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Bryce Harper Joins Washington Nationals: Now What?

August 17th, 2010

So Bryce Harper signed a major league deal with the Washington Nationals worth $9.9 million last night before the midnight deadline.

Awesome.

But what does it mean?

To start with, it means he had to be placed on the 40-man roster, and that happened today with Luis Atilano being transferred to the 60-day disabled list.  He wasn't going to return this season after surgery on his elbow to remove bone chips.

The team will have Harper in next week's homestand to meet the media and the major league staff; he'll probably work out as well. Don't expect him to be taking any batting practice while the gates are open, though.

After that, it's off to Viera, FL, home of the Nats minor league complex to work out, and perhaps get in a few Gulf Coast League games before the season ends on August 28th. If the team feels like he's ready, they could then send him out to a minor league assignment for a week or so.

Once the season ends, Harper will go to the Nats Florida Instruction League, where they send their best prospects for intensive workout and training, and perhaps—General manager Mike Rizzo was non-committal about this last night—he could even be assigned to the Arizona Fall League, which is the annual showcase for the top young talent in the major leagues.

Then, since he has the major league contract, he'll be invited to big league spring training to get a taste of that before spending next season in the minor leagues, instead of his senior year of high school.

But that's logistics.

What do yesterday's signings—all four of them—mean to the big picture?

Read the rest at Nats News Network.

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Posted in MLB, Opinion, Washington Nationals

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Orioles State Of The Union: How Will Buck Showalter Use The Rest Of 2010

August 2nd, 2010

For those fans still holding on in Baltimore, tonight will be the beginning of yet another “new era” for the organization, as the team plays its first game under manager Buck Showalter. 

While the looming hire of Showalter was perhaps the worst kept secret in all of sports over the last month, the fact that the deal is finally done now means that the (re)rebuilding process can begin now rather than come spring training.

This difference is rarely felt in other sports, but baseball is one sport where it isn’t just helpful, it is vital. 

The reason that baseball is unique in this way is that baseball teams get to expand their rosters every Sept. 1 to basically call up anyone they like to the 40-man rosters. 

The ability to call these players up and see how they do against top-level competition can give managers an insight into their potential before next year’s Spring Training. 

For Showalter, this opportunity to see what he has in his farm system could possibly shave off a year in his rebuilding plan.

Although there is certainly no doubt that Showalter will want to use the rest of the season to assess talent, there is one thing that could prevent a blown up roster—Andy MacPhail willingness to have the 2010 Orioles go down as one of the worst teams in baseball history.

At 32-73, the Orioles are on pace to lose 111 games. To put that in perspective, only four teams since 1940 have tallied that many. 

Accumulating that many losses in a season would be an even bigger shot to the reputation of MacPhail and his so-called “plan.” The question now becomes, “Will the Orioles risk entering that realm in order to try and better their future?” 

Either way, guys like Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, and Matt Weiters will all stay staples of the rest of the Orioles’ season. The people whose playing time could be sacrificed will be the veterans like Kevin Millwood, Ty Wigginton, and even Luke Scott. 

If the Orioles are smart, they will give this season to the dogs in order to look at younger guys. If it works, then the season will be forgotten (the Detroit Tigers 119-loss 2003 season was quickly forgotten when they made it to the World Series three years later).

In this scenario, don’t be surprised to see guys like Brandon Snyder, Chorye Spoone, Chris Tillman and even recent acquisition Rick VandenHurk getting some time in Baltimore for strictly scouting purposes. Even Zach Britton (who is not currently on the 40-man roster) could get brought up from Triple-A, he is certainly deserving of it.

Those names are all in addition to Josh Bell and Troy Patton, who were both called up as a result of the Miguel Tejada and Will Ohman trades.

However, in an age where records rule everything, the Orioles could very well decide to play the older vets and try to scrape one or two more wins out of the season. If they do, they could manage to sacrifice the 2011 season before it even starts. 

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Posted in Andy MacPhail, Baltimore Orioles, Best Slideshows - Team, MLB, Opinion

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Mets-Cardinals: R.A. Dickey Leads New York to A 4-0 Victory

July 29th, 2010

With a 4-0 win over the Cardinals this afternoon, R.A. Dickey, of all people, is cementing his place as the ace of the Mets' pitching staff.  Dickey went 8.1 innings today, allowing no runs and only four hits while lowering his ERA to 2.32. 

In 14 starts since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo, Dickey has allowed four or more runs just twice, while averaging 6.2 innings per start.

I would still pick Johan Santana to start a must-win game, but Dickey has been the most consistent starter since May and has put up excellent numbers while pitching deep into games. 

There can't be enough said on how important the emergence of Dickey has been to lightening the load that manager Jerry Manuel puts on his bullpen.  All of this from a man who has two primary pitches and is missing his ulnar collateral ligament.

The Mets brought Dickey in before spring training for insurance and to add depth to their rotation.  After a rough spring training, it looked as if Dickey would have no chance of pitching for the Mets unless injuries occurred. 

Well, injuries to Maine and Perez opened the door for Dickey to get an opportunity.  Pitching coach Dan Warthen had a talk with Dickey when he arrived and suggested that he throw his knuckleball harder to create sharper movement when the ball entered the zone. 

He took that advice from Warthen and hasn't looked back since.

Dickey has created a problem for the Mets.  If he continues his success for the rest of the season, do the Mets give  the soon-to-be 36-year-old journeyman, with no real prior success, a contract?  More than that, can the Mets depend on him to be a solid piece of their rotation in the future? 

I think he can continue to be fairly successful; a solid starter in the back end of the rotation at CitiField.  There are still two full months left in the season, but at this rate the Mets need to re-sign their ace, R.A. Dickey.

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Posted in Jerry Manuel, Johan Santana, MLB, Opinion, RA Dickey, new york mets

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Johnson’s 4 hits lift Astros by Brewers (AP)

June 30th, 2010
Chris Johnson starred during spring training before his fast start was derailed by an early-season injury. Now, he appears to be back from the minor leagues for good. Johnson had his second four-hit game in five contests and led the Houston Astros to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

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MIckey Mantle Anecdotes

June 26th, 2010

A Difference Between Mickey and Joe DiMaggio

In one way, Mickey Mantle was the antithesis of Joe DiMaggio. The Jolter was such an aloof individual that rookies dared not to approach him, much less attempt to speak to him. Mickey Mantle used to rush over to greet new players with an outstretched hand.

"I'm Mickey Mantle," he would say, as if the young player didn't know. It was one of Mickey's nicest gestures.

When questioned about his rookie season, Mickey related that his first thrill as a Yankee was shaking hands with Joe DiMaggio.



Mickey and the Baseball "Expert"

One day during spring training at St. Petersburg, a baseball writer walked over to Mickey, who was near the batting cage. Mickey was watching New York Yankees' crafty left-hander Steady Eddie Lopat working on his "junk."

The writer tapped Mickey on the shoulder.

"Mick, there's the first pitcher I've seen all spring who gives me itchy fingers. I'd love to pick up a bat at hit against him."

Mickey explained why the writer never became a baseball player in such a way that points out the sad fact that "experts" who never played the game receive much too much credit.

"It won't do you no good. As soon as you step up to the plate Lopat makes you start to think and he's got you because he can think better than you can."



Bat Only Right-Handed?

Another time, at another spring training, the same writer, knowing that the switch-hitting Mickey was more effective from the right side of the plate, questioned him about it. For about a second, Mickey had the writer going.

"Wanna know something? I'm gonna bat only right-handed this year."

Mickey couldn't help but start laughing.

"I really would, if those right-handed pitchers would promise me that they wouldn't throw me any curves."

Everyday, before a game, Mickey would wrap his legs in yards of bandages. Whenever manager Casey Stengel felt he should ask him if he could play, Mickey almost always said he could.

 

Mickey, Joe, and Willie

There have been many discussions, probably millions over the years, comparing Mickey to DiMaggio and Willie Mays.

Statistically, the three are extremely close, but one incident during the 1961 World Series, most of which Mickey sat out due to an infected hip, provides great insight into the weakness of statistics.

Mickey was stretched out on the trainer's table face down. His hip had a hole in it the size of a golf ball due to an open abscess. Catcher Elston Howard, walking by, was taken aghast.

Ellie turned to Mickey as he shuddered. "Mick, you are a great man."

Anyone who had ever been Mickey's teammate agreed with Ellie.



Reference:

By ARTHUR DALEY. (1969, March 7). Sports of The Times :Musings About Mantle. New York Times (1923-Current file),40. Retrieved June 26, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2006). (Document ID: 79948757).

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Posted in AL East, MLB, MLB History, Mickey Mantle, history, new york yankees

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