Author: The Baseball Zealot

Sluggin’ Zambrano

The Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano won the Silver slugger award.

I wrote earlier this year comparing pitchers’ hitting and it wasn’t close.  The rbis tightened up but Big Z is the clear leader.

Cnt Player              BA   PA Year Age
+----+-----------------+-----+---+----+---+
    1 Carlos Zambrano    .337  85 2008  27 
    2 Micah Owings       .304  62 2008  25 
    3 Brandon Backe      .277  56 2008  30 
    4 Adam Wainwright    .267  65 2008  26 
    5 Jake Peavy         .265  58 2008  27 
    6 Mark Hendrickson   .257  37 2008  34 
    7 Braden Looper      .254  80 2008  33 
    8 C.C. Sabathia      .235  53 2008  27 
    9 Aaron Cook         .233  78 2008  29 
   10 Manny Parra        .226  58 2008  25

 

 Cnt Player            RBI Year Age
+----+-----------------+---+----+---+
    1 Carlos Zambrano    14 2008  27 
    2 Brandon Webb       11 2008  29 
    3 Jason Marquis      10 2008  29 
    4 C.C. Sabathia       7 2008  27 
    5 Manny Parra         6 2008  25 
    6 Danny Haren         6 2008  27 
    7 Jorge de la Rosa    6 2008  27 
    8 Bronson Arroyo      6 2008  31 
    9 Micah Owings        6 2008  25 
   10 Adam Wainwright     6 2008  26

 

Followup:  Some trivia… Only two teams had more than one pitcher hit a homerun for them in 2008.  The San Diego Padres’ Cha Seung Baek and Chris Young both hit one each.  For the Chicago Cubs, Zambrano contributed four dingers while teammate Jason Marquis hit out two.  Here’s the complete list for 2008:

Cnt Player            HR  PA Year Age
+----+-----------------+--+---+----+---+
    1 Carlos Zambrano    4  85 2008  27 
    2 Brandon Backe      2  56 2008  30 
    3 C.C. Sabathia      2  53 2008  27 
    4 Jason Marquis      2  66 2008  29 
    5 Matt Cain          2  72 2008  23 
    6 Micah Owings       1  62 2008  25 
    7 Bronson Arroyo     1  74 2008  31 
    8 Cha Seung Baek     1  38 2008  28 
    9 Chris Young        1  36 2008  29 
   10 Adam Wainwright    1  65 2008  26

Cubs acquire Gregg… End of the Wood Era

“Seems to me that letting Kerry Wood leave without making an offer is like shooting Ole Yeller.  I must be getting too sentimental for this game”

-a text message from my friend DonS

Today the Chicago Cubs acquired Kevin Gregg in a trade with the Florida Marlins.  In return, the Fish received pitching prospect Jose Ceda.

In case there was any doubt to Kerry Wood’s future with the Cubs, Cubs’ GM Jim Hendry put them to rest.

“We felt it was time Kerry goes out and does what is best for him and his family and get a huge multiyear deal, if possible,” Hendry said. “This is really the right thing to do. We’ve had some really honest conversations in the last week. We don’t have to get into how much I think of him, but at the same time I don’t think we could do for him right now what he deserves and what I think he’ll get going elsewhere.”

No doubt, that was hard for Hendry to say.  He and Wood have been pretty tight even through Wood’s lean years.

Wood was the longest standing member of the Chicago Cubs.  A member since 1998, the playoff year and year he won the Rookie of the Year Award.  And yes, he did have those lean years but he was always a Cub in the truest sense of the word.

And now Gregg.

A 6’6″ righthander who will turn 31 next year, Kevin Gregg has turned two solid if not spectacular seasons with Florida in 2007-08. With ERAs of 3.54 and 3.41 respectively, he collected 61 saves in those two seasons.

I say this just once (and will probably deny it mid-2009 when we are in the middle of a playoff race).  I’m not particularly fond of the notion of Gregg as our closer.  Maybe Hendry has some grand scheme which includes Carlos Marmol in the closing role but I doubt it.  If Kevin Gregg is the man who we depend on when the game is on the line in the 9th inning, I have my doubts.  Let’s face it, the Cubs are still contenders in 2009.  And I don’t see Kevin Gregg as “contender” material.

Perhaps I too am too sentimental for this game.

Red Sox hold 09 tix prices at 08 levels

We can only hope that other clubs see it the same way.

From the Boston Herald: 

“We have been listening to fans, friends, and family about the challenges they are facing in light of the current adverse economic conditions,” said Larry Lucchino, Red Sox President/CEO in a press release this morning. “We are also grateful for the unwavering faith and support our fans have shown us year after year and we hope our ownership’s decision to hold prices for the upcoming season will in some way help ease the burden on Red Sox Nation.”

New unis for the Orioles

oriole

The Orioles updated logo

 

Looks like the Baltimore Orioles will be wearing new uniforms next year.

“We’re always re-evaluating our brands and we’re proud to represent our local fans and area,” (Greg Bader, Baltimore’s director of communications) said of the changes, which include restoring the word Baltimore to the team’s road jersey. “And with these moves, we hope to connect to the community, to honor the 55-year history of our franchise and to also look to the future.”

Apparently, the changes “have been in the plans for almost year”. 

The uniforms were unveiled at a ceremony at which over 2500 people attended.  Jim Palmer, no stranger to modeling,  was on hand to model the uniform along with OF Nick Markakis.

Don’t do it, Baseball Prospectus

I love Baseball Prospectus.  I think they put out a first rate podcast which I listen to without fail.  Their annual publication which comes out near the beginning of the baseball season not only has a wealth of baseball information but does it with a sense of humor. 

I don’t need to tell those who have been to BP’s web site that their staff of writers is one of the best in the business.  And yes, some of their stuff is subscription only but if put up the green, what you get back is pretty amazing. 

You know the one thing that might drive me away from it? 

…if ESPN bought it

Obama: you mean he’s REALLY a Sox fan?

obamasox

I captured this from a video from CNN of our president-elect in DC this week… wearing a White Sox cap.  All that talk from before wasn’t just campaign posturing?

I can imagine the Sox fans now.  First the 2005 World Series… now a Sox fan in the White House.

Sure, give them more sense of entitlement.

Cy Young Tim

SF pitcher Tim Lincecum won this year’s NL Cy Young award handily over Brandon Webb.  He got 23 of 32 first place votes and outscored Webb 137 to 73 in total points. 

His GM put it succinctly:

“In Obama-like fashion, it wasn’t close,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean said.

Lincecum became the 12th pitcher to win the award with a sub-.500 team.  As a Cub fan, I didn’t have to look up 1979 Bruce Sutter, I knew he was on the list.  This year’s second place Brandon Webb was also there.  He won in 2006 with the 76-86 Dbacks. 

The media’s sub-headline was that Lincecum won the second Cy Young for Giants.  Without looking it up, I of course expected the other to be Juan Marichal.  It wasn’t.  Mike McCormick took it in 1967.  Not only that, Marichal didn’t get a first place vote during his reign. 

Cy Young Awards with clickable links to voting (via Baseball Reference)

Occupational hazard of playing at the same time of Koufax, Gibson, et.al.

On a personal note, let it be known that I got Lincecum for two measly bucks in the fantasy auction I was in this spring. 

Did I get my money’s worth?  I think so.

Update: 

2k9lincecum

It was also announced that Lincecum had the honor of being on the cover of the Major League Baseball 2K9 video game. 

A good day all around for Tim. 

2008 Internet Baseball Awards

The results of the 17th annual Internet Baseball Awards were announced last week. 

NL results

AL results

The tightest voting was for AL MVP with Boston’s Dustin Pedroia (12963 total points) edging out the Twins’ Joe Mauer (11416 points).

Oh yeah, suck it Cub haters.  Lou Piniella won Manager of the Year. 

Let’s see if the BBWAA feels the same way.

Cubs have yet another hole to fill

In this article from the Trib which analyzes the Cubs’ spending priorities, we find that they have to take care of one more need. 

…and firing (Kosuke) Fukudome’s interpreter, Ryuji Araki. Hendry wants to find an interpreter who jells better with the Japanese outfielder.

That explains everything.