Is This Goodbye, or Just a Hiatus?

Baseball has been around for almost 200 years.  It's supposed to be a fun sport to watch - a distraction to all of life's troubles.  You should be able to sit down with a mojito and a bowl of Goldfish and watch a bunch of grown men playing a kids' game and it's supposed to make you feel good (What?  You don't have a mojito or Goldfish while watching sports?  How about a beer and Pringles?  Live a little, for heaven's sake!).  The competitiveness, the strategy, the discovery of new talent, a perfectly-turned double-play, a walk-off homer - all of those things are supposed to make you love the game and want to watch more or even motivate you to go to a ballpark and catch a game with your family.  Baseball has transcended racial barriers, has united our country (President Bush throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium after the 911 attacks was pretty cool, regardless of what your political affiliations are - he used to own a baseball team and has always been a true fan, so nothing could have been more fitting then), and baseball has taught Americans how to pronounce names like San Pedro de Macorís and Hyun-Jin Ryu.

For me, baseball has given me an outlet for both my nerdiness and my competitive nature.  Ask my parents what they remember about me watching baseball on the weekends as a kid and they'll probably tell you that it was me yelling "YES!  YES!" when someone hit a home run or me studying the statistics on the back of baseball cards (the kind that came with stale chewing gum in each pack).  Trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up involved baseball - whether as an Athletic Trainer or some sort of fitness consultant.  Deciding what to do with my graduate work involved baseball - I was going to get my Masters in Sports Management and then go to law school to become an agent (I got the Masters, but decided to buy a house instead of going to law school).  Deciding where to go on our honeymoon involved baseball - Cooperstown, New York is a lovely town to explore as a newlywed couple.  My son likes watching baseball, and my daughter somewhat tolerates it; baseball has always been part of my life.

But now there is one man who just might single-handedly mar my love for the game, if I let him (and it gets harder and harder to resist).  We've never met (which is good, because if I did I might kick him in the balls), yet his actions and behavior are not only affecting me, but will surely leave a bad taste in the mouths of many other fans.  Scott Boras, a greedy and selfish sports agent who started his career defending pharmaceutical companies (that says a lot about a person!), represents many top-notch baseball players, including free agent Bryce Harper.  The Washington Nationals (the team that drafted him as the number one pick in 2010 and for which Harper has played his entire career so far) offered him a 10-year contract worth $300 million, and Harper turned it down because Boras said they could find a team willing to pay $400 million for the same length of time.  Now, it's not clear how much of the decision was Harper's and how much was Boras trying to sway a legitimately talented athlete who (in my opinion) is not very emotionally or intellectually mature; but in the last interview that Harper did before the end of the current season, he said he would love to stay in DC because it's "the only thing" he knows.  Don't you think he'd be happy, then, with a $300 million contract for the next ten years so he could stay in DC?

I also don't know enough about the ins and outs of sports contracts; do athletes sign a thing saying they will let their agent make all decisions on their behalf, or do they have any say in what goes on?  Do their contracts stipulate that their agents will contact a set number of teams or entertain a certain number of offers?  Do the players put their utmost trust in these agents and just let them handle everything?  I'm not sure what the relationship is between a player and his agent (hopefully it's not a Mike Tyson-Don King type of thing), but I do know that Scott Boras comes across as an arrogant weasel and someone I could never trust.  

So why is Harper's free agency and potential for signing the biggest contract in sports history bothering me so much?  Because I've ignored the greediness long enough, and I'm tired of constantly being disappointed (and the fact that I have followed Harper's career since he was drafted and follow him on Instagram kind of hit home a little bit).  Just when you think these guys are satisfied getting paid to play a kids' game, they end up signing ridiculous contracts (Giancarlo Stanton!) and you don't know if the player, their agent, or both are to blame.  Why do beers at Nationals Park cost $12?  So the team can afford to pay Max Scherzer's salary and pay the luxury tax.  Why do post-season games start so late and show so many commercials between innings?  Because it's more important for TV networks to make money than it is for fans to actually watch an entire game and still get enough sleep (thank goodness the last game of the World Series was a quick one, otherwise I would not have seen the Red Sox clinch the championship).  I am tired of sweeping the ugly side of baseball under the rug, and it's really wearing on me.

Why am I letting it bother me so much?  Because I love baseball.  And when you love something, you try to protect it for as long as you can until you no longer have the strength to do so.  You exhaust all your power and emotion and just have to give up in order to find happiness (yes, this sounds remarkably like my first marriage!).  Now, those of you who know me know that I am not a giver-upper - but at the same time, I have to be true to myself and stop denying the fact that baseball is getting ugly.  It has been ugly for a long time, actually - between PED use in the nineties, the rise of analytics that has made the game un-fun to watch, and the fact that you can no longer afford to take a family of four to a ballgame without having to take out a home equity loan - baseball is just not fun for me to follow as deeply and closely anymore.  How does this make me feel?  Sad, to be honest; no one likes to find out that Santa Claus is not real, have your best friend move away, or find out that there really wasn't an actual "Jesse's Girl."  And if baseball is indeed a microcosm of society (like I have written about in the past), then I would rather not associate myself with an industry that is full of greed, insensitivity, and ignorance.  Gone are the days of giving a kid a foul ball (because you can sell it on eBay), players joining Winter League teams in Latin America (because your team doesn't want you to hurt yourself), and getting a player's autograph (because they can charge several hundred dollars for one at a memorabilia show).  America is getting less "great," and unfortunately, so is baseball.

I will keep watching (and rooting for the Nationals and every player from Puerto Rico), I will continue to have the MLB app on my phone (because I HAVE to find out who ends up being the foolish team that signs Harper for an ungodly amount of money), and I may come back and blog in the future.  But for now, let me first of all thank the many of you who have been faithfully reading this blog since I started it in 2011; many of you couldn't care less about baseball but read my musings just to be nice, and I have truly appreciated your love and support.  I want to thank Mrs. Nochera, who taught me everything I know about grammar, Professor Shea for bringing out my sense of humor, my parents, for making questionable transactions just so I could have a certain Iván Rodriguez baseball card, and of course my husband, who has read every single blog, has taken me to dozens of games, and has put up with me ogling over the good-looking players (and if I ever do become Commissioner, I promise my brother that he can taste-test every beer in all 30 ballparks).  Thank you, my friends, from the bottom of my heart; I'm hoping this is not a permanent good-bye - just a "see you soon." 

With all my love and appreciation,
Marién
AKA "Mudville Mom"

Finding That Silver Lining

The 2018 baseball season has been a bit disappointing for some fans (and not just Orioles fans, whose team had the worst season in the history of the game).  Those who started following Sohei Ohtani's career are sad and disappointed that the pitcher-batter needed Tommy John surgery; Robinson Canó was suspended for 80 games for failing a drug test (and came back to play first base?); and the trades that sent Manny Machado to the Dodgers, Daniel Murphy to the Cubs, and Gio Gonzalez to the Brewers left many fans disheartened (and who didn't see Buck Showalter's firing coming?  Poor guy - I've always liked him).

For us Nationals fans, not only did we lose some players at the trade deadline, but the team ended the season in second place in their division, not making the playoffs despite being favored to win the NL East by most baseball "experts" in the beginning of the season.  We were frustrated with all the injuries (especially Sean Doolittle's), upset with the underperformance of the bullpen (without Doolittle), and downright pissed off at the loss of some veteran players with seemingly nothing in return (at least Doolittle wasn't one of them).

But with all the doom and gloom, it is easy to find a silver lining in this past season.  Take, for example, the friendly rivalry between rookies Ronald Acuña and Juan Soto.  Acuña, a Venezuelan who plays for the Atlanta Braves, is flashy and confidently blows chewing gum bubbles as he trots around the bases after a home run - a true fan favorite who really got everyone excited.  Soto, a Dominican outfielder for the Nationals, has a good knowledge of the strike zone and an infectious smile (and earned the nickname of "Magic Juan").  Both players are vying for the Rookie of the Year award, and my bet is that Acuña will get it (even though Soto deserves it more) because he has more home runs, and home runs are sexier than hits, RBIs, and batting average (categories that Soto leads over Acuña).  Plus the Braves are in the playoffs, and the Nationals are not.  Not that it should make a difference, in my opinion, but to some it does.  Whatever.

Similarly "neck and neck" for a pretty trophy are my boy, Max Scherzer, and the Mets' Jacob DeGrom, who both apparently deserve this year's Cy Young award.  The Marlins' manager, Don Mattingly, had the nerve to say that he was voting for DeGrom simply because Scherzer already has three Cy Youngs and someone else should have a turn.  Really?  Sorry, Mattingly - you're an idiot (and I never liked you anyway, because, well, you were a Yankee).  While I'm not a fan of teams that repeat consecutive championships (the reason I'm not picking the Astros to win the World Series this year - more on that later), if you're the best and most badass pitcher year after year, then you should be rewarded year after year.  It's not Max's fault that he's so great!  Scherzer finished the season with 300 strikeouts, 18 wins, and more innings pitched than DeGrom, who only led in ERA.  Again, the Nationals player probably won't get the award - it will go to DeGrom because he plays for a New York team.  It's just a lousy trophy anyway, and yes, Max has three of them already.  Pshaw!

And then there's Bryce Harper.  Sigh!  The 25-year-old Nationals outfielder is now a free agent, and no one has a clue as to where he will go at this point.  Harper has been very nostalgic lately, letting us know that he has been playing for the same team since he was 19 - he has grown up in DC, gotten married, and established the "Harper's Heroes" foundation.  And I know I have been critical of Harper in the past (he still shows some immaturity at times), but he has commented on how he would like to stay in DC because it's the only thing he's ever known and he truly appreciates the city's fans.  Aw, Bryce! <3  So where Harper goes next season is any one's guess - my gut tells me he won't be staying in DC (since they will have a capable outfield of Soto, Adam Eaton, and Victor Robles), but there have been so many crazy rumors (Dodgers, Yankees, Angels, Phillies...) that it's a true mystery at this point.  Stay tuned.

And regarding the playoffs?  Well they will definitely be interesting, because the Red Sox have MVP-to-be Mookie Betts and the awesome J.D. Martinez, the Yankees have Luis Severino, Giancarlo Stanton, and the charming Didi Gregorius, and the Dodgers have everyone they could trade for but probably won't keep after the playoffs are over.  But don't discount the Rockies, A's, and Brewers, and of course the two teams I'm tired of seeing in the postseason (the Astros and Indians).  What two teams do I want to see in the World Series?  Admittedly the Indians (just because they've made it many times before doesn't mean they've won) and Rockies, but unfortunately without the Yankees or Red Sox in it, most of America won't watch any of the games.  So what the heck - for the sake of the game and TV ratings, it might as well be the Dodgers and (dare I say it?) the Yankees.  Sigh!  Really?  Did I just say that?  If that's the case, perhaps I will be the only one who will NOT watch!  OK, then the Dodgers and Red Sox.  Phew!

Regardless of what two teams take the field in late October, there is still a lot of baseball to be played.  So check out a game or two no matter what two teams are playing - you might catch a glimpse of some greatness (Francisco Lindor), an amazing catch in the outfield (Aaron Judge stealing a home run), or a hot guy in tight pants (Matt Kemp!  Who cares if you dated Rihanna - you're still not bad to look at!).  Check out MLB.com to see what channel is showing what game (they tend to be all over the place in the early playoff rounds), sit back with a mojito (surely I'm not the only one who does that!), and enjoy some good baseball, because before you know it, this up-and-down season will be over.

Still a Crazy Fan After All These Years

If you ask the average person if they think the game of baseball has changed drastically in the past twenty years, they will probably tell you it hasn't.  There are still nine innings, a pitcher and a catcher, and overpriced concessions.  But in reality, the game has evolved in many ways, and experts say that it's changing for the worse.  Exhaustive analytics, implementing "the shift," and the ability to challenge some plays have eliminated the "small ball" mentality and has players (even pitchers) trying to hit the ball out of the park at every at-bat.  Now, I won't get into the nitty gritty of it, because I know that many of you read my blog just to be nice and truly don't care about launch angles and travel velocity (and frankly I don't really either), but in a nutshell, watching a baseball game isn't as "exciting" and strategic as it used to be (some would argue that it is in fact more strategic than ever thanks to analytics, but it's the wrong type of strategy that is currently being used.  OPS, WHIP, SBPCT... yeah - no one cares!).

And then there are the trades.  Right before the July 31st trade deadline, I was all for trading players because of my "do whatever it takes (within reason) to win" mentality.  Machado to the Dodgers?  Sure - that was a good trade.  Familia to the A's?  Absolutely - I never liked him, so why not send him far away from the NL East?  These players are going to be free agents at the end of the season anyway; they're just being "rented" to help their teams win a World Series and will find more permanent (or "less-temporary") homes during the off-season.  But when the Washington Nationals quietly traded Daniel Murphy to the Cubs and Matt Adams to the Cardinals earlier this week, it felt like a kick in the gut (not that I know what that feels like!).  Murphy is one of those wholesome guys you would want your daughter to date - he's hard-working, personable, and just oozes wholesomeness.  He says things like "gosh darn it" and "dag nabbit" when he's upset (which is rare), and he likes to chat with umpires before stepping into the batters box or with first basemen when he hits a single.  Having him leave DC was heartbreaking, and many of us took it personally (like when you go back to the hair salon and your favorite stylist is gone and they can't tell you where she went so you know you'll never see her again).  And even though Adams wasn't a National for very long, it was nice having him around, especially when Ryan Zimmerman was injured and Adams covered first base.  These trades reminded us that baseball is a business more than it is a game.  Sigh!

So what keeps me loyal to the game I have been following since I was a kid?  Yes, many of the players aren't bad to look at, but at this point, I'm old enough to be the mother of some of these guys (Juan Soto is only 19 and Ronald Acuña is only 20!).  Yes, there is an increasing number of women who are involved with Major League Baseball and are being taken seriously (ESPN's Jessica Mendoza and The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes come to mind), and that makes me happy.  But it was actually a recent trip to the ballpark that reminded me why I still love this game despite the politics, the greed, and inter league play.  

The Washington Nationals have had a disappointing season. mainly because everyone picked them to win the NL East and instead they have had a season full of injuries, lackluster performances, and a new manager that no one likes (OK, I don't like him; perhaps others, like his mother, think he's perfectly competent).  So it has been tough watching Bryce Harper struggle (though he has improved since winning the Home Run Derby last month).  It was hard seeing Stephen Strasburg wince in pain on the mound with what turned out to be some sort of nerve impingement thing in his shoulder.  It has been heartbreaking seeing your team falling in the standings as the Braves and Phillies surged ahead (but at least I'm not an Orioles fan - I don't know how those people haven't all jumped off the Chesapeake Bay bridge yet).  But as an optimist, I have relished every win that Max Scherzer has had this year (another Cy Young award will surely be his at the end of this season).  And what about Juan Soto?  Yes, he strikes out on 3-2 counts a lot, but it has been refreshing watching a 19-year-old show so much poise and promise.  And he has 14 home runs as a teenager, which puts him fifth past Mickey Mantle on the "all-time home runs by a teenager" list, and any time someone passes a Yankee on any list, I'm happy.

So I brought my optimism with me to Nationals Park earlier this week, where my husband, 14-year-old son and I endured DC traffic and joined thousands of fans on a glorious evening to halfheartedly root for our team.  We had spent a lot of money on the tickets (we had really good seats), so why not go and try to have a good time?  Armed with our Nationals gear and tater-tot bowls (which are delicious, but I didn't think it was necessary for hubby to tell me that they were 2000 calories each!), we were hoping for a win.  At 7.5 games out of first place and nowhere close to being a Wild Card team, we just didn't want the team to embarrass themselves.  The score was 3-1 Phillies after the first inning, but we were still having a decent time.  Tied at 5 after the fourth inning, all was still good.  We were still full, it wasn't hot out, and the fans behind us weren't too obnoxious.  After the top of the ninth, it was 7-6 Phillies.  The Nationals had three more outs, and the fans started leaving the park, because they flashed a message on the scoreboard alerting everyone that the last Metro train was leaving the nearby Navy Yard station in just a few minutes.  Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendón recorded the first two outs off Phillies' closer Seranthony Dominguez (yes, his name is pronounced "Sir Anthony!"), so we were getting ready to leave after Juan Soto presumably struck out again.  But instead Soto hit a double, and the nail wasn't quite nailed into the coffin at that point.  Veteran Ryan Zimmerman was up, and I knew that he was known as "Mr. Walk-off," having ended games with bottom-of-the-ninth home runs in ten previous games in his career.  What were the chances that "Zim" would hit one tonight?  I have been to dozens of baseball games in my life, and have never seen a no-hitter, a triple play, or a walk-off homer, so why would that happen in this case?  Well, it did.  Zimmerman hit what was barely a home run (but hey, if it goes over the fence it counts!) and the Nationals ended up winning 8-7.  The random lady sitting next to my husband who had been completely silent while she scored the entire game in her scorebook gave us all high-fives.  Everyone who was left in the park was cheering, clapping, and jumping up and down.  My son and I hugged each other.  Zimmerman had the proverbial Gatorade cooler of water dumped on him as soon as he crossed home plate.  These are men playing a kids game, I realized; you hit the ball, it goes over the fence, and you run around the bases.  You celebrate the victories, learn from the defeats, and come back the next day to do it all over again, trying your best and not letting ignorant people bother you.

Now if only life could be that simple!

Home Runs, All-Stars, and Trades - Bring Them On!

Oh what a week it has been for Major League Baseball!  First was the Home Run Derby at Nationals Park, where hometown-favorite Bryce Harper had a fairytale of a day.  His "Pops" was pitching to him, his bat had the stars and stripes painted on it, and instead of wearing a ballcap, he chose to accessorize his "perfectly coiffed" hair with a headband that had the flag of Washington, DC on it (and is currently flying off store shelves).  While I was happy to see a Nationals player win the Home Run Derby, it was a little bittersweet, because all of us who have watched Bryce grow up in front of our eyes know that he will not be a Nat next year, since he'll be a free agent at the end of this season.  And really - does hitting 45 home runs in one night negate Harper's current .214 batting average?  In the grand scheme of things, he's still in the biggest slump of his career.  And I'm not being a "Negative Nellie" because I'm bitter about not having gone to the Derby or the All-Star Game; I'm just telling it like it is - Harper better improve his hitting, or no one will want him next year (especially for the salary that his agent, Scott Boras, will be asking).

Then there was the All-Star Game.  I didn't dwell too much on the fact that it was being played just an hour's drive away from my comfortable sofa, because I had resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going way over a year ago.  So I was happy to sit in front of the TV and watch a game in the familiar ballpark that now everyone across the country was going to be able to enjoy.  And my boy, Max Scherzer, was going to be the starting pitcher for the National League for the second year in a row, so of course I was excited.  The player introductions were enjoyable to watch as always (especially since former Nationals players Blake Treinen, now with the A's, and Wilson Ramos, now with the Rays, received such enthusiastic applause), the National Anthem didn't bore me (it was an excellent rendition both vocally and visually), and Scherzer struck out four players in the two innings that he pitched (we'll ignore the home run he gave up to Aaron Judge).  The American League ended up winning the game 8-6 in 10 innings, and it didn't end up raining like they had predicted.  So overall, the All-Star Game was a success and all the players seemed legitimately excited to be there.

Then came the post-ASG trades, the most notable one being the Orioles sending shortstop Manny Machado to the Dodgers for five prospects.  Now, I know I had predicted that Manny would go to the Diamondbacks, but then Corey Seager ended up needing Tommy John surgery (it's not just pitchers who get that done!) and the Dodgers were really in need of a reliable shortstop.  Now, I also wondered if the Dodgers would try to get an outfielder since Yasiel Puig suffered a rib injury (I joked with my husband that the Dodgers should try to get Bryce Harper from the Nationals), but I guess the need for a shortstop was more urgent (because outfielders are a dime a dozen).  So for the next three months, Manny Machado will have Magic Johnson as his boss, will help get the Dodgers to the playoffs, and then will end up with another team as a free agent.  Does this bother me because it makes baseball players seem like cattle being taken to the auction block?  It used to, but then I realized that teams really have to do whatever they can to make it to the playoffs (especially if they're paying a hefty luxury tax, like the Red Sox and Nationals are predicted to this year), and mid-season trades that involve free-agents-to-be only displace a player for a couple of months.  Once the off-season comes and they sign with a new team, they can then move their families and get settled in a new city.  I'm not trying to be heartless; it's just one of those "gazillionnaire problems" athletes have to deal with.  I don't pity them (just their families).

And what about the Orioles?  Who do they get in return for giving up Machado?  They get outfielder Yusniel Díaz (Dodgers No. 4 prospect coming into this season), third baseman Rylan Bannon (Dodgers No. 27 prospect), right-hander Dean Kremer (Dodgers No. 28 prospect), right-hander Zach Pop, and infielder Breyvic Valera.  I don't know anything about these guys other than what's on paper, but when you suck as badly as the Orioles have this year, anything short of a Cal Ripken, Jr. comeback would definitely be an improvement over the current situation.  And if these prospects are as good as they seem to be, the Orioles should be really really good in the next few years (unless their inept owners screw that up, which wouldn't surprise me).

So now what?  Well the Cleveland Indians, who are currently leading the American League Central, just acquired pitchers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber from the San Diego Padres for catcher Francisco Mejía.  And of course there's talk of Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom being traded as well (maybe he can go to the Dodgers too, since Clayton Kershaw is having an "off" year).  So there is still a lot of wheeling and dealing to be done before the July 31st trade deadline; it will be interesting to see what happens between now and then.  My Nationals may be somewhat out of it at this point (we'll see how the weekend series against the Atlanta Braves goes), but I am still excited about the next few months - lots of trades, expanded rosters, and tons of exciting playoff baseball.  Stay tuned!

Where in the Majors Will Manny Go?

Hello, baseball friends!  It's been a while since I've posted, because the month of May was crazy with birthdays, graduations, track meets, band concerts, a prom, Mother's Day, out-of-town visitors, family events, parties, and all sorts of things that filled every single space in my old-fashioned paper calendar.  Now that everyone has settled into their summer routines, I can finally take a few minutes to jot down some baseball-related thoughts.

Most importantly, where is Manny going to go?  Yes, the Orioles' Manny Machado is on the trading block, and before the July 31st trade deadline, he's no longer going to be wearing orange and black.  This makes us locals a bit sad, because we watched Manny start out with our single-A Frederick Keys and blossom into an all-star.  At only 25 years old (I know, can you believe he's that young?), he's currently batting .305 with 18 home runs and transitioned nicely from third base to shortstop this season (despite my hesitation early on.  Good thing no one listens to me!).  So why get rid of him?  Well mainly because the Orioles suck big-time this season, so they might as well get a few guys in exchange for Machado, who will be a free agent at the end of this season anyway.  Where would he go?  The Arizona Diamondbacks, who currently lead the NL West, have shown some interest, mainly because their shortstop and third basement have been a bit disappointing this year.  The Dodgers, who are in second place in the NL West, have also shown interest.  I predict Manny will be a Diamondback by the end of this week, because I don't like the other rumors that the Os will trade Adam Jones instead (Adam just bought Cal Ripken's old house; don't make the poor guy relocate!). 

And what's up with the Yankees?  They're 48-22 (the second-best record in the Majors after the Houston Astros), despite none of their players batting above .290.  But relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman has 21 saves (and one of those contagious smiles that makes you think he's a nice guy), so I guess it's partly his fault that the Yankees are one game in front of the Red Sox.  Ugh.  That's all I'm going to say about that.

Then there's Mike Trout.  This season, he's being called "outrageously consistent," "best player ever," and "ridiculously great," yet many complain that he's not getting the attention he deserves.  Last year, every human being knew about Aaron Judge, because he's 7 feet tall, a very humble guy, and a member of a NY team (a city where the media has a conniption any time a player in pinstripes opens his mouth, swings a bat, or farts).  Mike Trout, the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year and six-time All-Star, has a career batting average of .307 and is leading the Majors this season in almost every category (home runs and on-base-percentage are just a couple).  He is the picture of consistency, finishing every season with a batting average of .287 or higher.  He always hits home runs.  He always gets on base.  He visits sick children and has a charitable foundation.  He has been the AL MVP twice, has won five Silver Slugger awards, and has been the Overall Defensive Player of the Year.  So why don't more people know about him?  Because the Angels haven't been in the World Series?  Because his contract goes until 2020 so there's no talk of him going anywhere?  Because he always seems to have a dumb look on his face?  Because the LA media focuses on the Dodgers and Kardashians too much?  I don't know, but people better start paying attention, because this kid is on his way to being the GOAT; the Serena Williams or Michael Jordan (or LeBron James, for you young people) of baseball.  He will continue to produce, he will be great for a long time to come, and I can say I saw him make a catch in the outfield at Oriole Park several years ago that seriously left me speechless (yes, me, speechless!).  Pay attention to Mike Trout, people!

Finally, we have to talk about my Nationals, because they're not in first place like everyone predicted they would be.  No need to panic, because the surprisingly good Braves aren't all that (except for Freddie Freeman, who is awesome).  So what if Bryce Harper isn't hitting (his average is .213) and Stephen Strasburg is on the Disabled List (again!)?  The Nationals can still hit (Trea Turner and Anthony Rendón), Max Scherzer is still the best pitcher this season (he already passed 150 strikeouts this season), and their rookie manager, Dave Martinez, hasn't royally screwed anything up yet (and hopefully won't).  He's doing a fine job putting together a roster despite all the injuries to key players, and he's not as quick as Dusty Baker was to take a pitcher out of a game when his defense fails.  So I'm not going to worry for now; I just hope the Nats can make it to the playoffs without having to  play a Wild Card game, and that no one else ends up on the Disabled List this season.

So there you go - these are some of the baseball-related things that have been on my mind this past month (I didn't even mention Robinson Canó's PED-induced suspension, Yadier Molina needing emergency surgery after getting hit in the "privates," or how Jacob deGrom is rumored to be traded by the Mets), but I'm thoroughly enjoying this baseball season.  Take some time to watch a game or two, don't forget to vote for your favorite all-star (I have yet to do that, but I'll get to it soon), and keep an eye on that Trout kid - I hear he's going to be pretty good! :-)

How 'Bout Them Red Sox?

The baseball season is in full swing (despite some games being postponed due to snowy conditions - yes, the weather has sucked this month!), and there's no denying that the Boston Red Sox are red-hot.  While it's nice to see the Pittsburgh Pirates getting off to such a good start (every Puerto Rican has a little bit of Pirate in them), it's nice to see the American League East be led by someone other than the Yankees (oh my gosh, what's up with those Orioles?  Sigh!).  So what's the deal with the boys from Beantown?  Let's take a closer look.

First of all, as of today (Friday), the Red Sox have won seven games in a row, including a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels (I guess that Ohtani guy isn't all that now, is he?).  They're off to their best start in franchise history (16-2), and we all know that this is one of the oldest franchises in baseball.  And this is despite the fact that they lost on Opening Day!  Since then, the Red Sox have won 16 of 17 games, which is way more than my fourth-place Nationals can say!  And when was the last time the Red Sox went 16-1?  That would be in 2004, when the "Curse of the Bambino" was finally broken and they won their first World Series since 1918 (that was what I like to call the "Bloody Sock Series."  My son was 5 months old at the time).

Why else is this team hot?  Because they score a ton of runs, plain and simple.  They lead MLB with 116 runs, with the next-best team at 106 (the Toronto Blue Jays - eh?).  Not only that, but they have only allowed 50 runs in their first 18 games.  I'm no math expert, but that's pretty low (less than 3 runs per game, I guess?).  That means they're not only hitting well, but their pitching is pretty solid as well.   Their starting pitchers have the lowest ERA in the Majors at 1.98, and their relievers have not allowed a run in their last 14 innings pitched.  And you know what they say - good pitching stops good hitting - so they're doing all the right things.

What else?  Their rookie manager is awesome.  Alex Cora (fellow Puerto Rican) is only one of two managers who has won at least 16 of his first 18 games.  The other one was Joe Morgan (also for the Red Sox),  and since we all know that Joe Morgan is super-cool, then that makes Cora pretty special as well.  And hey - I had a nice conversation with him when he played for the Nationals, and back then people were saying how he would make a good manager someday because he knows the game so well, so I guess everyone was right.  There goes my theory about catchers making the best managers.  Go Alex!

But are the Red Sox hitting?  Hell yes!  As a team, the Sox lead the Majors in batting average (.292), on-base percentage (.362), and slugging percentage (.496).  They also lead in all sorts of other obscure statistics that I don't even understand, so yeah - they're doing very well offensively.  Mookie Betts (who leads the Majors in batting average) hit three home runs in the opener against the Angels (the Sox hit six in that game), and they hit a total of 11 homers in that three-game series.  Pretty impressive, if you ask me.  So will the Red Sox stay hot?  Probably.  It may be a long season, and the Yankees might have their touted Judge/Stanton combination, but I think the Red Sox will take the AL East (the Yankees, by the way, are in THIRD place after the Blue Jays.  In your face, Yankees fans!).

Will the Sox be even better once their veteran second baseman, Dustin Pedroia, returns from post-knee surgery rehab?  Probably not.  While the Washington Nationals are desperately missing their second baseman, Daniel Murphy, while HE is rehabbing after knee surgery, the Sox have not skipped a beat in Pedroia's absence.  Eduardo Nuñez is doing just fine at second base.  Not great, but fine, and he's probably playing better than Pedroia would if he were there now.

I will continue to root for my 9-10 Nationals (because I'm not a bandwagon fan, and Max Scherzer is still badass), but I will definitely be rooting for the Red Sox as well (despite me being a National League fan), especially since the Orioles don't seem to be going anywhere but downhill.  And I spent 12 years in Massachusetts, so I can root for the Sox if I want to (notice I didn't mention Papi, Varitek, or Buckner, for that matter, in this post, because I'm trying to stay upbeat).  So keep it up, Mookie and friends - you're definitely making this season exciting and fun to watch.

Opening Day(ish) Thoughts

After months of waiting, it's finally Opening Day for Major League Baseball!  Yeay!  You'd think that I would be over-the-top happy - after all, I would much rather watch baseball on TV than the "Roseanne" revival or the current season of "American Idol."  But admittedly, I'm just feeling "eh" about Opening Day, and here are the reasons why.

First of all, my Nationals aren't playing today because it's raining in Cincinnati.  So their Opening Day will be tomorrow, and their Nationals Park Opening Day isn't until next week.  I know - it can't always be 70 degrees and sunny without a cloud in the sky and Max Scherzer pitching at home with my husband and me sitting in the fifth row behind the Nationals' dugout, but the yucky March weather is giving me Seasonal Affective Disorder, it's cold in New York, it's raining in Detroit, and it's not fair that the Orioles get to open at home but the Nationals don't.   Oh, and I just found out yesterday that MASN won't be carrying any Nationals or Orioles games on local CBS stations like they have in the past, so I won't be able to catch any games on TV when I'm at work (because I'm too cheap to have cable in my shop).

"But wait, Mudville Mom," you tell yourself.  "Aren't you usually a 'glass half full' optimist?"  Why yes I am, my friend; (thanks for noticing!) so here's what I'm actually looking forward to this season (and it's going to be a very good season, I might add).  First of all, I'm looking forward to this year's All-Star Game being in my beloved Nationals Park.  I'm not dwelling on the fact that I gave up the perfect opportunity to volunteer at this year's "midsummer classic" because of work obligations; instead I'm looking forward to all sorts of tourists contributing to the local economy (and some even coming as far north as Frederick and potentially visiting my shop), a historic Home Run Derby (can anyone hit the parking deck behind left field?), and people around the world finally paying attention to that National League team that is consistently in first place in the NL East but constantly takes a back seat to the Redskins and that fool who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  So yeah - that will definitely be a fun few days in July.

Also worthy of noting this season is the duo of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge playing together for the Yankees.  Now, I don't mind rolling my eyes about those who predict that the Yankees and Nationals will be in the World Series (there are 162 games to play before the post-season, and a LOT can happen before then), but I have to admit that having Stanton and Judge on the same team (especially one where the media is so vocal and has opinions about everything!) is pretty cool.  And staying in New York, I'm looking forward to Yoenis Céspedes having a good season for the Mets.  I'm a sucker for a man with a nice smile, and anyone who lets a clubhouse attendant drive his Lamborghini to go run an errand is just a nice guy.  Plus he has his annual "Céspedes Family BBQ" that has become a legendary tradition (feel free to google it); maybe I'll be invited someday.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Puerto Ricans Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa as two guys to watch this season.  Lindor is just so freakin' charming and charismatic, and Correa - well, come on, he proposed to his girlfriend on national TV after winning the World Series last year - he's just super cool.  When I grow up, I want to be just like him (though I can't help but wonder - if the Astros didn't win the World Series last year, would Correa have still proposed?).

And what's the position to pay attention to this year?  Definitely third base (sorry, Manny Machado - you should have stayed there!).  Anthony Rendón, Nolan Arenado, and Kris Bryant are badass (or is it "badasses?"), and if they can stay healthy, will be the game-makers who will (hopefully) take their teams to the post-season.  Schmidt and Chipper would be very proud of these guys (and they probably are - I'm talking like they're dead!).

So those are some of the players I'm looking forward to seeing this season (as well as a possible visit to a Mets game in New York?  This is the first my husband is hearing of this!).  Notice I made no mention of Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, or José Altuve - these are guys who don't need me to keep an eye on them because they're just awesome without me telling you they are.  I also said nothing about Alex Rodriguez joining the ESPN Sunday night crew, because I want to end this post on a positive note.  So try to catch a game or two this weekend - whether on your local station, MLB-TV, or ESPN (as a last resort) - and keep checking in with me regularly, because surely I'll have plenty to say throughout the season.

LET'S PLAY BALL! :-)

Three Cheers for Ichiro!

I know, I know; it's been a while since I've blogged, but let's face it - February was just a crappy month.  But Spring Training has started, the days are getting longer, and I've almost come to terms with my hatred of Scott Boras (more on that a bit later).  Despite my snarky comments and harsh criticisms, I do try to be a positive person, so I've been waiting for something fun and exciting to happen in baseball in order to share the news with all of you.  My wish came true yesterday, when the Seattle Mariners signed Ichiro Suzuki for one year at $750,000.  Yeay!

Now, if you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that I love Ichiro; not like I love Max Scherzer and DEFINITELY not like I love Iván Rodriguez - it's more like a "this guy is super-cool and has charisma and is just so darn likeable!"  When Ichiro became a free agent at the end of last season, I told my husband that the Mariners should sign him so that he's able to finish his career with the team that originally signed him over twenty years ago out of Japan.  Well I'm glad someone finally listened to me, because having Ichiro in Seattle is absolutely storybook perfect (I know most people think of Derek Jeter's career as "storybook," but I've always liked Ichiro better!).  

Last season, Ichiro appeared in 136 games with the Miami Marlins, hitting .255 (with an On-Base Percentage of .318 and Slugging Percentage of .332) across 215 plate appearances - more than half of them coming as a pinch hitter.  Over the past five seasons, split between the Marlins and New York Yankees, he hasn't been able to replicate the success he enjoyed in Seattle, hitting .263 in 725 games.  Still, the Mariners are very happy to have Ichiro on board (time to sell more jerseys!), and they insist (as does Ichiro himself) that this is not just a "swan song" thing - he's going to play regularly, and he's going to make a difference for his team (which I believe to be true, because the guy can still hit).  Ichiro is not planning a retirement tour this season akin to those of Jeter and David "Big Papi" Ortiz - he just wants to play, and if you ask him, he'll tell you that he wants to do so until he's at least 50 years old (you GO, Ichiro!).  The only downside of having Ichiro in Seattle is that he won't get much TV coverage unless the Mariners make it to the playoffs, but hey - it's just nice knowing that a decent guy like Ichiro will be around for at least one more year.

Sigh!  Now about Scott Boras...  For those of you who don't know him, Boras is a greedy, selfish, money-hungry and arrogant sports agent with clients such as Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, and yes - Iván Rodriguez.  He's a "player's agent" - the guy who will get you the lucrative contract and will "show you the money".  But the downside to that is when you put a price tag on a player and that price is too high (especially when the player is a pitcher).  This is the case with Jake Arrieta, a free agent who is currently unemployed.  This former Oriole and Cub has a Cy Young award, a championship ring, and All-Star game appearances.  At the age of 32, his fastball has slowed down just a tad, but not enough for him to be unemployed at this point in the off-season.  Yu Darvish (also 32 years old) was able to sign as a free agent (even after Tommy John surgery and a not-so-stellar job in the playoffs with the Dodgers).  Why was Yu able to get a job and Jake is still sitting around waiting for Boras to do something?  I just think that Boras is asking for way too much money.  Teams don't want to spend a lot on a pitcher when they know that players like Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Clayton Kershaw will become free agents at the end of the upcoming season (and no team wants to pay the luxury tax).  So why not lower the price on Arrieta?  Because Boras is an idiot!  The Nationals, Phillies, and Brewers have all shown interest in signing Arrieta for less than what Boras is asking, so why not lower the price on the poor guy a little?  This is what annoys me about professional sports - when they're treated like cattle!

Oh, and one more thing about Boras:  He has a Doctorate in Pharmacy and a law degree.  There's nothing wrong with that (says the woman who has a Masters in Sports Management but owns a kitchen shop!), unless you use both degrees to work defending pharmaceutical companies against class-action lawsuits.  I won't even GO there or tell you about the many cases he defended and millions of dollars he made for pharmaceutical companies - let's just say I have very strong opinions regarding pharmaceutical companies, and now that I know that Boras was involved, I'm not surprised.

So what do us die-hard baseball fans do to not get disheartened by the ugliness of the business side of baseball?  Well I, for one, have been listening to Spring Training games during the workday, and that has me excited for the upcoming season.  We have a lot to look forward to - the All-Star game being played at Nationals Park, Manny Machado trying his hand at shortstop, Shohei Ohtani making his US debut with the Los Angeles Angels, and the Miami Marlins trying to put together a team now that most of last year's players are gone (I'm guessing J.T. Realmuto will play all nine positions at once!), Adam Wainwright just being his hot and sexy self...  Whether it's Ichiro making $750,000 or Darvish making $21 million, we just want to watch these guys play.  Just a few more weeks to go until we hear "Play ball!" 

Chipper and the Gang

The Baseball Writers' Association of America (you know - that elite group of writers and journalists who know as much about baseball as I do but whose columns aren't nearly as entertaining as my blog) just announced its newest class of inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  The class of 2018 includes Vladimir Guerrero, Chipper Jones, Trevor Hoffman, and Jim Thome.  I would have voted for three of these four guys, choosing Edgar Martinez instead of Hoffman.  But hey - three out of four is pretty good, and I'm confident that Martinez will make it in the next year or two (especially since they seem to be including a lot more statistics and analytics into the selection).  So what do I think of these four guys?  Well I'm glad you asked!

Chipper Jones was a shoo-in.  Whoever thought Jones wasn't going to get in on his first year of eligibility is an ignorant idiot.  With a career batting average of .303, 468 home runs, and 1.623 RBI, this eight-time All-Star has the most career RBI for a third baseman.  Chipper was part of those Atlanta Braves that I loved to hate that won 14 straight division titles and joins teammates Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine (and manager Bobby Cox) in the Hall.  Chipper is one of those guys who still looks like he's in his twenties, and I can actually tell my kids that I watched him play in person several times.  An interesting fact about Chipper is that he hit his first major league home run against the Mets at the old Shea stadium, and it's probably the reason why his oldest child is named Shea.

Vladimir Guerrero, a former outfielder who played many of his years with the Montreal Expos, could hit just about any pitch that was thrown at him.  He had the biggest hitting zone I've ever seen - he would get these wild and crazy pitches that only he could hit for a single or double, and I remember laughing several times and saying to myself "Did he seriously just hit that?"  With a career batting average of .318 with 449 home runs and 1,496 RBI, this latest pride of the Dominican Republic definitely deserves to be in the Hall.  Interesting to note, Guerrero's son, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., is an up-and-coming third baseman in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Then there's Jim Thome, an infielder who was always on my "badass" list.  He is currently eighth on the all-time home runs list with 612, and he was one of those guys who always stood straight up and pointed his bat at the pitcher right before getting in his stance.  I used to mention him a lot when I first started blogging, because I loved watching him play.  Thome will go into the Hall as a Cleveland Indian, so if they're not going to win a World Series, they might as well have a Hall of Fame member to cheer about.

Finally there's Trevor Hoffman, who was chosen in his third year of eligibility (I would have voted him in next year, but nobody asked me).  This reliever who entered each game to AC/DC's "Hells Bells" when he was with the San Diego Padres, had a nasty change-up that helped him earn 601 saves (which is only second to Mariano Rivera's 652).  Hoffman becomes only the sixth pitcher who was mostly a reliever to be inducted into the Hall.  Can you name the other five?  I was only able to come up with four before having to look the other guy up:  Dennis Eckersley, Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, and Bruce Sutter.  The other guy is some dude named Hoyt Wilhelm, who played for a bunch of different teams and was inducted into the Hall in 1985.  I feel dumb now for not knowing who he was!

So other than Edgar Martinez, who else was snubbed this year?  Why Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, of course!  And Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Manny Ramirez too.  Sorry dudes - you juice, you lose!  There are many who believe that these guys would have produced Hall-of-Fame-worthy numbers despite their use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), but to me that's not the point.  They cheated, so they don't deserve enshrinement.  One former baseball official even went as far as to say that these guys should be in the Hall because Babe Ruth is in the Hall, and Babe Ruth would not have been such a great player if he had faced some of the pitchers from the Negro Leagues.  What??? What does one thing have to do with the other?   That's like me saying that the meatloaf that I made for dinner wasn't tasty because it was raining outside.  Reading that got me so worked up!  But I took some deep breaths and am fine now; you just can't fix ignorant.

On a lighter note, pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training in less than three weeks!  Yeay - can you believe it?!  But there are still some pretty good players (like Yu Darvish, Eric Hosmer, and Jake Arrieta) who haven't been signed yet - yikes!  Let's hope these guys find jobs in the next couple of weeks, because they're all players who still have some good years left in them.  If anything earth-shattering happens, you know I'll fill you in (despite not being a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America).

New Year, New Trades, and New Opinions

Happy New Year, baseball fans!  I took it upon myself to write a blog post today because it's a gazillion degrees below zero and I needed to think warm thoughts.  Realizing that Spring Training starts in less than 40 days instantly warmed me right up with thoughts of pitchers casually tossing to catchers, rookies seeking advice from veteran players, and Adam Wainwright in a Speedo - I mean, in a uniform.  So what has happened baseball-wise during the off-season?  It hasn't been as exciting as in years past, but it has definitely been productive.  Here's a run-down of who has been traded, who has been signed, and who is still unemployed.

The biggest news of the off-season was the signing of Japanese "phenom" Sohei Ohtani.  This kid can both hit and pitch, so he was annoyingly being called "the next Babe Ruth."  Don't do that, people - there's only ever going to be one overweight, difficult-to-get-along-with, womanizing alcoholic who was amazing on the field but an absolute mess in his personal life.  I didn't fall for the Ohtani craze, because I think the kid has a lot of "proving himself" to do; not that Japanese baseball is inferior to Major League Baseball talent-wise (their players are just as good), but just because you kick ass in one league doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be the best in another one.  The rumors of which team would sign Ohtani were all over the place - the Mariners need someone exciting, the Cardinals and Giants could use him as a pitcher who could actually hit, the Tigers could use him as a Designated Hitter... The kid ended up surprising everyone and signed with the Los Angeles Angels, so now he will team up with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to provide some excitement to the American League fans in LA (by the way, do any of you still refer to this team as the California Angels or Anaheim Angels?  I know - I'm old!).  I'm OK with Ohtani being out west and I'm probably not going to see much of him because of it; I just hope he stays healthy, easily adjusts to life in the US, and if he really is as wonderful as they say he is, I hope it gives the sport of baseball a positive and uplifting boost.

Let's see... what else?  Oh, Derek Jeter decided to become CEO and part owner of the Miami Marlins, and he's not being well received by the Miami media, the fans, or the players themselves.  Those Marlins are going to be really really good... twenty years from now.  To say that this will be a "rebuilding year" for the Marlins is quite the understatement - they got rid of MVP Giancarlo Stanton (welcome to the Yankees, Giancarlo!), second baseman Dee Gordon is now a center fielder for the Mariners, and Marcell Ozuna was sent to the Cardinals.  Next on the trading block?  Rumors point to Christian Yelich and J.T. Realmuto, and many Marlins players (current and former) have let their disapproval of these trades be known (gotta love when athletes tweet!).  So who will make up the Marlins' roster this season?  Let's hope they have a lot of young talent coming up for Spring Training, otherwise they'll have to ask one of the hot dog vendors at Marlins Park to grab a glove and play the outfield for a game or two.  I personally think that Jeter secretly wants to come out of retirement as a Marlin and is getting rid of all his players in order to make room for himself.  I say bring back Ozzie Guillen as manager, but I think I'm the only human being who wants that.  Hey, Ozzie was a passionate guy - there's no denying that!

Then there's the soap opera of Manny Machado.  The Orioles' best third baseman since Brooks Robinson is rumored to be either a Yankee or a Red Sox - both "Public Enemy Number One" teams of the Orioles.  The Yankees claim that Machado wants to to be on a contending team, and the Red Sox just want him because the Yankees do.  Machado reportedly wants to move to shortstop, but will Orioles fans allow him to achieve greatness at the position that will always belong to Cal Ripken?  Here's another issue:  Machado will become a free agent at the end of the 2018 season.  What does that mean?  Well, if I was the Orioles' GM, I would keep Machado at third base, trade him before the July 31st deadline to a contending team (since the Orioles have no pitching to contend and their closer, Zack Britton, ruptured his Achilles tendon last month), and get a bunch of prospects for him (so that us Frederick Keys fans have some up-and-coming players to watch in the Minors).  I'm not bashing the O's season before it's even started; I'm just trying to be realistic.  And Machado can be like Yu Darvish was this past season with the Dodgers - go to a contending team for a couple of months, play in the World Series, and then use your free agency to get yourself a hefty contract with another team right after that.

Oh wait!  Yu Darvish is one of those free agents who hasn't been signed yet!  He joins pitchers Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn, and Alex Cobb, as well as J.D. Martinez, Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, and Mike Moustakis in the list of top free agents who have yet to be signed by anyone.  And for those of you who think that free agents never re-sign with the last team they played for, pitchers CC Sabathia and Brandon Kintzler signed to continue with the Yankees and Nationals, respectively.  And rumor has it that the Nationals want to keep Bryce Harper even after he's eligible for free agency at the end of the 2018 season.  So there you go - "franchise" players are still a thing!

Still unsigned and therefore unemployed are old men Jayson Werth and Ichiro Suzuki.  Now, as much as I like Werth (my son dressed as him for Halloween one year, bearded mask and all), it's time for him to go and enjoy retirement (but don't drive too fast, Jayson; remember how that landed you in jail for a couple of days several years ago!).  But Ichiro?  Really?  No one wants a 44-year-old right fielder who batted .255 with 3 home runs in 196 at-bats for the Marlins last year?  Hey, the Marlins don't have ANYONE in the outfield - they may want to take this guy into consideration!  If the Marlins don't want him, then someone should sign him just so he can retire with dignity and every team he visits can give him a proper farewell.  Come on, Seattle Mariners - show some love to the guy who brought fans to your ballpark for many years and is likely to wear your cap in Cooperstown!

So there you have it, my friends - a recap of what has happened and what is to come for the 2018 baseball season.  If Manny Machado ends up with the Yankees, make sure to check back with me because I will surely have plenty to say about that.  In the meantime, stay warm, and please continue to pray for the people of Puerto Rico, who still suffer from plenty of power outages almost 4 months after hurricane María ripped through the island.  Gracias, amigos! :-)