Thirtyballparks.com

http://thirtyballparks.com/

So here is a real cool tour that you might want to put on your calendar; thirty ballparks in the space of thirty or so days for a summer vacation

My Dream Game

http://www.goldpanners.com/MidnightSunGame/index.html

More than anything else, this is a place I want to go.

Here is a place I want to be.

I wanted to do it last year. I could not arrange it for this year. But for next year, somehow, someway, I would like to schedule things to be in Fairbanks, Alaska. I just did not think having just recovered from a bout of pneumonia that this was the appropriate course of action for me to take in June of 2009. But maybe next year. That's what the Cubs fans always say, right? Maybe next year. And now that I am healthier, maybe a lot more blogging. But at least a trip to the California coast. To the beaches of Laguna, La Jolla, San Diego, and of course, Black's Beach.

Lou Gehrig's 'Bad Break'

The Iron Man of Baseball passed away on June 2, 1941; almost 70 years ago today. This was a ceremony in his honor on July 4, 1939 I believe. In the face of a career ending injury which would lead to his passing, he gave all of us a perspective on life, noting that his baseball career and life's experience made him 'the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.' I think about those words often when I get taken ill, or have a bad break. He stood up in the face of adversity as so must we all.

Doubt that he was ever suspended under a drug policy for 50 games. One of my heroes, with a legacy of grace and guts and he was so young. I saw that Casey Kotchman this week was out three or four days with a 'contusion.' How many times in his streak of 2,130 games in an era when the fields were not well tended, when the gloves were not as strong, when the medicines not as healing, did Lou Gehrig play with a contusion on his knee?

I think Conor Jackson and Casey Kotchman have a ways to go. Here are some astounding facts of that streak, which ironically also began on June 2, 1925, 84 years ago today.

Yankee manager Miller Huggins started Gehrig in place of regular first baseman Wally Pipp. Pipp was in a slump, as were the Yankees as a team, so Huggins made several lineup changes to boost their performance. Fourteen years later, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive games. In a few instances, Gehrig managed to keep the streak intact through pinch hitting appearances and fortuitous timing; in others, the streak continued despite injuries. Locked into the American athletes' professional vernacular today is the phrase, don't get 'Pipped,' aka don't call in sick, you may never get your job back.

AS for Lou, look what he endured:

On April 23, 1933, an errant pitch by Washington Senators hurler struck Gehrig in the head. Although almost knocked unconscious, Gehrig recovered and remained in the game.

On June 14, 1933, Gehrig was ejected from a game, along with manager Joe McCarthy, but he had already been at bat, so he got credit for playing the game. On July 13, 1934, Gehrig suffered a "lumbago attack" and had to be assisted off the field. In th

e next day's away game, he was listed in the lineup as "shortstop", batting lead-off. In his first and only plate appearance, he singled and was promptly replaced by a pinch runner to rest his throbbing back, never taking the field. A&E's Biography speculated that this illness, which he also described as "a cold in his back", might have been the first symptom of his debilitating disease.

In addition, X-rays taken late in his life disclosed that Gehrig had sustained several fractures during his playing career, although he remained in the lineup despite those previously undisclosed injuries.

Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played stood until September 6, 1995, when Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. broke it.

I would like to think somewhere in a small ballfield somewhere else in America today, maybe even in Latin America or Japan, some young kid is saying 'I can do that'; and long after this blog and myself are gone, some other blogger will be writing about the guy who surpassed Cal Ripken. It is the way of sport. Records are made today only to be broken tomorrow.

S Rod and Brandon May Be Bashing Wood in LA Soon

It could be Sean Rodriguez, not Brandon Wood.

Second baseman might get the nod over teammate at triple-A Salt Lake if the Angels promote someone to take over for a slumping Howie Kendrick.

Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times writes today that "Imagine the uproar among Angels fans and bloggers if second baseman Howie Kendrick continues to struggle at the plate, the team makes a move to replace him, and it isn't to call up slugging prospect Brandon Wood.It could happen.

Wood, who is batting .289 with 10 home runs and 21 runs batted in for triple-A Salt Lake, is the player most prominently mentioned when talk turns to in-house options to bolster the offense.Because Wood plays third base and shortstop, his promotion would prompt a move of Chone Figgins from third base to second.But if Kendrick, who is batting .229 with four homers and 20 RBIs, is demoted, Wood isn't the most worthy replacement candidate.Sean Rodriguez is.Fans remember Rodriguez as the slick-fielding but light-hitting second baseman who provided superb defense in place of the injured Kendrick and Maicer Izturis in five stints, and 59 games, with the Angels last season."

But Rodriguez, who also plays shortstop, third and the outfield, has become a legitimate two-way threat. He is batting .280 with 17 homers and 50 RBIs in 46 games for Salt Lake, and don't be surprised if he gets the call before Wood if a move is made."He's really picked it up," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's someone we're paying a lot of attention to. The way he's driving the ball, playing all-around, has been very impressive.

As for Kendrick, Scioscia said, "We're not contemplating a move at this point, but it's something we're watching very closely."Kendrick seemed to find his stroke during a six-game stretch from May 18 to 23, when he was eight for 23 with three RBIs, raising his average from .230 to .247.But Kendrick went hitless in his next 11 at-bats and did not start Saturday night against Seattle."At times, he looks like he's getting comfortable in the box, at times he looks a little frustrated, like he's trying to do too much," Scioscia said. "If a couple hits fall in, I think this guy will start to relax and be productive."

The bottom line is that Brandon Wood has been Fantasy's Babe Ruth for four years now, ever since an astounding minor league season, which has never materialized in the majors. Some take years to develop and get a chance. Some just get passed over. Some like Adrian Gonzales, go through Texas and Florida as the number one draft choice in 2000, only to shine in San Diego nearly 8 or 9 years later. But we live in an age and era of hype, and the Angels have fed into that machine, with Dallas McPherson, Kendry Morales, Casey Kotchman, Brandon Wood, and Sean Rodriguez. If only minor league stats counted, these guys would have been a fantasy delight.

So a shrewd fantasy owner may rush to the waiver wire and find Sean Rodriguez on it. He may replace Kendrick. He may or may not do well. Or he may just find time passed him by. The truth is that none of us know for sure whether this is the year the Wood gets to the plate, or S Rod becomes a dominant force. One thing is for certain, if you are in a fantasy pennant race, the time to deal Wood or S Rod is right now. Their value will never be higher. All because fantasy owners are starting to, like Mike Scosia, look at Howie Kendrick's actual numbers and not the hype.

'Go Cubs Go' Will Not Be Heard Enough this Summer

Nothing is quite as much fun as watching a Cubs game at WRigley Field, and even as a Dodgers fan, it was a spectacular day in the Windy City this afternoon.

Ryan Dempster was dominating, the Boys in Blue were flat, and Larry King, a baseball fan from Miami, sung Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Wish I was there. Wish I could have stopped by Harry Caray's and had a brew.

Celebrated the day with a fantasy trade, dealing D Wayne Wise and an A's prospect for Hideki Okajima and some holds. Big Mike D from Chicago was the taker, and he is a player who plays for fun and trades a lot. I had Dempster in one league and traded him for James Loney, needing obp and b.a. I threw in Griffey, who has had a few HRS but all but established that this is his last year. Dempster has been inconsistent, but shows clear signs that he will win 14=15 games for Chicago. You would think that with the Big Z, Harden, and Dempster, the Cubs should get to the playoffs. Not to mention Lilly is a picture of perfection and consistency. Solid starters through and through.

But times change and so too must the teams. D Lee is not the guy who powered the Marlins to the World Series in 2003. That was years ago. The Cubs search for a CF never worked out, and while other teams have discovered a Markakis and an Adam Jones, the Cubs got stuck with Felix Pie. And A Ram has been hurt, hasn't he? Age catching up with him.

De Rosa had an awesome season but they dealt him, why I don't know. Theriot will be solid, but they need more. Going with Gregg as closer but Wood is gone. Soto's bat has been less than so so at the plate. The Cubs just ain't where they should be. The Cubs just are not as good as they were last year, and they did not win then.

Disappointing. No city deserves to win more. No city wants to win more. But calling upon Bobby Scales and Jake Fox, both journeyman, won't cut it. Friday nite, seeing the game on the line, with two rookies, one 30, one 26, did not make for dreams. Scales did have a pinch hit HR, but where are the Cubs rookies? Who is moving in to excite the crowd?

Teams generate fans and excitement with new blood. The Cubs have a great player in Reed Johnson who will have an occasional great day and make a regular great catch. But Fukodome has been blah, Soriano has not been clutch, and centerfield is lacking. I don't know, but there is something I don't like about the team the way it is set up.

If they could put Soriano at second, land a centerfielder, get youthful strength at the corners, have a pitching staff that was more reliable, maybe I would have more faith. But I think there is going to be a disappointing summer afoot at Wrigley. Doesn't matter, it's one great place to watch a game, fantasy or reality.

Cafardo Says Dealer's Choice on Trades

Heavy trade action may be in the cards, a good column by Nick Cafardo, who is able to pinch blog while I continue to recover from a lengthy bout with the flu, here is an interesting column from boston.com

By Nick Cafardo May 24, 2009

When Jake Peavy rejected a chance to join the White Sox, teams such as the Cubs, Brewers, Phillies, Mets, and Dodgers breathed sighs of relief, hoping that the prize pitcher will instead hand-pick the National League team that suits him best.

While that deal was vetoed by the former NL Cy Young Award winner, it kicked off what should be an active trading period between now and the July 31 deadline.

Normally, teams are focused on the amateur draft at this time, but major league scouts are out there in full force, inquiring about what teams are willing to part with.

Most baseball people feel a Peavy deal will be made because the Padres need to move the guaranteed $50 million-$60 million remaining on his deal. The big question becomes which team can offer San Diego general manager Kevin Towers a substantial package of prospects - as the White Sox did.

The Brewers took a bold step last season when they threw payroll concerns out the window and traded for CC Sabathia, who led them to a playoff berth. The Brewers left themselves some wiggle room this season by electing not to pursue a big-name pitcher, adding only journeyman Braden Looper.

Getting Peavy is complicated, though, because you have to be willing to come up with the package of players and pay out the salary. In some cases, teams may have to commit to picking up a $22 million option in 2013.

The Red Sox always made the most sense for Peavy because they have the prospects, they have the money, and the righthander likes Boston. But they are the team that needs him the least.

The Cubs' new owner, Ameritrade guru Tom Ricketts, should have the $900 million sale in place within a month. When and if that happens, the Cubs could reenter the picture for Peavy.

While the White Sox and Padres are open to deals (the Padres would love to move Brian Giles), a major league evaluator said last week that the A's and Indians also appear to be "wide open" for business, as could be the Rockies and Mariners.

A fire sale could be in the offing in Cleveland, with attractive players such as last year's Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee, who will be a free agent after next season; Mark DeRosa, who would bring a top reliever and has been coveted by multiple teams; and the big prize, catcher Victor Martinez, who is said to be available for a blockbuster package. The Indians also would surely move underachieving shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

The A's could soon field inquiries on outfielder Matt Holliday, who is picking up his hitting, though he simply hasn't taken to the expanse of McAfee Coliseum. The A's would also move Jason Giambi and/or Orlando Cabrera after June 15, the date when free agents signed during the offseason can be traded.

"It seems like everyone is looking for pitching with the exception of the Red Sox," said an American League evaluator. "If it's true that Brad Penny becomes available, they'll have some interested parties in him as long as he's showing he's over his shoulder problems."

The Mariners got off to a decent start, but as their season turns into what we thought it would be - lousy - they'll make some of their more attractive players available. Guys like the struggling Adrian Beltre, Jarrod Washburn, Erik Bedard, and Miguel Batista, who are all in the final year of their contracts, could be had. Batista may fit in Tampa, which is looking for another bullpen piece.

The Mariners and Pirates reportedly were discussing a Jack Wilson-for-Yuni Betancourt deal last week, until it fell through. Wilson, the slick-fielding Pirates shortstop, would be a viable addition for a contending team needing help at that position. That team could be the Cardinals, who are not pleased with Khalil Greene.

The Dodgers could run away with the West if they land Peavy, and if Manny Ramírez returns as a good citizen and infuses life into the lineup, but many of their "prospects" are in the majors.

The Rockies could be dealing with a new manager soon, but reliever Huston Street, third baseman Garrett Atkins, first baseman Todd Helton (who would have to approve a deal), and outfielder Brad Hawpe could all be available.

The Nationals may move first baseman Nick Johnson, who is in the final year of his three-year deal, and having a very good season. The Orioles could attract suitors for Aubrey Huff and relievers George Sherrill and Danys Baez.

The trade season has just begun.

Rantin and Ravin on Fantasy vs. Reality

That Time of Year

If your fantasy team is in 15th place in a 20 team league, it is time to take stock.

You protected Brandon Webb and thought you had a Cy Young candidate. You wound up with an arm injury after one start.

You traded for Brad Lidge and thought you got the Mariano Rivera of saves. Instead, you wound up with a river of excuses, from poor mechanics to bad knees.

You thought you had the next Hunter Pence or Corey Hart in Cameron Maybin and you wound up with the next Corey Sullivan.

You thought Gavin Floyd at a buck was the goose with the golden egg and he has done nothing but lay them.

You kept Uggla as a slugging second baseman and he wound up as a slug with an under .200 average.

Your team looked so good on paper. Then baseball happened.

It is time to respond, redact, and redo. No one is sacred. Everyone is dispensable. Rebuild.

You can help plan your fantasy future by anticipating what the real teams are going to do.

You have to understand that in Cleveland they are clamoring for Matt La Porta, in San Francisco for Jesus Guzman or Nate Scherholz, in Baltimore for Nolan Reimold. And in cities that are not winning, the elder statesman, even if like Brian Giles and Randy Winn, they batted 300 last season, they are toast. They will be moved and replaced by younger prospects, and the older guys will be reduced to pinch hitters on pennant contenders.

This year it will be a David Delluchi. Last year it was Brad Wilkerson. But time comes to an end to all the Geoffrey Jenkins and Jhonny Gomeses. They get passed by, by the younger rookie. Cliff Floyd might find himself somewhere other than a DL, but he is no longer a realistic fantasy option. Nor is Jesse Barfield, Andy Marte, or a half dozen other one time can’t miss prospects. Time has passed by the Jason Bottses of the world. It happens fast. Felix Pie was untouchable in fantasy last year. This year he is for another reason. No one wants to touch him. Ian Kennedy, anyone?

Sad, but true. So what do you do as a fantasy player? Project who will get a chance, which team thinks they can win, and don’t be afraid to deal for strength in teams that will need help today. If the Padres are going to move Peavy for a Dodger stud, it is because they are going to give that Dodger stud the ball.

Chad Tracy has been a bust coming back from his year long injury. Tony Clark is a stopgap already disabled. The director of player management has become their new field manager. The team is losing and not scoring. So Josh Whitesell is crushing the ball in triple a, and he will get a chance to do the same in Arizona.

The Reds have had to deal with the streakiness and inconsistency of Edwin Encarnacion in the past. They do not want to again. He goes on the DL, and yes this kid Adam Rosales has a chance to replace him. So too has Kevin Kouzmanoff worn out a welcome in San Diego. It is significant they are talking about promoting their star prospect Kyle Blanks to LF at Triple A, because it opens up third base for Chase Headley, his natural position. It makes Kouzmanoff expendable.

The Indians gave up the franchise to get Matt La Porta. By season’s end, with the Tribe out of the running, La Porta will be in the lineup everyday. Dellucci will be pinch hitting in Anaheim. Same in Milwaukee. Bill Hall will become Bill Hall. The call will be to Matt Gamel.

As a fantasy owner, you may want to avoid a Phil Hughes whose development New York cannot afford to endure if it costs them a pennant. They will trade away the Kazmirs and the Karstens and anyone else that cannot help them win right here right now. They have proved it in the past. They will do it in the present. Both NY franchises. And their guys are always overly hyped. So be careful.

But in Chicago, with a guy who likes vets as Piniella does, don’t expect a bulging disk to take Derek Lee out of the lineup. Not Micah Hoffpauir or anyone else. And Jeff Samardizija or whatever, may never crack the rotation. But they can afford to let a Luke Hochvear get a dozen starts in Kansas City. They can afford to give the Kia Kahluaha kid the bat and deal Ryan Shealy. Mr. Shealy is no longer the young stud who was going to soar in the Rockie Sky. Neither is Joe Koshansky.

The point I am making is that teams are fluid in their movement. Last year, everyone wanted Alejandro De Aza in Marlinville. He is hitting .340 in the minors today. May be better than Cameron Maybin. No one cares. He is yesterday’s news. So the thing to do is if you are rebuilding is to find tomorrow’s news, but be sensible. Time passes guys by right away. I don't care whether the Reds play Laynce Nix or Chris Dickerson in the outfield, neither is the next Eric Davis. Those stars do not shine yearly. They come once in a blue moon, despite the minor league hype.

Yes, Jose Tabata is a prospect, but a young one, hardly dominating, and out for 8 weeks with an injury. Andrew McCutcheon has not torn up triple A either, but he is more of a prospect than Brandon Moss, whose days are numbered. Congratulations to Bobby Cox, who liked so much Jordan Schaffer the Braves dealt Josh Anderson. But Schaffer has not had an rbi in a month, can’t hit a major league fastball, and is striking out at a rate greater than Cameron Maybin. You know what, if the Braves are contending, they can only ride Jordan so much longer. So maybe if you are a fantasy buff, you make a play for Maybin or Schaffer when their stock is low. You deal an outfielder whose numbers are steady but will not help you at all right now, and line up a prospect, who may help you tomorrow. He could become Felix Pie, your league will scream, and no Dexter Fowler is not worth Aubrey Huff but those are the kinds of deals May will bring.

Manny Ramirez could get you a Travis Snider and Nolan Reimold and thirty dollars of next year’s drafting money to pick up Vernon Wells. If you are out of the running, how do you not make the play for the younger high ceiling prospects? Just line up the realities against the fantasies. If your team is in the running, sure go take a flyer on Adrian Beltre and Andruw Jones for Manny today. But if you are not in the running, you have just traded a real blue chip who could land you a young Zack Greinke for a rusted slug.

Look at the market the kid is playing in and the chances he will get to succeed or fail, particularly how long a team can carry him if he sucks, as Schaffer and Maybin have been doing. That won’t play on Broadway. Note how many times in the last week Bret Gardner is sitting in the Bronx; how many starts a Melky Cabrera they did not want is getting. Hey, if Randy Winn or Brian Giles become available, they wind up in the Bronx, and Gardner on the pine. The Mets gave up Mike Carp to win with JJ Putz. Seattle needs a corner guy. Bryan LaHair was not the answer. Carp can be, but only after Branyan reaches Earth and is dealt when Seattle recognizes he is on a little roll.

I can’t believe the Angels struggling rotation has not dealt Brandon Wood to the Pirates for a pitcher yet, but there is a natural fit for a star like Wood to finally get some bats, paired next to Andy La Roche in Pittsburgh. But for some reason Wood never gets a break, and each time he is called up and sent down, his stock falls. Ask Dallas McPherson.

One final note. Notice how Denard Span supplanted Carlos Gomez in Minnesota. How despite offering Gary Matthews a five year deal, the very next season the Angels signed Hunter and were willing to bench Matthews. The Dodgers did the same to Juan Pierre. The White Sox gave Centerfield to everyone but the hot dog vendor, and after going through all of them, wound up with Scott Podsednick back their this week. Don’t be afraid to stack on a competitive team a Juan Pierre type, who when the main star goes down, is bound to come up and play. The Dodgers are sitting on a powder keg of injuries with ODog, Furcal and Blake in the infield. Man, I want to sock away Blake DeWitt.

The best advice is to play the roll, and understand Lance Berkman and BJ Upton and Alexei Ramirez get better. CC started off real slow last year and teams dealt him too quickly. But if you are in 18th place with a $42 dollar pitcher, Go with the flow. But go in the know. You have to learn the market, know the players, and anticipate where the teams are headed. If time and injuries do not catch up with Carl Pavano, the league will. But he gets a chance to start again and again in Cleveland, while he would not in New York. No one would trade Phil Hughes for Pavano, but if you are in the hunt, who is more likely to get you wins in 2009? Think about it.

So here are the rules:

1. Water seeks its own level. If someone wants to deal Grady Sizemore because he is hitting 225, give up the farm to get him.

2. If you have an old vet on a losing team, he will do better and so can you. Cut your losses and let him go.

3. If you have a young prospect in a contending city, understand he is not going to get the same chance a kid in a lesser market gets. If you have a contending team, don't be afraid to add an Aubrey Huff and his 30 HR pop for what Jordan Schaffer may become. If you are not contending, don't be afraid to head the other way.

4. Success in the minors does not mean success in the majors, especially for pitchers, and more importantly for batters in the Pacific Coast Leagues, where your high school coach could hit 25 hrs.

5. If you are in a league with reserves, contracts, and minors, start stacking away arms at double aa and triple aa that teams will hunger for come the Fall. But don't be afraid to deal them right away. If someone is offering you Roy Oswalt for Luke Hochvear, and you are contending, how do you not go for it?

Niese Looked Real Nice for the Mets Tonite

Oh, this is your classic fantasy blog.

I kept this guy in three leagues this winter. I was positive he would make the Mets rotation.

Then he was shelled all Spring and torched at triple AAA. The Mets said they were going to demote him even. But I held onto Jon Niese, at least until May 4, the day the Mets announced they were calling him up.

Wait a second, I said, impetuously, if they are going to announce that a 41 year old Japanese retread was starting ahead of him, or another version of Casey Fossum, am I going to activate one of these rookie starters for a Jeremy Sowers or Graham Taylor start of 3 innings, 9 runs, and 7 walks. I could not decide what to do. Screw it, I released this guy I protected all winter from two of my four daily leagues.

And I watched him tonite. 6 innings. 7 hits. 5 k's great control, and I am sitting here blogging for the first time in a week saying, ' Damn, how could I have let this guy go?'

No he is not Sandy Koufax but hey it is the Mets, he showed last Fall he can pitch at this level, hurled a shutout in one game, so he is a little inconsistent now and then. Mike Pelfrey will be too. But there is a reason he was number three in the Mets prospect chart by Baseball America, a reason why I kept him, and they all went out the window last week, why? Because I was impetuously dissatisfied with a slow start in Triple AAA?

I see him winning a dozen games for the Mets between now and September. I see him becoming part of their rotation. And I see him on other teams in two of my fantasy leagues where I should have trusted my feelings like Yoda said to Luke Skywalker.

We all make fantasy mistakes. I am making a few this year. But I think the worst mistake we all make is that we are not patient enough to let seeds grow, nurture, and mature. Maybe too it is the same with our own lives.

Look, he could be the next Homer Bailey and fail grandly, though HB has been impressive of late. The point is that sometimes you gotta hold your horses. I knew better. I should have done better. I think I am going to be kicking myself on this one. Of course, one of my curses is that when you are in thirteen leagues, well, hell, I still have him in four more........:-)

The Legal Side of the Manny Wood Mess

My Thoughts on Manny, Reality, and the Fantasy Play

First of all, it’s good to be back. I have been otherwise engaged the past week and not able to do any blogging on my legal or baseball pages. And there has certainly been news.

Here is my take on Manny the Moronic both in and out of Fantasyland.

First of all, let’s go to the reality. I am a criminal defense lawyer. When a guy gets bonded out on a drug offense, he is told he cannot use drugs. When he is put on probation, he is told he cannot use drugs. But some do, and they get caught and reprimanded, even jailed.

One of the things the courts and jurists have learned is that the drug users cannot help themselves and repeat their violations. So they try to outsmart the system repeatedly by using drugs illegally and then employing ‘masking agents’ which cover up their use in the body afterwards. But forensics and science testing being what it is, the masking agent can be chemically discovered in the bloodstream, thanks to Gary Sinise and CSI NY. So what we know is that when a ‘masking agent’ is found it is a clear indication that he may have been using at an earlier date; presumptive proof that the user may not be testing positive today, but it is only because of what he did improperly yesterday.

As a matter of fact, it is now a violation of your pre trial release or probation to test positive for a ‘masking agent’ because it suggests to the court you are using prohibited substances to begin with. The substance found in Manny’s body, a human fertility drug found in women, HCG, is one of those masking agents. It suggests then that Manny went to a doctor and was given a Hobson’s choice.

“I have been using steroids,” he must have said, and “I either have to admit it, come clean, get suspended, or hope that I can hide it with a masking agent, and scientific analysis being what it is, there is a less chance I will test positive if I use the masking agent.” So either on his own or in consultation with others he rolled the dice and lost. Don't buy into the apology. You are not getting the whole story, anymore than you did with A Rod, who clearly needed a lot more counseling before he spoke to the public.

The chemical analysis of Manny Ramirez revealed not the presence of a steroid, but the masking agent designed to cover up its use. And the Major league drug policy, like the courts, bans the masking agents because they know if they are there now, it is because of what was in your body previously. Manny knew it too, and quickly subscribed to the 50 game suspension. This may also account for the reason Manny chose to avoid signing with a team earlier; may explain that he was not only not trying to avoid Spring Training, but that he was trying to avoid the inevitable testing that would come with a signing.

Yes, he was stupid. But deceptive too. Rules, major league baseball included, have exemptions. If the testosterone he sought was clinically indicated by a physician, he could have noticed MLB in advance and communicated the need for the usage. But the need was less than legit. Somehow I am thinking the Doctor in Miami that Manny visited with knew something about the rules, and that given the number of athletes down here, MLB has a list of suggested ones, just as they have a list of those substances which are prohibited under the policy. Someone sold him a bill of goods that these masking agents worked, and not to worry. So he relied on what worked before.

Cops can't pull everyone over who is speeding either. And you don't catch every fish in the ocean. But they are out there, and sometimes you snare a big one.

So Manny the Fun Queen has done to his name what so many other superstars have done before him, tarnished it. And for such a talent, you gotta wonder why. All I can think is that they are spoiled, foolish, misled, and do not appreciate the gifts they have been given, do not grasp the rules applies to president and paupers. There is just too much of a vacuum where the brain belongs. I have no sympathy for him. I have sympathy for the sport I love, the athletes I admire, and the stain they keep putting on the field.

I think I will write about the baseball impact later. This column kind of ruined what I wanted the blog to be about. I want to write about baseball here, the bats, not the brats; the hits not the empty hats.

The D Train Tries To Get Back on Track

Well, a week of legal work has prevented me from blogging baseball or fantasy, but this is one of those feel good stories.

D Train had a little bit of Mark Fidrych in him, I think, when he landed in the Marlins dugout in 2003 from Double A. He was magical and marvelous and a fan favorite. Like Brandon Webb, he opened eyes and shook up the crowds.

Both are on the shelf now. But Brandon's trouble is physical. You can operate on that. Dontrelle seems to have lost the ability to stay within himself and his energies and passions have blown up like a balloon letting out air, spinning wildly in all directions.

We are all hoping he comes back, and is worth a fantasy shot again, of course. He can be had cheap. But do not be overly fooled by hearing he threw six innings of two run ball for the 'Harrisburg Senators.' He has a long way to go from this minor league town to a major league arena, to umps all over the strike zone and fans with less patience. But we will be rooting for the train to get back on track.

Odd though, is it not, this World Series hero, this all star, this multi million dollar salaried pitcher, quietly working things out in a small town, apart from the crowds, the awe, and the spotlight of major league baseball. Sometimes a reminder to walk barefoot in your roots is a good way to get replanted.

Angels Will Roll the Dice on a Shaky Ortega

The Angels have a decimated pitching staff, apart from the tragic death of Nick Adenhart.

In the bullpen, Arreondo and Shields have been shelled. Fuentes has been no K Rod.

On the front lines, Lackey, Escobar, Moseley, and Santana are on the DL. Saunders has been ok, but the door is opening to a tripod of triple a prospects and retreads. A guy named Matt Palmer won with five earned runs yielded yesterdeay.

Now they have to hope they can hit the lotto again Saturday against the Mariners.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before Thursday’s game that the decision has been made (Anthony Ortega) on who will start Saturday (Anthony Ortega) but won’t be announced until Friday (Anthony Ortega).

The pluses with Ortega? He is a well-regarded prospect with at least some Triple-A experience (six starts in Triple-A last season and three there this season). He’s already on the 40-man roster (making for less roster juggling) and he would be working on four days’ rest.

The minuses? He reported to spring training with inflammation in his forearm and was set back in his throwing program at a time when he was supposed to be competing for a spot in the Angels’ rotation. He hasn’t pitched particularly well in his first three starts for Triple-A Salt Lake — including nine runs allowed on 12 hits and a walk in four innings Monday at Reno.

The Angels tipped their hand by promoting Double-A right-hander Sean O’Sullivan to Triple-A Thursday and Trevor Reckling from Class-A to Double-A in the trickle-down wake caused by pulling Ortega from Salt Lake’s rotation.

Here is the thing for fantasy players. You may strike lightning and score with a triple A pickup, some guy who did not get past the spring training cuts. A new guy comes up, hurls a gem, and is suddenly a star. But the Brian Bannisters of the world fall down. The one hot start is a fluke. Play this fantasy wire game and it will bloat your fantasy era and whip, causing your good outings by a Billingsley or Lincecum to dog beat because you think you scored big on Chris Jabukakas. You know, he won for Seattle his first time out and then was shelled in his second start.

The better way to play fantasy ball is to lock in a steady pitching staff that you do not have to juggle in daily leagues by the prospective call ups. Most fail. Most will kill you. Yes, a few will become stars, but if you are playing that roll, cause you are sitting with 100 points in hitting and only 50 in pitching and you are in the middle of your league, understand you are gambling, rolling the dice, and letting it all ride not on the 25 mainstays you chose but the one you are desperate to pick up in the hope that he may deliver. Not a winning way to play.

So Anthony Ortega is on his way to the bigs, for better or worse, free and available in most daily leagues. Wanna roll the dice. After all, Angels hitting behind him, weak Mariners in front of him, who knows what the roll will be?

Sipping A Cup of Major League Coffee

It might not make sense to anybody else, but that doesn't really matter.

Left-hander Tony Sipp, promoted from Class AAA Columbus on Tuesday night, said he felt better walking into a big-league locker room Wednesday with a scar on his left elbow from Tommy John surgery than if he'd done it without having the surgery.

"I had a lot of success early," said Sipp before Wednesday's game against Kansas City. "I'm not saying I'm this type of guy, but I didn't want to come into this clubhouse with a chip on my shoulder. Saying I did this, I did that.

"I've had a lot of time to myself to figure out everything when I was injured. To think about what should happen and how I should get back to where I want it to be."

Sipp remembers lifting five-pound weights at the beginning of his rehab from the 2007 surgery. He was still six months away from picking up a baseball.

"I learned how to deal with a different kind of adversity," said Sipp. "I think that helped a lot. . . . Now I actually have a background to how I got here. It wasn't so easy. It wasn't just success, success, success."

One more human interest story in the game of baseball. Tony Sipp fulfilled his dream last nite, one inning, no hits, one strikeout, and a chance to say for the rest of his life he played in the major leagues.

Bernadina's Big Break Leads to a Bad Break

More on the great catch above in just a moment

Not the Kind of Break Out I Wanted : Lowrie Down

Jed Lowrie may need wrist surgery, one of the guys I handpicked as a breakout candidate for Boston. Why not? Like Dustin Pedroia a year before, he had a soft start on a strong team. But he scored 40 runs and had 40 rbis in half a season for the Bo Sox sluggers. He was destined to score a hundred this year. Not bad for a shortstop at all. So he is hurt and as fate would have it, Julio Lugo is just getting better. Fortuitous for Boston, but do not expect the world out of an older beaten up Julio. No more 38 steals for him.

Speaking of shortstops I said not to bet the farm on, why did the Reds trade Keppinger? Alex Gonzalez is hitting .079, and his backup Paul Janish, a defensive whiz, won’t hit much better. I think A Gon has been gone too long. And those human growth hormones he used to build up his strength after that shoulder surgery a few years ago, well you just can’t use them anymore.

But the worst break of the week belongs to Roger Bernadina of the Washington Nationals. This is a devastating story of hurt. He is in the majors first because the Nats sent down Milledge. Then he gets a start only because Dukes does a Dukes like thing and the bad boy shows up late for a game. So Manny Acta benches him and goes with Bernadina. Roger responds with a game saving catch against the right center field wall with the bases loaded, denying Dan Uggla a clear bases clearing triple.

Later in the game, tied, Uggla is up again with the bases loaded, and he crushes it to center. It is either gone or off the wall. But Bernadina will not be denied. He leaps high, over the fence, and pulls it in. What could have been a two homer seven rbi day for Uggla is going to be an 0 for 6. They show him in the dugout sulking. He is depressed. Meanwhile, Bernadina is on a stretcher. You could see him land on his ankle and then the force of his body made mince meat out of it. They called it a sprain initially but I said no way.

In my Grand Slam Uber League, I claimed him as a free agent at one p.m. By 4:30, I knew he was history. I dropped him. Hours later, he was on the Disabled List with a broken ankle. Talk about bad luck. First day in the Bigs this year. Two awesome catches and a broken ankle.

Reminds me of the dude a few years ago who was beaned in his first at bat and out for the year. Never made it. Can’t remember his name. Just another one of those amazing human interest stories that do not make the boxscore.

Roger Bernadina got his shot for a brief moment in the sun. It rained that day all over his parade.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/18/AR2009041802296.html

One defensive note for Elijah Dukes, who was warned if he was late again he would be returned to the minor leagues. He was apparently at a free unauthorized signing of autographs for a bunch of inner city little leaguers. Don't you cut him some slack for that?

Colonel Sanders Jailed in Japan

TOKYO - He was covered in mud when pulled from the river, and had lost both legs and hands, not to mention his glasses. But Colonel Sanders still had his trademark smile, 24 years later.

A statue of the KFC mascot has been found in a river in Osaka, a city official said Wednesday, nearly a quarter century after being tossed in by crazed baseball fans who felt the image of restaurant founder Harland Sanders resembled a key team member.

"He was apparently found standing upright, which is fitting, because although he was a nice man he could also be very strict and demanding," said Sumeo Yokakawa, a spokeswoman at the chain's Tokyo headquarters.She said the statue was taken from a nearby KFC restaurant and tossed in the river as part of a celebration by baseball fans in 1985, the year Osaka's baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers, won the national championship.

Local fans thought the Colonel bore a resemblance to Randy Bass, a bearded power hitter and first baseman from the U.S. who played for the team at the time.

Colonel Sanders rises from watery graveMarch 11: Divers searching for World War II bombs in Japan discover a statue of the KFC icon.msnbc.com Fans often jump into the murky river to celebrate the team's successes, but there has been little to celebrate in recent years. Many fans feel the team has been plagued by the "curse of Colonel Sanders" since his effigy was submerged in 1985.

It has failed to win a national championship since, although it did win its division in 2003.

The upper half of the statue was found Tuesday in Osaka's Dotonburi River during construction work to build a new walkway, according to city official Hideo Yuko. His legs and right hand were found Wednesday morning.

Colonel in police custody

The colonel will be kept in police custody for the time being, but Yokakawa said KFC is considering donating him to the home stadium of the Tigers in Osaka. The store where he originally stood has since closed.

The KFC chain currently operates about 1,160 restaurants in Japan, and has about 1,000 Colonel Sanders statues in the country.

Random Roto Thoughts and Some Guys to Think About

The Red Sox staff is already depleted with Dice K down. Look for Justin Masterson to move into the rotation to replace him.

The injury to Alex Gordon moves Teahen to third base indefinitely. It opens up a slot for Mitch Maier to prove that he can play major league baseball and make it in the KC outfield. He is no Nelson Cruz but has never gotten a fair shot. This could be his time. Many guys like that.

The Red Sox need a SS. Don’t be surprised if they deal. Gil Velazquez and Travis Denker are not the answer. Neither is Julio Lugo anymore but they seem to have a false reliance on him.

Cameron Maybin is showing signs of being overmatched. Looks like super utilityman Alfredo Amezaga may be more useful than originally anticipated. Don’t blame Maybin yet. Batting a free swinger eighth in the order was not bright. But then who can fault the Marlins for anything right now?

No surprise to see ageless Doug Mienkevichski go down for LA, on a base hit no less, but it opens up the door for Blake DeWitt to come back to the majors. Speaking of which, kick myself surely, I had Eric Stults as a reserve in every league, and released him before the season when he was torched in his last Spring start and LA sent him down.

Then Kuroda gets hurt, and Stults shows up on the early morning roto news as his replacement, and is swooped up in every league. He is 2-0 already and a good pickup to grab and deal. His history suggests a lack of dominance and while steady, you might get more for him now then he is actually worth. Or if you need pitching, you scored a free agent steal.

Then there is the entire softball team of outfielders on the Nationals. Someone go get Willingham. He has to wind up playing everyday somewhere. Too good a HR hitter to ride pine all summer. But the way they have been going down, it may be in Washington.
I see Dukes already pissed off the team and Bernadina ran into a wall and Justin Maxwell is beckoning.

Also surprised to see that the Angels went with Izturis at DH last nite over Gary Matthews when Vladdy went down. How does that happen? What does that say about how little the manager likes Matthews? He has got to play more now.These are how one dollar reserve pick stars are born. Doors open up that you would never anticipate.

No one is surprised Glaus is out but everybody assumed that David Freeze would be handed third base by LaRussa. Don’t ever. He is totally unpredictable. The early running suddenly has one time Dodger phenom, Joey Baseball, AKA Thurston, playing everywhere everyday and performing ever so well. And with La Russa, it does not matter if like Ludwick, you hit two homers on Tuesday, he sits you on Wednesday. So is Ryan Franklin the new closer? Yes, until tomorrow.

You see, picking players for your roto teams means knowing who the managers are as well. You pick a player for a Pinella team and you are better off with Reed Johnson then Felix Pie because you knew last season the rookie just was not going to get a fair chance. Same with Dusty Baker, who was fine managing septogenarians in San Francisco. Some managers prefer the vets they can count on for the mental part of the game. They value it more than the physical.

Ronnie Paulino is 8 for 16 to open the season and before you know it this twice traded afterthought who was a fantasy dream two years ago could suddenly become a full time one dollar platoon catcher on a winning team. And you spent fifteen dollars on AJ Persnickety. Playing roto ball means more than drafting the stars. It means playing the waiver wire when the season begins to see who is moving into a 7th inning hold role, and who is the backup behind the closer whose manager has a job on the line when the dude loses two or three saves in a row. So prudent guys hold on to a Corpas or Lyon, but many leagues limit reserves, so your task is to be the quickest with the finger on the add button in first come first serve leagues.

If you are not so intense, and play in weekly leagues, you have time to cruise, pick, select, and drop. The difference is like the guy who plays softball once a week as compared to the guy in three leagues five nites a week. The intense warrior is better for the battle than the couch potato.

So here is some specific advice:

Check out teams off to slow starts who typically do not win. Their patience will be less. Look at their minor leaguers.

Look at the guys who got cut on March 30; like Erich Stults, last cut, first up.

Looking for pitching, don’t be afraid to track Double AA guys with dominance. More teams are using Triple A for retreads and older players without ceilings, and promoting kids from double AA.

Anyone who thinks a part time DH player can’t help a deep league ought to see what Jason Kubel did last nite. Wow, Hudson, Kinsler and Kubel have all hit for the cycle in April. No such thing as pitchers being ahead of the hitters anymore in April.

Do you think the Angels are regretting losing KRod? How many saves have Shields, Arrreondo and Fuentes blown already?

That’s all for now. Gotta go.

Sizemore Steals Away First Day at the House that Steinbrenner Built

The Opening of Yankee Stadium

A 1-1 game for seven innings and then the Bronx explodes: with nine runs in a single inning- but for the wrong team. The Cleveland Indians and Grady Sizemore steal the day, one that will be etched into New York history forever. The Bronx Bombers bombed at the opening of their new park. This is not the way it played out in 1923 when The House that Ruth Built was greeted by Babe Ruth with its first homer. Of that, legends are made. Instead, for the next fifty years, Yankee fans will now want to forget its first regular season game. I guess they will focus on the game that they won last week against the Cubs in an exhibition contest.

Don't even attempt to say the first game at a new stadium does not matter. For twenty years, it was a trivia question about the first home run ever hit at the Houston Astrodome. Why? Because it was hit by New York Yankee Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle.

And if you are a Dodgers fan as I have been, you have been listening to Vince Scully say for 45 years how Wally Post of the Cincinnati Reds spoiled the debut of the Los Angeles Dodgers in their first game ever at Chavez Ravine by homering them out of the game in the seventh inning with a 6-2 victory.

And while David Wright homered for the Mets at Citi Field in their debut, it was Jody Gerut who hit the third pitch of the game into the right field stands for the first hit and first homer in their new ballpark. And Met fans did not want that to be the trivia answer to the question of who scored the first hits and runs ever in their new yard. But at least the Yanks had the smarts to go with a Cy Young winner in the debut game. How the Mets did not start Johan Santana for that game is beyond my comprehension. I mean 20 years from now Johan Santana will be a Hall of Famer who could have forever been remembered as the man who opened the new world for the Mets. 20 years from now no one will even remember Mike Pelfrey's name.

Oh well, it is what it is. Anyway, I have been swamped and not had a lot of time to blog lately, but as a followup to the story I did a day or two ago on the battle between Jon Papelbon and Howie Kendrick, with twelve consecutive foul balls, in a game ending showdown, how about last nite- with Chris Sampson of the Astros battling Freddy Sanchez for fifteen foul balls before a fly out?

As for the piece about guys on the DL, sorry to see young Alex Gordon wind up there. He was to blossom, not burst this year. He was a cornerstone. And I was even more surprised to see one of my break out candidates, Jed Lowrie go down. The Sox are hurt by this. But I had to laugh at my AL online National Fantasy Championship team. It is a cheap $125 winner take all league for just AL owners, with 15 teams, so most owners are playing with minor leaguers in their active rosters. Can't even tell you how much bad luck I had this week. It is hard to believe that on the same team I have Dice K, Jed Lowrie, and Alex Gordon, all of whom went down in one week. And I already, in the early March draft, had selected Joe Mauer in the draft. So our squad has been relabeled Kent's Disabled Americans.

Paramedic Gets Call from Ambulance to Marlins Bullpen

This is the kind of human interest story that I love. Found it in the Palm Beach Post.

Imagine the buddy you work with every day, sitting in your office and tell you that he's quitting, in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Depression, because he just got a new job - as a catcher for the Florida Marlins.

That's just about what happened at Miami-Dade Ambulance last weekend when Jeffrey Urgelles told his fellow firefighter-paramedics that he was trading his medical uniform for a Marlins uniform.

"It definitely came out of the blue," said Urgelles, 26, a former minor-league catcher with the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds.

At first, his co-workers thought he was trying to pull a fast one. Sure, they recalled him talking about his days in Class A and Class AA, including playing in the Florida State League against a rising prospect named Hanley Ramirez.

But now, more than two and a half years after quitting baseball, he finally was getting called up by the Marlins?

"He told me, 'Hey, I know you're not going to believe this, but I got picked up by the Marlins,' " recalled Lazaro Fuentes, who has partnered in an ambulance with Urgelles for the past year. "I said, 'Nah, you're kidding me.' When I finally realized it was true, I got so excited I started sweating."

"They all said I was playing around," Fuentes said. "When they saw him on TV (Monday), they had smiles from ear to ear."

With Urgelles, Marlins relievers know they'll be in good hands. After all, on what turned out to be his last day as a paramedic, he helped revive a woman who nearly went into cardiac arrest.

"That day I saved a lady's life, and a couple of hours later I received a phone call with an offer to become the bullpen catcher for the Marlins," Urgelles said. "The whole day was exciting."

I would say so, wouldn’t you?

Who Woulda' Thunk It? Rays Get Rings!

The 2008 American League Tampa Bay Rays championship ring is shown before a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, April 14, 2009 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

From Evan Longoria to Matt Garza, it was the feel good story of 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays winning the AL pennant. And the NY Yankees were there in Tampa last nite to watch the ceremony where their division rivals collected these beautiful rings.

After years of getting first picks, the Rays won a championship with a youthful, driven squad, and celebrated their home opener by crushing the Yankees with 15 runs. They have it all again this year, young pitching, a solid outfield, good hitters, veterans sprinkled in the mix, and a team placing its fate on youth and health.

BJ Upton has joined the club, and promptly made a Willie Mays like circus catch look like a can of corn. Longoria has torn up the diamond the first week. Kazmir looks strong. Carlos Pena has been rocking the ball. You know Pat the Bat is good for 25 dingers. Jason Bartlett is stroking the ball like the line drive hit machine he used to be. They stole a set up guy from the Marlins.

What is not to like about the Rays again? Well, they could use a closer. Izringhausen and Percival are very short term solutions. See the column below on the DL. But they do have some guy named David Price starting the season in the minors, and if they really need a 100 mph closer to back up Percival when he breaks down next week, they don't have far to go, do they?

Disabled List Contains Few Surprises So Far

No Surprises as the DL List Stacks Up

A running joke in one league had a pool predicting how soon Milton Bradley would get hurt in a Cubs uniform. The under 7 days card beat the over. But is it real surprising that the list has in less than two weeks expanded to now include Eric Chavez, looking for X Rays for his tendinitis? Too bad, after a slow spring but very hot start in Oakland. Is it Jack Hanrahan time yet? Well, a good fantasy backup and maybe not a bad stash.

Chris Carpenter may win the Cy Young after pitching 13 scoreless innings to start the season but his rib strain last nite caused him to leave the game and may send him to the DL, where he will be joined no doubt soon by Ron Belliard, who seems to be inclined to finish his career hurt. But they will not be alone. I see that Nomar Garciaparra, one nite after homering, and keeping young rookie prospect Daric Barton in the minors, could not play last nite. Calf tightness. Cristian Guzman, as good as he is, won't be far behind.

And I wish the Dodgers went with Blake DeWitt instead of Casey Blake, but I just traded for Blake in one league, cause well, damnit, team after team seems to go with the dead veteran instead of the live prospects. Why, I don’t know. Bring up a young Travis Snider or Dexter Fowler and your team is electric and exciting. Who would rather not see Cameron Maybin in Centerfield for the Marlins over a reincarnation of Mark Kotsay, now recovering from back surgery? And you just wait a few weeks, and those rookies will find their way to the bigs as the GMS find their senses and realize the future is not in lining up a row of Jamie Moyers and Livan Hernandezes to anchor your rotation, but in bringing up the Trevor Cahills and Brett Andersons. Billy Martin tried that with the A’s in the early 1980’s and won a pennant. Blew out a lot of arms, too.

Baseball is a sport for young men, but there are lots of seasoned veterans who know how to play the game that hang on for dear life, because like Roy Campanella once said, ‘you gotta have a lot of little boy in you to play this game.’ Look, last season Melvin Mora had an unreal second half, hitting almost .375 and he was drafted a lot in fantasy ball this spring. But is it a real surprise that after two weeks he too is going on the DL with his newest injury. I knew Wigginton would have value in Baltimore. He is a 25hr/80 RBI guy that signed with a team whose third baseman is always hurt. Hank Blalock is back in the lineup too, after a red hot start, but is it not a caution sign to everyone that he already missed a game or two with a neck strain?

The bottom line is this. When drafting fantasy players, stay with guys you know are healthy. You roll the dice on too many Chris Carpenters, and your team is doomed. Use the older vets as the backups to prime the pump, not the starters to ignite your squad. Come July, the Dodgers will be dying to bring up Blake DeWitt, whose fantasy value will soar, and I will be holding Casey Blake, whose three year contract and salary the Dodgers will be looking to dump on a pennant contending team looking to add a corner guy off the bench. And he will have no trade value. So why did I do that again?

And Geoff Jenkins and Richie Sexson and Jim Edmonds will all be looking for jobs, and their love for the sport will carry them to an Independent League in Minnesota, but most will have to come to recognize their day in the sun has passed.

The saddest DL story thus far has De Wayne Wise going on the shelf with a broken shoulder while making a phenomenal diving catch. Here is a guy who moved into a regular spot in the White Sox lineup last summer when Nick Swisher fell flat on his face. Well now the Sox are forced to go with two guys they don’t want, Jerry Owens and Brian Anderson, the latter a prospect who failed last season.

If you are a forward thinking owner, and you know the way Ozzie Guillen likes to play, this could be the time for the Sox to make a move on Juan Pierre. And since he went for next to no bucks in most fantasy leagues this season, he could turn into one huge steal, thanks to the dive Wise took.

And I would not bet the farm on Julio Lugo coming back and leading the Red Sox. I was very disappointed to hear about Jed Lowrie, who I labeled a break out year candidate in an earlier post. Had no clue about his injury. But I think the Sox may trade for a shortstop, and guys like Michael Young had been available over the winter, so we will see what shakes out there. The Sox once had a great SS prospect, but they won a World Series by trading him away to get Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. You may remember who that young man was. Goes by the name of Hanley Ramirez.

One Pitch, One Out, One Win for Ed Mujica in Citifield Debut

Above you are looking at the winning pitcher in the first regular season game ever played at the New York Mets home, Citifield. I was not there and it will bug me forever. I was at the first game ever at Shea Stadium, and I cut junior high school classes to get the Number 7 train to Willets Point in order to be there. Of course, I was 14 at the time. Now I am pushing 60, and I was in United States District Court instead, representing a gentleman charged with trafficking in marijuana. So adulthood goes.

Enough about me. As the announcers were discussing who would get the first hit at the new park, leadoff hitter Jody Gerut became the first guy ever to hit a home run in a brand new stadium in the first at bat at that park. That will become a trivia question forever. On the third pitch of the game, Gerut hit the ball out off Mike Pelfrey, who clearly should not have been starting. That honor should have gone to Johan Santana, who should have been held back a day and not started the day before in Florida. But the Mets do not have a flair for the dramatic. Flushing is not Broadway.

Meanwhile, in Tampa, the Rays opened their home season at an old park crushing the Yankees about 19-5, so bad the Yankees finished the game with first baseman Nick Swisher pitching. And he did okay, even picking up a strikeout. Edward Mujica did not get a strikeout in Citi Field. Ed Mujica will though be forever remembered as the first winning pitcher at Citi Field.

He did not work hard to get it, this refugee from the Cleveland Indians. He game into the game in the bottom of the fifth, with the score tied 5-5. He threw one pitch, got a fly out, and was pinch hit for in the top of the sixth when the Padres went ahead to stay ahead and win the game.

For Mujica, it was a short nite. One pitch. One out. One win. Not bad. Fantasy players though probably do not have Mujica on their team. They are moaning the starting staff did not chalk up the V. I remember Tom Niedenfeur came into a game for the Dodgers in the 80's and picked Ozzie Smith off. LA scored in the bottom half of the inning and he got the win without ever throwing a pitch to home plate. It happens.

You throw a gem and the guy who comes in to save it gets the win. Happened to the Marlins the other day. Annibal Sanchez leaves the game after pitching a six inning shutout. Lindstrom blows the save, gets the win. Someday Mujica will cost someone a win. Today he got it. With one pitch.