little Tommy Breaks Arm During Promotion
little Tommy aka 11 year old Beecher Halladay, dislocated his elbow and broke his humerus (upper arm) that required three pins in elbow when he stumbled out the gate for a fan promotion at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on July 30th. little Tommy is a klutz but you gotta give it up to him for his determination to get down to third base.
Can people stop putting annotations in videos already, they are so annoying.
WTF: Umpire Mike Estabrook
Get Out Of His Face
There’s absolutely no place for this in Major League Baseball. The latest escapade of an umpire trying to live in the big boys world and grab some extra TV time came when rookie umpire Mike Estabrook circled around and to face catcher Kansas City Royals Jason Kendall in a heated exchange of unpleasantries.
It came in the third inning of the Royals 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday. Kendall was objecting to a Zack Greinke pitch to Torii Hunter that was called a ball by Estabrook instead of strike three.
Now usually in those instances catchers will say something but never turn his head back, and the umpire will usually jaw back and stay right behind him, that’s how they handle things in the big leagues. But to step out in front and make a bit of a scene isn’t right and very disgusting to watch.
Even if the placement of the pitch was a ball and not a strike there’s still no excuse of baiting Kendall like that. No excuse, none.
WTF: New York Yankees Fans
$15 For Both?
What do we get for ten dollars?
Racists or funny? You decide.
The Masters Sees 12.0 Overnight Rating But No Record
Est. 1934
Overnight ratings hit a 9-year high for the final round of The Masters, but remained well below record levels.
CBS drew a 12.0 overnight rating for final round coverage of The Masters on Sunday, up 36% from last year 8.8, up 35% from 2008 8.9. This marks the highest overnight for the final round of The Masters since Tiger Woods victory in 2001 of 12.9.
This is also the first time since 2005 that final round coverage has drawn at least a 10.0 overnight.
Third round coverage of The Masters on Saturday also drew big numbers on CBS, but remained off the pace of both 1997 and 2001.
CBS drew a 7.6 overnight rating for coverage of The Masters on Saturday, up 33% from last year 5.7, and up 25% from 2008 6.1.
The 7.6 overnight is the highest for third round coverage of The Masters since 2001 7.9, and the third-highest third round rating on record behind 2001 and 1997 8.6.
For perspective, Saturday’s third round coverage drew a higher overnight than every single golf telecast in 2009 with the lone exception of the final round of The Masters 8.8.
In comparison other sports that where matched up against the The Masters over the weekend where crushed. I know I didn’t watch any MLB on Saturday afternoon nor did Rudy J watch any NBA on Sunday.
MLB on Fox drew a 1.7 overnight rating on Saturday afternoon, down 29% from coverage featuring Boston Red Sox/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last year 2.4. The NBA on ABC drew a 2.0 overnight on Sunday afternoon, down 20% from Boston Celtics/Cleveland Cavaliers last year 2.5.
Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Fans Are Dumb, Break Cavaliers Snuggie Record
Where's Dumbass?
Snuggies are the stupidest invention ever. First we had the Cleveland Cavaliers set a Guinness World Record for the most dumbasses to wear a Snuggie in a single gathering March 5. Then last night the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim thought it would be cute to be dumbasses too and they broke the Cavaliers record just a month later.
This just disgusting and we are probably nowhere near close to being done with seeing another professional teams public relations department think they can top last nights record. So who’s next to step up to the plate to try and topple the new mark of 43,510.
SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: Third Base
Sleeper Pick
The wait for baseball season to start is almost over and with it heating up just 10 days away from Opening Day, it’s only fitting that we take a look at the hot corner. The third base position is a close resemblance to the catcher spot in that you will not find an abundance of power here outside of a selected few. In the hot corner if you weren’t lucky enough to draft an elite player, the middle of the pack will look bland and bleak. Don’t fret because the middle of the pack guys here can still be plugged in and do quite well for you all season long. It’s a toss up depending on your draft strategy on when you want to draft the third base position. If you want an elite third baseman, go early, but if your willing to settle for the mid pack guys you can afford to stack up elsewhere. Those at the top of the position are of course New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez, New York Mets David Wright and Tampa Bay Rays Evan Longoria but lets go deeper.
Breakout Player: Casey McGehee, Milwaukee Brewers
- McGehee has only a one-year to his resume and predicting what he will do with 162 games and 500 at bats is difficult. But looking at what his typical minor league season was similar to the 116 games he racked up in the major leagues, with a slightly less batting average. You should be able to see close to 20 home runs, 80 RBI’s and right around a .300 average in a position all to his own.
Sleeper Player: Brandon Wood, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Wood put up eye -popping power numbers in the minors and hasn’t had much of a chance to show case those skills in the majors on a consistent basis. This year Wood will have his first taste of significant playing opportunity to play time as he’ll be the starter at third. He’s 25 and skill suggest a breakout year that will more than likely not be one anyone’s radar come draft day. Don’t let his production by the All-Star when you start looking to see if Wood is available on the waiver wire because he won’t.
Risky Player: Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves
- Injuries are not only taking a toll on Jones physically but they are mentally too as he made the announcement that if he was to have another year production like last year it would be his last. It doesn’t help that Jones turns 38 in April. He’s been one of the best baseball best third basemen of all time but unfortunately time does eventually catch up to all and last year was a good indication. The 2009 season was his worst he’s ever experienced with a .264 average, only 18 home runs and another miserable year in Jones standards with 71 RBI’s.
Slipping Player: Mike Lowell, Boston Red Sox
- What better way to show your a risk for 162 game season than to when the team that trades for you has to return to sender because of you being damaged goods. That’s the case with Lowell when the Red Sox traded him to the Texas Rangers but was returned after doctors discovered a ligament tear in his thumb. That lead to thumb surgery and Boston acquiring free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. Lowell tired toward the end of last season contributed to an ailing hip after surgery in 2008. He did hit above his career batting average but it was only in 119 games. Lowell just turned 36 in February as well.
Be sure to come back for the preview of outfield position.
MLB Home Run Derby Will Be In 3D
Get Your Eyes Ready
ESPN 3D has added the State Farm Home Run Derby telecast on Monday, July 12, at 7 p.m. CST to the list of events that will appear on the new network. The channel will kick off on June 11 with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match featuring South Africa vs. Mexico.
“It’s fitting that we launch ESPN 3D’s domestic programming from Angel Stadium of Anaheim, which was the site for the launch of ESPN HD back on March 30, 2003,” said Bryan Burns, vice president ESPN. “Seven years later, ESPN HD is available to virtually every multichannel video household in the United States, and we’re hopeful that ESPN 3D will receive strong interest from sports fans and distributors plus consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers.”
Previously announced events include the BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Arizona, on January 11, X Games 16. New events also added for the new network include college basketball’s Old Spice Classic, November 25-28; college football’s ACC Championship on December 4; Jimmy V Classic on December 7 and college basketball’s Big East Tournament, March 8-12, 2011
Additional events will be added at a later time and it is estimated that the first year will include approximately 85 events.
SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: First Base
Sleeper Pick
Ironic that this post is about first basemen and before I jump into breaking down that position, I need to first apologize for lying to about having this post up and ready for yesterday. Rudy J and myself got into a heated debate that lead to a texting war filled with stats about the breakout year in the catcher position. I couldn’t argue with his pick of Oakland Athletics Kurt Suzuki’s ability to steal a base or eight or that he possibly could be go for under double digits in the money department. He made some very valid points on Suzuki but I still have to ride with Mike Napoli and the his potential to drive in more RBI’s. But enough about our bickering and let’s get to previewing the first base position since we are now only 18 days away from Opening Day.
The first base position has an abundance of talent here that will help you even if your playing just a National League or American League fantasy league. Home runs, RBI’s, average, on base percentage, even strikeouts can be found here with the only thing not found is stolen bases.
Although numerous talent can be found at this position, I wouldn’t advise on letting to many of the premier players come off the draft boards. Now if you end up with New York Yankees Nick Johnson or Philadelphia Phillies Ross Gload as your starting first basemen, then I don’t think fantasy baseball is for you.
Moving into the rankings your roster will never go wrong with National League MVP Albert Pujols, Phillies Ryan Howard, Milwaukee Brewers Prince Fielder or Yankees Mark Teixeira but lets go deeper. If you happen to be the lucky one to posses the very first pick overall there’s really no going wrong selecting any of these four, I would go in the order listed though.
Breakout Player: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
- I can already hear people saying how can Cabrera be the breakout player but stay with me. Major League Baseball fans and fantasy owners already know Cabrera is one of the most consistent players in the game. With his admission that he quit drinking which effected him last season and losing 15 pounds all the while coming into that prime baseball age of 26-years-old, I see him making the jump into the elite. I’m talking about his first season in the 40 home run department, 130-140 RBI season, while still collecting 200 hits and a .330 average. He’s ready for Tiger fans to stop whispering about how much money they are giving him and start rejoicing. Cabrera might cost a pretty penny but in 2010 he wont let you down.
Sleeper Player: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
- I know some of you will look at this pick and say that’s who you would have chosen as your breakout player. Remember though your going to be in a draft with some people that just look at numbers and don’t remember or didn’t see that his number took a hit because the man struggled with depression in May and June. Not to mention he missed some time in August with blurred vision. So it’s safe to safe Votto had an up-and-down season on and off the field. Take a look at his September run when he bounced back with a .385 average, 5 home runs in just 30 games. Votto is just as much of a key part of that Reds young core as Jay Bruce.
Risky Player: James Loney, Los Angeles Dodgers
- I speak from experience with Loney, he will make contact and surprise you with his 150 plus hits but that’s all he can do. Every year I look for a young player or two to take on as a project, leaving him on the bench however keeping an eye on him everyday and it’s resulted in some of the most fun I’ve had is with my project players. I’ve had Loney three years now and this will not be a fourth. The first year came out of necessity and he showed me a lot of promise for me to draft him the following year in the 25th round. That was the year I noticed he could hit however there was no power behind it. Thinking it was just the progression a player goes through and it would change in year three, I came to be sadly mistaken as I watched him display the same skill all over again in 158 games. Compound that with Loney having the strange problem in 2009 of hitting .251, 1 home run and 36 RBI’s in 79 games at home but hit .309, 12 home runs and 54 RBI’s on the road in the same amount of games.
Slipping Player: Lyle Overbay, Toronto Blue Jays
- Over the last two seasons, Overbay has developed a serious problem hitting against lefties. Through 2007, he had a career mark of .283 against right-handed pitchers and .285 against left-handed pitchers. Since then though Overbay has hit .287 against righties and .206 against lefties that has him now only starting against right handed starters. The trend doesn’t look to turn around as he is 33-years-old and plays in the American League East a division with some top notch left-handed pitching.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for the preview of second base, no lie this time it will be up.
Victoria’s Secret Partners With Major League Baseball On Clothing Line
Babes Love Baseball
With Spring Training underway, Major League Baseball Properties and Victoria ’s Secret PINK are introducing a new way for female fans to display their team pride and celebrate the upcoming season in style.
The MLB and VS PINK co-branded collection will fashionably feature names and logos of 11 MLB teams including the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals.
The collection showcases VS PINK’s highly recognizable brand iconography with fun sayings like “I only kiss Yankees fans” or “Love Love Love Twins”, and boasts cute zip-pocket tees, crystallized caps, baseball jerseys, stylish hoodies, tanks, sweats, shorts and more.
The collection will launched yesterday in more than 100 Victoria ’s Secret stores spanning each of these teams markets, as well as on www.victoriassecret.com. Victoria ’s Secret PINK is a fully articulated and internationally recognized lifestyle collection specifically for young women. This new product line is the latest effort by Major League Baseball to provide its extensive female fan base with new and fashionable ways to support their favorite team.
According to ESPN Sports Poll, Major League Baseball has had the largest percentage of female fans (45% of its total fan base in ’09) among the major sports leagues since 2004. This collaboration marks the first professional sports relationship for VS PINK.
SGE Fantasy Baseball Preview: Catchers
Sleeper Pick
With Major League Baseball Opening Day just 20 days away its time to prepare yourself on who to draft for your fantasy baseball team and Sports Grind Entertainment is here to help you. We’ll provide you with a few list of things you don’t do on draft day and what to keep your eye on in the season but first we are going to breakdown each position everyday starting with the catchers.
The catcher position is not one your going to find a whole lot of power from but looking for a player that is going to be solid as rock in the consistency department. Your not looking to draft catchers extremely early in the draft but don’t miss out by waiting to long. At the end of the year normally the fantasy teams sitting at top the rankings had an above average catcher they could just plug into the lineup from day one and never worry about. If your searching the waiver wire all season long for a catcher, its because you made the mistake here in at the draft.
Now lets move into the rankings. It’s easy to write that you should draft American League MVP Joe Mauer or Boston Red Sox’s Victor Martinez or Atlanta Braves Brian McCann but lets face it, everyone can’t get the best. If they do end up on your roster you’ve surely made a few people jealous.
Breakout Player: Mike Napoli, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Napoli has come up through the Angels organization and steady increased his plate appearances and the amount of time he’s seen behind the plate each season. Even playing in a part time role Napoli has managed to crank out 20 home runs the last two seasons and his highest plate appearance being that of 382. Another plus for Napolis is that he definitely with see all action against opposing lefties since he hit .330 against them last season. He could even get days off behind the plate and stay in the lineup at the DH spot when Hideki Matsui needs a day off.
Sleeper Player: Baltimore Orioles, Matt Wieters
- Wieters came up to the majors May 29 and did a respectable job as Baltimore’s starting catcher. He is a talented young hitter and should come to improve. In just a 169 game minor league career he hit 32 home runs. He spent most of last season batting in the seventh or eighth spot while getting adjusted to the big leagues but is likely to move into the fifth spot or fourth spot in the everyday lineup.
Risky Player: San Francisco Giants, Bengie Molina
- Molina did hit 20 home runs last season but at 35 the questions of his body being at risk for injury is highly of concern here. Add to the fact the Giants are waiting for any sign to turn the page and hand over the responsibilities to future, Buster Posey. He’s gone from top prospect to starter waiting to be and that’s not a good sign for Molina.
Slipping Player: Los Angeles Dodgers, Russell Martin
- Martin is only 27 but seems as if he’s playing with a body of 38 year old. Martin has led National League catchers in at-bats for three consecutive years, but all the wear and tear behind the plate is taking its toll and catching up to the All-Star. Martin’s body may fall him taking him out of the game before it was meant to be. Don’t look for a 20 steal season from Martin ever again either.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for the preview of first base.
MLB Network Teams Up With Fox Business While Victor Rojas Leaves
All Day, Every Day
MLB Network announced a partnership with a cable competitor and on the same day the network lost one of its studio hosts.
MLB Network studio host Victor Rojas is leaving the network for a position as play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after the untimely death of Rory Markas. Rojas a favorite of mine behind Matt Vasgersian and Joe Magrane, had been with MLB Network since its debut said in a statement that he is “extremely grateful to MLB Network for not only taking a chance on me, but also for allowing me to pursue this opportunity.” Rojas: “I feel like I’m leaving as a better person and broadcaster.”
MLB Network also announced that they have teamed up with Fox Business Network in a partnership which the two networks will share on-air updates.
The Fox Business morning show will feature previews of MLB Network’s 30 Clubs in 30 Days. Meanwhile, MLB Network will air an FBN Market Update during Spring Training telecasts and the MLB Tonight studio show.
Vladimir Guerrero Signs With Texas Rangers
Don't Expect Him To Be Using That Glove Anymore
The Texas Rangers have signed Vladimir Guerrero to a one year contract worth $5.5 million with a mutual option for 2011. Guerrero is expected to give all his time as a designated hitter and hopes to help the Rangers improve their run production which took a dip after leading the MLB in 2008. Guerrero battled through the 2009 season to hit .295 with 15 home runs. Despite landing on the disabled list twice.
Despite never calling Arlington home Vlad always batted like he owned the place in 193 career at-bats in Rangers Ballpark, Guerrero has hit .394 with a .471 on-base percentage and 14 home runs which the Rangers are banking he will continue to do at the Rangers Ballpark.
Guerrero, 35, will not provide any luxury to the outfielders in need of a day off and his body has shown it is in the process of breaking down. No longer is he expected to play 162 but with hope of just making it the 100 game plateau so I understand for the need of the bat but wouldn’t have Jermaine Dye be a more valuable option and if bargain hunting was what the Rangers where after then maybe they could have made a real offer to former Ranger Andruw Jones.
Being a Guerrero Stan since he began his career with the Montreal Expos, it’s hard for me to say what I said about Vlad but it needed to be said.
In related Ranger news they have botched another signing by agreeing to a one year contract with former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Khalil Greene worth 750,000 dollars. Greene struggled in 77 games for the Cardinals last season, hitting .200 with just 6 home runs and spent time on the disabled list with social anxiety disorder.
Don’t ever expect to find him competing for a spot in the everyday lineup and set the bar low if looking if using Greene as platooner.
Cuban Lefty Aroldis Chapman Signs With Cincinnati Reds
As Good As Advertised?
The Cincinnati Reds have signed Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. Now I subscribe to the religion of baseball but I’m not going to speak on Chapman’s talents since I’ve only seen him once with my own eyes and that came in this past years World Baseball Classic. What I will speak on is what this signing gives the Red, another young arm. The Reds already have All-Star pitcher Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Homer Bailey locked up on the mound for years. To add another young arm in left-hander Chapman, even if it takes two years for his understanding of big league hitters,it can bring Cincinnati baseball back hope of looking like the Big Red Machine era.
Chapman’s, who is said to be 22, contract with Cincinnati is a six-year deal with $30 million with the sixth year being an option year for Aroldis worth $5 million and a $15 million signing bonus.
Chapman, a 6-foot-4, 180-pounder, defected on July 1 of last year when Cuba was participating in the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He later established residency in Andorra and petitioned Major League Baseball to be granted free-agent status. According to scouts, Chapman’s fastball has been clocked at 102 MPH.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels, Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox were also among the most interested after 15 teams showed up in Houston on December 15 to scout Chapman at a private workout.
Darren Oliver Signs With Texas Rangers
Diamond Stud
The Texas Rangers have signed left-handed reliever Darren Oliver a $3.5 million one year deal, the deal includes a 2011 option. Oliver has had four consecutive successful seasons pitching rather well out of the pen, the last three of which in Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim posting a 5-1 record with an ERA of 2.71 in 73 innings.
After failing as a starter in the beginning of his career, to the point that he spent all of 2005 in the minors, Oliver has re-invented himself as a very good reliever. Not only his ERA but his component rate states are significantly better in shorter stints out of the pen. Texas gains by both adding an effective reliever as well as taking an effective player from the Angels who continue to see parts of their division winning squad depart for their rivals.
Hideki Matsui Signs With Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim
2009 World Series MVP
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to serve as DH for one-year at $6.5 million, possibly marking the end of the Vladimir Guerrero era with the Angels.
The former Yomiuri Giants and New York Yankees hit .274 last season with 28 home runs, and that kind of production in the DH spot should really benefit them, who are relying on Kendry Morales, Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter, and now Matsui to carry the team in production. The Angels have Juan Rivera in left field and Bobby Abreu in right field but if Matsui’s knees are in good shape, he could see time when Rivera or Abreu need a day off.
The 35-year-old left-handed-hitter has enjoyed a prosperous career in the United States with a .292 batting average with 140 home runs and 597 RBIs over seven Major League seasons with the Yankees. And he’s coming off a season in which he had .274 batting average, 28 home runs and 90 RBIs while also posting a .367 on-base percentage and .509 slugging percentage.
Matsui, like Guerrero, is nearing the end of a storied career and, combining Japan and the United States, is 133 hits shy of 2,500, 28 home runs shy of 500 and 14 RBIs shy of 1,500. And in the Majors, he’s 23 hits shy of 1,000, 84 games shy of 1,000 and two doubles shy of 200. He’s also the first player since former closer John Wetteland in 1996 to switch teams after being named World Series MVP.
John Lackey Signs With Boston Red Sox
102-71
The Boston Red Sox have signed husky right-hander John Lackey. Lackey agreed to a five-year contract of 5 years worth $85 million..
Adding 31-year-old Lackey to the mix would considerably beef up a rotation that already includes Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, not to mention Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz, and old school knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Lackey, coming off a postseason in which he struck out 14 batters and allowed just five earned runs over 19.2 innings.
For his career, Lackey is 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA in eight years, all spent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 14 postseason appearances, he is 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA. Lackey is also a career 2-9 in Fenway Park.
Chone Figgins Signs With The Seattle Mariners
Stealing Chone
I’m confident that Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim owner Arte Moreno will replace any missing pieces of his AL West championship team and the first piece to be stolen from his club is All-Star third baseman Chone Figgins.
The Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement with Figgins on a four-year $36 million contract but there are indications the deal would also include a option for 2014 that could boost the total value to the neighborhood of $45 million.
The Mariners has been aggressively pursuing Figgins to replace 2005 $64 million bust Adrian Beltre at third base. The Mariners did offer Beltre arbitration but pretty much as an insurance move.
A fascinating question is how the Mariners would fit Figgins and Ichiro Suzuki in their lineup. Figgins has batted lead off for the Los Angeles Angels in all but two games over the last two seasons, and was second only to Derek Jeter in on-base percentage (.395) among AL leadoff hitters. But Ichiro has been a fixture in the lead off hole in Seattle for the last nine years.
The soon to be 32-year-old Figgins is coming off one of his best seasons, leading the American League with 101 walks and batting .298 with five homers and 54 RBIs. He is a career .291 hitter who has averaged 48 stolen bases during his eight seasons in the major leagues.
A great pick up since Figgins is quality and it allows the Mariners to wash their hands of Beltre. However is John Lackey the next Angel to be stolen from Moreno’s empire and if so how many others?
Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Mike Scioscia Wins American League Manager Of The Year
34 Would Be Proud
Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels of Anhiem had to endure the most emotionally season of his 10 seasons as leader of the Angels and that culminated in him selected as the 2009 American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
It was Scioscia’s second Manager of the Year award. He was named by the BBWAA in 2002, when the Angels claimed their first World Series title under his direction after entering the postseason as a Wild Card. Scioscia, who is the first manager in Major League history to pilot six postseason teams in his first 10 seasons, received 15 of a possible 28 first-place votes for 106 points.
The Twins’ Ron Gardenhire finished second with six first-place votes and 72 points. Joe Girardi of the Yankees (four first-place votes) was third, followed by the Mariners’ Don Wakamatsu (two), the Rangers’ Ron Washington (one) and the Tigers’ Jim Leyland.
Coping with the death of young pitcher Nick Adenhart in a car wreck on April 9, Scioscia and the Angels emerged from early struggles — they were 29-29 on June 11 — to take flight en route to a third consecutive AL West title, their fifth in six seasons.
In the AL Division Series, the Angels swept their October nemesis, Boston, in three games before falling in six games in the AL Championship Series to the Yankees, who went on to subdue the Phillies in the World Series.
With 97 wins, the Angels continued a run of excellence under Scioscia, whose teams have won 900 regular-season games in 10 seasons. His 567 victories over the past six seasons represent a Major League best — one more than Joe Torre has achieved with the Yankees and Dodgers and two more than Terry Francona with the Red Sox.
At Least For One Night MLB Was A Winner
Est. 1869
The ratings are in and for one night at least Major League Baseball beat out the National Football League in a head to head ratings show down.
The New York Yankees’ series clinching win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim drew an 11.4 overnight on FOX, while Sunday’s Arizona Cardinals versus the New York Giants game drew a 10.4 overnight rating on NBC. The 10.4 is a season-low for Sunday Night Football.
The 11.4 overnight for Angels/Yankees Game 6 is the highest for any non-NFL sporting event since the North Carolina/Michigan State NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game (11.9). To put the numbers in perspective the highest overnight for the NBA Finals in June was a 10.9 (Game 4).
The Yankees clincher drew a 26.9, dwarfing a 9.3 for Cardinals/Giants in the New York market.
Ratings for the 2009 MLB postseason are up 15 percent compared to last year.
As an MLB fan it feels great that at least for one night it slayed Goliath head to head nationally and smashed it into the ground within the same market.
You Make Me Sick
THAT WAS DISGUSTING TIM!!!
Being an O.G. Major League Baseball fan, I’ve seen some terrible umpiring in my time and it’s easy to forget these professionals are human beings too but crew chief umpire Tim McClelland’s error at third base goes right up there as being the worst call or non-call of all time. Thankfully McClellands blunder didn’t have a drastic effect on the Yankees drubbing of the Angels 10-1 in Angel Stadium.
The Yankees had Jorge Posada on third and Robinson Cano on second with one out. Nick Swisher grounded back to reliever Darren Oliver, who threw home. Posada got caught in a rundown and hustled back to third but Cano had already advanced toward third as well. Mike Napoli saw both runners OFF the bag and instinctively tagged them both, Cano first and then Posada. But McClelland ruled Posada out and Cano safe.
In baseball tuff to be on the end of a play that bang bang and to fast for the eye, its another when an umpire inexcusably is out of position to make the correct call, but the worst is when an umpire is in the right positioning not paying attention on the action in front of him causing a total mental collapse. The ladder case was McClelland.
“When he tagged Cano, I thought Cano was on the base,” McClelland said. “[The replay] showed that Cano was off the bag when he was tagged. I did not see that, for whatever reason. So, obviously, there were two missed calls.”
At least McClelland isn’t in denial, as umps have found out its been hard to hide in this day in age where there is no escaping a camera. But just because we live in the era of the camera doe not mean baseball should move the replay rules any further into play. Since MLB as already addressed the situation of trying to ensure correct calls being made by adding two extra umpires (total of 6) onto the field, how about umpires dropping the ego and asking for help?
McClelland has been around some of baseballs infamous moments before, he was there for the George Brett pine-tar incident in 1983, the Sammy Sosa corked-bat confiscation in 2003 and the Matt Holliday safe (replays suggest otherwise) slide into home for the winning run in the Rockies’ 2007 play-in game against the Padres.
Bud Selig shouldn’t have to change rules for guys having an ego and deciding not to seek out assistance or guys just being plain lazy.
Who Do You Want To See In The World Series?
Who Do You Want?
Major League Baseball is now down to its final four and my predictions this year are at an all time low with only the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim remaining.
With the next round and probably most important of baseball opening tomorrow night in Los Angeles on Fox, it’s time to ask who do you want to see in the World Series?
- Dodgers-Yankees: This series has every story line imaginable written in it. East coast versus West coast, Dodgers versus Yankees, #1 versus #2 TV market oh and then you have this guy named Joe Torre.
- Dodgers-Angels: Blood versus Crips in the Freeway Series.The two teams are separated by about 30 miles of asphalt. Here would be the chance in the new millennium for these two teams to settle the turf war and finally lay the supremcy title over the other in Southern California.
- Phillies-Yankees: This would be the I-95 Series. A rematch of the 1950 World Series where the Yankees swept the Whiz Kids of Philadelphia. The defending champs against this year’s favorite.
- Phillies-Angels: This series doesn’t invoke a lot of immediate history or connections, beyond both having letdowns while being managed by Gene Mauch. Maybe we could get a cage match between the Phillie Phanatic and Mickey Mouse with some help from the Rally Monkey.
Soooo which series do you wanna see………..
October/November Predictions
Who Doesn't Love October
Yes this postseason will be decided in November because of the World Baseball Classic. The postseason has always ended in October except for the 2001 season due to the tragic events of September 11.
There’s a disclaimer towards a badass team that hails from St. Louis, every series involving the Redbirds is obviously picked from the heart while every other series not involving them is pick with the head.
Now onto the 2009 Major League Baseball Postseason Predictions:
National League Divisional Series:
St.Louis Cardinals over Los Angles Dodgers in 4
Colorado Rockies over Philadelphia Phillies in 5
American League Divisional Series:
Minnesota Twins over New York Yankees in 5
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over Boston Red Sox in 3
National League Championship Series:
St. Louis Cardinals over Colorado Rockies in 6
American League Championship Series:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over Minnesota Twins in 5
World Series:
St. Louis Cardinals over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 5
MLB Can Only Draw 73,418,529 Fans In Recession
Est. 1869
The book can now be completely closed on Major League Baseball 2009 regular season attendance. Baseball completed the season with a total attendance of 73,418,529, down 6.58 percent from a total of 78,591,116 in 2008. The total attendance figure will rank as the fifth highest in MLB history. In another measure of attendance, ballparks saw an average of 30,338 down 6.77 percent from the 32,543 in average attendance last season.
Game 163 at the Metrodome between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins was the largest attended game in the facility’s history with 54,088 in attendance.
The Los Angeles Dodgers led the Major Leagues in attendance with 3,761,669 for an average of 46,440. The reigning World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox, set all-time club records, drawing 3,600,693 and 3,062,699, respectively. For the first time since 2004 the Yankees will have attendance below 4 million.
Nine clubs drew more than three million fans (Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers) and last year, nine clubs drew more than three million, with two (the Yankees and Mets) drawing over 4 million. The two New York franchises accounted for nearly 30 percent of the total decline in attendance this year.
SGE Baseball Awards
The Best In 09
Oh it’s postseason time in baseball and that means it’s time to hand out some awards on the baseball diamond here at Sports Grind Entertainment.
Starting off with the senior circuit, the National League MVP couldn’t have been any easier. Don’t get it twisted that since Albert Pujols plays for the only professional sports origination in all of sports that I truly care about, that this vote wasn’t hands down his. Yes, if the race was close and I went with Pujols I could understand your concern but the 2009 season produce no one within a mile.
- NL MVP Award: The Cardinals first baseman leads his league in on-base percentage and slugging percentage plus homers, runs scored, total bases, grand slams and extra-base hits. He’s second in batting average with men in scoring position. Third overall in batting average and in RBI’s. Crazy as it sounds Pujols lead the Cardinals in stolen bases. Pujols also has an NL-record 184 assists from first base.
- NL Cy Young Award: There was a three-way choice between San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum and St. Louis teammates Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. They’re 1-2-3 in ERA and 1-2-4 in wins.
- Carpenter has been the most brilliant and dominant, but he’s not in the top 10 in the NL in innings pitched because of early-season health issues. Lincecum has the lowest OPS allowed, but he plays in a great pitcher’s park. Wainwright leads the league the league in wins.
- Carpenter still took the ball against the other team aces so he gets it by a hair over Wainwright.
- NL Rookie of the Year: Was loaded with fresh new propest that made a mark in the 2009 season, with Philadelphia’s J.A. Happ, Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson, Randy Wells of the Cubs, Milwaukee’s Casey McGehee, Florida’s Chris Coghlan, Colorado’s Dexter Fowler and Pittsburgh’s Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen.
- As far as position player Coghlan (229 total bases, 82 runs scored and .319 average) is as good of a choice as any but it came down to the two pitchers that came to show earlier and never fell off all season. Happ (12-4, 2.85 ERA) vs. Hanson (11-4, 2.89 ERA).
- While Hanson is a terrific prospect, Happ threw 164 innings and the Phillies would have been in big trouble without him.
- NL Manager of the Year: There are a few good candidates. Fredi Gonzalez kept the Marlins in contention for 25 weeks. Tony La Russa had little in his lineup other than Pujols for the first three months. Charlie Manuel got the Phillies back on top, as did Joe Torre with the Dodgers.
- But this award is a no brainier for Colorado Jim Tracy, they have gone 74-41 since he took over for Clint Hurdle. That’s the equivalent of a 104-win season.
- AL Cy Young Award: When the Cy Young is discussed many see a losing team and figure there is no way a pitcher from such team would win the award over someone on a contending team, but that’s not what the Cy Young is about. On any squad the best pitcher is not responsible on how well or bad the team plays on his days off.
- And that makes Kansas City’s Zack Greinke is the best pitcher in the AL. Period. He lead the league with a 2.16 ERA on a bad defensive team. He had 6 complete games, 3 shutouts and was second in strikeouts with 242. Greinke had a 15 strikout performance and on his next outing threw a one hitter. He was the best pitcher in both leagues. Period.
- Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia are great. And if Greinke wasn’t around, it would be a three-way debate. But this year, that debate is about second place.
- AL MVP Award: Joe Mauer leads the American League in batting, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. And he’s a catcher. Mauer leads the AL in batting average at home, on the road, against right-handers and in night games. He is second in average with runners in scoring position, third in average in day games and fourth in average vs. lefties.
- If Mauer was playing in New York, he’d be everywhere. He would be on every billboard, every magazine cover.
- Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Kendry Morales had very nice years. Very nice.
- Considering the lack of protection in his lineup as compared to the others in the debate, it Mauer as the choice. Also since the only protection he had in teamamte and former MVP Justin Morneau is sidelined for the year. That forced Mauer to put the team on his back as they got back into contention of the AL Central Divison to force a one game playoff with the Detriot Tigers.
- AL Rookie of the Year: What a great season for rookie talent, in both leagues. The White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham, who has hit well. Baltimore outfielder Nolan Reimold who leads Beckham in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and homers. Texas’ Elvis Andrus, meanwhile, has played all season excelling at shortstop with acceptable production at the plate for a 20-year-old.
- Comparing position players against pitchers is comparing apples to oranges. Oakland’s Andrew Bailey with his .168 opponents’ average, Detroit’s Rick Porcello, Toronto’s Ricky Romero.
- Tough call, but Porcello is 20, and he made 30 starts while pitching in a pennant race to the finish and he went 14-9 with a 4.04 ERA.
- AL Manager of the Year: Great job by Ron Washington to help make the Rangers relevant. But Mike Scioscia didn’t just guide the Angels to another division title. He kept the team from falling apart through a rough first few months, not only because of a rash of pitching injuries but also because of the death of Nick Adenhart. Managing a team is about managing people, and Scioscia did a great job this year. Joe Girardi managed his team to 103 wins and probably wont get a sniff at the award is tough but that how things play out sometimes.
