It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to really enjoy a full season of baseball. Joining the military kept me out of the loop in a lot of aspects of life for probably about the first year. Then I got about half a season in before I was sent to England – a country where baseball is almost unheard of. Football on the other hand is all that is spoken of here, and not the pig skin kind that most of this crowd will find at the front lines of their thought. Opening day this April was broadcast on our military satellite service, so I was happily reintroduced to my love for the game, the atmosphere, and how much I missed home.

Coming back into the game now, I see a lot of new names, and faces – a lot of the players I had come to know from teams have been traded, retired, or apparently are free agents now. I’ve been a long time Cubs fan, but had the pleasure of watching a Rangers game last year, and quite enjoyed it. Add to that the probability of me going to college in Texas in a couple years, I figured I’d start to learn the team. I’m not new to disappointment, certainly, as I’ve grown accustomed to a history of failed Cubbie seasons.

It’s no secret that the Rangers aren’t among the best teams in baseball having only made a few playoff appearances in a little over a decade, and never really making it very far when they did. I’ve listened to the first five games they’ve played this season; and found a good amount of excitement in three of them, with an equal amount of disappointment in three of them (not totaling six, just found issue in one of their wins). Their first two games against the Indians went surprisingly well. The third game was a little tense, that’s about when the Rangers’ pitching problem(s) started to rear its ugly head. Scott Feldman came in relief to give up four runs in just two innings. Luckily the Texas offense was able to counter the inefficiency of their pitching counterparts, shooting them to a 12-8 victory over the tribe.

Then it was off to Detroit – a team that had lost two games out of a series of four against the Blue Jays. The Rangers’ performance in their first against the Tigers was abysmal, to put it nicely. This was Kris Benson’s first start of the regular season and if there were any question to him making starting rotation on a regular basis, surely that question is bordering the answer of “no”. Benson gave up eight runs in five innings.

Game two at Detroit was a little more positive – it wasn’t a blowout loss, but surely one the Rangers could have, and should have pulled off – if they could add just a little tweaking to their defense, and obviously their pitching. It was a 4-3 final for the Tigers.

So now the Rangers sit on a no-more-than-average 3-2 record. While it is still extremely early in the season, it has been made incredibly clear; work is needed on pitching and defense. Also, I think it wouldn’t hurt if they started wearing red on a regular basis, maybe for luck.

For someone reacquainting himself with the faces, and names of the league, some standout so far on the Rangers roster: Elvis Andrus, a promising rookie with incredible speed. Salty, Blalock, Hamilton, Cruz, Byrd, Young – well quite frankly the whole roster given that my primary devotion now lies with the Rangers.

In an emotional night during which Nick Adenhart was honored, Boston dropped to the lowest you will see them all season—last place—after a 6-3 loss to the Angels.

Tim Wakefield was solid through six, giving up three runs on six hits, but Jered Weaver was better giving the Sox only one run—unearned—through 6.2 innings. After a rare poor performance by Justin Masterson in the 7th, a two run 8th could not pull the Red Sox out of the hole.

Reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia had a hit in three at-bats, a sign he might be coming out of his slump. Kevin Youkilis was 2 for 4 as he continues to tear the cover off the ball. It seems like him and Pedroia are evening each other out. For every line drive in the gap that Youkilis hits, Pedroia hits a line drive right at someone, like his scorcher into the glove of a leaping Chone Figgins.

I didn’t tune into this game until about the 4th inning since I wasn’t very pumped up for baseball after a 5-4 OT Bruins win over the Canadiens on Thursday which was Boston-Montreal at its best and ugliest. After the disappointing game on Friday, I’m still not very pumped up for baseball. I’ll still probably watch the game on FOX though, unless I go to the Boston Blazers fan fest at TD BanknorthGarden. Post-opening week April is always a dull time for me, especially when both the Celtics and Bruins are doing so well. Come the Yankees series on the 24th I’ll be back into it.

Red Sox Notes

Brad Penny makes his Sox debut today.

Jed Lowrie is just 1 for 11 so far on the season.

After three poor games against Tampa, Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 4 in Friday’s game.

Sox color commentator Jerry Remy fell ill before the game, leading NESN to bring in some guests to the booth, my personal favorite being the always entertaining color commentator for the Angels, Rex Hudler.

Chicago White Sox -Detroit Tigers – Washington Nationals – San Diego Padres – Pittsburgh Pirates – Texas Rangers – Cincinnati Reds

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Do you love baseball? I

f you are anything like me, you just cannot wait to see your favorite team play almost each and every day. Off days seem to take an eternity to pass, and game days are simply amazing…unless they lose of course. Like many of you, I actively contribute to many baseball forums and blogs. Why do I do this? I do this because I feel that my opinion matters, and that other people should have access to this information.

Well one day I was thinking, “Hey why shouldn’t I have my own place to post my thoughts?”  The answer is Major League Blogging. Major League Blogging is a brand new website promises to grow exponentially in the coming weeks and months. I do have one problem however… I simply cannot do this all by myself. There are too many teams, in too many cities, and I just don’t have the resources to cover them all.

I cannot sit here and pretend to know everything about every team in the Major Leagues. I would simply be lying to you and wasting your valuable time. So now you are probably asking what the hell is this guy getting at? Well here it is, the chance of a baseball fans lifetime.

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Everybody….the 2009 Major League Baseball season is upon us! Ok, Ok…Not the regular season of course, but the long awaited Spring training is starting!

I don’t think I have ever been so excited to watch a season of baseball in my life. I have always watched every single game, paid attention to all of the stats, tracked things down to the second, but I realized…I never had a place to talk about it on a constant basis. Ok, so occasionally I would chat with my friends regarding a game or two, but I wanted more…

So here we sit, with a brand new opportunity to speak our minds in front of a large audience of like minded individuals…individuals who have at least one thing in common, we are all fans of the wonderful sport that is baseball. Let’s put aside all the petty steroid BS and enjoy this beautiful game for everything it is. It is Excitement, it is Suspense, it is Stress, it is Raw Emotion, it is Victory, and it is Defeat….it is everything someone could want in a sport.

Each pitch, each swing, each play in the field paints a picture that no other sport can ever come close to. The intricacies of this game have no equal in the world of sports, and the fans of this sport are amongst the most passionate in the world.

In victory, and in defeat we still persist in believing in our teams. Whether they had a good year or a bad one, we still come back the next season to watch each game in its entirety. In a world full of uncertainty, Baseball season is truly something that provides many of us with much needed stability.

So in closing, I want to say this…everything you read above describes what this site is about. People come here to read TRUE fans thoughts, they come here because they want to be surrounded with other REAL baseball fans who have a true appreciation for the sport. The true essence of this sites foundation are the fans themselves and the wonderful authors who I can honestly say enjoy this wonderful game as much (if not more) than I do! Let’s make this 2009 season something special, let’s get involved. Leave comments, let yourself be heard. If you have something to say, say it. You are amongst other TRUE fans of the sport, you are at MajorLeagueBlogging.com.

2009 Season Here We Come!!!

I don’t know what it is that interests me about the AAGPBL, maybe it’s the fact that as a young boy I was shown the film A League Of Their Own, really it was my first introduction to baseball, and definitely my first introduction to the history of the game. Ever since those early days I have watched the film many times with a passing interest. As you can see by my earlier blog posts I’m a keen spectator of history, but until now I have never thought to look in more detail. Even though I have never looked at the Girls Professional league before I did learn one thing very early:

‘ There’s no crying! There’s no crying in baseball’

Lets look back to the year 1942, the world was shoulder deep in a global conflict, men were needed. The Americans had joined the war and men from the baseball diamond were being sent to the European battlefields to preserve democracy.
With the lack of male players to play the games the clubs faced crisis, major league ballparks were faced with years of abandonment and this is where the Chicago Cubs connection is established.

Phillip K. Wrigley a chewing gum merchant, the son of William Wrigley Jr and owner of our beloved Cubs. Phillip K. Wrigley was given the job of finding a solution to this developing problem. Phillip enlisted the help of Ken Sells who was assistant to the Cubs General manager, Ken Sells along with others made the suggestion of a girls baseball league to be established.

In the spring of 1943 the League was formed and trials were held at historic Wrigley field. The official name at the establishment was not the baseball league but a softball league, this was due to underhand pitching, a larger ball and shorter distances from the pitching mound to the plate (40 ft instead of 60ft). When the name of the league was changed to baseball the disgruntled media were not impressed so the owners were forced to change the name to simply the All American Girls Professional Ball league.

Mary Baker, Catcher for the South Bend Blue Sox

The Chicago Cubs not only financed and help establish the league, but they also played a prominent role in establishing the rules of the league. Jack Sheehan a scout and past player of the Cubs worked with Ken Sells and Vern Hernlund to establish the set of rules by which the ladies would play by. As the only form of the game for women at the time was softball, Jack Sheehan tried to encompass aspects of both Softball and Baseball into the game.
There were already established female softball teams in urban centres around the United States and Canada with players of a high quality. So it seemed logical to Jack Sheehan that they should keep aspects of the game, they stayed with the 12 inch softball and the underhand pitching but, they decided that they would lengthen the base paths and encompass professional baseball running game (Leading off and stealing bases). Softball had 10 players but it was decided that they would go with the conventional baseball rules of just 9 players.

Jim Hamilton, 30-year veteran player, manager, owner and Chicago Cubs’ scout was given the task of finding the players that were to make up the league, he would travel all across the United States trying to find capable women to play the game that would draw the crowds. Phillip K. Wrigley already had scouting networks placed all over the country thanks to his ownership of the Chicago Cubs.

Hundreds of women flocked to regional try outs to try to prove to scouts that they had what it took to play in the first professional girls baseball league. Of the hundreds that tried out for the teams only 280 were invited to Wrigley field for the final tryouts, and of these 280 only 60 made the cut.

Phillip K. Wrigley envisioned making money from the league, he approached other major league owners about the possibility that the women’s league would play in the major league parks while the major league team was away. ( We must remember that during these years, teams did not just disappear, but most of the big names were fighting in the war) He argues that this would maximise profit and maximise the use of ballparks that by this time were only being used 50%.
Despite what seems to me to be a logical suggestion my Mr Wrigley it was not received well by other major league owners so 4 non major league city’s were approached instead. The cities chosen were Racine and Kenosha Wisconsin, Rockford, Illinois, and South Bend, Indiana, a budget was drawn up and Phillip K. Wrigley agreed to sign up to paying half the budget for each team, with the city of the teams completing the payment on the other half.

There were 4 teams consisting of 15 players to a team, a team manager, a business manager and a female chaperone. On top of this the managers were one of the most important decisions that the owners had, some thought that the league was not enough to bring the crowds, and so high profile managers were thought to be a priceless way to attract crowd attention. .Johnny Gottselig; Bert Niehoff, former Major League player and minor league manager; Josh Billings, former Major League player; and Eddie Stumpf, former Milwaukee Brewers catcher were the first managers selected.

Spring training was scheduled for May 17th 1943 at Wrigley field, and players were scrutinized much like they are today. Scouts say that a player is assessed based on speed, hitting, hitting for power and range well scouts in 1943 were assessing the girls on similar criteria, the girls were accessed on Playing there position, running, catching and sliding as well as obviously hitting.
The girls that were successful were signed to pro contracts and were obliged to not take any other employment during the season, the wages were good and some players earned more than there parents.
Like the film a league of their own it was true that every lady who played in the league had to be just that. A lady. There were moral standards and rules of conduct that every player had to adhere to.
All players after training had to attend evening etiquette classes, Helena Rubenstein’s Beauty Salon. They were taught the right etiquette for every situation and were given a beauty kit and instructions on how to use it.

Mrs Wrigley, Wrigley’s art designer and Ann Harnett combined to design uniforms for the new league. Ann Harnett would become a model of these uniforms, she would also be the first player to sign a professional contract. The costume was designed in coherence with the hockey and tennis costumes of the time.

When the Tampa Bay Rays were discussing who they should pick with their 1st round pick in 2002 (2nd overall) after the Pirates went with cheap Bryan Bullington, whom they were confident they would sign, there was little or no discussion involved at all. Everybody seemed to agree that the best plan was to pick B.J. Upton, a.k.a Bossman Jr., a kid whose talent was undeniable, and who clearly had a bright future in this league. Picking Upton #2 in 2002 was one of the building block for future success which came to fruition in 2008.

Upton was a key contributor in 2008. Can he have an encore performance in '09?

Now, fast forward to 2009, where the defending AL champs Tampa Bay open up camp, and the Bossman is recovering from off season surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Upton played through this injury in 2008, not being able to hit for power with much success due to his injury, but instead concentrating on his base stealing (44 stolen bases) and his fielding (.983 FP with 378 putouts). Upton’s bat, at full strength, is a great addition to the heart of an already very strong lineup, and Upton provides a few keys to fixing the problems of the ‘08 Rays. Here are the three reasons why the Rays need him back at full strength to win in 2008:

#1) Besides newly added Pat Burrell, Upton is the only legit middle of the order bat the Rays have that hits Lefties well

As a whole, the Rays only have 4 regular projected starters who can hit lefties better then they hit righties: Aki Iwamura, Jason Bartlett, Pat Burrell and BJ Upton. Aki will likely be hitting either lead off, #2 or towards the bottom of the order depending on his performance in ST, Bartlett is comfortable in the 8-9 spot, leaving Burrell and Upton as the middle of the orders answer to LHP. Burrell is a known lefty killer from his days in Philadelphia, and the Rays signed him to do just that for the next two years. Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena, the lineups usual middle of the order men, do not project well against lefties (Pena hits a career .226 against LHP and Longoria hit .242 against LHP in his first full season). Against LHP, a fully healthy Upton can fit right in at the #3 spot, protect by Pat Burrell in the cleanup spot. The lineup needs to have an answer to C.C. Sabathia and the other potent lefties in the league.

#2) Upton is one of the few  truly legit base stealers on the Rays have

The Tampa Bay ranked 1st in Stolen Bases in 2008, as they stole 142 bases as a team. Now, consider that B.J. Upton stole 44 bases in that year, providing about 31% of the total. Now, Carl Crawford’s injury reduced him to playing only 109 total games, in which he stole 25 bases. A full healthy Crawford playing for 160 + games is assured at least 40 something steals, so the guy is legit. The only other guy to steal 20 or more bases was Jason Bartlett, the team MVP who batted 9th. The guy is an all round contributor, but at the 9th spot his impact is rather limited. So, basically, if Crawford cannot handle a full 2009, the Rays will need Upton to pick up the SB slack even more.

#3) Upton’s defensive capabilities in center are irreplaceable

Since being drafted in 2002, Upton has been switched to a multitude of defenisve positions based upon need and his own physical gifts. First, Upton played SS during his minor league career, never managing to get a hang of the position and delaying his own emergence to the majors. Finally, Upton made it to the major leagues, where he was played at 2B with decent success, and it looked like Upton had found a place to play. Then, when the Rays signed Aki Iwamura, and eventually moved him to 2B, BJ was put in Center Field. There, in 2008, Upton produced a solid defensive season, and is looking upon staying in CF for a long time. The OF helps show his cannon throwing arm and great fielding better then any position, and there is no doubt that nobody on the Rays can man Center as well as Upton, for few people in the league have more defensive ability in center.

What I am trying to say, in short, is that Upton contributes too the Rays in too many ways and is too valuable to Tampa Bay’s success. For the Rays to succeed this year, they will need him to recover his power stroke and to show his ability as a possible 35-100-40 player.

Ross’ Rapidfire Rays Notes

• Manager Joe Maddon announced Saturday that Carlos Hernandez will be the Rays’ starter for Wednesday’s Spring Training opener against the Reds at Charlotte County Park
• Rays hitters stepped up to the plate to face live pitching for the first time this spring Saturday.

Well, I’m here to post for the A’s in ‘09. I’m not an A’s fan, I respect the team, and follow them, but I’m not a fan. Let me get this off my chest and say: I’m a Die-Hard Giants fan. I would have been posting for the Giants but, a fellow poster has that spot taken. Kudos to you! But, I’m certainly happy to be covering the A’s.
Let me tell you a bit about myself
* I live in The Napa Valley, CA (the North Bay)
* I was born in Cupertino, but moved with my family to St. Helena when I was three
* Baseball is not the only sport I love. I’m also a huge Cal Bears, Kings, Sharks, and 49ers fan, I love them all.
* Yes, I may be a Giants fan, but the A’s are the only team I have seen live in the playoffs (’06 Division Series)

That is just a little bit about myself, no here is what I will be talking about
* I am here to bring you A’s baseball coverage, that includes:  The future of Matt Holiday, Billy Beane, daily news, My hatred of the A’s owner, and a break down of A’s prospects and players, and the need for a new Stadium.

* I’m not here to talk about Steroids

Well, that is all I have to talk about right now, but, either tonight, or tomorrow I will post what the trade for Matt Holiday means for the A’s.

P.S. My name is Harrison, Go A’s! Also, thanks Jeff for this job, it is awesome!

2006 ALDS

Another down, three to go.

Edit- I have just edited this post, it has just been announced that Derek Lee will also skip the WBC.

Aramis Ramirez arrived at Cubs Camp in Mesa Arizona, and decided that he likes it so much he would prefer to stay instead of represent his country in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Now my personal opinion, great decision. I admire what Bud Selig is trying to do with the World Baseball Classic, especially after baseball was dropped from the 2012 Olympics in London. However the timing of the Classic could not be any worse.

It is my personal opinion that players should not be playing at such a elite level this early into spring training. There is a big difference between Spring Training games and the games at the World Baseball Classic. You risk injury to potential stars ahead of the new season, players miss time to bond in camp. The Cubs have added some vital parts of the 2009 lineup this Winter, and Lou Piniella has already stated that he would like to experiment with the lineup, how are we supposed to do this with some of the most important parts of our lineup spread across the country? It’s near impssible to get a clear view.

I like the WBC, but it’s timing makes it impossible for me to want to see Cubs players participate.

A-Ram joins several Cubs players who have opted to stay in Mesa. Ted Lilly/Derek lee and Geovany Soto currently stand as the only Cubs players planning to participate in the upcoming classic.