By Paul Casey Gotham
Chasing Yaz
While the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals are battling it out in the NL Central, their leading hitters are vying for a place in history. Albert Pujols and Joey Votto are running neck and neck for the prestigious Triple Crown. Votto leads the NL hitting .323. Pujols sits in third batting .319 (Atlanta’s Marting Prado is second at .320). Pujols leads the senior circuit with 33 home runs. Votto trails with 29 round-trippers. Pujols ranks first in the NL with 92 RBI. Votto has driven in 86. For our SABR brethren, the pair rank first and second in slugging with Pujols at .600 and Votto at .593.
Of course, Pujols and Votto are looking to be the first major leaguers to accomplish this feat since Carl Yastrzemski did so in 1967. Yaz led the AL in average (.326), HRs (44), RBI (121), hits (189), runs (112), slugging (.622) and OPS (1.040 – not that I know the true significance of such a stat). Interesting to note – Yaz led the AL in hitting one year later at .301. There is probably no true connection here, but another interesting note – Yaz did this in ’67. The next season is considered the “year of the pitcher.” Bob Gibson recorded an ERA of 1.12, and Denny McClain won 31 games – the last hurler to reach the 30-win plateau. Pujols and Votto are chasing Yaz during a season when no hitters and perfect games have been weekly topics.
Can’t buy me love
If misery loves company, San Francisco’s Matt Cain and New York’s Johan Santana should belly up to the bar. The two are living similar existences this summer. Cain is ninth in the NL in innings pitched (176). His ERA is 10th (3.07). He is holding opposing hitters to .227 – good for ninth in the league, and he has a fourth-best three complete games. In 187 innings pitched (second in the league), Santana has an ERA of 2.94 (9th). The Mets’ ace (an oxymoron of sorts) has four complete games and is holding batters to .240 (16th). All the while, the two are tied for 20th (or 26th depending upon how you look at it) in the league with a grand total of 10 wins.
Just wondering. Santana took a nice pay increase to go New York. How does he feel about that decision right now? I suppose the money can smooth over the dysfunction of the Mets. Pitching in the post-season is really no big deal I suppose…NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hamlet hash
To sign Manny, or to not sign Manny? That is the question. Manny is hitting .312. His slugging is .508. Oh yeah, Manny has only been in the lineup for 62 games. Remember when he was traded to Los Angeles. Wow! Would that look good for a contender? There are less than 40 games remaining. Does anyone need a slugger? Does any AL team need a DH? Is there any rumor to the truth that Tampa is interested? Will the Sox run inteference? Kind of amusing to consider the Sox could claim both Judas Damon and Manny off waivers.
Props for Lou
It’s not too often that 21st century American professional athletes put their vulnerabilities on display for everyone to see. Less often do we see grizzled managers and coaches wear it on their sleeves. It was refreshing to see, or rather hear, “Sweet” Lou talk about his affection for baseball. Lou talked about “not putting on the uniform again.” That’s what it is all about. Baseball and sports needs guys like Lou Piniella.
Here’s to you, Vin
My heart skipped a beat when I heard the Vin Scully planned an announcement. Glad to hear the mellifluous one wants to continue announcing Dodger games. What a great career. Scully is in his 80s and wants to continue doing what he has done his whole working life. How many of us can say that? We should all thank Vin for not dragging out this announcement. It sounds like his hand was forced by some less than responsible reporting. Scully responded by quickly airing his intentions in the professional manner that he has used his entire public life.
National pulse rate
Stephen Strasburg shaking his arm and wincing in pain had to make a few in the nation’s capital a tad uncomfortable. Time to shut down the phenom?
Got any MLB splinters? Share them here.
Sorry for pickin’ a splinter not mentioned in yours, Casey, but what are the feelings towards Jim Thome possibly hitting 600 HRs? I’ve never heard his name linked to any ‘roids. So does this validate him as the savior that A-Rod was supposed to be? Granted he is 40 and not a media darling or alluring in any way. The guy is one of my all time favorite players.
Rey —
I love Thome and so do my kids. He played somesolid years wth the WhiteSox which ended before this season; and he was a real fan favorite. Boy …They could really use him now. My kids think he’s a cross between Buzz Lightyear and Capt Incredible. Everytime he hits another dinger, I smile.
Wally –
Buzz Lightyear and Capt Incredible. Must be that prominent chin. I just feel like he isn’t being talked about enough. He’s played for my two favorite teams, Cleveland and Philadelphia (not a true fan, slightly adopted them during my college years). I try not to think of him as an AL Central journeyman 🙂 But the guy has quietly crept up on 600 and will more than likely surpass it next year (hoping!). No one cared about A-Rod but we should absolutely lay out the red carpet when Thome does it – just to stick it to A-Rod.
My mom and dad started taking me to Cleveland games back when they had the Mistake by the Lake. We were able to get tickets for two games every year for about the first five years of the Jake’s existence. In its inaugural season, we saw them play the White Sox. We had second level seats out in right field. Thome blasted 3 HRs that game with the last one soaring to the section next to us. All time greatest moment for me in sports. I still have the ticket stub in a frame.
Glad to see the guy continuing to get it done at 40 and hopefully hit 600.
Oh – and speaking of Hamlet hash and Manny, I saw where the White Sox are ready to answer that question and take the slugger.
Okay … it’s official … ManRam to the WhiteSox, who REALLY need a dangerous LEFT-HANDED bat in that line-up, ala Jim Thome or Adam Dunn.
Pushing this Kenny Williams screw up aside for the moment, the biggest intrigue will be: a) What position will he play? (Guessing DH) … and b) Will the Sox force him to get a haircut to comply with team policies? B is obviously the most interesting question 😉
Wally
How about this kid Chris Sale? YOu gotta love him. He gets taken 14th overall in the most recent draft by the Chi Sox and flies through the minors from the rookie Gulf Coast League on up to “The Show.” AND he has 14 Ks in his first nine innings of Major League work. So much for Scott Boras advising kids to holdout for more money. How about – let’s sign, get to work and get on with the career.
Rey – you never have to apologize for pickin a stray splinter. That’s what it is all about.
Sale looked good again last night. He’s really needed cuz all-star Matt Thornton is out in the DL. Sale got some good pub in last week’s SI baseball column.
Nonetheless, Ozzie again put in the Fat Boy, Boobie Jinx, who promptly blew a 6-3 9th inning lead. Thank God Cleveland only tied the game … the Palehose went on to win in extras.
Beckham was hit on the wrist by a pitch. That could be a big loss down the stretch. He has been playing great the last 3-4 weeks.
What will they do with no one to bend it like Beckham?
Apparently, Gordon “Bend-But-Don’t-Break-It” Beckham only has a bruise and no broken bones. Got lucky … he may miss only a few games and return for the weekend. He has hit .349 in the last 44 games … ChiSox desperately need him in the line up … and for defense too.
Alexei “The Cuban Missile” Ramirez made another highlight reel play last night to save the game … an amazing catch-and-throw on a high chopper. Kid’s got sick skills.
Still … the bullpen is in a shambles … esp with Thornton out, and the starting pitchers, who were magnificent in that stretch leading to the All Star break, have been pretty pedestrian the last 3-4 weeks. The exception being the newly acquired Edwin Jackson who’s been terrific and is starting tonight.
Even if Manny plays everyday and hits .400, the ChiSox will be fighting an uphill battle to overcome this 4 game deficit with ~30 games left. And of course, Ozzie will keep trotting Boobie Jinx out there and he’ll certainly blow a handful of key games down the stretch. Everyday I’m reminded about how valuable a stopper like Mariano Rivera is to a contending ballclub.