Category: MLB (Page 25 of 448)

      Top 5 2011 MLB All-Star Snubs

      July 4, 2011 /
      Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen reacts after he caught a ball hit by New York Mets batter Jason Bay with a runner on base at the fence for the third out of the first inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York, June 1, 2011. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Here are five players that deserved a trip to Arizona’s Chase Field next week, but instead will have to watch a couple of less-deserving players take their spot. Now let’s everybody pile on Bruce Bochy like the rest of the Internet world. Just make sure you stretch first.

      1. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
      I don’t know who deserves more blame here, the players or Bochy. The players selected the Reds’ Jay Bruce (who has more home runs than McCutchen but is hitting an earth shattering .230) as one of the outfield reserves and Bochy chose the Mets’ Carlos Beltran, another player with a lower batting average and OPS than McCutchen and whose defense is significantly worse. Somehow McCutchen was left off the “Final Man” vote that is decided by the fans, so Major League Baseball deserves a swift kick to the groin here as well. Seeing as how McCutchen and the Pirates are shaping up to be the feel good story of 2011, the players, Bochy, and MLB dropped the ball badly by leaving the sparkplug off the NL roster.

      2. Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox
      Apparently the AL players voted in Michael Young as a backup DH. Why would somebody feel as though a backup DH is needed for the American League roster? Outside of pitchers, THE ENTIRE FREAKING TEAM COULD BE DESIGNATED HITTERS. Konerko has a .954 OPS, which is fourth-best in the entire AL, and is among the league leaders in RBI (62, third), home runs (21, fourth) and batting average (.317, fifth). The problem is that teammate Carlos Quentin was a players’ selection and AL skipper Ron Washington needed to use four of his seven spots to ensure that every team was represented. He simply ran out of room for Konerko, which is a shame. But hopefully he’ll win the “Final Vote” and be on his way to Arizona next week anyway.

      3. CC Sabathia, SP, Yankees
      Seeing as how Sabathia is scheduled to pitch on Sunday, it’s kind of a moot point to discuss in detail how he was screwed. But a snub is a snub. Washington chose his own lefty C.J. Wilson over Sabathia, which isn’t that big of a deal. There’s a strong argument that Wilson should have made the team, but there were others less-deserving that took Sabathia’s spot. (Jose Valverde, anyone?) Again, in the end Sabathia would have been replaced anyway. But he at least deserved to be mentioned.

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      External Sports, MLB

      Brian Wilson blows another save, seeks revenge on Gatorade cooler

      July 2, 2011 /

      It’s been a rough couple of days for Giants closer Brian Wilson. He blew a 1-0 lead in the ninth on Thursday at Wrigley Field when he fell behind Aramis Ramirez and had to challenge the Cubs’ third baseman with a 3-2 fastball that Ramirez promptly crushed over the leftfield wall. The Cubs went on to win the game in extra innings and the Giants had to settle for a split in the four-game series.

      On Friday in Detroit, Wilson was again called upon to save a 1-0 lead and again he mucked things up when he allowed a single to Tigers’ right fielder Magglio Ordonez in the bottom of the eighth. The Giants managed to score three runs in the top of ninth off a wild Detroit bullpen to make it a 4-1 game, but Wilson could only muster one out in the bottom of the inning while jamming the bases and allowing two runs.

      When skipper Bruce Bochy pulled him in favor of Jeremy Affeldt, this is what the bearded one did in the dugout:

      Wilson also punched a wall (which wasn’t shown in the video), making it one of the better dugout meltdowns I’ve seen in a while.

      The Giants eventually hung on to beat the Tigers 4-3 so when reporters approached Wilson in the clubhouse, he was back to being his jovial self. Below is an exert from Giants beat reporter Andrew Baggarly’s blog.

      “I’m fine,” he said. “Ask the wall.”

      Wilson’s other deadpan gem, after he was asked if it would be difficult to have his Happy Gilmore swing played on a loop on television: “Why would it be difficult?” he said. “I squared it up.”

      At least one media member took to Twitter last night to insinuate that Wilson’s freak out was all for the cameras, and maybe it was. But despite his, uh, outgoing personality, Wilson rarely shows emotion on the mound. (Anyone who actually watches the Giants and who doesn’t just insinuate things would know that.) He’s usually cool and collected, but he’s intense and obviously blowing two saves in two days would make any closer a little cranky. As long as he didn’t hurt himself, I think everyone should just enjoy the water cooler beatdown and not look too deep into Wilson’s antics.

      External Sports, MLB

      Breaking News: Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn admits to using steroids

      June 29, 2011 /
      U.S. actor Charlie Sheen smiles at the panel for CBS television show “Two and A Half Men” at the Television Critic’s Association Summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills in this July 20, 2005 file photo. A judge on June 15, 2011 sent Charlie Sheen’s lawsuit against Warner Bros to arbitration, in a ruling that denies the actor a public court hearing over his firing from hit sitcom “Two and a Half Men.” REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/Files (UNITED STATES – Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

      In what only can be described as a media bombshell, the New York Daily News is reporting that Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn has admitted to using steroids in the fictional 1989 MLB season.

      “Let’s just say that I was enhancing my performance a little bit,” Vaughn said. “It was the only time I ever did steroids. I did them for like six or eight weeks. You can print this, I don’t give a f-. My fastball went from 79 to like 85.”

      Pretty despicable stuff right there. If Vaughn (who was only a rookie that year, mind you) was juicing, it makes you wonder who else was using PEDs in ’89. Was Clu Haywood on dope when he won the AL Triple Crown that season? Were his .341 average, 48 home runs and 121 RBI just a performance-enhanced farce? If so, I want an asterisk by everything he accomplished that year, just like I want an asterisk on all of Vaughn’s stats.

      You know, Tribe fans always bitch about everything owner Rachel Phelps did that year (including trying to relocate the team to Miami) – and rightfully so. But at least she wasn’t a cheat. The same thing cannot be said for Vaughn.

      Lou Brown must be rolling in his grave right now.

      Humor, MLB

      The 2011 MLB All-Prospect Team

      June 28, 2011 /
      Kansas City Royals Eric Hosmer hits a RBI double in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during their MLB American League baseball game in Kansas City, Missouri, June 9, 2011. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      The Objective: Compile a MLB roster complete with only the top minor league prospects.

      The Rules: As long as they were viewed as a prospect coming into the 2011 season, they can be on this team. Thus, just because guys like Jeremy Hellickson and Eric Hosmer are already contributing at the Major League level, doesn’t mean they can’t be included on this team.

      That’s it.

      Let’s get nasty, Ricky.

      C: Jesus Montero, Yankees
      There’s no doubt that Montero is the future at catcher for the Yankees, but he may have some maturity issues to iron out first. He was benched twice earlier this month for showing a lack of energy and apparently loses focus at times. But that doesn’t mean the 21-year-old isn’t a great prospect, which he is. As soon as he shows he has the mental makeup to handle catching a big league staff, he’ll be up. In fact, I have a hard time believing the Bombers won’t recall him at some point in 2011.
      Honorable Mention: Gary Sanchez, Yankees; Devin Mesoraco, Reds.

      1B: Eric Hosmer, Royals
      Hosmer has been slumping recently but he’s still hitting .268 with five home runs and 26 RBI this year for the Royals. Those aren’t terrible stats for a 21-year-old trying to make adjustments to big league pitching. Considered the top first base prospect in baseball, it’ll be interesting to see how he fares throughout a grueling second half.
      Honorable Mention: Brandon Belt, Giants; Freddie Freeman, Braves.

      2B: Dustin Ackley, Mariners
      The M’s called Ackley up in mid-June and already the youngster is hitting over .300. In a recent win over the Marlins, Ackley went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple while scoring the go-ahead run in the 10th on a wild pitch. Once pitchers adjust, his batting average will likely drop but Seattle has to be thrilled so far with his production.
      Honorable Mention: Jason Kipnis, Indians.

      3B: Mike Moustakas, Royals
      Yet another one of the Royals’ young hitters makes this mock roster. Moustakas hit his first big-league homer in just his second game with the Royals earlier this month and has now reached base in seven of his last eight games. Outside of the one home run, his power hasn’t translated to the big leagues so far, but it’s still early. He has a short, compact swing and despite having an aggressive approach, he doesn’t strikeout a lot. He could be a star in Kansas City for years to come.
      Honorable Mention: Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays; Lonnie Chisenhall, Indians; Nick Castellanos, Tigers.

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      External Sports, MLB

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