Baseball 2013 /Beisbol / 野球 / 야구 / 棒球 / בייסבול

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fantasy-roto-arcade/shuffle-starting-pitchers-exhuming-mccarthy-034125648--fantasy.html

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 02:47:00 +0000

Shuffle Up, Starting Pitchers: Exhuming McCarthy

By Scott Pianowski | Roto Arcade – Tue, Mar 26, 2013 11:41 PM EDT

Arizona getaway, getaway

Alright, amigos, let's get to the prices on the mound. Here's how I rank the Top 90 arms or so for the 2013 season, 5x5.
Players at the same prices are considered even. Don't worry about the numbers in an isolated sense; what matters is how the players relate to one another. I reserve the right to tweak the list as the evening goes along. Win the debate, win the rank.
[Bracket busted? Try again with Second Chance Tourney Pick'em!]
And remember the golden rule: a player doesn't gain 15-20 percent of bonus value simply because you roster him.
I'm sure there's more to the preamble but it's not coming to mind right now. Let's get to it.
$33 Clayton Kershaw
$32 Justin Verlander
$30 Stephen Strasburg
$29 Cole Hamels
$27 Cliff Lee
$26 David Price
$25 Matt Cain
As terrific as the Top 3 pitchers are, I'm fine to sit back and try to get Hamels at a nicer price (Yahoo! ADP: 33.8). Consider his Three-Year averages: 2.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 207 strikeouts; that's not too far from what we might expect from the holy trinity. And don't let the home ballpark throw you at all: Hamels posted better numbers in Philly for each of the past two seasons. Hamels doesn't turn 30 until December, so everything falls nicely into line here.
$23 R.A. Dickey
$23 Felix Hernandez
$23 Adam Wainwright
$22 Yu Darvish
$22 Madison Bumgarner
$21 Gio Gonzalez
$21 CC Sabathia
$20 Jered Weaver
$20 Chris Sale
$20 Johnny Cueto
$19 Max Scherzer
$19 Yovani Gallardo
$19 Zack Greinke
$19 Mat Latos
$19 Jordan Zimmermann
$19 Kris Medlen
Most other years I'd have Weaver a lot higher – extreme fly-ball pitchers tend to be underrated, as Gene McCaffrey has always said – but Weaver's velocity and strikeouts dropped last year and he's had trouble succeeding on the road. I'm not discounting him, but I'm no longer targeting him.
[Baseball 2013 from Yahoo! Fantasy Sports: Join a league today!]
$17 Brandon Morrow
$17 Josh Johnson
$17 Matt Moore
$17 Jeff Samardzija
$17 James Shields
$16 Ian Kennedy
$15 Jon Lester
$14 Anibal Sanchez
$14 Jake Peavy
$14 Tim Lincecum
$14 Doug Fister
$13 Homer Bailey
$13 Jonathon Niese
$13 Mike Minor
There was plenty of Bailey hype early in his career, so it's easy to forget he doesn't turn 27 until May. If you rank all of roto's starting pitchers for their road-only starts in 2012, Bailey surprisingly grades out first. That's not going to help him in Cincinnati's cozy ballpark, of course, but given the mild upgrade most teams get when they play at home, perhaps we'll see more balance (and better overall returns) in 2013. (And yes, once and for all – Bailey over Jennifer.)
Why isn't Peavy higher? Simple case here: it's about durability. Peavy didn't get to 20 starts in any of the three seasons before 2012, and even his 2008 campaign was capped at 27 starts and 173.2 innings. He has a 4.08 ERA for his career at U.S. Cellular, though it's tied to a 1.15 WHIP. Someone in the room wants him more than I do, and I'm fine with that.
$12 Matt Harvey
$11 Ryan Vogelsong
$11 Lance Lynn
$11 Hiroki Kuroda
$11 C.J. Wilson
$10 Alex Cobb
$10 Jeremy Hellickson
$10 A.J. Burnett
$10 Trevor Cahill
$10 Wade Miley
I'm going to go down as a Cahill apologist for a while, I suppose. The walk and strikeout rates are moving in the right direction, the ground-ball clip is dreamy, and he just turned 25. He's still got a level to climb for us.
$9 Jarrod Parker
$9 Brandon McCarthy
$9 Derek Holland
$8 Edwin Jackson
$8 Dan Haren
$7 Matt Garza
$7 Josh Beckett
$6 Brett Anderson
$6 Ryan Dempster
$6 Jason Hammel
$6 Tommy Milone
$6 Wandy Rodriguez
I can't help but root for the McCarthy story. He's coming back from a scary injury; he's smart; he's an engaging follow on Twitter (the best of all the baseball follows, at least from what I've seen). McCarthy's strikeout rate has never been outstanding but it's just about guaranteed to get a spike in the National League, and we know he hardly walks anyone. He doesn't turn 30 until July. Plausible upside is here, let's write a ticket.
I'm not touching Haren this year at that price, obviously. His back problems from last year could be a chronic thing, and he's been throwing batting practice this spring (6.39 ERA, seven homers, albeit with a tidy K/BB rate). I know you're not supposed to put a lot of stock into March performances from established players, but after Haren's 2012 season, I want to see reasons for optimism. He's all yours.
$5 James McDonald
$5 Marco Estrada
$5 Chris Tillman
$5 Hisashi Iwakuma
$5 Phil Hughes
$5 Matt Harrison
$5 Roy Halladay
$5 Clay Buchholz
$4 Jaime Garcia
$4 Julio Teheran
$4 Kyle Lohse
$4 Alexi Ogando
McDonald's nightmarish second half left a scar, sure, but we can't ignore what he did in the first half (nine wins, 100 strikeouts, 2.37/0.97). He's entering his Age-28 season. I welcome him to the back end of my rotations, as a short-leash lottery ticket.
$3 Dillon Gee
$3 Daniel Straily
$3 Mike Fiers
$3 Andrew Cashner
$3 A.J. Griffin
$3 Wei-Yin Chen
$3 Paul Maholm
$3 Rick Porcello
$2 Tim Hudson
$2 Jason Vargas
$2 Hyun-Jin Ryu
All winter I waited and hoped for the Tigers to ship Porcello to an NL club – what good is a ground-ball pitcher in front of Detroit's current infield? Alas, Porcello isn't going anywhere, and maybe that's a good thing as he steps into his Age-24 season. He's been a marvel in spring training (21 strikeouts and zero walks over 24 innings) and let's not forget there's a first-round pedigree here. Keep an open mind, gamers. … Maholm and Vargas are two of my favorite "just don't mess things up" options for the back end of deeper-league rotations. Both pitchers figure to get plenty of help from an outstanding outfield defense.
$1 Shaun Marcum
$1 Andy Pettitte
$1 Ross Detwiler
$1 Vance Worley
$1 Shelby Miller
$1 Jeff Niemann
$1 Mark Buehrle
$1 Chris Capuano
$0 Tommy Hanson
$0 Francisco Liriano
$-1 Ubaldo Jimenez
It's going to be a while before I can trust Jimenez again. Even if the fastball velocity makes a comeback, there's the matter of those messy mechanics – over the past few years, no two consecutive deliveries were ever alike. You can't pitch like that and be successful.

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noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:18:00 +0000

Steve Henson

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/athletics-giants-coliseum-move-san-jose-jemile-weeks-bud-selig-new-ballpark-stadium.html

@HensonYahoo

Expert

A's move from Oakland to San Jose can't get traction because the Giants prove slippery
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 9:45 PM EDT

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OAKLAND – We all know glass half-full and glass half-empty people. Jemile Weeks is a stadium half-full ballplayer. The Athletics second baseman doesn't see the thousands of empty green seats every game at the Coliseum.
"I see the diehard fans," he said. "When we get something going, they make the place sound and feel like a full house."
That doesn't mean Weeks, and everyone else on the A's, wouldn't welcome a new stadium. They've been pining for, planning for and pursuing one for years. But the obstacles are daunting.
"This might be the most difficult decision in baseball history because of the circumstances," said one MLB executive.The Oakland A's had a phenomenal July, going 19-5. (AP)
The need is obvious. The Coliseum is serviceable – for the NFL's Oakland Raiders. It's not a baseball stadium; it's a cold and cavernous mass of concrete, the dugouts seem acres away from the foul lines, and fans even at field level could use binoculars. The outfield bleachers are so far from the action they might as well be in Berkeley.
And, of course, the decrepit structure is in a town where the money isn't.
They want to move 40 miles south of San Francisco to San Jose, where digital dollars abound, luxury boxes would sell and a new venue would be built solely for baseball.
Yet it's like somebody looking into his neighbor's well-appointed back yard and saying he'd like to pitch a tent and move his family there. The neighbor would take issue with that.
In this case the neighbor is the San Francisco Giants. They point out San Jose is in their backyard, that a significant portion of their attendance and revenues comes directly from San Jose and the well-heeled towns nearby.
And furthermore, the current Giants ownership focused on creating a fan base in the San Jose area when the team was purchased in the early 1990s and considered moving 40 miles south from old Candlestick Park. The A's, thinking they might have the Bay Area to themselves, told them to go ahead. The Giants succeeded in spreading their brand and found a way to get a new ballpark built in San Francisco. Now they are going to allow the A's to pitch their tent in San Jose? They think not.
A baseball source said the Giants aren't even negotiating the issue, although talks could restart any time.

[Related: Rockies try another gimmick to help pitching and again fail]

So on one hand, the A's need to move to survive – they already have the second-lowest payroll in baseball. On the other, the only place that makes sense for them to move is off limits.
"We're talking about two immovable objects," the MLB executive said.
That's why it's taking so long. Commissioner Bud Selig appointed a committee in 2009 to come up with a plan for the A's to move, but 41 months later the committee isn't close to a decision. It would take a vote of 75 percent of the owners to overturn the Giants' claim to San Jose. And Selig is uneasy about what the Giants would do if a vote was taken and it went the A's way.
The Giants have attorneys close to their ownership group who made millions trying eminent domain cases. Owners agree not to sue MLB under any circumstances, but in that regard this could be ground-breaking if the A's are allowed to break ground in San Jose.
"Some people believe the Giants would sue, other don't think so," the MLB executive said.

[Related: Carter's homer caps 5-run sixth as A's beat Angels]

Oddly, the A's outstanding season might work against owner Lew Wolff's negotiating leverage for the new stadium. When it comes to bringing this to a vote of owners, he wants to cry poor. A pennant race that triggers increased attendance and potential playoff revenues would weaken his case.
Wolff's status as Selig's old Wisconsin fraternity brother doesn't appear to be getting him favoritism. But Wolff is careful not to say anything disparaging about his longtime friend. Getting this team to San Jose would be his crowning achievement, and at age 76, he can't wait forever.
No other location will do in Wolff's estimation. He rebuffed stadium proposals by Oakland and Sacramento. If another city in the 50 states could definitely support an MLB team, the Tampa Bay Rays would already have moved there.
So Wolff dreams of the A's becoming the darlings of Silicon Valley, the team of Google and Facebook and Yahoo! and whoever makes the next big idea a lucrative reality. Securing venture capital for a start-up to sell popsicles online to Eskimos would be easier to accomplish.A's owner Lew Wolff can't find the way to San Jose. (US Presswire)
The A's have surprised everyone with their outstanding play, improving to 60-51 after Wednesday's 9-8 victory over the Angels, who trail the A's by 1½ games despite having nearly three times the payroll. A's general manager Billy Beane continues to build and maintain his roster in innovative ways. But attendance remains modest: Only 21,150 showed up Wednesday, slightly more than average. Only the Cleveland Indians draw fewer fans than the A's.
Players can't help but wonder what a new stadium might do. Certainly increased revenue would have enabled them to add a player or two at the trading deadline instead of standing pat. But this bunch is going about its business, winning more than anyone anticipated and remaining oblivious to the empty seats.
"Some folks struggle just to come up with the money to come to a ballgame," Weeks said. "I'm playing for them right now. We'll see what the future brings."http://sports.yahoo.com/news/athletics-giants-coliseum-move-san-jose-jemile-weeks-bud-selig-new-ballpark-stadium.html

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:10:00 +0000

The Sad State Of Baseball Economics

http://zkonedog.mlblogs.com/2009/11/24/the-sad-state-of-baseball-economics/

The Sad State Of Baseball Economics

After watching my beloved Minnesota Twins got stomped by the New York Yankees in the first round of the playoffs this past season, and then seeing Cleveland-bred C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee pitch the Yanks and Phillies into the World Series, I believe that now is the time for me to comment on the sad economic state of baseball these days. This has always been a very hot-button topic for me (as I root for the small-market Twins), so I would like to take a few moments to explain why the current system is broken and what can be done to fix it:
Basically, the problem started way back in the 1900s, when both the American and National Leagues were first established.
Instead of free agency, there was something called the reserve clause, which was essentially a legal precedent that baseball used to keep players on one team until their owner decided differently. The players were treated not too much different from a cattle-range steer, to be bought and sold as commodities. It wasn’t, by any means, the greatest system in the world (as the only option a player had to fight against an unfair salary, which were very common in those days when most owners made Carl Pohlad look like the Monopoly Guy, was to quit playing altogether), but it did help the competitive balance of the game, allowing all teams (if managed/owned sensibly) to have a shot at competing for a championship.
That all changed in the 1970s when Curt Flood of the St. Louis Cardinals challenged the reserve clause all the way to the Supreme Court.

Though Flood didn’t actually win his case, he shed so much light on the matter that a free agency sytem was quickly established by MLB. During the 1980s, the system actually worked like it was supposed to…players had better rights, AND the game was still competitive. But, starting in the mid-1990s, salaries began exploding (along with the economy) and suddenly the system was skewered. Teams in huge economic markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Boston were able to throw huge wads of cash in the pockets of all the top free agents, all but assuring there services. Sometimes, in the case of Ted Turner’s Atlanta Braves, all it took was an incredibly rich owner to give a team a distinct advantage.
Those big markets had (and continue to have) such an advantage for a few different reasons: First and foremost is the fact that, just by sheer geography, a team like the Yankees can much more easily fill their ballpark every night than, say, the Twins can out here in Minny. Also, teams on both coasts have established their own TV networks (YES Network for the Yankees and NESN for the Red Sox), which bring in enormous profits compared to what the Twins get from Fox Sports North.
After about ten years of this broken system, when the same teams started making the playoffs year in and year out, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig established the “luxury tax” system into the game. Essentially, this is known as the Robin Hood system, as it robs from the rich to give to the poor.

This has helped a little bit (e.g. the Twins signed Justin Morneau to a long-term deal and have at least a shot at doing the same with Joe Mauer), but it din’t get to the root of the problem, as teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and Mets can continue to reach into their deep pockets to get the best players. Essentially, they are saying “luxury tax be damned” and just paying the fine for going over the payroll limit. This is evidenced very toughly for Twins fans by these two photos:

The Twins gave very decent offers to both Torii Hunter and Johan Santana, but couldn’t come close to matching the amount of years the Halos offered Hunter or the sheer dollar amount the Mets dangled in front of Santana. Another obvious example was the beginning of this season, when the Yankees went out and got C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, while the biggest moves the Twins made was signing Nick Punto, bringing in R.A. Dickey (what a joke) and getting a Joe Crede whose back was so bad that he essentially a non-factor. Those “moves” were all we could afford. Imagine how different the 2009 ALDS might have been if Hunter had been patrolling the outfield instead of Delmon Young, or if Santana had made the Game One start instead of Brian Duensing.
Now, to be fair, there are some criticisms of instituting a salary cap into MLB, but I would like to give my rebuttal to two of them:
1. Why should the Yankees be penalized for running an efficent system? It seems as if Yankee fans could just criticize Carl Pohlad for being a tightwad all those years and not spending money to improve his team, but that really isn’t a fair criticism. First of all, George Steinbrenner isn’t really spending much (if any) of his OWN MONEY on the Yankees, instead relying on seemingly endless revenue streams based on his sheer geography. Without those streams, other owners (like the Pohlad family) would be dipping into their own personal reserves, which would be like you paying for your office supplies/furnishings or me paying for Wal-Mart shelf labels.
Secondly, then, is that if teams know they can’t spend with the Yankees, then why even try? The Twins know that, under the current economic system, they are already beaten in trying to sign free agents, so instead we save our money to try and lock up as many of our good players as possible (which, in this age of inflated salaries, is fewer and fewer each season).
2. The second criticism of the the salary cap is that it really isn’t needed, due to the fact that the 1998-2000 championship run of the Yankees was accomplished primarily with home-grown players like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posade, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera.

That may be true, but funny how those great players STILL WEAR YANKEE PINSTRIPES! Instead of losing those great players to a higher bidder, the Yanks can just keep them. Plus, whether the free agents work out (Jimmy Key, Paul O’Neill, Johnny Damon, Sabathia, etc.) or flop (Kevin Brown, Chuck Knoblauch, Carl Pavano), the Yanks can just “pay through” and be done with it. If the Twins make a mistake in signing the wrong player to an expensive contract, it would hamper the organization for a decade.
Thus, until MLB institutes a salary cap like the NFL and NBA (to a certain extent) have in place, the economics of the game will remain skewered towards the large markets, and that severely troubles me. I consider baseball to be my favorite sport, the one that captivated me as a child and still does to this day, but right now the NFL is gaining ground and fast due to the fact that in the NFL setup, all teams have a chance to be competitive. It is only through bad ownership (Al Davis, Matt Millen, etc.) that teams completely fail.
I know that this situation isn’t likely to change anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean that it is right or correct. Until Bud Selig can take charge of the National Pastime like he should and not just cater to the owners, the Yankees will continue to unfairly dominate the Twins for years and years to come.

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 14:57:00 +0000

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

National League

East	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME	vs E	vs C	vs W	vs AL/NL	vs R	vs L	XTRA	1-RUN	RS	RA	X_WL	wc	dc	po
NY Yankees	67	46	.593	-	-	-	7-3	W4	34-22	33-24	8/11 @ TOR, W 5-2	8/12 @ TOR, 1:07 PM	22-17	17-11	15-13	13-5	43-32	24-14	3-2	14-17	559	459	67-46	N	N	N
Tampa Bay	61	52	.540	6.0	44	-	8-2	W5	32-27	29-25	8/11 @ MIN, W 4-2	8/12 @ MIN, 2:10 PM	27-20	10-16	15-7	9-9	46-32	15-20	3-4	18-17	464	427	61-52	N	N	N
Baltimore	61	53	.535	6.5	43	0.5	6-4	L1	29-28	32-25	8/11 vs KC, L 3-7	8/12 vs KC, 1:35 PM	22-19	17-13	11-14	11-7	44-40	17-13	12-2	22-6	476	527	52-62	N	N	N
Boston	56	59	.487	12.0	37	6.0	3-7	L1	29-34	27-25	8/11 @ CLE, L 2-5	8/12 @ CLE, 1:05 PM	18-24	20-15	7-13	11-7	33-45	23-14	2-6	12-14	559	531	60-55	N	N	N
Toronto	53	60	.469	14.0	36	8.0	2-8	L5	28-25	25-35	8/11 vs NYY, L 2-5	8/12 vs NYY, 1:07 PM	15-24	17-10	12-17	9-9	40-42	13-18	4-5	6-15	532	542	56-57	N	N	N

Central	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME	vs E	vs C	vs W	vs AL/NL	vs R	vs L	XTRA	1-RUN	RS	RA	X_WL	wc	dc	po
Chi White Sox	61	51	.545	-	-	-	6-4	L1	31-26	30-25	8/11 vs OAK, L 7-9	8/12 vs OAK, 2:10 PM	11-14	25-19	16-9	9-9	45-34	16-17	5-6	17-14	528	467	62-50	N	N	N
Detroit	61	53	.535	1.0	49	0.5	7-3	L1	33-23	28-30	8/11 @ TEX, L 1-2	8/12 @ TEX, 3:05 PM	17-16	24-16	9-14	11-7	44-37	17-16	3-4	15-15	527	499	60-54	N	N	N
Cleveland	53	61	.465	9.0	41	8.5	3-7	W1	30-28	23-33	8/11 vs BOS, W 5-2	8/12 vs BOS, 1:05 PM	13-19	20-27	12-5	8-10	40-37	13-24	3-6	15-8	484	579	48-66	N	N	N
Kansas City	49	64	.434	12.5	38	12.0	6-4	W1	21-32	28-32	8/11 @ BAL, W 7-3	8/12 @ BAL, 1:35 PM	14-15	17-24	10-15	8-10	34-42	15-22	4-5	17-15	472	526	51-62	N	N	N
Minnesota	49	64	.434	12.5	38	12.0	5-5	L3	23-34	26-30	8/11 vs TB, L 2-4	8/12 vs TB, 2:10 PM	10-17	22-22	8-16	9-9	33-46	16-18	5-2	19-19	507	585	49-64	N	N	N

West	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME	vs E	vs C	vs W	vs AL/NL	vs R	vs L	XTRA	1-RUN	RS	RA	X_WL	wc	dc	po
Texas	66	46	.589	-	-	-	7-3	W1	35-22	31-24	8/11 vs DET, W 2-1	8/12 vs DET, 3:05 PM	16-8	17-15	19-19	14-4	46-31	20-15	6-3	15-13	570	493	63-49	N	N	N
Oakland	61	52	.540	5.5	45	-	5-5	W1	34-26	27-26	8/11 @ CWS, W 9-7	8/12 @ CWS, 2:10 PM	20-14	12-12	19-18	10-8	40-31	21-21	9-3	19-14	461	429	60-53	N	N	N
LA Angels	60	54	.526	7.0	43	1.5	3-7	L1	31-23	29-31	8/11 vs SEA, L 4-7	8/12 vs SEA, 3:35 PM	16-16	14-16	18-16	12-6	40-38	20-16	2-4	9-14	534	490	61-53	N	N	N
Seattle	52	63	.452	15.5	34	10.0	4-6	W1	25-29	27-34	8/11 @ LAA, W 7-4	8/12 @ LAA, 3:35 PM	12-22	16-12	16-19	8-10	34-41	18-22	5-7	15-20	456	467	56-59	N	N	N

National League

East	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME	vs E	vs C	vs W	vs AL/NL	vs R	vs L	XTRA	1-RUN	RS	RA	X_WL	wc	dc	po
Washington	71	43	.623	-	-	-	9-1	W8	32-22	39-21	8/11 @ ARI, W 6-5	8/12 @ ARI, 4:10 PM	29-17	19-8	13-10	10-8	49-30	22-13	10-6	23-17	500	401	68-46	N	N	N
Atlanta	66	47	.584	4.5	45	-	7-3	W3	32-26	34-21	8/11 @ NYM, W 9-3	8/12 @ NYM, 8:00 PM	29-18	18-14	11-5	8-10	47-24	19-23	5-1	16-9	530	450	65-48	N	N	N
NY Mets	54	60	.474	17.0	32	9.5	4-6	L2	27-30	27-30	8/11 vs ATL, L 3-9	8/12 vs ATL, 8:00 PM	20-24	9-14	17-15	8-7	37-34	17-26	2-5	14-15	500	525	54-60	N	N	N
Miami	52	62	.456	19.0	30	11.5	4-6	W1	28-28	24-34	8/11 vs LAD, W 7-3	8/12 vs LAD, 1:10 PM	19-24	14-17	14-8	5-13	32-45	20-17	8-3	19-18	427	516	47-67	N	N	N
Philadelphia	51	62	.451	19.5	30	12.0	5-5	L1	25-33	26-29	8/11 vs STL, L 1-4	8/12 vs STL, 1:35 PM	14-28	16-8	16-16	5-10	37-40	14-22	4-9	17-19	463	501	52-61	N	N	N

Central	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME	vs E	vs C	vs W	vs AL/NL	vs R	vs L	XTRA	1-RUN	RS	RA	X_WL	wc	dc	po
Cincinnati	68	46	.596	-	-	-	5-5	W2	36-20	32-26	8/11 @ CHC, W 4-2	8/12 @ CHC, 2:20 PM	13-8	30-20	18-10	7-8	47-33	21-13	4-5	19-17	492	424	65-49	N	N	N
Pittsburgh	63	50	.558	4.5	45	-	4-6	L3	35-20	28-30	8/11 vs SD, L 0-5	8/12 vs SD, 1:35 PM	14-10	28-19	11-13	10-8	45-37	18-13	3-0	24-18	467	441	59-54	N	N	N
St. Louis	62	52	.544	6.0	43	1.5	6-4	W1	34-23	28-29	8/11 @ PHI, W 4-1	8/12 @ PHI, 1:35 PM	9-14	28-22	17-9	8-7	38-40	24-12	3-7	12-18	556	454	67-47	N	N	N
Milwaukee	51	61	.455	16.0	34	11.5	5-5	L2	33-26	18-35	8/11 @ HOU, L 5-6	8/12 @ HOU, 2:05 PM	4-12	26-27	15-13	6-9	37-46	14-15	6-10	19-25	507	516	55-57	N	N	N
Chi Cubs	44	68	.393	23.0	27	18.5	1-9	L2	28-26	16-42	8/11 vs CIN, L 2-4	8/12 vs CIN, 2:20 PM	13-15	18-29	8-14	5-10	32-47	12-21	3-4	11-19	414	502	46-66	N	N	N
Houston	38	77	.330	30.5	18	26.0	3-7	W2	27-31	11-46	8/11 vs MIL, W 6-5	8/12 vs MIL, 2:05 PM	8-17	16-29	8-22	6-9	26-59	12-18	1-11	13-23	434	582	43-72	N	N	N

West	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK	HOME	ROAD	LAST GAME	NEXT GAME	vs E	vs C	vs W	vs AL/NL	vs R	vs L	XTRA	1-RUN	RS	RA	X_WL	wc	dc	po
San Francisco	62	52	.544	-	-	-	6-4	W1	33-24	29-28	8/11 vs COL, W 9-3	8/12 vs COL, 4:05 PM	12-15	22-13	21-16	7-8	38-41	24-11	7-4	22-17	480	449	60-54	N	N	N
LA Dodgers	61	53	.535	1.0	48	2.5	5-5	L1	33-25	28-28	8/11 @ MIA, L 3-7	8/12 @ MIA, 1:10 PM	14-8	18-14	23-22	6-9	37-35	24-18	6-3	21-18	441	429	58-56	N	N	N
Arizona	57	57	.500	5.0	44	6.5	4-6	L2	30-26	27-31	8/11 vs WSH, L 5-6	8/12 vs WSH, 4:10 PM	11-18	14-15	23-18	9-6	35-38	22-19	1-1	8-17	517	480	61-53	N	N	N
San Diego	51	64	.443	11.5	37	13.0	7-3	W6	27-30	24-34	8/11 @ PIT, W 5-0	8/12 @ PIT, 1:35 PM	9-16	15-18	19-23	8-7	37-40	14-24	2-5	16-16	439	487	52-63	N	N	N
Colorado	41	70	.369	19.5	31	21.0	4-6	L1	21-37	20-33	8/11 @ SF, L 3-9	8/12 @ SF, 4:05 PM	8-14	12-17	19-26	2-13	31-49	10-21	4-2	11-11	519	637	45-66	N	N	N

x - clinched playoff berth
y - clinched division
w - clinched wild card

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:13:00 +0000

List of collegiate summer baseball leagues

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The following is a list of collegiate summer baseball leagues. Most of these amateur leagues use wooden baseball bats. Generally, they operate from early June to early August.
The unpaid, amateur baseball players involved have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. To find a collegiate summer team, they work with their college coaches and prospective teams' general managers. They report to summer leagues after completing their spring collegiate season with their NCAA, NAIA, and community/junior college teams. Some players arrive late due to their college team's postseason play, which sometimes runs into early June. In some cases, players are drafted during the collegiate summer season. These draftees can remain with their collegiate summer team until they sign a professional contract. During the season, players are housed by volunteer host families and bussed to and from road games.
The leagues vary greatly in their attendances, quality of play, and ability to attract scouts. The Cape Cod League is considered the premier collegiate summer league.^[1]^[2] As of March 2011, Baseball America is scouting and ranking Top 10 prospects from 18 leagues^[3], indicated below with (BA). OurSportsCentral.com is following 9 leagues (OSC)'^[4] and Ballpark Digest is tracking attendance for 12 leagues^[5], indicated below with (BD).

[hide]

[edit] National Alliance of College Summer Baseball

Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (BA)
Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (BA, BD)
Cape Cod Baseball League (BA, BD, OSC)
Florida Collegiate Summer League (BA, BD)
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League (BA)
New York Collegiate Baseball League (BA)
Southern Collegiate Baseball League
Valley Baseball League (BA)

[edit] National Amateur Baseball Federation

[edit] National Baseball Congress

Alaska Baseball League (BA)
California Collegiate League (BA)
CenTex Collegiate League ^[7]
Coastal Collegiate League ^[8]
Jayhawk Collegiate League (BA)
M.I.N.K. League ^[9] (BA, BD)
Mountain Collegiate Baseball League ^[10]
Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
Western Major Baseball League
Walter Johnson League ^[11]

[edit] Other leagues

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012)

Arizona-Mexico Baseball League
Ban Johnson Amateur Baseball League ^[12]
Boise Collegiate Summer League ^[13]
Carolina-Virginia Collegiate League ^[14]
Coastal Plain League (BA, BD, OSC)
Collegiate Baseball League Europe
Far West League
Futures Collegiate Baseball League "(BD, OSC)"
Great South League
Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League (BA)
Horizon Air Summer Series (BD)
Los Angeles Area League
Mountain Collegiate Baseball League ^[15]
Myrtle Beach Collegiate Summer Baseball League ^[16]
New England Collegiate Baseball League (BA, BD, OSC)
Northwoods League (BA, BD, OSC)
Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League
Pacific West Baseball League
Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (OSC)
Prospect League (BA, BD, OSC)
Southern California League
Texas Collegiate League (BA, BD, OSC)
West Coast League (BA, BD, OSC)
Western Major Baseball League

[edit] Defunct leagues

[edit] References

[edit] External links

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:09:00 +0000

Track the First Year Draft !!!!http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/06/04/2012.mlb.draft.tracker.perkin/index.html

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/06/04/2012.mlb.draft.tracker.perkin/index.html

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:56:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/stephen-strasburg-hot-stuff-ointment-apparently-not-very-232204762.html

Stephen Strasburg and ‘Hot Stuff’ ointment are apparently not a very good mix

By Kevin Kaduk | Big League Stew – 13 hours ago

(AP photo)

Yeesh. It sounds like even the great Stephen Strasburg isn't impervious to feeling the burn a little more than is usually preferable.
In a somewhat mysterious episode on Tuesday afternoon, Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson told the team's beat writers that Strasburg's poor pitching performance was due in part to some "Hot Stuff" that "got to the wrong place."
How the tingling analgesic ointment reached somewhere it shouldn't — or exactly what area of sensitive skin it came in contact with — the 69-year-old skipper didn't know, or at least wouldn't say. But coupled with a damp day at Nationals Park, it apparently had a negative effect on Strasburg who gave up four runs in four labored innings of work during Washington's 6-1 loss to the San Diego Padres. It was the first loss of the year for the Nationals ace.
From the Associated Press:

''It was on his shoulder and evidently — I don't know how it got to where it got, but it was uncomfortable, to say the least,'' Johnson said with a chuckle.
Asked about it, Strasburg said: '"I'm going to keep that in the clubhouse.'"

(Brad Mills/US Presswire)After Johnson's revelation hit the Internet — and, really, that's the sort of thing the skipper should be keeping from jackals like us — there was some speculation that it was the product of a teammate's prank and that the area in question involved, uh, Stephen's Strasburgs.
But as much as the blogosphere would have liked to learn that it was Bryce Harper who lined Strasburg's jock with Hot Stuff or that Strasburg was getting his Roger Clemens on, Washington Post reporter Adam Kilgore said no teammate looked guilty and that it was likely just an unfortunate transfer of ointment.
Writes Kilgore:

The sense in the Nationals' clubhouse was no one would have pulled a prank on Strasburg on the day he pitched — nobody would be that dumb. Baseball clubhouses are full of jocularity and pranks, but they don't take precedence over winning.
Players found it plausible that the ointment had found the wrong place by accident. Some pitchers will use the Hot Stuff to prepare for a start and get their blood flowing. It is possible the rain and wet conditions caused the ointment to move to the wrong part of Strasburg's body.

Having once seen a football teammate run off the field screaming in pain after Icy Hot somehow got in his eyes, I'm wondering if the above picture of a grimacing Strasburg reflects what really happened. After all, it's not much of a stretch to think that Strasburg could have wiped his shoulder and then his brow, only to realize his mistake when his sweat later brought the Hot Stuff down into his eyeballs.
Of course, there's another distinct possibility that involves an, uh, "adjustment" that ballplayers are particularly known for, but I don't think we need to get into the specifics on a fine family website like this one.

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:34:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/josh-hamilton-has-baseball-world-wondering-what-he-s-capable-of-in-a-full--focused-season.html

Josh Hamilton has baseball world wondering what he's capable of in a full, focused season

By Eric Adelson

By Eric Adelson | Yahoo! Sports – 2 hours 48 minutes ago

Josh Hamilton is baseball's ultimate what if.

To watch him face the Tampa Bay Rays on national television, as he did this weekend, is to wonder how his career and the fortunes of the team that drafted him might have differed. Josh Hamilton was once Bryce Harper, the sweet-swinging, power-hitting outfielder chosen No. 1 overall and destined to turn around a sluggish franchise.
The No. 1 overall pick in 1999, Josh Hamilton didn't make his major-league debut until 2007. (US Presswire)To look at Hamilton's career stats is to wonder what they might be had he never been a drug and alcohol addict. Would he be a sure Hall of Famer had he been clean and broken into the big leagues a few years after being drafted in 1999 rather than with the Reds in 2007? Hamilton was 26 in his first real MLB season. Harper is 19.
Even now, at age 30 and a fixture in the Texas Rangers' lineup, there are what ifs about Hamilton: What if he gets hurt again? What if he falls off the wagon again? Those are legitimate questions and always will be.
But now there's another what if – a far more pleasant one to consider: What if it all comes together for Hamilton? How good can he be?
"He's a definite Triple Crown threat," teammate David Murphy said.
"He's the most talented player in the game right now," Michael Young said.
"He's making the game look easy right now," Mike Napoli said. "He's a freak."
It's not as if Hamilton hasn't had brilliant seasons before. He was AL MVP in 2010 when he hit .359 with 32 home runs. But that was one of only three seasons in which he played more than 90 games. His teammates marvel at his ability, but they agree there's room for improvement.
"Sometimes I think he doesn't even feel good at the plate," Napoli said. "It just happens for him."
[Tim Brown: Bryce Harper finds things "beautiful" in the major leagues]
Hamilton admits this is true. Asked how often he feels completely comfortable at bat, he rubs his eyes and says, "Never." He doesn't smile when he says it, either. He feels pitchers are changing things up on him all the time, and he's scrambling to stay ahead of them.
"You try to get a certain feel," he said. "The more at-bats you get, the better you feel. But then they start to do another thing and you have to adjust."
Well, he seems to be adjusting. This season he's hitting .388 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs in 21 games, which projects to 72 home runs and nearly 200 RBIs. Obviously that's not a sustainable pace, but it is a contract season, and pitchers are already uncertain how to approach him.
In Detroit a week ago, Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello served Hamilton a steady diet of outside pitches, including a change-up that he fouled off. Porcello figured he'd bust Hamilton inside, since that's really the only thing that works against a brutal Rangers lineup, and Hamilton whipsawed a high hard one deep into the bleachers for a three-run home run. The next day, lefty Drew Smyly fed Hamilton outside pitches and then tried to sneak one inside. Same result.
[ MLB Full Count: Watch live look-ins and highlights for free all season long ]
"You try to move the fastball in and out," Porcello said. "I gotta tip my hat to him. I put it exactly where I wanted it. What are you gonna do?"
So what's changed in Hamilton's approach? Perspective, for one thing. Hamilton says he's always set goals for the season: 30 HRs, 100 RBIs and a .300 average. That's almost standard when he's healthy: In the three seasons he's played more than 100 games, Hamilton hit 25/32/32 home runs, drove in 94/100/130 runs and batted .298/.359/.304. This season, he says, he didn't set any goals. His only hope was "to help the team." He says that's allowed him to relieve some of the pressure he feels. Hard to imagine that a former MVP who swings so easily can feel a lot of pressure, but he says he feels it "a lot more than you'd think."
Josh Hamilton played 15 games for Class-A Hudson Valley in 2006. (St. Petersburg Times)There are certainly reasons for that. The demons of alcohol and injury shadow him. Less than three months ago, in February, he held a press conference to admit he had lapsed again. The relatively remote location of his team doesn't help much, either. The Rangers are the easternmost team in the AL West by far, meaning road trips are viciously long. Going to church means attending chapel in ballparks all over the country. Visiting with family means using Tango to place video calls to his daughters over a PDA. For someone trying to stay grounded and clean, 10-day road trips must be a landmine. He admits they feel long, whether in April or September.
"One day at a time is not just for a 12-step program," he said. "It's for everything."
That includes the long summer. Hamilton's only gotten through a couple of baseball steps so far – including one long road trip – but he's healthy and, we can only hope, sober. But he's found a mighty groove and he's protected not only in the lineup by great hitters but also in the clubhouse by teammates who look out for him. There will always be "what ifs" for Josh Hamilton, about his past and his future. But for now there's a "what if" for his immediate present:
What if this keeps up?

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:33:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/brandon-inge-couldn-t-hit--but-he-deserved-better-from-detroit-tigers-fans-before-his-release.html

Brandon Inge couldn't hit, but he deserved better from Detroit Tigers fans before his release

By Eric Adelson | Yahoo! Sports – Fri, Apr 27, 2012 7:41 PM EDT

Karma just hit Detroit Tigers fans with a Babe Ruth-sized bat.

The morning after the most unfairly jeered athlete in recent Motown memory was released by the team, outfielder Delmon Young was arrested for a possible hate crime in New York City.
Young did something Inge would never have done – embarrass the city he played in for so long. Instead, certain people in and around the city embarrassed themselves by lustily booing a 12-year Tiger because – gasp – he is no longer a good hitter.
And it wasn't just a smattering of boos. It was a torrent – as if Inge was Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators, Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche or the ghost of Juan Gonzalez's contract. Some fans actually laughed at Inge when he appeared at the plate last weekend. It got so bad that manager Jim Leyland devoted a soliloquy to defending Inge in a post-loss interview session Monday, assuring fans that it wasn't all Inge's fault the team was losing.
Slumping Brandon Inge was released by the Tigers. (AP Photo)Mind you, Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was cheered by home fans after stomping on a Green Bay Packers player last November, failing to admit it and risking his team's playoff appearance in the process. And, really, there's not much wrong with that reaction: Suh is a hometown guy who has played well and given a lot to charity.
[Related: Tigers' Delmon Young arrested on a hate crime harassment charge]
As for Inge? Well, he was drafted by the Tigers in 1998 as a catcher even though he had little experience at the position. He played his entire career with the team, all but wrecking his knees trying to backstop the worst team in baseball through a 119-loss season in 2003.
He was a stand-up Tiger even when the very fans that ended up despising him were too good to show up and cheer. He was active in the community, and photos of him with sick kids are still visible on gas station pumps throughout the area. He was happy to be in Detroit when it was widely thought big-name players would never again sign with the Tigers. (Remember how the acquisitions of Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez were major coups because at least somebody good wanted to spend a summer in the D?)
He willingly played unfamiliar positions as the team requested, and hit 27 home runs in the dream 2006 season, when the team came out of nowhere to make the World Series for the first and only time since 1984. He even made ESPN's defensive play of the year at third base. Inge hit 27 home runs again as recently as 2009, and made the All-Star team that year. Last season, he was sent to the minors and vowed to rebuild his swing. He did. Inge returned to the big club and played solidly during its playoff run.
Yes, he's a few weeks shy of his 35th birthday and his production has fallen off markedly. Last season he had almost as many strikeouts as total bases. But is that any reason to rattle Comerica Park with boos as if the man set a kitten on fire? And the venom wasn't just when Inge came to bat. In an off-season when the Tigers had news in the form of a Cy Young and MVP award for Justin Verlander, along with a key acquisition in Prince Fielder, the sports radio airwaves still belonged to the Inge haters, who were out for blood because he didn't seem to realize he was a terrible hitter. There were certainly those who loved Inge unconditionally, but eventually those people were drowned out.
Detractors may say it wasn't really Inge that was booed, but rather those who supported Inge. It was a bit like Tim Tebow (another No. 15), where haters don't really dislike the player personally, but rather the blind devotion to the player even when it's clear he doesn't have the talent to remain at the top level.
Yet the boos rained down on Inge himself. Those were the last sounds he heard after more than a decade in a Tigers uniform.
Inge was classy to the end – and past the end. Here's what he said upon hearing of his release Thursday: "The chance to go play maybe somewhere else might be good for me personally. But my heart will always be in Detroit, 100 percent forever. I appreciate everything that's happened here and every opportunity that I've been given. This is an emotional city. This is a city that will back you. They want their teams to do well. If they're not, they'll let you know, and there's nothing wrong with that. That shows they are fans. A fan that dislikes someone or that likes someone is still a fan. I respect them all, I really do."
Now, as has happened so many times during Inge's career, the Tigers have an unexpected hole in the lineup. That's because an allegedly inebriated Young is accused of shouting anti-Semitic remarks at a panhandler and getting into a tussle with New York City tourists at 4 a.m. on the morning before Friday night's game against the Yankees. Now that's worthy of public ridicule, and maybe an outright release, but this time Inge won't be around to fill the gap.
Brandon Inge isn't going down in Detroit history as Steve Yzerman or Barry Sanders. He simply wasn't that good. But you know what? There have been years when Detroit itself wasn't that good. During the bad times, though, the city always showed up and worked hard. That's something to commend, not something to revile. And still a sizeable part of Detroit turned on the man anyway. It's sad how Brandon Inge always saw himself in the Motor City, and yet in the end, the Motor City failed to see itself in him.

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:09:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/tennessee-baseball-player-breaks-own-car-windshield-game-154700072.html

Tennessee baseball player breaks own car windshield with game-winning homer

By Cameron Smith | Prep Rally – Wed, Apr 25, 2012 11:47 AM EDT

When all the members of the Chuckey-Doak (Tenn.) High baseball team trekked back to their cars following the team's 7-3 victory against Jonesboro (Tenn.) University High, everyone had smiles on their faces except for the player who should have had the widest grin of all.

A broken windshield, though not the one owned by Jameson Painter — Getty Images
That player, senior Jameson Painter, hit a game-winning homer in the eighth inning, leading the cheers of his teammates as the Knights wrapped up a win, then was crushed when he saw where his moonshot of a homer landed: Smack dab in the middle of the windshield of his own car.
Chuckey-Doak baseball star Jameson Painter — Contributed photo As first reported by the Greeneville Sun and brought to Prep Rally's attention by Off the Bench, Painter's eighth-inning homer smashed the windshield of the senior's personal vehicle as soon as it came down deep over the right-field fence of the Jonesboro field where the teams were competing.
Making matters even harder to take for Painter was this nugget: He had actually moved his vehicle farther out in the parking lot to try to protect it from precisely such an incident. Instead, that impromptu parking adjustment led to his windshield's downfall, as brought on by himself.
If that seems like a harsh twist of fate to you, don't worry, you're certainly not alone. Just ask Painter's own coach.

"We were all talking before the game that it wasn't a good place to park because he was liable to hit one there," Chuckey-Doak (Tenn.) High baseball coach Dustin Morrow told the Sun. "Sure enough, he did. I'm glad he hit the home run but feel bad because now he has to buy a new windshield."
Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:45:00 +0000

http://tracking.si.com/2012/04/25/report-red-sox-carl-crawford-will-meet-with-dr-james-andrews/?section=si_latest

Report: Red Sox’ Carl Crawford Will Meet With Dr. James Andrews

Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, MLB | Comments

Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford will meet with Dr. James Andrews to have his sore left elbow examined, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Crawford has not yet played for the Red Sox this season; he is currently considered out indefinitely as he recovers from offseason wrist surgery. He’s taken a few at-bats in extended spring training, but there’s no timetable for him to return to the Red Sox’ big club.
Crawford returned home to Florida on Tuesday night to rehab the elbow. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine told reporters Crawford was seeking a second opinion, and he had no other information on the elbow except that it was “sore.”
“Until a guy is 100 percent, you always have concern,” Valentine said.
Crawford signed a seven-year, $142 million contract with the Red Sox before the 2011 season. He had one of the worst years of his career last year, hitting .255 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases.

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:23:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tiger-stadium-opened-100-years-ago-just-like-fenway-park--but-it-s-ignored-in-detroit.html

Tiger Stadium opened 100 years ago just like Fenway Park, but it's ignored in Detroit

By Eric Adelson | Yahoo! Sports – 15 hours ago

DETROIT – At just after 9 a.m. on a chilly Sunday, a 58-year-old man named Byron Steen crosses Trumbull Street and walks briskly up Michigan Avenue. He passes an empty field with overgrown grass, some litter and two wooden benches.

This is where Tiger Stadium used to be.
Kirk Gibson's second home run in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series remains an iconic moment in Detroit sports history. …But it sure is hard to tell. There isn't a plaque or a statue in sight. If you didn't know where the stadium stood, you would never know it was ever there.
"You know," Steen says, "it never hit me. There's nothing out here."
Tiger Stadium opened on the same day as Fenway Park – April 20, 1912. It was 100 years ago this weekend. Ty Cobb scored the first run by stealing home. From that day until 1999, this very spot rumbled with din and greatness. Pretty much every legend that played in Fenway in the 20th century also played here. Lou Gehrig sat himself down for the first time in 2,130 games here, ending his incredible ironman streak. Babe Ruth hit his 700th home run here. Reggie Jackson hit one into the right field light tower here during the '71 All-Star game. The Tigers won World Series titles here in 1968 and again in 1984, with Kirk Gibson launching a late-inning home run off Goose Gossage that no Tigers fan alive to see it will ever forget. Fair to say this was the most exciting place in the history of Michigan.
And now there's hardly a trace. Fans committed to honoring the old stadium in some form maintain a home plate, a pitcher's mound, two chalk lines for base paths and two benches where the dugouts used to be. The 125-foot flagpole from the old center field is still standing.
That's it. Across the street, there's a Coney Island restaurant, a bar, a Chinese takeout place, and a Faygo sign. There's a large gate from the old stadium, and you can push open a door and take the field, but you have to know where it is. In fact, you have to know the history of "The Corner" to know where this cathedral once stood. The only acknowledgment of the old ball yard is a small plastic sign across the street featuring photos of Mickey Cochrane and Babe Ruth in the stadium and a blurb about plans for development of the area.
[ MLB Full Count: Watch live look-ins and highlights for free all season long ]
"They should put up a plaque," Steen says.
But the city of Detroit owns this property. And there are far more severe problems around here than commemorating a demolished ballpark. The Tigers have the money, but in an interview Sunday communications director Ron Colangelo explained that it's the city's call – not the team's.
He did acknowledge, however, that there weren't even discussions to honor Tiger Stadium's 100th birthday at Comerica Park this weekend.
So the weekend went by in relative silence at a place that was once so magnificently noisy.
People still visit. A man named Myron Johnson came here from the Upper Peninsula on Sunday morning to mimic a home run swing and run the bases. Asked about why Tiger Stadium mattered to him, he welled up with tears and couldn't answer the question.
He's not alone. Tiger Stadium was old and decrepit, but just about every single memory from there is positive. Tiger Stadium is childhood, family, Ernie Harwell, summer, heroes and happiness. And for those old enough to remember, it's Detroit Lions football when the team was dominant.
The fabled intersection of Michigan and Trumbull used to draw fans from all over Michigan. (Yahoo! Sports)And now …
"I don't go there," said former Tigers great Willie Horton, who won a high school championship in Detroit, loved the Lions, and won a World Series with the Tigers in 1968. "All my life is there."
Horton purposely avoids the entire block, driving around it rather than past the place where he was the very definition of a local boy made good.
"It's very emotional," he said.
There is a group here that lovingly keeps up the field as best as it can, led by a man from nearby Redford named Tom Derry. He and the "Navin Field Grounds Crew" – named after the stadium's original name – mow the lawn (on a John Deere tractor) and repaint the chalk about once a week. Without them, the field would probably be a collection of weeds and dog droppings in the shadow of a modern casino in the distance. In fact, the group found and restored the original home plate area, which was buried underneath a pile of dirt. Derry told the Detroit Free Press this week he considers his contribution "an honor and a privilege." An employee of the Brooks Lumber Company, located across the street, had a centennial flag made to mark 100 years since Cobb first crossed home plate.
[ Related: Blown call spoils conclusion of weekend series between Texas and Detroit ]
Other than that, a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places looks like any of the hundreds of other vacant lots in Detroit.
Years of skirmishes over the stadium's future followed the Tigers' move to Comerica Park in 2000. Some groups wanted the stadium preserved, or a museum built, or a recreational field for youth sports inspired by Ernie Harwell. Eventually the edifice was demolished in 2009 and the lot was left to rot. A group from Chevrolet proposed a Little League field, but the city rejected the idea late last year. There are rumors the city is waiting for a retailer such as Wal-Mart to build on the nine-acre tract.
For now, the ghost of Tiger Stadium is kind of a sore subject. Asked about the place where he spent so much time frolicking as a little boy while his father played for the Tigers, Prince Fielder said Sunday, "It is what it is" and "Me being bothered won't bring it back."
He didn't mean disrespect. It's just a tired and sad subject here now. It's another chapter in the horrible plight of a once-booming city. Even if the city agreed to budget the money for a recreation center – and it poured $4 million into keeping the stadium around for 10 years after the Tigers moved – would that really be a better use of municipal funds than paying teachers or buying computers?
But for one weekend in April, this patch of land didn't have to be an eyesore. For one weekend, it could have been celebrated for the remarkable American place it was. They could have mentioned it at Comerica Park. They could have installed a plaque. Something.
The stadium was demolished in 2009. (AP)"It was the most famous address in Michigan," said Charley Marcuse, 39, who was a hot dog vendor at Tiger Stadium starting at age 18 and now works in food service at Comerica Park. "Not the number, but everyone knows the location. The corner of Michigan and Trumbull was a connection for everyone all over Michigan to the city of Detroit. Once that connection is gone, it's hard to get it back."
Asked if he felt the old stadium should be honored, Marcuse said, "I tweeted about it."
This is no offense to Comerica Park, which fans widely like. There are plenty of tributes to Tiger Stadium at the new place. But it's a modern venue, which means it's more of a facility than a park. Marcuse even misses the men's rooms at Tiger Stadium, which were basically just malodorous troughs. The whole place was ready to fall apart, which was aggravating at the time but wonderful in retrospect.
"One day, hopefully, they'll put something there," Horton said. "But I've kind of left it there in my mind."
In another 100 years, the minds where Tiger Stadium still lingers will all be gone. Some trace of Fenway Park and Wrigley Field will surely remain in Boston and Chicago.
But what will remain at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull? When a man is stopped on the street on a Sunday morning and asked if an old ballpark used to be here, what will he say?
Will he even know?
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Tim Brown: White Sox's Philip Humber claims unexpected place in MLB history with perfect game
• Bubba Watson’s

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:53:00 +0000

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120419&content_id=29101534&fext=.jsp&vkey=pr_milb

Family can attend MiLB game for $61

Overall, classification average prices within $2 of 2011 figures

Minor League Baseball

04/19/2012 2:00 PM ET

MiLB fans find affordable family fun and excitement at the ballpark. (Kevin Littlefield/MiLB.com)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Minor League Baseball™ announced today that the average cost for a family of four to attend a Minor League Baseball game this season is $61.23. The total was calculated using the prices of two adult tickets, two child tickets, four hot dogs, two sodas, two beers, a program or scorecard and parking at the 159 clubs in the domestic-based leagues that charge admission. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, who are playing all of their games on the road this season due to a stadium renovation project, were not included in the survey."The ability of our clubs to maintain affordable prices for our millions of fans, especially for families, speaks to their commitment to remain integral parts of their communities," Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner said.

· Find MiLB tickets near you
· Take Triple-A with you
· MiLB.com Fans online home

"Whether it's to see and experience the game itself, receive a giveaway item or allow the kids to play with the team mascot, fans know they can do all of these things and more at a Minor League Baseball game without breaking the bank." The ticket prices are based on the most economical fixed seat in the ballpark. Adult tickets are available for $8 or less at nearly 80 percent of MiLB™ stadiums. Minor League Baseball is an even bigger bargain when considering that more than 40 percent of clubs do not charge for parking and many have more economical berm seating available, have free or special ticket prices in place for toddlers, senior citizens and/or military personnel, and offer food and drink specials on designated nights of the week.The average cost of a night at an MiLB ballpark for a family of four is $69.07 for a Triple-A® game, $61.57 for Double-A®, $61.62 for Class A® and $54.28 for a Short Season-A™/Rookie® contest. The overall and classification averages all fall within $2 of last season's costs.

Average Prices

Item	MiLB	Triple-A	Double-A	Class A	SS/Rookie
Adult ticket	$7.09	$8.09	$7.05	$7.34	$6.04
Child ticket	$6.10	$7.03	$6.22	$6.16	$5.25
Hot dog	$3.02	$3.41	$3.05	$3.03	$2.71
Soda	$2.91	$3.11	$3.02	$2.91	$2.67
Beer	$5.05	$5.70	$4.85	$5.06	$4.62
Program	$2.25	$2.35	$2.59	$2.15	$2.08
Parking*	$4.60	$5.22	$4.50	$4.41	$4.20

* Price where fee is chargedFans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at our ballparks. In 2011, the 174 clubs that charge admission attracted more than 41.2 million fans to their ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable, family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901.

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:55:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/white-sox-rhp-phil-humber-222948392--mlb.html

White Sox RHP Phil Humber throws perfect game

The Associated Press – 11 minutes ago

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SEATTLE (AP) Phil Humber threw the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

It was baseball's 21st perfect game and first since Philadelphia's Roy Halladay threw one against the Florida Marlins on May 29, 2010. It was the third in White Sox's history, joining Mark Buehrle against Tampa Bay on July 23, 2009, and Charles Robertson against Detroit on April 30, 1922.
With the White Sox lined up on the top step of the dugout, Humber fell behind 3-0 to Michael Saunders leading off the ninth. But he rebounded to strike him out. John Jaso then flied out before Brendan Ryan, another pinch-hitter, struck out to end the game.
Ryan took a checked swing and missed at a full-count pitch, but the ball got away from catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Ryan lingered outside the batter's box for a minute, unsure of umpire Brian Runge's call, and Pierzynski fired to first to complete the play.
Humber, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005, fell to his knees went it was over, and his teammates rushed to the mound to congratulate him.
''This is awesome,'' Humber said. ''I'm so thankful.''
Humber struck out nine and had a three-ball count only three times.
It was the first no-hitter of the season. There were three last season: Francisco Liriano of Minnesota, Justin Verlander of Detroit, and Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels.
It was the third no-hitter thrown against Seattle. Mark Langston and Mike Witt of California combined on one on April 11, 1990, and Dwight Gooden of the Yankees threw one on May 14, 1996.
It was the second start of the season for Humber (1-0), who went 5 1-3 innings, allowing one run and six hits against Baltimore on Monday night.

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Seattle vs. Chi White Sox

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:53:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/white-sox-rhp-phil-humber-222948392--mlb.html

White Sox RHP Phil Humber throws perfect game

4 minutes ago

Preview | Box Score | Recap

SEATTLE (AP)—Phil Humber threw the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
It was baseball’s 21st perfect game and first since Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay threw one against the Florida Marlins on May 29, 2010. It was the third in White Sox’s history, joining Mark Buehrle against Tampa Bay on July 23, 2009, and Charles Robertson against Detroit on April 30, 1922.

FILE - This 2012 file photo sh…
The Associated Press - Apr 21, 6:25 pm EDT

1 of 4
CWS-Sea Gallery

Series at a Glance

Chi White Sox 7

Seattle 3
Fri, Apr 20 - Final
Chi White Sox 4

Seattle 0
Sat, Apr 21 - Final
Chi White Sox at

Seattle
Sun, Apr 22 - 4:10 pm ET

With the White Sox lined up on the top step of the dugout, Humber fell behind 3-0 to Michael Saunders leading off the ninth. But he rebounded to strike him out. John Jaso then flied out before Brendan Ryan , another pinch-hitter, struck out to end

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/honus-wagner-t-206-sells-1-2-million-142622731.html

Honus Wagner T-206 sells for $1.2 million

By Kevin Kaduk | Big League Stew – 22 hours ago

The Honus Wagner T-206 (AP)For all the peaks and valleys the baseball card industry has experienced over the last two decades, one fact has remained a constant: People are willing to pay a great deal of money to own Honus Wagner's rare T-206 card.

Often referred to as the "Holy Grail" of sports card collecting, the latest one was sold on Friday morning for $1.2 million. Joe Holleman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the buyer was an unidentified New Jersey resident and that it sold for about $300,000 more than a T-206 in similar condition sold for a few years back.
From the Post-Dispatch:

Historians estimate that 60 Wagner cards still exist, and many are in poor shape. Only 22 are in sufficient condition to have earned a grade from Sportscard Guarantee Corp. (SGC) or Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA), the industry's major grading firms. Goodwin's card was graded at a "VG-3" by SGC and is considered to be one of the top six in existence.
According to several websites that track T206 cards, one Wagner "3" sold in 2008 for $791,000 and another sold the next year for $925,000.

[ MLB Full Count: Watch live look-ins and highlights for free all season long ]
The record price for a T-206 remains the $2.8 million that Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick paid for the one that was famously bought by Wayne Gretzky and Bruce McNall in 1991 for $451,000. Graded at an "8," it's believed to sport the best condition of any surviving T-206.
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noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:51:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dodgers-revised-reorganization-plan-judge-082838303--mlb.html;_ylt=AtIINNjrb1Bw4.HzH5wagpsRvLYF

Dodgers' planned sale before judge

The Associated Press – 3 hours ago

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WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) A federal bankruptcy court judge in Delaware is deciding whether to approve a reorganization plan by the Los Angeles Dodgers that would put the team on track to exit bankruptcy by April 30.

The team said earlier this week that it expects U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross will confirm Frank McCourt's plan to sell the team for $2 billion to Guggenheim Baseball Management. Mark Walter, chief executive officer of the financial services firm Guggenheim Partners, would become the controlling owner; former Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten would run the team.

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:49:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/red-sox-cf-ellsbury-leaves-201613685--mlb.html;_ylt=AgKVdZHHgDSxsHjlwzy7p_45nYcB

Red Sox CF Ellsbury leaves with shoulder injury

The Associated Press – 1 hour 31 minutes ago

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BOSTON (AP) Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has left the game against the Tampa Bay Rays after injuring his right shoulder while trying to break up a double play.

Ellsbury, the runnerup in the voting for AL MVP last year, was hurt in the fourth inning Friday when he slid into second base and Rays shortstop Reid Brignac landed on his right arm. Ellsbury immediately clutched his shoulder and stayed on the ground while being tended to.
Ellsbury walked off the field while keeping his right arm bent

GUILLEN CONTRITE--Marlins suspend manager Ozzie Guillen for 5 games

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:43:00 +0000

Marlins suspend manager Ozzie Guillen for 5 games

By STEVEN WINE | The Associated Press – 1 hour 38 minutes ago

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MIAMI (AP) Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended for five games Tuesday because of his comments about Fidel Castro, and he again apologized and said he'll do whatever he can to repair relations with Cuban-Americans angered by the remarks.

The suspension by the team will be without pay and takes effect immediately. It was announced shortly before Guillen held a news conference to explain what he said.
Guillen told Time magazine he loves Castro and respects the retired Cuban leader for staying in power so long. In response, at least two local officials said Guillen should lose his job.
At the news conference, Guillen said his comments were misinterpreted by the reporter, and he doesn't love or admire the dictator.
''I was saying I cannot believe somebody who hurt so many people over the years is still alive,'' Guillen told the news conference.
But Guillen took responsibility for the uproar, and said it left him sad and embarrassed. He also said he accepted the team's punishment.
''I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened,'' he said. ''I will do everything in my power to make it better. ... I know it's going to be a very bumpy ride.''
Outside an entrance to the Marlins' new ballpark, demonstrators shouted as the news conference began inside. It took place only five games into Guillen's tenure in Miami.
With reaction to his comments escalating in South Florida, he left his team in Philadelphia and flew to Miami in an attempt at damage control. The Marlins and Phillies had the day off and resume their series in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Guillen said he'll be there to apologize to his players - but he won't be in the dugout. Bench coach Joey Cora will be the interim manager.
''The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen,'' read a statement from the team. ''The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship.''
The suspension recalled the punishment given to Marge Schott, the late owner of the Cincinnati Reds. Schott so embarrassed baseball in the 1990s with her inflammatory racial remarks and fond recollections of Adolf Hitler that she was suspended from ownership duties for a season.
About 100 reporters, photographers and cameramen attended the news conference, and Marlins officials on hand included President David Samson and Larry Beinfest, president of baseball operations.
Guillen sat alone at the podium and began in Spanish, speaking without notes for several minutes before taking questions. Shortly after he started, his voice wavered in the middle of a sentence, and he paused to take a sip of water and clear his throat.
''This is the biggest mistake I've made so far in my life,'' Guillen said. ''When you make a mistake like this, you can't sleep. ... When you're a sportsman, you shouldn't be involved with politics.''
The firestorm came shortly after the Marlins opened their ballpark last week in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. The team is trying to rebuild its fan base with the help of South Florida's large Cuban-American population.
Guillen apologized over the weekend after the story broke, but some Cuban-Americans remained upset. One group planned a demonstration Tuesday before Guillen said he would fly to Miami.
Francis Suarez, chairman of the Miami city commission, said Guillen should be fired. Joe Martinez, chairman of the Miami-Dade County board of commissioners, said Guillen should resign.
Polarizing comments are nothing new for Guillen, who once used a gay slur referring to a reporter, defended illegal immigrants and just last week he said he drinks to excess after road games and has done so for years.
Guillen twice appeared on a radio show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in October 2005, when Guillen led the Chicago White Sox to the World Series title. At the time, Guillen said: ''Not too many people like the president. I do.''
Chavez is unpopular with many Venezuelans, especially those living in the United States.

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Tennessee prep baseball star Stephen Gant the victim of an apparent suicide

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:31:00 +0000

Tennessee prep baseball star Stephen Gant the victim of an apparent suicide

PUBLISHED 2 days and 11 hours ago

LAST UPDATED 2 days and 10 hours ago

Staff reportSporting News

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Prep baseball star Stephen Gant, projected by some to be a first-round pick in this summer’s Major League Baseball draft, was found dead Tuesday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, The Jackson Sun reports.
Gant was a senior at Riverside High School in the Nashville, Tenn., area and had signed to play for Vanderbilt.
Perry County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Nick Weems told the newspaper that they received a 911 call about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in reference to a man walking down a nearby road with a gun and threatening to commit suicide.
“We found the body of Stephen Gant about 30 feet from the roadway with a gunshot wound,” Weems said. “We do believe at this time that it was self-inflicted; however, we will continue to investigate to look at other possibilities to make sure it was suicide.”
Gant was named The Jackson Sun’s Baseball Player of the Year the past three seasons and had a bright future.
"This stops you right in your tracks,” Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin said in a release from the university's athletics department. “These are life occurrences that can't be explained ... there are no 'do-overs.' We are all deeply saddened for (his parents) Gloria, Tony, his brothers and sister as well as the many friends that Stephen had. All we can do is be supportive for the family and be there for them.”

Bad Contracts Put Two Players at Career Crossroads: Fan’s Take

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:28:00 +0000

Bad Contracts Put Two Players at Career Crossroads: Fan’s Take

By Scott Duhaime, Yahoo! Contributor Network Apr 6, 2:08 pm EDT

As a fan with dual baseball loyalties to the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals, I approach the 2012 season with a modest level of hope. Both teams possess talent which should keep them in playoff contention most of the season. As I look over both teams' rosters, one point that stands out to me is that Boston and Washington both recently exercised a similar lack of foresight in their signing of a key free agent; Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth , respectively.

While fiscal decisions can prove to be poor ones in hindsight, both players are in the early stages of their contract and when signed; I am left scratching my head as to whether either player was worth the investment. The two outfielders were coming off solid careers with their previous clubs (Tampa Bay, Philadelphia) and their suitors were competing in a high priced game of chance. The Nationals inked Werth to a seven year, $126 million contract; only to be outdone by Boston's seven year $142 million contract given to Crawford.

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As I think more about whether either player will ever live up to the lofty expectations their new teams have of them; I find myself thinking back to other prized free agents who also underachieved after receiving such a large contract for their time. Below are some, but clearly not all examples.

Current players:

Vernon Wells : $24.2 million per season

To put this contract into proper context, Wells's annual salary is equal to what Albert Pujols signed this past offseason. The former Toronto Blue Jays centerfielder was coming off a five year span that resulted in a .288 average and 139 home runs. The per annum value inked between Wells and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008 is the second highest in baseball; all for a player who has since hit .252 over the past three seasons.

In 2011, the Blue Jays shipped Wells to the Los Angeles Angels, where he hit a measly .218 for the season. With a contract that expired in 2015, the Angels are hopeful that the outfielder will regain some of the form that led to his contract in the first place.

Alfonso Soriano : $17 million per season

After three very productive full seasons with the New York Yankees; this saw Soriano average 38 home runs, 38 stolen bases, and a .284 average. From there, the second baseman was part of the blockbuster trade with the Texas Rangers for Alex Rodriguez . In Texas, Soriano continued his solid production in both Texas for two seasons and then Washington; where the now outfielder produced a 40-40 season. The feat was even more impressive considering he batted in the cavernous RFK Stadium.

After signing his eight year, $136 million contract with the Cubs, Soriano has failed to live up to his high billing; appearing in an average of just 129 games, batting .266 and 32 home runs. The most noticeable change in Soriano's game is the loss of the speed that once made him a consistent base stealing threat. Where once 30 stolen bases were the norm, Soriano has only surpassed 15 steals twice in his five years in the Windy City.

Carlos Beltran : $16.4 million per season

Beltran's 2004 postseason significantly impacted his already high regard among MLB general mangers as he entered free agency; slugging eight home runs in 12 postseason games. The New York Mets; always in heavy competition for the New York baseball fan's affection, signed Beltran to a seven year, $115 million contract.

Hopes were high that Beltran would be a key component in several playoff berths; but the Mets only made the postseason once in his seven years in the Big Apple. Injuries hampered Beltran's performance; limiting the outfielder to an average of just 119 games in seven seasons with the Mets; with large portions of the 2009 and 2010 seasons lost altogether.

With the prior contract now expired, Beltran shopped his services in the winter of 2011; ultimately signing with the St. Louis Cardinals for two years at an average of $13 million. With his injury history and declining production, fans could also question the rationale in offering another big money contract; albeit for only two seasons.

A.J. Burnett : $16.4 million per season

The New York Yankees made a significant investment in former Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett; signing the lanky right hander to a $82 million contract in the winter of 2008.

During his early years, Burnett was considered a promising pitcher who just happened to perform for a losing team in a small market. During the world championship season of 2003, Burnett only pitched in four games for Florida. In fact; of the seven seasons he played in the Sunshine State, Burnett only put together four full seasons; compiling a 49-50 record along the way.

The Toronto Blue Jays were the first team to go after Burnett in free agency, signing him to a five year, $55 contract in the winter of 2005. Burnett had two mediocre seasons before putting forth his best year of his career; winning 18 games and leading the league in strikeouts during his 34 starts.

Chief division foe New York saw up close and personal just what talent existed in the right hander; so after opting out of his contract early, Burnett signed an even more lucrative contract with the Yankees; getting five years and $82 million from the pinstripes.

The Yankees never got their desired return in the first three years of their investment; as Burnett struggled with consistency and saw his ERA rise to above five in each of his final two seasons in the Bronx before being shipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates this past offseason. Part of the trade out of town also included the Yankees assuming a sizeable portion of the remaining contract; meaning New York is still paying for this poor decision.

Barry Zito : $17.1 million per season

Perhaps the poster child for over the current day overpaid player is left-handed starting pitcher Barry Zito; who changed addresses from Oakland to San Francisco at the tune of $137 million over eight seasons. At the time, Zito was considered to be an established top of the rotation starter; where he would win 102 games and record a reasonable 3.55 earned run average in his six and one-half season with Oakland.

After arriving in San Francisco, Zito lost significant speed on his fastball and has since struggled to maintain relative health and consistency; let alone excellence. The lefty has had a losing season in each of his five seasons thus far; recording a 43-61 record and a 4.55 earned run average. The higher ERA in the National League further emphasizes the lack of production received in exchange for $17 million.

With the fan base against him and his body betraying him, Zito has little time and opportunity left to demonstrate the talent that once made him the most desired pitcher on the open market.

Jason Bay : $15.2 million per season

Another player who greatly benefited from a career season just prior to free agency is outfielder Jason Bay; who hit a career best 36 home runs in 2009 for Boston. Prior to arriving in Boston, Bay was a consistent power threat in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup; averaging 28 home runs in his prior four full seasons.

Since signing his five year $75 million contract, Bay has had two injury-riddled seasons; managing a meager 18 home runs in 2010 and 2011. Some of the power production can also be attributed to the deep power alleys of the Mets' Citi Field, but shoulder and knee injury concerns have zapped what was once a potent bat.

The 2012 season could be viewed as a crossroads one for Bay as well.

Summary:
The list of players with overpriced contracts does not just end there. Going back in time, names like Mo Vaughn and Kevin Brown come to mind; as do other current players like Adam Dunn , John Lackey , Jason Giambi and many others who could be cited.

The simple fact is baseball is entertainment; and fans flock to stadiums around the country to watch the best players perform. The escalating salaries are now a reality in sports; but the excessive values in exchange for diminishing value is where I and many fans like take exception.

In 2012, Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth are at the crossroad of their respective careers. If either can regain the form that made them worthy of such lucrative contracts, fans may be more forgiving of one bad year. But 2012 has now become a make or break time for each; so that either or both of them can avoid being forever grouped with the many undeserving contracts in baseball history.

Scott Duhaime is a passionate fan of the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals (formerly Montreal Expos) for over 30 years. His professional career includes a solid foundation of analytics that contributes to a better appreciation of player and team contributions.

Sources:

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - Carl Crawford

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - Jayson Werth

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - Vernon Wells

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - Alfonso Soriano

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - Carlos Beltran

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - A.J. Burnett

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - Barry Zito

Baseball-Reference.com Player Profile - Jason Bay
Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Scores & Schedule: Apr 7, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:21:00 +0000

Scores & Schedule: Apr 7

Apr 6 | Apr 7 | Apr 8

Get scores any way you want them. Follow your favorite teams with personalized team scores.

2012 Season

Mar 2012
Apr 2012
May 2012
Jun 2012

Jul 2012
Aug 2012
Sep 2012
Oct 2012

April 2012

S	M	Tu	W	Th	F	Sa

1	2	3	4	5	6	7

8	9	10	11	12	13	14

15	16	17	18	19	20	21

22	23	24	25	26	27	28

29	30

National League

American League


Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Washington	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	5	0	7	12	0

Chi Cubs	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	0

WP: R. Mattheus (1-0) S: H. Rodriguez (1)
LP: K. Wood (0-1)

HR: WAS - D. Espinosa (1), A. LaRoche (1)

Box Score - Recap


Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Atlanta	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	7	0

NY Mets	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	X	4	13	0

WP: R.A. Dickey (1-0) S: F. Francisco (2)
LP: J. Jurrjens (0-1)

HR: ATL - M. Prado (1), NYM - L. Duda 2 (2), D. Wright (1)

Box Score - Recap


Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1

Milwaukee	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	2	X	6	8	1

WP: Z. Greinke (1-0)
LP: A. Wainwright (0-1)

HR: MIL - C. Hart 2 (2), R. Weeks (1)

Box Score - Recap


Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

San Francisco	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	4	6	0

Arizona	2	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	X	5	10	0

WP: D. Hudson (1-0) S: J.J. Putz (2)
LP: M. Bumgarner (0-1)

HR: SF - P. Sandoval (1), B. Pill (1), ARI - A. Hill 2 (2)

Box Score - Recap


Top 5th	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Philadelphia	1	0	0	0	0					1	5	0

Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0						0	1	0

Pitching: J. Karstens 4.1 IP, 5H, 1ER, 2K
Batting: P. Polanco 1-2, 1B

B:
S:
O:

0
0
1

Box Score

Live: GameChannel


Bot 5th	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Colorado	0	0	0	0	0					0	2	3

Houston	1	0	0	2	0					3	3	0

Pitching: J. Moyer 4.0 IP, 3H, 2ER, 2K
Batting: L. Harrell 0-1, K

B:
S:
O:

0
0
0

HR: HOU - J. Schafer (1), J.D. Martinez (1)

Box Score

Live: GameChannel


Bot 4th	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Miami	0	0	0	1						1	4	0

Cincinnati	0	0	0	2						2	3	0

Pitching: R. Nolasco 3.2 IP, 3H, 3K
Batting: C. Heisey 0-1, Last AB: Fouled Out

B:
S:
O:

1
1
2

HR: CIN - J. Votto (1)

Box Score

Live: GameChannel




		LA Dodgers 2-0 (Road: 2-0)		8:35pm ET

		San Diego 0-2 (Home: 0-2)		TV: FSPT, FSD

LAD: C. Capuano (0-0, NA)
SD: D. Moseley (0-0, NA)

Box Score

Live: GameChannel


Final 12	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E

Toronto	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	4	7	8	1

Cleveland	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	5	0

WP: C. Janssen (1-0)
LP: T. Sipp (0-1)

HR: TOR - K. Johnson (1), CLE - A. Cabrera (1), J. Kipnis (1)

Box Score - Recap


Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Boston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	2

Detroit	2	0	0	3	2	1	2	0	X	10	12	0

WP: D. Below (1-0)
LP: J. Beckett (0-1)

HR: DET - M. Cabrera 2 (2), P. Fielder 2 (2), A. Avila (1)

Box Score - Recap


Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Kansas City	2	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	6	12	1

LA Angels	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	3	9	1

WP: L. Hochevar (1-0)
LP: D. Haren (0-1)

HR: KC - E. Hosmer (1), M. Moustakas (1)

Box Score - Recap


Bot 4th	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Minnesota	0	0	0	0						0	4	1

Baltimore	0	1	2	0						3	6	0

Pitching: F. Liriano 3.2 IP, 6H, 3ER, 4K
Batting: R. Andino 1-1, 1B

B:
S:
O:

0
0
2

HR: BAL - A. Jones (1)

Box Score

Live: GameChannel


Top 4th	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

NY Yankees	0	0	0	0						0	2	1

Tampa Bay	2	1	1							4	5	0

Pitching: D. Price 3.2 IP, 2H, 3K
Batting: C. Granderson 0-1, Last AB: Ground Out

B:
S:
O:

2
0
2

HR: TB - M. Joyce (1)

Box Score

Live: GameChannel


Bot 1st	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E

Chi White Sox	1									1	2	0

Texas	0									0	0	1

Pitching: J. Peavy ERA: NA
Batting: I. Kinsler 0-0, Avg: .500

B:
S:
O:

2
2
0

Box Score

Live: GameChannel




		Seattle 2-1 (Road: 2-1)		9:05pm ET

		Oakland 1-2 (Home: 1-2)		TV: RT, CSCA

SEA: F. Hernandez (0-0, 1.12)
OAK: B. Colon (1-0, 1.12)

Box Score

Live: GameChannel

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Yoenis Cespedes hits mammoth homer, later acts sheepish for showboating

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:18:00 +0000

Yoenis Cespedes hits mammoth homer, later acts sheepish for showboating

By Kevin Kaduk | Big League Stew – 9 hours ago

The spacious and pitcher-friendly expanse that is Oakland Coliseum?

Yeah, doesn't look like it's going to be much of a problem for Yoenis Cespedes.
Playing in only his third major league game, the A's rookie outfielder launched what will end up being one of the most impressive home runs this season. A two-run straightaway rocket to center field, the blast bounced off a facade and provided Oakland's lone bright spot in a 7-3 opening night loss to Seattle on Friday. Hit Tracker Online estimated the homer's distance at 462 feet.
Cespedes' swing was so swift and the results so titanic that the 26-year-old rookie reacted with a hop and extended gaze toward the ball's eventual destination. That didn't please Seattle pitcher Jason Vargas at all — especially since the A's were trailing 5-0 at the time — and Cespedes later realized he may have made a mistake by violating the unwritten rule of watching the ball too long.
[ Big money: Sale of the L.A. Dodgers is biggest in sports history ]
He's not on the island any more, he said.
Yoenis Cespedes admires the homer he hit off Seattle's Jason Vargas on Friday. (US Presswire)

"I followed the ball, but I don't like that to do that again," Cespedes said via the San Francisco Chronicle. "I come from Cuba, where it's a little less quality games, so we do that. But here I don't want to do that."

Still, wow! That home run had a one-way ticket to the Oakland hills if Mount Davis hadn't gotten in the way. To put the distance in perspective, Jeff Sullivan of Lookout Landing did a little screencap of where the ball ended up.
(MLB.TV/Lookout Landing)
As a Mariners fan who thought the shot should count for two home runs, Sullivan allows for the possibility that Cespedes had reason to celebrate:

He watched the hell out of that screaming warhead, and as you can see in the video, Jason Vargas didn't take too kindly to that. I imagine that Cespedes is going to be hearing about this for some time. But in Cespedes' defense, did you see the home run that he hit? It's possible that Cespedes wasn't showboating on purpose. It's possible that he was just stunned that his body is capable of doing that to an object.

Indeed, I got up out of my chair, pumped my fist, did a dance, then went outside to set off a bunch of fireworks after watching Cespedes leave the yard.
OK, well maybe I didn't quite do that entire routine, but it does also make me happy that Cespedes recognized that excessive celebration isn't quite the norm in American baseball. Since he already has two homers in his first three games, I suspect he knows he's going to be insulting a lot of big league pitchers just by swinging his bat.

Make sure you're ready for the season ahead ...
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Santana goes 5 innings, Mets beat Braves 1-0

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:49:00 +0000

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=AuaGWMtb_jDvpDC5glyPZx0RvLYF?gid=320405121

Santana goes 5 innings, Mets beat Braves 1-0

By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Sports Writer 1 hour, 1 minute ago

Preview | Box Score | Recap

NEW YORK (AP)—Johan Santana pitched five innings of two-hit ball in his long-awaited return from shoulder surgery and David Wright hit an RBI single to lead the New York Mets past the Atlanta Braves 1-0 in their season opener Thursday.

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New York’s revamped bullpen picked up for Santana and shut down the Braves, while the shortened fences at reconfigured Citi Field hardly came into play. But it wasn’t all good news for the Mets, who watched new center fielder Andres Torres hobble off after re-injuring his calf.
It was the first time since 1996 that Atlanta fielded an opening-day lineup without Chipper Jones , and the Braves were punchless at the plate. Coming off a near-record collapse last September that cost the team a playoff spot, Atlanta managed only four hits.
On a sunny, 53-degree afternoon, the Mets honored late catcher Gary Carter and announced a sellout crowd of 42,080—the largest ever at Citi Field, which opened in 2009. There did appear to be patches of empty seats, however.
Expected to finish last in a loaded-up NL East, the Mets have slashed $43.4 million off last year’s opening-day payroll—believed to be the largest one-year drop in baseball history. But with Santana back on the mound for the first time in 19 months, it was a day of optimism.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner struck out five and wriggled out of a fifth-inning jam. It was his first big league appearance since beating the Braves 4-2 on Sept. 2, 2010. He had surgery 12 days later to repair a torn anterior cruciate capsule in his left shoulder.
On the other side of the field, Atlanta was missing two key pieces. Jones, who recently announced his plans to retire after this season, is on the disabled list following arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Also on the mend is ace Tim Hudson , who had offseason back surgery.
In his absence, Tommy Hanson got the opening-day start and wound up with a hard-luck loss.
With the Mets celebrating their 50th anniversary, the crowd was hushed as Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner read the starting lineup from a podium behind home plate. The 89-year-old Kiner has been a Mets broadcaster since their inception.
Carter’s wife and three children unveiled a logo on the left-center wall honoring the star slugger who helped lead the Mets to their most recent World Series championship in 1986. Shaped like home plate, it has “Kid” written above an “8”—Carter’s nickname and number during his 19-year career. It’s the same symbol the Mets are wearing on their sleeves as a tribute this season.
There was also a moment of silence for Carter and his family members also threw out ceremonial first pitches to several of his former Mets teammates. The Hall of Famer died of a brain tumor in February at age 57.
Torres, acquired from San Francisco in an offseason trade, drew a leadoff walk from Hanson (0-1) in the sixth and scored on Wright’s single. Moments later, Torres took a bad angle on a triple by Tyler Pastornicky , the rookie’s first major league hit, and pulled up while chasing the ball toward the wall.
Tim Byrdak , back already from March 13 knee surgery, struck out Jose Constanza and Michael Bourn to escape the jam.
Ramon Ramirez (1-0), obtained in the same deal as Torres, got four outs to earn the win. Jon Rauch worked a 1-2-3 eighth and new closer Frank Francisco pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Santana retired 12 in a row after Martin Prado’s first-inning single, striking out the 3-4-5 hitters in succession before Matt Diaz doubled in the fifth. His fastball mostly ranged from 86-89 mph, and his signature changeup looked sharp.
The left-hander walked two consecutive batters with two outs, though, including Hanson. Santana went to a full count on Bourn with the bases loaded and, with the crowd on its feet, got the speedy leadoff man to hit an inning-ending comebacker.
NOTES: A longtime Mets nemesis, Jones was booed during pregame introductions even though Howie Rose’s announcement noted the slugger was beginning his final major league season. Jones hopes to be back in time for Atlanta’s home opener April 13 against Milwaukee. … Pastornicky went 1 for 2 with a walk in his big league debut. … Hudson (back surgery) is slated to throw 40-50 pitches in a rehab outing Saturday for Class-A Rome. He could be back by late April or early May. … Mets LF Jason Bay fell just short of a homer in front of the new fence in left-center.

Updated 1 hour, 1 minute ago

MLB

Red Sox Drop Season Opener

noreply@blogger.com (Tommy Leavitt) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:40:00 +0000

http://news.yahoo.com/tigers-overcome-valverde-slip-beat-red-sox-9th-204624389--mlb.html

Tigers overcome Valverde slip, beat Red Sox in 9th

By NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer 49 minutes ago

Preview | Box Score | Recap

DETROIT (AP)—Austin Jackson hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Detroit Tigers overcame a blown save by Jose Valverde to beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in Thursday’s opener.
AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander was dominant for eight innings and left with a 2-0 lead. But Valverde (1-0) blew a save for the first time in 52 chances, a streak that included 49 in a row last season.

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Boston manager Bobby Valentine lost in his return to the major leagues after replacing Terry Francona following the team’s 7-20 September slide that cost the Red Sox a playoff spot last year.
The Red Sox rally in the ninth, however, merely gave Detroit a chance to win it in more dramatic fashion.
With one out in the Tigers ninth, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila singled off Mark Melancon (0-1), and Ramon Santiago was hit by a pitch from Alfredo Aceves . Jackson followed with a sharp grounder past diving third baseman Nick Punto .
Prince Fielder singled his first time up for the AL Central champions and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Verlander walked one and struck out seven in a sparkling return to the mound at Comerica Park. But David Ortiz hit a sacrifice fly off Valverde, and Ryan Sweeney’s two-out triple off the wall in the right-field corner tied it.
Boston’s Jon Lester allowed a run and six hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Detroit put a runner on base in every inning but didn’t score until the seventh, when Peralta and Avila hit doubles with two outs. Fielder had a sacrifice fly the next inning.
Fielder, who signed a $214 million, nine-year deal with the Tigers in the offseason, pulled a 3-2 pitch past second base his first time up for a single. Detroit put its leadoff man on base four times in the first five innings, but Lester managed to induce double plays in the first and second.
Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera moved from first base to third to make room for Fielder. His day at the hot corner was uneventful until the sixth, when he lost his balance while catching Jacoby Ellsbury’s foul pop and fell into a backward somersault.
Cabrera held onto the ball and came up smiling, but Dustin Pedroia followed with a sharp grounder to third that he misplayed for an error. Verlander struck out Ortiz with two on to end that threat.
Fielder hit into a double play of his own in the sixth.
Verlander began the game by getting Jacoby Ellsbury to hit a weak flyball to left in a matchup of the top two vote-getters in last year’s AL MVP race. According to STATS LLC, it was the first time the top two MVP finishers faced each other in a pitcher-batter matchup the following season since 1999 honoree Ivan Rodriguez struck out against Pedro Martinez on April 25, 2000.
Verlander allowed Ortiz’s double in the second, then retired 10 in a row. He caught Cody Ross looking in the second with a vintage breaking ball that left the Boston hitter dropping his bat and walking away even before plate umpire Dale Scott finished calling him out on strikes.
NOTES: It was Valverde’s first blown save since Sept. 2, 2010, against Minnesota. … The Tigers reported 45,027 tickets sold, an opening day record for Comerica. … The temperature at game time was 43 degrees. … Francona was at the game as an analyst for ESPN. … Detroit RHP Doug Fister will face Boston RHP Josh Beckett when the teams play again Saturday.

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