October, 2006 | The Baseball Zealot

BREWER SHOUT OUT FOR WAUPACA

Chris Capuano I was talking with Brad, the owner of Uptown Pizza, the last time I was in Waupaca, WI and he was saying how he checks out the Baseball Zealot from time to time and would appreciate a little coverage on his Milwaukee Brewers. So here you go Brad, your wish is my command. … Continue reading “BREWER SHOUT OUT FOR WAUPACA”

Chris Capuano

I was talking with Brad, the owner of Uptown Pizza, the last time I was in Waupaca, WI and he was saying how he checks out the Baseball Zealot from time to time and would appreciate a little coverage on his Milwaukee Brewers. So here you go Brad, your wish is my command.

It seems as though a lot of times in sports a team will take a huge step forward, only to take a step back the following year. This seems to be the case with the Brewers. The 2005 Brewers overachieved, while the 2006 ballclub struggled to reach high expectations. I think the 2007 Milwaukee baseball team will step it up. And here are some reasons why…

Their starting rotation is tough. Ben Sheets is as good as anybody’s number one, then they’ve got Chris Capuano, Doug Davis, and Dave Bush rounding out the starting four. Not to mention Carlos Villanueva (who had flashes of brilliance) in the fifth slot.

The pickup of closer Francisco “Coco” Cordero was huge! The 2006 Brewers would have had a much better record had they just had a closer to hold onto a 9th inning lead.

Kevin Mench, Tony Gwynn, & Corey Hart are young, talented, and ready to put up some big league numbers in the outfield. But the real talent is on the infield. Prince Fielder will contend for the home run crown, while Rickie Weeks is one of the most exciting players in baseball, J.J. Hardy at SS, and Bill Hall at 3B give Milwaukee one of the best hitting infields in the NL. And Damien Miller will be a stabilizing influence behind the plate.

I’m sure the ROAR of GO BREWERS GO will be heard all over Cheeseland as soon as the Packers are through messing around.

WILSON & WEAVER A LONG WAY FROM CASTOFFS

Preston Wilson Jeff Weaver Preston Wilson started the season with the Houston Astros, but was released after hitting only nine homers in a little over 100 games. Wilson hooked on with the St. Louis Cardinals who were looking for warm bodies. Preston hit nine more homers in 33 games with the Redbirds and ended up … Continue reading “WILSON & WEAVER A LONG WAY FROM CASTOFFS”

Preston Wilson

Jeff Weaver

Preston Wilson started the season with the Houston Astros, but was released after hitting only nine homers in a little over 100 games. Wilson hooked on with the St. Louis Cardinals who were looking for warm bodies. Preston hit nine more homers in 33 games with the Redbirds and ended up picking up a ring in the process.

More amazing is the ride Jeff Weaver was on. Jeff signed a big contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but struggled with them. So much so that the Halos released him. Dave Duncan must’ve seen something in the lanky righthander and under his guidance Weaver turned it around. He was 3-10 with the Angels with an ERA over six, but pitched much better with the Cards, 5-4. Weaver even started and won the deciding game of the 2006 World Series.

I remember when an unconditional release was the kiss of death, but not for these two rejects who turned it around to become World Champs.

Eckstein’s MVP award

St Louis’ David Eckstein received the WS MVP award, deservedly so, after playing a big part in the last wins. For the series, Eck batted .364 with 4 rbis and 3 rbis. I did a quick check and Eckstein was the first leadoff man to win the World Series MVP in 30 years. The last … Continue reading “Eckstein’s MVP award”

St Louis’ David Eckstein received the WS MVP award, deservedly so, after playing a big part in the last wins. For the series, Eck batted .364 with 4 rbis and 3 rbis.

I did a quick check and Eckstein was the first leadoff man to win the World Series MVP in 30 years. The last leadoff man to win the WS MVP was Pete Rose in 1975.

Rose, who played third base for Cincinnati back then, hit .370 (10 for 27) with a double and a triple with 3 runs and 2 rbis. He also walked 5 times.

Cincinnati took 4 of 7 from Boston that year.

Pitchers’ Throwing Errors- yes, it happened again

Bottom of the 4th, Justin Verlander commits the 5th error by a Detroit pitcher this series. That was key to a 2-run inning which gives the Cards a 3-2 lead. The game is far from over but the Tigers don’t need to give them any help. Which brings me to a related point. So many … Continue reading “Pitchers’ Throwing Errors- yes, it happened again”

Which brings me to a related point. So many times I hear people lament that unearned runs that stem from pitchers’ errors should count against their ERA.

No, No, and again no!

These misguided fans are looking at the issue from the perspective that baseball statistics exist to reward or punish players. To glorify or demean them. That is not why they exist in my opinion.

Baseball statistics exist to qualify and quantify, the best that they can, the reality that we call baseball. They are not perfect, of course. But they give us a hint of what a player has done and what he might do in the future.

For the current example, the ERA, it is a representation of how well a pitcher pitches. More to the point, how many (or how few) runs he allows regardless of his team’s fielding. And yes, his team’s fielding includes him, too. I don’t want to factor his fielding in with his ERA. That would skew his stats.

There. Got THAT off my chest.

Mark Littell takes one for the Nutty Buddy team

Former MLB players Mark Littell and Chris Sabo are getting behind (so to speak) an athletic cup called The Nutty Buddy.

Seriously, if you want a laugh, check out the video on their web site. Littell has a spiel where he gets hit in the nuts with a pitch. His country boy demeanor is hilarious and I’ll bet it will sell more than a few athletic cups.

It comes in three sizes: “The Boss”, “The Hog” and for those who are rather more endowed, “El Jefe”.

The marketing people there are geniuses.

Rainy Day Musings

Here in Urbana, it’s been cold and rainy, no doubt the same system that was affecting St Louis. Word has it that the game is on tonight though. I can’t remember a postseason where the weather played such a factor. Unless you consider the 1989 World Series which wasn’t really weather.

Do you think Smokin’ Jim is going to call for some pitching fielding practice before tonight’s game? He should. The four errors by the Tigers’ pitching staff are the most by any WS pitching staff.

To the Cardinals’ credit, they are winning without the bat of Albert Pujols. Mad props to shortstop David Eckstein who had 4 hits and 2 key rbis. That’s not to say that Albert hasn’t had an effect. By intentionally walking or pitching around him, the Tigers are avoiding the big hit but at the same time are putting additional runners on base for Cardinals hitters. Albert has one hit (a homer) but has scored 3 times.

Tonight, Detroit’s backs are against the wall. They do have Verlander going so they have a chance assuming he’s boned up on his fielding. Weaver has a 2.91 for the postseason but only a 2-2 record to show for it.

Play Ball!

“Old” guy misses field goal for $1 mil

Bill Szijarto, from Port Robinson, Ontario, missed his chance to make $1 million by kicking a 50 yard field goal at a halftime event during a Roughriders/Argonauts game (that’s CFL, folks). Ok, he’s not that old. He’s only 43. But either he lied about his age or they really age fast in Canada. Yikes.

Bill Szijarto, from Port Robinson, Ontario, missed his chance to make $1 million by kicking a 50 yard field goal at a halftime event during a Roughriders/Argonauts game (that’s CFL, folks).

Ok, he’s not that old. He’s only 43. But either he lied about his age or they really age fast in Canada. Yikes.

Bill Szijarto

Don’t forget to use soap, Kenny

Hey Kenny, here’s a guide for you: I’m not going to feed into the media frenzy of “Was he cheating?” “Was it pine tar?”. I think Fox and ESPN are doing a fine job of that. Personally, I thought LaRussa handled it pretty well. From all reports, it sounded like he informed the men in … Continue reading “Don’t forget to use soap, Kenny”

Hey Kenny, here’s a guide for you:

wash_hands

I’m not going to feed into the media frenzy of “Was he cheating?” “Was it pine tar?”. I think Fox and ESPN are doing a fine job of that.

Personally, I thought LaRussa handled it pretty well. From all reports, it sounded like he informed the men in blue so that there wouldn’t be any question in the matter. No complaints, no accusations. Either he knew it was just some dirt and just wanted to spare the game from any useless controversy or he figured the way his team was hitting yesterday, it really didn’t matter.

Controversy aside, Rogers has been lights out all postseason. He’s close to setting the all-time record for scoreless innings in a single postseason.

IP	Pitcher	Team	Year
27	Christy Mathewson	New York (NL)	1905
24	Lew Burdette	Milwaukee	1957
23	Jerry Reuss	Los Angeles	1981
23	Kenny Rogers	Detroit	2006

Of course, it should be noted that for Mathewson and Burdette, “postseason” meant World Series.

And finally Kenny, I usually have my kids sing their ABC’s when they wash their hands. That makes sure they wash them long enough. Just a tip.

WHAT A DICK

Tommy John I’ve always been an American League fan, but I have to confess to the fact that I was rooting for the 1968 St. Louis Cardinals to beat the Detroit Tigers. Here’s why, my favorite pitcher on my favorite team was Tommy John of the Chicago White Sox. Imagine my horror when Dick McAuliffe … Continue reading “WHAT A DICK”

Tommy John

I’ve always been an American League fan, but I have to confess to the fact that I was rooting for the 1968 St. Louis Cardinals to beat the Detroit Tigers. Here’s why, my favorite pitcher on my favorite team was Tommy John of the Chicago White Sox. Imagine my horror when Dick McAuliffe of the Tigers charged the mound and tackled Tommy John when a 3-2 pitch sailed over McAuliffe’s head in 1968. I have let that incident go and am able to root for the Tigers this year.

Here’s what Tommy John had to say…
Everyone knows about my ligament transplant, but that wasn’t my first serious injury. In 1968, I was 10-5 with a 1.98 ERA and pitching against the Tigers in August. A 3-2 pitch slipped out of my hand and sailed over Dick McAuliffe’s head. I didn’t throw at him, but McAuliffe was yelling at me as he went to first, and he charged the mound.

My first thought was to tackle him. McAuliffe drove his knee into my left shoulder and separated it. Dr. Levinthal (the White Sox physician) wanted to operate, but I got a second opinion. The white Sox were quite upset about it, since no one did that in those days. They examined my shoulder in spring training in ’69 and said it was good and tight.

MLB Marketing 101

Mellencamp loves Chevrolet Before Game 2, John Mellencamp treated Comerica fans to a rendition of his song, “Our Country”. How nice. Meanwhile, I’m sure Chevrolet wrote MLB a nice fat check for the privilege. A patriotic jingle? Or a multi-national corporation’s marketing scheme? You make the call. The cameras panned the crowd and judging by … Continue reading “MLB Marketing 101”

Mellencamp loves Chevrolet

Before Game 2, John Mellencamp treated Comerica fans to a rendition of his song, “Our Country”. How nice.

Meanwhile, I’m sure Chevrolet wrote MLB a nice fat check for the privilege.

A patriotic jingle? Or a multi-national corporation’s marketing scheme? You make the call.

The cameras panned the crowd and judging by their disinterested faces, I’ll bet they were just wondering why they weren’t playing the national anthem. It was COLD out there. They don’t have the time to be pandered to.

Play Ball! Now!

And John Mellencamp, you used to pretend you were for the “working man”. Give up the charade.