BBTF 2014 Softball Game

Time again for Softball!

Howard: David Ortiz shaping up to become first steroid era Teflon slugger

Ortiz is shaping up to be the first slugger from his era to make the Hall of Fame.

You realize that, right?

Ortiz seems on an inexorable path to becoming something none of his contemporaries has so far: the steroid era’s first Teflon slugger.

“He’s a Hall of Famer in my eyes,” Red Sox teammate Mike Napoli said Monday.

But how is it that Ortiz seems poised to pull off what McGwire (11 percent of this year’s vote), Barry Bonds (34.7), Roger Clemens (35.4) and Canseco (off the ballot after ...

MASN TV Contract Pits Selig vs Nationals vs Orioles

IT IS ON!

I want there to be no doubt that, if any party initiates any lawsuit, or fails to act in strict compliance with the procedures set forth in the Agreement concerning the [Revenue Sharing Definitions Committee of Major League Baseball]‘s decision, I will not hesitate to impose the strongest sanctions available to me under the Major League Constitution.

‘Caucasians’ T-shirt mocking Cleveland Indians becomes hot seller on reserves

A First Nations band that wore the shirt was accused of racism.  Honest.

Which Players Will Be Most Affected by the Hall of Fame’s New Rules?

To read the chart, scan across until you find a player’s vote share in his first year of eligibility — then scan up to see where the various curves intersect it. For instance, for a player like Mussina who got 20 percent of the vote in his first year:

There is a 10 percent chance he gets elected within his first 10 years of BBWAA eligibility, according to the regression analysis. (This is the yellow curve.)
There is a 23 percent chance he gets elected within the 15-year eligibility window. ...

Valencia traded to Toronto

The Blue Jays provided some much-needed balance to their lineup Monday afternoon by acquiring infielder Danny Valencia from the Royals in a deal for catcher Erik Kratz and right-hander Liam Hendriks.

Toronto’s batting order is predominantly left-handed and there’s a void on the right side, especially while Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie are on the disabled list.

General manager Alex Anthopoulos attempted to help fix that, and while the trade is relatively minor in the grand scheme of ...

SOE: Minor League Manhood - A first-hand account of masculine sports culture run amok.

Manhood. It’s a competition. Has been since the first grunting, snorting, finger-sniffing Neanderthal scratched out whatever he felt defined it on the wall of his cave. Battle, power, money, looks—they all have their place in the contest, but the one thing that’s been a true indicator of Manhood, since the days when men huddled around flame adorned in animals pelts, is Woman.

An Idiot in Exile

An 83 OPS+ in that critical, oh-so-formative year in Oakland.

Trader Jack? As Seattle’s GM struggles to complete deals, some rival executives wonder | FOX Sports

Zduriencik sounds like a bad fantasy baseball trading partner. If you’ve ever played in a league, you know just the kind of guy I’m talking about. If you don’t, you are probably that guy.

Full Count » Tim Kurkjian on MFB: ‘I’m going to say that Jon Lester is not going to be traded’

I don’t agree with Kurkjian. As long as the Red Sox continue to sell their moves as an attempt to get a lot better next year and in the future, they will be fine with most of their paying customers. This is especially true with Lester, who could very well be traded away for two months and end up back here in next season. Winning three World Series, with one coming just last year, buys you more latitude not less.

Kurkjian continued: “This is a different situation here in Boston. These are not ...

The 30: Center of Attention

A lot of good stuff in Jonah Keri’s latest.

ABC News: ‘Capital Games’: How Congress Saved the Baseball Hall of Fame

Andy Katz and Rick Klein weigh in.

ABC News’ Rick Klein (@rickklein) and ESPN’s Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) report:

A two-time MVP outfielder and a United States senator say the congressional hearings on steroids in baseball nearly a decade ago had a direct impact on preventing players tainted by the baseball’s steroids era from being considered for the Hall of Fame.

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., told the ESPN’s Perspectives podcast “Capital Games” that while he thought at the time the ...

Melky Cabrera smashed a windshield with a homer

MLB Network analyst earlier this year: “Since Melky’s off the stuff…he’s lost all his power.”

Out of Fenway Park and right into some poor person’s car.

Melky Cabrera absolutely crushed a home run out of Fenway Park:

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 7-29-2014

Pittsburgh Press, July 29, 1914:

Manager Clark Griffith, of Washington, blames his team’s failure to be higher up in the race on the fact that no less than six of his players are inveterate cigaret smokers and inhalers.
...
The Nationals’ manager argues that it is impossible for a ball player to do himself justice when he takes liberties with cigarets, and he called all his smokers to task and gave them to understand that the habit must cease if they expect to be of any service to their team.

Keith Olbermann: The Mystery of the 1953 Topps Set

An explanation for missing cards 253, 261, 267, 268, 271, and 275.

H/T to Pat Neshek.

OMNICHATTER 7-29-2014

There are two starting pitchers with the name “De La Rosa” today. I just thought that should be pointed out for some reason.

OMNICHATTER ON

Mark Teixeira says blame aging for extended absences

The afternoon bat around knows what the morning never suspected.

“I was injured plenty, I just played through it,” Teixeira said. “I had major ankle surgery in college, a major quad tear in Texas in ‘07, knee surgery in ‘07. Hurt my wrist in ‘09. I’ve played through so many things . . . I can’t play through them anymore.”

It is, he said, the inevitable impact of aging.

“Guys ask me, ‘How did you play in Texas for five years? It’s 100 degrees every day,’ ” said Teixeira, who played 162 games ...

Barney + cash to Dodgers for PTBNL

The PTBNL better be alive!

Former OF Jason Lane takes loss in first start

At an age when most players are thinking retirement, Jason Lane is trying to get started on a new career.

He might be on to something.

The 37-year-old former outfielder threw six scoreless innings in his first big league start as a pitcher before surrendering a homer to Evan Gattis that carried the Atlanta Braves to a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday.

ESPN: Yankee Fan Returns Lost Red Sox World Series Ring

Manhattan restaurant owner Luigi Militello could hardly believe it when he found the shiny 2013 championship ring on a restroom sink at his Luke’s Bar and Grill on Thursday night. It was the real thing, with diamonds and sapphires and rubies, set in 14-carat white gold, with the Red Sox emblem, a Boston Strong logo and an image of the team’s bearded ballplayers.
. . .
Drew Weber had dined at the restaurant earlier; it’s one of his favorite spots. He’s a New York businessman and also owns the ...

Dmitri Young explains his amazing weight loss

through aides.

“I’m down to 205 pounds, and I did it the right way,” Young told Charlie Slowes on 106.7 The Fan, before Friday’s game. “I went to a doctor, a preventative doctor, and he told me ‘You want to get off the medicine, lose three inches.’ I’m like, forget that, let’s lose six. And then I started doing a lot of cardio, the weight started peeling off, and at that point I started working out. And I’m to this size right now, and very very healthy….

“I still have ...

OMNICHATTER 7-28

OMNICHATTER MONDAY

O’Connor: Tulo looks more A-Rod than Jeter

Now if only the Yankees had a Nolan Ryan to give up for Tulofregosi…

Tulowitzki happens to wear No. 2 in Jeter’s honor. Tulowitzki also happens to play shortstop for the last-place Colorado Rockies, who happened to be hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday while their disabled star was sitting nine rows behind home plate inside Yankee Stadium—one day after those Colorado Rockies misspelled Tulowitzki’s name (they forgot the “t” between the “i” and the “z”) on 15,000 jerseys in a giveaway ...

2014 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: UPDATED

MLB.com updates its Top 100 Prospect List.

Deadspin: David Ortiz Pissed Off the Rays Again

David Ortiz’s three-run home run would be all the Red Sox needed in yesterday’s 3-2 win over Tampa. But he couldn’t have known that at the time—it was the third inning—yet Ortiz flipped his bat like he had just won a game, setting off yet another war of words with the Rays.

“I don’t know what makes him think that he can showboat the way he does, and then nobody retaliates,” said Rays pitcher Chris Archer. . . “Whatever, dude,” Ortiz said. “There’s always going to be ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 7-28-2014

Tacoma Times, July 28, 1914:

Tacoma has a new pitcher.
...
The “Mysterious Pitcher” will warm up today. He will warm up tomorrow also. And he will pitch against Ballard either Thursday or Friday afternoon.

But the man of mystery will wear a mask over his face during every game. He will be escorted from the field in a closed taxicab. There are not more than five persons who know his identity, not even the players having the slightest idea of who he is.

Looks like the “mysterious pitcher” never ...

Is It True That Some Players Can’t Hack It in New York?

Like many 538 articles, the conclusion is “maybe, there could be something there, but there’s not enough evidence to really say.”

Also, I’m sick and tired of players like Albert Belle being on top of the leader board for RAA below projected RAA.

Full Count » Mike Carp, Felix Doubront and the challenges of player discontent on a struggling team

They don’t see the numbers? Of course they see the numbers. It’s why Doubront is not starting. I’ve been watching him all the time he’s been with the Red Sox. He’s a mediocre lefty with a fastball that has dropped three miles in velocity over the last few years. Throwing 89 MPH with crappy control and mediocre command does not make for an effective starting pitcher. Maybe his agent should explain this to him.

“I just want to be a starter and stay there. If I stay (with the Red Sox), they have ...

Dodgers and Diamondbacks Triple-A teams involved in wild brawl

Arruebarrena, whom the Dodgers signed to a five-year, $25 million contract during spring training after he defected from Cuba, didn’t take kindly to be being brushed back by Bolsinger and allowed the anger to stew a bit.

The purpose pitch likely stemmed from Arruebarrena’s home run on Friday, in which he took nearly 35 seconds to round the bases.

Nearly 35 seconds!  And nobody blocked home plate!  Who’s running enforcement at the AAA level?

Mike Jacobs sighting.

Full Count » Mike Carp explains why he requested a trade from Red Sox

Trade? He need not worry. Before he knows it, his agent will get him a nice AAA gig with the Pirates.

Edited for grammar. :/ Jim.