Mets’ Collins On Valdespin Flap: ‘I Don’t Answer To Fans’

The Valdespin: Misdirection and diversion.

On Friday night, with the Mets down a sizable margin to Pittsburgh, Valdespin admired his ninth-inning home run. We all knew what was coming Saturday: the outfielder was sent up as a pinch-hitter and promptly got drilled by Pirates pitcher Bryan Morris.

Valdespin was greeted to crickets in the dugout, and the hit-by-pitch wasn’t met with retaliation. Some fans and media personalities – including WFAN radio’s Mike Francesa – got all over the ...

Red Sox could use reliever Mark Melancon right now - ESPN

A great breakdown of Mark Melancon.

For Red Sox, long relievers are a thing of the past | The Providence Journal

I can’t wait for the 15-man pitching staffs.

“I don’t think you see too many true long men on pitching staffs and in bullpens anymore because you can make a change to your roster overnight to get a fresh arm in here,” Farrell said.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-15-2013

Washington Times, May 15, 1913:

Walter Smokeball Johnson is today holder of a new world’s record for holding the foe scoreless in successive innings…When Derrill Pratt pounded a single to right, scoring Gus Williams, who had already doubled to left, the onward march of the fireball flinger was at an end. He had traveled down fifty-six complete innings without allowing the enemy a run, and it will be some time before this record is bettered.

Don Drysdale’s record-breaking streak started 55 years ...

Schoenfield: Don’t freak out over Kershaw’s 132 pitches

The Kershaw kerfuffle continues…

I get it that 130-pitch games aren’t commonplace anymore. There were only four last season (two by Justin Verlander, one each by Johan Santana and Edinson Volquez)—- and, no, Santana didn’t fall apart immediately after that game. You probably don’t want to make 130-pitch starts a regular occurrence or stretch out a pitcher in a blowout game.

Kershaw was aware of the situation, saying that after that first inning his main focus was getting his pitch count back ...

Jason Repko loses fire, walks away from baseball

The Repko is gone
but he’s not forgotten
This is the story
of a 71 OPS+ (rotten)

Jason Repko lost something in the offseason. He knew it. He felt it.

An outfielder for 14 seasons in professional baseball, including seven seasons spent in the majors, he lost the desire to be on the field every single day.

But he still wanted to feel that way. That’s the thing. He wanted to feel that fire again. So even when no organization offered him an invitation to spring training, he felt like he needed ...

T.J. SIMERS: He’s not juiced up over Mark McGwire’s results

Halotestin, I heard of. Dodgertestin, not so much.

I had never met Mark McGwire before Tuesday night, but I knew of his reputation and the fact he has struck out so far as the Dodgers’ hitting coach.

So given the Dodgers’ lack of power, I asked, “Is it time to introduce the players to steroids?”

McGwire laughed and I wondered why.

“You’re funny,” he said before finally adding, “No. No.”

What a bummer, I told him, I thought you might have the magic potion to get the Dodgers going.

“The ...

OMNICHATTER for May 15, 2013

Day games! Thank the baseball gods!

Poz: Stolen Bases And Rex Hudler

Ryan made the point that there are studies that seem to show that the stolen base is not as effective or important as people used to assume. Ryan will tell you he’s not especially a fan of some of these advanced statistics, but he’s also an open-minded guy and we have had some fun discussions and disagreements through the years. Anyway, I think he was simply making the fair point that while statistics may show that attempting steals is not necessarily a prudent play—and he concedes that ...

Verducci: After 766 tries, the Mets have a homegrown ace in Matt Harvey

And had an increase in workload of more than 766 tries in the previous seasons!

Most Wins with Mets, 1983-2013 Draft Picks

1. Bobby Jones: 74-56
2. Mike Pelfrey: 50-54
3. Rick Aguilera: 37-27
4. Jon Niese: 37-36
5. Dillon Gee: 23-19
6. Aaron Heilman: 22-23
7. Jason Isringhausen: 21-24
8. Bobby Parnell: 17-19
9. Pete Schourek: 16-24
10. Jeff Innis: 10-20
11. Joe Smith: 9-5
12. Matt Harvey: 7-5
12. Dave Telgheder: 7-5

Now you get an idea of how rare it is for Harvey, a 2010 first-round pick, ...

Rush Limbaugh: A Great Trip Back to the Ballpark in Kansas City

Damn pinkos everywhere!

By the way, it was Mother’s Day. I have to mention, it was Mother’s Day of course yesterday and it was Mother’s Day at the ballpark, and the players were all wearing pink something or other, pink shoes or pink sleeves. There was one guy with a pink bat.

I’m talking about this and George (Brett) said, “Have you seen the official ball for today?”

I said, “No.”

So he went and grabbed one.

The official Rawlings game ball yesterday was printed with pink ink.

So, anyway, ...

Deadspin: The FBI vs. Marvin Miller: How America Commie-Baited A Baseball Hero

We’ve obtained Miller’s FBI file through a Freedom of Information Act request. You can read the entire thing below, 82 pages of information gleaned from Miller’s co-workers and friends, from FBI informants, from the trash of someone Miller may or may not have even known. All of this was done with the goal of determining if Marvin Miller was working toward the overthrow of the American government. Spoiler alert: He was not.

Maybe they confused him with Arthur Miller?

Astros cancel annual fundraiser for Houston Area Women’s Center

Its not like the Astros need good publicity with the way the team is playing.

he Houston Area Women’s Center is reeling from a financial blow after learning their largest fundraiser has been canceled.

The Black Ties and Baseball Caps gala was an annual event at Minute Maid Park put on by the Astros Wives Organization.

The popular gala raised $250,000 for the women’s center in 2012.

An Astros official said the team’s charitable foundation is changing directions and will focus on ...

Connolly: Are you ready to include Machado among the best young players?

Woo-hoo! I smell a “The Chris Davis Kidnap Caper” episode on tap!

Five major league scouts — three from the National League, two from the American League and none from Washington, Baltimore or Los Angeles — were asked this week to rank those players in order of preference if they could select just one to build a club around.

“That’s like asking me which Charlie’s Angel I’d most want,” one veteran scout quipped. “All three are so very good, young, talented and play the game the right way. ...

Roopstigo Film: Morganna

Wouldn’t mind seeing her bust in Cooperstown some day.

For nearly three decades, Morganna Roberts, known as the “Kissing Bandit,” ran onto baseball fields and arena floors with her buxom features on display. She famously kissed stars such as Pete Rose, George Brett and Nolan Ryan, becoming MLB’s unofficial mascot and bringing levity to the game. But despite her willingness to flaunt her 60-inched chest and embrace celebrity on late-night shows with Johnny Carson and David Letterman, ...

BBTF SOFTBALL GAME IN NEW YORK—AUG 17

I’ve got a field reserved in Central Park for August 17th. Time to get out of the basement and pick up a glove, if any of you even know how…

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-14-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 14, 1913:

ST. LOUIS, May 14.—(Special.)—During a ball game here a fly ball dropped within a few feet of a cow. Bossie beat the fielder to the sphere and gulped it down. The runner romped home.

I’ve (fairly hurriedly) scanned the current rulebook and don’t see any applicable rule that would make the ball dead if a cow eats it. Everything I’ve seen either refers to people or inanimate objects coming into contact with the ball. I think that makes this the right call.

Is there ...

Bryce Harper crashes into wall face first, leaves game (Video)

Didn’t listen to the game…but Scully had to mention Pete Reiser.

Bryce Harper left Monday’s Los Angeles Dodgers-Washington Nationals game after crashing into the right field wall trying to catch a ball during the fifth inning.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis led off the bottom of the inning with a drive to right, and the Nationals phenom went face-first into the right field scoreboard trying to make the play. He was bleeding from his face/chin after the collision. Harper left the game ...

Morosi: Astros president Postolos resigns

Let the post-Postolos era begin!

The Houston Astros announced Monday that their president and CEO, George Postolos, resigned from his position with the team. Postolos later told FOXSports.com in a telephone interview, “It’s a good time for me to step away because it’s a stable situation.”

In professional sports, partings never are quite that simple. There are multiple reasons Postolos stepped down, and not all of them were his own.

...During Postolos’ tenure with the club, fans ...

Finkel: Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris And Jim Gentile: The Story Of Baseball’s Forgotten 1961 Sensation

As we used to say…“Do not go Gentile into that good night.”

Then there’s 1961, perhaps the most iconic year in baseball history, when two of the best players on the most recognized sports team in the country chased down the most sought after record held by the most popular man ever to play the game. Surely, this would be the number one season to steer clear of.

How can you compete with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris while they’re in a dog fight for Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record in ...

OMNICHATTER for MAY 14, 2013

The Yankees are in first, Harper left last night’s game with an injury, the Astros are now about the equivalent of a team in the Texas League, and the tooth fairy is a hoax.

But, on the bright side, full slate of games today.

NY Times: Money on the Bench

A running calculation, updated daily, of what major league baseball teams are paying players who are on the disabled list.As of May 13, there were 148 players on the disabled list, accounting for $588 million in salaries, or 18.4 percent of payroll.

Segura NL Player of the Week

The Brewers have lost nine of their last 10, but shortstop Jean Segura’s outstanding play during the past week earned him National League Player of the Week honors for the period ending May 12.

In five games last week, Segura hit an NL-best .500 over 20 at-bats while leading the league in slugging percentage (.950) and on-base percentage (.545).

translation:  the brewers pitching stinks but they have some guys in the field who can play.

Mets, free-agent OF Rick Ankiel reach a deal

The Mets have reached a deal with free agent outfielder Rick Ankiel.

Ankiel, the pitcher-turned-outfielder, was hitting .194 but had five home runs in 25 games before the Astros released him. Ankiel, 33, could provide pop at a time the Mets are looking for a boost. He was on the way to St. Louis to join the Mets during a series vs. the Cardinals, one of Ankiel’s former teams.

The Mets’ outfield has been an issue since before the season. GM Sandy Alderson answered “What outfield?’’ in answer ...

SI MLB Mock Draft: Gray looks like best bet at No. 1—for now

Do any of these guys have ugly girlfriends?

This year’s MLB Draft is unusually difficult to handicap.

The best player available, Georgia high school outfielder Clint Frazier, will probably not be the first pick. He’s a little undersized and that fact, coupled with his being a prep position player, is historically a bad combination for players hoping to go first overall. If Frazier were a little bigger, he would be a slam dunk as the first choice.

The best pitcher available, righthander Mark ...

Megdal: How restless Terry Collins made his peace with the 2013 Mets

Megdal’s latest…

Each of his first two years, Collins has been fortified by an unexpectedly strong start. The Mets were 46-45 at the All Star Break in 2011, 46-40 at the break in 2012. The second half each season was an unmitigated disaster, but Collins had, at least, a period of overachievement to point to during otherwise glum late-season postgame news conferences. Collins got credit for managing with what he had, and he deserved it.

This year, he’s working with a team that is, on paper, ...

Kernan: Ike Davis might tailspin all the way to Vegas

They said he rides the train to Orioles…

If Ike Davis doesn’t clean it up quickly in the cleanup spot, ticket him for a trip to Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Mets cannot afford to waste Matt Harvey’s starts. They cannot afford to have Davis continue to strike out in crucial situations.

Manager Terry Collins is counting on Davis to drive in runs, and he put the first baseman back into the fourth spot yesterday. The clock is ticking. If the lefty doesn’t hit, he could be sent down to the ...

Doyel: Ortiz has right to deny cheating, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to ask

Doy-El: GENTLEMEN…BASEBALL WORLD IS DOOMED!

This is David Ortiz’s finger-wagging moment, but when we wonder about him or about anyone else doing the unexplainably remarkable, understand something: This is the players’ fault.

They’re the ones who cheated their ass off in the 1990s, injecting steroids like insulin because owners were digging the long ball. They’re the ones whose union fought against drug-testing for years. Hell, one of Ortiz’s former teammates in Boston will tell you that.

...

Baseball science: Prep coaches embrace statistics, technology

Sometimes you can just see when a kid coach is due.

Now, it’s all trickling down to the high school level.

Several Carroll coaches, many armed with computers in the dugout, are taking the same approach as Beane and his brethren when it comes to evaluating their rosters and putting players in the best spots for them to succeed.

Manchester Valley’s Shawn Hampt is one of them.

Using all kinds of percentages and probabilities, Hampt is able to get his point across to his players in a way ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-13-2013

Notes about two youngsters who eventually made their way to Cooperstown:

Pittsburgh Press, May 13, 1913:

Bostonians now are calling little Maranville “the Rabbit.” Also they are rising to proclaim that he is one of the very few men in the game who really can “place” a hit, which overcomes his inability to smash the ball quite as hard as some of his larger contemporaries.

Milwaukee Sentinel, May 13, 1913, Page 6:

In Pitcher George Sisler Ann Arbor college claims to have a Ty Cobb and a ...