The Baseball Experience
Today's baseball news with a historical perspective
Happy Birthday, Yogi Berra!
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As the baseball season enters its seventh week, we celebrate the birthday of Hall of Famer and national treasure Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra. Even though Yogi was a New York Yankee for his entire career (an unfortunate distinction that would usually relegate him to well below the fold in this podcast), Yogi transcends my admittedly petty Yankee-hate. The always-quotable and odd-looking (5-7, 185 pounds) catcher for the juggernaut Yankees of the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s, Yogi was the best catcher in the game and arguably the best catcher ever to play (fans of Johnny Bench might disagree). He played in 14 World Series, caught the only perfect game in World Series history in 1956, won THREE MVP awards in 1951, 1954 and 1955. Even though he was a notorious bad-ball hitter, he only struck out 414 times in his 19-year playing career and hit 358 home runs. Is there anyone in today’s Major Leagues who could do that?
Yogi’s outstanding baseball prowess continued defensively, as he routinely led the league in most defensive categories as a catcher. He is one of the only catchers to post multiple errorless SEASONS, and regularly led in fewest passed balls, fewest stolen bases allowed, and by even the advanced defensive metrics he was outstanding, and one of the best ever. (more…)
Josh Hamilton is Better At Hitting Than You
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Scott reacts to Josh Hamilton’s historic game by discussing the other fifteen major league players to hit four home runs in a single game, from Bobby Lowe (and Bobby Lowe’s magnificent mustache) to Carlos Delgado. He finds something interesting about all the other men to accomplish the feat, and celebrates the Hamilton game by NOT gushing about Bryce Harper. He then discusses the Nationals’ hitting woes, particularly the strikeout rate of young middle infielder Danny Espinosa, and compares today’s era of big strikeout numbers to the career of Yankee infielder Joe Sewell.
He then briefly discusses the state of the American League and re-evaluates his predictions.
Links from today’s episode:
Josh Hamilton hits four homers against the Orioles
The Biography of Big Ed Delahanty
Bobby Lowe’s Baseball Reference Page
Joe Sewell only struck out 114 times in his CAREER
Lou Gehrig’s Four Homer Game
The Obligatory Josh Hamilton Contract Story
The Bryce Is Right!
02 weeks ago
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Just when you thought the Washington Nationals season was getting interesting, GM Mike Rizzo pulled the trigger on the Bryce Harper card and NOW the Nats are an absolute must see. Rookie phenom Bryce Harper has come to rescue the Nats offense! With Ryan Zimmerman on the DL with shoulder woes, the Nats called up the former #1 overall pick from AAA Syracuse to play the outfield, and he’s already created a buzz. In fact, he’s already made a highlight reel with this catch made Sunday against the Dodgers. Keith Law says that this is a risk, but it’s not like the Nats had a ton of options. Zimmerman’s DL stint means that he, Mike Morse, and now Mark Derosa are all on the disabled list…and Jayson Werth scratched Sunday with a migraine headache. Tyler Moore was promoted from AAA to start in left. So what we saw may have been two thirds of the Nationals’ starting outfield for 2015.
I don’t know if this is going to work. (more…)
The Astros Fan Therapy Session (with guest Terri Schlather)
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Terri Schlather from Aerys Sports joins Scott for a one-on-one therapy session for the Astros fan in 2012. They discuss everything from the prolonged sales process to new owner Jim Crane, the hiring of Jeff Luhnow and how drastically different he is from his predecessor, fan psychology as Houstonians watch a gutted team start to rebuild, to the fast starts of Jose Altuve and J.D. Martinez, they look for ways to enjoy the season when the team is recovering from a decade of questionable decisions. They also talk about the first few trades by new GM Jeff Luhnow, and realize that things are already improving in the Bayou City.
Follow Terri on twitter @AGirlintheSouth. While you’re at it, follow Scott @Scotteiland.
Links from this episode:
Tales From The Juice Box – Great Astros blog. Terri is the head Astros writer.
The Astros Have Issues When The Bases Are Loaded
What The Heck, Bobby? What you need to know about the Astros’ minor league system. Follow Jayne on twitter @whattheheck57.
In Which Lance Berkman Speaks The Truth
Also, don’t forget to check out SPNT, the network headed by Nick Seuberling at the Red Leg Weekly Podcast. Red Leg Weekly is the definitive Reds fan podcast, and they do a great job dealing with the news and attitudes covering the Reds. We had Ed Wade, and they STILL have Dusty Baker. Sometimes I wonder how we’re all not drinking heavily.
(editor’s note: The Baseball Experience is a PROUD member of SPNT.)
The Bosox and Yanks Are Both Struggling? That Makes Me Happy.
1 month ago
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We’re beginning the first full week of MLB Games That Count, and there is NO shortage of good news for those of us who like seeing Boston and the Yankees lose!
Just a few of this week’s newsworthy developments:
1. TAMPA BAY- The Rays began the season sweeping the New York Yankees in three straight at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, getting to Mariano Rivera in the first game. Fernando Rodney somehow won the first game and saved the next two in spite of the fact that he pitched pretty terribly. 2011 ROY Jeremy Hellickson pitched superbly in his 2012 debut, and it’s clear that Joe Maddon’s charges are picking right up where they left off in 2011.
2. The Detroit Tigers made mincemeat out of the Boston Red Sox’ revamped bullpen, and Red Sox nation is in its amusing panic as they’ve begun the season 1-3 after being swept by the wallbangers of Lake Michigan. Miguel Cabrera is a MAN among boys, and Alfredo Aceves didn’t make an out until game four. That’s not good, Boston, but anyone doubt Detroit did the right thing by getting Prince Fielder now?
3. I can’t avoid this one – the loveable, snakebitten, star-crossed New York Mets have started the season 4-0 behind some stellar starting pitching, the fine ninth inning work of Frank Francisco (really.) and timely hitting from David Wright, sweeping the Atlanta Braves (who look terrible right now) and beating the Nationals in their last at bat on a run scoring single by Daniel Murphy. The Nats have also had an auspicious debut, by the way, having caused much headaches on the north side of chicago in beating up on the Cubs bullpen.
4, Astros are 3-1!!!! Carlos Lee is off to a good start! The starters are pitching well!
Before i get too ahead of myself
one win was vs. Jamie Moyer (age 49)
one win was vs. Juan Nicasio (coming off a broken neck)
one win was against a Braves team that looks as if it’s still september 2011.
What this means: Its extremely early. I’m not popping any champagne corks yet, and if you happen to be a poor red sox or yankees fan…look, I feel bad for you as it is, but be of good cheer. Better days are ahead. Maybe Joe Girardi will put his binder down long enough to manage and maybe Bobby V will (laughing) OK, I can’t even PRETEND to not enjoy this. Small Markets forever BOS/NY NEVAH! Except the Mets, who are really just Queens’ team.
BREAKING NEWS: Brandon Phillips signs Six Year extension
Enjoy our review of Newbridge Bank Park in Greensboro. Today I include, for your listening pleasure, our drive home from Newbridge and my wife Amy’s thoughts on the ballpark, and my excitement over seeing Delino DeShields, Jr. play in person. On Friday I’ll include my real-time blooper reel and my recorded comments as the game was happening Easter Sunday.
The 2012 MLB Preview!
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Yes, I’m about one day late for this. The Cardinals beat the Marlins, 4-1, behind a stellar performance from Opening Day starter Kyle Lohse and timely hitting from David Freese (there’s that MAN again), and I finally broke down and recorded a long show in which I broke down the 2012 major league season.
But first, I wanted to discuss recent events and how I want to sharpen my focus here at The Baseball Experience.
As a fan of the game of baseball and of sports in general, I have had enough.
My issue today is not with the playing of the game or its athletes. My issue isn’t with fans of teams – even Boston. It isn’t with managers, coaches, or general managers. I’m even giving Ed Wade, Bud Selig, Roger Goodell, and Chip Caray a break today. But I want to make very clear to you, my fledgling audience, where my focus needs to be.
I need to focus on the teams and stories the national media ignores. That is, to treat the small markets as if they’re on the East Coast. Because the media does a bad job reporting the news.
I honestly have no real issue with any one journalist. Keith Law of ESPN is one of my favorite prospect guys (and he also has an outstanding cooking blog. Check out The Dish when you have a chance. He does food critiques, movie/tv reviews, and baseball. The man is my hero.)
The point is that I’m tired of the narrative-driving force that has become the national sports media. The quality of journalism has plummeted as a general rule (see the Rutgers suicide case and the way the Sanford, Florida “self defense” case has been presented for today’s examples) but the national baseball media can be really lazy too.
In baseball, national coverage has become all Boston-New York, ratings-obsessed and shortsighted. That ESPN chooses to cover the sport that way is their prerogative, and I’m sure they’re behaving this way because it makes financial sense. The East Coast is where the money is, the passion for baseball exists, and where the biggest rivalry in baseball exists.
But I think it’s gone too far.
The national media – not individual journalists, some of whom I like very much (Keith Law, Ken Rosenthal, Peter Gammons, etc) has become either lazy or fragmented. To hear PTI or Around the Horn talk about anything that doesn’t occur in the American League East is as rare as a full eclipse, and occasional throwaway lines like ‘Who cares about the Astros” and completely ignoring everything west of the Mississippi could make me angry. Instead, I think it presents an opportunity.
Listen to the show for more about my renewed focus AND my 2012 Major League Baseball predictions!
Ten (or More) Ways You Can Improve Your Fantasy Baseball Experience
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Talking in general terms, Scott discusses more than ten ways to make your fantasy league better, make your fantasy team better, and to build and improve relationships through playing fantasy baseball.
In Which Lance Berkman Speaks the Truth
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In one interview, Lance Berkman got back into my good graces. I’ve long believed that Lance didn’t play particularly well in 2010 leading up to his eventual trade to the Yankees because he knew the team wasn’t going to contend. I thought he loafed, basically. Cardinal apologists now tell me he was injured worse than he let on, but how does that explain his resurgent performance in 2011? It left a terrible taste in my mouth watching him win a ring for the hated St. Louis Cardinals just eighteen months after it appeared as if he were snoozing his way into a deal with the Yankees where the Astros got only Jimmy Paredes and Mark Melancon for him. I found myself loathing him.
This all changed just the other day when he absolutely lambasted MLB Commissioner Bud Selig in an interview the other day
“I feel basically like the commissioner extorted Jim Crane into moving the Astros.”
Talking the Reds with Nick Seuberling
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Scott discusses the Cincinnati Reds’ 2012 expectations with Red Leg Weekly host Nick Seuberling. He also gives his initial review of MLB 2012: The Show and discusses why he pays little attention to spring training statistics.
Links from this episode:
The Spring Training Article Template
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Spring training games have finally begun, so it’s time to go crazy over Ryan Braun’s hitless streak to begin the spring.
Just kidding.
Seriously, though, we’ve finally reached that point – early March – where speculation and the hot stove talk can finally end and exhibition games (sorry.. “pre-season games.”) have begun. We’re four short weeks away from that amazing day where we crown an NCAA National Champion!!!
Yes, we’re just four weeks away from Opening Day. Spring Training news, though, isn’t always heavy on the useful information front.
What do I mean? Well, Spring Training feature stories usually follow one of a few templates:
1. The injured player returning after a long layoff (this week it was Johan Santana, at least on MLB.com. Look for a Tommy Hanson story that follows a similar pattern next. Basically, they all ask the question “what’s it going to be like when you face live batters after such a long rehab/layoff” and the player in question talks about how he’s in the best shape of his life and how he’s determined to show his detractors how good he is now”, etc.
2. The upstart rookie who stil needs another year in the minors “raises eyebrows” about how well he’s hit grapefruit league pitching. There was at least one article a year about Ricky Jordan covering this in the eighties and early nineties. EVERY YEAR Ricky would hit well during the first two weeks of spring training, when he was swinging at 90 percent fastballs. And every year, once pitchers started throwing breaking stuff, Ricky would then disappear and spend the majority of the following season swinging between the show and Reading (the Phillies AAA affiliate).
3. A olayer (always in “the best shape of his life”) makes a proclamation that he’ll “steal fifty bases” this year or “Hit 30 homers” when he’s never done it before. This usually creates a lot of speculation only to see, 90 percent of the time, the player generally perform as expected with possible improvements (but nothing drastic).
4. The historical article like this one
5. The fantasy baseball article – now we’re going to have a fantasy baseball preview on this show, with guests and everything, but prepare for about fifteen different versions of this:
1. Miguel Cabera will be the top player in fantasy just because Prince Fielder is now batting behind him in the lineup. (whether this bears to be true is an open question. But fantasy analysts will be “sure.”)
2. While Cabrera is going to have a huge year at the plate, fantasy analysts will assume that he will play all year at third base and be a complete disaster defensively, without factoring in that if he is, Tigers manager Jim Leyland won’t replace him with Brandon Inge, who will be sitting a few feet away. Fantasy analysts make BOLD PRONOUNCEMENTS, and when they turn out wrong it’ll be like the NFL analysts after their picks all go wrong. It will be forgotten and they’ll be on to the next thing. (To be fair, Matthew Berry and Nate Ravitz at ESPN make regular jokes about how they’re usually wrong. What’s funny about that is they seem to make the same mistakes involving the same players over and over without learning. So there’s that.)
3. Rookies will be overhyped. Matt Moore is going to have a better year than Mark Fidrych in 1976 and Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 combined. Bryce Harper is the next Mickey Mantle. I’m being hyperbolic but look for articles like this on fantasy baseball sites.
4. The player who changed leagues. Oh boy, will journalists on expense accounts just happy to not be freezing talk about new acquisitions and players on new teams. These articles will be boring. But these are sportswriters needing to justify their expense accounts, and we baseball fans are pretty hungry after a steady diet of Peyton Manning news that was interrupted by a super bowl followed by a journalist getting paid a full time salary for projecting the NCAA Tournament – it’s a good gig if you can get it but does anyone else wonder what Joe Lunardi does the rest of the year?
We love baseball news, even microwaved warmed-over stuff that doesnt give us any good information.
BUT WE DO have good information this week
