Coco Crisp's assault on the mound will cost him seven games on the sidelines.
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Sidney Ponson is at it Again
As if we needed more proof that Sidney Ponson was not a person you wanted in your clubhouse, he has yet again shown his not-so-good-side. Ponson has had issues for three or four years now, and it has nothing to do with his shaky starts, but more to do with off-the-field issues. From drunk and disorderly, driving under the influence, bar room brawls, and now the latest, disrespect in the clubhouse. The Texas Rangers’ organization has announced that they have released Ponson, citing a lack of respect for teammates in the clubhouse.
This is unfortunate both for the organization and the player. For Ponson, it was an opportunity for redemption and a chance to get back to what he wanted to do most, pitch in the major leagues. He had been off to a great start, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.88 earned run average and striking out 25 batters. Behind Vicente Padilla, Ponson has been the most consistent Rangers pitcher in the past thirty days. The Rangers are getting pummeled for the most part and losing a pitcher who is better than average has to hurt.
The Battle for First Place was a Battle, Indeed
The Red Sox and Rays combined for an amazing statistic during their three game series; 38 games. That is the sum total of games that players were suspended for because of the battles that broke out within the battle for first place in the division.
At the heart of it were batters Coco Crisp and Iwamura Akinori, and pitchers Jon Lester and James Shields. It all started when Akinori purposely blocked the second base bag when Crisp was sliding in, potentially hurting Crisp, instead infuriating him. With the next opportunity in the game to slide into the bag, Crisp clearly went out of his way to take out the Tampa Bay second baseman, using arms, feet, and legs to knock him over.
The next game is where the melee took place. James Shields intentionally hit Coco Crisp, in the thigh and not the head. Crisp responded by charging the mound and a fight insued. This is not the one with Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkalis in the dugout, which occurred later in the game. The next day, Jon Lester sent a pitch flying behind a Tampa Bay batter, which also landed him a suspension.
When everything was said and done, the league handed out multiple game suspensions to Crisp (7), Shields (6), Lester (5), Jonny Gomes (5), Edwin Jackson (5), Carl Crawford (4), Sean Casey (3), and Iwamura (3).
Former ROY Angel Berroa joins Dodgers
Angel Berroa has spent the better part of two seasons resurrecting his career in the Kansas City organization. He gets his opportunity, changing teams and leagues today, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor-league shortstop Juan Rivera. This is bad news for anyone who was hoping that recent call-up Luis Maza or utility player Chin-lung Hu would be able to get enough at bats to have some fantasy impact. Here is your chance to jump on a player that could have a quick impact on the roster, and even some long-term NL Only keeper league formats that have ten or more teams.
Kazmir: Approaching Elite Status
In my opinion, I believe that with his sixth win in a row; Scott Kazmir is becoming the ace that everyone thought he could be. Now 6-1 with a 1.40 earned run average and the most important statistic for this pitcher, only 13 walks with 44 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.
With Kazmir leading this band of young pitchers in the Tampa Bay organization, it is only a matter of time before people really do realize that this is not a one-year wonder atmosphere in Tampa Bay. And there is plenty of talent in the minors, including David Price who is absolutely on fire. Within one year, the starting rotation could very well be Kazmir, Matt Garza, James Shields, a refurbished and confident Edwin Jackson, and hot prospect Price.
Is it time to start believing in Kazmir as an elite, long-term keeper player or will he revert to his high earned run average, high walk counts that have plagued his young career?
Who Needs Runs on the Road when Lincecum Starts?
Speaking of elite young, long-term keeper league pitchers, have you seen what Tim Lincecum is doing with the minor league team that is the San Francisco Giants?
With an 8-1 record, Lincecum becomes only the third Giant to do so in this historic franchise’s history. In 12 starts, this fiery right-hander has amassed 83 strikeouts while maintaining a 2.15 earned run average. To go 8-1 is one thing… to do it with a team that is sub-par in offense and only slightly better at defense is amazing. Like Kazmir, Lincecum is someone that you are dying to trade for, and if you have him, you are doing everything you can to stave off any and all trades, knowing full well that there is not any reason to remove him from your roster, especially if it is a keeper league.
Friday Night Fight: Going with the Underdogs
In a weird way, I guess I kind of expected last night’s outcomes. This season has been the wackiest as far as I am concerned. The small market teams are running amidst the leaders of the divisions, the injuries happen more than hits, and those games you think your team should win they do not, but they win the ones handedly when you believe it will be close.
Case in point. There were three games last night that, had I been a betting man, I probably would have thought, “Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees. Yet, knowing what kind of year it has been, I am glad that I do not bet.
Last night, the Kansas City Royals ended their road skid on the road by going to Yankee Stadium and beating the Yanks 2-1. It was not an easy game, but to beat the boys in pinstripes regardless of their own place in their division seems highly unlikely when you consider the Royals’ road record.
Then the Padres beat the Mets at Petco. What is going on? Randy Wolf, who prior to this game had a 3-4 record with over 4.00 earned run average, went seven strong innings, striking out two, and setting things up for Heath Bell and Trevor Hoffman to put the Mets away.
To top it all off, arguably the worst team in baseball and easily the worst road-team, the Seattle Mariners go against the best home-team in baseball, the Red Sox, and blank them, 8-0. There is no reason, whether Felix Hernandez is pitching or not, that the Mariners should walk into Fenway Park and make a mockery of the Red Sox.
I realize that Sean Casey, Coco Crisp, and David Ortiz are not in the line-up, but there are too many talented players on the Sox roster to be blanked by the worst road-team in baseball.
What is this league coming too?
It is 100 degrees in sunny South Carolina and I am done with Grumble, so it is off to the pool.
See you all next week.
Kevin Burgoyne, aka Statistocrat
