Cactus League Ballparks

Welcome to the seventh season of Baseball Bench Coach! Although the regular season is well underway, I need to begin BBC 2025 with my baseball journey this spring. You see, I attended spring training games in all ten of the Cactus League ballparks in Arizona. I saw twenty-five games in all, and enjoyed every inning. Here are my thoughts on the ten ballparks with a little spring training nuances and game action mixed in:

Sloan Park, Mesa, Cubs.  On March 8 Sloan Park set the all-time single game attendance record for the Cactus League (and Florida’s Grapefruit League to boot) with 16,121 fans! Sloan is the newest facility (opened in 2014) and in so many ways is a mini-Wrigley Field. Fans experience a Marquee welcoming near the First Base Gate, a replica clock atop the scoreboard, rooftop seating (except actually in the ballpark), wells in the outfield walls, a berm to sit (ala the bleachers), and much more. Deemed by many to be “Wrigleyville West”, the comparison also includes Chicago food specialties – Chicago hotdogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and pizza. And the baseball is pretty good too! If you are fortunate (and most of the time you are), you get to sing “Go Cubs Go” after a Cubs win and see Clark the Cub parade the “W” flag in the outfield. It’s a can’t miss outing.

Salt Rivers Field at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, shared by Diamondbacks and Rockies. Salt Rivers is the second newest facility (just 15 years old) and definitely worth a visit. I attended a Diamondbacks vs. Reds game there on a day that it was just 56 degrees at first pitch. Designed with the expectation of warmer weather, ballpark dimensions include power alley fences 390 feet from the plate. That is unheard of in MLB ballparks but pretty much the norm in the Cactus League. Baseballs really carry in the desert air. Arizona opened with one of its top starting pitchers, lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who retired the first 11 Reds in order. He then was pulled in the fourth inning due to pitch count. It’s the spring training version of a perfect game as teams gradually stretch out their starters as the spring season moves along. Diamondbacks win, 2-1.

Camelback Ranch, Glendale, shared by Dodgers and White Sox. I attended the first official game of the Cactus League this spring on February 20 featuring a tilt between the Dodgers and Cubs. My first impression of the ballpark was certainly a good one, free parking! Amusingly, I kept looking for an attendant to pay. When you enter the ballpark from the centerfield gate, you have two options, turn to left field (Dodgers) or turn to right field (White Sox). Of course, I went toward right field and ran into a wonderful statue of Frank Thomas. Just like being at Dodger Stadium, it was a late coming crowd, but soon it was at capacity (13,300). The Cubs featured just one regular in its starting lineup, first baseman Michael Busch. Interestingly, I met Cubs player Gage Workman’s family at a concession stand. He had an amazing game, great defense and two hits including a 2 run HR in the fifth.  Gage is a Rule 5 player (meaning that if he fails at any time this season not to be on the Cubs’ roster of 26 players, he goes back to the Tigers). I’ve been pulling for him ever since!  Cubs win, 12-4.

Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale, Giants. This ballpark is nestled into Old Town Scottsdale. There are many pre-game restaurants and shops to visit, but fair warning, parking is at a premium so grab a spot as early as you can. The Giants have been a tenant since 1984, and on this night they hosted their division rivals, the Padres. Night games are a rarity in the Cactus League, one reason being that players like to do their work in the day and have the evenings for themselves. Since the matchup was late in the spring season, the Giants started their regular lineup, including newly acquired shortstop, Wily Adames. Adames has been a Cubs killer as a Brewer in recent seasons, so it’s good to see him donning another uniform. The dimensions of the ballpark are noteworthy, 430 feet to the centerfield fence, a monster shot.  I met my favorite Cactus League vendor at the game, a lemonade guy who just loved to say, “Lemonade, lemonade, just like Grandma made”.  My late grandma, “Nanny”, made better. Giants win, 4-3.

Hohokam Park, Mesa, Athletics. I had low expectations for this ballpark based on others’ impressions, but I really liked it. It opened in 1977, but recently has seen some modern upgrades. The ballpark has that intimate feeling of spring training venues of the past. In this encounter between the Reds and Athletics, attendance was just over 4,000. I did get a thrill early in the game when Reds outfielder Will Benson threw me a baseball as he caught the third out in the second inning. No matter your age, it feels good to get a baseball (btw, there were no kids near me to give it to). “Hohokam” is the name of a Mesa booster organization. This organization and others in the area sponsor volunteers at the games. They were the lifeblood of the Cactus League in its early formation. The food at Hohokam is sensational, featuring numerous food trucks down the left field line, “Food Truck Alley”.  I had the “mustache pretzel” which symbolizes the A’s players in the 1970s who sported mustaches.  Athletics win, 13-1.

Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, shared by Reds and Guardians. The ballpark is located 20 miles west of Phoenix. It seems farther. While the city of Goodyear itself is one of the fastest growing cities in the Phoenix area, the ballpark is in a very quiet, suburb setting. Food is high quality here as well, especially if you are from Cincinnati. You can buy Skyline cheese coneys (hotdogs with chili and cheese) in the concourse area, as well as stock up on Montgomery Inn barbecue sauce in the team store. (A fun aside: for those in northern Ohio, you can also grab a jar of Cleveland’s favorite mustard.)  The game featured the Reds vs. Brewers. The Reds regular players left the ballpark after six innings of play, while the Brewers entire team stayed to the end. They had to wait to go back to Phoenix en masse on the team bus. Reds win, 5-4.

Peoria Stadium, Peoria, shared by Mariners and Padres. Peoria Stadium is set in a beautiful sports complex northwest of Phoenix. I attended a Brewers vs. Padres game on St. Patrick’s Day. The players and even the umpires wore green caps to celebrate the day. The tradition of wearing green in spring training started over 40 years ago when John McNamara, manager of the Reds, fielded his team in all green uniforms. I saw green cotton candy at the game, but no green beer (thank goodness). One of the major sponsors of the ballpark is Portillo’s, a hot dog empire started in Chicago. You hear often that Phoenix is “Chicago West”, since Portillo’s restaurants, and Lou Malnati’s, a Chicago brand pizza parlor, are all over the Phoenix area. I was pleased to see that the Padres started their star players, the likes of Tatis, Machado, and Bogaerts. I wasn’t enthralled by their respective efforts though. When Tatis trotted to first after hitting a ground ball in the infield, the lady next to me yelled, “why don’t you run!” I had to chuckle. One other note is that you can clearly hear the players talk on the field.  The old “I got it” rang through the park on infield pop-ups. Padres win in a slugfest, 14-8.

Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Angels. Diablo Stadium is the oldest and smallest facility in the Cactus League. Almost the entire ballpark is in the sun throughout the game, and the comfort of the seats is not great, all bench style. I saw a matchup between the Reds and the Angels. It was the first time that I’ve seen Mike Trout in person. He didn’t disappoint, hitting a leadoff HR in the third inning. If you want to see Trout play in spring training, you will need to hang out in Tempe. I was told that he rarely travels with the Angels to other ballparks. I discovered an interesting rule at the game. Reds starting pitcher, Nick Lodolo, was wild in the first and was lifted for a relief pitcher. When the Reds took the field in the second inning, Lodolo was back on the mound so that he could get his pitches in. You can make a one-time pitching substitution in spring training play; pretty cool. Reds win, 6-3.

Surprise Stadium, Surprise, shared by Royals and Rangers. I was looking forward to this game between the two home residents, Royals vs. Rangers. I tend to like both of these AL teams. Indeed, my favorite manager in baseball, Bruce Bochy, is now on the top step of the dugout for the Rangers. He led them to a World Series championship in 2023. What’s interesting though in spring training is that the manager and a handful of his coaches actually sit on chairs outside the dugout. I guess it gives them a better vantage point to evaluate players. Surprise Stadium is a smaller ballpark. I sat in the very limited 200s section. It was a fun environment that day since the season ticket holders of the Royals cheered from the first base side, only to be matched by the cheers of the Rangers season ticket holders on the third base side. The announced attendance of 4,352 wasn’t much of a surprise since the game was played in chilly weather by Phoenix standards. Royals win, 6-3.

American Family Fields of Phoenix, Phoenix, Brewers. The ballpark is truly in a neighborhood setting just west of downtown Phoenix. I almost drove by the parking lot on the way in. From the parking lot you get to walk through the practice fields. I found it interesting that several catchers were working out by receiving pitches thrown by pitching machines. I guess it saves on pitchers’ arms. I purchased a seat just outside the Brewers’ first base dugout, and boy was I in Brewers land. When the Brewers star players would leave the game, they walked down the right field line to their clubhouse with much applause. Also noteworthy is that the base umpires changed positions throughout the game, another spring training nuance. The food was all Milwaukee, as the featured choices included smoked brats and cheese curds. My seat was positioned well to see the race among the hot dog, Italian sausage, brat, and mettwurst mascots. And to make it a true Milwaukee experience, the crowd sang “Roll out the Barrel” after “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch. Brewers win over the Guardians, 8-2.

I hope someday soon you might visit the Cactus League ballparks. Next week we will tackle the MLB regular season play with the focus on “torpedo bats”. 

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Can't Miss

I love listening to baseball games on the radio. One of my fondest memories growing up is sitting with my Dad on our front porch and tuning in “Marty and Joe”, WLW 700 Cincinnati, for Reds games. Rain delays were particularly delightful as radio analyst and former Reds pitcher, the late Joe Nuxhall, shared stories of his career, current players, and baseball’s past.

My new favorite radio analyst is Ron Coomer on 670 The Score in Chicago. Coomer is a former Cub, played nine MLB seasons, and has been on the Cubs broadcasts for the last ten years. Coomer told the story recently of his first year in minor league baseball’s Rookie League. Also in that league was Ken Griffey, Jr.  Coomer said that everyone who saw Junior take batting practice, run the bases, and play the outfield, agreed.  He was “Can’t Miss”.  Griffey proved everyone correct with a 22-year Hall of Fame career.  Let’s take a look at some current players who I believe are Can’t Miss:

Paul Skenes.  The Pirates rookie flame thrower has been absolutely terrific in his first 11 MLB starts. Skenes was drafted first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft. Last July he signed a $9.2 million rookie signing bonus, the largest in history. Paul spent the first month of 2024 in AAA Indianapolis, where he compiled a 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 27 innings. His promotion to the Bucs gives Pittsburgh a #1 ace for the next decade. His big league numbers so far include an ERA of 1.90 and a 6-0 record.  Just last Thursday he was pulled from the game for the second time with a no-hitter through seven innings. Skenes will be the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Bobby Witt, Jr.  The Royals selected Witt second overall in the 2019 MLB Draft and are elated they did so.  He starred in his first two minor league assignments, being named the Minor League Player of the Year in 2021. Last season, his second one with the Royals, he hit 30 home runs, recorded 96 RBIs, and stole a league-leading 49 bases, becoming the first player in MLB history to record 30 HRs, 10 triples, and 45 stolen bases in one season. KC awarded him with an 11-year, $288 million contract at season’s end.  He hasn’t disappointed in 2024, batting .325, second in the AL, and slugging 62 RBIs.  He is widely regarded as one of the fastest players in baseball.  You will also see his star shine brightly on Tuesday evening.

Elly De La Cruz. Every game I see Elly play I just can’t stop smiling; he does it all with a huge smile of his own. Statcast tracked Witt and Elly as the fastest players in the game. Elly signed with Cincinnati as an international free agent and skyrocketed through the Reds system, making his MLB debut in June last season. Reds great Joey Votto describes him best: “He’s the best runner I’ve seen, and he has the most power I’ve ever seen. And he has the strongest arm I’ve ever seen.”  In his second MLB game, Elly hit a 458 foot HR. A month later, he became the first Red in over 100 years to steal second, third, and home in the same inning. Statcast timed one of his infield assists at 97.9 mph, the fastest recorded infield throw ever. He joins the NL All-Stars Tuesday with 16 HRs and 46 stolen bases this season.

Gunnar Henderson. Of the many young Orioles who will take the field in the All-Star Game, the Baltimore shortstop stands out. Gunnar made his MLB debut in 2022 and won the AL Rookie of the Year last season.  Among his 2023 highlights was a 462 foot home run against the Royals last June. His 2023 stats were indeed impressive – 28 HRs, 82 RBIs, and a league leader in fielding percentage. He continued to shine in the first month of this season (.291 average, 10 HRs, 24 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases) and was named the AL player of the month.  He brings his 27 HRs (second in the league) and 61 RBIs to his starting role in the AL lineup Tuesday. He’s another shortstop who can do it all.

Ben Rice. This new Yankees’ slugger may be a surprise to you on my short list. I believe from the look of his sweet swing in the last month that he is also Can’t Miss.  Rice played college ball at Dartmouth College, and then sped through New York’s minor league affiliates in 2022 and 2023. Less than a month ago, on June 18, he made it to the Bigs and recorded his first hit against the Orioles. A few weeks later, on July 6, he became the first rookie in Yankees’ history to hit 3 HRs in the same game.  He tied Lou Gehrig’s rookie single game RBI record with seven in the same game. It was quite a way to introduce himself to the Yanks vs. Red Sox rivalry. Last week the Yankees, looking for a bat to protect Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in the lineup, inserted Rice as the new cleanup hitter. This 2-3-4 crew may redefine the Yankees’ Murderers Row.

Enjoy the All-Star Game tomorrow night, and pay extra attention to Skenes, Witt, De La Cruz, and Henderson.  My strong hunch is that Rice will be joining them for next year’s game.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Turn Around

MLB teams are now past the halfway mark of the season, and my interest in the 2024 season seems to be waning. Maybe it’s that there is only one or two competitive division races, and I don’t have that Wild Card frame of mind just yet. Or maybe it’s because my favorite teams are all below .500.  Whatever the reason, I need a little boost.

Yesterday, MLB announced the rosters for this year’s All-Star Game (ASG) on July 16 in Arlington, Texas. My ASG memories go back more than 50 years. Although I feel like I knew more ASG player names back then than I do today, I’m hoping that this year’s game can turn the season around for baseball and me. Let’s take a look back at some fun ASG memories over those years:

Hometown Hero.   Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California, 1967.  My earliest image of watching an All-Star Game was the ’67 game possibly because Tony Perez of the Reds was the MVP.   Like many All-Star Games, this was a pitchers’ duel, tied 1-1 going into the 15th inning.  Perez, or affectionately known by his teammates as “Doggie”, hit the game-winning homer in the 15th.   The pitching line for the game was a story of some of the greatest:  WP – Don Drysdale; LP – Catfish Hunter; and Save – Tom Seaver.  It was a sign of good things to come for the Reds as Perez soon became known as one of the great clutch hitters in the game.

Play at the Plate.   Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1970.   Riverfront Stadium was no more than 2 weeks old when it hosted an extra inning All-Star Game classic of its own.  This one was tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the 12th inning.   With Pete Rose of the Reds on second base, Jim Hickman of the Cubs lined a single to centerfield.  The throw beat Rose to the plate but he bulldozed the AL catcher, Ray Fosse of the Indians, who dropped the ball allowing the winning run to score.  This play might be one of the most controversial ones in All-Star Game history pitting the traditionalists who favor Rose’s all-out play all the time vs. the naysayers who question the necessity of the injury sustained by Fosse in a meaningless game.

Home Run.  Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, 1971.  Reggie Jackson is probably best known as Mr. October as a slugger for the Yankees in their championship years of 1977 and 1978.  On this night though he was Mr. July.  In the bottom of the third inning Jackson hit a 520 feet home run that crashed into a transformer attached to a light tower of Tiger Stadium.  It was the longest HR in All-Star Game history.  Jackson had some more majestic shots to come during the ‘70s!

Throw.   Kingdome, Seattle, Washington, 1979.   I remember this play like it was yesterday although it was 40 years ago.  To set the stage, there were 2 outs in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Angels’ Brian Downing on second base.  Craig Nettles of the Yankees lined a single to right field off Bruce Sutter of the Cubs.  Dave Parker of the Pirates gunned down Downing with a rifle shot peg to the plate.  The speed and accuracy of the throw from right field by Parker was certainly reminiscent of some of the amazing throws of the all-time greatest Pirate, Roberto Clemente.

Athlete.   Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California, 1989.   In my lifetime there has never been someone like Bo Jackson, an athlete who was a star in so many sports – football, track, and baseball.  Bo only played 8 MLB seasons and in just one All-Star Game, a classic performance in 1989.  Jackson was the MVP of the game lighting up the box score in so many offensive categories – 2 for 4 at the plate; a HR; 2 RBIs; and a stolen base.  Yet, the play I remember the most from this game was his amazing outfield grab.  I always wish we would have had more Bo to watch through the years.

At Bat.  Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland, 1993.  Randy Johnson’s 22-year MLB pitching career might be best remembered by a single confrontation in an All-Star Game with an NL hitter, John Kruk of the Phillies.  It was the classic left-handed dominating pitcher against a lefty hitter.  The first pitch from Johnson went over Kruk’s head.   Kruk then seemed terrified and stood at the edge of the batter’s box and waited for the umpire to call him out on strikes.  It was one of the most humorous moments in the history of the Midsummer Classic.

Old and New.  Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts, 1999.  The All-Century Team was announced prior to the game and featured a pre-game appearance by the all-time greatest natural hitter, Red Sox HOF, Ted Williams.  Williams was greeted by, among others, star Red Sox shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra, representing the transfer of the torch from the 1900s to 2000s in baseball.  The game had highlights as well.  Pedro Martinez, named MVP, struck out 5 batters in his two innings pitched.

Iron Man.   T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington, 2001.   All-Star Games are often about the celebration of a player’s great career, not just the first half of his season during a given year.   This game honored Cal Ripken, Jr., baseball’s Iron Man.  The AL starting left side of the infield had Alex Rodriguez at short and Ripken at third.  Before the first pitch of the game ARod asked to switch positions with Ripken so that baseball and its fans would see Ripken in the spot where he set his career record for consecutive games played, 2,632, besting Lou Gehrig’s former record of 2,130.  It was a wonderful gesture shared by two of the best ever.

Tie.  Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2002.   This game changed baseball for the next 14 years. After 12 innings, the managers agreed through Bud Selig’s urging to end the game in a tie.  Acknowledging that baseball’s Midsummer Classic had become less competitive in nature, it was decided shortly thereafter to give incentive to the winning league going forward by having its World Series representative receive the home field advantage.  Previously, the two leagues changed home field advantage in even (NL) and odd (AL) years.  Now, finally, the best record rules the day.  The game could have also been noted for the “Catch”, as Torii Hunter of the Twins robbed Barry Bonds of an HR with a leaping grab at the wall.

Inside the Park.  AT&T Park, San Francisco, California, 2007.  I often play down my enthusiasm for home runs, but not when it comes to one of these!  Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki hit a ball to right center field that struck an All-Star banner and bounced to the right field corner.  Ichiro easily rounded the bases before the relay throw reached the plate.  It was the first and only inside the park home run in All-Star Game history, and hit by one of baseball’s greatest of all-time.

I struggle to find a big ASG moment since 2007. Years ago, the Midsummer Classic was must see television as players competed hard for the pride of their respective leagues. Yet the last two decades of ASG play have left me with that same feeling that I have toward this year’s first half of the season, “blah”.  Here’s hoping that there is a big moment in this year’s game and the 2024 season is invigorated for the stretch run. I need the turn around.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

All Around

This past week Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates hit his 300th home run. He became the 13th player in MLB history to have 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, 45 triples, 300 home runs, and 200 stolen bases. He also received a Gold Glove for his defensive prowess in 2012. Bottom line, Andrew has been an “all around” great baseball player. In recognition of his achievements, I thought I would provide my list of the top eight all around MLB players of all-time:

Willie Mays.  The list has to begin with the “Say Hey Kid”.  Mays could do it all -- power, hit for average, speed, and defense.  The numbers tell the story – 660 HRs, lifetime batting average of .302, led the NL in stolen bases four times, and 12 Gold Gloves! His over the shoulder catch of a fly ball hit to deep centerfield in the 1954 World Series remains one of the most exciting plays in MLB history. No one has ever played every aspect of the game better than Willie.

Ken Griffey Jr. Junior comes pretty close. In his first ten years with Seattle, he became must watch baseball whether the Mariners were at the plate or on the field. His streaks as a hitter resounded throughout baseball. “The Kid” is tied for the most consecutive games with a home run (8), and left the game with a total of 630.  Junior gracefully played his centerfield position, robbing many hitters of HRs with leaping catches at the wall and garnering 10 career Gold Gloves.

Barry Bonds. It’s difficult to sort out the real Barry Bonds, the athletic outfielder of the Pirates in his early years or the powerful slugger with the Giants. Both versions were pretty dynamic. You know his power numbers – single season record of HRs (73) and most career in a career (762). He also maintained a career batting average of .298. What the casual baseball observer might not know is that he stole 514 bases in his career. Barry is the only 500 + HRs and 500 + SBs in MLB history.

Roberto Clemente. There’s so much to talk about in the “Great One’s” career. He maintained a career .317 batting average, was a four-time NL batting champion, won twelve Gold Gloves, and got his 3,000 hit on the last day of the 1972 regular season. Who knows what his career numbers might have been if he hadn’t lost his life tragically on Christmas Eve 1972. For me though, one play stands out. His fielding a hit down the right field line in the 1971 World Series, pirouetting, and rifling a throw to third base nailing an Oriole runner.

Mickey Mantle. In the summer of 1963 the Yankees were in Cleveland playing the Indians, and I got to tag along with my dad, uncle, and brother. All I remember about that night as a four-year old was everyone saying “Mickey Mantle is here”.  His accomplishments were also remarkable across the board – 536 career HRs while batting over .300 ten times in his career.  He is the only player in MLB history to hit 150 + HRs from both sides of the plate. Early in his career he was also a prolific base stealer and defensive centerfielder.  His career was cut short too due to knee injuries.

Ernie Banks. You need to smile broadly when you think of “Mr. Cub”.  Remarkably, he was the NL MVP in 1958 and 1959 on last place teams. Many think of Banks as a slugging first baseman with 512 career HRs. What you might not know is that Ernie was one of the best defensive shortstops in the game for the first eight years of his career. He gave his beloved Friendly Confines and other NL ballparks some wonderful moments. Let’s Play Two!

Rickey Henderson.  Rickey could do it all.  He is highly regarded as the best leadoff hitter and baserunner in MLB history.  Yes, he holds the single season (130 in 1982) and career (1,406) records for stolen bases. Henderson also attained 3,055 hits along the way. The stat that really stands out is 297 home runs for a player one doesn’t think of as having power.  Rickey was also a skillful outfielder, setting the all time record for outfield putouts and total chances.

Ty Cobb.  You could place Cobb in any of the 1-8 spots here, but legend only goes so far. His career spanned 24 years from 1905 to 1928. During his career he set 90 MLB records, a couple of which stand today (4,065 runs scored and 1,944 RBIs). Cobb’s batting statistics are overwhelming -- .366 batting average, 4,189 hits, and 897 stolen bases. Telling of the era he played in he actually stole home 54 times!

So readers, now it is your turn.  What do you think about the list? Who did I miss?  I want your “all around” feedback.

Until next Monday,

 your Baseball Bench Coach

Board Games

April baseball is here, finally! Playing games in northern cities is always iffy this time of year. You know the saying, April showers bring May flowers (but often rain delays as well).  One used to hear stories of clubhouse ping pong and board games during those delays. Today, it’s more likely headphones and video games. This offseason we witnessed a hot stove that, with some exception, was a little lukewarm.  Nevertheless, some general managers were indeed able to bring out the old board games and make some key moves.  Here are my top eight:

MONOPOLY. Do you remember that feeling when your opponent acquired Boardwalk and Park Place?  The rest of the National League had that same sinking feeling when the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani in December to a 10-year, $700 million deal. The LA lineup was already loaded with stalwarts Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, and now they have the Babe Ruth of today’s generation. Since the Dodgers found that their achilles heel was on the mound during the 2023 playoffs, they also loaded up there with the signing of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, and the return of Walker Buehler. I see the hotels stacking up on Boardwalk and Park Place in 2024.

CHUTES AND LADDERS. Over the past few years San Diego has tried to keep up with the Dodger stars by having a few of their own, namely Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Fernando Tatis, Jr. This offseason was one of ups and downs for the Padres, as they lost Juan Soto, Josh Hader, and most recently, Blake Snell. Yet, the Padres’ president A.J. Preller may have jumped up the pitching mound ladder a bit with the acquisitions of starters Michael King in the Soto trade with the Yankees and stellar righthander Dylan Cease of the White Sox. Pitching wins, so hope the Padres.

STRATEGO. Staying in the very competitive NL West, the Giants made an assortment of strategic moves during the offseason. They shored up their lineup with Jung Hoo Lee now manning centerfield, Jorge Soler providing power, and Matt Chapman stabilizing the infield at the hot corner. On the mound they first landed Robbie Ray who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, but then made the big splash with signing lefty Blake Snell. Maybe the best move was in the dugout by signing Bob Melvin, a 3-time Manager of the Year.

CHESS. If you want to dominate the chess board, you lead with a high-powered piece like Craig Counsell as your new skipper. You also need to show a little patience as Cubs president Jed Hoyer demonstrated with the signing of Cody Bellinger in late February. Chicago also added some key pieces, including Shota Imanaga to the rotation, Michael Busch to the infield, and Hector Neris to the bullpen. The Cubbies are looking for a checkmate in early October.

CONNECT FOUR. The Reds hope to put the pieces together in the NL Central as well.  Last year Cincinnati surprised baseball with its rookie starred lineup, including Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Reds GM Nick Krall decided to bolster the pitching staff with four key pieces in red: Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez to the starting five, and righty Emilio Pagan and lefty Brent Suter to the bullpen. Cincinnati hopes this group connects on all cylinders in 2024.

RISK.  Both the Braves and Astros are now perennial winners and every prognosticator’s division favorites in 2024.  The key for both teams is if they can dominate the table in October.  To do so, you need to take an offseason risk.  Atlanta gambled on the return of Chris Sale to be in good health and lead its starting staff at the top of the rotation. Houston bet on the back side of the pitching staff, nabbing a closer, Josh Hader, who has a history of dominance or misfortune. Will both risks pay off?

TICKET TO RIDE.  Everyone seems to forget that the Orioles led the American League last year in wins before falling off in the playoffs.  Baltimore didn’t have an ace, like Palmer, McNally, or Cuellar, to lean on.  They made though the biggest offseason splash, next to Ohtani, in the acquisition of former Brewer, Corbin Burnes.  This 2021 NL Cy Young winner is lights out when he’s on, and he’s definitely on most of the time. The Orioles hope Burnes is their ticket to ride in the 2024 playoffs.

CHECKERS. The reality for most small market teams like the Royals is that you have to play checkers most of the time and watch the other teams engage in the high stakes games. I love how Kansas City improved its team this offseason. Of course it started from within by extending the contract of star shortstop, Bobby Witt, Jr.  KC landed Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo to its young, starting staff, and brought in some hitting help in the likes of Hunter Renfroe and Adam Frazier. King me, Kansas City!

So, how did you like the moves made this offseason by your favorite MLB team? Did your GM roll the right dice in getting your team past the Jail space and into the promised land?  Your thoughts are appreciated in the Comments section below.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Golden Players

I am writing this blog post on the day we laid to rest our beloved dog.  She too was a baseball fan. I guess she had to be. Many mornings on our walks I would listen to baseball commentary and update her.  She would smile and sniff every blade of grass, just glad to be with me. Most summer nights after dinner she would beat me to the family room in anticipation of the baseball game we would watch together. She was always there for me – loyal, dependable, the ultimate team player in life. In baseball terms, she was not the star player, but rather the utility player, the underrated player, or simply a wonderful teammate.  I asked some of the blog followers to offer names of underrated players on their favorite teams.  We came up with a Top Five:

Cesar Geronimo, Cincinnati Reds.  This centerfielder for the Big Red Machine was the least known of that formidable lineup, but truly valuable.  Cesar came to the Reds in 1972 as part of the Joe Morgan trade with the Astros.  Geronimo’s defensive skills were phenomenal – speed, range, and an outstanding arm.  Known as the “Chief”, he won four consecutive Gold Gloves (1974-1977).  In 1976, his best offensive year, he batted over .300 with 149 hits in the eighth spot in the Cincinnati lineup.  My favorite image of Geronimo was his catch of Carl Yastremski’s fly ball as the final out in Game 7 of the 1975 World Series.  Hail to the Chief!

Glenn Beckert, Chicago Cubs. I remember as a young boy watching Cubs games and their star players like Banks, Williams, Santo, and Jenkins.  My favorite player was Beckert, Chicago’s second baseman for nine years, 1965-1973.  Beckert was consistent on the field and at the plate. In his rookie year, he led the National League in assists and in 1968 captured his only Gold Glove.  He was a tough out, leading the NL five times in fewest strikeouts per at bats.  While he led the league in runs scored in 1968, his best offensive year by far was in 1971 when he hit a remarkable .342 and finished third in the batting race. Kessinger to Beckert to Banks!

Jose Oquendo, St. Louis Cardinals. Oquendo played in the shadows of some of the great Cardinals stars in the 1980s – Ozzie Smith, Hendrick, Herr, and Coleman. Deemed the “Secret Weapon” by manager Whitey Herzog, Jose filled the gaps at the key infield positions.  Indeed, he made at least one appearance at every position during his MLB career. Oquendo still maintains the second-highest career fielding percentage for second basemen at 99.19%.  After his playing career, he served a long tenure (2000-2015) as the St. Louis third base coach, helping the club achieve 11 playoff appearances and two World Series titles (2006 and 2011).

Wilbur Wood, Chicago White Sox.  While Wood also pitched for the Red Sox and the Pirates early in his 17-year MLB career, I think of him as the workhorse for the Sox (1967-1978).  His career took off as a Sox pitcher when Hoyt Wilhelm taught him the knuckleball. In 1968, he was named the American League Fireman of the Year with 88 games pitched.  In a starting role, he led the AL in games started from 1972 to 1975. In 1972 alone, he started 49 games and pitched in 376 innings. He won 20 games in all four years.  And in 1973, he became the first pitcher since Walter Johnson in 1916 to win 20 and lose 20 in the same year. Talk about Mr. Dependable!

Hal Lanier, San Francisco Giants.  I recall as a boy getting duplicates of Hal Lanier baseball cards. I placed them in the spokes of my bicycle tires so I sounded like a motor racer. What I didn’t know then was the role Lanier played for those Giants teams of the 1960s with marquee players like Mays, McCovey,  Marichal, and Perry. Lanier was the steady, defensive specialist on the team. In 1968, he led NL shortstops in putouts and fielding percentage. With a lifetime batting average of .228, he wasn’t much of a hitter, but he was definitely a heady player. Mays called him the captain of the infield.  Lanier took that steadiness to the managerial ranks, as he was named the 1986 NL Manager of the Year in his first season at the helm of the Astros.

I’ll never forget my golden retriever sunning in our yard, swimming in the park, relaxing in our home, and enjoying life. She loved being with people, especially her family but truly anyone she met.  Everyone wanted her to be on their team in life.  She made everyone better. I miss you girl. This blog post is dedicated to you.

Until next Monday, 

your Baseball Bench Coach

Backseat Driver

My younger grandson likes to give me driving instructions from his car seat in the back.  I sometimes embarrassingly hear, “Keep both hands on the wheel.”  More often, he is on top of the traffic lights situation, “Red means stop, and green means go.” As fans, we have been backseat drivers for the last month as the August 1st Trade Deadline approached.  If our team looked to be contending, we wanted our general manager to be a buyer and go for a trade to put our team into the playoffs this season (and dare we say, win the World Series!).  Here are the top buyers over the past week:

Texas Rangers.  General Manager Chris Young saw his surprising Rangers surge to the AL West lead in the first half of the season.  Before this season his big signings were hitters – Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Now it was time to shore up the mound in a big way, landing Mets’ ace Max Scherzer, as well as Cardinals’ starter Jordan Montgomery and right-handed reliever Chris Stratton.  While Scherzer, a 3-time Cy Young winner, has struggled a bit this season by his standards, he gives his new team an ace with plenty of playoff experience. Montgomery was one of the best pitchers on the market, sporting a 3.09 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 21 starts.  The price for Scherzer was a steep one, prized prospect Luisangel Acuna, Ronald’s brother.  Now it’s time for the best manager in baseball, Bruce Bochy, to put the magic together on the field.

Los Angeles Angels.  The Angels’ best move of the Trading Deadline was a non-move, their decision to take Shohei Ohtani off the market and make a playoff run.  Ohtani is a free agent at the end of the season and perhaps would have landed the biggest prospect haul in Trade Deadline history for LA.  Once that decision was made, it was time to be buyers!  The first deal landed pitching ace Lucas Giolito from the White Sox.  Giolito has a 3.79 ERA this season, pitching in 121 innings and striking out 131.  He fits in nicely as the #2 starter behind Ohtani. LA then looked to the Rockies for some hitting help, landing first baseman C.J. Cron, an All-Star last season, and outfielder Randal Grichuk.  The lineup will be packed with talent once Mike Trout returns.  The Angels and Ohtani are on the move for a 2023 playoff run.

Houston Astros. The 2022 World Champions couldn’t resist taking a another shot at the title, and made the biggest move on the day of the Trade Deadline.  Houston acquired the other Mets’ ace, Justin Verlander, for a return engagement.  Verlander threw his third career no-hitter and won two World titles in his prior stint with the Astros, 2017-2022.  The Astros also added another former pitcher, Kendall Graveman, from the White Sox to bolster its bullpen.  While the Astros are certainly in line to make a deep playoff push, the Mets may have been the big winners in the Verlander trade in acquiring Houston’s #1 prospect, outfielder Drew Gilbert, as well as #4, Ryan Clifford.

Los Angeles Dodgers.  If you are like me, you’ve been watching the 2023 Dodgers pitching with some joy, a team ERA of 4.47, 21st in the MLB, not the Dodgers we are accustomed to seeing. Of course they were the first NL team at the Trade Deadline to improve their mound performance, adding Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly of the White Sox. Lynn’s 2023 ERA is a disappointing 6.47 but he has dominated on the mound with strikeouts – 10.8 Ks/9 innings ratio. Kelly’s engagement in LA is a return one.  The Dodgers also took a flyer on the Guardians’ Amed Rosario, who brings great versatility to the Dodgers in the field and at the dish. Can this LA team make another run?

Chicago Cubs.  If you would have asked a Cubbies’ backseat driver two weeks ago whether they would be sellers, it would have been a resounding YES, especially since 2023 free agents Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman might land some top prospects in trades. GM Jed Hoyer then witnessed his team rack up a season long 8 straight wins, and decided to buy instead. Hoyer may have landed the best hitter on the market, former Cub Jeimer Candelario, from the Nationals.  Candelario comes to the club with a .342 on-base percentage and much power in 96 games, mostly at third base. While Jeimer is expected to play a little third and DH as a Cub, he is mostly on board to play first. This past week in his first game back with the team, he had four hits and manned first base, albeit with catcher Miguel Amaya’s first baseman mitt.

Baltimore Orioles.  Tampa Bay came marching out of the 2023 gates with an amazing start, but the upstart Orioles have taken the lead in the tough AL East during the last couple weeks.  To help its playoff push, Baltimore traded for the Cardinals’ quality starter, Jack Flaherty.  Flaherty, just 27, was once the #2 prospect in all of baseball and placed fourth in the NL Cy Young race just four years ago. He was clearly a bright spot on the St. Louis starting staff during this difficult season, as the Cards went 13-7 when he pitched and 34-53 when he didn’t.  The Orioles were able to get Flaherty without yielding any of their top 15 prospects.  Watch out for Baltimore in October!

Toronto Blue Jays.  Another Cardinal flew away to an AL East contender, as the Blue Jays obtained St. Louis shortstop Paul DeJong on Trade Deadline Day.  Not in my wildest imagination would I have thought before the season that the Cardinals would be such a frequent seller at the Deadline.  DeJong, just 29, was an All-Star in 2019 when he hit a career best 30 HRs.  He plays a steady shortstop defensively, so much so that Toronto can breathe a big sigh of relief as Bo Bichette recovers from knee soreness.

Tampa Bay Rays.  Another AL East contender not named the Red Sox or the Yankees gets the final slot for the top buyers in 2023.  The Rays starting staff has been devastated with injuries over much of the last 40 games.  In a quiet, yet strong move, Tampa obtained Cleveland starter Aaron Civale.  Civale is 28 and has allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his last starts.  In addition, Civale will remain under team control through 2025.  It’s a huge plus for Tampa, but a big “what’s going on?” for Cleveland.  At the time of the trade, the Guardians were just one game out of the AL Central lead.  Anything can happen once you get into the playoffs.  The backseat Cleveland drivers need to remind their GM of that.

For the above teams, you will know in the next few months as October playoff baseball approaches if they were wise buyers at the Trade Deadline. For those backseat drivers of the non-contending teams who were sellers at the Trade Deadline, patience is the word.  You probably won’t know if your sales paid dividends for a few years. Sometimes it is better in my grandson’s words to approach a yellow light and “just go slow”.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Fathers and Sons

One of my favorite memories of my Dad is our spending summer evenings together in the backyard tossing a baseball.  We tossed and chatted, mostly about baseball, for a good thirty or forty five minutes until he would call it a night. When I was 15, I took my first job as an umpire – District 18 Knothole.  Dad loved hearing my stories about some of the crazy things that happened in little league baseball.  I met Ken Griffey, Sr., the Reds’ star right fielder, in person at one of my umpiring assignments.  It was a Saturday morning I’ll never forget.  I witnessed this future superstar, his son, Kenny Jr., and his sweet swing in a game featuring two 8-year old teams. Let’s explore some MLB fathers and sons:

The Griffeys.  Ken Sr. and Jr. are my personal favorites.  I grew up during the Big Red Machine years, and Ken Griffey Sr. was the table-setter for the greatest lineup that ever played the game.  Although he was a three-time NL All-star, a defensive standout, a fleet baserunner, and maintained a lifetime batting average of .296, he is one of the lesser known Reds during that era.  Let’s just say that his son more than made up for it in terms of fame.  Jr. came out of Cincinnati Moeller in 1987 as the U.S. high school player of the year. Drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners, Ken Griffey Jr. hit the MLB stage in a big way – 22 seasons (played in four different decades); 630 HRs (7th most in history); ten Gold Gloves; 13-time All-Star; and a Hall of Fame first ballot (99.32% of vote).  Ken Sr. joined Jr. in Seattle for the 1990 and 1991 seasons, becoming the first father-son to be in the same batting lineup and even hit back-to-back HRs (September 14, 1990). After playing his first 11 years in Seattle, Jr. joined the Reds in 2000 for nine seasons.  On June 17, 2004, I was with my daughters on Father’s Day in St. Louis to see Jr. hit his 500th career HR.  And so was his Dad, Ken Sr., one of my favorite baseball moments (pictured above)!

Bonds.  This is another father-son duo where the son kind of outdid the dad. Bobby Bonds was a star outfielder for 14 seasons, mostly with the Giants, and set records for his combination of power hitting and speed. He was the first player in MLB history to have more than two seasons of 30 HRs and 30 stolen bases, doing it five times.  Bobby also was the second player in history to achieve 300 HRs and 300 SBs, joining the great Willie Mays. The Pirates drafted his son, Barry, as the sixth overall pick, in 1985.  Barry Bonds spent the first seven seasons in Pittsburgh, but made his fame in San Francisco for the next 15 years. Here are just some of the numbers:  seven NL MVP awards; most career HRs (762); most HRs in a single season (73 in 2000); 8 Gold Gloves; and a career 514 stolen bases (yes, that same combination of power and speed). It goes without saying that Barry’s career ended in a dark cloud.

Vlad.  Speaking of power, how about today’s AL superstar Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., and his dad, Vlad Sr.   Vladimir Guerrero Sr. played in sixteen seasons (1996-2011) for four teams, most notably with the Montreal Expos early in his career.  He is a nine-time All-star; 2004 AL MVP; feared hitter (.318 lifetime average with 2,590 hits and 449 HRs); and defensive standout.  He is also known as one of the great “bad ball” hitters in the game, once hitting a pitch that bounced before it reached the plate.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is just making his name in the game.  In 2021, he led the major leagues in HRs (48, tied), runs scored (123), and total bases (363).  That year in the All-Star Game Vlad Jr. became the youngest All-Star MVP in history.  The future is powerful.

The Alomars. Defense runs in this family.  Sandy Alomar Sr. played in 14 MLB seasons (1964-1978) as a defensive wizard.  In 1975 he led all major league second basemen in fielding percentage.  He also excelled in a dying art – the skill of bunting, one of the best ever in the game.  Sr. became an exceptional MLB coach for another 24 seasons. He coached the Padres in 1988 when both of his sons landed on the MLB scene.  Sandy Alomar Jr. starred in the MLB as a catcher for 20 seasons on 7 different teams (1988-2007), most notably as a Cleveland Indian where he was a 6-time All-Star and a member of two AL pennant winners.  Both Sandys though need to step aside for the youngest Alomar, Robbie.  Roberto Alomar, in sixteen MLB seasons, is regarded as one of the greatest second basemen ever – 12 time Gold Glover!  He ranks near the top in most offensive and defensive categories for all-time second basemen.  Robbie was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Bell.  One of my Dad’s favorite players was Gus Bell, whose MLB career spanned 15 seasons and four teams (1950-1964), mostly with the Reds. Gus was a versatile outfielder, playing all three positions and wielding a lifetime fielding percentage of .985.  A four-time NL All-Star, the left-handed hitter batted .281 lifetime.  He also left Cincinnati with a wonderful family lineage.  His son, Buddy Bell, starred as a six-time Gold Glove third baseman with the Indians, Rangers, and Reds, for 17 seasons.  He compiled a lifetime batting average of .279, very similar to his Dad. Buddy went onto manage three teams, the Tigers, Rockies, and Royals, for 12 seasons.  The baseball family tree doen’t stop there. Buddy’s two sons, Mike and David Bell, played in the MLB as well.  It’s one of just five families who have had three generations of players in professional baseball.  David Bell has served as the Reds’ manager for the past five seasons.

Boone.  And here’s another last name filled with generations of players.  Ray Boone, who played for 12 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, started the MLB family tree as he debuted in 1948.  He was a two-time All-Star and led the AL in RBIs with 116 in 1955.  His son, Bob Boone, an All-Star catcher for four seasons, played for the Phillies and Royals (1972-1990). He is also noted for his managerial expertise as he led the Royals and Reds for six seasons.  The third generation of Boone’s, Bret and Aaron, also starred on MLB diamonds.  Aaron Boone will always go down in Yankees vs. Red Sox history as hitting the walk-off HR for New York in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.  Most recently, Aaron has successfully managed the Pinstripers for six seasons.  He currently has a managerial winning percentage of .602.

Alou x 3.  One of my favorite baseball cards growing up had 3 panels with each of the Alou brothers – Felipe; Matty; Jesus.  Felipe Alou is the oldest and most famous of the three.  He played in 17 MLB seasons (1958-1974), leading the NL twice in hits and once in runs scored.  Felipe was the consummate leadoff batter.  In fact, he led off with an HR in 20 games.  After his playing career, Alou managed the Expos and Giants for fifteen seasons.  He is one of three persons to have 2,000 hits, 200 HRs, and 1,000 managerial wins. Felipe’s son, Moises Alou, starred for several NL teams in a 19-year career.  Moises was certainly his own person.  He refrained from using batting gloves at the plate, a practice not shared by many modern players.  While Moises compiled a .303 lifetime batting average, he is most noted for his involvement in the Bartman incident during Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS.

Yaz.  Every Saturday afternoon in the 1960s NBC featured the “Game of the Week”.  It seemed like more often than not the game was played at Fenway Park and featured Yaz’ Red Sox.  Carl Yastrzemski played his entire MLB career with Boston, mostly manning left field in front of the Green Monster.  This left handed hitter could really stroke it, garnering 3,419 hits and a lifetime .285 batting average.  An 18-time All-Star, he also captured seven Gold Gloves. Yaz took the Red Sox to two AL pennants (1967 and 1975) but could never get them a World Series crown.  In 1967, he accomplished the Triple Crown (AL leader in HRs, RBIs, and average) and was easily named the AL MVP.  His talent skipped a generation, but certainly landed in the lap of his grandson, Mike Yastrzemski, an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.  Mike made a big splash in 2020, hitting his 30th HR in just his 151st game, joining Giant greats Bobby Thomson and Dave Kingman.

Iron Men.  The Ripkens were “iron men” in different ways.  Cal Ripken, Sr. spent 36 years in the Baltimore Orioles system as a minor league player, coach, and manager.  His two sons, one in particular, were really good baseball players.  Sr. took great pride in that Cal Jr. and Billy played for the Orioles when Sr. coached and for one year managed the team.  Cal Ripken, Jr. set all kinds of records in his 21 MLB seasons, all with the Orioles.  The first ballot Hall of Famer produced 3,184 hits, was a 19-time All-Star, captured two Gold Gloves, and won the AL MVP award two years (1983, 1991).  Of course, he set one record that may never be broken, appearing in 2,632 consecutive MLB games.

Fielders.  The last name is a misnomer for this father-son duo.  They should have been named Power.  Cecil Fielder played 14 MLB seasons and crashed many American League ballpark fences with extra base hits.  In 1990, he became the first player to hit 50 HRs in a season since George Foster in 1977. Winning the world championship as a Yankee in 1996, he finished his career with 319 HRs.  His son, Prince Fielder, a six-time All-Star, playing 12 seasons for the Brewers and Rangers, remarkably ended his career with that same number of HRs, 319, and just 20 RBIs more than his Dad (1,028 to 1,008).  When he hit a season high of 50 HRs early in his career, he became the youngest player in MLB history to do so.  Power, indeed!

I met Ken Griffey Sr. a second time.  As my 40th birthday present, I attended the Reds baseball fantasy camp in Sarasota, Florida, then the spring training home of the Reds.  I felt like a giddy 15-year old that entire week, pitching and playing for and against fellow campers and former Reds players. On the first day of camp I ran into Griffey Sr. in the locker room and expressed my great joy in getting to see him.  He shrugged, and simply said, “Hey, I’m not Jr.” I often recall that thought in parenting – it’s not about me; it’s about them.  For those fathers and sons who have shared the MLB with us, thanks especially to the Dads.  Happy Father’s Day!

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Can of Corn

Baseball terminology is full of history and fun stories.  To be a true baseball fan, you need to speak and understand the language.  Here are some of my and my blog followers’ favorite baseball terms:

BULLPEN.  The bullpen is the area where pitchers warm up before and during the game. In the late 1800s if you arrived late to an MLB game, ballpark personnel would put you into standing room areas in foul territory.  Since the fans were cordoned off and herded like cattle, the areas became known as “bullpens”.  Fans weren’t too pleased with this, so ballparks began to use the areas for pitchers to warm up.  Having bullpens in foul territory on the playing surface were commonplace well into the late 1900s. Due to safety considerations, today’s bullpens are located beyond the outfield fence.

SOUTHPAW.  A southpaw is a left-handed pitcher.  It wasn’t until 1935 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati that MLB introduced night games.  Before then, the layouts of the ballpark diamonds were such that the batters would be looking east to the pitching mound so they wouldn’t be looking directly into the afternoon sun.  Since pitchers were facing west when they looked into the plate, the arm of a left-handed pitcher would be to the south.  One of my all-time favorite players was a southpaw, Sandy Koufax.

TEXAS LEAGUER.  You might hear a radio or television broadcaster describe a bloop single between the infielders and outfielders as a “Texas Leaguer”.  In 1901, the Cleveland Blues (now the Guardians) called up a minor league player from the Texas League, Ollie Pickering.  Pickering led off for the Blues in the first American League game in history.  In his first seven at-bats, he hit bloop singles.  His teammates affectionately deemed the hits Texas Leaguers.

CHIN MUSIC.  A pitch that is thrown near the batter’s head is often referred to as “chin music”.  The intent of the pitch is most often to back a hitter away from crowding the plate.  In the late 1800s, the phrase “chin music” actually was used to describe how fans would heckle players and umpires.  Sometime in the 1940s the term became synonymous with a brushback pitch.  Bob Gibson, along with some other of the great MLB pitchers in the 1960s, are famous for their chin music.

K.  When starting pitchers known for recording strikeouts in today’s game go through the opponent’s lineup, you often see fans in the outfield seats posting “Ks”.  A K is a strikeout.  In the 1800s, a writer named Henry Chadwick was the first to keep score of a baseball game by using shorthand terms.  He identified position players by numbers 1-9 (for example, pitcher is 1, shortstop is 6, etc.).  Since he decided to use “S” for a sacrifice in the box score, he opted for K as a strikeout since K is the last letter in struck.  A backwards K is now used to show the batter was called out without swinging at the third strike.  Nolan Ryan holds the all-time record for Ks (5,714 in his career).

CAN OF CORN.  Broadcasters also like to describe an easily, catchable fly ball to an outfielder as a “can of corn”.  In the early 1900s, cans of corn were popular items in grocery stores since it was difficult to always have fresh vegetables on hand.  Grocers would stock the cans on higher shelves.  To retrieve them for customers, they would use sticks with hooks on the end and knock the cans off the shelf easily into their aprons.  Broadcasters should never though describe fly balls as cans of corn for some outfielders.  For example, Dave Kingman, known for his monster home runs, made every fly ball seem like an adventure.

FROZEN ROPE.  A “frozen rope” is a hard hit, line drive off the bat of a hitter.  It’s always been a great compliment – “you just hit a frozen rope” off the left-field wall.  Baseball Digest traces the origin of the term to a sportswriter, Leonard Schechter, who in 1963, described one as “you can almost see the icicles dripping of it”.  Perhaps Ted Williams, one of the game’s greatest hitters, hit the most frozen ropes.  Nowadays, the term extends to outfield throws when a runner is gunned down at a base.  Roberto Clemente’s throw to third base from the right field corner erasing an Orioles baserunner in the 1971 World Series is my favorite one of those.

HIT AND RUN.  Baseball over the past fifteen years has become a station to station game — too much reliance on home runs. In the first two months of this season, we’ve seen though a huge increase in stolen base attempts.  We’ve also witnessed the return of the “hit and run”, such that a baserunner attempts to steal second base and the hitter protects the runner by swinging at the pitch.  The hitter’s goal is to place the hit in the spot left open by the shortstop or second baseman who is covering the bag.  Some think that “hit and run” is a misnomer, for in fact the run happens first and the hit second.  However, there is a “run and hit” play where the hitter is not required to swing and the stolen base attempt is the focus.

TATER.  A “tater” is a home run.  While triples, sacrifice bunts, and well pitched games capture my attention, most fans point to home runs as the most exciting play in the game.  There is actually no consensus on when “tater” first became part of baseball’s lingo.  Some say that since the bases are often referred to as sacks, the taters are the potatoes that get the most sacks.  Boston sportswriters contend that former Red Sox slugger George Scott coined the phrase when he said: “I love my taters, my sweet potatoes and I Iove my home runs just like taters.”  Barry Bonds is the all-time leader in taters with 762.

OPS.  This is the new term describing a hitter’s performance.  Gone are the days that a batter’s “numbers” were simply his batting average, HRs, and RBIs.  OPS is a hitter’s on-base percentage (the percentage of time he reaches base for every at-bat) plus his slugging average (total bases reached for a hit as a percentage of at-bats).  The phrase was first seen in a popular 1984 book, “The Hidden Game of Baseball”.  OPS first appeared on the back of Topps baseball cards in 2004.  An OPS of .800 or above is reached only by the best hitters in the game.  The top ten career OPS leaders include Babe Ruth in the #1 slot (1.1636) and only one current player, Mike Trout, at #8 (1.0009).

Hey readers, what are your favorite baseball terms?

Until next week,

your Baseball Bench Coach

MLB's Elite Eight

There’s nothing better than baseball in October! Except for the series on the last weekend of the season when the Braves swept the Mets to capture the NL East, pennant races were mostly blah this season. This past weekend the new wild card format featured eight teams battling it out in the best of three. The baseball world was rocking as we witnessed a 15-inning scoreless game ending with a monumental home run (Guardians’ 1-0 victory over the Rays) and the only time in MLB history that a road team came back from a seven run deficit to win (Mariners’ 10-9 win over the Blue Jays). What we have now is an “Elite Eight” of teams, each with a shot at capturing the 2022 World Series. Let’s break the teams down in the order of their chances of winning it all but not necessarily reflecting your Coach’s predictions. (Hint: Read the entire article.)

HOUSTON ASTROS.  The old school baseball guy in me really likes the makeup of the ’22 Astros.  Some of the core position players from the tainted 2017 team have now left – Carlos Correa and George Springer.  Yet, this team set a team record for wins this season (106) with the help of an exceptional pitching staff.  When you can trot out starters Jose Urquidy, Lance McCullers, Jr., Framber Valdez, and two-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander in a playoff series, your chances are really good.  Manager Dusty Baker arrived on the scene three years ago to add stability to a team struggling with the 2017 cheating scandal.  He’s done just that, and maybe this year the long-time manager can get his first World Series championship at the helm.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS.  How do you put one of the best regular season teams ever in the second spot in this ranking?  LA’s run differential this season (+ 334) is third only to the ‘39 Yankees (+ 411) and the ‘27 Yankees (+ 376).  The Dodgers are the best hitting team in MLB (.258 batting average), have the best pitching rotation (2.74 ERA), and pound the ball like no other team (MLB’s best slugging percentage of .445).  Each game in the playoffs you will see the top of their lineup include these stars – Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith.  Yet, they are missing one huge component, a closer.  Craig Kimbrel failed in the role this season, so the Dodgers turn to closer by committee.  In tight games, and finally they will see a bunch of them, I just don’t see LA running the table.

ATLANTA BRAVES.  Just like last season, the ’22 Braves were the best team in baseball during the second half of the regular season.  Atlanta won 101 games, and may be better than the ’21 World Champion team.  They feature a star-studded lineup that boasts the return this season of All-Star centerfielder, Ronald Acuna, Jr. The Braves’ starting rotation is strong, headed by Max Fried, and the champs feature a great closer, Kenley Jansen.  The team is managed by one of the top veterans in the game, Brian Snitker.  So why won’t they repeat?  Freddie Freeman moved along to the Dodgers in free agency, and I believe took with him some of that team chemistry needed to pull it off again.  And the odds of a repeat are against them – the last team to win consecutive World Series was the New York Yankees (1998-2000).

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS.  The Guardians are my favorite team to watch.  They play the game the way it is supposed to be played – solid defense and pitching; exceptional baserunning; and getting timely hits after moving runners up on the basepaths. Cleveland is a TEAM.  In their Wild Card wins over the Rays, their key players all played a part.  Jose Ramirez got some big time hits, including an HR to win Game 1.  Shane Bieber excelled in his start in Game 1, and Emauneal Clase, the best closer in baseball, was flawless in the two-game series.  Throw in my favorite new player this season, outfielder Steven Kwan, who led the majors in the fewest swings without a miss, and it’s baseball at its best.  I also like that the Guardians are managed by the best skipper in the MLB, Terry Francona.  Maybe this is the year that gets them finally to the promised land, a place that has eluded Cleveland since 1948!

NEW YORK YANKEES.  The way the Yankees started out of the gate, it’s hard to imagine that there would be four 100 + win teams this season and they wouldn’t be one of them.  The Bronx Bombers fell just short at 99 wins, and frankly cruised too much during the second half allowing the Blue Jays to close the gap at 5 games in September.  New York though has the best hitter in baseball, Aaron Judge, whose remarkable regular season included an AL-record breaking 62 HRs, as well as an MLB leading 131 RBIs.  Judge fell percentage points short of winning the batting title and AL Triple Crown.  The Yankees can really score, especially at Yankee Stadium, but their pitching falls short. Stalwart starter, Gerritt Cole, and former closer, Aroldis Chapman (not even on the ALDS roster), limped to the 2022 finish line, as will unfortunately the team this year.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.  I watched the Cubs sweep the Phillies in late September, and wondered if Philadelphia was indeed a playoff caliber team. They did nudge out Milwaukee and snuck into the #6 NL spot only to have to face one of baseball’s best second half teams, the Cardinals.  The Phils’ 6-run ninth inning in Game One set the tone for their two-game sweep over St. Louis.  Now it’s on to a divisional matchup with Atlanta.  Philadelphia brings to the series a formidable duo of starting pitchers, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, along with a solid starting lineup, headlined by Bryce Harper and also featuring Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Nick Castellanos.  There’s a certain chemistry around this team that might launch a longer playoff run.

SAN DIEGO PADRES.   The 2022 season has been one of highs and lows for the Padres.  San Diego was the clear Trade Deadline winner acquiring stars Juan Soto, Josh Bell, and Josh Hader, as well as Brandon Drury.  A few weeks later though came the announcement of the 80-game suspension of superstar, Fernando Tatis, Jr.  The heart of the Padres is Manny Machado, who has to be in the discussion for NL MVP with 32 HRs, 102 RBIs, and a .296 batting average.  On the hill for the Pads are starters Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove.  I don’t think it is enough this year to get past their NL West rivals, the Dodgers, in the NLDS. Next year, watch out!

SEATTLE MARINERS.  Put your shoe on your head for this team!  Seattle’s huge come behind win in Game 2 of the Wild Card sweep of the Blue Jays was one of the best games in the MLB this year.  The Mariners are a solid ballclub, especially in the infield with Ty France (1B), Adam Frazier (2B) and Eugenio Saurez (3B).  At the Trade Deadline Seattle sent a lot of their minor league talent to the Reds in exchange for Luis Castillo, one of the top starters in the game.  Castillo filled his role in the Wild Card series by hurling 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball. The key for a Mariners’ playoff run is getting more support from its starting staff.  While I would love for Seattle to make some further noise, the upcoming matchup with Houston in the ALDS may be too much to overcome.

So here is how the Coach predicts it will play out:

NLDS – Dodgers over the Padres (3 games to 1); Phillies surprise the Braves (3 games to 2).

ALDS – Astros topple the Mariners (3 games to 1); Guardians beat the Yankees (3 games to 2).

NLCS – Dodgers prevail over the Phillies (4 games to 3).

ALCS – Guardians stun the Astros (4 games to 3).

World Series – For the first time since 1948, Cleveland captures the World Series by beating LA 4 games to 2.

My only guaranty is that October will be fun!

Until next season,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Baseball Flicks

I am one of those guys who can recall the score of a baseball game played thirty years ago, but forgets almost overnight the plot line of a movie.  While watching the second “Field of Dreams Game” played last Thursday night in Dyersville, Iowa, it occurred to me that there are indeed movies that I do remember well.  Yes, you guessed it, the ones I love all involve baseball.  Here are my top eight baseball movies (and a little added personal touch):

THE ROOKIE.  This 2002 film is the true story of Jim Morris (played by Dennis Quaid) who began his MLB career at age 35.  Morris is a high school science teacher and baseball coach, who is guilted into trying out for an MLB team, the Tampa Bay Rays, by his high school players. Morris turns the heads of the scouts by throwing 98 mph fastballs at the tryout.  Morris plays a little minor league baseball before getting called up one September night in a game in Arlington, Texas, against the Rangers.  His family and hometown friends celebrate his debut, and Morris goes on to pitch two years in the MLB.   When I was 39, I pitched at a Reds baseball fantasy camp in Sarasota, FL.  For a week, I had this image of regaining the juice of my youth. Every former pitcher wants to be a Jim Morris.

BULL DURHAM.  A 1988 movie that tells the story of life in the minor leagues is my second favorite flick.  Crash Davis (Kevin Costner), a veteran minor league catcher who is tasked with grooming an up and coming pitcher, Nuke LaLoosh (Tim Robbins), is at the center of the story.  The movie depicts the life of a minor leaguer, such as long bus rides and less than adequate facilities and support.  There are so many touching moments in the film – Davis telling Nuke “not to think”; Davis tipping the opposing hitter with which pitch to expect; Davis calling his brief MLB call up “the 21 greatest days of my life”; and the climactic, yet sad, ending when Davis breaks the minor league record for home runs.  Almost 35 years later, the conditions of baseball in the minors are still in need of drastic improvement.

FIELD OF DREAMS.  Another film (released in 1989) starring Kevin Costner, and this time as a farmer, Ray Kinsella, who builds a baseball field in his cornfield that attracts the ghosts of baseball legends.  Those who appear at the Field of Dreams include Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the best yet tragic players ever to play the game, Archie “Moonlight” Graham, who played in one MLB game in 1922 but never had the chance to bat, and of course Ray’s dad.  So many great lines are in this movie – “If you build it, they will come” and “Is this Heaven? No, it’s Iowa.”  My favorite scene is when Ray gets the chance to play catch with his Dad.  I fondly recall those evenings in my backyard tossing a baseball with my Dad.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.  This 1992 film stars Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnell in a story about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.  Chicago Cubs owner Phil Wrigley (called Walter Harvey in the movie) formed the League during World War II.  The movie tracks the fortunes of the Rockford Peaches, managed by Hanks’ colorful character, former Cub Jimmy Dugan, and their fun roster of players, including Davis as catcher Dottie Hinson.  Raising three daughters and seeing their successes on the softball diamonds, together with the emotions of playing the game, has always given me a real connection to this story line. 

TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE.  This 2012 movie starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, and Justin Timberlake, might be a surprise entry for my top five.  Eastwood plays an aging baseball scout, Gus Lobel, who is tasked with one last search for a star player for his Braves’ number two overall pick in the draft.  While all of the statistical analysis points to top prospect Bo Gentry, Lobel’s feel for the game senses that Gentry has a weak spot as a hitter – the curveball.  I remember being in the high schools stands in St. Louis about twenty years ago when numerous scouts were there to see young Max Scherzer pitch.  Baseball stars are often found by scouts who have a feel for talent, not just numbers.

42. Chadwick Boseman provides a standout performance in one of baseball’s greatest stories, the life of Jackie Robinson, the MLB first black player in the modern era.  The movie is titled after Robinson’s uniform number, 42, which was retired in 1997 for all MLB teams.  It shows quite dramatically the pervasive racial attacks on Jackie as he sought to find his place in the game. One of those scenes shows how Robinson’s Dodger teammate, shortstop Pee Wee Reese, a Southerner, comes to Jackie’s defense in a game at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, by standing with his arm around Robinson’s shoulders.  While the number of black players on the MLB rosters has regrettably declined over the last twenty years, I read this weekend that this summer’s 2022 MLB draft is pointing in a more positive direction.

MONEYBALL. Brad Pitts stars in this 2011 movie based on the 2003 book by Michael Lewis of the same name. The story is a true portrayal of the Oakland Athletics’ 2002 season and the obstacles faced by their general manager, Billy Beane, played by Pitt.  Beane is saddled with his franchise’s limited budget for players, so he devises a sabermetric method to scouting and analyzing players.  His team of undervalued talent takes the big market teams, such as the Yankees and Dodgers, by surprise. The movie is so relevant to the realities of the game today, a constant struggle between small market teams and the big market organizations.  Trade Deadline deals over a week ago demonstrate the problem of the rich getting richer.

THE NATURAL. Robert Redford stars in this 1984 movie about the baseball career of his character, Roy Hobbs, a player with amazing natural baseball talent. My favorite scene features Hobbs in a huge batting slump visiting Wrigley Field and seeing a woman dressed in white, Iris (played by Glenn Close), standing up in the bleachers.  Hobbs unleashes an enormous home run, shattering the clock on the manual scoreboard.  We see today, more than ever, players reaching the MLB with tremendous tools to play the game – power, speed, batting skill, defensive range, etc. I’ve always thought that work ethic separates the good ones and the great ones.

So, how about relaxing a little, taking a seat on the couch, grabbing a bowl of popcorn, and catching one of these flicks, or perhaps one of your favorites?  You won’t be disappointed.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

2022 HOF Inductees

I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) in Cooperstown, NY, almost twenty years ago.  Yeah, I was that guy who spent parts of three days in the Museum reading all of the plaques and visiting, often twice, the numerous exhibits.  I recall thinking how much an honor it was to be in the Hall since only a handful of players were inducted each year.  Yet, there was a part of baseball history that was clearly missing, the Negro Leagues and the early days of the game. Since then, baseball has tried to make amends with the creation of its Golden Days Era and Early Baseball Era Committees.  Last Sunday, Cooperstown welcomed seven honorees into the halls of HOF.  Let’s recognize the inductees (in alphabetical order):

Bud Fowler (Early Baseball Era Committee). He was born “John W. Jackson” in 1858, but was nicknamed “Bud” since that’s the name he called other players. Bud’s roots were actually in Cooperstown where he excelled as a youth baseball player. Fowler, who was black, got his start professionally on an all-white team in New Castle, PA, when he was 14 years old. He played for many teams comprised of mostly white players, often leaving the teams due to rampant racism. Fowler finally found his way into the Negro Leagues in 1895, starring for the Page Fence Giants. He was indeed a visionary, imagining the Negro Leagues long before it was formed.

Gil Hodges (Golden Days Era Committee). If you are a Dodgers fan, you remember Gil as your first baseman for most of 18 seasons in the late 1940s through the early 1960s. Hodges, an 8-time All-Star, led the Dodgers to two World Series championships (1955 and 1959) and six NL pennants. He excelled at the plate (hitting 4 home runs in a game in 1950) and on the field (winning three Gold Gloves). Other baseball fans mostly remember Hodges for doing the impossible, managing the “Miracle Mets” to a world championship in 1969 over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. Prior to the ’69 season, the Mets had never won more than 66 games in any season.

Jim Kaat (Golden Days Era Committee). Longetivity is the word that best describes Kaat. A left handed pitcher, he played in 25 MLB seasons for five teams and spanning four decades (1959-1983). His best years were the first fifteen, as he took the mound as a starter every four days for the Senators (who became the Twins). 1966 was his season to remember – Kaat led the American League with 25 wins and 19 complete games, and helped the Twins win the AL. Unfortunately, his Twins ran into a buzzsaw in the World Series, the Dodgers and their star lefty, all-time best, Sandy Koufax. Kaat will forever be known as one of the greatest fielding pitchers, winning 16 Gold Gloves! After his playing days, Jim also starred as a broadcaster.

Minnie Minoso (Golden Days Era Committee).  The Minoso family and the City of Chicago waited much too long for this induction.  Nicknamed the “Cuban Comet” and “Mr. White Sox”, Minnie started in the Negro Leagues in 1946 and last played in an MLB game in 1980. As a Cleveland Indian in 1948, Minoso broke the AL color line as the first Afro-Latino.  He was the first black White Sox player in 1951, and played in the All-Star Game that same year. Minoso was a speedster, often leading the American League in triples and stolen bases.  Many say that Willie Mays and Minoso were the two key players to bring speed to baseball offense.  Chicagoans know him as the leader of the “Go-Go” White Sox of the 1950s and 1960s.  After an absence from the game, Mimoso returned as a pinch-hitter for the Sox in 1980 at the age of 54.

Tony Oliva (Golden Days Era Committee).  Oliva starred as a right fielder and designated hitter for the Twins in his 15-year MLB career.  Tony was a pure hitter, winning the AL batting championship in three seasons (1964, 1965, and 1971) and leading the league in hits in five seasons. An eight-time All-Star, Oliva paved the way for other Cuban players in the game.  One of the great stories of the HOF induction ceremonies last weekend was Oliva reuniting with his brother, Juan Carlos.  The Twins and Senator Amy Klobuchar arranged for Juan Carlos, who lives in Cuba, to obtain a visa so he could travel to Cooperstown.  The brothers had not seen each other in the U.S. since 2009.

Buck O’Neil (Early Baseball Era Committee). O’Neill starred as a first baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro American Leagues (NAL). In 1946 he led the NAL with a .353 batting average. Two years later, in 1948, he became player manager of the Monarchs, leading them to NAL championships in 1953 and 1955. After his retirement he became the leading advocate for NAL’s place in baseball history, playing a central role in the establishment of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO. Buck was the first African American coach in the MLB. The Hall of Fame’s Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2008, is a testament to his place in the game of baseball.

David Ortiz (First Ballot Hall of Famer). Affectionately known as “Big Papi”, Ortiz’ career started off slowly, playing for six seasons with the Twins. From the moment he donned a Red Sox uniform in 2003, his place in baseball as one of the great DHs and clutch hitters became clear.  David had ten straight seasons of 100 + RBIs and was in the top 5 of MVP voting from 2003-2007.  In 2004 Big Papi helped his Red Sox break the “Curse of the Zambino” (the 1918 trade of Babe Ruth to the Yankees) by garnering 3 HRs, 11 RBIs and two walk-off hits in Boston’s seven-game, comeback win over New York in the ALCS.  The Red Sox went on to win the 2004 World Series, its first world championship in decades.  During his career Ortiz recorded 11 walk-off home runs in the regular season and two in the playoffs.  His colorful personality helped him launch an MLB commentator role after his retirement from baseball.

It's always good to remember.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Everyone Has a Team

Choosing my favorite MLB team was easy as a kid.  I grew up in Cincinnati, my family members were all Reds fans, and the ballpark was just thirty minutes away.  More than that, I had a transistor radio to listen to all of the Reds games.  I loved hearing the words “Marty and Joe are on the air” on WLW-Radio before each broadcast.  Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with Dave “Yiddy” Armbruster, who for 37 seasons has been the producer of Reds on Radio games and the host/contributor of Reds pre-game and post-game shows.  Join us for a fun interview.

What is your favorite memory of working with the late Reds broadcaster, Joe Nuxhall? No matter where he was, in the Reds clubhouse, on the air, or just out and about, he talked about pitching.  Nolan Ryan even learned a circle changeup from Nuxie.

Background: Nolan Ryan pitched for 27 years spanning four decades (1966-1993).  He holds MLB career records for strikeouts (5,714), batting average allowed (.204), no-hitters (7), and one-hitters (12, tied with Bob Feller).  Ryan was known for an overpowering fastball (clocked at 100+ mph) and a wicked curveball.  Put those together with Nuxie’s circle change (a changeup you throw by forming a circle with your thumb and forefinger off the seams of the baseball) and you have a Hall of Fame career.

What stands out to you about retired Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman? He never backed down from anyone.  Marty loved a good confrontation, and he was most always right.

Background: Marty Brennaman was the play-by-play voice of the Reds Radio Network from 1974 to 2019. Marty captured Reds fans with his engaging personality and often opinionated style.  The latter got him into some trouble at times. NL President Bart Giamatti called Brennaman to the league office for inciting the Cincinnati crowd to cause a delay in a 1988 game after an altercation between home plate umpire Dave Pallone and Reds manager Pete Rose. In 2008 during a game at Wrigley Field, Marty made disparaging comments about Cubs fans, creating ill will that Chicago would never forget.

What was the best interview the Radio Team did?  There were many memorable Star of the Game post-game shows, but I would choose a pre-game interview with Michael Jordan.

Background: The 1994-1995 MLB strike was the eighth work stoppage in baseball history.  During the strike the Reds Radio Network sought ways to fill its airwaves and began to broadcast some minor league games.  It just so happened that 1994 was also the year that NBA legend Michael Jordan took some time off his Hall of Fame basketball career to dabble into professional baseball. Jordan played for the White Sox Double A affiliate, Birmingham Barons, an opponent of the Reds’ Double A team, the Chattanooga Lookouts.  Nuxhall called one of Jordan’s three home runs that year in a game between the Barons and the Lookouts. Prior to the next game, Michael entertained the Reds radio listening audience.

Do you have a fun story about traveling with Marty and Joe? The night we broke into a minor league ballpark in Birmingham and couldn’t find a way out.  Joe got stuck hopping the fence.

Background: At age 15, Joe Nuxhall was the youngest player ever to appear in an MLB game.  Called upon to play on June 10, 1944, due to a World War II player shortage, he pitched 2/3 of an inning in a Reds game.  Immediately following the game, Nuxhall was assigned to the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League (at the time a Reds’ affiliate). At age 23, Joe returned to the Reds’ mound as a starting pitcher, appearing in two NL All-Star games in a storied career. Nuxhall had fond memories of his stay in Birmingham, so in 1994 when the Radio Team visited there Joe brought along Marty and Yiddy for an impromptu tour of the ballpark.

How does the Radio Team tackle rain delays? I actually despise them.

Background: I recall fondly sitting on the front porch with my Dad in the 1960s and 1970s during rain delays of Reds games. Together, we listened to Nuxhall regale the radio audience with tales of the past.  The Reds took rain delays to the next level in the 1990s by introducing the “Banana Phone” where Reds fans could call into the radio station and get on the air with comments about the team.  During this era the Reds were the only team in baseball taking calls from their fans during rain delays. Sometimes the calls got a little rude, ending the tradition a few years ago.

Who has been the Radio Team’s favorite Reds manager? Marty and Joe loved Lou Piniella.  He was such a good guy.

Background: Lou Piniella, an outfielder for 16 MLB seasons with four teams, was a baseball lifer, also managing five teams during a 25-year managerial career.  Nicknamed “Sweet Lou” not only for his batting swing but also sarcastically for his demeanor as a player and manager, he was a big part of winning baseball.  As a Yankee outfielder, he won two World Series championships in 1977 and 1978.  He managed the Reds to its 1990 world championship, the Cubs to two division titles in 2007 and 2008, and the Seattle Mariners to four postseason appearances. Lou was a dream interview for radio fans, describing play on the field and his team in a very transparent fashion.

Which Reds player is most memorable to you?  Eric Davis. For a couple years he might have been the best player ever.

Background: In an injury-shortened career, Eric Davis spent eight seasons with the Reds (1984-1991, 1996) and a handful of others with the Dodgers and Tigers.  Davis was one of those rare five tool players – speed, fielding, batting average, slugging power, and throwing accuracy.  In 1987, he became the first player in MLB history to hit at least 30 HRs and steal 50 bases in the same season. From 1986 to 1990 he averaged 30 HRs and 40 SBs.  In the underdog Reds four game sweep of powerhouse Oakland in the 1990 World Series, Davis got it all started in the first inning of Game 1 with a home run off A’s ace, Dave Stewart.  The Reds never looked back.

What has been your favorite Reds moment since you’ve been a producer on the Radio Team?   Tom Browning’s perfect game. There was a two hour rain delay before the game, and not a huge crowd stayed to see it.  It was amazing.

Background: Tom Browning pitched the 12th perfect game in MLB history on September 16, 1988, a rainy Friday night at Riverfront Stadium.  He threw 70 strikes out of 102 pitches that night, and crazily did not run the count to three balls on any hitter. Browning was a standout starter for the Reds, compiling 123 wins in 11 seasons.  Although his perfect game was an absolute gem, he might be better known for two other incidents.  In the 1990 World Series, he left his Reds team in the late innings of Game 2 to attend to his pregnant wife in the hospital.  He was called back to the game via the Reds Radio Network, but stayed with his wife.  In 1993, he also left the Reds dugout during a game without permission, this time to visit a rooftop across the street from Wrigley Field.

This has been a difficult year for Reds fans as Cincinnati has spent the season in last place in the NL Central.  Yiddy closed the interview with these words: “Everything is better when the Reds are winning.”  While Armbruster continues each day to produce the best radio broadcasts as possible, I check the scores each night with the hope that the Reds will turn it around.  You see, everyone has a team.

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

P.S.  A special thanks for arranging this interview goes out to Bob D’Agnillo, my buddy on the wiffle ball fields of my old neighborhood and friend for over 50 years.

Baseball's Ten Commandments

Recently some of my colleagues, students, and friends joined me on a delightful tour of Wrigley Field.  One student, who is not familiar with the game, told me that she brushed up on the rules of baseball before the tour and found them to be difficult to understand. I assured her that it was just a matter of time before the game would become easier for her to follow.  What I didn’t say though was that baseball also has “unwritten rules”, a set of unspoken rules about gamesmanship and respect that players and managers follow.  After some early season incidents of supposed violations of these rules in the MLB, let’s take a look at my very own “Baseball’s Ten Commandments”:

Thou shall not forget. Baseball players have long memories, especially pitchers. If a pitcher determines that another player has violated any of the unwritten rules referenced below, it may take some time to retaliate, but retaliate he will and most often with a beanball. Bob Gibson of the Cardinals once threw at a batter about a violation that happened 15 years earlier! Another pitcher in the 1960s, Stan Williams, actually wrote in his baseball cap the names of batters he wanted to retaliate against.

Thou shall not admire hitting a home run. You might recall the fun scene in “Bull Durham”, when the catcher, Crash Davis, played by Kevin Costner, admonishes a batter for admiring a home run even though Davis purposely tipped the pitch to him. In 2015 Manny Machado of the Orioles admired one of his home runs off Jonathan Papelborn a little too much, causing Papelborn to throw at Machado the next time he batted. Bryce Harper, Papelborn’s own teammate, took issue with Papelborn’s brushback pitch and pleaded for an end to unwritten rules. Most MLB players sided with Papelborn.

Thou shall not bunt when the opposing pitcher is throwing a no-hitter. In 2001 Curt Schilling, then with the Diamondbacks, was pitching a perfect game when Ben Davis of the Padres broke it up with a bunt, causing a big controversy. More recently, in 2014, San Diego’s Andrew Cashner had a no-hitter in hand when Philadelphia’s Dominic Brown bunted for a hit. Similarly, shortstop Andrelton Simmons of the Angels in 2018 bunted for a hit with a no-hitter in progress. I guess you call these double no-no’s!

Thou shall not attempt to steal when your team has a big lead. Earlier this season, Thairo Estrada of the Giants stole second base with his team up 7-1 in the ninth inning in Washington. Nationals infielder Alcides Escobar was seen screaming at Estrada for this discrepancy. Also, in an April game against San Diego, Steven Duggar of the Giants stole a base with San Francisco leading by nine runs, leaving Padres third base coach Matt Williams fuming from the dugout. Perhaps Estrada, Duggar, and the Giants hadn’t heard about the lesson basketball superstar Michael Jordan learned in his one season of minor league baseball. Jordan stole third base in a game with his team leading 11-0. His manager, Terry Francona, had to explain to Michael why you can’t always compete so hard in professional baseball.

Thou shall not run too hard or trot too slowly after hitting a home run.  I used to love watching Pete Rose sprint around the base paths after a home run.  His fellow MLB players probably thought differently.  The bigger violation is taking too much time running the bases. White Sox pitcher Ed Farmer in 1979 thought that Wayne Gross of the Athletics had trotted too slowly rounding the bases on a home run.  Four years later, when they were actual teammates, Farmer threw at Gross during batting practice!

Thou shall not swing at a 3-0 pitch when your team has a big lead. Fernando Tatis Jr. really stirred the pot in 2020 when he hit a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch with his Padres leading the Rangers by seven runs in the eighth inning. His own manager, Jayce Tingler, criticized him after the game, causing Tatis to issue an apology. The following year, Yermin Mercedes of the White Sox delivered a home run with a 3-0 count in a lopsided win over the Twins. Tony LaRussa, his manager, called it a “big mistake”.

Thou shall not cross the pitcher’s mound as a baserunner. Alex Rodriguez, Yankee superstar, intruded upon forbidden territory during a 2010 game against the Athletics. As a baserunner on first base, ARod hustled around second base on a foul ball.  When he returned to first, he crossed the pitcher’s mound, much to the disdain of Oakland pitcher Dallas Braden.

Thou shall not distract a fielder while running the bases.  In a game three years earlier, Rodriguez was accused of playing street ball. When running the bases he attempted to distract Toronto infielder Howie Clark from catching a pop up.  Maybe Alex, not Rickey Henderson, was the ultimate “menace” as a baserunner.

Thou shall not step on the baseline when changing pitchers. Sparky Anderson, the late Hall of Fame manager of the Reds and Tigers, was nicknamed “Captain Hook” for his proclivity to change pitchers in critical situations. He was one of the best ever in finding favorable matchups for his relievers. What he never did was step on the baseline on his numerous trips to the mound. Some may call it superstitious; I deem it an unwritten rule for managers.

Thou shall not flip your bat. Flipping your bat after belting a home run has been at the center of the controversial unwritten rules recently. In the 2015 American League Division Series the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista flipped his bat as he began to trot to first base after a key HR. Pitcher Sam Dyson of the Rangers angrily called out Bautista and told him to “respect the game”. And most recently, in April 2019, Tim Anderson of the White Sox, whose mantra is to play the game with excitement and emotion, flipped his bat after hitting a home run against Kansas City’s Brad Keller. On Anderson’s next at-bat, Keller hit Anderson with the first pitch, leading to a bench-clearing brawl.

This last one for me goes into the category of how about letting players show their enthusiasm for the game. Sometimes we forget that playing and watching baseball are all about the enjoyment the game brings.  Maybe that should be the first rule of baseball.  Have fun!!

 Until next Monday,

 your Baseball Bench Coach

 P.S.  Hey readers, did I forget an unwritten rule here?  Please add to the list with some of your own.

Trade Deadline

With just two months remaining in the regular season and the Trade Deadline looming this Friday afternoon, the clock is ticking for all 30 MLB teams. For the contenders, it is a time to assess team needs and land, or maybe the better word is “rent” for players who are pending free agents, the key pitcher or position player to seal playoff hopes or even bring a World Series title.  Every buyer though must beware of the price to pay, since there are sellers, or non-contending teams, trying to steal a top prospect or two in any deal.  The high drama over the next five days is certain to be MLB’s in-season version of its hot stove.

Aware that teams in the bottom of the standings might dump high salaried players to contenders and unfairly impact the overall competition, MLB first instituted a Trade Deadline of June 15.  The Trade deadline was moved to July 31 in 1986. Since this year July 31 falls on a Saturday, this coming Friday, July 30, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, is when the clock stops.  And beginning in 2019, it became a hard stop, since no players may change hands via trade after that date. 

Prior to 2019, a player could be obtained after the July 31 Trade Deadline if he cleared trade waivers.  If players were acquired by August 31, they could play in the postseason with their new clubs.  As of 2019, the August waiver claim market has effectively dried up. The new rule is that if a player is indeed waived, the new team must take on the entire salary of the player’s remaining contract and no other players may be involved.  The last week of July, 2019, was pretty wild. There were 25 trades consummated, including the Astros acquisition of Arizona’s ace pitcher Zach Greinke at the Trade Deadline buzzer.

It’s fun to review some of the past Trade Deadline deals and see how important a player acquisition was to a team’s success. With time you can better assess the winner in the deal – the buyer, the seller, or in some cases, both! Let’s take a look at five Trade Deadline deals that stand out:

BROCK FOR BROGLIO. June 15, 1964, is a crucial day in the storied rivalry between the Cardinals and Cubs. Hall of Famer Lou Brock and pitcher Ernie Broglio were the principal players exchanged in a six player deal at the Trade Deadline. Many thought Chicago got the best of the deal, landing a pitcher like Broglio who had been a success in St. Louis over the past few seasons, for a disappointing young outfielder in Brock. Wow, did their fortunes turn quickly! Brock batted .348 over the next three months and led the Cardinals to the 1964 World Championship, as well as another title in 1967 and a World Series appearance in 1968. Brock was a cornerstone of the Cardinals until his retirement in 1979. Broglio pitched in only two seasons for the Cubs, a 4-7 record, 4.07 ERA, and was out of baseball in 1966.

FLAME THROWER. The Cubs took a huge step forward in their quest for a first World Championship in over a century with the July 25, 2016, acquisition from the Yankees of Aroldis Chapman for four players. Chapman was coming off four consecutive All-Star seasons, and was known for an overpowering fastball (his 105.1 mph speed is still the fastest recorded pitch). When the deal was made, the Cubs had pretty well secured a playoff spot but needed a closer to take them over the top. In the words of then club president Theo Epstein, “if not now, when?” Chapman was an absolute workhorse in the 2016 playoffs with 4 appearances in both the NLDS against the Giants and the NLCS vs. the Dodgers. Chapman helped turned around the Cubs’ 3 games to 1 deficit in the World Series against the Indians by pitching multiple innings in the last 3 games. While Chapman was the key to bringing the Cubs the long awaited title, he indeed was a rental, returning to New York the next season via free agency. And the Yankees did well in the deal too, landing star Gleybar Torres as part of the package. It was a WIN, win!

CC. Those are the initials of lefthanded pitcher Carsten Charles Sabathia, a six-time All-
Star who pitched the first 7 ½ seasons of his career with the Indians. On July 7, 2008, with Cleveland falling out of contention in the AL Central, the Brewers obtained him for four minor league players (the group included Michael Brantley). Over the remaining months of the 2008 season, CC dominated the National League, with an 11-2 record, 7 complete games, 3 shutouts, and a 1.65 ERA. Talk about a workhorse! Sabathia threw an incredible 131 innings in 83 days. The result -- Milwaukee made the NL playoffs for the first time in 26 years. And it was another good deal for both teams, since Michael Brantley starred in the outfield for the Indians during the next 10 seasons. My guess is that the Brew Crew is looking for some CC position player magic this year!

GET ME SOME CLIFF LEE.  Cliff Lee, another Indians’ lefthanded starting pitcher for his first seven seasons, will go down in Trade Deadline drama as being the key acquisition in not only one, but two, deals.  On July 29, 2009, Cleveland traded Lee to the Phillies for four players.  In his first five games with Philadelphia, Cliff went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA.  The Phillies knew they had stolen some gold, as they rode Lee’s back in the first two rounds of the NL playoffs and into the World Series.  Lee won the only two games Philly could muster over the Yankees in New York’s 4-2 Series win.  Lee had gone 4-0 in the playoffs.  Remarkably, the Phillies traded Lee in the offseason to Seattle.  The very next year, on July 9, 2010, the Rangers obtained Lee in a five-player deal with the Mariners.  Texas steamrolled through the AL playoff rounds behind Lee as he compiled four additional postseason wins.  The Lee luck ran out in the 2010 World Series, as Tim Lincecum of the Giants bested Lee in Games 1 and 5.

Seaver to Cincy.  On June 15, 1977, I was attending a game at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati with friends when it was announced that three-time NL Cy Young winner, Tom Seaver of the Mets, had been traded to the Reds for four players.  It was a celebration in the stands that night as the Reds had finally landed the ace pitcher that had for so long eluded them.  Seaver went 14-3 with the Reds over the remainder of 1977, and in 1978 recorded his only no-hit game of his illustrious career.  Indeed, in six seasons with Cincinnati, Seaver was 75-46, a 3.18 ERA, and had 42 complete games.  Yet, he came to Cincy with the hope of securing another World Championship (the Reds had won in ’75 and ’76) and could not get an aging nucleus to win it all one more time under his leadership.  Seaver did provide Reds fans, like me, with lots of wonderful memories.

Is your favorite MLB team going to be a buyer or a seller over the next five days?  Stay close to your ESPN Trade Tracker this week and enjoy the wild ride. What’s your favorite memory of a Trade Deadline deal?

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Baseball Nicknames

It’s always fun to look back at some of the great baseball nicknames.  Here is my Top Ten List:

The Iron Horse (Lou Gehrig).  Gehrig played all of his 17 seasons for the New York Yankees.  He won the coveted Triple Crown and was voted the American League MVP on two occasions. His career stats are remarkable -- .340 batting average, 493 HRs, and 1,995 RBIs.  He was nicknamed Iron Horse because of his 2,130 consecutive games played, a record that stood for 56 years.  On June 2, MLB proclaimed it Lou Gehrig Day in baseball from this year forward, a day to remember his Iron Horse streak and his courage in battling ALS.  In his farewell address to the fans at Yankee Stadium in 1939, Gehrig called himself the “luckiest man on the face of the Earth”.  We, as fans, were lucky to have him be part of baseball.

The Babe (George Herman Ruth).  It’s difficult to reflect on the legend of Babe Ruth without thinking about some of his other nicknames – “The Bambino” or “The Sultan of Swat”.  I always put him on a sports pedestal with those whose stats dominate the game at the time they played; hockey’s Wayne Gretsky is another example. The hitting numbers do indeed knock you over – 714 HRs; a slugging percentage of .690; and here’s the kicker, an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.164.  Yet, before he became the game’s most feared slugger, he was baseball’s top lefthanded pitcher with a won-loss record of 94-46 and an ERA of 2.28.  At a time when baseball needed a rebirth coming out of the Dead Ball Era and the 1919 Scandal, the Babe delivered with one of the greatest careers we’ve ever witnessed.

Pee Wee (Harold Peter Henry Reese).  Pee Wee Reese was a Dodger true and blue, starring at shortstop for 19 seasons (1940 to 1958).  This Hall of Famer helped the Dodgers win seven NL championships during his career with steady and consistent play.  His nickname derived from his Kentucky roots where he was a champion marbles player (a “pee wee” is a small marble) and of course his diminutive size.  Reese’s heart though was bigger than anyone’s in the game, as evidenced by his support of teammate Jackie Robinson’s entrance into MLB, especially in Jackie’s difficult early years.

The Big Hurt (Frank Thomas).  Every time Frank Thomas stepped into the batter’s box, you wanted to see the at-bat.  He starred as a first baseman and DH for 19 seasons (1990 to 2008), all but the last three with his beloved White Sox.  He is the only player in MLB history to have seven consecutive seasons with a .300 batting average, 100 RBIs, 100 runs, 100 walks, and 20 HRs.  In 1993 he was named the American League’s MVP.  In Chicago nowadays, he remains an MVP as a television analyst.  When I hear commentators now talking about “exit velocity” measuring the impact of the bat hitting the baseball, I can’t help but think of how much a hurt Frank Thomas put on baseballs.

The Wizard (Ozzie Smith).  Ozzie is the only position player that I’ve come to see play because of his glove, not his bat.  His acrobatic play at shortstop for 19 seasons, mostly with the Cardinals, was flat out unbelievable at times.  Smith won the NL Gold Glove Award at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons (1980-1992).  The wizardry around the bag on double plays, his backflips while taking the field for special games, and ability to throw from all angles were thrills baseball fans had not previously experienced.  In his most famous at-bat, a home run that ended Game 5 of the 1985 NLCS against the Dodgers, Jack Buck simply said, “Go crazy, folks, go crazy!”  The St. Louis fans had something to go crazy about almost every game he played.

The Bird (Mark Fidrych).   Fidrych pitched in only five seasons for the Detroit Tigers, and was truly a one-year wonder.   In 1976 he led MLB with a 2.34 ERA and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award.  He was nicknamed “The Bird” because many joked that he resembled “Big Bird” on the children’s television program, “Sesame Street”. Fidrych was tall and kind of awkward looking.  In many ways, seeing him on the mound pitching were indeed “funny days” as Fidrych was known for talking to the baseball between pitches.  His career tailed off quickly at the end, but I chuckle every time I think of him.

Chipper (Larry Wayne Jones Jr.). Chipper Jones may have been the top third baseman in the last 30 years. Drafted #1 overall by the Atlanta Braves in 1990, Chipper certainly excelled at the plate in his 19-year MLB career, batting for average and power. And he did it as a switch-hitter! Indeed, he is the only switch hitter in MLB history to bat at least .300 and hit 400 or more HRs. Chipper also played an exceptional third base and was the leader of the Braves playoff teams throughout his career. Some of his achievements include 1999 NL MVP, 2008 MLB batting champion, and 1995 World Series champion. So how did he get the nickname Chipper? He was a “chip off the old block”, his Dad being the coach at his high school in DeLand, Florida.

King Kong (Dave Kingman).  Dave Kingman was a true slugger, hitting 442 career HRs and averaging a home run every 15 at-bats.  His home runs were often monstrous drives, hence his nickname.  His 16-year career spanned several MLB teams, most notably the Mets and the Cubs.  The ball hawkers beyond the left field bleachers at Wrigley Field I’m sure are still talking about some of his long shots onto Waveland Avenue.  With Kingman though, you needed to take the bad with the good.  While he hit a lot of homers, he frequently struck out and maintaind a low batting average and on-base percentage.  In the field, typically left field, let’s just say he struggled at times.  Kingman would have loved today’s launch angle analysis, because he could truly launch them.

Peanuts (Harry Lee Lowrey). My favorite food item at the ballpark is peanuts, so I’ve often wondered about the legendary Peanuts Lowrey. He played in 13 MLB seasons as an outfielder with the Cubs, Reds, Cardinals, and Phillies (1942-1955). Late in his career he became one of baseball’s best pinch hitters, a lost art nowadays in many respects. His nickname was given to him at a very young age by his uncle who described him “no bigger than a peanut”. His small size profited him outside of baseball, as he was a child actor on the “Our Gang” television series. He ended his career with coaching stints for several MLB clubs.

Mad Hungarian (Al Hrabosky).  Hrabosky was one of the first in your face closers in baseball.  He had a 12-year career with the Cardinals and Braves as a reliever (1970-1982).  In 1975 he was named Sporting News’ “Fireman of the Year”, posting a 13-3 record and a 1.67 ERA.  His colorful, sometimes crazy, personality warranted his nickname.  When Hrabosky entered a game in relief, he would first go to the back of the mound with his back to the hitter, slam the baseball in his glove, and march to the pitching rubber.  It was great entertainment, especially when he recorded the final out of the game.  He now serves as a commentator (and still colorful) for Cardinals baseball.

What’s your favorite baseball nickname? 

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Elite Eight

I was so excited for Super Wednesday this past week; eight MLB games and my favorite teams were in the 16-team tournament!  And then they each lost that day.  It reminded me of my 10th birthday, the one time in my childhood that I convinced my parents to invite my school friends over for a party.  I was so excited to see what gifts I might receive.  My bubble burst that day as well.  You see, 7 of my 8 classmates brought model airplanes for me to construct.  Let’s just say that putting things together has never been a strong point for me.  I put all of them in my closet with the hope of maybe re-gifting someday (don’t tell my guests).  The eighth gift though was kind of cool.  It was an Ouija Board, something I could use to predict my future.  So I dusted it off this weekend and used it to rank my Elite Eight, the ordering of the remaining teams in MLB’s bracket play and their chances to be the 2020 World Champions:

Los Angeles Dodgers.  It’s painful for me to place LA in the top spot (see “Dodgers Blues”, 04/29/2019), but this year’s team is very deserving.  The Dodgers came out of the 2020 gate with a 30-10 record, the best 40-game start in franchise history.  They’ve never let up, gaining the #1 seed in the NL with the best overall record, and easily defeating the Brewers in two games.  Buoyed by the offseason signing of Mookie Betts, the thunderous LA lineup just keeps getting better – Seager, Turner, Muncy, Bellinger, all playing havoc with opposing pitchers.  For playoff success teams need to have at least two top starters, and LA of course can ride the backs of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler.  Kenley Jansen, closer, leads a good bullpen.  It’s difficult to see the Dodgers getting stopped on their way to their 24th World Series appearance.  The question will be whether they can capture their first World title since 1988. 

Tampa Bay Rays.  The first word to come to mind about the AL East champion Rays is TEAM.  Tampa made the playoffs for the second straight year with a cast of relatively unknown players.  In scouring 2020 MLB offensive stats, only two players appear.  Second baseman Brandon Lowe was among the AL HR leaders with 14, and centerfielder Manuel Margot was second in the league with 12 stolen bases.  In watching the Rays dismantle Toronto, I did see the Rays’ strength, pitching!  The top two starters, 2018 Cy Young winner Blake Snell and righthander Tyler Glasnow, are indeed formidable in a playoff series.  The bullpen is deep with 12 pitchers recording saves this year.  The Rays can just simply grind out wins with smart play, key hits, and solid pitching, the perfect ingredients for October success. Managed by Kevin Cash, Tampa will be a tough out in the playoffs.

Atlanta Braves.  If you would have asked me what Atlanta’s strength was prior to the playoffs, I would have rolled off the offensive numbers.  The Braves are a team built around its superstar outfielder, Ronald Acuna, but there are other big contributors.  Perennial All-Star Freddy Freeman is a leading candidate for NL MVP, second in batting average (.341) and RBIs (53).  Then there’s Marcell Ozuna, who signed a one-year deal in late January, leading the NL in HRs (18) and RBIs (56), and 3rd in hitting (.338), MVP numbers as well.  The Braves have additional firepower from catcher Travis d’Arnaud (.321), outfielder Adam Duvall (11 HRs in September alone), and middle infielders Albies and Swanson.  The series against Cincinnati certainly showed off starting pitchers Max Fried (7-0 regular season) and rookie righthander Ian Anderson, no runs allowed.  What turned my head though was the Atlanta bullpen that management built over the offseason – Chris Martin; Will Smith; Darren O’Day; and closer Mark Melancon.  And of course there is Brian Snitker, one of the top game managers in baseball (see “Best Skippers”, 08/26/2019).

New York Yankees.  The Bronx Bombers flexed their muscles in the first round, scoring 22 runs in two games and sweeping the previously, red-hot Indians. I looked forward to the first game matchup against Cleveland’s soon to be crowned Cy Young winner, Shane Bieber, and two batters in, the Yanks were up 2-0 behind Aaron Judge’s long home run.   In a year where MLB teams struggled to score runs, New York’s lineup is one of the few other teams fear.  Leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu is the best in the game, winning the AL batting crown with a .364 average.  First baseman Luke Voit had some impressive short season numbers with 52 RBIs and a league-leading 22 HRs.  On the mound, the feature story is starter Gerrit Cole, who during the offseason signed the largest contract in baseball history for a pitcher.  Cole hasn’t disappointed, posting a 7-3 record, but the starters beyond Cole are just adequate.  New York’s bullpen is solid, headed by Aroldis Chapman, who closed out the Cleveland series with a two inning stint.  The Yankees’ October fortunes will turn on the performance of the other pitchers on staff.

San Diego Padres.  The Padres showed some true grit in the first round by coming back from 4-0 and 6-2 deficits in Game 2 against Adam Wainwright and the resilient Cardinals.  The comeback was triggered by HRs from their dynamic duo, Fernando Tatis Jr. (17 HRs and 45 RBIs, regular season) and Manny Machado (an almost identical, 16 HRs and 47 RBIs).   Tatis actually coupled with Wil Myers in the same game to hit two homers apiece, the second time in MLB postseason history for multiple HRs by teammates, the other time being Ruth and Gehrig in the historic Game 3 of the 1932 World Series (the “Called Shot”).   The Padres lineup is deep up and down, from leadoff hitter Trent Grisham to Jake Cronenworth in the ninth slot.  It was the Padres first postseason series win since 1998, and in true 2020 fashion, they couldn’t even celebrate.  Their home, Petco Park, was quickly being readied for the Rays and Yankees’ arrival later on Friday night to prepare for the ALDS.   San Diego has a huge obstacle in front of them, a 5-game series with the Dodgers. Maybe if they get one or both of their top starters, Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet, back for the series, they could celebrate this time, in Arlington.

Oakland Athletics.  Oakland won its first AL West title since 2013 and followed it with a 2-1 series win over Chicago.  In NCAA lingo, this is an overrated #2 seed.  The Athletics hit .225 as a team during the regular season, one of the five teams this year with the worst team batting averages ever in the playoffs!  Oakland’s offense is typically generated from the infield corners, but 3B Matt Chapman is now injured and first baseman Matt Olson (14 HRs and 42 RBIs) struggled in the first series. Defense is Oakland’s game, recording just 26 errors, fourth fewest in the majors, along with pitching.  While the starters are just average (only Chris Barrit had a good year with a 2.29 ERA), the bullpen is tops in the AL. Jake Diekman (0.42 ERA), Yusmeiro Petit (1.66 ERA), J.B. Wendleken (1.80 ERA) and closer Liam Hendriks (1.78) can make most games just five inning affairs.  This past week the Athletics won their first postseason series since 2006, and will most probably get past the Astros in the ALDS.  The bubble will burst in the ALCS.

Miami Marlins.  Two months ago no one gave the Marlins a fighting chance to make the playoffs, and here they are, in the NLDS.  Incredibly, the Marlins remain the only team in the MLB to have never lost a postseason series.  They do have some veterans in the lineup, Corey Dickerson (a huge 3-run HR in the first game win over the Cubs) and Starling Marte (a key acquisition this summer, but whose status is uncertain for the next round).  The starting staff has two flamethrowers at the top end, Sandy Alcantara and Sixto Sanchez, both consistently coming right at hitters with high 90s heat.  The bullpen is headlined by Brandon Kintzler, a veteran who knows how to close out games.  Miami has overcome some major obstacles in this shortened season, a COVID-19 breakout at the start, numerous doubleheaders, and a tough slate of games against the NL and AL East.  I don’t see them moving on, but never count out manager Don Mattingly and the Fish.

Houston Astros.  Who invited this team to our postseason party?  The Astros have appeared in the last 3 ALCS, winning it all in 2017 but under a dark cloud after the MLB’s off-season investigation.  (See “Sign Stealing”, 06/01/2020.)  That cloud never seemed to lift during the regular season, as Houston became the first AL team in history to reach the playoffs with a losing record (29-31).  The Astros caught a break in the first round with its matchup against the Twins, an organization that has now lost 18 straight playoff games.  While the Astros star position players for the most part had off years offensively, the offense has been helped by right fielder Kyle Tucker and his team-leading 42 RBIs.  Houston’s past playoff success has been the direct result of its top starters.  With Cole now in New York and Verlander shelved for the year, only Zach Greinke remains of the Big Three.  That’s simply not enough.

So there you have my Elite Eight; no guaranties on their success in the next three rounds!  And frankly, no matter what happens in the next few weeks, it’s going to be fun just watching it play out.  I was struck by a story last Thursday by Chicago Tribune sports columnist Paul Sullivan when he ran into Kris Bryant and his six-month old son after the Cubs first game loss to the Marlins.  Bryant joyfully remarked:  “It was his (son’s) first game”.  Sullivan told his readers:  “The important things in life always remain the same, and baseball is still just a game.”   Fifty years after getting my Ouija Board, I celebrated my 60th birthday.  One of my favorite gifts was a book written by former Reds batboy, Teddy Kremer, “Stealing First”.  Teddy has Down Syndrome, and what he always gave to the Reds players in the dugout and on the field was “joy, enthusiasm and whole-hearted support”.  Let’s enjoy this beautiful October and the game we so dearly love.

Until next week,

your Baseball Bench Coach

P.S. Hey subscribers, be on the lookout in your email this week for a first time, mid-week edition of the Baseball Bench Coach!

Pennant Races

Flags are a tradition in baseball.  MLB teams fly flags of players whose numbers have been retired by the team or those of the elite few who have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Key moments in a team’s history are also depicted by special flags of player names or nicknames and achievements.   And historically, teams have received a pennant from the league office when they won the league championship so they could proudly display it at their home ballpark.

Flying flags and pennants have played a large part in the history of Wrigley Field. P.K. Wrigley, who owned the Cubs from 1932 to 1977, brought his family’s love of sailing to the ballpark.  White or blue flags were used to show wins and losses. The Friendly Confines also kept the current NL standings with team flags flying outside the bleacher seats. This is how the term “pennant race” was coined. Today, the practice at Wrigley is to show the updated standings in each of the three NL division races.  The pennant “race” up the pole is now a tradition in most MLB ballparks.

Now that it’s Memorial Day, it’s time to check those races. Teams have played about one-third of the 162 game schedule and have had a chance to play at least one series or two with each of their divisional opponents. Which teams have their pennants flying high and steady above their division foes? Which of the others are trying to withstand the battle for the top spot? Let’s take a look at the three divisional races in both the AL and NL.

The surprise team of the American League is undoubtedly the Minnesota Twins of the AL Central.  The team’s power burst has been the incredible story.  On Friday Eddie Rosario’s blast was the Twins 100th HR of the season, making Minnesota only the second team in MLB history to reach that mark in the first 50 games of the season.  The Twins have a commanding 10-game lead over the Indians, who were everyone’s preseason favorite, including mine.  It may be that Cleveland may have to soon just start thinking Wild Card as the season progresses.

Another pennant flying high and maybe even more steady is out west, the Houston Astros and their control of the AL West.  Astros hitters George Springer, Alex Bregman, and Michael Brantley are dominating the offensive stat lines in the AL, while starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole are putting up impressive numbers in ERA and strikeouts.  It’s difficult to see another AL West team stepping up to contend for the division title. The Rangers and Athletics have been surging lately and may make Wild Card bids of their own.  Interestingly, that Seattle Mariners team featured earlier in the season for their Strong Start, now finds itself in last place 9 games under .500.

While the Yankees were favorites to contend for the AL East before the season began, no one would have thought they could withstand the numerous injuries to their star players (Stanton, Frazier, Gregorius, Sabathia, etc.) and be in first place on Memorial Day.  The fun stat belongs to infielder Gleyber Torres, who this past week hit his tenth home run against the same team, the Orioles!  Tampa will challenge the Yankees based on the Rays’ starting staff led by Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.  And don’t forget about the Red Sox who have officially rebounded from a slow start.  Two or all three of these AL East teams will be playoff bound in October.

The National League has just one team pennant flying high and strong, that of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.  Cody Bellinger will be in the NL MVP discussion all year and currently leads in such categories as batting average, RBIs, hits, and on-base percentage.   Despite spending some time on the IL, Clayton Kershaw is again shining with a 4-0 record.  His cohort, Hyun-Jin Ryu, is leading NL pitchers with a 1.52 ERA.  The other NL West teams need to rally to stay in the race.  The Padres have won 5 of the last 6 games at week’s end.

The NL East is a two-team race between the Phillies and the Braves.  Philadelphia’s star-studded everyday lineup seemed to be their strong point in preseason discussions, yet Bryce Harper has gotten off to less than an impressive start (.227 batting average).  The Phillies have been led by first baseman Rhys Hoskins and starting pitcher Zach Eflin.  The Braves won the division last year yet no one really talks about them.  They are one of those teams in the top half of most team statistics, yet nothing stands out.  Atlanta will indeed contend again this year.

Since the Cubs 1-6 start, Chicago has turned it around and has been in first place in the NL Central much of the past few weeks.  There is not another team in baseball with a more talented starting pitching group than the Cubs.  And when you have a nucleus of position players like Bryant, Rizzo, and Baez, it’s hard to see them do anything but raise the “W” flag much of the season.   Yet, the Brewers (Christian Yelich and Josh Hader), Cardinals (Paul Goldschmidt and Jordan Hicks), Pirates (Josh Bell and Jordan Lyles) and Reds (Eugenio Suarez and Luis Castillo) all have offensive studs and pitching flame-throwers to make the division race and possible Wild Card spot wide open and fun to the finish!

There are numerous stories of great late season comebacks to win divisions and championships, so finding your team’s pennant only halfway up the pole at Memorial Day should not be alarming.  Anything can indeed happen.   Let’s check back on Labor Day on the pennant races.  There’s a lot of baseball to be played between now and then.

Until next Monday,

Your Baseball Bench Coach

Batting Second

My favorite page in a newspaper is the baseball today sheet that provides the current MLB standings, some updated player and team statistics, and the box scores.  Whether I have just enough time to glance at the standings or perhaps 30 minutes to devour the page with my morning coffee, it’s my version of a perfect start to the day!

As promised, next week’s Memorial Day edition will focus on the MLB standings.  This week I took a quick look at the National League and American League updated statistics at the quarter mark of the 2019 season   What stood out is that not one NL player has stolen 10 bases so far, yet 17 sluggers have 10 or more home runs.  In the AL, there are actually 4 players who have 10 or more stolen bases, yet 19 have 10 or more homers. Baseball today is indeed a power game.

My real love though is the box scores. From pitch counts to the playing times of the games, I’m kind of a junkie. Recently I caught up with a mentor of mine and the topic quickly turned to baseball. I recalled he told me years ago that he began each morning by checking the box score of the Yankees game the prior day. Our conversation inspired me to explore today’s box scores and review baseball’s new power theme.

What strikes me most is that many teams are now batting their power hitters second in the lineup.   Teams used to employ a lineup of a leadoff man with speed, a number 2 hitter with good bat control to hit behind the runner or lay down a bunt, a third batter as its best pure hitter, and the #4 cleanup hitter to drive in runs.  The prototypical examples of a #2 hitter from the past are Glenn Beckert and Bill Russell, both solid hitters who saw their roles in the Cubs and Dodgers lineups as more of set-up guys.  Beckert hit 22 home runs in his 11 seasons (1965-1975), while Russell hit just 17 in his 18-year career (1969-1986).  The role began to change more recently with Derek Jerek batting second in the Yankees lineup.  Yet again, Jeter only averaged 13 home runs a season in his 20-season career (1995-2014).

The role of the #2 hitter in the lineup has now clearly pivoted to a hitter with big-time power.  One theory behind this is that the team wants to see the power hitter get as many at-bats as possible in a game.  Also, managers (and bench coaches!) now realize that the leadoff batter may only bat first one time in a game.  Beginning with former Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa’s creativity in lineups about ten years ago, it is now common to bat the pitcher eighth with a speed guy in the ninth slot.  Traditional lineups don’t seem to be that important anymore.

Just take a look at some of today’s players batting second, baseball’s royalty. In the AL, Mike Trout, who many believe is the best in baseball, wreaks havoc from that slot in the Angels lineup. Mookie Betts, last year’s reigning AL MVP, bats second for the World Champion Red Sox. In the senior circuit, Christian Yelich, last year’s NL MVP and current major league leader with 19 home runs, is Brewers manager Craig Counsell’s everyday #2 guy. And of course there is Kris Bryant of the Cubs, the 2016 NL MVP, who on Friday hit home runs in three consecutive innings as the second batter in the lineup.

We also find some rising stars in the two slot, especially in the American League.  How about Yoan Moncada of the White Sox, who has 9 home runs to date after connecting for 17 HRs last year?  If you haven’t seen the first place Twins play this year, you are missing out on Minnesota’s number two hitter, shortstop Jorge Polanco. He may be one of the most complete players in the game with a league leading batting average of .329 and 8 home runs.  Vlad Guerrero, Jr. of the Blue Jays has just now rocketed into our baseball world, and hit four home runs in the past week while batting second for the Blue Jays.  The incredible statistic about these young stars is that they have a combined five stolen bases this year. 

Some of baseball’s established veterans are also now penciled in each game as the second hitter.  Paul Goldschmidt of the Cardinals, who was acquired in the off season from the Diamondbacks, now finds himself as the #2 batter in St. Louis after eight seasons as Arizona’s cleanup hitter.  Joey Votto, one of baseball’s best and most knowledgeable hitters over the past ten seasons, has relinquished his customary three slot in the Reds lineup and is now batting second. The Dodgers, who lead the MLB in home runs, employs Justin Turner, their slugging third baseman, as the #2 batter.

The tradition of “raising the W” after a Cubs win at the top of the centerfield bleachers began years ago so that commuters coming from downtown Chicago did not have to wait until the next morning to check the box scores and see if the Cubs won.  While the “W” tradition continues, the traditional number 2 hitter in the box score has indeed changed.  For today’s sluggers, the message is “Put Me in the Two Slot Coach, I’m Ready to Play the Game!”

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach

Numbers Game

James Holzhauer, the current “Jeopardy” contestant who is on the second longest winning streak in the game show’s history, remarked recently that he always wanted to be a baseball executive because he loves the game and is a “math guy”.  While I promised in my opening message not to provide modern day analysis of “launch angles” and “WAR”, I too do have an affinity to numbers.  Baseball, more than any other sport, is full of comparative statistics.  I also like player uniform numbers, especially those players who have provided special memories.  So this week, just for fun, let’s tackle my all-time favorites wearing uniform numbers 1-10 (all of whom, with one BIG exception, I have met or seen play):

Ozzie Smith.  The “Wizard of Oz” graced the position of shortstop to the tune of 13 consecutive Gold Gloves.  His acrobatic approach to the position was something we hadn’t seen previously.  He came into the league struggling at the plate but finished his career as an offensive force, settling into a lifetime batting average of .262.  Ozzie led the Cardinals to the 1982 World Series Championship, but might be most famous for his game-winning home run in the 1985 NLCS against the Dodgers, causing HOF announcer Jack Buck to famously proclaim, “Go crazy fans, go crazy!”

Derek Jeter.  The “Captain” was the steady hand behind the Yankees’ five World Series wins in the 1990s and 2000s. He batted .310 lifetime, and garnered over 3,000 hits in his career.  I saw him play in 1998 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, and marveled at his pre-game routine.  From his throwing warm-up, batting practice and fielding routines, everything about Jeter was consistency and precision.

Babe Ruth.  Here’s the BIG exception, the greatest player ever.  Obviously I never saw the “Sultan of Swat” play, but I don’t know of any player in sports I think of more often than the Babe.  He came to the big leagues as a pitcher for the Red Sox, and twice won 23 games in a season.  Of course, his bigger contribution was as a slugger for the Yankees, highlighted by four world titles and 714 career HRs in an era where the home run ball was not prevalent.  To put his dominance in perspective, in 1927 when he hit 60 HRs, the runner-up Lou Gehrig hit 47 and the third-place finisher had 18.  He was a personality on and off the field, famous for his “Called Shot” in the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field, an historic moment in baseball.

Yadier Malina.  “Yadi” has revolutionized catching over the last decade.  Winner of 9 Gold Gloves, Molina’s throwing to the bases from various angles and body positions has set the standard for catchers in baseball.  He is a two-time World Champion (2006 and 2011) with a lifetime batting average of .282.  Molina for many years has become the hitter in the Cardinals lineup you don’t want to face in clutch situations.

Johnny Bench.  The best catcher, ever.  He combined his defensive mastery and hitting prowess in leading the Reds to World Series triumphs in ’75 and ’76.  Bench was the first one-handed catcher in baseball, protecting his throwing hand from harm.  To illustrate his defensive skills, during Lou Brock’s record-breaking 118 steals in 1974, Brock made four attempts against Bench, only one successful one!   A two-time NL MVP, he started the Big Red Machine era in 1970 when he hit 40 HRs and 125 RBIs.  Bench was the 1976 World Series MVP with a .533 batting average.  And in one of the highlights of my life, he hit a game-tying home run off Dave Giusti of the Pirates in the ninth-inning of Game 5 of the 1972 NLCS into the green seats at Riverfront Stadium 12 rows in front of me.

Stan Musial.   I never saw “Stan the Man” play, but met him on two occasions in St. Louis.  He was truly the toast of the town during his playing years and into his baseball retirement.  Musial was a 3-time World Series Champion, and many call him the greatest hitter in the history of the National League.  He had a lifetime batting average of .331 and was the NL MVP three times.  Every game played in the MLB today we can think of Stan when you look out to the solid-colored dark area beyond the centerfield fence.  It was Stan’s insistence to baseball authorities in 1952 which led to a  “Batter’s Eye” in every ballpark.

Mickey Mantle.  I saw “Mick” play in my first game ever, a summer night in 1964 at Cleveland Stadium when my uncle treated my Dad, brother and me to a Yankees vs. Indians game.  All I actually remember was the buzz about Mantle playing in the game.  He was an AL MVP three times and his Yankees won the World Series seven times under his leadership.  What set him apart was his power hitting from both sides of the plate coupled with his base running skills.  At the time of his retirement in 1968 this 536 career HR power hitter held the highest stolen base percentage in MLB history.

Joe Morgan.  “Little Joe” was the fuel that powered the Big Red Machine.  He revolutionized the second base position by his combination of hitting, power, fielding, and base stealing.  Just like Bench, he was a two-time World Champion and two-time NL MVP.  In his ’75 and ’76 MVP years, he hit .327 and .320, 17 and 27 HRs, 94 and 111 RBIs, and an unbelievable on-base percentage of .466 and .444, respectively.  Morgan did not have the strongest throwing arm, but more than made up for it with his quick release. Morgan also had 689 career stolen bases.  And in the spirit of this blog, he more often than not was the “bench coach” during the game, sitting alongside HOF manager Sparky Anderson.

Javier Baez.  You might see higher offensive statistics being put up in baseball this season from the likes of Bellinger and Yelich, but there is no better and certainly no more exciting player in the game today than “Javi”.  He truly does it all, playing the shortstop position with elegance and determination.  Baez’ power to the opposite field is remarkable.  On the base paths he combines speed, hustle and craftiness, almost every game.  I don’t have to offer statistics to back up his play, just see him in action.  One stat though stands out; on 0-2 counts, MLB batters on average are hitting .163 this season.  Javi on 0-2 counts this year is hitting at a .370 clip.

Ron Santo.  When I watched the Cubs as a little boy, Santo was my favorite player among the likes of Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ferguson Jenkins.   He was a 9-time All-Star who played solid defense and hit with power.  Santo was a 5-time Gold Glover and the only NL player with 90 RBIs over 8 straight seasons as his career ended.  In his post-playing days he graced the Cubs broadcasting booth for 20 seasons between 1990 and 2010. 

So now it’s your turn.  Who is your favorite baseball player, past or present, wearing uniform numbers 1-10?   As one of Ron Santo’s radio broadcast partners, Harry Caray, would say:  “Let me hear ‘ya.” 

Until next Monday,

your Baseball Bench Coach