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Francona deserved better from Red Sox

December 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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While Bobby Valentine was being introduced as the 45th manager of the Boston Red Sox, his predecessor, Terry Francona, was on a local radio station acknowledging the "aggravation" he's endured over statements about his handling of the team last season. The Boston Globe reported in October the Sox were concerned Francona was distracted during the year by marital problems and the use of prescription pain medications for chronic knee pain. Boston failed to make the playoffs after blowing a nine-game lead for the American League wild card, the worst pennant-race collapse ever. There were also claims Francona lost influence with some of the players. The Globe reported that as the team was folding in September, its top three starters—Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey—routinely drank beer, ate fried chicken and played video games in the clubhouse instead of being in the … [Read more...]

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Matty Alou, 1938-2011

November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Matty Alou

On a September evening in 1963 at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field, Matty Alou was a part of baseball history that likely will never be repeated. Flanked by his brothers Jesus and Felipe, the three Alous became the first and only all-brother outfield to play in a Major League game when they took the field for the San Francisco Giants. It was surely a testament to their bloodlines and the richness of talent from the Dominican Republic. Matty Alou died Thursday in his native country from diabetes complications. He was 72. Coaches from t-ball on up have been telling players since the beginning that if you put the ball in play good things will happen. That's how Matty Alou approached hitting. Alou was a reserve outfielder with the Giants but after being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1966, he became one of the game's best batsmen. A line-drive hitter who blossomed under the … [Read more...]

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Cardinals remain airborne with classic finish

October 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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It was more than just a baseball game. It was a gutty tug of war between two resilient bands of warriors who flat out refuse to concede to the other. Game 6 of the 2011 World Series is an instant classic, one for the ages. The Cardinals' stunning 10-9 comeback win over the Rangers on David Freese's 11th-inning home run will be remembered for generations the way we recall Carlton Fisk's dramatic homer in the sixth game of the 1975 Series and the infamous Bill Buckner error in Game 6 of the '86 Fall Classic. With two outs and down to their last strike in both the ninth and 10th innings, the Cardinals would not fold. Like a boxer who is twice knocked to the canvas, yet musters the fortitude to get back on his feet and rally to victory. That's Tony LaRussa's team. The Rangers are the ones usually knocking out their opponents. With a lineup that rivals that of the mighty Yankees, the … [Read more...]

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Playoff teams savor fruits of ’09 mega-trade

October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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It's been almost two years since the blockbuster, three-team trade between the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks in which Curtis Granderson was the marquee name. With each franchise currently competing in the postseason, it's easy to appreciate what a great deal this was for all involved. It was December 2009 when the Tigers sent centerfielder Granderson to the Yankees and starting pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks. The Yankees sent centerfield prospect Austin Jackson and reliever Phil Coke to the Tigers and starter Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks, who dealt starter Max Scherzer and reliever Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers. Granderson is a major reason why New York will be playing a Game 5 in the American League Division Series against the Tigers on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. His spectacular first-inning catch with the bases loaded and two out … [Read more...]

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Comebacks, collapses cap historic day in MLB

September 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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September was a month of sheer torture for the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves. To fully understand how these proud organizations could have succumbed to two of the most colossal collapses in baseball history, all one had to do was watch each team's final game of the season. That said it all. To the extent they could have extended the regular season with victories Wednesday, the Red Sox and Braves each controlled their own destiny. Both sent their formidable closers to the mound in the ninth inning to preserve leads, and both lost. Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel walked three Phillies in the ninth inning, opening the door for Philadelphia to tie their game and go on to beat the Braves 4-3 in 13 innings. The Braves were a comfortable 10 1/2 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League wild card on Aug. 26. As recently as Sept. 6 they were 8 1/2 up. By end of the … [Read more...]

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Sox seeing red over wild-card free fall

September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The anxiety in Red Sox Nation is intensifying by the day. Was that a nervous cheer we heard Thursday night at Fenway Park when Tampa Bay's Johnny Damon was hit with a pitch by his former team? Is that what the season has come to in Beantown? A collapse of epic proportions is in progress and if Terry Francona's team doesn't turn things around in a hurry, the Sox will be watching the postseason on TV. What a difference a couple of weeks make. Joe Maddon's Rays, which had trailed Boston by nine games in the American League wild-card race on Sept. 3, are now within three after beating the Red Sox 9-2 on Thursday. The teams play three more games this weekend and while the Rays are taking it one day at a time, the Sox continue to take on water. On Sept. 3 coolstandings.com, which simulates the remainders of seasons one million times to determine playoff chances, gave Boston a … [Read more...]

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Mike Flanagan, 1951-2011

August 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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UPDATED AT 4:27 P.M. (PT): The Baltimore Orioles were back on the field Thursday afternoon in Minnesota, just hours after they learned former franchise pitching great Mike Flanagan had been found dead on the grounds of his Sparks, Md., home. Life goes on, no matter how difficult. Flanagan, 59, had been working as a commentator on MASN, the regional TV network that televises Oriole games. His keen analysis, sense of humor and unmistakable New England accent were as much a part of the team this season as in the 30 years he spent with the organization. That makes his death all the more stunning. Police confirmed Thursday that Flanagan died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was married with three daughters. The news that Flanagan, for six years a senior executive with the ballclub, committed suicide was first reported by longtime WBAL-TV sports director Gerry … [Read more...]

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Pittsburgh pirated by lack of expanded replay

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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If the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to make it back to the postseason, it looks like they're going to have to do it the hard way. After 19 innings and six hours and 39 minutes of baseball that lasted well into Wednesday morning, the Pirates lost a heartbreaker to the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on a game-ending play that home plate umpire Jerry Meals missed badly. The unfortunate ending (for the Pirates) to the marathon affair has again stirred the debate for more comprehensive instant replay in baseball. The play in question could become the catalyst for commissioner Bud Selig to take a harder look at the issue. It should. Major League Baseball currently uses replay only to confirm home run calls. Everything else is up to the discretion of the umpires. MLB has long argued the human element is an essential part of the game. While that is true, the ultimate objective for any sport is … [Read more...]

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Orioles have been for the birds way too long

July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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They used to call it "the Oriole Way." It was a philosophy based on sound fundamentals, strong work ethic, lots of homegrown talent and shrewd personnel moves. The Baltimore Orioles were once one of baseball's model franchises, and among its most successful. They represented the American League in the World Series six times between 1966-83, winning three. In that period, the team produced three MVPs (Frank Robinson in 1966; Boog Powell in 1970; and Cal Ripken, Jr. in 1983), six Cy Young Award winners (Mike Cuellar in 1969; Jim Palmer in 1973, 1975 and 1976; Mike Flanagan in 1979; and Steve Stone in 1980), three Rookies of the Year (Al Bumbry in 1973; Eddie Murray in 1977; and Ripken in 1982), and a pitching staff that in 1971 featured four 20-game winners (Palmer, Cuellar, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson). But since beating the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1983 World Series, the … [Read more...]

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Thome already among elite as No. 600 nears

July 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Don't look now, but Jim Thome is on the verge of becoming only the eighth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 600 home runs. "The Pride of Peoria" hit No. 596 for the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in their 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. It was a three-run shot that traveled 489 feet in Minnesota's Target Field, the longest homer hit there to date. Possessing one of the sweetest swings the game has ever seen and having played through some tough injuries in a glorious 20-year career, it's inspiring to see a guy who was part of the steroid era do it the right way. For that alone, Thome will take his rightful place in Cooperstown. But there's more to the man than just prodigious home runs. Thome is a locker-room leader who was chosen the nicest player in baseball in a recent Sports Illustrated poll of 290 fellow big-leaguers, garnering 27 percent of the vote. With … [Read more...]

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