Catching up on the last few days:
Brett Myers Asks For Leave of Absence
I don't normally like to comment on criminal matters until all the facts are known. Now that we've reached that point, the decision of the Philadelphia Phillies to allow him to make his start last Saturday in Boston is even more questionable.
Based on the chilling witness accounts of the ugly incident in Boston late last Thursday night, Brett Myers appears to have a very serious problem, and he needs help to correct it. Several witnesses claim that Myers' wife (who is a foot shorter than Myers, and over 100 pounds lighter) was being dragged by the hair, was punched several times in the face, and was screaming "I'm not going to let you do this to me anymore".
From that comment, any reasonable person can deduce that this isn't the first time disputes between Myers and his wife turned physical.
What happens behind closed doors when these players are away from the field is often unknown, but you'd have to suspect that professional athletes are no different than people in other professions. Domestic violence can be found in any walk of life, and professional athletes are different only in that their transgressions attract greater attention, both from the media and from the fans that follow the game.
From a public relations standpoint, the Phillies can argue that they were unaware of the details, and as is always the case when professional athletes run afoul of the law, they chose to make their decisions on Myers until more facts were known. That's a team's attempt to be fair with the player, but they likely could've handled it a bit differently.
I'm sure that nobody, likely even Myers himself, would've faulted the Phillies for pushing his start back a few days, until the team was out of Boston. By then, more details would've emerged and the Phillies could do what's right for Myers (a few weeks away to think about what he's done) and the team.
But that didn't happen, and the Phillies have a public relations nightmare to go along with a 7-game losing streak that's left that 12 games back in the NL East, and tied with the allegedly rebuilding Florida Marlins.
AROD Pulls a Papi
While it probably isn't enough to get all the people in the Bronx on his side, Alex Rodriguez did deliver in the clutch yesterday. His 2-run, walk-off HR in the bottom of the 12th gave the Yanks a 4-3 win over the Braves, and for once, AROD wasn't booed after an at-bat in a clutch situation.
As someone who has seen David Ortiz hit game-ending HR after game-ending HR, watching AROD approach home plate was hysterically funny. He had absolutely no idea what to do. He flipped off his helmet too late, started high-fiving his teammates too early and made a pathetic attempt to jump onto homeplate.
Someone needs to send some video montage of Big Papi's executing this manuever to the Yankee clubhouse, because clearly AROD needs to know how it's done. For the record:
Step 1 - Hit the HR.
Step 2 - High-five the 3B coach, making sure to cock your right hand before, or just as you round, third base.
Step 3 - Discard your helmet halfway between third base and home plate.
Step 4 - Jump above the extended hands of your teammates onto home plate.
Step 5 - Lead your teammates in the "jump up and down" celebration at home plate.
If AROD needs any more instructions, maybe he can ask Johnny Damon. He took part in plenty while in Boston.
Lastings Milledge Hates Fenway Park
Why did the Mets play Lastings Milledge in LF? The rook had been playing solid defense in RF, and in Fenway Park, you want someone with Milledge's range and cannon arm playing RF. Putting him, instead of a veteran, in LF is just irresponsible.
But that's what Willie Randolph did, and Milledge predictably stumbled.
Fenway Applauds Pedro
I was very pleased with the reaction from the Fenway Faithful on Tuesday night, and even more so on Wednesday. Pedro Martinez, just like Johnny Damon, needed to be appluaded for what he accomplished while a member of the Boston Red Sox. For 7 years, Pedro was "The Man" in Boston. His starts were events, not to be missed no matter what scheduling conflict you may have had (including weddings, child birth, etc...).
As for his start last night, I'll just say the guy has had better days. However, Youkilis and Loretta's hits to start the game were displays of good hitting, and the overshift-induced mental lapse is excusable. Nixon hits a sac fly, Varitek delivers a solid single and Pedro is down 2-0. Add to that, Milledge botching an easy fly ball by Mike Lowell, and you've got the 4-0 deficit Pedro Martinez dreaded.
Psst...
I really don't want to say this too loudly, but the Seattle Mariners are just 2 back of the AL West leading Oakland A's. I've watched the last two Mariners games, and I've got to give some credit to Mike Hargrove, who shuffled the Mariners lineup a few weeks ago, and the response thus far has been solid.
I was doing some digging, and I discovered that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, probably the most feared 3-4 duo in any lineup in the American League, have combined to knock in 122 runs. Seattle's 3-4, Jose Lopez and Raul Ibanez, have knocked in 118.
The Rise and Fall
A look around the MLB standings shows the following:
AL East - Boston has opened up a 3.5 game lead on the Yankees, with the Blue Jays still 5 back, and very much in the mix.
AL Central - Detroit has opened up a 2 game lead on the White Sox. All of the top 3 teams in the AL Central (Detroit, Chicago, Minnesota) are 9-1 in their last 10. That's a sign of three teams getting very quality pitching, and some timely hitting. Joe Mauer is proving that he's one of the best hitters in baseball, regardless of age.
AL West - As mentioned, the Mariners and A's are the bread in the Rangers sandwich. Texas is 1.5 back of the A's, with the M's sitting 2 back. The Angels are treading water, but have not yet shown any signs of swimming.
NL East - Even after getting thumped in Boston the last two nights, the Mets lead in the NL East is very safe. They're 12 games up on the Phillies and Marlins, 15 up on the Braves and Nationals.
NL Central - Give the Reds credit: They're still just 1.5 back of the Cardinals, and 2 games up in the NL Wild Card chase. Milwaukee has passed the Astros for 3rd place. Houston needs to give Clemens some run support if they want any return on that huge monthly salary they're giving the Rocket.
NL West - San Diego has a 1.5 game lead on both the Dodgers and Rockies, with San Francisco just 2 back. Arizona continues to slump in the wake of the Jason Grimsley incident, and are 4.5 back in a division they looked poised to run away with. Nobody needs the All-Star break more than the Diamondbacks.
Get Well Soon, Peter Gammons
Bill Simmons put it best. When I first heard the news about Peter Gammons, it was like finding out a family member was going in for surgery.
Every Sunday, Peter Gammons' columns in the Boston Globe were a must-read. During house parties in my 20s, whenever Gammons came on SportsCenter or Baseball Tonight, everyone kept quiet to listen to what the "Commish" had to say.
When I first heard the news that Peter Gammons suffered a brain anuersym, I was in shock. I didn't want to imagine a baseball season without Gammons. I still don't. Peter Gammons is the reason why I wanted to write in the first place. His honesty about, and passion for, the game and people he covers are what make him the best sportswriter in the business.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Baseball Notes - June 27th, 2006
Why would any team pitch to David Ortiz with the game on the line? Once again, David Ortiz provided the game-winning hit for the red-hot Red Sox, winners of 9 straight. Big Papi drove the ball into the gap in left-center to score the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving Boston an 8-7 win over Philadelphia.
The Week Ahead
Is it just me, or does it seem like these interleague series are never going to end? Once again, 28 of the leagues 30 teams will be playing in a strange land, and there aren't many intriguing matchups.
Oakland heads down the coast to San Diego, and that series kicks off with Barry Zito and Chris Young opposing one another.
Mets-Red Sox; Pedro Comes Back to Town
The only "must watch" mid-week series involves the New York Mets visiting Fenway Park to face the Red Sox. The NL East and AL East division leaders square off for three games, beginning tonight. The weather in Boston will be humid, but aside from an occasional shower, it'll be dry here in the Hub.
The big event of the week is Pedro Martinez's return to Fenway Park, and more importantly, how Red Sox Nation welcomes him. Based on conversations I've had in my day-to-day life, and the callers to WEEI, it could be a mixed bag reaction.
Personally, I hope that Pedro Martinez gets the reaction from the Fenway Faithful that Johnny Damon should've received. The fans in Fenway need to forget that Pedro Martinez left the Red Sox because the Mets were offering more years, and subsequently, more money. They need to erase the negative comments Martinez made about the Red Sox in the months following his departure from their collective memory.
Martinez was the staff ace on the 2004 World Series team. The fans need to remember that before acting. They need to remember the dugout antics (the Yoda masks, being taped to the post), throwing Zimmer to the ground during the AROD/Varitek brawl and the masterful performance out of the bullpen in the 1999 ALDS.
The Week Ahead
Is it just me, or does it seem like these interleague series are never going to end? Once again, 28 of the leagues 30 teams will be playing in a strange land, and there aren't many intriguing matchups.
Oakland heads down the coast to San Diego, and that series kicks off with Barry Zito and Chris Young opposing one another.
Mets-Red Sox; Pedro Comes Back to Town
The only "must watch" mid-week series involves the New York Mets visiting Fenway Park to face the Red Sox. The NL East and AL East division leaders square off for three games, beginning tonight. The weather in Boston will be humid, but aside from an occasional shower, it'll be dry here in the Hub.
The big event of the week is Pedro Martinez's return to Fenway Park, and more importantly, how Red Sox Nation welcomes him. Based on conversations I've had in my day-to-day life, and the callers to WEEI, it could be a mixed bag reaction.
Personally, I hope that Pedro Martinez gets the reaction from the Fenway Faithful that Johnny Damon should've received. The fans in Fenway need to forget that Pedro Martinez left the Red Sox because the Mets were offering more years, and subsequently, more money. They need to erase the negative comments Martinez made about the Red Sox in the months following his departure from their collective memory.
Martinez was the staff ace on the 2004 World Series team. The fans need to remember that before acting. They need to remember the dugout antics (the Yoda masks, being taped to the post), throwing Zimmer to the ground during the AROD/Varitek brawl and the masterful performance out of the bullpen in the 1999 ALDS.
ESPN's Ultimate NFL Depth Charts
If you've been watching ESPN's SportsCenter, you may have seen their attempt at "The Ultimate NFL Depth Chart", a series where they're putting 3 former NFLers (and current ESPN analysts) on a panel to rank and discuss the depth charts at each position. QBs, WRs, RBs, as well as pass and run defenses can be voted on here.
Here's a major problem with ESPN's attempt: They're wildly inconsistent in how they grade a team's depth chart. Not much of a surprise, seeing how they place Sean Salisbury front and center in these types of segments.
For example, last night they were discussing the RB depth charts, and their #1 team was the San Diego Chargers. Why? Because they have LaDanian Tomlinson, that's why! Alright, fine. Tomlinson is, by far, the best RB in the NFL. I don't dispute that. But that doesn't really answer the question now, does it?
The question is which team has the best depth at RB, not who has the best individual running back. The better question would be "Who is likely to have the best rushing attack for 2006", which requires you to factor in free agent additions (and subtractions), as well as players drafted in '06 and those returning from injuries.
Salisbury, Schlereth and Golic gave their best effort to fairly assess each team's rushing attack, but were derailed by personal biases and erratic thought processes that can only be attributed to years of slamming helmets with 300-lb opponents.
Salisbury and Schlereth each have poison pills in their pockets for Steve Hutchinson, a left guard, so they rank Minnesota much higher than one would normally think after they ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing in 2005 and have a RB, Chester Taylor, whose never carried the load at the NFL level. According to Schlereth, the fact that Taylor has never had over 160 carries in an NFL season indicates that he has "fresh legs". Others may view this as Taylor being inexperienced and, at this point, an unknown commodity.
They rank the Chicago Bears relatively low, despite the Bears having a good offensive line and a proven rushing attack (ranked 8th in the NFL in 2005) with two solid running backs (Thomas Jones and last year's 1st round pick, Cedric Benson), because the offense as a whole was anemic. They felt that opponents could put 9 guys in the box and shut them down, because Chicago has an inexperienced QB.
Excuse me, guys, but do you remember what the Philadelphia Eagles did to LaDanian Tomlinson last year (7 yards on 17 carries)? If so, don't you think LT is going to see a lot of that this year now that Drew Brees is in New Orleans and Philip Rivers, who has never started an NFL game, is at QB?
This is why you can't trust the opinion of these so-called "experts". They rarely do their homework, and they almost never remove their own personal biases while forming their opinions.
Here's a major problem with ESPN's attempt: They're wildly inconsistent in how they grade a team's depth chart. Not much of a surprise, seeing how they place Sean Salisbury front and center in these types of segments.
For example, last night they were discussing the RB depth charts, and their #1 team was the San Diego Chargers. Why? Because they have LaDanian Tomlinson, that's why! Alright, fine. Tomlinson is, by far, the best RB in the NFL. I don't dispute that. But that doesn't really answer the question now, does it?
The question is which team has the best depth at RB, not who has the best individual running back. The better question would be "Who is likely to have the best rushing attack for 2006", which requires you to factor in free agent additions (and subtractions), as well as players drafted in '06 and those returning from injuries.
Salisbury, Schlereth and Golic gave their best effort to fairly assess each team's rushing attack, but were derailed by personal biases and erratic thought processes that can only be attributed to years of slamming helmets with 300-lb opponents.
Salisbury and Schlereth each have poison pills in their pockets for Steve Hutchinson, a left guard, so they rank Minnesota much higher than one would normally think after they ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing in 2005 and have a RB, Chester Taylor, whose never carried the load at the NFL level. According to Schlereth, the fact that Taylor has never had over 160 carries in an NFL season indicates that he has "fresh legs". Others may view this as Taylor being inexperienced and, at this point, an unknown commodity.
They rank the Chicago Bears relatively low, despite the Bears having a good offensive line and a proven rushing attack (ranked 8th in the NFL in 2005) with two solid running backs (Thomas Jones and last year's 1st round pick, Cedric Benson), because the offense as a whole was anemic. They felt that opponents could put 9 guys in the box and shut them down, because Chicago has an inexperienced QB.
Excuse me, guys, but do you remember what the Philadelphia Eagles did to LaDanian Tomlinson last year (7 yards on 17 carries)? If so, don't you think LT is going to see a lot of that this year now that Drew Brees is in New Orleans and Philip Rivers, who has never started an NFL game, is at QB?
This is why you can't trust the opinion of these so-called "experts". They rarely do their homework, and they almost never remove their own personal biases while forming their opinions.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Baseball Notes - June 23rd, 2006
Big Stars Return to Action
The return of Roger Clemens went about as well as could be expected. Even for a 22-year veteran like Clemens, the 1st start is usually a rocky one. Clemens allowed 6 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings (and 100 pitches), striking out 4 and committing an error on the 1st batter of the game.
Clemens was opposed by a very talented starter in Francisco Liriano, who silenced the Astro's bats over 8 solid innings, and Minnesota won 4-2.
Lost in the hoopla sorroundung Roger Clemens was the return of Blue Jays starting pitcher AJ Burnett, who made his 1st start after a lengthy stint on the DL. Burnett was very sharp in his 6 innings of work, allowing only 5 hits and a walk while striking out 7. If he can remain healthy, it'll give the dangerous Blue Jays a tremendous advantage over their pitching-challenged rivals (Boston and New York) in the AL East.
While Boston has found a legitimate left-handed starter in Jon Lester to replace the injured David Wells, the trade for Jason Johnson is a sign that the Red Sox aren't too sure what, if anything, Matt Clement will be able to give them the rest of the way.
Also returning to action last night was the reigning NL MVP, Albert Pujols, who went 0-4 in his first game back after straining an oblique muscle a few weeks ago. The Cardinals could muster only a few hits off Freddy Garcia, but that's more than what the White Sox were able to get off Cardinals rookie Anthony Reyes, who held the ChiSox to only one hit. Unfortunately, that hit was Jim Thome's 24th HR of the year, and the White Sox won the game, 1-0.
I Got Your Intentional Walk Right Here
From time to time, something happens in the course of a baseball game that illicits a "Did that really happen?" response. Usually it's a triple play, but last night, Miguel Cabrera alertly recognized that the first pitch Todd Williams threw in an effort to intentionally walk Cabrera was a bit too close to the plate. So Cabrera swung and drove the ball into right-center field, resulting in an RBI single that gave the Marlins a 6-5 lead in the 10th inning of a game they'd go on to win, 8-5.
Guillen Fined for Slur
Bud Selig has taken action against Ozzie Guillen. I'm skeptical about how "sensitivity training" is going to change Guillen's behavior, but hey, at least Major League Baseball has done something in this matter. Personally, I would've suggested a fine and a roll of duct tape, but that's just me.
The Weekend Ahead
More interleague fun!
Philadelphia heads into Boston at the same time the area is expected to receive 1-2" inches of rain. There's almost no chance of a game being played tonight or tomorrow night, and Sunday's game is also threatened as the Boston area continues to get pounded by heavy rain.
There are some good interleague series to watch this weekend. The Cardinals get Albert Pujols back as they spend the weekend in Detroit. The Bay area will be treated to another Giants-A's series, and while it's unlikely the Nationals-Orioles series will fatten Peter Angelos wallet, it's still one of the few "regional rivals" matchups this weekend.
Tonight, I'll be keeping an eye on the Cardinals-Tigers game, with Chris Carpenter going up against Mac's pick for AL Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander.
The return of Roger Clemens went about as well as could be expected. Even for a 22-year veteran like Clemens, the 1st start is usually a rocky one. Clemens allowed 6 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings (and 100 pitches), striking out 4 and committing an error on the 1st batter of the game.
Clemens was opposed by a very talented starter in Francisco Liriano, who silenced the Astro's bats over 8 solid innings, and Minnesota won 4-2.
Lost in the hoopla sorroundung Roger Clemens was the return of Blue Jays starting pitcher AJ Burnett, who made his 1st start after a lengthy stint on the DL. Burnett was very sharp in his 6 innings of work, allowing only 5 hits and a walk while striking out 7. If he can remain healthy, it'll give the dangerous Blue Jays a tremendous advantage over their pitching-challenged rivals (Boston and New York) in the AL East.
While Boston has found a legitimate left-handed starter in Jon Lester to replace the injured David Wells, the trade for Jason Johnson is a sign that the Red Sox aren't too sure what, if anything, Matt Clement will be able to give them the rest of the way.
Also returning to action last night was the reigning NL MVP, Albert Pujols, who went 0-4 in his first game back after straining an oblique muscle a few weeks ago. The Cardinals could muster only a few hits off Freddy Garcia, but that's more than what the White Sox were able to get off Cardinals rookie Anthony Reyes, who held the ChiSox to only one hit. Unfortunately, that hit was Jim Thome's 24th HR of the year, and the White Sox won the game, 1-0.
I Got Your Intentional Walk Right Here
From time to time, something happens in the course of a baseball game that illicits a "Did that really happen?" response. Usually it's a triple play, but last night, Miguel Cabrera alertly recognized that the first pitch Todd Williams threw in an effort to intentionally walk Cabrera was a bit too close to the plate. So Cabrera swung and drove the ball into right-center field, resulting in an RBI single that gave the Marlins a 6-5 lead in the 10th inning of a game they'd go on to win, 8-5.
Guillen Fined for Slur
Bud Selig has taken action against Ozzie Guillen. I'm skeptical about how "sensitivity training" is going to change Guillen's behavior, but hey, at least Major League Baseball has done something in this matter. Personally, I would've suggested a fine and a roll of duct tape, but that's just me.
The Weekend Ahead
More interleague fun!
Philadelphia heads into Boston at the same time the area is expected to receive 1-2" inches of rain. There's almost no chance of a game being played tonight or tomorrow night, and Sunday's game is also threatened as the Boston area continues to get pounded by heavy rain.
There are some good interleague series to watch this weekend. The Cardinals get Albert Pujols back as they spend the weekend in Detroit. The Bay area will be treated to another Giants-A's series, and while it's unlikely the Nationals-Orioles series will fatten Peter Angelos wallet, it's still one of the few "regional rivals" matchups this weekend.
Tonight, I'll be keeping an eye on the Cardinals-Tigers game, with Chris Carpenter going up against Mac's pick for AL Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Rocket Returns
At approximately 8:07 this evening, Roger Clemens will throw his first pitch of the 2006 major league season. With that so begins the Houston Astros race for the playoffs. Currently, the Astros are 6 games behind 1st place St. Louis, and 2 games back of the 2nd place Cincinnati Reds, who also occupy the league's "wild card" slot right now.
Can the Astros make the playoffs? Most definitely. Brad Lidge seems to be back to normal, and it's possible that the return of Roger will help straighten out that entire rotation, especially Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt.
When you look at the National League, there's only two teams that have played with enough consistency for one to confidently predict them to make the post-season: The New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Beyond that, the door is wide open. And the playoff chase looks as though it's going to be real fun to watch, as eight teams are separated by just 4 games.
Compare that to the American League, where the current Wild Card team (Chicago) has the 2nd best record in all of baseball right now, and has a 5.5 game lead over the 2nd place team (the Yankees) in the Wild Card standings.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
Well, this is an obvious one, isn't it? ESPN has the return of Roger Clemens tonight, as his Astros face the Twins at 8pm tonight. Twins phenom Francisco Liriano counters for the Twins, so runs could be scarce in Houston tonight.
For the night owls, Mariners ace Felix Hernandez pitches against Derek Lowe and the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles. Seattle has won 5 straight, and are now just 3.5 games behind Oakland in the AL West.
Here Today, Ghana Tomorrow
The USA's dream of advancing to Round 2 of the World Cup ended this morning. The US needed a win over Ghana, as well as an Italy win over the Czechs. Italy did their part to help the US by winning their match 2-0, but the US were unable to help themselves, losing 2-1 to a 3rd world country.
How a country of 300 million people and unlimited financial resources can't muster up 11 decent soccer players is baffling. Despite the US being sent home, hopefully the television ratings and overall interest in the World Cap won't drop off here in the US. Some of the potential matchups in the one-and-done elimination rounds are tremendous.
The Ozzie Guillen Issue
I've already discussed how classless Ozzie Guillen was last week for dressing down rookie P Sean Tracey after the kid failed to bean Hank Blalock. And once again, Ozzie Guillen's actions are drawing fire, and this time, Ozzie needs to be disciplined. Harshly.
After his ignorant comments last spring (comparing homosexuals to child molesters), his comments this week (referred to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti as a "fag") warrant some form of punishment. Whether it be a hefty fine or a suspension, that's up to either the Chicago White Sox or Major League Baseball to decide.
The league was swift to deal with ignorant comments made by Marge Schott, John Rocker, and it should be quick to stifle Ozzie Guillen.
Can the Astros make the playoffs? Most definitely. Brad Lidge seems to be back to normal, and it's possible that the return of Roger will help straighten out that entire rotation, especially Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt.
When you look at the National League, there's only two teams that have played with enough consistency for one to confidently predict them to make the post-season: The New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Beyond that, the door is wide open. And the playoff chase looks as though it's going to be real fun to watch, as eight teams are separated by just 4 games.
Compare that to the American League, where the current Wild Card team (Chicago) has the 2nd best record in all of baseball right now, and has a 5.5 game lead over the 2nd place team (the Yankees) in the Wild Card standings.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
Well, this is an obvious one, isn't it? ESPN has the return of Roger Clemens tonight, as his Astros face the Twins at 8pm tonight. Twins phenom Francisco Liriano counters for the Twins, so runs could be scarce in Houston tonight.
For the night owls, Mariners ace Felix Hernandez pitches against Derek Lowe and the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles. Seattle has won 5 straight, and are now just 3.5 games behind Oakland in the AL West.
Here Today, Ghana Tomorrow
The USA's dream of advancing to Round 2 of the World Cup ended this morning. The US needed a win over Ghana, as well as an Italy win over the Czechs. Italy did their part to help the US by winning their match 2-0, but the US were unable to help themselves, losing 2-1 to a 3rd world country.
How a country of 300 million people and unlimited financial resources can't muster up 11 decent soccer players is baffling. Despite the US being sent home, hopefully the television ratings and overall interest in the World Cap won't drop off here in the US. Some of the potential matchups in the one-and-done elimination rounds are tremendous.
The Ozzie Guillen Issue
I've already discussed how classless Ozzie Guillen was last week for dressing down rookie P Sean Tracey after the kid failed to bean Hank Blalock. And once again, Ozzie Guillen's actions are drawing fire, and this time, Ozzie needs to be disciplined. Harshly.
After his ignorant comments last spring (comparing homosexuals to child molesters), his comments this week (referred to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti as a "fag") warrant some form of punishment. Whether it be a hefty fine or a suspension, that's up to either the Chicago White Sox or Major League Baseball to decide.
The league was swift to deal with ignorant comments made by Marge Schott, John Rocker, and it should be quick to stifle Ozzie Guillen.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Indians Defense is Offensive
How 9 guys play defense can make or break a team's season in baseball. In some cases, poor team defense is the reason 25 guys are booking tee times instead of playing baseball in October.
Don't believe me? Just ask Eric Wedge. Or better yet, ask CC Sabathia. And if your head is still attached, you'll know why the Indians are not a factor in the AL Central this year: Poor defense.
It was evident from the start that CC Sabathia didn't have his "A" game tonight. The Cubs weren't fooled by what CC was throwing tonight, and they hit him rather hard. It's in games like that where the defense is expected to step up their effort and make some plays. Tonight, the Indians failed to complete that task.
With nobody out, and runners on 1st and 3rd, a ball was slowly hit down the 1st baseline. Ben Broussard fielded the ball cleanly and fired a perfect strike to homeplate, in plenty of time to beat the baserunner. There was plenty of time, because nobody was running home. End result: Bases loaded, nobody out.
The next batter hits a slow line drive towards second base. The type of ball that a shackled Stephen Hawking could catch in the air is allowed to drop, and 2B Ron Belliard fields it on a hop and throws the ball to...no one. End result: Run scores, bases still loaded with nobody out.
Two sure outs (possibly 3) squandered, both scored as a "Fielder's Choice", as in they chose not to think.
You can almost forgive physical errors. A shortstop goes to his right, fields the ball with his backhand and launches a rocket into the stands for a 1-base error. Yeah, he messed up, but you applaud the effort. In the case of Broussard and Belliard, who are regarded as decent fielders (in fact, Belliard is one of the Top 10 2B over the last 3 years in +/- according to "The Fielding Bible"), tonight's miscues were of the mental variety.
And those are the unmistakable sign of a team that is just coasting along. Mental errors, even at the game's highest level, are indicative a far greater problem.
On this, you might not want to ask Eric Wedge's opinion.
Don't believe me? Just ask Eric Wedge. Or better yet, ask CC Sabathia. And if your head is still attached, you'll know why the Indians are not a factor in the AL Central this year: Poor defense.
It was evident from the start that CC Sabathia didn't have his "A" game tonight. The Cubs weren't fooled by what CC was throwing tonight, and they hit him rather hard. It's in games like that where the defense is expected to step up their effort and make some plays. Tonight, the Indians failed to complete that task.
With nobody out, and runners on 1st and 3rd, a ball was slowly hit down the 1st baseline. Ben Broussard fielded the ball cleanly and fired a perfect strike to homeplate, in plenty of time to beat the baserunner. There was plenty of time, because nobody was running home. End result: Bases loaded, nobody out.
The next batter hits a slow line drive towards second base. The type of ball that a shackled Stephen Hawking could catch in the air is allowed to drop, and 2B Ron Belliard fields it on a hop and throws the ball to...no one. End result: Run scores, bases still loaded with nobody out.
Two sure outs (possibly 3) squandered, both scored as a "Fielder's Choice", as in they chose not to think.
You can almost forgive physical errors. A shortstop goes to his right, fields the ball with his backhand and launches a rocket into the stands for a 1-base error. Yeah, he messed up, but you applaud the effort. In the case of Broussard and Belliard, who are regarded as decent fielders (in fact, Belliard is one of the Top 10 2B over the last 3 years in +/- according to "The Fielding Bible"), tonight's miscues were of the mental variety.
And those are the unmistakable sign of a team that is just coasting along. Mental errors, even at the game's highest level, are indicative a far greater problem.
On this, you might not want to ask Eric Wedge's opinion.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Baseball Notes - June 20th, 2006
Just some random notes while I try to forget about the existence of Greg Cote's column in today's Miami Herald:
- Quite the performance out of Giants rookie Matt Cain, who lost his no-hit bid with two outs in the 8th inning in the Giants 2-1 win over the hapless Angels of Anaheim last night.
- The Reds trimmed a half game off the Cardinals lead by beating the Mets, 4-2 in Shea Stadium. Congratulations to Ken Griffey Jr. for hitting his 548th HR, tying him with Mike Schmidt for 11th place on the All-Time HR list.
- Kyle Snyder did what the Red Sox asked of him last night, as Snyder gave the Red Sox 5 innings of somewhat decent pitching in the 6-3 win over the Nats. The 2006 Washington Nationals will never be confused with the '27 Yankees, but Snyder didn't walk anybody and fanned 6, cutting his ERA this year down to 10.29 (it was over 22.00 after a really bad start for KC a few weeks ago). Jermaine Van Buren, Rudy Seanez, Javier Lopez and Mike Timlin pitched an inning apiece to close out the win, and Manny Ramirez is starting to turn his recent slump around.
- Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to struggle against the NL East, losing 4-2 to the Phillies. The Yankees are now 2 full games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
- The Oakland A's 10-game winning streak came to a screeching halt in the thin air of Coors Field, as the Rockies and Byung-Hyun Kim stomped the surging A's, 7-0.
- I think you can stick a fork in the Cleveland Indians. At 7 games under .500, this seemingly talented team can't seem to get their act together. With how well the White Sox and Tigers are playing this year, Cleveland doesn't appear to be the factor in the AL Central I once thought they'd be.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
The Yankees are sending their ace, Mike Mussina, to the mound to stop their recent slide. The fans in Jacob's Field get to see "Mad Dog" Greg Maddux pitch tonight, while the fans in Baltimore are treated to Dontrelle Willis.
But the marquee matchup tonight is in the Windy City, as Javier Vazquez and the defending champion White Sox host Mark Mulder and the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Quite the performance out of Giants rookie Matt Cain, who lost his no-hit bid with two outs in the 8th inning in the Giants 2-1 win over the hapless Angels of Anaheim last night.
- The Reds trimmed a half game off the Cardinals lead by beating the Mets, 4-2 in Shea Stadium. Congratulations to Ken Griffey Jr. for hitting his 548th HR, tying him with Mike Schmidt for 11th place on the All-Time HR list.
- Kyle Snyder did what the Red Sox asked of him last night, as Snyder gave the Red Sox 5 innings of somewhat decent pitching in the 6-3 win over the Nats. The 2006 Washington Nationals will never be confused with the '27 Yankees, but Snyder didn't walk anybody and fanned 6, cutting his ERA this year down to 10.29 (it was over 22.00 after a really bad start for KC a few weeks ago). Jermaine Van Buren, Rudy Seanez, Javier Lopez and Mike Timlin pitched an inning apiece to close out the win, and Manny Ramirez is starting to turn his recent slump around.
- Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to struggle against the NL East, losing 4-2 to the Phillies. The Yankees are now 2 full games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
- The Oakland A's 10-game winning streak came to a screeching halt in the thin air of Coors Field, as the Rockies and Byung-Hyun Kim stomped the surging A's, 7-0.
- I think you can stick a fork in the Cleveland Indians. At 7 games under .500, this seemingly talented team can't seem to get their act together. With how well the White Sox and Tigers are playing this year, Cleveland doesn't appear to be the factor in the AL Central I once thought they'd be.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
The Yankees are sending their ace, Mike Mussina, to the mound to stop their recent slide. The fans in Jacob's Field get to see "Mad Dog" Greg Maddux pitch tonight, while the fans in Baltimore are treated to Dontrelle Willis.
But the marquee matchup tonight is in the Windy City, as Javier Vazquez and the defending champion White Sox host Mark Mulder and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Greg Cote Opens the Wound
I'll admit it, I'm not the biggest fan of the NBA. I've managed to avoid this "renaissance" that the 2006 NBA Playoffs have allegedly created. Aside from the occasional glance at the game last Thursday night, I haven't paid much attention to the NBA Finals.
I couldn't help but hear, read and see the reaction by the Dallas Mavericks over what happened on Sunday night. Dirk Nowitzki has been fined $5,000 (spare change to an NBA player) for kicking the ball into the stands after the Mavs controversial loss to the Miami Heat. Mark Cuban claims the NBA is "rigged" and the people in Miami, well, they think all is well with the way the series has been going, as evidenced by Greg Cote's piece in today's Miami Herald.
The only reason this appeared on my radar screen this morning is because of Cote's mention of the Seattle Seahawks's reaction to the officiating in Super Bowl XL. Cote writes "The conveniece of alleging bad calls, or even willfully biased officiating (the Seattle Seahawks conducted a remarkable seminar in early February), also is the blame-dodge of choice among teams that cannot bear to properly credit the opponent."
This basically confirms my worst fears during the aftermath of Super Bowl XL. Forgotten is the horrendous display of officiating by Bill Leavy, and what's remembered about that game was that afterwards, the Seahawks (and their fans) expressed their feelings of being robbed on the game's biggest stage.
(If you want some photographic evidence on just how bad the officiating was in Super Bowl XL, visit this site. That site will show you that, according to Bill Leavy's crew, this is a hold, while this, this, this, this and this, was not. So even though the hold on Sean Locklear negated a 1st and goal from 1, on a drive where the Seahawks (not the officials) grabbed hold of the game's momentum and were 3 feet away from the end zone and the lead, with the league's MVP (and single-season TD record holder) in the backfield, the zebras had zero affect on the game whatsoever? The obvious hold on Alan Faneca, however, only resulted in 7 points for the Steelers, provided you actually believe the ball crossed the goal line, and if you do, visit a Lenscrafters nearest you today.)
The 2005 Seattle Seahawks were not the first team to fall victim to bad officiating, and they certainly won't be the last. Everyone remembers Don Denkinger and the 1985 World Series, and if you need a more recent example of bad officiating, how about last Saturday's Italy-United States World Cup match?
Sports has a human element, and officials will, from time to time, make some mistakes. But when a game, like the Mavericks-Heat game the other night, appears to over-officiated to the side of just one team (in this case, the Heat's), the opposing players, fans, and even coaches, are going to react. And when both teams have worked equally hard and for just as long to come within inches of glory, only to have it stripped away by some guys (and gals) in striped jerseys, how can you honestly blame them?
Go MAVS! I didn't care before, but I do now. Who doesn't want to see David Stern present that trophy to Mark Cuban? Besides Greg Cote, of course...
I couldn't help but hear, read and see the reaction by the Dallas Mavericks over what happened on Sunday night. Dirk Nowitzki has been fined $5,000 (spare change to an NBA player) for kicking the ball into the stands after the Mavs controversial loss to the Miami Heat. Mark Cuban claims the NBA is "rigged" and the people in Miami, well, they think all is well with the way the series has been going, as evidenced by Greg Cote's piece in today's Miami Herald.
The only reason this appeared on my radar screen this morning is because of Cote's mention of the Seattle Seahawks's reaction to the officiating in Super Bowl XL. Cote writes "The conveniece of alleging bad calls, or even willfully biased officiating (the Seattle Seahawks conducted a remarkable seminar in early February), also is the blame-dodge of choice among teams that cannot bear to properly credit the opponent."
This basically confirms my worst fears during the aftermath of Super Bowl XL. Forgotten is the horrendous display of officiating by Bill Leavy, and what's remembered about that game was that afterwards, the Seahawks (and their fans) expressed their feelings of being robbed on the game's biggest stage.
(If you want some photographic evidence on just how bad the officiating was in Super Bowl XL, visit this site. That site will show you that, according to Bill Leavy's crew, this is a hold, while this, this, this, this and this, was not. So even though the hold on Sean Locklear negated a 1st and goal from 1, on a drive where the Seahawks (not the officials) grabbed hold of the game's momentum and were 3 feet away from the end zone and the lead, with the league's MVP (and single-season TD record holder) in the backfield, the zebras had zero affect on the game whatsoever? The obvious hold on Alan Faneca, however, only resulted in 7 points for the Steelers, provided you actually believe the ball crossed the goal line, and if you do, visit a Lenscrafters nearest you today.)
The 2005 Seattle Seahawks were not the first team to fall victim to bad officiating, and they certainly won't be the last. Everyone remembers Don Denkinger and the 1985 World Series, and if you need a more recent example of bad officiating, how about last Saturday's Italy-United States World Cup match?
Sports has a human element, and officials will, from time to time, make some mistakes. But when a game, like the Mavericks-Heat game the other night, appears to over-officiated to the side of just one team (in this case, the Heat's), the opposing players, fans, and even coaches, are going to react. And when both teams have worked equally hard and for just as long to come within inches of glory, only to have it stripped away by some guys (and gals) in striped jerseys, how can you honestly blame them?
Go MAVS! I didn't care before, but I do now. Who doesn't want to see David Stern present that trophy to Mark Cuban? Besides Greg Cote, of course...
Monday, June 19, 2006
A Quick Look at the AL West
Over the last few seasons, no team has dominated June like the Oakland A's. 2006 is proving to be no different, as the A's are off to a 14-2 start this month and have won 10 straight as they head out on a 9-game road trip through the NL West, including one of those Giants-A's matchups that make interleague action bearable.
Still, you can't count out the Texas Rangers, who are currently 1/2 game behind the A's. The most stunning development in Texas has been the offense supplied by Gary Matthews, Jr. In a lineup that features bonafide MVP candidate Mark Teixeira and slugger Hank Blalock, Matthews leads the Rangers in OPS (.959), thanks to his 25 doubles, 4 triples and 7 HRs.
Who would've thought Seattle would be within 5 games of 1st place after Father's Day? Richie Sexson still isn't hitting, but Ichiro is going after his own single-season hits record and Jose Lopez is the best second baseman you've never heard of. The rotation is starting to pitch up to their abilities, and somehow, the bullpen hasn't been catastrophic.
The most shocking team in the AL West, even more than the respectable Mariners, has been the woeful Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. For them to send Jered Weaver, their best starting pitcher over the last few weeks, to the minor leagues was a decision I have hard time understanding.
The Other Races
The Yankees late-inning collapses in DC opened the door for the Red Sox to jump back into 1st place. Toronto ran into a hot Marlins team, keeping the Jays 3 games back in the AL East.
Detroit and Chicago appear set to give us an exciting division race this summer, one which Minnesota (winners of 7 straight) would love to be a part of. Cleveland is now closer to the Royals than they are the White Sox, which is not a good sign. When will the "they're too young" excuse get old?
The Mets have a very safe lead in the NL East, and could get some help from their NY roommates this week, as the Phillies host the Yankees this week. Who would've thought that neither Washington nor Florida would be in last place right now? Even more surprising is that the current cellar dwellars are the Atlanta Braves.
The Cardinals are close to getting Albert Pujols back, and they seem to have weathered the storm nicely. They've managed to open a 5.5 game lead on the Reds, and the Astros and Brewers are still over a touchdown away.
The NL West is still tighter than Al Nipper's pants, with 2 games separating all 5 teams. I'm still baffled at how poorly the Diamondbacks have played since the Grimsley incident a few weeks ago, and I'm starting to wonder if they'll ever turn it around. Even Brandon Webb is starting to get knocked around a bit, and that's not a good sign. Someone in that clubhouse needs to step up and right the ship.
The Week Ahead
More interleague fun! And this time, there are some series actually worth watching.
NY Yankees at Philadelphia (6/19-6/21). The Yankees had a very hard time in the District over the weekend and are hoping Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina can go out there and give the bullpen a break.
St. Louis at Chicago White Sox (6/20-6/22). The NL Central leaders take on the defending World Champs. That's appealing. I just wish Pujols was available for a series in that park.
Cincinnati at NY Mets (6/19-6/22). It's not an interleague series, but it's an important series to the NL playoff race. The Reds are struggling (lost 3 straight) and it won't get any easier for them.
The World Cup
I'll admit it: I'm hooked on the World Cup. Sure, the players can't use their hands, and the players flail to the ground at the slightest hint of any contact, but after watching the US-Italy match on Saturday afternoon, I am officially a fan of futbol.
Am I going to start going to MLS games, or subscribing to the English Premier League package on DirecTV? Probably not. But I appreciate the skill of the players, the strategy of the game and the undeniable passion of futbol fans across the world.
I'll be glued to the ESPN gamecast of the US-Ghana match on Thursday morning, and I hope that the United States wins (and Italy defeats the Czechs) to advance to the 2nd round. It's astonishing that this game still hasn't caught on in the States, but people driving around in a circle has.
Oh, and if you're like me, and you spent the weekend watching the World Cup, you most likely have the song from the Adidas commercial (Jose +10) stuck in your head. It's called "If You Don't Give My Football Back" by Jim Noir, a solo artist from Manchester, England.
Still, you can't count out the Texas Rangers, who are currently 1/2 game behind the A's. The most stunning development in Texas has been the offense supplied by Gary Matthews, Jr. In a lineup that features bonafide MVP candidate Mark Teixeira and slugger Hank Blalock, Matthews leads the Rangers in OPS (.959), thanks to his 25 doubles, 4 triples and 7 HRs.
Who would've thought Seattle would be within 5 games of 1st place after Father's Day? Richie Sexson still isn't hitting, but Ichiro is going after his own single-season hits record and Jose Lopez is the best second baseman you've never heard of. The rotation is starting to pitch up to their abilities, and somehow, the bullpen hasn't been catastrophic.
The most shocking team in the AL West, even more than the respectable Mariners, has been the woeful Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. For them to send Jered Weaver, their best starting pitcher over the last few weeks, to the minor leagues was a decision I have hard time understanding.
The Other Races
The Yankees late-inning collapses in DC opened the door for the Red Sox to jump back into 1st place. Toronto ran into a hot Marlins team, keeping the Jays 3 games back in the AL East.
Detroit and Chicago appear set to give us an exciting division race this summer, one which Minnesota (winners of 7 straight) would love to be a part of. Cleveland is now closer to the Royals than they are the White Sox, which is not a good sign. When will the "they're too young" excuse get old?
The Mets have a very safe lead in the NL East, and could get some help from their NY roommates this week, as the Phillies host the Yankees this week. Who would've thought that neither Washington nor Florida would be in last place right now? Even more surprising is that the current cellar dwellars are the Atlanta Braves.
The Cardinals are close to getting Albert Pujols back, and they seem to have weathered the storm nicely. They've managed to open a 5.5 game lead on the Reds, and the Astros and Brewers are still over a touchdown away.
The NL West is still tighter than Al Nipper's pants, with 2 games separating all 5 teams. I'm still baffled at how poorly the Diamondbacks have played since the Grimsley incident a few weeks ago, and I'm starting to wonder if they'll ever turn it around. Even Brandon Webb is starting to get knocked around a bit, and that's not a good sign. Someone in that clubhouse needs to step up and right the ship.
The Week Ahead
More interleague fun! And this time, there are some series actually worth watching.
NY Yankees at Philadelphia (6/19-6/21). The Yankees had a very hard time in the District over the weekend and are hoping Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina can go out there and give the bullpen a break.
St. Louis at Chicago White Sox (6/20-6/22). The NL Central leaders take on the defending World Champs. That's appealing. I just wish Pujols was available for a series in that park.
Cincinnati at NY Mets (6/19-6/22). It's not an interleague series, but it's an important series to the NL playoff race. The Reds are struggling (lost 3 straight) and it won't get any easier for them.
The World Cup
I'll admit it: I'm hooked on the World Cup. Sure, the players can't use their hands, and the players flail to the ground at the slightest hint of any contact, but after watching the US-Italy match on Saturday afternoon, I am officially a fan of futbol.
Am I going to start going to MLS games, or subscribing to the English Premier League package on DirecTV? Probably not. But I appreciate the skill of the players, the strategy of the game and the undeniable passion of futbol fans across the world.
I'll be glued to the ESPN gamecast of the US-Ghana match on Thursday morning, and I hope that the United States wins (and Italy defeats the Czechs) to advance to the 2nd round. It's astonishing that this game still hasn't caught on in the States, but people driving around in a circle has.
Oh, and if you're like me, and you spent the weekend watching the World Cup, you most likely have the song from the Adidas commercial (Jose +10) stuck in your head. It's called "If You Don't Give My Football Back" by Jim Noir, a solo artist from Manchester, England.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Gonzo Reacts Angrily
In the wake of the Jason Grimsley incident, we now have an angry reaction from Luis Gonzalez when his name surfaced in rumors of previous steroid use. The shocking part of this isn't that Gonzalez's name surfaced in a steroid rumor, it's that the Diamondback's general partner Ken Kendrick was the one who freely mentioned it.
Everyone from this era is going to have the steroid cloud over their heads, it's just a matter of to what degree. And if you're a player who hit 57 HRs at the age of 34, after having a previous high of 31, and then you go back to hitting 25-28 HRs the next few years, the fans and media are going to question that season. Just ask Brady Anderson.
We live in a tabloid-friendly society, and the only pasttime more entertaining than watching our heroes rise, is to watch them fall. I can certainly understand Gonzalez's reaction, as he would know for sure if he ever used something to aide his performance. But Gonzalez is just one of many players who has found his name whispered about when it comes to steroids this season. Even Albert Pujols, who has never given anyone a reason to suspect steroid use, has had his name mentioned by the media in regards to HGH. The bottom line is, if you're
Is it fair? No, of course not. But this is the price the sport of baseball, its players (both clean and juiced) will have to pay for doing nothing to stop the use of steroids when it had the opportunity.
More Inter-League Fun
If there is one issue MLB has that I'm somewhat indifferent on, it's interleague baseball. While I can certainly understand that in most markets, it's rather senseless (Colorado and Arizona, for example), that might be the tradeoff for having the Mets-Yankees, White Sox-Cubs, Royals-Cardinals, Reds-Indians, Giants-A's and Dodgers-Angels games that actually are entertaining and meaningful for those areas.
Unfortunately you also have weekends like this one, where the only real "rival" matchup is the Indians-Brewers rehashing their old American League rivalry. Yeah, I suppose you have the Braves-Red Sox, but does anybody really care about that? I didn't think so.
There are, however, some interesting matchups to watch. Felix Hernandez pitching to Barry Bonds tonight in Safeco Field, for example. Jon Lester making his 2nd major league start in Atlanta, Justin Verlander pitching in Wrigley Field tomorrow afternoon.
Interleague games are greeted with thunderous silence in most baseball towns, but I do see the benefit in seeing how the other half lives. I think its good that fans in Pittsburgh will have a chance to see Joe Mauer and Johan Santana, or fans in Atlanta get to see Big Papi (SI cover boy this week) in action.
When I was growing up, there was never an opportunity to see National League stars like Ryne Sandberg or Tony Gwynn play in person. With interleague baseball, that's possible.
Everyone from this era is going to have the steroid cloud over their heads, it's just a matter of to what degree. And if you're a player who hit 57 HRs at the age of 34, after having a previous high of 31, and then you go back to hitting 25-28 HRs the next few years, the fans and media are going to question that season. Just ask Brady Anderson.
We live in a tabloid-friendly society, and the only pasttime more entertaining than watching our heroes rise, is to watch them fall. I can certainly understand Gonzalez's reaction, as he would know for sure if he ever used something to aide his performance. But Gonzalez is just one of many players who has found his name whispered about when it comes to steroids this season. Even Albert Pujols, who has never given anyone a reason to suspect steroid use, has had his name mentioned by the media in regards to HGH. The bottom line is, if you're
Is it fair? No, of course not. But this is the price the sport of baseball, its players (both clean and juiced) will have to pay for doing nothing to stop the use of steroids when it had the opportunity.
More Inter-League Fun
If there is one issue MLB has that I'm somewhat indifferent on, it's interleague baseball. While I can certainly understand that in most markets, it's rather senseless (Colorado and Arizona, for example), that might be the tradeoff for having the Mets-Yankees, White Sox-Cubs, Royals-Cardinals, Reds-Indians, Giants-A's and Dodgers-Angels games that actually are entertaining and meaningful for those areas.
Unfortunately you also have weekends like this one, where the only real "rival" matchup is the Indians-Brewers rehashing their old American League rivalry. Yeah, I suppose you have the Braves-Red Sox, but does anybody really care about that? I didn't think so.
There are, however, some interesting matchups to watch. Felix Hernandez pitching to Barry Bonds tonight in Safeco Field, for example. Jon Lester making his 2nd major league start in Atlanta, Justin Verlander pitching in Wrigley Field tomorrow afternoon.
Interleague games are greeted with thunderous silence in most baseball towns, but I do see the benefit in seeing how the other half lives. I think its good that fans in Pittsburgh will have a chance to see Joe Mauer and Johan Santana, or fans in Atlanta get to see Big Papi (SI cover boy this week) in action.
When I was growing up, there was never an opportunity to see National League stars like Ryne Sandberg or Tony Gwynn play in person. With interleague baseball, that's possible.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Baseball Notes - June 15th, 2006
Still looking for better name for this space. It'll happen eventually.
Guillen Goes Ballistic...at Himself?
The book of "unwritten rules" in baseball is pretty thick, but the most obvious one is "Always listen to your manager", no matter who stupid the order is.
Last night in Texas, White Sox rookie pitcher Sean Tracey threw 5 pitches to Rangers 3B Hank Blalock, whose solo HR gave the Rangers a 1-0, which was all the Rangers needed to beat the White Sox. Anyways, Tracey threw 5 pitches to Blalock. Two of which Blalock scrambled to avoid, and the last one was slowly rolled to Tadahito Iguchi for the 1st out of the inning.
Guillen slammed his water bottle down and pulled Tracey from the game and proceeded to berate Tracey, who was making 3rd appearance in the major leagues, in plain view of the team and the cameras covering the game.
Coach Oz claims he was upset at himself for not getting someone else ready to face Blalock, and Tracey refused comment before being shipped back to AAA. Clearly, Guillen told Tracey to hit Blalock in retaliation for AJ Pierzynski being hit by two pitches earlier in the game.
Guillen is 100% in the wrong for what he did last night. Not for ordering Tracey to hit Blalock, which he tried to do, but for berating the player in the dugout like that. The kid has spent less than a week at the major league level, tried to do what you told him to do, but you berate him anyways?
Classless move, Ozzie.
Hit. Lift. Drive.
Those words still echo in my brain from playing football in high school. Hit, lift and drive is how you make a perfect tackle. And what better example is there than the tackling clinic that the Red Sox bat boy delivered on one less-than-sober Twins fan?
The video for this hit can be found here, and it's worth noting that the bat boy is a Minnesota resident.
As for the actual game, it was the typical outing for Matt Clement this year as he failed to pitch beyond the 5th inning before leaving with an arm injury. No matter how painful his injury is, it's nothing compared to how Red Sox Nation feels after one of his starts.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
As someone in the Monday-Friday, 9-5 world, nothing frustrates me more than missing the slate of games scheduled on Thursday afternoons. There always seems to be a good game going on that I can't watch.
This afternoon, you have the Indians trying to muster up some offense in the Bronx against Mike Mussina, the Mariners attempting to salvage something out of their series with the red-hot A's and the conclusion of the Mets-Phillies series in Philadelphia, that has seen the Mets put more distance between themselves and the rest of the NL East.
Tonight's highlights include the White Sox-Rangers game, which features Mark Buehrle going against John Rheinecker, a pitcher who reminds a lot of people of...Mark Buehrle. That should be enjoyable as both pitchers work quickly and throw strikes. Hopefully, Ozzie Guillen will refrain from berating someone tonight.
In Minnesota, the Red Sox and Twins meet in the rubber game of their 3-game set. Tim Wakefield hasn't received much run support when he pitches, but Minnesota does have Carlos Silva going tonight, which usually means the Metrodome maintenance crew will be installing fresh scoreboard bulbs tomorrow.
Guillen Goes Ballistic...at Himself?
The book of "unwritten rules" in baseball is pretty thick, but the most obvious one is "Always listen to your manager", no matter who stupid the order is.
Last night in Texas, White Sox rookie pitcher Sean Tracey threw 5 pitches to Rangers 3B Hank Blalock, whose solo HR gave the Rangers a 1-0, which was all the Rangers needed to beat the White Sox. Anyways, Tracey threw 5 pitches to Blalock. Two of which Blalock scrambled to avoid, and the last one was slowly rolled to Tadahito Iguchi for the 1st out of the inning.
Guillen slammed his water bottle down and pulled Tracey from the game and proceeded to berate Tracey, who was making 3rd appearance in the major leagues, in plain view of the team and the cameras covering the game.
Coach Oz claims he was upset at himself for not getting someone else ready to face Blalock, and Tracey refused comment before being shipped back to AAA. Clearly, Guillen told Tracey to hit Blalock in retaliation for AJ Pierzynski being hit by two pitches earlier in the game.
Guillen is 100% in the wrong for what he did last night. Not for ordering Tracey to hit Blalock, which he tried to do, but for berating the player in the dugout like that. The kid has spent less than a week at the major league level, tried to do what you told him to do, but you berate him anyways?
Classless move, Ozzie.
Hit. Lift. Drive.
Those words still echo in my brain from playing football in high school. Hit, lift and drive is how you make a perfect tackle. And what better example is there than the tackling clinic that the Red Sox bat boy delivered on one less-than-sober Twins fan?
The video for this hit can be found here, and it's worth noting that the bat boy is a Minnesota resident.
As for the actual game, it was the typical outing for Matt Clement this year as he failed to pitch beyond the 5th inning before leaving with an arm injury. No matter how painful his injury is, it's nothing compared to how Red Sox Nation feels after one of his starts.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
As someone in the Monday-Friday, 9-5 world, nothing frustrates me more than missing the slate of games scheduled on Thursday afternoons. There always seems to be a good game going on that I can't watch.
This afternoon, you have the Indians trying to muster up some offense in the Bronx against Mike Mussina, the Mariners attempting to salvage something out of their series with the red-hot A's and the conclusion of the Mets-Phillies series in Philadelphia, that has seen the Mets put more distance between themselves and the rest of the NL East.
Tonight's highlights include the White Sox-Rangers game, which features Mark Buehrle going against John Rheinecker, a pitcher who reminds a lot of people of...Mark Buehrle. That should be enjoyable as both pitchers work quickly and throw strikes. Hopefully, Ozzie Guillen will refrain from berating someone tonight.
In Minnesota, the Red Sox and Twins meet in the rubber game of their 3-game set. Tim Wakefield hasn't received much run support when he pitches, but Minnesota does have Carlos Silva going tonight, which usually means the Metrodome maintenance crew will be installing fresh scoreboard bulbs tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
The Kids Are Alright
The other day, Peter Gammons wrote about some of baseball's franchise players under the age of 24, and it's certainly an exciting time to be a baseball fan. Who isn't looking forward to watching the development of Joe Mauer, Miguel Cabrera or David Wright over the next 10 years?
What's equally impressive is the development of some of baseball's young pitchers. Maybe it's from years of watching the Red Sox young pitchers (Brian Rose, John Wasdin-the list goes on and on) falter when they reach the majors, but every night there appears to be a young starter enjoying success at the game's highest level.
While starting pitchers aren't normally regarded as "Franchise" players, I find it difficult to not be excited about the futures of guys like Felix Hernandez, Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander. What happens when/if Boston moves Jonathan Papelbon to the rotation and Detroit does the same with Joel Zumaya? What about some of the starters who are not quite young, but still a few years away from 30? Johan Santana, Rich Harden, Dontrelle Willis, CC Sabathia, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Webb and Josh Beckett?
The more this season plays out, the more it seems that baseball is in a transitional stage. As the players who elevated the game, both naturally or with pharmacuetical products, from its post 1994 oblivion head towards retirement, both naturally or forced into it by FBI investigations and/or perjury charges pending, the game of baseball appears to be in good hands.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
- There's a Johnson & Johnson duel tonight in the Bronx, as Jason goes up against Randy.
- One night after Curt Schilling and Johan Santana left the score 1-1 at the end of 9 innings, in a game the Twins won in 12 innings, the Sox and Twins send two of the more shell-shocked starters in baseball, Matt Clement and Brad Rake, to the mound. Here's a tip: The score will not be 1-1 after 9 innings, and likely won't be that way after the 1st.
- To appease the royalty fan in you (not the Royals fan, of which there are about 7 remaining), the Cardinals send Sir Sidney Ponson to the mound in PNC Park in Pittsburgh to face Zach Duke.
(Thanks. I'll be here all week. Try the veal!)
The best matchup of the night takes place in Philadelphia, for the second game of their 3-game series. The Mets took game one of the series thanks to the yardwork provided by David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Co. The Phillies made it interesting, but then that Wagner guy came in and nailed the door shut.
Tonight's game will be on ESPN, which spares you from having to listen to the Mets broadcast on the Extra Innings package. I've become somewhat of an aficianado of MLB broadcasts over the last few years, and I'd rate the Mets' telecasts near the bottom. The most enjoyable broadcasts are Vin Scully doing the Dodgers games, Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy are impeccable every night on NESN, and I actually like the Mariners broadcasts with Dave Neihaus and either Dave Henderson or Dave Valle for FSN Northwest.
On the other side of the spectrum are the Yankees, Mets and the Washington Nationals. The worst, and I mean worst, are the White Sox broadcasts. Hawk Harrelson's "He gone" strikeout call is the most annoying sound not made by Stuart Scott. I'm not unconvinced that it doesn't cause seizures.
What's equally impressive is the development of some of baseball's young pitchers. Maybe it's from years of watching the Red Sox young pitchers (Brian Rose, John Wasdin-the list goes on and on) falter when they reach the majors, but every night there appears to be a young starter enjoying success at the game's highest level.
While starting pitchers aren't normally regarded as "Franchise" players, I find it difficult to not be excited about the futures of guys like Felix Hernandez, Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander. What happens when/if Boston moves Jonathan Papelbon to the rotation and Detroit does the same with Joel Zumaya? What about some of the starters who are not quite young, but still a few years away from 30? Johan Santana, Rich Harden, Dontrelle Willis, CC Sabathia, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Webb and Josh Beckett?
The more this season plays out, the more it seems that baseball is in a transitional stage. As the players who elevated the game, both naturally or with pharmacuetical products, from its post 1994 oblivion head towards retirement, both naturally or forced into it by FBI investigations and/or perjury charges pending, the game of baseball appears to be in good hands.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
- There's a Johnson & Johnson duel tonight in the Bronx, as Jason goes up against Randy.
- One night after Curt Schilling and Johan Santana left the score 1-1 at the end of 9 innings, in a game the Twins won in 12 innings, the Sox and Twins send two of the more shell-shocked starters in baseball, Matt Clement and Brad Rake, to the mound. Here's a tip: The score will not be 1-1 after 9 innings, and likely won't be that way after the 1st.
- To appease the royalty fan in you (not the Royals fan, of which there are about 7 remaining), the Cardinals send Sir Sidney Ponson to the mound in PNC Park in Pittsburgh to face Zach Duke.
(Thanks. I'll be here all week. Try the veal!)
The best matchup of the night takes place in Philadelphia, for the second game of their 3-game series. The Mets took game one of the series thanks to the yardwork provided by David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Co. The Phillies made it interesting, but then that Wagner guy came in and nailed the door shut.
Tonight's game will be on ESPN, which spares you from having to listen to the Mets broadcast on the Extra Innings package. I've become somewhat of an aficianado of MLB broadcasts over the last few years, and I'd rate the Mets' telecasts near the bottom. The most enjoyable broadcasts are Vin Scully doing the Dodgers games, Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy are impeccable every night on NESN, and I actually like the Mariners broadcasts with Dave Neihaus and either Dave Henderson or Dave Valle for FSN Northwest.
On the other side of the spectrum are the Yankees, Mets and the Washington Nationals. The worst, and I mean worst, are the White Sox broadcasts. Hawk Harrelson's "He gone" strikeout call is the most annoying sound not made by Stuart Scott. I'm not unconvinced that it doesn't cause seizures.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Roethlisberger Hurt in Motorcycle Accident
The QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, was injured in a motorcycle accident this morning, ESPN.com reports.
Compounding the issue is the revelation well over a year ago that Roethlisberger chooses to not wear a protective helmet while riding his motorcycle, a decision that has drawn criticism from Bill Cowher and former Steelers QB/current FOX blowhard Terry Bradshaw.
While I certainly hope that Roethlisberger's injuries are not serious or life-threatening, it's extremely difficult to sympathize with anyone who is stoopid enough to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.
I work with a motorcycle enthusiast who told me this morning, before Big Ben's accident, that 5 people were killed either at or on their way to "Bike Week" in Laconia, New Hampshire this weekend. Also, a former colleague's son in-law was killed while riding his motorcycle on his way home from work two months ago. While a helmet doesn't provide 100% protection in an accident, it does reduce the impact the head is exposed to in minor accidents.
Roethlisberger's choice to not wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle shows that he's quite cavalier about his own future. He recognizes that it's important to wear a helmet to brace against hits from Ray Lewis, but he doesn't see the need to protect himself from pavement or Chryslers.
Yep, that's a really smart guy the Steelers got. The latest information (as heard on WEEI) is that Roethlisberger is in serious, but stable, condition, and is currently (1:45pm) in surgery. On what, I have no idea.
The Grimsley Effect in Arizona?
I can't pretend to know what's going on inside the Diamondback clubhouse, but the team hasn't won a game since Jason Grimsley's involvement in a federal investigation surfaced.
Based on the team's 7-game losing streak, and looking pretty terrible during it, you've got to think that the media storm that has enveloped the team has had a negative affect on the team as a whole.
This losing streak has dropped the Diamondbacks into 2nd place in the NL West, which Arizona will try to snap when the Giants come to town on Tuesday.
The Night/Week Ahead
Only 6 games on the docket tonight, including a matchup of two young starting pitchers making a name for themselves this year. I'd never thought I'd make it a point to watch a Devil Rays game this year, but Scott Kazmir vs. Justin Verlander is something to keep an eye on.
Elsewhere, 64-year old Jose Contreras takes the mound for the White Sox against the Rangers, who'll go with rookie lefty John Koronka tonight. The Rangers battled the Red Sox all weekend long, and while they did give away a sure win in yesterday's 1st game, they responded well.
There's a less-than-spectacular mid-week schedule as we head into another weekend of (played-out) interleague action, but there are a few series of note:
Cleveland at New York Yankees. The Indians' bats seem to be coming to life, and if they're bullpen stops making games tighter than Al Nipper's pants, they may be able to make some noise in the AL Central.
New York Mets at Philadelphia. With the Braves 10 games back (tied with the Washington Nationals!), the NL East is slowly becoming a two-team race, with the Mets 6.5 games ahead of the Phillies, who welcome the Mets to town knowing they won't have to face Pedro Martinez.
Seattle at Oakland. Seattle had a hot weekend, moving to 4 games back of division-leading Texas and are now 2 behind the 2nd place A's, who only swept the Yankees in the Bronx for the first time in 12 years. Oakland has been a house of horrors for the Mariners lately, but there's no time like the present to turn around their fortunes.
Compounding the issue is the revelation well over a year ago that Roethlisberger chooses to not wear a protective helmet while riding his motorcycle, a decision that has drawn criticism from Bill Cowher and former Steelers QB/current FOX blowhard Terry Bradshaw.
While I certainly hope that Roethlisberger's injuries are not serious or life-threatening, it's extremely difficult to sympathize with anyone who is stoopid enough to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.
I work with a motorcycle enthusiast who told me this morning, before Big Ben's accident, that 5 people were killed either at or on their way to "Bike Week" in Laconia, New Hampshire this weekend. Also, a former colleague's son in-law was killed while riding his motorcycle on his way home from work two months ago. While a helmet doesn't provide 100% protection in an accident, it does reduce the impact the head is exposed to in minor accidents.
Roethlisberger's choice to not wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle shows that he's quite cavalier about his own future. He recognizes that it's important to wear a helmet to brace against hits from Ray Lewis, but he doesn't see the need to protect himself from pavement or Chryslers.
Yep, that's a really smart guy the Steelers got. The latest information (as heard on WEEI) is that Roethlisberger is in serious, but stable, condition, and is currently (1:45pm) in surgery. On what, I have no idea.
The Grimsley Effect in Arizona?
I can't pretend to know what's going on inside the Diamondback clubhouse, but the team hasn't won a game since Jason Grimsley's involvement in a federal investigation surfaced.
Based on the team's 7-game losing streak, and looking pretty terrible during it, you've got to think that the media storm that has enveloped the team has had a negative affect on the team as a whole.
This losing streak has dropped the Diamondbacks into 2nd place in the NL West, which Arizona will try to snap when the Giants come to town on Tuesday.
The Night/Week Ahead
Only 6 games on the docket tonight, including a matchup of two young starting pitchers making a name for themselves this year. I'd never thought I'd make it a point to watch a Devil Rays game this year, but Scott Kazmir vs. Justin Verlander is something to keep an eye on.
Elsewhere, 64-year old Jose Contreras takes the mound for the White Sox against the Rangers, who'll go with rookie lefty John Koronka tonight. The Rangers battled the Red Sox all weekend long, and while they did give away a sure win in yesterday's 1st game, they responded well.
There's a less-than-spectacular mid-week schedule as we head into another weekend of (played-out) interleague action, but there are a few series of note:
Cleveland at New York Yankees. The Indians' bats seem to be coming to life, and if they're bullpen stops making games tighter than Al Nipper's pants, they may be able to make some noise in the AL Central.
New York Mets at Philadelphia. With the Braves 10 games back (tied with the Washington Nationals!), the NL East is slowly becoming a two-team race, with the Mets 6.5 games ahead of the Phillies, who welcome the Mets to town knowing they won't have to face Pedro Martinez.
Seattle at Oakland. Seattle had a hot weekend, moving to 4 games back of division-leading Texas and are now 2 behind the 2nd place A's, who only swept the Yankees in the Bronx for the first time in 12 years. Oakland has been a house of horrors for the Mariners lately, but there's no time like the present to turn around their fortunes.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Boston and Detroit Avoid Sweeps
In two series that pitted the top 2 teams in both the AL East and AL Central, the team starting the series in 2nd place had a chance to complete a series sweep last night...and we're denied.
Behind solid pitching performances of their veteran "aces" (Kenny Rogers & Curt Schilling), both Detroit and Boston got much-needed wins to end their dismal divisional series on a high note. Rogers scattered 5 hits in his outing, and got a smooth 6-2 win over Chicago. Schilling pitched well, surrendering only 4 hits. Unfortunately, the Yankees were making all of their hits count as 3 of the 4 hits left the yard. Boston's offense awoke in the 6th inning, though, and Jason Varitek (4 RBIs) led an 8-run outburst that salvaged Boston's miserable week in the Bronx.
Weekend Ahead
There are some interesting series to keep an eye on this weekend:
Cleveland at Chicago White Sox (Fri-Sun). FOX once again spoils the party as Saturday's Buehrle-Sabathia matchup will be missed by most of the nation.
Texas at Boston (Fri-Sun, day/night DH on Sat). With the weather here in Boston calling for (more) rain tonight, the series likely won't start until Saturday. How that affects the highly anticipated MLB debut of LHP Jon Lester (scheduled to start the 1:20pm game on Saturday) is yet to be seen. John "Way Back" Wasdin goes up against Josh "Back, Back, Back" Beckett on Saturday night. Just a friendly word to the wise if you're going to be eastbound on the Mass Pike on Saturday night.
Seattle at Arizona (Fri-Sun). Yes, these are the 3-4 teams in the AL West, but with Texas in Boston and Oakland in New York, one of these teams could potentially gain some ground.
World Cup 2006
The popularity of soccer in America is reportedly growing, albeit at a snail's pace. That said, I think I'm going to tune in and watch some "futbol" this weekend. The energy that these crowds create is unparalleled, and it might be fun to watch that classic England-Paraguay match at 9am (EST) on Saturday.
Seahawks Receive Some Bling
The story is a few days old, but I hadn't had the time to mention it before now. On Wednesday, the members of the 2005 Seattle Seahawks received their NFC Championship rings, which featured 58 diamonds set in 14-carat white gold.
Behind solid pitching performances of their veteran "aces" (Kenny Rogers & Curt Schilling), both Detroit and Boston got much-needed wins to end their dismal divisional series on a high note. Rogers scattered 5 hits in his outing, and got a smooth 6-2 win over Chicago. Schilling pitched well, surrendering only 4 hits. Unfortunately, the Yankees were making all of their hits count as 3 of the 4 hits left the yard. Boston's offense awoke in the 6th inning, though, and Jason Varitek (4 RBIs) led an 8-run outburst that salvaged Boston's miserable week in the Bronx.
Weekend Ahead
There are some interesting series to keep an eye on this weekend:
Cleveland at Chicago White Sox (Fri-Sun). FOX once again spoils the party as Saturday's Buehrle-Sabathia matchup will be missed by most of the nation.
Texas at Boston (Fri-Sun, day/night DH on Sat). With the weather here in Boston calling for (more) rain tonight, the series likely won't start until Saturday. How that affects the highly anticipated MLB debut of LHP Jon Lester (scheduled to start the 1:20pm game on Saturday) is yet to be seen. John "Way Back" Wasdin goes up against Josh "Back, Back, Back" Beckett on Saturday night. Just a friendly word to the wise if you're going to be eastbound on the Mass Pike on Saturday night.
Seattle at Arizona (Fri-Sun). Yes, these are the 3-4 teams in the AL West, but with Texas in Boston and Oakland in New York, one of these teams could potentially gain some ground.
World Cup 2006
The popularity of soccer in America is reportedly growing, albeit at a snail's pace. That said, I think I'm going to tune in and watch some "futbol" this weekend. The energy that these crowds create is unparalleled, and it might be fun to watch that classic England-Paraguay match at 9am (EST) on Saturday.
Seahawks Receive Some Bling
The story is a few days old, but I hadn't had the time to mention it before now. On Wednesday, the members of the 2005 Seattle Seahawks received their NFC Championship rings, which featured 58 diamonds set in 14-carat white gold.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Reds Move Into 1st Place Tie
Playing without probably the best hitter in baseball, the Cardinals are predictably struggling. They're still hitting (had 11 hits last night, but only 3 runs), thanks to the red-hot Scott Rolen, but without Pujols to drive runners in, treading water in the competitive NL Central is going to be a challenge for Tony LaRussa's crew.
As for Cincinnati they just keep on rolling. Last night's win extended their win streak to 7 games, and only the Los Angeles Dodgers have scored more runs than the Reds in the National League. And the news gets better as Cincinnati will be hosting the Cubs and Pirates, who are a combined 16-45 on the road this season, over the next 7 days.
"Johnnycakes"
Here's some proof that John Smoltz does not watch "The Sopranos".
Insert your own Vito Spatafore jokes here.
AL Central Race Tightening
Thanks to more heroics from Alex Cintron, the White Sox have moved to within a game of division-leading Detroit. One problem facing the Tigers is health. Pudge Rodriguez was out of last night's game, and LF Craig Monroe was forced to leave the game (leg) after crashing into the left field wall going after a Scott Podsednik flyball, which turned into a triple and the White Sox's first run. It was Monroe's replacement, Alexis Gomez, who misplayed the Alex Cintron single that allowed Joe Crede to score the winning run.
Ichiro Being Ichiro
On May 1st, Ichiro Suzuki didn't appear immune to the offensive anemia that plagued just about every veteran Mariners hitting not named Raul Ibanez. His batting average was at .287, which is respectable for most players, but not for a player who had never failed to hit over .300 as a professional.
Now that's it's June 8th, Ichiro is leading baseball in hits (93) and is second only to Joe Mauer in batting average (.358). In the first week of June, Ichiro is hitting an astronomical .571 (16-28) and the M's have won 6 of 7 and are tied with the LA Angels (of Anaheim in the state of California in the United States of America) as they both trail the division-leading Texas Rangers by 5.5 games.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
Thursday is "Ace" day in Major League Baseball.
Weather permitting, it'll be the Curt Schilling-Jaret Wright duel we expected last night in the Bronx. With the Yankees 1.5 games ahead of Boston, and last night's game rained out, the Sox have to salvage at least one game from this abbreviated series.
Bronson Arroyo tries to extend the Reds winning streak to 8 against Glendon Rusch of the Cubs. Other aces on the mound today include Roy Halladay (vs. Baltimore), Kenny Rogers (vs. Chicago), Doug Davis (vs. San Diego) and Johan Santana (vs. Seattle).
As for Cincinnati they just keep on rolling. Last night's win extended their win streak to 7 games, and only the Los Angeles Dodgers have scored more runs than the Reds in the National League. And the news gets better as Cincinnati will be hosting the Cubs and Pirates, who are a combined 16-45 on the road this season, over the next 7 days.
"Johnnycakes"
Here's some proof that John Smoltz does not watch "The Sopranos".
Insert your own Vito Spatafore jokes here.
AL Central Race Tightening
Thanks to more heroics from Alex Cintron, the White Sox have moved to within a game of division-leading Detroit. One problem facing the Tigers is health. Pudge Rodriguez was out of last night's game, and LF Craig Monroe was forced to leave the game (leg) after crashing into the left field wall going after a Scott Podsednik flyball, which turned into a triple and the White Sox's first run. It was Monroe's replacement, Alexis Gomez, who misplayed the Alex Cintron single that allowed Joe Crede to score the winning run.
Ichiro Being Ichiro
On May 1st, Ichiro Suzuki didn't appear immune to the offensive anemia that plagued just about every veteran Mariners hitting not named Raul Ibanez. His batting average was at .287, which is respectable for most players, but not for a player who had never failed to hit over .300 as a professional.
Now that's it's June 8th, Ichiro is leading baseball in hits (93) and is second only to Joe Mauer in batting average (.358). In the first week of June, Ichiro is hitting an astronomical .571 (16-28) and the M's have won 6 of 7 and are tied with the LA Angels (of Anaheim in the state of California in the United States of America) as they both trail the division-leading Texas Rangers by 5.5 games.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
Thursday is "Ace" day in Major League Baseball.
Weather permitting, it'll be the Curt Schilling-Jaret Wright duel we expected last night in the Bronx. With the Yankees 1.5 games ahead of Boston, and last night's game rained out, the Sox have to salvage at least one game from this abbreviated series.
Bronson Arroyo tries to extend the Reds winning streak to 8 against Glendon Rusch of the Cubs. Other aces on the mound today include Roy Halladay (vs. Baltimore), Kenny Rogers (vs. Chicago), Doug Davis (vs. San Diego) and Johan Santana (vs. Seattle).
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
The HGH Issue
What will we remember about June 6th, 2006?
- Roger Clemens pitching for class A Lexington, with his son Koby playing 3B?
- Eric Gagne recording his 1st save for the Dodgers in nearly 365 days?
- Cole Hamels 1st major league win?
- Melky Cabrera robbing Manny Ramirez of a HR?
- Luke Hochevar being the #1 pick of the 2006 Amateur Draft?
Even with those memorable moments, you still had Jason Schmidt fanning 16 Florida Marlins, Alfonso Soriano hitting his 22nd HR of the season (in another Nats loss) and Felix Hernandez pitching the way we all thought "King Felix" would pitch heading into this year.
And still, all this is overshadowed by the revelation that Jason Grimsley, a relief pitcher, has been the target of a federal investigation concerning illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Grimsley has reportedly admitted that he used human growth hormone, and he also named names in his "extensive statements" about illegal drug use.Though it may take some time, eventually, those names will no longer be a secret.
To me, this illustrates that you can not simply associate steroid use to guys like Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmiero. The use of performance-enhancing drugs goes far deeper than just the guys hitting 500-foot homeruns, despite the common misperception that steroids wouldn't benefit pitchers.
So while it's fun to add an * to every homerun Bonds hits, we're starting to get the sense that Bonds was a cheater in an era of cheaters.
Pauley Want Some Run Support
I heard all day long that the problem with the Red Sox was the pitching, not the hitting. So what do those folks say when David Pauley, making his 2nd MLB start in Yankee Stadium of all places, throws 98 pitches (61 strikes) and holds the Bronx Bombers to only 2 runs over 6 2/3 innings...and loses, 2-1.
Aside from Alex Cora playing Alex Gonzalez, the Red Sox lineup was exactly what it was on Opening Day. You can't say the same thing about the New York Yankees, who were once again without Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui, etc...
Still, there's no reason to panic. You never want to lose 4 straight to the Yankees, and they're now 1.5 games behind New York in the AL East, but with 106 games left to play, nothing is decided yet. Heck, with two games remaining in the series, there's a good chance that the AL East standings will look the same on Friday morning as they did on Monday morning.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
ESPN resumes their coverage of the Sox-Yanks series at 7:05pm, and whenever those two teams square off, it's the top draw of the night. Plus, the Red Sox send their real "ace", Curt Schilling, to the mound against Jaret Wright. That's got to give the Sox fans some hope.
For the people who are sick of this rivalry, you've got some Young vs. Old pitching matchups. Detroit sends Mac's pick for AL Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander to the mound against the White Sox and Jose Contreras, the best pitcher in baseball with a valid AARP card.
Minnesota sends Boof Bonser (love that name) to the mound at Safeco Field against 43-year old Jamie Moyer.
If pitching matchups aren't your thing, there's the possibility that the Reds could sweep the Cardinals and move into a 1st place tie in the NL Central before they start a 10-game homestand.
- Roger Clemens pitching for class A Lexington, with his son Koby playing 3B?
- Eric Gagne recording his 1st save for the Dodgers in nearly 365 days?
- Cole Hamels 1st major league win?
- Melky Cabrera robbing Manny Ramirez of a HR?
- Luke Hochevar being the #1 pick of the 2006 Amateur Draft?
Even with those memorable moments, you still had Jason Schmidt fanning 16 Florida Marlins, Alfonso Soriano hitting his 22nd HR of the season (in another Nats loss) and Felix Hernandez pitching the way we all thought "King Felix" would pitch heading into this year.
And still, all this is overshadowed by the revelation that Jason Grimsley, a relief pitcher, has been the target of a federal investigation concerning illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Grimsley has reportedly admitted that he used human growth hormone, and he also named names in his "extensive statements" about illegal drug use.Though it may take some time, eventually, those names will no longer be a secret.
To me, this illustrates that you can not simply associate steroid use to guys like Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmiero. The use of performance-enhancing drugs goes far deeper than just the guys hitting 500-foot homeruns, despite the common misperception that steroids wouldn't benefit pitchers.
So while it's fun to add an * to every homerun Bonds hits, we're starting to get the sense that Bonds was a cheater in an era of cheaters.
Pauley Want Some Run Support
I heard all day long that the problem with the Red Sox was the pitching, not the hitting. So what do those folks say when David Pauley, making his 2nd MLB start in Yankee Stadium of all places, throws 98 pitches (61 strikes) and holds the Bronx Bombers to only 2 runs over 6 2/3 innings...and loses, 2-1.
Aside from Alex Cora playing Alex Gonzalez, the Red Sox lineup was exactly what it was on Opening Day. You can't say the same thing about the New York Yankees, who were once again without Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui, etc...
Still, there's no reason to panic. You never want to lose 4 straight to the Yankees, and they're now 1.5 games behind New York in the AL East, but with 106 games left to play, nothing is decided yet. Heck, with two games remaining in the series, there's a good chance that the AL East standings will look the same on Friday morning as they did on Monday morning.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
ESPN resumes their coverage of the Sox-Yanks series at 7:05pm, and whenever those two teams square off, it's the top draw of the night. Plus, the Red Sox send their real "ace", Curt Schilling, to the mound against Jaret Wright. That's got to give the Sox fans some hope.
For the people who are sick of this rivalry, you've got some Young vs. Old pitching matchups. Detroit sends Mac's pick for AL Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander to the mound against the White Sox and Jose Contreras, the best pitcher in baseball with a valid AARP card.
Minnesota sends Boof Bonser (love that name) to the mound at Safeco Field against 43-year old Jamie Moyer.
If pitching matchups aren't your thing, there's the possibility that the Reds could sweep the Cardinals and move into a 1st place tie in the NL Central before they start a 10-game homestand.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Ty Law : Turdeus Gigantus
Take it for what it's worth, but the Beaver County Times & Alleghany Times is reporting that Ty Law is close to signing a contract. (With an NFL team that has uniforms and everything!)
The article states that Law cancelled an appearance at a golf course, which has fueled speculation that a contract is imminent. And the teams mentioned in that article are none other than the New England Patriots...and the Arizona Cardinals?
New England, on the surface, appears to make the most sense. They're a good team with some question marks in the secondary. They have ample cap room. Law has a son who lives in nearby Lincoln, RI. Oh, and Law spent all but 1 season of his NFL career in New England. The fans love him, don't care about his off-field issues and don't have an issue paying the man serious coin.
So why would Law be interested in playing for the Arizona Cardinals? Sure, they're moving into a gorgeous new stadium, and Dennis Green seems like a nice enough guy, but the Cardinals? The same Arizona Cardinals, who would be better off using cardboard cutouts of Conrad Dobler instead of the 300-pound turnstiles they currently call an offensive line? Those Arizona Cardinals??
What possible reason would there be for a guy like Ty Law to sign in Arizona?
Money.
Arizona has a plenty of room under the salary cap and, like an Alzheimer's patient, believes that the easiest way to fix flaws on the defensive side of the ball is to throw a lot of money at the problem.
As a Seahawks fan, nothing would delight me more than to see Ty Law cashing checks with a Cardinals logo on them next season. He's 32, has been slowed by the Lisfranc injury to his foot, and while he did have 10 interceptions in 2005 and made the Pro Bowl, he also never adjusted to the new illegal contact rules and was flagged many times for illegal contact.
He provides nothing in terms of leadership, has had various off-field incidents (ranging from smuggling ecstasy into the US to resisting arrest in Miami) and even called the best coach in the NFL over the last 5 years, Bill Belichick, a liar.
So why would Arizona want to sign this guy? After listing all the "cons" to it, why wouldn't they? They'd better hurry up about it, too, since Cincinnati is likely to come calling at some point.
The article states that Law cancelled an appearance at a golf course, which has fueled speculation that a contract is imminent. And the teams mentioned in that article are none other than the New England Patriots...and the Arizona Cardinals?
New England, on the surface, appears to make the most sense. They're a good team with some question marks in the secondary. They have ample cap room. Law has a son who lives in nearby Lincoln, RI. Oh, and Law spent all but 1 season of his NFL career in New England. The fans love him, don't care about his off-field issues and don't have an issue paying the man serious coin.
So why would Law be interested in playing for the Arizona Cardinals? Sure, they're moving into a gorgeous new stadium, and Dennis Green seems like a nice enough guy, but the Cardinals? The same Arizona Cardinals, who would be better off using cardboard cutouts of Conrad Dobler instead of the 300-pound turnstiles they currently call an offensive line? Those Arizona Cardinals??
What possible reason would there be for a guy like Ty Law to sign in Arizona?
Money.
Arizona has a plenty of room under the salary cap and, like an Alzheimer's patient, believes that the easiest way to fix flaws on the defensive side of the ball is to throw a lot of money at the problem.
As a Seahawks fan, nothing would delight me more than to see Ty Law cashing checks with a Cardinals logo on them next season. He's 32, has been slowed by the Lisfranc injury to his foot, and while he did have 10 interceptions in 2005 and made the Pro Bowl, he also never adjusted to the new illegal contact rules and was flagged many times for illegal contact.
He provides nothing in terms of leadership, has had various off-field incidents (ranging from smuggling ecstasy into the US to resisting arrest in Miami) and even called the best coach in the NFL over the last 5 years, Bill Belichick, a liar.
So why would Arizona want to sign this guy? After listing all the "cons" to it, why wouldn't they? They'd better hurry up about it, too, since Cincinnati is likely to come calling at some point.
A Bronx Tale
More like a Bronx Nightmare for Josh Beckett and the now 2nd place Boston Red Sox. The performance by Beckett last night was reminiscent of Tim Robbins' describing his horrible road trip in Bull Durham. Every one of Beckett's pitches was like throwing gas on the fire, as Yankee hitter after Yankee hitter kept drilling them into the outfield, and Andy Phillips and Jason Giambi put a pair of Beckett fastballs into the bleachers.
Losing 13-5 to the Yankees, who were without Matsui, Sheffield and Jeter, is bad enough. Having it come when one of your "aces" is on the mound makes it even worse. Beckett has been brutal on the road, where he's got a touchdown ERA (7.00) and all 16 of his HRA's have been allowed.
You can bet that the panic button is being overworked in the Hub today. I haven't yet tuned into WEEI, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Beckett is being skewered by the Murphs, Sullys and Johnny from Burger King.
Look, Beckett is a good pitcher. He's pitched under pressure in big games, and has won. There's no reason to think that he won't get his road woes turned around. Coming over from the NL is an adjustment, and the three teams that have killed him on the road-Toronto, Cleveland and New York-are three of the best offensive teams in all of baseball.
Zambrano Loses No-Hitter in 8th
As I flipped around the baseball games last night, and saw that the Cubs were up 8-0 on the Astros at the end of the 5th, I noticed that the Houston Astros were not yet credited with a hit. So I decided to stick around and see what happened.
With each passing inning, it became clear that something big was happening. And then we head into the 8th inning. ESPN had dropped in (always the no-hitter curse) and after being far too careful with Mike Lamb, who walked, Preston Wilson grounded a ball through the right-side of the infield to break up Zambrano's no-no.
I can't help but wonder if someone could've gotten to that ball if Lamb wasn't on 1st base, but either way, it was a great effort by a great pitcher on a terrible team having a terrible season.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
Everyone's back in action tonight.
- Boston at NY Yankees. These two teams have a combined payroll of about $320 million dollars, and the best pitching matchup they can produce is David Pauley v. Chien-Ming Wang.
- Minnesota at Seattle. Francisco Liriano vs. Felix Hernandez. Ok, maybe "marquee" is a stretch. And yes, this is a game that only baseball junkies get excited about. Still, it's a matchup of two of the best pitching prospects the MLB has to offer, and it's worth tuning in.
- NY Mets at LA Dodgers. Pedro Martinez vs. Derek Lowe. Plus, if DirecTV uses the Dodgers broadcast, you get to listen to Vin Scully for 3 hours, which is always enjoyable.
And while they don't feature great pitching matchups, the Reds-Cardinals, Tigers-White Sox and A's-Indians games should be fun to watch. As for me, I'll be at a minor league baseball game in Worcester, hoping to be home in time for the final few innings of the early games.
Losing 13-5 to the Yankees, who were without Matsui, Sheffield and Jeter, is bad enough. Having it come when one of your "aces" is on the mound makes it even worse. Beckett has been brutal on the road, where he's got a touchdown ERA (7.00) and all 16 of his HRA's have been allowed.
You can bet that the panic button is being overworked in the Hub today. I haven't yet tuned into WEEI, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Beckett is being skewered by the Murphs, Sullys and Johnny from Burger King.
Look, Beckett is a good pitcher. He's pitched under pressure in big games, and has won. There's no reason to think that he won't get his road woes turned around. Coming over from the NL is an adjustment, and the three teams that have killed him on the road-Toronto, Cleveland and New York-are three of the best offensive teams in all of baseball.
Zambrano Loses No-Hitter in 8th
As I flipped around the baseball games last night, and saw that the Cubs were up 8-0 on the Astros at the end of the 5th, I noticed that the Houston Astros were not yet credited with a hit. So I decided to stick around and see what happened.
With each passing inning, it became clear that something big was happening. And then we head into the 8th inning. ESPN had dropped in (always the no-hitter curse) and after being far too careful with Mike Lamb, who walked, Preston Wilson grounded a ball through the right-side of the infield to break up Zambrano's no-no.
I can't help but wonder if someone could've gotten to that ball if Lamb wasn't on 1st base, but either way, it was a great effort by a great pitcher on a terrible team having a terrible season.
Tonight's Marquee Matchup
Everyone's back in action tonight.
- Boston at NY Yankees. These two teams have a combined payroll of about $320 million dollars, and the best pitching matchup they can produce is David Pauley v. Chien-Ming Wang.
- Minnesota at Seattle. Francisco Liriano vs. Felix Hernandez. Ok, maybe "marquee" is a stretch. And yes, this is a game that only baseball junkies get excited about. Still, it's a matchup of two of the best pitching prospects the MLB has to offer, and it's worth tuning in.
- NY Mets at LA Dodgers. Pedro Martinez vs. Derek Lowe. Plus, if DirecTV uses the Dodgers broadcast, you get to listen to Vin Scully for 3 hours, which is always enjoyable.
And while they don't feature great pitching matchups, the Reds-Cardinals, Tigers-White Sox and A's-Indians games should be fun to watch. As for me, I'll be at a minor league baseball game in Worcester, hoping to be home in time for the final few innings of the early games.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Baseball Notes - June 5th, 2006
So what happened over the weekend?
- The Yankees found themselves in 1st place in the AL East for about, oh, 5 innings on Sunday. After taking a 1/2 game lead on Boston, the Yankees got sa-moked in Baltimore, with their makeshift lineup unable to figure out Rodrigo Lopez.
Boston and New York have 4 games against one another this week in the Bronx, and it'll be interesting to see how the Yankees fare without Derek Jeter in the lineup.
I pointed out on Friday that the AL East could experience a little shakeup over the weekend, and as is usually the case with my predictions, nothing changed. At all.
- Albert Pujols' run at history is taking a 15-day hiatus. At least. Even if Pujols can come back after 2 weeks, any chance of Pujols making a run at Barry Bonds' single-season HR record probably ended when Pujols strained his oblique.
Though I'm far from being a medical expert, I have enough recollection of when Pedro Martinez battled a similar injury for a few seasons in Boston. It usually takes about a month before the injury heals, and as Buster Olney pointed out yesterday, attempting to come back too early from an oblique strain is highly dangerous.
- I love statements, and both the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks made huge ones over the weekend.
With the Astros feeling pretty good about themselves after re-signing Roger Clemens, the Reds went into Houston on Friday, and left on Sunday with a 5.5 game lead in the standings. Cincinnati is now just 3 behind division-leading St. Louis, who they'll play tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday. After that, the Reds have 7 home games against the Brewers (who've lost 8 straight) and the hapless Cubs.
Arizona, or should I say Damien Easley, took 4 games from the Braves over the weekend, and moved to 2.5 games ahead of the Dodgers, and they did so without ace Brandon Webb, who pitches tonight as the D'backs open a 10-game homestand against Philadephia. But there was Easley, a veteran infielder, who hit 4 HRs and drove in 10 runs in just 2 games against Atlanta.
- Chris Young of the Padres, who flirted with a no-hitter last week, kept the Pirates bat silent into the 6th inning yesterday. At 6-10, Young is an imposing presence, even though he lacks that high 90s heat that other "vertically gifted" pitchers like Randy Johnson have.
- The most surprising pitching effort on Sunday, however, probably belongs to Red Sox P Matt Clement, who allowed only 6 hits and 3 runs over 6 innings. Clement threw 3 pitches in the 7th inning before being replaced, mid-count, by Jermaine van Buren. The team, and Clement, are citing fatigue as a factor. Personally, I think he was shocked to still be in there in the 7th inning.
- How good is Jered Weaver? The night after Cleveland puts up 12 runs on the White Sox, the Angels rookie owned Cleveland hitting, holding them to 3 hits over 7 innings while picking up his 2nd win in as many MLB appearances.
The Week Ahead
Whenever the Red Sox and Yankees meet, it's sure to attract a lot of attention. Naturally, this means that ESPN will be showing 3 of the 4 games on their network, including tonight's Josh Beckett v. Mike Mussina matchup.
Other series to keep an eye on:
Cincinnati at St. Louis
Detroit at Chicago
New York Mets at LA Dodgers
Philadelphia at Arizona
- The Yankees found themselves in 1st place in the AL East for about, oh, 5 innings on Sunday. After taking a 1/2 game lead on Boston, the Yankees got sa-moked in Baltimore, with their makeshift lineup unable to figure out Rodrigo Lopez.
Boston and New York have 4 games against one another this week in the Bronx, and it'll be interesting to see how the Yankees fare without Derek Jeter in the lineup.
I pointed out on Friday that the AL East could experience a little shakeup over the weekend, and as is usually the case with my predictions, nothing changed. At all.
- Albert Pujols' run at history is taking a 15-day hiatus. At least. Even if Pujols can come back after 2 weeks, any chance of Pujols making a run at Barry Bonds' single-season HR record probably ended when Pujols strained his oblique.
Though I'm far from being a medical expert, I have enough recollection of when Pedro Martinez battled a similar injury for a few seasons in Boston. It usually takes about a month before the injury heals, and as Buster Olney pointed out yesterday, attempting to come back too early from an oblique strain is highly dangerous.
- I love statements, and both the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks made huge ones over the weekend.
With the Astros feeling pretty good about themselves after re-signing Roger Clemens, the Reds went into Houston on Friday, and left on Sunday with a 5.5 game lead in the standings. Cincinnati is now just 3 behind division-leading St. Louis, who they'll play tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday. After that, the Reds have 7 home games against the Brewers (who've lost 8 straight) and the hapless Cubs.
Arizona, or should I say Damien Easley, took 4 games from the Braves over the weekend, and moved to 2.5 games ahead of the Dodgers, and they did so without ace Brandon Webb, who pitches tonight as the D'backs open a 10-game homestand against Philadephia. But there was Easley, a veteran infielder, who hit 4 HRs and drove in 10 runs in just 2 games against Atlanta.
- Chris Young of the Padres, who flirted with a no-hitter last week, kept the Pirates bat silent into the 6th inning yesterday. At 6-10, Young is an imposing presence, even though he lacks that high 90s heat that other "vertically gifted" pitchers like Randy Johnson have.
- The most surprising pitching effort on Sunday, however, probably belongs to Red Sox P Matt Clement, who allowed only 6 hits and 3 runs over 6 innings. Clement threw 3 pitches in the 7th inning before being replaced, mid-count, by Jermaine van Buren. The team, and Clement, are citing fatigue as a factor. Personally, I think he was shocked to still be in there in the 7th inning.
- How good is Jered Weaver? The night after Cleveland puts up 12 runs on the White Sox, the Angels rookie owned Cleveland hitting, holding them to 3 hits over 7 innings while picking up his 2nd win in as many MLB appearances.
The Week Ahead
Whenever the Red Sox and Yankees meet, it's sure to attract a lot of attention. Naturally, this means that ESPN will be showing 3 of the 4 games on their network, including tonight's Josh Beckett v. Mike Mussina matchup.
Other series to keep an eye on:
Cincinnati at St. Louis
Detroit at Chicago
New York Mets at LA Dodgers
Philadelphia at Arizona
Friday, June 02, 2006
Baseball Notes - June 2nd, 2006
I've got to come up with a better title for these entries. If you have any suggestions, send them in.
"Farnsy" Blows Save
My expectations of Justin Verlander were very high, and he did look good (at all) last night. Still, the Tigers found a way to come up a win. The most important factor in last night's Tigers win was Mariano Rivera not being available to pitch after his 3-innning outing in Tuesday night's Yankee win. Rivera wasn't available after he hurt his back while getting dressed before the game.
With an injury like that, you have to suspect that his 3-inning outing on Tuesday night had something to do with it. Three innings is a lot to ask out of your closer, especially at this stage of the season, and even more so when you consider Rivera is 35 years old. Sure, the Yankees got the win that night, but that meant that for the rest of the series, Rivera likely wasn't available.
And that means that in a pitcher's ballpark, against a very good team, you're best option at closer is Kyle Farnsworth, who isn't known for pitching well in pressure situations. And closing for the Yankees is always a pressure situation.
The Weekend Ahead
Some noteworthy games/series to look at this weekend:
6/2/2006 - LA Angels at Cleveland - Jered Weaver will be looking for his 2nd career win in his 2nd career start tonight in Cleveland. That's a tough draw for the lanky right-hander as Cleveland is 2nd in the league in runs scored (8 behind the Yankees) and exploded for 12 runs off the White Sox last night.
6/2-6/4 - Cincinnati at Houston. Now that the Astros have Clemens signed, it'll be important for them to remain in contention until he's ready to make his 2006 debut. Houston trails Cincinnati by 2.5 games heading into this weekend's series, and with Milwaukee hosting Washington all weekend, the Astros could find themselves in 4th place by the end of the weekend.
6/2-6/4 - AL East / NL West races - With 2.5 games separating the 1st place Red Sox from the 3rd place Blue Jays, there could be some movement in the standings this weekend. Boston is in Detroit, the best team in the AL, while New York goes to Baltimore and Toronto heads down to Tampa.
In the NL West, Arizona has a half-game lead on the Dodgers, and both teams square off against playoff-caliber NL east teams. The Diamondbacks are in Hotlanta (where they won the first of four games, 2-1) while the Dodgers host the Phillies (who they beat last night, 7-2).
FOX Ruins Baseball on Saturdays
As a devoted baseball fan, and subscriber to the Extra Innings package, it's downright maddening to see FOX pull it's Baby Huey act on Saturday afternoons during the summer.
Since I live in the Northeast, I'm likely going to be saddled with the Giants-Mets game, even though the Angels-Indians game is of more interest since Boston is an AL city. And since the Extra Innings package cannot broadcast any games opposite those FOX are broadcasting, 40% of the Saturday schedule, including the Yankees-Orioles game at 4:35pm, which won't be on opposite any FOX game in the Boston area, since we're perceived to have already gotten our baseball "fix" for the day with the Giants-Mets game.
I understand that FOX pays a lot money for the rights to broadcast certain MLB games on Saturday afternoons, but I don't see why the Extra Innings package should be any different than the NFL's Sunday, which gives local channels exclusive access to the national TV game, but allows for other games to broadcast on the subcriber channels.
FOX already has exclusive rights for the AL and NL Championship Series and the World Series, so why horde in on Saturday afternoon games in June?
The Demise of Baseball Weekly
For the past 8-9 years, not a Wednesday had gone by during the baseball season where I hadn't stopped off and picked up USA Today's Baseball Weekly. Each issue had superb columns, fun facts, important notes about minor leaguers, and Mike Ricigliano's weekly cartoons are were, and still are, hilarious.
The main course of this weekly baseball feast was the phenomenal statistics package they included with each issue. For someone like me, Baseball Weekly was a quick, non-electronic resource for consultation on trades, be they for my fantasy baseball or Strat-o-Matic team(s), and it was a handy guide to have at your side when watching the game on TV. With complete statistics, including sabermetric data, it was almost as if baseball fans were getting a 75-cent Bill James Handbook every week.
Even when "Baseball Weekly" morphed into "Sports Weekly", the stats package remained unchanged. As the price of the weekly publication rose (it's now $1.75), it was still a bargain for the amount of information it held.
However, I've purchased my last issue. They've added a NASCAR section (um, that's not a sport, fellas), even though they've flat-out ignored the NBA and NHL (which I believe still exists). And their worst transgression to date: They've reduced the baseball statistics package to rubble.
C'mon, USA Today, gives us our stat package back! While it's true that most people just look that stuff up when they're online, it's good to have it in print for the times we're not glued to the computer. Like when we're at the ballpark, or on the train or bus on our way to work.
"Farnsy" Blows Save
My expectations of Justin Verlander were very high, and he did look good (at all) last night. Still, the Tigers found a way to come up a win. The most important factor in last night's Tigers win was Mariano Rivera not being available to pitch after his 3-innning outing in Tuesday night's Yankee win. Rivera wasn't available after he hurt his back while getting dressed before the game.
With an injury like that, you have to suspect that his 3-inning outing on Tuesday night had something to do with it. Three innings is a lot to ask out of your closer, especially at this stage of the season, and even more so when you consider Rivera is 35 years old. Sure, the Yankees got the win that night, but that meant that for the rest of the series, Rivera likely wasn't available.
And that means that in a pitcher's ballpark, against a very good team, you're best option at closer is Kyle Farnsworth, who isn't known for pitching well in pressure situations. And closing for the Yankees is always a pressure situation.
The Weekend Ahead
Some noteworthy games/series to look at this weekend:
6/2/2006 - LA Angels at Cleveland - Jered Weaver will be looking for his 2nd career win in his 2nd career start tonight in Cleveland. That's a tough draw for the lanky right-hander as Cleveland is 2nd in the league in runs scored (8 behind the Yankees) and exploded for 12 runs off the White Sox last night.
6/2-6/4 - Cincinnati at Houston. Now that the Astros have Clemens signed, it'll be important for them to remain in contention until he's ready to make his 2006 debut. Houston trails Cincinnati by 2.5 games heading into this weekend's series, and with Milwaukee hosting Washington all weekend, the Astros could find themselves in 4th place by the end of the weekend.
6/2-6/4 - AL East / NL West races - With 2.5 games separating the 1st place Red Sox from the 3rd place Blue Jays, there could be some movement in the standings this weekend. Boston is in Detroit, the best team in the AL, while New York goes to Baltimore and Toronto heads down to Tampa.
In the NL West, Arizona has a half-game lead on the Dodgers, and both teams square off against playoff-caliber NL east teams. The Diamondbacks are in Hotlanta (where they won the first of four games, 2-1) while the Dodgers host the Phillies (who they beat last night, 7-2).
FOX Ruins Baseball on Saturdays
As a devoted baseball fan, and subscriber to the Extra Innings package, it's downright maddening to see FOX pull it's Baby Huey act on Saturday afternoons during the summer.
Since I live in the Northeast, I'm likely going to be saddled with the Giants-Mets game, even though the Angels-Indians game is of more interest since Boston is an AL city. And since the Extra Innings package cannot broadcast any games opposite those FOX are broadcasting, 40% of the Saturday schedule, including the Yankees-Orioles game at 4:35pm, which won't be on opposite any FOX game in the Boston area, since we're perceived to have already gotten our baseball "fix" for the day with the Giants-Mets game.
I understand that FOX pays a lot money for the rights to broadcast certain MLB games on Saturday afternoons, but I don't see why the Extra Innings package should be any different than the NFL's Sunday, which gives local channels exclusive access to the national TV game, but allows for other games to broadcast on the subcriber channels.
FOX already has exclusive rights for the AL and NL Championship Series and the World Series, so why horde in on Saturday afternoon games in June?
The Demise of Baseball Weekly
For the past 8-9 years, not a Wednesday had gone by during the baseball season where I hadn't stopped off and picked up USA Today's Baseball Weekly. Each issue had superb columns, fun facts, important notes about minor leaguers, and Mike Ricigliano's weekly cartoons are were, and still are, hilarious.
The main course of this weekly baseball feast was the phenomenal statistics package they included with each issue. For someone like me, Baseball Weekly was a quick, non-electronic resource for consultation on trades, be they for my fantasy baseball or Strat-o-Matic team(s), and it was a handy guide to have at your side when watching the game on TV. With complete statistics, including sabermetric data, it was almost as if baseball fans were getting a 75-cent Bill James Handbook every week.
Even when "Baseball Weekly" morphed into "Sports Weekly", the stats package remained unchanged. As the price of the weekly publication rose (it's now $1.75), it was still a bargain for the amount of information it held.
However, I've purchased my last issue. They've added a NASCAR section (um, that's not a sport, fellas), even though they've flat-out ignored the NBA and NHL (which I believe still exists). And their worst transgression to date: They've reduced the baseball statistics package to rubble.
C'mon, USA Today, gives us our stat package back! While it's true that most people just look that stuff up when they're online, it's good to have it in print for the times we're not glued to the computer. Like when we're at the ballpark, or on the train or bus on our way to work.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Baseball Notes - June 1st, 2006
As predicted, the Webb-Martinez pitching matchup delivered in a major way. The two hurlers combined to yield only 9 hits and a walk, while striking out 13 over 15 combined innings. No runs were allowed, in fact, there weren't too many opportunities for either team to score any runs.
Baserunning blunders (Shawn Green getting caught too far away from second base in extra innings) and an incredible throw from RF by rookie Lastings Milledge (who did make an error in his 2nd MLB game), negated many opportunities the Diamondbacks had to score.
Webb has been remarkable in his ability to get out of the rare jams he finds himself. Last night was the 3rd consecutive start in which Webb kept the opponent scoreless, and in 2006, that's an extraordinary accomplishment. His scoreless innings streak now stands at 25.
Martinez may not bring the heat as he once did, but he's an excellent pitcher, and when matched up against another ace, he always brings his "A" game. 106 pitches over 8 innings is an example of how he's compensated for the loss of a few mph's off his fastball with veteran savvy and, at times, the will to not be defeated.
Escobar Off The Market
When looking at which starting pitchers might be available at this year's trade deadline, Kelvim Escobar of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had started to creep into the conversation. The Angels are not having a good season (they desperately need a bat to protect Vlad Guerrero), and Escobar was set to hit free agency after the season.
Not anymore. The Angels locked up Escobar with a 3-year deal, and while the terms were not disclosed at this time, it figures to be bigger than the 3-year/$18.75M deal he signed in '03.
Nevin to the Rescue
Even with the injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, the Cubs season was over as soon as Derrek Lee injured his wrist. After trying (and failing) to get by with the likes of Todd Walker playing 1B, the Cubs needed to add some power in the middle of the lineup, so they've dealt utility man Jerry Hairston to Texas for 1B Phil Nevin.
Nevin's best years have been while playing 1B in the NL with the Padres. Perhaps a move back into the senior circuit, and playing 1B, will rejuvenate Nevin's bat.
This also means that Texas will be using rookie Jason Botts a lot more now that Nevin is out of town. Just a little head's up to you fantasy leaguers.
Today's Marquee Matchup
Yesterday was "Get-Away Day" for many teams, so more than half the league is off today. There is one intriguing matchup tonight, which will be shown on ESPN, and that's the final game of the Yankees-Tigers series.
Even though the Yankees keep piling up the injuries (Jeter is day-to-day with a wrist injury, Damon is nicked up and Sheffield went back to NY for tests), they could sweep the Tigers with a win tonight.
The Tigers bats have gone silent against Yankee pitching while the Yankee bats have seemingly exploded (Yankees have scored 21 runs against the Tigers 7 in the 3 games this week) in a pitcher-friendly ballpark.
To stop the skid, the Tigers turn to rookie, and Mac's pick for AL Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander. Chien-Ming Wang is on the mound for the Yankees, and both pitchers have been very stingy lately. My guess is that Verlander shuts down the depleted Yankees lineup, and the Tigers stop their skid with a 6-2 win.
Baserunning blunders (Shawn Green getting caught too far away from second base in extra innings) and an incredible throw from RF by rookie Lastings Milledge (who did make an error in his 2nd MLB game), negated many opportunities the Diamondbacks had to score.
Webb has been remarkable in his ability to get out of the rare jams he finds himself. Last night was the 3rd consecutive start in which Webb kept the opponent scoreless, and in 2006, that's an extraordinary accomplishment. His scoreless innings streak now stands at 25.
Martinez may not bring the heat as he once did, but he's an excellent pitcher, and when matched up against another ace, he always brings his "A" game. 106 pitches over 8 innings is an example of how he's compensated for the loss of a few mph's off his fastball with veteran savvy and, at times, the will to not be defeated.
Escobar Off The Market
When looking at which starting pitchers might be available at this year's trade deadline, Kelvim Escobar of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had started to creep into the conversation. The Angels are not having a good season (they desperately need a bat to protect Vlad Guerrero), and Escobar was set to hit free agency after the season.
Not anymore. The Angels locked up Escobar with a 3-year deal, and while the terms were not disclosed at this time, it figures to be bigger than the 3-year/$18.75M deal he signed in '03.
Nevin to the Rescue
Even with the injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, the Cubs season was over as soon as Derrek Lee injured his wrist. After trying (and failing) to get by with the likes of Todd Walker playing 1B, the Cubs needed to add some power in the middle of the lineup, so they've dealt utility man Jerry Hairston to Texas for 1B Phil Nevin.
Nevin's best years have been while playing 1B in the NL with the Padres. Perhaps a move back into the senior circuit, and playing 1B, will rejuvenate Nevin's bat.
This also means that Texas will be using rookie Jason Botts a lot more now that Nevin is out of town. Just a little head's up to you fantasy leaguers.
Today's Marquee Matchup
Yesterday was "Get-Away Day" for many teams, so more than half the league is off today. There is one intriguing matchup tonight, which will be shown on ESPN, and that's the final game of the Yankees-Tigers series.
Even though the Yankees keep piling up the injuries (Jeter is day-to-day with a wrist injury, Damon is nicked up and Sheffield went back to NY for tests), they could sweep the Tigers with a win tonight.
The Tigers bats have gone silent against Yankee pitching while the Yankee bats have seemingly exploded (Yankees have scored 21 runs against the Tigers 7 in the 3 games this week) in a pitcher-friendly ballpark.
To stop the skid, the Tigers turn to rookie, and Mac's pick for AL Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander. Chien-Ming Wang is on the mound for the Yankees, and both pitchers have been very stingy lately. My guess is that Verlander shuts down the depleted Yankees lineup, and the Tigers stop their skid with a 6-2 win.
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