Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Select your timezone:
Vernon Wells admitted to having a difficult time stifling a grin once he was told where he had been traded. After years of admiring the Yankees from afar, the veteran outfielder will have a chance to wear pinstripes this season.
Wells was officially acquired by the Yankees from the Angels on Tuesday, along with cash considerations. New York sent Minor Leaguers Exircardo Cayones and Kramer Sneed to the Halos in exchange for the 34-year-old Wells, who is expected to step in as the Yankees' Opening Day left fielder.
"Just the history and the names that are in this clubhouse, and the guys that are in this clubhouse -- this is special," Wells said. "It's obviously a huge commitment to put the pinstripes on, but this is baseball. This is the center of it all and this is a fun way for things to go toward the end of my career."
The Yankees did not waste any time finding a spot for Wells, welcoming him to camp by batting him sixth and sending him to left field for Tuesday's game against the Astros at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Wells went 0-for-3, but brought home a run with a sharp grounder in his third at-bat in a 4-4 tie.
"He's got a chance to play every day here in left field for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We've seen him very good and used to face him 18 times a year [with the Blue Jays]. He brings some power, brings some speed, has been a good defender. He's got a good opportunity here."
The transaction required two days to complete and required the approval of the Commissioner's Office because the Angels are taking on the majority of the $42 million Wells is owed through the 2014 season. The Yankees' share of the contract will be approximately $13 million over the next two seasons.
According to The Associated Press, the Yankees will pay most of Wells' salary this year, a move designed to help the Angels to stay under the luxury-tax threshold of $178 million. The Angels will pay most of Wells' salary next year, when the Yankees hope to get under the threshold as it rises to $189 million.
The Yankees had some extra money to spend because part of Mark Teixeira's salary -- approximately $4 million per month -- is being covered by insurance from the World Baseball Classic while he is on the disabled list. Wells is expected to help solidify the Yankees' outfield while Curtis Granderson recovers from a fractured right forearm.
"I feel like I'm a kid again," Wells said. "I got goosebumps driving down the road a couple hours after they told me about the trade. I started thinking about the [Bleacher Creatures] roll call. I won't be the guy that gets picked on by the bleachers this time, even though I enjoyed it."
Wells struggled during his two seasons in Anaheim and was limited to part-time duty in 2012. He played in just 77 games, posting a .230/.279/.403 line with 11 home runs, and said that more regular playing time should help his performance.
"He's had some injury issues he's had to go through," Girardi said. "Sometimes your new surroundings are hard to get used to; I'm not sure. But we think he's a much better player than he's shown the last two years."
Wells is a .292 career hitter with 62 homers against left-handed pitching, and he compiled some impressive numbers this spring with the Angels, batting .361 (13-for-36) with four homers and 11 RBIs.
"My goal was just to get back to the basics and just put the barrel on the ball as many times as I can, shorten my swing and use the other field," Wells said. "I forgot what right field was like for a couple of years. You get caught up in hitting home runs and seeing how far you can hit them, and your swing changes."
The Halos received two lower-level Minor Leaguers in the deal. Cayones, 21, batted .228 with 15 RBIs in 47 games for Class A Staten Island last year after being acquired from the Pirates as part of the A.J. Burnett trade. Sneed, 24, was 0-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 31 games (four starts) at Class A Tampa.
In order to create room on the 40-man roster for Wells, the Yankees unconditionally released infielder David Adams.
Because it is so late in camp, Wells found that he was assigned a locker spot in "catcher's row" between Francisco Cervelli and Bobby Wilson. He was temporarily issued uniform No. 56, which had been previously used by bench coach Tony Pena.
"They said, 'We'll get you a little lower one when the season starts,'" Wells said. "But I'm going to wear Lawrence Taylor for a little bit."
Wells was a three-time American League All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner during his nine full seasons with the Blue Jays from 2002-10. The owner of 259 career home runs, Wells said that he is honored to have the chance to call the Bronx home.
"I remember the first time I played the Triple-A Yankees when I was 20 years old, and [Darryl] Strawberry was on that team," Wells said. "It was the first time that I actually got goosebumps playing against another team.
"From that day, I've quietly been a Yankees fan -- obviously not when we played against the Yankees, but every time or anytime the Yankees were in the playoffs and I was sitting at home, I was cheering for the Yankees. This is somewhat of a dream come true."
Vernon Wells joins Yankees as trade with Angels is completed | MLB-com: News
Wells was officially acquired by the Yankees from the Angels on Tuesday, along with cash considerations. New York sent Minor Leaguers Exircardo Cayones and Kramer Sneed to the Halos in exchange for the 34-year-old Wells, who is expected to step in as the Yankees' Opening Day left fielder.
"Just the history and the names that are in this clubhouse, and the guys that are in this clubhouse -- this is special," Wells said. "It's obviously a huge commitment to put the pinstripes on, but this is baseball. This is the center of it all and this is a fun way for things to go toward the end of my career."
The Yankees did not waste any time finding a spot for Wells, welcoming him to camp by batting him sixth and sending him to left field for Tuesday's game against the Astros at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Wells went 0-for-3, but brought home a run with a sharp grounder in his third at-bat in a 4-4 tie.
"He's got a chance to play every day here in left field for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We've seen him very good and used to face him 18 times a year [with the Blue Jays]. He brings some power, brings some speed, has been a good defender. He's got a good opportunity here."
The transaction required two days to complete and required the approval of the Commissioner's Office because the Angels are taking on the majority of the $42 million Wells is owed through the 2014 season. The Yankees' share of the contract will be approximately $13 million over the next two seasons.
According to The Associated Press, the Yankees will pay most of Wells' salary this year, a move designed to help the Angels to stay under the luxury-tax threshold of $178 million. The Angels will pay most of Wells' salary next year, when the Yankees hope to get under the threshold as it rises to $189 million.
The Yankees had some extra money to spend because part of Mark Teixeira's salary -- approximately $4 million per month -- is being covered by insurance from the World Baseball Classic while he is on the disabled list. Wells is expected to help solidify the Yankees' outfield while Curtis Granderson recovers from a fractured right forearm.
"I feel like I'm a kid again," Wells said. "I got goosebumps driving down the road a couple hours after they told me about the trade. I started thinking about the [Bleacher Creatures] roll call. I won't be the guy that gets picked on by the bleachers this time, even though I enjoyed it."
Wells struggled during his two seasons in Anaheim and was limited to part-time duty in 2012. He played in just 77 games, posting a .230/.279/.403 line with 11 home runs, and said that more regular playing time should help his performance.
"He's had some injury issues he's had to go through," Girardi said. "Sometimes your new surroundings are hard to get used to; I'm not sure. But we think he's a much better player than he's shown the last two years."
Wells is a .292 career hitter with 62 homers against left-handed pitching, and he compiled some impressive numbers this spring with the Angels, batting .361 (13-for-36) with four homers and 11 RBIs.
"My goal was just to get back to the basics and just put the barrel on the ball as many times as I can, shorten my swing and use the other field," Wells said. "I forgot what right field was like for a couple of years. You get caught up in hitting home runs and seeing how far you can hit them, and your swing changes."
The Halos received two lower-level Minor Leaguers in the deal. Cayones, 21, batted .228 with 15 RBIs in 47 games for Class A Staten Island last year after being acquired from the Pirates as part of the A.J. Burnett trade. Sneed, 24, was 0-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 31 games (four starts) at Class A Tampa.
In order to create room on the 40-man roster for Wells, the Yankees unconditionally released infielder David Adams.
Because it is so late in camp, Wells found that he was assigned a locker spot in "catcher's row" between Francisco Cervelli and Bobby Wilson. He was temporarily issued uniform No. 56, which had been previously used by bench coach Tony Pena.
"They said, 'We'll get you a little lower one when the season starts,'" Wells said. "But I'm going to wear Lawrence Taylor for a little bit."
Wells was a three-time American League All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner during his nine full seasons with the Blue Jays from 2002-10. The owner of 259 career home runs, Wells said that he is honored to have the chance to call the Bronx home.
"I remember the first time I played the Triple-A Yankees when I was 20 years old, and [Darryl] Strawberry was on that team," Wells said. "It was the first time that I actually got goosebumps playing against another team.
"From that day, I've quietly been a Yankees fan -- obviously not when we played against the Yankees, but every time or anytime the Yankees were in the playoffs and I was sitting at home, I was cheering for the Yankees. This is somewhat of a dream come true."
Vernon Wells joins Yankees as trade with Angels is completed | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
When then-Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy suffered life-threatening brain injuries after he was struck in the head by a line drive in September, Major League Baseball said it accelerated its efforts to come up with acceptable protective headgear for pitchers.
But with the season four days away, MLB senior vice president Dan Halem acknowledged to "Outside the Lines" on Wednesday that no safety device, such as a padded cap lining, will be approved in time for Opening Day.
"If I had a product that passed [high-speed impact] tests, it'd be out there tomorrow," Halem said. MLB commissioned tests on two padded cap prototypes from EvoShield and received test data on two others from Unequal Technologies, according to Halem. But the results, Halem said, showed none of the four products from the two protective sports gear manufacturers were sufficiently effective against baseballs traveling at velocities that can exceed 100 mph.
Halem said that after an OTL report on the subject last month, his office received proposals and inquiries from companies beyond the six -- including EvoShield and Unequal -- with which MLB had already held discussions, and from unaffiliated individuals, but that nothing is in an advanced stage.
"Until we have a really good solution, we listen to everything," MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green said. "There's been progress over the last six months, but it's a slow process."
"We're committed to working with MLB, and all of us realize it's a longer project than initially thought," said Justin Niefer, vice president of business development for EvoShield, which makes an advanced foam "gel-to-shell technology" padding. "We accept the challenge, are intrigued by it and are working toward a solution."
Unequal president Rob Vito said his company has made improvements to the padding with DuPont Kevlar that it submitted for MLB consideration. He said he hopes to have McCarthy and other pitchers try out the updated version before sending it to MLB.
"I want to go to Major League Baseball with a product that not only tests well, but that players want to use," Vito said.
McCarthy underwent emergency brain surgery and a rehabilitation program before he was cleared to resume pitching. He signed a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and is expected to be their fourth starter.
After his first spring training game last month, McCarthy addressed the issue of protective headgear. "The stuff that's out there already is no good at all," McCarthy said. "It seems like it's still a long way away. I don't even care if it's MLB-approved. I just want something that's functionally approved by me."
Halem said that although MLB hasn't approved anything, pitchers don't need his office's clearance to wear caps with padded linings. And if MLB does approve such a product, he said, the plan is for it to be offered on a voluntary basis.
According to Vito, Unequal has gone to major league teams on its own and has shipped its two padded cap prototypes -- that MLB declined to approve -- to 26 clubs, but he said he doesn't know yet whether any pitchers plan to wear them in games.
The head athletic trainer for the A's and the doctor who supervised McCarthy's rehabilitation both have said a padded cap probably wouldn't have protected him from the brain contusion, epidural hemorrhage and skull fracture he suffered when struck by the line drive off the bat of the Angels' Erick Aybar because the point of impact was below the cap line.
McCarthy spoke with OTL last month about the possibility of more extensive protective headgear.
"I purchased a couple of cricket helmets on my own to see if I could make something out of it, if it was something that worked," he said. "I actually feel like even with the face mask and all, I could get used to that quicker than I could with a half-shell [hard] helmet [like first- and third-base coaches and some catchers wear]."
Green said a crucial problem with various sports helmets, such as those worn by cricket batsmen, is that they generally move around too much to be suitable for a baseball pitcher's motion, which involves a lot of head movement.
With football helmets such as the NFL's, although the movement on the head is limited, Green said an important issue is, "What does the added weight do to the biomechanics?"
Green expressed serious reservations about helmets in general because of their possible hindrance to vision, comfort, performance and, yes, safety.
Although a statistic Green has cited is that the frequency of a pitcher getting hit in the head by a batted ball is but once in every 250,000 pitches, he stressed that MLB's approach to endorsing any innovation is an especially careful one.
"There is the potential with some products to make things worse," he said. "We don't want to just do something; we want to do the right thing."
William Weinbaum is a producer for "Outside the Lines" and produced the show's Feb. 17 report "Capping the Risk."
MLB not ready to approve padded cap lining in time for Opening Day - ESPN
But with the season four days away, MLB senior vice president Dan Halem acknowledged to "Outside the Lines" on Wednesday that no safety device, such as a padded cap lining, will be approved in time for Opening Day.
"If I had a product that passed [high-speed impact] tests, it'd be out there tomorrow," Halem said. MLB commissioned tests on two padded cap prototypes from EvoShield and received test data on two others from Unequal Technologies, according to Halem. But the results, Halem said, showed none of the four products from the two protective sports gear manufacturers were sufficiently effective against baseballs traveling at velocities that can exceed 100 mph.
Halem said that after an OTL report on the subject last month, his office received proposals and inquiries from companies beyond the six -- including EvoShield and Unequal -- with which MLB had already held discussions, and from unaffiliated individuals, but that nothing is in an advanced stage.
"Until we have a really good solution, we listen to everything," MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green said. "There's been progress over the last six months, but it's a slow process."
"We're committed to working with MLB, and all of us realize it's a longer project than initially thought," said Justin Niefer, vice president of business development for EvoShield, which makes an advanced foam "gel-to-shell technology" padding. "We accept the challenge, are intrigued by it and are working toward a solution."
Unequal president Rob Vito said his company has made improvements to the padding with DuPont Kevlar that it submitted for MLB consideration. He said he hopes to have McCarthy and other pitchers try out the updated version before sending it to MLB.
"I want to go to Major League Baseball with a product that not only tests well, but that players want to use," Vito said.
McCarthy underwent emergency brain surgery and a rehabilitation program before he was cleared to resume pitching. He signed a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and is expected to be their fourth starter.
After his first spring training game last month, McCarthy addressed the issue of protective headgear. "The stuff that's out there already is no good at all," McCarthy said. "It seems like it's still a long way away. I don't even care if it's MLB-approved. I just want something that's functionally approved by me."
Halem said that although MLB hasn't approved anything, pitchers don't need his office's clearance to wear caps with padded linings. And if MLB does approve such a product, he said, the plan is for it to be offered on a voluntary basis.
According to Vito, Unequal has gone to major league teams on its own and has shipped its two padded cap prototypes -- that MLB declined to approve -- to 26 clubs, but he said he doesn't know yet whether any pitchers plan to wear them in games.
The head athletic trainer for the A's and the doctor who supervised McCarthy's rehabilitation both have said a padded cap probably wouldn't have protected him from the brain contusion, epidural hemorrhage and skull fracture he suffered when struck by the line drive off the bat of the Angels' Erick Aybar because the point of impact was below the cap line.
McCarthy spoke with OTL last month about the possibility of more extensive protective headgear.
"I purchased a couple of cricket helmets on my own to see if I could make something out of it, if it was something that worked," he said. "I actually feel like even with the face mask and all, I could get used to that quicker than I could with a half-shell [hard] helmet [like first- and third-base coaches and some catchers wear]."
Green said a crucial problem with various sports helmets, such as those worn by cricket batsmen, is that they generally move around too much to be suitable for a baseball pitcher's motion, which involves a lot of head movement.
With football helmets such as the NFL's, although the movement on the head is limited, Green said an important issue is, "What does the added weight do to the biomechanics?"
Green expressed serious reservations about helmets in general because of their possible hindrance to vision, comfort, performance and, yes, safety.
Although a statistic Green has cited is that the frequency of a pitcher getting hit in the head by a batted ball is but once in every 250,000 pitches, he stressed that MLB's approach to endorsing any innovation is an especially careful one.
"There is the potential with some products to make things worse," he said. "We don't want to just do something; we want to do the right thing."
William Weinbaum is a producer for "Outside the Lines" and produced the show's Feb. 17 report "Capping the Risk."
MLB not ready to approve padded cap lining in time for Opening Day - ESPN
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The American League West was one fearsome foursome last year. The A's won the division in stirring fashion, riding a fantastic second half to overtake the favored Rangers on the final day of the regular season. The Angels weren't too shabby, either, missing out on October despite winning 89 games. Not to be left out, the Mariners took a step forward as well, improving by eight wins from 2011.
Now, the West gets even more wild with the addition of the Houston Astros, who move from the National League Central to give every division in baseball five teams. And it looks like the same three teams will be the ones duking it out for division supremacy come September. The A's, who last year took eventual league champion Detroit to the maximum five games in the Division Series, appear to be just as strong, if not stronger, with a deeper bench, a healthy Brett Anderson to lead an already formidable pitching staff, and slugger Yoenis Cespedes looking to build on a year of valuable experience.
The Rangers might have lost Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli, but they still have Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler to complement a stellar rotation that's led by Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison. Alexi Ogando moves back into a starting role from the bullpen, and the relief corps is solid.
And then there are the Angels, who made the most noise of anyone in the AL West, and maybe anyone in the big leagues, when they landed Hamilton via free agency, putting him smack in the middle of a lineup that already included last year's rookie sensation, Mike Trout, and Albert Pujols.
Seattle beefed up its lineup with Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse. Houston is young and talented and doesn't have anything to lose.
We polled our AL West beat reporters -- Jane Lee (A's), Alden Gonzalez (Angels), T.R. Sullivan (Rangers), Greg Johns (Mariners) and Brian McTaggart (Astros) -- and asked them to rank the teams in four major categories and give input as to the race as a whole.
Read More: Loaded Angels in for a test from American League West foes | MLB-com: News
Now, the West gets even more wild with the addition of the Houston Astros, who move from the National League Central to give every division in baseball five teams. And it looks like the same three teams will be the ones duking it out for division supremacy come September. The A's, who last year took eventual league champion Detroit to the maximum five games in the Division Series, appear to be just as strong, if not stronger, with a deeper bench, a healthy Brett Anderson to lead an already formidable pitching staff, and slugger Yoenis Cespedes looking to build on a year of valuable experience.
The Rangers might have lost Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli, but they still have Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler to complement a stellar rotation that's led by Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison. Alexi Ogando moves back into a starting role from the bullpen, and the relief corps is solid.
And then there are the Angels, who made the most noise of anyone in the AL West, and maybe anyone in the big leagues, when they landed Hamilton via free agency, putting him smack in the middle of a lineup that already included last year's rookie sensation, Mike Trout, and Albert Pujols.
Seattle beefed up its lineup with Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse. Houston is young and talented and doesn't have anything to lose.
We polled our AL West beat reporters -- Jane Lee (A's), Alden Gonzalez (Angels), T.R. Sullivan (Rangers), Greg Johns (Mariners) and Brian McTaggart (Astros) -- and asked them to rank the teams in four major categories and give input as to the race as a whole.
Read More: Loaded Angels in for a test from American League West foes | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Joining the chorus of praise for Buster Posey on Friday, Giants general manager Brian Sabean said that the organization "turned on a dime" when the catcher reached the Major Leagues.
Posey's considerable impact upon the Giants has turned that dime into pure gold.
He and the Giants agreed to terms on the most lucrative contract in franchise history on Friday, an eight-year, $167 million extension.
The deal locks in Posey's value, as well as Posey himself. The club assured itself of cost certainty with a contract that covers Posey's three remaining years of salary arbitration and five years of free agency. It includes a club option for 2022 and, according to a source familiar with the deal, a full no-trade provision.
"It's the most incredible feeling, knowing that the next nine years I'll be a part of this very storied franchise," Posey said.
The 26-year-old has gilded the franchise's glory. Posey's coming off a 2012 campaign in which he hit .336 with 24 home runs and 103 RBIs, won the National League Most Valuable Player Award and helped the Giants earn their second World Series title in three years. In 2010, the club's other World Series-winning season, Posey captured the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Posey became the first catcher to win the NL MVP Award in 40 years and the first to win the league's batting title in 70 years. He's also just the third catcher to win the MVP and World Series in the same season, along with Hall of Famers Roy Campanella (Brooklyn Dodgers, 1955) and Yogi Berra (New York Yankees, 1951). Posey and St. Louis' Stan Musial are the only players to perform for two World Series champions and win an MVP Award in their first three Major League seasons.
"If he's not the face of the franchise, he's certainly a player that comes around once in a baseball life, or not that often," Sabean said of Posey.
Posey's accomplishments and the relatively brief time in which he achieved them partly explain the contract's value and the challenge the Giants faced in negotiating the deal with his agent, Jeff Berry of CAA. Few players compare to him.
"We had a hill to climb to try to get on the same page," Sabean said, mixing his metaphors but not his meaning. Sabean recalled emphasizing to club president and chief executive officer Larry Baer as talks began that wasting Berry's time would be a mistake.
"CAA, and Jeff especially, are deal-makers," Sabean said. "I told Larry, as we contemplated how we would go forward, that Buster is the type of player who deserves this entree. But if we're going to get in negotiations, we have to be committed to sign this player. You don't get into negotiations just for the sake of seeing where you think it's going to go. You have to be all-out committed."
The Giants complied with a commitment that's nothing short of historic. It's a record guarantee for a player with fewer than three years of service time. Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez set the previous standard with his seven-year, $80 million contract. It's also the biggest financial obligation to a player with fewer than four years of service time, exceeding the $151.45 million Colorado committed to first baseman Todd Helton for 11 years.
Technically, the contract spans nine years, including this season, which represents the longest deal in history for a catcher. It also ranks second among catchers in total value. Minnesota's Joe Mauer signed an eight-year, $184 million extension in 2010, though his deal did not wipe out any arbitration years. In Giants annals, Posey's contract eclipsed the six-year, $127.5 million deal that right-hander Matt Cain signed last year for what was the franchise's richest pact.
Posey will receive a $7 million signing bonus, according to the source. Having previously settled for $8 million this year, Posey now will receive $3 million in 2013, $10.5 million in '14, $16.5 million in '15, $20 million in '16 and $21.4 million per year from 2017-21. The 2022 club option is worth $22 million, with a $3 million buyout. Posey also will contribute $50,000 per year to Giants charities.
"This is, by any measure, the largest and boldest commitment we've ever made to a player," Baer said, adding that the Giants also were investing in Posey's renowned character. "There are certain elements that give us a lot of comfort in making this kind of commitment. His professionalism, work ethic, maturity ... the way he plays the game with humility."
The deal's timing was significant, since both sides reportedly wanted to finish negotiations before Opening Day. The Giants begin defense of their World Series championship on Monday in Los Angeles.
Fortunately for the Giants, Posey maintained a genuine desire to stay in San Francisco long-term.
"I don't see how you can play here and not want to spend your career here," Posey said, citing the near-sellout crowd that gathered at AT&T Park for Thursday night's exhibition game against the Oakland A's. "It just goes to show you the love these fans here have not only for Giants baseball, but I think for baseball in general."
Posey will reach age 35 if he plays through the contract's option year, prompting the issue of how long he can catch and remain productive offensively. Posey indicated that he would be willing to switch positions "if it's something we felt would help the team." But, he added, "My passion is definitely to be behind the plate for as long as I can."
That possibility thrilled Posey's teammates.
"We're all super excited for Buster," Cain said. "He's definitely more than earned what just happened to him. Doing that shows how much faith [management has] in him and what he's done in his career. For a starting staff, it's really nice to see that he's going to be here ... forever."
Said shortstop Brandon Crawford, "Hopefully I can be here for all nine years."
Citing the combination of Posey's deal and the offseason re-signings of center fielder Angel Pagan, second baseman Mar
Posey's considerable impact upon the Giants has turned that dime into pure gold.
He and the Giants agreed to terms on the most lucrative contract in franchise history on Friday, an eight-year, $167 million extension.
The deal locks in Posey's value, as well as Posey himself. The club assured itself of cost certainty with a contract that covers Posey's three remaining years of salary arbitration and five years of free agency. It includes a club option for 2022 and, according to a source familiar with the deal, a full no-trade provision.
"It's the most incredible feeling, knowing that the next nine years I'll be a part of this very storied franchise," Posey said.
The 26-year-old has gilded the franchise's glory. Posey's coming off a 2012 campaign in which he hit .336 with 24 home runs and 103 RBIs, won the National League Most Valuable Player Award and helped the Giants earn their second World Series title in three years. In 2010, the club's other World Series-winning season, Posey captured the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Posey became the first catcher to win the NL MVP Award in 40 years and the first to win the league's batting title in 70 years. He's also just the third catcher to win the MVP and World Series in the same season, along with Hall of Famers Roy Campanella (Brooklyn Dodgers, 1955) and Yogi Berra (New York Yankees, 1951). Posey and St. Louis' Stan Musial are the only players to perform for two World Series champions and win an MVP Award in their first three Major League seasons.
"If he's not the face of the franchise, he's certainly a player that comes around once in a baseball life, or not that often," Sabean said of Posey.
Posey's accomplishments and the relatively brief time in which he achieved them partly explain the contract's value and the challenge the Giants faced in negotiating the deal with his agent, Jeff Berry of CAA. Few players compare to him.
"We had a hill to climb to try to get on the same page," Sabean said, mixing his metaphors but not his meaning. Sabean recalled emphasizing to club president and chief executive officer Larry Baer as talks began that wasting Berry's time would be a mistake.
"CAA, and Jeff especially, are deal-makers," Sabean said. "I told Larry, as we contemplated how we would go forward, that Buster is the type of player who deserves this entree. But if we're going to get in negotiations, we have to be committed to sign this player. You don't get into negotiations just for the sake of seeing where you think it's going to go. You have to be all-out committed."
The Giants complied with a commitment that's nothing short of historic. It's a record guarantee for a player with fewer than three years of service time. Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez set the previous standard with his seven-year, $80 million contract. It's also the biggest financial obligation to a player with fewer than four years of service time, exceeding the $151.45 million Colorado committed to first baseman Todd Helton for 11 years.
Technically, the contract spans nine years, including this season, which represents the longest deal in history for a catcher. It also ranks second among catchers in total value. Minnesota's Joe Mauer signed an eight-year, $184 million extension in 2010, though his deal did not wipe out any arbitration years. In Giants annals, Posey's contract eclipsed the six-year, $127.5 million deal that right-hander Matt Cain signed last year for what was the franchise's richest pact.
Posey will receive a $7 million signing bonus, according to the source. Having previously settled for $8 million this year, Posey now will receive $3 million in 2013, $10.5 million in '14, $16.5 million in '15, $20 million in '16 and $21.4 million per year from 2017-21. The 2022 club option is worth $22 million, with a $3 million buyout. Posey also will contribute $50,000 per year to Giants charities.
"This is, by any measure, the largest and boldest commitment we've ever made to a player," Baer said, adding that the Giants also were investing in Posey's renowned character. "There are certain elements that give us a lot of comfort in making this kind of commitment. His professionalism, work ethic, maturity ... the way he plays the game with humility."
The deal's timing was significant, since both sides reportedly wanted to finish negotiations before Opening Day. The Giants begin defense of their World Series championship on Monday in Los Angeles.
Fortunately for the Giants, Posey maintained a genuine desire to stay in San Francisco long-term.
"I don't see how you can play here and not want to spend your career here," Posey said, citing the near-sellout crowd that gathered at AT&T Park for Thursday night's exhibition game against the Oakland A's. "It just goes to show you the love these fans here have not only for Giants baseball, but I think for baseball in general."
Posey will reach age 35 if he plays through the contract's option year, prompting the issue of how long he can catch and remain productive offensively. Posey indicated that he would be willing to switch positions "if it's something we felt would help the team." But, he added, "My passion is definitely to be behind the plate for as long as I can."
That possibility thrilled Posey's teammates.
"We're all super excited for Buster," Cain said. "He's definitely more than earned what just happened to him. Doing that shows how much faith [management has] in him and what he's done in his career. For a starting staff, it's really nice to see that he's going to be here ... forever."
Said shortstop Brandon Crawford, "Hopefully I can be here for all nine years."
Citing the combination of Posey's deal and the offseason re-signings of center fielder Angel Pagan, second baseman Mar
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Tommy Hanson and Zack Greinke each pitched well in important, final tuneups, and Hank Conger brought down the spring curtain with a walk-off homer as the Angels beat the Dodgers, 2-1, in front of a sold-out crowd of 44,717 at Angel Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dodgers took two of three in the annual exhibition Freeway Series, finishing Spring Training at 13-20-3 before hosting the Giants in Monday's Opening Day at 1:10 p.m. PT. The Angels, who open up in Cincinnati at 1:10 p.m., finished at 10-20-4.
Hanson, the Angels' fifth starter, went 6 1/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits while walking two and striking out six. There was some concern when the 26-year-old right-hander left after three innings on March 20 because of non-threatening right triceps tightness, but he got his necessary workload in a Minor League game five days later and pitched well in a 93-pitch outing on Saturday.
He lines up to start next Saturday at Rangers Ballpark.
"I feel like I'm close and my stamina is up and everything is good, and my endurance is where it needs to be," Hanson said. "All those positives, but then it's time to move on. That's Spring Training. Now I have to get ready for my first start next week."
Greinke missed three starts in March because of a bout with the flu and elbow inflammation, prompting the Dodgers to slot their $147 million arm in the fourth spot of their rotation. But Greinke cruised through his former team in a five-inning, 81-pitch outing -- giving up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out five -- and lines up to start against the Pirates on Friday.
It was Greinke's first game at Angel Stadium since his two-month stint here down the stretch last season.
"I guess I didn't think about it too much, actually," Greinke said of facing the Angels. "I mean, I like facing [Alberto] Callaspo. I played with him a bunch. I like facing him, even before this. He was with me in Kansas City and with the Angels. It was good to face [Mike] Trout for the first time. I got to see what he's about, facing him instead of just watching him."
Trout drove in the Angels' first run on a third-inning RBI groundout and finished the spring with a .350 batting average after going 0-for-3 in the finale. The Dodgers scored in the first thanks to leadoff hitter Carl Crawford, who drew a walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Matt Kemp's sacrifice fly.
Kemp, crowned the Freeway Series MVP, was the only hitter on either side with multiple hits, going 2-for-2 to finish his spring with a .250 batting average.
Josh Wall, Chris Capuano and Peter Moylan of the Dodgers, and Jerome Williams, Scott Downs and Ernesto Frieri of the Angels each had scoreless outings.
Yimi Garcia was on the mound for L.A. when Conger hit his fourth spring homer.
"It was a pretty good ending to the spring," said Conger, who found out pregame that he made the team as the backup catcher. "I couldn't write it any better."
Angels wrap spring on Hank Conger's walk-off homer | MLB-com: News
The Dodgers took two of three in the annual exhibition Freeway Series, finishing Spring Training at 13-20-3 before hosting the Giants in Monday's Opening Day at 1:10 p.m. PT. The Angels, who open up in Cincinnati at 1:10 p.m., finished at 10-20-4.
Hanson, the Angels' fifth starter, went 6 1/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits while walking two and striking out six. There was some concern when the 26-year-old right-hander left after three innings on March 20 because of non-threatening right triceps tightness, but he got his necessary workload in a Minor League game five days later and pitched well in a 93-pitch outing on Saturday.
He lines up to start next Saturday at Rangers Ballpark.
"I feel like I'm close and my stamina is up and everything is good, and my endurance is where it needs to be," Hanson said. "All those positives, but then it's time to move on. That's Spring Training. Now I have to get ready for my first start next week."
Greinke missed three starts in March because of a bout with the flu and elbow inflammation, prompting the Dodgers to slot their $147 million arm in the fourth spot of their rotation. But Greinke cruised through his former team in a five-inning, 81-pitch outing -- giving up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out five -- and lines up to start against the Pirates on Friday.
It was Greinke's first game at Angel Stadium since his two-month stint here down the stretch last season.
"I guess I didn't think about it too much, actually," Greinke said of facing the Angels. "I mean, I like facing [Alberto] Callaspo. I played with him a bunch. I like facing him, even before this. He was with me in Kansas City and with the Angels. It was good to face [Mike] Trout for the first time. I got to see what he's about, facing him instead of just watching him."
Trout drove in the Angels' first run on a third-inning RBI groundout and finished the spring with a .350 batting average after going 0-for-3 in the finale. The Dodgers scored in the first thanks to leadoff hitter Carl Crawford, who drew a walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Matt Kemp's sacrifice fly.
Kemp, crowned the Freeway Series MVP, was the only hitter on either side with multiple hits, going 2-for-2 to finish his spring with a .250 batting average.
Josh Wall, Chris Capuano and Peter Moylan of the Dodgers, and Jerome Williams, Scott Downs and Ernesto Frieri of the Angels each had scoreless outings.
Yimi Garcia was on the mound for L.A. when Conger hit his fourth spring homer.
"It was a pretty good ending to the spring," said Conger, who found out pregame that he made the team as the backup catcher. "I couldn't write it any better."
Angels wrap spring on Hank Conger's walk-off homer | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The Houston Astros and their spiffy new uniforms looked like a perfect fit in the American League.
Rick Ankiel and the Astros made an impressive debut in the AL, trouncing the Texas Rangers 8-2 Sunday night in the major league opener and giving Bo Porter a win in his first game as manager.
"To come out with a win is perfect," Astros designated hitter Carlos Pena said. "To be part of it is really cool. To play our rivals here in Texas and to come out on top today, it's a treat."
Ankiel launched a pinch-hit three-run shot for the majors' first homer this season, Bud Norris pitched well for the win and Erik Bedard threw 3 1-3 scoreless innings for his first career save.
Having switched from the National League to the AL in the offseason, the Astros earned their first opening day victory since 2006 and the 4,000th regular-season win in franchise history.
The Astros are coming off consecutive 100-loss seasons and has the lowest payroll in the majors, prompting many to predict they will be the worst team in the majors. But Houston opened in style wearing uniforms that brought back the orange and blue of old-school Astros teams.
After the game, rapper Drake's rags-to-riches hit "Started from the Bottom" played on a loop in the clubhouse. Houston, which has finished last in the majors each of the last two seasons, decided the song would be its postgame music after wins this season.
Justin Maxwell added a pair of triples and made a nifty catch in center field.
Norris (1-0) allowed five hits and two runs with five strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings. He was one of five Astros making their first opening day start on baseball's second-youngest team.
"To sit at 1-0 right now feels pretty darn good, and we've just got to go back out there on Tuesday and play some more baseball," Norris said.
Bedard shut down the Rangers on one hit the rest of the way for his first save in a 10-season career.
Porter, who at 40 is baseball's youngest manager, insisted all spring that this team would be much better than last season.
"It's more about the concepts that we've implemented," Porter said. "They do a great job with the information we provide and it allows them to play with confidence and allows them to play fast."
As Houston began a new era with the move to the AL, the Rangers were embarking on a new chapter without 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton. Along with Hamilton's departure to the Angels, Texas also lost catcher Mike Napoli and infielder Michael Young.
The loss snapped a streak of four straight opening day victories by the Rangers. Former Astros star Lance Berkman had two hits in his first game as Texas' designated hitter.
"I think there have been some people who have been disparaging in their analysis of their talent level, but this is the major leagues, and any team is capable of beating any other team on a given night," Berkman said.
He isn't worried about their offense coming around.
"If you look at the back of our baseball cards, I think we're pretty stinking good," he said.
Matt Harrison (0-1), who signed a $55 million contract this offseason, yielded six hits and five runs and tied a career high with nine strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings.
Maxwell's two-out triple in the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie and gave Houston a 2-0 lead. The ball bounced off the wall in left field and scored Brett Wallace and Carlos Pena, who both got on with singles. Umpires reviewed the play to make sure it wasn't a home run, and upheld the call.
An error by right fielder Nelson Cruz let Houston score a run in the fifth, and Jose Altuve singled home another.
Harrison put runners at first and second with walks in the sixth and was replaced by Derek Lowe with two outs. Ankiel, the one-time pitcher with St. Louis, connected on his fifth career pinch-hit homer, a full-count shot to right field that made it 7-2.
Norris had a tough second inning and had to use 26 pitches to escape, striking out Mitch Moreland. Norris got on a roll from there, retiring nine of the next 10 batters.
Norris ran into trouble in the sixth when Ian Kinsler drew a walk and Berkman hit a one-out single. Murphy's two-out single sent Kinsler home to make it 4-1. Cruz followed with a groundball single that rolled just out of reach of diving shortstop Ronny Cedeno to score Berkman and chase Norris. Chants of "Cruuuuuuuz" filled the stadium, indicating the large number of Rangers fans who made the 250-mile trip from Dallas. Norris was replaced by Erik Bedard, who is Houston's fifth starter, but won't be needed for a while in the rotation because of off-days.
NOTES: Altuve got the first hit of the 2013 season. ... These teams have a day off Monday before resuming the series on Tuesday when the Rangers' Yu Darvish opposes Lucas Harrell. ... Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, the NFL's defensive player of the year, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Watt, who said he threw a bullpen session to prepare for the task, threw a strike. ... Texans star receiver Andre Johnson was also in the sold-out crowd of 41,307. ... Lyle Lovett performed the national anthem.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Astros strong in AL debut, top Texas in MLB opener - US News and World Report
Rick Ankiel and the Astros made an impressive debut in the AL, trouncing the Texas Rangers 8-2 Sunday night in the major league opener and giving Bo Porter a win in his first game as manager.
"To come out with a win is perfect," Astros designated hitter Carlos Pena said. "To be part of it is really cool. To play our rivals here in Texas and to come out on top today, it's a treat."
Ankiel launched a pinch-hit three-run shot for the majors' first homer this season, Bud Norris pitched well for the win and Erik Bedard threw 3 1-3 scoreless innings for his first career save.
Having switched from the National League to the AL in the offseason, the Astros earned their first opening day victory since 2006 and the 4,000th regular-season win in franchise history.
The Astros are coming off consecutive 100-loss seasons and has the lowest payroll in the majors, prompting many to predict they will be the worst team in the majors. But Houston opened in style wearing uniforms that brought back the orange and blue of old-school Astros teams.
After the game, rapper Drake's rags-to-riches hit "Started from the Bottom" played on a loop in the clubhouse. Houston, which has finished last in the majors each of the last two seasons, decided the song would be its postgame music after wins this season.
Justin Maxwell added a pair of triples and made a nifty catch in center field.
Norris (1-0) allowed five hits and two runs with five strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings. He was one of five Astros making their first opening day start on baseball's second-youngest team.
"To sit at 1-0 right now feels pretty darn good, and we've just got to go back out there on Tuesday and play some more baseball," Norris said.
Bedard shut down the Rangers on one hit the rest of the way for his first save in a 10-season career.
Porter, who at 40 is baseball's youngest manager, insisted all spring that this team would be much better than last season.
"It's more about the concepts that we've implemented," Porter said. "They do a great job with the information we provide and it allows them to play with confidence and allows them to play fast."
As Houston began a new era with the move to the AL, the Rangers were embarking on a new chapter without 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton. Along with Hamilton's departure to the Angels, Texas also lost catcher Mike Napoli and infielder Michael Young.
The loss snapped a streak of four straight opening day victories by the Rangers. Former Astros star Lance Berkman had two hits in his first game as Texas' designated hitter.
"I think there have been some people who have been disparaging in their analysis of their talent level, but this is the major leagues, and any team is capable of beating any other team on a given night," Berkman said.
He isn't worried about their offense coming around.
"If you look at the back of our baseball cards, I think we're pretty stinking good," he said.
Matt Harrison (0-1), who signed a $55 million contract this offseason, yielded six hits and five runs and tied a career high with nine strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings.
Maxwell's two-out triple in the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie and gave Houston a 2-0 lead. The ball bounced off the wall in left field and scored Brett Wallace and Carlos Pena, who both got on with singles. Umpires reviewed the play to make sure it wasn't a home run, and upheld the call.
An error by right fielder Nelson Cruz let Houston score a run in the fifth, and Jose Altuve singled home another.
Harrison put runners at first and second with walks in the sixth and was replaced by Derek Lowe with two outs. Ankiel, the one-time pitcher with St. Louis, connected on his fifth career pinch-hit homer, a full-count shot to right field that made it 7-2.
Norris had a tough second inning and had to use 26 pitches to escape, striking out Mitch Moreland. Norris got on a roll from there, retiring nine of the next 10 batters.
Norris ran into trouble in the sixth when Ian Kinsler drew a walk and Berkman hit a one-out single. Murphy's two-out single sent Kinsler home to make it 4-1. Cruz followed with a groundball single that rolled just out of reach of diving shortstop Ronny Cedeno to score Berkman and chase Norris. Chants of "Cruuuuuuuz" filled the stadium, indicating the large number of Rangers fans who made the 250-mile trip from Dallas. Norris was replaced by Erik Bedard, who is Houston's fifth starter, but won't be needed for a while in the rotation because of off-days.
NOTES: Altuve got the first hit of the 2013 season. ... These teams have a day off Monday before resuming the series on Tuesday when the Rangers' Yu Darvish opposes Lucas Harrell. ... Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, the NFL's defensive player of the year, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Watt, who said he threw a bullpen session to prepare for the task, threw a strike. ... Texans star receiver Andre Johnson was also in the sold-out crowd of 41,307. ... Lyle Lovett performed the national anthem.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Astros strong in AL debut, top Texas in MLB opener - US News and World Report
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Moments of silence hit leadoff on Opening Day throughout Major League Baseball on Monday.
The celebration of a season couldn't begin across the country without remembering one our nation's saddest tragedies: December's Sandy Hook school shooting, which shook victims, their families, friends, the community of Newtown, Conn., and the entire country. In the Bronx, the Yankees and Red Sox dedicated their Opening Day contest to the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, and all of MLB's players, managers, coaches, umpires and on-field personnel wore a ribbon patch on their uniforms to honor those who lost their lives or their loved ones on Dec. 14, 2012.
"I think it's important to say thank you," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Monday. "The town of Newtown went through so much during the last four or five months, and you think about being a responder. Sometimes we don't think about what they go through and how important they are during a situation like that."
"Just honoring them, being there for them, is outstanding," added Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. "We cannot change what happened. I wish we could. But at the same time, we're trying to bring them a lot of good moments and just trying to take the tragedy away from their minds for a little bit."
In Pittsburgh, managers Clint Hurdle of the Pirates and Dale Sveum of the Cubs, players of both teams, umpires and all on-field personnel wore a symbolic ribbon patch on their sleeves in honor of the Newtown, Conn., victims. So, too, did the Reds and Angels in Cincinnati.
Twins Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who joined the Marine Corps in 1965 and served active duty as a combat engineer before serving as a reservist from 1966-71, raised the U.S. flag on Target Plaza in right field after a video and moment of silence for the Newtown victims in Minnesota. Nathan Perttula, 11, and Cole Harms, 12, of Crystal Little League raised the Hennepin County flag, while the Twins Territory flag was raised by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
The Mets recognized those affected by another difficult moment for the tri-state area, bringing more than 500 first responders of Hurricane Sandy on the field for the national anthem. The Mets also handed out more than 1,000 tickets to citizens involved in the storm response, and honored first responders from all branches.
"It means the world to us," said Lt. Peter O'Neill of the NYPD. "How many times do you get to stand on the baseball field for a National League team? We stand in front of everyone and everyone says 'Thank You' to us. It doesn't happen very often. We appreciate it. I brought my son, and he's having a good time."
The games, and the usual -- and, at times, unusual -- mix of Opening Day pomp and pageantry also were on display throughout MLB on Monday.
In the nation's capital, fans celebrated the Nationals' breakthrough 2012 season, as the club unveiled its NL East championship banner atop the right-field scoreboard, and passed out awards before a standing-room-only crowd at Nationals Park. General manager Mike Rizzo accepted his MLB Executive of the Year Award, Davey Johnson received his NL Manager of the Year Award and first baseman Adam LaRoche was presented with NL Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.
In Pittsburgh, the Pirates recognized United States Marine Corp Cpl. Brandon Rumbaugh, a double amputee who lost both legs during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, during violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley's rendition of the national anthem. Pirates chairman Bob Nutting hopes to host and recognize more members of the Wounded Warriors as the season goes on.
In keeping with a year that's seen them add a ton of big-name talent, the Dodgers put plenty of star power on the field before their season opener. Magic Johnson looked ready to throw out the first pitch before manager Don Mattingly walked out to the mound and signaled for Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who then tossed the ball to 1988 NL Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP Orel Hershiser.
Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, the day was all about time-honored traditions. The city's 137th Opening Day game began with the 94th edition of the Findlay Market Parade through downtown. Reds great George Foster served as grand marshal, while Bronson Arroyo and Mat Latos rode in a convertible through the crowds. Inside Great American Ball Park, hosting its 11th Opening Day, Joe Torre threw the first pitch to Brandon Phillips, Torre's second baseman on the U.S. World Baseball Classic team.
"It's a holiday here," Reds right fielder Jay Bruce said. "It's something that is very, very special to the fans and to myself. It's something I look forward to every year.
"Regardless of who you're playing, it's still baseball and it's still Opening Day in Cincinnati."
Opening Day brings celebration, tradition and remembrance | MLB-com: News
The celebration of a season couldn't begin across the country without remembering one our nation's saddest tragedies: December's Sandy Hook school shooting, which shook victims, their families, friends, the community of Newtown, Conn., and the entire country. In the Bronx, the Yankees and Red Sox dedicated their Opening Day contest to the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, and all of MLB's players, managers, coaches, umpires and on-field personnel wore a ribbon patch on their uniforms to honor those who lost their lives or their loved ones on Dec. 14, 2012.
"I think it's important to say thank you," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Monday. "The town of Newtown went through so much during the last four or five months, and you think about being a responder. Sometimes we don't think about what they go through and how important they are during a situation like that."
"Just honoring them, being there for them, is outstanding," added Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. "We cannot change what happened. I wish we could. But at the same time, we're trying to bring them a lot of good moments and just trying to take the tragedy away from their minds for a little bit."
In Pittsburgh, managers Clint Hurdle of the Pirates and Dale Sveum of the Cubs, players of both teams, umpires and all on-field personnel wore a symbolic ribbon patch on their sleeves in honor of the Newtown, Conn., victims. So, too, did the Reds and Angels in Cincinnati.
Twins Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who joined the Marine Corps in 1965 and served active duty as a combat engineer before serving as a reservist from 1966-71, raised the U.S. flag on Target Plaza in right field after a video and moment of silence for the Newtown victims in Minnesota. Nathan Perttula, 11, and Cole Harms, 12, of Crystal Little League raised the Hennepin County flag, while the Twins Territory flag was raised by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
The Mets recognized those affected by another difficult moment for the tri-state area, bringing more than 500 first responders of Hurricane Sandy on the field for the national anthem. The Mets also handed out more than 1,000 tickets to citizens involved in the storm response, and honored first responders from all branches.
"It means the world to us," said Lt. Peter O'Neill of the NYPD. "How many times do you get to stand on the baseball field for a National League team? We stand in front of everyone and everyone says 'Thank You' to us. It doesn't happen very often. We appreciate it. I brought my son, and he's having a good time."
The games, and the usual -- and, at times, unusual -- mix of Opening Day pomp and pageantry also were on display throughout MLB on Monday.
In the nation's capital, fans celebrated the Nationals' breakthrough 2012 season, as the club unveiled its NL East championship banner atop the right-field scoreboard, and passed out awards before a standing-room-only crowd at Nationals Park. General manager Mike Rizzo accepted his MLB Executive of the Year Award, Davey Johnson received his NL Manager of the Year Award and first baseman Adam LaRoche was presented with NL Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.
In Pittsburgh, the Pirates recognized United States Marine Corp Cpl. Brandon Rumbaugh, a double amputee who lost both legs during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, during violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley's rendition of the national anthem. Pirates chairman Bob Nutting hopes to host and recognize more members of the Wounded Warriors as the season goes on.
In keeping with a year that's seen them add a ton of big-name talent, the Dodgers put plenty of star power on the field before their season opener. Magic Johnson looked ready to throw out the first pitch before manager Don Mattingly walked out to the mound and signaled for Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who then tossed the ball to 1988 NL Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP Orel Hershiser.
Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, the day was all about time-honored traditions. The city's 137th Opening Day game began with the 94th edition of the Findlay Market Parade through downtown. Reds great George Foster served as grand marshal, while Bronson Arroyo and Mat Latos rode in a convertible through the crowds. Inside Great American Ball Park, hosting its 11th Opening Day, Joe Torre threw the first pitch to Brandon Phillips, Torre's second baseman on the U.S. World Baseball Classic team.
"It's a holiday here," Reds right fielder Jay Bruce said. "It's something that is very, very special to the fans and to myself. It's something I look forward to every year.
"Regardless of who you're playing, it's still baseball and it's still Opening Day in Cincinnati."
Opening Day brings celebration, tradition and remembrance | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Just-retired players who are famous, and who played ball with the media during their careers, have instant credibility as broadcasting prospects.
That fits Chipper Jones, the future Hall of Famer who retired in 2012 after batting .303 over 19 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He started a national on-air gig Tuesday. USA TODAY Sports has suggested Jones would be a good replacement for Tim McCarver, who's retiring as Fox's lead MLB analyst after this season, because Jones' low-key style is full of sharp wit.
But Jones told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday he's not all that keen on getting on-air roles, "and definitely not this season, because I want to stay close to home. I made some promises (to family) over the last couple years."
Plus, Jones says he's happy to take a break from baseball. "I'm not going to jump into anything full-bore for some time," he said. "I've been living out of a suitcase for 23 years in pro baseball and don't want to jump back into the lifestyle of coming and going every few days."
Jones, via the syndicated NBC Sports Radio that debuted this week, will do an hour show every Tuesday (1 p.m. ET) from his Georgia home. After his debut, he said he had "a good time. I couldn't really grade it."
Many former players or coaches say they want to get into broadcasting to remain a part of their sport. Jones, for now, says he doesn't feel that way. "I don't have the urge to be close to the game right now," he said. "... Until I get the urge to get in the game in some way, shape or form, I'm happy right now."
Retired MLB star Chipper Jones just testing broadcasting
That fits Chipper Jones, the future Hall of Famer who retired in 2012 after batting .303 over 19 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He started a national on-air gig Tuesday. USA TODAY Sports has suggested Jones would be a good replacement for Tim McCarver, who's retiring as Fox's lead MLB analyst after this season, because Jones' low-key style is full of sharp wit.
But Jones told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday he's not all that keen on getting on-air roles, "and definitely not this season, because I want to stay close to home. I made some promises (to family) over the last couple years."
Plus, Jones says he's happy to take a break from baseball. "I'm not going to jump into anything full-bore for some time," he said. "I've been living out of a suitcase for 23 years in pro baseball and don't want to jump back into the lifestyle of coming and going every few days."
Jones, via the syndicated NBC Sports Radio that debuted this week, will do an hour show every Tuesday (1 p.m. ET) from his Georgia home. After his debut, he said he had "a good time. I couldn't really grade it."
Many former players or coaches say they want to get into broadcasting to remain a part of their sport. Jones, for now, says he doesn't feel that way. "I don't have the urge to be close to the game right now," he said. "... Until I get the urge to get in the game in some way, shape or form, I'm happy right now."
Retired MLB star Chipper Jones just testing broadcasting
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda was forced to leave Wednesday's 7-4 loss against the Red Sox with a bruise to his right middle finger.
Kuroda had an X-ray and a CT scan after his hand made contact with Shane Victorino's hard line drive to open the second inning, which glanced off the hurler's middle finger and landed in center field.
"I guess it happens," Kuroda said through an interpreter. "I'll try to regroup myself and prepare for my next start."
Kuroda said that it was "tough to tell" if he'd be able to take his next turn in the rotation. He will throw a bullpen session on Friday in Detroit and should have a better idea then.
After Victorino's hit, Kuroda was seen on the mound by manager Joe Girardi and head athletic trainer Steve Donohue. He threw several warmup pitches to prove he could stay in the game, but Kuroda's command appeared to suffer as the inning continued.
"You're obviously concerned whenever it hits a pitcher's bare hand," Girardi said. "I saw him throw some warmup pitches after that and felt better about it, but obviously it started to bother him at the end because you saw him lose his command."
Kuroda hit Jackie Bradley Jr. with a pitch before inducing a Jose Iglesias fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. A walk to Jacoby Ellsbury followed, and Kuroda drilled Daniel Nava to force in Boston's second run of the evening.
"It looked good coming out of his hands, but then a couple pitches in the next at-bat, his ball just wasn't doing what you need it to do," catcher Chris Stewart said. "We knew it wasn't him. At that point he wasn't on. It was time to get him out of there."
Girardi removed Kuroda following his 41st pitch of the night. Kuroda was replaced by right-hander Cody Eppley, who was given as much time as needed to warm up because of the injury.
Eppley allowed four runs in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Warren saved the bullpen with 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Shawn Kelley finished up with a scoreless ninth inning.
Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda exits with bruised right middle finger | MLB-com: News
Kuroda had an X-ray and a CT scan after his hand made contact with Shane Victorino's hard line drive to open the second inning, which glanced off the hurler's middle finger and landed in center field.
"I guess it happens," Kuroda said through an interpreter. "I'll try to regroup myself and prepare for my next start."
Kuroda said that it was "tough to tell" if he'd be able to take his next turn in the rotation. He will throw a bullpen session on Friday in Detroit and should have a better idea then.
After Victorino's hit, Kuroda was seen on the mound by manager Joe Girardi and head athletic trainer Steve Donohue. He threw several warmup pitches to prove he could stay in the game, but Kuroda's command appeared to suffer as the inning continued.
"You're obviously concerned whenever it hits a pitcher's bare hand," Girardi said. "I saw him throw some warmup pitches after that and felt better about it, but obviously it started to bother him at the end because you saw him lose his command."
Kuroda hit Jackie Bradley Jr. with a pitch before inducing a Jose Iglesias fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. A walk to Jacoby Ellsbury followed, and Kuroda drilled Daniel Nava to force in Boston's second run of the evening.
"It looked good coming out of his hands, but then a couple pitches in the next at-bat, his ball just wasn't doing what you need it to do," catcher Chris Stewart said. "We knew it wasn't him. At that point he wasn't on. It was time to get him out of there."
Girardi removed Kuroda following his 41st pitch of the night. Kuroda was replaced by right-hander Cody Eppley, who was given as much time as needed to warm up because of the injury.
Eppley allowed four runs in 1 1/3 innings before Adam Warren saved the bullpen with 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Shawn Kelley finished up with a scoreless ninth inning.
Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda exits with bruised right middle finger | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Vladimir Guerrero has waited for a team to call upon him. Now it appears the nine-time All-Star will be a Duck.
The veteran outfielder has agreed to join the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
Guerrero, 38, last played in the Major Leagues in 2011, when he logged a .290 average with 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 145 contests for the Orioles. He made a brief cameo with the Blue Jays' Class A and Triple-A affiliates last season before the organization released him in June.
Guerrero captured the 2004 American League Most Valuable Player Award when he batted .337 with 39 homers and 126 RBIs for the Angels in 2004. He spent eight years with the Expos before joining the Angels prior to the '04 campaign. He then spent the 2010 season with the Rangers before heading to Baltimore for a year.
For his career, Guerrero has tallied 449 home runs and totes a .318 average and .379 on-base percentage.
Vlad signs deal with Long Island Ducks | MLB-com: News
The veteran outfielder has agreed to join the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
Guerrero, 38, last played in the Major Leagues in 2011, when he logged a .290 average with 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 145 contests for the Orioles. He made a brief cameo with the Blue Jays' Class A and Triple-A affiliates last season before the organization released him in June.
Guerrero captured the 2004 American League Most Valuable Player Award when he batted .337 with 39 homers and 126 RBIs for the Angels in 2004. He spent eight years with the Expos before joining the Angels prior to the '04 campaign. He then spent the 2010 season with the Rangers before heading to Baltimore for a year.
For his career, Guerrero has tallied 449 home runs and totes a .318 average and .379 on-base percentage.
Vlad signs deal with Long Island Ducks | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
It sounds a bit on the smart-aleck side, but this is a phrase that's very true: Chris Davis has had a very good month in the first four games of the 2013 season.
Davis continued his hot start with a go-ahead grand slam off Twins reliever Tyler Robertson in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Orioles a 9-5 victory in their home opener Friday. The first baseman finished the day with five RBIs, and Davis established a bit more history.
That line-drive homer to left on Robertson's first pitch sent the sell-out crowd of 46,653 into hysterics and was the fourth Davis homer of the season. He's also already knocked in 16 runs in the four games as the Orioles improved to 3-1.
Those 16 RBIs in four games breaks the old record (12) that three players held. Davis also became the first Oriole and only fourth player in Major League history to get a home run in four straight games to begin the season. Willie Mays (1971), Mark McGwire (1998) and Nelson Cruz (2011) are the other three. No player has ever gone deep in five straight games.
Since Bill Dickey did it with the Yankees in 1937, Davis is the first player to homer and drive in at least three runs in his team's first four games.
In addition, going back to 2012, Davis now has hit 11 homers in his last 11 regular-season games. He homered in six straight games -- starting on Sept. 26, 2012. It's the second grand slam of his career and he also tied a personal best with five RBIs. He also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly earlier in the 2-for-4 day that let Davis finish the first four games with a .600 average.
"I'm glad he's on our side," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "His contact-to-damage ratio is real good right now. Chris would be the focus [today], and rightfully so."
Davis has driven in at least three runs in all four games this season. He blasted three-run homers in the first two games against Tampa Bay, added a two-run shot Thursday before his grand slam in Friday's contest.
He's now two games away from the Orioles record (six) for consecutive games with an RBI to begin the season. Brooks Robinson and Mike Devereaux are tied with that record. Robinson, the Hall of Fame third baseman, drove in 12 runs at the start of 1966. Devereaux drove in eight runs in the first six games at the beginning of '99.
Davis is aware of the history from this club and said he's glad to be a part of it.
"It means a lot," he said. "There's a lot of great hitters that have come through here and played here. I'd say the biggest thing is the wins, as many as we can get as often as we can get them. We're playing some really good baseball."
The Twins were trying to hold on to a 5-4 lead in the eighth, when Nolan Reimold and Nate McLouth started the inning with singles off Casey Fien. Manny Machado then moved the runners up with a good sacrifice bunt before the Twins intentionally walked Nick Markakis to get to the very hot Adam Jones.
Jones lined a game-tying single to left that ended Fien's day. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire brought in left-hander Robertson to face Davis. The move didn't work as Davis lined the first pitch to left to snap the 5-5 tie.
"Whatever he's done in these first four games has been historic," Jones said. "See ball, hit ball. It's hard, but that's what he's doing. He's comfortable. He's able to show up 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, he's in the lineup. I think that confidence at this level is a big help, and he's showing why we traded for him."
Davis just smiled when asked afterwards if there were any superstitions he used. There weren't any big secrets. Davis just feels very good right now, and it's why he's started so fast.
"I feel comfortable, kind of the same thing that was going on toward the end of last year," Davis said. "I felt like I was relaxed and being patient in the box, and that's the only thing I can really say about it. I don't feel like I'm doing anything magical. I feel comfortable. I feel like I'm being patient and taking what they give me."
Chris Davis slams way into exclusive company | MLB-com: News
Davis continued his hot start with a go-ahead grand slam off Twins reliever Tyler Robertson in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Orioles a 9-5 victory in their home opener Friday. The first baseman finished the day with five RBIs, and Davis established a bit more history.
That line-drive homer to left on Robertson's first pitch sent the sell-out crowd of 46,653 into hysterics and was the fourth Davis homer of the season. He's also already knocked in 16 runs in the four games as the Orioles improved to 3-1.
Those 16 RBIs in four games breaks the old record (12) that three players held. Davis also became the first Oriole and only fourth player in Major League history to get a home run in four straight games to begin the season. Willie Mays (1971), Mark McGwire (1998) and Nelson Cruz (2011) are the other three. No player has ever gone deep in five straight games.
Since Bill Dickey did it with the Yankees in 1937, Davis is the first player to homer and drive in at least three runs in his team's first four games.
In addition, going back to 2012, Davis now has hit 11 homers in his last 11 regular-season games. He homered in six straight games -- starting on Sept. 26, 2012. It's the second grand slam of his career and he also tied a personal best with five RBIs. He also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly earlier in the 2-for-4 day that let Davis finish the first four games with a .600 average.
"I'm glad he's on our side," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "His contact-to-damage ratio is real good right now. Chris would be the focus [today], and rightfully so."
Davis has driven in at least three runs in all four games this season. He blasted three-run homers in the first two games against Tampa Bay, added a two-run shot Thursday before his grand slam in Friday's contest.
He's now two games away from the Orioles record (six) for consecutive games with an RBI to begin the season. Brooks Robinson and Mike Devereaux are tied with that record. Robinson, the Hall of Fame third baseman, drove in 12 runs at the start of 1966. Devereaux drove in eight runs in the first six games at the beginning of '99.
Davis is aware of the history from this club and said he's glad to be a part of it.
"It means a lot," he said. "There's a lot of great hitters that have come through here and played here. I'd say the biggest thing is the wins, as many as we can get as often as we can get them. We're playing some really good baseball."
The Twins were trying to hold on to a 5-4 lead in the eighth, when Nolan Reimold and Nate McLouth started the inning with singles off Casey Fien. Manny Machado then moved the runners up with a good sacrifice bunt before the Twins intentionally walked Nick Markakis to get to the very hot Adam Jones.
Jones lined a game-tying single to left that ended Fien's day. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire brought in left-hander Robertson to face Davis. The move didn't work as Davis lined the first pitch to left to snap the 5-5 tie.
"Whatever he's done in these first four games has been historic," Jones said. "See ball, hit ball. It's hard, but that's what he's doing. He's comfortable. He's able to show up 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, he's in the lineup. I think that confidence at this level is a big help, and he's showing why we traded for him."
Davis just smiled when asked afterwards if there were any superstitions he used. There weren't any big secrets. Davis just feels very good right now, and it's why he's started so fast.
"I feel comfortable, kind of the same thing that was going on toward the end of last year," Davis said. "I felt like I was relaxed and being patient in the box, and that's the only thing I can really say about it. I don't feel like I'm doing anything magical. I feel comfortable. I feel like I'm being patient and taking what they give me."
Chris Davis slams way into exclusive company | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
It had to end sometime, but what a special streak it was.
Chris Davis tried to become the first player in Major League history to open a season with a homer in five consecutive games, but he was denied in the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Twins on Saturday night.
"I wasn't actually thinking I need to hit a homer," said Davis, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. "My mind-set was more, drive in runs. Homers come and go, they come in bunches. ... My goal was never to go up there and swing for the fences. It's to do my job, simplify my approach and stay with it."
Davis, who struck out in his first at-bat, kept his RBI streak intact with a bloop single in the third inning that scored Manny Machado. He's now one game shy (five) of tying Brooks Robinson and Mike Devereaux for the club record for consecutive games with an RBI to begin the season.
On Friday, Davis joined a special trio (Willie Mays, Mark McGwire and Nelson Cruz) with his fourth consecutive home run game to start the season.
Mays, McGwire and Cruz all came down to earth relatively quickly after their four-game, season-starting outbursts. Mays didn't homer for five more games, and McGwire didn't hit another for eight more games. Cruz went 1-for-his-next-7 before going deep in the second game of a doubleheader after a three-game homerless drought.
So, how do you stop Davis -- who is hitting .556 with a Major League-leading 17 RBIs -- completely?
"I don't think we've figured that out," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said prior to Saturday's game. "I'm not sure anyone has. But that's the goal. The biggest problem with that lineup is they have some many guys getting on base for them. They have a very good lineup and a lot of good two-strike hitters. And so he comes up with a lot of guys on."
At 27, Davis is the youngest player to accomplish the feat of four consecutive homer games to open the season, eclipsing Cruz, who was 30 in 2011.
How did the seasons pan out for the first three to hit the mark to start the season?
It became very clear very quickly that the 1971 season would be a special one for Mays. The Say Hey Kid's four-game homer streak to open a season was the first in MLB history. Later, Mays -- in his final full year as a Giant -- helped lead San Francisco to a National League West crown in an epic pennant race against the archrival Dodgers.
That pattern held true for the Cardinals' McGwire, who mashed a home run in each of his first four games in 1998. Of course, McGwire went on to shatter Roger Maris' 37-year-old, single-season home run mark by crushing 70 long balls in an epic pursuit of baseball's most storied record.
The 2011 regular season wasn't anything special for Cruz, aside from his becoming the third player to start the year with a four-game homer streak. But that was before he pieced together one of the most memorable postseasons of all time, including a record-tying eight playoff homers and two extra-inning shots in the American League Championship Series -- one a walk-off grand slam.
Chris Davis' consecutive homer streak ends at four | MLB-com: News
Chris Davis tried to become the first player in Major League history to open a season with a homer in five consecutive games, but he was denied in the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Twins on Saturday night.
"I wasn't actually thinking I need to hit a homer," said Davis, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. "My mind-set was more, drive in runs. Homers come and go, they come in bunches. ... My goal was never to go up there and swing for the fences. It's to do my job, simplify my approach and stay with it."
Davis, who struck out in his first at-bat, kept his RBI streak intact with a bloop single in the third inning that scored Manny Machado. He's now one game shy (five) of tying Brooks Robinson and Mike Devereaux for the club record for consecutive games with an RBI to begin the season.
On Friday, Davis joined a special trio (Willie Mays, Mark McGwire and Nelson Cruz) with his fourth consecutive home run game to start the season.
Mays, McGwire and Cruz all came down to earth relatively quickly after their four-game, season-starting outbursts. Mays didn't homer for five more games, and McGwire didn't hit another for eight more games. Cruz went 1-for-his-next-7 before going deep in the second game of a doubleheader after a three-game homerless drought.
So, how do you stop Davis -- who is hitting .556 with a Major League-leading 17 RBIs -- completely?
"I don't think we've figured that out," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said prior to Saturday's game. "I'm not sure anyone has. But that's the goal. The biggest problem with that lineup is they have some many guys getting on base for them. They have a very good lineup and a lot of good two-strike hitters. And so he comes up with a lot of guys on."
At 27, Davis is the youngest player to accomplish the feat of four consecutive homer games to open the season, eclipsing Cruz, who was 30 in 2011.
How did the seasons pan out for the first three to hit the mark to start the season?
It became very clear very quickly that the 1971 season would be a special one for Mays. The Say Hey Kid's four-game homer streak to open a season was the first in MLB history. Later, Mays -- in his final full year as a Giant -- helped lead San Francisco to a National League West crown in an epic pennant race against the archrival Dodgers.
That pattern held true for the Cardinals' McGwire, who mashed a home run in each of his first four games in 1998. Of course, McGwire went on to shatter Roger Maris' 37-year-old, single-season home run mark by crushing 70 long balls in an epic pursuit of baseball's most storied record.
The 2011 regular season wasn't anything special for Cruz, aside from his becoming the third player to start the year with a four-game homer streak. But that was before he pieced together one of the most memorable postseasons of all time, including a record-tying eight playoff homers and two extra-inning shots in the American League Championship Series -- one a walk-off grand slam.
Chris Davis' consecutive homer streak ends at four | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Baseball people often say it is “too early” to draw conclusions in April. That is true. But at some point — usually when teams begin firing managers — “too early” becomes “too late.” The changeover arrives abruptly, particularly if you are the newly deposed skipper.
In this — the season’s inaugural “Behind the Seams” column on FOXSports.com — we won’t be firing any managers. (Not even metaphorically.) We will, however, draw your attention to several key developments from the first full weekend of baseball.
The goal: We don’t want you to be surprised when the calendar flips from Too Early to Too Late. The Red Sox have enough talent to contend in the American League East.
It’s time to put away the hazmat suits at Fenway Park. The cleanup from the Great Collapse of 2011 is complete. The Red Sox have regained likeability among their own fans — which feels almost as significant as making it back to the postseason.
Boston is 4-2 and atop the American League East, which is less important than why John Farrell’s team is there. The Red Sox won series at Yankee Stadium and Rogers Centre — a good week, even with the Yankees in their diminished state — while displaying the grinder’s ethic they lost sometime after their most recent world title in 2007.
Sunday, Boston smacked Toronto, 13-0, even without the injured David Ortiz and Stephen Drew. Promising left fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. hasn’t settled in yet, and first baseman Mike Napoli is batting .179. So, imagine how good this lineup could be a couple months from now. Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia are catalyzing the offense again, and Will Middlebrooks — beginning his first full season as a big leaguer — socked three homers Sunday.
Not to make an excuse for Bobby Valentine, but Farrell’s bullpen — with a healthy Andrew Bailey and closer Joel Hanrahan — is much deeper than the Red Sox’ season-opening edition last year.
Most encouraging, though, have been the early signs from Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. Lester has a 1.50 ERA and wins in his first two starts. Buchholz won his season debut by allowing one earned run over seven innings against the Yankees. Together, they can elevate an otherwise slightly above average team into the postseason for the first time since 2009.
One concern: John Lackey, just back from Tommy John surgery, exited Saturday’s season debut with a right biceps strain. The Red Sox don’t know yet how long he could be unavailable.
The Angels are under pressure already.
Remember how the Angels started slowly last year, only to call up Mike Trout in late April and watch him (almost) will them into the postseason?
Last year’s Angels were 2-4 after six games.
This year’s Angels are 2-4 after six games.
Six games don’t constitute a “slow start.” There is little shame in losing road series to the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers, as the current Angels have done. Even better, the Angels have three games with the Houston Astros at the end of their upcoming homestand. (If you cheer/work/play for the Angels, please finish the column before texting YESSSSSS! FREE WINS to your friends.)
But as you’ve probably heard, Josh Hamilton has done a lot of swinging and missing lately. To be more specific, the April ’13 Hamilton is making the April ’12 Albert Pujols look like the July ’12 Trout.
Hamilton is 4-for-25 with one extra-base hit and two RBI in six games, although that includes three hits in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to his former team in Arlington.
Maybe Hamilton ended the slump during that last game in Texas. The Angels had better hope so, because (a) Hamilton is famously streaky and (b) they can ill afford another disappointing April. And the Angels may need to win some 8-6 and 7-5 games in the near future, with ace Jered Weaver leaving Sunday’s start with a strained left elbow just as his right (pitching) arm was showing an alarming decrease in velocity.
Chris Davis didn’t learn to hit last week.
Yes, Davis just staged one of the greatest season-opening hitting displays in baseball history: 16 RBI through four games and 17 RBI through five. Each was the most in Major League Baseball at those benchmarks since at least 1921, according to research by STATS LLC. Davis hit four home runs in Baltimore’s first four games, which had happened only 29 other times in MLB history, also per STATS LLC. (Chris Shelton hit five home runs in the Tigers’ first four games of the 2006 season . . . and was back in the minors that July.)
However Davis’ season turns out, it’s inaccurate to say he (or his power) came out of nowhere. Davis hit 33 homers for the postseason-bound Orioles last season and then played in all six playoff games. At the very least, the 27-year-old Texan is showing he can hold down an everyday job in the major leagues. For now, that role is at first base; he’s played designated hitter, third base and the corner outfield spots before.
Orioles general manager Dan Duquette did identify one new development with Davis’ approach early this season: He’s more willing to hit the ball to the opposite (left) field.
The Uptons are quite comfortable with the hype, thank you.
Expectations follow any high-profile acquisitions, but the scrutiny multiplies when those stars arrive in the same year, to a team with World Series potential, in a major market not far from where they grew up . . .
And, you know, they happen to be brothers.
But if anyone doubted whether B.J. and Justin Upton are ready to deliver for the Braves, well, there was Saturday night at Turner Field. Down a run in the ninth inning, B.J. belted the tying home run to center off Cubs closer Carlos Marmol. Two batters later, Justin delivered the game winner off the same pitcher, at nearly the same distance.
It was the first time brothers had hit the tying and winning homers in the same inning of a major league game, according to STATS LLC and the SABR home run log. So, let’s not be jaded about this: All baseball fan
In this — the season’s inaugural “Behind the Seams” column on FOXSports.com — we won’t be firing any managers. (Not even metaphorically.) We will, however, draw your attention to several key developments from the first full weekend of baseball.
The goal: We don’t want you to be surprised when the calendar flips from Too Early to Too Late. The Red Sox have enough talent to contend in the American League East.
It’s time to put away the hazmat suits at Fenway Park. The cleanup from the Great Collapse of 2011 is complete. The Red Sox have regained likeability among their own fans — which feels almost as significant as making it back to the postseason.
Boston is 4-2 and atop the American League East, which is less important than why John Farrell’s team is there. The Red Sox won series at Yankee Stadium and Rogers Centre — a good week, even with the Yankees in their diminished state — while displaying the grinder’s ethic they lost sometime after their most recent world title in 2007.
Sunday, Boston smacked Toronto, 13-0, even without the injured David Ortiz and Stephen Drew. Promising left fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. hasn’t settled in yet, and first baseman Mike Napoli is batting .179. So, imagine how good this lineup could be a couple months from now. Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia are catalyzing the offense again, and Will Middlebrooks — beginning his first full season as a big leaguer — socked three homers Sunday.
Not to make an excuse for Bobby Valentine, but Farrell’s bullpen — with a healthy Andrew Bailey and closer Joel Hanrahan — is much deeper than the Red Sox’ season-opening edition last year.
Most encouraging, though, have been the early signs from Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. Lester has a 1.50 ERA and wins in his first two starts. Buchholz won his season debut by allowing one earned run over seven innings against the Yankees. Together, they can elevate an otherwise slightly above average team into the postseason for the first time since 2009.
One concern: John Lackey, just back from Tommy John surgery, exited Saturday’s season debut with a right biceps strain. The Red Sox don’t know yet how long he could be unavailable.
The Angels are under pressure already.
Remember how the Angels started slowly last year, only to call up Mike Trout in late April and watch him (almost) will them into the postseason?
Last year’s Angels were 2-4 after six games.
This year’s Angels are 2-4 after six games.
Six games don’t constitute a “slow start.” There is little shame in losing road series to the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers, as the current Angels have done. Even better, the Angels have three games with the Houston Astros at the end of their upcoming homestand. (If you cheer/work/play for the Angels, please finish the column before texting YESSSSSS! FREE WINS to your friends.)
But as you’ve probably heard, Josh Hamilton has done a lot of swinging and missing lately. To be more specific, the April ’13 Hamilton is making the April ’12 Albert Pujols look like the July ’12 Trout.
Hamilton is 4-for-25 with one extra-base hit and two RBI in six games, although that includes three hits in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to his former team in Arlington.
Maybe Hamilton ended the slump during that last game in Texas. The Angels had better hope so, because (a) Hamilton is famously streaky and (b) they can ill afford another disappointing April. And the Angels may need to win some 8-6 and 7-5 games in the near future, with ace Jered Weaver leaving Sunday’s start with a strained left elbow just as his right (pitching) arm was showing an alarming decrease in velocity.
Chris Davis didn’t learn to hit last week.
Yes, Davis just staged one of the greatest season-opening hitting displays in baseball history: 16 RBI through four games and 17 RBI through five. Each was the most in Major League Baseball at those benchmarks since at least 1921, according to research by STATS LLC. Davis hit four home runs in Baltimore’s first four games, which had happened only 29 other times in MLB history, also per STATS LLC. (Chris Shelton hit five home runs in the Tigers’ first four games of the 2006 season . . . and was back in the minors that July.)
However Davis’ season turns out, it’s inaccurate to say he (or his power) came out of nowhere. Davis hit 33 homers for the postseason-bound Orioles last season and then played in all six playoff games. At the very least, the 27-year-old Texan is showing he can hold down an everyday job in the major leagues. For now, that role is at first base; he’s played designated hitter, third base and the corner outfield spots before.
Orioles general manager Dan Duquette did identify one new development with Davis’ approach early this season: He’s more willing to hit the ball to the opposite (left) field.
The Uptons are quite comfortable with the hype, thank you.
Expectations follow any high-profile acquisitions, but the scrutiny multiplies when those stars arrive in the same year, to a team with World Series potential, in a major market not far from where they grew up . . .
And, you know, they happen to be brothers.
But if anyone doubted whether B.J. and Justin Upton are ready to deliver for the Braves, well, there was Saturday night at Turner Field. Down a run in the ninth inning, B.J. belted the tying home run to center off Cubs closer Carlos Marmol. Two batters later, Justin delivered the game winner off the same pitcher, at nearly the same distance.
It was the first time brothers had hit the tying and winning homers in the same inning of a major league game, according to STATS LLC and the SABR home run log. So, let’s not be jaded about this: All baseball fan
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
“What they’re doing is illegal,” producer Isaac Solotaroff said of Major League Baseball’s practices in the Dominican Republic. “They could never do this in the United States.”
Solotaroff’s remarks came after a screening of his documentary, "Pelotero" — which means “ballplayer” in Spanish — in Wallace Hall Monday afternoon. He was joined in the discussion after the film by economics professor Hank Farber.
The film followed two Dominican prospects, 16-year-old Jean Carlos Batista and 15-year-old Miguel Angel Sano, as they went through the process leading up to July 2, the day on which the MLB allows Dominican players to sign with teams. In the film and in the ensuing discussion, Major League Baseball came under heavy criticism for its perceived exploitation of impoverished Dominican baseball players.
As depicted in the documentary, both Batista and Sano trained for years in hopes of getting drafted. They left home to live in complexes operated by coaches. The film depicts the conditions in which the players’ families live — Sano’s family lived in a building the size of a shed — and repeatedly returns to scenes in which everyone — coaches, agents, players and their families — emphasize the importance of signing a big league contract. As maybe one in 30 players signed by an MLB team will make it to the major leagues, Solotaroff said, the signing bonus is the only money most players will see for their years of baseball, other than monthly stipends they receive while playing in the minors.
The film portrays how the importance of the signing bonus leads to dishonest behavior of the players and of the teams. Sano, like many Dominican players before him, was a top prospect who came under scrutiny because he was suspected of lying about his age. MLB rules stipulate that a foreign player cannot sign before he is 16, but teams are wary of drafting players who are older than this. The result is widespread deception, according to the film.
Sano was subjected to numerous tests and a lengthy investigation before he was able to clear his name by proving he was 16. The film touches on how his family, his coach and the makers of “Pelotero” believe that the controversy was intentionally stirred up by the MLB and the team most interested in Sano, the Pittsburgh Pirates, in order to bring his price down and sign him to a team in need of good players.
“It has the appearance of being a free market because these kids are called free agents, but they are being funneled to one particular team,” Solotaroff said.
He also believes that because of the consistently poor performance of teams like the Pirates — who had their 20th straight losing season last year — the MLB wanted certain prospects to go to certain organizations.
Sano was eventually cleared by the MLB and signed with the Minnesota Twins for $3.15 million. Batista, on the other hand, turned down a lucrative offer from the Houston Astros because he believed he could get a larger bonus from a different team. Before he received another offer, however, an MLB investigation revealed that he had been lying about his age and was actually 17. After being suspended for a year, Batista signed with the Astros for $200,000, less than half of what he had been offered originally.
Much of the signing bonus does not go to the player, according to the film. Both players intended to buy their families nicer houses and other amenities, and the film showed Sano doing so, but as much as 35 percent of the money may go to the coaches who work with players for years in hopes of getting them signed.
In Batista’s case, his coach was counting on money from the signing bonus to keep his baseball academy going. The epilogue to the documentary explained that Batista was successfully sued by his coach after his true age was revealed and his value dropped.
Though there is deception on the part of some players and extortion on the part of some coaches and agents, there was a consensus in the conversation following the screening on who was truly to blame.
“The villain here is really Major League Baseball,” Farber said.
The MLB declined to participate in the making of “Pelotero,” but the league’s most recent collective bargaining agreement limited the amount of money a team could spend on international players to $2.9 million, meaning that bonuses as large as Sano’s are no longer possible.
In recent months, the MLB appears to have been moving closer to establishing an international draft, which would function like the current MLB First Year Player Draft and would eliminate some of the problems depicted in “Pelotero.”
“This free agent system is a completely broken system as it is, and there are plenty of leeches that are taking advantage of these kids,” Solotaroff said.
Indeed, the central message of his movie was essentially summed up by the words of an official at the Dominican Baseball Commission:
“There is only one MLB. It’s a monopoly,” he told Sano and his family in the film, adding, “This is happening because he’s poor.”
Producer discusses MLB documentary - The Daily Princetonian
Solotaroff’s remarks came after a screening of his documentary, "Pelotero" — which means “ballplayer” in Spanish — in Wallace Hall Monday afternoon. He was joined in the discussion after the film by economics professor Hank Farber.
The film followed two Dominican prospects, 16-year-old Jean Carlos Batista and 15-year-old Miguel Angel Sano, as they went through the process leading up to July 2, the day on which the MLB allows Dominican players to sign with teams. In the film and in the ensuing discussion, Major League Baseball came under heavy criticism for its perceived exploitation of impoverished Dominican baseball players.
As depicted in the documentary, both Batista and Sano trained for years in hopes of getting drafted. They left home to live in complexes operated by coaches. The film depicts the conditions in which the players’ families live — Sano’s family lived in a building the size of a shed — and repeatedly returns to scenes in which everyone — coaches, agents, players and their families — emphasize the importance of signing a big league contract. As maybe one in 30 players signed by an MLB team will make it to the major leagues, Solotaroff said, the signing bonus is the only money most players will see for their years of baseball, other than monthly stipends they receive while playing in the minors.
The film portrays how the importance of the signing bonus leads to dishonest behavior of the players and of the teams. Sano, like many Dominican players before him, was a top prospect who came under scrutiny because he was suspected of lying about his age. MLB rules stipulate that a foreign player cannot sign before he is 16, but teams are wary of drafting players who are older than this. The result is widespread deception, according to the film.
Sano was subjected to numerous tests and a lengthy investigation before he was able to clear his name by proving he was 16. The film touches on how his family, his coach and the makers of “Pelotero” believe that the controversy was intentionally stirred up by the MLB and the team most interested in Sano, the Pittsburgh Pirates, in order to bring his price down and sign him to a team in need of good players.
“It has the appearance of being a free market because these kids are called free agents, but they are being funneled to one particular team,” Solotaroff said.
He also believes that because of the consistently poor performance of teams like the Pirates — who had their 20th straight losing season last year — the MLB wanted certain prospects to go to certain organizations.
Sano was eventually cleared by the MLB and signed with the Minnesota Twins for $3.15 million. Batista, on the other hand, turned down a lucrative offer from the Houston Astros because he believed he could get a larger bonus from a different team. Before he received another offer, however, an MLB investigation revealed that he had been lying about his age and was actually 17. After being suspended for a year, Batista signed with the Astros for $200,000, less than half of what he had been offered originally.
Much of the signing bonus does not go to the player, according to the film. Both players intended to buy their families nicer houses and other amenities, and the film showed Sano doing so, but as much as 35 percent of the money may go to the coaches who work with players for years in hopes of getting them signed.
In Batista’s case, his coach was counting on money from the signing bonus to keep his baseball academy going. The epilogue to the documentary explained that Batista was successfully sued by his coach after his true age was revealed and his value dropped.
Though there is deception on the part of some players and extortion on the part of some coaches and agents, there was a consensus in the conversation following the screening on who was truly to blame.
“The villain here is really Major League Baseball,” Farber said.
The MLB declined to participate in the making of “Pelotero,” but the league’s most recent collective bargaining agreement limited the amount of money a team could spend on international players to $2.9 million, meaning that bonuses as large as Sano’s are no longer possible.
In recent months, the MLB appears to have been moving closer to establishing an international draft, which would function like the current MLB First Year Player Draft and would eliminate some of the problems depicted in “Pelotero.”
“This free agent system is a completely broken system as it is, and there are plenty of leeches that are taking advantage of these kids,” Solotaroff said.
Indeed, the central message of his movie was essentially summed up by the words of an official at the Dominican Baseball Commission:
“There is only one MLB. It’s a monopoly,” he told Sano and his family in the film, adding, “This is happening because he’s poor.”
Producer discusses MLB documentary - The Daily Princetonian
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
A familiar scene played out for Indians starter Carlos Carrasco on Tuesday night, ending with him being ejected from his outing against the Yankees.
In the fourth inning of the Indians' 14-1 loss at Progressive Field, Carrasco threw a pitch high and inside to New York third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was hit on the back of the shoulder. Home-plate umpire Jordan Baker walked out from behind the plate, threw a new baseball back to Carrasco and then threw the pitcher out of the game.
Carrasco hit Youkilis one pitch after giving up a home run to Robinson Cano.
"I know it doesn't look good," Carrasco said. "I really want to say sorry. I don't want to hit anybody."
After his outing, in which Carrasco allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, the pitcher waited for Terry Francona outside the manager's office in Cleveland's clubhouse. Carrasco said he wanted to not only apologize, but to explain that he did not intentionally throw at Youkilis.
Carrasco recently finished serving a suspension left over from a similar incident in 2011.
He now might face another suspension.
"I don't want to do anything bad," Carrasco said. "I waited a year and a half to get my suspension [done] and everything. I don't want to do that again. I don't want to be suspended."
After Carrasco was ejected, Francona emerged from the dugout and argued Baker's decision, but the manager was forced to turn to his bullpen unexpectedly. Wednesday's planned starter, Brett Myers, took over for Carrasco, who was making his first start since Aug. 3, 2011, after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
Cleveland has yet to announce who will start Wednesday's game against New York.
On the pitch prior to hitting Youkilis, Carrasco served up a two-run home run to Cano, putting the Indians in a 7-0 hole.
"No one ever knows if a guy truly does it on purpose," Youkilis said, "but he just came back from a six-day suspension. If it was on purpose, it's probably going to be longer and it's not a good idea. If it wasn't, it looks like it was. Either way, it doesn't look good."
Francona was not about to argue that stance.
"It didn't look good," Francona said. "So situationally, I understand it. I understand the umpire's viewpoint and what he just came off of. But he was throwing 96-97 [mph] all night and, I think if you look at the video, he slipped and he threw it 90. I can see, under the circumstances, that it didn't look good."
In his next trip to the plate, Youkilis launched a two-run home run off Myers.
Youkilis said coming through like that felt good.
"Oh, yeah," he said. "After striking out twice, not feeling as comfortable at the plate, trying to do too much, then trying to put together a good at-bat, then that happens, it's always a good thing. It was great. Everybody swung the bats real well tonight and the last two days. Now we've got to take it into the last two games of the series."
Carrasco said he was caught off guard by his ejection
Yankees manager Joe Girardi, on the other hand, was not surprised.
"No, I'm not," Girardi said. "That was right in the middle of his back after a home run."
It was nearly an identical situation to the one faced by Carrasco in his second-to-last outing of his injury-marred 2011 campaign.
Against the Royals on July 29 two seasons ago, Carrasco gave up a grand slam to Melky Cabrera in the fourth inning to put the Tribe in a 7-0 hole. He threw his next pitch in the area of Billy Butler's head and was promptly ejected. Carrasco received a six-game suspension (reduced to five games shortly before this season) from Major League Baseball.
Due to his arm injury, Carrasco did not serve his suspension until this year. He began the season on the Indians' Opening Day roster in order to get the leftover punishment off the books before heading to Triple-A Columbus. An injury to lefty Scott Kazmir (right rib cage strain) forced Cleveland to move Carrasco into the rotation for Tuesday's game.
"I feel really bad," Carrasco said. "I feel good, because I'm coming back and everything, and I feel healthy. But I know it doesn't look good."
After homer, Indians starter Carlos Carrasco ejected for plunking Kevin Youkilis | MLB-com: News
In the fourth inning of the Indians' 14-1 loss at Progressive Field, Carrasco threw a pitch high and inside to New York third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was hit on the back of the shoulder. Home-plate umpire Jordan Baker walked out from behind the plate, threw a new baseball back to Carrasco and then threw the pitcher out of the game.
Carrasco hit Youkilis one pitch after giving up a home run to Robinson Cano.
"I know it doesn't look good," Carrasco said. "I really want to say sorry. I don't want to hit anybody."
After his outing, in which Carrasco allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, the pitcher waited for Terry Francona outside the manager's office in Cleveland's clubhouse. Carrasco said he wanted to not only apologize, but to explain that he did not intentionally throw at Youkilis.
Carrasco recently finished serving a suspension left over from a similar incident in 2011.
He now might face another suspension.
"I don't want to do anything bad," Carrasco said. "I waited a year and a half to get my suspension [done] and everything. I don't want to do that again. I don't want to be suspended."
After Carrasco was ejected, Francona emerged from the dugout and argued Baker's decision, but the manager was forced to turn to his bullpen unexpectedly. Wednesday's planned starter, Brett Myers, took over for Carrasco, who was making his first start since Aug. 3, 2011, after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
Cleveland has yet to announce who will start Wednesday's game against New York.
On the pitch prior to hitting Youkilis, Carrasco served up a two-run home run to Cano, putting the Indians in a 7-0 hole.
"No one ever knows if a guy truly does it on purpose," Youkilis said, "but he just came back from a six-day suspension. If it was on purpose, it's probably going to be longer and it's not a good idea. If it wasn't, it looks like it was. Either way, it doesn't look good."
Francona was not about to argue that stance.
"It didn't look good," Francona said. "So situationally, I understand it. I understand the umpire's viewpoint and what he just came off of. But he was throwing 96-97 [mph] all night and, I think if you look at the video, he slipped and he threw it 90. I can see, under the circumstances, that it didn't look good."
In his next trip to the plate, Youkilis launched a two-run home run off Myers.
Youkilis said coming through like that felt good.
"Oh, yeah," he said. "After striking out twice, not feeling as comfortable at the plate, trying to do too much, then trying to put together a good at-bat, then that happens, it's always a good thing. It was great. Everybody swung the bats real well tonight and the last two days. Now we've got to take it into the last two games of the series."
Carrasco said he was caught off guard by his ejection
Yankees manager Joe Girardi, on the other hand, was not surprised.
"No, I'm not," Girardi said. "That was right in the middle of his back after a home run."
It was nearly an identical situation to the one faced by Carrasco in his second-to-last outing of his injury-marred 2011 campaign.
Against the Royals on July 29 two seasons ago, Carrasco gave up a grand slam to Melky Cabrera in the fourth inning to put the Tribe in a 7-0 hole. He threw his next pitch in the area of Billy Butler's head and was promptly ejected. Carrasco received a six-game suspension (reduced to five games shortly before this season) from Major League Baseball.
Due to his arm injury, Carrasco did not serve his suspension until this year. He began the season on the Indians' Opening Day roster in order to get the leftover punishment off the books before heading to Triple-A Columbus. An injury to lefty Scott Kazmir (right rib cage strain) forced Cleveland to move Carrasco into the rotation for Tuesday's game.
"I feel really bad," Carrasco said. "I feel good, because I'm coming back and everything, and I feel healthy. But I know it doesn't look good."
After homer, Indians starter Carlos Carrasco ejected for plunking Kevin Youkilis | MLB-com: News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Major League Baseball has created a task force that will study how to increase diversity in the game, especially among black players.
Commissioner Bud Selig announced the committee Wednesday.
In less than a week, baseball will celebrate the 66th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. A new movie titled "42" focuses on the Hall of Famer.
The 18-member committee includes representatives from club ownership, the players' union, minor league and college baseball, the MLB scouting bureau and other areas. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and former major league manager Jerry Manuel are among the members.
MLB says about 8.5 percent of players on this year's opening day rosters identified themselves as African-American or black. That's around half the number from the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s.
"As a social institution, Major League Baseball has an enormous social responsibility to provide equal opportunities for all people, both on and off the field," Selig said in a statement.
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and Detroit Tigers president Dave Dombrowski will help run the committee. Southern University coach Roger Cador, Chicago White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams, MLB senior vice president of baseball operations Kim Ng, union official and former big leaguer Tony Clark and Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall are among the other members.
MLB runs the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program and has seven Urban Youth Academies that are either running or are in development.
"I am proud of the work we have done thus far with the RBI program and the MLB Urban Youth Academies, but there is more that we must accomplish," Selig said.
"We have seen a number of successful efforts with existing MLB task forces, and I believe we have selected the right people to effectively address the many factors associated with diversity in baseball," he said.
MLB forms task force to study how to increase diversity - ESPN
Commissioner Bud Selig announced the committee Wednesday.
In less than a week, baseball will celebrate the 66th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. A new movie titled "42" focuses on the Hall of Famer.
The 18-member committee includes representatives from club ownership, the players' union, minor league and college baseball, the MLB scouting bureau and other areas. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and former major league manager Jerry Manuel are among the members.
MLB says about 8.5 percent of players on this year's opening day rosters identified themselves as African-American or black. That's around half the number from the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s.
"As a social institution, Major League Baseball has an enormous social responsibility to provide equal opportunities for all people, both on and off the field," Selig said in a statement.
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and Detroit Tigers president Dave Dombrowski will help run the committee. Southern University coach Roger Cador, Chicago White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams, MLB senior vice president of baseball operations Kim Ng, union official and former big leaguer Tony Clark and Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall are among the other members.
MLB runs the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program and has seven Urban Youth Academies that are either running or are in development.
"I am proud of the work we have done thus far with the RBI program and the MLB Urban Youth Academies, but there is more that we must accomplish," Selig said.
"We have seen a number of successful efforts with existing MLB task forces, and I believe we have selected the right people to effectively address the many factors associated with diversity in baseball," he said.
MLB forms task force to study how to increase diversity - ESPN
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
In an unprecedented move, Major League Baseball reportedly has purchased documents from a former employee of Biogenesis that link players to performance-enhancing drugs sold by the South Florida clinic.
The New York Times, citing two sources briefed on the events, reported at least one player with ties to the clinic has paid for documents to be destroyed. The player's effort was to keep the clinic's documents away from the MLB investigators.
Meanwhile, the sources said MLB officials bought the other documents to avoid having more players paying to have them destroyed. MLB has no subpoena power and has been unable to claim documents through judicial means.
Also, the Times reported MLB has paid former employees who have cooperated with the investigation.
In March, ESPN reported that Major League Baseball was investigating any players linked to Biogenesis, including Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun and New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez.
ESPN reported that the league was looking into players with ties to the clinic on the heels of minor league player Cesar Carrillo's 100-game suspension.
Braun and Rodriguez are prominently linked to the clinic run by Dr. Dr. Anthony Bosch. Bosch is the son of Dr. Pedro Bosch, whom MLB investigated in 2009 for his PED ties to Manny Ramirez when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The clinic first came to light in a January report by the Miami New Times, which said Alex Rodriguez was listed as one of many athletes linked to Biogenesis. Other major-league players on the list included Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz and Yasmani Grandal.
Cabrera, Colon and Grandal were suspended 50 games last season after testing positive for testosterone.
The Biogenesis office has since closed.
Last month, MLB filed a lawsuit against six people connected with Biogensis, accusing the clinic and its employees of damaging the sport. The lawsuit in part was filed to gain access to the clinic's records.
Report: MLB pays to gain access to clinic documents - chicagotribune-com
The New York Times, citing two sources briefed on the events, reported at least one player with ties to the clinic has paid for documents to be destroyed. The player's effort was to keep the clinic's documents away from the MLB investigators.
Meanwhile, the sources said MLB officials bought the other documents to avoid having more players paying to have them destroyed. MLB has no subpoena power and has been unable to claim documents through judicial means.
Also, the Times reported MLB has paid former employees who have cooperated with the investigation.
In March, ESPN reported that Major League Baseball was investigating any players linked to Biogenesis, including Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun and New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez.
ESPN reported that the league was looking into players with ties to the clinic on the heels of minor league player Cesar Carrillo's 100-game suspension.
Braun and Rodriguez are prominently linked to the clinic run by Dr. Dr. Anthony Bosch. Bosch is the son of Dr. Pedro Bosch, whom MLB investigated in 2009 for his PED ties to Manny Ramirez when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The clinic first came to light in a January report by the Miami New Times, which said Alex Rodriguez was listed as one of many athletes linked to Biogenesis. Other major-league players on the list included Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, Nelson Cruz and Yasmani Grandal.
Cabrera, Colon and Grandal were suspended 50 games last season after testing positive for testosterone.
The Biogenesis office has since closed.
Last month, MLB filed a lawsuit against six people connected with Biogensis, accusing the clinic and its employees of damaging the sport. The lawsuit in part was filed to gain access to the clinic's records.
Report: MLB pays to gain access to clinic documents - chicagotribune-com
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
This online sportsbook doesn't currently offer service to Americans. For those that don't live in the United States, Canbet is one of the best bookmakers to play with as they offer reduced juice wagering at -107 odds. Not only do they offered the reduced vigorish, they offer bonuses galore for each sports, casino and poker action that are very generous in size.
Canbet Sportsbook
Canbet is a member of the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS). IBAS is an authoritative, totally independent third party offering adjudication for customers who have an unresolved betting dispute with their bookmaker.
Welcome!!
Canbet Sportsbook
Canbet is a member of the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS). IBAS is an authoritative, totally independent third party offering adjudication for customers who have an unresolved betting dispute with their bookmaker.
Welcome!!
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Padres slugger Carlos Quentin has been suspended eight games and Los Angeles infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. suspended one game by Major League Baseball for their roles in a brawl Thursday night.
Quentin rushed the mound after he was hit in the upper left arm by a pitch from Zack Greinke. The two players lowered their shoulders and Quentin slammed into Greinke, breaking the pitcher's left collarbone. Hairston incited a second melee when he ran across the field gesturing at someone in the Padres dugout.
Quentin and Hairston are playing, pending appeal by the players' association.
No discipline was announced for Greinke or Matt Kemp, both ejected along with Quentin and Hairston.
Greinke is scheduled to have surgery Saturday and miss eight weeks.
Brawl participants suspended by MLB
Quentin rushed the mound after he was hit in the upper left arm by a pitch from Zack Greinke. The two players lowered their shoulders and Quentin slammed into Greinke, breaking the pitcher's left collarbone. Hairston incited a second melee when he ran across the field gesturing at someone in the Padres dugout.
Quentin and Hairston are playing, pending appeal by the players' association.
No discipline was announced for Greinke or Matt Kemp, both ejected along with Quentin and Hairston.
Greinke is scheduled to have surgery Saturday and miss eight weeks.
Brawl participants suspended by MLB
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
.jpg?v=1.014689161)
.png?v=1.014689161)
Now, the citizens of Milwaukee are batting .500 on those concerns. The climate is still be frozen in winter mode, but Mr. Lohse is now safely in the employ of the local National League franchise.
Why Lohse, coming off a 16-3 record and a 2.86 ERA, was still on the market at this late date is one of those questions that may have to be decided by future baseball historians. The relatively modest changes in Draft compensation rules don't offer a perfect, comprehensive explanation.
Lohse was clearly the second-best starter in the 2012-13 free-agent class. Former Brewer Zack Greinke was the head of that class. The fact that Lohse's agent is Scott Boras, who has engendered some resentment among some owners for his track record of getting every possible nickel and even more for his clients, also does not serve as any sort of all-purpose explanation.
At the end of the day, Lohse will receive a three-year, $33 million contract from the Brewers. This is below his initial asking price, but it is not the kind of deal that represents any sort of defeat for the agent or for his client.
Here's what it represents for the Brewers: Genuine hope in the 2013 NL Central race.
What the Brewers needed was one more solid, veteran presence in their starting rotation. Presto -- Lohse: fine fellow, good teammate, coming off the two best seasons of his career.
The Brewers slumped from their division-winning, franchise-best 96-66 record in '11 to third place and 83-79 in '12. A bullpen implosion was at the core of last season's problems. The Brewers have added three proven veteran relievers, two of them left-handers (Michael Gonzalez and Tom Gorzelanny), to take care of that issue.
But in the starting rotation at the beginning of last season, the No. 2 starter behind Yovani Gallardo was Greinke. He was traded to the Angels and that departure could be used as evidence for either side of an argument about what is going to happen next.
The Brewers did put together a 24-6 run after Greinke's departure. Part of that compelling stretch was due to some exceptional performances by young starting pitchers, in particular Wily Peralta and Mark Rogers. Mike Fiers had been impressive for considerable time earlier in the season, but his performance tailed off in September.
The problem here lies not with the quality or the potential of the pitchers involved. The problem is projecting that pitchers who had five Major League starts, as Peralta had last season, or seven Major League starts, as Rogers did last season, are going to be able to carry that performance over a full season.
It could happen. The talent is there. But until it does happen, it's a theory.
This became an even dicier situation in Spring Training, when Rogers, who was throwing mid-90s-mph heat last season, has been topping out in the high 80s. He is confident that his velocity will return, but the Brewers would feel better about that confidence if it were accompanied by a velocity that once again reached the mid-90s.
It could be argued that Rogers' situation made the acquisition of Lohse something more like an imperative rather than an elective. But this signing is larger than that.
Lohse was a source of real stability for the Cardinals last year. And when the Cardinals faced a win-or-go-home, one-game Wild Card playoff, to which pitcher did they turn? Lohse. He won. They won. Eventually, the Cards advanced to within one victory of the World Series.
The downside is that Lohse is 34. Brewer fans will recall, without outside assistance, the declines that occurred in the final years of contracts with other 30-plus pitchers Milwaukee signed to multiyear deals. Randy Wolf comes to mind, but Jeff Suppan comes to mind first.
But let's regard the Lohse signing on its own merits. This is a club that led the NL in runs scored last year. That offense shouldn't be all that different this year. The bullpen issues have been addressed. The rotation remained the club's largest question mark.
What was required was one more stable, veteran presence in the rotation. Lohse is at least that. He's been healthy and in command of his craft. Now, the rotation picture looks considerably brighter. Marco Estrada was solid last season. Lefty Chris Narveson, coming off shoulder surgery, has demonstrated the necessary progress over the course of Spring Training.
Perhaps the Brewers, rather than being short in the rotation, will now have six starters of Major League quality. The addition of Lohse has changed the perspective and the expectations for this rotation, both for the better.
And if it's still snowing on Opening Day when the Rockies come to town, so what? The Miller Park retractable roof will be closed and baseball season will be under way.
Mike Bauman: Kyle Lohse signing brightens Milwaukee Brwers' horizons | MLB-com: News