ESPN Chicago: Is Travis Wood the best starter in baseball?

For a second there, I thought he had his Wood’s confused and was going to call in Arthur Koehler.

Even Chicago Cubs pitcher Travis Wood was stunned when he heard what manager Dale Sveum said about him after Wood threw another gem in helping to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1, on Tuesday night.

“He’s the best starter in baseball pretty much,” Sveum said bluntly.

That might be overstating the case, but with a 2.33 ERA for the season and 6⅔ innings of one-run ball Tuesday, Sveum might not ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-8-2013

Toledo News Bee, May 8, 1913:

Although several members of the Naps and Red Sox bore slightly bruised and chipped faces as a confirmation of the report that a free-for-all fight had taken place between both teams following Wednesday’s game, not a player could be found Thursday who would directly admit that a scrap had taken place.
...
It waged for at least 10 minutes. Tris Speaker emerged with three spike marks on his head.
...
Both Manager Birmingham and acting Manager Wagner professed to know ...

OMNICHATTER for MAY 8, 2013

IN A WORLD where it’s Wednesday, 15 games give us hope, dreams and entertainment. King Felix goes against Pittsburgh, Jordan Zimmermann tries to steal the Astros’ lunch money from the Tigers and Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in the lone 10 PM game.

Also, the Angels try to stop the bleeding against the Astros, because, wow, that is a lot of bleeding.

Perry: Jays’ J.A. Happ removed on stretcher after being struck on head by liner

Tough watch.

A simply horrifying turn of events in Tuesday night’s Toronto-Tampa Bay game: Jays starter J.A. Happ was wheeled off on a stretcher after being struck flush on the side of the head by Desmond Jennings’s line drive. The play occurred in the second inning. Please be warned that the following footage will be disturbing for some:

Moments after impact, Happ appeared to be bleeding profusely from his ear or the area around his ear. He was attended to on the field for several minutes ...

ESPN: Bryant: Stats say Jeter was great. But what makes him a legend isn’t in the record books

I’ll get to this fun…as soon as I’m done playing this round of Pin the Duragesic Time-Release Patch on an Unsuspecting Ass!

That intangibles notion is murky, of course, and complicated. Jeter played in an era when everyone was suspected of PED use. For those choosing to believe the shortstop that he was, is and always has been a clean ballplayer, the monument to his fidelity and greatness lies in his old-school bona fides. Jeter, along with possibly Ken Griffey Jr., is the only player in the ...

Bo Jackson’s 1985 scouting report (Hint: He was good at baseball)

“Don Baylor (Yanks) type body” YIKES!

It seems that more and more of these old scouting reports are beginning to surface on the Internet, and I’m all for that. It’s rather cool to see what scouts thought of future big-leaguers when they saw them play for the first time.

And here is the report on a 22-year-old player for Auburn by the name of Vincent Edward Jackson. We know him as Bo Jackson:

Ian Stewart takes surprise break from I-Cubs

Anyone who commits to the Cubs should be committed.

Stewart just finished a rehab assignment with the Iowa Cubs for a left quad injury that has plagued him since early in spring training. The maximum time a player can spend in the minors in that situation is 20 days, making last Friday his final day of rehabbing.

But because he was hitting .091 the Cubs decided to keep him there by officially sending him down after his rehab stint was complete. He didn’t need to clear waivers, so Stewart ...

Klapisch: Better off without A-Rod? It’s unlikely Yanks’ enigma can restart career

You Think You Know About A-Rod’s Dreams… You Know Nothing!

In fact, there are people who think A-Rod has been breaking the rules since his rookie year – even as far back as high school – and has never stopped. That’s why Rodriguez’s detractors in the game think he’s doomed: not because his hips may or may not function efficiently any more, but because of his psychological dependence on PEDs.

If Rodriguez returns to 24-7 scrutiny, and if he knows can’t use PEDs any longer, what ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-7-2013

Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 7, 1913:

The Philadelphia National League team…protested [the May 5] game with St. Louis, claiming that Umpire Klem “took undue advantage of the rule which provides that the ball must be thrown by the pitcher within 20 seconds after it has been called for by the umpire.
...
Pitcher Seaton had two strikes and one ball on Wingo in the seventh inning and was waiting to receive his signal from the catcher when Klem called the second ball, which later forced Seaton to ...

MLB: Castrovince: Strikeout totals rising to historic levels

Joe Mauer’s take…

Take it from Joe Mauer, as studious and selective as they come.

It’s different out there.

“The game has evolved,” Mauer said. “This is my 10th year. My first couple years in the league, if you were a sinkerball pitcher, you were a sinkerball pitcher. Now, they throw a sinker, a cutter, a four-seamer. So you’re looking for three fastballs instead of one or two.”

It’s working, and Mauer is the perfect example of how well it’s working.

Entering Monday, Mauer had struck out ...

Scioscia: No plans to quit despite struggles

So enough with the Manager Schettino jokes!

With the Angels tying their worst start in franchise history—an 11-20 record matching the futility of their 1961 inaugural season—manager Mike Scioscia’s future with the club has come into question.

A fired-up Scioscia wants to make it clear—he’s not interested in bailing out.

“I’ve never quit, given up or anything else like that in my career,” the Halos’ manager said after an 8-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. “I’m certainly not going to ...

KMOV: Bailey: Wrigley Field is the treasure that never was

My kind of stadium, Wrigley ain’t
My kind of freeloaders, too
Toothless ushers who smile at you

There is something ghastly about watching the St. Louis Cardinals play the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field akin to watching the prom queen dance with Quasimodo in a fetid alley.

Busch Stadium is a modern, clean facility with excellent views of the playing field, wide inner corridors, easy access to vendors, large restrooms, plentiful parking and compelling views of a vibrant downtown.

The Busch ...

Astros part ways with OF Rick Ankiel

The Houston Astros have designated outfielders Rick Ankiel and Fernando Martinez for assignment and reinstated outfielder J.D. Martinez from the disabled list.

Houston also selected the contract of outfielder Trevor Crowe from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday and recalled infielder-outfielder Jimmy Paredes from their top minor league team. Infielder Brandon Laird was also optioned to Oklahoma City.

Not every day you see a team get rid of their leader in slugging percentage.

OMNICHATTER FORMAY 7, 2013

PREVIOUSLY ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Matt Harvey took the world by storm, Jordan Zimmermann stepped took a step up to ace status, and the Astros had their lunch money stolen by the Tigers. Oh, and Big Papi has been hitting a lot.

TODAY: Harvey pitches against the Red, Zimmermann tries to steal the Astros’ lunch money from the Tigers, Ortiz goes for 27 and the Astros try to cure the Angels of what ails them because, honestly, if a series against the Astros can’t, what can?

Brown: Why the Miami Marlins Could See a Historic Attendance Plunge

Maury adds…“And when I’m talking “plunge” I’m not talking Loria’s neckline.”

As of today, the decline would be 31 percent below what the club ended with last season. But, they are currently averaging 18,864. As of May 5 of last season, they were averaging 30,681, down 11,817 from the previous year, or a decline of 39 percent.

So, it’s very possible the Marlins could end worse than the Rays. It’s early, and anything could happen, but odds are good the Marlins aren’t going to get any ...

Parkhouse: Do advanced stats have a place in high school baseball?

Well…it is K8 and not K/9.

I began thinking of this often this week as I was watching local high school teams play the game. Specifically, Michigan City and La Porte.

I became frustrated watching these players, particularly at the plate. In my opinion, too much first-pitch swinging is going on, which flies directly in the face of stats like on-base percentage, who many people - myself included - feel is a greater indicator of batting success than the more popular batting average.

If the ...

Owens: MLB should consider Davey Johnson for next commissioner

Using Richard Goodwin-Shares…this rates very highly as a political speech.

Johnson is a proven leader, and I’m not referring to his career wins and losses or three World Series championships.

I’m talking about a man who was bold enough at 19 years old to challenge former Texas A&M baseball coach Tom Chandler for telling him he’d get a full four-year ride when the scholarship contract only promised him one guaranteed year at the school.

I’m talking about a man who was savvy enough to create a ...

Otis Nixon was arrested on drug charges Saturday

If your crack’s from Otis Nixon, then your pipe could use some fixin’.

Nixon, 54, had a crack pipe in his pocket and a crack rock in his vehicle when he was stopped on I-575 early Saturday, according to a Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reported obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A 911 caller reported a red Dodge Ram pickup truck driving erratically on I-575 north shortly after midnight and a deputy was dispatched and pulled the truck over, the report states. A state trooper ...

Sox’s Gavin Floyd to undergo season-ending surgery

Wish you were here…..

Chicago White Sox right-hander Gavin Floyd could be sidelined through the 2014 season after the team announced Monday he will undergo surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle in his right arm.

Floyd will undergo surgery Tuesday by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The expected time of recovery for Floyd, 30, is from 14 to 19 months.

Floyd suffered the injury while delivering a pitch April 27 against Tampa. ...

Dodgers aren’t sweating getting swept by Giants

Formerly titled Mattingly delusional syndrome.

I am all for positive thinking, but sometimes sports figures divorce themselves from reality.

Posnanski: Do the Houston Astros have what it takes?

Is this the suckiest bunch of sucks who ever did suck?

The Houston Astros have five pseudo regulars in thelr lineup — FIVE — who are striking out more than once per game. This is a rather astounding achievement, possibly historic, and it leads to my prediction that this team will get no-hit before the year’s out, maybe twice. They have already flirted with no-nos — Yu Darvish took a perfect game into the ninth against them and Justin Verlander had them no-hit for six innings on Sunday. ...

Here’s A Dog Dressed As A Hot Dog, Eating A Hot Dog

“It’s a dog eat dog world and I’m wearing Milkbone underwear.” ~ Norm

Yesterday was the annual “Bark in the Park” day in Atlanta, the only time—other than when the Reds are in town—when ticketholders must show proof they’ve been vaccinated against Parvo and Bordetella.

How bad has Josh Hamilton’s start with Angels been? History says it might be his worst month ever

Josh Hamilton’s first month as a Los Angeles Angel was a well-documented disaster. The slugger, who signed a five-year, $125 million deal with LAA in the off-season, finished April with a .204/.252/.296 slash line, two homers, nine RBIs, six walks and 32 strikeouts.

Sure, Hamilton has long been known as a streaky hitter, but just how bad has this start been? Let’s break down the numbers a little further.

Hamilton’s .548 OPS for April was the second-lowest OPS he’s ever posted in a month ...

MLB: Roenicke: No plans to send Axford to Minors

Ax: Leave a hero. Come back a man.

Axford does have Minor League options remaining, but Roenicke indicated that was not a consideration at the moment.

“No, it’s not [under discussion],” Roenicke said. “We feel he can get it back together. We saw him do it last year, and still feel that he can do it. … It’s the same thing that he was in [last season], whether it’s confidence, whether it’s mechanical. If it’s mechanical, Rick [Kranitz, the pitching coach] and Lee [Tunnell, the bullpen coach] ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 5-6-2013

Toledo News-Bee, May 6, 1913:

PATERSON, N.J., May 6 (Special.)—A home run batted out by a high school boy in a vacant lot won the game for his team in the ninth inning. The ball caromed off the head of Andrew Van Ninwegan, a baker, who was driving past the ball field, and landed on the back of the horse. The horse ran away and the baker, partly stunned by the blow on the head, tumbled off his wagon as it ran into a telegraph pole. The horse continued at a gallop until the wagon was wrecked.

The ...

Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez won’t be switching back on his swing

Sure, now my “Cyril Delevanti and The Mensal Line Nine” fantasy team finds out.

Adrian Gonzalez emerged as one of the finest power hitters in baseball during his final four seasons with the San Diego Padres.

He hit 30 home runs every year — and 40 one year — while playing in cavernous Petco Park.

His days as that kind of power hitter are gone.

That is not a whisper from an anonymous scout. That is the word from Gonzalez himself, who says he has been unable to recover the swing that made ...

OMNICHATTER for MAY 6, 2013

PREVIOUSLY ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Clay Buchholtz was accused of cheating and there were rainouts.
TODAY: Buchholtz takes the mound for the first time since the accusations, while the White Sox/Royal and Rangers/Cubs are make-up games. There are 9 games overall today.

Chatter up!

Nate Silver: ‘Prediction is a really important tool, it’s not a game’

Loads of Natedictions…but here’s the baseball content.

We asked Nate Silver to gauge how predictable different things in life were: from politics to cricket, from terrorism to sexual orientation. Here’s how he scored ten different areas, on a prediction scale of 0 to 10

Baseball: 8-9

Silver made his name building a system to forecast player performance in baseball, called PECOTA. So, unsurprisingly, he thinks the game is pretty predictable.

In fact, he thinks the systems are so good now ...

WaPo: Bryce Harper ejected in first inning arguing check swing

The latest Rohrshach test the swiftly emerging Umps Behaving Badly narrative:

Bryce Harper was ejected in the first inning of the Nationals’ 6-2 victory over the Pirates Sunday afternoon after he drew the ire of umpiring crew chief John Hirschbeck with his reaction to a check-swing third strike. The incident left the Nationals without their best player and, owing to behavior from Hirschbeck that Manager Davey Johnson deemed overaggressive, raised the issue of contentious relations between ...

Roy Halladay headed to DL after informing Phillies of shoulder discomfort

All the signs were there. Roy Halladay, a former Cy Young Award winner whose success has been predicated on his control, threw more than a handful of pitches Sunday that were miles out of the strike zone. When he did throw it over the plate, it was blasted into the outfield or over the fence by hitters who normally wouldn’t stand a chance.

The sines of his arm angles kept dropping