There are many tremendous things about Opening Day. But none are more
tremendous than this:
It only takes one day of this baseball season to remind us that in this
great sport, there is nothing more irrelevant than last season.
|
Jayson Stark's
Weekly Awards
|
|
Lines of the week
First prize
Steve Sparks, Tigers
Saturday vs. Devil Rays
|
|
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
K
|
|
4
|
15
|
9
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
|
Sparks also served up two home runs, hit a batter and threw a passed ball. Leading the charge was Devil Rays right fielder Ben Grieve with a homer, triple and single. But Grieve refused all accolades, saying: "Hitting a knuckleball pitcher whose ball isn't knuckling is almost like taking batting practice."
|
|
Second prize
Jim Parque, White Sox
Tuesday vs. Diamondbacks
|
|
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
K
|
|
4
|
14
|
11
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
|
Mandatory spring-training postgame quote: "Spring training is not about winning games," said Parque, who allowed two homers. "It is to prepare yourself."
|
And here's the proof, just in from our It's a New Year Dept.:
The Cardinals were shut out once last year in April and May combined. They
got shut out on Opening Day this year – at Coors Field.
The Rockies, of course, can top that. They threw no shutouts at home all
last year (and, in fact, hadn't thrown one since Aug. 28, 1999, 105 games
ago). Thanks to Mike Hampton, they tossed a shutout in their first game this
year.
Juan Gonzalez had no multi-homer games as a Tiger in Detroit all last year.
He hit two homers in his first game in Cleveland as an Indian this year.
Phillies closer Jose Mesa hadn't committed a balk since 1993. He balked in
the tying run in the ninth on Opening Day.
Expos reliever Graeme Lloyd and Orioles reliever Ryan Kohlmeier did not win one game last year. They both won on Opening Day this year.
Cleveland's Bartolo Colon gave up eight runs in the entire month of April
last year. He gave up seven runs on Opening Day this year.
The Phillies played no games longer than 12 innings all last year. They
played 13 against the Marlins on Opening Day this year.
Livan Hernandez won no games in April last year (and, in fact, was 2-9,
5.27 ERA lifetime in April). He won Opening Day this year, naturally.
John Boles (2-0), Charlie Manuel (1-0) and Jimy Williams (7-1) had the best
Opening-Day winning percentages of any active manager through last year.
Their teams all lost on Opening Day this year.
No teammates with the same last name had both homered on Opening Day since
Frank and Brooks Robinson in 1966. Todd and Larry Walker did it for the
Rockies this year.
Alex Rodriguez committed one error in the entire month of April last year
(on chance No. 27 of the season). He committed an error on the first ball hit
to him this year.
Phillies first baseman Travis Lee had never laid down a sacrifice bunt in
his entire career (three years, 394 games). He laid one down on Opening Day this year.
The Red Sox didn't lose a game Pedro Martinez started all last April (5-0).
They lost the first game he started this year, on Opening Day.
In 1999, Tony Gwynn struck out 14 times all last season. He struck out in
his first at-bat this season.
And Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Carlos Delgado, Jason Giambi, Frank Thomas
and Vladimir Guerrero combined for 253 home runs last year – but none of them
homered on Opening Day this year. Rafael Furcal, Doug Glanville and Eric
Owens combined for 18 home runs last year – but all three homered on Opening Day this year.
Miscellaneous rumblings
When the Phillies failed to sign Scott Rolen to a Todd Helton-esque
extension before Opening Day, GM Ed Wade predicted the club would just "get
it done this offseason." But that's a puzzling stance, considering the
Phillies initiated the talks this spring so they wouldn't have to face the
pressure of trying to sign Rolen in the winter before he could become a free
agent.
Wade cited the "unique" and "unprecedented" nature of the deal Rolen was
looking for – a reference to the third baseman's interest in a clause that
would make him a free agent if the Phillies don't show a greater commitment
to winning. And we'll grant that clearly, that was a factor.
|
Triviality
|
|
Pudge Rodriguez started his 10th straight Opening Day for the Rangers on Sunday. That makes him one of six players to start at least 10 openers in a row for their current team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Can you name the other five?
(Answer at bottom.)
|
But the Phillies had all spring to search aggressively for a solution on
that issue – and took their time, even though they knew Rolen didn't want to
keep negotiating after Opening Day. Now, if they don't make a significant
jump in won-lost record this season, it becomes increasingly difficult next
winter to persuade Rolen that he shouldn't at least test free agency.
So what's the crux of the Phillies' concern? That "out" clauses are a
dangerous precedent?
Fact is, they're all over the industry, for better or worse. The Rockies just
included one in their extension for Helton, a similar talent with even less
service time.
Or are the Phillies worried that Rolen has had back trouble and played just
128 games last season? If they're so concerned, why would they be making him
a long-term offer in the first place?
And if games played were an indication of future health, why did the Yankees
sign Bernie Williams to that seven-year, $87.5 million contract in 1998
following two seasons in which he'd played 129 and 128 games, respectively?
If Rolen had any health concerns himself, he would be pushing harder
for any kind of deal. But he's allowed the Phillies to dictate the tenor and
pace of these talks.
More important, by waiting, the Phillies also bear the risk that the
price is likely only to go up, and not just through inflation. What happens
if this is the year Rolen finally erupts into superstardom?
Through four full seasons, Rolen's numbers bear an uncanny resemblance to
those of Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez at the same stages:
AB 2B HR R RBI AVG.
RAMIREZ 1,938 134 109 384 372 .304
A-ROD 2,070 135 106 383 352 .313
ROLEN 2,196 147 108 385 386 .284
We know what has happened to the careers (not to mention the bank
accounts) of Ramirez and Rodriguez since their first four full seasons.
Suppose Rolen follows a similar path – and then hits the free-agent market at
age 27?
The Phillies, undoubtedly, don't even want to think about it. But one of
these days, they'll have no choice.
Unlike the Phillies and Rolen, the Rangers and Pudge Rodriguez's agent,
Jeff Moorad, will continue to talk during the season. Rodriguez is two years
away from free agency himself and well aware of how much his new teammate,
A-Rod, will be making.
"We're talking," Moorad said during the Rangers' visit to San Juan over the
weekend. "Most recently, we made a proposal to them that they're studying and
analyzing. And we expect to hear back in the next couple of weeks."
On one hand, Moorad has said continuously that "Pudge would prefer to commit
to the Rangers for the balance of his career." On the other hand, he said,
they're not rushing into anything.
And Rangers GM Doug Melvin says he understands that.
"It's not something that's going to happen overnight," Melvin said. "But I
think we both have the same interests. We want him. And he wants to stay. So
whenever we get a chance to meet, we'll take that opportunity to meet."
The key to that Padres-Marlins deal last week (Eric Owens, Matt Clement for
Mark Kotsay, Cesar Crespo), from San Diego's perspective, is the projection
that Kotsay will develop into a 25-30 home-run man. But one scout who has
watched Kotsay since college doesn't see it.
"He's never been a power guy, and that's always been my reservation about
him," the scout said. "He's a terrific outfielder with a super arm. But he's
kind of a 'tweener' for me: not quite enough speed to be a speed guy, not
quite enough power to be a power guy. That would make him a fourth outfielder
on a pennant-winning team, for me."
With all those games coming up this year with teams in their own division,
you would have expected clubs to play a number of games this spring with
those division rivals, just so they could get a feel for them before it
matters. But three teams played no exhibition games against clubs from within
their division: the Phillies, Rangers and White Sox.
In the case of the Rangers and White Sox, no other teams from their division
hold spring training in the same state. The Phillies, however, have the
Braves within easy driving distance and the Marlins within 150 miles.
"At least we have a good feel for the American League," said one puzzled
Phillie.
Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, on how many starts he expects the
rehabbing Bret Saberhagen to make this year: "Twenty to 25."
You heard it here first.
Meanwhile, here's one Blue Jays official on how many starts he expects the
rehabbing Mike Sirotka to make this year: "Zero."
As good a job as Major League Baseball did over the weekend in Puerto Rico,
one serious oversight was the failure to provide a translator for a press
conference Saturday involving the managers and key players for both teams.
The Spanish-speaking media in Puerto Rico complained long and loud that many
questions and answers were in English only. And they had every right to
complain. Even though this was clearly an honest oversight, there's no reason
to engender any kind of bad will at an event of this sort.
No more spring fever
Missing person of the week
We've got an idea for a new series of kids' baseball books. We'll call
them: "Where in the World Is Balvino Galvez?"
As we reported two weeks ago, Galvez was on the cusp of making it back to
the big leagues, with the Pirates, after 15 years in the minor leagues, Japan
and Taiwan. Then, last Tuesday, he made a wild throw into the seats during a
fielding drill – and mysteriously walked off the field, packed his gear and
disappeared.
"You'd think," pitcher Terry Mulholland told the Beaver County Times'
John Perrotto, "that if he spent five weeks in camp, he'd stick around and
find out if he made the team."
Triplets of the week
You never know who you might see hitting a triple in spring training.
Tied for the American League lead this spring: Jeff Conine, with three. His
last full season with three triples: 1994. But two even more astounding
triple outbursts came from noted speedsters Mike Piazza and Tom Lampkin.
Piazza hadn't tripled in a real game since 1998. But last week, he
thunked a looper into the right-field corner. Since right fielder Brady
Anderson was playing him to pull (obviously), Piazza motored three-quarters
of the way around the bases, to even his own amazement.
"It looked like he had to run 1,000 yards for that ball, so I thought, 'Roll
the dice,' " Piazza told the New York Times' Tyler Kepner. "It got me out of
sprints."
But Lampkin even topped that act. On March 14, the Mariners' backup
catcher somehow bopped two triples in one game. Only once in 11 seasons has
he even had two in a season.
Afterward, while riding an exercise bike in the clubhouse, Lampkin told
the Seattle Times' Larry Stone: "I don't even know why I'm riding this bike.
I told the coaches I ran more today than I ever have."
Juegos de nombre de sur (name games of the week)
Some things got lost in the translation last weekend in Puerto Rico – specifically, a couple of names.
Actual question during Saturday's pre-exhibition press conference by the
Rangers: "I have a question for the two Rodriguezes – Alex and Alex: How do
you keep straight that you have two Alexes?"
Actual announcement before Saturday's game, when Toronto outfielder Brian
Simmons was introduced: "No. 22 – BRAIN Simmons."
When we observed to Simmons that maybe they'd just heard he was an
intelligent player, he replied: "I don't know. The thing I can't figure out
is that when I played winter ball, I played here."
Injury of the week
Just in his tenure in Arizona, pitcher Brian Anderson has burned his face
while ironing, gotten locked out of his hotel room while sleepwalking in the
nude and come down with a stiff arm while riding in a taxi. Last week, he had
a rough final start of spring training – after cutting his pitching hand on a
cologne bottle.
He gave up five runs and nine hits in six innings. But even though he
kept the cologne bottle to prove that's how this really happened, he decided
not to let his buddies in the clubhouse even get an opportunity to follow the
scent of this caper.
"You can't miss this one," Anderson said. "You've got to make this start."
So he did, which allowed him to avoid becoming the most notorious cologne
in baseball since Bartolo.
Geographer of the week
There comes a time in every spring training when enough palm trees are
enough. Friday, as the Phillies prepared to break camp the next day before
their opener in Miami against the Marlins, Scott Rolen announced that time
had arrived for them.
"It's time to go north," Rolen told the Philadelphia Inquirer's Bob
Brookover. "Except we're going south."
Useless information dept.
Dwight Gooden's best years, as it turned out, were his years from 19-24.
Let's break it down:
TEENS
17-9, 2.60, 218 IP, 161 H, 276 K
20-24
83-30, 2.65, 1073 IP, 892 H, 892 K
25-29
57-36, 3.77, 878 2/3 IP, 845 H, 707 K
30-35
37-27, 4.91, 631 IP, 666 H, 418 K
When you think of Gooden, you think of what might have been.
You can't beat those lists from the Yankees' history books. So the Sultan
of Swat Stats, SABR's David Vincent, reports that when three different
Yankees (Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams) homered on Opening
Day, they added their names to this great list of openers in which three
Yankees hit a home run:
1932 – Babe Ruth (2), Lou Gehrig, Samuel Byrd (2).
1955 – Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron.
1962 – Mantle, Skowron, Roger Maris.
1993 – Danny Tartabull, Matt Nokes, Pat Kelly.
More from Vincent: We know Trot Nixon's home run Monday was the first time
any Opening Day had featured a trot by a Trot. But there also has never been
a homer by a Homer.
One reason the Padres traded Matt Clement was that his command needed,
shall we say, a little work. He was two hit batters away from winning that
other triple crown last season: first in the league in walks, wild pitches
and HBPs.
Last NL pitcher to win that one, according to the Elias Sports Bureau: Hal
Gregg, of the '44 Dodgers.
When Omar Olivares got traded from Oakland to Pittsburgh, it allowed him to
retain his membership in the Team A Year Club. That's eight teams in the last
eight years for Olivares – a distinction matched by only two other active
players, according to Elias' Ken Hirdt: Todd Zeile and Gregg Olson.
How does David Wells do it? He pitched 12 innings during the entire spring
of 2000, then gave up two runs in six innings on Opening Day. This year, he
pitched 11 innings all spring, then again gave up two runs in six innings on
Opening Day.
Mike Hampton was just the fifth Rockies pitcher in the history of Coors
Field to take a shutout into the ninth inning. The others: Mark Thompson,
Roger Bailey, Darryl Kile and Brian Bohanon.
If, in fact, Rafael Furcal is really 20, he adds his name to the list of
youngest players to homer on Opening Day. The other names in the group:
1975 Robin Yount MIL 19
1965 Tony Conigliaro BOS 20
1990 Ken Griffey Jr. SEA 20
1958 Orlando Cepeda SF 20
1975 Gary Carter MTL 20
The Valley Tribune's Ed Price reports that only three teams in history have
had regulars 30 or older at every position, as Arizona will this year: the
1981 Phillies, 1982 Angels and 1998 Orioles.
The '81 Phillies were in the split-season division playoffs. The '82 Angels
blew a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five ALCS.
How fitting was this? The New York Post's Joel Sherman reports that on the
day the Yankees were honored for being No. 1 in three straight seasons, their opener started at exactly 1:11.
Trivia answer
Cal Ripken Jr. (19), Tony Gwynn (18), Frank Thomas (11), Jeff Bagwell (11) and Craig Biggio (10).
Jayson Stark is a Senior Writer at ESPN.com. Rumblings and Grumblings appears each week.
| |
|
