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Ozzie, Clark, and Pujols
There have been a few pitchers who have given up key home runs in critical situations. Most do not recover for a while, if ever. A few, such as Mariano Rivera, become stronger. How will Brad Lidge, the great young Astros closer who gave up Pujols’ home run, react?
Clumped Together to Confuse Us
Yes, Bernie Williams has hit the most "postseason" home runs, John Smoltz has won the most “postseason” games, and Tom Glavine has the most “postseason” losses, but Barry Bonds has hit .245 in nine “postseason” series, yet he has a .471 World Series batting average, which is the highest lifetime batting average in World Series history. Who is confused? How about most of the fans. No, make that those who blend all the records after the regular season ends together.
Be All That You Can Be
"Be all that you can be." Were it only so. Oh, it has happened. The 1998 Yankees were all that they could be. The 2004 Red Sox were more than they could be. But there have been too many times when teams were not allowed to be all they could be because money was and is more important to those with the power.
There Are Champions and There are Champions
The New York Yankees have now been American League Eastern Division Champions for the last eight baseball seasons. Now, doesn’t that sound impressive? Yes it does, but it doesn’t sound as impressive as stating that the Atlanta Braves have been division champions the last fourteen times there have been division champions, but it still sounds impressive, until one examines what has happened a little more critically.
Since When Does Eleven Equal Fourteen?
The Braves won the National League WEST title in 1991, 1992, and 1993. They have won the National East title every season since 1995. They finished second in the East in 1994. Despite war being peace, freedom being slavery, and ignorance being strength, the Braves didn't win the 1994 National League Eastern Division Championship.
An Out of Date Model
It is so basic that it is never forgotten when assessing a team’s chances of winning a baseball game. Now, we all know that while predicting winners is acceptable and even encouraged, actually betting on baseball games is a bad thing, but almost any ten year old can tell you, when an individual bets on a baseball game, the betting line is based primarily on the starting pitchers. But even those who set the odds sometimes are behind the times. Sometimes, even the experts employ out of date models.
Seven Innings
Starting pitchers are allowed to or are able to pitch only six or seven innings, after which managers bring in relief pitchers, most of whom provide relief only to the opposition. Fear not. The Commissioner of Baseball has solved the problem. Beginning with the 2006 season, baseball games will be shortened to seven innings.
Offensive
The 1921 Tigers had a 5.53 team ERA. The 1969 Mets had a 2.99 team ERA. The 1921 Tigers starters were Dutch Leonard (11-13), Hooks Dauss (10-15), Red Oldham (11-14), and Howard Ehmke (13-14). The team that had the highest batting average in American League history didn’t have a starter above .500.
Gary, Joe, and Gil
It was bound to happen, and after it happened, no one reported it. Gary Sheffield dropped a fly ball in the third inning of yesterday’s game when the ball hit the middle of his glove, which was next to his left hip, and popped out. Fortunately for the self declared Yankees’ team leader, the Texas Rangers had a runner on first, enabling the quick witted, never give in, “I don’t strike out when I don’t want to” Sheffield to fire the fallen baseball to Robinson Cano, who in turn fired to Derek Jeter to force Kevin Mensch at second.
Forgotten Seasons
Many players, some famous stars and some little known, have had a great season that is rarely remembered. The following are a few players who had such a season.
On the Radio
Of greater significance was the discovery that I could actually listen to games that were being played elsewhere. Speak about opening a case full of worms. At about dusk, it becomes possible to receive clear channel, 50,000 watt AM radio stations. Clear channel simply means that at sunset, less powerful stations must sign off the air, leaving the frequency to the most powerful stations.
He's the Man (And He Really Is)
To get an idea of Musial, one should imagine George Brett’s extra base power, Ted Williams’ selectivity at the plate, Joe DiMaggio’s grace, and the competitiveness of Pete Rose.
Umpires Are No Longer Needed
Alderson wasn’t through talking but people weren’t and aren’t listening. "In my view, this kind of technology is in its earliest stages of application."
A Tale of Two Leagues
The World Series was viewed as the primary test between the leagues. It was difficult for one league to claim superiority over the other if its representative lost the World Series. The All-Star became the second most important method to compare the leagues. During the first half of the 20th century, the World Series and the All-Star game were the most important sporting events in the country.
Four More Years
Bob Feller missed almost four seasons, returning to active duty with the Indians at the end of the 1945 season, starting only 9 games, but in 1946, the 27 year old Feller picked up where the 23 year old Feller had left off.
Are YOU Among Those Who Know That:
Are you among those who know the following?
Twenty Game Loser? Hall of Famer
Baseball’s Hall of Fame is the home of the best players in the history of the game, but even some of the best have had problems. One mark of a top flight pitcher is winning 20 games in a season, and quite a few pitchers have even won 30 games in a season, but what is remarkable is that many Hall of Fame pitchers have lost at least 20 games in a season.
Batting Average is Still the Best
One of the most basic, informative, and useful of all baseball statistics is a player’s batting average. For almost a century, batting average was the primary statistic used to measure a hitter’s ability but for some “experts,” that is no longer true. Batting average is sneered at by most “sabermetricians” because it is too simple and easy to comprehend.
License to Deal: A Review of Jerry Crasnick's Book
"License to Deal" reveals the sleazy, selfish, egocentric sides of baseball. Players are loyal to themselves, their agents, and then their teams, and most of that loyalty is to themselves. Many players switch agents as often as they change teams which raises the question, “Why should a player be loyal to his team if he views each of the thirty teams as a potential buyer of his services?”
Where Have All the Sluggers Gone?
Achieving a .600 lifetime slugging average is one of the rarest of all accomplishments. It is significant that the last player to retire with a .600 slugging average, Ted Williams, retired forty four years ago but in the last seven years, both Todd Helton and Barry Bonds have achieved better than .600 lifetime slugging averages.
Yet Another Myth
Like all myths it is spoken as truth, but when analyzed it is revealed as a false premise. There has been a recent trend among media types to explain the failure of pitchers who switch from the National League to the American on the “fact” that the American League is a much more powerful offensive league because the designated hitter gives American League lineups nine hitters while National League lineups have eight hitters and the pitcher. What garbage.
They Sure Were Still in the League
He was the last National League player to hit .400, had a higher lifetime batting average than Lou Gehrig, managed the New York Giants to a World Championship, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1954, but he is rarely mentioned anymore.
Fifth Became Sixtieth
For baseball’s first half century, five hitters hit 369 or more career home runs. In baseball’s second half century, fifty five batters have hit more than 369 career home runs. Quite an interesting and revealing statistic.
George Was Great
In an article at The Baseball Hall of Fame’s official site, research associate Gabriel Schecter writes that Sisler might have been the best all-around first baseman in baseball history despite being overshadowed by Lou Gehrig and Jimmy Foxx. Sisler was a better base runner than either, which is not to denigrate Gehrig, who was excellent on the bases, and as great as Gehrig was in the field, Sisler was better.
The Conclusion is No
If one accepts the modern criteria that have allowed Carlton Fisk and Gary Carter entry into the Hall of Fame, then Munson belongs. If one believes that the standards set by those who selected Bill Dickey, Mickey Cochrane, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella and Johnny Bench should be used, then Munson does not belong. Neither do Carter or Fisk
Benched
He was the greatest catcher of all time. He was better than Carlton Fisk, Gary Carter, Bill Dickey, Mickey Cochrane, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Mike Piazza, and Ivan Rodriguez. He was Johnny Bench and he had a .267 lifetime batting average, which is only twenty points lower than the average for Hall of Fame catchers.
Say Hey
If Willie Mays played today, he would be the best player in the game. Virtually every day he played, Mays demonstrated how great he was, greatness that no statistical formulas can ever reveal.
Swingers
For over a quarter of a century, most batters have been “aggressive” and view a base on balls as little more than a wasted opportunity to get a hit, but many years ago, before the era of the three run home run and leadoff batters who walk twenty three times in over seven hundred plate appearances (Alfonso Soriano in 2002), there were players whose primary purpose was to draw a walk. They were the “table setters” or the rally starters and they were not concerned with driving in runs. They were concerned with scoring runs.
He DID Allow Them or the RA
In many cases, taking unearned runs into account when evaluating a pitcher may reveal some interesting information. The media and experts tend to ignore total runs allowed but provide fans with “win shares,” “adjusted production,” and “secret formula,” which are radical statistics that some individuals who knew Albert Einstein claim he would not comprehend.
First in War, First in Peace, and Last in the AMERICAN League?
It is a statement whose meaning has changed as drastically as baseball itself. “First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League.” Some may believe that Washington is still first in war and first in peace, but it sure isn't in the American League.
Henry Thompson
Who was the first black player to have played in both major leagues? Who was the first black batter to face a black pitcher? Who were the first two opposing black players to appear on the field at the same time? Which three black players comprised the first all-black outfield---in the World Series no less? One player is part of all of the above.
A Miracle?
If their four victories against the Yankees occurred in any other sequence in the best of seven series, the miracle would have been that the Red Sox won the World Series, not that they won a playoff series, but because they won the final four games against the Yankees after losing the first three, it became a miracle.
Predestined?
Part of baseball’s magnetic appeal is that in almost every game there are unique variations on familiar themes. Fortunate fans see things they have never seen before while even more fortunate fans may experience seeing things that no one has ever seen. On April 10, 2005, fans at Yankee Stadium saw a play that led some to wonder about the predestined hit, only the hit wasn’t a hit.
Extremism Can Be Good
Extremism is not good, but in baseball, two or three extremely good pitchers can make all the difference in the world---if the rest of the team is good enough to make the playoffs.
They Didn't Always Hit Home Runs
When fans think of the Brooklyn Dodgers they usually think of Ebbets Field and Brooklyn’s devastating home run power. The Brooklyn Dodgers' last decade, the decade of Jackie Robinson, PeeWee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Carl Furillo, and Don Newcombe has left an indelible association between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the home run, but it was not always so.
Who Really Deserved It?
It was and is one of the great injustices in major league history---or was it?
Whatever You Say
It has been claimed that one cannot compare baseball players from different eras, which is a claim that is absolutely correct, but it goes much further. Not only can’t we accurately compare players from different eras, we can’t even compare players from the same era or from the same season. All we can do is draw imprecise conclusions that are full of variables that cannot be controlled.
The Year Was 1950
The year was 1950, the date was September 19 and the Philadelphia Phillies led the Brooklyn Dodgers by 9 games with 15 left to play. When the season dwindled to a precious single game, so too had Philadelphia’s lead. The last game of the season would be played in Brooklyn and if the Brooks won, they would tie the Phillies for the pennant.
The OTHER Sox
Now it’s time to turn to the OTHER Sox. Until about the 1980s, most fans didn't know and didn't care that the Red Sox hadn’t won the World Series since 1918 but the fact is that the other Sox, the Sox from Chicago, had not won the World Series since 1917. They still haven’t won one.
Enough is Enough
Enough is enough. Barry Bonds is not the greatest baseball player of all time.
No More
Yankees fans saw Ron Guidry pitch his first game for the Yankees in 1975 and they saw him pitch his last game for the Yankees in 1988. Just as Seaver will always be a Met, Guidry will always be a Yankee.
It Might Have Been
Curt Schilling is one of the best pitchers in baseball. He has been on two World Champions, has won twenty games three of the last four seasons and is hated by most Yankees’ fans. His salary for 2004 was $12 million and he was worth every cent. But something is missing.
One More Chance?
“And teammates say Tom Gordon was so unnerved by the series' pressure, he was throwing up in the bullpen before failing to hold a two-run lead in Game 5.”
The Sock
Here we go again. All the hullabaloo has been about Doug Mientkiewicz and the baseball he caught for the last out of the 2004 World Series, but lost in the shuffle is the blood stained sock that Curt Schilling wore in that Series.
It Really Was Horrible
It was one of the most horrible performances in World Series history but it has not received enough attention because the Red Sox finally won a World Series. The 2004 St. Louis Cardinals won 105 games, scored the most and allowed the fewest runs in the National League, had the second best ERA in the majors, and scored all of 12 runs while being swept in the World Series. They collapsed completely.
Coming to a Ballpark Near You
The Yankee Stadium security guard scanned Peter’s wrist to confirm the results of the first scan, set up an appointment for him to be tested at work the next day, and withdrew $500 from his bank account, which was the fine for missing a drug test. His vacation was over.
It was Always Roger's
The record was always Roger’s, or at least it was his ever since October 1, 1961. For almost thirty years, there were never any real challenges and now it seems that the thirty years can be extended to more than forty years.
Pedro, Chemistry, Hair, and Nelson
The fans just don’t get. They don’t want Pedro Martinez to pitch for the Yankees because it will destroy the team chemistry, because he has long hair, because he has a friend who is a midget, and because he says dumb things to the media. All those negatives really hurt the Red Sox, didn’t they?
It Really Is Offensive
Great pitching and defense often create excruciating tension which can be released with almost no warning at any time. In a 1-0 game in the eighth inning, every pitch and every play is important. A two run home run by the team with the lead puts the game out of reach while a two run home run by the trailing team turns the game around.
But Are They Really the Best?
Pitching has always been the most important part of winning. Offense almost always decreases dramatically in the playoffs and World Series because the teams that get to the World Series get there on pitching and defense. Now, with two rounds of playoffs before the World Series, it has almost become a rarity for the team with best regular season to get to the World Series, much less win it.
Where Did They Go?
Free agency has changed little except that today, players have the opportunity to change teams themselves instead of being forced to change teams by the owners. One result is that individuals such as Marleen become confused about who is playing for whom. There are very few players, especially stars, who play their entire careers with one team.
Choke
CHOKE: To fail to perform effectively because of nervous agitation or tension, especially in an athletic contest. COLLAPSE: To break down suddenly in strength or health and thereby cease to function.
1917
Now there are only two left, or actually, there is only one. Nineteen eighteen is gone but 1917 and 1908 remain so there are two, but the city involved with both years is Chicago, so there is only one. While much has been made of the Cubs and 1908, the White Sox and 1917 are almost never mentioned, and with good reason. Every time one brings up 1917, it leads to 1919, and that is not good for baseball.
Eighty Six, Nineteen Eighty Six, and Payback
There are many parallels between 1986 and 2004 that point to the Red Sox and Astros winning their respective pennants.
Making Them Suffer Even More
The last time the Yankees were in such a game was in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series against New York.
Expert or Generalist?
There is the classic story about the student who didn’t know the difference between an expert and a generalist so he asked his teacher, who thought for a second and then responded.
What Could Be Worse?
There is nothing worse than a strikeout. A strikeout is not just another out. It is an out that is a completely wasted at bat for the offensive team. Almost nothing positive can occur when a batter strikes out.
Brown Rage
Kevin Brown is as intense as they come. When the Yankees obtained his contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers, they knew what they were getting. They were getting a pitcher who wants to win as much as anyone who ever played the game.
Pitching? Who Has Pitching?
There are eight teams in the playoffs. They are supposedly the best eight teams in the major leagues yet not one has a decent pitching staff.
The Best Hitters of 2004 Through May 30
The top hitters of 2004 thru May 30 as ranked by OPS
2003 NL All-Star picks
We pick this year's NL All-Stars
Who Can't Compete?
A focus on the few teams that really don't have a chance to win it all in 2003
The NL Team MVPs
The MVPs of the each 2002 National League team
The AL Team MVPs
A look at the most valuable players of each American League team.
The Top Starts of 2002
The top offensive players of the season so far thru May 5th, as ranked by on-base percentage plus slugging average (OPS):
Predictions 2002
Predictions for the 2002 baseball season
Who Isn't A Contender
A look at the few teams in mlb that have no chance to contend in 2002
My 2002 Hall of Fame ballot
A look at who deserves entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year.
The Contraction Mess
An update and evaluation of baseball's contraction mess.
Can the Yankees Lose the World Series?
The Yankees are down 2 games to none to the Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series. Can they come back and continue their odds-defying run?
This Year's Top Pitchers
A guide to the best starters in the major leagues this season.
Hitters of 2001
A review of the top 20 major league hitters in 2001 thru August
Reviewing 2001's Deadline Deals
A review of the deals made in baseball right before the trading deadline
Complaining About This Year's All-Star Selections
A look at the selections for the 2001 All-Star game
The Top Hitters of the Season So Far
The top 20 hitters in baseball through May 21.
May Baseball Errata
News and views on Randy Johnson's historic 20 strikeouts, the final fate of the old umpires union, the padres aged outfield, the Devil Rays' dumping of Vinny Castilla, and Frank Thomas' injury
Pay No Attention To These Silly Stats
Early extreme statistics are amusing but not useful for analysis.
The New Hall of Famers
A look at the the players elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001.
Alex and Manny
The signings of Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez.
Free Agency 2000-01
A look at the major free agent signings thus far
The AL MVPs
The American League featured many performances in 2000 that might be argued was the most valuable.
MVP Candidates
A quick check on the most valuable players in the American and National Leagues in 2000
Yankees Settle for Justice
The Yankees trade for David Justice, giving up on any Sammy Sosa deal.
The Top 20 Hitters Of 2000 - So Far
The top 20 hitters in baseball so far this season
An Interview With Sparky Anderson
Michael Pitman interviews Sparky Anderson
A New Griffey in Cincinnati
Griffey's return to Cincinnati marks a positive turn for the game.
Overpaying Gonzalez
Why the Tigers are making a huge mistake in offering Juan Gonzalez the biggest contract in baseball history.
For the Hall of Fame
This year's candidates for the Hall of Fame
Postseason Awards
My picks for the major 1999 postseason awards
World Series Game 1 Diary
A diary of Game 1 of the 1999 World Series
Wildcard Races Hot in September
Wildcard races in September baseball
A Milestone Week
McGwire, Gwynn and Boggs hit baseball milestones.
AL All-Stars
My choices for the American League All Star team midway thru 1999.
NL All-Stars
One version of my picks for the 1999 NL All-Star team
The Top Hitters of 1999
The top hitters of 1999
Early Season Slumps, Down Goes The Straw, and Hall of Fame Cases
A look at early season baseball deals with bad starts, milestones reached and an arrest.
AL Preview
Preview of the 1999 American League
Free Fantasy Baseball 1999
Finding free fantasy baseball on the web
1999 Hall of Fame Voting
Who else deserves entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And why?
Who's Left?
Now that all the major free agents have been signed, who are the top ten players available.
The Top 25 Free Agents of 1998, Part 2
Part 2 of a look at the 25 players most worth pursuing in the free agent market this offseason
The 25 Top Free Agents of 1998, Part 1
A look at the 25 players most worth pursuing in the free agent market this offseason
Is Piazza Worth It?
Will Mike Piazza's record-setting deal turn out to be a good investment for the New York Mets?
The Postseason on the Web
The best places on the web to follow the 1998 postseason
Postseason Baseball
Up-to-date review and preview of postseason baseball
McGwire: Facts and Figures
You'd have to be a hermit living in a bomb shelter not to have heard of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's chase of baseball's all-time home run record this year. They will both break the record, probably within the next week, and America will be watching. But what has not been truly appreciated is the overall great season McGwire is having - arguably the best year any hitter has had in 40 years, if he can keep the pace up.
The Science of Baseball
One of the most exciting new baseball sites I've seen in years is now up on the World Wide Web. The Science of Baseball, presented by the always excellent Exploratorium megasite, is finally available to the public after months of preparation. The exhibit looks at baseball scientifically from many different angles, and successfully uses both information and interaction in providing visitors with a unique experience.
Baseball's Last Few Races
Major league baseball has been very lucky to have Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chasing 61 home runs this year, because it's only mid August and already most of the races are over.
Deadline Deals
As the midnight trading deadline approached Friday night, there was a stampede of deals made. Herewith is a guide to all the deals and what they mean on the major league level.
A SABR story
All about the Society of American Baseball Research and its annual convention
1998 NL All-Stars
Picking the 1998 NL All-Stars was a rougher assignment than picking the AL All-Stars. There was no real All-Star talent on three different teams, which meant I had to replace genuine All-Stars with marginals in order to follow the rules set down by MLB and pick at least one player from each team.
1998 AL All-Star Team
American League All-Star team
Birds, Fish and other Baseball Observations
The Diamondbacks' walk of Barry Bonds with the bases loaded the other night was certainly a unique event. According to Rob Neyer of ESPN Sportszone, no major leaguer had been walked with the bases loaded in over 40 years - but, ironically, the intentional walk probably made a lot more sense in that situation than in most situations in which it is used. So it really shouldn't be considered controversial or questionable.
The Top Hitters of 1999
The top hitters of 1999 so far
The Top Hitters of 1999
The top hitters of 1999 so far
News and Views on the Season So Far
News and views on the baseball season so far: From Kerry Wood to Tom Goodwin to MVPs
Baseball Cybercasts on the Web
Your guide to following live baseball on the web through cybercasts
Free Fantasy Baseball
Free fantasy baseball has hit the web in a big way at Smallworld and other sites.
1998's Rookie and Near-Rookie Crop: Part 2
And now, part 2 of our look at young players who may get a chance to make an impact in the majors this year:
1998's Rookie and Near-Rookie Crop: Part 1
1997 had the best rookie crop, especially in the National League, baseball had seen in at least ten years. 1998 won't match 1997, but it does look like this season will produce another excellent group of rookies, especially in the American League. Here are some of the rookies and near rookies who will likely make an impact at the major league level in 1998.
Baseball Dollars vs. Baseball Sense: The Orioles' and Marlins' Offseasons
Sometimes baseball clubs do things that make no real sense. Take the Orioles, for example. This off-season their highly respected General Manager Pat Gillick has made a number of moves that at best can be termed bizarre.
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Free Fantasy Baseball, Year 2
free fantasy baseball on the net
Statistical Tomes for the Offseason Blues
The calendar on the wall may say it's the beginning of the new year, but we're in the dead zone part of the baseball calendar.
Expansion Mistakes
In another self-inflicted blow for baseball, the expansion draft for Arizona and Tampa Bay turned out to be a non-event. Baseball publicized the heck out of the draft, but made mistake after mistake in putting the package together.
Older Articles
To read the articles written by the previous editor of baseball at Suite 101, Sean Lahman, click here

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