Author: Christopher Glotfelty (Page 8 of 67)

      New law dampers Leyland’s smoking habit

      May 1, 2010 /

      Due to new Michigan legislation that bans smoking in public, Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland will need to refrain from smoking in the dugout at Comerica Park.

      From ESPN.com:

      The law took effect at 6 a.m. ET and applies to nearly all public workplaces in the state.

      “I’m a law-abiding citizen, so it’s just the way it is,” Leyland said Friday, according to The Grand Rapids Press. “We’re not supposed to smoke here, and I won’t do it. I’ll try to find someplace outside somewhere, I guess, but I think you’re not supposed to smoke at all in the park.”

      Camacho Cigar Bar inside the stadium’s Tiger Club will be among cigar bars and tobacco specialty shops that are exempt.

      I wonder if Leyland’s complacency has to do with his team sitting only a game and a half back from the lead in the AL Central. The Tigers are off to an unexpectedly solid start, with Austin Jackson, Johnny Damon, Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera all swinging the bat with confidence. Hopefully the lack of release provided by Leyland’s smoking habit won’t affect his managerial decisions. Remember, stranger things have caused slumps in the sport.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      NL East providing some exciting baseball

      May 1, 2010 /

      Going into the new baseball season, all eyes were once again set to watch the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays duke it out in the AL East. As it’s become customary, we assumed the division would deliver both the AL leader in wins, but also the Wild Card. Of course, this will probably still happen, but the hallowed division has turned into a head-scratcher given Boston’s poor start. I’m not lamenting this by any means (I’d love to see the Blue Jays in the playoffs, actually), but I’m here to tell you that there’s another division worth your interest: the NL East.

      What? The NL East doesn’t just consist of the the Phillies and a handful also-rans? Well, not yet, anyway. Currently, three of the the division’s five teams have winning records (Mets, Phillies, Nationals), and the two others (Braves, Marlins) have enough talent to contend for the rest of the year. While I’d like to provide high-brow sabermetrics and detailed graphs, it’s really quite simple: The pitching and hitting on each of these teams are both decent at the very least. That’s it really, just decent. As long as one of these components isn’t woeful, a club should expect to hover above a .500 winning percentage. That may not satisfy a die-hard fan who has everything riding on their team making it to the World Series, but it sure does encourage neck-and-neck competition.

      This is what we have in the NL East — an intriguing balancing act. The Mets surprisingly sit atop the leaderboard in the division, on the strength of their pitching no less. Mike Pelfrey has been sensational — who knows how — boasting a 4-0 record and a 0.69 ERA. With Johan Santana, Jon Niese and Oliver Perez performing well on the mound, the Mets have reason to be feel comfortable. And look, the hitting has not been phenomenal — merely decent. Jason Bay isn’t knocking blasts out of the park left and right, but guys like David Wright, Jose Reyes, Jeff Franceur and Ike Davis are getting on base. On base percentage can sometimes be the most feared statistic in the game. The Mets may not keep it up for long — there’s far too many question marks. Still, it’s nice to see the Phillies getting some guff from within.

      Now, the Phillies will make the playoffs — there’s no way around it. Roy Halladay tops an intimidating rotation, and not even Brad Lidge or Ryan Madson will be able to consistently blow the countless leads provided by their hitting. I just think the NL East went a bit overlooked during the offseason. If it continues to play out as it has, this division could yield two playoff teams. None of the other teams look entirely vulnerable: the Braves quietly put together a solid unit during the offseason; the Nationals are stunning opponents with both power and unheard of pitchers; the Marlins are the Marlins, meaning we know nothing about them and they’ll still finish with a winning record.

      I know, it’s strange, but the NL East had us fooled from the start. There’s some dramatic baseball in there.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

      Ichiro’s free house, and other odd baseball contracts

      April 25, 2010 /

      In a recent article for CNN.com, Ethan Trex informs us of some of MLB’s strangest contracts. I’ve inserted my favorites below, but read the whole thing and count how many times you mumble to yourself, “Must be nice.”

      2. Support for Rollie Fingers’ ‘stache

      Former A’s owner Charlie Finley never thought of a gimmick he wouldn’t try, including a mechanical rabbit that delivered fresh balls to the umpire and hiring a 13-year-old MC Hammer as his “Executive V.P.”

      In 1972, Finley offered his players cash for growing a mustache by Father’s Day, thereby giving birth to reliever Rollie Fingers’ trademark handlebar ‘stache.
      The A’s went on to win the World Series that season, and Fingers’ contract for 1973 contained a $300 bonus for growing the mustache as well as $100 for the purchase of mustache wax.

      7. Roy Oswalt’s big toy

      Before pitcher Roy Oswalt made a start in the 2005 National League Championship Series, Astros owner Drayton McLane promised to make the ace’s dreams come true if he won, specifically his life goal of bulldozer ownership.

      After Oswalt dominated the Cardinals to send Houston to its first World Series, McLane came through with a Caterpillar D6N XL.

      Since Major League Baseball requires high-dollar gifts be disclosed, Oswalt signed an addendum to his contract, a “bulldozer clause,” authorizing the club to give him his new toy.

      9. Ichiro won’t be homeless

      One would think a guy making a guaranteed $17 million a year wouldn’t be too worried about keeping a roof over his head. Not Ichiro Suzuki, though.

      The Seattle Mariners star outfielder signed a five-year contract extension in July 2007 that included, among other perks, four round-trip airline tickets to Japan each year and the services of an interpreter and trainer throughout the season. It also included a housing allowance for each year of the deal.

      While the numbers themselves aren’t eye-popping — the allowance ranges from $32,000 to $36,000 a year over the life of the deal — kudos to Ichiro for getting someone else to pay his rent.

      How savvy is Ichiro? Dude not only signs a huge contract but somehow manages to score a (most likely) sweet pad free of charge. Roy Oswalt must be kicking himself in that complimentary bulldozer of his.

      External Sports, MLB

      Cubs fan enters Miller Park, loses

      April 25, 2010 /

      And now, ladies (yeah, right) and germs, your slow news day in the buff: Earlier today a Cubs fan fell 14 feet over the outfield railing during batting practice at Miller Park.

      From ChicagoBreakingSports.com:

      The man wearing Cubs gear and believed to be in his 20s was trying to catch a ball in the left field corner when he fell over a railing into an area behind the left field wall. The Cubs’ trainers rushed out to try and provide help, and batting practice was halted.

      There was no immediate word on the extent of the injury, though the fan was said to be conscious when the paramedics arrived. Brewers head athletic trainer Roger Caplinger said the man was cut and bleeding from the face.

      Hope the guy is OK. Per usual, Lou Piniella has placed the fan on the 15-day DL. Micah Hoffpauir has been called up from Triple-A Iowa to take his place.

      External Sports, MLB

      How a baseball scout survived Cuban prison

      April 24, 2010 /

      The Wall Street Journal — yes, the “financial” paper — has a very interesting article up by Christopher Rhoades detailing the emotional journey of Juan Ignacio Hernández Nodar, an American who spent 13 years in a Cuban prison for helping players like Liván Hernández escape the communist country to play Major League Baseball.

      But Mr. Hernández Nodar, whose family fled Cuba when he was two, was after even bigger game: Cuba’s winningest pitcher, Liván’s older half-brother, Orlando “El Duque” Hernández.

      Cuba’s world-class players are barred from the U.S. by Cuba’s supreme leader Fidel Castro, who treasures them as symbols of Communist superiority. That Aug. 12, Mr. Hernández Nodar was arrested while attending a game in central Cuba. A Havana court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, calling him a “parasite benefitting from the huge efforts of our working people.”

      It’s a fascinating read, given that Hernández Nodar survived in a hostile environment where he was viewed as a traitor. We tend to forget the consequences of the Cuban defection process, and the article points out how quickly it can turn a life sour. Nevertheless, the story of Juan Ignacio Hernández Nodar has a happy ending: He has successfully opened up a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

      External Sports, MLB

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