Author Archives: Jonathan Hacohen
The Legend of Sam Fuld: A Star is Born in Tampa Bay
MLB reports: How often does a 29 year-old outfielder with 155 career at-bats in the majors going into a season garner the hype that Sam Fuld has received this year? How about one with 24 career home runs in 6 minor league seasons? Probably not many. With all the attention surrounding Sam Fuld, MLB reports decides to look deeper into the player behind the hype.
Samuel Babson (Sam) Fuld was born on November 20, 1981. Growing up in Durham, New Hampshire, Fuld was a Red Sox fan. Ironic considering that Fuld joined the Rays in 2011 and got his start in Tampa Bay playing alongside childhood idols, Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. Fuld is 5’10” and weighs 185 pounds, hardly an imposing baseball specimen. Over the course of his 6 minor league seasons, Fuld was a gritty on-base machine in the Cubs system. Fuld was actually drafted twice by the Cubs, in 24th round of the 2003 draft and 10th round in 2004. Fuld’s time in the minors showcased the type of player we could expect to see one day if given the opportunity.
In his 6 seasons in the minors, Fuld hit a combined .285. Very impressive on its own. Consider though that he has a career 302/254 BB/K ratio in the minors and you now have the prototypical “moneyball” player. Fuld has a career .372 OBP in the minors, combined with 106 stolen bases. This is a player that hit 10 triples in 84 games for AAA Iowa in 2009 and 9 more in 2010. Fuld can clearly hit, get on base and run. With 404 runs scored in the minors, Fuld finds a way to generate offense. So why have we not heard of Fuld before this year? Why did the story start so late? The usual story I believe of scouting and stereotypes over numbers and production. As Sam Fuld is showing this year, talented players will eventually produce even when “experts” discount them over the course of their entire careers. All they need is a chance.
The biggest hindrances for Fuld I believe are two-fold. Firstly, his lack of height and stature probably frightened coaches and scouts alike. Big players are seen as having more “tools” and “talent”, which players like Pedroia are starting to change. Secondly, with few home runs in the minors, 218 RBIs and .405 career minor SLG, the Cubs were not prepared to give Fuld a full chance knowing that he would be unlikely to hit for much power in the bigs. Fuld got three cups of coffees with the Cubs, in 2007, 2009 and 2010. He received 6, 97 and 28 at-bats per year respectively. Despite a .252 average, Fuld had a .368 OBP during his time with the Cubs. Fuld also had 23 walks compared to 18 strikeouts. Fuld clearly was able to play his game in Chicago. But one home run and .344 SLG has a way of disappointing a team in a hurry. It is somewhat of a chicken and egg debate, as Fuld’s sample size in Chicago is a small one and with more playing time, perhaps he could have showcased greater numbers. Not known for developing young hitters, the fit in Chicago was not there and Fuld was never going to get an opportunity in Chicago. A change of scenery was in order.
On January 7, 2011, Fuld was essentially a throw-in as part of the blockbuster swap between the Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays. The
Cubs sent uber-prospect pitcher Chris Archer, outfielder Brandon Guyer, catcher Robinson Chirinos, shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and Fuld to the Rays for top starting pitcher Matt Garza, outfielder Fernando Perez and pitcher Zachary Rosscup. Out of options and on a new team, Fuld had a new lease on life. Just one problem remained: The Rays were loaded with hitters in key positions blocking Fuld. With Upton, Zobrist, Joyce and newly acquired Manny Ramirez in the outfield, rotating as the DH with Johnny Damon, and Dan Johnson/Casey Kotchman battling for the first base job, Fuld would need an injury or opportunity to crack the Rays line-up. The stars were going to need to truly align for Fuld and heading into spring training, there was no talk that I can recollect of Fuld becoming the Rays saviour. Sitting in the third week of April, the situation in Tampa Bay could not have unfolded better for Fuld’s career. With the opportunity and off-the-charts production, the Legend of Sam Fuld was born.
First Manny Ramirez retired one week into the season. A player that I expected to be a distraction for the team all season barely completed his time out of spring training before calling it a career. With another apparent failed substance test, Ramirez chose to go home rather than face the music before MLB officials. With Ramirez out of the way, it was time to focus on sorting out the Rays lineup. Going into today’s action, Joyce and Damon have been fairly steady the Rays in 2011. Dan Johnson, Jaso and Zobrist have been very slow out of the gate with averages under .200 each respectively. Upton has also been unable to get his bat going again this year and Longoria played only two games before missing most of the season from an oblique injury and due back sometime in May. Starting the season with a 1-8 record, the Rays needed an ignitor to get the season going. With little offense and the season slipping away, the Rays needed to do something fast. The solution: Sam Fuld.
In 18 games thus far, Fuld has only one home run for the Rays. Funny, but nobody has noticed. Ironically, Fuld hit said home run on April 11th, when he almost hit for the cycle. Almost…as with a home run, triple and double, Fuld hit a second double rather than a single to complete the cycle. That is simply the type of player that Fuld is: heart and hustle (hey, isn’t that the motto for the 2011 Blue Jays?) Fuld is hitting .366 on the season, with a whopping .395 OBP and .549 SLG. Fuld leads the American League with nine stolen bases and while he has only walked four times…he is simply too busy getting base hits. Two triples, six doubles, eleven runs and eight RBIs, Fuld helped the Rays 8-1 surge back to third place in the AL East with a 9-11 record. Last night, in a dramatic 11th inning loss to Toronto, Fuld went 3-5 (including a triple) with three runs scored, one RBI and two stolen bases to boot. It appears that the Rays have found their leadoff hitter for the foreseeable future, as the Legend of Sam Fuld continues to unfold.
We haven’t even touched upon Sam Fuld, the outfielder. The best way to describe Fuld is if Aaron Rowand and Reed Johnson
combined into one super defensive player. If not for the gold-glove calibre play of B.J. Upton, Fuld would be manning center for the Rays. With leaping catches off walls and showing great arm strength, the legend of Fuld’s glove is being well documented. Some people around baseball are already saying that Fuld could play for the Rays just based on his defensive abilities. But with his showing of hitting abilities, patience and speed, Fuld is showing the types of tools that superstars are built on. It is only a shame that he had to wait so long to get his chance to shine. But as the old expression goes: better late than never.
So what does the future hold for Sam Fuld? Looking into my crystal ball, I am seeing a great deal of haze. I remember Kevin Maas and Chris Shelton fans asking me the same type of question back in the day. The response is always the same: once the league has the book on Fuld and he has to face the same teams for the second, third and fourth times around, let’s see we he can do. Can he hit only breaking balls? Will Fuld be able to adjust when teams start to exploit his hitting weaknesses? Only time will tell. Sam Fuld is a great feel-good story. The Legend could continue for the foreseeable future, perhaps for this entire year and beyond. For a fan of the game that has seen too many bright stars burn out, I remain on the fence. While I want to see Fuld succeed, there is something about 2 for 30 stretches at the plate that have a way of lowering a player’s confidence and image. I will give Fuld the benefit of the doubt, but would like to see what he can do over this entire season before casting my vote. In the meantime, just like everyone else, I will continue to watch in awe of the player that has simply become known as: The Legend of Sam Fuld.
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Friday Face-off: Haren vs. Weaver, Battle of the Angels
MLBreports: The Angels are off to a fairly hot start in 2011, with a current record through Friday of 12-7. A big reason for the Angels winning record has been the play of its pitchers. Particularly, Danny Haren and Jered Weaver have been off-the-charts this season as they have steamrolled hitters out of the gate. I have received many e-mails asking which pitcher has been the best in baseball this season. That pitcher resides in Anaheim and the million dollar question is: Haren or Weaver?
Wins: Weaver is 5-0 in 5 starts, with Haren 4-0 in the same number of games. Wins is an arbitrary number, but both Haren and Weaver have won all of their starts. For whatever its worth, Weaver has the extra win. With both pitchers being perfect, advantage: tie.
ERA: Haren has a 1.16 ERA on the season, while Weaver sits at 1.23. Too close to differentiate. Advantage: tie.
Innings: Weaver has pitched 36 2/3 innings in 2011 while Haren has tossed 31 innings. Over the course of a season, this would translate into approximately 35 more innings pitched by Weaver. Points for durability. Advantage: Weaver.
Strikeouts: We all know that baseball fans love their flamethrowers and the Angels have some strong ones in this pair. Weaver currently leads the AL with 39 strikeouts while Haren has 27. Balls put into play create more opportunities for miscues while strikeouts are seen as the most solid outs. Advantage: Weaver.
Walks: One of my most watched pitching categories, I look for pitchers that limit their walk counts. Walks to me represents a pitcher
beating themselves, rather than the batter having to get a base hit. A pitcher who throws fewer walks creates a strong opportunity for success in my opinion. Danny Haren has walked 2 batters all season while Weaver has walked 9. Both pitchers are impressive in this category, but Haren has been just that much more dominant. Advantage: Haren.
Conclusion: The Angels hurlers are matched up fairly closely. Weaver is 28 while Haren is 30. Haren is 6’5″ and Weaver is 6’7″. They have very similar career ERAs and WHIPs. Any major league team would love to have either pitcher on their roster. But the younger and taller Weaver, with added innings and strikeouts in 2011 wins out over the master of control Haren. In his last 2 seasons, Haren walked under 30 batters per season. Weaver though led the AL in strikeouts in 2010 with 233. With 3 All-Star game appearances under his belt, Haren beats out Weaver’s sole appearance last year. Looking at career numbers, my pick would be to select Haren over Weaver. I prefer control pitchers and Haren still displays the strikeouts and innings pitched to be a solid ace. While Haren may in fact beat out Weaver by season’s end, at this point in the season Weaver is the best pitcher….by a hair. With one solid or blowout start over the next few weeks, the tides can easily change on this one. Enjoy your dual-aces Angels fans, they will be a pleasure to watch all season long.
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Ryan Tatusko: MLB Guest Blog
The players speak: MLB reports devotes this page to the players who will be writing blogs in their own words to you, the readers.
The inaugural MLB Guest Blog comes from Ryan Tatusko of the Washington Nationals. Ryan currently pitches for the AA Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League.
April 21, 2011
Ryan Tatusko: This year was a different year for me in preparation for many reasons. For one, I was starting out with a new team that I really know nothing about. Furthermore, I am going to be a full-time starter this year. In the past, when I was with the Texas Rangers, I was would routinely ping-pong between the bullpen and the starting rotation based on where they, the organization, would need me. I would then usually stick in the rotation around the all-star game, but this year was different. The Nationals have told me that at this time they envision me as helping the ball club as a starting pitcher and that’s where they wanted to keep me.
Heading into the season as a starter, I did not necessarily change the way I went about my off-season preparation or conditioning, but I did tweak a few things here and there. For instance, as part of my bullpen sessions, I wouldn’t throw them as frequently as I would when I started the season as a reliever. Instead, I would do fewer sessions with more pitchers. I also made sure that I would do more long distance cardio work to build my stamina for the upcoming year. My preparation for camp has never changed in the 4+ years that I have been going. The team you are with gives you a pretty set schedule as to what to do in terms of running, lifting, and throwing and as long as you follow it, you will be just fine and will be ready to go when camp starts.
Getting to camp this year was fun and exciting for me as I got the feeling that
I was a fresh face all over again, the same feelings I got when I was first drafted by the Rangers came back. I was excited, maybe too excited. The first few games I played in I probably tried to do too much. But once I settled down and starting getting back to my game, I felt like I had very good success during spring training. I really wanted to work on throwing my change-up for strikes more in camp, as it seems to be a pitch that has been less effective for me as compared to my other pitches. By the time that I left Viera,FL I felt that I made immense strides with it and I was extremely happy with the way I was throwing it and with the confidence I was displaying.
Not understanding where you are going to be assigned is one of those things that can consume you if you are not careful. When you start to think about the potential moves that the organization could and should make, you start to drive yourself crazy and you get distracted from what you do on the mound. It’s one of those things you just got to try your best to block out and not think about as you go through your process and getting ready for the season. There is always a rhyme and a reason that people do things and although it might not be evidently clear at the first get go as to why; you eventually find out.
I have since been assigned to AA Harrisburg to begin the year. I have made a few starts and although one particularly has not gone the way I would have liked it too, it is still very early on in the season. I see these starts as an opportunity for me to learn from my mistakes and to grow as a pitcher. There are numerous quotes and clichés out there that talk about having a short memory if you want to succeed at this game and they are all absolutely true. There is a fine line between learning and obsessing over particular starts. There is always something positive and negative to get out of taking the mound, but as a player you have to be careful and not let it consume you and over-think about the process. The really good pitchers out there learn and move on the quickest so that they can devote all their time to their next outing.
I am eager to get back on the mound quickly and progress through the season. I have never felt stronger mentally and physically and I can’t wait to see what the season has in store for me.
Thanks for reading.
Ryan
***A special thank you to Ryan Tatusko for his time and effort in preparing his guest MLB blog entry for MLB reports. Please follow Ryan on Twitter. In addition to being a talented pitcher, Ryan is a tremendous person and loves interacting with his fans. A friend of MLB reports, we look forward to reporting on Ryan throughout the season as he continues his journey to Washington. Good luck Ryan!***
To learn more about Ryan, please view our February profile of Ryan Tatusko.
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E-MAILBAG: Ask the Reports, Wednesday April 20th
Thank you for reading the E-mailbag. Please send all your questions to mlbreports@gmail.com and please include your first name and City/Country.
We will be compiling a list of your questions from our e-mailbag and posting the responses on Wednesdays.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Q: Here’s my plan: Ozzie Guillen as General Manager, Paul Konerko as Manager and A.J. Pierzynski as a coach. What do you think? Sounds awesome to me 🙂 From Tina, Chicago.
MLB reports: A great plan in principle, but I do not see it happening. Firstly, I agree that Kenny Williams is on borrowed time. After winning the 2005 World Series, the White Sox have not even had a sniff at another title. After the Jake Peavy fiasco, I think management will eventually put Kenny’s head on the chopping block as the reason behind the White Sox recent failures. Williams has a way of trading young talent and taking on big contracts which I think will end up being his downfall. From there, the new general manager will likely want to bring in his own manager and will need his stamp on the team in order to gain respectability. Also remember that the Marlins did not hire a big name head coach after the Valentine talks broke down. Further, the Marlins had inquired as to the availability of Ozzie from the Sox in the off-season and were told it would cost them Mike Stanton in return. If Ozzie plays out his deal with the Sox, as a coach with the 2003 World Series champions Marlins, I could see him taking over the as the manager as they open their new ballpark in Miami. Ozzie has a great deal of experience as a manager but not as a general manager and at this stage of his career, I see Ozzie remaining in the dugout.
To rebuild the team and start fresh, I can’t see the Sox going to an existing member of the team to take over the general manager role. With Kenny and Ozzie likely gone, it will be up to Konerko and Pierzynski as to whether they continue on in the game in any capacity after they retire. I have not heard great things about Pierzynski the player in terms of attitude, thus coaching to me does not appear to be a reality. Konerko however, I can see taking such a role on as he is an extremely hard worker and well-respected in baseball circles. But given the difficulties Sandberg had to get a major league managing job and the time Don Mattingly had to put in before landing the Dodgers gig, I can’t see Konerko getting a managing role without a great deal of coaching experience beforehand.
Q: I’m still pulling for Jonathan Broxton. Let’s not kid ourselves. Who else do the Dodgers have to go to? Kuo on DL and Jansen isn’t ready. From Matthew, Los Angeles.
MLB reports: Broxton is 5 for 5 in save opportunities, but that 6.14 ERA is not pretty. Looking at the numbers, the only person with a shot is Mike MacDougal as the veteran has a very solid start to the campaign with the Dodgers. If Broxton continues to give up runs like they are going out of style, MacDougal will get a shot. I seriously hope for your sake and Dodgers fans everywhere, Broxton can get it together. I don’t see many options on the horizon, you know your Dodgers pitching well.
Q: How do you think the Jays will do against the Yankees this week? From MLB reports Agent, Toronto.
MLB reports: For those that are not aware, my niece was kind enough to intern on MLB reports to keep up the tweeting reports while I was away on my honeymoon in February. Now joining us on Twitter, our agent in the field will mostly be looking after postings, articles and photographs on our Facebook page and helping with the occasional tweets. Great first question Ms. Agent. The Jays had a hard-fought win last night with Travis Snider hitting the game winner in the bottom of the 10th to take the first game of the series. Game 2 goes today and has Bartolo Colon for the Yankees and Brett Cecil for the Jays. Should be a high-scoring game as I do not expect either starter to be very effective. After a hard loss I expect the Yankees to come out firing early and take the 2nd game. A 1-1 split would still be considered solid work for the Jays and much to build on going into the weekend series with the Rays. That matchup will really show what the Jays are made of as the Rays are a tough inter-division squad with very solid pitching.
Q: I read on the site this week about some pitchers who had been injured. I felt that there should have been one more. What’s the status on Jake Peavy? It’s just a thought. I just wanted to know how he was doing. From Richard, Roanoke.
MLB reports: Peavy was supposed to return on April 29th but he has been postponed due to arm discomfort. The official word is that Peavy has soreness of the lat muscle that was reattached during his July 2010 surgery. Peavy will be taking anti-inflammatory medicine for a week and if all goes well, could be going back to a rehab assignment by the end of the month. Given that Peavy is getting on in years and had radical experimental surgery, I cannot understand the Sox insistence to rush him. Looking at what happened to Ben Sheets and Brandon Webb, there is nothing to gain by rushing Peavy and everything to lose. I can see Peavy back in uniform if all goes well sometime in May, but a relapse is very probable, if not certain. My prediction is that Peavy will either have another surgery and/or be shut down again at some point this season. He does not seem to be fully healed and apparently can re-injure himself at a moment’s notice. I am a big Peavy supporter and would love to see him out on the field battling for the Sox, but sometimes the body just has a way of saying no. Time will tell. To see my previous updates on Webb, Sheets, Morrow and Francisco that was posted this week on the website, please click here.
Q: What is the chance of Jhoulys Chacin on the Rockies winning the Cy Young this year? From Joe, Atlanta.
MLB reports: At 6’3″ and at the age of 23, Chacin has not even entered his prime yet. You are looking at his 3-0 record, 1.64 ERA and 1.091 WHIP and getting excited. I can’t say I blame you as Chacin had a solid 2010 campaign as well with a 3.28 ERA and 1.274 WHIP. The potential is clearly there and given what Jimenez did in 2010 (19 wins, 2.88 ERA), anything is possible. I give his chance at winning the Cy Young this year at about 2%. Why so low you ask? Mostly the competition: from Halladay, to Lee, Oswalt, Lincecum, Gallardo, Greinke, Lincecum…the list goes on and on. Chacin still plays in a difficult pitcher’s park and likely will be 2nd on his own team behind Ubaldo as the top pitcher. Chacin still has 2-3 years to grow into ace-status and while he has a good chance at 15 wins, I think that a Cy Young is still years away. Pitchers of Chacin’s age still tend to go through ups and downs during their growing pains. Don’t discount the experience factor in overall Cy Young voting and final statistics. Experience often carries the day.
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Part III – My Name is Oney: Making My Name in the Guillen World
(Welcome to part III of a III part profile and interview series with Oney Guillen)
In part III of my interview series with Oney Guillen, I explore the future of Oney. From his current career plans, to future opportunities, to even the possibility of rejoining the White Sox organization, Oney shared many insights to his fascinating life. I also learned about Oney’s brothers, Ozzie Jr. and Ozney and discussed their careers as well. Without further adieu, I present to you the final section, Part III, as I give you: Oney Guillen.
MLB reports: After having worked in the White Sox front office previously, would you take a job with a major league team if the opportunity presented itself?
Oney: Absolutely I would definitely join another major league team.
MLB reports: Could you envision yourself working for an organization other than the White Sox?
Oney: I could only see myself working for another team.
MLB reports: Why not the White Sox?
Oney: After everything that has happened between myself and the Sox and considering the hard feeling, I definitely don’t think that the Sox and I will ever be the same. It saddens me because my father is the manager of the team and I still cheer for the team. But this is how things have worked out and that is ok.
MLB reports: What role(s) could you see yourself taking on for a major league team?
Oney: I know that I would be a great coach or manager one day. Perhaps I could take a job in scouting, even scouting oversees. I would also consider just being in the front office, which in the right situation would be great because I would actually have a say in the operations of the team. There are so many things that you can do in baseball which makes the game so great.
MLB reports: Describe briefly your relationship with your other brothers, Ozzie Jr. and Ozney. Do you spend much time with each of them?
Oney: Well, my dad told us that we should always be best friends. My dad also made sure that his boys were very close and always took care of one another. All my brothers were very close growing up and still remain close today. I actually live with Ozzie Jr., so we see each other and spend time together all the time.
MLB reports: What do the Guillen boys do for fun?
Oney: We like to go out and just do normal guys things. We play video games, sports…you name it. All three of us have a great dynamic together. For example, we can get into heated arguments but it doesn’t reach a level where we insult one another personally. As our father taught us, we hold each other accountable for our actions.
MLB reports: Do you spend more time with one particular brother?
Oney: I spend more time with Ozzie Jr. because we live together and Ozney is in Miami. I have a great relationship with Ozney though and talk to him on the phone all the time and see him as often as I can. I have always talked to Ozney like he was a man, even when he was little…maybe that’s why I felt like he was already man a couple of years ago. Plus Ozney is as tall as sh*t… he is huge!
MLB reports: Getting to another subject, you have become well known for your voice on the internet, including Twitter. After your Bobby Jenks tweets in December, did you feel that you needed to change your approach or what you could say on Twitter?
Oney: As far as I know, the reason for Twitter is for people to be able to give their opinions. If the truth be known, I would have never said anything on Twitter if Jenks had not spoken out about the White Sox organization or my father. But Jenks did speak out and I felt the need to respond, to defend both my dad and the Sox.
MLB reports: Any regrets?
Oney: I was heated when I wrote those tweets and maybe shouldn’t have said a couple of the things I said, sure. But I can’t take them back now. I don’t live in the past; I learn from my experiences and just look to the future.
MLB reports: Have you spoken with Jenks since the tweets?
Oney: We have spoken and everything is ok. Let’s just say that everyone has moved on.
MLB reports: Were you approached by anyone, including the White Sox organization or your dad with regards to your tweets, including limiting or changing them?
Oney: No. I was not approached by anyone.
MLB reports: Following your career in baseball, you have taken on several new roles, from Triple Crown Productions to hosting/producing on 670 The Score. Please describe for our readers what is Triple Crown Productions and please provide background on your current projects.
Oney: Well, Triple Crown Productions is a marketing and branding company that my brother Ozzie Jr., friend Eddie and I started about a year ago. We started it because we know so many people in the game and we really wanted to maximize our skills the most productive way. So far, I can report that things have been really great with our company.
MLB reports: What are some current projects of Triple Crown? What is http://www.ozzieguillen.com?
Oney: We handle all of the marketing for Ozzie Guillen and look after all his activities off the field, as well as for Joey Cora and a couple of other players so far. We put together recently the “Ozzie Roast” which was a very successful event and other projects as well, including the official website for Ozzie Guillen, which we work with Major League Baseball on. The site is great and we will continue to grow it. We truly feel that http://www.ozzieguillen.com will be the best athlete website ever when it is completed.
MLB reports: Why the delays on the website?
Oney: We have been working on the website for over two years because the process was delayed in approvals from MLB. I am just glad that it is finally up and running. As far I see it, better to be late than never.
MLB reports: I understand that Ozzie Jr. is currently broadcasting White Sox games on the radio and Oney is playing baseball for the University of South Florida. Any updates on your brothers and how they are doing?
Oney: Oz Jr. is broadcasting both Bulls game and Sox games and he absolutely loves it. Oz Jr. and I have a radio show on the Score 670 that broadcasts once per week. It’s always fun when you get to talk about sports for a couple of hours every week. We are in the process of getting another radio show with another company as well…stay tuned…
MLB reports: What about Ozney? How is your little brother doing?
Oney: Ozney is currently studying and playing baseball at Miami Dade College. He loves living on his own in Miami and absolutely loves living life. If Ozney stays healthy, he should do just fine on the ball field. If you want to know the truth, I have seen many players get a chance at playing in the minors and they were horrible. With his ability, I don’t see why Ozney with his talent should struggle. My brother will be alright.
MLB reports: Where do you see Oney Guillen being in five years from now? What do you see yourself doing and how will you be connected to baseball?
Oney: In five years, I expect Triple Crown Productions to already be established and respected in the marketing and branding arenas. Our client list is definitely growing. I would love to still be doing radio and stay connected to the game of baseball in that way. But really, no one knows what the future will hold. All I know is that I want to be healthy. As long as that happens, I’m going to be just fine. For my family to be healthy and happy as well…all the chips will fall where they have to.
MLB reports: Oney, thank you again for joining MLB reports. It has been a pleasure speaking with you and learning about you. Thank you for giving us the inside scoop and on behalf of baseball fans everywhere, we wish you well on your future endeavors. Please keep us up to-date so that we can give your fans the Oney reports.
Oney: Absolutely. Thank you as well. It was great meeting you and thank you for sharing my story. We will definitely keep in touch. Thank you as well to all my fans and supporters of the Chicago White Sox and Ozzie Guillen. To the greatest baseball fans, I say: Go Sox!
***A special thank you to Oney Guillen for his time and effort as part of being interviewed for this interview series. Oney agreed to share private photos from his family album as part of this series. A thank you as well to Peter Stein, my editor in helping to prepare this piece.***
Please click here to read Part II of Oney Guillen.
Please click here to read Part I of Oney Guillen.
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
INJURY UPDATES: WEBB, SHEETS, FRANCISCO AND MORROW
MLB reports: Many Readers have been e-mailing me to find out the status of their favorite players currently on the MLB disabled list. One area of concern in baseball that I have addressed on many occasions is the injuries to pitchers in particular. While batters have their share of ailments, it seems that pitchers are most susceptible to the injury bug. If the names Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Lewis Yocum ring a bell, then you will understand what I mean.
The following players have received much requests from our readers. From our reports, here is the updates on each player:
Brandon Webb, Rangers: 15 day DL, Shoulder Surgery
As Webb’s surgery was performed by the Rangers team doctor Dr. Keith Meister, baseball experts felt that Texas had the best read on the health of the right-handed starter. Many experts were skeptical as to whether Webb would be able to return healthy and effective in 2011. At this point, the future of Webb remains cloudy. He threw a 70 pitch bullpen session with the ball club yesterday. Webb appears to be 4-6 weeks away from returning to the Rangers, which would equate to an end of the May, beginning of June scenario. I would be surprised at this point if Webb returns at all before the All-Star break. Webb has further indicated that he is willing to pitch out of the bullpen depending on the team’s needs. Conclusion: Texas is not counting on Webb this year and any returns from the former star pitcher will be a bonus. After such a lengthy absence from game action, it is possible that Webb’s return, if it comes to fruition, could be a short one.
Ben Sheets: Free Agent
After undergoing arm surgery and missing the 2009 season, Ben Sheets pitched for the Oakland Athletics in 2010. After an inconsistent start to the season, Sheet’s season ended in July when he required flexor tendon surgery. After this additional surgery and another missed year, I would be surprised if Sheets is able to return in 2012. At 33 years old and a history of arm issues, we have probably seen the last of Ben Sheets. Pitchers can only endure so many arm issues in their career and Sheets has appeared to have reached his limit. Conclusion: Retirement is on the doorstep.
Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays: 15 day DL, Inflammation Elbow
In the continuing line of baseball pitchers with various injuries and ailments, Brandon Morrow started off the year on the disabled list with inflammation of the elbow. The good news is that Morrow completed his final rehab stint for Class A Dunedin and is set to rejoin the Blue Jays this week. John Farrell, manager of the Blue Jays, confirmed this morning on the Fan 590 Sportsnet radio station that Morrow is expected to start either Friday or Saturday against the Rays and re-claim a spot in the Jays rotation. The 26-year-old Morrow has been both a starter and reliever in his career, settling in as a full-time starter in 2010. Making 26 starts, Morrow struck out a whopping 178 batters in 146 1/3 innings that year. The ceiling is very high on the youngster and as long as he is healthy, Morrow will continue to develop into a #2 starter for the up-and-coming Jays. Conclusion: Expect more visits to the disabled list in 2011 and into the future, but anything close to reasonable health will lead to improved statistics for the hard-throwing righthander.
Frank Francisco, Blue Jays: 15 day DL, Biceps
In the continuing search in baseball for closers, many baseball fans are curious as to the status of Frank Francisco of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays have many bullpen options, including Octavio Dotel, Jason Frasor and Jon Rauch. But with the trade of Mike Napoli to Texas, many people in baseball feel that Francisco is the heir apparent closer in Toronto. A much harder thrower than incumbent closer Jon Rauch, health and inconsistency have plagued the 31-year-old Francisco throughout his major league career. Reports indicate that Francisco threw a scoreless inning in his final rehab assignment for the class A club and will rejoin the Jays on Tuesday. As Rauch is 3 for 3 in save opportunities, John Farrell is unlikely to throw Francisco immediately into the closer role. But as spring training reports indicated that Francisco would be appointed the closer, the clock is likely ticking on Rauch’s 9th inning appearances for now. Conclusion: Once he returns and shows health, Francisco will likely start closing for the Jays within the next 2 weeks. Health aside, effectiveness will determine whether he keeps the role. Over the long-term, I see Rauch being the closer in 2011 for the majority of the year with Francisco returning to the set-up role he had maintained in Texas last year.
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MLB Scores and Player Highlights from Saturday April 16
MLB reports: As you wake up to your first cup of morning coffee, put down your paper and get ready for all the MLB scores and player highlights (yes, stats!) from around the Majors on Saturday April 16, 2011. Curious how your team did? What about the players on your fantasy team? Get ready for all the MLB results and Highlights from Saturday:
Indians 8- Orioles 3 (in Cleveland)
Don’t look now but the Indians are 10-4 on the season, while the upstart Orioles fell below .500 at 6-7. Josh Tomlin (who?) is now 3-0 for the Indians after surrendering 2 runs over 6 innings with 0 walks. If you need a starter for your fantasy team, it may be time to take a rider on this kid. He had a decent 2010 season so there is some history to rely on. Jeremy Guthrie, the Orioles ace, surrendered 6 runs over 5 innings but still has a solid 3.32 ERA on the season. Every starter on the Orioles got a hit on this night with the exception of Nick Markakis. Remember Jake Fox, Mr. March from spring training? Well for those ready for a breakout, Fox hit his first home run on the season and is now hitting .182 on the season. Remember folks, this is why you should never, ever, ever count on spring training statistics. Hafner, Cabrera, Buck and LaPorta did most of the Indians damage on this night. Hafner and Buck each had 3 hits and Cabrera homered for the second time on the year and had 4 RBIs. The Cabreras, Orlando and Asdrubal have been solid to start the year and Hafner looks to be finally recovering some of his lost hitting magic.
Yankees 5- Rangers 2 (in New York)
For all the doom and gloom surrounding the Yankees pitching staff this season, the Yankees are still at a respectable 8-5 record on the season. Despite the loss, the Rangers remain one of the top teams in baseball at 10-4. Freddy Garcia pitched 6 shutout innings and gave up only 2 hits and a walk over 85 pitches. I wouldn’t be quick to jump on the Garcia bandwagon just yet, but so far, so good on the season. Joba and Mo were solid in relief, Joba with his 3rd hold. Mo is already up to 6 saves and has yet to give up a run on the season. Soriano gave up another 2 runs in the 8th and continues to struggle to start the season. Derek Holland came back down to earth for Texas, giving up 5 runs in 7 2/3 innings. Texeira had his 5th home run for the Yankees and Cano hit his 3rd. Lineup of note: Swisher is now in the 2nd spot while Jeter hit leadoff as Girardi tried to ignite both bats. Jeter went hitless as is now at .240 while Swisher chipped in a couple of hits. David Murphy had 2 hits and is at .321 on the season as he continues to fill in for Josh Hamilton. Not a bad fantasy pickup if you need an outfielder. Curtis Granderson is off to a very slow start at .238, hopefully he can pick it up soon.
Reds 11- Pirates 2 (in Cincinnati)
Remember the hot start Pirates? At 6-8, the lustre is starting to fade and the true Pirates are starting to show up. While the Reds at 9-5 are starting to pick up steam and look to take the NL Central title this season. The real James McDonald showed up today, giving up 7 runs (6 earned) over 4 1/3 innings. Mike Leake was fairly good for the Reds, giving up 2 runs over 6 innings. Of concern is the 4 walks which he gave up, which continue to be an issue for him. The Reds continued to hit the ball like it was going out of style, as Gomes homered twice and is up to 5 on the year, Hernandez got his 2nd and Stubbs chipped in with his 3rd. Gomes is already up to 13 RBIs and Stubbs has 10. Nearly every Reds starter is currently pounding the ball and Gomes batted cleanup yesterday, showcasing Baker’s confidence in him. Grab Gomes immediately for your fantasy team. Bruce at .224 is struggling but could be a very good buy-low candidate. Stubbs continue to excel for the Reds in the leadoff spot and will break 100 runs scored this year. I literally have nothing to say on the Pirates hitters. None of them currently stand out to me as very special…if truth be known, this is a glorified AAA team. McCutchen and Walker have played fairly well and Doumit has been in the mix, but judging on overall numbers, including Alvarez at .208, this team will be scraping for runs all season long.
Royals 7- Mariners 0 (In Kansas City)
As the Pirates cool off, the Royals and Indians continue to motor along. The Royals are tied with the Indians at the top of the Central with identical 10-4 records, while the Mariners are at 4-11 and start to prepare for the MLB draft with the 2nd overall pick and rebuilding for next year. Sean O’Sullivan and Felix Hernandez literally traded stats lines today, as O’Sullivan pitched 5 shutout innings and 5 hits allowed, while King Felix gave up 5 runs (2 earned) over his 5 innings. Brandon League gave up 2 runs in the 8th innings during mop-up duty, highlighting concerns that he continues to be too inconsistent to be trusted as a closer long-term. The Royals outstanding young bullpen continued to dominate, as the three-headed monster of Crow, Collins and Jeffress shut out the Mariners over 4 innings and gave up only 2 hits. While I would trust O’Sullivan about as far as I can throw him, the Royals bullpen appears to be for real. With young, live arms that have together at the same time, watch for the Royals to continue to hold leads up to Soria most games. If any of their starting pitchers can continue the smoke and mirrors show, the Royals will have a nice little team to build up until all of their prospects arrive over the next 2 seasons. Alex Gordon went 3-4 in the 3rd spot and is now hitting a torrid .373 (see my feature article on Alex Gordon posted yesterday, outlining his career and start to the season). Aviles chipped in with 3 RBIs and is up to 10 on the season, despite a lowly .200 batting average. Billy Butler is also hitting a solid .373 on the season and looks to be the foundation of the Royals offense with Gordon this season. The Mayor of Omaha, Kila Ka’aihue is at .163 and will be back in Omaha or with another AAA team by May. Despite getting a true chance this year, Kila just does not seem to fit in with the Royals. Aside from Justin Smoak at .283 with 2 walks, the Mariners will give the Pirates a run for their money as the worst offensive team in baseball. Just dreadful.
Red Sox 4- Jays 1 (In Boston)
In one of those “I told you” games, I predicted the Red Sox would come out fast and hungry against the Jays and that Josh Beckett would continue his rebound. Sure enough, the Red Sox scored 2 runs in each of the 1st 2 innings and that is all the support Beckett would need as the Red Sox are now 3-10 on the season but looking to climb. The Jays, after a torrid start sit at 7-7. Beckett was dominant on this afternoon, going 7 innings, with only 3 hits and 1 run allowed. Beckett has 2 out of the 3 Boston wins on the season and his ERA is a sparkling 1.80 on the season. Bard and Papelbon were lockdown afterwards and Paps continues to cement his hold off the closer role and prove to his doubters that he still has it. Jo-Jo Reyes gave up 4 runs over 3 innings with an alarming 5 walks. If Reyes gets one more start he will be lucky as it appears the Jays will have very little patience left with the struggling hurler. On a bright note, in his first appearance of the season, Luis Perez pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up only 1 hit and getting 2 strikeouts. The Red Sox appear to have finally found their leadoff man as Jed Lowrie went 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Lowrie is hitting .500 on the season and the Red Sox would be wise to take advantage while he is hot. Lowrie should not still be available in any fantasy leagues, but if he is, snap him up immediately off the waiver wire. He is for real and 2011 appears to be his breakout year. David Ortiz had 2 walks which is a good sign. The Jays offense took the day off yesterday, although Aaron Hill had 2 hits but still continues to hit a mediocre .241 on the season.
Angels 7- White Sox 2 (In Chicago)
Don’t look now, but the Angels are getting hot. Anaheim (yes, that is what I call them) are now 9-5 on the season and are finding ways to get the wins. The White Sox, my pick for the AL Central, sit at 7-7. Tyler Chatwood, the 2nd youngest player in the majors got the win, pitching 7 innings of 5 hit ball, with only 1 run allowed. Don’t get all excited about the kid yet, he needs to show consistency over a few more starts before he will make a believer out of me. Gavin Floyd was just awful, giving up 6 runs over 6 innings. Howie Kendrick and Hang Conger had big games, with 2 hits, 3 RBIs and a home run each. Conger at .286 appears to be getting a good opportunity for the Angels and if anyone needs a catcher out there, grab this kid immediately. Howie Kendrick, for all my criticism for failing to take walks is off to a monster start, with 5 home runs. I still don’t see enough from the kid to warrant excitement, but if you are desperate for a second baseman, he is a good very short-term stopgap. Vernon Wells, remember him? As part of my Vernon Watch, he actually had his first 2-hit game of the season, with a double. Vernon is up to .140 on the season and hitting in the Anaheim ballpark, his numbers will be average this season. Juan Pierre had a couple of hits and continues to fool most people…except for me. Pierre is good for the occasional hit and steals, but I certainly hope the White Sox don’t count on him all season long to ignite the offense. Konerko and Quentin each went deep for the White Sox and continued to be the glue that holds the Sox together.
Rays 4- Twins 3 (In Tampa Bay)
The most thrilling game that I watched yesterday, the Rays stormed back to win a thriller with 2 outs in the 9th on a walk-off RBI single by Johnny Damon with the bases loaded. The Rays after starting in the cellar with the Red Sox now sit at 6-8 while the Twins continue their free fall at 4-10. Capps gave up a run in the 8th to make the score 3-2 Twins. Going into the bottom of the 9th, with Nathan pitching, it felt evident that the Rays would take this game. The first hitter in the 9th, Ben Zobrist hit a bomb that tied the game and from there the wheels just fell apart for Nathan. The Twins closer looked shell-shocked after being taken out of the game and despite early proclamations to bring him along slowly, the Twins have thrown Nathan in the fire to start the season and have been burned too many time. Capps, despite a 4.50 ERA is the best choice for the Twins and I expect Matt to take the job back any day now. Grab him for your fantasy bench if you can afford the space. Jeff Niemann had a quality start, with 7 innings pitched and 3 runs allowed. The Rays pitching is outstanding with a great deal of potential, I am exciting about every starter in the rotation. They are that good. If the Rays can piece together a decent bullpen, a big-if considering the early struggles of expected closer Jake McGee, the Rays will take the East as I predicted to start the season. Scott Baker continued his hot and cold mix, this time pitching very well by giving up only 1 run over 7 innings in the no-decision. The Rays offense has been so slow that Joyce batted 3rd and Lopez batted 4th in this game. The Rays have to get their bats going, but appear to be a bat or two short at this point in the season until Jennings arrives. Of note, Jennings is on fire at AAA Durham and his call should be coming sometime in May, June at the latest. Another great bench player to reserve at this point. The Twins bats continued their season long slumber, with Mauer out and nearly every starter on a cold streak. With Morneau at .208, the Twins have a lot of frustration in the early part of 2011.
Braves 4- Mets 2 (in Atlanta, game 1)
The Braves started off early at home, beating the Mets behind strong pitching by veteran Derek Lowe. A long-time favorite of mine, Lowe was steady in his 2nd win of the season, giving up 2 runs over 6 innings. Venters got his 4th hold of the season and Craig Kimbrel got his 4th save of the season. For those expecting a battle, the smart money as I told you in the preseason was to be on Kimbrel. Committees have rarely worked in the closing department and by not yielding a run to start the year, Kimbrel is the closer to have. Another must pick-up on the fantasy waiver wire. Venters, while great for holds is unlikely to get the job unless injury or poor performance by Kimbrel. D.J. Carrasco gave up 3 runs in 3 2/3 innings for the lowly Mets and will be in the firing line all season for a Mets squad that will finish with the team last in the National League. Alex Gonzalez had 2 home runs on the day, while Chipper Jones and rookie Freddie Freeman responded with bombs of their own. Aside from Chipper and McCann, most of the Braves offense is struggling to start the year. It was promising to see Freeman have a home run and 2 walks on the day. Despite expected growing pains, he should be a good one. The Mets continue to rely on Reyes, Wright and Davis, while Jason Bay is expected to return sometime this week. Playing in the 2nd coming of Petco, temper expectations.
Braves 4 – Mets 0 (in Atlanta, game 2)
With the home sweep of the doubleheader, the Braves are now 6-8 on the season while the Mets are 4-10. Watching the Mets play, I am not even sure how they have 4 wins on the year. Jair Jurrjens, in his season debut was brilliant, pitching 7 shutout innings for the win, giving up 2 hits and 1 walk. Yes, it was only against the Mets, but Jurrjens is back and a must pickup in all fantasy leagues if available. Mike Pelfrey pitched ok, giving up 4 runs in 5 innings. Eric Hinske had 3 hits in the cleanup spot for the Braves as Gonzalez tries to shake up the lineup to get their offense going.
Astros 5- Padres 3 (in Houston)
In a game that only a diehard baseball fan could watch, the young and rebuilding Astros moved to 5-10, while the Padres sit at 6-8. Nelson Figueora pitched a decent game for the Astros but Brandon Lyon was the bigger news, setting down after his early season meltdown to get his 3rd save of the season. Lyon will occasionally implode but with 3 saves already, he should finish with 20+ saves by season’s end. Matt Latos continued to struggle to return to form, giving up 5 runs over 6 1/3 innings. A great buy-low candidate if I ever saw one. Chris Johnson was the star on this day with a home run and 2 RBIs but the Astros offense has been ice-cold for most of the season, so I would not get too excited. Chase Headley had 2 doubles and 2 RBIs in the cleanup spot and is getting a full chance to drive the Padres offense. It still boggles my mind that Orlando Hudson is hitting 3rd in that lineup.
Cubs 8- Rockies 3 (in Colorado)
The Cubs, believe it or not, sit at 7-7 and played a great game yesterday. The Rockies despite the loss have a brilliant 11-3 record. Casey Coleman got his first win of the year, giving up 1 run over 5 2/3 innings. Not much to still get excited about here. Jason Hammel, pitched a strong game, giving up 3 runs over 6 innings in the no-decision quality start. The key stat is the 1 walk given up. Remember Hammel was a top prospect with the Rays years ago and is a solid starter when going well. Paulino, with the 5 runs given up over 1/3 of an inning blew the game for the Rockies. Morales and Lidstrom were fantastic in relief for the Rockies and have combined with Street to form a very formidable Rockies bullpen. Alfonso Soriano had 3 hits, including his 5th home run and continued his strong start to the season. Don’t look now but Soriano is hitting .286 with 12 RBIs on the season. But given his age and injury track record, I expect the wheels to fall off the Soriano bus soon. Castro with 4 hits is now up to .397 on the season and has Cubs fans very excited about his future as their leadoff man. Tulowitzki had 2 hits and is hitting .365 on the season. Chris Iannetta had a home run, 2 RBIs and a walk and should have a breakout year this year.
Giants 5- Diamondbacks 3 (in Arizona)
Despite an appeared slow start, the Giants record now sits at 8-6 to start the season while the Kirk Gibson led Diamondbacks have a 5-8 record. Barry Zito appears to have an injury concern, as he was pulled after only 1 2/3 innings and giving up 2 runs. On a bright note, Brian “fear the beard” Wilson got his 4th save, despite a 9.64 ERA on the season. Joe Saunders, Mr. Inconsistency, gave up 5 runs in 6 innings for the D’backs with 12 hits allowed and at 0-2 and a 6.32 ERA on the season should be an afterthought for all fantasy teams. Buster Posey had a homer run and 2 RBIs and hitting .306 season continues to be the star of the Giants. Aaron Rowand has been reborn, going 3-4 in the leadoff spot and scored 2 runs. With a .359 average on the season, Rowand is just what the doctor ordered for the Giants. Stephen Drew is hitting .313 on the season and Miguel Montero continues to make a push for being one of the top NL catchers by getting 2 RBIs and hitting .415 on the season.
Athletics 6- Tigers 2 (in Oakland)
At identical 7-8 records, the Tigers and Athletics have been inconsistent to say the least to start the year. The Athletics with slumbering bats continued to ride their good young pitching to a win. Staff veteran Dallas Braden got his first win of the year, pitching 5 innings with 3 hits allowed, 1 run (0 earned). Verlander was not his usual dominant self, giving up 4 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings pitched. De Jesus, Willingham and Matsui had nice games for the Athletics. As those three hit, so will go the A’s. The Tigers have Miguel Cabrera at .327 and little more offense a this point. Austin Jackson at .170 appears to be hitting into the sophomore slump for the Tigers.
Cardinals 9- Dodgers 2 (in Los Angeles)
The Cardinals, my pick for the NL Wildcard continued their rebound with another strong performance in LA, upping their record to 8-7. My pick for the NL West, the Dodgers have fallen to 6-9. Kyle McClellan, under the tutelage of Dave Duncan upped his record to 2-0 on the year by pitching 7 innings of 1 run ball, 6 hits allowed and 0 walks. Perhaps the Jamie Garcia of 2011, the Cardinals will need a strong McClellan to contend this year and he is worth an immediate spot on your fantasy bench. Clayton Kershaw was rocked on this night, giving up 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings. As a young fantasy ace, Kershaw will have his ups and downs this year. Theriot, Pujols, Holliday and Craig were the hitting stars of this night, although it was curious to sit Berkman after a 2-home run night the other night. Ethier and Kemp had great nights at the plate for the Dodgers and remain the focal points of the Dodgers offense. Kemp in particular has really come into his own and looks to be a strong early season MVP candidate.
Brewers -Nationals: Postponed
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ALEX GORDON REINVENTED: KANSAS CITY ROYALS
MLB reports: In 2005, B.J. (Bossman Jr.) Upton went first overall in the MLB draft to the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now shortened to “The Rays”). The Kansas City Royals, with the second pick nabbed University of Nebraska sensation Alex Gordon. After being named college player of the year and minor league player of the year, Gordon made his long anticipated major league debut on April 2, 2007. The then 23 year old Gordon was the then star prospect for the Royals. Comparisons to George Brett were prevalent and after unlimited success through collegiate ball and the minors, a quick adjustment was expected for Gordon. A player with his skills and natural ability simply could not fail. Or so many of the experts in baseball thought. The next four years began a stream of injuries, hardships, trips to the minors and position changes for Alex Gordon. A difficult road indeed.
I was fortunate to watch many of Alex Gordon’s games in 2007. The rookie third baseman ended up playing almost a full season that year and finished with six hundred plate appearances. Fifteen home runs and sixty RBIs were seen as decent, but a .247 average and 41/137 BB/K ratio indicated that Gordon was still very much inexperienced and required seasoning. In my estimation, Gordon simply needed some seasoning and getting further experience in baseball would help me grow into stardom. I saw some very bad habits back in that rookie year, including impatience at the plate and instances of a lack of confidence in himself as he suffered through various slumps that year. But in no means could any expert envision what would transpire over the next three years.
As the Royals continued to lose and fall in the standings, so did Alex Gordon’s stock. After playing in 134 games in 2008, Gordon only played partial seasons in 2009 and 2010. Injuries continued to mount and when Gordon was not in the minors or the DL, he was struggling in the majors. Gordon actually fell to a .215 average in 2010 with a .671 OPS. Stories continued to mount that as he was approaching the age of twenty-seven, his time in Kansas City was done and a change of scenery was needed. To further cause insult to injury, Gordon’s defense at third base was considered so below average that the Royals moved him to the outfield in 2010. Now an outfielder learning a new position and hoping to get his career on track, few people knew what to expect from Gordon in 2011. But there were signs of a rebound coming.
The top factors behind an Alex Gordon breakthrough that I predicted for the 2011 season:
1) 27 years old: This is the age when most players seem “to get it” and there was no reason why Gordon would be different. After a great deal of exposure to the majors, I saw confidence more than anything else as the issue. As long as Gordon was healthy, as long as he believed in himself, there was no reason for him not to produce.
2) Talent: Talent does not disappear and as a former College and Minor League Player of the Year, Gordon obviously has an abundance of skills. When I read that Gordon was rated as the purest collegiate hitter in his class and George Brett is drooling over signing him, you know that the player is something special. Many players have heart. Many players have drive. But few, if any players, have the talent that Alex Gordon has. You can’t teach talent like his and as long as he was still young and playing, I was prepared to give Gordon the benefit of the doubt.
3) Pressure is Off: Gordon might have been one of the players that had too much expectations placed on him too soon and the goals set for him were almost too high that no player could reach them. Being expected to turn around the entire Royals ball club and become the next George Brett is a lot of pressure. I believe that the pressure got to Gordon and he cracked. Now, going into 2011, switching to the outfield and not being expected to be the foundation of the Royals, Gordon was going to be able to simply go out and play his game. His way.
4) The next wave: Going in line with the third point, the Royals have many prospects on the way. Fans of the Royals and prospects know the names Moustakas, Hosmer and Myers, the big three expected to land in Kansas City over the next two years. The media and fans have been clamouring for these prospects, which has created hope in Kansas City. From a team that was playing the last few years with little optimism, 2011 was promising to be the start of something very special for the Royals. Never discount the effect of winning or the hope of winning. It certainly has a way of uplifting players.
5) The vets: With the addition of Jeff Francis, Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera, the Royals added role players who would be strong in the clubhouse and held mold a young, up-and-coming ball club. One of the players most likely to benefit was Alex Gordon, who requires mentorship and assistance to build his career. Rather than getting lost in the shuffle, Gordon could be re-invented and re-born into a major league star.
I wrote several pieces and conversed with many fans during the offseason touting the return of Alex Gordon. The above factors being key in my
mind, I saw Alex Gordon as the ultimate low risk, high reward player. For all the talk that the Royals might trade Gordon, I could not foresee that any MLB could offer a sufficient return to the Royals to cut loose a player of his potential. I was relieved to see that Gordon played full-time in spring training and would be in the Royals lineup every day starting opening day. The results: Gordon, 12 games into the season going into today’s action, is hitting .345 and has a .907 OPS. Leading the league in hits with 19 and 7 doubles, clearly Alex Gordon is finally starting to arrive. His Royals, with a 7-0 win over the Mariners today now stand at an imposing 10-4 record. Gordon, now the #3 hitter in the lineup, had a 3-4 day with 3 runs and 2 RBIs. To say that Gordon is starting to meet his potential is an understatement. Royals fans and Gordon supporters are excited, as everything seems to finally be going right.
Further, with a bullpen of Soria, Crow, Collins and Jeffress, the Royals pitching in the late innings has been lock-down and the team overall has received the pitching and hitting necessary to excel. But while the Royals and Gordon may be on a current high, warning signs are there for both. From a hitting standpoint, pulling Gordon and Butler aside, the Royals seem to be scoring runs with smoke and mirrors. I see little hitting for this team until the big-three hitting prospects arrive in the next two years. From Gordon’s standpoint, despite his newly rediscovered hitting stroke, has an alarming 3/11 BB/K rate. But striking out at a high clip with few walks, I am worried that Gordon is still continuing his free swinging ways and has not learned patience at the plate. So when pitchers will find his weaknesses and exploit them, the base hits he gets right now will become outs. I am by no means predicting doom and gloom for Gordon and the Royals, just showcasing potential red flags. But given his strong start, as long as Gordon continues his adjustments and has confidence in himself, he should be strong by the time Moustakas/Hosmer/Myers arrive.
For those that were ready to put Alex Gordon in the Hall of Fame back in 2007, that prediction may never come to fruition. Although it seems like he has been around forever, Gordon is still only 27. With a strong work ethic, confidence and health, Gordon could very well play for another decade in the majors. It is time to put the George Brett comparisons to bed. Alex Gordon is his own person and player. From the results so far from 2011, he is a pretty darn good one. The hope and promise continue to be there for Gordon. Here’s hoping 2011 will be the year that he finally arrives.
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A TRIBUTE TO GREGG ZAUN
MLB reports: On March 7, 2011, after sixteen seasons in baseball, Gregg Zaun decided to hang up his spikes for a final time. In spring training with the San Diego Padres, his tenth major league team, Zaun decided that he was not ready to continue in the game. Zaun seemed like a great fit for the Padres, a young team on the rise that could use his mentorship to guide its up and coming pitching staff. But being a man of integrity, Zaun apparently knew that his time had come. After a final farewell to the baseball field, Gregg Zaun joined Sportsnet in Ontario to become a full-time member of the Toronto Blue Jays broadcasting team. After broadcasting with Sportsnet for the last couple of years as a commentator for the playoffs, reports indicated that Zaun would one day become a broadcaster once his career was done. While being highly capable to continue in the game as a scout, coach or future manager, broadcasting has become the fit for Zaun as he starts the new phase of his career.
A nephew of Rick Dempsey, catching apparently ran in the family as Zaunn started his career with Dempsey’s Baltimore Orioles and rejoined the team for a brief stint in 2009. A 17th round pick in 1989, Zaun, a catcher by trade, made his major league debut in 1995 and lasted briefly on the Orioles until moving on to Florida. As a member of the Marlins, Zaun won his only World Series ring in 1997. After two and a half season in Florida, Zaun bounced to the Rangers, Royals, Astros and Rockies over the next several years. While the Gregg Zaun we have come to know and love is cool, collected, knowledgeable and intelligent, the younger Zaun of yesteryear was perhaps not as “together”. Reports I have read indicate that Zaun in his early his career perhaps took his role for granted, apparently having a sense of entitlement based on his famous uncle before him. Being 5’10” and weighing 170 pounds, Gregg Zaun is not the picturesque baseball player that we would necessarily come to expect. In the age of behemoth 6’3″+ catchers and ball players, a player of Zaun’s stature needs to show hustle and heart in order to have longevity in the game. After several cups of coffee around baseball, the maturation and stability of Zaun finally occurred in 2004.
Gregg Zaun became a member of the Toronto Blue Jays in ’04 and proceeded to spend the best five-year period of his career in Toronto. Zaun
transformed himself into a leader on the ball club and became a fan favorite in the city. In 2005, Zaun played in a career high 133 games and had 434 at bats. Career highs of 162 total bases, 61 runs and 61 RBIs were set, but most telling were his 73 walks taken. Zaun, in addition to an outstanding defensive catcher was becoming an offensive catalyst as well. In 2006, despite playing in only 99 games, hit a career high of 12 home runs. Despite reports of Zaun being unhappy about sharing playing time near the twilight of his Jays playing days, Zaun showed up every day without a hiccup and was a team player right until the end of the 2008 season. Obviously Zaun’s time in Toronto was special for both him and his fans, given that Zaun continued to broadcast for the Jays in the off seasons following his departure from the team. A definite sign of things to come.
Over the last two seasons of his career, Zaun played out the string with the Orioles, Rays and Brewers. As the Rays were contending in 2009, Zaun became a stretch-run acquisition. Playing fairly well, Zaun earned a contract with the Brewers going into 2010. Unfortunately injuries cut Zaun’s last MLB season short, to a miniscule 28 games. The thinking around baseball was that despite being 40 years old on opening day 2011, Zaun still had enough gas left in the tank that he would continue playing with his new team, the San Diego Padres. However, as Zaun realized that he would not be able to achieve his personal goals, rather than take up a roster spot for a youngster he decided to call it a career. While the sport lost one of its last true gamers on the field, it gained it substantially back on its television screen.
When J.P. Ricciardi was let go as the general manager of the Blue Jays, not coincidentally Buck Martinez (the former Jays broadcaster that was fired by Ricciardi as Jays manager) returned to the team as its new play-by-play man. Who did Buck replace? Jamie Campbell, who was reassigned to the position of in-game analyst during commercials for the regular season and playoffs. Campbell, who worked with Zaun for five seasons and gave him his first start in broadcasting, is now Zaun’s full-time broadcasting partner . It was a breath of fresh air to have Zaun return to the Jays as a broadcaster. With a new studio set up directly inside the Rogers Centre during the 2011 to boot, fans get to witness the brilliance of Zaun’s work up close and personal during every Jays home game.
The reality of sports is that a player’s time always has to come to an end. Baseball is no different. Whether a young hot-shot prospect like Brien
Taylor is a first overall pick that never makes it to the majors, or a Jamie Moyer/Julio Franco type that almost plays into their fifties. Gregg Zaun could have easily gone either way in the game. A World Series ring in his third season in the majors. Having a famous uncle who was a major league catcher for a whopping 24 seasons. Zaun from all accounts came into the game with a sense of entitlement and if his first few seasons had followed suit, Zaun could have burnt out quickly. Without the proportions of a typical star major league player, arrogant/unmotivated type players tend to not last long in the show. But something did click with Zaun and lasted within him to allow him to have a long and productive major league career. Unfortunately for the Gregg Zaun fans out there, that same maturity allowed Zaun to walk away from the game, even though he could have hung on for another season or two. Apparently his time was done and now Gregg Zaun is ready to continue the rest of his career.
I have really enjoyed reading and listening to Gregg Zaun’s analysis and thoughts on the game. In addition to being an analyst on Blue Jays broadcasts, Gregg can be found on twitter under the handle, appropriately enough @greggzaun. In my opinion the game of baseball needs more Gregg Zauns in its ranks. A winner with pure hustle and determination, the Gregg Zaun that I know embodies everything that is pure and great about baseball. The future is unlimited for Gregg Zaun. MLB reports wishes Gregg all the best as he starts the second phase of his career and get ready, you will be watching Gregg on ESPN or the MLB Network before you know it. Remember, you heard it here first.
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FRIDAY FACEOFF: CARLOS PENA VS. JAMES LONEY
MLB reports: In another first on MLB reports, I will be running a series every Friday titled “Friday Faceoff.” The series will matchup two MLB players at the same position and consist of a five point comparison between them. The player with the most points at the end of the faceoff is victorious. Especially for fantasy baseball players, the faceoff will give you an edge and strategy as to how to fill your fantasy roster and set your lineups.
In the premier edition of the Friday Faceoff, I present James Loney of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Carlos Pena of the Chicago Cubs. Two middle-of-the-road first basemen with the potential to hit the upper tier. Do you have either player on your team? Do you want to have either one in your lineup? Lets begin the Friday Faceoff and find out!
CARLOS PENA VS. JAMES LONEY: THE FRIDAY FACEOFF BEGINS
1) Home runs/Power: This is an automatic win for Pena. James Loney in his last three major league seasons has averaged a paltry twelve home runs. In his last two years, Loney has shown a SLG under .400. Acceptable numbers for a catcher or second baseman maybe, but certainly not from a first baseman. While he had forty-one doubles last year, Loney simply did not have enough extra base hits as required from a power position. Carlos Pena, for all his faults has been consistently solid in his department. In 2007 at forty-six home runs, Pena had almost the same amount of home runs in one year as Loney has hit in his whole career. Last year, Pena hit twenty-eight long balls in a “down year”. With a career SLG of .490, considering the slow start to his career, Pena clearly has power in abundance. Last year interestingly, Pena had a SLG of .407. But considering he hit under .200, we should cut him some slack. Another note on James Loney, in 2009 he managed only one home run at home all year. Neither player has set the world on fire to start the year, Loney with one home run and Pena with zero. But based on history, the winner is: Carlos Pena.
2) Batting Average: A statistic long in dispute, but for what its worth Loney has the clear advantage here. With a .288 lifetime average, Loney is far ahead of Pena’s .241 career mark. Carlos has a career high of 138 hits in 2007 and ony 95 hits in an entire season last year. Loney since 2008 has averaged over 160 hits per season. While Pena has the power, Loney gets the more consistent hits. Not the standard for a first baseman, but if average counts in your fantasy league, then congrats if you have the winner in round two: James Loney.
3) On-Base: With Loney’s career OBP mark of .348 and Pena at .351, the difference between the player is negligible. As Loney has the hits as shown above, Pena has the walks. Pena since 2007 has walked 103 times, 96, 87 and again 87 times. Loney had 70 walks in 2009 but otherwise walks approximately 50 times per year. Pick your choice, if you need your first baseman to get on-base consistently, as this round ends in a tie.
4) Durability: A difficult factor to predict given the strains of playing 162 baseball games, Loney and Pena are examples of a contrast in measuring health. Carlos Pena will be turning 33 this year and is starting to show his age. While being fairly durable in his career, Pena has averaged approximately 140 games and 480 at bats in the last four years. Loney over the last three years has missed 6 games in total. Loney has also averaged close to 590 at bats over that time. Entering his prime this year at 27, if you want to hedge your bets on who will be healthiest this year, your winner is: James Loney.
5) Speed: Stolen bases is something that you rarely look for from your first baseman in fantasy baseball but will take as a bonus. If your league counts steals, you will be very interested to find who wins this round. Pena has twenty-three steals over his ten major league seasons, with five steals actually coming last year. With several seasons of zero and one steal per year, Pena is not someone you would exactly call a speed demon. Loney on the other hand had ten stolen bases last year, with seven steals each year for the previous two seasons. At a younger age and playing on an aggressive running team with Davey Lopes on board, expect Loney’s thefts to rise in a run-and-gun offense. In the final round, another win for: James Loney.
THE VERDICT: Going into this article, I fully expect to be handing a trophy to Carlos Pena in the first ever faceoff. But sometimes number crunching can differ from expectations and in this case, the results were not as I had predicted. Carlos Pena, for all of his home runs and walks does not offer most fantasy players the same consistency on the same number of levels as James Loney. Despite lower power totals, Loney has the durability, batting average and speed advantage. At this point in their careers, Pena and Loney appear to be on different tracks. Pena is starting to be on the downside of his career while Loney should be entering his prime. After two weeks into the season, both players have shown little so far. But as the weather heats up, both should similarly get their games going. But based on the Friday Faceoff, with a 3-1 record and 1 tie, James Loney is the fantasy first baseman of choice on this night. While both players are truly average choices at first with many better options available, if the faceoff is an indication, you can do worse than having James Loney on your squad.
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THE MYSTERY OF GEOVANY SOTO
MLB reports: Rewind to the 2010 season. If I told you there was a 27 year old catcher that hit .280 with 17 home runs in only 105 games that year, I bet that you would be impressed. Add in 62 walks, a .393 OBP and .497 SLG and I would fathom that you would be very high on this player. The same player that in 2008 hit 23 long balls in 141 games and managed a .285 average, with a .364 OBP and .504 SLG. Again, very impressive for a catcher, as top hitting catchers are hard to find in baseball. Yet this same player, who was an 11th round pick in 2001, was the same player that hit .218 in 2009, with 11 home runs in 102 games, with a measly .321 OBP and .381 SLG. Fast forward to 2011 and this player is hitting an embarrassing .189 with 1 home run. Confused? Many baseball experts are. Welcome to the mystery that is Geovany Soto, catcher for the Chicago Cubs.
In 2006 and 2007, Soto had barely a sip of coffee in his brief appearances in the show. Having showcased some good pop though in 2007, Soto was handed the job in the 2008 season and ran with it. At the conclusion of that season, the sky was the limit for Soto. Entering the 2009 season, Soto was selected to play for his native Puerto Rico in the 2nd edition of the World Baseball Classic. However, the discovery of marijuana use during the WBC tainted Soto’s reputation and results for that baseball season. The mystery surrounding Soto was whether he had suffered a mere relapse or was already hitting a decline. Reports indicated immaturity and laziness on his part and Soto’s play and results on the field were indicative of his reputation. Much like Russell Martin was due for a change of scenery in leaving the Dodgers this past offseason, experts questioned whether Soto still had a future as a Cub going into 2010. A rebound was in order.
2010 turned out to be a bounce-back year for Soto, despite reports of a hurt shoulder and various ailments that caused him to miss over 50 games in the season. Having alternated good and bad seasons, 2011 represents Soto’s chance at redemption by showing consistency in consecutive outstanding seasons. That would be the hope if one is a Soto and/or Cubs fan. However, as his slow start has indicated, the future of Soto remains unsettled to this day. How Geovany Soto performs remains a mystery to us all, let alone what the next few years have in store for the stocky catcher. If I had to look into a crystal ball though, I would predict big things still for the Cubs backstop.
For all the doubts surrounding Geovany Soto, I propose that the potential is there and has never left this underrated talent. 2009 was a strange year for Soto that never seemed to get untracked. The marijuana story created a distraction for Soto as part of the WBC and then in the MLB regular season. Embarrassed I am sure for the negative exposure in his native country, Soto ended up having one of those years that just need to be written off. After all, Tim Lincecum faced similar charges and scandal this past offseason and his reputation seems to have recovered more than ok. As long as Soto is healthy, the opportunities should still be there for him and all Soto has to do is work hard and play the game the right way. The Cubs are a team in desperate need of leadership, both on and off the field. Geovany Soto can finally make the Cubs “his team” and help the team rise as a result.
As long as Albert Pujols is hitting .150 (already up to over .200 with a strong game tonight), Soto can be allowed a slow start to the 2011 season. Having shown that he can produce in the past, there is no reason why Soto should not succeed this year. Hitting in the middle of the lineup in the cozy confines of Wrigley, Soto is of the right age and experience tha a monster season should be coming. I truly believe that Geovany Soto has all the talent in the world and that we are just scratching the surface as to what he can do. Why he has taken step backs and where he is headed may be a mystery, but there is no doubt that the potential and promise is still there. In my opinion, any so called “baseball expert” that can write off a catcher with power and patience like Soto is foolish. Jason Varitek is a name that often comes to my mind when I think of Geovany Soto. Their style of play, bats and hustle are cut from the same cloth. The Cubs would be thrilled if Soto could grow into the captain of their team one day. With a breakthrough year this year, I think the Soto that was expected will emerge that will dominate and likely erase all the negative images of his past. If all goes according to plan, by the all-star break can erase the mystery portion of his life and create a positive image and results for himself. Gut feel, I can see this coming together for him soon.
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MLB Scores and Player Highlights from Monday April 11th
MLB reports: A roundup of all the results from yesterday’s MLB action and the players that shined and ones that did not quite perform as well:
Rangers 2- Tigers 0: The Rangers moved to 9-1 on the season while the Tigers fell to a dismal 3-7. Alexi Ogando, the former Rule 5 pickup, upped his record to 2-0 and no runs earned on the season. The entire Rangers pitching corps has been dominant all season and in this game Oliver got his 4th hold and Feliz with his 4th save already. Verlander went the distant in the tough loss and now has a 3.13 ERA on the season. Cabrera with two hits for the Tigers is now hitting .382 on the season, while Peralta is at .344.
Rockies 7- Mets 6: The Rockies won a thriller decided in the 8th inning and are now 7-2 on the season. Mets are still treading at 4-6. Houston Street picked up his 5th save on the season. Both starters, Jason Hammel and Mike Pelfrey pitched ok but nothing spectacular. Tulowitzki hitting cleanup hit his 4th home run of the year while Carlos Gonzalez had 3 ribbies in the 3rd spot for the Rockies. David Wright replied with his own long ball, 2nd of the season and Jose Reyes tripled among his 2 hits for the Mets. Reyes at .340, Wright at .325 and Davis at .351 are all positive signs for the rebuilding Mets.
Rays 16- Red Sox 5: At equivalent 2-8 records, two of the best teams in baseball have been slow out of the game. On this day the Rays brought out their whipping sticks to take it to the Sox. Matsuzaka, Wakefield and Wheeler all got beaten early and often, while Hellickson despite giving up five walks in 5.1 innings pitched two run ball for the win. The big story was Sam Fuld, with 2 doubles, a triple and home run (so close to a cycle) from the leadoff spot for the Rays. A throw-in as part of the Matt Garza trade, Fuld was the hero in this game. The Rays pounded to the Red Sox for 20 hits, as Damon, Zobrist, Upton, Jaso and Brignac all had big games. Crawford had two hits for the Sox in the leadoff spot and Ellsbury hit his 2nd home run of the year.
Cubs 5- Astros 4: In a battle of central division rivals, the Cubs record is now 5-5 while the rebuilding Astros are at 2-8. Ryan Dempster gave up 4 runs but had 9 SO in his first win of the year, while Marmol is now up to 4 saves. Figueroa gave up 5 runs in 4 innings for the loss. Castro had 3 hits for the Cubs in the leadoff spot and stole his first base. Alfonso Soriano chipped in with a couple of RBIs for the Cubs.
Athletics 2- White Sox 1: The Athletics moved to 5-5 on the year while the White Sox felt to 6-4. In a tough matchup, Dallas Braden pitched one run ball over six innings with seven SO, while Brian Fuentes got his 4th save of the year. Mark Buehrle pitched 8 shutout innings and left with a no-decision. Kurt Suzuki had two hits, including his first home run of the season, for an Oakland team that is still having a difficult time generating much offense. Lillibridge had his first home run of the year for the White Sox.
Cardinals 8- Diamondbacks 2: Within 4 wins apiece on the season, the Cardinals finally had a strong offensive showing against a decent Arizona squad. Kyle McLellan, pitching Dave Duncan style ball, gave up one run over six innings for his first win of the year. The star was Lance Berkman, with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs in the 5th spot. Albert Pujols remains at an unsightly .150 average.
Reds 3- Padres 2: The high-flying Reds are now 7-3 on the season, beating a tough Matt Latos and Padres team that is now 4-5. Fantasy Ace Latos in his first start of the year gave up 3 runs in 6 innings with 7 SO. Volquez moved to 2-0 by giving up 2 runs over 6 innings with 5 So, but remains with a 5.82 ERA. Cookie Cordero got his 2nd save of the season. Gomes got his 3rd home run of the young season while Brandon Phillips is hitting .410 on the season and Votto is at .444. Orlando Hudson at 2 hits and is now at .313 for an otherwise dismal Padres offense.
Cleveland 4- Angels 0: The 8-2 Indians, led by Willy Mays Hayes and Wild Thing are hot to start the year (major league 4?) The Angels, after taking 2 out of 3 against Toronto now stand at 5-5. Mitch Talbot pitched 8 shutout innings for the win, while Tyler Chatwood (who? exactly) took the loss. Scott Downs, back off the DL pitched an inning for the Angels. Asdrubal Cabrera is up to 4 home runs on the year (wow!) and Matt LaPorta had a 3-run bomb for the Indians. Travis Hafner, by the way is up to a .355 average on the year and Orlando Cabrera is hitting .361. The Angels only managed 5 hits as a team and 2 total walks, all from Bobby Abreu. For those following my Vernon Wells watch: Again hitting 5th as he has all year. Another 0-4, average down to .091. I believe a benching and move down the lineup is in order if the Angels hope to ignite their offense. Callaspo at .353 and Trumbo with his strong power need to move up in the order.
Mariners 8- Jays 7: In the shocker of the night, the Jays had a 7-0 lead after 6 and 7-1 lead after 7 and still managed to lose 8-7 in the 9th. The hometown Mariners are still a low 3-7 on the year while the Jays are at an even 5-5. Jesse Litsch pitched 5 shutout innings for the no-decision but played with fire all night with 4 walks and 5 hits given up. Purcey, Dotel and Camp all got hit hard as the Jays bullpen imploded in Seattle. The King was not his usual majestic self and gave up 7 runs and 12 hits in his own no-decision. Milton Bradley got 2 hits including his first home run of the year. Rodriguez had 3 RBIs and Justin Smoak finished with 2 hits and 2 walks. Corey Patterson in his first game as a Jay hit a home run, while Encarnacion and Nix both had 3 hits each. Adam Lind was 0-5 with 3 SO while Jose Bautista was 2-3 with 2 walks.
Dodgers 6- Giants 1: In the final game of the night, the Dodgers moved to 6-4 while the World Series Champions Giants moved to 4-6. Clayton Kershaw was his usual dominant self, pitching 6.2 shutout innings with 7 SO for his 2nd win of the year. Madison Bumgarner has been slow out of the gates again, falling to 0-2 with 5 runs given up in 5 innings. Andre Ethier was 2-4 with 2 RBIs and is up to a strong .368 on the season, while Matt Kemp went 1-2 and continued to show a good eye with 2 walks and is at an outstanding .441 on the season. These 2 young hitters are truly coming into their own and Kemp is finally living up to his “Baby Manny” nickname from his rookie season, minus the issues. Huff and Burrell both had 2 hits for the Giants, Burrell with his 4th home run and had 2 walks as well, despite hitting .222 on the year. Posey is at .250 on the season while Brandon Belt is going to be packing his bags soon for AAA with his .143 average on the year. A strong player and future star for the Giants, it appears some seasoning is still required for the youngster.
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RUSSELL MARTIN- THE INSIDE STORY
MLB reports: Imagine living the life of Russell Martin. The starting catcher for the New York Yankees. Nine games into the 2011 season, having a .300 batting average, three home runs, eight RBIs, two stolen bases and a .977 OPS. At the tender age of twenty-eight years older, with two all-star game appearances, a gold glove and silver slugger award under this belt, the world should be at Martin’s feet. Any person that had not followed baseball for the last couple of years and saw these statistics would be in awe of Martin. The second coming of Munson or Berra they may ask? Certainly would seem so, as Martin’s star appears to have been rekindled to its peak levels from 2006 and 2007. However the road for Martin from baseball obscurity to stardom, to bottoming out and a rebirth is a rocky and fascinating one to say the least. I present to you an inside look into Russell Martin, catcher for the New York Yankees.
My first real exposure to Russell Martin was in March 2006. As Major League Baseball was gearing up for it’s ever World Baseball Classic (“WBC”), all of the countries involved finalizing and tweaking their rosters in anticipation of the inaugural event. Residing in Toronto, I was reading a great deal of information and stories on the Canadian contingent. News travelled that the expected starting catcher for Canada, a relatively unknown 17th round draft pick in 2002 for the Los Angeles Dodgers by name of Russell Martin had declined his roster spot at the last minute. Reports indicated that Martin felt that going into spring training he had a strong chance of winning a spot on the Dodgers roster and did not want to hurt his chances by camp and auditioning for his spot in front of the Dodgers’ brass. Dioner Navarro, the catching incumbent, was seen as a declining player and the chance to unseat him was too great for Martin to pass up. Max St. Pierre and Pete LaForest were the catching tandem for Canada in 2006 that came within a hair of advancing to the second round (only the runs allowed to South Africa in a blowout win sealed their fate). Martin ended up making his major league debut on May 5, 2006 and took a stranglehold of the starting catching position for the next five years in LA.
While Canadian fans were clearly disappointed with his decision, Martin
obviously made the right choice for his career. While representing one’s country in international play is an honor and somewhat of an obligation, fighting for one’s livelihood and paycheque when it is unsettled takes the ultimate priority. In the 2009 edition of the WBC, Martin kept his word to play for his country and finally suited up for Canada for the first round in Toronto in front of his hometown crowd. After almost upsetting the United States in game one, Martin and his Canadian teammates went down fairly quietly in another WBC first round exit. But with his Dodgers catching role firmly secure, it was a thrill to watch Martin play in the 2009 WBC and perform at a high level. Having attended all the first round games in Toronto personally, my scouting report is that Martin played an excellent series. He showed tremendous hustle and heart, playing solid defense behind the plate and grinding out at-bats. Russell Martin left a tremendous impression on me during that series has lasted with me to this date.
Before getting into Martin’s playing career with the Dodgers, I wanted to share several interesting inside perspectives on Russell Martin, the person. Born in Ontario, Martin grew up in Quebec and lived for a period in France. Coming from talented bloodlines, his mother is an actress and singer while his father is a saxophone player. Martin’s full name is actually Russell Nathan Jeans on Coltrane Martin Junior. His father named him after the famous jazz musician John Coltrane. Martin for the 2009 season changed the name on the back of his jersey from “Martin” to “J. Martin”. Hailed as a classy move, Martin was paying homage to his mother as an inspiration and force in his life. From honoring his mother and country, to playing with heart and inspiration to win both a gold glove and silver slugger in 2007, Martin appeared to have everything on his side. That is where the move from Los Angeles to New York is a confusing and unsettled story, even to-date.
From all accounts, Russell Martin, the baseball player, was on top of the
world in 2006 and 2007. From earning the starting catching job on the Dodgers to become one of the top two-way catchers in the game in 2007, Martin appeared to be able to do no wrong. 2008 appeared to be a blip for Martin, as his OPS dropped from .843 to .781. Going into the 2009 season, Martin was seen at 26 to be a player just coming into his own and due for a huge rebound. Looking back at 2009 and 2010, everything that had gone so right for Martin quickly soured. Somehow in the span of two years Martin became a scapegoat and noted malcontent in Los Angeles. From a gold glove catcher, Martin began to be known through baseball circles as lazy and unmotivated behind the plate. While previously seen as a growing leader on his team, Martin and the other younger stars on the Dodgers were labeled as disrespectful and cancerous in the clubhouse. While playing nearly full seasons and being durable from 2007-2009, Martin tore the labrum in right hip in 2010 and cast a doubt over his future in the game. From a catcher that was walk ninety times in 2008 and steal twenty-one and eighteen bases respectively in 2007 and 2008, the Russell Martin of the last two seasons appeared to have little pop or spark in his game. At 5’10” and 230 lbs, Martin went from a stocky and agile catcher to an out-of-shape player on the decline. All at the tender age of twenty-eight. Clearly a change was in order.
The Dodgers, not always known for protecting their prized prospects well, had traded away highly regarded up-and-coming catcher Carlos Santana to the Cleveland Indians for the seasoned veteran third baseman Casey Blake. The logic at the time? The Indians gave the Dodgers the choice of absorbing salary or giving up a top prospect. The Dodgers chose to sacrifice Santana and save a couple of dollars. Having had the loss of Santana still fresh in fans’ minds, the Dodgers chose not to tender Martin a contract after the 2010 season in the fear that his hip had not recovered and to save approximately six million dollars in salary. Now a free agent in the last offseason, Martin had the choice of signing with any team of his liking.
The top noted suitors for Martin’s services all lied in the AL East: The Boston
Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees. Reports had indicated that other suitors were calling on Martin but looking at him at third base rather than catcher. After being drafted at the hot corner and moved to catcher early in his career, some teams apparently were nervous about Martin’s abilities behind the plate. The three finalist teams for Martin were apparently comfortable enough the former gold glover still had abilities to catch in the majors and all offered him apparently deals in the one year, four million dollar range. Toronto was Martin’s hometown but had a strong up-and-coming catcher themselves by the name of J.P. Arencebia. Sensing apparently the roadblock in Toronto, Martin from all accounts narrowed his choice to his best opportunity at a full-time catching gig and to win, the Red Sox and the Yankees. A tough decision I’m sure, the lure of the big apple and pinstripes was too much for Martin to turn down. With Jorge Posada newly installed as the designated hitter and the Yankees have catching prospects themselves that were not seen as ready, Martin finally with the Yankees in December, 2010. The baseball world had no idea what to expect from Martin and anticipated his debut in the Bronx in 2011.
Off to a solid start to the year, all reports have been solid thus far on Martin. Showing a strong presence behind the plate and with the Yankee sluggers protecting him in the lineup, his bat has been reborn. I see Martin’s keys to success as keeping quiet, playing hard and going back to the basics that led to his successes back in 2006 and 2007. In an environment filled with hundreds of reporters, Martin will need to be careful of what he says in New York. It was one thing to be a confident rookie in Los Angeles, as that type of attitude quickly became seen as cocky and arrogant in later years and would be no different in New York. As long as Martin plays hard and lets the Yankee veterans police the clubhouse, we could see Martin reinvigorate himself back to being one of the top catchers in the game. With a track record like Martin’s, it is difficult to predict where Martin will be in the next year or two, let alone ten years. But given what has been seen so far, I am confident to say that I see good things happening for him. It has been a wild ride for Russell Martin; let’s hope for his sake that consistency becomes his new calling card.
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Manny Ramirez: The End of a Nightmare
MLB reports: As a fan, analyst and writer of baseball, I rarely take pleasure in the misery of others. Some of my readers would point to Vernon Wells and my “Vernon Watch” in what I commonly refer to as a showcase of blundery. But Vernon is the exception to the rule. For the most part, players are athletes that train hard, play with heart and hustle and give it their all on the playing field. With the career of Manny Ramirez unceremoniously coming to a halt yesterday, there is an overwhelming sense of relief and enjoyment around baseball circles today. For a man who could hit baseballs like flew other, one of the greatest hitters in MLB history will go down in the baseball archives as a laughingstock and side-show act. A shame when one looks at the statistics and career of Manny Ramirez. But for a man who got one too many chances, the punishment fits the crime. Today we say goodbye to a distraction and one less black eye for the glorious game of baseball.
The first questions most MLB fans asked me yesterday was whether Manny deserves to go into the hall of fame? My answer is
simple. In my opinion, if I had a vote, a definite yes. Regardless of what Manny took or didn’t take, his statistics speak for themselves. There have been many drug cheats and cheaters of all kind in baseball over the years. The bottom line is that not many match to Manny’s outstanding numbers. But alas I do not have a vote to-date and from what the baseball writers have shown in recent voting history with McGwire and Palmeiro, Ramirez won’t so much as get as much a sniff of the hall. I can see the arguments for keeping Ramirez out of the hall. Based on his second failed drug test and choice to retire and run over facing the music cements a legacy of being a quitter and a coward. Manny gave up on the Red Sox and the Dodgers and got run out-of-town in each instance. A first failed drug test blamed on some sort of hormone substances. With a second failed test, Manny decided to take his glove and go home, rather than face the music. I cannot see fans, let alone baseball writers forgiving him for this decision. But again fitting for a man who has made a career of bad decisions and turning his back on the game one too many times.
Where does the future now lie for Manny Ramirez? Many ex-players have the option of going into scouting, managing, broadcasting, writing….the field is wide open. Mark McGwire, got a job as the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, but as part of the requirement McGwire had to go on national television and give his apology. Sort of. But McGwire always had the eye of the public for his strong image and was somewhat cut some slack by the public. Manny, with his quirky and aloof personality has a better chance of becoming President of the United States than a baseball coach, manager or broadcaster. Seen as a liability, Manny is now headed into a self-imposed baseball exile, joining the likes of Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Barry Bonds as the baseball steroids/ped’s outcasts. I could envision a day where Manny will write a tell-all book, explaining his side of “the story” while outing ex-friends and teammates in the process. Manny just seems to be one of those guys, concerned more about himself and the almighty dollar than anything else.
When we all think to Manny Ramirez in ten years time, we will think of an idiot. That will be the image in our minds. Not the young rookie sensation on the Indians, World Series champ for the Red Sox, dreadlocks #99 igniter on the Dodgers or a two-bit player on the White Sox and Rays. The man who chose to instantly retire rather than face his due punishment. When faced with his first suspension last year, Manny did not speak to the media the entire balance of the season. He is that kind of guy. I did not imagine for the life of me in the offseason that any team would take a chance on him. In my estimation, Manny was best served going away gracefully at the end of 2010 rather than being one last thorn in the side of an undeserving team. When the Rays signed Manny, I said publicly that this could only end bad and that he would not last the season. Rather than being dumped in August, Manny barely survived a week into 2011. A 1-17 start at the plate will be the final blemish on an otherwise exceptional statistical career. But as hall of fame voters are now showing, votes go beyond the numbers. Manny Ramirez in the twilight of his career has been essentially a nightmare for all those involved with him. Staring today, the nightmare is over. Baseball does not need or want the Manny Ramirez’s of this world and my hope is that after this latest horror show, baseball will not see another Manny for a long time. Baseball is built on hustle, teamwork, determination and heart. Four words that were not in Manny’s vocabulary and for that transgression, we finally say goodbye to Manny for the last time.
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Part II – Interview with Oney Guillen: Making My Mark in the Guillen World
(Welcome to part II of a III part profile and interview series with Oney Guillen)
MLB reports: In part II of my interview series with Oney Guillen, I jump right into my conversation with Oney. I tried to cover a broad spectrum of Oney’s life and career, but it was up to Oney, as the interviewee to provide the amount of detail he wanted for each of the selected topics. My goal at the end of the series was to give the baseball world an insight as to who Oney Guillen is and more background about him as a player, son, businessman and person. Without further adieu, I give you: Oney Guillen.
MLB reports: Hello Oney. Thank you for joining me and agreeing to this interview series.
Oney: My pleasure. Thank you for having me.
MLB reports: Let’s jump right into it Oney. You were born in Venezuela and moved to Chicago in 2004. You were a 36th round pick of the White Sox in 2007. What were your first reactions when you found out that the White Sox drafted you?
Oney: Well…it was an honor and very cool to be drafted. I felt like I had worked very hard to get to that point and deserved to be drafted by a major league team. Being drafted by the White Sox was a bonus. I very much wanted to get my career started and play minor league baseball. I felt that I earned it and was ready to play in the minor leagues. I remember being curious as to what would happen to me after being drafted. For the most part, I was just happy and grateful for the opportunity.
MLB reports: Did your thoughts on being drafted change over time? How did you find the minor league experience?
Oney: When I joined Bristol right after being drafted, I fit right in with my new teammates. When I met the guys right away we got along great and it was a very interesting journey for all of us. The truth is that playing in the minors is not as glamorous as some people think it would be.
MLB reports: Oh No? What was the minor league experience like for you?
Oney: I always said that I grew up backwards as I went from being in a big league clubhouse every day as a youngster to riding the bus in the minors for many hours. The minor league experience was able to show me the amount of baseball knowledge that I had and I often compared myself to the coaches that I met in the minors. I realized in the minors that I had a special gift when it came to the game within the game.
MLB reports: That’s great Oney. It sounds like playing in the minors gave you a good idea of where your baseball future was headed.
Oney: I knew that I had the knowledge and the ability to succeed in the game. My challenge was to find my role in the game.
MLB reports: How would you describe Oney Guillen the baseball player? What do you consider your greatest baseball skills to have been?
Oney: I was a very good defensive player and that was always my favorite part of the game. For me it was making the great catches and making all the defensive plays, including turning two. As a second baseman, with Venezuelan heritage, defense was always preached to me to be the key part of the game. But aside from my defense on the field, as a player I relied heavily on my mind. My years of experience in major league clubhouses and all the knowledge passed to me by my family and father not only helped me on the field, but it was wisdom that I was able to pass along to some of my teammates.
MLB reports: Do you miss playing baseball?
Oney: What I miss the most is being around the guys on the team. I made so many friends in my minor league career and I miss being around them in the clubhouse and going to war with those guys. I enjoyed teaching guys my age and even older players that baseball is a thinking game as much as it is physical. It is the mental side of baseball that is usually neglected and can destroy many players’ careers. I really enjoyed teaching my teammates how to be mentally tough and to train their brain as well as their bodies. I miss being on the road with my teammates…many stories come to mind…
MLB reports: Really? Do tell.
Oney: Let’s just say it was a really neat experience. My playing career was definitely the highlight of my baseball career thus far.
MLB reports: Reflecting on your playing career, what were your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?
Oney: Well, truth be known, my career wasn’t that long (grin). I played for four teams over two seasons, for fifty-two total games in my career. My favorite memory as a professional that I am most proud of is playing exhibition games in Mexico with my father Ozzie as my manager. That was pretty cool. My last game also happened to be in AAA with many of the White Sox stars, which was a perfect ending to my playing career.
MLB reports: Who was your favorite player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after?
Oney: I definitely admired the way my dad played the game. He was hardnosed and played the game the right way. But I most idolized Roberto Alomar growing up. Robbie was my all-time favorite. I admired him so much that I even tried to wear my uniform like him.
MLB reports: I guess it was no coincidence that you played second base.
Oney: Correct. Alomar definitely influenced my position choice.
MLB reports: Did you ever get to meet Roberto and if so, what was that like?
Oney: Roberto Alomar was a family friend, so it was great getting to spend time with him. I got to talk to him and hang out with him on many occasions. I will never forget my time with Robbie as he is an incredible baseball person and I had so much that I learned from my time with him.
MLB reports: On the flipside, which current MLB player do you most enjoy watching?
Oney: Right now, my favorite player has to be Robinson Cano on the Yankees. Cano makes all the plays look so smooth and effortless. In my opinion, Cano is the best player that the Yankees have right now, which says a lot since he plays on a team with so many stars.
MLB reports: Getting back to your father Ozzie for a moment., how much of an influence did he have on you as a baseball player and a person?
Oney: My father and I have a very unique and special relationship, as many fathers and sons do. Look, I got to grow up in a house with Ozzie Guillen, so it definitely was not dull. My dad was a great player and an even better manager- but by far, his most successful job has been his role as dad. He was always honest with his kids and never sugarcoated anything. He always treated me like a man and brought me up to act like one.
MLB reports: What did you most learn from Ozzie Guillen, the father?
Oney: My dad always gave all of children love and education. Those were the two biggest things that he could ever give my brothers and I. My dad always told me to stand up for what I believe in and to never be afraid of anyone. At the end of the day, my father always insisted that I tell the truth and by telling the truth, I would never have regrets. The discipline that my father instilled within me carried me as a baseball player and into the man that I am today.
MLB reports: Not many people know that after your playing career, that you joined the White Sox head office in the scouting and video department. You resigned in 2010. Do you miss it?
Oney: Truthfully, I do not miss working in the front office. The part of the game that I miss somewhat is being around the game itself, on the field, in the dugout and clubhouse. Being around the game every day on the field is like a drug, it is something that I was addicted to and could never get enough of.
MLB reports: What did you like and not like so much about working in the White Sox front office?
Oney: From my experience, working in a major league front office really opens your eyes, as to what is really going on and how the day-to-day operations of a team works. It was great because I learned what it took to be a part of a front office and the experiences and lessons I learned will stay with me for a lifetime. However, what I also saw was how little some of the people that I worked with in the Sox front office knew about baseball. I observed people that had more of a say on the team due to the mere fact that they were older or had spent more years in the front office than me. Just because those people were older or had more years than me, when it came down to baseball knowledge some of those guys did not know very much. The politics of that side of the game really bothered me.
MLB reports: Did you dislike anything else about working in the Sox front office?
Oney: I did not miss being away from home for long stretches at a time. I’m glad that in my current role that I can be home and continue to watch the Sox. It used to me kill me that I did not know what was going on in the front office decision-making. Looking back, I wish things could have been handled differently. I wish someone had had the courage to give me feedback and openly discuss my role in the head office rather than choosing to hide and not communicate with me. Truth be known, communication was poor on both sides I guess.
MLB reports: Any regrets of leaving the White Sox organization?
Oney: I do not regret anything. I do not live in the past and I feel that my life is better now as a result of my decision to leave the Sox organization and pursue other opportunities. What transpired between the White Sox and myself was going to happen one way or another. While I was employed with the White Sox, I was told that my father could not have his own website and twitter account as they did not fit in the team’s policies. After the team refused to allow me to create and operate a website for my father, I decided to resign. The ironic part is that since I departed, the team has allowed my father to have a twitter account and website. I operate the website with my brother through our company, Triple Crown Marketing.
MLB reports: Let’s touch upon Triple Crown shortly. If you would have been allowed to create and operate a website for Ozzie, do you think you still would have been with the White Sox front office today?
Oney: No, because what transpired was going to happen, one way or another. I feel like I was being made into a scapegoat for some team problems and I am fine with that. I am a man that takes accountability for his actions and knows what really happened between myself the team. But I do not regret anything that has happened. I truly feel that everyone involved is better off this way.
MLB reports: ………
Thank you for reading Part II of my Oney Guillen interview. Stay tuned for Part III, the final chapter of the interview as Oney discusses his future in baseball and working for the White Sox and any other major league team. He also comments on twitter, his brothers, his current career and what the future holds for Oney Guillen. All coming up next week. Subscribe to the MLB reports by following the link at the top of our site to be notified on this article and all daily baseball posts.
***A special thank you to Oney Guillen for his time and effort as part of being interviewed for this interview series. Oney agreed to share private photos from his family album as part of this series. A thank you as well to Peter Stein, my editor in helping to prepare this piece.***
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2011 MLB CLOSERS- AN INSIDE LOOK
MLB reports: As readers know from my previous articles, the closer position in my opinion is the most volatile one in all of baseball. While I love the idea of a 9th inning hard thrower coming in to blow away the other team to get the save, the identity of the closer on each team can change day-to-day and week-to-week. Some teams came into the season with a set closer in place, while other teams are still working by committee. After completing opening weekend, let’s take a look around baseball to see how some closers have fared thus far.
1) Pittsburgh Pirates- Joel Hanrahan: After some talk of Hanrahan and Evan Meek sharing the closing duties for the Pirates, Hanrahan has taken the role and run with it. In three games, Hanrahan already has three saves and is yet to give up an earned run. His 5/1 K/BB ratio is great. With Meek getting blown early and often (21.60 ERA), it looks like the Pirates have their closer for the foreseeable future.
2) Los Angeles Dodgers- Jonathan Broxton: With three saves of his own, Broxton looks strong to start the season. Until you notice that he also given up two homeruns and has a 1/0 K/BB ratio. This means that Broxton is giving up runs and not striking guys out despite being handed early season leads. A recipe for disaster, Broxton will need to shape up in a hurry or risk losing his job in the next week or two. Monitor this situation closely.
3) New York Yankees- Mariano Rivera: The only other closer with three saves on the season, Mo is just being Mo. He is as automatic as closers come and requires no further explanation.
4) Atlanta Braves- Craig Kimbrel: Another possible closer-by-committee situation has turned into Kimbrel having the job exclusively to start the year. With two saves, five k’s in two innings thus far, Kimbrel has been lights-out. As long as he stays consistent, the job is his for now and possibly the next few years.
5) Chicago Cubs- Carlos Marmol: After signing a big contract, much was expected from Marmol. The other closer besides Kimbrel to have two saves, Marmol has been hit and miss to start the year. With few options on the horizon, expect Marmol to be good and finish with 20-30 saves for a middle-of-the-pack Cubs team.
6) Anaheim Angels- Fernando Rodney: With a 13.50 ERA and 4/2 BB/K ratio, Rodney is on a very short leash at this point. With one or two more rocky outings, expect Scoscia to turn to other options until Rodney straightens himself out. I see Rodney being the closer for the majority of the year, but April has not been kind to him thus far.
7) Minnesota Twins- Joe Nathan: I was at the Jays/Twins game on Sunday and got to watch both Nathan and Capps pitch. I cannot say at this point which pitcher has the advantage, although Nathan looked very rusty after a year off. If Nathan does not come together, I can definitely see Capps taking the job for the foreseeable future. Coming back from injuries is tricky and I would not be relying on Nathan at this point yet.
8) Arizona Diamondbacks- J.J. Putz: So far, so good in Arizona. With one save under his belt, Putz had 2 k’s in his first opportunity. After a horror of a bullpen last year, Kirk Gibson will enjoy a year of Putz as his closer in Arizona.
Remember, it is still early and much can change over the course of this month. Closers are often one home run or blister away from losing their positions. They are a nightmare for fantasy players and even bigger stress sources for baseball fans. Keep your expectations in check and remember to judge the players on the totality of their work: one bad inning will rarely make or break a person’s career.
Around the Majors: Players of Note from Monday April 4th
1) Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis led the surging Orioles to another victory. Roberts had a three-run home run for the O’s and Markakis chipped in with three hits of his own.
2) Jake Arrieta got the win for the Orioles over the Tigers, pitching six innings and only one earned run. On the flipside, Porcello gave up five runs in five innings, with 9 hits allowed. The Tigers pitching has been weak out of the gate.
3) Martin Prado and Dan Uggla both homered for the Braves in a win over the Brewers. Nice to see Uggla getting on track.
4) Ricky Weekes continued his torrid start to the season with his third home run. Highly touted for years, if he stays healthy, 2011 could be his year.
5) Beachy was outstanding in his first start of the year. Only one earned run over six innings, he had a 1/7 BB/K ratio. Kimbrel dominated for his second save by striking out the side in the ninth.
6) Saito was bombed in the 8th for the Brewers, giving up two earned runs and three hits in the 8th. With Axford’s struggles to boot, the closing situation in Milwaukee remains murky.
7) Alfonso Soriano had two hits and home run for the Cubs in their win over the Diamondbacks. Soto also chipped in with two hits as well.
8) A-Rod and Posada both went deep for the Yankees as they beat the twins. The Yankees bats have been on fire.
9) Ivan Nova had a quality start for the Yankees, with three earned runs in his six innings pitched. He finished with a 1/3 BB/K ratio.
10) Texas remained undefeated as Nelson Cruz hit his fourth home run in four games. Always a power threat, Cruz can break forty bombs if healthy.
11) Elvis Andrus also went deep for Texas and is hitting .385 on the season.
12) Derek Holland continued to show the Mike Maddux magic by having a quality start, seven innings, three earned runs and a 1/5 BB/K ratio. Maddux is the new Dave Duncan.
13) Milton Bradley hit third for the Mainers and finished with three hits. With a .353 average, Milton is surprising a lot of people. Let’s see if he can keep it up.
14) Erik Bedard in his first start of the season after a long layover from injuries returned and pitched ok. Three earned in five innings, Bedard gave up two home runs in the loss.
15) McCutchen and Walker continued to lead the Pirates as they upped their record to 3-1 by defeating the Cardinals. McCutchen hit his second home run of the year and Walker finished with three hits.
16) Charlie Morton was the next Pirates pitcher to star. One earned over six innings, though of concern was his 5/2 BB/K ratio. Morton better watch those walks if he hopes to be successful this year. A decent fifth starter, I wouldn’t expect much from him yet on a young Pirates team.
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The Toronto Blue Jays Reinvented
MLB reports: 2011 has been one of the most anticipated seasons in Blue Jays history. A young GM in Alex Anthopoulos has reinvented the organization from the top-down. From the hiring of experienced front office advisors, new scouts, John Farrell as manager, strong drafting and trades/ free agent signings, this is certainly not your father’s Blue Jays.
With three games already in the books, let’s take a look at some key aspects of the newest incarnation of the Jays:
1) Farrell plays to win. From switching up his lineups, getting his bench involved, pinch hits, pinch runners, pitching changes- John Farrell is an active manager. Whereas Cito Gaston was criticized for sitting on his hands, it is doubtful that Farrell sits for a moment during a game. I really like Farrell’s managing approach. If nothing else, the Jays of 2011 will never be boring.
2) Kyle Drabek is for real. All Drabek did to start the year was take a no-hitter into the 6th and consistently throw strikes. Showing maturity beyond his years, Drabek looks to be a fixture in the Jays rotation for the next decade or so.
3) The Jays catching will be solid. J.P. Arencebia crushed 2 home runs on opening day and Molina hit one of his own in the 2nd game of the series. Both catchers have looked comfortable behind the plate and working well with the pitching staff. Arencebia is no Johnny Bench yet, but he hits the ball hard every time out. He looks to be the next MLB catching superstar.
4) Jose is worth every penny. For the doubters of Jose Bautista, he has picked up where he left off last year. From crushing big home runs, taking walks and playing solid D, Bautista has become the face of the franchise. He is a threat every time at the plate and is receiving the respect of opposing teams. For those keeping score, Vernon Wells is hitting about .150 for the Angels thus far.
5) Adam Lind is getting there. Brian Butterfield has clearly worked hard with Lind at 1st and he is becoming above average to good in the field. Lind has also become a great clean up hitter for the Jays and should benefit from hitting behind Jose. A note to Adam though: no more first pitch ground outs with the bases loaded and two outs in the 9th inning anymore please.
6) Travis Snider is truly a superstar in the making. Please see my post on Travis from Saturday. Snider has a new stance and is much more patient at the plate. Snider had key walks and hits all weekend long. He also showcased his cannon in left on Sunday and I can see gold gloves and silver sluggers in his future.
7) The bullpen is stocked. Farrell has many weapons in his pen on any given night. From Francisco, Camp, Janssen, Rauch etc, the Jays have one of their deepest pens in history. Any starter that can give the Jays lead after 6 innings will give the team a high chance of victory. The Jays strong pen makes the team a force every game.
8) Speed. When healthy, the combination of Rajai Davis and Yunel Escobar gives the Jays boppers with an abundance of chances to drive in runs. Both Davis and Escobar are strong with their bats and legs. Having a running game gives the home run happy Jays a better balanced offense and nightmares for opposing pitchers.
9) Edwin Encarnacion and Juan Rivera. The weak link of the 2011 Jays, both men look lost at the plate. Worse, EE looks even more clueless in the field. After three games it is safe to say that no ball hit to third is safe when Encarnacion is out there. A better filler is in order until the Lawrie era begins. Rivera further is another frustration case who is only in Toronto as a salary dump by the Angels in the Vernon Wells deal. A free agent at year’s end, the rope for Rivera should be very short.
10) The atmosphere and vibe. I have not seen Toronto this excited about the Jays in 18 years. The Jays shop had lineups all weekend and fans were cheering and on their feet throughout all of the games. With all of Toronto’s other sports teams in the gutter, the Blue Jays have a prime opportunity to become Toronto’s #1 team as well as reclaim its status as the face of Canadian sports.
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MLB reports – Scores and Highlights for Saturday April 2nd
MLB reports: To the readers of MLB reports, I wanted to start off by thanking you for your support. Once I moved to the daily format, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. I thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to read the site and I will continue to work to bring you all the latest reports, news, highlights and analysis from around the MLB world. A new section of our site is coming soon, titled: “MLB Guest Blogs”. This section will be a forum for the players themselves to provide articles for your reading pleasure on MLB reports. There are two guest bloggers currently working on their material and I look forward to posting their entries very soon. It is a pleasure to bring the players’ stories to you and I know you will enjoy reading what they have to say. On another update, Part II of III in the Oney Guillen interview will be posted likely sometime in the coming week. A riveting story of one of the most interesting characters in baseball, I commend Oney on being a first class interview. Oney has gratuitously taken a great deal of time out of schedule to converse with me and the private family pictures he provided for the article series was truly the icing on the cake. Last update: please be sure to e-mail your baseball questions to mlbreports@gmail.com. Please include your name and city as part of your questions. The E-mailbag questions and answers are posted every Wednesday on MLB reports.
In addition to the regular daily posts on the site, you will notice that I have been including daily scores and highlights from around the majors for your reads. These updates tend to serve two purposes: to keep the MLB fan up-to-date on how teams have performed from the previous days worth of games and to update the MLB fantasy players on the highs and lows of selected players from these games. In addition to being a devoted baseball fan and writer, I played in the trenches of fantasy baseball for many years. I have a strong idea of what fantasy players look for in analyzing games and I trust that my highlights will assist some of you. Please do not hesitate to e-mail or tweet me any time with any suggestions or comments that you have on the site. At the end of the day, MLB reports is truly here for you, the readers. My goal is to provide you with the baseball website that best serves your needs. All feedback is always appreciated to helping me in this process.
With the website updates out of the way, it is time for a look at the games that were played this past Saturday:
1) The Yankees have started off the year 2-0, pounding on the Tigers to the tune of a 10-6 final. AJ Burnett in his season debut was good but not great, giving up 3 ER in his 5 innings of work, 5 hits, 1 BB and 6 SO. Brad Penny in his Tigers debut lasted only 4.1 innings, charged with a total of 8 ER. Ouch. Mo Rivera pitched 1/3 of an inning to collect his 2nd save already in the season. Martin, Teixeira and A-Rod all homered for the Yanks. Austin Jackson and V-Mart replied with home runs for the Tigers.
2) The Nationals beat the Braves at home 6-3 behind solid pitching from John Lannan, who gave up only 1 ER. Storen gave up a home run to Alex Gonzalez and Sean Burnett pitched 1.1 scoreless innings for the save. The Nationals closer watch will be an interesting one as Storen in my opinion will be the closer by year’s end, but word has Burnett taking the job for the time being. Tommy Hanson did not last 4 innings in this outing, charged with 3 ER. Gonzalez finished with 3 hits on the day and Dan Uggla also connected for the Braves. Werth and Ramos had 3 hits apiece for the Nationals and Ankiel had the biggest blast, a 3-run blast.
3) The White Sox continued their mastery of the Indians, moving to 2-0 on the year with an 8-3 victory. Edwin Jackson had his typical high WHIP outing (5 hits and 4 BB in 6 IP), but gave up only 2 ER for the win. Sale and Santos had 2 SO apiece for the dominant Sox pen. Carrasco responded by being light up for 7 ER in 6.2 IP for the Indians, mirroring the beating taken by teammate Carmona yesterday. Quentin, Pierre and Beckham paced the Sox with 2 hits each. Travis Hafner’s 2 hits and first home run of the season were the only bright spots for the Indians on Saturday.
4) The Cubs and Pirates evened their series at 1-1 with a Cubs 5-3 victory in Wrigley. Zambrano had a quality start with 6 IP and 3 ER, Wood was solid in relief and Marmol struck out the side in the 9th for his first save. On the flip side, Maholm dominated for the Bucs, pitching 6.2 shutout innings, 5 hits, 2 BB and 3 SO. Meek was truly meek on this day, giving up 5 runs, 2 earned in 0.2 IP. Castro and Soto each had 2 hits for the Cubs. Neil Walker, followed his strong season debut with a 1-4 performance and 3 SO. Soriano batted 7th for the Cubs, Overbay cleanup for the Pirates.
5) The Blue Jays went to 2-0 in 2011 with a 6-1 thumping of the Twins. Kyle Drabek pitched one-hit ball in 7 innings, 3 BB and 7 SO. The Twins for a 2nd straight day could muster little offense against Toronto. Liriano gave up 4 ER in his 4.1 IP, with 4 hits and an alarming 5 BB. The Twins pitchers seemed off and should be monitored for health concerns. Molina and Nix out of all people provided the home run power for Toronto on Saturday. Rajai Davis was given the day off due to an injured ankle and is currently day-to-day.
6) The Royals beat the Angels 5-4 to move to 2-1 on the year. Soria finished for his first save and Jepsen took the loss with 2 ER in his 1.0 IP, plus 4 hits allowed. Crowe continued to impress in the Royals pen, with 1.2 scoreless innings and 2 SO. A possible future move to the rotation I believe could be in line. Alex Gordon out of the 3rd spot had another 0-4 day, with an average sitting at .154 for the year. The Angels received a home run from Torii Hunter but could not win despite 11 hits. Vernon Wells in the 5th spot finished at 1-4 and 3 LOB, with a season average of .167.
7) The Padres pounded the Cardinals 11-3 to move to 2-0 on the year. Clayton Richard had a quality start for the Padres, going 6.0 innings and giving up 3 ER. Jake Westbrook was pounded for 8 ER in his 4.1 IP. Dave Duncan is a miracle worker, but I see Westbrook as being beyond miracles. His leash will be short. Pujols homered for the Cardinals and Chase Headley led the Padres with 2 hits, a home run and 4 rbis. Hudson and Hawpe went hitless in the 3rd and 4th spots again for the Padres. Expect a lineup switch in the near future.
8) The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered their first defeat of the year, a 10-0 loss to the World Series Giants. Ted Lilly gave up 4 ER in 4.1 IP. Matt Cain was spectacular, 6 shutout innings, 5 hits, 0 BB and 3 SO. Ethier had 3 hits for the Dodgers. The Giants in a revamped lineup, received 3 hits from Sanchez and solid games from Tejada in the leadoff spot, Huff and DeRosa.
9) Houston is 0-2 to start the year as Cy-Lee and the Phillies beat them 9-4. Lee in his return to Philadelphia pitched 7.0 innings, giving up 3 ER and 4 hits. The most telling was his 11 SO and 0 BB. Cy-Lee is back baby. Wandy Rodriguez pitched like he was in Cleveland, giving up 7 ER in 4.0 innings. Carlos Lee went 3-4 with a home run and 4 rbis. Great games by Polanco, Francisco and Ibanez.
10) The Rays, my pre-season pick to win the AL East started off the year 0-2 with a 3-1 loss to the Orioles. James Shields pitched well, going 7.1 IP with 2 ER, 4 hits, 2 BB and 7 SO. Chris Tillman was pulled after 6.0 no-hit innings (bet Orioles fans loved that), with Kevin Gregg getting a Fernando Rodney save (1 hit and 1 BB allowed in 1.0 IP). Brian Roberts starred for the Orioles with a home run and 2 hits in total and all 3 rbis.
11) The Brewers fell again to the Reds, this time by a score of 4-2. Shawn Marcum in his Brewers debut was ineffective, giving up 4 ER in 4.2 IP. Wood was crazy good for the Reds, 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, 0 BB and 7 SO. Cordero pitched a shaky 9th, giving up 1 ER for the save. The Chapman watch will officially begin today. Scott Rolen had a 2-run home run and Drew Stubbs had 2 hits at the leadoff spot.
12) The Marlins fell to the Mets by a score off 6-4 (huh? the Mets won a game before May?) Jon Niese had an effective outing, 7 IP and 2 ER. K-Rod had a nightmarish outing, with 3 hits, 1 BB and 1 ER in 1.0 IP. Nolasco was great for the Marlins, 7.0 IP with 2 ER and 0 BB. Wright had a great game with a home run and 3 hits, while Ike Davis chipped in also with 2 hits.
13) Texas kept pounding out the runs with a 12-5 butchering of the Red Sox in Arlington. Colby Lewis had a quality start with 6.0 IP and 3 ER. 
Lackey was destroyed to the tune of 9 ER and 3.2 IP (ewww). Papi and Ellsbury went deep for the Bosox, who continued to play Crawford in the 3rd hole (not for long). Texas had long balls from Kinsler, Torrealba, Cruz and Beltre.
14) The Diamondbacks lost the Rockies 3-1 despite a quality start from Hudson, with 6.0 IP and 3 ER. De La Rosa pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings and left with a blister. Street got the save despite giving up a run in his 1.0 IP (monitor this closer situation depending on Street’s health). Iannetta, a strong catcher projected for the year, had 2 hits and 2 runs scored.
15) The Mariners wrapped up the MLB action with a 5-2 victory over the A’s. Vargas and Anderson were both solid, until Fuentes gave up 2 ER in the 9th on 3 hits for the loss and blown save. Expect the Fuentes watch to continue for the next couple of weeks and 2-3 more outings like this could cost his job. A healthy and effective Andrew Bailey will be great Fuentes insurance. Chris Ray gave up 3 hits and 1 ER for the Mariners while League as closer pitched a scoreless and hitless 9th for the save. Expect League to continue to save games until Aardsma is back, but could keep the job long-term. Barton had 3 hits for the A’s while Ichiro had 2 hits to become the Mariners all-time hit leader, to break Edgar’s record.
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TRAVIS SNIDER – FROM PROSPECT TO SUPERSTAR
MLB reports: What a difference a year makes. 2010 was a season where essentially nothing went right for Travis Snider. From batting at the bottom of the Jays lineup all year to frequent trips to the disabled list and the minors, the then twenty-two year outfielder was beginning to lose the lustre from his prospect star status. Rumors of immaturity and attitude haunted the young man, as well as frequent disagreements with then Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston. Now healthy and part of the newly constructed Toronto team, Travis Snider is ready to take his game to the next level.
In my estimation, no Toronto player will benefit greater from the hiring of John Farrell as manager than Snider. The previous regime under Gaston was not seen as “rookie friendly” to say the least. While Snider got off to a quick start last year, he quickly started to fade early on. In whatever approach Gaston was trying to preach to the kid, clearly it was not working. From there, spending time in the minors and on the DL has a way of shattering a young player’s confidence. Remember, Snider a year ago was one of the top hitting prospects in baseball and the future face of the franchise. Watching his approach at the plate, Snider appeared to be overly aggressive to me. A common symptom of being a young hitter, few hitters can go up to the plate and wait for their pitch in the manner that Jason Heyward does. But after two years of less than 300 hundred at-bats and lifetime MLB avg of .255, clearly a change was needed to Snider’s game. That change has arrived and I saw it last night.
I was expecting to see Snider hitting 8th last night but was pleasantly surprised to see him in the 7th spot. Although not a huge difference, Farrell had Snider hitting between Encarnacion and Rivera, two veteran hitters who would be able to give him protection in the lineup. The higher slot in the lineup to me translates to a vote of confidence for the kid. After some solid games, I expect Snider to move up to #6 and even as high as 5th as the season progresses. He has that much talent and hopefully the Jays let him showcase his abilities. However, the biggest change I saw in Snider was his stance and approach at the plate. Snider finished the night 0-2 with 2 BB and 2 runs scored. The tone of the night for him was set in his first at-bat, when Travis was able to reach first on an error. Snider gave a nice little fist pump after reaching base- showing his heart and desire to play the game the right way. Although not getting credit for a hit, Travis did show great hustle and determination in that at-bat. The rest of the night for me centered around his new stance. The “superstar” stance as I call it.
Dwayne Murphy has clearly invested a great deal of time in working with Snider. His mechanics and approach at the plate are much better in
2011. Last year, Snider looked extremely lost at the plate to me. Last night, Snider showcased his new approach which clearly is starting to work for him. Snider is taking more pitches and seeing the ball much better. Both walks he took last night were hard-fought and well-earned. It appeared to me that Travis watching video of Nick Swisher in the off-season and starting to follow his approach at the plate. Snider has a nice fluid stroke and in opening his stance, he is able to see pitches better and wait for the right ones. I expect to see Snider’s walk rate spike and his home run totals proportionately. My sense is that Farrell and Murphy have much faith in the kid and he will be rewarding them with a solid breakout season in 2011.
I won’t sit and blame Cito Gaston for all of Travis Snider’s woes in 2010. Snider has to take responsibility for his own actions and results in the process. But clearly the relationship between manager and player did not work in that case and a change was needed. John Farrell has vast experience working with young players, from being a farm director with the Indians to being the pitching coach in Boston. Farrell to win over Snider will need to play him day-in and day-out. The greatest mistake that a young player can make is to press too hard early on, afraid that any mistakes could lead to a demotion to the bench or minors. If Snider is allowed to play through mistakes and slumps, the law of probability will result in success coming through the flip side. The Travis Snider that I saw on opening night was excited to be a part of the team. He did not press at the plate and did the little things necessary to contribute to his team’s success. Watch out for Travis Snider, the next superstar and franchise of the Toronto Blue Jays.
MLB REPORTS FROM FRIDAY APRIL 1ST:
1) The Toronto Blue Jays got off to a fast start on the season, crushing the Twins 13-3 in the Rogers Centre. Ricky Romero had an impressive opening day, pitching 6.1 innings, giving up 7 hits, 1 ER and 7 SO. The key telling stat of the night was 0 walks given up by the young lefty. Carl Pavano, on the other hand, gave up 7 runs in 4 innings of work. Looking like the Pavano from the Yankees days, the night was simply brutal for the veteran. Bautista and Lind had huge games for the Jays but the star of the night was the #9 hitting catcher J.P. Arencebia, going 3-4 with 5 rbis, 2 hr’s and a triple to boot. For one day at least, the Jays look like the team to beat in the East.
2) The Phillies squeaked out a close one in Philadelphia in their opener, with Halladay and Myers facing in a strong pitching duel. Halladay was stellar in the 5-4 Phillies win, with 6 IP, 7 hits, 1 ER, o BB and 6 SO. Roy is just scary good and its only the start of the season. In the “closer implosion” series, Brandon Lyon in 1/3 of an inning gave up 6 hits and 3 ER. Perhaps trading Lidstrom was not the brightest move for the Astros. Baez finished with the save in this one but only because of the late 9th inning magic by the Phillies bats. Madson pitching a clean 8th with 2 SO is still the closer at this point. Rollins and Howard both had 2 hits in the win for the Phillies.
3) The Pirates played their hearts out in a 6-3 win over the Cubs in Wrigley. Kevin Correia pitched 6 solid innings, 2 ER, 1 BB and 3 SO. Dempster on the other hand, gave up 6 ER in his 6.2 IP. Meek and Hanrahan were lock down in the 8th and 9th for the Pirates, with 2 SO each in their respective innings of work. For all the closer debates in Pittsburgh, that is a great situation to have. But if opening day is an indication, Hanrahan is definitely the closer for now. Any sign of falter though and Meek becomes the new Matt Capps for Pittsburgh. Neil Walker at 2B and batting second had the game of his life, with a grand slam home run and walk. McCutchen also homered and looked solid. Castro had 3 hits in the lone bright spot for the Cubs on this day.
4) The White Sox beat the Indians in a barn burner in Cleveland, 15-10. Mark Buehrle had a typical outing, 6 IP, 4 ER, 1 BB and 0 SO. Fausto Carmona got destroyed to the tune of 10 ER in 3.0 IP to get the worst start line of any pitcher on opening day. Many players had nice stats lines in a blowout game on this day, with Santana pacing the Indians in the cleanup spot with 3 hits and a home run. Dunn and Quentin were the beasts for the White Sox, each with a home run, Dunn with 4 ribbies and Quentin with 5.
5) The Rangers won their opener, 9-5 against the Red Sox. C.J. Wilson solidified his ace status with the win, giving up 2 ER in 6.2 IP and 6 SO. Jon Lester did not have it on this day, giving up 5 ER in 5.1 IP. The Rangers had 3 bombs, with Mike Napoli (see my article on him earlier in the offseason) leading the way with 2 hits, 3 rbis and a walk. Crawford was hitless in his Red Sox debut and Adrian Gonzalez had 2 hits and 3 rbis.
6) The Diamondbacks won a wild one in Coors, beating the Rockies 7-6. Ubaldo was off tonight, giving up 5 ER in 6.0 IP. Not what Rockies fans expected from their ace. J.J. Putz had a clean save in the win, 1.0 IP and 2 SO. Upton and Montero had nice games for the winners with a home run apiece.
7) In the upset of the night, the Orioles stunned the Rays 4-1 in Tampa. David Price, despite giving up only 5 hits and 1 BB in 7.0 IP with 7 SO gave up all 4 runs. Guthrie shut out the Rays during his 8.0 IP, giving up only 3 hits and 1 BB. With only 5 hits on the night, the Orioles were able to beat David Price even when he was on his game…signs that the AL East will be as tough as many expect in 2011.
8) The New York Mets began their dismissal season with a 6-2 loss to the Marlins. Josh Johnson was unhittable early on and finished with 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 hits and 2 BB allowed. The stars of the night for the Marlins were Logan Morrison and John Buck, both with a home run (Buck with the grand slam). Gaby Sanchez also had 2 hits for the strong Marlins opening game.
9) In the final opening game of the season, King Felix had the season’s only complete game to-date in the Mariners 6-2 win. Felix gave up 2 ER, 5 hits and 0 BB in 108 pitches thrown, with 5 SO. The AL West has been put on notice. Willingham in the cleanup spot had a home run for the A’s while the light-hitting Chone Figgins countered with a jack of his own for the M’s. With every team getting a game into the record books, opening day is now complete!
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MLB Opening Day: Survival List and Highlights
MLB reports: Going into day-two of the MLB opening day schedule, I will be in Toronto tonight to watch the hometown Blue Jays face the Minnesota Twins. With a sold-out, packed stadium of over 50,000 screaming fans, tonight will be awesome. Opening day is the greatest baseball day of the year and should never be missed. I have attended all-star games and World Baseball Classic matchups and I can still say that opening day is number one. I have not yet attended any world series games, which has its own energy and excitement.. But the start of the year, the start of the season, with hope and optimism all around- opening day is king.
With hope comes reality. Opening day, while a great deal of fun to watch, should still be prepared for ahead of time. For those experienced fans who have been through this before but need a refresher after a long offseason and for those new to the game, I have prepared the following tips for you. Opening day is most enjoyable when you come to the game ready. Here is what you need to do in order to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
1) Pack food and water: Check the policy of your stadium on this, but most will allow you to bring in any food and a sealed bottled of water. Opening day gets pretty hectic, as the stadium will be full and the concessions are not yet in mid-season form. To avoid missing any of the action in long lineups, plan ahead and bring your own munchies.
2) Wear baseball gear: Coming to opening day without a baseball top/cap is unacceptable. Preferably you should wear the colors of your home team, but any baseball clothing will do. To get into the excitement, you have to dress the part.
3) Bring a camera: Opening day will last three to four hours, but pictures last a lifetime. Be sure to capture all the moments of the game and your surroundings. The more friends an family that you have at the game, the better the photo opportunities.
4) Bring people: Coming to the game with a buddy or loved one is great. But the more people that join you in your section, the greater the feeling you will have at the game. I have seven people in total in my group coming today, it will be a blast.
5) Strategic bathroom breaks: Try to go right before the game starts. The bathrooms will be crowded all game long and hopefully your bladder can hold up for most, if not the entire game.
6) Arrive early: On a Friday, traffic is usually bad no matter where we live. Add to that the number of people attending the game, the slow pace of the ushers in welcoming people, checking tickets and giving away free stuff- and you have a recipe for disaster. Try to be at your stadium approximately two hours before game time to make sure that you can easily get in, check out the concessions and all the pre-game festivities in a relaxed manner.
7) Bring your Smartphone: If you have a blackberry or iphone, sending the occasional updates through twitter or facebook will make you leading edge and gives the people that follow you a chance to share in your experience. Photo updates get bonus points.
8) Get into the game: Socializing throughout the game is fun. But if you are at the point that you have no idea what inning it is and the score, clearly you are not paying enough attention. Keep focused so that you miss any of the key game highlights and bring the game into your discussion. The greater experience you have on opening day, the more likely you will be out for future games this season.
9) Watch the lineup: Your home team likely has some new faces. Learn the roster and get to know the players on your team. You will see them for 162 games this year and watching them live to start the year will help your knowledge. I look for things like batting stances, pitching deliveries, names/numbers etc. Learn your team as the better you know your guys, the harder you will support them.
10) Savor the moment: Enjoy every second that you are there. Take in every sight, sound and smell from opening day from the second you enter the stadium to the time you leave. You will only get one crack at opening day every season, enjoy this one.
I wish everyone a great MLB opening day! Hopefully you will get to attend a game in person over the course of the last two days. If not, try to make sure that you are enjoying an opening day game, if it is on your computer, television or radio. Then try to make the effort to get to a game as soon as you can to get into the spirit of the start of the MLB season. Plan a road trip for the summer to watch some games at a park that you have never seen. But at the end of the day, just enjoy baseball. It is the greatest game in the world and its back for the next seven months. It’s truly the best time of year to be a baseball fan.
MLB reports from Opening Day- Thursday March 31st:
1) Some shaky closers to start the year as Axford imploded as the Brewers lost to the Reds, Broxton and Franklin both gave up long balls in their initial outings and Rodney got the save in a high WHIP fashion. Remember, there will be new closers on 30-40% of teams by the end of the year. Closer is the most volatile position in baseball.
2) Alex Gordon, batting third for the Royals, went 0-5 with 3 SO. My preseason pick to have a strong bounce back year, I hope that he doesn’t fail me.
3) Checking my predictions for the opening day schedule, I finished with a 5-1 record yesterday. The only game I missed on was the Cardinals and Padres game. Little did I know that Pujols would ground into three double plays. It was just one of those games. We shall see how I do on the rest of my predictions later today. You can view my opening day matchups and predictions on http://mlbreports.com posted on Tuesday.
4) The Dodgers/Giants game proved to be a pitching matchup for the ages. Kershaw and Lincecum went head-to-head and did not disappoint. Key moment of the game occurred when the Dodgers had a 1-0 lead in the 6th with the bases loaded and two outs. Mattingly decided to let Kershaw bat for himself. In a tight game with little offensive opportunities, the Dodger’s manager could have cost himself the game. In an early game and Kershaw likely to go only one more inning (which he did), you need to play to win. Hopefully someone can explain the National League to Donny as the season progresses. Otherwise, Kershaw looks like he is ready to break out into a superstar and Lincecum will be solid yet again.
5) The Padres are in big trouble. Now that Adrian Gonzalez is gone, the smoke and mirrors can be removed and the carriage is now back into being a pumpkin. When Venable is your leadoff hitter and Orlando Hudson is batting third, you know that it will be a long year. It looked to me like Buddy Black created a lineup by drawing names out of a hat. With so little talent, maybe he is on to something.
6) Jered Weaver looked great to start the year and should be in Cy Young form. The Angels as a team are yet again the impatient hackers on offense that they always seem to be. Against a scuffling Luke Hochevar, the Angels stranded 15 men on base and only took one walk as a team. The Angels will have to rely on their pitching if they hope to contend in the AL West. Vernon Wells had a typical Vernon night. Anaheim fans will be calling for his head by June.
7) Great start by the Braves. Lowe was spectacular and Heyward is mature beyond his years. He will be the face of the franchise for the next ten to twelve years if he stays healthy.
8) Phil Coke, the named fifth starter for the Tigers had a shaky relief outing against the Yankees. This cannot help his chances to keep a starting role. Hopefully the Tigers give him a chance to start and show what he can for at least a month.
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Opening Day 2011: No-Hitter?
MLB reports: With the 2011 MLB season commencing today, I started to think about milestones and achievements. Recalling Doc’s no-hitter in last year’s playoffs, I started to blend no-hitter and opening day in my mind. What did I come up with? The only man to throw a no-hitter on opening day, the one and only Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians.
On April 16, 1940, in the old Comiskey Park in Chicago, Feller and the Indians beat the White Sox by a 1-0 score. A tight pitchers duel, Feller and Eddie Smith of the Sox were on their games that day. A cold and blustery day, the hitters could not get their bats going. But Feller at the tender age of twenty-one made in his mark in history.
Bob Feller went on to throw two more no-hitters in his career, during the 1946 and 1951 seasons. Just imagine in that perspective what Roy Halladay was able to accomplish in 2010. Roy threw a perfect game against the Marlins in Miami at the start of the year and then the second no-hitter in post-season history, joining Don Larsen. A perfect game and no-hitter in the playoffs. Boggles the mind doesn’t it? Another entry in the history book is the back-to-back no-hitters thrown by Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 against the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers. It is doubtful that we will ever see that feat again, although I’m sure many pitchers will continue to try.
Halladay broke new ground last year by throwing a no-hitter in the playoffs against the Reds, ensuring that Don Larsen would forever have company in the record books. Vander Meer’s record is likely to remain intact until the end of time, as the probability of a pitcher in this day and age throwing back-to-back no-hitters is likely nil. Thus the next record to go is the opening day no-hitter. Feller, who passed away last December at the age of 92 was a great pitcher and one of the best of all time. Will any pitchers join him this year in the record books? The story will unfold today and tomorrow. Although very unlikely, there a couple of pitchers going who have a chance. The truth is that on any given day, everyone has the chance to be great. That is part of why we all love baseball so much. Enjoy opening day and thank you for walking down memory lane with me. Lets play ball!
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My Name is Oney: Making My Mark in the Guillen World
(Welcome to part I of a III part profile and interview series with Oney Guillen)
MLBreports: Here is the scenario: Put 10 baseball fans in a room. The degrees of knowledge and experience in the group vary. It’s irrelevant. State to these fans one singular word: “Guillen”. Ask the focus group to indicate their first reaction and response. The Likely result, 10 out of 10 times will be “Ozzie”. Go ahead and try it. Use any scale of testing group that you like. 100. 1000. It doesn’t matter. Ozzie will win out every time. Now imagine your name is Oney and your father is Ozzie. You have two brothers, Ozzie Jr. and Ozney. Your last name is Guillen. As one of the sons to the great Ozzie Guillen, imagine trying to come out from under that shadow, especially with the two brothers trying to do the same thing as you. I would imagine this is pretty difficult, perhaps impossible. But then again, you don’t know Oney Guillen. Some of you might think that you do, but the truth is that “unless you walk in the shoes of a man” as the old adage goes, you will never truly know him. So, let’s take a walk in the shoes of the aforementioned Oney Guillen. While Ozzie may have left big shoes to fill in baseball, Oney has taken the non-traditional route and chosen a completely different pair to walk his journey in the game of life. The imprints are already there and the roads in his career remain limitless. This is the story of Oney Guillen as he makes his mark in the Guillen world.
I initially corresponded with Oney one evening via twitter. I replied as a follower to a comment that Oney had tweeted and he replied. We conversed on twitter for some time on baseball. A few minutes later Oney followed me. Ozzie Jr. followed a couple of minutes later. Oney and I struck up a friendship that has continued to evolve ever since. I commented on a child in one of Oney’s pictures that I mistook as his daughter and turned out to be his niece. She turned out to be similar in age to my own son. We discussed our mutual love of children, life and most of all, baseball. I was instantly drawn to Oney’s charisma and zest for life. A regular chip off the old block I thought. I admittedly did not know Oney well yet at this point. But as I got to know him and later interview him for this article, I was left in awe of the man that he was and the amount of baseball life that he had already lived at such a tender, young age. As our discussions continued and grew, so did my interest in his story.
I was exposed to Ozzie and Oney at different stages of my life. Ozzie, in fact, I
have met in person on a couple of different occasions, both as s a player in the early 1990’s with the Chicago White Sox and later as a manager with the same South Siders in 2006. Our first encounter was at a local hotel lobby when Ozzie was a young player signing autographs. I found him to be young, polite and friendly to the fans. As a manager, Ozzie and I met briefly at an MLB sponsored party after the home run derby in Pittsburgh. Ozzie was the center of attention at his table, hanging out with family and friends including Miguel Cabrera, then of the Florida Marlins. We spoke several words that night, but, again, Ozzie was nothing but polite and courteous. A strong character and often rough image is portrayed to MLB fans by the media when it comes to Ozzie Guillen. But without knowing contexts and scenarios, how many of us really know Ozzie Guillen- the man behind the sound bites we hear on television and read in our local newspapers? Having met him personally on different occasions over the years, I can firmly say that the Ozzie Guillen I have met and know is not the same one that is often characterized by baseball fans. For those fans that think that Ozzie is a loose cannon or angry person, think again. How do you know this person? What basis exists for such conclusions? These were the same questions that I wish I had originally asked myself the night of December 28th last year.
I try to always acquire as much baseball knowledge as I can and stay on top
of all baseball news and facts. If you had quizzed me several months ago, I would have told you that Ozzie Guillen has three sons. I would have guessed that two, maybe all were drafted at some point by the Chicago White Sox. Call it one of my crazy baseball quirks, but I love following baseball drafts and prospects and learn the stories behind the players. How Tommy Lasorda had pulled in some favors to have the Dodgers draft Mike Piazza in the late rounds of his draft year. Gregg Zaun’s uncle is Rick Dempsey. Brady Anderson’s father is not Sparky. Mariano and Ruben Rivera are cousins. Jose Canseco has a twin brother who also played professional ball, Ozzie…who allegedly posed this past weekend as Jose in a celebrity boxing fight…well; let’s leave those details for another day.
From there the influx of next generation players is overwhelming- Patrick Leyland, Cale Iorg, Dee Gordon, Delino Deshields Jr., Nick Swisher, Shelley and Chris Duncan, just to name a few. The list literally goes on and on. But to name the Guillen boys, I truthfully would have said at the time Ozzie, Ozzie and Ozzie. Much in the way of George Foreman and his 10 children, with five boys all named George. Ozzie Jr., Oney and Ozney are not far off in essence. Each named as a direct or indirect variation of their father’s name. This is a great honor on one hand, but somewhat of a curse on the other. A curse in the sense that establishing a name for themselves would be that much more difficult. Exposure is one arena, solidification is quite another. The aforementioned night in December last year, I like much of the baseball world, got my first exposure to Oney through twitter. My perceptions from that day have long been altered. By sharing my conversations with Oney in this article, I am betting your opinion will change as well.
The story behind Oney’s tweets are well chronicled and do not require elaboration at this juncture. Needless to say, references were made by Oney with respect to ex-White Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks and the twitter world was abuzz. I will admit on record that the tweets were my first true exposure to Oney. But tweets on a singular evening do not define a man, a body of work in totality does. Over the course of the weeks after my friendship was struck with Oney, I prepared notes and went through an extensive interview with him. I have to admit, I could not put the papers down. Reading them again and again, I was mesmerized by his story. The tale of Oney Guillen begins as many of a baseball story does: getting drafted and playing major league ball.
Thank you for reading Part I of my feature article on Oney Guillen. In part II of this feature, I will present the first portion of my interview with Oney Guillen and share his thoughts, feelings and dreams in his own words. From his experiences growing up to his start in professional baseball as a player and working in the head office of the Chicago White Sox, to an in-depth look into his relationship with his dad and brothers. In part III you will hear from Oney as to his current roles in baseball as well as those of his brothers, and learn about his future goals and dreams. Stay tuned, the story of Oney Guillen in baseball is one not to be missed.
***A special thank you to Oney Guillen for his time and effort as part of being interviewed for this interview series. Oney agreed to share private photos from his family album as part of this series. A thank you as well to Peter Stein, my editor in helping to prepare this piece.***
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MLB Opening Day Preview: Schedule and Pitching Previews
MLB reports: With the 2011 MLB season about to commence, literally hours away at this moment- my thoughts continue to centre on the Holy Grail: Opening Day. This year, there are 12 teams playing on Thursday March 31st with the remaining teams playing the next day. For each MLB fan rooting for their respective team, there are 15 different opening day games that will be the focal point for them. Regardless of the city you live in or the team you root for, the first game of the year is the most exciting. It is time to shake the snow off your boots, grab your jersey and tickets and get ready for the start of baseball. For you, the diehards, I present the matchups and probable pitchers for each game.
In my brief analysis of each game, I have taken a slight twist in my analysis. I have decided not to crunch the numbers and take the stats route. To predict the outcomes of games, most stat-heads tend to look at historical opening day numbers for each team, head-to-head records, home/away records, day/night games, etc. This article contains none of the above. I am simply looking at the teams, taking a feel for each lineup and starting pitcher for each team, in performing my discussion. I was planning to post this article in a couple of days but with the enthusiasm of opening day on the horizon, I simply could not wait. Thus MLB fans, I present to you: The breakdown of the MLB Opening Day lineup. (Note: all game times are EST. Starting pitchers are subject to change, especially for injuries. Games may be delayed due to weather conditions)
Thursday March 31, 2011
1) Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals:
1:05pm: Derek Lowe vs. Livian Hernandez
There will be 2 games to start the year on Thursday at 1:05pm and this will be the first game previewed. America’s team, the Braves vs. the Nationals in the Nation’s capital. The Nationals are a nice, young exciting team with a great deal of buzz surrounding the team. Unfortunately, neither of its 2 brightest stars-to-be, Strasburg and Harper will not be a part of the opening day lineup. The Braves have a strong, young team led by Heyward and Freeman. Derek Lowe is an experienced veteran who gets the opening day nod out of respect. Livian Hernandez, on the other hand, is the opening day starter by default. The Nationals fans will be likely going home disappointed on this day, as the Braves will be the victors in a high scoring opener.
2) Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees
1:05pm: Justin Verlander vs. C.C. Sabathia
The next opening game of the year to start the year comes from new Yankee Stadium, as 2 historical teams matchup in what should be an excellent pitching matchup. Verlander and Sabathia are 2 of the strongest pitchers in the majors and should go toe-to-toe in this game. While I see the hitters having the advantage in this game while the pitchers break into the season in a strong hitting park, smart money is the Yankees taking the win in their home park.
3) Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds
2:10pm: Yovanni Gallardo vs. Edinson Volquez
This game is the one that will catch my attention the most on Thursday. Two of the most exciting offensive teams in the majors, each led by their young strikeout artists. Gallardo and Volquez are cut from the same mold: when on, both are untouchable. When both are having difficulties, they can be time bombs. In the Cincinnati bandbox, I am predicting a high scoring game and a Reds victory. I am a big Gallardo supporter, but I can’t see opening in Cincinnati working well for him.
4) L.A. Angels at Kansas City Royals
4:10pm: Jered Weaver vs. Luke Hochevar
On paper this matchup looks very easy to analyze and in reality, it is. Weaver is a stud hurler for the Angels, a team with strong defense and fairly balanced offense. The Royals have Cabrera and Francouer in the outfield and Hochevar as their “ace”. The Royals fans are fortunate to be opening the season at home. This will be the last of their fortunes on this day as Weaver and the Angels should easily have their way with a Royals team in their final year of rebuilding as respectability begins for them in 2012.
5) San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals
4:15pm: Tim Stauffer vs. Chris Carpenter
The young and surprising Padres bring their smoke and mirror show to St. Louis to face the Cards and Chris Carpenter. With one of my hyped young hurlers Matt Latos on the shelf, Tim Stauffer gets the nod for the opener for the Padres. With Adrian Gonzalez in Boston, the Padres will find a difficult time to score runs this year. Stauffer, stellar in the bullpen and spot starts for the Padres in 2010, is now moved into the rotation full time this year. Carpenter, one of the best pitchers in the game, will prove to be stingy at home. Regardless of how many runs the Cardinals score on this day, 2 runs will be enough for the Cardinals to start their year with a win.
6) San Francisco Giants vs. L.A. Dodgers
8:00pm: Tim Lincecum vs. Clayton Kershaw
This will be a premier matchup, as the World Series champions Giants face their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lincecum vs. Kershaw will be a pitching matchup for the ages. I see these pitchers battling all night, with the Dodgers emerging victorious. Opening night will be exciting for the Giants, but the hangover effect on the road leans to an advantage to L.A. on this night.
Friday April 1, 2011
7) Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies
1:05pm: Brett Myers vs. Roy Halladay
Day 2 of Opening Day finds Brett Myers coming back to his old stomping grounds to face Halladay and the Phillies. I don’t want to formally go on record and say that Halladay will throw a no-no in the opener…so….let’s just say, I have already said enough. The Phillies fans will be smelling blood and it should not take long for Myers to be shaken as the Phillies hitters have their way with him. Houston goes down quietly and quickly in this one.
8) Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
2:20pm: Kevin Correia vs. Ryan Dempster
Unless you are a Pirates or Cubs fans…I imagine that only the diehards will be watching this one. Kevin Correia in my estimation was a solid pickup for the Pirates and with decent run support will win at least 12 games in Pittsburgh. Dempster, as a steady pitcher for the Cubs will prove to be a worthy adversary. This game will boil down to which team gets the better pitching and my crystal balls sees a Pirates victory in this one.
9) Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians
3:05pm: Mark Buehrle vs. Fausto Carmona
In the seemingly never-ending Opening Day matchup between the Chisox and Indians, Buehrle and Carmona face off in Cleveland. As most White Sox fans will attest, Buehrle can be steady at the best of times and extremely frustrating in others. The Opening Day nod was given to Buehrle by Ozzie out of respect and years of service, which is well deserved and applauded. But with the hot hand of Fausto going into the opener, the Indians will squeak out a victory in the opener in one of the few bright moments that will likely shine in Cleveland’s otherwise rebuilding 2011 season.
10) Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers
4:05pm: Jon Lester vs. C.J. Wilson
I would have loved to be at this game, as this game features the matchup of two of the best MLB offenses and dynamic left-handed pitchers. This game is being in played Texas, which tends to favor the hitters in the summer…but alas, this game is being played in April. The Red Sox will be buzzing with excitement with the additions of Gonzalez and Crawford, with the home return of Salty. After falling short in the World Series, I foresee the Rangers coming to the game focused and determined. Wilson will be on his game as the Rangers start 2011 with a hard fought victory over the Red Sox in a low scoring game.
11) Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies
4:10pm: Ian Kennedy v. Ubaldo Jimenez
One word: Ubaldo. The man with what, a 0.70 ERA in the first half of last year? Ubaldo translates from Spanish to English to mean unhittable. The Rockies take this game in 2 hours or less.
12) Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays
7:07pm: Carl Pavano vs. Ricky Romero
My live Opening Day game is in Toronto, Canada as Pavano and the Twins take on Romero and the Jays. Both pitchers come into this game after difficult final outings in their last respective spring training games. I was impressed with the Pavano re-signing with the Twins, as there is an excellent fit for him with this team. Romero, while a young exciting pitcher, is still growing into his role as ace on an up-and-coming Toronto team. While game 2 of this series features the true exciting pitching matchup of Liriano and Drabek, the fans attending opening day will have to settle to watch a decent game which will feature a victorious Twins team.
13) Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays
7:10pm: Mark Guthrie vs. David Price
David Price, who will prove to be a serious Cy-Young candidate this year, faces the Orioles at home. My preseason favorites to win the AL East, this game should be a cake walk for the Rays and Price. While the Orioles will have a .500 team this year, Opening Night will not be their night.
14) New York Mets at Florida Marlins
7:10pm: Mike Pelfrey vs. Josh Johnson
Josh Johnson, when healthy, is one of the top pitchers in baseball. Mike Pelfrey, pitching for the bottom-feeder Mets, is like a lamb being led to the slaughter. Playing their final opener in their current home park, the soon-to-be Miami Marlins will give the Mets the first of their likely 90+ losses of the year. Not even close.
15) Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics
10:05pm: Felix Hernandez at Trevor Cahill
The final game of the year features the “Moneyball” Oakland A’s hosting King Felix and the Mariners. The A’s will have an exciting young team that has some of the strongest pitching in the AL with an improved offense that should finish 2nd in the AL West, with the chance of a division win. The Mariners, a young team in rebuild mode, have the reigning AL Cy Young winner on the hill. Despite many bumps ahead in their season, I would never bet against King Felix. Opening Day ends with a Mariners victory and the season being completely underway.
As you, I cannot wait for the season to start. Spring training has been exciting and now it is time for the game and stats to count. While March has been about the hitters and pitchers to get their innings and at-bats in, Opening Day means that the games will be played the way they are meant to. It’s a long MLB season, with 162 games ahead for each of our teams. But with all the teams starting with a 0-0 record, everyone has an equal chance of success. With that in mind and knowing the matchups, let’s get ready for 3 more nights of sleep and then it will be time to play ball. Have a great season everyone; I have a feeling 2011 will be one of the best MLB seasons of all time.
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Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: National League
MLB reports: In part 2 of my series on sleeper targets, I move to the National League. On each team, I pinpoint the player that will likely drop in your draft or sit on the waiver wire come opening day. These are the value players that will in my estimation make or break your fantasy year. Let’s get to it:
Cubs – Carlos Pena: Yes. A $10 million player can be undervalued. Especially one that hit below .200 in 2010. At 100 walks and 30+ home runs, Pena would definitely have a place on my fantasy team. Check his 2009 season. .227 average and a .356 OBP. 87 walks and 39 home runs that year. Pena can likely be had around the 7th round and as late as the 12th round depending on your league. You will never get better production at such a reduced rate. Buy low on Pena.
Nationals – Drew Storen: As I write this article, I see a tweet that Storen/Burnett will share closer duties to start the year. Closers by committee tend to scare off many fantasy teams but it shouldn’t scare you. When you know your guy will have the job for most of the year and nail it down, especially in a keeper league, nab him. Storen was highly touted in college, groomed as a closer and will be the Nationals closer for the next 10 years. If you draft right, he can do the same for you. Storen’s spring woes mean value to you. Don’t think fringe closer, bet on your #1 stopper on a young team on the rise.
Brewers – Takashi Saito: I am a big John Axford fan, but the closer position is volatile to say the least. Injuries and performance creates huge fluctuations. Statistics show that at least 40% of the closers to start the year won’t have their jobs in September. Saito has the experience and track record and will get the ball first when called upon. Saito may be closer insurance on your bench to start the year, but for a guy likely to go undrafted in most leagues, certainly worth the gamble.
Marlins – Logan Morrison: See Storen. LoMo was very highly touted to start the spring but a poor March has likely put a damper on many teams’ expectations. It shouldn’t change your projections. Spring numbers don’t mean much on a grand scale and young players with big expectations often try too hard and hinder themselves early on. Once the season starts, the good ones know how to refocus and get back to the basics. Morrison is the next Will Clark/ Mark Grace. Sweet swing and patience personified. Rank him high and draft low. If he falls to the 8th round or after, nab him and enjoy him for the next 12 years.
Diamondbacks – Miguel Montero: Another highly touted prospect seemingly forever that has been sidelined year after year by injuries. I see Montero ready to take the next step. A catcher with good power doesn’t grow on trees. Keep an eye on Montero and if your other catcher targets are gone by the 10th-12th rounds, consider him. The potential is still there and he can still be affordable.
Rockies – Chris Iannetta: I see Chris as similar to Montero but with more potential and a lower price tag. Despite repeated chances, Iannetta has yet to break through to the next level. With a good eye at the plate, pop and the think air of Denver, I see 25+ home runs and 75 walks in his future. He is worth the small gamble as his ceiling remains high at 28. Colorado is giving him another chance, so should you.
Mets – Francisco Rodriguez: Between the Mets issues, lack of talent and K-Rod’s own legal troubles, few teams will likely be targeting him on draft day. Rodriguez went from closer keeper to outcast seemingly overnight. 25 saves and a 2.20 ERA in 2010 sound positive to me. Remember, bad teams often play in closer games. K-Rod could get you easily 30 saves at his lowest cost ever. Think about it.
Phillies – Raul Ibanez: I rarely recommend targeting 39 outfielders. My general rule is to stay away from the 35+ crowd, injuries and performance issues tend to occur quicker with the older player generation. But Ibanez had 34 home runs in 2009 with 93 runs and rbis that year. His batting average and obp were relatively consistent to his historical norms, only the power seemed to be going down. Ibanez got going later in the season and hopefully an offseason in his revitalization chamber helped (no joke, he does own one). In that ballpark and with the loss of Utley and Werth, Ibanez could see time in the 3rd and 5th slots. At the very least he will be a decent 5th outfielder and perform as a 3rd on many nights.
Pirates – Ryan Doumit: For a team with as little talent as the Pirates right now, Doumit continues to stand out for me. I featured him in a profile piece this week, check out the archives to read my full evaluation of Ryan. Bottom line is that he is a switch hitting catcher that can help you in almost every category. With outfield and first base eligibility as well, Doumit will offer versatility to your fantasy team in the case of injuries. The most likely scenario is that he will be traded to a contender between opening day and the all-star game. I still smell a breakout year and with much to prove, Doumit could see 2011 as his year.
Cardinals – Colby Rasmus: A highly touted prospect, difference of opinions between La Russa and Rasmus has burnt out some of Colby’s bright light. But with Pujols looming in the line-up, I believe this kid is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Seemingly around forever, Rasmus is only 24 years old. 30+ home runs with 100+ rbis are on the way…buy early to avoid the 1st round price tag in a year or two. 5th-7th round bargain in my book.
Braves – Mike Minor: After breezing through the minors last year, the 23 year old made it to the Braves in his 2nd professional season. Having lost his 5th starter job in spring training, Minor might be off to the bullpen or minors to start the year. I see Tommy Hanson potential in this kid and so do the braves. Minor could go anywhere from the 15th round to undrafted in many leagues. With good starting pitching at such a high premium these days in baseball, there should be room on your bench reserved for Minor.
Reds – Yonder Alonso: Alonso and Logan Morrison almost go hand-in-hand for me. One of the Reds top prospects and A-Rod friends/protégés, Alonso is a man with a stellar bat and no position to play. Blocked at 1B by Votto, the Reds have not expressed the confidence to-date to name Alonso as a future outfielder. Seemingly a change of scenery is in order, but this kid has endless potential in his future. Buy low and thank me later as you watch walk after walk and the doubles/home runs fly off his bat. I see Alonso as one of the special, rare superstars to-be in baseball. Watch him play, I think you will agree.
Astros – Brett Wallace: Another highly touted prospect for what seems forever, Wallace is now on his 4th organization in his short professional career. Traded for the likes of Matt Holliday, Michael Taylor and Anthony Gose, several organizations have shown a lot of faith in the capabilities of this third baseman turned first baseman. The bat is real, as Wallace was considered to have the strongest bat in his draft year class. With the downturn of the Astros, many people seem to forget the potency of their park. Wallace is the next face of the Astros and hopefully your fantasy team.
Dodgers – Andre Ethier: I debated long and hard between Ethier and Broxton in this spot. I definitely see Broxton rebounding this year to reclaim his spot as a top-5 baseball closer. He is that good and an off-season of rest and exercise should do the trick. With Ethier, despite having 1st round potential, I tend to see him very undervalued in fantasy drafts as a whole. The former Athletic displays the power and patience that I most value in a hitter. A possible future MVP candidate one day, the likely 5th round pick is almost certain to give you a minimum level of production, with a higher ceiling to come. Jump in early, I value Ethier much higher than Kemp if that gives you a better idea on his ranking to me.
Padres – Matt Latos: This one you for sure did not see coming. With Latos mania running wild, you must think that I am exaggerating. I am not. As a whole I am not crazy about the Padres as a team, similarly to the Mets. But Latos is a special pitcher, one of the only ones I would consider drafting in the 3rd round. His low ERA and WHIP combined with wins potential sold me. Don’t reach at any cost, but even drafting early will give you the numbers that your pitching staff requires in fairly consistent fashion.
Giants – Buster Posey: As World Series champs in 2010, players on the Giants will likely come with a higher price tag this year based on the team’s miracle run. Don’t overpay…unless you are buying this generation’s Johnny Bench. Posey can do it all at the plate and still has room to grow. A top 5 rounds pick? Definitely. Be prepared to go as high as the 2nd or 3rd round but believe me, you could do worse than getting the strongest player at the weakest position to fill in baseball.
I hope you have enjoyed my look into fantasy baseball sleepers. Good luck managing your fantasy team and hopefully I have been able to make some of your roster decisions much clearer.
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Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: American League
MLB reports: Based on the popularity of my article this week on my 10 fantasy baseball tips, I keep the fantasy talk alive today. For those fantasy teams in need to fill key positions, sleepers are always sought after. Before, during and after drafts, fantasy players are always looking for value finds. Let’s cut to the chase. I present my sleeper pick for each MLB team. My criteria was based on production and availability. I looked for good value that would come at a low cost. Here goes starting with my A.L. Sleeper picks.
Orioles- Matt Wieters: A highly touted backstop, Wieters has started slow in his MLB career. Catchers take time to develop. Grab him from the 5th round and on.
Red Sox- Jarrod Saltalamacchia: Keeping the catcher-theme going, it was not long ago that Salty was blocked by McCann and the centerpiece of the Teixeira deal. Boston has faith in him as their #1, you should as well, as your #2.
Indians- LaPorta: I was high on Matt as soon as he was drafted by the Brewers. The kid can just plain hit. Pressure from the C.C. deal dying down. 2011, he will break out.
Tigers- Porcello: Rick’s stuff is just nasty. Will be a bona fide #1 one day. Worth the risk.
Yankees- Granderson: Lost year in 2011 and strained oblique to start the year. Best time to buy in on Curtis, 20/20/20/20 potential still there.
Jays- Rauch: While most leagues jump on Francisco, I would take Rauch. Proven and likely to grab job early on.
Angels- Rodney: People may feel nervous with Fernando but the saves will be there. Be realistic and if falls late, grab him.
Rays- McGee: Closer-by-committee are 3 of the most dreaded words in the fantasy baseball dictionary. A smart shopper knows how to spot the victor as committees rarely last. My money is on McGee, not Peralta. McGee has the stuff and drive to take the job.
White Sox- Flowers: A.J. may be back but its to babysit and bring along Flowers. Kenny was so high on this kid that he traded Vasquez for him. Great discipline and power at the plate, he will be up this year and take form.
Royals- Gordon: Former Baseball America #1 prospect, Alex has become mud in a short time. He can become a success overnight. Don’t miss the boat.
Twins- Blackburn: I simply love this kid. He doesn’t walk anyone and is simply great when he’s on. 15 wins could be in the cards.
A’s- Carter: Chris Carter (not the ex-met, red sox player is a beast. He tore up AA pitching in 2008. He was traded in packages for Haren and Quentin. Grab him late.
Mariners- Pineda: the #2 to Felix as #1, Michael Pineda is the real deal. Great stuff and character rated high likly to be up in June. Lock him up.
Rangers- Napoli: Do you like 30+ home runs from your catchers? Ignore Torrealba. Remember what I tell you.
Thank you for the read and follow of our site. Please forward any fantasy questions to mlbreports@gmail.com. Tomorrow night, I will post my NL sleepers. Enjoy!
Please e-mail us at: MLBreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook . To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox , click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
At the Crossroads: Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB reports: On paper, taking a look at Ryan Doumit (“Dough-Mitt”), there are two sides of the coin. Heads, you find a switch-hitter turning 30 this year. A 2008 career season consisting of 15 home runs, 71 runs, 69 rbis, .357 obp and .501 slg. A catcher by trade, Doumit who stands 6’1”, also plays the outfield and first base. Despite an injury plagued 2010 season, he still managed 13 home runs in 124 games played last year. Tails, you find a baseball player that may be labelled as a catcher but often branded as a defensive liability without a home. Injury prone, 2010 represented the most games Doumit has ever played in a major league season. Bouncing between the minors and stints on the DL, Doumit next closest seasons were 116 games in 2008 and then 83 in 2007. The power, while seen in small spurts through his sweet swing, has never materialized into the 20+ home runs projected for him. Now cast as an outfielder/ back-up first baseman, the future is unclear for Ryan Doumit. After signing a significant contract with the Pirates, the team has now spent two unsuccessful seasons trying to unload him. There is even talk of a possible release on the horizon for Doumit. But is the negativity surrounding this once bright star justified? Let me put it simply: no. I am not ready to write off Ryan Doumit and quite frankly, neither should anyone else.
For those of you that read me regularly, you will know that I tend to be biased towards high walks and obp type hitters. Analyzing Doumit’s number of walks since 2007:22, 23, 20 and 41, it would seem surprising on the surface that I would invoke any type of support of him as a hitter. Doumit does not have a great reputation as a catcher, lacking the natural instincts for blocking balls in the dirt, throwing out runners etc. Believe, I have it heard it all and read it all when it comes to Doumit the player. My discussion on Doumit falls into the “moneyball” vs. scouts debate. The numbers vs. tools argument. Having watched Doumit countless times on television and numerous times in person, I will state that the tools override the numbers in this case. Doumit is a big strapping switch-hitter with the power for 30+ home runs in my estimation. In the right line-up and ballpark, we could see a whole new player. Further watching Ryan behind the plate, it always appeared to me that pitchers were very comfortable with him behind the plate and that he had a strong presence of controlling his team and game like a general. The multi-positional abilities I believe have hurt Ryan in the long run and created a utility player tag on him that is unjustified. Thus goes the game of baseball and very often the careers of many players. But hope is not lost yet.
This spring has already been a rough one for Doumit. Low batting totals in only 10 games
played thus far, Doumit has been sidelined for much of the spring with a strained oblique. If I was viewing Doumit as a team, I would see a buy low and high reward candidate. All of the lost games over the years means that Doumit has a lot of miles left, whether in the outfield or behind the plate. I cannot see the Pirates at this point releasing Doumit for nothing. Proven health and production this year would lead to an inevitable trade, likely by the all-star break. Top teams are always in the need of reinforcements and as players continue to drop like flies this spring (Brandon Morrow just announced to start the year on the DL as I write this article), the demand will be there for Doumit. Why the faith in a player that has not proven much to-date? Again, simple answer: tools. The ability is there and when healthy, we have seen the production. But we cannot fault Doumit because of injuries alone as he does play on a team that often resembles a AA team on many of its off-nights. I have never personally seen Ryan Doumit every take a game off, night off or going through the motions during an at-bat. Playing on a sub .500 team for as long as he has though, one imagine that it would start to take a toll on the confidence of any player, Doumit included. The Pirates are rebuilding on an upswing, with talented players such as Alvarez, Sanchez and Meek ready to lead the team in the coming years. I do not see the rebirth of the team occurring on Doumit’s clock, but that does not mean that opportunities should not exist for Doumit. A fresh start and a defined role and purpose would make all the difference in the world. Hopefully this will happen soon.
2011 represents a crossroads year for Ryan Doumit. A talented player once expected to be the centerpiece of his franchise, Doumit is a man without a position and seemingly chance this year. Given the opportunity to perform, I believe that Doumit will put up the numbers. McCutchen is healthy and playing strong and as long as he is in the line-up, Doumit will hopefully see some good pitches to hit. Rounding back into form, Doumit I expect will be on a new team and line-up by May or June at the latest this year. Motivated by the move, I expect Doumit to flex the baseball tools we know that he has and start to live up to the expectations that are starting to fade for him. Never count out a talent like Doumit. The Pirates gave up on Jose Bautista back in 2008 and at age 30 he did pretty well for himself. Good luck to Ryan Doumit on this upcoming year, I am looking forward to his march back to baseball stardom in 2011.
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Meet Dr. Antonio Castro: Team Doctor for Cuba and Son of Fidel
MLB reports: In part 3 of my impromptu 3-part feature on Cuban baseball, I am featuring Antonio Castro Soto del Valle, team doctor for the Cuban national team, Olympics and WBC. Dr. Castro, a top orthopedic surgeon in Cuba, just happens to be as well the son of Fidel Castro. Fact or fiction you may ask? Fact. The story of Castro is one for the baseball ages that I first stumbled upon during the 1996 edition of the World Baseball Classic that I will be sharing with you today.
One of my favorite parts of baseball is the obscure news items and pieces of information that are out of the “normal” realm. The Glenallen Hill arachnophobia incident, when Chuck Finley was attacked with a female pump by his then-wife Tawny Kitaen, Wade Boggs eating fried chicken before every game…well, you get the idea. One part of the 1996 Cuban WBC team really stuck out in my mind at the time. It seemed that every time Cuba was about to change a pitcher, the team manager for Cuba was always consulting with team physician. In fact, the doctor was talking to the players before and after at-bats, sitting down with pitchers between innings and jumping out of the dugout to be the first person to congratulate the players as Cuba scored each of their runs. This seemed a little strange in mind, so I tried to focus on the team doctor to get the scoop. Looking into the Cuban dugout on the television, I further noticed that the manager never left the team doctor’s side. The team doctor further seemed to enjoy talking on his cellular phone, even during games. By the time the 1999 edition of the classic was upon us, I figured out all the mystery behind Cuba’s team doctor. Only a one-word answer was required: Castro.
Dr. Antonio Castro Soto del Valle was apparently a great athlete in his day and played 3B in Cuba. Much his like father Fidel, a pitcher with a legendary curveball (See the book Castro’s Curveball, by Tim Wendel), baseball was always in Antonio’s blood. But apparently baseball was not in the boy’s future, much like his father before him. Fidel gave Antonio 2 choices: go to medical school or fight in the military. Wisely choosing medicine, Antonio grew to become one of Cuba’s top orthopedic surgeons. But his fame and popularity have evolved from his role as the physician for Cuba’s baseball national teams. Before games, Castro is often spotted signing autographs for fans and taking pictures. The connection between the name “Castro” and baseball is too rich for most diehard fans to pass up. Extending beyond medical capabilities, the issue on my mind is the true part that Antonio plays with Cuban baseball. Further, the extended role of Fidel on the team through his son. The likelihood of the Castro connection in managing and controlling the Cuban team is too high to ignore.
In all the interviews with Antonio Castro that I have read, he has always
denied direct or indirect involvement in managing the Cuban baseball team. Further inquiries as to whether Fidel contacts him during games to advise the manager of the team has always been responded to with laughs and denials by Antonio. However, if you go back and watch any of the Cuban WBC games, the sight of Antonio on his cell during games and speaking with the manager throughout is one that seems very murky to say the least. If I had to hazard a professional guess, I would say that the Cuban manager was rarely if ever making a move without some form of feedback from Castro. To the naïve or unknowing viewer, Castro would appear to be a bench coach, hitting or pitching instructor based on his role in the dugout during games. I will admit that I made this mistake during my first observations of Castro. In fact, I can even recall watching Castro making a mound visit during a game to speak to the pitcher without any medical or injury concerns. Much pressure on any pitcher, as the feeling would be as significant as if Fidel himself was speaking to the pitcher.
Cuba is faced with a significant loss of talent to the MLB through defections. Articles I have read have indicated that based on his age (late 30s) and strong rapport with the players, Antonio Castro has the unofficial role of raising the morale of players and reducing defections. There has even been talk of Cuba moving to a system of taxing its players’ salaries in exchange for the permission to leave Cuba and pursue professional baseball in other countries. Antonio Castro in fact, is one of the leading proponents for this system. With the U.S./Cuba trade restrictions, such a system may be impossibility, but the mere fact that a Castro is leading the push for reform appears to be a good sign for Cuban baseball. Taking the above roles in baseball out of the equation, the hiring of Fidel Castro’s son as the team doctor for the Cuban national team boils down to a very simple logic and explanation in my mind. By seeing Antonio Castro in the dugout and field, the players cannot help but work harder and play stronger. Having Castro travelling with the team and in the hotels likely serves as a deterrent or hindrance for many players in their mind from defecting. Do I think that Fidel talks to his son during games on his cell phone? Without proof, I would answer without a doubt. Do I think that Antonio talking to the manager during games is in reality Fidel giving instructions to the manager? Absolutely. If Billy Beane was able to contact his managers during games as discussed in “moneyball”, I cannot see why Fidel would be any different. Cuba is ruled by a dictatorship, why should its baseball team be any different?
Don’t get me wrong. I love Cuban baseball to its absolute core. I would rather view a Cuba Series Nacionale game than an MLB game any day of the week. I am a passionate major leagues supporter, but Cuban baseball is played at a much different level and intensity. The players will do whatever it takes to pull out wins and the managers will not hold back any punches in the process. Cuba embodies everything that is professional baseball, especially through the Castro family. You may agree or disagree with Cuba’s political stances and approaches, but its game of baseball is still the same as ours. Only Cuban baseball is played in the same way the game was played in our neck of the woods many years ago, in an era long gone by. Dr. Antonio Castro is a similar throwback to the glory days of baseball, as was Ariel Pestano and the use of pitchers in Cuban baseball featured in the previous 2 parts featured on MLB reports. If you have never seen Antonio Castro before, check out some of his team’s games. Otherwise, I trust that you are now more familiar with Cuban baseball after reading these features and were able to see that there is more to the game and culture of baseball outside of the MLB.
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The End of an Era: Ariel Pestano
MLB reports: You may not know the name, but you will recognize the player. Ariel Pestano (Valdes) was considered one of Cuba’s greatest catchers of all time. In actuality, likely one of THE best catchers ever. Pestano, known in his country at “the veteran”, has been a Cuban baseball staple for the past 10 years. Debuting with the Cuban national team in 1999, Pestano played in the Olympics and both the 1996 and 1999 World Baseball Classic for Cuba. By retiring in 1999 after the last WBC, baseball has lost a legend and a throwback to an era that is slowly disappearing. In an age of generic players and cookie-cutter approaches, Pestano was one-of-a-kind.
I was first introduced to Ariel Pestano in the 1996 WBC and could not wait to see him again by the 1999 edition of the Classic. In comparative terms, it is hard to point to a past or present major league catcher that mirrors Pestano. I find it difficult to looking at his Cuban numbers and calculating the value of his play. Offensively and defensively, the man could do it all. But rather than judge him by numbers in a league unknown to me, I place my consideration in what I saw with my own eyes. If the WBC editions were any indication, Pestano could play ball. A patient hitter with pop, I could see him hitting 20 bombs in the major leagues if given the opportunity. A cannon for an arm, he knew how to keep runners honest and distract hitters from getting good hacks at the plate. But his true value was in his leadership. Pestano was like a general on the field, leading his team to war. Pestano was not afraid to get into the face of an opposing player or teammate if he felt that his team was being disrespected or not playing to its capacity. His approach made for great television viewing, no doubt, but his teammates were better for having him behind them.
A big problem in baseball viewership and fandom today is the reliance on the fantasy aspect of
baseball, mainly statistics. I love researching OPS and WHIP as much as the next baseball junkie, but real baseball has value outside of the “moneyball” approach. I recall a pitcher on the Cuban team in one WBC game in 2006 giving up repeated hits. At one point Pestano literally ran to the mound and was about to clobber his starting pitcher. I could not understand what he was saying, but you could not put a pin between the pitcher and catcher. Pestano was literally in the pitcher’s face reading him the riot act. While many critics would call such a move “unprofessional”, “bush-league” and “showing up your pitcher”, I actually enjoyed the accountability and passion that Pestano was demanding from his teammate that day. Those types of moments do not show up in box scores the next day, but live on with a team forever.
If you have never seen Ariel Pestano play a professional baseball game, download a World Baseball Classic game on your computer involving Cuba from either 2006 or 2009 and watch the man behind the plate. Chances are that you have never seen a player like this before and will never see one again. Pudge Rodriguez has had his moments through the years, but has simmered down. But in truth, he never had the intensity and life/death mentality that Pestano displayed on the baseball field. Taking aside the armed guards with machine guns in the dugout, I have always found Cuban teams to play with heart and pride. I recall a Cuban pitcher one game running out to the field to yell at an outfielder after misplaying a ball. When a pitcher in any inning/situation gives up even 1-2 infield hits in a game, chances are the Cuban bullpen will be up and running. I don’t recall ever watching a Cuban game where the bullpen wasn’t going with at least one pitcher for nearly the entire game. This is how seriously Cuba takes it baseball and this mentality was embodied fully in Ariel Pestano.
My WBC Cuban heroes, Pestano and Lazo are unlikely to ever defect and join the MLB. Both recently retired and based on their respective ages and devotion to Cuba- defection is unlikely, if not impossible. Pestano retired to apparently work and train his son, who like his dad is a catcher. The best of luck to you Ariel, thank you for the memories.
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Changing Baseball Pitching – Cuba Style
MLB reports: The handling of pitchers and pitching staffs has evolved over the years in baseball. Once upon a time, pitchers were expected to complete all or almost all games they completed. Slowly the use of relievers expanded. From there, the invention of pitch counts started- 100 approximately per start. Innings limits, per start and per year are now prevalent. Teams are getting wiser as to watch the innings pitched in a year from the time a pitcher is a rookie and most create yearly caps. The strategy of handling pitchers seems to get stricter every year.
Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan are often credited with the modern game use of pitchers. The notion is for starters to pitch approximately 5 innings, with relievers for innings 6-7. The setup man pitches inning 8 and closer for the 9th. The above standard is adopted by all teams at this point in the MLB. But is this the right system? It is hard to know. Pitchers today seem to be stronger than ever and throwing less innings, yet injuries are at an all-time high. From a results standpoint, are MLB teams maximizing production from their pitching staffs? That is the million dollar question. Now I throw another hat into the ring- let’s try playing Cuban baseball instead. Perhaps its time for a shift.
My suggestion is a variation of the Cuban style of baseball, but I will simplify it for this article. Here goes the idea in a nutshell. A team would employ the closer for the first 2 innings of a game. The start of a game is the most crucial, to set the tone against the opposing team. Rather than start the traditional starting pitcher, who often takes time to get warmed up, start the closer who knows how to come into a game cold. The closer would pitch the first two innings and hopefully make short work of the opposing team. From there, the starter would come in, after warming in the pen during the game, for innings 3-9. If problems start near the end of the game, bring in the 2nd closer for inning 9, or 8-9 depending on need.
The above system is based on the Cuban style of ball. Watching the previous WBC in 2009, the Cuban system would have Aroldis Chapman starting the game, going anywhere from 1-4 innings. From there, Pedro Lazo, the workhorse starter would pitch the rest or close to the rest of the game. Imagine today for the Cinci Reds pitching Chapman to start a game, Volquez pitching innings 3-8 and Cordero with the 9th. How scary would that be? The opposing team would have no rhythm to start the game and would never likely get going from there.
Baseball has evolved over time and will continue to do so over time. Nolan Ryan is trying to get more innings under his pitchers’ belts to build stamina and endurance on the Texas Rangers. I like the system personally, but it doesn’t work for everyone. The concept I propose above is not my invention but based on the Cuban game. All I am saying is that perhaps its time for a change in the MLB. It will make the game more exciting and perhaps even revolutionize it…yet again.
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Opening Day Excitement! First Phone Entry
MLB reports: Welcome to the start of several firsts today. Saturday March 19, 2011. MLB reports transforms into a daily baseball site- with new content posted every day. After much deliberation and thought, I decided that the demand for daily baseball news is high and I am happy to deliver. So welcome to the new universe, the “new” format of MLB reports.
Ultimately, the content will be based on what you, the readers, want to see. Based on our conversations on twitter, facebook and e-mail, the topics of interest continually emerge. If you really want to see a point of discussion, don’t be shy- let me know. I will do my best to bring the best and latest baseball news with discussion.
It is very exciting to be posting this entry on my blackberry. A little raw and fresh, but feels very real. Being so excited about opening day just up ahead, I couldn’t wait to shout it out. The blackberry is proving to be a fantastic outlet.
I see the opening day tickets in my drawer, all 8 of them. Lots of people coming out this year which will make the experience that much more fun. I will be going to the Jays opener on Friday April 1st against the Twins, the day after the first real day. Where will you be? What is your plans for one of the biggest baseball days? Whether in the ballpark live, at home in front of the television or listening on the radio, just be there. Opening day is the day when all fans unite to celebrate the greatest sport on the planet. Have fun and enjoy everyone. Less than 2 weeks away!
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