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Baseball Movie Review: Caught – Life Playing Out on the Softball Field

Thursday April 26, 2012

MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: For those of us that live the game of baseball, we know that baseball becomes part of many facets of our existence. Aside from watching baseball, we talk about it, debate it, read about it and think about it. Baseball consumes us pretty much 24/7…and we wouldn’t have it any other way! But to become “well-rounded” baseball aficionados, many fans read baseball books and watch baseball movies. I have spent many hours talking to our readers about their favorite baseball books and movies of all-time. While I have reviewed many baseball books for you, I have not actually had the pleasure of reviewing a baseball film. Until today. Featured on MLB reports, I am proud to present our first Baseball Movie Review. Starring Lori Martini, the film is called “Caught”.

Caught is not your typical “feel good” baseball movie. Definitely not a cookie-cutter film. It is a short film…but man, it packs a strong punch. I won’t ruin the film for you by giving away the story. But I will say that I loved the use of baseball as a focal point in the storyline of this film. For the young girl Hannah (played by Lori Martini), her life is a troubled one. With a difficult family life centered around her troubled mother and brother, her ultimate refuge is the diamond. Behind the plate as a catcher, she is safe. Nobody can harm her there. For many ball fans, either as players and/or spectators, we can relate to the effect that the game has on our own lives. Baseball is ultimately an escape. Our sanctuary. Where the troubles in our lives can’t hurt us. That message really hit home for me watching Caught and I can see how many baseball fans will feel the same connection in watching life through Hannah’s life.

I have to admit that I was blown away by Martini’s performance in the film. Not only is she a songwriter, but she also wrote and co-produced the film. This talented young lady played many roles in helping Caught make it to the big screen. The script was strong, with well written dialogue and flow to the film. But ultimately, it was Martini’s presence on the screen that won me over. She has a powerful presence. While Martini had a strong supporting cast around her, the film is driven through her character. I felt Hannah’s words as she spoke. A good actor/actress lives the role that they play. They are not acting- rather, they are the person they are playing. In Caught, Martini was Hannah. She was that rough and tough catcher behind the plate. She was that girl who loved to play baseball and always gave it her all. On the field and in life. No matter how hard things became around her, Hannah battled. Much like Martini in real life.

Keep an eye on lorimartini.com to find out when Caught will be featured in a movie theatre near you. If you get the chance to watch it, I highly suggest you do so. Life is not always about perfect Hollywood endings. Life can be hard. For an escape into a dramatic life that plays out on the softball field, watch Catch. Martini was named Best Actress in the 2011 Staten Island Film Festival for a reason. This lady loves baseball with every ounce of her being. Now get ready to watch her baseball masterpiece with your own eyes.

*** Caught is featured on Facebook and Twitter (@shortfilmcaught). To learn more about Lori Martini and her story click here . You can also follow Lori on Twitter (@lorimartini) and check out her song ‘Believe’ here on Youtube (Justin Turner of the Mets walkup song and was recently heard on VH1′s House of Consignment)***

Jonathan Hacohen is the Founder & Lead Baseball Columnist for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)

Please e-mail us at: mlbreports@me.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.

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Tags: baseball, Caught, caught short film, Lori Martini, mlb, new york mets, softball

PNC Park Book Excerpt from ‘The Fastest 30 Ballgames’ Novel

Apr 25

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Wednesday April.25/2012

Original Print of the book was June 2011
Book Excerpt writeup By Chuck Booth

“This was the first of two visits to PNC Park during streak chases of 2008. This date was on July.7/2008. The events that happened right after this game caused me to restart the Guinness Streak on July.08/2008. A little diversion from a closure in the Lincoln Tunnel heading towards LGA cost me a flight from New York to Dallas. Hmmm.. I have not had a lot of luck in flying to Dallas have I?”

Game #7 Day #6

PNC Park

Pittsburgh PA

July.07/2008

It was not my first time to see the Pirates play at ‘PNC’, the previous year I watched a doubleheader featuring Barry Bonds last games to be played in Pittsburgh—for awhile I was thought he might pass Hank Aaron for the all time Homer list for the games I was attending. Barry had surpassed Aaron a week earlier but I was still glad to see him in the starting lineup. Now I was back less than a year later.

I was ready to rebound from the day before. I drove 340 miles from my brother’s house in New Jersey—to arrive in Pittsburgh with lots of time to spare.

I parked in a business building across the “Roberto Clemente Bridge.” PNC Park is very convenient for parking, as they close off most of the bridges directly nearest to the ballpark. The park looks immaculate from the bridges and especially in reverse from the park where you can see the bridges.

Pittsburgh is a blue collar town but it a beautiful city downtown. The crowd was not bustling that night. There were 13,223 fans for the game and half that many were there when I arrived.

There may not be a better new ballpark when it comes to respecting the history of their team. There are statutes for just about any significant member ever associated with Pirates. There is a great amount of history of the World Series Runs of 1971 and 1979. The area my ticket was in was the left field bleachers section for a $9 price. Quite simply it is the best value in the majors considering it is general seating. You are right on top of the left fielder.

I made it over to “Greentree Pizza”—located just behind the huge scoreboard. I was staving so I ordered the large fourteen inch Pepperoni Pizza. It is made on a light thin crust and is one of the best singular foods in the majors.

Around the park, people were texting each other on their cell phones as the Pittsburgh Pirates display between every inning on their scoreboards. This is a fun thing to do—and very fan interactive.

They have two mascots that are running around the empty park. ‘The Pirate,’ (who will steal your food if you are not looking and/or opposing team ball caps that fans wear) and ‘The Parrot,’ (who is a lot more kid friendly and usually can be found occupying seats in the empty lower bowl.). I was pleasantly surprised that the ushers were so nice to me when I told them about my record streak. The lady talked to me for thirty minutes about the ballpark and even asked if I had time for a tour while in the city, she said she could call her boss if I wished. I politely declined as I had a long drive back to New York City. It was then I realized I actually needed a quick game.

It was one of the plane fares bought before the trip started and impossible to change because it was too costly. I would have about six hours to drive back to New York for a five and a half hour drive. There was not much wiggle room.

One of the coolest things about the PNC Park-is the size of left field center scoreboard. They play a four minute introduction at the start of the game that shows years of Pirate highlights and it always pumps me up. Then there is a segment where a cartoon pirate is away at sea with his crew and they come across the opposite team boat. A 3 minute battle ensues with the Pirates crew eventually taking ownership of the other boat. The pirate laughs and then it is game time.

The scenery is beautiful with the backdrop. The big green fence in right-center field has ‘Pirates’ perfectly hedged in shrubs. The only thing that is kind of weird is you can’t walk in the general area entirely across the outfield sectors. The seat’s in right field are in the 3rd level and is quite a shot from home plate to hit a home run. It is even a better sight at night with the bright lights of all the bridges illuminating the park. If only the franchise was in better shape.

The food courts are impressive for the limited amount of people attending. They are quick with the vendors—and have some of the longest serving staff of any in the majors.

In the left field bleachers there is a sit in restaurant that features live performances out on the patio deck including ‘mariachi band’s’ and groups that sing ‘a cappella.’ There is not much going on downtown directly around the park inside of the bridges that does not pertain to the ball game.

That night began sunny but soon clouds over giving me the worry of a rain out. The Houston Astros ran out to a 3-0 lead on a towering homer by Carlos Lee. The Pirates responded with a 4 run bottom of first. The inning took about forty-minutes and I was in time trouble again.

Fast forward to the 4th inning and it was 10-7 Pittsburgh—and we were already nearing 9:15 PM. I was sweating the game big time. If I left about 10:30 PM—I would be in massive trouble. I had done the drive from Pittsburgh to New York a few times before so I had some confidence to make good time.

It is a scheduling nightmare the certain Monday and Thursday baseball games on the condensed nights of the MLB when you are chasing this record.

There were not too many other nights I could see the Pirates playing. Again I was thinking about the July.9th restart option.

I was happy to see a quick 5th and 6th inning. The only thing that made me happier then that—was the game went the last 5 innings—only with one hit, and no runs after 17 runs in the 1st four innings. The last 5 innings only elapsed 40 more minutes in time.

I thanked the ushers for signing my logbook and ran out of the southwest corner near the ‘Clemente Bridge.’ I was happy at this moment it was Pittsburgh—as the crowd was smaller to navigate back to the highway. I had 7 hours in order to make it there for an hour before my flight.

I had prepaid the parking fare in the business garage, and was horrified to see the PT Cruiser I had rented the previous week in New York had now been keyed by someone. I was relieved that I had added the extra insurance to the car rental-which I usually forego however, because of the New York City garage experience the last time I had been to New York—I took the insurance.

This was still a concern. The car rental place would certainly want to discuss this. Just like some other rentals the scratches were not too visible and for a minute I thought they had been there the whole time. The scratches were on the passenger side so I had not seen that area much in the week. I pressed on.

I was revving on adrenaline as the time and miles wore away. I stopped at the edge of NJ State to stop for gas. All I had to do was go through the Lincoln Tunnel merge onto the ‘FDR’—in order to merge onto the 495-S Long Island Expressway. It was just after 4:40 AM-when I was headed for the tunnel.

“You have got be friggin kiddin me!!!! I yelled as I approached the tunnel which was closed for construction. I was at a loss for what was next. I knew the FDR would take me to the bridge I needed to take over. I then remembered the “Holland Tunnel” would work. I starting making way in that direction as panic set in. It was only starting to become daylight. At 5:00 AM-I made it to ‘Times Sqaure.’ I then finally made it to the FDR before merging onto the 495—and was on the Brooklyn-Queens-Expressway within reason.

Then the fun began. LGA is an airport dropped into a rural neighborhood. I made it to the airport okay—the problem was the car rental place was up the street. I arrived into ‘Thrifty Car Rental’ at 5:25 AM-with the flight leaving at six sharp I had a chance at that point.

I was on the shuttle bus awaiting the driver to leave for the airport which would have taken about 5 minutes—maybe another 10 minutes for early morning security and then I would have 10 minutes to run to the gate. The shuttle was away.

“Yes, I am going to make it,” I pronounced—it would be the closest miss yet. The shuttle driver had informed me that there was not much of a lineup for people traveling without checked baggage. The sun popped out and all of a sudden I loved New York City. Despite a small detour, I had overcome it by feeling out my way through it like I did as a courier back home.

A knock on the loading window stopped the shuttle bus smooth–and a grey haired, tall lanky old man with glasses came on the bus and pointed in my direction. “There is damage to your Cruiser. We need you to fill out an accident report.”

“Sir, I have full insurance and have a plane to catch, there is no time. I will be back this way next week watching a baseball game at Shea Stadium can I fill it out then?”

“Son, I could get in serious trouble for that. If you hurry there is another shuttle leaving in 5 minutes.”

I knew if I left the shuttle I would miss my flight. The only saving grace was that ‘Air Tran Airways’ are nice enough to their travelers—by letting them fly stand by on remaining flights to their original destination should they miss their flight. It was a stand-by option good for one day only. I knew there were two more flights to Dallas that day—both had a lengthy stop over in Atlanta. The first flight arrived in Dallas at 3:30 PM. I had designated that flight the first time I was going to book the flight. I then mistakenly thought the drive from Pittsburgh was only 5.5 hours-like it was from my brother’s house to PNC Park. I had the two confused in my final booking of the flight!

I opted for the earlier flight because I would arrive in Dallas at 11:00 AM-and could check into the Motel 6 right away to catch up sleep.

I filled out the accident report and made the next shuttle to LGA. Like I was a possessed addict chasing an addiction I ran to the ticket window at ‘Air Tran’. It was 5:45 AM. The system had already shut me out of the flight. I ran to the window were a mid-40’s gentleman was typing a keyboard and looking at me running at the same time.

“Flight to DFW right?” he questioned, he knew the answer.

“Yeah, I thought that you could print out the tickets up to 10 minutes before?” I answered, somehow gaining a glimmer of hope that he could radio ahead, stop the plane until I got there. I heard stories growing up of this happening.

“Actually you need to be in the boarding area 10 minutes prior to gates closing-we cut off the boarding passes 20 minutes before sorry.”

“Ah, man.” I was pissed, I half-wanted to race back to the car rental facility and drag the manager out into the street and beat him to a pulp. “How does the next flight look to Dallas?”

“Lemme check that for you.” The man typed quickly as he could, a man who was late for the same flight I was—came in line to be helped next. “The flight is oversold and there are 7 people on the waiting list ahead of you.”

If there is one thing I know is waiting for stand-by on flights. My step-mom had worked in the airline industry for 25 years. I was able to fly whenever I wanted, wherever I wanted provided there were available seats. 7 seats was a lot for a 9:00 AM Flight. It would have been different if it was the flight I had just missed. I had to try it. New York traffic had swallowed me up that morning, maybe it would swallow up others. “Print me the pass, I will try.”

“You never know sir you might also get a family that does not want to fly separately. You are a single traveler so you have a better chance than others.”

I grabbed my new boarding pass and headed trough security, and pressed onward to the gate. There was not much open for breakfast so I was happy to have polished off that huge pizza in Pittsburgh the night before. I needed to call the airlines to see if I could arrange other travel arrangements to Dallas.

I searched for the internet at ‘LGA’ which was non-existent at that time. I called every airline up. It was going to be $600 or $700. Day of flight’s prices sky rocket on same day sales. My plan was simple now. I would see if I made the next flight before another decision was to be made. I called Visa in the meantime and I was appalled to see that I had little credit left with all of the pre-authorizations against the car and hotel rentals. I was awaiting a payment to go through as well. I had $450 left. I was stuck. Not only was I in danger of missing my game in Texas—but my streak reset needed to start over in San Diego the next day.

It was a lost cause at ‘LGA’ and I left the airport at 10:00 AM-by boarding what I thought was a charter bus in between ‘LGA’ and “JFK.” I wanted to be at JFK incase I was stranded-since there were more amenities and late night domestic flights. At 10:30 AM-the charter bus let me off downtown in Manhattan.

“Wait a second I purchased a bus-ride all the way to JFK.” I said to a heavy set German fellow.

“You boarded the wrong bus.” The man replied.

“No I didn’t.” I was right–the man had forgotten to switch the template on the bus signage based on what I had seen back at ‘LGA’- he had deceived me.

“I paid for a ticket to JFK, and that is what your sign said. I know you are going to try to stiff me,” I was being rude back to the rude New York people now, “so why don’t you tell me how I get to JFK, it has been a brutal morning.”

The man radioed a bus a block away, “hold the bus for a minute, I need to drop a passenger for you to take to JFK, I made a mistake, no charges either.” The man actually smiled and nodded at me. I was relieved but knew that New Yorkers were good at nearly breaking you and then surprising you with doing the right thing.

I made it to JFK at noon in the hot heat, it was approaching 90F. I was still not ahead of the game. Like LGA-JFK did not have internet accessible terminals anywhere. I was running out of options. I called my buddy Dan Dion.

Dan Dion and his brother Justin had given me the time off delivering newspapers for the trip. I had known them both for eight years. Justin was doing one of my routes for me while I was away. I had to forfeit the second route because of the timing, but was promised a different route when I returned in August.

Dan was in Langley, British Colombia, and was in front of his computer.

“Dude, It’s me, missed my flight to Dallas because of an idiot car rental worker and a bridge closed for construction, I need your help, are you online?”

“Ya, I am online right how. Where are you?”

“I am on the Air-Tram at JFK circling the gates and don’t know where to go because I don’t have a plane ticket yet, I need you to go to the site www.kayak.com.”

“10-4 man.”

“Man, I am glad you are home. Okay click on the flights icon and then enter JFK letter into the: ‘from part’-and ‘SAN’ letters in the: ‘to’ part, and don’t forget to make this a one-way flight.”

“How is it in the big crapple?” Dan was laughing and typing at the same time.

“Dude, this is a brutal city sometimes, good thing I always had the reset option, knew I was probably going to need it after that Philly/New York doubleheader miss anyway.” Some girl left here tote-bag on the seat next to me and I was going to hand it in.

Some old man freaked out on me saying I was stealing it. All this was happening while awaiting results.

“Cheapest flight is $545.”

“Not good, okay try LAX from JFK, I need to return there tomorrow night anyway so it will work for a car rental.” The man scoffed a look of disgust at me again. If I was not on a good will ambassador tour I would have sworn at him for his ignorance.

A few seconds elapsed, “Dude, I got an American Airlines flight leaving at eight your time arriving at just after eleven in LA-price is $160.”

“That is awesome, book that dude, click on it for me and I will give my credit card number to buy it-and then you can give me the confirmation code, then I will need to hit Budget Car Rental’s site next.”

Dan helped me for the next fifteen minutes and I was now going somewhere again. I had several hours before the flight to kill. I was fortunate enough to have the reset option. The new attempt was still 30-26 days. I had a grueling stretch of 4 doubleheader attempts in 5 days: SD Padres-Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by a Detroit Tigers-Cleveland Indians attempt; followed by Chicago Cubs/Milwaukee Brewers; then Toronto isolated by itself before a Washington Nationals/New York Mets attempt to hit the all-star break.

If all were hit all games I would be at 9 games in 5 days, even with the 3 day penalty for the all-star break I would have a chance on the other side of it. I arrived in LAX without a hitch.

I had just enough credit on my visa to rent the car and I had $150 cash. I knew there was lots of deposit money coming off by the next night at midnight eastern time. I had to make it the next 24 hours with the money I had. There was $30 for parking/probably $20 for gas and $100 left for food and shelter. I drove to San Diego right away. I tried the Motel 6-but no there was no vacancy. I wish I would have known about the hostel downtown then. I decided to keep all my money. I had an idea to shower at a ‘YMCA’ in the morning. Besides I had to spend money on batteries for the digital camera-plus I needed some health and beauty aids.

I ate 7-Eleven food for dinner and drove around San Diego for a few hours before resting at a ‘Rite-Aid.’ I slept for a few hours and finally it was open. A homeless man was outside and needed some money bad to eat. I only had $60 left after the drugstore but decided to give him $5. He was so thankful. I talked to him about my day in New York City. He informed me that my day was about to change for the better. After I drove away somehow I finally believed it.

Great American Ball Park Book Excerpt from the Fastest 30 Ballgames Novel

US Cellular Field Book Excerpt from “The Fastest 30 Ballgames” Novel

***Thank you to our Lead Baseball Writer- Chuck Booth for preparing today’s feature on MLB reports. To learn more about “The Fastest 30 Ballgames” and Chuck Booth, you can follow Chuck on Twitter (@ChuckBooth3024) and you can also follow Chuck’s website for his Guinness Book of World Record Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 23 days click here or on the 30 MLB Parks in 23 days GWR tracker at the Reports click here. To Purchase or read about “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book, ” please click here ***

Please e-mail us at: mlbreports@me.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.

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Tags: Air Tran Airways, American Airlines, barry bonds, chicago cubs, Chuck Booth, cleveland indians, Dallas, dan dion, detroit tigers, dodgers, houston astros, JFK Airport, lga airport, Lincoln Tunnel, Los Angeles, milwaukee brewers, Motel 6, New Jersey, new york mets, padres, pirates, pittsburgh, pnc park, San Diego, the fastest 30 ballgames, washington nationals

Ask the Reports: ATR Answers Your Baseball Questions – April 23rd, 2012

Apr 23

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Monday April 23rd, 2012

Jonathan Hacohen: Posted every Weekend: Your top baseball questions from the past week are answered. E-mail all questions to mlbreports@me.com, message us on Twitter and post on our Facebook Wall!

Let’s get to your top questions of the week:

Q: When do the WBC Qualifiers begin? When does the WBC itself begin? William

JH: Starting off with one of our most loyal Twitter followers. A great question Williams, you know we love talking WBC! In fact, we love the World Baseball Classic so much, that we have a dedicated site for it: wbcreports.com. Keep the page bookmarked for all the latest WBC info! To answer your question, the WBC Qualifiers begin September of this year. With the MLB playoffs just about to begin, tensions and debates will begin as playoff-bound teams are unlikely (will not) send their players to the qualifiers. One or two missing players could mean the difference between a WBC berth…or elimination. The tournament itself begins in March 2013. Debates have also raged as to when the World Baseball Classic should be held. Some feel mid-season to replace the All-Star Game. This will NEVER happen, as Major League Baseball depends on the All-Star Game to appease sponsors and is one of the biggest events on the MLB calendar. Some others feel that the WBC should be held after the World Series. This creates issues with players that are tired and worn out from a gruelling MLB schedule…which would likely result in low participation rates. Thus during Spring Training was deemed as the lesser of all the evils as to when to hold the tournament. The start of the tournament has led many to believe that pitchers participating in the tournament run the risk of arm injuries- as they are not prepared and warmed up sufficiently to go all out in March. I wouldn’t necessarily disagree. But it is what it is. Fortunately though we are only several months away from the qualifiers. I for one can’t wait! Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: andy pettitte, ask the reports, baseball, baseball questions, k-zone, michael pineda, mlb, mlb expansion, new york mets, wbc, world baseball classic

Ask the Reports: ATR Answers Your Baseball Questions – April 9th, 2012

Apr 9

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Monday April 9th, 2012

Let’s get to your top questions of the week:

Q: My question this week is about young pitchers. Do you see any of today’s young pitchers winning 300 games in their lifetime? Thanks in advance. Larry

MLB reports: Hello Larry! Great opening question by our #1 fan. To win 300 games in the big leagues, a pitcher needs to pitch for approximately 20 seasons and win 15 games per year. A difficult, but not impossible task. Many factors come into play. Good health. Consistent performances. Run support. Backed by a strong bullpen. If a pitcher can achieve most of these factors, 300 wins is do-able. By my count, I can only see a handful of current pitchers having a shot at the big 3-0-0-. Jamie Moyer. 33 wins away. He could go 3-4 more years with his rubber arm. If he wins 8-10 games per year…could happen. Unlikely, but he has at least a 15% chance. Roy Halladay. 189 wins with at least 5 good years left in him. He will definitely do it. Justin Verlander has 107 wins and possibly 10 more years- he could do it. C.C. Sabathia is the only other fairly sure bet that I have. 176 wins at age 31. Pitching for the Yankees and going deep into games, C.C. will do it. So yes- we will still see 300 games winners in Major League Baseball. But they will be rare occurrences. Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: 300 game winners, ask the reports, atr, baseball, baseball questions, ben henry, c.c. sabathia, chicago cubs, comerica park, hickory crawdads bullpen, hunter pence, jamie moyer, john lannan, marlon byrd, mlb, new york mets, new york yankees, philadelphia phillies, roy halladay, shane victorino, washington nationals, yoenis cespedes

A Review of the New Marlins Ball Park By Lori Martini

Apr 4

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Wednesday, April.04/2012,

Lori Martini (Guest Baseball Writer- and @lorimartini on twitter)- I touched down in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Not only was it a little cheaper and more cost-effective to simply rent a car, but I did have a place to stay with friends which always makes a trip more enjoyable. Hotels in Miami are outrageous and I couldn’t find a reasonably priced hotel that didn’t give me anxiety of potentially having bed bugs, my biggest nightmare (at least in hotels). Driving is most certainly interesting here. I’m from NYC and I can drive anywhere, but these people are ridiculous. They either drive way too slow or excessively fast and erratic. The highways are 4 to 5 lanes of traffic and your exits sneak up on you. People don’t signal and cut across several lanes of traffic without looking, which somewhat reminds me of driving in LA. Miami during rush hour is highly congested and you can’t park anywhere. Everything is a parking garage. It’s cluttered and populated like NYC, yet spread out like LA to get anywhere. Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: alex rodriguez, Aramark, astros, Believe, citi field, Fort Lauderdale, Howie Mandell, justin turner, logan morrison, Lori Martini, miami, miller park, New Marlins Ball Park Review, new york mets, Shea Stadium, Sir Pizza, Sun Life Stadium, twitter, Us celliular field, Vh1 house of consignment, white sox

Why MLB Fans Love to Hate the Yankees

Apr 1

Posted by samevans87

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Sunday April 1st, 2012

Sam Evans: It’s no surprise that the most popular MLB franchise is also the most despised. For every person who hates the New York Yankees (aka “The Evil Empire”), there’s a person who claims to be a die-hard Yankees fan. The Yankees sell more merchandise than any other MLB team, and their consistent performance on the field is unmatched. Nonetheless, they have the highest payroll in baseball and they toss large contracts to steal talented players from small-market teams. Personally, I hate the Yankees and here are a couple of reasons why.

For over twenty years, the Yankees have dominated free agency. In the last five years, the Yankees’ major free agent acquisitions include Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Russell Martin, and Hiroki Kuroda. For comparison, over the last five years the Royals big free agent signings include Gil Meche, Jose Guillen, and an ancient Jason Kendall. There’s a common argument among baseball fans that the Yankees don’t develop players themself, they just buy other teams’ superstars. This isn’t exactly true as proven by Yankees regulars Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, Mariano Rivera, and Derek Jeter. However, the reality is that the Yankees do steal some of the game’s best talent by offering them enormous contracts. Read the rest of this entry →

Posted in MLB Teams: Articles and Analysis

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Tags: alex rodriguez, arod, baseball, c.c. sabathia, derek jeter, george steinbrenner, mariano rivera, mlb, new york mets, new york yankees, nick swisher, robinson cano

An Interview with Citi Field ‘Expert’ Lori Martini

Mar 30

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Friday, March.30/2012

Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Writer)Follow @chuckbooth3024– Last year when I applied for the MLB FanCave, I did so with mixed emotions. While the job looked like an awesome experience, it also would never be as exciting as going to the baseball games live. Due to my waiting around for MLB’s decision on the chosen winners, I failed to plan for any extensive road trips last year. I am not disappointed that I didn’t win. Mike O’ Hara and Ryan Wagner did a fantastic job and were completely qualified. What the verdict left me was a desire to prove a point that I have been trying to establish for the last 4 years. MLB’s 30 Baseball Parks provide the best marketing tool that this entity may ever want. It is my ultimate goal to show that people would rather go to the games live. Chasing down the Guinness Book of World Record for visiting all parks in the least amount of days has a plethora of emotions that run through ones body. It is both an adrenaline rush and a hyper vigilant anxiety clashing for every day I am on the road.

In my 2 minute video that I sent for the FanCave, I told them that “you either hire me or I am going to end up doing this on my own anyway!” So I intend to go on a 30 MLB Park journey every year from now until MLB decides to pay me a salary. To give our readers the kind of insight and information that make these ballparks the best fan experiences in Major League Sports, I have sought out some of the greatest experts in the field of ballpark chasing. Every park will have a Park Preview, an Expert Interview and a Post Game/Streak Synopsis. Our first expert interview is Lori Martini.

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Tags: Believe, brooklyn, Chuck Booth, citi field, david wright, fastest thirty ballgames, Flushing Meadows, jason bay, jose reyes, justin turner, Lori Martini, luis castillo, mike o'hara, mike piazza, mlb, mlb fan cave, new york mets, oliver perez, port st. lucie, ryan wagner, sandy alderson, Shea Stadium, short film caught

The 2012 Tigers may Bring first WS Title Home to Detroit Since 1984

Mar 26

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Monday, March.26/2012

Kirk Gibson celebrates with teammates during a 1984 World Series Game 1 homer, they won the series 4-1 over the San Diego Padres.

Douglas ‘Chuck’ Booth (Baseball Writer @ChuckBooth3024 on Twitter) – My dad and I were not always Yankees fans. In the past blogs I had written that my favorite teams when I first started watching baseball were the Montreal Expos(because of Gary Carter) and my American League team was the Detroit Tigers (because of Lance Parrish). As a 7-year-old kid playing baseball, our team name was the Tigers. I remember that as I took my position behind home plate, the coach called me Lance Parrish. My dad was the assistant coach that year and would whip baseball’s at me to toughen me up. I asked him too, because I wanted to learn how to block them like #13. Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: alan trammel, alex avila, austin jackson, bobby higginson, Brennan Boesch, Chuck Booth. fastest 30 ballgames, david ortiz, delmon young, detroit, detroit tigers, doug fister, goose gossage, jack morris, jacob turner, jose valverde, justin verlander, kansas city royals, kirk gibson, Lance Parrish, Lou Whitaker, manny ramirez, miguel cabrera, new york mets, prince fielder, rick porcello, san diego padres, twitter, Willie Hernandez

He was Known As “The Kid”: A Tribute to the Life and Career of Gary Carter

Feb 27

Posted by chuckbooth3023

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Monday, February 27, 2012

Douglas ‘Chuck’ Booth (Baseball Writer)- I was born in 1976. I have two older brothers that were born in 1975 and 1974. Another brother was born in 1978. My dad had all of us at the baseball park to watch his men’s league windmill team play baseball for every weekend of the summer. By the time I was 4, I also tagged along to my brother’s T-Ball baseball practices. My dad would let me play with the older kids because he knew I loved the game enough to become good at it. While my other brothers liked baseball, I loved it. So as they played cars and watched cartoons, I was happy to be watching baseball with my dad on our old 12’ black and white television screen that you had to pound on with a clenched fist once a day in order for it to focus right. My dad and I would watch the Montreal Expos on the French Channel in Canada. We always muted the sound, opting for a Bob Seger Record instead, but we would watch the game with laser focus. My dad had been a huge Thurman Munson and Yankees fan, so when Munson died in a plane crash, it hurt him a great deal . My dad’s love waned from the Yankees for a bit after. He started to like baseball on TV when I began asking to watch it. He and I sat on the couch and watched Gary Carter play. The Expos were an exciting team at the turn of the 80’s decade with the likes of Gary Carter, Andre Dawson and Tim Raines. I can remember seeing how involved Carter was in orchestrating the leadership of his team. Read the rest of this entry →

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Tags: 86 world series, baseball catcher, baseball hall of fame, boston red sox, Chuck Booth, darryl strawberry, detroit tigers, don mattingly, Dwight Gooden, fastestthirtyballgames, fenway park, gary carter, johnny bench, Lance Parrish, montreal expos, new york mets, pete rose, thurman munson

“Wilpon’s Folly” by Howard Megdal: Baseball, Business and Legal Book Review

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Sunday February 12, 2012

“WILPON’S FOLLY: THE STORY OF A MAN, HIS FORTUNE AND THE NEW YORK METS” – BY HOWARD MEGDAL

(Bloomsbury: 2011)

MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: As I close my Google Books reader, I start to reflect on Howard Megdal’s latest book. I finished the book recently, but found myself going back to re-read certain parts over and over. Partly to comprehend the extent of the points within the book. But mostly because it was just damn interesting. Wilpon’s Folly broke new ground in several new ways for me. When I finished it, I felt more educated. I had a deeper understanding for the Mets, their ownership and troubles. I wanted to debate and discuss what I had read. All marks of another hit by one of the top rising baseball writers of our time. If you didn’t know the name Howard Megdal before, you certainly will know it after reading Wilpon’s Folly. Every important writer has their piece of work that puts them on the map, so to speak. Wilpon’s Folly is Howard’s masterpiece. (more…)

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Ask the Reports: Sunday January 1st, 2012

Jan 1

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Sunday January 1, 2012

Jonathan Hacohen: Posted every Weekend: Your top baseball questions from the past week are answered. E-mail all questions to mlbreports@gmail.com, message us on Twitter and post on our Facebook Wall!

Let’s get to your top questions of the week:

Q: With just 7 weeks until spring training, which teams are looking really good for the 2012 season? Heather

MLB reports: Great question Heather. I presume you mean which teams are playoff contenders for 2012. At this point, I really like the Rays, Tigers, Angels and Rangers in the AL. These teams have the best balanced rosters that are built to make it to the playoffs. In the NL, it’s the Phillies, Reds, Dbacks and Braves (maybe Cards). Those are the strongest 8 teams that I am projecting for playoff positions at this point. There will be many improved teams to keep an eye on. The Jays continue to be on the rise in Toronto. The Royals are slowly preparing to make their move. I like what the Nationals are building in Washington. The Pirates are slowly putting together a nice stable of young prospects. The Padres are going to be a serious force very soon, perhaps as soon as this year. The common theme is good pitching and depth within the lineup. The above teams are the ones that are getting it right in my book.

Q: Will the Baseball Writers snub Tim Raines once again? David

MLB reports: Raines since 2008 has his percentage of votes rise from 24% to 37.5%. This is a tough one for the voters. I have studied the numbers and I don’t give Raines a vote. He was very good…but not Hall of Fame good in my book. Ultimately Raines will get in, as he is more deserving that say Jim Rice in my opinion. But he is one of those slow candidates that will climb every year and get to 75% in the last couple of years of eligibility. Raines is a fringe hall of fame candidate and it shows in his vote totals. Keep in mind it is the hall of fame, not the hall of very good. If we are going to put only the best of the best in the hall, Raines should not be in. But considering the track records of some recent inductees, then yes, Raines should be in. But don’t expect it anytime soon and definitely not in 2012. Raines will have to play the waiting game like many other fringe candidates.

Q: Any chance the Mets sign Prince Fielder? I know- I doubt the money is there, but still… I’d also like to think they can win the WS… Jon

MLB reports: All I have to say is…huh? You must really love your Mets, but you need to get a reality check on their chances. To answer your questions: firstly, no chance the Mets get Prince Fielder. For so many reasons. They cannot afford him. Given the Wilpon financial issues and the fact that the team is looking for a minority owner for a bailout, the team cannot take on Fielder’s salary. All the money in the budget has already been spent, so the team will go with Ike Davis again at first base. Davis has been a pleasant surprise and should continue to develop. Secondly, no way that Prince will want to go to the Mets. The team is not a contender and has too many black eyes from an image perspective. Prince would not want to get caught in the Mets mess right now. Plus, even with the outfield dimensions changing, I doubt Prince will want to play in that ballpark. As far as winning the World Series, pop in a DVD and watch the glory year of 1986. It should give you some comfort until the team returns back to glory, sometime in the next 5-10 years. I don’t mean to be hard on you Jon, but sometimes in baseball the fans need some tough love. I am being honest because I care. Don’t stop supporting your Mets: just be realistic so that you are not in for a letdown. Expect nothing and you will have your expectations exceeded!!!

Q: What’s your opinion on how my Kansas City Royals will fair this season? Michael

MLB reports: Better than many people think Michael. The Royals will not make the playoffs, but they will be a .500 squad. The hitting is really coming together and could get the boost of Wil Myers in mid-2012 if he gets the call. Things are on the rise in Kansas City. The Royals will be finishing in 3rd place, behind the Tigers and Indians. I could even see a 2nd place finish if everything falls into place. The team just has so much talent at every position, with the rotation being the only question mark for me. Perez, Butler, Hosmer, Giavotella, Escobar, Moustakas, Gordon, Cain and Francoeur. A bullpen stacked by Soria, Broxton, Crow, Collins, Mijares, Wood and Holland. On the field and in the pen, the Royals have the power to succeed. The rotation is a little more of a patchwork job. The team needs Danny Duffy to put it together and top pitching prospect John Lamb to return to form after a lost year to injury. I see 2013-2015 being the Royals time to shine. But with the team set to host the All-Star game this coming year, they should have an exciting product on the field. This will not be their year, but the first real step towards respectability. Enjoy this young team, if nothing else they will be fun to watch.

Final Question: What are the chances of any of these guys coming to Boston: Oswalt(P) Garza(P) Saunders(P) Spilborghs(RF) Quentin(RF)? Rick

MLB reports: Great question Rick. Fans are wondering what the Red Sox have up their sleeve. Unfortunately, I don’t think you will like the response on this one. Matt Garza comes at a big price of prospects that the Red Sox will not likely pay. Plus considering how long it took for Theo to make the jump to the Cubs and the negotiation of compensation and movement of front office staff, I don’t see the teams matching up well for a trade. Roy Oswalt will have many options considering that he will only get a 1-2 year deal. I don’t think he will be that excited to play in Boston. I see him more likely ending up back in the NL, or going to Texas or the Jays. Carlos Quentin is already in San Diego and will be the team’s new cleanup man. A native son, Quentin could stay long-term in San Diego. Whether the BoSox get Ryan Spilborghs or not is irrelevant for me. He just doesn’t excite me as a player with much potential. I could see Joe Saunders heading to Boston as a middle of the rotation starter. He would be an innings eater more than anything, not a real impact guy. It looks to me like the BoSox are going with what they have for the most part, with only minor tweaks coming. The team has the talent, so the bigger question is how the players respond to new manager Bobby Valentine. How Bobby V gets his players prepared and focused will decide if the BoSox can return to their glory days.

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Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)

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Tags: baseball, boston red sox, cardinals, carlos quentin, cooperstown, hall of fame, joe saunder, kansas city royals, matt garza, mlb, new york mets, phillies, prince fielder, rangers, rays, reds, roy oswalt, ryan spilborghs, tim raines, wilpon

MLB Book Review “All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It!” by Curtis Granderson

Dec 27

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Tuesday December 27, 2011

“All You Can Be”: BY Curtis Granderson

(Triumph Books: 2009)

MLB reports – Virginia Califano (Guest Writer): My adoration for Curtis Granderson began to develop ever since he suited up the pinstripes. Once he homered in Opening Day against the Red Sox in 2010, I was sold. And ever since then, he has given me more and more reasons to love him – especially after his MVP-worthy 2011 effort. What’s not to like about the guy? He’s a real professional – the epitome of what it means to be a Yankee. He was voted one of the friendliest players in baseball by his fellow ballplayers. He’s friendly, but maybe not if you’re an opposing pitcher. The guy can hit. Like, well. And he’s been known to flash the leather. And okay, maybe I have a little “thing” for him…I mean just look at him. He’s adorable. Gotta love that smile. And he’s so smart. I could listen to him talk or watch him play all day long…

I didn’t really think it was possible to admire Curtis Granderson any more than I did. But I came home yesterday to a package at my door from Brad, the young man behind The King Of Sports Blog of the FanVsFan Network. It was Curtis Granderson’s book, “All You Can Be: Learning & Growing Through Sports.” Brad thought I’d enjoy reviewing it. He was right.

Needless to say, my infatuation with Curtis Granderson has blossomed even further. “All You Can Be” gets two thumbs up from me.

“All You Can Be” is a children’s book written by Curtis Granderson that consists of Granderson’s lessons to the youth. He shares his personal experiences to give the children further reason to listen to his advice. Although I still consider myself a kid, I’m technically an adult, but I still enjoyed this book. I think “All You Can Be” is an inspirational book for people of all ages, even though it was targeted to the youth. The lessons Granderson shares and the values he wants to instill transcend the scope of time.

The book is creatively arranged so that each chapter is a different “inning” in the game of valuable lessons. Inning one is “Have Fun,” followed by, “Choose the Right Friends,” “Play with Passion,” “Be a Leader,” “Value Your Family,” “Be Yourself,” “Listen and Learn,” “Think Positive,” with the 9th inning as “Never Be Satisfied.” On each page front- and-back prior to the start of a new chapter, there is a selected piece of artwork from a talented student of a New York City Public School. These pieces represent the students’ interpretations of their corresponding chapters. A section entitled “Extra Innings: Dream Big!” consists of eight more honorable mention works of art. Placed within the text, Granderson includes personal photographs of his youth that complement the theme of the chapter.

Along with being beautifully arranged, Granderson’s “All You Can Be” is reader-friendly. The 48-page book is easy to read and moves very quickly. The font is big enough that my Grandma read it with ease (and she too enjoyed it). Granderson highlights key ideas throughout the text in red italic fonts. My favorite part was in the chapter “Be Yourself,” where Granderson recalls being self-conscious about his big “clown feet.” How could people have picked on Curtis Granderson in school? It didn’t bother him for long, though. It just created another lesson for him to share with us.

The ideas presented in this book are things kids should hear everywhere: follow the right people, never give up, be confident in yourself, etc. Then why is this book so special? I think it’s because Granderson shares his personal experiences with us. Kids might think, “Yeah, yeah, everyone says that stuff.” But when Curtis Granderson says it, and he proves that it worked for him, we’re all probably more apt to listen. Granderson stressed the fact that although we are all from different backgrounds and are raised in different environments, we all go through the same things in life. That’s why it is important to listen to people, because they’ve been through it, and can help you learn from their experiences. The values may be simple, but they are solid. And they are the values that got Granderson to where he is today – not only in the professional sense, but in the personal sense as well.

I love the fact that Curtis Granderson always wants to give back. I always thought he was nice, but after reading “All You Can Be,” I knew it was no façade. Curtis Granderson is a genuinely compassionate man with solid values, and his words in this book come from the heart. The stories he shares are ones I think we all can relate to. I know I wasn’t always as confident in myself as I am today, but as Granderson assured, through the love of those who care for me, I’ve grown to really believe in myself, just as he has. In a way, it’s somewhat comforting to know that even a guy as seemingly-perfect as Curtis Granderson has dealt with the same things as we have.

Even though this is a children’s book, I think everyone can learn from it. Granderson teaches the young generation what is important, and reminds us older people that adapting those simple ideas makes us grow to all we can think we be, and then keep on growing.

Curtis Granderson’s “All You Can Be” is a simple yet inspirational work.

And thank you, Curtis my sweet, for all the great work you do both on and off the diamond.

Thank you to Guest Writer Virginia Califano for preparing today’s book review on MLB reports. We highly encourage our readers to post at the bottom of the article any questions and/or comments that you may have for Virginia.

You can also find Virginia Califano on Twitter (@VirginiaC816). Feel free to also check out: http://pinstripepartisan.com or http://southernbelle.mlblogs.com

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.

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Tags: baseball, book review, hank greenberg, howard megdal, ian kinsler, jewish, kevin youkilis, mlb, new york mets, ryan braun, sandy koufax, shawn green, taking the field, the baseball talmud, wilpon's folly

Howard Megdal Interview: Author of The Baseball Talmud and Wilpon’s Folly

Dec 25

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Sunday December 25, 2011

MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: I had the opportunity this week to post on our site my review of the Howard Megdal classic baseball book, “The Baseball Talmud”. Today, MLB reports presents my interview with the baseball author himself, Howard Megdal. We discuss many aspects of Howard’s life- from the process of writing “The Baseball Talmud” to a look to his recently released book “Wilpon’s Folly”. I am looking to forward to getting my hands on his third book and learning Howard’s take on the Wilpon family and state of the Mets. If “Wilpon’s Folly” is anything like his previous works, Howard will have another winner on his hands.

Featured on MLB reports, I proudly present my interview with baseball author, Howard Megdal

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MLB reports: Welcome back to MLB reports Howard. Thank you for taking the time for us today to talk about your work. It was a pleasure to read the Baseball Talmud, your first book which I recently reviewed on our site. How long did it take you to research and write the book?

Howard Megdal: Overall, it took over a year. But I’d been thinking about these questions since middle childhood.

MLB reports: What would possess you to pick such an expansive topic for your first ever book?

Howard Megdal: Well, it was a perfect marriage of my obsessions with baseball and Jewish culture. And I thought it was a book that needed to be out there, but wasn’t.

MLB reports: Were you worried on being typecast as a “Jewish Baseball Writer” by writing the Baseball Talmud?

Howard Megdal: Not at all. I knew I had many more books in me on various topics.

MLB reports: Favorite Jewish baseball player growing up?

Howard Megdal: That’s hard, because there was a bit of a dearth as I grew up. By high school, definitely Shawn Green.

MLB reports: After the book was published, did you have any Jewish players approach you to discuss the book?

Howard Megdal: Well, I’d spoken to many of them during the publishing. But one of the most rewarding experiences I had was when the family of Lefty Weinert came to a book signing to discuss his career.

MLB reports: Can we expect a sequel or follow-up to The Baseball Talmud?

Howard Megdal: An excellent question- I am certainly open to updating it.

MLB reports: What did you expect The Baseball Talmud would be like when you originally conceived the book and how did it differ once you started to write it?

Howard Megdal: To be honest, this one stayed true to my vision of it from the very start.

MLB reports: With the release of Wilpon’s Folly- you are slowly becoming a Mets-only writer (after the release of Taking the Field). Fair assessment?

Howard Megdal: No, I don’t think so. For the same reasons that I didn’t worry about becoming a Jewish-only writer after Baseball Talmud, I am sure topics will take me in many different directions.

MLB reports: After Taking the Field, why write Wilpon’s Folly now? Did you consider other baseball topics for your third book?

Howard Megdal: Well, Bloomsbury approached me, because my reporting was addressing the topic in a broader way than most of the other coverage out there. And I agreed that people needed a broader context for what was happening, and what will happen.

MLB reports: Tell us about Wilpon’s Folly- what kind of book is it and what should readers expect when reading it?

Howard Megdal: It’s a story of huge sums being handled by flawed people, and the ramifications reaching far wider than anyone could have anticipated.

MLB reports: Have the Mets contacted you in any way to discuss Wilpon’s Folly?

Howard Megdal: Obviously, I spoke to them while writing the book. But no, all I’ve heard is through the New York Post.

MLB reports: What do you think of the Wilpon family?

Howard Megdal: I think they have suffered a public fall that no one should take any pleasure from, and I wonder how hard life is going to get for them.

MLB reports: What is the future of the Mets organization? Can the team win with the Wilpons at the helm?

Howard Megdal: No, they very likely cannot. The future is bright under different ownership, since it is extremely difficult for a New York baseball team not to be immensely profitable. But as long as ownership needs to divert all funds to simple financial survival, a long-term plan is practically impossible.

MLB reports: What is your schedule going to be looking like with the release of the new book?

Howard Megdal: Same as before: five columns a week for Capital New York, regular writing for the LoHud Mets Blog, MLB Trade Rumors and other outlets. Freelance pieces whenever inspiration strikes. Spending time with my wife and young daughter. Busy, but good.

MLB reports: What is the next project for Howard Megdal? Can we expect a baseball book per year from you?

Howard Megdal: An excellent question. Need to talk to my agent and settle on a next book.

MLB reports: If you were to look into a crystal ball, where will you be in 5 years from now Howard?

Howard Megdal: I hope I’ll be writing, enjoying time with my family, and living essentially as I do now. Wouldn’t want to change a thing.

MLB reports: Last question: final thoughts for your fans?

Howard Megdal: Thank you so much. I am gratified that people enjoy reading what I write.

***A special thank you to Howard Megdal for his time and effort as part of being interviewed for this article. You can follow Howard on Twitter and click here for Howard’s website.***

Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)

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.

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“The Baseball Talmud” by Howard Megdal: MLB Book Review

Dec 21

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Wednesday December 21, 2011

“THE BASEBALL TALMUD”: BY HOWARD MEGDAL

(Harper: 2009)

MLB reports – Jonathan Hacohen: Happy Hanukkah to one and all! With today being the first day of Hanukkah, I thought that it would be very appropriate to include some Jewish baseball on MLB reports. Luckily, I just completed a Jewish-centric baseball book and will be reviewing said book for you today. One of our favorite baseball authors (are there any other kind), Howard Megdal, prepared one of the preeminent Jewish baseball books on the market today. Howard’s first baseball book is titled: “The Baseball Talmud”.

You will recall Megdal’s work from our review of his 2nd effort, “Taking the Field: A Fan’s Quest to Run the Team He Loves.” While “Taking the Field” was centered on Howard’s efforts to campaign to run and fix the New York Mets, “The Baseball Talmud” comes from a very different perspective. “The Baseball Talmud” is essentially a baseball history piece. While some players’ names would be familiar to the readers (depending on your age and baseball knowledge), reading “The Baseball Talmud” will prove to be an educational experience for most baseball fans who pick up to read this book. The Talmud (in case you are not familiar with the term) is a collection of ancient rabbinic writings on Jewish law and tradition. Commentary and interpretations are the key components of the Talmud. Thus it is fitting that Megdal labelled his book “The Baseball Talmud”, as the book is an authoritative interpretation of Jewish baseball with commentary. It is first and foremost a baseball history book- but from a Jewish perspective.

I ended up reading Megdal’s books out of order, as “Taking the Field” was released after “The Baseball Talmud”. I was actually pleased about this result, as I came into “The Baseball Talmud” with a more intimate feeling and knowledge about Howard Megdal having completed “Taking the Field”. Even without reading “The Baseball Talmud”, I knew that Megdal had a strong feeling and passion for Judaism and baseball. It was evident from “Taking the Field”, as well as reading his articles and interviewing him in the past. Megdal is very proud of being Jewish. Thus his passion and knowledge of Judaism and baseball made him a perfect authority to write “The Baseball Talmud”. Knowing Megdal’s background, experience and personality, made me appreciate reading “The Baseball Talmud” that much more.

In my estimation, Megdal pulled off one of the biggest literary miracles in “The Baseball Talmud” (again appropriate given the Hanukkah season). While most baseball fans enjoy talking about the history of the game to great lengths, most would not at first glance be terribly excited to read a “baseball history” book. Baseball books can range in different categories, from autobiographies, instructional, statistical and historical. “The Baseball Talmud” fits mostly into the historical category, with a pinch of statistics spread throughout. Make no mistake, there are many modern players included. From Ryan Braun, Ian Kinsler, Kevin Youkilis, Steve Stone, etc., all the “big” name Jewish players that you know and love are discussed and analyzed. But this book is far from a tribute to Sandy Koufax and Hank Greenberg. While two of the biggest Jewish baseball players of all time, Megdal recaps most (if not all) Jewish players that have ever played the game. Names like Conrad Cardinal, Ed Wineapple, Happy Foreman, Erskine Mayer, Mose Solomon and Jake Pitler are all part of the book. Not only did I learn about how the many Jews who played the game of baseball, I learned a great deal about the history of the game of baseball as a whole. The success of this book though is in Megdal’s writing. “The Baseball Talmud” is very well written with a great deal of history and statistics. But it is done in a very fun and light manner, with excellent analysis. Howard Megdal is a storyteller. One of the best baseball ones that I have ever read. So if you are jumping into “The Baseball Talmud” expecting a straight history and statistics text, think again. This book is built upon the baseball stories and commentary within it.

The book is divided into a clean and easy-to-read format. After reviewing the top Jewish baseball players of all time, Megdal then proceeds to list his top Jewish players at each position. The lists are very specific, including all three outfield positions and breaking down right-handed and left-handed starting pitchers and relievers. My favorite section is the all-time Jewish baseball team assembled by Megdal at the end of the book and how his Jewish team would compare to other teams from different eras. On a personal note, I did take a great deal away from this book given my Jewish heritage and background. But regardless of my own religion and culture, I would recommend this book to any baseball fan. Young or old. Novice or expert. To really appreciate the game, it is important to know about the different leagues and teams throughout the years. Players had careers interrupted and shortened due to wars. Before the age of free agency, player movement was very limited and outstanding players were blocked and often left in the minors or on the bench rather than being given an opportunity elsewhere. Such key components of baseball are discussed in Megdal’s book. But again, having Megdal use his superior storytelling abilities in describing the players and their circumstances makes the book a winner. This was a fun read, that had me laughing out loud many times and thinking throughout.

For the baseball fan in your life that has everything, I strongly recommend running out to your local bookstore or jumping onto a site like amazon.com and purchasing “The Baseball Talmud”. I can think of many past Hanukkah seasons that I would have enjoyed receiving this book as a gift. It would also make a great stocking stuffer for any baseball fan of any denomination. While it may seem humorous to receive “The Baseball Talmud” on Christmas morning under a tree or in a stocking, it would be well appreciated by all devotees of the game. Baseball fans are always looking for more information and “something different”. Well folks, “The Baseball Talmud” is as about as unique as it gets in the baseball world. I enjoyed reading several of the chapters to my own 6-year old son. If we are going to teach our kids as parents about the game of baseball early, it is important to use the right materials! So Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and an overall Happy Holidays to everyone. I look forward to hearing from everyone after you had a chance to read “The Baseball Talmud” to debate the rankings of the all-time best Jewish players. Creating a forum for baseball discussion and analysis is what a good baseball book will do and makes “The Baseball Talmud” a clear winner.

***We highly encourage you to keep an eye out for our interview with Howard Megdal coming soon to MLB reports, as we discuss “The Baseball Talmud” and Howard’s newly released book “The Wilpon’s Folly: The Story of a Man, His Fortune and the New York Mets”, available now for purchase. We look forward to reading and reviewing “The Wilpon’s Folly” for you as well in the coming weeks. Also check out “Taking the Field” and learn about Howard’s experiences in campaigning to become the GM of the New York Mets. If you enjoy a good baseball read, you can never go wrong with a Howard Megdal book.***

Jonathan Hacohen is the Lead Baseball Columnist & Editor for MLB reports: You can follow Jonathan on Twitter (@JHacohen)

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.

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Posted in The Rest: Everything Baseball

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Ask the Reports: Saturday December 17th

Dec 17

Posted by Jonathan Hacohen

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Saturday December 17, 2011

Let’s get to your top questions of the week:

Which team is going to bite the bullet and sell the farm for Gio Gonzalez? There have been big demands from Beane thus far!! Wade

MLB reports: Great question Wade! I don’t think we have gone an Ask the Reports segment in the past few weeks (or any days for that matter lately) without discussing the status of Gio. Gonzalez has been linked to the Yankees for some time, but with the asking price being Montero and 2 other big time prospects, Brian Cashman has wisely declined. I could see the Nationals getting in on the Gio Derby if they are prepared to pay the price, or the Kansas City Royals perhaps. From a numbers standpoint, Gio would be best served heading to the National League. His stuff and abilities would translate well in the NL. Playing in the American League, specifically the East, would be asking for trouble. His home/road splits are undeniable. Gio would have a hard time succeeding in a hitter’s park. But at this point, smart money is on the Yankees and Red Sox still as the frontrunners. This is not the right move in my opinion, but the one that is most likely to happen. But don’t count out the Nationals…they are planning some big moves still preparing for the Harper/Strasburg show.

Do the Mets go after Theriot? Gio Gonzalez? Trade Murphy? What does your crystal ball say? Raul

MLB reports: The MLB reports crystal ball- you have been paying attention Raul. Well done. I don’t see the Mets going after Theriot or Gonzalez at this point. Daniel Murphy is likely to be moved, although I don’t see a big return. The Mets biggest needs right now are another bat in the outfield, catcher and starting pitcher. I can see them going after a Jason Varitek or Jesus Flores behind the plate. As far as an outfielder, the Mets will scrape by with a Rick Ankiel or J.D. Drew signing. Someone to hopefully hold down the fort at a reasonable salary. Joel Pineiro or Bartolo Colon could be potential targets. 2012 won’t be pretty…sorry my man. It will be a rebuild year for the Mets.

Jesus Montero next year…what will be his line? Not Shawn

MLB reports: The mystery of Montero. I am expecting a big year assuming he gets a full-time position. Which he should and likely will. The Yankees will go from one catching DH to another, as Montero will likely replace Jorge Posada at the DH spot. He will also see time at first base and behind the plate. Despite 5 seasons in the minors, Montero is still only 22-years of age, believe it or not. To be realistic, expect a .270 AVG with 15-18 home runs, 70 RBIs, 60 Runs, .320 OBP and .420 SLG. Most hitters do not adjust to the major league game overnight, especially 22-year-old catchers. Montero will put up good numbers, but he still needs time.

When is a team going to sign Danys Baez? Jason

MLB reports: When hell freezes over? At 34-years, Baez is coming off two very unspectacular season. 2010 brought a 5.48 ERA and 1.636 WHIP, while 2011 saw a 6.25 ERA and 1.556 WHIP. We are looking at a minor league deal with invite to spring training at best. Teams will look at Baez when all the other useable pitchers on the market are taken, or injuries start to appear at spring training. If I was Baez, I would go take a nice long vacation around the world and leave my cell phone at home. He should not expect a call until late January at best. The man has earned approximately $43 million already in his career. If he has one more season in him, it would be a miracle.

Yeah what’s up with da Yankees? Why aren’t they making any moves at all?? Drewskie

MLB reports: We were asking the same question last year, weren’t we Drewskie? There is a combination of reasons for the Yankees inactivity in recent years. A very high budget with little flexibility contracts-wise. Many good young players coming through the system and ready to take big league roster spots. Very few quality free agents with unrealistic contract expectations. 29 other MLB teams which have little talent that they wish to move, especially to New York (unless the price is high). Finally, while many players want to play in New York, some are shying away. With the media and fan glare well-known in Yankee stadium, it is not the environment for everyone. So at the end of the day, Brian Cashman is being smart in making sure not to make rash decisions and make moves just for the sake of it. Remember A.J. Burnett? Rafael Soriano? Sometimes the best moves that you make are the ones that you don’t end up making. The Yankees still have a high-octane offense and plenty of depth. One or two more starting pitchers and fears will be alleviated. Stay patient as the foundation is there. Some under-the-radar pieces will be added in the next month. Trust me. It just may not be the moves you expect. But anything that allows the core Yankees prospects to stay in the system is a good thing.

What do you make of the “sky-high” and “north” of $50 million reported bid for Yu know who? Clues that it may be Toronto? Thomas

MLB reports: Speculation has really gotten out of control on Yu Darvish. Many outlets are reporting that the Jays are the winners of the Darvish derby at an estimated $48 million. Despite this being the golden age of internet information, there is no confirmations at this point. Darvish’s Japanese squad has until Tuesday to accept the bid, which is still a mystery to the public at large. I could see the bid being as high as $70 million. While the Blue Jays are apparently strong contenders for Darvish, don’t count out the Nationals, Rangers, Yankees and others. This is a high-stakes poker game. Nobody is showing their cards or folding yet. I still see the Nationals winning the sweepstakes. So we won’t know until the very end. While spending $100 million+ between the post and contract is a risky move for an unknown MLB talent, in Darvish’s case it could make sense. Between Japanese media attention, stadium revenues and merchandising, the Darvish brand could bring a high revenue stream to a MLB team. It is not the route I would take, but as I crunch the numbers- I can see how the expenditure is justified. Darvish will be playing Major League Baseball come April. But as far as which city will be lucky enough to have him is still pure speculation at this point.

Last question: Why does life suck so much without baseball? Tim

MLB reports: Because baseball is life. All kidding aside though, is life that bad without baseball Tim? We have many outlets to get our fix. Pop in a DVD to watch some older games or even a baseball movie. Pick up a baseball book, there are countless good ones out there. We have daily MLB reports (wink) of free agent signings and trades. This baseball offseason has been one of the busiest ones in recent times. We had a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Astros were sold and relocated to the American League West. The Winter Meetings. Talk of an International Draft. Expanding the playoffs. Realignment. There is never a shortage of baseball topics and news to discuss. If you have access, there is winter ball. Point being that even without live MLB games, there is always something baseball to-do and to keep busy with. Twitter. Facebook. Websites like ours. You can always find a baseball outlet. Pitchers and Catchers report in 64 days. It is a quick offseason. Look at the season half-full instead of half-empty. The baseball season is never done. We just happen to be in the offseason stage- but it is still a key part of the overall baseball year. I feel your pain Tim though. Opening day will be here before you know it.