Author: The Baseball Zealot

Bradley being Mr Nice Guy

Not only did Milton Bradley show up to camp two days early (something I always like to see) but he had some good things to say about us Cub fans:

He called the Cubs Convention a “nice fest,” and added: “It helps the transition for me when you’re dealing with people that are nice and appreciative and always in your corner. It hasn’t always been that way for me.”

Is this a turn for the mean ol’ Milton Bradley?  He went on about why he was so happy joining the Chicago Cubs:

“It’s the Cubs,” he said. “Who wouldn’t want to play for the Cubs? Wrigley Field, already have a great team in place. … I’ll come in and just try to add something to that mix.

Who IS this guy?  Give me the old MB back.  I want the Milton Bradley with an edge to him.  The aggressive one.  The MEAN one.  Ok, maybe take that last one back.  Maybe.

I’m sure the Milton Bradley we all know and love will return.  Give him time.

By the way, it wasn’t so much that I was against the Cubs getting Milton Bradley this off-season but that I felt the media was portraying Bradley as this savior that was going to lead our Cubbies to the promised land ala the World Series.  There’s no doubt Bradley is talented but there’s no excuse for exaggerating reality. 

Heads up, Illini baseball fans! Illinois Baseball Report is online!

It’s hard to believe that you can see actual live baseball in less than a week.  And most of us can’t… unless you’re lucky to enough to live in the the south.  But true enough, the college baseball season does start this Friday.

And to correspond with that, I’ve decided to create a new blog focused on the University of Illinois Baseball team.  I’ve imported all the Illini Baseball content from The Baseball Zealot to the new site which is called Illinois Baseball Report.  I spent some time tagging the posts so they’re good and indexed.

I’m looking forward to the new season and beyond.  Illini fans, stop by and hi (and don’t forget to bookmark the site).

Illinois Baseball Report

BTH reviews Illinois Baseball

Zealot friend Brian D from Big Ten Hardball does his annual review of Big Ten baseball team and predicts Illinois to at least make the tournament in 2009. 

Brian’s bottom line??

Illinois will go as far as their pitching lets them. This team, like many of the recent Illini squads, should swing the bats well enough, steal a few bases and play tough day-in and day-out. The question will be how their arms, especially the unproven ones, hold up.

The thought here is that the Illini should secure another top six Big Ten finish and a trip to Huntington Park and the conference tournament

His review of Illinois is pretty spot on.  You can read it at his blog, Big Ten Hardball.

Not much hope for improving blackout policies

For those hoping that MLB will be improving their blackout policy in regards to broadcasting games, well… don’t get your hopes up. 

Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball has the scoop:

The chances of any movement on the blackout policy becomes ever more remote as the season approaches, and owners deal with a case of tunnel vision regarding economic factors…

Word is that MLB hopes to have a proposal to address the arcane blackout policy formulated by opening day. With owners grasping onto every thin dime, odds seem exceptionally long that restructuring the television territories will take place by the time the first pitch arrives on the 2009 season.

Here’s a link to the MLB blackout map. 

I live three hours south of Chicago which is enough to black out the Sox, Cubs and the Cardinals.  But you may as well not be a baseball fan in the state of Iowa (or do as my friend DonS does and follow an out-of-market team.  The entire state of Iowa blacks out games of the Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Twins, Brewers, and the Royals. 

Thank god for the Iowa Cubs, I guess.

Sheets out for the year?

What a conundrum! 

“We’re working our way through all of the details and we don’t know the answer yet,” (Brewers’ Assistant GM Gord) Ash said. “Major League Baseball has regulations related to workers’ comp and there are procedures and protocols that have to be respected. We’re working our way through those so I can’t give you much insight other than that.”

 

I don’t why but this song popped into my head when I read about this.  Just replace “Maria” with “Ben Sheets”.

 

Does Bud Selig deserve his raise?

So Bud Selig has gotten his extension and raise and a lot of detractors out there are already questioning the decision.  I’m not really a Selig fan but let’s face it, from a business standpoint, it’s not surprising that he was given his contract extension and salary boost. 

Yes, there are some high profile problems (steroids) and bonehead decisions (2002 All-Star Game) that remain a sore point with the fans.  But when it comes to the important matters (money), at least when it comes to the owners and the business of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig is turning the trick. 

Do you all remember when baseball was in its doldrums?  Before Cal Ripken’s streak?  Before McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s home run race?  Even before that when NBA was king of sports?  Not any longer.  Baseball is now breaking attendance and revenue records. 

Not only that, Major League Baseball has made strides in the online realm with one of the best pro sports web presence.  Now I’m sure Selig didn’t have a whole lot to do with the day-to-day operations of MLB Advanced Media but it certainly happened under his watch.

Finally and this may be a stretch but can Selig take a little credit for some semblance of parity in the MLB?  Is it possible that in the past few years, we’ve teams in smaller markets establish some success?  Or is that just coincidence? 

The point of all this is that MLB is a business and as of now, business is booming.  Selig probably deserves what’s coming to him.  The big question is how he’ll handle 2009 and what the economic downturn will deal the baseball industry. 

Selig’s new contract takes him into 2012 when he’s said that he will retire.  Selig haters, don’t hold your breath.  He’s said this before. 

Hill finding a home with the Orioles?

Looks like Rich Hill’s career may have another lease on life.  The Orioles may announce tomorrow that they may acquire him from the Cubs for a PTBNL. 

The advantage for Hill is that he’d be back together with old friends.  He’s worked with both pitching coach Rich Kranitz and bullpen coach Alan Dunn while in the Cubs organization.

I personally liked Hill when he came into the Cubs organization but last year’s debacle can be described as nothing else but the yips.  He simply couldn’t get the ball over the plate at the AAA, A or Rookie level.  My concern from the Cubs standpoint, is if Rich Hill gets his head screwed back on straight, Mr PTBNL better fill the bill.

Update:  The deal has been finalized tonight.  Hill is an Oriole now. Also tonight, the Cubs traded Michael Wuertz to Oakland for minor leaguers Richie Robnett and Justin Sellers. 

I don’t anything about these guys yet and Wuertz was certainly no great shakes but don’t these deals recently (the Hill deal notwithstanding) seem to be made by a rebuilding team?

just saying…

Who wants Manny?

Apparently, there was a small rally of Mets fans outside Radio City who were calling for the signing of Manny Ramirez.  According to Matt Cerone of Metsblog, it was organized via messageboards and was billed as a Bring Manny to the Mets Rally”.

Deep in the heartland, Albert Pujols had other ideas.  He’s actually been in contact with Manny “every three days” and wants him on the Cardinals. 

“Maybe St. Louis doesn’t have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players,” Pujols said.

haha!  Yeah, that’ll happen. 

St Louis IS a great baseball town, though.  I’ll give him that.

The Yankees and confidentiality agreements

It’s being said that the New York Yankee organization is thinking of putting in a “non-disparagement clause” in management and player contracts to help dispel future tell-all books that reflect badly on the team. 

It’s already being done on the front office level. 

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Yankee official said yesterday that some members of the front office staff already are required to sign a confidentiality agreement in order to protect “proprietary knowledge of our business model.” The proposed clause is intended to ensure that future books about the Yankees are “positive in tone,” and “do not breach the sanctity of our clubhouse.”

One, I’m surprised it’s not being done already.  I don’t agree with the policy but most large corporations do this on some level and to some degree.  With the high popularity of baseball, it surprising that all team organizations don’t do this.

Two, assuming that this is in place, I’d be surprised that this would hold up in court.  Say Joe Torre did sign this and then wrote The Yankee Years. I’m not a lawyer (and don’t even play one on this blog) but I’d reckon the Yankees would be hard pressed to make a good case in court despite the confidentiality agreement. 

Three, *if* it went to court, I hope it someone like Torre.  Maybe it’s me, but Joe Torre seems to have a little more authority (fairly or unfairly) compared to a lowly draft pick or a rookie who would probably have to sign the the same the clause. 

No, I don’t like the non-disparagement clause.  It smacks of withholding information.  Yes, there’s the danger of inaccurate information which Steinbrenner and Co insinuate.  But let’s be realistic,  that’s not what they’re after.  It’s an issue of media control.  If they don’t have to worry about players or managers leaving and speaking their mind, then that’s less work for their PR guys.  They get pretty dizzy from all the spinning they do, you know.

(h/t The Hardball Times and Baseball Musings)