Tagged: Triple A
Reaching Your Goal
Are you part of the nearly half of New Year’s Resolutioners that have given up? Or are you one of the less than 10% who will be successful? Life is hard, keep working towards your dreams. Ron Wright never gave up. He fought for what he wanted. All of his hard work eventually paid off.
Ron Wright was selected in the 7th Round of the 1994 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves from Kamiakin High School in Kennewick, Washington. He played two and a half seasons in the Braves minor league system. Wright spent 1994 with the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League Braves, 1995 with the Single A Macon Braves, and 1996 with the High A Durham Bulls and Double A Greenville Braves before an August trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wright now set his sights on the Steel City. He finished 1996 with the Double A Carolina Mudcats and spent 1997 with the Triple A Calgary Cannons. 1998 was a lost season as Wright appeared in only 20 Games, 17 with the Triple A Nashville Sounds and 3 with the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League Pirates. 1999 was equally frustrating, playing only 24 Games for the Double A Altoona Curve. In October, the Cincinnati Reds selected Wright off waivers. His aim moved further down the Ohio River. Wright spent 2000 with the Double A Chattanooga Lookouts and Triple A Louisville RiverBats. In November, Wright signed as a Minor League free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He spent the season back with the Durham Bulls, now a Triple A team. Again a Minor League free agent, Wright signed with the Seattle Mariners for the 2002 season. He began the season with the Triple A Tacoma Rainiers. Ron Wright had played eight Minor League seasons with 12 different teams.
Heading into the 2002 season Wright had played in 666 Minor League games. He hit .261 with 121 Home Runs, 453 RBI, and 361 Runs scored in 2,729 Plate Appearances. Wright had played at every level, Rookie Ball to Triple A. He fought through injuries and the ups and downs of professional baseball. Wright remained one step away from the Majors. The trip from Cheney Stadium to Safeco Field is only 35 miles, but Wright kept fighting to make that drive.
The bad news in Seattle was future Hall of Fame Edgar Martinez was hurt running to First. Martinez’s injury put a damper on the Mariners early season success. Edgar’s injury was bad news for everyone except Minor League journeyman Ron Wright. He finally got the call to the Big Leagues. The years of toil had paid off. He was heading to the show.
It was a pleasant afternoon in Arlington, Texas. It was 76℉ and overcast. Ron Wright had made it to the Majors on Sunday, April 14, 2002. The Mariners were on the road, playing the Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington. 32,866 fans watched as Seattle’s John Halama faced off against Texas’ Kenny Rogers. Ron Wright was the DH, batting 7th for the Mariners. All was right in the world.
In the Top of the 2nd, Ron Wright strolled to the plate. This was the moment he had worked so hard for, his first Major League At Bat. Ruben Sierra was standing on Second after a lead off Single and a John Olerud Walk. Wright stepped in the Right Handed Batters Box looking to add to the Mariners 1-0 lead. Kenny Rogers rocked and fired. In the blink of an eye, Wright was walking back to the dugout. Striking out looking on three pitches was not how Wright envisioned his first At Bat in the Big Leagues, but he had stamped his name in the record books as playing in a Major League game. There would be more chances.
The next opportunity for Wright came in the Top of the 4th. Seattle still clung to its 1-0 lead, and Wright could extend the lead. He again came up with Sierra and Olerud on base. Sierra led off with a Double and moved to Third on Olerud’s Single. Wright worked the count to 2-2. On the fifth pitch he swung. The ball bounced to Rogers on the mound who fired to Alex Rodriguez coming over from Shortstop to cover Second for the first Out. Rodriguez then threw home to Catcher Bill Haselman who chased Sierra back towards Third. He tossed the ball to Third Baseman Hank Blalock who chased Sierra back towards Home. Blalock tossed the ball to Rogers who tagged Sierra for the second Out. During the rundown Wright reached First and was advancing towards Second. He was never known for his speed, just nine Stolen Bases in the Minors. After tagging Sierra, Rogers threw to Second Baseman Michael Young who tagged Wright coming into Second for the third Out. The 1-6-2-5-1-4 Triple Play killed the rally, and made Wright’s debut memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Baseball is about dealing with failure. There are few failures like hitting into a Triple Play. Baseball does not give you long to dwell on your failures. In the Top of the 6th, Wright came up for the third time. He was patient in his first two At Bats, but not this time. The Mariners were trailing 2-1. Again Ruben Sierra was on Second and John Olerud on First. On the first pitch from Rogers, Wright hit the ball to Shortstop Alex Rodriguez to start a Double Play. Sierra moved to Third, but the rally was dead. The frustrating day continued.
Ron Wright never got that fourth At Bat. Manager Lou Piniella sent up Pinch Hitter Mark McLemore in the 7th Inning. His Major League debut was complete. Wright had three At Bats against Kenny Rogers. He saw nine pitches. Made six Outs. The Mariners won 9-7. The game took 3 hours and 39 minutes. Before the Mariners returned to the field on Monday Ron Wright was back in the Minors. He never returned to the Majors. Wright’s Major League career took less time than it takes to watch Gone With The Wind.
Was it worth it? Despite one of the worst possible debuts, Ron Wright can proudly say he was a Major League Baseball player. Only 18,039 players before him earned that title. While his career was not what he hoped, Wright made it to the top. He kept grinding. He kept going. The baseball gods rewarded his lifetime of work with one of the strangest days ever on a baseball field. Keep working towards your goals.
DJ
Ruling Over Monarchs
Playing in the Negro Leagues was not an easy way to make a living. The players were constantly on the move, living and working conditions were challenging at best. Players had to be tough or they would not last. The same was true for umpires. They faced the same challenges as players, but shared in none of the glory.
The greatest umpire in the Negro Leagues was Bob Motley. He recalls his life in, Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants & Stars: True Tales of Breaking Barriers, Umpiring Baseball Legends, and Wild Adventures in the Negro Leagues. Motley was raised in Alabama before moving to Ohio. While living in Dayton, Motley briefly pitched for the Cleveland Buckeyes. It was obvious his passion for baseball far exceeded his talents. Motley served as a military policeman during World War II, where fate intervened. He began umpiring baseball games while recovering from a combat wound to his foot. Motley landed in Kansas City after the war, the epicenter of Negro League baseball.
The persistence and confidence that served him well during his career enabled Motley to badger his way into umpiring in Kansas City. He worked the local leagues, including the Ban Johnson League, but wanted more. He continued hounding the Negro League umpires until they had no choice but to hire Motley. Teams operated on small budgets, so Motley often rode in the back of the Kansas City Monarchs bus. There was not enough money for umpires to travel separately. This put Motley, and other umpires, in potentially awkward and hazardous situations. Motley recounts always keeping his face mask nearby just in case a player was still angry about a call from the game, although he insists there were rarely issues.
The integration of baseball gave Motley a new dream; become the first African-American umpire in Major League Baseball. He knew he needed further training and applied to several umpiring schools. He was rejected from every single one for several years because he was African-American. Baseball was integrating in stages. Again his persistence paid off when he was finally accepted into the Al Somers Umpire School. Motley finished at the top of his class, which should have meant an assignment to a minor league. Instead he was once again met with racism. No league would hire an African-American umpire. Motley returned to work the local leagues in Kansas City. A year later, he applied to Al Somers advanced umpiring course. Once again he finished at the top of his class and again it did not matter.
Somers promised Motley he would do everything he could to get him an umpiring job. The opportunity finally came in the Pacific Coast League. Al Somers needed surgery to repair a broken arm and insisted Motley replace him. Al Somers was an umpiring legend in the PCL, so the league listened and hired Motley as a short term fill in. The PCL was Triple A, just one step from the Majors. Motley was so close to his dream, but would never reach it. After a few seasons he returned to Kansas City as the needs of his family outweighed his dream of reaching the Majors. Eventually fellow PCL umpire Emmett Ashford integrated Major League umpiring in 1966.
Bob Motley’s retelling of his umpiring career helps to create a more complete picture of life in the Negro Leagues. There were no easy routes to success and daily life was brutal. Unfortunately, many of the amazing feats on the diamond are lost to time as players are not as widely known and poor record keeping. Baseball in the Negro Leagues was serious business, but the joy of the game still shines through, especially with Bob Motley.
Bob Motley was the last surviving Negro Leagues umpire. He is rightly honored with a statue inside the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in his adopted hometown of Kansas City along side other legends of the Negro Leagues. Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants & Stars earns a 7 out of 10, a Double.
DJ
Hiding Out In Montreal
The legend goes the Brooklyn Dodgers knew Roberto Clemente was a special player. The plan was to hide him in Montreal and play him sparingly so other teams would not see the talents of the prized Brooklyn prospect. Sending him to a French speaking Canadian city as the fourth outfielder should have kept Clemente with the Dodgers until there was room in the Brooklyn outfield. The Dodgers already had Duke Snider in Center, Carl Furillo in Right, and Sandy Amoros in Left, with Jackie Robinson as their fourth outfielder. There was no room in the Ebbets Field outfield for Clemente.
1954 would be Roberto Clemente’s only season in the Minors. He reached the Majors in 1955 and played his way to Cooperstown. The 19 year old Puerto Rican was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers at the urging of Al Campanis. Clemente’s $10,000 signing bonus was over the $5,000 bonus limit. At the time, if such a player was not on the Major League roster for the next two seasons, another team could draft them in the Rule 5 Draft. Each Minor League team could only lose one player. The Dodgers hoped by playing Clemente sparingly other teams would not draft him. However, Pittsburgh was interested so Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley sought to persuade former Dodgers General Manager, then Pirates General Manager, Branch Rickey to select a different player from the Montreal Royals. The Pirates had the first selection in the draft. The Dodgers had known sending Clemente to the Triple A Montreal Royals was risky all along.
The International League was one of the top Minor Leagues. The eight team league sent four teams to the postseason each year. Montreal played their way to a 88-66 record. The Royals finished second, nine games behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. First year Triple A manager Max Macon guided the Dodgers top farm team through the postseason. The top seed faced the fourth seed, while the second faced the third in the first round. The Royals eliminated the Rochester Red Wings, while the Syracuse Chiefs shocked the Toronto Maple Leafs in Semi Finals, both winning four games to two. In the Championship Round, the Chiefs edged the Royals four games to three.
Montreal’s outfield during its run to the Championship Round consisting of Jack Cassini, Gino Cimoli, and Dick Whitman. Roberto Clemente was the fourth outfielder. He appeared in 87 Games, with 155 Plate Appearances, 148 At Bats, collecting 38 Hits, 5 Doubles, 3 Triples, 2 Home Runs, 12 RBI, scoring 27 Runs, 1 Stolen Base, 6 Walks, 17 Strikeouts, .257 BA, .286 OBP, .372 SLG, and .657 OPS. Defensively he played 77 Games, had 83 Chances, made 81 Putouts, 1 Assist, 1 Error, with a .988 FLD%, and 1.06 RF/G. Even in part time play, Clemente’s talents were evident.
After the 1954 season, the Dodgers worst nightmare came true. The Pirates drafted Clemente. Pittsburgh had to keep him on their Major League roster for the first 90 days of the 1955 season. If the Pirates sent Clemente to the Minors they would have to offer him back to the Dodgers first. Clemente stayed more than 90 days in Pittsburgh. The Pirates never regretted their choice with the first pick in the Rule 5 Draft, while the Dodgers were left without the future Hall of Famer in Dodger Blue.
Retire #21.
DJ
Predictions Sure to Go Wrong 6.0
Here we go into a new season where anything can happen. We had a lackluster off-season with a sputtering hot stove that saw some record-breaking contracts but weeks of “Will he or won’t he” that belongs on the Lifetime Channel rather than the MLB news wire. Teams seem willing to bet big on prospects but undervalue proven commodities. This is the same spirit we’re taking when we peer into our cracked crystal ball to make predictions about the 2019 season. We’re going to switch things up starting with the American League and Bernie is going to report on why they will or won’t do what we think they’ll do.
American League
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run | |
| AL East | Yankees | Rojo Sox (yeah I said it) | Yankees | Yankees | Yankees | Yankees |
| Red Sox* | Bandwagoners* | Red Sux* | Red Sox* | Tea Partiers* | Red Sox | |
| Rays | Canadians | Rays | Rays* | Rays | Rays | |
| Blue Jays | Devil Rays | Blue Jays | Blue Jays | Pajaritos | Blue Jays | |
| Orioles | Cal Ripkens | hOribles | Crush Davis Express | Blue Jays | Orioles |
New York Yankees
One hundred wins last season and they end up a Wild Card. They blasted more home runs in a season than any team before. The rotation didn’t quite hold up and the bats went a bit cold in the Postseason. They shored up their pitching rotation in the off-season by trading for James Paxton and re-signing J.A. Happ. Masahiro Tanaka may have developed a pitch that could keep him from getting blown up every five games. Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, and Miguel Andujar had a season in the Bronx to settle in and help recreate a new Murderers’ Row.
Giancarlo Stanton will be flipping his bat and trotting around the bases plenty in 2019. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox
They’re the reigning champs and they did it with a collective play that didn’t focus on one player’s excellence. Mookie Betts may be the most athletically gifted player in the Majors and Chris Sale wouldn’t surprise anyone if he makes another case to win the Cy Young. Craig Kimbrel hanging out in free agency does not help shorten games. We have to give the defending champs their due but they also didn’t do much in the off-season. Resting on your laurels while everyone else is re-configuring to beat the champs may not be the most sound strategy.
Tampa Bay Rays
Blake Snell threw the kind of fire that could have started the California wildfires last year. The Rays got him to bite on a 5 year, $50 million contract with a $3 million signing bonus. While it’s a big jump for him, it’s not elite ace money. The Rays are trying to win on a budget but that only works when you’ve got an analytical or strategic edge over your competition. You can’t Moneyball when everyone else is reading the statistics the same way. Then again, they probably would run away with the AL Central…
Toronto Blue Jays
There have been a lot of near misses with the Blue Jays’ recent signings. Randal Grichuk, Ken Giles, Yangervis Solarte, Aledmys Diaz…these are all (or were) solid role players to support a more elite group of players. *cough*Vladimir Guerrero Jr.*cough*
Baltimore Orioles
Mark Trumbo’s knee is looking better. Crush Davis is still their best option a first base? No left-handed pitching? Is Trey Mancini the only glimmer of hope on this roster? What happens is Jonathan Villar stays healthy and hits?
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run | |
| AL Central | Spiders | Twinkletits | sTinkies | Cleveland | Twins | Twins |
| Twins | Wahoos | Native Americans* | Twinkies | Wahoos | Cleveland | |
| White Sox | Tigers | Sox | ChiSox | White Sox | White Sox | |
| Royals | Black Sox | Tigers | Tigers | Royals | Tigers | |
| Tigers | Monarchs | Royals | Royals | Tigers | Royals |
Minnesota Twins
The firing of Paul Molitor shows the Twins front office is getting impatient for wins. Rocco Baldelli coached the Rays for a few seasons so he knows how to work with a budget and talent, however Molitor was really the best sort of balance between analytics and gut feeling for the game. Derek and I saw Miguel Sano hit a laser in Detroit during BP that rocked the brick wall beyond the centerfield fence. We agree it would have carried over 500 ft. Perhaps Nelson Cruz can help guide Sano towards his All Star potential. Marwin Gonzalez, Jonathan Schoop, and Ronald Torreyes are solid pick ups to shore up the infield that’s covered by a great outfield of Max Kepler, Byron Buxton, and Eddie Rosario. They’ve got the talent to compete but only in their division.
Will Miguel Sano become the star Minnesota is hoping for? (Bruce Kluckhohn-Associated Press)
Cleveland Indians
Cleveland’s lineup is looking a bit battered but they truly do their damage through hustle and pitching. Well, the hustle seems to be worn out. What’s worse is the arms seem to have cooled. A few years ago facing Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger, and Trevor Bauer would have seemed like swinging at ghosts. Now it seems that the only trouble with the rotation is staying alert enough to make contact. There’s still a deep well of talent here, it’s just worn down and needs a refresh.
Chicago White Sox
Eloy Jimenez is not the second coming but that’s because the White Sox’ front office had thought that about Yoan Moncada. Lucas Giolito, Carlos Rodon, and Ivan Nova make up a serviceable rotation but let’s be honest, the ChiSox are only getting third because of their divisional competition.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are pretty much the White Sox without the prospects.
Kansas City Royals
Danny Duffy has a shoulder impingement in his throwing shoulder. Salvador Perez is out, getting Tommy John surgery…as a catcher. I have more faith in Bartolo Colon being able to pitch through 9 innings than this team to win more than 50 games.
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run | |
| AL West | Astros | Colt .45’s | Stros | Astros | Athletics | Astros |
| Athletics* | White Elephants* | Ohtanis | Oakland | Astros* | Athletics | |
| Angels | Trouts | Athletics | Angels | Angels | Angels | |
| Mariners | Walker Texas Rangers | Mariners | Seattle | Mariners | Mariners | |
| Rangers | Mariners | Rangers | Rangers | Rangers | Rangers |
Houston Astros
These guys are a team of superstars that play like a team. Justin Verlander, George Springer, Jose Altuve, and Alex Bregman deliver on such a regular basis that support from guys like Carlos Correa, Yuli Gurriel, and Josh Reddick coming into a hot streak is just overwhelming for most teams. There’s a certain level of excellence that you have to bring to beat these guys. Few teams have it and fewer can do it as consistently.
Oakland Athletics
This is a team that makes you go “Who is that?” and they consistently outperform the expectations of the “experts”. Just bear in mind that the A’s outperformed Houston in OPS, BA, and HRs last season. Sean Manaea threw a no-no last season and he’s leading a rotation that doesn’t have the same regression potential that Houston has.
Los Angeles Angels
Shohei Ohtani isn’t throwing this season. Mike Trout signed a landmark contract that’s prompting players to question the utility of free agency (but really, without Bryce Harper and Manny Machado doing what they did, Trout wouldn’t have gotten his deal). This is team that’s signaling that they want to win but really not showing people that they know how to win. They may end up like the Yankees of the early 2000’s with enormous salaries, big names, cracked lumber…but no hardware to show for it.
Mike Trout got paid, but can the Angels ever put together a winning team? (FTW-USA TODAY Sports)
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are a lot like a superb AAA with some hot prospects just waiting for a call up. It’s not a rotation but a one-two punch in Marco Gonzalez and Yusei Kikuchi and I wouldn’t want to go into a boxing match with that combo. King Felix might have a few good games in him this season but that’s not a lot to float by on. The high point of their season is already over, Ichiro played in Japan and then retired.
Texas Rangers
This is a team full of redemption stories in the making. I’m not holding my breath. New stadium for 2020 might be the most exciting off-season move.
National League
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run | |
| NL East | Nationals | Follies | Braves | Phillies | Phillies | Phillies |
| Phillies* | Bravos* | Harpers* | Marlins* (yeah Jeets!) | Braves* | Braves | |
| Braves | Gnats | Nationals | Nationals | Mets | Nationals | |
| Mets | Amazins | Yets | Braves | Nationals | Mets | |
| Marlins | Fish | Minor Lg Team | Mets | Marlins | Marlins |
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies picked up some good talent in Andrew McCutchen who had a bit of a refresh by the Bay and in the Bronx, Jean Segura who’s production and defense are constantly overlooked, and J.T. Realmuto, who’s on-base and slugging continue tracking better every year in the majors. We also saw Aaron Nola turn the corner and take over the mound like an elite ace. Jake Arrieta may not find the stride he had in Chicago but an improved lineup may make his job easier and bolster his confidence to hold things down. Let’s not forget that they also picked up a certain free agent that could amplify all of those previous moves by a huge leap – Bryce Harper.
Bryce Harper moved to Philadelphia, can he win in October? (Drew Hallowell/ Getty Images)
Atlanta Braves
The Braves sort of caught lightning in a bottle with the emergence of young prospects in Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies. The signing of Josh Donaldson blocks Johan Camargo from the everyday lineup and puts him into a super utility role. When a young star like Freddie Freeman is one of your elder statesmen and you win the division, there’s a lot to like about this team. But the Braves probably had the largest range of predictions among The Winning Run’s team with first and fourth place finishes.
Washington Nationals
There’s a lot of killer talent on this team. They might actually be better without Bryce Harper in their outfield. But just like the city they play for, there are a lot of management and clubhouse synergy issues to overcome.
New York Mets
Speaking of management issues…there is still an enviable amount of pitching talent in Queens. The Mets need to stop trying to be the Yankees and embrace the chaos and circus of the New York sports media. Less bro, more fun would go a long way into turning this team into winners. Oh and either fire the entire medical staff or protect their positions and salaries from the front office. Either way, there are too many injuries for this to be anything but incompetence or interference, neither is good.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins will not do what the Phillies did last year. Kevin’s just doubling down because when it doesn’t work out, he can brush it off as a joke. Derek Jeter may be on track to becoming to baseball ownership/front office management what Michael Jordan has been to basketball.
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run | |
| NL Central | Cardinals | Cards | Brewers | Brew Crew | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Cubs | Harray Carays | Cards* | Cardinals* | Brewers* | Brewers | |
| Brewers | Brewtus Maximus | Reds | Reds | Reds | Cubs | |
| Reds | Better Dead than Red | Cubs | Cubbies | Cubs | Reds | |
| Pirates | Bucs | Privates | Pirates | Pirates | Pirates |
St. Louis Cardinals
I feel like a broken record. This team just reloads. Unlike last year, I think they won the off-season by trading for Paul Goldschmidt. They have great players in the rest of their positions or a deep bench to platoon. Yadier Molina is a cyborg because getting into that crouch in your late 30’s is just crazy, or I’m just jealous. Hopefully Molina is wearing a bulletproof cup this year. Regardless, the Cardinals seem to have a range and depth that provides them an edge over the regressing Cubs and volatile Brewers teams.
Milwaukee Brewers
There’s a lot of hitting potential on this team and they will probably be in the top 5 for HRs by the end of the season. The Brewers outperformed expectations on pitching last year but I think it can be done again. Corey Knebel being hurt is manageable since the bullpen seems infinitely interchangeable.
Chicago Cubs
Yu Darvish was a bust last year. Maybe he’ll turn it around this year. Jon Lester is a #2 guy who’s turning into a #3. Cole Hamels, Kyle Hendricks, and Jose Quintana are all a step away from brilliance but it is a risky bet that this is the season they take that step. They’re dangerous on the other side of the ball but something isn’t gelling for them and it’s not likely to fix itself this year.
Yasiel Puig brings his energy to the Reds, can he bring more wins? (Kareem Elgazzar/ Cincinnati.com)
Cincinnati Reds
While Yasiel Puig brings a whole lot of fun energy to southwest Ohio, the bigger story is the pitching rotation. Sonny Gray has mean stuff but the lights in New York were too bright. Alex Wood is an underrated pitcher who keeps his lineups in the game with a 3.29 ERA over six seasons. Puig bringing extra run support could mean good things by the Ohio River.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The NL Central may be the polar opposite of the AL Central in competitiveness. But that doesn’t mean Pittsburgh is fielding a team that’s contributing to that image.
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | The Winning Run | |
| NL West | Dodgers | Coors | Dem Bums | Dodgers | Rockies | Dodgers |
| Rockies* | The Choking Kershaws* | Rockies | Rockies | Dodgers | Rockies | |
| Padres | Sneks | Padres | Padres | Diamondbacks | Padres | |
| Diamondbacks | Padres | Giants | D-backs | Padres | Diamondbacks | |
| Giants | Goliaths | Diamondbacks | Giants | Giants | Giants |
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have won the division every season since 2013. It doesn’t seem likely to change but they didn’t do a lot in the off-season. The biggest move was to sign A.J. Pollock to a five-year deal to replace Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp. Much like the Red Sox, this doesn’t portend well. However, it’s hard to argue that the rest of the NL West made the sort of moves that would make them legitimate challengers to that crown.
Colorado Rockies
Nolan Arenado got a big contract and remains one of the most exciting players in the Majors. The departure of DJ LeMahieu was softened by signing Daniel Murphy. So they have the firepower to run up scores on their opponents, but playing in Denver is simply a difficult balance for pitching. Jon Gray seems to be one of the few pitchers that’s unfazed pitching at home or away from that elevation. It’s just hard to develop a rotation and bullpen around that. Especially when you let a guy like Adam Ottavino go to the Yankees.
San Diego Padres
Seriously? How did this happen? Oh yeah, the Diamondbacks sold the house. Hey look Manny Machado.
How long until the Padres are relevant again? Ralph (Freso/ Getty Images)
Arizona Diamondbacks
They sold the house. Zack Greinke cannot be happy that his departure from the Dodgers has left him with the team he has now. Goldschmidt is in St. Louis and Steven Souza Jr. went down with a terrible knee injury and is gone for the season. Can Jake Lamb stay healthy and will Adam Jones find a new home in the desert. They have a good rotation so if the hitting is good, they’re a dangerous team to play spoiler.
San Francisco Giants
How the mighty have fallen. Let’s not forget that the Giants have won three of the last ten World Series titles. But really, that’s all that’s going for them right now. One last trip around the Majors for Bruce Bochy.
Wild Card
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | Winning Run | |
| AL Wild Card | Red Sox | Bandwagoners | Red Sux | Red Sux | Tea Partiers | Red Sox |
| Athletics | White Elephants | Indians | Rays | Astros | Athletics | |
| NL Wild Card | Phillies | Bravos | Cards | Cardinals | Brewers | Rockies |
| Rockies | The Choking Kershaws | Phillies | Marlins | Braves | Brewers |
Divisional Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | Winning Run | |
| ALDS 1-4 | Red Sox | Rojo Sox | Yankees | Astros | Yankees | Yankees |
| Astros | White Elephants | Red Sux | Red Sux | Tea Partiers | Red Sox | |
| NLDS 1-4 | Dodgers | Follies | Dodgers | Dodgers | Rockies | Dodgers |
| Phillies | Bravos | Cards | Cardinals | Brewers | Rockies | |
| ALDS 2-3 | Yankees | Colt .45’s | Astros | Yankees | Athletics | Astros |
| Indians | Twinkletits | Twins | Cleveland | Twins | Twins | |
| NLDS 2-3 | Cardinals | Coors | Brewers | Brewers | Cardinals | Cardinals |
| Nationals | Cards | Braves | Phillies | Phillies | Phillies |
Championship Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | Winning Run | |
| ALCS | Yankees | Rojo Sox | Yankees | Yankees | Yankees | Yankees |
| Red Sox | Colt .45’s | Astros | Astros | Athletics | Astros | |
| NLCS | Cardinals | Bravos | Dodgers | Brewers | Rockies | Cardinals |
| Dodgers | Coors | Brewers | Cardinals | Cardinals | Dodgers |
World Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Kevin | Bernie | Winning Run | |
| World Series | Red Sox | Coors | Dodgers | Brewers | Yankees | Cardinals |
| Cardinals | Colt .45’s | Yankees | Yankees | Cardinals | Yankees |
Sorry CC Sabathia it is not looking good for you to end your career with a World Series victory. This one’s for you CC. (Kim Klement- USA TODAY Sports)
Our apologies to the New York Yankees because our prediction means they’re probably not going to win this year. We have been wrong the last five years, why change now.
BL with DJ, JJ, JB, & KB
Bottom of the 33rd
The beautiful thing about baseball is there is no clock. Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver said it best, “In baseball, you can’t kill the clock. You’ve got to give the other man his chance.” There are no clocks counting down the end of a game, just the anticipation of the final out.
Baseball, and the lack of a clock, does from time to time does go a little crazy. The 26 inning marathon on May 1, 1920 between the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Robins ended in a 1-1 tie, called due to darkness. The 25 inning game on May 8 and 9, 1984 between the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes. Newly elected Hall of Famer Harold Baines mercifully hit a walk off home run to give Chicago a 7-6 victory. A day at the ballpark is far from predictable.
Then there was the April 18, 1981 Triple A game between the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings. The longest game in professional baseball history and the subject of Dan Barry’s book, Bottom of the 33rd. The start of the game was delayed a half hour due to malfunctioning lights at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket. The cold New England air and Easter church services the next morning kept many fans away, as paid attendance that fateful night did not total 2,000, yet many later claimed to have attended.
The game plotted along with Rochester leading 1-0 as the bottom of the 9th began. The Red Sox needed one run to force extra innings. Be careful what you wish for. Chico Walker scored on a Russ Laribee sac fly to left field, sending the game into the great unknown that is free baseball. Normally, extra inning games are quickly resolved allowing the fans and players go on about their lives. This game was different. What followed was a struggle for survival between two teams, a cold New England night, a missing page in the rule book, and a League President gone missing.
Even Pawtucket Red Sox Manager Joe Morgan was pleading for the game to be over. (Bottom of the 33rd/ Harper Collins)
I will stop here to not ruin the rest of the story. I can say Dan Barry’s writing is magnificent. Bottom of the 33rd reads like a radio broadcast. However, the book’s advantage over radio is Barry ability to take side trips about the people involved with the game. Humanizing those trapped in the game heightens the excitement of the story.
The account of the longest baseball game goes beyond the diamond and into the lives of the people. Two future Hall of Famer players, Wade Boggs for Pawtucket and Cal Ripken Jr. for Rochester, are well chronicled. However, the most poignant and painful parts of the book are the destinies of the players who never made it to the Majors.
Triple A is one step away from the top of the sport, yet many players never take that final step. They are so close to the summit, yet they continue to struggle to survive in the Minors. The life of a Minor League player is not glamorous. Long bus rides, cramped living and working conditions, a long season with few off days, low pay, and knowing your dream of playing in the Majors can disappear in a flash. Despite the long odds, every year players attempt to do the improbable and make it to the Majors. Their struggles were on full display that night in Pawtucket. Bottom of the 33rd is a microcosm of the cruelty that is baseball.
DJ
The Winning Run 