The Southpaw

Tim Lincecum, 20 wins, the Cy Young and you

2009-11-19T21:51:15Z

That's it.
Now that Tim Lincecum has won the Cy Young award despite having just 15 wins, baseball fans are up in arms.
Either they believe it's an injustice that a pitcher could win the award without winning 20 games or it's an injustice because people still consider wins an important stat.
The rhetoric is getting as heated as the health care debate.
And I've had it.
The problem is these people not getting the point. And they're doing themselves and the game an injustice.
Wins are still a very valuable statistic. It's just one that has evolved over the years.
But more on that later.
What's most important is that we discuss the relevence of the big numbers (20 wins in a season, 500 home runs or 3,000 hits).
These are numbers that are benchmarks.
But, somewhere along the line their true meaning has been lost. We began thinking a pitcher needed 20 wins to be successful or that a slugger needed 500 home runs to reach the Hall of Fame.
Don't fear.
The Southpaw is going to straighten you out.
Let's start with 20 wins.

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The stat that changed

For nearly a century, when a pitcher earned 20 wins it meant they were a very good pitcher.
But that's about it.
It didn't mean they were the best in their league. There was no guaranteed raise in pay or award. It didn't even mean said pitcher was the best on their staff.Consider the 1970 Baltimore Orioles, who had three pitchers - Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Mike Cuellar- with 20 wins.
While that feat is quite an accomplishment, it was done 22 other times.
Winning 20 games was something a team pretty much expected from at least one starter every season.
Don't believe me? Look it up at baseball-reference.com.
Here are three years at random:
1977
The change started in the late '70s, after Sparky Anderson's Big Red Machine proved you didn't need a dominant starter to be a dominant team.
But in 1977, pitchers still found a way to win 20 games.
The Phillies' Steve Carlton paced the Senior Circuit with 23. He was followed by the Mets' Tom Seaver, who ended up with 21. Then came the Dodgers' Tommy John, the Pirates' John Candelaria, St. Louis' Bob Forsch and Chicago's Rick Reuschel. That means six of 12 National League clubs had 20-game winners.
The American League didn't have as many pitchers reach the plateau. But it still had its fair share.
Palmer, Minnesota's Dave Goltz and Kansas City's Dennis Leonard won 20.
So, overall, nine of 26 teams had 20-game winners.
1953
Four of eight National League teams had 20-game winners. The Braves' Warren Spahn and Phillies' Robin Roberts led the league with 23 victories. St. Louis' Harvey Haddix won 20, as did Carl Erskine of the Dodgers.
Over in the American League, half the teams had 20-game winners as well.
Washington's Bob Porterfield (who) led the way with 22. Cleveland's Bob Lemon and Mel Parnell up in Boston won 21. Virgil Trucks split time between the White Sox and the
Browns but still found a way to win 21.
Of course all this took place back when there was a four-man rotation, which meant more chances to earn a victory.
1938
So this was before the five-man rotation, pitch counts or specialty relievers.
And the numbers are insane when compared to today's standards. Eight guys won 20 games.
There were just 16 teams during the decade, but there was an average of 6.8 20-game winners per season.

Today's pitchers
Compare those numbers to the amount of wins pitchers get today. Twice this decade, we've had a season in which no pitcher won 20 games.
Twice.
Not counting strike-shortened seasons, that had never happened before.
Three times in the last four years, the American League has not had a 20-game winner.
The league leading wins numbers have dropped precipitously.
Only 15 times from 1960 to 1989 had a pitcher led either league with 21 or fewer wins.
It has happened 22 times since the 1990 season.
So, because of expanded rotations, a manager's proclivity to go to his bullpen in the fifth, sixth or seventh inning, and the money in guaranteed contracts, pitchers don't go as deep into games and the win has become a somewhat more hollow statistic, especially when compared to WHIP (walks plus hits, divided by innings pitched), K/BB and some other statistics.
Now let's move from the pitching mound to the batter's box.

The most misunderstood club ever

Nowadays, you often hear people say things such as, "But he'll never reach 500 home runs, how can he go into the Hall of Fame?"
Let the Southpaw assure you, such an argument is completely and utterly asinine.
The 500 home run club was the most exclusive club in sports because it had been harder to get into than the Hall of Fame itself.
Basically, you could make into the Hall, but not hit 500 homers. But you couldn't hit 500 homers and not make it into the Hall.
Some of the greatest sluggers of the game's first century never made it to 500 home runs.

Willie Stargell was one of the most feared hitters of his generation, but he came up 25 home runs short.

Duke Snider had five straight 40-home run seasons, but ended up with 407.

Johnny Mize won four home run titles but never even reached 400.

Hank Greenberg had four 40-home run seasons, led the league in homers four times. He had 183 runs batted in during the 1937 season. Hell, he had 359 runs batted in from 1935 to 1937. And he only played in 12 games in 1936. But he was nowhere near 500.

All three of those guys were no-doubt-about-it Hall of Famers.
Yet they didn't make it to the magic 500. Does that belittle their careers? Not a chance.
It just shows you how hard it is to hit 500 home runs.
One last guy to consider.
Ralph Kiner led the league in home runs seven times. Only Mike Schmidt and Babe Ruth have more home run crowns.
But Kiner finished his career with 369 bombs because injuries forced him to retire after just 10 seasons.

You have to wonder if there is some bozo out there who'd say that's not good enough for Cooperstown.
Now, let's move from the sluggers to the not-so-powerful hitters.

Batting .251 in your 20th season.

The obsession with career milestones is really ridiculous when it comes to 3,000 hits.
There have been plenty of hitters who played long enough and hit for a high enough average and didn't make it to 3,000 hits but were worthy of enshrinement in Cooperstown.
But for some reason, you'll hear people say a player needs to reach that mark to make the trip.
So, in essence they're saying that a player who bats .251 - 30 points below his career average - during his last season, should be in the Hall of Fame because he reached that milestone, but a guy who batted .285 during his career, with 420 stolen bases, 290 home runs and is fifth on the all-time doubles list and scored more runs than Frank Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams doesn't belong there.
I'm sorry, but that's ludicrous.
You're actually asking a great player to have what would be a sub-par season by a much more inferior player's standards.
Of course, the great player we're talking about is Craig Biggio.

By the time he finished his 18th season, the Houston Astro had been to seven All Star games, led his league in stolen bases once and runs scored twice and earned a reputation as an elite defensive player.
If he'd retired then, he would have ended up with 604 doubles (11th all-time), 1,679 runs scored (32nd all-time, with every eligible player in front of him in Cooperstown) and 407 stolen bases. Add that together with his .285 batting average and 260 home runs and it's hard to imagine him being locked out of the Hall.
But to some people, his final two seasons - in which he batted .249 with seven stolen bases and 147 runs - mean it's time to order the plaque.
To me those numbers sound more Jose Oquendo than Joe Morgan.
It's easy to tell this obsession with milestones came into play fairly recently when you consider Wee Willie Keeler was 68 hits away from 3,000 when he hung up his cleats, Frank Robinson retired 47 hits shy, and Sam Rice was a mere 13 away.
Lucky for them, no one noticed when the Hall of Fame vote came up.

Thursday's first pitch 11-19-09

2009-11-19T12:30:09Z

Mike Scioscia can calm down now. He's manager of the year. But you know he'd trade that award for the pennant or the Commissioner's trophy.
Bud Selig is making the right call. And no, that wasn't a misprint.
The voters got the manager of the year awards right.

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Bud Selig has decided to listen to reason. We know. We're shocked too.
The Commish is going to trim some of the off days out of the playoff schedule.
This is good for baseball because this year's post-season was rediculous.
First of all, it should never go into November. Second of all, the reason it went so far into November was blamed on the World Baseball Classic. However, the Yankees had 14 off days during the playoffs.
That's like playing in the NBA.

Regional Roundup

Tom Boswell thinks the Nats have made all the right moves. They brought in Davey Johnson, so Jim Rigleman might be on the hot seat.

Anyone else befuddled that Uncle Cholly was sixth in the Manager of the Year award? How will the National League champs fix their bench problems?

The Orioles are playing a waiting game with sometime York resident Mark Hendrickson.

It doesn't look like the Pirates will be big spenders in free agency. If you thought they would be, you need an intervention.

Best of Rest

The Atlanta Braves might deal Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe at a cheap price.

Are the World Champs going to beat the Phillies again? This time in the free agent market with Mark DeRosa.

What is Jason Bay's real value?

Batter's Eye

Ted Keith breaks down the Cy Young race.

The Closer

For the Southpaw's money Mike Scioscia is the best manager in baseball.
So we were glad to see him win the American League Manager of the Year award.
Scioscia runs a game very well. His players consistently hustle. He handles pitching as well as he handles hitting. He deals well with injuries.
He did really well with injuries this year.
But he didn't do the best managerial job this year.
It was Jim Tracy who did that.
And he more than earned the National League award. He righted the Good Ship Rockie and guided it from choppy waters into a playoff berth.
For his work, Tracy was also rewarded with a contract extension.

Negro leagues museum proposed for Baltimore

2009-11-19T11:59:46Z

The east coast could have it's first Negro Leagues museum, according to a the Baltimore Sun today.
It's interesting that this proposal has been made considering the struggles of the national museum in Kansas City.
While Kansas City is the best place to have the museum, other cities have rich history with the leagues. Pittsburgh was home to the Crawfords and the Grays. Chicago was pretty much where Rube Foster organized the American Giants and the Negro National League.
Baltimore itself has a strong history with the Baltimore Lord Baltimores, Baltimore Giants and so many other teams.
The Baltimore Black Sox boasted the Million Dollar Infield of Boojum Wilson, Ghost Marcelle, Frank Warfield and Sir Richard Lundy.
They were comparable to the dominant infield of the Philadelphia A's at the time.
Wilson is enshrined in Cooperstown.
Warfield supposedly bit off Marcelle's nose. Told you the league was full of good stories.
The history of the Negro Leagues is one that can at times be lost to the fog of the past.
There aren't as many records as you would like. But the stories and the characters are as rich as the other Major Leagues of the time.
There are many great books out there about the leagues and they're well worth the read.
But if you're going to read one, check out Buck O'Neill's "I was right on time."

Poll: Free agent prize 2009

2009-11-18T16:09:56Z

Who is the biggest prize on the free agent market?

poll by twiigs.com

Wednesday's first pitch

2009-11-18T12:09:32Z

So, Zack Greinke won the Cy Young. But can he slay a gnome?
An interesting look at Omar Vizquel and where he could end up.

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How weird is it that Zack Greinke is a World of Warcraft player? I mean, I can see how his pitches could slay a level 5 warlock, but he's really breaking boundries here.
His off-field video-game adventures might be as shocking as his dominant season.
Don't forget, he came into this season having a 34-45 record.
Now, we'll find out if he's another Pete Vukovich.

Joe Posnanski writes that the vote was correct because the voters didn't get caught up in wins and losses.
Regional Roundup

Andy Martino looks at how the Phillies hope to fix their bench.

The Orioles like what they're seeing in the Arizona Fall League.

Christian Guzman could have won a gold glove at short during either of the last two seasons. Now he's moving to second.

Here's a good profile of the former Altoona Curve owner and his current conundrum.

Best of Rest

Sandy Alomar Jr. is returning to Cleveland as a first base coach.

If the Cardinals lose Matt Holliday, they won't go after Jason Bay.

Is Wally Backman the backup plan?

Kung Fu Panda has found a good workout.

The Angels say John Lackey and Chone Figgins are the priority As they should be.

Batter's Eye

The LA Times asks, which Dodgers squad doesn't have any active players on it. Confused, check the link.

The Closer

Evan Brunell, of the Hardball TImes, has an interesting idea.
Omar Vizquel wants to play one more season. And he wants to do so for a team in the spotlight. Vizquel was surprisingly productive coming off the bench for the Rangers last season, batting .266 with 27 games at short and 20 more at second.
He did not commit an error during the year and his range factors at short and second were pretty impressive.
Meanwhile the Phillies are looking to upgrade their bench.
Vizquel would be an intriguing option at worst and a pretty good signing at best.
First of all, he'll come cheap. So the Phillies could spend more money on relief and third base.
Second of all, for 200 at-bats, he'll give them better production, than they got out of Eric Bruntlett.
The question, of course, is his age. Does he have enough left in the tank?

Tuesday's first pitch 11-17-09

2009-11-17T12:03:03Z

An underdog Yankee. Yep.

And guess who might be heading to Cuba?

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The Orioles could be trying to make a diplomatic move with Cuba, bringing his team there again. Peter Schmuck has the scoop.
With relations between the countries appearing to be at a cross roads, it's an interesting move by owner Peter Angelos that could pay off.

Regional Roundup

The Phillies are saying goodbye to Eric Bruntlett, the man who scored the winning runs in Games 3 and 5 of the 2008 World Series. Bill Conlin rambles on about why Phillies fans shouldn't feel sorry for J.A. Happ.

It's hard to believe Nolan Reimold and Brad Bergeson didn't get a vote in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Andrew McCutchen received just two first place votes. Somebody wasn't watching him.

The Nationals continue to reshape their front office. This Jay Sartori fellow might be a guy who can play hardball in negotiations.

Best of Rest

You'll never believe who led the Dodgers in ERA during the last decade.

Chad Finn thinks the Red Sox should pay whatever price they need to in order to get Adrian Gonzalez.

The Reds are bringing back Ramon Hernandez.

St. Louis fans are caught up in a confusing conundrum: Carpenter or Wainwright.

Are the Tigers about to dump payroll? ...

... And does that really mean Curtis Grandserson could be headed to Seattle?

Batter's Eye

Tom Verducci makes this year's free agent class seem pitiful One has to wonder if some of the small market teams will break the "supposed-collusion" and give some solid veterans a job.

The Closer

Is it possible for a Yankee to be an underdog? According to the New York press corps it is.
They're beating Major League Baseball to the punch and saying Zack Greinke will win the Cy Young award.

Hanover man won two World Series rings

2009-11-17T11:48:57Z

A Hanover graduate who earned two World Series rings has died.
Evening Sun Sports Editor Chuck Curley writes about John Neiderer Jr., who won rings as a scout for the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates and 2002 Anaheim Angels.

Player Appreciation: Jerry Koosman, the other Met ace

2009-11-17T01:37:59Z

The spotlight always seemed to shine near Jerry Koosman, but never on him.
Editor's note: This is the second in a series of the 10 most underappreciated players of all time. Guess who No. 10 was.
When you're second to Tom Seaver, you're doing something right.
And Jerome MarinKoosman was. He did win 222 games in the Major Leagues. He had an ERA 3.36 that was comparable to stars of his era. He pitched, and won, big games.
But he strangely never got credit for the career he had.
Then again he wasn't Tom Seaver.
Tom Terrific, after all, was approved by the most voters for enshrinement into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
That's right - more than Babe Ruth. More than Ty Cobb. More than Mr. Cy Young himself.
So Tom Seaver, his 311 wins, 2.86 ERA and 3,640 shutouts cast a long, dark shadow.
And that shadow fell one Koosman, a very reliable left-hander from Appleton Minnesota.
But Koosman didn't have just one shadow that blocked out the spotlight. He also had to deal with the flame-throwing Nolan Ryan, who scared hitters so much they would have rather faced John Wayne Gacy or John Wayne.
So they were somewhat relieved when the face Koosman.
Which was the wrong feeling.
They escaped the lion's den and the gorilla cage.
But they were still within range of a black bear.

Young Guns

The Koos was the oft-forgotten third man in the triumvirate of young hurlers who came up in the 1960s.
For his part, Tom Seaver was the ace with the sandy-haired, golden boy good looks, the affable smile and an unparalleled grace. He was Han Solo, without the attitude.
Nolan Ryan was Darth Vader. His blazing fastball and brooding glare menaced hitters in a way that made Bob Gibson and Don Newcombe proud. Ryan went on shatter so many records on his way to enshrinement in Cooperstown he became one of baseball's brightest stars.
Jerry Koosman was Luke Skywalker, playing the role of the young country bumpkin whisked from his uncle's farm and thrust into action well above his head. He wasn't ready to equal Ryan's heat or put hitters away with Seaver's calculating effort and tenacity.
But Koosman, like Skywalker, was perfect for the part.
One could say he was destined for it.

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The kid from Appleton But, then again, how can someone from Appleton, Minn., ever become a star? Not that there's anything wrong with the town, especially when you consider it has named almost all of its streets after its residents who died serving their country. That's an honorable notion.

However, Appleton's largest employer is the Prairie Correctional Facility, so there's not much to be famous for.

In fact, it appears Koosman is the most famous resident of Appleton. Of course, he's not mentioned on the town's Web site. At all. So the spotlight barely reaches Koosman on his own turf. He might not be standing in someone's shadow. It's just the spotlight doesn't reach the town of 2,871.

The rookie card

Supposedly, Jerry Koosman likes to point out how expensive his rookie card is. Of course, there's a reason his rookie card is so expensive: It also happens to be Nolan Ryan's rookie card.

Imagine that.

You're not even the most famous player on your own rookie card. It's like walking down the red carpet behind Julia Roberts. You're just not going to get noticed. But it could be argued that from 1968 to 1979 Ryan should have been in Koosman's shadow on that rookie card.

The numbers don't lie

Let's compare the Kooseman and Ryan's numbers from that era.

	Wins-Losses	ERA	Innings	K	BB	WHIP	ERA+
Ryan	167-158	3.15	2,688	2,903	1,643	1.312	112
Koosman	160-148	3.10	2,786	1,945	884	1.224	116

Let's get one thing straight before we move forward, no one is arguing Koosman should be in the Hall of Fame while Ryan shouldn't.
It's just that during a 10-year span, which is a very significant portion of time, Koosman was a slightly better pitcher, with a lower ERA and nearly half as many walks while pitching 98 more innings.
It's amazing that Koosman was able to have a lower WHIP - walks plus hits divided by innings pitched - than Ryan because the Hall of Famer was so hard to hit.
In fact, Koosman's WHIP is very comparable to two of today's stars who are very likely to reach the Hall of Fame.
During Tom Glavine's terrific run from 1991 to 2000, he had a 1.260 WHIP.
From 1996 to 2006, Andy Pettite ran up a career 1.352 WHIP.
Now, you could correctly argue that Glavine and Pettitte played during a more hitter-friendly era. And you would be 100 percent correct.
But all three pitchers - Koosman, Glavine and Pettitte - have several things in common.
All three were left-handed control pitchers. All three won twenty games at least twice - with Glavine being the only one to reach the mark three times. All three won a World Series.
What's interesting about Koosman is his postseason numbers.

Underappreciated playoff ace

Glavine pitched one of the greatest postseason games of all time, his 1995 masterpiece in Game 6 of the World Series. Pettitte pitched spectacularly throughout his career in the playoffs.
But Koosman's postseason numbers are also magnificent.
He went 4-0 with a 3.79 ERA. But if you take away one disastrous 1983 outing from when he was well past his prime, Koosman would hold a 3.37 postseason ERA. He also had a 1.215 WHIP in the playoffs.

A lost legacy

One has to wonder how Koosman is not as remembered.
It cannot be because he struggled from 1980-1983.
There are many memorable pitchers - who ended up inside and outside of Cooperstown - who started out strong and had great careers but didn't finish with the big numbers: 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts.
People still talk about Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat, Dennis Martinez and Mike Cuellar and Vida Blue.
Meanwhile those guys put up similar numbers to Koosman, but his career is never brought up when discussing great pitchers of the 1970s.
Could it be that he never had a breakout season? After all, he won 19 games and had a 2.08 ERA in 1968.
It can't be that he didn't pitch in the spotlight - he won Game 5 of the 1973 World Series and the clincher in the 1969 Fall Classic.
Could it be that he went 11-35 from 1977-78? It's doubtful since he'd already won 129 games up to that point and then won 20 games in 1979.
For whatever reason, Jerry Koosman's career has never been given the respect it deserves.
After all, we've been trying to point that out for this whole post and still haven't mentioned that he was the first member of that Mets trio to win 19 games or that he won more World Series games than Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan combined.

Coghlan, Bailey are Rookies of the Year

2009-11-16T19:29:32Z

Chris Coghlan and Andrew Baily earned the Rookie of the Year honors.
Coghlan helped the Marlins finish in second place.
Coghlan batted a robust .321 with 84 runs scored while playing in 128 games.
Baily was 6-3 out of the bullpen with a 1.84 ERA and 26 saves.
He was one of the few bright spots for a struggling Athletics squad.
Even if you were a Pirates fan and rooted for Andrew McCutchen to win this award, or a Phillies fan who wanted J.A. Happ to take home the honors, you have to admit these guys deserved the award.
This year, was a very competitive year, especially in the National League. The senior circuit boasted fellow rooks Colby Rasmus and Dexter Fowler.
The American League had a stud shortstop in Elvis Andrus and an impressive ace in Rick Porcello.

Monday's first pitch - 11-16-09

2009-11-16T12:20:18Z

While playing basketball at the Hanover YMCA Friday, the Southpaw played against a kid who was wearing a Nolan Reimold jersey.
Now, that's a fan.
Inside, we look at the National League's rookie class, remember Dwight Gooden and find out another team needs a third baseman.

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The Rookie of the Year award comes out today. This might be the deepest National League Rookie class in a long time.
It's very comparable to 2001, when future stars Albert Pujols, Roy Oswalt, Jimmy Rollins and Adam Dunn came into the league.
This year's class didn't put up the numbers those guys did, but it might be longer on talent.
Andrew McCutchen (12 home runs, 22 stolen bases, 10 outfield assists)and Tommy Hanson (11-4) are stars in the making.
After the postseason, it's hard to remember that J.A. Happ was a dynamo for the Phillies 12-4, two shutouts or that Dexter Fowler helped spark the Rockies rally with 27 stolen bases, 10 triples and 29 doubles.
Colby Rasmus showed flashes of brilliance while batting .251 with 16 home runs and 52 runs batted in.
Somehow, Chris Coughlin's .321 season with 84 runs scored in just 128 games was lost in the shuffle.
Now, we'll have to wait and see if all of these players reach their potential.

Regional Roundup

Phillies fans are rooting for J.A. Happ to win the Rookie of the Year award.

The relationship between Washington's general manager and its manager will be a key for any improvement.

Will McCutchen win.The Pirates missed out on J.J. Hardy.

What is the Orioles' most pressing need.

Best of Rest

Former Pirate Jack WIlson is going to spend the next two years in Seattle. Will he ever be on a winning team?

A Giants prospect has a visa snafu: Murder

The Phillies and Orioles aren't the only teams looking to fill voids at third base.

Batter's Eye

The McCourt drama keeps going lower. And lower.

The Closer

It's hard to believe, but Dwight Gooden is only 25. His story is one that should be told to every rookie, especially the phenoms.
Consider his first seven years. From 1984 to 1990, he went 119-47, had more strikeouts than hits allowed; and accumulated a 2.82 ERA.
Gooden, now is trying to get past his demons.

Poll: Will the Phillies trade Cole Hamels?

2009-11-16T12:14:19Z

poll by twiigs.com

Thursday's first pitch 11-12-09

2009-11-12T11:57:10Z

The Orioles are hoping to trade for a second baseman who's last name starts with "U."
The Yankees wouldn't. Would they?
The Nationals are keeping Jim Wriggleman.

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The Nationals are set to take the interim off of Jim Wriggleman's managerial title.
Much like the Indians earlier this year, they've gone for the long-term bang over the short-term pizazz.
Wriggleman's a solid choice, but the Nationals could have used the short-term zip that comes with a big-name hire like Don Mattingly or Bobby Valentine.
However, the reason he's a solid choice is his his ability to handle a young team.
During his three-year tenure in San Diego, he helped the Padres grow into a team that would eventually earn two playoff trips later in the decade.

Regional Roundup

Brad Lidge had surgery. Maybe the doctors can remove his fear of throwing the slider in the dirt. The Phillies have three main candidates at third base.

The O's are going after Dan Uggla.

Are the Pirates going to have a logjam at third base? More importantly, how bad is your team when Andy LaRoche creates a log jam?

Stephen Strasburg takes the hill Saturday.

Best of Rest

John Heyman says the Yankees are going after Roy Halladay.

Gene Wojciechowski is probably the best columnist over at ESPN.
His topic de jour: Mark McGwire and honesty.
You must read it.

This article really wants to answer the question, what would happen if Derek Jeter left the Yankees? But it never does.

Jason Varitek is returning to Boston.

The Cardinals might not have what it takes to sign Matt Holliday.

Batter's Eye

Tom Verducci says bargains are the real deal when it comes to free agency.

The Closer

Ken Griffey Jr. loves baseball. And we love him for it.

NL Gold Glove winners announced

2009-11-12T11:54:50Z

From the AP:

NEW YORK -- That travel team back in Virginia a decade ago must have played great defense on the left side of the infield.

Ryan Zimmerman succeeded boyhood friend David Wright as the National League's Gold Glove third baseman on Wednesday. In high school, when Zimmerman was a shortstop, the two played together on a youth team.

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"Hopefully if we're lucky enough to continue doing what we're doing, this will be a yearly thing," Zimmerman said. "It's fun for us."

A college teammate from the University of Virginia, Arizona's Mark Reynolds, is competing with Zimmerman for a Silver Slugger award, to be announced Thursday.

"We all push each other to work harder," said Zimmerman, who had 33 homers and 106 RBIs.

Zimmerman led major league third basemen with 325 assists and became only the second Washington player to win the award, joining catcher Earl Battey of the original Senators in 1960. He also became the second infielder to win a Gold Glove from a team with the worst fielding percentage in the majors, following Texas shortstop Michael Young last year.

The Nationals led the major leagues with 143 errors.

"Our team as a whole needs to realize that if we want to win we've got to play defense," Zimmerman said. "We need to take more responsibility on the defensive side of the ball and realize that if we want to start winning that, you know, that's just as much a part of winning as hitting and scoring runs."

Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins earned his third consecutive Gold Glove and Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino won for the second straight time.

"Defense is a very important part of my game, and it truly is an honor to be recognized as one of the best defensive players in the league," Rollins said in a statement.

Of course, the Gold Gloves were far more rewarding last year, when the Phillies won the World Series for the first time since 1980. Philadelphia failed in its attempt to repeat, losing to the New York Yankees in six games last week.

"I take a lot of pride in fielding my position," Victorino, nicknamed the Flyin' Hawaiian for his speed, said in a statement.

Rollins became the Phillies fifth three-time winner, joining Mike Schmidt (10), Garry Maddox (eight), Manny Trillo and Scott Rolen (three each).

St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina and San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez also were second-time winners announced Wednesday.

"I don't think I made as many plays as I made the year before. That's because teams were more reluctant to bunt my way," Gonzalez said. "You need a couple of years of doing things over and over before coaches say there's a guy I could vote for."

Adam Wainwright became the first Cardinals pitcher to win since Joaquin Andujar in 1984 and succeeded Greg Maddux, who won his record 18th Gold Glove last year. Wainwright also is a favorite for the NL Cy Young Award after going 19-8 with a 2.63 ERA.

"I would have thought if there was one award that I would never win, or never have a chance to win, that would be a Gold Glove Award," Wainwright said. "There's probably a ton of guys that are better fielders than me."

Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson overcame a broken left wrist sustained in August 2008 and won for the fourth time, taking over from Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips even though Hudson lost playing time by September to teammate Ronnie Belliard. Hudson didn't make a single postseason start for Los Angeles, then became a free agent.

"I had a good season," he said. "I would be interested in coming back."

Houston outfielder Michael Bourn and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp also were first-time winners -- and gave the NL three center fielders in the Gold Glove outfield.
Kemp had 14 assists, up from two in 2007.

"Now you're supposed to win a Gold Glove every year," he said.

Gold Glove winners announced

2009-11-11T12:13:05Z

From the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Derek Jeter sure is stuffing his trophy case this year.
The steady Yankees shortstop won his fourth Gold Glove on Tuesday, joining New York first baseman Mark Teixeira among the American League players rewarded for fantastic fielding.
"I've always taken a great deal of pride in my defense, and being honored with a Gold Glove is an accomplishment I will never overlook," Jeter said in a statement.

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Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter and Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki both won for the ninth straight season. First-time winners included Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones and Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle.
Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer and Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco each earned their second award.
Rawlings has presented Gold Gloves annually since 1957. Managers and coaches vote on players in their own leagues before the regular season ends, but they may not select members of their own teams.
National League winners will be announced Wednesday.
It's been a banner year for Jeter, who combined with Teixeira to help lead the Yankees past Philadelphia last week for the franchise's 27th World Series title.
In addition to his fifth championship ring, Jeter also took home baseball's Roberto Clemente Award for excellence on the field and in the community, and his second Hank Aaron Award as the AL's top hitter. In September, he broke Lou Gehrig's club record for hits.
The Gold Glove is perhaps his most surprising piece of hardware, however. Jeter, who turned 35 in June, enjoyed one of his best defensive seasons after years of criticism for a lack of range.
A 10-time All-Star, Jeter won three consecutive Gold Gloves from 2004-06. But detractors pointed to modern fielding stats that indicated his defense didn't warrant such accolades. They said it was his bat that brought on the attention -- and the New York spotlight.
This season, Jeter made a career-low eight errors and matched his personal best with a .986 fielding percentage, both ranking at the top of the AL charts. He anchored an outstanding Yankees infield as New York set a major league record by going 18 games without an error from May 14 to June 1.
"Playing championship-caliber baseball starts with pitching and defense, and I think those two components were certainly the foundation for our success in 2009," said Jeter, who made 56 errors as a 19-year-old at Class-A Greensboro in 1993.
Teixeira played a big part in New York's title, too.
In his first season with the Yankees after signing a $180 million, eight-year contract, Teixeira impressed with his reliable glove as well as his powerful bat. He saved runs with diving stops, nimble stretches and tough scoops. Teammates and opponents alike pointed to his substantial effect on the club's overall defense.
A Gold Glove winner in 2005 and '06 with Texas, Teixeira committed just four errors this year and had a .997 fielding percentage.
"Solid defense is the most underrated component of winning baseball, but it is something I have always taken pride in," Teixeira said. "Winning a third Gold Glove means a lot to me, especially when good defense helped our entire team reach the ultimate goal of a world championship."
Mauer, a top contender for AL MVP, won his second consecutive Gold Glove after leading the Twins on a late charge into the playoffs.
Longoria, last year's AL Rookie of the Year, unseated Seattle's Adrian Beltre at third base. Beltre, hampered by injuries this season, won the previous two years after a six-year run by Oakland's Eric Chavez.
"It's the one award that I've wanted to win since I started pro ball," Longoria said in a statement. "I take a lot of pride in my defense, so this award is very special to me. It's humbling to have your name associated with some of the great players who have won a Gold Glove, especially the third basemen."
In addition to the voters, Longoria thanked teammate Carlos Pena, last season's Gold Glove winner at first base.
"We all know how good he is. He probably saved me at least five errors this year, so without him the award might not have been possible," Longoria said.
Buehrle pitched a perfect game against Tampa Bay on July 23. But when he allows runners, he's particularly effective at holding them on.
The left-hander yielded only four stolen bases in eight tries this season and picked off eight runners. The only pitcher with more pickoffs was former teammate Clayton Richard, who had nine, according to STATS LLC. Chicago traded Richard to San Diego on July 31 in a package for ace Jake Peavy.
"Hopefully, I earned it this year," Buehrle said.
Polanco, who has filed for free agency, committed two errors all season. He also won in 2007 -- without making an error -- before losing out last year to Boston's Dustin Pedroia.
With nine Gold Gloves apiece, Hunter and Suzuki are one shy of the AL record for outfielders, shared by Ken Griffey Jr. and Hall of Famer Al Kaline.
Hunter receives a $100,000 bonus for winning the Gold Glove, while Suzuki gets $50,000. Buehrle, Longoria, Mauer and Polanco each earned $25,000.

Tuesday's first pitch 11-10-09

2009-11-10T12:17:18Z

The best news so far this offseason: Tim Wakefield will be back in 2010.
The hot stove league is heating up.
The Red Sox are making moves. The Yankees are planning theirs.
There's a hole at third in Philly.
And, because we can: Yo, Adrian.

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It only makes sense that the Phillies will pick up Adrian Beltre to replace Pedro Feliz at third base.

Through former general manager Pat Gillick, the Phillies have a pipeline to the great northwest. Beltre, of course, played the last five years in Seattle, which has provided the Phillies with Greg Dobbs and Jamie Moyer.
Beltre, however, will be the wrong guy to pick up. During the past four seasons, Feliz has been more reliable, playing in 50 more games. He also provides better defense.
The thing is, Chone Figgins is probably the best fit.
Can you imagine what it would be like for National Leaguers to have to pitch to Figgins, Victorino and Rollins at the top of the order?
Chase Utley and Ryan Howard would see nothing but fastballs.
However, Figgins is probably too pricey for the National League champs.
But, the Phillies could sign former Phillie Placido Polanco.
He'll be cheaper than either of the three players and has a higher OPS than each of them over the past four seasons.

Regional Roundup

Bill Conlin gets all mushy for Pedro Feliz. Ruben Amaro is still looking at Roy Halladay.

The Nationals could be making Jim Riggleman their official manager.

The Baltimore Orioles picked up a Minnesota farmhand.

The Pirates will end spring training in Philly.

Best of Rest

The Boston Red Sox are bringing back Tim Wakefield. They also picked up the option on Victor Martinez.

The tabs are pondering Slammin' Sammy's pigmentation

Mariners officeholders aren't talking about Hideki Matsui.

Jerry Crasnick talked to 20 general managers about several issues, including which Yankee is leaving; where will John Lackey end up and instant replay.

What will the Padres do with Adrian Gonzalez?

The Braves have similar issues with Javier Vazquez.

Batter's Eye

Ted Keith looks at the10 riskiest free agents.

The Closer

The Yankees are rumored to be going after Matt Holliday to replace Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon.
That's the wrong move.
Look, the World Champs have a ton of offense. They don't need any more.
What they actually need is another pitcher.
They have no depth at starting pitching, beyond CC Sabathia.
AJ Burnett has shown he can flame out or his arm can implode.
Andy Pettitte is reliable when he's not retired.
Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain's weaknesses are better hidden in the bullpen.
So if the Yanks don't want to become the Mets they need to keep their eye on the arms race.
And the bats won't matter.