look for any big changes, though I am sure Williams could find someone to take Nick Swisher, someone who thinks they can look at some old video and fix whatever is wrong. Still, I think Swish will be in a White Sox uni come Tuesday, and come July. (Share your thoughts about Swisher at this Messageboard thread) Now Williams' ego is involved, he won't want to make too many changes lest he cede the higher ground to Ozzie. Jay Mariotti's column today paints the situation as quite dire, though Mariotti would probably do anything to get rid of Ozzie, after a previous Guillen tirade in which he made a quite damning slur about Mariotti in which the only thing that happened is that Guillen was sent to sensitivity training. The one thing is for sure, they Sox have to find a way to beat the Rays, or whoever wins the east if they are going to do much more than win the division. Mariotti gets one thing completely right, and that is that the team from the North side, at least as I write this on June 2, has a much greater chance of playing past the first week of October. I think Mariotti might be being a little too negative when he places all the blame on Ozzie.
For some good draft coverage June 1, 2008, 10:45am Well, I started reading John Shea's piece about the Giants draft strategy, and that got me thinking of the guys over at SaberScouting.com who have some great coverage of the 2008 draft prospects. You can pick up a lot of info, in a short amount of time, which, well is the point of a blog, as far as I'm concerned anyway. Check it out.
Jose Valentin on Jose Reyes June 1, 2008, 10:15am One more quick thing form the Times, this Charlie Nobles post to their blog may explain a lot. Instead of my blaming Castillo, it may actually be the missing piece of Jose Valentin...
Autographs June 1, 2008, 10:05am I'm not sure when it happened, but lately I find that Sunday brings the best baseball writing from the New York Times, rarely thought to be the best sports section around. Today, a few articles peaked my interest, but this Vincent Mallozzi piece may speak to a few of you as well, the few who seek and collect autographs from players. I've seen these guys for years outside the hotels, and at the ballparks, with their baseball card binders in tow. Last summer in Kansas City, where the Oakland Athletics were staying, I got up at 8am and went out for a walk to get my morning starbucks, and there was already a group in formation. I was doubtful that they would have much luck at that hour, but sure enough on my way back I followed a relief pitcher up the hill who was shorts, t-shirt and cap and had left the hotel only to get a newspaper. The small throng created a barrier across the sidewalk and the guy had to push his way through. He said he would sign before the bus left (to take the players to the ballpark around 2pm), but he was just trying to get a paper now. The seekers were annoyed, but so was the player whom I rode up in the elevator with. I see both sides. As Mallozzi's article points out, few sign at the ballpark anymore. Part of that is often dealers send kids to get stuff signed, day after day, and the guys find they are really signing for the same people day after day. Giambi stops on his way out of the ballpark almost everyday. Maddux signs only at the hotel before getting on the bus. Many do have memorabilia deals that makes it difficult for them to sign for large groups of people. I suggest players figure out their comfort level for it and make a rule for themselves. At the ballpark, before or after the game, always at the hotel, never at the hotel and then stick to the rule. The word will spread. My advice to the seekers? Make it easier for the next guy, say please and thank you...if you really are a collector assure the player that this is for your personal collection, and if you have a favorite moment from their career tell them. It lets the player know that you aren't just trying to make a buck off of them, but that you are actually a fan of theirs and a fan of the game. The moment can even be a team moment. Just like we want all these players to be nice guys, they want to know the fans are good people. If we make it harder for them to believe anything different, it will make it harder for them to walk by without at least saying hello.
Couple of Good Game Stories May 31, 2008, 10:05am Just pointing you to a couple of well-written and fun game stories. The first, out of Chicago, by Paul Sullivan is nicely written piece which gets your blood pumping as the Cubs come from way behind. Wrigley must have been jumping, and you can almost hear the crowd. Dodger fans were also happy last night as the bats came alive. For the Rockies point of view about their current state of consistent losing, the Denver Post puts together this notes column with some good quotes from the Rox clubhouse. Dylan Hernandez writes not only a game story but some nice bits about how Russell Martin has worked to raise his average after a prolonged slump. Larry Bowa is always great for a quote, and apparently he told the team during a meeting on Thursday to stop using age as an excuse. The quote form Hernandez is "Tampa Bay is young," Bowa said he told them. "Florida's young. Arizona's young." Its true. The Dodgers are now just 2.5 games behind AZ in the west.
One of the Best May 30, 2008, 9:10am With the College World Series, and draft day fast approaching, I thought this might be a great story to share. Few of us who watch the pro game know that much about the world of college baseball, but the University of Miami, the top national seed this year, has one of the best coaches around as Susan Miller Degnan writes. Pro players who came through this program and played for Jim Morris include Danny Graves, Alex Cora, Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff and Ryan Braun... not too bad a list. Enjoy!
The theory blown wide open May 29, 2008, 10:40am So, yesterday, my least favorite NY writer, Mike Lupica, wrote an interesting article about the perception that the Latin players don't get along with the other players in the Mets clubhouse, and that they end-run Willie by going to Omar Minaya, who shot the theory down as ridiculous. The fact that the article was written shows, I think, that my dinner companion of the other night was sharing a theory more widespread than I had anticipated. Minaya is right though about how being below .500 does change the glasses you are viewing the team from. I think one of the most important things that was said earlier in the week was Minaya saying that the Mets have championship caliber talent, but not a championship caliber team. That right there is the difference between paper and reality and why you play the games. Its the difference between the Cubs in 2007 and what seem to be the Cubs in 2008. Last night though, at Shea, against the first place Marlins, the Mets looked a little like they could figure that team thing out. Peter Botte has the game story, but the key for me is in the bottom of the 12th, Wright walked, and Beltran got a single. Damion Easley-- playing for the finally benched Delgado-- struck out. Fernando Tatis came to the plate. Now I have been watching Tatis play in the minors for a couple of years. I saw him when he was with the Orioles AAA team two years ago when he came into the game as a pinch runner, and went first to home. He was so fast for a guy who has been around forever. The problem, so big even the Orioles who had nothing going on in 2006 couldn't over look it for his speed, was that he was hitting below the Mendoza line at AAA. As one Orioles Asst. GM at the time said-- "you can't steal first base." Last year, Tatis was not much better. So when he comes to the plate, I cringe. Especially, in a game clinching situation. I now have been wrong twice. Tatis got a hit, which not only allowed Wright to score from third, but allowed a running Beltran to score from first to win the game. The reaction at home plate by players in the dugout was, by all reports, over-the-top. Maybe the Mets will catch lightening in a bottle with Tatis, and maybe, a player like Tatis who has been out of baseball, and is lucky to be collecting a big league paycheck might show the others how to play hard again. Tatis certainly disproves the blanket theory that those who had to play their way out of poverty only see this as a game.
Mets/Marlins game May 28, 2008, 11:30am So I was at Shea last night for the first Willie win after his job was saved, which, not so coincidentally also was the first game Johan Santana pitched. A couple of quick thoughts about it, a few people started to boo at the beginning and a fan near me stood up and yelled "DON'T BOO!"... which surprised me a lot. I agree. I think the booing allows the players to point the finger at someone else... not rightly so, but it does give them an excuse, like: "The fans aren't behind us, so it makes it hard for us to play" or some such nonsense. Take the booing out of the equation and they either point fingers at each other or they get off their you know whats and play, simple as that. Beltran looks like he is trying to be the leader with his bat, but everything he does is bad. He needs a day off, but the team doesn't have enough outfielders to allow that to happen. The other interesting thing to note, is the Marlins are carrying 14 pitchers! It was a mighty full bullpen. They do have a lot of bench guys that are uber-utility, and are very versatile, but 14 pitchers is a lot. I am going to try to see how they use them, but since we saw Joe Nelson twice in two days for more than an inning each time, I can't really see the advantage. Lastly, on the subway ride home, I saw a rare thing. I saw a Marlins fan. The train was too crowded to speak to the gentleman, but I found it so unbelievable that a Marlins fan would make his way to Shea that I decided to use the camera phone. What else is it for, right? Here is my attempt at a surreptitious picture taking. The Mets fan who I got to close to makes the photo priceless. OK, so maybe not my snapshot, but it makes me giggle.
Rebuilding in San Fran? May 28, 2008, 11:0oam So remember when the Tigers set a record for games lost a few years ago, then made the surprising run and almost win of the World Series in 2006? Well, the Giants have been selling 2008 as a rebuilding year, yet as Henry Schulman writes, it really isn't a true rebuilding year of any kind. The question then is if its better to take all the losses at once in the name of giving all the kids the most big league experience possible, or is it better to ease into it. One the one hand if they all get their together then they gel as a team, much like the Braves of the early 1990s or the Marlins of 2003, or is it better to have some big leaguers around to coach and demonstrate how to be a big leaguer? I do like the second version, though I would want those big leaguers to be winners, and though Omar Vizquel comes under that heading, I'm not totally sure the other "older" members of the Giants fit that bill. The ticket selling argument, about people buying tickets for a team that is winning, or even to see names they know is a good one... but the long-term health of the club has to be the priority. Hopefully, the Giants playing some of these guys to trade them will work, and open up opportunities for the younger guys later. I'm not convinced that their superior numbers are anything more than a fluke made possible because of the other weaknesses of the team, and because of slow starts by those from other teams. Let's see how their numbers look closer to the trading deadline.
A feel-good story May 27, 2008, 8:45am Well, it may not be a feel good story if you are a Yankee or Boston fan, but I'm trying to get away from talking about the underachieving teams, at least for one day. The Rays, who have won 14 of their last 18, are the first team (since 1900) to have the best record in baseball through Memorial Day after having the worst record the year before. Scott Kazmir was on fire last night, and even though Cool Carl Crawford says everyone thinks they will fade at the end, and we do, its also nice to hear the Kazmir doesn't think they have even played their best baseball. I'm enjoying Marc Topkin's work everyday, both because I think he gets to the essence of the game, and because you can tell that after all these years of having to report on a bad team he's having fun getting a quote that doesn't sound like it came from Bull Durham.
NY Baseball May 26, 2008, 4:40pm Just a quick post of the a great George Vecsey article. He is one of the best writers, and he really tells the story of the New York Baseball world, which has many fans up in arms today.
Attitude May 26, 2008, 11:35am So last night I had dinner with a sports writer who has been around the game and we spent a fair amount of time discussing the Mets and what seems to be going on. I mentioned a distaste for Luis Castillo (note: thats as a fan, I have never met him) and concern about his influence on Jose Reyes. In my mind that is when Reyes began to come unglued, with the arrival of Luis Castillo. My dinner companion mentioned a theory put for by another colleague about how some Latin players saw this game as a way out of poverty. They worked hard to be good enough to play in the Major Leagues, to garner a big contract that would guarantee that their children wouldn't have to work so hard. When they get that contract, they still work hard to keep building, but because they have seen the things they have in their youth, they know losing a baseball game is not the worst thing in the world. Perhaps watching your mother work so hard to feed you, has put things in some perspective. I'm not sure this is the case for all Latin players, and it could be argued that it is also the case for some of the white guys as well. I'm still pondering if this theory could be applied to Reyes, but the interesting thing about it thinking about other spanish players that it could be true for. So as I am paging through the various sports pages, I come across this article. I'm not looking for anything related to this new theory, but something about this Jon Paul Morosi article rings true, enough so that I thought it prompted a post anyway. Miguel Cabrera and Manny Ramirez are examples of guys who you have to believe realize they are special but everything needs to be taken in perspective. I'm still not sure how I feel about this new theory. On one hand, I know its just a game, one that can bring us joy and hope, one that can heal us, one that we become invested in because of these possibilities. And as much as it hurt fans when the Mets collapsed last season, or when the Yankees leading the ALCS 3-0 lost in 2004, or the Padres lost their play-in game last season to allow the Rockies to roll into the post-season, it is just a game. Thoughts?
State of the Mariners and an impending record May 25, 2008, 11:40am Well, the Mariners are in about the worst shape that a team can be in, especially since they were picked by many to win the AL West. I am still not betting against them, since teams have been in worse shape at Memorial day and still rallied back, but its hard to s
