Now that the ultimate trade of the winter has happened and the media frenzy has begun, we can sit back and look at the effects the Johan Santana trade will have on four teams. Granted, this deal isn't official until the Mets and Santana reach a contract extension, but that is inevitable if only for the pressure New York Mets' general manager Omar Minaya is feeling from the media and fan base after the horrible collapse down the stretch in 2007.
I love this deal for the Mets, as they got the best pitcher in baseball for a package of four prospects that does not come close to the package that the Yankees or Red Sox offered earlier in the winter. The Mets pulled the market's biggest fish without even surrendering their top hitting or pitching prospect. That is simply amazing considering how great Johan Santana is and the preposterous price that is placed on premium pitching in today's market.
The Mets gave up a pitching prospect who doesn't turn 19 years old until after Opening Day, and whose stuff is inconsistent across the board. There is always odds against any pitching prospect, but one at this age has many years of hard work ahead before they even get a shot in the big leagues.
The Mets also gave up pitchers Phil Humber and Kevin Mulvey, both who can be average big league starters but will not reach the level of any sort of superstar. Both have good stuff, but not great stuff and therefore will be limited in the rotation. Pitching in the NL East is no small task, and the only thing that gives these two guys hope is that they do not have to pitch in the other Eastern division.
The other prospect the Mets gave up in the Santan deal is outfielder Carlos Gomez who is a great defensive player with a mediocre bat. As good a prospect as Gomez may be, this loss shouldn't sting the Mets too much for a couple of reasons. First, New York has uber-prospect Fernando Martinez in the system who is possibly two full seasons away from the big leagues. Martinez is a five-tool talent and should be patrolling center field in the Mets new ballpark for the next decade at least. Second, if the Mets really needed to fill the void in the system from the loss of a guy like Gomez, they can get some other player who is fairly comparable with a sandwich pick. Taking that into consideration, the Mets should be absolutely ecstatic at what they had to give up in order to get, hands down, the best pitcher in the sport.
At first glance, my natural reaction to this trade from the Twins perspective was much like many other fans out there. I instantly thought the Twins sold way too short and didn't get any player in return that has a chance to be one of the elite guys at his position in the big leagues. But ESPN.com's Buster Olney made a good point in saying that there is nothing the Twins could have done besides take the package that the Mets offered. Olney stated that it would be easy to sit here and criticize what the Twins did, but without knowing what was actually out there, we cannot really evaluate the situation that Minnesota was in.
With that perspective, I guess I can't really blame the Twins for what happened. Look, they had the best player in all of baseball and were trying to score a huge deal that would bring them at least two prime time prospects. And who can blame them? The only problem was that Boston didn't want to part with Ellsbury and Lester, and the Yankees didn't want to trade Hughes and Kennedy. The Twins were try to pry away two of the four guys, and it just didn't happen. But would it be worse to accept a solid deal and possibly underplay the biggest trading chip in the game, or try to get too much and having to take a solid package in the end?
I am not sure what the answer is to that question, but the Twins could not have predicted the outcome. There was no way to know that the situation would unfold the way it did. There were no signs pointing to the conclusion that both the Yankees and Red Sox would pull their offers off of the table and be satisfied with keeping their young players. Once that situation arised, the Twins were suddenly stuck with what the Mets had to offer. In that regard, the Twins should of taken this package of players instead of two draft picks. The only area that I still believe is fair to crticize the Twins is the fact that they didn't even come up with one of the top two prospects in the Mets system. They didn't get their best hitter, or their best pitcher. How does that happen when you have Johan Santana? With that being said, the Twins still come out as winners because they did get a good group of players, albeit much less talent than they initially expected. I still prefer these players over two picks that may not arrive in the big leagues for six years.
The teams that should be the happiest are the Yankees and Red Sox. Both teams have enough talent to win in 2008, but were still able to keep a bright future intact. I never liked the idea of giving up prospects who have already proven some success in the big leagues for one guy who you then must break the bank to sign to a record contract. Not that money is an issue for the Yankees or the Red Sox, but money is still money and $150 million can still be spent in better ways. This is not a question of how the Yankees or Red Sox lost out on Santana and what they have in store for plan B. No, they are both winners for setting themselves up to have a heck of a rivalry for the next six years at least, and giving them financial flexibility to go after big time free agents in future years.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Bedard would put M's back into fold
Although there is no official news to report as there have been some tie-ups between the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners, this is as close as we have gotten this entire offseason to a big news trade. Really, the only potential trades that would meet that criteria would be deals regarding Baltimore's Erik Bedard or Minnesota's Johan Santana. Trade talks and free agent negotiations are destined to make one last push in the next two weeks before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.
Part of the fun we get to have in the offseason is talking about all of the buzzing speculation surrounding potential moves and how they would affect the teams involved. As a fan, there is nothing better than a big name rumor flying around, except, of course, the reality that the deal actually takes place. That is where we are with Bedard and Santana, but it still proves worthwhile to talk about what might be.
I didn't view Seattle as a front runner for Bedard by any means, as they had already dished out a lot of money to Carlos Silva, and I assumed they would either try to obtain extra depth from within, or put a contract offer on the table for on of the lesser free agent pitchers. It was widely assumed that the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets would be the big players regarding the high profile pitchers in the trade market.
But say this deal does happen with Seattle, where they ship off a basket of prospects for the rising star. I love what it does for the Mariners in the immediate future, meaning 2008, and beyond. Seattle came out of nowhere last year to be in the hunt down the stretch until a pivotal three-game set with the Angels at Safeco Field. Needless to say, the Angels went in a swept the series, completely deflating anything momentum the Mariners were trying to garner for the stretch run, and they ended the season a mile out of first place.
But the final standings did not show what kind of team Seattle could potentially be. They won 88 games last year with an average offense and below-average starting pitching. Throw Bedard into the mix and this team could potentially win 92-93 games and be right in the hunt to battle the Angels down the stretch.
Seattle's prize starting pitcher is Felix Hernandez, who is arguably the game's most promising young pitcher, and he turned in a good season on a mediocre team. Hernandez went 14-7 with a 3.92 ERA, adding 165 strikeouts in 190.1 innings pitched. That is pretty darned good for a kid who still struggles with the inconsistencies that all pitchers do when trying to make the adjustment to major league hitters. Of course, we all remember the complete game shutout he threw early in the season at Fenway Park. At 21 years old, he turned in one of the most dominating performances in recent memory.
But if you look at Seattle's rotation as a whole, the need for a guy like Bedard to compliment Hernandez jumps out and hits you in the face. The Mariners' starting rotation combined to throw for 928.2 innings with a 5.16 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. The rotation as a whole posted a rate of 5.8 for strikeouts per nine innings, proving its glaring lack of anything close to dominant.
By adding Bedard to the mix, the Mariners would be able to boot Horacio Ramirez and his 7.16 ERA. Replacing horrible numbers with a dominant arm will have a huge impact on the overall success of the team, although at this point it is tricky to estimate just how much of an impact. And it is all worth noting that these numbers do not take into account Seattle's bullpen, which has one of the best closers in baseball in J.J. Putz to pitch the ninth inning. But what if the offense also improved a little bit from 2007, then how much would the addition of Bedard be magnified? Well, that isn't so easy either, as improving on last season could be a tough task.
In 2007, the Seattle offense produced a .287 batting average, .337 OBP, .425 SLG, and scored 794 runs. That offense equates to approximately 5 runs a game, good for twelfth-best in the majore leagues. The loss of Jose Guillen will make improving the offense that much tougher, but with Bedard, the Mariners may be fine even with an offense that equals the numbers from 2007.
Of course, baseball is not a perfect game and does not demand a team to put up career highs in every category in order to outlast the division favorite. One of the factors that I find so appealing about baseball is the unknown that goes along with the game every day. There is a degree of unpredictableness that cannot be rivaled in any other sport. Baseball is the game that can make a player feel like a perennial all-star one day, and spit him out and humble him the next.
So this poses the unanswerable, but nonetheless interesting, question of how would the Mariners fair with Bedard in their rotation and a dip in production from the Angels? I am assuming that there are no real sleeper teams in this division as the A's are in a full-fledged rebuilding mode and Texas has a couple of years before graduating a crop of young talent to the big league level. The Angels are on of the five best teams in baseball, and therefore makes them the odds-on favorites, with Seattle the only team even close to making a run at them.
It is beneficial to look at what the Angels did last year in comparison with Seattle. The starting rotation for the Angels posted a 4.22 ERA in 2007 to go along with a 1.40 WHIP and a strikeout per nine innings rate of 6.87. The Angels, regarded as one of the better pitching teams in baseball, come in well ahead of Seattle in all major pitching categories. Take out Bartolo Colon's and Ervin Santana's 6.41 and 5.92 ERA's, respectively, and only two Angels who started at all in 2007 posted an ERA above 4.00. Those two guys would be Joe Saunders, with a 4.44 ERA, and Dustin Moseley, with a 4.20 ERA, who combined to make 26 starts and pitch over 145 innings as starters.
It is safe to say that Moseley will not be in the rotation this year, and Saunders has an opportunity to win a spot in Spring Training. The Angels only improve their rotation depth with the addition of Jon Garland, who has the ability to win twenty games given the hard sinker he will have opposing hitters beat into the ground. When you take into consideration the tweaks that will be made to improve the Angels rotation, it is clear why the Halos are far superior than Seattle on the mound.
The Angels as a team posted a .284 batting average in 2007, coupled with a .345 OBP, and a .417 SLG. Los Angeles used their manufacturing-style of play to score 822 runs, sixth best in Major League Baseball. How will the 2008 Angels offense compare to 2007? That is still to be seen as there are a number of factors that will have a say in the matter. I am not sure how much the Angels will miss the offense of Orlando Cabrera, or how much production Torri Hunter will be able to add to the lineup. And that goes without even mentioning the holes in the infield that still need to be filled. There are many uncertainties in the Angel lineup that will be worked out during Spring Training, so we will have to come back to this one to get a better look.
It is clear that the Angels are the team to beat, both offensively and defensively, in the AL West. With all amendments considered, the Angels offense will be better than the Mariners' offense in 2008. From top to bottom, the Angels rotation will certainly be better than Seattle's. But I get excited about the fact that, given this team won 88 games last year, the Mariners could be in the race for the AL West crown if they can find a way to reach an agreement with the Orioles for Erik Bedard. Baseball is a game of uncertainty and one that will undoubtedly change overnight. There is a reason why the games are played out and even the lowly underdogs are given a chance to have a say in the outcome of the postseason. With one trade, maybe, just maybe, the Mariners will be able to compete in a division that looks all but over. And to think pitchers and catchers haven't even reported to Spring Training yet...
Part of the fun we get to have in the offseason is talking about all of the buzzing speculation surrounding potential moves and how they would affect the teams involved. As a fan, there is nothing better than a big name rumor flying around, except, of course, the reality that the deal actually takes place. That is where we are with Bedard and Santana, but it still proves worthwhile to talk about what might be.
I didn't view Seattle as a front runner for Bedard by any means, as they had already dished out a lot of money to Carlos Silva, and I assumed they would either try to obtain extra depth from within, or put a contract offer on the table for on of the lesser free agent pitchers. It was widely assumed that the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets would be the big players regarding the high profile pitchers in the trade market.
But say this deal does happen with Seattle, where they ship off a basket of prospects for the rising star. I love what it does for the Mariners in the immediate future, meaning 2008, and beyond. Seattle came out of nowhere last year to be in the hunt down the stretch until a pivotal three-game set with the Angels at Safeco Field. Needless to say, the Angels went in a swept the series, completely deflating anything momentum the Mariners were trying to garner for the stretch run, and they ended the season a mile out of first place.
But the final standings did not show what kind of team Seattle could potentially be. They won 88 games last year with an average offense and below-average starting pitching. Throw Bedard into the mix and this team could potentially win 92-93 games and be right in the hunt to battle the Angels down the stretch.
Seattle's prize starting pitcher is Felix Hernandez, who is arguably the game's most promising young pitcher, and he turned in a good season on a mediocre team. Hernandez went 14-7 with a 3.92 ERA, adding 165 strikeouts in 190.1 innings pitched. That is pretty darned good for a kid who still struggles with the inconsistencies that all pitchers do when trying to make the adjustment to major league hitters. Of course, we all remember the complete game shutout he threw early in the season at Fenway Park. At 21 years old, he turned in one of the most dominating performances in recent memory.
But if you look at Seattle's rotation as a whole, the need for a guy like Bedard to compliment Hernandez jumps out and hits you in the face. The Mariners' starting rotation combined to throw for 928.2 innings with a 5.16 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. The rotation as a whole posted a rate of 5.8 for strikeouts per nine innings, proving its glaring lack of anything close to dominant.
By adding Bedard to the mix, the Mariners would be able to boot Horacio Ramirez and his 7.16 ERA. Replacing horrible numbers with a dominant arm will have a huge impact on the overall success of the team, although at this point it is tricky to estimate just how much of an impact. And it is all worth noting that these numbers do not take into account Seattle's bullpen, which has one of the best closers in baseball in J.J. Putz to pitch the ninth inning. But what if the offense also improved a little bit from 2007, then how much would the addition of Bedard be magnified? Well, that isn't so easy either, as improving on last season could be a tough task.
In 2007, the Seattle offense produced a .287 batting average, .337 OBP, .425 SLG, and scored 794 runs. That offense equates to approximately 5 runs a game, good for twelfth-best in the majore leagues. The loss of Jose Guillen will make improving the offense that much tougher, but with Bedard, the Mariners may be fine even with an offense that equals the numbers from 2007.
Of course, baseball is not a perfect game and does not demand a team to put up career highs in every category in order to outlast the division favorite. One of the factors that I find so appealing about baseball is the unknown that goes along with the game every day. There is a degree of unpredictableness that cannot be rivaled in any other sport. Baseball is the game that can make a player feel like a perennial all-star one day, and spit him out and humble him the next.
So this poses the unanswerable, but nonetheless interesting, question of how would the Mariners fair with Bedard in their rotation and a dip in production from the Angels? I am assuming that there are no real sleeper teams in this division as the A's are in a full-fledged rebuilding mode and Texas has a couple of years before graduating a crop of young talent to the big league level. The Angels are on of the five best teams in baseball, and therefore makes them the odds-on favorites, with Seattle the only team even close to making a run at them.
It is beneficial to look at what the Angels did last year in comparison with Seattle. The starting rotation for the Angels posted a 4.22 ERA in 2007 to go along with a 1.40 WHIP and a strikeout per nine innings rate of 6.87. The Angels, regarded as one of the better pitching teams in baseball, come in well ahead of Seattle in all major pitching categories. Take out Bartolo Colon's and Ervin Santana's 6.41 and 5.92 ERA's, respectively, and only two Angels who started at all in 2007 posted an ERA above 4.00. Those two guys would be Joe Saunders, with a 4.44 ERA, and Dustin Moseley, with a 4.20 ERA, who combined to make 26 starts and pitch over 145 innings as starters.
It is safe to say that Moseley will not be in the rotation this year, and Saunders has an opportunity to win a spot in Spring Training. The Angels only improve their rotation depth with the addition of Jon Garland, who has the ability to win twenty games given the hard sinker he will have opposing hitters beat into the ground. When you take into consideration the tweaks that will be made to improve the Angels rotation, it is clear why the Halos are far superior than Seattle on the mound.
The Angels as a team posted a .284 batting average in 2007, coupled with a .345 OBP, and a .417 SLG. Los Angeles used their manufacturing-style of play to score 822 runs, sixth best in Major League Baseball. How will the 2008 Angels offense compare to 2007? That is still to be seen as there are a number of factors that will have a say in the matter. I am not sure how much the Angels will miss the offense of Orlando Cabrera, or how much production Torri Hunter will be able to add to the lineup. And that goes without even mentioning the holes in the infield that still need to be filled. There are many uncertainties in the Angel lineup that will be worked out during Spring Training, so we will have to come back to this one to get a better look.
It is clear that the Angels are the team to beat, both offensively and defensively, in the AL West. With all amendments considered, the Angels offense will be better than the Mariners' offense in 2008. From top to bottom, the Angels rotation will certainly be better than Seattle's. But I get excited about the fact that, given this team won 88 games last year, the Mariners could be in the race for the AL West crown if they can find a way to reach an agreement with the Orioles for Erik Bedard. Baseball is a game of uncertainty and one that will undoubtedly change overnight. There is a reason why the games are played out and even the lowly underdogs are given a chance to have a say in the outcome of the postseason. With one trade, maybe, just maybe, the Mariners will be able to compete in a division that looks all but over. And to think pitchers and catchers haven't even reported to Spring Training yet...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Battery banter
The pitcher-catcher tandem is the most dynamic duo in all of sports. No two players feed off of each other quite like the pitcher and catcher. I couldn't argue you against you if you made a case for a quarterback and his receivers or a point gaurd and his center, but I still am taking what baseball refers to as the "battery".
Recently, we had a full battery pop up on the transactions column, although these two guys are not on the same team. A battery nonetheless, so we will work with it. The St. Louis Cardinals signed catcher Yadier Molina to a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $15.5 million. The contract will take the youngest Molina brother through the 2011 season, and the Cardinals have a club option for 2012 worth $7 million with a $750,000 buyout.
The Cardinals appear to be in a partial-rebuild mode as they are working to piece together a winner like they had in 2006. The team is not too far off, but they are not close to what they were in the 2006 postseason. the Cardinals have plenty of questions to answer, regarding both the offense and the pitching staff.
With Jim Edmonds gone, there isn't much to go along with Albert Pujols unless a few key pieces step up and assumer big time roles. Primarily Troy Glaus. The third baseman, who was acquired from Toronto in a trade for Scott Rolen, needs to be the threat that he is capable of being if this offense wants to put any runs on the board. Centerfield is being held down by anyone at this point, at least until top prospect Colby Rasmus is ready to come up and grab the job.
If Chris Duncan can take on a power role and Rick Ankiel can progress as a major league hitter, things may not look so gloom in St. Louis this summer. That would be a formidable offense to go along with a pitching staff that has the makings to be decent. Of course, the pitchign staff will rely on how Chris Carpenter can return, if the Cardinals will get any production out of Mark Mulder, and if Adam Wainwright can continue to emerge as a front-of-the-rotation starter.
That seems like a lot to ask of a ballclub depleted by injuries, and quite frankly, it is. But that is where Molina's presence will especially be felt. Not only is Molina one of the top catchers in the National League, as proven by his league-best throwing percentage, but he is becoming a master at game calling and handling an entire staff. Molina has learned to work to the strengths of each pitcher, and many in the organization have said this is the area where he has really excelled in the last few years. With all of the questions that are still left to answer for the Cardinals, at least they can relax knowing that the leader of the field is in place for another four years.
Also happening in baseball is the Brett Tomko signing. Many cynical fans are going to immediately respond, "Who the hell cares about Brett Tomko?" Well when you are itching for the arrival of Spring Training and you see the possible makings of a great feel-good story, you tend to get a little excited about a guy who you really wouldn't think of bringing up to a friend or family member in an effort to break some news. As in, "Hey Dad, did you hear about the Tomko signing?" Yeah, that probably wouldn't happen. But it is worth mention in this space.
The Kansas City Royals and Tomko agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal that will bring an experienced big league arm to Spring Training. Tomko will have a shot to break camp in the rotation, or he can be a key piece in the bullpen as he is capable of bringing electric stuff. I remember watching a few outings he had with the Dodgers last year in relief and thinking about how nasty his stuff had looked in a 1-2 inning role. He pumped his fastball up to 96 mph and countered it with a sharp slider and solid changeup.
I would think that Tomko will make a strong enough push to earn the #4 starter spot, given the fact that the Royals don't have a whole lot else behind Gil Meche, Briann Bannister, and Zack Greinke. It didn't dawn on me until I had read a press release that Tomko has been in the big leagues for eleven years.
At first I was thinking that he has been around for about six years and has shown some good stuff but will more than likely end his career as one of those guys who had potential but not everything clicked. But once I sat back and remebered that this guy has been around for a while, not only was I more encouraged about the chances of him having success in Kansas City, but I began to pull for him more.
This is a guy who came into baseball as a promising young pitcher and has already etched out a pretty solid career for himself, based on the standards of the average baseball player. I mean, seriously, 11 years? Ain't so bad. But the fact that Tomko is only 34 years old and still feels like he has something to prove, which he does I guess, depending on who he is looking to prove it to, makes me want to be happy for this guy and hope that he can have a few good years in Kansas City before he leaves the game for years. I think it would be unfair to plug him into a rotation like the Mets, in a division as strong as the National League East, and expect him to win 15+ games. Granted, the AL Central is among one of the best divisions in baseball, but at least he will be on a smaller stage in Kansas City where the media will not crucify the general manager by June for signing the guy. To me, this is exactly the type of story that Spring Training is about.
Recently, we had a full battery pop up on the transactions column, although these two guys are not on the same team. A battery nonetheless, so we will work with it. The St. Louis Cardinals signed catcher Yadier Molina to a four-year deal worth a guaranteed $15.5 million. The contract will take the youngest Molina brother through the 2011 season, and the Cardinals have a club option for 2012 worth $7 million with a $750,000 buyout.
The Cardinals appear to be in a partial-rebuild mode as they are working to piece together a winner like they had in 2006. The team is not too far off, but they are not close to what they were in the 2006 postseason. the Cardinals have plenty of questions to answer, regarding both the offense and the pitching staff.
With Jim Edmonds gone, there isn't much to go along with Albert Pujols unless a few key pieces step up and assumer big time roles. Primarily Troy Glaus. The third baseman, who was acquired from Toronto in a trade for Scott Rolen, needs to be the threat that he is capable of being if this offense wants to put any runs on the board. Centerfield is being held down by anyone at this point, at least until top prospect Colby Rasmus is ready to come up and grab the job.
If Chris Duncan can take on a power role and Rick Ankiel can progress as a major league hitter, things may not look so gloom in St. Louis this summer. That would be a formidable offense to go along with a pitching staff that has the makings to be decent. Of course, the pitchign staff will rely on how Chris Carpenter can return, if the Cardinals will get any production out of Mark Mulder, and if Adam Wainwright can continue to emerge as a front-of-the-rotation starter.
That seems like a lot to ask of a ballclub depleted by injuries, and quite frankly, it is. But that is where Molina's presence will especially be felt. Not only is Molina one of the top catchers in the National League, as proven by his league-best throwing percentage, but he is becoming a master at game calling and handling an entire staff. Molina has learned to work to the strengths of each pitcher, and many in the organization have said this is the area where he has really excelled in the last few years. With all of the questions that are still left to answer for the Cardinals, at least they can relax knowing that the leader of the field is in place for another four years.
Also happening in baseball is the Brett Tomko signing. Many cynical fans are going to immediately respond, "Who the hell cares about Brett Tomko?" Well when you are itching for the arrival of Spring Training and you see the possible makings of a great feel-good story, you tend to get a little excited about a guy who you really wouldn't think of bringing up to a friend or family member in an effort to break some news. As in, "Hey Dad, did you hear about the Tomko signing?" Yeah, that probably wouldn't happen. But it is worth mention in this space.
The Kansas City Royals and Tomko agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal that will bring an experienced big league arm to Spring Training. Tomko will have a shot to break camp in the rotation, or he can be a key piece in the bullpen as he is capable of bringing electric stuff. I remember watching a few outings he had with the Dodgers last year in relief and thinking about how nasty his stuff had looked in a 1-2 inning role. He pumped his fastball up to 96 mph and countered it with a sharp slider and solid changeup.
I would think that Tomko will make a strong enough push to earn the #4 starter spot, given the fact that the Royals don't have a whole lot else behind Gil Meche, Briann Bannister, and Zack Greinke. It didn't dawn on me until I had read a press release that Tomko has been in the big leagues for eleven years.
At first I was thinking that he has been around for about six years and has shown some good stuff but will more than likely end his career as one of those guys who had potential but not everything clicked. But once I sat back and remebered that this guy has been around for a while, not only was I more encouraged about the chances of him having success in Kansas City, but I began to pull for him more.
This is a guy who came into baseball as a promising young pitcher and has already etched out a pretty solid career for himself, based on the standards of the average baseball player. I mean, seriously, 11 years? Ain't so bad. But the fact that Tomko is only 34 years old and still feels like he has something to prove, which he does I guess, depending on who he is looking to prove it to, makes me want to be happy for this guy and hope that he can have a few good years in Kansas City before he leaves the game for years. I think it would be unfair to plug him into a rotation like the Mets, in a division as strong as the National League East, and expect him to win 15+ games. Granted, the AL Central is among one of the best divisions in baseball, but at least he will be on a smaller stage in Kansas City where the media will not crucify the general manager by June for signing the guy. To me, this is exactly the type of story that Spring Training is about.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Talking cornerstones
Baseball is like any other business where a face of the company is vital to future success as it gives the consumer a fundamental reason to invest in the product. There is a reason why record labels fight over rising stars in the music industry and sports agents campaign for the most promising prospects. There needs to be young, entertaining blood in any industry in order to continue to satisfy the viewer. Why is the NFL such a prosperous football league and the XFL was uninspiring bust? Simply put, the best athletes with the most attractive skill sets are obviously in the NFL. Same goes for baseball.
Major League organizations undergo operations every winter, and sometimes they are extensive face lfits. Role players come and go like celebrities in Hollywood, but cornerstone-caliber ballplayers are the authors of the Great American Novel. There are no duplicates and the opportunity cost isn't nearly as satisfying. Each club needs at least one player who is not only part of the organization, but is essential to the city.
There can be more than one player who represents a team in all facets, but that is usually unlikely, unless the number is restricted to two. These types of players cannot be among the likes of politcal figures who take a stance on an issue, proceed to waffle come debate time, and then hop back over the fence in time for election. It doesn't work that way, and that is the main reason why these players are rare breeds, thus making it even more important to tie them up.
The best way to realize this is play a simple game where you say one team to yourself and then think of the first thing that comes to mind. For example: Yankees? Derek Jeter. Giants? Barry Bonds. Reds? Barry Larkin. Orioles? Cal Ripken Jr. Some of these names are outdated, but they are symbolic of what a cornerstone guy should be. He should not only be the player that a fan thinks about when that team travels to his city, but his image and presence should be connected to the mood of the city as well.
All of the aforementioned players have that affect and that is why they are simply great players. But there is the contrary to everything, and there are teams who have not found this piece, yet anyways. I do not go to downtown Kansas City and say to myself, hmm, Zack Greinke pitches here. I do not visit Washington D.C. and yell at the top of my lungs, "Dmitri Young plays here!" After Frank Thomas left, the South side of Chicago was left vacant as I couldn't bring myself to marvel in the fact Paul Konerko plays first base for the White Sox.
Now that you know that cornerstone players are of the utmost importance, there are a few that have made some noise in the transactions column recently. Lets start with the Rockies who tried to place this responsibility on Todd Helton although it quickly turned into a burden and left the residents of Denver waiting for football season since reality is, well, Larry Walker is no longer around.
Colorado is lucky because they have two players, not to mention a stable of young pitchers, who can be the guys in purple and black for many years to come. Matt Holliday recently agreed to a two year, $23 million deal that will allow Colorado a little extra time to prepare their attempt to keep Holliday from hitting the free agent market. Holliday has turned into one of the game's best young hitters with a breakout 2007. It is apparent that he is next in line to receive the big bucks that Albert Pujols got from the Cardinals when he signed his big deal.
We aren't talking about a $30 milion deal here. I am talking in the nine figure range, which may put the deal out of reach for Colorado. It is imperative that the Rockies find a way to lock Holliday up because he is going to anchor that lineup for the next seven years and give the Rockies legitimate run support. If that isn't enough to hope Holliday stays in Denver for the long haul, is anyone besides me a little bit sad that the days of one-team players are almost all but gone? I hope and pray for the soul of baseball that the generations to follow bring players who are willing to shave a few bucks of their demands and put their loyalty for the ballclub that gave them a shot at the forefront. I am not knocking players who seek their market value, but lets keep it in perspective.
Now, the reason to be jubilant in Colorado is the man who plays shortstop. It is apparent that Troy Tulowitzki does not need many seasons to reach stardom in the major leagues as he is already emerging as one of the best shortstops in all of baseball. Tulowitzki still was a ways from free agency, but was a couple of years away from being arbitration-eligible when the Rockies announced they had reached an agreement with the former Long Beach State Dirtbag on a six year, $31 million deal.
This deal is exceptional for Colorado for a couple of reasons. First, one of the game's soon-to-be best players is locked up for six years and can now focus all of his attention to getting the Rockies back to the World Series. Tulowitzki possess the attitude, confidence, and leadership skills that it takes to not only assume responsibility on the field, but also to lay the groundwork for the organization in the community and throughout Major League Baseball. The other reason that makes this deal great is the fact that Tulowitzki's average annual slaray is $5 million per year. He is already worth more than that on the free agent market, and with the way prices have been inclining, I can't even fathom what type of bargain this will be in four seasons.
Up in Philly there hasn't been too much brotherly love going around between Ryan Howard and the Phillie's front office. The two sides seem to be worlds apart when it comes to a dollar number for Howard's 2008 salary. Howard played last season with a salary of $900,000 and is already considered one of the elite hitters in baseball. Naturally, the player is going to realize this and ask for what he thinks is his. His only problem is that he hasn't paid his dues like the rules state.
I do not think it is wrong for a player to ask for a considerable raise when it is obvious that he is worth much more than his current salary because service time is often an obstacle between the employeer and the employee. But those are the written rules and it is hard to disregard those at times. A player should be happy to be making $5 million per year when he has only played three seasons of big league ball. It is not as if that player is not going to hit his big time deal atfer his six years of service time. Of course, the player's reason for pressing the issue could be one of two things that resonate off the top of my head.
The first is obviously the risk of injury, and if a player can be financially set for life, why not? This is justifiable, but sometimes reality is the cold-hearted truth. The other reason, which I beleive carries more weight, is when the player poses a question along the lines of: Why am I not getting my fair cut of the revenue I am helping to create when baseball is in a state of prsoperity? The fact that baseball is awash in resources makes it difficult to really file a complaint against a player who is trying to match his worth up with the market. Either way, Howard will eventually get what is his as long as he keeps blossoming, and the Phillies will eventually be ecstatic that they gave it to him, although this case seems to certainly be headed for arbitration.
Miguel Cabrera reached a one year deal with the Detroit Tigers for 2008, making his salary $11.3 million. Cabrera may be the brightest young hitter in all of baseball, and that is why there is reasonable speculation about the fact that he may be the next $200 million player. It has been stated that the Tigers do want to lock him up to a long term deal and are trying to work with his agent to make progress towards that goal. There should be no reason for Cabrera to leave Detroit within the next eight years, given the rich baseball history and the money the Tigers are bringing from being recognized as one the game's elite teams. It is unfair, really, to even project what this kid may do in his career because it puts an overwhelming amount of pressure on him to be somebody other than who he is. Let alone that our predictions could turn out to be more restraining than anything else. Scouts talk about the "ceiling" of players when evaluating them, and it is not crazy to say that Miguel Cabrera may not even have a ceiling.
The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms with lefthander Scott Kazmir on a one year, $3.785 million deal that allows the club and player to avoid arbitration. I am guessing that the only thing keeping the Rays from committing a long term contract to Kazmir at the moment is fact that, due to their lack of fan support, they do not have a ton of free money at hand. That could be false, I am not sure, but they will be drawing fans soon thanks to their overflowing farm system. Kazmir has three years left until free agency, so the Rays are in good shape, but he is a guy that should be the leader of all of the promising pitching prospects coming up for years to come. It would behoove the Rays to lock Kazmir up long term now while they can get him for a relatively cheap price as three seasons may launch this guy to elite status, and we all know what that means for players, especially pitchers, on the open market.
Major League organizations undergo operations every winter, and sometimes they are extensive face lfits. Role players come and go like celebrities in Hollywood, but cornerstone-caliber ballplayers are the authors of the Great American Novel. There are no duplicates and the opportunity cost isn't nearly as satisfying. Each club needs at least one player who is not only part of the organization, but is essential to the city.
There can be more than one player who represents a team in all facets, but that is usually unlikely, unless the number is restricted to two. These types of players cannot be among the likes of politcal figures who take a stance on an issue, proceed to waffle come debate time, and then hop back over the fence in time for election. It doesn't work that way, and that is the main reason why these players are rare breeds, thus making it even more important to tie them up.
The best way to realize this is play a simple game where you say one team to yourself and then think of the first thing that comes to mind. For example: Yankees? Derek Jeter. Giants? Barry Bonds. Reds? Barry Larkin. Orioles? Cal Ripken Jr. Some of these names are outdated, but they are symbolic of what a cornerstone guy should be. He should not only be the player that a fan thinks about when that team travels to his city, but his image and presence should be connected to the mood of the city as well.
All of the aforementioned players have that affect and that is why they are simply great players. But there is the contrary to everything, and there are teams who have not found this piece, yet anyways. I do not go to downtown Kansas City and say to myself, hmm, Zack Greinke pitches here. I do not visit Washington D.C. and yell at the top of my lungs, "Dmitri Young plays here!" After Frank Thomas left, the South side of Chicago was left vacant as I couldn't bring myself to marvel in the fact Paul Konerko plays first base for the White Sox.
Now that you know that cornerstone players are of the utmost importance, there are a few that have made some noise in the transactions column recently. Lets start with the Rockies who tried to place this responsibility on Todd Helton although it quickly turned into a burden and left the residents of Denver waiting for football season since reality is, well, Larry Walker is no longer around.
Colorado is lucky because they have two players, not to mention a stable of young pitchers, who can be the guys in purple and black for many years to come. Matt Holliday recently agreed to a two year, $23 million deal that will allow Colorado a little extra time to prepare their attempt to keep Holliday from hitting the free agent market. Holliday has turned into one of the game's best young hitters with a breakout 2007. It is apparent that he is next in line to receive the big bucks that Albert Pujols got from the Cardinals when he signed his big deal.
We aren't talking about a $30 milion deal here. I am talking in the nine figure range, which may put the deal out of reach for Colorado. It is imperative that the Rockies find a way to lock Holliday up because he is going to anchor that lineup for the next seven years and give the Rockies legitimate run support. If that isn't enough to hope Holliday stays in Denver for the long haul, is anyone besides me a little bit sad that the days of one-team players are almost all but gone? I hope and pray for the soul of baseball that the generations to follow bring players who are willing to shave a few bucks of their demands and put their loyalty for the ballclub that gave them a shot at the forefront. I am not knocking players who seek their market value, but lets keep it in perspective.
Now, the reason to be jubilant in Colorado is the man who plays shortstop. It is apparent that Troy Tulowitzki does not need many seasons to reach stardom in the major leagues as he is already emerging as one of the best shortstops in all of baseball. Tulowitzki still was a ways from free agency, but was a couple of years away from being arbitration-eligible when the Rockies announced they had reached an agreement with the former Long Beach State Dirtbag on a six year, $31 million deal.
This deal is exceptional for Colorado for a couple of reasons. First, one of the game's soon-to-be best players is locked up for six years and can now focus all of his attention to getting the Rockies back to the World Series. Tulowitzki possess the attitude, confidence, and leadership skills that it takes to not only assume responsibility on the field, but also to lay the groundwork for the organization in the community and throughout Major League Baseball. The other reason that makes this deal great is the fact that Tulowitzki's average annual slaray is $5 million per year. He is already worth more than that on the free agent market, and with the way prices have been inclining, I can't even fathom what type of bargain this will be in four seasons.
Up in Philly there hasn't been too much brotherly love going around between Ryan Howard and the Phillie's front office. The two sides seem to be worlds apart when it comes to a dollar number for Howard's 2008 salary. Howard played last season with a salary of $900,000 and is already considered one of the elite hitters in baseball. Naturally, the player is going to realize this and ask for what he thinks is his. His only problem is that he hasn't paid his dues like the rules state.
I do not think it is wrong for a player to ask for a considerable raise when it is obvious that he is worth much more than his current salary because service time is often an obstacle between the employeer and the employee. But those are the written rules and it is hard to disregard those at times. A player should be happy to be making $5 million per year when he has only played three seasons of big league ball. It is not as if that player is not going to hit his big time deal atfer his six years of service time. Of course, the player's reason for pressing the issue could be one of two things that resonate off the top of my head.
The first is obviously the risk of injury, and if a player can be financially set for life, why not? This is justifiable, but sometimes reality is the cold-hearted truth. The other reason, which I beleive carries more weight, is when the player poses a question along the lines of: Why am I not getting my fair cut of the revenue I am helping to create when baseball is in a state of prsoperity? The fact that baseball is awash in resources makes it difficult to really file a complaint against a player who is trying to match his worth up with the market. Either way, Howard will eventually get what is his as long as he keeps blossoming, and the Phillies will eventually be ecstatic that they gave it to him, although this case seems to certainly be headed for arbitration.
Miguel Cabrera reached a one year deal with the Detroit Tigers for 2008, making his salary $11.3 million. Cabrera may be the brightest young hitter in all of baseball, and that is why there is reasonable speculation about the fact that he may be the next $200 million player. It has been stated that the Tigers do want to lock him up to a long term deal and are trying to work with his agent to make progress towards that goal. There should be no reason for Cabrera to leave Detroit within the next eight years, given the rich baseball history and the money the Tigers are bringing from being recognized as one the game's elite teams. It is unfair, really, to even project what this kid may do in his career because it puts an overwhelming amount of pressure on him to be somebody other than who he is. Let alone that our predictions could turn out to be more restraining than anything else. Scouts talk about the "ceiling" of players when evaluating them, and it is not crazy to say that Miguel Cabrera may not even have a ceiling.
The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms with lefthander Scott Kazmir on a one year, $3.785 million deal that allows the club and player to avoid arbitration. I am guessing that the only thing keeping the Rays from committing a long term contract to Kazmir at the moment is fact that, due to their lack of fan support, they do not have a ton of free money at hand. That could be false, I am not sure, but they will be drawing fans soon thanks to their overflowing farm system. Kazmir has three years left until free agency, so the Rays are in good shape, but he is a guy that should be the leader of all of the promising pitching prospects coming up for years to come. It would behoove the Rays to lock Kazmir up long term now while they can get him for a relatively cheap price as three seasons may launch this guy to elite status, and we all know what that means for players, especially pitchers, on the open market.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Ballparks on my travel list
I got to thinking the other day about all of the great ballparks that came before my time, or the ones that were knocked down before I could get to them. The one that I had a shot at visiting before it was out of use is old Tiger Stadium. It absolutely kills me that I never made that trip because of the rich history that rivals the storied pasts of Fenway, Wrigley, and the likes. I can only imagine the feeling a fan would get walking into the Polo Grounds or Ebetts Field. I definitely feel like I have missed something by not getting to Busch Stadium in St. Louis before the new one opened up recently. I would have loved to stare out at the shortstop vicinity and imagine Ozzie Smith flashing some leather.
Since many of the great stadiums are still around today and the ones in the earlier days of baseball were impossible for me to get to, because I wasn't alive, I am not berating myself for missing the boat on great pieces of baseball history. I am however eager to soak up as many places as I can before they are no longer around, and that lead me to thinking which ballparks I would most want to visit today.
Given my passion for everything baseball, it is a goal of mine to visit every stadium around the major leagues during the coming years. I love baseball, but I also love cities, their skylines, and the culture that comes with different places. I find the energy involved with metropolitan areas fascinating and my imgination runs wild when I am fully plopped into a big city that is buzzing in its own way. No city is exaclty the same and that is how I feel about baseball stadiums.
I want to experience the aura that drives the venues where baseball is played. To engulf yourself in a city and its ballpark is to truly understand the region. As my zeal for visiting the stadiums and cities will forever be present, here are five current stadiums that I am eager to visit. I have never been to any of them, and they are listed in no particular order:
1. Fenway Park
I am not sure there are many places in baseball that can rival the experience one gets at Fenway, or so I've heard. There are too many things to like about this stadium and city to not want to visit it, let alone the threat of the Red Sox possibly renovating or moving from Fenway in the future. The architecture of the park alone pulls me in, to the extent that I don't even view Fenway as a baseball stadium. It appears more like a museum.
With the Green Monster and Pesky Pole, how could you not be pumped about this place? Until recent, the seats in Fenway have been bombarded with a torrent of tears from the pain of simply living and dying anything Red Sox. I want to feel the tenor, or pure misery, that is accompanied with a night at Fenway, against the Yankees, during the middle of a playoff race. It is possible it may take multiple visits before I can fully grasp the revelation that I am bound to have when staring out at the luscious grass.
How can any baseball fan not be in awe of the place where Yaz, Fisk, Williams, Grove, Foxx, and many others, played and wrote a distinct chapter in baseball's history books? If you enjoy plays, you go to Broadway. If you enjoy the glamorous lifestyle of actors, you go to Hollywood. It is this simple, if you like baseball, you must go to Fenway. And all of that comes without even scratching the surface on the city of Boston and its emotional appeal. This could be a eureka-type of visit.
2. Camden Yards
Camden is amazing to me because it has etched its name into baseball's great ballparks in a rather short amount of time. Only 16 years old, I feel like Camden is one of the must-see places even though Fenway Park is about eight times older. It is possible that the rich history that was made during the '90s has made the climb to Ballpark Lore short.
Whether it was Eddie Murray's 500th homerun or Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecutive games streak, Camden Yards has seen some memorable moments. It is impossible for a city not to be baseball-crazed when they are used to the likes of Earl Weaver. I have always been enamored with the high right field fence and the big, brick building beyond the stadium in right field. It is a picturesque landscpae that provides a baseball scenery that remains truly organic.
Baltimore is a city that can fall in love with its baseball team, as we saw in the days of Cal, and thus deserves to be the stage for a World Series. I would find it amazing to witness championship baseball from the seats of Camden. Baltimore is a major seaport along the East Coast, known for its Midwestern-market influence. What strikes me as a rich East Coast culture, Baltimore appears like a natural baseball town.
3. Progressive Field
The only reason the title reads "Progressive Field" is because that is the official name of the home of the Cleveland Indians, which was renamed in January of 2008. I will always remember this park as Jacobs Field, or "The Jake", as long as there is baseball in Cleveland. Cleveland would seem more like a football town if you haven't followed the Indians or been to The Jake. But the Indian fanbase is one of most passionate in all of baseball. I mean, seriously, who the hell goes to a baseball game when it is snowing in early April? Indians fans, thats who. That is certainly more than I can claim as a Southern California native.
Two things pique my interest when it comes to the Cleveland Indians and Jacobs Field. First, is the originality of the ballpark. The sui generis design is refreshing and allows for imagination when pondering its architecture. The first time I saw The Jake on TV, I was immediately bewitched by the towering wall that stretches from the left field foul line to approximately center field. The only thing comparable is the Green Monster in Boston.
I love how the stands hover above the playing field, as it gives a feel of being more ontop of the action, rather than behind the left field fence. The open walkway to the left of the bleachers is a trademark, where fans can take in the game while perusing the concourse. I loved how the bullpens sat out behind the center field wall, next to a line of trees. This is not uncommon, but for some odd reason, it struck me as a cool touch. The three-tier ballpark appears as if it extends up forever, giving the feeling that the field is the center of attention in this Valley of Baseball Mastery.
The second thing that keeps me interested in the Indians is the history of the ballclub. I spent many falls during my youth watching the Indians fight to get the World Series in the late '90s. I remember watching the '97 World Series, when they lost to the Florida Marlins, and witnessing the emergence of a young pitcher named Livan Hernandez and the closing of the great career of Orel Hershiser. Albert Belle provided an entire offseason's worth of entertainment with his monster homeruns and eruptive personality. Cleveland provides a base of baseball success to go along with a great city that includes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
4. Turner Field
There aren't many franchises with a history as deep as the Atlanta Braves. I grew up in an era of dominance for the Braves, where three guys by the names of Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine showed what it was like to absolutely dominate an era. The history of success throughout the Braves organization is what draws me to this ballpark, as I find the stadium pretty standard with nothing to noteworthy about it.
My interest in visiting stems from the simple reality that great teams are usually put on this field every year. Fourteen consecutive division titles? That is crazy, and a line of success that I can barely fathom. I would never want to taint that feat by admitting that the strength of the division wasn't too high because the Braves rotation would have won anywhere. It seems like the Braves were either in the World series or knocking on the door every year in the late '90s and at the turn of the century. With that much success, there is bound to be high and low playoff moments. I can still see David Justice's sixth inning homerun in Game 6 of the '95 Series, handing the World Series title to the Braves. On the other side of the token, I can vividly remember the Braves getting pounced on by the Yankees in the '99 Series when they were swept. Regardless of the simpleness of Turner Field, this Atlanta sanctuary is calling me.
5. Shea Stadium
What can easily be labeled as the Step Child of New York Ballparks, Shea Stadium still remains at the top of the list of must-see ballparks because of the history thats has been made there and the obvious buzz that comes with baseball in The Big Apple. Other than that monsterous scoreboard in right center field, there is nothing that would really lure a fan to this ballpark as it is an old design that is simply outdated. Nope, not even the apple that pops up after Mets homeruns can make me fall in love with the grounds in Flushing, New York.
With airplanes routinely flying overhead and the poor design of the massive seating structure, Shea does not provide the best possible experience for the viewer. With that being said, how can you not visit the place where Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and Tom Seaver all left their mark as great major league players? The realization that one franchise's (Boston Red Sox) hopes of escaping melancholy were thoroughly shattered by a routine groundball up the first base line is enough for me to spend at least one weekend in the land of the Amazin' Mets. As for the culture and passion surrounding the city, I am sure you have a requisite conception.
Since many of the great stadiums are still around today and the ones in the earlier days of baseball were impossible for me to get to, because I wasn't alive, I am not berating myself for missing the boat on great pieces of baseball history. I am however eager to soak up as many places as I can before they are no longer around, and that lead me to thinking which ballparks I would most want to visit today.
Given my passion for everything baseball, it is a goal of mine to visit every stadium around the major leagues during the coming years. I love baseball, but I also love cities, their skylines, and the culture that comes with different places. I find the energy involved with metropolitan areas fascinating and my imgination runs wild when I am fully plopped into a big city that is buzzing in its own way. No city is exaclty the same and that is how I feel about baseball stadiums.
I want to experience the aura that drives the venues where baseball is played. To engulf yourself in a city and its ballpark is to truly understand the region. As my zeal for visiting the stadiums and cities will forever be present, here are five current stadiums that I am eager to visit. I have never been to any of them, and they are listed in no particular order:
1. Fenway Park
I am not sure there are many places in baseball that can rival the experience one gets at Fenway, or so I've heard. There are too many things to like about this stadium and city to not want to visit it, let alone the threat of the Red Sox possibly renovating or moving from Fenway in the future. The architecture of the park alone pulls me in, to the extent that I don't even view Fenway as a baseball stadium. It appears more like a museum.
With the Green Monster and Pesky Pole, how could you not be pumped about this place? Until recent, the seats in Fenway have been bombarded with a torrent of tears from the pain of simply living and dying anything Red Sox. I want to feel the tenor, or pure misery, that is accompanied with a night at Fenway, against the Yankees, during the middle of a playoff race. It is possible it may take multiple visits before I can fully grasp the revelation that I am bound to have when staring out at the luscious grass.
How can any baseball fan not be in awe of the place where Yaz, Fisk, Williams, Grove, Foxx, and many others, played and wrote a distinct chapter in baseball's history books? If you enjoy plays, you go to Broadway. If you enjoy the glamorous lifestyle of actors, you go to Hollywood. It is this simple, if you like baseball, you must go to Fenway. And all of that comes without even scratching the surface on the city of Boston and its emotional appeal. This could be a eureka-type of visit.
2. Camden Yards
Camden is amazing to me because it has etched its name into baseball's great ballparks in a rather short amount of time. Only 16 years old, I feel like Camden is one of the must-see places even though Fenway Park is about eight times older. It is possible that the rich history that was made during the '90s has made the climb to Ballpark Lore short.
Whether it was Eddie Murray's 500th homerun or Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecutive games streak, Camden Yards has seen some memorable moments. It is impossible for a city not to be baseball-crazed when they are used to the likes of Earl Weaver. I have always been enamored with the high right field fence and the big, brick building beyond the stadium in right field. It is a picturesque landscpae that provides a baseball scenery that remains truly organic.
Baltimore is a city that can fall in love with its baseball team, as we saw in the days of Cal, and thus deserves to be the stage for a World Series. I would find it amazing to witness championship baseball from the seats of Camden. Baltimore is a major seaport along the East Coast, known for its Midwestern-market influence. What strikes me as a rich East Coast culture, Baltimore appears like a natural baseball town.
3. Progressive Field
The only reason the title reads "Progressive Field" is because that is the official name of the home of the Cleveland Indians, which was renamed in January of 2008. I will always remember this park as Jacobs Field, or "The Jake", as long as there is baseball in Cleveland. Cleveland would seem more like a football town if you haven't followed the Indians or been to The Jake. But the Indian fanbase is one of most passionate in all of baseball. I mean, seriously, who the hell goes to a baseball game when it is snowing in early April? Indians fans, thats who. That is certainly more than I can claim as a Southern California native.
Two things pique my interest when it comes to the Cleveland Indians and Jacobs Field. First, is the originality of the ballpark. The sui generis design is refreshing and allows for imagination when pondering its architecture. The first time I saw The Jake on TV, I was immediately bewitched by the towering wall that stretches from the left field foul line to approximately center field. The only thing comparable is the Green Monster in Boston.
I love how the stands hover above the playing field, as it gives a feel of being more ontop of the action, rather than behind the left field fence. The open walkway to the left of the bleachers is a trademark, where fans can take in the game while perusing the concourse. I loved how the bullpens sat out behind the center field wall, next to a line of trees. This is not uncommon, but for some odd reason, it struck me as a cool touch. The three-tier ballpark appears as if it extends up forever, giving the feeling that the field is the center of attention in this Valley of Baseball Mastery.
The second thing that keeps me interested in the Indians is the history of the ballclub. I spent many falls during my youth watching the Indians fight to get the World Series in the late '90s. I remember watching the '97 World Series, when they lost to the Florida Marlins, and witnessing the emergence of a young pitcher named Livan Hernandez and the closing of the great career of Orel Hershiser. Albert Belle provided an entire offseason's worth of entertainment with his monster homeruns and eruptive personality. Cleveland provides a base of baseball success to go along with a great city that includes the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
4. Turner Field
There aren't many franchises with a history as deep as the Atlanta Braves. I grew up in an era of dominance for the Braves, where three guys by the names of Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine showed what it was like to absolutely dominate an era. The history of success throughout the Braves organization is what draws me to this ballpark, as I find the stadium pretty standard with nothing to noteworthy about it.
My interest in visiting stems from the simple reality that great teams are usually put on this field every year. Fourteen consecutive division titles? That is crazy, and a line of success that I can barely fathom. I would never want to taint that feat by admitting that the strength of the division wasn't too high because the Braves rotation would have won anywhere. It seems like the Braves were either in the World series or knocking on the door every year in the late '90s and at the turn of the century. With that much success, there is bound to be high and low playoff moments. I can still see David Justice's sixth inning homerun in Game 6 of the '95 Series, handing the World Series title to the Braves. On the other side of the token, I can vividly remember the Braves getting pounced on by the Yankees in the '99 Series when they were swept. Regardless of the simpleness of Turner Field, this Atlanta sanctuary is calling me.
5. Shea Stadium
What can easily be labeled as the Step Child of New York Ballparks, Shea Stadium still remains at the top of the list of must-see ballparks because of the history thats has been made there and the obvious buzz that comes with baseball in The Big Apple. Other than that monsterous scoreboard in right center field, there is nothing that would really lure a fan to this ballpark as it is an old design that is simply outdated. Nope, not even the apple that pops up after Mets homeruns can make me fall in love with the grounds in Flushing, New York.
With airplanes routinely flying overhead and the poor design of the massive seating structure, Shea does not provide the best possible experience for the viewer. With that being said, how can you not visit the place where Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and Tom Seaver all left their mark as great major league players? The realization that one franchise's (Boston Red Sox) hopes of escaping melancholy were thoroughly shattered by a routine groundball up the first base line is enough for me to spend at least one weekend in the land of the Amazin' Mets. As for the culture and passion surrounding the city, I am sure you have a requisite conception.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Waiting for Zumaya's return
I recall a time last season where I was sitting in a ballpark, the Detroit Tigers were in town, and I was enjoying a great ballgame which the Angels happened to be winning. The fans in Anaheim are very supportive of their ballclub, but there isn't quite the East Coast fervor that is well known in Boston and New York. Porbably because Southern California is simply too laid back to really care considerably about much outside of the beach and beautiful weather.
But I remember sitting in my seat, not really caring that much about the outcome of the ball game, but caring deeply about the outcome of the next two innings. It was the sixth inning and the Tigers were trailing by a few runs, enough to where Joel Zumaya would not be used in the ballgame. One of the main reasons I happened to be so excited about the Tigers was because of the opportunity to see one of the games rising star pitchers.
So here I am, waiting and hoping for Detroit to string together some hits and make this crowd squirm just a little bit as they pull closer on the scoreboard. I will absolutely not leave this ballpark without seeing Zumaya on that mound. Sure enough, the Tigers bring it to within one run by the eigth inning, and I am almost positive they need to bring in their guy to give them a shot in the ninth.
The bullpen gate opened while the home team jogged into the dugout to get ready for the bottom half of the inning, and I did not see a player enter the field. I did not see a man burst out of the bullpen. I saw a mass of terror straggle onto the outfield grass before even thinking about starting into a jog. This was a beast, its bones and flesh marked with venom and its dagger sketched with flames. The dagger was the right arm of Joel Zumaya, and the rest of the man completed the vivid package. There was something particular that stuck with me as Zumaya entered the field.
I pay to attention to the slightest things, and I simply got a different feeling when this guy came in to take the ball. It was almost as if Zumaya knew, before he had even thrown a pitch, that he was the best man on the field and he was going to take his time to make sure his execution of sorts when according to his liking. His entrance had a sick and twisted part as he finally reached the infield and stepped up on the mound, gently bending over to pick the baseball off of the dirt, and looking at his catcher with a convincing nod that signified his readiness.
It is the epitome of simple pleasure, but it was a brief two minutes that I enjoyed just as much as any other part of the ballgame. There is an infectious attitude that comes with dominance, one that is subliminally portrayed. You know, this is typically the part of the game where you get up to go to the bathroom, down a hotdog, or pick up another beer. No sir, not for me. Not on this night anyways. I knew the talent at hand and was aware of the fact that greatness does not come along every game. When you have an opportunity to assimilate a superior image, you must take it.
I watch Zumaya throw those warm-up tosses, exclusively out of the stretch, and am simply in awe of how much power he is able to generate with his legs. His leg drive is easily seen as the gunpowder in this explosive, and the baseball reflects that. Zumaya pumps triple digit fastballs past three hitters in the inning, his focus not wavering in the least. This was not an extraordinary event by any stretch of the imagination, but nevertheless it didn't fail to stick in my mind.
There is something in us, an innate ability, that allows us to sense a magnificent aura and latch onto it. That is what sports allows the fans to do, and that is why we never fail to come back to games. We watch sports and follow sports because of the emotions involved. It is always entertainment, but the pinnacle of sports is when the fans feel like they are in the presence of a higher being or event. I am not relating this random summer night to Joe Carter's walkoff homerun by any means. I certainly don't put a 12 pitch outing in July on the same scale as the Red Sox World Series clinching victory in 2004. But it bothers me that we tend to undervalue great athletes, certainly not on purpose, until the final couple years of their careers if that.
It is hard to take a step back from the story that is unfolding and really ask yourself if what your are witnessing is real. The great players make it seem so easy that you almost subconsciously take their abilities for granted until they are gone, leaving you debating your buddies how great Player X was in his prime. From the feeling i got while watching Joel Zumaya dominate the mound like few can, I come to the conclusion that this guy can be one of the greatest relief pitchers we have ever seen.
The freak accident that has derailed the 2008 season for Zumaya is horrible and is a burden that GM Dave Dombrowski would undeniably prefer to be with out. The Tigers should not be hurting by any means as they have assembled one of, if not the most, feared lineups in all of baseball. They will put up a plethora of runs, and their pitchers will have much room to work with. So while the summer nights at Comerica Park will indeed be exhilarating, I hope I am not the only one who is pulling desparately for Zumaya to make a full recovery, and cannot wait until he is back in that Tigers regalia. There is a piece of me that is missing without that fireball swagger steaming onto the field.
But I remember sitting in my seat, not really caring that much about the outcome of the ball game, but caring deeply about the outcome of the next two innings. It was the sixth inning and the Tigers were trailing by a few runs, enough to where Joel Zumaya would not be used in the ballgame. One of the main reasons I happened to be so excited about the Tigers was because of the opportunity to see one of the games rising star pitchers.
So here I am, waiting and hoping for Detroit to string together some hits and make this crowd squirm just a little bit as they pull closer on the scoreboard. I will absolutely not leave this ballpark without seeing Zumaya on that mound. Sure enough, the Tigers bring it to within one run by the eigth inning, and I am almost positive they need to bring in their guy to give them a shot in the ninth.
The bullpen gate opened while the home team jogged into the dugout to get ready for the bottom half of the inning, and I did not see a player enter the field. I did not see a man burst out of the bullpen. I saw a mass of terror straggle onto the outfield grass before even thinking about starting into a jog. This was a beast, its bones and flesh marked with venom and its dagger sketched with flames. The dagger was the right arm of Joel Zumaya, and the rest of the man completed the vivid package. There was something particular that stuck with me as Zumaya entered the field.
I pay to attention to the slightest things, and I simply got a different feeling when this guy came in to take the ball. It was almost as if Zumaya knew, before he had even thrown a pitch, that he was the best man on the field and he was going to take his time to make sure his execution of sorts when according to his liking. His entrance had a sick and twisted part as he finally reached the infield and stepped up on the mound, gently bending over to pick the baseball off of the dirt, and looking at his catcher with a convincing nod that signified his readiness.
It is the epitome of simple pleasure, but it was a brief two minutes that I enjoyed just as much as any other part of the ballgame. There is an infectious attitude that comes with dominance, one that is subliminally portrayed. You know, this is typically the part of the game where you get up to go to the bathroom, down a hotdog, or pick up another beer. No sir, not for me. Not on this night anyways. I knew the talent at hand and was aware of the fact that greatness does not come along every game. When you have an opportunity to assimilate a superior image, you must take it.
I watch Zumaya throw those warm-up tosses, exclusively out of the stretch, and am simply in awe of how much power he is able to generate with his legs. His leg drive is easily seen as the gunpowder in this explosive, and the baseball reflects that. Zumaya pumps triple digit fastballs past three hitters in the inning, his focus not wavering in the least. This was not an extraordinary event by any stretch of the imagination, but nevertheless it didn't fail to stick in my mind.
There is something in us, an innate ability, that allows us to sense a magnificent aura and latch onto it. That is what sports allows the fans to do, and that is why we never fail to come back to games. We watch sports and follow sports because of the emotions involved. It is always entertainment, but the pinnacle of sports is when the fans feel like they are in the presence of a higher being or event. I am not relating this random summer night to Joe Carter's walkoff homerun by any means. I certainly don't put a 12 pitch outing in July on the same scale as the Red Sox World Series clinching victory in 2004. But it bothers me that we tend to undervalue great athletes, certainly not on purpose, until the final couple years of their careers if that.
It is hard to take a step back from the story that is unfolding and really ask yourself if what your are witnessing is real. The great players make it seem so easy that you almost subconsciously take their abilities for granted until they are gone, leaving you debating your buddies how great Player X was in his prime. From the feeling i got while watching Joel Zumaya dominate the mound like few can, I come to the conclusion that this guy can be one of the greatest relief pitchers we have ever seen.
The freak accident that has derailed the 2008 season for Zumaya is horrible and is a burden that GM Dave Dombrowski would undeniably prefer to be with out. The Tigers should not be hurting by any means as they have assembled one of, if not the most, feared lineups in all of baseball. They will put up a plethora of runs, and their pitchers will have much room to work with. So while the summer nights at Comerica Park will indeed be exhilarating, I hope I am not the only one who is pulling desparately for Zumaya to make a full recovery, and cannot wait until he is back in that Tigers regalia. There is a piece of me that is missing without that fireball swagger steaming onto the field.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Transactions and indecisions
Baseball news at this time of the year is not on the same interest level as the NFL playoffs, college basketball, or even the presidential debates. With that being said, it is not a completely dead time as teams are continuing to make moves to shape their rosters with Spring Training about a month away. There are teams who are proactive and their are teams who are stalled in hesitation. We have had both over the last couple of days.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to swap third basemen, although the deal regarding Troy Glaus and Scott Rolen is pending physicals. Both teams give something in order to gain something, with the edge going to St. Louis for a few reasons.
Troy Glaus will be heading to the Cardinals and that immediately solves the clubhouse problems that have been brewing in the Midwest. Tony LaRussa and Scott Rolen burned the bridge on their relationship, and it was ruined beyond repare. Ridding themselves of that headache might be enough to make a big difference come Spring Training in Florida when the media hordes flock the Cardinal clubhouse and will, for once, not have some confrontation to talk about in LaRussa's office.
Glaus, who has one less year than Rolen on his current contract, will be a difference maker in a lineup that is centered around Albert Pujols and not much else at this point. Glaus will have to assume a larger role, the role of protecting Pujols, but he can be a dangerous threat feasting on fastballs in the National League Central. If Glaus puts his foot injury behind him and is on the field for 140+ games next year, he can turn in a 35+ homer year. For what it's worth, Glaus is admittingly a worse defender than Rolen. The difference between Rolen and Glaus is huge, mainly because Rolen is a defensive wizard and perennial Gold Glover, but I think people have the right idea in mind but are attacking it from the wrong perspective.
It really doesn't matter how much worse Glaus is at defense than Rolen. Yes, the Cardinals will be "worse" defensively, but the question is how bad is it to have Glaus at third base? I don't think Glaus is the horrible defender that he is made out to be, and therefore I do not think his prescence will be a downfall for St. Louis. It is like comparing the defense of shortstop Ozzie Smith, who was the best at that position, and Derek Jeter, who is a superstar that is overrated because of it. Jeter is absolutely worse than Smith, but a longshot, but is he really that horrible compared to the avergae defender? No. The Yankees are doing just fine.
Rolen on the other hand will bring his defensive prowess to the AL East, but unless he saves a ton of runs, the offense he will bring will not make this deal that good for the Jays. Rolen is a good hitter on the decline, and one who is hampered by recurring injury no less. And that is the case with Rolen facing National League pitching. Factor in the difference with the pitching staffs in the AL East that Rolen will be facing on a regular basis and I'm afraid his offensive season could be less than mediocre.
In a smaller scale transaction, the Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent center fielder Mike Cameron to a one-year deal worth $7 million. Once we get past the fact that Cameron will be sidelined for the first 25 games of the season due to a failed drug test, we will find that this is a good deal for the Brew Crew. Not only are the Brewers becoming immensely better on the defensive side, but they also add a veteran bat who is still capable of popping 20-25 homeruns a year.
Cameron, a superb defender in center, will cut down the gaps in the spacious Milwaukee outfield. More importantly, his presence moves Bill Hall to third base and forces NL ROY Ryan Braun to switch to leftfield. With this switch, Braun will bring excellent punch to a spot in the field that is not normally reserved for the Lumber Elite. As long as Ben Sheets stays healthy and leads the pitching staff, the Brewers have as good a chance as anyone to win the NL Central.
In what has been one of the most interesting story lines of the offseason, we yet again return to the Yankee front where there still is no Johan Santana sighting. That doesn't mean there is not talk. Hank Steinbrenner continues to put the package on the table, one which is centered around right hander Phil Hughes, and then take it off about a week later. The Twins seem determined to pry another prospect away from the Yankees, and Hank seems determined to deny that proposal.
If this is the case, it is time for he Yankees to officially walk away from these trade talks. It is apparent that they aren't desperate for Santana or else they would have uped the ante by now. The fact is, the Yankees can be fine with the rotation they have and there really is no reason to break the bank on Santana. But Steinbrenner cannot keep playing these games with the Twins, because he is coming off as an indecisive owner who acts by way of waffling. If I were the Yankees, I would want a healthy and confident Phil Hughes in Spring Training with the goal of being a staple in the rotation for years to come. I just wonder at what point do all these wishy washy rumors involving the young star start to have an impact on his feeling towards the loyalty of the organization. Baseball is a business, I get it. But a business is run efficiently and effectively. This is turning out to be a trading horror film.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to swap third basemen, although the deal regarding Troy Glaus and Scott Rolen is pending physicals. Both teams give something in order to gain something, with the edge going to St. Louis for a few reasons.
Troy Glaus will be heading to the Cardinals and that immediately solves the clubhouse problems that have been brewing in the Midwest. Tony LaRussa and Scott Rolen burned the bridge on their relationship, and it was ruined beyond repare. Ridding themselves of that headache might be enough to make a big difference come Spring Training in Florida when the media hordes flock the Cardinal clubhouse and will, for once, not have some confrontation to talk about in LaRussa's office.
Glaus, who has one less year than Rolen on his current contract, will be a difference maker in a lineup that is centered around Albert Pujols and not much else at this point. Glaus will have to assume a larger role, the role of protecting Pujols, but he can be a dangerous threat feasting on fastballs in the National League Central. If Glaus puts his foot injury behind him and is on the field for 140+ games next year, he can turn in a 35+ homer year. For what it's worth, Glaus is admittingly a worse defender than Rolen. The difference between Rolen and Glaus is huge, mainly because Rolen is a defensive wizard and perennial Gold Glover, but I think people have the right idea in mind but are attacking it from the wrong perspective.
It really doesn't matter how much worse Glaus is at defense than Rolen. Yes, the Cardinals will be "worse" defensively, but the question is how bad is it to have Glaus at third base? I don't think Glaus is the horrible defender that he is made out to be, and therefore I do not think his prescence will be a downfall for St. Louis. It is like comparing the defense of shortstop Ozzie Smith, who was the best at that position, and Derek Jeter, who is a superstar that is overrated because of it. Jeter is absolutely worse than Smith, but a longshot, but is he really that horrible compared to the avergae defender? No. The Yankees are doing just fine.
Rolen on the other hand will bring his defensive prowess to the AL East, but unless he saves a ton of runs, the offense he will bring will not make this deal that good for the Jays. Rolen is a good hitter on the decline, and one who is hampered by recurring injury no less. And that is the case with Rolen facing National League pitching. Factor in the difference with the pitching staffs in the AL East that Rolen will be facing on a regular basis and I'm afraid his offensive season could be less than mediocre.
In a smaller scale transaction, the Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent center fielder Mike Cameron to a one-year deal worth $7 million. Once we get past the fact that Cameron will be sidelined for the first 25 games of the season due to a failed drug test, we will find that this is a good deal for the Brew Crew. Not only are the Brewers becoming immensely better on the defensive side, but they also add a veteran bat who is still capable of popping 20-25 homeruns a year.
Cameron, a superb defender in center, will cut down the gaps in the spacious Milwaukee outfield. More importantly, his presence moves Bill Hall to third base and forces NL ROY Ryan Braun to switch to leftfield. With this switch, Braun will bring excellent punch to a spot in the field that is not normally reserved for the Lumber Elite. As long as Ben Sheets stays healthy and leads the pitching staff, the Brewers have as good a chance as anyone to win the NL Central.
In what has been one of the most interesting story lines of the offseason, we yet again return to the Yankee front where there still is no Johan Santana sighting. That doesn't mean there is not talk. Hank Steinbrenner continues to put the package on the table, one which is centered around right hander Phil Hughes, and then take it off about a week later. The Twins seem determined to pry another prospect away from the Yankees, and Hank seems determined to deny that proposal.
If this is the case, it is time for he Yankees to officially walk away from these trade talks. It is apparent that they aren't desperate for Santana or else they would have uped the ante by now. The fact is, the Yankees can be fine with the rotation they have and there really is no reason to break the bank on Santana. But Steinbrenner cannot keep playing these games with the Twins, because he is coming off as an indecisive owner who acts by way of waffling. If I were the Yankees, I would want a healthy and confident Phil Hughes in Spring Training with the goal of being a staple in the rotation for years to come. I just wonder at what point do all these wishy washy rumors involving the young star start to have an impact on his feeling towards the loyalty of the organization. Baseball is a business, I get it. But a business is run efficiently and effectively. This is turning out to be a trading horror film.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Getting in the spring swing
There is a part of me on this January day that feels like I just watched Jonathan Papelbon blow fastballs by the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field to wrap up the world championship for the Boston Red Sox. That part of me still wants to saturate myself in what the Colorado Rockies were able to accomplish in 2007 and the run that the Red Sox are on. I want to think about how anybody, as of today, can think any other team is as good as Boston on paper. They are indeed beginning to embark on what we like to refer to as a "dynasty", and that notion will be solidified if they bring home the title in 2008.
The other part of me is getting real excited when I realize that we are about a month away from the best time of winter: when pitchers and catches report. We are a month away from writing stories about the ageless wonders getting ready for a new season. I love the spring for many reasons, but mostly because Spring Training is a bottomless well of baseball information. It is easy to get excited for Spring Training because you can pretty much talk about anything.
Every team has at least something to look forward to and that is what excites baseball fans. There are times during the winter where transactions are slow and the news is monotonous. The spring feels like a time where a writer can close his eyes, throw a dart at his "topic board", and then open his eyes to see what his new column will be. That is how great Spring Training is.
I am not sure why I love watching baseball players run through simple fielding drills over and over and over, but I could do it for days. Some would call this a sickness, which might not be too far from the truth. But for me, there is something about the process that is just as intriguing as the product. I love watching major league baseball players play during the games, but I equally enjoy watching them prepare. Everything about the spring months scream professional.
I am completely absorbed by the nature of baseball that I find a lot of joy in seeing what goes in to having a great season. I love the details of the game, and the fact that players must come to the park everyday and compete for such a long season. Those things are unique about baseball, and they all start when football is still being played.
It is amazing to see the game's best hitters hit their peak in the postseason much like Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz did in Boston last year. October is when the most important games are played, and there is no bigger stage than the World Series. That is the end product of what was an exceptionally long haul. But to see the start of that haul is to truly appreciate it.
I enjoy seeing the sweat that goes into being one of the best. I love watching the best hitters go through their drills everyday and then take the swing mechanics they worked on into the cage for batting practice. Baseball is a journey, much more than any other sport. You have to enjoy what it takes to get to October just as much as you enjoy October itself to really get the full affect of baseball and to appreciate what it takes to be great at this game.
There is something refreshing about the continuation of competition and the renewal of rivalries, all of which begins in March. I cannot say how many days I have spent in March, when there was a day off from school, where I awoke and turned on the tv in the morning to find the Braves or Yankees or Dodgers playing a 10 AM game against whoever. Those were the best!
The first five or six innings are naturally the most entertaining because that is when we get to see the regulars. But I am a baseball nut and that is why I enjoy those last three innings as well. I love to see the kids up from the minors trying to make an impression on the big league personnel. Those players are the future of the organization and what better ammunition to have for a debate with your buddy than the studs your team has coming up in the next year or so?
All in all, the best thing about the spring is that there are fans coming out to ballparks and baseball is being played on fields everywhere. It is the perfect time to get the juices flowing again, and prepare yourself for the daily grind that is a baseball season. We are allowed the luxury of getting that hated blood brewing in our veins and looking down the road to the matchups of rivals. Spring is when the sun shines again and the baseball season is born. It can never come too soon.
The other part of me is getting real excited when I realize that we are about a month away from the best time of winter: when pitchers and catches report. We are a month away from writing stories about the ageless wonders getting ready for a new season. I love the spring for many reasons, but mostly because Spring Training is a bottomless well of baseball information. It is easy to get excited for Spring Training because you can pretty much talk about anything.
Every team has at least something to look forward to and that is what excites baseball fans. There are times during the winter where transactions are slow and the news is monotonous. The spring feels like a time where a writer can close his eyes, throw a dart at his "topic board", and then open his eyes to see what his new column will be. That is how great Spring Training is.
I am not sure why I love watching baseball players run through simple fielding drills over and over and over, but I could do it for days. Some would call this a sickness, which might not be too far from the truth. But for me, there is something about the process that is just as intriguing as the product. I love watching major league baseball players play during the games, but I equally enjoy watching them prepare. Everything about the spring months scream professional.
I am completely absorbed by the nature of baseball that I find a lot of joy in seeing what goes in to having a great season. I love the details of the game, and the fact that players must come to the park everyday and compete for such a long season. Those things are unique about baseball, and they all start when football is still being played.
It is amazing to see the game's best hitters hit their peak in the postseason much like Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz did in Boston last year. October is when the most important games are played, and there is no bigger stage than the World Series. That is the end product of what was an exceptionally long haul. But to see the start of that haul is to truly appreciate it.
I enjoy seeing the sweat that goes into being one of the best. I love watching the best hitters go through their drills everyday and then take the swing mechanics they worked on into the cage for batting practice. Baseball is a journey, much more than any other sport. You have to enjoy what it takes to get to October just as much as you enjoy October itself to really get the full affect of baseball and to appreciate what it takes to be great at this game.
There is something refreshing about the continuation of competition and the renewal of rivalries, all of which begins in March. I cannot say how many days I have spent in March, when there was a day off from school, where I awoke and turned on the tv in the morning to find the Braves or Yankees or Dodgers playing a 10 AM game against whoever. Those were the best!
The first five or six innings are naturally the most entertaining because that is when we get to see the regulars. But I am a baseball nut and that is why I enjoy those last three innings as well. I love to see the kids up from the minors trying to make an impression on the big league personnel. Those players are the future of the organization and what better ammunition to have for a debate with your buddy than the studs your team has coming up in the next year or so?
All in all, the best thing about the spring is that there are fans coming out to ballparks and baseball is being played on fields everywhere. It is the perfect time to get the juices flowing again, and prepare yourself for the daily grind that is a baseball season. We are allowed the luxury of getting that hated blood brewing in our veins and looking down the road to the matchups of rivals. Spring is when the sun shines again and the baseball season is born. It can never come too soon.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Keepin' it in perspective
I am not sure when our country strayed away from its deepest legal value, or when we decided as a society that everybody has to be the bad guy. Why do we, as citizens, even pretend to associate our thought process with "innocent until proven guilty" when that is clearly not the case? It is a good thing that our legal system sticks to its word and doesn't equivocate, because my god, there would be a lot of innocent people convicted.
Baseball has been caught up in this steroid era for some years now, and we are finally coming to the culmination of the age that stained baseball in the wake of the Mitchell report. There is much clutter surrounding who did what and why. Nobody knows all of the names out there, and we will never have perfect clarity. But why is it that we can't be sensible whatsoever towards a player who is trying to prove that the allegations he faces are false?
Roger Clemens has been trashed since his name appeared in the Mitchell report. First he issued a statement through his agent, and that was not accepted by the public to any extent. And rightfully so. Statements made through agents are ridiculous.
But after being criticized for making his voice heard in the wrong way, Clemens granted "60 Minutes" an interview and went on national television to clear his name. He vehemently argued that he has never used steroids and that his former trainer, Brian McNamee, did not inject him with human growth hormone.
Still, the national interview was not enough in the minds of critics. So Clemens proceeds to do a public interview, on national television, on Monday to answer any other questions that people may have. The problem is that nobody wants to believe Roger Clemens. It is apparent that many folks have made their mind up, and they will probably never be swayed. This press conference was doomed before it started. Pointless to a certain extent.
Clemens has agreed to go before Congress and tell his side of the story under oath. I was one of the people who took a funny look towards Clemens in the last five years due to the size of his body and how he was able to perform at such a high level, given his age. Today, I fully stand behind Roger Clemens and I believe that he is clean. Other than him being found guilty in a court of law, or making a complete about-face and admitting using steroids, there is nothing that will change my mind and get me to think that he is lying.
I am not sure why what Roger Clemens has done isn't enough for all people to accept and move forward with the belief that he did not use steroids and simply wait until he testifies in front of Congress. There are some who are calling for Clemens to take a lie detector test. Why? Since when is someone's word not good enough? What did people do one hundred years ago without advanced technology? Automatically lynch someone for being accused? Sure, the lie detector test may sway some people towards his corner, but do you really believe that everyone will finally believe him even if he did pass a that test? I don't, that is for sure. And that is the problem with our society, and some of the people who cover sports or are involved in sports.
Unfortunately, negative sells these days and that is the single-biggest thing I hate about the media today. No sports fan watches sports to see somebody fail or to hear about how an athlete struggles with off-the-field problems. If you do, then you are crazy and I feel sorry for you. We, as sports fans, watch games to see great athletes accomplish feats that, lets be honest, we could never accomplish in our lifetime. The reason hitting a 95 mph fastball 450 feet seems so amazing is because the majoity of adults who played baseball as a child were terrified of that "hard-throwing" 12 year old who pumped 60 mph fastballs over the plate.
It is plain and simple what many fans and members of the media want today. They want to see people fail. Especially the biggest of stars. It is sickening that we can't appreciate what someone is able to bring to an arena of competition, to the extent that we do our best to convince ourselves that there is no way an athlete can be so great on his own.
People are crying out for Clemens to come clean, when all the man has tried to do is come clean. But much of the public wants this huge story of Clemens being guilty so they can have something with magnitude to talk about, even if that simply isn't true. There is a lot of hate, jealousy, and envy out in the world today and it is spilling over into the sports world. "Sports" is suppossed to be an area of fairy tale, where dreams come true and the impossible does actually happen. Why this effort to taint that?
So many stories are written about how Clemens has used steroids because he was accused by a flaky trainer. The problem is I could say America is a communist country and my statement would have just as much merit as the arguments from those who want to bury Clemens. A rebuttal of, "how do you know he didn't use them", isn't sufficient either.
How do i know? Because Clemens has said he hasn't in the public eye multiple times now. If you can't believe someone's word, then I guess you will never believe anything in life. At this point, there shouldn't be any doubters of Roger Clemens. If he someway is proven to be lying, alright then fry him until your heart is content, because he will have deserved it.
But until then, act like a sports fan, and act like an American. If you are not, that is fine, but stop kidding yourself. This nonsense of covering sports for the gratification of producing a story line, even if it is simply allegations and crushes a man's reputation, needs to stop. It never will though, because we have too many people who like to play spoiler. If you want a negative story or want to accuse somebody with no proof, then go conceal yourself and your soul in politics where those actions are acceptable. This is about sports and athletes and a great player who has tried to clear his name in any way possible. As of today, Roger Clemens is innocent of any charges and is a first-ballot Hall Of Famer due to his achievements on the field. If you wish to refut that, then get out of here because sports doesn't need you, since your ego has gotten the better part of your rational thinking.
Baseball has been caught up in this steroid era for some years now, and we are finally coming to the culmination of the age that stained baseball in the wake of the Mitchell report. There is much clutter surrounding who did what and why. Nobody knows all of the names out there, and we will never have perfect clarity. But why is it that we can't be sensible whatsoever towards a player who is trying to prove that the allegations he faces are false?
Roger Clemens has been trashed since his name appeared in the Mitchell report. First he issued a statement through his agent, and that was not accepted by the public to any extent. And rightfully so. Statements made through agents are ridiculous.
But after being criticized for making his voice heard in the wrong way, Clemens granted "60 Minutes" an interview and went on national television to clear his name. He vehemently argued that he has never used steroids and that his former trainer, Brian McNamee, did not inject him with human growth hormone.
Still, the national interview was not enough in the minds of critics. So Clemens proceeds to do a public interview, on national television, on Monday to answer any other questions that people may have. The problem is that nobody wants to believe Roger Clemens. It is apparent that many folks have made their mind up, and they will probably never be swayed. This press conference was doomed before it started. Pointless to a certain extent.
Clemens has agreed to go before Congress and tell his side of the story under oath. I was one of the people who took a funny look towards Clemens in the last five years due to the size of his body and how he was able to perform at such a high level, given his age. Today, I fully stand behind Roger Clemens and I believe that he is clean. Other than him being found guilty in a court of law, or making a complete about-face and admitting using steroids, there is nothing that will change my mind and get me to think that he is lying.
I am not sure why what Roger Clemens has done isn't enough for all people to accept and move forward with the belief that he did not use steroids and simply wait until he testifies in front of Congress. There are some who are calling for Clemens to take a lie detector test. Why? Since when is someone's word not good enough? What did people do one hundred years ago without advanced technology? Automatically lynch someone for being accused? Sure, the lie detector test may sway some people towards his corner, but do you really believe that everyone will finally believe him even if he did pass a that test? I don't, that is for sure. And that is the problem with our society, and some of the people who cover sports or are involved in sports.
Unfortunately, negative sells these days and that is the single-biggest thing I hate about the media today. No sports fan watches sports to see somebody fail or to hear about how an athlete struggles with off-the-field problems. If you do, then you are crazy and I feel sorry for you. We, as sports fans, watch games to see great athletes accomplish feats that, lets be honest, we could never accomplish in our lifetime. The reason hitting a 95 mph fastball 450 feet seems so amazing is because the majoity of adults who played baseball as a child were terrified of that "hard-throwing" 12 year old who pumped 60 mph fastballs over the plate.
It is plain and simple what many fans and members of the media want today. They want to see people fail. Especially the biggest of stars. It is sickening that we can't appreciate what someone is able to bring to an arena of competition, to the extent that we do our best to convince ourselves that there is no way an athlete can be so great on his own.
People are crying out for Clemens to come clean, when all the man has tried to do is come clean. But much of the public wants this huge story of Clemens being guilty so they can have something with magnitude to talk about, even if that simply isn't true. There is a lot of hate, jealousy, and envy out in the world today and it is spilling over into the sports world. "Sports" is suppossed to be an area of fairy tale, where dreams come true and the impossible does actually happen. Why this effort to taint that?
So many stories are written about how Clemens has used steroids because he was accused by a flaky trainer. The problem is I could say America is a communist country and my statement would have just as much merit as the arguments from those who want to bury Clemens. A rebuttal of, "how do you know he didn't use them", isn't sufficient either.
How do i know? Because Clemens has said he hasn't in the public eye multiple times now. If you can't believe someone's word, then I guess you will never believe anything in life. At this point, there shouldn't be any doubters of Roger Clemens. If he someway is proven to be lying, alright then fry him until your heart is content, because he will have deserved it.
But until then, act like a sports fan, and act like an American. If you are not, that is fine, but stop kidding yourself. This nonsense of covering sports for the gratification of producing a story line, even if it is simply allegations and crushes a man's reputation, needs to stop. It never will though, because we have too many people who like to play spoiler. If you want a negative story or want to accuse somebody with no proof, then go conceal yourself and your soul in politics where those actions are acceptable. This is about sports and athletes and a great player who has tried to clear his name in any way possible. As of today, Roger Clemens is innocent of any charges and is a first-ballot Hall Of Famer due to his achievements on the field. If you wish to refut that, then get out of here because sports doesn't need you, since your ego has gotten the better part of your rational thinking.
Friday, January 4, 2008
The new swaggering Sox
The 2007 season was one of utter disappointment for the Chicago White Sox, to the extent that you could throw it into the cruel-and-unusual-punishment bin. The southsiders were inanimate and looked like an old ballclub that was simply passed up by the rest of their division, let alone the rest of the American League. The recent world champions played at a National League level.
In my opinion, the White Sox' biggest problem is their lack of pitching. That is usually the common evil among all lousy teams. Great offenses can carry a hot ballclub, but they do not go to the postseason and win championships. Chicago was outscored by 136 runs in 2007, leading to their fall in the AL Central. Their issues will never be fully solved until their rotation depth is increased and their bullpen is shored up, but that is not the point here.
The point here is what Nick Swisher brings to Chicago that nobody else on the 2007 roster had. Chicago has some hitters to build around, but their main obstacle is health. Jim Thome showed he still has some pop left by belting 35 homeruns in 2007, but the game is taking its toll on the aging slugger. When Thome is not in the lineup, there is a gaping hole due to the fact that Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye are very solid hitters, but they are not great hitters.
It would of been foolish to think that Jermaine Dye could duplicate his 2006 numbers, which was by far his best year. But that is essentially what the White Sox did by rewarding him with a contract extension. A year like that deserves maybe another year, but for me, that year would have only given me a reason to think about Dye when his contract expired. Outside of that, there is nothing there that warrants a big-time salaray raise. It would have been acceptable if the White Sox waited to see if Dye backed it up with another big year in '07, but that wasn't the case.
Konerko is a solid run producer, hitting 31 homeruns last season, but he is not the middle of the order threat that he was in 2005 during the championship run. The issue concerning these three hitters is their personalities. These guys are all quiet guys who will put up their numbers, but they are better suited with a counterpart. There is nothing wrong with the way Thome, Dye, or Konerko go about the game, as I admire all of them. The hardworking superstar who respects the game is very easy to appreciate.
But lets face it, the White Sox of '07 were like going to an Orioles game. There was no life. This is where Swisher comes in. Swisher will provide another big bat to that lineup, which will be an outstanding compliment given Thome, Dye, and Konerko are all healthy. He will drive in his share of runs, and get on base a ton. I love him hitting in the three hole.
But the most important thing Swisher brings to Chicago is his swagger. Every team needs an identity, and this is exactly what Swisher will bring from Oakland. He is a guy that will bring energy to the field each day and will not shy away from controversy. Every team needs a gritty player who will keep the intensity in the clubhouse and who will stand up for his teammates on the field, and light a fire if they are stuck in a losing streak.
There was nobody in Chicago to set the tone last year. Some may say that that is the job of manager Ozzie Guillen, but there really is limits to what a manager is capable of. It starts on the field, and there needs to be at least one guy who can look the opponent in the eye and say, 'we are here to win, period'. Swisher will feed off the energy of Guillen, and vice versa.
I can picture the 2008 White Sox being a competitive ballclub simply because Swisher is going to wear a fastball in the back early in the season and turn right back around, staring at the pitcher, sending a thick stream of tobacco juice his way. No words need to be said, and no punches need to be thrown, but that image sets the tone for the ballclub and the other players take on that tough attitude. Pitching and hitting are the obvious staples of baseball, but attitude and competitive swagger are far too important to be overlooked as much as they are.
One thing is for sure. Nick Swisher is going to look damn good in White Sox black, and it won't be long until nine guys are strutting their way to wins.
In my opinion, the White Sox' biggest problem is their lack of pitching. That is usually the common evil among all lousy teams. Great offenses can carry a hot ballclub, but they do not go to the postseason and win championships. Chicago was outscored by 136 runs in 2007, leading to their fall in the AL Central. Their issues will never be fully solved until their rotation depth is increased and their bullpen is shored up, but that is not the point here.
The point here is what Nick Swisher brings to Chicago that nobody else on the 2007 roster had. Chicago has some hitters to build around, but their main obstacle is health. Jim Thome showed he still has some pop left by belting 35 homeruns in 2007, but the game is taking its toll on the aging slugger. When Thome is not in the lineup, there is a gaping hole due to the fact that Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye are very solid hitters, but they are not great hitters.
It would of been foolish to think that Jermaine Dye could duplicate his 2006 numbers, which was by far his best year. But that is essentially what the White Sox did by rewarding him with a contract extension. A year like that deserves maybe another year, but for me, that year would have only given me a reason to think about Dye when his contract expired. Outside of that, there is nothing there that warrants a big-time salaray raise. It would have been acceptable if the White Sox waited to see if Dye backed it up with another big year in '07, but that wasn't the case.
Konerko is a solid run producer, hitting 31 homeruns last season, but he is not the middle of the order threat that he was in 2005 during the championship run. The issue concerning these three hitters is their personalities. These guys are all quiet guys who will put up their numbers, but they are better suited with a counterpart. There is nothing wrong with the way Thome, Dye, or Konerko go about the game, as I admire all of them. The hardworking superstar who respects the game is very easy to appreciate.
But lets face it, the White Sox of '07 were like going to an Orioles game. There was no life. This is where Swisher comes in. Swisher will provide another big bat to that lineup, which will be an outstanding compliment given Thome, Dye, and Konerko are all healthy. He will drive in his share of runs, and get on base a ton. I love him hitting in the three hole.
But the most important thing Swisher brings to Chicago is his swagger. Every team needs an identity, and this is exactly what Swisher will bring from Oakland. He is a guy that will bring energy to the field each day and will not shy away from controversy. Every team needs a gritty player who will keep the intensity in the clubhouse and who will stand up for his teammates on the field, and light a fire if they are stuck in a losing streak.
There was nobody in Chicago to set the tone last year. Some may say that that is the job of manager Ozzie Guillen, but there really is limits to what a manager is capable of. It starts on the field, and there needs to be at least one guy who can look the opponent in the eye and say, 'we are here to win, period'. Swisher will feed off the energy of Guillen, and vice versa.
I can picture the 2008 White Sox being a competitive ballclub simply because Swisher is going to wear a fastball in the back early in the season and turn right back around, staring at the pitcher, sending a thick stream of tobacco juice his way. No words need to be said, and no punches need to be thrown, but that image sets the tone for the ballclub and the other players take on that tough attitude. Pitching and hitting are the obvious staples of baseball, but attitude and competitive swagger are far too important to be overlooked as much as they are.
One thing is for sure. Nick Swisher is going to look damn good in White Sox black, and it won't be long until nine guys are strutting their way to wins.
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