After much deliberation, I am regrettably announcing my retirement from the blogging world. I would love nothing more than to continue to run S3B, but real life has gotten in the way making it difficult for me to maintain this blog.
I had originally started S3B as a means to portray my thoughts and feelings on the Red Sox and Patriots and sports in general. Through my time here, I believe I wrote some interesting and insightful things. I've received some positive feedback as well as some negative. I have been introduced to some very intelligent readers and fellow bloggers that have made my blogging experience all the more worthwhile.
It is with regret, though, that I must put my blogging days on hold. I had some pretty exciting things lined up for this site, including a review of my time in Omaha for the CWS this past weekend, a break down of Griffey's 600 home runs, the unveiling of my #24 Hall of Fame, and even an interview with Yahoo's Matt Buser. Unfortunately, my job has become increasingly demanding and real life has taken up a larger chunk of my time.
I do intend to return to the blogging arena somewhere in the future. My hope is to take up something a little more specialized; I'd like to focus on the statistics of baseball or provide fantasy analysis or something. Who knows? But I do not intend to be scarce forever.
I want to thank those of you who stopped by often to share your thoughts and your views. I learned a great deal from my readers, and I hope you enjoyed S3B as much as I did. Please stop by in the future to read some of my old stuff whether it be as a refresher or for a laugh.
It's been an honor. Thank you.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
600
600! It's been a long time coming, and Ken Griffey, Jr. has finally reached the biggest milestone in baseball since Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run. Last night, Griffey finally kicked the door open to the 600 Home Run Club, a door he'd been seemingly knocking on for years. Only five players before him had achieved the feat, including names like Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, and Mays. As it stands, Griffey looks up at only five players on the career home run list having hit more homers than players like Mantle, Foxx, McGwire, Williams, and Murray.
The circumstances surrounding the historic home run were somewhat disappointing. When it seems that all major home run hitting milestones lately are achieved at the player's home ballpark, Griffey's occurred on the road in front of a mere 16,003 fans in one of least electric venues in professional sports. Barry Bonds' career home runs number 400, 500, 600, 660, 700, 715, and 756 all came at home. Chipper Jones' 400th came at home five days ago. Jim Thome and Alex Rodriguez both hit their 500th at home last year, as did Sammy Sosa with his 600th. To further take away from the moment, there was a noticeable absence of any reception that could be deemed suitable. With milestones of this degree, it is typical for play to stop for about 15 minutes while the crowd showers the player with cheers and applause, the player returning the crowd's adoration for his accomplishment with waves and hat tips while celebrating with his family on the field. Outside of a few hugs and high-fives from teammates and a curtain call from the fans, this reception lacked the luster of previous milestones. The subpar jubilation was likely a function of the atmosphere, but, considering my continuous praise of Griffey on this site, I'm sure you could have predicted my elation regardless of the context. (By the way, I think the whole anticlimax of the situation was summed up by the fellow who ended up with the 600th home run ball. He was a Marlins fan wearing a Sergio Mitre jersey t-shirt who probably has no interest whatsoever in Griffey's milestone other than the income he can generate by auctioning the ball off on eBay.)
When I turned on ESPNEWS (the ESPN game was blacked out in Erie, therefore inhumanely barring me from the live cut-ins of Griffey's at-bats) and saw that Griffey had hit #600, my initial reaction was one of relief. My relief was quickly replaced by joy and excitement, which eventually turned into a feeling of extreme pride. I don't have kids, but I told my wife that I felt like a proud father despite being almost young enough to be Griffey's son. I also told my wife that this could be the greatest moment of my life as a sports fan as far as individual accomplishments go. I kept walking around the house with my arms raised in the air. When they weren't in the air, I was either clapping or dishing out high-fives to anyone in my vicinity.
When I was a young kid growing up, I fell in love watching Griffey play. I knew he was good, but I didn't know how good he was going to be. As I grew older and he put up better and better numbers, I knew he had a shot at not only 600 home runs, but 755. I began to follow his home run progression more intently. As Griffey's prime had past, he was derailed by leg injuries. I knew that 755 was no longer a strong possibility, so I focused on the number that would guarantee his Hall of Fame induction: 600. Last year, I began the Griffey Watch to count down to this hallowed milestone when he was just 36 homers away. Yesterday, on June 9, 2008, nine days after hitting career home run 599, 411 days since I started the countdown, and exactly 7000 days since Griffey hit his first career home run, I was finally able to turn that counter all the way down to zero.
Perhaps the most refreshing and reassuring thing about Griffey's milestone is the purity with which he's accomplished this feat. I don't believe that anyone can ever label him as a steroids user or link him in any way to PED's. While it is hard to fully recognize a player as 100% clean in this era of baseball, Griffey is probably as close as they come. Fellow members of the 600 Home Run Club, Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, surely do not come without their question marks and skeptics. But the numbers and the injuries speak for themselves. Griffey did what he was supposed to do as he got older. His skills diminished, he broke down more easily, and he lost the athletic ability which once made him an elite center fielder.
Through his first 12 professional seasons, which includes all 11 seasons in Seattle and his first in Cincinnati, Griffey hit one home run every 14.5 at-bats. He also averaged 140 games played and about 14.5 steals per season. He won the Gold Glove award in center field each year in the 90's. Since 2001, his age 31 season, Griffey's numbers have taken a bit of a nosedive. He's homered at a rate of only one per every 16.6 at-bats. He's played in less than 100 games per season, and has stolen only 11 bases. He has also not won a Gold Glove since coming to Cincinnati. Call it what you want, but the way I look at it, Griffey's skills have suffered from the natural deterioriation caused by age. While Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire put up better numbers later in their careers, aided perhaps by steroids, Griffey has maintained the integrity of the game and should be considered the second greatest left-handed power hitter of all-time behind Babe Ruth.
As great of a moment that this was for me, for Griffey, and for baseball, it is, in all honesty, a bit bittersweet. After all, Griffey was the one who was supposed to be chasing Hank Aaron's record last year. That spotlight was, of course, stolen by Barry Bonds who many think unfairly climbed the home run ladder. But that's part of the mystique of career records like the home run mark; you have to do it well, and you must maintain longevity. Hank Aaron played 23 professional seasons and failed to record 450 at-bats in only four. He played in at least 120 games in all but two seasons. He hit 20 home runs in all but three of those seasons. Those are incredible testaments of endurance and health.
Griffey, unfortunately, could not share the same fate as Aaron. But, for argument's sake, let's play the projection game and assume Griffey had stayed healthy for his entire tenure in Cincinnati. Where would he be? How many home runs beyond 600 or even 700 would he have? Using his home run rate over the last eight years (16.6) and a moderately discounted at-bat rate (we'll say 500 at-bats per season) based on his average at-bats per season through his first 12 seasons (529), that would put Griffey at a hypothetical mark of 649 home runs. Throw in the seven he's got in 2008, and that would leave him a mere four homers shy of Willie Mays for 4th all-time. While he wouldn't necessarily be challenging Aaron or Bonds at the moment, Babe Ruth could be in his sights.
Regardless of injuries, decreasing abilities, and age, Ken Griffey, Jr. should be lauded for his monumental accomplishment. He has become only the sixth player in baseball history to hit 600 home runs; this in a game where the average American can't even hit a 95 mph fastball, let alone hit one 400+ feet. Griffey has played the game with respect and obvious enjoyment. He's played it with grace and passion. He's played it with the prettiest swing known to man. He's played it clean, and he's played it the right way. He is the best player of my generation, and he was the greatest player of the 90's. I can't think of any other player more deserving of such accolades than Mr. Ken Griffey, Jr.
I'd like to personally congratulate him.
Next up: the Hall of Fame (and hopefully a World Series ring)
The circumstances surrounding the historic home run were somewhat disappointing. When it seems that all major home run hitting milestones lately are achieved at the player's home ballpark, Griffey's occurred on the road in front of a mere 16,003 fans in one of least electric venues in professional sports. Barry Bonds' career home runs number 400, 500, 600, 660, 700, 715, and 756 all came at home. Chipper Jones' 400th came at home five days ago. Jim Thome and Alex Rodriguez both hit their 500th at home last year, as did Sammy Sosa with his 600th. To further take away from the moment, there was a noticeable absence of any reception that could be deemed suitable. With milestones of this degree, it is typical for play to stop for about 15 minutes while the crowd showers the player with cheers and applause, the player returning the crowd's adoration for his accomplishment with waves and hat tips while celebrating with his family on the field. Outside of a few hugs and high-fives from teammates and a curtain call from the fans, this reception lacked the luster of previous milestones. The subpar jubilation was likely a function of the atmosphere, but, considering my continuous praise of Griffey on this site, I'm sure you could have predicted my elation regardless of the context. (By the way, I think the whole anticlimax of the situation was summed up by the fellow who ended up with the 600th home run ball. He was a Marlins fan wearing a Sergio Mitre jersey t-shirt who probably has no interest whatsoever in Griffey's milestone other than the income he can generate by auctioning the ball off on eBay.)
When I turned on ESPNEWS (the ESPN game was blacked out in Erie, therefore inhumanely barring me from the live cut-ins of Griffey's at-bats) and saw that Griffey had hit #600, my initial reaction was one of relief. My relief was quickly replaced by joy and excitement, which eventually turned into a feeling of extreme pride. I don't have kids, but I told my wife that I felt like a proud father despite being almost young enough to be Griffey's son. I also told my wife that this could be the greatest moment of my life as a sports fan as far as individual accomplishments go. I kept walking around the house with my arms raised in the air. When they weren't in the air, I was either clapping or dishing out high-fives to anyone in my vicinity.
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| Congratulations, Mr. Griffey! S3B gives you a standing ovation. |
Perhaps the most refreshing and reassuring thing about Griffey's milestone is the purity with which he's accomplished this feat. I don't believe that anyone can ever label him as a steroids user or link him in any way to PED's. While it is hard to fully recognize a player as 100% clean in this era of baseball, Griffey is probably as close as they come. Fellow members of the 600 Home Run Club, Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, surely do not come without their question marks and skeptics. But the numbers and the injuries speak for themselves. Griffey did what he was supposed to do as he got older. His skills diminished, he broke down more easily, and he lost the athletic ability which once made him an elite center fielder.
Through his first 12 professional seasons, which includes all 11 seasons in Seattle and his first in Cincinnati, Griffey hit one home run every 14.5 at-bats. He also averaged 140 games played and about 14.5 steals per season. He won the Gold Glove award in center field each year in the 90's. Since 2001, his age 31 season, Griffey's numbers have taken a bit of a nosedive. He's homered at a rate of only one per every 16.6 at-bats. He's played in less than 100 games per season, and has stolen only 11 bases. He has also not won a Gold Glove since coming to Cincinnati. Call it what you want, but the way I look at it, Griffey's skills have suffered from the natural deterioriation caused by age. While Bonds, Sosa, and McGwire put up better numbers later in their careers, aided perhaps by steroids, Griffey has maintained the integrity of the game and should be considered the second greatest left-handed power hitter of all-time behind Babe Ruth.
As great of a moment that this was for me, for Griffey, and for baseball, it is, in all honesty, a bit bittersweet. After all, Griffey was the one who was supposed to be chasing Hank Aaron's record last year. That spotlight was, of course, stolen by Barry Bonds who many think unfairly climbed the home run ladder. But that's part of the mystique of career records like the home run mark; you have to do it well, and you must maintain longevity. Hank Aaron played 23 professional seasons and failed to record 450 at-bats in only four. He played in at least 120 games in all but two seasons. He hit 20 home runs in all but three of those seasons. Those are incredible testaments of endurance and health.
Griffey, unfortunately, could not share the same fate as Aaron. But, for argument's sake, let's play the projection game and assume Griffey had stayed healthy for his entire tenure in Cincinnati. Where would he be? How many home runs beyond 600 or even 700 would he have? Using his home run rate over the last eight years (16.6) and a moderately discounted at-bat rate (we'll say 500 at-bats per season) based on his average at-bats per season through his first 12 seasons (529), that would put Griffey at a hypothetical mark of 649 home runs. Throw in the seven he's got in 2008, and that would leave him a mere four homers shy of Willie Mays for 4th all-time. While he wouldn't necessarily be challenging Aaron or Bonds at the moment, Babe Ruth could be in his sights.
Regardless of injuries, decreasing abilities, and age, Ken Griffey, Jr. should be lauded for his monumental accomplishment. He has become only the sixth player in baseball history to hit 600 home runs; this in a game where the average American can't even hit a 95 mph fastball, let alone hit one 400+ feet. Griffey has played the game with respect and obvious enjoyment. He's played it with grace and passion. He's played it with the prettiest swing known to man. He's played it clean, and he's played it the right way. He is the best player of my generation, and he was the greatest player of the 90's. I can't think of any other player more deserving of such accolades than Mr. Ken Griffey, Jr.
I'd like to personally congratulate him.
Next up: the Hall of Fame (and hopefully a World Series ring)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Next Generation
The 2008 Amateur (or Rule 4, or First-Year Player) Draft is just around the corner. Due to the Red Sox being the defending World Series champions, they will have the 30th pick in Round 1. They also own the 45th overall selection in the form of a supplemental pick as compensation for Eric Gagne. Overall, the Red Sox will have five picks through the draft's first three rounds. Tampa Bay becomes the first team in the history of the draft to own the top pick in consecutive years. For the complete draft order, visit MLB.com.
The draft has always appeared to me to be a crapshoot. But lately, the Sox have seemingly been drafting more effectively than other franchise in the game. That has become crystal clear with Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia carrying the Sox to a World Series title last October, the last two Major League no-hitters being thrown by Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, and the big league successes of Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, and, more recently, Justin Masterson.
So, which direction will the Red Sox choose to go on Draft Day? Well, to answer that question, it would help to understand the strengths and weaknesses throughout the farm system. I'm not going to pretend to have a Mike Hazen-esque knowledge of the Red Sox minor league system, but I do follow the top 15-20 prospects with regularity. Browsing through some the Sox prospects, it's evident where the dearth is. The Sox have a surplus of pitching with Justin Masterson, Michale Bowden, Daniel Bard, Nick Hagadone, Bryce Cox, David Pauley, and even Lester and Buchholz. The Sox are also loaded up the middle with infielders such as Jed Lowrie and teenagers Oscar Tejeda, Will Middlebrooks, and last year's second pick, Ryan Dent. The Sox can even boast some outfield depth with Brandon Moss, Ryan Kalish, Josh Reddick, and Jason Place.
Through all of this talent, though, are two glaring weaknesses: power hitting and catcher. The Sox have what appears to be a future star in 1B, Lars Anderson. They've also got Chris Carter and Bubba Bell who can hit for power. With the possible exception of Anderson, the Sox lack that prototypical Ortiz-type power hitter in the minor league system. And the team's depth as far as power goes can't even be considered mediocre. Outside of free agency, it does not seem that the Red Sox have any long-term plans to replace the big bats of Manny and Ortiz when they choose to depart. In regards to the catcher's position, the Sox have bodies, but nobody wants to step up to become the next Jason Varitek. Mark Wagner seems to have the best shot; he's gifted defensively and does possess some offensive skills. George Kottaras was originally thought to be the catcher of the future, but he has not panned out thus far. Plus, he is already 25. Dusty Brown has a solid defensive skill set, but will never hit enough to be a starter.
My guess is that the Sox will look to acquire some catching and power hitting depth through this year's draft. Fortunately for the Sox, this draft class is fairly deep in both categories. That said, Theo and his posse have taken on a Patriots-esque mentality when it comes to the draft, seemingly taking the best available player. The direction that the Sox decide to take on Draft Day remains to be seen. With that in mind, though, here are the scouting reports of a dozen players that I have seen linked to the Sox while browsing mock drafts.
David Cooper, 1B, California - He's a left-handed hitting first baseman who can hit for power to all fields. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo describes Cooper as having plus power with very average defensive skills. He was recently named a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American.
Lance Lynn, P, Ole Miss - Lynn is big righty in the mold of a Joba Chamberlain when it comes to body type. He does not throw as hard as Joba, topping out in the low 90's with his heater. He mixes average stuff with outstanding command. With Ole Miss on the season, he's currently got 103 strikeouts in 83.1 innings.
Reese Havens, SS, South Carolina - I've seen Havens slipping to the Sox at #30in more than one mock. He is a hitter that would fit right into the Red Sox offensive philosophy - a guy with a very patient approach who will take a walk. He's among the top 10 in the SEC in virtually every offensive category, including tops in the conference in walks.
Andrew Cashner, P, TCU - Cashner is a closer who has been consistently touching 98 mph with his fastball. He mixes in an improving slider, but there are concerns about his walk rate (4.5 BB/9). Like Cooper, he has been named a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American with a 1.80 ERA, 9 saves, .120 BAA, and 74 K's in 50 innings pitched.
Kyle Lobstein, P, Coconino High School, Arizona - A tall, lean lefty out of high school, Lobstein, according to Jonathan Mayo, has a chance to be a Chuck Finley type. He's currently sitting in the 88-90 mph range with his fastball, but does have the potential to throw three above average pitches at the Major League level.
Ryan Perry, P, Arizona - This guy intrigues me. He sits in the mid-to-high 90's with good sink on his fastball. He's got a plus changeup and a slider which can be a plus pitch at times. I was not able to dig up his ground ball to fly ball ratio (he did give up six homers in 67.1 IP), but his scouting report hints at Perry being a groundball pitcher who some see as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter.
Brett Wallace, 1B/3B, Arizona State - This is the guy I want the Sox to get, but I believe that he will be gone well before they pick at #30. He's been described as one of the best pure hitters in college with unbelievable plate discipline, power to all fields, and even the ability to steal a base. He was named Pac-10 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season while hitting .412 with 20 homers and an OPS approaching 1.300.
Matt Marquis, CF, Immaculata High School, New Jersey - A very talented outfielder from a defensive standpoint, Marquis has a projectable body type with very good bat speed and power. The Boston Globe has recently reported that Theo has personally scouted Marquis at his high school in Somerville, New Jersey.
Ricky Oropesa, 3B, Etiwanda High School, California - A left-handed hitting third baseman, Oropesa is just finishing up his high school years. He's been described as having plus-plus raw power with adequate fielding skills at the hot corner. I could see the Sox going this direction; it would address their power dearth, and third base isn't necessarily a position of strength throughout the system.
Anthony DeSclafani, P, Colts Neck High School, New Jersey - A five-star prospect who can command a three-pitch repetoire. He pounds the bottom of the zone very effectively, and tops out around 90 mph. There is risk in drafting DeSclafani as he's committed to Florida.
Trey Haley, P, Central Heights High School, Texas - Haley is similar in build to fellow Texas native, Clay Buchholz. He combines mid 90's heat with a plus changeup, good command, intelligence, and above average makeup. He seems to have unlimited upside, but there is risk in drafting Haley as he has committed to Rice.
Adrian Nieto, C, American Heritage High School, Florida - Something tells me that the Sox will take Nieto at #30. He's a solid all-around catcher who has the potential to be a 15 home run guy. He combines a steady approach at the plate with a plus arm behind it. The knock on Nieto has been his lack of athleticism behind the plate. At only 18 years of age, he is still raw.
When the two-day stretch from June 5-6 wraps up, we'll see if one or more of these guys is a future Red Sox. Perhaps one of these guys will be the next rookie du jour in the Jacoby Ellsbury or Justin Masterson mold. Whoever the Sox take at #30, though, I can rest assure you that Red Sox Nation will seek to know more about the kid than we'd ever imagine.
(On a side note, I will be heading to the College World Series from June 15 to June 18. If the Sox draft any of the players I will see in action, you will get a first account scouting report from yours truly. I am personally excited about that possibility.)
Sources: Baseball America, Sons of Sam Horn, MLB.com, Jonathan Mayo
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| We had to get some compensation for Gagne's disaster, right? |
So, which direction will the Red Sox choose to go on Draft Day? Well, to answer that question, it would help to understand the strengths and weaknesses throughout the farm system. I'm not going to pretend to have a Mike Hazen-esque knowledge of the Red Sox minor league system, but I do follow the top 15-20 prospects with regularity. Browsing through some the Sox prospects, it's evident where the dearth is. The Sox have a surplus of pitching with Justin Masterson, Michale Bowden, Daniel Bard, Nick Hagadone, Bryce Cox, David Pauley, and even Lester and Buchholz. The Sox are also loaded up the middle with infielders such as Jed Lowrie and teenagers Oscar Tejeda, Will Middlebrooks, and last year's second pick, Ryan Dent. The Sox can even boast some outfield depth with Brandon Moss, Ryan Kalish, Josh Reddick, and Jason Place.
Through all of this talent, though, are two glaring weaknesses: power hitting and catcher. The Sox have what appears to be a future star in 1B, Lars Anderson. They've also got Chris Carter and Bubba Bell who can hit for power. With the possible exception of Anderson, the Sox lack that prototypical Ortiz-type power hitter in the minor league system. And the team's depth as far as power goes can't even be considered mediocre. Outside of free agency, it does not seem that the Red Sox have any long-term plans to replace the big bats of Manny and Ortiz when they choose to depart. In regards to the catcher's position, the Sox have bodies, but nobody wants to step up to become the next Jason Varitek. Mark Wagner seems to have the best shot; he's gifted defensively and does possess some offensive skills. George Kottaras was originally thought to be the catcher of the future, but he has not panned out thus far. Plus, he is already 25. Dusty Brown has a solid defensive skill set, but will never hit enough to be a starter.
My guess is that the Sox will look to acquire some catching and power hitting depth through this year's draft. Fortunately for the Sox, this draft class is fairly deep in both categories. That said, Theo and his posse have taken on a Patriots-esque mentality when it comes to the draft, seemingly taking the best available player. The direction that the Sox decide to take on Draft Day remains to be seen. With that in mind, though, here are the scouting reports of a dozen players that I have seen linked to the Sox while browsing mock drafts.
David Cooper, 1B, California - He's a left-handed hitting first baseman who can hit for power to all fields. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo describes Cooper as having plus power with very average defensive skills. He was recently named a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American.
Lance Lynn, P, Ole Miss - Lynn is big righty in the mold of a Joba Chamberlain when it comes to body type. He does not throw as hard as Joba, topping out in the low 90's with his heater. He mixes average stuff with outstanding command. With Ole Miss on the season, he's currently got 103 strikeouts in 83.1 innings.
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| These scouting reports are brought to you by Mayo! |
Andrew Cashner, P, TCU - Cashner is a closer who has been consistently touching 98 mph with his fastball. He mixes in an improving slider, but there are concerns about his walk rate (4.5 BB/9). Like Cooper, he has been named a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American with a 1.80 ERA, 9 saves, .120 BAA, and 74 K's in 50 innings pitched.
Kyle Lobstein, P, Coconino High School, Arizona - A tall, lean lefty out of high school, Lobstein, according to Jonathan Mayo, has a chance to be a Chuck Finley type. He's currently sitting in the 88-90 mph range with his fastball, but does have the potential to throw three above average pitches at the Major League level.
Ryan Perry, P, Arizona - This guy intrigues me. He sits in the mid-to-high 90's with good sink on his fastball. He's got a plus changeup and a slider which can be a plus pitch at times. I was not able to dig up his ground ball to fly ball ratio (he did give up six homers in 67.1 IP), but his scouting report hints at Perry being a groundball pitcher who some see as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter.
Brett Wallace, 1B/3B, Arizona State - This is the guy I want the Sox to get, but I believe that he will be gone well before they pick at #30. He's been described as one of the best pure hitters in college with unbelievable plate discipline, power to all fields, and even the ability to steal a base. He was named Pac-10 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season while hitting .412 with 20 homers and an OPS approaching 1.300.
Matt Marquis, CF, Immaculata High School, New Jersey - A very talented outfielder from a defensive standpoint, Marquis has a projectable body type with very good bat speed and power. The Boston Globe has recently reported that Theo has personally scouted Marquis at his high school in Somerville, New Jersey.
Ricky Oropesa, 3B, Etiwanda High School, California - A left-handed hitting third baseman, Oropesa is just finishing up his high school years. He's been described as having plus-plus raw power with adequate fielding skills at the hot corner. I could see the Sox going this direction; it would address their power dearth, and third base isn't necessarily a position of strength throughout the system.
Anthony DeSclafani, P, Colts Neck High School, New Jersey - A five-star prospect who can command a three-pitch repetoire. He pounds the bottom of the zone very effectively, and tops out around 90 mph. There is risk in drafting DeSclafani as he's committed to Florida.
Trey Haley, P, Central Heights High School, Texas - Haley is similar in build to fellow Texas native, Clay Buchholz. He combines mid 90's heat with a plus changeup, good command, intelligence, and above average makeup. He seems to have unlimited upside, but there is risk in drafting Haley as he has committed to Rice.
Adrian Nieto, C, American Heritage High School, Florida - Something tells me that the Sox will take Nieto at #30. He's a solid all-around catcher who has the potential to be a 15 home run guy. He combines a steady approach at the plate with a plus arm behind it. The knock on Nieto has been his lack of athleticism behind the plate. At only 18 years of age, he is still raw.
When the two-day stretch from June 5-6 wraps up, we'll see if one or more of these guys is a future Red Sox. Perhaps one of these guys will be the next rookie du jour in the Jacoby Ellsbury or Justin Masterson mold. Whoever the Sox take at #30, though, I can rest assure you that Red Sox Nation will seek to know more about the kid than we'd ever imagine.
(On a side note, I will be heading to the College World Series from June 15 to June 18. If the Sox draft any of the players I will see in action, you will get a first account scouting report from yours truly. I am personally excited about that possibility.)
Sources: Baseball America, Sons of Sam Horn, MLB.com, Jonathan Mayo
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Lester Story
Here's the story of how I learned of Jon Lester's no-hitter Monday night.
I participate in a men's modified softball league, and we opened up our schedule Monday at 6:00p. Being an adult crowd with older, more fragile bodies than those of the athletes I participated against in college, it took an additional 20-30 minutes for everyone to get their arms and legs loose. As a result, the game didn't really get underway until about half past six. Given the circumstances, there was no reason for me to need my phone; I'd be playing, plus my wife, who was at the game, had hers in the event of an emergency. So, my phone was left on the dresser in our bedroom at home.
Sparing the details of the game, the Dempsey & Baxter Pornstars (the lovely name of the team of which I happen to be affiliated) were victorious by a score of 28-10. With 38 combined runs, including a 13-run top of the 6th, it goes without saying that this softball game carried on well beyond that of your average softball game. Not only did we start late, but we ended late as well.
The wife and I arrived home a little before 8:30. At this point, we had yet to eat dinner given the small window of time between the end of the work day and the beginning of the game. So, we quickly prepared and enjoyed a small dinner together. By the time dinner was finished and I got the opportunity to check my phone for messages, it was just beyond 9:30.
I flipped open my phone to find that I had FOUR VOICEMAILS! I'm lucky to get four voicemails in a week let alone get four in a period of four hours. In checking my missed calls, I saw that three of the four were from my friend and fellow Sox fan, Dan, with whom I went to Buffalo for last year's NCAA Tournament. I knew something was up because Dan only calls me to discuss the Sox.
The first message, 8:35: "Shane. Dan. Just wanted to let you know that Lester's got a no-hitter through five."
Second message, 9:09: "Lester's got a no-hitter through seven. Sox up 7-0."
Third message, 9:21: "Lester's got a no-hitter through eight. ESPN is going to cut to the game in the 9th."
Of course, I start panicking. I realize that, at this point, there's a good chance I've missed everything completely. I'm frantically tearing apart the bedroom trying to find the remote to the television. I can't tell you how fast I hit the numbers 1-7-0 for ESPN when I finally found it and switched the TV on.
In the most anticlimactic of moments, there were Jon Lester and Terry Francona already embracing each other in one of the proudest hugs I'd ever seen. I had missed the no-hitter, though!
Completely! There aren't many better moments in baseball than watching the final out being recorded in a no-hitter, especially when that last out is a K. And I missed the whole damn thing by only a minute or two. My disappointment quickly subsided as it was replaced by elation - elation brought on not only by the fact that the Red Sox had just thrown a no-hitter, but that Jon Lester, a man 100 times more deserving than I will ever be, had just thrown a no-hitter.
The storylines surrounding this young man, although common knowledge now, are truly remarkable nonetheless. In the all too familiar storyline, Lester was scratched from a scheduled late August start against the Oakland A's in 2006 due to what was thought to be a sore back. About a week later, that sore back was actually determined to be a form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, albeit treatable. In December later that same year, it was revealed that Lester had apparently won his battle with cancer as his disease appeared to be in remission.
Lester did not return to a big league mound until July 23, 2007 at Jacobs Field against the Indians. This was his first start in exactly 11 months. Naturally, Lester pitched himself to a win by going six innings and surrendering only two runs. The Sox won 6-2. Lester would stay with the Sox for the remainder of the 2007 season and finish the regular season with a perfect 4-0 record (seven no decisions) and the Sox having won in nine of his 11 starts. His return from cancer culminated in his Game 4 start in the World Series against Colorado. Lester took home the 'W' as he went 5 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball propelling the Red Sox to their second World Series championship in four years.
So, in a little more than a year, Lester had beaten cancer and won a World Series clinching game.
For his latest trick, though, Lester decided to spin this no-hitter. In a 130-pitch gem, Lester struck out nine and faced only two hitters above the minimum, both of which came via bases on balls. The first walk was a result of a ball thrown after the count ran full, and the second came to the leadoff man in the 9th. If you think about that for a second, he was that close to a perfect game.
I'm sure Lester is more than happy to settle for the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history, though. He is now only the second Red Sox lefty to accomplish such a feat, the last being Mel Parnell in July of 1956. He has also become only the second pitcher in baseball history to hold a Royals lineup hitless through an entire game. The first and only other to do it was Nolan Ryan in 1973.
With Lester's no-no, the Red Sox have now tossed the MLB's last two no-hitters becoming only the second team since 1974-75 to register two consecutive such performances. The last team to do so was the California Angels, both of those no-hitters being tossed by - who else? - Nolan Ryan. The Sox are second as a team in Major League history with 18 no-hitters, two behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the Red Sox do have the most (4) no-hitters in the 21st century. The only other team with multiple no-hitters this century is the Florida Marlins (2).
Jon Lester wasn't the only one going into the record books for his historic performance. His battery mate, Jason Varitek, caught his record fourth no-hitter when he hauled in that last strike that breezed by Esteban German's bat in the 9th inning. He was also on the receiving end of Buchholz's, Derek Lowe's, and Hideo Nomo's no-hitters. And let's not forget that he caught 8 2/3 innings of no-hit ball June 7 of last year before Curt Schilling shook off the Captain and surrendered a single to Shannon Stewart.
But back to Jon Lester. I commented over at the Angry Fan that Lester's accomplishments are very comparable to those of Lance Armstrong. As we all know, Armstrong battled back from cancer to win something like seven consecutive Tours de France. Lester has battled back to win a World Series Game 4 and throw a no-hitter. Perhaps in the near future we'll see Lester in a SportsCenter commercial or hanging out with Matthew McConaughey or even co-starring alongside Vince Vaughn in Dodgeball.
Joking aside, Lester deserves credit as being one of the most courageous individuals in the public eye. To battle back from cancer and win a World Series game and throw a no-hitter in a little more than a year is absolutely incredible. In an era which has been marred by questions of steroids and PED's, Lester should be regarded as a hero since he has not only done it the right way, but the hard way.
Here's what the Blogroll is saying about Mr. Lester:
All of these quotes are good, but I think Fire Brand of the American League sums it up best on Lester's Baseball-Reference page: "He beat cancer. He beat the Rox for the World Series. He threw a no-hitter. What's next... Hall of Fame?"
Why not?
I participate in a men's modified softball league, and we opened up our schedule Monday at 6:00p. Being an adult crowd with older, more fragile bodies than those of the athletes I participated against in college, it took an additional 20-30 minutes for everyone to get their arms and legs loose. As a result, the game didn't really get underway until about half past six. Given the circumstances, there was no reason for me to need my phone; I'd be playing, plus my wife, who was at the game, had hers in the event of an emergency. So, my phone was left on the dresser in our bedroom at home.
Sparing the details of the game, the Dempsey & Baxter Pornstars (the lovely name of the team of which I happen to be affiliated) were victorious by a score of 28-10. With 38 combined runs, including a 13-run top of the 6th, it goes without saying that this softball game carried on well beyond that of your average softball game. Not only did we start late, but we ended late as well.
The wife and I arrived home a little before 8:30. At this point, we had yet to eat dinner given the small window of time between the end of the work day and the beginning of the game. So, we quickly prepared and enjoyed a small dinner together. By the time dinner was finished and I got the opportunity to check my phone for messages, it was just beyond 9:30.
I flipped open my phone to find that I had FOUR VOICEMAILS! I'm lucky to get four voicemails in a week let alone get four in a period of four hours. In checking my missed calls, I saw that three of the four were from my friend and fellow Sox fan, Dan, with whom I went to Buffalo for last year's NCAA Tournament. I knew something was up because Dan only calls me to discuss the Sox.
The first message, 8:35: "Shane. Dan. Just wanted to let you know that Lester's got a no-hitter through five."
Second message, 9:09: "Lester's got a no-hitter through seven. Sox up 7-0."
Third message, 9:21: "Lester's got a no-hitter through eight. ESPN is going to cut to the game in the 9th."
Of course, I start panicking. I realize that, at this point, there's a good chance I've missed everything completely. I'm frantically tearing apart the bedroom trying to find the remote to the television. I can't tell you how fast I hit the numbers 1-7-0 for ESPN when I finally found it and switched the TV on.
In the most anticlimactic of moments, there were Jon Lester and Terry Francona already embracing each other in one of the proudest hugs I'd ever seen. I had missed the no-hitter, though!
 |
| Seriously, what more is left for this kid to do? |
The storylines surrounding this young man, although common knowledge now, are truly remarkable nonetheless. In the all too familiar storyline, Lester was scratched from a scheduled late August start against the Oakland A's in 2006 due to what was thought to be a sore back. About a week later, that sore back was actually determined to be a form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, albeit treatable. In December later that same year, it was revealed that Lester had apparently won his battle with cancer as his disease appeared to be in remission.
Lester did not return to a big league mound until July 23, 2007 at Jacobs Field against the Indians. This was his first start in exactly 11 months. Naturally, Lester pitched himself to a win by going six innings and surrendering only two runs. The Sox won 6-2. Lester would stay with the Sox for the remainder of the 2007 season and finish the regular season with a perfect 4-0 record (seven no decisions) and the Sox having won in nine of his 11 starts. His return from cancer culminated in his Game 4 start in the World Series against Colorado. Lester took home the 'W' as he went 5 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball propelling the Red Sox to their second World Series championship in four years.
So, in a little more than a year, Lester had beaten cancer and won a World Series clinching game.
For his latest trick, though, Lester decided to spin this no-hitter. In a 130-pitch gem, Lester struck out nine and faced only two hitters above the minimum, both of which came via bases on balls. The first walk was a result of a ball thrown after the count ran full, and the second came to the leadoff man in the 9th. If you think about that for a second, he was that close to a perfect game.
I'm sure Lester is more than happy to settle for the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history, though. He is now only the second Red Sox lefty to accomplish such a feat, the last being Mel Parnell in July of 1956. He has also become only the second pitcher in baseball history to hold a Royals lineup hitless through an entire game. The first and only other to do it was Nolan Ryan in 1973.
With Lester's no-no, the Red Sox have now tossed the MLB's last two no-hitters becoming only the second team since 1974-75 to register two consecutive such performances. The last team to do so was the California Angels, both of those no-hitters being tossed by - who else? - Nolan Ryan. The Sox are second as a team in Major League history with 18 no-hitters, two behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the Red Sox do have the most (4) no-hitters in the 21st century. The only other team with multiple no-hitters this century is the Florida Marlins (2).
Jon Lester wasn't the only one going into the record books for his historic performance. His battery mate, Jason Varitek, caught his record fourth no-hitter when he hauled in that last strike that breezed by Esteban German's bat in the 9th inning. He was also on the receiving end of Buchholz's, Derek Lowe's, and Hideo Nomo's no-hitters. And let's not forget that he caught 8 2/3 innings of no-hit ball June 7 of last year before Curt Schilling shook off the Captain and surrendered a single to Shannon Stewart.
 |
| Is there a Dodgeball 2 alongside Jon Lester in Vince's future? |
Joking aside, Lester deserves credit as being one of the most courageous individuals in the public eye. To battle back from cancer and win a World Series game and throw a no-hitter in a little more than a year is absolutely incredible. In an era which has been marred by questions of steroids and PED's, Lester should be regarded as a hero since he has not only done it the right way, but the hard way.
Here's what the Blogroll is saying about Mr. Lester:
- The Angry Fan - "There is no 'yeah, but...' here. Just a dominating performance against a decent offensive team."
- Behind Enemy Lines - "I was more nervous than an expecting dad. After the last strike I nearly went through the roof. My neighbors are pissed."
- The Coffin Corner - "[Lester] was just locked in tonight. His control was fantastic... And he's beaten cancer to boot. It's Jon's world; we just live in it."
- Boston Irish - "What on earth does this amazing kid do for an encore? Beat a life threatening disease. Check. Clinch game four of the 2007 World Series. Check. Throw a no hitter. Check."
- A Red Sox State of Maine - "Even during our most disdainful moments, we are always hoping at some point we can love you like we want to, but to earn it you have to perform. Once you do, we'll be putty in your hands forever.
"You took one huge step closer to that tonight, kid.
"Congratulations to Jon Lester tonight for pitching the 18th no-hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox. We're so proud of you!"
All of these quotes are good, but I think Fire Brand of the American League sums it up best on Lester's Baseball-Reference page: "He beat cancer. He beat the Rox for the World Series. He threw a no-hitter. What's next... Hall of Fame?"
Why not?
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Top 10 List: Manny Being Manny
Has there ever been a better time for a Top 10 List dedicated entirely to the antics of one, Manny Ramirez? Really. The man needs no introduction. His personality has its own acronym. MBM has become more than just an excuse, it has become a form of entertainment.
So, without further ado, here are the top 10 Manny Being Manny moments, a list only Manny himself can inspire.
#10) Stand and Admire - 2007 AL Playoffs
Manny's become known for his lethargy on the basepaths, particularly his lack of haste in getting out of the batter's box. More specifically, Manny's taken some heat for his unnecessarily long home run admirations. In Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS against the Angels, Manny hit a walk-off home run that traveled roughly a nautical mile. And he knew it. As soon as he hit it, Manny stood on top of home plate, both arms raised straight in the air, for what seemed to be a half minute.
Later in the playoffs, in Game 4 of the ALCS, a game I happened to be at, the Sox found themselves down 7-0 in the 6th inning. Back-to-back homers by Ortiz and Youkilis cut the lead to 7-2. Manny then finished off the trifecta with a 400+ foot home run to center. Although this only cut the lead to four runs, that didn't stop Manny from asserting his ignorance by admiring this bomb as well, giving the Cleveland fans even more reason to boo him.
#9) First Glimpse - September 3, 1993
Manny's first big-league hit of course came way back in his days as an Indian. It occured on September 3, 1993 in Yankees Stadium. It was with this first hit that we began to see what MBM could truly become and how Mannyrific Manny could be. Manny drove a ball deep down the left field which ended up dropping in the field of play and then over the wall for a clear groundrule double. Manny had other thoughts as he rounded 2nd base, head toward the ground, thinking that he had just hit his first career home run. It was only until he looked up and saw Carlos Baerga at the top of the dugout steps flashing the stop sign that Manny realized that he had hit a mere two-bagger. Ironically, Manny did go on to hit two homers in that same game.
#8) Scheduling Conflict - February, 2007
Prior to the start of the 2007 season, Manny failed to report to Spring Training by the mandatory reporting date. The reasoning being fed to the media was that Manny had family matters to attend to. It was later reported that Manny was actually scheduled to appear at a classic car auction in Atlantic City.
#7) Sign Him Up with the Rev - July 19, 2005
In a 2005 home game against the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Manny wasted no time in providing a top 10 Manny Being Manny classic. In the top of the 1st, Carl Crawford, who was only the second batter of the game, blooped a pitch from Bronson Arroyo into shallow left. Edgar Renteria had a bead on it, only to be called off by Manny. Manny ended up no where near catching the ball and rather mistakenly kicked the ball on one bounce half way to right field. Crawford wound up with only a single, but would later score in the inning.
#6) You Can Find It on eBay - March 20, 2007
During the spring of 2007, Manny, usually not one to engage in talks with the media, broke his silence to promote a grill that he had posted on eBay. According to Boston.com, here's the description of the grill as it was listed on eBay:
#5) Someone Needs a Hug - September 5, 2003
Manny was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and it's no secret that he still has friends and family there with whom he keeps in touch. Perhaps Manny was too friendly - or just mindless - on a 2003 occassion in Yankees Stadium. With Pedro on the hill, Bernie Williams flew out to Manny in deep left. Manny proceeded to flip the ball into the stands to his New York buddies. The problem? Bernie's flyout was only the second out of the inning. After flipping the ball into the stands, Manny jogged halfway to the infield before realizing his lapse in memory. Upon his return to left field, Pedro joyfully and sarcastically flashed Manny his right index and middle fingers to indicate two outs, and Johnny Damon welcomed Manny back with a hug.
#4) Where's Manny? - July 30, 2005
During the middle of the 2005 season, Manny had once again expressed his desire to be traded out of Boston. As the trade deadline approached, Manny was scratched from the lineup two minutes before a July 30 tilt against the Twins, another game I happened to be attending. Manny's absence from the lineup prompted speculation that a trade was either imminent or already finalized. After a Sox victory, to the delight of the Fenway crowd, Manny emerged from the dugout to join in the celebration and was showered with chants of "Manny! Manny!"
#3) Pee Break - July 18, 2005
This is one of the all-time Manny classics if only because he is the only guy who could pull it off or would even think of pulling it off. During a routine mound visit in a bases loaded situation, Manny decided to disappear behind the Green Monster. When asked about his disappearing act later, Manny claimed that he was using the bathroom even though there are no such facilities behind the Monster. Manny reappeared from behind the wall only seconds before pitcher, Wade Miller, threw his next pitch.
#2 - The Catch - May 13, 2008
This past week, Manny made a now infamous Web Gem catch for the ages. The catch itself wasn't as impressive as the ensuing display of athleticism and entertainment. After making the catch, Manny's momentum caused him to use the left field wall as a springboard in changing his direction of travel similar to how a swimmer uses the end wall of a pool to reverse direction. In the process of doing this, Manny found the time to give a lucky fan a high-five...in the middle of the play, mind you. He then turned and fired to Pedroia who also then turned and fired to Youkilis at first to double off Aubrey Huff.
#1 - The Cut-Off - July 21, 2004
The all-time greatest Manny Being Manny moment occured during the 2004 season when Pedro, Nomar, and Damon were all still with the team. With the Sox down 6-4 and two outs in the 7th, David Newhan drove a ball off of the center field wall which then caromed toward left field. Damon tracked it down, turned, and threw toward the infield. In a truly befuddling, jaw-dropping turn of events, Manny decided to lay out to his left and cut Damon's throw off as if he were the intended cut-off man. Not surprisingly, Newhan ended up with a two-run inside-the-park home run. The Red Sox would go on to lose by a score of 10-5.
For a rundown of some of the classic Manny moments, check out this Baseball Tonight montage (thanks to Red Lasso and Sox and Dawgs for the video). If you're not a Sox fan, this is still at least good for a laugh.
I'd also like to thank the Boston Globe for the pictorial rundown of some of the best MBM memories.
So, without further ado, here are the top 10 Manny Being Manny moments, a list only Manny himself can inspire.
#10) Stand and Admire - 2007 AL Playoffs
Manny's become known for his lethargy on the basepaths, particularly his lack of haste in getting out of the batter's box. More specifically, Manny's taken some heat for his unnecessarily long home run admirations. In Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS against the Angels, Manny hit a walk-off home run that traveled roughly a nautical mile. And he knew it. As soon as he hit it, Manny stood on top of home plate, both arms raised straight in the air, for what seemed to be a half minute.
Later in the playoffs, in Game 4 of the ALCS, a game I happened to be at, the Sox found themselves down 7-0 in the 6th inning. Back-to-back homers by Ortiz and Youkilis cut the lead to 7-2. Manny then finished off the trifecta with a 400+ foot home run to center. Although this only cut the lead to four runs, that didn't stop Manny from asserting his ignorance by admiring this bomb as well, giving the Cleveland fans even more reason to boo him.
#9) First Glimpse - September 3, 1993
Manny's first big-league hit of course came way back in his days as an Indian. It occured on September 3, 1993 in Yankees Stadium. It was with this first hit that we began to see what MBM could truly become and how Mannyrific Manny could be. Manny drove a ball deep down the left field which ended up dropping in the field of play and then over the wall for a clear groundrule double. Manny had other thoughts as he rounded 2nd base, head toward the ground, thinking that he had just hit his first career home run. It was only until he looked up and saw Carlos Baerga at the top of the dugout steps flashing the stop sign that Manny realized that he had hit a mere two-bagger. Ironically, Manny did go on to hit two homers in that same game.
#8) Scheduling Conflict - February, 2007
Prior to the start of the 2007 season, Manny failed to report to Spring Training by the mandatory reporting date. The reasoning being fed to the media was that Manny had family matters to attend to. It was later reported that Manny was actually scheduled to appear at a classic car auction in Atlantic City.
#7) Sign Him Up with the Rev - July 19, 2005
In a 2005 home game against the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Manny wasted no time in providing a top 10 Manny Being Manny classic. In the top of the 1st, Carl Crawford, who was only the second batter of the game, blooped a pitch from Bronson Arroyo into shallow left. Edgar Renteria had a bead on it, only to be called off by Manny. Manny ended up no where near catching the ball and rather mistakenly kicked the ball on one bounce half way to right field. Crawford wound up with only a single, but would later score in the inning.
 |
| In the market for a grill? Manny can help! |
During the spring of 2007, Manny, usually not one to engage in talks with the media, broke his silence to promote a grill that he had posted on eBay. According to Boston.com, here's the description of the grill as it was listed on eBay:
"Hi, I'm Manny Ramirez. I bought this AMAZING grill for about $4,000 and I used it once... But I never have the time to use it because I am always on the road. I would love to sell it and you will get an autographed ball signed by me :-]"
#5) Someone Needs a Hug - September 5, 2003
Manny was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and it's no secret that he still has friends and family there with whom he keeps in touch. Perhaps Manny was too friendly - or just mindless - on a 2003 occassion in Yankees Stadium. With Pedro on the hill, Bernie Williams flew out to Manny in deep left. Manny proceeded to flip the ball into the stands to his New York buddies. The problem? Bernie's flyout was only the second out of the inning. After flipping the ball into the stands, Manny jogged halfway to the infield before realizing his lapse in memory. Upon his return to left field, Pedro joyfully and sarcastically flashed Manny his right index and middle fingers to indicate two outs, and Johnny Damon welcomed Manny back with a hug.
#4) Where's Manny? - July 30, 2005
During the middle of the 2005 season, Manny had once again expressed his desire to be traded out of Boston. As the trade deadline approached, Manny was scratched from the lineup two minutes before a July 30 tilt against the Twins, another game I happened to be attending. Manny's absence from the lineup prompted speculation that a trade was either imminent or already finalized. After a Sox victory, to the delight of the Fenway crowd, Manny emerged from the dugout to join in the celebration and was showered with chants of "Manny! Manny!"
#3) Pee Break - July 18, 2005
This is one of the all-time Manny classics if only because he is the only guy who could pull it off or would even think of pulling it off. During a routine mound visit in a bases loaded situation, Manny decided to disappear behind the Green Monster. When asked about his disappearing act later, Manny claimed that he was using the bathroom even though there are no such facilities behind the Monster. Manny reappeared from behind the wall only seconds before pitcher, Wade Miller, threw his next pitch.
 |
| Priceless! |
This past week, Manny made a now infamous Web Gem catch for the ages. The catch itself wasn't as impressive as the ensuing display of athleticism and entertainment. After making the catch, Manny's momentum caused him to use the left field wall as a springboard in changing his direction of travel similar to how a swimmer uses the end wall of a pool to reverse direction. In the process of doing this, Manny found the time to give a lucky fan a high-five...in the middle of the play, mind you. He then turned and fired to Pedroia who also then turned and fired to Youkilis at first to double off Aubrey Huff.
#1 - The Cut-Off - July 21, 2004
The all-time greatest Manny Being Manny moment occured during the 2004 season when Pedro, Nomar, and Damon were all still with the team. With the Sox down 6-4 and two outs in the 7th, David Newhan drove a ball off of the center field wall which then caromed toward left field. Damon tracked it down, turned, and threw toward the infield. In a truly befuddling, jaw-dropping turn of events, Manny decided to lay out to his left and cut Damon's throw off as if he were the intended cut-off man. Not surprisingly, Newhan ended up with a two-run inside-the-park home run. The Red Sox would go on to lose by a score of 10-5.
For a rundown of some of the classic Manny moments, check out this Baseball Tonight montage (thanks to Red Lasso and Sox and Dawgs for the video). If you're not a Sox fan, this is still at least good for a laugh.
I'd also like to thank the Boston Globe for the pictorial rundown of some of the best MBM memories.
Monday, May 12, 2008
A Tale of Two Milestones
With all of the drama surrounding the Steroids Era, it's easy to forgot 2007 as the Year of the Milestone. Craig Biggio reached 3000 hits, Tom Glavine eclipsed 300 wins, Sammy Sosa hit his 600th home run, and Trevor Hoffman extended his own all-time saves record by racking up his 500th career save. A trio of sluggers - Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, and Alex Rodriguez - each topped the 500 home run plateau. Of course, this all happened despite the granddaddy of them all, Barry Bonds' 756th home run.
The one that did not occur, though, is the one that I have been most anixously awaiting. That milestone is, of course, Ken Griffey Jr's pursuit of 600 home runs. I've been counting down so eagerly since April 25th of last season when Griffey took over sole possession of 10th place. At that point, he needed only 36 more home runs to reach this statistical landmark. It's been just over a year, and he's hit only 33 of the 36 since. To put it mildly, the wait for these final three has been an agonizing torture.
When the start of this season rolled around, Griffey stood a mere seven home runs shy. In a half-serious, yet statistically backed, and ultimately poor attempt at prognosticating wizardry, I predicted that that seventh home run would come on May 7 at home against Carlos Zambrano. That prediction has clearly failed.
Early on, the May 7th date seemed to have merit. After tallying four homers with a week remaining in April, Griffey needed only three homers in two weeks to make me look brilliant. After going homerless from April 23rd on, though, Junior looked to have gotten back on the board on Monday, May 5. But Felix Pie delivered a Stomach Punch moment, robbing Griffey of #598. Including tonight, Griffey has gone 62 at-bats and 16 games without a homer.
A fellow S3B favorite, Manny Ramirez, has been carving his own path in baseball lore. Lost in the whole Griffey shuffle has been Manny Ramirez's pursuit of 500 home runs. Manny did put one on the board tonight to reach 498 career homers. However, prior to tonight, Manny seemed to be stuck in the same rut that Griffey has been in, just three shy of his nearest milestone. He had homered just once since April 19, a span of 71 at-bats over 19 games. This came after posting six homers in the Sox first 19 games.
Through April 23, the two sluggers combined for 10 home runs, one homer every 16 at-bats between the two. Since that point, not including tonight, Manny and Junior have combined for only one home run in 122 at-bats while combining to drive in only eight runs.
As the duo approached their respective milestones at a torrid pace in the season's first month, I began wondering which would achieve their milestone first. Let's flash back to June 28, 2007. On that day, Craig Biggio became the 27th player to amass 3000 career hits. Later that same day, Frank Thomas became the 21st player in history to hit 500 career home runs. So why not have Junior and ManRam achieve the feats on the same day? Actually, why not have them do the Biggio-Thomas tandem one better? What if Manny and Griffey could achieve their milestones in the same game?
It's certainly possible, but highly unlikely. The Reds host the Red Sox June 13-15, just over a month from now. For both guys to get to that series one home run shy of their respective milestones, they'd have to continue on their incredibly slow-paced ascensions. Manny would have to hit only a mere one home run over the season's next month. Griffey would have to hit no more than two, less than one homer every two weeks.
I'm not sure I can wait another month to unleash the 600 Club celebration, but can you imagine the history that could be made in a single game? There could be 1100 home runs worth of history in one game - in one inning even. But like I said, the likelihood of this actually happening is less than that of Eight Belles winning the Preakness. Manny and Junior are home run hitters, and there is absolutely no way they hit three or fewer combined home runs over the next month of the season.
I will be watching, though, as the dramatist inside of me secretly reserves a spot for this potential historical feat. In the end, however, all that matters is that Manny does finally get to 500. But even more importantly, as long as I can run down my Griffey home run meter from a '1' to a '0', I will be a happy man, regardless of when it happens.
The one that did not occur, though, is the one that I have been most anixously awaiting. That milestone is, of course, Ken Griffey Jr's pursuit of 600 home runs. I've been counting down so eagerly since April 25th of last season when Griffey took over sole possession of 10th place. At that point, he needed only 36 more home runs to reach this statistical landmark. It's been just over a year, and he's hit only 33 of the 36 since. To put it mildly, the wait for these final three has been an agonizing torture.
When the start of this season rolled around, Griffey stood a mere seven home runs shy. In a half-serious, yet statistically backed, and ultimately poor attempt at prognosticating wizardry, I predicted that that seventh home run would come on May 7 at home against Carlos Zambrano. That prediction has clearly failed.
Early on, the May 7th date seemed to have merit. After tallying four homers with a week remaining in April, Griffey needed only three homers in two weeks to make me look brilliant. After going homerless from April 23rd on, though, Junior looked to have gotten back on the board on Monday, May 5. But Felix Pie delivered a Stomach Punch moment, robbing Griffey of #598. Including tonight, Griffey has gone 62 at-bats and 16 games without a homer.
 |
| Although they're hitting more like my 10-year-old nephew than their historical selves, Manny and Junior will soon reach 1100 combined homers. |
Through April 23, the two sluggers combined for 10 home runs, one homer every 16 at-bats between the two. Since that point, not including tonight, Manny and Junior have combined for only one home run in 122 at-bats while combining to drive in only eight runs.
As the duo approached their respective milestones at a torrid pace in the season's first month, I began wondering which would achieve their milestone first. Let's flash back to June 28, 2007. On that day, Craig Biggio became the 27th player to amass 3000 career hits. Later that same day, Frank Thomas became the 21st player in history to hit 500 career home runs. So why not have Junior and ManRam achieve the feats on the same day? Actually, why not have them do the Biggio-Thomas tandem one better? What if Manny and Griffey could achieve their milestones in the same game?
It's certainly possible, but highly unlikely. The Reds host the Red Sox June 13-15, just over a month from now. For both guys to get to that series one home run shy of their respective milestones, they'd have to continue on their incredibly slow-paced ascensions. Manny would have to hit only a mere one home run over the season's next month. Griffey would have to hit no more than two, less than one homer every two weeks.
I'm not sure I can wait another month to unleash the 600 Club celebration, but can you imagine the history that could be made in a single game? There could be 1100 home runs worth of history in one game - in one inning even. But like I said, the likelihood of this actually happening is less than that of Eight Belles winning the Preakness. Manny and Junior are home run hitters, and there is absolutely no way they hit three or fewer combined home runs over the next month of the season.
I will be watching, though, as the dramatist inside of me secretly reserves a spot for this potential historical feat. In the end, however, all that matters is that Manny does finally get to 500. But even more importantly, as long as I can run down my Griffey home run meter from a '1' to a '0', I will be a happy man, regardless of when it happens.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
My Figurative Punch in the Stomach
Almost six years ago now, Bill Simmons wrote one of his most famous columns for ESPN's Page 2. On May 28, 2002, the Sports Guy brought us his "13 Levels of Losing" column, which has to have achieved the status of most cited column in describing any devastating loss in a sporting event.
From that column, Simmons described what has become the most popular classification of the 13 levels, the "Stomach Punch" game. The Stomach Punch classification has, in essence, manifested itself into its own niche in pop culture, independent of the other 12 levels. Simmons refers to the Stomach Punch game with regularity. Devout and casual readers alike cite the Stomach Punch game in describing their own personal affairs and athletic events. Google "Stomach Punch Game," and you'll be greeted with 645 search results including a recent post from an S3B favorite, Boston Irish.
Here's how Simmons defined the Stomach Punch game back in 2002:
We all know the feeling. We've all experienced the Stomach Punch game. If you haven't, you're either too young to appreciate sports, or you're simply not a sports fan, which is borderline un-American anyway. To borrow the example Simmons used in his column, just imagine what it was like to be a Buffalo Bills fan as the Music City Miracle commenced. It's hard to argue against this game as being the quintessential Stomach Punch game in the history of sports.
A punch to the stomach is a more than adequate way of personifying a game of this magnitude and with this type of result. But I like to think of these games in another way. To me, these games feel less like a punch in the stomach than they do a thrill ride. I get the same feeling in my stomach when I free fall 240 feet at 60 mph as I do following a proverbial Stomach Punch game. My stomach leaps up into my throat and threatens to never return until some sort of order is restored.
When you think about it more intently, it's not the games themselves that provide the stomach punch or the 240 foot free fall; it's the moments within the games that cause our stomachs to leap like Dominique Wilkins. It wasn't the loss to the Titans that wrenched the guts of Bills fan, but it was the Music City Miracle, the flawless execution of trickery by Frank Wycheck and Kevin Dyson, that delivered the punch to the stomach. That was a Stomach Punch moment.
The most recent - and most applicable - example that pops into my head occured in the Super Bowl. With the Patriots ahead by four points with 2:42 remaining, the Giants took over possession of the football absolutely needing a touchdown to win. Following two first downs, the Giants apparently prayed for and received one of the most impossible acts of God in the history of mankind. Eli Manning somehow escaped a sack he had less of a chance escaping than Alcatraz. He then threw up a Hideki Okajima-like no-look bomb that was somehow inexplicably caught by David Tyree despite being in the grasp of Rodney Harrison.
That was a Stomach Punch moment! It's magnified now for the impact it had on the result of the game, but had the Patriots hung on to win, the effect of the Stomach Punch would have lingered. Had the Pats won, the result would not have reversed the fact that the Stomach Punch moment had already occured. The fact that I survived and enjoyed a ride on the Power Tower does not mean I didn't have to wait five extra minutes following the ride's conclusion for my stomach to slowly flutter back down into my lap.
Anyways, the point I am trying to make here is that it is the individual moments of a Stomach Punch game that make a game worthy of that designation. Frank Wycheck was the punch in the stomach for the Music City Miracle. David Tyree wore the boxing gloves in the Super Bowl. Aaron Boone punched Red Sox Nation in the gut in 2003.
The Stomach Punch can even transcend meaningful games, which brings me to the minutiae of this whole post. Last night, while watching Dice-K issue more walks to the Tigers than the state of Pennsylvania has gun permits to Marvin Harrison, ESPN cut to an in-game highlight of the Reds-Cubs game. It piqued my interest simply because of Griffey's pursuit of 600 home runs. It was a completely meaningless game to me, as I was concerned with only one detail.
Sure enough, it was a Griffey highlight. He was standing in the left-handed batter's box doing his wiggle that I so often imitated as a child (and now as a young adult). His at-bat was preempted by the standard 597 home run mantra, so I thought for sure this was foreshadowing of #598. He clubbed an offering from Ryan Dempster deep toward the center field bleachers of the Great American Ballpark. Everything had the look of yet another home run in a historic, chaptered career. Griffey had the swing. He had the pose. He had the, dare I say, pimpage...
...until Felix Pie delivered a gut-busting stomach punch for the ages. With my arms raised in anticipation, I witnessed Pie climb the wall and snag what would have been - what should have been - #598 just over and beyond the yellow line. I could only relax my arms, fingers interlocked, on top of my head in sheer disbelief as my stomach knotted up in my throat. Felix Pie of all people, a guy with a last name resembling a great American dessert, had just figuratively punched me in the stomach.
In the metaphorical world, Felix Pie, as a thrill ride, sucks.
From that column, Simmons described what has become the most popular classification of the 13 levels, the "Stomach Punch" game. The Stomach Punch classification has, in essence, manifested itself into its own niche in pop culture, independent of the other 12 levels. Simmons refers to the Stomach Punch game with regularity. Devout and casual readers alike cite the Stomach Punch game in describing their own personal affairs and athletic events. Google "Stomach Punch Game," and you'll be greeted with 645 search results including a recent post from an S3B favorite, Boston Irish.
Here's how Simmons defined the Stomach Punch game back in 2002:
"Now we've moved into rarefied territory, any roller-coaster game that ends with A) an opponent making a pivotal (sometimes improbable) play, or B) one of your guys failing in the clutch ... usually ends with fans filing out after the game in stunned disbelief, if they can even move at all ... always haunting, sometimes scarring ... there are degrees to the Stomach Punch Game, depending on the situation."
We all know the feeling. We've all experienced the Stomach Punch game. If you haven't, you're either too young to appreciate sports, or you're simply not a sports fan, which is borderline un-American anyway. To borrow the example Simmons used in his column, just imagine what it was like to be a Buffalo Bills fan as the Music City Miracle commenced. It's hard to argue against this game as being the quintessential Stomach Punch game in the history of sports.
A punch to the stomach is a more than adequate way of personifying a game of this magnitude and with this type of result. But I like to think of these games in another way. To me, these games feel less like a punch in the stomach than they do a thrill ride. I get the same feeling in my stomach when I free fall 240 feet at 60 mph as I do following a proverbial Stomach Punch game. My stomach leaps up into my throat and threatens to never return until some sort of order is restored.
When you think about it more intently, it's not the games themselves that provide the stomach punch or the 240 foot free fall; it's the moments within the games that cause our stomachs to leap like Dominique Wilkins. It wasn't the loss to the Titans that wrenched the guts of Bills fan, but it was the Music City Miracle, the flawless execution of trickery by Frank Wycheck and Kevin Dyson, that delivered the punch to the stomach. That was a Stomach Punch moment.
The most recent - and most applicable - example that pops into my head occured in the Super Bowl. With the Patriots ahead by four points with 2:42 remaining, the Giants took over possession of the football absolutely needing a touchdown to win. Following two first downs, the Giants apparently prayed for and received one of the most impossible acts of God in the history of mankind. Eli Manning somehow escaped a sack he had less of a chance escaping than Alcatraz. He then threw up a Hideki Okajima-like no-look bomb that was somehow inexplicably caught by David Tyree despite being in the grasp of Rodney Harrison.
 |
| Felix Pie is the real life equivalent of Cedar Point's Power Tower. |
Anyways, the point I am trying to make here is that it is the individual moments of a Stomach Punch game that make a game worthy of that designation. Frank Wycheck was the punch in the stomach for the Music City Miracle. David Tyree wore the boxing gloves in the Super Bowl. Aaron Boone punched Red Sox Nation in the gut in 2003.
The Stomach Punch can even transcend meaningful games, which brings me to the minutiae of this whole post. Last night, while watching Dice-K issue more walks to the Tigers than the state of Pennsylvania has gun permits to Marvin Harrison, ESPN cut to an in-game highlight of the Reds-Cubs game. It piqued my interest simply because of Griffey's pursuit of 600 home runs. It was a completely meaningless game to me, as I was concerned with only one detail.
Sure enough, it was a Griffey highlight. He was standing in the left-handed batter's box doing his wiggle that I so often imitated as a child (and now as a young adult). His at-bat was preempted by the standard 597 home run mantra, so I thought for sure this was foreshadowing of #598. He clubbed an offering from Ryan Dempster deep toward the center field bleachers of the Great American Ballpark. Everything had the look of yet another home run in a historic, chaptered career. Griffey had the swing. He had the pose. He had the, dare I say, pimpage...
...until Felix Pie delivered a gut-busting stomach punch for the ages. With my arms raised in anticipation, I witnessed Pie climb the wall and snag what would have been - what should have been - #598 just over and beyond the yellow line. I could only relax my arms, fingers interlocked, on top of my head in sheer disbelief as my stomach knotted up in my throat. Felix Pie of all people, a guy with a last name resembling a great American dessert, had just figuratively punched me in the stomach.
In the metaphorical world, Felix Pie, as a thrill ride, sucks.
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