Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
from Photographers Blog:
When baseballs attack
By Darryl Webb
"I was really glad I saw it coming."
I know that statement above sounds a little confusing so allow me to explain.
I don't know how many professional sporting events I've covered in the last 20 years. Let's just say it's been a lot and in all that time I've never been hurt. There have been a couple of close calls here and there, but nothing serious until earlier this week.
Had I not seen this sphere coming toward me at a blistering speed, the end result could have been a lot worse. I'm not saying it would have been as bad as Sports Illustrated's photographer John Iacono, who was hit by an overthrown ball in 1999, shattering his jaw which resulted in two titanium plates, some wire mess and something like 20 screws. But it definitely would have been worse than a headache, a bump on the head and two hours spent at Urgent Care.
As I stood in the first base photo well between innings, trying to figure another angle to shoot the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's Albert Pujols, I saw Angels' third baseman Mark Trumbo make a throw to first - a throw he's made a million times I'm sure. But this time the trajectory was off, it had some extra height to it, and unless Pujols was suddenly 10 feet-tall that ball was headed in my direction.
A break from reality: Why Cardinals fans wish the ride didn’t have to end
A personal view from St.Louis Cardinals fan Brett Wolf.
The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series this year. Or, to be more accurate, they won four “World Series” this year, at least that is how it felt to many in Cardinal Nation. Oddly, the final victory – the actual Commissioner’s Trophy winner – was in a sense the least thrilling because it meant the, at times surreal, run was over and it was time to return to the bleak reality we as Americans have become accustomed to.
As exhausted as Cardinal Nation was by the end, our adrenaline spent on improbable hits and strikeouts and our bank accounts drained on tickets and memorabilia, no one wanted this historic run to end — ever. No one wanted to go back to talking only about unemployment, war and other miseries. You see, St. Louis is a microcosm of the United States – we haven’t had much good news lately.
Making it into the playoffs on the final night of the regular season, the Cardinals began the improbable journey that surprised – nay, amazed – even the most loyal of fans. A city that bleeds Cardinal red once again had a chance to enter the post-season fray.
The night the Cardinals beat the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies topped the faltering Atlanta Braves felt like we in St. Louis had won the World Series. After a month of winning salvaged an otherwise mediocre regular season, we were in the post-season. I still recall the final regular season victory as if it happened earlier today; all I could say was “Wow, what a run.” Little did I (or anyone else) know, the miracle had only just begun. Was fate on our side?
By becoming a Wild Card team, the Cardinals earned the right to face the heavily favored Phillies, the team with the best regular-season record. With its lights-out pitching and renowned sluggers, the Phillies were a daunting foe, but we in Cardinal Nation felt like we were playing with house money. We had nothing to lose; and that is a great position to be in when your team is finally gelling into a cohesive force of nature.
We were not even supposed to be in the post season, so any success would be a bonus. Fast-forward to game 5 of that series; Chris Carpenter pitched a complete game shutout and shocked the baseball world. As we counted down the outs, “fate” began to mean something entirely different. We were not only playing with house money, we were winning big on every bet Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa made. This was good. It was very good. Again, the rush of a “World Series” win overtook us.
Cliff Lee’s best curve ball yet
Cliff Lee threw his best curve ball of the year this week, freezing the anxious New York Yankees and Texas Rangers in their tracks by deciding to rejoin the Philadelphia Phillies.
The decision came out of left field, as the Rangers and Yankees did all the public wooing of the 2008 American League Cy Young winner, while the Phillies worked the back channels.
The Yankees offered seven years, the Rangers were believed willing to put six seasons on the table for the 31-year-old lefty from nearby Arkansas who helped them reach their first World Series.
The Phillies won his services with a five-year deal worth a reported $120 million with an option for a sixth season.
Why that choice by Lee?
The money was right, the team was right and the pressure on the slender lefty eased by joining a rotation of four magnificent starters with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels already in place.
Lee has pitched in the last two World Series on the losing end and longs for a championship after coming close with the Phillies in 2009 and the Rangers this past season.
Jeter’s exquisite timing fails him as Yankees play hardball
One might have expected a cordial meeting of the minds between a grateful Yankees ownership and the classy face of baseball’s bellweather franchise when it came to agreeing one last contract for captain Derek Jeter.
One would be wrong.
The spendthrift Yankees, whose $200 million-plus annual payroll is far and away the most in Major League Baseball, are playing hardball with the 36-year-old shortstop.
And Jeter, who has comported himself impeccably in the clubhouse and as one of the most dependable players on the field in five World Series title teams, appears to be reaching for riches now well beyond his value on the diamond.
The Yankees have offered Jeter a very respectable three years for $15 million per.
Jeter’s agent is pressing for more years and a bigger annual figure.
A compromise resolution is the most likely outcome, but the negotiation has turned bad-tempered and public with comments inspiring headlines in the local papers and the unseemly posturing has polarised the Bronx Bombers’ fan base.
Is more really better when it comes to baseball?
More is better, but how much more and how to dole it out appears to be the last detail before an expected expansion of the postseason playoffs in Major League Baseball.
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig told reporters at the end of the recent general managers’ meeting in Florida that adding two more wildcard teams — one from each league — to bump up the postseason field from the current eight, was pretty much a fait accompli.
“We will move ahead (on it) and move ahead pretty quickly,” Selig said about the playoff issue. “Eight is a very fair number, but so is 10.”
Any changes would have to be approved at January’s owners meeting and because such changes have to be agreed with the players’ association a revision would probably come for the 2012 season at the earliest.
Baseball now adds one wildcard team to the three division winners in both the American and National leagues. Adding another wildcard team in each league would stimulate fan interest in more markets during the September stretch run and add another series to the postseason — a play-in showdown between the two wildcard teams.
Some envision a one-game playoff, others are suggesting a best two-of-three series between the wildcards.
One nagging question is how much of a good thing — playoff baseball — can be tolerated? The sport already has a six-month regular season and has seen the October postseason leak into November in recent years because of all the games.
More is **not** better. The season is already much too long. Baseball in November? November?? Who plays baseball n November? Nor is the NBA any better? Basketball in June? June?? Who shoots hoops in June??How about finishing up (indoor-playhed) basketball in April before we need AC, and finishing up baseball in September before we need blankets & mittens to watch. The Gods are laughing at us.
If no one shows up for a baseball game…
In North America sports culture summer is the time for baseball. The MLB season kicks off in early April and for the most part flies under the radar for the first few months as fans’ attention is focused on the NBA playoffs, the NFL draft and to a lesser extend the NHL playoffs.
By the middle of June an NBA champion is crowned, (sorry LeBron, maybe next year with your new team) the NFL is as far removed from the ever watchful media’s eye as it ever is, (thank you Brian Cushing, OTA’s were still a few weeks away) and the NHL playoff run receives unprecedented media coverage…in Canada.
Until then, baseball only dominates the headlines for three reasons. Fame, finances, and futility.
But when the middle June rolls around this year a disturbing trend will begin making headlines, one that could dominate baseball for the rest of the season.
Since the implementation of the luxury tax in 2003, the average number of teams that failed to fill at least 50% of their stadium for the season was 3.5. The three years before the tax twice 10 teams failed to hit the 50% mark and once nine teams were under.
But this season a whopping eight clubs are already below the 50% threshold. Two other teams, the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks, are barely filling half of their stadiums and with both clubs already 10+ games out of the division lead, attendance numbers may well decrease as the season wears on.
A warm, fuzzy feeling and a short, sharp shock
The past week in baseball gave some fans a warm glow about their relationship with the game, and sent shivers down the spines of others worried about unruly fan behavior and the aggressive reaction to it.
The passing of 92-year-old Ernie Harwell, who broadcast Detroit Tigers games for 42 years, brought an outpouring of affection from fans, while the tasering of a teenager who disrupted a Phillies game with a frolic in the outfield raised disturbing questions about ballpark security.
Footage of the Philadelphia policeman firing the electrical charge to drop the trespasser to the ground seemed to be everywhere you looked on television and the Internet.
It raised a national debate about security for the players from the fans, and for the fans from overzealous officers.
In the days before the Internet, the approach of the media was to look away from on-field interruptions by fans. TV cameras would cut away so as not to reward exhibitionists with two minutes of fame on the home screen.
Radio announcers would quickly chastise the act and steer the subject back on course.
STAYING THE COURSE
What is Pujols worth in wake of Howard deal?
Ryan Howard, 30, just inked a 5-year extension for $125 million with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Let’s look at those numbers.
His current deal expires in 2011, making the first baseman 37 years old at the completion of the contract.
Howard is not known for his defensive prowess and it is reasonable to question whether he will even be able to play first base by the time his contract is ready to expire. Being in the National League, the Phillies won’t have the option of transitioning Howard into a designated hitter.
This is not to say that the slugger isn’t a great player. Howard was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2005, NL MVP in 2006 and a World Series Champion in 2008. He is a two-time All-Star and last year was the MVP of the NL Championship Series, guiding the Phillies to the World Series against the New York Yankees. His professional stats paint the arc typical of a hall of famer. Having checked out Citizens Park for the first time two weeks ago, it is evident that he is a favorite of the fan base and replicas of his jersey can be seen all around town.
But is his new salary a reflection of the market or a reward for prior accomplishments? Howard will now be the second-highest paid player in baseball behind Alex Rodriguez. Few people will contend that he is the second-best player in the game and some would argue he might not even be the most valuable player on his own team (Chase Utley anyone?).
Another player directly impacted by this deal will be St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, unquestionably one of the best players in the sport. Pujols’ contract expires after this season. Since contract numbers have begun to take past performance into account, Pujols could be justified in asking for the moon.
pay for performance standard is interesting idea
better then entering into a contract with someone who may or may not be able to perform well or great
Japan: key to a truly global World Series?
The story goes that shortly after baseball great Babe Ruth had settled into the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo while touring Japan in 1934, there was a knock on the door. He opened it to see a Japanese man in a kimono. ”Sign baseball,” the man said.
As soon as the Babe autographed that baseball, the man pulled another out of his kimono. Then another. And another. And another.
If Japanese media coverage of home-grown players plying their trade in the United States is anything to go by, Japan’s love affair with baseball is alive and well.
In 2001, Major League Baseball’s decision to allow All-Star voting in Japan helped Ichiro Suzuki lead all players in voting for the All-Star Game. That same year, Ichiro won the American League Most Valuable Player and the Rookie of the Year awards, becoming only the second player in MLB history (after Fred Lynn) to receive both honors in the same season.
UPDATE: Does Big Mac belong in the Hall of Fame?
In a statement sent to various news outlets on Monday Mark McGwire finally admitted what many had already suspected.
McGwire said his decision to talk about his steroid use was prompted by his new position as St. Louis’ hitting coach.
McGwire said he feels he has an obligation to talk about this part of his career and answer questions.
Not what McGwire has apologized and is willing to talk about his transgressions, does this change his HOF chances or does this solidify his place as nothing more than a cheat who has no place in Cooperstown?
Original post: Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson. That’s it, the complete list of players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) that have more career home runs than Mark McGwire, after he again fell short in this, his fourth year of eligibility. McGwire received only 23.7 percent of the vote, well shy of the 75 percent needed for Hall entry.
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