Tag: mlb

The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball June 24-June 30

Have you filled out an All Star ballot yet? While at my parents’ house on Sunday, my three kids fill out theirs and I assisted my sister with hers. With the Fall Classic coming up in three weeks, I’ll get mine in by Saturday morning. This is now the last week of June and the National League has 13 of its 15 teams with realistic chances of playing playoff baseball. Let’s see what’s coming up around the league as we close out the third full month of the 2024 season.

Steven Kwan is batting .390 in 200 at bats this year. Photo from the Akron Beacon Journal

Series to watch: Cleveland Guardians at Baltimore Orioles.

I feel like when we talk about the elite teams in Major League Baseball, the Guardians are not on anyone’s list. Yet, they enter this showdown with the same number of wins as the more celebrated Orioles. Since returning from a hamstring injury on May 31, outfielder Steven Kwan’s batting average is over .400. Josh Naylor has supplied 20 home runs and Jose Ramirez is continuing to be his magnificent self, ranking second among all players in RBI’s with 67. The O’s were just swept in Houston after taking two of three games against the Yankees. Outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the organization’s #4 prospect according to MLB.com, will be brought up this week (his third callup) to provide punch to a lineup that scored only two runs in 18 innings on Saturday and Sunday.

Player to Watch: CJ Abrams

The 23-year old shortstop, who came to the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto trade with the San Diego Padres, is making a case to make his first All Star team. Abrams is hitting .344 over the last two weeks and he leads he Nationals in just about every offensive category. He was the 6th overall pick in the 2019 draft and had a breakout 2023 season with 18 hone runs and 47 stolen bases. Abrams’ career arc mirrors that of former Nat Trea Turner who also was a shortstop drafted by the Padres a decade ago and later was traded to Washington.

Sneaky Red Sox

Very quietly, the Boston Red Sox have had a solid 2024 thus far. Thought to finish last in the American League East, Boston sits at 42-36 and in the final Wild Card spot. They won two of three games against the Yankees last weekend and then went 5-1 last week, sweeping three in Toronto and winning two of three in Cincinnati. The most interesting aspect is that Rafael Devers is having, by his standards, a below average season. Catcher Connor Wong has been a revelation, hitting .330 and left fielder Jarren Duran leads the Majors with 10 triples. On the mound, Tanner Houck is bidding to be the the starting pitcher for the American League as he leads the league in ERA with a 2.14 mark.

Mauled Marlins

The Miami Marlins have had a terrible season. Injuries have played a huge role in the big step back after their playoff appearance in 2023. Miami has literally lost an entire starting rotation to various aliments. Sandy Alacantra had Tommy John surgery right after the Marlins were eliminated from the playoffs. Before the 2024 season began, Eury Perez was told he needed TJ surgery. Edward Cabrera hasn’t pitched since May 7 because a shoulder issue. To top it off, Jesus Luzardo was placed on the IL Saturday with a back problem and Braxton Garrett, who was on the IL until May 12, had to be scratched from his Sunday start with a stiff elbow. In all of my years following baseball, I don’t think I have ever seen an injury situation quite like this.

Eating Fruit Loops With Mickey Tettleton

I think a big reason why I am a big baseball fan sits in the corner of my closet. Boxes upon boxes of baseball cards sit at the bottom while albums occupy the top shelf. As a kid, and even now, I could spend hours looking at the pictures in the front and memorizing the stats on the back. All of those endless Summer days studying baseball cards allowed me to recite Reggie Jackson’s stats from 1980 without breaking a sweat: .300 batting average, 41 home runs and 111 RBI’s. Sometimes, it’s the baseball card that can make a player memorable I wrote about one such card in May, the 1980 Topps John Pacella. With the Baltimore Orioles in town to play the New York Yankees, another player and card comes to mind: the 1991 Topps Mickey Tettleton.

The line that made Mickey Tettleton famous. Photo from my personal collection.

Keep in mind that Mickey Tettleton had some tremendous seasons from 1984 through 1997. He was a rarity; a switch-hitting catcher with power who walked quite frequently. He had four seasons of more than 30 home runs, collected three Silver Sluggers and made two All Star teams. He accumulated 100 or more walks in a season five times, leading the league with 122 in 1992 as a member of the Detroit Tigers. For his career, Tettleton hit 245 home runs for the Orioles, Tigers, Oakland A’s and Texas Rangers. By 1996, he was primarily a DH but he contributed 24 home runs, helping the Rangers win their first American League West title. Despite all of those accolades, many recall Tettleton for what was printed on the back of his 1991 baseball card:

Mickey lists Fruit Loops among his favorite foods.

I remember being in college and whenever the name Mickey Tettleton came up, inevitably the next line was, “Fruit Loops”. In fact, 33 years after its issuance, I can guarantee you I can find some random fan my age that will have that same exact line of thinking. I wonder if Tettleon regrets his decision of making his cereal choice so public. I’ve spent this post writing about what an excellent career he enjoyed, yet he might be more well-known for breakfast than for hitting. For me, when I think of Mickey Tettleon, I think of power hitting catcher first, while celebrating his excellent taste in food.

The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball June 17-June 23

I write this in the aftermath of another Father’s Day success. Nothing crazy, no places to go, just surrounded by those who are most important in my life. The week ahead in Major League Baseball will be anything but calm, with one gigantic series being played, one superstar whose status is in question and another superstar who might be getting ready to make his season debut. On top of that, we get a classic 1975 World Series flashback as the Cincinnati Reds take on the Boston Red Sox!

Gunnar Henderson and the Orioles head to Yankee Stadium for three big games. Photo from WBAL TV.

Series to watch: Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees.

It’s a battle in the Bronx between the teams with the two best records in baseball. Aaron Judge and Gunnar Henderson are the top two home run hitters. They are the only clubs with more than 100 home runs. A regular season series does not get any better than this. The O’s took three of four games from the Yanks in Camden Yards in during the last days in April/first days in May. You can bet New York remembers that set and will be looking for a bit of payback. I’m reliving a bit of my youth when both of these teams were solid year in and year out and their games were a big deal.

Player to watch: Gerrit Cole

There is a possibility that the 2023 Cy Yong winner will make his season debut on Wednesday against the Orioles. Cole pitched for Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre on Friday, his potential final step after being out all season so far with elbow discomfort. The Yanks have their starting pitcher as TBD with Cody Poteet listed as the other potential option. New York’s rotation as been strong all year long and getting back their ace adds another stroke of luck in this magical start.

Not Dodging injuries

The Los Angeles Dodgers endured a painful series this past weekend against the Kansas City Royals. Despite winning two of three games, the Dodgers lost two big pieces of their championship puzzle. Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto left Friday’s game after two innings with triceps tightness. He was placed on the 15 day IL. His velocity was down noticeably as compared to his previous outing vs. the Yankees. On Sunday, Mookie Betts fractured his left hand after being hit by a pitch from the Royals’ Dan Altavilla. Though it was announced surgery was not needed, there is no timetable for his return. Despite these latest injury setbacks, Los Angeles still owns an eight game lead in the National League West and have pitcher Bobby Miller returning this week. They can afford to be careful with Yamamoto and Betts.

Turner back

Cole is not the only star coming back. Trea Turner is set to return to the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup Monday night barring anything unforeseen. The Phils lost the last two games of their series against the Orioles and have dropped five of their last seven contests. Turner’s return from a hamstring injury comes at a good time with Philadelphia set to play six games at home against playoff contenders the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Immaculate Grid Superstar: Tommy Pham

In my first two posts about Immaculate Grid go to guys, I selected Paul Lindblad and Joe Morgan, two players who have long since retired. For today’s edition, I think it is about time we choose someone that is still active. There are no shortages of players to choose from, with quite a few having stints with five teams or more. I’d like to start a round of current players with a guy I have grown to admire over the past year, Tommy Pham.

Tommy Pham with his ninth team in 13 years. Photo from the Chicago Sun-Times.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about Mr. Pham. Nearly three months ago, I wrote that it was nearing late March and he didn’t have a team. It was highly disappointing that Pham was still unemployed despite the fact he could potentially be a missing ingredient for a playoff contender. He eventually signed with the Chicago White Sox, who currently have the worst record in baseball. Chicago represents the eighth stop in Pham’s Major League odyssey and considering the plight of the Sox, team number nine is just around the corner. With a .313 batting average in 31 playoff and World Series games, expect Pham to be playing deep into October once again.

Position players aren’t usually known for bouncing around between that many teams. Relievers are usually the ones who switch teams every two years or so. However, Pham is an exception to this rule and at this time next year, he very well could hit double digit organizations.

This is the Rivalry I Miss

I am a firm believer, or at least have the perception, that sports were were better when we were younger. Maybe it’s because we had less responsibilities. Maybe it’s because the world was less chaotic. I don’t think I am the only one that feels this way. How many times growing up did we hear our parents say things were better when they were kids? That being said, I always try to conceptualize that instead of saying sports were better when I was younger, I like to say they have evolved. However, I still miss certain things about my baseball childhood.

Chris Chambliss breaks the Royals’ hearts in 1976. Photo from Newsday

This brings me to the rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals, who play each other four times in Kansas City this week.

Growing up, I didn’t look at the Boston Red Sox as the Yanks’ biggest rivals. The Yankees and Royals to me was much more intense. New York and Kansas City played each other in the American League Champions Series four out of five years. Though I was too young to actually remember the first three, I knew that whenever they played one another, it was a big deal. Some of their regular season games were on national television. The 1976-1978 ALCS were loaded with memorable highlights such as Chris Chambliss’s series clinching home run at Yankee Stadium in ’76 and the brawl in Kansas City one year later. One of my earliest memories was the 1980 ALCS when the Royals finally slayed the Yankee dragon and advanced to the World Series. I distinctly remember going to bed with the Yankees winning game three only to wake up and find out George Brett smacked a three run homer to give KC the series. To add more gas to the fire, Dick Howser was the Yankee manager in 1980. He was fired by George Steinbrenner after that season and became the Royals’ manager the following season. Howser got the Royals over the hump once and for all in 1985, directing the team to its first World Championship. Of course, who can forget the most famous moment of all in this epic rivalry? That would be Brett’s Pine Tar home run in 1983, that was first disallowed and then allowed less than a month later.

For one of the rare instances over the last 30 years, both teams are playoff contenders at the same time. One big difference between all of those epic clashes years ago and today is the size of the payrolls. In its heyday, there was no talk of big market-small market and luxury taxes. It was just two well-run organizations vying for American League supremacy. I’d love nothing more than to see the Yankees and Royals meet once again this Fall for the right to go to the World Series.

The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball June 10-June 16

Next week is Father’s Day. What better present for Dad than treating him to a day of doing……..nothing. OK, watching the day’s action in Major League Baseball ranks a close second, particularly if it is a rainy day. At least fans of the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets won’t be watching baseball during breakfast. Most kids, including my own, will be done with school this week. Time to start letting them stay up late to watch some West Coast action.

Bryce Harper and company head to Camden Yards this weekend. Photo from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Here is what is coming up this week:

Series to watch: Philadelphia Phillies at Baltimore Orioles

This past weekend bought the hype of a possible World Series preview with the Los Angeles Dodgers playing at the New York Yankees. The Phils-O’s matchup can be deemed as such, too. It wouldn’t be the first meeting between the clubs in the Fall Classic as in 1983 the Orioles were victorious in five games, their last World Series appearance. Philadelphia owns the best record in baseball while Baltimore is tied with the Cleveland Guardians with the third best mark. Gunnar Henderson already has 20 home runs for the Orioles, the most in either league. Kyle Schwarber has been quiet so far this month, a stark contrast to his previous June. Will the friendly confines of Camden Yards wake up his sleeping bat?

Player to watch: Francisco Alvarez

The Mets were 12-8 when their young catching star suffered a thumb injury. They are now 28-36. It’s impossible to attribute the total meltdown to Alvarez’s absence. However, a telling stat appeared on SNY, home of the Mets, a couple of weeks ago. The pitching staff’s ERA is two runs lower with Alvarez behind the plate. The lineup, which has been showing signs of life, could use his big and dramatic bat in the order. Despite the bad record, the Mets are only three games out of a playoff spot. All signs point to Alvarez returning to Queens over the weekend.

Last Stand for the Blue Jays?

The Toronto Blue Jays are a game under .500, and in fourth place in the American League East. Cavan Biggio, once a part of a core of youngsters that was to make the Jays annual contenders, was designated for assignment. Alek Manoah will miss the rest of the season. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr and Bo Bichette are due to be a free agents after 2026. It almost feels as though if Toronto misses out on the playoffs this year, there will be a major teardown of the team. I think management will add, rather than subtract at the trade deadline.

National League West woes

The NL West was seen as a very strong division at the start of the season. Today, four of the five teams are under .500. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers are not immune, playing .500 ball over the last two weeks. The Colorado Rockies are the only team that is hopeless while the other three teams are within a game and a half of one another. Despite the miserable starts, I expect two of the three teams bundled together to make the playoffs.

MLB Week Ahead June 3-June 9

We’ve arrived at the first full week of June and London is calling. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies will be playing two games in jolly old England. Here is hoping these Saturday and Sunday contests will be the best the game has to offer. On paper it doesn’t look appetizing as the Phils lead the Amazins’ by 16.5 games in the National League East. However, Philadelphia will most likely be without Ranger Suarez as the Cy Young candidate hurt his pitching hand on a comebacker over the weekend.

The Twins head to Yankees Stadium for a big series vs. the Bronx Bombers. Photo from Fox 9.

Let’s see what else is happening this week.

Series to watch: Seattle Mariners at Kansas City Royals

Two of the premier teams in the American League square off in Kansas City this weekend. The Mariners, winners of seven of their past eight games, are starting to put distance between themselves and the rest of the American League West. They are four games ahead of the Texas Rangers and took three of four games from the Houston Astros last week, dropping the ‘Stros 7.5 games out of the top spot. The Royals were nearly opposite, going 2-5 last week. KC also has to go on the road for three games in Cleveland against the first place Guardians prior to coming home. Two starts from Seth Lugo and his 1.88 ERA would be optimal for the second place Royals.

Player to watch: Rhys Hoskins

One of the most beloved players in recent Phillies’ history returns to Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the last visual of Hoskins in a Philly uniform is him going off the field in Spring Training 2023 with a torn ACL. Now with the Milwaukee Brewers, he is tied for the club lead in home runs with nine. Hoskins has seven hits in his last 20 at bats with six RBI’s. He has been the Crew’s primary DH, helping them open up a seven game lead in the National League Central. Expect a warm ovation and a touching video on Monday night.

Trade Deadline Chatter

Now that the trade deadline is officially next month, talk surrounding potential deals with intensify. However, with so many teams still in realistic playoff contention, any talk prior to June 20 is premature. Even the Oakland A’s, at 24-37 are on the fringes of the Wild Card chase. The early talk asks the question of whether or not Oakland would trade their Rookie of the Year candidate, reliever Mason Miller. Check back in three weeks to see where teams are in the standings.

The AL Central is No Longer a Joke

What a difference a year makes.


Look at the 2023 Major League Baseball standings and turn slowly toward the order of the American League Central. The Minnesota Twins, the only team to finish over .500, captured the division crown with a mere 87 victories. The Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals each lost more than 100 games. In 2022, the Cleveland Guardians were the only club to finish over .500, winning 92 games. The division has long been derided for its lack of quality teams year in and year out.

Seth Lugo is the ace of the revitalized Kansas City Royals. Photo from Yahoo

Now?

The AL Central is the only division to have three teams with at least 30 victories. The Guardians are #1 and the Royals #2 in runs scored in the American League. Kansas City has been particularly impressive, stockpiling a group of veteran pitchers such as Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to supplement their young, positional core, headed by Bobby Witt, Jr. Salvador Perez is as good as he was nine years ago when the Royals won it all. If Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton can remain healthy for the remainder of the year, the Twins’ lineup will give pitchers headaches all season. On the pitching side, Jhoan Duran is one of the most electric closers in baseball. Despite losing one of the best managers in Terry Francona, Cleveland has thrived under first time manager Stephen Vogt. More help will arrive for the Guardians in the near future as they own the #1 pick in July’s draft. The Detroit Tigers, though one game under .500, remain dangerous with two studs in the rotation: Reese Olson and Tarik Skubal. Only the White Sox will not figure into this discussion this year and next as they are literally starting from scratch.

The top four teams are set up for success beyond 2024. The vast majority of core players, both in the everyday lineup and on the mound are south of 30. The Baltimore Orioles receive much fanfare for their impressive collection of young talent. Teams like the Guardians and Royals do not have the names but they are just as prolific. The organizations in the AL Central generally are of smaller markets with lower payrolls. Drafting wisely and being smart in free agency is a must for the group, lest they revert to being nicknamed “Comedy Central”.

Hats Off to John Pacella

I guarantee that 95% of you that saw this title have no idea who John Pacella is. I can forgive you for that. I’m not sure if even the most hardcore of New York Mets’ fans have heard of John Pacella. He was a pitcher that played in seasons ranging from 1977 to 1986 primarily for the Mets but he also had brief stints with the Yankees, Twins, Orioles and Tigers. He appeared in a grand total of 71 games with a career ERA of 5.74. Yet, he holds a special place in my heart for one, distinguishing characteristic:

The magic of John Pacella. Photo from my personal collection

His cap would fall off after he threw a pitch. I mean every, single pitch.

If you don’t believe me, the back of his 1981 Topps card, pictured above, reads as follows:

“John has unique habit of losing his cap each pitch”.

He appeared in 32 games in 1980 for the Mets. Though I was first six, then seven years old that season, I distinctly remember seeing this during Pacella’s outings. I remember thinking how and why does that happen? I would imitate many things done on the field by Major Leaguers. Losing my batting helmet while running? I couldn’t do it in actual Little League games because of those tight helmets. But it was possible in the backyard with those plastic ones I would win at the fair. Cap falling off while running down a ball? No problem. How cool was that, showing off to everyone how hard you were running and how much you cared? But losing your cap while throwing a pitch? No chance.

These days, many players express themselves after a big play. Usually, it is after a hit or a strikeout. John Pacella, even though it wasn’t a form of self expression, was a man ahead of his time. He was memorable even if the totality of his career was not.

The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball May 27-June 2

It’s hard to believe the Major League Baseball season is already two months old. The warm weather is finally here and school is almost done. We are starting to get an idea of which teams are serious contenders, which are headed for a long Summer and the rest, well, they teeter between slightly below or slightly above average. There is a World Series rematch this week as the Arizona Diamondbacks will visit the Texas Rangers for two games. We will also see how the Atlanta Braves fare with Ronald Acuna, Jr beginning a stint on the Injured List. Here is what else will be going on this week around the league.

Aaron Judge goes to San Francisco for the first time since Arson Judge appeared. Photo from Fox News.

Series to Watch: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers

It’s a battle for early control of the National League Central as the second place Cubs visit the first place Brewers. The Crew is a feisty bunch; Sunday against the Boston Red Sox was the third time this year Milwaukee was involved in a benches-emptying encounter. Cubs’ fans always make a Milwaukee their home away from home. Aces battle on Wednesday when Shota Imanaga pitches agianst Freddy Peralta. The two teams face each other for the second time in 2024. The Cubs won two out of three games at Wrigley Field during the first weekend in May.

Player to Watch: Aaron Judge

Since a slow April, Judge has been near impossible to get out. He is hitting .359 over his last 30 games with 13 home runs. On Tuesday, he goes to San Francisco for the first time since he came oh-so-close to signing with the Giants after the 2022 season (remember Jon Heyman’s Arson Judge tweet?). I’m sure the venom Giants’ fans have for the Los Angeles Dodgers will come out during Judge’s plate appearances. The Yankees then travel to Anaheim for the weekend; Judge owns 11 home runs vs the Angels in 31 career games.

Turnaround for the Cincinnati Reds?

Things are looking up in Cincinnati. The Reds are coming off a home weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers and now have a chance to make up ground in the National League Central. Up next are three games against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals followed by a weekend set in Chicago vs. the Cubs. Nick Lodolo makes his return this week from a groin injury and Alexis Diaz picked up back-to-back saves against the Dodgers, showing signs he is out of his early season funk.

Hot in Cleveland

The Guardians are riding a nine game winning streak. Up next is a trip to Colorado to take on the Rockies, one of the worst teams in the National League. The weekend brings a visit from the Washington Nationals who are better but still below .500. Despite the streak, the Guardians are still only 2.5 games ahead of the Kansas City Royals. These next two series offer the opportunity for Cleveland to increase their lead in the American League Central.