Surprises in the top half of MLB Teams!

The Cleveland Indians hold the best record in baseball. Yes. It's true! This is NOT a movie script. Charlie Sheen has not revived his role {as 'the Wild Thing'} in Major League 9 or some such sequel. The Florida Marlins are also doing VERY WELL. The Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates are also in the top-half of baseball teams [currently] as it stands based upon standings and records.

Who could have guessed?

At the same time, the Boston Red Sox, while no longer holding the Worst Record in Baseball, still remain below .500 and do not seem to be consistantly pulling themselves out of their collective Funk.

Late May update: The Boston Red Sox have been one of the hotest teams in MLB since the first week of May. At present they are in 2nd place in the AL East [about half a game] behind the dredded NY Yankees!

May 25th, 2011: Update: Jon Lester coasted to his AL-leading seventh win and the Boston Red Sox bludgeoned Cleveland's Mitch Talbot for seven runs in the first inning on their way to a 14-2 win today that was the Indians' most lopsided loss this season. The Cleveland Indians are still close to the best team in Baseball [at present] according to their over-all record, but, BOY, how the tables have turned! The Boys from Boston took 2 out of 3 from the Sons of Geronimo this week, and really should have taken all 3 games.

The Penniless Parkinglot Attendant from Boston!

Apparently we know who wears the pants in the McCourt Family [currently] of Los Angeles. It's Major-League Baseball Commisioner Bud Selig! [and you didn't think he cared!].

Major League Baseball has requested access to the Los Angeles Dodgers Finances. They have already appointed their own man to watch the spending and approve any transaction over $5,000. The rumor is that with their current state of cash-flow and accounts on-hand, they will be unable to make their payroll on May 31st, 2011. MLB has indicated they will step-in and make that payroll if needed.

It is a sad state of affairs for the Frank McCourt family as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers. I am very glad that Frank [who made what little money he HAD from parkinglot concessions and land in downtown Boston] was not able to pursuede MLB that he was able to buy the Boston Red Sox [when he tried] around the same time that John Henry's group did. I bet the Boston Red Sox would NOT have been able to pull off those WS wins in 2004 and 2007 if he had. There might have even been a firesale on Yawkee way to make payroll. Very sad for the Dodgers, though.

Hopefully MLB can straighten it out without too much blood-shed.

June 21st Update: MLB [Bud Selig] "Shot-Down" the McCourt plan to have Fox TV infuse cash [$3B over 20 years?] stating that it was not in the Best Interest of the Dodgers OR MLB. This cancelled transaction should spell the unraveling of Frank McCourt and the LA Dodgers. His finances will begin to unwind as he fights battle over battle with his wife and their lavish homes and Life-Style. It WILL get Bloody.

June 27th Update: What a sad state of affairs for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball. The Frank McCourt debacle has turned into the filing of Bankruptcy for the Proud Institution that is The Dodgers. Hopefully this can all turn out OK for the Team and MLB. But I worry, that since McCourt and his soon-to-be-ex-wife are squabbling so much, that it will end badly and get dragged out forever.

Hopefully there is a savior out there [with really deep pockets!].

One Funny Side-Note: In the Bankruptcy filing the single largest Creditor the Dodgers have [at this time] is Manny Ramirez. Now wouldn't that be funny a team quitting on {paying} Manny [instead of the other way around!]

Derek Lowe reverts back to form

You probably think I'm speaking of D.Lowe's pitching prowess. Yes?

Well, No. I'm not. I'm speaking of his Love for the Grape. Derek Lowe has been arrested for DUI. In Georgia, no less. Remember the days when you never heard about these sorts of things? When Police would drive these folks home if no one was hurt, and as a common courtesy, keep things quiet? Well, those days are long gone.

Derek is no stranger to Alcohol, I'll tell you that. That was the largest reason there was no offer {from the Red Sox} for Captain Jason Veritek's best friend on the team, back when he came up for free agency in-between the Red Sox two World Series victories [2004 and 2007]. Derek liked the booze, a bit too much. It was a known fact. It was common knowledge. Apparently a few years away from the Boston area has done little to quench Derek's thirst for the Party-Life.

Early June 2011 Update: Derek Lowe's DUI Charges were dismissed. He dodged another bullet! Guess he can go out drinking again! Good Luck, Atlanta drivers!

April Fool's or [Sn]Opening Day?

Each year, Opening Day for Major League Baseball is nearly a National Holiday. People suddenly come down with 1-day illnesses and use their cell-phone to pretend they are 'on-the-road' for their jobs, while secretly attending an annual tradition that goes back to the 1800's.

This year, is no different.

There are high-hopes in several I-95 regional baseball nations. There is the anticipation of warm weather and sunny days ahead [even in the Deep South!]. There is the crack of the bat, the 'thump' of a power pitcher's fastball landing in the catcher's mitt to the tune of "Strike!".

But, this year, Opening Day [in at least 6-locations] was on March 31st! Perhaps they thought that April 1st was fool-hardy? In the Northeast, mother nature is playing "April Fool's" with the weather, as the baseball fans sit through another N'oreaster [getting 6 - 12 inches of the white-stuff in many parts of New England].

It is a good thing that the Red Sox are beginning their hopeful quest for another World Series Title in the Heart of Texas this year. They are looking at 80+ degrees and sunny, but their fans will warm up if they provide their 7th opening day victory in the last 7 years.

The Yankees began their season with a win on opening Day [March 31st]. Tampa Bay has high-hopes [as well] with their version of "the Idiots" [starring Manny-Ray and Johnny Damon]. It appears that Toronto will be much improved from last season, but that the Orioles [even under new 'management'] will still be the celler-dwellers everyone predicts they will be.

The American League Central appears to be up for grabs. The White-Sox always seem to contend right down to mid-September, and the Tigers appear to be better than people gave them crddit for. Cleveland does seem to need more help then they can muster, but the Minnesota Twins are always competitive until play-off time. The Kansas City Royals occasionally put together streaks of wins and can appear to be in the lead of their division, but they rarely hold it together long-enogh. Their depth is the culprit. They do not have the Farm System they used to have.

In the AL West, it appears to be the Texas Rangers division to lose. While the Rangers did shed some talent in the off-season, they are up against a few other struggling franchises in the Angels, A's and Mariners. The Mariners appear to have pitching depth. The A's always seem to cobble together 'scrappy teams' that can hold their ground in a sinking Division such as the AL West. The Angels do not appear to have signed as many power hitters as they would like and have lost alot of thier speed. Pitching is always a premium, too. No team in the AL West appears to have a lock on things. We will need to revisit this in mid-season to see where they each stand.

The Phillies and the Giants are hoping they will each have Play-off caliber seasons, again. However, the Atlanta Braves are becoming a potential NL East Division winner, again. Several Baseball experts are predicting that the Phillies Injuries will prevent them from winning, while the Braves are improving and have several hot-prospects to push them to the top. Milwaukee has hopes [amid it's pitching superiority] while the Cubs and Astros wallow around free-agency. St. Louis always seems to contend, and this year should be no different.

It's anyone's guess how the NL West will compete. San Francisco will wish to repeat getting into the Play-offs [and winning the WS if possible] but the Colorado Rockies appear to have their Act in-gear enough to challenge them [at least for a Wild-Card berth] and you never know what to expect from the Diamondbacks or the Padres. Either of those two teams could pull themselves together and make a run at the play-offs. You just never know.

The Mets and Marlins appear to be moribund. The Nationals are just a minor-league team in disguise. The Pirates have been pulling one over on the Pittsburgh fans for decades, and remain profitable even though they have not had a winning season since the early 1980's.

Manny being Manny-Ray?

Manny Ramirez has reported to his new team, this year. That Team, the Tampa Bay Rays. Manny is on his 4th Team in the past 4 Seasons. He left the Boston Red Sox in a rather acrimonious way in the middle of the 2008 Season, then he was suspended for performance enhancing drugs in the 2009 Season before leaving [again] mid-season from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played for the White Sox for the majority of the 2nd half of the 2010 Season, largely without incident.

It has been reported that Manny is Happy to be on the Rays, and new/old team mate, Johnny Damon thinks that Manny will be fine where he is.

Manny looks great! He works out as hard as anyone in Major League Baseball. He takes Batting Practice [in the cages] for long hours each day. He lifts weights and does conditioning excercises. His Batting Average has demonstrated the effort, this Spring. He batted .316 with three home runs in his first 38 at-bats so far this Pre-Season. I truly want to see him succeed. It has been an embarrasment to watch one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time put himself thru all of the antics we have seen for the last 4 seasons. Manny being Manny just does NOT play anymore.

April 11th Note: What a foolish and unbelievable end to a promising potentially hall-of-fame career! Manny being Manny, apparently means Manny being a True Idiot! Manny was snared, yet again[!], by the Drug Testing Lab. Manny believes that retiring is a way of 'beating' this rap. He is wrong. He will NEVER end up in the Hall of Fame after this. He might not even get the minimum 5% of votes needed to remain on the Ballot. What a joke, and a sorry, sorry ending to what should have been a remarkable career! I am ashamed of him, I hope all people watching him are ashamed for him. I hope Manny is ashamed [but I know he is not]. May God have mercy on his soul!

Mid-Season note: Manny Ramirez was recently named as THE LARGEST Creditor to the Los Angeles Dodgers in their Banckruptcy filing amid the various troubles of the owners [Mr and Mrs McCourt]. Wonder if he will get his share? - Stay Tuned!

Heads up!

I am astounded at the number of injuries this Spring due to Batted Balls hitting people in their heads. The most serious injury has proven to be the one to Atlanta Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar, who has lost an eye after he was struck in the face by a line drive while watching a spring training game. He is expected to recover in 4 - 6 weeks and then may continue coaching his Brave Minor League team this season.

The injury list includes Red Sox [ace?] Josh Beckett, who was hit by a "fungo" during warmups and suffered concussion symptoms for a day or two before coming back to pitch. In addition to Beckett, there is also the Twins' Justin Morneau who is battling back from concussion symptoms. Padres coach, Rick Renteria, was injured by a batting practice line-drive. Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen got off lucky after being struck in the right forearm by a line drive this week. There have been a few others of lesser note this Spring. In the past, there have been plenty of injuries sustained from batted and thrown balls.

Does it make sense to adjust the protective equipment worn by players and coaches on the field? Could there be a batting helmut modification which includes some shielding of the eyes or face. Most fielders are prepared to handle a batted ball with their glove, so they would not be required to wear them, but many pitchers are hit directly back with such force that they do not have the time to react coming out of their ball release motion. Coaches on the field should wear helmuts. coaches in the dug-out should be behind a small fence shield to protect them while in the dug-out.

Late Update on April 1st, 2011: MLB has announced an additional DL [7 days DL] for Head Injuries / Concussions. This is NO JOKE! Even MLB is taking Concussions Seriously! More info to follow.

Any thoughts out there?

There's no March Madness in Baseball!

   I Can't Believe March Madness is Here!  
Over the weekend, I had a thought. I wonder what the MLB players think about the NCAA Basketball Tournement? I mean it can be CRAZY! Loyalties must be all over the place. Some Baseball Players went to college [and might have participated in the College World Series - in Omaha - no less!] and others only completed [barely!] High-School. But, they all grew up in assorted areas around the country and are drafted all over the US in MLB systems. These systems have farm teams also spread out around the country. Some loyalties might be formed there.

 I want to ask MLB players about their March Madness Basketball sheets. I'm curious. It would be nice to go team to team. Begin with their Starting Line-ups, then move thru their Starting Pitching Staff. Ask the coaches and bench-players. But save the Reliefe Pitchers for last. Way Last! Relief Pitchers can be a wild bunch.

Any thoughts out there?