Too Braun-y for MLB

Say what you will about Ryan Braun's positive test for PEDs. Perhaps he's guilty of wilfully ingesting an illegal steroid or steroid-like compound, and maybe he's not. The fact that a second, independent test came back negative should cast some doubt upon either the first test or the testing process in its entirety. Reasonability dictates that readers at least consider the later--that MLB drug testing isn't as fool-proof as previously believed. That's right, even in an era of genetic manipulation, interplanetary space exploration, and cable television programs specifically dedicated to the scientific dissection of sport as a physical construct, yes, science can sometimes fail. How?

Well, it should be noted, that science itself is not responsible for the failings at hand, not in the intellectual sense. Rather, the real failing is that of execution. Scientific endeavors are not always executed with the infallibility that would make most of us completely comfortable.

Supplements are not governed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), because supplements, by definition, are neither a food nor a drug. Supplements exist in a nebulous quasi-regulated gray area, one that can skirt the law by leaning on such phrases as "natural", "healthy" and "proprietary blend"--terms designed to make consumers feel as though they have the upper hand in determining the course of their personal health. This is a lie.

In reality, numerous supplement companies have confessed to adding some very un-natural substances to their product lines in order to increase their potency, essentially adding actual steroids to mere "vitamins" to make the steroid-like effects seem as authentic as the real thing. They seem as real because, well, they are real. Oh, that's right, it's possible for the scientists that try to keep MLB clean to be duped by the scientists that are employed by fly-by-night supplement companies in an effort to make money, even at the expense of the general consumer.

Could something along these lines have happened to Ryan Braun? Well, we've been forcefed this excuse a million times before and almost always unsuccessfully so. That being said, it's unlikely that Braun's excuse, even in light of the clean re-test administered two weeks after the initial positive one, will be enough to exonerate him. This goes beyond the court of MLB. there's the court of public opinion, and there, well, it's guilty until proven "we don't care".

CSI (Crazy Signing Indictment) Miami

Okay, so now everyone’s a $100 million player, even someone like Jose Reyes. That’s, well, just great. It used to be that a player needed to be able to do things, important things like stay healthy, before he was awarded $100 million (Chipper Jones notwithstanding). Then along came the remodeled Miami Marlins with nothing but imaginary money to spend and, voila, a “dream” left side off the infield is born. Along with Hanley Ramirez (likely shifting to 3B), the Marlins boast seven All-Star seasons and two National League batting titles on the same side of their projected infield. That sounds pretty damn special, but there could be more to the story. There is more to the story.

Alas, that dream may end up turning into a nightmare for the most obvious reason---health.  Combined, Ramirez and Reyes played in just 67% of their total possible games, largely due to injuries. In Ramirez’s case, some of those bumps and bruises were to the ego, but that’s neither here nor there, right? Yah, in this day and age, health and attitude hardly ever play a role in on-field production. Ugh.

For Reyes, gifted though he may be at the plate and on the bases, there has to be concern over his ability to stay healthy. Since 2008, he’s only played in 295 of a possible 486 games (less than 61%), and that stat, more than the batting title or all the stolen bases really should have guided teams in their free agent pursuit. To be fair, it probably did. It’s not like there’s a glut of shortstop talent in the big leagues these days.  In fact, an (easy) argument could be made that it’s the thinnest position in all of MLB entering 2012. Yet, with virtually every team in need of an offensive-minded shortstop, there were only a handful of teams delusional enough to even begin negotiations with Reyes.

But does any of that matter with the revamped Marlins? Apparently not. The fish, it would seem, are intent on making a splash in 2012 (despicable pun intended). Already having overpaid Heath Bell ($27 million over three years), what was another $106 million to Reyes? Based on his last three seasons with the Mets, the Marlins are (over)paying Reyes for 972 possible games and if they get 592 from him, well, everyone told you so. He’s missed 39% of all games over the past three seasons and that matter is not being disputed. Isn’t that right counselor?

Look, if there’s a way to suggest that Reyes is likely to outperform his contract, feel free to make the case. The truth it, it’s really hard to imagine anyone stepping up to make such an inflammatory assertion in a public forum, much less the court of law that is the internet. Alas, if there is such a brave soul, come out, come out wherever you are…

Twins Showing Interest in Chris Capuano

For the sake of the team, that interest better be tepid, at best. This is a player that the pitching-starved Mets are going to let walk away because of his demands for a 2-year contract. By the way, how great is it that a pitcher with a 57-64 career record and 4.39 ERA (97 ERA+) is making contract demands? Welcome to the market wherein C.J. Wilson is the best available pitcher [sigh]. In a pitching desert, the Twins have somehow convinced themselves that Capuano will lead them to water. Alas, Capuano couldn't find water in a land with 10,000 lakes--not in the pitching sense anyway.

This is also the same team that just gave Jamey Carroll a 2-year deal for his age 39 and 40 seasons. That'll fix that last place club right up; won't it? If you happen to detect a bit of sarcasm (along with some bile and rage) it's because Jamey Carroll is not the answer to the Twins problems. He's not the answer because Carroll just isn't good at doing the things that the Twins desperately need, namely someone that can play baseball. Carroll's minor league coaches knew this.  In fact, it's the reason why he didn't get a Major League call-up until he was already 28. Had he been good enough, he would have made it to the bigs sooner, right?

Rather than bemoan the fact that Carroll will be in Minnesota for the next two seasons, perhaps it's time to celebrate the move for what it really is--the return of Nick Punto. Oh how the Twins have missed their plucky, little mascot. Now, with Carroll, Twins fans can usher in a return to mediocrity, if they can even make it that far. It was, after all, quite a fall from grace in 2011. It's just hard to imagine any universe in which Chris Capuano and Jamey Carroll are going to right the ship.

Dawning of a New Era for Cubs?

Aramis Ramirez, a fixture at third base for the Cubs since he arrived in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2003 season, has informed the team that he will declare for free agency following the season.  In one sense, it’s a big loss for the Cubs.  Having stability at one position for so long has allowed the team to focus on other needs.  Sadly, many of their plans in that regard have fallen flat (see: the Alfonso Soriano signing).  Still, the team always seemed to have the question of who’s on third answered before anyone even bothered to ask it, and there was always value in certainty.  Another certainty, of course, has been the production Ramirez offered.

The pedigree is certainly there for Ramirez.   He’s  been one of the more productive third basemen in baseball for the past decade.  Many forget he was a solid contributor for Pittsburgh before his penchant for laziness prompted the team to ship him to Chicago for next to nothing.  He originally came over with outfielder Kenny Lofton for a “prospects” that included the likes of Matt Burback, Jose Hernandez and a player to be named later (Bobby Hill).    Since then, Ramirez has reached at least 25 home runs in seven of his eight seasons with the Cubs, leading the team twice in that department.  He also led the team in RBIs on five different occasions.  His 238 home runs are sixth on the Cubs all-time list, and Ramirez is also third all-time in slugging percentage (.531), trailing Sammy Sosa and Hack Wilson.

As one of the top hitting third basemen available in an otherwise weak free agent class, Ramirez figures to be paid, and paid well.  Considering he’s already stated publically that “I think I can play three more years”, it’s hard to imagine Ramirez garnering anything longer.  Sure, it’s a possibility that someone in an act of desperation might extend themselves beyond three years (age 36 for Ramirez), but that would smack of something only a team like the Cubs might do.

While the absence of Ramirez’s bat in the lineup will be seen by most as a significant loss, it could actually provide the team with some much needed flexibility.  It might also prompt the new GM (whomever that may be) to finally embrace the rebuilding plan the Cubs so desperately need.  Despite a few burdensome contracts that remain (Soriano and Carlos Zambrano come to mind), management desperately needs to realize that fielding a competitive team is well out of reach.  Signing an expensive free agent like Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder would make headlines, but it would further limit the financial flexibility of a team already hampered by poor fiscal decisions.  Moving in the opposite direction, and without the likes of Aramis Ramirez, is a step in the right direction.

Nationals Considering Extending Wang

Then again, who among us isn’t?  After waiting the past two seasons for Chien-Ming Wang to make it back to a Major League mound, the Nationals were finally “rewarded” with the former Yankee All-Star finally toed the rubber for Washington in 2011.  While he’s hardly having a stellar season, with more walk than strikeouts and a 4.43 ERA, Wang has apparently impressed Washington team officials with his diligence and work ethic.   It’s also a dramatic improvement from his last big league season (2009) in which he went 1-6 with a [gulp] 9.64 ERA.  Phew.  It’s nice to see progress, but is gumption alone enough reason to simply throw away money?

Baseball is a results oriented game.  If you’re not first, you’re last and so on.  Considering his 2011 season stats, wherever they end up., there’s no way in hell that Wang has earned a spot on the Nationals team for 2012.  Has he?  Considering the direction in which the team seems to be moving (see: Jayson Werth), it looks like they feel they’re looking to contend in the near future.  A pitcher like Wang is hardly in a position to move them in that direction—not now.  In fact, there has never really been a point in time when Wang was good as the accolades he received.

Believe it or not (and only a Yankee fan would), Wang actually finished second in American League Cy Young voting in 2006 after going 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA.  Meh.  He pitched 218 innings that season and retired just 76 via strikeout, a miserable 3.1 K/9.  In fact, Wang’s career K/9 (4.1) is the lowest of any Major League pitcher with two or more seasons with at least 19 wins.  No, that’s not a real stat, but without looking, it seems logical to assume it to be true.  For all the wins he amassed (largely as a result of playing for THE New York Yankees), Wang is viewed in some circles as a solid pitcher because he’s a “winner”.  Sure.  Right.  Werth came from a culture of winning in Philadelphia too, and everyone has seen how is winning ways have translated to on-field success in and for Washington.

Michael Young: Mr. Ranger

It’s difficult to fully evaluate Michael Young and his place in Rangers lore, especially since his tenure with the team hasn’t yet expired.  Before the season, and following the acquisition of third baseman Adrian Beltre, the Texas Rangers seemed poised to trade Young, the Rangers all-time leader in games played, at bats, and hits (to name just a few).  Few would argue against the notion that Young is, for all the aforementioned reasons, the face of the Texas Rangers.  He’s been a fixture with the team since his first full season (2001), through good and bad, thick and thin.  Win or lose, Young was there, doing his part, no matter what part he was asked to play.

On one hand, Young gets credit for playing multiple positions during his 12 year career.  For his career, Young has played 28 games at first base, 428 games at second base, 330 games at third base, 788 games at shortstop, and served as the designated hitter in 89 games.  On the other hand, he has a reputation among the advanced metrics crowd for being a poor defender despite winning a Gold Glove at shortstop in 2008. Yet through all the changes and despite the criticisms, Young has always done two things very well—remain healthy and hit the baseball.

The Rangers have been beset by injuries all year.  Along with his inability to hit in day games, Josh Hamilton’s fragility is among his most identifiable characteristics.  Nelson Cruz too has developed quite the reputation for being an elite offensive contributor…when healthy (and he hasn’t been).  Beltre, the player that pushed Young from third, and very nearly off the team altogether, has seen his production limited by a bad hamstring.  Young, however, has played in 141 games (to date) and he’s done so while playing four different positions.  No matter what manager Ron Washington asked of him, Young delivered.  As in his career overall, Young’s 2011 season has been defined by versatility and hitting.

Known for his ability to amass hits and hit to a high average, Young’s current .333 batting average would be the highest off his career.  In fact, he’s currently second in the American League behind only Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox.  Should he manage to overtake Gonzalez, it would be the second batting title in Young’s career (2004 being the first).  He’s topped 200 hits on five different occasions, and appears poised to do so again in 2011.  As he’s done so many times in his career, Young again leads the Rangers in games played, hits, and batting average, as well as doubles, triples, and RBIs.

No matter how you slice it, the Rangers owe much of their success this year to their inability to trade Young before the season began.  Often times, the best trades a team can make are the ones that never happen.  That’s the case with Michael Young and the 2011 Rangers.  He went from would-be cast away to the glue that holds a division leading team together.  With one more superior season to his credit, Young has taken yet another step toward defining himself as Mr. Ranger.  http://tinyurl.com/3t5455o

Jered Weaver: The Deep End of the Gene Pool

Remember how Jeff Weaver was, or, was going to be?  As an up and coming Tigers pitcher, it seemed like the sky was the limit for Weaver.  Well, maybe not the sky, because those Tiger teams of the early 2000s weren’t exactly taking the world by storm, and Weaver’s W/L record always reflected that fact. Weaver never had a winning season for the Tigers, despite putting together some downright dominant stretches.  He was eventually traded to the Yankees (where he didn’t fare much better) and then bounced around between a few organizations, including mostly the Mariners and Dodgers.  Assuming Weaver is finished (and it looks like he is), his career record will stand at 104-119, the end result of pitching to a 4.71 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.  Also, a large part of what stunted Weaver’s success was his inability to generate strikeouts despite having pretty good “stuff”.  His career 5.94 K/9 doesn’t exactly bring back memories of Nolan Ryan.

It would seem that all the real pitching talent in the family fell to Jeff’s younger brother Jered—you know, the one that just signed that $85 million contract with the Angels.  He’s actually pretty damn good.  Five years in the league, and Jered was already a five-time double-digit winner, including a 16-8 season in 2009.  Like his brother, Jered never gave up too many free passes, as evidenced by his career 2.44 BB/9.  Unlike his brother, however, Jered didn’t pitch to contact so much, and wasn’t afraid to send a hitter back to the bench shaking his head (career 7.78 K/9).  Those extra two strikeouts per game are the main difference between the brothers, but certainly not the only one.

While analysts were always waiting (often impatiently) for older brother Jeff to take that proverbial next step, younger brother Jered was able to do it—in a big way too.  In fact, for those that have been paying attention to the 2011 season, he’s been doing it this year.   Jered is 14-6 with a 2.10 ERA and 0.97 WHIP and the true ace of a very solid Angels starting staff.  And, knowing full-well what they had, the team rewarded him with that big, fat contract.

Funny thing though, there are a lot of people questioning Weavers decision to settle for so little, given the recent contract developments for frontline starters recently.  Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia are all basically set for life.  And while the average Joe might not be able to even fathom having $85 million in the bank, it’s a far cry from what those aforementioned mound aces are bringing home.  Lee is averaging $24 million a season and Sabathia is scraping by at $23 mil. per.    Let’s not forget that Johan Santana is making just under $23 million not to pitch for the Mets in 2011, and possibly never again.  But, therein lies the motivation for Weaver to cash in now—volatility.  How long before Weaver feels his first real ache, pain, or strain?  How long before he finds himself on the DL for an extended period of time?  How long before he spends a summer in the waiting room of Dr. James Andrews?  Or, how long before his electric stuff simply dries up, preventing him from being an effective Major League starter (like his brother before him)?

Did the Tigers Manage to Upgrade Their OF?

So, what you’re telling us is that trades can and do happen after the trade deadline?  That’s what the Twins and Tigers are saying after the Twins sent Delmon Young packing to Detroit for left-hander Cole Nelson and a player to be named later.  It’s the kind of deal that would be barely worth mentioning if not for the name-cache of the players involved.  Magglio Ordonez (indirectly involved in the trade) was once a legitimate star player in the league, even if that star has dimmed.  Young was once Baseball America’s top-rated prospect and did have at least one productive season, hinting at his former (?) abilities. 

The Tigers seem intent on improving the team’s offensive production, particularly from the outfield, where Young will presumably take at bats away from Ordonez (among others).  Ordonez currently owns a .2223 batting average, .280 OBP and .295 SLG—all representing career lows for the former All-Star.  Despite making millions and millions of dollars, the writing is on the wall for Ordonez that if the end isn’t here, it’s decidedly near.  He isn’t helping the Tigers in their 2011 playoff push, and it’s time for him to step aside for a better player.

Anyone getting excited about the notion of Young stepping in as the missing piece in the Tigers outfield may want to consider his numbers.  His .266 batting average, .305 OBP, and .357 SLG are only marginal improvements.  Oh, sure, a lot of people will point to Young’s 112 RBIs from 2010as definitive proof that he’s a better player at this stage in his career than Ordonez.  However, the argument here isn’t whether Young is better; it’s all about how much better.  Delmon Young offers a positive contribution (0.6 WAR), but the difference between he and whatever the Tigers already had lying around is negligible.

Left field is the domain of Brennan Boesch, who has been dealing with an injured thumb lately.  Boesch’s .809 OPS is easily the best among any OF-eligible player on the Tigers roster.  He’s not going to be displaced by anyone right now, especially not Young.  The speedy Austin Jackson is a fixture in center field, and even though his 2011 production (batting average in particular) has been largely a disappointment, he’s not going anywhere either.  Hell, Jackson is the only person on the Tigers roster capable of playing center, something he actually does rather well.

Andy Dirks has been far better than advertised.  In limited playing time (171 at bats) he’s totaled six home runs and four steals—both outpacing Young on the year (305 at bats, no less).   Don Kelly has produced numbers that look eerily similar to Young’s (.235, 3 HR, 2 SB) and in far less playing time.  If Young has one advantage, aside from his former prospect-pedigree, it’ the simple fact that he’s a right-handed hitter.  Dirks and Kelly both bat from the left side, and Young does offer a different option for manager Jim Leyland, albeit a pretty mediocre option.

Colorado's Very Rocky Rotation

In a deal that smacks of desperation (pitcher’s neck broken by a batted ball-type desperation), the Rockies signed Kevin Millwood.  Millwood spent most of the 2011 season pitching in the Boston Red Sox system, although calling it “pitching” might be an overestimation.  In his 16 minor league games (Red Sox and Yankees), Millwood has gone 7-2, almost in spite of himself.  He’s pitched to a 4.32 ERA while posting a 7.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9—numbers that don’t seem to portend of future success.

Despite having posted some very good seasons early in his career, Millwood is just not a big league pitcher any more.  The last time he posted a K/9 above 7.0 was way back in 2004.  Since then, he’s averaged 6.4 K/9 over six seasons, during which time he’s also pitched to a 61-73 record, 4.37 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, making Millwood an average pitcher at best.  The past four seasons, however, Millwood’s been even worse, pitching to a 4.73 ERA and 1.51 WHIP—numbers that would get him released from anyone’s fantasy team, and from every Major League team as luck would have it.  There’s a reason he hasn’t pitched at the big league level this season—he’s just not good enough.

Alas, here’s the door, slightly ajar, mostly because Juan Nicasio is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a broken vertebra in his neck.  IT’s a scary injury to be certain, but all indications are that Nicasio is doing well following a surgery to address the injury.  Coupled with the departure of staff ace Ubaldo Jimenez (traded to Cleveland), the Rockies are terribly thin in their rotation.  Don’t forget, they also lost Jorge De La Rosa to Tommy John surgery on June 3.  So, that’s the bad news.

The infinitely worse news is that the team somehow feels that Kevin Millwood might be an upgrade over whatever they have going right now.  Currently, the Rockies rotation includes Jhoulys Chacin, Aaron Cook, Jason Hammel, and Esmil Rogers.  That’s right, just when it seems like every big league team is contemplating a 6-man rotation, the Rockies only have four starters—total.  And to think that entering the season the Rockies looked as though their rotation might actually be their strength.  That is no longer the case.  In fact, inking Millwood clearly signals that at 53-62 the team is simply hoping to finish the 2011 season without fate interceding and claiming yet another starter.  If you’re looking for some levity in this otherwise grim ordeal, the starting pitching situation in Colorado does feel a little bit like the drummer situation in Spinal Tap, doesn’t it?

It's All in Morneau's Head

Reports out of Minnesota indicate that former American League MVP Justin Morneau’s surgically repaired neck isn’t bothering him.  While he had surgery back on June 29 to repair a herniated disc in his neck, it looks like he’s already eyeballing a return to the Twins.  In fact, he’s set to begin a rehab assignment in AAA Rochester.  Hopefully this is the Rochester where the Mayo Clinic is located, because there’s more than just a neck injury to worry about with Morneau.  This is a player who just hasn’t been himself since suffering a concussion on July 7, 2010—an injury that forced him to miss the rest of the season.  Since returning, he’s hit just .225 with a .281 OBP and .338 SLG.  His limitations are the obvious result of post-concussion syndrome (PCS), an ailment that has ended many a professional athlete’s career before his time.  The general medical consensus is that symptoms that don’t dissipate after one year are likely to be permanent.  That’s right; Morneau could be forced to deal with this for the rest of his days on Earth.

That’s a prospect none of us would want to face.  Regardless of how post-concussion syndrome affects Morneau’s playing career, it’s likely to be an obstacle in his day-to-day life—something to which everyone can relate.  Imagine going through each day with severe headaches, dizziness, and even blurred vision, all without getting drunk the night before.  It’s like a hangover that never ceases—unrelenting in and painful.  There are also lasting psychological effects that have been linked to PCS, including anxiety, irritability, and depression.

Alas, this is what Justin Morneau now faces.  He assures his adoring fans that he’s feeling better and pledges to get back to doing what he loves most (playing baseball) in life as soon as he can.  However, Corey Koskie loved baseball too, and after being diagnosed with PCS in 2006, he had to walk away from the game just a year later.  Mike Matheny was best known for his four Gold Gloves behind the plate, but he too was driven from the game by PCS. 

In fact, as more and more becomes known about the lasting effects of concussions, the game of baseball will have to find a way to address the issue before it grows to epic proportions as we’ve seen in other sports, specifically football and hockey.  In those sports, concussions are an everyday occurrence, and as science tries to keep pace with the escalating financial commitment of sport, it’s important to pay attention to the way in which player’s lives are being affected.  Mind you, in a win at all costs society, and with a prevailing “rub some dirt on it” mentality in sports, generally, it won’t be easy to change the existing culture. 

The Show Must Go On...

We’ve seen look-alikes before.  Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays had one, and he rose to a certain amount of fame, albeit just locally and briefly.  It seems that the city of Seattle now has a doppelganger of its own to deal with.  There’s been an Ichiro Suzuki impersonator running amok at Safeco Field, posing with adoring fans and even obliging autograph requests from time to time.

He’s been to numerous games, in full Mariners regalia, including that all too famous number 51 jersey, high socks and just the right curvature to his M’s cap atop his head—a head that bears an uncanny resemblance to the 10-time All-Star, right down to the trademark facial hair.  It’s a pretty amazing resemblance, really.  He was even removed from a Mariners game for interfering with a live ball during the course of a game during an August 3 contest against the Oakland Athletics.  Fans were hard on the mimicking Mariner as security escorted him from the game, but what most failed to realize is that this isn’t the first time this copycat has involved himself on the field of play.  In fact, he’s been on the field a great deal this season.

A quick glance at the numbers reveals what some have suspected for most of the season—that Ichiro Suzuki has vanished.  It seems almost unthinkable, but the stats don’t lie.  The real Ichiro was a .331 career hitter entering the 2011 season, but this sad approximation is currently hitting just .264.  In fact, every shred of statistical evidence supports the notion that Ichiro (the player, the icon, the legend) has been replaced by a stand-in.  That stand in has a 186-point difference in OPS, and he’s certainly not going to reach 200 hits, something the real Ichiro could have done in his sleep.  Alas, it’s hard to expect the understudy to perform as well as the star listed on the marquee.  While the double looks, dresses, and moves like the leading man, there are palpable differences (like a 61-point drop in OBP or 117-point drop in SLG) that even the most casual observer can detect.  This charlatan still has some baseball talent (28 steals), but he hasn’t managed to fool everyone. 

The fans noticed, and so too did opposing managers.  The phony Ichiro failed to earn an All-Star nod for the first time since arriving in the Major Leagues, perhaps a turning point in his career.  It’s hard to say if and when the real Ichiro will return to the game.  If he does, will he ever be the same player that electrified fans for the past decade with hit after game-changing hit?  Will he be able to recapture the aura he once possessed?  Will he continue to make a run at what once seemed like a clear path to the Hall of Fame? For now, the show must go on, even without one of the game’s brightest stars.

Rangers Bolster the Bullpen at the Deadline

If not for the superior pitching of the San Francisco Giants and some timely hitting by Cody Ross (and Co.), the Texas Rangers would have won a World Series in 2010.  That alone could have been enough of an accomplishment to placate fans for at least a few seasons.  However, management refused to rest on its laurels, realizing that the team’s 61-48 record in 2011 places them in a position to make another playoff (World Series?) run.  That realization led to a couple of noteworthy deadline deals to bolster the Rangers bullpen, perhaps the most glaring weakness on an otherwise strong Texas squad.  With a collective ERA of 4.42, the Rangers bullpen ranked 11^th in the American League.  Because of two notable transactions, that should no longer be an issue.

In one deal, the team acquired Mike Adams, formerly off the Padres, a pitcher who is 3-1 on the year with a 1.12 ERA and 0.73 WHIP and was third in baseball with 23 holds at the time of the trade.  In fact, since joining the Padres, Adams went 9-5 with a 1.66 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 217 innings.  If that weren’t enough, he carried a 4.08 K/BB over that span, striking out 241 while walking just 59 (just 9 BB in 48 IP in 2011).  With all the trade rumors surrounding closer extraordinaire Heath Bell, many baseball executives felt Adams was the more valuable arm, both in terms of dollars and production.  Based on the available evidence, they may very well have been correct; Nolan Ryan and the Rangers brass seem to think so.

In another, the Rangers obtained the services of Koji Uehara from the Baltimore Orioles.   Despite his success the last two years, Uehara has been one of the more unsung bullpen heroes in baseball.  Since becoming a reliever full-time in 2010, he’s done nothing but dominate.  As the primary set-up man and sometimes closer in Baltimore, Uehara has compiled an impressive resume.  His 2.25 ERA and 0.82 WHIP would impress anyone, but it’s his 9.15 K/9 over that span that really defines his success.  In 92 innings, Uehara amassed 119 strikeouts, all while pitching in the brutal climate that is the American League East.  Not only does he pitch well, he pitched well against top-flight competition in high-leverage situations.  One might even make the argument that he’s, well, “clutch”.

In the process, the Rangers rid themselves of 4-A superstar Chris Davis, a player that has shown time and time again that he’s just too talented for triple-A and simply not quite ready for prime time in the big leagues.  He has all the power in the world, but with a ridiculous strikeout rate (31.7% for his career) and inability to hit big league pitching, well, his upside is that of new Orioles teammate Mark Reynolds.  Frankly, when your upside is that of one of the most frustrating players the game has seen in recent years (Reynolds), it’s hard to see his departure is a tragic loss.  Any way you slice it, Davis’ greatest asset to the Rangers was as a trade chip, and that’s just what happened.  Having to include pitcher Tommy Hunter (4.36 career ERA) was of little consequence given all that’s at stake for the Rangers.

The Rangers now have three of the most dominant relief pitchers in the game today anchoring their bullpen.  Let’s not forget that they still have 2010 AL Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz to close out games at the back end.  The problem with Feliz is that he’s regressed mightily this season.  His K/9 fell from 9.2 in 2010 to just 6.3 in 2011.  His BB/9 has basically doubled too, jumping from 2.34 to 4.66.  His inability to find the plate has forced manager Ron Washington to lose even more hair—something he can ill afford to do.  Should he struggle in the future, there are now two highly capable arms (statistically superior ones too) to take over should circumstances dictate.  The suggestions that the additions of Adams and Uehara have ostensibly shortened every Rangers game to a six-inning contest is a bit of an overstatement, but it’s patently obvious that they are a better team today than they before the July 31 trade deadline.

Looking for Help at the Not-So-Hot Corner

To begin the season, third base was already looking particularly thin, especially when you looked past the elite tier: Evan Longoria, David Wright, Ryan Zimmerman and even Alex Rodriguez.  Interestingly enough, the one thing each member of that quartet has in common is that every one of them has sustained a major injury this year—as defined by time lost to the DL.  Longoria was absent from April 3 until May 33, and didn’t hit his first home run until May 7.  David Wright hasn’t played now since May 15, after sustaining a [gulp] broken back (speaking of serious injuries).  Zimmerman, slowly but surely having his career partially defined by his penchant for injuries was out from the second week of April until June 14, and he’s still hitting just .240 with 5 HR (maybe he’s still not completely healthy).  And everyone’s favorite cornerstone, A-Rod, just went on the 15-day DL on July 8 following knee surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.  All that DL time just added injury to insult, making it nearly impossible for fantasy owners to find a productive bat at the hot corner.

One intriguing option entering the year was Pedro Alvarez of the Pittsburg Pirates.  The Pirates seemed on the verge of finally improving (and improve they certainly have), but it was believed that Alvarez was going to have to have a big offensive season for that to happen.  After hitting 29 home runs between the big leagues and minors in 2010 (16 with Pittsburgh), it seemed like he was ready for a breakout season in 2011.  Not counting Jose Bautista (who was ranked as an outfielder), Alvarez seemed as capable of anyone (Mark Reynolds included) to hit 40 bombs while playing third.  He hasn’t lived up to his potential.  In 36 disappointing big league games this season, Alvarez hit just .208 with two (TWO?!?!?!) home runs.  His OBP still sits at a miserable .283, and it took a May 18 home run to finally push his SLG over .300.  That translates to a .587 OPS—a clear indication that something (some things, plural) was amiss.  In fact, Alvarez has been so bad this year that the Pirates had no recourse but to send him back to AAA following an injury off his own (really, every 3B in baseball has been hurt).  That’s where he currently resides, hoping to earn another shot with the perplexingly pugnacious Pirates.

The silver lining, if there is one, is that Alvarez is finally hitting in Indianapolis.  In 13 AAA games, Alvarez is hitting .370 with a .444 OBP and .543 SLG—numbers that suggest he’s finally healthy. Granted, it’s just 138 plate appearances, but his 2 home runs, 12 runs, and 10 RBIs are all positive signs.  A little more seasoning and he’s almost certain to return to the big club.  It’s not like Brandon Wood (talk about failed prospects) and his .209 batting average or .619 OPS present insurmountable obstacles for Alvarez to return.  Interestingly enough, a power bat seems to be the one missing ingredient for Pittsburgh to continue their surprising playoff push.  They’ve been linked in trade rumors to a few names, including Josh Willingham and Carlos Pena.  However, Alvarez might be able to offer a boost with zero cost to the team.  The potential cost to fantasy owners would be almost as minimal.  It’s not like he not widely available on the waiver wire, and considering the dearth of healthy, productive third basemen, he might not be a terrible speculative add.

The Superman of Walks

Look…up in the sky.  It’s a bird.  It’s a plane.  It’s another base on balls.  This must mark the impending return of the enigmatic Jonathan Sanchez to the Giants rotation.  Sanchez has been on the 15-day DL since June 25 with left biceps tendinitis [cough] general suckiness [cough], and clearly the team has missed his 3.81 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.  Seriously, replacing that 5.92 BB/9 must have been a daunting task indeed.  Hell, there isn’t a qualified starter with a worse BB/9 than Sanchez.  The saving grace is that Sanchez hasn’t pitched enough innings to qualify for that dubious title, although he does still lead the NL in total walks despite pitching just 89.2 innings.  Way…to…go. [quiet applause]

Could it be that Sanchez’ return has at least a little something to do with Barry Zito having a very Barry Zito-esque start—surrendering 8 ER in just 3.2 IP on July 16?  Interestingly enough, Zito had been pitching fairly well leading up to that game, lowering his 2011 ERA to 3.18 in the process.  It really seemed like the former Cy Young Award winner might be poised for yet another strong start too.  After all, the chips were stacked in his favor: a terrible Padres lineup, at PETCO Park, a few extra days rest to heal anything that might be ailing him.  Talk about a recipe for success.  The missing ingredient?  When Barry Zito is the chef, well, anything is possible.  The end result was nothing less than a crap sandwich.  And, everyone knows what a crap sandwich tastes like even topped with capicola.

The end result is that the Giants are now (re)turning to chaos incarnate, Jonathan Sanchez in the hopes that 8 BB games are less damaging to a team’s success than 8 ER games.  While that seems like a logical tradeoff, in the end there’s really no guarantee that the two stat-lines are mutually exclusive.  The funny thing is the team might be correct in their thinking on this one.  Despite his inability to pitch more than six innings (something Sanchez has done only three times in 2011), and his inability to limit free passes, Sanchez seldom surrenders a lot of earned runs.  In fact, Sanchez has given up more than 3 ER only twice all season, hence the “respectable” ERA.  In the end, it’s seldom going to be pretty (often quite ugly), but Sanchez normally gives that Giants at least a fighting chance when it comes to winning ballgames.

The Slow and Steady Death of Grady Sizemore

Monday, July 18: The day Grady Sizemore’s career ended.  No, he didn’t die in a fire or get mauled by a bear (although that would be quite the news story).  Sizemore reinjured his surgically repaired knee sliding into second base during a July 17 game against the Baltimore Orioles.  This is the same knee he had surgically “repaired” in 2010 (good ole microfracture), an injury that has made the once vaunted outfielder to look like a shadow of his former self. 

It’s not like there’s a laundry list of baseball players that have successfully returned from microfracture surgery.  It’s a procedure just recently came into being in the 1980s and really didn’t gain a footing in the sports science until that later part of the 1990s.  The sports world is more familiar with the procedure in a basketball context, including such notable patients as Amar’e Stoudemire, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, and Greg Oden.  That short list includes some successes and tragic failures.  While we’ve seen a handful of full recoveries, the list of players that continue to experience symptoms and/or fail to recover altogether is long and punctuated by exasperation.  McGrady was half the man he used to be after his procedure(s), and is still unable to stay on the court for more than a few games at a time.  With Oden, a promising career may have come to a crashing end before it ever had a chance to take flight.

With Sizemore, it’s hard to imagine him every recovering to the point where he’s back to being, well, Grady Sizemore.  Don’t forget, Sizemore was going to be baseball’s next superstar, with a rare combination of power, speed and charisma.  He was a three time All Star and the cornerstone of the Indians offense.  A 30-30 player as recently as 2008 (33 HR, 38 SB), Sizemore has just 17 steals in his last 200 games over the course of the last three seasons and is now barely a threat to run.  In 61 games in 2011, he hasn’t managed to swipe a single bag, being thrown out twice.  While he has hit 28 home runs over that same span, his power too has clearly diminished, with a slugging % of .426 compared to a .491 mark through the first five years of his career.  And while he was only a .279 hitter before the injury bug started to take its toll, he’s managed just a .239 AVG since—a below-replacement level outfielder in almost every sense.

Sustaining further injury to an already ailing knee will only serve to exacerbate an already tenuous situation and one that will force the Cleveland Indians to make a difficult decision as a franchise.  Sizemore has an $8.5 million team option ($500k buyout), and that number doesn’t seem appropriate for a player with as much obvious downside as Sizemore offers.  The questions surrounding Sizemore’s future are varied.  If not Cleveland, where?  Assuming Sizemore is unable to return to form (and that certainly seems to be the case), what type of player will he be and how much is that player worth on the open market?

Verlander and That Next Level S**t

Although Detroit’s Justin Verlander has won at least 17 games on four different occasions, he’s never won 20 games in any season, and that must be tearing him up inside.  Why else would he be taking his already dominant game to the proverbial next level while already making it half way to 20 in 2011?  Oh, he may say publicly that 20 is just a number and that it’s all about team wins, because, well, that’s what he’s supposed to say.  He’ll also probably recite chapter of verse from the big book of baseball clichés, talking about giving it 110%, making pitches, hitting spots, and blah, blah, blah…

Make no mistake, Justin Verlander hasn’t been worried about hitting his spots since his BB/9 was approaching 4.00—way back in 2008, and even then he was still mowing down the competition with the greatest of ease.  It’s even easier now, or, that’s what the numbers suggest.  Verlander has his BB/9 down to a career-best 1.89, nearly one full walk lower than his career average.  With an average velocity that challenges any pitcher in the game, he’s been consistently touching triple digits into the eighth and ninth innings.  No, his 8.67 K/9 isn’t the best of his career, but he’s still a strikeout machine ranking second overall in baseball with 124 whiffs.   As a result of all those missed bats is an ERA of 2.38, the lowest such mark of his accomplished career.  Sure, that number may be aided by a .216 opponent’s BABIP, but when Verlander’s throwing balls that even the best hitters in the game can’t touch, you have to start to wonder just how much luck is influencing his stats, if at all.  

June has been just a little bit silly for Verlander: 5-0 with a 0.86 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and a 48:4 K:BB.  He’s had three different games of 10 or more strikeouts, including a season-high 14 just the other day.  This is a guy who’s only surrendered 22 hits in 42.0 innings pitched, meaning the opposition seldom has even a chance to score against him.  The only blemish against the Tiger ace this month has been the two home runs he’s yielded, one to Gordon Beckham (at Chicago) and another to Ty Wiggington (in Colorado)—both in launching-pad environs.  Hell, if you check the calendar, Verlander hasn’t had anything close to a bad start since May 24 where he gave up six earned to Tampa Bay.  Further, Verlander’s last loss came way back on April 27 against Seattle, a full 12 starts ago.  Right now, he’s simply dialed in.

He’s so dialed in, in fact, that it’s pretty difficult to point to another American League pitcher with even an outside chance at outdueling Verlander for this year’s Cy Young Award.  If the vote were cast today, he’d win in a landslide, almost as though he’d run uncontested.  After all, he’s currently fourth in the league in ERA, tops in quality starts, tops in WHIP, tops in Ks, all with the most innings pitched.  Really, the list goes on and on.  And those 10 wins are also tied for the league lead—exactly half way to that vaunted 20-win mark, something the Cy Young Award voting-types are sure to notice.  It’s hardly a lock for Verlander.  After all, there’s still half a season to go.  Still, he’s pitched so well to this point that he could miss some time (Injury?  Paternity?) and still finish squarely in the top-5.

For now, baseball fans should just sit back and enjoy the ride.  It’s been fun already, and with the way June has gone, well, it might be a season for the ages.

Taking a Leap with Cole Hamels

Has anyone taken the time to notice that perhaps the least heralded member of the Philadelphia Phillies vaunted rotation might actually be their best performing pitcher right now?  Well, Jockstrap Journalism noticed.  That’s right, people (and marine mammals)…midway through June, Cole Hamels’ numbers a hold their own against any pitcher in the National League, even the other Phillies.  Right now, Hamels is 9-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 0.92 WHIP—numbers that have him in the earliest of early runnings for National League Cy Young Award.

As the weather has warmed, so too has Hamels.  He’s 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA and 0.61 WHIP so far in the month of June, and Hamels hasn’t lost a start since the beginning of May—that’s more than a month for those of you that are otherwise calendar deprived.  We live in difficult times, cast adrift in a world devoid of calendars and maps (thanks, South Carolina).  Even without access to these modern amenities, Hamels seems to have found his way, having fully righted his ship after an appalling start to the season that left him saddled with a 20.25 ERA after one start.  Yah, he seems to have recovered just fine.

Can he sustain this level of success over a full season?  Well, his FIP (2.28) and xFIP (2.51) both say, “why the hell not?”  Hamels is touting an 8.94 K/9, slightly better than his career mark, and he’s cut his walks to a career-best 1.75 BB/9. When the word “career” starts appearing with abundant frequency in order to irradiate, it may in fact be an indicator that a career year is developing.  This could legitimately be Hamels’ way of taking a run at something special.

To the Suddenly Optimistic Twins Fan

It may be foolish to point this out, but the Minnesota Twins are suddenly the hottest team in baseball.  That’s right, the last place Minnesota Twins…them.  Oh, for sure, any time a team goes 7-1 over any stretch, you have to stand up and take notice.  It’s especially noteworthy when the team in question has been the worst team in the game for most of the season.  With Houston and Oakland also struggling mightily, the Twins failings still stood out amidst lofty expectations to begin the season.  It’s been a long hard road for Minnesota.

Okay people, before your noodles get all excited over the Twins recent run of success, do be aware that six of those wins came against Kansas City (26-36) and a rapidly retreating Cleveland team that’s gone 4-11 over their past 15 games.  Oh, sure, the Indians are still 34-26 and are the creme de la crap that is the American League Central.  Make no mistake, however, these is just not the same Indians team that was lengths in front of the pack to begin the year.  As for the Royals, well, they’re the friggin’ Royals, okay?  They have lots of young and exciting players making their way to the Major Leagues at this very moment, but their glory days still lie past the horizon.

Let’s not forget, too, that the Twins are still dead last in the whole American League, even after their recent success (.387).  This is a team with the worst run differential in all of baseball (-70), meaning their win probability is as embarrassing as their actual won-lost record.  And the hits just keep on coming.  The Twins team OBP (.301) ranks next to last in baseball, with only the Mariners turning in a worse mark.  Sadly, their team SLG (.349) isn’t much better, ranking 27^th, the exact same ranking as their staff ERA.  This should tell you that the Twins struggles aren’t simply a matter of hitting, or lack thereof.  Their pitching staff ranks dead last in the game in total strikeouts (355).  Sure, the Twins as an organization teach their hurlers to pitch to contact, but it’s working a little too well, for the opposition anyway.

Some will be quick to point out that a lot of the Twins struggles can be traced to their inability to field a healthy team.  It’s a valid point; it really is.  No, really.  As if this team wasn’t already beset by injuries, with the likes of Joe Mauer, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Joe Nathan, Jim Thome, Glen Perkins, and Kevin Slowey all on the disabled list in some capacity, the Twins just placed Denard Span on the 7-day DL with a concussion.  That’s not good news—not for Span and not for his team.  Ask Morneau how impactful concussion symptoms can be, influencing balance, depth perception, and vision—all things that are pretty important when it comes to playing baseball.  So, yah, it’s really that bad.

Three-time AL batting champion, Joe Mauer, is on the verge of returning as both he and Tsuyoshi Nishioka (fractured leg) are rehabbing in Class A Fort Myers.  Somewhat sadly, the foolishly optimistic will look to their triumphant returns as a sign of future success.  Alas, there is no future—not in 2011.  The Twins need absolute certitude that Mauer is fully healthy before asking him to return, especially if that means assuming full-time catching duties.  If that means sitting him out for the reas of this year, so be it.  The least they should do is keep him engaged in a rehab program until they have a better grasp on the nature and severity of Mauer’s mysterious leg weakness.  While they’re at it, go ahead (a head) and make sure Morneau and Span are free of their concussion issues before placing them at additional risk in hopes of finishing anywhere but last place.

You hear it all the time: one season does not a career make.  It’s true of an organization too.  One season cannot and should not define the Twins.  They won’t be thrust back into the dark ages of the waning days off the 20^th century when they were being discussed for contraction.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  This is team that has built its foundation upon cogent decisions aimed at long-term, sustainable success.  The immediate gratification of grasping at a few wins in 2011 runs contrary to the very philosophies that have guided the team to almost a solid decade of championship caliber baseball.  Change course now, and you run the risk of paddling against the current until either the boat or the boatmen can continue no longer.  Right the ship…the right way.

The Need for Speed: A Potential Fantasy Maverick

Eric Young Jr. has been on the tip of every fantasy owner’s tongue for what seems like the better part of a decade now.  Well, it hasn’t been nearly that long, but back in 2006 he got everyone more than a little bit excited when he swiped 87 bags for the Rockies in A-ball.  It’s not much of a stretch to say that ballplayers don’t steal 80 bases with great frequency.  In the Major Leagues, in fact, it hasn’t happened since both Rickey Henderson (doy) and Vince Coleman (well, sure) both accomplished the feat in 1988.  While players aren’t necessarily any slower, and pickoff moves probably haven’t improved exponentially, it’s safe to assume that with the power surge of the 1990s and 2000s, the stolen base simply fell out of vogue (strike a pose).  When a player flashes a special talent, especially when that talent goes against the grain (so to speak), it simply stands out all the more.  That’s how fantasy baseball enthusiasts became enamored with the potential of one Eric Young Jr.

Young followed up his professional debut by hitting .291 with another 73 steals in high-A ball in 2007.  And, after hitting .290 with 46 steals in 2008, it was abundantly clear he was cut from the same mold as his father, Eric Young (465 career stolen bases).  The only real obstacle to junior’s path to the Major Leagues were the doubts about his ability to hit for a reasonable average at the game’s highest level, doubts that he has yet to fully erase to this day.

Young’s first taste of the big leagues came in 2009, a year in which the Rockies finished with the best record in franchise history (92-70), losing in the League Division Series three games to one versus the Philadelphia Phillies.  Young had trouble finding regular playing time amidst a pennant race and facing stiff competition at second base from Clint Barmes (23 HR, 12 SB).  Barmes’ greatness (relatively speaking) has already faded from memory, but he was a capable bat despite the .245 batting average.  Young compiled 61 plate appearances batting .246 with four stolen bases and his first big league home run (good for him).

Barmes’ struggles in 2010 led to the Rockies trying desperately to find stability at second base, using the likes of would-be 3B Ian Stewart, Jonathan Herrera, as well as Young in the role.  None fared particularly well, although more playing time meant fantasy baseball owners got a more extended look at Young—189 plate appearances to be exact.  While his batting average still languished (.244) his 17 steals in just 25 games reminded everyone of why their collective interest was piqued in the first place.  Speed is a rare commodity in fantasy circles and the promise of even 40, let alone 80 steals was simply too much to pass up.

2011 was going to be different in Colorado, with newly-acquired Jose Lopez of Seattle Mariners fame finally bringing stability to the right side of the Rockies infield, a move which failed…tragically.  Lopez hit just .208 (.521 OPS), ranking him among the worst hitters in all of baseball.  Long story short, the team juggled the infield, again trying different combinations of players including the likes of Steward and Herrera, none of which really seemed to work for more than a game or two. Even realizing Lopez didn’t seem to bring clarity to the issue.  In fact, when Lopez was released, a familiar name resurfaced in Colorado—Mr. Eric Young Jr.

So, here we are again…again.  After hitting .363 in 42 games in AAA, Young will be given another shot at being a full-time big league second baseman, more or less. Since being recalled, Young has hit .258 in eight games while stealing three bases—effective but understated numbers.  Eight games really isn’t enough of a sample size to really formulate a cogent opinion, but if his six-plus years in the minor leagues is any indication, Young can and will bring one thing to the table, a heaping helping of speed.  With the Rockies also needing occasional help in the outfield (where Young can reasonably fake it), it appears as though this may be the year Young gets to sink or swim on his own merits.  After all, it’s only Herrera and the bloated, range-deprived body of Ty Wiggington standing in his way.  NL-only owners need to be aware of his presence, and should playing time continue to come his way, his steals alone might make Young relevant in deeper mixed formats, ROTO leagues in particular.  It all has a familiar refrain, but this time Jockstrap Journalism might actually be right.  Imagine that.

Safer Game, Better Game?

The throw came in from San Francisco right fielder Nate Schierholtz, with the intention of throwing out runner Scott Cousins at home plate during the 12^th inning of a 6-6 ballgame.  The throw arrived, just a little late and slightly to the first base side of the plate.   Catcher Buster Posey never fully secured the ball before attempting a tag, not that having possession would have prevented everything that was to follow.  Cousins was safe at home, allowing the Marlins to take a 7-6 lead.  On the play however, Cousins barreled into Posey with full force, making contact with most (if not all) of his upper body.  The voice of longtime Giants broadcaster Jon Miller still echoes, “And Posey gets clobbered”.

Posey lay on the ground grasping at dirt, seemingly searching for some relief to the very obvious and very intense pain he was experiencing.  That intense pain, it was later revealed, was the result of a fractured left ankle.  A series of MRIs also revealed additional ligament damage, casting further doubt on when Posey may be able to return to action.  Initial estimates have Posey missing the remainder of the 2011 season, with the primary focus centering on a full recovery for Spring Training, 2012.  Granted, when an injury of this severity occurs, baseball activities are a distant second to making certain that the player involved is able to simply walk again. 

Whenever a player is severely injured, particularly a star player like Posey, fans and analysts want answers to questions like “why”.  It seems an innocuous enough query, but that word “why” can be a loaded one.  Desperate for answers, it is the natural inclination of some to start to assign blame. 

In this way, the runner (Cousins) is an easy target for blame, much in the way Pete Rose is blamed for Ray Fosse’s demise.  Although, if Cousins were a player of Rose’s caliber, it’s doubtful that so many fingers would be pointed in his general direction.  In fact, as was the case with Rose, Cousins would be applauded for his hard-nosed style of play, and his overwhelming desire to win at all costs.  Writers would be coining nicknames for him (Scotty “Hustle”, anyone?), and the play would be held up as a testament to the competitive spirit of some mythical, bygone era.   The same sportswriters who want fans to believe that everything was better when players cared more (as expressed by their willingness to run out ground balls, lay down bunts, and, well, take out catchers) are the very scribes that are looking to place blame on the game for allowing certain players to care too much.

Now, many in the industry are calling for stricter enforcement of the rules governing collisions at and around the plate, be they  regarding the legality of obstructing the plate (something the rules already disallow) or the guidelines regarding collisions (at the plate or otherwise).  Should Major League Baseball now seek to more stringently enforce those existing rules that are supposed to protect the employees on the field of play, or are additional steps (i.e. new rules) necessary to ensure that players are safe on the job?  The NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) already have a system of rules in place to prevent home plate collisions, and they’ve helped to reduce the number of serious injuries.  Is it then time for MLB to follow suit and find solutions for this newfound collision dilemma?

It must be understood that the injury dilemma is nothing new to baseball.  In 1972, when the Designated Hitter rule was implemented, there was a concerted effort to attempt to infuse the game with more offensive production, well, in the American league anyway.  Another part of that argument was that pitchers were placed in harm’s way by having to run the bases.  To this end, pitchers were (and still are) allowed to wear a warm-up jacket while on the base paths.  The practice has largely fallen out of favor in today’s game, but the image of a robust Fernando Valenzuela expanding his already prominent profile by donning a satin jacket is an image you won’t soon forget.  A rule was changed, for better or for worse, and pitchers are now safer for it, or, are they?

Yankees manager Joe Girardi was openly critical of the necessity of pitchers having to run the bases after Chien-Ming Wang injured his foot on the base paths during a 2008 game against the Houston Astros (in Houston, obviously).  Here again, someone or something had to be blamed for Wang’s misfortune, even if Girardi was unwilling or unable to offer a reasonable solution.  Designated runners?  A universal DH rule that governed both leagues?  Each is a possibility, but altering the existing rules couldn’t turn back time and prevent Wang’s foot injury (even if he did only throw 88 MPH), nor would it assure that designated hitters and/or runners wouldn’t be injured themselves.  Yet because Wang was forced to miss significant time due to the injury, someone (not the injured player, mind you) had to assume the guilt.

Fast-forward yet again, to April 12, 2011, and a very well-documented play involving the Rangers Josh Hamilton.  Hamilton, a player with an already spotty injury history, was injured during a play at the plate versus the Detroit Tigers.  With the score at 1-0, Hamilton tagged up on a foul pop out to third baseman Brandon Inge.  On the play, C Victor Martinez also converged on the ball, leaving home plate unattended.  Aware of the situation at hand, third base coach Dave Anderson sent Hamilton (who had tagged up on the play) in an attempt to score.  Martinez outraced Hamilton to the plate, forcing the former American League MVP to slide head-first slide into home.  He was out.  Of course, he was also injured.

Medical exams revealed that Hamilton suffered a broken humerus bone, eventually forcing the former American League MVP to miss 36 games.  Immediately following the game, Hamilton was openly critical of the decision by to send him in that situation, stating explicitly that it was “a stupid play”.  The implication here is that Hamilton’s injury couldn’t have possibly occurred had he been held at third—a fairly obvious observation.   Yet the injury also sparked a dialogue about the necessity of the head first slide.  Is it safe?  Is it even effective? 

Anyone asking those questions need only look up the career numbers of Rickey Henderson to find a clear answer.  Looking further, Hamilton’s had his fair share of close plays at the plate, but none of them to that point led to a serious injury.  Additionally, throughout his career, he’s made countless head-first slides, including one on the play that found Hamilton standing on third base to begin with (an RBI triple).    Another fact that cannot be ignored is that Hamilton was the Rangers designated hitter on the day he was injured, presumably in an effort to reduce the strain on his body.  It didn’t work.  Then again, there’s really no planning for the type of injury Hamilton sustained.

The Posey injury has thrust the topic of player safety into the spotlight once again.  What responsibility do teams (and MLB) have in protecting their players?  And, what responsibility do the players have in protecting themselves?  Posey has yet to address the issue publicly, as he’s undoubtedly been preoccupied with the immediacy of the injury itself.  Posey’s agent, Jeff Berry, has stated that he’d like Major League Baseball to consider the notion of changing the rules that govern plays at home plate, specifically for safety reasons.  Commissioner Bud Selig has yet to issue an official statement, but baseball will likely come out in support of its existing rules, for liability purposes if nothing else.  At the same time, straw polls of the players themselves indicate that they simply do not favor any rules that would curtail aggressive play.

Aggressive play is one of the ways by which players foster their very identities.  To this end, plays at the plate happen, and will continue to happen.  So too will head first slides.  These are parts of the game that simply will not change.  But, should they? 

More often than not, pitchers that get injured do so while throwing.  In order to eliminate future pitching-related injuries, Major League Baseball should consider allowing batters to hit from a tee, thereby reducing the risk to pitchers’ elbows and shoulders.  While the notion of advertising on bases fell by the wayside, perhaps MLB should consider replacing bases with down pillows (the softer the better).  Players will no longer be required to run the bases, but will instead ride Segways from station to station.  This station-to-station style of play will prevent players from taking extra bases and eliminate the need for sliding altogether.  Fielders will no longer be required to catch balls for fear of injuring their hands—hands that are needed for signing contracts and/or checks.  Additionally, hitters will not be permitted to use a bat, as the use of a potential weapon sends a message of violence to children.  With these measures in place, baseball will finally be closer to becoming the fan-friendly, safety-minded sport it should be.  Or, everyone can just go play soccer.