One of my favorite clichés or statements that people use when they talk about baseball is "You'll always see something you never saw before."
Tim Kurkijan, one my favorite baseball writers, loves to use this term just about every year. His most recent usage was in this article about the Dodgers-Angels game from Saturday night.
That was truly something you've never seen before, and probably something you will never see again. You can pull two things out of that game and I'm willing to bet no other game has ever had those two things happen.
Bob Lemon once said "I don't care how long you've been around, you'll never see it all."
Something you probably thought you wouldn't see in 2008 was the unusual set of AL home run leaders this year.
What's Making Me Happy
Carlos Quentin, Josh Hamilton, and Grady Sizemore are tops in the American League for home runs.
Certainly not the three names you would guess when the season started, especially a guy like Carlos Quentin, who wasn't even starting.
Injuries are a big cause of this, as there are eight players in the NL that have just as many if not more home runs as the trio in the AL. Sluggers Carlos Pena, David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez have all spent time on the disabled list.
But I'm happy to see this group of younger players up there. It keeps the game fresh.
While we are on the subject of home runs, how about Felix Hernandez hitting a grand slam last week?
I was excited about C.C. Sabathia's 400-plus foot bomb against the Dodgers, but I have to bow at the feet of King Felix.
What's Making Me Mad
I pretty much ripped in Shawn Chacon last week for grabbing his General Manager, Ed Wade, by the neck and throwing him to the ground.
Today's Must Reads
I must give equal time to someone more famous, more talented, and more likeable.
Manny Ramirez reportedly shoved a team official over ticket requests while the team was in Houston last weekend.
Uh, really... over tickets?
Perhaps this isn't getting as much attention as Chacon got because Ramirez has now apologized, or perhaps it's because he is Manny Ramirez.
Either way, Ramirez deserves just as much backlash for his actions as Chacon got.
While we are on the subject of backlash, Major League Baseball is getting a lot for continuing to allow maple bats.
I've got a big problem with Eric Karros, a former major leaguer who used a maple bat. He is now working as an in-game and studio analyst for FOX's Saturday baseball coverage.
His claim was that major leaguers will not be happy if they decide to ban the use of maple. What was his reasoning you ask?
He simply said that "the players won't be happy because they like the feel."
They like the feel? Are you joking or do you actually care more about the feel than someone getting seriously hurt?
You can't outright ban them, because it is a labor issue. But thankfully some action is finally being taken by MLB to get these things out of the sport.
What's Confusing Me
This could also go into the "mad" category, but it's far more confusing than it is upsetting.
When the Tampa Bay-Boston brawl happened earlier this month, I had some very strong feelings towards how long the suspensions should be for all parties involved.
Now, MLB is lowering the ones they gave out originally and I've got one question for them.
Why?!
All the Rays players’ suspensions stayed as they were, but baseball has reduced Coco Crisp's from seven games to five.
I just don't understand what message this sends for all possible future brawls.
I will give equal time to the good message they sent this past week though.
Brain Runge deserved the one-game suspension he got for bumping Mets' skipper Jerry Manuel.
I was shocked that the baseball big wigs didn't put Manuel on the shelf as well.
Runge was clearly in the wrong, considering he was the one that initiated the contact with Manuel; I approve of the job MLB did here.
What I Am Randomly Thinking About
It's making me sad, seeing Chipper Jones visit the disabled list. We very well may not see him hit .400, which is disappointing. Like I've written about in the past, I'd love to see him do it because it's a once in a lifetime milestone.
Mark Mulder was activated off the disabled list last week. I've always been a Mulder fan and I hope he can finally make this rebound and be effective.
Things aren't so great for the Indians right now, but there are a few pleasant things going on in Cleveland.
The always wonderful Jim Caple of Page 2 on ESPN wrote a great story about Omar Vizquel and how he is the forgotten iron man. It was great seeing Omar one last time in Cleveland—or at least what we think is the last time.
The Indians also had the magic of Dave Burba on Friday night. Everyone who is a Tribe fan has a favorite pitcher like Burba. The names are endless and include the likes of Paul Shuey, Paul Assenmacher, and Eric Plunk.
What’s the series to watch this week? Try Oakland and Los Angeles, starting on Monday night. The two top teams in the AL West will duke it out, and the series includes some great pitching match-ups. The one you have to watch is Rich Harden against Ervin Santana on Tuesday.
comments (7) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
Good article. It's definitely surprising to see Manny getting off without punishment, because that clearly wasn't a case of Manny being Manny.
Have to disagree about the maple bats though. I think it's something that's being blown way out of proportion. Buster Olney said during a Baseball Tonight broadcast last week that we were not too far away from people getting maimed or killed by a maple bat. Had an ash bat shattered and hit that umpire, would the outcry be the same?
from 2 months ago
I do believe it is being blown out of proportion. But the proof is in the pudding as they say.
A fan has gotten hit, a coach in the dugout has gotten hit, and now an umpire has gotten hit. I don't know why they are shattering at this alarming rate this year, but obviously people are getting hurt.
I don't think an ash bat would do that.. The ash bats don't splinter like the maple bats do. Ash bats simply crack. Maple bats are shattering and flying through the infield.
2 months ago
Excellent stuff, Nino. Is this a new weekly feature of yours? I can't believe I missed the first one!
Please keep them coming, they are great!
from 2 months ago
Yeah I'm gonna try. Thanks for reading Andrew.
2 months ago
I'll go with Charles Nagy.
2 months ago
Just a quick thought on the title of the article. I don't think Hamilton is that surprising at the top of the leader board. When he was younger people called him the next Mantle. He is now finally hitting his stride.
Good article
2 months ago
Speaking of Dave Burba, you ever check out this site?
http://thedaveburbarevolution.blogspot.com/
write a new comment