Who Must Make A Deal

Baseball’s trade deadline is probably the most important date of the season. Everyone knows it’s July 31 and everyone knows it’s the last chance to make a major move to improve your team for this season or the future. Rather than look at every team I will focus on those that must make a deal to improve their chances of succes this season. Let’s have at it.

Boston Red Sox

Must Have: Starting Pitcher, Outfielder

They’re actually in a good position. First place in the AL East and they are starting to pull away from the Yankees. They don’t have to make a move, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they were to acquire another starting pitcher to bolster their depth. There is talk of Los Angeles Dodgers Hiroki Kuroda being a possibility, but Boston would prefer a long term solution i.e, Colorado Rockies Ubaldo Jimenez.

New York Yankees

Must Have: Starting Pitcher, Relief Pitcher

It’s becoming a problem again, but don’t expect them to make a big splash. They have enough in the farm system to do it, but that’s not GM Brian Cashman’s style with ‘The Boss’ no longer around. They might settle for someone who can provide depth in the rotation and help for the setup role in the bullpen.

Detroit Tigers

Must Have: Starting Pitcher, Outfielder

They are in the middle of the rumors for Mets OF Carlos Beltran and Dodgers P Hiroki Kuroda. The chances of landing either one are slim. The market doesn’t bode well for Detroit getting either one, but they will have to make a move to get some pitching. They won’t win the AL Central without some extra support in the pitching department.

Cleveland Indians

Must Have: Outfielder, Starting Pitcher

Obviously getting another starting pitcher would help tremendously, but since OF Grady Sizemore went down with another injury, getting a bat is priority number one. Getting Beltran might be out of their range, but getting say Rockies utility player Ty Wigginton would help ease the burden. That would keep them in the race for the division title.

Chicago White Sox

Must Have: Relief Pitcher, Starting Pitcher

They can make a trade for a bat, but with OF Alex Rios and DH Adam Dunn getting paid big bucks they have to count on them to have a better second half. The focus is on pitching and rest assured that GM Ken Williams will be aggressive in getting help for the bullpen and a quality starter for manager Ozzie Guillen.

Texas Rangers

Must Have: Outfielder, Starting Pitcher

They seem to be very agressive in their pursuit of Carlos Beltran. Even with Beltran stating that he’d rather play in the National League, Texas should still be one of the favorites to get him. Getting another starter to solidify what they have for the stretch run will be critical if they want to hold off the division rival Angels.

Los Angeles Angels

Must Have: Relief Pitcher, Third Baseman

The market for a big bat is thin for what they need. The Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez is the ideal fit, but with his high salary it will be difficult to manage. The big acquisition would be getting Padres closer Heath Bell. He would help stop the Angels bullpen woes.

Philadelphia Phillies

Must Have: Outfielder

If they were to acquire Carlos Beltran they would have pulled off one of biggest trade trifectas in baseball history. Remember it was Roy Halladay, then Roy Oswalt and if Beltran’s next, I don’t see anyone stopping them on their way to the World Series.

Atlanta Braves

Must Have: Outfielder, Relief Pitcher

They’re duking it out with Philadelphia for Beltran. The one saving grace is that they have some of the best pitching prospects in the game. Also they could make a run at some of the Padres bullpen. Not Heath Bell, but Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson are perfect for them.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Must Have: Outfielder, Relief Pitcher, Starting Pitcher

It would be a tremendous feat if they nabbed Beltran. They have a good farm system that took almost 20 years to build. However, they will most likely make modest moves. Ty Wigginton would be a great fit. If they could shore up their bullpen as well they will stay in contention til the end.

St. Louis Cardinals

Must Have: Relief Pitcher, Starting Pitcher

Their pitching has become a major weakness this season. The bullpen especially. They don’t have enough prospects to trade off for a major piece. If they were to trade OF Colby Rasmus as part of a larger deal that could bode well for them getting that big piece they need.

Milwaukee Brewers

Must Have: Starting Pitcher

They already have solidified the back end of their bullpen by getting Francisco Rodriguez. They won’t be in the running for a high end starter, but if they were to acquire a back of the rotation type to help down the stretch. There is plenty of those on the market.

Cincinnati Reds

Must Have: Starting Pitcher, Relief Pitcher

They have to make a move. One that makes sense now and for the future. Getting Ubaldo Jimenez would do just that. They have the pieces to make that move to satisfy Colorado. Doing something small I’m afraid won’t keep them in the race for the NL Central title.

San Francisco Giants

Must Have: Outfielder

They need to find the next Cody Ross. Their pitching is what’s keeping them ahead in the NL West. It might not be enough with Arizona right on their heels. If they were to get Beltran that would solve a lot of their problems. For one it will keep them ahead of the rest of the National League.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Must Have: Relief Pitcher, Starting Pitcher

The big problem is the lack of a closer. J.J. Putz is out with an injury. If they could land Heath Bell from the Padres that will help them close the gap with the division leading Giants. The young bats should continue to carry them, but getting another bat to help with the bench would be a plus.

2011 MLB Midseason Report

Awards

AL MVP – 1B Adrian Gonzalez Boston Red Sox

NL MVP – SS Jose Reyes New York Mets

AL Cy Young – Jered Weaver Los Angeles Angels

NL Cy Young – Jair Jurrjens Atlanta Braves

AL Rookie of the Year – 1B Mark Trumbo Los Angeles Angels

NL Rookie of the Year – P Craig Kimbrel Atlanta Braves

AL Manager of the Year – Manny Acta Cleveland Indians

NL Manager of the Year – Clint Hurdle Pittsburgh Pirates

Report Cards

American League

Elite Class

Boston Red Sox 55-35

Thanks in large part to Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury the Red Sox are positioned for a return to the postseason. There might be some bumps in the road if starters Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz don’t return healthy.

New York Yankees 53-35

History was made with Derek Jeter’s 3000th hit. Now the Yankees focus will be on getting past the Red Sox for a division title. C.C. Sabathia should win 20 games for New York. Also Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira are both in line to hit 40+ home runs.

Texas Rangers 51-41

They are still the defending American League champions and they are in a perfect position to repeat. No one is paying attention to them. Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz are healthy at the right time. Their pitching has kept them afloat. Now they just need to fend off the division rival Angels.

Contenders

Tampa Bay Rays 49-41

The odds are against them with the Red Sox and Yankees ahead in the division. However, they aren’t one to back down from either one. The Rays have one of the best 1-2 punches in their rotation with David Price and James Shields. They still have some good young players they could bring up to help them contend for a postseason berth.

Detroit Tigers 49-43

Their easily the best team in the most winnable division in baseball. Miguel Cabrera is having another MVP like season for them. Justin Verlander is becoming one of the best pitchers in the game. They might have to acquire some help for their bullpen and maybe another starting pitcher to help get them further ahead of Cleveland.

Cleveland Indians 47-42

They are the toast of baseball since Opening Day. Manager Manny Acta has a lot to look forward to with some good prospects beginning to get called up. If the Indians want to remain in contention and show their fans they mean it, they will have to be active in acquiring some help. Mainly pitching. Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore have to stay healthy for the lineups sake.

Los Angeles Angels 50-42

Mike Scioscia had his work cut out for him in May. The offense was sluggish and the bullpen couldn’t keep a lead for his rotation. Calm, cool and collected the Angels have rallied to within one game of the Texas Rangers. Thanks to a consistent effort from Jered Weaver and Dan Haren in the rotation and the hot bats of Vernon Wells and Mark Trumbo.

Outside Looking In

Toronto Blue Jays 45-47

Jose Bautista has become the lone bright spot north of the border. Starter Ricky Romero is a good pitcher who could become an ace very soon. If they want to avoid the cellar they will need their young talent begin to blossom soon.

Chicago White Sox 44-48

Manager Ozzie Guillen has had his hands full all season. Some of his best players have been slumping all year. His bullpen has been in disarray. The lone bright spot has been Paul Konerko’s resurgent offensive production. Their only hope of the postseason is winning their division.

Minnesota Twins 41-48

Every year it seems the Twins disappoint and this is by far the most disappointing year for the Ron Gardenhire era. The good news is that Joe Mauer is back playing. Whether at first base or as the catcher is another story, but the important thing is that he’s healthy. The one thing that will keep the Twins on the outside is their starting pitching. The only bright spot was Francisco Liriano’s no-hitter.

Seattle Mariners 43-48

They’ve surprised a lot of folks including myself of their play. Ichiro is having his worst year since arriving in the majors in 2001. Yet Seattle is beginning to build on a foundation of pitching behind Felix Hernandez and rookie Michael Pineda. Dustin Ackley is here to stay, but Seattle will need to work on the lineup a little bit longer.

Prepare for Spring Training 2012

Baltimore Orioles 36-52

The lone bright spot for the Orioles is that they have plenty of veteran pieces that they can trade for younger pieces since this season is out of reach for them. Make no mistake they have some pieces to build on, but it was out of the question to think the Orioles were going to finish higher than 4th this season.

Kansas City Royals 37-54

It looked promising in April, but quickly fell apart at the seams. The pitching hasn’t been there for the Royals. Even the normally automatic closer Joakim Soria is having a down year. Alex Gordon is redeeming himself this year, but the Royals will have to wait until next year to take two steps forward.

Oakland Athletics 39-53

I don’t think Billy Beane was thinking he was going to have to make a managerial change in the middle of the season. Bob Geren was losing the clubhouse and Beane was forced to act. To make matters worse is the pitching staff has been a disappointment. Yes injuries had a factor in the rotation chaos, but the bullpen was supposed to be better than advertised. Also where’s the offense?

National League

Elite Class

Philadelphia Phillies 57-34

They’ve had no top notch closer and two pieces of their rotation have been hurt for most of the season. Yet the Phillies have had the best record in baseball thanks mainly to Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. Pretty scary when you think about it. The potent offense hasn’t even warmed up.

Atlanta Braves 54-38

They are the real deal. Thanks to Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson emerging as a legitimate 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Along with Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe the Braves have a rotation that rivals the Phillies and Giants. Rookie Craig Kimbrel has been stellar in relief and the lineup has been playing better than the Phillies all year long.

San Francisco Giants 52-40

Manager Bruce Bochy has been dealing with a lot of injuries this year. None bigger than catcher Buster Posey. The Giants are missing a big piece on offense. Don’t be surprised if they make a move to bolster their lineup. The pitching staff should be fine going forward. Closer Brian Wilson will have to be better than his 3.14 ERA shows.

Contenders

Milwaukee Brewers 49-43

The bats are there in Rickie Weeks, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. The pitching is there, but they haven’t had a full season with Zach Greinke. Milwaukee is putting all their chips on the table for this season as they acquired Francisco Rodriguez from the Mets just after the All-Star game. The bad news for them is they have 3 other teams in their division on their heels.

St. Louis Cardinals 49-43

The good news is that Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday are healthy to go along with the resurgent Lance Berkman. The bad news is the pitching staff might not be able to hold off the other great offensive teams in the Central. The Cardinals should be in the race until the bitter end, but can their bullpen save leads going into the 7th inning and beyond.

Pittsburgh Pirates 47-43

It should come as no surprise that manager Clint Hurdle has turned this ship around. After all he managed the Colorado Rockies to their only World Series appearance in 2007. But it is a surprise when the Pirates haven’t been above .500 this late in a season since 1992. It would be amazing if they made the postseason, but finishing above .500 is a reasonable goal. The young hitters and pitchers are motivated to start something new rather than dwell on the past.

Cincinnati Reds 45-47

The pitching staff has been struggling all year long. The bullpen has been even worse. There’s hope as the Reds aren’t too far out of it. They still have Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto anchoring their lineup. With that hitters paradise they play in they are always going to be in a game until the final out.

Arizona Diamondbacks 49-43

Credit goes to Kirk Gibson for the complete turnaround in that clubhouse. All the youngsters have changed their attitudes and believe in what Gibson is teaching. It will be tough to catch the Giants for the division title. Losing closer J.J. Putz for an extended period will hurt, but they have a good chance to make some noise to finish out this year with Justin Upton becoming a legitimate power threat and clubhouse leader.

Outside Looking In

New York Mets 46-45

Luckily for the Mets the Dodgers are getting all the attention of a franchise having money problems. The Mets have managed to stay competitive despite not having Johan Santana and David Wright for most of the year. Jose Reyes is showing why he was considered one of the best shortstops in baseball when he arrived in 2003. Now they don’t have a closer since dealing Francisco Rodriguez in what could start a flurry of activity in Queens.

Washington Nationals 46-46

Even though their former manager Jim Riggleman quit, the Nationals still remain competitive. Their best hitter Ryan Zimmerman’s return only helps keep them around the .500 mark to finish the year. The bullpen is becoming one of the best in baseball. If they didn’t play in the same division as the Phillies and Braves they would be in a good position to get a playoff spot.

Colorado Rockies 43-48

A team with so much talent has struggled mightily. They have made some great second half comebacks in the past. It’s not out of the question that they do it again, but they have to hope some of their pitchers play up to their standards. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez will have to be even better for the Rockies to remain competitive.

Prepare for Spring Training 2012

Florida Marlins 43-48

Once ace Josh Johnson went down with a shoulder injury and Hanley Ramirez was out for almost a month, things couldn’t have gone any worse for the Marlins right? Their former manager Edwin Rodriguez couldn’t take it anymore and walked out. Enter 80 year old former Marlins manager Jack McKeon. I love that he’s back in baseball, but this isn’t a recipe to win this year for the Marlins. Expect them to trade off what they can and look forward to the 2012 season.

Chicago Cubs 37-55

The only bright spot has been Starlin Castro. His bat is keeping Cubs fans from leaving games earlier than usual this year. Other than that the Cubs have had another outburst from Carlos Zambrano and it’s become eerie seeing empty seats at Wrigley during the summer. It remains to be seen if there will be massive changes this offseason, but they have to prepare for that time now.

Houston Astros 30-62

Being the first team to lose 60 games usually means that you will probably end up with the 1st pick in next years draft. With a new owner waiting to take over, it’s inevitable that there will be changes both in the front office and in the clubhouse. It’s a lose-lose situation for any team. Houston has a good baseball history and they will have to start getting ready for the new era.

Los Angeles Dodgers 41-51

It can’t get any worse for the Dodgers. They’ve hit rock bottom as a franchise. The only hope they have is that they can salvage what talent they have left. Matt Kemp even on a down trodden team is a MVP candidate. Clayton Kershaw could lead the majors in strikeouts. It would help if the Dodgers had some idea of their future now and be free of the McCourts mismanagement.

San Diego Padres 40-52

They just couldn’t build on last years success. Being just one game short of clinching the division has now left them looking to sell most of their assets. The offense has become stagnant which is not surprising. San Diego will look to get as much as they can for Heath Bell and a few other relievers. Their only saving grace is that their not the worst run franchise in the division.

His Legacy is Complete

It goes without saying that hitting a baseball over 3,000 times is not an easy thing to do. Only 27 players before Derek Jeter have hit a baseball more than 3,000 times. And only two have over 4,000 hits.

It’s probably going to upset some folks that I know for saying this, but Derek Jeter will go down as one of the best players of this era. It’s a fact. Yes I’m not a Yankees fan, but I am a fan of baseball. Sure I don’t like to see the same team win year in and year out, unless it’s my team. But regardless that’s what makes sports so great.

You can root against an opposing team and their players for many years. Yet when something historic occurs for one of those players you have to step back and respect that accomplishment. So long as it was done the right way.

There have been too many baseball players in the last 20+ years that have tainted the game and have cheated their way to the top in some fashion. Jeter has been one of the few good examples of how you conduct yourself both on and off the field in his 16 seasons.

All that put together with the 5 World Series titles and now over 3,000 hits have put him in an elite class. Seven members of the 3,000 hit club have multiple titles before Jeter joined them. Ten members don’t have a World Series title to their resume.

We can continue to root against the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter too. Most of us don’t want to see another championship banner in Yankee Stadium. But what makes sports and baseball specifically so great is that when one of the games best players accomplishes something. The rest of us will show him respect.

2011 MLB All-Star Teams

The 82nd MLB All-Star game is making its first appearance in Arizona. Granted the Arizona Diamondbacks have only been around since 1998, but they have a very good baseball history. There’s also the Arizona Fall League where many youngsters get a chance to refine their technique during the winter break. This year seemed to be a tougher year than most to really hammer out the All-Star rosters. There are some very deserving players, but not a lot of ‘has to be an All-Star’ types. I’ve followed the rules of having 34 players, 13 of them pitchers for each league and a representative from each team. Here are my choices for the mid-summer classic.

American League

AVG – Batting Average

ERA – Earned Run Average

HR – Home Runs

RBI – Runs Batted In

SV – Saves

BAA – Batting Average Against

WHIP – Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched

K – Strikeouts

Stats are accurate as of July 2nd.
* – asterisk indicates starter

Pitchers

Josh Beckett – Boston Red Sox
6-3 2.20 ERA .178 BAA
Chris Perez – Cleveland Indians
19 SV 2.37 ERA 1.22 WHIP
Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers*
11-3 2.32 ERA 130 K
Jose Valverde – Detroit Tigers
19 SV 3.09 ERA 1.34 WHIP
Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels
10-4 1.92 ERA 114 K
Dan Haren – Los Angeles Angels
8-5 2.85 ERA 1.02 WHIP
Mariano Rivera – New York Yankees
21 SV 1.69 ERA 0.97 WHIP
C.C. Sabathia – New York Yankees
11-4 3.05 ERA 106 K
Gio Gonzalez – Oakland Athletics
7-5 2.38 ERA 99 K
Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners
8-7 3.35 ERA 124 K
James Shields – Tampa Bay Rays
8-5 2.45 ERA 127 K
David Price – Tampa Bay Rays
8-6 3.43 ERA 116 K
Alexi Ogando – Texas Rangers
8-3 2.86 ERA 1.03 WHIP

Catchers

Victor Martinez – Detroit Tigers
.335 AVG 6 HR 46 RBI
Alex Avila – Detroit Tigers*
.299 AVG 10 HR 46 RBI
A.J. Pierzynski – Chicago White Sox
.294 AVG 3 HR 28 RBI

Infielders

1B Adrian Gonzalez – Boston Red Sox*
.353 AVG 16 HR 74 RBI
1B David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox*
.302 AVG 17 HR 49 RBI
1B Paul Konerko – Chicago White Sox
.317 AVG 21 HR 62 RBI
SS Asdrubal Cabrera – Cleveland Indians*
.294 AVG 14 HR 49 RBI
1B Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers
.329 AVG 17 HR 56 RBI
1B Billy Butler – Kansas City Royals
.296 AVG 6 HR 34 RBI
2B Howie Kendrick – Los Angeles Angels
.307 AVG 8 HR 26 RBI
3B Alex Rodriguez – New York Yankees*
.304 AVG 13 HR 52 RBI
2B Robinson Cano – New York Yankees*
.292 AVG 14 HR 54 RBI
INF Michael Young – Texas Rangers
.313 AVG 7 HR 54 RBI
3B Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers
.265 AVG 14 HR 61 RBI
SS Yunel Escobar – Toronto Blue Jays
.289 AVG 9 HR 29 RBI

Outfielders

CF Adam Jones – Baltimore Orioles
.288 AVG 13 HR 46 RBI
CF Jacoby Ellsbury – Boston Red Sox
.300 AVG 9 HR 40 RBI
RF Michael Cuddyer – Minnesota Twins
.286 AVG 11 HR 32 RBI
CF Curtis Granderson – New York Yankees*
.276 AVG 22 HR 57 RBI
RF Matt Joyce – Tampa Bay Rays*
.302 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI
RF Jose Bautista – Toronto Blue Jays*
.328 AVG 26 HR 55 RBI

National League

Pitchers

Ian Kennedy – Arizona Diamondbacks

8-2 3.01 ERA 97 K

Jair Jurrjens – Atlanta Braves*

11-3 1.89 ERA 1.06 WHIP

Jonny Venters – Atlanta Braves

4-1 1.59 ERA .174 BAA

Tommy Hanson – Atlanta Braves

9-4 2.62 ERA 97 K

Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers

8-4 3.23 ERA 138 K

Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies

9-4 2.41 ERA 110 K

Roy Halladay – Philadelphia Phillies

11-3 2.44 ERA 131 K

Cliff Lee – Philadelphia Phillies

9-5 2.66 ERA 119 K

Joel Hanrahan – Pittsburgh Pirates

24 SV 1.41 ERA 0.97 WHIP

Heath Bell – San Diego Padres

24 SV 2.31 ERA .213 BAA

Brian Wilson – San Francisco Giants

24 SV 3.03 ERA .228 BAA

Matt Cain – San Francisco Giants

7-4 3.02 ERA 95 K

Tim Lincecum – San Francisco Giants

6-6 3.04 ERA 122 K

Catchers

Miguel Montero – Arizona Diamondbacks

.270 AVG 9 HR 40 RBI

Brian McCann – Atlanta Braves*

.311 AVG 14 HR 47 RBI

Infielders

SS Starlin Castro – Chicago Cubs

.309 AVG 2 HR 37 RBI

1B Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds

.316 AVG 12 HR 51 RBI

2B Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds

.296 AVG 8 HR 45 RBI

1B Todd Helton – Colorado Rockies

.323 AVG 9 HR 38 RBI

SS Troy Tulowitzki – Colorado Rockies*

.273 AVG 17 HR 57 RBI

1B Gaby Sanchez – Florida Marlins

.292 AVG 13 HR 46 RBI

1B Prince Fielder – Milwaukee Brewers*

.299 AVG 21 HR 69 RBI

2B Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers*

.276 AVG 14 HR 33 RBI

SS Jose Reyes – New York Mets*

.354 AVG 3 HR 32 RBI

1B Mike Morse – Washington Nationals

.299 AVG 15 HR 46 RBI

Outfielders

RF Justin Upton – Arizona Diamondbacks

.297 AVG 13 HR 43 RBI

RF Jay Bruce – Cincinnati Reds

.267 AVG 18 HR 51 RBI

RF Hunter Pence – Houston Astros

.323 AVG 10 HR 57 RBI

CF Matt Kemp – Los Angeles Dodgers*

.327 AVG 22 HR 64 RBI

LF Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers*

.320 AVG 16 HR 62 RBI

CF Shane Victorino – Philadelphia Phillies

.299 AVG 9 HR 34 RBI

CF Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates

.289 AVG 12 HR 43 RBI

RF Lance Berkman – St. Louis Cardinals*

.297 AVG 21 HR 59 RBI

LF Matt Holliday – St. Louis Cardinals

.321 AVG 10 HR 40 RBI

Have at it. Don’t agree with something or all of it just let me know. You can also tell me on twitter @WesSportsGuy as well.

Change I Cannot Believe In

To the faint of heart it is hard to watch. Seeing someone bulldoze their way through another person. And for what? To score a run for their team. There are only two other sports that offer more physical plays than baseball. They are of course football and hockey. Do we question when someone gets slammed into the boards? Or when someone is tackled before they cross the goal line?

That is apparently where we are headed if some have their way. Now I understand the financial implications involved with losing your best player. It’s obvious, but it must be pointed out that the team will suffer on the field as well.

Buster Posey did what all catchers have done since the game was invented. Protect the plate. It was an extra inning game. The Florida Marlins had a runner on third and he was the go ahead run. If he hadn’t scored, chances are the Marlins lose. There is saying that goes like this, “you play to win the game.” Simple, but the truth.

Posey’s agent, Jeff Berry, sees this in a different light. Now he is his agent and will do what an agent does best. Protect his client. I just think he went about it the wrong way. In the heat of the moment, I don’t think this is what he meant to say.

“You leave players way too vulnerable,” Berry said. “I can tell you Major League Baseball is less than it was before [Posey’s injury]. It’s stupid. I don’t know if this ends up leading to a rule change, but it should. The guy [at the plate] is too exposed.

“If you go helmet to helmet in the NFL, it’s a $100,000 fine, but in baseball, you have a situation in which runners are [slamming into] fielders. It’s brutal. It’s borderline shocking. It just stinks for baseball.”

If this is how baseball should feel, they would have changed the rule somewhat after Ray Fosse was taken out by Pete Rose during an All-Star game. Alas, that didn’t do anything. This shouldn’t either. I’ve seen far worse hits on catchers in the past. This one is getting a lot of publicity because it’s Buster Posey. One of the reasons the San Francisco Giants are the defending champions.

It’s also because of his agent. He’s right to say that the NFL will fine players a lot of money for helmet to helmet hits. With the concern of concussions in all major sports, the league is taking steps to prevent that from happening as often as it has. However, like I mentioned before how many times to you see catchers getting bulldozed at the plate?

The game is fine. Adding instant replay is the only thing that is missing, but if you want to take away something, it will be a lot harder. Folks have grown up watching those kinds of plays and it is one of the most exciting plays in the game of baseball. They don’t always end up in a collision. I don’t have the stats, but I know they aren’t that frequent. Otherwise it would be a topic every year.

It’s only talked about because of the name. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong to talk about it. We just need to talk about it realistically. Jumping to conclusions gets us nowhere. It just starts an unnecessary controversy. It was a clean baseball play. It was an unfortunate injury. If you asked Ray Fosse if he would block the plate again, I bet you he would say yes.