Why are there bandwagon fans? Do people feel such a need for winning that they abandon the team they love for a team that's winning? Why can't people just love one team, through thick and thin?
I have been a lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals, and Bearcats. The Bengals didn't become a winning team until the last couple of years, but that run has been shortlived. If they go back to the Bengals of old, I will still be the same old fan. I'll watch their games every Sunday, and keep cheering until we get to the playoffs. The Reds are finally becoming a good team again, but I never stopped loving them. I went to game after game while they were bad, and I'll go to game after game while they're good. My beloved Bearcats have been excellent my whole life, up until they fired Bob Huggins. Just because they have faltered, I'm not going to quit loving them.
Many people are quick to jump off a team's bandwagon just because they stop winning. Who cares? They are the same team, they just need help. They're not going to get better because somebody quits supporting them, so why do it? What does it prove if you quit supporting one team, and support a team that is winning? I guess that just shows how little of a fan you actually are. What's the competition in it? Hopefully people support the team, because those are the true fans that can get the team back on track.
Teams like Duke, North Carolina, UCLA, Kentucky, they all have tons of fans. It's not that people have supported them forever, it's that people want to support a winner. Why not try to make your team a winner. It might not be much, but if you support an organization like UCats, which is the booster program for the UC Bearcats, you are supporting your team. You are helping your team build a foundation for forever. That way those fans are jumping on your bandwagon, not off.
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
An Ideal (National League) Lineup
What would it take to have an ideal lineup? Would it be like the Yankees lineup, with veterans, that take lots of pitches, and work walks? Would it be like the Tigers, with tons of great power hitters? Should it be speed, contact, or power oriented? Should it have a mix? Should it all revolve around a superstar? Today, I'm going to examine what I believe to be a perfect lineup.
Leadoff hitter:
My ideal leadoff hitter would be one with zero power, good speed, and a very good bunter. Also, I feel that this player should have a good OBP. I believe that leading off, you need to be able to put pressure on the opposition. A good bunter puts tons of pressure on a defense. The reason I don't think he should have any power is because sometimes players feel the need to takeover a game, and they try to hit it out of the ballpark. A player with no power already realizes that he can't do that, so he is less likely to pop, or flyout.
Two hitter:
My ideal two hitter would be a player with good opposite field hitting, good power to the gaps, and decent speed. Opposite field hitting is good for a righty because it makes moving the runner from second to third easier, by slapping it to the right side. Power to the gaps and speed are good because sometimes that leadoff man doesn't get on, and you are faced with trying to score with one less out to work with. That way you have the ability to get to second or third base.
Third hitter:
I find that a three hitter should have decent power, and decent contact ability, but with little to no speed. A third hitter should be relied on to knock the 1 or 2 hitters in. If he gets on with two outs, or with another runner already on base, it's unlikely that he would be relied on to steal bases, so speed isn't very nessecary. He does need to be able to hit homeruns, and drive in runs with hits to the gaps. Also, he would need to get on base with some regularity, so the cleanup hitter would be given oppertunities to hit with runners on base, and not leading off the second inning.
Cleanup hitter:
A cleanup hitter's primary focus should be power. Typically, the cleanup hitter will come up with atleast somebody onbase. An added bonus would be if he could get on base, but seeing as the hitters behind him wouldn't be able to knock in runs with as much regularity as the 3-4 hitters, OBP isn't needed at this position.
Five hitter:
A five hitter should have skills similar to the three hitter, with a little more speed, and a little less power. If the cleanup hitter has done his job, and hit in everybody onbase, this player should have less responsibility to knock in runs. Ideally, this player should be used primarily as a second leadoff man, getting onbase, to setup the men late in the lineup.
Six hitter:
The number six hitter should be a player with skills similar to the two hitter. He should be able to run a little bit, and hit opposite field. He needs to get onbase with some regularity, because the second half of a lineup can't be a cupcake for the opposition. He should setup the seven batter for some RBIs.
Seven hitter:
In my opinion, the seven hitter should be a power hitter, and nothing more. This player should be able to hit for power, and knock in runs. Seeing as the two hitters behind him likely have no ability to knock in runs, OBP, and speed are unnessecary.
Eight hitter:
The eight hitter should serve as a leadoff man. He has to have contact ability and speed. He needs to get onbase so that the pitcher can bunt him over to second base.
Eight hitter: (pitcher)
My ideal hitting pitcher would be one that can bunt, bunt, and bunt some more. He needs to advance the runner to second base, putting pressure on the pitcher who is getting ready to face the top of the lineup.
Leadoff hitter:
My ideal leadoff hitter would be one with zero power, good speed, and a very good bunter. Also, I feel that this player should have a good OBP. I believe that leading off, you need to be able to put pressure on the opposition. A good bunter puts tons of pressure on a defense. The reason I don't think he should have any power is because sometimes players feel the need to takeover a game, and they try to hit it out of the ballpark. A player with no power already realizes that he can't do that, so he is less likely to pop, or flyout.
Two hitter:
My ideal two hitter would be a player with good opposite field hitting, good power to the gaps, and decent speed. Opposite field hitting is good for a righty because it makes moving the runner from second to third easier, by slapping it to the right side. Power to the gaps and speed are good because sometimes that leadoff man doesn't get on, and you are faced with trying to score with one less out to work with. That way you have the ability to get to second or third base.
Third hitter:
I find that a three hitter should have decent power, and decent contact ability, but with little to no speed. A third hitter should be relied on to knock the 1 or 2 hitters in. If he gets on with two outs, or with another runner already on base, it's unlikely that he would be relied on to steal bases, so speed isn't very nessecary. He does need to be able to hit homeruns, and drive in runs with hits to the gaps. Also, he would need to get on base with some regularity, so the cleanup hitter would be given oppertunities to hit with runners on base, and not leading off the second inning.
Cleanup hitter:
A cleanup hitter's primary focus should be power. Typically, the cleanup hitter will come up with atleast somebody onbase. An added bonus would be if he could get on base, but seeing as the hitters behind him wouldn't be able to knock in runs with as much regularity as the 3-4 hitters, OBP isn't needed at this position.
Five hitter:
A five hitter should have skills similar to the three hitter, with a little more speed, and a little less power. If the cleanup hitter has done his job, and hit in everybody onbase, this player should have less responsibility to knock in runs. Ideally, this player should be used primarily as a second leadoff man, getting onbase, to setup the men late in the lineup.
Six hitter:
The number six hitter should be a player with skills similar to the two hitter. He should be able to run a little bit, and hit opposite field. He needs to get onbase with some regularity, because the second half of a lineup can't be a cupcake for the opposition. He should setup the seven batter for some RBIs.
Seven hitter:
In my opinion, the seven hitter should be a power hitter, and nothing more. This player should be able to hit for power, and knock in runs. Seeing as the two hitters behind him likely have no ability to knock in runs, OBP, and speed are unnessecary.
Eight hitter:
The eight hitter should serve as a leadoff man. He has to have contact ability and speed. He needs to get onbase so that the pitcher can bunt him over to second base.
Eight hitter: (pitcher)
My ideal hitting pitcher would be one that can bunt, bunt, and bunt some more. He needs to advance the runner to second base, putting pressure on the pitcher who is getting ready to face the top of the lineup.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Jose Reyes
Is Jose Reyes overrated? How come everytime you watch a Mets' game, he seems to be the one the announcers talk about? This is a guy who's OBP for his career is .330. While everybody talks about how much potential he has, at age 24, he has yet to live upto it. He is an excellent fielder, amassing a career fielding position at shortstop of .975. Still, how is it that a guy like this get that much hype? Sure, he's likely the fastest man in baseball. Last year he had 78 steals, but is that good enough to keep him as leadoff man if he gets on base as little as he does?
Why doesn't he just bat right handed? To me, batting left handed is a waste for him. He's a much better hitter right handed than he is left. Many switch hitters think that batting left handed gets them an added jump towards first, but with Reyes, that's not enough to help the fact that he's not a good left handed hitter.
Hopefully all his potential will turn into production. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but his production doesn't match his potential. If he hones his skills, and starts getting on base more, hitting for more power, and continues to play with great effort, there is no doubt in my mind he will be a Hall of Famer.
Why doesn't he just bat right handed? To me, batting left handed is a waste for him. He's a much better hitter right handed than he is left. Many switch hitters think that batting left handed gets them an added jump towards first, but with Reyes, that's not enough to help the fact that he's not a good left handed hitter.
Hopefully all his potential will turn into production. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but his production doesn't match his potential. If he hones his skills, and starts getting on base more, hitting for more power, and continues to play with great effort, there is no doubt in my mind he will be a Hall of Famer.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Previewing The AL East
The AL East, which has been one of the best divisions in baseball for the past decade, again promises to have atleast two World Series contenders.
The Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are one of the greatest franchises in baseball. For years, they have maintained a constant of winning, while not spending as much as the Yankees. With a group of stars like Josh Beckett, Jon Papelbon, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz, it looks like Boston has the makings to be back in the World Series this year. I would be shocked to see this team win less than 90 games, and would also be shocked if they didn't make it back to the ALCS.
The Yankees
The New York Yankees are baseball's highest spending franchise. This year, the final for old Yankee Stadium, they have the highest payroll in baseball history. While the Yankees would love for Yankee Stadium to go out with a bang, the veterans on the team may weight it down. For a team with so many veterans, staying healthy will be the key in making the playoffs, and potentially the World Series. The Yankees havn't missed the playoffs in 15 years, and it looks like again they have bought themselves a spot.
The Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have the most potential of any team in baseball. With young players like Carl Crawford, Scott Kazmir, and B.J. Upton, the Rays are primed for a breakout in the next two years. If they do what they have to this point been unsuccessful with, which is holding onto young players, they have a group that will defenitly rise them into the playoffs in the coming years. This year, it's likely that they will show shades of the future, though it's not probable that they will yet compete for the title. I would look for 80-85 wins at most out of this team, but that's being very, very optimistic.
The Orioles
The Orioles will likely be the last place team in the AL East this year. This offseason, they have traded Eric Bedard, and Miguel Tejada, the two stars of the team. Bedard brought back Adam Jones, who is one of the best 5 tool prospects in baseball. While this team will struggle, it will be intresting to see what Jones can do if he gets playing time. I'd look for 70-75 wins out of the O's this year.
The Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have recently been making an effort to prove that they can spend with the Red Sox and Yankees. Bringing in A.J. Burnett, and B.J. Ryan, most of the money has been spent on pitching. The franchise traded power hitting third baseman Troy Glaus for a great defender, and good hitter in Scott Rolen. Rolen, while struggling with injuries, still has put up good numbers in recent years. I believe that this club will need to score more to win, because it's not likely you will hold the Sox or Yankees under 5 runs a game. While I don't see them winning the division, it's not hard to see the Jays making a run, and being in contention for second or third place in the division.
The Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are one of the greatest franchises in baseball. For years, they have maintained a constant of winning, while not spending as much as the Yankees. With a group of stars like Josh Beckett, Jon Papelbon, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz, it looks like Boston has the makings to be back in the World Series this year. I would be shocked to see this team win less than 90 games, and would also be shocked if they didn't make it back to the ALCS.
The Yankees
The New York Yankees are baseball's highest spending franchise. This year, the final for old Yankee Stadium, they have the highest payroll in baseball history. While the Yankees would love for Yankee Stadium to go out with a bang, the veterans on the team may weight it down. For a team with so many veterans, staying healthy will be the key in making the playoffs, and potentially the World Series. The Yankees havn't missed the playoffs in 15 years, and it looks like again they have bought themselves a spot.
The Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have the most potential of any team in baseball. With young players like Carl Crawford, Scott Kazmir, and B.J. Upton, the Rays are primed for a breakout in the next two years. If they do what they have to this point been unsuccessful with, which is holding onto young players, they have a group that will defenitly rise them into the playoffs in the coming years. This year, it's likely that they will show shades of the future, though it's not probable that they will yet compete for the title. I would look for 80-85 wins at most out of this team, but that's being very, very optimistic.
The Orioles
The Orioles will likely be the last place team in the AL East this year. This offseason, they have traded Eric Bedard, and Miguel Tejada, the two stars of the team. Bedard brought back Adam Jones, who is one of the best 5 tool prospects in baseball. While this team will struggle, it will be intresting to see what Jones can do if he gets playing time. I'd look for 70-75 wins out of the O's this year.
The Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have recently been making an effort to prove that they can spend with the Red Sox and Yankees. Bringing in A.J. Burnett, and B.J. Ryan, most of the money has been spent on pitching. The franchise traded power hitting third baseman Troy Glaus for a great defender, and good hitter in Scott Rolen. Rolen, while struggling with injuries, still has put up good numbers in recent years. I believe that this club will need to score more to win, because it's not likely you will hold the Sox or Yankees under 5 runs a game. While I don't see them winning the division, it's not hard to see the Jays making a run, and being in contention for second or third place in the division.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Cincinnati Reds 2008 Preview
The Cincinnati Reds come into the 2008 year with a core of young players unsurpassed in previous years. The Reds have four players in the top 50 prospects in baseball. Two of those are hard throwing right handed pitchers. Pitching, which has been the weakness of Reds teams in the past, is finally on the front burner with the organization. They have made good trades, landing Harang, Arroyo, and Edison Volquez. While the Reds haven't performed well in the past few years, the young nucleus is there to propel this team into the playoffs for years to come.
The infield:
The Reds are strong on the infield. First baseman Joey Votto will likely takeover for veteran Scott Hatteberg at some point in the year. Votto, who is known for his bat, came up last year and caught fire through September. Brandon Phillips, who should have won the Gold Glove last year, had a 30-30 year. Alex Gonzalez, and Jeff Keppinger will split time at shortstop, with Gonzalez being a defensive wizard, and Keppinger being a solid .300 hitter. Edwin Encarnacion will be the third baseman this year. Edwin struggled early, but found his swing after a stint in the minors. Will this finally be the year that Edwin can live up to his potential? The infield seems to be solid, but with two spots up for grabs, it looks like it could be an exciting Spring.
The outfield:
The Reds outfield it lacking last year's greatest story in Josh Hamilton. He was traded to the Rangers for Edison Volquez. Still, the outfield is very strong. With power hitting, and not much else outfielder Adam Dunn in left, Ken Griffey Jr. in right, and the center field spot up for grabs, the outfield is the strength of this team. Jay Bruce, who was rated by Baseball America as the number one prospect in all of baseball, will likely assume the reins in center at some point this year. He is competing this Spring with Ryan Freel, Norris Hopper, Chris Dickerson, and Corey Patterson. Griffey could be gone after the season, as he has a 16 million dollar option that's not likely to be exercised the the team. Dunn could also be gone. He makes over ten million this year, in the final year of a deal he signed a few years ago. The outfield will be the core of the offense.
The starters:
The infield:
The Reds are strong on the infield. First baseman Joey Votto will likely takeover for veteran Scott Hatteberg at some point in the year. Votto, who is known for his bat, came up last year and caught fire through September. Brandon Phillips, who should have won the Gold Glove last year, had a 30-30 year. Alex Gonzalez, and Jeff Keppinger will split time at shortstop, with Gonzalez being a defensive wizard, and Keppinger being a solid .300 hitter. Edwin Encarnacion will be the third baseman this year. Edwin struggled early, but found his swing after a stint in the minors. Will this finally be the year that Edwin can live up to his potential? The infield seems to be solid, but with two spots up for grabs, it looks like it could be an exciting Spring.
The outfield:
The Reds outfield it lacking last year's greatest story in Josh Hamilton. He was traded to the Rangers for Edison Volquez. Still, the outfield is very strong. With power hitting, and not much else outfielder Adam Dunn in left, Ken Griffey Jr. in right, and the center field spot up for grabs, the outfield is the strength of this team. Jay Bruce, who was rated by Baseball America as the number one prospect in all of baseball, will likely assume the reins in center at some point this year. He is competing this Spring with Ryan Freel, Norris Hopper, Chris Dickerson, and Corey Patterson. Griffey could be gone after the season, as he has a 16 million dollar option that's not likely to be exercised the the team. Dunn could also be gone. He makes over ten million this year, in the final year of a deal he signed a few years ago. The outfield will be the core of the offense.
The starters:
The starting pitchers are lead by ace Aaron Harang. Bronson Arroyo, the man the Reds got for Wily Mo Pena, is the number two pitcher. He relies on lots of slow pitches, and typically is a 200+ inning a year guy. After that, the spots are up for grabs. In the race are Matt Belisle, Homer Bailey, Josh Fogg, Jeremy Affeldt, Edison Volquez, and Johnny Cueto. Cueto is the only pitcher in competition for a spot to never pitch a MLB inning. Bailey got pushed around a little it last year, but rebounded after coming back from injury. Volquez has looked very impressive this spring, with a sharp fastball, and two more MLB ready pitches, including an extremly impressive changeup. Fogg and Affeldt were brought in to buy time for the youngsters to make the rotation, but Affeldt likely has a future in the bullpen after he is done starting.
The bullpen:
The bullpen is alot better than last year. The Reds brought in veteran closer Francisco Cordero, in the largest deal ever given to a closer. David Weathers, the closer last year, has been the Reds most consistent pitcher for the last two years. Rookie Josh Roenkie has come to camp with a fastball reaching the high 90s. If he doesn't make the team out of Spring training, it's likely he will at some point this year. Bill Bray, Gary Majewski, Todd Coffey, Mike Stanton(sigh), and others will fight to get the remaining spots after Weathers and Cordero. While the bullpen may have more talent, it may take awhile to gel into a consistant stopper.
Overview:
While the Reds will not likely make the playoffs this year, contention is not out of the question. They have the talent to compete in a very weak NL Central. If some of the young players step up, and play to the potential that they have, it is entirely possible that they could be fighting for a playoff spot come September. Look for an upward trend in the next four years for this team, because that is about the timeframe they have to win. Griffey and Dunn may be gone after this season, the youngsters will quickly become expensive, and the veterans will get old. It's up to the organization to seize the talent that we have now, and make this a time to never forget.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
How is Baseball Boring?
Why is it that when you try to talk to a non baseball fan about baseball they use the excuse that baseball is boring? Sure, we don't have people getting knocked to the ground every play, and heck it's not like we have points being scored every two seconds. Baseball is a sport for the people that can find the entertainment value in the little things. The pressure situations are what gets me.
Even when a game is in the first inning there's pressure. There are so many scenarios that I run through my mind. They range from the next pitch, to why in the world Juan Castro still has a job. When the umpires get a play wrong that's even more entertaining. Who doesn't love to see a coach get tossed? Let's face it; they don't make a difference anyway.
So the next time you're watching baseball, and you get a bit bored, try to pick out those subtle details that make the game of baseball great. Focus on the pitches. Try to tell if the pitcher is bringing his "A" game. See if the batter may be shifting his weight too early. If you're at the game, try making some noise. It doesn't have to be much, maybe clap after every strikeout, and stand up and clap when somebody hits a homer. Baseball parks are like cemetaries sometimes.
Even when a game is in the first inning there's pressure. There are so many scenarios that I run through my mind. They range from the next pitch, to why in the world Juan Castro still has a job. When the umpires get a play wrong that's even more entertaining. Who doesn't love to see a coach get tossed? Let's face it; they don't make a difference anyway.
So the next time you're watching baseball, and you get a bit bored, try to pick out those subtle details that make the game of baseball great. Focus on the pitches. Try to tell if the pitcher is bringing his "A" game. See if the batter may be shifting his weight too early. If you're at the game, try making some noise. It doesn't have to be much, maybe clap after every strikeout, and stand up and clap when somebody hits a homer. Baseball parks are like cemetaries sometimes.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
To Swing, Or Not To Swing - An Analysis of Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker, the longtime Major League manager, and current manager of the Cincinnati Reds has baseball theories that are catagorized by many in baseball as illogical. He likes hitters swinging early in the count, and doesn't believe that on base percentage is as valuable to a team as hitting for power is. A man who formerly managed the likes of Barry Bonds and Derrick Lee doesn't like the idea of taking lots of walks if you are a middle of the order hitter. Today, I'm using Sabermetrics to analyze the theory that hitting early in the count is better for a hitter.
Take for instance hitting early in the count. Stats say that swinging at the first pitch you will get a hit .341 percent of the time. Hitting deeper in the count, such as a 1-1 count you hit only .328. Even if you get ahead in the count, such as 3-1 you only stand to get a hit .341 percent of the time. Though at 3-1, the OBP of a player jumps to a staggering .681. With the Baker mindset, it's not likely that a player would find himself in a 3-1 situation too often. Baker doesn't like a player "clogging up bases." Instead, he likes the fast players to be the ones to get on base, and the middle of the order hitters to drive them in.
In this analysis, the point has been made that swinging early, at a good pitch gives you a good chance for a hit. Waiting until later in the count can cause a lower chance at a hit, mostly due to the fact that you don't know where a count will go. Such as if the count goes to 0-1 or 0-2. In those situations, it becomes increasingly unlikely that you will get a hit. His ways are geared so that power hitters get a chance to hit. While some managers like to wear down a pitcher, Baker views taking pitches as restricting his hitters. So while his views may be different, his results speak for themselves.
So while Baker's philosophy isn't widely viewed as good, he takes an intresting, and informed view on baseball. He doesn't view convention as the best way, but more as a way to mediocrity. While he could take the high road, like many managers today, he's defied conventional wisdom, and beaten the odds. While many managers go by the book, and use that as an excuse when they lose, Baker has no fallback point. He has nothing to backup his wisdom. It's the less informed of the sports world that moves so quicly to judge somebody for being different, but it will be the same crowd that jumps to his side when he wins.
Winning is the cure of all questioning, so if Baker proves once and for all that his ways are atleast as good as the conventional ones, he will have proved the naysayers wrong. Until that point, the baseball world will continue to question him - right or wrong. The only way to fix that is to win, so that's exactly what he plans to do.
Go Reds!
Take for instance hitting early in the count. Stats say that swinging at the first pitch you will get a hit .341 percent of the time. Hitting deeper in the count, such as a 1-1 count you hit only .328. Even if you get ahead in the count, such as 3-1 you only stand to get a hit .341 percent of the time. Though at 3-1, the OBP of a player jumps to a staggering .681. With the Baker mindset, it's not likely that a player would find himself in a 3-1 situation too often. Baker doesn't like a player "clogging up bases." Instead, he likes the fast players to be the ones to get on base, and the middle of the order hitters to drive them in.
In this analysis, the point has been made that swinging early, at a good pitch gives you a good chance for a hit. Waiting until later in the count can cause a lower chance at a hit, mostly due to the fact that you don't know where a count will go. Such as if the count goes to 0-1 or 0-2. In those situations, it becomes increasingly unlikely that you will get a hit. His ways are geared so that power hitters get a chance to hit. While some managers like to wear down a pitcher, Baker views taking pitches as restricting his hitters. So while his views may be different, his results speak for themselves.
So while Baker's philosophy isn't widely viewed as good, he takes an intresting, and informed view on baseball. He doesn't view convention as the best way, but more as a way to mediocrity. While he could take the high road, like many managers today, he's defied conventional wisdom, and beaten the odds. While many managers go by the book, and use that as an excuse when they lose, Baker has no fallback point. He has nothing to backup his wisdom. It's the less informed of the sports world that moves so quicly to judge somebody for being different, but it will be the same crowd that jumps to his side when he wins.
Winning is the cure of all questioning, so if Baker proves once and for all that his ways are atleast as good as the conventional ones, he will have proved the naysayers wrong. Until that point, the baseball world will continue to question him - right or wrong. The only way to fix that is to win, so that's exactly what he plans to do.
Go Reds!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Heart
Why do people love baseball? I love baseball because I can watch players that give their all runs circles around those who don't. Those who don't care sometimes rely on skills alone, or the passion they usto have. They still get paid, some of them still play extremly well. The difference is that I don't care about those who don't care for the game, or the ones who are too good for practice. I care about the ones who care enough to give the fans what they paid for, effort.
Pete Rose, the all time hit king is admired by some for his all out effort. You can count me in that bunch. He may have bet on baseball. Everybody knows he did. He did that though because he knew so much about the game. This was the sport he grew up around. This was the sport he cared about. Though he is one of the only, if not the only player who bet on baseball that I know of, he didn't cheat in the way that matters most to me... effort.
Chicks dig the long ball. We have all heard that saying. Well, I dig the hustle. I love the players who don't care about what people think about them. I want someone who will risk injury and give that 110%. Is that too much to ask? Those that do care will be forever admired by baseball fans like me. Baseball fans who are great players, but who didn't care will be loved by millions. I guess those players would rather be loved by millions. But, could you imagine if those great players did care? How great they could be.
I will leave you with one final thought. The talented players get by with the talent that god gave them, but the true warriors get by with what god gave us all, heart.
Pete Rose, the all time hit king is admired by some for his all out effort. You can count me in that bunch. He may have bet on baseball. Everybody knows he did. He did that though because he knew so much about the game. This was the sport he grew up around. This was the sport he cared about. Though he is one of the only, if not the only player who bet on baseball that I know of, he didn't cheat in the way that matters most to me... effort.
Chicks dig the long ball. We have all heard that saying. Well, I dig the hustle. I love the players who don't care about what people think about them. I want someone who will risk injury and give that 110%. Is that too much to ask? Those that do care will be forever admired by baseball fans like me. Baseball fans who are great players, but who didn't care will be loved by millions. I guess those players would rather be loved by millions. But, could you imagine if those great players did care? How great they could be.
I will leave you with one final thought. The talented players get by with the talent that god gave them, but the true warriors get by with what god gave us all, heart.
Why Baseball Managers Are Important
Many people say that a MLB manager is the least important of the coaches in professional sports. I personally don't agree with that statement. That is why in this post I will examine the intracies of the Major League manager.
First off, and most important is the usage of players. If you use a player too much that player could become fatigued, and therfore hurt your ball club. If a manager brings in the wrong pitcher from the bullpen, and that player gives up the game its the managers fault. If a manager puts a starting pitcher in the bullpen it can mess up the comrodery of the pitching staff as well.
Team chemistry is also very important. If a manager doesn't manager, and treat the players the way they think they should be treated, the players will lose respect for the coach. If you lose respect for your coach you are losing faith in your team. If they loses faith in the team it causes a division in the clubhouse. That can happen on the best, and the worst of teams, at any time. That is why one little mistake can devistate a managers tenure.
On the flip side, baseball is the easiest place for a manager to fake being a good coach. Take the Yankees for instince. In his early days Joe Torre would be caught sleeping on tv. The only reason he didn't get fired was that since he was the Yankees coach, he had terrific assistant coaches to run the team.
First off, and most important is the usage of players. If you use a player too much that player could become fatigued, and therfore hurt your ball club. If a manager brings in the wrong pitcher from the bullpen, and that player gives up the game its the managers fault. If a manager puts a starting pitcher in the bullpen it can mess up the comrodery of the pitching staff as well.
Team chemistry is also very important. If a manager doesn't manager, and treat the players the way they think they should be treated, the players will lose respect for the coach. If you lose respect for your coach you are losing faith in your team. If they loses faith in the team it causes a division in the clubhouse. That can happen on the best, and the worst of teams, at any time. That is why one little mistake can devistate a managers tenure.
On the flip side, baseball is the easiest place for a manager to fake being a good coach. Take the Yankees for instince. In his early days Joe Torre would be caught sleeping on tv. The only reason he didn't get fired was that since he was the Yankees coach, he had terrific assistant coaches to run the team.
Ken Griffey Jr., a Reds Fan's Perspective
Why do people always rip Ken Griffey Jr.? I'll tell you why. He let Reds fans down. He let them fall the the lowest of lows, because he isn't the player we thought he was. He came in to Cincinnati, seemingly the savior of the franchise. He gave us a "hometown discount," and the blogs were exploding. The Reds were seemingly the National league's team to beat.
Well, that was 7 years ago. In 1999, the Reds had a season that reshaped people's vision of the Reds. They won over 90 games, and made it to a one game playoff with the Mets. Though they lost, it was believed that minor improvments would be all this team would need to become a World Series contender. That however, was far from the truth.
The Reds went out and traded for Ken Griffey Jr., who was quite possibly the most gifted player in baseball history. With his perfect swing, and amazingly strong legs, he seemed unstoppable. With Griffey, the Reds were sure to be unstoppable. The greatest player in baseball, and a team that was a contender even before he arrived-things were shaping up very well for the Reds.
That season Junior amassed 40 homers, 118 RBIs, but set a career low with a .942 OPS. For those who don't know that is on base percentage plus slugging percentage. Even with that production though, the Reds struggled, and didn't even come close to the playoffs.
Since 2000, Junior has suffered injuries in every season. This season, playing in 144 games was a high since his 145 in 2000. From 2002 to 2004, Junior only managed to play in 206 games. He also only hit 41 homeruns during that time. Compare that to his years in Seattle, where he managed to hit 41 homeruns in six different seasons, including two 56 homerun seasons.
What does Junior bring to the Reds? At $12,500,000 he is no bargain. He is the highest paid Cincinnati Red. Though his numbers havn't always shown in the stat sheet, they have shown at the box office. When he arrived in Cincinnati the attendence numbers hit the roof. Now that mistique has worn away, and so has Junior. In a season where he was relativly healthy, and playing in Great American smallpark, he still only amassed 30 homeruns.
Have we seen the end of Ken Griffey Jr. in Cincy? In my opinion yes. He is no longer the player he usto be, or we hoped he would be. Though he has helped this franchise, his value is no longer higher than that of Jay Bruce. So I plead with you. Reds nation pleads to you. Please Wayne Krivsky, trade Junior to a contender, so he won't go down as the greatest player to not have a World Series ring.
Well, that was 7 years ago. In 1999, the Reds had a season that reshaped people's vision of the Reds. They won over 90 games, and made it to a one game playoff with the Mets. Though they lost, it was believed that minor improvments would be all this team would need to become a World Series contender. That however, was far from the truth.
The Reds went out and traded for Ken Griffey Jr., who was quite possibly the most gifted player in baseball history. With his perfect swing, and amazingly strong legs, he seemed unstoppable. With Griffey, the Reds were sure to be unstoppable. The greatest player in baseball, and a team that was a contender even before he arrived-things were shaping up very well for the Reds.
That season Junior amassed 40 homers, 118 RBIs, but set a career low with a .942 OPS. For those who don't know that is on base percentage plus slugging percentage. Even with that production though, the Reds struggled, and didn't even come close to the playoffs.
Since 2000, Junior has suffered injuries in every season. This season, playing in 144 games was a high since his 145 in 2000. From 2002 to 2004, Junior only managed to play in 206 games. He also only hit 41 homeruns during that time. Compare that to his years in Seattle, where he managed to hit 41 homeruns in six different seasons, including two 56 homerun seasons.
What does Junior bring to the Reds? At $12,500,000 he is no bargain. He is the highest paid Cincinnati Red. Though his numbers havn't always shown in the stat sheet, they have shown at the box office. When he arrived in Cincinnati the attendence numbers hit the roof. Now that mistique has worn away, and so has Junior. In a season where he was relativly healthy, and playing in Great American smallpark, he still only amassed 30 homeruns.
Have we seen the end of Ken Griffey Jr. in Cincy? In my opinion yes. He is no longer the player he usto be, or we hoped he would be. Though he has helped this franchise, his value is no longer higher than that of Jay Bruce. So I plead with you. Reds nation pleads to you. Please Wayne Krivsky, trade Junior to a contender, so he won't go down as the greatest player to not have a World Series ring.
Joe Finally Made it All The Way Home
Joe Nuxhall was the greatest man to ever put on a Reds uniform. He took the field with pride, and understood the significance of his actions. He took responsibility both on the field and off. Unlike today's baseball player, he took time out of his life to help those less fortunite. You didn't have to know Joe Nuxhall. If you walked up to him at the supermarket he would say hi. Off the field he considered himself just another Reds fan. Why is it that today, we have come to expect less out of our public figures?
Joe Nuxhall was not a man to bask in any glory. Yes, he was the youngest player in MLB history. He did something that nobody will probably ever do again, he started a professional baseball game at fifteen years old. He took the field as a man, and left it a legend. He never let his status get to him, which is what made him so unique. Never again will such a man grace this earth.
Joe Nuxhall gave us Reds fans hope. When we didn't have the best team on the field, we could still turn on Joe. He would tell it like it is, not following the chain of broadcasters that would tell you what the team wanted to tell you. He was proof that no matter who you were, you are no better than anybody else. He gave us hope for better days, and a better life. That is why he was so special.
Joe will forever be a fixture in our hearts. He shares commen bonds with all baseball fans, and the public in general.. He shares in our love for the game. Joe is a man who is unreplacable. Thank you Joe, for all that you have done for us. Thank you from that bottom of my, and every other Reds fan's hearts. We will never forget you.
Joe Nuxhall was not a man to bask in any glory. Yes, he was the youngest player in MLB history. He did something that nobody will probably ever do again, he started a professional baseball game at fifteen years old. He took the field as a man, and left it a legend. He never let his status get to him, which is what made him so unique. Never again will such a man grace this earth.
Joe Nuxhall gave us Reds fans hope. When we didn't have the best team on the field, we could still turn on Joe. He would tell it like it is, not following the chain of broadcasters that would tell you what the team wanted to tell you. He was proof that no matter who you were, you are no better than anybody else. He gave us hope for better days, and a better life. That is why he was so special.
Joe will forever be a fixture in our hearts. He shares commen bonds with all baseball fans, and the public in general.. He shares in our love for the game. Joe is a man who is unreplacable. Thank you Joe, for all that you have done for us. Thank you from that bottom of my, and every other Reds fan's hearts. We will never forget you.
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