Tagged: D-Backs

August 3, 2010

The Big Puma Goes To The Big Apple

*Sorry I forgot to post this a few days ago.

After 1,648 hits, 326 home runs,
1,090 runs batted in, 1,592 games, and parts of twelve seasons, Lance “The Big
Puma” Berkman is leaving Houston to play with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez,
Mariano Rivera and the rest of the New York Yankees in the Big Apple.

It’s a bittersweet day in Houston.
On one side, the team is starting over and getting younger. On the other side,
you are losing a franchise player who played his college career (with the Rice
Owls) and pro career in Houston. Berkman has given the city of Houston so many
memories, good ones and bad ones.

Personally, I have two distinct
memories about Lance Berkman. The first autographed baseball I ever got was
Lance Berkman’s on my ninth birthday. However, In spring training of 2008,
while I was trying to get autographs, he went off the field, in a golf cart,
into the clubhouse, (the Astros clubhouse at their spring training park,
Osceola County Stadium, is on the other side of the left field fence) totally
ignoring the fans.

That day, Miguel Tejada, Jose
Valverde, Hunter Pence, and Wesley Wright, among others came a signed for the
me and the rest of the fans. I understand that fans do get a little crazy
sometimes. Ex-Astro Roy Oswalt use to only sign to small groups of fans while
with the Astros but spring training is different. Which, I understand.

Anyway, it has been a gradual
decline in power since 2006 when “Fat Elvis” hit 45 home runs. Since then, he
has hit 34, 29, 25 and 13 (in 85 games this year). And with the exception of
2008 when he drove in 106 runs his RBI totals have gone done every year since
2006 when he had 136 of them.

Now, I expect his power numbers to
increase with the dimensions of Yankees stadium and not having to face Josh
Johnson, Ubaldo Jimenez, Roy Hallady, or Mat Latos (who has a 0.99 WHIP) along
with the rest of the National League pitchers. However, the one thing that
could make his disappointing season even more disappointing would be if he
can’t play ball in the spotlight of New York City.

Continue reading →

March 26, 2009

Will Curt Get The Call To The Hall?

Well I only got two commenters from yesterday’s blog. 😦 So I am leaving the question open for one more day.

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Also remember to vote for me in Max Madness! As of 8:35 eastern time I am winning 53% to 48%. A very close battle indeed!

Gone From The Game . . . For Now

On Monday the game of baseball had a pitcher leave. That pitcher being possibly the best postseason pitcher of all-time, Curt Schilling. At 9:37 eastern time Shilling announced his retirement on his blog, 38 Pitches. That one entry has over 1,200 comments (see that’s how many comments I will be getting after I am the closer for the Red Sox.) 🙂 Curt finished his carer with 216-146 record, an ERA of 3.46, and 3,116 strikeouts. He is one of only sixteen pitchers to have over 3,000 strikeouts. In the postseason he was just amazing. He went 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA and 120 strikeouts. Curt made four World Series and won three of them. Curt is a six time all star who played with the Baltimore Orioles, the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Boston Red Sox. In 2004 Curt had a TV add saying that he was coming to Boston to end an 86 year curse and you know what? Curt is an honest man. That year he beat the Yankees (along with his bloody sock) and beat the Cardinals in the World Series. Three years later he did it again. I mean I could write ten entries about his postseason success but I do not have that kind of time. So know two questions remain unanswered. We Curt get the call for the hall? Also will he ever come back to the dugout or go to the press boxes? Well I see Curt making the hall on believe it or not his first try. Every radio dude and most writers I have heard/read have all said they would vote for Schilling but they do not think he will get in. Well I have heard/read probably around 50 guys so that would give him about one tenth of the vote already. Now could we see Curt in the dugout or up in the press box soon? I could see him in the dugout as a manger or a pitching coach, maybe for the Rays or Cubs like he said before. Now there is no way he would be manager for the Rays or Cubs so I guess him being a pitching coach is more likely. Now he also has a good chance of being in the press boxes. As a stated before Curt already has a blog and I think he would be very insightful in the press boxes like Sean Casey is on MLB Network. Both have played with and/or against manny (opps how did that slip in there) of the current MLB players. Now I do not think Curt will work for NESN because we already have two great announcers including the one and only Jerry Remy! Shilling’s last game will be game two of the World Series. That is a thing any kid would dream of once doing.

*UPDATE* I watched some March Madness and now is 10:00 eastern time. I am winning 56% to it 44%.*

Photo Credits

1- 38pitches.weei.com

2 redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com

3- espn.go.com

4- search.espn.go.com

************************************************************************************************************All right today’s question is , “Name five MLB players who left for World War II.” This has manny possible answers so good luck!

February 21, 2009

And I Thought The Yankees Were Stupid and Greedy!

The Dodgers signed second baseman Orlando Hudson to a one year, $3.38 million dollar contract pending a physical. If Hudson reaches all of incentives he could get an extra $4.6 million. In High School he was a three sport standout in baseball, basketball, and football. Hudson attended the Spartanburgh Methodist college where he played baseball. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 43 round in 1997. He made his major league debut on July 24, 2002. He played with the Blue Jays till 2005 when Hudson won his first of three Golden Gloves. In the 2005 offseason Hudson was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Miguel Batista, third basemen Troy Glaus, and prospect Sergio Santos. 2005 was Hudson’s best year. He set a carer high in batting average with a .287 batting average. He also set carer highs in home runs with 15, RBI’s with 67, runs with 87, games with 157, at bats with 579, hits with 166, doubles with 34, triples with nine, total bases with 263, walks with 66, stolen bases, on base percentage with .354, and slugging percentage with .454. All of them are still carer highs except for walks, stolen bases, and on base percentage. He never got any MVP votes that year though as Ryan Howard won it. Hudson became the sixth infielder to win a Golden Glove in both leagues on November 3, 2006. In 2007 he made his first all-star game. He had a walk and a strikeout. That year the Diamondbacks made the playoffs but Hudson didn’t play a single game and as of today has never had an at-bat in the postseason. Later that year the “O-Dog” won yet another Golden Glove stretching his streak to three consecutive Golden Gloves at shortstop. In 2008 Hudson missed about fifty games due to a dislocated left wrist. Due to the injury he did not win a Golden Glove and lost out to Brandon Phillips of the Reds. This deal means a couple of things first he will have big holes to fill. Hudson is replacing future hall of famer Jeff Kent who retired this offseason. Kent has hit the most home runs in baseball by any second basemen. Second, Manny Ramirez is less likely to sign with the Dodgers and Manny Ramirez will get a lot less then he wants. The Dodgers just spent three million on a with a great glove. The Dodgers don’t need Manny and the Hudson deal sends that message to him. Third, the Dodgers are greedy. This signing was a total waste of money the Dodgers already have a great second baseman in Blake DeWitt aka the future Dustin Pedroia. This deal really hurts the development of him and this could be bad for DeWitt and the Dodgers. The also already have three good outfielders in Juan Pierre, Matt Kemp, and rising star Andre Ethier. Why need Manny? Sure he is a force in the lineup but having Pierre a guy who could start on most teams in stupid. Lastly the most obvious one Blake DeWitt is the new utility infielder. So having Mark Loretta was not enough for a utility guy? At least they have depth. Now before I end I want to say I am fine having Hudson start over a older guy but not a rising prospect. So now when I say stupid Dodgers I really mean it and I don’t care that the Dodgers are my third favorite team they are greedy, stupid, and idiots for wanting Manny.

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson at Chase Field in Phoenix on June 10, 2007. (UPI Photo/Art Foxall)

Photos

1- upi.com

2- sportshubla.com

3- latimes.com

Hey I just thought of something. Manny Ramirez is greedy, the Dodgers are greedy, and Scott Boras is greedy obviously greedy does not work with greedy. Maybe That is why Manny is taking so long.

February 15, 2009

Remember This Guy?

Okay I was about to start a Young Guns for the Brewers when I saw Trot Nixon’s name on the roster. At first I thought it was a different one then I clicked on him and it was the same guy!

Trot Nixon was drafted by the Red Sox with the seventh pick in the 1993 MLB draft. He paved the way for Red Sox to wear go-tees (your welcome Youk 🙂 during the eleven seasons he spent in Boston. On September 21, 1996 he made his major league debut with the Red Sox. He became the starting right-fielder in 1999. That year he hit .270 with fifteen home runs, 103 hits, 52 RBI’s, and three stolen bases. In 2001 he had his breakout year with Boston hitting .280 with 88 RBI’s, 27 home runs, 150 hits, and seven stolen bases. Two years later in 2003 he had his best season ever batting .306 with 87 RBI’s, 28 home runs, 135 hits, and four stolen bases. The next year he helped the Red Sox come back against the Yankees in the ALCS going six for 29 with one home run and three RBI’s in that series. In the World Series he helped Boston sweep the Cardinals going five for 14. He only played in 48 games because he had a herniated disc. His carer then became a downward spiral after that. In 2006 he had only eight home runs and 102 hits. Nixon was not offered salary arbitration and the Red Sox signed J.D. Drew to take the right field spot. In January 2007 he signed a one year three million dollar deal with the Cleveland Indians. He batted .251 with three home runs that season. In the 2007 ALCS Nixon faced of against his former team the Boston Red Sox. Through the first four games Cleveland had a big lead three games to one but we all know how that season ended. The Red Sox came back to win the series and then sweep the Rockies in the World Series. In the ALCS he went three for seven with one RBI. In the 2008 offseason he signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. On June, 13 he was traded to the New York Mets for money. In 2008 he batted .171 with one home run, one RBI, one stolen base, and six hits in 35 at bats. On December 18 he signed a minor league deal with the Brewers with an invitation to spring training. It is very unlikely that he will get a starters sport since Ryan Braun, Mike Cameron, and Corey Hart are all in the outfield but he could get the role of the forth outfielder beating out Tony Gwynn Jr. Nixon is now 34 years old. This story shows how stardom doesn’t not last. Just like Andruw Jones. One minute you could be a star the next a nobody. So Mr. Nixon and Mr. Jones I hope you prove me wrong by having a great season.

Trot Nixon (left) and Jhonny Peralta (right) celebrated the Indians' 13-6 win in Game 2 of the ALCS.

Photos

1- sportsillustrated.com

2- boston.com

3- azcentral.com

4- wikipedia.com

February 12, 2009

Dunn Deal

Adam Dunn

Adam Dunn signed a two year twenty million dollar contract yesterday with the Washington Nationals. The deal became official today meaning the Nationals now have a guy they can build their team around. Dunn will wear number 32. Sure Dunn strikes out a ton and stinks at fielding but he hits a ton of home runs and that is what the Nationals needed and wanted. Dunn will join third baseman Ryan Zimmerman in the middle of the order. Dunn is like Babe Ruth he either hits a home run or strikes out trying. Now they obviously are very different besides that but name ten other major league players who either hit a home run or strike out. Last season with the Reds and Diamondbacks Dunn hit .236 with forty home runs, 100 RBI’s, two stolen bases, 122 hits, and 164 strike outs. His carer stats include a .247 batting average with 278 home runs, 955 hits, 278 home runs, 672 RBI’s, and 59 stolen bases. Dunn can play first base and the outfield and at those two positions he has a .974 carer fielding percentage. 2009 will be Dunn’s ninth major league season. He spent eight and a half with the Reds and half a season with the Diamondbacks after the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez. Dunn will mostly play first moving last years starting first baseman, Nick Johnson to the bench. Dunn could also play a little left and right. Josh Willingham and Elijah Dukes are the teams starters in left field and right field respectively. Dunn is a one time all-star who made the game in 2002. He went zero for one in that game with a walk. Dunn is 29 years old and I would rate this move a ten out of ten. Sure he isn’t the best player but like I said before the Nationals needed a bat and they got one.

Blowing bubbles: Adam Dunn rounds third base after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning Wednesday at Chase Field.

Photos

1- sportsillustrated.com

2- eastvalleytribune.com

3-mlbbada.com

February 9, 2009

Young Guns- Giants

Before I start I must say a few things, I never said that Adam Dunn would make the Hall of Fame. I said if he wants to make the Hall of Fame he must cut down on his strikeouts. Thanks Mark for putting me on the front of MLBlogs! Now I don’t feel like blogging about A-Rod so enjoy Tiny Tim.

Tim Lincecum

Tim Lincecum is 24 years old. Lincecum attended Washington State. Lincecum was drafted in the 48th round by the Chicago Cubs. He was the 1,408th pick in the draft. He decided to go to college and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 42nd round, 1,261 overall. He has a carer record of twenty-five and ten with an ERA of 3.16, 415 strikeouts in just two major league seasons. He has never made an error at pitcher but has never won a Golden Glove. In 2006 he won the Golden Spikes Award. In 2007 he went seven and five with an ERA of 4.00 and 150 strikeouts in 24 games. 2008 was the first year he made the all-star game. He did not pitch in the game due to the flu. That season he won the National League Cy Young Award winning 18 games for a team that won just 72. He also lead the majors in strikeouts with 265 and had an ERA of 2.62. Lincecum has yet to pitch in the postseason but some people think the Giants could win the N.L. West. I think the D-Backs will with the Dodgers coming in at second by one or two games. All that could change if the Dodgers got Manny Ramirez though. Even though Tim has only been in the league for two seasons his nicknames consist of The Franchise, The Freak, and Tiny Tim. When Tim was a kid he told his dad he was a freak because he was so good. He got dubbed Tiny Tim for being only 5’11” and weighing only 170 pounds. The same day Lincecum won the Cy Young award he became cover athlete for MLB 2K9 replacing Jose Reyes. Lincecum is the first pitcher to be on the cover of the game. Derek Jeter was on it in 2005 and 2006. One thing is for sure his wind up is pretty weird, funny, cool, and interesting.

Photos

1-championshipblog.wordpress.com

2-wikipedia.com

3-baseballsnatcher.mlblogs.com

4-sjgiants.com

Honorable Mentions

2-Matt Cain

3-Brian Wilson

4-Fred Lewis

5-Jonathan Sanchez

January 31, 2009

Fantasy Baseball Help- Tip 1

I know Cob is starting a fantasy baseball league so I thought for all you first timers I thought I would give you some tips.

Draft Players on Good Teams

When drafting your team try to draft great players on average or great teams. The Mariners lost 101 games in 2008 year. In 2007 years ago they won 88 games. In 2007 Felix Hernandez won 14 games an in 2008 he won nine and lost 14. For pitchers run support is key. A baseball team with great sluggers and average pitchers will do fine. In 2007 the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won 66 games. In 2008 the Rays won 97 games. Every single one of their pitchers did better because of run support. When drafting sluggers you can afford to break this rule for a really good player. Playing on a better team for a slugger means more runs, RBI’s, and a higher on base percentage. You get more runs because people will drive you in more. You get more RBI’s, because more people will be standing at third base. Lastly you will get a higher on base percentage because if a pitcher walks someone they will then have to face a better hitter next. Lets use the Mariners and the Rays again. In 2007 Ichiro hit had 111 runs, 68 RBI’s, and a .396 on base percentage. In 2008 he had 103 runs, 42 RBI’s, and a .361 on base percentage. Akinori Iwamura, of the Rays had 82 runs, 34 RBI’s, and a .359 on base percentage in 2007. In 2008 he had 91 runs, 48 RBI’s, and a .349 on base percentage. Sure his on base percentage dropped by .010 but he had a much better year. When you drafted players on good teams their confidence is higher which means a better year most of the time. So my list of teams I would draft from are the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Twins, White Sox, Indians, Angels, A’s, Rangers, Braves, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Astros, Cubs, Reds, D-Backs, Giants, and Rockies. I don’t plan on drafting any one from the Rays or Yankees though. Also I left the Brewers and Cardinals off for two reasons their pitchers and the fact that their not that heathy.

January 28, 2009

Jon Garland, The Most Overrated Pitcher in Baseball

Today the Arizona Diamondbacks signed right hander, Jon Garland to a one year deal, worth about $7 million dollars. The deal also includes an option for 2010. Garland will replace Randy Johnson who signed with the Giants this offseason. Garland is a sinkerballer, who played last season with the Angels were he went 14-8, with a 4.90 ERA, and 90 strikeouts. The Angels were the A.L. West champions and the only team to win 100 games last season. Now some idiots (no offense) might say, why is Garland overrated then if he was on the Angels? You just answered your own question. Garland won only 14 games for one of the best teams in baseball last year. Imagine what he would have been like if he played for the Mariners, Pirates or even Astros. If he was with the Mariners then maybe seven wins. If he played for the Pirates then ten wins. If he played for the Astros, he would have helped them get the wild-card spot but he would have only won eleven games. Yet, Garland gets treated like he has won 20 games. At least the front offices know he is overrated by not giving him say a $20 million dollar contract. Garland is a good pitcher but not an all-star. He was one in 2005 though with the White Sox when they won the World Series. So I don’t want to have any comments saying the Garland is underrated or that I’m wrong. Garland will most likely be the second or third starter in the D-Backs rotation. Right now it looks like Brandon Webb will be the ace, followed by Dan Haren, then Garland, next is Doug Davis, and in the fifth spot Max Scherzer or Yusmerio Petit. It will most likely be Scherzer though. Garland is 29 years old and has played nine major league seasons with the White Sox and Angels. His first eight years were with the White Sox. His carer stats are 106-89, a 4.47 ERA, and 851 strike outs. He also has one save and a .971 fielding percentage at pitcher. Garland is overrated by the fans but this should be a good move for the Diamondbacks.

January 27, 2009

Pettitte Stays in Pinstripes, While Varitek is do This Week

Andy Pettitte, 36, signed a one year, $5.5 million dollar deal with the Yankees. The deal could be worth up to $12 million dollars if he reaches all of his incentives. Contracts with incentives are the best contracts, you can’t overpay or underpay a player who has incentives in the contract. Pettitte was 14-14 last season with a 4.54 ERA. He also had 158 strikeouts in 33 games, 204 innings pitched. Pettitte played nine seasons with the Yankees before joining the Houston Astros from 2004-2006 and then went back to the Yankees after the 2006 season. The Yankees rotation is now set to be C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chein-Ming Wang, Pettitte, and then Joba Chamberlain. I think Phil Hughes should be the fifth starter and not Joba. Joba went 3-1 this season as a starter. Joba needs to stay in the bullpen so in a few years when Mariano Rivera retires Joba can become the closer, but I am getting off track. In order for Pettitte to come back on to the roster the Yankees designated Chase Wright for assignment. Wright went 10-3 this season at Double-A and Triple-A

The Red Sox have set a Friday deadline for Jason Varitek. The deal would pay him a base salary of $5 million dollars for 2009 and a club option for 2010 worth $5 million dollars. if he doesn’t make his mind up by Friday Boston would likely trade for a younger catcher, maybe Jarrod Saltamacchia (that was a mouthful), of the Texas Rangers or Miguel Montero, of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Varitek will turn 37 in April. Last season he batted .220, with 13 home runs, and 43 RBI’s. He was backup to Joe Mauer of the Twins in the 2008 All-Star Game , his third all-star game, at Yankee Stadium and caught Jon Lester’s no-hitter. Varitek will probably start this season and will have Josh Bard or a young catcher as his backup this season and in 2010 will mentor a young catcher. It is also possible that Boston wants a young catcher to catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. That is unlikely though because Wakefield is close to retirement. I hope Varitek comes back tomorrow!

Jason Varitek gives Alex Rodriguez a face full of catcher's mitt, setting off a benches-clearing incident July 24.

I love this picture.

Also I just noticed that in past entries “Varitek” is spelt “Varitex.” Sorry.

January 25, 2009

Young Guns- D-Backs

Justin Upton

Justin Upton is only 21 years old! He is only the second youngest player in baseball behind Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He never went to college but went to Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Upton was the Diamondbacks first pick in the 2005 draft as a shortstop. Alex Gordon, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Jay Bruce, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza, Travis Buck, Clay Buchholz, and Micah Owings were all drafted in 2005. Talk about a great draft class! He latter switched to a center fielder because Stephen Drew, J.D. Drew’s brother was already there and then moved to right, because Chris Young was already in center field. Upton has a carer average of .242, 17 home runs, 42 RBI’s, three stolen bases, and 120 hits. He also has a carer .939 fielding percentage, in right field. The 2007 season was Upton’s first. He was called up after Carlos Quentin (who is now with the Chicago White Sox) got injured. That season he had a batting average of .221, with two home runs, 31 hits, eleven RBI’s, and two stolen bases in 43 games. In the 2007 playoffs he batted .357, with one RBI, zero home runs, five hits, and one stolen base. In his first full season, the 2008 season he batted .250, with 15 home runs, 42 RBI’s, and one stolen base. Upton hasn’t won any awards or honors yet as a major league player. He was though USA Today’s minor league player of the year in 2007 and as a senior in high school he was Gatorade’s high school player of the year. Upton’s body is much like Edinson Volquez. Upton is 6 foot two inches, 205 pounds. Volquez is six foot, and weighs 200 pounds. Upton will not play for team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. His brother, B.J. Upton is the center fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. Upton’s major league debut exactly three years after his brother made his. It is to early to predict Upton’s carer because he hasn’t had his break out year yet, but I would say maybe 3,000 hits if he stays heathy. I think the 2009 season will be his breakout year and if not 2009 then 2010. Upton is a very promising player he just needs to practice.

Click here to see a great video

Honorable Mentions

2. Stephen Drew

3. Chris Young

4. Mark Reynolds

5. Max Scherzer