Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Pope

Rich Harden Injury Talk: Let's Not Forget About Ben Sheets

Michael Pope — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:08:31 -0400

There have been many articles written about the deal that brought Rich Harden to the Cubs. Much of that has centered around Harden's injury history. Since he was dealt to the Cubs, comparisons to Mark Prior are inevitable, and flying around like seagulls over Navy Pier.

And since the deal went down the day after CC Sabathia was added to the Milwaukee roster, there are plenty of pitching staff comparisons.

Sabathia and Zambrano are legitimate staff aces. Both are work horse types with long and distinguished resumes.

Harden has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy, and for 13 games this year has been very impressive. His injury history is well documented and a real concern.

What I haven't heard much about is the Brewers' Ben Sheets. He is having a wonderful season, and will be an All-Star.

But, not much is mentioned about his injury history. Granted, he hasn't shown signs of injury at all this year, but his past is also sketchy.

By my calculations, Sheets has missed around 33 starts over the last three years.

Last year, when the team was attempting to make a stretch run, Sheets was little help. He made just six second half starts, going 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA. Overall, he made 17 starts--the same number he made in 2006. He missed around eight starts in 2007.

His past is not as spotted as Harden, who has missed around 50 starts the past two years, but he's no sure thing. The most innings Sheets has thrown in the last three years is 156. So far this year he's at 117.

Picking Harden up was a risky move that could be the makings of another Cubs curse scenario. It could also give them a pitcher that could put them over the hump.

The Brewers could make the same claim about Sabathia. but for them to find out they'll need Sheets to have his first full season in four years.

Cleveland Indians: Who Will Go Next?

Michael Pope — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:35:20 -0400

CC Sabathia was the first domino to fall in Cleveland. Who might be moved next? Here are a few candidates:

Jamey Carroll

He's obviously not a big name, but this guy could land a decent prospect. His leadership is well documented and he plays solid defense and knows how to play the game.

Paul Byrd

Byrd has had a rough season, but if he puts in a few decent starts, some team might take him on for the back end of their rotation. If he has any value left, the Indians will attempt to get something back for him.

Rafael Betancourt

He too has put in a rough season. However, he was one of the most dominant relievers last year and has been a good set-up man for years. He has been more hittable this year and given up a lot of long balls, but his walk and strikeout numbers are solid. He might net a solid lower level prospect and a middle-reliever.

Casey Blake

Blake struggled at the beginning of the season, but has turned it around and been a solid third baseman. He's one of the better clutch hitters in the American League. He's a free agent at the end of the year and the Indians have no plans to bring him back. They have kept Andy Marte on the bench all year with an idea of giving him some at-bats to see if he might be their future at the position. Now is the time to find out.

The Indians need to re-stock their farm system if they aren't going to win this year. There may not be much they can get in return for their current major leaguers, but re-tooling now and keeping their core players will allow them to compete as soon as next year.

New Nationals' Stadium Posting Sorry Early Returns

Michael Pope — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:38:46 -0400

What happened to the power surge that was supposed to materialize with the Nationals switching ballparks?

Through 91 games, the Nationals have the third-lowest homer total with 65, just 28 at home.

Ryan Zimmerman, who hasn't played in over a month, leads the team with eight long balls. Sure, he and the rest of the middle of the order hitters have all missed significant time, but it's hard to gauge how this ballpark plays.

Hitters who have amassed significant home run totals in the past have turned in abysmal power seasons so far.

Felipe Lopez and Wily Mo Pena have two taters each. Austin Kearns, who it seemed might benefit most from the switch, has three.

Is it the ballpark, or are the players just bad? It's hard to tell, and it will be at least another season before we see how the Nationals' stadium plays.

Joba Chamberlain Prompts Hank Steinbrenner and Co. to Cook Up Something Nice

Michael Pope — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:00:28 -0400

*The curtain raises to the scene of a simple kitchen. Hank Steinbrenner, wearing a pin-striped apron, wears a white chef hat and puffs on a filter-less cigarette. Hank's father George sits in a tennis judge's chair in the middle of the stage in the back.*

Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman enter, stage right, with Cashman holding a section of the sports page. He taps the paper several times and says, "Did you see this?"

"Yeah, I saw it," Hank grumbles, "and I LOVE it!"

"Well, lemme read it to you once more," Cashman says, unruffling the paper with conviction.

"'Chamberlain delivered precisely the type of performance the,'" he pauses before finally chuckling out, "'the YANKEES...were hoping he would when they moved him into the rotation last month.'"

"Yeah, all those ESPN, Fox, newspaper types," Hank rumbles, while pulling out a pie tin, "all those jagoffs who called US jagoffs, well, they're going to eat their words."

"Oh yeah," Girardi says. "And the way Joba's pitched, it sure makes us look good."

George sits with his fingers interlocked, his head swiveling side-to-side with each volley.

"No doubt," Hank says, "especially now that Wang's hurt. Where would we be without him? Now, hand me that bowl in the fridge."

Cashman pulls open the door, his face glows from the inside light and pulls out a clear bowl of red and brown organs.

"What the hell is that?" Girardi asks with a disgusted look on his face.

"It's cow liver, deer heart and tripe," Hank says matter-of-factly.

"Wh-What for?" asks Cashman.

"Why, it's a special recipe for all those doubters!" Hank resounds, "good ol' fashioned humble pie."

All the men turn and hold their stomachs reverberating "Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha..."

*Curtain closes with Hank holding up the filled pie tin and a big smile lifting the stub of his cigarette*

Without Travis Hafner, Indians Still Looking To Fill The Void

Michael Pope — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:33:55 -0400

Quick--who's the Indians third place hitter?

The line-up spot, usually designated for a team's best hitter, has recently been occupied by Ben Francisco.

Ben Francisco?

With Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez hurting, the middle of the Indians' order is patchwork. And Francisco has surprisingly been the most consistent hitter.

For most of the year, the entire Indian line-up has been struggling, even when Hafter and Martinez were playing.

Overall, the team batting average is .245 and ranks eighth in the AL in runs scored per game.

Francisco might be as unfamiliar to baseball fans as an ice cube is to the Sahara.

In parts of seven minor league seasons, he's a .291 hitter with good contact rates and stolen base totals. But a third hitter?

Never a top prospect, Francisco was selected in the fifth round and rose steadily to the majors. He's made himself into a nice player, but would never be a third hitter under different circumstances. He's simply been the most consistent since his recall from Buffalo.

Casy Blake has been on fire after struggling early, Ryan Garko has looked off-balance and Jhonny Peralta has continued to perform inconsistently since a break-out 2005.

So, the Indians better hope Francisco continues to surprise and play as well as he has because without him, this team would really be in trouble.

Texas Rangers: Joining the Ranks of the Cubs and Indians as Lovable Losers

Michael Pope — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:26:56 -0400

Josh Hamilton is a lovable guy. David Murphy is too. Fans seem to love it when guys are traded away from one franchise only to blossom under another.

Hamilton is quickly becoming the sensational feel good story of recent memory, while Murphy is breaking out and keeping himself in the Rookie-of-the-Year race.

The team still has fan favorite Michael Young at short and rising star Ian Kinsler at second. The Rangers are a fun and talented team with solid big league players.

Over the years, the Rangers have had plenty of star players. Nolan Ryan, Ruben Sierra, Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro, and Fergie Jenkins. The team has had some legitimate Hall of Fame stars.

Most notable was Alex Rodriguez, the man who was supposed to push the team over the edge, who couldn't get the team out of last place the three years he played in Texas.

Actually, in the teams' 35 Texas years, they've had only four first place finishes. Their first was the miserable strike shortened 1994 season when they went 52-62.

The others came from 1996-1999 when they won their first ever playoff game against the Yankees in 1996; however, they went on to drop two one-run games and were swept in the rest of that series.

The next two playoff series were pitiful sweeps, also at the hands of the Yankees, in which the Rangers scored one run combined in each series.

Other than this one run of successful teams, they've mostly been bad. Every team has its ebbs and flows, but the Rangers ebb much more often than flow.

The only other teams that have had this type of futile run are the Indians and Cubs. Not even the Red Sox qualify because despite their constant failures, they still fielded some very good teams.

But one reason they are lovable losers is there doesn't ever seem to be much hope of winning.

Most successful teams are centered on pitching. Pitching is one reason teams put together an unexpected season or are good for a number of years. They build their team around a solid core of starters.

The Rangers never seem to be able to do that. Whether it's the hot summers, a small ballpark, or poor drafting, the Rangers are infamous for their ineptness on the mound.

Even the three years the Rangers won in the 90's, their ERAs were 4.66, 5.00, and 5.07. Their line-up was simply so good they out-slugged teams.

Yet, history tells us that very few teams win without good pitching.

This year's Rangers are no exception. They are 39-38 with an ERA of 4.94. There doesn't seem to be much hope that it will improve.

In the last few years, the Rangers traded away good pitching and replaced it with bad pitching. Chris Young was swapped for Adam Eaton. John Danks went to the White Sox for Brandon McCarthy. Volquez went in the Hamilton deal.

Until the team somehow figures out a way to develop quality pitching, they will continue to struggle. I'm hopeful they can, after all, I like the Rangers.

Fantasy Baseball: The Bane Of Baseball Traditionalists

Michael Pope — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:08:48 -0400

Rotoworld.com, fantasy baseball's leading website, receives thousands of hits a day. Fans rely on sites like these for updates on players, as well as tips on how to manage their fantasy teams.

It's big business, so much so that NBC Sports bought the company a few years ago. Columnists like Aaron Gleeman make a very good living writing about the hobby.

Gleeman is good at what he does. So are most of the fantasy reporters. Yet, their specialization is playing a game of numbers.

I don't know these writers' baseball backgrounds. I never researched them, nor have I seen it displayed in their credentials. For all I know they are casual fans who have neither the expertise of playing or coaching the sport to evaluate its players.

This wouldn't be a problem if they stuck to crunching numbers and playing hunches to make projections about which players will have a good year.

But these guys are churning out scouting reports and making predictions of which players will end up making it in the big leagues. Sure, some success can be derived from looking at a player's stat line. But are they qualified to evaluate a player's tools? Or are they simply forming this opinion from reading someone else's scouting report?

There's a big difference between the two. I'm certainly not saying I'm an expert. However, my two years on a college bench as an assistant coach and three years working in minor league front offices (I have one ring thanks to the 1996 West Michigan Whitecaps) gives me some hands-on experience.

Additionally, having discussed strategies, training methods, the draft process, and the intricacies of the game with players themselves, allows me to feel comfortable in expressing my opinion about which players based on talent or determination might be successful.

However, my discussions with scouts and watching them work keeps me in check and I realize there is a fine line between seeing obvious talent and recognizing hidden talent. It takes a special eye. That skill should be left to scouts and scouts alone, not fantasy baseball journalists.

Don't get me wrong, fantasy sports can be fun. But, listening to fantasy experts use general terms such as, "he has a low 90s fastball, plus slider and a developing change-up," doesn't cut it.

Then, they turn the spotlight on players who excel in as little as one of a few categories while marginalizing the overall contribution a player can make on the diamond.

Baseball is the consummate team sport, where it takes all 25 guys playing in congress to be successful. Players can contribute in so many ways that don't show up in the box score. But with fantasy baseball, the box score is the only thing that matters.

So, you have pundits opining that players should be released when a player doesn't hit enough home runs or steal enough bases.

But often in MLB, player values cannot be measured purely by quantitative methods. Frequently, rotoworld will denounce a manager for playing a player that seemingly has no value. They might question a manager for sticking with a player who is struggling.

There is a reason managers, coaches and scouts are in their positions: they know the game. They understand that the baseball season is a grind and it's important to have all the players pushing in the same direction.

They know that in the dugout, a respected player, no matter their batting average, is worth more than a player who can simply hit home runs.

But, in fantasy sports, since the box score is the only thing that counts and hard nosed players like David Eckstein, Reed Johnson or Jamey Carroll often have little fantasy value. But there is a reason teams keep bringing these players in and managers stick up for them. They know how to play the game.

It's frustrating to read fans or fantasy journalists call for a player's demotion or release because, "he's killing my fantasy team!" Baseball, and sports in general, is often about defying the odds and probabilities. In baseball, this can be accomplished with a sacrifice bunt, taking the extra base or calling for the proper pitches—things that mean little in fantasy leagues.

By placing more importance on the bottom line of home runs, steals, saves or strikeouts, it can detract from the enjoyment of watching the game.

Fantasy baseball is another way to enjoy the sport, and it has its place. But, when you use that as your basis for how the sport should be played or you determine player value from a fantasy perspective, it shows you don't really understand the game.

Carlos Zambrano Update: A Collective Sigh of Relief in the Windy City

Michael Pope — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:17:30 -0400

Cubs fans breathed a collective sigh of relief strong enough to flutter the flags above Wrigley Field and make the Windy City even windier on Friday.

That's because the MRI on Carlos Zambrano's shoulder came back showing no structural damage.

Many of the Cubs faithful believed their remarkable 2008 season depended on the health of their ace. Without him, it would be hard for this squad to remain the team to beat in the NL Central.

Zambrano is expected to miss his next start and will probably land on the DL in an effort to give his shoulder a rest. If that's the case, he should be back in time to make a start before the All-Star game.

The club would be wise to give him a break now to make it more likely he'll be strong for a run at the playoffs.

Beyond Ryan Dempster and his amazing return to the rotation, the rest of the Cubs rotation has been suspect. Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis have had their ups and downs and rookie Sean Gallagher is working on consistency. Former reliable option Rich Hill is toiling away in the minors working on more serious inconsistency issues. The club still needs to sort out which pitchers they can rely on for their stretch run.

If the Cubs are to end their century-long World Series drought and see one more flag fluttering above Wrigley, they'll need Big Z to help them raise it.

Mets Win despite Willie Randolph's Scare

Michael Pope — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:35:03 -0400

I'm not usually critical of major league managers. I figure their lifetime of experiences trump the five years I spent working in organized baseball.

However, today was my birthday and I was just trying to enjoy it. Willie Randolph made that difficult.

After the Mets stretched their lead to five runs in the top of the seventh against the Angels, Randolph allowed Mike Pelfrey to come back out for the bottom half of the inning.

I didn't really have a problem with this. He hadn't thrown that many pitches and had thrown well the two previous innings.

However, after he allowed a lead-off single, I figured he'd pitch until one more batter reached. But, after Gary Matthews fouled off fastball after fastball before drawing a 12-pitch walk, Pelfrey remained on the bump.

His pitch count was well over 110 and he looked tired. Yet, Randolph left him in to give up one more hit and add fuel to the mounting Angels rally.

This didn't make any sense.

In Pelfrey's last outing, he worked into the ninth with a three-run lead. He gave up a lead-off single and was promptly removed.

However, Pelfrey was in a groove that night and had his tailing fastball working as an out pitch. He hadn't allowed a run and struck out a career-high eight batters. I understand Randolph didn't want to ruin the strong outing by Pelfrey, but I felt if he wanted to feed the young man's confidence, he should have done so on a night when the righty had everything working.

Tonight, Pelfrey didn't have anything working to put guys away. He kept his ball down and relied on grounders and weak fly balls to get his outs. Once the seventh came, his fastball was up in the zone more and Angles hitters hit the ball harder.

It would have made sense to pull Pelfrey as quickly as his last outing. Six innings of three-run baseball is a solid performance for your fifth starter.

Did Randolph lack confidence in his relievers? Was he trying to build up the youngster's confidence?

My five years in baseball taught me that, unless you're in the dugout, you don't really know what's going on with the players or coaching staff.

But I didn't need a field-level view to see that Randolph's decision nearly cost the Mets this game, too.

Detroit Tigers Make a Statement and Restore the Roar

Michael Pope — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:15:16 -0400

Riding a seven-game win streak into Detroit, the Chicago White Sox had a chance to make a statement.

Instead, the Tigers made a statement of their own.

The struggling Tigers were 11 games behind their surging rivals, and they had yet to play as a fluid team. The pitching and defense were a mess, and the offense was very inconsistent. However, they found the right time to put it all together.

In the series against Chicago, Nate Robertson, Justin Verlander, and Kenny Rogers combined to allow five runs in 23.1 innings, while the bullpen, though rarely needed, was solid.

More importantly, Miguel Cabrera caught fire. He went 5-11 in the three games, with a series-stamping bottom-of-the-ninth walk-off homer. It's the big hit he needed. As Tigers' broadcaster Rod Allen put it, "This could be his coming out party."

And it could be the beginning of the Tigers' reemergence as contenders.

Manager Jim Leyland's shift of Carlos Guillen to third base and Miguel Cabrera to first seems to be paying off. The defense is making less errors, and recent call-ups such as Brent Clevlen have energized the field. His strong arm has slowed opposing teams from taking the extra base.

Similar to the consistency Armando Galarraga brought to the rotation, Freddy Dolsi has done the same for the bullpen. His power arm has cut short opposing rallies, and he has filled the void in the set-up role created by injuries.

But the Tigers can expect Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney, keys to the 2006 World Series team, to return soon. Both are on rehab assignments, and they will probably be back in the next two weeks to further solidify the bullpen.

If Cabrera is starting to turn it up, the pitching is sparking, and the bullpen is infused with Zumaya's heat, this team could get very hot.

Milton Bradley Journalistic Spin—Two Ways of Looking at the Latest Controversy

Michael Pope — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:00:08 -0400

Here's what Rotoworld paraphrased from a Dallas Morning News article about what happened with Milton Bradley after the Royals-Rangers game in which Bradley attempted to speak with Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre:

"As the Rangers' designated hitter, Bradley was able to watch the broadcast when he wasn't batting and took offense to a comparison Lefebrve made between him and Josh Hamilton. Manager Ron Washington and general manager Jon Daniels stopped Bradley before he got to Lefebvre, at which point Bradley returned to the clubhouse in tears. 'All I want to do is play baseball and make a better life for my kid than I had, that's it,' Bradley said. 'I love all you guys. I'm strong, but I'm not that strong.'"

And here is what appeared on the MLB website about the incident.

"...Earlier during Wednesday's game, he was in the clubhouse checking the video of one of his at-bats when he heard his name all of a sudden. Bradley shifted his attention to Lefebvre's voice on the TV. Lefebvre and his partner, Frank White, were talking about Josh Hamilton when Lefebvre called it a shame that Bradley hadn't turned his life around in a similar fashion. He went on to mention incidences of Bradley taunting fans and walking from the dugout to his position in right field.

"Bradley thought the comments were uncalled for and out of place. His thoughts turned to his mother, Charlena Rector, who he said was watching the game at home in Long Beach, Calif.

"Minutes after the game, Bradley stood in front of a desk outside the Royals' TV booth in a gray muscle shirt. In his words, this is what happened:

He asked the security guard at the desk if Lefebvre was up there. The security guard said no. Bradley saw Lefebvre straight ahead and told the security guard he'd wait for him. The conversation went down in a normal tone. Bradley said he wasn't angry.

'He never met me, so, when the game was over, I wanted to introduce myself to him,' Bradley said. 'Because it's amazing when you actually meet somebody how different they become.'"

I don't know Milton Bradley and I'm sure no one else who has been overly critical of him does either. He has done some stupid things and shown very poor judgement.

However, none of that explains the contradictions in these two representations.

One could argue rotoworld is being overly critical and persecuting the player on circumstantial evidence. Compare the news article to their blurb and you can find a few discrepancies.

On the other hand, could a similar argument be made that MLB.com isn't taking the incident serious enough and painting the ballplayer in a more favorable way?

Whatever the case, this points out how perspective isn't a tangible quality. It's a matter of perception and presentation from that perception.

Writers believe they are presenting facts and relaying a true representation of an event. But they forget how their portrayal influences the perceptions of their readers.

Therefore, readers should always keep in mind that the article is dripping opinion and most often isn't a carbon copy of actual events. It's one way of looking at something.

Writers should do their best to relay a balanced view.

In this case, it seems someone did a poor job.

Tampa Bay Rays Fight for Respect Against Boston Red Sox

Michael Pope — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:06:03 -0400

During the past decade of Red Sox-Yankee battles for AL East dominance, the Tampa Bay Rays were a joke. Now, the Rays want in on the fight.

Sure, Coco Crisp's hard slide on Akinori Iwamura Wednesday night started some jabbering between Rays manager Joe Maddon and the Red Sox outfielder. Just like James Shields' retaliatory beaning kicked off a wild brawl on the Fenway Park diamond Thursday night.

But with every Jonny Gomes haymaker, you got the sense this was about something deeper. Gomes was a part of many Rays teams that have been pushed around for years and brawled with the Red Sox before.

Over the last five seasons, the Red Sox have dominated the Rays with a 32-62 win/loss record. This year, they were 3-3 going into their series. The Rays led the division by a game and a half and were ready to prove themselves.

Instead, they dropped the first two games of the series and their grip on the AL East. But, they weren't ready to give up the fight.

So, as long-time Rays Gomes and Crawford piled on Crisp, it seemed that Crisp's slide evoked a culmination of a career's worth of frustration.

Shields was quoted as saying, "We’ve been getting stomped around the last 10 years and that’s not going to happen any more."

Time will tell if the Rays are truly ready to battle it out with the high payroll—high talent World Series Championship team.

But, so far this season, the Rays have proven one thing—they are fighting for respect in more ways than one between the lines.

Jair Jurrjens, Rookie of the Year?

Michael Pope — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:58:08 -0400

It's time to put Jair Jurrjens on your Rookie of the Year watch. It's still early, but as the talk begins to swirl, let's not leave this guy behind.

With all the banter surrounding the hot starts of Clayton Kershaw, Jay Bruce, and Max Scherzer, Jurrjens has been lost in the crowd.

Brought over from Detroit in the Edgar Renteria deal, Jurrjens came without much fanfare. But, despite his less-than-spectacular 4.70 ERA last year, he threw four very solid outings at the end of the year.

Earning a spot in the Braves rotation this spring, Jurrjens has won five, lost three and thrown six quality starts. His Memorial Day outing was the only really rough start for him this year, in which he allowed three earned runs over four innings.

He doesn't have the electric stuff of the other two pitchers mentioned earlier, but he gets the job done on the ground. His low-90s fastball and changeup both have sink and his ground ball tendencies are key to his success.

Players without sick home-run or strikeout totals don't get noticed nearly as much. But, the Braves' hot start hasn't come simply because Chipper Jones.

This team has been winning because of its pitching. While Tim Hudson leads the team with seven wins, it can be argued that Jurrjens has been their most consistent starter.

At the end of the year, things may look a lot different than they do right now. But through the first two months of the season, Jurrjens has earned his place among the NL's top rookies.

Marlins, Phillies, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers—Who Has Top NL Bullpen?

Michael Pope — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:05:41 -0400

This is the second installment of a look into the best MLB bullpens. Leave a comment about which team you think has the best bullpen. Let's jump right in and take a look at the pens.

FLORIDA MARLINS: 10 - 7 with 10 saves 3.15 ERA

Kevin Gregg is the closer and has picked up all 10 saves with a 2.39 ERA. His command hasn't been great and he doesn't strike out a ton of guys, but he doesn't give up many hits and has only surrendered 1 home run.

The strength of this pen lies in lefty Renyel Pinto and Doug Waechter. Doug Waechter? Yeah, the failed Rays starter has resurfaced a little further South and has turned his career around. In his 14 games, he's allowed just 24 base-runners in 26.2 IP while striking out 21. His 1.35 ERA is the same as Pinto's.

Renyel has allowed an alarming 21 walks in 33 innings, but has only allowed 18 hits. He's been a workhorse, appearing in just over half the team's games.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: 14 - 7 with 14 saves 2.81 ERA

Brad Lidge is back. He's pitched one inning each time out and allowed earned runs in 2 of his 22 games. His control hasn't been stellar with 11 walks, but he's also allowed only 11 hits while striking out 26.

JC Romero has continued his turnaround from a dreadful 2006 with a 1.33 ERA. He allows too many base-runners but only three runners have stomped on home plate against him.

Most surprising has been the work of Chad Durbin. His ERA stands at 1.89 despite allowing plenty of base-runners.

CHICAGO CUBS: 9 - 9 with 16 saves 3.15 ERA

In the Spring, Kerry Wood seized the closer role, but not without controversy. After allowing three runs on opening day, there were plenty of questions whether it was the right move. Since then, Wood has proved the closer role is perfect for him.

His 3.25 ERA is a little high, but much of that can be attributed to that first game. Wood's command has improved in short innings and he's picked up 12 saves, struck out 29 in 27.1 innings and walked only five.

But the reason this bullpen dominates is Carlos Marmol. He's simply been the most dominant reliever in baseball. Marmol has already thrown 33 innings in 26 games but he hasn't shown much wear. He's allowed just 14 hits and has struck out 47.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS: 13 - 4 with 9 saves 2.95 ERA

Takashi Saito has nasty stuff and his numbers reflect that fact. Twenty-six strikeouts in 22.2 innings with only seven walks and 18 hits allowed. He only has eight saves, but has won three games.

Joe Beimel and Hong-Chih Kuo, both with three wins, are two lefties who have surprised with their dominance. Beimel's ERA of 1.13 has come as a situational guy, but Kuo has been the long guy who's kept his team in games the starter has left early. His 2.32 ERA is very good, but doesn't reflect how dominant he's been with 38 K's and only 9 walks in 31 innings.

Chan Ho Park hasn't been dominant and has allowed 43 base-runners in 30.1 innings, against only 13 strikeouts, but it's hard to argue with his 2.37 ERA.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: 3 - 9 with 14 saves 3.38 ERA

Brandon Lyon is an unlikely closer with his lack of eye-popping stuff. Yet, he's picked up 12 saves and sports a 1.64 ERA. His success comes from control as he's allowed only 2 walks in 22 innings.

The rest of the staff has been very consistent. None of Qualls, Pena, Cruz or Slaten has an ERA under 2.92, but none has over a 3.75 ERA either.

Neither Qualls nor Cruz has shown great control, but both have gotten plenty of strikeouts and tend to dominate.

Max Scherzer has thrown just three games in the pen so far, but has been simply lights out. In eight innings, he's allowed one walk, two hits and has struck out twelve.

So, there they are. Which team do you think has the best bullpen in the NL? Leave a comment and let us know!

Detroit Tigers In Trouble: What Can Mike Ilitch Do?

Michael Pope — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:31:05 -0400

Mike Ilitch is widely regarded as one of the better owners in sports. His Detroit Red Wings are in control of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals and have been on top for over a decade.

They're the New York Yankees of hockey. They consistently sell out Joe Louis Arena with All-Star lineups and fat payrolls. All the while Ilitch sits quietly in the background and enjoys the success.

His Detroit Tigers are another story. For years, Ilitch entrusted his team to an incompetent GM while he learned the baseball business.

Finally, Ilitch figured it out: Follow his hockey model.

So after years of floundering, he hired Dave Dombrowski, one of the most revered GM's in the sport.

He infused the Montreal Expos organization with tons of talent that, because of payroll issues, other teams enjoyed after dealing for them.

He quickly built the World Series Champion Florida Marlins team that won in 1997 and brought in most of the key pieces to the 2003 championship squad.

Then he was brought to Detroit. He was at the helm for the embarrassing 43-119 season, but within three years had the team in the World Series.

Also, the minor league organization was the envy of almost every other MLB franchise. It looked like the Tigers were ready to be one of the most competitive teams for the next decade.

During the 2007 offseason, Ilitch approached Dombrowski about picking up one final piece that could be the face of this new franchise, Miguel Cabrera.

it hasn't worked out. The team is struggling 10 games under .500 and everyone keeps expecting them to take off. Yet, every time they get their sail up, it gets knocked back down. More than 50 games into the season, the Tigers look like the most disappointing team of 2008.

So, what's Ilitch to do? He has one of the highest team payrolls. He has one of the most respected GM's in the game. He has Jim Leyland, considered a master leader and brilliant baseball mind. He has All-Star players in Sheffield, Ordonez, Polanco, Guillen, Granderson, Pudge and Cabrera.

If he fires Dombrowski, that sets this team back, and the new GM can only dismantle by dealing off the veterans, which will set them back a few years. If he fired Leyland, you can forget about this season, as the veterans would jump ship.

The time is now for this team to win, but Ilitch can only sit back and hope it all comes together, or he'll lose fans again.

Kaz Matsui, Now Carlos Guillen? Why MLB Needs to Add Fiber to Clubhouse Meals.

Michael Pope — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:31:05 -0400

Gone are the days of pre-and post-game meals consisting solely of concession stand leftovers—hot dogs, pizza, cheeseburgers, potato chips, and corn dogs.

Now, players are pampered with catered meals such as eggs, waffles, sausage, grilled chicken and fish, turkey burgers, burritos, rice, and pasta dishes.

It is a more nutritious diet, designed to provide their bodies with healthy foods that will keep them strong and able to perform on the field.

But, in this age of strength and power, is the focus simply on building and keeping muscle? If so, players are most likely focusing on eating a high-protein diet.

One negative side effect of a high-protein diet? Constipation.

Earlier this season, Kaz Matsui missed significant time after surgery to repair an anal fissure.

Then tonight, Tigers announcer Jim Price mentioned some of Carlos Guillen's difficulties this season may be the result of his battle with discomfort due to hemorrhoids.

Anyone who has experienced this embarrassing affliction knows how distracting they can be.

Until I radically changed my diet, I had them from time to time. Often, I'd run to the bathroom to check for blood. I needed to apply cream to hold down the swelling and help take away the sting. It was hard to concentrate, but I certainly couldn't tell anyone why I avoided sitting and when I did sit, I did so gingerly and with a wince.

It is estimated problematic hemorrhoids are common in over 30 million Americans a year.

Doctors recommend changing your diet and eating habits as the number one way to prevent hemorrhoids.

Hearing of two players affected by hemorrhoids makes me wonder—how many more players suffer from them?

Today's players have amenities athletes have never known before: Whirlpools, massages, couches and recliners, laptop hook-ups in their lockers, personal trainers paid for by their bulging bank accounts.

With all the specialization in baseball, maybe it's time someone paid attention to higher fiber diets and offer those in the new baseball clubhouses.

Joba Chamberlain's Switch: Yankee Experiment or Old-School Hardball?

Michael Pope — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:42:47 -0400

How soon we forget. New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay more than once during Saturday’s game said Joba Chamberlain's transition to the rotation was "an experiment," and "something the Yankees haven't tried before."

It may not be something the current Yankee coaching staff has attempted, but this is certainly not a new concept.

Until a generation ago it was common to break pitchers in as middle relievers. Chuck Finley did it. So did Jimmy Key. Pedro Martinez did too. Many young pitchers were brought up to get their feet wet in the middle innings.

Granted, it wasn’t as common to make the switch during the season, but it certainly happened often.

Curt Schilling made a Joba type switch in 1992. After 16 relief appearances, his last a 42 pitch effort, Schilling went on to make 26 starts, completing ten.

In fact, the man sitting next to Kay in the broadcast booth, former MLB pitcher David Cone, began his career in the pen.

“When I broke in,” Cone told Kay, “I broke in as a middle reliever. It’s a great way to break in as a starter because you can monitor them better.”

In 1988, Cone started off spending all of April in middle relief, throwing 66 pitches in his last appearance before being shifted to the rotation.

In his first start on May 3rd of '88, Cone threw 114 pitches in a complete-game shutout. He never made another relief appearance that year.

Cone started 27 games, threw three more shutouts, threw under 100 pitches just four times, and went 18-3 as a starter.

During his career, he was the guy World Series-caliber teams wanted starting for them.

Although Joe Girardi never caught Cone as a reliever, he has been around this type of switch before.

In 1992 Girardi was the starting catcher when Jim Bulllinger was called up to the Chicago Cubs at the end of May. He remained there for 30 appearances until being summoned to the rotation in mid-August, and made nine starts the rest of the way.

The next year, Girardi was the catcher when Willie Blair started the year as a reliever, making 20 appearances. In the tune-up for his first start, Blair needed just six pitches to complete one inning. Four days later, he threw 127 pitches over nine innings of one run ball. He started 17 more games.

Many are of the opinion that Joba should stay in the bullpen. They believe success lies in moving from starter to reliever but not the other direction.

History tells a different story.

However you slice it, starting pitchers are more valuable than relievers, even in this age of specialized bullpen roles. Starters can make more of an impact as they can potentially shut down the opposition for an entire game.

Joba wants to start. The Yankees want him to start. He spent all of his baseball career as a starter except last year. Joba is a starter who broke in as a reliever and now is the time for him to get his shot at the Yankee rotation.

Don't forget, as Cone put it, "If it doesn't work out you can always move him back."

Maple Bat Threat: Is MLB Waiting too Long to Act?

Michael Pope — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:11:45 -0400

In 2005, while pitching for the Nashville Sounds, former big-league pitcher Rick Helling was impaled in his left arm by a piece of broken bat. He was taken to the hospital and his injuries were not life threatening.

In 2006, umpire Jerry Layne was struck in the side of the head by Hanley Ramirez's shattered bat. He laid on the field for several minutes before being loaded on a cart and taken off the field.

In 2007, a female spectator was struck above her right eye by shards of the broken bat of Humberto Cota. She was taken to the medical room for treatment but her injuries were not considered serious.

Earlier this year, Pirates hitting coach Don Long was struck in the cheek by shattered bat fragments, while sitting in the dugout.

Tonight, Orioles announcer Gary Thorne was paraphrasing Rays manager Joe Maddon when he said, "There is nothing right about a maple bat. They've got to go."

Watching almost any ball game today, you'll hear a similar mantra from MLB announcers. Maple bats, much more common since the turn of the century, break more frequently and violently. Something needs to be done before someone gets speared by the hurling remains of a shattered bat and is seriously injured.

While MLB has passed stricter drug policies recently, it also instituted "speed up" rules to increase the pace of the game by making coaches run on and off the field.

Yet, measures have only been proposed towards addressing the issue of bats. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expressed concern about maple bats, but stated it was "very premature" to do anything about them now.

What are they waiting for? What more evidence does MLB need to confirm bats are breaking more frequently and are causing injuries?

Is this like steroids where the problem went unchecked for years, and the handwriting was on the proverbial wall before a slap on the wrist was established?

Let's hope not. The player's union and the Commissioner's office should get together and resolve this issue before more injuries occur.

Twins-Rangers: Bobby Korecky Does It All In 11-Inning Win

Michael Pope — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:45:59 -0400

For one night at least, Bobby Korecky was a star.

In a tie game in the top of the 11th and after Juan Rincon loaded the bases with one out, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire called upon the rookie to try and get out of the jam.

Pitching in only his sixth game, Korecky battled Ian Kinsler to a 3-2 count before getting the second baseman to pop out weakly to right field. The next batter, Michael Young, struck out swinging to end the inning.

Then, with one out in the bottom of the 11th, Korecky came to the plate because Gardenhire earlier had to shift his designated hitter, Brendan Harris, to shortstop, nullifying the DH. The Twins had no position players left to pinch-hit.

Korecky lined the first pitch he saw, a 95-mph fastball, into right field between first and second for his first major-league hit. Soon, Korecky was on third base ready to score the winning run, but the Twins couldn't get the key hit and Korecky went back out to the bump.

He faced the heart of the Texas lineup. Major league RBI leader Josh Hamilton popped weakly to short, cleanup hitter Milton Bradley grounded out to second and rookie RBI leader David Murphy struck out swinging.

The Twins put together a rally and with Livan Hernandez, an experienced hitting pitcher, on deck to pinch hit for Korecky, Howie Clark lined one over the centerfielder's head to push the winning run across the plate. With his first big league hit in hand he also picked up his first big league win.

If Clark hadn't gotten that hit, would Gardenhire have called back Livan and let Korecky try for his second hit of the game?

I would have. It just seemed like his night.

Joe Mauer vs. Mark Prior: Drafting the Position Player, Not the Pitcher

Michael Pope — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:24:48 -0400

In 10 years, if his name happens to come up, your kids might ask, "Who's Mark Prior?" That's because recent further setbacks have it looking like Mr. Prior won't ever contribute much to the Major Leagues.

On the other hand, they won't have to ask, "Who's Joe Mauer?" because they'll know. Mauer is putting together a career that will have many talking about him for years after he hangs up his gear.

At one time, these two were part of a torrid debate. The Minnesota Twins held the first pick of the 2001 draft, and it was apparent one of the two would be chosen with it.

Should the small-market club take the 6'5" California pitcher with a chance to win immediately in the majors, or should it select the 6'5" high school catcher with a flawless swing? There was a catch with each of them.

Mauer was a local kid from St. Paul whom Twins fans would have no problem rooting for. That wouldn't hurt making him what many considered a signability pick. However, Prior was known to have huge bonus demands, and signing him would certainly be a circus. In the end, the Twins went with the local product.

Mauer received the highest bonus given out that year—a $5.15 million deal—six weeks after the draft. He went to rookie ball and hit .400 in 32 games.

Prior went to the Cubs with the second pick, receiving a $4 million dollar bonus. However, Prior commanded and received a five-year major league contract worth $10.5 million dollars. He signed five weeks after Mauer but missed out pitching in the 2001 season.

Prior was in the Cubs rotation the next year, though, winning six games and showing unbelievable stuff. Mauer was moving up the minor league ladder, hitting .302 at Low-A ball.

The next year, Prior had his only dominant season, as he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and helped the Cubs make a serious run at the World Series. He was looking like a true ace, but had made his second trip to the disabled list. Meanwhile, Mauer was climbing another rung and showing off his hitting prowess with a .340 average between High-A and AA.

Prior showed more fragility in 2004 and his numbers, though solid, were showing effects of his recurring injuries. Mauer made the Twins out of spring training but also suffered a serious injury. He spent most of the season on the DL with a torn meniscus in his knee, playing in just 35 games.

It's here we can use the cliche, "Injuries are a part of the game." Both Mauer and Prior sustained serious injuries to parts of their bodies that could seriously affect how they played their respective positions.

A pitcher with a torn ligament in his elbow or a tear in his rotator cuff can't throw a baseball very effectively. Yet a catcher with a tear in the cartilage of his knee can't squat three hours a night.

Mauer was back in 2005, hitting .294 and playing in 131 games, catching 116. Prior also came back and made 27 starts, posting a solid 11-7 record with a 3.67 ERA. Despite his injury, Mauer was making an impact in nearly five times as many games at a key position.

As Mauer was winning a batting title in 2006 and playing in 140 games, Prior was struggling with a 1-6 record in 9 games. He hasn't thrown a major league pitch since.

Injuries are a part of the game. But these players show that an arm injury to a pitcher can be much more devastating to his career than a knee injury to a catcher.

These guys also illustrate that this game isn't just about money. It's mostly about money. And teams that use their money wisely, whether they have a little or lot of it, will be successful.

The Twins made a sound baseball decision in 2001 and they've fielded a competitive team since then; selecting Joe Mauer has been one of the main reasons why.

Jacque Jones Leaves Detroit for Contending Marlins—Who Would Have Thought?

Michael Pope — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:52:46 -0400

The Marlins have signed Jacque Jones. During the offseason, you wouldn't have been hard pressed to find someone who thought Jones would be playing for a contender this year.

But, who would have thought it would be with the first place Marlins instead of the last place Tigers. Sure, things may and probably will turn around, but right now that's reality.

The Tigers couldn't wait for Jones to come around—they were losing at an alarmingly high rate, and he stunk. So, they parted ways with him barely an eighth into the season.

Meanwhile, the Marlins have incomprehensibly been winning and winning. It should prove to be a wise signing.

While other teams spend heftily in the offseason to bring in pieces they hope will help them contend, the Marlins wait to reap the rewards of signing a quality player at a major league minimum of the price.

Make no mistake—Jones was terrible. But is he this bad? He still plays average defense, and he gives the Marlins another left handed bat. He can play all three outfield positions and adds veteran leadership.

Don't forget, Jones was an integral part of the small market Twins' winning ways. Will he turn it around and turn in another strong second half?

They'll be paying him less than they will Alfredo Amezaga to find out.

Nate Robertson, Kenny Rogers, Armando Galarraga: Who's Your Ex-Detroit Tiger?

Michael Pope — Sun, 18 May 2008 10:29:14 -0400

The Tigers have been running an advertising campaign since last season that they call, "Who's your Tiger?" It seemed like a smart campaign.

Most fans have a favorite player to root for, but in the modern revolving door era of free agency, it has sometimes been difficult for fans to identify with their hometown team.

The Tigers have been shooting for stability and assembled a core group they planned to keep around for the next few years—years in which they expect to contend.

So one could hardly fault them for cutting Jacque Jones in late April after he was brought in this year, but then proceeded to get off to an embarrassing start. He probably wasn't anyone's Tiger.

But, the Tigers' brass has a much tougher decision coming up soon.

One of the young players they locked up this offseason with a three-year, $29 million deal—Dontrelle Willis—has been on the disabled list after making only two starts. Neither of those starts went very well.

In fact, not many Tiger starts have gone well.

Of the projected starting rotation, only Jeremy Bonderman (4.76) has an ERA under six. The only starter throwing well is the guy who took over when Willis went out: Armando Galarraga.

Galarraga leads the team in wins (three), and ERA (3.06). He also has four quality starts in six tries. In fact, the team has won five of his six starts.

In games not started by Galarraga, their record is 12-25. Ugly.

So, what do the Tigers do after Willis threw well in his third rehabilitation start?

Most often, teams call up a guy to fill in, then send him down despite how well he's pitching. But the Tigers can hardly afford to send down their best pitcher to date.

You could look at Kenny Rogers' 6.65 ERA, his expiring contract, and his 43 years as reasons to send him packing. But Rogers is tied with Galarraga in quality starts, and the team is 4-5 in games he's started.

He may be a candidate to go, but he's a crafty lefty and usually keeps his team in the game.

So, what should the Tigers do?

They won't cut Verlander or Bonderman. That leaves Nate Robertson.

The team has been waiting for Robertson to be a consistent starter for years. Only once, in 2006, has he been a reliable performer. This year he's been awful.

Opponents are hitting .304 against him. He's 1-4, and has spun off only one quality start, yet that was in his last trip to the hill.

Until now, he has been consistent—consistently bad—giving up at least four runs in seven-straight starts to open the season.

Unless he turns it around in his next outing, he could be on his way out, no longer able to be anyone's Tiger.