Baseball is America's pastime, but had our forefathers enjoyed the modern conveniences of clocks, ball pumps, or haste, this pastime may well have been basketball or football. Instead, they had wood, leather, and a rudderless disposition. Baseball is Boring is a series of live blogs for folks who need irony and self-awareness to get through a game.
My girlfriend and I go to a lot of games in Cleveland, and for a change we decided to check out one of the Minor League teams. She took a look at the schedule and laughed at the team names. I told her that a weird-funny team name (Everett AquaSox) isn't as bad as a team name that used to make sense but doesn't now because the team moved. Like the Utah Jazz. "Where did the Jazz play before Utah?" "Uh, New Orleans? Where else would they have named a team 'The Jazz'?"
Kids, if the Rockies ever move ANYWHERE other than Colorado, be prepared to have this conversation. It just won't work anywhere else. They can't be the San Antonio Rockies. They can't be the Orlando Rockies. They can't be the Mexico City Rockies.
Although I guess the Indians could move anywhere they want, because there were pretty much Indians everywhere.
After grounding into an inning-ending double play in the top of the 8th with the game tied at one, here was Holliday's reaction.
I've never seen anything like that before -- honestly. I mean he was peeved. Like, really peeved. Do you see the ferocity? Do you see the anger? That dude must be scary strong! Bo Jackson breaking a bat over his knee thinks Matt Holliday is tough.
Since the Rockies wound up losing 2-1, there's no doubt Holliday spoiled a great opportunity late in the game. Personally, I hope it happens more often. Think about what could be next. Splintering a bat with his teeth? Shattering his batting helmet with his cleats? I just know I don't want to be around when that guy busts up the water cooler in the dugout, well, at least not within a 20 foot radius of that thing.
Nothing like a pair of rookies seriously having their mettle tested two days into the season. After the disgruntled Byung-Hyun Kim (who's still hoping for a trade) gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th to the Diamondbacks, the Rox came back to rally in the bottom half of the inning. First Todd Helton and Matt Holliday singled before Brad Hawpe grounded into a double-play, leaving Helton on third with two outs and two rookies coming up.
Troy Tulowitzki (pictured), he of 26 career big league hits (and one of the coolest names in baseball), sent a line drive to right field where Eric Byrnes misjudged his dive so badly that the ball bounced off the heal of his glove, resulting in a double (it was initially charged as an error). That was for a guy who struck out on three pitches against Jose Valverde in the loss the night before. Tulowitzki's double brought up Chris Ianetta to the plate, he of 22 career big league hits, with the game-winning run on second. Ianetta sent a sharp ground ball through the hole into left field, and the Rockies won it 4-3. How bout that for Colorado, four hits in an 11th inning rally, including the game-winners by rookies with two outs? Impressive.
Tuesday night's game is also a great reminder of how quickly you need to "turn the page" in baseball. On Opening Day, Eric Byrnes was the hero for Arizona. The next night, he was the goat, and probably cursed under his breath saying he should have caught the "frickin' ball."
Rather than going with the dreaded "vote of confidence" for the manager and general manager of the ball club, Rockies ownership indicated their optimism for the future of the organization on Opening Day by extending both manager Clint Hurdle and GM Dan O'Dowd for two more years, through 2009.
"We made a commitment to our organization and everyone in it a long time ago," Rockies president Keli McGregor said. "I met with ownership at the end of spring training and we believe this is the right decision at the right time."
When you look at the Rockies' winning percentage with each of them in charge -- .452 in seven season under O'Dowd and .447 in just under five seasons under Hurdle (pictured) -- you're initially quite underwhelmed. But things are different in Denver; they're building through the farm system with guys like Troy Tulowitzki, Garrett Atkins, Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Chris Ianetta, Aaron Cook, and Jeff Francis amongst others. It's this type of architecture that gives the fans and organization a reason to believe things will improve.
When I first tell you that the Rockies Opening Day starter today is Aaron Cook, you might use that as fuel to poke fun at the Colorado franchise. After all, who is Aaron Cook? Moreover, how is a guy who went 9-15 last year good enough to start on Opening Day? Well once you hear about what Cook went through two and a half years ago, you will reserve all jokes and revel in amazement over what he has overcome.
On Aug. 7, 2004, Cook was forced to leave a game at Coors Field because of dizziness and shortness of breath. A few hours later, tests revealed pulmonary embolisms - blood clots - in his lungs.
As noted in Player Profiles (which unfortunately is subscription based), the surgery was gruesome:
Aaron had the top rib on his right side removed to relieve compression on his subclavian vein in an eight-hour procedure performed by Dr. Robert Thompson at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
What is now a surgical souvenir was a lethal piece of bone. The rib was pressing against Cook's collarbone, restricting the flow of blood through a vein in his right shoulder. The blood clots that traveled to Cook's lungs and ended his season during an Aug. 7 start - and very nearly his life - originated in that shoulder.
Here's the kicker:
In the first few days after surgery, Cook said, he was "crying in pain." Fluid in his lungs contributed to chest spasms and made breathing difficult. Once he gets back on the field, Cook said, he will realize how much he had to endure in order to return. "I don't think I can wish this surgery on my worst enemy," Cook said. "That's how much pain I was in."
From "crying in pain" to becoming the Opening Day starter in two and a half years? Well done Aaron, I am truly in awe. (And I'll try to remember this story when I'm contemplating bashing you after a bad start)
Here's a look around the NL West and what final roster moves your team made to prepare for Opening Day:
Diamondbacks: Infielder Brian Barden and utility man Robby Hammock made the squad. Hammock showed promise in '03 and '04, but missed all of '05 because of shoulder surgery. Right handers Dustin Nippert and J.D. Durbin won the final spots in the bullpen. (via East Valley Tribune)
Dodgers: Matt Kemp made the club as the final outfielder, beating out Larry Bigbie and James Loney (who hit .414 in Spring and didn't take the news well), presumably because Kemp's a right-handed hitter while Bigbie and Loney are lefties. Wilson Valdez will replace Rafael Furcal on the opening day roster. Furcal will start the season on the DL retroactive to March 23rd. Rudy Seanez is the final pitcher on the 11 man staff. (via LA Times)
Giants: They're going with a 12 man pitching staff, the seven men in the bullpen will be Armando Benitez, Vinnie Chulk, Kevin Correia, Brad Hennessey, Steve Kline, Jonathan Sanchez, and Jack Taschner. Scott Munter and candidate for the closer job, Brian Wilson, were optioned to Triple A amongst others. Todd Linden made the team as a bench player, Mark Sweeney was placed on the DL to start the year, and Jason Ellison was traded to the Mariners. (via Giants official site and Contra Costa Times)
Padres: Mike Thompson and Kevin Cameron made the final two spots in the bullpen. Cameron is a Rule 5 draft pick from Minnesota. Paul McAnulty will be the final bench player. (via San Diego Union-Tribune)
Rockies: Veteran John Mabry (pictured) beat out Ryan Spilborghs and Alexis Gomez for the final bench spot. Mabry is a left-handed pinch hitter who can fill holes as a corner outfielder and corner infield. Jeff Baker and Steve Finley are the other bench players in the outfield. Manny Corpas and Ramon Ramirez were awarded the final spots in the bullpen as well. (via Denver Post and Rockies.com)
I've always wondered how two Major League teams were able to get along when sharing a spring training facility. Wouldn't you figure that some fighting and bickering goes on, whether it's on the field or behind the scenes?
Well my thoughts have been confirmed -- the Diamondbacks and White Sox share a facility in Tucson, but now Arizona is upset because owner Jerry Reinsdorf (picured) and the White Sox are threatening to leave. Under current conditions, either team can leave the facility only if they provide a replacement team. Should the White Sox leave without providing a replacement team, Pima County could sue them for several million bucks, but Chicago wouldn't be forced to stay.
This news worries the Diamondbacks since a departure by the White Sox would result in less local competition and more traveling. Additionally, the Rockies' facility is located at nearby Hi Corbett Field in Tucson. The Rox can relocate without penalty if the number of teams in the area drops below three.
Therefore, if the White Sox leave, the Rockies could too, which would leave the Diamondbacks as the lone remaining team in Tucson -- which would force them to leave as well. In other words, the Diamondbacks are mad at the White Sox, and the city of Tucson might be too.
From the Rockies. I almost flipped out of my chair when I saw the news in Tracy Ringolsby's Rockies' payroll breakdown this morning. The Rockies, who have become more frugal recently, will have around an Opening Day payroll of $55 million -- most likely placing them in the bottom six of the league. That's why I was utterly astonished upon reading this:
They also have payments for players no longer with them of $2 million to Florida for Mike Hampton, $1.8 million to Denny Neagle as a 20 percent installment on his buyout and $1.7 million as the second of 20 years of deferred payments to Larry Walker.
What?!?!?! Are you serious? $3.5 million owed to a pair of players who could be running a pizza parlor or coaching Little League for all we know?
To refresh your memory, Larry Walker retired in '05, and last played for the Rockies in '04 (he was traded to the Cardinals midway through the year). Denny Neagle on the other hand, retired after the '03 season, and has been sitting on his rump, apparently collecting paychecks from the Rox ever since.
Ringolsby's article is well worth a read, especially if you want to find out how much Todd Helton would make if he were named World Series MVP (like that will ever happen), and the amount Aaron Cook would pocket should he bring home the Silver Slugger award to Denver (he's a pitcher mind you).
And why wouldn't he be -- last time he was there he almost blew the World Series for the Diamondbacks if the Unit, Schilling, and Gonzo's blooper hadn't bailed him out. But since given the news on Friday evening that he would be moved to the bullpen, BK Kim has not been happy about it -- complaining that the move wasn't fair. The Rockies official site reports Kim thinks he's being jobbed
"It seems to me this spring is a little bit weird," Kim said. "They say, 'Try this.' 'Try changeup, inside two-seamers.' Then, 'You're OK. If you give up hits, home runs, they don't count.' Then now ... "It's not right, I think. If they say, 'Competition, do this,' I don't do any 'try.' It's not right. Hopefully, I've talked to my agent, and I'll see. They're trying to [trade Kim] and they're going to find something. I don't know. Hopefully."
Seems to me that the Rockies already had their plans for the rotation and Kim really didn't fit in. And that definitely sucks for Kim if they asked him to try new pitches and then used it against him. But just like he's asking for -- a trade at this point looks like it would serve both parties well. Kim has a poor track record in the pen and he at least has some value in the trade market.
It was just recently brought to my attention that Rockies infielder Kaz Matsui sports toe socks. And anytime a professional athlete and my five year old cousin have something in common, it's worth a mention. As told in the Rockies official site:
Matsui insists upon socks that have slots for the toes, the way gloves have them for fingers.
"I wear those so I can feel my foot fingers move," Matsui said in Japanese through his interpreter.
I guess the interpreter wasn't slick enough to translate "foot fingers" to toes -- which is what we call them in English. And in case you were wondering -- the photo to the right comes from my cousin's collection.
You can also see what one of Matsui's custom made socks looks like from a previous MLB auction in which his it for $21.00.
Nothing like a pair of rookies seriously having their mettle tested two days into the season. After the 
Rather than going with the dreaded "vote of confidence" for the manager and general manager of the ball club, Rockies ownership indicated their optimism for the future of the organization on Opening Day by 
When I first tell you that the Rockies Opening Day starter today is Aaron Cook, you might use that as fuel to poke fun at the Colorado franchise. After all, who is Aaron Cook? Moreover, how is a guy who went 9-15 last year good enough to start on Opening Day? Well once you hear about what Cook went through two and a half years ago, you will reserve all jokes and revel in amazement over 
Here's a look around the NL West and what final roster moves your team made to prepare for Opening Day:
I've always wondered how two Major League teams were able to get along when sharing a spring training facility. Wouldn't you figure that some fighting and bickering goes on, whether it's on the field or behind the scenes?
From the Rockies. I almost flipped out of my chair when I saw the news in Tracy Ringolsby's 
And why wouldn't he be -- last time he was there he almost 
It was just recently brought to my attention that Rockies infielder Kaz Matsui sports toe socks. And anytime a professional athlete and my five year old cousin have something in common, it's worth a mention. As told in the 
