So Apparently Mike Napoli Got Trashed Last Night And Roamed The Streets Of Boston Shirtless

This is ###### Up…I swear, I thought these were Damian “Pink Eyes” Abraham tour shots.

I honestly wouldnt be surprised to hear Mike Napoli woke up in a hotel room Sunday morning with a lion in the bathroom and a missing tooth.  This guy is the balls.

Kubatko: Where did the Orioles rank in manufacturing runs?

Additive manufacturing depends upon operator expertise!

I’m not an avid reader of the Bill James Handbook, but the 2014 edition states that the Orioles ranked 25th in manufacturing runs this season.

There are 30 teams. That’s not good. #analysis

“One of the stats developed for the handbook is called Manufactured Runs,” said Ben Jedlovec, a vice-president of Baseball Info Solutions, which produces the stats for the Handbook. “Many managers, coaches and broadcasters will tell you that teams ...

Bob Lemke: Attempt made to steal Lou Gehrig’s ashes

Iron Hearse and all…I’ve never heard this.

Whomever it was, an attempt was made on July 25, 1947, to steal Lou Gehrig’s ashes from Kensico Cemetery in Westchester County, N.Y.

Police reported that parties unknown appeared to have succeeded in jimmying open the bronze crypt inside of Gehrig’s headstone, but were not—so far as it was known—able to get into the urn that held his remains.

Rattled by the attempt, Eleanor Gehrig contacted the Baseball Hall of Fame about possibly accepting the ...

Ripken says managing speculation was ‘media-created’

Sez guy that’s in the media.

Some reports linked Ripken with the Nationals job that’s gone to Matt Williams. Cincinnati has named its new manager while the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners still have unfilled jobs. Ripken insists he’s not disappointed he hasn’t received an opportunity to interview for these jobs.

“No. No because I’ve saying the exact same thing, and it probably is a little bit media-created,” Ripken said.

“It’s different phases in your life ...

Allspach: Baseball is now a much different game

Allspach. Allcurmuring.

As far as Red Sox-Cardinals go, that science wouldn’t include “obstruction’’ and the book also admonishes readers to embrace the theory that the team composed of nine scientific players will beat a team of “stars.’’

The theory, of course, doesn’t extrapolate the methods of big boppers/cumbersome-lumberers like Big Papi, sometimes referred by radio and television reporters as David Ortiz.

The aforementioned “science’’ should have included walking ...

John Torres: Nationals turn over reins to a cheater

Fawlty Torres strikes again!

I guess Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were unavailable.

If you can’t have the most high-profile cheaters, then maybe you go for the next best thing and own it. Make them first. Being first is a good thing in most cases. Here? I’m not so sure.

In any event, the Washington Nationals made Matt Williams — the steroid-infused slugger who was later exposed in the Mitchell Report — the first of the known steroid cheats to become a major league baseball manager. ...

Tigers to name Brad Ausmus new manager

The Tigers will name former long-time big league catcher Brad Ausmus their new manager, reports Adam Spolane of SportsRadio 610. He will travel to Detroit on Sunday to finalize a contract.

Ausmus, 44, has never managed or coached at the big league level. He served as the manager for Team Israel in the qualifying round of the World Baseball Classic this spring. Ausmus has worked in the Padres’ front office as a special assistant since 2010.

Despite the lack of managerial experience, Ausmus is ...

Jake Peavy Buys a Duck Boat

Today, Jake Peavy became the proud owner of the bright green duck boat he and World Series hero Jon Lester rode in during the Red Sox’ rolling celebration through the streets (and waterways) of Boston.

Darren Daulton Reportedly Stopped Mitch Williams From Attacking Lenny Dykstra At Autograph Show

Wonder if he used his Vibrational Energy Laser from Planet Klackgog7?

Lenny Dykstra, fresh out of prison, apparently is not committed to good behavior.  Today at the Granite Run Mall, Poppel sports hosted a “Macho Row” reunion and autograph signing that included Darren Daulton, Mitch Williams, Dave Hollins and Lenny Dykstra.

Philly INK reports:

  As nice as it was to meet everyone and get some graphs, the highlight of the day was clearly Dutch stopping Mitch Williams from attacking Lenny ...

Harrisburg Senators manager Matt LeCroy named bullpen coach for Washington Nationals

Matt LeCroy, the Senators’ manager in 2012 and ‘13, was named bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals Friday under new Nats manager Matt Williams.

[...]

LeCroy said he was both excited and surprised when he found out about his new position. He said he didn’t know Williams very well except for as opponents in the big leagues.

LeCroy added that he thoroughly enjoyed his two years in Harrisburg, a journey that began in spring 2012 with the birth of his twins back home in South Carolina ...

How Jeter’s new deal counts against Yankees’ $189M goal | New York Post

An attempt to explain how Jeter’s new contract impacts the Competitive Balance Tax.

Japan Times: Prolific hitter Murton no lock for NPB return

The Murton Parka! Time for another revival?

Will Matt Murton return for a fifth season with the Hanshin Tigers?

Or maybe move to another NPB team?

Or give the majors another try?

Reports indicate Murton was uncertain about where he will play next year as he left Japan for the U.S. on Oct. 22 following the expiration of his contract with Hanshin.

Given the history of foreign position players who found success in Japan and then attempted a comeback in the majors, it would seem trying to ...

Yankees sign Derek Jeter to a one-year, $12 million deal for 2014  - NY Daily News

A little more info about the Jeter signing. How could Jeter expect to take such a big pay cut after such a great year in 2013? It’s usually not pretty watching a great one end his career.

Even after the worst season of his career, Derek Jeter found a way to get a raise.
No, Jeter won’t be making more than the $17 million he earned in each of the past three seasons, but rather than triggering his $9.5 million player option, on Friday the 39-year-old captain agreed to a one-year, $12 million ...

MASN: Though game plan is fluid, Williams wants Nats to be aggressive

Where the hell is Matt…on Sabermetrics?

But it won’t be difficult to pinpoint one facet of the Williams era that will quickly distinguish the former third base coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks from his immediate predecessor, Davey Johnson. Asked to describe himself in a word, the 47-year-old Williams didn’t skip a beat.

“I think it’s aggressive - in every aspect,” William said. “We’re going to try to take advantage of the situation that presents itself to us. We’re going to try to ... If a ...

[OT-P: November 2013] Home Who wants to make baseball bats in the Catskills — tax free?

Want to buy an office building right under the glow of Rochester’s iconic Eastman Kodak headquarters?

How about starting a business at Sullivan County Community College to develop the next generation of baseball bats? Or use 21,000 square feet of office for a high-tech incubator at Binghamton University?

They are among nearly 100 locations recently listed by the state as potential sites for tax-free zones being pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to boost the upstate economy.

Cuomo officially ...

Jeff Pearlman: Matt Williams and the unasked questions …

Pearlman: The Carson Crusher crusher.

Now, I understand the argument that ballplayers who cheated shouldn’t be tarred for a lifetime. And I understand the argument that players have cheated forever and ever—dating back to the first corked bat and doctored ball. But name another profession (Doctors? Lawyers? CPAs? Truck drivers? Electricians? Journalists?) that allows people who broke its rules and the law to not only return, but return to one of its highest positions? I’ve made this ...

Gerardo Parra highlight reel, top 25 play

Nice collection of videos put together at AZ Snakepit.  The guy was amazing all year.  A defensive season for the ages, one of the best I have ever seen, and if the Fielding Bibile numbers are to be believed, it was just that.

Gammons: Industry sources; Dodgers’ strategy to acquire Price and Tanaka

But, suggests several general managers, the Dodgers can avoid the loss of their number one pick and the slot money if they trade for David Price and get Masahiro Tanaka from Japan. “They have the minor league talent to get Price,” says one GM. “If they would trade Corey Seager and Julio Urias (the 17-year old lefthanded pitcher) and a couple out of Zach Lee, Joc Pederson or Chris Withrow, it would get it done. Then if they post $80M for Tanaka, they could have a rotation with four number ...

AP: FAN INJURED BY HOT DOG SUING ROYALS

Baseball, apple pie & oh, my eye!

If it had been a foul ball or broken bat that struck John Coomer in the eye as he watched a Kansas City Royals game, the courts likely wouldn’t force the team to pay for his surgeries and suffering. But because it was a hot dog thrown by the team mascot - behind the back, no less - he just may have a case. The Missouri Supreme Court is weighing whether the “baseball rule” - a legal standard that protects teams from being sued over fan injuries caused by ...

Harold Reynolds is the front runner to replace Tim McCarver on Fox

And now, Fox is planning on making him the lead analyst for their MLB telecasts. There’s a world of difference between Reynolds and Tim McCarver, a long time baseball voice that had been doing commentary for nearly 30 years and was getting overtaken by Father Time. Reynolds’ “analysis skills” are mainly comprised of mindless cliches reminiscent of Chris Berman trying to break down a football game.

Fox has a chance to move the dial in a different direction with their new national color ...

Baseball America: 2014 New York Mets Top 10 Prospects

1. Noah Syndergaard, rhp
2. Travis d’Arnaud, c
3. Rafael Montero, rhp
4. Dominic Smith, 1b
5. Kevin Plawecki, c/1b
6. Wilmer Flores, 2b/1b
7. Amed Rosario, ss
8. Brandon Nimmo, of
9. Gavin Cecchini, ss
10. Jake deGrom, rhp

The Mets believe they have as much pitching depth as anybody. For proof, they can point to the fact that their pitchers at the full-season levels finished with a collective 2.79 K-BB ratio, better than any of the other 29 organizations. They handed out the second-fewest ...

OT: NBA Monthly Thread - November 2013

Welcome to the 2013-14 NBA season!

I estimate only 10-12 Primates care about the NBA, but with our own thread, we won’t detract from what this site is really about: trolling.

Baseball America: 2014 Miami Marlins Top 10 Prospects

Marisnick? Dr. Sidney Gaynor just rolled over and reached for his medical bag!

TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Andrew Heaney, lhp
2. Colin Moran, 3b
3. Jake Marisnick, of
4. Justin Nicolino, lhp
5. Anthony DeSclafani, rhp
6. Brian Flynn, lhp
7. Jose Urena, rhp
8. Adam Conley
9. Avery Romero, 2b
10. J.T. Realmuto, c

While the organization now feels that the future looks bright, longtime president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest won’t be around to oversee it. Hired in 2002 as general manager, ...

Yankees re-sign Jeter for one-year, $12 million | yankees.com: News

Speaking as a diehard Red Sox fan, I heartily support this move.

The Yankees announced Friday they have re-signed shortstop Derek Jeter to a one-year, $12 million contract for the 2014 season.

Advanced NFL Stats: Burke: Is Sabermetrics Helping to Ruin Baseball?

But I’d still take a Yankee over a Fitzkee!

The problem that analytics causes is this: The better the sabermetrics (or the more uniformly adopted it becomes), the better the crystal ball becomes and the closer we move toward a correlation of 1…which, by the way, is a bad thing. Of course, we’d never see a correlation of 1 because of injuries and simple randomness, but it could get much higher as it did in earlier eras. The correlation has been higher and lower in years past, varying for ...

Olbermann: Pete Rose: Collisions ‘natural’ plays

And get off my green felt!

The man on the winning end of the most famous plate collision in baseball’s history says league officials can’t legislate the play out of the game.

Pete Rose barreled through Ray Fosse to score the winning run in the 1970 All-Star Game in the bottom of 12th inning, seriously injuring the Cleveland Indians catcher and adding a chapter to the hit king’s long place in baseball lore.

Rose, speaking Thursday night in an appearance on the “Olbermann” show on ESPN2, ...

Indians release Chris Perez, re-sign Jason Giambi

The Indians have released controversial closer Chris Perez and re-signed veteran slugger Jason Giambi.

A two-time All-Star, Perez wore out his welcome in Cleveland. He lost his job in the final week of the season as the Indians were trying to clinch a wild-card berth. It capped another tumultuous year for the right-hander, who was arrested in June after drug agents followed a package containing marijuana to his home. He and his wife pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

Perez always ...

Baseball Prospectus | Manufactured Runs: Moments of Transition, Moments of Revelation

Congrats to Colin! I know Houston is down in the dumps right now but they are certainly making great baseball operations hires that will lead to big things.

93 years and counting, Cleveland awaits its turn at baseball history: Tim Warsinskey’s Take | cleveland.com

Can the Indians win in 2014? When will the Cubs finally break though? In both their cases, I hope it’s sooner rather than later.

The Indians have won two World Series, in 1920 and 1948. Only the 1920 Series against the Brooklyn Robins ended in front of Cleveland fans at the corner of East 66th and Lexington, in what then was called Dunn Field, and now is a shell of League Park.

Craig Breslow: A winning culture and a championship

Weeeee! As Breslow takes us for a slippery sloped polysaccharide!

Winning a World Series is winning a World Series. But the opportunity to have done it in front of the hometown fans at Fenway Park feels so special because of the rarity of it. This city has been through a lot this season, and so it’s an amazing feeling to be able to take part in such an enormous celebration here.

To me, the kernel of this championship team began with players. I give John Farrell a ton of credit for the way ...