Old Time Family Baseball

thetickr: sportsnetny: OMG! Bo Jackson throws out Mike...

michaelclair — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:25:48 -0700

sportsnetny:

OMG!

Bo Jackson throws out Mike Gallego, Aug, 1993

Bo knows throwing someone out at third.

Football robbed us of about one zillion of these.

While there are multiple ballclubs named after beer (Milwaukee...

michaelclair — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:37:00 -0700

While there are multiple ballclubs named after beer (Milwaukee Brewers, Hillsboro Hops), for some reason there’s only one baseball-themed beer in Brooklyn Brewery’s Pennant Ale. Considering how perfectly baseball and beer go together, that seems like a mistake.

Even worse, we don’t have any beers that are brewed specifically for a team like Stevens Point Brewery’s Base Brau beer of ‘78-‘81, canned exclusively for the Appleton Foxes. Seriously, this is the 21st century, shouldn’t our improved technology have gifted us with this? Boston Red Ale Sox Beer, Pittsburgh Pilsnerates, Houston Alestros, the opportunities are endless!

(via eBay)

UPDATE: It’s been pointed out to me by bamwashington that Pyramid’s Curve Ball usually ships with a baseball coming out of a pyramid. I have only ever purchased it with a group of people playing frisbee, so it looks like there are two out there.

Jose Canseco is A Scumbag, Possible Rapist

michaelclair — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:53:35 -0700

For a time, before his Twitter was basically taken over by some pretty terrible joke writers (I would be shocked if his AMA or painting of Bud Selig were actually created by Canseco), Jose Canseco was kind of amusing. In the harmless drunk uncle mold who would tell you “Hey, why not grab the wheel while I piss in this ginger ale bottle.” (Note: None of my uncles ever did that.)

However, it’s important to remember that beyond the steroid use, which does not really matter in the grand scheme of things, Canseco has been charged with aggravated assault, was arrested for hitting his ex-wife, and was charged in an aggravated battery case during a nightclub fight. Yesterday, Canseco added another line to his record when the police interviewed Canseco as a person of interest in a sexual assault case. While Canseco may be innocent, having not been charged yet, his response on Twitter was to out the accuser, posting personal information about her including her name, photo, telephone number, and where she works out. This is meant to humiliate and intimidate the victim in a culture that far too often takes the side of the accused. Stephen Goldman of SBNation has some of the tweets with the information redacted.

It’s time to stop thinking of Canseco as a lovable buffoon, one who says ridiculous things while traveling from independent league to independent league, and recognize that he’s a human being who has done a series of disgusting things. Needless to say, while I may post more to do with this case, there will be no more “Wacky Jose Canseco” posts that will ever show up on this site.

Visual proof that the Steve McCatty tee-shirt exists. And it’s...

michaelclair — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:48:00 -0700

Visual proof that the Steve McCatty tee-shirt exists. And it’s glorious. (Above, sleeveless model worn by Gio Gonzalez during pre-game interviews.)

I hope to be purchasing this from Urban Outfitters in about two weeks.

Thanks to @JackoBeam and @katiegregerson for the screengrabs.

I heard that Mike Trout rode his first bicycle last night. Did I...

michaelclair — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:35:05 -0700

I heard that Mike Trout rode his first bicycle last night. Did I hear that right? Rode his first ‘cycle? Well, hey, it took a long time, but good for you, Mike. It’s the responsible choice in today’s environment!

(Original image by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Orioles, having lost six in a row before an extra inning...

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:16:48 -0700

The Orioles, having lost six in a row before an extra inning victory (does that sound familiar to you?) against the Yankees last night, have decided to go big, calling up prospect Kevin Gausman to strengthen their rotation with his upper-90s fastball.

It’s a quick promotion for Gausman, only 22 and with pitchability concerns, but he’s been tearing up AA, striking out 9.5 batters per nine, walking only one, and posting a 3.11 ERA. Plus, there’s a recent trend of calling up pitchers while they’re young and their fastballs are hot, teams now sucking the sweet marrow of youth and velocity out of their bodies before the ravages of time and snapped tendons rob them of their richest abilities.

Gausman probably won’t have as easy a transition to the Majors as other recent young pitchers, but it sure would be nice if the Orioles could easily produce some home grown talent. Chris Tillman took roughly 150 years to become a rotation piece, Brian Matusz is now a LOOGY, Jake Arrieta has a 6.63 ERA, Zach Britton’s barely striking out more than he’s walking in AAA, Hayden Penn is in independent league ball, Adam Loewen is an outfielder, Dylan Bundy’s got an injured elbow, etc etc etc.

So best of luck Mr. Gausman. History has not been kind to your brethren.

(As luck would have it, the BP Prospect Staff took a look at Gausman just this week. So for an up-to-date scouting report, click here to take a look. Premium account required. )

"If I had 100 years, I couldn’t figure out who that was. There’s been a big [change] in the last 30..."

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:45:24 -0700

“If I had 100 years, I couldn’t figure out who that was. There’s been a big [change] in the last 30 years. I didn’t know he had that good a body, and I didn’t know he had that much hair.”

- Davey Johnson on the nearly nude photo of Steve McCatty that Dan Haren turned into a Nationals tee-shirt. Check out the photo, along with seven other nearly nude ballplayers, over at Baseball Prospectus. Sadly, McCatty seems nonplussed by the idea that it’s back in the public eye. Which, because I’m not a sociopath, makes me feel bad

Also, One Million Internet Points (and probably some type of gift from me) for the first person who can snag an image of a National in the tee.

ericnus: I wrote a long reported essay about Hector Espino,...

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:15:28 -0700

ericnus:

I wrote a long reported essay about Hector Espino, Mexico’s greatest baseball player of all time and a fascinating, proud man. I hope you check it out over at SBNation Longform.

The Unknown Slugger.

Hop in bed, grab your e-reader, and do some reading.

The Nationals Just Upgraded Their Wardrobe

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:16 -0700

Earlier today, I linked to the piece I wrote at Baseball Prospectus in which I scouted the scantily clad ballplayers in 1980s Playgirls. If I was to die, I was hopeful that my obituary would be updated to read ‘Man who wrote about baseball players in Playgirl died in horrific paint fume-inhaling accident.”

However, the real gift came at the end of the day when according to Adam Kilgore:

“Haren got T-shirts of McCatty’s Playgirl shot made today. “UNTUCK” on back. “Utter joy,” Clippard said. “This is the best day of my life.”

This is what’s known as the Butterfly Effect, for the beefcake-post you make one morning soon can soon become the team-building mocking tee-shirt the next. So don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make a difference in this world, because you can.

The Endless Possibilities of What Alex Sanabia was Doing

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:12:20 -0700

A lot of people are saying that Alex Sanabia, after surrendering a home run in the second inning last night, spit on the baseball. Some claim that this is a foul, a clear sign that he was doctoring the ball. Others are saying he was merely rubbing it up, prepping it for play, albeit with a healthy amount of spittle. Let’s examine the evidence.

It certainly appears he was spitting on the ball:

But what if we’re missing something here. What if he was merely whispering encouragement to the baseball and some accidental saliva came pouring out? Surely we’ve all experienced such a thing, usually in a situation where having spittle land on another person’s face is the worst thing that can happen. Like at a funeral.

Or perhaps it’s a trick of the light. Like when FOX fooled me into thinking I was watching a real alien autopsy video.

Or, just like with every big action movie, this was all green screen. A baseball game didn’t even happen.

Or, even more terrifying, what if this never actually happened at all? What if I made it up in my mind and all of the ‘people’ ‘talking’ about ‘it’ on the ‘internet’ are figments of my imagination? St. Elsewhere proved it’s possible.

Well, gee. I don’t even know what to believe anymore.

Chris Sale Is My Eating Hero

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:14 -0700

I have long said that if someone could just do away with all the nasty effects of obesity like heart disease, diabetes, shortened life, blah blah blah, I’d be quite content to do nothing but eat non-stop all day. Turns out, Chris Sale, despite being shaped roughly like Olive Oyl, is already living that life.

Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal writes that on a recent flight, Sale consumed 2 ice cream sandwiches and nearly 30 bags of potato chips. And that Sale has set his sight on breaking the visiting team record of 14 Philly cheesesteaks consumed the next time the White Sox head to Philadelphia.

Said Sale:

“I’ll eat pretty much anything I can get my hands on most of the time,” Sale said. “It just depends what kind of mood I’m in. Cheeseburgers. Pizza. Steak. Chicken. Pork chops. I love ribs. Baby back ribs.”

Sale then added, “I’m not finished. Cheese. Garlic bread. Texas Toast. French Toast. American Toast. Churros. Tacos. Baby Back Ribs inside of lobster. Ice cream. The alluring taste of human flesh. Empanadas. Steak-Ums.”

So while 18 Cuban pastries may have been the downfall of Aroldis Chapman, it appears as if that wouldn’t begin to satiate the beast known as Chris Sale.

Really, the only thing I’m hoping for is a Chris Sale/Pablo Sandoval eating competition this offseason. Can someone make that happen?

Baseball Prospectus | Baseball ProGUESTus: Dollar Sign on the Glistening Muscle: Scouting Ballplayers in 1980s Playgirl

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:48:00 -0700

Baseball Prospectus | Baseball ProGUESTus: Dollar Sign on the Glistening Muscle: Scouting Ballplayers in 1980s Playgirl:

Over at Baseball Prospectus, I look at one of the most important events of the 1980s. No, not the release of Real Genius (though it remains a seminal film), but at the ballplayers who posed half-nude in Playgirl magazine. You know, guys like George Brett, Rickey Henderson, and Steven McCatty.

So if you like scouting reports (who doesn’t?) or ballplayers in their skivvies (I ask again, who doesn’t?!) you should click through to check it out.

(Oh yeah, and it’s safe for work as long as your boss is cool with swimsuits, towels, and maybe one butt.)

You've Never Loved Anything

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:08:02 -0700

raskut:

as much as Michael Clair loves baseball. I promise you this.

His blog, Old Time Family Baseball, made it onto Sports Illustrated’s 22 Great Sports Tumblrs!

See what the hubbub is all about - oldtimefamilybaseball.com

It’s always strange to wake up and see your own face staring back at you on Tumblr. Thanks to my good friend and excellent photog Ryan Skut for taking the pictures on dates I don’t even remember (and don’t forget, he’s also the one who designed the Boo Brothers tee).

Be sure to also check out the SI.Com’s 22 favorite sports Tumblrs, too. Because if you’re not following all 22, then you’re missing out on some really swell content that’s being produced. I can promise you that.

What's Going On? (What's Going On): Fun With Six Weeks of Stats

michaelclair — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:42:34 -0700

We’re now six (or maybe seven, don’t make me get out a calendar) weeks into the baseball season. It’s the time for those first week slumps and one-month hot streaks to start fading away into something that more accurately matches our expectations.

But sometimes, things go haywire. Like in every movie involving a spaceship. (Note: All stats through Sunday, May 19th)

Did you know who leads the league in fWAR? No, it’s not Miguel Cabrera who, after a three home run night on Sunday is hitting .387/.457/.659 with 11 HR, but rather Carlos Gomez. Gomez, coming off his best season when he hit 19 HR and posted 3.2 fWAR, has already hit 6 more home runs to go along with 9 steals, a .336/.380/.566 batting line, and above-average marks for his outfield defense. While he is most assuredly is a better defender than Cabrera, defensive statistics are flawed at best and need much more than six weeks of data to tell us anything useful. Still, that’s rad.

Your top five home run hitters:

Justin Upton - 14 (17 last season)
Chris Davis - 12 (while also getting on base 40% of the time)
Paul Goldschmidt - 12 (also leading the NL in slugging, OPS, and total bases)
Robinson Cano - 12 (When he’s not playing wiffle ball with leukemia patients)
Mark Reynolds - 12
Edwin Encarnacion - 12

All of those players have the power to be on the leader boards, but whether for contact reasons or because they simply haven’t displayed this kind of proclivity for going deep in the past, it’s a little surprising. Of course, they’re only a step ahead of Miguel Cabrera and Bryce Harper, each with 11.

Of course, it should also be noted that John Buck, Vernon Wells, and Adam Dunn (.169 batting average) have 10 home runs a piece.

But while Justin Upton is crushing balls, his brother BJ has the second-lowest slugging percentage among qualified hitters, posting a .239 mark. Just worse than him is Jeff Keppinger, hitting a lowly .195/.205/.218. And before last week’s game-winning walk against the Angels, his OBP was lower than his AVG. If Keppinger were a pitcher, he’d be 12th in OPS, coming in between the hard-hitting Marco Estrada (.438) and the powerful Scott Feldman (.400).

Among pitchers hitting, Tim Hudson leads the field with a .907 OPS, though perhaps some credit should be given to Lance Lynn and Bronson Arroyo who are tied for the league lead with 6 sacrifice bunts. Last year, Johnny Cueto lead all pitchers by successfully giving himself up 17 times.

While Adeiny Hechevarria has struggled in his first full season in the Majors (.206/.254/.374 in 114 PA), he’s currently leading the league in triples with 5. The vast expanses of the Marlins stadium must agree with him as he hit zero in 137 PA with the Blue Jays last year.

Chris Carter leads the Majors in strikeouts with 65. He has 64 total bases, second on the Astros to Jose Altuve’s 71. Given a 600 PA season, he’s on pace to strikeout 229 times.

On the pitching side of things, Adam Wainwright leads the league in fWar thanks to an 8.7/0.7 K/BB ratio in 64 innings.

Matt Cain, who has always baffled xFIP believers by his ability to give up loads of flyballs but few home runs, is surrendering 2.08 HR/9. Compare that with Doug Fister who, in 54.2 innings, has surrendered one longball this year. (Fister has hit 10 batters already, though. Maybe it does pay to pitch inside?)

While Matt Harvey has been a revelation, expect a harsh and quick comedown when it happens. His BABIP is currently .197. Last year’s luckiest BABIP survivors were Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana with .241 marks. There are plenty of others who are due for some more balls to drop in though like Travis Wood (2.24 ERA, .193 BABIP), Matt Moore (2.29 ERA, .197 BABIP), and Hishashi Iwakuma (1.84 ERA, .209 BABIP).

Jeremy Guthrie and the previously mentioned Matt Moore are also in trouble as they are currently stranding over 90% of batters on base. Guthrie has stranded over 95% of batters on base, somehow accomplishing that while striking out less than five batters per nine innings.

Bartolo Colon has only walked 2 batters in 47.1 innings. I don’t even know how that’s humanly possible. Perhaps it’s because he’s throwing 87% fastballs, though even that is second to Ross Detwiler who throws his four-seamer 90% of the time. I guess he doesn’t need to worry about pitch sequencing.

With a quarter of the season still to go, we’re sure to see most of these numbers fall back in line as we approach October. But baseball, as it always has, continues to prove the exception to the rule more often than we’d like to admit. Because life is chaos and the sport a mere reflection of that.

Matt Kemp to Donate $1,000 for every HR He Hits to Oklahoma Relief

michaelclair — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:21:29 -0700

Matt Kemp, who already made us collectively break into tears when he gave a ball along with his shoes and jersey to a cancer-stricken fan, has decided to donate $1,000 for every home run he hits until the All-Star break to benefit the victims of the devastating Oklahoma tornado.

After tonight, Kemp only has two this season which, in my scientific opinion, means he has a couple dozen still rattling around in his bat that are due to him before July. Regardless of the outcome, it’s a generous gesture from Kemp as the people of Oklahoma now must move past this tragedy.

But here’s also the most important part: you don’t need to be a Major League player earning a Major League salary to help. Every dollar counts as the state tries to get back on their feet. USA Today lists a number of charities who are working in the region. If you have the money to give, I ask you to consider doing so.

Aroldis Chapman Eats 18 Cream Cheese and Guava Pastries

michaelclair — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:39:39 -0700

Yesterday, Aroldis Chapman blew his second consecutive save. Turns out, before the game, just like I would, he ate 18 cream cheese and guava stuffed pastries. We go there now:

AROLDIS CHAPMAN sits in the empty locker room before the game. The rest of the team is on the field stretching, but here, surrounded by empty boxes of baked goods, sits Chapman, his jersey straining, his belt cutting into his extended belly.

AROLDIS: Just…one…more.

Aroldis stuffs the pastry in, cheese getting all over his face, puff pastry falling onto his chest.

AROLDIS: It hurts…so good. Come on baby….uuuuhhh, it hurts so good.

Chapman stuffs another pastry in his mouth as Joey Votto strides through the clubhouse, eating a protein bar.

VOTTO: Aroldis! What are you doing? We’ve got a game in an hour!

AROLDIS: Whuss ‘at?

Chapman spews guava jam. A giant glob hits Votto on the mouth.

VOTTO: Did you just put another one in your mouth?

AROLDIS: Muhbe.

Aroldis tries to hide two more behind his back.

VOTTO: Can’t you wait until after the game?

AROLDIS: Not if I have a chance of getting the golden ticket to tour Union City’s famous Cuba Bakery.

VOTTO: I don’t think that’s a thing.

AROLDIS: It’s not?

VOTTO: No.

AROLDIS: Uh-oh. I’ve made a huge mistake.

Aroldis looks down, panicked. He brushes the crumbs off and shakily gets on his feet.

AROLDIS: We’d better go then. I’ll meet you on the field.

Votto walks off, Chapman stuffs two more in his face and slowly waddles towards the field.

THREE HOURS LATER, after giving up two home runs.

AROLDIS: Well, shit.

On Sunday afternoon, with personal favorite...

michaelclair — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:59:49 -0700

Your browser does not support iframes.

On Sunday afternoon, with personal favorite pitcher-and-sometimes-axe-thrower Josh Collmenter on the mound, Adeiny Hechavarria foolishly tried to bunt.

Foolishly, I say, because we all know that catcher Miguel Montero and relief pitcher Josh Collmenter are often seen in nothing but their skivvies, playing Top Gun-style beach volleyball.* So naturally, once the ball was popped into the air, Montero raced, dove, and did a quick set for Collmenter who fortunately decided not to spike the ball into the ground. It looked a lot like this:

*Note: I cannot verify this information.

(h/t Big League Stew)

Things You May Have Missed While You Were Living Your Life

michaelclair — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:40:41 -0700

While you were out, wondering what Yahoo’s purchase of Tumblr will mean for the future, baseball things still happened.

Some of these previously mentioned happening things:

The Pepsi Max Field of Dreams game was held this weekend. If you wanted to see Wade Boggs, Frank Thomas, Ozzie Smith, Pedro Martinez, and a bunch of others play some baseball, this is where you’d want to be. Dan Glickman has a bunch of pictures from the event and I’m insanely jealous.

Brian Cashman hanging onto Ben Francisco to ‘piss everyone off.’ I would love to know what happened three years ago that turned Brian Cashman into a human quote machine.

Big League Stew looks at the ten craziest foods in the minor leagues. I’m pretty sure my cholesterol jumped a fair amount just by reading.

There was a cow-milking contest between the White Sox and Angels. Which is amazing.

Robert Coello is throwing a forkball. And nobody throws that anymore. Even though it was one of the three pitches I ‘knew’ because it was printed on those baseballs with pre-set grips. Please tell me someone remembers these.

Jay Jaffe looks at the best of the ballpark beers. Now this, this is important work.

Jeremy Affeldt returned $500,000 because of clerical error. So you’re saying I shouldn’t try and use this expired coupon?

Steve Carlton has lost his mind. Or, what happens when you throw lefthanded.

Oh boy. Get ready for one hell of a baseball-related program on ABC this Fall. It’s got everything you want from an inoffensive Little League comedy!

The four strikeout inning is on the rise. Just wake me up when we’ve got a six strikeout inning. Then I’ll be impressed.

Muenori Kawasaki warms up. Just the way you’d expect him to.

The Doubleday: Other Sports Roster

michaelclair — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:12:50 -0700

The Doubleday: Other Sports Roster:

Tyler Drenon of The Doubleday had a fun idea: take other sports stars and imagine them on the baseball field. He asked me to take part and, despite my not knowing anything about any sport other than baseball, he still let me make wild guesses in the dark and submit a few positions.

Click through to check out the whole thing. Though personally, I would have just submitted a team of robotic Drew Bledsoes since he’s the greatest athlete the world has ever seen.*

*Proven by science.

mightyflynn: The Commissioner of Baseball, in appreciation of...

michaelclair — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:54:20 -0700

mightyflynn:

The Commissioner of Baseball, in appreciation of long and meritorious service, presents this Lifetime Pass

Photo by Jose Bautista

Not pictured: never-ending chocolate fountain and secret to immortality that were also gifted.