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Are the Yankees stealing the spotlight in 2012? I think not

Posted by on 9 May 2012, 2:49 am
New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera before a...

New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera before a game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 8, 2009 in Baltimore, MD. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What MLB stories have hogged headlines so far in the 2012 season?

Shockingly, it is not the New York Yankees, as the Universe is in mourning and adjusting to life being Mo-less, which is about all they can handle now anyway.

So for those Yankees fans who have lived in a box since Opening Day; or if you need to make/fake an impression with some baseball knowledge; or maybe you decided to become a baseball fan yesterday…well, whatever it is you came to the right place.

So, in no particular order, here are the 5 biggest headlines from the first month of 2012 season. I included links to both the baseball blogosphere, and MLB experts/analysts under each subject line.

Enjoy!

Fragile closers.

MLB Analysis: It’s Not Easy Being a Closer These Days – Opposing Views

There’s only one Mariano Rivera – Baseball Insider; CBS Sports

Fragile bunch in high-risk job – Republican-American

Marmol likely out as closer – Cubs Den

Closer Turnover In 2012 – Beyond the Boxscore

Phillies Cole Hamels names himself president of MLB’s welcoming committee, just ask Nationals rookie Bryce Harper.

Spike Eskin Says: The Bryce Harper Incident Was Cole Hamels’ Free Agency Audition – CBS Sports Philadelphia.

Cole Hamels Pays a $468,750 Price for Honesty – Forbes Magazine.

The Juice: Bryce Harper steals home, Jayson Werth breaks wrist in Phillies win – Big League Stew

Charlie Manuel wishes Cole Hamels hadn’t been so honest – High Cheese Continue reading ‘Are the Yankees stealing the spotlight in 2012? I think not’ »

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Maybe New York Yankees Alex Rodriquez respects Ryan Braun herpes

Posted by on 27 February 2012, 5:02 am
Ryan Braun

Image via Wikipedia

Let me be clear by stating that Alex Rodriguez has never said anything about Ryan Braun’s failed drug test having to do with him taking medicine for herpes.

Of course A-rod wouldn’t because he knows better, as Derek Jeter would have failed way before Braun… right?

Kidding again. But now to the point, as this Braun saga is getting annoying but I wanted to weigh in my opinion.

So, there are three things that bothered me after I heard that Braun’s 50-game suspension got overturned last Thursday.

Quick Summary of the Braun Saga (for the readers who live in a cave):

Last Thursday the news broke that Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun had beat the system.

Braun’s urine tested positive for a banned substance last October, but he will not serve one day of the standard 50-game suspension given to first time offenders.

It marks the first time an arbitrator has ever reversed a player’s appeal of the embargo set by MLB for a drug testing violation.

Braun’s legal eagles had the 50-game suspension overturned due to a loophole found in MLB’s Drug Treatment and Prevention Program Policies.

His lawyers made the case that the samples were wrongly handled by the authorized CDT Sports Collector, aka the test’s collector, which insinuates that there was possible tampering.

In the MLB Collection Procedures and Testing Protocols, the policy states that the sample is supposed to get to FedEx as soon as possible. Read policy HERE, page 18.

In Braun’s case the collector said that FedEx was already closed so he kept the sample in his fridge overnight and sent it out when FedEx reopened.

And that is the grey area that has won Braun his freedom from suspension, but what about his test results?

1) Braun you talk too much:

Braun finally addressed the matter for the first time last Friday, which was one-day post-verdict, at the Brewers Spring Training facility in Arizona.

To me Braun’s words sounded scripted and angry. He went on and on as if he was persecuted and unjustly framed due to a “fatally flawed” testing system.

He disclosed that the test’s collector did not follow the guidelines set under MLB’s Collection Procedure; there was no mention to whether Braun did or didn’t juice, or if the test was tampered with. He beat the system, but why does this seem to only happen in MLB?

The long-winded explanation triggered that feeling when you know someone is lying because they’re talking too much about why it is not their fault and in the end they come-off looking guiltier.

2) So ultimately Braun’s defensive team won citing incorrect protocol but what about his test results changed?

The answer is nothing.

Maybe you will find comfort in knowing that MLB Commissioner’s Office ‘vehemently disagrees’ by the outcome, but personally I find that a little hard to believe. Continue reading ‘Maybe New York Yankees Alex Rodriquez respects Ryan Braun herpes’ »

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Baseball Basics: Can you explain the term OPS?

Posted by on 5 January 2012, 1:16 am

Can you explain the term OPS?

This is a question I get asked about all the time, as the term has become more used in everyday baseball lingo. So, I will do my best to explain OPS and why it is has become so beneficial.

Definition of OPS:

OPS, is the abbreviation for the batting stat on-base plus slugging, which is the sum of a hitter’s on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging percentage (SLG).

Since a batter’s success is mainly attributed to hitting for power (SLG) and getting on-base (OBP), the statistical answer to combine both is OPS.

Ultimately, it is like killing two birds with one stone.

OPS formula breakdown: Continue reading ‘Baseball Basics: Can you explain the term OPS?’ »

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Baseball Basics: The Posting System

Posted by on 16 December 2011, 3:49 am

If you are a baseball fan, you must have heard the name Yu Darvish.

Darvish is Japan’s newest pitching phenom who is coming to MLB in 2012, but that seems to be the extent of some fans knowledge by choice or not.

Well, since I did receive a few emails this week asking me to explain what the process is for a MLB team to sign a Japanese player in a Baseball Basic, now seems to be the perfect time.

What is the Posting System?

The posting system is the process used by a MLB team can acquire a player from Japan’s Nippon Pro Baseball.

Here is a simple breakdown of the process:

  • An NPB player and his team both have to agree that he can be posted.
  • The NPB player’s team informs Japan’s NPB Commissioner’s Office of the posting, then proceeds to call MLB, who in turn notifies all 30 teams. This can only take place between November 1st and March 1st.
  • Once posted, MLB teams conduct a four-day silent auction bidding to win just an exclusive 30-day window to come to contractual terms with the NPB player who is posted. Bids go directly to MLB Commissioner’s Office and are sealed.
  • Once four-days are up, MLB discloses only the highest bid to the NPB team without revealing the name of the bidding ball-club.
  • The Japanese team has 30-days to either accept or reject the bid, and no negotiation is allowed. The MLB team does not pay any money at this point.
  • If the bid is rejected, the NPB player remains with his Japanese team and cannot be posted again until the following year.
  • But if it is accepted, the MLB team has won the 30-day exclusive period to sign the NPB player. Continue reading ‘Baseball Basics: The Posting System’ »

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Baseball Basics: What is the Rule 5 Draft?

Posted by on 2 December 2011, 11:08 pm

What is the RULE 5 DRAFT in Major League Baseball?

PURPOSE of the RULE 5 DRAFT:

The Rule 5 Draft was generated to stop MLB teams from stockpiling minor league prospects indefinitely in their farm system. With the Rule 5 Draft a player has an opportunity to be picked up by a team who is willing to play him in the Majors.

WHERE AND WHEN IS THE RULE 5 DRAFT:

The Rule 5 Draft happens in December at the annual Winter Meetings of all 30 MLB teams General Managers. This off-season’s Winter Meetings begin on December 5th, with the Rule 5 Draft scheduled for the last day of the Winter Meetings, which is on December 8th.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE RULE 5 DRAFT:

Any minor league player, who has been retained for three, (signed at age 19) or four years, (signed at age 18); and are still not on their respective club’s 40-man roster. Minor leaguers’ who are on the team’s 40-man roster before the fixed time expires are protected, or ineligible to be drafted under Rule 5.

MLB Teams with no open spots on their 40-man roster are not allowed to partake in the Rule 5 Draft.

The Rule 5 Draft allows for a team to steal a raw, top prospect from another club who deems the player is not close to Major League ready in terms of their team. These are diamonds in the rough and are rarely found, but one example of a successful Rule 5 drafted is two-time CY Young winner Johan Santana.

EXAMPLE OF RULE 5 DRAFT: Continue reading ‘Baseball Basics: What is the Rule 5 Draft?’ »

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MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement: 9 Changes You Will Want To Know

Posted by on 27 November 2011, 9:16 pm

In efforts to avoid what didn’t happen in 1994, as well as avoiding the path the NBA took, MLB and the MLB Players Association took the bull by the horns to avoid letting the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expire on December 11, 2011.

And that hard work has paid off, as MLB has a new (CBA) that lasts through 2016. This translates into nonstop play for the next 5 seasons, which makes it the longest agreement deal in history.

So, what changes in the new CBA would the everyday baseball fan want to know?

After reading about the new CBA, here are 9 points that a typical baseball fan might want to take note of:

 

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New York Yankees Hot Stove: Cashman Signs Mets Lefty Reliever

Posted by on 16 November 2011, 5:22 pm

According to Jon Heyman at SI tweeted that the New York Yankees have signed 31-year old, lefty reliever Mike O’Connorto what my

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 08: General manager Brian...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

guess is a minor league deal.

O’Connor pitched 6.2 innings for the New York Mets last season, where he gave-up five hits, two earned runs, three walks and struck out eight batters. Before that O’Connor had not seen a MLB ballpark since 2008 and for good reason after giving up 13 earned runs in nine innings.

This pick-up will not be the first of its kind this off-season, as GM Brian Cashman ran into some serious good fortune last year when he took a chance on Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia.

These signings can be very alarming when you look at guys, like O’Connor’s numbers.

Unlike last year, Yankee fans can’t deem Cashman headed for the loony -bin again, because whether it was genius or luck that led to success doesn’t really matter because it worked.

So, for now I will keep my mouth shut but for how long I cannot promise, especially if Cashman goes on a desperation run again.

I can’t help but point out that signing any Met player that was kept in the minors except for six innings does not seem to wise EVER!!

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