Bleacher Report - Articles by Strike Three

Look on the Bright Side...at Least You're Not a White Sox Fan

Strike Three — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:11:15 -0400

I have nothing against the White Sox. I’ve been to that new stadium of theirs, and it was really nice. Carlos Quentin played on my fantasy team last year and was great until he broke his own hand. Their manager is really funny in a “glad he does not run my team” sort of way, and I think they won the World Series a few year ago.

But I have to admit, sometimes it is fun to laugh at another’s misfortune. And from that perspective, this has to be one of the worst and, therefore, one of the funniest days in White Sox history (I would say the worst, but this is, after all, a team that threw the 1919 World Series).

I mean, which is more painful? Losing 20-1 at home to the Twins or having Jake Peavy say “thanks, but no thanks” to a trade proposal.

Imagine that you are Jake Peavy: “So, the deals say I drop my no-trade clause and agree to leave Southern California to live in Chicago and play for a team that actually has a worse record than the bankrupt Padres. Oh, and I would have to play in the American League, despite the fact that I have said over and over and over again that I am strictly a National League guy. Hmmm…let me think about that one. What? Twenty to one? Right. Can someone please call the Dodgers?”

Maybe Peavy will have a change of heart (or a head injury) and decide to go to Chicago after all. Great, we all get to watch one of the greatest pitchers on the planet pitch his team to a .500 record. Much better than having him inserted into an actual pennant race.

Or, maybe he will publicly state that he would love to pitch in Chicago, for the Cubs.

Now that would be hilarious.

Brian McCann Suspended 50 Games for Using Performance Enhancing Device (Humor)

Strike Three — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:37:35 -0400

MLB is reporting that Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann has been suspended 50 games for violation of the Joint Commission Policy on the Use of performing enhancing devices.

Although the exact nature of the violation has not been released, a source close to the situation revealed that McCann has been seen wearing glasses during recent games. The glasses were first seen in the May 8 game in Philadelphia. They were eventually confiscated by MLB, and extensive testing revealed that the glasses did indeed contain corrective lenses.

“Players are always looking for ways to get an edge,” said a former player who spoke on the a condition of anonymity, but whose name rhymes with Leg Haddux (and who has won between 354 and 356 games as a pitcher). “If you are built small, you might take steroids. If you have not been blessed with 20/20 vision, you might be tempted to wear glasses. It is just sad because you never know when this is going to end. ”

An investigation has revealed that McCann took several steps to correct what has been described as blurry vision and dryness in his left eye. An inspection of his medical records, which were turned over to MLB as part of the investigation, revealed that he had laser eye surgery in 2007 to correct the problem.

Receipts and checks also suggest that McCann purchased ointments, drops, and contact lenses. Some of these products were purchased from clubhouse attendants, while others were purchased by McCann himself in grocery and convenience stores. It is well known in the baseball community that drops and ointments can be used to correct acute problems with visual acuity.

“Brian’s behavior is a little confusing, and very disappointing,” remarked teammate Chipper Jones.

“When he came onto the field wearing glasses, everyone just assumed he was trying out a new look. Lots of guys wear sunglasses. The idea that they might be corrective lenses was the last thing on my mind, but it also shows that the policy is working. It is very hard to test for surgery and eye drops, but new advances allow baseball to test glasses, and that will help us clean up the game that I so dearly love and respect.”

Chipper Jones has never been connected to PED’s and records confirm that he has shown age-related decrements in visual performance. “I have taken 15, 20 vision tests, and I never pass," said Jones. "I really can’t see a thing out there.”

McCann has been unavailable for comment, although he did release the following statement through his representatives:

“I am deeply sorry for what I have done, and for the pain and suffering I have caused my family, my teammates, the Braves, baseball, and the United States of America. I just want to make it clear that I was given the glasses by a private doctor, and I did not realize that they were corrective or banned under the policy. I accept the responsibility of my actions, and I am ready to take steps so that I can play this game again with my God-given visual problems.”

What Keeps Ned Colletti and Joe Torre Up at Night?

Strike Three — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:39:32 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in first place in the NL West and enjoy the best record in baseball. So all is well in L.A., right?

Hardly!

Like any major league team, the Dodgers have a list of issues, problems, and contingencies to fix and plan for. The Dodgers look to Ned Colletti (general manager) and Joe Torre (manager) to keep a competitive team on the field and on top of the standings.

So what have they been dealing with? Here is a rundown of what seem to be the most pressing issues facing the first place Dodgers:

Jason Schmidt’s Shoulder

One of Colletti’s first big moves was signing Jason Schmidt to a huge contract worth $47 million over three years. So far, that contract has yielded one win in six starts that came way back in 2007.

Having Schmidt on the DL is nothing new. Schmidt’s injury is just a constant reminder that the Dodgers rotation has been held together with string and paperclips for some time now.

Sure, Billingsley has been spectacular, and Wolf has been one of the most underrated free agent signing of the season, but beyond that the rotation has been very inconsistent.

Kershaw reminds us that he is both brilliant and young. He has yet to reach his full potential, and until he does you simply do not know how effective he will be from start to start…or from inning to inning.

Stults is a fantastic feel-good story but it remains to be seen if he can keep fooling major league hitters with career minor leaguer stuff. McDonald proved that he is not yet ready for a prime-time role in the rotation. His replacement, Jeff Weaver, has been so far so good, but he has not been a consistently effective starter since he last pitched for the Dodgers in 2005.

Colletti knows that the rotation is razor thin right now. A healthy Schmidt is probably too much to ask for. Hopefully a healthy Kuroda is not.

And look for Colletti’s name to be prominently featured as the rumor mill regarding Peavy and other big name pitchers once the trade rumors start to heat up.

Hung-Chih Kuo’s Elbow

Like the rotation, the Dodgers bullpen has been effective in a smoke and mirrors kind of way.

Broxton came into the season as the designated closer and he has been positively lights out. Belisario and Troncoso have been effective in set-up roles, and you could do a lot worse than Will Ohman as your situational lefty.

But a few more pieces have to fall into place for the Dodgers bullpen to go from being good to great.

One of those pieces is Hong-Chih Kuo, and by pieces we could literally talk about various pieces and loose bodies floating around his elbow.

Kuo has had four elbow operations in his brief professional career. He can be very effective, as demonstrated by his 2007 numbers, but if he pitches again this season (and that is a big if…) he will have to be handled with care.

Cory Wade, also very good as a rookie in the bullpen last season, has already been shut down once this season and is another handle-with-care player.

Given Joe Torre’s reputation for running through relievers (Exhibit A: Scott Proctor), Colletti must be wondering how many additional arms he will need to sign or call up over the course of the season.

Manny Ramirez’s Urine

Manny’s urine is the talk of the entire baseball world.

To a front office, it must seem like any player at any level can test positive at any time. From a pure baseball perspective, losing your best player and the centerpiece of you lineup for 50 games extremely difficult.

But the suspension is much more than a baseball issue. It is a media circus, a public relations nightmare, and for a franchise that prides itself on its past as much as any other franchise in sports, a potentially defining moment.

There is not much Colletti can do from a roster standpoint to address the loss of Manny, and he is actually fortunate to have Juan Pierre as a 50-game fill in.

But fair or not, you, Colletti, are feeling the heat for signing a player that has brought such shame and disrepute to the Dodger trademark.

Are the Kids Alright?

We keep calling them kids—Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, James Loney, and Russell Martin.

But at the age of 24, Matt Kemp is the baby of the group. Now I challenge you to think of any other profession where a 24-year-old is considered anything but a full-grown man.

The Dodgers have been patient with their prospects and have resisted countless temptations to trade them for more established players. With Manny out and the NL West there for the taking, it is time for the nucleus of the Dodgers youth movement to drop the kiddie persona and emerge as fully developed ball players.

Ethier has been great but now needs to be just a great without Manny’s big bat offering protection (with all due respect to Jeff Kent, those sorts of things do seem to matter).

Kemp started the season as hot as anyone in the league, but since then has cooled off considerably and still needs to demonstrate that his natural abilities can translate into consistent performance.

James Loney has a sweet stroke and is a Gold Glove caliber defender but may simply lack the power expected from an everyday corner infielder.

And Russell Martin, who two seasons ago looked like a perennial All Star catcher and born clubhouse leader, has had to shake questions about his commitment and makeup.

So while the sky is still the limit for each of these homegrown players, it is time for all of them to show that they are ready to be the cornerstones of the offense. Not the cornerstones of the future, but the cornerstones of today.

Frank McCourt’s Wallet

The husband-wife ownership team of Frank and Jamie McCourt has been suspected of lacking sufficient capital to give the Dodgers the players they need to be competitive.

This seems a bit unfair. After all, they allowed Colletti to sign Schmidt, Ramirez, and Andruw Jones to big contacts, and were willing to part with the prospects needed to make some huge trades last season. But with the ninth highest salary in the league, detractors can always claim that the Dodgers do not spend like some of their big-market competitors.

The Dodgers have needs, like another front line starter and some reliable set up men to throw in front of Broxton. Not to mention a legitimate power bat to stick at first or third base. The question is, will Team McCourt give Colletti the financial flexibility to address those needs?

As the trade deadline approaches, will the Dodgers be aggressive players and build a team capable of winning the World Series? Or will they be content to stand pat, perhaps convinced that the rest of the NL West lacks the talent to catch them?

Calling a Spade a Spade: Steroids Are Addictive Drugs

Strike Three — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:34:03 -0400

With so many stories floating around the sports world about steroid use, it seems almost impossible that any aspect of the story is not being over-covered and over-blown.

We read about how steroids are ruining the records books. Steroids are tearing down our idols. Steroids are destroying the very fabric of baseball.

But here is what we have not been reading much about.

Steroids are addicting.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a undetermined percentage of steroid users become addicted, which is a physical and psychological syndrome consisting of tolerance, compulsive use despite negative consequences, and withdrawal upon cessation of use.

One of the symptoms of withdrawal includes depression that can linger for months or years after the discontinuation of the steroids.

Now of course addiction can’t explain why a baseball player would start using steroids. But it might explain why some of them seem to have a hard time stopping.

Why else would they risk suspensions, loss of income, decreased employability, public vilification, and, for some of the recent violators of the leagues steroid policy, perhaps a shot at being enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

I wonder how many current MLB players are using steroids and are desperate to stop but don’t know how. Some of them may not know they are addicted. Other may have figured it out but are afraid to seek the help they need to quit.

NIDA lists several treatment options, including supportive and behavioral therapy. Medications that restore normal levels of hormonal functioning disruption by steroid abuse and target specific withdrawal symptoms can also be part of a comprehensive treatment.

The use of medications to treat steroid addiction seems to have some rather compelling implications when looked at in light of MLB’s steroid policy.

Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games for his use of HCG, and several other players have been implicated for using the drug. HCG, as we all know by now, is a hormone commonly used to treat female fertility issues.

Unlike steroids, it does not seem to boost performance. Instead, players use HCG to come off a cycle of steroid use. In fact, not using HCG can lead to some of the withdrawal symptoms that make it so difficult to quit.

So should we ignore a player’s use of HCG? I don’t think that is the answer, because it does seem to be part of the evidence trail in implanting someone for using steroids. But rather than hand out a suspension, why not offer treatment?

If a player tests positive for steroids, throw the book at them.

But if a player tests positive for HCG, why not recognize his efforts to end their addiction by offering increased monitoring of steroid use, counseling and behavioral treatment, and medication management. And why not do it a way to ensures a players confidentiality and preserves their dignity.

Addictions to alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs are among our countries most pressing public health issues. Addiction to steroids may also be the most pressing issue facing modern day sports.

MLB should lead to way be treating it as such and offering the current generation of player the tools they need to break the cycle of addition and usher in a new era of baseball.

Mannywood: Coming This Summer to a Ballpark Near You

Strike Three — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:16:08 -0400

From the very beginning, Manny Ramirez and Hollywood were a match made in heaven.

L.A. needed a star, and Manny needed a stage. Manny performed, and L.A. was in love.

He re-energized Chavez Ravine. The fans watched his every move with delightful anticipation. And so did the young Dodgers. Kemp, Martin, Loney, and Ethier all discussed his dedication, his approach at the plate, and his infectious fun loving attitude. Manny led the Dodger to their first taste of post-season success in over 20 year. They were the feel good story of the season.

After some extended negotiations, Manny came back for a sequel. First place in the NL West. 13-0 at home. Best team in baseball. The Dodgers were the surprise hit of the spring. Of course Manny, AKA Mannywood, was the leading man. But it was the strength of his supporting cast that had fans hoping that the Dodgers could enjoy a long and successful run.

And then Manny tested positive for a banned substance. In the blink of an eye the story of Manny and the Dodgers turned into a horror show. Or, if you prefer, a full blown Greek tragedy.

But before you close the book on the season, remember that Hollywood is no ordinary city and Manny Ramirez is no ordinary ballplayer. He has time to turn this whole story upside down.

Manny can come back as good as ever. Or better.

Manny can help the Dodgers win the division. And then win the World Series.

Manny can write his own script, and it could be a great one. Because Hollywood has always loved stories of redemption, and as such Mannywood has all the makings of a truly historic Blockbuster.

Bring Back the Dead Ball Era!

Strike Three — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:13:25 -0500

Admit it, baseball fans. We loved the long ball.

We turned out for games in record numbers, packing the baseball cathedrals built on bad credit, strong-arm tactics, and our hard-earned tax dollars.

We bought satellite dishes so that games from all across the country could be beamed into our living rooms in full HD.

We watched as games got longer, payrolls got higher, and earned run averages went through the roof.

McGwire. Sosa. Bonds. Rodriguez. These were our heroes, our villains, our mythology.

We were drunk on offense, and we loved every minute of it.

But as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

The party is over. The Steroid Era must end. The Live Ball era must be pushed aside.

The Dead Ball era must be brought back to life.

OK, maybe an exact replication of the Dead Ball error would not be such a good idea, what with the spitballs and fixed games. But we can all learn to live with fewer homeruns and less scoring.

If you really think about it, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. All across the country, Americans are feeling the effects of the recession. We are all looking for ways to cut back, trim the fat, and make due with less.

If we can learn to live with less money, we can learn to live with fewer runs.

Just think of all the life lessons a new Dead Ball Era will grant us. We will learn to appreciate the little things and the benefits of delayed gratification.

Sure, a home run gives us a quick jolt of excitement. But what’s the hurry? Why not let the drama play out over the course of an inning. A well placed single, a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt, a run scoring fly ball. Not brute power, but speed and strategy will once again get those precious crooked numbers on the board

Ah, if only it were so easy. Speed on the bath paths will be matched by speed in the field. Nimble defenders and strong armed outfielder will blanket the diamond like never before, leaving hitters convinced that the starting nine snuck out an extra defender or two.

And the pitching, oh the pitching. The post-modern gunslingers; tall, lanky, and filthy; ready to retake the inside part of the plate and reclaim their place as the true lords of the game. Give him the a higher mound and a bigger strike zone. Let him pitch a full nine innings. And for the love of Cy Young, let him hit like every other ballplayer.

The bulked up players of today will become the dinosaurs of tomorrow. The game will be restored. And the Steroid Era will be history.

Let the healing begin.

Riders on the Storm: Pitchers Who Dominated the Steroid Era

Strike Three — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:44:28 -0500

When historians look back at the Steroid Era, they will undoubtedly focus on the spike in offensive production. Whether you look at home runs, slugging percentage, or runs scored, the game of baseball was clearly impacted by the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Historians will also focus on the guys hitting all of those home runs. Mighty sluggers like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Sammy Sosa have already become synonymous with the Steroid Era, and their association with the passing ere is unlikely to fade over time.

But despite the gaudy offensive numbers and the bulked up ballplayers standing in the batter’s box, the Steroid Era also featured some wonderful pitchers. In fact, some of the pitchers that graced the mounds of our modern day ballparks will rightly take their place among the greatest hurlers of all time.

Although the exact dates that define the Steroid Era are open to debate, thesteroidera.blogspot.com suggests 1992-2006 as a period of fairly unregulated and potential extensive use. Several of the pitchers under discussion pitched before the era began, and several are still active. This article, however, will only look at their performance during the Steroid Era.

My goals in writing this article are to a) document that pitchers performed at the highest level during the era and b) speculate on how they will be remembered by future generations of baseball fans and historians

Randy Johnson led the era by winning the Cy Young award five times. His first was in 1995 when he pitched for the Seattle Mariners. He then ripped off four in a row (1999-2002) as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Johnson also made nine All-Star teams.

A number of players (e.g., Andy Pettitte) have cited injuries as their reason for using steroids. Given the number of back surgeries that Johnson endured, he must have been tempted to use as a way of speeding up his recovery. But Johnson was not named in the Mitchell report and, to the best of my knowledge, has never tested positive for a banned substance. The revelation of a failed test seems to be the only thing that could prevent Randy Johnson as being regarded as the best pitcher of the Steroid Era.

Roger Clemens won four Cy Young awards and pitched on seven All-Star teams. He is the highest profile pitcher to be implicated as a user of a banned substance. Although he still maintains his innocence, his reputation is forever tarnished. Based purely on the numbers, Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers of all time. But like Bonds and Sosa, the perception of his accomplishments will likely be diminished because of his suspected use and the tawdry nature of the unfolding story.

Like Clemens, Greg Maddux won four Cy Young awards and pitched on seven All Star teams. Unlike Clemens, Maddux has never been linked to steroids. In fact, the often-quoted joke is that seeing Maddux without his shirt off is all the evidence you would ever need that he did not use steroids. His four Cy Young awards coincide with the initial years of the Steroid Era (1992-1995). Some will identify Maddux, and not Johnson, as the best pitcher of the era.

In his prime, Pedro Martinez may have been the most electric pitcher of the Steroid Era. He was a great pitcher, as evidenced by the three Cy Young awards and seven All-Star appearances. He was also a tremendous showman. He developed a reputation as a headhunter, and of course once threw Don Zimmer to the ground. But his name has not been associated with any banned substances, and he is proud of his legacy. "I dominated that era and I did it clean," he said in February of 2008. "I can stand by my numbers and I can be proud of them."

Johan Santana is the only other pitcher to win multiple Cy Young awards during the Steroid Era. He is not mentioned in the Mitchell report and has not been associated with any banned substances. While his overall numbers do not put him in the same class as Johnson, Maddux, or Martinez, he will certainly be remembered as one of the great pitchers of the era.

Twelve other pitchers won a single Cy Young award during the Steroid Era. Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, along with Maddux will be remembered as anchoring the Atlanta Braves rotation through so much of the era. Glavine actually tied Johnson with nine All-Star appearances, while Smoltz made the team six times.

Eric Gagne won the award in 2003 after his remarkable 55 save season. For a brief period, he was the most dominant reliever in baseball. But Mariano Rivera will likely be regarded as the best reliever of the Steroid Era. Gagne’s inclusion in the Mitchell Report, coupled with recent inability to perform at a high level, will likely define his reputation going forward.

Other Steroid Era Cy Young winners: Dennis Eckersley, Brandon Webb, Chris Carpenter, Bartolo Colon, Jack McDowell, Pat Hentgen, David Cone, Roy Halladay, and Barry Zito.

All of the pitchers mentioned in this article were able to thrive during the Steroid Era. Some were able to excel for a single season, and others were able to dominate throughout the era. Although it is always dangerous to predict how history will judge recent events, it seems likely that their accomplishments will shine even brighter because they pitched during the Steroid Era.

Clemens will be remembered as a fallen hero and a reminder that the hitters were not the only players who looked to steroids, HGH, and other performance enhancers to give themselves a competitive edge.

Based on Cy Young awards and All-Star appearances (and assuming that Clemens and Gagne remain the only pitchers implicated as users of banned substances), Johnson, Maddux, and Martinez, Glavine, and Smoltz will be remembered as the best pitchers of the Steroid Era. Johnson and Maddux will also be rightly regarded as two of the greatest pitcher of any era will certainly end up in Cooperstown. Martinez, Glavine, and Smoltz will likely join them in the Hall of Fame.

Tim Lincecum: One Cy Young Down, Seven More To Come

Strike Three — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:17:44 -0500

Spring training is a great time for making predictions. So here is a bold one:

Tim Lincecum will win eight Cy Young awards.

That will give him one more than Roger Clemens, who currently holds the record for the most awards won. Eight Cy Young awards will obviously put Lincecum on the very short list of greatest pitchers of all time.

Now let’s state the obvious. The chances of this prediction coming true are remarkably slim. Any number of factors could derail Lincecum’s career.

But it’s hard to over-state just how good Lincecum has been and how much he could achieve.

One way to understand Lincecum’s greatness is to analyze his early career relative to other recent Cy Young winners. By early career, I am actually referring to his minor league numbers.

Here are the some minor league performance statistics for all of the pitchers who have won the Cy Young award since 2000.

Pitcher (Cy Young Awarded), K/9, WHIP, ERA

Tim Lincecum (NL 2008), 15, 0.79, 1.01

Jake Peavy (NL 2007), 11.3, 1.10, 2.56

Brandon Webb (NL 2006), 8.1, 1.33, 3.71

Chris Carpenter (NL 2005), 7.2, 1.43, 3.88

Roger Clemens (NL 2004, AL 2001), 10.4, 0.94, 3.12

Eric Gagne (NL 2003), 9.9, 1.15, 3.16

Randy Johnson (NL 2002), 9.6, 1.47, 3.37

Cliff Lee (AL 2008), 10.2, 1.27, 3.37

C.C. Sabathia(AL 2007), 10.4, 1.30, 3.44

Johan Santana (AL 2006, 2004), 9.2, 1.39, 4.79

Bartolo Colon (AL 2005), 9.2, 1.13, 2.44

Roy Halladay (AL 2003), 5.9, 1.31, 3.83

Barry Zito (AL 2002), 10.0, 1.27, 3.18

Pedro Martinez (AL 2000), 9.4, 1.15, 2.98

When compared to a group of pitchers who won the highest award a pitcher can earn, Lincecum simply blows everyone else away.

He struck out nearly four more batters per nine innings than Peavy. His ERA is almost a full run-and-a-half lower than Colon’s. And his WHIP is simply microscopic.

So how can we describe Lincecum’s numbers? Dominating? Not quite strong enough. Ridiculous? That might be in the ball park.

Minor league numbers suggest potential. Major league numbers, on the other hand, document performance. Lincecum has demonstrated both.

And remember that he is just getting started. Several of the pitchers on the list showed considerable improvement once they hit the big leagues.

The thought of Lincecum getting better is pretty amazing.

Unless you have to face him.

How the NL West Will Be Won: Five Key Factors

Strike Three — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:03:56 -0500

The NL West is not the strongest division in baseball. And while anything can happen, it figures to be a two-team race between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. (Padre, Rockies, and Diamondback fans…I apologize in advance…and better luck next year).

So what will separate the Dodgers from the Giants? Here are five factors likely to have an impact.

1) Home Grown Talent

Both teams have seen a number of players rise through the farm system and contribute to the major league roster. These players will need to continue taking steps forward if their clubs are going to succeed.

Neither team is particularly deep, and so the ability to add additional home-grown talent over the course of the season will also come into play. A promising debut from the likes of Ivan DeJesus, Buster Posey, or Madison Bumgarner could provide a late season lift.

2) Billingsley vs. Lincicum

Speaking of homegrown talent. Lincicum is an ace. Billingsley could become one. Both need to perform like No. 1 starters and anchor their staffs.

This may be especially true for Billingsley, as the Dodger rotation seems to have more question marks than the Giants.

3) Renteria vs. Furcal

Both shortstops are looking to rebound. Furcal has to prove he can stay healthy. Renteria needs to prove he can still hit and defend at a high level.

These guys will likely hit at or near the top of the order, so getting on base and serving as a catalyst for the rest of the offense will be the key.

4) Colletti vs. Sabean

Neither team has had a particularly exciting off-season. In a way, this goes back to point No. 1. The teams will win or lose with their young talent. But that is not to say that either general manager will shy away from an in-season move.

Of course, this assumes that ownership will be willing to take on some additional salary or give up a prospect or two. But a trade that shores up the pitching, replaces a injured player, or adds a proven run producer may be what it takes to put one team over the top.

After all, just look at the impact Manny Ramirez had on the 2008 pennant race. And speaking of Manny…

5) Manny vs. Manny

Points 1, 2, 3, and 4 are important. But they pale in comparison to the impact Manny Ramirez could have if he elects to sign with either club. Without Manny, the Giants have what could be the worst lineup in baseball.

The Dodgers may not be that much better. Simply put, the team that signs Manny is the team that wins the National League West.

David Price and Clayton Kershaw: Two for the Ages

Strike Three — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:53:58 -0500

David Price gets all the hype. He is on everyone’s list of top prospects and players to watch.

From ESPN to Baseball America to the Bleacher Report, David Price is being pegged as probable Rookie of the Year, perennial All-Star, eventual Cy Young winner, and Hall of Fame hopeful.

If he can do it without ever flunking a drug test, he will ascend directly to the heavens and pitch for the Mt. Olympus Immortals. (Current Rotation: Zeus, Jesus Christ, Damon Rutherford, Nuke Lalush, and Walter Johnson)

Now don’t get me wrong. I am on the bandwagon. I have watched David Price pitch, live and in person, on two occasions: once when he was a highly touted college pitcher making his way through the SEC, and once during his brief but breathtaking stint with the Montgomery Biscuits.

Take it from me. The guy can pitch.

But he is not the only up-and-coming pitcher in the league. The Dodgers have a tall lanky left hander of their own. His name is Clayton Kershaw.

And while Price may get the hype, the statistics suggest that Kershaw is every bit his equal, and a bit further along.

Looking at stats available on Baseballcube.com, we can compare the career performance of Price and Kershaw across some common metrics. Innings pitched give us a rough and dirty measure of experience.

Strike-outs per nine innings (K/9) tell us about stuff and “pitchability,” walk + hits per innings pitched (WHIP) tells us about the number of base runners allowed, and the old standard ERA lets us know about the number of runs given up.

Personally, I like K/9 and WHIP better than ERA, but all three have some utility.

From 2005 through 2007, Price was pitching for Vanderbilt in the NCAA. He pitched 69, 51, and 133 innings across the three seasons and put up phenomenal numbers. In his final season, the 21 year old had a K/9 of 11.9 and WHIP of 1.17.

In 2008, Price made his mercurial rise through the Tampa Bay system. Six starts for Vero Beach, nine for the Montgomery Biscuits, four for the famed Durham Bulls, and then onto Tampa Bay for a late-season coming-out party.

Nothing like a pennant race and World Series to sharpen the nerves and feed the legends.

David Price, who at 23 enters the 2009 season poised to pitch his first full season in the Devil Rays rotation, has done nothing to dampen our enthusiasm.

Now, what about Clayton Kershaw?

Turns out he is actually a couple of years ahead of Price. In 2006, while the 20-year-old Price was mowing down college boys and taking Intro to Psychology, the precocious Kershaw (18 years old) struck out 54 in just 37 innings while posting a 1.95 ERA.

Now the Gulf Coast League may not offer the perks of Vanderbilt, but it’s got a pretty good reputation for educating young pitchers.

Kershaw made 25 starts in A and AA ball in 2007. In 2008, he started in the minors, but an early season call up allowed enough time for Kershaw to pitch 107 innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Over the course of the 2008 season, Kershaw’s took the mound for 21 starts with the Dodgers. He scuffled. He gave up his fair of hits and had trouble harnessing his pitches. But he displayed plenty of stuff, evidenced by 100 strikeouts in 107 innings.

Of course, Kershaw did not get to pitch in the World Series. But he did make six September starts in the nip and tuck NL West. The Dodgers went 5-1 in those starts.

Not bad for a 20-year-old kid.

So, at the age of 20, Kershaw has made 20 more starts major league starts than the elder Price, logging over 80 more innings along the way.

Another bit of data to consider. Kershaw’s minor league numbers (K/9 = 11.3, WHIP = 1.12) are actually a hair better than Price’s (K/9 = 9.0, WHIP = 1.14).

Of course, comparing the minor league performance of Price and Kershaw is like comparing Luke Skywalker to Mace Windu. You may have a preference, but either Jedi can pitch on my team.

But once again, Kershaw put up his minor league numbers at ages 18 through 20. Price did not face professional hitters until he was 22 years old.

There is no telling how the careers of David Price or Clayton Kershaw will turn out. Going into the 2009 season, Price is garnering the most attention.

But I have a feeling Kershaw will win plenty of games in his career, and steal plenty of headlines. And when all is said and done, it may be Kershaw suiting up for the Immortals.

Manny Ramirez: Sign Him On Your Own Terms

Strike Three — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:29:45 -0500

The Dodgers may sign Manny Ramirez.

The Dodgers may not sign Manny Ramirez.

As a Dodger fan, and as a baseball fan, I am good either way.

The impact Manny had on the Dodger last year is indisputable and well documented. He transformed the lineup, lightened the mood in the clubhouse, electrified the fans, and single handedly changed the complexion of the NL West. Getting him back in Dodger Blue seems like an easy decision.

Letting him go seems like a major misstep.

So the Dodgers could have easily given Manny the years and the coin that he and Scott Boras demanded. But haven’t the Dodgers been down that road before? Think Andrew Jones. Think Jason Schmidt. Think Kevin Brown. Think of the long line of high priced free agents that the Dodgers signed, only to watch them under perform.

The current Dodger regime seems committed to building from within. Sure, they have signed Juan Pierre, Hiroki Kuroda, Rafael Furcal, and Randy Wolf. But they will take the field alongside a young nucleus of ballplayers that have made their way through the Dodgers farm system: Russell Martin, James Loney, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Blake DeWitt, Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Clayton Kershaw, and James McDonald.

Would this team look better, and perform better, with Manny Ramirez?

Of course it would. But I am glad the Dodgers refuse to bid against themselves. After all, the benefits of fiscal responsibility may never be so obvious. So why sign Manny for four years when no one else wants him for three.

Or two. Or even one!

The Dodgers may not sign Manny Ramirez. But they just might. And if they do, I suspect it will be on their own terms. And that may be a sure sign the Dodgers are finally doing thing things the Dodger Way.

Michael Phelps: Let the Numbers Tell the Story

Strike Three — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:06:06 -0500

Michael Phelps has put up some remarkable numbers. He has won 16 gold medals,eight of which he claimed during his unforgettable performance at the 2008 Beijing games. Phelps also holds 32 world records.

Now consider some numbers that the rest of the USA put up. Like 40.6, which is the percentage of US citizens above the age of 12 that have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime. Or 14.4 million, the number of US citizens who reported using marijuana in the past month.

Everyday, all across America, millions of ordinary people smoke marijuana. Can marijuana cause problems? Of course it can. But the vast majority of marijuana smokers are happy, healthy people. They work, go to school, raise families, and contribute to their communities. Some of them even win gold medals.

When it comes to swimming, Phelps is in a class all his own. But his use of marijuana makes him like the rest of us.

After all, the numbers don’t lie.