Baseball for America

By, Dustin Sullivan

Well, it looks like history may repeat itself once again. The once cursed Boston Red Sox are now the MLB’s team known for some of the most historic comebacks of all time; in just the past few years. When Tampa Bay’s rookie 3rd baseman Evan Longoria threw what seemed to be a routine ball into the stands behind first, Boston hasn’t looked back.

Longoria, who has been nearly infallible throughout this series, just had the ball sail on him in the bottom of the 8th inning. With already two outs, the Rays were up 7-4 and were looking to close the door on the game and the ALCS. The resilient Sox rallied to score 3 runs in the eighth inning and tied it a 7-7. It seems as though manager Terry Francona enjoys managing a team that is backed into a corner. We all remember the historic 2004 ALCS comeback against the New York Yankees.

As it stands now, the Red Sox are set to square off against the young, inexperienced Rays team in game 7 tonight at Tropicana Field. The Rays, who are making their first ever postseason appearance, will need to continue to swing the bats the way that they have for the past few months. They’ll be facing a solid young starter in Jon Lester for the Red Sox. Lester, who has fully recovered from Lymphoma, pitched a no-hitter early in the season, so, it is evident that this young Rays club will have their work cut out for them.

Tags: 2004 ALCS, evan longorea, john lester, Longoria error, Rays first Postseason, Red Sox Comeback, Tarry Frankona, TB Rays ALCS

Tags: baseball debate manny trade, Manny Ramirez dodger stats vs. Red sox stats, Manny's hot post season, Theo Epstein Manny trade

By, Dustin Sullivan

When I was in high school, my head baseball coach never wanted any of the players in the pitching rotation to hit the mound on just three days rest. Sure, there were kids that said “Oh, I am fine” and “C’mon coach let me get in there,” but, he always preached that we wouldn’t be 100% and in turn, wouldn’t be beneficial to the team. Pitching on just three days rest may seem necessary at times and can be seen at every level of sports; whether it be college, minor league, and even in the bigs. The most recent was seen last night when Brewers’ pitcher C.C Sabathia had arguably his worst outing since joining the team in early July.

Going into game two of the best of 5 series, the Brewers’ already found themselves in a 1-0 hole to the NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Knowing that game two was almost a must win, they sent their ace Sabathia to the hill. I’m sure that the Brewers were confident that Sabathia, who had been their go-to-guy in the last 3 months, could get the job done against a tough-hitting Phillies club. However, by the time Sabathia left the game on Thursday night, the Brew-Crew found themselves in a 2-0 hole.

Sabathia’s short-lived outing saw him throwing 98 pitches through just 3 2/3 innings of work. Through those innings he gave up 5 earned runs off of 6 hits, which included a grand slam by Phillies’ centerfielder Shane Victorino. While he stuck out five batters, he also issued four walks and by the end of his night his ERA was an “un-Sabathialike” 12.27.

Sabathia spoke after the game and said that he didn’t believe pitching on three days rest had an effect on his performance. Although Sabathia didn’t feel that his outing was effected by the minimal rest, one must take into account that the majority of his last few starts have come on just 3 days rest. Sure, one time might not take its toll on such a superstar, but if it continues, don’t you think it would start to hinder someones performance?

Its understandable in some situations (for instance, the Mets starting Johan in their second to last game, although it didn’t pay off anyway) that you need your ace out there. But, where do you start to draw the line? I think remaining patient and sticking to your routine is definately a conservative call, but will be beneficial for a pitcher at any level in the long run.

Tags: Brewers game 2 loss, c.c meltdown game 2, C.C. Sabbathia, Phillies hot start, pitching rest, sabbathia's bad outing, Shane Vicktorino, three days rest, Vicktorino grand slam

By Dustin Sullivan

On September 12 of 2007, the Mets were in first place with a record of 83-62 and held a 7 game lead with just 17 games to play. They finished 88-74, losing 12 of their last 17. The 2008 season brought a slightly different story. On September 12 2008, however, the Mets were again in first place at 82-63, up by just 3 games and that eerie number of 17 games left to play. This year, on the other hand, they finished 89-73; both times in second place and also just missing out on a wild card bid.

Although the fallout in the most recent 2008 season didn’t look as bad as the late 2007 collapse for the New York Mets, the results were the same. No postseason. As the fans gathered for one last regular season game into Shea Stadium, they knew that their team stood dead even with the Milwaukee Brewers for the final spot in the NL playoff race. It was obvious watching the both the game and the scoreboard for the most recent Brewers update were equally important.

As the Brewers took the lead on a 2-run homer by leftfielder Ryan Braun in the bottom half of the 8^th, it all seemed too familiar to the Mets. It didn’t help matters that on just 3 days of rest Milwaukee ace C.C. Sabbathia won his 17^th decision of the year. He did so pitching a full nine innings while allowing just one run on four hits, striking out seven against arguably one of the leagues’ strongest lineups; The Cubs.

Tied 2-2 in the top of the 8^th, pinch hitter Wes Helms went yard with a solo shot off Mets’ reliever Scott Schoeneweis. The very next batter for the Marlins, second baseman Dan Uggla, followed suit behind Helms and hit a ripped a solo homer off Luis Ayala. Still trailing 4-2 going into the ninth, Mets fans became glum.

When Ryan Church and Carlos Delgado both flied out to count as the final two outs at Shea Stadium ever recorded, the crowd and its players grew dismal. To say that this loss and the finale of the season for the team put a damper on the post-game ceremonies would be an understatement. However, the Mets do have a season and a new stadium to look forward to for next year. Being constructed next door to Shea is “Citifield,” where the Mets will continue their search for their first World Championship since 1986.

Tags: 2008 Mets Season collapse, Dan Uggla homerun shea stadium, Mets 17 games left in season, Mets Collapse, Mets Postseason collapse, Sabathia ends mets season, Sabathia mets rumors, Schoenweis blows final game mets season, Shea stadium final homerun

By Matt Valentine

The MLB season has reached its halfway point and the 2008 All-Star Game is rapidly approaching. As usual fan voting has determined a majority of the roster and their were some surprising players voted to the team as well as some questionable decisions made by the fan base. I’m going to break down the AL 2008 starting roster and examine the snubs,duds, and studs of the American League All-Star team.

Players selected to the All-Star team that make me think MLB fans are dumb aka DUDS:

1. David Ortiz- People please! Just because he’s Big Papi and he’s been a stud in the past he’s been anything but this year. How in the hell do you vote a guy in whose on the DL anyway? What were people hoping for a miraculous return just in time fore the All-Star game?  Second of all, its not like his stats were really worthy of an All-Star selection in the first place. Ortiz is batting just .252 with 13 HR and 43 RBI not exactly All-Star numbers.

2. Derek Jeter- As a Yankee fan this is pure blasphemy, but even I have to admit this should not have been Jeter’s year. I understand that Jeter has a been a perenneial All-Star player for most of his career, but this year should have been the exception. Jeter, much like Ortiz, was voted in based solely on the star power of his name and not his performance. Jeter has never been a power hitter so no one expects serious slugging stats, but he’s always batted at least .300, that is until this season. Jeter is batting just .287 with 2HR and 50 RBI not terrible stats by any stretch of the imagination, but not really an All-Star first half either.

3. Evan Longoria- Granted this guy is an absolute lock to be the AL Rookie of the Year, but are his first half numbers really All-Star worthy or are fans just buying into the hype? Longoria’s numbers are strong he’s batting .281 has 16 HR and 53 RBI, but there were plenty of other players whose stats were better then Longoria’s, (think Aubrey Huff from Baltimore for one).  They just don’t have the type of hype surrounding this guy.

Player that makes me think MLB players are dumb:

Jason Varitek: Um, are you serious? Ok, he may be a great team leader and all that jazz, but an All-Star nod for this guy? What’s the matter players can’t read stat line’s because if they could I think they would have gone in a completely different direction. Varitek is batting .220 which is his season high,he has 7 HR and what I have to believe is an all-time record low 28 RBI for a “All-Star” player. To make matter worse, he was batting around .130 for a majority of the first half, which makes me believe that if this guys can get into the All-Star game then Billy Crystal has a decent shot at in 2009. I don’t know why the players chose Varitek, but even he had to admit that it was “embarrassing”.  Yea its definitely embarrassing that apparently a majority of MLB players can’t read!

Further reasons why I think MLB fans are dumb aka Snubs:

1. Nick Markakis- Yes he plays for a crappy team and he isn’t a big name player, but he did put up some big-time numbers in the first half of the season and he is one player who I feel should have been on the 2008 All-Star squad. Check out these first half numbers, .302 BA, 14 HR, 50 RBI, 61 RS, 9 SB, hmm…similiar to another guy from Tampa but with a better batting average and more runs scored. Too bad for him there’s no hype surrounding himself or Baltimore this season.

2. Jermaine Dye- Dye is currently second among AL outfielders in OPS and is third in the AL with 20 HR. Oh he also plays for the surprising first place Chicago White Sox. You would think that would be enough for him to make the All-Star squad…sorry Jermaine, not with these fans voting.  Then again who would you really replace in this AL outfield because all of them deserve a spot on that roster, but there is a man named David Ortiz who probably shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

3. Brian Roberts- What is this the all Oriole team? All kidding aside though this guy should have been given serious consideration for a roster spot.  He’s produced at about the same clip as fellow second baseman Dustin Pedroia and has outproduced other players on the roster like Joe Crede, ok Crede hits for more power but that’s not always what defines a good player. Either way Roberts will have to wait until next year for his shot at the All-Star game.

Tags: All Star Game, American League, Baseball, Ben Sheets, Big Papa, Bronx, CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Derek Jeter, Duds, homerun, homerun derby, MLB, National League, New York, Snubs, Studs, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

By Matt Valentine

Let the debate begin again. The question of whether or not the Yankees would be better served by using Joba Chamberlain as a starter or a reliever is one that has plagued Yankee fans, pundits and even the Yankees front office since the start of the 2008 season. Now that Joba has made the move to the starting rotation it doesn’t seem like the debate will end anytime soon.

The sellout crowd of 53,629 greeted Chamberlain with a standing ovation when he was announced with the starting lineup, but many of them would find their butts firmly in their seats for the remainder of the game.

Chamberlains first major league start against the Toronto Blue Jays lasted about as long as it would have had he still been a reliever. He pitched just 2 and 1/3 innings walking 4 batters, striking out 3, surrendering one hit and one earned run. Chamberlain was also charged with a balk in the game.

Chamberlain did retire the side in order in the second inning, but walked Alex Rios on four straight balls after getting Marco Scutaro to fly out to lead off the third.

Manager Joe Girardi emerged from the dugout to pull the Yankees starter after he had thrown 62 pitches, 38 of which came in the first inning alone. He was just 3 pitches shy of the 65 pitch limit placed on him by the Yankees to conserve his young arm. Chamberlain was replaced by reliever Dan Giese, who allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings.

The Blue Jays blew the game wide open after Giese was taken out in the 6th inning tagging Yankee relievers Jose Veras and Edwar Rameriez to the tune of six runs in the seventh inning.

Meanwhile, the Yankees offense could muster little against Jays starting pitcher Roy Halladay who went six innings, striking out 3, walking one, and surrendered just 2 earned runs.

Notably, Derek Jeter tied Mickey Mantle for third all time in career hits with a single in the ninth, giving him 2,415 career hits.

Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner who watched the game from the Yankees facility in Tampa, Fla. told reporters, “It was the first step, that’s all. Again, he’s 22. This was the first step. We’re looking at a 10 year or more career”.

I’m sure theres plenty of Yankee fans out there who are hoping its a much more productive 10 year career then todays outing would indicate.

Tags: 2008 season, Alex Rios, Derek Jeter, earned run average, Edwar Rameriez, Florida, Hank Steinbrenner, hits, Joba, Joba Chamberlain, Joe Girardi, Jose Veras, Major League, Marco Scutaro, Mickey Mantle, MLB, New York, Roy Halladay, Steinbrenner, strike outs, Tampa, The Bronx, Toronto Blue Jays, walks, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

By Matt Valentine

(Lester pumps his fists to celebrate his first no hitter.)

It’s been along road for Jon Lester to get to this point in his major league career. Drafted by the Red Sox in the second round (No. 57 Overall)  2002 First Year Players Draft, he quickly established himself as one of the organizations top prospects moving quickly through the clubs minor league affiliates.

Finally, on June 10, 2006 Lester was given the call that every minor leaguer waits for and was added to the Sox starting rotation. His dream was not to last for long though, as Lester’s life slowly slipped into the nightmare of disease.

After suffering from back pain Lester was scratched from his scheduled start on August 27, 2006 against the Oakland A’s. Many attributed the soreness in Lester’s back to a car accident he had been involved in earlier that month. Lester was sent back to Boston to undergo additional testing where it was discovered that he had enlarged lymph nodes. A few days after his return Lester was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma and his major league dream was put in serious jeopardy.

Lester fought his way back from the cancer, and went on to pitch the series clinching Game Four of the 2007 World Series.

Now, Lester has another tremendous accomplishment to add to his already staggering list of achievements as he became the first Red Sox left hander to toss a no hitter since Mel Parnell did it against the Chicago White Sox in 1956. Lester’s no hitter is also the first no hitter in the majors this season.

Lester struck out 9 and walked just two batters, Billy Butler in the second inning and Esteban German in the ninth. By the time German walked up to the plate Fenway was electric, with every Sox fan standing to cheer on the 24 year old lefty. As flashes popped and fans screamed, Lester faced down defensive replacement Alberto Callapso the last batter of the ninth. Lester went up 0-2 on Callapso and the slow steady rumble of the excitement that is a no-hitter began to brew in Fenway Park.

After throwing an 0-2 ball Lester took his stride and reached back to throw a fastball high and outside striking Callapso out and sealing his first no-hitter in the major leagues. Lester than leapt into the arms of catcher Jason Varitek and they were both mobbed by teammates coming off the bench. He hugged manager Terry Francona, and tipped his cap to the Fenway faithful for one last standing ovation.

(Lester mobbed by teammates after striking out Callapso to seal the no hitter.)

Lester received some strong defensive support from teammates Jacoby Ellsbury, and Kevin Youkilis. Ellsbury made a spectacular diving catch to thwart the line drive hit of Jose Guillen in the fourth inning and Youkilis made a nice shoe string scoop on Julio Lugo’s throw after David Dejesus hit a grounder in the third.

The Red Sox now have back to back no hitter’s in successive seasons since Clay Buchholz shutdown the Baltimore Orioles last September.

Tags: Baseball, Boston red Sox, cancer, Fenway Park, Jon Lester, MLB, no hitter, Royals

The regular season ended this week, and from where we started, to where we ended up, it was one crazy ride. 31 games in about a month, and not a dull moment.

We opened the season in New Jersey, and not very well. We headed back north with an 0-5 record, and not much momentum.

Two more losses that week, and we’re no wins and seven losses. That Saturday we headed to Dutchess County for a doubleheader, and hoped for the best. Game one featured decent pitching, decent fielding, and our first clutch hit of the year. It was the first time we put anything together, and we ended up with a win. Not a better feeling in the world, like I just dropped a bag of bricks I was carrying for a hundred miles. Even better was, we won the second game, and came home with a sweep. The wins were just rolling now.

When things started to look up, we tripped over a huge stick. After a couple more wins, we went back to our losing ways, and sat at 6-13. After that game though, something hit us. I can not tell you what it was. I don’t know if anyone can. But we went on a roll.

As the season continued, no one could beat us. We were mashing the ball, playing great defense, and pitching well. We ended the season winning ten out of twelve, and somehow pulling the number one seed in the playoffs out. A big turn around from 0-7.

Our regular season record was 16-15, just barely getting above the .500 mark. Now we have the number one seed and a ton of momentum pushing us into the playoffs.

Tags: Baseball, defense, hitting, pitching, Playoffs, RCC, Record, Regular Season, Rockland community college

This week, and the next couple, are going to be very similar unless something unexpected happens. One such thing would be if we were able to get outside. This tends not to happen around here this time of year, but Mother Nature keeps throwing in these 60 degree days. Hopefully we won’t get screwed with a late snow storm. But, it looks to be a real nice week.

School is cruising along nicely. I have begun some mid-term papers, and am trying to get ahead of the game while the season hasn’t started yet. Things can get tricky if you leave them until you’re playing 6 games a week.

Baseball this week we pretty much stayed the same. Pitchers threw off the mound three times, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. They were all 25 pitch sessions, all fastballs. In the next weeks, change-ups will come, as will breaking balls. For now it is more for mechanics and arm strength.

Hitters can still only do so much in the hitting room. They take a lot of swings, off tees, soft toss, and live in the cages. Fielding is also difficult, but we did have the field house one day this week, and they took dozens of ground balls.

Tags: Baseball, bullpens, hitting, JUCO, Junior College, pitching, preseason, school, tee drills

Every college athlete deals with this same issue.  Regardless of level, balancing academics and athletics is at the forefront of all athletes minds.  At Rockland Community College, baseball and the spring semester begin at exactly the same time…making it difficult to focus on school.  Afterall, I have a job to win!  I am out to be one of the starting pitchers.  The key to doing this is to figure out what coach has planned and see what kind or routine, if any, he is going to follow.  Figure this out, usually happens within the week, and then straighten out your academics.

I have to say that school coinciding with the start of baseball does cause some hassle. Last minute class changes, people trying to meet eligibility requirements, and just getting situated into school hours all throws everyone off a little the first week.  Add baseball to the equation and things can get a tad bit hairy.  I thought I figured this out, afterall I am in my fourth semester, but I underestimated how much little things like buying your books and a hamstring injury can screw things up. 

Finally, getting on the baseball field was my release…just having fun and getting away from the hectic start of the semester.  Even though the first week of practice consisted of conditioning and  light baseball drills (PFPs or pitcher’s fielding practice, bunt coverage and first and third defense) I was in heaven.  The rest of the week consists of long tossing and mental preparation for opening day!

Tags: academics, balancing act, Baseball, batting, college, conditioning, defense, fielding, games, love, opening day, pitcher, practice, Rockland community college, sport, throwing