I Make The Call

Archive for the ‘MLB’ Category

Imagine your team having the best record for the month of August in the big leagues. Better yet, having a 22 year old pitcher named Aroldis Chapman from Cuba throwing pitches in the triple digits and only slightly slower with his change ups. Is this guy a phenom or what? Well, there is a team out there just like that, the Cincinnati Reds.

Boy do they have the best of two worlds. They are headed to St Louis for a weekend series to face the fading Cardinals who swept them the last time they met. Unfortunately for the Cards, circumstances just happen to be a little different this time. The Reds are 8 games up in the Central Division and they discovered a pitching freak. How much more can a team like the Reds ask for. This will be the Labor Day of Labor Day series. Go Reds. I MAKE THE CALL.

The deadline has come and gone and some teams made significant moves to benefit their respective clubs while others were just pure loser sand did nothing to get better in the second half of the season.

The Yankees, Nationals and Astros made moves to help them in the pennant races.

Even though the Astros got rid of Beckman and Oswalt, they managed to snag Brett Wallace who is capable of replacing Beckman in Houston.

The Nationals were very smart and stood pat on the asking price for Adam Dunn, and at the same time aquiring Wilson Ramos from the Twins.

The Yankees got Beckman who is still capable of hitting the long ball every now and then and will certainly be of help in the stretch for the pennant.

The Red Sox, Tigers and the Giants were shopping, but bought nothing to enhance their teams.

For the most part each of them came up empty and the Red Sox certainly did not do anything to compete with the Rays and the Yankees in the race for the pennant. The couple of moves the Sox made will in no way help them down the stretch. I MAKE THE CALL.

The last time the Cubs won anything worthwhile was in 1908. Lou Piniella the current coach has put in his resignation, and the flood gates are opened as to who will be the next manager of the Cubs.

Ryan Sandberg, the Cubs’ own protege appears to be the leading candidate and he says he wants the job.

Be careful what you ask for. Having no major league coaching experience on your resume might be a bit more than you can chew.

There are no more readily available Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa or Joe Torre to draw from.

I suggest that Cubs’ management take a long hard look at former Marlin’s manager Freddie Gonzalez. With Freddie, you can turn the Cubs around sooner than later. I MAKE THE CALL.

Strasburg is the only pitcher in his debut to strike out 14 and walk none. Except for the 2 homer he gave up to Delwyn Young, the kid was absolutely flawless. Is he worth the $15.1 million the Washington Nationals gave him last year? Let’s wait and see, but if last night’s performance is any indication of what Strasburg is capable of, it will be money well spent. He is now in the same house with Dwight Gooden and Roger Clemens as far as pitchers making their debut. Washington Nationals, your future looks bright. Just like it did in 1933. I MAKE THE CALL.

In back to back drafts, the Nationals have picked the number one player who just happen to be a phenom. Where do the Nats go from here? Well, tonight is Strasburg’s big night. He gets the opportunity to earn some of the $15.1 million he got for signing with the Nationals last year. His long awaited start in the big league comes tonight and the baseball world will be looking and focusing on his every pitch.

Strasburg has a fast ball around 97-99 miles per hour, a curve ball which he perfected at San Diego State, but won’t need it as much because he now has a change up pitch, not to mention his off speed pitches. He has tremendous raw talent, and after a few years in the big league, he will be a force most major leaguers will not want to face.

In a couple of years, you will be looking at Harper swinging the lumber, but I think he can play with the big boys right now, not as a catcher, but as an outfielder. I MAKE THE CALL.

No matter what sporting entity you follow, you always have an opinion about the sport.

The new Arizona Immigration Law begs the question: should professional athletes or the league, get involved in this controversial law?

Whether it be baseball, football, etc. I say, that everyone who plays a sport in Arizona should get involved and help to strike this racist law down.

If memory serves me right, Arizona refused to acknowledge MLK Birthday until it was pressured and threatened by the social activism of the people.

Twenty eight percent of professional players in baseball and forty six percent of the players in the minors are Hispanic. What does this tell you? It tells me that there is a heavy trace of racism here. What percentage of Afro-Americans make up football, and what ethnicity was MLK?

Yes, the League should get involved, pull the Allstar game in 2011 out of Arizona, and move all Spring Training Camps to other states. This will dampen Arizona economy and just perhaps, those off the wall politicians in that state will wake up and do the right thing. I MAKE THE CALL

The NHL and NBA are coming to the close of their perspective seasons. The playoffs are around the corner for both leagues, and by June, it will be baseball time until September. Yes the boys of summer are back, and I am all pumped up to be able to see my Dodgers out there on the playing field. Baseball really gets most of its billing after the AllStar game in July. That is the mid point of the season and teams should be in a position to set their goals for the final stretch, playoffs and the world series. Come on Dodger Blue, make my day, take the west. I MAKE THE CALL.

According to Hank Aaron, 20 year old rookie Jason Hayward is the real deal. Well, Hammering Hank might just be right. In Monday’s game, Hayward bagged a three run homer, and another run batted in. Quite a debut for a local kid. There might be some hope for the MLB with Hayward coming on board.
I MAKE THE CALL.