[Author's note: re-introducing myself to the law school scene has caused me to miss many chances to comment on a lot of issues, such as Strasburg, the leaked financial statements, and call-ups. I will find a way to return to them more fully. For now, a collection of quick thoughts on several timely topics.]
Nayjer Morgan
I’m torn. Part of me is impressed that his manager stood so sternly behind him, especially after calling him classless after the incident with the catcher in St. Louis (we’ll call that “incident 1”). Players, especially young players, must appreciate that public show of support. I’d bet anything, though, that Riggleman ripped Morgan a new on privately. Four total incidents in a week? No way the team looks highly on that, or supports it in any way.
Wednesday’s fight didn’t need to happen. Lost on me is the Nationals’ substantiation of Morgan’s actions. Somewhere, in any article written, is a quote something along the lines of “fine, hit him once, but don’t hit him twice. Twice is overreaction.” I can’t type that without laughing. Morgan separated the kid shoulder on Tuesday, and he is out for the rest of the season. Morgan will be lucky if Florida doesn’t take straight aim at his head every time he steps in. Additionally as baffling, is Riggleman’s perplexing self-contradiction. Throw at him once, you only get once as retaliation. OK. But if that’s your party line, Jim, don’t then quote yourself as pacing the dugout after the first hit, taking a straw poll of the team to see if they want you to order retaliation. That fact alone shows Riggleman’s complete lack of grasp of the situation. You can’t claim the Marlins get only one retaliation, yet also have considered retaliation in response to their “one retaliation.” Thank goodness your players reined you in.
Morgan is a problem. A problem the front office should address immediately. He is spiraling out of control. He threw a baseball at a fan, and was suspended for seven games. While appealing the suspension, he ran into a catcher after the play was over, and the catcher was two steps past home plate out of the way. Then he bowled over another catcher, who had the ball, when if Morgan had slid he would have won his team the game. (Riggleman tried to justify that, after calling his first catcher bashing classless and benching Morgan for a game.) Then, last night. (For those who aren’t aware – the Marlins hit him in the third inning. Morgan then, with the score 14-3 Marlins, stole two bases on two pitches, violating unwritten rules of not being a dumbass and stealing while you are down by 11.) The Marlins, in response, felt they had to retaliate to his nonsense again. They threw behind him, and Morgan charged the mound. He subsequently was clotheslined, which he deserved, and probably got the first actual ass kicking in a baseball fight since Nolan Ryan got Ventura in a headlock and pounded him. Morgan deserved every second of it. As Morgan was exiting the field (after being tossed along with four others and the managers), his uniform shirt all but ripped off his body, he held “triumphant” fists over his head, while alternating that and pounding his chest. This kid is worse than Delmon Young when he threw his bat at the umpire for that called slider on a 3-2 count at Durham. Morgan was acting in a disgusting manner, that seems to illustrate he thinks he is above baseball’s rules.
While appealing a seven game suspension, Morgan took part in three more incidents for which he should be suspended. I am unfamiliar with the suspensions rules and how
they work. If I were in charge of doling out punishment, though, it would go like this:
The appeal of the seven game suspension would be automatically and summarily dismissed. It would stand at seven games, with an addition of two more for acting like an absolute jackass during the appeals process. He should get five games each for each catcher he hit. He should receive ten games for his disgusting self-promotion and congratulations after the fight. He should get five games for charging the mound and starting that fight. There is no doubt he took the first swing. Essentially- he should be suspended for the rest of the season. Young got 50 games for tossing his bat and reportedly making himself above the game. Is there any question this is what has happened with Morgan this week? Four incidents total, three while appealing a seven game suspension?! That takes all kinds of arrogance.
Were I in a front office position with Washington, I would fine him heavily, and require him to go to counseling in addition to MLB’s punishment. This young man is spiraling quickly out of control, and the team must intervene in order to help him grow to be a positive role model, and not an angry man.
Manny Ramirez
How there is any team in baseball who wants Ramirez to play on their roster at this point is baffling to me. Boston fans get the last laugh on L.A. though – L.A. thought they had won the lottery, but Boston knew better. (Frankly, so did most of baseball.) Now Manny takes his fatigue, tired knees, and lack of desire to play in the field to the most vocal manager in the major leagues.
Part of me is glad this happened, because you know the ensuing fireworks will be entertaining, if nothing else. Guillen is a man who called out Javy Vasquez publically for not being a big game pitcher, and publically bashed Nick Swisher’s performance on the team – and Nick is one of the nicest guys in baseball. So imagine what incredible drama will ensue when a loud-mouthed, uncensored manager has to deal with Manny’s nonsense. Terry Francona and Joe Torre, themselves too polite and classy to say anything publically, are probably laughing to tears on the phone with each other right now, just waiting to see what unfolds.
Me too. I don’t think Manny will make a difference with his slipping bat, and his personality will cause more hamr than good. The only good that will come of this trade is the money off the Dodgers’ books, and the hilarity bound to come up in the next four weeks. Forget pennant races – this will be like a baseball fans’ version of the Hills. All drama all the time. Hopefully it won’t force us to forget about the actual baseball being played.
Roger Clemens
When I began this blog, I promised myself I wouldn’t mention steroids once. I don’t believe it’s that much of a front office issue. But a friend asked my opinion on this matter. I am not angry, I am not shocked, I am only saddened. I weep for all of those who felt they have lost a boyhood hero. I am pained for those who loved Clemens’ grit, determination, and bulldog approach to baseball, who somehow feel those years are tainted, regardless of what team it was for.
Brett Gardner
Is it just me, or is Brett’s swing getting bigger, with more loop? It worries me.
Lester
Strangely ineffective down the end stretch. I haven’t seen him pitch recently, but the numbers and results look bad. Is this him giving up on a lost season?
Chapman
Buster Olney reports he hit 103 last night. He has faced six batters, struck out three (interestingly – all on sliders) and none have reached. A power arm, Chapman also reportedly boasts a more compact and shorter delivery. This has helped tremendously with location. I wonder if the less violent motion will also help keep his arm in better shape. Less violent movement means his shoulder and elbow overcompensate less. (When an arm pitches violently forward, it comes near to separation, the shoulder and elbow overcompensate by pulling back on the force driving it forward, which is what leads to shoulder problems and torn ucls. Think Strasburg.)
Yankees Tickets
On the Yankees home page today, there was an ad for 2010 season tickets with post season options still available. At some point, one has to wonder – have the Yankees priced themselves out of part of their market? Yankee stadium used to be so affordable. A new stadium will of course mean higher prices, but they did not react to economic times quick enough. There are still season tickets with post season options available? I think this means (1) they aren’t selling enough regular season tickers. No one is surprised by this, as there are always plenty of empty seats in the stadium when a game is on television; (2) they may be worried they are facing an Atlanta Braves like crisis. In the mid 2000’s. when the Braves were still making the post season, they had to offer buy one, get 2 tickets free for the next night ticket packages for the NLDS. The stands weren’t empty…but there sure weren’t full. Part of this could have been waning interest in baseball in Atlanta – they had done so well for so long that people just didn’t care about the post season.
Another potential problem was, though, that it could have been the fans saying “we’re sick of the first round, and you almost always lose. We’ll show up in the LCS when it gets exciting.” Given the recent history of post season struggles for the Yankees (save for last season of course) and the complete lack of confidence anyone has in their pitching staff aside from CC Sabathia right now – that may also be what the Yankees are facing. It will be interesting to see what happens down the stretch.
