Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
The DSL (Dominican Summer League) Padres gave up 17 runs on just six hits to the DSL Tigers yesterday.
How? The usual culprits in games like this. Lack of control (13 walks) and no support from the glovemen (four errors).
The Tigers won 17-8. Here is the box score.
(via Bus Leagues Baseball)
Catcher/firstbaseman Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians was swapped to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Justin Masterson and minor leaguers Nick Hagadone & Bryan Price. Masterson will pitch out of the bullpen for the Indians, while Martinez will play firstbase for Boston this year, and eventually will probably take over for Jason Varitek behind the plate for the Red Sox.
Jake Peavy finally agreed to be dealt to the White Sox in exchange for Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Adam Russell, & Dexter Carter. Jake nixed a 5/21 trade to the Southside of Chicago, but decided the White Sox wanted him enough and wanted to win, that he agreed to come to Chicago. This might be like when Greg Maddux signed with the Braves. The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner will move into the Sox rotation as soon as his ankle heals. Clayton Richard & Aaron Poreda are two great lefthand arms that should become members of the Padres rotation in the very near future.
Tyler Ladendorf of Des Plaines & the Minnesota Twins was traded to the Oakland A’s in exchange for Orlando Cabrera. Now Cabrera once again is in the playoff hunt, while Ladendorf is on the fast track to the big leagues. Tyler was hitting .410 in rookie ball, but was batting only .233 in low A ball, still this shortstop’s bat is his calling card.
Detroit retooled for the playoff push acquiring Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners for Luke French and Class A lefty sensation Mauricio Robles. Robles looks to be the real deal, striking out 111 batters in only 91 1/3 innings.
Baltimore closer George Sherrill was traded to the LA Dodgers in exchange for AA thirdbaseman Josh Bell & AA pitcher Steve Johnson, Steve is the son of former Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson.
The Toronto Blue Jays got thirdbaseman Edwin Encarnacion and pitchers Josh Roenicke & Zach Stewart for Scott Rolen. Rolen will provide veteran leadership for the young Reds.
Nick Johnson was sprung from the Washington Nationals in exchange for lefthanded pitching prospect Aaron Thompson, so now Nick finds him in the middle of the NL East Playoff race.
Adam LaRoche came back home to Atlanta when the Braves traded Casey Kotchman for him, it was the second time Adam was traded this season, LaRoche will be the starting firstbaseman in Atlanta, while Kotchman will bolster Boston’s bench.
The Cubs added lefthanded reliever John Grabow to their relief corps, along with Tom Gorzelanny, in exchange for Kevin Hart, Jose Ascanio, & Class-A infielder Josh Harrison. This deal should help both clubs, with Hart possibly moving into the Pirates rotation.
In a head scratcher, Jack Wilson (along with Ian Snell) was also dumped off the Buccos, but to the Seattle Mariners, who are sellers, for Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin, & Nathan Adcock.
Pittsburgh picked up pitching prospect Tim Alderson from the SF Giants in exchange for .300 hitting secondbaseman Freddy Sanchez. The Giants also got Ryan Garko from the Tribe for another pitching prospect Scott Barnes.
This is an exciting time of the year, with ballclubs jockeying for playoff position, and players changing uniforms.
Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has given his notice
"God willing, I will probably come back for one more year," Scully said in a phone interview. "At this moment, my health is excellent, and I’m leaning toward one more year."
And then retire?
"Yes, that makes sense," he said..
The last of a dying breed. A broadcaster who can call a game by himself and not sound boring. His secret, in my opinion? He doesnât feel it necessary to fill up every second with inane blather.
The Dodgers have a year and half with him. Enjoy these last few months and when he leaves, send him off the right way. He is a treasure to the sport of baseball.
Cubs minor league manager and uber-legend Ryne Sandberg came out publicly in support of re-instating Pete Rose back into baseball. He went as far as to say he wouldnât mind having him on his coaching staff.
I know Sandberg is just talking out his âss but who knows? And with rumors of re-instatement surfacing once again, Pete might remember those words.
And unless things change for Sandberg, that would make Pete Rose a Cub.
Generally, Iâm favor of re-instating Pete Rose back into baseball but Iâm not THAT ready.
Cliff Lee was involved in one of the best trades the Indians ever pulled off, when he was traded from the Expos, along with Grady Sizemore, & Brandon Phillips. Now Cleveland is hoping lightning strikes twice, swapping Lee & Ben Francisco to Philadelphia for four top notch prospects.
Jason Donald looked great when I saw him this past year in the Arizona Fall League. He’s pretty much hit .300 every year in the minors, except for 2009, the Indians are hoping he regains his stroke.
Lou Marson is a line drive hitting catcher. I’ve seen Marson in the AFL & spring training, his average has climbed as he’s matured, batting around .300 in AA & AAA ball.
Carlos Carrasco had a breakout season in 2006 in A ball, 12-6, 2.26 ERA, 103 hits in 159′ IP, with 159 K’s. While he’s maintained about one strikeout per inning, his ERA is currently 5.18 in Triple A.
At 6’5″ 225 Jason Knapp, a 19 year old righthander out of New Jersey, can really bring it, striking out well over one batter per inning in Rookie & A ball.
This trade just might turn out to be exactly what both teams need, the Phillies, trying to repeat, get a tough lefthanded starter in Lee and a solid righthanded hitting outfielder in Francisco, in exchange for four top prospects. Donald is a scrappy player, who might be at SS next year in Cleveland, with Marson flashing the signals to Carrasco, with Knapp warming in the bullpen, you never know.
Letâs take a look at stolen bases and on base percentage.
Here are the players with the lowest OBP with at least 50 stolen bases in a single season.
OBP SB1 Bert Campaneris .278 52 1972 2 Vince Coleman .285 50 1994 3 Omar Moreno .292 60 1982 4 Miguel Dilone .294 50 1978 5 Omar Moreno .295 53 1977 6 Bert Campaneris .297 55 1967 7 Jose Reyes .300 60 2005 8 Mookie Wilson .300 54 1983 9 Vince Coleman .301 107 1986 10 Bert Campaneris .302 62 1969
This list is rife of leadoff men (Iâm going on memory but Iâm pretty sure they all led off for their respective teams) but still couldnât get the job done when came to getting on base.
They say you canât steal first base but from a stat point of view, what these guys was pretty amazing (if not self-serving, see #9). These men got on base some 30% of the time (plus errors etc) yet still managed to steal an ungodly amount of bases.
If you think Bert Campaneris is over-represented in this list, check out the full list. Campy comes up #11, too.
No, you canât steal first base but when these guy DID get on, you could be pretty sure you had a man on second by the next batter.
There arenât a lot of details but Wrigley Field may be the home of future Northwestern-Illinois football games.
Both teams have been in talks working out the finer points. The soonest it could happen would be the 2010 season, according to the Big Ten Network. Illinois football coach Ron Zook favors the idea.
It wouldnât be the first time football was played at Wrigley. The Chicago Bears played there up until 1970. This video clip shows the Bears coming out of the locker room when they played at the Friendly Confines.
Last week, Jim Leyland took off his shirt and was called âsexyâ.
In a totally different set of circumstances, Tony Bernazard took off his shirt and will be fired.
Bernazard, who was the Metsâ VP of player of player development, was fired after he lost his temper more than once. One incidence occurred in the Binghamton Mets clubhouse where he took his shirt off and challenged the players there to a fight. Tony B also got into it with Metsâ reliever Francisco Rodriguez.
I donât think the Mets can take any more âdevelopmentâ.
Bernazard, 52, has had the position with the Mets since late 2004. He played in majors as an infielder from 1979-1991.
Wasting no time, MLB has come out with logos for the 2010 All-Star game that will be held in Angel Stadium:
Via The Biz of Baseball:
The official logo of Major League Baseball’s 2010 All-Star Game features a red dimensional star encircled by the silver halo of the Angels. The beveled star serves as an icon that represents the showcase of Major League Baseball’s finest talent. The unique typography of the 81st Midsummer Classic also reflects the dimensional beveling inspired by the host Club.
âMajor League Baseball is pleased that the 2010 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Angels, one of the model franchises of our sport,â said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. âThe enduring success of the Angels under Arte Moreno both on and off the field is remarkable. I am thrilled that the 2010 All-Star Game will spotlight a Club that embodies Major League Baseballâs commitment to providing affordable, family entertainment.â
My list of ten things that ESPN could get rid of and would make me a happier (and more attentive) viewer:
Whatâs on your list?
