Maybe it was the Olympics. Maybe it was because the 2-Wild Card format means more teams are “in it”, but this seemed a rather underwhelming trade deadline. While it wasn’t quite as boring as what Glen Perkins was saying it was, it was hardly a call back to some of the great Trade Deadlines of lore. So, let’s take a look at some of the trades that went down today (after the jump):
Quick post right now to note that, later today/tonight, keep an eye open for the Trade Deadline Review, where I figure out the winners and losers of the trade deadline.
Until then…. uhhh… watch the Olympics. Or something.
Throughout history, many great men have looked at sports despite being outside of it.
Presidents.
Philosophers.
Poets.
Authors.
But none, perhaps, are more wise, more charismatic or more badass than Mr. Samuel L. Jackson, who has been watching and tweeting about the Olympics. And he seemingly does it in the same persona he has in basically every movie he is in (the man embraces his niche). Is it good? I don’t know. Is it a funny and off-beat look at the Olympics? Definitely.
Note: Not all of these tweets are appropriate for all ages. In fact, most of them aren’t. Cover the eyes of children and certainly don’t say them out loud in the presence of children. Go after the jump for them.
It is done. Francisco Liriano is no longer a Minnesota Twin, traded to the White Sox for lefty starting prospect Pedro Hernandez and utility-man Eduardo Escobar. In some ways, the fact he got traded for such an uneven haul is fitting, because Liriano always something of an uneven pitcher. When he was on, he was one of the best pitchers in the game, when he wasn’t… he was one of the worst.
Acquired in a highway robbery trade with the Giants (who got A.J. Pierzynski in return… for one season) that also brought the Twins Joe Nathan and Boof Bonser, Liriano had a brief appearance in 2005. But it was his first full rookie year, in 2006, that was magnificent. He made an All-Star team, came in third for Rookie of the Year. He also had the first of many injuries. It would be the bane of his career.
He would never be the same again for any long stretch of time. He had his moments, including a no-hitter. However, in general, he was a case of what might have been. The same could be said for the Twins- who knows how different the past few years could have gone if they had a top-of-the-line power pitcher like Liriano had been in his early career. It’s possible, in fact, that they might not have even had gotten to this point to begin with, and would instead be worrying about whether they could keep Liriano when he hit free agency, not simply whether the haul they got for him was good or not (time will tell, but there are no obviously top-level prospects getting received).
So, thus ends the Liriano era. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… and it would have been a lot better if not for injuries.
Ben Sheets first came into the eyes of casual baseball viewers when he stunned the Cubans with a complete game shutout for the Olympic Gold. And, as I stated earlier, he has seemingly resurrected his career this year.
Last night, Sheets got his third win in as many games for the Braves. Upon hearing this, I said (or, rather, tweeted):
It’s an Olympic Year. Ben Sheets does well in those.
— Dan J. Glickman (@DanJGlickman) July 28, 2012
This led me to wonder if it was indeed true, and if, indeed, Ben Sheets does better in Olympic years (AKA Leap Years, AKA Presidential Election Years). If I were a member of SABR, and if SABR gave out a version of the Ig Nobel Prize, I would totally be on my way to getting one. More after the jump.
Last night was a good night for rookies making their MLB debut.
Starling Marte, a well-regarded prospect for the ascendant Pirates, instantly made an impact. By “instantly”, I mean literally the first pitch he saw, which he sent over the fence. He’s the first to do it since Kaz Matsui did it in his North American debut in 2004 (it was, in many ways, all downhill from there for Kaz Matsui).
That was impressive. Also impressive? Matt Harvey. The Mets pitcher, making his debut, struck out 11 and gave up three hits over 5 and 1/3, while going 2 for 2 with a double. That is one of the best debuts in memory for that number of innings pitched.
It has been a good year for rookies: Mike Trout might not simply be Rookie of the Year, he could be MVP. Bryce Harper has brought excitement to every game he’s been in, a madman on the bases who some have compared to Pete Rose for his hustle. Yu Darvish has adjusted very well to MLB, and Ryan Cook of the Athletics has been one of the main pieces of the Athletics bullpen.
It’s hard to remember when so many young players were coming into the league, especially so many rookies who have so much talent. Years from now, 2012 may go down as the year where a new generation of ballplayer began to arrive in the big leagues. Until then, though, it should just be a joy seeing how well these newcomers do.
Opening Ceremonies are Friday, but already the Games of the XXX Olympiad (which are really going to mess up some internet content filters with those Roman numerals) have begun with some early-round soccer games. While you can find Olympic previews everywhere, only here will you get the unique Continuum perspective. So strike up the John Williams music and go below the jump for the (rather tongue-in-cheek) inaugural installment of Olympics Continuum:
It’s time again for the Miami Marlins’ edition of The Franchise. Last time, I noted that there was no reference to Ozzie Guillen’s feud with Bryce Harper over the amount of pin-tar on his bat. Well, that basically opens up this episode. After that, though, it becomes focused on two things: the beginning of the latest fire sale as the Marlins continue to fall out of it, and families. More after the jump, including the latest installment of the “Ozzie Guillen ‘Carlin Words’ Counter”:
Baseball is full of lies. One of them is pounded into every Little Leaguer in America: you need to keep your eye on the ball from as soon as it leaves the pitcher’s hand until you are ready to swing the bat.
I was told it. You were told it. Everybody was told it. It also doesn’t help whatsoever. Mainly because, if the ball is going any faster than a beer league softball, you aren’t going to be able to see it for any long span of time, and certainly not all the way to the plate. The ball is just going too fast. This has been known for over half of a century.
So what, exactly, do baseball players who are successful actually do? Well, they basically guess and anticipate where the ball is going based on those split-seconds they have to see the ball. This is why a good change-up so fools a hitter if they’ve been getting lots of fastballs: they are expecting a 90+ MPH pitch, so time their swing based on that assumption.
So, remember kids: don’t keep your eye on the ball. Instead, take a quick glance and then guess where it’s going. I mean, I always kept my eye on the ball, and look at me: I washed out of baseball by the age of 11.
According to a December 22, 1977 article from the AP in the Youngstown Vindicator, there were discussions of a series between an MLB All-Star Team and the Cuban National Team:
It, of course, never happened. It wasn’t until the late 90s that MLB players (the Baltimore Orioles) played the Cuban National Team. The two teams split a home-and-home series.
For those wondering, Cuba’s record against teams in the World Baseball Classic that have had large numbers of MLB players is mixed: they had a 3-2 record in 2006 against teams with large numbers of MLB players (Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic) and had a 2-0 record against Mexico in the 2009 WBC (the rest of their games were against teams that were either made up of predominantly foreign league players, or against mainly minor leaguers).
The Baseball Continuum 