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Playing Pepper 2010: Oakland Athletics

Posted on March 11, 2010 at 10:44 PM
Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order---ah, who are we kidding, we'll get them up when we get them up.

Oakland Athletics
2009 Finish: 75-87, fourth in the AL West

Interestingly enough, Oakland is the only team not represented in the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.  Over 140 blogs and not one of them has a focus on the green and gold.

Oakland's blogger landscape is dominated by Athletics Nation, so I sent along the Playing Pepper Ten to them, asking them to take a look.  Christy was kind enough to send back some short and sweet answers, which gives you a break from reading some of the treatises that I've been posting!
  Continue Reading

Also on the Network:

√ Things to Read: 3/11 [Tremendous Upside Potential]
√ Wounded Birds [C70 At The Bat]
√ Things to Read: 3/10 [Tremendous Upside Potential]

Book Review: Joe Cronin, A Life In Baseball

Posted on March 11, 2010 at 9:30 PM
One of the perks of being a baseball bloggers is, at times, you get a chance to get a free baseball book on the off-chance that you'll write about it to an audience that may care what you have to say.  I've had four or five of these opportunities come directly to me, but this time, it came through my association with Seamheads.  (Which is another one of those luck things.  Take a look at that author roster.  There's no way I have any business being there, but they humor me.)

Anyway, there came around an e-mail looking to see if someone was interested in reading a new book called Joe Cronin: A Life In Baseball, by Mark Armour.  I have read enough baseball history to know the name of Joe Cronin, but I didn't know a lot of the details about him.  A baseball book is a baseball book, however, and I quickly volunteered to take a look at it.  Let me tell you, I'm extremely glad that I did.

This book had me hooked from the prelude, which was set at the end of Cronin's life when he was being honored at Fenway Park with Ted Williams.  The description of Cronin as an affable guy that loved to talk baseball at any opportunity intrigued me and made me identify with him more than I expected too.

Name a job and a time in baseball and Joe Cronin had something to do with it.  He broke into baseball with Pittsburgh in 1925.  At least, that's where he got his first job.  He wound up spending most of his tenure in Pittsburgh in their minor league system.  When he ran out of options, he was traded over to Washington, where he actually made a name for himself.

Cronin was an All-Star shortstop, which in and of itself might have gotten him into the Hall of Fame.  However, it wasn't too many years before Cronin found himself named player-manager of the Senators, something that wasn't all that common even in those days, though was a little more prevalent at the time due to the Great Depression.  An owner could get two jobs done for the price of one, basically.

Before reading this book, I'd heard the story that Cronin had been traded by his father-in-law, which is not something that often happens.  Clark Griffin was actually Cronin's uncle by marriage, though he had basically adopted Cronin's wife and people thought of her as his daughter.  However, what's less well known is that Cronin had the final say there and was willing to go to Boston.

Boston was a great move for him.  He was player-manager for a few more years before gradually siding into more of a traditional manager role.  He then moved up the ladder to GM during a time where the Red Sox built their way out of also-ran status to at least a competitiveness with the Yankees.  Cronin was also in Boston for the infamous dash by Enos Slaughter, something Cardinal fans remember very fondly.

What else did Cronin do?  How about rewriting the rule book--literally.  He headed up the committee that formalized and codified the rules of the game.  He was the American League President (back when the two leagues had their own identity) and presided over franchise shifts and expansion teams.  He even was in the running to be commissioner for a time, though he was skipped over for an outsider in his best chance at it.

Armour weaves a fascinating tale, examining each year of Cronin's baseball life, from his time starring in the sandlots of San Francisco to his passing in 1984.  Watching how baseball changed and seeing Cronin in the middle of the changes allows for a great look at the history of the game.

Armour does come across as an apologetic for Cronin in places, but it is nothing too egregious.  Cronin dealt with charges of racism, as the Red Sox were the last team to integrate with black ballplayers.  He received criticism as league president as well, and Armour takes pains to explain Cronin's side of things even while outlining the charges against him.

If I hadn't been asked to review this book, I might not have ever picked it up.  While I enjoy reading baseball tomes, I might have passed this one by due to it being an American League book when I have a National League focus.  That said, I'd have been missing out not to have read through this one.  If you are a person with an interest in baseball history or know someone that does, this book would be a wonderful addition to their library.

Wounded Birds

Posted on March 11, 2010 at 8:06 AM
While there was plenty of news from the game yesterday, the biggest discussion point probably happened before the first pitch was ever thrown.

Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday were both scratched from yesterday's game against the Nationals.  Pujols's back still isn't quite right and Holliday has a strained rib cage muscle.  A team that looks strong offensively drops quickly into mediocre without those guys.

Now, it's not time to start sounding alarms and looking for the nearest bridge, of course.  If they are still out a week before the season starts, then I think you get worried.  Still, it's a cause for concern.  Both of those guys need to be ready to answer the bell, so that the Cards don't wind up slipping behind early.

The game itself provided some good talking points as well.  First among them was the start of Brad Penny.  After his first outing, there were a few questions about just what the Cardinals had gotten themselves into.  Those were eased yesterday with four scoreless and effective innings.  I still think Penny is in line to have a big year for the squad and seeing results like yesterday's help reinforce that in my mind.

Allen Craig made his presence known as well.  If he's going to make this team, which is still a possibility, he's going to have to hit his way there.  Hitting a home run in his first spring at-bat probably didn't hurt at all.  Craig also wound up with a RBI double later in the game and with AP and Holliday out for a bit, he looks to get quite a few at-bats this week.

Then there was Shelby Miller.  Cardinal fans have been waiting to get a glimpse of the first-round draft pick and they, along with his family, got their chance yesterday.  (At least the ones that were in Jupiter--it figures this game would be one with no TV or radio.)  Tony La Russa seems impressed, at least.  Dave Duncan is passing along good things.  With all of this, could it be that Miller won't spend much time at A ball this year, getting a promotion to Springfield mid-season or so?  It'll be interesting to keep an eye on that as the summer goes along.

I expected that he'd be sent out after this outing, but not only is he staying in camp for a while, there's a chance he'll get another outing before going down.  I expect that Miller has made quite an impression during this camp!

Cardinals take on the Marlins again today, with Kyle Lohse going.  Remember there are only two days left to express your opinion in the Cardinal Approval Ratings!

Playing Pepper 2010: New York Mets

Posted on March 10, 2010 at 2:41 PM
Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order---ah, who are we kidding, we'll get them up when we get them up.

New York Mets
2009 Finish: 70-92, fourth in NL East

It's possible that I'll wind up being hurt before finishing this entry.  That would be par for the course for anything related to the Mets from last year.  If it could go wrong, it did, if a player could get hurt, he would.  2009 was a terrible year for a team just a swing away from the World Series just three years previous.  Call it the curse of Yadier Molina.

However, there are still tons of Mets fans willing to stick it out another year.  So read on to see what Steve from The Eddie Kranepool Society, Phil from Hoops Approved, Dave from The Mets Report and Kerel from On The Black had to say about 2010.
  Continue Reading

Back Against It

Posted on March 9, 2010 at 7:55 AM
The biggest news from Cardinals camp yesterday didn't come out of the matchup between the Cards and the Red Sox, between Chris Carpenter and Josh Beckett.  The news of the day was made before the game even started and hopefully hasn't put the team's back to the wall.

Albert Pujols didn't make the trip yesterday as scheduled due to back stiffness, instead seeing a chiropractor for an adjustment.  Now, anytime Pujols has so much as a hangnail, Cardinal Nation starts grabbing the paper bags, having hyperventilation of the non-prospect kind.  For good reason, of course--as Pujols goes, so go the Cardinals.  Even with the solid club that John Mozeliak has put together for 2010, the foundation is AP and without him, it's a much tougher climb.

If the reports coming out of the team are true, this is more precautionary than anything, that if it was the regular season he might play through it.  We'll see more when he takes the field on Wednesday and hopefully this will be the last report of such things.  It'd be a shame for him to finally have that elbow feeling good to be then sidelined by his back.

The game had some interesting facets as well.  Carpenter wasn't sharp, it sounds like, but he was still fairly effective.  It's always good to see Carp go out there and be the pitcher we know he can be.  After so many injuries, last year seemed like a mirage--if you looked too close, it would vanish and those promises would be empty.  It didn't happen last year, though, and as he said yesterday, you don't really worry about every start being his last.  Well, at least too much.

Brendan Ryan is coming along quicker than expected, according to reports.  Which is not the way Cardinal injuries usually go, but it's a welcome change.  I'm still not 100% that Ryan won't start the year on the DL, but at least now it looks like the chances of that happening are starting to decrease.

It's a big day in prospect circles.  There will be a lot of focus on the Nationals game, where Stephen Strasburg is to make his spring training debut, but closer to home, Shelby Miller is likely to get into today's game against the Twins.  Odds are it'll be his last appearance with the big squad, getting sent to the minor league camp afterwards, but still it'll be intriguing to see him on the mound, giving the team a glimpse of the future.

Adam Wainwright should get the start today against Minnesota, so looking forward to seeing the Wagonmaker back in the saddle.  And i you've not voted in the Cardinal Approval Ratings, best get to it!

Splitting The Weekend

Posted on March 8, 2010 at 8:08 AM
Two games, one win.

The Cards finally broke the seal on the win column this weekend.  After falling Saturday in extra innings to Florida, they were able to get a win against the Marlins on Sunday.  Kyle McClellan had a very solid start, but had to since his main competition, Rich Hill, was just about as good.  McClellan went three innings of one-hit ball, while Hill came in and struck out two in his two innings, though he did allow a wind-aided home run.

I don't know that this outing tells us a whole lot about McClellan, though probably a little bit.  He's not an unknown quantity.  We know that he can get batters out, especially in a short outing.  He's gone two or three innings before in the bigs.  (OK, three innings just once, but the point holds.)  The key is going to be when he starts lengthening out his starts and facing the bats two or three times.  Will he make adjustments?  Will the batters catch up to him?  Can he keep the focus and stamina through a longer time on the mound?  While there's no indication that these questions will be answered in a negative fashion, we still need to wait until his next start (and possibly the one after that) to get a good feel for him as a starter.

In Hill's case, it was good to see that the "dead arm" he had earlier in camp has apparently cleared up, at least somewhat.  Seeing if he can handle the longer outings will be something to keep an eye on as well.  His command apparently was fairly strong, though he did throw as many pitches in two innings as McClellan did in three, which is something to watch.  Both of these guys go again Friday, with Hill going first, and the most intriguing battle of the spring picks up again then.

The other news from the weekend was that the first cuts were made, as ten were sent to the minor league camp.  While some of these guys will still get a little filler time with the big club during the spring, they'll do most of their work with the minor leaguers.  Not really any surprises on there--Charlie Zink's blowup this week apparently cost him quickly--but I think the most surprising thing to me is that Shelby Miller wasn't on the list.  His batterymate, Robert Stock, was, so I was expecting to see his name, especially since players will still go back and forth.  Apparently they think there is still value in Miller hanging with the big kids.  I'm looking forward to him getting into a game, and wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't happen today or tomorrow.

The UCB roundtable is still going strong, with the transcript of this weekend's question up over at Stan Musial's Stance.  For the complete schedule and links to the transcripts that are up, check over here.

If you haven't already, be sure to put in your entry into the 2010 Cardinal Approval Ratings!  Already 46 entries in, so I'm looking forward to how they shake out.  The deadline is Friday, so head on over and get them in!

Today's an exciting matchup, even if it is spring training.  The Cardinals travel over to Boston's spring training camp for a game that will pit Chris Carpenter against Josh Beckett.  That one should be a lot of fun!

Playing Pepper 2010: Los Angeles Dodgers

Posted on March 6, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order, but things may change depending on responses.

Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Finish: 95-67, first in NL West, lost in NLCS

The last memories Cardinal fans have of the Dodgers aren't good.  After so often dominating the team in blue when it comes to postseason glory, St. Louis went down with little more than a whimper in the NLDS, meaning LA won its first post-season series since 1988.

Will they be able to take the next step this year?  I talked with Matt from Feeling Dodger Blue to get his take on the season to come.
  Continue Reading

Still Just Spring Training

Posted on March 6, 2010 at 9:37 AM
At least there was a reason.

Brad Penny was one of the most intriguing names brought into St. Louis during the offseason.  A lot of us were interested to see what this guy, who had been a very successful pitcher in the past, could do with Dave Duncan's tutelage.  So seeing the results yesterday would be a little worriesome, if there wasn't a reason.

It's hard to remember sometimes that spring training is just that, training.  In the regular season, you don't go into a game saying, "Let's see, my sinker needs work, I'm going to keep throwing that no matter what happens."  Pitchers play with pitches, trying to see what they need to do to get them sharp and ready.

So, as much as I'd like to, I've got to resist drawing any conclusions out of yesterday's results.  As I say that, though, I'll take that back.  There is one conclusion I think you can make: Lance Lynn wants to make a run at this roster.

Lynn threw three perfect innings and so far has been the best pitcher of the spring.  (Sure, it's only been two games, but have you seen those two games?)  I still expect he'll wind up in Springfield or Memphis, but we thought that about Kyle McClellan a few years back as well.  The Cardinals are looking for a long relief guy, especially if McClellan makes the rotation, so Lynn is making sure his name is on that list.

Cards take on the Marlins today (something we say often during spring training) and the lineup is out there.  Felipe Lopez makes his debut, Albert Pujols plays in his second straight game, and Colby Rasmus bats cleanup.  The game is on KTRS today, so tune in and get your first taste of John Rooney and Mike Shannon.

Speaking of our announcers, if you look on the right side of this blog (a little ways down the page), you'll see last year's Cardinal Approval Ratings.  Last year, I picked a person a day and everyone posted their rating here, on CardsClubhouse, or at Viva El Birdos.  This year, I'm doing it a little differently.  You can find a form with everyone right over here.  Fill it out and I'll announce the results on a daily basis after the voting closes on March 12.  Have fun!

Stumbling Out Of The Gate

Posted on March 5, 2010 at 7:56 AM
Well, that wasn't the way Cardinal fans wanted to see things get started.

OK, let's put in the usual disclaimers.  It was a spring training game.  Most of the regulars weren't in there, and you can't take a lot away from one game, especially the first of the year.  So I'm not drawing any conclusions from this game, just to make that perfectly clear.

About the only thing you might be able to take out of that contest is that Charlie Zink isn't going to be going north with the team, but we knew that already.  Francisco Samuel didn't look all that good either, though I believe command's been an issue with him in the past.  Nice to see Adam Ottovino have a decent game, though his command apparently wasn't all there either.

Out of those that actually are going to be on the 2010 Cardinals, Ryan Ludwick gave some positive signs, with a double and a home run.  It took a while last year for him to get going, so perhaps working with Mark McGwire (who noticed a mechanical issue early in camp) has had some results already.

It was surprising to see the defense be so shaky.  Again, there were a lot of people in that game that won't even sniff St. Louis and conditions in Florida are notoriously tough at times, but you still hate to see Colby Rasmus lose the first ball hit to him in the sun.

On the battle front, Joe Mather chipped in two hits, which has to help his standing somewhat.  He was charged with an error, though it doesn't sound like it was entirely his fault (couldn't catch a throw by Rasmus, which may have been him, Rasmus, or the wind).  It's early, but I think Tony LaRussa has Mather mentally penciled in for the bench, with the possibility of Mather playing his way out of it.  So far, that's not happening.

Today the Cards face the Mets again, this time at home, and start Brad Penny.  Many of us here in Cardinal Nation have been very interested to see Penny in a competitive game.  The big bats will be in the lineup for the Cardinals today, as Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina make their debuts.  With more of a regular look to the lineup, hopefully it will be a more professional game, at least until the subs come in.

Before I wrap this up, I wanted to comment on the GM rankings put out by Sports Illustrated. John Mozeliak was ranked 18th.  To which I say, really?

It seems to me that the rankings were a bit of a hodgepodge.  You've got Andrew Friedman of the Rays on top.  I can go with that.  Built up a young team, developed them into a contender.  Sure.

Then you've got Theo Epstein of the BoSox.  Again, solid pick.  Even though he's got a budget that can absorb a lot of things (and again, thanks for Julio Lugo and John Smoltz, guys!), they have done a good job of making the smart moves.

Third you have Brian Cashman.  Wow, the top three GMs just happen to be in the AL East.  Hmm, shocking.  Cashman is a fine GM, don't get me wrong, but he also presides over a payroll that is roughly $200 million.  How much of a true test is that?

Then you have the Marlins' GM, which makes some sense, I guess, in that they've also made a couple of trades, built a farm system, and have been competitive at least.

So, even if you disagree, it's about results with the top four.  Results would seem to be the best way to go about measuring something like this, so that's fine.  I think I'd have done a little differently, but sure, that's our measuring stick.

So at number five we have....Jack Zduriencik?  The Seattle GM was the darling of the offseason, it's true, but have we seen any results out of that yet?  It seems like he's getting ranked up here solely by reputation of his "baseball mind" instead of what he's been able to produce.  His offseason looked good, but this isn't a ranking of offseasons.

Jon Daniels at 8?  Yeah, Texas has some young guys coming up, but do you remember Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young for Adam Eaton?  That trade alone has to knock you down into the latter half.  There's not necessarily been a lot of return from that Mark Teixeira trade either.

Then they put our old friend Walt Jocketty 14th, while saying it's tough to know how good of a GM he was since Albert Pujols, TLR and Dave Duncan were on the squad.  Seriously?  You are going there? Because it's darn tough to see how good Brian Cashman is when he's signed huge free agents and been able to put an All-Star at every position.

All that to say that I believe Mozeliak is woefully underrated on this list.  In less than three years on the job, he's moved a third baseman everyone knew he had to trade and got back quality in return, moved an outfielder and made a smart decision on which minor leaguer to get back, pulled the trade for the most coveted bat on the market and then played hardball to get him signed, gotten freebies from overstuffed payrolls (again, thanks Boston!) that have turned out extremely well.

There's not much that Mo's done in his tenure that has blown up in his face, which is more than a lot of guys ahead of him on that list can say.  Honestly, Mo has to be in the top 10, I think, and possibly knocking on the door of the top five.  If he can keep Albert in St. Louis, though, we'll all rank him #1 in our hearts!

Playing Pepper 2010: Minnesota Twins

Posted on March 4, 2010 at 11:18 PM
Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order, but things may change depending on responses.

Minnesota Twins
2009 Finish: 87-76, first in AL Central, lost in ALDS

The Twins captured America's imagination at the end of the season last year, making an amazing run to wind up tied with the Tigers on the last day, then playing an epic Game 163 to advance.  Unfortunately, that was all they could manage, closing the Metrodome on a losing note.

A new season, a new stadium, and a new hope pervades the land of a thousand lakes.  To take us through the upcoming season, we've got Parker from Over The Baggy, Seth from Seth Speaks and Andrew from Twins Target.
  Continue Reading

Playing Pepper 2010: Houston Astros

Posted on March 4, 2010 at 3:06 PM
Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order, but things may change depending on responses.

Houston Astros
2009 Finish: 74-88, fifth in NL Central

The rivalry with Houston was an integral part of the past decade.  St. Louis and the Astros went back and forth in a well-played and classy contest.  For me, at least, I couldn't hate Houston because they went about things the right way and weren't, well, they weren't the Cubs.

The 'Stros fell on hard times last year, but James from Astros County and Mike from Farmstros take a look at what to expect out of them in the coming season.
  Continue Reading

Spring Training 08

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Heroes


2009 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (28)
2008 Top Hero: Albert Pujols (25)

Goats


2009 Top Goats: Rick Ankiel and Todd Wellemeyer (13)
2008 Top Goat: Troy Glaus (13)

    Cardinal Nation Approval Ratings (March 2009)
    Albert Pujols 97.9%
    Yadier Molina 93.4%
    Mike Shannon 91.6%
    Dave Duncan 84.2%
    Rick Ankiel 83.9%
    John Rooney 80.9%
    Bill DeWitt 80.2%
    Tony LaRussa 79.1%
    Kyle Lohse 77.3%
    Chris Duncan 69.1%
    Colby Rasmus 66.0%
    Al Hrbrosky 53.9%


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