About a week ago, Albert Pujols signed a megadeal with the California Angels, or whatever they’re calling themselves this decade. I’m still stunned. Ten years, $240 something million.
For weeks my good friend from St. Louis and I sent notes back and forth about Albert. He’s staying, she said. Ties to the community, charity work, went to high school here, she said. No, I said. He’ll take the money and run. If he was staying he would have signed long ago. He’s gone.
Other than that it didn’t ramify. At the end of this electronic dialog she shot back one last email. And if he does go, she said, vaya con dios, dude. I laughed and privately hoped she was right and Pujols would remain a Cardinal.
But he did go. One of the few guys who had the chance to spend a glorious career with one team in a city that adored him. Cal Ripkin, Tony Gwinn, but not Albert. The St. Louis fans, team and press were unfailingly polite. Pujols’ wife made some ridiculous and ill advised remarks about how the Cards had disrespected him. And then he was gone.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Starting Pitching, Anyone?
I’m not sure what to call the last meeting of the Cardinals and the Brewers in the NLCS. Calling it baseball is a stretch. Batting practice is closer but doesn’t get at the essence: the Brewers played defense like Chuckles the Clown, and pitched like the umpire was holding a sign that said: “No inside pitches allowed.” The Cardinals shuffled so many pitchers in that I was sure they used a few of them twice.
Whatever happened to good starting pitching? I guess it went home when the Phillies were eliminated despite having the best starters in the game. Instead, in both league championship series, the bullpens took center stage and carried the winners forward.
What this means for the World Series is unclear. The Rangers and the Cardinals both have starters who can shut down hitters and go deep into games. They just didn’t do it in the LCS. Whether we will see a Game 1 that ends 2 to 1 or 10 to 8 is why we watch the games. But with both lineups dripping with sluggers, don’t bet against 10 to 8.
Whatever happened to good starting pitching? I guess it went home when the Phillies were eliminated despite having the best starters in the game. Instead, in both league championship series, the bullpens took center stage and carried the winners forward.
What this means for the World Series is unclear. The Rangers and the Cardinals both have starters who can shut down hitters and go deep into games. They just didn’t do it in the LCS. Whether we will see a Game 1 that ends 2 to 1 or 10 to 8 is why we watch the games. But with both lineups dripping with sluggers, don’t bet against 10 to 8.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Here Come the Rangers
The city of Detroit can do without more heartbreak. Last night when the Tigers lost to the Rangers and were sent packing, there was none. Had the game been close, maybe. But this was an old fashioned pounding. The Tigers got clobbered. No shame, no heartbreak in that.
Really, there was no one to root against in this series. Certainly not Jim Leyland, the Tigers manager and the anti-Tony LaRussa. LaRussa makes a simple game complicated; Leyland makes a complicated game simple. He makes courageous decisions and sticks to them. He trusts his players and they know it. I’ve liked Jim Leyland since he managed the Pirates 20 years ago and the TV camera used to catch him sneaking a cigarette in the dugout.
And certainly not Brandon Inge, the longest tenured Tiger who struggled this season, was assigned to the Mud Hens, the AAA affiliate and, remarkably, accepted the assignment and worked his way back. You could see both determination and joy in his face as he played third base, made some plays and even popped a home run.
But the Rangers have their appeal as well. Despite being a long time Astros fan, and much to the chagrin of my sons, I like the Rangers too. When the Stros foolishly let Nolan Ryan go, the Rangers happily paid him what he was worth and he rewarded them with several no-hitters. I’ve liked them ever since. So Michael Young’s five RBI’s and Nelson Cruz’ power surge and fabulous throw are okay by me. Maybe this year they’ll go all the way.
Really, there was no one to root against in this series. Certainly not Jim Leyland, the Tigers manager and the anti-Tony LaRussa. LaRussa makes a simple game complicated; Leyland makes a complicated game simple. He makes courageous decisions and sticks to them. He trusts his players and they know it. I’ve liked Jim Leyland since he managed the Pirates 20 years ago and the TV camera used to catch him sneaking a cigarette in the dugout.
And certainly not Brandon Inge, the longest tenured Tiger who struggled this season, was assigned to the Mud Hens, the AAA affiliate and, remarkably, accepted the assignment and worked his way back. You could see both determination and joy in his face as he played third base, made some plays and even popped a home run.
But the Rangers have their appeal as well. Despite being a long time Astros fan, and much to the chagrin of my sons, I like the Rangers too. When the Stros foolishly let Nolan Ryan go, the Rangers happily paid him what he was worth and he rewarded them with several no-hitters. I’ve liked them ever since. So Michael Young’s five RBI’s and Nelson Cruz’ power surge and fabulous throw are okay by me. Maybe this year they’ll go all the way.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Cardinals v. Brewers: A Study in Contrasts
I shouldn’t be doing this, rooting for the Cardinals, that is. A rich team, with a winning tradition, and a mad-scientist manager playing against a team that hasn’t won in almost thirty years. But I am and I’m not apologizing for it.
The Brewers have turned into a caricature of a baseball team. Lead by a lunatic center fielder who was discarded by both the Pirates and the Nationals, they’ve turned into a chest pounding, look-at-me bad joke. In the pressure of the NLCS, their defense has fallen apart, their offense has been inconsistent and their pitching ordinary.
The Cardinals shouldn’t, by any measure, be playing in October. They lost Adam Wainwright, one of their best pitchers, before the season even started. They struggled to score runs, Matt Holiday was in and out with illnesses and injuries and King Albert didn’t have his usual extraordinary season. They relied instead on Lance Berkman, who surprised everyone with an excellent offensive year in the twilight of his career. All Berkman did was hit over .300 with 31 homers and 94 RBIs after the Yankees and Astros gave up on him.
The Cardinals also added by subtracting. They unloaded Colby Rasmus, their every day center fielder who insisted on using dear old Dad as his hitting coach and added starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. Rasmus, presumably with his father’s help, batted .225 for Toronto. Jackson, since early September has won every game he’s pitched.
And so we head to Milwaukee for Game 6, with the Cardinals leading 3 games to 2. Tony LaRussa shuffling pitchers in and out with surgical precision and the Brewers beating their chests.
The Brewers have turned into a caricature of a baseball team. Lead by a lunatic center fielder who was discarded by both the Pirates and the Nationals, they’ve turned into a chest pounding, look-at-me bad joke. In the pressure of the NLCS, their defense has fallen apart, their offense has been inconsistent and their pitching ordinary.
The Cardinals shouldn’t, by any measure, be playing in October. They lost Adam Wainwright, one of their best pitchers, before the season even started. They struggled to score runs, Matt Holiday was in and out with illnesses and injuries and King Albert didn’t have his usual extraordinary season. They relied instead on Lance Berkman, who surprised everyone with an excellent offensive year in the twilight of his career. All Berkman did was hit over .300 with 31 homers and 94 RBIs after the Yankees and Astros gave up on him.
The Cardinals also added by subtracting. They unloaded Colby Rasmus, their every day center fielder who insisted on using dear old Dad as his hitting coach and added starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. Rasmus, presumably with his father’s help, batted .225 for Toronto. Jackson, since early September has won every game he’s pitched.
And so we head to Milwaukee for Game 6, with the Cardinals leading 3 games to 2. Tony LaRussa shuffling pitchers in and out with surgical precision and the Brewers beating their chests.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
And the last one counts
So instead of talking about the Division winners and who matches up best against whom, we are talking about the Wild Card races, the squeeze bunt that beat the Cardinals and how the improbable Orioles are wrecking the Red Sox chances to hold on to a playoff berth. How weird.
How could this possibly be? How could two teams who had what seemed to be insurmountable leads both be in a flat footed tie on the last day of the season? The Atlanta Braves, who seemed a lock on the wild card a month ago, are now tied with the St. Louis Cardinals, a team any sane person counted out months ago. The Boston Red Sox have squandered a formidable lead and likewise are tied with Tampa Bay.
These, you may remember, are the same Red Sox who at the beginning of the season were thought to have an impeccable pitching staff, both starting and bullpen and a lineup filled with prodigious scoring threats. The offense, has, at times, produced. But the pitching has all but disappeared. Last night, the Red Sox managed to beat Baltimore, but only because a Yale-educated catcher, filling in for pretty much everybody, came through not only with timely hitting, but also cut down a runner at third with a terrific throw from behind the plate. Perhaps they can win today, making it two in a row. Something they haven’t managed in an entire month.
It is a game of momentum, of missed opportunities and unlikely stars. And so, after 161 games, as strange as it sounds, the last one counts.
How could this possibly be? How could two teams who had what seemed to be insurmountable leads both be in a flat footed tie on the last day of the season? The Atlanta Braves, who seemed a lock on the wild card a month ago, are now tied with the St. Louis Cardinals, a team any sane person counted out months ago. The Boston Red Sox have squandered a formidable lead and likewise are tied with Tampa Bay.
These, you may remember, are the same Red Sox who at the beginning of the season were thought to have an impeccable pitching staff, both starting and bullpen and a lineup filled with prodigious scoring threats. The offense, has, at times, produced. But the pitching has all but disappeared. Last night, the Red Sox managed to beat Baltimore, but only because a Yale-educated catcher, filling in for pretty much everybody, came through not only with timely hitting, but also cut down a runner at third with a terrific throw from behind the plate. Perhaps they can win today, making it two in a row. Something they haven’t managed in an entire month.
It is a game of momentum, of missed opportunities and unlikely stars. And so, after 161 games, as strange as it sounds, the last one counts.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Hunter Pence!Hunter Pence!
Hunter Pence, human exclamation point, must think he’s in heaven. Traded at the deadline from a team which has slowly fallen apart to one which seems destined for post-season greatness is the stuff that Pence dreams of.
Hunter Pence made his major league debut in 2007 with the Houston Astros in the waning days of the Killer Bees. Bagwell was already gone, the team’s World Series appearance was in the rear view mirror, but Berkman and Biggio were still there. And if you put a certain gloss to it, if you overlooked the fact that the talent pipeline was virtually empty, you could convince yourself that success was just around the corner.
Turns out that Pence, all arms and legs, impossibly tall, trying desperately to do well, was really the only talent they had developed. It must have been tough for him these last few years to watch the team sink from passable to mediocre to awful. Because all it takes is watching Hunter Pence play for a few minutes to realize that this guy cares about the game in a way few players do.
How gratifying then to see him in Philadelphia where the fans greeted his arrival with a standing ovation and haven’t stopped cheering. Hunter Pence, who runs out every grounder, swings harder in the on-deck circle than most guys do in the batter’s box and lives almost exclusively to play ball has found a home that deserves him.
Hunter Pence made his major league debut in 2007 with the Houston Astros in the waning days of the Killer Bees. Bagwell was already gone, the team’s World Series appearance was in the rear view mirror, but Berkman and Biggio were still there. And if you put a certain gloss to it, if you overlooked the fact that the talent pipeline was virtually empty, you could convince yourself that success was just around the corner.
Turns out that Pence, all arms and legs, impossibly tall, trying desperately to do well, was really the only talent they had developed. It must have been tough for him these last few years to watch the team sink from passable to mediocre to awful. Because all it takes is watching Hunter Pence play for a few minutes to realize that this guy cares about the game in a way few players do.
How gratifying then to see him in Philadelphia where the fans greeted his arrival with a standing ovation and haven’t stopped cheering. Hunter Pence, who runs out every grounder, swings harder in the on-deck circle than most guys do in the batter’s box and lives almost exclusively to play ball has found a home that deserves him.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
A Modest Proposal
Carlos Zambrano, perpetual problem child of the Chicago Cubs, is quoted as saying: “I don’t want to be making $18 million and pitch like crap.” Let’s look at this and see if we can’t find a solution.
He’s been pitching like crap on and off his entire Cubs career, so we probably can’t do anything about that part. So, let’s focus on what we can fix: the $18 million. How much should he give back? I think $16 million would probably get it done. That would mean the Cubs paid him about $220,000 per win this year.
Most of the talk about Zambrano’s short-lived retirement has been about how frustrated he is and how badly he pitched. After giving up five home runs, he cleaned out his locker and announced he was going to retire. But that’s not what we should be concerned about. Zambrano wanted out of that game and he did the one thing he knew would get him tossed: he threw at somebody.
I don’t care if he throws a punch at a teammate or destroys a water cooler (he has done both) but when the only way he can think of to get off the mound is to throw at someone, it's time for him to go.
He’s been pitching like crap on and off his entire Cubs career, so we probably can’t do anything about that part. So, let’s focus on what we can fix: the $18 million. How much should he give back? I think $16 million would probably get it done. That would mean the Cubs paid him about $220,000 per win this year.
Most of the talk about Zambrano’s short-lived retirement has been about how frustrated he is and how badly he pitched. After giving up five home runs, he cleaned out his locker and announced he was going to retire. But that’s not what we should be concerned about. Zambrano wanted out of that game and he did the one thing he knew would get him tossed: he threw at somebody.
I don’t care if he throws a punch at a teammate or destroys a water cooler (he has done both) but when the only way he can think of to get off the mound is to throw at someone, it's time for him to go.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The Return of Chien-Ming Wang
Remember Chien-Ming Wang? He was one of the terrific pitchers the Yankees had in their stable in the mid 2000s. Threw nasty sliders that no one could hit for more than weak ground ball outs? Won 19 games in 2006 and again in 2007? Fastest pitcher to 50 wins since Dwight Gooden?
Whatever happened to him? Well, he tripped over first base in an interleague game against the Houston Astros and tore up his foot which led to a change in his mechanics which led to a hip problem which led to a shoulder problem. All of which led to bye-bye from the NY Yankees.
He was let go after the 2009 season after several comeback attempts. The Yankees are not known for their patience and Wang was taking two steps backward for every step forward.
In the winter of 2010 Wang was signed to a one-year deal by the Washington Nationals, a team that has nothing but patience. He was slated to return in mid-season, but progress was slow and Wang did not pitch a single inning for the Nats. Remarkably, they signed him again last winter. One year, one million bucks. His long delayed return finally took place a few weeks ago and it wasn’t pretty. Wang was pounded early and often by the Mets. After his four inning stint, his ERA stood at 9.00.
A few days later he was back on the mound against Atlanta
But last night there was Wang on the mound in Chicago, his sinker crisp and biting. He no-hit the Cubs through the first five before giving up an infield hit in the sixth. Ground ball after ground ball, he was terrific. The manager pulled him just before his turn at bat in the seventh inning. Given his history on the base paths, it was probably the right thing to do. Welcome back, Chien-Ming Wang.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Milestones and Phenoms
Jim Thome and Tim Wakefield are both on the verge of milestones in the waning days of their major league careers. Thome, now a designated hitter for the Chicago White Sox will soon hit his 600th career home run. Wakefield, the Red Sox knuckleballer and the oldest player in the major leagues needs one more win to reach 200.
Jim Thome, who is putting 11 nieces and nephews through college and was the most beloved player in Cleveland sports history was drafted without fanfare in the 13th round in 1989. He’s been a favorite wherever he’s played. Tim Wakefield, who is an eight time Roberto Clemente Award nominee and a 2010 winner, was told by a scout that he would never get beyond Double A ball. So much for expert opinions and so much for nice guys finishing last. Thome and Wakefield are two guys who make the game worth watching.
Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are the number one draft picks of the last two major league drafts. Both belong to the Washington Nationals and have sported the “Can’t Miss” label in the months leading up to the draft. Strasberg came up in the middle of last season and seemed to justify the hype. He pitched very well and then promptly blew out his arm and headed off to the doctor. He’s now starting a comeback after Tommy John surgery. Too soon to tell much after one, very brief, rehab start but no red flags.
Bryce Harper was in such a hurry to play ball that he picked up a GED diploma after two years of high school and went to play for a junior college that no one has heard of because they use wood bats. Unlike Strasberg who seems almost humble despite the incredible attention, Harper likes to mouth off and show everyone – umpires, opposing pitchers, fans how special he is. So far young Bryce is hitting .245 since being promoted to Double A. So we’ll just wait and see about him.
How much do you want to bet that we will not be talking about Strasburg and Harper reaching major milestones in, say, 22 years?
Jim Thome, who is putting 11 nieces and nephews through college and was the most beloved player in Cleveland sports history was drafted without fanfare in the 13th round in 1989. He’s been a favorite wherever he’s played. Tim Wakefield, who is an eight time Roberto Clemente Award nominee and a 2010 winner, was told by a scout that he would never get beyond Double A ball. So much for expert opinions and so much for nice guys finishing last. Thome and Wakefield are two guys who make the game worth watching.
Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are the number one draft picks of the last two major league drafts. Both belong to the Washington Nationals and have sported the “Can’t Miss” label in the months leading up to the draft. Strasberg came up in the middle of last season and seemed to justify the hype. He pitched very well and then promptly blew out his arm and headed off to the doctor. He’s now starting a comeback after Tommy John surgery. Too soon to tell much after one, very brief, rehab start but no red flags.
Bryce Harper was in such a hurry to play ball that he picked up a GED diploma after two years of high school and went to play for a junior college that no one has heard of because they use wood bats. Unlike Strasberg who seems almost humble despite the incredible attention, Harper likes to mouth off and show everyone – umpires, opposing pitchers, fans how special he is. So far young Bryce is hitting .245 since being promoted to Double A. So we’ll just wait and see about him.
How much do you want to bet that we will not be talking about Strasburg and Harper reaching major milestones in, say, 22 years?
Monday, August 1, 2011
Two Fans
Vincent Edward Scully is the 83 year old voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's been broadcasting Dodger games since 1950 when their home was Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. He and the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers are my earliest baseball memory. In 1956 when the Dodgers lost the World Series to the team from the Bronx even Vinny couldn't make me feel better. I was eight years old and inconsolable. It's the only time he's failed.
The other night one of my local broadcasters visited with him before a game with the Dodgers and even though the piece was just a few minutes long, Vin's charm was still there. First there's the voice itself, a smooth, lilting tenor with a hint of Ireland. Then there's the modesty and self-deprecating humor when Vin explains that his early success was really a product of something he had nothing to do with -- the transistor radio. How long has it been since we've heard that phrase? But finally, it's his love of the game that comes shining through. After all the years and despite the mess that the Dodgers have become, he is, most of all, a fan.
While this interview was taking place, I was at a local minor league game with another, much younger, fan. This fan knows nothing about Vin Scully and the Brooklyn Dodgers; this fan is too young to stay up late to watch games but he does catch all the major league highlights every morning before school or camp. This fan likes to play ball more than he likes to watch it and is privately convinced that he is going to the major leagues. He is nine years old.
The two fans share an enthusiasm for the experience of being at the game. The youngster cheered for the home team even though he didn’t know a single player and had never been to the little ball field before. He kept a scorecard and didn’t miss a play and he enjoyed every minute of it. I’d like to think the two fans would enjoy seeing a game together.
The other night one of my local broadcasters visited with him before a game with the Dodgers and even though the piece was just a few minutes long, Vin's charm was still there. First there's the voice itself, a smooth, lilting tenor with a hint of Ireland. Then there's the modesty and self-deprecating humor when Vin explains that his early success was really a product of something he had nothing to do with -- the transistor radio. How long has it been since we've heard that phrase? But finally, it's his love of the game that comes shining through. After all the years and despite the mess that the Dodgers have become, he is, most of all, a fan.
While this interview was taking place, I was at a local minor league game with another, much younger, fan. This fan knows nothing about Vin Scully and the Brooklyn Dodgers; this fan is too young to stay up late to watch games but he does catch all the major league highlights every morning before school or camp. This fan likes to play ball more than he likes to watch it and is privately convinced that he is going to the major leagues. He is nine years old.
The two fans share an enthusiasm for the experience of being at the game. The youngster cheered for the home team even though he didn’t know a single player and had never been to the little ball field before. He kept a scorecard and didn’t miss a play and he enjoyed every minute of it. I’d like to think the two fans would enjoy seeing a game together.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Why I Still Watch the Orioles
There aren't many reasons to watch the Baltimore Orioles these days. The pitching staff collapsed about a month ago and while they score a fair amount of runs, they usually give up more. So unless you're a Birdland fanatic, I can only think of two reasons that you'd turn on the TV: you're a fan of the opposing team or you enjoy the easy back and forth of Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer, the Orioles TV broadcasters.
I tune in for Thorne and Palmer. Thorne is a great play by play guy. Knowledgeable, succinct and enthusiastic without being overly excited by the play of a last place team. He's my local version of the incomparable Vin Scully. Palmer is the truth teller. You've got to love a guy who says about the O's left fielder: "he doesn't have a clue about where to throw the ball."
So I actually turn to these guys when I could watch a team that might actually win on any given night, the Washington Nationals. The Nats broadcasters never saw a play that they couldn't spin or a pitching performance that they don't hometown to death. When a close play goes against the Nats, the umpire is always wrong. They are fast becoming my local version of the insufferable duo who broadcast the Chicago White Sox and give the score by calling the teams "the good guys" and "the bad guys."
The Nats would probably fire Jim Palmer like they did Rob Dibble. Dibble, you might recall, was a color commentator who was fun to listen to but was let go for questioning a player's toughness. And not just any player, but Stephen Strasburg, the pitching prodigy whose promising start was cut short by Tommy John surgery. In his place, they hired Mary Poppins to make sure that in Natsland everything's perfect in every way. Truth be damned.
I tune in for Thorne and Palmer. Thorne is a great play by play guy. Knowledgeable, succinct and enthusiastic without being overly excited by the play of a last place team. He's my local version of the incomparable Vin Scully. Palmer is the truth teller. You've got to love a guy who says about the O's left fielder: "he doesn't have a clue about where to throw the ball."
So I actually turn to these guys when I could watch a team that might actually win on any given night, the Washington Nationals. The Nats broadcasters never saw a play that they couldn't spin or a pitching performance that they don't hometown to death. When a close play goes against the Nats, the umpire is always wrong. They are fast becoming my local version of the insufferable duo who broadcast the Chicago White Sox and give the score by calling the teams "the good guys" and "the bad guys."
The Nats would probably fire Jim Palmer like they did Rob Dibble. Dibble, you might recall, was a color commentator who was fun to listen to but was let go for questioning a player's toughness. And not just any player, but Stephen Strasburg, the pitching prodigy whose promising start was cut short by Tommy John surgery. In his place, they hired Mary Poppins to make sure that in Natsland everything's perfect in every way. Truth be damned.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Roger Clemens and a few post All Star Game notes
If you thought I could resist writing about the Roger Clemens trial fiasco, I tried but couldn't. But I'll keep it short. Yesterday a good friend of mine who doesn't not share my interest in baseball asked what I thought about the Clemens trial. She said she hadn't followed it much but was under the impression that perhaps he'd been railroaded. Hah.
I kept my reply short and simple. "Roger Clemens is a big jerk who almost certainly used steroids/HGH and lied about it to Congress, " I said. "The government lawyers were unbelievably careless in introducing evidence that the Judge had ruled inadmissible. A waste of everyone's time and money. I doubt he will ever be retried and he can go back to being a big jerk, " I concluded. And that's really all I feel like saying about it.
In response to a comment on the impact of interleague play on the All Star Game: I think interleague play does dilute the uniqueness of the ASG, especially since interleague play is scheduled so close to the ASG, but the real villan is the combination of TV and MLB which has turned a single game into a three day marathon. Add to that players who can't be bothered to attend and you have two days of meaninglessness and a game that's become a series of cameos by faux All Stars.
What's the wierdest day of the season? That's easy. It's the Wednesday after the ASG. No games on a Wednesday in the middle of the season. Just feels creepy.
And finally: I'm seriously considering calling the Commissioner's Office to comment on the suspension of two Baltimore Oriole pitchers who are appealing their three game suspensions for fighting in a recent game against the Red Sox. The Commissioner would do all Oriole fans a favor if he suspended Michael Gonzales and Kevin Gregg for the rest of the season. Do you think he might consider it? In the best interest of baseball and all of that....
I kept my reply short and simple. "Roger Clemens is a big jerk who almost certainly used steroids/HGH and lied about it to Congress, " I said. "The government lawyers were unbelievably careless in introducing evidence that the Judge had ruled inadmissible. A waste of everyone's time and money. I doubt he will ever be retried and he can go back to being a big jerk, " I concluded. And that's really all I feel like saying about it.
In response to a comment on the impact of interleague play on the All Star Game: I think interleague play does dilute the uniqueness of the ASG, especially since interleague play is scheduled so close to the ASG, but the real villan is the combination of TV and MLB which has turned a single game into a three day marathon. Add to that players who can't be bothered to attend and you have two days of meaninglessness and a game that's become a series of cameos by faux All Stars.
What's the wierdest day of the season? That's easy. It's the Wednesday after the ASG. No games on a Wednesday in the middle of the season. Just feels creepy.
And finally: I'm seriously considering calling the Commissioner's Office to comment on the suspension of two Baltimore Oriole pitchers who are appealing their three game suspensions for fighting in a recent game against the Red Sox. The Commissioner would do all Oriole fans a favor if he suspended Michael Gonzales and Kevin Gregg for the rest of the season. Do you think he might consider it? In the best interest of baseball and all of that....
Monday, July 11, 2011
Boycott the All-Star Game
I used to love the All-Star Game. When I was a kid, I would painstakingly prepare my scorecard for the game, leaving a lot of extra space between players to allow for multiple substitutions that would drive me crazy during the game. I almost never got those changes right. But I wouldn't miss it for the world. All those great players, the best pitchers, the best fielders, the best hitters in one place at one time.
Now it's a travesty. Now it's the best players that deign to come. Now the starting third basemen is batting .251. Now Fox TV is using it to promote its latest trashy TV show.
Yesterday some idiot announcer explained to me how badly the players needed the All Star break so they could go to the friggin beach. You'd think someone making $18 million for six months work could manage to drag his ass to the All Star game.
So after the Futures Game and the Home Run Derby I guess there will be an All Star Game and thanks to the fiasco of the tie game some years ago, it will "count". It will give the winning league home field advantage in the World Series. Fine. But I need a vacation too, even though I don't make $18 million a year. I'm going to the beach and I'm not watching.
Now it's a travesty. Now it's the best players that deign to come. Now the starting third basemen is batting .251. Now Fox TV is using it to promote its latest trashy TV show.
Yesterday some idiot announcer explained to me how badly the players needed the All Star break so they could go to the friggin beach. You'd think someone making $18 million for six months work could manage to drag his ass to the All Star game.
So after the Futures Game and the Home Run Derby I guess there will be an All Star Game and thanks to the fiasco of the tie game some years ago, it will "count". It will give the winning league home field advantage in the World Series. Fine. But I need a vacation too, even though I don't make $18 million a year. I'm going to the beach and I'm not watching.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The Artful Dodger's Arbitrary Awards
On the eve of the midsummer classic, it's time for the Arbitrary Awards for the first half of the 2011 season.
The Most Complete Collapse of a Pitching Staff: The Baltimore Orioles starters have allowed 92 hits in the last seven games and amassed an ERA of 8.01 over the last month. They defy the trend of low scoring well pitched games that we are seeing all over baseball. It's a young pitching staff and instead of picking up a veteran pitcher in free agency, the Birds opted to spend their shekels on Mark Reynolds. This move alone is enough to earn them the There's a Sucker Born Every Off-Season award as Reynolds once again tries to set the record for most strikeouts and lowest batting average in a season. But he hits homeruns.
Best Pitcher You've Never Heard Of Award: Jair Jurrgens of Atlanta. With 12 wins and an ERA of 1.87 he wins over Kevin Correia of the Pirates but only because Kevin's ERA is too high. Jurrgens would also win for most alliterative name.
The Proving Once Again that you Can't Skip a Step Award: To Mike Leake of the Cinncinnati Reds who last year went from the college campus via the draft straight to the major leagues. After a good start followed by arm fatigue and a stint on the DL last year, Leake was optioned to the minors this May for a time and is now back with the Reds. Sometime in the middle of all this, Leake was arrested for shoplifting at Macys. But he didn't need to do that to get this award.
Most Annoying New Color Commentator: Hands down FP Santangelo of the Nationals who never met a silence that he didn't feel compelled to fill. The guy talks non-stop, usually in cliches, often repeating what he just said. My unsolicited advice: calm down, relax and occasionally shut-up.
Biggest off season Free Agent Busts: awarded to Adam Dunn and Dan Uggla neither of whom are batting above .200. The tie-breaker would be strikeouts which Dunn would win hands down. He has struck out 115 times in 266 at bats. Coming on strong as the All Star Game approaches is Jason Werth who lately has served as a human rally killer for Washington.
Question to ponder: why do so many pitchers wear those clunky color-coordinated necklaces? Do they think they look nice? Is it a superstition? A vodoo ritual?
The Most Complete Collapse of a Pitching Staff: The Baltimore Orioles starters have allowed 92 hits in the last seven games and amassed an ERA of 8.01 over the last month. They defy the trend of low scoring well pitched games that we are seeing all over baseball. It's a young pitching staff and instead of picking up a veteran pitcher in free agency, the Birds opted to spend their shekels on Mark Reynolds. This move alone is enough to earn them the There's a Sucker Born Every Off-Season award as Reynolds once again tries to set the record for most strikeouts and lowest batting average in a season. But he hits homeruns.
Best Pitcher You've Never Heard Of Award: Jair Jurrgens of Atlanta. With 12 wins and an ERA of 1.87 he wins over Kevin Correia of the Pirates but only because Kevin's ERA is too high. Jurrgens would also win for most alliterative name.
The Proving Once Again that you Can't Skip a Step Award: To Mike Leake of the Cinncinnati Reds who last year went from the college campus via the draft straight to the major leagues. After a good start followed by arm fatigue and a stint on the DL last year, Leake was optioned to the minors this May for a time and is now back with the Reds. Sometime in the middle of all this, Leake was arrested for shoplifting at Macys. But he didn't need to do that to get this award.
Most Annoying New Color Commentator: Hands down FP Santangelo of the Nationals who never met a silence that he didn't feel compelled to fill. The guy talks non-stop, usually in cliches, often repeating what he just said. My unsolicited advice: calm down, relax and occasionally shut-up.
Biggest off season Free Agent Busts: awarded to Adam Dunn and Dan Uggla neither of whom are batting above .200. The tie-breaker would be strikeouts which Dunn would win hands down. He has struck out 115 times in 266 at bats. Coming on strong as the All Star Game approaches is Jason Werth who lately has served as a human rally killer for Washington.
Question to ponder: why do so many pitchers wear those clunky color-coordinated necklaces? Do they think they look nice? Is it a superstition? A vodoo ritual?
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Forgotten Man
Between ESPN and the New York Times, coverage of Derek Jeter's 3000th hit has reached epic proportions. I'm pretty tired of all Jeter all the time and would rather just give him the three hits he need to reach 3000 and be done with it.
It's not that the accomplishment itself is not worthy of mention. It's that the coverage is so over the top that you'd think he was the only player in recent history to reach the 3000 hit mark. Jeter is, to borrow a phrase, likeable enough. Especially when compared with some of his teammates - the one who lied about taking steroids or the one whose shaving commercial can only make you cringe, for example. And I'm okay with hearing what a great guy he is and how he's played for the same team his whole career and how hard it is to get 3000 hits.
But what I what to remind all those folks who want to nominate Jeter for sainthood is that just a few years ago another guy reached that mark and nobody outside of Texas seemed to notice. Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros joined the 3000 hit club in June of 2007. Biggio spent his entire twenty year career with the Astros, coming up as a catcher, moving to the outfield when they asked him to and moving again, this time to second base, where he spent most of his time. He was always diving after balls or sliding headfirst to try to take an extra base.You could always pick out Biggio even without your glasses: his uniform was the dirtiest.
He performed on a smaller stage than Sir Derek. He and Patti raised three kids in Houston and became the spokesman for The Sunshine Kids Foundation, which provides support for children with cancer. By the time he retired, Biggio had raised $2 million for the Sunshine Kids. He seldom appeared without a small yellow sun on his cap.
And his 3000th hit? Oh yeah, I remember. Tagged out at second trying to stretch a single into a double.
It's not that the accomplishment itself is not worthy of mention. It's that the coverage is so over the top that you'd think he was the only player in recent history to reach the 3000 hit mark. Jeter is, to borrow a phrase, likeable enough. Especially when compared with some of his teammates - the one who lied about taking steroids or the one whose shaving commercial can only make you cringe, for example. And I'm okay with hearing what a great guy he is and how he's played for the same team his whole career and how hard it is to get 3000 hits.
But what I what to remind all those folks who want to nominate Jeter for sainthood is that just a few years ago another guy reached that mark and nobody outside of Texas seemed to notice. Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros joined the 3000 hit club in June of 2007. Biggio spent his entire twenty year career with the Astros, coming up as a catcher, moving to the outfield when they asked him to and moving again, this time to second base, where he spent most of his time. He was always diving after balls or sliding headfirst to try to take an extra base.You could always pick out Biggio even without your glasses: his uniform was the dirtiest.
He performed on a smaller stage than Sir Derek. He and Patti raised three kids in Houston and became the spokesman for The Sunshine Kids Foundation, which provides support for children with cancer. By the time he retired, Biggio had raised $2 million for the Sunshine Kids. He seldom appeared without a small yellow sun on his cap.
And his 3000th hit? Oh yeah, I remember. Tagged out at second trying to stretch a single into a double.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Jose Bautista
I've been studiously avoiding Jose Bautista for almost two years now. After all, some guy who has bounced around from team to team (even the Pirates got rid of him) who all of a sudden starts belting the ball out of the park, you think I'm going to fall for that again.
But 7.1 million All Star votes later and I'm ready to listen. So I did. Watched an interview with Bautista on cbssports.com and came away impressed. He's a size medium, articulate and has an explanation for the power surge in Toronto: they trained him to start his swing earlier. So do I go all in for a guy who went from a career .240 hitter with 15 home runs a year to Ted Williams of the North? A guy who after six years of obscurity hit 54 home runs last year and is on pace to do it again this season while boosting his batting average by 60 points?
I'm tempted but after sitting in Big Mac land in 1998 and watching an outsize slugger who used to be a skinny kid in Oakland hold a bat like it was a toothpick I'm not sure. After the human characature that was Sammy Sosa and Honest Abe Palmiero it pays to be careful. I bought in to the hype and the spectacle back then even tho I knew better. Bautista's transformation defies all logic. But I'm watching and hoping for the best.
But 7.1 million All Star votes later and I'm ready to listen. So I did. Watched an interview with Bautista on cbssports.com and came away impressed. He's a size medium, articulate and has an explanation for the power surge in Toronto: they trained him to start his swing earlier. So do I go all in for a guy who went from a career .240 hitter with 15 home runs a year to Ted Williams of the North? A guy who after six years of obscurity hit 54 home runs last year and is on pace to do it again this season while boosting his batting average by 60 points?
I'm tempted but after sitting in Big Mac land in 1998 and watching an outsize slugger who used to be a skinny kid in Oakland hold a bat like it was a toothpick I'm not sure. After the human characature that was Sammy Sosa and Honest Abe Palmiero it pays to be careful. I bought in to the hype and the spectacle back then even tho I knew better. Bautista's transformation defies all logic. But I'm watching and hoping for the best.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Well, They Did Set a Record
I was down in Houston for a few days and caught an Astros game at Minute Maid Park during interleague play. The Rays were in town and we rolled out the red carpet for them. These days the Astros are the cure for whatever ails you. Pitching a little shaky? Having trouble at the plate? We are the answer to your prayers. The Rays don't need help on the mound so we chipped right in and made their struggling line-up look like murderers row. And when their pitchers did give up a few hits, we ran ourselves silly on the basepaths in rare and creative ways.
I couldn't help but look over to the Crawford boxes in left field where I sat in 2005 for the team's only World Series appearance. They lost, but at least they got there. Now they are playing like a AA team -- okay one day and awful the next and sorely lacking in big league talent. What the heck has happened to this team? Uninspiring draft choices, revolving door coaching staff, bad trades, that's what.
I remembered the crowd at the Series game against the White Sox. I made fun of the ridiculously long lines at the team store and the women with the big hair whose husbands told them lies as they chatted through the game. Most guys only sound like they know what they're talking about at a ballgame. That crowd isn't here anymore.
This crowd watched the Astros lose another uninspiring game with no Bagwell, Biggio or Berkman to cheer for. And the record they set? Fastest team to 50 losses. Yahoooo0.
I couldn't help but look over to the Crawford boxes in left field where I sat in 2005 for the team's only World Series appearance. They lost, but at least they got there. Now they are playing like a AA team -- okay one day and awful the next and sorely lacking in big league talent. What the heck has happened to this team? Uninspiring draft choices, revolving door coaching staff, bad trades, that's what.
I remembered the crowd at the Series game against the White Sox. I made fun of the ridiculously long lines at the team store and the women with the big hair whose husbands told them lies as they chatted through the game. Most guys only sound like they know what they're talking about at a ballgame. That crowd isn't here anymore.
This crowd watched the Astros lose another uninspiring game with no Bagwell, Biggio or Berkman to cheer for. And the record they set? Fastest team to 50 losses. Yahoooo0.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Why It's fun and why it's different
Last night after I'd once again given up on the Washington Nationals and gone to bed, they came back against the Seattle Mariners, scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and won the game.
I should have known better. The Nats are no longer the scratching post of Major League baseball. They can hit, they run the bases aggressively and their pitching usually keeps them in the ballgame. And, one might say, they have an attitude. The attitude is: we can win and, oh yeah, this game is fun.
After Wilson Ramos the rookie catcher who won the game with a home run and his teammates were finished celebrating, one of the relief pitchers said it best: "We're jumping up like we're 5 years old and won a tee ball game and we're getting a sno cone after. It's fun. It shows you what this game is about." That was Collin Ballester who had just held the Mariners scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings in the game I'd given up for lost.
What's interesting about all this is how irrevelant the starting pitching was to the outcome of the game. Used to be that you won or lost based largely on your starting pitching. But last night's game is symptomatic of a shift in this paradigm. The Nats starter, Livan Hernandez, usually a tough match up for opponents (and a lot of fun to watch) just didn't have it. He only lasted five. On the other hand, the Mariners starter was terrific. Doug Fister went eight innings and gave up only three hits and one earned run. Yet he did not come out to pitch the ninth and the Mariners relief corps didn't hold a 5 to 1 lead.
I'm sure Eric Wedge, the Mariners manager had his reasons for taking out a starter who the Nats obviously couldn't hit. But why fix something that isn't broken? Why not trust the guy who got you there? The guys who are in the bullpen are usually there because they're not as good as your starters. Just sayin'.
I should have known better. The Nats are no longer the scratching post of Major League baseball. They can hit, they run the bases aggressively and their pitching usually keeps them in the ballgame. And, one might say, they have an attitude. The attitude is: we can win and, oh yeah, this game is fun.
After Wilson Ramos the rookie catcher who won the game with a home run and his teammates were finished celebrating, one of the relief pitchers said it best: "We're jumping up like we're 5 years old and won a tee ball game and we're getting a sno cone after. It's fun. It shows you what this game is about." That was Collin Ballester who had just held the Mariners scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings in the game I'd given up for lost.
What's interesting about all this is how irrevelant the starting pitching was to the outcome of the game. Used to be that you won or lost based largely on your starting pitching. But last night's game is symptomatic of a shift in this paradigm. The Nats starter, Livan Hernandez, usually a tough match up for opponents (and a lot of fun to watch) just didn't have it. He only lasted five. On the other hand, the Mariners starter was terrific. Doug Fister went eight innings and gave up only three hits and one earned run. Yet he did not come out to pitch the ninth and the Mariners relief corps didn't hold a 5 to 1 lead.
I'm sure Eric Wedge, the Mariners manager had his reasons for taking out a starter who the Nats obviously couldn't hit. But why fix something that isn't broken? Why not trust the guy who got you there? The guys who are in the bullpen are usually there because they're not as good as your starters. Just sayin'.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Streak (Mercifully) Ends
A streak came to an end this afternoon at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Orioles won a close one over the Blue Jays, despite a lead off home run by Adam Lind in the bottom of the ninth off Kevin Gregg, the Orioles ulcer inducing closer.
The Orioles had lost 16 straight games up in Toronto dating back to August 2009, their longest road losing streak in team history. For much of the game, it appeared that they were trying for 17. Base running mistakes, stranded runners -- the usual formula for a loss. One player in particular seemed to be headed for goat of the game. Ryan Adams, a 24 year old from New Orleans with exactly seven major league games under his belt was having a bad day. He had grounded into three double plays, sending the stat guys into the record books to see if anyone had ever hit into four as he approached the plate in the ninth inning with the game (and the streak) on the line.
I was rooting for the kid to come through. I figured four double plays might be damaging to the psyche of anyone, let alone a rookie whose strong suit was supposed to be offense. He went deep in the count and hit a ground ball, but he hit it sharply and up the middle; it got through the infield and drove in the go-ahead run. I watched as he planted himself at first base, took a deep breath and probably said to himself: "Nice at bat, Ryan. This is where you belong."
The Orioles had lost 16 straight games up in Toronto dating back to August 2009, their longest road losing streak in team history. For much of the game, it appeared that they were trying for 17. Base running mistakes, stranded runners -- the usual formula for a loss. One player in particular seemed to be headed for goat of the game. Ryan Adams, a 24 year old from New Orleans with exactly seven major league games under his belt was having a bad day. He had grounded into three double plays, sending the stat guys into the record books to see if anyone had ever hit into four as he approached the plate in the ninth inning with the game (and the streak) on the line.
I was rooting for the kid to come through. I figured four double plays might be damaging to the psyche of anyone, let alone a rookie whose strong suit was supposed to be offense. He went deep in the count and hit a ground ball, but he hit it sharply and up the middle; it got through the infield and drove in the go-ahead run. I watched as he planted himself at first base, took a deep breath and probably said to himself: "Nice at bat, Ryan. This is where you belong."
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Why I Don't Watch Baseball on ESPN
Twenty plus years ago when ESPN started to carry major league baseball I was overjoyed. I figured I would have the opportunity to see every team and since I lived in a National League city I'd finally get to watch some American League games. My enthusiasm lasted for a while --after all when was the last time I'd seen the Orioles play the Blue Jays--but soon started to wane.
At first it was just the little things. Instead of saying: "it's the Dodgers and the Giants tonight" the promos were : "Mike Piazza and the Dodgers" vs. somebody and the Giants. A peculiar way to advertise a team game. Then there was the insufferable combination of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan whose over the top style of broadcasting quickly wore thin. And if two egos in the booth weren't enough, ESPN crammed in three. The blueprint seemed to be: one play-by-play guy, one ex-pitcher and one guy who retired last week. Ah, what I wouldn't give for Vin Scully broadcasting alone.
The final straw is the programing. They might as well come clean and just re-name the station ESPN:New York. Most teams are never shown. If you root for Milwaukee or Oakland or Detroit the only time you'll see your team is if they are playing the Yankees or the Mets. If your team won the World Series last year but they don't play in N.Y., then you'll probably see them a few times.
But the reason I don't watch baseball on ESPN anymore comes back to the broadcasters. I'm sure that all of the guys in the booth and the (completely unnecessary) on-field reporters really do like baseball. But they are so busy trying to show how knowledgable they are and how much they know, that the joy and enthusiasm they have has been lost. Relax, guys. It's just a baseball game. Learn how to enjoy it.
At first it was just the little things. Instead of saying: "it's the Dodgers and the Giants tonight" the promos were : "Mike Piazza and the Dodgers" vs. somebody and the Giants. A peculiar way to advertise a team game. Then there was the insufferable combination of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan whose over the top style of broadcasting quickly wore thin. And if two egos in the booth weren't enough, ESPN crammed in three. The blueprint seemed to be: one play-by-play guy, one ex-pitcher and one guy who retired last week. Ah, what I wouldn't give for Vin Scully broadcasting alone.
The final straw is the programing. They might as well come clean and just re-name the station ESPN:New York. Most teams are never shown. If you root for Milwaukee or Oakland or Detroit the only time you'll see your team is if they are playing the Yankees or the Mets. If your team won the World Series last year but they don't play in N.Y., then you'll probably see them a few times.
But the reason I don't watch baseball on ESPN anymore comes back to the broadcasters. I'm sure that all of the guys in the booth and the (completely unnecessary) on-field reporters really do like baseball. But they are so busy trying to show how knowledgable they are and how much they know, that the joy and enthusiasm they have has been lost. Relax, guys. It's just a baseball game. Learn how to enjoy it.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Summertime
Classic baseball: the Cubs against the Cardinals in St. Louis on a 94 degree afternoon. It's a rivalry that goes well beyond the city limits. The Cardinals and the Cubs are regional teams, drawing from all over the heartland from Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and the deep south. In some cases it's a generational tie; you are a Cubs fan because your father and his father were Cubs fans. But for them it may have been a question of which radio station came in clearest on those summer nights and afternoons. Pop was a Cardinals fan and KMOX was the station his massive box radio was always tuned to.
Yesterday's Fox Game of the Week was the Cubs against the Cardinals and despite the early June date the heat and humidity were mid-August all the way. By the late innings, the home plate umpire was soaked and I'm sure the beer vendors made a killing. The game itself was vintage Cubs-Cardinals, a seesaw battle with a bit of everything. The starters for both clubs were out by the sixth inning. Only problem was the game went 12.
Albert Pujols, who had already hit one home run and a double won it in the 12th with a walk-off home run off Cubs sixth pitcher of the day. The last pitch was a slider, and not a bad one, but Pujols was ready for it. In fact, everyone in the ballpark probably knew what was coming. And when Pujols guesses right, you're not going to get it by him, even if it's your best pitch.
And so the rivalry continues. The sons and grandsons and daughters and granddaughters of the farmers and railroad men who tinkered with their radios until they got the game just right can tell their kids they saw Albert Pujols hit one out.
Yesterday's Fox Game of the Week was the Cubs against the Cardinals and despite the early June date the heat and humidity were mid-August all the way. By the late innings, the home plate umpire was soaked and I'm sure the beer vendors made a killing. The game itself was vintage Cubs-Cardinals, a seesaw battle with a bit of everything. The starters for both clubs were out by the sixth inning. Only problem was the game went 12.
Albert Pujols, who had already hit one home run and a double won it in the 12th with a walk-off home run off Cubs sixth pitcher of the day. The last pitch was a slider, and not a bad one, but Pujols was ready for it. In fact, everyone in the ballpark probably knew what was coming. And when Pujols guesses right, you're not going to get it by him, even if it's your best pitch.
And so the rivalry continues. The sons and grandsons and daughters and granddaughters of the farmers and railroad men who tinkered with their radios until they got the game just right can tell their kids they saw Albert Pujols hit one out.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
The Major Leaguer
The other night I was watching a game in Frederick, Maryland between the single A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers. I go up there a lot. For nine dollars, you can get a great seat ten minutes before game time, park for free and drink local beers on a beautiful summer night. The baseball isn't always perfect but you can't beat the price or the atmosphere.
I noticed that the guy seating behind me had a radar gun and we started to talk. He's a scout for Atlanta and he covers the Carolina and South Atlantic leagues. He stays in each town long enough to see every player, often five games, and then moves on to the next town. We talked about some of the towns and the stadiums he covers and when I realized he'd just been to Hagestown, I asked about the Nationals uberprospect, Bryce Harper, ("that kid is the real deal") as we worked our way through the game.
Talk soon turned to his own experiences playing ball. Turns out my new friend pitched for one year, 1957, in the majors for the St. Louis Cardinals and also managed in their minor league system. He showed me the World Series ring he wears from their championship in 1982. It was gorgeous.
The more we talked, the more I realized what a grind his scouting life really was. He covers a territory from Kentucky through the Carolinas and Virginia and on up to Maryland, moving through small towns and single A ball parks, staying in each until he'd seen every player. But I guess baseball was the only life he knew and he'd been at it for almost 60 years.
When the game was ending, he reached into his bag and pulled out his baseball card and handed me one. Curiousity got the better of me and when I got home I looked him up. Sure enough, he pitched in relief in 1957 for the Cardinals and had won one game. And next year he turns 80 years old. I am lucky to have met him.
I noticed that the guy seating behind me had a radar gun and we started to talk. He's a scout for Atlanta and he covers the Carolina and South Atlantic leagues. He stays in each town long enough to see every player, often five games, and then moves on to the next town. We talked about some of the towns and the stadiums he covers and when I realized he'd just been to Hagestown, I asked about the Nationals uberprospect, Bryce Harper, ("that kid is the real deal") as we worked our way through the game.
Talk soon turned to his own experiences playing ball. Turns out my new friend pitched for one year, 1957, in the majors for the St. Louis Cardinals and also managed in their minor league system. He showed me the World Series ring he wears from their championship in 1982. It was gorgeous.
The more we talked, the more I realized what a grind his scouting life really was. He covers a territory from Kentucky through the Carolinas and Virginia and on up to Maryland, moving through small towns and single A ball parks, staying in each until he'd seen every player. But I guess baseball was the only life he knew and he'd been at it for almost 60 years.
When the game was ending, he reached into his bag and pulled out his baseball card and handed me one. Curiousity got the better of me and when I got home I looked him up. Sure enough, he pitched in relief in 1957 for the Cardinals and had won one game. And next year he turns 80 years old. I am lucky to have met him.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Early Season Surprises
The season is a month old and it's time to look at some of the surprises so far. Certainly the Cleveland Indians, sporting the best record in the American League, are one and it will be fun to see if they can really sustain a run throughout the season. Likewise, the Royals and the Pirates seem less hopeless than usual. On the other side, the painful starts of the Red Sox, Mets and White Sox, bring a perverse sense of pleasure as they prove, once again, that money can't buy championships. Not always.
But the biggest surprise to me is the reemergence of Lance Berkman as a hitter to be reckoned with in his debut with the St. Louis Cardinals. You will remember that the Astros traded Berkman to the Yankees last year where he mostly DH'ed and looked like he was headed for that great dugout in the suburbs. Slow, pudgy, laconic. Who knew, except the Cardinals, that inside that doughy body, there burned a competitive, sleek power hitter who already has as many home runs (ten) as the top three Astros combined? Who is this guy and more importantly where has he been for the last couple of years? What is it about St. Louis that makes it the number one destination for reclamation projects like Berkman? More questions than answers but, so far, Lance Berkman is a great story.
But the biggest surprise to me is the reemergence of Lance Berkman as a hitter to be reckoned with in his debut with the St. Louis Cardinals. You will remember that the Astros traded Berkman to the Yankees last year where he mostly DH'ed and looked like he was headed for that great dugout in the suburbs. Slow, pudgy, laconic. Who knew, except the Cardinals, that inside that doughy body, there burned a competitive, sleek power hitter who already has as many home runs (ten) as the top three Astros combined? Who is this guy and more importantly where has he been for the last couple of years? What is it about St. Louis that makes it the number one destination for reclamation projects like Berkman? More questions than answers but, so far, Lance Berkman is a great story.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Nicknames and Adam Dunn
Whatever happened to great nicknames in baseball? When I was growing up, there was Pee Wee, Scooter and Duke. Then Boog, Oil Can, and Blue Moon. Today most players are named Tyler or Ryan or Miguel. The closest to a nickname I hear these days is Nick. So I made up a story about Nyjer Morgan, thankfully departed from the Washington Nationals. I guessed that the name Nyjer was a abbreviated combination of New York and New Jersey. But his player bio indicates that Morgan was born in California and there doesn't seem to be any connection to NY-NJ. We need nicknames.
Adam Dunn was to be the jewel in the crown of the Chicago White Sox 2011 edition. Last season Dunn swore he would never sign with an American League team, didn't want to be a designated hitter and loved playing in Washington, D.C. The season ended with Dunn, whose play at first base was painful at best, spurning the Nats and heading to the White Sox where despite talk of being a position player, everyone knew he'd be the D.H. As of today he is batting .154, the Sox are last in the Central division with a 8-13 record and Adam Dunn has struck out 23 times in only 16 games. No crown, no jewel just yet but I can think of plenty of nicknames.
Adam Dunn was to be the jewel in the crown of the Chicago White Sox 2011 edition. Last season Dunn swore he would never sign with an American League team, didn't want to be a designated hitter and loved playing in Washington, D.C. The season ended with Dunn, whose play at first base was painful at best, spurning the Nats and heading to the White Sox where despite talk of being a position player, everyone knew he'd be the D.H. As of today he is batting .154, the Sox are last in the Central division with a 8-13 record and Adam Dunn has struck out 23 times in only 16 games. No crown, no jewel just yet but I can think of plenty of nicknames.
Friday, April 22, 2011
"Werth" It and Not
I was among the skeptics when the Nationals signed Jayson Werth to a hefty long term contract over the winter. When Werth was with the Phillies he was a good player on a very good team. How good would he be on a less talented team? Would he be the leader the team needed?
The answers are: very, very good and yessir. Jayson Werth has impressed in ways I didn't expect. I knew he had a great arm but didn't realize he always hits the cutoff man when he should and throws to the base when there's a chance to catch the runner. The other day he threw behind a runner who was rounding first base and almost got him. And he's an excellent base runner too. He routinely goes first to third on a base hit and has broken up double plays with hard but clean slides at second. He talks to the younger guys in the dugout about what the opposing pitcher is throwing. He's the real deal.
But 35 miles north in Baltimore there's the bad deal. The bad deal signed on as the closer after the 2009 season, blew 3 of 4 save opportunities and promptly went on the D.L. for the rest of the season. He's back this year and as bad as ever. After five games his ERA is 10.38. He's no longer the closer so he comes in and takes close games and puts them out of reach. And without a trace of irony, Mike Gonzales brags that he's healthy this year, not realizing that his health means that he's just plain bad. Mike Gonzales will make $6 million this year and he ought to give every one of them back.
The answers are: very, very good and yessir. Jayson Werth has impressed in ways I didn't expect. I knew he had a great arm but didn't realize he always hits the cutoff man when he should and throws to the base when there's a chance to catch the runner. The other day he threw behind a runner who was rounding first base and almost got him. And he's an excellent base runner too. He routinely goes first to third on a base hit and has broken up double plays with hard but clean slides at second. He talks to the younger guys in the dugout about what the opposing pitcher is throwing. He's the real deal.
But 35 miles north in Baltimore there's the bad deal. The bad deal signed on as the closer after the 2009 season, blew 3 of 4 save opportunities and promptly went on the D.L. for the rest of the season. He's back this year and as bad as ever. After five games his ERA is 10.38. He's no longer the closer so he comes in and takes close games and puts them out of reach. And without a trace of irony, Mike Gonzales brags that he's healthy this year, not realizing that his health means that he's just plain bad. Mike Gonzales will make $6 million this year and he ought to give every one of them back.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Errors, we've got errors
Just when I was thinking that Spring Training is about a week too long, the season openers have had so many errors that I wonder if some teams need to head back south and practice some more. Oakland’s loss to Seattle featured five errors. The Dodgers have taken two games from the Giants because of critical mistakes by San Francisco. The Texas Rangers moved Josh Hamilton to left field and inserted a center fielder who seems to think that his job is to run around and collide with fielders just as they are about to catch easy fly balls. Catcher Yorrvit Torrealba played like he had been put behind the plate for the first time and was wondering what to do. Come on guys. The season started. Play ball. And then there are the Astros, featured on national TV only because they were playing the Phillies. And for eight innings they did a pretty good job – comfortable lead, great starting pitching, got Roy Halliday out of the game early. Then came the bottom of the ninth. Now I don’t know a lot about body language, but everything about the ‘Stros closer said: I can’t do this. And he couldn’t, didn’t and the Astros manager inexplicably left him out there until they lost the game. Perhaps he, too, should go back to spring training and practice some more.
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Real Artful Dodger
I was going to write about Opening Day and that fact that when it’s 42 degrees and drizzling like it was in Washington and New York, it’s best to experience the game on the radio. Unless you’re a glutton for punishment or grew up watching baseball at Candlestick Park, 42 and rainy is not baseball weather. Watching on TV means seeing guys in hoodies, women in fur and players in ski masks. But if you listen to the radio you can imagine a bright sunny day, impossibly green grass, fans in shirtsleeves all while you sip hot tea and wonder if the rain will turn to snow tonight. But this morning I heard a story on NPR of a 94 year old nun who loves baseball and while teaching third grade in Brooklyn many years ago became a Dodger fan by confiscating baseball cards from her students. Although she taught all over the country, she remained loyal to the Dodgers and counts as a highlight of her life meeting Tommy Lasorda. I gave up on the Dodgers when I was a little girl and they moved to L.A. and rooted for them only so long as some of my favorites from Brooklyn still played. After that they were somebody else’s team. I root for the home team, wherever home may be. But Sister Vincent remained loyal to the Dodgers all these years and this Opening Day is for her. The Dodgers won last night; it was a good, close game and I hope she enjoyed it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Spring Training: The First Cut
You know it's early in Spring Training when the pitcher is wearing number 88 and the center fielder has number 96 on his back. That was the case yesterday when the Orioles hosted the Yankees and the teams played to a 0-0 tie in nine innings.
But the first cuts are tomorrow and soon those football type numbers will be assigned to their Single or Double A homes. The first cuts are probably not too hard for the manager but may be the first time some of the younger guys have ever been cut. Last season on a spring training trip to Arizona we were introduced to several young players outside of a Scottsdale restaurant. They were with a couple of guys who had their spots on the team nailed down. We chatted for a few minutes and the new guys said goodbye. The next day they were cut. This year they are back again, non-roster invitees.
This is the time of year when the new guys play their hearts out and the veterans play four innings and head for the golf course. A time for everything. Even 0-0 tie games.
But the first cuts are tomorrow and soon those football type numbers will be assigned to their Single or Double A homes. The first cuts are probably not too hard for the manager but may be the first time some of the younger guys have ever been cut. Last season on a spring training trip to Arizona we were introduced to several young players outside of a Scottsdale restaurant. They were with a couple of guys who had their spots on the team nailed down. We chatted for a few minutes and the new guys said goodbye. The next day they were cut. This year they are back again, non-roster invitees.
This is the time of year when the new guys play their hearts out and the veterans play four innings and head for the golf course. A time for everything. Even 0-0 tie games.
Friday, March 4, 2011
The First Game
Yesterday ESPN broadcast a spring training game between the Tigers and the Braves, my first of the season. Spring training is baseball in a minor key. More relaxed, with fans lounging on green hillsides, taking in the sun. Players with strange names getting a chance to play for a couple of innings before being designated for assignment. Running, stretching, fielding drills.
But spring training is, above all, promise. The veteran who is finally healthy. The team that spent the winter trading and signing players who will play brilliantly and lead them to the championship. The perennial losing team with just the right chemistry. The kids coming up, who have never heard of Duke Snider, each a Rookie of the Year.
And all this is true until Opening Day. Until the losers start losing and the winners find ways to win. Until the phenom can't hit a curveball. Until the critical injury and the grinding schedule and the clubhouse grumbling and the dugout temper tantrums take their toll.
But until then, all through March, everyone is a winner with a chance to go 162 and 0. And so begins our love affair with baseball begins once again.
But spring training is, above all, promise. The veteran who is finally healthy. The team that spent the winter trading and signing players who will play brilliantly and lead them to the championship. The perennial losing team with just the right chemistry. The kids coming up, who have never heard of Duke Snider, each a Rookie of the Year.
And all this is true until Opening Day. Until the losers start losing and the winners find ways to win. Until the phenom can't hit a curveball. Until the critical injury and the grinding schedule and the clubhouse grumbling and the dugout temper tantrums take their toll.
But until then, all through March, everyone is a winner with a chance to go 162 and 0. And so begins our love affair with baseball begins once again.
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