This Bonds deal is going on longer than Drew Danburry’s “I’m Pretty Sure This Is Someone Else’s Song But I Couldn’t Figure Out Whose So I’m Keeping It (Bop-Bop)” ! Ultimately, though, what has happened is that the 30 major league teams have conspired (not literally, I’d hope) to run down Barry Bonds’ clock. There are a number of decent fits, but no one great one, and if you’re only renting a player for the scope of 35 or 40 ballgames, the marginal contribution is going to be fairly small—not more than an extra win on the season for any of these clubs. If you were going to sign Bonds, the time to have done so would have been much earlier in the season. Nevertheless, I would keep a watchful eye on the Mets. If Bonds ends up in anybody’s uniform, it’s likely to be that one, as Omar Minaya is an active GM who finds himself with few other alternatives and a lot of pressure to reach the playoffs. But the odds are overwhelming that Bonds isn’t going to be wearing anybody’s jersey, and that instead he’s going to be sitting on his couch come October.

Refreshments were provided by the good folks at Jaerock Lee Industries. American Idol winner David Cook took batting practice with the Mets today before their game against the San Diego Padres, and ripped a couple nice hits to right-center field while batting lefthanded under the watchful eye of David Wright. Cook, 25, who also threw out the first pitch, has the exact same birthday as Wright—Dec. 20, 1982. He grew up playing Legion baseball in Blue Springs, Mo., and was a fan of the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs. In fact, Cook was wearing a Chiefs baseball cap—signed by, of all people, former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and former Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko—when he hit the field. The Mets promptly gave him a Mets hat. ``I am a Kansas City sports fan, but I’m a baseball fan, more than anything,’’ Cook said. ``To be able to come to Shea, with all the history and the fact there’s going to be a new stadium next season, is really cool.’’

And no...this has nothing to do with “The Big Ball Orchard in the South Bronx.” Martinez sometimes appears incapable of getting major league hitters out, particularly early in games—witness his two home runs Wednesday, or the four runs on five hits he gave up to the Cardinals in the first inning on July 2. But he managed, in both games, to give up next-to-nothing over the remaining innings of his start. Is he merely rusty, and the low innings total—he missed two months from April to June with a hamstring injury—will allow him to pitch more effectively from now until the end of the season? Or is his body betraying him, not only with various ailments, but for the first time, keeping him from the pinpoint command that made him a legend? Even Pedro doesn’t know what to expect from himself. “No, I can’t really predict,” Martinez said. “Let’s be realistic. Right now, I can’t tell you—I’ve pitched, what, twice in a month? What I can tell you is that I felt great today. I haven’t pitched like I need to pitch. I will try to stay healthy, and keep making adjustments. I have two months to get better and keep…Read More ...

If you don’t know the name of the person who I am talking about, hand in your Baseball geek-card now.

With the 20 most valuable minor league teams on the sidebar. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who moved from Ottawa, Canada, to Allentown, Pa., prior to the 2008 season, were not part of this valuation because of insufficient data. Once they get sufficient data, I’m sure they’ll be on this list. The IronPigs are 4th in the IL in attendance, just ahead of Indianpolis, which Forbes ranks #5 overall. BTF should go to Sacramento: the team will throw you an 80-person fajita party in the James Hardie Party Deck for $3,800. That’s less than $50 a person. We have guys who lose that in 20 minutes playing poker.

“I think baseball and softball will be reinstated in the Olympic format,” Watson said. “I think in ‘09 they will vote it back in. They have been lobbying hard behind the scenes. I think that vote is going to be baseball’s return.” Baseball will not be played at the 2012 London Olympics but it could return as soon as 2016, when the Games could be staged in baseball hotbeds Tokyo or Chicago. Madrid and Rio de Janeiro are the other candidates. “Global competition is keen,” Watson said. “Baseball has been put out around the world. We are making it a global sport.” But Watson also made it clear that the Olympics will never feature Major League Baseball stars because the 30-team US league will not shut down its April-September season so top talent can attend the Games. “The bottom line is we’re not shutting down the season,” Watson said. “Our owners are not going to shut down the season. We’re not going for that.” Ahh, but Bob… you underestimate the thickheadedness of snobby Europeans…

Attention all you cheating rat bastards! Line up (no cutting-in, Daly!) and take this Ethics Exercise! Imagine a college course where students hang out with Ron Coomer in the bowels of the Metrodome, watch video of Lenny Randle on all fours trying to blow Amos Otis’ famous squibbler into foul territory, spend hours debating nuanced baseball ethics, and ring up Major League umpires for help on their homework. Sounds like too much fun to be true? It’s not. That very course—an academic study in “baseball ethics"—was offered in the spring of 2008 at Carleton College, a top-tier liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. ...Over the six-week course, students were required to rank these incidents from least ethically acceptable to most ethically acceptable. Quick example: Which was worse—the murder of minor-league ump Samuel White in 1899 by a player who didn’t like one of the ump’s calls and smashed the poor man over the head with his bat, or the decision to exclude African-Americans from organized baseball for decades? Now imagine 131 others to rank as well. In short, students had to line up these incidents from No. 1 to No. 133, no ties (or extra innings!) allowed. Students say they quickly…Read More ...

Holy jagged cago en tu leche! No wonder the Cubans defect… I guess there’s some kind of justice in me waxing poetic about watching the Cuban national team play, almost declaring them winners of the gold medal but then seeing them stink up the joint the second time around. Actually, I think this game is best summed up by the old Korean man who sat behind me. He and his friend snuck from the $10 to the the $25 seats early in the game. Kim Dong-joo hit a bases clearing double to knock in Lee Yeong-gyu and Lee Seung-yeop and the guy cheered. ...At the end of the fifth the man started yelling at Cuba’s DH, Alfredo Despaigne as he ran off the field after warming up with the RF. “Hey,” he yelled with the score at 9-0, “Why don’t you make it a game? I don’t want to go home early you punk.” All in Korean of course. Unfortunately for most of us the game had no mercy rule in place and the entire nine innings were played, clocking in at just under four hours. After the seventh inning, in which Korea extended it’s lead to 15-1 the man started…Read More ...

Wearing his nifty Fort O’sage One t-shirt...Poz checks into Albert Pujols. Let’s start with a few numbers. Let’s compare Pujols to A-Rod, who I think would probably win the People’s Choice Award for best player in the game. Alex Rodriguez: .307/.390/.579 for his career. Best season was probably 2007 when he went .314/.422/.645 with 54 homers and 24 SBs. He probably had four other seasons that roughly compare, and is having a terrific year this year. Albert Pujols: .333/.423/.619 for his career. Best seasons was probably 2003, when he went .359/.439/.667 with 51 doubles and 43 homers. He probably had five other seasons that roughly compare, and he is having a terrific year this year. Now, remember that we are probably comparing the two best players in the game, so there is no loser here. But it sure looks to me like Pujols is even better than A-Rod. He gets on base more and he hits for more power. He strikes out about half as often, walks about as much. He plays first base to A-Rod’s third, but he plays it brilliantly, won the Gold Glove in 2006, probably should have won it again in 2007 — his zone rating, while…Read More ...

Yeah, but this was before last night...where he went 3-4, hit a 3-run bomb and dove into the stands to save young Timmie McCuddly from choking on a frisky chunk of a Gates Steak! Ellsbury is fairly close to hitting rock bottom and is barely even a credible major leaguer in his current state. From a scouting perspective he is essentially a slap hitter with gap power who can be pitched to inside without fear of reprisal. Pitchers are now taking advantage of this inability to hit the inside pitch with authority, this according to Joe Sheehan at Baseball Prospectus and a few other reports I have read. His recent stats are simply atrocious and reminiscent of a guy who has no business being in the majors: 0 HR 3 RBI 2 SB .226/.235/.262 one (!) walk in 84 ABs 82% contact rate and 28% hit rate. His contact rate and hit rate are within an expected range, so what does this tell us? That he is making contact but not hitting with authority. At all. He is swinging at everything and making contact with far too many weak batted balls. He has shown zero patience, and the results speak for…Read More ...

Thyroc sends over this Robothal… Padres right fielder Brian Giles has been claimed on waivers, according to major league sources. The claiming team is not yet known. The Padres have 48 hours from the time of the claim to work out a trade. If no deal is completed, the Padres can take back Giles, or let him go to the claiming team. San Diego stands to save approximately $6 million by parting with Giles — roughly $3 million that is remaining on Giles’ salary for this season, plus a $3 million buyout for 2009. ...The claiming team is not necessarily a contender. It is possible that a non-contender is willing to land Giles with the idea of keeping him in 2009. The Blue Jays and Rangers considered trading for the Mariners’ Raul Ibanez, another left-handed hitting outfielder, before the non-waiver deadline. Ibanez is a free agent after this season. The Blue Jays were willing to offer him arbitration and have him return next year.

Four of the biggest-name players in Venezuela have pulled out of next spring’s World Baseball Classic over a team power squabble, dealing a possible blow to the stature of the fledgling tournament. And a fifth marquee player from that country could be next: Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, who said Wednesday he’s not sure whether he’ll play. ‘’I don’t know,’’ said Zambrano, who pitched in the inaugural WBC in 2006. ‘’I haven’t made a decision.’’ New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana and Detroit Tigers All-Stars Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez told Venezuelan media they won’t return to the team after playing in 2006. The players reportedly are blaming the Venezuelan tournament committee for problems getting enough tickets and hotel rooms for families, for shoddy organization that led to at least one instance of Burger King postgame meals and for the return of unsuccessful manager Luis Sojo without consulting some of the team members. “Burger King postgame meals”?  Ok, ok...so the Rodeo Cheeseburger was crap...just remember, One Nation Under Chicken Fries!

Cole Hamels (9-7, 3.37) tries for his first win since July 3 this afternoon against rookie right-hander Chris Volstad (2-2, 3.25) and the Florida Marlins. First pitch is 1:05 from Citizens Bank Park. Summary: The Phils try to follow a solid 5-0 victory last night. Afterward, the talk centered around Kyle Kendrick; there were a couple of good articles on KK in the morning papers. The right-hander allowed four hits and five walks, but pitched around danger and benefited from...

This list was originally posted December 10th, 2007. THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST!!!! THIS IS A REVIEW OF AN OLD LIST AND OLD GRADES!!!!!!!!!!!!

1) Rick Porcello, RHP, Grade B+
     2.84 ERA with 66/30 K/BB in 114 innings, 107 hits for Lakeland in the Florida State League. I don't like the low K-rate but he gets lots of grounders and is young for the level, so he gets some slack on that for now.
2) Jeff Larish, 1B, Grade B- 
     .269/.361/.540 for Triple-A Toledo, .245/.327/.408 for Detroit. Will hit homers and draw walks, won't hit for average.
3) Danny Worth, SS, Grade B-
     .254/.331/.386 for Double-A Erie. I tihnk he's capable of better. Currently on the DL at Triple-A Toledo.
4) Yorman Bazardo, RHP, Grade C+
    6.42 ERA with 66/36 K/BB in 102 innings, 132 hits for Toledo. Obviously terrible. Ground ball tendency not enough to save him.
5) Michael Hollimon, INF, Grade C+
     .223/.308/.465 for Toledo, .261/.280/.565 in 11 major league games. Has power and draws walks, strikes out so much that batting average and OBP are problems.
6) Charlie Furbush, LHP, Grade C+
     Hasn't pitched this year due to Tommy John.
7) Brandon Hamilton, RHP, Grade C+
     5.01 ERA with 22/28 K/BB in 32 innings in the Midwest League. Now in the GCL, 1.67 ERA with 24/7 K/BB in 27 innings is much better. Good long-term potential but a long way off. 
8) Duane Below, LHP, Grade C+
     4.06 ERA with 105/55 K/BB in 113 innings, 115 hits allowed for Lakeland. Doing OK, command needs to be improved.
9) James Skelton, C, Grade C+
      .305/.467/.405 with 14 steals for Lakeland, just promoted to Erie where he is 3-for-13 so far. Draws lots of walks, unusual speed for a catcher, no power.
10) Casey Crosby, LHP, Grade C+
       Rehabbing from Tommy John.
11) Diek Scram, OF, Grade C+
       .249/.336/.389 with 13 steals for Erie. Could be a fourth outfielder if he can boost the hitting more.
12) Scott Sizemore, 2B, Grade C+
       .286/.365/.409 with 14 steals for Lakeland, has been on the DL since early June with broken hamate.
13) Francisco Cruceta, RHP, Grade C
       2.90 ERA with 43/16 K/BB in 31 innings for Toledo, 5.40 ERA with 11/10 K/BB in 12 innings for the Tigers. He's always had the stuff, needs the command to go with it.
14) Jordan Tata, RHP, Grade C
       10.31 ERA with 16/23 K/BB in 18 innings for Lakeland. Made six starts in the GCL, with 2.83 ERA but 18/18 K/BB in 29 innings. Horrendous command this year.
15) Clay Rapada, LHP, Grade C
       2.96 ERA with 33/13 K/BB in 24 innings for Toledo, 4.30 ERA with 12/7 K/BB in 15 innings for the Tigers. LOOGY.
16) Cale Iorg, SS, Grade C
       .257/.331/.401 with 18 steals for Lakeland. Poor plate discipline with 29 walks but 96 strikeouts in 327 at-bats.
17) Brett Jensen, RHP, Grade C 
      4.00 ERA with 6/1 K/BB in 9 innings for Erie. On DL since May.
18) Clete Thomas, OF, Grade C
       .259/.336/.436 with 22 steals for Toledo, .284/.366/.405 in 40 games for the Tigers. Looks like he can be a useful player but not a star.
19) Brent Clevlen, OF, Grade C
       .297/.383/.542 for Toledo. Clevlen needs to decide if he sucks or not. He's been horrible some years and really good other years. Back on the good track now. Can he stay there? I have no clue.
20) Noah Krol, RHP, Grade C
       4.20 ERA with 41/26 K/BB in 41 innings, 11 saves, 31 hits allowed for West Michigan. Eh....gets grounders but needs better command.

Not an impressive system. Aside from Porcello, there is not much to get excited about here as trades ripped the guts out of the system over the past two years. They really need to hope the 2008 draft helps things out.

Boy, I guess If you sit next to John Sterling long enough during the N.Y. Daily News Inning (sponsored by Dr. McGlooney’s One Day Gallbladder Removal Service: “Let’s Bile Something Together!")… I have heard and read plenty of comments in recent weeks criticizing Derek Jeter for his play this year, with some fans even going so far as to say his career is over and the Yankees shouldn’t re-sign him when he becomes a free agent in two years. All I can say is, you people are nuts. Is Jeter having a typical year? Not at all. Is he hitting .235 and killing his team? Not even close. Sure, Jeter’s .280 average is about 35 points lower than his career mark, but he’s still hitting .300 with runners in scoring position and .320 with RISP and two outs. I’ve heard that Jeter has built his career around being a singles hitter who doesn’t do much else. I know home runs and RBI are the sexy stats that everyone likes to look at, but you win the game by scoring runs, and no one has been a more productive run scorer for the past dozen years than Derek Jeter. ...The bottom line…Read More ...

Lowrie and Ellsbury both tore it up last night in another lopsided Sox win. (SawxBlog Illustration)

The Red Sox continued their winning ways last night with an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals to improve their record to 5-1 in this post-Manny world that we live in. Leading the charge for the Sox were Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie who are both the present and future of the organization. Combined this new dynamic duo went 5/8 driving in 5 RBI while scoring 3 runs. I think it's fairly safe to come to two conclusions now:

1. Julio Lugo has lost his job - I'll admit, I really thought that Lugo was going to thrive in Boston but something has just seemed to be missing (a bat maybe?) during his reign here. Granted, we did win the World Series with him as our starting SS, however something just feels amiss with him. Maybe he has a case of the Renteria's, or it could be that world famous "Curse of the Orlando Cabrera", who knows. What I do know is that Jed Lowrie is turning into a bonafide stud. This kid seems to thrive in pressure and always seems to come through when you want him to. Also his defense is about 473% better then Lugo's. Ponder this; both Lugo and Lowrie have 22 RBI on the season. The big difference here is that Lugo's played in 82 games and Lowrie has played in 35. Seems like the case is closed to me. Sigh, another SS who's contract we're most likely going to end up eating.
2. Jacoby Ellsbury is out of his slump - Yeah, yeah I know, could be a little too early to make this call this, but the kid seems to be getting that locked in look, and he's really driving the ball. What really convinced me, aside from stringing some good games together, was the fact that he was able to take a left handed pitcher deep to CF. That's showing me he's seeing the ball really well which is great news. When Jacoby gets on base the Red Sox are a better team, it's really that simple. He's such a catalyst to the offense and if he can be productive in the #1 slot in the lineup again we could be seeing a lot of crooked numbers up on the score board.

Oh yeah, Jason Bay is still a stud too. 2/5 last night with 2 runs scored, give Love the way the Sox are playing right now, it's almost a shame they have an off day today, although I'm sure there's no complaining coming from Youk. Windy City here we come.

• The Dodgers are expected to activate Brad Penny from the DL on Friday as reported earlier in the week.
• Tony Jackson reports that Jason Schmidt is done for the year. Next: admitting he's done for his career.
• Mike Hampton got his first win in three years with a 11-4 Braves victory over the Giants on Tuesday.
• Update: Mike Napoli is expected to return on Friday.
• The A's purchased the contract of LHP Gio Gonzalez, and sent Sean Gallagher to get an MRI. To make room, INF Gregorio Petit was optioned to AAA Sacramento.
• The Giants activated reliever Keiichi Yabu from the DL. The team also recalled RHP Billy Sadler from AAA Fresno, DFA'd RHP Sergio Romo, and optioned RHP Osiris Matos back to Fresno.
• Closermania: Tony LaRussa moved to a closer by committee after Jason Isringhausen gave up three runs to tie Tuesday's game against the Dodgers. St. Louis leads the league in blown saves with 27, and Isringhausen has seven of those.

  In Texas, the Rangers placed closer C.J. Wilson on the DL with bone spurs in his left elbow. He'll fly to Los Angeles to see Dr. Lewis Yocum. Manager Ron Washington designated Eddie Guardado the team's new closer.

• The Rockies indeed claimed Livan Hernandez off waivers from the Twins. Hernandez + Coors Field. This could be interesting.
• The Rays got Chad Bradford from Baltimore for a PTBNL. Bradford's strikeout rate has dropped to a scary 2.90 K/9, down from his career mark of 5.61.
• Ken Rosenthal reports that the Padres have placed Brian Giles on waivers, and the Red Sox made a claim. It's surprising that nobody else got there first.

News

• Zu Long at Halos Heaven has a shot showing where a Brandon Wood homer left the I-Cubs' park. Very interesting. "...Wood doesn't need SLC air to crush the ball."
• The Angles signed Cuban Yosandy Ibanez and assigned him to the Travs. He had been pitching for the indy leagues in the Florence Freedom of the Independent Frontier League. He pitched in the Giants organization last year, with a 1-3 mark and a 4.98 ERA in 20 appearances.
• The Dodgers activated 2007 first-round pick Chris Withrow after arm and control problems kept him off the roster or ineffective all year.

Scores

Vlad's At It Again: Angels 9, Orioles 4

I was downstairs reading Bill Shaikin's Times recap of this game a few minutes ago. As with most day games, I got caught unawares, but Vlad had a four-RBI day off another finesse lefty, with Mark Teixeira picking up a 2-for-3 game with three runs scored. Even Jeff Mathis got a solo homer to add to his season totals. Even Juan Rivera came close to a home run if not for a great play by Jay Payton.

There's talk now that Vlad might earn a .300 season batting average by the end of September. We'll see...

Ervin Santana gave up a solo homer to Luis Montanez in the second pitch he saw in the majors, but that was the worst of the damage for Santana, who pitched fairly well for a day game; he gave up all four of Baltimore's runs.

Yahoo box • MLB.com recap

No Cookies: Cardinals 9, Dodgers 6

I did watch the beginning of this game, at least the fourth inning at-bats against Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick, and let me tell you, Derek Lowe was throwing cookies. He wasn't happy about it:

"It was ugly," said Torre. "Not much I can tell you. Derek didn't get the ball where he wanted."

...

"Nothing worked all night long," said Lowe, who is 8-10 on the year and 1-6 lifetime against the Cardinals. "What are you going to say? Who knows? You can't throw them flat, sailing over the plate, and expect to get guys out. I paid the price and dug my team a huge hole.

Manny Ramirez gave the Dodgers an early 3-1 lead but Lowe gives it all up? You knew what the outcome was going to be once Lowe failed to get Adam Kennedy out, giving up a one-out single to load the bases for Prince Albert.

And then there was Torre's crazy game protest, complaining because he didn't know that Mark Sweeney had officially entered the game once he had stepped foot in the batter's box. Torre apparently missed that bit, but it's inattention to details like that one that have led to a lot of Dodger failure this year. Moreover, what business does Sweeney have being in a major league batter's box in the first place? Until Joe can come up with satisfactory answers to questions like that one, the Dodgers will continue to flounder.

Yahoo box • MLB.com recap

Takes a look at Gio Gonzalez’s debut using Pitch fx data. Gio’s got a lot of movement, maybe too much to control. Oh yeah and the A’s lose again.

After his most productive season with the Arizona State football team, receiver Michael Jones put away his pads, opting instead for pinstripes. Jones, who had 46 catches for 769 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns in 2007, spent his summer as a New York Yankees farmhand, playing rookie ball in Tampa. Through 15 games in the Gulf Coast League, he batted a meager .184 but had five doubles, drew five walks and stole a base. “Kept on hitting the ball right to people,” Jones said. “But I had a great time. I looked forward every day to playing baseball all day. That’s all you do. You don’t have to worry about school, outside distractions.” Anyone know his BABIP? Jones’ line at ASU last season was 172/347/293 - ick - but Dennis Erickson was in the stands during the playoffs!

There's a saying in the TV biz about personalities. Actually it's more of a question. Does he move the meter? The reference is to the ratings meter--and if someone or something can get...

"Obviously we're both not in major-league baseball for different reasons. That's probably why the moment is not being celebrated in baseball, not only because of the steroids people are talking about, but because neither of us is playing in major-league baseball. You'd have to go find Barry where he is, and you'd have to go to a minor-league city to find me to talk about it."
(Mike Bacsik, via SF Chronicle, 8/7/2008)

A year ago today, Mike Bacsik became a footnote.

But really, now, nobody cares. Not about Bacsik, not about Barry Bonds and his phony HR crown. Correction: maybe people care more about Bacsik, actually. Not in a million years would we have believed that night a year ago that Bacsik would still be getting paid to play baseball (albeit in AAA) in 2008 and Barry Bonds would be sitting on the sidelines all year waiting for his phone to ring: banished.

Still hard to believe the Nationals didn't take a chance on him this season. Bonds, we mean; not Bacsik.

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Rain, rain, go away. Doubleheader today.

Speaking of washouts, we're reminded of Elijah Dukes' 2008 season. Surprise! Dukes heads back to the DL (15 day), after originally being called "day to day". Yet another spot-on "day to day" prognosis by the team. It would take a real moron to be more concerned about Dukes' late arrival last Saturday than about his calf cramp.

Hey, but Guzman could return today...

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Some cross-pollination of interests: I really love metal. Robin also loves metal. The Red Sox need relief pitching. Pat Neshek is a relief pitcher; a pretty good one, too. Pat Neshek loves metal (and real metal, too; his choices for entrance music include selections by Lamb of God and Chimaira). Sounds like a match made in heaven...

If only he wasn't on the DL for the rest of the year...

Let me introduce you to the No. 1 pick in the 2011 amateur draft . . . Bryce Harper. I know, that particular draft won't take place for three more years. As such, how in the world could I make this type of a prediction now? Well, if you watched the 15-year-old, lefthanded-hitting catcher take batting practice, infield, and two plate appearances on Tuesday at the Area Code Games, as I did, then I have no doubt that you would be as enthusiastic about this phenom as I am.

Harper is one of only six athletes from the 2011 graduating class competing in the 22nd annual Area Code Baseball Games at Blair Field in Long Beach, California this week. Of the remaining 172 players, 19 will graduate in 2010 and 153 in 2009. Although I have only seen two games and four of the eight teams thus far, I would be surprised if there is a player who rivals Harper's talent. Yes, I believe Harper just may be the most outstanding prep in the country right now.

I'm not the only one who feels this way about the 6-foot-2, 197-pound sophomore-to-be from Las Vegas. I spoke to a handful of the more than 300 scouts in attendance on the first day of the tournament about Harper and the responses – from those who have followed him closely to others who had seen him for the first time that day – ranged from "wow" to shaking head in disbelief to "the best high school hitter I've ever seen."

Using a wood bat, Harper put on a hitting clinic toward the end of BP, blasting one shot after another. Several hours later, the prized prospect hit the two hardest balls during the opening day of the six-day tournament in which pitchers dominated the action. In his first at-bat, Harper, serving as the designated hitter for the Cincinnati Reds, lined out to center field. He hit the ball about as squarely as possible, directly up the middle but straight into the glove of Washingon Nationals center fielder Kyrell Hudson.

In Harper's second trip to the plate, he jacked a towering shot off the right-field wall for a stand-up triple to open the sixth inning. It is important to note that Blair Field is a pitcher-friendly ballpark played at seaside altitude with 348-ft dimensions down the lines that exceed those of every major-league stadium in existence. He scored the only run of the game on a subsequent ground out to short. Harper was replaced in the ninth, ending the night with one of the only two hits in the contest as seven Reds pitchers combined to no-hit the Nats.

Harper has a power bat and a plus throwing arm that "already grades out to 70 on the 20 to 80 scouting scale," according to Dave Perkin of Baseball America. During infield prior to the game, Harper, in full gear, rifled the ball out of a crouch to second and third base with precision. Upon seeing him in action, I marked down "+ + arm" next to his name in my program. Although the rap on him is that he's not all that fast, I thought he ran very well from home to third on that triple, especially considering his age, size, and power. The kid is nothing if not impressive.

While I didn't witness Harper during the SPARQ (acronym for Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, Quickness) testing that morning, he earned a score of 63.93, the 54th highest total out of 178 participants. It was the fourth-highest rating among the 25 underclassmen. Interestingly, he ran a 3.91 in the 30-yard dash, ranking in the top 10% in that category.

Check out Harper's explosive swing in the cage during a recent batting practice session.

You can also see Harper going yard in an actual game in this video clip.

As shown, Harper employs a slightly open stance with the right heel off the ground and his hands held high. He uses his body well, gets into a good position at the point of contact, and goes after the ball in a very aggressive manner. Bryce doesn't use batting gloves and tends to lean over and grab a handful of dirt before each at-bat. The youngster displayed a good eye and a mature approach on Tuesday, waiting for his pitch and peppering the offerings that he can handle.

I am planning on catching some more games between now and Sunday and will report back on Monday with added commentary on Harper as well as a number of other standouts. The Area Code Games, long considered one of the top talent showcases in the country, has produced more than 300 major league players in just over two decades. There may be 15 or 20 participants who will eventually don big-league uniforms, and the best of the bunch just might be a kid who is still too young to drive. While Bryce Harper has a long ways to go (three more years of high school for the Las Vegas Wildcats and a few years in the minors) before reaching the Show, the June 2011 draft couldn't come any sooner for the MLB team lucky enough to select him.

* * *

Area Code Teams

Chicago White Sox – Midwest (Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri)
Cincinnati Reds – Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada)
Milwaukee Brewers (Blue) – Southern California
Milwaukee Brewers (Gray) – Northern California
New York Yankees – Northeast (New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts)
Oakland Athletics – Southeast (Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida)
Texas Rangers – Texas, Louisiana
Washington Nationals – Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon)

Schedule

Tuesday, August 5:

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Player Evaluation (SPARQ Testing and Batting Practice)
3:45 p.m. – White Sox vs. Rangers (9)
7:15 p.m. – Reds vs. Nationals (9)

Wednesday, August 6:

8:30 a.m. – Rangers vs. Nationals (9)
12:00 p.m. – Brewers (Blue) vs. Athletics
3:00 p.m. – Brewers (Gray) vs. Yankees
6:30 p.m. – MLB Scout Symposium (Long Beach Marriott)

Thursday, August 7:

8:30 a.m. – Brewers (Gray) vs. Athletics
11:30 a.m. – Brewers (Blue) vs. Yankees
2:30 p.m. – Reds vs. Rangers
5:30 p.m. – Nationals vs. White Sox

Friday, August 8:

8:30 a.m. – Yankees vs. Nationals
11:30 a.m. – Athletics vs. Rangers
2:30 p.m. – Brewers (Blue) vs. White Sox
5:30 p.m. – Brewers (Gray) vs. Reds (9)

Saturday, August 9:

8:30 a.m. – Reds vs. Brewers (Blue)
11:30 a.m. – Nationals vs. Brewers (Gray)
2:30 p.m. – White Sox vs. Brewers (Gray)
5:30 p.m. – Athletics vs. Yankees (9)

Sunday, August 10:

8:30 a.m. – White Sox vs. Athletics
11:30 a.m. – Yankees vs. Reds
2:30 p.m. – Rangers vs. Brewers (Blue)

Hail Boggs and the rest of those clowns...time to reopen the Warren Giles Commission! Junior’s trade to the Reds in 1999 was, to me, the baseball version of the day John F. Kennedy Jr. was shot. I still remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. The only time I’ve ever been that numbly excited was when my first child was born. To say the least, it was a special day. His tenure as a Red didn’t come close to mirroring the success he had in Seattle, but “The Kid” still fared well in the Queen City. Most of us, with expectations throttling miles into the atmosphere, never noticed or appreciated their most famous native son’s achievements. We didn’t take up for him when he got injured diving for a ball in right-center or sliding hard into third, stretching a double into a triple. We booed him out of town. ...I love the Reds and have for four decades. The Big Red Machine and Sparky Anderson were staples in the development of my love of baseball as a child. But, Curt Flood and free agency destroyed the loyalty and cohesiveness of the word “team.” In the late ‘70s, baseball…Read More ...

Note: Writing 15 recaps a day is taking way too long each day. As much as I like writing the recaps I am going to have to write a more general review of yesterday's games. I apologize for the inconvenience but taking over two hours each day to write recaps takes up too much of the day. Today due to time constraints I am writing on other subjects and will be out of town tomorrow to take care of legal business in courtroom so this will be the last post till Monday.

Griffey's era with the Reds came to an anticlimactic end last week in a trade to the White Sox for a couple of scrubs. And while his career can't be said to be over yet--he's given no indications that he's retiring thus far--I wanted to take a quick look back at his impressive career.

George Kenneth Griffey, Jr., was the first overall selection in the 1987 amateur draft out of Moeller High School in Cincinnati. Other notables taken in the first round include Jack McDowell (5th), Kevin Appier (9th), Delino DeShields (11th), Mike Remlinger (16th), Jack Armstrong (18th), Craig Biggio (22nd), Pete Harnisch (27th), and Travis Fryman (30th). Pretty impressive class...but Griffey was clearly the best of the bunch.

Griffey skyrocketed through the minors, beating the tarnation out of A-ball teams before a short stint at AA to end his year-18 season. He skipped AAA altogether, starting instead in center field for Seattle in the 1989 season as a 19-year old. Thus began what has to be considered among the most dominant first 12 years in baseball history, and, of course, a shoe-in Hall of Fame career. He was a 13-time all-star, 10-time gold glover, 7-time silver slugger, and the 1997 MVP (five times in the top-5).

Hitting

Year	Age	Team	PA	%K	%BB	BABIP	AVG	OBP	SLG	ISO	OPS	R/G	RAA	RAA/PA	RAR
1989	19	SEA	506	16%	9%	0.288	0.264	0.329	0.420	0.156	0.749	4.7	7.3	0.015	21.8
1990	20	SEA	666	12%	9%	0.315	0.300	0.366	0.481	0.181	0.847	6.0	27.6	0.042	46.1
1991	21	SEA	633	13%	11%	0.344	0.327	0.399	0.527	0.200	0.926	7.3	43.5	0.069	60.4
1992	22	SEA	617	11%	7%	0.310	0.308	0.361	0.535	0.227	0.896	6.6	37.0	0.060	53.7
1993	23	SEA	691	13%	14%	0.298	0.309	0.408	0.617	0.308	1.025	8.5	60.7	0.088	80.0
1994	24	SEA	493	15%	11%	0.311	0.323	0.402	0.674	0.351	1.076	9.2	48.1	0.098	63.1
1995	25	SEA	314	17%	17%	0.260	0.258	0.379	0.481	0.223	0.860	6.4	11.2	0.036	21.0
1996	26	SEA	638	16%	12%	0.290	0.303	0.392	0.628	0.325	1.020	8.6	52.3	0.082	72.4
1997	27	SEA	704	17%	11%	0.291	0.304	0.382	0.646	0.342	1.028	8.3	58.1	0.082	79.4
1998	28	SEA	720	17%	11%	0.270	0.284	0.365	0.611	0.327	0.976	7.7	50.1	0.070	72.6
1999	29	SEA	706	15%	13%	0.277	0.285	0.384	0.576	0.291	0.960	7.6	42.0	0.059	64.7
2000	30	CIN	631	19%	15%	0.272	0.271	0.387	0.556	0.285	0.943	7.3	31.6	0.050	52.1
2001	31	CIN	417	17%	11%	0.298	0.286	0.365	0.533	0.247	0.898	6.6	18.8	0.045	31.8
2002	32	CIN	232	17%	12%	0.286	0.264	0.358	0.426	0.162	0.784	5.0	2.0	0.009	9.1
2003	33	CIN	201	22%	13%	0.252	0.247	0.370	0.566	0.319	0.936	7.0	11.2	0.056	17.4
2004	34	CIN	348	19%	13%	0.260	0.253	0.351	0.513	0.260	0.864	6.1	10.7	0.031	21.9
2005	35	CIN	555	17%	10%	0.305	0.301	0.369	0.576	0.275	0.945	7.3	36.2	0.065	52.7
2006	36	CIN	472	17%	8%	0.248	0.252	0.316	0.486	0.234	0.802	5.0	1.3	0.003	17.5
2007	37	CIN	623	16%	14%	0.284	0.277	0.372	0.496	0.219	0.868	6.2	20.9	0.034	40.2
2008	38	TOT	439	15%	14%	0.263	0.247	0.355	0.427	0.180	0.782	5.2	4.2	0.010	18.1
Career			10606	16%	12%	0.290	0.288	0.373	0.548	0.260	0.921	7.0	575.0	0.054	896

The Griffey that we'll remember was a guy who had decent strikeout rates, decent to good walk rates, and amazing power. He had five seasons with a 0.300+ isolated power. His best offensive season may well have been his MVP year, when he hit 0.304/56/147 (triple crown stats) and produced 79 runs above replacement to lead the AL West champion '97 Mariners to the postseason. At least as good, however, was his 1993 performance (80 RAR), and he was on pace for his greatest season ever in 1994 before it was cut short by the strike (9.2 R/G, 0.10 RAA/PA, 63 RAR & 40 HR in 111 games). His peak lasted roughly 7 seasons, though the strike and a wrist injury limited his playing time in '94 and '95.

During Griffey's career, the average MLB team has gone from scoring 4.14 runs per game in 1989 to 5.14 runs per game in 2000, and back down to the current level around 4.8 runs per game. He has always clocked in as an above-average hitter. He's played his entire career in hitters' parks (the Kingdome, Cinergy Field, and Great American Ballparks), but even after adjusting for his home parks his offense has accounted for 896 runs above replacement and counting.

Fielding & Total Value

Year	PA	RAA	RAR	ZR-Runs	PosAdj	TtlVal-RAA	TtlVal-RAR
1989	506	9	24	-3	3	9	24
1990	666	30	48	3	4	36	55
1991	633	45	61	-5	4	43	60
1992	617	37	54	-6	3	34	51
1993	691	61	80	-2	3	62	81
1994	493	48	63	-5	2	46	60
1995	314	11	21	-9	2	4	14
1996	638	52	72	-5	3	51	71
1997	704	58	79	-6	4	56	77
1998	720	50	73	-3	4	51	73
1999	706	44	67	-8	4	40	63
2000	631	32	52	14	3	49	70
2001	417	19	32	0	2	21	34
2002	232	2	9	-1	1	2	9
2003	201	11	17	-1	1	11	17
2004	348	11	22	-13	2	0	11
2005	555	36	52	-21	3	18	34
2006	472	2	18	-11	2	-7	9
2007	623	22	41	-3	-5	14	33
2008	433	5	19	2	-3	4	17
Career	10600	584	905	-83	42	543	864

I'm a little hamstrung here, because for this table I'm only using zone rating from ESPN. I strongly prefer to use at least two fielding metrics whenever possible, but prior to 2003 or thereabouts I just don't have the data to do this. In recent years, ZR has been much more favorable toward Griffey's performances in the field than other metrics (e.g. RZR, UZR, PMR).

But surprisingly, even given that, Griffey doesn't come off as an overwhelmingly good fielder. In fact, compared to other center fielders, Griffey typically came out a tad below average over most of his career. The one real exception was in his first year with the Reds, 2000, when he was rated 14 runs above average. I have to wonder if there are some park effects that aren't accounted for at the Kingdome. As bad as the gold glove voters can be, I have a hard time believing that Griffey would win 10 straight gold gloves at a premier defensive position if he was a below-average fielder. While the only other fielding resource I have on hand from that era, Clay Davenport's fielding translations, show Griffey in a somewhat more positive light, he still does not come across as an exceptional defender by the numbers.

Even if we accept these data, though, it wasn't until the 2004 season--following three seasons shortened by leg injuries--that he became a genuine liability in the field. In 2005, his first year back from an experimental hamstring surgery, his defense cut his value by 35%--and those are some of the more generous numbers you'll find. The move to right field in 2007 certainly helped, but other metrics indicate that he's still a dreadful fielder in right.

Even though the fielding numbers don't help his cause, Griffey's overall numbers are still hard to match: 846 runs above replacement on his career (~85 wins), and counting. It's been a very impressive career. And the best part is, even though he's fading, he's not done yet. Add my voice to the chorus of Reds fans who hope that he not only makes it to the post-season, but gets the chance to play for his first ring.

Update: At Sky's suggestion, I checked out Sean Smith's TotalZone ratings for Griffey. Here they are (runs vs. average; year).

-12	1989
-4	1990
-2	1991
-7	1992
-12	1993
-9	1994
2	1995
5	1996
6	1997
6	1998
8	2000
-10	2001
-11	2002
-5	2003
-9	2004
-23	2005
-17	2006
0	2007

Again, the data don't support the idea that Griffey was a spectacular outfielder at any point in his career. Nevertheless, especially when you keep in mind that he was playing center field during this time, Griffey was clearly a defensive asset throughout most of his offensive peak (~'93-'99). It wasn't until 2004 or 2005 that he became a real liability out there. Again, 2005 was the season following his experimental hamstring surgery, which is when I think most of us noticed his drastically reduced speed.

These ratings would also indicate that his best season was clearly his MVP year, when he was 79 runs above replacement via offense, 6 runs above average as a center fielder, and receives a +4 run bonus for playing a premium position. That's 89 runs above a replacement player, which is a spectacular season.

Some folk say that every once in a while...rising stench from the long-closed Secaucus pig farms will come floating back and curdle-up your unpluckable nose hairs. Right now, the best-case scenario has MLB Network moving into Harlem by the start of the 2011 season. But that’s only if the property’s developer, Vornado Realty Trust, starts construction soon. It originally was supposed to start last spring, but reportedly ran into financing troubles that delayed it. For at least the next two years, the network will be operating out of MSNBC’s former studio in Secaucus, N.J., where it is spending a lot of money — tens of millions of dollars, some industry sources suggest — to make those studios ready for HD. “Because we’re going to be in Secaucus for two years, we decided that we need to make that a full-on high-def facility,” said MLB Network President and CEO Tony Petitti. Why would MLB spend that kind of money in Secaucus, only to turn around and build the same studio 16 miles away? What possible benefit could MLB get from having such a studio in Harlem, rather than Secaucus? The truth is that plenty of other networks have discovered they are not…Read More ...

Giants principle owner Peter Magowan, who will retire as president and managing general partner after the season, bristles when he hears talk that the club has gone out of its way to whitewash the recent past. “There are signs out there on the walk behind the wall,” Magowan says, referring to the dozen or so bronze plaques embedded in the cement boardwalk that runs between the ballpark and McCovey Cove—seven of which are devoted to Bonds and his accomplishments. “That’s a bunch of bulls---, that the Giants haven’t recognized Barry Bonds. “You don’t see pictures of Juan Marichal when you look around (from the stands). You don’t see pictures of Willie Mays, or Willie McCovey. Where are they?” Plus, the Bobby Etheridge was never built either!

Hey, so long as they don’t hate you. You’re safe. I think. If you believe the nerdlingers experts at Baseball Prospectus, the Angels and the Rays are insanely lucky. According to something called the “pythagorean over-under,” the Angels, by rights, should subtract nine wins from their total for the year. They’re closer to a 62-win team (see Minnesota and the White Sox) than the 71-win squad that sits atop the AL West. Maybe because they play so many games against sorry AL West teams. But Tampa? BP calls them a 61-game-winner, not the 67W team that leads Boston by three games. They don’t have Anaheim’s cupcake schedule, so I can’t imagine why no love for the Rays. Actually, I don’t have a clue what any of it means. But BP is always good for some nyuks. So, let’s peek at the American League through the Coke-bottle, Buddy-Holly-style, masking-taped glasses of the folks at Baseball Prospectus.

Karl Kuehl...another Expo connection. Gone. Karl Kuehl, a baseball scout, coach, author and player development specialist known for his contributions to the Oakland Athletics teams that won three pennants, died Wednesday. He was 70. Kuehl died of pulmonary fibrosis in a Scottsdale hospital, his son John said. He had been active until recent weeks, when he was hospitalized. Kuehl was the manager of the Montreal Expos in 1976, going 43-85 before being fired with two months left in the season.

Well you can't chalk this loss up against the wuthering bullpen. There was never a lead to blow.


If Pedro had pitched all season he'd be giving Santana a run for his money as Gopherball Champion

Starting with the first pitch of the game, a Jody Gerut gopher ball surrendered by Pedro, the Mets fell behind and despite a couple of mewling little efforts at offense, stayed behind in a demoralising sort of 4-2 loss that dropped them 3 full games behind the Phillies.

In many ways a familiar theme to the early days of this season - the Mets put some runners on, put them in scoring position and then watched the guys who are supposed to be driving those runs home fizzle.

Three innings the Mets ended with runners in scoring position and Carlos Beltran failing: but not only Beltran. For the night, a meak 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Want to see the source of this loss? Look no further. Carloses Delgado and Beltran 0 for the Evening. Another rock to poke under.

Another disgusting sort of loss seeing as it comes against the Padres, one of the worst teams in baseball, who have now beaten the Mets 5 out of 6 times this season. Think if the Mets lose out of the playoffs by a few games they can't point to these pissant performances against the Padres and gasp at the opportunities squandered?


Any one got any goat horns for this kid?

A few things could be said about David Wright as well but what would be the pernt? Wright sometimes giveths away as much as he giveths and last night was another one of those - charged with two errors, one legit, one questionable and one my-head-is-not-really-in-the-g