Tuesday, April 03, 2007
The Yankees versus Devil Rays matchup shows just how different the two teams are.
Chances are if you didn't get to see the game you'd still know one of three things: the Yankees beat the Devil Rays, Pavano left the game without having a hang nail injury and A-Rod proved why Yankees fans are bipolar and myopic -- first they cheer him, then they boo after an error, boo him again after a strikeout, then finally cheer him after the home run -- leading people to say the jack was the first of many useless homeruns that didn't change the game, which is absolutely false.
Not that I've gotten the longest sentence of my life out of the way, there is something behind the two teams.
You don't need to be too hardcore of a fan to know the Yankees spend mucho millions for a rockstar lineup, but there is a developed mindset behind their team's assembly. Something is different about their lineup than in the past, though, their speed. If you look at the lineup, only three jump out as being below average speedwise (Posada, Giambi and Matsui-- and he's not that bad). The rest are fully capable of getting from first to home on a double, which is something every guy on the team is capable of hitting 30+ of. Combine that with the possible 180 homies in the middle of the lineup and pitchers in the American League are going to have to have good psychiatrists.
The pitching staff has gotten old, no doubt, even if shipping Randy "hasn't been the same since the mullet" Johnson out of town lowered their pitching staff's average age down to 53. But there is a strategy to what they're doing. Overpay for the best hitting and score a lot of runs. If you get ahead, mediocre starting pitching with the possibility to be very good (at times) can get them into the sixth or seventh with a lead even if they surrender 5-6 runs.
Their bullpen is fantastic. They have one of the better bullies in the game with young, hard-throwers that can learn from the best in the game Mariano Rivera. Farnsworth, Proctor and Bruney all throw in the high 90's and have nasty movement.
If you look at the Ray's there's a big discrepency in power, but the speed is incomperable. The giant difference, though, showed where power changes games. While Pavano was tiring and leaving pitches over the plate, the Rays were only slapping them around for singles (save for the Elijah Dukes bomb over center). When the Yankees got to the Tampa Bay bullpen, mistakes were made and the victory was sealed in a matter of seconds. Speed can win games, look at the Angels. The major difference is that the Angels can hit some jacks too, oh, and their bullpen can hold a lead.
But besides the power and the money and the bullpen, the Rays won't get away with mediocre pitching. Besides Kazmir, their prospects (J.P. Howell, Edwin Jackson) are not ready for lineups like the Red Sox and Yankees. Nor is the bullpen.
Tomorrow I'll talk more about this team comparison, but I'll go more league-wide.
Chances are if you didn't get to see the game you'd still know one of three things: the Yankees beat the Devil Rays, Pavano left the game without having a hang nail injury and A-Rod proved why Yankees fans are bipolar and myopic -- first they cheer him, then they boo after an error, boo him again after a strikeout, then finally cheer him after the home run -- leading people to say the jack was the first of many useless homeruns that didn't change the game, which is absolutely false.
Not that I've gotten the longest sentence of my life out of the way, there is something behind the two teams.
You don't need to be too hardcore of a fan to know the Yankees spend mucho millions for a rockstar lineup, but there is a developed mindset behind their team's assembly. Something is different about their lineup than in the past, though, their speed. If you look at the lineup, only three jump out as being below average speedwise (Posada, Giambi and Matsui-- and he's not that bad). The rest are fully capable of getting from first to home on a double, which is something every guy on the team is capable of hitting 30+ of. Combine that with the possible 180 homies in the middle of the lineup and pitchers in the American League are going to have to have good psychiatrists.
The pitching staff has gotten old, no doubt, even if shipping Randy "hasn't been the same since the mullet" Johnson out of town lowered their pitching staff's average age down to 53. But there is a strategy to what they're doing. Overpay for the best hitting and score a lot of runs. If you get ahead, mediocre starting pitching with the possibility to be very good (at times) can get them into the sixth or seventh with a lead even if they surrender 5-6 runs.
Their bullpen is fantastic. They have one of the better bullies in the game with young, hard-throwers that can learn from the best in the game Mariano Rivera. Farnsworth, Proctor and Bruney all throw in the high 90's and have nasty movement.
If you look at the Ray's there's a big discrepency in power, but the speed is incomperable. The giant difference, though, showed where power changes games. While Pavano was tiring and leaving pitches over the plate, the Rays were only slapping them around for singles (save for the Elijah Dukes bomb over center). When the Yankees got to the Tampa Bay bullpen, mistakes were made and the victory was sealed in a matter of seconds. Speed can win games, look at the Angels. The major difference is that the Angels can hit some jacks too, oh, and their bullpen can hold a lead.
But besides the power and the money and the bullpen, the Rays won't get away with mediocre pitching. Besides Kazmir, their prospects (J.P. Howell, Edwin Jackson) are not ready for lineups like the Red Sox and Yankees. Nor is the bullpen.
Tomorrow I'll talk more about this team comparison, but I'll go more league-wide.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
There's Christmas and then New Years Day. Then there's my fantasy baseball draft followed by Opening Day. Synonomous, really.
One calender tells me whether I should buy a jacket or get a tan for the ladies, which way to turn my clock and when I should see my extended family.
The other calender tells me when pitchers and catchers go back to work (Thanksgiving?), what sleeper picks I should look to grab in the later rounds of my fantasy draft, etc.
I look forward the latter calender more.
Getting up the morning of my draft is like being six years old all over again. Back when Santa Clause was cool to believe in, I'd stay up, snuggled on my friggid third-floor bedroom and try to predict what presents the chubby old guy would leave under my tree. Now that fantasy sports is cool I wait all day wondering what position in the draft I'll have and what types of presents unprepared owners will leave my under the tree.
Then a week later there's New Year's, a time to get tanked and throw previous bad habits behind, like getting tanked too often. In baseball land this is known as Opening Day, a time to enjoy a good matchup on ESPN and throw away bad habits like dropping that year's Cy Young Award winner (see: my 2004 when I dropped Johan Santana after 8 starts... he was about 1-6 with roughly a 2,200.29 ERA. See also: traumatic episodes that distort memory).
The baseball calender doesn't make me change the time on my clock or to go to church, although it stops momentarily for the all-star break and at times of importance (Dice-K's first start, pennant chases, etc.) I'll try to get tickets to go to the only cathedral I've gotten beer spilled on me at, Fenway Park.
It feels a lot like Chinese New Year, in that people recognize there's another calender millions across the globe follow and relate to besides their own.
Millions relate to this same calender too. And finally it's a New Year and dear say Joe Morgan is our Dick Clark.
Mets versus Cards tonight. 8 p.m. Get your televisions set, the ball is about to drop.
One calender tells me whether I should buy a jacket or get a tan for the ladies, which way to turn my clock and when I should see my extended family.
The other calender tells me when pitchers and catchers go back to work (Thanksgiving?), what sleeper picks I should look to grab in the later rounds of my fantasy draft, etc.
I look forward the latter calender more.
Getting up the morning of my draft is like being six years old all over again. Back when Santa Clause was cool to believe in, I'd stay up, snuggled on my friggid third-floor bedroom and try to predict what presents the chubby old guy would leave under my tree. Now that fantasy sports is cool I wait all day wondering what position in the draft I'll have and what types of presents unprepared owners will leave my under the tree.
Then a week later there's New Year's, a time to get tanked and throw previous bad habits behind, like getting tanked too often. In baseball land this is known as Opening Day, a time to enjoy a good matchup on ESPN and throw away bad habits like dropping that year's Cy Young Award winner (see: my 2004 when I dropped Johan Santana after 8 starts... he was about 1-6 with roughly a 2,200.29 ERA. See also: traumatic episodes that distort memory).
The baseball calender doesn't make me change the time on my clock or to go to church, although it stops momentarily for the all-star break and at times of importance (Dice-K's first start, pennant chases, etc.) I'll try to get tickets to go to the only cathedral I've gotten beer spilled on me at, Fenway Park.
It feels a lot like Chinese New Year, in that people recognize there's another calender millions across the globe follow and relate to besides their own.
Millions relate to this same calender too. And finally it's a New Year and dear say Joe Morgan is our Dick Clark.
Mets versus Cards tonight. 8 p.m. Get your televisions set, the ball is about to drop.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
The First Meeting.
I went and saw my first official Red Sox-Royals battle last night and the fanfare was incredible. We managed to get standing room only tickets through a close friend with a fake illness (I guess it wouldn't be cool if she wound up on television that night and the next Monday come in to hear, "Heyyyy, I thought you were sick," and then manage to watch a tape of her in the background on her cell phone waving at the camera). Meanwhile an estimated 10,000 Clemson Tiger football fans and players in town for the Saturday game against ACC newcomer Boston College.
As the 26,531 fans (actually 36,531, but I'm not counting the 10,000 southerners wearing orange as "fans") attending the game will remember, the game ended 10-9 after a back and forth, want-to-choke-a-baby loss to the league's worst team. The Sox went up 3-0, only to give up the next eight uncontested runs, three of which came in the top of the eighth. Mike Sweeney struck out to end the three-run eighth the crowd seemed down and fans were getting into that old "woe is me" mentality, screaming, "You Suck," after every strike swung and missed at by Red Sox players, and heading for the exit signs marked in red and green.
Then "Sweet Carolina" came on. I’ll repeat, "Sweet Carolina" came on. "Bum-bum-bum, good times never seemed so good." How did this song become this team’s Rally Monkey? How did this song become a mantra of hope? Good times never seemed so... ironic? The team was losing by five runs and another sold out Fenway Park sang the lyrics, "Good times never seemed so good," like it was the seventh inning, Game Seven, ALCS 2004. When the song stopped blaring through the speakers and the announcer came on to announce Manny Ramirez the crowd finished the song. Suddenly, the Red Sox had momentum? A Song. About good times. Belted by fans. Gave momentum?
Alas the Red Sox, recharged by magic, supernatural powers, scored six runs in the eighth and pulled ahead by one run, 9-8. If only they had sung the song again before the ninth (the only point of the game it would feel remotely necessary, they were playing the Royals), they could've finished the Royals off for good.
They ended up losing 10-9 after the Royals scored two runs in the ninth with two outs off Mike Timlin.
Just think, what if management would ever consider playing the Dylan hit twice in the course of one game?I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Bum-Bum-bum.
NOTES:
- When the Royals pinch-hit in the ninth with Andres Blanco I told the family of Royals fans behind me Alex Gordon, the Royals top prospect, should be hitting instead, they made me repeat myself, others in the crowd were confused, and the group and I shared a common inside joke. "Maybe in eight years when he's ready," said the oldest while sporting an old George Brett jersey.
- The Red Sox hitting in scoring position was on display again last night, the worst example in the sixth with Mike Lowell on third and Jason Varitek on second, with no outs. Wily Mo Pena struck out on three awful-looking swings at pitches out of the strike zone, Coco Crisp popped up to Ryan Shealy at first and Alex Gonzalez hit a line drive out to right fielder Emil Brown. No runs. Just Awful.
- We met a man from Clemson at the game whose daughter paid $135 for six, $45 seats. Since we were in standing room behind the man he used my shoulder to help him climb over the chair, and with his warm, southern hospitality offered us to sit in his seats until he got back. We sat down after two innings of his absence (thinking he was gone for good) and two minutes later he came back from shopping across the street. Yes, shopping. The notion of somebody paying $135 to see a baseball game, traveling from South Carolina, and going shopping for two whole innings made me come to a conclusion that Fenway Park is as much a tourist attraction as a place to see a baseball game.
- Another man from Florida said he admired our passion when we told him we had standing room only tickets, and said he would’ve offered me a job writing for his website if there was the availability. In over 50 trips to Fenway Park in my lifetime, never, NEVER, have I, (a) been offered a seat, (b) seen Kansas City fans more loyal than Red Sox fans, or (c) been offered a job. I hate to say it, but for these three occurrences alone, I don’t mind Boston College being in the ACC.
I went and saw my first official Red Sox-Royals battle last night and the fanfare was incredible. We managed to get standing room only tickets through a close friend with a fake illness (I guess it wouldn't be cool if she wound up on television that night and the next Monday come in to hear, "Heyyyy, I thought you were sick," and then manage to watch a tape of her in the background on her cell phone waving at the camera). Meanwhile an estimated 10,000 Clemson Tiger football fans and players in town for the Saturday game against ACC newcomer Boston College.
As the 26,531 fans (actually 36,531, but I'm not counting the 10,000 southerners wearing orange as "fans") attending the game will remember, the game ended 10-9 after a back and forth, want-to-choke-a-baby loss to the league's worst team. The Sox went up 3-0, only to give up the next eight uncontested runs, three of which came in the top of the eighth. Mike Sweeney struck out to end the three-run eighth the crowd seemed down and fans were getting into that old "woe is me" mentality, screaming, "You Suck," after every strike swung and missed at by Red Sox players, and heading for the exit signs marked in red and green.
Then "Sweet Carolina" came on. I’ll repeat, "Sweet Carolina" came on. "Bum-bum-bum, good times never seemed so good." How did this song become this team’s Rally Monkey? How did this song become a mantra of hope? Good times never seemed so... ironic? The team was losing by five runs and another sold out Fenway Park sang the lyrics, "Good times never seemed so good," like it was the seventh inning, Game Seven, ALCS 2004. When the song stopped blaring through the speakers and the announcer came on to announce Manny Ramirez the crowd finished the song. Suddenly, the Red Sox had momentum? A Song. About good times. Belted by fans. Gave momentum?
Alas the Red Sox, recharged by magic, supernatural powers, scored six runs in the eighth and pulled ahead by one run, 9-8. If only they had sung the song again before the ninth (the only point of the game it would feel remotely necessary, they were playing the Royals), they could've finished the Royals off for good.
They ended up losing 10-9 after the Royals scored two runs in the ninth with two outs off Mike Timlin.
Just think, what if management would ever consider playing the Dylan hit twice in the course of one game?I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Bum-Bum-bum.
NOTES:
- When the Royals pinch-hit in the ninth with Andres Blanco I told the family of Royals fans behind me Alex Gordon, the Royals top prospect, should be hitting instead, they made me repeat myself, others in the crowd were confused, and the group and I shared a common inside joke. "Maybe in eight years when he's ready," said the oldest while sporting an old George Brett jersey.
- The Red Sox hitting in scoring position was on display again last night, the worst example in the sixth with Mike Lowell on third and Jason Varitek on second, with no outs. Wily Mo Pena struck out on three awful-looking swings at pitches out of the strike zone, Coco Crisp popped up to Ryan Shealy at first and Alex Gonzalez hit a line drive out to right fielder Emil Brown. No runs. Just Awful.
- We met a man from Clemson at the game whose daughter paid $135 for six, $45 seats. Since we were in standing room behind the man he used my shoulder to help him climb over the chair, and with his warm, southern hospitality offered us to sit in his seats until he got back. We sat down after two innings of his absence (thinking he was gone for good) and two minutes later he came back from shopping across the street. Yes, shopping. The notion of somebody paying $135 to see a baseball game, traveling from South Carolina, and going shopping for two whole innings made me come to a conclusion that Fenway Park is as much a tourist attraction as a place to see a baseball game.
- Another man from Florida said he admired our passion when we told him we had standing room only tickets, and said he would’ve offered me a job writing for his website if there was the availability. In over 50 trips to Fenway Park in my lifetime, never, NEVER, have I, (a) been offered a seat, (b) seen Kansas City fans more loyal than Red Sox fans, or (c) been offered a job. I hate to say it, but for these three occurrences alone, I don’t mind Boston College being in the ACC.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Ghost of Carlos Beltran
As of this moment Carlos Beltran has 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 12 stolen bases and is batting .286.
Besides starting off with a bunch of numbers that you could have found in seconds yourself, there is a good, purposeful reason for these numbers. Tonight, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Royals’ lineup combined for only 6 more home runs than Beltran has had all year.
Only Mark Grudzielanek is batting higher than Beltran’s mediocre .286 and only newly acquired Joey Gathright has an equal amount of stolen bases.
After Reggie Sanders’ 37 RBI, nobody comes within 20 RBI of Beltran’s 55.
True, why compare Beltran to anybody on Kansas City?
Well, the first reason is of course because he was a former player there—a player some say the Royals couldn’t afford.
The truth is, the Royals could afford Beltran, and you don’t need to have your hands in the Glass’s piggy-bank to prove so.
For the past three years, the Royals have paid Mike Sweeney $11 million. Last year Beltran made $11,571,429 according to baseballreference.com. This year he may be making more money at $13.5 million, but he’s giving the Mets all five tools he’s capable of bringing—hitting for power and average, stealing bases, covering acres in the Shea Stadium centerfield and driving in runs.
For the past month all Mike Sweeney has been able to do is comment on the Jason Grimsley episode.
Of course failing to sign Beltran was the Royals’ second mistake, their first came when they traded him in a three team deal that sent their All-Star centerfielder to the Houston Astros in exchange for Mark Teahen, then in the minor leagues, and John Buck, their current catcher.
After being traded Beltran had hit 23 hr, 53 RBI, and stole 28 bases without being caught for Houston.
Combined, Beltran ended 2004 fifth in the major league in runs (121), tenth in total bases (328), fourth in stolen bases with 42 (did I mention he didn’t get caught once?), fourth in extra base hits with 83, first in power/speed number with 39.9 (ahead of Bobby Abreu, 34.3, and Alex Rodriguez, 31.5).
Beltran almost succeeding in bringing Houston to the World Series with 8 home runs, 14 RBI, a .435 batting average and 6 stolen bases (giving him a total of 48 stolen bases without being caught).
There’s no real problem with either Teahen or Buck, with the exception that they aren’t producing nearly as much offence combined as Beltran would.
Recently in an interview with mlb.com Teahen was asked if he thought some people forget he's 24 and don't give him the credit he deserves becuase he's linked to such a big deal.
"I do think that happens sometimes," Teahen said. "But I don't worry about it all that much.
They are being paid peanuts compared to Beltran, and peanuts can’t win games or put fans in the stands, although fans can buy peanuts when they’re in the stands.
Last week at the end of an article in the Kansas City Star by Bob Dutton in the “etc.” section, Dutton snuck in quip about Beltran, saying: “Carlos Beltran had a hit and RBI in eight straight games last week. He was batting .471 with four homers and 16 RBIs in that span, all Mets victories. This isn’t fair, but we’ll tell you anyway. Over the last seven days, the Royals are hitting 57-241 with three homers, 21 RBIs and two victories.”
This just further proves just how much the Royals and their fans should miss Carlos Beltran.
As of this moment Carlos Beltran has 19 home runs, 55 RBI, 12 stolen bases and is batting .286.
Besides starting off with a bunch of numbers that you could have found in seconds yourself, there is a good, purposeful reason for these numbers. Tonight, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Royals’ lineup combined for only 6 more home runs than Beltran has had all year.
Only Mark Grudzielanek is batting higher than Beltran’s mediocre .286 and only newly acquired Joey Gathright has an equal amount of stolen bases.
After Reggie Sanders’ 37 RBI, nobody comes within 20 RBI of Beltran’s 55.
True, why compare Beltran to anybody on Kansas City?
Well, the first reason is of course because he was a former player there—a player some say the Royals couldn’t afford.
The truth is, the Royals could afford Beltran, and you don’t need to have your hands in the Glass’s piggy-bank to prove so.
For the past three years, the Royals have paid Mike Sweeney $11 million. Last year Beltran made $11,571,429 according to baseballreference.com. This year he may be making more money at $13.5 million, but he’s giving the Mets all five tools he’s capable of bringing—hitting for power and average, stealing bases, covering acres in the Shea Stadium centerfield and driving in runs.
For the past month all Mike Sweeney has been able to do is comment on the Jason Grimsley episode.
Of course failing to sign Beltran was the Royals’ second mistake, their first came when they traded him in a three team deal that sent their All-Star centerfielder to the Houston Astros in exchange for Mark Teahen, then in the minor leagues, and John Buck, their current catcher.
After being traded Beltran had hit 23 hr, 53 RBI, and stole 28 bases without being caught for Houston.
Combined, Beltran ended 2004 fifth in the major league in runs (121), tenth in total bases (328), fourth in stolen bases with 42 (did I mention he didn’t get caught once?), fourth in extra base hits with 83, first in power/speed number with 39.9 (ahead of Bobby Abreu, 34.3, and Alex Rodriguez, 31.5).
Beltran almost succeeding in bringing Houston to the World Series with 8 home runs, 14 RBI, a .435 batting average and 6 stolen bases (giving him a total of 48 stolen bases without being caught).
There’s no real problem with either Teahen or Buck, with the exception that they aren’t producing nearly as much offence combined as Beltran would.
Recently in an interview with mlb.com Teahen was asked if he thought some people forget he's 24 and don't give him the credit he deserves becuase he's linked to such a big deal.
"I do think that happens sometimes," Teahen said. "But I don't worry about it all that much.
They are being paid peanuts compared to Beltran, and peanuts can’t win games or put fans in the stands, although fans can buy peanuts when they’re in the stands.
Last week at the end of an article in the Kansas City Star by Bob Dutton in the “etc.” section, Dutton snuck in quip about Beltran, saying: “Carlos Beltran had a hit and RBI in eight straight games last week. He was batting .471 with four homers and 16 RBIs in that span, all Mets victories. This isn’t fair, but we’ll tell you anyway. Over the last seven days, the Royals are hitting 57-241 with three homers, 21 RBIs and two victories.”
This just further proves just how much the Royals and their fans should miss Carlos Beltran.
Monday, June 12, 2006
The Battle of the Worst
Ladies and gentleman, I hope you feasted your eyes on one of the best series baseball has to offer this weekend.
No, it wasn’t the Yankees losing three straight to Nick Swisher, Houston Street and the rest of the Oakland Athletics (although I did enjoy that). And no, it wasn’t Toronto versus Detroit, or Atlanta at Houston, or even the Texas Rangers fighting the rain and the Red Sox in Boston.
It was what I have deemed “The Battle of the Worst”. Because when you look back on this year and have the obligatory, “Okay, okay. Who was the worst team in the league this year?” conversation, all you’ll have to do is look back on this series.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Kansas City Royals.
In an over-under situation, I lost the series combined three-day attendance (57,229) against Sunday’s game in Yankee Stadium (54,570) when I chose the under.
Their combined 42 wins (Tampa Bay’s 26, Kansas City’s 16) are only two more than Detroit’s 40, and with Kansas City being the worst home team in the American League with a 9-17 record and Tampa Bay being one of the worst road teams at 10-21, it was likely Commissioner Bud Selig would pull another 2002 All-Star Game and call all three games in a tie.
But to no avail, Bud Selig let the games go on, and against the odds somebody actually won in all of the three games played, with some mild entertainment going on in between.
And in the end it was definitive which team came away victorious in the “The Battle of the Worst”.
Now you can say all you want about either team and the effect their divisions play on records; Tampa Bay plays 19 games against powerhouses Boston and New York, Toronto and a deceivingly good team in Baltimore; while Kansas City plays 19 against a re-tigered Detroit (I made that word up), an even stronger World Champion White Sox team and one of the best young teams in all of baseball, Cleveland (although they haven’t played that way lately).
Still, much has to be said about their ability to win games.
Take for instance, Tampa Bay. On the road they were 10-21 before this series. They got Rocco Baldelli finally back after a whole season and over fifty games this season. The impact he’ll have on their lineup will be tremendous.
Then take Kansas City. Struggling to find any power in the lineup, Kansas City’s explosion of 16 runs on 18 hits against Texas looked like a sign of good things to come, especially with the outburst of David Dejesus and Mark Teahen getting big hits for them in the game. Up until the game with Texas both were unproductive, with Dejesus batting .263 with just one home run and three runs batted in, and Teahen batting .204 with three home runs and thirteen rbi’s.
It looked as if things were turning around for both teams heading into this weekend.
Only one’s turnaround was short-lived, and reality set back in.
Kansas was out-hit, batting just .267 against Tampa Bay’s .369. They were outscored 19-11 and they mustered just one home run over the weekend.
The only glimmer of hope this weekend seemed to be when they managed to turn an unconventional triple play in the second inning of the Sunday game, which they still won 8-2.
Huff, unimpressed with the triple play after being called out for leaving early on a tag-up from third, said, “I didn't realize that was a triple play. That's how unimpressive that was. It's a joke.”
However legitimate, the play was ruled a triple-play and proved to have no impact on the final outcome of the game.
Scott Elarton, who started for Kansas City, wouldn’t hear none of that negative stuff Huff was saying, “The triple play was the highlight my day. That's pretty sad. That's about the only good thing that happened today.”
Considering Elarton gave up four runs on eight hits, including three home runs, it’d be safe to say it was the only highlight for Kansas City, the leagues official worst team.
At least for now.
Ladies and gentleman, I hope you feasted your eyes on one of the best series baseball has to offer this weekend.
No, it wasn’t the Yankees losing three straight to Nick Swisher, Houston Street and the rest of the Oakland Athletics (although I did enjoy that). And no, it wasn’t Toronto versus Detroit, or Atlanta at Houston, or even the Texas Rangers fighting the rain and the Red Sox in Boston.
It was what I have deemed “The Battle of the Worst”. Because when you look back on this year and have the obligatory, “Okay, okay. Who was the worst team in the league this year?” conversation, all you’ll have to do is look back on this series.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Kansas City Royals.
In an over-under situation, I lost the series combined three-day attendance (57,229) against Sunday’s game in Yankee Stadium (54,570) when I chose the under.
Their combined 42 wins (Tampa Bay’s 26, Kansas City’s 16) are only two more than Detroit’s 40, and with Kansas City being the worst home team in the American League with a 9-17 record and Tampa Bay being one of the worst road teams at 10-21, it was likely Commissioner Bud Selig would pull another 2002 All-Star Game and call all three games in a tie.
But to no avail, Bud Selig let the games go on, and against the odds somebody actually won in all of the three games played, with some mild entertainment going on in between.
And in the end it was definitive which team came away victorious in the “The Battle of the Worst”.
Now you can say all you want about either team and the effect their divisions play on records; Tampa Bay plays 19 games against powerhouses Boston and New York, Toronto and a deceivingly good team in Baltimore; while Kansas City plays 19 against a re-tigered Detroit (I made that word up), an even stronger World Champion White Sox team and one of the best young teams in all of baseball, Cleveland (although they haven’t played that way lately).
Still, much has to be said about their ability to win games.
Take for instance, Tampa Bay. On the road they were 10-21 before this series. They got Rocco Baldelli finally back after a whole season and over fifty games this season. The impact he’ll have on their lineup will be tremendous.
Then take Kansas City. Struggling to find any power in the lineup, Kansas City’s explosion of 16 runs on 18 hits against Texas looked like a sign of good things to come, especially with the outburst of David Dejesus and Mark Teahen getting big hits for them in the game. Up until the game with Texas both were unproductive, with Dejesus batting .263 with just one home run and three runs batted in, and Teahen batting .204 with three home runs and thirteen rbi’s.
It looked as if things were turning around for both teams heading into this weekend.
Only one’s turnaround was short-lived, and reality set back in.
Kansas was out-hit, batting just .267 against Tampa Bay’s .369. They were outscored 19-11 and they mustered just one home run over the weekend.
The only glimmer of hope this weekend seemed to be when they managed to turn an unconventional triple play in the second inning of the Sunday game, which they still won 8-2.
Huff, unimpressed with the triple play after being called out for leaving early on a tag-up from third, said, “I didn't realize that was a triple play. That's how unimpressive that was. It's a joke.”
However legitimate, the play was ruled a triple-play and proved to have no impact on the final outcome of the game.
Scott Elarton, who started for Kansas City, wouldn’t hear none of that negative stuff Huff was saying, “The triple play was the highlight my day. That's pretty sad. That's about the only good thing that happened today.”
Considering Elarton gave up four runs on eight hits, including three home runs, it’d be safe to say it was the only highlight for Kansas City, the leagues official worst team.
At least for now.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
The "Meaningless" Draft
For the past week there's been hustling and bustling on the airwaves and television networks about the importance of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.
For good reason of course.
There are 50 rounds in which over a thousand of high school, junior college and college baseball hopefuls are drafted. And don't forget a good percentage of those players will never get as high as Triple-A baseball, let alone get to see their dream of being in the major leagues come true. Even if they do eventually join a major league ballclub they might not get there for years.
So why should anybody believe the 2006 baseball draft will be important?
Just ask the Kansas City Royals.
Being first in anything these days should feel somewhat relieving considering the Royals' current 14-42 last place record, so when the time came for first pick of the draft -the highest pick in team history- the Royals didn't waste the opportunity, selecting the fireball-pitcher Luke Hochevar.
Hochevar, whom some had going first in the 2005 draft, dropped to 40th overall before being picked by the LosAngelos Dodgers. Before being drafted (the first time) many teams had reservations becuase of the question surrounding Hochevar's signability. The reluctance to nab Hochevar proved to be a good move as the star University of Tennessee pitcher failed to agree to terms with the Dodgers and instead played for the independent Fort Worth Cats of the American Association.
He re-entered the draft and became the Royals' top pick not only because of his 97-mph sinking fastball, his repertoire of pitches, the scouts' projections that he'll be a number 1 starter in the very near future, but because of his signability, something that couldn't be guaranteed in last year's draft.
In an MLB.com article Hochevar said: "I'm going to bust my tail to make them extremely happy. [The contract] is in Scott Boras' hands and obviously mine as well. We want to be treated fairly and the Royals are a great organization and they're willing to get it done so we're excited to proceed and move forward with this. It sounds like the Royals are ready to get it done and get me out playing."
It also sounds like somebody learned their lesson.
It also sounds good to the Royals. Hochevar will most likely end up being the second big draft pick in two years to successfully get to the majors within a couple years after being drafted; first being Alex Gordon, which is bound to happen before year's end.
In just one year after being chosen second overall in the 2005 draft, Gordon is posting up huge numbers for the Royals' minor league affiliates, and currently with the Wichita Wranglers.
In almost all offensive categories, including stolen bases, Gordon is in the top three on the Wranglers with 9 hrs., 27 rbi, .312 avg. and 14 stolen bases while being caught stealing only once. He's also proving to be the same patient hitter he was at Nebraska when his walk/strikeout ratio was 58/34, now with a 29/40 ratio.
The future looks obviously bright for Gordon with Kansas City. Currently the Royals have been plutooning Tony Graffanino and Mark Teahen, which are both struggling at the plate. The Royal's seemingly only hope for power this season was with veteran leader Mike Sweeney, who before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk in his upper back, was batting only .167 with 2 home runs.
With a power drought and lack of producing runs, don't be surprised if the Royals give Gordon a shot a bringing his much-needed power to their big-league lineup.
And whenever that time comes this season, as it is bound to, Hochevar should be looking on in the distance and making a note that the Royals, if need be, will call up a big-time prospect to the big leagues because next year around this time he might be the one being called up.
For the past week there's been hustling and bustling on the airwaves and television networks about the importance of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.
For good reason of course.
There are 50 rounds in which over a thousand of high school, junior college and college baseball hopefuls are drafted. And don't forget a good percentage of those players will never get as high as Triple-A baseball, let alone get to see their dream of being in the major leagues come true. Even if they do eventually join a major league ballclub they might not get there for years.
So why should anybody believe the 2006 baseball draft will be important?
Just ask the Kansas City Royals.
Being first in anything these days should feel somewhat relieving considering the Royals' current 14-42 last place record, so when the time came for first pick of the draft -the highest pick in team history- the Royals didn't waste the opportunity, selecting the fireball-pitcher Luke Hochevar.
Hochevar, whom some had going first in the 2005 draft, dropped to 40th overall before being picked by the LosAngelos Dodgers. Before being drafted (the first time) many teams had reservations becuase of the question surrounding Hochevar's signability. The reluctance to nab Hochevar proved to be a good move as the star University of Tennessee pitcher failed to agree to terms with the Dodgers and instead played for the independent Fort Worth Cats of the American Association.
He re-entered the draft and became the Royals' top pick not only because of his 97-mph sinking fastball, his repertoire of pitches, the scouts' projections that he'll be a number 1 starter in the very near future, but because of his signability, something that couldn't be guaranteed in last year's draft.
In an MLB.com article Hochevar said: "I'm going to bust my tail to make them extremely happy. [The contract] is in Scott Boras' hands and obviously mine as well. We want to be treated fairly and the Royals are a great organization and they're willing to get it done so we're excited to proceed and move forward with this. It sounds like the Royals are ready to get it done and get me out playing."
It also sounds like somebody learned their lesson.
It also sounds good to the Royals. Hochevar will most likely end up being the second big draft pick in two years to successfully get to the majors within a couple years after being drafted; first being Alex Gordon, which is bound to happen before year's end.
In just one year after being chosen second overall in the 2005 draft, Gordon is posting up huge numbers for the Royals' minor league affiliates, and currently with the Wichita Wranglers.
In almost all offensive categories, including stolen bases, Gordon is in the top three on the Wranglers with 9 hrs., 27 rbi, .312 avg. and 14 stolen bases while being caught stealing only once. He's also proving to be the same patient hitter he was at Nebraska when his walk/strikeout ratio was 58/34, now with a 29/40 ratio.
The future looks obviously bright for Gordon with Kansas City. Currently the Royals have been plutooning Tony Graffanino and Mark Teahen, which are both struggling at the plate. The Royal's seemingly only hope for power this season was with veteran leader Mike Sweeney, who before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk in his upper back, was batting only .167 with 2 home runs.
With a power drought and lack of producing runs, don't be surprised if the Royals give Gordon a shot a bringing his much-needed power to their big-league lineup.
And whenever that time comes this season, as it is bound to, Hochevar should be looking on in the distance and making a note that the Royals, if need be, will call up a big-time prospect to the big leagues because next year around this time he might be the one being called up.
