MLB Bonanza Items for March 31

Interesting comparison after Day One of two players traded for each in one of the most controversial trades in recent memory.  Miami Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria 3-4, Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes 0-1, 15 Disabled List.


Only reason to smile on opening day if you are a Blue Jay fan, now Cub Emilio Bonifacio went 4-5 with a double and a stolen base and an outfield assist BUT  was picked off at first base during the top of the 10th inning.  Classic Emilio!


The Phillies and Rangers combined for 24 runs in their season opener.  The game featured a player who had a great summer that amidst all the offence went 0-4 in Shin-Soo Choo.  The game also featured a player who had arguably the rockiest of off-seasons smash a Grand Slam in the 2nd inning in Jimmy Rollins.


Detroit Tigers shortstop Alex Gonzalez 2-4.  Free Agent Stephen Drew...well...suppose it's better making no money than it is playing for "under market value".


Cincinnati Red fans hope that rookie Billy Hamilton learned a valuable lesson in today's opener.  You can't steal first base!  Hamilton struck out all four of his at-bats.


Pablo Sandoval started his "contract year" with a strikeout and a fielding error, he's doing it wrong!

Huge Contracts Overshadow Feel Good Stories

According to Wikipedia, Miguel Cabrera has just signed the largest pro sports contract in history.  Looking at the Top 25 top contracts, 23 belong to the MLB!!  A stunning 6 of those were signed going into this season!  The New York Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury and Masahiro Tanaka to the 23rd and 20th largest contracts in history and watched the Seattle Mariners sign former Yankee Robinson Cano to the 4th largest contract.  The Cincinnati Reds and the LA Dodgers placed contracts on the list at numbers 6 and 7 with Joey Votto and Clayton Kershaw respectively.


I randomly chose playoff predictions from Sports Illustrated and here's what I found in regards to the 5 teams listed above handing out history making deals.  From SI's panel of six experts, only 2 of them had the Yankees making the playoffs while none of them have the Mariners making the post season.  Only 2 of them have the Cinncinati Reds making the postseason in a very tough NL Central while the Dodgers and Tigers are both clean sweeps to make the playoffs.


Amidst all the pomp and circumstance around big money deals, there is a feel good story to mention.  The Boston Red Sox have announced that Grady Sizemore will be there opening day starting center fielder completing a road to recovery that spanned two years!


Staying with the Boston Red Sox and news that's good for the soul.  On April 21st, the Red Sox will wear home jersey's with the word "Boston" across the front instead of "Red Sox" to honour the city of Boston one year after the Boston Marathon bombings.

MLB Stories: Shutter to Think, Shed a Tear, Celebrate and Ask

The Atlanta Braves have placed FIVE starting pitchers on the disabled list.  Ask yourself, how would your team look if they were in this situation?


Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio baseball rivals, not many people will deny that.  So when miscommunication was the word of the day in regards to the use of the designated hitter, you know what happened?  A great father/son moment when Indians Manager Terry Francona gave the DH start to outfielder Nick Hamilton, his father watching from radio booth.


Many teams celebrate "Cinco De Mayo".  None of them will top the Durham Bulls and their Star Wars jersey's the team will be wearing on May 4th.  Picture from the Durham Bulls Twitter account.


The Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Club attempted a simple social media concept.  Using the Twitter hashtag #askNeal, fans could tweet a question to the star player.  The results were many targeted questions about the players past transgressions.  Imagine if you will #askARod or #askPierzynski or maybe #askBraun.

Weird MLB Rule Explained, New Pop Flavour, Injury Thoughts and a Notso Daring Comparison

The Houston Astros offer Outfielder George Springer, the Astros' top prospect a 7 year 23 million dollar contract.  Springer declines the offer and is demoted to the minors.  Here's the real reasoning behind the demotion - - > If an uber-prospect debuts on Opening Day, he'll be a free agent in six years, presuming he remains on the big league club. However, by waiting one month, a team can push back his free agency an entire year.  Mr. Springer will be an Astro in May.


LeBron James now has is own flavor of Sprite.  My vote for a MLB player to have his own flavor of Sprite would be the Angels Mike Trout.  Somehow it's a sponsorship I don't see working!


Re-visiting the notion of "slips from grace", Hiroyuki Nakajima played his first two innings of exhibition baseball with Oakland A's recently.  Nakajima was projected to be the A's starting shortstop in 2013 after signing a two-year, $6.5 million contract before last season.  Today, Nakajima isn't even on the A's 40-man roster.  Must not drink Sprite.


Los Angeles Dodger 1B Adrian Gonzalez reportedly has a stiff lower back from walking around sightseeing.  Raise your hands if this excuse would earn you a day off of work.  Anybody?  This is exactly why some folks have a hard time respecting baseball players, suck it up buttercup!


The Miami Marlins posted a picture of Derek Dietrich and his nasty bruise after taking a baseball to the face on field. Cinncinati Red Aroldis Chapman only wishes he was that lucky.


You should be as worried about Derek Jeter’s spring training average of .132 in 41 plate appearances this spring as you are excited about Dustin Ackley's spring training average of .457 in 46 plate appearances.

Umpire Safety, Slips From Grace and Clown Blood in the MLB

As a kid, I remember riding around in my Dad's car with no seatbelt on EVER.  As a teenager, I remember riding a bicycle NEVER wearing a helmet.  As an adult, I watch baseball and wonder why umpires play the field in baseball caps and not batting helmets.  In an era where everything is about safety, why do umpires who cover first and third base not wear protective head wear?  It's not like they have baseball gloves on to protect themselves if a ball does come at them!  Sadly, it will likely take a serious head injury to an umpire before any level of baseball ushers in protective headwear for the most defenseless people on the field.


Seeing that the Astros released former Cardinals 1st round pick Brett Wallace and the Mariners have demoted uber-prospect Jesus Montero, made me wonder how Philip Humber was doing in Oakland.  You know, the guy who throw a perfect game ONLY two years ago.  Even with the A's missing Jarrod Parker AND A.J. Griffin due to injury, Mr. Perfect Game is still not on the Major League roster.  When you go to work tomorrow, hug your boss!


How much longer before St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny sets up a meeting between relief pitcher Jason Motte (actively attacking his rehab from injury) and uber-prospect Oscar Taveras (shying away from his rehab).


Kenny Lofton thinks making the shiny new "one and done" wildcard playoff game and losing the game doesn't count as making the playoffs.  The former Cleveland Indian is now being given the cold shoulder by current Cleveland Indian players because a lack of respect deserves a lack of respect back.  I fully support the 2014 edition of the Indians.


Jimmy Rollins is 60 hits shy of overtaking Mike Schmidt as the Phillies’ all-time leader. IF that's his main motivation to stay a Phillie, I hope he gets his selfish ass stapled to the bench!


Cincinnati Red Trevor Bell, a 27-year-old reliever trying to make the team, is the grandson of Bob Bell, who played Bozo the Clown on WGN in Chicago from 1960 to 1984.  THAT'S AWESOME!  Great find by John DeMarzo of the New York Post.

MLB Fistpumps

Adam Dunn, 6 of 28, with 1 homerun, 6 walks and 12 strikeouts versus Jeremy Guthrie apparently has his respect as evidenced by Guthrie's "Sweet Tweet" just to the right of this article on the main page.


I must send a shout out to Reds Owner Bob Castellini.  Having some experience with professional sporting teams and their relationships with the media, Mr. Castellini has taken it upon himself to say out loud the words many, if not all, owners mutter to themselves - - "It gets written in such a way – ‘Well, the Reds aren't doing anything' – that really does affect people buying season tickets. “Personally, I get a little ticked off."  I respect for your speaking your opinions but look how far that got the late Marge Schott.


Grady Sizemore, coming back from duel micro fracture knee surgery, took a spill today in centerfield today.  You know people are rooting for you to be healthy and complete the storybook comeback after two years away when the simple fact you got up, makes the local Boston blog story.


Now, I'm not one to really pay attention to exhibition game box scores but holy moly, the Braves and Nationals played to a 16-15 final score on March 1st.  WOW, I'd love to see that happen in the regular season!!

MLB Tidbits & Gems

April 21, 2012 Philip Humber threw a Perfect Game for the Chicago White Sox.  22 months later, Humber is simply trying to win a job with the Oakland A's. 




Opening Day 2013, Justin Sellers was the starting shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  10 months later, he has been designated for assignment.  You probably thought your job was thankless!



Watching from the comforts of my couch in Edmonton, opinions of players are in many ways shaped and formed by how the media portrays the player.  I always got the feeling, even from his hometown commentators, that Barry Bonds was not the easiest person to like.  "Barry Bonds is scheduled to return to the organization in March, this newspaper has learned, serving as a special instructor for the Giants' hitters" See more at: http://www.prosportsdaily.com/articles/barry-bonds-will-be-spring-training-giants-instructor-291765.html#sthash.27PyflVr.dpuf Interesting!!




Staying with "media perception", Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds has released a two minute video "explaining" himself to the fans - - http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid2893069007001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAACEa2yvk~,I3kckfVxEjenAeITDjThxucAtVSXPuHP&bctid=3237865925001&sf23115708=1&sf23117768=1
Thanks to Bill Baer of Hardballtalk!




Going to Barry Bonds' former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, outfielder Travis Snider has been cleared to throw again after injuring a finger on his left hand while cutting sweet potatoes.  I can't make this stuff up!