Weiner: The Supreme Court Judge and the Curt Flood Case reenactment

Shades of Hairspray!...“It was a time of tradition, a time of values, and a time…to shake things up.”

For a journalist, chance encounters at a restaurant or a hair salon can become a major opportunity for advancing a story and in some instances the journalist is in the right place at the right time because he was with his wife. I had a very chance encounter with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Saturday afternoon in lower Manhattan because my wife happened to have an appointment at a ...

Hold tight on that Moreland Express | Dallas-Fort Worth Sports News - Sports News on the Dall…

Ho-hum. Another night, another Mitch Moreland home run.

If you’re scoring along at home, that makes Mitch 10, Internet Trolls and Media Infidels 0.

Count me in that latter category, I must confess. I thought the real Mitch Moreland was the one we saw for three years and in the first three weeks of this season — a .264-hitting kind of guy, who couldn’t hit lefties and infrequently drove in an important run.

MLB’s Best and Worst Catchers at Framing Pitches - Bloomberg Sports

More on pitch framing.

Hal Steinbrenner calls tickets ‘affordable’

Qu’ils mangent de la bukkake!

Hal Steinbrenner spoke at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. He disagreed with the assessment that tickets are overpriced in the Bronx. This is different point of view than what I generally hear from fans. This is what Hal had to say about ticket prices being too high:

  “You hear about that in the media,” Steinbrenner said. “You don’t hear that there are thousands and thousands of affordable seats in the $25 range for every game, not to mention the specials that we ...

Hochman: Dallas Green still tells it like it is

New Green book looks to be a diamond Dallas page turner.

It is a good, lively book and it mirrors Green’s good, lively 6 decades in the game. He rips only three people, Bobby Valentine, Art Mahaffey and Gene Mauch.

“Valentine is a phony and that’s what I call him in the book,” Green grumbles, choosing to skip details of the possible backstabbing while Dallas managed the Mets.

He reveals that in the minors Mahaffey cared only about his numbers. “He didn’t root for other guys to win, because ...

Cafardo: Dustin Pedroia the best second baseman in MLB?

Sweet spectroscopy! The argument is rolled out again!

It’s not surprising to hear what two scouts from each league, who both have watched a lot of the American League this year, say about Dustin Pedroia.

“Nobody is playing his position better in baseball right now than Pedroia,” said the AL scout. “He’s playing out of his mind. The plays he’s making — you just don’t see that stuff every day, but you see it with him every day. Honestly, I’m surprised he doesn’t get hurt ...

OMNICHATTER for May 19, 2013

Baseball happens.

Hardball Times: Gems Without Whiffs

As it turns out, Livan Hernandez gave us the highest pitch count from a single game in the past ten years, throwing 150 pitches against the Florida Marlins back in 2005. A handful of pitchers have rivaled that total since 2002, including Edwin Jackson’s 149 pitch no-hitter, eight-walker from just a few years ago. Hard-nosed, flame-throwing strikeout beasts like Randy Johnson, Jason Schmidt and Kerry Wood all topped 140 pitches at one point or another in the last decade, yet remarkably it was ...

BtBS: Kevin Gregg Re-emerges in Chicago

[A]s of May 16, Kevin Gregg has thrown ten innings without allowing an earned run. Over those 10 frames, he has faced 39 batters surrendering just five hits and four walks and striking out 12 batters. Because it’s just 10 innings, I’m probably making too big a deal out of his success, but remember this is the same pitcher that:

*Was released by the Dodgers during Spring Training. The Dodgers’ pen ranks 25th in the Majors in ERA.
*Registered a 4.62 ERA, 4.95 FIP, 4.83 xFIP over the last ...

Murray Chass: ARE RED SOX REELING ALREADY?

Shaughnessy is too good to have to invent anything. He neither invented anything in this instance nor accused Ortiz of using steroids and their cousins. What he did was take his skepticism and his curiosity, good traits for a newspaperman to have, and ask Ortiz about steroids. Ortiz’s responses did not indicate anger of being accused of wrong doing.

I would compare the Ortiz column to the columns I have written about Mike Piazza and my suspicions about his possible use of steroids. I ...

Brian Cashman is keeping Ben Francisco around to “piss everybody off”

The Yankees designated infielder Alberto Gonzalez for assignment this afternoon in order to make room for the newly-acquired Reid Brignac. Some thought that Ben Francisco‘s roster spot could be in jeopardy, as he’s hitting just .114 (5-for-44) in 21 games, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman joked to reporters today that he’s keeping him around for a very important reason.

Andy McCullough @McCulloughSL

Cashman on Ben Francisco’s roster spot: “Just in terms of your fan comments ...

Draft Features Rarest of Prospects: Redheads

The issue of redheadedness and athletic performance took center stage before the 2011 NFL draft, when Sports Illustrated’s Peter King interviewed an anonymous head coach who questioned Texas Christian University product Andy Dalton’s ability to lead a team from the quarterback spot. The scout’s objections were based less on Dalton’s arm strength, pocket presence and his Wonderlic score than his hair color.

“Has there ever been a redheaded quarterback in the NFL who’s really done ...

Phil Wood: It’s time for baseball to use technology to make sure umps get it right

Phil Wood’s still honking…who knew?

This brings us back to balls and strikes, and the case of minor league ump—and big league fill-in—John Tumpane.

Tumpane was behind the plate May 12 when the Nationals played the Cubs.

Tumpane is a Triple-A guy who’s called up when a regular ump has a day off. He started getting major league assignments in 2010 when he was only 27 and apparently believes that close enough is good enough.

When a pitch is so far off the plate that the catcher makes no ...

SoE (Megdal): It’s Time to Finally Believe in the Orioles

Primer’s own Mr. Megdal takes a break from his contractually obligated ball-busting of the Wilpons to point out that Serious You Guys, the Orioles really are a pretty solid team now:

BALTIMORE—A pair of diametrically opposed views exists about the Baltimore Orioles, 2012’s winner of 93 games and a playoff spot, off to another strong start in 2013.

Outside the Baltimore area, skeptics abound. Sure, the Orioles won 93 games, but their Pythagorean record—a measure of expected wins and losses based ...

Holmes: Where does Miguel Cabrera rank among Tiger greats?

Bah! No mention of Em Lindbeck...he was an on-base machine (.000/.500/.000)!

However, and I know this will irk the legion of Kaline fans out there, Cabrera is a better hitter than #6. He has more power, he pulls the ball better, he goes to the opposite field better, and he is a better RBI man than Al was. It’s not a knock on Kaline, because Cabrera is one of the best hitters to ever play the game. He has a career .320 batting average and his slugging marks are among the best of the last 25 ...

Townsend: Troy Tulowitzki denies accusing Madison Bumgarner of doctoring baseballs

That brings us to Coors Field on Friday night. For a few seconds it seemed like we may have been headed towards that inevitable flare up. It happened in the third inning with Troy Tulowitzki running on first base, D.J. LeMahieu at the plate, and Madison Bumgarner pitching. As it’s being reported, Tulowitzki asked first base umpire Tim McClelland to check the baseball. McClelland complied, stopping play to give it a once over before tossing it out of play.

Bumgarner had the outward reaction ...

PressBox: Boog Powell: Meat Of The Order

Eeeww, grotle. Now I’m touch and go on pulling out the Blüd Sausage EP.

Ever since Powell entered the major leagues in 1961, Orioles fans have known him as an affable giant, whose Popeye-esque muscles and robust 6-foot-4 frame stood in stark contrast with his easy smile and kind-hearted demeanor. For 14 years, Powell readily accommodated the Baltimore aficionados, signing autographs by day, swatting homers by night. So beloved was Powell that even after he went to Cleveland in 1975, toward ...

Babcock: Can The 2013 Cubs Channel The Turnaround Artists Of 1967?

Could always ask…Rich Nye the Quantum Chronophysics Guy.

Indeed, scanning the 2013 roster, only an optimist of Ernie Banksian dimensions would find four future Hall-of-Famers. I only count two position players who have even made the All-Star team as Cubs: Starlin Castro (2011, 2012), Alfonso Soriano (2007, 2008). Castro is still a work in progress and The Fonz can only hope for lasting recognition if his outfield hop turns into a Gangnam style YouTube sensation.

Getting more granular, ...

Bradford: Could this be the smartest Red Sox team since ‘07?

Using the Bradford–Binet Intelligence Test…uhh, no.

The Gomes persona might offer the best evidence of an ‘07 dynamic within these Red Sox.

There might be some frustration for fans who choose to define success and failure by pure numbers with the outfielder hitting .183 with a .643 OPS. Intangibles aside, it certainly would behoove the Red Sox to get Gomes’ digits up a bit. But something as simple of managing to hit a ball in the air when his team needed it the most, as was the case in 10th ...

OMNICHATTER for MAY 18, 2013

All 30 Major League teams play today. Hey, it’s different than saying it’s a full slate of 15 games.

Pinstriped Bible: Albin: Is Ichiro done?

The Yankees are only a month and a half into Ichiro’s new contract, and it already looks like they will rue the day the two sides reached a deal. Well, perhaps the business side of the organization is pleased, but I digress. Ichiro is hitting .239/.280/.328 through 145 plate appearances, and finally broke a 22 at-bat hitless skid last night. At this point, it is hard to be optimistic about him going forward.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Ichiro is scuffling. From 2011 through 2012, Ichiro ...

MLB: Talking past, present and future with Ryne Sandberg

Per Sandberg: Self-Appointed Chairman of the Committee on HOF Justice. #norynonoryno

MLB.com: During your Hall of Fame acceptance speech in 2005, you spoke a lot about playing the game the right way. What was your take on the most recent voting?

Sandberg: Well, first of all, the voting is in the hands of the sportswriters who follow the game, and I think that the writers once again sent a strong message to baseball that illegal drugs and all that is not and should not be a part of baseball. I ...

Powerball odds? Juan Pierre’s homers are long shots, too

Odds of being attacked by a shark marlin: 1 in 11.5 million.

Pierre’s clout came leading off the bottom of the first for the Miami Marlins against the Cincinnati Reds.

Pierre’s homer was his first since June 23. He whooped when the ball went over the fence down the right-field line.

“I don’t know how to react to those things, so it’s just a spur-of-the-moment deal,” Pierre told reporters of his homer reaction. “That’s about the only time you’ll see me smiling on the baseball field.”

...

Girardi Still Believes as Injuries Mount

“Things stay fresh in my mind,” Girardi said. “I’ve seen Hafner hit home runs to left-center in big parks; I’ve seen him pull balls; I’ve seen him work counts. I’ve seen Lyle be a double monster his whole career and play great defense at first base. I remember saying, ‘Oh, my goodness, can you believe how close he’s playing to second base?’ I remember seeing Vernon hit balls out on us. I remember Youk taking Mo deep.

“So I believe in these guys. I believe they can still ...

Dunson: The Campaign For Mariano Rivera To Start The All-Star Game Is A Backhanded Compliment

Has the BBC decided to pick up the filler-filled “Mariano Rivera’s Grand Tour” yet?

Even as the career saves leader, and a five-time World Series champion, Rivera catches shade from critics who point out that he benefitted from longevity because of this era’s relief pitching specialization. Pitching prejudice is always swimming beneath the surface.

Rivera has no Cy Young Awards in his war chest, but this is a life lesson. Play your position. Rivera was built for the bright lights of the ...

Pregame: Hurdle discusses the role of pitcher / hitter matchups in lineup construction - Bucs Dugout

Good stuff. Take a look.

MLB draft bonus pool up 8.2 percent

A larger bite for the Appel?

Major League Baseball teams can spend a little more money on amateur draft picks this year.

The signing bonus values for the selections in next month’s draft will increase by 8.2 percent, players and owners agreed this week.

Under their memorandum of understanding in November 2010 for a five-year labor contract, the sides said signing bonus values will increase each year at the same rate as industry revenue.

The value for the No. 1 pick, held for the second ...

Studying the art of pitch framing by catchers such as Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart, Jose Molina, and others - Grantland

Fascinating stuff.

If you take the Astros’ plan, and Manwaring’s comment about copycats, to their logical conclusion, then at some point in the not-too-distant future, almost every team — save, perhaps, for a few with gifted offensive catchers for whom framing aptitude is less paramount — could have someone squatting behind the plate and stealing extra strikes. But sweeping changes to the sport rarely come without unforeseen consequences. That kind of mass movement toward catchers with ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-17-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 17, 1913:

One of the weirdest triple plays ever seen in the American league was staged in the seventh inning of the Nap-Athletic contest Friday at Cleveland. Johnson [sic] opened with a single and took third on Chapman’s double. Olson then drew a single off Barry’s chest. Johnson was sent home by his coacher, Steen, who saw Chapman racing for third. Johnson was run down. Chappie started back to second and found Olson there. Barry tagged Olson and Chapman. Olson was retired, ...

OMNICHATTER for May 17, 2013

Omni=Latin prefix for all or every.
Chatter=Talk or to be talking.

Number of game today=15.