Ten Reasons Why I Will Raise My Son a Mets Fan!

As some of you may already know, I have been a Boston Red Sox ever since Mike Greenwell's 1987 Donruss player-card was on top of my first baseball card-deck.

I revised the history of my Red Sox fandom later on in life when I told people that I was originally a New York Mets fan (truth) and while watching my first World Series (1986, still fuzzy about the accuracy, I probably did watch it, but the first WS that I remember was the Dodgers/A's in 1988) I felt so much sympathy for the Red Sox after Bill Buckner's Game 6 blunder that I decided to abandon my Tri-State area roots and become a tortured member of the Red Sox Nation.

Looking back, even though I always found myself exceptional, that was a lot of heavy decision-making for a 7-year-old kid.

But I was always on the outside-looking-in. Being different just suited my contrarian personality.

Now, you can say: Hey, Anthony, why didn't you root for the Yankees? Italian-American. New Jersey. How can you call yourself a true Italian if you didn't like DiMaggio and the pinstripes? Your name is Anthony for Christ's sake?!?

I have an answer for that. My parents were fairweather Yankees fans. They followed the Yankees precisely because they were Italian and from Northern New Jersey. Back then, that was it. It was an insult to the family if you didn't like the Yankees. I can just picture my Mom arriving @ Ellis Island in 1961 and getting a Yankees hat as a concilation prize for entering the good ole' US-of-A.

That always rubbed me the wrong way. Why must I be pigeon-holed to be a Yankees fan solely because of my place-of-birth and my familial heritage? Why didn't I have a choice?

Also, my Dad was never a die-hard baseball fan. In fact, he never really cared about sports at all. His favorite sport was Work. More often than not, a Son becomes a fan of a particular team because his Dad is devoted to watching a team through their ups-and-downs.

So, since I loved the sport of Baseball first, I decided upon myself to choose my favorite team. It was perfect-storm of random scenarios: a) Mike Greenwell's baseball-card; b) Red Sox loosing to the Mets in the 1986 WS; c) Reading my first Baseball Encyclopedia and learning that the Red Sox hadn't won a World Series since 1918 after they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees; and d) Not wanting my bloodline to determine my fandom.

That being said, I was a Red Sox fan because of Mike Greenwell, a Raiders fan because of Tim Brown, a Spurs fan because of David Robinson, and a Blackhawks fan because of Jeremy Roenick.

After finally returning to Northern New Jersey for good in 2004, I started to shed those teams in favor of Local teams. First, it was supplanting the Raiders for the Jets. That was easy, I hated Al Davis and their management and team attitude never sit well with me. The Spurs and Blackhawks quickly turned into the Nets and Devils (considering I was never a BIG basketball or hockey fan anyway, that decision was instantaneous).

But I always told myself that the Red Sox were here to stay, afterall, my final screenplay in college was an epic 212-page Ted Williams biopic!

Then, 2004 happened and the Red Sox won the World Series. I still remember the moment when Keith Foulke tossed that baseball to Doug Mientkiewicz as if it that ball carried the weight of the world. I was elated. I hugged my brother (he too a Sox fan), we woke up his 8-year-old son Marshall, and we ran around the house like we just won World War II.

I called my friend Matt and he told me he had to call me back because he was talking to his Dad. I called my friend Bob and he told me he had to call me back because he was talking to his Dad.

Finally, Matt called me back and I could hear it in his voice. He was on another planet. He couldn't believe it. He thought it was a dream. And he kept on telling me how happy he was that he could share that experience with his Dad.

Something clicked in me during that conversation. Here was the moment I had always been waiting for. The Red Sox FINALLY won the World Series. The Curse of the Bambino was shattered and I didn't feel a darn thing. Sure, I was ecstatic that they finally won but I was never emotionally moved to tears.

Having lived a life of being a sports-outsider, I didn't feel the full-magnitude of the moment like my friends Matt and Bob did.

It didn't change my life.

When the Red Sox won yet-again in 2007 over the Rockies, I actually didn't care. I had already moved on.

Fast-forward to NOW.

My son Luke is 3-years-old and he LOVES baseball. Not only that, but he has a classic inside-out swing and he has tremendous opposite-field power. He is entering that tender-age when understanding baseball coincides perfectly with playing in the backyard with his Old Man, me!

Now, you can say: Hey Anthony, he can still be a Red Sox fan, just fork over some money you cheap-skate and buy the MLB Package? Hah. Easier said than done. Btw, have you met my wife Rebecca? Her former-lives include: Grand Inquistor Tomas de Torquemada, Cardinal Richelieu, Nero, & Bloody Mary. (If you're reading this honey, I love you and yes, I will do my own laundry next week).

Back to my son Luke. I decided it was the right time to introduce the young-lad to America's past-time. I was teaching him how to hold his bat, how to turn his hips, and to always, always keep your eye-on-the-ball. Well, the kid is 3-years old and he did whatever he wanted to do and swung the bat and hit my in the shins.

I turned on the TV and flipped to SNY and lo-and-behold, the Mets were on. Luke had this winkless stare for a few minutes while John Maine sputtered a 86-mph fuzzball way-outside to Rod Barajas. I told him I was going to change the channel and he told me, "No wait!" He watched another pitch, he saw the batter swing, and he was ready to play. After a week of nightly practice, the kid is already the second-coming of Kevin McReynolds (C'mon, I'm realistic, I'm not going to say he's the next Pujols, I'm pretty sure the kid is going to top-out @ 5'11''/a-buck-85, if he's lucky).

And guess what? He wants to watch the Mets when they are on. He wants to play baseball while the game is on. In fact, after the game last Saturday, we went into the backyard and played and the kid smoked a ball on top of the roof!

For any of you fathers out there in my position, let me give you a little bit of advice. 3-year-olds whine, and scream, and cry, and kick over the smallest, least important things in the world. You throw a ball that is outside the strike-zone and the kid falls to the ground and has a tantrum that pierces your eardrums. Best solution? Cue-up Tom Hanks's "There is No Crying in Baseball" scene on youtube and show it to your son at least 10-straight times.

Believe me, it works. Luke has stopped throwing tantrums, the bat, his glove, and any other projectiles if he fails to make contact.

Proof-in-point: After Luke smashed a comebacker toward me and it skipped past my glove, I sighed incredulously. Luke snapped, "Daddy!"

"Yes, Luke."

"There is no crying in baseball."

Cut-to: An ear-to-ear smile of a proud father.

Seque to: Ike Davis. Who is Ike Davis, you say? Well, Ike Davis is the rookie first-baseman for the New York Mets. What does Ike Davis have anything to do with your son liking the Mets?

He's his favorite player. Go ahead, ask him? "Luke, who is your favorite player."

"Ike Davis. There is no crying..."

"...in baseball, I know, I got it. Why do you like Ike Davis?"

"Hmm...Ike Davis."

That settles it.

My wonderful wife (the one with the infamous former-lives) asked me why it was so important for Luke to like a National League team and not an American League team?

"Purity."

"Purity. That's your BIG answer?"

"Yes."

I have always preferred to watch National League games. I like a pitcher who hits, I like the strategy of a double-switch, I like sacrifice bunts and situational hitting.

Abner Doubleday created baseball with a pitcher who hits. The advent of the Designated-Hitter in the American League in 1973 stripped the game of its purity. Also, look at every other major sport in America (Football, Basketball, and yes, let's include Hockey for the sake of argument)and count how many conferences have radically different rules in their respected leagues. Short answer, none. They are the same game. Baseball, however, decided to institute the DH-rule after a decade (the 60s) of microscopic ERAs, low home-runs totals (the chicks and ticket-buying fans, the lifeblood of baseball, dig the long ball) and the Second Dead Ball Era was a thing of the past.

I want my son to know the rules of the original game, not the bastardized designated hitter position, that in my opinion, fueled the rise of performance-enhancing-drugs in the Canseco-80s.

Finally, the last, but-not-least, reason why I will raise my son to be a Mets fan: Geography.

I plan on taking my son to his first baseball game this Summer and going to CitiField is ten-times more likely than packing-up-the-fam and shooting up I95 to Fenway Park.

While we're on Geography. It was tough to grow up as a Red Sox fan in this area. I got hounded all the time, especially when the damn Yankees started winning World Series in High School and College.

But most importantly, I want my son to be a Mets fan so he and I can have a shared-experience with a baseball team.

I hate to get all sappy at the end, but you know that closing scene of "Field of Dreams" when Kevin Costner plays catch with his Dad? Yeah, that one. That always affected me more than my other friends growing up because, although I did have a Dad, he never had the time to play catch. He would come home at night and be totally gassed from working his tail-off all day at work, and some nights, after he would inhale his dinner in four-bites, the man would kiss my Mom and go back to work to finish what he started.

I want to make the time to play catch with my son. I want him to learn how to play fundamental baseball from a local team. I want to him to call me one day in the future and share that moment when the Mets winning their first World Series since 1986.

And when Luke Jackson La Pira gets drafted in 2025 by a lucky baseball team, you can say that you heard it here first.

Oh yeah, if by chance he gets drafted by the New York Yankees instead of the Mets, well...

...I am Italian-American and I did grow up in Northern New Jersey!

Scoring Position: Pittsburgh Pirates

GM Neal Huntington has a plan.

When Huntington took over the General Manager duties for the moribund Pittsburgh Pirates in October 2007, he inherited one of the worst franchises in professional sports history.

Ever since Barry Bonds defected to the San Francisco Giants in 1993, the Pirates have had 16 straight losing seasons.

Huntington was left with a depleted farm system, bad contracts, and a team that hadn't won more than 70 games since 2004.

Think of it this way, the Pirates have been in a Recession for 16 years.

Not even Obama would want this job.

But Huntington has a plan.

Since late-2007, Huntington has made a plethora of trades that Pirates fans, Baseball experts, and Pirates players have questioned, panned, and ridiculed for the last 2 years.

He has traded away fan favorites Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Nate McLouth, Nyjer Morgan, Jack Wilson, Adam LaRoche, and Freddy Sanchez.

No one on the Active Roster in considered untouchable.

The Pirates are on pace to win only 69 games this year. That is only 2 more than last year.

Let's breakdown a few of those trades and see what Huntington is thinking.

Trade #1: Pirates trade Xavier Nady (OF) & Damaso Marte (LHP) to the Yankees for Daniel McCutchen (RHP), Jeff Karstens (RHP), Ross Ohlendorf (RHP), and Jose Tabata (OF).

Back in 2008, the majority of experts were saying that this was a steal for the Yankees. Sure, maybe in the short-term. Xavier Nady has since blown-out his throwing elbow and got Tommy John surgery and may never be the same player again. Damaso Marte has been a train-wreck since his first pitch in pinstripes and he is also out for the year.

Ohlendorf has had a solid, not spectacular season (8-8, 4.51 ERA, 1.32 WHIP). But he can be a #3, at worst, #4 starter for the Pirates for a couple of years.

Karstens has developed into a long-man and may earn a spot in the rotation next season.

McCutchen is pitching well in AAA and may get a call-up this September and will challenge for a rotation bid next Spring.

Tabata is in AA, but will surely be promoted to AAA and may be ready in late-2010, early-2011.

Trade #2: Pirates send Jason Bay (OF) to Boston for Craig Hansen (RHP), Bryan Morris (RHP/Dodgers), Andy LaRoche (3B/Dodgers), and Brandon Moss (OF).

Well, thus far, Jason Bay has been great for the Red Sox and he helped them immediately forget about Manny's departure.

Hansen has flamed-out and he is currently on the 60-day DL.

Morris is not pitching well in AA.

LaRoche has been a serviceable 3B, but not a star.

Moss is, quite frankly, a platoon outfielder.

Trade #3: Pirates trade Nyjer Morgan (OF), Sean Burnett (LHP) to Washington for Lastings Milledge(OF) and Joel Hanrahan (RHP).

Morgan is an average centerfielder with good speed.

Burnett is a situational lefty out of the pen.

Milledge has the potential to be a solid corner outfielder and #5 hitter.

Hanrahan can become a closer or a setup-man.

I like this deal.

Trade #4: Pirates trade Jack Wilson (SS) and Ian Snell (RHP) to Seattle for Jeff Clement (1B/C), Ronny Cedeno (SS), plus 3 low-ball arms.

Wilson was making 7.4 million for a good glove and no bat. He will make over 8 million next season.

Snell has a live arm but poor mental makeup and he may wind up in the bullpen in Seattle.

Clement never panned-out in Seattle as a power-hitting catcher. He will get another chance at firstbase for the Pirates.

Cedeno is a back-up middle-infielder.

Trade #5: Pirates trade Freddy Sanchez (2B) to San Francisco for Tim Alderson (RHP).

Sanchez was earning 6.25 million.

Alderson has the potential to be a #2 or #3 starter.

Trade #6: Pirates trade Adam LaRoche (1B) to Boston for Argenis Diaz (SS) and Hunter Strickland (RHP).

LaRoche was earning 7.05 million.

Diaz is a glove-man.

Huntington essentially traded his 4 highest paid players this year (LaRoche, Wilson, Sanchez, and Snell) for prospects that are projected to have similar stats at drastically lower salaries.

He has transformed the Pirates into a Lean Organization.

Paul Maholm (LHP) is now their highest paid-player (2.5 million).

As currently constituted, the Pirates will have the lowest payroll in the MLB (at approximately 31 million).

This will give Huntington the latitude he needs to lock-up his homegrown players before arbitration (example, Zach Duke).

With that being said, the 2009 Pirates lineup may look like this...

1. Andrew McCutcheon (CF)
2. Delwyn Young (2B)
3. Garret Jones (LF)
4. Ryan Doumit (C)
5. Jeff Clement (1B)
6. Lastings Milledge (RF)
7. Pedro Alvarez (3B)
8. Argenis Diaz (SS)

Their rotation may look like this...

1. Paul Maholm (L)
2. Zach Duke (L)
3. Ross Ohlendorf (R)
4. Charlie Morton (R)
5. Daniel McCutchen (R)

Plus, they will have a stronger farm system with the following players waiting in the wings...

-Victor Black (RHP)
-Tony Sanchez (C)
-Eric Hacker (RHP)
-Jose Tabata (OF)
-Gorkys Hernandez (OF)
-Daniel Moskos (LHP)
-Tim Alderson (RHP)
-Virgil Vazquez (RHP)

Neal Huntington has a plan.

He has created a team with a young nucleus of outfielders (McCutcheon, Milledge, and Jones), an All-Star caliber 3B (Alvarez), a streamlined payroll with player extension flexibility, and a solid rotation of young arms.

The Pirates should break 70 games next year and challenge for .500, and possibly, the playoffs in 2011.

In Neal We Trust.

Doc Halladay Sweepstakes

Roy "Doc" Halladay is officially on the Trading Block.

"Look, we have Halladay through 2010, he makes us a contender with the young pitching we have, then we get two draft picks," Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said. "So anyone who comes to us with two young players -- that's the equivalent of the draft picks -- we'd need something else and something else and something else and something else.

"That doesn't mean we're going to trade him. But we'll listen to what people have to say."

The Blue Jays will also look to trade Scott Rolen (3B), Vernon Wells (OF) and/or Alex Rios (OF), and B.J. Ryan (LHP-CL).

They have a young nucleus of Aaron Hill (2B), Adam Lind (OF), Travis Snider (OF), Ricky Romero (LHP), Scott Richmond (RHP), plus Dustin McGowan (RHP), and Shawn Marcum (RHP), both injured.

Their farm consists of J.P. Arenciba (C, #43, 2009), Brett Cecil (LHP, #72, 2010), & Marc Rzepcynski (LHP, 2009). [Baseball America Top 100 Prospects. Position/Rank/ETA.]

The Red Sox, Yankees, and the Rays are the class of the division and the American League. The Orioles are one-year away from pushing .500 and the Blue Jays are perilously close to tumbling into the cellar of the hardest division in the MLB.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the Top Five Suitors for Roy Halladay’s services (not counting the Yankees and Red Sox, who the Blue Jays would NOT trade Halladay too anyway)...

1. Phillies. This is a perfect match of need (Phillies – Starting Pitcher) and want (Blue Jays – Young Players). The Phillies can offer the Blue Jays Dominic Brown (OF, #48, ETA 2011), Carlos Carrasco (RHP, #52, ETA 2009), Lou Marson (C, #66, ETA 2009), & Jason Donald (SS, #69, ETA 2009). Plus, they can throw in J.A. Happ (LHP). The most realistic package for Halladay would be: Brown, Carrasco, Donald, and Happ. Brown, Carrasco, and Donald fit the bill "equivalent draft picks" and Happ would be the "something else." Marson doesn't fit into Toronto's favor because they already have J.P. Arenciba in their farm system. For the Phillies, pair up Halladay with Hamels and they'll have a lethal one-two playoff punch.

2. Brewers. They can offer Alcides Escobar (SS, #19, 2009), Mat Gamel (3B, #34, 2009), Jeremy Jeffress (RHP, #100, 2009), and Manny Parra (LHP). The Brewers are really a distant second in this race. Toronto should look closely at this match because they could get: Escobar and Gamel can start right-away. Plus, they can then move Rolen to make way for Gamel. Parra has potential but he has really struggled so far this year. A change of scenery may be good for him. And Jeffress is also ready to pitch now, albeit, in the bullpen. But, can the Brewers afford to sign Halladay to a $100-million/5-year extension?

3. Rangers. Neftali Perez (RHP, #10, 2009), Derek Holland (LHP, #31, 2009), Taylor Teagarden (C, #73, 2009), and Elvis Andrus (SS). Nolan Ryan sees a young version of himself in Halladay and he would move almost anybody to get him. Almost, the deal-breaker would be Elvis Andrus, their prized possession. Toronto would undoubtedly ask for Andrus and team him up with Hill for years to come. Perez and Holland could pitch right-away also. Ryan may have a man-crush on Halladay, but he couldn't give up Elvis, could he?

4. Mets. Fernando Martinez (OF, #30, 2010), Wilmer Flores (SS, #47, 2012), Jonathan Niese (LHP, #77, 2009), Brad Holt (RHP, #94, 2010), and Mike Pelfrey (RHP). The Mets would love to add Halladay, especially if the Phillies are the top suitors. This may turn into a bidding-war between the Phillies and the Mets. The Mets do not have a talented farm system. They could offer Martinez, Niese, Holt, Pelfrey, and Bobby Parnell for Halladay. It doesn't look like they would move Flores, who is only 17-years old and still, at minimum, 3-years away. If Jose Reyes was healthy, he could be the deal-breaker. Imagine them packaging Reyes, Martinez, Niese, and Pelfrey for Halladay. If I was Ricciardi, I may pull the trigger on that one.

5. Dodgers. Andrew Lambo (OF, #49, 2010), Jason McDonald (RHP, #56, 2009), Clayton Kershaw (LHP), and Andre Ethier (OF). The Dodgers may jump into the mix only because they want to hurt the Phillies. They can't let the Phillies pair up Hamels with Halladay. But, who can the Dodgers give up? Kershaw supposedly is untouchable. Lambo and McDonald are good, but not great prospects. Matt Kemp is a prized commodity. Would the Dodgers, in a huge desperation move, ship Kemp, Ethier, McDonald, and Kershaw for Halladay? Highly unlikely.

Ultimately, this looks like it will come down to the two teams: the Phillies and the Blue Jays. If the Blue Jays are not happy with their return, then they'll hold onto Halladay for next year and get two first-round comp picks in 2011.

Look for Mark Shapiro and the Indians to closely monitor this scenario because they have a quality pitcher with similar circumstances: Cliff Lee.

Don't be surprised if Lee goes to the Brewers for Escobar, Gamel, Jeffress, and Parra.

Pair-up Gallardo with Lee, and the Brewers could push the Phillies and the Dodgers for NL supremacy.

Things are getting interesting.

Players To Be Named Later

I first started getting addicted to baseball when I was around 10 years-old (1989).

I was hanging out at a local place called "Coins."

They sold baseball cards, stamps, comic books, and of course, coins.

The two owners, Ray and Maggie, were a husband and wife duo. Another guy named James also worked there, but he wasn't an owner. James fought in WWII. He had a wooden leg and a glass eye.

His glass eye always teared and he constantly blotted his cheek with a handkerchief.

Coins had one of those old-fashioned buzzer doors. So, Ray would always buzz me in when he saw me rounding the corner.

He called me "Ant-knee" in his best Anglo-Saxon.

A lot of old-timers hung out at that place.

They talked about the War, about Baseball, about Life.

Here I was, this 10 year-old kid, and I loved hanging out there more than playing video games with my friends.

They respected me because I could hold my own in a Baseball History conversation. I had long debates with old-timers about how Ted Williams was better than Joe DiMaggio.

They actually saw them play. I just knew their stats.

While I was there, I bought tons of baseball cards.

I bought 1988 Donruss, Fleer, and Topps. Upper Deck was still a year away.

My first card was Mike Greenwell, 1988 Fleer.

Coincidentally, my favorite ballplayer growing up was Mike Greenwell.

#39. Left-Fielder. Boston Red Sox. "The Gator."

He had a couple of good, sometimes great seasons for the Red Sox.

None better than 1988. .325/.416/.946 22-HR/119-RBI/16-SB.

He finished 2nd in the MVP Voting to Jose Canseco (that was the year he made 40/40).

The Gator never eclipsed that year, but he did put up respectable career numbers.

A .303 career hitter. 1400 Hits. 2 All-Star Games.

He was never an All-Time Great, but to me, he was special.

He was my favorite player as a kid.

Players To Be Named Later is a post dedicated to ballplayers from 1990 to 1994.

That 5-year period was everything to me. That is when I learned to love the game. Right before I lost my baseball innocence in 1994 when the Strike happened and the World Series was cancelled. Before PEDs and steroid scandals.

These Players To Be Named Later may not be Hall-of-Famers, but in millions of other kid's eyes across America, they were heroes.

Some were at times spectacular, most were marginal, but they all had one common characteristic...

...they were our own.

They were backup catchers (Geno Petralli, Don Slaught, Mackey Sasser), they were light-hitting middle-infield glove-men (Andujar Cedeno, Jose Oquendo, Mike Gallego, Craig Shipley), they were hard-nosed outfielders (Lenny Dykstra, Pete Incaviglia, Devon White, Tom Brunansky), they were players with great names (Dan Pasqua, Felix Fermin, Tim Teufel, Geronimo Berroa, Mickey Morandini).

We followed them in the local newspaper's box scores. We kept track of their stats in marble-bound notebooks. We collected their baseball cards and we memorized their stats, birthplace, and the value of their cards in the monthly Beckett price guides.

The following Players fit that criteria. Some of them may be your own personal favorites.

I used baseball-reference.com and I marked down the best fan comments in the Sponsor pages that show their appreciation for these Players To Be Named Now.

-Mickey Tettleton

"In honor of the man whose distinct batting stance led to me getting yelled at by my Little League coach every game. I couldn't hit like Mick but at least I looked like him."

-Chris Sabo

"My favorite Red ever...he played hard every pitch."

-Eric Davis

"As a kid, he was the only player who ever left me truly awestruck."

-Gary Gaetti

"Strap on your field spikes and grab that glove and bat Gary! Minnesota needs you to play the hot corner in 2009."

-Sid Bream

"He was out."

-Doug Dascenzo

"The prototype for all great do-it-all utility players, little Dougie was on the few bright spots on a lot of dismal Cubbies teams."

-Ivan Calderon

"Thanks for making a young fan's day. RIP."

-Ron Karkovice

"Western Motor Group Inc. saluted Officer Karkovice for his many years of service and his mustache."

-Candy Maldonado

"Swwwweeeeet!"

-Alvaro Espinoza

"Before there was Andy Stankiewicz..."

-Chili Davis

"I caught a foul ball off his bat at Game 2 of the 1998 World Series at Yankee Stadium -- one of the most fun baseball memories."

-Von Hayes

"Growing up in Philly in the late 80's, I remember everyone calling him 'Five for One', but for me, Vony Hayes was the guy who hit two home runs for my birthday. He will always be my favorite player as a kid."

-John Jaha

"In memory of the days when John Jaha was my favorite player, and I enjoyed hot dogs and good times at County Stadium with my brother Joe and my Dad."

-Dan Gladden

"He is without doubt the best baseball player of all time. Way better than Ozzie Guillen."

-Dave Magadan

"One of the most professional, all-around good guys - and an excellent hitter and clubhouse guy. Enjoyed being a fan!"

-Joe Orsulak

"Before there was Asslo, there was Joe Orsulak. 'Not Obscure, but not a star.'"

-Mel Hall

"Although Mel Hall is now symbolic of everything wrong with the 1991 Yankees, for two young New Jersey boys he was once a man worth supporting with a simple, nonsensical message: Mel Spells Greatness!"

-Carney Lansford

"Carney was one of my two favorite players of the late 80's A's, along with Dave Henderson. These 2 guys played hard every day and came through in the clutch time and time again."

-Dickie Thon

"Just a Mike Torrez fastball away from the Hall of Fame, Dickie was a forgotten Astros great, and an inspiration to us all."

-Andy Van Slyke

"Here's to the player that made me love baseball as a kid. His joy for the game was infectious and his heartbroken reaction to 'The Francisco Cabrera Play' will define a generation of Pirates fans."

-Wally Backman

"Thanks for the memories, Wally. Nobody played with more heart and determination as you."

-Will Clark

"Thanks, Will. Thanks for the amazing 1989 NLCS. Thanks for your eyeblack, your sneer and your intensity. Thanks for your homerun against SD down the stretch in 1993. But thanks most for making me a fan. A fan of you, of the Giants, and of the game."

Feel free to share your memories of your favorite players as kids in the "Comments" section below.

This is a Fan Participation post.

It can only get better with your thoughts and memories.

Warning Track Power

In this week's addition of Warning Track Power, I will breakdown which teams are pretenders and contenders in the current standings.

Note: I will list 3 teams each in every division. They will broken down into 3 categories: Contender, Pretender, and Cause for Concern.

Contender ("C"), Pretender ("P"), and Cause for Concern ("CC").

Each team will have their current record, Run Diff, BA/OPS, ERA/WHIP.

Let's start in Junior Circuit (aka, American League).

AL East

-C: Toronto (8-4)(+26)(.307/.899)(4.39/1.34)

The return of Aaron Hill has catapulted this offense to the top. They are smashing the ball, and that's with Alex Rios batting just .204. Scutaro and Hill are on fire. Wells, Lind, and Snider are 100-RBI guys. Halladay could win 22+ with the offense. But their isn't much starting rotation depth. The Blue Jays lost Marcum and McGowan for the season, and so far, only Ricky Romero has been an above-average starter. Purcey and Litsch are getting shelled. The one positive, pitching-wise, is their bullpen. Frasor, Downs, Camp, Carlson, and then Ryan closing. With one of the Big Three possibly struggling, it's possible that the Blue Jays could win 87 games.

-P: Baltimore (6-4)(-15)(.290/.840)(6.47/1.82)

Their offense is devastating. Roberts, Jones, Markakis, and then Huff. They are killing the ball. But their pitching is terrible. Jeremy Guthrie is their ace. Jeremy Guthrie is a #4 or #5 on any other team in the American League. They are a 72-win team, at best.

-CC: Boston (4-6)(-6)(.254/.771)(5.32/1.51)

David Ortiz is officially Little Papi. He may be done. People were saying last year that he slumped because of his wrist and lack of protection. Well, Youkilis is a great clean-up hitter, so it's not the protection. That wrist injury just completely sapped the power from his bat. To top it off, his bat-speed is much slower than 2-years ago. Dice-K is on the DL with WBC-Fatigue. He was an 18-game winner last year. Eventually, Pedroia and Francona will right the ship and they will definitely be contenders, but for now, this may be a .500 April.

AL Central

-C: Kansas City (6-4)(+11)(.245/.747)(3.26/1.23)

I originally had this team winning 83 games and finishing in second place to the Twins in my annual prediction. I like this team. A lot. Their pitching is amazing. Greinke, Meche, Davies plus probably the best bullpen in the league. To me, they are the '08 Rays and '07 Rockies all over again. Don't be surprised if Trey Hillman wins MOY.

-P: Detroit (5-5)(+10)(.283/.844)(4.47/1.28)

Miguel Cabrera may win the Triple Crown this year, but the Tigers will only go so far as their pitching takes them. Their ace, Justin Verlander, is getting torched (7.88/1.56) and their 'pen is one-arm injury away from imploding. If Edwin Jackson can get over 12 wins and if Galarraga and Porcello muster up 30 wins between them, then they will contend, but for now, get used to them hovering near .500 all season long.

-CC: Minnesota (5-7)(-27)(.252/.695)(6.17/1.54)

Joe Mauer is still hurt. His return timetable is week-to-week. Liriano is 0-3. Their strength, starting pitching, has been awful. They have been outscored by 27 runs. And their bullpen, except Nathan, has been lit-up. If they get Mauer back for at least 100-games, then they should contend.

AL West

-C: Seattle (8-3)(+18)(.261/.693)(3.01/1.16)

It's funny how easily people forget how good a team was supposed to be. The Mariners were the pick to beat out the Angels last season but everything that could go wrong, went horribly wrong and they finished with 61 wins. They have a new attitude this season. A new Manager (Wakamatsu, another MOY-candidate). The return of Junior has put fans back in the seats. People also forget how good Bedard can be. If King Felix, Bedard, and Wasburn can combine for 45 wins, watch-out. They will contend or at least be near or at .500. They only thing holding this team back is pop. You got legitimate cause for concern when Russell Branyan is your #5 hitter.

-P: Texas (4-6)(0)(.293/.916)(6.49/1.65)

Everyone knows they can rake. A .916 Team OPS is ridiculous. But their pitching still has not caught up to their hitting. They basically have Millwood and 4 #5 pitchers. If they can somehow lower their pitching splits to 5.00/1.45 and if they can continue mashing the ball, they might have a chance to compete, but not contend.

-CC: Los Angeles (4-6)(-5)(.265/.716)(4.60/1.50)

Injuries (Vlad, Lackey, Escobar) plus tragedy (Adenhart) have tested this team early on in the season. This adversity could put them in position to be where everyone thought they would be in the beginning of the season, first place. However, after winning 101 games last year, I had them down to win 91, but that could drop in the high-80s if more injuries rack-up, opening the door for the A's or the Mariners squeaking by.

Senior Circuit

NL East

-C: Florida (9-1)(+26)(.280/.790)(2.97/1.30)

They are for real. Who cares if they are a below-average fielding team? They can murder the ball, they can steal, and they have the best young rotation in the majors with Nolasco, Johnson, Volstad, Sanchez, and eventually, Miller. Hanley Ramirez is an MVP-caliber player (if Pujols doesn't get it again this year), and catcher John Baker is the future leader of this team. They kind of resemble last year's Arizona team, but their bats went quiet after the All-Star break. The Marlins hit all year last season and they will be a legit force in the East.

-P: Philadelphia (4-5)(-13)(.274/.793)(6.94/1.49)

They are set up for a major letdown. They'll play better once Jimmy Rollins starts being Jimmy and when Ryan Howard hits 15 homers in one month, but I don't believe in their rotation. Hamels is great, but he may be prone to injuries this year after a huge workload last season. Myers is a head case. If he can't locate his fastball, he's very, very hittable. And Moyer is 46 years old. They may finish 3rd or 4th this year.

-CC: New York Mets (5-5)(+7)(.283/.785)(4.11/1.31)

I picked the Mets to win this division and meet the Red Sox in the World Series. However, their starting rotation is definitely a cause for concern. Santana is electric. But thus far, Pelfrey, Maine, and Perez have been terrible through 2 stars. Livan has been okay, but he looks like an old Satchel Paige now. Santana may win 24 games. But what if the next best winning pitcher is Oliver Perez at 12-12? The Putz/K-Rod combo is the best in the league. The big question is, will they trade for Roy Oswalt or Jake Peavy by the All-Star Break? They might have to.

NL Central

-C: Pittsburgh (5-5)(+8)(.259/.739)(2.90/1.33)

Okay. I could've picked the Reds here, but that would've been too easy. And I DO NOT think the Pirates will contend in this division title. But they will push for 75 to 80 wins, almost the same exact jump the Royals did last season. Thus far, Maholm and Duke have been great, and they need Snell to focus and be a solid #2. If they can get 45 wins out of those three guys, they'll be in good shape. Freddy Sanchez is hitting like the batting champ he used to be, Morgan is a spark-plug at the top of the order, and Pedro Alvarez and McCutcheon will be there for the stretch run. Proming start? Adam LaRoche. He's a notoriously slow starter, but he's batting .244/.832. Too bad his brother Andy isn't matching his numbers (.192/.519).

-P: Milwaukee (3-7)(-12)(.225/.746)(5.85/1.56)

They are not going to contend. Not without Sabathia and Sheets. No way. Gallardo has great stuff, but he's not a #1 yet. Suppan was terrible last year and is bush-league so far this season. And Trevor Hoffman is their closer? Man, they could be really bad. I had them winning 78 games, finishing 4th, they could be worse.

-CC: Houston (3-7)(-22)(.232/.676)(5.07/1.61)

They should start the Fire Sale countdown now. The Doomsday Clock is already ten-to-twelve. Who wants Roy Oswalt, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, Michael Bourn, Miguel Tejada? We'll even throw in Cecil Cooper as a Third-Base Coach. That slow spring training was no fluke, this team is bad, I'm talking 67-win bad.

NL West

-C: Los Angeles (8-3)(+26)(.278/.793)(3.09/1.05)

Eventually, the Dodgers are going to pull away in this division and win by more than 8 games. They are in another league right now. The best offseason acquisition? Manny? Nope. Orlando Hudson. This guy is a winner. A great second baseman and a perfect #2 hitter. And Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Russell Martin are continuing to get better. They are scary good right now.

-P: San Diego (8-3)(+7)(.251/.750)(3.67/1.38)

They are a great story. This is the type of team I would start a Franchise with in a video game. They owner is going through a messy divorce. They have slashed payroll and they are taking leftovers and outcasts from all over the league. They look like an expansion team. But they are playing really good ball right now and that's a credit to Bud Black and his staff. Adrian Gonzalez is a beast. And players like Eckstein, Gerut, and Heath Bell are grinders. They will overachieve for a while, but eventually, they will be exposed.

-CC: Arizona (3-8)(-22)(.229/.699)(5.70/1.39)

This team is in trouble. Webb is injured. They can't score. Haren is 0-3 and he is pitching amazing (1.89/0.79), but he gets ZERO support. They keep on talking about how Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, Connor Jackson, and Stephen Drew are going to take off and play at a high level. Unfortunately, they all strike out too much. Who's playing the best? Felipe Lopez, castoff (.372/1.041). They may finish 4th and they may blow this team up.

Leading Off

Welcome to Passed Ball, a baseball blog reporting at double play depth.

What does that mean?

Nothing really, it just sounds cool.

OR, it means that I will combine both quantative and qualitative analysis into one all-powerful, Double-Q metric that believes in quality over quantity.

What is this blog about?

Baseball. Duh.

What makes this different than the 10 zillion other baseball blogs out there?

Obviously, no one else plays at double play depth.

Everyone else plays Corners-In, hugging the line, no extra-bases, conservative defense.

Bore-ing.

What can I expect from Passed Ball ?

Well, for now, I'd like to keep the expectations low, but I'll aim high.

One thing you will never see in this blog is Fantasy.

I am anti-Fantasy. Not for me, no way, no how.

But I love Stats. I love Moneyball, Sabermetrics, and crunching every number on the back of a baseball card.

I was that kid who read Baseball Encyclopedias for breakfast.

I created a percentage-based-dice-rolling simulation game (pen and paper) when I was 12-years old and I simulated a whole season.

Side-note: Later in life, I learned that Jack Kerouac also created a similar baseball-sim game when he was a kid.

What can I say, great minds think alike?

I was that kid who played an entire season of Front Page Sports Baseball (remember that game?) on my PC with the Red Sox and I didn't make the playoffs.

Imagine that? Spending hours, days, weeks, months even playing 162 games, and not making the playoffs!

I am a Red Sox fan from Northern New Jersey.

I am that guy that New Yorker's hate more than Mass-holes. I am sleeping with the enemy. I am a spy in the Bronx. A double-agent.

I come from a long line of Italian-American Yankee fans.

So, again, I was an outcast not only in my neighborhood, but in my family as well.

I also played some competitive ball to.

Never heard of me? C'mon, seriously?

I had 24 steals (never caught) in ten games. Batted .500 with a .750 OBP. Warning track power. Lead-off, centerfielder, plus arm, led my team deep in the playoffs.

That was 1993. My last professional year. I played for the Red Sox.

I was 14.

Ah, glory days.

Suffice it to say, my Parochial High School team was heavily recruited and loaded with talent. I was a speedy centerfielder who could switch-hit.

But pitch? What the hell is that?

I didn't know I had to pitch too!

Bummer.

Anyway, enough about me...

...but c'mon, those 24 steals were pretty freakin' amazing. That's like 389 steals in a 162-game schedule.

Move over Rickey, here comes Anthony.

But just like Pedro Cerrano, curveballs just ate me up.

Screw you Jobu, I do it myself.

So, this is where I am now.

You and me.

A taylor-made,

6-4-3...

...double play.