http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/newsblog/ All the News That's Fit to Link en jimfurtado@baseballthinkfactory.org Copyright 2008 2008-05-13T18:36:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/bpro_burke_and_sheehan/#When:18:36:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/bpro_burke_and_sheehan/ A look at why the NL is outscoring the AL and even more chasmous...the massivo disparity between truth and Buster Olney! Speculation inside the game, as Buster Olney referenced in his blog Saturday, centers on the theoretical eradication of performance-enhancing drugs from the game in the wake of the Mitchell Report. Personally, I dismiss this out of hand. Since 2003, when survey testing kicked off a series of regimes and punishment mechanisms, offensive levels, and specifically power, have jumped around from year to year independent of what rules were in place. There has been no correlation between increated testing and greater penalties, and offensive levels and power, over the five-year period. This makes sense when you think about it. Both from the players who have been suspended for failing tests and the ones named in the Mitchell Report, we learned that PED use was not something confined to power hitters, nor even hitters. Even if PED use has been affected by the rules changes, there’s little reason to think that it would show itself in lowered offense. The biggest reason to dismiss this claim, though, is the league split. Runs per game, slugging, and XBH/FB are all up in the National…Read More ... General, Sabermetrics, Special Topics 2008-05-13T18:36:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/bpro_seidman/#When:18:26:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/bpro_seidman/ Or Furcaliente… Furcalysis Furcal has missed the last several games with back spasms, and it comes as no surprise that the Dodgers have gone 1-4 in that span. Though Furcal’s absence cannot be directly linked to the team’s recent struggles, he has been one of the top offensive players in the league, let alone his own team. He should be back in the lineup soon, and it will be very interesting to see if his injury lingers throughout the season or has any sort of effect on his production. His offensive output may suffer from the time off as well, as a hot streak likely to regress as the season goes on may do so more quickly when it’s being resumed by a player iced by injury and/or inactivity. Though everything still suffers from small sample size syndrome, it is definitely clear Furcal has been able to hit pitchers of all qualities and all handedness; he has also been able to produce whether ahead or behind in the count, and against any type of pitch. This may not last all year, but Furcal is currently in the midst of arguably the best stretch of his career. If the Dodgers want to…Read More ... General, Sabermetrics, LA Dodgers 2008-05-13T18:26:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/tigers_jacque_jones_would_like_to_head_south/#When:16:40:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/tigers_jacque_jones_would_like_to_head_south/ ...much like his game. Given the opportunity to decide, outfielder Jacque Jones’ first choice might be to join the Marlins. That’s what Jones, who the Tigers designated for assignment last week, told an associate. For now, Jones has no control over his next destination. The Tigers have until Friday to trade or release him. Either way, they are on the hook for what’s left of his $5.5 million salary (about $4.05 million). Any team that acquires him would make the Tigers pay much of the remaining money. Jones probably wouldn’t cost the Marlins much more than a low level minor-leaguer and/or the pro-rated major league minimum (about $290,000). “It would probably be his top destination,” the associate said. “Last year he was really excited about the opportunity to go down there. It was something that almost came to fruition.” General, Detroit, Florida 2008-05-13T16:40:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/pizza_cutter_on_the_100_pitch_limit/#When:16:39:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/pizza_cutter_on_the_100_pitch_limit/ As the game wears on, every ten pitches seems to tip the OBP balance toward the batter by about a point or .1%.  At some point, there comes a time where there is a more effective option in the bullpen. That goes with a couple points of SLG. The absolute level of his numbers is a little weird, but the conclusion is clear. Sabermetrics, Chi Cubs, Cincinnati, San Francisco 2008-05-13T16:39:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/dice_k_201/#When:16:27:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/dice_k_201/ The important questions, then, are not just whether Darvish will pitch in the majors or when he might pitch in the majors. The equally important issue is whether this wave of emigrants is good for pro baseball in Japan. The answer is complicated, though Chiba Lotte manager Bobby Valentine, as usual, has his own view. Most observers feel he either is already as good as Matsuzaka or soon will be. “I think his numbers in Japan are going to be equally as phenomenal as he continues to move on, barring injury, as Dice-K’s were in Japan,” Hillman says. “He’s got a different type of frame. Dice-K’s got a more powerful frame, but Darvish has looser levers and a taller frame with more whip, and I think that gives him an opportunity to have more powerful and more electric secondary pitches as well as a fastball. “The curveball is just not fair. Honestly, it’s just not a fair pitch.” General, Japan 2008-05-13T16:27:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/zell_rejects_ifsa_offer_will_sell_wrigley_with_team/#When:15:53:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/zell_rejects_ifsa_offer_will_sell_wrigley_with_team/ The plan to sell off Wrigley Field separate from the Cubs, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, and Wrigleyville Premium Tickets in no more. Zell has rejected the offer from Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, thus placing the bid for prospective owners of the Cubs will get a complete package. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times: [S]ources said Zell has rejected the state’s proposed terms because it relies on a novel and untested financing plan: the sale of individual seats at Wrigley as if they were condominiums. The idea is called equity seat rights and has been advanced by Chicago area business executive Lou Weisbach, who has applied for patent rights on it. Zell, Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney and their advisers have concluded that the equity plan and its tax ramifications would violate both the Internal Revenue Service code and the rules of Major League Baseball, the sources said. General, Chi Cubs 2008-05-13T15:53:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/norwell_grad_jarrod_parkers_working_his_way_up/#When:15:10:01Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/norwell_grad_jarrod_parkers_working_his_way_up/ I get up at seven, yeah And I go to work at nine I got no time for livin’ Yes, I’m workin all the time Professional pitching stats: 6 starts, 3-1, 1.05 ERA, 25 2/3 IP, 22 hits, 3 ER, 4 BB, 21 K General, Minor Leagues, Arizona 2008-05-13T15:10:01-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/cubs_expected_to_sign_edmonds/#When:15:02:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/cubs_expected_to_sign_edmonds/ The Cubs appear poised to sign veteran center fielder Jim Edmonds soon after he clears waivers Wednesday. That would mean a demotion to the minors for touted prospect Felix Pie, who entered Monday with a .222 average and strikeouts in one-third of his plate appearances. The lefty-hitting Edmonds and right-handed Reed Johnson would share center-field duties. General, Chi Cubs 2008-05-13T15:02:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/sherwin_ichiro_like_everyone_else_is_fair_game/#When:13:58:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/sherwin_ichiro_like_everyone_else_is_fair_game/ You can’t have Sherwin Shares without having Sherloss Shares! But does that excuse him from not wearing his jersey like everyone else? Did he have to sit there as if it was the last place in the world he wanted to be? Did he think the kids could not read his body language? It all gives life to the perception that Ichiro plays and acts for himself. Is he more concerned about his stats than assimilating more into the clubhouse? He’s the last remaining member here from the record-setting 2001 team, shouldn’t be more of a forceful leader in the clubhouse? Why does he still not do English interviews? He’s clearly comfortable in his own routine. He doesn’t like to divert from that. But with this team struggling as it has, is it too much to ask more from him? It’s not all about him; it’s about team. There are things he can and should do outside the white lines. He can make a difference if he would simply leave his cocoon. How the Japanese will view this criticism is uncertain. They idolize him and most don’t want to hear anything negative. But there is a segment that appreciates telling it…Read More ... General, Seattle, Japan 2008-05-13T13:58:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/ask_14_rice_manny_the_greatest/#When:13:13:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/ask_14_rice_manny_the_greatest/ Jim Rice on Manny’s defense...and is prolly really ticked about the nifty new Roy White bio at the SABR Baseball Biography Project! Manny said in an article in the Boston Herald today that he is the greatest left fielder ever to play Fenway.  Actually, you like to see this type of attitude in a player, because to be a successful professional athlete, you have to be confident in your abilities.  It’s this type of attitude that leads to the success that Manny has had in the game of baseball. I don’t take this to be a personal insult on my play as a leftfielder; I like and respect Manny and we talk regularly at the ballpark.  I do disagree with him though.  Manny is a great hitter (one of the best of his era) but it is unfair to compare him to Me or Yaz or Williams because we all played in different eras.  As a fielder, someone needs to let Manny know that this is a new wall that he’s playing.  We used to have a different wall in left field when I played and it was much more difficult to play. General, History, Boston 2008-05-13T13:13:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/stat_of_the_day_jaffe_memory_checking_the_goose/#When:12:36:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/stat_of_the_day_jaffe_memory_checking_the_goose/ Goose Gossage is a big, fat, fu manchooch wearin’ liar who smells like Oscar Beregi’s joyless trousers...there, I said it! In a new article, Goose Gossage talks about intentionally hitting batters.  The article states: “Gossage, that famous mustache now gray, claims to have hit only three batters intentionally in his major league career: Ron Gant, Al Bumbry and Andres Galarraga. ‘They had it coming,’ he said.” Perhaps so, but there’s one problem.  Going by the PI features, Goose Gossage never hit Al Bumbry.  He nailed Gant & Galaragga the same summer, but never Bumbry in the majors. Was he thinking of some other Oriole?  Well, he only hit six of them, and the last two occasions came after Bumbry was gone. One was Mark Belanger.  Who the hell intentionally hits Mark Belanger.  That’s going hunting with hope of offing Bambi’s mom… General, History 2008-05-13T12:36:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/tht_treder_daddy_wags/#When:12:03:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/tht_treder_daddy_wags/ Buy Your Wags at The Hardball Rag...as Steve Treder looks back at Leon Wagner. Deployed in a strict platoon role (fewer than 10 percent of his 241 plate appearances were against left-handed pitching) in left field by the Giants for the rest of the season, Wagner hit a blistering .317 with 13 homers. But the impression he made as a defender was less positive. Here was the summary report on Wagner in that year’s Dell Sports Baseball annual: “Raw, crude and deficient afield but has such tremendous power that he’s sure to get further examination.” Along with ragged defense, the “raw and crude” impression may have been a function of Wagner’s approach at the plate, which featured an exaggerated high front-leg kick, á la Mel Ott or Sadaharu Oh. Such a hitting style always has been extremely unusual. I’d like to be able to give younger fans who never saw Wagner play a comparison to a modern-day hitter with a similar approach, but I can’t think of one, and in an informal poll of the THT staff, no one else can either. Both Darryl Strawberry and Kirby Puckett (not all that modern-day anymore, I know, I know) had big kicks, but…Read More ... General, History 2008-05-13T12:03:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/houston_chronicle_hiring_wade_looks_like_right_move/#When:11:43:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/houston_chronicle_hiring_wade_looks_like_right_move/ Wail, Eddie, wail! Wade might be out of his tree...but he still can’t see the forest, or something like that. Short end of some stats Keep in mind, the Astros have done all that despite having a lower on-base percentage (.337 to .319) and slugging percentage (.455 to .421) than their opponents. The Astros have outscored the opposition anyway, which means one of two things. Either they’re rabbit’s-foot-stacked-on-a-shamrock lucky or they’re doing a lot of other things right. ...Oh, and the Astros were outhitting their opponents by 45 points with men on base (.301 to .256). “Sometimes it runs beyond a statistical line,” Wade said. “All of those things, I think, speak beyond just the ability of the club. They speak to the character of the club.” General, Houston 2008-05-13T11:43:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/after_mets_loss_nelson_figueroa_calls_nationals_bunch_of_softball_girls/#When:11:21:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/after_mets_loss_nelson_figueroa_calls_nationals_bunch_of_softball_girls/ Hey...Don’t piss off Natalie Titcume! Nelson Figueroa knows about bush league baseball. After all, he’s toured the world trying to resurrect his major league career. But not until Monday night did Figueroa witness a truly amateurish display, the Mets pitcher suggested. Incensed at the chants emanating from the Washington dugout during the Mets’ 10-4 loss Monday night at Shea, Figueroa ripped the Nationals afterward. “They were cheerleading in the dugout like a bunch of softball girls,” Figueroa said. “I’m a professional, just like anybody else. I take huge offense to that. If that’s what a last-place team needs to do to fire themselves up, so be it. I think you need to show a little bit more class, a little bit more professionalism. They won tonight, but again, in the long run, they are who they are.” Figueroa couldn’t pinpoint the culprits, but suggested the serenading peaked during the third inning, when the Nats loaded the bases and he forced in a run by walking Nick Johnson. “Don’t care,” Figueroa said about learning the names of the perpetrators. “Truly unprofessional. “That’s why they are who they are.” General, NY Mets, Washington 2008-05-13T11:21:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/conlin_suddenly_there_are_more_experts_than_strikeouts_in_ryan_howards_slum/#When:11:03:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/conlin_suddenly_there_are_more_experts_than_strikeouts_in_ryan_howards_slum/ The Sweet Science of the Swing Era with Coach Conlin. Most of these former line-drive machines correctly state that Howard stands too far off the plate with a stance that is much too open. For the record, he is setting up in just about the same stance he brought to the majors in 2005, when he was rookie of the year. The difference, of course, is what he does with the stance once it unfurls into the various components of a swing. Charlie Manuel has explained it in a peanut shell. Howard is trying to pull everything. He is trying to hit “an 11-run homer” with every swing. He is swinging so early on everything he no longer lets the ball get deep into the strike zone the way he did during his flaming hot streaks in 2006 and ‘07. My personal theory - hey, I was a high-school gap hitter - is that like a lot of tall hitters, he doesn’t have a good knowledge of his very large strike zone. I’d like to see Manuel and batting coach Milt Thompson set up a simple drill that former Dodgers GM Branch Rickey devised to teach a flailing young outfielder named…Read More ... General, Philadelphia 2008-05-13T11:03:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/is_clayton_kershaw_worth_the_hype/#When:09:24:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/is_clayton_kershaw_worth_the_hype/ Breaking down the mechanics, injury risk, stuff, and numbers of Clayton Kershaw… “Clayton Kershaw’s curveball scares children” “Clayton Kershaw’s curveball is public enemy number one” “Clayton Kershaw is straight filth” Just a couple of the high heaps of praise that surround Dodgers pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw, known by many to be the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. I suppose one is worthy of such praise when his curveball looks like this… General, Fantasy Baseball, Minor Leagues, Prospect Reports, Scouting, Sabermetrics, LA Dodgers 2008-05-13T09:24:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/st_pete_times_rays_rout_yankees_to_move_half_game_out_of_first/#When:04:19:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/st_pete_times_rays_rout_yankees_to_move_half_game_out_of_first/ After Monday’s 7-1 win, they are six games over .500 for the first time in franchise history at 22-16, have the majors’ best record (14-5) over the past three weeks, extended their winning streak to five and their major-league-best home streak to 10, are a half-game out of first place and are leading the AL wild-card race. But there’s another measure of their success that will never get old: beating the Yankees. “Always, beating the Evil Empire is awesome,” Jonny Gomes said… “Anyone in the AL East, we’ll take our wins. But beating those guys is always a little more fun.” ... About the only thing that wasn’t good: a crowd of 13,932. Since the Yankees were last at the Trop, April 14-15, the Rays have gone from 6-8 to 22-16 and moved from fifth place to second in the AL East, yet they drew fewer fans — the April games, on a Monday and Tuesday, drew 18,872 and 20,923. “It’s a little disappointing right now,” Maddon said. “I think we’re playing a pretty good brand of baseball. But I also believe it’s still school, it’s a Monday night, I get all that. I’ve been through that before in other places.…Read More ... General, NY Yankees, Tampa Bay 2008-05-13T04:19:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/carmi_times_keegan_dennis_throws_172_pitches_in_logan_win/#When:04:12:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/carmi_times_keegan_dennis_throws_172_pitches_in_logan_win/ Hey, Coach Halstead...F you and the peppenhorst you rode in on! “That’s obviously the most pitches I’ve ever thrown,” said Dennis. “I’ve hit 120 to 125 before, but it got to the point that my adrenaline was going so much. This is probably the best game I’ve been in intensity-wise, both teams playing well and people hitting.” Dennis (5-6) scattered 10 hits, including four home runs, allowed nine runs and walked five batters, but the righty struck out 14 during his complete-game effort. While most pitchers would have been pulled at some point, Logan’s veteran head coach Jerry Halstead had his own philosophy in this situation. “What happens is you get to a point where you say ‘OK, it’s the second game of the tournament, and you’re not very good today,’” Halstead said. “‘Are we going to quit at 30 pitches so we can bring you back in a couple of days, or are we going to burn you?’ The next thing we know he’s at 70 pitches, so we’re going to burn you now.” ..."It’s about as gutty and competitive while not being close to being his best. As far as competing, that’s about as gutty a performance as I’ve…Read More ... General, Obituaries, College 2008-05-13T04:12:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/pit_post_gazette_pirates_split_foils_streak_bid_for_500/#When:04:07:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/pit_post_gazette_pirates_split_foils_streak_bid_for_500/ And the Pirates… fell just short of finding the franchise’s holy grail of a .500 record, settling for a doubleheader split yesterday with the Atlanta Braves, a 5-0 shutout and an 8-1 loss. The opener, highlighted by another quality start from Zach Duke and a bases-clearing double by Freddy Sanchez, brought a six-game winning streak, the Pirates’ longest in four years. ... Will another chance [at .500] come? To be quite sure, this group sounded optimistic, partly because of the 6-1 homestand just completed, partly because they had taken three of four from an Atlanta team that carried its own six-game winning streak into this series ... “Things are really different,” center fielder Nate McLouth said. “Not to look at the past, but how many times around here have we looked back at that one point where we could have gone above .500 and didn’t? That’s not going to be the case here. We’re right there. Look at where we were a week ago and how we’ve played since then.” The Pirates came home from Washington 12-17. General, Atlanta, Pittsburgh 2008-05-13T04:07:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/celizic_guys_like_pujols_ortiz_are_good_but_not_memorable_like_bonds_mcgwir/#When:04:00:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/celizic_guys_like_pujols_ortiz_are_good_but_not_memorable_like_bonds_mcgwir/ As that old Pedro Felizean proverb goes..."Don’t hang your hat higher than you can BLEEECCH!! But it’s teams we’re watching more than individuals. The individuals are either not compelling personalities or overpowering at what they do. It’s not their fault. I love watching guys like Justin Mourneau and Pujols and Manny and Big Papi hit, but I don’t think most fans plan their evenings around those at-bats. Does anyone want to watch Maddux pitch six cagey innings for the pathetic Padres? Maybe Pujols is great, but we don’t watch his every at-bat. Same goes for Manny. After all, 500 homers, like the dollar, aren’t what they used to be. The same goes for Griffey. He’s worth watching, but he’s playing for Cincinnati, and nobody’s showing their games. Besides, 600 homers is also a devalued currency. He may have done it the right way — that’s the perception, at least — but there are five guys with that many ahead of him. When Aaron got to 600, just two had been there before him. ...But there aren’t any superhumans out there — at least not yet. The great pitchers don’t strike out 20 a game, or even 15. And even if someone…Read More ... General, Special Topics 2008-05-13T04:00:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/fox_sports_perry_many_surprises_in_the_25_percent_awards/#When:03:11:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/fox_sports_perry_many_surprises_in_the_25_percent_awards/ Lee. Perry scratches his name all over the place! AL MVP — Cliff Lee, Indians Before we get busy justifying this one, a few words on MVP criteria ... Some fans and voters get hung up on the inane idea that an MVP must come from a contending team. The ballot instructions specifically say that this isn’t the case, and common sense will tell you that, too. After all, dismissing the superior player because his team isn’t successful is, in essence, penalizing him because his teammates aren’t doing their jobs. The only objective stand is to give the MVP to, you know, the best player. Importing any other standard to the process is silly and illogical. Moving on ... As you might surmise, Lee has been the best pitcher in the American League this season, and he’s also been the best overall player (thus far, it’s been a down year for individual offensive performances in the AL). Sure, position players are generally more valuable than pitchers, but on occasion that’s not the case. The 2008 season to date is just such an occasion. Consider Lee’s numbers: he’s got an RA (runs allowed per nine innings) of 1.01 (!), he’s struck out…Read More ... General, Awards 2008-05-13T03:11:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/ny_times_rr_indian_teenagers_chase_american_dream/#When:02:30:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/ny_times_rr_indian_teenagers_chase_american_dream/ Two Indian teenagers are chasing an American dream as baseball professionals and their promoters hope they can stir up interest in the game in their cricket-mad homeland. Rinku Singh, 18, and fellow javelin thrower Dinesh Patel began a year-long training stint in Los Angeles last week after winning an India-wide pitching contest, “The Million-Dollar Arm.” I’m looking forward to an Indian post game interview:  “What i was pitching, they were not hitting.” General, International 2008-05-13T02:30:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/sportticker_cardinals_molina_la_russa_ejected/#When:02:13:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/sportticker_cardinals_molina_la_russa_ejected/ St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and manager Tony La Russa were ejected in the fifth inning of Monday’s contest against the Milwaukee Brewers. Both were ejected by plate umpire Paul Schrieber for arguing balls and strikes. Upon getting ejected, Molina took off his catching gear - his shin guards and chest protector - and left it, along with his glove, at home plate. General, Milwaukee, St Louis 2008-05-13T02:13:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/sfbg_boo_yah_johnnie_lemaster_returns/#When:01:49:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/sfbg_boo_yah_johnnie_lemaster_returns/ Boo Harvey, Boo Dilicious and Boo-Boo Hoff got nothing on the great Boo LeMaster! So without informing the higher ups in the San Francisco front office, LeMaster had his name plate removed from the back of his No. 10 Giants jersey and replaced simply with a three letter word: “Boo.” “It really caught everyone off guard, in fact when I walked to the plate that night I could hear manager Joe Altobelli say, ‘Why does John have “Bob” on the back of his uniform?’ “That stunt cost me a $500 fine, but it was worth every penny. It won over some of the media and the fans really got a kick out of it,” said LeMaster who was honored by the Giants last weekend as part of the club’s season long 50th San Francisco Anniversary celebration. ...Though the lithe LeMaster batted just .222 with 22 career home runs in a dozen big league campaigns -11 spent in Orange & Black - he went yard in his first major league at bat with San Francisco, slashing a rare inside the park home run against future Hall of Famer Don Sutton of the Dodgers on Sept. 2, 1975. “I was a 21-year-old kid…Read More ... General, History, San Francisco 2008-05-13T01:49:00-05:00 http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/techs_dugout_divided_by_white/#When:01:37:00Z http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/techs_dugout_divided_by_white/ Former Scott Boras loophole baby Matt White leads a double life: UGA student by day, Georgia Tech coach at night. I guess if they boo him at The Varsity, he could just buy ‘em a round of chili cheese dogs. So what’s a 29-year-old former national high school player of the year who still holds the record for biggest rookie signing bonus ($10.2 million) doing majoring in wildlife management at Georgia while air-guitaring at Tech? He’s in his first season as a volunteer assistant, and he has the money to coach for free and chase two new dreams [be a wildlife habitat manager or a head coach] since his pro career was knifed to its end by surgeries. General 2008-05-13T01:37:00-05:00