October 2009

Rays #1 Moment of 2009: " To the Roof People!"







How can you describe it to someone who has never seen it before. It is a awesome moment that steals your breathe away and makes your own heart skip a beat or two. It is the time you can visually imagine seeing the sweat, blood and hard work it took to gain those banners flash instantly before your eyes. It is a time to will never,ever forget for your entire life.



And for me, it is a Tampa Bay Rays moment 12 years in the making. A dozen years of watching teams glide up and down in the standings, mostly in the bottom rungs, but finally thrusting towards the zenith of the division.
Rays Radio Host Rich Hererra was so right when he told all of us during the 2008 season that "It was going to be a Magical Summer."



This had to be my "Number #1 Rays Moment of 2009". Not only will this event be played out for years in stories and tales, but because all the rest of the Rays future seasons will be judged from now on against these two banners being raised to the rafters of Tropicana Field. Sure the  on-the-field actions that produced these banners might have happened in the 2008 season.
 


But the realization is visualized here on the Rays Opening Day, April 13th against the multi-ringed New York Yankees. For on that day, the realization of what truly happened during the playoffs is alive and growing within the stadium. the banners seem to have a pulse of their own and an honorable place amongst the rafters now for every fan, team and home viewer to see forever. 




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And now it seems kind of symbolic passing of the trophy that the Yankees got to witness this spectacular event. From the  first moment both banner materialized from the dugouts and the Rays as one seem to glide those banners across the turf on their shoulders and walked high and proud with them both into position right below the leftfield seats.



How a small band of local Armed Forces paratroopers stationed at nearby McDill Air Force Base, which houses the U S armed forces Central Command post, helped hoist the banners into their lofty posts in the rafters of the stadium. With the cheers and the applause almost deafening, it was a moment that brought chills, thrills and a few drops of wetness to the Rays uniform I was wearing that great night.




Because not only did the players do amazing things on the field in their run towards the World Series, but the fans came out in droves and supported this team by filling every nook and cranny of the Trop. when we needed them most. And even if this day was set forward to celebrate with pomp and circumstances set before us, the event will live on forever, not only with the ticket stubs and the programs, but in the hearts and minds of the Rays Republic. It was the first day the home fans got a chance to relish the team trying to regain their spot again in 2009, at the top, and as winners.



Some people might remember, I almost ruined this special night's banner positioning when during a taping of the "Maddon's Maniacs" during the "Ground Rules" video I snapped a few photos of the banners already in place. I posted it on Twitter and Facebook and then got a nice subtle note to 'please take them down", not from the team or a Rays rep., but from a friend within the organization.




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I did not know that that was the final positioning spot picked for the ceremony, or even that those two banners were going to be the actual two used for the event. I was ashamed for a moment that I might have abused a bit of courtesy shown to me by the Rays.



But I also knew I got to see an early glimpse at a historic event that I will cherish forever. But on April 13th, you saw the pride and the emotions flowing from every member of the Rays roster and staff out on the turf before the raising of the two banners. Everyone within the Rays game day staff from the clubhouse guys to the medical staff was out there celebrating the moment with the team.



But some people were missing. Jonny Gomes, Eric Hinske and Cliff Floyd did not get to be present with their former Rays team mates as they were with their current clubs somewhere else amongst the MLB schedule. But you know they were there in spirit, and in the minds of the guys on the field that played along side of them during the playoff run. For even if certain people stood out amongst all the moments of the playoff run, the team was the centerpiece of this championship, and it might be the best team the Rays ever put on the field.





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It was a emotional night  that you knew even the most stubborn and nasty visiting fans would rejoice and understand the commitment and the sacrifice this team went through for those two titles. No matter if they were wearing Yankee jerseys and shirts, the visiting crowd clapped and celebrated along with us. And in an ironic twist, at the end of the 2009 season, it is that night's visiting team that night will hold their own duo banner ceremonies in 2010 now.



So here is  a small salute hoping that the New York Yankee fans can relish in the same emotions and pride when their banners are also shown for the first time in 2010. The World Series has not concluded yet, and maybe there will be a nice third banner to be raised before it is all said and done in 2009.





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It is a ceremony you will not ever forget if you get the chance to attend one in your lifetime. It really does break down into your heart and tears any hardness or scars away for that moment. It is a time to remember and rejoice the true spirit of why they play the game, and we watch as fans. It is a time to remember why you follow the team, and that both your commitments have resulted in rewards way beyond your wildest dreams.




It was a truly "Magical Season", and one that I will probably bore people with in the next 20 years. But you always remember your first one with more vigor and vitality. Because your first quest, your first venture into the playoffs is magical enough, but it symbolized so many "firsts" in 2008 for the Rays that it would make you head spin. But the end result was celebrated on April 13th, and hopefully you were either there or watching at home. It is the first of many, and certainly not the last moment to celebrate as Rays fans.


 

Rays Number #2 Moment of 2009: " B J Upton takes a Cycle Ride"

 







They call it one of the hardest and most exciting feats in baseball. It takes concentration and a will of steel to perform such a feat in the game of baseball. And the pure fact that it took over 1,939 Tampa Bay Rays game before we saw the first of its kind, just adds to the mystery and the awe of the spectacle. For on that night of October 2, 2009 in Tropicana Field, B J Upton put his signature on the game forever. But he was not the first of the Rays to face this obstacle in 2009, but he was the first in team history to finally break through and complete the first cycle in Rays history.




It was really only natural for this moment of triumph by Upton to be picked somewhere within the "Top 5 Rays Moments of 2009". Some people might bicker and argue it should be popped somewhere lower on the list, but to me, this is the perfect spot for this moment. Considering that Upton spent the most part of 2009 fighting to prove he is more than just a good centerfielder, but to prove his plate discipline and bat had matured over the last season. And team mates like Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria also had chances this season to add their names to this list, but they fell short.




And the "cycle" proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that time is the element Upton needed this season to correct and get back into the saddle at the plate. That maybe his off season shoulder surgery left pains and discomfort for most of the year before he thrust his average skyward in July. For that month he became the American League Player of the Month after posting a .324 average with 5 HR 22 RBI and 14 stolen bases.  



Anyone who knows me knows I would fight to the death over this guy's reputation. I have heard the passion and the will to succeed in his voice this season, and in all of  this, most fans just seem to see his faults.  Upton went 5 for 5 on the day, to tie the Rays record for most hits in a game with 4 other players, but it was only the second time the act has been reached at Tropicana Field, and the first since ex-RayTomas Perez did it on July 29, 2006 against this same Yankees squad.




And another amazing part of the feat that people tend to forget,he started his quest for the cycle in the first inning of the game batting out of the seventh slot in the Rays order. And he got the hardest hitting element of the cycle out of the way during that first appearance....the Triple. I think it is unfortunately that Upton was now finding his rhythm at the plate in the team's 160th game.




Chris O'Meara / AP


And some of the Yankees faithful might look at that first hit, that went underneath sprawling Yankee rightfielder Nick Swisher as he dove for the ball heading into the right-centerfield gap as a gift, and nothing more. But it was the start of a magical trip that all in attendance got to see, feel and relish for the first time in Rays history. And by getting the double in his second at bat, Upton was putting his own stamp on this game, and making the feat easier for himself. 



And let's not forget, the Yankees did have a stellar pitcher on the mound in this game trying to get his 20th win of the season. C C Sabathia was not lobbing the ball up to the plate, but Upton did make solid and great contact on got two of his hits off Sabathia before he left in the bottom of the fourth inning. The other three hits came off the Yankee Bullpen..  



Upton is considered the first American League player to get his cycle before the 5th inning of a game since 1954. During that same period, the National League had three players complete the feat by the 5th inning. And he had completed the task the quickest since the Rockies Mike Lansing did it on  June 8,2000 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. 




What was also so amazing, before that Friday night game, Upton had only 1 HR in his last 31 games, and 2 extra base hits (both doubles) in his last 14 games. Another wild fact is that it was the eighth cycle this season in Major League Baseball, tying the previous record set in 1993. And 6 of the 8 cycles this season have been set in the American League.




But there is another wild statistic that might have missed the Rays fans and the media about Upton. During the month of October, Upton has hit .301 (28 for 93) with 13 extra base hits, 8 HR, 23 runs scored, and 23 RBI.  Those statistics cover over 24 career games, including the playoffs.  So it might not so far fetched that at this time in the season he  also collected 6 RBIs on the same day as his "cycle",but it is a pity we could not have had that offensive power the entire season. I guess it will be one of those "What If" situations.




Chris O'Meara / AP



Hopefully this offensive explosion gave Upton the confidence going into the off season to sweat a bit harder during his off season workouts and come into the 2010 Spring Training on mission.  Sometimes it take a moment like this for a player to escalate to that higher level in their career. Lets hope that by Upton producing the first cycle in Rays history it also pedals him towards what we all know he can be..........an elite member of that speedy Rays outfield both in the field and at the plate.







Don't forget, I have links to all  of my Rays top moments of the season over in the sidebar to the right of the blog. Just click on the "moment" link and it will bring up an MLB.com webpage and report on the event. Tomorrow I should be wrapping up my Top 5  Rays moments of 2009, and next week will venture into the Top 5 worst adventures during the 2009 season. Until then, I hope you come back and check out the Number #1 moment tomorrow and also celebrate an awesome season by a team that proves it doesn't take millions to succeed in baseball.





Rays #3 Moment of 2009: "Carl Crawford- Master Theft"

 







When I was a kid it was pressed upon us at a young age that you should not take things that were not yours. And it was not right to try and deceive or fake your way into getting things under false pretenses. But in the game of baseball, the art of stealing bases is not only legal, its is a right of passage. For if you can gain the speed, the quick jump, and possess the right angles to slide in safely into the bag, you are a valuable weapon in your team's arsenal.



And for this reason, the stolen base has been considered an art form in the game of baseball. Some can get extra bases because of simple pitching mistakes, but the rare few can also use their minds, bodies and their gazelle-like speed to transfer the game into another dimension. And that is why my Number #3 Rays Moment of 2009 has to be the base stealing display put on by Carl Crawford on May 3,2009.



And for years, the Tampa Bay Rays have had one of the Major League's best at this art form. Carl Crawford has always been known for his quick speed out of the batters' box to first base, but he truly holds court between the base paths in the American League.  And if you have the pleasure to watch him do it game after game, you are watching someone who has not only given his team an instant advantage, but someone who take the chaos of his wild swinging arms and legs flailing as he runs,  and combine the action with his tongue just outside his lower lip to bring a unison of movement while stealing a base. 



He is considered to be a tick faster then Stolen Base King and Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, and to see him run from first to third on a play, you would be banking on him falling. But rarely does he make a mistake running on the base paths, and even stole 30 straight bases this season before finally being caught stealing second base.



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But on May 3, 2009, not only did Crawford tie the modern day record for stolen bases in a game with 6 stolen bases on the day, he also went 4 for 4 with a walk to set up his record tying feat.  Proving once again that he is a deadly offensive weapon for the Rays. Only 4 players had equaled that feat since the 1900's, and now Crawford's name would be remembered among them.



Crawford sent the spikes he used that day to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York at their request. So if you get a chance to go to the museum this off season, you will be able to see the footwear he wore during that game against the rival Red Sox.  Also during that game he became the first major leaguer in 97 years to have 6 steals and 4 or more hits in a game.  The last one to post that feat was Eddie Collins on the 1912 Philadelphia Athletics.



At that point in the season he was already the fourth best All Time in steals with 391 stolen bases in 383 attempts (83.3 percent rate).  His 83.3 rate ties him with former Royal  great Willie Wilson for the all time AL mark. And he is still young. Considering he is not even near his 30th birthday and he just might set a few more records before all is said and done in his career.




Mike Carlson / AP



I have to tell you, I was in the stadium on that day, and I was probably as nervous as everyone else wondering if he was going to try and steal a seventh base that night. With Evan Longoria at the plate you ached and arched your back with every pitch wondering if he was again going to sprint off of first base and try and set a new record. But he never did.



And it was not learned until after the game that Crawford did not even know the importance of the event, or he might have tried for a seventh base. But that is the glitz and glamor of Crawford. He was thinking about the team first, and not thinking of personal gains or records for himself. And that makes him more valuable to this Rays team.


Rays # 4 Moment in 2009: "Zorilla Meets the Renegade"

 




Here we go again!
Let's get this show back on the road again of the Top 5 Moments in Rays baseball in 2009. It is time now to present my personal fourth greatest moment this past season. I guess you can say I am really proud of this moment because it happened literally right in front of me. That's right, the special moment I am picking as my fourth best of the season is when Tampa Bay Rays rightfielder Ben Zobrist came over and fell over the padded partition just to the right side of my seats with a circus catch that endeared him to everyone from that moment on in 2009.



The play happened during the sixth inning of a game that the Rays had pretty much in the bag against the Oakland Athletics, and their big slugger Matt Holliday was at the plate facing Rays rookie Jeff Niemann. There were two outs in the inning, and the Rays had a comfortable 11-2 lead at that point. Niemann threw a nice slick 94 mph fastball that Holliday  was able to turn on and sent a high fly ball into the rightfield corner.



Zobrist felt he had a nice bead on the ball and was concentrating on following the path of the ball and not his location on the field when he smacked into the wall just outside the Checkers Bullpen Cafe. Well, from my seat, which is right there, I could see he might not be able to get both the ball and keep his feet.  But I had my camera in my hand at the time looking at that ball beginning to floating towards our seats. But I quickly glanced over and saw Zobrist was barrelling at full speed and did not even blink as he clipped the bottom of the wall with his cleats and his momentum sent him end over end into the padded area besides my seat.




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Just before he hit the green padded wall near the foulpole, Zobrist  firmly caught the ball and quickly clamped it deep into the webbing of his glove. As he flipped over the wall I reached down to try and keep him off the Green concrete wall just next to my seat. He hit the black padding and just looked up at me and I yelled "Throw up your glove and let the umpire call the ball!". Zobrist immediately thrust the  brown glove up with the  pure white ball showing firmly deep in the pocket of his mitt.



He was grinning from ear-to-ear at that moment and quickly popped back up and walked out the opened gate back onto the field. He had hit that padded wall with such extreme force that he broke the painted wood paneling on that section of the wall and tore the field-side padding at the bottom where his cleats  hadcaught the fabric before hurdling over the wall.



It was an amazing catch, and set the stage for the rest of the MLB world to get to know this player Rays fans already knew and loved for his hustle and his grit. It showed the hustle and the determination of this young player do whatever he could to help his team win night after night. And I am so glad I got to have a front row seat to his "coming out" party.





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The next day during the Rays Batting Practice, Zobrist came over to me at my seat and we chatted for a few seconds and I made sure to congradulate him on his "ESPN Baseball Tonight" web gem (#2).  We chuckled about it all for a moment and I had an idea. I asked him if he would sign the wall portion that he cracked during the play. He looked at me for a second, then took the black Sharpie from me and signed his name to the wall. He inscribed on the wall, "Courtesy of Ben Zobrist". 




I picked this as the fourth best moment of the year simply for the fact it was Zobrist's outfield defensive "coming out " moment of the season. Before that time people had considered him a utility player with mostly roots in the infield. But in 2009, Zobrist became one of those players that a team can not win without having him in the line-up. And for that reason, this moment stood out to me as the day everyone around the MLB had a reason to fall in love with the way he plays the game, even as Zorilla.




Chris O'Meara / AP


Be sure to check out each special Rays moment daily as I count down my list to Number #1. To the right of the blog, in the sidebar, you will see a heading for the "Top 5 Rays Moments of 2009" as MLB.com links to each of the special Rays moments.


I am planning on leaving those moments up for the entire off season. But if anyone really wanted to know where I sat, and if I ever got on television, this video is proof for both questions. I love sitting there to be close to the action, and to chat with the Rays Bullpen members each game.  But on May 18th, during the first home game since my birthday, I got a special present from Zorilla, and a moment we will all remember in Rays history.






World Series Game 5.0 One Year Anniversary

 




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I was going to begin my end of the season series of blogs on my  personal "Top 5 Moments in the 2009 Rays Season" until I looked at the calendar on the kitchen wall this morning. And there it stood. In huge bold RED letters October 27, 2009. To most people this date is only a reminder that in only 4 days, the hordes of sugar-seeking pint-sized ghouls and gobblins trick or treaters would invade the neighborhoods, and the air would be alive with the screams and laughter of children everywhere.



To the Rays faithful, this date is the One Year Anniversary of a baseball moment that will live in Rays lore as the "Big One that Got Away".  It was one year ago on this day that Game 5 of the 2008 World Series was to be played, and completed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.



But it really does not feel like it has been an entire year since I was sitting in Section 101 in centerfield right by both teams Bullpen Areas at Citizen Bank Park watching some pieces of errant uneaten hot dogs, sandwich wrappers and soda cups raining down from the stands when the Major League Baseball head honcos and Home Plate Umpire Jeff Kellogg decided to suspend play during Game 5 of the 2008 World Series in Philadelphia to protect the players.



And about this moment the Philly weather was starting to pick up an extra special blast of chilling wind gust, and the  present temperature in the stadium seemed to be dipping extremely fast towards a point of freezing. But still we sat there hoping we might be able to complete this game and get our toes and noses defrosted with a cup of steaming hot coffee in between innings.



It did not matter that the cold made our fingers a bit numb and ached when we clapped or even tried to loosen them up by flexing them during the game.  For I was from Florida, and this bit of weather is not a usual element for us to endure during games, but my two batting gloves did help a little bit in the cold. Both teams tried to play this game, but were fighting increasingly slippery surfaces on the basepaths and at the home plate.




AP Photo


The game was beginning to resemble a old neighborhood kids baseball game where we played in the muck and mud and sloshed around as best you could because we loved to play the game. But the guys out on that field were professionals, and the elements were not giving them ample footing or even visibility to see the ball in the air. And it was a good call in hindsight to stop the game before some got hurt, or a play occurred that would change the course of the game.



I can still see the three Phillies fans who sat a few rows back who had traveled over one hundred miles to attend that night's game, and would not be able to stay over for even one more night to see a possible ending to this game. The saddness on their faces as they rose after the announcement and almost tore their tickets up showed the common air of disappointment circling the stadium that night.



All I can easily recall sitting in my seat drinking a soda and watching the Rays players become more like human popsicles with every inning. The "Elmer Fudd"  Rays hats with the ear flaps were in great demand down on the Rays dugout, and you could see the after glow of the bench heaters from my outfield seats. It is a wonder nothing caught fire that night as the flames seemed to kiss the back of the players heels and they relished the warmth and endured the slight discomfort of the heat.



And when the announcement officially came from the public address system that the game would not be continued, you understood the instant wrath and barrage of garbage being thrown in the air. We wanted to see the end of that classic game that would later be known as Game 5.0 and Game 5.5, but the safety and welfare of the member of both squads and the fan took center stage.




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We all know how this game ended up two days later. And maybe if the game had been played to it conclusion a different result might have occurred. But it was the right call by MLB in an extreme situation that not only made history, but also showed some immense courage considering what town the game was being held in at the time.


I even made sure to try and spot my seat from that night and sure enough, he was sitting there with a beer in one hand, and a big Brat in the other cheering on his Phillies. Today is painful, but not as biting as a year ago as I wandered outside the stadium walking down Broad Street with the rest of the fans. There were shouts of disgust, shows of violent tendencies, but the crowd was pretty subdued compared to a few hours ago in the stadium during the game.



I ended up with a few friends of mine from my days in Philly back in the early 1990's and went to one of the neighborhood bars for a few drinks to get my blood flowing again to my limbs. There I met a guy who was so upset he had to work that night, but was glad he might get a chance to see a World Series game now that the game was postponed a few days.




I sat there listening to his stories for a bit, and he heard a few of my Rays tales before I offered my ticket to him. I had a flight out of Philly the next evening and could not stay an additional night to see the conclusion of the game. I took no money from him, but told him to get down to Clearwater, Florida during Spring Training and we will settle the score. He did make it down and invited me to a game.  With him he brought a Game Program from the game, a Beep Cup signifying the World Series, and the ticket stub.



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I told him he could have the ticket stub since his team won the World Series at the conclusion to that game. He told me he took it to a Kinko's store and had it enlarged to a huge size, and it is now hanging in his game room. So this day has some mixed emotions to me. I got to see history a year ago today, and also got to provide a lifetime moment to someone who would have missed it if the game did not get postponed. So even with all the pain of this date, some good did come of it all.






   

Sunday Rewind: "Open Letter to Andrew Friedman"

 



Sunday Rewind:

The following entry was a copy of a letter I sent to Tampa Bay Rays Vice-President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman on August 12, 2008.   It was an open letter to him after some concerns following the recent injury bug that has plaqued the Rays.
 

To:  Rays Vice-President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman
 
Dear Andrew,
 

Being a long time Season Ticket holder and fan of the Rays, I thought I might write you concerning my views on the recent injury situations hitting the club at this important point in our season. I hope this letter shows some insight into the thoughts and ideals that we, as vital Rays clogs in the machine, the fans, hopefully to see  fulfilled as we fight for our October destiny.


On the subject of irrational roster moves or acquiring  part-time players.
Please do not feel like you need to make a monster roster move or trade to suppliment the injuries suffered by All-Star leftfielder Carl Crawford. I think we have enough back-up experience in both Justin Ruggiano, Eric Hinske, Gabe Gross, and Rocco Baldelli to feel secure in our 15 days (hopefully) that Crawford will be out of the lineup.


Remembering, that Crawford has been extremely aggressive at the plate this season, and might be hitting just a tad below his usual awesome numbers. I want to also state that the time off for Carl might also help rehab that hamstring injury that has been plaguing him for much of this year. A few weeks rest might be good for Carl, and the Rays have more than adequate people in house to keep the position secure with the power and speed.


By using our Rays farm system instead of going out for over-priced vets like Kenny Lofton, you are making a confident message that you will not be "making a deal to make a deal," and that you have a strong and secure feeling about the personnel already on board with the Rays.


By not sinking to a lower level and thinking about signing Barry Bonds to a contract, you are keeping the clubhouse chemistry alive and not tampering with  the team's destiny or fate. the overall feeling in the Rays clubhouse right now is that they can overcome this  current set back and come out of it with a stronger team unity and unified purpose going into the playoff push.



The team chemistry on this Rays squad is at its highest point in the Rays history. I have never seen the Bullpen and the bench players root for their teammates as much as they have this season. The Rays seem to be more in tune with the entire team concept this year, and they adhere to it's unwritten rules and conduct.



This squad oozes confidence and positive karma into the media like a stream down a mountain side. It would be a disaster to try and re-construct the team for a short haul and ruin this great team dynamic. It is rare that you have 25 players,and a coaching staff all feeling the same vibe at the same time.



There is no one with an inflated ego on this team that feels they are above the group, and the team has done great in keeping that in line this year if someone has gotten a bit "lofty" in their words. You have made great pitching decisions this year in giving Edwin Jackson a fair chance in the rotation, and he has rewarded you with career highs in wins and a lower ERA.



You made a unpopular trade at the time for a shortstop and a young pitcher that made it seemed like you got low-balled on the deal. About right now, the Twins might give you almost anything for those guys back in their fold. Matt Garza has grown, and his ceiling is only growing with every start this year. But he was not the steal of that deal by a long shot.



Even though Jason Bartlett has had a injury plagued season, he has been an instant sparkplug in the Rays machine by playing excellent defense, and coming up with timely hits for the Rays this year. He has been the hidden jewel in the Rays infield, and hopefully he will shine bright for many years.



In closing, I know there is only about 7 weeks left in this 2008 season, but do not make a forceful and hasty move just to save some sort of face with the media and fans base. Make the secure moves that might include a certain pitcher in Triple-A at Durham for security in the Bullpen or rotation, but do not be hasty to make the decision to stand pat if the Rays are rolling and it might hurt the flow.



In the end, you are the face in the front office of this franchise that the fans will look to if we fail or succeed. Either way, the season has been a wild ride, with plenty of more in store for this team in the next 5 years ...........or more.
 

Your Season Ticketholder for Life,


Rays Renegade

Sect 138, Row C, Seat 3


 

Rays #5 Moment of 2009: Welcome to Zaunbe Nation

 


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Usually about this time of the year we try and look back and celebrate and remember some of the great moments of the Tampa Bay Rays season. As we begin to enter the sunset of the year, we should remember just how far we really have come as a franchise, and the players and people who have emerged this season to make its memories and tales light up like the brightest day.




Over the next several days I am going to revisit some of the Top 5 moments for me personally during the 2009 season. Now I am not going to throw them down as isolated moments, but as key moments I think happened during the season to change the outcome of this team. Also not listed will be the in-game foul ball catches by me ( May 29th vs Twins @ home), because those are personal moments of triumph, and not Rays moments. 



So today I felt it was only right to throw down my personal 5 favorite moments of the Rays 2009 season. And there is surely more than 5 that come to mind quickly, but I would hate to write a 125 paragraph blog on the excitement and the adventures that this team experienced daily in 2009 from the first reporting date on February 15,2009.



The fifth memory of the 2009 season has to be the way that the Rays newly acquired catcher, Gregg Zaun introduced himself to the Rays hometown fans during a game against the one of his old teams, the Toronto Blue Jays on August 16th.  Most Rays fans remember that in 2008, it was Zaun that hit a Grand Slam HR against the Rays to garner a victory for the Jays.
 



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This Sunday afternoon contest had all the makings of a tight game with Rays starter Matt Garza taking the hill for the home team. And it was a tight game until the bottom of the eighth inning when  Jay reliever Brandon League came on with the score knotted at 1-all. 



League got the first out of the inning quickly when he got Evan Longoria to fly out to rightfield on the second pitch. But then League gave up a single to rightfield to Ben Zobrist, and Carlos Pena quickly countered with a double to deep centerfield to put 2 men in scoring position for the Rays with still only one out in the inning.



Toronto then Intentionally Walked the next batter Willy Aybar to load the bases, and  the Rays decided to pinch hit Gabe Gross for Gabe Kapler. League and Gross had a classic pitcher-hitter confrontation throwing 10 pitches before finally striking out to produce the second out of the inning.  With catcher Dioner Navarro due to come up next, Toronto must have felt like they had dodged the bullet in this inning.



Mike Carlson / AP


But Rays Manager Joe Maddon was not done with his mind games and instead sent up Zaun to pinch hit for Navarro with the bases still juiced with Rays runners. League got behind in the count early and finally got back to a 3-2 count before throwing the sixth pitch of the at bat. The next ball he would get would be a spanking new ball after Zaun smacked the ball a good 10 rows deep into Section 140 for a Grand Slam home run, and to post the Rays to a 5-1 lead in the game.



The crowd and the players in the dugout both went totally nuts and Zaun as he circled the bases did not even look into the Blue Jays dugout. But you could see his wide grin as he stepped on home plate and was mobbed by the three other base runners that had scored before him.  It was a great way for the "Zaunbe Nation" to begin its quest to win over the Rays fans. The pitch effected League so much he hit B J Upton with the next pitch and was taken out of the game by Toronto Manager Cito Gaston.



The reason it was my fifth best moment of the year was the introduction of a player I hope the Rays decide to have on their roster again in 2010. Zaun brings a nice energy and professionalism that seems to be working great with the Rays starters. The team will have to pick up his $2 million option, but considering that Dioner Navarro is also arbitration eligible, and might get a raise to about $ 2.5 million, my gut tells me that Zaun would be better in the long run for the franchise.




www.greggzaun.com


Also, if you get a chance, please go to www.greggzaun.com and check out his very slick and very entertaining website that he developed for his fans and to promote his many charity efforts. It also has both his "walk-up" tunes on the site.


The 2009 season has so many great memories and moments it has been difficult to even get them down to a possible 20. But I sat there for a few days this weekend with my list and a big sharpie and wrote notes in the margin and in between the lines to try and get a pretty concise and complete list. Of course we will not have the number 4 reason posted on Sunday as we have the "Sunday Rewind" already in the works to preview some of the classic blogs postings of the last few seasons.



But you can bet that on Monday night we will again begin posting the rest of my list from Monday to Thursday night baring any important MLB news. So hopefully you will return back and cherish some of these awesome Rays 2009 moments with me during the next few days as we celebrate the second winning season of the Rays, and just a small step backwards in our journey to walk tall among the teams in the American League East.

 

 

Every day until I reach my number # 1 moment of the 2009 season, I will be posting a link of that event on the sidepanel to the right of the blog entry. This will give other people a chance to also check out the event as it happened during the Rays 2009 season. You will see the Number # 5 moment is currently already on the sidebar so you can relive Gregg Zaun introductory moment to the Rays Republic.

 

 

 

Rays Decision on Iwamura is Complex

 


Duane Burelson / AP




With the beginning of the 2009 off season upon us, teams like the Tampa Bay Rays will soon have to begin to make some serious personnel decisions for the 2010 season, even before they hit the MLB Winter meetings in Indianapolis, Indiana. Everybody and their brother already know about the Rays impending decision on Carl Crawford's $ 10 million club option, and his public eagerness to sweeten the deal and possibly sign another extended contract.



But there is another Rays player who has made it be known to the Rays front office through the media that he would entertain a contract restructuring, and maybe give the team a local discount because of his family's love for this area. Iwamura informed the Tampa Bay media during his May 29th press conference about his successful knee surgery that he wants to "come back for the fans" in 2010, and the teams holds a $4.85 million club option.




One thing working into Iwamura's favor is the fact the Rays have seen him work totally with the team in mind in the past to do whatever is needed to make this Rays team better. When he first came to the Rays, he was their third baseman, and he quickly showed his defensive skills at that position. After the end of the 2007 season, Iwamura was asked by the Rays Coaching staff if he would consider a move to second base to open the door for the Rays top prospect Evan Longoria to maybe move into that position in the Spring of 2008.




Without hesitation, Iwamura  began to work on the switch during the off season both  in Japan and with the team at the Rays complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. Iwamura was hoping for a smooth seamless transition to his new spot at second base. During that off season, the Rays traded with the Twins for Jason Bartlett to also add more defensive power to their two weakest spots in the infield.
 



Michael Dwyer / AP



Iwamura stated to the St. Petersburg Times on February 17,2008 that he was "Proud of my play at third base but at same time if the team needs me to be at second for team reasons I more than welcome it,'' he said through new interpreter Bori Uchibori. "It's a challenge to me anyway. I know I can do it. Wiggy can do it so I can do it.'' During that season's Spring Training, Iwamura and Bartlett  worked out together and formed a quick bond and a second sense for each others actions and reactions, and it became a flawless fit for the team.




Even after his knee surgery to repair damage received during a May 29,2008 game against the Florida Marlins where Marlins rookie Chris Coghlan came in hard to break up a double play and Iwamura went down in a heap after getting caught between the bag and Coghlan's foot. Iwamura was encouraged by the surgeries prognosis and vowed to be back with the team before the end of the season. On August 29th, Iwamura returned from the disabled list after 60 days.




And that kind of team-oriented qualities need to be welcomed by the Rays Coaching staff and Front Office as they consider if they want to include Iwamura in their future plans.  You can bet there will be more than a few discussions before the team announces if they will pick up or refuse Iwamura's 2010 option. And the team can go a few directions here.  There is some doubt right now if recently acquired infielder Sean Rodriguez, who might have outgrown Triple-A is ready for every day duty in the major leagues.




And that has to be the biggest question mark surrounding Iwamura right now. Can Rodriguez be an every day MLB level player for the Rays, or even a valuable utility man like Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist? That might be the big question in mind as the Rays roll the dice before the team reports to Port Charlotte on February 19,2010.  Can they afford to refuse his option and resign him for a reduced salary and incentives, or risk letting him test the free agent waters?




Ben Margot / AP



And you know there are a bevy of teams that might want to lure Iwamura away from the Rays. A team like the New York Mets could benefit from the Rays confusion and would use his speed and flexibility to compliment their infield. But this is putting the cart before the horse. The Rays have not let their intentions known yet to the general public, but you know it is a high priority of the Rays Front Office to try and get both a financial and  team suitable arrangement that can benefit both sides.




And with Iwamura being a bit of a fan favorite, the team might have to tread a bit lightly right now considering the fallout from the Scott Kazmir trade in late August 2008. To make another trade so quick without a solution in hand might again send up some unwarranted red flags amongst the Rays faithful. The Rays best solution might be to sign Iwamura to a extended contract with the stipulation that if Rodriguez is ready, Iwamura could be traded to another team during the season. 





That would show a level of good faith by the Rays along with some future considerations in place if Rodriguez provides another option piece for the team.  The worst part of this decision is that it is going to be more of a financial than personal decision about Iwamura. You know the team would love to keep someone like Iwamura on their roster, but his payroll number might make it unfeasible. But the team has been sure to note that an exit visa is not in the cards right now to jettison Iwamura from the Rays.





Lynn Sladsky / AP


But  his $ 4.85 million club option is also pretty affordable by most of the teams within the MLB, and the Rays could shop Iwamura maybe for some Bullpen help that the team desperately need right now. I actually hope they come to an arrangement prior to accepting or declining his option that would benefit both sides.  And maybe an "out" or trade revision will have to be added to any contract. But since Iwamura has announced he would do some shifting in money and conditions, this negotiation is going to be tricky for the Rays.



There is a slippery slope here that the Rays have to be careful and move gingerly or fall prey to some past decisions. But that is one of the drawbacks of being an successful club. Sometimes hard line financial decisions have to be made without personal feeling involved. Best case scenario has Iwamura staying with the team and maybe moved at the Trade Deadline when Rodriguez could get some extra time at Triple-A.



But no matter what the team does between now and February, you know this is going to be one of their toughest decisions of this offseason. Hopefully they make the right decision with the team and its future in mind.



Cheesesteak Controversy.....Geno's or Pat's?

 






I went and visited an old friend today for lunch who runs a small take-out joint called the "A Taste of Philly" in Largo, Florida. He has the reputation of some of the finest selections of tasty morsels south of Broad Street in Philadelphia. The guy imports  all of his bakery goods straight from the City of Brotherly Love daily, and you can't fight the quality of his fare. They are all three napkins worthy!


So I came upon the idea that maybe we need to vent the Philly fans attention another direction for a few days and give them something to debate before the beginning of the World Series on Wednesday night. I decided maybe we need to try the virtues of two of Philly's biggest sandwich icons and decide once and for all.........



Who is KING of the Cheesesteaks according to people around the country and not just from Philly. So I decided to just throw my personal opinions and comments out here along with a little history about each place and let the ball fall and see who picks it up and runs with it. Seriously, everyone knows that people in the town have an opinion on their particular favorite cheesesteak hangout. So without further ado, Let's Get it on!



In the Orange corner wearing multi-colored neon boxing shorts and fighting for his creation firmly mounted on the corner of 9th and Passyunk, we have Joey Vento's and his monster creation....GENO's. There is a really funny story on how Vento came up with the name for his place back in 1966.  With a Joe's Steak Place already situated within the city limits of South Philly, Vento was perplexed on a name for his new place.







Well, some local kid named Gino had spray painted his name on the back door of the new place and Vento saw it and knowing that there was a local well-to-do chain store with the same name, just put a couple lines on the "GINO" painted on his back door and "GENO's was born.  the biggest thing you need to get used to if you ever order at Geno's is to have your order ready at the first window before you even utter a word. There is actually an art to ordering what kind of cheese,or onions you want on your thin-cut steaming ribeye cheesesteak. 




If you fail to order within a certain time limit, you can be sure the people in line behind you will give you a shout or two to let you know what they think. And that is something this town was built on Freedom of speech. And let me tell you, this is one of the places in town you will talk about for years just for the ordering experience.  And considering all of this was started back in 1966 with only two boxes of ribeyes, some hot dogs, and a total of $6 in Vento's pockets. Simply fantastic. 




And the fact the counter is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and fills the air with the awesome aromas of onions,and sizzling steak just makes you wander towards the counter. I am not going to give a review of Geno's right now before I introduce our second challenger to the fray. And he is another heavyweight in the fight to fill Philly fans bellies late into the night, and early mornings.






In the Blue corner fighting from the opposite corner of the intersection is Pat's, King of Steaks, which is not as brightly set in neon lights as Geno's, but still is the rave for cheesesteaks in the city. Between the two establishments there is always a line at certain times of the day. Pat's actually was founded about 36 years before Geno's back in 1930. Back then it was a modest hot dog emporium at the base of the famous Italian Market in South Philly.




One day Pat decided to try something different for that days lunch crowd.  So he had some one go get some chopped meat at the local butcher shop and grilled it up on his flat top where he usually cooked his hot dogs.  He went next door to the Italian Market and got some fresh sandwich rolls and placed the steamed meat on the bun along with some onions.




Just as Pat was about to sample his new invention, a Philly cabbie on his usual lunch break asked what Pat was eating. After a short bit of chatter, Pat decided to make one of the new creations for his cabbie friend. Pat cooked him up one of the sandwiches and after the first bite the cabbie proclaimed to Pat, "Hey, forget 'bout those hot dogs, you should sell these."   And a momentary change in his lunch option, and the World Famous South Philly steak sandwich was born.



Over the years, people wanted a bit of change, hence the addition of cheese to the sandwich. At both locations there is a huge amount of history and celebrity that focus attention to both eateries, but one of the great adventures of ordering your sandwich at Pat's can be the highlight of your pre-sandwich meal.



It is not uncommon for the counter person to ask someone to go to the end of the line if they stutter or can not get the order done in a timely fashion. Returning patrons can be picked out of the crowd easy by their ease at throwing out what they want on their cheesesteaks in a micro of seconds. There is even a sign posted before the counter window to help ease you into the "Pat's Way" of ordering and getting you food as quick as possible. 



I have to say, the first time I went there I did not have to go to the back of the line, but they knew I was from the South. Maybe my Tampa Bay cap gave me away. Anyways I have to give a slight nod even before tasting either sandwich to Pat's because they serve Pepsi products. See even in my time away from the job I still value my sodas. But both places did serve Dr. Pepper, so the scale went even again.



Another tipping point that might have pushed me in a certain direction might be the fact that at Pat's you can eat on premises. But this was not a deciding factor if you like people watching and also enjoy the crisp, chill in the October air in Philly. Eating al fresco  at Geno's is not like sitting at a street side Cafe' in Paris, but you can see and hear everything that is happening around you at both steak institutions.  



No matter which of the two competing places you savor when you come to Philly, the leading factor to coming down to Passyunk has to be to eat one of the creations that has be associated with this city for so long. Doesn't matter if you like your cheesesteak loaded with Cheez Wiz like at Pat's or can choose your artery clogging cheese selection like Geno's. The basic fact that you enjoy a well made sandwich should be enough right?








Okay. I get it, you want a winner. That is so American of you (lol). I am actually going to break this down into points of yummy to consider a winner here.


***** Geno's might be the only restaurant in South Philly you can see from Space. Pat's is sometimes blurred by the amount of people standing outside still at 2 am.
ADVANTAGE: Geno's.


]***** Pat's counter people make even ordering a sandwich an experience. With the helpful signage and some of the crowd helping you so you can also have a fast experience without going to the back of the line. Geno's can be testy too, but part of the Pat's experience is just their ordering process.
ADVANTAGE: Pat's.


***** Because of their extra selections of types of cheese (Cheez Wiz,American, Provolone Cheese) plus the condiments like ketchup,mustard,relish and Geno's own hot sauce, it give you extra options for your food.
Pat's offers the same outside condiments, but for some reason, the cheese selection just let everyone have it their way.
ADVANTAGE: Geno's



***** And last, but not least is the atmosphere around both places. I have to say I have been to both at different times of the season, and this one might come down to what makes you personally comfortable at the time. Geno's does have that neighborhood joint feel to the place and with everyone outside eating and talking it creates a buzz in the air. Pat's was my haven last October when the chilling rain and the wild breezes swept through the Philly streets and eating facing the wind was not a pleasant option. Thank you south side tables.
ADVANTAGE: Geno's & Pat's



So, based on the about yummy points you might think it is solely Geno's  to lose for my ultimate winner. Well, if you think that, then you do not know me very well. I actually found both places to have their own signature differences that could have taken me towards either side of the street for a winner.



But in the end, it is ultimately a personal decision, and one I can not make for you. But I do have to add that both places have a huge bit of history and personality to them from ordering to sampling either of their fares.  The true winner of this is the citizens of Philadelphia. Not just do they have multiple choices around the city, but every large city in the US has a Philly-branded eatery in which they offer their own take on the classic steak sandwich.
 







It doesn't matter if you like it with Whiz, onions or just  with cooked peppers, the choice is all yours. Even take it Italian and add a bit of marinara sauce to explode the taste buds another direction.  We are all thankful to the City of Brotherly Love, and especially to two well-known and loved steak emporiums within cheesesteak tossing distance of each other.



Another experience you must have in Philly is just to walk down the street towards these two stands and smell the heavy air full of steak, onions and peppers that wander through the neighborhood. As I sit here eating the rest of my cheesesteak from "A Taste of Philly" I am reminded to save space for another great city creation, a big hot soft pretzel to take home and enjoy. Oh, and another cheesesteak for later!

ESPN's Steve Phillips implicated in Romance

 








It is rather funny sometimes that people in the entertainment and sports worlds do not learn from their colleagues prior mistakes. I am not one to launch a bevy of stones towards a man for falling for a woman, but I guess my guidelines tend to be a bit more defined both since I am single and compared to some of the recent escapades of the folks in the broadcast industry. It is okay David Letterman, "Mr. Worldwide Pants" I am not aiming at you with this blog.




No I am aiming my wrath at someone who has already had a publicized bout in the sexual harassment arena and fought his way back to fight another day. But again he might have been brought down to size by own ego and arrogance that "this time" it was going to be different. You might have read by now that ESPN "Baseball Tonight" commentator Steve Phillips really messed up this time. Didn't his firing in 1998 from the General Managers position with the New York Mets not teach him to leave the young one alone?




I mean that tragedy had a huge bite of a sexual scandal to it. But the one thing I have learned in my 3 extra years on this planet than the 46-year old Phillips is that a scorned woman is a deadly woman both mentally and physically to a married man. So Phillips did not learn his lesson in 1998 when you made an out of court settlement on the sexual harassment case where you and another Mets employee were having a tryst on the side.  Didn't that first  stint with your "no-no" behavior teach you anything?




Maybe I had better send you a DVD copy of the Glen Close classic "Fatal Attraction", because based on the recent police reports filed in Wilton, Conn, you will have to watch your back for a long, long time. Please tell me your kids do not have a rabbit, because I can not bear to think of the pot boiling over again and seeing another scene like that one. It would be deja vu 1998  career pot boiling over for you.








This time  at least you did not pick a MLB baseball club employee, but you made a mistake of picking someone from your own backyard, a female assistant from ESPN to have a "out of sight, out of mind" hush hush affair. The only problem was when you wanted her "out of sight", she showed up at your home in Wilton speak to your wife and leave a detailed note on your family door for your wife to read upon returning to the house.



Problem was that your psychotic 22-year old gal pal Brooke Hundley was trying to proclaiming that you and your present wife Marni "both could not have him" back during an array of phone calls to your present wife starting on August 5,2009. the trigger for the entire bizarre event was the "right" decision by Phillips to break off their tryst and sever all ties to Hundley. Oh Stevie boy, I do not think she took it well because there she was  just 2 weeks later in your home driveway doing her best Glen Close impression.
 




Worst yet, the woman of your wet dreams did not plan to go quietly into the night and not fit your personal  definition of "out of mind". You see she freaked out as your wife came home and parked behind her car in the driveway after she posted her "proclamation letter of Love" your front door, and tried to escape by driving up on your well-manicured lawn and busting a cement column in front of your home.  What a shame you were not in front of her car at that moment, it would have made a great episode of "Cops".





Because not matter what happens next Phillips, this sin to going to end pretty much badly for anyone involved in this "affair." But what is even worse is the later revelation that your  young mistress was befriending your son and learning all sorts of personal family business by posing as one of his High School classmates through numerous Instant Messages about what was going on at your home. That is right Phillips, I hear that theme music from "Fatal Attraction" in the background right now. Hundley was also so bold as to pretend to be another of your sons friends and chat with your son on his Facebook page to get more Phillips dirt.




I have to give this woman a little credit, she did her research, and got the goodies before going all wacky. And your released Press statement to the Wilton Police will be remembered at Academy Award time maybe for a Best Unsupporting Husband Oscar nomination, I could feel the pain in your words (cough, cough).



"This woman has clearly displayed erratic behavior and delusional tendencies," Phillips said in a statement to Police. " She has shown up at our house. She has taken on the identity of at least two people (minors) to violate our son (a minor). I have extreme concerns about the health and safety of my kids and myself." But here is the kicker people....wait for it.........wait for it.......You know you want to wait for it!







After issuing that solemn statement to the Wilton Police Department you stated that you did not want to press charges. Sounds like you are trying to put a bit of closure on all of this, but I always say nothing says "It's over" more than a protection order/Trespassing writ where she has to admire you from 500 feet away. Just saying Phillips.



Of course presently, Ms. Hundley is on vacation and will chat with local police detectives next week. Wonder if Phillips or ESPN paid for that little trip? But there is a bright side to all of this for Marni Phillips. She filed for divorce on September 14th. So now Phillips will have an empty house and a lot of time to contemplate his next move (hopefully without Hundley).



But you can be sure even if Hundley stays employed at ESPN, this whole ball of wax is not over by a long shot. Sure people like broadcaster Marv Albert have gotten back into his broadcasting gigs after finally admitting and doing his social penalties for his biting crimes, but Phillips might not be as lucky. Just remember Jimmy "The Greek" as they tear up your contract after consideration.




Even though ESPN has had this type of  romance fraternization problems rear its ugly head. Back in 2006, ESPN baseball analyst Harold Reynolds was let go after an internal investigation because a female intern objected to Reynolds advancements and blew the whistle on him. I am not calling for a clean towel when I watch ESPN right now, but they need to clean up the smudges fast.
 



Maybe there needs to be a mandatory refresher course in sexual harassment pronto. And not the weekend workshops, they tend to make people think they have an entire weekend to stop the garbage. What really has me blistering is the fact that these two men in authority over younger women disregarded their moral responsibility to train and mentor their assistants and interns, and not wander into the dark areas of activities like this that could ruin more lives than just their own.



You can bet there is going to be some type of career repercussions from this for Phillips. He might have used his last trump card to cover MLB baseball on air. Sure it might not be  the usual MLB situation where he used a banned substance, or even a corked bat, but the integrity of his expertise will now seem tainted and everything he says will come into question when he opens his mouth.







The broadcasting game right now needs the people reporting  and training their underlings to be as clean as the driven snow. We can not have episodes like this coming out and tarnishing the guys who sit at the desks and tell us "the way it is out on the field." It is time for everyone who covers the sport to check themselves before they wreck themselves. I want to believe what they are telling me is true by their own actions, on and off the air.



Some might say that Phillips did not drive drunk and hurt someone, and that forgiveness is the first step to progress for him. Granted, I believe that is true, but the fact is that Phillips did not learn his lesson the first time. He might have thought he had the clear cut answer this time, but he picked the wrong person who was not ready for that heartache. So not only is he away from the cameras during the MLB Playoffs, Phillips might have made his last segments on Television for a long time, or at least until those of us with ADD forget all about this affair. Let's hope there is not a chance for a third called strike for Phillips.


Calling Dr. Rivera........Dr. Rivera to the mound Stat!

10/21/09 Blog Note: 

For some reason, the originator of the Mariano Rivera video clip has removed it from the Youtube.com files. Hopefully this was not done because of  a overpowering amount of pressure thrown at him by New York Yankees fans. But since a second angle did not make the video's evidence conclusive, he might have decided to pull it down.
Have to admit, if I had a video I felt strongly about it would take a court order to pull it off my site. But that is the world we live in today. Sometimes things are not what they seem, and pressure can make you change your own strong will and integrity. I am still leaving the video up on the blog on because I feel if you post it, you believe in it. Plain and simple.

 







There is photo evidence of a "doctored" pitch by Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera during his relief appearance in Game 3 of the ALCS in Anaheim, California. Now this is not so shocking to me since every pitcher who  has ever graced a mound in the MLB might at times have a dark secret under their caps. And this would not be the first time a pitcher has ever stepped beyond the realm of the rules to vex his own "alleged" spit towards the small white sphere.




But  the immediate outrage might be a bit subdued compared to some stories that have broke during the 2009 season. For this is no "steroid" usage article, but this  was a high visibility pitcher who might have been caught with video evidence that Major League pitchers sometimes do things outside the boundaries of their perfect job description.



From an extra bit of sticky rosin residue on their caps, pant legs or maybe even a hidden smudge spot of pine tar situated somewhere on their gloves, this is not the first time, or the last time a MLB pitcher will  have their mound integrity called into question.




It is more a case of who got caught in this instance than why it was done in the first place. If it had been Angels reliever Jason Bulger or Kevin Jepsen, we might not even have a simple comment voiced.  The evidence and the story are going global because a big fish got caught in the net this time.







Rivera has been the Major Leagues closer icon and a Yankee legend for so long that people forget he is also a pitcher who might sometimes enjoy an extra zippy edge on his cutter from time to time.




And he might have got caught yesterday by a camera using an extra slippery substances that can only be proven by DNA samples. But seriously here, are we going to even go there. Not only do the Angels and MLB not have the ball in question, but it also doesn't show a camera angle from behind the mound towards Home Plate.
 




www.halosheaven.com


This angle would produce beyond a shadow of a doubt that the "spit" in question actually landed on the ball and  did not miss it and proceed downward to the mound clay. And even with a high definition video in hand, it is still missing the other single camera clip image from a Fox Television camera in HD completely proves guilt here.



Who is to say that when an MLB pitcher goes to his backside and then to his glove, then comes off the mound and rubs a baseball during a game he is not applying a substance? You have to assume on every pitch that the pitcher on the mound is doing it right, and by the rules. So why is it automatically taken as a proof par excellence that a website, www.HalosHeaven.com might have the only evidence in the world of this "alleged" doctoring of the baseball by Rivera.






www.halosheaven.com



Now if there is a reverse  camera angle video, or a  single frame shot taken from the Visitor's dugout that shows that Rivera did indeed provide some extra swerve to his cutter, than you can expect a MLB investigation and possible further action quickly. And you can bet that Fox right now is also scouring those tapes and looking for their own brand of either condemning or absolving Rivera.




With the advent of sites like Youtube and Twitter, such information is relayed as quick as our nimble fingers can pop it onto our screens.  And sometimes those videos and photos do not show all the truth.  Videos are always made that show a doctored view of someone's world.




In this case, the video is taken directly off the network feed, and doesn't show any evidence of being altered. But without that one definite camera angle, this video is just that...... a video right now.  If Fox or anyone else can come up with additional angles or even a Home Plate to the mound shot that shows that spit "halo" above the ball, then the course of action will change 180 degrees and the Yankee spin doctors will work long into the night.




Balls have been doctored before in games, and people have been caught. If the evidence provided by the website does lead to more close investigation of the situation, and if it is indeed an action that can be validated, then MLB will be swift with its sword. But until then we have to keep an open mind that Rivera might be both innocent and guilty at the same time. 




No matter what the result of any further investigation or video footage will bring out in the coming days, you either feel he is innocent or guilty. And with that you will have an opinion and a comment to make. My personal thoughts might be that he might have done the action, but since it did not play into the final result of the game, it should be logged, looked at and if no action is warranted....forgotten. So, what do you think?

Sunday Rewind: "Career Imploded"

 




Blogger's Note:


This is a re-posting of a blog from February,18, 2008.  Just a few hours after some local publications seeking answers on Chef Robert Irvines culinary resume', the Food Network pulled Irvines bio off their website and edited his "Dinner Impossible" show introduction to fully disclose his actual culinary accomplishments. Since that date in 2008, the Food Network has reformulated the introduction to the series, and also reinstalled Robert Irvine back into the lead host role in the series during the 2009 season. To finish out the 2008 season, Iron Chef Michael Symon came on the show to complete the current season while Irvine reflected on his errors in judgement on the embellishment of his culinary accomplishments.



"I was wrong to exaggerate in statements related to my experiences regarding the Royal Family. I am proud of my work while serving in the Royal Navy and on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, also as part of the Guest Chef program in the White House with the United States Navy, in addition to my culinary accomplishments.


I should have stood on those accomplishments alone, without embellishment. I remain committed and enthusiastic about my work with Food Network and other future endeavors. I am truly sorry for the errors in my judgment.  To all my family, friends and loyal fans, I will work tirelessly to regain your trust and continue to use my show and life to benefit the less fortunate."




Oh my God,
Today I opened my Internet edition of the "St Petersburg Times"  and saw the grinning picture of the Food Networks' Chef extraordinaire Robert Irvine staring back at me with that cocky smile that only a celebrity chef can have at a moment like this.


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It seems that after this story, the local restaurant, Ooze and Schmooze might never even  get down to even cooking a practice meal before it will shutter its doors. The bistro was to be established at 400 Beach Drive in St. Petersburg, Florida.


The current  "foodie" venture  is not even a remote possibility at this time considering the roar that is going through the culinary world right now on the Chef's bloated resume. Irvine's credibility and culinary exploits are being examined with a fine tooth comb right now. As stated in the "Times" article, the Food Network has pulled his website blog and is investigating his tales of the extraordinary for accuracy and even his culinary resume' basic credibility.



I am an avid Food Network freak. I love the cooking/travel enduced show "Anthony Bourdain" ( I have read his books ), the culinary craziness of Guy Fieri, Paula Deen and the "Iron Chef". I TIVO more of this networks shows than anything else on television. So to find out my  guy from,"Dinner Impossible," might be a bit of an imbellishing rube is a rude awaking indeed.
 


I know alot of us have stretched the truth a bit to seem more elegant or refined, but to state you helped bake a cake for England's favorite princess ( Princess Diana), and you would have been all of 12 at the time is a bit too much to forgive right now. There have been a long line of tall tales being unearthed about his cooking expliots and bravado over the past few years.


Taken from his website:

"Robert's philosophy is: If you are going to do it, do it right, don't take short cuts, spend time researching, and most of all be dedicated to whatever and whomever you are working with and have lots of fun doing it. If you do not do the above, it's time to change your career direction."



In my local humble town (St. Petersburg, Florida), he was about to open a upscale restaurant in a very romantic and waterfront area of the city. Being near the world famous and well-received Vinoy hotel, and situated a mire block from the Fine Arts museum, it would be the kind of place to put this region on the world-wide culinary map. 



Food critics and "foodies" would travel to see the chef's creation. Much like people flock to Emeril's establishments in New Orleans, or Bobby Flays' Mesa in Las Vegas, the bistro would be on the "must taste" list of some of the world best palates.



Magazines like Bon Appetit, Gourmet and maybe even the well respected Zagats' Guide might book inbound flights to this elderly hamlet to examine and taste his creations and hopefully, put this region back on the culinary map. In an area, already reknown for seafood and citrus delicacys, and wines of Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa, we might have a new exciting chapter in the food annuals.




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Now, this region of the state is already known for it record days of sunshine and lightning. And the St. Pete Times did make this town famous for our many  green benches in the city. But something like this would be like Johhny Weisemullier wanting to set up a local business back in the early 70's in Largo, off Belcher Road and would peak the intrest of fans and food lovers all over the country.



But sometimes celebrity can be both a curse and a blessing. Only the true in spirit and heart seem to be able to make a transition from  cooking star to  successful bistro owner without a hitch. Wolfgang Puck has done it.  Paul Newman has established an empire based on the charity and fine products from  salad dressings,tomato sauces to popcorn.




But when a falsehood is found within an industry it can sometimes makes that community turns its heads and ears away from that region, even one that is striving for positive recognition from the world. With a well-known television personality showing success and culinary masterpieces out of local resources and goods, it would have been like a "thunderstorm in an outhouse" to this region.




The "Times" contacted Dave Avery, the chef who actually did the original and final blueprinting and major bakers' magic on Princess Diana's wedding cake. It seems that if Robert Irvine was in fact at the Royal Navy Cookery at that time, Chef Irvine would have been 12 years old at the time of the cakes inception. 
 



Other tales have come up to test and tarnish this chef. Another has Irvine working at the White House in an official capacity somewhere in the main kitchen area. It has been revealed that he did have some cooking time in the White House,but not in a common kitchen area, but in the Navy section of the culinary section teaching some techniques and procedures to aspiring chefs, possibly for embassy duty or personal chefs for high ranking officials.




There is the fable of cleaning up and re-doing the plates of chef's Tom Keller, Charlie Trotter, and Eric Rippert at a James Beard event before they were served that night. Either of these three chef's would have thrown him out of the kitchen for attempting such a bold and callus disrespect to their dishes before serving them at an event. Another tale that has come to surface is of a local  Floridian flair that  his current St. Petersburg venture was to be backed by Wendy La Torre,a local woman with a flair for feeling important and regal in a non-regal world.




While Robert was here to promote the bistro a few weeks back, he was very inviting and willing to take pictures and autographs with people while telling the future tale of this fine establishment. During this same event, La Torre was rude, manipulative and wanted to share the spotlight totally with her new found savior.



Greed and Ego have no place in running a place of culinary creations. In a moments notice, you can be on cloud nine with the hit of the local scene, then you are looking at a vacant dining area with no customers after treating them as unexpected guests than as friends and patrons of your business. In this one area, Irvine was totally innocient of any wrongdoing at all.


 



I hope a lot of this  misinformation gets cleaned up fast. Irvine seems like a chef with a great creative flair, but this can reduce him to mere "dishwasher" status in culinary circles in a moments' notice. I have seen amazing thing done on the fly on his show, "Dinner Impossible." 



Like the moment he used a standard wheelbarrow to mix a huge batch of cole slaw, or a simple painters bucket with some selct holes to strain pasta while doing his show on a construction site . He has shown that he can work under extreme pressure and conditions.



Now he will have to use those charm and quick wit along with his awesome culinary talents to show he is a true chef,  a new man of his word, and above all, human and capable of making mistakes. either that or his next show will be entitled," Career: Imploded."

Celebrity Sighting down in Playoffs


David J Phillips / AP




Maybe it is just me, but it seems like the celebrity baseball fans are not straying into the  ALCS/NLCS ballparks yet. Oh, there have been a few  A and B-list sightings of the famous both from the entertainment field,and some current or former sports stars sitting in the seats near the field. But it might seems to be a bit, well empty compared to some recent seasons. 



But since I am not sitting in either Yankee Stadium, or Dodger Stadium during these games, maybe I am out of the sight lines to glancing upon or just  visually missing the boat on the celebrity onslaught that seems to follow a "winning" team as they head towards a possible World Series berth. Maybe it is just too nice weather-wise in Los Angeles right now. And we know that the Arctic winds have dampened only the seats in Yankee Stadium in the first two games of the ALCS.




But then again, maybe the weather is a bit........well, chilly for the celebrity style folks to flock outside the confines of the Hard Rock Cafe or even a Club Level Suite right now at Yankee Stadium. But it can be such great  public relations coupes and established city cred to see or be seen in the masses wearing the blue pinstripes. But then again, I am not hoping for a huge explosion of celebrity sightings to increase when the Phillies open their home set of the series tomorrow, but then again, it is home to a lot of very unique people.




Chris O'Meara / AP



I am not really trying to complain about the lack of the celebrity mobs not flocking to the ballparks, it just seemed like there were more visual sighting in 2008 when Boston and Tampa Bay played at Tropicana Field. But then again, they were in a controlled environment where the temps never reached far above 78 degrees either even with a full house screaming at the top of their lungs. I remember bumping into comedian/minor league baseball team owner Bill Murray near the Food Courts on the First Base side while he was buying some cinnamon encrusted almonds for the game ( great taste in edibles Bill). 




Or even catching a photo op with  WWE superstar John Cena at a Rays after party following Game 2 of the ALCS up in the Cigar Bar at the Trop. It was a invitation only event mostly for the Rays employees, but I snagged a pass and shook many a hand of friends within the Rays organization that wondered how I could have wrangled such an invite. But they forget, where there is a will, there is a way with me.




And there have been some nice sightings so far in this round of the playoffs. It was great to see that Miley's dad could make it out to Chavez Ravine for Game 1 of the NLCS.  With strands of his well coiffed  mini mullet swaying the breeze, his southern twang ringing through the PA system, he offered a fantastic rendition of the National Anthem.
 



Mark J Terrill / AP



It must an ever increasing problem for Billy Ray Cyrus to always been seen as "Miley's Dad" by people under 18, but as "Doc" or the "Achy Breaky Man" to the rest of us. But it is awesome to see he still loves the game, and I hoped he stayed and watched it that day because even with the Dodger loss, it was a great game to watch in person.



Then on Friday, there was a glance of Los Angeles Laker guard Kobi Bryant sitting with Dodger Team owner Frank McCourt and Tommy Lasorda down near the field level for Game 2 of the NLCS game. We know Bryant has a huge love of all sports, even if his second choice of sports teams tend to range to a certain soccer team in Spain. But by the pictures, it seemed like he got into the flow of the game and had a great time. Hopefully he can again be coaxed to attend another game soon and become a lifetime Dodger faithful. 




Also during that Friday game fans in attendance got to see members of the boy band, The Backstreet Boys as they performed "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch. You can bet that there was a bevy of fabulous harmonies and a few great vocal scale moves that kept the crowd either looking towards the big screen or towards the field during their performance.





Mark J Terrill / AP


Now we move eastbound into the big stadium in the Bronx for a Friday night game to begin the 2009 ALCS in some chilly weather that had more than a few people bundled up looking more like a cocoon. I think we might have had sightings of even more celebrity or famous ballplayers in the stands if not for the sweeping chill produced by the wind swirling in the stadium. For some reason, extreme conditions and celebrities only go along in their movie roles.




But we did get a picture of the  spinal cord and backside of former Yankee great Tino Martinez sitting up in one of the enclose suites chatting and talking with a table full of people. Fox made sure to focus in on the table and sit there for about a minute, with Tino finally looking towards the field a few times, so we know it was Tino and not some fake sighting. And that might also be a problem. Sometimes in conditions like that everyone can look like someone else when wearing a  wooly ski cap and a big jacket.




Elise Amendola / AP




But the person who seemed to have gained the most photo ops during the last months of the season is the "alleged" girlfriend/BFF  Kate Hudson who again had those primo seats just beyond the top of the Yankees dugout on the Third Base line.  I am not going to rouse the rumor mill again if she is or is not even dating a certain Yankee player.




In neither of the pictures posted the last few nights do we see anything hot in her hand, or even a head covering, but we hope that the thin blond one did not catch a head cold or even a glimpse of the sniffles. But it is rewarding to see she is facing the elements like the rest of the Yankee faithful and enjoying the game amongst the regular fans. Let's hope that our own MLBlogs "Confessions of a She-Fan" can make it out to a game or two in Anaheim to throw her mug up there to compete with the "Kate Hudson's" of the world. I would be blown away to see Lady Jane on the television screen, but not surprised in the least.





Elise Amendola / AP



But also during the Friday night game in the Bronx, they invited one of their own back to throw out the First Pitch before the game. David Cone, who pitched for the Pinstripes from 1996-2000 and produced 55 victories in his time with the Yankees threw a perfect strike across the plate before Game 1 of the ALCS.  And Cone, who owns a great eating establishment in Oldsmar, in the Tampa Bay area looks like he could still pull spot duty in the Bullpen.





Kathy Willens / AP



And even if a bunch of the ex-players and celebrities were not in plain sight, you have to guess that there were more than a dozen hidden up behind the frosted glass enjoying the game either by television or sitting near the windows enjoying CC Sabathia's dominance in that first game. And we all know of a few out in L A who enjoy seats up in the Club Level and are usual visitors to the games, and might not be considered "event-based" celebrities by the loyal Dodger fans




So hopefully tonight when the NLCS proceeds in Citizens Bank Park the Philly celebrity faithful  will come on down and represent their town and cheer for their boys. Let's just hope that Darryl Hall and John Oates are not the only ones we see in the seats tonight during the game.
This city has a bevy of talented celebrities. We all know that Kevin Bacon is a proud member of the "City of Brotherly Love". But did you know comedians David Brennan, Tina Fey and Bob Saget call the city their own. And something I never knew before, 2/3rds of the "Three Stooges", Larry Fine and Curly Joe DeRita came from this Pennsylvania town.




Matt Slocum / AP



I  am personally going to be searching for someone dressed up in a powdered wig and bi-focals and trying to present a "Where is Ben Franklin" moment in CBP. Seriously, I know the economy is tight, and even Nicholas Cage is said to be broke as an old clock right now, but this is the time that these cities need to see their famous brethren basking in the glow of another successful season.



So as the venues swap this week, it is going to be interesting to see if any celebrities will be in attendance
 in Los Angles/Anaheim this week when the Yankees come to town. There might be a few wearing Yankees gear, like Hudson, but let's hope some of the Anaheim faithful also come out and support the teams resurgence into the ALCS. 



Maybe we will see Bobby Hatfield  who was a part of the "Righteous Brothers", or maybe even Gwen Stefani of the group "No Doubt" singing the National Anthems or during the 7th Inning stretch. For this region of California also has its special and famous people who will hopefully come out and support the Angels. But I guess we will see.




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But just seeing some of these  special people enjoying the sport we love so well, and cheering along with us seems to boost the energy and the vibe in a stadium. And you know the camera people are forever seeking out these elusive personalities either in the suites or stuck among the thousands in the stands. Hopefully someday a few of us writing on MLBlogs.com could be featured on the big screen as a sports journalist, or even a novelist by our own "Confessions of a She-Fan" Jan Heller.



Baseball Cards go "Exclusive" in 2010

 




Comic illustration by Rick Enright
 


I can still remember  back when I was oh so young, getting my weekly allowance then racing full bore on my bike with my friends in tow down to the local 7-11 to throw my  weeks earnings of two dollars on the store counter and ask for packs of those foil wrapped baseball cards. I am not sure even now why those cards seemed to instantly transform my little world into a state if euphoria and let my imagination run totally rampant while glancing at that Cincinnati Reds Ken Griffey  high color and foil card.




And after a quick evaluation of the cards in the deck, the losing players card from that bunch always ended up between a clothespin in the spokes of my bike for the trek home to produce a  mimic motorcycle sound that let the neighborhood know the "Baseball Gang" was roaring down the alleyways. Then when we finally hit my garage, we would all circle and argue for hours trading our new cards with ones in our back pockets and never agreeing totally on their worth or importance, but remembering their stats and their teams.




And even while we sat there boasting about our treasured bounty from the store, we made sure to chew that starchy piece of bubble gum until it could not longer handle a single bubble or our jaws ached from the constant state of chewing. But to us, the cards were as close as we could get to our sports heroes. For the smiling faces of the professional ballplayers looking back either posed at the plate or on the mound sent us into hours to recalling their heroic moments. It sent us into a realm of fantasy where we would duplicate or even top their previous years statistics if we got the chance on the field.




So it was sad moment for me when I read in August 2009 that Major League Baseball was ending their 30-year relationship with the Upper Deck Company LLC and signed an exclusive multi-year trading card pact with The Topps Company Inc. It always seemed like there had been more than a dozen companies springing up and then dissolving into thin air selling and marketing baseball cards to the masses. But on January 1, 2010, the Topps Company will have exclusive use of any of the MLB's 30 team logos and trademarks.




And this is a huge blow to the small cottage industry that first thrust itself upon my generation with their multi-card sets and that historic piece of rectangular hard bubble gum. Upper Deck, which still has an agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association, might have something to say about all of this before  the beginning of 2010. This season, Upper Deck produced over 16 different sets of cards just for 2009 alone. But will the streamlining of this iconic piece of cardboard be easy, or will it be pushed back into the darkness by the isolation of its true  player and game images only being available by one lone manufacturer?





Comic Illustration by Rick Enright



In 1991, the sale of these little cardboard masterpieces reached over $ 1.2 billion in sales. Which at that time, was a huge chunk of change for the industry. I know that about that time I was pumping in a huge amount of excess cash to get some of the collectible cards and "game-used" cards that were beginning to float around the country. Who would not want a small piece of  a Roger Maris bat, or even a small swatch of a Sandy Koufax jersey.




Most  of these cards consisted of a small patch of a  MLB sanctioned baseball, or a sliver of a players personal bat that was then dissected into a million pieces and sandwiched onto a card. And we were all eager to find those cards and put them into our collections at that time as an investment into our futures. Every season, the trading card companies made sure to advertise that there were "special cards" hidden within the hundreds and hundreds of decks for us to find. But after the trading card industry hit its top spot in 1991, it then began a slow decent towards the bottom.





By 2000, the industry was seeing only $400 million in sales annually and was seeking other avenues to promote and increase the sales of their products. Trading card companies used this down period to began its inversion into other sports besides baseball and football for their new revenues sources. And in 2008, the sale of these once wanted cards fell to an all time low in sales of just over $200 million, including the new card sources like NASCAR and NHL editions. 




My romance with these special cards started about 2001 when I got my first "Game-Used" card from a pack I purchased in a 5-pack set in a small hobby store in St. Petersburg,Florida. The card was a 2001 Ken Griffey Junior "Game-Used" jersey card from his first stint with the Seattle Mariners.




The card was issued by Upper Deck, and it was a piece of his home blue jersey sandwiched between two pieces of plastic. Along with the holograms on the item and the photo of him on both sides of the card, it became a cherished piece of my card collection. More for the way he played the game then for the piece of fabric inside the plastic.




But it should come as no surprise that MLB decided to side with Topps in the exclusive rights for the trading cards marketing. Because the head honcho at Topps now had a visual presence with MLB in the form of ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner. Most people might remember he was also at the helm after Disney purchased the then Anaheim Angels back in the 1980's, and he was front and center on the podium to  thrust skyward the first World Series trophy won by the team in 2002.




I am not calling foul here in any way, but it just goes to show you that sometimes it really is "who you know" and not "what you know" that can get you that one  special meeting with MLB to even propose such an arrangement. Since Topps now has the exclusive rights to the teams logos and images, does this mean that the other companies will have to cease any contact with MLB players who might already be under contract for companies other than Topps? And can these companies, who have an exclusive signing contract with certain players block their signatures on cards in the future?





www.sportscardfun.com



You would think that both of these questions will be percolating in more than a few boardrooms around the country in response to the announcement of a single entity taking over the MLB's marketing of the trading cards. I have heard whispers that Upper Deck might consider litigation or a simple injunction, but at this time nothing has been submitted to the courts.  And you can imagine that individual players will be reviewing their current contracts with the trading card companies and align themselves to be in compliance with the MLB new agreement.




MLB Commissioner Bud Selig told MLB.com in August that the deal is suppose to "restore baseball cards as the games premier collectible." The multi-year deal will give Topps exclusive use of MLB,Jewel Events and club trademarks, logos, and other intellectual properties for use on baseball cards, stickers and other product categories featuring MLB players. Such a monopoly in properties surrounding baseball is a huge kudos for Topps.




It is funny how these little pieces of cardboard have produced and induced millions of people over the years to buy, sell and trade these cards both on avenues like E Bay or at your local Flea Markets. Just for giggles, I popped my hand into a box of older cards in my closet that I have not split up and alphabetized. So picked out a total of 10 cards to see which company dominated the cards in my box. 




Well, Topps did end up coming out on top with 4 cards in that pile,with Bowman having three cards.  Also within the pile were companies like Fleer, Score and Donruss90, which had the final 3 cards in the deck.  And you could see quickly which company had the money and power to get major MLB players to sign deals with them, even back in the 1990 season. The bottom three companies did not have a superstar or starter on any of the MLB roster at that time. Bowman did get the likes of the Phillies Dave Hollins and Athletic pitcher Mike Gallego in my small selection.
 



But even back 20 years ago, Topps got the premier players for their set of cards. In those 4 Topps cards were players like Oakland's Shortstop Walt Weiss, Royal Second baseman Frank White, Tiger Shortstop Alan Trammel and Orioles starting pitcher Ben McDonald. But what was really wild during that brief time I put my hand back into that box was the nostalgia and the blast from the past seeing some of those names pop into my eyes again after so long. Some might go to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but all of them held different memories to me both as players and as cards in my collection.




I remember almost coming to blows with my friend Steve Haas back in 5th grade over my Cincinnati Reds Cesar Geronimo card, or how I felt like I was a really shrewd dealer to trade three  non-marque players cards for a hologram 1989 Cleveland Indians card. Now all my trading cards are sectioned out by alphabetical order into small plastic containers, each with rubber banded players duplicate cards all together. To think of all the time and money I invested into these cards now seems so funny that someone like Cardinal Andy Van Slykes 1985 card could have graced the spokes of my motocross bike for weeks and I was not the wiser. 




Comic Illustration by Rick Enright



But as the baseball card market has gone into  the shallows, so has the Sports Card shops that used to number over 5,000 strong all over the country but has now dwindled down to under 500 shops specializing in these pieces of our baseball youth. But people have always told me that "all good things have to come to an end."



Maybe that is true even with those little cards we used to buy for the glory and charm of trading with our friends for hours at a time. That some cards were valued so high by us back then to be placed in our school books as bookmarks to show our exclusive pride towards our baseball heroes.  And maybe, just maybe a few of us, like me...looked forward to that starchy piece of thin bubble gum when I opened the package...even today. 

(Pop!)

MLBloggers Fantasy League

 



RRCollections



Earlier this season I got a chance to try something I had been meaning to check out and participate in for about 5 seasons. You always hear your friends and other people around you discussing the activities of their Fantasy Leagues, and how in-depth and how competitive they can get over the course of a season. I have had some previous experience with a ESPN Fantasy team in regards to College Football and NASCAR picks, but had never joined a competitve league.




What was even more exciting to me was the fact that this league would be formualted with 13 of my fellow MLB bloggers pitting their wits and their strategies against each other from the Opening Day first pitch to the last two weeks of the 2009 season. The final two weeks of the 2009 season would consist of two rounds of playoffs, which became some of the most intense weeks based on all of our competitve natures, and some of us (me included) were still refining our rosters within an inch of their lives.




And all of this started from a question asked by "Confessions of Baseball" ( Chris Powers) even before the 2009 Spring Training season. Chris was seeking interested people in participating in a season long head-to-head competition fantasy league with a foundation from the MLB bloggers as members.



The "League" membership was quickly formed and consisted of a great cross-section of bloggers like " Julia's Rants", "Braves World","The Future Sox Blog", "Team Clemson", "Indianapolis Reds", "Team Diatribe","Austin James Dreamer", "Mets Main Man", "The Mets Blog","How About Them Orangebirds" "Bay Area King of Cali", "Bob's Boston Green Sox", "Rambling Ramblers" and of course, "Rays Renegade."


MLBlogger Fantasy League Best Draft 2009



So our first order of business after selecting our team names was the "Live Draft held on Valentine's Day. Perfect day to pick players for the game we all love so much. I have to say, from my first pick of the "Live" draft ( Ryan Braun) to the last game played  during the Championship Playoff series on October 4,2009 , this league was always fun-filled and extremely exciting.



And it was truly wild time sitting there on February 14th anxious and sweating during the "live" draft since I had never been in a situation like that drafting players round by round.  From the first pick by "The FutureSoxBlog" of Hanley Ramirez to her last selection of J C Romero, the draft seemd to have come off perfectly.



I have to admit I did have few moments of getting a bit upset when someone selected my guy one spot before me, or if I missed someone and saw him go within two spots of my missed selection. But it was an extremely awesome time, and one I really want to try again next season. I got a new respect for the MLB scouts and the MLB's front offices by sometimes taking soem critical time trying to select the best players with in the two minute time lines. 




But I thought I selected a pretty competitve roster, and even got a few sleeper picks mixed into the bunch. I did get a pure gem when I selected Tampa Bay Rays uber-superman Ben Zobrist in the 34th round and he rewarded me constantly during the entire season. But I also made a few amateur mistakes that came back to haunt me throughout the season. After the Draft, the league membership was polled and I was rewarded with the first Draft Championship virtual trophy.




I mean I made some pretty critical mistakes throughout the season and for some odd reason I accidently dropped Rockies First Baseman Todd Helton early on in the season. He was not the first blunder, but was one of the one that made me kick myself a few times. I also at one point in the season had three very important cogs in the Rockies outfield platoon consisting of Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith and Dexter Fowler, but I tried to be smart and let them slip through my fingers back onto the Waiver wire and onto other teams. But the one that really irked me was the one I did by total mistake, and it cost me dearly.




I was trying to gain another frontline starter and accidently dropped Tigers pitcher Edwin Jackson for someone I ended up dropping within a few weeks. That really hurt me, more for the fact that I am a huge pro-Jackson supporter and I dropped the ball totally on that move. I wish I could say I was trying to get him through the waiver system without anyone seeing him, but I messed up big time, and I regretted the move from the moment I hit the Enter buttom on the computer.  




Gail Willens / AP


But I get a few guys I felt might make a huge impact in the 2009 season, but they either got injured or were not effective throughout the season. I selected Josh Hamilton in the 2nd Round, and kept him through the season hoping for a healthy return. But after his first injury during the season, he did not possess the same power and monster numbers I was hoping for this year.




But I had a few players who went down with unexpected injuries after they began the season on a truly positive note. Players like the Brewers Ricky Weeks and the Rays Jason Isringhausen, who both went down and would be sidelined for the rest of the season.  But also bad season starts from guys like Rays new DH Pat Burrell and the Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco had me sweating at time during the season before I gave up on them and dropped them from my roster.




But besides  the pick of Zobrist, I did feel I picked up a few other good sleeper picks. I selected Oakland/Colorado basher Jason Giambi in the 30th Round, and also ended up getting Seattle slugger Russell Branyan, who had the best season of his career before going down with an injury in September. I got a small dose of what it felt like to be a General Manager  to try and adjust and  seek a few select players that would make a difference in my team. But fortunately, I did not have to juggle payrolls or decide MLB service time in this league like the actual MLB GM's have to do every day in their jobs.




During the season I have to admit, some teams creeped up on me and scared me to death during the weekly match-ups. I selected 7 members of the Tampa Bay Rays for my roster, and if they did not play up to snuff, my team took a dive fast. But I was happy with my Rays offensive selections of Zobrost and Carl Crawford and added and released pieces like Burrell, Willy Aybar and Akinori Iwamura during the season. Gregg Zaun even made an end of the season appearance after he was picked up by the Rays after a trade with the Orioles.



But my other two main pieces for my Rays offensive foundation might not happened if not for some great trade partners. I ended up trading with the "Mets Main Man" and sending the Brewers Ryan Braun to his team for Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett and eventual Nationals closer Mike MacDougal. That gave me a consistent bat at shortstop, and also someone who could steal some bases for me. 



My second trade might have a few people scratching their heads a bit, but it is my faith I have in this player that made this trade a sure thing for me. On June 1, 2009, I traded Angels closer Brian Fuentes for B J Upton straight up with "The Mets Blog". I still think this was a great trade, because Upton ended up becoming the July Paler of the Month for the American League, and ended up the season on a bit of an offensive tear.


 MLBloggers Fantasy League Best Record 2009



I bounced around in my divisions standings until the final three weeks of the season when I balanced out and found myself on top of the hill. I ended up the season with the MLBlogger's Fantasy Leagues best record at 128-79-13 and was awarded my second virtual trophy. But then it was time for the Playoffs, and I was selected as the number 1 seed and ended up fighting my major competition in my division who got seeded 4th for the playoff rounds.



For two weeks "Braves World (Gregg Henglein)" and my roster fought back and forth before I finally started to take a slight advantage and ended up winning the first round of the Playoffs with a 6-4 record. Then came the finals against a team that I had fought me hard during the season, but I expected more extreme action this time. So during the last two weeks of the season it was 'Rays Renegade" against "Austin James Dreamers (Darion Morgan)" for the League title.



And I have to admit, I was selecting starting pitching and still tweaking my roster up until the last day of the season. It was so close of a battle that the series really did not turn until the last few days of the regular season.  "Austin James Dreamer" took an early lead and made me sweat more than a few times during the two week period. That also  corresponded perfectly during the time that the Rays got flattened by the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in two straight series and did not rebound until they got back home.



But finally my guys began to win some starts, and began to drive in some RBIs and It went back and forth from a 4-5-1 record to a 5-5 record to finally getting settled at a 6-4 record. And I was really sweating a bit when on the last day my roster advised me I had used up my alottement of pitching and I would not getting any more statistics from my starters on that day. I was at the mercy of "Austin James" pitching staff to secure the League title. So finally on October 5th, I was declared the MLBBloggers Fantasy League's first Champion and got my third virtual trophy of the season.



MLBloggers Fantasy League Champion 2009




In the end, I glanced at the final totals for my teams a found some interesting facts. My pitching staff had accumulated 2,369 strikeouts, over 490 more than my closest competitor. Also amazing to me is that fact those same starters got me a total of 178 wins, which was 35 wins more than anyone else. I had built my original team based on offensive power, and my pitching staff ended up being the strong part of my league team. I did lead the league in stolen bases and RBI, but fell a bit short in runs and HRs. 




I admit, it was a great fun every week being pitted against other people and using my head for more than a baseball cap rack. I am really looking forward to the January announcement of the reformulation of the MLBloggers Fantasy League for the 2010 season. For now I have a  league title to defend, and I am really excited to again include this great event into my yearly baseball plans..



I want to thank all 14 members of MLBlogs who particiapted in the league and look forward to going from the "Live" Draft to the Playoffs again in 2010. It was an amazing experience, and it even got me to join a Fantasy Football and Hockey League on ESPN this year to get some added experience.




I had never gotten so much fun out of a computer based gaming activity as I did in this season's fantasy league. I know it is not an activity for everyone, but I highly recommend doing it because of the great competition and the great amount of experience and fun you can have taking the role of a team owner and adjusting your roster by adding or subtracting to your team throughout the season.



www.SPTimes.com


So I ended up on October 6th opening a small bottle of Mumm's champagne and spilling it all over the grass outside my apartment building. The neightbors might have thought I was nuts, but I wanted to experience the last part of being a team owner. I wanted to have that celebration and that extreme moment of knowing all the work was worth it. As I picked up a towel from the ground and wiped the stinging chamapgne out of my eyes I remembered the same thing I experienced with the Rays in 2008. I felt pride, honor and an inner feeling of accomplishment...........And yes, I yearned for more.






Rays Should give Crawford an Extension

 

Mark Carlson / AP





On September 30,2009 Carl Crawford, the veteran player of the Tampa Bay Rays made it be known through the Tampa Tribune in an interview with writer Marc Lancaster that he would be open to discussions of an contract extension past the 2010 season. The news was viewed with excitement in the stands of Tropicana Field as it was made known by one of the Rays most popular players that he basically sees an upward change in the franchise and would love to further explore where this team is heading in the coming years.




"We are very pleased to hear C.C.'s comments,'' Tampa Bay Rays Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman told the St. Petersburg Times  on September 30th when Crawford announced he would be willing to discuss a possible extension to stay with the Rays. "Consistent with our policy, we do not speak publicly about contract negotiations but obviously we have a tremendous amount of respect for Carl both on and off the field.  He has been a big part of our past success and I expect he will be a big part of our future success as well."




Andrew, you bet your sweet booty you want to keep one of the most exciting players in baseball right  where he is right now. Considering the Rays have a $10-11.5 million club option to consider before the beginning of the 2010 season, you can bet they will exercise that option and possibly make amends to keep C C well beyond the 2010 season. And if for some reason the deal does go sour in any way, you can expect an endless bulk of boos and article written until the cows come home about the Rays biggest PR blunder of your administration.




But first off, most Rays fans have to heed a bit from getting overexcited by the comments knowing that the pace at which Crawford performed in 2009 hitting both personal and club record in several categories during the season, he might have to give the Rays a bit of a " local discount" to have the Rays retain him past the 2010 season. And right now, without knowing the expected payroll amount set by Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, Crawford might be the biggest question mark right now.



Gail Burton / AP



Granted he has made comment showing an olive branch out to the Rays organization, and wants to stay here and hopefully be a part of another winning team that thrust hard into the playoffs, but can the Rays retain him without damaging their payroll expectations and  fit him perfectly into the team plans all the way through to maybe 2014?




Because of his upward mobility daily in the Major League Baseball All-Time charts, he is quickly establishing himself as a potential Hall of Fame caliber player, with a long career still in front of him. And if you were to compare him with the best active players at his position, he would surely command a $15 million plus a year salary in the big cities like Chicago or New York. So would Crawford be willing to give the team that deep of a discount to play for a potential winner, while also adding to his own reputation in the American League.




Crawford finally got to experience that winning feeling with the Rays in 2008, and it just might be in the Rays best interest to surround him with the  best talent they can afford to again hit that plateau before the team hits a wall and might have to cut back, maybe as soon as 2014. I know that is a long time away, but it is micro-seconds in baseball years. The career of a Major League player is long in comparison to some sports, but the risk factors are extremely higher considering the daily grind of 162 games a season.




But would the Rays use his "leg fatigue" as a bargaining tool, when in reality he has appeared in 150+ game for his fifth season of his career.  And if you consider what he can do once he hits the base paths, well Crawford might leave this game as one of the best who ever laced up a pair of Nike's by the time he calls it a career.




Crawford is only the third American League player in this decade to reach the 60+ steals mark joining Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury ( 69/2009) and the Angels Chone Figgins (62/2005).  To further illustrate what he can do on the base paths, you only have to look at the May 3,2009 game against the Boston Red Sox to see how he can command a game all by himself. His 81.9 percent stolen base attempts rank first among active MLB players. He also became one of only 25 players since 1900 to steal 60 bases and get 60 RBI in the same season. And he is 1 of 6 to accomplish that in the last 20 years.




Crawford currently has the 6 highest stolen base totals in Rays history, and has hit the 50+ steals mark a record 5 times, which is the best among active players.  And he is only the 16th player since 1900 with 5-50+ steal seasons. And he has been clocked going from first to second in 3.1 seconds, which is a bit faster than recent Hall of Fame member Rickey Henderson in his prime.





Jeff Roberson / AP



But Crawford is not a one-dimensional player. He has also made some incredible plays on defense and might be one of the most under rated outfielder in the game since the Golden Glove are not awarded by  just his field position( leftfield) but by the outfield in general. The best example of how Crawford can turn a game around might be in the May 6th contest against the Boston Red sox where he stole  a total of 6 bases, and became only the fourth player to ever accomplish that feat. He was even the first to do it since June 30, 1996, when Eric Young of the Colorado Rockies was the last to hit that plateau.




These statistics might even make the Rays job harder to consider that he has just turned 28 this August 5th, and his 353 stolen bases rank 7th best since 1900. His 92 triples ranks him 12th since 1900, and the most since Cardinal Stan Musial. His 1,244 hits rank him 8th best since 1900. Such feats have seemed to come easy to the young outfielder who played in his 1,000 Major League game on June 27, 2009 against the Florida Marlins.




Hard to believe that the Rays All Time leader in runs, runs scored, hits, at bats, stolen bases, doubles and triples, games played and RBI has only played in 1,000 contests.  And let's take a look at his triples for a moment, he is currently third among active players with only Yankee outfielder Johnny Damon (95) and Philly shortstop Jimmy Rollins (94) having more than Crawford's 92 triples. But he was also 4th in the American League with 41 infield hits in 2009.




And if all of the above information was not mind boggling enough for Rays Vice President of Baseball Operations and Silverman to consider, here  are another few facts that point to the special place Crawford is heading in the coming years. He has now hit above .300 for the fourth time in the last five seasons for the Rays. This season he had a career high 51 walks and his 2009 On-Base Percentage of .364 is 34 points high than any other time in his career.




Add onto that package the fact he hit his 500th RBI on September 20th against Toronto's Roy Halladay with a 2-run homer.  At the end of the 2009 season, Crawford was 10ht in hits (185), 9th in multi-hit games with 54 this season, and 5th in triples with 8 in 2009.  Crawford has become the quintessential Rays player, and a good foundation for the club both in character and in his on-field behavior.




The 3-time American League All Star even took fans and players breath away in this season's All Star game in St. Louis with his catch high above the AL Bullpen fence to rob the National League's Brad Hawpe of a potential go-ahead home run in the 7th inning of that game. As Crawford stood there with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig that night, you  saw the boyish charm of Crawford, and so did the rest of the MLB community.





Jeff  /  Tom Gannam /AP


I guess the best thing right now is to let Crawford's comments to Lancaster om September 30th  begin to close out this blog:
"I don't like worrying about it," Crawford said to the Tampa Tribune, "and you can sit there and say you're not worried about it, but to not know what your future's going to be in the next five or six years or so is definitely ... it makes you scared at times."




"I just hope we can do something. It's uncomfortable worrying about it. I don't like playing cautious. You'd be a liar if you say you didn't play cautious when you have to go through contracts and stuff like that. I want to just be able to play baseball, don't worry about nothing else."




So it is your court now Rays front office. This is your time to shine and to make this contract extension a show of good faith and prosperity you hope this team embodies for the next 5 or 6 years. Crawford should be the backbone of  the Rays squads in that time period, and if he is not, it might be a clear indication of the team desire to scale back and let the next generation of Rays players get their shots. 




It is so hard to  for someone like me to adequately decipher and assess a monetary value to Crawford since his stock has risen every season since 2003, and he just might be hitting his prime right now in his career. But if you look at the numbers he has obtained in a period of 5 full seasons now, the numbers are staggering, even without the addition of dollar signs to his name. And if the Rays can get his at a reduced price and regain that winning feeling, it is a huge plus for the Rays franchise to have a player like Crawford at the forefront leading these Rays onto the field.



Rays Players Off Season Plans

 






Last Sunday was the final Tampa Bay Rays game of the 2009 season. It is funny, but for some reason this years just seemed to fly by, and was over way to soon for some of us sitting in the stands. Not sure why it felt that way unless the extra time last season marching onto the World Series just made 2008 seem almost three months longer. But unfortunately, we are at that time where bags are packed and boxes are sent to other locations so members of the team can get some needed R&R before starting it all over again in 2010.



And because of that extra time playing the game they love, some of the Rays had an abbreviated off season in 2009 because of other activities, such as participation in the World Baseball Classic, or several Rays players went to Winter Ball in 2008 and had only about 3 1/2 months to themselves and to individually train before they had to reporting to Port Charlotte, Florida for their first Spring Training away from St. Petersburg.



So on that last day of the season, I decided to ask a few of the Rays if they had any special plans or goals for this off season. And I have to admit, that one of the "vacation" suggestions makes me hunger to maybe hide somewhere in their luggage, just pop a few air holes in the bag for me please! But there also seemed to be another angle coming up in a lot of their conversations. The talk of just total rest and relaxation without the stress or pressure of the white round ball.



It seemed that so many of them just wanted to just "chill and relax" after the rush and the extent of the 2008 playoff season. And still others have a few life changing moments coming fast on the horizon and needed to make some last minute adjustments before getting on with their lives. Then there was a small group who might be facing that decision about their careers, and if they still want to don a uniform in 2010 for any team.




A total of three members of the Rays Bullpen will be getting married this off season, two players and Scott Cursi, the Rays Bullpen catcher who will finally marry his sweetheart of five years in November 2009.  It is funny, it is just like yesterday that I met Cursi and his bride-to-be, who used to work for the Rays and is now working in partnership with Rays Manager Joe Maddon's wife, Jaye in a concierge service for people on the go, like the Rays players and their families.



I pulled it out of Cursi that they are going to  have their romantic and exotic honeymoon on St Lucie's Island at the all inclusive Sandals resort, and both should come back with a beautiful Fall tan. But then we  also have a former members of the Rays Bullpen crew going down the aisle soon in ex-Ray Jason Hammel, who will be getting married this off season in St. Petersburg, Florida in the striking Renaissance Vinoy resort right on the waters of Tampa Bay. 





Rays reliever Grant Balfour will be the first to be strolling down the aisle this off season, and the Aussie is not planning any additional triathlete competitions this off season, but is just going to enjoy the time off this year. Rays closer Du Jour J P Howell will also be closing the deal with his bride-to-be also this Fall, and then plans to just be "The Dude" until it is time again to report to Spring Training camp. Congratulations to both guys and their brides, and I wish all of you all the luck in the world and a total boat of happiness as you begin your lives together.




Neither of them would tell me where they plan to honeymoon, but that is okay, because one veteran member of the Rays Bullpen might have them beat totally  just on the romance factor anyways. Rays reliever Dan Wheeler and his wife will be taking a beautiful  European adventure to Italy, with stops in Rome, Florence and Venice on the agenda. Hopefully while he is on his Italian adventure, Wheeler might see the lone Rays cap that Rays Manager Joe Maddon saw in 2008 in an Italian train station.



I have to say, this might be the one I want to see pictures of when he gets home (I wish!).  Just the idea of getting out of the country like Cursi and Wheeler sounds like the perfect way to get some isolation and some peace to again get ready for another 6 months plus grind in 2010. And that is one of the great advantages of having a job that is not 9-5, for 12 months out of the year. Plans can be made, and special events planned without a hitch. Wish some days we could all live like that.



But several members of the Rays roster will not have that luxury of world travel and no commitments. Some  of the Rays are committed to going to play Winter ball in exotic locales. This additional work should show the Rays brass that they are vital pieces needed by the team, and also get some great prep and conditioning work before they report to Spring Training in February. Justin Ruggiano, who was at Durham Bulls for all of the 2009 season will be heading to Venezuela, while Shawn Riggans will be heading to Puerto Rico for Winter ball.




Also scheduled to go to Winter ball, but he doesn't know his location yet is outfielder Fernando Perez, who was out most of the season with a bum wrist.  This actually might be a great thing for Perez to not only get some work in at the plate, but to get some flexibility in his wrist so he is not a question mark in the Spring. This upcoming season might be his time to shine, or he might find himself somewhere else soon manning the outfield for another team. There might be others from the Rays roster also going to Winter ball, but that list has not be released to the public yet. 



But then there are guys like reliever Randy Choate who participated in Winter ball last season and will just  wants to sit back and relax this season. Jeff Bennett, who came to the Rays late in the season, is planning to remain in the Tampa Bay area for a while this off season to work on his conditioning before going back to Tennessee and working out and gaining more strength and endurance after his injury in 2009 while he was with the Atlanta Braves.. 




While Bennett might be sweating and working out, two members of the Rays might be hanging up their cleats for good this off season. Veteran Russ Springer has been playing baseball for a long time, and made his Major League debut back in 1992. Springer has been considering retiring this off season to spend more time with his family and to pursue some of his other interests in life. 




Springer is also looking forward with more time playing and enjoying his young son, who has autism and just be there  to spend quality time with him. But you can bet that there will be more than one opportunity for him to put his coondog in the truck and maybe meet up with fellow Rays teammate Chad Bradford and go  duck or deer hunting this off season. Both men value their country roots, and they both developed a great kinship this season around outdoor sports.




You could see that this bond should hold firm as both men live in the off season back in the Alabama-Louisiana area. But Bradford, who is also considering retiring to spend more time with his newborn, and the rest of his family, might have a Hollywood role in his future. And his addition to the silver screen might be delayed right now due to some script re-writes, but because of his time with the Oakland Athletic earlier in his career, the role would be a new adventure for Bradford.







There were rumors earlier in 2008 that when the movie "Moneyball" finally goes into full scale production, Bradford might be able to play himself in the movie. At that time it was not known if he would have the time  during the season for such an adventure. It would be a great opportunity for Bradford, who reminds me of actor John Ashton, who played Sergeant Taggert in the "Beverly Hills Cop" trio to get some quality time on the silver screen.  



But Bullpen guys like Brain Shouse and Lance Cormier are just going to take it day-by-day and just enjoy the time to relax, spend time with family and to heal up before reporting again in February. But there is one member of the Rays family group who might be going a  hundred miles-an-hour during this off-season. Todd Kalas, who does the Rays television broadcast in various positions, will be working hard this off season involving himself with University of South Florida basketball and helping to host some of the Tampa Bay Lightning pre and post game shows.



Also heavy on Kalas agenda will be working with FSN Florida to do the Sunbelt Conference "Games of the Week" during the football and basketball seasons. So as you can see, there will be plenty of great stories and awesome pictures to be passed around when the Rays report after the second Saturday in February 2010.



But this year there will be no precursors of World Baseball Classic or even the usual smatterings of International games for players to have to report early this season to their teams. It might be one of the first years in the last several seasons that everyone on the Rays roster will come into the season with a vigor and vitality to again make some noise in the American League East. And maybe this off season is the time for the team to regroup and intensify their energies to again challenge for the top spot in the American League.



And  a few of you asked what I might be doing this off-season at the last game. Well, hopefully I will be going out to Seattle, Washington and completing the inside of my old retirement abode out on Whitbney Island near the city of Coupville that I originally started work on in 2007. Then after it is completed, let my cousins live in it until I am ready to "Go West old man" maybe in about 5 seasons.






So hopefully you also have something exciting planned this off-season. Maybe a snow skiing trip, a quest to go back to school, or maybe even a jaunt down into the Carribean to watch baseball this Winter. Whatever it is, stay safe and remember, if you have a great adventure, this is the place to tell all of us about it..........I know I would love to read about it!


 


Sunday Rewind: Joe Kennedy...We were Lucky to have known You.... Truly Lucky!

 


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Intro:

I have decided that one Sundays I am going to pop back into the archives of the 625 blogs I have posted on MLBlogs.com and select a weekly "blast from the past" to let some of the people who did not read me before the 2009 season to get a  glance at either how far the writing has progressed, or regressed depending on your views. So I hope you enjoy reading my little submission that I first posted back on November 23,2007 about a guy I really enjoyed talking with when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays




I had just gotten home from work and  decided to go online and pop onto the Yahoo sports page to see what was has transpired while I was working Today. It being a day after the stuffed mushroom and pecan pie debauchery of the holiday, I was looking for the lighter side of sports for some comfort to my still overflowing belly of good food morsels and treats.

 

Maybe I was hoping to find out that my favorite target, A-Rod was crying poverty over the Yanks' latest contract offer to Mario Riviera, but I had no such luck this day. Instead what I found made me sink into my chair and put a huge twisting knot in my already overfilled stomach. 



It quickly made me rethink  my personal life for the ump-teenth time this year and brought up a tragic event featuring another ex- Tampa Bay Rays player in Oct 2006. That first event took another of my favorite players in Devilrays history to an untimely death, but this one really brought me to my knees.

 
 
I truly hate it when a young ball player dies when he is about to fulfill his potential, or even rediscover the magic that first got him to the Major Leagues. No matter if they have hit their prime, or had to reinvent themselves to further their careers, it was a special moment.



Some players hit that invisible wall of physical and mental points of no return and are not able to endure the rigors and challenges of baseball anymore.  And sometimes their bodies just can't take it anymore,even at such a young age.
 


Some have had past abuses either with steroids or muscle enhancements that have robbed them of moments in their current or post career lives. Some just hit a mental road block that can not be corrected by human means.



The tragic tales that really hit home and destroy me inside is the way I found out about the untimely death of  ex-Ray Joe Darley Kennedy. There has been a wide spread rumors and thoughts among the Media that Kennedy might have suffered a brain aneurysm or heart attack during the night. Kennedy and his family were in town to visit  his wifes family and enjoy the holidays with them before this tragedy struck him down. 


 
 
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Kennedy was making strides to regain some of his old magic and had announced his free agency after the 2006 World Series. And all indications were that his 2006 squad, the Toronto Blue Jays' and especially the Blue Jays Team President  Paul Godfrey wanted  Joe Kennedy back as a member of their 2008 staff. 
 


As I mentioned before,Kennedy was in town for the holidays at his wife's parents home in the Brandon, Florida area, and was to be the best man at a wedding sometime during his stay here in the area.  But for some reason, Kennedy had gotten up in the middle of the night and was discovered collapsed on the floor of his in-laws home.  Paramedics were summoned and an ambulance quickly rushed  him to Brandon Medical Center,but it was too late, and Kennedy was pronounced dead  when the ambulance reached the Emergency Room.
 


This is the second ex-Oakland Athletic to suffer a tragic ending and unexpected death since October 2006. Ex-Rays and A's teammate, Cory Lidle tragically perished in a plane accident after the Yankees exit from the playoffs in 2006. 
 


One of my first blogs on here was a tribute to Cory Lidle. He was another player who befriended me during his tenure with the Rays, and I looked for him every year when his team would make a visit to the Trop. I did the same for Joe Kennedy every time he came here for a series. You do not forget the "good guys". They are those players who greet you with a smile and by your first name and make you feel like you are family, even if it is just to say "hello."


 
Joe was only 28 years young, but had already established himself as a front end starting pitcher with our Rays.  He had  thrown for over 908 innings in the Majors, and had 558  career K's.


 
Kennedy was selected in the 1998 Amateur player draft in the 8th round, out of Grossmont (Calif.) J C by the Rays and went immediately into the minor leagues organization. He quickly rose through the Rays' farm system organization. Kennedy had made quick work of moving up the ladder in the farm system, and was a combined 6-0, with a .099 ERA with Orlando and Durham before getting called up to the big club ( Devilrays ) on June 2, 2001.
 


Kennedy made his Major League debut on June 6th against the Blue Jays in Toronto and won 6-2 . He appeared in 20 games that season. During that Rookie season, Joe had 12 quality starts, only CC Sabathia of the Indians had a better stats( 13). Joe was also 3rd in among the American League Rookies with a 4.44 ERA.

 
                      

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Kennedy also established himself in the MLB's record books as the first  Major League player since Kip Wells of the Pirates to win both his first two  career starts. Joe was also the first Devilrays in franchise history to perform this feat. He was on his way to producing an amazing season and establish himself among the left-handers in the American League.
 


In 2001, Kennedy pitched in 196 innings and struck out 109 hitters. These numbers would be his  best as a member of the Devilrays, but only his second best career totals  of his brief  Major League career.
 


In 2003, Kennedy progressed to the point of being announced by Rays Manager Hal McRae as the Opening Day starter. I found Kennedy to be the kind of pitcher who would not be  afraid to go inside on a batter or " buzz the tower" if needed.  Every good pro pitcher seems to have a mean streak in them.
 



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I can attest to personally knowing that the guy was a true professional and enjoyed his time here with the Rays. I spoke to Kennedy on occasions during BP and always found him to be funny and very intelligent.
 


I guess I was one of those people who knew that the Devilrays would probably trade Kennedy at some point in his career, but I had hope it was after he had garnished that 10-win plateau with the Devilrays. And maybe after he had secured his play in Devilray lore.
 


Kennedy was very soft spoken and reserved  when he was among the crowds at the Trop. But he was a fierce competitor and was always going to the mound  with the belief he could to win every game. That was a quality that I greatly admired in him. Going out with the idea you are going to win every time you take the rubber.
 



I know you are going to say that every pitcher tries to keep that fire within them, but in truth, they might in their words, but in their minds there might not be that total commitment. Kennedy always felt he could win, no matter what the odds or the situation that that is the basic mindset of a great pitcher.
 



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After Kennedy left the Rays and pitched for the Colorado Rockies, he got close to that 10-win plateau. Kennedy only got 9 wins in 2004, but produced an amazing 117 strikeouts that year. He was traded to the Oakland A's  during the All Star break where he was again considered a valuable member of the pitching rotation.



He garnered a 2.31 ERA in 2006, a career best for Kennedy.  In 2006, he was rewarded with the number five slot in the Athletics starting rotation. It was a far cry from the number one slot with the Devilrays in 2004, but he was again pitching every five days. 
 


In 2007, Kennedy found himself as  number 5 man in the rotation, and fell upon bad times and was moved into the A's bullpen and working only late inning and was used in "leftie" opportunities. He got another opportunity with the Arizona Diamondbacks (3 games), and the Toronto Blue Jays (9 games) during the past 2007 season.
 


Kennedy  produced 43 victories in his short career, but his last one was fitting. He received his 43rd win versus his old Devilrays team on September 29, 2007.  But it was the next performace that made Kennedy the proudest in his life.



Kennedy had the awesome pleasure of becoming a Father for the first time this past year and was looking forward to time with Kaige and his wife before the upcoming seasons Feb. mandatory reporting date for pitchers' and catchers.
 


I will miss seeing Joe Kennedy pitch. More for the fact that he was a true professional and was always in the game both mentally and physically. I know he was just beginning to again hit his stride in his career, and could have produced some great numbers as a member of that Blue Jays staff in 2008.
 


Kennedy is survived by his wife and new son Kaige and currently lived in the Denver area.
 


I truly hope that there is an afterlife.  Because then I can see players like Cory and Kennedy pitching and  again see both of their ear to ear smiles or grins, knowing they  are again doing something they truly loved to do.


 
God Bless you Joe Kennedy, ..................I hope to someday be in that heavenly Right Field watching you play in that league up there someday myself..... And I will always cheer for you as a truly great person and pitcher, and as someone who left the game before he was ready to go.
 

Play Ball!
 
 
 

Would Review Ruin the Game?

 



Chris Carlson / AP



I been hearing this slight buzz in the air all day, and it is not dimming in its intensity one bit. This mind numbing grumble that has started to fester after another game play situation in which some fans and media are now calling for a change in the protectors of the rules of the game we have all come to love in one way or  another.



Hidden behind the premise that it would reverse the tyranny of the omnipotent ones who now make split second decisions and ill-advised judgment calls that tend to effect thousands of people immediately need a  rules revival to "save the game." That for some reason in the last 50 years of evolving technologies and the more the fan is interwoven into the fabric of the sport with more information and more knowledge on the sport that we are now short-changing ourselves with antiqued rules systems.



Even the slightest notion of  play calling imperfection is now instantly blared far and wide for all to consider, and judged via instant replay or even slow-motion camera work that the human eye can not comprehend or even imagine before its invention. And not this behemoth of innovation might finally be beckoning at the clubhouse doors of this sport. Is the game that far removed from simple reality that we need to institute a check and balance system to challenge or even reverse a decision that has been made by someone within a few feet of the play in question, but not fashioned with this technology at their disposal?



Does the world really need to see this technology enter the game at a inhuman pace and embrace a new revolution of red flags or booth reviews that could damage the integrity of the game and men who officiate it forever. I am like everyone else and get frazzled and upset when a complete call is missed or even an angle unseen by an umpire leads to a bad decision. But will this really restore the game to its glory, or will the umpires always be peeking over their shoulders at the dugouts wondering if a challenge or even a heated discussion will be evoked by his decision.



Here is where I might either fall into line with some people, or be called out for my innocence, but I actually like the way the game is slowly revolving and evolving right now.  Surely the game on the field is not going slower than our instant replays show us. But what solutions can be developed that protect the simplicity of the game without damaging integrity in the end. I can envision a system that could be rationally fair to test the validity of  bringing up a challenge  in reference to a hard hit ball down the baselines, or a missed tag-up before advancing on the base paths.





Kathy Willens / AP



But to think we can totally mesh and stitch the game into a few more camera angles  and reference points and try and divulge the real truth on base stealing calls and other currently off limits nuances of the game is going totally ballistic toward over involving the game with technology. there has to be a limit. There has to be a subtle change to the rules or anarchy will reign down on the game. Sure I have seen the blown calls in two games this week, but the MLB Umpires still get the calls right more than any other organized sport in the world..period.




Because of our present technologies, we can cut down, isolate players, and even slow down the motion in a play to milliseconds and totally transform a reaction that takes a flash memory of  instant recognition and human response to make a correct hand signal to conclude the play. I do foresee a system, like the current home run and fan interference review program might be able to be included to showcase calls down the line. Some say it will bring out a sense of distrust in the umpires if a call is mis-called, but in my opinion, I would have more respect for the men in blue to acknowledge a potential error and correct it.



But that takes the potential bang-bang out of the game, and also opens the door for more outlandish interpretations by the media and fans. Let's take the play last night that was clearly a blown calls as an example in a new review situation. Twins catcher Joe Mauer hits a blistering ball down the leftfield line towards Yankee outfielder Melky Cabrera. The Umpire in his quest to get the call correct might have missed the ball smacking the glove and instead saw the ball bouncing on the line and called it a foul ball by the correct interpretation of the rules on the play " he saw".



Let's move forward with a potential review system and that the leftfield line umpire would make a preliminary call, but immediately call time and consult with the Umpire Crew Chief and the other members of the crew and they can make a group decision to review the play to gather the correct information to make a conclusive call. At that point it can either be reviewed, or his call will stand as called on the field. And even if they do go to the review booth and see the same play from a few different angles and a slowed down video to get it correct the first time.




Even if they employ a system like this to get the call right the first time, they open another Pandora's box that might not go over so well with the fans. Say Mauer's play was considered a error on Cabrera and he was awarded the base. Who is to say it would not have been a double, or that he would have been out trying to stretch the play into a double. By getting the play correct by the visual evidence, you have taken away some of the special traits of the game by instant decision making by the players.  Will we also have to induce a new set of rewards for the overturning or even correct interpretation of a call.




Jae C Hong / AP




If base runners are involved, and might have scored on the play in question, doesn't that bring about another set of questions and searches for solutions to make the first decision correspond correctly with the flow of the game. Would we award an additional base only, or will that also be reviewable to see if the runner had passed third before the fielder touched the ball, which would mean he could have scored without a throw to the plate. Pandora is giggling profusely somewhere in the notion of all the turmoil this could cause the game.



I would love to see something developed, but it will have to be done with a precision thought process and an astute sense of impending justice towards the protecting the integrity of the game. I know I am qualified to make opinions and rational suggestions, but that revising of the rules is not my thing. And no matter how it is corrected, or even developed, someone will find a fault line in it after time. And then we will have to deduce a process all over again to correct the new flaws and cracks in the rulebook. Or maybe we can just accept the fact that the game is flawed and has a huge hole within itself that might never be sealed to please all of us.




Jae C Hong



Maybe the best solution is to just love and view the game as we did in our younger days. That if you saw Johnny miss the hubcap that was second base, you tagged him out and you kept playing after a minute or two of arguing. The simplicity of this game is the main reason so many of us loved it in the first place. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. Maybe the problem really is as we grow older and learn better ways to do even the simple things, we want to change things. Me, I still want to just pitch the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball........then go for a soda and pizza and talk about the game.


Who I am following in the Playoffs

         NL Division Series Logo                                           AL Division Series Logo



I have to admit, that I have been a bad, bad baseball fan the last couple of days. I have only seen a few innings of a few post season games and have not been as intensely into the playoffs the way I have been in the past. Some might consider since my team was eliminated early from any contention that I have lost the zeal to watch baseball, but that is not the issue.  So what if the Tampa Bay Rays will not be making beautiful memories for my lifetime in 2009, I will survive.



And it is not matter that my second favorite team (Seattle) also did  not make any head ways into the 2009 playoff picture after the Rays canceled their own ticket with a rough start in September. So with neither of my top two in the post season, it is time to adapt temporary arrangements to throw my support towards another team on their ride through the 2009 post season.




Rob Carr / AP



With that in mind, I might not make any new friends with my announcement that the teams, one in each league that I plan to follow in the 2009 playoffs, will consist of teams that are situated in the American League East. And the fact I am about to shun the Red Sox and Yankees is not due to any internal forces or even extreme pain against either of these teams that our season quickly dissolved in September. The Rays lost the chance to cash in their ticket to the postseason with their respective series against these two teams. the better teams won in 2009.




So I am going to have to develop a new set of criteria to decide who will get my cheers and jeers in 2009. Maybe I will use a formulated plan of attack based on offense, defense and pitching statistics. Or I could go the way of visiting a Psychic and see what team she sees in the aura around me, or what the Tarot cards have in store for any of the teams in the playoffs. Or maybe I can just go the simple route and decide the team by looking at the post season rosters and deciding it all based on the ex-Rays currently on their rosters.



And for some reason, I like the way that last suggestion looks on the computer, it just seems to jump out off the page and tells me to "pick me! pick me".  So I think that will be my measure of calculating and deciding the  one AL and NL teams I will root for in this post season carnival. And as I take this road, there are two clear choices that I will lean towards and follow until the last out of their last game in this playoff season.




Mel Evans / AP



But my decision on the team I am going to follow in 2009 will be based on a few criteria that most people might not have considered before now.  Way back in 1991, when the team was first awarded to the Denver area, I did not want to follow anyone else but the black and purple of the Rockies. But there was a solid reason behind this selection that still to this day makes me not want to root or even hope for any prosperity for the Florida (Miami) Marlins. And it was a simple case of money over community want that sealed the deal for my fish vendetta.




You see, the Tampa Bay community was in a fight with local cities Orlando and Miami for a chance to be the first expansion team in the state and might of had a better chance at securing that first Florida team if not for the deep, deep pockets of former Blockbuster Entertainment head honcho Wayne Huizenga. So my instant alliance went to the team that would play almost one mile above sea level and far from the sandy beaches of Tampa Bay.




But there is a secondary reason why this team is being considered as my "team " for the 2009 playoffs. Since the Rockies sacked their old manager, they have played more inspired ball and have come a long way both in their record and in their team concept. For that reason, they give me a slight feel of the atmosphere and the thrill that I felt with the rays in 2008. But more of the reasoning might have come via ESPN's talking heads. You see, when the Rays were making their run last season, the announcers kept reminding people they were that season's 'Rockies". 




As much as that was funny at the time, now I hope the Rays can be next season's "Rockies" for the second time in a row and follow the same path (minus the manager firing) and get back on the playoff train in 2010.  So I will be following the Phillies and Rockies series with extra motivation. But the fact that the Rockies have been there before, and have gotten as far as the Rays did in 2008 boast a weird similarity that entices my support. The Rockies fought back the doom and gloom disillusion of so many around the league this season to secure a playoff berth and then go on and challenge to overtake the mighty Dodgers in the last series of the season shows the heart of a champion again.




Mel Evans / AP



It brings up a lot of the same emotion I felt in 2008, and so this is the team I have decided to follow in this season's playoffs. Granted, they have been labeled a long shot, but I remember so many who said that the Rays would not go far either in 2008. And the added bonus that former Rays Jason Hammel is on the post season roster gives me more of a reason to want to see "Hambone" take the mound and throws laser beams. And Hammel will get a chance to leave his impression on the NLDS when he gets the start Friday night because of the unexpected injury to Jorge De La Rosa late in the season.  




So that is it, that is my team for the playoffs. No wishy washy wavering between teams, this is my solid choice and one that I will live by even if they do not get out of the first round of the playoffs. I am not a bandwagon fan. If I make you a pick of mine, I stick by you even in defeat. but that is not the case in so many sports fans in this country. So no matter what happens from today on, the Rockies will have my attention, and my support to try and again get back to the World Series this season. And it would again be a great surprise, or even a great honor in 2010 to have the Rays be considered "this seasons Rockies".....again.


  

Favorite Funny Photos from 2009.......Rays Style

 


www.Cowbelltime.com




2009 will go down as one of those seasons that a few of the members of the Tampa Bay Rays might want to forget as fast as possible. But there also have been some amazing funny and totally memorable photos taken during the past season that might be needed right now for a few who can't seem to turn their frowns upside down. How could the photo above of a dog lover even turning his canine best friend into a Rays fan not get you to at least start the curving of your mouth into a smile or a deep belly chuckle.



So today I decided to entertain and hopefully lighten up the stress and the angst of the playoff series an hopefully put a few chuckles and smiles on everyones faces as their favorite teams continue to battle it out between the chalk lines. And you know that the best way to relieve stress has always been laughter, or an occasional funny moment. So with that in mind, it is time to begin the 2009 search for the funny bone, and hopefully we all still have one.





www.archiemcphee.com


I am always amazed at some of the new gadgets, puns and practical joke items on www.ArchieMcPhee.com . I originally used this photo not so long ago on August 7,2009 when I wrote on a visit to Seattle......the Renegade's way.  The place is virtual comics dream with some of the wildest items ever offered online, or in their unique store in Seattle. I mean, look at the photo above of the handerpants, which are billed as "underwear for your hands". Just the idea of such a thing is beyond words to me at times.  But at least you never have to worry about a skid marks, but you might have to worry about hairy palms.



I mean if you get a chance and want to have a really hard belly laugh, you got to go to the website and check out some of the wild and amazing things that you can buy for yourself or to amuse your friends. You can buy bacon soap, Absinthe floss for your teeth or maybe a Monkey portrait oil painting for the upcoming office Christmas party anonymous gift. Whatever your likes, this is the website for the simply insane and the mostly gag gift for people of any ages.





www.raysbaseball.com



This one actually is not a funny photo, sorry, but it is a great reminder that we lose so many great baseball fans every season to the dangers of smoking. I know it might seem like I am jumping on a soapbox here, but I really feel that it is a habit that has robbed us of a lot of great people even during my lifetime. I have never smoked, chewed or used any tobacco products, but with my luck I will die trying to shove in that last hot dog during the $1 Dog Nights at the Trop.



What is also amazing about this photo is the fact that the skeleton has two handlers right behind them in case they have to run and retrieve a foul ball and the leg-bone becomes disconnected from the hip-bone, and the hip-bone loses its tail-bone somewhere on the stairs. Or maybe that is just my own sick sense of weird humor? 






Pat Manfredo




This extremely hungry Toronto Blue Jays reliever about to eat Rays fan Christin Manfredo's head during a photo opportunity in Dunedin, Florida during Spring Training is Dirk Hayhurst. Most people might remember him as the original storyteller of the Legend of the Garfoose, which is a tremendously funny and totally obscure baseball story that gets me giggling every time I read it. The guy has a wild sense of humor, and seems to like to bite the heads of live Rays fans. 





RRCollections


I always wondered what a 6 foot parrot ate when he came to Florida for Spring Training. I guess he has an appetite for foul ball catching kids.  Seriously, when I first saw this photo in April I was wondering if t was one of those caption photos where you decide what he is doing, and what you want to have printed under the photo. If it was just that sort of opportunity, I guess my entry would say something like: Penalty in Pittsburgh for reaching over the wall for a ball, you get pecked to death by the Parrot.





www.brianshousefanclub.com



Another website that has gotten me to give up more than a few chuckles this season is www.brainshousefanclub.com. On this website dedicated to the Rays "leftie" specialist, you can see him immortalized as Neo from "The Matrix", the Terminator, Santa Claus, and also Ghandi. The site was developed when Shouse was with the Milwaukee Brewers and was used in the 8th inning of Brewers games.



When he came to the Rays, I was told about this website, and tried to immortalize it a few times during the season for the Rays faithful to check out and hopefully use as their desktop photo. No one has ever emailed me back with any information as to if they have selected any of the photos, and in turn added them to their desktops, even for one day. But it is still great to see fans of other teams have a great sense of humor about their favorite players, and want to immortalize them like this. Could a Jason Bay website be in the making?






RRCollections




Still not sure what these guys were trying to convey when they showed up at Tropicana Field one night during a Scott Kazmir start. Were they lost on their way to the Middle Ages revival somewhere downtown, or could they actually be showing some level of solidarity for the Rays Republic. I came up with the notion that they were the Knights Tampa, who were sent here by a Coucil of an European hierarchy to protect the American League Championship trophy as our own Holy Grail....or I could be wrong?




RRCollections




To this day, I wish I had known that the Rays and the GEICO Caveman were going to do a parody commercial where he runs out on the field and attacks the GEICO signage put up on the right-centerfield outfield wall. It was a trip talking with him in the interview I did a few minutes before he decided to run onto the field after being selected as the "GEICO Fan of the Game". Such and honor, and yet he got to spend a night in the Pinellas County Jail making new friends and maybe getting a "Born to HATE GEICO" prison tattoo.



   
          www.BaltimoreSun.com


 Earlier in the season I wrote about an old tradition that was resurfacing again in the land of the Oriole. It seemed that some years ago they used to do a cartoon after every game, and after a bit of time, the cartoon fell by the wayside until they decided to return the tradition again in 2009. After every one of the 162 Oriole games there was a cartoon the next morning right there for everyone to see both online and in the morning paper delivered to the doorsteps of thousands in the Baltimore area. Great to see such a humorous tradition again take root in the town that gave us the "Ace of Cakes".



  

Mark Duncan / AP



I still want to know how much each of those seagulls makes that have a habit of coming into Progressive Field and making a nuisance of themselves. I know that on at least one occasion, the winged ones have knocked down a potential game winning single then let out that all telling gull laugh as the Indians celebrated at Home Plate with a walk-off win. Make you want to again read "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" and see if there was any real truth to that book.  In Cleveland, the proof is sitting right there among the green grass on most nights when the Indians play baseball.






Steve Nesius / AP



I have to admit, I always wondered why B J Upton never stole any bases against the New York Yankees earlier in the season. I guess during this game in July I got my answer. Seems that Robinson Cano likes to come up behind Upton and clutch him like a long lost buddy until the ball gets to the plate. Seriously tho, it is great to see the guy have a common respect and love for each other, but can we save the "Man Crush" for after the game and let B J  run next time?




Steve Nesius / AP



I am not sure why Scott Kazmir first off decided to give his rightfielder, Gabe Gross a nice little extra pat on the back pocket, but the look on Kazmir's face is simply priceless. I miss Scott, he was always up for some sort of humor within the confines of the game, and usually it somehow did get caught by the camera. Not sure the reasoning behind the low pat, but you can bet he got more a few ribbing from his team mate when this one hit the wire services. But the sign  held up in the background by Rays fan George Stone that stated simply "awesome" gives this picture a purely comical edge, and almost turns it a bit cartoonish, but it is a classic moment now.




Chris O'Meara / AP



All during the Rays season there has been at least one culprit during the Rays home games that has been delivering shaving cream pies to unsuspecting victims during television or stadium Jumbotron interviews. And the wild part it is someone who you would never associate such speed and stealth moves to for the most part. Dioner Navarro has been the shaving cream pie stealth bandit all season long, and you never know when he might sprint out of the dugout tunnel holding a towel filled with the creamy substance.



Such was the case when he got Rays Manager Joe Maddon during a FSN Florida interview near the end of the season. But Navarro was not as stealth as usual, as Maddon heard the catcher coming, and turned his head at the right moment to only get a right earful of the cool lime smelling concoction. Maddon, always the cool cucumber basically added during the interview that "Now I feel like one of the boys, and have been accepted into the club". Classic line by a classic guy who also leads by example for his team to witness nightly. Even wilder, for the next two nights after the shaving cream pie, Navarro started behind the plate for the Rays.





Chris O'Meara / AP


A Major League dugout can be a wild place during a games. You never know just what kind of high jinks or pratfalls might be coming, and you never know who the true culprit is at the moment. Take this photo for example, it is the shoe of Rays Rookie Wade Davis after Rays pitcher Matt Garza gave him a hot foot during a game against the New York Yankees during the last home stand. But Davis was not the only victim of that series.




Earlier in the game, Rays reliever J P Howell, who was shut down in the last weeks before the end of the season got the classic treatment himself when he stayed in the dugout instead of strolling out to the Bullpen like he usually did on game days. He was situated on the dugout rail watching another Rays rookie, David Price pitch during a game and someone, who will remain nameless, got him with the classic bubble gum bubble on top of his Rays cap.



So these are a few of the moments in 2009 that got me to chuckle, laugh and maybe sip a few sips of soda all over the floor of the Trop. The season is long over, and the fans have gone from the stadium, but it is memories like these that will live on within our hearts and minds for a long time.








Miracle Twins Tame the Tigers




Brian Peterson/ Minn Star Tribune



I have to show some love to the new American League Central Champs, the Minnesota Twins, who last night gave all of us another great extended 9163 game) season. And even though they did the same in 2008, this time they came out on winning end of the contest. Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire and his crew did everything possible to take that final step into the 2009 playoffs by defeating the Detroit Tigers in a game that proved that being tenacious and clawing for the jugular can pay off big time in a game. The Tigers and the Twins went back and forth in this contest until Twins centerfielder Carlos Gomez led off the bottom of the 12th inning with a single.




And you know what they say about lead-off runners in a late inning baseball game, they always seem to come back and bite you in the end. Well, last night it took a little bit until Alexi Castilla hit an RBI single to finally send the Tigers back to their lair for a long Winters nap. I have to admit, that was the first time I have ever seen ex-Ray Delmon Young show such pure emotional joy since he found out he was traded out of Tampa Bay. Seriously tho, it is fantastic that the Metrodome will get to host at least a few more baseball games before it finally bows out as the Twins baseball home.




With 187 days until the Opening Day at the new Target Park, the New York Yankees might just be the last opposing team to ever come in and try to put a few balls deep into the baggies in rightfield. But the Yankees might want to be wary of these Twinkies. Sure, like their confectionary cousins, for most of the season they seems rough on the outside and soft in the middle, but they regrouped and pulled off a major coup by even getting to a point to force a one-game free-for-all with the Tigers.




The good news is that the Twins will have at least three more games to their 2009 season. The bad news is they first have to start their journey in the cozy confines of Yankee Stadium on the road starting tomorrow night with Yankee 19-game winner CC Sabathia on the hill. But considering the steep and rugged mountain they scaled in the last 14 days, this next obstacle might seem like an anthill to the Twins.




The minor fact that less than 14 days ago they were not even being mentioned or ever considered for the 2009 postseason, and now they have secured another American League Central title and a chance to compete as another great Cinderella story in 2009. I did not give the Twins enough credit to come out and take the game to the Tigers. I did not expect them to lay down or even give up, but I thought that American League Rookie of the Year candidate, Rick Porcello, who was starting on the mound for the Tigers might have the keys to the playoff bus in this match up.




The way Tiger slugger Miguel Cabrera started off in this game by crushing an 0-2 pitch by Twins starter Scott Baker, it definitely looked like a long, long night for the Twins. But being the pesky and persistent team they are, the Twins saw Matt Tolbert scamper home on a throwing error by Porcello to give the Twins their first run of the night.  From there Baker held the Detroit team at bay until the Twins finally began to counter and put another run on the board on a Jason Kubel homer to right-centerfield.




Brian Peterson /Minn Star Tribune



Now the Twins had snuck back into this contest 3-2, and the Twins Bullpen was about to began their long night. With both teams into their respective Bullpens now, the game was about to grind down a bit as the two teams used strategies and match-ups. Gardenhire actually used three different Twins relievers in a span of 13 pitches to get out of the seventh inning with no damage.




In the bottom of the seventh inning, Twins shortstop Orlando Cabrerra hit a 2-run shot to leftfield off Tiger reliever Zack Miner that scored Nick Punto and moved the Twins in front for the first time in the game. The Tigers  countrered the Twins by also using three relievers in the inning to finally shut down the Twins, who now had a 4-3 lead going into the eighth inning. But that lead did not last long as Magglio Ordonez took the second pitch he saw from reliever Matt Guerrier and deposited it into the leftfield seats to tie the game again.




In the next two innings, both teams used their reliable closers to try and put a clamp on this game and set up a potential one-run victory for either team. Twins closer Joe Nathan came in first and faced ten hitters before giving way to reliever Jesse Cain in the top of the tenth inning. The Tiger went to their closer, Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning, and it was now a battle to see which team blinked first.  And it was the Twins who blinked first when Crain hit  Detroit pinch hitter Aubrey Huff with a pitch, and he was quickly replaced by pinch runner Don Kelly.




Crain seemed to have gained back some momentum when he struck out Ryan Rayburn for the second out of the inning. But Brandon Inge took his third pitch and hit an RBI-double to deep left to put the Tigers up by one run. But the Twins counter in their half of the inning when after Michael Cuddyer tripled to deep leftfield to lead-off the bottom of the tenth inning.




Morry Gash / AP



Now with the tying run just 60 feet from home, the Twins  Delmon Young hit a grounder to short for an easy out, then Brendan Harris walked on 5-pitches to put men on the corners for the Twins with one out. Then that Tolbert, who scored earlier for Minnesota on a pitching error came through with an RBI-single to center to knot the score at 5-all. Gardenhire then used three different reliever to get his club out of the eleventh inning without incident. But the calculated manuveurs did not help his club as they went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eleventh inning.




Twins reliever Bobby Keppel came back out to the hill for the 12th inning, and got in a bit of a jam when he walked Cabrera, then gave up a single to Kelly to centerfield. With two men in scoring position,and with first base open, Gardenhire then intentionally walked Rayburn and load the bases up for Inge. The plan worked perfectly as Inge hit into a fielder's choice and Cabrera was tagged out at home, which put two outs on the board. Gerald Laird then struck out swinging to end theTigers chance.




In the bottom of the 12th, Rodney again took the hill for the Tigers and gave up the lead-off single to Gomez. In all, the inning saw a total of 12-total pitches before Castilla stepped on Home Plate and the parties erupted all over Minnesota. You can bet there will be some tired souls on that plane, but the fatigue will not bother them as they will be riding an emotional high going into Game 1 of the ALDS.




And that can be either a cruel or energy pumping animal to tame right now for the Twins. The Yankees have been off since their season ending win in St. Petersburg on Sunday, while the Twins have been grinding it out and are still in the competitve mindset having  just concluded an incredible game. It will be exciting to see which end of the spectrum comes out in play of the Twins players' tommorrow night. Adrenaline can be a great equalizer if it is used to their advantage.





Morry Gash / AP


From the emotional high of an extra inning victory still pumping through their veins, they run the risk of coming out too hyper, and then they could mishandle important at bats and get behind early. And if they come out stone cold, they could be in for a long night in the Bronx before finally getting a chance to sleep. I am actually looking forward to this first game because I am dying to see which Twins team shows up, and if they are motivated and still energized from the previous night....Sabathia might be the one in for a long, long night. But whatever happens in the next few weeks, the story and the determination of this Twins team can not be denied right now.  Count on it!





     

Rays Show Confidence in Pitching Coach Jim Hickey..........Really?



Elaine Thompson / AP




Sometimes I truly think that the Rays Front Office loves to use subliminal and subversive messages to gather information on the public perception of an event or something that makes them go.....hmmmmmmm?  But I have to admit, this one move, this 180 degree change of heart that shows something towards Rays Pitching coach Jim Hickey keeps him here for another Rays season. And for the life of me, I do not see a solid reason while he is still employed by the Rays. And you know the local kool-ade drinking media will not voice their dismay over this action...........nope, they will remain wihin the party lines.



But I do not have Press Credentials, or even an inside information mole to give me things like them. I get my information from watching 80 games a year at the Trop., and every game that MLB.com shows on the air. What could be their logical reasoning to let go of Hitting Coach, Steve Henderson today who's Rays hitters only set new Team Records in homers, runs scored, RBI and stolen bases this season, but keep a Pitching Coach who's starters and Bullpen relievers took a definite two steps backwards in 2009. I mean Hickey does have some Houston roots, so he might understand this next scenario without him having to have flash cards or pictures.




What has seemed to happen this season to the Rays pitching staff is akin to a guy doing the Texas two-step in a deep foxhole. You can go forward, you can go back, but only two step no matter what. And that is what his Rays staff has done most of the season. they have made slight improvements and altered their course in games, but the end result is always the same........sometimes the "pitch to contact" system delivers up a long ball instead of a ground out or a double play ball for the defense. 



And if that system doesn't work do you blame Vice President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, or Rays Manager Joe Maddon? In reality you can put the check mark next to both names, because Friedman keeps Hickey and Maddon keeps believing in him. But in my mind, the only culprit here is the mechanic who tunes the system and makes it run smooth, clean and with a minimum of problems. And this season, Hickey looked more like an apprentice than a master craftsman.



Sure he got dealt a bad deal two years in a row when Troy Percival took his glove and went home to rehab, but at no time in the season did the team try and promote from within or try and isolate anyone to take over that role for the season. Other teams call on the veterans, or even a hot shot prospect with a cannon on his arm. At one point, the Rays signed Jorge Julio to a minor league contract maybe hoping he still has some gasoline in his tank. But the team instead adapted a much discussed and faulty plan of using pitching match-ups as a basis for the later innings.




Steve Nesius / AP



This works well when you base your Spring Training team on to this formula, and not adopt it in the middle of trying to stop a losing month, or keep a string of wins alive. The match-up system has to be nurtured and fcoused on totally, not just based on situational 8th, or 9th innings hitters. And with this team bascially only having three reliever that can be trusted with hitters from both sides of the plate, it makes your options a bit tighter in the games.



And who has to be the craftsman behind all of this, well the Pitching Coach. Sure Maddon and Hickey can go over situational devices and plan accordingly, but life doesn't always go by the book, and Hickey doesn't always give the same sage advice as Maddon. I actually can not see the correlation between these two at times. Maddon is the always thinking, mind turning a million miles a minute, and Hickey is just, well Hickey. I know Maddon does scribble a few hints and stats on his personal score sheet to check on later in the games, but I really do not see the collective brain trust in Hickey by his side.




Sure Hickey does the Rays pitchers Side Sessions and the Bullpen Session with his pitching staff, but I sometimes see more vocal words coming out of Bullpen Catcher Scott Cursi's mouth than Hickeys in relation to the pitches. I might not see the video work he does with "Chico" Fernandez to get these guys ready for a ballgame, and I do not know his personal preparation routine for game days. But what I do see is a guy who sometimes goes by the book more than his instinct and wisdom. The black statistics on that white printer paper might have a few highlighted marks on it, but i do not see him as a strategist in the least............sorry.




So if a guys starters leave and do better in other locales, can you give credit to a guy that used to be their Pitching Coach, or do you question why they prospered away from the "pitch-to-contact" scheme of Hickey's gameplan. How can Jason Hammel go from a hot and controled environment like the Trop and have a lower ERA in of all places, Coors Field in 2009.  Edwin Jackson was a stud in the making as a pitcher even before he went to Detroit in a trade. I mean the Rays considered him for the closer role before, and with the recent plight of Percival, why did they not consult E J  and see if he would take on the task?



And you know I am going to bring up Scott Kazmir and his seeking advice outside the organization from the man who was his first Pitching Coach in New York, Rick Peterson. Oh how that must have burned deep inside Hickey that he was not visually equiped to notice a small step adjustment for maximum velocity. I bet if they let him, he would have drove Kazmir to the airport that next morning and kicked him out of the rental car haflway there...........(just kidding, maybe).



Chris O'Meara / AP



So if the Rays Bullpen gets rebuilt in Hickey's mold with the financial restrictions in mind, it might only be a tweaking of the current system. Even if Chad Bradford and Percivals money comes off the books, there might still not be enough to achieve a maximum upgrade, but it can be done.  But is Hickey the guy you want to entrust with that job, or is there someone within the Rays system like Xavier Hernandez, who has been fine-tuning the Rays Triple-A guys for several years.



I actually have more faith in Hernandez than I do Hickey based on what Hernandez did as the Rays snatched starters from the Bulls throughout the year and he still had the arms to take the Triple-A Championship. Gone by that time was David Price, and Hernandez manipulated the system when injuries to Mitch Talbot and other hit the Bulls staff. But still Hickey will be manning the pitching charts and books for the Rays in 2010. But how long will his luck go before he finally runs out of gas or chances with the Rays?




You know they took a big PR gamble a few years ago after the Rays last game of the season when he hit a Rays batboys truck at an intersection, and drove around the car and proceeded home. He was stopped by the St. Petersburg Police Department several miles down the Interstate and did not act in all in the manners of the "Rays Way".  



But Hickey showed remorse to the Rays Front Office and recieved a year contratc to show he was to change his ways.  And considering at that same time the Rays were going through a slew of "problem chld" situations with Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes, they could have just sent him on his merry way and not looked back.  I hope that the Rays made thew right decision and that Hickey does make me regret this posting, but I do not think that is going to happen.




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Maddon will not be able to sheild him again if the Rays starters or even the Bullpen falls on hard times. He will be directly in the crosshairs, and I think he knows it now. During the last home stand there was a guy in Section 136 that had a sign that read" All I want for Christmas is a Pitching Coach".  Well, the Rays decided to retain their present Pitching guru, and the hot seat begins right now. Hickey needs to not only get this team to totally believe in his system now, but also the fans so he doesn't hear the chants and the catcalls before the next All-Star break.




Maddon can not protect him now. I remember seeing a comment that he called Hickey "one of the best pitching coaches" Maddon has has in his career. Hickey is a bit younger than most of the sage PC in the league, but if his 'pitch-to-contact" system doesn't gel right in Tampa Bay in 2010, the contact he will feel is the swift kick in the behind as he leaves the clubhouse door.




  

Rays Review.......Fan Experience Edition




RRCollections




In the next few days, most of the media members who cover the Rays for the local news media and the occasional magazine will make their yearly reviews and comments regarding the re-defining or re-tooling of the 2009 Tampa Bay Rays. Well, I am going to do the same, but I think my version is going to take a bit of a different direction than most of the media groups. My review is going to be a list of some of the thing I have seen changed in the past season.............either for the good, or for the bad. The list will include special events that Season Ticket holders have grown accustom to, and some new policies that changed the system a bit for some of us.





First and foremost on my list is to compliment the Rays Group Sales department on the annual event held at the Ybor City Gameworks earlier this season. This is the second  edition of the event, and it was an event that I actually looked forward to after it great success last season. And when I saw it again on the agenda, it made my eyes sparkle and I think I might have heard a little giggle. Again this season, the event was attended by many of the Rays players and Rays Manager Joe Maddon, and some of them even took the time to play games and chat with the fans while also giving the attendees' an occasional photo opportunity. 




It was a great time to get a photo with one of the players outside of the game element and see how they are in "real life".  As an ex-player, it was always important to me personally to keep that balance between the two groups close, because without it, the fans can put you high up on that golden pedestal, and when you fall, it is a long way down to the bottom. By being open to autographs and photos, it gives a bonding moment between fans and the players that can not be duplicated by the Rays PR staff.




Plus,after seeing some of the players this season, a few of them need to hone their Dance, Dance Revolution skills for the 2010 version........Maybe that could be one of their off-season workout routines (lol)  Seriously, the food, the cartoon artists and the giveaways during the night only added extra spice to the already awesome event.





RRCollections



So let's now take a journey down the wrong side of the street for a change. This season for the first time, the Rays Season Ticket holder had to choose which "bag" or selection of giveaway items  as if they were viewing a Chinese restaurant menu. You could select Column "A" or Column "B", but no substitution and no sharing of plates. This is the first time we did not get the "kids items" that are usually included in our yearly bags. I know for myself, it was a bit of a bummer since I have used those items in the past to entice kids to want to see the Rays.




I understand the main reason for the cut-backs was that the giveaways promotional sponsors might have cut back their financial contributions on the total amount of items this season, which is understandable considering the recent economy concerns. But it was a bit of a bummer to  see any of these "kids" items this season since I also know of a lot of grand parents who use them as stocking stuffing items at Christmas time for friends who kids love the Rays, but can not attend games. Hopefully within the next season or two we can get back to the old way, or maybe have a Column "C" selection of "kids" items so we can again get some of this awesome stuff to kids who love the Rays.





So lets hit back onto another plus thing this season, which is the increased numbers of Rays Watch Parties and events where the Rays Radio network did on-location appearances and also giveaways during the television broadcast during the season. As usual, Rich Herrera did a fantastic job out and about, and should be commended on enduring sand, chicken wings and bright sunshine during the remote locations this season. But no matter where they were, it seemed everyone had a fantastic time, and hopefully we can see even more expansion in the future.





Guess it is time to again hit the low side of the totem pole. I was a bit upset that the Rays could not secure a time and a sponsor for the annual Team Photo Day in 2009. The event has always been the one time of the season that I bothered players and coaches for photos so as to give the non-Season Ticket folks a chance at autographs and pictures with them during the other 80 games of the season. But when the event was not announced this week, it set me back a bit.




I was all ready for the yearly event with a 3 GB media card and a fresh set of batteries in the camera just waiting for the event.  But when I did not get an Email or any confirmation of the event,I asked a member of the Fan Experience department with the Rays and found out that the event was not committed to be held this season. That is truly a bummer since the 2008 event was such a fiasco, and I hoped it would be a great time for the team to redeem themselves with the Season Ticket folks.




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Just a small bit of history for everyone, last season the Team Photo Day with the fans was held the day after the team celebrated stadium-wide with the fans following their win against the Minnesota Twins, securing the Rays first postseason berth. So as you might have gathered, the team's excitement and celebrations went beyond the walls of Tropicana Field, and a few of them were not in " photo" shape the next morning. It upset me and a lot of other fans that day big time, but some of the guys still took time out to take photos with some of us, while others were ushered around with escorts to make a haste escape from the photo hungry crowd.





Some of the team's major contributors to the playoff berth did not make even a dugout appearance to the event, while others felt compelled to come out and circulate and take pictures with the fans. I do not hold the players accountable for any of this since the event did come the day after the team's biggest moment, and they had every right to be proud of accomplishing their playoff berth. Hopefully in the future the Rays can again schedule this great event where  the fans again can spend a few moments with their heroes.





I am going to throw this next item out as a neutral point because I can see both sides of the coin here, but for myself, I am still searching for another option to get this activity done without rocking the boat. But the reality of it all is that the new policy of Sunday autographs for only people under 14 bites it big time to me. I guess I got spoiled by the first 11 years of having the Autograph Saturday event and having two Rays players sign for any fans regardless of age. 





I have come to not love this new policy for the simple fact that I hate to bother the Rays players throughout the season when I know they might be signing by the baselines sometimes during the season. I am now finding myself perched above the Rays dugout and bothering them during their paths to the dugout during Batting Practice. Again I have had wait in the shadows for people like Pat Burrell, Greg Zaun and Jason Bartlett to come by and see if they could sign a ball for me. I know this change in policy might have been done because of the increased postings on sites like E Bay of autographs and collectibles for sale and not for your own personal collections.




I enjoy collecting autographs on MLB baseballs, more for the fact we did not have a team here when I was a kid except for the Florida State League squads, and in Progress Energy Park/Al Lang you could not get a ball over the outfield wall unless it went over the extreme right or leftfield fences. I guess it is my way of having my childhood back in small doses via the game of baseball by collecting balls and equipment and displaying them in my home, and not for commercial profit.





So because of this increased traffic of items hitting the web, and some of the counterfeit items that might have been bought by people online, I can empathize with the players that someone of my age could be a ball hawker and not a fan wanting a true autograph for his personal use. And that is one of the reasons I have not written a blog or a posting about this event before today. But with the year-end autograph signing events that are no longer held during the last home stand, I guess I will have to redefine my sights to again perch myself during the season for the desired autographs.




Unknown Photographer




In the wide scope of it all, the Rays have been considered one of the best values in sports by ESPN, the Magazine, and it truly is affordable and entertaining for all ages. Tampa Bay Rays baseball might have taken a hit on the field, but in the surrounding halls and cubbyholes around the stadium, the Fan Experience has increased this season and the fans have been the true winners. the increase in In-Game contests and events from the Pepsi bottles Race to the Bloopers in the eighth inning have made the game enjoyable for everyone.




But even if going to a Rays game is considered one of the best values in sports, wandering around the stadium or even strolling through the Ted Willams Museum is a "must see" for fans of any team. Changes can always be made even to a perfect event or activity. The above mentioned items have not been singled out to embarrass or even stay away from future Rays games or events. But the tweaking and maybe even the revising of some things can only help further the Rays goals of giving fantastic guest experiences and also promote from within the confines of the stadium to the "Rays Way" of thinking off the field as well as on the field in 2010.



Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to the B J Upton Show!

 




Chris O'Meara / AP




Oh many times do we go to baseball games wanting to see something we have never seen before?  You know see that event that will be discussed by us to our grand kids or even friends hundreds of times until it gets so boring people know by the first words out o your mouth and either runs for the hills or sit patiently hoping the story gets shorter this time.




Well, we had just one of those moments last night. and for 12 seasons players have gotten close, they have gotten within a cats whisker of it before, but not until last night can a Tampa bay Rays player hold this special event in baseball close to his chest forever. Sure we have had Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett and even Ben Zobrist get close in 2009, but the one guy who needed something like this more than anyone on this roster gets his name permanently in Rays lore now.




And how glorious it was that B J Upton, the Bossman Junior himself stood on first base and did not know if he should step off the base and acknowledge the crowd, or wait a bit until finally tipping his batting helmet towards the stands. The guy that has been run over by the Rays bus numerous times during 2009 by the media, by the fans and by a teammate is now in the spotlight for an amazing feat, and he still looks nervous and unsure. But, you have to admit, if anyone on this team needed a moment like that, it was Upton.




And Upton's last home stand of the season has been rolling along at a awesome clip before Friday nights game against the New york Yankee. The national media was poised at Tropicana Field hoping to see the Yankee hurler CC Sabathia post his 20th victory, but his night was cut short by Rays rallies in his first 2 2/3rds innings.  And all the Yankee regulars were in the game tonight, it is not like Upton was hitting against the "B" team in the early stages of the contest.




Chris O'Meara / AP



But for the last week or so you saw something like this brewing underneath the surface for Upton. You could sense from the over-the-shoulder catches to the lack of his front foot tapping during his swing that something was going to erupt.  And not only did B J  hit for the cycle, but he did it before the end of the fifth inning!  It was the fastest cycle since Mike Lansing of the Colorado Rockies got all four hits in the first four innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 18, 2000.




But the last 10 games have been a mini great season for Upton. On Wednesday night he got his 41st steal of th season to post back-to-back 40+ steal seasons, and had gone 9 for 25 (.277) over his last 9 games prior to Friday night. If you add on his numbers from last night, Upton has now gone 16 for 40 (.400) over his last 11 games with 12 RBI, his solo HR last night.  During that stretch, he also had 4 stolen bases and 4  consecutive multi-hit games.  The last 10 games have also seen a subtle change to Upton's approach and swing, but if you have not watched B J, you would miss the small detailed differences.




Gone is that nervous energy tapping of the foot on his follow-through. That was more a part of his internal timing device to try and syncho himself with the opposing pitcher, but people picked up on it and began to attack him with multi-speeds and sent him into a bit of a funk after July. But now the small tap is gone, and with it has been a more fluid and sure-footed plant as he swings through the zone. Sure this might not be the only thing that has been either mentally or physically adjusted by Upton, but it is something that looks small to most people, but has produced major results for him since its change.




Chris O'Meara / AP



For most of the year you have seen me write about Upton because I see a major player with an open book of potential about to hit his stride. I was hoping 2009 would be the year he would breakout at the plate and dominate at the dish the way he does in centerfield. But with this late rush of excitement and confident stroke in hand, this will send B J  into the off season with a ton of confidence and hope for the 2010 season. The kid (he is only 25) has a long time in this league, and we might only be seeing the tip of the iceberg right now.




But for most of the Rays Republic they have stood fast in their condemnation of Upton this season. Hopefully the last 10 games, and the American League Player of the Month award in July when he hit .324 with 5 HR, 22 RBI and 14 SB was just a taste of what could be in store for teams in 2010. All ready there have been online rumors floating about maybe shopping Upton in this off season. But it is fair to say that the Rays will do their usual listening to every offer, but it will have to be a blockbuster deal to send the talented outfielder outside of Tampa Bay.




Chris O'Meara / AP




And on the heels of this seasonings ending will be the first time that Upton will also be able to face the Rays cash register as he will enter only his first arbitration hearing this winter. Sure the Rays tried to lock him up a few years ago when the old regime was in control, but he has stood fast to taking the one-year deals from the team until this year's hearings.  It is proposed by Rays Index, which guess-timated that Upton could get as much as $ 3.5 million in his first jaunt to the table this fall. If you factor in the defense, the churning of offense the last two seasons, and the potential of this budding superstar, he will be going no where this winter.




But still, last night event showed the Rays fans that Upton is here to play. the quiet outfielder was sure to thank the fans first last night in his radio interview with Rays Radio post-game host Rich Herrera. And that is the true nature of the guy. He knows he is lucky not to have to pretend to love the 9-to-5 grind. And he truly feels blessed to have his talents and abilities. but sometimes that soft personality that hides his true passion gets mistaken for arrogance and conceit. But the guy is all baseball, and hopefully in the next coming years we will see him open up both on the field and with all of us and see what a great guy, and player B J Upton really is...........and we are lucky to have him, and watch him 162 games a season.





Rays Ironman Done for the Year

 


Chris O'Meara / AP



Man, it has seemed like such a long season. It has truly been a struggle to sometimes remember some of the good times and the rough bad times, but one thing has remained consistent in 2009. You knew Rays starter James Shields was going to take the mound every 5 days no matter what happened. Rain or shine, you knew and counted on the guy who got the nickname "Big Game" James from a friend years ago to take the hill or the Rays. And one of the greatest highlights of the season was seeing Shields firmly establish himself as a constant force for the Tampa Bay Rays.




Last night as he took the mound for the 33rd start of the 2009 season, it is really remarkable if you scan behind the number on Shields in 2009. Some will shock and amaze you, while other statistics will just seem just plain "D-Ray" like in their stature. But above it all, he has truly gotten the title of "Ironman" on this team, and it is so deserved.  For in this down year. Shields has now crossed the 200+ inning mark for the third year in a row. To put that into total perspective, no other Rays pitcher has even done that feat more than once in their total Rays career.





After he finally exited the game in the 8th inning, he had already thrown 774.1 innings in his combined Rays career. Now look at that number for a minute, 774.1 innings can be translated into 2323 total outs.  And this is a guy who only entered his third full season with the Rays in 2009. The more you dig into his numbers, the more this guys impresses you. In the American League, Shields is one of only four pitchers to surpass that 200+ mark the last 3 seasons joining the Fraternity of Justin Verlander (Det), Roy Halladay (Tor) and Mark Buehrle (CWS), and if you want to go League-wide, he is one of only 9 to complete such a large task in the MLB during that same span adding the names of Javier Vasquez (Atl), CC Sabathia (Cleve/Mill/NYY),Dan Haren (Ari), Matt Cain (SF) and Bronson Arroyo (Cin) to the long list.





Quite an impressive group, and he doesn't even get the acknowledgment of being the "ace" or number 1 guy for the Rays most nights.  His 33rd start last night also tied his 2008 record for most starts in a season and is only one start off the team record set by Scott Kazmir in 2007. And it doesn't seem that long ago that Shields was dazzling the Rays scouts with his tremendous Arizona Fall League campaign where he posted a 1.74 ERA and struck out 29 batters, while walking just 2 during 30.1 innings. He capped that AFL season off with a win in the championship game for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.  The "Big Game" moniker has followed him for a long time.





And with his 8 innings last night, he finished the season with the most innings he has ever pitched in the MLB. Shields had garnered at least 215.0 innings the last three seasons, and his 8 innings tonight gave him a total of 219.2 innings in 2009.  The final tally still brought him 4.1 innings short of the Rays record of 224 innings set by Tanyon Sturtze back in 2002. So this feat has established the senior member of the Rays rotation to be a work horse of the Rays staff. Maybe we will see him in Sunday's Finale as a relief pitcher to get the 4.1 innings? Probably not, but it would be exciting to see since he would have gotten his 5 days rest.





And Shields is totally okay with that notion. But the 2009 season has been a bit bitter sweet for him. He did post his 11th win to get his record close to .500 at 11-12 during last night's game, but it is his first losing season as a starter in the league. He did experience a slight losing streak when he only went 6-8 in 2006 when he first burst upon the scene for the Rays, but from that spot on  he has enjoyed a 12-8 and a 14-8 record the last two seasons. And that 14 win mark in 2008 put him in a three-way tie with ex-teammate Edwin Jackson and the ex-Ray Rolando Arrojo for the Rays team record. Close , but no cigar for Shields.





Steve Nesius / AP



But 2009 has not always been kind to him. He saw his ERA spike upwards from his 3.56 total in 2008, to a lofty 4.14 ERA this season. It has been a rough and long season for his 4th year starter for the Rays. Shields did increase his strikeout total from 160 in 2008 to 167 this season. But it has been a year of constant adjustments for Shields in 2009 to get hitters out, and to find a new strategy on the mound with almost every hitter.  His 12 losses are a career high, but can be directly contributed to the fact that he has not gotten the run support he needed at times from his own team.





And to say he has been left out to dry this season is an understatement. When you are battling the opposition's number one guy, you need your squad to produce runs to counter any problems you might be having on the mound that night. In 2009, the Rays hit only 4.38 runs per 9 innings during his starts. And in the offensive-oriented AL East, you need at least 5 runs a game to even stay on par with any of the divisions' five teams. That 4.38 total is the 5th lowest support given to a starter in the AL this season, and the Rays have score 3 runs or less on 17 of his starts just this season.




But Shields can point to the run support as a contributing factor to his first losing season, but he also points to some un-Shields like consistency throughout the year. 2009 is the first season he has not thrown a complete game, and last season he threw back-to-back complete games at home against the Angels and the Red Sox. It has been eating at him that the year did not follow a familiar set-up, and Shields has been making  the needed adjustments on the mound all season, but  he still might end up the leading the AL in hits allowed with 239 this season. And the danger doesn't end there.




Shields also in the Top 3 of runs scored against him this season with 113 total runs crossing the plate. And if he did not have enough to worry about already, he is tied for second in Home Runs Allowed this season with 29 homers. But there is a some brightness to all of these shadows right now for the young ace. This offseason he knows he might have to work on tweaking more command and control of his breaking balls, and might work with a few different grips to force some more movement out of his pitches. But when he reports for the 2010 Feb. Spring Training, he will fresh with a new attitude and goals for a breakout season.




So as he strolled from the mound after being replaced by Rays Manager Joe Maddon, the 10,554 rose to their feet and gave the Rays Ironman a standing ovation for his contributions to the Rays in 2009. Jame Shields has come a long way from being a 16th round selection in the 2000 June Draft by the Rays. He will be enter his fourth season in the majors next season, and has vowed to get back to his usual dominance in 2010. That might include a few extra minutes in his usual 3 1/2 hour workouts in the offseason, but the extra sweat and pitching groundwork might be the essence needed to push himself and the Rays back into the playoff hunt. 





Nam Y Hun / AP



2010 might be the season for the Rays to show that they are serious about contending every season, and the guy at the forefront of that explosion will be Shields. If he wants to remain the top dog in the Rays rotation, he will have to combine a bit more control along with a hint of pitching finesse in 2010. But Shields has answered the Rays call before, and will again and again  in the near future. It is not like the Rays have asked Shield to carry them on his back, but that is just an example of the level of commitment this young pitcher has to his team. He knows as far as he goes, this team goes in 2010. 'Onward and upward" might be a motto for Shields next season, because you can surely picture him being the Opening Day starter for the second year in a row for the young Rays. 


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