Kuzul

Rogers Hornsby was the greatest of the great second baseman. It isn’t even close.

Johnny Evers was a good second baseman for the Chicago Cubs during their glory days, which ended more than 100 years ago.

Comparing Rogers Hornsby to Johnny Evers is analogous to comparing Albert Pujols to Adam LaRoche.

Hornsby was the National League MVP in 1925 and again in 1929. He won the Triple Crown in 1922 and again in 1925.

In 1924, Hornsby batted .424, which is a mark that will never be approached.

From 1920-1925, he was the National League batting champion, and from 1921-1925, his batting average was .402.

Hornsby’s .358 lifetime average is second only to that of baseball’s greatest player, Ty Cobb (.366).

Hornsby was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1942.

Evers played second base for the Chicago Cubs from 1902 until 1913. He was an integral part of the “greatest” double play combination in baseball history, Tinker to Evers to Chance.

In 1912, Evers took part in 71 double plays, which was the most in his career. In 1966, Bill Mazeroski set the record for second basemen when he took part in 161 double plays.

Following the 1913 season, Evers was traded to the Boston Braves where he helped Boston’s other team stage one of the greatest comebacks ever, as they went from last place, 15 games out on July 4, to win the 1914 pennant.

Evers batted .270, hit 12 home runs, had a .356 on base average, and slugged .334 for his career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946.

There appears to be an inconsistency.

Evers hit .270 when the league hit .262.

Hornsby hit .358 when the league hit .282.

Hornsby out-hit Evers by 88 points, out-homered him by 289 homer runs, had an on base average that was 78 points better, and out-slugged him by almost 250 points.

How can both be Hall of Famers?

The Hall of Fame, a private organization, states that “voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” That’s it.

Since the player’s record is listed first, it probably carries the most weight. But if that is true, how can it be claimed that Evers’ playing record was worth of election to the Hall to Fame when it is so different from Hornsby’s?

Nothing is going to change. Rogers Hornsby, Napoleon Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Frankie Frisch, Charlie Gehringer, Jackie Robinson, Rod Carew and Joe Morgan are among the great second baseman. Johnny Evers is not.

Most of the players in the Hall of Fame deserve their recognition, but some do not.

The best solution is for fans to evaluate players for themselves and not accept unquestioningly what the “experts” decide. It’s okay to reject an “experts” conclusion.

Some cases are easy, such as Evers. Others are not because defensive skills extremely important, which is the rationale for including Mazeroski (who is in the same category as Evers) and Ozzie Smith.

Neither Don Sutton nor Early Wynn was close to Sandy Koufax with respect to ability, but both were 300-game winners, while Koufax retired at the age of 30.

Fred McGriff hit 493 home runs. If he had hit seven more, would that make him a Hall of Famer?

It’s not always easy to decide, but in some cases, that’s not the case.

References:

www.baseball-reference

Rogers Hornsby at Baseball Wiki

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

There have been many instances in which the team with the best record didn’t win the pennant.

In 1973, neither New York’s most beloved team, the gutsy New York Mets, nor the New York Yankees’ former unofficial farm team, the Oakland (Kansas City)  A’s, had its league’s best record, but both were pennant winners.

The World Series, pitting two similar teams in what was to become a riveting showdown that went seven games, opened in Oakland, with the A’s favored to win.

The only reason Mets and A’s faced each other was because the playoffs were initiated in 1969. Before 1969, the Cincinnati Reds would have met the Baltimore Orioles in the 1973 World Series.

The New York Mets won only 82 games, but they were the only team in the National League’s Eastern Division to play better than .500 baseball.

The Mets beat the highly favored, Pete Rose-led Cincinnati Reds in the playoff series to win the pennant.

In the junior circuit, Oakland won 94 games and beat the Baltimore Orioles, who had won 97 games, in the playoff round.

The Mets Had Great Pitching but were Offensively Challenged

The Mets strength was pitching. With a rotation of Tom Seaver, Jon Matlack, Jerry Koosman, and George Stone, the Mets had four solid starters.

In one of their better trades, the Mets had sent Gary Gentry and Danny Frisella to the Braves for George Stone and Felix Millan.

Stone became the Mets’ fourth starter, going 12-3 with a 2.80 ERA, while Millan teamed up with shortstop Bud Harrelson to give the Mets a sold double play combination.

The Mets’ bullpen was basically Tug McGraw, who had a sub-par first half of the season, but then returned to form to lead the Mets to their improbable championship run.

The Mets’ hitting was virtually non-existent.

They finished with a .246 batting average, which was second worst in the league, averaged only 3.78 runs a game, which was also second worst in the league, and hit only 85 home runs.

The A’s Had Great Pitching and Good Hitting

Like the Mets, Oakland’s strength was pitching.

With a starting rotation of Catfish Hunter, Ken Holzman, Vida Blue and Blue Moon Odom (how many teams had one player whose last name was another player’s first name?), Oakland finished second in team ERA with a 3.29 ERA in the first year of the designated hitter.

Their bullpen consisted of Rollie Fingers, Darold Knowles, Paul Lindblad, and Horacio Pina.

The A’s hit only .260, but led the league in runs scored and hit 147 home runs. Both the Mets and A’s were solid defensively. The difference was the A’s hit better.

Bert Campaneris and Reggie Hit Home Runs

Oakland beat the Mets in seven games, but they had win the final two games at home to do it.

Catfish Hunter out-dueled Tom Seaver in the sixth game, as the A’s won, 3-1 to extend the Series.

In the seventh game, the A’s superior offense was the difference as Bert Campaneris and Reggie Jackson each hit a two-run home run in a 5-2 Oakland win.

Pitching Wins Titles

The A’s held the Mets to 24 runs, four home runs, and a .253 batting average, while the Mets’ pitchers held the A’s to 21 runs, only two home runs, and a .212 batting average.

In the second game, the Mets scored 10 of their 24 runs, got 15 of their 66 hits, and hit 2 of their 4 home runs. The A’s’ team ERA was 2.32. The Mets’ was 2.22.

Both teams were well suited for a short series because both teams had great pitching.

While Oakland was solid over a full season, the Mets were not, due to their lack of offense. Once the Mets won the Eastern Division, they became a very dangerous team for the playoffs and World Series.

Purists can go home. The best teams in the regular season don’t always translate into a gripping World Series showdown.

The 1973 Mets, the 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers, and the more recent 2006 St. Louis Cardinals illustrate that teams that are challenged in the regular season but make the playoffs can surprise the experts and even some fans.

Reference:

Retrosheet

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Last night was one of the great nights in the history of New York baseball.

The beloved New York Mets beat Atlanta Braves’ ace, Derek Lowe, in a gut-wrenching game, while the World Champion New York Yankees blasted two clutch, ninth-inning home runs against Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon to beat the hated team from the great state of Massachusetts.

The best right-handed pitcher in New York, Mike Pelfrey, hurled seven and two-third innings of solid baseball, improving his record to 5-1, as the Mets beat the Braves, 3-2.

Rod Barajas, who is having one of the most productive seasons of any catcher since the halcyon days of Roy Campanella, staked Pelfrey to a two-run lead with a double in the second inning.

For all intents and purposes, with Pelfrey on the hill, that was the game.

In the eighth inning, with the Mets leading, 3-2, the Braves somehow had the bases loaded with two outs. Pedro Feliciano was not especially concerned as he stuck out Brian McCann to end the threat.

In the ninth inning, the Braves had Yunel Escobar on second with two outs.

New York baseball’s best closer, Frankie Rodriguez, reared back for a little extra and easily struck out Nate McLouth to finish off the Braves.

Meanwhile, back in New York, the Red Sox were leading the Yankees, 9-7, in the top of the ninth inning. With Sox runners on first and third, Kevin Youkilis was the batter.

Joe Girardi didn’t hesitate. The call went to the bullpen for right-hander Javier Vazquez to replace lefty Damaso Marte.

All Javier did was strike out the Red Sox’ clean-up hitter, again demonstrating the baseball acumen of general manager Brian Cashman.

Going to the Yankees’ half of the ninth, almost none of the knowledgeable fans had left, as Jonathan Papelbon came in to save the game.

Brett Gardner greeted the over-rated Boston closer with a double. After getting Mark Teixiera on a fly ball for the first out, Papelbon had to face old rival Alex Rodriguez.

The greatest right-handed hitter to ever play for the Yankees sent the first delivery he saw from Papelbon deep into the Red Sox bullpen in left center field, where Papelbon had warmed up a few minutes earlier.

The game was tied.

Papelbon was shaken, but he remained in the game because Terry Francona is a lot like Joe Torre.

Robinson Cano was retired on a fly ball to center field, but Papelbon, still seething, hit Francisco Cervelli to put the potential winning run on base. Marcus Thames was the batter.

It didn’t take long. Marcus sent Papelbon’s first pitch over the left field fence as the Yankees once again reminded Boston who they are.

May 18, 2010 is a portent of things to come. The Mets are on the way back, and the Yankees, who never left, showed why they are the defending champions. What a night.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

What Home Field Advantage?

The Brooklyn Dodgers won the 1955 World Series in seven games over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees won the 1956 World Series in seven games over the Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

The Milwaukee Braves won the 1957 World Series in seven games over the at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees won the 1958 World Series in seven games over the Braves at County Stadium.

It marked the only time that four consecutive World Series’ went seven games, the only time that one team, the Yankees, played four consecutive World Series’ that went seven games, and the only time that the visiting team won the seventh game four consecutive times.

The 1955 and 1956 World Series were almost mirror images.

In 1955, the Yankees won the first two games at home, lost the next three on the road, won the sixth game at home, but lost the seventh game at home.

In 1956, Brooklyn won the first two games at home, lost the next three on the road, won the sixth game at home, and then lost the final game at home.

The Milwaukee Braves finally broke the stranglehold that the Brooklyn Dodgers (1952,1953,1955,1956) and New York Giants (1951,1954) had on the pennant.

Led by Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Henry Aaron, and Eddie Mathews, the Braves won the 1957 pennant.

Of course, the Yankees were the Braves’ opponents. The teams split the first two games at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees won the third game at Milwaukee’s County Stadium, but lost the next two.

When the teams returned to the Bronx, the Yankees won the sixth game, but the Yankees lost the seventh game at home.

The next year the World Series opened in Milwaukee and the Braves won the first two games.

Back at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees won the third game, but the Braves won the next day to take a 3-1 series lead.

The last time a team had won the World Series after trailing three games to one was in 1925, when the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Senators, winning the fifth on the road and the final two games at home.

The 1958 Braves lost the fifth game at Yankee Stadium, won the sixth game at County Stadium, but lost the seventh game at home.

The Pressure of the Series

There is nothing more exciting than the seventh game of the World Series.

Pressure builds up more and more as each game is played.

The sixth game is almost as pressure-packed as the seventh because the team that is ahead can end it, while the team that is behind must pull out all stops to win.

Most “experts” subscribe to the belief that the home team has an advantage.

Al “Bud” Selig, the erstwhile Commissioner of Baseball, has seen to it that the league that wins the all-star game gets the home field advantage in the World Series.

From 1955-1958, that alleged advantage didn’t help.

Reference:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Pennant races no longer exist. Since the latter part of the 20th century, baseball teams play to make the playoffs, either by winning the division title or having the best record among the second place teams.

In 1996 and in 2005, bizarre consequences occurred as a result of the wild card.

The Team That Loses Can Win

Entering the final day of the 1996 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres each had 90 wins.

They would be playing each other in the last game of the regular season for each team, but no matter which team won, both would have a chance to win the World Series.

The winner would win the division and the loser would “win” the wild card.

What should have been a crucial game, a game that was for “all the marbles,” became almost meaningless, except for creating a situation that the cynics among us might think could affect the integrity of the game.

Now, no one should have the temerity to question the fact that everyone follows the rules and always tries to win at all costs, but what effect does knowing that losing doesn’t matter have on the integrity of the game?

Los Angeles’ manager Bill Russell started his ace, Pedro Martinez’ big brother, Ramon. That sounds good, but wait.

Russell knew that his team would be in the playoffs whether they won or lost, so he allowed Ramon to make only 11 pitches as a tune-up for his playoff start. Pedro Astacio took over.

Padres’ manager Bruce Bochy didn’t even start ace Joey Hamilton (yes, Joey was considered the ace), giving the ball to Bob Tewksbury.

What should have been the most important game of the season became similar to a March exhibition game.

Los Angeles Was Pleased Despite Losing the Division Title

San Diego won 2-0 in 11 innings on a Chris Gwynn double, which pleased the Dodgers. You read that right.

Losing to the Padres pleased the Dodgers because “…they protected their precious pitching staff today. The game appeared to be anticlimactic….”

The Dodgers played the St. Louis Cardinals, who won 88 games, in the first round of the playoffs, while the Padres, as a consequence of winning the division title, played the Atlanta Braves, who won the most games (96) in the National League.

By losing, the Dodgers were “rewarded” by not having to play the Braves, who won eight more games than the Cards.

This doesn’t seem right, but who cares? Los Angeles and San Diego were both swept in the first round.

Isn’t Every Game Important?

Sometimes, playing a game isn’t even necessary to win, as was demonstrated in 2005.

Fans are told repeatedly that every game is important and that a win against the last place teams (there are usually three last place teams) count as much as wins against first place teams.

The Boston Red Sox discovered how true that was in 2005. The New York Yankees won 95 and lost 67. So did the Red Sox.

But the Yankees were the division winners and the Red Sox were the wild card because a playoff game was not needed. Why add another playoff game a day before the playoff games begin? We can make up rules.

Since the Yankees had won the season series from their New England friends, they were the division winners.

Yes, every win counts the same. All wins are equal, but sometimes, such as when the Yankees beat the Red Sox, some wins count more than others. Ask our little friends from George Orwell’s Animal Farm .

Who Won the 1994 World Series?

Having three divisions and a wild card has been a financial success.

Baseball attendance records have been set, fans with short memories don’t recall who won the 1994 World Series, and the team with best regular season record often doesn’t win the World Series, but who cares?

In 2010, the goal is to make the playoffs, which really are another season.

Although it is only the middle of May, it seems as if the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays will have better records than any second place team in the American League Central or West Divisions.

Who needs a fortuneteller? Who needs a baseball expert? Don’t say this in front of Pete Rose, but does anyone want to bet that the Yankees and Rays make the playoffs? What excitement there is in Baltimore.

References:

Friend, Tom. “Another Gwynn Give Padres Title; Padres 2 Dodgers 0.” New York Times . 20 September 1996, p. C7.

Baseball Reference

Retrosheet

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Mickey Mantle had a terrible season in 1959. He batted .285, with 31 home runs, 75 RBI, and a.517 slugging average.

Most players would not consider that too bad, but Mantle was not most players.

Yankees general manager George Weiss wanted to slash Mantle’s $75,000 salary by $15,000.

From his home in Dallas, Mantle agreed that his 1959 season “wasn’t so good,” but he felt the New York Yankees “cut my salary too much.”

A $2,000 Cut Was Acceptable

One of Mantle’s friends revealed that he would accept a salary cut of $2,000, but that was it.

The friend went on to say that Mantle made $72,000, not the reported $75,000.

The Yankees original offer of $55,000 made Mantle livid.

Mantle for Herb Score and Rocky Colavito?

A lot of bitterness existed between Mantle and Weiss. Mantle waited a few days, but nothing happened. In a television interview, Mantle said, “I’ve been waiting on them to call me. I thought they might have traded me last year for Herb Score and Rocky Colavito and a little bit of money to the Indians. At the time it made me feel a little bit bad. But I don’t even know if I’d mind getting traded now or not.”

George Weiss Wanted Mantle to “Act Like a Man.“

Weiss went after Mantle the way Billy Martin would go after Reggie Jackson in 1977. “Lonesome” George ripped Mickey.

“We have been pampering this boy for nine years and I think it’s about time he acted like a man. This is the year Mantle must learn the facts of life. He must learn he can’t bulldoze us into meeting his terms. He must come in and talk over everything reasonably.”

Mickey Exploded at Weiss’ Remarks

When told what Weiss said, Mantle exploded.

“I don’t know what he meant by bulldozing,” said Mantle. “I am not contacting them. Why should I go down there? They know they can sign me by simply calling me.”

The Yankees wanted Mantle to meet Weiss in person. Mantle insisted that a deal could be worked out over the phone since he was a holdout and would not go to camp.

How the Yankees Could Have Shown Respect

Weiss’ statements were repugnant. Imagine if it were Willie Mays to whom Weiss referred to as “this boy.”

Weiss’ primary concern was holding down financial expenses at the expense of winning, and Mantle’s primary concern was being respected by the Yankees, who could show their respect by treating him as a man and a great young player with pride.

Phil Rizzuto Didn’t Support Mantle

Yankees’ broadcaster Phil Rizzuto backed Weiss when the second most beloved shortstop in New York Yankees history said that Mantle was being silly.

Rizzuto claimed, “…because without baseball Mantle would be a has-been instead of a right-now.” 

Rizzuto went on to say that Mantle had not had a good year.

“It seems the fellow can bury his pride and at least meet his boss halfway. By that I mean get on his horse and show up at St. Pete.”

Whitey Ford, never a company man, laced into Rizzuto when he reminded reporters that in his last two seasons, the Scooter had “spent most of his time sitting in the bullpen. He was well paid for that.”

Play for the Yankees or Don’t Play

Before free agency, the owners were in charge. Mantle had two choices. He could sign with the Yankees or not play baseball.

“The most important thing is getting this thing settled. If we can’t, well,” said Mantle. 

Mantle didn’t finish the sentence because in 1960, it wasn’t necessary.

The Holdout Ends With a Whimper

On March 10, Mantle appeared, unannounced, at the Soreno Hotel in St. Petersburg at 10:30 in the evening. He met with Mr. Weiss the next morning and the Yankees announced they had signed Mantle for the 1960 season.

They would pay Mickey $7,000 less than his 1959 salary.

Free agency certainly has changed the playing field.

References:

“Mantle Rejects Pact, Calls Pay Cut Too Big.” New York Times. 21 January 1960, p.38.

“Mantle Waits for a Call.” New York Times. 3 March 1960, p.35.

“Mantle Is Adamant.” New York Times. 6 March 1960, p.S2.

Briordy, William J. “Pay Cut Too Much, Outfielder Says; Mantle Has “No Idea’ How Long He’ll Stay Away During Impasse.” New York Times. 8 March 1960, p.39.

Drebinger, John. “Holdout Changes Stand in Dispute; Mantle Reports to Yankees.” New York Times. 11 March 1960, p. 29.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The National League had Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, and Maury Wills.

The American League had nobody for 13 years.

After the 1963 season, the American League finally had Elston Howard. The New York Yankees’ catcher was the first black player to become the American League’s Most Valuable Player.

“We’re Going to Make a Catcher Out of You”

When he left the army in 1953, Elston Howard reported to the Yankees’ farm team at Lake Wales, Florida. Yankees’ scout Bill Skiff handed Howard, who was an outfielder, a catcher’s glove.

“Try this on for size,” Skiff said to Howard. “We’re going to make a catcher out of you.”

About a week later, Bill Dickey, the greatest catcher to ever play the game, worked with Elston, teaching him, as Yogi Berra once said when Dickey helped him, “his experience.”

Howard was sent to the Triple-A Kansas City Blues, which was the Yankees’ top farm team before their top farm team became Arnold Johnson’s Kansas City A’s.

Manager Harry Craft put Ellie in the outfield, but one of the catchers was hurt and the back-up backstop was in a terrible slump. Howard became the Blues’ catcher for most of the season.

At spring training in 1954, Yankees’ manager Casey Stengel bluntly told Howard:

“You’ll never make it as an outfielder. Even though we have a lot of catchers here, none hits the long ball except you and Mr. Berra. So I want you to be ready when I need you.”

Stengel was talking long range, not 1954. Howard spent the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Howard Realized What He Was Up Against

“I realized from the start that I was second-string to a man who is a cinch to be elected to the Hall of Fame some day. When I broke in, Yogi and Campanella were the best there were. Thank God I was able to play more than one position.”

Ellie joined the Yankees in 1955, catching only nine games and playing the outfield in 75.

In 1961, when Ralph Houk replaced Stengel as Yankees’ manager because Stengel committed the sin of getting older, Ellie became the Yankees’ regular catcher, but Elston Howard’s greatest moment had occurred in 1958.

It was the fifth game of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees trailed the Braves, three games to one. They were clinging to a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning.

With one out and the Braves’ speedy Billy Bruton on first base, Red Schoendienst hit a looping line drive into left field that seemed to be a certain hit.

Bruton had been off with pitch when the slow-footed but sure-handed Elston Howard lunged, caught the ball off the top of his shoes, and fired to first base to double up Bruton.

The Yanks won as Bullet Bob Turley shut out the hard-hitting team from Milwaukee.

In the seventh game, Mr. Howard, as the great Red Barber sometimes called him, singled home Yogi in the eighth inning to snap a 2-2 tie. The Yankees became World Champions once again.

The American League’s Most Valuable Player

In 1963, Elston Howard hit .287 with 28 home runs, 85 RBI, a .342 on base average, and a .528 slugging average.

Ellie did not have the spectacular flair of Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays. He was a solid player whose value went beyond cold statistics.

Elston Howard had the heart of a champion, drove in clutch runs, kept rallies going, guided young pitching staffs, and helped the Yankees win five consecutive pennants. He was a winner.

References:

Daley, Arthur. “Sports of the Times: The Solid Man.” New York Times . 8 November 1963, p.50.

Baseball Almanac

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Exactly what does “cheating” mean?

One dictionary definition is: “to act dishonestly; practice fraud.” That sounds good .

A second definition is: “to violate rules deliberately, as in a game.” That sounds good too.

In 1951, the New York Giants won the National League Pennant, overcoming the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 13.5 game lead.

In January 2001, an article in the Wall Street Journal claimed that the Giants had an elaborate sign-stealing scheme that allegedly used a telescope in the scoreboard, and a system of bells and buzzers that allowed Giants’ reserves Sal Yvars and Hank Schenz to tip off hitters.

No Rule Against Stealing Signs

If it is true, were the Giants cheating? Well, they were not acting dishonestly. They were acting surreptitiously.

Were they violating any rules? Absolutely not .

There was nothing in the baseball rulebook in 1951 that prohibited stealing signs by any methods a team choose to employ. There still isn’t.

Baseball’s Statement About Sign Stealing

When those in charge became aware of the allegations that besmirched the greatest miracle in sports history, they did what bureaucrats do. They made a statement.

On March 31, 2001, executive vice-president of baseball operations Sandy Alderson sent teams a memo that restricted the use of electronic equipment during a game.

Such equipment and technology “could not be used for communications or for the purpose of stealing signs or conveying information designed to give a club an advantage.”

Does the Method Matter?

Alderson mentioned nothing about using eyes, limbs, head, or any other part of the anatomy to obtain signs—only electronic equipment.

A contradiction exists. Keeping things simple, there must be no cheating in baseball. That is the premise that those in the game must accept. We all know the chances of successfully enforcing such a position.

What difference does it make if signs are stolen by an individual located in the center field scoreboard, or by the runner on second who sees the catcher’s signal to the pitcher?

Both are considered cheating, but some individuals refer to the latter as “gamesmanship.”

Mick Billmeyer

Philadelphia Phillies bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer was using binoculars in a game against the Colorado Rockies a few days ago, allegedly watching Rockies catcher Miguel Olivo.

Billmeyer claims he was watching Phillies backstop Carlos Ruiz set up, and that he was not stealing the Rockies’ signs.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told reporters, “We were not trying to steal signs, Would we try to steal somebody’s signs? Yeah, if we can. But we don’t do that. We’re not going to let a guy stand up there in the bullpen with binoculars looking in. We’re smarter than that.”

Two Choices

Stealing signs has been part of the game since the games began. It is not cheating because stealing signs does not violate any baseball rule. To allow stealing signs when technology is not involved is ridiculous.

If those who run the game are sincere, then they must either allow stealing signs by any methods sign-stealers choose, or they must add a rule not allowing it.

If stealing signs using technology is allowed, every baseball park will look like AT&T’s secret wire-tapping room in San Francisco.

If a rule is added to prevent sign stealing, a rule that is impossible to enforce will make a farce of the game.

Everyone knows that the success of prohibition during the Al Capone-Elliot Ness has been surpassed only by the success of the War On Drugs .

References:

Major League Baseball Rules

Marazzi, Rich. “Baseball Rules Corner: How Baseball Teams Steal Signs From Each Other in the Past and Present.” Baseball Digest . June 1, 2001.

Definition of Cheating

Phillies Deny Stealing Signs

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Pedro Martinez was a better pitcher than Roger Clemens. The basic premise is that the pitcher’s job is to prevent the opposition from scoring. Pedro did that better than Roger.

Pedro Became Baseball’s Best Pitcher in 1997

Originally signed by Los Angeles as an amateur free agent in 1988, Pedro was a young pitcher with great potential, but the Dodgers wouldn’t wait.

In one of the worst trades ever, Los Angeles sent Pedro Martinez to Montreal for second baseman Delino DeShields in 1993.

Pedro became the best pitcher in baseball in 1997, when he won 17, lost eight, and led National League pitchers in ERA (1.90), WHIP (0.932), fewest hits per nine innings (5.89), strikeouts per nine innings (11.37), and complete games (13).

Financially-challenged Montreal could not afford to keep Pedro. In November 1997, they sent him to Boston for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas.

From 1997-2003, Pedro was the most dominating pitcher in baseball.

He won 118 games and lost only 36, for an incredible .766 winning percentage.

Pedro was 23-4 in 1999 and 20-4 in 2002. He had over 300 strikeouts in two different seasons.

During that seven year span, his ERA was 2.20 and his WHIP (Walks Hits Innings Pitched) was an amazing 0.940. Pedro allowed only 1009 hits in 1408 innings.

Roger Clemens’s Best Seven Seasons

Roger Clemens’s best seven-season span occurred from 1986-1992, but let’s tilt the comparison in favor of Roger by selecting the best seven seasons of Roger’s career.

Roger won 20 or more games in all but one of his top seven seasons (’86-’88, ’90, ’98, ’98, and ’01).

His ERA was 2.64, his WHIP was 1.093, and in 1747 innings he allowed only 1415 hits. He won 144 and lost 47 for a .754 percentage.

Pedro Tops Roger

Pedro Martinez allowed fewer hits per inning, fewer walks per inning, fewer runs per nine innings, and recorded more strikeouts per nine innings than Roger Clemens in their best seven seasons.

Lifetime, Pedro has a 2.93 ERA. Roger’s is 3.12.

Pedro allows fewer hits per nine innings (7.10 to7.67), averages more strikeouts (10.00 to 8.56), and yields fewer walks. Pedro’s lifetime WHIP is 1.054 compared to Roger’s 1.173.

Clemens’ Longevity

Whether one compares their best (peak) seven seasons or their lifetime totals, Pedro prevented the opposition from scoring more effectively.

One must be impressed by Clemens’s longevity and by his 354 lifetime wins, but even there, Clemens’s won-loss percentage is .658, compared to Pedro’s .687.

Clemens had a longer career, but Pedro had a better one.

Reference:

Pedro Martinez at Baseball Reference

Roger Clemens at Baseball Reference

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

When Alex Rodriguez “walked on Dallas Braden’s pitching mound,” Mr. Braden took umbrage because A-Rod broke an unwritten rule. The mound belongs to the pitcher.

Alex responded by referring to Dallas’ handful of wins.

A few days ago, Alex claimed he was not making any more comments because he didn’t want to add any more time to the left-handed pitcher’s 15-minutes of fame.

Alex Rodriguez will probably finish his career with more home runs than Babe Ruth and Henry Aaron, but there is only way that A-Rod can top what Dallas Braden achieved on May 9, 2009.

Nineteen pitchers have pitched perfect games. Dallas Braden is one of them. There are few things in baseball that are more difficult to achieve, and they are not always achieved by the greatest.

Cy Young, Sandy Koufax, and Catfish Hunter have tossed perfect games, but so have Don Larsen, Kenny Rogers, and Mike Witt.

After his perfect game, which was only his 18th career win, Braden spoke.

“Pretty cool,” Braden told reporters in Oakland. “I don’t know what to think about it just yet. There’s definitely a select group. I’d like to have a career more than today.”

Pitching a perfect game and striking out at least 20 batters are probably the most difficult single-game pitching achievements.

Alex Rodriguez will never pitch a perfect game, nor will he ever strike out at least 20 batters in a game.

However, there are two accomplishments that are more rare than even a perfect game that would allow Alex to get to Braden’s level.

Only 15 players have made an unassisted triple play. Of course, that doesn’t compare to pitching a perfect game, since it is a freak play, but there is a play on offense that might be greater than a perfect game.

Only 15 batters have hit four home runs in a game, which may be more difficult for a hitter than pitching a perfect game is for a pitcher. As with perfect games, not all players who hit four home runs in a game were great hitters.

Lou Gehrig, Willie, and Mike Schmidt have done it, but so too have Mike Cameron, Mark Whiten, and Shawn Green.

A-Rod is one of the great players in the game’s history, but he admitted that he used steroids for a three-year period beginning in 2001. Using performance-enhancing drugs is not good.

No one knows if Dallas Braden will become an effective major league pitcher. There is little chance that his ranking among pitchers will come close to A-Rod’s ranking among batters, but when discussing single-game achievements, Alex isn’t even close.

References:

Dallas Braden Perfect Game

Baseball Almanac

A-Rod Admits Steroid Use at ESPN

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com