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Professional Chatter
05/16/12
New friend and reader Steve Martarano
sends the following update on Nick Johnson: "fyi, I was on the East Coast last week and
ended up spending Friday night in Baltimore so I went to the Orioles-Rays game where Nick
Johnson's 2-run HR in the bottom of the 7th gave the Orioles a 4-3 win. It was his first HR
in almost two years . . ."
Martarano is a former Sacramento Union sportswriter, who has uploaded a number of
his past articles at his web site. Travel back to: http://www.stevemartarano.com/Martaranos_archives/The_Sporting_Life.html
05/06/12
I’m Just Sayin’ – Haven’t We Learned Anything
A Column by Editor, Rick Cabral
This morning on a segment of the
television program The Sports Reporters, host Mike
Lupica referred to
Albert Pujols as “the future Hall of Famer.”
Lupica’s not alone in the use of
this phrase, which implies that Pujols—or anyone it is applied to—is a lock to make the Hall of
Fame.
Really? A lock. As in a safe bet,
a sure thing.
How about
Barry Bonds?
Or Roger Clemens?
Both would have appeared to have
been a lock for enshrinement in Cooperstown until allegations of performing enhancement drug use
led to federal criminal investigations, which both are battling at the
present.
Does anyone really doubt that
Bonds put up Hall of Fame numbers? Or Clemens? Doubtless, no. It is the suspicion, and now some
would argue ‘the fact,’ they used PE drugs while compiling those HOF numbers that throws a cloud
over their automatic election to the prestigious hall.
We were chatting with Hall of
Fame writer Nick
Peters this week and the subject of Bonds being a
“first ballot” candidate for the HOF came up. Peters reiterated that he will vote for Bonds next
year when he becomes eligible, although he believes that Bonds did use PE drugs. He also feels
that his fellow writers will intentionally snub him, at least on the first ballot. The writers,
of course, never found Bonds to be “media-friendly” and undoubtedly that will also contribute to
his lack of votes. But Peters contends that someday the writers will relent and Bonds will
deservedly enter the Hall of Fame.
Pete
Rose is the greatest example for why we
should not to rush to judgment before preordaining someone for the illustrious HOF. After Pete
retired, is there anyone who believed Rose didn’t deserve the honor? Again, rhetorical
question.
Or how about when the gambling
allegations first surfaced. Most couldn’t fathom that Charley Hustle could violate one of
baseball’s oldest and most inviolate rules—no betting on games. Even then he may still have been
a lock. It wasn’t until the Dowd Report confirmed the betting allegations in 1989 did Major
League Baseball banish Rose, and thereby send him to his own Devil’s Island to twist and await a
reprieve, just like Joe
Jackson and his seven teammates before
him.
Few rise to Rose’s defense to
note that the infamous White Sox players either conspired to or in fact did fix the outcome of
games—the World Series no less—while Rose didn’t fix games, he bet on them. Admittedly, he broke
a cardinal rule in baseball, but I believe there is a fundamental difference.
So, while Albert Pujols may be
having the worst start of his career with his new team the Angels, is there anyone who would
argue that he hasn’t posted the kinds of numbers that the baseball writers usually reward with
induction into the Hall of Fame (i.e. he is a “lock”)?
But what if, say two years after
he retires, rumors surface that Pujols used banned substances during his career (we are not
implying in any way that he did; for argument sake, we’re asking the question)? He has managed
to steer clear of that stain throughout his career. Or that he was suspected of having a drink
with gamblers after a game, insinuating that he may have bet on sporting activities. Would
Pujols then still be a lock?
Is anyone
nowadays?
The national media would be wise
to come up with a new, less permanent pronouncement to indicate a player’s greatness than the
term “future Hall of Famer.”
Perhaps “one of this generation’s
greatest” or “finest” players? Nope, too long and cumbersome, especially for
television.
Maybe opt for an astronomical
allusion, since every great player is already equated to be a “star.” Perhaps, we should refer
to the upper echelon star players as a “Halley’s Comet,” which appears every 75 years. Hell,
just shorten it to "He's a Comet."
Just lay off predicting the
future. We all know how that can turn out.
Express your opinion over at our Facebook
page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BaseballSacramentocom/104087632956904
On This Date in Baseball
In 1931...Willie Mays, the greatest Giant, was born in
Westfield, AL. Happy Birthday to Willie.
In 1915, Boston's rookie pitcher Babe Ruth hit the first of
his 714 home runs.
According to The New York TImes, "He put his team into the running in the
third inning by smashing a mighty rap into the upper tier of the right-field grand stand." The
Babe went 3x5 on the afternoon, however, the New Yorkers triumphed in the 13th inning, 4-3.
04/08/12
River
Cats via Taylor's 3-Run Homer, Win at Las Vegas 10-8
SET-UP MAN HERNANDEZ GOT YOUR 'BACKS
Leading 5-4 Diamondbacks' relief pitcher David Hernandez (Elk
Grove) entered the 8th inning and mowed down the Giants yesterday one-two-three, including a
three-pitch strikeout of clean-up hitter Buster Posey, all elevated fastballs.
Former River Cat Eric Byrnes, color analyst in the booth, described it with the old
school "Good morning, good afternoon, good night." Last year while doing a college game, Byrnes
was asked to explain his reference of an "oppo taco," which he explained was an opposite-field
home run with no one on base. The same with the bases loaded? You can probably pick one up at
your nearby Taco Bell for about $3.50. Always, colorful that Byrnesie.
Hernandez was the Bee's 2003 High School Pitcher of the Year when he went 12-2 for
section D-1 champion Elk Grove, one of six such titles for the Thundering Herd. Can anyone
remember when Elk Grove won its first section title in 1981 when they still competed at Division
II level?
One for sure is their former head coach, Mike Furtado, who is one
of eight members being inducted this spring in the La Salle Club Baseball Hall of Fame. To
read biographies of the 2012 inductees, visit the La Salle page.
04/07/12
Pro News
Andrew
Susac (Jesuit) had a tough first-day as a pro.
The starting catcher for the San Jose Giants went 0-5 with three strikeouts
and an error in the season opener at Modesto. The little Giants won the game 4-3. He turned
things around the following day, going two-for-five with a double.
Susac, drafted by San Francisco in the second round of the first-year player
draft last summer, signed for a $1.15 million bonus.
Green's Walk-Off Wins 'Cats Exhibition Over Ports 04/02/12
Left fielder Grant Green hit a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning and
the River Cats defeated the junior Stockton Ports 8-6 in an exhibition game at Raley Field.
Ports catcher
Max Stassi, the pride of Yuba City, hit a two-run shot in the fifth
inning and went 2x3. Stassi started the scoring in the second when he singled, advanced to third
and tagged on a sacrifice fly.
The two teams will play an exhibition tonight at Stockton's Banner Island Ballpoark, home to the
Ports, which are Oakland's Single-A team in the California League.
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Max Stassi (above) was seen doing the Yuba City-two step at Raley Field last night
against the River Cats. Actually, the 21-year-old catcher is signaling there are no
outs, but he's just happy to be back on the field after undergoing shoulder surgery
last May.
To read an update on Stassi visit Spotlight.
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Nick Johnson Spring Update 03/21/12
According to Orioles beat writer Dan Connolly of The
Baltimore Sun reported today that skipper Buck Showalter said if Nick
Johnson (McClatchy) makes the team it would be more as a DH, with the occasional
first-base start. But the oft-injured player has to prove he is healthy first.
“Believe me we are not the first ones to be having this conversation about Nick, and he
understands that,” Showalter told Connolly. “But some of the things he is feeling and seeing, you
feel good about so far.”
Dontrelle Willis of Oakland--he of the high-leg kick delivery--is the
Birds' camp, too. Willis signed a minor league deal with Baltimore. If the Orioles keep him
"...almost certainly the 30-year-old will begin the season in the minors," Connolly noted.
Wheeler's Walk-Off Wins it for Rocks
by Editor Rick Cabral 03/17/12
Tim Wheeler (El Camino/Sac State) had a game-ending two-run homer in
the bottom of the ninth, leading the Colorado Rockies to an 8-6 win over a Los
Angeles split squad Saturday.
The home run was Wheeler's first of 2012 spring training, and his first extra-base hit. Over 12
games, he is batting .294.
In 2011, the left-handed slugger tore up Texas League (Double-A) pitching, with 28 doubles, six
triples and a Tulsa-team record 33 home runs on his way to All-Star status. He was named Texas
League Player of the Week three times.
The Rockies selected Wheeler in the first round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft, making him the
Hornets' highest all-time draft pick.
Susac Assigned to Minors 03/12/12
The Giants assigned Andrew Susac and eight others to their minor league training camp, it was
announced today. Susac played in three spring training games and went one for two. As part of his
contract signing last August, Susac was a non-roster invitee to spring training.
Vance Worley Spins Grapefruit League Gem 03/12/12
They say Vance Worley (McClatchy) pitched like it was Game 7 of the World Series, despite it
being just his second spring training outing. To read
the story, press on.
Dustin Pedroia Takes on Tito and Bobby V in ESPN Interview 03/06/12
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Dustin Pedroia (Woodland High) sat down for an
interview Tuesday morning with the ESPN “Baseball Tonight” crew of Tim Kurkjian and John Kruk, and
of course the first thing they asked him was whether he had a message for their new colleague,
Terry Francona.
To hear the interview which aired this afternoon,
go here.
J.P. Howell worth risk to Rays
The contract was signed before the Royals sent J.P. Howell (Jesuit) for an MRI on his left
shoulder, before team doctors saw something wrong with Howell's labrum.
That's when things became messy. (To
read the rest of the story click through...)
Worley Spins Spring Training Gem--4 Innings, 8 K's
03/12/12
Associated Press
BRADENTON, Fla.—Even though it was just a spring training outing, Vance Worley
pitched as if it were Game 7 of the World Series.
Worley struck out eight in four perfect innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies past the
Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 Monday.
The Pirates did not hit a ball out of the infield against Worley. The hard-throwing righty struck
out two batters in each inning, dominating the Pirates with a mix of cutters, sinkers and
curveballs.
"It's too early to strike out a bunch of guys," Worley said. "I'd rather get
contact, because that helps you get deeper into games. Today, I happened to get a lot of swings
and misses and some takes in there, too. If they're going to give them to me, I'll take
them."
In his first outing this spring, Worley gave up two runs and five hits in two
innings against the Houston Astros. He stewed about it for four days until he faced the
Pirates.
"I sat on my couch and thought about it, even though you're not supposed to
think about it," Worley said. "I basically said, `I know I'm better than that.' I wasn't going
to let it happen again. I had a little fire in me today."
The 24-year-old Worley went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA last season and finished
third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. He ranked second among NL rookies in wins and fourth
in strikeouts (119).
Yet, he is not taking a spot in the starting rotation for granted this
spring.
"I'm not going to say that I worry," Worley said. "But it's definitely a
thought in the back of my mind that if I don't have success, it's not guaranteed that the job's
mine. I have to earn it."
Nick Johnson Hoping to Stay Healthy
Resurrect Pro Career with Orioles 03/05/12
Here's an update on Nick Johnson's attempt to rejoin the major leagues
after recovering from injuries.
J.P.
Howell worth risk to Rays 03/05/12
The contract was signed before the Royals sent J.P. Howell (Jesuit) for an MRI on his left
shoulder, before team doctors saw something wrong with Howell's labrum.
That's when things became messy. (
To read the rest of the story click through...)
Nick Johnson Hoping to Stay Healthy
Resurrect Pro Career with Orioles 03/05/12
Here's an update on Nick Johnson's attempt to rejoin the
major leagues
after recovering from injuries.
Oakland A’s land Cuban star Yoenis
Cespedes
Good news A's
fans!
Chronicle Staff
Writer Susan
Slusser is reporting that the A’s have
come to terms with Cuban outfielder
Yoenis Cespedes on a four-year, $36
million deal, yanking the star defector away from teams with much larger payrolls in one of the
bigger surprises of the offseason.
01/11/12
OLIVER INKS DEAL TO PITCH IN BLUE JAYS' PEN
Darren Oliver--the pride of Rio Linda--will pitch at
least one more season in the major leagues, but this year it will be in a Toronto Blue Jays
uniform. The 41-year-old left-handed reliever signed a $4 million contract for 2012, with an
option for $3 million in 2013.
Oliver was considered the top left-handed reliever on the market. He
appeared in 61 games for the Rangers and was 5-5 with a 2.29 ERA that was 11th best among American
League southpaw relievers with 50 innings pitched.
In 51 innings he struck out 44, allowed 47 hits and walked 11. He has been
in the playoffs six straight seasons with the Mets, Angels and Rangers. He enjoyed a fine World
Series last October with the American League pennant winner, and the Rangers are now stuck without
a left-handed reliever in the 'pen.
Oliver is the second lefty to recently depart Texas. The team's number one
pitcher C.J. Wilson signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last fall, joining 3-time
National League MVP, Albert Pujols.
~~01/03/11
The
Arizona Republic today devoted space to SABR's move to the desert.
SABR--The Society for American Baseball Research--relocated from Cleveland last
spring to the warmer climes of the Phoenix area.
Better late than never, the saying goes. But it's notable the paper
mentioned the move by the national organization comprised of baseball historians. reseachers and
writers, of which this author is a member of the Sacramento chapter.
We were also pleasantly surprised to receive a mention in the piece. Well,
sort of.
In describing some of the research by SABR members, the piece
referenced our article describing
Neill Sheridan's long ball of
1953 published this fall in SABR's Baseball Research
Journal. Someone obviously didn't read the entire piece, as the reporter described Sheridan's
blast at 620 feet.
As we reported in the piece, Solons' management first thought
the ball had traveled that far, but then recalculated when they had the distance officially
measured at 613.8' by the surveying crew of Muir & Train.
Either way, it's a whopper of a story and part of Sacramento's local
baseball legend.
After reading today that the Athletics have traded Jai
Miller to the Baltimore Orioles, we we're reminded of
Ronald Reagan's famous line: "There you go again." Billy Beane should be made to write that 100
times on the A's whiteboard. First he traded Trevor Cahill, then Gio Gonzalez and most recently
Andrew Bailey. That's a trio of All-Star pitchers who will hurl for teams other than the Athletics
this spring.
And now, Miller, the River Cats' primary power bat in 2011 is
gone.
The 26-year-old Miller played in 110 games with Triple-A Sacramento,
batting .276 with 32 home runs and 88 RBIs. He also stole 16 bases without being caught. In a
September call up, Miller went 3 for 12 with a homer and two RBIs for Oakland last season. Miller,
a native of Auburn, Alabama, was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 4th Round of the 2003 MLB
Draft.
It's a shame Miller's gone, too, as he appeared to have the tools. Wethinks
the propeller on Billy's "Boy Genius" beanie may be twirling in the wrong direction.
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