10 Things We Learned About Baseball In June

As we get ready for Netherlands vs. Brazil in the World Cup and the long Fourth of July weekend, here are the 10 things we learned about baseball in the month of June.

10. The trade winds are starting to blow

In years past, June has usually represented the start of the trading season in baseball, and this year was no different. Earlier in the month, we saw the Arizona Diamondbacks trade Conor Jackson to the Oakland A’s. And in a surprising move, the Seattle Mariners re-acquired 1B Russell Branyan from the Cleveland Indians.

These are the first of many trades that will take place over the next couple of weeks. The biggest name that will be on the trade market will be Mariners LHP Cliff Lee.

Speaking of the Mariners...

9. Ken Griffey Jr. retires

Without any fanfare, without a massive press conference, and without even so much as a wave goodbye, one of the greatest players ever to don a major league uniform called it a career.

Seventy-five years to the day that Babe Ruth announced his retirement, Seattle Mariners OF Ken Griffey Jr. announced his retirement on June 2 through a statement read by his manager, Don Wakamatsu.

Griffey was hitting just .184 this season but will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play. In 22 seasons, Griffey hit 630 home runs (fifth all-time) with a .284 average and a .370 OBP. He was a 13-time All-Star and the AL MVP in 1997.

Griffey’s next stop will be Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

On the subject of future Hall of Famers...

8. Vlad is impaling in Texas

Led by future Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and MVP candidate Josh Hamilton, the Rangers ended June with a 21-6 record and are pacing the AL West.

Guerrero hit .356 with six HRs and a .427 OBP in the month of June. Yes, things are going so well for Vlad and the Rangers that he is even getting on base via the walk. Hamilton was no slouch either in June, hitting .454 with nine HRs.

If the Rangers can stay healthy, which is always an issue, they will win the AL West in 2010.

While the Rangers have remained healthy for the most part, these players have not...

7. June was the month of the injury

While the 2010 baseball season might go down as the Year of the Pitcher or even the Year of the Rookie, the month of June will go down as the Month of the Injury. You could make an All-Star team out of the players who went on the DL last month.

Chad Billingsley, Jason Heyward, Joel Zumaya, Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Rich Harden, and Aramis Ramirez all went on the DL in the month of June. That’s a lot of talent not to be on the diamond.

One guy who should be put permanently on the DL is Carlos Zambrano...

6. Carlos Zambrano loses his mind

Zambrano completely lost his mind after the bottom of the first inning against the Chicago White Sox.

After giving up four runs in the inning, Zambrano came back to the dugout and started screaming uncontrollably. The brunt of his anger was borne by first baseman Derrek Lee. Zambrano was angry at Lee for not diving on Juan Pierre’s double down the first-base line.

As a result of Zambrano’s tirade, the Chicago Cubs have placed Zambrano on the restricted list. I am still a believer that he should never be allowed to wear a Cubs uniform again.

Zambrano is one of the many reasons that manager Lou Piniella may not have a job come October. Piniella might be safe for now, but these managers weren’t...

5. Fredi Gonzalez and Dave Trembley were fired

Gonzalez and Trembley joined Trey Hillman as managers who have been let go so far this season. Trembley was 187-283 in his four seasons as Orioles skipper. The Orioles are a disaster this year, and it was no surprise that Trembley was let go.

Gonzalez has been a dead man walking since the end of last season. The Marlins wanted to get rid of Gonzalez last year but decided to bring him back for one more season. The Marlins' mediocre start this year (34-36 at the time of Gonzalez’s firing) and a run-in with star player Hanley Ramirez spelled Gonzalez’s fate in 2010.

I don’t have a segue to this next one, so we will just go with it...

4. Edwin Jackson throws fourth no-hitter of the season

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Edwin Jackson threw the fourth no-hitter this year as he defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 in front of 18,918 at Tropicana Field on June 25. Jackson struck out six and walked eight in the 149-pitch effort.

This wasn’t your traditional no-hitter, as Jackson walked eight and reminded me of A.J. Burnett’s no-hitter against the San Diego Padres back in 2001. Burnett walked nine that game and struck out seven. Very similar to Jackson’s on that Friday night.

Jackson was drafted in the sixth round of the 2001 draft. Speaking of the draft...

3. The Washington Nationals take Bryce Harper with the No. 1 pick

For the second year in a row the Nationals were on the clock, and for the second year in a row, they took a “can’t miss” prospect. They took C/OF Bryce Harper with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

I am going to say that Orioles pick SS Manny Machado becomes the best hitter to come out of this draft, and Toronto Blue Jays pick Deck McGuire will be the best pitcher.

On the subject of the Nationals and the draft...

2. Stephen Strasburg lived up to the hype

Strasburg’s debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates was one for the ages. On June 8, Strasburg whiffed 14 Pirate batters in seven innings. His next four starts were solid as well.

Overall, in five starts in June, Strasburg had a 2.27 ERA and struck out 48 in 31.2 IP. Strasburg held hitters to a .218 BAA in his first five starts.

If we are going to talk about great pitching performances, then we have to talk about the No. 1 thing we learned in June...

1. Armando Galarraga almost threw a perfect game

Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was working on trying to become the third pitcher in the last month to throw a perfect game. He had retired 26 batters in a row in a truly dominant performance.

Then came Cleveland Indians SS Jason Donald.

On a 1-1 pitch, Donald hit a slow roller between first and second, which first baseman Miguel Cabrera ranged over to his right to field. With Galarraga covering the bag at first, Cabrera threw the ball to Galarraga, who stepped on first.

The game appeared to be over, and Galarraga had just thrown the 21st perfect game in baseball history. But it was not meant to be. First base umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe.

It was the most controversial regular season call that I could remember. Joyce later apologized, but Galarraga will now be forever known as the guy who pitched a 28-out perfect game.

That’s a wrap for June. July figures to be even better with the All-Star Game from Anaheim and, of course, the July 31 trading deadline.

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