I want to take some time this month to give a quick preview and synopsis of each division race shaping up in baseball. We're going to begin with the division closest to home for me - the AL Central - and move through the AL before talking about the NL.
The AL Central - Up for grabs!
(Standings as of July 17th)
Cleveland - 49-43
Detroit - 49-45 (1 GB)
Chicago - 46-48 (4 GB)
Minnesota - 43-49 (5 GB)
Kansas City - 38-56 (12 GB)
This division yearns for a team to really take charge. Cleveland has been in charge for most of the season, but by the slimmest of margins, with Detroit having been on their tail all year long and occasional taking the lead from them. Minnesota began the year as the worst team in baseball but have steadily improved and, by virtue of no strong division leader, are arguably in contention. Chicago, like Minnesota, has not played exceptional ball this year, but is also in the mix. Kansas City has no hope or chance of accomplishing anything this season and really won't even be sellers at the trade deadline; their roster is mostly up-and-comers from their farm system, so given those facts, that's the last time I'll be mentioning the Royals in this post.
Everyone's been expecting Cleveland to fall off sometime this year. Since April, the word has been "the Indians can't keep this going all season." Well, I hate to break it to everyone who thought that, but it's July now and the Indians aren't going anywhere. They've got a solid rotation, a solid lineup and they're playing solid baseball. They aren't flashy, they aren't lighting up the stat sheets, but they're playing good baseball and sometimes - especially in a wide-open division like the AL Central - that's all it takes. If another team doesn't step up and take charge, Cleveland's steady play will win them the division and they'll end up losing in the first round of the playoffs to either New York or Boston. The only player the Indians are going to be missing for an extended period of time is Shin-Soo Choo and, so far, they've been faring fine without him. The biggest questions for the Indians going forward is: Can Justin Masterson keep pitching a 2.80 ERA and will they find a reliable fifth starter?
The Tigers are known, under Jim Leyland, for second-half drop-offs. Already this season, they're 0-2, dropping their first two second-half games to the White Sox. But this is a Tiger team with a sense of urgency - both Leyland and GM Dave Dombrowski are in the last years of their contracts and ownership has basically intoned that extensions come with results. A division title is the expectation and the feeling is that the team can do it. Detroit is in good shape health-wise - only Austin Jackson is missing from the lineup regularly right now due to injury and his strikeout problems haven't led to him being missed. The Tigers have the nastiest middle-of-the-order of the AL Central's batting lineups, with everyday starters Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and Jhonny Peralta all hitting over .300. Starters Brennan Bosch and Alex Avila are both hitting above .280. The big question for the Tigers moving forward is pitching - Verlander is their unquestioned ace, but after his 2.29 ERA, the next best starter's ERA is Brad Penny's 4.50. With Phil Coke's return to the bullpen and Charlie Furbush being sent back to Triple-A after getting shelled by the Royals before the All-Star Break, the Tigers also lack a fifth starter at the moment. They need better production from their pitchers not named Verlander or their meaty batting lineup won't matter when it's sitting at home in October. Because of that lineup and because of their definitive ace, I think the Tigers have the best chance to survive a playoff series against New York or Boston - but they have to get there, first. Expect them to go out looking for pitching help - starting or relief - before the trade deadline.
The Chicago White Sox are a team I do not understand. That's probably partly the idea; they have a pretty eccentric manager in Ozzie Guillen, but you get the feeling that his time is running short as this team continues to lack a strong identity. Like the Tigers, the White Sox lack any major injuries - they have a couple guys on the 15-day DL, but most recoveries are looking on-schedule. Their off-season deal for Adam Dunn is flaming out, as he's batting .159. The rest of their lineup is solid; only Konerko is above .300, with A.J. Pierzynski close at .290. The rest are in the .250 area - respectable and able to get the job done. It's not a lineup to be feared, but as Verlander found out on Friday, it's a lineup that can hang some runs on you either way. The White Sox are also in the best position pitching - they have an excess of starters, meaning they'll be able to bargain one away before the trade deadline. Right now, they have six viable starters, with Gavin Floyd's ERA of 4.37 the worst, other than the oft-injured (and currently on the 15-day DL) Jake Peavy's 5.27. But if you remove Peavy from the argument, they have a five-man rotation with the best ERA at 3.10 and the worst at 4.37 - like their batting lineup, nothing spectacular, but respectable and able to get the job done. The White Sox are a perfectly average team, but if they play good baseball, they have a shot at the division. However, like the Indians, I believe they're built for the sustained success of a division race and not the intensity of the playoffs. They'll have cards to play at the trade deadline, though, so if they make a considerable acquisition, that could change.
The Minnesota Twins are in this race because of the weakness of the division. This puts them in the most unfortunate place of all the teams involved, in my opinion. With a number of expiring contracts this season, the Twins would be in a perfect position to sell if they were completely out of it; but given the money they've spent on players, the obligation is to go for it and it appears they intend to do just that. This is a team, though, that can't stay healthy - Justin Morneau is out indefinitely, Jason Kubel and Denard Span have been out for almost a month, Kevin Slowey and Scott Baker are both pitching rehab sessions. Those are five starters on the DL and, in fact, all season long the Twins have had starters on the DL. A healthy Twins team might be able to contend. However, Gardenhire's Twins are unable to beat the Yankees in the playoffs - something that might be due in part to the lack of an ace or a lineup that plays inspired playoff baseball. This season has proven one disturbing fact about the Twins: their minor league cupboard is not promising. While the expectation is to win now, I think the Twins should shelve this season and set the foundation to win next season and the year after that. With Joe Mauer's absurd contract to work around, they'll have trouble re-signing all of their expensive free agents. With many teams looking to deal down the stretch, they could fetch top trade dollar for the likes of Joe Nathan, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel. Cuddyer, in particular, I think, would be a trade deadline prize for any team - and the irony is that he could still be a free agent after this season and re-sign with the Twins if he wanted. But the Twins need to realize that a win-now attitude sacrifices their future - in fact, it reminds me of the Vikings and their attempt to "win now" with Brett Favre, neglecting to stock up on young talent and pave the road ahead. The Twins might have a chance, yes. There's no doubt of that, especially in the AL Central. But they aren't a playoff team this year, even if they do take the division. They're trying to win in a season clearly against them, when they should be dealing to pave the way ahead for next year and the years after. This is a team that could make some trades to set up a prime lineup next year - but only if they sacrifice this year.
My prediction? I'm sticking with my preseason choice of the Tigers. I think their lineup wins them some games their pitching blows, I think Verlander gives them an edge over the other teams and I think the urgency for Leyland and Dombrowski plays into it. But Cleveland and Chicago are worrisome - especially if Chicago can make a significant trade to give their starting pitching a shutdown guy or their lineup some extra pop. Cleveland will win if no one else steps up as the race goes on. As for Minnesota, well, I think it's an exercise in futility. They have a shot, but it's a longshot. They should sell. No matter what, as it is most years, this is a division that will come down to the wire.
Around the MLB -
Florida 13, Chi. Cubs 3 - Big Z gets chased off the mount early in his return from the DL as the Marlins lead a rout of the Cubs.
NY Yankees 4, Toronto 1 - C.C. Sabathia is chasing Cy Young as he puts up another great start for his 14th victory.
LA Angels 4, Oakland 2 - Jered Weaver allowed two runs over seven to pick up his 12th win in the first game of a doubleheader.
Oakland 4, LA Angels 3 - Rich Harden pitched the A's into extra innings in the second game, which was won on Scott Sizemore's walk-off RBI single in the tenth.
Boston 9, Tampa Bay 5 - James Shields suffers another loss, this time being burned for six runs over six innings by the Red Sox.
Chi. White Sox 5, Detroit 0 - Former Tiger Edwin Jackson zipped a complete game shutout past his old team, while Juan Pierre kept busy on base with four hits in five at-bats.
NY Mets 11, Philadelphia 2 - Jon Niese wins again as the Mets demolish Cole Hamels, pinning seven runs on the usually stalwart Phillies' starter.
Baltimore 6, Cleveland 5 - After dueling to a 3-2 score in the eigth, the Baltimore bats lit up to a 6-2 lead, then had to stymie the Tribe's ninth-inning attempt to comeback.
Houston 6, Pittsburgh 4 - A 4-3 lead evaporated for Pittsburgh as Houston rallied for the game-winning runs in the eighth.
Minnesota 4, Kansas City 3 - Carl Pavano and Jeff Francis provided a 3-3 tie after both pitched seven, but it was Michael Cuddyer who cracked the winning RBI in the eighth.
St. Louis 4, Cincinnati 1 - Chris Carpenter shutdown the Reds, holding them to one run, as Albert Pujols provided the punch with a 3-run HR in the fifth.
Washington 5, Atlanta 2 - Tommy Hanson suffered a rough outing, allowing five runs over six innings, as the Nats beat up on the Braves to back John Lannan's start and Wilson Ramos' 3 RBIs.
Arizona 3, LA Dodgers 2 - Ian Kennedy went seven innings for his 10th win, while Hiroki Kuroda suffered his 11th loss despite 7 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA on the season.
Milwaukee 8, Colorado 7 - K-Rod gets his first win with his new team thanks to Rickie Weeks' HR in the top of the ninth that ultimately put the Brewers on top for good.
San Diego 11, San Francisco 3 - Barry Zito was demolished for eight runs over four innings as the Padres rolled over the Giants.
Texas 5, Seattle 1 - The Mariners' scoreless streak ended, but lose their eighth straight as C.J. Wilson holds them to one run for his tenth win.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday, July 16th - Back in full swing.
Last night saw the return of the rest of the teams to what's typically called (but not numerically) the second half of the baseball season. The races get in full swing now, as they say. The MLB schedulers purposely stack the latter half of the season with division games, making those division races play out in August and September. That's why a team like blow an 8-game lead in September - most of their games are in-division and most of the games a team chasing them is playing are in-division.
In all sports, division games are the crux of your season. Truth be told, if you're the Tigers or Twins, who cares if you lose to the Yankees during the season (as long as you can beat them in the playoffs) provided you can beat each other. A loss to the Yankees doesn't help you, but a loss to a division rival costs you and gives them ground. It's like those standardized tests that don't penalize you for blank answers - that's an out-of-division game. You don't answer, it's blank, you don't get it right, but you don't lose anything either other than the right answer. Those in-division games, losing those, that's a wrong answer. Not only do you miss the right answer (win), you end up with a mark against you, too.
This strategy helps make baseball vastly more entertaining in the second half than the first - not only do you get these high-tension in-division series that may decide your team's fate, or spark an unlikely comeback surge, or trigger a collapse, but it helps solidify those rivalries. You remember losing a final, division-clinching series to the other team. You remember a game like the extra playoff the Twins and Tigers played in 2009 (that was a great game, though, I bear the Twins no ill will for that one). Not only that, but the trade deadline is set for the end of July, giving teams time after the All-Star break to re-evaluate their teams and make moves - leading to a frenzy of trades near the end of July that helps set the stage.
The Brewers already made the first move of the trade season, before the All-Star Break, picking up relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez from the Mets, thereby making it likely that the Mets will be sellers and trading off other pieces as the end of July nears. There'll be more to come.
Around the MLB -
Chi. Cubs 2, Florida 1 - Ryan Dempster's eight shutout innings gave the Cubs all the opportunity they needed.
Chi. White Sox 8, Detroit 2 - Verlander gets pelted by the White Sox, suffering his first major defeat (in terms of runs scored) since a no-decision in May.
Cleveland 6, Baltimore 5 - Tied at 5 in the sixth, Lonnie Chisenhall put the Indians up on an RBI single and let the bullpen handle the rest.
Toronto 7, NY Yankees 1 - Brandon Morrow and the Jays bullpen held the Yankees bats in check as the Jays hang another rout on their AL East rivals.
Tampa Bay 9, Boston 6 - Ben Zobrist's grand slam in the second was the highlight of an offense-first game for the Rays.
Philadelphia 7, NY Mets 2 - Vance Worley continues to be dominant for the Phillies, throwing almost six innings of one-run ball. The lesser-known Phillies' pitcher has an ERA of 2.15.
Cincinnati 6, St. Louis 5 - After coming back to score five in the seventh and eighth, the Cards get dropped by Brandon Phillips' walk-off HR.
Atlanta 11, Washington 1 - The Atlanta Braves earn their 10,000th franchise win behind another stellar start by Tim Hudson.
Pittsburgh 4, Houston 0 - Jeff Karstens picked up his fifth straight win on a complete-game shutout that only took 83 pitches.
Kansas City 2, Minnesota 1 - After a stellar start by Nick Blackburn, who put up seven shutout innings, it was Eric Hosmer's ninth-inning HR off Matt Capps that decided the game.
Colorado 4, Milwaukee 0 - Juan Nicasio went for seven shutout innings as the Rockies' bats pelted the Brewers for runs every-other inning from the onset.
LA Dodgers 6, Arizona 4 - Clayton Kershaw notches his tenth win after six scoreless innings, with four unearned runs in his seventh.
Oakland 5, LA Angels 3 - Dan Haren took the loss for the Angels as the A's bats came alive for 3 runs in the third.
San Francisco 6, San Diego 1 - Tim Lincecum pitched a one-run game as Andre Torres took center stage with three hits and some outfield theatrics.
Texas 4, Seattle 0 - Colby Lewis went 26 outs in this game, almost picking up his first career complete game shutout. Nonetheless, I'm sure he's happy with his 8.2-inning shutout. Seattle hasn't scored in 26 innings.
In all sports, division games are the crux of your season. Truth be told, if you're the Tigers or Twins, who cares if you lose to the Yankees during the season (as long as you can beat them in the playoffs) provided you can beat each other. A loss to the Yankees doesn't help you, but a loss to a division rival costs you and gives them ground. It's like those standardized tests that don't penalize you for blank answers - that's an out-of-division game. You don't answer, it's blank, you don't get it right, but you don't lose anything either other than the right answer. Those in-division games, losing those, that's a wrong answer. Not only do you miss the right answer (win), you end up with a mark against you, too.
This strategy helps make baseball vastly more entertaining in the second half than the first - not only do you get these high-tension in-division series that may decide your team's fate, or spark an unlikely comeback surge, or trigger a collapse, but it helps solidify those rivalries. You remember losing a final, division-clinching series to the other team. You remember a game like the extra playoff the Twins and Tigers played in 2009 (that was a great game, though, I bear the Twins no ill will for that one). Not only that, but the trade deadline is set for the end of July, giving teams time after the All-Star break to re-evaluate their teams and make moves - leading to a frenzy of trades near the end of July that helps set the stage.
The Brewers already made the first move of the trade season, before the All-Star Break, picking up relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez from the Mets, thereby making it likely that the Mets will be sellers and trading off other pieces as the end of July nears. There'll be more to come.
Around the MLB -
Chi. Cubs 2, Florida 1 - Ryan Dempster's eight shutout innings gave the Cubs all the opportunity they needed.
Chi. White Sox 8, Detroit 2 - Verlander gets pelted by the White Sox, suffering his first major defeat (in terms of runs scored) since a no-decision in May.
Cleveland 6, Baltimore 5 - Tied at 5 in the sixth, Lonnie Chisenhall put the Indians up on an RBI single and let the bullpen handle the rest.
Toronto 7, NY Yankees 1 - Brandon Morrow and the Jays bullpen held the Yankees bats in check as the Jays hang another rout on their AL East rivals.
Tampa Bay 9, Boston 6 - Ben Zobrist's grand slam in the second was the highlight of an offense-first game for the Rays.
Philadelphia 7, NY Mets 2 - Vance Worley continues to be dominant for the Phillies, throwing almost six innings of one-run ball. The lesser-known Phillies' pitcher has an ERA of 2.15.
Cincinnati 6, St. Louis 5 - After coming back to score five in the seventh and eighth, the Cards get dropped by Brandon Phillips' walk-off HR.
Atlanta 11, Washington 1 - The Atlanta Braves earn their 10,000th franchise win behind another stellar start by Tim Hudson.
Pittsburgh 4, Houston 0 - Jeff Karstens picked up his fifth straight win on a complete-game shutout that only took 83 pitches.
Kansas City 2, Minnesota 1 - After a stellar start by Nick Blackburn, who put up seven shutout innings, it was Eric Hosmer's ninth-inning HR off Matt Capps that decided the game.
Colorado 4, Milwaukee 0 - Juan Nicasio went for seven shutout innings as the Rockies' bats pelted the Brewers for runs every-other inning from the onset.
LA Dodgers 6, Arizona 4 - Clayton Kershaw notches his tenth win after six scoreless innings, with four unearned runs in his seventh.
Oakland 5, LA Angels 3 - Dan Haren took the loss for the Angels as the A's bats came alive for 3 runs in the third.
San Francisco 6, San Diego 1 - Tim Lincecum pitched a one-run game as Andre Torres took center stage with three hits and some outfield theatrics.
Texas 4, Seattle 0 - Colby Lewis went 26 outs in this game, almost picking up his first career complete game shutout. Nonetheless, I'm sure he's happy with his 8.2-inning shutout. Seattle hasn't scored in 26 innings.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Friday, July 15th - Roger Clemens appears to be in the clear.
And no, I don't mean the Barry Bonds kind of clear, either, although maybe once upon a time.
Clemens, one of the best-known pitchers of the modern game since Nolan Ryan, was on trial for perjury, in regards to his own possible steroid use, which as most of us know, has been a big issue in baseball over the last fifteen years or so.
On one hand, I think steroid use damaged baseball - although it did create a lively era of a hitter's game. But as revelation after revelation came out, it became hard to accept those new records, those great feats, as completely valid and now, as a result, when a guy like Jose Bautista starts slamming home run after home run suddenly, for the first time in an otherwise unspectacular career, every baseball pundit in America has that little question pop up in his brain - is he using? And every baseball pundit's heart is hoping not, because we want to be past that.
On the other hand, I don't care about Roger Clemens. If he used, he used. I don't know why the federal government gets involved in these things. I get that he perjured himself if he used; he lied about it to federal investigators. I just don't understand why federal investigators were called in to begin with. Is steroid use in baseball a federal issue? I don't think so, personally. Don't leagues like the MLB have commissioners in place to handle and deal with these things?
Both Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have been let off by the federal government. That's fine. It just backs up my opinion that the federal government has no place in this. It seems like their lawyers don't even know how to prosecute these cases - the Bonds case looked like a slam dunk and this Clemens case was thrown out because they used evidence they were told was inadmissible. Let's get this stuff out of the courts and let baseball handle its own issues. Yes, there was a steroid era. Yes, it's possible more players than we know used and there are tainted records going unblemished. But it happened. It's over. It's time to move on.
In other news -
The NFL ownership and players keep clearing hurdles as the deadline looms to get a deal in place to save the preseason (basically, July 21st or so). It's too early to say for certain, but with a rookie wage scale in place now and based on the success of other talks this week, I think we'll have a deal next week. Better start beefing up on my fantasy football again.
Around the MLB -
Cleveland 8, Baltimore 4 - Two first-inning HRs for Cleveland put them up 3-0 and, behind Justin Masterson's start, they never lost the lead.
Toronto 16, NY Yankees 7 - Eight runs in the first inning would be all the Jays needed, but they kept popping long after that to rout the Yankees.
Florida 6, Chi. Cubs 3 - Down 2-0, the Marlins faced Cubs closer Carlos Marmol and dinged him for 5 runs in the ninth and a blown save to steal a win.
Minnesota 8, Kansas City 4 - Two four-run innings lift the Twins after starter Francisco Liriano let them fall behind 3-0 after four.
Colorado 12, Milwaukee 3 - Ubaldo Jimenez put together another nice start, allowing two over six, as the Rockies pelted the Brewers pitching staff all game long, going scoreless only in the third and fifth.
San Francisco 6, San Diego 2 - Aubrey Huff tied the game, 1-1, in the ninth inning, setting the stage for them to rally for five runs in the top of the twelfth to take victory.
Texas 5, Seattle 0 - Derek Holland delivered his second consecutive shutout, backed by three Rangers' home runs.
Clemens, one of the best-known pitchers of the modern game since Nolan Ryan, was on trial for perjury, in regards to his own possible steroid use, which as most of us know, has been a big issue in baseball over the last fifteen years or so.
On one hand, I think steroid use damaged baseball - although it did create a lively era of a hitter's game. But as revelation after revelation came out, it became hard to accept those new records, those great feats, as completely valid and now, as a result, when a guy like Jose Bautista starts slamming home run after home run suddenly, for the first time in an otherwise unspectacular career, every baseball pundit in America has that little question pop up in his brain - is he using? And every baseball pundit's heart is hoping not, because we want to be past that.
On the other hand, I don't care about Roger Clemens. If he used, he used. I don't know why the federal government gets involved in these things. I get that he perjured himself if he used; he lied about it to federal investigators. I just don't understand why federal investigators were called in to begin with. Is steroid use in baseball a federal issue? I don't think so, personally. Don't leagues like the MLB have commissioners in place to handle and deal with these things?
Both Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have been let off by the federal government. That's fine. It just backs up my opinion that the federal government has no place in this. It seems like their lawyers don't even know how to prosecute these cases - the Bonds case looked like a slam dunk and this Clemens case was thrown out because they used evidence they were told was inadmissible. Let's get this stuff out of the courts and let baseball handle its own issues. Yes, there was a steroid era. Yes, it's possible more players than we know used and there are tainted records going unblemished. But it happened. It's over. It's time to move on.
In other news -
The NFL ownership and players keep clearing hurdles as the deadline looms to get a deal in place to save the preseason (basically, July 21st or so). It's too early to say for certain, but with a rookie wage scale in place now and based on the success of other talks this week, I think we'll have a deal next week. Better start beefing up on my fantasy football again.
Around the MLB -
Cleveland 8, Baltimore 4 - Two first-inning HRs for Cleveland put them up 3-0 and, behind Justin Masterson's start, they never lost the lead.
Toronto 16, NY Yankees 7 - Eight runs in the first inning would be all the Jays needed, but they kept popping long after that to rout the Yankees.
Florida 6, Chi. Cubs 3 - Down 2-0, the Marlins faced Cubs closer Carlos Marmol and dinged him for 5 runs in the ninth and a blown save to steal a win.
Minnesota 8, Kansas City 4 - Two four-run innings lift the Twins after starter Francisco Liriano let them fall behind 3-0 after four.
Colorado 12, Milwaukee 3 - Ubaldo Jimenez put together another nice start, allowing two over six, as the Rockies pelted the Brewers pitching staff all game long, going scoreless only in the third and fifth.
San Francisco 6, San Diego 2 - Aubrey Huff tied the game, 1-1, in the ninth inning, setting the stage for them to rally for five runs in the top of the twelfth to take victory.
Texas 5, Seattle 0 - Derek Holland delivered his second consecutive shutout, backed by three Rangers' home runs.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thursday, July 14th - Much Ado about Nothing.
Yesterday was one of the most boring days in sports. In fact, most years, the day before and after the MLB All-Star Game are the only days of the entire calendar year that an American pro sports league is not playing some games. The NHL and NBA All-Star Breaks don't overlap, so one is always playing during the other's. No, it is only in the heat of summer we get a couple off days.
But don't fret - baseball returns tonight and we'll have more regularly-scheduled Daily Sports Update programming again tomorrow as games are played and division races continue. Also to be featured moving forward will be the likely drama of the MLB trade deadline, as teams decide if they're buying or selling as everyone pushes towards the finish. Someone from the AL Central has to make a statement, or I think whoever wins that division is just going to go quietly into the night when they make the playoffs - but I maintain that I think the Tigers have the best chance of winning playoff games out of the division, if only because of Justin Verlander.
A couple NFL notes -
As rumors come out about the NFL labor talks, I feel more and more confident that we'll have a season. This pleases me and it should please you - I know football better than baseball and feel I can offer more insights on a football season than a baseball season. But hey, I'm learning. And I'm a pretty avid fantasy football fan (expect a weekly fantasy football column if there is a season).
James Harrison went off on the commissioner again, this time in an interview for Men's Journal. Now, I don't mind nor do I disagree with many of Harrison's antipathies towards Roger Goodell. I do think Harrison was unfairly targeted and used as Exhibit A in Goodell's case for player safety last year. And I think Goodell is owned by the owners - he clearly advocates for them and seems to lack understanding or empathy or something for the player side, more often than not, unlike his predecessor, who was more even-handed. So I definitely think Harrison has a valid beef with Goodell. But his tirade was just that - a tirade. He used language that I don't think anyone wants to use as a professional and, unfortunately, his choice of words (and imagery; see the article) make him look and seem more like a thug mouthing off than someone offering a valid criticism. He speaks highly of his teammate Troy Polamalu - he should take after the man's example, then, and learn to speak his mind in a more respectful manner.
Harrison's tirade does make me think one thing though, something that I thought immediately when the lockout started - how will players react to Goodell after? Goodell's tenure as commissioner so far has three major points to it: 1) heavier penalties on defenders, often including fines; 2) disciplinary meetings for code of conduct violations that often result in suspensions; 3) a lockout in which he is clearly sided with the ownership. None of these make for a good working relationship with the player base. Harrison's choice of words might have been poor, but I imagine his resentment towards Goodell resonates through much of the league. I am interested to see how that plays out once football returns and things return to a semblance of normalcy.
But don't fret - baseball returns tonight and we'll have more regularly-scheduled Daily Sports Update programming again tomorrow as games are played and division races continue. Also to be featured moving forward will be the likely drama of the MLB trade deadline, as teams decide if they're buying or selling as everyone pushes towards the finish. Someone from the AL Central has to make a statement, or I think whoever wins that division is just going to go quietly into the night when they make the playoffs - but I maintain that I think the Tigers have the best chance of winning playoff games out of the division, if only because of Justin Verlander.
A couple NFL notes -
As rumors come out about the NFL labor talks, I feel more and more confident that we'll have a season. This pleases me and it should please you - I know football better than baseball and feel I can offer more insights on a football season than a baseball season. But hey, I'm learning. And I'm a pretty avid fantasy football fan (expect a weekly fantasy football column if there is a season).
James Harrison went off on the commissioner again, this time in an interview for Men's Journal. Now, I don't mind nor do I disagree with many of Harrison's antipathies towards Roger Goodell. I do think Harrison was unfairly targeted and used as Exhibit A in Goodell's case for player safety last year. And I think Goodell is owned by the owners - he clearly advocates for them and seems to lack understanding or empathy or something for the player side, more often than not, unlike his predecessor, who was more even-handed. So I definitely think Harrison has a valid beef with Goodell. But his tirade was just that - a tirade. He used language that I don't think anyone wants to use as a professional and, unfortunately, his choice of words (and imagery; see the article) make him look and seem more like a thug mouthing off than someone offering a valid criticism. He speaks highly of his teammate Troy Polamalu - he should take after the man's example, then, and learn to speak his mind in a more respectful manner.
Harrison's tirade does make me think one thing though, something that I thought immediately when the lockout started - how will players react to Goodell after? Goodell's tenure as commissioner so far has three major points to it: 1) heavier penalties on defenders, often including fines; 2) disciplinary meetings for code of conduct violations that often result in suspensions; 3) a lockout in which he is clearly sided with the ownership. None of these make for a good working relationship with the player base. Harrison's choice of words might have been poor, but I imagine his resentment towards Goodell resonates through much of the league. I am interested to see how that plays out once football returns and things return to a semblance of normalcy.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday, July 13th - The All-Star Game and the futility therein.
The All-Star Game - not just in MLB, but in all American sports leagues - is an exercise in futility. The selection process remains fascinating and riveting, especially as a hot talking point leading up to it and then after, when everyone takes time to question the decisions (Jeter over Peralta?). But that's really where most of the fun ends.
Let's not kid ourselves - even though the MLB has a semblance of purpose to the All-Star Game (winner gets home-field advantage in the World Series), they don't serve a purpose. Look at the All-Star rosters this year - almost a dozen guys sat out, either due to pitching on Sunday, injury, or some other reason. The best pitchers selected for the game missed it because they pitched for their teams this weekend. Doesn't it defeat the entire purpose when you select men to represent their teams and they don't show up? Or is this simply a symptom of the problem?
All-Star Games are mostly irrelevant. No one cares who wins or loses. No one suffers from losing and I imagine the only perk to winning is a bonus check. If anything, you're hoping a big-name star just doesn't get hurt playing a meaningless game (Miguel Cabrera). For that reason, many guys will find a way out of it if they can - minor injury, for example. It doesn't help that most players only see an inning of pitching (at most) or one or two at-bats for a position player. It's a showcase, like a slideshow that moves a little too fast. There isn't a sense of rivalry between the AL and NL, like one team feels a hit on their pride if they lose. I have no doubt the men are proud to be selected, and the younger guys probably enjoy the thrill of playing, but at the end of the day, for some of the veteran All-Stars, it's just a day off their teammates get that they don't.
The NHL has a similar problem with their All-Star Game, which also takes place mid-season. It's also a notorious fact that players do their best to worm out of that game, too. In fact, as recently as two or three years ago, some Red Wings players were suspended by the league for having flimsy excuses for missing the game. That alone shows the lengths the NHL will go to in order to try and preserve the game. But the bigger problem for them is that the fanbase really doesn't seem to care. I'm a big hockey fan; I almost entirely ignore the NHL All-Star Game. As a result, the NHL changed the format of it last season - they allowed the selection process to go on normally, but then had the fans chose two captains from among the selections. Those captains then picked their squads from the other All-Stars - doing away entirely with the Eastern vs. Western Conference concept. Now, I give the NHL points for novelty here. But I also can't help but scratch my head - is this supposed to make me care more? It doesn't. It confuses me. If I want to witness an NHL fantasy draft, I'll play fantasy hockey. But again, this just shows the desperation on the part of the league to keep the game churning.
The NFL does one thing right - it makes its All-Star Game (The Pro Bowl) into a player holiday. It used to come after this Super Bowl, but that only diminished its relevance. It ended up being a powderpuff game played in pads, defense optional. But it was played in Hawaii, so players showed up. And it happened at the end of the season (even if the voting started in Week 3 of the season), making it a sort of exclamation point on the season. Pro Bowl voting in the NFL continues through the midpoint of the season, giving the voters a larger body of work to use than MLB/NHL/NBA All-Star voters get. Recently, the NFL moved the Pro Bowl up to the week prior the Super Bowl - the off-week of football between Conference Championships and Super Bowl - and has it at the site of the Super Bowl. Pro Bowl players on the teams in the Super Bowl are given a pass and replaced (but they retain their Pro Bowl moniker for the year). I think this is brilliant. The Pro Bowl becomes more relevant because it's part of the Super Bowl festivites; it opens up the Super Bowl festivities, in fact, sort of becoming a kick-off for the week of hype prior to the game. No one is risking injury with games yet to be played (a major reason the MLB and NHL have so much attrition from their game). Fans are more likely to watch because the season isn't over yet - the Super Bowl really has a note of finality to it, which made the Pro Bowl feel more irrelevant happening afterwards. Do players still skip out? Yeah. Is it still more-or-less a powderpuff game? Yeah. But the handling of it makes more sense.
Some people think All-Star Games should be done away with completely. They've run their course. Just select players, give them the All-Star moniker for the year, and skip the rest. I can see the logic in that. Given the general ambivalence towards these games from fans and many players alike, I can definitely see the logic there. But at the same time, these games are important. They're tradition and they're meant to happen, to celebrate the best of the best. But when the best stop showing up, there's a problem. I don't know what's changed in the MLB since the '60s or '70s or '80s and now, to make it feel less relevant. Maybe it always did. But if it is a problem - and I think it is - it's the league's problem and maybe, just maybe, they should be talking to guys like Derek Jeter or Justin Verlander or Shane Victorino about it and asking them what can be done to make it a better experience for everyone involved.
The MLB All-Star Game, 2011 -
National League 5, American League 1
The NL took the game for the second year in a row. Prince Fielder is getting a lot of press for his 3-run HR that came in the 4th inning (first runs scored in the game) off of C.J. Wilson. I like that, since the Arizona crowd was booing him during the Derby and earlier in the game (since he made the Derby squad instead of Diamondback Justin Upton) and because he's Cecil's boy and I'll always have fond memories of Cecil Fielder running the bases in Tiger Stadium, when I was growing up. Adrian Gonzalez provided the only offense the AL got all game long with a solo HR off of Cliff Lee, also in the fourth.
Regular baseball games return tomorrow.
Let's not kid ourselves - even though the MLB has a semblance of purpose to the All-Star Game (winner gets home-field advantage in the World Series), they don't serve a purpose. Look at the All-Star rosters this year - almost a dozen guys sat out, either due to pitching on Sunday, injury, or some other reason. The best pitchers selected for the game missed it because they pitched for their teams this weekend. Doesn't it defeat the entire purpose when you select men to represent their teams and they don't show up? Or is this simply a symptom of the problem?
All-Star Games are mostly irrelevant. No one cares who wins or loses. No one suffers from losing and I imagine the only perk to winning is a bonus check. If anything, you're hoping a big-name star just doesn't get hurt playing a meaningless game (Miguel Cabrera). For that reason, many guys will find a way out of it if they can - minor injury, for example. It doesn't help that most players only see an inning of pitching (at most) or one or two at-bats for a position player. It's a showcase, like a slideshow that moves a little too fast. There isn't a sense of rivalry between the AL and NL, like one team feels a hit on their pride if they lose. I have no doubt the men are proud to be selected, and the younger guys probably enjoy the thrill of playing, but at the end of the day, for some of the veteran All-Stars, it's just a day off their teammates get that they don't.
The NHL has a similar problem with their All-Star Game, which also takes place mid-season. It's also a notorious fact that players do their best to worm out of that game, too. In fact, as recently as two or three years ago, some Red Wings players were suspended by the league for having flimsy excuses for missing the game. That alone shows the lengths the NHL will go to in order to try and preserve the game. But the bigger problem for them is that the fanbase really doesn't seem to care. I'm a big hockey fan; I almost entirely ignore the NHL All-Star Game. As a result, the NHL changed the format of it last season - they allowed the selection process to go on normally, but then had the fans chose two captains from among the selections. Those captains then picked their squads from the other All-Stars - doing away entirely with the Eastern vs. Western Conference concept. Now, I give the NHL points for novelty here. But I also can't help but scratch my head - is this supposed to make me care more? It doesn't. It confuses me. If I want to witness an NHL fantasy draft, I'll play fantasy hockey. But again, this just shows the desperation on the part of the league to keep the game churning.
The NFL does one thing right - it makes its All-Star Game (The Pro Bowl) into a player holiday. It used to come after this Super Bowl, but that only diminished its relevance. It ended up being a powderpuff game played in pads, defense optional. But it was played in Hawaii, so players showed up. And it happened at the end of the season (even if the voting started in Week 3 of the season), making it a sort of exclamation point on the season. Pro Bowl voting in the NFL continues through the midpoint of the season, giving the voters a larger body of work to use than MLB/NHL/NBA All-Star voters get. Recently, the NFL moved the Pro Bowl up to the week prior the Super Bowl - the off-week of football between Conference Championships and Super Bowl - and has it at the site of the Super Bowl. Pro Bowl players on the teams in the Super Bowl are given a pass and replaced (but they retain their Pro Bowl moniker for the year). I think this is brilliant. The Pro Bowl becomes more relevant because it's part of the Super Bowl festivites; it opens up the Super Bowl festivities, in fact, sort of becoming a kick-off for the week of hype prior to the game. No one is risking injury with games yet to be played (a major reason the MLB and NHL have so much attrition from their game). Fans are more likely to watch because the season isn't over yet - the Super Bowl really has a note of finality to it, which made the Pro Bowl feel more irrelevant happening afterwards. Do players still skip out? Yeah. Is it still more-or-less a powderpuff game? Yeah. But the handling of it makes more sense.
Some people think All-Star Games should be done away with completely. They've run their course. Just select players, give them the All-Star moniker for the year, and skip the rest. I can see the logic in that. Given the general ambivalence towards these games from fans and many players alike, I can definitely see the logic there. But at the same time, these games are important. They're tradition and they're meant to happen, to celebrate the best of the best. But when the best stop showing up, there's a problem. I don't know what's changed in the MLB since the '60s or '70s or '80s and now, to make it feel less relevant. Maybe it always did. But if it is a problem - and I think it is - it's the league's problem and maybe, just maybe, they should be talking to guys like Derek Jeter or Justin Verlander or Shane Victorino about it and asking them what can be done to make it a better experience for everyone involved.
The MLB All-Star Game, 2011 -
National League 5, American League 1
The NL took the game for the second year in a row. Prince Fielder is getting a lot of press for his 3-run HR that came in the 4th inning (first runs scored in the game) off of C.J. Wilson. I like that, since the Arizona crowd was booing him during the Derby and earlier in the game (since he made the Derby squad instead of Diamondback Justin Upton) and because he's Cecil's boy and I'll always have fond memories of Cecil Fielder running the bases in Tiger Stadium, when I was growing up. Adrian Gonzalez provided the only offense the AL got all game long with a solo HR off of Cliff Lee, also in the fourth.
Regular baseball games return tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday, July 12th - The Home Run Derby is a family affair this year.
I'm not a big Home Run Derby fan. Watching guys blast their favorite kind of pitch over and over into the stands just seems... well, it's repetitive and not particularly entertaining or climactic to me. I enjoy the home run in a game setting, because it's a battle of wits and wills - the pitcher is trying to out-think the batter. There's a battle going on. That's entertaining; that's competition. But, despite that, I have to say that I'm at least a little touched by this year's Derby.
The winner was the unlikely Robinson Cano - someone I don't think I saw anyone pick to win the Derby and certainly not someone I would have picked. He hit a total of 32 home runs last night. But that's not what really stood out to me, or made me smile in a way past Derbies haven't. Cano had his father, Jose, throw pitches to him.
I smile because, in some ways, that's precisely what baseball is all about. Fathers tossing the ball around with their sons, teaching them how to catch, how to hit, etc. More than any other sport, baseball is accessible to all - you go buy a glove, buy a ball and you can play ball. Every son throws the ball with a parent at some point in his youth. That's part of what makes baseball the American Pastime, as they call it, even if the NFL has overtaken it in popularity.
Jose Cano pitched in one Major League game. He won it. It was a complete game win. He never pitched in the majors again, until his son asked him to throw him fastballs for the Home Run Derby last night. Father and son combined last night to make baseball magical for a little while; to live out a dream. Father and son, father throwing balls to his son, the son smashing them. Batting practice, just like in the ol' backyard. Every son has been there. Most fathers. But only one has gotten the chance to do it on such a stage, to win a Home Run Derby in such a fashion.
Congratulations to Robinson Cano and his father, Jose, on winning the Derby. But more than that, congratulations on living a dream last night, on making a memory that resonates across every baseball fan in America, but I know sits most prized in your hearts. Well done, sirs.
NBA Europe?
Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets is planning to take himself to Turkey in the fall to play European basketball if the lockout isn't settled, and has speculated publicly that other stars may do the same.
I'm not really sure about that. The European leagues have always seemed like a last resort for players - guys like Allen Iverson who won't accept a sixth-man role in the NBA, for example. They don't have the pockets the NBA does, and while making something in Europe is better than making nothing during a lockout, I feel like it could damage the players if they're taking lower pay in Europe during the labor dispute here.
This is another way the NBA lockout differs from the NFL: the NBA players can go play in Europe, although not for the money they make here. I'm curious to see if anyone else follows Deron Williams over, but I think that'll become more clear as the lockout stretches on. It's still in its infant stages right now, and if it hits September without any significant work getting done, I think we'll see a shift in attitudes and some stars might have to mull the decision Williams has already made.
The winner was the unlikely Robinson Cano - someone I don't think I saw anyone pick to win the Derby and certainly not someone I would have picked. He hit a total of 32 home runs last night. But that's not what really stood out to me, or made me smile in a way past Derbies haven't. Cano had his father, Jose, throw pitches to him.
I smile because, in some ways, that's precisely what baseball is all about. Fathers tossing the ball around with their sons, teaching them how to catch, how to hit, etc. More than any other sport, baseball is accessible to all - you go buy a glove, buy a ball and you can play ball. Every son throws the ball with a parent at some point in his youth. That's part of what makes baseball the American Pastime, as they call it, even if the NFL has overtaken it in popularity.
Jose Cano pitched in one Major League game. He won it. It was a complete game win. He never pitched in the majors again, until his son asked him to throw him fastballs for the Home Run Derby last night. Father and son combined last night to make baseball magical for a little while; to live out a dream. Father and son, father throwing balls to his son, the son smashing them. Batting practice, just like in the ol' backyard. Every son has been there. Most fathers. But only one has gotten the chance to do it on such a stage, to win a Home Run Derby in such a fashion.
Congratulations to Robinson Cano and his father, Jose, on winning the Derby. But more than that, congratulations on living a dream last night, on making a memory that resonates across every baseball fan in America, but I know sits most prized in your hearts. Well done, sirs.
NBA Europe?
Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets is planning to take himself to Turkey in the fall to play European basketball if the lockout isn't settled, and has speculated publicly that other stars may do the same.
I'm not really sure about that. The European leagues have always seemed like a last resort for players - guys like Allen Iverson who won't accept a sixth-man role in the NBA, for example. They don't have the pockets the NBA does, and while making something in Europe is better than making nothing during a lockout, I feel like it could damage the players if they're taking lower pay in Europe during the labor dispute here.
This is another way the NBA lockout differs from the NFL: the NBA players can go play in Europe, although not for the money they make here. I'm curious to see if anyone else follows Deron Williams over, but I think that'll become more clear as the lockout stretches on. It's still in its infant stages right now, and if it hits September without any significant work getting done, I think we'll see a shift in attitudes and some stars might have to mull the decision Williams has already made.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, July 11th - MLB All-Star Fill-ins.
With the last round of games having been played prior to the All-Star Break, some players bowed out for various reasons - some due to injury and several pitchers, due to having pitched on Sunday to help their teams.
Cole Hamels, Matt Cain, Justin Verlander, C.C. Sabathia and James Shields all were pitchers who ended up playing yesterday, opening the window for replacement All-Stars to come in. Sabathia, who was a replacement himself, will be replaced by Alexi Ogando of the Rangers. Verlander's leave opened up a space for the Mariners' rookie Michael Pineda. Kevin Correia of the Pirates and Craig Kimbrel of the Braves will replace Hamels and Cain. Ricky Romero of the Blue Jays comes aboard to replace Felix Hernandez, who pitched yesterday, also.
Some players will miss the game due to injury - red-hot Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, for example, is on the disabled list due to a hamstring injury. Placido Polanco of the Phillies also will miss the game due to a lingering back injury. The venerable Chipper Jones of the Bravse also will miss the game due to his stay on the disabled list and his upcoming knee surgery.
There'll be quite a few fresh first-time All-Stars at the game this year, that's for sure.
Around the Leagues -
MLB -
NY Yankees 1, Tampa Bay 0 - Sabathia pitches a gem against James Shields, with both men pitching complete games and allowing only one run and eight hits on the entire game.
Toronto 7, Cleveland 1 - Brett Cecil pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Jays' bats lit up the third and fifth.
Florida 5, Houston 4 - Florida takes the sweep on a four-run fourth-inning rally.
Philadelphia 14, Atlanta 1 - Cole Hamels let the Braves have the first run, in the second inning, but shut them down entirely after that as the Phillies' bats came alive.
Boston 8, Baltimore 6 - Despite a six-run second-inning, the Orioles couldn't contain the Red Sox.
Pittsburgh 9, Chi. Cubs 1 - Andrew McCutchen continues to be the brightest star the Pirates have, with a HR and five RBIs.
Washington 2, Colorado 0 - Jordan Zimmerman threw six shutout innings for the Nats, bringing their record to .500 at the break.
Milwaukee 4, Cincinnati 3 - Craig Counsell played hero, hitting the walk-off sacrifice-fly off Reds' closer Francisco Cordero.
Detroit 2, Kansas City 1 - Verlander continues to dominate, picking up his 12th win of the year after seven innings of splendid pitching.
Minnesota 6, Chi. White Sox 3 - The Twins got help from everywhere, with five batters driving in RBIs and Anthony Swarzak keeping the White Sox contained.
St. Louis 4, Arizona 2 - Jaime Garcia let the D-Backs take two in the second, but kept them shut down after that, as the Cards put up four in the first three innings.
Texas 2, Oakland 0 - Matt Harrison threw seven shutout innings as the Rangers swept the A's on Adrian Beltre's sixth-inning HR.
LA Angels 4, Seattle 2 - Dan Haren let the Mariners score early, but kept them to nothing after that, while the Angels bats picked up the slack in the fourth and eighth.
LA Dodgers 4, San Diego 1 - Ted Lilly's strong start combined with Andre Ethier's two HRs to bring the Dodgers a sweep of the Padres.
San Francisco 4, NY Mets 2 - Matt Cain's six shutout innings helped the Giants claim the series victory.
NBA -
The lockout continues, with little news to report.
NFL -
The lockout continues, but the word coming out this morning is that both sides are optimistic and talks are going well. Rumor and speculation suggests a deal may be in place by July 21st and the league year may begin July 28th, with no pre-season or season games being lost.
NHL -
The free agent frenzy over, most teams have opened their developmental camps for their draftees and other young talents.
Cole Hamels, Matt Cain, Justin Verlander, C.C. Sabathia and James Shields all were pitchers who ended up playing yesterday, opening the window for replacement All-Stars to come in. Sabathia, who was a replacement himself, will be replaced by Alexi Ogando of the Rangers. Verlander's leave opened up a space for the Mariners' rookie Michael Pineda. Kevin Correia of the Pirates and Craig Kimbrel of the Braves will replace Hamels and Cain. Ricky Romero of the Blue Jays comes aboard to replace Felix Hernandez, who pitched yesterday, also.
Some players will miss the game due to injury - red-hot Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, for example, is on the disabled list due to a hamstring injury. Placido Polanco of the Phillies also will miss the game due to a lingering back injury. The venerable Chipper Jones of the Bravse also will miss the game due to his stay on the disabled list and his upcoming knee surgery.
There'll be quite a few fresh first-time All-Stars at the game this year, that's for sure.
Around the Leagues -
MLB -
NY Yankees 1, Tampa Bay 0 - Sabathia pitches a gem against James Shields, with both men pitching complete games and allowing only one run and eight hits on the entire game.
Toronto 7, Cleveland 1 - Brett Cecil pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Jays' bats lit up the third and fifth.
Florida 5, Houston 4 - Florida takes the sweep on a four-run fourth-inning rally.
Philadelphia 14, Atlanta 1 - Cole Hamels let the Braves have the first run, in the second inning, but shut them down entirely after that as the Phillies' bats came alive.
Boston 8, Baltimore 6 - Despite a six-run second-inning, the Orioles couldn't contain the Red Sox.
Pittsburgh 9, Chi. Cubs 1 - Andrew McCutchen continues to be the brightest star the Pirates have, with a HR and five RBIs.
Washington 2, Colorado 0 - Jordan Zimmerman threw six shutout innings for the Nats, bringing their record to .500 at the break.
Milwaukee 4, Cincinnati 3 - Craig Counsell played hero, hitting the walk-off sacrifice-fly off Reds' closer Francisco Cordero.
Detroit 2, Kansas City 1 - Verlander continues to dominate, picking up his 12th win of the year after seven innings of splendid pitching.
Minnesota 6, Chi. White Sox 3 - The Twins got help from everywhere, with five batters driving in RBIs and Anthony Swarzak keeping the White Sox contained.
St. Louis 4, Arizona 2 - Jaime Garcia let the D-Backs take two in the second, but kept them shut down after that, as the Cards put up four in the first three innings.
Texas 2, Oakland 0 - Matt Harrison threw seven shutout innings as the Rangers swept the A's on Adrian Beltre's sixth-inning HR.
LA Angels 4, Seattle 2 - Dan Haren let the Mariners score early, but kept them to nothing after that, while the Angels bats picked up the slack in the fourth and eighth.
LA Dodgers 4, San Diego 1 - Ted Lilly's strong start combined with Andre Ethier's two HRs to bring the Dodgers a sweep of the Padres.
San Francisco 4, NY Mets 2 - Matt Cain's six shutout innings helped the Giants claim the series victory.
NBA -
The lockout continues, with little news to report.
NFL -
The lockout continues, but the word coming out this morning is that both sides are optimistic and talks are going well. Rumor and speculation suggests a deal may be in place by July 21st and the league year may begin July 28th, with no pre-season or season games being lost.
NHL -
The free agent frenzy over, most teams have opened their developmental camps for their draftees and other young talents.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sunday, July 10th - Jeter joins the 3,000 club.
I'm not a Yankees fan. And I don't have strong feelings about Derek Jeter one way or the other, beyond him being a Michigan native. But in that, I have to admire the guy. Having played under the limelights of New York all of his career, wearing the fabled Yankee pinstripes, he's always seemed like a class act, a guy who goes out there and takes care of his business on the field. The biggest smirch against him, in my opinion, is the contract he extorted from the Yankees this past off-season... but let's face it, at the end of the day, he knew they'd give him whatever he wanted. And isn't it worth it, just after yesterday? The first 3,000-hitter in Yankees history. Well worth it, I'd say.
Jeter is the 28th member of the 3,000 hit club. He also is one of the minority in that group who played their entire career with one team. He is the only member to have done so with the Yankees and the only member to have done so in a Yankee uniform. He got his hit in momentous fashion, as well, blasting a home run on his second at-bat in Friday's game against the Rays. He went 5/5 on the day.
I tip my hat to the Yankee captain today, who joins a very distinguished group of men in the annals of baseball history.
Remember that Pacman guy?
So, Pacman Jones got arrested the other night. Big deal. It's happened. He alleges no wrong-doing and the charges are misdemeanors. Got rowdy at a bar, it sounds like. That doesn't bother me. I mean, it's obnoxious, but as a news item, I don't care. But as I was browsing the report on ESPN, I noticed a snippet about Roger Goodell saying that players would face disciplinary action for personal conduct violations during the lockout.
I don't like that.
The players have been locked out of their job by Goodell and the owners. Yes, contracts are still in place. Yes, there are personal policy stipulations to those contracts. But it is my belief that, at this juncture, it's out of Goodell's hands, or at least should be. He's locked the players out! If the Bengals want to punish or part ways with Jones when the lockout ends, it's their business, because his contract is with them. Same for the Steelers and Hines Ward, with his DUI arrest the other day. But I think that the commissioner trying to continue to lord over players with the lockout in place is somewhat inappropriate. I'm not a Roger Goodell fan for that reason; he has a sort of authoritarian bend to him that gives me a "my way or the highway" sort of vibe. The lockout has only affirmed that. Whereas his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, seemed to work well as a middle-man or mediator between players and owners, Goodell is clearly with the owners and seems committed primarily to making them as much money as possible.
Pacman Jones is at least a bit of a thug and a bit of an idiot. And I'm completely with Goodell keeping the NFL from becoming a league of thugs and idiots. But I feel like telling players that they'll still be reviewed for conduct violations during the lockout (or retroactively, after it's over) is a step far, given the labor circumstances.
Around the MLB -
NY Yankees 5, Tampa Bay 4 - Jeter collects five hits to push the Yankees to victory on his historic day.
Atlanta 4, Philadelphia 1 - A pitchers' duel between Tommy Hanson and Cliff Lee took until the 11th inning to decide, when the Braves' bats came to life.
Chi. White Sox 4, Minnesota 3 - It took ten games to do it, but the White Sox finally notch a win against the Twins.
LA Dodgers 1, San Diego 0 - San Diego came so close to a no-hitter for Luke Gregerson, with only one out left, when the Dodgers got on base in one hit and got the winning RBI on the next.
Chi. Cubs 6, Pittsburgh 3 - The first four innings saw the Cubs put runs on the board, giving them the lead they needed to win.
Colorado 2, Washington 1 - Ubaldo Jimenez returned to form for a game, going eight innings and allowing one run in the Rockies' win.
Toronto 5, Cleveland 4 - Jose Bautista keeps crankin' em, adding HRs 30 and 31 to his season, with the 31st being the winning run in the 10th.
Boston 4, Baltimore 0 - John Lackey held the Orioles to nothing over nearly seven innings, helping Boston secure a win.
Cincinnati 8, Milwaukee 4 - Cincinnati took the middle of the game off, putting up 3 runs in the first and then adding the other five to win in the tenth.
Kansas City 13, Detroit 6 - Rookie Charlie Furbush got rocked in his second game as a set starter, getting wrecked for nine runs over the first three frames.
Florida 6, Astros 1 - Ricky Nolasco went another complete game, holding the Astros to a single run.
St. Louis 7, Arizona 6 - Pujols' game-tying HR in the eighth set gave the Cards the chance they needed, when they got the walk-off HR in the next inning.
Texas 7, Oakland 6 - Setting his demons aside, Josh Hamilton played hero for the night, hitting two HRs, including the walk-off in the ninth.
San Francisco 3, NY Mets 1 - After allowing a run in the first, Tim Lincecum clamped down on the Mets, letting nothing else by for the rest of his seven innings.
LA Angels 9, Seattle 3 - Michael Pineda saw the worst start of his career as the Angels' bats savaged him in the third and fifth. Joel Pinerio gave up three runs but was otherwise strong in his start.
Jeter is the 28th member of the 3,000 hit club. He also is one of the minority in that group who played their entire career with one team. He is the only member to have done so with the Yankees and the only member to have done so in a Yankee uniform. He got his hit in momentous fashion, as well, blasting a home run on his second at-bat in Friday's game against the Rays. He went 5/5 on the day.
I tip my hat to the Yankee captain today, who joins a very distinguished group of men in the annals of baseball history.
Remember that Pacman guy?
So, Pacman Jones got arrested the other night. Big deal. It's happened. He alleges no wrong-doing and the charges are misdemeanors. Got rowdy at a bar, it sounds like. That doesn't bother me. I mean, it's obnoxious, but as a news item, I don't care. But as I was browsing the report on ESPN, I noticed a snippet about Roger Goodell saying that players would face disciplinary action for personal conduct violations during the lockout.
I don't like that.
The players have been locked out of their job by Goodell and the owners. Yes, contracts are still in place. Yes, there are personal policy stipulations to those contracts. But it is my belief that, at this juncture, it's out of Goodell's hands, or at least should be. He's locked the players out! If the Bengals want to punish or part ways with Jones when the lockout ends, it's their business, because his contract is with them. Same for the Steelers and Hines Ward, with his DUI arrest the other day. But I think that the commissioner trying to continue to lord over players with the lockout in place is somewhat inappropriate. I'm not a Roger Goodell fan for that reason; he has a sort of authoritarian bend to him that gives me a "my way or the highway" sort of vibe. The lockout has only affirmed that. Whereas his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, seemed to work well as a middle-man or mediator between players and owners, Goodell is clearly with the owners and seems committed primarily to making them as much money as possible.
Pacman Jones is at least a bit of a thug and a bit of an idiot. And I'm completely with Goodell keeping the NFL from becoming a league of thugs and idiots. But I feel like telling players that they'll still be reviewed for conduct violations during the lockout (or retroactively, after it's over) is a step far, given the labor circumstances.
Around the MLB -
NY Yankees 5, Tampa Bay 4 - Jeter collects five hits to push the Yankees to victory on his historic day.
Atlanta 4, Philadelphia 1 - A pitchers' duel between Tommy Hanson and Cliff Lee took until the 11th inning to decide, when the Braves' bats came to life.
Chi. White Sox 4, Minnesota 3 - It took ten games to do it, but the White Sox finally notch a win against the Twins.
LA Dodgers 1, San Diego 0 - San Diego came so close to a no-hitter for Luke Gregerson, with only one out left, when the Dodgers got on base in one hit and got the winning RBI on the next.
Chi. Cubs 6, Pittsburgh 3 - The first four innings saw the Cubs put runs on the board, giving them the lead they needed to win.
Colorado 2, Washington 1 - Ubaldo Jimenez returned to form for a game, going eight innings and allowing one run in the Rockies' win.
Toronto 5, Cleveland 4 - Jose Bautista keeps crankin' em, adding HRs 30 and 31 to his season, with the 31st being the winning run in the 10th.
Boston 4, Baltimore 0 - John Lackey held the Orioles to nothing over nearly seven innings, helping Boston secure a win.
Cincinnati 8, Milwaukee 4 - Cincinnati took the middle of the game off, putting up 3 runs in the first and then adding the other five to win in the tenth.
Kansas City 13, Detroit 6 - Rookie Charlie Furbush got rocked in his second game as a set starter, getting wrecked for nine runs over the first three frames.
Florida 6, Astros 1 - Ricky Nolasco went another complete game, holding the Astros to a single run.
St. Louis 7, Arizona 6 - Pujols' game-tying HR in the eighth set gave the Cards the chance they needed, when they got the walk-off HR in the next inning.
Texas 7, Oakland 6 - Setting his demons aside, Josh Hamilton played hero for the night, hitting two HRs, including the walk-off in the ninth.
San Francisco 3, NY Mets 1 - After allowing a run in the first, Tim Lincecum clamped down on the Mets, letting nothing else by for the rest of his seven innings.
LA Angels 9, Seattle 3 - Michael Pineda saw the worst start of his career as the Angels' bats savaged him in the third and fifth. Joel Pinerio gave up three runs but was otherwise strong in his start.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Saturday, July 9th - Tragedy in Texas as fan falls to death.
When I first came across this story yesterday, I almost couldn't believe it. Part of me actively rejected it as not being possible. But, unfortunately, it is indeed the truth. During the Texas/Oakland game on Thursday, Rangers All-Star Josh Hamilton tossed a foul ball up to a fan in the front row of the left field seats. The man - Shannon Stone - leaned over the railing, caught the ball... and toppled over the railing, twenty feet, to his death. Sitting next to him at the game was his six year-old son, Cooper, who he brought to the game.
This was a horrible event, an undeniable tragedy. There's no greater wisdom to learn here, no lesson or moral. Those who fault the ballpark aren't recognizing that it was built to code. There's no fault to be placed on Hamilton, for doing something that's fairly routine in baseball - chucking a ball to a fan. There's no fault on the man, either, for doing what every father does at a ballgame - try to get a ball for his boy. Part of the thrill of going to a game, as every man knows, is hoping to catch a foul ball or a home run (depending on your seating), to take that nicked up ball home with you, maybe even get an autograph on it from the slugger whose bat it came from. People do zany things to get those balls. It's part of the game. What happened in Texas was a tragedy, but perhaps the harder thing to face is that it was an accident, with no one or thing to blame.
I feel bad for the kid. Six years old, just watched his dad die trying to get him a foul ball. That's unspeakably horrible. I don't know how many years of therapy it takes to reconcile that. I don't know how you cope with it if you're Josh Hamilton; how often you replay that moment in your head, thinking if you'd just thrown the ball a little differently, that man would still be alive. There's no happy ending to this terrible tragedy, no encouraging words to say, sadly.
Around the MLB -
Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 2 - Raul Ibanez ended a 2-2 extra-innings affair with a walk-off HR in the tenth.
Pittsburgh 7, Chi. Cubs 4 - Pirates rookie Michael McKenry's first career HR was a big one - a three-run shot that put the Pirates on top in the eighth.
Colorado 3, Washington 2 - Jason Hammel pitched a solid six-inning, two-run start while the bats came alive in the fourth to back him up with the three needed runs to win.
Toronto 11, Cleveland 7 - Pitching and defense was optional as the Jays and Indians combined for 31 hits and 18 runs in this offensive showcase.
Boston 10, Baltimore 3 - The Orioles lost their cool in a small brawl in this rout, which started after the Red Sox put up eight runs in the first inning.
Florida 6, Houston 3 - Hanley Ramirez continues to stay hot, going 3/3 and notching 3 RBIs.
Texas 8, Oakland 5 - Five runs in the first helped propel the mourning Rangers to a post-tragedy win.
Milwaukee 8, Cincinnati 7 - Mark Kotsay was the man of the day, tying the game in the sixth and then hitting the walk-off RBI single in the ninth.
Detroit 6, Kansas City 4 - The Tigers survived a bases-loaded scare in the ninth to hold onto the victory.
Minnesota 8, Chi. White Sox 5 - The Twins continue to dominate the White Sox, now having won nine straight dating back to last season.
Arizona 7, St. Louis 6 - Kelly Johnson's seventh-inning grand slam proved to be the difference maker in this game, putting the D-Backs atop the Cards for good.
LA Angels 4, Seattle 3 - Four solo HRs - including one for the walk-off victory in the ninth - powered the Angels over the Mariners.
LA Dodgers 1, San Diego 0 - Chad Billingsley and Mat Latos went head-to-head in this pitchers' duel, which the Dodgers won after escaping a bases-loaded scare in the ninth.
NY Mets 5, San Francisco 2 - Credit Brian Wilson and his beard with the blown save on this one, which was busted open by a ninth-inning pinch-hit HR by Scott Hairston.
This was a horrible event, an undeniable tragedy. There's no greater wisdom to learn here, no lesson or moral. Those who fault the ballpark aren't recognizing that it was built to code. There's no fault to be placed on Hamilton, for doing something that's fairly routine in baseball - chucking a ball to a fan. There's no fault on the man, either, for doing what every father does at a ballgame - try to get a ball for his boy. Part of the thrill of going to a game, as every man knows, is hoping to catch a foul ball or a home run (depending on your seating), to take that nicked up ball home with you, maybe even get an autograph on it from the slugger whose bat it came from. People do zany things to get those balls. It's part of the game. What happened in Texas was a tragedy, but perhaps the harder thing to face is that it was an accident, with no one or thing to blame.
I feel bad for the kid. Six years old, just watched his dad die trying to get him a foul ball. That's unspeakably horrible. I don't know how many years of therapy it takes to reconcile that. I don't know how you cope with it if you're Josh Hamilton; how often you replay that moment in your head, thinking if you'd just thrown the ball a little differently, that man would still be alive. There's no happy ending to this terrible tragedy, no encouraging words to say, sadly.
Around the MLB -
Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 2 - Raul Ibanez ended a 2-2 extra-innings affair with a walk-off HR in the tenth.
Pittsburgh 7, Chi. Cubs 4 - Pirates rookie Michael McKenry's first career HR was a big one - a three-run shot that put the Pirates on top in the eighth.
Colorado 3, Washington 2 - Jason Hammel pitched a solid six-inning, two-run start while the bats came alive in the fourth to back him up with the three needed runs to win.
Toronto 11, Cleveland 7 - Pitching and defense was optional as the Jays and Indians combined for 31 hits and 18 runs in this offensive showcase.
Boston 10, Baltimore 3 - The Orioles lost their cool in a small brawl in this rout, which started after the Red Sox put up eight runs in the first inning.
Florida 6, Houston 3 - Hanley Ramirez continues to stay hot, going 3/3 and notching 3 RBIs.
Texas 8, Oakland 5 - Five runs in the first helped propel the mourning Rangers to a post-tragedy win.
Milwaukee 8, Cincinnati 7 - Mark Kotsay was the man of the day, tying the game in the sixth and then hitting the walk-off RBI single in the ninth.
Detroit 6, Kansas City 4 - The Tigers survived a bases-loaded scare in the ninth to hold onto the victory.
Minnesota 8, Chi. White Sox 5 - The Twins continue to dominate the White Sox, now having won nine straight dating back to last season.
Arizona 7, St. Louis 6 - Kelly Johnson's seventh-inning grand slam proved to be the difference maker in this game, putting the D-Backs atop the Cards for good.
LA Angels 4, Seattle 3 - Four solo HRs - including one for the walk-off victory in the ninth - powered the Angels over the Mariners.
LA Dodgers 1, San Diego 0 - Chad Billingsley and Mat Latos went head-to-head in this pitchers' duel, which the Dodgers won after escaping a bases-loaded scare in the ninth.
NY Mets 5, San Francisco 2 - Credit Brian Wilson and his beard with the blown save on this one, which was busted open by a ninth-inning pinch-hit HR by Scott Hairston.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Friday, July 8th - The Final Vote is in.
Every year, the MLB finishes the All-Star Roster with a fan voting event that fills the final roster spot for each team. Fans vote from a selection of five. This year, the Final Vote competition was as follows:
AL: Paul Konerko (CWS), Victor Martinez (DET), Alex Gordon (KC), Adam Jones (BAL) and Ben Zobrist (TB).
NL: Shane Victorino (PHI), Andre Ethier (LAD), Todd Helton (COL), Michael Morse (WSH) and Ian Kennedy (ARI).
The AL vote, from the start, seemed to be between Konerko and Martinez - both have been important bright spots for their teams. Konerko is hitting .316, with 22 HRs and 64 RBIs. Martinez, who primarily DHs for the Tigers, is hitting .319, although with only 6 HRs and 48 RBIs. I could have seen this vote swinging either way, but even as a Tigers fan, I can say that Konerko was probably more deserving - he's helped lift the oft-struggling White Sox up in a way that Martinez does not for the Tigers, if only because Martinez is surrounded by a solid lineup. That doesn't change the fact, though, that Martinez was the best free-agent pickup the Tigers made this year and he's been a huge presence to the team. Perhaps the most telling stat for an All-Star is WAR - Wins Above Replacement - which Konerko figures in at 2.7, versus Martinez's 1.7, which may come from Konerko playing the field more often.
In the NL, Shane Victorino jumped out early and never let go. He led every vote from the start with his batting average of .303 - best on the Phillies squad - and 9 HRs, 34 RBIs. He also has 14 doubles and 9 triples, with an OBP of .376, slugging percent of .524 and OPS of .900. Not bad. His primary competition looked to be Ethier, who is hitting .313, with 7 HRs, 42 RBIs and 23 doubles. You may remember Ethier from his hitting streak in April. But again, I'll look to that WAR statistic - Victorino's is 3.3. The next closest NL Final Vote candidate is Helton, at 2.1. Ethier comes in at 1.5, Morse at 1.4. Kennedy, the only pitcher in the Final Vote, was at 2.7 WAR.
All in all, good voting by the fans. I like both selections - both are players who don't just put up good stats, but are important on their team, in their clubhouse. That makes them All-Stars.
Around the MLB -
Atlanta 6, Colorado 3 - A five-run third inning was all the Braves needed to complete a four-game sweep.
Chi. Cubs 10, Washington 9 - After being down 8-0 after four, the Cubs surged to a six-run sixth inning to carry them to a comeback victory.
Tampa Bay 5, NY Yankees 1 - HRs from Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton powered the Rays to the win behind a solid seven-inning start by Jeff Niemann.
Cleveland 5, Toronto 4 - Travis Hafner will remember this one - down 4-1, his grand-slam gave the Indians the walk-off victory in the ninth.
Boston 10, Baltimore 4 - Dustin Pedroia, Jacob Ellsbury, David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia all cranked HRs in routing the Orioles.
Florida 5, Houston 0 - Brad Hand allowed two hits in seven shutout innings against Houston, while his lineup backed him up with five runs over six.
Texas 6, Oakland 0 - Derek Holland pitched a complete game, 4-hit shutout, shutting down the A's while the Rangers bats backed him up.
Milwaukee 5, Cincinnati 4 - Home Run Derby contestant Rickie Weeks hit a 3-run HR in the fifth that put the Brewers on top for good.
Detroit 3, Kansas City 1 - Max Scherzer picks up his tenth win behind the HRs of Ryan Raburn and Don Kelly.
Minnesota 6, Chi. White Sox 2 - Carl Pavano pitched a solid game as the Twins continue their winning ways against the White Sox, who have yet to beat them this season.
Arizona 4, St. Louis 1 - Two rain delays shortened the night for Joe Saunders, who tossed five shutout innings for the Diamondbacks.
LA Angels 5, Seattle 1 - Jered Weaver notches his 11th win on his fourth complete game of the season, allowing one run on six hits.
LA Dodgers 6, NY Mets 0 - Clayton Kershaw bounced back from his last start, going eight shutout innings and striking out nine.
San Francisco 2, San Diego 1 - Barry Zito continues to win since his return from the DL, going eight innings and allowing only one run.
AL: Paul Konerko (CWS), Victor Martinez (DET), Alex Gordon (KC), Adam Jones (BAL) and Ben Zobrist (TB).
NL: Shane Victorino (PHI), Andre Ethier (LAD), Todd Helton (COL), Michael Morse (WSH) and Ian Kennedy (ARI).
The AL vote, from the start, seemed to be between Konerko and Martinez - both have been important bright spots for their teams. Konerko is hitting .316, with 22 HRs and 64 RBIs. Martinez, who primarily DHs for the Tigers, is hitting .319, although with only 6 HRs and 48 RBIs. I could have seen this vote swinging either way, but even as a Tigers fan, I can say that Konerko was probably more deserving - he's helped lift the oft-struggling White Sox up in a way that Martinez does not for the Tigers, if only because Martinez is surrounded by a solid lineup. That doesn't change the fact, though, that Martinez was the best free-agent pickup the Tigers made this year and he's been a huge presence to the team. Perhaps the most telling stat for an All-Star is WAR - Wins Above Replacement - which Konerko figures in at 2.7, versus Martinez's 1.7, which may come from Konerko playing the field more often.
In the NL, Shane Victorino jumped out early and never let go. He led every vote from the start with his batting average of .303 - best on the Phillies squad - and 9 HRs, 34 RBIs. He also has 14 doubles and 9 triples, with an OBP of .376, slugging percent of .524 and OPS of .900. Not bad. His primary competition looked to be Ethier, who is hitting .313, with 7 HRs, 42 RBIs and 23 doubles. You may remember Ethier from his hitting streak in April. But again, I'll look to that WAR statistic - Victorino's is 3.3. The next closest NL Final Vote candidate is Helton, at 2.1. Ethier comes in at 1.5, Morse at 1.4. Kennedy, the only pitcher in the Final Vote, was at 2.7 WAR.
All in all, good voting by the fans. I like both selections - both are players who don't just put up good stats, but are important on their team, in their clubhouse. That makes them All-Stars.
Around the MLB -
Atlanta 6, Colorado 3 - A five-run third inning was all the Braves needed to complete a four-game sweep.
Chi. Cubs 10, Washington 9 - After being down 8-0 after four, the Cubs surged to a six-run sixth inning to carry them to a comeback victory.
Tampa Bay 5, NY Yankees 1 - HRs from Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton powered the Rays to the win behind a solid seven-inning start by Jeff Niemann.
Cleveland 5, Toronto 4 - Travis Hafner will remember this one - down 4-1, his grand-slam gave the Indians the walk-off victory in the ninth.
Boston 10, Baltimore 4 - Dustin Pedroia, Jacob Ellsbury, David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia all cranked HRs in routing the Orioles.
Florida 5, Houston 0 - Brad Hand allowed two hits in seven shutout innings against Houston, while his lineup backed him up with five runs over six.
Texas 6, Oakland 0 - Derek Holland pitched a complete game, 4-hit shutout, shutting down the A's while the Rangers bats backed him up.
Milwaukee 5, Cincinnati 4 - Home Run Derby contestant Rickie Weeks hit a 3-run HR in the fifth that put the Brewers on top for good.
Detroit 3, Kansas City 1 - Max Scherzer picks up his tenth win behind the HRs of Ryan Raburn and Don Kelly.
Minnesota 6, Chi. White Sox 2 - Carl Pavano pitched a solid game as the Twins continue their winning ways against the White Sox, who have yet to beat them this season.
Arizona 4, St. Louis 1 - Two rain delays shortened the night for Joe Saunders, who tossed five shutout innings for the Diamondbacks.
LA Angels 5, Seattle 1 - Jered Weaver notches his 11th win on his fourth complete game of the season, allowing one run on six hits.
LA Dodgers 6, NY Mets 0 - Clayton Kershaw bounced back from his last start, going eight shutout innings and striking out nine.
San Francisco 2, San Diego 1 - Barry Zito continues to win since his return from the DL, going eight innings and allowing only one run.
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