Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects: Texas Rangers

(scans list…tosses Tim Maki RC sheet back into pile)

1. Yu Darvish, rhp
2. Jurickson Profar, ss
3. Martin Perez, lhp
4. Mike Olt, 3b
5. Leonys Martin, of
6. Neil Ramirez, rhp
7. Cody Buckel, rhp
8. Jorge Alfaro, c
9. Christian Villanueva, 3b
10. Rougned Odor, 2b

Despite the disappointment at the end of October, there’s no doom and gloom in Arlington. The Rangers remain positioned to extend their run of playoff appearances, thanks to a young core and one of the game’s deepest farm systems. Texas affiliates posted the highest combined winning percentage (.564) of all organization in 2011, and all of the full-season clubs qualified for the playoffs.

Since Jon Daniels took over as GM following the 2005 season, the Rangers have become a model organization for scouting and player development. Interestingly, Texas still hasn’t had many homegrown talents contribute at the big league level, as the bulk of the club’s nucleus—Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis, Mike Napoli, Alexi Ogando—was plucked from other teams. Ian Kinsler and C.J. Wilson were drafted by the Rangers before the Daniels administration, which did sign Derek Holland and Mitch Moreland

Kahrl: Will Jose Iglesias be the new Rey Ordonez?

Up The Sandbox Defense! (bust flop of the year?)

Something approaching normalcy from those hitters would make Iglesias that much more palatable if Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine—the man who managed Ordonez over the bulk of his “productive” career with the Mets—takes a shine to Iglesias in camp.

In the meantime, Boston’s fall-back options are fairly reasonable. Like Scutaro, Punto is neither the best or worst defender at short. The difference in their career OBPs (.338 vs. .325) is narrow enough to suggest there won’t be any drop-off with a change to the identity of the ninth-slot hitter in Boston’s lineup, and Punto actually has a higher walk rate for his career (10.2 percent to Scooter’s 9.1). That’s without getting into why Aviles might have been the best right-now option of the three. After getting jerked around by the Royals ever since coming back from the Tommy John surgery that put a dent in his future in 2009, he still profiles as a good bat and playable glove at short.

But it’s Iglesias who represents the team’s long-term future at short. And it’s Rey Ordonez’s old manager who will be helping to decide whether or not he can use the latest slick-fielding Cuban kid at short, sooner or later.

Solomon: Astros need changes but not to name

Crane: Auto focus grope.

If you want change, change the team colors, paint the grass at Minute Maid Park orange, and hire scantily clad cheerleaders to dance on top of the dugouts between innings. But don’t make some silly name change as a money-grabbing ploy to sell more jerseys and caps.

Astroworld is gone, the Astrodomain is now Reliant Park, and the Astrodome is a blight on the city skyline.

But the Astros are Houston’s team, and despite what idiot politicians who didn’t grant us a space shuttle say, Houston is Space City. You may have purchased the franchise, but Astros is the name that belongs to the baseball team in Space City.

From Aspromonte, Watson, Dierker and Wynn to Cedeno, Cruz, Richard and Ryan to Bagwell, Biggio, Berkman and Oswalt, MLB stars in Houston have been Astros.

Keep this up, and your team will be the team formerly known as the favorite baseball team of tens of thousands of Houstonians.

People aren’t embarrassed about being Astros fans because of the team name. They are embarrassed about being Astros fans because the team finished with the worst record in baseball.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-24-2012

Washington Herald, January 24, 1912:

A professor who had a big seal act had bought a walrus, not with any idea of training the creature, but simply for the oddity of the monster.
...

[Rube] Waddell visited the show one afternoon, and at once declared that he was going to educate the walrus—teach him to clown the act, as it were. Throwing off his coat and vest, Rube hopped into the tank and introduced himself to the walrus. You couldn’t see anything for a moment except a big whirl in the water. Then Rube came out very fast. He had shed his coat and vest when he went in, and the walrus had his pants, so we had to wrap him in a horse blanket to get him home.

That’s no walrus! That’s Tim Stoddard!

LATimes: Dodgers receive more than 10 opening bids for the team

The Dodgers received “more than 10” opening bids for the team by Monday’s deadline, according to a person familiar with the sale but not authorized to discuss it.

As the bankers handling the sale evaluate the bids, prospective buyers can evaluate whether to join forces. In addition, because the bankers can waive the deadline at their discretion, new bidders could emerge.

St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke has explored whether to bid for the Dodgers, two people familiar with the sale process said Monday. It is uncertain whether Kroenke has submitted an offer. Rams spokesman Ted Crews did not return messages Monday night.

Outgoing owner Frank McCourt expects the Dodgers to sell for at least $1.5 billion.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban submitted a bid by Monday’s deadline, as did East Coast hedge fund giant Steven Cohen and former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley.

Several groups also turned in bids, including those involving Magic Johnson and longtime baseball executive Stan Kasten; Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso and former Dodgers manager Joe Torre; Los Angeles investor Stanley Gold and the family of the late Roy Disney; and former agent Dennis Gilbert and Los Angeles investors Jason Reese and Randy Wooster.

The Wall Street Journal reported that New York investors Leo Hindery and Marc Utay submitted a joint bid. Hindery and Utay tried unsuccessfully for the Chicago Cubs.

Jays Extend Morrow For 3 Years

Source: Jays, Morrow nearing $20m, three-year extension, with $10m option or $1m buyout. Announcement could come Tuesday.

Red Sox Sign Cody Ross to One-Year Deal

Cody, Cody
And see where else this body’s flown (Detroit, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Florida, San Francisco…)

The Red Sox have apparently added some outfield depth, and it’s going to come in the form of Cody Ross.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the veteran outfielder has agreed to a contract with the Red Sox. He’ll be one of a few options for new manager Bobby Valentine in an overhauled Boston outfield.

The Boston Herald’s Mike Silverman reported that the deal will be a one-year contract.

Ross, 31, broke into the majors for good in 2006. For his career, Ross is a .261 hitter with .323 on-base percentage over eight seasons with five different teams. In 2011 with the San Francisco Giants, Ross hit .240 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs.

Sickels: Ranking the Farm Systems

John Sickels adds up his top-prospect lists to figure out how the major-league clubs stack up.

There is obviously a huge amount of interest in these kinds of lists, so despite my misgivings, I decided “what the hell” and have worked up a list of my own….the following list is not based solely on a formula, and some teams were moved up or down a few notches for various reasons.

The list tries to find a balance between everything. Both high-end impact talent and overall depth are considered. I probably consider depth more than some other analysts.

Blue Jays Sign Omar Vizquel

And he’s tied with mighty Sam Mele (can’t get enough) with 80 career HR’s! HOF awaits!

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN tweets that Omar Vizquel has reached an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year deal. Vizquel, 44, appeared in 58 games with the Chicago White Sox in 2011, hitting .251/.287/.305 in 182 plate appearances. He played all around the infield, though mostly at third base and second base (180 and 130 innings respectively).

For his career, Vizquel has compiled 2841 hits and 401 stolen bases while spending time with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, and the Chicago White Sox. He’s currently at 42.3 wins above replacement.

Former Phillies broadcaster Andy Musser dies

RIP, Andy Musser…Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster for over a quarter-century.

Former Phillies broadcaster Andy Musser died peacefully in his home in Wynnewood on Sunday, his family said.

Mr. Musser was 74. No cause of death was listed.

The native of Lemoyne, Pa., broadcast Phillies games for 26 years. At one time or another, Mr. Musser did play-by-play for every major sports team in Philadelphia except the Flyers.

A Syracuse graduate and Army veteran, he broadcast two World Series, two Super Bowls, two Masters Toumaments, and numerous football and basketball games on national networks.

After leaving the Phillies in 2001, Mr. Musser worked in private business.  He is survived by Eun Joo, his wife of 50 years; two children: Allan of Roswell, Ga., and Luanne Zimmerman of Lower Gwynedd, Pa., and four grandchildren.

Astros drop ticket prices, relax food policies in new ‘fan-friendly initiatives’

The big changes could be a year away.

Owner Jim Crane said that branding changes are being discussed all the way up to the point of reconsidering the “Astros” name.

That change and any uniform and playing field adjustments could coincide with the move to the American League in 2013. Crane promised no changes, but much is being considered following Crane’s meetings with season ticket holders since taking over ownership from Drayton McLane in November.

NYBD: Silva: Tom Seaver, Born to be a Dodger?

I had an opportunity to chat with Steven Travers last night, author of a new book called “The Last Icon: Tom Seaver and His Times,” on my radio program. Never before has someone delved into the career of the man known as “The Franchise.”

...Sutton was 32-years old, the same age as Seaver, and was entering the late prime of his career. He still had plenty left as from 1977-80 he went 54-39 with a 3.21 ERA. In comparison, Seaver went 63-34 with a 3.00 ERA. The Mets never could have received comparable value for Seaver; Baseball-Reference ranks only two pitchers (Roger Clemens and Walter Johnson) with more value in the history of the game; but Sutton was as fair a deal as they could have made.

Imagine the course of both teams history if Seaver wound up signing with Los Angeles. He could have taken over as the ace of the franchise for Koufax, who retired the year before Seaver’s debut. He might also have won far more than the 311 games which he finished.

During the 70s, he often had terrible offenses supporting him. Travers believes Seaver could have won 30 games during his 1971 season; a year that many believe was his best ever. Seaver finished 20-10 with a 1.76 ERA and set, the then, strikeout record for a RHP with 289. Ironically, Ferguson Jenkins won the Cy Young Award due to his 24 wins, despite posting an ERA a run higher.  ”Seaver could have won 30,” Travers said. He had 36 starts and I believe 31 to 35 of them are absolute possible victories. If he gives up 3 runs, forget about it, much less two. He has to win 1-0, 2-1 to win games. He could have been 31-3 in 1971, that’s how good he was.”

(grumble~grumble) Hey, pitch to the damn score and you won’t feel so franchiseled! (grumble~grumble over)

Dan Patrick: Braun ‘may be innocent’

Pugh: Something rotten in Milwaukee.

Citing information from “somebody involved in the process,” sports commentator Dan Patrick said on his radio show Monday morning that “Ryan Braun may be an innocent man” and “may be exonerated.”

...Patrick said he was told Sunday, again, by “somebody involved in the process” that the MLB test might be at fault and that Braun could be found innocent. The arbitration panel, with independent arbitrator Shyam Das expected to cast the decisive vote, has 25 days to render a verdict but it could come as soon as later this week.

...“There were whispers that this was a personal medical issue, that he was taking something for that, that may have spiked his test. I since found out (Sunday) that that is not the case.

“Ryan Braun may be exonerated here. He may be found innocent. And judging from all of the information I was told, there’s a good chance that he should be.”

Patrick went on to say that MLB is “cut and dried” about what is allowed to be in a player’s system but said what Braun tested positive for “wasn’t a masking agent.”

“The bigger issue here is the testing and was Ryan Braun a victim of the testing by Major League Baseball,” added Patrick. “Let’s see how this plays out… The feeling I got (Sunday) from somebody involved in the process in this, it’s not as cut and dried as people would think. And Ryan Braun may be an innocent man.”

‘Duk: Was that a marijuana leaf t-shirt that Yu Darvish was sporting today in Texas?

The SO-Weed Factor?

Fresh off a long flight from Japan, the newest Texas Rangers pitcher raised more than a few eyebrows in Dallas-Forth Worth on Friday by wearing a t-shirt with a symbol more closely associated with High Times magazine than Major League Baseball.

That’s not exactly the type of thing that the Rangers want to see from a guy they just committed $111 million to, so what gives with the hazy decision? Was the newly-divorced Darvish announcing his intentions to, uh, broaden his horizons? Attempting to make new friends with Tim Lincecum? Playing a pretty good joke on the straight-laced Nolan Ryan?

None of the above, said the 25-year-old righthander, who was quickly asked about the t-shirt at his introductory press conference at Rangers Ballpark. According to several reporters on the scene, Darvish just said he likes to wear shirts with English writing and that he had no idea it signaled an interest in something more.

There was another explanation for the t-shirt, though, and it comes with the explanation that the shirt doesn’t show a pot leaf at all.

According to Konnichiwhoa, reports out of Japan said the shirt depicts a Japanese maple leaf. And the story checks out if you look at this side-by-side illustration of a Japanese maple leaf and a cannabis leaf.

THT: Chris Jaffe: Ten least-likely guys to break up a no-hitter

I had the ever-loving liver snaps beat out of me by two crazed Seaverinos after the Qualls hit. (sweet-streamed into one’s family milk box to get even…WINNER!)

4. (TIE) The Tom Seaver duo: April 15, 1970: Phillies’ Mike Compton (season numbers: 18 H, 110 AB, 121 PA, .164 AVG, .149 H/PA. July 9, 1969: Cubs’ Jim Qualls (season numbers: 30 H, 120 AB, 124 PA, .250 AVG, .242 H/PA).

The Jim Qualls game is more famous, but it’s the Mike Compton game that causes this duo to make the list. Qualls is just piggybacking here.

In the Qualls game, Tom Seaver flirted with perfection. He retired the first 25 batters he faced, fanning 11 along the way. Then came Qualls, the No. 8 hitter in the order, playing in just his 18th major league game. Of course, he singled, becoming the Cubs’ only baserunner in the game. Qualls went on to a short career, in which he got exactly 31 lifetime hits, but that includes one some still remember.

Thirty-one lifetime hits is one of the lowest totals ever for a position player that broke up a no-hitter but, improbably, it’s not the lowest by anyone that broke up a Tom Seaver no-hitter.

The year after Qualls, Seaver again got burned by a No. 8 hitter, in this case Phillies catcher Compton. Playing in just his 12th game, he laced out his seventh career hit. Compton ended the season, and his big-league career, with just 18 hits. That’s the fewest career hits by any non-pitcher who got the only hit in a one-hitter.

ESPN: Szymborski: Bounceback candidates for 2012 (INSIDER)

When someone does a lot of work with projections and makes a lot of predictions, one of the hardest things to get used to is the amount of times you’ll get things completely wrong. Every year, there are a handful of players for whom events don’t just even out and end up missing their projections by a mile. There are a lot of reasons for a player to be disappointing, from mechanical flaws to injuries to the most frustrating reason, “dunno.”

Looking back at the 2011 ZiPS projections, we thought we’d take a look at who failed to meet their projections by the biggest margins, examine what went wrong and look ahead to the 2012 season.

HHS: The 50 most overrated batters in baseball history

A message to you, Rudi.

The vast majority of the players on the overrated list were really good. It simply means that there is a discrepancy between their EloRater ranking and bWAR. As near as I can tell, there are numerous reasons why this happens:

  • The player is given “extra credit” in the EloRater rankings due to missed time. Example: Ted Williams missing time for war service
  • The player is given “extra credit” in the EloRater rankings for post-season performance, which of course is not factored into bWAR. Example: Joe Carter in the 1993 World Series
  • The player is not appropriately judged for negative defensive contributions that hurt his bWAR. Example: Jermaine Dye
  • The player is a fan favorite who is given more credit than he deserves in the EloRater rankings. Example: Don Mattingly
  • The player is given “extra credit” for efforts as a manager or other non-playing role. Example: Lou Piniella
  • The player is given extra credit to make up for unfair blame he received for something else. Example: Bill Buckner
  • The player has gotten a higher EloRater ranking on the strength of 1 or 2 really strong seasons that are not representative of his career. Example: George Bell
  • The player played in a particularly favorable home ballpark: Example: Vinny Castilla

Bobby Valentine on beer-gate: ‘Never on my watch’

Only because New England d-bags tip for ####!

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine, in a session at the World Baseball and Softball Coaches’ Convention at Mohegan Sun Arena, deemed the consumption of beer and fried chicken in the clubhouse during games “inexcusable,” and said (in comments relayed by The Day (New London, Conn.)) that it would not happen during his tenure as manager.

In response to a question about the clubhouse consumption of beer and chicken during games, Valentine initially joked, “We’ve got to go to draft beer and grilled chicken, I think,” before approaching the matter with less levity.

“If that happened it’s inexcusable,” said Valentine. “I apologize for that. The apologies are out there and it will never happen on my watch.”

HOVG: Jose Canseco Reviews “Moneyball” and, Naturally, Begs For a Job

Scout Bob: “Who’s Canseco?”

Sure, it was shut out at the Golden Globes, but it does have its fair share of supporters.

Including Jose Canseco…who took to Twitter Sunday night after seeing the film.

  Just saw the movie money ball .it was awesome congrats billy I especially loved the part about you and your daughter.ps I would have played for you back then for free.I was one of those misfits who needed a second chance

...So, it’s particularly interesting that Canseco is now saying he would have played for free even though Beane had a complete lack of interest in the 1988 American League MVP.

Enter that classic Canseco desperation.

  Billy beane call me would love to dh for you just give me a tryout that’s all I ask

Ugh.

Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects: Minnesota Twins

With so little to celebrate…at least Sam Mele turned 90 the other day!

1. Miguel Sano, 3b/ss
2. Joe Benson, of
3. Eddie Rosario, 2b/of
4. Aaron Hicks, of
5. Oswaldo Arcia, of
6. Levi Michael, ss/2b
7. Liam Hendriks, rhp
8. Kyle Gibson, rhp
9. Chris Parmelee, of/1b
10. Brian Dozier, ss/2b

Ryan immediately started reshaping the big league roster, signing Jamey Carroll, Ryan Doumit and Josh Willingham while allowing Joe Nathan to depart as a free agent. The big league team’s fortunes depend most on a return to health by Mauer and Morneau, however

The system isn’t as strong as it was when Ryan last was in charge, and 2011 was a rough season for the team’s previous three first-round picks. Outfielder Aaron Hicks (2008) had to rally to hit .242 in high Class A, righthander Kyle Gibson (2009) needed Tommy John surgery and righty Alex Wimmers (2010) missed half the year with a bout of wildness after walking the first six batters he faced in an April start.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 1-23-2012

San Francisco Call, January 23, 1912:

Elmer Stricklett, who deserted the Brooklyn club in the National League in 1909 and who has been ranching at Mountain View and playing outlaw ball ever since, has just received notification of his reinstatement in organized baseball, provided he pays a fine of $100. Stricklett’s unique plea that his wife refused to allow him to go back…evidently won the sympathy of the national commission.
...

In extenuation he said that his wife had insisted upon him remaining in California, that the real head of the family needed tailored suits and picture hats and he was forced to play ball on the coast.

Elmer Stricklett: Alleged inventor of the spitball, now the inventor of the revolutionary “it’s my wife’s fault” excuse.

[OT] Superbowl thread

Considering the Superbowl is in two weeks, and the other thread NFL thread has a lot of clutter. It is time to make a new thread so the rest of the site can talk about important things, such as Ryan Bruan’s STD test, birther conspiracies, and or the superhuman feats of our dear leader Kim Jong Il.

Cespedes comes alive in Dominican League

Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes lived up to the hype last week in the Dominican League as it was his game-winning RBI double that allowed Aguilas Cibaenas to a win over the favored Licey Tigres and earn a berth in the finals against Escogido Leones…

Aguilas, written off by many after falling four games behind in the semifinal round robin series, won their final six games anchored by an offense led by Cespedes, Brandon Moss, Miguel Tejada, Joaquin Arias and Hector Luna along with strong late-inning relief work from Miguel Batista, who saved the last five games…

Led by Andy Dirks, Julio Lugo, Pablo Ozuna and Mauro Gomez, Escogido had clinched its final series berth earlier in the round robin and will rely on its rotation of Francisco Liriano, Nelson Figueroa, Jordan Norberto and Kris Johnson in the finals… Escogido, the 2009-10 Dominican League champions, will continue to count on Jose Cabrera and Fernando Rodney to shore up the bullpen in the finals.

U.S.S. Mariner: Mariners Sign Kevin Millwood

As Butch just said…“Nothing smells better than an unfurled pennant flag.”

At 37, he’s been around the block a bunch. Wedge and Willis know him from his time in Cleveland. And, if there’s one thing you can say about Millwood, it’s that he’s always been a guy you could count on to rack up innings. Before last season (when he spent the first few months on the sidelines waiting for someone to give him a job), he’d thrown 150+ innings every year since 2005. Declining stuff has meant that the quality of those innings have gone from being good to just okay, but even at his worst, he’s never posted xFIP higher than 4.86, and he was actually pretty good in limited time with the Rockies last year.

From 2009-2011, he posted the following line:

7.5% BB%, 15.2% K%, 40.1% GB%, 11.5% HR/FB, .294 BABIP, 98 ERA-, 107 FIP-, 105 xFIP-

He’s basically been a pretty generic MLB starter, posting a walk rate right around league average and a strikeout rate just a tick below that. His ERA has been slightly better than his peripherals would suggest, even with the inflated home run rate, but all three of the minus stats (remember, 100 is average, and like with ERA, lower is better) put him right around the average-ish starter mark. Any basic projection of his 2012 performance will start with that performance and then take a bit off to account for the fact that he is getting older, but even at 37, Millwood’s still a useful fifth starter in the big leagues – if he stays healthy and throws 150 innings, he’s probably something like a +1 win pitcher next year.

Judge Jed Rakoff profile

Don’t think it even mentions the Mets-Madoff stuff but maybe this thread will distract the lawyers around here.

Murray Chass: BRAUN’S TEST INSPIRES SILLINESS

Someone should tell Murray about discountmags.com!

Even worse, there was this recent ludicrous suggestion by an ESPN writer. Buster Olney noted that [positive PED test suspension appellant Ryan] Braun would be appearing at the annual dinner of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association last Saturday night to accept his M.V.P. award.

“The best chance for Braun to extricate something good from his situation would be to stand up on the dais Saturday, hold the NL MVP trophy in his hands – and offer to give it back to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America at its annual New York dinner, even while maintaining his innocence. This gesture would elevate Braun and separate him from the legions of athletes who have issued denials in the face of accusations of performance-enhancing drug use.”

Olney even offered a statement that Braun could make. “Braun could say something along these lines when he speaks Saturday night :”

That’s all I was able to read. Only paying subscribers could go further, and I’ll be darned if I’m going to pay to read such nonsense, that even an innocent person who deserved the award should say, in effect, I’m innocent and the arbitrator will tell you that I am, but just in case you still think I’m guilty, I’ll give up the award to satisfy you and all of the others who think I’m guilty.

I have one question for my former colleague: If Braun were guilty but still returned the award to fool people into thinking he wasn’t guilty, would that be an acceptable approach?

Mike Piazza wants to go into HOF as a Met

“Its a bacne to bacne!...and a belly to belly!” (interleague allowance cheat)

Last night, Mike Piazza was in attendance at the Knicks 119-114 loss to the Nuggets at Madison Square Garden, and appeared on Celebrity Row with Jill Martin during halftime.

When asked what hat he wants to wear if elected to the Hall of Fame, he responded:

  “It’s gotta be the Mets. No question.”

Piazza is eligible for election to the Hall of Fame next January, and the Hall of Fame chooses the hat an elected player wears on his plaque.

Zettel: Yu Darvish vs. Lefty Grove

Even Sigafoos thinks this is fos!

Like Grove, Darvish enters the Major Leagues at age 25, after a five year professional career in another league. Unlike Grove, Darvish kept his walk totals low, but struck out 1,083 batters in just over 1,020 innings in Japan’s Pacific League. Darvish’s ERAs are extremely low on a year-by-year basis, and not surprisingly, Darvish won approximately 73% of his decisions while playing in Japan. One of the interesting differences between Grove and Darvish is that Grove was also used as a reliever for approximately 10-15 games per season; Darvish, on the other hand, mostly served as a starter during his early professional career.

I know a lot of this is just happenstance, vague suggestions made across eras. But, I thought it would be fun to use the Darvish signing as an opportunity to remember the career of Lefty Grove, one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball. Both pitchers were so talented that they drew remarkable monetary transactions between their previous club and their future MLB team. Both pitchers were extreme winners in their early professional career, winning between 73% and 74% of their decisions before reaching the majors. And of course, they were both strike out machines, fanning more than 1,000 batters in more than 1,000 innings prior to reaching the majors.

It’s also exciting to think of the potential of Darvish dominating the American League. Frankly , I think he can be a valuable contributor to the Rangers, and I think he’ll be a worthwhile acquisition even if he’s an average or slightly above average pitcher. Maybe, just maybe, like another grand purchase, he’ll come to dominate major league batters; in another 50 years, maybe we’ll remember Darvish the way we remember Grove.

Denied visas to US, Ugandan Little League team finally gets a game

The Baseball Player Name Hall Of Fame, Class Of 2012: Where Moses Poolaw Gets His Due

Will Drinkwater
1911, 1913, minor leagues

A hospital, 1891.

MOTHER. Now that’s a New Year’s resolution I plan to keep!
NURSE. Ma’am, that’s a birth certificate.
MOTHER. Oh, whoops. Have erasers been invented yet?
NURSE. No.
MOTHER. Well, what do you do if you need to erase something?
NURSE. You contract smallpox.
MOTHER. What?
NURSE. [doffs stovepipe hat, rides away on penny-farthing bicycle]

Hey
1909, minor leagues

lol hey man what’s up

Ten Million
1911 through 1914, minor leagues

That’s listed as his real, actual name: Ten Million. In Ten Million’s world, names were numbers and vice versa.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/17/2012.