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by Derek Felix

Talkin’ baseball

June 1, 2008 in MLB

The baseball season is two months old and there are many intriguing stories. What are some of the best? Let’s find out:

1.Josh Hamilton continues to rise from former failed No.1 overall substance abuse addict to the AL’s best player. In his first year with the Rangers since coming over from the Reds in the Edinson Volquez trade, the ex-Tampa 1999 first overall draft pick has built on a solid rookie season by stinging junior circuit pitchers with great numbers across the board ranking second in batting average (.326), tied for first in home runs (14) and first by a bunch in RBI’s (61) entering Sunday. With a couple of more hits including a solo shot in a 13-8 home loss to Oakland, he continues to rip it up. With nobody tearing it up like the NL, can Hamilton win the triple crown? Crazy thought but one which might be in reach if he continues his surge.

2.Chipper Jones is hitting over .400 on the first day of June. Sure. The switch hitting third baseman probably will cool down but his remarkable start has been awesome. The 36 year-old career Brave shows no signs of slowing down entering today with a gaudy .413 average, 12 dingers, 35 RBI’s and 40 runs scored. He’s just two homers shy of 400 for what’s been a brilliant 14-year career which is Cooperstown bound. Chipper’s always been one of the most consistent performers who could hit for average, power and drive in runs. A perennial winner.

3.Amazing how Tampa Bay is now just called the Rays and are suddenly boast the AL’s best record. They have a budding star in center fielder B.J. Upton along with former 2006 first round pick Evan Longoria manning the hot corner. The lineup is plenty potent including the likes of Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford but hitting was never the issue when it came to all the losing down in Tampa. They always lacked enough pitching to compete seriously. However, by swapping outfielder Delmon Young for Matt Garza combined with the continued emergence of ace Scott Kazmir and reliable No.2 James Shields, the Rays finally have a staff which can pitch deep into games. Even ex-Dodger farmhand Edwin Jackson has chipped in. Troy Percival’s addition to the pen closing games has been a blessing allowing J.P. Howell, Al Reyes and Dan Wheeler to setup. Suddenly, Tampa is no longer a laughingstock. So, can they stay near the top? Who knows? They’re a young up and coming ballclub. We won’t really know the answer until August.

4.With another win today, the Cubs now own the majors best record at 36-21. Must really be a century later. Lou Piniella’s balanced lineup which features stars Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee can supply plenty of offense. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez continues to rake and even veteran center field pickup Jim Edmonds is contributing. Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome has been a solid addition and veteran middle infielders Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot find their way on base. Rookie backstop Geovany Soto continues to slug giving the Cubbies a lethal middle order. The staff is anchored by Carlos Zambrano with former closer Ryan Dempster surprising as a seven-game winner who’s K-ing almost a batter an inning. Carlos Marmol is arguably baseball’s most dominant setup man throwing gas to pave the way for converted closer Kerry Wood. So far, so good. Maybe the century long wait could really be over come October.

5.Can anyone get out Chase Utley? The Phillies’ second baseman slugged his MLB-leading 20th dinger in a 7-5 win over the Marlins to lift the defending NL East champs back into first. Last year, he was our pick for NL MVP. Had he not missed time, Utley very well could’ve won the award over shortstop teammate Jimmy Rollins. Perhaps this is the year he takes it.

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by Derek Felix

Ramirez hits No.500

May 31, 2008 in MLB

All Photos Copyright Getty Images 

 Manny Ramirez clocks Chad Bradford's pitch for No.500.Manny Ramirez gets congratulated by third base coach DeMarlo Hale after the big blast at Camden Yards.

Boston teammates led by David Ortiz mob Manny Ramirez outside Red Sox dugout.

Manny Ramirez became the 24th major league player to reach 500 career home runs earlier tonight during the Red Sox’ 6-3 road win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.

The milestone took place during the Boston seventh when the former George Washington High School product stepped to the plate and drove Baltimore reliever Chad Bradford’s first pitch to right center into the bleachers. A no doubter which allowed the charasmatic left field slugger to admire it walking before raising his arms and going into his home run trot.

Ramirez becomes the latest player to reach the exclusive 500 homer club joining the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Frank Thomas and Jim Thome who all did it last year. Out of the 24 to reach the plateau, Manny is only the seventh player in major league history to have 500 dingers, 1,500 RBI’s, 475 doubles and a .300 batting average joining The Big Hurt, Mel Ott, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.

Congrats to the Boston slugger on the achievement.

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by Derek Felix

Harder Hits

May 11, 2008 in Hard Hits

Tonight, the boys return as plenty shall be discussed including the Knicks’ hire of Mike D’Antoni. Is this another typical move by the Team Dumb and Dumber Clown Mgt 101 or can it actually work? Plus conference semi analysis on Lakers-Jazz and Hornets-Spurs. The NHL are down to four. So, who will come out on top? Are the Pens and Wings destined to meet or can the Flyers or Stars comeback and spoil the party? Derek has analysis. Plus the all important May baseball.

Hard Hits

Airtime: 12 ET/9 PT AKA JPG Land

Call-in No: 646-652-2543

Talent: Derek Felix, John “JPG” Giagnorio, Brian Sanborn, Rob “Kraze” Davis, Jeff Bashlor, Nate Sousa, Justin Felix, Dan “Da Man” Wheeler (Wheel-ah)

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by Derek Felix

A Yankee habit

May 2, 2008 in Articles, MLB, NY Yankees

When one looks at the AL East standings from the first month, a couple of things will stand out. The Orioles are playing good ball over .500 and the Rays are in first place having won eight of 10.

That also means the Yankees are once again off to a slow start under new skipper Joe Girardi. Something which has become a weird tradition for a team which prides itself on perfection and the pursuit of winning a 27th world championship.

It would be easy to point to the DL stints of MVP Alex Rodriguez and perennial All-Star Jorge Posada for why the Bronx Bombers find themselves two games under .500 (14-16) and three behind both Tampa Bay and Boston. That still doesn’t explain being swept at The Stadium by the Tigers for the first time in 42 years.

Jim Leyland’s resurgent club completed a three-game sweep last night by scoring eight of the last nine runs to turn back a 3-0 Yankee deficit courtesy of a Bobby Abreu three-run first inning blast. No worries for the Tiger bats who pounded out eight extra base hits to the Yanks’ one in rallying back for their eight win in 10 to suddenly pull within a game of .500 (14-15). They started 2-10.

AL MVP runner-up Magglio Ordonez led a balanced 11-hit attack against struggling rookie starter Ian Kennedy. Given a three-run lead, he gave it back when Detroit pushed across four in the third including a tying two-run Ordonez double and a go-ahead Miguel Cabrera RBI triple.

The 23 year-old former first round pick out of USC was looking for his first victory this season but didn’t get much help from Abreu in the field, who according to a few peturbed Bomber fans on WFAN strayed away from the right field wall on two triples in the game. That included a two-run Ramon Santiago three-bagger which was valuable insurance off ineffective losing Yankee reliever Jonathan Albaledejo.

Who??? Exactly.

If you’re a Yankee fan, you know by now that it’s way too early to push the panic button. A-Rod will be back. As for Posada, our guess is as good as anyone’s. Rest is the best thing for the valuable veteran leader.

Even without them, there’s still enough bats to be producing more than what Girardi’s getting. When Melky Cabrera is tied for the club lead in dingers (5), that’s not a good sign. I’m a Melky backer and he’s improved but where the heck is sidekick Robinson Cano?

As usual, Cano’s off to an atrocious start. It’s been the second baseman’s trademark. However, that shouldn’t be an excuse for a talented player capable of winning both a batting title and Gold Glove. Isn’t it about time the 25 year-old who hit .306 with 19 dingers and 97 RBI’s (.343-13-57 Post All-Star in 2007) was held to a higher standard? He now makes more bucks and must start being a more consistent performer because he’s the Yanks’ youngest star in an All-Star lineup with untapped potential.

Getting Cano untracked would certainly be a big step in the right direction. Here’s a suggestion for Girardi. Try hitting him higher in the order. Could someone please explain why he batted eighth last night behind Cabrera and has been Morgan Ensberg with Chad Moeller as batting protection? It makes about as much sense as trying recently recalled Shelly Duncan cleanup.

Jason Giambi also is more washed up than Cher. Unless he’s bopping the ball out, there’s no place for him in the lineup. He shouldn’t hit ahead of Cano.

The only Yanks who are doing their job at the plate are the aforementioned Cabrera and Abreu along with Hideki Matsui. That means they need more from team captain Derek Jeter. And by that, I don’t mean just singles. He has no stolen bases in 24 games. He’s been back long enough to at least attempt steals and set the tone.

Leadoff hitter Johnny Damon has come around after a slow start. The Pinstripes need the gritty 34 year-old former Red Sock to continue getting on base.

While the depleted lineup is one story, the other is the continued problems with the Yankee rotation. Outside of ace Chien-Ming Wang, it’s been pretty mediocre. The 28 year-old Wang won five of his first six starts entering Friday’s home game against Seattle. He’s done his part even striking out 27 in 39 innings.

Andy Pettite’s been up and down. Some outings, the crafty southpaw veteran has done the job winning half while getting into the seventh. The others have seen the 35 year-old 200-plus game winner show his age giving up five long balls. The good news is that when he’s won, that hasn’t been an issue. The bad is that he’s allowed four homers the last two times out. Not coincidentally both Yankee defeats. Is this what you want from your second starter?

Mike Mussina’s performed admirably as the No.3 winning three and losing three in similar fashion to Pettite permitting seven long balls. He’s basically a five inning pitcher. The problem is that taxes a pen which isn’t very good. Especially when Girardi continues to roll out Ross Ohlendorf (Woh-len-dorf) and latest free agent bust LaTroy Hawkins. Instead, he’s reminding Yankee fans of Andy Hawkins. At least they’re not related.

We’ve already documented Kennedy who after last night is still winless in five starts with Girardi non-committal on whether he’ll stay in the rotation. Like the alternatives are any better? Who’s longing to see Japanese failure Kei Igawa?

The Yanks already have to replace an injured Phil Hughes, who it was discovered had a broken rib along with a right oblique strain. That might help explain a miserable start in which he’s 0-4 with a team worst 9.00 ERA. Somehow, he started his sixth game of the season this past Tuesday getting tattooed by Detroit for six earned runs, eight hits along with the first two homers against in just three and two thirds before coming out.

You got to wonder about the 21 year-old former first round pick’s ability to stay healthy. This is the second straight year he’s gone down and will miss significant time. He shouldn’t be expected back before he turns 22. Maybe that’s a good omen.

The Yanks must be right about Kennedy and Hughes because they passed on Johan Santana putting a lot more emphasis on the younger shoulders of the two hurlers while Joba Chamberlain remains a perfect bridge to Mariano Rivera.

Hank Steinbrenner can bark all he wants but keeping Joba in the pen is best for now. Kyle Farnsworth has pitched better lately but let’s be serious. He can’t be trusted in the eighth inning.

What else is alarming? What the heck are Ensberg and reliever Billy Traber doing on the active roster? Better questions for Girardi and Brian Cashman to answer.

For now, the Yanks will have to make do with what they have. No one ever said it would be easy.

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by Derek Felix

Wagner scores big points

May 2, 2008 in MLB, NY Mets

Big ups Billy Wagner! It’s not everyday that a ballplayer calls out a teammate for not giving maximum effort but that’s precisely what the Mets’ veteran lefty closer did the other day calling out an ineffective Oliver Perez for not dialing it up a notch.

Instead, the talented southpaw enigma showed his dreadful side losing the plate to the tune of five walks and seven runs (2 ER) in a disastrous second inning against the lowly Pirates. His former club got the better of him taking advantage of porous Met defense turning three errors and one big mental lapse by Jose Reyes to destroy New York 13-1. Prior to the blowout defeat at Shea before another testy crowd (who could blame them), the Amazin’s had won three in a row including the last two from a banged up Atlanta team over the weekend.

Finally, things seemed to be on the way up for Willie Randolph’s ballclub. Not so fast. Instead of making it a two-game sweep of the Pirates and four straight before a challenging West coast swing with stops at major league leader Arizona and the suddenly hot Joe Torre Dodgers (six straight wins), the Mets played sloppy ball in the field and hardly were competitive at the plate against no-name Tom Gorzelanny managing only one hit and zero runs despite five bases on balls in the first five frames.

Where’s Bob Uecker’s Harry Doyle Major League character when you need him?

“There was no get-up-and-go,” a fired up Wagner told reporters after the humiliation. “That can’t happen.”

To say he took Perez and a few lazy teammates to the woodshed would be an understatement. Billy didn’t mince words even indicating that his team was lucky to finish April two over .500 (14-12).

“It might be good if we worked on a little bit of everything,” one of the team’s most consistent performers noted. “Bullpen’s been shoddy. Starting pitching, we’ve had our ups and downs. Hitting comes and goes.”

The talkative Wagner has always been willing to put himself out there challenging teammates to play better. In the third year of a four-year $43 million contract, the 36 year-old who has six saves and 12 K’s in 12 innings while permitting just three hits has every right to be upset. He came here to win a World Series. Despite winning their division two years earlier, they haven’t been to one yet losing in gut wrenching fashion to the Cardinals and then collapsing last September.

With the key acquisition of ace Johan Santana, the Mets were supposed to get a tremendous lift and make the negativity of last year go away. However, that’s not what’s happened so far which is why Wagner sounded the justified alarm that his team needs to be better.

You could start with Reyes being Reyes on a daily basis and Carlos Beltran remembering that he was given over $100 million three years ago to be a big run producer. Not just a streaky player who goes from hot to ice cold making Met fans see the recurring image of the bat on the shoulder with Adam Wainwright and the Cards celebrating on their field.

As for Wagner target Perez, he’s only gone six once in his first six outings. Oh btw…that came in a 13-0 Apr.2 rout at Florida a month ago. It’s awfully hard to accumulate innings when you walk nearly as many batters as you strikeout. Twenty one walks in 29 IP just won’t get it done. Especially with a thin pen which Randolph has already overused.

Outside of Wagner, Pedro Feliciano and the coming along Duaner Sanchez whose role should magnify, who else can Met supporters trust out of that pig pen?

Fairly simple reply.

Wagner even admitted on The Michael Kay show during his weekly segment yesterday that he’s not the most liked teammate. No surprise there since many players today hate when a brutally honest and caring ‘mate tosses high heaters instead of soft lobs to the press if their team isn’t playing to expectation.

Today’s players are too pampered. These Mets feel they’ve accomplished something already when that’s far from the case. It’s about winning championships.

That Wagner spoke up shows his heart’s in the right place. He knows it should be much better. It’s not like anyone’s running away with the NL East. The Phils are still without MVP Jimmy Rollins and don’t have much pitching to speak of. Florida has dropped three straight and aren’t very deep pitching-wise either. The Braves are banged up and have dropped four in a row. Though they’re playing better, the Nats are still the Nats.

On paper, the Mets should have enough to take the division. Maybe that’s the problem. Paper doesn’t win you anything. A crisper brand of baseball will.

The same applies for what’s gone on across town in the Bronx. We’ll get to that story another day.

For now, we admire Billy The Kid and wish there were more players like him in today’s game. He clearly gets IT!

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by Derek Felix

Harder Hits

April 15, 2008 in Hard Hits

Last night, it was myself hosting a special Hard Hits edition joined by my usual cast of entertaining characters Rob “Kraze” Davis, Jeff Bashlor, John “JPG” Giagnorio, Brian “Sambone” Sanborn and Dan “Da Man” Wheeler.

Much was covered including the Devils’ big overtime Game Three win over the Rangers courtesy of John Madden. In particular, Ranger pest Sean Avery’s antics were discussed at length about the odd stuff going on in front of Marty Brodeur. What did I think as well as my co-hosts conclude? Were we actually on the same page unlike other topics which seem to pit the Avery of the show JPG against yours truly?

All this plus Mr. Giagnorio’s overwhelming support of the latest freshman to enter the NBA Draft in Michael Beasley. Kraze and Sambone also introduce their own Avery aerobics tapes for future reference. Derek stirs the pot as usual.

Jeff, Brian, Rob, Dan and John all take part in a mock NFL Draft. Who’s on their top five lists? Derek’s mind drifts to nowhere before tossing in the usual rejects from NFL past to contribute as minimal as possible.

Derek talks a little about the Santana MSG concert from last week and the discussion extends to what’s happened to Michelle Branch.

All this and more on another fun filled episode.

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by Derek Felix

Final Opening Day at Shea a Dud

April 8, 2008 in MLB

Copyright Getty Images

Shane Victorino singles off Met starter Oliver Perez in the final home opener at Shea with CitiField looking on in the background. 

So much is expected of this year’s Mets. Especially with the key addition of lefty ace Johan Santana. If it’s true that the two-time AL Cy winner stablizes the rotation, then it’s also true that the Amazin’s bullpen still looks mediocre at best.

The latest glaring example came in their final home opener at Shea Stadium this afternoon in a disappointing 5-2 loss to the hated Phillies. The day didn’t start off badly as a packed house of better than 55,000 were treated to a nice opening ceremony which included the Shea family for the unveiling of their name on the left field wall.

Met first baseman Carlos Delgado connects for a home run off Jamie Moyer in the second inning.

The game itself also began promising with key veteran first baseman Carlos Delgado slugging his first home run of the season off the oldest player in baseball Jamie Moyer for an early 1-0 lead in the second. A Ryan Church fourth inning RBI groundout put them up a couple of runs.

With southpaw Oliver Perez throwing well for a second consecutive start, it looked like Willie Randolph’s ballclub would finally pickup a win against the 2007 NL East champs. However, he ran out of gas in the sixth walking a couple, balking and hitting a batter which forced the much maligned Met skipper to go to his bullpen.

Though second-year reliever Joe Smith got out of the sixth unscathed, the Mets weren’t as fortunate in the seventh due to a big error by Delgado. With the bases loaded full of Phillies due to Chase Utley getting beaned a major league record third time, Scott Schoeneweis induced a sharp grounder to Delgado but the first baseman made a fatal mistake. He tried for the force at second but instead his throw hit Utley in the back allowing both Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino to come around and tie the game.

Following a Pat Burrell deep fly out to right, reliever Jorge Sosa couldn’t put away Jayson Werth as the gritty right fielder served an opposite field go-ahead single to the dismay of Met fans. Once the inning ended, the boo birds were out.

They apparently were just getting warmed up because the Phils sent eight more batters up to the plate in the eighth where they tacked on two more insurance runs off an ineffective Aaron Heilman. After Rollins singled home the fourth run, Utley doubled last year’s NL MVP in to make it 5-2.

Even against a shaky Philly pen, the Met bats went silent allowing ex-Yankee Tom Gordon to close it out 1-2-3 getting Jose Reyes to fly out to the warning track for his first save.

It was the Mets’ first ever Opening Day defeat in eight games against the Phillies. Their third consecutive defeat dropped them to 2-4.

Of course, the biggest second guess of Randolph was why he pulled Perez at 94 pitches with a struggling pen which blew up in the previous couple of losses in Atlanta.

Who knows? Perez did become wild towards the end and that’s always been the biggest criticism of the former Pirate who can dominate at times but leaves fans scratching their heads. He hasn’t permitted a run yet this season but didn’t go deep enough today to give his team a much needed win.

Mets fans take in the action at the old ballpark with a brand new one watching in the background.

It was their eighth straight defeat against the Phils. So, is it time for Amazin fans to push the panic button? Hardly. Their team can still rebound by taking the next two and win the series.

We’ll see what kind of early character they have early in the season.

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by Derek Felix

Opening Day Cubbies style

April 1, 2008 in MLB, Opening Day

Even Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome's ninth inning heroics couldn't prevent the lovable Cubbies from doing what they do best. Break their fans hearts and lose on Opening Day explaining why they haven't won in so long.  

AP Photos Courtesy Getty Images by Spencer Green

Only the lovable Cubbies could lose on Opening Day at Wrigley Field the way they did. Well, hey. At least Sweet Lou Piniella’s team entered as defending NL Central champs. By show of hands, who thinks that’s happening again?

My good Stanford pal John “JPG” Giagnorio has stopped caring. Or so he says. Would a World Series appearance draw the Chicago native’s attention? Considering that it’s been exactly a century since the Cubs lost won it all, you betcha!

So, how did the Cubs lose a very lengthy extra inning rain filled game against the Brew Crew yesterday? In the typical style which has become a Chicago tradition much like deep dish and fans running for their lives out of Comiskey Park on the other side of town.

Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano matched zeroes with Milwaukee’s favorite DL space Ben Sheets into the seventh before each gave way to the bullpens. Fyi…Zambrano left with a right index finger injury. Already the Cubs season is in jeopardy and they hadn’t even completed Game No.1!

So, you’re probably sitting there wondering how this is any different from other seasons? Well, it’s been 100 years! As they prefer to say, “This is the YEAR!”

It had better be. Well, if there really is a God looking down on them but then again, the heavens seem very unforgiving. Just ask a Buffalo sportsfan!

The game which featured two rain delays remained scoreless until Piniella brought in Kerry Wood to pitch the ninth. He now closes which means he’s probably doomed to fail much like Ryan Deumpster, Turk Wendell and Mitch Williams. Tom Gordon also had a stint there and promptly pointed to God when he blew saves. Well, maybe not.

After following Sweet Lou’s instructions to intentionally walk Prince Fielder putting runners on first and second, Wood gave up a broken bat Ryan Braun RBI single which was the game’s first run. A two out opposite field Corey Hart two-run double plated two more runs giving Milwaukee a three-run cushion they would need.

If you didn’t know why, then all you had to notice was new closer Eric Gagne warming up. Yes! He closes for the Brewers. Guess you can eliminate Ned Yost’s club from taking the division. At the time the once lights out Dodger stopper came in, my brother and I joked about how he’d blow it.

Sure enough, Gagne gave up a leadoff single to Derrek Lee and then managed to walk free swinger Aramis Ramirez on four pitches way out of the strike zone. Up till that point, the Cubbies had only three hits all day including two from new Japanese outfield import Kosuke Fukudome. Say that 10 times fast and let us know how you do!

A century of Cubs futility at Wrigley Field. Will this be the year it finally ends?

He already was perfect on the day with a single, double and walk. With Cubs fans chanting his name and a Chicago fan who I believe was the same one as last year holding up a sign which read, “ITS GONNA HAPPEN,” sure enough, it did as Fukudome destroyed a 3-1 Gagne fat pitch hammering it into the right center stands as cheering Wrigley supporters went ballistic. Tie ballgame!

Gagne hadn’t even retired a batter. And the Brewers gave this guy $10 million to close?!?!?!?!?! He’s more washed up than Jason Giambi.

Ten million just don’t get what it used to these days in the land of free agent in$anity. Hey. At least they didn’t reward Barry “Baked” Zito $126 million a la the Giants. He got bombed again giving up four runs in the first two frames to Joe Torre’s Dodgers in a 5-0 loss. Boy. Are the Giants bad. They actually could miss Barry Bonds. Well, maybe not the clubhouse.

To Gagne’s credit, he settled down retiring the required three Cubs to force the game to extras. I was on a call with my good buddy JPG raving about Fukudome’s heroics and walked into the kitchen to fix myself a PB and J. By the time I got back in, Bob Howry had put runners on the corners and then allowed Tony Gwynn, Jr.’s go-ahead sac fly.

There had to be still hope with David Riske coming in to save it for Gagne. Somehow, the Cubs went in order instead to fall 4-3 doing what they do best. Getting their fans’ hopes up just to break their hearts in the end.

Good god. If this were a movie script, everyone would need a box of Kleenex along with their movie stub.

Well, there’s always tomorrow.

The Mets got off to a strong start posting a 6-2 win over the Marlins down in Miami. David Wright’s bases clearing double gave new ace Johan Santana a six-run cushion. The former two-time AL Cy Young winner acquired from the Twins went seven allowing just a pair of runs while fanning eight to pickup the first of probably 20 wins.

Former Met Lastings Milledge went yard for the Nationals as they outslugged the defending NL East champion Phillies 11-6 to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Don’t be surprised if the Nats aren’t as bad as many have predicted. One look at their lineup should tell people they can do damage. Especially if King Lastings has the kind of season expected now that he’s out of Queens. 

Rating NL MVP Jimmy Rollins tied it with a two-run shot in the home seventh but the Nats pushed across five in the ninth off Gordon to prevail 11-6. The five-run ninth featured four RBI doubles including one from ex-Met backstop Paul Lo Duca.

Losing reliever Gordon’s line:

0.1 IP 4 H 5 R 6 ER 1 BB

Afterwards, Flash immediately thanked God that he still cashes a hefty paycheck!

Ah. Only one day of full baseball and already we’re getting warmed up. The Yankees and Blue Jays will hope for better weather later tonight in what’s expected to be the final home opener at Yankee Stadium. Chien-Ming Wang takes on Roy Halladay.

We’ll have more on the Yanks and other baseball stuff later this afternoon!

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by Derek Felix

Opening Day 2008

March 31, 2008 in MLB

Washington Nats' star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman made it a memorable Opening Night at the brand new state of the art Nationals Ballpark with a two out walkoff blast beating the Braves 3-2 in the ninth inning Sunday night. More awesome baseball will be starting up later today on Opening Day including Yankees and Mets both in action! 

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images by Pablo Martinez Monsivais

The day has finally arrived! Well, unless you’re from Japan or a Washington Nationals’ fan, most baseball games will officially get underway later today on Opening Day!!!!!

What baseball fan doesn’t love Opening Day? The ceremonial first pitch. The national anthem which brings this country closer together. Baseballs thrown with a purpose. Batting practice. The crack of the bat. A hustling player laying it all out on the line to make a diving catch for a web gem to be seen on still baseball’s best show on ESPN, Baseball Tonight. Hey. As a former Bristol Connecticut employee, I get on them plenty but that’s one show they’ve always gotten right even if they sometimes overhaul key personnel way too much.

Today’s a day for baseball fans across America to rejoice because even if you’re a Pirates fan or Omaha Royals one, the records all are an identical 0-0 with 162 exciting (well they hope anyway) ballgames to play.

As someone who covers minor league ball, I am definitely ready to go! Only another nine or so weeks until the Staten Island Yankees open up!!!!! :D I’m also going to put in for some Trenton Thunder games and see if I can catch any former players I covered a la Francisco Cervelli and Colin Curtis. Josh Schmidt should also be there as well.

Speaking of Cervelli, the former NY-Penn League All-Star backstop had a little write-up in Sunday’s NY Post about Yankee brass being high on him. We’ll see how he fares in Double-A when he returns from a broken left wrist due to that infamous home plate collision with Tampa’s Elliot Johnson. Expect Cervelli to be back sometime in May.

As far as other former Baby Bombers to follow, Mitch Hilligoss certainly should be one as he’ll likely start down in Tampa looking to continue his upswing after a great second pro season with Charleston which featured a South Atlantic record 38-game hit streak.

Keep a watchful eye on George Kontos, Jonathan Hovis, Seth Fortenberry, Justin Snyder, Damon Sublett, Dellin Betances, Zach McAllister, Taylor Holiday, Mark Melanchon and speedy outfielder Brett Gardner, who will be with Triple A Wilkes Barre/Scranton but could be a September call-up.

Wishing the very best to all the players we covered including Nick Peterson, who gave us a great in depth interview a couple of months ago.

As for last night’s ESPN debut game between the visiting Braves and host Nats at the new $611 million Nationals Park, what a way to start it off as Washington’s best player and most clutch (18 GW RBI’s in 2007) third baseman Ryan Zimmerman walked off against Atlanta with a two out solo blast clearing the 377 foot sign in left center to give his team an exciting and memorable 3-2 home win.

I love Zimmerman. He’s got some David Wright in him, who btw like many other baseball observers I like to win NL MVP. I think Wright’s going to build off last season. He’s the leader of that Met team and won’t tolerate any losing after last September’s epic collapse.

We’re going to have more on the Mets and other baseball teams at some point. I’ll maybe even get to the rest of my predictions. Sorry I haven’t gotten to them as I’ve been very bust lately at work.

Still, we’ll make some picks later on today. So keep an eye on it and most importantly, enjoy the baseball! ;-)

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Avatar of Derek Felix

by Derek Felix

Random Thoughts

March 26, 2008 in Random Thoughts

Chris Webber retired but Derek Felix never realized he was still playing. 

AP Photo Courtesy Getty Images

So isn’t about time I had one of these total randomness blog entries? I think so! Really. It’s about freaking time. There’s so much going on which is what makes it all worthwhile. So let’s get to it in no order:

1.Does anyone really care about the beginning of the baseball season in Japan? Find me one good reason two Major League teams should travel all that way to play. And no. Save me the whole Dice K argument or whatever. It just makes no sense and screws fans here in the process cause nobody in their right mind is getting up at 6 AM (3 Pacific) to watch the Red Sox take on the Athletics in two games. They split btw. I only know that cause my buddy Steve Lepore told me. People have lives. Baseball soldout big time here!

2.Are the Mets really delusional enough to let Ruben Gotay go through waivers for freaking Nelson Figueroa off one good Spring? Man. That’s just brutal. If Luis Castillo’s already day-to-day with his legs getting worse, what’s he going to be like in four years? Leave it to the game’s most overrated GM Omar Minaya to explain this one.

3.If Andy Pettite’s back continues to be an issue, that Yankee rotation sure is thin and unproven. And who thinks Moose can comeback from last year? Really. Anyone? 

4.I didn’t even know Chris Webber still played anyway.

5.When Roger Federer gets whipped by American underachiever Mardy Fish in any tournament, that’s cause for concern no matter what he says. I’d love to be a fly on Andy Roddick’s wall after that one. His best friend can get Roger but he hasn’t in nearly five years.

6.Who else thinks the two Serbs Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic will be No.1 on the WTA and ATP tours by the end of the summer?

7.LeBron gets my vote for MVP on that average Cleveland roster.

8.Remember when the AI trade to Denver was supposed to be the end for the 76ers? How’s that working out? Just for the record, I always was a huge fan of Andre Miller from the time he starred for Utah in college. The versatile point guard who runs the show for the now two over 76ers has been overlooked for a while.

9.Overlooked NBA rookies:

A.Thaddeus Young , 76ers

B.Daequan Cook, Heat 

C.Nick Young, Wizards

D.Jeff Green, Sonics

E.Luis Scola/Carl Landry, Rockets

F.Al Thornton, Clippers

10.Underrated NBA superstar has to be the Hornets’ David West. He could flat out ball at Xavier but somehow fell to New Orleans at No.18 overall in the 2003 Draft. The 27 year-old Teaneck New Jersey native averages better than 20 along with over nine boards, 2.3 assists and more than a block-per-night. West dropped 20 including the winner from 17 with 0.6 seconds left as the Hornets edged the Cavs 100-99.

So, who were a few of the players taken ahead of him five years prior you ask? Aside from the Big Four of LeBron, Carmelo, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade who were all givens, you had Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich and T.J. Ford all go in the top 10 and turn into solid players. Too bad Ford’s feet are a mess.

Here are some of the gems:

2.Pistons- Darko Milicic (with third NBA team if the Grizzlies count)

9.Knicks- Michael Sweetney (packaged for Eddy “Fat Albert” Curry)

10.Wizards- Jarvis Hayes (key reserve now for Pistons)

11.Warriors- Mickael Pietrus (still with team but can you say bust)

12.Sonics- Nick Collison (taken despite knowledge he’d miss rookie yr)

13.Grizzlies- Marcus Banks (explains a whole lot, on 4th team in Miami and answer to Shaq trivia question)

14.Sonics- Luke Ridnour (not a bad player but nothing special)

15.Magic- Reece Gaines (before they lucked into Dwight Howard, they actually took the former Louisville star guard that high. He’s out of the league)

16.Celtics- Troy Bell (remember when he was really good for BC? Well, he never panned out)

17.Suns- Zarko Cabarkapa (who???)

Steals from that draft include Josh Howard (29th-Mavs), Mo Williams (47th-Jazz), Travis Outlaw (23rd-Blazers), Boris Diaw (21st-Hawks), Carlos Delfino (25th-Pistons), Leandro Barbosa (28th-Spurs), Jason Kapono (31st-Cavs), Luke Walton (32nd-Lakers), Steve Blake (38th-Wizards), Kyle Korver (51st-Nets) and James Jones (49th-Pacers).

Some pretty good names there but it does make you ponder what the heck scouts were looking at. The NBA Draft is always fun but boy oh boy, can you find some absolute duds which is what this history lesson proves.

Fyi…the Knicks took Maciej Lampe. Remember when he was supposed to be some homerun? The next big Euro star? Try more like Euro trash! Well, at least they got Starbury for him. Funny sometimes how things turn out.

11.My good buddy and NY Hockey Report co-host Joe McDonald says the Rangers are coming out of the East. I just want to know how so unless that power play becomes more reliable than Con Edison. I agree with WFAN’s Steve Somers on this team. They’re baffling. Some nights, they look like world beaters and others like the other night, they leave you scratching your head. How can a diehard Blueshirt fan take this team seriously? They’re just too hot and cold for my liking. I’m sticking with Montreal.

12.If you didn’t catch tonight’s NYHR, do yourself a favor and do so because it happened to be one of the most random and funny shows we’ve done. The whole time, Joe and Lepore were picking me apart on my absurd theories which covered a variety of topics. Where the heck was Gary Harding anyway? Warming up the golf clubs for Rick DiPietro?!?!?!?!?!?!

13.There are some nights where you swear the Devils couldn’t score into a whorehouse if they tried.

14.Over/under on tonight’s Ranger/Devil total goals is at a gaudy one and a half. Just thought you’d like to know!

15.Alexander Ovechkin’s 61 is the most meaningful since Roger Maris.

16.Stat line of the night or not:

Player A- 17:26, 2-of-6 FG, 0-1 FT,  5 Pts, 4 Rebs, 2 A

Player B- 11:01, 2-of-4 FG, 1-3 FT, 5 Pts, 3 Rebs, 1 A

Dubious minds want to know what John “JPG” Giagnorio has to say about this one. ;-)

17.Maybe I’m in the minority on this one but I love all the drama that Jose Canseco’s new book is creating. Sure beats Spring Training. Did anyone else notice some similarities between Mr. Canseco’s former wife and Mrs. Alex Rodriguez?

18.In case anyone cared, Team Dumb and Dumber won a game last night and lost some ground in the lottery race.

19.That emotion on Adam Morrison’s face during Gonzaga’s first round loss at the hands of Stephen Curry and Davidson was the most passion he’s exhibited since his final game where he broke down on the court in that awful UCLA collapse.

20.Lepore says the Wild aren’t responding to Jacques Lemaire but they sure have a funny way of showing it posting a big win over Edmonton to jump back into first in that wacky Northwest. I still say that same Minny team could make some noise this Spring.

21.Maybe Erik Bedard wasn’t such a great investment for the Mariners. I guess we’ll find out when April hits.

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