Thursday, December 31, 2009

The decade that was

While most bloggers will post their memorable moments of this past decade, I am going to focus my thoughts in another area.


What has happened in the game in the last 10 years ?


We entered this new millennium with a fair amount of optimism, buoyed by World Series being contested and won by wild card teams, such as Anaheim and Arizona, and we watched the Red Sox end their curse of the Bambino. So there was a lot buzz, and records were falling, and Barry was slugging 70 odd bomb in San Fran, and the ESPN highlight of the night was a barrage of home runs.


Then the BALCO scandal broke, the 2 SF reporters was criticised for yellow journalism, until we continued to peel this onion to find layers we could not ignore.

Now players were admitting no wrong doing, and pointing fingers at writers and pleading innocence, they were not cheaters.


Then the Grand Jury of the United States decided to poke their noses in, and players were called and testified, and most made fools of themselves, like Rafael Palmeiro, and Mark McGwire, and others. Then as nobody had believed Jose Canseco before, then suddenly started buying his book filled with scandalous reports of the Oakland, and Texas, and Blue Jay antics.

Canseco admitted openly to taking performance enhancing drugs, and MLB found it too hard to drag his stories under the rug, so they embraced the Feds inquisition, like it was their idea.


Then after a lot of stare downs between the inquisitors and the players, the Mitchell investigation was spawned, and when that bomb landed, 117 were said to have tested positive in random testing.


Slowly, like a leaky tap, did names begin to be made known, and some of the games biggest stars began realising that the jig was up. Some like Roger Clemens, who was outed by a former trainer, denied all wrong doing, and likely paid a higher price, and maybe one day, there will be a perjury trial and the sordid details will spill out. Jason Giambi apologised, but we were left wondering what for ? Some players cleansed themselves, and are not now the same players, like Ortiz in Boston, Tejada in Houston.

Manny Ramirez got a 50 game suspension just this decade was ending, so the decade ended with multiple black eyes.

McGwire was not voted into the Hall of Fame on his first attempt, prompting many to speculate that there could that baseball writers were throwing brush back pitches at Big Red, sending him a message. Not so fast Mark.....sweat it out a few years...juvenile stuff really. He either gets in because baseball had no formal drug policy, or he doesn't because he was not good enough.


The issues are now clouded.
The next decade is upon us, but what will it bring, a salary cap, no I mean a hard salary cap !, more players from different nations, as the game continues to globalise.
Instant replay ? My god, the game is already too long.
Regardless I will continue to watch this new decade for ups and downs and trends, and boy I hope my Baseball Forecaster is in tonights mail, it's a long time before pitchers and catcher report.



Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Koufax Rule


What is the Koufax rule, well there isn't one, but there should be.
That rule would be that you must always be careful with young arms, they must mature, and you have protect them from themselves, greedy agents, and managers who care about saving their own jobs.
I have seen too many young arms ruined by rushing them, and I still hope there will be an organisation with some brains enough to follow a better blue print. Closest in my mind is the Rays in the American League. Part of their plan is geared towards maintaining more control over the players before they reach arbitration but it at least offers a way of controlling innings accumulated.
The Pirates had a system like this, but deemed it too costly to keep track of, Oh C'mon, are they for real. Give me a decent salary and a laptop, and let me track innings, and off day work outs and I will take that job.
Sandy Koufax, once he was finally an established pitcher had tendinitis in his left shoulder, and some say he had it at an early age, some would disagree that he through too many innings at a young age, and was not brought along properly. Whatever the reason, the game lost one of it's brightest stars when he retired, simply because he could not endure the pain anymore.
Sandy Koufax may not have been a victim of poor management, but look at your favourite team, and I bet many out there can recall a good young pitcher that had great potential and through more innings and was brought along too quickly. The road is littered with them.
Pitchers take longer to mature, it is just a fact of the game, and if that pitcher can avoid overuse early in their career, they stand a better chance of gaining enough experience without jeopardising their career.
Now I expect there are many of you out there saying, " Hey Stupid, you are just stating the obvious ", do not over pitch young arms, and partially you'd be right. But the point I am making is, if we all know that, why does it continue to happen.
So watch for young Strasburg in Washington, Linceum is San Fran and Price in Tampa Bay.
Strasburg will be the hope of the franchise, and will be rushed, Linceum has already thrown a lot of innings. Price has taken a slower path.
3 years from now, I do hope the 1st 2 pitchers are pitching effectively, but statistics show that 1 in 3 young arms are at risk from too many innings at too young an age, before sufficient arm strength has been achieved.
A players physical stature plays a part in this, but not always.
Until the kids are coached and trained to build up better arm strength at 18-22, then there will more victims. The lucky ones get another chance , and are turned into relievers after early struggles, or get injured and have 6- 12 months away from throwing, and teams will then take their time rebuilding those players.
The lucky ones can rebound, the unlucky ones, well perhaps they became College or University coaches, or just dropped out of the game.
Patience is hard lesson.
Losing patience has consequences.
End of Lesson.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy Holidays to all



My best to all my friends and followers, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

My Christmas Wish















If you were expecting a critique on the recent Toronto-Seattle swap, never fear , it's in the works, likely once we confirm the minor leaguer.

In the meantime here are a few Holiday Treasures

My top 10 Christmas movies/specials

#10 - A Charlie Brown Christmas - who does not love the spirit Charlie displays in the face of
commercialism. Loo Loo Loo Loo Loo Loo Loo Loo Loo
#9 - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - this one has taken a few years to grow on me, it
was not my generation, but has now become a cannot miss, for Chevy Chase steadfast
belief and stoic devotion to all his holiday rituals. Play Ball !!
# 8 - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer , oh c'mon, I was 9 years old when this came out, my
gawd, this was fabulous animation, and familiar Canadian voices of Paul Soles, Carl Banas
and Larry Mann ( aka Yukon Cornelius ) Still watch it today.
# 7 - The Bishop's Wife - Cary Grant's performance as an angel sent to earth to grant the wish
David Niven is one of his best, ever. Angels of course are not to fall in love for the other
guys wife, and so it becomes complex for Grant, while he tries to help Niven.
# 6 - Scrooged - I am a sucker for Bill Murray movies, and he sells this new age version of
Dickens favorite Humbug. Bobcat Goldthwait as his Cratchit is wonderful, as is Carol
Kane as the Ghost of Christmas present is priceless. Throw in a sappy Annie Lennox
Christmas song at the end, and cue the snow.
# 5 - A Christmas Story - "You'll shoot your eye out ", so much of this was filmed in Toronto,
that it seemed so genuine, despite being set in the radio age of the 1940's. Darren
McGavin steals every scene he is in, as the embattled patriarch of the Parker family.
My 3 fave scenes are - Chinese Turkey ( a duck, still with the head attached )
Next is Ralphie finally getting his revenge on the school bully.
Finally it is McGavin receiving a large wooden crate ( his major award ) , a lamp
that is in the shape of a woman's leg.
# 4 - Miracle on 34th Street ( the original ) - Edmund Gwynn as Kris Kringle, heck , he had
me convinced he was Santa, and please never colourise this version.

# 3 - A Christmas Carol ( 1951 ) with veteran British actor Alister Sim, is still the
quintessential Ebeneezer Scrooge. Odd story about Sim, he was not the studios 1st
choice, it was veteran actor and the radio voice of Scrooge for years, Lionell Barrymore.
Yup, Drew's great , great grandad. He was ill and could not play the role on film, and he
suggested Sim for the part. Humbug !

# 2 - White Christmas - not the first time Irving Berlin's song was sung, but the best
rendition, in my opinion ( Sorry Wallace ) . Danny K aye and Bing Crosby playing ex
WW 2 marines staging a holiday performance for their long retired ex commander.
Has all that good Christmas schmaltz I like, pass the eggnog.....

# 1 - It's a Wonderful Life. and just typing this out, I get that good George Bailey feeling.
Not even the director Frank Capra thought this post war film about a family business
in a small town in BedfordFalls, Minnesota would have the mass appeal and staying
power. Grab your kleenix at the end, and raise a glass to the riches it brings you.
So c'mon Michelle, give it a watch.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Barry Bonds - Fact or Fiction ?



It has gone largely unnoticed by the media, and by fans, but the games home run king has quietly been swept under the rug.

It would appear that at 44, he is not getting any offers, and has been viewed by all GM's as not worth the aggravation. Not even in San Francisco where he smashed Hank Aaron's home run mark, after surpassing the Babe.

I dare say that when Walter Payton retired after surpassing Jim Brown, or Dan Marino retiring after reaching his heights, there was fanfare, there were celebrations, there was acknowledgement. There was something.

With Bonds there was no acknowledgements, no fanfare, no doves flying, no rockets red glare, no bombs bursting in air. It's like he did not exist, wiped off the landscape like a sandstorm. I ask the question why ?, but admit it is a rhetorical question.

With Barry at the end, as it was always, it was a love- hate relationship, but ended in bitterness, and denial. But he did finish with gaudy numbers, and a hall of fame career, but are we witness to a shift in baseball morals. McGwire was shunned, Palmeiro shunned, I expect Sammy Sosa will be shunned when his 1t turn at the hall comes up.

But there was discussion on Big Red, there was angst, there was some goodbyes, and farewells, but Barry, not a whimper. Just unreturned phone calls, short e-mail replies, and largely the cold shoulder. Cold enough to rival the worst snowstorms I would say.

Is it fair ?

Maybe, is it just ?

Maybe, is it shocking ?

Absolutely, it is.

What did you expect ? I guessI expected a farewell tour of the National League, culminating in some more grandious conclusion in San Francisco, but it never materialised.

As we edge towards the end of this decade, I wonder who could have predicted this most final snub of Bonds ?

The biggest question will come once he signs his official retirement papers, then the writers will be on the clock, until they have to decide if the can suddenly acknowledge him, and get what he feels is his due, or will he not be a 1st ballot slam dunk vote.

I can hardly wait for that, as it will put the final stamp on a very glorious but rocky career.

Whether you believe he cheated or not, it does not matter now.

No athelete should leave this way.

There should have a Big Bang, his career demanded something.

I personally never liked him, but there are lots of players I have never liked, but I acknowledged their role, and their place in the history books. I just think that MLB would like to use some vanishing cream, and liquid paper, and eliminate him from sight, plus his records, which will be tainted by the stain of alledged indiscretions.

Love him or hate him, I remember Ty Cobb for what he did, as I remember Pete Rose , for what he did, because they still belong in the fraternity of baseball legends.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

All I want for Christmas is my rotation rebuilt

















Twas 2 weeks before Christmas, and all thru the Rogers Centre,

Not a creature dared say " Happy Halladays", not even marketing.....


So it's done finally, all that's left is to see Doc sit behind a table next to Rueben Amaro

and don that Phillies cap. Shudder............


So the Phils got what they wanted :

a) A top drawer starter who has beaten the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and Rays for

4 controllable years in his prime.

b) Money from Toronto, to offset the Cliff Lee contract


c) 2 prospects from Seattle in Aumont and Gillies, and they are both Canadian !!


I mean what else did the Phillies get ? If you are the New York Mets this morning, what's

your mind set. Now the Phils have an ace locked up who stacks up nicely against Johan Santana,

and they are down 1 prospect.


In Seattle, they are looking at a 2010 of greater potential, now with former Cy Younger Cliff Lee

there for the upcoming season. Oh and the Angels have lost Ace John Lackey, and run creator Chone Figgins, and have exchanged Matsui for Guerrero, so 2010 is an open window for the Mariners.


So, 2 very happy organisations with a clear agenda, and ability to compete next season.


Now we come to you Toronto Blue Jays, and boy, are we blue today.


We received 3 prospects from Philadelphia, in Drabek, D'Arnaud, and Taylor. Then before you could say "the Grinch Stole Christmas", we had flipped Taylor for 3B/1B , soon to be a DH Brett Wallace from Oakland.


So all prospects, all will make peanuts for the next 5 years, so that works for the suddenly miserly Jays who will reduce their payroll down to the mid $ 60 million range, unless they peddle Lyle Overbay.


If you look in our Christmas stocking, looking for hope, I am sorry, but all you can see is 3 years of struggle, unless the unthinkable happens, being Shaun Marcum returns to his 2007 form, Brett Cecil makes huge strides, and Rickey Romero becomes a true ace of the staff, while extras like that Zepper-Chinski kid, and Canuck Scott Richmond pitch .500 at the back end, then perhaps we will finish 3rd !


Oh c'mon, did you really think I would say with all that falling into place, we would compete, I have greater faith Old Saint Nick dropping a Lexus on my driveway than to believe that with those results we'd compete with Boston, Tampa and the World Champs.


As I sit with my Christmas list for Santa, I have but one item written down, and it's pretty easy to figure out.



Dear Santa,


Please ask the Rogers people to seel the team to my good Canadian friend up in Waterloo, that RIM guy, I know Gary Bettman would be happier if Jimmy could play in MLB as opposed to the NHL, and Jimmy ( well maybe he was not a good boy this year ) will win the hearts of the Jays fans back.



Please have Jimmy buy this team, and infuse real dollars, and ask Paul Beeston to kindly re- retire into the woodwork..


Yours faithfully,


James McCullough,

Fan , since 1977


Friday, December 11, 2009

Friday's Truths And Rumours





It's god awful cold out, so please take in as many carbs as you can, like my pal Bill here is doing.


Now that the boys have vacated downtown Indianapolis, let's review what is truth and what is rumour.


Truth - Lowell is going to Texas, and says if he goes, he will buy a ranch outside the city of Arlington. Good luck finding land Mike.


Rumour - Phillies have emerged as the fronto runners on a Roy Hallday deal, their spring training facility is so close, Halladay won't even need to turn his GPS to locate it.



Truth - The Red Sox dealing Lowell is part of a 3rd changeover, that will be either a move by Kevin Youkilis to take over for a year or so, with Casey Kotchman staying at 1st, or an Adrian Beltre signing. Sox want that potential right handed bat of Beltre in behind Big Papi.


Rumour - Mike DeCiantis has sold his Fantasy Team to Brad Drew, who will get excellant input from know it all Luke Sampson.....Sampson unavailable for comment..


Last Truth - 2 weeks to Christmas, but I predict jays will have their deal done before I cut my tree down next weekend.


Final Rumour - The team that has made the most changes this off season, the Texas Rangers is getting ready to add 2 more pieces before the season starts, will sign Vladdy Guerrero and trade Brandon McCarthy to make room for Joel Pineiro.



Hey Luke, this photo is for you, a photo of maybe the ugliest looking baseball player I have ever seen.





Saturday, December 5, 2009

Winter Wonderland in Indy






It's off to Indianapolis, Indiana for the agents, General Managers, and news media as the 2009 Baseball Winter Meetings will begin this Monday.






Just after Black Friday in the United States, and that being the largest single shopping day due it's that day just after Thanksgiving when retailers hope to kick start their Christmas shopping frenzy.




A few players have already made out change of address cards, most recently Chone Figgins, Marco Scutaro, and Placido Polanco.




The Atlanta Braves have offered salary arbitartion to Soriano and Mike Gonzalez, but went out and replaced them with 38 year old Billy Wagner ( 1 yr deal ) and Takeshi Saito. Please wrap these 2 relievers and send them parcel post to Atlanta , Georgia, please and thanks. Just in time for Christmas.















Coming Attractions to Indianapolis


Santa Claus needs a new Beltre

No Ordinary Lackey

Dr. Halladay, Yankee surgeon

City by the Jason Bay


Scott Boras is renting DVD's for his Winter meetings stay, he has rented " A Fistful of Dollars", " Brewster's Millions", and " TheColour of Money".......