Sully Baseball – 20 Min Daily Podcast
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Follow @mlbreportsLast Updated May.17/2013
Paul Francis Sullivan (please call him Sully) is running a 20 minute Podcast every day at soundcloud.com. He will be posting a majority of his audio shows with us at the MLB Reports. RSS Feed here
‘Sully’ Baseball (Paul Francis Sullivan) hosts a 20 Minute Daily Podcast Every Day – 365 Days a Year – unless its a Leap Year – and then he is going to do another one.
check out Sully’s Baseball Daily Podcast Right here
You can also check out his full archived list of his written blogs for us here
On The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about how the TV deals in Southern California are hanging over the heads of managers Don Mattingly and Mike Scioscia. Also baseball has essentially become content for TV and social media. The sooner baseball embraces that, the better the sport will be.
Raul Ibanez, Jon Lester, Shin-Soo Choo and Zack Greinke owned baseball on May 15, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 16, 2013
I interviewed comedian Erin Foley at my home. We were supposed to get a podcast recorded in 20 minutes.
We talked for over an hour.
I split our discussion into two different Sully Baseball Daily Podcasts.
The first one, which was first posted on May 13, 2013, discusses our fandom for the Red Sox and Yankees.
The second one, first posted on May 15, 2013, Erin talks about attending the Aaron Boone game while I remembered going to the Bloody Sock game.
Erin is a great comic. Check out her schedule, clips and links at her OFFICIAL SITE.
For the record Clayton Kershaw, Mitch Moreland, Neil Walker and Matt Moore owned baseball on May 14, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
It is my birthday!
On The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast
today I talk about I missed seeing a pair of no hitters in my life. Then I also warn against Nolan Ryan potentially getting too much credit for the eventual turn around of the Houston Astros.
Justin Masterson, Travis Wood, Aaron Hicks and Justin Upton owned baseball on May 12, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 14, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast features a special guest today. Comedian Erin Foley, as seen on Conan and all over TV, stopped by the Sully Baseball studios. Follow @erinfoleycomic
She was once a Yankee fan living in New England. I was once a Red Sox fan living in New York. We had a lot to talk about.
Erin is the co host of the podcast Sports Without Balls that is very funny and worth subscribing to.
Listen to THIS EPISODE to hear about Erin’s altercation with a Diamondbacks fan in Burbank Airport.
Chris Sale, Jorge de la Rosa, Marco Scutaro and Jose Bautista owned baseball on May 12, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 13, 2013
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I honor baseball mothers, especially the mom who produced the three Molina brothers and also the Waner brothers.
I also wonder if there are superstitions that foil someone trying to hit for the cycle.
Mark Buehrle, Jose Tabata, Adam Wainwright and Justin Morneau owned baseball on May 11, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 12, 2013
This is the 200th episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast!
I break down some tendencies of Who Owned Baseball (WOB) and figure out how the Red Sox can salvage the awful Joel Hanrahan trade. (It involves infielder Brock Holt!)
Brandon Phillips, Lyle Overbay and one hit artists Jon Lester and Shelby Miller owned baseball on May 10, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 11, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast is now at episode 199!
Another day, another mindboggling umpire decision. And another topic for me to get worked up over.
Brian McCann, Patrick Corbin, Scott Kazmir and Evan Longoria owned baseball on May 9th, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 10, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast is jammed packed today.
I talk about steroids, bad instant replay, the surging Padres, the free falling Dodgers and Angels. And I am at peace with WAR.
Paul Goldschmidt, Felix Hernandez, Mike Minor and bad call victim Adam Rosales owned baseball on May 8, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 9, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast brings up the falling Angels again.
Mike Scioscia moves closer to his inevitable firing by the Angels and hiring by the Dodgers.
Plus A-Rod is the Uncle you hate to see at a family picnic.
Scott Diamond, Matt Wieters, Shin-Soo Choo and of course Matt Harvey owned baseball on May 7, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 8, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast looks at the botched attempts to turn a franchise around and how many utterly fail (I’m looking at YOU Dodgers, Angels and Blue Jays.
With all the failed quick fixes in baseball this year, maybe it is time to praise the success of the 1997 Florida Marlins’ get rich quick plan.
Stephen Drew, Scott Feldman , Andrelton Simmons and James Shields owned baseball on May 6, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 7, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast today discusses the potential showdown at the end of May that could cost a Los Angeles team’s manager their job.
Then I wish a happy birthday to Tom Bolton, who helped pitch the Red Sox into the 1990 ALCS.
Justin Verlander, Adrian Beltre, Adeiny Hechavarria and Jaime Garcia owned baseball on May 5, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 6, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast was recorded in part today at the Home Depot. I needed to do some repairs at home, and I entered that intimidating palace of unchecked masculinity. Later I had a ladder tied to the roof of my car.
Meanwhile I discussed which teams need some repairs as well.
Michael Shure, the host of Current TV’s The War Room, and I discussed Instant Replay on this episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Buster Posey, A. J. Burnett, Drew Stubbs and Jason Vargas owned baseball on May 3, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
I made my thoughts about instant replay clear in this video…
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 4, 2013
Michael Shure, the host of Current TV’s The War Room, was my guest on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast today.
We talked baseball, managers and surprisingly the topic turned to Chris Chambliss and his career. Listen in to the lively first part of our conversation.
Eventually, Michael and I decided we would buy the Marlins.
Dan Haren, Dominic Brown, Chris Tillman and Austin Jackson owned baseball on May 2, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 3, 2013
I recorded yet another The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast at AT&T Park.
It is the most beautiful ballpark in baseball where they honor many of the great players in their history. They should have a statue for Barry Bonds there.
Clay Buchholz, Lorenzo Cain, Jordan Zimmermann and Brandon Belt owned baseball on May 1, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 2, 2013
I recorded The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast at the Willie Mays statue in front of AT&T Park in San Francisco. There was no Giants game. I just felt like going there.
I talked about the transition from April to May in baseball and wondered what being in first place at the end of April means.
Edwin Encarncion, Justin Verlander, Rickie Weeks and Jaime Garcia owned baseball on April 30, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?,” click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – May 1, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast is all about the 19 inning marathon between the A’s and Angels that ended this morning.
Mike Scioscia is losing his mind, the A’s could have won it earlier and my wife is perplexed why it would go on that long.
Yovani Gallardo, Willin Rosario, Carlos Corporan and Brett Anderson owned baseball on April 28, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 30, 2013
On today’s The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast I HONESTLY make an effort to understand WAR. It will be an uphill battle.
I also salute Jason Collins and wonder when the first active baseball player will come out.
Kevin Correia, Yoenis Cespedes, Giancarlo Stanton and Clayton Kershaw owned baseball on April 28, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 29, 2013
I dedicate today’s episode The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast to my brother, the amazingly talented Ted Sullivan. I talk a little bit about us growing up, the different ways we celebrated baseball and how we shared a baseball moment as recently as 2008.
Travis Hafner, Bryce Harper, Travis Wood and Matt Moore owned baseball on April 27, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 28, 2013
On today’s episode The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast , I discuss Marlins’ manager Mike Redmond already being neutered and Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik acquiring too many caterpillars and not enough butterflies. The analogy makes sense.
Jordan Zimmermann, Carlos Beltran, Matt Tuiasosopo and Anibal Sanchez owned baseball on April 26, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 27, 2013
I recorded today’s episode The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast at my gym. I talked about the Tigers bullpen, the return of Daniel Bard and some of my unorthodox behavior while exercising.
Alex Gordon, Clay Buchholz, Gio Gonzalez and Gaby Sanchez owned baseball on April 25, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 26, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast today salutes the long and memorable career of Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins. He has pitched for nearly 20 years, surviving in the game and becoming teammates with some of the game’s best.
Edinson Volquez, Jordanny Valdispin, Alex Cobb and J. P Arencibia owned baseball on April 24, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 25, 2013
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, was recorded in my car today. Along with talking about who owned baseball, I saluted Didi Gregorius, who did more to help the Diamondbacks win last night than the box score would indicate.
Adam Wainwright, Justin Upton, Bartolo Colon and Howie Kendrick owned baseball on April 24, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 24, 2013
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about the Dodgers once overflowing pitching staff which is much more thin now. Plus I defend enjoying RBIs and wins.
A. J. Pierzynski, Matt Moore, Buster Posey and Shelby Miller owned baseball on April 22, 2013.
To see the up to date tally of “Who Owns Baseball?”, click HERE.
Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – April 23, 2013
Photo: NY Daily News
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I ask if Don Mattingly‘s job as Dodger manager is in danger? Should it be?
Lance Lynn, Bryce Harper, Hiroki Kuroda and yes Daniel Nava owned baseball on April 20, 2013.
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Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about how the Red Sox are a symbolic healing of Boston. They need to also offer some real tangible methods of healing.
How about free admission to police officers?
And oh yeah, help out the medical bills of those injured.
Small potatoes money wise and a big way to get the love of fans back.
Travis Hafner, Yu Darvish, Angel Pagan and Wandy Rodriguez owned baseball on April 19, 2013.
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Photo: ESPN.com
On today’s episode, I make a plea to the many eccentric billionaires who listen to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast:
Please buy the Miami Marlins! You get to be a famous rich big shot in Miami, and if you are even competent, fans will love you.
Troy Tulowitzki, Yovani Gallardo, Matt Wieters and R.A. Dickey owned baseball on April 18, 2013.
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Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast was taped during the San Jose Giants and Stockton Ports game played at San Jose Municipal Stadium on April 17, 2013.
The Ports won 7-2. It wasn’t a very good game.
I talked a little baseball, shared some memories, made some observations and bumped into comedian Garret Gonzales.
The G-Man is a San Jose native and Giants fans and had some clear points of view about where his heart lies in baseball and thoughts about mascots.
Check out Garret’s album on iTunes and he will be appearing on CBS later this year.
Wade Davis, James Loney, A.J. Burnett and Zack Cozart owned baseball on April 17, 2013.
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On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I look at the negative things in our life that we can express as fans in a healthy way. Also, the James Shields and Wade Davis trade for Wil Myers doesn’t look so stupid right now.
Mike Napoli, Derek Holland, Alexi Amarista and Homer Bailey owned baseball on April 16, 2013.
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Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I ask Is Mike Scioscia‘s job safe? Are the Angels making a stupid lineup decision? It sure looks that way.
Also, Bronson Arroyo, Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Correia and Joe Mauer owned baseball on April 15, 2013.
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Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I discuss Jackie Robinson Day and ask to pay tribute to Larry Doby, the second pioneer to break the color barrier.
I quote an article by Kim Geralds of The Oakland Press.
Also, Michael McKenry, Paul Maholm, Austin Jackson and Clay Buchholz owned baseball on April 14, 2013.
The podcast was recorded before the events in Boston took place.
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I review the movie 42.
I also look at the famous moment when Pee Wee Reese put his arm around Jackie and wonder if it ever really happened.
Also, Prince Fielder, Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright and Wilin Rosario owned baseball on April 13, 2013.
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On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about the parity in the American League and why the Angels resemble a little league team.
Also, Andrew McCutchen, Shelby Miller, Justin Maxwell and Justin Masterson owned baseball.
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I recorded today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast in the parking lot of Trader Joe’s. Don’t ask. I hate bean ball wars and brawls in baseball. And I let me feelings known to all the shoppers today. Meanwhile Manny Machado, A. J. Griffin, Bryce Harper and Sergio Romo owned baseball on April 11, 2013. Subscribe on iTunes HERE.
Jeff Francis, Walt Weiss, Jordan Pacheco, Wilin Rosario“
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about the different kinds of losses and why a blow out is always better than what the Red Sox endured last night.
Also I determined that Derek Holland, Jake Westbrook, Brandon Moss and Buster Posey owned baseball on April 10, 2013.
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The Padres and Angels were the last teams to have home openers. Naturally they wait to have the cities with the best weather open last. I talk about that on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast along with the fact that I think the Luxury Tax has worked wonderfully so far. Also I determined that Cliff Lee, Will Venable, Nick Tepesch and Miguel Cabrera owned baseball on April 9, 2013.
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From ESPN.com
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast deals with unusual math.
You don’t really start following teams until you turn 8 years old.
That means 10 year old Yankee fans have no memory of a World Series title.
Kids getting their driving license in New England can say the whole “Curse” thing was before their time.
And 26 year old have never experienced anything other than labor peace in baseball.
It sure makes ME feel old.
Also I determined that Brandon Phillips, Matt Harvey, Ervin Santana and especially Robinson Cano owned baseball on April 8, 2013.
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Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast was recorded at Dodger Stadium. I discussed why people should give L.A. fans a break for being late.
I also examined the history of the Dodgers and how they were the team that reached out to an African American crowd. They also did the hero for Jewish, Mexican, Japanese, Korean and Born Again Christian fans.
Will they be the team that has the hero for gay fans and Muslim fans?
Also I determined that CC Sabathia, Will Middlebrooks, Adam Wainwright and Adrian Gonzalez owned baseball on April 7, 2013.
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On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk with friend Tina Baylocq. She called in from Arlington in the middle of a Rangers/Angels game.
Then I declare someone to own baseball for the second time. Nobody has had two days where they “Own Baseball” until Clayton Kershaw today.
Alex Cobb, Justin Upton and Albert Pujols can be added to the tally.
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On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I announce who owned baseball for April 5th and explain why I try not to look at stats in a vacuum.
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Facial hair is the focus of today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
The big beards and messy hair on many of the players today will be a symbol for baseball in the 2010′s. Let’s appreciate them and be nostalgic for them now!
It is like a return to the House of David!
And with Chris Davis, Andy Pettitte, Cliff Lee and Shin-Soo Choo owning baseball last night, they all join the list of previous players who owned baseball on April.4/2013.
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On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, podcaster Patrick Beaulieu calls in to talk Blue Jays, Roy Halladay and why he thinks the Royals will have a solid season.
Patrick is the host of The Triple Play Podcast on MLBReports.com and talked about how his native Canada is reacting to a possible Blue Jays renaissance.
And with Gio Gonzalez, Clay Buchholz, Jed Lowrie and Gerardo Parra owning baseball last night of April.03/2013, they all join the list of previous owners.
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In a jammed packed episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about listening to Yu Darvish’s attempt for a perfect game while at Ikea, the futility of Heath Bell and the dominance of the San Francisco Giants.
And I determined which hitters and pitchers owned baseball for the day for April.02/2013.
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Bryce Harper owned baseball on Opening Day
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I cover the first full day of the regular season (April.01/2013) and I have created a new stat… “Which Players Owned Baseball For The Day?”
I will keep track of that all year. For now, enjoy the podcast.
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It is opening day!
The Red Sox are in first!
The Astros look great!
And MLB is currently owned by Bryce Harper.
Those topics and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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On today’s podcast, I talk about how futile making predictions can be, then I make them anyway!
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The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast had its first episode taped on an airplace.
While on an airplane, I sang the praises of the Astros and the Red Sox, two teams that I think will be lousy in 2013.
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Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about the contract extensions of Buster Posey and Justin Verlander and why I want them both to become Hall of Famers.
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On today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I discuss the Mets. I thought they had already hit rock bottom. Then they lost Johan Santana for the year.
I guess there was somewhere lower to go!
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Trading away Justin Upton was dumb for the Diamondbacks. They are probably regretting it now!
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I say “I told you so” regarding the Justin Upton trade and talk a little about Tim McCarver and why it is time to move on.
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There is some bad news for Cardinals fans all over the world. I’m picking the Cardinals to win the World Series in 2013, and my picks are almost always wrong!
But I have a good feeling about this Cardinals team and that is the topic for today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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How worthless is the New York Yankees farm system? They can not seem fill in a single spot on an injury plagued team even on an interim basis.
Why not give the likes of Addison Maruszak a shot?
Meanwhile, I remember my Weston, Massachusetts Little League teammate Huckleberry Keys on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Are upsets good for baseball?
Or is it better to see some of the great teams of all time have their crowning moment?
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I ponder those questions.
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On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I discuss the bizarre legacy of the Colorado Rockies and what is shaping up to be a fascinatingly terrible year in Denver for 2013.
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The Astros could be the worst team in baseball again, which is why casual baseball fans should be rooting for them in 2013.
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I answer the question “Why should anyone root for the Astros in 2013?”
To be cool, of course!
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Why don’t the White Sox get more love?
In the latest episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I go on one final anti WBC rant.
I invoke Top Chef, “USA For Africa”, Peter Pan and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 along the way.
Then I wonder why the White Sox don’t get more love from the fans and the media.
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The WBC is like a scene from Ocean’s 11. A Sid and Marty Krofft reference concerning Aroldis Chapman. An unusual Dodgers jersey. All on today’s podcast.
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R. A. Dickey and the Toronto Blue Jays laughed through a positive off season. But can the team overcome many potential pitfalls to win the American League East?
Are the Toronto Blue Jays the front runners for the American League East? Despite a great off season, I’m not buying them yet. I discuss why while I buy a rug.
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On The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast for St. Patrick’s Day, I make a suggestion to the Red Sox to develop an Irish born star.
I also pay tribute to Joe Cleary, the last Irish born player in Major League History.
Read Charlie Bevis’ wonderful article on SABR.org about Joe Cleary HERE.
Contribute to Irish Baseball at Field O’Dreams HERE.
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In today’s edition of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I look for a new baseball glove and wish a happy birthday to my mom while at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
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On today’s edition of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I make the connection between the WBC and the band Gwar while driving home from the airport.
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The Detroit Tigers don’t have a full time closer right now. Do they really need one with all of their pitching depth?
That’s the question on today’s edition of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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While driving along the 101 heading to San Jose, I decided to talk about Johan Santana, the Mets, the trade block and Manny being Manny in Taiwan.
To subscribe to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast on iTunes, click HERE.
While waiting for files to download, I realized that there are more than one way to enjoy baseball. If you are a traditional fan or a stat head, as long as the game is loved, that is all that matters.
Normally being frustrated at the office doesn’t lead to such a calming point of view.
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On the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, there are some regular subjects to bash (Brian Cashman and the WBC.)
Also Colby Rasmus gets some scorn as well.
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Why is there a picture of a squirrel on this post? Listen to the podcast and find out.
On today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I complain again about the World Baseball Classic. But my solution for how to change it makes sense. So do my ideas for the All Star Game and the Hall of Fame ceremony.
What does this have to do with a squirrel? Better listen.
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Bud Selig and MLB should be less concerned about the lame WBC and more concerned about pricing out little leagues for uniforms.
The WBC stinks, we can all agree on that right? The players going at 50%, the rules to make sure that they don’t work too hard and things like “Mercy Rules” and “Runners on base to start extra innings” show that it is lame with a capital lame.
But as Bud Selig and company try to sell this lemon, they are also pricing out little leagues to use their uniforms.
Is there ANYTHING more short sighted than that?
That is the topic for today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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The Washington Nationals seem to be the trendy pick to win the 2013 World Series. If the past few years are any indication, that is bad news for the Nats and their fans.
That’s the topic for today’s podcast.
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Ryan Westmoreland retires before he ever played a game for the Red Sox.
That is sad.
Francisco Rodriguez wants to return to the Mets.
That’s crazy.
And those are the topics for today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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On today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I celebrate the 8th birthday of my twin sons. They were my guests and we talked about baseball (and animals which is THEIR obsession.)
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Mike Trout will be making $500,000 as a 21 year old. Chances are that’s more than you made when you were his age.
What is stupider? The outrage over Mike Trout’s contract or Brian Cashman skydiving and breaking his ankle.
Those are the topics on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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A Spring Training Game by another name
On today’s Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I break down Ken Rosenthal’s article about the WBC and refuse to buy his reasons why we should care about it.
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Sully is jack of all baseball trades for skills. Audio, video, writing, producing and directing. He will be entertaining as anything you will hear on online – guaranteed.
Affleckersley … or why the careers of Dennis Eckersley and Ben Affleck have mirrored each other
Friday Feb.22/2013
By Paul Francis Sullivan (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @sullybaseball
One was a starting pitcher who became a Hall of Fame reliever. The other is a one time pretty boy actor who has transformed into an acclaimed movie director.
Besides the Red Sox connection, what do Dennis Eckersley and Ben Affleck have in common? If you take a closer look, their careers are quite similar.
Both were born in the East Bay but wound up living in Massachusetts
Yup, Mr. Boston, Ben Affleck, was born in Berkeley California in 1972. He moved to New England when he was a kid and obviously became a big Red Sox fan. He and Jennifer Garner still have a home in Massachusetts.
One of the Red Sox of Affleck’s youth was Dennis Eckersley, who was born in Oakland (and would obviously return to the East Bay for his greatest seasons.) He lived in Wayland, Massachusetts during his playing days and now lives in Ipswich.
Success came quickly for both, maybe too quickly
In the mid 1970s, Dennis Eckersley broke in with the Cleveland Indians. He was a dynamic pitcher from the start and threw a no hitter at age 22.
By 23, he was a 20 game winner and an All Star. He continued being the ace of the Boston Red Sox staff, starting the 1982 All Star game and twice finished in the top ten for the Cy Young Award before he was 25.
Ben Affleck was a working actor with a few respected films to his credit, including Dazed and Confused. But at age 25, he co-wrote the screenplay for Good Will Hunting with his childhood friend Matt Damon.
The 1997 film would be made by acclaimed director Gus Van Sant and win the Oscar for Robin Williams. The drama was an unexpected box office smash and earned Affleck and Damon the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Damon would also be nominated for Best Actor.
The two became critics darlings and the press fell in love with the handsome pair as they appeared on every magazine cover and talk show. The two collaborated on the show Project Greenlight which collected an Emmy.
Affleck followed up Good Will Hunting’s success with roles in the blockbuster Armageddon and the Oscar winning smash Shakespeare in Love. His star was on a steady rise. He would soon come crashing to Earth.
Personal turmoil would coincide with career failures
Remember how Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow were a big item for a while? Remember how the J-Lo engagement sparked all the media rage for “Bennifer”? There was a paparazzi feeding frenzy about Ben Affleck as his career eroded into a joke.
Films like Reindeer Games, Forces of Nature and The Sum of All Fears didn’t exactly win over new fans. And Pearl Harbor and Daredevil became high profile turkeys.
By 2004 and the flops of Jersey Girl and Surviving Christmas, Affleck seemed to have hit rock bottom. Even his previous triumphs were being discounted. Rumors swirled that William Goldman ghost wrote the Oscar winning Good Will Hunting.
And with Matt Damon’s star soaring with the Jason Bourne and Ocean’s 11 series, Affleck was clearly the less talented of the two.
Meanwhile, Dennis Eckersley had his own marital issues. His wife left him for his Cleveland teammate Rick Manning. And his partying and alcoholism led to his downfall in Boston. Sent off to the Chicago Cubs, he continued to slide.
Members of his family video taped him drunk and showed him the tape. He went into rehab shortly thereafter.
Both had a huge change and made shocking comebacks
In 1987, Dennis Eckersley was a washed up starter dealing with a drinking problem. At age 32, he was on his last legs when he was dumped to the Oakland A’s. If anyone had predicted then that he would have been a first ballot Hall of Famer, they would have been sent to an insane asylum.
Eckersley had three career saves at that point. Oakland manager Tony LaRussa, dealing with an injury to his closer Jay Howell, inserted Eckersley into the closer role. He took to it and revolutionized the position.
The first of the exclusive “one inning closers”, Eckersley made the ninth inning a mere formality. In 1988, he was brilliant. By 1990, he improved to mindboggling.
His ERA for 1990 was 0.61 over 73 1/3 inning. For eight straight seasons he walked fewer than 14 batters a year. His WHIP was under 1.00 for five straight seasons.
In 1992 he won the American League Cy Young Award and MVP. 10 seasons after being dumped by the Cubs, he pitched the Cardinals into the NLCS and was still one of the top relievers in the game.
Affleck rehabbed his own image by getting rave reviews tapping into his own life playing George Reeves in Hollywoodland.
But things truly turned around when he went behind the camera and directed Gone Baby Gone. He turned the acting responsibility to his brother Casey and the film got good reviews.
He followed that up with the wildly entertaining cops and robbers thriller The Town. With a top notch cast (including an Oscar nominated performance by Jeremy Renner) and a hair raising heist of Fenway Park, Affleck showed his value as a star and as a director.
Both Received the Highest Honors in their field
Dennis Eckersley was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2004, his only ballot where he received 83.2% of the vote. He is widely regarded, along with Mariano Rivera, Hoyt Wilhelm, Rich Gossage and Rollie Fingers, as one of the greatest relief pitchers in the history of baseball.
Like Eckersley’s 1992 season, Affleck’s follow up to The Town put him over the top. The CIA thriller Argo combined docudrama, espionage and dark comedy as Affleck played a CIA operative creating a fake movie production to sneak fugitives out of Tehran during the Iranian hostage crisis.
The film became that rare and most desired combination. It was a crowd pleasing box office blockbuster that wowed the critics and took home awards. As of this writing it appears to be the odds on favorite to win the Oscar for Best Picture, even over Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln.
The film has cleaned up during award seasons, taking home the top prize from the Screen Actors Guild, the Writers Guild, the Producers Guild, the British Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, the Cesar Awards and Affleck himself won the Directors Guild Award, an honor that eluded Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick.
As one of the producers, Affleck would win his second Oscar if the film takes home the biggest prize. However, he was not nominated for Best Director at the Oscars (perhaps lingering resentment for his early success.) There has been outrage for his snub, which shows how far his career has come. At one point it was a joke that he had won an Oscar. Now it was a joke that he wasn’t nominated.
Both just do not age
Seriously, take a look at a picture of Dennis Eckersley in the 1970s and look at him now. He has the same hair, the same mustache. He looks amazing. He hasn’t aged a nanosecond. He is tanned, looked healthy and probably could still make a few staffs as a middle reliever.
Save for a beard here of there, Ben Affleck hasn’t aged a beat either. He still has his hair and good looks and could be ready for a Good Will Hunting sequel at a moments notice.
Both can not shake their biggest failures
When people think of Dennis Eckersley’s career, what is the first image that comes up? Is it his clinching the 1989 World Series? Winning the 1988 ALCS MVP? Being a Cy Young and MVP? His no hitter? His Hall of Fame speech?
Nope. Any discussion of Eckersley requires mention of the Kirk Gibson home run. It is the most famous pitch he ever threw. And his reaction to it is almost as famous as Gibson’s iconic fist pump around the bases.
Eckersley seems to have a good sense of humor about the Gibson homer. He allows his studio mates on TBS to replay it with some good ribbing along the way. But in an odd twist, that home run is a huge part of his legacy.
Like Eckersley and the Gibson homer, Affleck may never win enough Oscars to rinse the stink of Gigli from his resume. The film with the unfortunate title was supposed to a romantic caper to cash in on the public’s fascination with Bennifer. Instead it was a dead on arrival flop that for a while seemed to put the nail in his career’s coffin.
Affleck, like Eckersley, has joked about his failures and seems to take it all in stride. Perhaps that is the best thing for millionaire celebrities can do.
So enjoy the Oscars this weekend and remember if Argo takes home the big prize, then Ben Affleck will be the most honored man in film for the year. I wonder if Dennis Eckersley will send his Hollywood counterpart a notice of congratulations.
Brandon Webb’s career was noteworthy and a warning
February.06/2013:
By Paul Francis Sullivan (Lead Baseball Writer): Follow @sullybaseball
Brandon Webb is retiring from major league baseball, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. This hardly seems like a monumental announcement this spring. Webb has been out of sight and out of mind since the beginning of the 2009 season. His official retirement notice is reminiscent of a band announcing their breakup long after they had their last hit.
But Brandon Webb’s career, brief as it was, was remarkable and also should be remembered the next time an ace pitcher looks for a long term extension.
As outlandish as it may sound now, Brandon Webb was putting together the beginning of a Hall of Fame career. This is not hyperbole.
The former University of Kentucky star was an 8th round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000.
He shot up through Arizona’s farm system and by 2003, the 24 year old Webb was a major leaguer and finished 4th in the Rookie of the Year vote. He posted a 2.84 ERA over 180 2/3 innings, winning 10 games for an Arizona squad that finished third in the National League West.
By 2006, he became an elite pitcher. He led the league in wins, shutouts and ERA+ and had the top WAR for pitchers. He won the National League Cy Young Award and looked like he was just getting warmed up.
His 42 consecutive scoreless inning streak in 2007 was part of his spectacular Cy Young defense. Webb led the National League with innings pitched, complete games, shutouts and ERA+. He finished second in the league for ERA, wins and WAR for pitchers while pitching the Diamondbacks all the way to the NLCS.
He was the runner up to Jake Peavy for the 2007 Cy Young Award.
In 2008, he looked like he was going to have his best season yet. He won his first 9 starts and by June 6 was 11-2 with a 2.58 ERA, averaging 7 innings a start. He was a 19 game winner by August 21 and looked ready to pitch the Diamondbacks back into the playoffs.
He had three bad starts at the end of August and the start of September that helped knock Arizona into second place against the Dodgers and probably ended his Cy Young bid. He would finish second to Tim Lincecum but still led the league in wins and games started while pitching 226 2/3 innings.
By age 30, he was starting his seventh big league season. Three of those years he was either the Cy Young winner or the runner up. Anyone would have looked at him and saw a workhorse starter who was an elite pitcher. And no doubt any team would have spent top dollar for him and traded away a group of blue chip prospects to acquire him.
He threw a grand total of one game in the majors since the 2009 season. He pitched poorly on opening day in 2009. He went to the disabled list with shoulder issues. He made a pair of minor league appearances in the Rangers system in 2011. He never pitched in the majors again.
Sadly a career where he got the hard part of the Cooperstown resume out of the way (the elite seasons and Cy Young victory) never got to the numbers compiling stage.
Like the actor John Cazale who appeared in five classic movies and then died before his greatness could be appreciated, Webb’s brilliance shot past too quickly before his elite status was celebrated.
A Cy Young winner and regular contender for the award can be the most coveted commodity in baseball. But the likes of Webb are not necessarily uncommon.
Pitchers like Bret Saberhagen and Fernando Valenzuela exploded onto the scene early and became World Series heroes and Cy Young winners before their 30th birthday. But injuries and inconsistencies flamed out their career. Jack McDowell looked poised to become the greatest pitcher in the American League by 1993. By the end of the 1996 season he was gone from the majors, save for a cameo here and there.
Even Webb’s American League counterpart in the Cy Young vote, Johan Santana, is a cautionary tale. By Santana’s 29th birthday, he had five top 5 Cy Young tallies to his credit including winning the award in 2004 and 2006. He seemed as much of a Hall of Fame lock as any pitcher in the game. But injuries have kept him from approaching the elite status over the past three seasons.
So now the Giants mull the future of their multiple Cy Young Award winning post season hero, Tim Lincecum. The Rays are weighing the options of the reigning Cy Young winner David Price, whose eye popping save clinched the 2008 pennant. The Mariners are thinking about extending the contract of their Cy Young winning ace, King Felix Hernandez.
Which ones are safe bets? Which ones will pitch deep into their 30′s and become sure fire Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux or Roy Halladay?
Which ones will flame out?
As good bets as Lincecum (his subpar 2012 season notwithstanding) and Price and Hernandez look to be, are they much more a lock as what Brandon Webb was after 2008 season?
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***
Paul Francis Sullivan “Sully” has appeared in the HBO Sports documentaries “Curse of the Bambino” and “Reverse the Curse of the Bambino” as well as on ESPN2′s Cold Pizza and NESN’s “Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey.” He has performed stand up comedy all across the United States and appeared on the TV show “Monk.” He is currently a producer for Wild Eyes Productions in Los Angeles. Sully has previously produced such shows as”Axe Men”, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Bonnie Hunt Show.” He received an Emmy nomination for his work on San Francisco public television. An award-winning filmmaker, he directed the feature film “I’ll Believe You” as well as many short films including “Sergi” as featured on PBS’ “Independent Lens.” Sully’s personal blog is here He has been a contributing baseball writer for USA Today, Baseball Digest, The Hardball Times and Time Out New York.
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