Tomorrow is the last day to cast your vote for the 2011 All-Star Game, so I figured I would take this opportunity to update my ballot and vote again (you can vote up to 25 times per email address at http://www.mlb.com/; last year I voted 75 times!). Since my first ballot was submitted back in May, I have made some pertinent changes that reflect the overall performance of some players so far this season. Here is my new and revised ballot:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
1B - Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers) - No change there; he's batting .333 with 15 home runs, so he should get the job over Teixeira.
2B - Robinson Canó (NY Yankees) - No change there either. He's good (despite being a Yankee); what can I say?
SS - Asdrubal Cabrera (Cleveland Indians) - I voted for him the first time because he had a cool first name and I didn't want to vote for Derek Jeter; this time I voted for him again because he's batting .293 with 13 home runs. Derek Jeter can't say that, especially since he's sporting a bad hip.
3B - Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox) - This is a change from my previous ballot, where I voted for Maicer Izturis of the Angels. Izturis is playing OK, but Youkilis is playing better (with his 55 RBIs), plus I felt bad not voting for a Red Sox player. I'm sure A-Rod will still get to start though; whatever!
Catcher - I initially voted for Russell Martin of the Yankees, but I don't like him anymore. Therefore, my vote went to Indians' catcher Carlos Santana, only because he has a "Black Magic Woman" who's got him so blind he can't see. And since I can't see either, he got my sympathy vote!
DH - I'm sorry to say, I knocked Vladimir Guerrero out of my ballot and went with the Tigers' Victor Martinez instead (sorry, O's fans!). He's batting .335 with 46 RBIs, plus I went to high school with a Victor Martinez (not the same one).
Outfield (choose 3) - Melky Cabrera (Kansas City Royals), Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioles), and Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners) - These three votes did not change. Ichiro is awesome, Cabrera is playing well (plus I wanted all 3 "Cabreras" to remain on my ballot), and Adam Jones, well, he's awesome too!
NATIONAL LEAGUE
1B - Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds) - This did not change because I didn't want to vote for the injured Pujols or the vegetarian Prince Fielder. Nothing against vegetarians, but how can a guy who weighs 300 pounds be a vegetarian? It just seems wrong!
2B - Rickie Weeks (Milwaukee Brewers) - He got my vote again because he is playing some great baseball (though I really wanted to vote for Danny Espinosa of the Nationals, but voting for a rookie is just not right).
SS - Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies) - He knocked Ryan Therriot out of my ballot because of his .272 batting average, 14 home runs and 50 RBIs. He's no Ozzie Smith yet, but he's fun to watch.
3B - Placido Polanco (Philadelphia Phillies) is again my pick for third base. Yes, I voted for a Philly; but just one! And remember what I said last time: If Polanco does not make the All-Star team, I will NOT be watching the game!
Catcher - Iván Rodriguez (Washington Nationals) - Sorry, I just can't get myself to vote for anyone other than "Pudge." He is certainly not deserving of the position this year, but my mouse automatically clicks on him every time I try to click on someone else. I have no idea why that happens!
Outfield - Carlos Beltrán (NY Mets), Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman (St. Louis Cardinals) - Two out of three are the same, with Berkman replacing Justin Upton. Beltrán is having a great year (he even hit a Grand Slam last night), and Holliday and Upton are just dangerous in any batting lineup.
Now if only we could vote for pitchers... Actually, I'm glad we can't, because then I would be forced to vote for the deserving Roy Halliday, and voting for another Philly would just go against my beliefs. I just hope the Nationals' Jason Marquis gets chosen, as well as Justin Verlander and Derek Lowe (despite his drinking issues). In just a few days we'll find out who the starters are - let's see how many of my players get voted in or selected!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
"Like Mike...if I Could Be Like Mike!"
Mike Schmidt was one of those old-school baseball players that everyone still loves. Even I, the Philly-hater, love Mike Schmidt. I like him even more after reading this article that he wrote for The Associated Press, which basically lists every point I've made regarding interleague play. But since I'm not Mike Schmidt, people won't listen to me. Maybe now that he's expressed his opinion, the "powers that be" at Major League Baseball will take some action and get rid of this interleague thing. The Nationals are now traveling to Anaheim for a series against the Angels, then returning home on the other side of the country. Usually when an east-coast team goes out west, they coordinate it with a visit to San Diego, San Francisco, and LA. In this case, the Nats are going from Chicago to Anaheim and back to DC, which is exhausting and expensive. Another example of the ridiculousness of this interleague schedule is the upcoming series between the Braves and the Mariners. No offense to the Mariners, but why should the Braves travel all the way up to Seattle? And the series between the Red Sox and Phillies? Don't get me started - let Mike tell you how I really feel, because I agree with him 100 percent: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jQLT-hPWRVooWHvLyo5eGnGKnwmw?docId=8d881759be734f5b9714c09c3786b7b6
OK, so that's fine if you didn't click on Mike Schmidt's article; I know some of you just read my blog to be nice and you may have thought his article was too long. Basically, he agrees with me that interleague play is unnecessary, too costly, and it takes away from the excitement of the All-Star Game and the World Series. I guess that, like Mike, I am "old-school."
So the Nationals play their first game tonight with their new manager, Davey Johnson. Davey and I go way back, back to his days as manager of the Mets in the late 80s. He was the first manager I paid attention to, in the days of Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden and Gary Carter. Davey didn't do so well managing the Orioles after that; let's just hope he does OK with Nats' GM Mike Rizzo micromanaging his every move.
And don't forget to go to http://www.mlb.com/ to vote for your all-star picks! I'm going to vote again tomorrow, and I just might change my mind on some of the players for whom I already voted! Stay tuned!
OK, so that's fine if you didn't click on Mike Schmidt's article; I know some of you just read my blog to be nice and you may have thought his article was too long. Basically, he agrees with me that interleague play is unnecessary, too costly, and it takes away from the excitement of the All-Star Game and the World Series. I guess that, like Mike, I am "old-school."
So the Nationals play their first game tonight with their new manager, Davey Johnson. Davey and I go way back, back to his days as manager of the Mets in the late 80s. He was the first manager I paid attention to, in the days of Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden and Gary Carter. Davey didn't do so well managing the Orioles after that; let's just hope he does OK with Nats' GM Mike Rizzo micromanaging his every move.
And don't forget to go to http://www.mlb.com/ to vote for your all-star picks! I'm going to vote again tomorrow, and I just might change my mind on some of the players for whom I already voted! Stay tuned!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A True Pitchers' Duel...and then a real SHOCKER!
Today was the third and final game of the three-game series between the Nationals and the Seattle Mariners (yes, more of that interleague stuff, I know!). The Nationals had won the first two, winning the first game 6-5 after Wilson Ramos hit a walk-off home run in the ninth; and the second game by a score of 2-1 in a not-as-exciting fashion. Today's afternoon game featured Jason Marquis starting for the Nats (the best starter the Nationals have) and rookie sensation Michael Pineda starting for the Mariners. Pineda is 6'7, which makes him one of the tallest people I've ever seen. Both pitchers had total control of the game - Jason Marquis even had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning that was broken (ironically) by Pineda himself. It was one of those fast-moving, not-so-interesting games, especially since the Nationals left the bases loaded at one point. But in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Nationals' bats came alive and they won by a score of 1-0. There was way more bunting in that inning than I had seen in days, but the Nats won nonetheless. That's 11 wins in their last 12 games, and that puts them one game above .500, solidly in third place. I was one happy baseball fan! But shortly after the game, Nationals' manager Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned, stating that team management never finalized his contract, kept giving him the runaround, and just didn't give him the respect and commitment that he felt he deserved. I always liked Riggleman - I found him to be a little passive, but I know that the fiery, worked-up manager is a thing of the past. Most managers nowadays are more mellow, and Riggleman was definitely calm and collected. I give him major kudos for sticking to his guns and not letting the team's upper management continue to string him along on such a short leash; I just wish the timing had been a little better. His team (now former team) is playing well, Stephen Strasburg will be back next year, and Bryce Harper is up-and-coming. I bet there will be guys knocking each other out of the way to try and get Nats' GM, Mike Rizzo, to hire them. I personally would never work for Mr. Rizzo, but I hope whoever takes over the job continues to lead the Nationals in the same respectable, professional manner that Jim Riggleman did.
In other baseball news, I'm sure you've heard by now that Albert Pujols is out for about six weeks with a broken wrist. It was awful seeing him rolling on the field in pain; not as bad as when Buster Posey was trampled at home plate earlier in the season, but still painful to watch. Not only do I feel bad for Albert, but the poor Cardinals have been playing some lousy baseball lately, and they will surely miss Albert both at the plate and on first base. The only good news that comes from that story is that now somebody else has the opportunity to start at first base in the All-Star Game. Joey Votto maybe? He got my vote, so I hope he's the lucky one. I will miss seeing Albert in the Home Run Derby too; that's always fun to watch.
Then there are those darn Phillies, who still can't seem to lose any games or any ground on the NL East. They won't be playing the Nationals again until August; who knows what the standings will look like then! All I know is their pitching remains solid, their hitters continue to be hot, and they still get on my nerves!
Finally, today's interesting baseball fact (speaking of fiery, worked-up managers): On this day in 1988, George Steinbrenner fires Yankees manager Billy Martin for the fifth time. Talk about a guy who was passionate about the game (Martin) and a guy who was passionate about winning (Steinbrenner)!
In other baseball news, I'm sure you've heard by now that Albert Pujols is out for about six weeks with a broken wrist. It was awful seeing him rolling on the field in pain; not as bad as when Buster Posey was trampled at home plate earlier in the season, but still painful to watch. Not only do I feel bad for Albert, but the poor Cardinals have been playing some lousy baseball lately, and they will surely miss Albert both at the plate and on first base. The only good news that comes from that story is that now somebody else has the opportunity to start at first base in the All-Star Game. Joey Votto maybe? He got my vote, so I hope he's the lucky one. I will miss seeing Albert in the Home Run Derby too; that's always fun to watch.
Then there are those darn Phillies, who still can't seem to lose any games or any ground on the NL East. They won't be playing the Nationals again until August; who knows what the standings will look like then! All I know is their pitching remains solid, their hitters continue to be hot, and they still get on my nerves!
Finally, today's interesting baseball fact (speaking of fiery, worked-up managers): On this day in 1988, George Steinbrenner fires Yankees manager Billy Martin for the fifth time. Talk about a guy who was passionate about the game (Martin) and a guy who was passionate about winning (Steinbrenner)!
Monday, June 20, 2011
All Good Streaks Must Come to an End
In case you hadn't heard by now, the formerly-in-last-place Washington Nationals just ended an eight-game winning streak (which I can talk about now, since the streak is over and I don't risk jinxing anyone). They took 3 games of their 4-game series with the Padres in San Diego, swept the Cardinals at home, and took the first two of three from the Orioles. The streak was in part due to good pitching from starters Liván Hernandez, John Lannan, Jordan Zimmermann and Jason Marquis; good relief work (finally!) from Tyler Clippard, Henry Rodriguez and Drew Storen; and consistent hitting from Michael Morse, Danny Espinosa, and Ian Desmond. The streak also marked the return of former Gold Glove winner, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Ryan has been off to a slow start since missing 58 games due to abdominal surgery, but most people agree that just having him back in the lineup gave the team a much-needed psychological boost. It was great watching the Nats play well, and hopefully just because they lost yesterday's game doesn't mean they are done with their winning ways. They are two games under .500, and they look much better as a team. However, they did not get to a third-place tie with the Mets in the NL East on their own. It helped that the Marlins have lost 10 games in a row (their manager, Freddy Rodriguez just resigned so as not to get fired), and that the Mets have been inconsistent. But despite winning 8 games in a row, the Nationals are still 9.5 games behind the Phillies, because as we all know, the Phillies never lose. Sigh!
My husband and I celebrated Fathers Day yesterday with a trip to nearby Hagerstown to see the Suns play the Delmarva Shorebirds. We went because the Nationals' first-round draft pick from last year, Bryce Harper, plays for the Suns and is supposed to be the best hitter since Babe Ruth. Well, first of all, Bryce was not in the lineup yesterday, getting a day off. We did see him a lot, and he does not look like an 18-year-old kid. He looks all grown-up and seems to be fitting in nicely with his teammates. So there was the fact that we went to see Bryce and he didn't play. Also a bit disappointing was the fact that Municipal Stadium is REALLY REALLY old, so the bathrooms smelled like they held 80 years of urine in their floors, and despite having seats practically on the field, there was this plastic bar that went across the fence in front of us that blocked our view. If we had been maybe 3 inches taller, it would have been fine. In this case, the cheaper seats would have been better. But old stadiums have that old-stadium charm, and it was nice to be in a throwback environment where they still have a person manually changing the score in the outfield scoreboard (very Fenway Park-like). It was neat knowing that Willie Mays had played there, and the small size of the stadium made it feel cozy and intimate. We had a good time, and the Suns ended up winning 11-4. As a frequent visitor to our local Harry Grove Stadium, I didn't realize how nice how have it until I went to visit someone else's minor league park!
My husband and I celebrated Fathers Day yesterday with a trip to nearby Hagerstown to see the Suns play the Delmarva Shorebirds. We went because the Nationals' first-round draft pick from last year, Bryce Harper, plays for the Suns and is supposed to be the best hitter since Babe Ruth. Well, first of all, Bryce was not in the lineup yesterday, getting a day off. We did see him a lot, and he does not look like an 18-year-old kid. He looks all grown-up and seems to be fitting in nicely with his teammates. So there was the fact that we went to see Bryce and he didn't play. Also a bit disappointing was the fact that Municipal Stadium is REALLY REALLY old, so the bathrooms smelled like they held 80 years of urine in their floors, and despite having seats practically on the field, there was this plastic bar that went across the fence in front of us that blocked our view. If we had been maybe 3 inches taller, it would have been fine. In this case, the cheaper seats would have been better. But old stadiums have that old-stadium charm, and it was nice to be in a throwback environment where they still have a person manually changing the score in the outfield scoreboard (very Fenway Park-like). It was neat knowing that Willie Mays had played there, and the small size of the stadium made it feel cozy and intimate. We had a good time, and the Suns ended up winning 11-4. As a frequent visitor to our local Harry Grove Stadium, I didn't realize how nice how have it until I went to visit someone else's minor league park!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Oh, It's That Interleague Thing Again! :-(
Interleague play in the Major Leagues started in 1997 as a way to get people interested in baseball again after the 1994 strike. It started out with teams from the same geographic divisions playing each other, like the Yankees vs. the Mets, the White Sox vs. the Cubs, and the Indians vs. the Reds. This year there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which teams are playing each other, and it seems like there are more interleague games than ever. Personally, I think teams from the National League should not play teams from the American League unless it's the All-Star Game or the World Series. Now, if two teams who played each other in interleague play face each other in the World Series, the mystery of never having faced a particular pitcher or batter is lost. It'll be old news, like "Oh, I faced this guy earlier this season; I know what pitch to trow to him." That makes the World Series less unique and more predictable. Another reason I don't like interleague play is that the Designated Hitter rule (which I don't like to begin with) applies when playing in an American League park. This is all well and good when the NL visits, because their pitcher doesn't have to bat and you can use a good hitter from the bench. It's easier to manage - no double-switch, no lineup issues. But when the games are in the National League park, the Designated Hitter does not get to play as a starter, and the "Big Papi"s and "Vladi"s of the world just sit there on the bench, unused (except for the occasional pinch hit appearance).
So it's interleague time again, this time with some match ups that don't make much sense. The Mets are hosting the Angels, the Yankees are playing at Wrigley Field, and the Blue Jays are playing in Cincinnati. Really, is Target Field in Minnesota going to have more fans in attendance because the last-place Padres are in town? Does anybody care that the White Sox are in Arizona? Yes, it will be nice for fans at Fenway to get a glimpse of Prince Fielder and the Brewers; but wouldn't it be more exciting to experience that during a World Series instead of during a hot day in June? Luckily the Nationals and Orioles have kept their "beltway rivalry" alive because of interleague play; those are two teams that are so unlikely to face each other in a World Series that if you don't watch them during interleague play, you'll never get to see them play each other!
(I wonder what Kenesaw Mountain Landis would think of interleague play if he were alive today. Don't know who Judge Landis was?! Google him - you'll find out what an interesting life he had!)
Anyway, I'm not going to talk about the results of today's games (or yesterday's or the day before's), for fear of jinxing a certain team who has won 8 games in a row. I will give you my opinion and analysis of this streak when it's over, but in the meantime, I will remain silent regarding this matter. My lips are sealed! (Actually, I'm on my way to my son's Little League championship game - my lips won't remain sealed for very long!)
So it's interleague time again, this time with some match ups that don't make much sense. The Mets are hosting the Angels, the Yankees are playing at Wrigley Field, and the Blue Jays are playing in Cincinnati. Really, is Target Field in Minnesota going to have more fans in attendance because the last-place Padres are in town? Does anybody care that the White Sox are in Arizona? Yes, it will be nice for fans at Fenway to get a glimpse of Prince Fielder and the Brewers; but wouldn't it be more exciting to experience that during a World Series instead of during a hot day in June? Luckily the Nationals and Orioles have kept their "beltway rivalry" alive because of interleague play; those are two teams that are so unlikely to face each other in a World Series that if you don't watch them during interleague play, you'll never get to see them play each other!
(I wonder what Kenesaw Mountain Landis would think of interleague play if he were alive today. Don't know who Judge Landis was?! Google him - you'll find out what an interesting life he had!)
Anyway, I'm not going to talk about the results of today's games (or yesterday's or the day before's), for fear of jinxing a certain team who has won 8 games in a row. I will give you my opinion and analysis of this streak when it's over, but in the meantime, I will remain silent regarding this matter. My lips are sealed! (Actually, I'm on my way to my son's Little League championship game - my lips won't remain sealed for very long!)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Shhhhh!
It seems like every time I mention that a baseball player or team is doing well or is in some sort of good streak, something happens to end that streak or the team ends up losing or someone ends up getting hurt (like Derek Jeter, who is now on the 15-day disabled list thanks to my continual mention of his chase to reach 3000 hits). So because I tend to jinx everyone, I will not be the one to tell you that a certain team in the National League East has a 5-game winning streak. What I CAN tell you is that Michael Morse hit 2 home runs last night, Iván Rodriguez went 3 for 4, and Liván Hernandez pitched a complete-game shutout. It's been fun watching this particular team beat up on the Cardinals, who all of a sudden are having major issues on defense. I know this un-named team will eventually lose (maybe even tonight), but it won't be because I jinxed them!
Speaking of bad luck, how about those Florida Marlins? They've lost like 50 games in a row, and it doesn't help that they play in the world's crappiest ballpark. The Marlins now share last place with the Nationals, after being in second place back in May. Here is what the NL East standings look like as of right now:
The problem with these standings is that the Phillies have been playing the Marlins, and the Mets have been playing the Braves, while the Nationals have been playing teams from other divisions. So while the other 4 teams switch positions in the standings, the Nationals just stay there at the bottom, not gaining any ground because the Phillies keep winning too. This weekend they will go back to inter-league play (which I HATE, but I won't get into that today), so that won't have much of an impact on the Nationals' place in the standings either (unless they lose and Philly keeps winning, then they'll be like 20 games out!).
And the Orioles? Well they've lost 4 in a row and are the other local team in last place in their division. But things are looking up for the Pittsburgh Pirates though, who are now 1 game above .500 and are only 4 games out of first place. There is no Clemente or Kiner on that team; heck, there isn't even a Bonds, Bonilla or VanSlyke. But they're not the Cardinals or the Brewers, so I will be happy that they are playing well.
Finally, I must brag about my son's Little League team making it to the finals of the city championship tournament! They won 11-10 last night, even though my little guy went 0 for 2. The championship game is this Saturday; let's hope this loud mom can keep her composure and not embarrass herself, her husband, or her kids!
Speaking of bad luck, how about those Florida Marlins? They've lost like 50 games in a row, and it doesn't help that they play in the world's crappiest ballpark. The Marlins now share last place with the Nationals, after being in second place back in May. Here is what the NL East standings look like as of right now:
National League
| East | W | L | PCT | GB | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 43 | 26 | .623 | - | ||||||
| Atlanta | 38 | 31 | .551 | 5.0 | ||||||
| NY Mets | 34 | 34 | .500 | 8.5 | ||||||
| Florida | 32 | 36 | .471 | 10.5 | ||||||
| Washington | 32 | 36 | .471 | 10.5 |
The problem with these standings is that the Phillies have been playing the Marlins, and the Mets have been playing the Braves, while the Nationals have been playing teams from other divisions. So while the other 4 teams switch positions in the standings, the Nationals just stay there at the bottom, not gaining any ground because the Phillies keep winning too. This weekend they will go back to inter-league play (which I HATE, but I won't get into that today), so that won't have much of an impact on the Nationals' place in the standings either (unless they lose and Philly keeps winning, then they'll be like 20 games out!).
And the Orioles? Well they've lost 4 in a row and are the other local team in last place in their division. But things are looking up for the Pittsburgh Pirates though, who are now 1 game above .500 and are only 4 games out of first place. There is no Clemente or Kiner on that team; heck, there isn't even a Bonds, Bonilla or VanSlyke. But they're not the Cardinals or the Brewers, so I will be happy that they are playing well.
Finally, I must brag about my son's Little League team making it to the finals of the city championship tournament! They won 11-10 last night, even though my little guy went 0 for 2. The championship game is this Saturday; let's hope this loud mom can keep her composure and not embarrass herself, her husband, or her kids!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
You Can't Make Me Like Someone!
One thing I've tried teaching my kids is that you don't have to like everyone, as long as you're nice to people and treat them with respect. That goes for adults too (although I'm not always nice to my ex-husband!), which means it's perfectly OK for me to not like Alex Rodriguez. I don't have to explain myself either; I don't have to tell you that he's an arrogant yet insecure idiot who just rubs me the wrong way. Last night I watched the Indians and Yankees on ESPN, which the Indians won 1-0. (By the way, it was the first 1-0 game in the new Yankee Stadium, which I found hard to believe!). Cleveland really needed to win that game, because Detroit had won their game and would have been in first place in the AL Central if the Indians had lost. So during the game, Derek Jeter hits a single, which is hit number 2,994. Then the analysts start saying how Jeter's chase for 3000 hits is overshadowing A-Rod's position in the all-time RBI leaders list. Who really cares that A-Rod is number 11 on the list with 1,871 runs batted in? I'm sure a lot of people do, but I really don't. He's only 33 RBIs away from passing Willie Mays, but again, it really doesn't matter to me. Could he someday pass Hank Aaron as the all-time RBI leader? Unlikely, but possible (Aaron finished his career with over 2,200 RBIs). And if it happens, I won't care either. I'm sorry; I don't mean to be callous, but I really don't like A-Rod (or "A-Fraud," like Joe Torre called him in his autobiography). And I'm perfectly fine with that!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
"Does This Uniform Make Me Look Fat?"
No athlete looks better in a uniform than a Major League baseball player getting ready for a game. His clothes are all neat and clean, his cap sits perfectly on his head, and his cleats are shiny and free from any clumps of mud on the bottoms. Even after a game, the dirt on his uniform is indicative of how hard he played and how exciting the game was, so that still makes him look OK. However, no one looks more foolish in uniform than a baseball player sporting a "retro" look. This past weekend, some Major League teams paid tribute to years past by wearing replicas from "way back then." The Nationals and Padres, for example, wore replica uniforms from the 1936 season, when the Washington Senators were the local team and the Padres played in the Pacific Coast League (they didn't join the Majors until 1969, in case you care). These uniforms were dull, ill-fitting, and just plain ugly. From the high stripey socks to the baggy tops, these guys just didn't look good. I guess the only team that would not suffer from wearing retro uniforms would be the Yankees, whose uniforms have remained unchanged throughout baseball history. Then in today's game, the Padres wore their "Sunday Camo" shirts, which are downright hideous. Last I knew, a Padre was a priest, not a soldier or a hunter or a redneck. I couldn't follow the game very well because the Padres players were camouflaged against the grass - who thought of THAT look? Then to make it worse, we thought we'd get a reprieve from the bad uniforms by going to a Frederick Keys game. Boy, was I wrong! The Keys were paying homage to the Negro Leagues, and they wore uniforms from the different Negro League teams. Now I'm all about recognizing the Negro Leagues - players like Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson who played an integral role in baseball history - but did the Keys have to wear uniforms representing the Choo Choos, the Monarchs, and the Cubans? Plus no one had their names on their backs, and you know how I don't like that! Luckily both the Nationals and the Keys won their games, and it was a lovely night at the local minor league park. I guess it could be worse; the Astros aren't wearing the multi-colored horizontal stripe tops from the late 70s and the Pirates aren't bringing out the ball caps with the flat tops. Let's hope the Braves, Phillies and Royals don't decide to wear the bright blue unies from years past!
In other games today, there is a new leader in the NL Central, because the Brewers swept the Cardinals. They are half a game above the Cards, and 4 games above the Reds, who all of a sudden stink (I think I jinxed them by mentioning them here a few weeks ago). The Cardinals are going to be very angry when they visit DC this coming week; that will be an interesting series to watch. Let's see...what else?... The Yankees beat the Indians 9-1, so the suddenly-struggling Indians are tied with Detroit for first place in the AL Central. Derek Jeter is now at 2,993 hits, so by next week he should be at 3000. The Red-hot Red Sox have won 9 in a row and beat Toronto 14-1. And in Baltinore, the Rays beat the O's 9-6, which included an inside-the-park home run by Evan Longoria. Oh, and Francisco Liriano was 6 outs shy of pitching a no-hitter in the Twins' victory over the Rangers 6-1. It was definitely an action-packed Sunday in the Majors today!
So now I'm off to finish the laundry, which includes my son's baseball uniform. His regular season has ended, but he will be playing in a tournament tomorrow. Let's hope that Little League doesn't employ some sort of "retro uniform" day anytime soon; I couldn't bear to watch my little boy wearing a bright yellow jersey and green pants, reminiscent of the 1980 Oakland A's.
In other games today, there is a new leader in the NL Central, because the Brewers swept the Cardinals. They are half a game above the Cards, and 4 games above the Reds, who all of a sudden stink (I think I jinxed them by mentioning them here a few weeks ago). The Cardinals are going to be very angry when they visit DC this coming week; that will be an interesting series to watch. Let's see...what else?... The Yankees beat the Indians 9-1, so the suddenly-struggling Indians are tied with Detroit for first place in the AL Central. Derek Jeter is now at 2,993 hits, so by next week he should be at 3000. The Red-hot Red Sox have won 9 in a row and beat Toronto 14-1. And in Baltinore, the Rays beat the O's 9-6, which included an inside-the-park home run by Evan Longoria. Oh, and Francisco Liriano was 6 outs shy of pitching a no-hitter in the Twins' victory over the Rangers 6-1. It was definitely an action-packed Sunday in the Majors today!
So now I'm off to finish the laundry, which includes my son's baseball uniform. His regular season has ended, but he will be playing in a tournament tomorrow. Let's hope that Little League doesn't employ some sort of "retro uniform" day anytime soon; I couldn't bear to watch my little boy wearing a bright yellow jersey and green pants, reminiscent of the 1980 Oakland A's.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
Trading players is something that has been a part of baseball since the early days of the game. If a team's General Manager feels that his team is lacking in one aspect (be it pitching, hitting, or defense), he will search far and wide for a player who could fill the void and help produce a winning team. Trades don't always turn out equally, with one team ending up with the better end of a trade than the other team. 1997 comes to mind, when the Oakland A's traded Mark McGuire to St. Louis for 3 pitchers that no one ever heard of. Despite McGuire's steroid use, that trade ended up benefiting the Cardinals, who have performed well in recent years and even have McGuire as their hitting coach. Another infamous trade happened in 1991, where the Orioles sent Curt Schilling (before he got blood on his socks), Pete Harnisch, and Steve Finley to the Astros for Glenn Davis. And the 1990 trade where the Red Sox sent Jeff Bagwell to Houston for Larry Andersen? Not a good trade for the Sox! And of course, the most infamous trade of them all happened back in 1920, when the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for some cash. We all know how that one turned out!
Those of us who follow specific players are inevitably affected by trades. You sometimes feel betrayed, like how could that player be treated like a piece of livestock? How can he just uproot his whole family and get used to playing in a whole new environment? How come no one asked me for my opinion on that trade before they went through with it? I bring up the subject of trades because there is a rumor floating around the Majors that the Nationals are looking to trade Iván Rodriguez. Yes, you heard right; my Pudge just may be finishing his career with another team that is not my hometown Nats! When Pudge signed with the Nationals in 2009, he signed a two-year contract. Everyone assumed that he would contribute to the team's offense and defense while mentoring young catchers. I also thought he would be groomed to become a future manager or coach, because like I've said before, catchers make the best coaches. Iván started with the Nationals with the personal goal of reaching 3000 hits, a feat that only one other Puerto Rican player has ever accomplished (shame on you if you don't know who that is!). But things haven't been going according to plan, with Iván sustaining a few injuries last year and having a terrible offensive season this year. Plus their other catcher, Wilson Ramos, is doing a fantastic job both offensively and behind the plate, and he looks to be holding his own. The "problem" with Iván is that despite being 39 years old, he can still throw out runners trying to steal bases. He can still squat for nine innings (he caught 13 innings last night), and he knows the pitchers and players better than anyone else in the game. While most catchers are relegated to other positions so they can extend their careers (Jorge Posada comes to mind), Iván can still catch and he can still do it well. So the Nationals are in a bit of a conundrum - what do we do with this old guy who grounds into so many double plays? We know he can still catch, but if Ramos is doing the job, why should we keep Iván around? Well, there's a team out west who just lost their star catcher for the rest of the season, and they may just be interested in a natural leader like Iván (that team is the San Francisco Giants, if you hadn't figured it out). And with good catchers being such a rare commodity, other teams might be interested in old Pudge as well. So we'll just have to see how this whole thing plays out - I hope the fact that Iván went 0 for 6 in yesterday's game makes other teams think twice about trading for him! Let Pudge finish out his year with the Nationals, so I can keep wearing my #7 jersey and continue to embarrass my husband during batting practice when I scream like a crazy woman while waving my large Puerto Rican flag. I have acquired a reputation with Iván and Alex Cora (the other Puerto Rican player in the Nationals); don't make me retire my flag just yet!
Those of us who follow specific players are inevitably affected by trades. You sometimes feel betrayed, like how could that player be treated like a piece of livestock? How can he just uproot his whole family and get used to playing in a whole new environment? How come no one asked me for my opinion on that trade before they went through with it? I bring up the subject of trades because there is a rumor floating around the Majors that the Nationals are looking to trade Iván Rodriguez. Yes, you heard right; my Pudge just may be finishing his career with another team that is not my hometown Nats! When Pudge signed with the Nationals in 2009, he signed a two-year contract. Everyone assumed that he would contribute to the team's offense and defense while mentoring young catchers. I also thought he would be groomed to become a future manager or coach, because like I've said before, catchers make the best coaches. Iván started with the Nationals with the personal goal of reaching 3000 hits, a feat that only one other Puerto Rican player has ever accomplished (shame on you if you don't know who that is!). But things haven't been going according to plan, with Iván sustaining a few injuries last year and having a terrible offensive season this year. Plus their other catcher, Wilson Ramos, is doing a fantastic job both offensively and behind the plate, and he looks to be holding his own. The "problem" with Iván is that despite being 39 years old, he can still throw out runners trying to steal bases. He can still squat for nine innings (he caught 13 innings last night), and he knows the pitchers and players better than anyone else in the game. While most catchers are relegated to other positions so they can extend their careers (Jorge Posada comes to mind), Iván can still catch and he can still do it well. So the Nationals are in a bit of a conundrum - what do we do with this old guy who grounds into so many double plays? We know he can still catch, but if Ramos is doing the job, why should we keep Iván around? Well, there's a team out west who just lost their star catcher for the rest of the season, and they may just be interested in a natural leader like Iván (that team is the San Francisco Giants, if you hadn't figured it out). And with good catchers being such a rare commodity, other teams might be interested in old Pudge as well. So we'll just have to see how this whole thing plays out - I hope the fact that Iván went 0 for 6 in yesterday's game makes other teams think twice about trading for him! Let Pudge finish out his year with the Nationals, so I can keep wearing my #7 jersey and continue to embarrass my husband during batting practice when I scream like a crazy woman while waving my large Puerto Rican flag. I have acquired a reputation with Iván and Alex Cora (the other Puerto Rican player in the Nationals); don't make me retire my flag just yet!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
On Purpose, but not Really?
The hit batsman is one of those controversial topics that has sparked many a lively debate among baseball players and enthusiasts alike for as long as the game has been played. Nolan Ryan, one of the best pitchers ever, has admitted to hitting batters intentionally with one of his pitches as a form of retaliation or revenge. Others say that no, pitchers just suffer from instant "control issues" and don't mean to hit anyone (yeah, right!). There hadn't been too much of a punishment for hitting a batter until recently, when Commissioner Bud Selig decided that he wasn't enough of a jerk yet, so he should institute "guidelines" and "penaltiess" for instances where a pitcher hits a batter. It used to be "part of the game," where a batter would get hit, he would glare at the pitcher, and the game would go on (with an occasional bench-clearing brawl). Nowadays, you get a warning, then you get ejected from the game. If your manager does his job and tries to go defend you, he gets ejected too. This is what happened in today's game between the Nationals and Diamondbacks, where 5 players were hit. After Jayson Werth was hit by starting pitcher Ian Kennedy, the Nats' Jason Marquis hit Justin Upton in the sixth inning and was ejected from the game. Jim Riggleman went out to defend his pitcher and was subsequently thrown out too. Then in the eighth, Danny Espinosa was hit for the second time, this time by D'backs' reliever Esmerling Vasquez. So both Vasquez and his manager, Kirk Gibson, were ejected then. It was a wild game, with the Nationals leading going into the bottom of the ninth, only to have the D'backs tie it and send the game into extra innings. How did the game end? With hottie Michael Morse hitting a Grand Slam (his second one this year) in the 11th inning and the Nats winning 9-4. It was one of those games that had everything - good offense, good defense, and lots of entertainment. If only every game could be this exciting!
In other action today, the Pirates lost to the Phillies 7-3 after taking the first two games of that series. Roy Halliday won the game, and is now 8-3. Sigh! And I can't believe I hadn't mentioned this player before, but Antonio Bastardo pitched in relief for the Phillies today - poor guy must have really gotten picked on with a last name like that! Just a little bit east of here, the Orioles lost to the Blue Jays 7-4 after having had such a good game yesterday. The Yankees beat the Angels 5-3, with Derek Jeter going 1-5 and standing at 2,986 hits.
Today was also my son's last game of his first season playing Little League. He had one hit and scored a run. His team didn't win a single game this season, but my son had fun and learned a lot. His team had many nice boys, one mean kid, and a girl who hit better than most boys her age. They learned how to play as a team, how to communicate while fielding, and how to run the bases. And in the entire season, not one of the kids got hit by a pitch!
In other action today, the Pirates lost to the Phillies 7-3 after taking the first two games of that series. Roy Halliday won the game, and is now 8-3. Sigh! And I can't believe I hadn't mentioned this player before, but Antonio Bastardo pitched in relief for the Phillies today - poor guy must have really gotten picked on with a last name like that! Just a little bit east of here, the Orioles lost to the Blue Jays 7-4 after having had such a good game yesterday. The Yankees beat the Angels 5-3, with Derek Jeter going 1-5 and standing at 2,986 hits.
Today was also my son's last game of his first season playing Little League. He had one hit and scored a run. His team didn't win a single game this season, but my son had fun and learned a lot. His team had many nice boys, one mean kid, and a girl who hit better than most boys her age. They learned how to play as a team, how to communicate while fielding, and how to run the bases. And in the entire season, not one of the kids got hit by a pitch!
Friday, June 3, 2011
One Streak, Two Streak, Red Streak, Blue Streak
There are certain streaks out there that I don't care to follow - the streak of gray hairs starting to show up on my head; the streaks of toothpaste on my kids' bathroom mirror; the streak of sunlight that comes in through my blinds and wakes me up on Saturday mornings. But in sports, we love to follow streaks. Consecutive games lost or won; consecutive runs, goals, or touchdowns scored; streaks of perfection and glory or streaks of defeat. Baseball nerds like myself love streaks, whether we follow consecutive-game hitting streaks (like Andre Ethier's 30-game one earlier this year); consecutive scoreless innings pitched (one of the earliest streaks I remember following back in the days of Orel Hersheiser); or consecutive games played (who could forget Cal Ripken's 2131 game?). We get excited with streaks, big or small, long or short. Which is why I am happy to say that Michael Morse of the Nationals has an 11-game hitting streak. You're probably thinking: "If Andre Ethier's streak went all the way to 30 games, why is an 11-game one so important?" Well in the grand scheme of things, it's not. But as a Nationals fan, I'm just going to bask in this one for as long as it continues. Morse is no DiMaggio, but he's a very good hitter and can play whatever position you ask him to play (he's currently in first base since Adam LaRoche is on the disabled list). And like I've mentioned before, he's quite a hottie. So yeay for Mr. Morse - let's hope his streak continues for a little while longer - us Nats fans need the excitement!
Speaking of the Nationals and streaks, they won their third game in a row last night by beating the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1. This sent the D-backs down to second place, half a game behind the Giants. Jordan Zimmermann finally got the offensive support he never gets, so he finally got a long-deserved win. Everyone is freaking out because Jayson "Werth-less" got hit by a pitch on the elbow, but if he sits out a game or two I don't consider that a big loss (though his fielding prowess will be missed more than his lack of hitting). I give the Nationals credit for hanging in there and playing decent baseball despite all their injuries, and I hope they do well on the rest of this road trip.
Speaking of players with admirable streaks, yesterday in 1941, Lou Gehrig died of Lou Gehrig's disease (he should have seen that coming!). "Sweet Lou" had a great career full of streaks (including a game in 1932 where he hit 4 consecutive home runs in a 20-13 Yankee victory), and is still considered to be one of the classiest players of the game.
Speaking of the Nationals and streaks, they won their third game in a row last night by beating the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1. This sent the D-backs down to second place, half a game behind the Giants. Jordan Zimmermann finally got the offensive support he never gets, so he finally got a long-deserved win. Everyone is freaking out because Jayson "Werth-less" got hit by a pitch on the elbow, but if he sits out a game or two I don't consider that a big loss (though his fielding prowess will be missed more than his lack of hitting). I give the Nationals credit for hanging in there and playing decent baseball despite all their injuries, and I hope they do well on the rest of this road trip.
Speaking of players with admirable streaks, yesterday in 1941, Lou Gehrig died of Lou Gehrig's disease (he should have seen that coming!). "Sweet Lou" had a great career full of streaks (including a game in 1932 where he hit 4 consecutive home runs in a 20-13 Yankee victory), and is still considered to be one of the classiest players of the game.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Wow! Has Hell Frozen Over?
I know it's hard to believe, my friends, but the Washington Nationals just finished a 3-game series with the first-place Phillies, and the Nats took 2 out of the 3 games! Yesterday they beat them 10-2, and today they won 2-1. I don't know if it was the good pitching, the decent hitting, the super-hot temperatures, or the fact that Teddy Roosevelt finally won the "Presidents' Race" today; whatever the reason, I am a happy Nats fan. Now I am a realistic fan too; I know that this upcoming road trip to Arizona, San Francisco, and San Diego will be a tough one. The Nationals just plain stink when they go out west, so I will just cling to these past 2 victories until they come home for their next homestand. (Kudos go out to Michael Morse, Laynce Nix, and Danny Espinosa for their good offense, and John Lannan and Jason Marquis for their decent pitching).
In other baseball news, did you see the play this past weekend that put Buster Posey out for the rest of the season? For those of you who don't know Buster, he was the 2010 Rookie of the Year and was a pivotal player in the Giants' World Series win last year. He's a decent catcher and an all-around nice guy. Well he was covering home plate in a game against the Marlins when Scott Cousins came barrelling down the third base line and plowed right into Posey. Now I'm all about defensive, contact baseball, but I thought Cousins' slide was a little over-the-top. Instead of slamming into Posey with his shoulder and knocking him down, he should have either slid headfirst or feetfirst to try and tag home that way. Some people think Posey was "interfering," but I just think he was doing his job by covering the plate. Posey suffered 3 torn ligaments in his left ankle and a fractured left fibula, and he is definitely out for the rest of the season. I think the Giants will struggle a little without him, but they will be OK. This gives Yadier Molina a definite starting position in the All-Star game (I predict), and I'm fine with that. I do hope Posey has a good recovery and am confident that he will be back in good shape next year.
And how is Derek Jeter's hunt for 3000 hits going? He is currently at 2983, so he will reach the coveted milestone by the middle of June (I believe). He is only 5 hits shy of passing Sam Rice, who was a star player with the old Washington Senators. Keep going, Derek; I'm rooting for you, boyfriend!
So it's ridiculously hot here in Frederick (the temperature reached 102 yesterday), but it's never too hot to catch a game of baseball on TV. Have fun, stay cool, and keep following your favorite team and players as the summer continues to heat up!
In other baseball news, did you see the play this past weekend that put Buster Posey out for the rest of the season? For those of you who don't know Buster, he was the 2010 Rookie of the Year and was a pivotal player in the Giants' World Series win last year. He's a decent catcher and an all-around nice guy. Well he was covering home plate in a game against the Marlins when Scott Cousins came barrelling down the third base line and plowed right into Posey. Now I'm all about defensive, contact baseball, but I thought Cousins' slide was a little over-the-top. Instead of slamming into Posey with his shoulder and knocking him down, he should have either slid headfirst or feetfirst to try and tag home that way. Some people think Posey was "interfering," but I just think he was doing his job by covering the plate. Posey suffered 3 torn ligaments in his left ankle and a fractured left fibula, and he is definitely out for the rest of the season. I think the Giants will struggle a little without him, but they will be OK. This gives Yadier Molina a definite starting position in the All-Star game (I predict), and I'm fine with that. I do hope Posey has a good recovery and am confident that he will be back in good shape next year.
And how is Derek Jeter's hunt for 3000 hits going? He is currently at 2983, so he will reach the coveted milestone by the middle of June (I believe). He is only 5 hits shy of passing Sam Rice, who was a star player with the old Washington Senators. Keep going, Derek; I'm rooting for you, boyfriend!
So it's ridiculously hot here in Frederick (the temperature reached 102 yesterday), but it's never too hot to catch a game of baseball on TV. Have fun, stay cool, and keep following your favorite team and players as the summer continues to heat up!
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