Archive for May 2009
Steals of home are not-so-subtle play of one-upmanship.
There’s been a lot of steals of home recently.
First, Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury did it on my sister’s birthday, April 26. Then Philadelphia’s Jayson Werth proved he had the guts to do it by stealing second, third, and home on May 12. Last night, San Francisco’s Aaron Rowand added his own as part of a double steal against the Braves.
Managers around the league have players running roughshod on the bases this year. Stealing home has never been as popular in recent memory and, in my opinion, it’s a manager’s way of proving, “Hey, we can do that, too.”
Why else would managers around the league be sending their runners into almost-certain outs? While San Francisco needs to manufacture runs, Boston and Philly certainly don’t.
It’ll backfire soon. Just wait.
Adrian Gonzalez, Raul Ibanez on record home run pace.
How happy is Philadelphia’s Raul Ibanez to be out of Seattle? He’s 17 home runs happy, that’s how much.
How much does San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez care that he’s playing in the most cavernous ballpark in all of baseball? He cares 18 home runs worth, that’s how much.
So that makes no sense at all, but you get the point.
According to Baseball Musings and Home Run Pace, Ibanez is on pace for 61 home runs this year. Adrian Gonzalez is very, very quietly on pace for 62.
If there was ever a time to root for “clean” players, this has got to be it. Gonzalez, the most underrated player in baseball, has been knocking dingers out of the park in San Diego for the past four years and I still don’t think anyone even knows who he is. Raul Ibanez has been underappreciated for the last eight seasons while mired in crumby Seattle and Kansas City. Neither has been implicated in the current steroid discussions.
Roger Maris’ single-season home run record was never broken. There is something more mythical and more legendary about his 1961 season than Bonds’ 2001, McGwire’s 1998 and 1999, and Sosa’s 1998, 1999, and 2001.
The more I think about it, the more angry I get. How is a 47-year-old record broken six times in a five year period?
Bud Selig really needs to be ousted as commissioner and replaced with someone who respects the history and significance of baseball. Then we can dole out the asterisks like greenies.
The Tiger’s Rick Porcello is dominating. We need a nickname.
I don’t want to toot my own horn, but…I TOLD YOU SO!
Over a month ago, I wrote an article claiming Rick Porcello would make strides towards becoming the Tiger’s staff ace by the end of 2009. At the time, he was an average 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA and not particularly impressive peripheral stats. Still, I was so awed by his veteran poise, devastating sinkerball, and ability to get out of jams, that I didn’t hesitate to say he’d get better, much better.
Well the 6’5″, 200 pound, youngster has improved markedly. After a couple of rough starts in April, he’s won five in a row, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by a 20-year-old since the New York Met’s Doc Gooden did it in 1984 and 1985. Porcello’s next start will likely come on June 2 against the Boston Red Sox.
If he wins, we’re going to need a nickname.
How about “Porcellomania?”
No, something about it just doesn’t have that zazz, that ring, that Fernandomania feel.
“Rick-Rolling?”
That’s already taken, but it could work.
A catchy movement to summarize Porcello’s domination should probably come from his last name. All the good ones do.
Detroit Tiger’s fans, it’s time to bust out your cellos, bring them to Comerica or wherever he’s pitching, and play slow, mournful music as the opposition falls one-by-one. Hey, it’s something.
For a scouting report on Porcello and what he pitches, click here.
