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It’s not everyday a new affiliate comes to town, sort of.

According to News1130, the Vancouver Canadians have negotiated a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays to become their newest affiliate.

Unfortunately, details are scarce at this point, but the announcement is set for Friday, September 17, 2010.

It was also announced Thursday that Toronto Single-A affiliate, the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League, would no longer be affiliated with the club it has been associated with for the past 10 seasons.

The National Post also reports Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos will announce their Triple-A plans “in the next day or so.”

Why?  The Player Development contract with Las Vegas expired at the end of the regular season.

When thinking about the newest addition to the Jays’ family, what does Vancouver’s pairing with the Jays mean for baseball in Canada? In essence, everything.

For a country booming with Canadians littered all over the MLB, this can only solidify Canada’s place in the game.

Until recently, the Jays have exceeded all expectations.  A recent string of losses has brought them back to .500, yet a rotation of young guns and a lineup loaded with home run potential has brought excitement back to a city that has yearned for a winner for almost a decade.

The Canadian hold on the game is now coast-to-coast, and can only get bigger.

When more details get released, The GM’s Perspective will have them here for you.

Stay tuned.

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We all love a comeback story.

Weeks back I wrote a story about Mark Prior, the former first-round pick forced to suck up his pride and start from scratch.

Prior was the next big thing. 

Before Stephen Strasburg, before Aroldis Chapman and his 200 mph fastball, there was Mark Prior.

Prior had all the tools: the arm, the mechanics, and for what it’s worth, the “it” factor.  Just like another big thing in the NFL, Matt Leinart, Prior was the main attraction at USC. 

His phenomenal junior season was profiled on the cover of Baseball America. 

People say they can remember where they were when something special happens.

My dad was seven years old when Bobby Thompson hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round The World”. When I ask him to tell me that story, for the “umpteenth time”, it never gets old.

  My dad was on his way to English class when the janitor gave him the news.  To this day, nearly 60 years after the fact, it was like it was yesterday.

When Prior graced the cover of Baseball America, and rumors were rampant about a $10 million contract, I was somewhere in middle America playing out my final days as a professional with the Gateway Grizzlies.  I remember calling my dad on a payphone (when people still used payphones) and told him about this phenom.

Interesting how things play out, and what you remember after all these years.

Fast-forward to 2010, the multi-millionaire who just turned 30 made enough of an impression with the Orange County Flyers that the Texas Rangers signed him to a minor league contract with their Oklahoma affiliate.

Why did the Rangers pick up an Indy pitcher?

One reason: Dominance

In 11 innings Prior has not given up an unearned run, holding opponents to a .143 batting average and striking out 22 of 44 batters.

Good for him.  For someone that many have called a bust, this is his chance to make amends, to prove the naysayers wrong. 

Personally I hope Prior succeeds.  It will be tough though. PCL hitters are not Golden Baseball League hitters and vice-versa.

He has faced adversity and overcome it. The only thing left for Prior is to put all the pieces together and become that prodigy that everyone has been patiently waiting for.

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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The undisputed home run king Crash Davis! has some company.

For real, Crash may be a character in Bull Durham, one of the all-time great baseball movies, but Charlie Lisk of the Frontier League has set a record himself.

On Thursday night, Lisk rewrote the Frontier League record books by hitting his 87th Frontier League home run.

That homer pushed him past Morgan Burkhart for number one on the list, and let me say that is something to be very proud of.

Burkhart, who previously sat atop the home run leader board with 86, spent three years in “the show” (Crash Davis’ favorite saying), compiling five home runs in 42 games.

That may not seem like much to the average reader, but those three seasons were due to a lifetime of hard work sacrifice and dedication.  In my eyes, very commendable.

In my experience, I spent over 20 years honing my craft, attempting to go where my heroes were, and if you have been following my readings, I did not get where I wanted to be, but I gave it my best shot.

On the other hand, Lisk has been playing this game for a long time; 96 home runs, in nine professional seasons, 346 RBI, and almost 600 games played.

Lisk, over the past two seasons has mashed 53 long flies and appears to be hitting his “power” peak at 27 years of age.  2010 has been more of the same with 19 homers and 78 RBI and is on pace for a career high in average.

I commend Fisk on his perseverance and drive.  Those traits might get him his shot, and in my opinion, why not?  Everyone deserves his opportunity in the show, even if it was as brief as “the” Crash Davis.

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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Once regarded as the next “next big thing”, Mark Prior had expectations set so high, one could always wonder if those highs could ever be met.

Compared to 2010’s newest phenom Stephen Strasburg, Prior’s ascension to fame peaked during his junior year at USC as he went 15-1, 1.70 ERA in 18 starts with 202 strikeouts in 138 innings.

All signs pointed to Prior as a success—unspoiled mechanics with the stamp of approval from pitching Guru Tom House.

As we all know, anything can happen in this game and can’t miss prospects more often than not, miss, and unknowns become legendary.

By all means, Prior’s career started out true to form, going 24-12 with an ERA hovering around 2.74 and 392 strikeouts in 328 innings.  When all is said and done, those first two MLB seasons were the highlight of Prior’s career.

From 2004 through 2006, Prior recorded 18 wins coupled with 18 losses and ended ’06 giving up 35 runs in 46 innings.

Needless to say, the Chicago Cubs No. 1 pick in 2001 was out of baseball.

Five years later—and without a doubt, countless hours of rehab behind him—Prior is attempting what many professionals do,  a comeback.

However, this comeback is not with a minor league affiliate, or playing overseas, it begins in the Golden Baseball League and the Orange County Flyers.

The 29 year-old Prior, who worked out for Flyer’s Manager Paul Abbot, was scheduled to pitch in the second game of doubleheader against the Victoria Seals on August 3.

Prior did pitch in that game, throwing a scoreless frame while racking up his first strikeout.

Working his way back up to “the show” is where Prior wants to be, but for now small steps and getting batters out is his priority.

“I want to get back out there and get some competitive games under my belt,” said Prior.  “It’s been a few years with a couple shoulder surgeries.  I finally feel that I’m at a point now that I can go out, compete and get guys out, so that’s the first step.”

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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Three to four years ago this, would be considered a blockbuster deal. In 2010, this is just another trade for a middle reliever with 20 career innings, and a minor league prospect with 10 career minor league homeruns.

Now this could be Berkman’s swan song, his final shot at glory.

Berkman, it appears, is on the path that many elite players take at one time or another; the road to retirement.

There has been a serious decline in Berkman’s production since 2006, specifically in his power numbers.

Statistically speaking, his home runs have seen a 45% drop since a career high of 45, while his on-base percentage and slugging percentage have seen better days.

A career-high OBP of .450 in 2004 has sunk to .367.  His slugging percentage, on the other hand, has taken a hit of nearly 200 points.

This information does indicate that his best years are far behind him, unfortunately, another statistic describes a different story.

A patient and selective hitter is Berkman. His career .409 OBP proves that, however his pitch selection could be off target.  His BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) peaked at .341, now sits at .279.

With all of this data at the Yankees fingertips, I do not see what role Berkman plays in this equation.

Obviously, he could play first base, his primary position, but Mark Teixeira, quite possibly the best defensive first baseman in the game, has that all but cornered.

Berkman could play in the outfield; then again, the Yanks have three highly capable options already there;

• Curtis Granderson, who is having undoubtedly a disastrous year compared to previous one’s, cannot be benched: he is owed $5.5 million next year, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012, and his contract includes a $13 million club option for 2013 with a $2 million buyout , (this courtesy of ESPN.com ).
• Nick Swisher is on pace to exceed previous bests in OBP and slugging
• Brett Gardner is way better than advertise

Frankly, what role does Berkman play?  I am not quite sure

What was the Yankees primary reason in acquiring Berkman? Because they can

Do the Yankees have the best DH trifecta heading into the postseason, with Austin Kearns and Marcus Thames?  You had better believe it!

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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I know this article is a little different and contradicts bloggers in this internet age, but bear with me!

This past weekend I was reading the latest Sports Illustrated Issue—the one with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and their newest pick-up LeBron James.

I will admit it that I have always been a sucker for a good sports read. Whether it be, SI, ESPN The Magazine, or since I discovered this whole new world we call the business of baseball, books focused of the economics of the game.

In SI’s newest article, a two-page spread featuring Lady Gaga in some sort of bubble bikini or something is on the left, while the right side is full-page writeup, that more or less states a fact that maybe lost on all of us in this generation of  up to the millisecond information.

One worry of the internet is how it could destroy the magazine, or book industry, turning a genuine form of print into a dinosaur.  Contrary to popular belief, “readership is increasing, and adults between 18 and 34 are among the most dedicated readers.”

While everything is done online these days, so is the ordering of subscriptions,  books etc…

Seemingly, the internet age, once thought to eliminate print, is actually helping its growth.

Online searching, increases viewership, thus driving subscribers to new sites.

Simple right…

So, while we are on the topic of subscriptions, reading, and online purchases, I thought I would introduce a book, that some may have read, debated or  have discussed for years, “The Numbers Game” by Alan Schwarz—foreword by Peter Gammons of ESPN.

Anyone interested in the history of statistics for the game of baseball, this is the book for you.

Baseball is a sport so entrenched by numbers that the mention of .406, *61, 190, .367, 755, 56, or even *73, brings along a story or a tall tale within seconds of its mention.

Yet, where did the obsession come from?

Did it gain momentum with Bill James and his abstracts?

Was it brought to light by Allan Roth? Or has it been a fixture in our minds since Henry Chadwick gave it a life of its own?

Either way, it is a, I wont’ say gut wrenching thriller! Instead ,a unique adventure for anyone that loves baseball and the numbers that go with it.

If anyone out there has read it, let me know what you think, I would love to hear your thoughts.

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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It appears that Scott Kazmir has reached a crossroads in the 2010 season.

I have been following Kazmir’s season since spring training , discussing the ups and downs , and documenting his progression .  Unfortunately, this time around all the positives have turned into disappointment for, I’m sure, management, the fans, and undoubtedly, himself.

After four starts in mid-June, he went 4-0 with a 2.34 ERA.  All signs pointed to a return to the Kazmir of old.

Since his June 24 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, those numbers have taken an ugly nosedive.

In his four starts since then, Kazmir has gone 0-4, and he has given up 30 runs in less than 20 innings, more specifically, an ERA of 13.73.

More disturbing was Kazmir’s last start on July 10, against the light-hitting Oakland Athletics.

Kazmir’s line: 5 innings pitched, 11 hits, 13 runs, 13 earned runs, 3 HR, 3 BB, 2 SO

If that does not destroy one’s confidence, I just read in an article on the Los Angeles Times website that 13 earned runs is the most ever given up by a starters in the club’s history.  The last starting pitcher to give up 13 was Jason Marquis against the Chicago White Sox on June 21, 2006, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Midway through 2010 his fastball is a averaging a touch over 90 mph (90.5), yet there is still a concern at how much he is throwing it.

His fastball is being thrown more than 70 percent of the time, while his slider, thrown sparingly (12.7 percent), has also seen a reduction in velocity, down four mph since 2006.

Whether it is the velocity, the pitch type, or a combination of both, it is now a legitimate possibly that Kazmir could lose not only his spot in the rotation, but also his roster spot with the Angels.

With the All-Star Game on the horizon, Kazmir and the second place Angels have some time to regroup, relax, and possibly come up with a contingency plan.

Could the bullpen be a solution, maybe a lefty specialist in the late innings?

It is an idea, but upon inspection, lefty-specialist may not be in the cards.  Against lefties this year, Kazmir has only three strikeouts, and has given up 23 hits in 17 innings. To make matters worse, a .319 average against does not help his cause.

It will be interesting to see what does happen after the All-Star break, but after this recent string of appearances, I am unsure of how many more times the Angels can afford to let Kazmir hit the field until a suitable solution can be found.

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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The biggest signing of the 2009 Winter Meetings was of course a deal that involved the New York Yankees.

A three-way trade between the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and the Arizona Diamondbacks was the most intriguing, a deal that included the following players;

• CF Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees
• SP Edwin Jackson and SP Ian Kennedy to the Arizona Diamondbacks
• SP Max Scherzer, RP Phil Coke, CF Austin Jackson, and RP Daniel Schlereth to the Detroit Tigers

The main components of that deal were Granderson, who was nothing short of a star center fielder of the Detroit Tigers, and Austin Jackson, the prized prospect of the New York Yankees.

Nearing the midway point of the 2010 season, the Detroit Tigers have snuck one past the Yanks, so to speak.

Jackson is enjoying a decent rookie season, while only costing the Tigers a base salary of $400,000.  He leads the club in stolen bases (13), ranking fourth in batting average (.306), and coming fifth in OBP (.353).

Granderson, on the other hand, is struggling on the field and costing the Yankees a pretty penny in the bank account—he is owed $5.5 million next year, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012, and his contract includes a $13 million club option for 2013 with a $2 million buyout , (this courtesy of ESPN.com ).

After 56 games, Granderson is hitting .232, with a .309 OBP, while slugging an anemic .412. His OPS of .721 ranks him 46 out of 85 AL outfielders.

More specifically, that ranks him between Juan Rivera of the Los Angeles Angels and Scott Podsednik of the Kansas City Royals.

Granderson has always been known as one of the good guys in the game as stated by Jim Leyland, Granderson’s former manager.

“I think, in my opinion, Curtis Granderson is one of the things that’s all good about baseball in today’s baseball world. He is one heck of a player. He has a great face. He’s very bright. He’s very articulate. He’s everything that’s good about baseball,” Leyland said. “He’s the total package.”

Unfortunately, there is a disturbing trend in Granderson’s ability over the past two seasons that might cost him more than a contract, but playing time in the “BIGS”.

His ability to hit left-handed pitching is becoming a serious problem.

In ’07, he batted .160 against lefties.  In ’08 there was some significant improvement batting .259.  That appeared to be an aberration, as ’09 saw  that number drop back down .183, and presently sees him hovering at .197.

The 2007 and 2008 seasons are where Granderson really started to gain credibility throughout the league.

Playing tremendous and consistent defense is natural for an athlete who has a career .993 fielding percentage committing only 14 errors in almost 1900 total chances.

As mentioned, in ’07 and ’08, Granderson average 22 plus homers a year with 70 RBI, he was on base nearly 37% of the time and had a single season career high slugging percentage in ’07 of .552.

With all this information, you would think his numbers would get better. However, at this point in his career, those numbers have taking a drastic nosedive.

A career .279 hitter prior to 2009, Granderson saw his average drop to .249, although he hit career highs in homers (30) and RBI (71).

The downturn in average has continued this year.

When scouring FanGraphs , two pieces of information stuck out to me that could explain Granderson’s struggles of late.

First, his “O-Swing Percentage” (percentage of pitches a batter swings at outside of the strike zone) is at a career high—23.6 percent.  Meaning, patience at the plate is wearing thin, more or less based on the struggles and pressure placed upon him by the fans and the media.

Second, Granderson’s fly ball percentage has been at the highest they have ever been—49.3 percent in ’09 and 45 percent in ’10, five percent higher than in ’08.

Whether or not Granderson has become homer happy, or that his mechanics need a tweak, we may not know.  The numbers do tell us that something is wrong in his swing or pitch selection is possibly the major factor.

One thing is for sure, playing in New York is a lot different from playing in Detroit.  Every little thing is scrutinized—every out dissected, every boo heard just that much more.

Being a part of a major trade gives Granderson some leeway, as more time will be given to work through this funk. But, once the second half rolls around and the numbers are not moving in the right direction, knowing the Yankees and their history, a change could happen sooner than later.

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Brian Jordan are well-known not only for their accomplishments in baseball but also football.

They are the most recent two-sport stars.

Little known to many in the sports world, Scott Radinsky, former Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers reliever from 1990  until 2001 was also a two-sport athlete, sort of.

Originally drafted in the third round of the 1986 draft by the Chicago White Sox, after putting up Stephen Strasburg type numbers following his senior season in high school; 14-1, 0.72 ERA, 180 strikeouts in 100⅓ innings, Radinsky, played four years in the minors until making his debut for the Sox in 1990.

At 6’3 and just under 200 lbs., Radinsky’s time in the minors definitely deserved some notice, 187 innings, 64 earned runs, 186 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.07.

His best was just that.

While pitching for South Bend, the Sox single-A affiliate in 1989, Radinsky compiled a 7-5 record in 61 and 2/3 innings, struck out 83 while only walking 13 and posted a 1.75 ERA.  Oh I forgot, 31 saves!

Upon his promotion to the big club, he did not disappoint.

As a rookie in 1990, in a middle reliever type role, his 6-1 record in 62 appearances garnered him enough votes to take tenth place in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

Over the next ten seasons, Radinsky was as solid as any reliever was.

A 2.02 ERA in 1991, racking up 15 saves in 1992, leading the Sox relief corps, in wins with eight in 1993.

A true sign that a coach or a team has confidence in a middle relief / set up guy is the amount if times he is used, pretty obvious right?

Not only was Radinsky reliable, but he got the job done, and there was no doubt that at that time he was among the best at his craft.

Between 1993 and 1998, arguably the best years of his MLB career, Radinsky ranked second in the American League in appearances with 73 in 1993 and seventh iwith 75  in 1997.  His 1997 campaign is even more impressive as this was his second year as a Los Angeles Dodger.

A change from leagues is can be considered a benefit for any pitcher, especially moving to the pitcher friendly National League.

Five wins, a 2.41 ERA in 58 appearances is all the any manager could ask for, but to improve on a majority those stats the next season is the sign of a player who knows their role better than anyone does.

75 appearances in 1997, a paltry .236 batting average against with a two-to-one strikeout to walk ratio proved to be a great signing for the Dodgers who picked him up as a free agent after the ’95 season.

Radinsky’s second profession is possibly even more remarkable than his resume in the pros.

I would like to give a shout to my college baseball teammates Greig, Josh, Shane and Casey.

Without them and their influence on this small town Canadian, I might not even be cognizant to this information.

Scared Straight, Ten Foot Pole, and Pulley.  Southern California punk rock bands that Radinsky has been a member or the front man of.

While not being a professional baseball player, Radinsky was leading a revolution of sorts in the punk rock world.

With the boy band craze of the mid-to-late 90′s, Pulley, his band with the most success, was headlining tours with Lagwagon, extensive tours of Europe, Canada, and appeared on the Vans Warped tour.

Categorized as Punk Revival and Skatepunk, Pulley was more of a secondary act for the members of the band until their last couple studio albums.  While associates of the band had jobs and the majority of the touring had to schedule its acts around Radinsky’s baseball career, it quite astonishing the following that this “part-time” band generated since 1995, and as recently as 2009,  started its own record label; X-Members.

After serving as pitching coach in the Cleveland Indians Player Development System for the past six seasons and as pitching coach for the Buffalo Bisons and Columbus Clippers from 2006-2009, Radinsky has reached the Major Leagues again, this time as bullpen coach for the big club.

Do not get me wrong, despite having a full-time job with the Indians, punk rock and Pulley, will always be around.

In 1997, Radinsky was interview by Sports Illustrated.

Even back then, Radinsky could keep things in perspective.

His passion for the game and music has been in his system for his entire life, and if he has anything to do without, having fun and enjoying it will always be number one.

“I’m not going to sell out just for one more paycheck,” he says with Sex Pistols righteousness. “If I get tired of all the rules, if those five minutes are not enough, if the phone rings in the bullpen and the coach tells another reliever to warm up and I don’t mind, then it’s time to walk away. I’ll just go and join a men’s league in Simi Valley and pay my $150.”

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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The Golden Baseball League seems to have this habit of generating headlines in a sport dominated by A-Rod, Derek Jeter, and the New York Yankees.

On Saturday afternoon, during the Fox Saturday Game of the Week, the Boston Red Sox were playing host to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Nothing out of the ordinary, except that the Phillies are in dangerous team slump where hitting and pitching have seemingly affected everyone.

The Red Sox, on the other hand, after being counted out of the playoff race through the first couple of months of the 2010 season, are lurking in the weeds of the American League East.

David Ortiz can be a fan favorite depending on the mood of the fans, Dice-K is hit or miss, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz are holding the staff together, the heart and soul, Dustin

Pedroia is having a down year, compared to his standards, and speedy center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury appears to be out for an undetermined amount of time with a recurring rib injury.

What we have here looks like the perfect scenario for the new underdogs of the division, and when your stud center fielder goes down, call-up someone from the minors.

In this case, Daniel Nava’s journey to history is not as ordinary as one’s struggle through minors. 

Nava turned disappointment into MVP numbers to become one of the best prospects that no one has heard of.

Nava’s 2006 senior season at Santa Clara University, was what you can call outstanding: a .395 average, 37 RBI, .476 OBP and .530 SLG.  Unfortunately for him, that did not get him drafted, setting of a chain of events, a string of ups and downs, culminating in taking the first pitch he saw in the Majors and belting a grand slam.

Unfortunately, I only caught the last two innings of the game but was thrilled too see his family in stands recording every moment.

Once leaving Santa Clara, Nava tried his hand at independent league ball, specifically the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden Baseball League.

Nava, who was recently interviewed by Mike Andrews of SoxProspects.com , said he attempted to play for the Chico Outlaws not because they were close to home, but because they were the only ones who had contacted him.

Despite not playing in 2006, in part to being cut by the Chico squad, Nava made the team in ’07 and put together one of the best seasons in GBL history. In 72 games, Nava batted .371, with 12 home runs, 59 RBI, had an OBP of over .470, and slugged nearly.630.  Over one-third of his 95 hits went for extra bases.

The baseball world finally began to take notice of this former Bronco.

Nava became the first GBL rookie to win MVP honors and Baseball America ranked him as the No. 1 Indy prospect in America.

Two years in the Red Sox organization has proved all the naysayers wrong.

A combined .345 batting average at three different classes prior to ’10 meant a promotion to the big club was only a matter of time, and, in typical Nava fashion, he let his play and ability speak for itself.

This article can also be found on The GM’s Perspective

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