Archive for the ‘Baseball’ Category

Nate McLouth has been sent to Atlanta for three minor-league players.  I am not thrilled about the trade as I see it as another dumping of payroll by the Pirates cheap front office.  McLouth was an All-Star and the closest thing Pittsburgh had to offensive consistency.

Internet traffic has mixed reviews.  The Pirate fans are split in the sense that Andrew McCutchen now can be called up and will play very very soon.  Look for that to happen tomorrow.  Some people saw McLouth as an overachiever with a Gold Glove and an All-Star appearance. 

Who’s next?  My guess is either Paul Maholm, or a catcher when Ryan Doumit returns.  I think the Pirates are trying to push Jaramillo’s stock up and will keep Robinson Diaz to back Doumit up.  Then again, who knows if Doumit is safe? 

For the people who liked the trade and think it is wise to take in three 20 and 21 year-old Braves farmhands:  Have you learned nothing since 1990?  Everything good goes away and gets better elsewhere.  Has the Jason Bay thing been forgotten?  Sharpen your pencils, Bonds, Bonilla, Bay, and now McLouth?  Sorry, I don’t buy it unless McCutchen absolutely sets the world on fire when he gets to PNC Park.

The three players the Pirates got in the deal are pitchers Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton, and OF Gorkys Hernandez.

Paul Maholm took another one on the chin Sunday.  He pitches well enough to win almost every time he takes the mound.  Unfortunately for Paul, he is a Pittsburgh Pirate.  Being a Pirate pitcher means that if you give up a run in the first five innings, there is a good chance you will take the loss in the end.  Simply put, the Pirate offense cannot generate any run support, especially when Maholm is pitching.

Sunday vs Houston, Maholm pitched seven strong innings, scattering eight hits, walking two and giving up only one earned run in losing to Houston, 2-1.  The guy has a 3.82 ERA and a 3-2 record.  Can you imagine what kind of numbers he could put up with a good offense? 

This whole scenario didn’t just creep up this year either.  In 2008, he went 9-9, but his ERA was still under 4 runs per game, and he had 13 no decisions. 

To give you an idea of just how bad the Pirate offense really is, they got their 29th quality start this season when Maholm was tagged with the loss on Sunday.  In those 29 quality starts, the Pirates only have 23 wins.

If ever there was a gem in the rough, it is Paul Maholm and the undeserved mediocrity he receives thanks to a shaky set of batters on his team.

The New York Yankees got past Cleveland, 5-2, on a good pitching performance from Joba Chamberlain.  The sluggish Indians offense could only muster four hits against Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera, who pitched a perfect ninth to earn the save.

Half of Cleveland’s runs were scored on a Victor Martinez homer.  Martinez was doubtful to even play as he has a bruised right knee and sat yesterday.  He managed to DH and zinged Chamberlain’s only big mistake out of the park.

This is the last game between the two teams for this regular season.  The Yankees set a record for going 18 straight games without an error.  An unnanounced promotion, Alfred Hitchcock night, took place in right field as birds flooded Progressive Field.  Oddly enough, two years ago in the AL playoffs, you might recall Chamberlain being swarmed by bugs.  Joba sure knows how to cater to the Cleveland wildlife.

The Yankees got a two-RBI double from Nick Swisher and A-Rod had an RBI single.  Cleveland pitching gave up 11 walks, so the Yankees always had runners on throughout the game. 

For Cleveland, Shin Soo Choo stole a couple of bases.  Rafael Betancout joins Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner on the DL.  The Indians also released Davis Dellucci before the game. 

Every once in the while, an athlete dies before he is done building on the positive legacy they have worked a lifetime to achieve.  Roberto Clemente was taken away from his family, the game of baseball, and the millions he reached out to before his time should have been up.  Few athletes cared about kids, about the human race, or world affairs like Clemente did.  Major League Baseball should pray for someone with this kind of attitude and natural ability to come along.  Let it be said, let it be written… There will only ever be one Roberto Clemente.

Roberto Clemente was born in Puerto Rico in 1934.  He grew up playing baseball and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954.  Clemente played 18 seasons, all with Pittsburgh.  He was a 12-time All-Star selection and won The MVP in 1966.  He also won 12 golden gloves and won the NL batting title four times.  He was named the 1971 World Series MVP.  I can go on-and-on about his onfield accomplishments but the other side of Roberto Clemente needs discussed.

Clemente was very active in his charity work for Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries.  He often financed trips out of the money he made to provide baseball equipment and food to areas in need.  On December 31, 1972, the plane Clemente was traveling to Nicaragua in to provide food to earthquake victims crashed and Clemente was pronounced dead.  His body was never recovered.  In 1973, the Hall of Fame voted Clemente in posthumously, meaning the mandatory 5-year waiting period was waived.  To this day, Clemente is the only baseball player who did not have to wait five years to get in.  He was also the first Latin American elected to the Hall of Fame.

In his honor, Major League Baseball annually presents the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who is a great humanitarian.  He was also inducted into the Marine Corps Hall of Fame.

The right field wall at PNC Park is 21′ high in tribute to Clemente.

Few athletes in our time would have cared less about their next commercial or endorsement.  Few would have been courageous enough to get into a small plane for 16 hour rides to pass out food and supplies they paid for.  Thanks for the memories Roberto Clemente, there will never be another like you. 

I think the clock is about done ticking for Eric Wedge.  The Indians found yet another way to blow a big lead last night against the Royals giving up two ninth-inning homers to lose, 6-5.  The writing is on the wall.  Wedge only started realizing about three weeks ago that his bullpen is terrible. 

Jensen Lewis and Jeremy Sowers have been awful almost every appearance.  Kerry Wood has self-destructed three times already this season.  Tony Sipp is tough but used in the wrong situations. 

The Indians starting pitching has not been brilliant, but will not be blamed when the axe falls on Wedge.  After the first couple of weeks of the season, the rotation has been solid.  The offense does not blow 4, 5, 6, and even 7 run leads.  Seven runs should be plenty for a team to win a game.  This bullpen would have trouble getting jobs at Burger King right now.

Wedge will be gone, I say no later than the end of June.  Why?  For one he is not a verbal leader.  He is passive and used to just watch the inner-destruction from the bench.  Feeling the heat, he has gotten a bit more assertive, but pales in comparison to longtime winners Lou Piniella, and even Dusty Baker.  Those guys are screaming at their players when they need to, not screaming about them way after the fact.

Cleveland is next to last in MLB attendance for a reason.  Part of it is because they have the second worst record. 

The most disturbing thing I have heard in years was that Cleveland might consider trading Victor Martinez rumors which are already swirling. 

HEY MANAGEMENT! Take notice.  You are in the weakest division in baseball and until you are mathematically eliminated, you have a chance to win it.  Don’t start dumping players unless they are in the bullpen when the game starts.  How Jensen Lewis is still on the roster is beyond me.  Kerry Wood will be able to start carpooling to The Cleveland Clinic with his new pal, Travis Hafner.  Once Wood reaches a degree of failure, he will say he is hurt so he has something to pin it on.  I do not have a crystal ball — but watch, see if I am wrong.

In closing, thanks Eric, you have been a good guy.  The promo tours you do in the offseason, the pat you give Jensen Lewis on the back after he gives up a big lead when you know you want to put your cleats in his ear, and the rough faced “I am struggling” look will all be missed but not unappreciated.

MANAGEMENT!  Go to the bullpen, Mike Hargrove is loose and ready to enter the game! 

It is just accepted by sports fans that baeball players chew tobacco.  Over the years, and all of the countless hours of baseball I have watched, I can’t remember a game where I didn’t see at least a few players spitting tobacco juice all over the field.  As a chewer of Copenhagen, it doesn’t offend me.  I have been chewing tobacco for over 20 years so I just accept it as part of the game.

However, there are those rare instances when a chewer gets cancer of the mouth and has to have a portion of his face removed.  I sympathize with those who have had the misfortune of being in the unlucky category with their habit of choice.

Baseball will probably be pressured into banning players from chewing during games someday, it is inevitable.  They currently encourage teams not to, but I have noticed many more chewers on the fields these last couple of weeks.  If you don’t believe me, watch a game and look for it.

Athletes in other sports usually don’t chew tobacco.  I have compiled a list of reasons why with each sport.

1. Basketball players would have nowhere to spit.  If Rajon Rondo threw some Skoal in his mouth, he would have to keep running over to the bench to grab his spit cup off of Big Baby every couple of trips down the floor.  This would cut into the shot clock and make it harder to run the offense.
2. Hockey players would spit all over the ice, but the non-chewing players would get grossed out if they got checked and fell into a puddle of saliva.  Goalees might be able to get away with it, they could put a spit cup on the net next to their squeeze bottles.
3. Football players have to wear a mouthpiece.  The worst experience a chewer has is when their snuff “floats” because it was either packed loosely when inserted or it becomes unpacked and and scatters throughout the mouth.  Football players can always revert to bandits or pouches and probably do.  The mouthpiece is the biggest drawback to why we don’t see more football players chewing tobacco during games.
4. Boxers also have the mouthpiece thing to deal with.  It would be funny to hear Larry Merchant interview a fighter who has to keep spitting.  Merchant would be grossed out and retire.  Getting punched around the oral cavity would diminish the chances of keeping a tightly packed chew in place.  A fighter has enough problems with the jaw and getting teeth knocked out to chew.
5. MMA fighters can bleed anywhere they want but Dana White would probably blow a gasket if someone on The Ultimate Fighter spit in his octagon.  Now if White chewed, it would probably be mandatory that all UFC participants must chew during fights.  In reality, these guys wear mouthpieces and it would be too hard to pass someone’s guard while chewing and needing to spit.
6. Golfers don’t wear mouthpieces so they could chew.  They could spit all the way up a hole if they wanted to.  I have never seen a PGA golfer chewing on television.  It would be great TV to watch Ernie Els load up and start spitting all over a green while paired with Tiger Woods.  He would probably lose his card.
7. NASCAR drivers have one drawback, they wear a helmet.  As hot as it gets in those cars with those suits on, they could create a real mess inside that helmet.  I am working on developing a device to enable drivers to spit with a helmet on.  The device will cleverly allow the spit to be hosed through the bottom of the car and onto the track.  I would bet about 80% of these guys do chew and wish they could during a race.  Some probably do and just don’t spit.
8. Soccer players would easily get lightheaded from constantly running and spitting.  I could see one of those fiesty Manchester United players getting a red card for spitting on an opponent.  I don’t think smokeless tobacco is as popular overseas as it is here in the states.
9. Tennis players are another group who could probably get away with it.  If two players both chew it wouldn’t be an issue as they could spit freely without having to worry about grossing an opponent out.  I would pay good money to watch Roger Federer watch an incoming volley lob land in a spit puddle and squirm in disgust, failing to return the shot.

Playing baseball is like being in the garden.  There is dirt and grass everywhere and spit is well hidden in that setting.  Spitting has its rightful place in between pitches, a perfect break.  Isn’t it ironic that a “spitball” is a term used in the only sport where players spit?

Randy Johnson has pitched in many games since 1989.  He finally saw eye-to-eye with the competition Monday night, well almost anyway.  Johnson (6’10”) faced off against the Washington Nationals Daniel Cabrera (6’9″).  It is the tallest combined total height for two starting pitchers in baseball history. 

The previous record was owned by Cabrera and Mark Hendrickson of the L.A. Dodgers who also stood at 6’9″. 

Johnson and the Giants won the contest, 11-7, and The Big Unit was the winning pitcher despite serving up three homers.  Cabrera remained winless for the season dropping to 0-4.  This record may stand for awhile unless The Pirates sign The Great Kahli or Manute Bol to pitch out of the bullpen soon.

In light of the recent Manny Ramirez suspension for testing positive for a banned substance, the question pops up, are there any good guys left in baseball?  If I would have been writing this article when the A-Rod story first broke in February, Manny Ramirez would have been on the list of good guys.  Below is what I believe in my heart is a list of five guys that I do not think will ever be accused of using steroids or banned substances.  Keep in mind, the five men I have picked should all go to The Hall of Fame someday as well.

Randy Johnson

Randy Johnson has been in the league since 1989.  He pitched for a team that doesn’t exist anymore called The Montreal Expos.  He is definitely in the twilight of his career but still has a little gas in the tank.  The Big Unit will never be remembered for his good looks or quotes, but I feel he has achieved everything he has cleanly and without medical boosts.

Albert Pujols

Of all the players I am naming on a “good guy” list, Pujols is probably the best natural athlete.  He is a monster statistically and has his power stroke in midseason form already.  Pujols just seems instinctive about the game and he plays with a passion that makes fans of other teams envious.

Trevor Hoffman

Lately, Trevor Hoffman has spent time on the DL.  He is nearing the end of his storied career and I wouldn’t be suprised if he retired by the end of this season.  His body is starting to give a bit, a perfect time to start using some miracle medicine to make his pitching good for a couple of extra seasons.  However, Hoffman is one of those moral guys who won’t give in to the temptations.

Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay is one of those pitchers I could watch every time he throws.  His location is usually near perfect, his velocity varies as he wants, and he mixes his pitches to hitters throughout a lineup.  There isn’t much predictable about Roy Halladay.  He is another seemingly terrific pitcher headed to Cooperstown.  I do not think Halladay ever has, or ever will dabble in the gook.

Carlos Beltran

One of lifes great mysteries to me is how this guy got out of Kansas City.  He produced great numbers as a Royal and put bodies in seats.  In hindsight, The Royals have to be sick for ever letting him get away.  Beltran will continue on the statistical pace he is on for at least the next five seasons.  He will have Hall of Fame numbers by the time he is finished, and I really don’t think he is juicing in any way.

So there you have it.  My list of five good guys still left in baseball.  There are many, many more but the biggest stars are the ones getting popped lately.  Maybe they should switch to decaf and watch what is in the cream they put in their coffee a bit closer.  Pretty soon MLB will have a list of substances longer than the faces of current Yankee fans.

So far, the 2009 season has been one Cleveland Indians fans will want to forget.  The Indians are currently 10-16 and are the dictionary definition for the word inconsistency.  I don’t know how long Eric Wedge is going to be around if The Tribe keeps looking like a big unpolished product.

When the season started, The Indians could not get a quality start from any pitcher in the rotation.  As this season rolls on, the starting pitching has gotten much better, but Jensen Lewis and Kerry Wood are finding ways to blow leads almost every other night.  It’s getting old.  I’m not sure how or why Jensen Lewis is still on the roster, but do know if he continues to pitch this bad that I might be able to buy him a beer after a Mahoning Valley Scrappers game he will be pitching in this August.  Kerry Wood looks great sometimes.  For $22 million, he better look great most of the time. 

Travis Hafner, who I predicted would be hurt more than he would play this season, started the season with a bang, but is currently at his vacation home (The Cleveland Clinic) taking a break from that physically grueling platoon DH role.  Jhonny Peralta is another guy who needs to watch Tom Emansky’s How To Hit videos, because he forgot.

Matt LaPorta is up, and even hit a homer already.  This is a guy that management said would be back toward the end of the year as he develops in Columbus.  Treveor Crowe, batting about .140 was sent packing back to Columbus.  Do the math with me.  Grady Sizemore (1) + Matt LaPorta (2) + Shin Soo Choo (3) + Ben Francisco (4) + Josh Barfield (1/2) + David Dellucci (5 1/2) = too many outfielders.  LaPorta is batting .100 and getting starts.  I am a big LaPorta believer, he is the future, but he is not ready yet.

I am sure that when I publish this article that The Indians will probably make me look like a fool and win doing all of the things I am saying they are struggling with.  If this is indeed the case, save the article and read it again tomorrow, it will make more sense then.

Attention fantasy players needing a qualty starting pitcher, Edwin Jackson is your guy.  In three starts this season Jackson has a 2.14 ERA and a 13:5 K:BB ratio.  He has been the only consistent player in a Detroit uniform so far this season.  He has pitched 21 innings in three starts, almost more than the entire Indians starting rotation had through 10 starts.

Jackson ranks 3rd in the AL for IP (21.0),  4th in the AL for WHIP (0.81), and ranks 8th in the AL with his 2.14 ERA, and that includes every AL pitcher, not just starters.  Jackson is only owned in 14% of all Yahoo baseball leagues and 14.7 % of ESPN leagues.  So there is a good chance he is there for you to snag.

Jim Leyland needs to have a good year for his survival chances in Detroit.  Jackson is the last person he thought he would get that help from.  Remember that Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, and Joel Zumaya are all on the DL.  Every quality start Jackson makes cuts back on Detroit’s need to use the bullpen so much.

Jackson and Armando Gallaraga are the nucleus of a great pitching dynasty in Detroit.  They can be a one-two tandem for years to come.  I think Jackson is going to be solid all year.  He may even get mention when it is Cy Young time if he keeps this up.  Don’t be suprised if he does.