All-Star Catcher Leaves Team Canada

Alright, I'm not even sure where to begin with this one, so I'll just throw it out there.

Three-time All-Star Russell Martin left Team Canada earlier this week because, well, they wouldn't let him, a catcher by trade, suit up and play shortstop in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Now, I'm not sure why I didn't see this story until today, but let me get this straight...Russell Martin, newly acquired catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates is leaving Team Canada because they won't let him play shortstop?

Ridiculous.

''It's a pretty simple reason,'' Martin said on Sunday.  ''The Pittsburgh Pirate organization wasn't comfortable (with) me going to play shortstop over there. I don't think the Team Canada organization was too comfortable with me going to play shortstop.''

For the record, Martin was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2002 draft as, wait for it, a second baseman.  That said, he never played an inning at the position in the Minors.  In the Majors, he's played second for two innings in 2011.

Which brings us back to shortstop.

Martin, a Gold Glove Award winning catcher in 2007 has played 98% of his games in bigs behind the plate and outside of those two innings at second two seasons ago, the only other position he's played...third base.

So, why shortstop?  Your guess is as good as mine.

Happy Halloween from Lil' Cutch!

With Halloween around the corner and the Texas Rangers not playing in the World Series, it's clear we're being deprived of one thing.

Little Ron Washington.

Yeah, remember two years ago when then-seven-year-old Liam Roybal from Keller, Texas dressed up as the Rangers skipper and lit up the blogosphere like wildfire?

Well, I'm proud to announce, someone has stepped up to take his place.  Introducing..."Lil' Cutch".

Sure, Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates aren't in the World Series either, but, c'mon...that kid is adorable.  And, kudos to the parents allowing their kid to go with the full-on dread look.  I mean, one assumes that the kid didn't hit up The Dread Queen for his extensions, right?

The coolest part of this whole thing (outside of the dreads, obviously), is that the Pirates All-Star actually retweeted the picture to his 110,000-plus fans.

Andrew McCutchen Has Questionable Taste

When a guy puts up the numbers Andrew McCutchen does, you'll forgive his transgressions.

First, the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star revealed his love of colorful socks.  Then, it was bowties.  Both, if you ask me...acceptable.

But this video from Thirty Mile Zone, well, this probably needs to be explained a little better.

"Mad Men" Star to Front Disney Baseball Flick

Hey, you know that story about the two javelin throwers from India that, after taking part in a reality show, came to the States, tried out for and got signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates?

If so, you probably won't need to see "Million Dollar Arm"...the film version of the that very same story.

Unless you're a fan of Jon Hamm.

The "Mad Men" star (and St. Louis Cardinals fan) has signed on to star in, well, this is what Deadline Hollywood had to say.

Mad Men star Jon Hamm has become attached to play a sports agent in Million Dollar Arm, the drama based on the true story of how sports agent J.B. Bernstein discovered professional pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel through a reality show he staged in India with cricket players. Mayhem Pictures’ Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray are producing with Joe Roth and Palak Patel of Roth Films. Thomas McCarthy wrote the script and the plan is to shoot in the fall.

And before you get all, "I wonder how this will end" about this movie, remember this...you've never heard the names Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel and this movie is being distributed by Disney.

Let's pray there's no talking animals.

Wait...the "Other" Jason Grilli?

A few months ago, one of my favorite guys on the interwebs, Paul "Sully" Sullivan posted his "All Nope... Not THAT One Team".  Basically, it was a roster of players who share the names of other famous people.

And if the modern day king of shedding light on the "things that make you go hmmm" makes a sequel...I'd like to add Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Jason Grilli to the list.

Here's why.

Right before Christmas, a different Jason Grilli was, along with two buddies, arrested at a suburban Boston Holiday Inn with eleven kilos of cocaine.  The trio was charged with trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws and, if convicted, faces a minimum of 15 years in prison.

"Grilli the Arrested" has even gotten the attention of "Grilli the Pitcher" who, interestingly enough, has been tweeting story developments to his more than 16,000 followers. 

The best part though...the coke dude was carrying around in that duffle bag when he was busted was worth $1.1 million or, wait for it, roughly the same amount the Pirates spent to re-sign the 35-year-old righty less than two weeks prior.

Things that make you go "hmmm" indeed.

Gerrit Cole's Twitter Hacked?

***UPDATE: Numerous Pirates bloggers are hitting the interwebs, supporting Cole saying that he's not on Twitter and this is a fake account.***

I'm no conspiracy theorist (actually, I totally am), but I'm willing to bet we're going to hear soon that Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Gerrit Cole's Twitter was hacked or that this is a fake account.

You see, late Monday night, the 2011 number one overall pick (or someone claiming to be him) tweeted the following piece of eye candy to his 980+ followers:

Considering quitting baseball to smoke weed. Fuck it

Someone needs to tell dude that he's a sure bet Major Leaguer with a million dollar arm and not running up and down a basketball court for a living.

Sure, it's possible Cole was joking around, but, in all seriousness...he should probably pick a better thing to joke about given the sport's pending crackdown on social media..

That is, of course, unless he was hacked...or this isn't even him!  And just in case it gets deleted (and it probably will), here was the tweet in question.

The hard throwing righty was 21-20 with a 3.38 ERA in his three years at UCLA.  Prior to being the Pirates number one pick this past summer, the 21-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2008 by the New York Yankees.

2011 Milestone Preview: National League Central

It would be really, really easy to start this thing with the laundry list of accomplishments that are within reach for St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols.

That'll come later.

Did you know that with the retirement of Atlanta Braves skipper Bobby Cox following the 2010 season, Pujols' manager Tony  La Russa became the longest tenured manager in Major League Baseball.  And then, this past February, when NBA head coach Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz retired, the Cardinals manager became the longest tenured bench boss among all the Big Four sports leagues.

Not bad for not even playing a game, right?

On that note…here’s your NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL.


CHICAGO CUBS

Last December, the Cubs lost their announcer and former third baseman Ron Santo.

Beginning in Spring Training and continuing throughout the season, the Northsiders will honor their biggest fan by wearing a patch on their jersey sleeve.  In addition to that, the Cubs will unveil a Ron Santo outside of Wrigley Field this August.

There are a lot of players closing in on 300 career home runs this season...and a number of them will get there.  But one guy who probably has the best chance of reaching the milestone (and will probably do so the quickest) is Cubs thirdbaseman Aramis Ramirez.  If he can stay healthy (and that's a big "IF")...Ramirez should easily get the eleven homers he needs by the All-Star break.

Former Cubs pitcher and Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins has more wins (284) than any other Canadian-born pitcher.  The team's Opening Day starter Ryan Dempster starts 2011 fourth on that list with 102.  That said, he could very well be sitting second all-time pretty quick given the two guys ahead of him on the career list are Kirk McCaskill and Reggie Cleveland with 106.  He's got a long way to go to match Jenkins...but it is still a pretty cool accomplishment.

CINCINNATI REDS

The Reds shocked the baseball world in 2010 by finishing the season with 91 victories and their first playoff appearance in 15 years.

Should Cincinnati be able to duplicate that feat this season, manager Dusty Baker and his 1405 career victories will leapfrog four Hall of Famers (Al Lopez, Miller Huggins, Earl Weaver and Clark Griffith) and crack the top 20 all-time.

Out of the bullpen, Reds closer Francisco Cordero enters the season with 290 career saves.  Thankfully, the question isn't if the three-time All-Star can get to 300...it is how fast.

Lastly, veteran Scott Rolen is continuing what is a pretty nice career resurgence in Cincy.  Last season, he brought home his eighth Gold Glove and reached 300 home runs for his career.  He begins this year only 56 hits shy of 2000.

HOUSTON ASTROS

Down in Houston, the "Los Caballitos" are bound to go nuts when Carlos Lee gets those 33 hits and reaches the 2000 hit plateau.  And at just 34...it's entirely possible for dude to end his career way north of 400 home runs and 2500 hits.  Not too shabby for "El Caballo".

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Now that Trevor Hoffman has retired, the milestone focus has shifted from the all-time saves leader to face of the franchise...Prince Fielder.  With 192 career home runs, Fielder should get to 200 in a blink of an eye.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Coming into last season, I predicted that third-year skipper John Russell wasn't going to make it to his fourth year at the helm of the Pirates. 

Of course, that prediction was about as bold as saying that the sun will rise in the morning.

In April, while in the midst of a 22-game losing streak, the Pirates suffered their worst loss in franchise history...losing to the Milwaukee Brewers 20-0.  In August, they clinched their record 18th straight losing season in a row.  In a couple of weeks, Clint Hurdle takes over a team that, last season,  picked up the third most losses in franchise history...trailing only the 113-loss teams of 1890 and 1952.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Alright…this post could go one forever championing the upcoming milestones for one Albert Pujols.

But I'll make it brief.  Actually...that's an impossible task.

This season, "The Machine" will, potentially, reach the 2000 plateau by the All-Star Game...he's got 1900.  After avergaing more than 90 walks a season throughout his ten-year career, it's a no-brainer that the three-time MVP will get the 86 free passes he needs to reach 1000.

And if he repeats his 42 home runs from last year, he'll reach the 450 big-fly mark...and dude is just 31.

Now, assuming Pujols gets 30 or more home runs, 100 RBI and hits better than .300 (something he’s done in each of his ten seasons so far), he’ll not only be the only cat to start his career with eleven straight seasons with those numbers, but also…he’ll be the only player to have done it in eleven straight seasons.

Should he get 40 or more home runs and 40 or more doubles this season, it’ll be a record fourth time he achieved the feat. In 2009, he tied Lou Gehrig as the only player to have done it three times.

And should Pujols do all the above and take home another National League MVP award, he’ll be only one of two players (Barry Bonds has seven) to be named his league’s best more than three times.

It’s safe to call this guy the best in the game, right?

Thought so.

The American League West is up next. Feel free to go back and check out the American League East, American League Central or National League East.

Chuck Tanner (1928-2011)

I'm not sure why...but whenever I picture baseball managers, I always think of those from my formative years.

I blame that primarily on the Topps company who, during the 1980s, used to put their grizzled mugs on baseball cards.  Last year, the baseball world lost three managers that appeared in the 1983 Topps card set...Ralph Houk, Clyde King and Hall of Famer Sparky Anderson.

Friday...my heart sunk when I read this tweet from former Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Tommy Lasorda.

Rest in Peace Chuck Tanner. I loved you like a brother. You taught me a lot about managing, and I always appreciated it.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette, the manager of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, died Friday at his home in hospice care after a long illness. 

Tanner was 82.

Prior to his managerial career, Tanner played eight seasons (1955–1962) for four different teams...the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels.  In 396 games, the outfielder batted .261 with 21 home runs.

While with the Braves, Tanner hit a home run in his first big league at-bat on April 12, 1955...the only Braves player to accomplish the feat in Milwaukee.

But he was best known as a manager...having managed four teams from 1970 to 1988.  Over those 19 seasons...Tanner's overall managerial record was 1352-1381.  His 711 with the Pirates ranks him fourth on the franchise's all-time list.

You'll read plenty of quotes from Tanner's former players over the next couple of days...but I think Ed Herrmann (who played for Tanner from 1970 to 1974) summed it up well.

"RIP Chuck Tanner," the former Chicago White Sox catcher posted on his Facebook wall.  "Best 'Players' Manager I ever played for. He was a great man."

Chan Ho Park Heading to Japan

A couple of weeks ago, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said that the "door is open" for Chan Ho Park to return in 2011.

Now, reports are that Major League Baseball's first South Korean-born player is heading to Japan to pitch for the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball and details of the deal are expected to be announced during a press conference Tuesday.

This...according to the Yonhap News Agency:

The 37-year-old right hander has signed a one-year deal with the Osaka-based Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), his management company Team 61 said. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. Park will discuss his future in more detail in a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, the agency said.

Prior to this past season, Park had signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the New York Yankees.  After struggling with a 5.60 ERA in 27 appearances...the righty was designated for assignment on July 31.

Less than a week later, he was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh.

On October 1st, Park became the winningest Asian pitcher in Major League history.  For his career, the 37-year-old reliever is 124-98 with a 4.36 ERA, was an All-Star in 2001 and in four appearances during the 2009 World Series...managed a 0.00 ERA.

Park's departure from the states leaves Cleveland Indians outfielder Shin-soo Choo as the only South Korean in the Majors.

Baseball Road Trip of a Lifetime: Pittsburgh

I wish I had some sort of story to tell you right now about the time back in 1992 when I was hanging out with some buddies and we made a bet about what would happen next...the Pittsburgh Pirates would make the playoffs or the expansion Colorado Rockies would have someone throw a no-hitter.
Because this past weekend...the latter happened.

Sure, the Pirates are above .500 (they're 6-5), but they're a long way from the postseason...even if good friend of The Hall Navin Vaswani thinks he found the one guy who believes this might be the Bucs year while in the Steel City.

The rumours are true. How do I know? Because, thanks to The Baseball Road Trip Of A Lifetime , I now have first-hand proof. Pittsburgh Pirates fans are indeed real; they are not unicorns. And I happened to meet probably the nicest one of them.

Read the rest of Navin’s adventure in Pittsburgh HERE.

You can follow his exploits on Twitter at @eyebleaf or visit his piece of the interwebs over at Sports and the City.

Dear Anonymous Pirates Fan...

In the comments section of last season's National League Central Milestones piece...some joker signed on anonymously and wrote:

Let's get some analysis in this "article" next time and your Pirates description was non-existant and non-informative.

Wow...really, anonymous Pittsburgh Pirates fan?

I realize that I should've gone with the obvious...the fact that the Bucs were going to set a record for futility by being the first professional team ever (yes, EVER) with 17 consecutive losing seasons, but I didn't know about it.

Instead I responded with an equally snarky:

Anyone else find the irony with the guy posting as "anonymous" blasting me as giving a "non-existant and non-informative" description of the Bucs?

Something tells me that the person was logging on from Pittsburgh and are blind to the fact that the only "milestone" that can possibly be reached by a member of the Pirates this year is former Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske hitting the 1000 games played mark sometime in late July to early August.

I mean, what else do they have going for them...the LaRoche brothers?!? Well, they aren't exactly the DiMaggios, gang!

So to make it up to that lone anonymous Pirates fan...here are their 2010 milestones, courtesy of smitty over at Rum Bunter.

When the Bucs raise the jolly roger for the 71st time this year, John Russell will have 200 wins in his managerial career for the Bucs. It will put the Bucs skipper at number 15 on the Pirates Manager All-Time Win List.

Paul Gurner Maholm could reach 1000 innings pitched in his career with a healthy 2010. Maholm would need to pitch 204 innings. He pitched 206.1 in 2008 and 194.2 last season.

After Maholm went yard last year, Maholm needs just 474 homers to tie Willie Stargells’ All-Time HR record.

Zachary Thomas Duke reaches 500 career strikeouts when he rings up victim number 91. God please let it be Ryan Braun. Duke can also reach 1000 innings pitched in his career if he can spin it for 194.2 innings this season. Also with four base knocks this season, Duke will reach 50. Zach has five career doubles leaving him 553 shy of the all-time record which is held by Pirate great Paul Waner.

Octavio Eduardo (Diaz) Dotel needs 17 saves to reach 100 and with 60 strikeouts, Dotel will make it 1000 for his career.

Brendan ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ Donnelly needs to play in 52 games and have 57 strikeouts to reach 400 in each category.

Ryan Matthew Doumit needs 144 hits to reach 500. Fellow Pirate backstop, Manny Sanguillen was intentionally walked 92 times which ranks fifth all time. Doumit has been intentionally walked 14 times in his career, so with 79 intentional free passes Doumit jumps Manny? That’s not too far fetched. Heh, Sangy…records were made to be broken. Also, if Doumit can throw out 31 runners this year, he will reach 100 for his career.

Aki Iwamura needs just 121 hits to reach 500 in his North American MLB career.

Ryan Church is 44 hits away from the popular 500 mark.

Robert Edward Crosby needs to hit 39 homers in 2010. If he does that, not only do the Bucs finish above .500, but it gives Crosby 100 for his career.

Go Pirates?

2010 Milestone Preview: National League Central

A funny thing happens every year in the middle of March…65 college teams tip off their tournament believing that “this is the year” and before even a pitch is thrown, one baseball team is already proclaiming that they’re going to “wait ‘til next year”.

Why is there such blind optimism among the college ranks (I’m specifically looking your way Northern Iowa and Cornell) and pessimism among the pros?

Could it be the pressures to succeed, the folly of youth or the fact that the Cubs have to square off against Albert Pujols fifteen times this season?

As you ponder that…here’s your NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL.


CHICAGO CUBS

Last season, Chicago's Central division rival Houston Astros had three players top 300 home runs for their career. This year, the Cubs are in the same position by having Derrek Lee (293), Alfonso Soriano (290) and Aramis Ramirez (264) all within shouting distance of the milestone.

Ramirez is the longshot given the shoulder injury that plagued him for most of 2009, but at only 31…it is worth mentioning that only the afore mentioned Pujols and Adam Dunn are younger and have hit more.

In the dugout, skipper Lou Pinella is 16 wins away from becoming only the fourteenth manager with more than 1800 victories. And of the ten Hall-eligible managers ahead of him on the list, only one (Gene Mauch) is not enshrined in Cooperstown.

For a lot of teams, it takes a former player getting voted into the Hall of Fame to get their number retired. One look at their foul poles and you’ll realize, that, for the Cubs…they have no such policy.

That being said, would it be too much to ask that the Cubs FINALLY hoist Andre Dawson’s number 8 up alongside the six former Cubs that have their numbers retired.

I realize that the guy isn’t going into the Hall as a member of the “Loveable Losers” (you can read the reasons why he should HERE), but that wasn’t his choice. The Northside loves the Hawk and he loves the Northside…retire his number.


CINCINNATI REDS

20 years ago, the Reds sweep the heavily favored Oakland A’s in the World Series. In the years since, they’ve made one playoff appearance and have finished at .500 or better only three times.

Unfortunately this season isn’t appearing to look at brighter.

Provided he can stay healthy (easier said than done), Scott Rolen is 17 home runs away from 300. Sure the third baseman’s best years are behind him, but 17 home runs is not out of the picture.


HOUSTON ASTROS

If you look close enough when Houston takes the field this season, you’ll notice a patch commemorating the team’s 45 years as the Astros. Their moniker prior to becoming the ‘stros…the Colt .45s?

Coincidence? Probably.

About the only milestone Houston has going for it is Roy Oswalt’s countdown to 300 wins. With 13 more…he’ll be half way there!


MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Quietly, reliever Trevor Hoffman is still out there putting up great numbers. After being left for dead following the 2008 season (really San Diego…releasing Hoffman by fax?), the future first ballot Hall of Famer took to the hill in Milwaukee and put together one of his top four or five seasons.

A couple of years ago, Hoffman became the first closer to reach 500 saves. By the time the rest of us celebrate Memorial Day, he’ll have already become the first to 600.

After taking 2009 off, outfielder Jim Edmonds is competing for a job with the Brewers. Should the eight-time Gold Glove winner make his way north to Milwaukee, he’ll add to his 382 home runs.

Now, I’m not suggesting that 400 home runs is the new 500 (let’s face it, 600 is going to be)…but 400 home runs IS important. With 18 homers, Edmonds will be sitting at 46th all-time, having jumped over such notable as Johnny Bench (389), Dale Murphy (398) and Al Kaline (399) in the process


PITTSBURGH PIRATES

In this, their tenth year at PNC Park, the Pirates will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bill Mazeroski’s game winning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series by unveiling a statue outside their ballpark.

After that, the only thing Bucs fans have to cheer about is the possibility of their teams breaking their already record streak of 17 consecutive losing seasons.

Unfortunately, that is about as likely as third-year skipper John Russell making it to his fourth year at the helm of the Pirates.


ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

St. Louis has turned into one of those teams where all of their potential milestones could get overlooked because of the achievements of one man.

So before we get lost in the majesty that is Albert Pujols…let’s look at the only other Redbirds worth mentioning.

Skipper Tony LaRussa is first among all active managers with 2552 victories. All-time, he’s third…211 behind John McGraw.

Alright…so, here’s what we can look forward to from Pujols this season.

“Prince Albert” starts 2010 with 366 home runs. Should he get those 34 and reach 400 by the end of this season, he’ll be the youngest National Leaguer to reach the milestone (30 years old) and second youngest overall after Alex Rodriguez who was a couple of months shy of his 30th birthday when he belted his.

Now, assuming Pujols gets 30 or more home runs, 100 RBI and hits better than .300 (something he’s done in each of his nine seasons so far), he’ll not only be the only cat to start his career with ten straight seasons with those numbers, but also…he’ll be the only player to have done it in ten straight seasons in a row.

Should he get 40 or more home runs and 40 or more doubles this season, it’ll be a record fourth time he achieved the feat. Last season, he tied Lou Gehrig as the only player to have done it three times.

And should Pujols do all the above and take home another National League MVP award, he’ll be only one of two players (Barry Bonds has seven) to be named his league’s best more than three times.

It’s safe to call this guy the best in the game, right?

Thought so.

The American League Central is up next. Feel free to go back and check out the American League East HERE.

Milestone Preview: National League Central

The first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament are in the books and given my record (I have 12 of the 16 teams remaining) I’ve become certain that two things are true.

First, we’re living in Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin’s world. The dude is good…damn good.

I hope whatever sorry excuse for an NBA franchise doesn’t draft this kid and ruin him. He can either be Tim Duncan or Chris Washburn (not likely), so let’s see what team miraculously drops to number one and snags him. If the ball bounces their way, how good would he look next to Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green in OKC?

Second, I’m an idiot for ever filling out a bracket. It’s true. I’ve never won…never will. I’m convinced of it.

But maybe it’s the blind optimism of all the Chicago Cubs fans I’ve had to share time with that has corrupted me. Here’s a team that has gone a century without winning a championship and me, having never won a pool in my life, I continue to drop five bucks every March.

Which brings me to the NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL.


CHICAGO CUBS
The “Loveable Losers” haven’t won a World Series since 1908, so clearly, that would be the number one milestone for them to achieve. Talk to any Cubs fan and “this is the year”…we’ll see.

On the field of play, there are some milestones that are a little easier to attain. Alfonso Soriano starts the year with 270 home runs and barring injury, he’ll surpass 300 by the time 2009 comes to a close.

Manager Lou Pinella is sitting at 1701 wins…good for fourteenth place on the all-time list. While there is no chance he moves up on the list this season, his win total is pretty noteworthy considering the three active managers that he trails…Tony LaRussa (2461), Bobby Cox (2327) and Joe Torre (2151).

1701 wins is also of note because of the thirteen managers that are Hall eligible and ahead of Pinella on the all-time wins list...only one (Gene Mauch) is NOT enshrined. Not too shabby.

While not a milestone, the Cubs are doing something pretty cool and pretty monumental on May 3. Before the “North Siders” take the field against the Florida Marlins, they’ll retire number 31 for Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux. Each hurler won a Cy Young Award and combined for 300 victories while wearing the pinstriped 31.


CINCINNATI REDS
Since I mentioned former Reds skipper Lou Pinella, I feel obligated to mention current Reds skipper Dusty Baker. Baker (1236) enters the season just behind Whitey Herzog (1281) and Billy Martin (1253) on the all-time wins list. And outside of a serious collapse (which is possible) and Baker getting the axe (which would then be probably)…he’ll move into the top 30 on the career list.


HOUSTON ASTROS
Last week, Houston inked catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a one-year deal and automatically entered themselves into the milestone watch. The Astros now have four, count ‘em FOUR hitters approaching 300 home runs. And the amazing thing…they’ll all get them this season. In order they are: “Pudge” (295), Lance Berkman (288), Carlos Lee (281) and Miguel Tejada (271).

Already the career leader for hits and Gold Gloves for a catcher, it’s of note to mention that Rodriguez is poised to leap frog a number of Hall of Famers on the career doubles. I’d name them all, but let’s face it…we’re talking doubles and that really isn't a stat that snags the headlines.


MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Did you hear the one about the all-time saves leader being let go by his former team via fax and signing with the Brewers in the off season? If so, you know that Trevor Hoffman will be closing games for the “Brew Crew” and putting the finishing touches on his plaque in Cooperstown.

Hoffman is also 28 games away from becoming baseball’s all-time leader in games finished. As a side note…can we please get Lee Smith into the Hall of Fame before Hoffman and Mariano Rivera pass him up in every statistical category?


PITTSBURGH PIRATES
I heard a rumor once that Bobby Bonds' kid Barry started his career in Pittsburgh and once his career got going, he, well...nevermind.

Next!


ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
When 2008 came to a close, Albert Pujols became the only player in Major League history who started his career with eight consecutive seasons with a .300 batting average, 30 or more home runs and 100 RBI. The only other players to accomplish the 100 RBI feat…Al Simmons, who did it in eleven straight and Ted Williams, who stalled after eight.

All in all, “Prince Albert” is 31 home runs away from 350, 23 RBI from 1000 and 53 runs from 1000. And oh yeah, he just turned 29. Check out what Nick Underhill had to say about “The Legend of Pujols” over at his site.

Cardinals manager LaRussa continues his climb toward second place on the all-time wins list. He’s 302 behind John McGraw, so check back sometime in May or June 2012 to watch this play itself out.

And for those of you who were sucked in with the NCAA Tournament reference at the top, my Final Four is Louisville and Villanova with Memphis topping Oklahoma in the final. However, like the Cubs winning the World Series, it won’t happen.

The American League Central is next. In the meantime, feel free to check out Milestone Previews of the American League East and National League East.

Canton vs. Cooperstown

Last weekend, during the NFC Championship game, the commentators were all talking about the matchup between Donovan McNabb and Kurt Warner.

At some point, it became less about who was going to the Super Bowl and more about the legacy of each quarterback. Every time I heard that this particular game would determine who would end up taking up residency in the Pro Football Hall of Fame…I threw up a little in my mouth.

Are the credentials for enshrinement in Canton THAT much different than unlocking the doors at Cooperstown?

Apparently so.

A fourth NFC Championship loss would spell doom for McNabb, while a third Super Bowl appearance would, apparently, make Warner a lock. If you listened to the announcers, each touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald was another step toward immortality for the former Hy-Vee bag boy. In the second half, all that was pushed aside thanks to McNabb’s comeback.

All of a sudden, he was likened to John Elway or Joe Montana.

Unless you were under a rock, you know that the game concluded with the Arizona Cardinals winning 32 to 25 and seemingly sent Warner to the tailor to get measured for his Hall of Fame jacket.

Can someone please tell me why?

Warner wasn’t even slated to start this season under center. For his career, he has played three…count ‘em THREE full seasons as a starting quarterback. Sure, he made the Super Bowl in each of those seasons and his career winning percentage hovers around 56%, but in baseball terms…the guy is more Jose Rijo (career winning percentage of 56% and a World Series MVP) than Curt Schilling (accolades too numerous to mention).

So what in the world does Kurt Warner have to do with baseball? There hasn’t been a “Warner” in baseball since 1966 and the closest any of them haven’t gotten to the Hall of Fame were the “Waner” brothers (Paul and Lloyd) of the 30s and 40s.

Consider this if you will.

Football is a game of “what have you done for me once” while baseball fans want to know exactly “what are you doing for me now”…just look at the history of the game. Joe Namath, with his one ring and .500 record, has earned him some sort of legend status. David Cone, with his FIVE rings, a perfect game and close to 200 Ws can’t get FOUR percent of the writers to vote for him.

And that’s why I am fearful of the news I heard coming out of Pittsburgh…the Pirates are interested in signing Pedro Martinez.

Why be afraid though? Pedro is a LOCK for Cooperstown…only an idiot would leave him off their ballot, right? Right?!? Well, I thought the same about Rickey Henderson, but apparently five percent of the voters out there proved me wrong.

Take this leap of faith with me.

Before Pedro bolted Beantown for the Big Apple…the curators at the Hall of Fame were already framing up his spot on the museum walls. Four years later…and it’s a different Pedro.

No, I don’t mean that the jheri curl disappeared or that his face got a little chubbier. This is a guy, who, seemingly forgot how to win. Basically, he forgot who he was.

In the eight year stretch (seven of which were in Boston) before he donned the Mets pinstripes, Pedro had SEVEN top four finishes in the Cy Young voting. Three times (1997, 1999 and 2000), he took home the award. In 1999, he won the pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins, Ks and ERA.

Martinez was 32 when he left Boston with his six All-Star games, 182 wins and 2653 Ks under his arm. He won 70 percent of his games and had a career strikeout to walk ratio of 4.31…both ranking him third best of all-time.

Amazingly, his 117-37 record with the Red Sox ranks as the highest winning percentage (76%) any pitcher has had with any team in baseball history.

With the Mets, Martinez was 32-23 with a 3.88 ERA…a far cry from his career ERA of 2.91 or PRE-New York ERA of 2.71. Somehow, he was selected to two All-Star games (2005 and 2006) and was injured for most of his stay.

So allow me to say it…Pedro, hang it up. Please.

You’re 37 and while some of your contemporaries (Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux and Schilling) seemed to have stepped up their game during their prime years…yours has declined. Should you play four more years like you did the last four, your ERA is likely going to jump over 3.10 and your winning percentage will drop to 65%.

Why do it to yourself and your legacy?

Your peak was legendary and was one that would make guys like Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal or Jim Palmer slap you on the back. You took big game pitching to an entirely new level. Don’t ruin it all by suiting up with the Pirates.

I’m serious.

It was bad enough to see you trot to the mound at Shea, but after four years…we got used to it. Hang it up before you take the bump at PNC Park (or whatever they’ll call it next) because, and I’m going to attempt to bring this back to pro football, Johnny Unitas looked absolutely silly as a Charger.