Here’s are my picks for the top rookies and relief pitchers of the National League for 2012. This post serves as a ballot for my votes in the Baseball Bloggers Alliance annual Willie Mays and Goose Gossage awards, respectively.
Note that I am posting a National League ballot only, as that is the league which I follow more closely.
Willie Mays Award
1. Bryce Harper
2. Wilin Rosario
3. Todd Frazier
Goose Gossage Award
1. Craig Kimbrel
2. Jason Motte
3. Aroldis Chapman
Posted in Uncategorized
Sad news today from The New York Times for those of us sports fans of a certain generation: Norman Sas, inventor of the electric tabletop football game, has died at age 87.
To my computer-gaming kids, the old Tudor electric football game must seem hilariously primitive. I only wish I still had my father’s mid-50s vintage version of the game to show them.
Dad’s version had simple, identical player forms affixed to aluminum platform with a metal sheet underneath that could be bent to give each figure a vague sense of direction when the field vibrated. The figures of each of the two teams were identical except for their colors (either blue and silver, or gray and silver; I can’t quite recall). There was a separate kicker with a spring-loaded launcher.
The football was a fuzzy white thing that looked suspiciously like the cotton end of a Q-Tip. The more I think of it, it probably was a snipped off Q-Tip end that we used, likely because the original ball was lost.
In later years, the Tudor games were gussied up and figures had poses appropriate for their positions: lineman were shaped to block, running backs looked like they were carrying the ball, and so forth. Eventually the figures were painted in team colors.
In the mid- to late 60s, I had a Tudor baseball game, and somewhere in a box I still have the figures that slid into slots at positions around the field.
The Tudor games were the height of realism in childhood game play half a century ago, and how we kids wished games could be developed that would simulate the real actions of players the way video games do today.
I’m astonished by the realism of sports video games, but curiously I have not gotten hooked (a year or two of EA Sports’ NHL Hockey notwithstanding).
Thank you, Norman Sas, for all the fun.
Posted in Uncategorized
The Pittsburgh Pirates have just broken up a no-hitter bid by Justin Verlander, who held the Buccos hitless for 8 and 1/3 innings tonight. A solid hit up the middle by Josh Harrison broke the spell. Verlander was able to wrap up the game and finish a one-hitter as the Detroit Tigers won easily, 6-0.
I’m sure Verlander is disappointed, but a one-hitter is still a great accomplishment.
I have to face the fact that football seems to have brazenly overtaken baseball as the de facto national pastime. Even in its off-season, football news and gossip (usually the same thing), often intrudes itself into our lives with depressing regularity. The bi-weekly drug arrests, revolving quarterback soap operas, and mind-numbing stories about which draft picks will break camp hold about as much interest for me as my aunt's wilted cole slaw on Easter Sunday.
Posted in Uncategorized
A Heartbreaking Anniversary Is Approaching. On Thursday, March 31, 2011, after the season-opening game in which the Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 2 to 1 in Los Angeles, Bryan Stow, a father, husband, paramedic and Giants fan wearing his orange and black colors, was viciously beaten by two men in a parking lot outside Dodger stadium. A reaction of universal condemnation was immediate.
Posted in Uncategorized
Every year Topps Baseball Cards changes their design. My baseball card collection covers ninety-five years, so each time I review my cards it's like flipping through a massive Rolodex of colors, graphics, designs, paper stocks and styles. With this post I'm introducing a new category: Baseball Card Sets. I'm going to start with the 1972 Topps set, getting the negatives out-of-the-way and finishing on an uptempo note.
Posted in Uncategorized
The Baseball Bloggers Alliance, of which I am a proud member, bestows its annual Stan Musial Award on the best player in baseball by a vote of the group’s members. This is my first year casting a ballot for what is the equivalent of the Major League Baseball most valuable player awards, and it’s a tall order.
How on earth does anyone decide who’s the best player in the game? I’m giving it a go here with equal parts direct observation at the ballpark, heavy doses of TV and radio broadcasts, reading, statistics, coin flips and gut-level calls.
1. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers – The leader of the Brew Crew, high average, monster slugging percentage, 33 home runs and 33 stolen bases. One heck of a year, edging out:
2. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers – Best average in baseball, formidable power, 108 walks and the driving offensive force for the AL Central champs, edging out:
3. Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers – This guy led the National League in homers and RBIs on a Dodger team with an otherwise anemic offense. Amazing.
4. Jose Reyes, New York Mets – Even in an injury-shortened season, this guy did his job getting on base, stealing and generally pestering the heck out of pitchers.
5. Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays – Led the game in homers. Again.
6. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees – Best overall performance in pinstripes, just nudging out:
7. Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees – A fine all-around year.
8. Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox – Powerful season squandered by the team’s stretch drive collapse.
9. Michael Young, Texas Rangers – Great year at the plate.
10. Hunter Pence, Houston Astros/Philadelphia Phillies - He made a big difference with the Phillies in the second half of the season.
Let the kvetching and bickering begin. I’m leaving off Albert Pujols, for goodness sake, all pitchers, Joey Votto and Alex Gordon and on and on.
In accordance with the requirements* of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, being of sound mind and body I hereby cast my ballot for the Walter Johnson Award for the best pitchers in baseball, 2011.
American League
1. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers – 24 victories. Incredible velocity. Tigers win division. Any questions?
2. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees – A 19-8 record and the stud of the Yankees staff.
3. Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels – An 18-8 record for a team that couldn’t win its division.
4. James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays – Trailing only Verlander and Sabathia in strikeouts, this guy is one of the league’s elite hurlers.
5. C.J. Wilson, Texas Rangers – Leader of the AL West champs’ staff, he had an outstanding season.
National League
1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers – Best numbers in the game and he achieved them with a weak Dodger team. Based solely on the pain he inflicted on us San Francisco Giants fans, I’d have to vote him tops in the league.
2. Ian Kennedy, Arizona Diamondbacks – No Kennedy, no D-Backs division title. It’s that simple. And he inflicted immense pain on the Giants, too.
3. Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies – Great stats across the board, and a force to be reckoned with every time he took the mound.
4. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies – Ditto.
5. Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers – Somebody had to lead the Brewers’ starters, and Gallardo did capably.
*There is no requirement in the BBA that one be sane, but I just thought I’d mention my mental state in case anyone had any concerns.
Posted in Uncategorized
The Baseball Bloggers Alliance gives the Goose Gossage award each year to the best relievers in baseball, and here’s my ballot. I have nominations for the American and National leagues.
American League
1. Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers – The best in baseball in 2011 based on number of saves, and I think that’s an accurate reflection of his performance. He had no blown saves, and that cinches it for me.
2. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees – An astonishing season for anyone, let alone a player of his age. His numbers are better than Valverde’s in many categories, but he had 5 blown saves.
3. Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians – After Valverde and Rivera, there’s a gap, and Perez is the next in line with 36 saves.
National League
1. J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks – Putz was third in the NL with 45 saves, one behind John Axford and Craig Kimbrel. I like his low WHIP and low total of just 12 walks. He added an added aura of invincibility to the D-Backs and I also saw him more than the others, so he gets my top tally.
2. John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers – Great numbers, with only 2 blown saves. Did his blowing the save in last night’s NLDS clincher lower his value in my book? No. I’m sticking with the regular season for my picks.
3. Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves – Monster numbers for a rookie, tying Axford with 46 saves and an astonishing 127 strikeouts with only 32 walks. Eight blown saves, though, but I won’t worry about them when I make him my first closer pick in next year’s fantasy draft.
For a diehard fan of the Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants, going to a game at AT&T Park poses a problem: What to wear?
I have plenty of gear from both teams: a Willie Mays jersey, a ’48 Indians cap, Chief Wahoo socks, an Indians jacket, a Tim Lincecum T-shirt, and lots more.
The Giants have won the first two games of the series, and a few friends from back in Ohio are applying pressure that I go the full Cleveland. I’ll be driving to the game with a Giants-only friend who won’t tolerate anything but orange and black.
I’ll be debating my wardrobe choices all night. Watch this space for a photo from the ballpark for my final choice.
Posted in Uncategorized
