Category: MLB (Page 87 of 448)

      Brandon Phillips’ comments about the Cardinals refreshing

      August 10, 2010 /
      July 13, 2010; Anaheim, CA, USA; National League infielder Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds before the 2010 All Star game at Angel Stadium. Photo via Newscom

      Despite it generally being a boring sport to watch, I love baseball. America’s pastime, indeed.

      But players have become too damn nice to each other. How many times do we have to see a runner reach base and watch as a member of the opposing team pats them on the rear, gives them a back rub and straightens out their jock for them? Enough already.

      Heading into a pivotal series against division rival St. Louis on Monday, Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips took the opportunity to discuss how much he hated the Cardinals. And dude didn’t hold back.

      “We have to beat these guys. I hate the Cardinals. All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little bitches, all of ‘em. I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear – I hate the Cardinals.”

      Finally, a baseball player with a backbone. I don’t care if his comments were justified or not – it’s about time someone stoke the rivalry flames again in baseball. This isn’t a softball beer league or Babe Ruth Baseball – for the love of Pete Rose, it’s Major League Baseball. Where’s the hatred? Where are the division rivalries? Outside of the Red Sox and Yankees, and Giants and Dodgers, there are none.

      Phillips just made this three-game set between the Reds and Cardinals even more interesting than it already was. I’m not suggesting that every player goes out and calls the other team names at the start of a new series, but it’s nice to see some life being breathed into the game again. Did you see that game last night? Chris Carpenter was ready to punch a hole through Brendan Ryan’s esophagus after the shortstop grabbed the wrong mitt in the first inning. Do you think Carpenter wanted to beat the Reds after what Phillips said?

      Good for you, Brandon Phillips. Now try not getting your ass kicked tonight.

      External Sports, MLB

      Recognizing a legitimate accomplishment: Jeter passes Ruth on hits list

      August 9, 2010 /

      With his 2,874th hit in the Yankees’ 7-2 win over the Red Sox on Sunday, Derek Jeter surpassed Babe Ruth on baseball’s all-time hits list.

      And he didn’t even need performance-enhancing drugs to do it either.

      Even though Jeter’s accomplishment won’t garner more attention than Alex Rodriguez’s 600th career home run blast, it should. That’s because as far as we know, Jeter didn’t have to cheat in order to reach his milestone. Not like A-Rod, who sheepishly admitted that he needed help to accomplish what he did.

      I never understood why some outside of New York choose to hate Jeter. It’s fine if you want to root against the Yankees, but Jeter embodies everything good about the game of baseball. He always hustles, he has always been fundamentally sound and he’s never disrespected the game. Performance-enhancing drugs? Not Jeter.

      At 36, he certainly isn’t the player he once was – not even after posting a career high in batting average last year at .334. He doesn’t exhibit the same range defensively as he once did and his speed looks a tad diminished. But in a day and age where so many young players do something stupid on the base paths or don’t understand what team baseball is all about, it’s hard not to love a guy like Jeter – someone who actually understands that getting on base is often more important than hitting the long ball. And how many times has No. 2 come up in a clutch situation and deliver? Far too many times to count.

      Some have begun to talk about whether or not Jeter has meant more to the Yankees than Ruth did, but why go there? Let’s just take the time to celebrate his accomplishment – a legitimate accomplishment.

      External Sports, MLB

      Mikey’s MLB power rankings

      August 8, 2010 /

      It’s August 8, and we’re past 2/3 of the way through the MLB season right now. That means teams have roughly 50 games to get their act together and either make a run or hold on to their place in the playoff picture. Ironically as I say that, the rankings have barely changed at all this week. What you don’t see is that the Phillies are creeping up on the Braves, the Dodgers and Mets are falling way behind, and the Tigers have fallen out of their race about as fast as any team can in August. With that, here are the rankings for this week…..

      1. New York Yankees (68-41)—The only reason the Yankees are still first here is because you’re first until someone knocks you off. But believe me, the Rays are going to knock them off any day now, no matter how many Berkmans the Yankees add.

      2. Tampa Bay Rays (67-43)—Out to prove that 2008 was no fluke, and doing it with a vengeance. Do you think Fox is terrified of a Tampa Bay/San Diego World Series?

      3. Texas Rangers (64-46)—Sale complete, but mission not complete. Tim McCarver said on Dan Patrick this past week that he thinks this is the best team in the American League. And who can really argue with that?

      4. San Diego Padres (63-46)—Oh hey, speaking of the Padres, these guys just keep winning. Sure, their lead is now just one game over the Giants, but we didn’t expect them to be there in June, much less August or beyond.

      5. Atlanta Braves (63-47)—It’s not smoke and mirrors anymore, and this team has a great mix of crafty vets and hungry youngsters. Just look out for the Phillies, because here they come, just two games back.

      6. Boston Red Sox (63-48)—Don’t count them out yet. All those injuries and just 6 games back in that division? That’s all I’m gonna say.

      7. San Francisco Giants (63-48)—This team has its eye on the NL West crown and they have the pitching to get there. Do they have enough offense (i.e., power) though?

      8. Chicago White Sox (63-47)—Sorry Mr. President, I just don’t see this lasting much longer. The other shoe is going to drop, and the Twins are going to pounce.

      9. Cincinnati Reds (63-48)—Two words—Joey and Votto. Dude might win the triple crown and his team might reach the promised land for the first time in 20 years.

      10. Minnesota Twins (62-49)—Too much talent to be kept down in the AL Central. Do you ever wonder if Johan Santana regrets leaving Minnesota?

      External Sports, MLB

      Zack Greinke not long for Kansas City?

      August 7, 2010 /
      July 21, 2010 - Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America - 21 July 2010: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke.

      It must feel like an eternity to Zack Greinke since he won the 2009 American League Cy Yong Award. That’s probably because the poor bastard pitches for the Royals.

      Greinke recently expressed his frustrations to the Kansas City Star about the Royals slow rebuilding plan. While KC has a strong farm system in place, Greinke wonders how long it’ll take before the Royals’ young prospects will be able to help the club win.

      “Every system has something,” he said. “The biggest problem is I have two more years on my contract. Are those guys supposed to make it up by the beginning of next year?”

      “Very rarely do guys come straight into the big leagues and make an impact, especially hitters,” he said.

      “It’s probably more of a grind than any year since 2005,” he said. “This one has been like that one for most of the season.”

      “It’s not real exciting to have to go through it again,” he said. “It’s been six years with me, and most people (who are Royals fans) have been through a lot more than I have. But for me, it’s the third complete re-start/rebuilding phase.”

      Players aren’t stupid – they know when their front office is trying to win and when they’re just trying to turn a profit. Baseball is a business and organizations are run as such, but players like Greinke deserve better. It’s obviously the Royals haven’t been trying to win over the past decade or so.

      And as Greinke alluded to in his comments, fans have had it worse than he has. It’s been eight years since KC has had a winning record and 26 years since they’ve made it to the playoffs. Talk about giving your fan base nothing to cheer about.

      While he was probably just blowing off steam, Greinke’s comments make you wonder whether or not he’ll be the face of the Royals for much longer. His contract is up in 2013 and while that’s still a long ways off, his future in Kansas City will likely be a topic of discussion over the next couple of years.

      External Sports, MLB

      Somebody please tear down Tropicana Field already

      August 6, 2010 /
      Fans watch the Tampa Bay Rays play the Philadelphia Phillies at Tropicana Field during game one of the World Series in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 22, 2008. (UPI Photo/David Mills) Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom

      I don’t care if it turns it into a parking lot, an ice cream stand, or a tampon factory, but can someone please put Tropicana Field out of its misery?

      Yesterday, during the top of 9th of Tampa and Minnesota’s tied 6-6 game, the Twins’ Jason Kubel hit a towering popup that would have likely been caught if the Rays played in a normal stadium. Instead, the ball hit the catwalk some 190 feet above the infield and dropped for a single.

      The final result: Twins 8, Rays 6.

      Before some know-it-all points this out, yes, I’m well aware that one moment in any sporting event determines the outcome of a game. Tampa could have been leading 6-3, 6-0 or 16-0 and Kubel’s popup would have relegated to a highlight for future blooper reels.

      But it wasn’t 6-3, 6-0 or 16-0 – it was 6-6 and the Rays could have gotten out of the inning had the ball not hit the catwalk. Not to be overly dramatic here, but the catwalk could have cost the Rays a win in the middle of a pennant race.

      No offense to the fine folks that poured time, money and effort into building Tropicana Field, but it is by far the worst ballpark in America. Some seats are obstructed by foul balls, the lightening is too dim and did I mention it’s a freaking dome? A dome in Tampa, Florida? I know it rains a lot out there, but the showers don’t last very long – at least not long enough for some genius to say, “Hey, here’s an idea – let’s build a dome!”

      Tear the thing down.

      (Watch the video of the play here.)

      External Sports, MLB

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