Bing Devine, Former Cardinals GM (1916-2007)

Major League Baseball lost a legend this past weekend as Bing Devine, former general manager, and architect of three National League pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals teams, died at age 90. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

ST. LOUIS - Bing Devine, the St. Louis general manager who helped build Cardinals teams that won three National League pennants and two World Series in the 1960s, died Saturday. He was 90.

Vaughan P. "Bing" Devine, was general manager of the Cardinals from 1958 to 1964 and again from 1968-78, and was credited with acquiring Hall of Fame players Bob Gibson and Lou Brock. The Brock trade with the Cubs, which cost the Cardinals sore-armed pitcher Ernie Broglio, is considered his best.

I'll say. Broglio was an 18-game winner in 1963, had won 70 games for the Cards (including 21 in 1960), but was just 3-5 when he was shipped to the Cubs for a young, speedy outfielder named Lou Brock. Brock had struggled as a Cub, but he quickly began to turn his career around. He stole 33 bases and hit .348 for the remainder of the season, as he became the best base stealer in the NL until 1979 (he broke Maury Wills stolen base mark in 1974 with 118, and retired with the career standard of 938 until Rickey Henderson came along). Brock also hit .391 in 21 World Series games with 14 steals (only having been caught twice) as the Cardinals catalyst. Broglio went 7-19 as a Cub, and was out of major league baseball after the 1966 season. Yeah, I'd say Bing got the best of that deal...

Many of the players Devine acquired led the Cardinals to World Series titles in 1964 and 1967 and the pennant in 1968, among them Curt Flood, Dick Groat, Bill White and Julian Javier.

That was a monster of a team. Brock, Gibson, a later acquisition Orlando Cepeda, and the young Steve Carlton are all Hall of Famers. Bill White, Curt Flood and Ken Boyer aren't too far away from HOF-quality themselves. Christ, Tim McCarver was the catcher for these guys, but you'd never know it the way he gushes over the Yankees and Derek Jeter. I wish Timmeh had a little Joe Morgan in him, that way we'd hear more about what a great team that was (and then probably get quickly sick of it, just as we do when Joe shamelessly drops Big Red Machine-Johnny Bench-Tony Perez into all his broadcasts).

There is a terrific book, October 1964 by Bill Halberstam that outlines the respective league pennant races through the eyes of both the Cardinals and the Yankees. It showcases how the men mentioned above matured into stars and clutch performers just as the great Yankee team was falling apart as age and injury began to catch up with icons like Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Roger Maris all at once.

The book also details how Devine put that team together, but how that first championship in 1964 was a bittersweet one as the Cardinals got off to a slow start, with Devine having been fired in the middle of the season, and replaced by co-GM Branch Rickey (who was, according to the book, trying to undermine Devine's efforts). Obviously, the Cards brass realized their mistake as they brought him back into the fold a few years later.

There are two sets of Cardinals clubs in my lifetime that I consider classic baseball teams: Whitey Herzog's Runnin' Redbirds of the 1980s and the 1960s teams that Devine helped to build. Here's a salute to a true baseball man and legend - Bing Devine.

Full Story

CD Review: Tribe of Gypsies - Dweller on the Threshold

Dweller on the Threshold is Tribe of Gypsies long-awaited follow-up to 2000's Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. Since that release, band leader/guitarist/producer Roy Z has been busy with other projects. He produced, wrote and played on Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson's solo albums, and those of Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford, to name just a couple of projects. Apparently Roy's busy schedule was too much for some of the Gypsies, as there have been a bunch of lineup changes.

Gone is vocalist Gregory Analla (though he makes a guest appearance on one track here), replaced by Chas West. Gone is drummer David Ingraham (though he makes guest appearances on three tracks here), replaced by David Moreno. Also gone is bassist Juan A. Perez, replaced by Christian Byrne. The rest of the band, Roy Z on guitar, Ray Rodriguez on keyboards and Elvis Balladares on percussion is on hand for this outing.

There are 14 songs on this baby, so let's dive right in...

Big Sky Presence starts things off with about 90 seconds of atmospheric keyboards, percussion and guitar that goes into Ride On, a mid-tempo rocker with urgent verses and slamming choruses. West starts off well here with a soaring vocal performance. Roy Z plays a short, multi-tracked solo before the keys, drums and percussion batter the sonic landscape to bits. This song has single written all over it.

Desolate Chile is another mid-tempo tune with a deep groove punctuated by the strong bass and percussion. Roy Z's solo and fills winds their way through the beat, but never completely dominate. West's vocals are strong here as well. Original ToG drummer David Ingraham plays the drums on this track.

Stop Bombing Each Other is a slow, rhythmic song dominated by a strong bass line and deep percussion. Guest Penny Wanzo delivers some nice backup vocals as an urgent counterpoint to West's words of warning about the futility of war.

Halos is a mostly acoustic ballad, and West shows that he is up to the task of singing in a more gentle voice. Roy Z provides some nice understated fills on both acoustic and electric guitars.

Zoot Suit Mardi Gras is an upbeat party song that has a groove reminiscent of "Lowrider" by War. Tetsuya Nakamura is featured here on the harmonica as the bass, drums and percussion provide the pump. Nicol Mecfrova does the singing on this track, and she sort of sounds like the singer for the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Ingraham plays the drums on this track.

Go Your Way is a rambling mid-tempo rocker that features former ToG vocalist Gregory Analla on backing vocals and guitar. West is also strong here, showing a growling fierceness in his voice. The rhythm section provides a strong background for the gliding, multi-tracked Roy Z guitar solo. Ingraham plays drums on this track as well.

After the Summer starts as another acoustic ballad. Like in Halos, West shows the gentle side of his voice, but here it is tinged with more than a bit of sadness. Roy Z takes a nice acoustic solo in the middle before West and the band bring it all back home.

Flying Tigers, Crying Dragons is an instrumental that starts off with some understated guitar over the haunting organ. The bass, drums and percussion quickly kick in as Roy Z takes over with a multi-tracked intro to some fiery licks and solos. Roy finally begins to dominate with his trademark burning guitar, as he makes it cry with slow bends, then turns it up with lightning fast runs. Too bad the song ends so suddenly just over three minutes.

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love is a cover of a Van Halen song that ToG makes all theirs. West takes a subdued approach, similar to that used by Rob Thomas on Santana's "Smooth". There is a distinctly Latin feel to the piano, drums and percussion. The backing vocals, sung in Spanish, punctuate the choruses. Roy Z drives the main riff along with Byrne's pounding bass line. Elvis and guest Sal Rodriguez (on timbales) provide plenty of punch on Latin percussion, especially on the ending riffs.

Never Will Be Mine is another ballad that shows West in a longing vocal mood. The bass line is strong under Roy Z's simple, crying solo and fills.

La Hora is sung completely in Spanish over a churning, heavy riff that goes from grinding to soaring. The atmosphere then changes as Roy Z takes a long, fiery solo over the organ and manic drums and percussion. The whole band is in top form here as Z loses his mind in the fury of his solo that calls up images of Hendrix and Santana.

Hands to Eternity starts as an up-tempo acoustic number with popping percussion and bass over the crying organ before the slamming chorus driven by Roy Z's heavy riff. West's voice soars from mid-range in the verses to a high urgency in the choruses. Roy Z takes care of business with a chaotic solo that showcases all of his considerable talent as he glides, speed picks and wails with overdriven effects before the song settles back into the groove.

En El Mar is a Latin percussion showcase that ends the CD. This track is also sung completely in Spanish.

It's too bad we had to wait so long for this CD, but it was well worth the wait as the songs are strong, and the individual performances are ridiculously tight throughout. Chas West has proven himself a worthy successor to Mr. Analla. The rhythm section of Byrne and Moreno picks up where Perez and Ingraham left off. Elvis is his usual quirky self, while Rodriguez provides plenty of fire and atmosphere. Roy Z is simply amazing when he lets it rip, but he also has the discipline to know when to let the song guide him and hold back when necessary. I've been waiting since 1998's Revolucion 13 for these guys to become HUGE. Maybe Dweller on the Threshold will finally make that happen.

Tribe of Gypsies Web Site

2,500-Year-Old Olmec City Uncovered in Mexico

Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,500-year-old Olmec city near Mexico City. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

MEXICO CITY - A 2,500-year-old city influenced by the Olmecs, often referred to as the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica, has been discovered hundreds of miles away from the Olmecs' Gulf coast territory, archaeologists said.

The remains of Zazacatla are providing insight into the early arrival of advanced civilizations in central Mexico, while also providing lessons about the risks to ruins posed by modern development that now cover much of the ancient city.

Archaeologist Giselle Canto said Wednesday that two statues and architectural details at the site, 25 miles south of Mexico City, indicate that the inhabitants of Zazacatla adopted Olmec styles when they changed from a simple, egalitarian society to a more complex, hierarchical one.

"When their society became stratified, the new rulers needed emblems ... to justify their rule over people who used to be their equals," Canto said of the inhabitants, who may not have been ethnically Olmec, but apparently revered the culture as the most prestigious.

Zazacatla covered less than one square mile between 800 B.C. and 500 B.C. But much of it has been covered by housing and commercial development extending from Cuernavaca, a city popular with tourists just seven miles north. "There are 10 housing developments, a gas station, a highway and a commercial building on the site now," Canto said.

Authorities hope to excavate and preserve other pre-Hispanic sites before they are forgotten or covered over. Since excavation of Zazacatla began last year, archaeologists have unearthed six buildings, and two sculptures of what appear to be Olmec-style priests. The sculptures appear to have headdresses portraying the jaguar, which the Olmecs revered, and other symbols of status and authority. The Olmecs dominated areas around the Gulf coast states of Veracruz and Tabasco from 1,200 B.C. to about 400 B.C.

This story clearly shows that ancient America had a hell of a lot of people in it. More, in fact, than we've been taught about over the years. Not only that, but they were quite sophisticated--unlike the traditional portrayals of bloodthirsty savages we've been led to believe.

This particular story speaks to the influence of the Olmecs on the non-Olmec inhabitants of the land in those times, and can be construed as being analagous to any of the European empires with regard to the way the Greeks and Romans influenced the peoples they encountered far from their home bases.

Let's hope that these researchers can uncover more evidence like this before modern development wipes it all out.

Full Story

Happy Australia Day!

Friday, for those of here in the United States, where I sit typing this, it will be Australia Day, but, the Aussies, especially my friends in the Sydney area, start out 16 hours ahead of us this time of year, and will begin their celebrations of this national holiday Thursday morning at 8:00 AM EST. Here's the Wikipedia entry about the occasion:

26 January 1788 was the date on which the First Fleet, under Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove and set up the Colony of New South Wales. Formal possession, including the reading of Phillip's Commission, took place on 7 February.

By 1808, the day that the Rum Corps arrested Governor Bligh, it was being celebrated as 'First Landing' or 'Foundation Day'. In 1818 (the 30th anniversary) Governor Macquarie had a 30-gun salute at Dawes Point and gave government workers a holiday - a tradition that was soon followed by banks and other public offices.

In 1888 all colonial capitals (with the exception of Adelaide) celebrated 'Anniversary Day' and by 1935 all states of Australia were celebrating January 26 as Australia Day (although it was still known as Anniversary Day in NSW).

The 1938 sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) of British settlement in New South Wales in 1788 was widely celebrated. Preparations began in 1936 with the formation of a Celebrations Council. In that year, NSW was the only state to abandon the traditional long weekend and the annual Anniversary Day public holiday was held on the actual anniversary day - Wednesday 26 January.

In 1946 the Commonwealth and State governments agreed to unify the celebrations on 26 January as 'Australia Day', although the public holiday was instead taken on the Monday closest to 26 January.

Since 1994 all states and territories have taken the Australia Day public holiday on 26 January.

I had the pleasure of celebrating Australia Day 2005 at the source as part of my three-week sojourn to the suburb of North Ryde as part of a wage-slavery training/hiring assignment. North Ryde is located about a half-hour west of Sydney, and the pleasure of being outdoors on Circular Quay in Sydney Harbor with temps hitting close to 90 (32-33 Celsius) was amazing.

The harbor, already a place teeming with activity, was a mass of humanity and activity as the many boat shows and activities of retelling the story of the original landing took place. The only other activity of its kind to which I can compare it was when the Tall Ships event came to Boston Harbor years ago.

Anyway, to all the friends I met Down Under, have a terrific Australia Day, and be assured that I will be back amongst you as soon as I can manage it!

Australia Day History

The Future of the Penny -- Is a Copper Rush Coming?

Hola Amigos,

Today I found a story that touches on the future of the penny as a form of currency in these United States. Yahoo News Reuters excerpt:

A potential shortage of coins in the United States could mean all those pennies in your piggy bank could be worth five times their current value soon, says an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Sharply rising prices of metals such as copper and nickel have meant the face value of pennies and nickels are worth less than the material that they are made of, increasing the risk that speculators could melt the coins and sell them for a profit.

I can see it now. Homemade smelting units will replace the homemade whiskey distillery as the targets of the New Prohibition...

Such a risk spurred the U.S. Mint last month to issue regulations limiting melting and exporting of the coins.
But Francois Velde, senior economist at the Chicago Fed, argued in a recent research note that prohibitions by the Mint would unlikely deter serious speculators who already have piled up the coinage.

The best solution, Velde said, would be to "rebase" the penny by making it worth five cents rather than one cent. Doing so would increase the amount of five-cent coins in circulation and do away with the almost worthless one cent coin.

"History shows that when coins are worth melting, they disappear," Velde wrote. "Rebasing the penny would ... debase the five-cent piece and put it safely away from its melting point," he added.

Raw material prices in general have skyrocketed in the last five years, sending copper prices to record highs of $4.16 a pound in May. Copper pennies number 154 to a pound. Prices have since come down from that peak but could still trek higher, Velde said.

Since 1982, the Mint began making copper-coated zinc pennies to prevent metals speculators from taking advantage of lofty base metal prices. Though the penny is losing its importance -- it is worth only four seconds of the average American's work time, assuming a 40-hour workweek -- the Mint is making more and more pennies.

Velde said that since 1982 the Mint has produced 910 pennies for every American. Last year there were 8.23 billion pennies in circulation, according to the Mint. "These factors suggest that, sooner or later, the penny will join the farthing (one-quarter of a penny) and the hapenny (one-half of a penny) in coin museums," he said.

Ken Kanniff, Connecticut's Most Wanted Gangsta, is the point man on this topic. For the past several years Ken has not only warned us of this impending shortage, but has begun to collect a large amount of the pre-1982 Abe Lincoln coins in anticipation of such an announcement as this one.

My first observation about the homemade smelting units notwithstanding, there is a serious environmental impact dynamic that comes into play here. If people insist on melting pennies, it stands to reason that much of the post-1982 zinc filled coins will be part of the mix. The question becomes what to do with the zinc, assuming of course that the homemade smelters know enough, and know how to separate the copper from the zinc.

In any event, Mr. Kanniff is poised and ready to become the Copper King of Connecticut, finally shedding the gangtsa image, once and for all!

Full Story Link

Trot Nixon Signs With Indians.

As if we didn't know that the signing of JD Drew to that hideously expensive contact in December signified the end of the Trot Nixon era in Red Sox history, it has become official as the Cleveland Indians have signed the former Sox outfielder to a one-year, $3 million deal. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

CLEVELAND - After agreeing to sign with Cleveland, Trot Nixon turned an important task over to his 5-year-old son. I let Chase pick the number," Nixon recalled. "He first picked 32, and I was like, why?" "Because you're 32 years old," Chase said. "Well, in two months, I'm going to be 33," his father replied.

With that, Nixon decided to wear No. 33 with the Indians, who agreed Friday to a $3 million, one-year contract with the oft-injured outfielder. Nixon wore No. 7 with the Red Sox, the team he had spent his entire major league career with. No. 33 is just fine with him. "That was my high school baseball number," he said.

Nixon, who will be joined in Cleveland by former Red Sox closer Keith Foulke, batted .268 with eight homers and 52 RBIs in 114 games last season. He was sidelined from July 31 to Sept. 4 because of a strained right biceps, which he first hurt in June, and a staph infection. Nixon has gone on the DL in each of the last three seasons, including two stints in 2004, and has not had 500 at-bats since 2002.

"Obviously, I don't want go out and play hurt and eventually hurt the team," he said. "No. 1 it's going to effect the team. No. 2, it's just going to put me more in a hole, meaning having to go on the DL."

He remembered back to when he hurt his back in his first year of professional baseball. "I don't think I regained my swing for like three years because I was scared," he said.

Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro said the Indians wanted Nixon for his experience and the club did its medical due diligence on him. "We felt comfortable that with the burden we're looking to put on him, we felt comfortable with his health," Shapiro said.

During 11 seasons with the Red Sox, Nixon hit .278 with 133 homers and 523 RBIs in 982 games. In 2001, he was selected the club's MVP after batting .306 with 28 homers and 86 RBIs in 134 games.

Nixon will likely bat second and platoon in right field with Casey Blake, who also will see time at first. Shin-Soo Choo had been set to platoon with Blake. Cleveland had talked with Nixon's agent last fall, then backed off after agreeing to an $11.5 million, three-year deal with David Dellucci.

"It gives us a tremendous amount of depth that should protect us against injury and poor performance," Shapiro said. Nixon can earn $2 million in performance bonuses: $250,000 each for 200 plate appearances and every additional 50 plate appearances through 550.

I remember when Nixon was the Sox number one draft pick in 1993. The Sox brass told everyone that Nixon would become a perennial 20-homer, 20-steal guy with solid defense. Well, it didn't quite work out that way. He struggled in his first couple of seasons, but manager Jimy Williams stuck with him, and hitting coach Jim Rice (who should be in the Hall of Fame) helped him get his swing in order. Nixon did enjoy three 20-homer seasons (2001-2003 with 27, 24 and 28 respectively), but the last three seasons saw him hit a total of 27 homers, mostly because of the missed time due to the injuries outlined in the excerpt.

Nixon was a no-nonsense player who seemed to play with an angry intensity that the Sox seldom see in their players. He had a knack for big hits, especially against the hated Yankees (and particularly against Roger Clemens). His bases-loaded two-run double off of Jason Marquis on a 3-0 count in Game Four of the 2004 World Series increased the Sox lead in that clinching game from 1-0 to 3-0 as the Curse was finally broken.

The future in right field now belongs to a man who is a mere year-and-a-half younger, but who is just as injury prone as his predecessor. I can see the Sox looking at a guy who has missed as much time as he has, and think that, as he enters his mid-30s, he might not get less injury prone. But why throw him aside and replace him with a guy who is not only just as likely to get hurt (or still be hurt), but whose attitude makes Manny Ramirez look like Ryan Freel?

Anyway, good luck to you Trot. You and your filthy hat always gave it your best!

Full Story

Have You Seen Me Lately?

Hola Amigos,

I'm back at the keyboard after a hectic holiday season. Of course, I come back and get ready to do some business, and what do I find but that Blogger put out a new beta version that didn't seem to want to cooperate with me. Then, a bunch of wage slavery organization requirements crept up to keep me from better exploring how to fix these problems.

I seem to be past most of this shit for now, so I'm sending this little post out to let all six of my readers know I'm still alive, and will be updating this baby as best I can. Hell, there's a lot of shit for me to catch up on as 2007 stumbles out of the gates. Anyway, I changed the format and added the excellent Fire Joe Morgan website to my links list. Because Joe Morgan really should be fired. Seriously. He's a Hall of Famer who says almost as many idiotic things as Preznit Flight Suit Fantasy does.

Quick Thoughts:

1. Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken both deserve their respective elections to baseball's Hall of Fame. Goose Gossage, Jim Rice, Bert Blyleven and Alan Trammell should also be in, and no, I'm not touching the Big Mac "controversy," thank you very little.

2. This year's NFL playoffs have been characterized by sloppy play and idiotic actions by individual players that have led to HUGE penalties. Is this the best the NFL can do? Has the desire for parity driven the excellence out of what is supposed to be a showcase of the best teams? Or has the NFL caught whatever disease inflicted the 2006 World Series? I swear, I still refuse to believe that actually happened. Let's just move on...

3. Mitt Romney is a clown. How about that billion dollar deficit you left us? Balanced the budget my arse. I can't wait to here the screams of agony from the trolls about what a commie new Governor Deval Patrick is as he attempts to straighten out the fiscal mess that Governor Absentee Showboater left is here in the Bay State. Thanks a pantload Mitt, and say goodbye to your silly Presidential aspirations.

4. Preznit Flight Suit Fantasy STILL doesn't get it. Iraq is a bloody failure--HIS bloody failure. It is good to see that some members of his own party, like Senator Chuck Hagel are openly ridiculing this stupid "surge" idea of sacrificing more of our troops into this disaster. Even better, it has exposed idiots like Senators John McCain and Joementum Lieberman as the deluded simpletons they are.

5. What the eff is the deal with DVD region codes? Do we really need this? To whom do I complain to straighten this shit out? Does anybody have any ideas?

Oh well, that's all for now. I have a copy of the latest Tribe of Gypsies CD, Dweller on the Threshold, and will be posting a review as soon as I can.

Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot...Who Will Get A Plaque?

The 2007 baseball Hall of Fame ballot was released today, and two sure-fire HOFers, and possibly a third will be enshrined in Cooperstown this summer. Yahoo News AP wire story:

NEW YORK - Mark McGwire, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. headline the first-time candidates on the 2007 baseball writers' Hall of Fame ballot released Monday, sure to spark debate on Big Mac's place in history as the steroid era comes under renewed scrutiny.

Gwynn and Ripken are the absolute shoo-ins. Big Mac, not so much. He may get in, but then again, he may not, at least not this year, as the story continues...

Jose Canseco, whose book last year led to a congressional hearing on steroid use in baseball, also is on the ballot for the first time. Canseco said he used steroids along with McGwire when they were teammates.

McGwire denied using illegal performance-enhancing substances, but when he appeared before a congressional committee, he evaded questions. "I'm not here to talk about the past," was his repeated response.

McGwire finished his career with 583 home runs, seventh in baseball history while Canseco, a former MVP, is 30th at 462. Dave Kingman, 34th with 442, has the most home runs for a player who has been on the Hall of Fame ballot and was not elected.

If Canseco had been as serious about studying the game as McGwire was, HE would probably be the all-time home run leader right now. As it turned out, he wasted his enormous talent. He was a Hall of Fame talent back in 1988 when he was the AL MVP, but instead of building on that, he got lazy, especially on defense. He could have been mentioned in the same breath as greats like Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle, as one of the greatest all-around players ever, but most of the time, he played, and acted, as if he just didn't give a shit. If he's a Hall of Famer, I'm an astronaut. Kingman, on the other hand, all he could do was hit home runs. He struck out a ton, and played lousy defense. I'm surprised he was able to stay employed long enough to hit 442 homers. Maybe he deserves to be in the Hall on that basis alone? Nah...

Gwynn, an eight-time batting champion with San Diego, and Ripken, a two-time MVP with Baltimore, are considered likely to gain election on the first ballot. Ripken played in 2,632 consecutive games, breaking Lou Gehrig's record.

Agreed. Both Gwynn,a magician with the bat, and Ripken, who broke an "unbreakable" record, should be writing their acceptance speeches right this minute, if they haven't already done so.

Bret Saberhagen, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and former MVP Ken Caminiti also are among 17 players on the ballot for the first time along with Harold Baines, Dante Bichette, Bobby Bonilla, Scott Brosius, Jay Buhner, Eric Davis, Tony Fernandez, Wally Joyner, Paul O'Neill, Devon White and Bobby Witt.

Jim Rice, who was 53 votes short of election last year, heads the 15 holdovers. Rich Gossage finished one vote behind Rice.

Both Rice and Gossage should already be in. The fact that they aren't is idiotic. Rice was the dominant right-handed power hitter in the AL from 1975-1986. Gossage was the 97 MPH closer who didn't get these one or two out saves that have become a staple of the LaRussa Era of Bullpen Management. Goose got his saves in two and three inning stints. The fact that Bruce Sutter was elected last year (and deservedly so), and Gossage was not is a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes.

Reporters who have been in the BBWAA for 10 or more consecutive years are eligible to vote, and the totals will be announced Jan. 9.

The complete ballot:
Harold Baines, Albert Belle, Dante Bichette, Bert Blyleven, Bobby Bonilla, Scott Brosius, Jay Buhner, Ken Caminiti, Jose Canseco, Dave Concepcion, Eric Davis, Andre Dawson, Tony Fernandez, Steve Garvey, Rich "Goose" Gossage, Tony Gwynn, Orel Hershiser, Tommy John, Wally Joyner, Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Paul O'Neill, Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Cal Ripken Jr., Bret Saberhagen, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Devon White, Bobby Witt.

My analysis of the players on this year's ballot:
Baines - No. Not enough years as a dominant offensive force. But could prove a test case for the DH, since he did that extensively after knee problems took him out of the outfield.
Belle - No, at least not this year. Belle was a jackass, but he was a jackass who could hit. It will be interesting to see if he gets the same treatment Rice has been getting for the past several years, especially since Rice was much nicer, AND was a better defensive player.
Bichette - No. His dominant years came in Colorado, and his numbers at sea-level were decent, but not HOF-worthy.
Blyleven - Yes. Longevity counts for something. Besides, he pitched for some pretty crappy teams (as well as for a handful of good ones, like the 1979 World Series Champion Pirates). Best curveball of his era.
Bonilla - No. He was a shaky third baseman, a decent outfielder, and a good hitter, but apart from a handful of seasons, he doesn't quite have the legs to carry him all the way.
Brosius - No. Aprt from his Yankee years, he was little better than average. Call him Joe Randa only with the luck to have played on good teams.
Buhner - No, and it's a tough call, but he did have huge holes in his swing, even though he had as much power as any hitter of his era. He was also fine defensive outfielder who seldom made a mistake.
Caminiti - No. He had only a couple of dominant offensive seasons, although he did have the strongest arm of any third baseman in the NL when he played.
Canseco - No. See above.
Concepcion - Yes, but not before Alan Trammell. Trammell could the same things on defense as Concepcion, and he was ten times the hitter Davey was. Still Davey was a terrific shortstop on one of the best teams of all time (just ask Joe Morgan).
Davis - No. World class talent, but missed too much time with injuries.
Dawson - Yes. He put up big numbers as an Expo and a Cub, and was a terrific defensive outfielder, even after his knees started to go.
Fernandez - Yes, but after Ripken, Trammell and Concepcion.
Garvey - Yes, but just barely. His consistency and clutch hitting put him ahead of most others with his statistical profile.
Gossage - Yes. See above.
Gwynn - Yes. See above.
Hershiser - No. Burned out after his magical 1988 season.
John - Yes, but only because pitchers like him have already been enshrined. See Blyleven. Guys like Don Sutton. Not exactly ace material, but they won. Besides, he had a medical procedure named after him...
Joyner - No. Not enough big years at a high-offense position (first base). Had a good start to his career (56 homers his first two seasons, but just 145 the rest of the way), but didn't improve.
Mattingly - No. Had four great years in which he played at a Hall of Fame level. The rest of the time he struggled with back problems that hurt his numbers. Don't agree? Here's a name: Cecil Cooper. He has almost the exact same statistical profile as Donnie Baseball, but I don't see anybody shouting from the rooftops to support him the way they do for Mattingly.
McGwire - Maybe. See above.
Morris - Yes. He was a big winner, and a clutch performer for the Tigers, Twins and Blue Jays.
Murphy - Yes. Might be hurt by his sudden decline, but he was a good all-around player, as good as anyone in the game at his peak, as his two MVP awards surely show.
O'Neill - No. A great player, but not a dominant offensive force. Nobody was more intense.
Parker - Yes. Another world class talent, but he got sidetracked in mid-career with drugs and injuries, then kicked it back up a notch to finish with some HOF type career numbers. Could be an arrogant jerk at times, and that could hurt his chances given some of the choices he made during his "sidetracked" years.
Rice - Yes. See above.
Ripken - Yes. See above.
Saberhagen - No. Similar to Hershiser except he had two magical years (The Cy Young seasons of 1985 and 1989).
Smith - Yes. All time saves leader.
Trammell - Yes. See above. And why isn't his double play partner Lou Whitaker available? Oh right, the pinheads in the BBWAA failed to give him 5% of the vote to keep him on the ballot. They should go in as a duo.
White - No. Terrific defensive center fielder, but never put it all together as a hitter.
Witt - No. Why is he even on the ballot? He walked a ton of hitters, and never did learn to harness what everyone thought was great "stuff".

Well, that's how I see it. Of course, with the requirement that a player has to appear on 75% of the ballots to gain entrance, there is no way all my Yes Men will get in this year. I just think these guys are HOF material. And who knows, maybe my No Men will get in someday. Any thoughts out there in blog land?

Full Story Link

Justin Morneau Wins American League Most Valuable Player Award.

The 2006 American League Most Valuable Player award was handed out today, and in a surprise to many, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau came away with the hardware. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

NEW YORK - Back in June, Justin Morneau walked into manager Ron Gardenhire's office with a .236 batting average and was benched. Though he didn't realize it at the time, he walked out an MVP.

"It woke me up," Morneau said Tuesday after edging Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees to win the AL's Most Valuable Player award. "He lit a fire under me."

Morneau received 15 first-place votes, eight seconds, three thirds and two fourths for 320 points in voting by a panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Jeter got 12 firsts, 14 seconds, one fourth and one sixth for 306 points. It was the 16th-closest MVP race since the current format began in 1938, and the 10th-closest in the AL.

Gardenhire benched Morneau on June 7 and spoke with him at Seattle's Safeco Field. At the time, Morneau was hitting .236 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs. After listening to his manager, Morneau batted .362 with 23 homers and 92 RBIs. "There wasn't too much said that was bad or anything," Morneau said. "It was just, `Your focus needs to be on the field. You can do a lot of things in this game that people can't do.' ... Gardy helped me realize that I can be a lot better than I was."

Morneau finished with a .321 average, 34 homers and 130 RBIs, helped the Twins win the AL Central for the fourth time in five years. Three Twins finished among the top seven in MVP voting. AL batting champion Joe Mauer was sixth, followed by AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.

Jeter batted .344 with 14 homers and 97 RBIs. In the batting race he finished three points behind Mauer, who became the first catcher to win an AL batting title. "While I know that voting for these awards is primarily based on differing opinions and statistical debates, it's also part of what makes baseball such a great sport," Jeter said in a statement issued by the Yankees. He called Morneau "a special player" and added: "I suspect this won't be the last time you will hear his name mentioned when awards are being passed out."

Boston's David Ortiz was third with 193 points, followed by Oakland's Frank Thomas (174), Chicago's Jermaine Dye (156), Mauer (116) and Santana (114), who received the other first-place vote.

Morneau is the fourth Minnesota player to win an MVP, following Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969) and Rod Carew (1977). Killebrew attended Morneau's news conference. "I don't have any doubt in my mind he's going to come back and have a good year," Killebrew said.

Versalles 1965 award was one of the all-time fluke seasons for any MVP in either league, but it happened to coincide with Minnesota's first pennant since they moved the franchise from Washington DC, where they were the first incarnation of the Senators.

Morneau became the second Canadian-born player to win an MVP following Colorado's Larry Walker in 1997. He is the third Canadian-born athlete to win an MVP in a major pro league this year, following Phoenix guard Steve Nash and San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton.

Walker phoned Morneau as the first baseman was arriving at the Metrodome. "He just wanted to call and say, `Congrats,'" Morneau said. "He said he thought he was more excited than I was. He said, `Just wait, it's going to be crazy.'" Walker, a coach for Canada at the World Baseball Classic, autographed a bat for Morneau in March. "To Justin, make Canada proud," Walker wrote. "I thought that was pretty cool," Morneau said.

Earning just $385,000 in his third season as a regular, Morneau proved a bargain. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, voted NL MVP on Monday, made $355,000. Morneau is eligible for salary arbitration this winter. Howard is not. "He's going to be rewarded. There's no doubt," said Twins general manager Terry Ryan, who sat next to Morneau at the news conference.

Two MVPs who made a combined $740,000? In a game in which the median salary hovers around $3 million, I'd say that these guys were the very definition of most valuable.

Ortiz earned a $100,000 bonus for finishing third. Thomas, who left the Athletics last week to sign with Toronto, received a $100,000 bonus for placing fourth. Dye got $60,000 for fifth

A lot of people, especially Yankee fans, will be pissed off that their idol, Derek Jeter did not win this award. Christ, the ESPN Baseball Tonight crew was practically creating a plaque for the guy. Jeter is a terrific player, but he is one star on a roster of stars. Morneau had a monster season on a team with few other offensive weapons. Sure Torrii Hunter hit 30 homers, and Joe Mauer won the batting title, but they had little else. Jeter, on the other hand, had guys like Johnny Damon in front of him, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Jorge Posada, A-Rod, and Robinson Cano behind him. Which lineup would YOU rather face?. I'd say the right man won the award, given the definition that is supposed to apply. Well done Justin!

Full Story Link

Romney Shoots Self In Foot. Throws Hissy At Not Getting Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment Vote Passed.

No longer 2008 presidential hopeful, lame duck Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney is unhappy in the extreme that commonwealth lawmakers failed to add an anti-gay marriage amendment measure on the state's ballot. Capital News 9 story:

Governor Mitt Romney says if lawmakers don't vote on placing an anti-gay marriage amendment on the ballot, he'll ask Massachusetts' highest court to order that the issue be put to voters.

Romney made the announcement Sunday on the statehouse steps in front of other opponents of same-sex marriage. Gay-marriage supporters staged a protest across the street.

Romney has criticized the legislature for delaying a vote on the issue. In November of 2003, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that same-sex marriage is legal.

Mitt, baby, what are you thinking? Are you playing to the neo-con base? The same base that was forced to eat it raw two weeks ago? Or are you sincere in your belief that the voters should decide this issue? Somehow, I get the feeling that, if this issue made it to the ballot, and the vote didn't turn out the way you want it to, you'd throw another hissy on your way back to Utah, or Michigan, or DC, or wherever the hell else you go to think up more ways to divide the people you claim to want to serve.

The bottom line is that you are an absentee Governor who came into office with an agenda of pettiness that crippled your Lt. Governor, Kerry Healey, to the point where she had NOTHING upon which to run. And as a result, she got rolled. Maybe if you'd spent more time here in the Bay State, and less time in DC polishing the knobs of the soulless GOP gargoyles, none of whom, by the way, have ANY intention of backing you for a White House run in 2008, you'd see that, even though we do have a few knuckledraggers who agree with you, we don't have nearly as many as you think we do, and that such stupid notions as this belong in history's dumpster, along with your political career.

Full Story Link

Ryan Howard Wins National League MVP Award. Former Red Sox Roundup.

Today was a busy day in baseball. The National League Most Valuable Player Award winner was announced, and several ex-Red Sox players signed new deals, re-signed old ones, and a key member of their 2004 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP team retired. Stories below. Links at the end of the post.

Ryan Howard Wins National League MVP Award

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player of 2006 in an announcement made this afternoon. Yahoo News AP Wire excerpt:

NEW YORK - Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player on Monday after leading the majors in home runs and RBIs, beating out the St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols for the honor.

Howard received 20 first-place votes and 12 seconds for 388 points in balloting by a panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Pujols got 12 firsts, 19 seconds and one third for 347 points.

Howard, the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, had 58 homers and 149 RBIs while batting .313. He had the most homers in the major leagues since Barry Bonds hit a record 73 in 2001. He set Phillies records for home runs and RBIs, producing the highest totals in those categories in big league history for a second-year player.

Twenty-three of Howard's homers put the Phillies ahead and five tied games. The Phillies went 32-18 in games in which he homered. Howard didn't make it up to the major leagues for good until July 1, 2005, when Jim Thome went on the disabled list.

Howard may have been helped by Philadelphia's surprising second-half push. He hit .355 with 30 homers and 78 RBIs in second half as the Phillies fell three wins short of the NL wild-card berth.

Pujols, who hit .331 with 49 homers and 137 RBIs, defeated Atlanta's Andruw Jones 378-351 in last year's voting after finishing second in 2002 and 2003. Stan Musial and Ted Williams (four times each) are the only players to finish second more often than Pujols, who matched three-time AL MVP Mickey Mantle with three second-place finishes.
Pujols was third in the NL in batting average behind Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez and Florida's Miguel Cabrera, and second to Howard in homers and RBIs.

Stan Musial (four times), Ted Williams (four times) are the only players to finish second more often than Pujols, who matched three-time AL MVP Mickey Mantle with three second-place finishes.

Houston's Lance Berkman was third with 230 points, followed by the New York Mets Carlos Beltran (211), Cabrera (170) and Washington's Alfonso Soriano (106) — who on Sunday reached a preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth about $136 million.

Pujols gets a $100,000 bonus for finishing second, Berkman $250,000 for placing third and Beltran $200,000 for fourth.

Howard is an imposing presence in the batter's box. He has unbelievable power to all fields. He reminds me a lot of David Ortiz, in that he is a patient hitter who, when he is going well, simply crushes the ball. And, as the excerpt noted, he is building a resume of being able to do so, like Ortiz, in the clutch. Well done Ryan.


Stanton and Gonzalez Sign With Reds

The Alex Gonzalez Era is over in Boston, as last year's Red Sox shortstop signed a three-year deal to play for the Cincinnati Reds. Former Sox lefty setup man, MikeStantonn, who pitched a total of 82 games in 1995-6, and 2005 also signed a two-year deal, with an option for a third year. Yahoo News AP Wire excerpt:

CINCINNATI - Needing a shortstop and a late-innings reliever, the Cincinnati Reds committed roughly $20 million to fill two of their bigger holes. Later, they spent a little more to get rid of their logjam behind home plate.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Mike Stanton finalized multiyear contracts Monday with the Reds. Cincinnati then traded catcher Jason LaRue to Kansas City for a player to be named, agreeing to pay part of his $5.2 million salary next season.

The light-hitting Gonzalez, 29, committed only seven errors last season with Boston. Stanton, 39, split the season between Washington and San Francisco, where he had eight saves and proved he can still pitch effectively on short rest. Together, they'll fill a couple of big gaps.

Gonzalez is expected to improve a defense that had the second-most errors in the National League last season. He hit .255 with 24 doubles and nine homers for Boston. Gonzalez gets $3.5 million next year, $4,625,000 in 2008 and $5,375,000 in the third year. If he wins the Gold Glove in either of the first two years, the third-year salary increases to $5.5 million. There's a $6 million mutual option for 2010 with a $500,000 buyout.

Felipe Lopez started at shortstop last season, but was undependable on routine plays and was part of an eight-player trade with Washington in July to restock the bullpen. Cincinnati got shortstop Royce Clayton as part of the deal, but he hit .258 and started only nine games in September.

Clayton has been an enigma for his entire career. He's a guy who seemingly has all the ability in the world, but somehow never seemed to be able to put it all together. He'll be 37 when the 2007 season starts, and he'll be looking to catch on with his seventh team in six seasons. Jesus, I hope Theo doesn't get any silly ideas...

The Reds also have been trying to upgrade their bullpen since the middle of last season. Left-handed closer Eddie Guardado, acquired from Seattle in one of those midseason trades, had reconstructive elbow surgery in September and won't be ready to pitch at the start of next season.

Stanton gives the Reds a proven option for late in games. He went 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA in 56 games last season for Washington, which traded him to San Francisco on July 28 for a minor league pitcher. Stanton was 4-2 in 26 games for the Giants with eight saves and a 3.09 ERA. Stanton gets salaries of $2 million next year and $3 million in 2008. There's an option for 2009 at $2.5 million, with a buyout of $500,000. If he appears in 140 games over the next two seasons, the option-year salary vests at $2.75 million.

Good luck next season guys. Alex, we hardly knew ye...


Nomar Gets Two-Year Deal From Dodgers

Former two-time AL batting champ Nomar Garciaparra will remain a Dodgers as he was shown the money after his Comeback Player of the Year season. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

LOS ANGELES - Six-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed Monday to an $18.5 million, two-year contract.

The 33-year-old Garciaparra, the NL comeback player of the year, will get a $2.5 million signing bonus, which is deferred until 2009 and 2010, and salaries of $7.5 million next season and $8.5 million in 2008. He would get an additional $250,000 each year for 500 plate appearances.

A two-time AL batting champion, Garciaparra shifted to first base with the Dodgers last season, his first with the team. He hit .303 with 93 RBIs and 20 home runs to tie J.D. Drew for the team lead in homers.

Garciaparra earned $8.5 million last season, including $2.5 million in performance bonuses. He signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers last winter. Injuries limited him to a total of 82 games in the previous two years. He was slowed late in the season by quadriceps and oblique muscle injuries.

Garciaparra had five game-winning hits last season, including his two-run shot in the 10th inning in an 11-10 victory over San Diego on Sept. 18. The Dodgers tied a major league record but hitting four consecutive homers in the bottom of the ninth.

After playing mostly shortstop in his previous 10 big league seasons, Garciaparra made a seamless switch to first in Los Angeles. He made only four errors in 1,124 chances for a .996 fielding percentage, the NL's second-highest for a first baseman last season.

Garciaparra was AL Rookie of the Year in 1997 and won his first batting title in 1999. He was considered one of baseball's best shortstops for several years while playing with the Boston Red Sox. He hit .283 with nine homers and 30 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs two seasons ago, when he earned $8.25 million. With the Cubs, he tore his left groin running out of the batter's box and was out for several months.

Garciaparra, who grew up in nearby Whittier and graduated from St. John Bosco High in suburban Bellflower, had said he was interested in staying with the Dodgers. "I've loved every minute of it," he said last month.

Garciaparra became all the more attractive to the Dodgers after Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract earlier this month, making him eligible to become a free agent.

Ah, sweet vindication! Way to go Nomar! I still remember what you did for this franchise.

Let me sound a cautionary note here. No, not about Nomar and his health, but about JD Drew and HIS health, namely his mental health. This is a guy who, as an amateur, let his agent, Scott Boras, talk him into sitting out a full year rather than sign with the Phillies out of college. He spent that summer playing in the independent Northern League before being re-drafted, and was finally signed by the Cardinals. Since then, he has shown flashes of brilliance, but he plays as if he has no pulse. His boneheaded baserunning (when he tried to score after an already tagged out Jeff Kent was barely picking himself up off the ground near home plate) cost the Dodgers in the NLDS against the Mets. Drew also has a world of talent, but his on-field actions resemble those of a sleepwalker. My cautionary note is to Sox GM Theo Epstein, who is rumored to be interested in obtaining Drew to replace Trot Nixon in right field. Theo, please, DON'T DO IT!!! There is a reason this guy has bounced from the Cardinals to the Braves to the Dodgers from 2003 until now, he is simply more trouble than he is worth.


Bill Mueller Retires. Takes Dodgers Front Office Job.

Former AL batting champ, all-around dirt dog, and the man who, with a hit off of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in Game Four of the 2004 ALCS, drove home pinch-runner Dave Roberts after his historic steal of second after a Kevin Millar walk, is retiring after yet another year of knee problems to take a job in the Dodgers front office. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

LOS ANGELES - Former AL batting champion Bill Mueller, limited to 32 games with the Dodgers last season before undergoing what turned out to be career-ending knee surgery, retired Friday and will serve as a special assistant to Los Angeles general manager Ned Colletti.

Mueller, who signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Dodgers last winter, hit .252 with three homers and 15 RBIs while striking out just nine times in 127 plate appearances. "He's a very smart guy," Colletti said. "He'll be involved with us in scouting, evaluating players, player development areas, amateur draft areas. He'll be a great sounding board for me."

Mueller finishes his career with a .291 average, 85 home runs and 493 RBIs in 11 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox' and Dodgers. The 35-year-old third baseman hit .326 and had career-high totals of 171 hits, 19 homers and 85 RBIs with the Red Sox in 2003, when he won his batting championship. He was a member of Boston's 2004 World Series championship team.

Mueller said he realized as last season went on that he'd never be able to play again because of the damage to his right knee. "It's something I'm definitely going to need work on in the future, whether it's done with one surgery or two separate surgeries," he said. "It's something I'm basically going to have to live with the rest of my life, without being able to run or jog, without high-impact activity. It's unfortunate, it's crazy. I'm just trying to deal with it now, living day-to-day life."

Mueller and Colletti have known each other for several years. Mueller began his career with the Giants, where Colletti served as assistant GM for nine years before being hired by the Dodgers last November. "He's someone that I trust and know, and really most importantly, respect," Mueller said. "I think that's what created even more interest in staying in the game of baseball. Once I understood there was no chance I would ever be able to play again, I called Ned. When both of our interests were high, I thought this was a great move and a great decision."

Mueller said he has no regrets concerning his playing career. "I'm happy with the next chapter," he said. "My (job) description is a work in progress. As of right now, I'm very interested in learning under Ned. I think it's a wonderful opportunity for myself to be able to listen and really get tutored on the aspects of the front office."

Mueller was a no-nonsense, heads-up, do whatever it took to win type of player. He cared little about personal stats, and his hustle was part of the charm of that 2004 championship team. It's too bad he has to end his playing career this way, but he will have lots of options within the game due to the respect he garnered as a player. Good luck Bill!

Ryan Howard-NL MVP

Gonzalez Signs with Reds

Nomar Re-signs with Dodgers

Bill Mueller Retires

Santana Unanimous American League Cy Young Award Winner.

The American League Cy Young Award winner was announced today, and it should come as no surprise that Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins came away with the hardware. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

NEW YORK - Johan Santana swept the Cy Young ballot the same way he buzzed through batters all season. Santana won the AL Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second time in three years, and the
Minnesota Twins ace was a unanimous choice once again.

Santana received all 28 first-place votes for a perfect total of 140 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Chien-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees finished a distant second with 15 second-place votes and 51 points. Toronto's Roy Halladay was third with 48 points.

The left-hander separated himself from all others during a dominant season, going 19-6 with a 2.77 ERA and 245 strikeouts to propel Minnesota from a poor start to the AL Central title. With a baffling changeup and excellent control, he tied Wang for most wins in the majors and led the AL in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched (233 2-3).
Forget the Triple Crown — it was the pitching version of a Quadruple Crown.

"I was trying to show people that what happened in 2004 wasn't a fluke," Santana said. And here's a scary thought: At 27, he thinks he can become even more effective, because there's more to learn. "In the future, I want to be consistent from Day 1. We're still making adjustments," Santana said. "I still believe that I can be better."

Jesus, that IS a scary thought. How much better can this guy get? He's like a lefty version of Pedro Martinez in his best years with the Red Sox. And by the way Johan, thanks for giving up David Ortiz's single-season club record 51st homer.

Santana also was a unanimous winner in 2004, when he was 20-6 with a 2.61 ERA and 265 strikeouts. He is the fifth pitcher to win the Cy Young Award unanimously at least twice, joining Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux and Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who did it three times.

The award was established 50 years ago, and there was only one selection from both leagues from 1956-66.

Like Pedro in 1999 and 2000, when he went 41-10 with an ERA of 1.90 and almost 600 strikeouts, Santana is getting to the point where his starts resemble little more than private games of catch with his catchers. He's fun to watch, because, especially in this high-octane offensive era, he makes the game better just by using his head as well as his nimble left arm. Well done Johan, and please, take it easy on the Sox in 2007...

Full Story Link

Baseball's General Managers Meet. Red Sox Win Negotiating Rights to Matsuzaka.

And speaking of pitchers, moments ago, as the annual General Managers meetings got underway, it was announced that the Red Sox emerged with the winning bid to negotiate with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Yahoo News AP wire story:

NAPLES, Fla. - The Boston Red emerged Tuesday night as winners of the bidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka with a $51.1 million offer and have 30 days to sign the Japanese pitcher to a contract.

The Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League announced they had accepted the high bid for their prized pitcher, and the major league commissioner's office simultaneously confirmed at the general managers' meetings that the Red Sox had made the offer.

"Matsuzaka has a real talent. He would be a great fit with the Red Sox organization." Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "We're excited to have won this part of the process. We're hopeful we can reach an agreement." Even before the announcement, general managers had assumed Boston would be the highest bidder in the blind process.

"We'll congratulate the winner and move on," New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Tuesday afternoon.

Matsuzaka is represented by Scott Boras, who last year negotiated the deal that moved center fielder Johnny Damon from the Red Sox to the Yankees. "Pitching, as usual, is at a premium," Boras said.

Warning! Scott Boras is a tool! I hope that Matsuzaka does not turn out to be the next Hideki Irabu. The Yankees ate that mistake. Matsuzaka is younger than Irabu was, and is in much better shape (George Steinbrenner once called Irabu a "fat toad"). Still, 51.1 million dollars is a lot of damned money to spend JUST TO TALK TO THE GUY AND HIS AGENT! Christ, it would have cost less money to have kept Johnny Damon last year, or Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe the year before! All were key members of the 2004 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION RED SOX! But no. The Sox went cheap, let those guys walk, and they and their new teams, the hated Yankees, Mets and Dodgers all made the post-season in 2006. Do I seem bitter about this? All right. I'm bitter. Let's just move on...

Agents roamed the lobby at the hotel where GMs are meeting, discussing their free-agent clients. Some agents think the market will move more quickly this offseason because of the decision by management and the players' association to eliminate the Dec. 7 deadline for free agents to re-sign with their former teams unless they were offered salary arbitration.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya said some teams are unsure of where the marketplace is going, "so if they could do something quick, they're going to try to do it."

Mike Mussina's agent, Arn Tellem, kept up talks with the Yankees on a new contract for the pitcher that likely will be worth $23 million to $25 million over two years. "We're in the red zone," Tellem said.

With Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt heading a weak free-agent class, pitchers will get top prices.

"There are 30 clubs and probably three-quarters are looking for pitching," new Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "There's a lot of interesting pitchers out there. At the end of the year, the teams that have pitching, and healthy pitching, are usually the ones that are around."

GMs, as usual, will hold their annual discussion Wednesday of whether to have instant replay available to umpires, a concept commissioner Bud Selig opposes. In the past, the idea hasn't garnered enough support. "I guess we'll get a sense of that tomorrow," said Joe Garagiola Jr., a senior vice president in the commissioner's office.

Bud. Baseball NEEDS instant replay. WAKE THE FUCK UP! GET INTO THE 21ST CENTURY ALREADY!!!

There will also be talk Wednesday of whether to eliminate tie games, having them instead become suspended games. On Thursday, the GMs will discuss whether to have uniform standards for storing baseballs, a talk prompted by the use of a humidor by the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

As for the postseason schedule, nothing seems to have come of the idea floated by Selig to give wild-card teams fewer home games in the playoffs. "That is not officially on the agenda, so I suspect that will be some good lobby talk," Garagiola said.

Christ Bud, are you like, an imbecile? YOU were part of the nightmare that is the wild-card, and now you want to make things tougher on these teams? Have you been taking leadership lessons from Preznit Flight Suit Fantasy? Why not just make the wild-card players throw with the opposite arm and hit with only one hand on the bat while you're at it...

GMs did vote on one rule change, proposing that outright assignments to the minor leagues not count against the number of optional assignments a team has on a player. That must be approved by owners and the union.

I buy that. Outright assignments are usually one-way tickets back to Triple-A, but on occasion, the clubs monkey with the rules. Case in point: 1987. Ellis Burks is tearing up spring training. He is the last player cut. He spends three weeks in Pawtucket, and gets called up to the Red Sox, where he put together a 20-homer, 27-steal rookie season in just 133 games. The Sox did that to keep him on their books an extra season. If he'd made the team from the beginning, as he clearly should have, he'd have been eligible for free agency at the end of the 1991 season instead of the 1992 season. Maybe if the Sox had been forced to define the type of option under which to place Burks, they'd have given the decision more thought.

Anyway, we'll see what develops as these meetings go forward.

Full Story Link

Webb Wins National League Cy Young Award.

Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks was awarded the 2006 National League Cy Young Award today. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

NEW YORK - Brandon Webb of the Arizona won a wide-open race for the NL Cy Young Award, beating out San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman on Tuesday.

One of six pitchers who tied for the league lead with a pedestrian total of 16 wins, Webb received 15 of 32 first-place votes and 103 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Hoffman, who broke the career saves record this season, got 12 first-place votes and 77 points.

St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter, last year's winner, finished third with two first-place votes and 63 points.
Houston's Roy Oswalt, who led the NL with a 2.98 ERA, got the other three first-place tallies and came in fourth.

Webb, who went 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA and made his first All-Star team, was listed second on seven ballots and third on seven others. No pitcher was included on every Cy Young Award entry. Webb's victory total was the lowest for a starting pitcher who won the Cy Young Award in a full season. The previous low was 17 wins, by Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos in 1997 and Randy Johnson for Arizona in '99. Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers was honored with a 13-7 record in 1981 and Atlanta's Greg Maddux went 16-6 in '94 — but those seasons were cut short by players' strikes.

Note: Pedro's ERA in 1997 was a stingy 1.90 that led the league. He also struck out 305 batters and led the NL with 13 complete games that season. In 1999 Johnson led the NL in ERA with 2.48, innings with 271.2, starts with 35, complete games with 12 and an astonishing 364 strikeouts.

Webb also is the first NL winner to have an ERA above 3.00 since Philadelphia's Steve Carlton had a 3.10 mark in 1982. Rick Sutcliffe split the 1984 season between Cleveland and the Chicago Cubs, finishing with a 3.64 ERA overall but a 2.69 mark in the NL.

Before Webb, Johnson was the only Diamondbacks pitcher to take home the award, winning four straight times from 1999-02.

The AL Cy Young Award winner will be announced Thursday — and Minnesota's Johan Santana is a heavy favorite. The NL and AL Manager of the Year will be revealed Wednesday.

My money is on Santana.

Webb threw a career-best 235 innings, which ranked second in the NL. The 27-year-old sinkerballer also tied Carpenter for the league lead with three shutouts and both had five complete games, good for second in the NL.

One of the biggest keys in Webb's development has been his ability to control his deceptive sinker, which helps him induce one harmless groundball after another when he's on top of his game.

After a strong rookie season in 2003, the right-hander walked a major league-high 119 batters the following year for a terrible Arizona team that went 51-111. Webb also led the NL with 16 losses and 17 wild pitches that year.

But he cut his walks in half in 2005 and issued a career-low 50 free passes this year. And he got more help from Arizona's much-improved infield defense.

Webb agreed to a $19.5 million, four-year contract with Arizona in January. For winning the Cy Young Award, the buyout of his $8.5 million option in 2010 doubles from $500,000 to $1 million.

The 39-year-old Hoffman finished with a league-leading 46 saves in 51 chances for the Padres. He has 482 career saves, breaking Lee Smith's previous mark of 478.

Hoffman went 0-2 with a 2.14 ERA in 63 innings spanning 65 appearances. He was listed second on three ballots and third on eight. Hoffman also was a Cy Young Award runner-up in 1998 to Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves. Carpenter and Hoffman each receive a $50,000 bonus for finishing high in the voting.

In a season in which there is no truly dominant starting pitcher, this award usually ends up in the hands of a closer. I have a feeling that not enough voters would have been comfortable giving the award for best pitcher to a guy with zero wins, no matter how many saves he had.

No doubt Webb had a fine year, and was vastly improved in just about all aspects of the game. Despite the mediocre win total, he is far from the worst choice ever for this award. That dis-honor falls to Pete Vukovich of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, who had 18 wins, good for second in the AL, but an atrocious walk-to-strikeout ratio (102-to-105). The "Harvey's Wallbangers" Brewers clubbed their way to the AL pennant that year, and eventually lost the World Series to the Whitey Herzog's Cardinals, and Vukovich was definitely helped out by the bats of guys like Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, Ben Oglivie, Gorman Thomas and Ted Simmons.

Stay tuned for the AL winner, to be announced later in the week.

Full Story Link

Lieberman to Stab Dems in the Face?

Ugly Kid Joe Lieberman is leaving the door open to make an official defection to the side of the enemy. Preznit Bush is eagerly applying fresh lip gloss for inevitable. Atrocities from the latest Tim Russert Fluff-Fest courtesy of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune:

"I'm going to caucus with the Democrats both because it's good for my constituents in Connecticut, because I retained my seniority, I become a committee chair, but also I want to continue to work to bring the party back to its historic traditions of strength on national security, foreign policy and innovation and progress in domestic policy,'' Lieberman said Sunday.

He said that because voters (Republicans) returned him to Capitol Hill as an independent, "I am now an Independent Democrat, capital I, capital D. Matter of fact, the secretary of the Senate called my office and asked, `How do you want to be identified,' and, and that's it. Independent Democrat,'' the senator said on "Meet the Press'' on NBC.

Joe, I've got an initial for you, you Whore, with a capital W.

With many Senate Democrats having campaigned or raised money for Lamont, as the party's nominee, Lieberman acknowledged it might be "a little awkward'' for him back in Washington.

"They played by the traditional partisan political playbook. And I can't say I enjoyed it, but we're all grown-ups, we've got a job to do, and I'm going to do my best to get that job done,'' Lieberman said.

Grownups? You mean the grown up way you acted when you took your ball and went home to become an "Independent" after Ned Lamont beat you in the August primary?

Democrats will hold a 51-49 edge in the Senate, so Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, could find himself courted by Republicans.

He was asked about a scenario in which he might become uncomfortable as Democrats sought to enforce party discipline and then the GOP offered to keep him as a committee chairman and respect his seniority if he switched.
"I'm not ruling it out, but I hope I don't get to that point. And, and I must say, and with all respect to the Republicans who supported me in Connecticut, nobody ever said, `We're doing this because we, we want you to switch over,''' he said.

Unbelievable...or maybe not...

Ken Kanniff, Connecticut's Most Wanted Gangsta, and I have had many discussions about this ass-clown. Ken posited that my hatred of the man was misplaced because his seniority was a key element in helping Democrats. My answer was in the form of a question: Help Democrats do what? Behave more like neo-con Republicans?

This election showed what an arrogant, out-of-touch asshole Lieberman is. He didn't get the message when Ned Lamont pasted his crusty arse in the August primary, so he ran off and pretended to be an "Independent". And thanks to the GOP leaving their candidate, Alan Schlesinger, hanging in the wind, Lamont went down in favor of "Joementum".

Now this piece of shit is going to endanger the 51-49 Democratic majority. If he switches to the Republicans, it'll be 50-50, and Ken's prediction of Cheney being wheeled from his crypt to cast critical tie-breaking votes will come true. They don't call the man Bush's favorite Democrat for nothing.

Full Story Link

Ramirez and Verlander named American and National League Rookies of the Year.

Major League Baseball handed out some more post-season hardware today as the Rookies of the Year in the American and National Leagues were announced. Yahoo News AP wire excerpt:

NEW YORK - Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins won a tight race for NL Rookie of the Year, and Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander took home the AL award Monday.

Ramirez beat out Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman by four points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America — the closest NL vote since the current format was adopted 26 years ago. The speedy shortstop got 14 of 30 first-place votes and finished with 105 points. Zimmerman received 10 first-place votes and totaled 101 points. Three of the top four NL finishers were Marlins. Second baseman Dan Uggla came in third, getting the other six first-place votes, and pitcher Josh Johnson was fourth.

Verlander easily won the AL honor after his closest competitors in a race dominated by pitchers were sidelined late in the season because of injuries. The hard-throwing right-hander, who helped the surprising Tigers reach the World Series, was listed first on 26 of 28 ballots for a total of 133 points. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon came in second with 63 points, and Minnesota lefty Francisco Liriano finished third.

The 23-year-old Verlander, who went 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA, became the first starting pitcher to win AL Rookie of the Year since Dave Righetti of the New York Yankees in 1981. The last Tigers player to receive the honor was second baseman Lou Whitaker in 1978.

Ramirez gave the Marlins their second Rookie of the Year in four years, joining ace pitcher Dontrelle Willis (who won the ward in 2003). The 22-year-old Ramirez, acquired from Boston last November in a deal for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, batted .292 with 17 homers, 59 RBIs, 119 runs and 51 stolen bases. Ramirez also hit 46 doubles and 11 triples.

Voters select their top three choices and points are tabulated on a 5-3-1 basis. Before 1980, writers voted for just one rookie.

Zimmerman, who actually appeared on more ballots than Ramirez (29-27), hit .287 with 20 homers, 110 RBIs and 47 doubles. He also played strong defense at third base.

Six Marlins received votes, the most for one team on a rookie ballot. Pitchers Scott Olsen and Anibal Sanchez were also mentioned, along with outfielder Josh Willingham.

I'm good with these choices. If Papelbon and Liriano had stayed healthy and effective, the vote may have turned out differently, but they didn't, and Verlander had a terrific season. Even though Verlander faltered badly with fielding problems in the World Series, he's a fireballer who can reach 99 MPH at times. Given the way Tigers manager Jim Leyland handled him in 2006, and how he will likely continue to handle him going forward, there is no reason that Verlander cannot continue to improve and become a truly dominant starter.

As the excerpt indicated, the NL choice was a much tougher one, as revealed by the numbers. Ramirez is yet another Red Sox farmhand who was traded away. It appears that the "can't miss" tag observers pinned on him was accurate. Ramirez was part of the aforementioned deal that sent pitcher Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell to the Sox. It looks like he'll become a terrific player, and the fact that he is no longer a Red Sox may actually help him develop, since the Sox aren't known for daring baserunning, which is definitely part of Ramirez's game.

Congratulations guys!

Full Story Link

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas, At Least Two Feet Away...

A ridiculous ruling now prohibits erotic dancers in Las Vegas from touching their customers in ways that can be interpreted as "raunchy" or "sexual" in nature. Yahoo News Reuters excerpt:

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A court has upheld a Las Vegas city regulation barring erotic dancers from raunchy physical contact with their customers, in a ruling that runs counter to the gambling city's sinful reputation.

Nevada's Supreme Court on Thursday reversed two lower court rulings that found the regulation improperly curtailed "expressive conduct" protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

The high court judges said that even if the constitutional amendment did apply, its protection was not absolute, and added the city measure helps curtail prostitution, sexually transmitted disease, drug offenses and criminal activity.
The city rule bars dancers from physical contact of a sexual nature with customers.

The decision echoes a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year that backed a California city's regulation requiring at least two feet (0.7 meter) distance between erotic dancers and the audience.

Full Story Link

People, people! What the hell do you expect when you walk into one of these establishments? Games of Gin Rummy? Christ, the whole reason for going to such places is to engage in "raunchy physical contact". Look at it as a way to conduct oneself "expressively". Anything else would be silly, like Bill Clinton's idiotic "I never inhaled" nonsense when asked if he'd ever smoked pot. Hunter Thompson nailed that one. He said (paraphrasing): "Why the hell else would you smoke the shit? That's be like me saying "I eat LSD, but I don't swallow it'..."

Not for nothing, but in October 2005, as part of the bachelor party for the distinguished Ken Kanniff, Connecticut's Most Wanted Gangsta Man, our posse ended up at Scores, where I was immediately greeted by the captivating Sweet Lil' Shelby. She and her colleagues then proceeded to provide us with an evening of stimulating entertainment that included many lap dances, an activity that is certain to be viewed in a dim light according to this ruling. And sure, these activities would most likely be frowned upon by some on the Christian Right (like good old Ted Haggard, at least until his gay hooker turned him in), but neither we boys, nor the girls ever crossed the line, despite the fact that the two-foot rule was in constant violation while we were there. In fact, we were so well behaved, that one of the young ladies, upon hearing that a couple of the our crew members were planning a move to the area, offered her services as part of her full-time wage-slavery gig, which is real estate brokerage.

Look, I know there are a lot of clowns out there who like to paw the girls. I also know that there are a lot of girls who grind that little extra bit harder to get the guys to pay for more dances, but I just don't see why this was ever a matter that should have ever seen a courtroom. In my distantly receding youth, I played guitar in a heavy metal band that would occasionally play in a place that was several notches below Scores on the "ambiance" scale. We didn't get many song requests from the patrons, if you acquire my drift. In the one summer I did this, I saw some shit go down that you simply would not believe. Let me tell you, when the interactions between patron and provider got "blurry", the staff dealt with it quickly and severely. And they were somehow able to do so without needing a "two-foot" rule to know when and when not to act.