Spring Fever

When I went outside yesterday morning, I heard the sounds, saw the sights, and felt the feelings of spring.  It was definitely in the air.  The temperature was in the mid-60s, birds were singing, and the air felt more like late March than late January.  By contrast, this morning when I went outside, it was 32 degrees and spitting snow.  Needless to say I was wishing for yesterday’s weather to return.  The more I thought about it, the more I was starting to get spring fever.  And spring fever can only mean one thing: baseball season. 

Other than Christmas, the beginning of baseball season is the most wonderful time of the year.  All 30 teams begin the marathon that is a 162 game season, each with aspirations of making the postseason.  Last year, three surprise teams made the playoffs: the Nationals, the Orioles, and the A’s.  The San Francisco Giants rode the hot bat of Buster Posey to their second World Series title in three years.  The first ever Wild Card games were played and the National League Wild Card Game led to a heated debate over the infield fly rule.  Every season brings new excitement and fresh storylines.  Here’s a preview of what I am looking forward to in the 2013 season.

7. Will the O’s and A’s Still Be a Factor?  There was a great debate at the end of last season as to which team was the most surprising in the American League.  Both the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics came into the season with little to no expectations for success (except in their own minds, of course).  Both teams were well under .500 in 2011 and had made no earth-shattering moves to improve their rosters leading into the 2012 season.  But that is why they play the games.  Baltimore valiantly battled the vaunted New York Yankees in the division before falling two games behind at the end but secured a wild card spot.  The A’s hung around all year before catching fire in September and making a gritty run at the Texas Rangers who had dominated that division the last couple of seasons.  Over the final ten days of the season, the A’s clawed from several games back and overtook the Rangers (mainly by winning several head-to-head games during that stretch) to win the AL West.  The Orioles were able to win by using young talent like Adam Jones, Matt Weiters, and Manny Machado on offense and a ragtag starting rotation on the hill.  Oakland won by throwing out solid, young starting pitchers and a bunch of ragtag, journeyman players who most teams had given up on.  I’ll be curious to see if either team can sustain last year’s success now that they will no longer be sneaking up on anyone.

6. Can’t Get Rid of the PED Stain: Here we are just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report for spring training and a new PED scandal has emerged.  It was bad enough that the PED stain from the late 90s-early 2000s kept a few clean cut guys out of the Hall of Fame this year, but now we have a new PED mill in Miami and several names have already been linked to the clinic.  Among those are Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, and Yasmani Grandal, each who has served or is serving a 50-game suspensions from MLB last season.  The most surprising name on the list was Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez who had a breakout year last season.  Of course, the biggest name involved was that of Alex Rodriguez.  (I’ll have more on A-Rod a little further down.)  As much as we would like for this stain on the game to go away, it doesn’t appear as if that is going to happen any time soon; especially now that we have to worry about guys using deer antler extract.

5.  Billy Hamilton in Cincy:  This kid was the Minor League Baseball player of the year in 2012 and even though he has never played in an MLB game, he is generating some buzz in the Queen City.  He is expected to be in center field at some point this season and with the numbers he posted last year, there is no reason he shouldn’t be.  The thing that the 22 year old Hamilton brings to the table is speed and lots of it.  The kid is a burner.  He stole 155 bases last season in 132 games.  He attempted 192 steals!  That is ridiculous.  If he can even steal half that many in the majors, the Reds may have the perfect table setter for that powerful lineup for years to come.  And he may be able to achieve something that has not been achieved since 1987: swipe 100 bags in a season.  Vince Coleman was the last to accomplish this feat and it has only been done 8 times since 1900 by four different players.  Pre-1900, one player stole over 100 bases four separate seasons.  Ironically, his name was Billy Hamilton.

4.  Oh Canada!: It has been several years since the Toronto Blue Jays have had this much reason to be excited about the start of a baseball season.  Since the re-emergence of the Yankees in the mid-1990s, the breaking of some confounded curse in Boston, and the rise of the Rays in Tampa, the Blue Jays have been lost in the shuffle.  They have had solid teams but have been buried by the bankroll in New York and Boston and the scrappiness of Tampa (and even Baltimore last year).  Look for 2013 to be different.  The Jays have been very aggressive over the offseason.  They have acquired R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle, and Josh Johnson for the top of their rotation.  They added a bonafide table setter in Jose Reyes and super utility guy, Emilio Bonifacio.  They signed (cheater) Melky Cabrera for the outfield and expect Jose Bautista to bounce back from his wrist injury.  Also, the Jays hope that Edwin Encarnacion can duplicate his career 2012 season.  With the Yankees looking the shed payroll and not making major noise this offseason and with Boston still trying to clean house from a horrendous collapse in 2011, this just might be the year of the Blue Jays in the AL East.

3. The A-Rod Saga:  I’m not ashamed to admit that I like to watch a good soap opera and in today’s TMZ-crazed world, celebrities provide us with real-life suds.  The biggest soapstar in MLB, it should go without saying, is Alex Rodriquez.  Before the Miami PED story broke, the biggest question concerning the aloof superstar was when and for whom would he return to the field after offseason hip surgery.  It’s no secret that the pouty infielder has worn out his welcome in The Big Apple but the Steinbrenners are on the hook for four years at over $25 million per for a guy who got pinch hit for several times in clutch September/October games.  Now the Steinbrenners, in a move that would make their papa smile, are trying to void the terrible contract.  It seems they were the last ones in the game to figure out it was a horrendous deal.  This story is just getting started, so like any good sudser, you must stay tuned.

2.  Up, Up, and J-Hey:  Honestly, coming from the perspective of a Braves fan, I should have put this as the number one reason that I am looking forward to the MLB season.  The Upton brothers, B.J. and Justin, are going to be keeping time in the Atlanta outfield this season with Jason Heyward.  This young outfield has the potential to be the most dynamic outfield in the game for the next three seasons (and beyond if they are able to sign Justin and Heyward to long-term deals).  The Braves have not had this much outfield firepower since 2002-03 when they had Chipper Jones in left, Andruw Jones in center, and Gary Sheffield in right.  If the three current outfielders can match the numbers projected in The Bill James Handbook 2013, they will combine for 74 HR, 243 RBI, and 74 SB.  After making the trade to get Justin last week, many analysts now feel that Atlanta is in the top two or three teams in baseball.  I hope they’re right.  (And in the spirit of giving just credit, David O’Brien, the Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, was the first person I saw use the Up, Up, and J-Hey catchphrase.)

1.  Hollywood Nights: Look out Hollywood!  The Lakers will be old news by the time this baseball season gets under way.  With the arrival of Albert Pujols and Mike Trout in Anaheim and Magic Johnson headlining the new ownership of the Dodgers in 2012, Tinseltown has dominated the baseball headlines.  The Angels added to their lineup for 2013 by nabbing the biggest name and most productive offensive free agent in the game, Josh Hamilton.  The big question now is can Hamilton handle the glamour and the spotlight of Hollywood living?  If not, look for a major crash and burn.  Hamilton is already on his last strike when it comes to drug suspensions and if he were to get another, he is banished from the game for life.  Hopefully he will have the kind of presence around him in the Angels locker room that he was surrounded with in Texas because when he is on, he is the most fun to watch hitter in the game.  Picture a lineup with Trout leading off, Pujols batting third, Hamilton cleanup, and Trumbo batting fifth.  As for the Dodgers, they rolled the dice wildly last year trading and getting as many contracts as possible.  Time will tell if their aggressive front office moves will pay off but they certainly have revitalized an historic franchise that had run amok.  Since taking over, the new ownership added the large contracts of Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Zack Greinke to go along with the already large contract of Matt Kemp.  When you add in possibly the best left-handed pitcher in the game, Clayton Kershaw, and the much underrated Andre Ethier in right field, the Dodgers have a chance to become the Yankees of the west.

These are just a sample of things that I am looking forward to seeing this season.  Remember, pitchers and catchers report on February 11, the World Baseball Classic will begin in late February, and opening day is just around the corner on April 1.  Let me hear from you.  What are you looking forward to in the 2013 season?

P.S.: Some of you may have noticed that I did not mention expanded interleague play and the Houston Astros becoming part of the American League.  The simple reason is because I’m not looking forward to it.  My traditionalist views get in the way of such things but I don’t see why it was necessary to even the two leagues with 15 teams apiece allowing for interleague play on a daily basis. 

Sometimes Not Reaching a Goal Does Not Mean You Failed

Yesterday was the day I had been waiting for since finding out that I had diabetes.  It was my first 3-month follow up to see how much progress I had made.  I had set my goal for weight loss at 50 lbs, a goal I was not sure was actually attainable.  But as of two weeks ago, I would have bet a large sum that there was no way I would fall short of that goal.  I was down 48 lbs at that time figured losing two more pounds in two weeks would be a lock.  Well, despite more exercise and better eating habits, I hit the proverbial wall and only lost one more pound over that time bringing my total to 49.  I was a little disappointed but I was able to recognize the fact that there are some times when just because you do not reach a goal, it does not mean that you failed.  I was 98% of the way to reaching my goal but the fact that I dropped nearly 50 lbs in three months is astounding and has done wonders for my body.  The proof of what the weight loss has done for me is in the sugar-free pudding.

This trip to the doctor was immensely better than the last few times I had been.  My doctor summed it up best when she said, "It always more enjoyable when you get good news from the doctor."  Amen to that, sister.  Now for the results.  My liver function has improved greatly.  There are two levels they measure and both need to be below 40.  I dropped one from the high 70s to the low 30s and the other from the 140 range to 47, nearly within acceptable range.  My sugar was 115, cut nearly in half, and as result I only have to take my Metformin pill once a day now instead of twice.  One of the best results, however, was my A1C hemoglobin test.  I don't know all the particulars of this test but it gives a 3-4 month measure of the sugar level in your hemoglobin.  If your number is over 6.5, you are diabetic.  In October, mine was 7.9.  Yesterday, it was 5.8, just 0.2 away from being back in the normal range.  The best news, though, was that she said when I lose 15 more pounds I can quit taking the Metformin altogether and see how my body responds to that.  Things are definitely looking better than they did three months ago.

As always, I know who has helped me achieve these results and I am entirely grateful for the presence of Jesus Christ in my life.  After giving my post holiday update a few weeks ago, a friend sent me a few tweets with Bible verses in them.  One was James 1:6 and the other was Matthew 7:7-11.  Both scriptures center on not being afraid to ask God for guidance.  It is hard to receive things if you do not ask for them.  When I came home from my doctor's visit on October 10, I did a lot of praying and asking and I have received.  But, I did not sit around and just expect things to happen without putting in the work myself.  The Lord was not going to magically wave a wand and allow me to instantly start dropping weight and lower my numbers while I ate whatever I wanted to stuff into my face.  That's not how it works.  He helped me to gain the strength and focus to put the work in to get the results I needed and even though I came up one pound shy of my goal, I have not failed.

As for goals, I have a new goal set for the 3-month follow up and one for the rest of the year.  By the time I go back to the doctor in late April, I want to be down another 25 lbs.  As for the year long goal, I want to walk 365 miles on the treadmill this year and burn 35,000 calories while doing so.  Over the past two weeks, I have been able to walk nearly 17 miles while burning 1800 calories.  To put that in perspective, if I achieve this goal, the distance I have walked on the treadmill would be equivalent to walking from by house in Russell, KY to my brother's house in Sweetwater, TN and then walk from his house back to Knoxville.  As for burning that many calories, it would be the equivalent of burning off two weeks' worth of meals.  While those goals seem lofty at first glance, I feel like there is no way that I will fall short of them.  Unlike with the weight loss, which you can only control to an extent, I can totally control how I often I exercise and for how long I do it.  Besides, Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength."  So, phase one of my temple restoration is nearly complete and I encourage any who read this to follow suit.  It is never too late to do good for yourself or God.  Until next time, thanks for reading and God bless!

Who's in the Hall?

Earlier this week, I wrote about my support for Dale Murphy for the 2013 Hall of Fame and as it turns out he was not alone in not being elected.  As a matter of fact, the BBWAA did not elect any players to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time since 1996.  What makes this so perplexing is the list of names that are on the ballot and why they are not getting in.  Many arguments have since arisen as well as many questions.  Perhaps the most glaring of these is what exactly is the Hall of Fame?  Is it a museum about the history of the greatest game on earth that tells a story of those who played it and how they did so?  Is it an exclusive club that allows only the elite players to walk through its doors?  Is it the highest honor that a player can receive for being one of the best players of his generation?  Is it a shrine to those who play the game the right way and in doing so were able to achieve amazing statistics?  Truly, after this week's HOF results, I am not sure what the Hall of Fame is or what it is supposed to represent.

To sum up my confusion, let's play a game of Who's in the Hall of Fame?, a game sure to create more questions than it does answers.  For the first round, we'll take a look at first basemen, some are in the HOF and some aren't.  It is up to you to decide which is or isn't based on his career numbers.  Here we go!

Player	Yrs Played	Runs	Hits	HR	RBI	Avg	OPS
A	15	1517	2314	449	1529	.297	.948
B	22	1229	2211	521	1555	.270	.889
C	23	1272	2732	372	1652	.279	.804
D	19	1349	2490	493	1550	.284	.886

If you said that players B and C are in the HOF, you are correct.  Players A and D are patiently waiting but one is likely to not make it into the HOF.  The players are A) Jeff Bagwell (59.6% in his third year, will probably eventually get in), B) Willie McCovey, C) Tony Perez, and D) Fred McGriff (who in his fourth year only received 20.7%).  The knock against Bagwell is that he played in the Steroid Era and even though there is no evidence that he used, he is being lumped in with the rest.  I am not sure what the knock on McGriff is but his numbers sure look better than Tony Perez's, don't they?

For the second round, let's look at second basemen.  Below are four players from various eras, three of which are in the HOF.  Can you guess which one is not?

Player	Yrs Played	Runs	Hits	HR	RBI	Avg	OPS	SB
A	16	1318	2386	282	1061	.285	.796	344
B	20	1844	3060	291	1175	.281	.796	414
C	17	769	2016	138	853	.260	.666	27
D	22	1650	2517	268	1133	.271	.819	689

 
If you said that Player B, the only player with over 3,000 hits and runs scored, you would be correct.  The players are A) Ryne Sandberg, B) Craig Biggio (who received 68.2% in his first year on the ballot and should get in soon, unless he get squeezed by new players coming on the ballot), C) Bill Mazeroski (who was elected by the Veteran's Committee), and D) Joe Morgan.  Looking at those numbers, how can Biggio not be a sure-fire first ballot HOFer?

For the third round we will look at four catchers.  Three are in the HOF, one is not.  Again, see if you can guess which one isn't.

Player	Yrs Played	Runs	Hits	HR	RBI	Avg	OPS
A	17	1091	2048	389	1376	.267	.818
B	19	1025	2092	324	1225	.262	.773
C	16	1048	2127	427	1335	.308	.922
D	24	1276	2356	376	1330	.269	.797

 
If you said C, the guy with the most homers and by far the best AVG and OPS, you would be correct.  The players are A) Johnny Bench, B) Gary Carter, C) Mike Piazza (who received 57.8% in his first year on the ballot but should get in eventually), and D) Carlton Fisk.  Wouldn't you say that Piazza's numbers are much better than Carter's?

For the fourth round, we will shift our focus to pitchers.  I will list four, two are in and two are out.  You know the drill. 

Player	Yrs Played	W-L	Win %	ERA	K	IP
A	19	284-226	0.557	3.34	3192	4500.000
B	12	165-87	0.655	2.76	2396	2324.000
C	24	354-184	0.658	3.12	4672	4916.000
D	18	254-186	0.577	3.9	2478	3824.000

 
If you said Players A and B are in, you were correct.  This is absolutely amazing when you look at the numbers for Player C.  The players are A) Fergie Jenkins, B) Sandy Koufax, C) Roger Clemens (who received only 37.6%), and D) Jack Morris (who received 67.7% on his penultimate year on the ballot).

And for the final round, I will list five players regardless of position and you will guess which ones are in the Hall and which ones aren't.  The answer may surprise you!

Player	Yrs Played	Runs	Hits	HR	RBI	Avg	OPS	SB
A	22	2227	2935	762	1996	.298	1.051	514
B	20	1663	3020	569	1835	.288	.886	97
C	18	1475	2408	609	1667	.273	.878	234
D	24	2165	4256	160	1314	.303	.784	198
E	13	873	1772	54	785	.356	.940	202

 
If you said none of these guys are in, you would be correct.  The only one with numbers that may not compare is E and his career was cut short at the age of 32.  The others should be undeniable HOFers but aren't and may never be.  They are A) Barry Bonds, B) Rafael Palmeiro, C) Sammy Sosa, D) Pete Rose, and E) Shoeless Joe Jackson.

If you got 75% of these correct, then you just might be an HOFer yourself.  If I confused you in all these numbers, don't feel bad.  You are not alone in your bewilderment.  The question of what the Hall of Fame is still stands.  Does it reward longevity?  If so, why is Sandy Koufax in?  The guy only had six good (actually dominant) years to get elected before injury ended his career.  If that is all it takes to get in, then is Josh Hamilton a legit Hall of Fame contender no matter what else happens in his career?

If the HOF rewards elite level of play, then why are Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Pete Rose on the outside looking in?  Why is a player even on a ballot for 15 years?  If there were any doubt then the player must not really be that elite.  If it really takes you 15 years to decide on a guy then was he really that special?   In 1996, the last year no one was elected by the writers, six men who were on that ballot eventually made it to Cooperstown.  How can that be?  If they were HOFers, why didn't they get elected in 1996 when the field had slim pickings.  (This list included two 300 game winners, Phil Niekro and Don Sutton).

Does the HOF reward character on and off the field?  If that is the case, then Dale Murphy and Fred McGriff would have gotten in on the first ballot.  And if character can keep you out of the HOF, then why is Ty Cobb, a notorious bigot and ruffian, enshrined?  It seems like a contradiction to me.

I know I have rambled and thrown out many names and lots of numbers, but it just goes to show you that the HOF is really a mystery.  I am not sure what the answer is but I think this past year definitely showed us a flaw in the system where the writers make up their own rules when it comes to voting.  I tend to be more inclusive than many who are exclusive in their view of the Hall.  If they guys made mistakes, or cheated, then put it on their plaque when they enter the Hall.  Address the issues as they were instead of trying to mask them.  The Steroid Era was part of the game and should have its place in the Hall of Fame.  Otherwise, what do you really have if you have a place to honor the greatest players of all time and you don't include the career leader in homeruns, the all-time hit king, the greatest pitcher of the past 30 years, and one of a handful of guys to ever hit 500 homers and have over 3,000 hits?