There are some surprising things that happen in baseball from time to time. For instance, Oakland Athletics' lefty Dallas Braden pitched a perfect game on May 9th, but hasn't be able to record a win since. Weird. Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers has hit almost .500 for the entire month of June. That's nearly unheard of! And then there are some other things that really throw you for a loop. Like this example. The Kansas City Royals have the second best team average in all of baseball. The first team? Hamilton's Rangers, hitting a combined .283. But Kansas City is just a game away from capturing first place with a team average of .281.
That's right folks, the 32-44 Royals have collected a boat load of hits. Led by David DeJesus and his .331 average in 287 plate appearances, the Royals don't have too many holes in there lineup. First-baseman Billy Butler is hitting over .300, as well as utility-man, turned second-baseman Mike Aviles. Outfielder Scott Podsednik is having a resurgent year, hitting .292 currently with 22 stolen bases. And other guys are contributing with solid averages all around. All of which begs the question; 'Why is the team losing so badly?'
Well, one reason is that the starting pitching, other than Zach Greinke, isn't all that great. And Zach Greinke himself is not having a repeat Cy Young caliber performance in 2010. But don't put too much blame on him. KC has a team ERA of 4.71, which ranks 25th out of all 30 MLB teams. Not one starter, including Greinke, has an ERA under 3.70. And the top three pitchers in the rotation, Greinke, Brian Bannister and Kyle Davies have given up a combined 36 homeruns already. That's well more than half the total of homeruns the entire Royals team has hit this year, but we'll get into that in a minute. Back to the rotation though. A major problem is that these starters aren't going far enough into games. Besides Greinke, no one has more than 85 IP (Innings Pitched), which means that the bullpen is being taxed entirely too much. While the pen has done a pretty good job thus far, too much strain early will only lead to tired arms later. To top it off, the entire staff has let up 82 homers this year, which is tied for 3rd most in both leagues. Not good.
But let's leave the pitching alone for a minute. What about this hitting? How can a team hitting so well not be winning? Well, part of the reason is because while the Royals rank second in team average, they rank 11th in walks, 14th in slugging percentage and 16th in runs scored. Meaning, they aren't hitting when it counts. And to make matters worse, the Kansas City Royals are ranked only 26th in homeruns. They have 53 on the season, with Jose Guillen leading the team with 13. To compare, perhaps a bit unfairly, the Toronto Blue Jays lead the Major Leagues in homeruns with 115 currently. That's more than double the Royals. But yet the Jays are only hitting a team average .239. That's because the Jays also rank second in slugging percentage, so they are scoring runs when they have the chance.
For those of you who don't know, slugging percentage is a stat that measures the total bases a player accrues, divided by his at-bats. It is a good measure of power, but it can also determine run-production. Lots of total bases means a player is not only hitting singles, but doubles, triples and homers as well. When a player is on second, a single might not score him, but a double sure will. If you are constantly getting singles, you may have great averages, but you might not be driving in runs. And that is where the Royals find themselves.
Unfortunately for the Blue Crew, they are a small-market team. If they were playing a little better at this point of the year, ownership might take a chance to get a slugger to jack some bombs and drive in those singles with more frequency. Or maybe the front office might make a trade to get another solid pitcher to solidify the rotation. But that seems unlikely now that KC already finds themselves 9.5 games back in the American League Central.
Now it's not unheard of for a team to go on a spectacular run and come back into the playoff picture. After all, look at the Colorado Rockies the past few years, and they are a small-market team. But unless the Royals start showing some improvement immediately, it looks like these high averages will be one of few shining moments for the fans this year. I feel bad for the Kansas City Royals, I really do. And it's not just a pity party either. They deserve better. But young talent, like Alex Gordon and others, haven't worked out the way they were supposed to. Hell, even Zach Greinke was dealing with some psychological issues before he won a Cy Young last year. The point still remains though, that no matter how bad I, or anyone else feels for the Royals, nothing is going to change until they start performing better. And that can be said of just about every club. Well, for now though, buck up Royals fans. As least you get to see the bases full a lot. That's something.
P.S. A little extra, Did you know...? Kansas City has the second most fountains in the entire world. Rome is number one on that list. See you next time.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Rookie Sensation(s)
Every year there are a couple of rookie players that come into the league and make a big splash. They impress with great defense, timely hitting, big homeruns, or some great pitching. Sometimes they have more than one of those aspects, which usually defines a Rookie of the Year from the rest of the candidates. The year of 2010 has provided some of the best rookie performances we've seen in quite some time. So without further ado, let's start to show some appreciation for the youngsters that are proving to be the future stars of tomorrow.
We've already discussed Stephen Strasburg in a previous blog, so instead of focusing on him, we'll just mention a couple of the wonderful things he's been doing. Although he just suffered his first Major League loss the other day, he did so by pitching a one-run game, with no run-support behind him. Despite that loss, he has posted a 2-1 record in his first four starts, with a strikeout/walk ratio of 41/5. If he could do that over the course of a whole season, he would have a 349/43 ratio. While it's not fair to make these assumptions, they are fun sometimes. Oh, and he has a 1.78 ERA so far. That's pretty good, too.
Not to be outdone however, there is another National League rookie pitcher that is having a great year, and he didn't even go through the minor leagues first. His name is Mike Leake and he pitches for the Cincinnati Reds. In 14 appearances, he is 5-1 with a stupendous 2.92 ERA. But more importantly, he's been instrumental in giving the Reds a solid rotation, the basis for their run to first place in the NL Central. While he does strikeout about 6 batters per game, he also walks almost four, and he gives up about a hit per inning. These numbers aren't terrible by any means, but if hitters get more comfortable with his pitches, which will undoubtedly happen at some point, these walks will become runs. Hopefully though, Leake will continue to have a great rookie campaign.
The pitchers aren't the only one's having fun in the NL. There is a young man named Jason Heyward who has made quite the name for himself while playing for the Atlanta Braves. He's been playing a fantastic right field for the Bravos and his bat came alive early this season. So far he has 11 dingers, along with 45 RBIs, and 13 doubles. But while most of those numbers were a product of the first two months of the season, he has been quieter in the past few weeks. His average has dropped to .251, and he is getting caught stealing almost as much as he is successful. But he still has a great on-base-percentage, and the J-Hey Kid just has too much talent to not be successful again this year, and for years to come. (On a side note, while I like the homage to Willie Mays with the J-Hey nickname, I dislike how everybody is just a first initial, and a shortened last name now. A-Rod, J-Roll. Enough, come up with something honestly clever.)
A few Metropolitan rookies have made an impact so far, keeping the team competitive. First-baseman Ike Davis is hitting some deep bombs, and has driven in 32 runs so far, all while batting fourth in the lineup. Not an easy thing to do. But it does help when you are surrounding by David Wright and Jason Bay. Also for the New York Mets, lefty pitcher Jonathon Niese, while having cups of coffee with the club the past two years, seems to have come into his own this year, posting a 4-2 record, with one of those wins being a 1-hit shutout. He suffered a season ending injury last year, and he was on the disabled list earlier this year, but if he can stay healthy, he looks to be a reliable number three pitcher for the other New York team.
Meanwhile in the NL East, Florida Marlins' right-fielder Mike Stanton is a giant of a man. At 6'5" and 235 lbs, he's a monster who can smash the ball. Before being called up to the majors, he led all of baseball in homeruns. Not just the minors, but ALL of baseball! He got into the action by hitting a grand-slam for his first Major League homer. Reports say that the Marlins might have to sacrifice average for power with him. But with the potential power and run-production this guy can supply, I think they will make that trade-off, whether under new manager Bobby Valentine or anyone else.
The NL rookies aren't the only ones having fun, however. American League rookies are lighting it up too. Texas Rangers' closer Neftali Feliz has saved 20 games so far this year, but his true impact is felt in his persona. He is a shutdown closer. Even if he does walk a batter, which he has done 10 times in 32 innings this year, he has the stuff, like a 100-mph fastball, to dominate the next batter, and save the day. Whether the Rangers keep him as a closer or decide he'll be a starter in the future is yet to be seen. But I predict success for this flame-thrower. And another Ranger, Justin Smoak, has been helping the team with 8 homeruns and 34 RBIs. His average is a bit low still, so while he is impacting the team in helpful ways, he's probably not a ROY candidate. But it's still nice to mention his success.
The Detroit Tigers, on the other hand, may have found themselves two ROY candidates from their outfield positions in Brennan Boesch, and Austin Jackson. Boesch, a left-fielder, has been making some impressive rounds in the AL. In 51 games, he's batting an illuminating .344 with a near .400 OBP to boot. His 11 dingers are leading AL rookies, and he has 40 RBIs as well. At this pace, he stands a good chance of hitting 25 homers and driving in 80 runs, and that's if he slows down! He's put on a decent glove so far too, playing all over the outfield, but probably making a home in left. He may not field like an All-Star yet, but he sure hits like one.
Most worried, including myself, whether Austin Jackson could come into Detroit and be a productive center-fielder, while batting lead-off. Well, Jacks can do it. He's been playing a great center-field while batting .301 in lead-off. He's shown some pop with his 18 doubles, and legitimate speed with his 11 steals. This kid has handled the pressure and helped his club to a good showing this year. If Detroit keeps their success rolling, it will be in large part to the play of both Jackson and Boesch.
The Cleveland Indians haven't had much to get excited about this year. A 26-46 record so far means that the Indians will be rebuilding for another year or two before the playoffs can even be mentioned. But one of those building blocks will be Carlos Santana. No, not the guitar player. The catcher. In 13 games thus far, this young man is hitting .317 with 3 homers and 12 RBIs. And he's walked 9 times, giving him an OBP of .431. These are outstanding numbers, especially considering he, like Davis, was thrust into the fourth spot. Granted, he probably won't continue at this rate, but the proof is there that Carlos will be a great player someday, and a starting catcher for the Cleveland Indians for some time to come.
I wish I could address every rookie, but alas, I have not the space or time. These young men have been performing admirably. Some will falter, some will get better. One thing is for certain, it's exciting to watch, and I'm grateful to see such fantastic play from these young fellas. Keep up the good work!
We've already discussed Stephen Strasburg in a previous blog, so instead of focusing on him, we'll just mention a couple of the wonderful things he's been doing. Although he just suffered his first Major League loss the other day, he did so by pitching a one-run game, with no run-support behind him. Despite that loss, he has posted a 2-1 record in his first four starts, with a strikeout/walk ratio of 41/5. If he could do that over the course of a whole season, he would have a 349/43 ratio. While it's not fair to make these assumptions, they are fun sometimes. Oh, and he has a 1.78 ERA so far. That's pretty good, too.
Not to be outdone however, there is another National League rookie pitcher that is having a great year, and he didn't even go through the minor leagues first. His name is Mike Leake and he pitches for the Cincinnati Reds. In 14 appearances, he is 5-1 with a stupendous 2.92 ERA. But more importantly, he's been instrumental in giving the Reds a solid rotation, the basis for their run to first place in the NL Central. While he does strikeout about 6 batters per game, he also walks almost four, and he gives up about a hit per inning. These numbers aren't terrible by any means, but if hitters get more comfortable with his pitches, which will undoubtedly happen at some point, these walks will become runs. Hopefully though, Leake will continue to have a great rookie campaign.
The pitchers aren't the only one's having fun in the NL. There is a young man named Jason Heyward who has made quite the name for himself while playing for the Atlanta Braves. He's been playing a fantastic right field for the Bravos and his bat came alive early this season. So far he has 11 dingers, along with 45 RBIs, and 13 doubles. But while most of those numbers were a product of the first two months of the season, he has been quieter in the past few weeks. His average has dropped to .251, and he is getting caught stealing almost as much as he is successful. But he still has a great on-base-percentage, and the J-Hey Kid just has too much talent to not be successful again this year, and for years to come. (On a side note, while I like the homage to Willie Mays with the J-Hey nickname, I dislike how everybody is just a first initial, and a shortened last name now. A-Rod, J-Roll. Enough, come up with something honestly clever.)
A few Metropolitan rookies have made an impact so far, keeping the team competitive. First-baseman Ike Davis is hitting some deep bombs, and has driven in 32 runs so far, all while batting fourth in the lineup. Not an easy thing to do. But it does help when you are surrounding by David Wright and Jason Bay. Also for the New York Mets, lefty pitcher Jonathon Niese, while having cups of coffee with the club the past two years, seems to have come into his own this year, posting a 4-2 record, with one of those wins being a 1-hit shutout. He suffered a season ending injury last year, and he was on the disabled list earlier this year, but if he can stay healthy, he looks to be a reliable number three pitcher for the other New York team.
Meanwhile in the NL East, Florida Marlins' right-fielder Mike Stanton is a giant of a man. At 6'5" and 235 lbs, he's a monster who can smash the ball. Before being called up to the majors, he led all of baseball in homeruns. Not just the minors, but ALL of baseball! He got into the action by hitting a grand-slam for his first Major League homer. Reports say that the Marlins might have to sacrifice average for power with him. But with the potential power and run-production this guy can supply, I think they will make that trade-off, whether under new manager Bobby Valentine or anyone else.
The NL rookies aren't the only ones having fun, however. American League rookies are lighting it up too. Texas Rangers' closer Neftali Feliz has saved 20 games so far this year, but his true impact is felt in his persona. He is a shutdown closer. Even if he does walk a batter, which he has done 10 times in 32 innings this year, he has the stuff, like a 100-mph fastball, to dominate the next batter, and save the day. Whether the Rangers keep him as a closer or decide he'll be a starter in the future is yet to be seen. But I predict success for this flame-thrower. And another Ranger, Justin Smoak, has been helping the team with 8 homeruns and 34 RBIs. His average is a bit low still, so while he is impacting the team in helpful ways, he's probably not a ROY candidate. But it's still nice to mention his success.
The Detroit Tigers, on the other hand, may have found themselves two ROY candidates from their outfield positions in Brennan Boesch, and Austin Jackson. Boesch, a left-fielder, has been making some impressive rounds in the AL. In 51 games, he's batting an illuminating .344 with a near .400 OBP to boot. His 11 dingers are leading AL rookies, and he has 40 RBIs as well. At this pace, he stands a good chance of hitting 25 homers and driving in 80 runs, and that's if he slows down! He's put on a decent glove so far too, playing all over the outfield, but probably making a home in left. He may not field like an All-Star yet, but he sure hits like one.
Most worried, including myself, whether Austin Jackson could come into Detroit and be a productive center-fielder, while batting lead-off. Well, Jacks can do it. He's been playing a great center-field while batting .301 in lead-off. He's shown some pop with his 18 doubles, and legitimate speed with his 11 steals. This kid has handled the pressure and helped his club to a good showing this year. If Detroit keeps their success rolling, it will be in large part to the play of both Jackson and Boesch.
The Cleveland Indians haven't had much to get excited about this year. A 26-46 record so far means that the Indians will be rebuilding for another year or two before the playoffs can even be mentioned. But one of those building blocks will be Carlos Santana. No, not the guitar player. The catcher. In 13 games thus far, this young man is hitting .317 with 3 homers and 12 RBIs. And he's walked 9 times, giving him an OBP of .431. These are outstanding numbers, especially considering he, like Davis, was thrust into the fourth spot. Granted, he probably won't continue at this rate, but the proof is there that Carlos will be a great player someday, and a starting catcher for the Cleveland Indians for some time to come.
I wish I could address every rookie, but alas, I have not the space or time. These young men have been performing admirably. Some will falter, some will get better. One thing is for certain, it's exciting to watch, and I'm grateful to see such fantastic play from these young fellas. Keep up the good work!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Incoming!
Over the past couple of weeks I've actually had requests made for certain blogs. Both of these requests came from good friends of mine, and it means two very important things are happening. 1 - That there are people who actually read this, and 2 - that they care enough about it to have requests, questions, and comments. I'm just tickled pink that my dear friends, loved ones, and some people I barely know are taking an interest in my writing. So before I go ahead and do my best to answer these requests, I'd like to say thank you, to all of you who read this.
My first request came from one of my oldest friends, and boy was it a whopper. He asked, "What do you think was the best decade to be a fan of baseball?" Well, that is a huge question. Books have been written about such a subject, and quite honestly, it's more a matter of opinion than anything else. If you love homeruns, maybe the 1990s was the time for you. If you like your players high on coke, then perhaps you loved the 1980s version of baseball. If you are really a fan of the game and you like talking about old-timers, then the 1910s and 20s were fantastic for hitting and pitching, but not so much for fielding.
Even this decade has been pretty great for baseball. We've seen Sox of both varieties, Red and White, earn championships. There has been great parity throughout both leagues, despite lopsided payrolls. So how can you choose? Well, I took several issues that are important to me, and backtracked a little bit to decide when the best time was baseball was. But again, this is only my personal opinion.
First, let's start with free-agency. Free-agency technically started in 1974 when Catfish Hunter, then playing for the Oakland Athletics complained that a provision of his contract was not honored and therefore his entire contract was null and void. After some legal battles, Hunter was granted the rights of a free-agent, and signed for a little over $3 million with the NY Yankees. Two years later, in 1976, the first collective-bargaining agreement was struck, and the door to free-agency burst wide open. Why is this important you ask? Well before this ruling, baseball players were stuck with the Reserve Clause, which basically amounted to slave labor. Players were property that could be bought, sold or traded, and players were stuck year after year with the same team. Bad for players, but wonderful for fans. Dynasties, a rarity in today's game, were commonplace then. Owners could keep their franchise players on the team without having to dole out millions upon millions they way they would have to after free-agency came into to play. So from a purely fan-base perspective, anytime before 1976 would have been wonderful, because no fan had to worry about a favorite player leaving town for better money. Again, this wasn't fair to the player, but that isn't what the question was about.
Second, the DH-rule came into effect in 1973. DH stands for designated hitter and it is a player that does not play the field, but bats for any other player in the lineup, which just about 100% of the time is the pitcher. The first DH was Ron Blomberg of the Yankees and he walked with the bases loaded. The DH was brought in to help poor tickets sales during the slumping '70s. The theory was that the DH was another player who could hit, potentially providing more runs, and more exciting games. Well, the DH-rule has stuck in the American League, but was never picked up in the National League, and over the years, it has provided the AL with more run support. Unfortunately for me, I hate the DH. It basically amounts to cheating. It is part of the game that a player be able to both field his position and hit too. Now it doesn't matter if that position happens to be on the mound, the pitcher should still be able to hit. If he can't, then he is a liability. He can make up for it by being a great pitcher. But the AL decided that wasn't winning enough fans over, so they prostituted the game and said, it's ok to cheat just a little here, you pitchers don't have to hit anymore.
I may feel a little too passionately about this, but it infuriates me when morons like Yankee sub-owner, cry-baby Hank Steinbrenner state in 2008 that the NL needed to "grow up" and accept the DH, by force if needed. All because a Yankee player, Chien-Ming Wang was hurt running the bases. Maybe Wang should have stretched out. Maybe it was just a freak accident. But because a Yankee player was hurt, Hank thought baseball itself had to be adjusted. ESPN's Chris Singleton had the perfect response at the time, "Are you making the same statement if a Red Sox pitcher gets hurt?" The fact is, the NL is more strategic and more traditionally entertaining than the AL. Yes, the American League may hit more homeruns and score more runs, but give me a pinch hitter, a situational runner, and a double switch any day of the week. That's my DH tirade, sorry.
Third, 1967. That is the year of the first Super Bowl. It was a media event that baseball couldn't match. It was one game, if you missed it, you were out of the loop. The World Series, you could miss a game and still know what was happening. But the Super Bowl changed the way fans watched, and more importantly, the way the media followed sports. Two years later, when Joe Namath and the New York Jets guaranteed and delivered a win against the much-favored Indianapolis Colts, football had officially taken hold of the American fan. Baseball began to wain, and it wasn't until 1975 when Carlton Fisk hit a dramatic homerun, in perhaps one of the greatest World Series games ever, that baseball began to rebound in media attention. But to this day, football is thought of as the more exciting, and better media-driven game.
For all of these reasons listed, the 1960s is the decade for me. As a fan, you had players that were going to be with the team for a long time, the much-disputed DH-rule didn't exist yet, and there was no major competition from the NFL and the Super Bowl. What you did have, were dynamite players at the height of the game's popularity. Players like Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Harmon Hillebrew, Willie McCovey, Al Kaline, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, and perhaps the greatest player the game has ever seen and the original five-tool player, Willie Mays. All at the peak of their careers. And that was just the hitters. There were tremendous picthers such as Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer, Don Drysdale, Denny McLain, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, and one of the greatest pitchers ever, Sandy Koufax. These aren't just great players, they are some of the best ever. Not since the early part of the century had such fantastic talents collided at the same point in time. But this time, integration had taken hold, and with dramatic effect. Players of all color and ethnicity were changing the game for the better. Fans saw some of the best hitting, pitching and fielding the game could ever produce. Every decade has All-Stars and Hall of Famers, but the 1960s seemed overwhelmed with them. For all of those reasons, the '60s is the decade I choose as the best ever for fans.
Now on to our other topic, and the answer won't take nearly as long. A female friend of mine asked, "Why do so many baseball players wear those rope necklaces?" Well it's not a fashion statement. They are actually the product of a Japanese company called Phiten. Each necklace is nylon-coated titanium, which is theoretically supposed to improve blood circulation while removing stress and relieving pain. The FDA does not support these claims, however, nor can they be proven by the company. Instead, it's more of a mental edge for players. Randy Johnson is credited with bringing the product to the United States while on an All-Star trip to Japan in 2001. After the Boston Red Sox won a championship in 2004, with most players on the team wearing a Phiten necklace, the trend caught on league wide. Baseball players are a superstious bunch and anything that appears to give a player an edge, he will wear, rub on, chew, or pray to until the cows come home, as long as success continues. So get used to seeing those hemp-like necklaces. For a little while longer at least.
I hope I've answered these questions successfully and completely. I appreciate the input from friends like these, and I hope that the questions, comments and requests keep coming. As long as your interested, I'll keep writing.
My first request came from one of my oldest friends, and boy was it a whopper. He asked, "What do you think was the best decade to be a fan of baseball?" Well, that is a huge question. Books have been written about such a subject, and quite honestly, it's more a matter of opinion than anything else. If you love homeruns, maybe the 1990s was the time for you. If you like your players high on coke, then perhaps you loved the 1980s version of baseball. If you are really a fan of the game and you like talking about old-timers, then the 1910s and 20s were fantastic for hitting and pitching, but not so much for fielding.
Even this decade has been pretty great for baseball. We've seen Sox of both varieties, Red and White, earn championships. There has been great parity throughout both leagues, despite lopsided payrolls. So how can you choose? Well, I took several issues that are important to me, and backtracked a little bit to decide when the best time was baseball was. But again, this is only my personal opinion.
First, let's start with free-agency. Free-agency technically started in 1974 when Catfish Hunter, then playing for the Oakland Athletics complained that a provision of his contract was not honored and therefore his entire contract was null and void. After some legal battles, Hunter was granted the rights of a free-agent, and signed for a little over $3 million with the NY Yankees. Two years later, in 1976, the first collective-bargaining agreement was struck, and the door to free-agency burst wide open. Why is this important you ask? Well before this ruling, baseball players were stuck with the Reserve Clause, which basically amounted to slave labor. Players were property that could be bought, sold or traded, and players were stuck year after year with the same team. Bad for players, but wonderful for fans. Dynasties, a rarity in today's game, were commonplace then. Owners could keep their franchise players on the team without having to dole out millions upon millions they way they would have to after free-agency came into to play. So from a purely fan-base perspective, anytime before 1976 would have been wonderful, because no fan had to worry about a favorite player leaving town for better money. Again, this wasn't fair to the player, but that isn't what the question was about.
Second, the DH-rule came into effect in 1973. DH stands for designated hitter and it is a player that does not play the field, but bats for any other player in the lineup, which just about 100% of the time is the pitcher. The first DH was Ron Blomberg of the Yankees and he walked with the bases loaded. The DH was brought in to help poor tickets sales during the slumping '70s. The theory was that the DH was another player who could hit, potentially providing more runs, and more exciting games. Well, the DH-rule has stuck in the American League, but was never picked up in the National League, and over the years, it has provided the AL with more run support. Unfortunately for me, I hate the DH. It basically amounts to cheating. It is part of the game that a player be able to both field his position and hit too. Now it doesn't matter if that position happens to be on the mound, the pitcher should still be able to hit. If he can't, then he is a liability. He can make up for it by being a great pitcher. But the AL decided that wasn't winning enough fans over, so they prostituted the game and said, it's ok to cheat just a little here, you pitchers don't have to hit anymore.
I may feel a little too passionately about this, but it infuriates me when morons like Yankee sub-owner, cry-baby Hank Steinbrenner state in 2008 that the NL needed to "grow up" and accept the DH, by force if needed. All because a Yankee player, Chien-Ming Wang was hurt running the bases. Maybe Wang should have stretched out. Maybe it was just a freak accident. But because a Yankee player was hurt, Hank thought baseball itself had to be adjusted. ESPN's Chris Singleton had the perfect response at the time, "Are you making the same statement if a Red Sox pitcher gets hurt?" The fact is, the NL is more strategic and more traditionally entertaining than the AL. Yes, the American League may hit more homeruns and score more runs, but give me a pinch hitter, a situational runner, and a double switch any day of the week. That's my DH tirade, sorry.
Third, 1967. That is the year of the first Super Bowl. It was a media event that baseball couldn't match. It was one game, if you missed it, you were out of the loop. The World Series, you could miss a game and still know what was happening. But the Super Bowl changed the way fans watched, and more importantly, the way the media followed sports. Two years later, when Joe Namath and the New York Jets guaranteed and delivered a win against the much-favored Indianapolis Colts, football had officially taken hold of the American fan. Baseball began to wain, and it wasn't until 1975 when Carlton Fisk hit a dramatic homerun, in perhaps one of the greatest World Series games ever, that baseball began to rebound in media attention. But to this day, football is thought of as the more exciting, and better media-driven game.
For all of these reasons listed, the 1960s is the decade for me. As a fan, you had players that were going to be with the team for a long time, the much-disputed DH-rule didn't exist yet, and there was no major competition from the NFL and the Super Bowl. What you did have, were dynamite players at the height of the game's popularity. Players like Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Harmon Hillebrew, Willie McCovey, Al Kaline, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, and perhaps the greatest player the game has ever seen and the original five-tool player, Willie Mays. All at the peak of their careers. And that was just the hitters. There were tremendous picthers such as Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer, Don Drysdale, Denny McLain, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, and one of the greatest pitchers ever, Sandy Koufax. These aren't just great players, they are some of the best ever. Not since the early part of the century had such fantastic talents collided at the same point in time. But this time, integration had taken hold, and with dramatic effect. Players of all color and ethnicity were changing the game for the better. Fans saw some of the best hitting, pitching and fielding the game could ever produce. Every decade has All-Stars and Hall of Famers, but the 1960s seemed overwhelmed with them. For all of those reasons, the '60s is the decade I choose as the best ever for fans.
Now on to our other topic, and the answer won't take nearly as long. A female friend of mine asked, "Why do so many baseball players wear those rope necklaces?" Well it's not a fashion statement. They are actually the product of a Japanese company called Phiten. Each necklace is nylon-coated titanium, which is theoretically supposed to improve blood circulation while removing stress and relieving pain. The FDA does not support these claims, however, nor can they be proven by the company. Instead, it's more of a mental edge for players. Randy Johnson is credited with bringing the product to the United States while on an All-Star trip to Japan in 2001. After the Boston Red Sox won a championship in 2004, with most players on the team wearing a Phiten necklace, the trend caught on league wide. Baseball players are a superstious bunch and anything that appears to give a player an edge, he will wear, rub on, chew, or pray to until the cows come home, as long as success continues. So get used to seeing those hemp-like necklaces. For a little while longer at least.
I hope I've answered these questions successfully and completely. I appreciate the input from friends like these, and I hope that the questions, comments and requests keep coming. As long as your interested, I'll keep writing.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Non-Shabby
Two more weeks, and no new blogs. I really have to get on the ball here. There are times in baseball when things happen that defy our understanding. Like me failing to write blogs in an appropriate or timely manner. And there are some moments that stamp a date into history. A few of these moments have happened lately. Three things to be exact.
First, we will start with a story that didn't get the attention it rightfully deserved. On June 2, 2010, Ken Griffey Jr. released a public announcement that he was retiring. Why wasn't this bigger news, you may ask? Well, it just so happened to be the same day a perfect game was taken away from Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga. But let's stay on Junior.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s prime was some years ago, but what a prime it was! For 11 seasons, the Kid remade Seattle Mariners baseball. He exemplified agility, speed, power, fielding, and an ability to hit for solid average. Six times as a Mariner he hit 40 or more homeruns. Between 1996 and 1999, his last four years in Seattle, Ken hit 209 homers, and drove in 567 runs. Those numbers are staggering. A ten-time Gold Glover, a seven-time Silver Slugger, a thirteen-time All-Star, and the 1997 AL MVP, Junior was on his way to breaking possibly every significant record in baseball lore.
However, a long stint in Cincinnati was not what the doctor ordered. And to be sure, doctors were plentiful around Griffey. Only twice, in his eight years with the Reds, did Junior play more than 140 games. Injuries plagued him throughout the remainder of his career, robbing him of his power, agility, and speed. One thing Griffey never lost though, was his eye. He maintained a high on-base-percentage, even while on bad teams, finally settling at a mark of .370 for his career.
After being traded to the Chicago White Sox mid-season in '08, he then made a return trip to Seattle in '09. At the end of that season, Griffey had one of the most memorable send-offs in baseball history. He was carried on his teammates' shoulders around the ballpark to a standing ovation. Unfortunately though, Griffey decided to stay around just a couple months too long, and went out with a whimper, instead of a glorious farewell. Griffey did finish his Major League tour with 630 homeruns, however, which is fifth all-time. And that's not shabby. So take it easy Kid, we'll miss you.
What happened to distract from such big news? Well, I've already told you, (pay attention) a perfect game. Well, almost one. Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga pitched what looked like a perfect game on June 3. With one out left in the 9th inning versus the Cleveland Indians, Galarraga got Jason Donald to hit a grounder between first and second base. Galaragga covered first and Jason was called out...wait safe?! Yeah, that's right folks, it was a close call, but not that close. Video review showed conclusivley that Donald was out, and that Galarraga deserved a perfect game. That however, is not what actually happened. First base umpire Jim Joyce called the runner safe, forcing an awkward, disbelieving smile from Galarraga, a 28th out be recorded and outrage from the other Tigers players.
Immediately following the game, Joyce looked at the video, saw his mistake and admitted he blew the call. Very admirable. But it was national news now. People watched the replays on TV, tweeted about it, and wrote on their Facebook walls. Everyone had an opinion about what should be done. 'Give him the perfect game!' 'Let the call stand!' But ultimately it was up to Commissioner Bud Selig to decide. And the call remains. You may not agree with it, but as Associated Press writer Ben Walker put it, "What happens in an instant, must live forever." That's the nature of the game.
Galarraga handled it with class though, as did umpire Jim Joyce. Armando handed Joyce the lineup card the next day, and Joyce, with tears in his eyes, gave Galarraga a slap on the back. Even the Detroit faithful gave Joyce a round of applause for his gutsy behavior. But in the end, baseball is a game of human error, and this is why we love it. Was it the right call? I don't know. One thing I do know for certain, Galarraga received a shiny new Chevy Corvette for his effort, and that ain't shabby either.
The final big news that occurred, was the debut of another stellar rookie this season. On June 8th, Stephen Strasburg took on the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, and boy was this a show to see. The Washington Nationaly's #1 overall pick from 2009 breezed through his minor league assignments earlier this year, but this was the real test. Could he handle Major League hitters? Well he handled them alright, and then some. Strasburg struck out 14 Pirates on his way to his first Major League victory. He struck them out with his fastball that occassionally reached 100-mph. He got them with his curveball that snapped down and away from righties. He even got them with his 90-mph changeup. And he made them look silly. Now I'm not trying to insult the Pirates. Afterall, they are not a dominant team, and they had never seen Strasburg's ridiculous stuff, so who can blame them for looking bad while waving at his pitches.
But watching Strasburg was like watching the birth of a franchise. After every K, the 40,000-plus fans in attendance got louder and louder, because they knew they weren't just seeing a great performance. They were looking at their future. Strasburg may not strikeout 14 batters again this year, or maybe ever again. But he represents something to the Washington fanbase now. He is the hope that this team is in fact going somewhere. With a young, solid pitcher adding depth to an already potent offense, the Nats may prove to be contenders sooner than we all thought. Not too shabby youngster.
In closing I'd just like to add a final note. Carlos Pena, the first-baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, just ended his bid to hit a homerun in seven consecutive games. He hit a total of seven out of the park this week, while driving in ten. And yet his average still remains below .200. I've seen windshields that have been wiped by New York City bums that are less streaky. Holy Cow!
First, we will start with a story that didn't get the attention it rightfully deserved. On June 2, 2010, Ken Griffey Jr. released a public announcement that he was retiring. Why wasn't this bigger news, you may ask? Well, it just so happened to be the same day a perfect game was taken away from Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga. But let's stay on Junior.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s prime was some years ago, but what a prime it was! For 11 seasons, the Kid remade Seattle Mariners baseball. He exemplified agility, speed, power, fielding, and an ability to hit for solid average. Six times as a Mariner he hit 40 or more homeruns. Between 1996 and 1999, his last four years in Seattle, Ken hit 209 homers, and drove in 567 runs. Those numbers are staggering. A ten-time Gold Glover, a seven-time Silver Slugger, a thirteen-time All-Star, and the 1997 AL MVP, Junior was on his way to breaking possibly every significant record in baseball lore.
However, a long stint in Cincinnati was not what the doctor ordered. And to be sure, doctors were plentiful around Griffey. Only twice, in his eight years with the Reds, did Junior play more than 140 games. Injuries plagued him throughout the remainder of his career, robbing him of his power, agility, and speed. One thing Griffey never lost though, was his eye. He maintained a high on-base-percentage, even while on bad teams, finally settling at a mark of .370 for his career.
After being traded to the Chicago White Sox mid-season in '08, he then made a return trip to Seattle in '09. At the end of that season, Griffey had one of the most memorable send-offs in baseball history. He was carried on his teammates' shoulders around the ballpark to a standing ovation. Unfortunately though, Griffey decided to stay around just a couple months too long, and went out with a whimper, instead of a glorious farewell. Griffey did finish his Major League tour with 630 homeruns, however, which is fifth all-time. And that's not shabby. So take it easy Kid, we'll miss you.
What happened to distract from such big news? Well, I've already told you, (pay attention) a perfect game. Well, almost one. Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga pitched what looked like a perfect game on June 3. With one out left in the 9th inning versus the Cleveland Indians, Galarraga got Jason Donald to hit a grounder between first and second base. Galaragga covered first and Jason was called out...wait safe?! Yeah, that's right folks, it was a close call, but not that close. Video review showed conclusivley that Donald was out, and that Galarraga deserved a perfect game. That however, is not what actually happened. First base umpire Jim Joyce called the runner safe, forcing an awkward, disbelieving smile from Galarraga, a 28th out be recorded and outrage from the other Tigers players.
Immediately following the game, Joyce looked at the video, saw his mistake and admitted he blew the call. Very admirable. But it was national news now. People watched the replays on TV, tweeted about it, and wrote on their Facebook walls. Everyone had an opinion about what should be done. 'Give him the perfect game!' 'Let the call stand!' But ultimately it was up to Commissioner Bud Selig to decide. And the call remains. You may not agree with it, but as Associated Press writer Ben Walker put it, "What happens in an instant, must live forever." That's the nature of the game.
Galarraga handled it with class though, as did umpire Jim Joyce. Armando handed Joyce the lineup card the next day, and Joyce, with tears in his eyes, gave Galarraga a slap on the back. Even the Detroit faithful gave Joyce a round of applause for his gutsy behavior. But in the end, baseball is a game of human error, and this is why we love it. Was it the right call? I don't know. One thing I do know for certain, Galarraga received a shiny new Chevy Corvette for his effort, and that ain't shabby either.
The final big news that occurred, was the debut of another stellar rookie this season. On June 8th, Stephen Strasburg took on the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, and boy was this a show to see. The Washington Nationaly's #1 overall pick from 2009 breezed through his minor league assignments earlier this year, but this was the real test. Could he handle Major League hitters? Well he handled them alright, and then some. Strasburg struck out 14 Pirates on his way to his first Major League victory. He struck them out with his fastball that occassionally reached 100-mph. He got them with his curveball that snapped down and away from righties. He even got them with his 90-mph changeup. And he made them look silly. Now I'm not trying to insult the Pirates. Afterall, they are not a dominant team, and they had never seen Strasburg's ridiculous stuff, so who can blame them for looking bad while waving at his pitches.
But watching Strasburg was like watching the birth of a franchise. After every K, the 40,000-plus fans in attendance got louder and louder, because they knew they weren't just seeing a great performance. They were looking at their future. Strasburg may not strikeout 14 batters again this year, or maybe ever again. But he represents something to the Washington fanbase now. He is the hope that this team is in fact going somewhere. With a young, solid pitcher adding depth to an already potent offense, the Nats may prove to be contenders sooner than we all thought. Not too shabby youngster.
In closing I'd just like to add a final note. Carlos Pena, the first-baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, just ended his bid to hit a homerun in seven consecutive games. He hit a total of seven out of the park this week, while driving in ten. And yet his average still remains below .200. I've seen windshields that have been wiped by New York City bums that are less streaky. Holy Cow!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Beat Downs
Holy Moley! Two blogs in two days? Butter me up, 'cause I must be on some kind of a roll. You can blame my nerdy friend for that joke. But seriously folks, isn't it nice to have me back in the full swing of things? And speaking of full swings, there were some taken last night as several teams demolished several other teams. For a little bit more of the info, let's take a peak at the deets. That's short for details.
First, let's take a look at the Yankees/Indians game. This contest was close until the bottom of the 7th inning, when Alex Rodriguez, fresh off hitting David Huff, decided to hit the ball so hard that it would never hurt anybody ever again. The result being his seventh homer of the season, and the 20th grand slam of his illustrious career. A-Rod ended up with 6 RBIs in total, and the N.Y. Yankees spanked the Indians with a season-high 18 hits, eventually beating them 11-2. In no small part, the win was due to the Yankee starter Andy Pettitte, who was brilliant, giving up only one run over the course of 7 strong innnings. Of course, I forgot to start him in my fantasy league. Also, Robinson Cano managed to collect two more hits, and three more RBIs yesterday, bringing his season average to .363. Right now Cano is on pace to smack 33 HRs, 120 RBIs, 48 doubles, and 219 hits. Wow! Those are ridiculous numbers from a second base-man.
In the National Leage, the Milwaukee Brewers have been known to put up some sick numbers this year, particularly against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Too bad they were playing the Flordia Marlins though. The Fish walloped the Brew Crew 13-5 yesterday. The Marlins were down 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Cody Ross's three-run homer sparked a 7-run inning. Speedster Cameron Maybin hit an in-the-park homerun, to add insult to injury. And every Marlins player was on base at least once in the game. The Brewers could turn this around on Florida real quick though, so this could be a great series to watch.
In Houston, Roy Oswalt has had trouble getting offense behind his ten quality starts in a row. He didn't get any help on Monday either, and might have been a little perturbed about it. The normally cool and collected Oswalt blew a gasket and was tossed in the third after arguing with home-plate umpire Bill Hohn about balls and strikes. His streak gone, as was he, the now and soon-to-be Oswalt-less Houston Astro couldn't contain the suddenly resurgent Nationals offense. Washington's three and four hitters, Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman, had 4 RBIs each and the Nats put the hurt on Houston, finally beating them 14-4. Things are looking worse for Houston everyday, and I wouldn't be surprised if Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, or maybe even Carlos Lee was gone in the next month.
Maybe the most important of the Monday beat downs, the St. Louis Cardinals made a statement to the Cincinatti Reds that the Central was not won yet. Card's upstart pitcher Jaime Garcia threw six quality innings, striking out six, and even getting two hits in the process. Five Cardinals drove in two runners, and St. Louis raked 16 hits. Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo had one of his worst starts of the year, allowing 7 runs in just 4.1 innings, and the struggling Reds bullpen didn't help matters. If the Reds are indeed going to contend the for N.L. Central, then they are going to need more consistent pitching. Might the Reds pick up the newly available Dontrelle Willis, or Jarrod Washburn. Will they try and trade for Oswalt or Cliff Lee? Could be very interesting if they did.
The N.Y. Mets allowed the most runs in the history of PETCO Park yesterday. Ugh! Shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam in the second inning. In addition to the 19 hits the San Diego Padres laid down, the Mets helped them out with 8 walks. Chase Headley made the most of the opportunity, going 4-5, driving in a runner, and scoring four runs himself. Three Mets pitchers allowed 16 runs in six innings, but embarrassingly Oliver Perez came in for clean-up duty and showing that he couldn't even do that well. But with Perez refusing assignment to the minors, the Mets are stuck with a guy who can't even mop-up terrible games. The Padres continue to surprise just about everyone and remain at the top of the N.L. West heap.
Those were some lopsided games on Monday. But sometimes it's great to watch one team demolish another. I always feel a little bad for the team getting pummeled, though. But you know what the best revenge is? Go do it to them the next day. Play ball!
First, let's take a look at the Yankees/Indians game. This contest was close until the bottom of the 7th inning, when Alex Rodriguez, fresh off hitting David Huff, decided to hit the ball so hard that it would never hurt anybody ever again. The result being his seventh homer of the season, and the 20th grand slam of his illustrious career. A-Rod ended up with 6 RBIs in total, and the N.Y. Yankees spanked the Indians with a season-high 18 hits, eventually beating them 11-2. In no small part, the win was due to the Yankee starter Andy Pettitte, who was brilliant, giving up only one run over the course of 7 strong innnings. Of course, I forgot to start him in my fantasy league. Also, Robinson Cano managed to collect two more hits, and three more RBIs yesterday, bringing his season average to .363. Right now Cano is on pace to smack 33 HRs, 120 RBIs, 48 doubles, and 219 hits. Wow! Those are ridiculous numbers from a second base-man.
In the National Leage, the Milwaukee Brewers have been known to put up some sick numbers this year, particularly against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Too bad they were playing the Flordia Marlins though. The Fish walloped the Brew Crew 13-5 yesterday. The Marlins were down 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Cody Ross's three-run homer sparked a 7-run inning. Speedster Cameron Maybin hit an in-the-park homerun, to add insult to injury. And every Marlins player was on base at least once in the game. The Brewers could turn this around on Florida real quick though, so this could be a great series to watch.
In Houston, Roy Oswalt has had trouble getting offense behind his ten quality starts in a row. He didn't get any help on Monday either, and might have been a little perturbed about it. The normally cool and collected Oswalt blew a gasket and was tossed in the third after arguing with home-plate umpire Bill Hohn about balls and strikes. His streak gone, as was he, the now and soon-to-be Oswalt-less Houston Astro couldn't contain the suddenly resurgent Nationals offense. Washington's three and four hitters, Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman, had 4 RBIs each and the Nats put the hurt on Houston, finally beating them 14-4. Things are looking worse for Houston everyday, and I wouldn't be surprised if Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, or maybe even Carlos Lee was gone in the next month.
Maybe the most important of the Monday beat downs, the St. Louis Cardinals made a statement to the Cincinatti Reds that the Central was not won yet. Card's upstart pitcher Jaime Garcia threw six quality innings, striking out six, and even getting two hits in the process. Five Cardinals drove in two runners, and St. Louis raked 16 hits. Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo had one of his worst starts of the year, allowing 7 runs in just 4.1 innings, and the struggling Reds bullpen didn't help matters. If the Reds are indeed going to contend the for N.L. Central, then they are going to need more consistent pitching. Might the Reds pick up the newly available Dontrelle Willis, or Jarrod Washburn. Will they try and trade for Oswalt or Cliff Lee? Could be very interesting if they did.
The N.Y. Mets allowed the most runs in the history of PETCO Park yesterday. Ugh! Shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam in the second inning. In addition to the 19 hits the San Diego Padres laid down, the Mets helped them out with 8 walks. Chase Headley made the most of the opportunity, going 4-5, driving in a runner, and scoring four runs himself. Three Mets pitchers allowed 16 runs in six innings, but embarrassingly Oliver Perez came in for clean-up duty and showing that he couldn't even do that well. But with Perez refusing assignment to the minors, the Mets are stuck with a guy who can't even mop-up terrible games. The Padres continue to surprise just about everyone and remain at the top of the N.L. West heap.
Those were some lopsided games on Monday. But sometimes it's great to watch one team demolish another. I always feel a little bad for the team getting pummeled, though. But you know what the best revenge is? Go do it to them the next day. Play ball!
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