MLB Draft 2012

A brief pause from what seems to be endless history lessons, to observe the 2012 MLB June draft began last night with young Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa drafted numero uno by the houston Astros.

Astros see Correa as a potential Arod clone at short, and plan to leave him at that position. He has the size and tools to play either, but defense also his strong suit.

 

Correa will evenbtually be on display in  the American League, as Houston is moving to the American League in 2013, unless there are hang ups.

Jays 2012 1st pick DJ Davis

 Jays drafted a speedy outfielder, who might project a spot of extra base pop, when he matures.  A strong centre fielder, with an above average arm, Anthopolous contiues to stock pile raw talent at key positions. Jays went with a reliever with their next pick, choosing to home grow the next Sergio Santos.




Highlight of the draft was a back flip by Courtney Hawkins on the draft floor, certainly impressed the TV folks, perhaps not so GM Kenny Williams.

This kid should rise quickly, as opposed to Buxton in drafted outfielders. He already has the major league smile going for him. Start printing those baseball cards.

The Little General

If you think Ozzie was the the most acrobatic, if you saw Tony Fernandez sling the ball to first
In Venezuela, they refer to Luis Aparicio as the ``little general`. He barks out orders in Spanish, moves the second baseman and points out where he should be standing.


Then he smacks his glove 3 times, very superstitious he is, but when the ball is thrown, and the ball is hit, they all look back at Luis, and no their heads in acknowledgement.  He was right, it was a breaking ball, so of course the second baseman needed to playing deeper and towards short allowing the General to play closer to third.


Bill Rigney , then Twins manager turns to Oliva and Versailles and they shrug their shoulders, `he is the general and his moves his troops`says Tony Oliva to Zoilo Versailles, we have seen him in the Caribbean World Series do this for years




Following his debut in 1956, Luis Aparicio helped to redefine the role and expectations of Major League shortstops with agile fielding, spray-hitting and speedy base running. He took Rookie of the Year honors in 1956, collected nine Gold Glove Awards, led the American League in stolen bases nine seasons and was named to the All-Star squad 10 times. When he retired in 1973, he held the career record for shortstops for games played, double plays and assists.

Pete Rose - Part One

 ``Id walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball ``.

Sound vaguely familiar, Pete Rose would have played for free at one stage of his career, eventually all that changed.

In this two stage blog, let`s go back and get some perspective.

Charlie Hustle

Pete Rose was born and raised in Cincinnati, the town where he would become famous on the ball diamond. His father, Harry Rose, who once played semi-pro football, pushed his son into athletics at an early age. One day, the story goes, Harry went to the store to buy a pair of shoes for his daughter and came back with a pair of boxing gloves for Pete. From then on, sports dominated Pete's life.

In this two part blog, I need to show the many sides of one the games most interesting and controversial players. They say everyone has a dark side, and Pete Rose personifies the dual roles of good and evil.

After hustling his way through several sports in grade school and high school, Rose settled on baseball. Though he was not considered a top prospect, his hometown Cincinnati Reds signed him to a professional contract. Rose began his pro career in 1960 with the Geneva Red Legs of the New York-Penn League and spent several years laboring in the minors, cementing his reputation for energetic play. He was about to turn 22 when he got the nickname "Charlie Hustle" during spring training of 1963. New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford bestowed it on him after he saw Rose running out a base on balls. His hustle helped him make the Reds that year, and Rose immediately became the regular second baseman. He was named Rookie of the Year.   Huh, and I thought Mantle gave him that nick name.

Right away, Rose was a solid contributor. In 1965, Rose batted .312 and led the league in hits with 209. It was the first of 15 seasons in which he would hit at least .300, the first of 10 seasons with 200 or more hits (a major league record) and the first of five years leading the league in hits. In 1968, he won the first of his three batting championships, hitting for a .335 batting average, and the following year he recorded a career-high .348 average. Gee Mike, another hitter better than Ichiro......


Rose became the sparkplug of a young team that was developing many stars. In 1967, after four years at second base, Rose was switched to the outfield to make room for future Hall of Famer Joe Morgan. Never a spectacular fielder, Rose nonetheless was recognized with two Gold Gloves for fielding excellence as an outfielder, in 1969 and 1970. Rose spent eight seasons playing left field or right field before moving to third base in 1975.
Rose was an integral part of that decades most dominant National League franchise. The Reds, Pirate and Mets ruled that era.

In the first seven years of the 1970s, Cincinnati was the most successful team in the National League. Five times, the Reds won their division and four times-in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1976-they made it to the World Series. Known as the "Big Red Machine," the Reds were led by such future Hall of Famers as Joe Morgan, catcher Johnny Bench, and first baseman Tony Perez. Rose was the backbone of the team and its spirited leader. He became known for his head first slides and for running out every single ball he hit. Though he had only average speed, he stole 198 bases in his career.

4192nd all time hit off Eric Show

 In 1972, Rose helped the Reds win Game Five of the World Series over the Oakland As, opening the game with a home run and driving in the winning run in the ninth inning with a single. Nevertheless, the Reds lost the series, as they had in 1970. In 1975, Rose was named the World Series Most Valuable Player for batting .370 and leading the Reds to a memorable victory over Boston in the seven-game series, considered by many to be the greatest of the modern era. In 1976, the Reds swept the Yankees in four games, but Rose batted only .188.

 

Rose patented head first lunge into third base, arms stretched out trying to beat the tag.

 

1976 World Series 4 game sweep of the Yankees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1970 All Star game is forever marked by a memorable play, Rose`s home plate collision with Cleveland.  

 

This is when they played the All Star Game was a big deal, and they played it hard and for keeps

 

The kid from Commerce

The Kid

I saw the Mick play in 1964 in the World Series against the St.Louis Cardinals. My mother said for over a decade he was the best there ever was. She never saw The Babe, or Ted Williams, and for all I knew, at age 8, she was right.

Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, but known as that the kid form Commerce, he built a cult following that rivaled Ruth, Mays, DiMaggio, or Gehrig. He hit from both sides, and he could run faster. Duke Snider said, if his knees weren`t so bad, he could steal 50 bases each year. A little background on the greatest switch hitter to grace the game. Put on the Terry Cashman song, talkin baseball.

Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, to Elvin ("Mutt") and Lovell Richardson Mantle. A former semi-pro (professional but independent of Major League Baseball) baseball player, Mutt Mantle named his first child after Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Cochrane. Mickey was barely out of diapers before he was practicing baseball with his father. Mutt taught his son to be a switch-hitter: Mickey would use his natural right-handed swing against his left-handed father and then turn around and bat left-handed against his right-handed grandfather. Teaching him to switch hit, at his age, imagine that.

Mantle played baseball, basketball, and football at his high school in Commerce, Oklahoma. During one game, however, he was kicked in the leg and developed osteomyelitis, a bone disease that would later affect his baseball career. Mantle attracted the attention of New York Yankee scout Tom Greenwade, who signed him to a contract of $140 a week with a $1,500 signing bonus. (US healthcare system is for the birds !)


Mantle reported to the Yankees' minor league team in Independence, Kansas, in 1949 as a switch-hitting shortstop. After two years in the minor leagues, the Yankees invited him to their major league spring training camp. He earned a place on the roster, and the New York media soon began comparing him to Babe Ruth and other past Yankee greats. Only 19 years old and two years out of high school, Mantle did not immediately live up to the public's high expectations. He started slowly in his new position--right field--and was sent back briefly to the minors. Mantle's first year in the majors was marred by inconsistent play and jeering from fans both in New York and around the league. His difficulties continued when, early in 1952, Mutt Mantle died of Hodgkin's disease at the age of 39. Mantle had been very close to his father, and he took the death hard.

Mantle was moved to center field when Joe DiMaggio retired from the Yankees following the 1951 season. He began to adjust to big-league play, and in 1952 batted .311 with 23 home runs and 87 runs batted in (RBIs). That season Mantle began to establish himself as one of baseball's premier power hitters. During one game against the Washington Senators, Mantle hit a ball completely out of Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Measured at 565 feet, the home run is believed to be the longest ever hit. The New York Yankees won the American League pennant and World Series during each of Mantle's first three seasons, from 1951 to 1953. During the 1952 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Mantle batted .345 with two home runs. In the 1953 Series, again against the Dodgers, he batted only .208, but hit two more home runs.

In baseball`s greatest era`s ( the 1950`s ) , he was the greatest star.

Later in life he admitted that he should have taken better care of his body, but night clubbing with Billy Martin, and others likely cost him 5 more productive years. So would modern medicine, because those nagging knee injuries that caused him so much pain, could have better addressed with better procedures.

Countless American boys have since been named after him, or named sons after him, and his legend will live on.

History Lesson # 1 - The Christian Gentleman

I think that it is time for me to offer brief history lessons on players, and managers, and the game in general, in hopes that for the folks that read this blog will have a better understanding of the building blocks, and where the game has been.

The Christian Gentleman

So I thought for sometime about a point to start out on, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Pete Rose, who ?

I decided to let people in on a little known secret, about this guy who pitched in the dead ball era. His name was Christy Matheson, and he was better know in his day as the Christian Gentleman, and he pitched for the New York Giants. John McGraw's favourite player, he said, of all time.


Matheson was one pitcher, if was said, kept a book on many hitters, which was unheard of.  Cy Young of the Bostons, said  I just throw it hard, and I don't a damn who's at bat.  Matheson recorded what pitches that Honus Wagner handled easily, and he noted what arm angle, speed and follow through worked effectively. Wagner it was said did the same of pitchers, and so a constant battle raged, both players adjusting.

Christy reported through 8 different pitches, fade aways, drop balls, and rise balls, now commonly referred as fork balls, sliders and cut fastballs.  He had Greg Maddux's plate coverage, Saberhagen's change of speeds, and Koufax's ability to find " that extra spark " or giddy up.

Many of Matty's records stood in the National League for years. Walter Johnson held most American League, and what neither of them held, weren't worth holding, according to Ring Lardner.

I won't trivialize him with recanting his stats, I leave that to the geeks, and sabrmetricians of the world. Just let's say that for 20 years he was in National League without a peer. But for many a child growing in the 1900's he was their idol. 

Parents who hated their boys playing this game were pleased to let their sons comb their hair, eat the some food and pattern their baseball delivery after Matheson. His wife said he was a good man, but he was no goody goody.

He won 373 games, and finished up with a career ERA of 2.13. Admittedly the era ( 1910's ) was not a hitters era, but many parks had no fences, just roped off areas where fans would stand behind.

His final game was in 1916, and Christy entered World War I , and suffered from mustard gas in France, and he eventually died at 45 in 1925.  He was pretty bad shape in 25', and he told his wife that nothing can be done, so if you want to go out and have a cry, do not make it a long one.

Matheson was also credited as one of the whistle blowers of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. He was along side the reporters, and kept a note book of suspicious plays. He then wrote the commissioners office and sent in his notes, which were used in the trial.

He appeared in 4 World Series only winning once but limiting the opposition to a 0.97 earned run average.

He is to be remembered, and I gladly kick off this summer of baseball history.

Finding Faith

If we are to assume that the Jays are in the race, despite a wonky bullpen, spotty offense, leading the AL in errors, and just plain blowing chances against inferior opponents, then the fact that more people are watching the Jays, in the seats or on TV should be considered a sign.

Funny that many of the scribes and media are not on the GM to make the team better with bolder moves. As I follow the twitter world, the blogs, the web sites and the newspapers, I am amazed that no one save myself, Bob McCown, maybe a couple of guys in the office are throwing up their hands in frustration.

Why in the name of the baby Jesus ( quoting the Bobcat ) can we not sacrifce some A and AA talent and improve the team. Maybe this Drew Hutchinson experiment was cute in the beginning, but it is downright awful now. Drabez, and Morrow are going pretty good, but Romero & Alvarez are very shaky, and the best thing I can say about the bullpen, is that for 2 weeks, Casey Jannsen has performed admirably.

Money and another season are being wasted, and let me remind the faithful that the Yankees and Red Sox will not suck forever, at some point one or both will get healthy, and go on a run.  Tampa already looks solid, even if Matt Moore has not become the next super arm.  Where is Cuba Gooding ?  "Show me the money"  .....
Is this the blueprint ?  Another 80-83 win season while kids season like 10 year scotch. What is the plan for the June draft ?  Another crop of 18-20 fuzzy faced phenoms, tyr and sign another boatload.  Add more prospects to what is fast becoming a crowded house of potential.  If we reach July 31st, and we are NOT in 4rth place I will be shocked.  Adding a 40 year DH with no arm or leg skills to this roster is not going to change our fortunes, like Damon and Manny won't , or even Roy Oswalt.  Roy has been to more Texas Ranger games than many season ticket owners.  And yet, no contract, hmmm, is it possible Oswalt is demanding a multi year deal ?  Anyhow, back to adding on the potential that Vladdy brings, over playing Travis Snider, Adam Lind or Yan Gomes, is fool hardy.

If the team has given up on the first 2, well then who am I to argue. But if you need offense, is there no team so out of contention with a player with an expiring contract that can actually hit that we cannot attract with the offering of a couple of kids.

I like the Jays, don't get me wrong, but if we are going to wait until the 18 and 19 year olds start pushing Romero and Bautista out of the line up, that is too long. They have not played a meaningful game in September in more years than I can remember.

Good solid bats don't come cheap, neither does top 3 arms or closers, but we are spending pennies, when the paper money is required.



When is next year "the year" ?  What happens when we decide that we want to spend, and the Yanks and Red Soz, and Angels, etc decide the same thing ?

So far, the Rays have been twice to the post season after 8-9 last place in MLB, but no hardware to show for it.  I seem to remember a GM who said "when it is time, we will spend".  

What if the time has already past ?  Was our window this year, or last fall ?

C'mon guys, I want to keep the faith, but I am having a hard time finding the faith.

If you want to compete in the AL East you have 2 routes, the Rays suck for a decade route and the Sox/Yanks route. We have found a third route, the slow building infrastructure approach.

My faith is being tested.  Is yours ?

Are we ever getting any traction ?

Up 2, down 2, up 3, down 3.  Such is the slow ploding season to date.

A 19-16 record on May 14th and the next 4 games are against the Rays, and the Yanks. What would hope for, hell right now, I'd settle on splitting the 4 games. Perhaps that is what the Jays will do, but that will leave 3 games over .500 at roughly 25 % of the season played.

On average, we are getting decent pitching, marginal bullpen efforts, pretty fair defense, but terribly inconsistent offense. Bautista shows signs of breaking out. Some days so does Escobar, and Lawrie and Encarnacion have supplied the balance of the offense. This team has not hit, and therefore this team has had no extended win streaks. Win a series, lose a series.  In the most current road trip just concluded, they went 5-5, but they won the 1st 2 games against the struggling Angels, and split with the Twins, who still have the worst record in the majors. 

If I was Joihn Farrell I would send for my copy of Phsycic Baseball, or get myself to a palm reader to see if there was something to change the fortunes of the home squad.

Nothing he tries seems to work, no buttons are the right ones.  Adam Lind slides down to 8th, has one good game , and returns to his eventual slide out of town.  Has anyone been paying attention to David Cooper ?  Can we dare put a glove on Encarnacion other than a batting glove ?


This team had the city and fans in a tizzy after their spring triumphs in Florida, but boy not making hay over teams you expect to beat will put them in a very tough position after June.  Plus, it may well impact their position as buyer or seller.  They definitely before the 2-2 split in Minny were kicking tires in Philly over Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino, are they still doing so.  Hamels is just a rental, he's informed the Phils he expects to sign a deal for 7 years. Why not ?, he's only 28, has playoff success.  But he is a rental, and if the Jays don't act, the Dodgers or the other pseudo contenders will.

The Jays have a deep system, but perhaps they lack the will to make a bold in season move to add talent. Their big moves have come in the winter, moving Halladay and Marcum to re stock the shelf.  But the time will come when you either spend freely on free agents, or you swing a deal because you have a logjam of talented kids and they can't all play. 

Perhaps they suprise me and sweep the next 4 games against traditional foes, and sit 23-16, closer to the top than the middle.  Right now they remind me of a team with defective spark plugs, and with that, they have no traction.