The Southpaw

Tim Lincecum, 20 wins, the Cy Young and you

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:51:15 +0000

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.

Thursday's first pitch 11-19-09

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:09 +0000

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.

Negro leagues museum proposed for Baltimore

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:59:46 +0000

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

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:09:56 +0000

Who is the biggest prize on the free agent market?

poll by twiigs.com

Wednesday's first pitch

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:09:32 +0000

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.

Tuesday's first pitch 11-17-09

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:03:03 +0000

An underdog Yankee. Yep.

And guess who might be heading to Cuba?

Hanover man won two World Series rings

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:48:57 +0000

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

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:37:59 +0000

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.

Coghlan, Bailey are Rookies of the Year

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:29:32 +0000

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

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:20:18 +0000

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.

Poll: Will the Phillies trade Cole Hamels?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:14:19 +0000

poll by twiigs.com

Thursday's first pitch 11-12-09

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:57:10 +0000

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.

NL Gold Glove winners announced

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:54:50 +0000

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.

Gold Glove winners announced

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:13:05 +0000

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.

Tuesday's first pitch 11-10-09

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:17:18 +0000

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.