More MLB Links posted by Erick Pacheco

http://atdhe.net/7388/watch-mariners-vs-yankees    Yankees vs Mariners

http://atdhe.net/5632/watch-rays-vs-blue-jays : Blue Jays and Rays

  http://atdhe.net/5711/watch-red-sox-vs-orioles   Red Sox vs Orioles

  http://atdhe.net/5546/watch-rockies-vs-dodgers  Dodgers vs Rockies

Tigers and Athletics :   http://atdhe.net/6246/watch-tigers-vs-athletics

Chicago baseball is simply mediocre posted by richard Kagan

The Chicago Cubs are 35-36.  The Chicago White Sox are 36-38.  Both teams are flirting with the .500 mark as we get closer to the half-way mark of the season.  Unless these teams are can go into after-drive and put the pedal to the metal, it is likely that these team will finish near the .500 mark.  The Cubs had a thrilling homestand and won some games with pulsating finishes.  Then they go on the road and make the Detroit Tigers look like world-beaters.  In one game, the Cubs have a one run lead late, but  their closer gives up a 2 run homer in the last of 9th to win the game for Detroit.

Good closers don't give up game winning home runs to lose the game.  Unfortunately, Marmol is the set up man and putting him in is like watching a chopped tree tottering before it falls.  You never know how it's going to work out.  Some days he looks great striking out the side. Other days it could a hit batter, a wild pitch, a walk, a single, and game on the brink.  This is after the Cubs have scored 4 runs on 9 hits to tie a game.  Last season, the game would have been over.

What a difference a year makes. Safe to say Milton Bradley won't be back next season. He has the psychological make-up of a rook in Babe Ruth League.  This is the Majors Milt, wake up. 

The Sox are not any great shakes either. Decent starting pitching, no consistent hitting, a bullpen that blows up games one day, and locks down a game on another.  The Sox actually look like they can do something this season, because their starters can get you to the 6th or 7th inning with a lead.  That's where they can get into trouble. The set up pitchers have been shaky this season. Jenks, the closer is reliable.  The Sox are 6 game out of the division lead.  A margin that a good team could make up.  But the Pale Hose win two games and lose 3 and you can't win a pennant that way.

Past drafts mostly bad posted by Bruce Bentley

The MLB draft took place this week as 1,521 high school and college kids were selected by 30 teams. For most teams not named the Yankees, who can spend $400 million on free agents to replenish their roster, the draft holds the keys to future success or failure.

Now it's virtually impossible to turn every high draft choice into a major league all-star. In baseball it takes three, four or more years for a pick to even make his debut in the bigs. So much can happen in that timeframe that a bust or two are bound to happen. The objective is not to let this go on for years on end like the Detroit Tigers did throughout the 90s and early part of this decade.

Looking back at the Tigers’ first-round draft choices from the last 20 years it's obvious why they were so horrible. Since 1989 the Tigers have had four winning seasons (two in the last three) and nine 90-plus loss seasons with four of those over 100 losses.

Not counting this year’s pick, of their 19 first-round picks (none in 1991), the Tigers have had 12 busts. Two had average careers, one is an all-star, two were traded for a superstar and two are in their rookie seasons in Detroit.

The Busts: (Year selected, name, position, pick) All are MLB stats.

1989, Greg Gohr, P, 21st.

Gohr pitched for four years going 8-11 with a 6.21 ERA.

1992, Rick Greene, P, 16th.

Greene never pitched for Detroit, and only one game with Cincinnati.

1993, Matt Brunson, SS, 9th.

Brunson never played in the majors.

1994, Cade Gaspar, P, 18th.
Continue reading "Past drafts mostly bad"

True Texas LONGhorn posted by Daniel Doyle

University of Texas pitcher Austin Wood throws 12 and 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball in a College World Series Regional Game.




I know most people are thinking, "Who in the heck is Austin Wood?" That in itself is a tragedy. The left-handed Senior threw 13 innings of scoreless relief against the Boston College Eagles, and did not even recieve the decision. The Longhorns did finally get the win, scoring a run in the 25th inning, five frames after Wood was removed from the game.



In a day in age that features so many specialists such as closers and set-up men, as well as pitch counts, this is a feat that we may never see duplicated again. Wood was removed from the game after his 169th pitch, one that made contact with the batter he was facing. His final line looked like this: 13 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 14 K, 4 BB. Wonder who Texas head coach Augie Garrido gave the game ball to? When asked about Wood's outing, Garrido, the winningest manager in college baseball history, said, "It was the best pitching performance I've ever seen."



How could an arm endure such a grueling night? Apparently Wood is a little "rubber-armed" but he did feel some effects. "My arm wasn't even sore. I'm telling you I didn't feel it at all," Wood said. "It's sore today. Man it hurts." So he is human. But what about the toll it took on him mentally. Wood had to watch inning after inning of his offense's inability to scratch across one, measly run. It took an incredible amount of mental toughness for him to go at every batter, pitches 1-169 with the same tenacity and confidence.
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“The Corner” no more posted by Bruce Bentley

“The Corner” soon will be just another corner in a city filled with old, rundown and abandoned buildings. For some reason Tiger Stadium had to be the first to go.

The Detroit's Economic Development Corp. commission voted last Tuesday (7-1) to tear down the remaining portion of Tiger Stadium. Most of the ballpark was torn down last summer with just the portion between first and third base remaining. The commission sited safety and security (currently being paid by the Conservancy) concerns along with making the area viable to developers as their reasoning for the vote.

Within days demolition crews were in place. Demolition began and stopped on Friday because of a court injunction. A ruling yesterday allowed the crews to resume knocking down a structure standing since 1912.

The vote itself surprised many members of the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy. The OTSC has been trying for a long time to raise funds to save the remaining portion and turn it into a usable ballpark with a museum, retail and office space. Unfortunately, the economy being the way it is, the group was unable to raise the money except a nearly $4 million earmark from the federal government courtesy of Senator Carl Levin.

I'll admit the DEDC, which did not need approval from new Mayor Dave Bing nor the Detroit City Council to make this vote, gave the Conservancy a lot of time plus extended many deadlines to find funding.

The issue for many, including myself, is the recent speed of the process.

What's the rush to create a vacant corner that soon will be overgrown with grass and weeds. The city is not known for cutting grass on time. Not to mention, zero development projects have been talked about to replace Tiger Stadium.
Continue reading "“The Corner” no more"

The next Lebron posted by Bruce Bentley

The next Lebron (James) doesn't even play basketball? Hmm, that's odd. The next Lebron, like Lebron, more than likely will never go to college before a pro career. The next Lebron, according to this week's Sports Illustrated, is a 16 year old high school baseball player from Las Vegas.

The next Lebron James is Bryce Harper.

Harper, a catcher, throws 96, right handed, bats left and routinely hits 500 foot homeruns. He travels all over the country participating on weekend travel teams, all-star games, pro-draft days and USA Baseball tryouts. Harper who is being advised by mega agent Scott Boras is thinking about earning his GED this summer so he can play junior college ball and become eligible for next years MLB draft instead of 2011.

Here we go again. This time a sensational high school baseball player is being labeled as the next best thing. Heck this time he's not even being compared to another baseball player. He's being compared to an NBA player who just won his first MVP but has yet to win a championship.

I hate to see kids get labeled this way so early. Yes the talent and potential are there. He's not only dominating average high school players but the best of the best between 16 and 19 years of age.

Before he punches his ticket to Cooperstown (like one Yahoo Sports blogger says) , realize things happen along the way , both good and bad.

A little over 10 years ago an article appeared in Sports Illustrated telling us about this can't miss prospect. A freak if you will. A down-to-earth teenager wanting to do nothing but play baseball. A lefthander who could throw 96 and hit for power to all fields. He could run and was outstanding defensively.
Continue reading "The next Lebron"

Same Squirrel? posted by Bruce Bentley

Comerica Park is home for the Detroit Tigers and apparently some squirrels!

The other night against Boston a squirrel made it's way onto the playing field in the second inning before being chased by stadium personal into the bushes in center field (see video ). From there it chilled out and watched at least a portion of the game.

I was at Comerica Park on May 16th for the Tigers/Oakland game. I like to get there a little early to watch batting practice and hopefully catch a homerun ball. Yes, I'm still a kid that way.

For most of the pregame I was entertained, by not the batting practice, but a fury little squirrel running around the bullpen trying to find a place to go. After about ten minutes of running back and forth along the top of the bullpen between both teams it made it's way onto the field before disappearing into the Tigers dugout. The little guy wasn't seen from the remainder of the game.

Was this the same squirrel? A family member? Or just a squirrel trying to find it's nut?

I'm not sure if squirrels like watching baseball so I'll assume the abundance of peanuts on the ground is the draw.

See Comerica Park was built below the main street surface. You can actually see the game in progress from outside the stadium. I'm guessing the city squirrels from the nearby parks think they've hit the jackpot, in terms of food, and have no problem entering the ballpark without a ticket.

I've read that city squirrels have learned to coexist with people and are pretty smart (for the most part) critters. For them it's all about survival and food is the way to go!

Boston Back in First Place posted by HankHillRedsox

Beckett Pitches 6 1/2 innings of Hitless Ball, But Tigers still make it interesting!
Sox came out last night looking ready to go and wanting this win. The Sox were on a mission to beat the Central Division's 1st place team, the Tigers!!  They started off like that to-- Pedroia led off the game with a hit, then JD Drew would hit his 200th career home-run and the Sox took an early 2-0 lead. The score would remain like this because Beckett was lights out!!  It wasn't until the 5th inning when the Sox would score 2 more runs making the score at 4-0 and Beckett still hitless and looking like a machine!!  Then in the 7th inning with 2 outs, Beckett faced C. Granderson and with a 1-2 count Beckett went for the corner of the plate and Granderson slapped it to right field for the Tigers' 1st hit of the game and ending Beckett's no hitter!!!  He would strike out the next batter, so after 7 innings the Tigers were down 4-0 and the Sox heading up to bat and this is when the game got even more interesting. The Red Sox came out in the top of the 8th like they were pissed for blowing the no hitter (even though it was no ones fault, that's just baseball) and would go through the entire line up with the Sox adding 6 more runs  making the score 10-0!!!! Every Red Sox starter ended with at least 1 hit including Big Papi who hit a 2-rbi double, so maybe this new lineup is working, scoring 10 runs and having 13 hits, solid!!  So you would think its over now, but like I said Detroit wanted to make it interesting and when Beckett came back out for the 8th then things ended up getting a little rough. B. Inge of the Tigers led off with a double off Beckett (only 2nd hit and that's all he allowed) then he would hit the next batter, and then the errors started. On a double play ball Pedroia missed Green leading to Detroit's 1st run and men at 1st and 2nd. So Francona came out and took out Beckett bringing in Bard. Beckett went 7.2 innings and only gave up 2 hits. He would still be charged for 2 earned, but he had 9 strikeouts- -Sick!!! Bard would have a little trouble, his 1st pitch was hit to Lowell and he would fumble the ball for another error and another run. Now with the score 10-2, still in the 8th with bases loaded when Granderson again does damage and hits a triple scoring 3 more, but then Bard was able to stop the bleeding after 5 runs were scored and 3 errors all in that one inning!!! Now with a 10-5 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th, somehow Sox relievers would give up a hit and 2 walks loading the bases, a little scary let me tell you. It was 10-0 now it's 10-5 and the Tigers had the bases loaded!! The next Sox reliever, Saito, comes in with the bases loaded and he would be able to close the door and give Beckett the Win he deserved. Final score: Sox 10--Tigers 5.  Meanwhile the Yankees lost, so with our win we move into a tie for first place with NY, Sweet!!! Beckett has looked like his old self for last 3 starts and the Sox are looking good taking 2 out of 3 so far with game 3 tonight.  Come on Sox get the Sweep, you can do it.  
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Dice K Gets First Win and Francona Gets 500th posted by HankHillRedsox

Dice-K gets 1st Win of the season and Francona records his 500th win with the Sox!!!
Dice pitched very good last night, allowing 6 hits but only 1 earned run and leaving Detroit looking hopeless. After the third inning the Sox had a 3-1 lead which they would only build on as the game went on-- leading to Dice K's first win in 2009(if he wins 17more in a row he will have the same record as last year 18-3, not likely, but headed in right direction) which is exactly what the Sox needed, A healthy Dice!!!
 Last night Francona switched the lineup again, he had Pedroia(1-4 with RBI) in leadoff, followed by Drew (2-5 a RBI and a run), Youkilis(0-3 RBI), Bay"Watch"(1-5 with another homer), Lowell(0-5), Big Papi in the 6 spot (1-5), striking out 3 times and hitting into a double play. What do we do with our Big man?? It's just sad to see. The bottom third of the lineup went to V-Teck(2-3), Ellsbury(2-3) and last was Green who went hitless. So not a bad lineup, but I'm still confused about Papi hitting sixth, besides that the Sox came up with 9 hits and 5 runs-- Sweet and then our bullpen going 3 innings of domination, until Papelbon came out to close it in the 9th. Next thing you know the bases are loaded, the tying run is at the plate, with nobody out and Papel has already thrown 24 pitches? Not to worry --because than his eyes lit up and he looked like he said to himself- "I am not blowing this for Dice"- then Mr. Papelbon struck out three in a row ending the game and giving the Sox a 5-1 win. So not the most entertaining game until Papelbon made it a little scary, but a win is a win(30-22), still 1 game out of 1st behind the Yankees-- and its the Yankees who we play next week!!!  Anyway the Sox rematch the Tigers tonight at 7:05 with Beckett going against Gallaraga. This should be a good one, see you there Sox-Nation!!
Continue reading "Dice K Gets First Win and Francona Gets 500th"

The Rookie posted by Joe Russo

As of now, if Rick Porcello stays in the majors and keeps getting the workload he has been lately, he's on pace for 180+ innings as a 21 yr old rookie.  Now i know all the old sentiment of when pitchers pitched 20 complete games a year and never had issues, but this is just a different time.  Innings and pitch counts are monitored more closely than a guys heart rate or blood tests and may have helped prolong some careers.  The point is still, can he hold up and if not, what can the Tigers do?

First off, Bonderman and Willis are both unacceptable answers at this point as both are bigger question marks than the rookie.  Say Willis builds off his last start and turns his career around in Detroit, and he becomes a reliable 3-4 guy, it still leaves one spot and im not sure Zach Miner gets anybody other than his mother excited when he steps up there.  And you can't count on Bonderman, the 2-pitch, 1st inning blues wonder who somehow manages to make it 2-3 times through a major league lineup with a fastball and a slider and a....yea that's it.  As if i couldn't inspire more confidence here's another tidbit: the guy has tried to learn a third pitch for 6 years....at least....is anybody gonna call an apple an apple and finally say enough, get in the bullpen or get a 3rd pitch.  Now i was always one of his biggest fans, but i just don't believe he can make it anymore on 2 pitches, especially if his fastball has slowed, as the reports say. 

Although i would like to see Porcello put in a Verlander-esque rookie of the year performance, it seems more likely we are looking at a situation like '07, when guys like Durbin and Miner and a few minor leaguers made a lot of starts in that fifth spot.  So let's hope 1st place is locked up tight come late July, or this could get ugly fairly quick. 

Ordonez returning to Detroit lineup

Magglio Ordonez will return to the Detroit Tigers lineup Tuesday after missing the past four games. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Tigers extend Leyland through 2011

The Detroit Tigers have extended manager Jim Leyland's contract through 2011. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Rested, ready Red Wings have eyes on Cup (AP)

[read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Bonderman likely to make MLB return Monday

It appears that Jeremy Bonderman will return to the Detroit Tigers' rotation on Monday, one year and one day after undergoing an angioplasty to repair a blood clot in his axillary vein. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB