Ode to Phil Rizzuto
Several months have passed since Yankee shortstop/turned announcer, Phil Rizzuto, passed away and I debated about posting a heartfelt ode to what seemed like an old friend of mine. The danger of creating such a post is dating myself, and worse, setting this site aside as a team blog. I've always kept the site team neutral, but there is not a way to share my feelings about Rizzuto without revealing a childhood filled with all things Yankees.
There is so much going for baseball fans today. We used to have to wait a week for team-by-team analysis in The Sporting News and at least a day, sometimes two, for box scores. Now we have them instantly along with highlight shows, daily columnists and everything that's out there. What a wonderful time to be a Fan.
Whether the cause is nostalgia or the truth, the one thing missing from today's game is the joy of owning a little hand-held transistor radio listening to a game unfold with only one's imagination fueled by radio announcers and their color analysts. Wherever we went, we had our radios for the daily games. Phil Rizzuto was the man who really brought that experience to an almost cathartic experience.
Rizzuto was certainly a "homer" as far as announcers go. His playing career encompassed the glory days of Yankee history and his early announcing career began in the power years of the 1950s and early 1960s. But by the time I became a serious fan, Mickey Mantle was in his last years and the team began the most dreadful period of its history.
That didn't matter to us as kids. We had our homemade scorecards, our radios and games on Channel 11 television out of New York City. We would put up with Frank Messer and Bill White, but it was Phil we wanted to hear. Messer wasn't that bad of an announcer, though he reminded me of that fellow who played Superman on early television. Bill White was okay too since he was honest in his opinions and didn't sugar-coat what he was reporting.
But there was something about Rizzuto. His voice drew you in and it was filled with confidence and humility at the same time. My mom's family were full-blooded Sicilians and having an Italian announcer with a name similar in rhythm with her family added to the familiarity. You didn't have to be of the same ancestry though to share that familiarity. I read several blogs after his death, and he touched so many people the same way. He was our uncle.
And he went everywhere we did. He was with us on the beach or at the lake. He was with us as we walked down the street or home after school. His humor, his self-deprecating fear of lightning and his excitement when something good happened or bad, everything about his time with us built and solidified this lifelong love affair for baseball.
We were never awed by Phil Rizzuto. We were just comforted, entertained and grateful. I miss him.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Wow! Has it really been a year and a half since I last blogged? Apparently so. It's not like I haven't thought about getting back to to this place before. Every Saturday, like clockwork, I receive a report of how many hits the site has received. Apparently, some folks still like to read old news. Baseball has always been my first love. History is my second, which makes baseball the natural sport of choice for me.
I've been pursuing my other love for the past 19 months and in that span have published four books and three books for children. If you're interested, you can click the shameless link on the home page.
But it's time to get back to blogging. As a middle-aged creature, well past my prime, it was kind of cool that blogging was a place I was actually ahead of the curve of technology. I started this site long before ESPN.com discovered that blogging was cool. Much to their credit, the writers there often cite bloggers these days and that is just as it should be. The Web is the great equalizer and though many find fame and boggle the mind in doing so (can you say, "Tina Tequila?"), the same can be said in any medium. Eventually, the true talent will win out when combined with perseverance.
I have no delusions of fame. But heck, if my son reads the site once in a while and says he misses my posts, that's good enough for me.
So here goes...The Fan is back.
I've been pursuing my other love for the past 19 months and in that span have published four books and three books for children. If you're interested, you can click the shameless link on the home page.
But it's time to get back to blogging. As a middle-aged creature, well past my prime, it was kind of cool that blogging was a place I was actually ahead of the curve of technology. I started this site long before ESPN.com discovered that blogging was cool. Much to their credit, the writers there often cite bloggers these days and that is just as it should be. The Web is the great equalizer and though many find fame and boggle the mind in doing so (can you say, "Tina Tequila?"), the same can be said in any medium. Eventually, the true talent will win out when combined with perseverance.
I have no delusions of fame. But heck, if my son reads the site once in a while and says he misses my posts, that's good enough for me.
So here goes...The Fan is back.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Triple Crown for Pujols?
Albert Pujols is in a league of his own. He seems bigger and better than anyone else in the game. Alex Rodriguez has put up the numbers for a decade and could ultimately challenge Aaron, but he can look vulnerable. Pujols never looks vulnerable. Will this be the year that he owns the Triple Crown?
In fourteen games, Pujols has ten homers and twenty RBI. Both lead the league. He is batting .364, and although it's early, there is too much history to believe that Pujols can't keep up this pace.
Pujols has walked fourteen times and struck out only five. His on base average is over .500. What we are seeing is an amazing baseball player.
It doesn't seem as if the Cardinals are as good as in the past two years. But with big Albert in the lineup, they will never be out of it.
Another team that doesn't look impressive is the Yankees. Despite the fact that the team is batting well, the pitching looks uninspiring and after a couple of good starts, Randy Johnson got knocked around tonight.
Giambi has handled the post-steroids transition really well. He took his lumps, got ill, most likely due to his stupidity, and has rebounded nicely. Giambi has already walked twelve times and has a .543 on base average to go along with his .343 batting average.
Giambi's teammate, Derek Jeter is also off to a great start. Batting second and behind Damon and Cano gives Jeter lots of RBI opportunities and he currently leads the team with thirteen.
Looking back to a former entry, some of the Fan's predictions seem unfortunately to be on target. Jeff Conine is 3 for 27 for the season with two homers and a double. He has yet to hit a single.
Houston's Biggio has also started slowly as has Eddie Guardado. It's hard to watch good players get old. And Mr. Bonds looks the oldest of the bunch.
Albert Pujols is in a league of his own. He seems bigger and better than anyone else in the game. Alex Rodriguez has put up the numbers for a decade and could ultimately challenge Aaron, but he can look vulnerable. Pujols never looks vulnerable. Will this be the year that he owns the Triple Crown?
In fourteen games, Pujols has ten homers and twenty RBI. Both lead the league. He is batting .364, and although it's early, there is too much history to believe that Pujols can't keep up this pace.
Pujols has walked fourteen times and struck out only five. His on base average is over .500. What we are seeing is an amazing baseball player.
It doesn't seem as if the Cardinals are as good as in the past two years. But with big Albert in the lineup, they will never be out of it.
Another team that doesn't look impressive is the Yankees. Despite the fact that the team is batting well, the pitching looks uninspiring and after a couple of good starts, Randy Johnson got knocked around tonight.
Giambi has handled the post-steroids transition really well. He took his lumps, got ill, most likely due to his stupidity, and has rebounded nicely. Giambi has already walked twelve times and has a .543 on base average to go along with his .343 batting average.
Giambi's teammate, Derek Jeter is also off to a great start. Batting second and behind Damon and Cano gives Jeter lots of RBI opportunities and he currently leads the team with thirteen.
Looking back to a former entry, some of the Fan's predictions seem unfortunately to be on target. Jeff Conine is 3 for 27 for the season with two homers and a double. He has yet to hit a single.
Houston's Biggio has also started slowly as has Eddie Guardado. It's hard to watch good players get old. And Mr. Bonds looks the oldest of the bunch.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Is Parity Becoming More of a Reality?
To be sure, there are still the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels. But the early signs are that more teams will be in the mix this year and the new competition should be fun. Teams like the Brewers, Reds, Tigers and Cubs look early like they can compete.
The Tigers, Reds and Brewers are the most fun to watch so far. As with all up and coming teams, pitching will be the key for all three teams.
The Brewers have won seven of their first ten games. Their starting pitching has been suspect, but their bullpen boasts six pitchers who have yet to give up a run (in 16 and two-thirds inning). Their offense is spotty as well, but Carlos Lee is a real star and Prince Fielder will get more scary as the year goes along. Geoff Jenkins is batting .323 but has only one extra base hit.
Maybe we'll even get to see a Brewer game on national television this season. And just wait until Ben Sheets returns!
The Tigers are mashing the ball. They have already hit 47 homers with the amazing Chris Shelton already sitting at seven. They are batting .289 as a team with Polanco and Ivan Rodriguez joining Shelton above .300. Magglio Ordonez looks solid. This team is going to hit and play sound fundamental baseball. Only the pitching will hold them down.
Mike Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman and Kenny Rogers will be okay as starters. Youngster, Justin Verlander had one terrific start but got shelled today. The bullpen has been decent and there are some young guns in there.
The Tigers are in a very good division and will go as far as their pitching will take them.
The Reds are going to be an interesting team. Adam Dunn is a monster and has had a monster start. Austin Kearns is finally healthy. Felipe Lopez is off to a great start and Ryan Freel will find enough at bats to make a big difference. Hopefully, Griffey will be okay and Bronson Arroyo continues to hit a homer in every start!
The Red Sox made a big mistake with Arroyo. He was their second best pitcher and only got Cinncinati's fourth best outfielder in return. Arroyo is 2-0 with two great starts.
Eric Milton has had two good starts. Claussen, Harang and Dave Williams need to give them enough quality starts in between. The bullpen has been banged around but even so, the Reds are 7-3, which isn't something anyone has been able to say in a long time.
Two teams going in the opposite direction seem to be the Phillies and the Texas Rangers. The Rangers really seem to miss Soriano in the middle of their lineup and their pitching isn't any better than it has been. They are off to a horrible start.
Likewise, the Phillies seemed to make the wrong decision on Jim Thome, who is proving (if his health holds up) that he still has some pop in his bat (six homers already) and had a major downgrade from Billy Wagner to Tom Gordon as closer. Jon Leiber has given up 10 runs in 10.1 innings and the rest of the pitching doesn't look much better. Has this team's window of opportunity already closed? It appears so.
To be sure, there are still the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels. But the early signs are that more teams will be in the mix this year and the new competition should be fun. Teams like the Brewers, Reds, Tigers and Cubs look early like they can compete.
The Tigers, Reds and Brewers are the most fun to watch so far. As with all up and coming teams, pitching will be the key for all three teams.
The Brewers have won seven of their first ten games. Their starting pitching has been suspect, but their bullpen boasts six pitchers who have yet to give up a run (in 16 and two-thirds inning). Their offense is spotty as well, but Carlos Lee is a real star and Prince Fielder will get more scary as the year goes along. Geoff Jenkins is batting .323 but has only one extra base hit.
Maybe we'll even get to see a Brewer game on national television this season. And just wait until Ben Sheets returns!
The Tigers are mashing the ball. They have already hit 47 homers with the amazing Chris Shelton already sitting at seven. They are batting .289 as a team with Polanco and Ivan Rodriguez joining Shelton above .300. Magglio Ordonez looks solid. This team is going to hit and play sound fundamental baseball. Only the pitching will hold them down.
Mike Maroth, Jeremy Bonderman and Kenny Rogers will be okay as starters. Youngster, Justin Verlander had one terrific start but got shelled today. The bullpen has been decent and there are some young guns in there.
The Tigers are in a very good division and will go as far as their pitching will take them.
The Reds are going to be an interesting team. Adam Dunn is a monster and has had a monster start. Austin Kearns is finally healthy. Felipe Lopez is off to a great start and Ryan Freel will find enough at bats to make a big difference. Hopefully, Griffey will be okay and Bronson Arroyo continues to hit a homer in every start!
The Red Sox made a big mistake with Arroyo. He was their second best pitcher and only got Cinncinati's fourth best outfielder in return. Arroyo is 2-0 with two great starts.
Eric Milton has had two good starts. Claussen, Harang and Dave Williams need to give them enough quality starts in between. The bullpen has been banged around but even so, the Reds are 7-3, which isn't something anyone has been able to say in a long time.
Two teams going in the opposite direction seem to be the Phillies and the Texas Rangers. The Rangers really seem to miss Soriano in the middle of their lineup and their pitching isn't any better than it has been. They are off to a horrible start.
Likewise, the Phillies seemed to make the wrong decision on Jim Thome, who is proving (if his health holds up) that he still has some pop in his bat (six homers already) and had a major downgrade from Billy Wagner to Tom Gordon as closer. Jon Leiber has given up 10 runs in 10.1 innings and the rest of the pitching doesn't look much better. Has this team's window of opportunity already closed? It appears so.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Some Early Observations
The the Fan has been busy working on his company site (see link). That doesn't mean that the interest hasn't been there. The season is a week old now and there are some early signs worth watching and some comments worth making:
The the Fan has been busy working on his company site (see link). That doesn't mean that the interest hasn't been there. The season is a week old now and there are some early signs worth watching and some comments worth making:
- What's with the season opening with a bunch of night games? Some East Coast teams started out on the West Coast with games starting at 10:00 or 11:00 in the evening (Eastern Time). That's just great for the young fans that want to see their teams for the first time. To be sure, it's a money-induced decision, but it's poor consideration for the fans.
- ESPN's Rob Neyer wrote the best steroid essay yet. Good luck to George Mitchell (from the Fan's state BTW) and to all of baseball for what the former senator might uncover. The jury is still out whether the average fan really cares. This one doesn't.
- How could Tony Womack get another starting position? What do managers and general managers see in this guy?
- Derrek Lee is proving that last year was not a "career" year, but a progression of a superstar. Lee is starting this year where last year left off.
- Randy Johnson looks a lot better this year for the Yankees. Too bad the rest of the team doesn't look very good right now.
- Pennsylvania is still "Oh" for the season as the Phillies and Pirate have gone the season without a win. How weird is that.
- The Brewers are 5-0! That's great to see. Is it an a sign of the season to come or just a good start against easy teams?
- Who is Chris Shelton and what is he eating for breakfast? The first week of the season shows the 33rd round draft choice batting .700 for the season with five homers and nine extra base hits in just 20 at bats. Wow!
- Oakland has great young pitching, but little or no offense. It will be difficult to keep winning games batting .212 as a team.
- The Reds look pretty good. If they can just get some pitching...
- Albert Pujols is simply amazing. A-Rod is the only one close and both are the players of this generation as much as Mays, Mantle and Aaron were the players of theirs.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
It's Almost Here!
Three more days! Three more days until the 2006 baseball season begins. Life begins again and like springtime in nature, we'll swat away the flies of steroid talk and watch another season unfold. Here are the Fan's predictions:
National League East:
1. Mets: Reyes and Wright have big years and Beltran comes out of his sleep like Rip Van Winkle.
2. Phillies: Ryan Howard hits 49 homers but pitching keeps them from the top.
3. Nationals: Nick Johnson has his first 100 RBI season and Jose Vidro wins Comeback of the Year.
4. Braves: Smoltz will find the DL and the glorious reign of the Braves finally ends.
5. Marlins: Florida fans will wonder how this hapless team ended up in Las Vegas.
National League Central:
1. Cardinals: Pujols drags this team back to a playoff loss one more time.
2. Brewers: The Brewers will be fun to watch. The Prince has arrived! He'll hit 33 homers.
3. Reds: The rising of the Reds starts this year. All three outfielders have big seasons.
4. Pirates: Another fun team to watch with pitching woes bogging them down.
5. Cubs: Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez and another year of injuries to Prior and Wood.
6. Astros: Roger won't be back. Bagwell is gone and Biggio has little left.
National League West:
1. Dodgers: Good pitching. Great fielding. Just enough hitting. Gagne is back!
2. Diamondbacks: Will be better than expected in a weak division.
3. Padres: Great young infield. Chan Ho and Woody Williams? Nope.
4. Giants: The only team older than the Yankees. Thank goodness for the Rockies
5. Rockies: Not a Rocky Mountain High.
American League East:
1. Yankees: If their pitching falters early, they will buy more. Wang has a big year.
2. Red Sox: Hard to believe they won't have enough hitting. No wildcard either.
3. Blue Jays: Climbing back, but not there yet. Burnett will burn out.
4. Devil Rays: A year or two away from being great. Close to .500 this year.
5. Orioles: Tejada will not be enough to save this flawed team.
American League Central:
1. Indians: If the young talent gels, this team is scary. Hafner will give David Ortiz a run for his money.
2. Tigers: You just have to believe in Leyland and letting his young fireballers play. Magglio Ordonez had a big spring and is back to star strength.
3. White Sox: Leaked too much in the off season. Pitching isn't as strong as predicted.
4. Royals: Buddy Bell doesn't inspire confidence, but they will be better than they have been.
5. Twins: Joe Mauer becomes a big star, but there isn't enough pitching or offense.
American League West:
1. Athletics: Best pitching in baseball. Enough offense to win close games. Billy Beane is amazing.
2. Angels: Sagging around the edges. Oakland will beat them too often head to head.
3. Rangers: Texas will really miss Soriano in their lineup. They didn't replace his production.
4. Mariners: Ichiro will miss the WCS
Cy Young:
National League - Brett Tompko. Oh my! He finally lives up to his talent.
American League - Roy Halliday. Clearly the best pitcher in the American League.
Batting Champ:
National League - Aramis Ramirez
American League - Derek Jeter
MVP:
National League - Albert Pujols. He could win it every year for the next ten.
American League - Bobby Crosby
Home Run Champion:
National League - Ryan Howard (49)
American League - Jim Thome (44)
Rookie of the Year:
National League - Prince Fielder
American League - Jonathan Papelbon
Comeback Player of the Year:
National League - Nomar Garciaparra, Jose Vidro
American League - Jim Thome
Final Career Total for Barry Bonds - 729
Three more days! Three more days until the 2006 baseball season begins. Life begins again and like springtime in nature, we'll swat away the flies of steroid talk and watch another season unfold. Here are the Fan's predictions:
National League East:
1. Mets: Reyes and Wright have big years and Beltran comes out of his sleep like Rip Van Winkle.
2. Phillies: Ryan Howard hits 49 homers but pitching keeps them from the top.
3. Nationals: Nick Johnson has his first 100 RBI season and Jose Vidro wins Comeback of the Year.
4. Braves: Smoltz will find the DL and the glorious reign of the Braves finally ends.
5. Marlins: Florida fans will wonder how this hapless team ended up in Las Vegas.
National League Central:
1. Cardinals: Pujols drags this team back to a playoff loss one more time.
2. Brewers: The Brewers will be fun to watch. The Prince has arrived! He'll hit 33 homers.
3. Reds: The rising of the Reds starts this year. All three outfielders have big seasons.
4. Pirates: Another fun team to watch with pitching woes bogging them down.
5. Cubs: Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez and another year of injuries to Prior and Wood.
6. Astros: Roger won't be back. Bagwell is gone and Biggio has little left.
National League West:
1. Dodgers: Good pitching. Great fielding. Just enough hitting. Gagne is back!
2. Diamondbacks: Will be better than expected in a weak division.
3. Padres: Great young infield. Chan Ho and Woody Williams? Nope.
4. Giants: The only team older than the Yankees. Thank goodness for the Rockies
5. Rockies: Not a Rocky Mountain High.
American League East:
1. Yankees: If their pitching falters early, they will buy more. Wang has a big year.
2. Red Sox: Hard to believe they won't have enough hitting. No wildcard either.
3. Blue Jays: Climbing back, but not there yet. Burnett will burn out.
4. Devil Rays: A year or two away from being great. Close to .500 this year.
5. Orioles: Tejada will not be enough to save this flawed team.
American League Central:
1. Indians: If the young talent gels, this team is scary. Hafner will give David Ortiz a run for his money.
2. Tigers: You just have to believe in Leyland and letting his young fireballers play. Magglio Ordonez had a big spring and is back to star strength.
3. White Sox: Leaked too much in the off season. Pitching isn't as strong as predicted.
4. Royals: Buddy Bell doesn't inspire confidence, but they will be better than they have been.
5. Twins: Joe Mauer becomes a big star, but there isn't enough pitching or offense.
American League West:
1. Athletics: Best pitching in baseball. Enough offense to win close games. Billy Beane is amazing.
2. Angels: Sagging around the edges. Oakland will beat them too often head to head.
3. Rangers: Texas will really miss Soriano in their lineup. They didn't replace his production.
4. Mariners: Ichiro will miss the WCS
Cy Young:
National League - Brett Tompko. Oh my! He finally lives up to his talent.
American League - Roy Halliday. Clearly the best pitcher in the American League.
Batting Champ:
National League - Aramis Ramirez
American League - Derek Jeter
MVP:
National League - Albert Pujols. He could win it every year for the next ten.
American League - Bobby Crosby
Home Run Champion:
National League - Ryan Howard (49)
American League - Jim Thome (44)
Rookie of the Year:
National League - Prince Fielder
American League - Jonathan Papelbon
Comeback Player of the Year:
National League - Nomar Garciaparra, Jose Vidro
American League - Jim Thome
Final Career Total for Barry Bonds - 729
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Watching the Transaction Wire
The 2006 Major League Baseball season begins right around the corner and the transaction links get more and more interesting. As we get closer to the season, veterans, as well as young prospects start getting pinched from rosters. Today it was Carlos Pena (Tigers) and Darrell May (Twins).
Carlos Pena was a surprise. It doesn't seem long ago when he was a "can't miss" prospect for the Tigers. He was the Cape Cod League MVP in 1997 and then had a great college career.
Pena joined the Tigers in the 2002 season (Pena started the year in Oakland) after a brief stint in Texas the year before. The Tigers have been terrible for a while and Pena became another cog in the next and continuing youth movement for the Tigers.
His first year, Pena showed promise, batting .253 and hit 12 homers, 4 triples and 13 doubles in just 273 at bats. With more playing time in 2003, Pena hit 18 homers but his average dropped 5 points. His average dropped a few more points in 2004, but he did hit 27 homers and drove in 82 runs. He also scored 89 runs since he walked 70 times.
Last year, Pena got off to a slow start and was sent to the minors for a while. With the major league club, his average dipped further but did manage 18 homers and 44 RBI in 260 at bats.
Pena would be a good gamble for another club with a more favorable hitting park than Detroit's cavernous park. Left-handed power can help a club if a team can get him back on track. Pena does walk a lot and has a decent on-base percentage for his career despite the mediocre batting average. Some team should give him a shot.
Darrell May never had the advanced billing that Pena received. May is a left-hander who has pitched for parts of ten seasons with seven different teams. Last year was particularly painful for May.
He caught on with the San Diego and started eight games for that team and had a 1-3 record with a 5.61 ERA. He was then traded to the Yankees for Paul Quantrill. That didn't go very well at all for the pitcher.
With the Yankees, he pitched twice and started once. In seven innings of total work, May gave up 17 baserunners and 13 runs, including four homers. The Yankees sent him packing.
He signed on with Minnesota and after an unimpressive spring, the Twins cut him loose. Since MLB seems to value left-handed pitching no matter how uninspiring, May might catch on with someone. He did have one good season with the Royals (2003) where he went 10-8 with a 3.77 ERA. But the man has given up 123 homers in his career in 660 big league innings.
Baseball is a tough business and careers can end abruptly. That's why the transaction wire is such an interesting place. Every day carries a different story. Here's hoping that the story for Darrell May and Carlos Pena didn't end on March 26, 2006.
The 2006 Major League Baseball season begins right around the corner and the transaction links get more and more interesting. As we get closer to the season, veterans, as well as young prospects start getting pinched from rosters. Today it was Carlos Pena (Tigers) and Darrell May (Twins).
Carlos Pena was a surprise. It doesn't seem long ago when he was a "can't miss" prospect for the Tigers. He was the Cape Cod League MVP in 1997 and then had a great college career.
Pena joined the Tigers in the 2002 season (Pena started the year in Oakland) after a brief stint in Texas the year before. The Tigers have been terrible for a while and Pena became another cog in the next and continuing youth movement for the Tigers.
His first year, Pena showed promise, batting .253 and hit 12 homers, 4 triples and 13 doubles in just 273 at bats. With more playing time in 2003, Pena hit 18 homers but his average dropped 5 points. His average dropped a few more points in 2004, but he did hit 27 homers and drove in 82 runs. He also scored 89 runs since he walked 70 times.
Last year, Pena got off to a slow start and was sent to the minors for a while. With the major league club, his average dipped further but did manage 18 homers and 44 RBI in 260 at bats.
Pena would be a good gamble for another club with a more favorable hitting park than Detroit's cavernous park. Left-handed power can help a club if a team can get him back on track. Pena does walk a lot and has a decent on-base percentage for his career despite the mediocre batting average. Some team should give him a shot.
Darrell May never had the advanced billing that Pena received. May is a left-hander who has pitched for parts of ten seasons with seven different teams. Last year was particularly painful for May.
He caught on with the San Diego and started eight games for that team and had a 1-3 record with a 5.61 ERA. He was then traded to the Yankees for Paul Quantrill. That didn't go very well at all for the pitcher.
With the Yankees, he pitched twice and started once. In seven innings of total work, May gave up 17 baserunners and 13 runs, including four homers. The Yankees sent him packing.
He signed on with Minnesota and after an unimpressive spring, the Twins cut him loose. Since MLB seems to value left-handed pitching no matter how uninspiring, May might catch on with someone. He did have one good season with the Royals (2003) where he went 10-8 with a 3.77 ERA. But the man has given up 123 homers in his career in 660 big league innings.
Baseball is a tough business and careers can end abruptly. That's why the transaction wire is such an interesting place. Every day carries a different story. Here's hoping that the story for Darrell May and Carlos Pena didn't end on March 26, 2006.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Felix Heredia Was Released Today
The transaction wire is a great place to hang out during Spring Training. A lot of great stories are found there. One of today's cuts was Felix Heredia. Heredia is one of those players that makes the Fan wonder how a player such as Heredia could hang around as long as he has.
2004 was a typical year for Heredia. He pitched in 47 games for the Yankees. A left handed pitcher, it was Heredia's job to take the ball when Joe Torre needed to get a left handed batter out. Giving the ball to Heredia 47 times makes the greatness of Torre's management skills come in to question.
Asking Heredia to perform such a task was like spraying lighter fluid into a fireplace. In those 47 appearances, Heredia pitched 38.1 innings. In those innings, he gave up 44 hits and walked 20 batters and hit two others. That's 66 base runners in 38.1 innings. That doesn't make that lefty/lefty situation make much sense. His ERA was over 6.00 for the year for the second time in his career.
Heredia pitched for nine years and pitching primarily to his supposed-strength (lefty batters), he pitched 458.1 innings and gave up 798 base runners. Ouch. How much do you want to bet that Heredia gets a job somewhere.
Here is a word to the wise to MLB managers: Never hire a pitcher named Heredia. There have been four pitchers with that name in the majors and besides Felix, here are their results:
Gil Heredia (1991 to 2001): Gil had one decent season, but his overall career featured a lifetime 4.46 ERA and 1328 base runners in 954 innings.
Ubaldo Heredia (1987): Pitched in two games for the Expos. Finished with a 5.40 ERA.
Wilson Heredia (1995, 1997): Wilson pitched 31.2 innings for the Rangers and walked 31 batters. Yeesh.
Over the years, there have been other players that cause the Fan to wonder why they played so long. Here are a few that come to mind:
Alfredo Griffin (1976-1993): Alfredo Griffin played for 17 seasons for the Indians, Blue Jays, Athletics, Dodgers and the Blue Jays again. Griffin was a shortstop who finished with a lifetime .249 batting average and a .285 on-base percentage.
In 1984, Griffin batted 429 times for the Blue Jays. He walked four times. Four. His batting average for the year was .241 and his on-base percentage was .248.
Well, lots of shortstops were weak hitters. Eddie Brinkman comes to mind. But fielding made up for it. Griffin had four years with more than 30 errors. Maybe Griffin was a great base runner. Not exactly. In 326 attempts, Griffin was thrown out 134 times.
Horace Clarke (1965-1974): Clarke played nine years--all but one of them with the Yankees. Those Yankee teams of the late 60's and early 70's were brutal and no one summed up who they were more than Horace Clarke.
The thing that makes Clarke's career remarkable is that, despite pathetic hitting for 600 at bats a season, he led off for the Yankees for almost all of his career. How can you have a lead off hitter for half a dozen years with a lifetime on-base percentage of .308 and a batting average of .254? The defining Horace Clarke statistic? He had 4813 lifetime at bats and ended up with 200 extra base hits.
Darren Oliver (1993 - 2004): Oliver pitched for eight different teams in his Major League career--badly. Remarkably, Oliver finished with a winning record, but he ended with a career earned run average of 5.07.
Oliver had four seasons where he finished with an earned run average over 6.00. The year 2000 was a career lowlight. He made 21 starts for the Texas Rangers and ended up with an earned run average of 7.42. For those not in the know, that is 7.42 runs per nine innings.
Despite the fact that Oliver gave up 2247 base runners in 1407 innings in his career, he never lacked a team willing to give him the ball.
The transaction wire is a great place to hang out during Spring Training. A lot of great stories are found there. One of today's cuts was Felix Heredia. Heredia is one of those players that makes the Fan wonder how a player such as Heredia could hang around as long as he has.
2004 was a typical year for Heredia. He pitched in 47 games for the Yankees. A left handed pitcher, it was Heredia's job to take the ball when Joe Torre needed to get a left handed batter out. Giving the ball to Heredia 47 times makes the greatness of Torre's management skills come in to question.
Asking Heredia to perform such a task was like spraying lighter fluid into a fireplace. In those 47 appearances, Heredia pitched 38.1 innings. In those innings, he gave up 44 hits and walked 20 batters and hit two others. That's 66 base runners in 38.1 innings. That doesn't make that lefty/lefty situation make much sense. His ERA was over 6.00 for the year for the second time in his career.
Heredia pitched for nine years and pitching primarily to his supposed-strength (lefty batters), he pitched 458.1 innings and gave up 798 base runners. Ouch. How much do you want to bet that Heredia gets a job somewhere.
Here is a word to the wise to MLB managers: Never hire a pitcher named Heredia. There have been four pitchers with that name in the majors and besides Felix, here are their results:
Gil Heredia (1991 to 2001): Gil had one decent season, but his overall career featured a lifetime 4.46 ERA and 1328 base runners in 954 innings.
Ubaldo Heredia (1987): Pitched in two games for the Expos. Finished with a 5.40 ERA.
Wilson Heredia (1995, 1997): Wilson pitched 31.2 innings for the Rangers and walked 31 batters. Yeesh.
Over the years, there have been other players that cause the Fan to wonder why they played so long. Here are a few that come to mind:
Alfredo Griffin (1976-1993): Alfredo Griffin played for 17 seasons for the Indians, Blue Jays, Athletics, Dodgers and the Blue Jays again. Griffin was a shortstop who finished with a lifetime .249 batting average and a .285 on-base percentage.
In 1984, Griffin batted 429 times for the Blue Jays. He walked four times. Four. His batting average for the year was .241 and his on-base percentage was .248.
Well, lots of shortstops were weak hitters. Eddie Brinkman comes to mind. But fielding made up for it. Griffin had four years with more than 30 errors. Maybe Griffin was a great base runner. Not exactly. In 326 attempts, Griffin was thrown out 134 times.
Horace Clarke (1965-1974): Clarke played nine years--all but one of them with the Yankees. Those Yankee teams of the late 60's and early 70's were brutal and no one summed up who they were more than Horace Clarke.
The thing that makes Clarke's career remarkable is that, despite pathetic hitting for 600 at bats a season, he led off for the Yankees for almost all of his career. How can you have a lead off hitter for half a dozen years with a lifetime on-base percentage of .308 and a batting average of .254? The defining Horace Clarke statistic? He had 4813 lifetime at bats and ended up with 200 extra base hits.
Darren Oliver (1993 - 2004): Oliver pitched for eight different teams in his Major League career--badly. Remarkably, Oliver finished with a winning record, but he ended with a career earned run average of 5.07.
Oliver had four seasons where he finished with an earned run average over 6.00. The year 2000 was a career lowlight. He made 21 starts for the Texas Rangers and ended up with an earned run average of 7.42. For those not in the know, that is 7.42 runs per nine innings.
Despite the fact that Oliver gave up 2247 base runners in 1407 innings in his career, he never lacked a team willing to give him the ball.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Random Thoughts
- The Fan is glad that the Soriano crisis is over. Things could get bumpy in left field for the Nationals slugger, but at least he is playing the game he so obviously loves. He will continue to be one of the Flagrant Fan box score watches.
- The Fan doesn't want to talk about steroids or even think about them. The situation is the kind of story that the thrill-seeking journalists of our era love so much. It's so much more fun to find stories to tear down the high and mighty than it is to build interest in the game they supposedly love.
The key for the Fan is that testing is now in place to stop it and both the owners and the players understand that steroids and hormone injections are bad for the game. What happened before this time happened. It's not dissimilar to the free 70's when free sex and our hippie past led to STD's and drug addiction. We learn and we move on. Let's play ball already.
- The traditionally losing teams that have the best chance to turn it around this year are the Tigers and the Devil Rays. New managers and some interesting talent could turn them around.
- It was sad to see Ricky Bottalico waived two days ago. Bottalico can no longer blow away batters like in the past, but he can still get some people out. Here's hoping that he catches on somewhere.
- Sons of former players are always interesting when they come up to the big leagues. There is more anticipation and curiosity in the arrival. Will Prince Fielder be the bomb that he seems to be? It looks like Jesse Barfield's son, Josh, has a good chance for the starting second base job with the Padres. There are two more box score watches.
- For a catcher to go to the hospital as Jorge Posada did with his broken nose, it must have been pretty bad.
- It looks like Sidney Ponson is going to get one more chance with the Cardinals. Let's hope the pitcher realizes that he's had more chances than most would with his history.
- There aren't too many sadder stories than those of Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden. Those two men had so much talent and just could not get past their problems. It hurts inside to think of the road they both traveled.
- The Fan is glad that the Soriano crisis is over. Things could get bumpy in left field for the Nationals slugger, but at least he is playing the game he so obviously loves. He will continue to be one of the Flagrant Fan box score watches.
- The Fan doesn't want to talk about steroids or even think about them. The situation is the kind of story that the thrill-seeking journalists of our era love so much. It's so much more fun to find stories to tear down the high and mighty than it is to build interest in the game they supposedly love.
The key for the Fan is that testing is now in place to stop it and both the owners and the players understand that steroids and hormone injections are bad for the game. What happened before this time happened. It's not dissimilar to the free 70's when free sex and our hippie past led to STD's and drug addiction. We learn and we move on. Let's play ball already.
- The traditionally losing teams that have the best chance to turn it around this year are the Tigers and the Devil Rays. New managers and some interesting talent could turn them around.
- It was sad to see Ricky Bottalico waived two days ago. Bottalico can no longer blow away batters like in the past, but he can still get some people out. Here's hoping that he catches on somewhere.
- Sons of former players are always interesting when they come up to the big leagues. There is more anticipation and curiosity in the arrival. Will Prince Fielder be the bomb that he seems to be? It looks like Jesse Barfield's son, Josh, has a good chance for the starting second base job with the Padres. There are two more box score watches.
- For a catcher to go to the hospital as Jorge Posada did with his broken nose, it must have been pretty bad.
- It looks like Sidney Ponson is going to get one more chance with the Cardinals. Let's hope the pitcher realizes that he's had more chances than most would with his history.
- There aren't too many sadder stories than those of Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden. Those two men had so much talent and just could not get past their problems. It hurts inside to think of the road they both traveled.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Three Points for the National League
The Fan is finding it hard to think about baseball after the dreaded Colts signed Adam Vinatieri. Ugh! What were the Patriots thinking? Oh well...focus...focus...baseball...baseball...
A couple of days ago, this space created some lists for the American League. Let's take five for the National League.
Five NL players would could have break-out seasons:
1. Nick Johnson - Nationals: Okay. Johnson has been around now for several seasons, but injuries have slowed his progress. Now that he's signed his first big contract, Johnson can relax and know that he is counted on. Already one of the best fielding first basemen in the league, Johnson's lifetime .383 on-base percentage and power potential could make 2006 the year that Johnson becomes a break-out star.
2. Chase Utley - Phillies: Utley played his first full season last year for the Phillies and put up 28 homers and drove in 105 runs. Even more impressive, Utley had 39 doubles and learned to be patient at the plate. In his second full season, Utley should become the next great second baseman.
3. Felipe Lopez - Reds: Another second baseman and shortstop, Lopez had his first 500+ at bat season last year and scored 99 runs while driving in 85 to go along with 23 homers. He batted .291 with a .352 on-base percentage. The Reds picked up Tony Womack, but he isn't the answer. The Reds should play Rich Aurilia at short and Lopez at second and he will become a star.
4. Austin Kearns - Reds: Austin Kearns was the can't miss prospect when he came up a few years ago. His career has taken some twists since then, but with Wily Mo Pena off to the Red Sox, Kearns is going to get his chance to finally grow into his billing. Look for 30+ homers and over one hundred RBI.
5. Chris Young - Padres: Chris Young was one of the Rangers' best pitchers last season. He's never had a full season and yet has a career winning record. Only 27, Young could blossom into the next great pitcher now that he's in the National League and has two less hitters in the lineup to worry about.
Five NL stars would could slip to age this year:
1. Woody Williams - Padres: Williams had his first losing season since 1997 and will be 40 this year. It seems hard to imagine that Williams has anywhere to go but down.
2. Omar Vizquel - Giants: Vizquel seemed human during the WBC and at 38, his long and productive career is headed down. The Giants make the Yankees look young.
3. Jeff Kent - Dodgers: Kent had another very good year last year, but he is 38. The Fan is predicting that Kent will show his age this year.
4. Carlos Delgado - Mets: Between Delgado and the AARP's Julio Franco, the Mets have 37 years of experience at first base. That can't be a positive for the team. Other Mets that are destined to falter eventually: Tom Glavine and Pedro Martinez.
5. Craig Biggio - Astros: This could be the last hurrah for Biggio who is now 40 years old. Hard work and pure guts can only carry a body so far. Biggio hit 26 homers last year and hit 40 doubles, but had his lowest on-base percentage since his rookie year (way back in 1988).
Five most important NL players to their team's success:
1. Barry Bonds - Giants
2. Pat Burrell - Phillies
3. Chris Carpenter - Cardinals
4. Lance Berkman - Astros
5. Pedro Martinez - Mets
Five biggest NL question marks:
1. Barry Bonds - How well will he play? How will baseball deal with the issues?
2. Miguel Cabrera - Will he flounder without any stars around him? Will anyone pitch to him?
3. Bobby Cox - Can he pull another rabbit out of the hat...without his pitching coach?
4. Mark Prior and Kerry Wood - Will the Cubs twosome ever have full seasons?
5. Ryan Howard - Can the young bopper do it over a full season?
The Fan is finding it hard to think about baseball after the dreaded Colts signed Adam Vinatieri. Ugh! What were the Patriots thinking? Oh well...focus...focus...baseball...baseball...
A couple of days ago, this space created some lists for the American League. Let's take five for the National League.
Five NL players would could have break-out seasons:
1. Nick Johnson - Nationals: Okay. Johnson has been around now for several seasons, but injuries have slowed his progress. Now that he's signed his first big contract, Johnson can relax and know that he is counted on. Already one of the best fielding first basemen in the league, Johnson's lifetime .383 on-base percentage and power potential could make 2006 the year that Johnson becomes a break-out star.
2. Chase Utley - Phillies: Utley played his first full season last year for the Phillies and put up 28 homers and drove in 105 runs. Even more impressive, Utley had 39 doubles and learned to be patient at the plate. In his second full season, Utley should become the next great second baseman.
3. Felipe Lopez - Reds: Another second baseman and shortstop, Lopez had his first 500+ at bat season last year and scored 99 runs while driving in 85 to go along with 23 homers. He batted .291 with a .352 on-base percentage. The Reds picked up Tony Womack, but he isn't the answer. The Reds should play Rich Aurilia at short and Lopez at second and he will become a star.
4. Austin Kearns - Reds: Austin Kearns was the can't miss prospect when he came up a few years ago. His career has taken some twists since then, but with Wily Mo Pena off to the Red Sox, Kearns is going to get his chance to finally grow into his billing. Look for 30+ homers and over one hundred RBI.
5. Chris Young - Padres: Chris Young was one of the Rangers' best pitchers last season. He's never had a full season and yet has a career winning record. Only 27, Young could blossom into the next great pitcher now that he's in the National League and has two less hitters in the lineup to worry about.
Five NL stars would could slip to age this year:
1. Woody Williams - Padres: Williams had his first losing season since 1997 and will be 40 this year. It seems hard to imagine that Williams has anywhere to go but down.
2. Omar Vizquel - Giants: Vizquel seemed human during the WBC and at 38, his long and productive career is headed down. The Giants make the Yankees look young.
3. Jeff Kent - Dodgers: Kent had another very good year last year, but he is 38. The Fan is predicting that Kent will show his age this year.
4. Carlos Delgado - Mets: Between Delgado and the AARP's Julio Franco, the Mets have 37 years of experience at first base. That can't be a positive for the team. Other Mets that are destined to falter eventually: Tom Glavine and Pedro Martinez.
5. Craig Biggio - Astros: This could be the last hurrah for Biggio who is now 40 years old. Hard work and pure guts can only carry a body so far. Biggio hit 26 homers last year and hit 40 doubles, but had his lowest on-base percentage since his rookie year (way back in 1988).
Five most important NL players to their team's success:
1. Barry Bonds - Giants
2. Pat Burrell - Phillies
3. Chris Carpenter - Cardinals
4. Lance Berkman - Astros
5. Pedro Martinez - Mets
Five biggest NL question marks:
1. Barry Bonds - How well will he play? How will baseball deal with the issues?
2. Miguel Cabrera - Will he flounder without any stars around him? Will anyone pitch to him?
3. Bobby Cox - Can he pull another rabbit out of the hat...without his pitching coach?
4. Mark Prior and Kerry Wood - Will the Cubs twosome ever have full seasons?
5. Ryan Howard - Can the young bopper do it over a full season?
Monday, March 20, 2006
The Line is Drawn
The "plight" of Alfonso Soriano has been discussed recently in this spot. The line was drawn today when Soriano refused to take his spot in left field. The Nationals are not going to back down and would just as soon send Soriano home to lose his $11 million for his pride. There is no way that Frank Robinson is going to back down either.
Soriano is in a precarious position here. If he gets put on the disqualified list, he won't become a free agent at the end of the year. And if he doesn't play, he doesn't start earning that next big paycheck.
Frankly, Soriano's stance is pathetic and he should go out and play left field. It's not like the Nationals are asking him to clean out a safe house in Iraq. Get real, Alfonso, and grab your glove.
The "plight" of Alfonso Soriano has been discussed recently in this spot. The line was drawn today when Soriano refused to take his spot in left field. The Nationals are not going to back down and would just as soon send Soriano home to lose his $11 million for his pride. There is no way that Frank Robinson is going to back down either.
Soriano is in a precarious position here. If he gets put on the disqualified list, he won't become a free agent at the end of the year. And if he doesn't play, he doesn't start earning that next big paycheck.
Frankly, Soriano's stance is pathetic and he should go out and play left field. It's not like the Nationals are asking him to clean out a safe house in Iraq. Get real, Alfonso, and grab your glove.
Red Sox Go Against Wisdom
The old saying is that you never have enough pitching. The Red Sox apparently were not comfortable with their offense and overly comfortable with their pitching and traded Bronson Arroyo to the Reds for Wily Mo Pena. The Fan isn't sure about this trade.
The Red Sox gave up their most consistent pitcher last year and will rely on a rotation of: Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, Tim Wakefield and either David Wells or a young Jonathan Papelbon. That makes two starters who will turn 40 this year, and Wells who will turn 63 or something.
Beckett could be ready to grow into the stardom predicted for him for the past five years and Clement may bounce back from what was a real up and down year (and a line drive off his head). Papelbon seems like the real deal after his September call up, but he was their backup plan if Foulke doesn't make it back as the closer.
Arroyo filled up innings and will certainly help the Reds who have been desperate for pitching for years now. Arroyo signed a three year contract at less than market value because he loved it in Boston. Surprise! At least Cincinnati is a great baseball town like Boston.
The Red Sox got a fourth outfielder in Wily Mo, who besides having one of the coolest names in baseball, also has a lifetime average of .347...of striking out. Pena does have tremendous power from the right side, something the Red Sox lack.
The move gives the Red Sox four outfielders and the possibility of Juan Gonzalez somewhere else in the mix. Where will they put them all? Pena goes from a similar outfield situation with the Reds that just seemed to sort itself out for him to get 500 at bats for the first time in his career.
Pena should benefit from playing with David Ortiz and gives the Red Sox some insurance in the unsteady world of Manny Ramirez. But the Fan still can't get past wondering if Schilling has something left, Wakefield can throw knuckleballs forever, Beckett is past the blister days and Clement or Wells have something to offer.
You never have too much pitching...
The old saying is that you never have enough pitching. The Red Sox apparently were not comfortable with their offense and overly comfortable with their pitching and traded Bronson Arroyo to the Reds for Wily Mo Pena. The Fan isn't sure about this trade.
The Red Sox gave up their most consistent pitcher last year and will rely on a rotation of: Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, Tim Wakefield and either David Wells or a young Jonathan Papelbon. That makes two starters who will turn 40 this year, and Wells who will turn 63 or something.
Beckett could be ready to grow into the stardom predicted for him for the past five years and Clement may bounce back from what was a real up and down year (and a line drive off his head). Papelbon seems like the real deal after his September call up, but he was their backup plan if Foulke doesn't make it back as the closer.
Arroyo filled up innings and will certainly help the Reds who have been desperate for pitching for years now. Arroyo signed a three year contract at less than market value because he loved it in Boston. Surprise! At least Cincinnati is a great baseball town like Boston.
The Red Sox got a fourth outfielder in Wily Mo, who besides having one of the coolest names in baseball, also has a lifetime average of .347...of striking out. Pena does have tremendous power from the right side, something the Red Sox lack.
The move gives the Red Sox four outfielders and the possibility of Juan Gonzalez somewhere else in the mix. Where will they put them all? Pena goes from a similar outfield situation with the Reds that just seemed to sort itself out for him to get 500 at bats for the first time in his career.
Pena should benefit from playing with David Ortiz and gives the Red Sox some insurance in the unsteady world of Manny Ramirez. But the Fan still can't get past wondering if Schilling has something left, Wakefield can throw knuckleballs forever, Beckett is past the blister days and Clement or Wells have something to offer.
You never have too much pitching...
Sunday, March 19, 2006
The Major League Elevator
Al Leiter retired the one batter he faced today and then retired from Major League Baseball. In another story, the Red Sox signed Juan Gonzalez to a minor league contract. That's the elevator that is baseball in Spring Training. The elevator goes up and down and sometimes people get out for the last time.
Al Leiter was a pretty good pitcher for a long time. Known just as much for his heart as for his fastball, Leiter won 162 games in his 19 year career against only 132 losses. His lifetime ERA was 3.80, which is very good in the hitting era he pitched in.
Leiter was a late bloomer who wasn't a star until seven years after his career started with the Yankees in 1987. Starting in 1995, Leiter won 133 games in the next ten years with Toronto, Florida and the Mets.
His best year was 1998, his first year with the Mets, when he was 17-6 with a 2.34 ERA. It was no coincidence that his career took off when his strikeout to walk ratio improved dramatically. It is also no coincidence that his career showed signs of being over when his walk count increased while his strikeout count plummeted.
Leiter always rode the edge of the strike zone and his talent and poured his heart into every performance. It was an act of grace that allowed him to end his career today on his own terms with an out. His career was a joy to watch.
On another elevator stop, the Red Sox signed Juan Gonzalez to a minor league contract. If Gonzalez can come anywhere close to the kind of bat he had in his career, this could be an incredible move for the Red Sox.
Despite the enigma that has surrounded his career, Gonzalez has had some of the greatest years in MLB modern history. Gonzalez was Manny Ramirez before there was a Manny Ramirez, and, in fact, replaced Ramirez in Cleveland when Manny signed in Boston.
Juan Gonzalez has had three seasons with 140 RBI or more (144, 157, 140). He had an eleven year run where he hit 392 homers and 1263 RBI. He had a four year run (1996 through 1999) where he hit 173 homers and drove in an incredible 560 runs. He has batted over .300 five times and over .320 twice.
Unfortunately, Juan Gonzalez has had a history of going on the disabled list. But so has Nick Johnson and the Nationals just gave him $25 million for three years. Dare the Fan say this out loud? Perhaps Gonzalez has a bad rap because he is a Hispanic ballplayer? Why else would his injuries be eyed with suspicion when Chuck Finley was a gutty pitcher who kept trying to come back from his injuries?
What is known is that Gonzalez would be threatening some pretty big numbers if he had been able to get 600 at bats a season. In the one season that he did hit that mark, he scored 110 runs, 193 hits, 50 doubles, 45 homers and 157 RBI. Wow! Even with injuries, Gonzalez has 434 career homers and over 1400 RBI. Not too many players have seen that kind of production.
If Gonzalez can come back and give the Red Sox 30 homers and 80 runs batted in, that will be a huge boost for that team. At least one Fan will be rooting for him.
Al Leiter retired the one batter he faced today and then retired from Major League Baseball. In another story, the Red Sox signed Juan Gonzalez to a minor league contract. That's the elevator that is baseball in Spring Training. The elevator goes up and down and sometimes people get out for the last time.
Al Leiter was a pretty good pitcher for a long time. Known just as much for his heart as for his fastball, Leiter won 162 games in his 19 year career against only 132 losses. His lifetime ERA was 3.80, which is very good in the hitting era he pitched in.
Leiter was a late bloomer who wasn't a star until seven years after his career started with the Yankees in 1987. Starting in 1995, Leiter won 133 games in the next ten years with Toronto, Florida and the Mets.
His best year was 1998, his first year with the Mets, when he was 17-6 with a 2.34 ERA. It was no coincidence that his career took off when his strikeout to walk ratio improved dramatically. It is also no coincidence that his career showed signs of being over when his walk count increased while his strikeout count plummeted.
Leiter always rode the edge of the strike zone and his talent and poured his heart into every performance. It was an act of grace that allowed him to end his career today on his own terms with an out. His career was a joy to watch.
On another elevator stop, the Red Sox signed Juan Gonzalez to a minor league contract. If Gonzalez can come anywhere close to the kind of bat he had in his career, this could be an incredible move for the Red Sox.
Despite the enigma that has surrounded his career, Gonzalez has had some of the greatest years in MLB modern history. Gonzalez was Manny Ramirez before there was a Manny Ramirez, and, in fact, replaced Ramirez in Cleveland when Manny signed in Boston.
Juan Gonzalez has had three seasons with 140 RBI or more (144, 157, 140). He had an eleven year run where he hit 392 homers and 1263 RBI. He had a four year run (1996 through 1999) where he hit 173 homers and drove in an incredible 560 runs. He has batted over .300 five times and over .320 twice.
Unfortunately, Juan Gonzalez has had a history of going on the disabled list. But so has Nick Johnson and the Nationals just gave him $25 million for three years. Dare the Fan say this out loud? Perhaps Gonzalez has a bad rap because he is a Hispanic ballplayer? Why else would his injuries be eyed with suspicion when Chuck Finley was a gutty pitcher who kept trying to come back from his injuries?
What is known is that Gonzalez would be threatening some pretty big numbers if he had been able to get 600 at bats a season. In the one season that he did hit that mark, he scored 110 runs, 193 hits, 50 doubles, 45 homers and 157 RBI. Wow! Even with injuries, Gonzalez has 434 career homers and over 1400 RBI. Not too many players have seen that kind of production.
If Gonzalez can come back and give the Red Sox 30 homers and 80 runs batted in, that will be a huge boost for that team. At least one Fan will be rooting for him.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Yesterday and Today
A couple of years ago in this spot, it was mentioned that we are living in the best time to be a fan of Major League Baseball. With instant access to games, statistics, analysis and commentary, everything is right there for the Fan. But is it really better? Let's take a look at some major areas and compare eras.
The Game: It would be easy to say that the game was more pure in the past. There wasn't the big money. The players were less athletic and so on. Money was just as much a part of the game in the 60's as it is now. The teams with more money then could keep their great players. Those without the money traded their second tier stars to keep one or two franchise players. The Senators didn't have money. Other teams did.
The top athletes of the 60's rival those of today. Cesar Tovar was as athletic as Alfonso Soriano. Injuries occurred then as now with no less frequency. The one major difference is that pitchers can get Tommy John surgery when they blow out their elbows. That allows pitchers to hang on longer than in the past.
Other than that, the game is mostly the same. There are still nine innings and the game's strategy ebbs and flows just like before. The biggest changes since Harmon Killebrew played are:
1. The closer. A starting pitcher was expected to pitch nine innings then. Advantage today? Not really. The starter was a better pitcher in those days than anyone in the bullpen. The bullpen was full of guys that weren't good enough to start. Now they have blow-them-away-for-three-outs specialists. The results are the same: The losing team makes a comeback, or doesn't. It's a wash.
2. The Designated Hitter. It's been quite a while now since Ron Bloomberg (Yankees) collected the first hit by a designated hitter. Before the DH, there was a weak hitter in the eight hole who barely got anything to hit and then the pitcher. The pitcher, if a good hitter, might have a batting average of .167 and would either strike out or lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Now, there is an extra bomber in there swinging the bat, meaning higher run production and careers for those all hit and no field kind of players. "Purists" will claim that the DH is unnatural and removes strategy. That may be so, but the Fan's 45+ years of watching baseball qualifies him as a "purist" and the Fan would much rather watch David Ortiz rattle a baseball off a wall than watch the manager go out to the mound, pull the pitcher, remove the left fielder, sacrifice bunt, pinch hit and all the other semi-boring "strategies" the DH nay sayers enjoy so much.
Advantage to the present.
3. The Umpires. The umpires are much more aggressive now and will show up a player and instigate arguments. That never happened in the past. Plus, the strike zone is more like the twilight zone. Today's strike is from the top of the knees to the top of the belt and from two inches off the outside of the plate and two inches in from the inside edge. The strike zone is terrible and it has changed the game. In order to prevent a walk, a pitcher has no choice but to put the ball in most player's happy zone. As a Fan watching...as a "purist," the strike zone is not enforced correctly.
Advantage: The past, which makes the game a wash.
Television: ESPN has changed the landscape. The highlight shows in the evening are a godsend for the happy fan. At first it was good enough to get baseball game highlights in between the other sports on SportCenter. Now, there is Baseball Tonight with highlights, lively banter and commentary.
Plus, you can watch three or four games a week on ESPN, four or five from TBS and, if your cable company still gets WGN, four or five Cub games. This is great except, if you are a fan of a home town team, free television used to carry every game of the season. WPIX in New York showed every Yankee game from the start of the season to the finish. That's gone with the advent of cable. You can pretty much watch a team's every game, but it's going to cost you.
Camera angles and instant replay from several angles have been major improvements. The biggest improvement? Color television. Oh come on. Some of you watched the games in black and white.
The broadcasters seemed to be a bit better back then. Phil Rizzuto wasn't polished, but he was much more fun than the slick and secure Mr. Buck on Fox broadcasts. The analysts are better prepared now and seem much less hokey than the old days of retired players collecting easy paychecks.
Advantage: Today.
The Writers: There are good writers today. Peter Gammons is the star among stars. The Internet gives you instant access to many baseball writers but there doesn't seem to be the substance there used to be. All the writers are either trying to find some statistical analysis made possible by mass databases, or they are trying to be flashy and cute.
There was nothing like getting the Sporting News on a Friday and spending three hours reading the best writers in the country. They talked about the game and the players and what it all meant in personal terms and with exciting depth. Gammons is the only one today who comes close. His new blog means he is writing more and that's manna from heaven.
On the other spectrum, Buster Olney fills his blogs with links to other articles all over the Web. Who wants to click here and there and resize the window to read someone else's small article. What do YOU think, Buster? That's what we want to read. It was better to turn the page.
It was also better when some of the dirt was left under the rug. The writers respected the player's privacy and wrote about the game. Now, there is the infernal rush to be first to expose a star to shame. Thanks, but that isn't fun for the Fan. But you can't blame today's writers. Watergate opened that floodgate.
Advantage: The past.
Statistics: The Internet is such a huge factor for the statistical junkie. Up to the minute statistics are at the fingertips at bat by at bat. With a few clicks, you can sort leaders for hits, doubles, RBI, ERA, BA, slugging, OBP, saves, wins and many others by player, by position or by team. How good is that!
In the past, you had to wait until the Sunday paper, or the Friday arrival of the Sporting News. But there was something fun about following those long lists of stats in the paper as one looked for favorite players. Maybe it's hindsight, but it seemed a bit more magical then.
Advantage: Today (you just can't beat having all that information instantly)
Going to the Game: First of all, going to the ballpark was a safer experience back in the 60's. There was crime, but not the fear that is walking today's city streets. Plus, for $3.75, you could get in the bleachers and buy a soda and snack. That made for an everybody type of crowd. Blue collar, white collar, blacks, whites, urban and suburban, we all became one at the ballpark.
Today's prices have closed out the game to most of the middle and lower classes. Going to the game is more of an event or a privilege and not the experience gained by the everyman. There were no cell phones. The ballpark wasn't filled with only the Docker crowd and SUVs. The ballpark was a bonding experience. Now it is more of an experience the more well to do can experience.
Of course, once you are there, the experience is the same, with the stir and the excitement. There is still the anticipation, batting practice, watching the infield dampened and raked. It's still pretty darn special.
Advantage: The past.
The Ballparks: MLB has done a great job at going back to making distinct and wonderful ballparks. The trend of the past toward cookie-cutter, astro-turfed and sterilized parks is going away for good. There is much concern about losing older parks such as Tiger Stadium and soon, Yankee Stadium.
Advantage: The present.
The Players: For those of us who have to work for a living, the players needed more say in their careers and their future. The ownership of the past were slave laborers and revenue sharing should be somewhat equal between ownership and the product.
As the players have become richer, however, it is harder to identify with them as those of us who had dreams of youth that came true. They aren't us anymore. They are more like movie stars with pimped up rides and fancy clothes.
Since so much money is at stake, the players are more concerned with their conditioning and that had the side effect of the steroid issue. After all, the temptation to take steroids are much greater if it can mean a five year, $40 million dollar contract.
It seems that ownership and labor have gotten the message and are working together at cleaning up the game. Once accomplished, the fans will have more faith and trust in the product they are watching.
But still, it all comes back to the money, which means that the average fan can no longer relate to the players they are rooting for.
Advantage: A wash.
Let's tally the score. There were a couple of washes, a couple of the pasts and three votes for today. The final analysis is that today's Major League Baseball is a slightly better product than in the past.
A couple of years ago in this spot, it was mentioned that we are living in the best time to be a fan of Major League Baseball. With instant access to games, statistics, analysis and commentary, everything is right there for the Fan. But is it really better? Let's take a look at some major areas and compare eras.
The Game: It would be easy to say that the game was more pure in the past. There wasn't the big money. The players were less athletic and so on. Money was just as much a part of the game in the 60's as it is now. The teams with more money then could keep their great players. Those without the money traded their second tier stars to keep one or two franchise players. The Senators didn't have money. Other teams did.
The top athletes of the 60's rival those of today. Cesar Tovar was as athletic as Alfonso Soriano. Injuries occurred then as now with no less frequency. The one major difference is that pitchers can get Tommy John surgery when they blow out their elbows. That allows pitchers to hang on longer than in the past.
Other than that, the game is mostly the same. There are still nine innings and the game's strategy ebbs and flows just like before. The biggest changes since Harmon Killebrew played are:
1. The closer. A starting pitcher was expected to pitch nine innings then. Advantage today? Not really. The starter was a better pitcher in those days than anyone in the bullpen. The bullpen was full of guys that weren't good enough to start. Now they have blow-them-away-for-three-outs specialists. The results are the same: The losing team makes a comeback, or doesn't. It's a wash.
2. The Designated Hitter. It's been quite a while now since Ron Bloomberg (Yankees) collected the first hit by a designated hitter. Before the DH, there was a weak hitter in the eight hole who barely got anything to hit and then the pitcher. The pitcher, if a good hitter, might have a batting average of .167 and would either strike out or lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Now, there is an extra bomber in there swinging the bat, meaning higher run production and careers for those all hit and no field kind of players. "Purists" will claim that the DH is unnatural and removes strategy. That may be so, but the Fan's 45+ years of watching baseball qualifies him as a "purist" and the Fan would much rather watch David Ortiz rattle a baseball off a wall than watch the manager go out to the mound, pull the pitcher, remove the left fielder, sacrifice bunt, pinch hit and all the other semi-boring "strategies" the DH nay sayers enjoy so much.
Advantage to the present.
3. The Umpires. The umpires are much more aggressive now and will show up a player and instigate arguments. That never happened in the past. Plus, the strike zone is more like the twilight zone. Today's strike is from the top of the knees to the top of the belt and from two inches off the outside of the plate and two inches in from the inside edge. The strike zone is terrible and it has changed the game. In order to prevent a walk, a pitcher has no choice but to put the ball in most player's happy zone. As a Fan watching...as a "purist," the strike zone is not enforced correctly.
Advantage: The past, which makes the game a wash.
Television: ESPN has changed the landscape. The highlight shows in the evening are a godsend for the happy fan. At first it was good enough to get baseball game highlights in between the other sports on SportCenter. Now, there is Baseball Tonight with highlights, lively banter and commentary.
Plus, you can watch three or four games a week on ESPN, four or five from TBS and, if your cable company still gets WGN, four or five Cub games. This is great except, if you are a fan of a home town team, free television used to carry every game of the season. WPIX in New York showed every Yankee game from the start of the season to the finish. That's gone with the advent of cable. You can pretty much watch a team's every game, but it's going to cost you.
Camera angles and instant replay from several angles have been major improvements. The biggest improvement? Color television. Oh come on. Some of you watched the games in black and white.
The broadcasters seemed to be a bit better back then. Phil Rizzuto wasn't polished, but he was much more fun than the slick and secure Mr. Buck on Fox broadcasts. The analysts are better prepared now and seem much less hokey than the old days of retired players collecting easy paychecks.
Advantage: Today.
The Writers: There are good writers today. Peter Gammons is the star among stars. The Internet gives you instant access to many baseball writers but there doesn't seem to be the substance there used to be. All the writers are either trying to find some statistical analysis made possible by mass databases, or they are trying to be flashy and cute.
There was nothing like getting the Sporting News on a Friday and spending three hours reading the best writers in the country. They talked about the game and the players and what it all meant in personal terms and with exciting depth. Gammons is the only one today who comes close. His new blog means he is writing more and that's manna from heaven.
On the other spectrum, Buster Olney fills his blogs with links to other articles all over the Web. Who wants to click here and there and resize the window to read someone else's small article. What do YOU think, Buster? That's what we want to read. It was better to turn the page.
It was also better when some of the dirt was left under the rug. The writers respected the player's privacy and wrote about the game. Now, there is the infernal rush to be first to expose a star to shame. Thanks, but that isn't fun for the Fan. But you can't blame today's writers. Watergate opened that floodgate.
Advantage: The past.
Statistics: The Internet is such a huge factor for the statistical junkie. Up to the minute statistics are at the fingertips at bat by at bat. With a few clicks, you can sort leaders for hits, doubles, RBI, ERA, BA, slugging, OBP, saves, wins and many others by player, by position or by team. How good is that!
In the past, you had to wait until the Sunday paper, or the Friday arrival of the Sporting News. But there was something fun about following those long lists of stats in the paper as one looked for favorite players. Maybe it's hindsight, but it seemed a bit more magical then.
Advantage: Today (you just can't beat having all that information instantly)
Going to the Game: First of all, going to the ballpark was a safer experience back in the 60's. There was crime, but not the fear that is walking today's city streets. Plus, for $3.75, you could get in the bleachers and buy a soda and snack. That made for an everybody type of crowd. Blue collar, white collar, blacks, whites, urban and suburban, we all became one at the ballpark.
Today's prices have closed out the game to most of the middle and lower classes. Going to the game is more of an event or a privilege and not the experience gained by the everyman. There were no cell phones. The ballpark wasn't filled with only the Docker crowd and SUVs. The ballpark was a bonding experience. Now it is more of an experience the more well to do can experience.
Of course, once you are there, the experience is the same, with the stir and the excitement. There is still the anticipation, batting practice, watching the infield dampened and raked. It's still pretty darn special.
Advantage: The past.
The Ballparks: MLB has done a great job at going back to making distinct and wonderful ballparks. The trend of the past toward cookie-cutter, astro-turfed and sterilized parks is going away for good. There is much concern about losing older parks such as Tiger Stadium and soon, Yankee Stadium.
Advantage: The present.
The Players: For those of us who have to work for a living, the players needed more say in their careers and their future. The ownership of the past were slave laborers and revenue sharing should be somewhat equal between ownership and the product.
As the players have become richer, however, it is harder to identify with them as those of us who had dreams of youth that came true. They aren't us anymore. They are more like movie stars with pimped up rides and fancy clothes.
Since so much money is at stake, the players are more concerned with their conditioning and that had the side effect of the steroid issue. After all, the temptation to take steroids are much greater if it can mean a five year, $40 million dollar contract.
It seems that ownership and labor have gotten the message and are working together at cleaning up the game. Once accomplished, the fans will have more faith and trust in the product they are watching.
But still, it all comes back to the money, which means that the average fan can no longer relate to the players they are rooting for.
Advantage: A wash.
Let's tally the score. There were a couple of washes, a couple of the pasts and three votes for today. The final analysis is that today's Major League Baseball is a slightly better product than in the past.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Take Five
This is a great time of year. It's not as great as when the real games actually start. Think of a hungry man anticipating a night at a new restaurant. To actually eat will be the bomb. But to anticipate what might be on the menu gets the blood pumping before dining. In the spirit of anticipation, here are some lists of what might be on the menu.
Five AL players who could have breakout seasons:
1. Jorge Cantu - Tampa Bay: In reality, he already broke out last season with 28 homers and 117 RBI. But few noticed. If he does it again or picks it up another notch. He will be noticed.
2. Robinson Cano - New York: Cano got his feet wet and Torre ran him out there every day. He's had a season to learn what he can do. Now he can become a star.
3. Joe Mauer - Minnesota: He knows his strike zone, puts the ball in play and now in his third year, could break out to be a big star. His 61 walks with only 64 strikeouts bode well for his future.
4. Jhonny Peralta - Cleveland: If he can cut down on his strikeouts and put the ball in play more, he will greatly improve his decent .342 on-base percentage and 24 homers as the newest power shortstop.
5. Dan Johnson - Oakland: In Johnson's first big chance last year, he walked 50 times in 375 at bats to go with 15 homers and 58 RBI. If he gets the playing time, Johnson can be the next big star.
Five AL stars who could slip to age this season:
1. Jorge Posada - Yankees: Posada's on-base percentage, slugging percentage and RBI were at their lowest levels last year since 1999. He's 35 now, which is long in the catching tooth.
2. Mike Timlin - Boston: Timlin's season last year was deceiving. He did have an E.R.A of only 2.24. For the first time in several years, he gave up more hits than innings pitched. And his WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched was his highest since 2001. He is 38 this year.
3. Jeff Conine - Orioles: Conine has been a personal favorite for a long time, but the man is 38 and has always played hard. He may be a role player at best for the Orioles after a fine .304 season last season.
4. Garret Anderson - Angels: Anderson has had a nice career. He hasn't reached a hundred RBI for the last two seasons after four in a row previously. It just seems that he has slipped.
5. Eddie Guardado - Seattle: Everyday Eddie is 36 and though he had 36 saves last year, he had his lowest strikeout to innings pitched ratio in several years. Look for him to slip further this year.
Five most important AL players to their team's success:
1. David Ortiz - Boston
2. Mariano Rivera - Yankees
3. Vladimir Guerrero - Angels
4. Michael Young - Texas
5. Travis Hafner - Cleveland
Five biggest AL question marks:
1. Hank Blalock - What happened to this once promising career?
2. Mike Lowell - Is he really done as a player?
3. Darin Erstad - Was that one year a fluke?
4. Adrian Beltre - Seattle must be scratching its head.
5. Vernon Wells - This once budding star has had some aphid problems.
This is a great time of year. It's not as great as when the real games actually start. Think of a hungry man anticipating a night at a new restaurant. To actually eat will be the bomb. But to anticipate what might be on the menu gets the blood pumping before dining. In the spirit of anticipation, here are some lists of what might be on the menu.
Five AL players who could have breakout seasons:
1. Jorge Cantu - Tampa Bay: In reality, he already broke out last season with 28 homers and 117 RBI. But few noticed. If he does it again or picks it up another notch. He will be noticed.
2. Robinson Cano - New York: Cano got his feet wet and Torre ran him out there every day. He's had a season to learn what he can do. Now he can become a star.
3. Joe Mauer - Minnesota: He knows his strike zone, puts the ball in play and now in his third year, could break out to be a big star. His 61 walks with only 64 strikeouts bode well for his future.
4. Jhonny Peralta - Cleveland: If he can cut down on his strikeouts and put the ball in play more, he will greatly improve his decent .342 on-base percentage and 24 homers as the newest power shortstop.
5. Dan Johnson - Oakland: In Johnson's first big chance last year, he walked 50 times in 375 at bats to go with 15 homers and 58 RBI. If he gets the playing time, Johnson can be the next big star.
Five AL stars who could slip to age this season:
1. Jorge Posada - Yankees: Posada's on-base percentage, slugging percentage and RBI were at their lowest levels last year since 1999. He's 35 now, which is long in the catching tooth.
2. Mike Timlin - Boston: Timlin's season last year was deceiving. He did have an E.R.A of only 2.24. For the first time in several years, he gave up more hits than innings pitched. And his WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched was his highest since 2001. He is 38 this year.
3. Jeff Conine - Orioles: Conine has been a personal favorite for a long time, but the man is 38 and has always played hard. He may be a role player at best for the Orioles after a fine .304 season last season.
4. Garret Anderson - Angels: Anderson has had a nice career. He hasn't reached a hundred RBI for the last two seasons after four in a row previously. It just seems that he has slipped.
5. Eddie Guardado - Seattle: Everyday Eddie is 36 and though he had 36 saves last year, he had his lowest strikeout to innings pitched ratio in several years. Look for him to slip further this year.
Five most important AL players to their team's success:
1. David Ortiz - Boston
2. Mariano Rivera - Yankees
3. Vladimir Guerrero - Angels
4. Michael Young - Texas
5. Travis Hafner - Cleveland
Five biggest AL question marks:
1. Hank Blalock - What happened to this once promising career?
2. Mike Lowell - Is he really done as a player?
3. Darin Erstad - Was that one year a fluke?
4. Adrian Beltre - Seattle must be scratching its head.
5. Vernon Wells - This once budding star has had some aphid problems.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Devil Rays Could Be Maddoning
If the Devil Rays can get any pitching at all, Joe Maddon's Devil Rays could drive some teams (like the Yankees) crazy. Maddon brings more fun to the Devil Rays than the taciturn Lou Piniella and is intent on running the Devil Rays all over the league--and the Devil Rays have the legs to do it.
The image is still painted painfully of Game 5 of that fateful League Championship Series with the Yankees up 3-0 with a one run lead and six outs to go. Dave Roberts is up first against the great Mariano Rivera. He walked. That single walk led to a stolen base, a single and a tie score. The Fan knew the series was over with that walk. That's what speed does to teams like the Yankees. It was the secret weapon.
And the Devil Rays drove the Yankees crazy last year. The Rays will be even better this year. Rocco Baldelli is back after being injured all of last year. Carl Crawford becomes more and more of a star each year. Julio Lugo knows how to get on base with a .369 on-base percentage. Jorge Cantu burst on the scene last year. And all kinds of talented young players are on the way.
Aubrey Huff needs to stop his downward trend the last three years where his statistics in every category have fallen. If he can get back to where he was in 2003, the Rays will be even more dangerous.
And then there is Maddon himself. The Fan loves Lou Piniella and has since he awkwardly played right field in New York and hit the cover off the ball to all fields. But the man seemed in pain the last couple of years. He is such a competitive and impatient man that the losing seasons weren't part of building something. It was more of a bitter taste for him. But Maddon has a sense of humor that will connect with his players, with the fans and with the media.
The Devil Rays may be a year or two away from contending, but they will make stodgy teams like the Red Sox and Yankees nuts.
If the Devil Rays can get any pitching at all, Joe Maddon's Devil Rays could drive some teams (like the Yankees) crazy. Maddon brings more fun to the Devil Rays than the taciturn Lou Piniella and is intent on running the Devil Rays all over the league--and the Devil Rays have the legs to do it.
The image is still painted painfully of Game 5 of that fateful League Championship Series with the Yankees up 3-0 with a one run lead and six outs to go. Dave Roberts is up first against the great Mariano Rivera. He walked. That single walk led to a stolen base, a single and a tie score. The Fan knew the series was over with that walk. That's what speed does to teams like the Yankees. It was the secret weapon.
And the Devil Rays drove the Yankees crazy last year. The Rays will be even better this year. Rocco Baldelli is back after being injured all of last year. Carl Crawford becomes more and more of a star each year. Julio Lugo knows how to get on base with a .369 on-base percentage. Jorge Cantu burst on the scene last year. And all kinds of talented young players are on the way.
Aubrey Huff needs to stop his downward trend the last three years where his statistics in every category have fallen. If he can get back to where he was in 2003, the Rays will be even more dangerous.
And then there is Maddon himself. The Fan loves Lou Piniella and has since he awkwardly played right field in New York and hit the cover off the ball to all fields. But the man seemed in pain the last couple of years. He is such a competitive and impatient man that the losing seasons weren't part of building something. It was more of a bitter taste for him. But Maddon has a sense of humor that will connect with his players, with the fans and with the media.
The Devil Rays may be a year or two away from contending, but they will make stodgy teams like the Red Sox and Yankees nuts.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Doesn't Ring a Bell
The Kansas City Royals hired another new manager this year. David Gus "Buddy" Bell became the Royals' fourteenth manager in their young history. Forgive the Fan if Bell's management history (with his 345-462 career managing record) doesn't give much optimism for the Royals.
Perhaps this is an emotional reaction. The Fan had a drunk of a stepfather nicknamed, "Buddy." That must be it. Or maybe it's just the name, "Buddy," that is the problem. The name invokes a good old boy. Could you report to a boss named, "Buddy"?
It's never easy to understand the relationship between the manager and the team's bottom line performance. Is Joe Torre a great manager, or has he just benefited from having the best players money can buy? Did Casey Stengel suddenly get great when he joined the Yankees and then get really terrible when he finished with the Mets?
So one has to give Mr. Bell the benefit of the doubt. So what does he have to work with? He has a few good players, a few question marks and a whole lot of young people.
Of course there is Mike Sweeney, one of the good guys of the game. Sweeney wants to stay with the Royals in the worst way, and he deserves that distinction. He's been a great player for a long time and being 33, it would be easy to understand wanting to finish where he started. But there is one question to ask here.
Does Sweeney stay because it is comfortable and if so, does that make him a winner? It reminds the Fan of a worker who stays in a decent job and turns down promotions because it feels safer to stay where he is. If Sweeney has endured ten years of losing, does that make losing okay? And now he has a manager that is used to losing. Hmm...
Emil Brown was one of the best surprises of 2005. But few are aware of it. Here is a guy drafted by the Athletics eleven years ago. In five years, Brown batted 404 times in the major leagues with 81 hits for an even .200 batting average. From 2001 through 2004, Brown didn't get any major league at bats. Then he got a job for the Royals.
Brown played 150 games for the Royals and batted .286 with 17 homers, 86 RBI, ten stolen bases in eleven attempts and finished with an on-base percentage of .349. What a great story! Here's for rooting for a repeat performance! Go Emil!
The Royals actually signed a few free agents over the winter that people heard of! Reggie Sanders, most recently of the Cardinals, will provide great fielding and occasional pop with his bat. Sanders is now 37 and is seven homers shy of 300 for his career. Kansas City is a hard place to hit homers though and Sanders could have warning track power there.
Sanders can also run the bases and even at the age of 36, stole 14 bases in 15 attempts. He is just three shy of 300 in that area as well and will easily join the 300/300 club.
The Royals also acquired Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz to play second and first respectively and respectfully. Mientkiewicz is a wonderful first baseman of questionable hitting prowess. But great fielding first basemen are vastly underrated in helping a team win ball games. The Fan just feels sorry for the equipment guy who has to sew those names on the uniforms.
John Buck, behind the plate, is a decent player who could improve greatly by being more patient when batting. He only walked 23 times in 400 at bats last year. Between Ivan Rodriguez and Buck, the two A.L. Central catchers had less than 40 walks between them!
David DeJesus is another young player that had a good year last year. The home-grown Royal batted .293 with a .359 on-base percentage.
The pitching is where the Royals get dicey. The combined record of newcomers Joe Mays (formerly of Minnesota) and Mark Redman (of just about every other team in the majors), along with K.C. hurler, Runelvys Hernandez was 19-39. Ouch.
Scott Elarton was a nice pickup. He had an 11-9 record with the Indians last year and could flourish further in pitcher friendly Kansas City. But the Royals didn't help themselves at all in the bullpen with just Mike MacDougal the only bright spot out there.
The Fan hopes that Zack Greinke can sort out things and return to his career. He has a job that most of us can only dream about. It would be great if he could learn to enjoy it.
After reading back this post for edit, is it the Fan, or do the Royals have the strangest player names in baseball? And they lead the league in players with names ending in the letter "O" (Paul Bako, Andres Blanko and Andrew Sisco).
Names not-withstanding, BuddyBell will have to hope the pitching staff gives him something to work with or his career .428 winning percentage will dive further south.
The Kansas City Royals hired another new manager this year. David Gus "Buddy" Bell became the Royals' fourteenth manager in their young history. Forgive the Fan if Bell's management history (with his 345-462 career managing record) doesn't give much optimism for the Royals.
Perhaps this is an emotional reaction. The Fan had a drunk of a stepfather nicknamed, "Buddy." That must be it. Or maybe it's just the name, "Buddy," that is the problem. The name invokes a good old boy. Could you report to a boss named, "Buddy"?
It's never easy to understand the relationship between the manager and the team's bottom line performance. Is Joe Torre a great manager, or has he just benefited from having the best players money can buy? Did Casey Stengel suddenly get great when he joined the Yankees and then get really terrible when he finished with the Mets?
So one has to give Mr. Bell the benefit of the doubt. So what does he have to work with? He has a few good players, a few question marks and a whole lot of young people.
Of course there is Mike Sweeney, one of the good guys of the game. Sweeney wants to stay with the Royals in the worst way, and he deserves that distinction. He's been a great player for a long time and being 33, it would be easy to understand wanting to finish where he started. But there is one question to ask here.
Does Sweeney stay because it is comfortable and if so, does that make him a winner? It reminds the Fan of a worker who stays in a decent job and turns down promotions because it feels safer to stay where he is. If Sweeney has endured ten years of losing, does that make losing okay? And now he has a manager that is used to losing. Hmm...
Emil Brown was one of the best surprises of 2005. But few are aware of it. Here is a guy drafted by the Athletics eleven years ago. In five years, Brown batted 404 times in the major leagues with 81 hits for an even .200 batting average. From 2001 through 2004, Brown didn't get any major league at bats. Then he got a job for the Royals.
Brown played 150 games for the Royals and batted .286 with 17 homers, 86 RBI, ten stolen bases in eleven attempts and finished with an on-base percentage of .349. What a great story! Here's for rooting for a repeat performance! Go Emil!
The Royals actually signed a few free agents over the winter that people heard of! Reggie Sanders, most recently of the Cardinals, will provide great fielding and occasional pop with his bat. Sanders is now 37 and is seven homers shy of 300 for his career. Kansas City is a hard place to hit homers though and Sanders could have warning track power there.
Sanders can also run the bases and even at the age of 36, stole 14 bases in 15 attempts. He is just three shy of 300 in that area as well and will easily join the 300/300 club.
The Royals also acquired Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz to play second and first respectively and respectfully. Mientkiewicz is a wonderful first baseman of questionable hitting prowess. But great fielding first basemen are vastly underrated in helping a team win ball games. The Fan just feels sorry for the equipment guy who has to sew those names on the uniforms.
John Buck, behind the plate, is a decent player who could improve greatly by being more patient when batting. He only walked 23 times in 400 at bats last year. Between Ivan Rodriguez and Buck, the two A.L. Central catchers had less than 40 walks between them!
David DeJesus is another young player that had a good year last year. The home-grown Royal batted .293 with a .359 on-base percentage.
The pitching is where the Royals get dicey. The combined record of newcomers Joe Mays (formerly of Minnesota) and Mark Redman (of just about every other team in the majors), along with K.C. hurler, Runelvys Hernandez was 19-39. Ouch.
Scott Elarton was a nice pickup. He had an 11-9 record with the Indians last year and could flourish further in pitcher friendly Kansas City. But the Royals didn't help themselves at all in the bullpen with just Mike MacDougal the only bright spot out there.
The Fan hopes that Zack Greinke can sort out things and return to his career. He has a job that most of us can only dream about. It would be great if he could learn to enjoy it.
After reading back this post for edit, is it the Fan, or do the Royals have the strangest player names in baseball? And they lead the league in players with names ending in the letter "O" (Paul Bako, Andres Blanko and Andrew Sisco).
Names not-withstanding, Buddy
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Tracy Not a Swashbuckler
The Fan doesn't know much about Jim Tracy. Public records show that he played unspectacularly for the Cubs, managed in the minors for years and then took over the Dodgers and had four very good years and one bad one. Since Tracy's Dodgers always played on the opposite coast, there isn't much empirical data to add to the record.
The few times that the Dodgers did manage to make it to ESPN or worse, TBS, against the Braves, watching those few games were fairly boring. Tracy seemed stoic and stiff. He never seemed overly animated. What is remembered is that the Dodgers always seemed to have the pitcher batting with one out and a runner on first or second. The pitcher always tried to bunt.
There is a trend with Major League Baseball, for managers to be fired and replaced by an opposite. The Fan, again, doesn't have enough observed data to know if Lloyd McClendon was a good or a bad manager. The results certainly weren't there. But evidence seems to indicate that McClendon was a fiery kind of guy. ESPN's Baseball Tonight always seemed to have a clip of the former Pirate manager getting tossed from a game after screaming at the umpire.
From most accounts, the Pirates weren't very good with fundamentals either. Tracy is the polar opposite and preaches small ball and fundamentals and seems to stay pretty low key--which could be a quiet intensity.
Tracy did have a commendable record in Los Angeles including a division championship in 2004. Last year's poor season seems more related to the Dodgers losing Beltre to Seattle and Green to Arizona and the injury to Gagne. But does he have anything to work with in Pittsburgh--perennial losers since the end of the "We Are Family" days?
Tracy's Pirates should have a pretty good offensive team. Jason Bay is a true superstar and as such, improves his stats every year. New acquisition, Sean Casey, won't kill you with power, but is a clog-the-bases kind of player with a high average and on-base percentage. Randa and Burnitz are both turning 37 this season, but may help with the bat and with leadership.
Two offensive keys are the spectacular fielding duo of Jack Wilson at short and Jose Castillo at second. Castillo needs to improve his on-base percentage and should start to do that as he enters only his third full season. Is Jack Wilson the .300 hitter he was in 2004 or the .250 hitter he was in 2003 and 2005?
A wildcard in the mix is Craig Wilson. Two years ago, Wilson was a rising star who hit 29 homers to go along with 35 doubles. Last year, wrist injuries limited him to 59 games and cost him his starting job. Wilson is learning to catch and could be one of those 400-at-bat-play-him-anywhere kind of guys. Though a good on-base percentage guy, Wilson needs to cut down his strikeout ratio (nearly one strikeout for every three at bats).
Like every other team in baseball, the Pirates will live and die with pitching. The Pirates don't have any stars on their pitching staff. They do have some fascinating possibilities. Zach Duke came up last year and went 8-2. Ryan Vogelsong shows flashes. Oliver Perez could pitch like he did in 2004 instead of like he did in 2005. Paul Maholm went 3-1 after his call up last year with a 2.18 E.R.A.
The bullpen could be decent with the ageless Roberto Hernandez, Salomon Torres and the exciting addition of Damaso Marte. Marte is nasty and could develop into the next great relief pitcher. The Pirates also have a proven arm in Mike Gonzalez.
Tracy has a proven track record and good reports are coming from his players. He may appear boring to this Fan, but the Pirates don't need a swashbuckler. They need a winner. They may have one.
The Fan doesn't know much about Jim Tracy. Public records show that he played unspectacularly for the Cubs, managed in the minors for years and then took over the Dodgers and had four very good years and one bad one. Since Tracy's Dodgers always played on the opposite coast, there isn't much empirical data to add to the record.
The few times that the Dodgers did manage to make it to ESPN or worse, TBS, against the Braves, watching those few games were fairly boring. Tracy seemed stoic and stiff. He never seemed overly animated. What is remembered is that the Dodgers always seemed to have the pitcher batting with one out and a runner on first or second. The pitcher always tried to bunt.
There is a trend with Major League Baseball, for managers to be fired and replaced by an opposite. The Fan, again, doesn't have enough observed data to know if Lloyd McClendon was a good or a bad manager. The results certainly weren't there. But evidence seems to indicate that McClendon was a fiery kind of guy. ESPN's Baseball Tonight always seemed to have a clip of the former Pirate manager getting tossed from a game after screaming at the umpire.
From most accounts, the Pirates weren't very good with fundamentals either. Tracy is the polar opposite and preaches small ball and fundamentals and seems to stay pretty low key--which could be a quiet intensity.
Tracy did have a commendable record in Los Angeles including a division championship in 2004. Last year's poor season seems more related to the Dodgers losing Beltre to Seattle and Green to Arizona and the injury to Gagne. But does he have anything to work with in Pittsburgh--perennial losers since the end of the "We Are Family" days?
Tracy's Pirates should have a pretty good offensive team. Jason Bay is a true superstar and as such, improves his stats every year. New acquisition, Sean Casey, won't kill you with power, but is a clog-the-bases kind of player with a high average and on-base percentage. Randa and Burnitz are both turning 37 this season, but may help with the bat and with leadership.
Two offensive keys are the spectacular fielding duo of Jack Wilson at short and Jose Castillo at second. Castillo needs to improve his on-base percentage and should start to do that as he enters only his third full season. Is Jack Wilson the .300 hitter he was in 2004 or the .250 hitter he was in 2003 and 2005?
A wildcard in the mix is Craig Wilson. Two years ago, Wilson was a rising star who hit 29 homers to go along with 35 doubles. Last year, wrist injuries limited him to 59 games and cost him his starting job. Wilson is learning to catch and could be one of those 400-at-bat-play-him-anywhere kind of guys. Though a good on-base percentage guy, Wilson needs to cut down his strikeout ratio (nearly one strikeout for every three at bats).
Like every other team in baseball, the Pirates will live and die with pitching. The Pirates don't have any stars on their pitching staff. They do have some fascinating possibilities. Zach Duke came up last year and went 8-2. Ryan Vogelsong shows flashes. Oliver Perez could pitch like he did in 2004 instead of like he did in 2005. Paul Maholm went 3-1 after his call up last year with a 2.18 E.R.A.
The bullpen could be decent with the ageless Roberto Hernandez, Salomon Torres and the exciting addition of Damaso Marte. Marte is nasty and could develop into the next great relief pitcher. The Pirates also have a proven arm in Mike Gonzalez.
Tracy has a proven track record and good reports are coming from his players. He may appear boring to this Fan, but the Pirates don't need a swashbuckler. They need a winner. They may have one.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Dodgers Go Old School
Grady Little (or is it William Grady?) doesn't fit with the trend in MLB. In fact, his manage-from-the-hip style cost him his job in Boston after two very successful years. Leadership in Boston is enamored with the Billy Beane school of baseball with its statistics and probabilities. Little never fit that mold, but he won. The Dodgers will take that chance because they need to win.
Jim Tracy seems like a heck of a guy. But he seemed kind of nondescript. The Dodgers have see-sawed back and forth between the staid and the homespun. They went from the quiet Walter Alston to the flamboyant Tommy Lasorda to the staid Tracy and now to the folksy Little.
The Fan has been in New England for 30 years and Grady Little was entertaining to watch. He was kind of the mischievous uncle that had the twinkle in the eyes and seemed to know more than he was telling. And he knew a great deal.
When Little joined the Red Sox, they were a mess. There was discord and inconsistent results on the field. Jimy Williams was fired and Little took over and there was an immediate drive to the team.
And then he made his big mistake in AL Championship Series. It's game seven and the Red Sox are up 5-2 over the dreaded Yankees with six outs to go. Little went against the modern game.
Pedro Martinez, the American League's best pitcher, had pitched his 100 pitches. He got the Red Sox to the eighth inning. Modern baseball dictates that you go to the bullpen. There was one problem. Grady Little is old school. He felt that his best pitcher was on the mound and that's the call he made.
We all know the rest of the story. The Yankees tied the game, and go on to win in the 11th inning with the famous Aaron Boone homer against Tim Wakefield. Red Sox Nation was crushed and Grady Little was the scapegoat and paid for his gut with his job.
His mistake is only a mistake in hindsight. If you had the best pitcher on the mound and needed six more outs, what would you do? He got paid to make the call, and a month later, faded out of view.
The announcement that the Dodgers hired Little was a surprise. Wherever Little was, it was low key and he had sunk from the radar. And now here he is. He also has a few old friends around him.
Bill Mueller, Nomar and Derek Lowe all played for Little in Boston. To hear Lowe's excitement at the Dodgers' choice speaks volumes. And the Dodgers have some talent.
In fact, the Dodgers have the makings of a great infield. Big free agent acquisition, Rafael Furcal, will bring excitement and a tradition of winning. Just 28, Furcal should be coming into his prime years and give the Dodgers a major boost.
Bill Meuller, if healthy, is a great third baseman and he brings a high on base percentage and is a former batting champion. Jeff Kent is a year or two away from cementing his Hall of Fame career. Last year, Kent drove in 100 runs for the eighth time in the last nine years. Garciaparra showed flashes of his former skills last year and will learn first base. He is a good athlete and will be just fine over there.
As solid as the infield appears, the outfield seems just as unsettled. Two of the three spots are taken by enigmas. And the other to an aging speedster.
J.D. Drew and Jose Cruz Jr., came into the league as can't miss prospects. Drew has been in the game seven seasons now and has reached 500 at bats once. He is an on base machine and if he wants to excel, still has time to do so.
Cruz Jr. just can't seem to climb out of the need to swing and miss. He has played nine years and has struck out 1019 times in 4196 at bats. He only has 30 more hits in his career than strikeouts. It's hard to believe that he can change at this stage of his career.
And then there is 39-year-old Kenny Lofton. Lofton did manage to hit .335 last year with the Phillies in 110 games and he still managed to steal 22 bases in 25 at bats. Does he have another year in him? Ricky Ledee provides capable back up, but there is little else to turn to if these three question marks falter.
Starting pitching is another question mark for Little. The stable of Lowe, Seo, Brad Penny, Odalis Perez and Brett Tompko all have the potential to win 15 to 17 games. They have just as much potential to lose that many. If they pitch to their talent, it could be exciting days in a pitcher's park. Relief pitching is solid, especially if Eric Gagne returns to form.
The Dodgers could be really good or they could be mediocre. Grady Little is a winner (despite the one inning he is known for) and could get the most out of an enigmatic team. The National League West is not a strong division and so anything can happen.
One thing is sure, the Los Angeles press will enjoy Grady Little's interviews a lot more that Jim Tracy's.
Grady Little (or is it William Grady?) doesn't fit with the trend in MLB. In fact, his manage-from-the-hip style cost him his job in Boston after two very successful years. Leadership in Boston is enamored with the Billy Beane school of baseball with its statistics and probabilities. Little never fit that mold, but he won. The Dodgers will take that chance because they need to win.
Jim Tracy seems like a heck of a guy. But he seemed kind of nondescript. The Dodgers have see-sawed back and forth between the staid and the homespun. They went from the quiet Walter Alston to the flamboyant Tommy Lasorda to the staid Tracy and now to the folksy Little.
The Fan has been in New England for 30 years and Grady Little was entertaining to watch. He was kind of the mischievous uncle that had the twinkle in the eyes and seemed to know more than he was telling. And he knew a great deal.
When Little joined the Red Sox, they were a mess. There was discord and inconsistent results on the field. Jimy Williams was fired and Little took over and there was an immediate drive to the team.
And then he made his big mistake in AL Championship Series. It's game seven and the Red Sox are up 5-2 over the dreaded Yankees with six outs to go. Little went against the modern game.
Pedro Martinez, the American League's best pitcher, had pitched his 100 pitches. He got the Red Sox to the eighth inning. Modern baseball dictates that you go to the bullpen. There was one problem. Grady Little is old school. He felt that his best pitcher was on the mound and that's the call he made.
We all know the rest of the story. The Yankees tied the game, and go on to win in the 11th inning with the famous Aaron Boone homer against Tim Wakefield. Red Sox Nation was crushed and Grady Little was the scapegoat and paid for his gut with his job.
His mistake is only a mistake in hindsight. If you had the best pitcher on the mound and needed six more outs, what would you do? He got paid to make the call, and a month later, faded out of view.
The announcement that the Dodgers hired Little was a surprise. Wherever Little was, it was low key and he had sunk from the radar. And now here he is. He also has a few old friends around him.
Bill Mueller, Nomar and Derek Lowe all played for Little in Boston. To hear Lowe's excitement at the Dodgers' choice speaks volumes. And the Dodgers have some talent.
In fact, the Dodgers have the makings of a great infield. Big free agent acquisition, Rafael Furcal, will bring excitement and a tradition of winning. Just 28, Furcal should be coming into his prime years and give the Dodgers a major boost.
Bill Meuller, if healthy, is a great third baseman and he brings a high on base percentage and is a former batting champion. Jeff Kent is a year or two away from cementing his Hall of Fame career. Last year, Kent drove in 100 runs for the eighth time in the last nine years. Garciaparra showed flashes of his former skills last year and will learn first base. He is a good athlete and will be just fine over there.
As solid as the infield appears, the outfield seems just as unsettled. Two of the three spots are taken by enigmas. And the other to an aging speedster.
J.D. Drew and Jose Cruz Jr., came into the league as can't miss prospects. Drew has been in the game seven seasons now and has reached 500 at bats once. He is an on base machine and if he wants to excel, still has time to do so.
Cruz Jr. just can't seem to climb out of the need to swing and miss. He has played nine years and has struck out 1019 times in 4196 at bats. He only has 30 more hits in his career than strikeouts. It's hard to believe that he can change at this stage of his career.
And then there is 39-year-old Kenny Lofton. Lofton did manage to hit .335 last year with the Phillies in 110 games and he still managed to steal 22 bases in 25 at bats. Does he have another year in him? Ricky Ledee provides capable back up, but there is little else to turn to if these three question marks falter.
Starting pitching is another question mark for Little. The stable of Lowe, Seo, Brad Penny, Odalis Perez and Brett Tompko all have the potential to win 15 to 17 games. They have just as much potential to lose that many. If they pitch to their talent, it could be exciting days in a pitcher's park. Relief pitching is solid, especially if Eric Gagne returns to form.
The Dodgers could be really good or they could be mediocre. Grady Little is a winner (despite the one inning he is known for) and could get the most out of an enigmatic team. The National League West is not a strong division and so anything can happen.
One thing is sure, the Los Angeles press will enjoy Grady Little's interviews a lot more that Jim Tracy's.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Last Word on Barry Bonds
The Fan really didn't want to talk about Barry Bonds. The best player of our generation has been defended in this space many, many times. And in fact, he was already a Hall of Famer before the 73 homer season.
The Fan isn't overly bothered by the steroid history in baseball. If a high percentage of players were using, and if MLB wasn't smart enough to ban it earlier, then it is what it is. You still have to hit the ball and throw strikes.
What was really troublesome was the revelation that Bonds went the steroid route out of jealousy for McGwire and Sammy Sosa. If that were indeed true, then a lot of respect is lost. It would be a truly shameful way to end a career of the ages.
The Fan really didn't want to talk about Barry Bonds. The best player of our generation has been defended in this space many, many times. And in fact, he was already a Hall of Famer before the 73 homer season.
The Fan isn't overly bothered by the steroid history in baseball. If a high percentage of players were using, and if MLB wasn't smart enough to ban it earlier, then it is what it is. You still have to hit the ball and throw strikes.
What was really troublesome was the revelation that Bonds went the steroid route out of jealousy for McGwire and Sammy Sosa. If that were indeed true, then a lot of respect is lost. It would be a truly shameful way to end a career of the ages.
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