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Archive for December, 2009

Luis, Luis

Dec 29

Posted by Jerry Milani in Boston Red Sox, History, Movies, New York Yankees | No Comments

I really only got to see Luis Tiant pitch near the end of his career… a little bit when he was with Boston in the late 70’s and his two semi-serviceable years with the Yankees in ‘79 and ‘80.  I knew a little about his story, that he was born in Cuba and had been one of the top pitchers before reviving his career with the Sox (after being traded or released by three teams, I later learned).  And I vaguely remember the hot dog commercial he made when he came to New York, in which he declared “It’s good to be with a winner” in his exaggerated Spanish accent.  He seemed like a fun, cheery guy off the mound and a determined pitcher on it.

But I didn’t know much else until watching Lost Son of Havana, the excellent documentary which made the film festival circuit this year and was featured across some of the ESPN networks, including Deportes.  It’s well worth a look, available on Netflix, or you can get it online here.

If you are so inclined, check out my interview with the film’s director and writer, Jonathan Hock, on BaseballDigest.com.

What I like so much about the film is how much it humanizes Tiant.  We think of players as spots on a roster or numbers on a page or athletes performing on the field.  The movie captures the sense of loss that Tiant felt not being able to see his parents for more than a decade while he made a run at the Majors in the 60’s and early 70’s, then the near-diplomatic miracle it took to get them to the U.S. to see him pitch in Boston in 1975.

The hook is his return to Havana more than 40 years after he left, to see his remaining family.  It’s compelling stuff, a must-see for Sox fans and pretty much all fans of the human race.

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On the passing of George Michael

Dec 24

Posted by Tom Biro in Sports on TV | 1 Comment

Picture 11This morning, while heading to Pike Place Market for breakfast and to pick up some items for Christmas dinner, I caught music & culture columnist / critic Touré mentioning the passing of sportscaster George Michael on Thursday morning. His comment really struck home for me, as while I hadn’t ever really thought about it that way, he was spot on about how “The George Michael Sports Machine” was really the precursor to the show that many millions of sports fans watch every day – ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”

I remember countless late Sunday evenings where I watched “Sports Machine” in my bedroom as a teenager, getting an awesome wrap up of the week that was. One notable part of the show was the “button” that turned on the “sports machine,” on-set, as the highlights began to run. Simple props, really, but it really drove home the point for me as a television show.

It’s definitely a sad day for me as Michael was a part of my sports fan “growing up” time, and while the show wasn’t necessarily “appointment television” for me, I really enjoyed it. For those of us who didn’t grow up in today’s always-on sports highlights universe, it’s definitely interesting to look back on what came before where we’re at nowadays.

There are lots of articles and columns talking about Michael and his career today, but it seemed most appropriate to point to this piece from the Washington Post’s Adam Bernstein, written with some perspective of Michael’s “home” market of Washington, D.C. The WaPo has also opened up a spot for comments about George Michael on its Post Mortem blog.

[update 3:57pm]

Check out this promo, ca. 1985, for the “Sports Machine” — it’ll be interesting to those of you who never saw it, via ballhype.

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Winters of Yanks’ Content (and Discontent) (Part 2 of 4 – the 80’s)

Dec 23

Posted by Jerry Milani in History, New York Yankees, free agency, trades | No Comments

WhitsonEdHere’s the second in a four-part series on the Yanks’ best and worst off-season moves (trades/free agents).  For part one, the 70’s, click here

The 1980’s were considerably less successful for the Yankees in player evaluation, particularly among the pitchers.

The 1980’s

Best moves:
1. Dave Winfield – splashy move with a 10-year contract, and Winnie had some of his best years in Pinstripes despite being unable to deliver a World Series title.
2. Rickey Henderson – maybe the best all-around player of the last 20 years of the 20th century, Rickey wore out his welcome in his fifth year with the Yanks but he was in his prime, scoring 146 runs one year, 130 in another and topping 80 steals three times.
3. Don Baylor – I think it says a lot that Baylor, solid but not spectacular with the Yanks, was the third best acquisition of the decade
4. Phil Niekro – Knucksie won 16 games in each of his two years with the Yanks at age 45 and 46
5. Steve Sax? John Candelaria? Bob Watson? Slim pickings…

Worst moves:
1. Ed Whitson – poster boy for the bright lights of N.Y. taking a good player down. Career ERA in 2000+innings not with the Yankees: 3.64; in around 200 Yankee frames: 5.38.
2. Dave LaPoint - coming off two pretty good years (though having played on seven teams in the past five seasons), his two-speed repertoire (slow and stop) was a big bust in the Bronx.
3. Jack Clark – this should have worked out better. Clark was coming off a monster season in St. Louis, and they even moved the Death Valley LF fence in for him, but an injury running out a home run was the beginning of the end, and although he wasn’t awful in his one year in N.Y., it wasn’t a good fit
4. Steve Kemp – he’d run through a wall for the team but didn’t hit enough to justify the big expectations and contract
5. Dave Collins – was supposed to be the catalyst for the new “Go-Go” Yanks in 1982 but couldn’t steal first and was out of position playing first base
Dishonorable mention: Shane Rawley, Rich Dotson, Andy Hawkins, Britt Burns, Mel Hall, Lance McCullers, do I have to go on????

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Thoughts on Vazquez, Stadium Grass

Dec 22

Posted by Jerry Milani in Collectibles-Memorabilia, History, New York Yankees, Shopping, trades | 1 Comment

Javier Vazquez

Javier Vazquez

I wrote up some thoughts here on the Yankees’ Javier Vazquez trade today, not from an on-field standpoint — I think, baseball-wise, it’s a great deal for the Yankees, sliding the #4 pitcher in the N.L. last year into the #4 slot in their rotation — but from a fan perspective.  The theme is that it’s getting less fun to be a Yankees fan.

I also react here to some news that freeze-dried Old Yankee Stadium grass and pieces of the old foul pole are the two hottest holiday sellers at Steiner Sports.  I’m not a collector like that, but I’m a huge nostalgia buff, and I see the attraction to blades of grass, thimbles of dirt and scrap metal.

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The Week In Moves: 12/13-12/20/09

Dec 20

Posted by Tom Biro in free agency, trades | No Comments

Lots of movement on the roster front this past week, with the most notable move being the four-team deal that nets out with a paid of Cy Young winners getting shipped out – for each other. Cliff Lee is heading from the NL Champion Phillies over to the Seattle Mariners and Roy Halladay moves from Toronto down to the city of brotherly love. The Oakland A’s and Jays ended up with a number of high-quality prospects from the assortment of teams involved as well. Halladay moving was no surprise, but Lee’s quick exit from Philadelphia just months after he arrived there from Cleveland was a bit out of left field.

Check out ESPN’s Buster Olney breakdown on the transactions:

Cliff Lee was just as surprised by the move from Philly as the rest of us, telling the AP that he’d thought he would “be spending the rest of [his] career there.” Well, I think Phillies fans won’t be crying about this anytime soon, if Halladay handles the transition to the NL as well as Lee did.

As for Seattleites, they’re having a head-scratcher of a week, with the club bringing in one stellar starter in Lee while parting with a headache in Carlos Silva – for Chicago’s own headache, Milton Bradley. Bradley, who was suspended for the final two weeks of the season by the Cubs, is hoping to turn a corner in his new city.

Other moves of note:

  • The New York Yankees signed Nick Johnson, who had started his career with the team.
  • The Boston Red Sox have apparently waved bye-bye to Jason Bay, but have powered up by bringing in OF Mike Cameron and P John Lackey, who leaves the Angels in a lurch.
  • Those same Angels look to add a solid bat to their lineup, taking on World Series MVP Hideki Matsui with a one-year deal. As a Yankee fan, I’m definitely sad to see Matsui leave, and agree with some of the critics, who think Matsui could have stayed instead of the signing of Nick Johnson. Unfortunately, I’m not signing the checks.

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Raines for the Hall

Dec 17

Posted by Jerry Milani in Cooperstown, History | No Comments

RainesI’ll have a more detailed Hall of Fame post soon (I think Mr. Biro might as well…) but Joe Posnanski’s item today pretty much sums up my thoughts on Tim Raines:

Poz has some interesting thoughts on Jim Rice vs. Roy White – the point being that you wouldn’t think of White as being as near a good a player as Rice, but when you look deeper, the case can be made… I’m interested to see if Raines garners more support this year, without an absolute slam-dunk on the ballot.

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Winters of Yanks’ Content (and Discontent) (Part 1 of 4)

Dec 14

Posted by Jerry Milani in History, New York Yankees | 1 Comment

ReggieDailyNewsCurtis Granderson may or may not be the most prominent acquisition the Yankees make over this off-season.  Through free agency and trades, the Yankees have made significant moves almost every year since a group led by George Steinbrenner bought the team in 1973.

Here’s the first of a four part series on the best and worst moves in each decade, from the 1970’s through the 2000’s.

The 1970’s:

Best moves:
1. Reggie Jackson (free agent), prior to 1977 season – Reggie helped the Yankees to two World Series titles and electrified the city with his personality and play.
2. Goose Gossage (free agent), 1978 – It not only seemed like Goose came into the seventh inning of every important game, but he also posted 150 saves and a 2.10 ERA from 1978-83 with the Yanks.
3. Sparky Lyle (trade, for Danny Cater and Mario Guerrero), 1972 – Lyle was the Cy Young Award winner in 1977, and when he had just one good year left, was turned around in a deal for Dave Righetti before the 1979 season.
4. Mickey Rivers and Ed Figueroa (trade, for Bobby Bonds), 1976 – two key pieces in the ‘77 and ‘78 champions came in the same deal for the oft-traveled Bonds, who played for six more teams in the next six years.
5. Graig Nettles (trade, with Gerry Moses for John Ellis and three others), 1973 – one of the first great moves that helped build the Yankees dynasty later in the decade, Nettles became one of the premier third basemen in the game, hitting 250 home runs in 11 years in Pinstripes.
Also: Lou Piniella (trade), 1974; Willie Randolph (trade, 1976); Tommy John (free agent), 1979; Bucky Dent (trade, 1977).

Worst moves:
1. Rich McKinney (trade, for Stan Bahnsen), 1972 – Not that many to choose from, almost every deal worked out or was at least neutral.  Bahnsen would have been a nice fit on the mid-70’s Yanks and was still effective later in the decade, while McKinney hit .215 in 37 games and ended up getting sent down to Syracuse then traded at the end of the year.
2. Andy Messersmith (purchased), 1978 – if the Yankees were counting at all on this former two-time 20-game winner, arm trouble ruined any of those thoughts as he went 0-3 in five starts and was released.
3. Jimmy Wynn (purchase), 1977 – too bad the Yanks got ‘The Toy Cannon’ after his good days were over; he terrorized NL pitchers for 14 years but fizzled in N.Y., hitting just one HR in 92 at bats before getting cut.

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Shoeless Joe and Charlie Hustle

Dec 14

Posted by Jerry Milani in Cincinnati Reds, Collectibles-Memorabilia, Cooperstown, History | No Comments

crackerjack_JacksonFor years I’ve had something of a fascination with Shoeless Joe Jackson.  It’s one of what seem like thousands of sports history related obsessions I’ve harbored since my dad bought me my first pack of Topps cards and the “All Star Baseball” spinner game in 1977.

My interest in Shoeless Joe perks up around Hall of Fame selection time, or whenever I research through deadball era stats or photos, or if I see that Field of Dreams or Eight Men Out is being shown on TV.

There have been some good books, articles and full websites devoted to Joe and/or the 1919 Sox.  Most portray him in a positive light, arguing that his .375 average and errorless play prove he wasn’t throwing the World Series.  Others note the fact that he took money from the gamblers, which lumped him in with the others who are generally believed to have fixed the games.

It was a different era, with numerous other scandals rumored involving star players such as Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Hal Chase.  The thought of a player being influenced by a gambler’s cash in that time is much more viable than in today’s multi-million dollar salary environment.  I lean towards the sentiment that Jackson may have been less culpable than his contemporaries who went largely unpunished, but didn’t have the clout to keep the authorities at bay.

I’ve always been interested in the tie between Jackson’s situation and that of Pete Rose.  People arguing for — or against — Rose’s Hall of Fame candidacy often bring Jackson into the discussion, the common reference being gambling.   Both are on Major League Baseball’s “Permanently Ineligible” list.

I’ve found this connection to be dubious.  Rose has never liked the comparison, since Jackson was involved, even tangentially, in the fixing of games, while Rose maintains that he never bet against the Reds; indeed, the idea of not playing to win is anathema to a man who lived to win.  I have always felt that unless Rose bet on every single game, the same amount, this still leaves open the possibility of player usage (particularly pitchers) and other decisions that affect other games, being applied differently based on these bets rather than what is best for the overall team.  Thus I see both bans as valid.

But the point here is that they are quite different circumstances.  More court documents and info from the famed “Black Sox” trials have surfaced recenty, and it is hardly in dispute that Jackson took and spent the money.  Rose, after many years of denying he bet on the game, admitted that he wagered on the Reds to win.

I thought about the connection again today when I read a blog post about a new Jackson baseball card Upper Deck will issue for 2010.  The author, Sports Collectibiles Digest editor T.S. O’Connell, wonders if a “modern” Rose card should also be created.

Rose has done well for himself with memorabilia and collectibles, and more power to him.  Jackson, of course, never had that chance, passing away in 1951, decades before the explosion of the business.

He never really had the chance to defend himself, either.

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A Grand Fit for Yanks, Win for All

Dec 9

Posted by Jerry Milani in New York Yankees | 3 Comments

S0221_MLB_Photo_Day_RR112.jpgWith the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Tigers reportedly completing the creative seven-player, three-way deal that brings the fleet and powerful Curtis Granderson to the Stadium’s expansive centerfield (and short right field porch) for 2010, an early look at the trade seems to have something for everyone.

For New York, Granderson may not exactly be DiMaggio, Mantle, Murcer or Williams, but his defensive prowess and 75 home runs over the past three years (not to mention 44 triples over that span – I LOVE triples!) will fit nicely in between Melky Cabrera (or whoever they get to play left field) and Nick Swisher (see Cabrera, re: right field).

Granderson is also renowned for his personality, not an unimportant quality in adjusting to playing in New York.  He was beloved in Detroit for his play and his extensive charity work, and will be a big hit with fans in New York, unless of course he hits .220 and strikes out 150 times.

It’s not a slam dunk, but without giving up anyone that was in their 2010 plans (or key chips in a potential deal for Roy Halladay), they have a top-notch center fielder in his prime (he turns 29 in Spring Training), cost-contained with three years remaining on his contract.  I like Austin Jackson, and he could one day be Granderson.  But he could also be Ruben Rivera.

I’m high on the move for the Yankees.

Arizona gets a pair of young starters that will fit nicely near the front (Edwin Jackson) and back (Ian Kennedy) of its rotation to go with Dan Haren and Brandon Webb.  Though they finished 25 games out of first place and more than 20 games out of the wild card in ‘09, adding one serviceable starter to that group could give the Diamondbacks the best rotation in the division.

Detroit gets needed current and future payroll reduction, as well as two young players from each of their trading partners.  The jewels are Jackson, who the Yankees weren’t sure would be major league ready in 2010 but may get a long look in spring training for an open outfield spot, and pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth, both former first-round draft picks who will likely figure prominently in the Tigers’ plans.

For this to be more than a salary dump by Detroit, at least two of the three will have to develop into solid major leaguers.

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Brain-Dead Committee Only Excuse for Miller Exclusion

Dec 7

Posted by Jerry Milani in Cooperstown, History | No Comments

gene_autry_1The Hall of Fame continued its annual exercise in exclusion today, as the Committees on Executives and Pioneers and on Managers and Umpires announced the selections of two deserving candidates, Whitey Herzog and Doug Harvey, and continued its petty and vindictive rejection of Marvin Miller.

The category is “Executives and Pioneers.”  Who is a more important pioneer in changing the business of baseball, the core relations between players and owners, than Miller?  For 100 years, owners and management held all the cards, and Miller was the man, the pioneer, most responsible for the fundamental shift that forever changed the bargaining structure.

And the committee, stacked with too many former and current baseball executives to overcome the former players and media members who pushed and voted for Miller’s inclusion, came up short again.

Insight into this oversight comes quite accidentally from the veteran baseball writer Tracy Ringolsby, now of FoxSports.com.  He concluded today’s article, which was uncharacteristically replete with typos and misspellings, by listing Ewing Kauffman, Gene Autry, Sam Breadon and Bob Howsam as among the committee members, rather than candidates.

Which would explain a lot, as all of those gentlemen are, of course, dead at the present time.

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