A Change, A Change

Well, like in most aspects of life, there has been a change for me in recent weeks. I have found a website, bleacherreport.com, which I find to be more fitting for future and my goals. This site allows me to write articles for a website where other readers can edit my articles, and leave comments. Therefore, I am leaving Around the Bigs, and can now be found at BleacherReport. For anyone who read my blog, I appreciate your readership, and hope you will continue to read my matieral at BR. And remember...


...LETS GO METS!

Wille Randolph: Not His Fault

So Randolph is out as Mets manager. Clearly, this makes no sense. How can a guy win a poker hand when he is dealt cards that are fading and underachieving? That's what Randolph was given - Beltran, Delgado, Martinez, Castillo, Alou - cards that are making way more than they are giving.

They also canned pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. How can you fire one of the game's best pitching coaches? They players loved Peterson! And just look at the numbers. Peterson began his Mets coaching days in 2003. Other than that season, the Mets finished in the top 10 in the league in ERA every year. And even this season, the pitching hasn't been the problem.

So if it's not Randolph's fault, or the coaches, then whose fault is it? Well, you can't fire the team. How nice must it be to work for a job in which you can't get fired? That leaves the General Manager and the rest of the front office/player development area.

As a Mets fan, for the most part, I love what GM Omar Minaya has done for the Mets. I mean, who wouldn't be excited about having Beltran, Wagner, Delgado and Martinez on a team that includes David Wright and Jose Reyes? But it's what Minaya didn't do that irks me. In 2006, he had a wide-open chance to score Barry Zito, before he earned $126 million, and dropped the ball. Last season, he had so many opportunities to bring in a reliever for an over-worked bullpen, but couldn't pull the trigger.

It's not even so much that they fire Willie - it's how they went about it. How do you a fire a guy in the midst of a two-game win streak, and after having him fly 3,000 miles to Los Angeles? Minaya's inclusion on the trip indicates to me, at least, that there was intent on dismissing Randolph before the beginning of this road trip. So, why make him fly coast-to-coast, just to fly back to his home in New Jersey? Randolph grew up adoring the Mets, played as a Met, and this is how they treat him. Shameful.

So where do the Mets go from here? Well, Jerry Manuel is the interim manager. And all I have to say is, he better stay interim. I know Manuel had some good seasons with the White Sox, but he can't be the manager going into CitiField. The Mets need a manager with fire, passion and a name. Some guys I wouldn't mind seeing at the helm include: Lee Mazzili, Ray Knight, Bobby Valentine (though the Mets don't have enough Yen to lure him out of Japan) or Buck Showalter.

And keep in mind, the Mets are only six games out of first place coming into tonight's action. It's only the middle of June. There is plenty of time for them to pick up some pieces and right the ship. But Minaya needs to make some moves for them to have a shot.

Ahead of the Curve

In the ranks of the Yankees farm system lies a relatively unknown, but dominant relief pitcher by the name of David Robertson. Drafted in the 17th round in 2006, Robertson, 23, is making a huge case for promotion to the Yankees big league bullpen. Similar to Edwar Ramirez in stature, the 5'11'', 180lb Robertson has a record of 2-0, 1.60 ERA in 25 games, with a .154 BAA. The most intriguing thing about this overlooked prospect is his curve ball. Robertson sports a devastating curve ball which he uses as his out pitch, to go along with his 90-92 mph fastball. What do the Yankees benefit from promoting him to the big leagues? For one it's an extra arm in a unbalanced bullpen. He also brings youth - at 25 he is at a ripe age for grooming. He has the make up to be a successful set up man, as his numbers indicate. For Scranton he has shown the ability to shut the door; the next step is to be the bridge to closer Mariano Rivera.

At the other end of the spectrum is a 25 year old starting pitcher Alfredo Aceves. Aceves is a veteran of the Mexican League, but an under the radar player new to Double-A Trenton Thunder. He is highly-touted by Yankees GM Brian Cashman. With a 2-2 record in six starts at Trenton this year, Aceves is primed to take the next step to Triple-A Scranton. He also has an amazing 33:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In his most recent effort, he pitched eight innngs, allowing only one hit and two walks along with four strikeouts. Indications are that he will be heading to Scranton very soon, with the Bronx only a few good outings away.

Hey Now, Who's an All Star?

It's very hard to believe that we are almost to the All-Star break. That's right, in a month from now, we will be seeing the sport's "greatest" taking part in the Mid-Summer Classic, this year taking place in Yankee Stadium. Every year, a lot is made of who should be in? Who shouldn't be in? Who is going to be left out that deserves a spot? After all, one of the traditions of the All Star Game is making note of all the All Star snubs. And something that has always irked me as a fan, is players making the All-Star team because of their name, and not their numbers (or players being left off the rosters because of their lack of a name, despite their numbers).

But this post is going to focus around something the fans have no say in - the starting pitchers for both clubs. There are a handful of pitchers in each league deserving of a start in the All Star Game. You decide who should actually get the nod. For the record, I am taking the stance that this is the year the National League finally defeats its counterpart, a feat they haven't accomplished since 1996.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CANDIDATES:

Scott Kazmir, TAM - This kid is a future Cy Young award winner, perhaps as soon as this season. Kazmir does not yet have the innings pitched to qualify for the league lead in ERA, but his mark of 1.74 is absolutely solid. Kaz missed the first month of the season with inflammation in his left elbow. He returned to the mound on May 5, and did not pitch all that well. But since then, the 2007 strikeout king has gone 6-1 with 49 Ks in seven games started. He was actually named the American League pitcher of the month for May. This 24-year old southpaw has all the makings of a bona fide ace, and will only get stronger. He is a sure-fire All Star, and has certainly made his case to get the start from AL manager Terry Francona.

Cliff Lee, CLE - This left-hander will most likely win the AL Comeback Player of the Year this season, as he enters play today with a 10-1 record (with that one loss coming in his last start) and a nifty ERA of 2.55. He's pitched fewer than six innings once (5 2/3 innings against the Reds last month). In 2007, Lee had the worst season of his seven year career. He went 5-8 with a paltry 6.29 ERA . It got so bad that, after he was sidelined for a month with an oblique injury, Lee was demoted to Triple-A. And remember, Lee was a Cy Young candidate in 2005. So while some players have great "fluke" seasons, perhaps 2007 was just a hiccup in Lee's career path.

Joe Saunders/Ervin Santana, LAA - No, two pitchers can not start the same game for the same team. But Santana and Saunders have both had incredible seasons, and could both make Francona's decision even more difficult. After Santana struggled mightily in '07, he has had an absolute turn-around here in '08. So far this season, the right-hander has gone 8-3 and has recorded 82 punchouts. And his 3.40 ERA is good for ninth in the league. As for Saunders, he has had a very surprising season. No one really expected this lefty to be 9-3 on June 15. Saunders has never won more than eight games in a season, and his 3.32 ERA places him eighth in the league. Either Angel would make a great selection to start the All Star Game for the American League at Yankee Stadium.

Other possible candidates (Win-Loss, Strikeouts, ERA)- Shaun Marcum, TOR (5-3, 80, 2.43); Felix Hernandez, SEA (5-5, 76, 2.81); John Danks, CHW (4-4, 61, 2.90); Roy Halladay, TOR (8-6, 86, 3.09, 5 CG).

NATIONAL LEAGUE CANDIDATES:

Brandon Webb, ARZ - It's very hard to discuss All Star Game starting pitchers, and not mention Webb. This guy is a perennial Cy Young candidate, and his 11 wins his good for tops in the sport. And his 2.73 ERA doesn't hurt his chances either. When his sinker is on, Webb is the toughest pitcher to get a hit off of. Webb also has the second-best WHIP in the game, with a mark of 1.00.

Edinson Volquez, CIN - What a deal. Josh Hamilton for Volquez. Volquez leads all of baseball with a 1.64 ERA, and is tied for second with 10 wins. Oh, and his 105 strikeouts is the best in the game. Can you say pitching Triple Crown?

Tim Lincecum, SFG - If there is anyone to threaten Volquez's attempt at the Triple Crown, it's this young righty. Lincecum will not get the wins necessary on a bad Giants team, but his 1.99 ERA is second to Volquez, as are his 92 strikeouts. Lincecum has failed to pitch at least six innings once this season, and that was his first start of the season. Even more impressive, he's yet to give up more than three earned runs in any of his starts so far. This kid is also a future Cy Young winner, no doubt.

Carlos Zambrano, CHC - This guy has had All Star starting pitcher stuff for years. This year, however, he may be at his best. So far in 2008, Big Z is 8-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 66 Ks. He wouldn't be the flashiest pitcher to start an All Star Game, but you can't argue with the numbers. Manager Clint Hurdle is going to have a few more gray hairs after trying to figure out his roster.

Other possible candidates (Win-Loss, Strikeouts, ERA) - Ben Sheets, MIL (7-1, 72, 2.72); Johan Santana, NYM (7-4, 86, 2.85); Cole Hamels, PHI (6-4, 86, 3.27); Ryan Dempster, CHC (8-2, 75, 2.81).

Let's See That Again

In case you've missed it, Major League Baseball is coming closer and closer to implementing instant replay in regular season games. Last month, a decision was made that baseball would try out instant replay in the Arizona Fall League, and the World Baseball Classic next spring.

Well, USA Today reported this afternoon that MLB would like to bring instant replay about earlier than that. They would like to see games using replay by August 1. There are still hurdles in the road to get there, however. Limitations and regulations have to be made to meet the approval of the World Umpire Association, the Players' Union and the Owners' Union. But if they can all come to an agreement, and soon, this could mean good things for the game of baseball.

It seems like there have been more missed home run and/or fair/foul calls made this season than any other season ,in recent memory anyway. Carlos Delgado, Alex Rodriguez and Geovanny Soto have all been victimized by an umpire who could not tell whether a ball had actually left the park or not. With instant replay, the umpires won't feel as much pressure to make an accurate call in the blink of an eye.

Not only could instant replay help the umpires, but it could also aide in moving the pace of the game along. It is logical to think that taking time to view a monitor to see an instant replay clip will take less time than it takes for the manager of one team to come out and argue, then have the umpires convene to try and come up with a call, and then have the other manager come out and argue that decision.

And if MLB is going to implement instant replay, better for them to do it sooner than later. The last thing Bud Selig and the rest of the sport want is for a home run to be overruled, or some other similar play, in a game that could affect the playoffs or a milestone. And remember, MLB is only going to use instant replay (at least to start out with) for calls regarding home runs and fair/foul calls - not balls and strikes or out/safe.

Good call!

Where Are They Now?

It is rather astonishing how many once promising athletes and potential Hall-of-Famers are without jobs in 2008. Whether it's because of injuries, age or the Mitchell Report, there a a handful of players who have not been able to attach themselves to a team - or at least hang on to a team.

Take for instance, Freddy Garcia. Here's a guy who was 17-9 and struck out 135 for the White Sox in 2006. The right-hander, who is also a two-time All Star, has a career record of 117-76 and finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2000 with the Mariners.

But in '07, his first and only season with the Phillies, Garcia went 1-5 and had an ugly 5.90 ERA in 11 games started. On August 30, he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, also ending his Phillies career. His last start came on June 8, and he only last 1 2/3 innings. As a free agent heading into 2008, Garcia was not signed by any team, though the Mets and Red Sox both showed interest during Spring Training. Currently, Garcia is still rehabbing that shoulder, but should be ready to pitch (at least healthwise) in a few weeks. But will anyone want to take a chance on a 33-year old vet?

Even former sluggers like Mike Piazza and Barry Bonds couldn't get signed. Piazza wound up retiring, and Bonds is in the middle of courtroom dramas and may as well be retired.

Look at Sammy Sosa. What a story he is. He may very well be on his way to Cooperstown. His magical season with Mark McGwire in 1997 is still fresh in everyone's memories. Yet, he was out of baseball for all of 2006. Then, surprisingly, the Texas Rangers signed him to a one-year contract before the 2007 campaign, and watched him smack his 600th career home run (he now has 609). But as a free agent, no team decided to take a chance on soon-to-be 40-year old slugger. I find it a little strange that the Rangers would bring him on for a one-year comeback, and then he goes back into hiding.

Right-hander Jeff Weaver, was the primary reason for this post. Weaver, who has finished a season with a better than .500 win-loss record once in his career, was signed by the Brewers to a minor league deal in April, and had until today to either bring him up to the big club, or release him - they chose the latter. For Triple-A Nashville, Weaver was 2-4 with a 6.33 ERA and a 30/27 k:BB ratio. So clearly, cutting him was the right move.

However, Weaver is still not even 32 years old yet, and should be a somewhat serviceable piece for some team, either in the rotation or the bullpen. Weaver was a first-round pick by the Tigers in the 1998 first-year player draft. Overall, in nine career seasons, Weaver is 93-114 with an ERA of 4.72. He's always had electric stuff, but his command and his control have caused him to become a troubled member of the clubhouse, and now he is without a team.

Preston Wilson, Reggie Sanders, Kenny Lofton, Rodrigo Lopez, Eric Milton, Akinori Otsuka, and Ryan Klesko are some of the big name players who are left on the scrap heap, and may never see another major league contract again.

Statistical and biographical information courteous of baseballreference.com

Griffey the Kid

Number one was on April 10, 1989. Number 600 happened June 9, 2008. Ken Griffey Jr. became the sixth member of the 600-home run club Monday, when he sent a 3-1 Mark Hendrickson delivery over the right field fence for a two-run bomb in Miami. This milestone should be the ultimate key into the Hall of Fame for The Kid - what hasn't this guy done?

First of all, he's a classy guy. He's always welcome to the fans and the media, even when the fans and the media aren't the most welcoming to him.

We know he can hit. But in his prime, Griffey was one of the most brilliant center fielders out there. Overall, he is a nine-time Gold Glove winner, and has made some memorable catches out in center at the Kingdome.

Griffey, an 11-time All Star, is the son of Ken Griffey Sr. The Griffeys are the only father/son duo to play in the same game. They also are the only pair to hit a home run in the same game, when they went back-to-back against the Angels on September 14, 1990.

Junior's career began in Seattle, when he debuted on Opening Day in 1989. After playing 11 terrific seasons with the Mariners, in which he hit 398 home runs, Griffey was traded to the Reds. On February 10, 2000, Griffey's tenure with the M's officially ended when he was dealt to Cincy for Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko and a couple of minor leaguers.

His tour with the Reds got off to a pretty good start. In the 2000 season, he hit 40 homers and came to bat 520 times. But a myriad of injuries has somewhat soured his image to the fans in Cincinnati. Before last season, Griffey did not reach 500 ABs after his Reds debut season. But when you look at the numbers, when he did play, Griffey performed better than most on the team, or in the league.




So now the question lies - when Griffey goes into Cooperstown (not if), which hat will he be wearing? Many would argue Seattle, where he made his debut and his name. But a case could be made for a Reds cap. He hit his 400th, 500th, and now 600th home runs in a Reds uniform, so why not?

But regardless of what hat he's wearing when he enters the Hall, Griffey is most certainly one of, if not the, most dangerous hitters of this generation. And in an era of steroids and other controversies, Griffey is one of the few pure hitters left in this game. Congratulations Ken Griffey Jr., and thank you for being a reminder of how this game is supposed to be played.

State of the Yankees: The Future is Now

Accordingly, I found it necessary to follow up Jason's last post in regards to the standing point of our respective team allegiance. It has become apparent that this might be the year the Yankees miss the playoffs, as they've hovered around .500 all season and appear lacking the punch to make a strong run as they did last year. However, the future looks extremely bright for this squad. There are many questions that surround the team, to name a few:

1) What will Phil Hughes turn out to be? and can he stay healthy?
2) Will Joba Chamberlain translate into a legitimate ace?
3) Do the Yankees continue to have two starting outfielders who lack range and throwing accuracy?


Brett Gardner
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees-
Yankees Triple-A Affiliate

Three big questions, all can't be answered right away. However, if the Yankees could get something in return for trading Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui (with the numbers they have put up so far, it would have to be a considerable return), two promising outfield prospects in the Yankees system could have an opportunity to make the big club - Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson. Gardner is in Triple-A and seems major league ready, and Jackson is in Double-A but could be Major league ready very soon. These two excellent athletes excel in fielding and have good speed, both of which the Yankees lack. Jackson has 91 stolen bases in three and half minor league seasons, and has only been caught 27 times - a 77% success rate. Meanwhile, Gardner has amassed 141 swipes in the same amount of time, and has only been caught 30 times (82%)!

The only downside is the two both don't possess the same quality bats that Damon and Matsui have. Gardner has only nine home runs in his minor league career, but has shown patience with 207 walks and owns a .290 BA. "A-Jax" however hasn't shown the same kind of patience, striking out over 300 times, but can drive 'em in - he has 157 minor league RBIs.

The keyword to their promotion would be versatility. With their fielding skill and base running ability, they could translate as good bottom of the order hitters, with the potential to move up the line up. It would be interesting to see what these two youngsters could do at the Major league level. Trading Damon and Matsui could help in other areas to improve the other issues the team has, like the bullpen and lack of left handed pitching.


Austin Jackson
Trenton Thunder- Yankees Double-A Affiliate

For now the Yankees will stay the course, and hope to get production out of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, but as September approaches, keep your eyes open for Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson, as the future is just a call-up away.

Fix the Mets, Fix the Mets

It's well known that I am a die-hard Mets fan. So, I am entitled to a now-and-then Mets post. And after the Mets' recent four-game sweep at the hands of the Padres, I think it's time for a rant.

As the non-waiver trade deadline approached over the last few season, General Manager Omar Minaya has had several chances to improve his club, in hopes of making (and winning) the World Series.

In July of 2006, the year the team was one swing away from getting to the Fall Classic, the Mets had an opportunity to acquire Barry Zito for Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman. And, well, Minaya dropped the ball, I believe. Zito was an All-Star that season, and had a great year. And as a free agent at the end of that season, perhaps he would have given the Mets a discount if they had made it to the World Series. I mean, just imagine a playoff rotation of Maine, Zito and Glavine. Solid.

Last season, in what was the worst collapse in history, they had a chance to get some very decent relievers for a very beleaguered bullpen. Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, Juan Rincon, Ron Mahay, Eric Gagne all could have been had. Instead, the Mets acquired second baseman Luis Castillo and eventually signed him to a four-year deal.

Now, about that four-year deal. Castillo will turn 33 in September, and is well beyond his prime. His game is built around his speed, and with knees not as stable as they once were, his speed/defense has slacked. And with no real power to speak of, Castillo has become more of a burden than a help. What I would like to see is a deal for current Orioles' second baseman Brian Roberts.

Roberts is very much on the block - he was almost traded to the Cubs during the offseason. The Mets should be able to afford him, both financially and in talent. Maybe a deal that includes Mike Pelfrey and Aaron Heilman - two pitchers who have struggled in the Big Apple, but might flourish in a small-market city like Baltimore. That would pretty much designate Castillo to a bench role, but at this point in his career, that's what he is. He would be a $25 million pinch runner/defensive replacement. But I think the addition of Roberts, along with the bench presence of Castillo will save the Mets season.

I also think it's time for the Mets to give Mike Carp a look at first base - though that probably will not happen until at least September, if not next season. But this kid is hitting .351 with nine homers in Double-A Binghamton. He hits from the left side, just like the struggling Carlos Delgado, but perhaps an injection of young blood is what this team needs as a spark (a la the Reds' Joey Votto from a year ago). I'd also like to see some more depth on that bench - a nice power bat would be a great addition, like a Matt Stairs type.

There is a lot riding on this season. The manager, and general manager may both be gambling with their jobs for the rest of the year. And if the Mets don't win, there will likely be some changes made. Well, I think change has to be made - but not with Willie Randolph. Minaya needs to pull the trigger as July 31st approaches, and if he can't make the moves, than owner Fred Wilpon needs to find someone who can. After the debacle that was last season, the Mets have to win - and they need the rights pieces to do that with. So, LETS GO, METS!

Yankees Continue Building For The Future, What Were The Mets Trying To Do?

Yesterday the Yankees drafted the top high school pitcher in California with the 28th pick overall, and he goes by the name of Gerrit Cole. Cole is a high ceiling flame-thrower who needs work on his demeanor on the mound. Scouts suggest he is similar to Phil Hughes, as they are both from California and both have high expectations. The Yankees had taken five other pitchers as well, including two promising prospects in Joseph Bittle and Jeremy Bleich.

Meanwhile, the Mets were busy getting infielders and outfielders. Out of 52 total picks, the Mets drafted 26 pitchers - none until the second round with the 33rd pick overall. And after drafting that pitcher in the first round, the Mets didn't draft another until the 224th overall pick. Saving pitching as a last concern may have been a flawed strategy, however. In a pitching-thin organization, GM Omar Minaya didn't use his picks wisely, I believe. The first round presented the best pitching talent, with the later rounds having considerably less. Only time will tell how these picks work for the Mets.

But on the other side of the city the strong draft presence is apparent. With the Yankees Triple-A and Double-A teams among the best in their respective leagues, the strong drafting of Yankees' GM Brian Cashman should continue to build an already deep farm system.

Here is a quick rundown of the first round of the 2008 First Year Player Draft.

1. Tampa Bay Rays: Tim Beckham, SS, Griffin High School (Ga.)
2. Pittsburgh Pirates: Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt
3. Kansas City Royals: Eric Hosmer, 1B, American Heritage High School (Plantation, Fl.)
4. Baltimore Orioles: Brian Matsuz, LHP, San Diego
5. San Francisco Giants: Buster Posey, C, Florida State
6. Florida Marlins: Kyle Skipworth, C, Rubidoux High School (Riverside Ca.)
7. Cincinnati Reds: Yonder Alonso, 1B, Miami (Fla.)
8. Chicago White Sox: Gordon Beckham, SS, Georgia
9. Washington Nationals: Aaron Crow, RHP, Missouri
10. Houston Astros: Jason Castro, C, Stanford
11. Texas Rangers: Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina
12. Oakland Athletics: Jemile Weeks, 2B, Miami (Fla.)
13. St. Louis Cardinals: Brett Wallace, 3B, Arizona State
14. Minnesota Twins: Aaron Hicks, RF/RHP, Wilson High School (Long Beach, Calif.)
15. Los Angeles Dodgers: Ethan Martin, RHP/3B, Stephens County High School (Toccoa, Ga.)
16. Milwaukee Brewers: Brett Lawrie, C/2B, Brookswood Secondary School (Langley, B.C.)
17. Toronto Blue Jays: David Cooper, 1B, California
18. New York Mets: Ike Davis, 1B, Arizona State
19. Chicago Cubs: Andrew Cashnear, RHP, Texas Christian
20. Seattle Mariners: Josh Fields, RHP, Georgia
21. Detroit Tigers: Ryan Perry, RHP, Arizona
22. New York Mets: Reese Havens, SS, South Carolina
23. San Diego Padres: Allan Dykstra, 1B, Wake Forest
24. Philadelphia Phillies: Anthony Hewitt, SS, Salisbury High School (Conn.)
25. Colorado Rockies: Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky
26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Daniel Schlereth, LHP, Arizona
27. Minnesota Twins: Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Miami (Fl.)
28. New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Orange Lutheran High School (Calif.)
29. Cleveland Indians: Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Pitt Community College (Greenvile, N.C.)
30. Boston Red Sox: Casey Kelly, RHP/SS, Sarasota High School (Fla.)

By the way, Keith Law of Scouts Inc. has some really good, in-depth analysis of each first-round pick on ESPN.com. I encourage everyone to check this out to get some real good information on these future big-leaguers.

Draft picks courteous of ESPN.com.

Joba The....Starter?

In recent weeks, the Yankees have set New York ablaze with talk of transitioning their prized pitching prospect, Joba Chamberlain, into a starting pitcher. This all makes sense, but for some people it doesn't. Some people argue he was dominant as a reliever, he might not have the same success as a starter. Realistically that has yet to be seen, but check out his minor league numbers:


18 Games
15 Games Started
9-2 W-L
88.1 IP
135 Strikeouts
27 Walks
25 Runs
24 Earned Runs
2.45 ERA

The numbers speak for themselves. He dominated at every level in 2007. As the set up man for Mariano Rivera he was a pleasant surprise. He finished the year at the big league level with a 0.38 ERA. This year started similar to the tune of a 2.28 ERA before his first start. The anticipation of Joba's first start was very high. A capacity crowd gathered at Yankee Stadium on June 3rd, 2008 against the Toronto Blue Jays, to witness the first start of his career. Chamberlain reached the mound to a standing ovation. Chamberlain, who was limited to a 65-75 pitch count, got about halfway to his pitch count in the first inning, throwing 38, 21 for strikes. Chamberlain was wild in that first inning, but settled down in the second inning. He notched 101 MPH several times on the radar guns, including his final pitch.

All in all, the numbers were staggering. In 2 1/3 innings worked, he allowed two runs, one earned. The Blue Jays hitters did their job well, working him into several 3-2 counts. Of the 12 hitters he faced, he walked 4 and struck out 3. This was not like Chamberlain, but in a new role you will see this happen sometimes. Chamberlain had flashes of brilliance. Judging by his performance after the rough first inning, Chamberlain should gradually work his way to being a number 1 or 2 starter as scouts have suggested. He will extend his pitch counts in outings to come, and we should expect big things from the Big man from Lincoln, Nebraska.

Who Saw This Coming?

As we flip the calendar to June, there are a bunch of surprises - both positive and negative - around the sport of baseball. There have been lots of head-scratching and eye-opening in 2008. Let's look at some of the surprises and disappointments from the first two months of the season.

SURPRISES

• Many of the so called "experts" picked the Mets, Yankees, Tigers, Reds (or Brewers) Mariners (or Angels), and the Padres to at least battle for their respective divisions, if not win them. But as we look at the standings here on June 1, 2008, that is not the case. Instead, you have teams like the Rays, White Sox, A's, Marlins and the Twins are all either leading or close to the top of their divisions. Out of this bunch, the Rays and Marlins have been considered the biggest of the surprises. But in my eyes, the Marlins, A's and White Sox have been the most surprising, and most likely to flop in the second half. Ladies and gentlemen, the Rays are legit and will be competing the entire season.
• On December 21 of 2007, the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds made a trade. The Reds sent outfielder Josh Hamilton to Texas for pitcher Edinson Volquez. Well, I can't recall a deal working out so well for both teams. For the Rangers, Hamilton is leading baseball in RBI, tied for the league lead in home runs, and is second in the league in batting average - can you say Triple Crown threat? Meanwhile, Volquez leads all of baseball in both strikeouts and ERA, and is tied for third in wins - can you say Triple Crown threat?
• The Cubs have been an astounding story so far in '08. The last time the Cubs won the World Series was back in 1908 (exactly 100 years ago, for those keeping score at home). And the last time the Cubs were in first place on June 1 was in 1908. A lot was made about the 100-year anniversary of the last Cubs' World Series victory during the offseason, and the North-Siders have not disappointed. They have gotten very strong pitching from the always dependable Carlos Zambrano, but they have also received some surprising starts from former closer Ryan Dempster. New closer Kerry Wood has seen his bumps in the road, but has more-or-less flourished as the stopper. The acquisitions of Reid Johnson and Kosuke Fukudome have given the Cubbies some great defense in the outfield, as well as steady right-handed bats in the lineup. And catcher Geovany Soto is already a favorite to win the Rookie of the Year.

DISAPPOINTMENTS

• When you think about the disappointments so far in 2008, you almost have to start with the Detroit Tigers. General Manager Dave Dombrowski pulled off some of the greatest transactions during the offseason in recent memory, acquiring Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Edgar Renteria for mainly prospects and minor-leaguers. But after two months, they sit in fourth place in the AL Central, seven games in back of the White Sox. Gary Sheffield, who was recently placed on the 15-day DL, has been no help, hitting three home runs so far this season. Curtis Granderson, who began the season on the DL, is hitting .254 and has only three stolen bases. And the starting pitching hasn't been any better. Former Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander (remember, he threw a no-hitter last season) is 2-8 with an ugly 5.16 ERA. He also carries 44 strikeouts and 31 walks in 75 innings pitched. In fact, the only Tigers starter to have started at least eight games and have an ERA under 4.00 is Armando Galarraga (3.44). Galarraga, who pitched in three games last season for the Rangers, has been the lone bright spot on this super-talented team. To go along with his good ERA, he is 4-2 and has 33 strikeouts in just about 50 innings pitched. The Tigers rank third in baseball with a $137,290,196 salary, according to ESPN.com. It's about time they start playing like it.
• The entire National League West Division (aside from perhaps the Arizona Diamondbacks) are a complete and utter disappointment. The D-Backs are the only team to have a record above .500, and are the only ones to be playing any kind of consistent baseball. The Rockies and Padres have battled all season so far for the worst record in baseball. The Dodgers have gotten nothing out of Andruw Jones, Brad Penny or Nomar Garciaparra. The Giants, surprisingly, are in third place, but really have no legitimate offense to stay there. This division was supposed to be one of the strongest and toughest in baseball - but instead, they remain the weakest of all six divisions.
• And on an individual basis, there are a number of players performing well below their expectations. Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Carlos Delgado, Bill Hall, Trevor Hoffman, and Travis Hafner are only a handful of these players. Hafner has to be considered one of the biggest disappointments, as he currently sits on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain. So far in 2008, Hafner has hit a paltry .218 with only four homers and 22 RBI. We are talking about a slugger who belted 42 home runs two seasons ago. And what's disturbing, in my opinion, is players like these will make the All-Star game just because of their names, even though they don't deserve it statistically.

OTHER NICE STORIES

There have been some other great stories in baseball so far. Stories that do not focus on a struggling team, player or division. Like these:

• Josh Hamilton, mentioned above, has had a tremendous season. This 27-year old from Raleigh, who was drafted in the first round by Tampa Bay in the 1999 draft, has overcome substance abuse which almost forced him out of the game entirely. But here sits, threatening to become the next Triple Crown winner, and looks like a sure stud.
• Jon Lester pitched a no-hitter in May, after overcoming lymphoma in 2006-07.
• The Cincinnati Reds finally called up slugging prospect Jay Bruce. Why the Reds waited so long, with Corey Patterson starting in center field, is beyond me. But so far Bruce has done nothing but impress. He hit his first career home run (a walk-off game-winning homer by the way) on Saturday. In his first six games since being called up on Tuesday, Bruce has put together this line: 13 hits in 22 at-bats, 10 runs scored, three doubles, two home runs, six RBI, two stolen bases and six walks. In comparison, last year's Rookie of the Year, Ryan Braun, had only six hits, four RBI, and three runs scored in his first six Major League games. Jay Bruce will be doing good things for a long time.
  

Statistical information courteous of MLB.com and baseballreference.com

May Days

Believe it or not, the merry month of May is now behind us. As we enter the sixth month of 2008, let's take a look at what happened in the last 30 days.

Division Standings through 5/31/08

NL West:
Arizona 31-25 (.554)
Los Angeles 27-28 (.491) 3.5 GB
San Francisco 23-33 (.411) 8.0 GB
San Diego 23-34 (.404) 8.5 GB
Colorado 20-36 (.357) 11.0 GB

NL Central:
Chicago 35-21 (.625)
St. Louis 33-24 (.579) 2.5 GB
Houston 30-27 (.526) 5.5 GB
Milwaukee 28-28 (.500) 7.0 GB
Cincinnati 27-29 (.482) 8.0 GB
Pittsburgh 26-29 (.473) 8.5 GB

NL East:
Florida 31-23 (.574)
Philadelphia 32-25 (.561) 0.5 GB
Atlanta 29-27 (.518) 4.0 GB
New York 27-27 (.500) 4.0 GB
Washington 24-33 (.421) 8.5 GB

AL West:
Los Angeles 33-24 (.579)
Oakland 29-27 (.518) 3.5 GB
Texas 29-28 (.509) 4.0 GB
Seattle 21-35 (.375) 11.5 GB

AL Central:
Chicago 30-25 (.545)
Minnesota 28-27 (.509) 2.0 GB
Cleveland 25-30 (.455) 5.0 GB
Detroit 23-32 (.418) 7.0 GB
Kansas City 22-34 (.393) 8.5 GB

AL East:
Tampa Bay 34-22 (.607)
Boston 34-24 (.586) 1.0 GB
Toronto 31-27 (.534) 4.0 GB
New York 28-27 (.509) 5.5 GB
Baltimore 26-28 (.481) 7.0 GB


League Leaders through 5/31/08

NL Saves:
Brian Wilson (SFG) - 16

NL Earned Run Average:
Edinson Volquez (CIN) - 1.46

NL Strikeouts:
Edinson Volquez (CIN) - 83

NL Wins:
Brandon Webb (ARI) - 10

NL Batting Average:
Chipper Jones (ATL) - .405

NL Stolen Bases:
Michael Bourn (HOU) - 24

NL Runs Batted In:
Chase Utley (PHI) - 49

NL Home Runs:
Chase Utley (PHI) - 19

AL Saves:
Francisco Rodriguez (LAA) - 21

AL Earned Run Average:
Cliff Lee (CLE) - 1.88

AL Strikeouts:
Javier Vazquez (CHW) - 77

AL Wins:
Mike Mussina (NYY), Cliff Lee (CLE), Joe Saunders (LAA), Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) - 8

AL Stolen Bases:
Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS) - 26

AL Batting Average:
Hideki Matsui (NYY) - .337

AL Runs Batted In:
Josh Hamilton (TEX) - 61

AL Home Runs:
Josh Hamilton (TEX), Carlos Quentin (CHW) - 14

Statistical and standings courteous of MLB.com and ESPN.com

Will-ie Stay, or Will-ie Go?

It's May 28th. The New York Mets currently sit in 4th place in the National League East division, 6.5 games in back of the first-place Florida Marlins. Of course, playing in New York, there has been a media frenzy over the last few weeks, as the performance of the Mets' ballclub has been lacking. A lot has been made over the job security of their skipper, Willie Randolph. Well as an avid Mets fan, I say...LET HIM STAY!

As far as I am concerned, Randolph has done NOTHING that warrants termination. Granted, the Mets have been playing almost lethargically lately. But Randolph is doing the best he can with what he's got. Between injuries (Church, Martinez, El Duque, Alou, Anderson) and the media constantly on their doorsteps, the Mets have been victimized of some bad luck along the way. Everyone loses games - but at this point, it's as if a Mets player was dealt a Royal Flush in a game of Poker, and still managed to lose the hand.

There has been a lot of criticism about Randolph's lack of fire. But I pose this question: if a ship is sinking, or a plane is crashing, would you prefer the captain to be running around panicking? Or would you feel better if he was calm, cool and tried to resolve the problem logically and thoughtfully? I choose the latter. His mentor, Joe Torre, has been that way for years, and he lead the Yankees to a dynasty. Randolph can't choose his cards - he can only play with the hand he has been dealt.

A final point - who would replace Randolph? Obviously, the ideal replacement would be Bobby Valentine. But he is just short of a god in Japan, and the Mets would have to offer he and the country a lot of Yen to lure him away. I wouldn't mind seeing Lee Mazzili or Ray Knight at the helm, should a replacement be necessary. But other than that, there are slim pickings right now. Bench coach Jerry Manuel is not what the Mets need. Gary Carter is supposedly job hunting, but I don't feel he is a good fit with this group of personalities. Phil Garner, Tony Pena, and Ken Macha are all recent managers who were let go by their club, but all lack the passion and the fire that would spark the Mets.

So given those caveats, why would the Mets want to replace Randolph? Perhaps they should look into replacing some of their on-field talent first to try and salvage their season. I would love to see a trade of Mike Pelfrey and Aaron Heilman for a second baseman and/or an outfielder. Pedro Martinez is scheduled to come back June 3, so that should be a boost. But Mr. Minaya, and Mr. Wilpon, I implore to let Willie stay!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Kershaw

He's only 20 years old, but his arrival in the MLB has been highly anticipated since he was drafted in the first round of the 2006 draft. His name is Clayton Kershaw, and he is a 6'3" southpaw from Dallas.

With the Dodgers in need of a fifth starter, they purchased the contract of Kershaw for him to start on Sunday against the Cardinals. He was impressive in his debut, going six innings and only allowing two runs on five hits. He also struck out seven.

Kershaw has some filthy stuff. He features a 95-97 mph fastball, and a nasty curveball at about 72-75 mph. He kept the Cards mostly off balance, though he labored through the first inning, throwing 32 pitches in the opening frame. But he kept the Dodgers in the game, and for the meantime, Kershaw may have installed himself into the Dodgers' rotation. Let's hope manager Joe Torre will be more lenient on the rookies than he was as the Yankees skipper.


IN OTHER NEWS:

• The amount of players landing on the DL is astonishing. Just looking at this past week, we see a tremendous amount of injuries taking place.
• 5/19 - Ronnie Belliard goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left calf.
• 5/19 - Chad Fox goes on the 15-day DL with ulnar neuritis.
  
• 5/19 - Donnie Murphy goes on the 15-day DL with right elbow inflammation.
  
• 5/20 - Jake Peavy goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right elbow.
• 5/20 - Andrew Brown goes on the 15-day DL after undergoing an appendectomy.
• 5/20 - Gary Bennett goes on the 15-day DL with plantar fascitits in his left foot.
  
• 5/21 - Erik Aybar goes on the 15-day DL with a dislocated finger.
• 5/22 - Austin Kearns goes on the 15-day DL after undergoing elbow surgery to remove bone chips.
• 5/23 - (pitcher) Chris Young goes on the 15-day DL with a fractured nose.
• 5/23 - Josh Bard goes on the 15-day DL with an ankle injury.
• 5/23 - Moises Alou goes (back) on the 15-day DL with a strained left calf.
• 5/23 - Adam Everett goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right elbow.
• 5/23 - Juan Uribe goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring.
• 5/24 - Eric Gagne goes on the 15-day DL with right rotator cuff tendinitis.
• 5/24 - Jayson Werth goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique.
• 5/24 - Brad Hawpe goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring.
• 5/24 - Clint Barmes goes on the 15-day DL with a sprained right knee.
• 5/24 - Brett Caroll goes on the 15-day DL with a separated right shoulder.
  
• 5/24 - Marlon Anderson goes on the 15-day DL with strained left hamstring.
• 5/25 - Fausto Carmona goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left hip.
  
• 5/25 - Andruw Jones goes on the 15-day DL with an injured right knee.
• 5/25 - Matt Holliday goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring.
• Anderson, Hawpe, Holliday, and Barmes all left from the same Mets/Rockies series.
  
• On Friday night, when the game went 13 innings, Anderson left after attempting to beat out a ground ball in the 4th inning. Barmes, one of the Rockies' hottest hitters who had replaced injured shortstop Troy Tulowitski, left in the top of the 10th inning. Jose Reyes hit a bloop double, and took out Barmes on the slide into second base.
• On Saturday, Holliday, who hit the game-tying and game-winning hits Friday night, strained his hammy running to first on a groundout to third.
• Though Hawpe didn't actually get hurt during this series, he was placed on the DL on Saturday.
  
• This series saw more injuries, not resulting in a DL stint (yet).
  
• Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras bruised his knee when he crashed into the wall Friday night in the sixth inning.
• Garrett Atkins missed the last two games of the series with a stiff neck.
• Ryan Church, who suffered a concussion in the previous series in Atlanta, has yet to start a game since enduring the injury. He has appeared as a pinch-hitter, but still feels "funny".
  

No More Pizza

On Tuesday, a career became a legacy. After 16 seasons, Mike Piazza has officially retired from Major League Baseball.

Piazza, a 12-time All-Star, began his career in 1992 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1993, Piazza was named the National League Rookie of the Year. That season, he hit .318 with 35 home runs and drove in 112 runs. Other than his debut season in '92, Piazza was an All-Star every year he was with the Dodgers, and finished within the top 15 in MVP voting as well.


But in 1998, he would shed his Dodger blues and would head south to Miami. In one of the biggest trades in recent history, Piazza, along with Todd Zeile, was sent to the Marlins in exchange for Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonilla, Charles Johnson, Jim Eisenreich and Manuel Barrios on May 14. In his tenure with the Dodgers, Piazza amassed 177 home runs, on his way to a remarkable career.

Piazza's time as a Marlin would be short-lived - five games to be exact. In those five games, Piazza went 5-18 (including his fourth career triple). On May 22, he was sent to the New York Mets for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall and a minor leaguer. This trade was the beginning of a dynasty for Piazza.

When he came to New York, the Mets were chasing the Braves for first place, sitting nine games behind in second place. That season, the Mets finished in second, 18 games in back of the Braves. But after years and years of terrible seasons, the team finally made a splash landing in Piazza. They signed Piazza to a 7-year contract, and for those seven years, Piazza would become the face of the franchise.

Piazza was part of a thrilling victory against the Atlanta Braves - one which I was lucky enough to attend. It was June 30, 2000. It was a dismal game. The Braves looked like they were going to win their second in a row against the Mets at Shea, up 8-1 in the 8th inning. But a 10-run inning gave the Mets an 11-8 victory. This inning was capped by a Piazza 3-run homer off Terry Mulholland, breaking what was an 8-8 tie - and giving the Mets the exciting win.

Piazza will forever be remembered for his part in the game on September 21, 2003 - 10 days after 9/11. It was the first game played in New York since the tragedies that took place on Sept. 11, and the Mets were facing their arch rivals, the Atlanta Braves. In the 8th inning, with the Mets trailing 2-1, Piazza drilled a Steve Karsay offering over the center field wall for a two-run bomb. Not only did that shot give the Mets a thrilling victory over the Braves, but it gave New York something positive to cheer about, after suffering through the horrors it endured just over a week prior.

In a May 13 game against the Colorado Rockies in 2003, Piazza solidified his name in Cooperstown. In the top of the second inning, Piazza took the first pitch he saw from Rockies' starter Shawn Chacon over the fence for his 352nd career home run - passing Carlton Fisk for the most ever by a catcher.

But, like most good things, Piazza's time with the Mets came to an end. After the 2005 season, Piazza had become a free agent, and the Mets decided to go in other directions. Piazza would sign a one-year contract with the Padres, where he would hit 22 dingers, and hit at a .283 clip in 126 games played. Piazza then spent 2007 with the Oakland A's, though injuries kept him out of the lineup for most of the season. With Oakland, Piazza only played in 83 games, and only hit 8 homers. He was a free agent at the end of last season, and no one was willing to take a chance on a 39-year old catcher who had lost his power swing. So after 16 seasons, Piazza has called it a career.

And what a career it was. Piazza was never known for his ability behind the plate, as he allowed 1400 stolen bases, and only caught 423 runners.

So now the debate begins - what uniform will Piazza don as he enters the Hall of Fame? The case for the Dodgers can easily be matched with the case for the Mets. Piazza spent more seasons with the Mets, and therefore had a higher quantity of statistics. However, Piazza was viewed as a more fearful hitter when he played in L.A., and he never came as close to winning the MVP award as he did in 1997 and 1998, when he played most of his games as a Dodger (he finished second in the voting both seasons). He was also named the MVP of the 1996 All-Star game, when he was still a Dodger.

But as a Met, Piazza hit 220 home runs; became the all-time leader in homers by a catcher; reached the playoffs three times, including one World Series appearance; and became the face of a franchise. It will be a debate that will garner lots of attention for sure. But in five years, we should have an idea, as Piazza will almost certainly be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

From a die-hard Mets fan, thank you Mike Piazza, for all you did for the Mets, the game of baseball, and the city of New York.





On a side note, you may have noticed I attribute much of my information to a website, baseballreference.com. If you like to research the history of the game, like to find out interesting information, or just like baseball, you NEED to check this site out. It has EVERYTHING a fan could want or need. I highly recommend this website to anyone.





Statistical and historical information courteous of baseballreference.com.

Against the Odds

Getting a chance to pitch in the Major Leagues is special. Being the winning pitcher of Game 4, the clinching game, of the World Series is even more of a fantasy. Throwing a no-hitter is something many only dream of. But doing all of this, after overcoming cancer, is but a miracle. Red Sox lefty Jon Lester lived this miracle in what has been one of the most inspirational stories in (and out of) baseball over the last several years.

Lester, from Tacoma, was drafted by the Sox in the 2nd round of the 2002 draft. He made is Major League debut in relief on June 10, 2006 against the Rangers. He went 4 1/3 innings, giving up three earned in a loss. His first start came six days later against the Braves. He went six strong, giving up only one earned run and struck out five as he picked up his first career win. In his next start, he struck out 10 Nationals - still a career high.

Later that season, Lester was diagnosed with "anaplastic large cell lymphoma", according to MLB.com. Lester pitched his last game of '06 on August 23 against the Angels. He won this game, pitching five innings and scattering six hits. He allowed three runs, and finished the 2006 season with a 7-2 mark.

Fast forward 11 months to July 23, 2007. Lester makes his highly anticipated return to the mound, in grand fashion. In a start against the Indians, Lester pitched six innings, striking out six and only allowed two runs on five hits.

After completing 2007 with a 4-0 record, it was time for the Red Sox to go to the postseason. Lester was not on the roster for the Sox in the Division Series against the Angels. But he was on the roster for the League Championship Series against the Indians. And he was also put on the World Series roster against the Rockies. And did he flourish. He pitched 5 2/3 shut-out innings, leading the Red Sox to the promised land - the 2007 World Series Championship.

Jump to May 19, 2008. Jon Lester is taking on the Kansas City Royals in the first game of a four game series. And aside from walking Billy Butler in the second and Esteban German in the ninth, Lester was perfect and he no-hit the Royals, as the Sox went on to win 7-0. Lester, who threw a career-high 130 pitches, became the 18th Red Sox hurler to throw a no-hitter, and the first since, well...September when fellow youngster Clay Buchholz no-hit the Orioles. Lester became just the fifth left-hander to toss a no-no in Red Sox history, and the no-hitter is the first complete game of Lester's young career.

"It's something that I'll remember forever, a lot of excitement. I think I had more adrenaline going in the ninth inning than I did in the first inning, which I guess is normal for that situation. It was great. The fans were great; they're on their feet yelling and screaming. It was probably one of the loudest times I've heard Fenway when I've been out there pitching," Lester told MLB.com.

With the no-hitter, Jason Varitek becomes the all-time leader in no-hitters caught. He has been behind the plate for the last four Red Sox no-hitters (Nomo, Lowe, Buchholz and Lester), the most ever by a catcher.

"I'm very fortunate," said Varitek, according to MLB.com. "It's so exciting to be a part of one as a catcher."

Manager Terry Francona knows what Lester has gone through, and found difficult to keep his emotions in check.

"I looked up in the ninth, and you're trying to keep your emotions in check and I went to say something to [pitching coach] John Farrell, and he was being a big baby next to me. It made me feel a little bit better," Francona told MLB.com.

But all the focus is on Lester. Here's a 24-year old kid who has overcome so much in so little time. He beat cancer. There are already talks of Hall of Fame potential for this young hurler. The spikes he wore for his no-hitter were sent to Cooperstown. The sky seems to be the limit for this kid, and he is definitely riding high right now. Playing for a perennial contender like Boston, there's no reason to think this kid can't win 15-20 games some day. What an inspiration.

Statistical and historical information courteous of MLB.com and baseballreference.com.

April Recap, Part 2

So, we've looked at the divisional standings, and some of the statistical leaders through the first month of the season. But there were some interesting news and story-lines that deserve some reviewing as well. Injuries, debuts, and some surprise transactions are recapped below.

INJURIES:

Orlando Hernandez, Curt Schilling, Scott Kazmir, John Lackey, Chris Carpenter, Mike Hampton, Noah Lowry, Joel Zumaya, Jason Schmidt, Mark Prior, Matt Clement, Chris Ray, and Kelvim Escobar are among the big-time pitchers who did not throw a single pitch in a Major League game in April, due to various injuries.

Dmitri Young, Eric Chavez, Chris Duffy, Moises Alou, and Rocco Baldelli are among the hitters not to have made a plate appearance in April, due to various injuries.

John Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Chad Cordero, Erik Bedard, Brad Lidge, Wandy Rodriguez, B.J. Ryan, Rich Harden, J.J. Putz, Dontrelle Willis, Pedro Martinez, and Yovanni Gallardo (who will likely miss the rest of the season) are among the pitchers who spent time on the disabled list in the month of April.

Kaz Matsui, Cliff Floyd, Scott Rolen, Michael Cuddyer, Curtis Granderson, Alfonso Soriano, Jimmy Rollins, Ty Wigginton, Shane Victorino, Howie Kendrick, and Mike Lowell are among the hitters who spent time on the disabled list in the month of April.

DFAs (Designated for Assignment):

• Phillies - Wes Helms (traded to the Marlins for a player to be named or cash).
• Red Sox - Kyle Snyder (Sent to Triple-A Pawtucket), Bryan Corey (sent to Triple-A Pawtucket).
• A's - Dan Johnson (claimed off waivers by the Rays), Kirk Saarloos (sent to Triple-A Sacramento)
• Mariners - Charlton Jimerson (Re-signed to a minor league contract), Greg Norton (traded to the Braves for a player to be named or cash), Brad Wilkseron (released; signed by the Blue Jays)
• Astros - David Newhan, Humberto Quintero (sent to Triple-A Round Rock), Tomas Perez (sent to Triple-A Round Rock)
• Blue Jays - Frank Thomas (signed by the A's)
• Royals - Hideo Nomo (released)
• Reds - Juan Castro (released)
• Rays - Dan Johnson (sent to Triple-A Durham), Mike DiFelice (sent to Triple-A Durham)
• Rockies- Jayson Nix (sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs), Jose Capellan (refused assignment to Triple-A Round Rock; released)
• Giants - Rajai Davis (claimed off waivers by the A's)
• Mets - Brady Clark (sent to Triple-A New Orleans)
• Rangers - Jason Botts (sent to Triple-A Oklahoma)
• Orioles - Greg Aquino (sent to Triple-A Norfolk)
• Yankees - Sean Henn (claimed off waivers by the Padres)

Released:

• Steve Kline - Giants
• Ray King - Nationals
• Matt Morris - Pirates (retired)
• Mike Stanton - Reds

Last Minute Free Agent Signings:

• The Brewers signed RHP Jeff Weaver to a minor league contract.
• The Mets signed RHP Claudio Vargas to a minor league contract.
• The A's signed DH Frank Thomas to a one year contract.
• The Rockies signed infielder Juan Castro to a minor league contract.

Trades:

• The Brewers dealt outfielder Gabe Gross to the Rays in exchange for minor leaguer Josh Butler.
• The Rockies acquired LHP Jorge de la Rosa and cash from the Royals for a player to be named.
• The Rockies also acquired RHP Jason Grilli from the Tigers in exchange for minor leaguer Zach Simmons.
• The Phillies traded infielder Wes Helms to the Marlins for a player to be named or cash.

Transaction information courteous of MLB.com

April Recap, Part 1

Well, it's been a while - school, both jobs, and trying to move have made blogging a tad difficult over the last several weeks. But school is over and it's time to write about some baseball. We are in the merry month of May now, so why don't we do a recap of the first full month of the season.

Division Standings through 4/30/08:

AL East:
Boston - 17-12
Baltimore - 15-12
Tampa Bay - 15-12
New York - 14-15
Toronto - 11-17

AL Central:
Chicago - 14-12
Minnesota - 13-14
Cleveland - 13-15
Detroit - 13-15
Kansas City - 12-15

AL West:
Los Angeles - 18-11
Oakland - 17-12
Seattle - 13-15
Texas - 10-18

NL East:
Florida - 15-12
New York - 14-12
Philadelphia - 15-13
Atlanta - 12-15
Washington - 11-17

NL Central:
Chicago - 17-10
St. Louis - 18-11
Milwaukee - 15-12
Houston - 13-16
Cincinnati - 12-17
Pittsburgh - 11-16

NL West:
Arizona - 20-8
Los Angeles - 14-13
San Francisco - 13-16
Colorado - 11-17
San Diego - 11-17

League Leaders through 4/30/08

AL Home Runs:
Joe Crede, Carlos Quentin (CHW) - 7

AL Runs Batted In:
Josh Hamilton (TEX) - 32

AL Stolen Bases:
Brian Roberts (BAL), Carlos Gomez (MIN) - 9

AL Batting Average:
Manny Ramirez (BOS) - .344

AL Wins:
Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana (LAA), Chien-Ming Wang (NYY), Cliff Lee (CLE) - 5

AL Strikeouts:
Felix Hernandez (SEA) - 41

AL Earned Run Average:
Cliff Lee (CLE) - 0.96

AL Saves:
Francisco Rodriguez (LAA) - 11

NL Home Runs:
Chase Utley (PHI) - 10

NL Runs Batted In:
Lance Berkman (HOU) - 25

NL Stolen Bases:
Willy Tavares (COL), Michael Bourn (HOU) - 11

NL Batting Average:
Chipper Jones (ATL) - .422

NL Wins:
Brandon Webb (ARI) - 5

NL Strikeouts:
Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez (SFG), Chad Billingsley (LAD) - 40

NL Earned Run Average:
Edinson Volquez (CIN) - 1.23

NL Saves:
Jason Isringhausen (STL), Brian Wilson (SFG) - 9

Statistical and standings courteous of MLB.com and ESPN.com

Shutting the Door

What makes a closer a closer? How does one become a closer? Does a pitcher have to pitch the 9th inning for a certain amount of time before being considered a closer?

An argument recently arose at work (Sportsline). It was declared that Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer of all time. I countered by saying that no, Trevor Hoffman is the greatest closer of all time. So just who is right?

My argument is this: the save statistic is the one stat that differentiates a closer from any other pitcher. Only a closer can record a save. Even if he only records one save his entire career, that one game he is considered the closer. Any pitcher can have an ERA or a WHIP - but not a save. Therefore, with Trevor Hoffman having the most saves in major league history, statistically he is the best closer of all time. Here's a closer look at the debate.



Mariano Rivera
When Rivera came up with the New York Yankees in 1995, the team had some closer by the name of John Wetteland. Thus, Rivera came up as a starter, and started 10 games for the Bombers that season. The following year, realizing that Wetteland was coming towards the end of his Yankee career, the Yanks began grooming Rivera into the closer he would become. Rivera pitched solely out of the bullpen in '95, finishing 14 games and recording five saves. He also struck out 130 batters in 137 innings - by far his career best.

The Yanks were right about Wetteland, as he went to the Rangers before the 1997 season. With Wetteland out of the Bronx, Rivera was given the chance to become the team's full-time closer. And has he made the most of that opportunity! Since then, he's saved a total of 438 games, not including the five he's saved so far in 2008. And Rivera's postseason performance has been well documented. There's no question - Rivera is a future Hall of Famer.

Trevor Hoffman

But Rivera is not the best closer of all time, I argue. As I stated before, I view the save statistic as a clear indicator to who is and who is not a closer. Rivera has 448 career saves coming into Friday night. Hoffman has a total of 528 saves in his illustrious career. Now, granted, Hoffman has played more games as his team's "closer" than Rivera has. But not much more, and that's a slightly irrelevant point in my book. Entering Friday night, Hoffman has appeared in 889 career games during his 16 year career. "Mo" has pitched 793 in 14 years. And keep in mind, due to injuries, Hoffman only pitched in nine games in the 2003 season.

Hoffman began his big-league career as a fish. He was actually drafted by the Reds in 1989, and was picked by the Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft. In the middle of the '93 season, after pitching 67 games for Florida, he was traded to the Padres for some kid named Gary Sheffield. Since then, all he has done is surpass Lee Smith as the all-time saves leader, and became the first pitcher to record 500 saves. There is no way that he is NOT the best closer in the history of the game. Best pitcher? Certainly not - but as closers go, it gets no better than Hoffy.


Statistical information curteous of baseballreference.com. Photos curteous of MLB.com.