Sweeney Returns From Japan and Rayborn From Taiwan To Bolster Somerset, Southern Maryland Mound Staffs

It is only a little bit of a stretch to say “they are coming from around the world” to play in the Atlantic League this summer.  Recent signees include a pair of 35-year-old right-handed pitchers who have spent the last three seasons working in Asian leagues.

Miguel Cuellar un Zurdo de Tornillos y Tenedores (Mike Cuellar Lefthanded Expert in Screwballs and Forkballs)

La primera vez que supe de Mike Cuellar fue en febrero de 1970. Magallanes de Venezuela enfrentaba a Ponce de Puerto Rico en el juego inaugural de la Serie del Caribe que marcaba la reaparición de este evento luego de un paréntesis de casi una década. Por los Navegantes abrió el cubano Orlando Peña y […]

Round One of the ’82 Draft

Thanks to a 38-65 record in the strike-interrupted 1981 season, the Chicago Cubs would own the first overall selection in the 1982 June amateur draft. Here is a look into the first round of the ’82 draft and the players who were selected. 1st overall – Chicago Cubs select SS Shawon Dunston (Thomas Jefferson High […]

From 4-Foot-8 All the Way to Triple-A

On the flip side of those getting released as Major League teams made their final cuts is the story of Boston farmhand Daniel Nava.  The switch-hitting outfielder is said to have been only 4-foot-8 and 80 pounds when he entered high school. But he plays up.

El primer árbitro latinoamericano en ejercer en Grandes Ligas (The First Latin American Umpire Who Worked a MLB Game)

Cuando a finales de marzo de 2010 me enteré a través de los medios de comunicación que el árbitro Manuel González, de amplia trayectoria en la LVBP, se convertiría en el primer venezolano  en ponerse el traje azul y gris para sentenciar jugadas en la Gran Carpa; fue inevitable pensar en Alejandro “Patón” Carrasquel, el […]

With Nelson Figueroa Joining Phillies, An Even Dozen Independent Grads in Majors

There were a number of late disappointments to be sure, but 11 former Independent Baseball players were on Opening Day major league rosters, and the number will climb to 12 since Philadelphia claimed Nelson Figueroa from the New York Mets. Who are the others?

Money Talks

USA Today released the 2010 Major League Baseball Salaries in an easy-to-use database.  There is no better predictive model than what the money says.  Put any statistical package up against it and the money flow stacks up pretty well.  

Touring the Bases With…Ron Kittle

Right-handed slugger Ron Kittle belted 90 homers, drove in 247 runs and batted .337 between Double-A and Triple-A from 1981-1982 before settling in as the Chicago White Sox’s full-time left fielder in 1983.  His pyrotechnics display continued in the majors when he slammed 35 homers and drove in 100 runs in his rookie season, earning […]

Harrisburg and Eastern League Excited About Strasburg

Just a few days prior to the start of the minor league season and you can bet clubs are doing all the last-minute scrambling to get ready for their teams to arrive from Arizona or Florida as big league clubs break their minor league camps.  Opening Day is here, ready or not! The biggest assignment […]

So Long, Bobby Ray

He wasn’t the next Mickey Mantle. He wasn’t as talented as Bobby Bonds–the man he was once traded for. And he’d be surpassed as a ballplayer by a young kid named Mattingly–whom he once made room for on the Yankees roster by graciously retiring from the game of baseball. Nope, he’ll never make the Hall […]

Touring the Bases With…Seattle Pilots Documentarian Steve Cox

I don’t have any special knowledge of the Seattle Pilots; like many thousands, I’ve read Jim Bouton’s Ball Four, but I’m nowhere near old enough to have firsthand experience of the team. Still, that book, along with an interest in baseball in Seattle, made me curious about Rainer Valley’s one-year wonder. So a few months […]

2010 NL West Preview

Colorado Rockies 2009 Finish: 92-70  2nd place; Wild Card; Lost 3-1 to Philadelphia in NLDS Notable Acquisitions: INF Melvin Mora, OF Jay Payton, C Paul Lo Duca, RP Joe Beimel Notable Departures: RP Alan Embree, C Yorvit Torrealba, 3B Garrett Atkins, OF Matt Murton, SP Jason Marquis Pitching and Defense: The Colorado Rockies ranked 8th […]

Bring the Dodgers Back to Brooklyn

The season opener last night recalled the great come-from-behind win by the Red Sox over the Yankees late in 2004.  It was too exciting for so early in the season, a 9-7 win by Boston that had it all.  Neil Diamond in his “Bring the Dodgers Back to Brooklyn” jacket–doing a live rendition of “Sweet […]

2010 MLB Predictions

Yes, folks, the 2010 season is underway; there’s further talk of performance-enhancing drugs and tainted records–which reminds me:  I’ve been having headaches lately so will head to Canada soon to get some ibuprofen.  Anyway, here’s how they’ll finish this season: AL EAST N.Y. Yankees Boston Red Sox T.B. Rays Baltimore Orioles Toronto Blue Jays AL CENTRAL […]

Atkins Talks About Importance Of Single-A

Ross Atkins has been a part of the Indians organization for 16 years, five of those as a player and 11 as a part of the front office. He was drafted by the Indians as a right-handed pitcher in the 38th round of the 1995 Draft out of Wake Forest University, and in his five […]

Welcome Back

A hearty and healthy “Welcome Back” to all the details of Major League Baseball. I love the digital age. At exactly 8:23 Sunday evening, I knew baseball season had officially returned.  Granted, I had arranged my Sunday around baseball’s opening night.  I had spent the late afternoon and early evening grilling cheeseburgers with sides of […]

Second-Guessing Yankees Decision to Start Phil Hughes

I was talking with David Cone over lunch last June when the subject of Phil Hughes came up. Hughes had been awful as the team’s fifth starter, giving up more than five runs a game and rarely reaching the fifth inning. I asked Cone if the young righthander would ever come close to being the […]

Rambling on About My Glory Days – If Only Every Day Could Have Been Opening Day

Wondering what you would do in this situation? Within a couple of hours I had two calls from friends. “Jack I have a ticket for you for the Monday White Sox/Indians opener,” and “Jack, I have a ticket for you for the Monday night final four basketball game.” No brainer for me – baseball any […]

Weber Honored As Top Yankees Rookie; Aldridge, Coby Smith Key Angels Wins

Jon Weber got some consolation even though he does not get to open the season with the New York Yankees. His name now goes alongside the likes of Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Don Mattingly, Willie Randolph, Tippy Martinez, Roy White, Tom Tresh, Tony Kubek and Norm Siebern as a winner of the James P. Dawson […]

Letters From Quebec: Catching Up With Spring Training

I admire catchers, a fact I rediscovered recently in chilly Florida where I attended four spring training ball games – and caught a cold. I was travelling with an old friend who is now a judge in the courts of Ontario. My friend, let’s call him Dave, once toiled as a left-handed relief pitcher for […]

Why the Braves Will Win

On the eve of the 2010 season, the National League East race seems like it might be decided by the disabled list. The Philadelphia Phillies, seeking their third straight divisional crown, sent three key players to the DL: closer Brad Lidge, set-up man J.C. Romero, and No. 3 starter Joe Blanton. The New York Mets, […]

Stark Shows that it is “Worth the Wait”

I have been an admirer of ESPN’s Jayson Stark since I was knee high to a batting tee and he wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer. The way he combines his baseball insight, humor and “Useless Information” pieces is a perfect mixture if you want to maximize your baseball knowledge yet keep the tone light. Stark […]

Deadball Era Captured in Rare Film Footage

Here’s a fantastic video posted on YouTube in October 2008.  The video’s creator took rare Deadball Era film footage from Ken Burns’ documentary, Baseball, spliced it together and added music.  And thanks to my friend and colleague Gary Livacari, a lot of the players, managers, coaches, and umpires have not only been identified, but Gary […]

Looking For A Few Good Loopholes

The story goes that W. C. Fields, on his deathbed, received a visit from an old friend named Gene Fowler. Fowler knew that there was more to Fields than the misanthropic sot he so often played in his movies, but also that Fields was neither an angel nor likely to find himself in the vicinity […]

The Mirror Seaver

I can still see Jon Matlack, his left leg straight as a pole, his right knee up by his neck, then the long stride towards home. Fastballs and curves, exquisite control. He was the number three man in the starting rotation of the Mets from 1972-77. Tough to get any higher than that, with Tom […]

Un juego de abril que siempre recordaré (An April game that I’ll always remember)

Mis prioridades recalaban en perseguir lagartijas, correr entre las trinitarias del patio de la casa, escaparme de la casa para jugar con mis amigos en el patio de frutales de la señora Beatriz. Sin embargo hay imágenes de mis hermanos hojeando la revista Sport Gráfico y las páginas deportivas de El Nacional y El Universal. […]

Touring the Bases With…Dick Drago

Pitcher Dick Drago began his career with the expansion Kansas City Royals in 1969 and split time between the rotation and the bullpen, winning 11 games in 26 starts and 15 relief appearances.  He led the Royals with 17 wins in 1971, but from ’69-’74 he went only 68-80 as a starter before becoming a […]

If Only Cashman and Hendry Were Paying Attention Millar and Jon Weber Might Have Big League Jobs

Would someone get Brian Cashman and Jim Hendry on the telephone for me?  Please! Cashman, general manager for the New York Yankees, said Jon Weber might have had a chance of opening the season with the World Series champions if he hit right-handed.  Counterpart Jim Hendry of the Chicago Cubs said his team needed another […]

Remembering Phil Rizzuto

Looking back, I’d have to say that Phil Rizzuto was the “voice” of my youth. It was the “Scooter’s” unmistakable, high-pitched voice that would be resounding throughout the steamy living room during those summers in the late 60’s when I first started following America’s pastime. Whether it was his trademark “Holy Cow!” (which, at times, […]

2010 AL Central Preview

By Justin Murphy and Brad Berreman In 2009, the Central division of the American League was decided in 163 games for the second straight season. This time, the Minnesota Twins, who had lost to the Chicago White Sox in the same situation in 2008, beat the Detroit Tigers to win the division. 2010 brings about […]

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