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NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum
AL Cy Young winner Zack GreinkeSo, we took a couple of weeks off to re-charge batteries, get our affairs in order, and massage the literary muscles, so to speak. The free agency period has now officially begun, awards have been handed out, GM's and Owners have met to critique the previous season, so we certainly have a little fodder here to ponder over and about.... Let's start with the award winners...
Manager of the Year: Mike Scioscia, AL... This was ABSOLUTELY the right choice here. After the tragic death of Nick Adenhart to start the season for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Scioscia had to play the role of comforter, father figure and psychiatrist, as well as keep his team together through a very rough time. Once again, Scioscia displayed why he is one of the truly great managers in the game. Guiding the Angels through a rough April, he was able to allow his players to get through their grieving process and get focused back on the task at hand, leading his team back to the ALCS. Kudos to Mike for a fabulous job.
Jim Tracy, NL... Tracy, promoted from bench coach after Clint Hurdle was fired in late May, guided the Rockies with a steady hand, leading the team to a 74-42 record during his tenure, and extending the NL West division race to the final weekend before settling for the wild card. Tracy was rewarded with a three year contract extension. Right choice here as well.
NL Cy Young- Tim Lincecum...Lincecum, 15-7 with 246 K's, won his second straight award in one of the tightest races in the history of the award, barely beating out both Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainright. My thought here is that Carpenter and Wainright pretty much cancelled each other out, giving Lincecum back to back trophies. There's no question he is a stud, with 2 Cy Youngs and 2 All-Star selections by the age of 25.
AL Cy Young- Zack Greinke- Greinke, 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA, easily beat out Mariners' pitcher Felix Hernandez for the honor. Greinke, soft spoken and not one to seek the limelight, was absolutely dominant for one of the worst teams in baseball, and if the Kansas City Royals can ever put together some decent teams and provide more support, Greinke will reap the benefits for years to come.
Free Agency: Free agency officially begun on Friday, with negotiating exclusivity having ended on Thursday. Some big names headline the list, most notably John Lackey, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. Considering that Bud Selig recently acknowledged that several teams lost money in 2009, this offseason could see only a handful of teams fighting for the top tier of players, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Angels and Dodgers. Bay, who recently turned down a 4 year, $60 million contract offer from the Red Sox, is testing the free agency waters for the first time, and seems content to see how it plays out in terms of worth and interest. Holliday is drawing looks from several teams, including the Red Sox, who may look to go after Holliday if talks with Bay fall through. Lackey will have his pick of offers, as most teams would absolutely love to have him at the top of their rotation. Other interesting free agents on the market include Angels' 3B Chone Figgins, who will garner interest from several teams, including the White Sox, Cubs, Phillies and Mets...Seattle Mariners' 3B Adrian Beltre could also figure into the mix with several teams, including the Phillies, Angels, Orioles and Mariners. Only 30 years old and a veritable vacuum cleaner at the corner, Beltre could prove to be the right answer in the right stadium... Check out this list for the latest on several other free agents...
Later this weekend, we'll continue our "Also Ran" report, with the Boston Red Sox up next...
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Now that the city of New York has tipped its collective hats to their boys from the Bronx for the 27th time, the offseason has officially begun. For those of you who are counting, there are only 96 days until pitchers and catchers report (February 13th being the first official day). If you're anything like me, it probably seems like an eternity, however we will be here for the entire offseason to keep your baseball minds operating at full capacity, and we will begin by continuing our look at the "also rans"... In our last report, we started with the letter A: Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks. Today, we will continue with the letter B...
Baltimore Orioles:
Hi, I'm the Baltimore Orioles. I'm a team that has been mismanaged by a bunch of collective idiots. I've spent bucket loads of money on players who forgot how to play baseball during their stay here (Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Sidney Ponson), and I've gone through a collection of GM's who were more concerned about who they were working with rather than fixing the team (Jim Beattie, Mike Flanagan, Jim Duquette). Can you restore me back into a respectable franchise?
Twelve consecutive losing seasons. Second straight year drawing under 2 million fans at one of the most beautiful parks in the league. An organization steeped in winning traditions being run into the ground. They even faced a fan-sponsored walkout in protest of current ownership...Need I say more?
This is a team that has more needs than a miracle worker could provide. While they have some players that show some promise in Nick Markakis, Luke Scott, Adam Jones & Brad Bergesen, overall the Orioles have nothing but question marks, with a metric crapload of players unproven at the major league level. Let's start with pitching...
Starting pitcher Brad Bergesen could prove to be a real gem. Bergesen, who was shut down in late July after suffering a left leg contusion, posted a 7-5 record with a 3.43 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. He'll be fully healthy to start the 2010 season and should be the top man in the rotation. After that, question marks again. Koji Uehara showed promised in the first half of '09, but went down with shoulder tendinitis, so his durability is in question. Jeremy Guthrie, 10-17 last year, has been inconsistent over the last 2 seasons. My guess is that the O's will look to provide veteran leadership in their rotation via free agency or trade, and look to develop some promising prospects. Their bullpen raises serious concerns. Chris Ray will have to prove he belongs after a very disappointing '09 campaign, Brian Bass, Dennis Sarfate and Matt Albers all struggled in their opportunities out of the bullpen, and Mark Hendrickson, a free agent, could be asked to return provided he will agree to work out of the 'pen. Again, the Orioles will be active in free agency to bolster their sagging bullpen.
Field positions: The Orioles declined the option on 3rd baseman Melvin Mora, and they will be actively looking to sign a right-handed slugging cornerman. The Orioles are very high on 1st baseman Brandon Snyder, their 2005 first round pick. Snyder is currently batting .365 in the Arizona Fall League, with 3 HR's and 16 RBI's, and with a solid Grapefruit League season, could become the O's starting 1st basemen for 2010. Brian Roberts is a lock at 2nd, and SS Cesar Izturis seems to be settled in. The O's outfield is the backbone of this team, with Markakis, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold, and Luke Scott continues to grow offensively at the DH position.
Overall, the Orioles front office has its work cut out for them this offseason. Here are the questions that need to be answered:
Can the Orioles sign a right-handed slugging third baseman to hit behind Nick Markakis?
Can they find a veteran starter for the front of their rotation?
Will Matt Wieters develop beyond his potential?
Andy McPhail has been HUGE on developing prospects...His philosophy has been to develop the arms and buy the bats.. Will this pay off for the Orioles in 2010?
To the last question, Andy McPhail has been diligent in his work to develop the O's farm system, and there are now quite a few prospects who could emerge to help this team be successful for years to come. Orioles fans certainly hope so, and Orioles management had better hope that their plans in fact do succeed. If not, Oriole Park at Camden Yards will continue to look like a barren wasteland...
Next up.. Boston Red Sox...
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The New York Yankees opened the old Yankee Stadium in 1923. Babe Ruth and Herb Pennock made sure the Yanks christened the old stadium properly, winning in their first season there. 86 years later, history repeats itself, with the Yankees capturing their 27th overall World Series championship, and first in their new stadium, with a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. This night belonged to Hideki Matsui, providing 6 RBI's on what could have been his last game in a Yankee uniform. Pedro Martinez, who once proclaimed the Yankees "his daddy", fell victim to his paternal heritage once again, gone after 4 innings.
We'll let everyone else dissect this series.. Congrats to the Yankees for a stellar season...
We'll continue our series on the "also rans" later this week, with the letter B, the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox...
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The Chase Continues: Chase Utley's 2 HR's help lead Philly to an 8-6 victory over the New York Yankees, cutting the Yankee lead to 3-2, and heading back to the Bronx for Game 6.
The Philadelphia Phillies definitely have no quit in them, and they have no desire to see this season end quite yet. On the strength of two Chase Utley home runs and the gutsy display of pitching by Cliff Lee, the Phillies stave off elimination by defeating the New York Yankees, 8-6. Utley, who tied the World Series record for most homers in a World Series, was stoic about the moment. "Obviously, it's great company," Utley said. "At some point, not right now, maybe I'll look back on it and see what kind of special moment it is. But right now our goal is to win two more games." Lee once again stymied the Yankees, pitching into the eighth inning, giving way to Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madson, who earned the save. Lee, who is now 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts, has said he will be available for Game 7 on 2 days' rest. Considering the fact that Philly is 2-0 with Lee on the mound and 0-3 otherwise, it just may be their best option. Meanwhile, the Phillies will hand the ball to Pedro Martinez for Game 6 on Wednesday night.
Apropos of nothing: Eric Hinske, with an appearance in last night's game, tied a Major League record by appearing in 3 consecutive World Series with 3 different teams (Don Baylor, 1986-88).
Ryan Howard tied the Major League record for most strikeouts in one World Series (Willie Wilson, 1980), with his 12th punchout.
The old Yankee stadium, which opened in 1923 and closed last year, was home to exactly 100 World Series games for the New York Yankees.
Bleacher seats for Game 6 at Yankee Stadium are currently available on StubHub for a starting price of $489.
I have been to exactly one World Series game in my life, and it happened to be Game 7 of the 1975 World Series between the Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. I still cringe whenever I see or hear Joe Morgan, who drove in the Series winning run by blooping a single to center field, scoring Pete Rose. Jim Burton, the losing pitcher, threw an absolutely nasty slider to Morgan, who literally threw his bat at the ball, blooping it in front of Freddie Lynn.
It will be interesting to see what the TV ratings were for last night's competition between Fox' broadcast of Game 5, and ESPN's broadcast of NFL Monday Night Football between Saints-Falcons.
For those viewers who continually tweet about being angry that House and Lie To Me were pre-empted by the World Series? Get a life !!
Interesting tidbit about Cliff Lee... He is the first pitcher in World Series history to pitch a complete game, strike out ten, not walk a batter and allow no earned runs (Game 1).
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Johnny Damon celebrates with Derek Jeter after scoring on Alex Rodriguez' double in the top of ninth inning in Game 4 of the World Series. The Yankees went on to win, 7-4, to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
As the New York Yankees move closer toward their 27th World Championship with a come from behind 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, Yankee fans can thank Johnny Damon for this one. Not Alex Rodriguez, who knocked in the go-ahead with his double to left to drive in Damon. Not Jorge Posada, with a key 2 run double to pad the lead. This was all about Damon. In an absolutely tenacious at bat against Phillies closer Brad Lidge, Damon continually fought off pitch after pitch, clearly flustering Lidge. Damon finally fights off another tough pitch, singling to left field. Then, with the Phillies employing their off balance infield against Mark Teixeira, Damon steals second, and easily moves on to 3rd with no Phillie covering the bag, setting the stage for Rodriguez.
Damon truly plays the game the way it should be played. One of the original "Dirt Dogs" of the Boston Red Sox 2004 Series winning team, Damon showed that exact type of grit with his play tonight. In Rodriguez' post-game interview with Fox, he was more excited to talk about the play of Damon as well.
Johnny Damon has always typified the way the game of baseball should be played, and now, he has put his team on the brink of World Series glory...
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The New York Yankees celebrate their World Series Game 3 victory over the Philadelphia PhilliesOK, I can gloat just a little. I did say in an earlier blog that the Yankee bats would prove too powerful for even a very good Phillies pitching staff, and Game 3 of the World Series certainly showed us that. Alex Rodriguez, who never shies away from a camera, was aided by a camera in this one, with his apparent double to the right field corner in the fourth inning overruled by the first use of instant replay in World Series history. With Mark Teixeira on first and the Phillies holding on to a 3-0 lead, Rodriguez took Phillies pitcher Cole Hamel's offering to right field. The ball kept drifting, and appeared to hit off the top of the fence. Replay clearly showed the ball clanging off the camera, and A-Rod was awarded his first ever World Series home run. No question this play deflated the Phillies, and the Yanks went on to score 3 more in the fifth to chase Hamels. Overall, the Yankees hit 4 home runs, and starter Andy Pettitte, who was rewarded with his postseason record 17th win, also helped himself at the plate, with his single to center driving in Nick Swisher with the tying run in the top of the fifth. Once again, the Yankee lefties shut down the big left-handed bats of the Phillies, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, who were a combined 0-8 with 5 strikeouts. Howard is now 2-13 with 9 strikeouts, and he'll have to deal with another left-hander tonight in Game 4, as C.C. Sabathia will start on 3 days' rest. This could be a pattern, as Yankees manager Joe Girardi has indicated that both A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte could also go on short rest.
Apropos of nothing: What do you think Cleveland Indians GM Mark Shapiro was thinking about when he saw the pitching matchup in Game 1 of the World Series? He saw the last 2 Cy Young award winners that he personally traded away, Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia, face off against each other. We could call it "Nightmare on Ontario Street" (address of Jacobs Field).
2 of the last 4 seasons have failed to bring us a 20 game winner in MLB. Can anyone utter the phrase, "watered down pitching"?
Why is no one in the national media discussing Felix Hernandez as a potential Cy Young candidate? They are in Seattle, but nowhere else. Fernandez, with the Seattle Mariners, in 34 starts posted a record of 19-5, a 2.49 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a .227 BAA. Yeah, Zack Greinke had a nice year, but hard to justify with only 16 wins and a higher BAA (.230).
A big LOL at Fox for shamelessly plugging their own "The Cleveland Show", during last night's rain delay. At least Cleveland was mentioned during the World Series, considering it may be many years before they get back there again...
Another word to Fox TV execs: Take the muzzle off Ozzie Guillen, please !! You brought him on board for the postseason because of his colorful personality and off-color remarks. Let him talk and be himself, and stop watering him down to sound more like Joe Morgan !!
Big props to the Philadelphia Phillies' groundskeeper, who got the field sufficiently dried and ready for play after a half inch of rain fell in 2 hours prior to the start of Game 3...
You make the call: Is Phillies manager Charlie Manuel making a mistake in NOT starting Cliff Lee on 3 days' rest?
One last thing: Big props also go out to Mastercard and MLB, for their 2nd inning promotion for Stand Up To Cancer, and involving the fans. Having lost my mother at the age of 37 to cancer, it was nice to see MLB showing community involvement in a constructive way...
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