December 2011
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Happy New Year!
Assuming you follow…whatever…calendar that we follow (seriously, what calendar is it? And no, I won’t be Googling the answer. I’m a busy man), I hope you’ll have a safe and joyous New Year’s Eve. It’s the perfect time to look back on the year and, drink in hand, make a very awkward champagne toast. It’s the only way to to do it.
I’ll be taking...
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Roy Halladay and The Battle Against Nature
Roy Halladay is one bad mother. He spits in the face of pitch counts and innings limits, he cares not for your version of the strike zone because he’ll pitch anywhere he damn pleases, and instead of lifting weights, he carries the entire city of Philadelphia on his back every time he exercises.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when Halladay was on a fishing trip with Chris...
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Alex Rodriguez's Knee Procedure as Written By Stan...
(image via Amazon)
Recently, Alex Rodriguez followed Kobe Bryant’s suggestion that he go to Germany for an experimental procedure on his knee where they take his blood, swish it around a little, and throw it back in his body. Maybe there are a few more steps, I don’t know, I’m not a doctor and find myself grossed out by even the tamest of House episodes. Even though MLB and...
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13 Moments From 2011 That Remind Us Why Baseball...
Before we continue on, part one in our exercise of love can be found here. Now then:
6. Jim Thome’s 600th
(photo via Weeks101)
There are two things that baseball fans love: one are tiny, gritty players who struggle to hit the ball out of the infield and who constantly dive around in the dirt. The other are big beefy players with forearms the size of melon-swallowing pythons who can, no...
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“I think people that are quick to point to age as being a problem are boring. ...”
– Ichiro on age.
I recommend the entire interview for further insights into music, modern speech patterns, and the need for a good moisturizer.
(h/t Lookout Landing)
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Rosman Garcia Killed in Car Accident
Sad news for the former Rangers pitcher and minor league veteran who died in a car accident after playing the Leones de Caracas in Venezuela last night.
Translated from Univision Noticias:
“The pitcher for the Tigres de Aragua, Rosman Garcia, died early Thursday in a traffic accident while traveling from Caracas to Maracay (north), the team reported on its website.
“Unfortunately...
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13 Moments From 2011 That Remind Us Why Baseball...
As long as you weren’t a Red Sox or Braves supporter, 2011 was a pretty magical season. With two epic collapses that weren’t decided until the final day of the season, to David Freese’s moments of heroism in game six, the year offered baseball fans an endless buffet of delights, a constant bevy of joy. And while Frank McCourt tried his best to destroy baseball in Los Angeles and...
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Baseball for Lit Nerds. Or Lit for Baseball Nerds....
William Faulkner, as channeled by Dave Fleming, on John Olerud:
“Whose father grew up on meals of lutefish caught in the cold waters of the Dakotas, caught with lines dropped through holes cut in ice to the world dark below and still. Who suffered in youth moments of blinding pain in his head and underwent the surgeon’s knife and passed through like Achilles held by his mother over the...
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Andrew Bailey Is Boston's Best Bullpen Arm
(Photo by Stacy Lucier)
Had to squeeze in the alliteration. I haven’t hijacked a Wednesday with Red Sox posts in some time, so bear with me here. Boston picked up closer Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney from Oakland in exchange for right fielder Josh Reddick, Single A first baseman Miles Head, and Single A right-hander Raul Alcantara. I don’t know much about either minor leaguer. From...
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Okajima To The Yankees
(Photo by Keith Allison)
The Yankees signed left-handed reliver Hideki Okajima to a minor league deal. Okajima heads to New York as my favorite reliever of all time not named Rich Garces. ”Okajima in the eigth, Papelbon in the ninth” and all that jazz. It’s an interesting and potentially valuable singing for the Yankees. Lefties like Okajima almost always fit that bill, and...
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The Platoon Advantage: Everybody Played With PED... →
As you may have noticed from the glut of articles outlining writers Hall of Fame votes (with my own feelings en route), the Hall of Fame announcement will soon be coming. Without new names worthy of real discussion, writers are once again focusing on Jeff Bagwell’s Cooperstown case. Despite 449 home runs, a .948 OPS, a Rookie of the Year and MVP, and 79.9 rWAR, numbers that would usually...
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Red Sox and Yankees to Celebrate Fenway's 100th...
While the Red Sox will be spending all next year celebrating Fenway Park’s 100th year, on April 20th the Red Sox and Yanks will wear their 1912 duds to celebrate the occasion.
While the uniforms are not markedly different from what they currently wear, just look at the socks, Duke, the socks. Joke courtesy 1997.
(images via Dressed to the Nines)
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Transactions of Note and Import
Angels sign Eric Hurley, Ryan Langerhans, Robinzon Diaz. There was a time when Hurley was a top prospect, Langerhans’ glove made up for his lack of a bat, and Robinzon Diaz had a way to spell his name correctly.
Cubs receive Ronald Torreyes, Dave Sappelt to complete Sean Marshall deal. Read a breakdown here.
Yorvit Torrealba suspended 66 Venezuelan Winter League games for hitting umpire....
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Jeromy "Sick Burn"-Itz
(image via Bleacher Report)
My clearest memories of Jeromy Burnitz are from when joined the Pirates, helping usher out Dave Littlefield out the door, wearing high socks on his spindly little legs while struggling to a .230/.289/.422 mark in 2006. It was a far cry from the underrated slugger who finished with over 300 home runs and twice posted an OPS+ of 140 or higher. Turns out he was also a...
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Yorvit Torrealba Apologizes for Attack on Umpire
Though Torrealba has already been suspended by the Venezuelan Winter League for the rest of this season and the next, Torrealba released this apology today:
“I wanted to express my sincere apologies to all parties for my actions during the Venezuelan Winter League game on Friday. I have extended an apology to the Rangers organization as well. I am embarrassed for my conduct, and...
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2011 Facial Hair & Personal Pizzaz Awards
And now for the awards you’ve all been waiting for:
Best Mustache: John Axford (You don’t win the American Mustache Institute’s Robert Goulet award for nothing):
Worst Mustache: Derek Holland
Best Heel Stache: Bryce Harper
Best Quote About a Mustache: Brian Wilson on the Rollie Fingers Curl:
“The curl out is festive and nonthreatening. Let’s be honest: You see...
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Report: A's Cleared to Move to San Jose
When you’ve finally reached a decision after a century of internal discussion and investigation,* it’s best to leak the news on Christmas Eve, otherwise known as The Information Pit. Though more news regarding what tradeoff the Giants received in surrendering their territory to the Athletics, it’s nice that the A’s may actually be able to sign big name free agents like Josh...
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Seattle's Silent Guardian, Watchful Protector. An...
It’s not who you are underneath, but what you wear that defines you.
(via @UpstateBaller, Hardball Talk)
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Battle of the Network All-Stars
Determined to come up with the greatest collection of television stars ever, The New York Times’ Neil Genzlinger is shockingly the first person to ever cobble together an All-Star roster of ballplayers who have made television cameos. Though you may think it easy, Genzlinger establishes a few necessary ground rules to make the exercise all the more enjoyable. They are:
“The player...
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Selected Readings When the Internet is Quiet, Too...
With even Billy Beane admitting that he won’t be active for the next few days, the perpetual baseball information cycle may have finally stopped. Having said that, why not get your internet fix re-reading a few of the pieces we published in the last year? And if you haven’t seen ‘em, they’re new to you.
Off Season Regimens. There is still plenty of time to enact some of...
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“Not the most fun to find out two days before Christmas.”
– A’s catcher Landon Powell after being designated for assignment following the Gio Gonzalez trade.
Even in a win-win trade, there are still losers.
(via MLB Trade Rumors)
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Two More Accuse Conlin of Molestation
Following the news that Bill Conlin had molested four children in the 70s, two more women have come forward. Tragically, this is not shocking news as there are probably still more victims afraid of the stigma should they step forward.
In addition to a woman who wishes not to be named, Linda Stella told the Daily News:
“Linda Stella said that she was just a girl when Bill Conlin pulled ...
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Watchbangbangplay:
And the award for best effort in a Happy Holidays video goes to: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. MVP: Torii Hunter
Like watching Pavarotti at his peak.
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Transactions of Note and Import
Cubs sign Manny Corpas. You know those players that, despite all evidence to the contrary, you can only think of them in their heyday? That’s me with Corpas who is still the same pitcher who posted a 2.08 ERA at the age of 24 in 2007. Maybe the time off for surgery last year did him some good.
Twins sign Jason Marquis. Just take a quick peek at Marquis’ top comparable players and...
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Logan Morrison is the Boy Who Cried Wolf
Morrison better hope that he’s never in a situation where he needs his score of Twitter followers to come to his aid because, as Ken Rosenthal tweeted, “it’s war.” Here is Morrison’s Twitter feed from last night:
Although, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Yu Darvish rumor is proved correct, so that may just be some damn fine reporting.
(h/t BLS)
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Knowing the Unknowable: The Hit and Run
Mike Fast is like the first guy who ever told you what a hot dog is actually made out of. Instead of letting you live in your own little bubble, happily assuming that everything you’ve ever heard about was correct, Fast takes advantage of all the little PITCHfx and Gameday data that we now have at our fingertips and can quantify our deepest held beliefs. One can only be terrified of the...
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Report: Gio Gonzalez Traded Once Again, Headed to...
(Photo by Keith Allison)
Despite turning only 26 next season, having electric stuff, and having posted two above average seasons in the Major Leagues, Gio Gonzalez is on the move for the fourth time in his career, being traded to the Nationals for an enormous package of prospects. As Keith Law noted on Twitter, the Nationals will be sending catching prospect Derek Norris, righthanders Brad...
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Sam Fuld's Five Favorite Holiday Classics
There’s a reason why there are legends told of the god-man that is Sam Fuld. He makes diving catches, knocks out clutch hits, and has a pretty good taste in Christmas films even though he’s Jewish. He’s so dreamy.
The Hall of Very Good recently spoke with Mr. Fuld and learned of his five favorite holiday films. Even though there is no mention of A Muppet Christmas Carol or...
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Dayton Moore's Christmas Wish
With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I would publish my Christmas spec script that ABC called, “too saccharine” and CBS said “would irreparably damage their reputation and alienate their core audience.” Well, what do they know?
Without further adieu, enjoy the magic of Dayton Moore’s Christmas Wish:
(original photo by Minda Haas)
EXT. NORTH POLE -...
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Transactions of Note and Import
Pirates re-sign Jeff Clement to minor league deal. After a .201/.237/.368 line in 2010 and an injury plagued 2011, the Pirates had no choice but to bring back the first round bust. You don’t let players like that get away. They also signed Anderson Hernandez, insuring
Nationals sign nine to minor league deals. The biggest name is probably Chad Tracy who posted a 132 OPS+ in 2005, but has...
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Sean Marshall to be Traded for Travis Wood
Mat Latos wasn’t the finishing touch, apparently. After being content last season with a deep, but unremarkable pitching rotation, the Reds have thoroughly turned heel this year, giving up the back end option of Travis Wood (one magical night in Philadelphia excluded) and two currently unnamed players in exchange for lefthanded reliever Sean Marshall. Marshall, who has 2.45 ERA and...
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Old Time Family Baseball: Announcing the First Old... →
oldtimefamilybaseball:
With the holiday season just around the corner and goodwill and cheer in men’s hearts, I am happy to announce that in just under a month, the Old Time Family Baseball Blogathon will kick off. Though many have already donated to charity recently, it’s important to remember that when December ends,…
Taking this time to remind everyone about the upcoming Old Time...
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