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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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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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The Man Behind the #10 Jersey – Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
MLB reports: It is not every day that I have the opportunity to correspond with a Gold Glove winning major league all-star, but over the last couple of weeks I got to do just that with Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. Getting to know Adam and hearing his thoughts on the game, his career, and team was fascinating to say the least. The story begins as follows.
Adam, one of the most fan friendly MLB stars on twitter, started to converse with me on my usual favorite topic, baseball. I was instantly drawn to his easy going personality and zest for life and the game. After some messages back and forth, I brought up my blog and the interview articles I prepare on MLB reports. Being the cool cat that he is, Adam suggested he would love to help out a young writer and agreed to be interviewed for this profile piece. After some research, back and forth emails, and analysis, here we are today.
We covered a range of topics on the career of #10, which I am about to jump into further. Discussing topics ranging from the baseball influences on his career, his greatest accomplishments, goals, and areas of improvement, Adam did not hold back in his answers. Considering Adam was both an All-Star and Gold Glove recipient in 2009, it was astounding to find that he did not have an ounce of attitude in his answers. This is a player that is still humble at the age of 25 and works towards improving every facet of his game. The combination of baseball skills, work ethic and positive outlook, I believe will translate into a limitless future for one of baseball’s young bright stars.
One of the first questions that I asked Adam was to name the baseball player he most idolized growing up and patterned his game after. Born and raised in San Diego, California, to no surprise Adam named Tony Gwynn. However, the reasons behind his response did perk my curiosity. Baseball was not a sport that Adam “followed too strongly until approximately the age of 12” and only then, Gwynn was more a player that Jones had heard of than followed. When asked to expand, Adam explained that “I’ve hit with TG [Gwynn] for a few off-seasons now since I’ve been drafted. We have a tight group that hits together at San Diego State University.” As far as the influence Gwynn had on his game, Adam indicated that “what I’ve learned is myself. I’m not the hitter that he [Gwynn] was and that’s not my mentality. We’ve just had discussions of thought processes and having the ability to take a step back and let the ball come to you.” When breaking down the comparisons between Jones and Gwynn as players, his response becomes even clearer.
Tony Gwynn, a 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, played in 15 All-Star games, was the recipient of 5 Gold Gloves and 7 Silver Slugger Awards. Gwynn also ended his career with a .338 lifetime average. Jones, at the age of 25, brings a different game to the table. Gwynn is a difficult, if not impossible, player to emulate and Jones is realistic in this regard. The Gold Glove and All-Star appearance are already there with the promise of more to come. Adam’s batting average has slowly risen every year of his career to a high of .284 in 2010. With the right approach and discipline, .300 + is well within his reach. Like Gwynn, Jones does a bit of everything, including hitting for power and stealing the occasional base. Similar to Gwynn, Jones’ on-base percentage is dependent more on base hits than walks. The more I compare the players, the standard that Gwynn set for his career is one that I feel that Adam can strive towards. The bottom line on Gwynn is that the man could just plain hit. Jones, working his way up the major league ladder, could follow in the Gwynn’s footsteps, even if Adam does not implicitly try to do so.
My follow-up question asked Adam to name the current MLB star that he most admired. Based on Adam’s statistics and game style, I would have bet the answer was going to be Torii Hunter. Guess what? I was right. But again, the reasons behind his answer threw me. According to Adam, “there aren’t enough good things to say about him [Hunter]. But my favorite attribute about him has nothing to do with baseball. That what he does for a living. It’s his character. He [Hunter] is a true leader on and off the field and is highly respected.” My correlation between Adam and Hunter centered on their similar statistics and abilities on the field, in contrast to Adams’ vision of Hunter as a person and leader. Hunter, a 4-time All-Star, 9-time Gold Glove winner and a Silver Slugger recipient, as a youngster in many ways mirrored the player that we see in Jones today. In his breakout year in 2001, Hunter had a batting line of 27 home runs, .261 average, 82 runs, 92 rbis, .306 obp and .479 slg. Jones, in his 2009 campaign had a line of 19 home runs, .277 average, 83 runs, 70 rbis, .335 obp and .442 slg. Although not entirely the same, as hitters Jones and Hunter showcased several similarities in those respective years. The following is Hunter’s average season in the major leagues: .275 batting average, 25 home runs, 89 runs, 95 rbis and 17 stolen bases. Considering what Adam has accomplished to-date, these numbers are surely attainable and possible for him to exceed.
Adam indicated that he knew Torii very well and some of his favorite characteristics of Hunter was that “he plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played”, “not a guy that makes any excuses.” Adam mentioned Hunters’ upbeat attitude, and that his’ “favorite thing is that he smiles all the time. He shows he is happy doing what he loves to do.” Hunter’s personality has definitely rubbed off on Adam in a positive manner and reflects in his attitude and demeanor on and off the field. If I had to include a caveat, however, it is the holes that Hunter has in his game that Adam would be well served to avoid in his own play. Although Hunter is a strong home run hitter and has the ability to score and drive in runs, he has traditionally not hit for a high average or been able to get on-base at a consistent clip. By working with Tony Gwynn, Jones should focus on raising his own level of base hits and batting average to compensate for a lack of walks. At this stage of his career, it will be interesting to see if Adam becomes a high average and/or home run hitter as he progresses.
With the above comparisons in mind, I asked Adam what he considered to be his greatest baseball skill(s) and aspects of his game he most wished to improve. Rather than name a specific on-field capacity, Adam named his “lack of fear” as his greatest trait. Adam believes that, “others should be a better evaluator of my skills. I just play.” This answer fit well within his stated areas of improvement, whereby Adam indicates, “I really want to improve on everything. I need to steal more bases or be more aggressive. I need to play better defense. To get better judgment at the plate. The best part about baseball is that there is always something to improve on.” A star player that believes he can improve in every area of the game. How refreshing. When I pinpointed particular areas in his game, Adam responds by mentioning that he’s, “never been a high home run guy or walks or stolen bases. I’ve always played my game and that’s got me to where I’m at now. Adjustments are needed to be made in order to stay at this level so I am constantly trying to improve on something.” Whereas Gwynn, known as “Mr. Padre” and “Captain Video” for dedicating enormous amounts of time to studying video and his approach at the plate, Adam indicates the danger in thinking too much. While he does video, it can often lead into over-thinking and therefore Adam tries to avoid “thinking about hitting when in the batter’s box.” Let the instincts take over. An interesting and old-school mentality as a player, rather than trying to work on specific components, Adam works hard at improving all aspects of his game.
I was curious as to what Jones considers his greatest accomplishment to-date in baseball and what goals he had for the 2011 season. His 2009 Gold Glove ranks as the top accomplishment, because as Adam says, “it was decided by my peers.” For the upcoming season, Adam is focusing on, “playing harder than I have. For me in sports, I feel that if I play every day, the numbers take care of themselves.” I didn’t get the sense that Adam is the type that checks the box score every day to break down and categorize his own statistics. This is a player that is driven to play as hard as he can every day and simply focuses on helping his team win. Plain and simple.
Playing under Buck Showalter should only serve to further Adam’s approach to the game and lead to big things for him and the Orioles as the year approaches. Showalter, a 2-time MLB Manager of the Year, has a career 916-856 record in 12 seasons. Dissecting the numbers even further, in his 2nd year as a manager at each of his three stops, Showalter attained 88 wins with the Yankees, 100 wins with the Diamondbacks and 89 wins with the Rangers. Going into year two with the Orioles, Showalter will work to bring the same strong attitude and success to Baltimore as he has achieved in each of his previous stops.
As far as what Showalter brings as a manager, Adam indicated that, “accountability was number one. We held ourselves responsible for how we played. I believe what he (Showalter) wants is for you to give your best effort and play the game.” By having a similar mentality with his manager, I envision Jones growing into a leader on this young Orioles team. In his humble response, Adam considers that, “when it comes to the young guys, I’m still a young guy myself. But I always try and associate myself with my teammates in the clubhouse or the field. I want them to know that I got their backs.” That being said, Adam throws in a caution. “I want to be a leader, of course. But I’m not going to force the issue with that. You never want to cross the veterans on the teams and I try and show it (my leadership) with my play. This season we have added veterans that have won and been leaders of their respective squads. I think we have the possibility to have multiple leaders.” A very healthy attitude for a budding superstar growing as both a player and leader on his team. The Orioles bolstered their lineup for the 2011 season with the additions of Vlad Guerrero, Derrek Lee, J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds, in addition to Justin Duchscherer and Kevin Gregg joining the pitching staff. A veteran team almost overnight, Jones will have many experienced players to learn from in Baltimore as he continues his rise to the top of the MLB ladder.
Reflecting on the 2010 season, Jones felt that the Orioles as a team, “all tried to do everything possible and we couldn’t do it. We have to play as a team and have the faith in the guy behind you to get the job done.” With all the additions to the team and a new season ahead, Jones states, “I want to play baseball with them all. I am excited to get in the locker room and see my (new) team.” Considering the Orioles teams of the past that Jones has played for, it has been quite the journey for the 37th overall pick in the 2003 draft. Originally drafted as a shortstop by the Seattle Mariners, Adam was traded on February 8, 2008 to Baltimore as part of a package for then top of the rotation starting pitcher Erik Bedard. “My first reaction when I found out I was traded to Baltimore was ‘dang,’ I’m going east.” But then I thought to myself that I was going to have the opportunity to go and show that I can play this game at a high level.” For a team and player on the rise, the marriage between the Baltimore Orioles and Adam Jones couldn’t be a better fit.
With many bright years ahead of him, Adam took the time to reflect on what he would most want to be remembered for when it was time to hang up his spikes. “When its over and done, I want people to know that I played my behind off and loved the game that has treated myself and so many people well.” When you think of Adam Jones, do not look for the next “Tony Gwynn” or “Torii Hunter”. Consider Adam Jones as himself, the player that he his and the player that he is striving to become. Adam works hard and has a strong understanding of his strengths and areas he needs to improve. Behind the #10 jersey there is no hype, attitude or ego – just the baseball player we will always know as “Adam Jones”.
***A special thank you to Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles for his time and effort as part of being interviewed for this article. A thank you as well to Peter Stein, my editor in helping to prepare this piece.***
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CONQUERING MOTOWN: BRAD PENNY, DETROIT TIGERS
MLB reports: On January 11, 2011, after weeks of speculation in the media the news became official: Brad Penny was officially a Detroit Tiger. The deal was announced as a 1 year, $3 million dollar base salary with an additional $3 million in incentives. The overall reaction was positive- a low risk and high reward situation for both the team and player. With Penny in Motown and spring training a mere days away, let’s review the factors behind this signing and how Brad Penny in 2011 will become the “King of Comerica”.
After the 2010 season came to an end, one of my first projections on the free agent market was that Brad Penny and the Detroit Tigers would be a perfect match. I had the pleasure of corresponding with Brad Penny in early December and asked him directly whether he was considering Detroit for his new home. Brad’s response was, “wearing the blue and orange would be sweet.” Taking a look at the team that he is joining, it is easy to see why Penny could not contain his excitement.
The Tigers enjoyed a relatively strong 2010 campaign and as their roster became molded during the offseason, the future of the Tigers appears to be very bright. The team has a potent offense led by Cabrera, Ordonez, Jackson and newly acquired V-Mart, combined with a rotation led by Verlander, Scherzer and Porcello and a deep bullpen including Valverde, Benoit, Zumaya and Perry. Dombrowski in constructing the team covered off the key components and contention in the AL Central appears to be a lock. Penny as a veteran starter however brings many intangibles to the Tigers that could be the difference maker in a playoff spot.
With young starters Scherzer, Porcello and Coke, Penny serves as a mentor and role model for the young hurlers in learning the finer points of the game. The experiences and successes that Penny has enjoyed in his 11 seasons in the bigs will rub off on the rest of the Tigers’ pitching staff and hopefully take each of them to the next level. As well, Verlander and Penny as potentially #1 and #2 potentially on the staff will bring up the game of the other in competing every 5th day to be the best possible starters that they can be. Lets not kid ourselves, bragging rights in the clubhouse counts and Penny is one of the most focused and intense warriors that you will find in baseball. Comerica, known as a pitching friendly venue, will also prove to benefit Penny as his home field. Brad Penny will bring out the best in his Tigers’ mates and having a solid core of talent on the team will take his own game to the highest levels.
Standing 6’4” and weighing a solid 230 lbs, the 32 year old Oklahoma born Penny has an outstanding baseball resume. 16 win campaigns and All-Star game appearances in 2006 and 2007, a 3rd place Cy Young finish in the NL in 2007 and near perfection in the 2003 World Series title run with the Marlins, with 2 wins in 2 starts with a 2.19 ERA. Penny has played for a total of 5 teams in his career. Penny started off very strong in 2010 for the Cardinals, with a 3-1 record in April and 1.56 ERA. A strained lat muscle ended Penny’s season on May 21st with the pitcher not returning for the rest of the year despite intense rehab and attempts to return. Now healthy and raring to go, the Tigers represent a fresh start and promise for the right-handed pitcher.
Offseason reports have been positive on Brad Penny. He recently got engaged to Karina Smirnoff of “Dancing with the Stars” fame. As well, Brad mentioned to me on several occasions that he was working out hard at the gym and the impression that I got was that Penny is in the best shape of his life coming into the season. Secure in his personal life with the hunger to win, Penny is focused on doing all the right things to make himself successful. His commitment to training and evolution as a pitcher means that at the still young age of 32, Penny has many quality years ahead of him. Observers need to remember that coming off a strain is much different than arm troubles and/or surgery. The bonus from last year’s experience is that Penny will come into camp with a fresh arm and more motivation than ever to reclaim his position as one of the top pitchers in baseball.
The Tigers in signing Brad Penny could very well have secured themselves the #2 pitcher in their rotation as part of the drive to return to the playoffs. Penny’s goal in coming to Detroit is to win and to surely get another World Series title under his belt. At this stage of his career, Brad Penny does not focus on the past and any impressions that people have of him. As my projected 2011 American League comeback player of the year, Brad Penny will simply let his pitching do the talking and the ranking of the Tigers as a team being his only statistical goal.
Good luck on the season Brad Penny and welcome to Motown. Tiger Nation awaits your arrival.
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ON THE VERGE- RYAN TATUSKO, WASHINGTON NATIONALS
MLB reports: At MLB reports we will be running an occasional series titled “On the Verge” where we profile a prospect about to hit the MLB scene. In today’s feature, we profile Ryan Tatusko of the Washington Nationals.
Ryan was born March 27, 1985. Standing 6’5” and weighing a solid 200 lbs, 2010 represented a breakout year for the right-handed pitching Tatusko. He was drafted in the 18th round of the 2007 draft by the Texas Rangers out of Indiana State University (hometown Merrillville, Indiana). After the 3 ½ seasons climbing up the Rangers system, Tatusko was traded on July 30, 2010 with fellow pitcher Tanner Roark for shortstop Christian Guzman. At the time of the trade, Tatusko was pitching for AA Frisco, both starting and relieving. After being acquired by the Nationals, Tatusko finished 2010 exclusively as a starter for AA Harrisburg.
From 2007-2009, Tatusko did not have numbers that jumped out. ERAs each year of 4.13, 4.46 and 4.64, records of 3-7, 3-11 and 7-6, in addition to WHIPs of 1.347, 1.372 and 1.338. A young developing pitcher, but not one on the “radar” so to speak. In the 1st half of 2010 with Frisco, Tatusko pitched in 24 games, 13 as a starter. His record was 9-2 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.340 WHIP. Definitely solid numbers, but a breakout was still in order. That breakout occurred in the 2nd half of his 2010 season with Harrisburg, where Tatusko pitched in 6 games entirely as a starter, to a sparkling 3-1 record, 1.72 ERA and 1.173 WHIP. His SO/BB ratio with Frisco was 1.45 and ballooned to 2.77 with Harrisburg. When I review these numbers, I see a Kyle Drabek type pitcher at the beginning of 2010 and a Stephen Strasburg clone at the end.
Looking at Ryan’s final 2010 numbers combined in AA, we see a 12-3 record, with a 2.63 ERA and 1.295 WHIP. From an 18th round pick with a microscopic chance of advancement in professional baseball, Ryan is a pitcher likely ticketed for AAA to start 2011 and could end up with the big club sometime between the all-star break and September.
I have had a pleasure to chat with Ryan on a couple of occasions by e-mail and did some research on him as well. Tatusko has a strong curveball as well as good command of 3 other pitches- fastball, changeup and slider. The debate early in his career was whether he would remain a starter or be moved permanently to the bullpen. Young pitchers in the minors are often eased through both roles in the hopes that they will excel in one given spot. As a 4-pitch pitcher and coming off a strong finish in 2010, Tatusko will likely be a full-time starter for the foreseeable future. A student of the game, Tatusko keeps journals of his work and watches video in working on and perfecting his mechanics. A tireless student of the game, Tatusko has the will and ambition to succeed at the pro-level, which is often described as “90% mental and 10% physical”.
Running into growing pains and adversity early in his career was likely a very good thing for Ryan. Too often in the MLB we see hotshot prospects rushed to the majors, only to have their careers cut short by injuries or failed confidence. By building his time up in the minors the right way, Tatusko has been able to prove himself and rise up the prospects ladder. The Nationals going into 2011 are in an interesting situation pitching wise. They have a young highly touted closer in Storen, that is expected to close for the club for the next decade. The starting rotation however, is filled with questions marks and landmines. Livian Hernandez is currently tabbed as the opening day starter. Enough said. From there we see the other potential starters being Marquis, Zimmerman, Lannan and Maya. In the mix we have injured starters Strasburg and Wang who are not certain as to the roles they could play in 2011. As soon as an opening arises, Tatusko will be one of the first to be called up this year. If Ryan is able to grow in 2011 the way he did in 2010, his first stay in Washington could be permanent.
Ryan Tatusko is a man who eats, breathes, sleeps and bleeds professional baseball. Talking to him, I got the sense that this was a ballplayer with no sense of entitlement that has worked hard and earned everything that he has accomplished. Good luck to Ryan on the 2011 campaign and we all look forward to watching you as you continue your baseball journey to the show.
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Meet Tony Sanchez – Future All- Star Catcher of the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB reports: “With the 4th overall selection of the 1st round in the 2009 Major League Baseball Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates select, Tony Sanchez, Catcher, from Boston College.” With those words spoken, life would never be the same for Tony. Much publicity surrounded the most recent 1st round pick of the Pirates, centering around the reasons for his selection. To fully understand what was transpiring, one would need to look back briefly at the recent 1st round draft history of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
2008: Pedro Alvarez 3B – 2nd overall
2007: Daniel Moskos P – 4th overall
2006: Brad Lincoln P- 4th overall
2005: Andrew McCutchen OF – 11th overall
2004: Neil Walker C- 11th overall
2003: Paul Maholm P- 8th overall
2002: Bryan Bullington P – 1st overall
2001: John VanBenschoten 1B- 8th overall
2000: Sean Burnett P- 19th overall
With the Bryan Bullington pick still fresh in Pirates’ fans minds, the 2006 and 2007 drafting respectively of Lincoln and Moskos were difficult to swallow. The moves were seen largely as cost-sensitive selections, with the Pirates foregoing Morrow, Miller, Kershaw, Lincecum and Scherzer in 2006 and Wieters, LaPorta and Bumgarner in 2007 respectively. Some missed players could be pointed to poor scouting and drafting, but others were seen by many as being salary restrictive. The most notorious omission being Matt Wieters, a “can’t miss” catching prospect nabbed by the Baltimore Orioles in with the following 5th pick in the draft. After selecting Pedro Alvarez in 2008, the Pirates maintained their 1st round selection of position players by choosing Tony Sanchez with the 4th overall pick. Players left on the board were Mike Minor, Mike Leak and Drew Storen. 2009 was an interesting draft in the sense that Trout, the 25th overall pick of the Angels was just selection as MLB’s top prospect for 2011; proving that drafting is truly more of an art than a science. But the Sanchez pick was not hailed as a victory by the analysts. Reports seemed to indicate that the Pirates were attempting to make up for their Moskos/Wieters blunder by grabbing the best available catcher with the 4th pick, although Sanchez was considered by some to be a late 1st rounder. Money was also thrown into the equation as Sanchez was seen as an easy sign for Pittsburgh. But who is the aforementioned Tony Sanchez? Lets take a look at the man behind the pick.
Standing 6’1” and weighing a solid 213 pounds, Jorge Anthony (Tony) Sanchez was born on May 20, 1988. Tony attended Boston College and played the catcher position as a junior upon being drafted by the Pirates. Known for having taken the “Jared Subway” diet, Tony committed himself to training and exercise and excelled on the diamond in his last season at Boston College. In his 1st season of pro ball, Sanchez split his time between 3 minor league spots, finishing at a .309 average in 48 games, with 7 homeruns, 48 rbis, .408 obp and .539 slg. Building upon that season, Sanchez was enjoying a solid 2010 season in Bradenton which ended prematurely by suffering a broken jaw after a beaning. The final 2010 stat line for Sanchez was a .314 average in 59 games with 4 homeruns, 35 rbis, .416 obp and .454 slg. Solid numbers for any hitter, especially a catcher. Sanchez was named to the 2010 All-Star Futures Game and his future appeared to be very bright. Despite having his season ended early, Sanchez fought weight loss and rust by rehabilitating and joining the Mesa Solar Sox for the Arizona Fall League season. Despite subpar statistics, Sanchez did enjoy a 2-home run game on November 11th and was named a Rising Star in the AFL and most importantly, proved his health and commitment to playing to the Pittsburgh Pirates, its fans and the MLB community at large.
On February 13, 2011, Tony Sanchez will be reporting to spring training with the Pirates in Bradenton, Florida which ironically was his home field this past 2010 season. The only other catchers drafted in the 1st round by the Pirates were Neil Walker in 2004 and Jason Kendall in 1992. If the Pirates get a solid major leaguer like Kendall from Sanchez, the team and its fans will be overjoyed. Baseball America has rated Sanchez as having the potential to being the first Pittsburgh catcher gold glove winner since Mike “Spanky” LaValliere in 1987. It is time for the fans of Pittsburgh and baseball to let go of the ghosts of drafts past and live in the present and future. Tony Sanchez, in addition to Pedro Alvarez and 2010 1st round pick James Taillon represent solid Pirates building blocks for years to come. In his short time in baseball, Sanchez has shown that he has a potentially live bat and has received strong reviews for his work with the glove. With an MLB ETA of 2012, the Tony Sanchez era in Pittsburgh will soon be upon us. With a blue collar approach to the sport that will be well received in his new hometown, Tony Sanchez is starting to silence the critics and build upon the hype surrounding his play. Remember the name: Tony Sanchez, catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Mike Napoli – The Next Jose Bautista?
MLB reports: What a difference 48 hours make. At this time Wednesday night, I was plotting to prepare my blog on Mike Napoli. The theme was going to be the unappreciated and neglected catcher of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and what he needed to finally break through. This blog was born by way of my promise on twitter to write a blog of choice for my 500th follower. Little did I know that one of my tweeps who is a devoted Angels fan would un-follow and follow me on twitter purposely to rig becoming #500. As a compromise, this tweep allowed me to blog on one of my favorite players who also was playing on his team, the said Mike Napoli.
We discussed the reasons why Napoli was often riding the Angels’ bench and seemed to be disliked by manager Mike Scoscia. My theory was that 2nd catcher Jeff Mathis was built more in the Scoscia mode from his player, strong defensively with a weak bat. Napoli on the other hand, with Adam Dunn type power in his bat, was the anti-Scoscia. With bat envy in mind, Scoscia continued to let Napoli rot on the bench essentially for 4 years while rotating the catchers. This blog was meant to discuss what additional playing time and confidence would do for Napoli in allowing his talent to blossom. At approximately 6:30p.m. on Friday January 21, 2011, everything changed when my sports radio station announced in my car while I was driving “…Ken Rosenthal reports that the Toronto Blue Jays have acquired Mike Napoli from the Angels, details to follow.”
Now please realize that I was born in Toronto and have lived in this city my whole life. I am a life-long baseball fan, but never considered myself a Jays fan. I admired many players throughout the years, regardless of which team they played for. I became a fan of the Detroit Tigers based on location, which grew over time and as the team developed. But I would never consider myself a Jays fan, not until this offseason. First came the signings of the pitchers, Dotel, Cordero and Rauch. The trade for Brett Lawrie. The previous trades for Drabek, D’arnaud, Wallace and later Gose. I started to see the vision of Alex Anthopoulos and what he was building in Toronto. But never imagined that he would bring Napoli to my hometown team. So what started off as a “play Napoli” piece became a “Napoli will play” blog.
To everyone who has been reading my tweets tonight, there is no need to further voice my opinions on this blog about the trade itself. The fact that the Jays were able to unload the Wells contract in full without adding in money was a miracle in itself. The Vernon contract was labelled by many as the most un-tradeable contract in baseball. If AA was able to unload this albatross in itself, he would have been heralded a genius. The fact that Vernon was traded and the Jays were able to acquire Mike Napoli was truly the icing on the cake. Juan Rivera, in the last year of his contract at $5.25 million becomes a spare part 4th outfielder for the Jays, who may be moved before the year is out or may perform well and earn the Jays a supplemental pick in the 2011 draft. Either way, the Rivera addition/cost is negligible in the equation. The trade boiled down essentially to the deletion of Wells and the success of the Jays in this regard. What I believe will be forgotten in the equation is the addition of Mike Napoli to the lineup. By the end of the season, this will no longer be the case.
Mike Napoli (Napp-uh-lee) was born on Halloween, October 31, 1981, stands an even 6’0″ tall and weighs a sturdy 215 pounds. I remember watching Napoli for the first time on television in 2006. The things that stood out to me were the open buttons on his jersey and that the bat in his hand looked like a toothpick. Very Adam Dunn like. Napoli proceeded to crank one of the longest home runs I had ever seen in his first at-bat that I ever saw. I was in awe. That year Nap0li in 99 games and 268 abs hit 16 home runs, hit .228 but had a .360 obp and .455 slg. Napoli is part of the new wave of Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn type money ball players, where batting average becomes less relevant and obp/slg/ops become more key. Looking at the numbers, Mike Napoli has had 3 straight 20+ home runs years, last year cranking out 26 home runs playing in a career high 140 games. For his career to-date, Napoli has a .251 avg with a .346 obp and .485 slg. Very lofty numbers, particularly for a catcher. Playing in an Angels lineup without many mashers, I always wondered why he never had a chance to play every day and prove what he can do. In 2011, that chance will now come in Toronto.
Between catcher, 1B and DH, Mike Napoli should finally have a chance to truly play every day with the Toronto Blue Jays. On a young developing team playing in a home fun friendly park, the sky will be the limit for Napoli. Looking at Jose Bautista and what playing in Toronto has done for his career, I see very good things happening in Napoli’s career. Dwayne Murphy and the Toronto coaching staff did some great work with many of the Toronto hitters in 2010, particularly Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista. Bautista in particular was always seen with power potential in his bat when coming up, but was never given the opportunity to thrive. Working with Napoli and allowing him to grow and play every day, he will not have to press to produce each game in the fear that one false move will result in a banishment to the bench. With new-found confidence instilled, Napoli can relax and develop into the power hitter that he was meant to be.
For all the talk of Vernon Wells leaving town, what the Jays have also done is acquired themselves their potential future cleanup hitter for the next 3+ years conceivably. Playing at the Rogers Centre, Napoli has the potential to hit 40+ home runs, make the all-star team and win silver slugger awards. Sound familiar? If all goes according to my visions, the trade consummated on January 21, 2011 will one day centre on the fact that the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Mike Napoli rather than the focus on Vernon Wells being dumped on the Angels. Welcome to Toronto Mike Napoli. You are finally home.
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MILTON BRADLEY – “I can fix him”
MLB reports: Milton Bradley. The name just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
The board game references are endless and I’m sure Milton has heard and seem them all. For me, if I had to draw a comparison, having Milton Bradley on a team is like playing operation. You have to hold the tweezers gently and play very carefully. Once false move and watch out, ZAP! Game over. Over the years, since 2000 to be exact, 8- count them 8, major league teams have played the baseball version of operation by employing Milton Bradley on their respective teams. The history is well-known by all MLB fans, but here is a recap for those of you new to the game:
Team 1 – Montreal Expos 2000-2001: Drafted Milton and traded him to the Indians for Zach Day.
Team 2 – Cleveland Indians 2001-2003: Bradley’s longest tenured team (NO joke). Bradley had an altercation with then Indians’ manager Eric Wedge in spring training of 2004, Bradley is then subsequently traded to the Dodgers for Franklin Gutierrez and Adrian Brown.
Team 3- Los Angeles Dodgers 2004-2005: Bradley and then teammate, future hall of famer Jeff Kent trade barbs in the media, essentially Bradley accused Kent of a lack of leadership and not knowing how to deal with black people. With all due respect to Kent, dealing with Bradley and Bonds is a difficult task regardless of race, gender or ethnicity. Bradley is later traded with Antonio Perez to the Oakland Athletics for Andre (gulp) Ethier. Definitely not one of Billy Bean’s finer moments. Sorry Billy.
Team 4- Oakland Athletics 2006-2007: Oakland represented Milton’s last team run beyond 1 year, but just barely. On June 21, 2007 Bradley was designated for assignment by the A’s and was traded subsequently with cash to the San Diego Padres for the infamous Adrian Brown. Quite the distinction of twice being traded for one another.
Team 5- San Diego Padres 2007: Bradley in September of 2007 had his famous run-in with an umpire which caused his manager at the time Bud Black to restrain him and Bradley ended up tearing his ACL in the process. Bradley ends up leaving Padres as free agent and signing with Rangers.
Team 6- Texas Rangers 2008: While with the Rangers, Bradley had his most celebrated season in the majors, leading the AL with a 1.036 OPS. Despite a lofty season capped by an all-star appearance, Bradley has one known incident where he sought out Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre to “discuss” comments Lefebvre made about Bradley during that tame. At the end of the season, Bradley signs with the Cubs as a free agent for a whopping 3 years, $30 million.
Team 7 – Chicago Cub 2009: The Milton Bradley era in Chicago lasted a grand total of 1 year in Chicago, with Bradley fighting with everyone that was anyone that year and making his heavily criticized contract seem well, very ….very…..very bad. The tables started to really turn on Milton in June of that year, first from a suspension relating to an umpire bumping and later Sweet Lou blowing up at Bradley and sending him home during a game. The Bradley Cubs era unofficially came to an end on September 20, 2009 when the Cubs suspended Bradley for the rest of the season for disparaging remarks made by Bradley about the Cubs and city of Chicago. Lovely exit. Officially on December 18, 2009, Bradley was traded to the Mariners for Carlos Silva in a “your junk” for “my trash” deal.
Team 8- Seattle Mariners 2010 -?: The Mariners acquired Bradley in the hopes of rejuvenating a stagnant offence and instantly inserted Bradley as their cleanup hitter. The low-pressure stage of Seattle was to have a calming effect on Bradley with many experts expecting a comeback season, yours truly included by drafting Milton in the 15th round of my fantasy draft that year. In May 2010 Bradley removed himself from a game and took a two-week leave of absence for “personal reasons” which have not been explained to-date to my knowledge. The rest of the year was a fairly meek one for Bradley, with neither his bat or his team ever getting on track. As of the new year, Bradley was arrested on January 18, 2011 for allegedly uttering criminal threats to a female patron in his home.
Given his track record of incidents and altercations, my question is: how can so many teams and related executives have continued to give this man so many chances and employ him in baseball? It appears that Bradley wore out his welcome in almost every city he played in and lasted only 1-2 years at a time at most stops. The lifetime statistics are good- .272 average, .366 obp, .443 slg, but not great. Bradley though was never a particular strong home run hitter, did not drive in or score many runs and did not steal many bases. He did a lot of things, but none exceptionally well. A constant malcontent and injury prone player, team after team acquired him only to be left with egg on their faces.
Then again I ask, why the fascination with Bradley? How did he manage to have a career that lasted this long? Simple. Everyone wants to be considered a genius, to have a breakthrough. Imagine the person that is able to motivate, settle down Bradley and extract all the talent out of him and turn out the results that were expected of him. That executive would succeed where all else have failed and that is saying a lot. One by one some great minds in baseball set out to achieve this result and one by one, each failed. The closest achieved result was in Texas, where the Rangers led by Ron Washington were able to get an all-star year out of Bradley where he kept his nose clean for the most part and produced. Did the Rangers lock him up that offseason. No. They thanked their stars for getting the results they did and left the relationship on a high note. The result? Bradley I read in reports contacted the Cubs during that offseason and expressed his desire to play for Chicago. The Cubs were apparently so moved by his sincerity and gesture that they chose to sign Bradley over other available similar free agents Raul Ibanez and Adam Dunn. Yikes.
When news spread of the Cubs signing of Bradley to his monster contract, people in the industry were floored. The common theme that arose was “nothing good can come of this” and sure enough, nothing did.
As we are now in the year 2011 and Bradley has paid his bail and is now back resting at home, the reality is that this is a baseball player at the end of his rope. He has now played and been blacklisted on 26% of the MLB teams and the other 74% have taken note. We have entered a new era of major league baseball, one where speed, defence and youth has a higher premium than it did compared to recent years. Older, slower, defensively inclined players have been pushed aside for younger, cheaper talent. As we stand today, Manny Ramirez, Vlad Guerrero and Johnny Damon are still looking for work. I’m sure the Mariners have a team of lawyers working as we speak trying to find a way to void Bradley’s contract. If unsuccessful, we will probably see a release of him as the final footnote to his career. If Vlad can still be unemployed given his strong showing last year the Rangers, teams will equally have no issue leaving Bradley dangling on the waiver wire.
In my era we have seen Joey/Albert Belle, Carl Everett, Manny Ramirez and now Milton Bradley sideshows in baseball. Train wrecks that people criticize but can’t stop watching. I believe executives are getting smarter and more sophisticated in judging character and personality before drafting and promoting players. As we stand in the new MLB, we will see fewer, if any, Milton Bradleys in baseball. Baseball executives will choose not to play “operation” with their teams and their own baseball careers. Happy trails Milton Bradley. The game will continue, just with a different player in your place.
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Welcome to Our First Ever Article: Aaron Hill, Aaron Hill: Where Art Thou Aaron Hill?
MLB reports: Greetings Readers,
Based on my early run on twitter, welcome to the 1st official article entry for mlbreports.com. Please feel free to suggest topics, otherwise I will pick topics at random that interest me and I think you will enjoy. Also all feedback is welcome, please message me any time.
So on to the article. With the help of one of my new resources, the Bill James Handbook 2011 (enjoy the plug Mr. James), I now jump into the mystery that is Aaron Hill.
2009 represented Aaron’s breakout year. A season where Hill led the AL in 682 ABs and played in all but 4 of the Jays games. 195 hits, 37 doubles, 36 home runs, 340 total bases, 103 runs, 108 rbis, .286 average and .499 slug. Fast forward to 2010. Jays fans believe the second coming of Joe Morgan is emerging in Toronto and that Hill would be the new face of this once proud franchise in the midst of rebuilding. What they got instead was the second coming of Russ Adams (exaggeration, of course, but you know what I mean). Look at Hill’s 2010 numbers last season: 108 hits, 22 doubles, 26 home runs, 208 total bases, 70 runs, 68 rbis, .205 average, .394 slug. So the question is: Which is the real Aaron Hill, the 2009 or 2010 models?
Most baseball people would argue somewhere in the middle. I would somewhat agree, but will throw in that the middle ground will lean more towards 2010. Yes I live in Toronto and no, I am not a homer or biased. Mostly. I have never been a big fan of Aaron Hill and was not ready to start engraving any hall of flame plaques after 2009. To me, Jose Bautista’s breakout is more likely to be reality than Hill’s. I see 2011 as the crossroads for Hill, where he either reclaims elite status or moves to the land of waivers, release, AAA buses etc.
There were some items of note that irked me about Hill in 2009. Walks. 42 walks, of which 1 was intentional. A .330 obp. At first glance the .286 average that Hill sported in 2009 appears impressive. But when you consider that it only translated into a .330 obp, something doesn’t sit right. Hill has the reputation in Toronto of being a gritty hitter, “great #2” who can set up the table and drive in runs. But truth be known, for the great hitter that Hill is, pitchers found it necessary to intentionally walk him only 1 time. That doesn’t show me a great deal of respect. Hill in fact only took 42 walks in 2009. In contrast, for Hill’s disastrous 2010, he was intentionally walked twice and took a total of 41 walks. No difference whatsoever. So studying Hill on this basis, he cannot take a walk whether he is hitting or not. Pitchers are apparently aware of this and are not afraid to pitch to him. 2009 tells me that even if Hill can hit for a solid .286 average, the kid will not be considered any form of on-base machine.
Why the obsession with on-base percentage? For a simple reason. Unless you can hit like Vladdy Guerrero and scrape balls out of the dirt for home runs, a bad batting eye can lead to Jeff Francouer territory. This is not the place to be. We all know Francouer and his path in the major leagues. Coming up Atlanta was seen as a hitter with power that will develop a batting eye. That unfortunately never came and now Jeff is with the Royals last I read. If I were him, I would be scouting out for apartments in Omaha. Now. But I digress. An Aaron Hill player that refuses to take a walk and is not respected enough to be intentionally walked, will rarely make it far in a baseball career. Of Hill’s 108 hits in 2010, 26 went deep. Think about it. The man was only able to have 108 hits in a full season, in 138 games and managing 528 at-bats. Hill essentially played a full season in 2010 and a full 25% of hits were home runs. Based on that rate, if Hill could have duplicated his 195 hits from 2009, he would have hit a whopping 50 home runs. We are talking Jose Bautista territory, who did hit 54 home runs in 2010…and also walked 100 times. It would take Hill 2.5 years to take that many walks. Apparently this will not happen. So even at 26 home runs, not a number generally to be sneezed at, Aaron Hill looked very weak in 2010.
The point that I am trying to make? Essentially the following. For Aaron Hill to be effective, he has to hit…and hit…and hit some more. Even at close to 200 hits, this not a player that gets on at a very high rate. Take away the hits, all the other numbers fall off the table. The Aaron Hill of 2010 to me is Pete Incaviglia or Rob Deer, just less strikeouts. In today’s mlb, players such as these are becoming less of a desired commodity. Looking at the numbers we are seeing only one other “good” season by Hill. 2007 showed 17 home runs, 87 runs, 78 rbis and a .291 average. 160 games played that season with 608 at-bats. Guess the number of walks? You got it, 41 with a .333 obp. In 4 years I don’t see any real progress, just one outlier year in 2009.
Consulting with my friend Bill James, what is expected from Hill in 2011? Am I alone in my thinking or is one of the industry gurus in agreement with me? 142 games, 531 at-bats, 22 home runs, 76 runs, 73 rbis. Ok. So far so good. But 138 hits and you guessed it, the standard 41 walks. A .260 average, .319 obp and .446 slug. My favourite whipping boy, Jeff Francouer, is projected to have a similar .318 obp. Ouch. The Aaron Hill of 2011 is an improvement of the 2010 version, but actually a regression of the 2007 model. The hype from 2009 was just that. Hype. For those in the know, there were reasons to believe that there were warning signs from the beginning on Hill and 2009 should not have tempered them. I was never a Hill backer, I will admit and have never wavered. The Jays this past off-season traded their top starting pitcher, Shaun Marcum for the top prospect in the Brewers system. A second basemen by the name of Brett Lawrie. The writing should be on the wall for Aaron at this point and it’s actually a shame. As a #7 – #9 hitter, he would have been considered steady and productive. But being thrust into batting spots such as #2 and #5, he does not have the capabilities to produce as required. As we all know in sports, especially in baseball, once expectations are thrust upon you, it is difficult to hide them.
By 2013 Aaron Hill will likely be on his 2nd or 3rd team and the above points will be moot. But as the 2011 season approaches and the Jays rebuild and look to improve, excuse me while I don’t count on Aaron Hill. I don’t expect the Toronto Blue Jays will either.
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