A report which will supposedly name names linked to steroids use in baseball is due to come out some time before yearend. Angels GM Moreno says that the names in the report will anger people.
We'll see.
In Rockies news, the spring training schedule was released. Methinks Mrs. Mendoza and I will be shooting for the 3/8 and 3/9 games this year. 24 hours of driving well-worth it. Also, it looks as though the Rockies are sticking with Hi-Corbett (at least for now since the White Sox's stadium in Phoenix opens in 2009; and remember, if the White Sox leave it allows the Rox to leave Tucson as well).
Lastly, it looks like the Tigers made an offer to Hawkins. This wouldn't be a huge loss since Hawkins rarely through anything that wasn't a mid-90s meaty fastball this past season.
Mendoza's 5280 (Steroid abusers)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
How awesome are the Rockies? Very very.
$233k goes right to Coolbaugh's widow. That's class. On a sidenote, had the Rockies won the World Series, Tulowitzki could have almost doubled his 2007 salary with the money the winners got.
Here's another sidenote, suppose hypothetically that the MLB had been charging a $2 'World Series Winners Pool' fee on top of every single ticket sold this season (75 million+), and so essentially you'd see the winning team's share for winning the World Series worth more than $150 million (players share would be 10 times more from $300k to $3M). I'm wondering what the effect would be on baseball as a whole.
If you think about it, it might make WS winning teams more motivated to stick together (instead of splitting up due to demanding more money) and you could finally see the return of baseball dynasties due to teams having quality players sticking together because now there's a monetary reason for them to stick together as team.
To make it fair for the opposing WS team, you could add $1 to that 'World Series Winners' fee so that they'll be motivated to stick together as well.
Some cheap-skate fans, though, will not like the idea of paying up $3 extra for something labelled as 'World Series Winners Pool' thing; because of this MLB should enlist the help of Republican Party marketers (who came up with such things as 'War on Terror' instead of 'Empire America', 'Death Tax' instead of 'Estate Tax', and 'Climate Change' instead of 'Global Warming') to come up with a name for the fee. Perhaps it could be the 'Make Baseball Better for America' fee or 'Keep Baseball in America' fee or 'No terrorists at my baseball game, please' fee.
What would you call the fee?
Mendoza 5280 (ways to keep baseball in America)
Here's another sidenote, suppose hypothetically that the MLB had been charging a $2 'World Series Winners Pool' fee on top of every single ticket sold this season (75 million+), and so essentially you'd see the winning team's share for winning the World Series worth more than $150 million (players share would be 10 times more from $300k to $3M). I'm wondering what the effect would be on baseball as a whole.
If you think about it, it might make WS winning teams more motivated to stick together (instead of splitting up due to demanding more money) and you could finally see the return of baseball dynasties due to teams having quality players sticking together because now there's a monetary reason for them to stick together as team.
To make it fair for the opposing WS team, you could add $1 to that 'World Series Winners' fee so that they'll be motivated to stick together as well.
Some cheap-skate fans, though, will not like the idea of paying up $3 extra for something labelled as 'World Series Winners Pool' thing; because of this MLB should enlist the help of Republican Party marketers (who came up with such things as 'War on Terror' instead of 'Empire America', 'Death Tax' instead of 'Estate Tax', and 'Climate Change' instead of 'Global Warming') to come up with a name for the fee. Perhaps it could be the 'Make Baseball Better for America' fee or 'Keep Baseball in America' fee or 'No terrorists at my baseball game, please' fee.
What would you call the fee?
Mendoza 5280 (ways to keep baseball in America)
Monday, November 26, 2007
A-Rod getting $30 million a year is back on the table
Apparently he'll get $6 million per homer hit that ties Mays, Ruth, Aaron and Bonds and again if he breaks Bonds' record. What's interesting is that the MLB Players' Association doesn't allow these kinds of 'pay per performance' deals, so to bypass it they will have him sign balls and apparently do autograph sessions (where he'll supposedly be paid at a rate of $3 million an hour for 2 hours or something like that).
So there you have it, players are no longer going to play the sport as a team unit with a goal of winning the World Series, but rather as individuals trying to break records.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons for Holliday to ditch Boras now).
So there you have it, players are no longer going to play the sport as a team unit with a goal of winning the World Series, but rather as individuals trying to break records.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons for Holliday to ditch Boras now).
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Holliday loses NL MVP to Rollins?! Is there any hope for baseball now?
So Jimmy Rollins won MVP, Holliday was second; how the hell do you vote Rollins ahead of Holliday? Supposedly mostly because Holliday had half as many away homers as he did at home.
Ridiculous? You bet.
Here's what I don't get: "Rollins was listed first on 16, second on seven, third on four, fourth on four and fifth on one for a total of 353 points. Holliday's breakdown was 11 first-place votes, 18 seconds, one third, one fourth and one sixth for 336 points. "
Now how in the hell do you vote Holliday as far back as fourth or SIXTH?! For those who don't get it, 1 sportswriter thought that there were 3 better candidates in front of Holliday and one thought there were 5 better candidates. HA! Right. That's disgusting.
So lets do a tally of everything again:
-Bob Melvin, the man who left Valverde in long enough to choke over and over against the Rockies therefore costing his team the NLCS, is the best NL manager.
-Ryan Braun, the man who led the majors in errors, is the Rookie of the Year.
-Jimmy Rollins, the man who had 80 more AB then Holliday yet 4 fewer hits than Holliday, is the NL MVP.
-Todd Helton, with a .999 fielding % and 60 more innings at first base and 5 fewer errors than Derrek Lee, is not a Gold Glove winner, just like Tulo isn't even though his fielding % was .987 compared to Rollins' .985.
Denver, Colorado is now officially pissed off today.
Mendoza's 5280 (excuses the idiots in the media use to downplay the Rockies' greatness)
Ridiculous? You bet.
Here's what I don't get: "Rollins was listed first on 16, second on seven, third on four, fourth on four and fifth on one for a total of 353 points. Holliday's breakdown was 11 first-place votes, 18 seconds, one third, one fourth and one sixth for 336 points. "
Now how in the hell do you vote Holliday as far back as fourth or SIXTH?! For those who don't get it, 1 sportswriter thought that there were 3 better candidates in front of Holliday and one thought there were 5 better candidates. HA! Right. That's disgusting.
So lets do a tally of everything again:
-Bob Melvin, the man who left Valverde in long enough to choke over and over against the Rockies therefore costing his team the NLCS, is the best NL manager.
-Ryan Braun, the man who led the majors in errors, is the Rookie of the Year.
-Jimmy Rollins, the man who had 80 more AB then Holliday yet 4 fewer hits than Holliday, is the NL MVP.
-Todd Helton, with a .999 fielding % and 60 more innings at first base and 5 fewer errors than Derrek Lee, is not a Gold Glove winner, just like Tulo isn't even though his fielding % was .987 compared to Rollins' .985.
Denver, Colorado is now officially pissed off today.
Mendoza's 5280 (excuses the idiots in the media use to downplay the Rockies' greatness)
Monday, November 19, 2007
Don't be boneheaded, Rockies!
So due to the White Sox leaving Tucson Electric Park, the Rockies can now move from their Spring Training home, Hi-Corbett, and move to a soul-less stale park in Goodyear, AZ (which is a soul-less suburb located in soul-less Phoenix.) Here's an article telling about it.
If they moved, would that be a Greek Tragedy? Youbetcha!
Here's why: Hi-Corbett represents the beginning of spring-training in baseball in Tucson as it was the home to the Indians from 1945-92. Due to its age, Hi-Corbett represents one of the last few remaining places in baseball where present players can play where Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams played. Furthermore, Hi-Corbett represents the essence of Spring Training due to the movie, "Major League", having many of its scenes of Spring Training shot on site there at Hi-Corbett.
So why would the Rockies want to move from this historic location? It is more or less out-dated in that it is not a mini-stadium and doesn't have the amenities that other Spring Training fields do. This of course means nothing though to the people who are going to these Spring Training games (ie those of us who want to see the up-and-comers in major league settings, and also want to see 'how good the team is this year'). These true fans could care less about amenities.
Mrs. Mendoza and I have been to 3 other Spring Training facilities (Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of A's; Surprise Stadium, home of Rangers; and Tucson Electric Park, ex-home of White Sox) and not one of those stadiums has any charm or soul in them.
But what exactly do I mean by soul? I'll describe for you what it's like at Hi-Corbett. First of all, Hi-Corbett is situated in the greenest part of Tucson, filled with huge trees and green grass and Tucson's Zoo is right next door to the field. Upon pulling up to the stadium you see that the parking lot is not really meant to house so many people and so you are likely forced to park along the road that leads to the stadium. It costs nothing to park alongside the road and everyone does it and luckily there is a long row of tall trees right next to it so that your car doesn't heat up whilst you watch the Rockies. While walking up to the stadium you pass by many normal city baseball fields and typically there are major leaguers there warming up in them. That's a pretty cool site in itself (seeing a major leaguer warming up on a little league field). Finally, upon going in Hi-Corbett you notice there's nothing spectacular about the stadium. It has a danky feel that you only get at a minor league field and yet it is clean and it is still professional and it has it's charms. Upon sitting in your seat and gazing out at the field itself you notice that there are some HUGE trees right behind the outfield fences (you can see these trees in the movie, "Major League", many times). It is a unique feature and quite cool. There's nothing else really eye-catching except the occasional A-10 Wart-hog flying only 500 feet overhead, due to Davis-Monthan AF Base not far away. In fact Mrs. Mendoza and I were lucky enough to have an airshow going on there whilst we were watching a game. And it's my opinion, that you've never really experienced baseball until you've seen an F117 Stealth Bomber buzz the field in the middle of a game. There's something very cool about seeing all the play in the field totally stop so that everyone can watch as that plane goes by.
Anyhow, we have no unique memories from any of the other newer Spring Training facilities and likely never will. The reason is simple: they are stale, soul-less hunks of concrete and plastic in horrible desert locations where there are no naturally-growing trees and there is no history and there probably never will be.
Lets home Rockies management doesn't do a knuckle-headed move, like move from Hi-Corbett.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to believe that Hi-Corbett's history and associated-story inspired the young "'Major League' Generation" of Rockies last year).
If they moved, would that be a Greek Tragedy? Youbetcha!
Here's why: Hi-Corbett represents the beginning of spring-training in baseball in Tucson as it was the home to the Indians from 1945-92. Due to its age, Hi-Corbett represents one of the last few remaining places in baseball where present players can play where Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams played. Furthermore, Hi-Corbett represents the essence of Spring Training due to the movie, "Major League", having many of its scenes of Spring Training shot on site there at Hi-Corbett.
So why would the Rockies want to move from this historic location? It is more or less out-dated in that it is not a mini-stadium and doesn't have the amenities that other Spring Training fields do. This of course means nothing though to the people who are going to these Spring Training games (ie those of us who want to see the up-and-comers in major league settings, and also want to see 'how good the team is this year'). These true fans could care less about amenities.
Mrs. Mendoza and I have been to 3 other Spring Training facilities (Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of A's; Surprise Stadium, home of Rangers; and Tucson Electric Park, ex-home of White Sox) and not one of those stadiums has any charm or soul in them.
But what exactly do I mean by soul? I'll describe for you what it's like at Hi-Corbett. First of all, Hi-Corbett is situated in the greenest part of Tucson, filled with huge trees and green grass and Tucson's Zoo is right next door to the field. Upon pulling up to the stadium you see that the parking lot is not really meant to house so many people and so you are likely forced to park along the road that leads to the stadium. It costs nothing to park alongside the road and everyone does it and luckily there is a long row of tall trees right next to it so that your car doesn't heat up whilst you watch the Rockies. While walking up to the stadium you pass by many normal city baseball fields and typically there are major leaguers there warming up in them. That's a pretty cool site in itself (seeing a major leaguer warming up on a little league field). Finally, upon going in Hi-Corbett you notice there's nothing spectacular about the stadium. It has a danky feel that you only get at a minor league field and yet it is clean and it is still professional and it has it's charms. Upon sitting in your seat and gazing out at the field itself you notice that there are some HUGE trees right behind the outfield fences (you can see these trees in the movie, "Major League", many times). It is a unique feature and quite cool. There's nothing else really eye-catching except the occasional A-10 Wart-hog flying only 500 feet overhead, due to Davis-Monthan AF Base not far away. In fact Mrs. Mendoza and I were lucky enough to have an airshow going on there whilst we were watching a game. And it's my opinion, that you've never really experienced baseball until you've seen an F117 Stealth Bomber buzz the field in the middle of a game. There's something very cool about seeing all the play in the field totally stop so that everyone can watch as that plane goes by.
Anyhow, we have no unique memories from any of the other newer Spring Training facilities and likely never will. The reason is simple: they are stale, soul-less hunks of concrete and plastic in horrible desert locations where there are no naturally-growing trees and there is no history and there probably never will be.
Lets home Rockies management doesn't do a knuckle-headed move, like move from Hi-Corbett.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to believe that Hi-Corbett's history and associated-story inspired the young "'Major League' Generation" of Rockies last year).
Re: To Torrealba: So Long....
Dear Yorvit, the Mets don't want you because it turns out your arm is in worse shape than previous thought. Therefore, we Rockies fans will gladly take you back on 1 condition. You gotta improve on your hitting and improve your young pitchers. Ambiguous tasks? Yes. Do-able tasks? Yes.
Also, if you stick with the Rockies to end your career you have the opportunity to be named 'Mr. Clutch' and have the Denver-metro area love you like we love Walt Weiss and Vinny Castilla.
On an unrelated note, A-Rod won AL MVP unsurprisingly and looks to be going right back to the Yanks for a contract that is not $30 mill/yr thankfully. Boras, aka Wormtongue, has failed you (yay!) and hopefully you will go Kenny Rogers' route of dumping Boras soon here.
On another unrelated note, here's a nice article on the Rockies' 2nd base prospect, Jayson Nix, who recently helped Team USA beat Cuba to win the Baseball World Cup. My favorite line: "The last time an unheralded Rockies' prospect played for Team USA, he rocketed from anonymity to stardom. Ever heard of Matt Holliday? "
Nice.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to believe in the Rox and in what is Right)
Also, if you stick with the Rockies to end your career you have the opportunity to be named 'Mr. Clutch' and have the Denver-metro area love you like we love Walt Weiss and Vinny Castilla.
On an unrelated note, A-Rod won AL MVP unsurprisingly and looks to be going right back to the Yanks for a contract that is not $30 mill/yr thankfully. Boras, aka Wormtongue, has failed you (yay!) and hopefully you will go Kenny Rogers' route of dumping Boras soon here.
On another unrelated note, here's a nice article on the Rockies' 2nd base prospect, Jayson Nix, who recently helped Team USA beat Cuba to win the Baseball World Cup. My favorite line: "The last time an unheralded Rockies' prospect played for Team USA, he rocketed from anonymity to stardom. Ever heard of Matt Holliday? "
Nice.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to believe in the Rox and in what is Right)
Friday, November 16, 2007
To Torrealba: So long and good Riddance
Dear Yorvit, you are not worth close to $5 million per year for 3 years. Your hitting, though clutch at times, was average. Your arm ain't what it used to be. Your pitch-calling was above-average however was way off during the World Series; I'll give you the benefit of the doubt though that the umps forced you to put up meatball pitches in hitters' counts. Overall most of your attributes are easily replaceable. The one thing that will be hard to replace though will be the high energy you brought and your die-hard spirit. Hopefully you showed the younger Rockies what 'it ain't over till it's over' really means and maybe the Rockies management will be smart to realize that they need an average catcher with high energy to replace you (perhaps Lo Duca) instead of a below-average, in 2007, fight-starter (Michael Barrett).
Hey, and before you go, Yorvit, could you please help Iannetta find his swing?
Thanks, good luck and good riddance.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to think that Yorvit didn't really help or hurt the Rockies)
Hey, and before you go, Yorvit, could you please help Iannetta find his swing?
Thanks, good luck and good riddance.
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to think that Yorvit didn't really help or hurt the Rockies)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Tulo vs. Braun is better than Holliday vs. Braun
Look up Tulo's at-bats vs. Braun's at-bats and then Holliday's at-bats and then be glad that Braun isn't in the running for MVP like he easily could have been had he not been in AAA for awhile in the season and therefore had over 100 fewer AB's.
Still though, sportswriters should definitely include defense in their ratings, and about half of them did by voting for Tulo, but those other half that ignored the fact that Braun led the MLB in errors should indeed be bowing their heads in shame today.
So, since I'm in a good mood today, I'll just say that I'm glad that Braun doesn't have Holliday-esque offensive numbers (but still lead the MLB in errors) which would make sportswriters reconsider voting for Holliday for MVP because something would seriously be wrong with MLB if Braun won MVP over Holliday while also having the worst fielding percentage around.
I think I heard it best from a friend though: "at what point does a player's horrible fielding ex out any gains his team gets from his awesome batting performance?"
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to include defense in all general awards like ROY and MVP and Cy Young)
Still though, sportswriters should definitely include defense in their ratings, and about half of them did by voting for Tulo, but those other half that ignored the fact that Braun led the MLB in errors should indeed be bowing their heads in shame today.
So, since I'm in a good mood today, I'll just say that I'm glad that Braun doesn't have Holliday-esque offensive numbers (but still lead the MLB in errors) which would make sportswriters reconsider voting for Holliday for MVP because something would seriously be wrong with MLB if Braun won MVP over Holliday while also having the worst fielding percentage around.
I think I heard it best from a friend though: "at what point does a player's horrible fielding ex out any gains his team gets from his awesome batting performance?"
Mendoza's 5280 (reasons to include defense in all general awards like ROY and MVP and Cy Young)
Friday, November 9, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Tulo and Helton got short-changed!
No Gold glove awards for either even though both had better stats than the winners (Rollins and Lee).
Hopefully this does not portend to Holliday being skipped over for NL MVP, although I don't see how any knowledgeable baseball writer could overlook Holliday's awesomeness. We'll find out in a couple more weeks when the NL MVP is voted on and announced.
Mendoza's 5280
Hopefully this does not portend to Holliday being skipped over for NL MVP, although I don't see how any knowledgeable baseball writer could overlook Holliday's awesomeness. We'll find out in a couple more weeks when the NL MVP is voted on and announced.
Mendoza's 5280
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