The toughest job in sports journalism, without question, is a beat writer covering a Major League team.
There are no off days and from mid-February through October these guys pound out story after story, day after day.
They have to deal with hundreds of personalities (good and bad or both), not just from the team they cover but the opposing teams as well. They deal with deadlines, day games, night games, doubleheaders, odd travel schedules and all sorts of inconveniences like a steady diet of press box food and cranky media relations people. If they get stuck with a bad and boring team to cover it makes for a long season. Real long.
What about the announcers? They cover the team every day. True. But radio broadcasters don't have to fill space in a newspaper. Basically, the prep work for a radio/TV announcer comes before the game. Once the game ends it's "See ya tomorrow!" The beat writer has to go into the clubhouses, grab quotes then work on the game story that he's been writing and re-writing during the game.
I always feel bad when a writer, in a 6-1 game heading into the last inning or so, has his story pretty much written. A routine game to write about, get a few quotes to spice it up and it's a relatively easy night. Then the trailing team rallies to tie it and the game goes extra innings. The first story is scrapped. The deadline is approaching. Everything changes. The broadcasters just think, "Damn, extra innings. I gotta stay a little while longer."
Baseball writers don't only write about the game either. They do feature stories, opinion pieces and whatever else the sports editor throws at them.
When do baseball writers sleep? I don't know. How much time do they spend with their families? Not much.
Would you like to be a baseball beat writer? I wouldn't. Radio announcer, yes indeed, sign me up in a heartbeat.
Have I convinced you that a baseball beat writer has the toughest job in sports journalism? If so, the next time you see a baseball beat writer schlubbing about, go up to him and give him a hug. They need it. And then they'll probably write about it.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Splits
Barry Bonds' wife has filed for divorce in Los Angeles after 12 years of marriage.
My question...what took so long?
My question...what took so long?
Friday, February 26, 2010
Say It's So Joe!
According to Phil Mushnick's media column in the New York Post today, Joe Morgan is "unlikely" to be back in the ESPN TV booth for Sunday night baseball this season. One candidate to replace Morgan, according to Mushnick is Bobby Valentine.
Valentine would be an awesome replacement.
As for Morgan, it is hard to believe that someone who was a Hall of Fame player, has such little basic baseball knowledge. He spewed cliches, gave us too much of "when I was playing..." and came across as doing very little prep work. Maybe he brought the old, "I'm Joe Morgan and I played the game so I just have to show up and talk into the mike and I'm set" attitude to the booth.
I won't miss Joe Morgan at all and I'm guessing Jon Miller won't after years of covering up for Morgan's at times ridiculous commentary.
Still, I give the guy credit, he could play, elbow flapping and all.
Valentine would be an awesome replacement.
As for Morgan, it is hard to believe that someone who was a Hall of Fame player, has such little basic baseball knowledge. He spewed cliches, gave us too much of "when I was playing..." and came across as doing very little prep work. Maybe he brought the old, "I'm Joe Morgan and I played the game so I just have to show up and talk into the mike and I'm set" attitude to the booth.
I won't miss Joe Morgan at all and I'm guessing Jon Miller won't after years of covering up for Morgan's at times ridiculous commentary.
Still, I give the guy credit, he could play, elbow flapping and all.
Mark Reponds...
Mark McGwire said he was saddened by his brother's tell all book that will be available on Monday, wondering how a family member could write such a thing. He added, "I don't plan on ever seeing him again."
That's a mistake. McGwire should see his younger brother one more time. He should amp up on steroids to work himself into a nice roid rage. Then he should go visit baby bro and kick his ass from here to there and back again.
How did these once close brothers drift apart?
Apparently, in 2002, Jay McGwire's step son tickled Mark who then spilled coffee on himself. He gave the kid a swat on the backside which irritated Jay's wife so much that she refused to go to Mark's wedding. The brothers haven't spoken since.
That tell's me that Jay's wife is an idiot. You don't go alienating family members who are multi-millionaires. It's not too bright is it? The other stupid thing she's done is marrying that loser Jay McGwire.
That's a mistake. McGwire should see his younger brother one more time. He should amp up on steroids to work himself into a nice roid rage. Then he should go visit baby bro and kick his ass from here to there and back again.
How did these once close brothers drift apart?
Apparently, in 2002, Jay McGwire's step son tickled Mark who then spilled coffee on himself. He gave the kid a swat on the backside which irritated Jay's wife so much that she refused to go to Mark's wedding. The brothers haven't spoken since.
That tell's me that Jay's wife is an idiot. You don't go alienating family members who are multi-millionaires. It's not too bright is it? The other stupid thing she's done is marrying that loser Jay McGwire.
Brent not Brett
Stumbled upon a really good baseball website, www.brentmayne.com.
Brent Mayne carved out a nice 15-year big league career. He made over 14-million dollars according to baseballreference.com. Any career in which you make that kind of scratch is pretty good so long as it is ethical and moral.
Hold on, Alex Rodriguez just called. BRB...........
I'm back, here's a transcript of our conversation:
BR: Hello?
AR: Hey BR, it's me A-Rod.
BR: Hi Alex, I'm just writing on my baseball blog. Have you seen it yet?
AR: Yeah, it's pretty stupid.
BR: Will you tell some of your friends about it?
AR: No.
BR: So, what's up?
AR: I was looking up the stats on Brent Mayne.
BR: Really? What a coincidence. I was writing on my blog about Mayne.
AR: Your blog is stupid.
BR: Yeah, I know.
AR: Anyway, I saw that Mayne only made like 14-million in his career. Isn't that pretty sad?
BR: I'd take that in a heartbeat.
AR: Bill, you work in radio. You would take anything over minimum wage.
BR: Good point Alex.
AR: Anyway, I've made over $231 million in my career and I'll top 300-million in three more seasons. That's more than Jeter. That's pretty cool don't you think?
BR: Not bad.
AR: Anyway, I think I'll call Brent Mayne and tell him that? Do you think he'll mind?
BR: No, not at all.
AR: Bill, good talking to you. I have to go kiss myself in the mirror now.
BR: Later Alex.
AR: See ya BR.
Click
Anyhow, when I think of Brent Mayne's career I think of three things. First, I remember a game when he pitched, yes pitched, a scoreless 12th inning at Coors Field when the Rockies ran out of pitchers. Colorado scored in the bottom of the inning to give Mayne the win over the Braves. He retired from the big leagues with a career record of 1-0 and an ERA of 0.00. It should be pointed out that this was pre-humidor at Coors Field. Impressive. He also retired two future Hall of Famers in Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine (I know he was a pitcher...but a good hitting pitcher!). The loser by the way was John Rocker and after the game Mayne said, "I'm glad to get the win, especially over that douche Rocker."
Actually, Mayne didn't say that quote but it would have been classic if he did.
The second thing I remember was standing three feet away from Mayne in the little Coors Field interview room adjacent to the Rockies clubhouse the day he got traded back to the Royals. He looked stunned. A lot of Rockies fans were upset at the trade that brought Sal Fasano and Mac Suzuki to Colorado. Mayne, in his year and a half with the Rocks hit .311 and did a real nice job behind the plate. I recall asking him a question in that press conference but I can't recall what it was. Probably a dumb question.
The final thing I remember was a sales guy at the radio station named Steve. He always called Mayne "Brett." I would correct him and say, "It's Brent, Steve." He would go, "Oh yeah, Brett." Finally one day I snapped and said, "Steve, his name is Brent with an N. B-R-E-N-T." Steve said, "Brent? Really? I didn't know that. I thought it was Brett." True story.
Anyway, go check out Mayne's website. You'll like it.
Brent Mayne carved out a nice 15-year big league career. He made over 14-million dollars according to baseballreference.com. Any career in which you make that kind of scratch is pretty good so long as it is ethical and moral.
Hold on, Alex Rodriguez just called. BRB...........
I'm back, here's a transcript of our conversation:
BR: Hello?
AR: Hey BR, it's me A-Rod.
BR: Hi Alex, I'm just writing on my baseball blog. Have you seen it yet?
AR: Yeah, it's pretty stupid.
BR: Will you tell some of your friends about it?
AR: No.
BR: So, what's up?
AR: I was looking up the stats on Brent Mayne.
BR: Really? What a coincidence. I was writing on my blog about Mayne.
AR: Your blog is stupid.
BR: Yeah, I know.
AR: Anyway, I saw that Mayne only made like 14-million in his career. Isn't that pretty sad?
BR: I'd take that in a heartbeat.
AR: Bill, you work in radio. You would take anything over minimum wage.
BR: Good point Alex.
AR: Anyway, I've made over $231 million in my career and I'll top 300-million in three more seasons. That's more than Jeter. That's pretty cool don't you think?
BR: Not bad.
AR: Anyway, I think I'll call Brent Mayne and tell him that? Do you think he'll mind?
BR: No, not at all.
AR: Bill, good talking to you. I have to go kiss myself in the mirror now.
BR: Later Alex.
AR: See ya BR.
Click
Anyhow, when I think of Brent Mayne's career I think of three things. First, I remember a game when he pitched, yes pitched, a scoreless 12th inning at Coors Field when the Rockies ran out of pitchers. Colorado scored in the bottom of the inning to give Mayne the win over the Braves. He retired from the big leagues with a career record of 1-0 and an ERA of 0.00. It should be pointed out that this was pre-humidor at Coors Field. Impressive. He also retired two future Hall of Famers in Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine (I know he was a pitcher...but a good hitting pitcher!). The loser by the way was John Rocker and after the game Mayne said, "I'm glad to get the win, especially over that douche Rocker."
Actually, Mayne didn't say that quote but it would have been classic if he did.
The second thing I remember was standing three feet away from Mayne in the little Coors Field interview room adjacent to the Rockies clubhouse the day he got traded back to the Royals. He looked stunned. A lot of Rockies fans were upset at the trade that brought Sal Fasano and Mac Suzuki to Colorado. Mayne, in his year and a half with the Rocks hit .311 and did a real nice job behind the plate. I recall asking him a question in that press conference but I can't recall what it was. Probably a dumb question.
The final thing I remember was a sales guy at the radio station named Steve. He always called Mayne "Brett." I would correct him and say, "It's Brent, Steve." He would go, "Oh yeah, Brett." Finally one day I snapped and said, "Steve, his name is Brent with an N. B-R-E-N-T." Steve said, "Brent? Really? I didn't know that. I thought it was Brett." True story.
Anyway, go check out Mayne's website. You'll like it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
A Crappy Guy
Mark McGwire's little brother Jay has written a book about how he got Mark started on steroids.
Guess what? We all know McGwire did steroids. We knew before the "I'm not here to talk about the past" congressional hearing and it was confirmed by McGwire's weak confession this winter that he was on the juice. His legacy is tainted just like Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmiero and all the other cheaters who have been dumb enough to use and stupid enough to get caught.
Jay McGwire hasn't talked to his older bro in eight years. Jay is a former heavy steroid user and competitive body builder. I've always thought that body builders have something deficient in their brains and scream out for attention by expanding their bodies to freakish proportions. Something has to be wrong for a person to want to look so unnatural and to pose in front of an audience while oiled up and wearing skimpy underwear. A certifiable freak show.
Jay McGwire says he suffered from side effects of his steroid use, namely depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and liver problems. He claims he wrote this book to warn kids of the dangers of steroids. Sure he did. It's all about the kids! It's not about capitalizing on his brother's name and making money off him. What a piece of crap Jay McGwire is. Just because Mark is scumbag too doesn't mean you should sell him up the river for a few bucks.
I hope Jay McGwire's tell-all book flops. It should because it is garbage and anyone who purchases this book is a schmuck who is putting money in Jay McGwire's pockets. That would make me feel dirty.
The McGwires...such a nice family.
Guess what? We all know McGwire did steroids. We knew before the "I'm not here to talk about the past" congressional hearing and it was confirmed by McGwire's weak confession this winter that he was on the juice. His legacy is tainted just like Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmiero and all the other cheaters who have been dumb enough to use and stupid enough to get caught.
Jay McGwire hasn't talked to his older bro in eight years. Jay is a former heavy steroid user and competitive body builder. I've always thought that body builders have something deficient in their brains and scream out for attention by expanding their bodies to freakish proportions. Something has to be wrong for a person to want to look so unnatural and to pose in front of an audience while oiled up and wearing skimpy underwear. A certifiable freak show.
Jay McGwire says he suffered from side effects of his steroid use, namely depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and liver problems. He claims he wrote this book to warn kids of the dangers of steroids. Sure he did. It's all about the kids! It's not about capitalizing on his brother's name and making money off him. What a piece of crap Jay McGwire is. Just because Mark is scumbag too doesn't mean you should sell him up the river for a few bucks.
I hope Jay McGwire's tell-all book flops. It should because it is garbage and anyone who purchases this book is a schmuck who is putting money in Jay McGwire's pockets. That would make me feel dirty.
The McGwires...such a nice family.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Mets Sign Barajas!
The Mets have signed catcher and lifetime .238 hitter Rod Barajas. Well, looks like the Mets have locked up 4th place this season. What a move!
The Nationals are displeased.
The Nationals are displeased.
Flying Meats
I'm pulling for John Coomer to win his lawsuit against the Kansas City Royals.
It seems last September, the Royals mascot, a guy in a lion's costume (huh? Wouldn't a ripoff of the Burger King mascot be more prudent? I digress.) threw a hot dog that clocked Coomer in his left eye.
Coomer suffered a detached retina and cataracts to his eye. Not to mention the humiliation of getting popped in the eyeball by a wayward hot dog. He's suing the Royals for $25,000 for his injuries. By the way, Coomer needs a new lawyer. He should sue KC for a million dollars and settle for a few hundred thousand. 25K is nothing at all. Nothing!
When a person purchases a ticket to a Major League game, there is a disclaimer on the back of the ticket that the team is not responsible for the inherant dangers of attending the game, such as being struck by a foul ball or flying bat. Nothing on the back of the ticket talks about being nailed by flying meats from a guy in a lion's suit.
I hope Coomer wins his suit. For 25-grand you think the Royals would just pay up. It would be the right thing to do. They should pay his medical bills and offer him season tickets for a year. Wait, scratch that second thought. Why punish the guy more?
Hopefully mascots across America will tone down their tired acts of shooting things into the crowd. While a patron should always be alert for foul balls screaming into the stands, they shouldn't have to worry about some dopey mascot shooting or throwing objects haphazardly at them.
It seems last September, the Royals mascot, a guy in a lion's costume (huh? Wouldn't a ripoff of the Burger King mascot be more prudent? I digress.) threw a hot dog that clocked Coomer in his left eye.
Coomer suffered a detached retina and cataracts to his eye. Not to mention the humiliation of getting popped in the eyeball by a wayward hot dog. He's suing the Royals for $25,000 for his injuries. By the way, Coomer needs a new lawyer. He should sue KC for a million dollars and settle for a few hundred thousand. 25K is nothing at all. Nothing!
When a person purchases a ticket to a Major League game, there is a disclaimer on the back of the ticket that the team is not responsible for the inherant dangers of attending the game, such as being struck by a foul ball or flying bat. Nothing on the back of the ticket talks about being nailed by flying meats from a guy in a lion's suit.
I hope Coomer wins his suit. For 25-grand you think the Royals would just pay up. It would be the right thing to do. They should pay his medical bills and offer him season tickets for a year. Wait, scratch that second thought. Why punish the guy more?
Hopefully mascots across America will tone down their tired acts of shooting things into the crowd. While a patron should always be alert for foul balls screaming into the stands, they shouldn't have to worry about some dopey mascot shooting or throwing objects haphazardly at them.
Predictions? Not yet homies.
People keep asking me where I think this team or that team will finish. Since I live in Denver, most of the questions, of course, pertain to the Baltimore Orioles. Ok, bad joke.
People ask me about the Rockies and I tell them that I think the Rockies will win the National League West for the first time.
I'm also picking the Mariners to take the AL West and the Yankees to win the AL East again. That's about as far as I'll go with my predictions right about now. It's not even March. Relax.
I'll make sure I post my 2010 predictions by, or on, April 1st. With the season officially beginning Sunday night April 4th when the Yankees visit the Red Sox, this will give you ample time to go to Las Vegas and cash in on my picks. When they pan out, a little (or large) gratuity would be the nice thing to do, don't you think?
People ask me about the Rockies and I tell them that I think the Rockies will win the National League West for the first time.
I'm also picking the Mariners to take the AL West and the Yankees to win the AL East again. That's about as far as I'll go with my predictions right about now. It's not even March. Relax.
I'll make sure I post my 2010 predictions by, or on, April 1st. With the season officially beginning Sunday night April 4th when the Yankees visit the Red Sox, this will give you ample time to go to Las Vegas and cash in on my picks. When they pan out, a little (or large) gratuity would be the nice thing to do, don't you think?
Mr. Highly Motivated
Red Sox third baseman, for now, Mike Lowell, says he is highly motivated this spring.
Shouldn't players always be highly motivated?
Anyway, the motivated one will get plenty of action in spring training as the Red Sox look to showcase him. With the addition of Adrian Beltre to play third, Lowell is destined to be in a different uni come Opening Day.
First though, he'll have to show he is healthy after offseason thumb surgery. The Bostons hope he proves he's able because Lowell is set to collect 12.5 mil this season. The Sox would like someone else to pay that tab or at least much of it.
What teams are in the market for an expensive, older third baseman who has shown signs of breaking down (hip, thumb)?
The Cardinals might have an interest. Unproven David Freese will get the first crack at third. I suspect Tony LaRussa would rather have a healthy Lowell at third for a season.
The Phillies have Placido Polanco penciled in at the hot corner. Polanco has played some third in the past but is really a second baseman. Might Lowell fit with the Phils?
Maybe Boston can pawn him off on the Pirates. The Pirates don't need Lowell and can't afford him. But they're pretty darn stupid. Maybe the Red Sox can trick Pittsburgh to take him.
Anyway, Lowell is 36 years old today. Happy Birthday Mike...and stay highly motivated, not just motivated.
Shouldn't players always be highly motivated?
Anyway, the motivated one will get plenty of action in spring training as the Red Sox look to showcase him. With the addition of Adrian Beltre to play third, Lowell is destined to be in a different uni come Opening Day.
First though, he'll have to show he is healthy after offseason thumb surgery. The Bostons hope he proves he's able because Lowell is set to collect 12.5 mil this season. The Sox would like someone else to pay that tab or at least much of it.
What teams are in the market for an expensive, older third baseman who has shown signs of breaking down (hip, thumb)?
The Cardinals might have an interest. Unproven David Freese will get the first crack at third. I suspect Tony LaRussa would rather have a healthy Lowell at third for a season.
The Phillies have Placido Polanco penciled in at the hot corner. Polanco has played some third in the past but is really a second baseman. Might Lowell fit with the Phils?
Maybe Boston can pawn him off on the Pirates. The Pirates don't need Lowell and can't afford him. But they're pretty darn stupid. Maybe the Red Sox can trick Pittsburgh to take him.
Anyway, Lowell is 36 years old today. Happy Birthday Mike...and stay highly motivated, not just motivated.
Uh Oh!
British Rugby player Terry Newton has been suspended for two years for testing positive for human growth hormone.
Yeah, so what?
Well, it seems that there is now reliable testing for HGH that didn't exist before.
Major League Baseball announced that they will begin testing minor leaguers for HGH.
Hopefully soon, Major League players will be tested.
How many baseball players today are saying, "Oh crap!"?
Yeah, so what?
Well, it seems that there is now reliable testing for HGH that didn't exist before.
Major League Baseball announced that they will begin testing minor leaguers for HGH.
Hopefully soon, Major League players will be tested.
How many baseball players today are saying, "Oh crap!"?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Future Hall of Famers?
A year ago, at the Rockies home opener, Colorado center fielder Dexter Fowler went 2-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. In the press box, Andy Cornell was the first, and maybe only person, to proclaim Fowler a "Future Hall of Famer!"
Taking Coach Cornell's cue, I've come up with a list of young players that I think have the potential to make it to the Hall of Fame. I've decided to select one player from each team and take my best shot at which guy will become a Hall of Famer. The one caveat will be the player has to have five years or less Major League experience. It would be too easy to predict guys like Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter. By the way, the aforementioned Dexter Fowler did not make my list. Sorry Andy.
American League:
Angels: Jered Weaver
Athletics: Andrew Bailey
Blue Jays: Adam Lind
Indians: Fausto Carmona
Mariners: Felix Hernandez
Orioles: Matt Wieters
Rangers: Scott Feldman
Rays: David Price
Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia
Royals: Joakim Soria
Tigers: Justin Verlander
Twins: Francisco Liriano
White Sox: John Danks
Yankees: Robinson Cano
National League:
Astros: Bud Norris
Braves: Brian McCann
Brewers: Ryan Braun
Cardinals: Colby Rasmus
Cubs: Josh Vitters
Diamondbacks: Mark Reynolds
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw
Giants: Tim Lincecum
Marlins: Josh Johnson
Mets: Josh Thole
Nationals: Stephen Strasburg
Padres: Kyle Blanks
Phillies: Cole Hamels
Pirates: Andrew McCutchen
Reds: Aroldis Chapman
Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki
Taking Coach Cornell's cue, I've come up with a list of young players that I think have the potential to make it to the Hall of Fame. I've decided to select one player from each team and take my best shot at which guy will become a Hall of Famer. The one caveat will be the player has to have five years or less Major League experience. It would be too easy to predict guys like Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter. By the way, the aforementioned Dexter Fowler did not make my list. Sorry Andy.
American League:
Angels: Jered Weaver
Athletics: Andrew Bailey
Blue Jays: Adam Lind
Indians: Fausto Carmona
Mariners: Felix Hernandez
Orioles: Matt Wieters
Rangers: Scott Feldman
Rays: David Price
Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia
Royals: Joakim Soria
Tigers: Justin Verlander
Twins: Francisco Liriano
White Sox: John Danks
Yankees: Robinson Cano
National League:
Astros: Bud Norris
Braves: Brian McCann
Brewers: Ryan Braun
Cardinals: Colby Rasmus
Cubs: Josh Vitters
Diamondbacks: Mark Reynolds
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw
Giants: Tim Lincecum
Marlins: Josh Johnson
Mets: Josh Thole
Nationals: Stephen Strasburg
Padres: Kyle Blanks
Phillies: Cole Hamels
Pirates: Andrew McCutchen
Reds: Aroldis Chapman
Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki
Manny Done After 2010?
Manny Ramirez says he won't be back with the Dodgers next season. I'm sure the Dodgers are saying "Good riddance."
Ramirez probably realizes he's worn out his welcome already in L-A. The 50-game suspension last year for using illegal performance enhancing drugs didn't help. Nor did the .218 average in September.
"Manny Being Manny" really means Manny being selfish and not being a good teammate. It means slacking on the bases and not hustling in the outfield. It means looking like a bum in a baseball uniform. It also means a guy who is an idiot savant when it comes to hitting. The guy can flat out rake. But he'll be 38 in May and who knows how he'll fare without his little helpers (PED's).
He probably sees the writing on the wall. The Dodgers won't want him back and nobody will be foolish enough to pay him the 23-million plus that he's currently making.
Still, I find it comical that Manny is talking retirement. What is he going to do when he quits? Take up stamp collecting? Get a job? He'll play until he can't hit anymore. Then the decision to hang it up will be made for him.
Ramirez probably realizes he's worn out his welcome already in L-A. The 50-game suspension last year for using illegal performance enhancing drugs didn't help. Nor did the .218 average in September.
"Manny Being Manny" really means Manny being selfish and not being a good teammate. It means slacking on the bases and not hustling in the outfield. It means looking like a bum in a baseball uniform. It also means a guy who is an idiot savant when it comes to hitting. The guy can flat out rake. But he'll be 38 in May and who knows how he'll fare without his little helpers (PED's).
He probably sees the writing on the wall. The Dodgers won't want him back and nobody will be foolish enough to pay him the 23-million plus that he's currently making.
Still, I find it comical that Manny is talking retirement. What is he going to do when he quits? Take up stamp collecting? Get a job? He'll play until he can't hit anymore. Then the decision to hang it up will be made for him.
Stephen Strasburg
If you look up Stephen Strasburg’s highlights on YouTube you will see one very impressive pitcher. It is easy to understand why the Nationals made him the number one pick in the draft.
The question around Washington’s camp is if Strasburg will start the season in the minors or break camp with the big club.
Normally, I would think some minor league seasoning would be a good thing. However, Strasburg is not your normal, run of the mill, just a year out of college player.
Is he one of the five best starters on the Nationals? Let’s see. John Lannan went 9-13 last season with an ERA of 3.88. Garrett Mock was 3-10, 5.62, Miguel Batista 7-4, 4.04 (with Seattle), Scott Olsen 2-4, 6.02, Shairon Martis 4-2, 5.25 and Jason Marquis, with the Rockies checked in at 15-13, 4.04 with his typical second half fade. There ya go, the guys vying for the Nationals five starting slots. Are you telling me Strasburg isn’t better than those guys right now?
If Strasburg is one of the five best starters this spring for Washington he deserves to begin the season in the Majors. If he messes the bed, then send him down to get his act together in the minors.
Face it; the Nationals aren’t ready to compete for the post-season just yet. So what if Strasburg has some growing pains on the big league level?
If he’s ready there is no point in sending him to the minors.
The only reason for the Nationals to ship him out would be so they can say they didn't rush him. If I'm a fan of the ex-Expos, I say let him learn and take his lumps with the big league team.
The question around Washington’s camp is if Strasburg will start the season in the minors or break camp with the big club.
Normally, I would think some minor league seasoning would be a good thing. However, Strasburg is not your normal, run of the mill, just a year out of college player.
Is he one of the five best starters on the Nationals? Let’s see. John Lannan went 9-13 last season with an ERA of 3.88. Garrett Mock was 3-10, 5.62, Miguel Batista 7-4, 4.04 (with Seattle), Scott Olsen 2-4, 6.02, Shairon Martis 4-2, 5.25 and Jason Marquis, with the Rockies checked in at 15-13, 4.04 with his typical second half fade. There ya go, the guys vying for the Nationals five starting slots. Are you telling me Strasburg isn’t better than those guys right now?
If Strasburg is one of the five best starters this spring for Washington he deserves to begin the season in the Majors. If he messes the bed, then send him down to get his act together in the minors.
Face it; the Nationals aren’t ready to compete for the post-season just yet. So what if Strasburg has some growing pains on the big league level?
If he’s ready there is no point in sending him to the minors.
The only reason for the Nationals to ship him out would be so they can say they didn't rush him. If I'm a fan of the ex-Expos, I say let him learn and take his lumps with the big league team.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Coach Cornell Disappoints
On our radio show last night, Andy Cornell was shaking his head when Casey Bloyer and me were talking about pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training.
Last season, Andy made great strides attitude-wise towards baseball. He actually went to some Rockies games on his own where previously I had to drag him kicking and screaming to the park.
Something happened over the off-season though and Coach Cornell has taken a step backwards in his appreciation of baseball. Once again, Andy is beefing that the season is too long. I think he truly believes that the baseball season should start after the NFL draft and end just before the NFL and college football seasons begin.
I'll have to work on him again and get him back into the proper baseball frame of mind. Don't worry, when the Rockies are marching towards the World Series he'll be the biggest baseball fan around. Again. But right now I must say I'm disappointed in The Coach.
Last season, Andy made great strides attitude-wise towards baseball. He actually went to some Rockies games on his own where previously I had to drag him kicking and screaming to the park.
Something happened over the off-season though and Coach Cornell has taken a step backwards in his appreciation of baseball. Once again, Andy is beefing that the season is too long. I think he truly believes that the baseball season should start after the NFL draft and end just before the NFL and college football seasons begin.
I'll have to work on him again and get him back into the proper baseball frame of mind. Don't worry, when the Rockies are marching towards the World Series he'll be the biggest baseball fan around. Again. But right now I must say I'm disappointed in The Coach.
More Johnny Damon
Johnny Damon has 2,425 lifetime hits. If he plays another four years and has similar production to his previous four years, he'll get 3,000 hits. In the past four seasons Damon has racked up 636 hits.
So, if Damon does in fact reach 3,000 hits, is he a Hall of Famer?
It would be hard to keep him out of the Hall. Add at least two World Series titles, a bunch of stolen bases and runs scored and I think he makes it.
What if he finishes his career with 2,950 hits? Would those missing 50-hits keep him out of the Hall of Fame?
So, if Damon does in fact reach 3,000 hits, is he a Hall of Famer?
It would be hard to keep him out of the Hall. Add at least two World Series titles, a bunch of stolen bases and runs scored and I think he makes it.
What if he finishes his career with 2,950 hits? Would those missing 50-hits keep him out of the Hall of Fame?
Tigers Fail Basic Math
The Tigers traded 29-year old Curtis Granderson to the Yankees this past off-season because they couldn’t afford to keep him. Granderson, who turns 30 next month, will make 5.5 million dollars this year.
Detroit just signed 36-year old Johnny Damon to a one-year, 8-million dollar deal.
Granderson is younger, cheaper and a better player.
Damon, who hit 24 homers in the new Yankee Stadium won’t put up those power numbers in Comerica Park. He’s on the decline, he can’t throw, he’s older and more expensive.
What are the Tigers thinking?
Detroit just signed 36-year old Johnny Damon to a one-year, 8-million dollar deal.
Granderson is younger, cheaper and a better player.
Damon, who hit 24 homers in the new Yankee Stadium won’t put up those power numbers in Comerica Park. He’s on the decline, he can’t throw, he’s older and more expensive.
What are the Tigers thinking?
Gimmicky Ballparks
In the previous post I mentioned the train track high above left-field at Minute Maid Park in Houston. That park also features a steep hill in center-field.
There are other new ballparks that have odd features to try and make them unique and different.
To me they are trying too hard with some of these parks.
One of the nice things about the old time parks is the quirks they had were natural and many times necessary with the lay of the land. The reason Fenway Park is Fenway Park is because they had to wedge it into a city block. Plus, if you've ever been to Boston, the city blocks there are not always a simple square or rectangle.
The same with Wrigley Field. They had to fit into the environs of the neighborhood.
Look at pictures of the old classic parks that have met the wrecking ball, like Ebbets Field, Forbes Field or League Park. They were looking for a practical way to build a baseball park within the limitations that were presented. They didn't have vast acreage to just plop down a giant facility surrounded by parking lots.
Plus, many of the oddities of the old parks were a result of expanding the stadium. Fenway has had to be creative to wedge more and more seats into the place.
The old parks looked the way they did due to necessity. The new yards just look to throw in kooky stuff which to me doesn't make it unique. It makes it seem desperate, a stadium crying out for attention.
One nice thing about Camden Yards in Baltimore is that the warehouse wasn't built as a feature of the park. It was already there and the park was constructed to blend into the imposing warehouse.
At Coors Field, they have a purple row of seats in the upper deck to signify the one mile above sea level mark. That isn't gimmicky, that was just a good idea.
Another good idea was to have the right-field wall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh stand 21-feet high, to honor Roberto Clemente who wore number 21.
Do you think Minute Maid Park needed a train track above the left-field stands? No, of course not. However, if there was actually a train track there before the park was erected then it would be a neat feature, not a gimmick.
The great new parks, like in San Francisco, fit into and enhance the surrounding area which in turn enhances the ballpark. Or, subtle things, like the purple row at Coors or the 21-foot high wall in Pittsburgh are just neat ideas.
The parks that have to invent things like Comerica Park and the stupid ferris wheel outside the gates or the swimming pool in Arizona leave something to be desired.
There are other new ballparks that have odd features to try and make them unique and different.
To me they are trying too hard with some of these parks.
One of the nice things about the old time parks is the quirks they had were natural and many times necessary with the lay of the land. The reason Fenway Park is Fenway Park is because they had to wedge it into a city block. Plus, if you've ever been to Boston, the city blocks there are not always a simple square or rectangle.
The same with Wrigley Field. They had to fit into the environs of the neighborhood.
Look at pictures of the old classic parks that have met the wrecking ball, like Ebbets Field, Forbes Field or League Park. They were looking for a practical way to build a baseball park within the limitations that were presented. They didn't have vast acreage to just plop down a giant facility surrounded by parking lots.
Plus, many of the oddities of the old parks were a result of expanding the stadium. Fenway has had to be creative to wedge more and more seats into the place.
The old parks looked the way they did due to necessity. The new yards just look to throw in kooky stuff which to me doesn't make it unique. It makes it seem desperate, a stadium crying out for attention.
One nice thing about Camden Yards in Baltimore is that the warehouse wasn't built as a feature of the park. It was already there and the park was constructed to blend into the imposing warehouse.
At Coors Field, they have a purple row of seats in the upper deck to signify the one mile above sea level mark. That isn't gimmicky, that was just a good idea.
Another good idea was to have the right-field wall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh stand 21-feet high, to honor Roberto Clemente who wore number 21.
Do you think Minute Maid Park needed a train track above the left-field stands? No, of course not. However, if there was actually a train track there before the park was erected then it would be a neat feature, not a gimmick.
The great new parks, like in San Francisco, fit into and enhance the surrounding area which in turn enhances the ballpark. Or, subtle things, like the purple row at Coors or the 21-foot high wall in Pittsburgh are just neat ideas.
The parks that have to invent things like Comerica Park and the stupid ferris wheel outside the gates or the swimming pool in Arizona leave something to be desired.
Scary Good
Albert Pujols has put up monster numbers throughout his nine year career. This includes past five years or so he's had a very tender right elbow that he thought might require majore reconstructive surgery.
Well, Albert is fine after the removal of six bone chips in his right elbow this past off-season. The doctors told him that he would not need additional surgery.
Pujols is pain-free and worry-free. If he's put up freakish numbers while nursing a painful elbow, what will those numbers be with a trouble-free elbow?
Add Matt Holliday hitting behing him and you might as well give Albert the 2010 MVP right now.
Just wondering, what do you think of when you think of Albert Pujols signature moment?
For me, it's the titanic, 2-out, 3-run homer he belted off Brad Lidge in Houston in Game 5 of the NLCS in 2005. You knew the Astros were in trouble as soon as the ball left Lidge's hand. Pujols nearly cleared the left-field train track at Minute Maid Park. I'm surprised he didn't knock out the cement wall that the ball banged against. It was as dramatic a homer as we've seen in the past decade even though the Astros won the pennant in 6-games.
Anyway, that is a home run that I won't and can't forget. I'm guessing Lidge will remember that shot for a long time too. Long time as in forever.
Well, Albert is fine after the removal of six bone chips in his right elbow this past off-season. The doctors told him that he would not need additional surgery.
Pujols is pain-free and worry-free. If he's put up freakish numbers while nursing a painful elbow, what will those numbers be with a trouble-free elbow?
Add Matt Holliday hitting behing him and you might as well give Albert the 2010 MVP right now.
Just wondering, what do you think of when you think of Albert Pujols signature moment?
For me, it's the titanic, 2-out, 3-run homer he belted off Brad Lidge in Houston in Game 5 of the NLCS in 2005. You knew the Astros were in trouble as soon as the ball left Lidge's hand. Pujols nearly cleared the left-field train track at Minute Maid Park. I'm surprised he didn't knock out the cement wall that the ball banged against. It was as dramatic a homer as we've seen in the past decade even though the Astros won the pennant in 6-games.
Anyway, that is a home run that I won't and can't forget. I'm guessing Lidge will remember that shot for a long time too. Long time as in forever.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Positive Sign For Yanks
It is February 18th...and Yankees DH/1B Nick Johnson is not yet on the disabled list. I don't want to compare Johnson to Cal Ripken or Lou Gehrig just yet but things are looking good.
Old Guy's Baseball
I still play baseball despite being well past my prime, if I ever had a prime. Why do I still play? Because I love playing, simple as that. For the record, it's baseball, not softball. I'm not a big softball guy. As a matter of fact, I hate softball. For those who play it, great. It's just not for me. If you are a tripod, you should play baseball.
One of the reasons I enjoy playing in the Over 35-League here in Denver is because I'm fortunate enough to play on a team with a bunch of great guys. Yes, we are competitive and want to win. But there isn't anybody on our team who is one of those idiots who goes ballistic with umpires, yells at the other team, gets angry when a teammate makes an error, throws equipment all the time or gets pissed off when he's batting 9th or playing a position he doesn't want to play. You know the type. The guy who treats every game like Game 7 of the World Series. The real World Series that is. Nobody is getting signed to a pro contract from our league, although I keep telling Twins scout Ed Henderson he should sign me. For some reason Ed keeps saying, "I'll see. I don't know what my supervisors would think though."
Anyway, the league I'm in is called NABA, which stands for National Adult Baseball Association and they have league chapters all across the country. It is very well run and surprisingly quite organized.
The reason I bring all this up is because I just saw, on YouTube, a complete embarrassment to all who play and watch baseball. It is from a NABA game in California and features the kind of player I'm glad I'm not teammates with. The guy in the video, in an argument tells the umpire to "have another beer." When the umpire rightfully ejects him, the player, in his whiny voice says, "What did I say? I didn't do anything."
Then Mr. Intensity asks the ump if he drinks at his job and points his finger in the umpires face. The ump tried to back away but this knucklehead gets in the umps face. Pushing ensues and a semi-brawl breaks out. The idiot cameraman also is chirping in like a douchebag.
Teams like this give adult baseball a bad name. Face it, if you behave like this in an old guys baseball league you have issues and need to get a life.
My feeling is play hard, you have fun and it's alright to question the umpire on a call. That's baseball. But if you behave like the schmuck in the video you've crossed the line.
If you want to see the video, just go to YouTube and type in "Your Gone NABA."
You'll see the definition of a jackass right before your very eyes.
One of the reasons I enjoy playing in the Over 35-League here in Denver is because I'm fortunate enough to play on a team with a bunch of great guys. Yes, we are competitive and want to win. But there isn't anybody on our team who is one of those idiots who goes ballistic with umpires, yells at the other team, gets angry when a teammate makes an error, throws equipment all the time or gets pissed off when he's batting 9th or playing a position he doesn't want to play. You know the type. The guy who treats every game like Game 7 of the World Series. The real World Series that is. Nobody is getting signed to a pro contract from our league, although I keep telling Twins scout Ed Henderson he should sign me. For some reason Ed keeps saying, "I'll see. I don't know what my supervisors would think though."
Anyway, the league I'm in is called NABA, which stands for National Adult Baseball Association and they have league chapters all across the country. It is very well run and surprisingly quite organized.
The reason I bring all this up is because I just saw, on YouTube, a complete embarrassment to all who play and watch baseball. It is from a NABA game in California and features the kind of player I'm glad I'm not teammates with. The guy in the video, in an argument tells the umpire to "have another beer." When the umpire rightfully ejects him, the player, in his whiny voice says, "What did I say? I didn't do anything."
Then Mr. Intensity asks the ump if he drinks at his job and points his finger in the umpires face. The ump tried to back away but this knucklehead gets in the umps face. Pushing ensues and a semi-brawl breaks out. The idiot cameraman also is chirping in like a douchebag.
Teams like this give adult baseball a bad name. Face it, if you behave like this in an old guys baseball league you have issues and need to get a life.
My feeling is play hard, you have fun and it's alright to question the umpire on a call. That's baseball. But if you behave like the schmuck in the video you've crossed the line.
If you want to see the video, just go to YouTube and type in "Your Gone NABA."
You'll see the definition of a jackass right before your very eyes.
Jim Bibby
Former Pirates right-hander Jim Bibby passed away yesterday. He was 65. I always feel sad when old ballplayers die, especially the ones that I saw play and remember vividly, like Bibby.
He won 19-games twice but I most remember him for being a key component of the 1979 "We Are Family" Pirates. Bibby started two games in that series. He should have won Game 4 but the bullpen imploded late. He started Game 7 and allowed one run. He didn't get the decision but he got the ring as the Bucs beat the Orioles 4-1. Willie Stargell belted the decisive 2-run homer and was named World Series MVP. Willie is gone too. Bill Robinson and John "The Hammer" Milner are also deceased from that team.
While ballplayers age and then die, they always remain young and vibrant in our memories.
He won 19-games twice but I most remember him for being a key component of the 1979 "We Are Family" Pirates. Bibby started two games in that series. He should have won Game 4 but the bullpen imploded late. He started Game 7 and allowed one run. He didn't get the decision but he got the ring as the Bucs beat the Orioles 4-1. Willie Stargell belted the decisive 2-run homer and was named World Series MVP. Willie is gone too. Bill Robinson and John "The Hammer" Milner are also deceased from that team.
While ballplayers age and then die, they always remain young and vibrant in our memories.
Damon To White Sox?
Johnny Damon is still available. For the right price. While I originally expected Damon to go to the team that offers the most money, apparently it's not that simple. It seems Mrs. Damon prefers Chicago over Detroit. There's a shocker.
That said, I'm guessing Damon will sign with the Pale Hose. Perhaps Atlanta. But not Detroit although I hope the Tigers offer Damon the most money. Then we'll see who really wears the pants in that family.
That said, I'm guessing Damon will sign with the Pale Hose. Perhaps Atlanta. But not Detroit although I hope the Tigers offer Damon the most money. Then we'll see who really wears the pants in that family.
Still Pitching
While watching exciting video of pitchers exiting their vehicles and walking to their spring training clubhouses, MLB Network showed various Phillies showing up to camp. Then they showed video of a veteran pitcher already working out. That pitcher? Jamie Moyer.
Moyer is one of my favorite players because the guy obviously loves the game and has won 258 career games with a 37-mile per hour fastball. Moyer is the definition of a pitcher as opposed to a thrower. If he ever retires he will make an awesome pitching coach.
Moyer is now 47 years old. Can he possibly win 42 more games? If he does reach 300 career victories would he be a Hall of Famer? What if he only wins 295 games? What then?
About a year ago, I asked Kevin Wheeler (KMOX Radio) on our radio program what he thought of Moyer's chances for the Hall of Fame. Wheeler freaked out and basically said "No way. He's never been a dominant pitcher and he's compiled stats because he's hung on so long. His ERA is over four..."
Part of me agrees with Wheeler. You never think of Moyer as a Hall of Fame type pitcher. Just a guy who has been consistently solid over a long period of time. Still, shouldn't there be some reward for longevity? It's not as if Moyer only has compiled numbers. He's won a lot of games and has had two 20-win seasons. By comparison, Hall of Famer Don Sutton and future Hall of Fame Mike Mussina each had one 20-win season.
I'd like to see Moyer scratch and claw his way to 300 wins to see if he does get into the Hall of Fame. If he did get in, I wouldn't complain one bit.
I've never witnessed a no-hitter in person but the closest I came was on April 13, 1987 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Moyer, pitching for the Cubs took a no-hitter into the 9th inning. Juan Samuel singled cleanly to center leading off the bottom of the 9th...and was booed by the home fans! The Cubs won 5-2 as Moyer picked up the win with relief help from Lee Smith. Checking the boxscore, there were 3 Hall of Famers in that game. Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson for the Cubs, Mike Schmidt for the Phils. There are two more potential Hall of Famers who played in that near no-no...Lee Smith and yes, Jamie Moyer.
Moyer is one of my favorite players because the guy obviously loves the game and has won 258 career games with a 37-mile per hour fastball. Moyer is the definition of a pitcher as opposed to a thrower. If he ever retires he will make an awesome pitching coach.
Moyer is now 47 years old. Can he possibly win 42 more games? If he does reach 300 career victories would he be a Hall of Famer? What if he only wins 295 games? What then?
About a year ago, I asked Kevin Wheeler (KMOX Radio) on our radio program what he thought of Moyer's chances for the Hall of Fame. Wheeler freaked out and basically said "No way. He's never been a dominant pitcher and he's compiled stats because he's hung on so long. His ERA is over four..."
Part of me agrees with Wheeler. You never think of Moyer as a Hall of Fame type pitcher. Just a guy who has been consistently solid over a long period of time. Still, shouldn't there be some reward for longevity? It's not as if Moyer only has compiled numbers. He's won a lot of games and has had two 20-win seasons. By comparison, Hall of Famer Don Sutton and future Hall of Fame Mike Mussina each had one 20-win season.
I'd like to see Moyer scratch and claw his way to 300 wins to see if he does get into the Hall of Fame. If he did get in, I wouldn't complain one bit.
I've never witnessed a no-hitter in person but the closest I came was on April 13, 1987 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Moyer, pitching for the Cubs took a no-hitter into the 9th inning. Juan Samuel singled cleanly to center leading off the bottom of the 9th...and was booed by the home fans! The Cubs won 5-2 as Moyer picked up the win with relief help from Lee Smith. Checking the boxscore, there were 3 Hall of Famers in that game. Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson for the Cubs, Mike Schmidt for the Phils. There are two more potential Hall of Famers who played in that near no-no...Lee Smith and yes, Jamie Moyer.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Kendall The Magnificent
Jason Kendall has been a serviceable Major Leaguer over the years. A decent catcher, he has put together a career average of .290 although he hasn't approached that average the past three seasons. He has 75 homers in his career and 707 RBI's. His most impressive stat might be 177 career stolen bases, most of those coming in his early days with Pittsburgh. He's slowed down quite a bit since then which is only natural since he'll be 36 in June. Clearly, a player in decline.
So why did the Royals give him a 2-year, 6-million dollar contract? Because they're stupid, that's why.
Looking at the Royals roster, Kendall isn't the only retread picking up a paycheck. KC also has Kyle Farnsworth (Farnsworthless), Bruce Chen (I thought he retired three years ago), Matt Herges (same birthday as me, April 1st!), Vance Wilson, Willie Bloomquist, Scott Podsednik and Jose Guillen (Milton Bradley light).
Wouldn't Kansas City be better off grooming younger players? They aren't going to win anything this year so why waste time on older players just hanging on? I just don't understand how year in and year out the Royals are so inept. The Royals have gone from a a once model organization to a franchise that exists only for other teams to beat on. It's sad.
Back to Kendall. I don't know who is agent is and I don't feel like looking it up. But he's one of the greatest agents ever. All I know is that Kendall is one of the most overpaid players in history. He's made over 77-million dollars (and counting) in his career. His years in Oakland he really cashed in, making about 35-million. In those three seasons wearing the Athletics uniform, he belted 3 homers (that's right, 3!) while driving in 125 runs and hitting .271. Wow. Impressive. The 35-mil that is, not the stats.
How many people over the years have said, "Man, Kendall's in town. Gotta get me some tickets!" I'll give you the answer. Zero.
I don't mean to bust on Kendall. If he can get the scratch he should do it. He's a symbol of what we aspire to be and that is a highly compensated individual for as little production as possible. That's the American dream. But when baseball owners complain about salaries spiraling out of control they should look no further than Jason Kendall.
So why did the Royals give him a 2-year, 6-million dollar contract? Because they're stupid, that's why.
Looking at the Royals roster, Kendall isn't the only retread picking up a paycheck. KC also has Kyle Farnsworth (Farnsworthless), Bruce Chen (I thought he retired three years ago), Matt Herges (same birthday as me, April 1st!), Vance Wilson, Willie Bloomquist, Scott Podsednik and Jose Guillen (Milton Bradley light).
Wouldn't Kansas City be better off grooming younger players? They aren't going to win anything this year so why waste time on older players just hanging on? I just don't understand how year in and year out the Royals are so inept. The Royals have gone from a a once model organization to a franchise that exists only for other teams to beat on. It's sad.
Back to Kendall. I don't know who is agent is and I don't feel like looking it up. But he's one of the greatest agents ever. All I know is that Kendall is one of the most overpaid players in history. He's made over 77-million dollars (and counting) in his career. His years in Oakland he really cashed in, making about 35-million. In those three seasons wearing the Athletics uniform, he belted 3 homers (that's right, 3!) while driving in 125 runs and hitting .271. Wow. Impressive. The 35-mil that is, not the stats.
How many people over the years have said, "Man, Kendall's in town. Gotta get me some tickets!" I'll give you the answer. Zero.
I don't mean to bust on Kendall. If he can get the scratch he should do it. He's a symbol of what we aspire to be and that is a highly compensated individual for as little production as possible. That's the American dream. But when baseball owners complain about salaries spiraling out of control they should look no further than Jason Kendall.
Your AL West Champs
The Mariners will win the American League West this year. The addition of Cliff Lee, along with Felix Hernandez gives Seattle the best 1-2 punch in baseball.
Add Chone Figgins at the top of the order along with Ichiro and the Mariners have the best table setters in the game.
The Mariners very quietly won 85 games last season, a 24-game improvement over 2008.
The Angels, having lost Figgins and ace John Lackey, will come back to the pack. They are ripe for the taking and the Mariners will be the team to do it.
Although, I have one major concern. The 'Human Headache' known as Milton Bradley is on the Mariners. It isn't a question of if Mllton will snap but when. He's one of those players who isn't happy unless he's unhappy. If I'm the Mariners, the first sign of an attitude from Milty, he's gone.
Add Chone Figgins at the top of the order along with Ichiro and the Mariners have the best table setters in the game.
The Mariners very quietly won 85 games last season, a 24-game improvement over 2008.
The Angels, having lost Figgins and ace John Lackey, will come back to the pack. They are ripe for the taking and the Mariners will be the team to do it.
Although, I have one major concern. The 'Human Headache' known as Milton Bradley is on the Mariners. It isn't a question of if Mllton will snap but when. He's one of those players who isn't happy unless he's unhappy. If I'm the Mariners, the first sign of an attitude from Milty, he's gone.
1970 Baseball Cards
There have been many styles of baseball cards over the years. Last night, I was looking at my favorite year of baseball cards, 1970.
Why do I like them so much? I don't know exactly why. Maybe because 1970 was the first year I was a serious collector of cards. Perhaps the simple design caught my attention. Perhaps it's because the players were larger than life to an 8-year old boy. They were my heroes. Plus, I used to devour the backs of those cards. Studying the stats and the personal information such as "Bob works for the post office in the off-season." Now the personal information could read, "Bob spends his off-season on his 75-foot yacht while plotting for arbitration with his agent that could net him more than 15-million dollars per year!"
My favorite 1970 card is, of course, of Bobby Murcer. I idolized the Yankees center-fielder. Bobby is pictured taking a practice swing while sporting an easygoing smile.
I love Hank Aaron's 1970 card. He is signing a baseball and he has a look of complete surprise on his face as his picture was snapped.
Baseball cards back then cost a penny per card. Ten cents would get you a pack of ten cards...with stale, pink, hard gum! The gum was actually pretty tasty. My dentist probably also liked the fact that Topps put gum in the packs.
These days I usually buy a couple of packs of cards. They are a lot more expensive now. I like to check out the design but mostly I enjoy reliving the simple joy of opening a brand new pack of baseball cards and the memories it evokes.
Why do I like them so much? I don't know exactly why. Maybe because 1970 was the first year I was a serious collector of cards. Perhaps the simple design caught my attention. Perhaps it's because the players were larger than life to an 8-year old boy. They were my heroes. Plus, I used to devour the backs of those cards. Studying the stats and the personal information such as "Bob works for the post office in the off-season." Now the personal information could read, "Bob spends his off-season on his 75-foot yacht while plotting for arbitration with his agent that could net him more than 15-million dollars per year!"
My favorite 1970 card is, of course, of Bobby Murcer. I idolized the Yankees center-fielder. Bobby is pictured taking a practice swing while sporting an easygoing smile.
I love Hank Aaron's 1970 card. He is signing a baseball and he has a look of complete surprise on his face as his picture was snapped.
Baseball cards back then cost a penny per card. Ten cents would get you a pack of ten cards...with stale, pink, hard gum! The gum was actually pretty tasty. My dentist probably also liked the fact that Topps put gum in the packs.
These days I usually buy a couple of packs of cards. They are a lot more expensive now. I like to check out the design but mostly I enjoy reliving the simple joy of opening a brand new pack of baseball cards and the memories it evokes.
Pitchers and Catchers
Some people get all hot and bothered over pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training.
I'm happy because it means we are that much closer to the start of the season. Like many people, I am sick and tired of winter and the video of pitchers and catchers stretching on a sunny field in Arizona or Florida is a nice visual.
That said, you can only get so excited about pitchers covering first base or guys jogging on the warning track.
Basically, pitchers and catchers are just a step forward towards the new season. The next exciting spring training news will be the intrasquad games.
By the way, we are in the worst part of the sports calendar. The sports dead zone which is the period after the Super Bowl and before Opening Day. Yes, March Madness helps but basically this is a good time to check out for a while and spend time with the family. You know, build up some good will before the baseball season starts and you have to abandon your loved ones for the next seven months.
I'm happy because it means we are that much closer to the start of the season. Like many people, I am sick and tired of winter and the video of pitchers and catchers stretching on a sunny field in Arizona or Florida is a nice visual.
That said, you can only get so excited about pitchers covering first base or guys jogging on the warning track.
Basically, pitchers and catchers are just a step forward towards the new season. The next exciting spring training news will be the intrasquad games.
By the way, we are in the worst part of the sports calendar. The sports dead zone which is the period after the Super Bowl and before Opening Day. Yes, March Madness helps but basically this is a good time to check out for a while and spend time with the family. You know, build up some good will before the baseball season starts and you have to abandon your loved ones for the next seven months.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Right Professional Choice
Ed Henderson is a long-time baseball scout, first with the Marlins, then the Pirates and now with the Twins.
Years ago Ed was scouting Roy Halladay when he was pitching for Arvada West High School.
They struck up a friendship and Roy felt compelled to sign a baseball for Ed.
The ball says, "Ed, Thanks for the Advise, Roy Halladay."
I'm glad Ed's "advise" was to pitch and not to become an English teacher.
Years ago Ed was scouting Roy Halladay when he was pitching for Arvada West High School.
They struck up a friendship and Roy felt compelled to sign a baseball for Ed.
The ball says, "Ed, Thanks for the Advise, Roy Halladay."
I'm glad Ed's "advise" was to pitch and not to become an English teacher.
Who Knew?
While aimlessly wandering through baseballreference.com, I stumbled upon the Darryl Boston page. I would guess his main claim to fame is that he was an original Colorado Rockie.
Boston had a mediocre career, although, to me, any Major League career is a great one. Boston hit .249 over the course of his 11-seasons in the bigs, mainly with the White Sox. He also played for the Mets.
Here's the thing that struck me though. Boston played 52 games for the Yankees in 1994. I have no recollection whatsoever of Boston suiting up for the Yanks. None. Zero. I have pretty good recall when it comes to baseball, the Yankees in particular. But Darryl Boston a Yankee? Totally and completely escapes my memory bank. I can remember Kerry Dineen and George Zeber playing for the Yanks but not Darryl Boston. Yes, it bothers me.
Boston had a mediocre career, although, to me, any Major League career is a great one. Boston hit .249 over the course of his 11-seasons in the bigs, mainly with the White Sox. He also played for the Mets.
Here's the thing that struck me though. Boston played 52 games for the Yankees in 1994. I have no recollection whatsoever of Boston suiting up for the Yanks. None. Zero. I have pretty good recall when it comes to baseball, the Yankees in particular. But Darryl Boston a Yankee? Totally and completely escapes my memory bank. I can remember Kerry Dineen and George Zeber playing for the Yanks but not Darryl Boston. Yes, it bothers me.
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Whiff Kid
Why in the world does Phillies slugger Ryan Howard strike out so much? If he cut down on his swing he would still hit his 50-plus home runs a season. Does Howard think it doesn't count if the ball only goes 370-feet for a homer and that he has to hit it 450-feet for it to be counted as a round tripper?
Howard's strikeout totals are astounding. His strikeout numbers, beginning with his half-season in 2005 read like this...100, 181, 199, 199 and 186. He strikes out about 30% of the time. If he could just make a little more contact his numbers would be astronomical.
Here's a good one for you to ponder. In 1941, Ted Williams hit .406. We all know that. He hit 37 homers and struck out...27 times! That same season, Joe DiMaggio hit safely in a record 56-consecutive games. In 621 plate appearances, Joe D belted 30 homers and struck out...13 times! Are you kidding me? In 1,227 plate appearances combined in 1941, Williams and DiMaggio struck out 40 times, or as many as Ryan Howard strikes out in a month.
In 1950, the Phillies were known as the Whiz Kids. The current Phillies have a one man wrecking crew in Ryan Howard, the Whiff Kid. Come on Ryan, put the bat on the ball will ya?
Howard's strikeout totals are astounding. His strikeout numbers, beginning with his half-season in 2005 read like this...100, 181, 199, 199 and 186. He strikes out about 30% of the time. If he could just make a little more contact his numbers would be astronomical.
Here's a good one for you to ponder. In 1941, Ted Williams hit .406. We all know that. He hit 37 homers and struck out...27 times! That same season, Joe DiMaggio hit safely in a record 56-consecutive games. In 621 plate appearances, Joe D belted 30 homers and struck out...13 times! Are you kidding me? In 1,227 plate appearances combined in 1941, Williams and DiMaggio struck out 40 times, or as many as Ryan Howard strikes out in a month.
In 1950, the Phillies were known as the Whiz Kids. The current Phillies have a one man wrecking crew in Ryan Howard, the Whiff Kid. Come on Ryan, put the bat on the ball will ya?
Frank Thomas
Great hitter, lousy fielder and a big time complainer. That said, Frank Thomas will certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame and rightfully so. But he always struck me as a phony, a guy who would smile for the cameras but was bitter about everything from money to a supposed lack of respect. Still, I credit him for his seven straight seasons of more than 100 RBI's a .300 average and MVP awards in 1993 and 94. Also, he spoke voluntarily to the Mitchell commission on steroids. He was never shy to voice is displeasure about steroids in the game and for that I applaud him. Still, it was time for The Big Hurt to retire.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Pay The Man!
Now batting for the Dodgers, shortstop, Derek Jeter.
What the f***?
How bad would that sound to Yankees fans? Even worse, now batting for the Red Sox, shortstop Derek Jeter.
Holy crap that would make me vomit and swear off baseball forever.
The worst would be if Jeter ended up with the Mets but that won't happen since the Mets have no money (thanks Bernie Madoff!) and their brain trust (Mets brain trust? Now THAT'S funny!) probably would think bringing back Rey Ordonez would present a better option than Jeter.
Why do I bring this up?
Well, as Jeter heads into spring training, he is in the final year of a 10-year $189-million dollar contract. He will make only $21-million this season, plus another winning World Series share. And then? Then he's a free-agent.
While I can't foresee Jeter playing for anyone other than the Yankees, money does talk. Plus, Jeter is getting married to Minka Kelly soon and we all know that women like to spend money. A lot of money. (Note to Jeets: Prenup my man, prenup!)
With Jeter starting a family he's going to need to increase his income. He'll have extra responsibilities and more mouths to feed. Not to mention that this could be his final contract as a player. He has to think about his retirement income, kids down the line, taking care of his parents, long-term health care worries (nursing homes ain't cheap) and all sorts of unexpected financial issues.
Basically, I'm appealing to the Yankees on Jeter's behalf. Don't let the greatest player of this generation go elsewhere. He must retire as a Yankee before sliding into the manager's chair. Don't pinch pennies when it comes to Jeter. You gave A-Rod $30-million a year. I would venture to say that Jeter is three-times more valuble to the Yankees than A-Rod who had one decent post-season for the Yankees. So, by my calculations, Jeter is worth $90 million per season. Throw in some incentive clauses, that he will of course reach, the deal should come out to $100-million per season. Since he is still in great shape and doesn't show any signs of slowing down, give him a 5-year, $450-million dollar contract with the ability to reach $500-million plus with incentives.
I think that is more than fair on the Yankees part and I truly believe that Jeter, after carefully mulling this proposition over, would take all of 20-seconds to sign. The aftermath? Jeter remains a Yankee, he'll win a few more championships, enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Yankee cap, might become the all-time hits leader and everybody is happy. Problem sovled.
It's fun to spend someone else's money isn't it?
What the f***?
How bad would that sound to Yankees fans? Even worse, now batting for the Red Sox, shortstop Derek Jeter.
Holy crap that would make me vomit and swear off baseball forever.
The worst would be if Jeter ended up with the Mets but that won't happen since the Mets have no money (thanks Bernie Madoff!) and their brain trust (Mets brain trust? Now THAT'S funny!) probably would think bringing back Rey Ordonez would present a better option than Jeter.
Why do I bring this up?
Well, as Jeter heads into spring training, he is in the final year of a 10-year $189-million dollar contract. He will make only $21-million this season, plus another winning World Series share. And then? Then he's a free-agent.
While I can't foresee Jeter playing for anyone other than the Yankees, money does talk. Plus, Jeter is getting married to Minka Kelly soon and we all know that women like to spend money. A lot of money. (Note to Jeets: Prenup my man, prenup!)
With Jeter starting a family he's going to need to increase his income. He'll have extra responsibilities and more mouths to feed. Not to mention that this could be his final contract as a player. He has to think about his retirement income, kids down the line, taking care of his parents, long-term health care worries (nursing homes ain't cheap) and all sorts of unexpected financial issues.
Basically, I'm appealing to the Yankees on Jeter's behalf. Don't let the greatest player of this generation go elsewhere. He must retire as a Yankee before sliding into the manager's chair. Don't pinch pennies when it comes to Jeter. You gave A-Rod $30-million a year. I would venture to say that Jeter is three-times more valuble to the Yankees than A-Rod who had one decent post-season for the Yankees. So, by my calculations, Jeter is worth $90 million per season. Throw in some incentive clauses, that he will of course reach, the deal should come out to $100-million per season. Since he is still in great shape and doesn't show any signs of slowing down, give him a 5-year, $450-million dollar contract with the ability to reach $500-million plus with incentives.
I think that is more than fair on the Yankees part and I truly believe that Jeter, after carefully mulling this proposition over, would take all of 20-seconds to sign. The aftermath? Jeter remains a Yankee, he'll win a few more championships, enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Yankee cap, might become the all-time hits leader and everybody is happy. Problem sovled.
It's fun to spend someone else's money isn't it?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Pavano-esque!
Dontrelle Willis won 22 games for the Marlins in 2005 at the age of 23. Since then he has gone downhill. At least pitching-wise, not monetarily.
The last two seasons, Willis has pitched for the Tigers. At least he has tried to pitch for the Detroiters.
In the last two seasons combined, Willis has posted a 1-6 record with an 8.27 ERA. He's given up 55 hits and walked 63 in 57-innings. And to think he only earned 17-million dollars the past two seasons and will earn, check that, make 10-million more in 2010.
You read that correctly. Willis has made 17-million while providing the Tigers with one win. Astounding.
The last two seasons, Willis has pitched for the Tigers. At least he has tried to pitch for the Detroiters.
In the last two seasons combined, Willis has posted a 1-6 record with an 8.27 ERA. He's given up 55 hits and walked 63 in 57-innings. And to think he only earned 17-million dollars the past two seasons and will earn, check that, make 10-million more in 2010.
You read that correctly. Willis has made 17-million while providing the Tigers with one win. Astounding.
Error On Freel...
In 1995, while broadcasting a minor league game at Community Park in St. Catharines, Ontario, I witnessed the worst official scoring call ever.
A batter hit a sharp ground ball to second baseman Ryan Freel, playing in the Blue Jays organization. At the last second, the ball took a bad hop and hit Freel in the face for a base hit. The ball opened a big cut on Freel's chin. Well, I called it a base hit on the radio.
Up on the scoreboard, "E" flashed.
Here's where is got a little dicey in the booth. Because the press box was tiny at St. Catharines, I was sitting right next to the official scorer, some guy named Claude or something like that. On the air, I had to dispute the call. I said something to the effect of, "They'll have to change that error because it was clearly a bad hop and the fielder had no chance." I went on and on and the scorer next to me was getting madder and madder.
At the end of the inning we almost came to blows. I told him he needed to change the call and he wanted me tossed from the booth. People were looking up into the press box to see what the commotion was about. Funny thing though, as soon as I came back on the air from commercial break, the arguing stopped...until the next commercial break.
So if you look up Ryan Freel's minor league stats, it says he made 19 errors as a second baseman for the St. Catharines Blue Jays in 1995. Trust me, it really should be 18. And, who knows, with that official scorer it could have been only a handful of errors.
Freel of course went on to play in the Major Leagues where the official scoring is a lot better. I wonder if he remembers that "error" off a ball that nearly took his head off.
By the way, Freel, a journeyman utility guy, is a free agent. He's only hit 22 big league homers but he has tagged a few decent pitchers. He hit his first career homer off Randy Johnson. He also has Greg Maddux, Billy Wagner and Roy Oswalt on his "hit home run off of" list. Even though Freel has played for the Jays, Cubs, Orioles and Royals, all of his Major League homers have come while wearing a Reds uniform.
I hope he gets signed by someone soon. Have to pull for those NY-Penn League graduates.
A batter hit a sharp ground ball to second baseman Ryan Freel, playing in the Blue Jays organization. At the last second, the ball took a bad hop and hit Freel in the face for a base hit. The ball opened a big cut on Freel's chin. Well, I called it a base hit on the radio.
Up on the scoreboard, "E" flashed.
Here's where is got a little dicey in the booth. Because the press box was tiny at St. Catharines, I was sitting right next to the official scorer, some guy named Claude or something like that. On the air, I had to dispute the call. I said something to the effect of, "They'll have to change that error because it was clearly a bad hop and the fielder had no chance." I went on and on and the scorer next to me was getting madder and madder.
At the end of the inning we almost came to blows. I told him he needed to change the call and he wanted me tossed from the booth. People were looking up into the press box to see what the commotion was about. Funny thing though, as soon as I came back on the air from commercial break, the arguing stopped...until the next commercial break.
So if you look up Ryan Freel's minor league stats, it says he made 19 errors as a second baseman for the St. Catharines Blue Jays in 1995. Trust me, it really should be 18. And, who knows, with that official scorer it could have been only a handful of errors.
Freel of course went on to play in the Major Leagues where the official scoring is a lot better. I wonder if he remembers that "error" off a ball that nearly took his head off.
By the way, Freel, a journeyman utility guy, is a free agent. He's only hit 22 big league homers but he has tagged a few decent pitchers. He hit his first career homer off Randy Johnson. He also has Greg Maddux, Billy Wagner and Roy Oswalt on his "hit home run off of" list. Even though Freel has played for the Jays, Cubs, Orioles and Royals, all of his Major League homers have come while wearing a Reds uniform.
I hope he gets signed by someone soon. Have to pull for those NY-Penn League graduates.
The Man Who Perseveres
He has hit 359 professional home runs but not many people have heard of Scott McClain. Perhaps because only two of those home runs were hit in the Major Leagues. The rest were hit in the minors or Japan.
I remember seeing McClain play several times at Colorado Springs in 2000. He was only 28 then and belted 25 homers as a third baseman for the Sky Sox, the Rockies AAA club.
I quickly forgot about Scott McClain. Until 2008.
McClain was a late-season call up for the Giants and they were playing the Rockies at Coors Field on September 3rd. In the 6th inning, Pablo Sandoval hit a 2-run homer to give the Giants an 8-2 lead. It was Sandoval's second career homer. McClain followed Sandoval with a shot of his own, off Steven Register, a long blast through the bright sunshine to left-field for his first Major League homer. I remember sitting in the press box feeling great for McClain who ended up 3-5 that day with 3 RBI's. He was 36 years old. A few days later McClain hit his second and final Major League homer. So far. The reason I say so far is because McClain signed a minor league contract with the Cubs. As long as he still has the uniform on, there's always a chance to get back to the bigs.
McClain will be 38 in May. He's played in 1,783 minor league games with 1,684 hits and a .269 average. He's five runs away from 1,000 and he's knocked in 1,072 runs in 16-minor league campaigns. He'll add to those totals.
I'm hoping he can add to his total of 44 Major League games played with just 15 hits. How can you not pull for a guy like Scott McClain?
I remember seeing McClain play several times at Colorado Springs in 2000. He was only 28 then and belted 25 homers as a third baseman for the Sky Sox, the Rockies AAA club.
I quickly forgot about Scott McClain. Until 2008.
McClain was a late-season call up for the Giants and they were playing the Rockies at Coors Field on September 3rd. In the 6th inning, Pablo Sandoval hit a 2-run homer to give the Giants an 8-2 lead. It was Sandoval's second career homer. McClain followed Sandoval with a shot of his own, off Steven Register, a long blast through the bright sunshine to left-field for his first Major League homer. I remember sitting in the press box feeling great for McClain who ended up 3-5 that day with 3 RBI's. He was 36 years old. A few days later McClain hit his second and final Major League homer. So far. The reason I say so far is because McClain signed a minor league contract with the Cubs. As long as he still has the uniform on, there's always a chance to get back to the bigs.
McClain will be 38 in May. He's played in 1,783 minor league games with 1,684 hits and a .269 average. He's five runs away from 1,000 and he's knocked in 1,072 runs in 16-minor league campaigns. He'll add to those totals.
I'm hoping he can add to his total of 44 Major League games played with just 15 hits. How can you not pull for a guy like Scott McClain?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
For you mathematicians...
If Nolan Ryan threw a golf ball as hard as he possibly could and a fully juiced Mark McGwire connected solidly on the fat part of an aluminum bat, how far would the golf ball travel?
Things like this pop into my head from time to time. Just thought I'd share.
Things like this pop into my head from time to time. Just thought I'd share.
The Battlin' Bucs
The Pittsburgh Pirates have won five World Series titles. Five! Those championship seasons were in 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971 and 1979. That's more World Series championships than the Astros, Mets, Phillies, Devil Rays, Mariners, Rockies, Rangers and Nationals...combined.
So, are the Pirates resting on their laurels?
I think so.
So, are the Pirates resting on their laurels?
I think so.
Searching for Rich Amaral
One of my favorite Major League players ever is Rich Amaral. Who? Rich Amaral. You know, the utility guy who played 10 seasons in the majors, eight with the Mariners and two with the Orioles.
There are a couple of reasons why I liked Amaral. First of all, I root for people who persevere. Although drafted in 1983 by the Cubs, he didn't make it to the big leagues until 1991 with the Mariners. He bounced around the minors for nine seasons until finally getting the call to The Show. Many guys, maybe most guys, would have quit. Amaral didn't quit.
Andy Cornell, my radio co-host, once said in a talk before a group of people, "Quitters quit, that's what they do. Why do they quit? I don't know and I don't want to know. I don't want to think like them." Pretty good isn't it?
Well, Rich Amaral may not have been a Hall of Fame (although he is in the UCLA sports Hall of Fame!) type player but he didn't quit.
Amaral ended up with a respectable .276 lifetime batting average in the Major Leagues with 11 homers and 159 RBI's. He had 112 stolen bases and 493 career hits. He also played every position in the bigs with the exception of pitcher and catcher.
Oh, and the other reason I liked and cheered for Rich Amaral and always checked his line in the box score each day? He was born on April 1, 1962. Of all the babies born that day, how many eventually wanted to play Major League baseball? Well, he was the only baby born that day that did make it to the big leagues. Personally I wish that number was two.
I'm going to search for Rich Amaral and see what he's up to these days. Hopefully he's doing well. And whatever he's doing, I'm sure he's productive and not going to quit.
There are a couple of reasons why I liked Amaral. First of all, I root for people who persevere. Although drafted in 1983 by the Cubs, he didn't make it to the big leagues until 1991 with the Mariners. He bounced around the minors for nine seasons until finally getting the call to The Show. Many guys, maybe most guys, would have quit. Amaral didn't quit.
Andy Cornell, my radio co-host, once said in a talk before a group of people, "Quitters quit, that's what they do. Why do they quit? I don't know and I don't want to know. I don't want to think like them." Pretty good isn't it?
Well, Rich Amaral may not have been a Hall of Fame (although he is in the UCLA sports Hall of Fame!) type player but he didn't quit.
Amaral ended up with a respectable .276 lifetime batting average in the Major Leagues with 11 homers and 159 RBI's. He had 112 stolen bases and 493 career hits. He also played every position in the bigs with the exception of pitcher and catcher.
Oh, and the other reason I liked and cheered for Rich Amaral and always checked his line in the box score each day? He was born on April 1, 1962. Of all the babies born that day, how many eventually wanted to play Major League baseball? Well, he was the only baby born that day that did make it to the big leagues. Personally I wish that number was two.
I'm going to search for Rich Amaral and see what he's up to these days. Hopefully he's doing well. And whatever he's doing, I'm sure he's productive and not going to quit.
Ballpark Guy
One of my goals has always been to see a game at every Major League ballpark. I'm not even close to reaching that goal. Actually, I haven't thought much about it in a while until today.
One park I need to get to is Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. It is the closest big league park to Denver, just a mere 605 miles east on I-70. It's funny, I've been to 36 states, including every state that borders Missouri, but I've never actually been in Missouri. A trip this summer to Kauffman Stadium would give me another ballpark and state on those lists.
When looking at my list, I realize I've been to more deceased ballparks than ones in current use. Here is my list of gone but not forgotten ballparks: Old Yankee Stadium...hold on, I need to get a tissue and compose myself...........Ok, I'm back. Like I said, Old Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Veterans Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium, Olympic Stadium (still standing and could be used if Montreal ever gets another team), Tiger Stadium, County Stadium, Old Comiskey Park, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, and Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. That's 10 parks that no longer host Major League baseball.
The six parks I've been to that are in current operation: Coors Field, Camden Yards, the Skydome or whatever they call that place now, Miller Park, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.
Parks on my immediate hit list besides Kauffman Stadium include Dodger Stadium, the new Yankee Stadium, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and Safeco Field in Seattle.
I was somewhat bitter last year that the Yankees were playing in a new ballpark. It was totally unnecessary. But since they christened the new place with their 27th World Series title, I've warmed up to the place and now would like to go. But I wish they would finally take down the old Yankee Stadium once and for all. I've been on websites where they are showing the dismantling of the old park and it's sad to see it gutted like that.
Anyway, I need to start going to more ballparks and adding to my list.
Here are the top 5 parks I've been to:
1) Old Yankee Stadium (note: I was in the original and renovated Yankee Stadium)
2) Wrigley Field
3) Fenway Park
4) Tiger Stadium
5) Old Comiskey Park
The worst park I've been to? There are no worst parks. I like them all for one reason or another. I will say this though, Olympic Stadium got a bad rap. It wasn't that bad of place to watch a game.
As far as underrated, Coors Field in my opinion is very underrated. People talk about the altitude a lot and that's fair but the ballpark itself is absolutely fantastic. A great place to watch a game and I'm looking forward to Friday April 9th for the Rockies home opener against the Padres.
I won't make a post on all the minor league parks I've been to. That would take a while and it would take too much thought on my part.
One park I need to get to is Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. It is the closest big league park to Denver, just a mere 605 miles east on I-70. It's funny, I've been to 36 states, including every state that borders Missouri, but I've never actually been in Missouri. A trip this summer to Kauffman Stadium would give me another ballpark and state on those lists.
When looking at my list, I realize I've been to more deceased ballparks than ones in current use. Here is my list of gone but not forgotten ballparks: Old Yankee Stadium...hold on, I need to get a tissue and compose myself...........Ok, I'm back. Like I said, Old Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Veterans Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium, Olympic Stadium (still standing and could be used if Montreal ever gets another team), Tiger Stadium, County Stadium, Old Comiskey Park, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, and Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. That's 10 parks that no longer host Major League baseball.
The six parks I've been to that are in current operation: Coors Field, Camden Yards, the Skydome or whatever they call that place now, Miller Park, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.
Parks on my immediate hit list besides Kauffman Stadium include Dodger Stadium, the new Yankee Stadium, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and Safeco Field in Seattle.
I was somewhat bitter last year that the Yankees were playing in a new ballpark. It was totally unnecessary. But since they christened the new place with their 27th World Series title, I've warmed up to the place and now would like to go. But I wish they would finally take down the old Yankee Stadium once and for all. I've been on websites where they are showing the dismantling of the old park and it's sad to see it gutted like that.
Anyway, I need to start going to more ballparks and adding to my list.
Here are the top 5 parks I've been to:
1) Old Yankee Stadium (note: I was in the original and renovated Yankee Stadium)
2) Wrigley Field
3) Fenway Park
4) Tiger Stadium
5) Old Comiskey Park
The worst park I've been to? There are no worst parks. I like them all for one reason or another. I will say this though, Olympic Stadium got a bad rap. It wasn't that bad of place to watch a game.
As far as underrated, Coors Field in my opinion is very underrated. People talk about the altitude a lot and that's fair but the ballpark itself is absolutely fantastic. A great place to watch a game and I'm looking forward to Friday April 9th for the Rockies home opener against the Padres.
I won't make a post on all the minor league parks I've been to. That would take a while and it would take too much thought on my part.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Game 7?
BR is sick. I went to the doctor today and he told me I have an upper respiratory infection and, like a pitcher with a sore arm, he wants me to "shut it down" for a few days.
I know you are thinking, and I wondered myself, in my current condition, if it were Game 7 of the World Series, two outs, bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th down a run, and the skip looks down the bench and yells, "BR, grab a %$^#&*$%^ bat and win us a *%^*#@& World Series!" would I be able to get up there and hit?
And the answer is non-negotiable. Absolutely, positively, unquestionably, undeniably NO. That's right, no.
I wouldn't even be able to lift my 33 inch, 32 ounce Adirondack bat. Call it what you want but I would call it being a pussycat. Call on Luis Sojo instead.
I know you are thinking, and I wondered myself, in my current condition, if it were Game 7 of the World Series, two outs, bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th down a run, and the skip looks down the bench and yells, "BR, grab a %$^#&*$%^ bat and win us a *%^*#@& World Series!" would I be able to get up there and hit?
And the answer is non-negotiable. Absolutely, positively, unquestionably, undeniably NO. That's right, no.
I wouldn't even be able to lift my 33 inch, 32 ounce Adirondack bat. Call it what you want but I would call it being a pussycat. Call on Luis Sojo instead.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Halls of Fame, NFL vs Baseball
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced seven new members yesterday. It was in the news today and it might be in the news for a few more days. Then we'll be reminded of it again when they have the induction ceremony in August. Good for the NFL and good for those elected.
The baseball Hall of Fame is a different matter. People debate the merits for and against the various candidates. There is a big uproar each year over who was snubbed again. There is much discussion, debate and analysis over the baseball Hall of Fame, much more scrutiny than the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting.
Why is that?
I just think that people, deep down, care more about baseball than football. It's more a part of our daily lives. It is a sport that everybody has played in their lifetimes in one form or another. Football is exciting, it,s a great sport, no question. But it is a weekly event and not a daily occurance.
We become attached to baseball players because we see them day after day during baseball season. They don't wear bulky helmets with face masks. Baseball players are more human to us and they become much more well known to us than their football counterparts. Baseball players who stick around longer in our memory banks than football players who have relatively short careers.
Floyd Little was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday. He played in 117 games over his 9-year career, which by football standards is actually a much longer than average NFL career.
By comparison, Willie Mays, in 21 years with the NY/SF Giants played in 2857 games.
Which player is more permanently etched in the memory banks of American sports fans?
That is why the baseball Hall of Fame is more scrutinized than any other Hall of Fame.
The baseball Hall of Fame is a different matter. People debate the merits for and against the various candidates. There is a big uproar each year over who was snubbed again. There is much discussion, debate and analysis over the baseball Hall of Fame, much more scrutiny than the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting.
Why is that?
I just think that people, deep down, care more about baseball than football. It's more a part of our daily lives. It is a sport that everybody has played in their lifetimes in one form or another. Football is exciting, it,s a great sport, no question. But it is a weekly event and not a daily occurance.
We become attached to baseball players because we see them day after day during baseball season. They don't wear bulky helmets with face masks. Baseball players are more human to us and they become much more well known to us than their football counterparts. Baseball players who stick around longer in our memory banks than football players who have relatively short careers.
Floyd Little was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday. He played in 117 games over his 9-year career, which by football standards is actually a much longer than average NFL career.
By comparison, Willie Mays, in 21 years with the NY/SF Giants played in 2857 games.
Which player is more permanently etched in the memory banks of American sports fans?
That is why the baseball Hall of Fame is more scrutinized than any other Hall of Fame.
Record That Will Never Be Broken
People are enamored with the home run record. Do you consider Hank Aaron to be the all-time record holder with 755 (I do) or Barry Bonds with 762? Will Alex Rodriquez or Albert Pujols pass Aaron and Bonds? People find the home run record to be of great interest as do I.
But nobody ever talks about the record for triples which is 309 by Sam Crawford who played for the Tigers and was a teammate of Ty Cobb. Cobb is second on the list with 295 and I am surmising Cobb was ticked off about that his entire life.
Anyway, Crawford's record is pretty safe since the active leaders in triples are Johnny Damon and Jimmy Rollins with 95. Carl Crawford, no relation to Sam, has 92 triples.
Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, one of the fastest players ever, ended his career with a mere 66 lifetime triples. Is that suprising to you as it is to me? Well, after thinking about it a bit more, I'm going to speculate that Rickey could have had more triples but was content to pull into second with a double. This then gave Rickey an opportunity to pad his stolen base total. Rickey was interested in stolen bases, not triples. Now some people might get upset with this but Rickey had a lot of dog in him and he wasn't the most hustling player I've ever seen by a long shot. But he loved to steal bases and those stolen bases enabled him to enter The Hall.
Back to Sam Crawford. Not only did he collect 309 triples, he could have easily padded that number for Wahoo Sam had 51 lifetime inside-the-park home runs. A neat footnote to Crawford's career was that he had a .309 lifetime average along with those 309 three-baggers.
So, who will pass Sam Crawford on the all-time triples list? No one.
But nobody ever talks about the record for triples which is 309 by Sam Crawford who played for the Tigers and was a teammate of Ty Cobb. Cobb is second on the list with 295 and I am surmising Cobb was ticked off about that his entire life.
Anyway, Crawford's record is pretty safe since the active leaders in triples are Johnny Damon and Jimmy Rollins with 95. Carl Crawford, no relation to Sam, has 92 triples.
Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, one of the fastest players ever, ended his career with a mere 66 lifetime triples. Is that suprising to you as it is to me? Well, after thinking about it a bit more, I'm going to speculate that Rickey could have had more triples but was content to pull into second with a double. This then gave Rickey an opportunity to pad his stolen base total. Rickey was interested in stolen bases, not triples. Now some people might get upset with this but Rickey had a lot of dog in him and he wasn't the most hustling player I've ever seen by a long shot. But he loved to steal bases and those stolen bases enabled him to enter The Hall.
Back to Sam Crawford. Not only did he collect 309 triples, he could have easily padded that number for Wahoo Sam had 51 lifetime inside-the-park home runs. A neat footnote to Crawford's career was that he had a .309 lifetime average along with those 309 three-baggers.
So, who will pass Sam Crawford on the all-time triples list? No one.
Throwing Money Away
I've been to Cooperstown at least 30 times although I haven't been there in 10-years or so.
As someone who enjoys the history of the game, I've spent hours looking at all the artifacts there, including historic baseballs.
Today, I read a piece on ESPN.com that someone bought Alex Rodriguez' 500th home run ball. They paid a little more than $103,000 for it.
My question is why? It's a baseball. It cost a few bucks to make. Even if I had the cash, I'd be embarrassed to purchase a baseball for that kind of money. Perhaps the person who bought the Rodriguez home run ball is embarrassed too since they wanted to remain anonymous.
While I like to look at historic baseballs in a display case in Cooperstown, my reaction if someone showed me Rodriguez' 500th home run ball in his house would be, "You paid 103-grand for that ball? Really? You're an idiot."
As someone who enjoys the history of the game, I've spent hours looking at all the artifacts there, including historic baseballs.
Today, I read a piece on ESPN.com that someone bought Alex Rodriguez' 500th home run ball. They paid a little more than $103,000 for it.
My question is why? It's a baseball. It cost a few bucks to make. Even if I had the cash, I'd be embarrassed to purchase a baseball for that kind of money. Perhaps the person who bought the Rodriguez home run ball is embarrassed too since they wanted to remain anonymous.
While I like to look at historic baseballs in a display case in Cooperstown, my reaction if someone showed me Rodriguez' 500th home run ball in his house would be, "You paid 103-grand for that ball? Really? You're an idiot."
Yorvit The Padre
Yorvit Torrealba is now a Padre. The former Rockies catcher signed a 1-year deal worth 1.25 million with San Digeo. Pretty good money to most people not called professional athletes. However, it's not so good when compared to the Rockies 2-year, 6-million dollar offer that was turned down by Torrealba and his agent.
The moral of the story? When you are Yorvit Torrealba, and your career high in home runs is 8 and your career best RBI total is 47 and you are a career .255 hitter coming off a 2 home run, 31 RBI season you sign the 2-year, 6-million dollar offer. You don't think about it. You don't haggle. You don't listen to your agent. You sign the damn contract.
As for the Rockies catching situation, it is very healthy. Chris Ianetta will finally have a breakout season and Miguel Olivo, the guy who replaces Torrealba is better than Yorvit anyway although he needs to cut down on his massive strikeout totals.
While many people will miss Torrealba's enthusiam and hustle, he'll be forgotten two weeks into the season.
The moral of the story? When you are Yorvit Torrealba, and your career high in home runs is 8 and your career best RBI total is 47 and you are a career .255 hitter coming off a 2 home run, 31 RBI season you sign the 2-year, 6-million dollar offer. You don't think about it. You don't haggle. You don't listen to your agent. You sign the damn contract.
As for the Rockies catching situation, it is very healthy. Chris Ianetta will finally have a breakout season and Miguel Olivo, the guy who replaces Torrealba is better than Yorvit anyway although he needs to cut down on his massive strikeout totals.
While many people will miss Torrealba's enthusiam and hustle, he'll be forgotten two weeks into the season.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
BR is back...sort of.
Sorry I haven't posted since Tuesday. BR has been sick and has also had to call 8 hockey games in 3 days at Big Bear Ice Arena in Denver. It was the U18 Hockey Showcase, broadcast on www.5280sports.net. Some great talent from around the country and great games but it was hell on my throat. I've had a fever and can't breath but still was able to do the games. Now I feel like I'm going to die.
Anyway, I plan on posting tomorrow. When Super Bowl Sunday shows up, I'm thinking baseball. As soon as the game is over, who gives a rip about football until next season. I don't know when the NFL kicks off again but the college football season starts September 4th when Purdue visits Notre Dame as the Irish, under Brian Kelly, return to dominance. Mark my words.
Anyway, I was thumbing through the Sporting News Baseball Yearbook and they predicted the Yankees to repeat as World Champs over the Phillies again. I'm predicting the Yanks over the Rockies in the World Series.
By the way, I spoke to former Major Leaguer Jeff Huson over the weekend. The current Rockies announcer likes Colorado's chances this year providing they don't fall on their faces like they did in 2008 after their World Series run in 2007. Huson's kid Kyle, a 6'5 defenseman, played in the hockey showcase I was talking about earlier.
Well, time to go make some more tea with honey. Ugh.
Anyway, I plan on posting tomorrow. When Super Bowl Sunday shows up, I'm thinking baseball. As soon as the game is over, who gives a rip about football until next season. I don't know when the NFL kicks off again but the college football season starts September 4th when Purdue visits Notre Dame as the Irish, under Brian Kelly, return to dominance. Mark my words.
Anyway, I was thumbing through the Sporting News Baseball Yearbook and they predicted the Yankees to repeat as World Champs over the Phillies again. I'm predicting the Yanks over the Rockies in the World Series.
By the way, I spoke to former Major Leaguer Jeff Huson over the weekend. The current Rockies announcer likes Colorado's chances this year providing they don't fall on their faces like they did in 2008 after their World Series run in 2007. Huson's kid Kyle, a 6'5 defenseman, played in the hockey showcase I was talking about earlier.
Well, time to go make some more tea with honey. Ugh.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Fookie Update
If you recall a post I made about former Major League pitcher Steve Foucault on January 20th, I mentioned I was going to try to contact him. I knew him when he was a pitching coach for a minor league team I broadcast for. Fookie gave up Hank Aaron's penultimate home run and I wanted to talk to him about it and to catch up.
Fookie is the pitching coach for something called the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.
I sent an e-mail to Liam Miller, the Otters General Manager, seeking assistance in contacting Fookie.
So far I have not heard back from Mr. Miller or from Fookie. I'll keep trying.
Fookie is the pitching coach for something called the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.
I sent an e-mail to Liam Miller, the Otters General Manager, seeking assistance in contacting Fookie.
So far I have not heard back from Mr. Miller or from Fookie. I'll keep trying.
Welcome to Luxury Box Stadium
Luxury boxes. Those two words make sports owners salivate and dream of putting their hands into the taxpayers pockets to build a brand new stadium with many luxury boxes. Instead of Viagra, team owners simply think, "luxury boxes, luxury boxes," and bam, the thing starts working again.
My prediction is that sometime in our near future we will see a stadium consisting entirely of luxury boxes. Or luxury suites if you prefer that.
I don't know if it will be a baseball park, a football stadium or a hockey and basketball arena, but sooner or later we will have an all-luxury box stadium.
A new all-luxury box baseball stadium will have less seating capacity than a regular ballpark. However, the 15,000 luxury box seats will generate more income than a standard 50-thousand seat stadium.
The most expensive luxury boxes will have all the amenities. A nice bar, leather couches, big screen tv's, private marble bathrooms with gold fixtures, catering service, private butlers, central air conditioning, a steam room, sauna, hot-tub, workout area and private security to keep out the riffraff.
Don't worry, even the common fan will have access to their own luxury boxes although those will be located the outer reaches of the outfield and upper deck. Those, cost-effective, fan-friendly luxury suites will consist of some folding chairs and a cooler with access to the soda and candy machines on the concourse. In addition, these luxury boxes will have their own private port-a-potty. The cheap, make that, affordable luxury boxes will also come with those big silver pay-per view binoculars, like you find at tourist spots. This will allow the common man to actually see the game while enjoying the comforts of his luxury box.
Luxury Box Stadiums...coming to you as soon as some greedy owner reads this post!
My prediction is that sometime in our near future we will see a stadium consisting entirely of luxury boxes. Or luxury suites if you prefer that.
I don't know if it will be a baseball park, a football stadium or a hockey and basketball arena, but sooner or later we will have an all-luxury box stadium.
A new all-luxury box baseball stadium will have less seating capacity than a regular ballpark. However, the 15,000 luxury box seats will generate more income than a standard 50-thousand seat stadium.
The most expensive luxury boxes will have all the amenities. A nice bar, leather couches, big screen tv's, private marble bathrooms with gold fixtures, catering service, private butlers, central air conditioning, a steam room, sauna, hot-tub, workout area and private security to keep out the riffraff.
Don't worry, even the common fan will have access to their own luxury boxes although those will be located the outer reaches of the outfield and upper deck. Those, cost-effective, fan-friendly luxury suites will consist of some folding chairs and a cooler with access to the soda and candy machines on the concourse. In addition, these luxury boxes will have their own private port-a-potty. The cheap, make that, affordable luxury boxes will also come with those big silver pay-per view binoculars, like you find at tourist spots. This will allow the common man to actually see the game while enjoying the comforts of his luxury box.
Luxury Box Stadiums...coming to you as soon as some greedy owner reads this post!
Commonality
What do Amos Otis, Norm Cash, Eric Soderholm, Bobby Grich, Dusty Baker, Willie Randolph and Roberto Alomar all have in common?
What do Phil Nevin, Paul Shuey, B.J. Wallace, Jeffrey Hammonds and Chad Mottola all have in common?
What do Steve Chilcott, Brien Taylor and Matt Bush all have in common?
Here ya go...
The top group of players were each the final out in Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters.
The middle group of players were each drafted ahead of Derek Jeter in the 1992 June draft. B.J. Wallace was the only guy of that group not to make it to the Major Leagues.
The final group of players are the only guys who were drafted number one overall in the June draft (which began in 1965) who never made it to the big leagues. Chilcott, a catcher was drafted by the Mets in 1966, ahead of some guy named Reggie Jackson. Taylor, a left-handed fireballer, was selected number one overall by the Yankees in 1991 only to see his career derailed when he injured his shoulder in a street fight. Bush was taken by the Padres in 2004 but his career has been stalled on several occasions for off the field issues and injury. He still has a shot to make it as he has signed by the Rays to a minor league contract.
Tim Beckham in 2008 (Rays) and Steven Strasburg in 2009 were not included on this list because they are just beginning their pro careers. Strasburg will likely see time with the Nationals this season.
Well, not the most interesting post but that's all I got for you so far today.
What do Phil Nevin, Paul Shuey, B.J. Wallace, Jeffrey Hammonds and Chad Mottola all have in common?
What do Steve Chilcott, Brien Taylor and Matt Bush all have in common?
Here ya go...
The top group of players were each the final out in Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters.
The middle group of players were each drafted ahead of Derek Jeter in the 1992 June draft. B.J. Wallace was the only guy of that group not to make it to the Major Leagues.
The final group of players are the only guys who were drafted number one overall in the June draft (which began in 1965) who never made it to the big leagues. Chilcott, a catcher was drafted by the Mets in 1966, ahead of some guy named Reggie Jackson. Taylor, a left-handed fireballer, was selected number one overall by the Yankees in 1991 only to see his career derailed when he injured his shoulder in a street fight. Bush was taken by the Padres in 2004 but his career has been stalled on several occasions for off the field issues and injury. He still has a shot to make it as he has signed by the Rays to a minor league contract.
Tim Beckham in 2008 (Rays) and Steven Strasburg in 2009 were not included on this list because they are just beginning their pro careers. Strasburg will likely see time with the Nationals this season.
Well, not the most interesting post but that's all I got for you so far today.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Jonathan Eig...A Tiger!
The other day I was doing some research on Lou Gehrig. If I were alive back in the day, he would have been my favorite player, more so than Babe Ruth. I've always admired Gehrig since I saw the movie 'Pride of the Yankees' starring Gary Cooper as the great Yankee. It was the first movie that made me cry.
Anyway, there is a book about Gehrig titled, "Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig" now out in paperback.
I've read books on Gehrig before and was thinking of getting this one. While checking out the author, Jonathan Eig, I found out that he also wrote a book on Jackie Robinson (Openind Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season). But the thing that made me smile is that Eig, a best-selling author and well regarded journalist, went to Spring Valley High School in New York. My high school. Well, I went there, I didn't actually own the school. Anyway, Eig was a sophomore at Spring Valley when I was a senior. I grabbed my yearbook and sure enough, there was his picture as a 10th grader. He had a lot of hair back in 1980. Not so much now.
I didn't know Eig back then and I don't know him now but I'll probably send him a note wishing him well on his next book about gangster Al Capone.
I'm also going to buy his books on Gehrig and Robinson. Afterall, I have to support a fellow Spring Valley Tiger.
Anyway, there is a book about Gehrig titled, "Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig" now out in paperback.
I've read books on Gehrig before and was thinking of getting this one. While checking out the author, Jonathan Eig, I found out that he also wrote a book on Jackie Robinson (Openind Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season). But the thing that made me smile is that Eig, a best-selling author and well regarded journalist, went to Spring Valley High School in New York. My high school. Well, I went there, I didn't actually own the school. Anyway, Eig was a sophomore at Spring Valley when I was a senior. I grabbed my yearbook and sure enough, there was his picture as a 10th grader. He had a lot of hair back in 1980. Not so much now.
I didn't know Eig back then and I don't know him now but I'll probably send him a note wishing him well on his next book about gangster Al Capone.
I'm also going to buy his books on Gehrig and Robinson. Afterall, I have to support a fellow Spring Valley Tiger.
Robert Nutting
Who is Robert Nutting? He's the cheapskate owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates, who are likely to record their 18th straight losing season in 2010, are a disaster. One reason is they won't spend money on talent.
Their payroll will be around $35 million this season, the lowest in the game by about $5 million dollars. This despite the fact that the Bucs are profitable while holding their grubby hands out taking luxury tax money every year.
Another problem is they draft the most signable players, not the best amateur players.
The reason I bring this up now is because Nutting has been approached by Mario Lemieux, who is backed by a California billionaire, about buying the team. Nutting wasn't interested in selling. I think Lemiuex knows a thing or two about winning.
If you are not interested in winning, or don't have the financial ability or the savvy to win (like small market Minnesota or even Tampa Bay) then why stay in the damn game?
I'll tell you why. Without the Pirates, nobody knows who the hell Robert Nutting is. Owning a baseball team gives him celebrity that he wouldn't get running his newspaper corporation or whatever else he does.
He should sell the the team now. It is quite sad to see the current state of the Pirates. Even at the Pirates off-season fan-fest, club management was booed. It became an angry fan-fest, even though this is the time for optimism.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, a once proud, tradition-laden franchise continues to run around in circles guided by a bunch of, to use a Pittsburgh term, jagoffs.
The Pirates, who are likely to record their 18th straight losing season in 2010, are a disaster. One reason is they won't spend money on talent.
Their payroll will be around $35 million this season, the lowest in the game by about $5 million dollars. This despite the fact that the Bucs are profitable while holding their grubby hands out taking luxury tax money every year.
Another problem is they draft the most signable players, not the best amateur players.
The reason I bring this up now is because Nutting has been approached by Mario Lemieux, who is backed by a California billionaire, about buying the team. Nutting wasn't interested in selling. I think Lemiuex knows a thing or two about winning.
If you are not interested in winning, or don't have the financial ability or the savvy to win (like small market Minnesota or even Tampa Bay) then why stay in the damn game?
I'll tell you why. Without the Pirates, nobody knows who the hell Robert Nutting is. Owning a baseball team gives him celebrity that he wouldn't get running his newspaper corporation or whatever else he does.
He should sell the the team now. It is quite sad to see the current state of the Pirates. Even at the Pirates off-season fan-fest, club management was booed. It became an angry fan-fest, even though this is the time for optimism.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, a once proud, tradition-laden franchise continues to run around in circles guided by a bunch of, to use a Pittsburgh term, jagoffs.
The Bench
In a 162-game season, the bench can be the difference between making the playoffs or finishing 15-games out, no matter how strong the starting lineup is.
That is why I'm excited about the Rockies off-season to date. While they haven't made any eye-popping moves, which actually sounds painful, they have fortified their bench.
The latest addition is Melvin Mora, late of the Baltimores. He's a solid, proven Major Leaguer who will give the Rocks flexibility and some power. Even though he turns 38 tomorrow, he hasn't lost much. Plus, he's very motivated. Any man whose wife has given birth to quintuplets, in addition to another child, knows that's a lot of kids to feed.
Barring any trades, the Rockies bench will have Jason Giambi, Seth Smith, Ryan Spilborghs, Eric Young Junior and Mora. Depending upon who wins the catching battle, the bench will also have Chris Ianetta or Miguel Olivo.
The starting unit is strong, hence the lack of big off-season deals, and they'll be able to get some rest during the season because there isn't a big drop off when a bench player starts.
With the pitching staff as good as it has ever looked on paper at this time of year, the Rockies are poised to make another run at the post-season. With Jim Tracy at the helm, I don't see the Rockies messing the bed like they did in 2008 following their unlikely run to the World Series.
The Rockies are the team to beat in the West if you ask me.
"BR, are the Rockies the team to beat in the West?"
"Yes."
That is why I'm excited about the Rockies off-season to date. While they haven't made any eye-popping moves, which actually sounds painful, they have fortified their bench.
The latest addition is Melvin Mora, late of the Baltimores. He's a solid, proven Major Leaguer who will give the Rocks flexibility and some power. Even though he turns 38 tomorrow, he hasn't lost much. Plus, he's very motivated. Any man whose wife has given birth to quintuplets, in addition to another child, knows that's a lot of kids to feed.
Barring any trades, the Rockies bench will have Jason Giambi, Seth Smith, Ryan Spilborghs, Eric Young Junior and Mora. Depending upon who wins the catching battle, the bench will also have Chris Ianetta or Miguel Olivo.
The starting unit is strong, hence the lack of big off-season deals, and they'll be able to get some rest during the season because there isn't a big drop off when a bench player starts.
With the pitching staff as good as it has ever looked on paper at this time of year, the Rockies are poised to make another run at the post-season. With Jim Tracy at the helm, I don't see the Rockies messing the bed like they did in 2008 following their unlikely run to the World Series.
The Rockies are the team to beat in the West if you ask me.
"BR, are the Rockies the team to beat in the West?"
"Yes."
Pitchers versus hitters versus
Pitchers can't practice pitching all the time. Why? Their arms would fall off.
Hitters can practice hitting all year long. They can hit, and some do, every day. Many professional players have batting cages in their homes or at least access to one.
So while I believe pitching is better than it has ever been in baseball history, hitting is also better for the most part. Why? Because batsmen can work on their craft all the time and pitchers can't.
The game is simply better than ever because the athletes are better. Do you think Babe Ruth would dominate today like he did in his era? Joe DiMaggio would be an average player at best if he even made a big league roster today.
Starting pitchers threw tons of innings in the old days. Iron Man Joe McGinnity had seven seasons when he threw more than 300-innings and two seasons of more than 400-innings. How hard could he have been throwing? Not very I would guess since he averaged less than three strikeouts per game (1,068) and walked only 812 guys in 3441 total innings. He was an Iron Man, like most pitchers of his day, because he threw slop up there and guys hit it.
Today's pitchers would be unhittable back when McGinnity played (early 1900's). Take last year's Pirates, the worst team in baseball. They won 62 games and their pitching staff had an ERA of 4.59, actually not too terribly bad but still nothing to brag about. If last year's Pirates were transported back to 1910, they would go 140-14 in the 154 game schedule. Their pitching staff would record several no-hitters unless they were broken up by bunts. The old timers were good bunters. That is one area of the game that isn't better.
I'm rambling. The point is today's pitchers and hitters are better than ever. Fielding is better than ever too with nice gloves and perfectly manicured fields. If you took today's pitchers and put them in a time machine back 50 or more years they would be throwing stuff that would totally overmatch the hitters. And today's hitters against pitchers from Iron Joe's era? They would have to call the game early because they would run out of baseball's from being hit over the fence. The Pirates of last year would average over 15 runs a game in the 1910's.
Just a different game today than it was 100 years a go. A better game too. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate the history of baseball a century ago. But it would be fun to watch the 1909 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates be dismantled by the 2009 last place Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hitters can practice hitting all year long. They can hit, and some do, every day. Many professional players have batting cages in their homes or at least access to one.
So while I believe pitching is better than it has ever been in baseball history, hitting is also better for the most part. Why? Because batsmen can work on their craft all the time and pitchers can't.
The game is simply better than ever because the athletes are better. Do you think Babe Ruth would dominate today like he did in his era? Joe DiMaggio would be an average player at best if he even made a big league roster today.
Starting pitchers threw tons of innings in the old days. Iron Man Joe McGinnity had seven seasons when he threw more than 300-innings and two seasons of more than 400-innings. How hard could he have been throwing? Not very I would guess since he averaged less than three strikeouts per game (1,068) and walked only 812 guys in 3441 total innings. He was an Iron Man, like most pitchers of his day, because he threw slop up there and guys hit it.
Today's pitchers would be unhittable back when McGinnity played (early 1900's). Take last year's Pirates, the worst team in baseball. They won 62 games and their pitching staff had an ERA of 4.59, actually not too terribly bad but still nothing to brag about. If last year's Pirates were transported back to 1910, they would go 140-14 in the 154 game schedule. Their pitching staff would record several no-hitters unless they were broken up by bunts. The old timers were good bunters. That is one area of the game that isn't better.
I'm rambling. The point is today's pitchers and hitters are better than ever. Fielding is better than ever too with nice gloves and perfectly manicured fields. If you took today's pitchers and put them in a time machine back 50 or more years they would be throwing stuff that would totally overmatch the hitters. And today's hitters against pitchers from Iron Joe's era? They would have to call the game early because they would run out of baseball's from being hit over the fence. The Pirates of last year would average over 15 runs a game in the 1910's.
Just a different game today than it was 100 years a go. A better game too. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate the history of baseball a century ago. But it would be fun to watch the 1909 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates be dismantled by the 2009 last place Pittsburgh Pirates.
Batting Gloves
One thing I can't understand is why players wear batting gloves. Ty Cobb hit .366 for his career and never wore batting gloves.
Ok, maybe in cold weather it helps. But when it is 90-degrees out?
I've tried batting gloves, once, in the batting cage. I couldn't feel the bat like I wanted to. Just didn't feel right.
Of course when a new season starts and players take extra batting practice they may get a few blisters. When they heal their hands will be tougher. How tough do your hands get with batting gloves?
Jorge Posada is one of the few Major Leaguers who doesn't wear batting gloves when he hits. One of the many reasons I'm a fan of Posada, who by the way, I feel is a borderline Hall of Famer.
One of the best hitters of all-time, George Brett didn't wear batting gloves either. There are few more but not many in the modern era.
I get the feeling some guys wear batting gloves for show and some wear them because they don't want to have sore hands. Poor babies.
Ok, maybe in cold weather it helps. But when it is 90-degrees out?
I've tried batting gloves, once, in the batting cage. I couldn't feel the bat like I wanted to. Just didn't feel right.
Of course when a new season starts and players take extra batting practice they may get a few blisters. When they heal their hands will be tougher. How tough do your hands get with batting gloves?
Jorge Posada is one of the few Major Leaguers who doesn't wear batting gloves when he hits. One of the many reasons I'm a fan of Posada, who by the way, I feel is a borderline Hall of Famer.
One of the best hitters of all-time, George Brett didn't wear batting gloves either. There are few more but not many in the modern era.
I get the feeling some guys wear batting gloves for show and some wear them because they don't want to have sore hands. Poor babies.
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