Baseball ribbing continued

Yesterday I left off on a joke about Royals and Yankees' fans. After seeing how most of the division races turned out it feels necessary to poke fun of a few teams. That and I need a distraction to take my mind off my favorite team (Cubs) not making the playoffs for the third straight year. It looks like Kansas City will finish the 2006 campaign with the worst record again, those 100 losses have to hurt. Tampa Bay is in the same boat and doesn't really have anything positive to note closing out the season.

In the past decade the Detroit Tigers held their worst records in club history. Now look where they are, heading to the playoffs for the first time since 1987. Fans from the Motor City won't have their hearts crushed just yet unlike those from Boston (Now all they have to look forward to is the Patroits succeeding and their precious 'clam chowder'). Luckily this year the New York Mets will be the talk of town and won't have to listen to the vicious insults from Yankee fans.

This postseason if lightning strikes twice and there is a Yankees, Mets matchup in the World Series everyone will know if passionate fans at the game pull a wild stunt like leaping from the upper deck their motivation won't be a catch a foul ball, but to brutally assault an opposing fan. I wouldn't be such a devilish act past that crazy New York crowd (don't be surprised if they carry knives, fish hooks, or guns with them). The Royals, Devil Rays, Cubs, Marlins, and Braves will be free of such controversy, but more concerned about who will they will have to fire.

A team that struggles to make the postseason year after year, but never actually improves is similar to a homicidal maniac who is granted a pardon and tries to be sincere with a judge, claiming he's trying to get his life back together. Then he goes on another killing spree. There is no moral lesson here (except don't committ murder) for a baseball team, though if they ever want to succeed and be a contender they must go above and beyond. This means do some wheeling and dealing, spend a chunk of money to get adequate talent. Otherwise it will be more of the same, fans being enraged and freely leaping from the seats onto the field because they can't stand it anymore.

Baseball joke

What do Yankees and Royals' fans have in common?

They're both tempted enough to committ suicide by leaping from the upper deck. Royals fans have more legitimate reasons for wanting to do this though. More to come later...

Hall of Fame bound Griffey hits clutch homer for Reds

Thanks to the Ken Griffey Jr. clutch pinch-hit dinger in Monday's game against the Cubs his team's playoff hopes are still alive. He help narrow the margin to 3.5 games in the NL Central. With the homerun in the 8th inning at Cincy Griffey moved into 10th place on the all-time homerun list at 563. After years of injuries, Griffey has finally played close to a full season since 2001. On the season, the veteran slugger has 27 homeruns, 72 RBIs, and a .253 average, which is no where close to his best.

There is no denying his ability and devotion to the game. He in elite company in the record books with legends such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Babe Ruth. I have always enjoyed watching Griffey play, there is such zest and silent determination about him. At the moment the Reds are praying that the Cardinals and Astros lose their next 3 or 4 games. This must happen if the Reds are pull into the driver's seat and clinch a playoff birth.

Whether the all-star centerfielder is hurt or not I'm sure he will do everything possible to give an advantage and get them into the playoffs. Whether it's tape measure blasts or electrifying diving, leaping catches Ken Griffey Jr. in my book is still the total package. The stats don't lie: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=2148

Best of luck to the Reds!

Failed Attempts: Disappointments for postseason contention

Another long, tiring season is about to come to a close as teams are still in the hunt for October. I realize that the playoffs will be thrilling once again, but it just doesn't feel right that several fan favorites won't make an appearance. Today the Red Sox were knocked out of contention after the Twins triumphed over the Orioles. The White Sox are in jeopardy of clinching a playoff birth for consecutive years. Rumors are floating around that Boston is planning to trade Manny Ramirez again. Critics are criticizing his lack of effort and commitment to the team. Maybe Manny being Manny isn't cutting it anymore.

At mid-season the AL West was wide open. Injuries and lack of good pitching prevented the Mariners, Angels, and Rangers from making a strong second half run for the pennant. The Athletics made a smart decision by keeping Barry Zito before the trade deadline in late July. He provides much depth to a young, talented pitching rotation. Vladmir Guerrero, Mark Teixeira, and Ichiro Suzuki will have to wait until next season for another chance at the postseason. The Angels haven't been pushovers, obtaining an 83-71 record. They know what Toronto must feel like in the East.

In the National League the resounding pity for Reds, Cubs, and Astros cease to matter as none of these teams will make the playoffs. When will Cincy be strong enough to climb atop the Cardinals and have a healthy roster for the whole year? They'll have to acquire extra bonafide pitching in the rotation and bullpen if they are to succeed in the near future. Once again the Chicago Cubs hit rock bottom and became the laughing stock of the NL. Only two other teams in baseball have worse records (Royals (58-96), Devil Rays (59-95). In the earlier months it didn't look like St. Louis was going to run away with division, but they did.

Despite the homerun chase Barry Bonds pursues, the Giants are on the verge of extending a playoff drought since 2002. Even if he hit 40 dingers it wouldn't been enough to propel the Giants. The Braves will most likely be sitting out and watching the action in October on TV for the first time in more than a decade. New York is the hot team in the NL this year, I don't care what anyone says. Atlanta at least won't happen worry about getting knocked out in the first round. This upcoming postseason isn't what I expected or am satisfied with at all. 2007 better not be so disappointing.

Pitchers who can hit the long ball

After hearing about the overall solid performance that Dontrelle Willis had Wednesday there is an elite company for pitchers who are good at hitting homeruns. Willis' two homers, 3 RBI offensive output was enough to at least tie the game against the Mets yesterday. The Marlins, behind Willis' 8 innings of work (7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) prevailed 6-3. It's a rarity these days for pitchers who can slug for power. The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano has 5 homeruns for the season.

I think for a bench player or utility guy it's embarrassing when of a starter pitcher on the team has more homeruns. That's not what you call a confidence builder. If you think about a pinch hitter probably gets around 15-20 less at-bats than a starting pitcher in the NL, though sometimes gets to play as a fill-in and receives at least 3 at-bats per game. My theory is if a pitcher has a higher batting average than a bench player plus a good on-base percentage and more homeruns why not use them as pinch hitters.

I know many coaches don't want to run the risk of injury to a pitcher or effect their natural strong arm by swinging a bat. The only defining difference is that they could drive in the deciding run to win a game in late innings. Managers knew to look over such statistics and take this into consideration. I wouldn't be surprised if teams used pitchers to pinch hit in the playoffs this year. The Mets may want to test a strategy with Tom Glavine since he is known for being a good contact hitter. A team can't go wrong if this move is effective.

Rose apology on signed baseballs spur collectors' interest

When everyone thought talks and confessions of Pete Rose were over, a new hidden treasure is discovered. 30 signed baseballs were took to an auction house in New Jersey where the prized memorabilia will be up for bid in April. Sooner or later baseball fans and MLB should've know something like this would surface. Old "Charlie Hustle" had a few tricks up his sleeves. The career hits leader was clever on and off the field. See he had a backup plan for another backup plan, which was if he didn't get into the Hall of Fame or be reinstated in baseball he was still going to make money from the sport.

I imagine Commissioner Selig is pissed and up arms over the news. The only reason the autographed baseballs will be released for sale is because a memorabilia collector who used to be limited partner in the New York Yankees died back in December. The man's family contacted Robert Edwards Auctions to sell the valuable collection. Rose had orignially signed the baseballs for friends and didn't what them to sell them. That's all changed after the most recent owner passed away. As a collector it's fun to hold on to historic pieces of memorabilia, but in the back of their mind they're always thinking about making a profit.

You can't blame someone for wanting to sell something like an autographed signed ball by Pete Rose, especially since it's a rare specialty item when an actual apology note encoded, "I'm sorry I bet on baseball". I would be best though if a couple of the baseballs were kept when the auction starts because it may hold more sentinemental value for others, maybe close friends of Rose who is still living. I've got to give Rose his props because he wanted people to remember him for doing the right thing plus create a valuable collectible piece to someone's collection.

David Ortiz wallops a solo homer in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

Red Sox, Yankees series: serious than ever

A ton of good games are played during this time in the season. Teams are competing for the wildcard and pennant. Watching two historic rivals face each other in mid-September is thrilling. Not only because the score can be in either team's favor in any inning, but also there is a great possibility that a chaotic outburst will erupt. When tension rises too high and players get steamed that's when punches are thrown and benches clear.

I still remember the 2002 or 2003 ALCS series when Pedro and ole' Don Zimmerman squared off. First of all, the former Yankees skipper was too old to be getting involved plus he has one melon of a head (Man, his head looked like it was going to split wide open when he hit the ground). In the same respect Pedro did the wrong thing by shoving him to the ground. They both were talking trash like crazy. That day everyone on both sides got all riled up.

With two weeks left in the season the Red Sox find themselves in desperation mode to clinch a playoff spot. Boston is 10.5 games behind the first place Yankees in the East. They're playing a doubleheader today at Boston and have already wrapped a 6-3 victory in Game 1. David Ortiz hit his 49th homerun of the season while Kevin Youkilis creamed a 3-run double in the 7th to pull Boston ahead. Former Red Sox, Johnny Damon (sellout) claimed the Yankees will going to clinch the division title sooner or later. This clown has got some kind of nerve to rub it in his former's teammates faces. If I were Curt Schilling I might just be inclined to bean him.

The BoSox can count on one man for sure, Big Pappi. Knowing that he has a flair for the dramatic and a genuine disgust for the Yankees he could make things interesting down the stretch. He may also have some choice words for Derek Lee and company. These guys all should really put their egos aside and just play the game. However, baseball fans know this won't ever happen. Checking the score at the moment the second game is tied 2-2 in the 3rd inning. With a sweep at least Boston can gain ground in the wildcard race and maybe cause a psychological effect on New York. Big Pappi hit a few more dingers tonight and send those Yanks packing with their heads between their tails. Go REDSOX!

NBA teams out west pulling strings in off-season

Trying to work on tweaking lineups and developing into contenders, the Hornets, Nuggets, and Rockets are signing key off-season acquisitions. The Western Conference will be tighter than ever this coming season. Houston garnered 4 quality veteran players in Antawn Jamison, Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier, and Brad Miller. With the payroll expanded they won't have room for anyone else. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming will return to keep much needed depth in the lineup.

After suffering through the crisis in New Orleans, the new look Hornets are serious about making a roar in the West and clinching the playoffs for the first time is over 6 years. They signed a blockbuster deal to acquire former Pacer Peja Stojakovic. This was a intelligent move by Hornets management, though it may not be enough to get them into the postseason. They've lost J.R. Smith, whom is on the Denver Nuggets. With Chris Paul still at the point they lack another powerful post player besides David West.

To come along with the addition of J.R. Smith Denver also obtained veteran forward Joe Smith. I like the Nuggets chances because they have a stronger bench and proven scorers in Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby. I don't predict them to be one of the top seeds yet they will most likely finish 3rd ot 4th in their division. If the backcourt off the bench does their part and contributes on regular basis Denver will be in good shape.

How about those Twins!

Since the early part of the season it looked as if the Tigers were destined to win the pennant this season. With other teams tumbling in the AL Central the unexpected Minnesota Twins began to seize every opportunity. They were counted out in the first half. With the dominating pitching of Johan Santana coupled with the excellent work of a strong bullpen the Twins are locked in and aimed at nabbing a playoff spot. They're a mere 1.5 games back from the Tigers for first place. Three teams in the division obviously aren't going to make the postseason.

After activating Francisco Liriano off the DL the Twins are as strong as ever in their rotation. To top it off Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are leading the team in batting average, homeruns, and RBIs. With their new addition, Phil Nevin plus outfielder Rondell White the offense is fine. The Twins have took the AL by storm, though predicted to finish 3rd or 4th in the division. Santana has earned 18 wins and leads the AL in strikeouts (230). He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now.

Owning a 83-59 record in September is sweet, however to fend off the competition hot on their tails the Twins may need to win 94 games or more to reach the playoffs. They're in good shape at the moment, but don't think for a minute the Tigers or WhiteSox aren't as eager to splash into the playoffs. If Mauer, who is shooting for a batting title, keeps up his hot hitting Minnesota just might claim the pennant. Then again it's tough to determine until the final week when tension is high and the best baseball is played. Good luck to the Twins in their quest for a playoff birth.

Broadcaster files restraining order against stalker

Since taking over the broadcast position as the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971 Bob Uecker has coped with much grief and heart ache (mainly because the Brewers had sucked for so many years). Now the 72-year-old prestigious radio personality has filed a suit against a stalker. He claims she's been following him around ballparks and hotels all across the country for the past 6 years or so. This is spooky for anyone. The sad part about the case is that the woman is 45. Can't she at least find someone around her own age to stalk? I say leave the old guy alone and don't try any crazy shit.

After hitting this nutcase with a restraining order and having her prosecuted with a felony charge in court maybe Uecker can now have peace of mind and get back to enjoying his life. Allegely this lady who hails from Prospect Heights, Illinois sent Mr. Uecker unwanted gifts and approached him about helping her with charity work. I think he was smart for not entertaining the idea, refusing to let her suck up his limited free time. Today you never can be too sure about a stranger's intentions. One minute these loonies can be persuading a person to give money to charities, the next they can lead their prey off to a secluded area, tie them up in the trunk of a car and kidnap them.

I don't know when stalkers started targeting senior citizens, but even in this case someone like Bob Uecker can be vulnerable, unable to defend himself given the right criminal tactics and tricks. Where do these psychotic fans get off by chasing after old sports broadcasters? If they get frills from stalking such public figures then Hugh Hefner must have it real bad. Besides with all the tension and anxiety from repeat occurrences you know there is a good chance of someone Uecker's age having a heart attack (He could also be enjoying a delicious hot dog at the ballpark and then boom)! Such a health problem can occur when a stalker continues to come out of freaking nowhere and stand right behind you, smiling like a mental patient.

The civil case filed back in June could put this woman behind bars for 3 years if convicted. A man that's a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and won the Ford Frick award in 2003 shouldn't have to put up with this shit! He's a respected and loyal figure in the sports community that deserves to be admired from a distance and not smothered all the time by deranged fans. With the case pending maybe this woman will learn to 'get a life' and stop scaring off older men.

Marlins rookie records first no-hitter of the year

Anibal Sanchez has to be feeling pretty good about himself. After taking 2-of-3 from the D-backs, finishing the series with a no-hitter from Sanchez Wednesday night the Marlins find themselves back in the wildcard chase. Much of this can be credited to Coach Joe Giradi, who lifted this team somehow and has got them playing inspired baseball despite a low team payroll. If anything this team is proving they can outplay other teams in the NL that far greater star power.

Florida is 70-69 and only a few games back in the wildcard. This team has always had a lot of fight in them and are known for being a scrappy bunch. With Dontrelle Willis and other prodigy pitchers in the rotation this team is still very much alive. The upcoming series they have are against the Phillies, Mets, and Braves. Look for the unexpected to happen. These underdogs are about to quit and give up hope on their season. It's now or never for the fighting Fish.

Pitching a no-hitter vs. hitting for the cycle

Sunday's game between the Nationals and the Cardinals was as close to historic as possible. Ramon Ortiz went 8 innings without yielding a hit. The no-hit bid was broken up in the 9th by Cardinals' shortstop Aaron Miles. This got me to thinking about pitching a no-hitter compared to hitting for the cycle. I think it's much harder to throw a no-hitter because so many factors come into play. As a pitcher, first of all you've got to have good stamina and control for entire game. Plus there is so much pressure on pitchers. If they walk a batter then tension intensifies, especially in late innings.

On the other side of the coin, hitting for the cycle is easier because players usually have 4-5 at-bats and can learn more about how to hit a certain pitcher further into the game. The fact that there is no real strain if they don't get a double, triple, single, or even homerun to complete this feat relieves any pressure from a batter. It also helps tremendously if a player is fast. The only major obstacle a player really has to overcome is being walked in light of getting another hit.

For a pitcher trying to achieve a record-breaking performance they have to be concerned with pitch counts and mechanics. If something suddenly starts nagging their arm the hitless streak could very well be in jeopardy. You never know what's going to happen at the mound late in a game. The best thing a pitcher can do is not think what they're on the verge of accomplishing, but put their full concentration on pitching. That's much easier said than done of course. I don't care what everyone says, it's a rarity these days to complete a no-hitter compared to hitting for the cycle.

Wildcard race heating up in NL

I've been quite the miraculous seasons for some teams. This includes the Mets, Dodgers, and Reds. Okay, to be fair the Reds started off sizzling, now they're lucky to be holding on by a thread. Cincy may be 1.5 games out of the wildcard, but that doesn't mean their chances of entering the playoffs have demised. Ken Griffey and Adam Dunn are having a very productive year. Griffey is playing a full season since being plagued by injuries for 4 consecutive years. The pitching has improved for the Reds with more veterans on board and a healthy roster.

In the East, it's undeniable that the Mets are having their best season in over a decade. They've ran away with the division, finally jumping out of the shadows of the Braves and ready to claim stake to a title. Carlos Beltran has made a huge difference by being in the lineup everyday. His power and ability to drive in timely runs have given this team an edge. Also, the trio of David Wright, Carlos Delgado, and Beltran have combined for over 75 homeruns so far with each around 100 RBIs a piece. The pitching rotation is dependable with Tom Glavine as the leader of the pack.

About a month ago I thought any team in the West could finish first in the NL West. A transition with streaks and overall team strength has unveiled the Dodgers as the top contenders. They've outlasted the Rockies and Giants. It's still possible though that the Padres make a run and tie Los Angeles. They're still in the hunt with 2 other teams for the wildcard. Since everything has come together well for the Dodgers, with Nomar returning as the hitter of old and acquiring veteran Greg Maddux they are spinning on all cylinders. It's going to be a strenuous task for the Padres or Giants to knock them off their high horse.

I don't care what anyone says or thinks I know it's going to be a tight race with 2-3 weeks left in the season, but I'm pulling for the Reds. They're considered the underdogs this season and haven't made a playoff appearance since God knows when. Plus a big Griffey fan and know if there is any star player who deserves this opportunity it's him. Sure the Reds haven't won 70 games yet, but they're predetermined to clinch a spot. Besides, if they have the hunger and contribute as a collective force their chances are as good as any team. So suck on that Cardinals fans! Wooooooooo! Go Reds!

Team USA's run ends in World Championship play

For a while everything was running smooth for Team USA as they destroyed every opponent in their path. Then they came to the championship in Japan and met their match. Greece handed USA a 101-95 loss this week. The pace of the game changed and momentum shifted after the first half as Team USA had a 33-21 lead with 3:30 left in the second quarter. The talent and quickness for USA didn't outweight Greece's sharp shooting and versatility.

For most of the second half Team USA didn't have any answers for Greece's constant offensive output. Despite shooting 32% on 3-pointers and 59% from the foul line Carmelo Anthony finished with 27 points. Lebron James put up 17 points while D Wade struck for 19. All and all it was a decent game played by USA, they just couldn't quite keep up with their opponent. Greece is now 8-0 in World play and moves on to play for the World Championship. They have a chance to win the title to accompany their European Championship they won in 2005.

Team USA has a chance to acquire the bronze medal again as they will play today against Argentina. The Americans will have to wait at 2 more years in their quest for a gold medals which they haven't acquired since 1994. I think the young guys like James, Carmelo, and Joe Johnson have learned from the defeat and will know how to play smarter basketball in the coming years in World Play.