Dear MLB Umpires
RE: Overly Theatrical Out Calls or “Punch Outs”
See attached example, Tom Hallion.
Remember, you did not strike out the batter or throw out a runner at a base. You did not make the out. You are just supposed to call the out. You are just a non-partisan executor of the rules of the game. You are not an attraction. Fans do not pay to see your added flavor or character. Do your job as seamlessly and invisibly as possible.
You are not the Show.
Stop thinking that you are.
Photo Credit:
Deadspin
Commissioner for a Day
With news of yet another embarrassing display by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria coming to light, now seems a good time to revisit and update what I would do if I were the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. The nine mandates I previously handed down need just a little tweaking.
- Eliminate the DH and add another roster spot to every team.
- Eliminate the determination of home field advantage in the World Series by the result of the All-Star game. The team with the better regular season record deserves the honors.
- Eliminate the celebrity softball game from All-Star festivities, and add a skills competition. Here are just a few ideas for events - fastest from home to third, outfield throwing accuracy, catcher throwing accuracy, catcher blocking ball in the dirt efficiency, infielder fielding range and throwing accuracy.
- Impose a minimum salary cap and/or require that shared revenues be invested back into the team’s salary budget.
- Mandate that all teams set aside a section of premium seats for local kids with high achievements in academics or the arts.
- Schedule less off days during the playoffs. This would also help reduce the chances for November baseball.
- Schedule more day games during the playoffs - at least one in every series.
- Make MLB umpires accountable for their performance or lack thereof, starting with the immediate dismissal of Joe West, Angel Hernandez and C.B. Bucknor.
- Remove Jeffrey Loria from the Miami Marlins ownership group. He can take his son-in-law David Sampson (also the Marlins team president) with him on the way out the door.
History, Schmistory
The Rangers beat the Cubs last night 4-2 in Chicago. Per Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram, most of the Rangers were looking forward to visiting Wrigley Field, many for the first time, with one exception - 37-year old designated hitter Lance Berkman. “It’s one of the worst places in baseball for, well, just about anything. I really don’t like it,” said Berkman. He then added, “I guess I’m just spoiled. There is a tremendous history associated with it and there is something special about playing on the same field that guys like Babe Ruth did. But really, what kind of history is there? It’s not like there has been one championship after another. It’s mainly been a place for people to go and drink beer.”
Yeah, that’s right Fat Elvis - screw history. How can you, a 16-year veteran, be expected to perform at peak proficiency without a proper muffin basket in front of your locker? Your chi is clearly uncentered because of Wrigley’s lack of an adequate spiritual room. I mean, how else can you explain your career slash line of .215/.315/.377 in 355 plate appearances at Wrigley? It can’t be the day games (.289/.408/.538) or the Cubs pitching staff (.250/.378/.465).
Gotta be the stadium, right?
Photo by Bob Levey, Getty Images
Full Menu
What do I want for dinner??? 5 taters! That’s what!
— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10)
Top: Juan Francisco, by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images
Middle Left: Juan Francisco, by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images
Middle Right: Jason Heyward, by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images
Bottom Left: Justin Upton, by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images
Bottom Right: Dan Uggla, by John Amis/AP
It’s Not This Easy
After completing their third consecutive series sweep with a 9-0 pummeling of the Nationals, the Braves now have a record of 11-1. Of course, they can’t maintain that .917 winning percentage over the remaining 150 regular season games. But here is a sobering thought for the rest of the National League - the Braves offense really hasn’t started clicking yet.
Centerfielder BJ Upton is hitting just .163 (though he was 3-5 today and hit his second homer of the season). Right fielder Jason Heyward is mired in a 2-32 slump that has dropped his batting average to a miniscule .103. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who hit his first home run of the year today, is hitting just .211. Second baseman Dan Uggla’s batting average dropped to .171 after going 0-4 today. He also struck out once, the fifteenth time he has done so already in just twelve games.
Just think when these guys get it going.
The Braves have also been without their All Star catcher Brian McCann, who is in Extended Spring Training working himself back into shape after his offseason shoulder surgery. They haven’t missed him much though as 26-year old rookie Evan Gattis has more than picked up the slack with his early coming out party. Gattis, nicknamed El Oso Blanco (“the White Bear”), drove in two runs today on his second double of the season to give him 10 RBI in his nine games played. His 1.120 OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) is good for second in the National League, behind only his teammate Justin Upton (1.306). When McCann does return from the disabled list, it will be interesting to see how the Braves adjust their lineup to get both McCann and Gattis their at-bats. That’s how far Gattis has come.
The roster move to accomodate McCann’s return to the active roster will also bear watching. Fourth (fifth?) outfielder Jordan Schafer is out of minor league options. As is lefty swinging third baseman Juan Francisco. The Braves envision switch hitting utility infielder Ramiro Pena as a poor man’s version of former Brave Martin Prado after signing Pena as a free agent this past offseason. Pena is off to a surprisingly pleasant start offensively with a .333 batting average. He even hit just the third home run of his career (in 360 plate appearances) to help the Braves take the opener of this weekend series against the Nationals. Catcher Gerald Laird would seem to be the odd man out as the Braves would probably not carry three catchers, but Laird is also off to a nice start, hitting .333/.429/.500 in his four games played.
The Braves will cross that bridge when they come to it. For now though, they are on a roll led by their pitching staff. The starters have allowed a Major League low .208 BAA (batting average against). Their ERA of 2.06 trails only the Cardinals (1.82) for best in the Majors, while their 1.05 WHIP is also second behind just the Dodgers (0.95). The bullpen has been even more penurious with a Major League best 1.30 ERA, a .182 BAA (second behind the Royals .176), and a 0.92 WHIP (second behind the Orioles 0.86). Reinforcements are also on the way with the return of reliever Jonny Venters possibly in late May or early June, and also starter Brandon Beachy possibly in late June.
Photo Credits:
Top: Paul Maholm, by Evan Vucci/AP
Middle Left: Evan Gattis, by Evan Vucci/AP
Middle Right: Andrelton Simmons, by Evan Vucci/AP
Bottom: Reed Johnson, by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Alive and Kicking
Yeah, it wasn’t exactly vintage Doc. Yeah, he was pitching against the Marlins, who were playing without their All-Star power hitting right fielder Giancarlo Stanton. Yeah, a better lineup might have taken advantage of some of the pitches he left up in the zone. Yeah, he was helped out by an awful base-running blunder by Marlins catcher Rob Brantly, who was doubled off second base on a fly ball to deep center in the bottom of the 7th inning. Yeah, his fastball sat in the 88-90 mph range and he only struck out two batters. But Roy Halladay was efficient, throwing just 87 pitches in eight complete innings for a 2-1 Phillies victory and his 200th career win. In giving up just one run on five hits and a walk, Doc also cut his season ERA almost in half from 14.73 to 7.63.
Meanwhile in Colorado, rumors of the demise of Todd Helton may be a bit premature. The Toddfather hit the third pinch-hit home run of his career, a two-run shot in the top of the 7th, to provide all the runs the Rockies would need in their 2-1 win over the host Padres. The home run, also Helton’s 355th career blast, was also his sixth hit in his last nine at-bats, helping raise his season slash line to .267/.313/.433.
Photo Credits:
Left: Roy Halladay, by Marc Serota/Getty Images
Right: Todd Helton, by Denis Poroy/Getty Images
Saudi Prince
In tonight’s Orioles-Red Sox game, 26-year old relief pitcher Alex Wilson became the first MLB pitcher born in Saudi Arabia. He entered the game to start the top of the ninth inning for the Red Sox. Wilson walked the first batter he faced, Manny Machado. But Machado was erased when the next batter Nick Markakis hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Wilson then struck out Adam Jones to keep the score at 3-2. Had the Red Sox been able to score two runs in the bottom of the 9th, Wilson would have earned the win.
Wilson was just called up from the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox yesterday after pitcher John Lackey was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right bicep strain. In five minor league seasons, Wilson has compiled a 22-14 record with an 3.81 ERA with strikeout and walk rates of 8.2 and 3.2, respectively. Originally drafted in the second round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft, Wilson’s prospect stock began to rise in 2011. He was converted from a starter to a reliever early last season, during which he posted a strikeout rate of 10.1. Still, MinorLeagueBall.com did not rank Wilson as one of the Red Sox top 20 prospects entering this season. Here is an excerpt from the scouting report by SoxProspects.com on Wilson:
Throws from high 3/4 arm slot. Clean mechanics, but his delivery is somewhat arduous. Fastball sits 92-93 mph and tops out at 94-95 mph. Can sit in the mid-90s in short bursts out of the bullpen. 4-seam fastball is on the straight side and hittable when elevated. 90-92 MPH 2-seam fastball shows improved arm-side run on right-handed batters. Average fastball command. Also utilizes an 81-84 mph slider with tight rotation and depth that misses bats.
Photo by J. Meric, Getty Images
Ouch
Angels ace Jared Weaver will be out the next 4-6 weeks with a broken left elbow (his non-pitching arm) after dodging a line drive off the bat of Mitch Moreland in the sixth inning of his April 7 start against the Rangers in Arlington.
The Angels do not have a deep pitching staff. Look for them to call the Rockies about recently acquired (and immediately designated for assignment) starter Aaron Harang, who was 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA in 31 starts over 179.2 innings last year for the Dodgers.
Photo by L.M. Otero, Associated Press
Wow.
That was Rangers closer Joe Nathan’s reaction on the strike three call by home plate umpire Marty Foster last night. Foster’s dubious call gave Nathan his 300th career save.
Insert references to Eric Gregg and Angel Hernandez here.
Tom Terrific
Artist: Summer Anne Burton
