Melky Cabrera Suspension for PED Use Casts a Pall on Giants Season - A Bleacher Report Article

Well the PED era isn't over, evidently.
Neither are the problems surrounding Giants left fielders.

Oy vey.

In my latest for Bleacher Report, I talk about Melky Cabrera, PEDs and the Giants moving forward.

You can read the whole article HERE.



 

Hey #RedSox! Some of my Twitter rant today

 

Watching the Mets game with my sons

Last night I was folding laundry with MLB Network on. They were doing MLB Tonight where they jump from game to game, or as I call it, heaven.

My boys were playing with their animals and kind of watching the TV.
They played little league this year and their team was the Mets. MLB Network cut to the Mets and Reds who were scoreless in the bottom of the 9th.

My son Matty got excited when he saw the real Mets were on the TV. My son Aidan looked up as well.

Aidan figured out how to read the score. Mets 0 and Reds 0.

"Who are you rooting for, daddy?" Aidan asked me.
"The Mets." I said, completely disappointing the 14 year old version of me angry about the 1986 World Series.

The boys started cheering. "Go Mets!"

Brandon Phillips singled starting a potential game ending rally.

I explain that if the Reds score a run, the game is over.

"Boo Reds!" They yelled.

We watched the game unfold. Matty asked me "When do the Mets bat?"

I replied "If the Reds score, they won't bat again. All the Reds need is one run and they win the game."

A look of urgency went across Matty's face. He figured out the scoreboard as well. Mets 0, Reds 0.

Jay Bruce got a hold of one and it went higher and higher until it cleared the fence for a walk off homer.

"That's it." I said. "The Mets lost."

Aidan looked angry. "But the Mets should get another chance to hit."

"Nope", I said. "They had their chance."

"That's not fair", Aidan pouted.

Matty kept looking at the TV screen. Something didn't make sense.

"Daddy" he asked. "Why did they get three runs?"

"He hit a home run" I explained. "So all three runners scored."

"But Daddy," Matty continued. "If they only needed one run, why did they get three?"

"Well, the home run was worth three runs." I said.

Matty kept looking at the TV. "That doesn't make sense."

He might be right.

Aidan then turned to me and said "When is hockey on?"

 

Rest in Peace Johnny Pesky

When my family went to Winter Haven in 1980 to see the Red Sox in Spring Training, I was 7 and my brother was 8. We were collecting autographs of the players and coaches.

Johnny Pesky signed our book and gave my brother Ted a ball.

And no doubt people all over the country with roots to the Red Sox have a story like that.

Johnny Pesky was more than a former player, manager, broadcaster and coach. He was a link to the Red Sox past, both glorious and painful.

In my latest for Bleacher Report, I discuss how the franchise will never be the same again without Mr. Pesky. And no one person better personified the passion, heartbreak and redemption of the Red Sox than #6.

You can read the whole article HERE.


 

Nationals vs. Giants Could Be an NLCS Preview. That's a Good Thing for TV - A Bleacher Report Article

The Giants and the Nationals are about to start a series in San Francisco tonight. Fox Sports should be watching closely.

As I wrote in Bleacher Report, these two teams are young, exciting and play with both style and substance.

In terms of marketing a new brand of stars, remember Melky Cabrera, Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Tyler Clippard and Stephen Strasburg are all 28 years old or younger.

You can read the entire article HERE.


 

Oakland gets A's for Their 25-Game Stretch - A Bleacher Report Article

About a month ago, the A's beat up a bunch of lousy teams to get above .500.
It was a nice story but they were about to go on a 25 game stretch that would certainly sink their season.

They had to face the Rangers, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, Orioles, Angels and White Sox. There would be no way they could survive that gauntlet.

But as I wrote in Bleacher Report, they not only survived it but emerged on the other side as legitimate contenders.

You can read the whole article HERE.

 

Dodgers and Giants Could Rekindle Rivalry in Playoffs - A Bleacher Report Article

The Dodgers and the Giants have one of the great rivalries in baseball. And with both teams tied for first place, they may be adding another chapter to their struggles this year.

But, as I wrote in Bleacher Report, as cool as a regular season showdown would be, baseball really needs these two teams to square off in the NLCS.

Remember how the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry reached its climax in 2003 and 2004?
Something similar could happen with these two and without people complaining about East Coast Bias.

You can read the entire article HERE.





 

Manny Machado shows he can hit Triple A pitching

20 year old phenom Manny Machado was called up to the Orioles this week. The third overall pick was at Double-A Bowie when he got the call to the parent club.

The Orioles seemed to time to promotion well. Instead of exposing him to big league pitching, they Machado play the Royals and essentially a Triple-A staff.

He responded with a triple, 2 homers, a .500 average and a 2.000 OPS over his first two games.

I say one more weekend against Triple-A pitchers and then have him face big league pitching when they play the Red Sox next.

Even then, it is a good strategy. The Red Sox are not much better than Kansas City. The Orioles seem to be building him against lousy pitching teams.

A week from today he will be facing Justin Verlander and the Tigers. He should have a week of lousy big league pitching on his resume by then. THAT should be a descent challenge.

If he is still batting .500 with a 2.000 OPS, then that would be impressive.
 

Stephen Strasburg Bullpen Strategy for Washington Nationals - A Bleacher Report Article

OK, the Washington Nationals could go into the playoffs as the best team in baseball and make the decision to not use their best pitcher, Stephen Strasburg.

Kind of crazy, right?

In my latest article for Bleacher Report, I try to figure out a way to still use Strasburg and stick to an innings limit under 180 from now to the end of the World Series.

It is thinking outside of the box. If the Nats win it all, they can thank me later.

You can read the whole article HERE.

 

Moving the L.A. Dodgers to Downtown and the NFL to Chavez Ravine Makes Sense - A Bleacher Report Article

Can you believe that Dodger Stadium is the third oldest ballpark in the Majors?

In my latest for Bleacher Report, I argued a downtown stadium might be best suited for the Dodgers while Chavez Ravine is an ideal football stadium site.

You can read the entire article HERE.


 

Joe Girardi Should Win the American League Manager of the Year - A Bleacher Report Article

Your pal struck a nerve today on Bleacher Report.

I wrote a piece where I said that Joe Girardi was doing the best managing of his career and right now is my pick for manager of the year.

Man, you'd think I had just praised the village idiot for his intelligence.

The comments are flying, all trashing a manager who has had a big budget but injured and often ineffective team and has them in first place.

And according to the readers, that is the manager's FAULT.

Read the whole article here.




 

Nationals Need to Use Stephen Strasburg in the Playoffs - A Bleacher Report Article

The Nationals may shut down Stephen Strasburg soon, regardless of their position in the standings. He is a once in a generation talent, after all.

But as I wrote in Bleacher Report, a Washington pennant could be a once in four generations event. And the perfect combination of events for a post season run might be converging for the Nats. And removing Strasburg from that scenario could be a big mistake.

You can read the whole article HERE.






 

It was "Turn Back The Clock" night in Philadelphia

Fans in Philadelphia were treated to a special sight last night. It was Turn Back the Clock night at Citizen's Bank Ballpark and the fans no doubt got a whiff of nostalgia of glories past.

Oh there was no official celebration last night. It just felt like it.

This has been a strange year in Philly. This was a team that was expected to compete and contend all year long. After five straight division titles, a pair of pennants and a World Series title, the Phillies went through one of the best stretches in their teams history.

They went into the 2010 and 2011 post season as prohibitive favorites, both times being upset by the eventual World Series champ.

This year? It's been a big ole bowl of suck.

Injuries, slumps and disappointments have sent the Phillies from first to last and turned them shockingly into sellers at the trade deadline.

Phillies fans thinking they had a budding dynasty realize that it may have ended in many ways when Ryan Howard collapsed in the batters box grounding out to end the 2011 Division Series.

But fans who showed up tonight got to turn the clocks back a whopping 3 or 4 years and experience some of that not so old old Phillies magic.

Jimmy Rollins lead off with a first inning double.
Ryan Howard hit a two run homer in the first inning that game the Phils a 3-0 lead they would not relinquish,
Chase Utley joined with Rollins and Howard in turning a pair of double players.
Cole Hamels went the distance on a five hit complete game shut out.

Everything clicked tonight.
Phillies fans thought it would click like hat 90 some odd times this year.

Savor this game Phillies. It isn't often that an Old Timers Game counts.


 

Bill Mueller's Legacy with the Boston Red Sox Was Shortchange - a Bleacher Report Article

When you list the great heroes of the 2004 Red Sox seaso, how far down the list is Bill Mueller?


He may not be as mentioned as often as Dave Roberts, Curt Schilling, David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez in terms of post season heroics, but as I pointed out in my latest for Bleacher Report, the two biggest turning points of that year came off of his bat.

You can read the whole article HERE.

 

Daniel Straily Gets a Perfect Introduction to Oakland A's Baseball - A Bleacher Report Article

 Rookie Saniel Straily came out of nowhere to rise from non prospect to Major League pitcher this season.

And I wrote two, count them, two Bleacher Report articles about him.
That's right. He has more Sully Bleacher Report articles than major league starts.

My first one was simply me openly wondering how he could help the team.

The second one followed his debut which was, essentially, the stereotypical game of the 2012 Oakland A's.

Enjoy the articles. I don't think there will be one for every Straily start.
But you never know.

 

Red Sox give middle finger to their fans

The Red Sox lost a game to the Minnesota Twins where they were one strike from winning.
I guess there is no shame to letting up a home run to Joe Mauer.

Do you know what there IS shame in?
Losing the first three games at home to the Minnesota Twins.

There are not many teams left in the American League that are worse than the Red Sox, so they can't afford to lose to teams that actually suck.

But then again, the Red Sox suck.
And not the kind of suck that someone would say to a team that blew a playoff series or a big lead like last year.

They are a losing team in August.
They lost a four game series to the Minnesota Twins.

If EVERYTHING goes right tomorrow and Franklin Morales throws a perfect game and the entire team hits for the cycle, the only thing that would accomplish is they would not be swept in a four game series at home to an awful Twins team.

The next announcer who lists the Red Sox among Wild Card contenders should be fired immediately.


I was going to say the Red Sox should give free tickets to everyone in attendance for today's game, but those people have suffered enough.

 

How Chase Headley reminded me of the Oscar nominations

I know connecting San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley to the announcements of the Academy Awards sounds like a tenuous connection. Trust me, it makes sense.

Headley had been rumored to be traded all over the map. The Dodgers and the A's seemed like the most likely target for the hot corner man with power.

The Padres, far from contention this year, decided to hang on to Huston Street and Carlos Quentin for next season, so Headley seemed like the best candidate to help infuse some young blood into the squad.

Plus, third baseman Jedd Gyorko continues to clean up in Triple A Tuscon. With a .341 average, 17 homers and an OPS of .981, he has earned the right to have a spot in the big leagues.

When the flurry of trades took place on the 31st, I was at work and had a hard time keeping track of where everyone landed.

The next day, I was listening to the Padres game on my MLB app on my iPhone. And I heard Chase Headley get a basehit. And I thought "Wait... Headley didn't get traded? How did that happen?"

Which brings me to the Oscar nominations. There are a few times that there was a lock for a nomination that did not come through. I'm not saying these were the most deserving, but going into the nomination period, these seemed like they had all of the momentum.

Barbra Streisand as Best Director for Prince of Tides, Philadelphia as a Best Picture nomination, Ron Howard as Best Director for Apollo 13, Paul Giamatti for Best Actor in Sideways, Dreamgirls as a Best Picture nomination, and of course me, my brother Ted and Sean McPharlin being snubbed for Best Original Screenplay for I'll Believe You.

When they announce the nominations, it is done early in the morning with each major category rattled off very quickly without much time to digest who was not called out.

And in the case of those instances above, it did not occur to me until much later that certain people did NOT get the nomination.

And there would be a moment where I stop and say "Wait a second. Dreamgirls wasn't nominated? I thought that was going to win."

And this the Headley connection.

He wasn't traded. Ron Howard wasn't nominated for Apollo 13.

I could not have predicted either one.



 

The Red Sox have three catchers because......? - A Bleacher Report Article

With Ryan Lavarnway joining the team, the Red Sox have three big league catchers active.
In my latest for Bleacher Report, I question the wisdom of a team with this many holes not making a deal with one of their catchers.

You can read the who article HERE.

 

It's August and the Reds are the best team in baseball

It looks strange to type that.
I had to double check it.

Using the barometer of wins and losses, no team in baseball has had a better year than the Reds. (Sorry "Run Differential." You are not trumping wins and losses yet.)

It's not the Yankees nor the Rangers. The surprising Nationals are not the best. Nope. It's the Reds.

After this afternoon's 9-4 defeat of San Diego, the Reds have raised their record to 64-41.

They are doing it without Joey Votto. Replacement first baseman Todd Frazier homered for the 13th time this season. Johnny Cueto improved his record to 14-5 with a 2.52 ERA.

With a .610 winning percentage, the Reds are on pace to finish the season 98-64, which would be the sixth highest win total in the team's 131 year history.

Should this Reds team be looked upon as a World Series front runner? They are the best in the game as of this writing and there are only a few months to go.

Well, as we have seen the past few Octobers, it does not matter so much what your record is as when you get hot.

St. Louis got hot in October of 2006 and 2011. In neither year were they the best team in baseball but they wound up winning the series.

The Giants in 2010, the Phillies in 2008, the Marlins in 2003 and Angels in 2002 were all teams that got hot at the right time and got a parade out of it.

The 2007 Rockies of course became unreal, going from also rans to pennant winners.

The Reds are superhot now. They have had a six and ten game winning streak since early July. They were 45-38 on July 6th.

They are 19-3 since then.

They have also been playing the likes of San Diego, Colorado, Houston and Milwaukee during that stretch. Not exactly the caliber of teams they would face in the playoffs.

It is clearly important to win the games against the lesser clubs. But this is also an instance of a team peaking with two months left to play. The Reds are on top of the baseball standings as of this writing but only three games in the loss column ahead of Pittsburgh. The best team in the game is not even assured a spot at the playoff table.

The Reds are a great story now. For their sake, I hope they have another great streak in them. Preferably one that starts around the last week of September.

 

A. J. Burnett Is the Most Effective Pitcher on the Yankee Payroll - A Bleacher Report Article

A. J Burnett threw a no hitter into the 8th inning last night and finished with a complete game 1 hit shutout for the Pirates.

The Yankees dropped their fourth straight after Ivan Nova blew an early 5-0 lead to Baltimore.

In my latest for Bleacher Report, I talk about how odd it is that the Yankees need a starter now and yet are paying A. J. Burnett's contract for the Pirates.

You can read the article HERE.