American League

every year but one – 2003, when teammate Mike Hampton won.  From 1996 through 2008, the American League saw two pitchers – Mike Mussina and Kenny Rogers – win all but one Gold Glove.  (Johan Santana received the award in 2007.)

Continue reading "Gold Glove on the pitcher’s mound: ..."

The American League won yet another All-Star Game – by a single run for the fourth year in a row.  Manny Ramirez returned from his 50-game suspension.  The Nationals fired manager Manny Acta.  Jonathan Sanchez threw the season’s first no-hitter.  The Braves gave up on underachieving hometown boy Jeff Francouer, and traded him to the Mets for Ryan Church, who hit the foul ball I caught at RFK in 2007.  The most exciting news, however, took place the day I returned from my voyage: Mark Buerhle of the White Sox threw a perfect game.  The following day, the A’s traded slugger Matt Holliday to the Cardinals, who now have protection for Albert Pujols.

Continue reading "While I was out…"

 Josh Hamilton is an incredible player, but there’s no way he can carry the American League All-Stars against a National League team boasting guys with names like Berkman, Chipper, and Utley.

Continue reading "This year’s All-Star Game should be no contest"

At the of 10, I pitched my first baseball game.  By 16, I had pitched my last.  I was a product of a career cut short by tendonitis in the elbow of my throwing arm.  I recall coming home after high school games to the weak therapy of a heating pad which only isolated my pain.  The throbbing would be so intense that I was unable to move my arm enough to pick up a pencil to do my math homework.  I knew things were on their way down when a kid clobbered a 300 some-odd foot homerun off of the first pitch of my career.  It would be the only homerun I gave up all year, but as the season moved on, my stamina withered.  A 5 inning outing quickly turned into 4 innings then 3.  Before I knew it, I was moved to the role of closer.  By the end of the season, I was lucky if I could handle more than 1 innings worth of work.  My fastball steadily declined from the upper-mid 70s to the low 60s.  With only two games left in the season, I broke my left thumb and was done for the season. 

Continue reading "A Call To Young Arms"

players will deliever for them.  Below I have picked the top players at each position for the American League, who will lead at what category, who will win the awards, and who are the flops.  Enjoy!1B Justin Morneau2B Robinson Cano3B Alex Rodriguez or Miguel CaberaSS Carlos GuillenC Joe MauerOF Tori HunterOF Grady SizemoreOF Magglio OrdonezUTIL David OrtizSP Josh BeckettSP John LackeySP Justin VerlanderCLOSER Jonathon Papelbon

Continue reading "2008 Major League Baseball Preview: ..."