Minor League/College Links
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Thursday, May 31
Let's Call Him "Lightning Rod"
by
Craig Brown
on Thu 31 May 2007 10:51 AM EDT
Seriously, what's the deal with Alex Rodriguez?
The situation:
Top of the ninth in Toronto where the Yankees have a 7-5 lead. Hideki Matsui is on second and Alex Rodriguez, who has just singled in a run, is on first with two outs. The next batter, Jorge Posada, lofts a high pop fly on the left side of the infield. With two outs, the runners are off and as Rodriguez rounds second, he says something to the Jays third baseman Howie Clark. Clark, thinking he was being called off the popup by shortstop John McDonald, backs off and the ball drops. Instead of that being the third out, Matsui scores and the Yankees tack on two more runs to push the total to 10-5.
(ANDREW WALLACE/TORONTO STAR)
What did Rodriguez say? Therein lies the controversy.
"I said 'Ha!' That's it," Rodriguez told the press after the game.
"I heard a 'Mine!' call, so I let it go," Clark countered.
"It's not like he said, 'I got it!'," Joe Torre defended.
"It was a [horsespit] play; I hope you use that," Matt Stairs said. "Ask his teammates about it and if they say, 'No comment,' that will tell you."
"No comment," Derek Jeter said.
Rodriguez maintains that sort of distraction is something he deals with several times a week. But he's talking about going over to the stands for a foul pop, and the fans yelling - not an opposing baserunner trying to distract him while he's in the field of play.
Of course, this isn't the first time Rodriguez has been in the middle of a controversial play while running the bases. Remember "The Slap" when he knocked the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove in the 2004 ALCS? He's developing a track record. It's unfortunate that one of the greatest players of his generation feels the need to pull these kind of stunts. It certainly tarnishes his reputation.
Much has been written about the "Book" and the right way to play the game. Maybe A Rod doesn't read.
May 30, 2007 "Short Stops" Around the League
by
Joe Hamrahi
on Thu 31 May 2007 01:13 AM EDT
- Kelly Johnson went 3-for-4 with a home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs, and a walk, and Edgar Renteria added 2 doubles and 4 hits as the Braves rallied to score 7 runs in the 8th inning to beat the Brewers, 9-3. Tim Hudson allowed 2 runs in 7 innings for Atlanta. Prince Fielder hit his National League leading 18th home run, and Dave Bush gave up just one run over 7 innings for Milwaukee.
- Torii Hunter went 2-for-4 with a double, 3 RBI, and a game winning walk-off walk as the Twins edged the White Sox, 7-6. Rob Mackowiak had 2 hits, a home run, 2 runs and 2 RBI for Chicago.
- Dan Haren was at it again, giving up just one run on 4 hits in 8 innings, and Dan Johnson tripled and drove in 3 runs as the A’s cruised past the Rangers, 6-1. Nick Swisher reached base 3 times and scored twice for Oakland.
- Randy Johnson allowed just one hit over 6 scoreless innings, and Eric Byrnes and Mark Reynolds each had 2 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI to lead the Diamondbacks over the Phillies, 4-3.
- Grady Sizemore doubled, homered, scored 3 runs, and drove in 2, and Travis Hafner had 3 hits, 2 doubles, and knocked in 2 as the Indians pounded out 18 hits en route to an 8-4 win over the Red Sox. Kelly Shoppach added 4 hits, a home run and 3 runs scored for Cleveland.
- Derek Lowe pitched 7 scoreless innings, and Russell Martin homered and drove in 2 as the Dodgers shut out the Nationals, 5-0.
- Chris Young allowed just 4 hits in 7 shutout innings, and Khalil Greene reached base 3 times, homered, and drove in 4 as the Padres blanked the Pirates, 9-0. Mike Cameron also had 3 hits and 3 RBI for San Diego.
- Robinson Cano went 4-for-4, and Jason Giambi drove in 3 runs as the Yankees doubled up the Blue Jays, 10-5. John McDonald, Alex Rios, and Matt Stairs each hit home runs for Toronto.
- James Shields pitched a 7-hitter, Elijah Dukes reached base 3 times, homered, and scored 2 runs, and Akinori Iwamura had 3 hits as the Devil Rays beat the Tigers, 5-3.
- Barry Zito shut down the New York offense, Rich Aurilia went 4-for-4, and Pedro Feliz drove in all 3 of his team’s runs as the Giants knocked off the Mets, 3-0.
- Aaron Harang threw a complete game 6-hitter, and Norris Hopper and Alex Gonzalez combined to go 6-for-9 with 3 runs, 2 RBI, and a walk as the Reds helped extend Houston’s losing streak to 10 with a 4-3 win over the Astros.
- Dan Uggla hit 2 home runs and drove in 4 runs, and Josh Willingham and Miguel Cabrera added big flies as the Marlins rolled over the Cubs, 9-0.
- Albert Pujols had 2 hits, homered, scored twice, and drove in 3 runs, and Jim Edmonds had 3 hits and a home run to help the Cardinals defeat the Rockies, 8-4. Matt Holliday had 3 hits and a home run for Colorado in defeat.
- Erik Bedard pitched 8 scoreless innings, and Jay Payton and Nick Markakis drove in Baltimore’s 3 runs over the last 2 innings as the Orioles added to the night’s shutouts by beating the Royals, 3-0.
- Vladimir Guerrero had 3 hits, a home run, scored twice, and drove in 3 runs, and Orlando Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and 2 runs scored as the Angels upended the Mariners, 8-6. Gary Matthews Jr. also homered and drove in 3 for Los Angeles/Anaheim.
There were so many great pitching performances today that it made it difficult to pick a “Player of the Day.” So, we’re going to give it to the guy who has been brilliant all year.
Today’s BDD Player of the Day award goes to Oakland’s Dan Haren.
|
|
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
ERA |
|
Haren, Dan (W, 6-2) |
8.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1.64 |
Max Scherzer Signs with the D-Backs!
by
Joe Hamrahi
on Thu 31 May 2007 01:02 AM EDT
According to the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with 2006 1st round pick, Max Scherzer.
The contract is believed to be a major-league deal worth at least $4 million. The negotiations went down to the wire, but nevertheless, Scherzer is going to Arizona.
This certainly impacts the way things may shake out next week.
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