6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

From the husband of a Facebook friend, Aaron Bloom, comes an interesting proposal to increase participation in the NBA's "no-star" slam dunk contest:

So here is my idea: the NBA lawyers should put a provision in the next CBA relating to the dunk contest. The NBA fans should get to vote on who appears in the dunk contest (and the actual judging of the dunks should once again be done by past dunking legends, such as Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins). If a player is selected to appear in the dunk contest, then that player must participate or a sizable chunk of his salary will disappear (and go to a worthy charity). We could use legalese and call the fine something official sounding, like the “scaredy cat” fine.

There can, and should, be an “opt out” for players who are over a certain age or who have already participated in at least three dunk contests. Such a provision would protect NBA stars who have already been good sports, as well as keeping NBA stars who are past their prime from embarrassing themselves.

There could also be a provision to protect (legitimately) injured players from being fined. Now, you might be asking yourself, “Wouldn’t the LeBrons — err, I mean, players of questionable honor — of the world just fake injuries and get away with chickening out?” For a few reasons, I think not (even if we don’t require them to bring a doctor’s note).

Something like this would be useful for, say, MLB's Home Run Derby, which always seems to have a lot of no-shows (most infamously A-Rod, who infamously refused to play in last year's ASG altogether). I don't doubt but that A-Rod would use the opt-out legitimately — he's no longer a spring chicken, and has participated in plenty of ASG's previously. But I think this proposal would do a lot to change at least the perception that the ASG is a joke.

Labels: all-star game

Too bad it has no chance of succeeding:

“We were thinking the American League and National League can have different charities, and we can play for that,” Bell said. “If you’re the MVP, you get X amount of money for your own personal charity. And everyone that shows up, the money goes to that charity. It would give awareness to the charities, people would talk about it, and you’d want to play for that reason. If I was commissioner for a day, that’s what I’d do.”

Labels: all-star game

I was reading Jon's piece about Jonathan Broxton's redemption yesterday, and found doubt tickling me here and there. I haven't been a huge proponent of the idea that Broxton is some sort of overall failure, but the idea that he is this generation's answer to Don Newcombe is scarcely far-fetched. Both had fine, even excellent regular season records, but both melted under the postseason klieg lights. Newcombe, at least, had the excuse of toiling under today-unthinkable workloads, pitching 233.2 innings in his 20-win season of 1955 — and then falling apart in Game 1 of that year's World Series, to the tune of six runs over 5.2 innings, all the runs the Yankees needed.

Broxton, for his part, has fared numerically quite a bit better than his Dodger forerunner, but it's also a peculiarity of his record that despite being never asked to get more than four outs in any single game, he is overall 0-2 with a 4.40 ERA. Yet the fact that he has hitherto done appreciably worse in NLCS games (5.06 ERA) is all but exclusively due to his 2009 series against the Phillies.

Yet for me, the feeling will persist — as it did last night — that while Broxton belongs among the game's very good, it's unlikely he will break into the ranks of the elite, mainly because of his postseason numbers. I confess I was right there with others expecting him to gag up the lead; and when David Ortiz got a leadoff single, that felt like exactly the opening I and the rest of the skeptics anticipated.

But what we did not count on was Joe Girardi managing himself out of the game. Part of his problem was that he treated it exactly like the exhibition it was, and so his bench was rather depleted by the time Ortiz made first. His one option left to him — which he did not avail himself of — was A-Rod, but not only did he not pinch-run for the notoriously slow Ortiz, but he didn't have him pinch-hit for Adrian Beltre, either. There has been some talk — mostly on Twitter, from what I can tell — that A-Rod is nursing a sore something-or-other, which means Girardi was loathe to actually run the game as though it counted. And so the game, for Beltre struck out, and John Buck hit into the strangest fielder's choice you'll ever see: a 9-6 with the ball actually hitting the turf first. As Helen said at the time, Broxton owes Cub Marlon Byrd a drink or maybe several rounds, for he did the most masterful job of decoying the runner I've ever seen, getting Ortiz to think he had a chance at catching the fly. With the plodding Ortiz caught halfway between the bags, he was a dead duck at second.

So the game, with Ian Kinsler flying out to center to finish proceedings. The rest was surprisingly entertaining, though perhaps that has more to do with actually being there; I still rate this as one of the better All-Star games I've ever seen, and even have nice things to say about the Home Run Derby, too, which was far more fun in person. About the only bad thing to happen all night was the iPhone Facebook app failing about ten minutes into the game, which I at first thought was AT&T being censorious jerks; but subsequent reports from Huffington Post indicated it was a nationwide affliction, perhaps caused by a bit of bad Javascript. Also, I note in passing that the legions brought out their DSLRs, and hardly anyone seemed to have been checked for the official and ridiculously short four inch lens length. That part is nothing short of infuriating, and enough to make me renounce my season tickets.

Final bonus points: Matt Freaking Capps was the winner. SRSLY.

ESPN Box

Labels: all-star game, recaps

The DH will be used in every All-Star game starting this year according to the AP, even in games taking place in NL parks. Also, the roster will expand to 34 players.

Under a change that runs contrary to normal baseball rules, each manager may designate a position player who will be eligible for re-entry to the game if the final position player -- at any position -- is injured.

Previously, there was a special All-Star rule allowing re-entry only to replace an injured catcher.

Labels: all-star game, dh rule, rules

An injured finger caused Evan Longoria to be disabled for the All-Star game, meaning that Michael Young will get the start and Chone Figgins will be added to the roster as a reserve at third.

Labels: all-star game, angels

Joe Torre was selected by Charlie Manuel to be a coach on this year's NL All-Star team.

AL manager Joe Maddon wanted to tap Mike Scioscia for his team, "but league officials advised otherwise, since Scioscia almost certainly will coach next season, when the All-Star Game is played in Anaheim."

Labels: all-star game, angels, dodgers, managers

Lessee here... Joe Saunders pitched a scoreless third, allowing only a single to Hanley Ramirez, Ervin Santana gave up a leadoff homer to Matt Holliday, but retired the next three batters in order. Russell Martin entered the game in the fifth and flied out to end the seventh.

Update: Evan Longoria hit a ground-rule double in the eighth to tie it for the AL, 3-3.

Bottom 10th: Dan Uggla makes consecutive fielding errors along with an intentional walk of Carlos Guilen by Aaron Cook load the bases, but Cook gets the first out of the 10th on a 4-1 fielder's choice. A 5-2 play on Evan Longoria's infield bouncer gets Cook one out closer; Justin Morneau bounces out to short to end it.

Bottom 11th: With one out and men on first and second, and most importantly, Dioner Navarro at second, Michael Young singles up the middle. Nate McLouth sent a bullet to Russell Martin, who tagged a slow-running Navarro for the second out. Carlos Quentin rolled out to third to end the frame.

Bottom 15th: Brad Lidge blows the non-save and the game finally, mercifully ends as Michael Young hits a bases-loaded sac fly. The AL gets home field advantage again.

Yahoo box

Labels: all-star game

I happened to be upstairs in the company kitchen when last night's Home Run Derby was going, probably my least favorite part of the All-Star break, but like Joe Sheehan, I found myself floored by Josh Hamilton's blasts. The balls he hit were what you'd expect to see from a baseball-shooting howitzer, long blasts that defy the "tape-measure" adjective. These things are measured in astronomical units.

Labels: all-star game

All-Star Rosters Announced: Saunders, Santana, K-Rod, And Martin Heading To The Bronx

A franchise record seven Cubs were named to start in the 2008 All-Star Game, with the Boston Red Sox naming an equal number. The starting players are

American League		National League
Pos	Player	Player
C	Joe Mauer	Geovany Soto*
1B	Kevin Youkilis	Lance Berkman
2B	Dustin Pedroia	Chase Utley
SS	Derek Jeter	Hanley Ramirez
3B	Alex Rodriguez	Chipper Jones
OF	Josh Hamilton	Alfonso Soriano
OF	Ichiro Suzuki	Kosuke Fukudome
OF	Manny Ramirez	Ryan Braun

*Soto will be the first rookie catcher to start in NL All-Star history.

The Angels will send Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, and Francisco Rodriguez, while the Dodgers will send Russell Martin for the second time.

Just Because A Bad Move Worked Doesn't Mean You're Off The Hook, Joe: Dodgers 5, Giants 3

Eric Stults only made it through four innings, but why on earth did Joe Torre resort to Brian Falkenborg again with the game on the line? If the tying run comes to the plate and Falkenborg is the answer, it must be an awfully silly question.

Okay, so a win's a win. And a heck of an offensive game by James Loney. But ...

Yahoo Box • MLB.com recap

You Had Your Chance Saturday, Joe: Diamondbacks 3, Padres 2

The Padres tried to come back late after getting what-for from starter Randy Johnson, but one run was all they got in the bottom of the ninth, and the Snakes held on for the win. Joe Torre's hopes for advancing will have to wait until another series; conveniently, the Dodgers next meeting with Arizona is next weekend's road series. Now that should be interesting.

Yahoo box

Get Down, Get Down: White Sox 4, Oakland 3

The A's split the four-game series with the White Sox, and I wasn't surprised they lost; I listened to the early part of this game on the way to the park, and Rich Harden was all over the place, walking in the first Chisox run in the first with the bases loaded. He apparently settled down some, since it wasn't a blowout, but he only threw 55 pitches of the 95 in the game for strikes, and gave up considerable (for him) base runners. Scott Linebrink got his first save of the season after Bobby Jenks was unable to make the call with elbow soreness.

With this loss and today's Angels victory, the Halos are now six games atop the division. Interestingly enough, every team in the AL West except the woebegotten Mariners (about whom, more presently) have a winning record.

Yahoo box

Fun With Non-Pitchers Pitching: Tigers 2, Mariners 1 (15 Innings)

Nate Robertson pitched nine innings and got a no-decision for a four-hit, one-run effort, while Ryan Rowland-Smith, converted to the rotation lately, went five innings with only one run surrendered. That set in motion a ransacking of the bullpens, with the M's using five relievers, and then, oddly enough, calling on catcher Jamie Burke to pitch the 15th. Apparently Ichiro Suzuki offered his services, but manager Jim Riggleman had already made up his mind. Facing Miguel Cabrera, Burke gave up a leadoff double; Cabrera eventually scored on a wild pitch and Marcus Thames' sacrifice fly.

Update: The last non-pitcher I can find with a decision of any kind was Brent Mayne, who won a game for the Rockies on August 22, 2000 against the visiting Braves. Mayne, principally a reserve catcher throughout his career, successfully negotiated a scoreless top of the 12th. Mayne was also on the 2004 Dodgers roster in his last season in the majors.

Yahoo box

Brewers Near Trade For C.C. Sabathia

I really truly didn't see this one coming: apparently the Brewers are close to a deal for C.C. Sabathia for Matt LaPorta and three other minor leaguers, according to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. That could really change the balance of things in the NL Central, especially with the Cubs' rotation a thing of patchwork struggles lately.

Labels: all-star game, athletics, brewers, diamondbacks, dodgers, giants, indians, mariners, padres, recaps, tigers, trades, white sox

Bullets Over Broadway

• Tony Jackson and others reported on Scott Proctor's move to the DL trumping an option to AAA only after Proctor was told of the move. Ridiculous.
• Lou Piniella will join the NL coaching staff at the All-Star game, replacing the deposed Willie Randolph.
• Josh Hamilton was hit in the hand by a pitch, but x-rays were negative and he's day-to-day.

Shawn Chacon Tackles GM, Loses Job, Duh

Shawn Chacon was put on unconditional release waivers by the Astros a day after he threw Astros GM Ed Wade to the floor and was suspended indefinitely.

"Based on the information we have to date, we believe the Astros' response violates the Basic Agreement," union general counsel Michael Weiner said. "If Shawn Chacon clears waivers and is released, we will pursue appropriate relief on his behalf."

The Astros are claiming that Chacon is not due any of his remaining salary because he is being terminated for cause. Rotoworld thinks the Astros are doing Chacon a favor by releasing him, but I'm not so sure; he may not be able to find another taker, and if he were merely suspended, he'd be still drawing the balance of his salary, $983,607.

Dodgers Go To Six-Man Rotation Just For Stults

The Dodgers are going to a six-man rotation, just so they can keep Eric Stults in it.

As for the six-man rotation, Torre joked that the alternative of not letting Stults start again posed a threat to the manager's security, professionally and otherwise.

"You want to get me fired and killed at the same time?" he asked.

Kershaw Wobbly, Dodgers Can't Score — What Else Is New? White Sox 2, Dodgers 0

The only thing really interesting about this game was Andy LaRoche making his major league debut at second base. Otherwise, Clayton Kershaw proved that if he can't spot his curveball, he just won't get through a game too well; he only lasted four innings. He really ought to be sent back to AA or AAA. Brian Falkenborg pitched a scoreless inning, but he won't be long for the Show, I imagine.

Matt Kemp got himself two walks, the only Dodger to get on base three times (the other being a single), and Delwyn Young reached twice, also on two walks. James Loney hit into his league-leading 1,234,566,789th 17th GIDP. There's something wrong with Gameday, it keeps repeating the same game.

Yahoo box • MLB.com recap

Labels: all-star game, angels, astros, dodgers, front office, funny, managers, transactions, white sox

The Times is reporting that the Angels will host the 2010 All-Star Game, with an official announcement to be made by commissioner Bud Selig on Wednesday of next week.

In related news, Dodger Stadium is expected to win the 2009 World Baseball Classic, though an announcement is not forthcoming on Wednesday.

Labels: all-star game, angel stadium, angels

New MLB Drug Policy

MLB has a new drug policy (also in the AP), the key portions of which are

• All players implicated in December’s Mitchell Report on peformance-enhancing drugs were given amnesty as part of the agreement, which toughens baseball’s drug rules for the third time since the program began in 2002. [How nice of them to eliminate players who were sometimes merely accused of using drugs based on hearsay evidence.]
• The independent administrator, a position created in November 2005, will be given an initial three-year term and can be removed only if an arbitrator finds cause. Until now, he could be fired at any time by either side.
• In addition, the decision over whether a player can be subjected to reasonable-cause testing will remain with management and the union, with any disagreement decided by the sport’s regular arbitrator. Also, a joint management-union body called the Treatment Board will supervise the part of the program relating to drugs of abuse, such as cocaine.

Hey, Rep. Henry Waxman, why aren't you investigating warrantless wiretapping or prosecution of the Iraq war? Putz.

Via BTF.

Report: 2010 All-Star Game In Anaheim

So says the Rev.

Mike Lowell On DL

Not that I normally care about the Red Sox' DL, but Mike Lowell was placed on it; the Angels are going to need every last advantage they can find to beat the Sox on the road, and Lowell will not be playing third when the Halos take to the Hub April 22-24.

Labels: all-star game, angels, drugs, injuries, red sox

• Gustavo Dominguez was sentenced to five years for illegally smuggling Cubanos.
• Ichiro! hit an inside-the-park home run along the way to a 5-4 AL victory against the NL. Word is, he's re-upped with the Mariners for five years @ $20M per.

  Update: Best Closer In The AL West, J.J. Putz, came near to coughing up a three-run lead, giving up a two-run homer to Alfonso Soriano; the AL had to call in K-Rod to finish things off by getting Aaron Rowand to fly out. And lest you think I'm being overly partisan here, Frankie was terrible, walking the first two batters he faced to load the bases. (Yahoo box.)

• The Angels and Mets are both on the short list for upcoming All-Star games; the Times speculates the 2010 game might swing to Anaheim.
• Vlad Guerrero won the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, with 17 in the second round. He paused at one point to tape his hands, which started to crack during the contest; David Ortiz gave him one of his bats, for luck, or something.
• I may have to take back (some of) the things I've said about Bud Selig; he's opposed to Scott Boras's incredibly stupid idea to move the World Series to a neutral spot. Heck, he even thinks using the DH for the NL in the All-Star Game makes sense, too.

Labels: all-star game, angels, contracts, mariners, stupid ideas

Brad Penny was passed over for the NL starter's job in favor of Jake Peavy for the All-Star Game. Dan Haren will get the nod for the AL.

Labels: all-star game

Bronx Banter, on this year's All-Star game voting:

1B: David Ortiz
Why: Not because he’s the best first basemen in the AL – hell, he doesn’t even play first base. Nor because he's the only baseball player I’ve ever had disconcerting recurring dreams about (winter of ’04-’05). No, because of this :on May 4th, when the Mariners’ Yuniesky Betancourt tagged Ortiz out between first and second, Big Papi enfolded the guy in a big bear hug. I suspect some of you may disagree, but for my money, there’s just not enough hugging in baseball.
Alternate choice: Travis Hafner, who because he plays in Cleveland, does not get nearly the love he deserves for his awesome nickname, Pronk (a mashup of Project and Donkey), or his candy bar. Or, you know, for his hitting. Whichever. The fact that he’s having an off-year is of no concern to me under the guidelines I just made up ten minutes ago.

I should point out here that although Casey Kotchman is having a very good season, I will never, under any circumstances, vote for a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim player. Mark Texiera’s really good too, but he’s on the DL and, as far as I can tell, kinda boring.

Labels: all-star game, angels, yankees

Yeah, baby. This might even hold up, and the even better news is that Barry Bonds might just get skunked, replaced by Alfonso Frickin' Soriano, who, if you've had the mispleasure to see him play lately, has .316/.366/.551 line, versus Barry's .276/.484/.553.

I hope the SOSG guys don't mind me swiping their logo. At least, I think it's their logo.

Labels: all-star game, dodgers