And 'Twitter' Was His Name-O?

When the Florida Marlins named octogenarian Jack McKeon their new, old manager earlier this week, the “Trader Jack is so old” floodgates were opened wide.

Hell, I even got in the act and broke out my “inner Foxworthy".

As far as self-proclaimed “Twittaholic” Logan Morrison…one had to wonder how long it would take for him to get into the act.

Two days.

Here’s what the Marlins leftfielder tweeted Tuesday night:

McKeon asked me what I had going on tonite. Told him I was going home 2 play w/ Twitter. He replied "oh, what kind of dog is it?"

The best part about LoMo’s tweet…there is no doubt in my mind that it is completely true and, more than likely, a preview of what’s to come from the 23-year-old big leaguer.

"Trader Jack" to Take Over the Marlins

When news broke Sunday that Florida Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez had announced his resignation, the internets were abuzz that Jack McKeon was team owner Jeffrey Loria’s pick to take over.

Then, late Sunday night, came word that “Trader Jack” would indeed be taking over as interim manager for the fish.

Yes, you read that correctly. Jack. McKeon.

Dude isn’t a terrible choice though. He won the 2003 World Series as the Florida skipper and has a 1011-940 record over 15 years in the big leagues.

That said, the idea that the 80-year-old McKeon might be back in a Major League dugout conjured up a few different ideas for this site.

Could another popular “Ten Things” post be in the horizon?

1 – Connie Mack is the only manager to have filled out a lineup card after the age of 80. Jack McKeon will be the second.

Perhaps we could go all nostalgic and chronicle the top world events that happened during McKeon’s career?

November 22, 1963 – There aren’t many big league managers that can tell you where they were the day President John Kennedy was shot. Jack McKeon, on the other hand…had just completed a fifth place finish (a 79-79 record) with the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers of the Pacific Coast League.

Maybe I could channel my inner Jeff Foxworthy and break out a hodge podge of “you might be an 80-year-old manager if…” jokes. Sorry, but an already busy day, a nagging cough and laziness won out and, well…oh, to Hell with it.

Here you go.

If you have false teeth older than the collective age of your middle infielders…you might be an 80-year-old manager.

If your first big league managerial job was during the Nixon administration and you were already 42…you might be an 80-year-old manager.

If you still refer fellow to octogenarian Jamie Moyer as “that little Moyer Kid” …you might be an 80-year-old manager.

If, as a general manager, you orchestrated deals that included Rollie Fingers, Ozzie Smith and Sixto Lezcano (twice) …you might be an 80-year-old manager.

If you garnered the nickname “Trader Jack” while you were a second mate on the Amistad…you might be an 80-year-old manager.

If you’re worried about your erection lasting longer than the duration of Marlins game…you might be an 80-year-old manager. You may also want to consult a physician.

And if you turned around the 2003 Marlins and led them to a World Series victory over the New York Yankees…you might just be an 80-year-old manager.

Good luck, “Trader Jack”…approximately 1400 Marlins fans are counting on you.

Logan Morrison's Cast is on eBay

I'm not a big eBay guy.

Honestly, the most excited I've gotten about buying other people's trash was when I found (and bought!) that Rockwell LP for sale a few years ago or last year when Corey Haim's family decided to sell his junk to pay for his funeral.

But then, Florida Marlins leftfielder Logan Morrison went and did this.

Now, if you were too lazy to click on the link above, Morrison is selling his recently removed cast via the online auction site.  And here's part of what the official listing says!

Cast was worn by Logan Morrison, starting left fielder for the Florida Marlins, after injuring his foot last week. Item was signed by 24 members of the 2011 Florida Marlins Roster (not including Hanley Ramirez #2) and was "MLB Authenticated" at the time of signing.

All proceeds will be donated to the American Lung Association.

Why the American Lung Association?  Simple.  Morrison's father died from lung cancer this past December and what a creative way to help raise money for a great organization.

Now...more about that cast itself.

The 23-year-old is suffering from a Lisfranc strain (strained left arch) and was put on the disabled list April 21. Meaning...the earliest he could be activated would be May 5.  But, given the initial estimate on Morrison's injury was that he could be out up to a month...returning by Mother's Day might be a little optimistic.

"There are also hurdles I have to get over," Morrison told Marlins.com. "The doctor said, 'Go as far as the pain will let you go. If it hurts, shut it down.'"

2011 Milestone Preview: National League East

The easy lead to write here would include something about the Philadelphia Phillies and their pitching staff.

So, um...didja hear the one about the Phillies and their pitching staff?

While they're way impressive...not a single one of them is going to achieve any notable milestones this upcoming season.  None of them are chasing down 200 wins or 3000 strikeouts.

Nothing.

But, given he threw two no-hitters last season, is it wrong to hope that Roy Halladay does it again when he opens up the season with his league-leading ninth Opening Day start?

Thought not.

And with that…here’s the NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST.


ATLANTA BRAVES

Limited to a career-low 95 games last season, future Hall of Famer (yeah, I said it) Chipper Jones is looking at eclipsing a couple benchmarks this season…2500 hits, 1500 RBI and 450 home runs are all in his sites. The first two being the easiest to accomplish given he is sitting at 2490 hits and 1491 RBI.

Heck, he'll probably knock those out before Easter.  But with 436 home runs, reaching 450 might take a little longer.

Any way you slice it, the Braves third baseman is the only switch hitter in Major League history with a career batting average better than .300 (.306) and more than 400 home runs.

He’ll enter the season ninth all-time among switch hitters on the career hits list, but should end up the season well ahead of eighth place hitter Tim Raines at 2605. And with a mere 20 RBI, he’ll surpass Mickey Mantle and move into second place on the all-time list of RBI by a switch hitter.

FLORIDA MARLINS

Next year at this time, we won't have the Florida Marlins to knock around anymore.

No, contraction fans, they're not going away...they're changing their names from "Florida" to "Miami".  Meaning...this is also the last season that the Marlins will be calling Sun Life Stadium home. 

With that, I'm going to make a bold prediction...Logan Morrison is going to hit for the cycle at some point this season.  And when he does...he'll become the first in franchise history to do so.

NEW YORK METS

Oh...the Mets.

It's pretty hard to get excited about a team that is only in the headlines because "Former New York Mets Ace Dwight Gooden" is appearing on "Celebrity Rehab"...but let's try.

The Mets actually do have three players going for significant milestones...if they can stay healthy and/or out of jail

In the bullpen, Francisco Rodriguez is sitting at 268 saves. On the career list, that’d put him just ahead of Bob Wickman and 26th all-time, but considering this cat just turned 29…we’re going to, by the end of the season, witness the youngest reliever ever to reach 300 saves and could be looking at someone to challenge Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera’s career numbers.

Also on the bump, pitcher Johan Santana is 113 strikeouts away from 2000 for his career.  On paper, that's a tiny sum (dude has struck out 200 or more five times), but given he's more hurt than effective lately...113 Ks might take a while.

And speaking of injured Mets.

Carlos Beltran is 20 home runs away from 300 for his career.  The milestone seemed like a no-brainer to have happened going into the 2009 season, but since then...he's totaled just 17 longballs in less than a full season of work.

Also not going to happen, but worth mentioning...second baseman Luis Castillo is 111 hits from reaching 2000 for his career.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Let's get this out of the way...Ryan Howard is a beast.

While he's not closing in on any major milestones...is it wrong to suggest that, at 253 home runs, him reaching 300 is completely out of the question?  I thought not.

Over at shortstop, Jimmy Rollins is two triples away from 100 for his career.  And in the bullpen...closer Brad Lidge is 28 saves away from 250.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Since first round pick Bryce Harper got sent to the Minors this past weekend, we'll be waiting a while to see if he can surpass all of Barry Bonds' home run numbers with one swing of the bat.

That said...the Nationals have at least one man who is a headline generator.

Matt.  Stairs.

When he makes the squad, Stairs will have set the Major League record for the number of different teams played for (13)...assuming you count Washington as a separate entity from the Montreal Expos.

Which I do.

Also on the horizon for Stairs.  If/when he goes yard for his new club...he'll have surpassed Todd Zeile by hitting a home run for twelve different ballclubs.

Another journeyman of late, 14-time All-Star Ivan Rodriguez is looking to secure his spot as the greatest catcher ever.

It’s true.

The 1999 American League MVP has 13 Gold Gloves behind the plate, has already appeared in more games than any other backstop (2390) and at 2817 career hits...is about two seasons away from being the first catcher to reach 3000.

The American League Central is next on the docket…feel free to check out the American League East HERE.

Welcome to the Second Half...I Hope You Like Garbage!

Alright, before anyone starts banging the keyboard and sending me messages that this thing went viral months ago.

I know.

Thing is, the second half of the baseball season starts today, and what better way to kick it off than with Scott Stapp's stirring Florida Marlins anthem "Marlins Will Soar"?

There are so many jokes to be made about this thing. Marlins are fish...they can't "soar". The Creed frontman is breaking the Joe Sports Fan Baseball Jersey Wearing 101 rule "your own name isn't cool". And, of course, Scott Stapp is a douche.

So, if you've heard it before...listen to it again and thank God you're not a Marlins fan and this ear cancer is what is defining your team.

If you haven't heard it...listen to it now.

Then listen to it again.

The lyrics are terrible. It's almost as if the Marlins brass grave Stapp a glossary of baseball terms and "you know what...pick some out and make a song". Problem is, and yes there PLENTY of problems with this thing...he chose ALL the terms and decided to throw them together and create a hodge podge pile of steamy garbage.

So listen. Hate. And let me know what you think.

2010 Milestone Preview: National League East

Last year at this time, the big question was…can the Phillies repeat?

And they did.

Kinda.

They won the National League pennant, but as anyone with a pulse knows…they lost the World Series to the New York Yankees.

Along the way, Philadelphia saw their young superstar Ryan Howard add two new achievements to his already growing resume.

First, he reached 200 home runs quicker than anyone else in Major League history when he went deep against the Marlins on July 16. Three months later, in his final at bat of the Fall Classic, the 2006 MVP set a record when he went down swinging for a World Series record 13th time.

And with that…here’s the NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST.


ATLANTA BRAVES

Long gone are the days of Greg Maddux (now in the Braves front office), Tom Glavine (finally, officially retired) and John Smoltz (whereabouts unknown). Thankfully, Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox are still drawing a paycheck in “The ATL”.

Jones is looking at eclipsing a couple benchmarks this season…2500 hits, 1500 RBI and 450 home runs are all in his sites. The first two being the easiest to accomplish given he is sitting at 2406 hits and 1445 RBI. But with 426 home runs, reaching 450 might be a stretch.

Any way you slice it, the Braves third baseman will be adding to his already Hall-worthy resume as he is the only switch hitter in Major League history with a career batting average better than .300 (.308) and more than 400 home runs.

He’ll enter the season 14th all-time among switch hitters on the career hits list, but should end up ninth. And with a mere 64 RBI, he’ll surpass Mickey Mantle and move into second place on the all-time list of RBI by a switch hitter.

Manager Bobby Cox enters his last season as a big league skipper fourth all-time in wins with 2413. He won’t leap frog Tony LaRussa (2552), but if Atlanta should make the playoffs…it will be a record setting 16th appearance for Cox.

In 2007, the fiery manager became the all-time leader in ejections (he now has 151) and was the last manager to get the boot from a World Series game back in 1996. Incidentally, he is also the only skipper to have been kicked out of two World Series games for arguing.

After a 2009 season that saw him bounced from his closer role in New York to setting up Jonathan Papelbon in BeanTown, Billy Wagner is being looked at as the every day closer for the Braves.

Should “Billy the Kid” do the expected and notch at least 15 saves, he’ll reach 400 for his career…something only four other relievers (Trevor Hoffman, Mariano Rivera, Lee Smith and John Franco) have done.

Not bad for a “rat” who was run out of Philadelphia following the 2005 campaign.


FLORIDA MARLINS

Take a quick glance at the Marlins 40-man roster and you’ll notice one thing…only THREE of their players (Wes Helms, Brian Sanches and Dan Uggla) were born prior to the Reagan Administration.
Simply stated, they’re young, gang, and if you’re expecting some sort of Braves-like write up here…you’re sadly mistaken.

All that aside, third baseman Jorge Cantu is only ten long balls away from 100 home runs for his career.

Shrug.


NEW YORK METS

The Mets, on the other hand, are looking to stay healthy. Last season, the Amazins saw their players spend a league best (worst?) 1480 days on the disable list.

One of the guys who spent the most time on the DL is former All-Star Carlos Beltran who opens the season 27 home runs away from 300 for his career.

And while it isn’t likely he’ll reach the plateau in 2010 (he’s starting the season, where else…on the disabled list), every swing of the bat inches him up another rung on the “Puerto Rican Born Major Leaguers” ladder.

In New York’s bullpen, Francisco Rodriguez is sitting at 243 saves. Now, on the all-time list, that’d put him smack dab between Dan Quisenberry (244) and Sparky Lyle (238), but considering this cat is only 28…we’re going to witness the youngest reliever ever to reach 250 saves and could be looking at someone to challenge Trevor Hoffman’s career numbers.

At the same age, Hoffman had yet to save 100 games…but from age 29 to 41, dude added close to 500 more.

Before last season, former Royals closer Jeff Montgomery told The Hall that he wouldn’t “be surprised if K-Rod blows out his arm next year”…and he didn’t. I’m sure the Mets are hoping Monty’s bold prediction never comes true.

But since we’re supposed to be talking tangible milestones here, let me throw this one at ya. Did you know that Rodriguez is 45 games finished behind fellow Venezuelan (and convicted murderer) Ugueth Urbina on his countries all-time games finished list?

No?!?

Yeah, something tells me that that won’t be the lead on SportsCenter when it happens come late-August.


PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

As if you needed to be reminded of this…but Jamie Moyer is old.

How old? He is the one player out there that can tell you where he was when JFK assassinated. And not only is he the oldest player out there…he bests John Smoltz (should he end up somewhere) by close to four and a half years!

So, given he’s older than a number of managers out there, it makes sense that, with 258 wins, Moyer is the active leader. Unfortunately, with 195 losses…he’s tops among active pitchers there as well. If/when Moyer loses his 200th game, he’ll be the first pitcher to hit that mark since Glavine lost his 200th April 13, 2008.

But back to victories. As far as wins go, the next in line is Andy Pettitte with 229 and before anyone starts to wonder aloud about Moyer’s Hall of Fame chances…it’s not going to happen. However, there are only two lefties (Jim Kaat and Tommy John) who have more wins and won’t see their ticket to Cooperstown punched anytime soon.

All others have been or will be enshrined.

An interesting sidenote on Moyer…dude is just 14 bombs (491) behind Robin Roberts total of 505 when it comes to home runs allowed. Should he get the opportunity, he’ll tick closer and closer to Hall of Famer Roberts and, hopefully, surpass the one-time Phillies hurler on the all-time list.

Also of note…closer Brad Lidge is a handful of saves (five) away from notching 200 for his career.


WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Prior to 2009, Ron Villone was looking to get some time with his record tying twelfth team. On May 7, “Suitcase” found his way to the mound for the Nationals and tied pitcher Mike Morgan as the game’s most traveled player.

This year, Matt Stairs is looking to get some playing time in San Diego (coincidentally, his twelfth team)…so let’s all hope that Villone finds his way to lucky number 13.

With only three home runs in his last 30 games, Adam Dunn topped out at 38 home runs last season, failing to become only the second player with more than 40 home runs (or more) in six straight seasons.

Only Babe Ruth did it more (seven times), but here’s the big question…isn’t six seasons of 38 or more home runs in a season an accomplishment?

Someone should look that up!

Now with his fifth different team in the last three seasons, 14 time All-Star Ivan Rodriguez is looking to secure his spot as the greatest catcher ever.

It’s true.

The 1999 American League MVP has 13 Gold Gloves behind the plate, has appeared in more games than any other backstop (2288) and also leads all catchers in hits.

Lastly, the Nationals are looking to be the first National League team to lose 100 or more games in three straight seasons since their rival 1962-1965 Mets did it for four straight seasons.

Ouch.

The American League East is next on the slate.

Milestone Preview: National League East

As David Letterman used to say, “ladies and gentlemen, wake the kids, phone the neighbors”…because I’m about to pull off an internet first, gang.

Check it out over at Google, surf the Wikipedia…wherever. I guarantee you that this is the first time the names Matt Stairs and Ron Villone are going to make anyone’s season preview. Ever. You see, Stairs and Villone have the chance to do something special…tie Mike Morgan on the list for the most franchises played for.

For the record, I’m giving the edge to Villone. Currently a non-roster invitee of the Mets, he’s played for 11 teams and if he take the bump at Citi Field…he’ll tie Morgan with 12.

And with that…let’s move on to the NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST!

ATLANTA BRAVES
Year in and year out, the Braves always seem to have something to look forward to. In 2007, manager Bobby Cox (currently fourth on the all-time managerial wins list) became the all-time leader in ejections.

Last year, future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine brought his 300 wins back to “Hotlanta” and with 305 under his belt…he enters this season as the active leader in victories. Every time he takes the mound, his strikeout and innings pitched total inches him closer and closer to the greats of the game.

I’m not sure what I can say about Chipper Jones that I didn’t say last week. Chipper is already in Hall of Fame territory based on his accomplishments as one of the game's elite switch hitters. By the time August is here, he should have eclipsed 2400 hits.

Also closing in on 2400 hits (and 500 doubles) is Garret Anderson. Quietly, the newly acquired Anderson has put together a solid career. By this time next season, we’ll be talking about 2600 hits and 300 home runs. As a side note…I’m pretty sure he’s the only player to have played for the California, Anaheim and Los Angeles Angels.

FLORIDA MARLINS
The youngest team in the majors (26.1 years old at the start of the 2009 season) has next to nothing to look forward to on the milestone front. But for those of you who are counting down the games until Wes Helms plays in his 1000th…you’re in luck!

NEW YORK METS
Even though their pitching staff has, in recent years, included Glavine, Pedro Martinez and Billy Wagner, the Mets aren’t giving us anything to watch for out on the hill this year.

That being said…raise your hand if you ever thought Carlos Delgado was going to be a member of the 500 home run club. After Gary Sheffield hits number 500 (which should come in the first week of the season), Delgado is up next. The slugger has 469 home runs and should, barring injury, close out the Mets’ first season at Citi Field with a milestone.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Winning the World Series should be a milestone in itself, but when the Phillies will take the field April 5 for their home opener against the Braves, they’ll be doing so with baseball’s oldest current player…Jamie Moyer. Interestingly enough, Moyer (born November 18, 1962) is the only current player besides Randy Johnson (September 10, 1963) that was alive when John Kennedy was assassinated.

A class act, Moyer is four wins away from 250 for his career and he should surpass Hall of Famer Bob Gibson (251) on the all-time list sometime before Memorial Day. On the flip side, by the end of this season, Moyer will end up second on the all-time list for home runs allowed. Moyer is currently at 464 while the career leader, Robin Roberts, is sitting at 505. Here’s hoping Jamie suits up for 2010!

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
The Nationals enter their fifth season since re-locating from Montreal with little to no fanfare. For the four Adam Dunn fans out there, you’ll be glad to know that he’s 22 homers away from 300 for his career and if he gets to 40 this season, he’ll have done so for six straight seasons. Only Babe Ruth did it more consistently when he hit 40 out in a record seven straight seasons.

The National League Central is next up on the docket. Feel free to check out the American League East Milestone Preview HERE.

Until then, Viva Ron Villone…I hope the Mets play you, then trade you to your thirteenth franchise!