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It seems to have become an article of faith at the upper end of the New Jersey Turnpike that the sky is falling. And that as a result, the Mets' next three games, against the Phillies starting Friday night at The Bank, will be a make-or-break series for the team many picked to topple the defending world champions this summer.
Now, that sort of thinking is certainly understandable. New York has been crippled by injuries that have landed Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Billy Wagner and Angel Pagan on the disabled list. That's $67.4 million worth of contracts right there.
Views: 9 | Fri, Jul 3 2009• sports-baseball headlines
Fireworks at baseball games a great way to attract crowds
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There is a growing belief around the Royals that the three surest attendance boosts are, in no particular order: giving away T-shirts before the game, having Zack Greinke pitch during the game or setting off fireworks after the game.Friday night, the Royals will have two of the three, with Greinke going for his 11th win of the season and a contracted pyrotechnics company setting off the biggest fireworks show of the season to help celebrate Independence Day.The Royals are hoping that a general decrease in fireworks shows around Kansas City will help drive traffic to Kauffman Stadium on Friday night.
It's still early: Mets-Phillies interesting, but not crucial
It seems to have become an article of faith at the upper end of the New Jersey Turnpike that the sky is falling. And that as a result, the Mets' next three games, against the Phillies starting Friday night at The Bank, will be a make-or-break series for the team many picked to topple the defending world champions this summer.Now, that sort of thinking is certainly understandable. New York has been crippled by injuries that have landed Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Billy Wagner and Angel Pagan on the disabled list. That's $67.4 million worth of contracts right there.
Relax, Nats fans: We'll always have the '62 Mets
WASHINGTON -- Are the 2009 Washington Nationals the worst team in Major League Baseball history? Going strictly by the book, if the Nats continue to play at their present pace -- is "pace" really the word for it? -- they will lose somewhere around 120 of 162 games, the number lost by the New York Mets in 1962, which means it's possible -- unlikely, but possible -- that they will be tied for worst, statistically at least.Still, rest easy, Washington baseball fans. The '09 Nats aren't even half as bad as the '62 Mets. I know. I was there, a newly minted New Yorker who arrived in the city a few days before the Mets played their very first home game, a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and who attended at least 40 of their subsequent games that season at the Polo Grounds, almost all of which they lost.
Blair: The worst team in baseball
WASHINGTON -- Outside Nationals Park here, there's a statue of legendary Washington Senators pitcher Walter (Big Train) Johnson. What was meant as a signature piece is so preposterously awful -- the artists call it "repetitive motion" but to most people it makes Johnson look like an octopus -- that his grandson Henry Thomas won't set foot in the ballpark. We're talking serious jinx stuff, here. The park itself is just two years old, but so nondescript it could be plopped into Minneapolis or Cincinnati or Cleveland. Not in Montreal, though. Montreal would have done it with far more flair.
Manny inspires words of wisdom from the great minds
What, you didn't know Socrates was a baseball junkie? You thought Plato and Nietzsche were so above it all they didn't have a favorite National League team? Yeah, stupid me, I had no idea either.
Franco starts over as manager in minors
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- After playing until he was almost 50 years old, former major league infielder Julio Franco believes he has something to offer the game's younger players. His first stop to a career as a big-league manager is with the Gulf Coast League Mets in Port St. Lucie.
Knapp: SI manager poll leads to more questions
Sports Illustrated's recent polls on the least- and most-popular baseball managers needs backup. Because the poll was a quick and anonymous question, the 380 players who answered did not give reasons for their choices. The Cubs' Lou Piniella finished first among the least-liked managers -- which comes out in the next issue -- with 26 percent of the vote, and Atlanta's Bobby Cox finished first among the most liked with 25 percent. Players were asked whom they'd want or not want as a boss, and they were not allowed to choose their own manager.
Ask Babe: More questions for the Babe
Dear Babe: I have an ASA Mickey Mantle Story set with the autographed card. Would the signed card increase in value if I had it authenticated? -- Shannon Scott, Evansville, Ind. The 1982 Mantle Authentic Sports Autographs set of 72 cards was the first and second largest set issued by ASA. The sets celebrated some of the game's greatest players. The 1983 Mays set had 90 cards, while others had just 12 cards. All sets had one autographed by the former player. Naturally, Mantle's is the most valuable. The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards from the editors of Sports Collectors Digest says there were 20,000 sets issued. 5,000 came with signed cards. The other 15,000 went out without the signed card. The asking price originally was just $25 for a set with a signed card and $13 without it.
Patton: Manny Tour doesn't include Hall pass
Random notes, idle thoughts and keeping it clean around the sports world ...-- Those who signed on to the Manny Ramirez Inland Empire Tour the past few days may have seen a Hall of Fame-caliber player, but probably not a future Hall of Famer. Too many voters from the Baseball Writers of America Association, including this one, have indicated they won't mark down the names of confirmed players who used performance enhancing drugs, and even overwhelmingly suspicious ones.
Rivera adds to legacy as elite closer
NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera has seen all the histrionics by some closers. It's fine, he said, because it's part of their personalities. Rivera has his own way of celebrating a big save for the Yankees. "I go home," he said. "Simple as that. As quick as I finish, I go home." Rivera went home Sunday night with his 500th save, getting four outs in a 4-2 victory over the Mets to become the second major leaguer to reach the milestone. He also got his first career RBI with a bases-loaded walk against Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth.
Knapp: Maris deserves another look for Hall
Every time another slugger of recent vintage becomes linked to steroids, an array of old-timers weighs in on his viability for the Hall of Fame. After the New York Times reported two weeks ago that Sammy Sosa had tested positive in ostensibly confidential screening from 2003, Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg said that his fellow ex-Cub did not deserve a place in Cooperstown.
100 years ago, Forbes was baseball's 1st palace
PITTSBURGH -- Roberto Clemente's first hit and Babe Ruth's parting shot occurred within the confines of the most spacious ballpark any major league baseball team called home. So did Bill Mazeroski's 1960 World Series Game 7 homer, one so improbable, so magical that it seems certain to live in baseball's memory bank as long as the sport exists.
Ramirez's minor league tour is coming to an end
SAN BERNARDINO -- Manny Ramirez's weeklong tour of the minors probably will end Monday night here. Ramirez is tentatively scheduled to play for the Class-A Inland Empire 66ers again on Tuesday for the series finale against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, but sources in his camp are saying he probably will skip the game because of its 11 a.m. start time.
Torre doesn't like interleague play
LOS ANGELES -- As the Los Angeles Dodgers closed this year's interleague play Sunday with their game against the Seattle Mariners, manager Joe Torre reiterated that he could do without playing American League teams in the regular season. "I'm not a big fan" of interleague play, Torre said. "It's a novelty for the fans; I think we're doing it for the fans. Which is fine.
Steroid cheaters belong in Hall of Shame
"I just feel bad for the kids. You know, the ones who look up to him." That was just some of the spin being rattled off last week on ESPN after The New York Times broke the news that yet another Major League Baseball player - one who was content to sit back and wait for that Hall of Fame vote - had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Torii Hunter: Chone Figgins should be an All-Star
PHOENIX -- Chone Figgins' name is plastered all over the American League leader board, ranking fifth in batting average (.321), sixth in on-base percentage (.401), sixth in runs (54), eighth in hits (89) and fourth in stolen bases (23). About the only place you won't find the Angels third baseman is among the top vote getters at his position in balloting for the July 14 All-Star game in St. Louis, a snub that Torii Hunter, who appears to be a lock for his third All-Star berth, hopes is rectified.
No boos for Manny; just a boom
We arrived in hilly Riverside County on a scorching Saturday afternoon, the fertility drug fatale and I, same game, different missions. Manny Ramirez was here to play for the Class-A Inland Empire 66ers on his first phony rehab assignment in Southern California. I was here to find a Dodgers fan brave enough to boo him.
Manny's minor league tour lands in Lake Elsinore
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. -- Manny Ramirez went about his baseball business Saturday night, going through pregame stretching, shagging balls in left field and taking batting practice. His routine didn't include talking to reporters as the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger resumed his minor league rehab stint. He replied, "No, gracias" when asked if he would speak.
MLB tells umpire crew it mistakenly used replay
Turns out umpires are still learning the rules for instant replay, too.Major League Baseball told an umpiring crew Friday that it mistakenly went to a video review the previous night on a ball hit by Tampa Bay's Pat Burrell that bounced into the stands at Tropicana Field.Crew chief Gary Cederstrom was not disciplined. MLB vice president of umpiring Mike Port informed him of the error.
American League dominates interleague play, but not in October
After Tuesday night's victory over the Rays, the world champion Phillies are 4-9 in interleague play this season, all against the American League East. Before then, only the San Diego Padres had won less against the AL, although three other teams, in both leagues, had won as few games.Two of those teams play in the National League, which makes the following all the more remarkable: Before Tuesday night and with a week to play in this annual baseball oddity, the American League held only an 89-80 margin over the National League.
Giving fans a winning team not enough in Tampa Bay
Baseball is thriving, even in these tough economic times. But that doesn't mean it's all prime rib and champagne on every table in Bud Selig's little empire.That became clear this week when the defending world champion Phillies visited the Tampa Bay Rays in a rematch of the World Series and Tropicana Field was only half-full.A couple of disclaimers: Obviously, these games aren't as important as the ones that were played last October. And there's nothing more distasteful than teams whining about lack of fan support as though fans are obliged to come out and spend money at the ballpark. They're not.
Manny goes silent and then flees Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Manny Ramirez went silent.Then, Manny left the building.The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger made himself scarce in the clubhouse and didn't talk to reporters as he came out for warmups for his final game with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes on Thursday night.
Shea: Tracy sparks Rockies
Does a manager make that much of a difference?Seems to be the case with the Colorado Rockies, who last month replaced Clint Hurdle with bench coach Jim Tracy and then began winning like it's 2007. Tracy, remembered here in the Bay Area as the guy who ran the Dodgers early in the 2000s, finally has a managing gig in which he's not haunted by Barry Bonds.He's flourishing, too. After Tracy took over in late May, the Rockies lost four in a row, maybe suffering from Hurdle hangover, to fall 12 games below .500. Then they won 11 in a row and 17 of 18 before losing their last two in Anaheim.
Ask Babe: More questions for the Babe
Dear Babe: I was a caddie in 1996 at the Disney golf tournament, which Tiger Woods won. I had him sign my caddie pass. -- Tom Freeman, Plainfield Ill.
Donald Fehr made players rich but became a villain when steroids surfaced in the sport
ST. LOUIS -- When Donald Fehr first came into baseball more than a quarter of a century ago, he was the sort of labor attorney who could have gone through his entire professional life without creating so much as a ripple.
SLIDESHOW: Ogden Raptors
See pictures of the Ogden Raptors as they prepare for the 2009 Pioneer League season.
Knapp: Fehr failed on steroid issue
On the day Donald Fehr announced his retirement as head of the baseball players' union, the Oakland A's began their 1989 World Series team reunion by paying tribute to Mark McGwire. The first 10,000 fans through the gate for Monday night's interleague game against the Giants received a replica of his jersey.
Patton: Ramirez's return will send Pierre back to bench
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Sunday night, Juan Pierre picked up three hits, two RBI, a run scored, a stolen base, led the Los Angeles Dodgers to victory over the Angels -- and got one day closer to a seat on the bench.
Torii Hunter says Matt Kemp has 'great' potential
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Matt Kemp has the ability to become a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder.
Nats gain ground in race not to be all-time worst
WASHINGTON -- The loss was like many others suffered by the Washington Nationals this season. The starting pitcher dug himself a big hole in the first inning, the bullpen made things worse, and the lineup couldn't get a timely hit.
Red Sox look for stability at shortstop as team has used 18 since trade of Nomar Garciaparra
No position is more important than the one in the middle of the infield. Yet shortstop has been a revolving door for the Boston Red Sox during their six-year run as baseball's strongest team.
Albert Pujols shoulders load of questions
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Albert Pujols has an opinion.
Hunter is best of L.A. baseball
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- All right, all right. So he's not the biggest, baddest and most powerful. So he doesn't have the glossy name he'd have if his first years had been spent in Boston or New York, or even Chavez Ravine.
Trevor Hoffman is defying his age with an indefatigable work ethic and spotless performances
MILWAUKEE -- Recently, one of Trevor Hoffman's teammates decided to incorporate more of the 41-year-old closer's workout program into his own routine.
Knapp: Canseco needs to get real
Jose Canseco is nothing if not a pioneer. His interest in suing MLB and the Players Association for lost wages and defamation of character is as original as his 1988 season, when he became the first man to steal 40 bases and hit 40 home runs in a single year.
They're still pitching, hoping time hasn't run out
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Who knew that Long Beach would become Southern California's last refuge for baseball dreamers, a place where hope and reality and off-kilter fastballs collide?
In the majors, changing manager not always the answer
The Rockies were going nowhere fast when Jim Tracy was hired to replace Clint Hurdle last month. Maybe the Rockies were due to turn it around. Maybe Tracy made the difference.
Mannywood is headed to New Mexico
LOS ANGELES -- Manny Ramirez is tentatively scheduled to return to the playing field Tuesday with the Los Angeles Dodgers' triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, N.M., according to sources with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.
At age 90, Feller set to fire at Classic
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- When Bob Feller takes the mound on Sunday, he'd be happy if his fastball reaches his age. But he's 90, so that's not likely.
Sammy Sosa news won't erase thrilling memories of 1998
The summer of 1998 grabbed and held baseball fans. It was not the other way around. It was not a voluntary act. There was no resisting the pull of your communication device of choice: laptop, newspaper, television, radio, all. It became a compulsion, waking up and then immediately finding out if Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa hit another one.
Hall of Fame should give voters help in establishing standard guidelines for steroid-tainted players
I wish I was writing only to tell you how much I am looking forward to this summer's upcoming induction. It's among the summer's highlights for me and those of my brethren in the Baseball Writers Association of America fortunate enough to make the trip to your lovely part of the world.
Cardinals' Greene trying to cope with social anxiety disorder in return
ST. LOUIS -- Khalil Greene will likely return to the Cardinals' 25-man roster before Thursday night's game against the visiting Tigers, and we can only hope that it isn't too much, too soon.
Acta might be a stronger link than most think
NEW YORK -- The last person you'd ever expect to see in Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night walked into the office of the Washington Nationals manager. Why, it's Manny Acta. What are you doing here? Weren't you fired yesterday?
Shea: Sosa joins the Gotcha Gang
Until Tuesday, Sammy Sosa never had what Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield had.
Ask Babe: More questions for the Babe
Dear Babe: I was looking through my 1977 Pepsi baseball disc set, and yes, I know that the value is lowered because they have been separated from the gloves. I noticed that there are four variations of Mike Schmidt and Reggie Jackson -- different colors on the card edges. I haven't seen any collector's almanacs that list these variations. Do you know the reasons behind them, and how they impact the value of the set, if at all? -- Jane Liljedahl, Redding, Calif.
Still clucking: San Diego Chicken now 35
DES MOINES, Iowa -- In the middle of the sixth inning of an Iowa Cubs minor league game last week, a 55-year-old man in a chicken suit challenged someone dressed as Barney the Dinosaur to a dance-off.
Real or illusion? Curveball is still tough to hit
Bert Blyleven threw a wicked curveball, and whatever batters called it -- the deuce, the yakker, the hook or Uncle Charlie -- it was pretty tough to hit.
Players and coaches will try almost anything to get out of a rut
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The mood in the Kansas City Royals' clubhouse hummed with all the life of a wake.
Shields will have season-ending surgery
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- With the pain in his troublesome left knee failing to subside in the nearly three weeks since he went on the disabled list, Angels reliever Scot Shields on Sunday said he has opted for season-ending surgery.
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