Results tagged ‘ Tigers ’
What’s In a Name? The Top 10 Player Names in Major League Baseball
10. Cody Ransom (New York Yankees)
There has to be a Yankee on this list, and no name symbolizes the franchise’s offseason efforts better than “Ransom”.
Isn’t that exactly what Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner do to those teams brave enough to compete with them in free agency?
By offering higher salaries or longer contract lengths than others can afford, the Yankees seemingly hold free agents as personal property, forcing an opposing team to cough up a king’s ransom in order to pry him from New York’s grasp.
9. Matt Treanor (Detroit Tigers)
Treanor deserves to be on this list as a result of simply handing his surname to the beautiful volleyball superstar Misty May-Treanor, but he also has a solid baseball name.
Matt’s last name is actually pronounced trainer, and seems very fitting in a dark age of baseball dominated by these “fitness experts.”
If anyone would supply performance-enhancing drugs throughout a locker room, wouldn’t it have to be a Treanor? (This is of course a joke, and has absolutely nothing to do with bringing into question his involvement in the steroids crisis)
8. Josh Outman (Oakland Athletics)
What better name could a pitcher possibly have than “Outman?”
Since April 17, he has certainly been living up to his name. He has pitched to a 3-0 record, 2.38 ERA, and 1.04 WHIP in 45.1 innings.
The Athletics may have found something here, and they sincerely hope that he can be a reliable “out man” for many years to come.
7. Thomas Diamond (Texas Rangers)
Though still waiting for his Major League debut, this Ranger is named after the very field he plays on for the majority of the year.
Diamond is struggling mightily in the minor leagues right now, but it seemed like a near obligation to put him on a list of players intended to capture the essence of a baseball diamond.
6. Homer Bailey (Cincinnati Reds)
Bailey is the sole first name honoree on the list–and deservedly so.
His name symbolizes the element the saved baseball following the strike of 1994, and subsequently has tried to tear it down through syringe-aided blasts.
Unfortunately for Homer, he has surrendered far too many, allowing 12 home runs in just 86 IP at this point of his ML career.
This equates to nearly once every seven innings, and has prevented him from reaching the high expectations that scouts have placed on him.
5. Brandon League (Toronto Blue Jays)
Arguably much more recognizable for his wide array of tattoos and entirely unique eyewear, League also possesses a classic baseball surname.
His presence and mannerisms on the mound may remind fans of Major League’s Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn, but League has made a nice career for himself pitching out of the Toronto bullpen.
Always graced with electric stuff, League has yet to fine-tune his mechanics and consistency in order to become one of the more untouchable middle relievers in baseball.
4. Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers)
The son of a former Major League superstar, Fielder could have made the list for either his first or last name–which is why he climbed a little higher up toward No. 1.
Though weighing in at 270 pounds at just 5’11″, Fielder is much more agile than you might expect. He has earned his last name with some sparkling plays, but he seems to make nearly as many errors as “web gems.”
Fielder will always be known for his potent bat, however, and is currently on pace for 43 HR, 153 RBI, 100 R, and a .430 OBP.
Albert Pujols is certainly the king of National League bat-wielding, but Fielder has numbers fit for a prince.
3. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Texas Rangers)
The Texas Rangers get onto the list for a second time, if for no other reason than my complete inability to spell Saltalamacchia without checking reliable websites multiple times.
Aside from his name being so much fun to say, it is enjoyable to imagine a jersey producer attempting to fit all of the letters across the back–let alone spell it correctly.
After all, you can ask the Washington “Natinals” about how easy it is to misspell keys elements of a baseball uniform.
2. Skip Schumaker (St. Louis Cardinals)
Perhaps much higher up the list than many would expect, Skip Schumaker may have my favorite name of all major league players (you will soon learn why he could never be No. 1).
A simply classic baseball name, Skip Schumaker reminds you of a hard-nosed
infielder from the early 1900s–as interested in being covered in dirt and blood as he was anything else.
Schumaker is a nice complimentary player, hitting .294 with 16 RBI and a .342 OBP, all while playing exceptional defense in his first season since transitioning to 2B from the outfield. He has committed just one error in 45 games played at the position.
1. Antonio Bastardo (Philadelphia Phillies)
Do I really even need to explain this selection at No. 1 on the list?
“Antonio Bastardo” is a name even the most creative of comedic writers could not recreate if they tried. It sounds like the name of a leading role in an Antonio Banderas spoof movie.
Although his name is rather comical, Bastardo can laugh back at all of the former classmates that mocked him. He is now a Major League pitcher sitting at 2-0 for the defending World Series Champions–that is what I like to call payback.
No one else could possibly end this countdown, but do not overlook his immense talent. At just 23 years old, Bastardo has electric stuff, as evidenced by his 1.18 WHIP in 11 IP.
Bastardo’s Minor League numbers were even more startling, pitching to a 1.90 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 47.1 innings at a combination of Double-A and Triple-A levels.
Also seen at: Heartbeat of the Bronx
Joba’s Intensity Reborn: Troubles Quickly Transition into Fist Pumps
After loading the bases in the fourth inning, Joba Chamberlain appeared one pitch away from a disastrous outing.
Chamberlain had already walked three batters, thrown just 43-percent of his pitches for strikes, and trailed 1-0.
One gutsy pitch sequence later, he had retired the Tigers’ hottest hitter (Miguel Cabrera), and returned to the dugout with a newfound confidence.
It would ultimately be the last wrinkle in a memorable performance.
For the first time in 2009, Chamberlain brought something out to the mound other than a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. He brought the intensity and passion that made him the untouchable reliever of years past.
Though not resorting to tribal screams and Mike Tyson uppercuts, Chamberlain was again able to take the training wheels off of his fastball.
The added passion not only bumped his 4-seamer up into the mid-90s, but also returned the downward tilt to an increasingly deceptive slider. A pitch all too simple to lay off of in recent weeks, his slider became as tempting as an apple in the Garden of Eden.
Chamberlain’s final line read 6 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 3 BBs, and 6 Ks. Regardless of his disappointing start, he ended up hitting the strike zone with 57-percent of his pitches. His latter inning dominance, however, could not possibly be reflected in a box score.
The transition from increasingly mediocre to unhittable took no longer than seconds, as if Chamberlain had snuck into a phone booth and emerged donning a red cape.
Following a seven-run outburst in the top of the fourth by New York, Chamberlain retired the next nine Tigers in order while striking out four.
It appeared as though the Tigers lineup was caught with their pants down, unsure of how to handle the swaggering right-hander. A confused and timid expression was suddenly replaced with a stern and intimidating glare.
If not for a heart-stopping ninth inning, whispers of a bullpen transition for Chamberlain could have been quieted for at least another week.
Even an 8-1 lead was not large enough for New York’s “unstable seven,” however, as Jonathan Albaladejo and Mariano Rivera rapidly turned a laugher into an 8-6 game.
Rivera held on to literally “save” himself and the Yankees, although he will not be credited with one in his stat line.
A 0-for-4 beginning to a difficult road trip has now become a series victory in Detroit. Two young and underpaid hurlers have silenced critics of an underachieving starting rotation, and New York can return to the Bronx once again above .500.
It remains to be seen if we have witnessed the start of a reassuring trend, or a simple calmness within the eye of the storm. Either way, fans should be able to sleep much more soundly tonight as their heads hit their pillows.
Justin-Credible: Verlander Unhittable as Yankees’ Streak Reaches Four
The Yankees entered Comerica Park in Detroit while riding a painful three-game losing streak. That pain continued to compound on itself, as yet another loss dropped them below .500 on the season.
Even a sharp C.C. Sabathia was not enough to reverse the trend for New York, as its offense was never given a chance to get into a rhythm.
Tigers ace Justin Verlander was more than simply ‘on his game.’ Verlander was virtually untouchable, making 60′ 6″ appear more like a 46′ little league mound.
Verlander was armed with a blazing fastball touching upwards of 99 on the radar gun, as well as a power curveball that fell more sharply than the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, Verlander had no-hitter stuff, much more reminiscent of his 2006 Rookie of the Year campaign than his recent struggles.
Striking out nine and walking zero, he suffered no setbacks aside from the inability to figure out how to cool Robinson Cano’s hot bat.
The Red Sox series dug up limitless concerns about the Yankees ball club, and targeted many underachievers with a barrage of finger-pointing. Each crushing loss left a new catalyst to blame and excuses to make, leaving New York wondering how it let things slip away.
Monday night’s game did not provide any second-guessing, regretful sentiment, or ‘what ifs.’ Regardless of what buttons manager Joe Girardi attempted to push, the Yankees were going to be beaten by a hurler hell-bent on dominance.
This has emerged as a trend of sorts for New York, as at least one facet of the team falters on a given day.
When they pitch, they simply cannot drive in runs. When they score enough to win while receiving quality starting pitching, the bullpen implodes. Even when the Yankees score in double figures, they find a way to set franchise records in pitching deficiency.
Until the Yankees begin to fire on all cylinders, or at least most of them, they will be unable to string together victories. They will need to eventually perform a feat equal to Boston’s current 11-game rampage.
New York has driven past the Red Sox on a highway going in very different directions. If it does not make a U-turn soon, it may be left in Boston’s rearview mirror for quite some time.
Hughes will attempt to throw water–instead of oil or fuel–on the Yankees fire, as he will replace Chien-Ming Wang and his recent mental/physical breakdown.
Someone has to wake the Yankees up from this nightmare, and hopefully that “someone” is Hughes. Stay tuned.
MLB Opening Day Means One Thing: Predictions, Predictions, Predictions
As another season of baseball kicks off in 2009, there will be countless moments to be remembered forever.
However, even before the first wins and losses are logged in newspaper standings, it is time to predict and prognosticate.
Analysts might as well be using a Ouija board to determine the year’s ultimate outcomes, as we have as much certainty as a Vegas man trying his luck on the roulette wheel.
Regardless of that fact, every baseball lover makes his or her best attempt at being 2009′s version of Nostradamus.
It is officially my turn to peer into a crystal ball and tell others what I have seen. Here goes nothing.
American League Division Winners:
AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Minnesota Twins
AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Wildcard: New York Yankees
National League Division Winners:
NL East: New York Mets
NL Central: Chicago Cubs
NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks
Wildcard: Philadelphia Phillies
2009 Playoff Predictions:
ALDS: Yankees over Angels; Red Sox over Twins
NLDS: Mets over Diamondbacks; Phillies over Cubs
ALCS: Yankees vs. Red Sox
NLCS: Mets vs. Phillies
2009 Individual Awards:
AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera (1B Tigers)
NL MVP: David Wright (3B Mets)
AL Rookie of the Year: Elvis Andrus (SS Rangers)
NL Rookie of the Year: Jordan Schafer (CF Braves)
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Robinson Cano (2B Yankees)
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Troy Tulowitzki (SS Rockies)
AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay (Blue Jays)
NL Cy Young: Johan Santana (Mets)
AL Bust of the Year: Curtis Granderson (CF Tigers)
NL Bust of the Year: Brandon Phillips (2B Reds)
AL Manager of the Year: Ron Gardenhire (Twins)
NL Manager of the Year: Bob Melvin (Diamondbacks)
I will, however, wait several months in order to make ALCS/NLCS and World Series predictions. If for no other reason, the karma and jinx factors should be postponed as long as possible.
There exists nothing more passionate in playoff baseball than the clash of bitter division rivals. If my instincts prove correct, the baseball world should be given an early Christmas present come October.
It should be a very exciting and memorable season in 2009. Time has crawled by as if watching grass grow, but it is again time for baseball.
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