Bleacher Report - Articles by Avery Decker

Phil Hughes Is the Nicest Ballplayer on the Planet

Avery Decker — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:21:19 -0400

"My Phil Hughes Story From this past week."

Having visited my cousin earlier this week, I had an amazing experience in the baseball world right in good ol' Pennsylvania. My brother and I decided to go see a Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees game, and of course, every fan knows who is rehabbing there right now: Phillip Hughes!

My brother and I got to the game very early in order to scout the place out and talked to one of the coaches—whose autograph we did get. Thinking about Bleacher Report, I asked him where Phil Hughes was and he said, "Hughes is possibly doing the radar gun behind home plate."

My brother and I walked away laughing and nodding to each other, thinking there was no-way that a big name player like Phil could be sitting with the fans doing the radar gun—that would just be chaos.

Thinking that it can't hurt, we looked behind home plate to see if Hughes was there before the game started, and he wasn't. So we waited for him. I walked to the concession stand while my brother waited in the seats right behind home plate.

When I got back to my seat, I didn't see my brother or where he was so, I called him on the cell. He then told me he was sitting right behind home plate.

I walked down to those seats and saw him sitting there. He then slowly leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, "Don't look now, but Phil Hughes is sitting right in front of us."

I had to process the thought in my mind for a second before I looked.

Sure enough, sitting two seats in front of us was Phil Hughes, with a radar gun in his hand. I couldn't believe it. The guy, whom I have seen so much on TV, and on my baseball cards, was sitting right in front of me.

Eventually my brother and I talked to him and got a whole bunch of autographs and took a picture with him.

He was one of the nicest guys that I have ever met, and after the game, there was a mob of people that came over to get autographs.

As the stadium emptied out, he sat in his seat and signed autographs and signed every card, ball, bat, and shirt shoved in his face. He would have been there all night signing if the police hadn't come and escorted him to the locker room.

Phillip Hughes was a great guy to talk to and learn from. He sets a great example for baseball players everywhere. If you are getting paid millions of dollars a year at the expense of the fans coming to see you play, you should give back.

Nothing puts a smile on a fan's face like going home with a signed baseball, which they are clenching in their hot clammy hands. All baseball players should be as gracious as Hughes and do the same for fans.

Without the fans of MLB, players would not be able to get paid millions of dollars a year.

So readers, remember that the players should give back, because without fans, there is no baseball.

David Price Will Keep the Tampa Bay Rays Atop the AL East

Avery Decker — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:17:04 -0400

After many years of the Rays' (or Devil Rays) reign of defeat in the AL East, it seems as if the future is looking bright.

I don't know how you can't disagree with this.

2008 though, is not their year. I have no doubt that the Rays will make the postseason this year, but will lose due to lack of experience.

The Rays in the future are going to have a solid team, built off of young players that the Rays have gathered through their past seasons of defeat. Not only do the Rays have Scott Kazmir, James Shields, and Andy Sonnanstine in their rotation, but soon, you will be seeing another guy, and the American League will pay the price.

The person I am speaking of was the first-overall pick in the 2007 draft. A left-handed SP named David Price. This guy is tearing it up the minor leagues. So far in 2008, this guy is 4-0 in six starts. His ERA is sitting at a low 1.82, and he has a WHIP of 1.01.

This guy is nothing but talent. He has given up only seven ERs in six starts. Did I mention this is only at single-A ball?

In AA, Price kept up his impressiveness. He went 6-0 in eight games with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. I can't wait to see this guy in the majors, helping lead the future Rays.

I mean, how do you not see the Rays winning the World Series in the near future, especially with a pitching staff consisting of Kazmir, Price, and Shields as their top three?

Then, look at their offense.

The Rays have Carlos Pena playing at first base, a great power hitter. At second, you have the oh-so-underrated Akinori Iwamura. At SS, the Rays are weak, where they consist of a mix of players, including Jonny Gomes. At third, you have the future 2008 AL ROY, Evan Longoria.

Their OF consists of B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford, and Eric Hinske, who are all solid on offense and defense. If you can give me a good reason, besides experience, why the Rays will not be a dominant team in the near future, please let me know.

Who Is That?: The 10 Most Underrated Players in Fantasy Baseball

Avery Decker — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:24:55 -0400

In fantasy baseball, usually the big stars will go first and then the semi-stars and so on. But there are a number of players who are just not looked at as stars in fantasy. Sure they are in the MLB, but they still fall down to those low picks in drafts.

Today, I will list the 10 most underrated players in fantasy baseball today. Some of the names you may be very aware of, but others may surprise you. Tell me what you think...

1) Akinori Iwamura—this guy has been putting up steady numbers all year and has not slowed or sped up. A solid and dependable guy.

2) Yadier Molina—catcher is not an easy whole to fill and after Mauer, Mccann, and Martinez, there is a major drop off. This guy has been to the post season and has a ring. He is a leader and is currently batting over .300, but is always overlooked.

3) Pat Burrell—I feel that whenever I have a fantasy draft, Burrell is just forgotten. He drops to at the earliest, the 20th round. He should clearly be drafted earlier.

4) Josh Hamilton—I know he has only been around for two fantasy drafts. But he is drafted so late. He went in the 22nd round in my draft this year, and the 25th last year.

5) Todd Helton—He always puts up consistent numbers. I guess since first base is not very hard to fill, he falls late in drafts.

6) Chien-Ming Wang—I feel that he always falls to at least the 15th round and for someone who has had multiple 19-win seasons, he's a usually dependable and healthy guy, except this year.

7) Ken Griffey Jr.—I feel that Griffey puts up pretty solid numbers every year. I guess he falls because he is so injury prone.

8) Aaron Rowand—This guy always does well for the Phillies, not to mention he has excellent defense, not that defense counts.

9) Rich Harden—this guy battled injuries last year and this year, but he has great stuff when he is healthy.

10) Gary Matthews Jr.—This guy has great numbers, he puts up usually about 25 home runs a season and usually gets at least 90 RBI.

Anyone else you guys can think of?

Joba Chamberlain Adds to New York Yankees' Pitching Staff Woes

Avery Decker — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:06:09 -0400

Today, Aug. 4, 2008, Joba Chamberlain started a game for the Yankees against the Texas Rangers. He gave up five ERs and left the game in the fifth. No one realized.

After throwing a pitch, it appeared that only Girardi and the Yankees' trainer saw a sign that made them think Joba may be hurt.

A surprised group of people stared as Joba was examined on the mound, with the whole infield watching, too. The same thought ran through everyone's head, "Another one bites the dust."

The Yankees, this year, have seen pitchers go down for different reasons.

Where is Roger Clemens? He is shadowed by steroid allegations, as is Pettitte. Chien-Ming Wang was hurt running the bases, of all things, and that made Hank Steinbrenner blow up.

Hank Steinbrenner always needs someone or something to blame. In this case, he blamed the National League for not coming into the "new age" and having a DH.

I can't believe him. He disgusts me. Anyone else?

Then, of course, in the midst of a no-hitter last year, the great young prospect Phillip Hughes goes down with a pulled hamstring on a change-up to Mark Teixeira. This injury kept him out for an extended period of time, and now, this year, he is out with a broken rib.

Now we have Joba. The last thing that the Yankees need is Joba going on the DL. Maybe not even the DL, but just not pitching the way he has been. The official diagnosis on Joba is stiffness in his throwing shoulder. The Yankees are uncertain whether he will make his next scheduled start. The Yankees will be cautious with the young 22-year old.

All I know is that the Yankees have some of the weakest pitching in baseball right now, and they have no shot at the postseason without at least one solid starter.

I guess you can call Moose a solid starter, but I wouldn't. I don't really think the Yanks have a shot anyway, but without Joba, or any other pitcher they are missing, they don't stand a chance.

ALL I CAN SAY IS: LET'S GO RAYYS!!!!!!! LET'S GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! LET'S GO RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mets vs. Phillies: What Top Three Sluggers Would You Rather Have?

Avery Decker — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:13:55 -0400

In baseball, there are a lot of rivalries like the Cubs and Cardinals, Yankees and Red Sox, and the Mets and Phillies.

The Phillies and the Mets have a lot in common and have a lot of stars and All-Stars on their teams. Thinking about which team is better, it led me to think about who the best sluggers are on each team. I figured for the Mets, Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran and for the Phillies, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins.

This made me think about which three I would rather have. Disregarding the positions that they play, who would you rather have based on offensive production and defense?

I would match them up. I think that I would rather have Jose Reyes over Jimmy Rollins. I think Rollins' production is impressive, but who can pass up the best leadoff hitter in baseball to Rollins. Rollins is more of a power hitter which the Mets already have in Wright, Beltran, and Delgado.

I would rather have Ryan Howard instead of Carlos Beltran. Beltran is past his prime and Howard is at the beginning of his career and has shown me that he can be one of the best and biggest power hitters in baseball, not that he isn't already. What do you guys think about it? Please comment and let me know.

Can Parts of Your Fantasy Team Be Built Around Rookies?

Avery Decker — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:33:03 -0400

When it comes to fantasy drafts for MLB, people look to build their teams around alot of big name players.

They like to have big name hitters like Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols; big name pitchers like Marriano Rivera, Johan Santana, and Brandon Webb.

But if you draft a lot of big name hitters or pitchers early, is it bad to build your pitching rotation or outfield of rookies and young players.

I know in my fantasy draft this year, I took some big names like David Wright and Ryan Howard. I drafted a lot of early hitters and then took some late round young guys.

I built most of my pitching around a bunch of young guys.

I took pitchers like Tim Lincicum and Fausto Carmona.

Then later I came back with guys like Mark Hendrickson, Edinson Volquez, and Andy Sonnanstine.

Even later in the draft, I built a lot of my bench around some rookies such as Jay Bruce and Evan Longoria.

People did not draft then, because of the fact that they would start the season in Triple-A.

They came up and are new the two top contenders for Rookie of The Year.

I also went after semi-young guys like BJ Upton and Brandon Phillips.

I don't know about you guys, but I feel that if you scout and pick the right guys, drafting rookies and young guys are a good way to get great talent late in your fantasy drafts.

Why Josh Hamilton Is The Future Of Baseball

Avery Decker — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:21:51 -0400

The story of Josh Hamilton goes back awhile. After being one of the few first overall picks to be drafted straight out of Raleigh, NC's High School, he quickly moved through the D-Rays farm system.

I saw him play for the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Single A affiliate of the Rays in the NY-Penn League. Then Hamilton had a major set back in his young life. Drugs were to blame.

Drugs destroyed Hamilton's career for a few years. He became an alcoholic and was addicted to many other "hard" drugs, the main one being heroin. He was finally reinstated into the league in 2004, where he once again made his way through the farm system.

Hamilton had many restrictions though that were assigned to him by the D-Rays. Rules such as he must always be with a team mate, he must not have more than $20 on him, and he must not drink. Hamilton has been sober since his reinstatement in '04.

Hamilton started to look like the first overall pick that the D-Rays had hoped for. A bad move by the D-Rays sent Josh to the Reds where he played in 2006. He did decent but did not yet emerge as a star player, and was still re-adjusting to baseball again.

In 2007, he continued his adjustment to baseball with the Reds. In the off season between the 2007 and 2008 season, a huge trade went down which sent Josh Hamilton to the Rangers in exchange for Edinson Volquez.

Edinson is having a great 2008 season, but I would have much rather had Hamilton. Hamilton is tearing up the 2008 season. Batting over .300, while leading the AL in home runs at most times.

He is in the running for the triple crown, which would make him forever remembered in baseball history; not that his amazing 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby didn't already do that.

Anyway, I do not care who your favorite team is. I don't care if your a Rays, Reds, Astros, Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox or any other teams biggest fan. Josh Hamilton is a player who should be liked throughout baseball.

Maybe you don't need to like him, but you have no choice to respect him. He has experienced the all time lows and now the all time highs in life. And i think the highs have beaten the lows in Josh Hamilton's future...

The New York Yankees: Who Should Be Pitching the Subway Series

Avery Decker — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:58:02 -0400

The New York Yankees have the highest salary of any team in the MLB. Brian Cashman, the GM of this great franchise tries to make the Yankees as good as they can be. You would think with a huge team salary, he would be able to go out and buy players, what the Yankees do best.

But the Yankees and Brian Cashman should be ashamed of themselves.

This franchise, with all the money they will ever need, has a terrible pitching staff. Yes, you cannot blame them because Wang went down. Big deal. Yes, he's good, but you have to get over it.

The Yankees then have Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte. Two pitchers who are way past the prime of their careers. Yes, Mussina got off to a good start this season, but do you think it's going to continue? And Andy Pettitte? I have nothing to say about a man who uses steroids. He used them, and he is still horrible.

Then, against the Mets this weekend, the Yankees throw these guys onto the field. The first game on Friday was thrown by Dan Geise. Who? Yes, Dan Geise. Game two on Friday was thrown by the drunk of baseball, Sidney Ponson, who pitched well, but it was one game. On Saturday, the Yankees will have Pettitte throw, and then Sunday the Yankees will go with Darrel Rasner.

The Yankees need to be throwing better pitchers out there. You can't keep having Geise, Rasner, and Ponson be everyday pitchers. The Yankees will not survive the season with those three as regular starters.

The only good starter the Yankees really have is Joba Chamberlain. But the Yankees cannot lean on him to carry the team; he is still new to starting games.

I think the New York Yankees and Brian Cashman should be utterly humiliated and embarrassed.