Today I went to Dunedin to see the Blue Jays host the Cincinnati Reds. I was especially excited about seeing two phenoms, Jay Bruce outfielder for the Reds (Baseball America’s #1 prospect) and outfielder Travis Snider for Toronto. Went to the bathroom before the game and there was a Cincinnati fan a few feet away commenting how the weather today was a whole lot better than the other day in Clearwater, yes 73 is much better than a brisk 53. Turns out this gentleman, Joe Bruce, was from Texas and his son plays for the Reds, none other than Jay. I commented on how his son was the next big thing, he kinda shrugged it off, and said how Jay had passed up a full ride to Tulane, the Reds signing bonus was too much to pass up. Joe then told me his boy was starting today in centerfield. I wished him well and told him to let Jay know I wished him nothing but the best. It’s always good to see good people in the game.

The 2nd time up Bruce rocked an A.J. Burnett pitch into left-centerfield for a two run double. It was good to see the kid patient enough to wait for a pitch he could handle in an RBI situation, and then do something with it. I had to be a little patient myself, waiting for Travis Snider to hit. Snider’s having a little leg issue, so he had to wait till the Big Hurt got his three AB’s before pinch hitting. As luck would have it, Travis stepped to the plate against a veteran lefty reliever, yet he took a couple of strikes before lining a single the other way into left-center, for an RBI base knock.

It’s always good to see the ballplayers interacting with the fans. In Dunedin today they had a BBQ after the game where the Blue Jay players served up the grub to the fans. Then they hung around to sign autographs, chat, and mingle with the crowd. Cito Gaston threw out the first pitch and would be on hand for the BBQ, he’s popular enough to win an election for mayor among Toronto fans.

Tags: 2008 Spring Training Trip, Articles by Teddy Ballgame, Spring Training by Teddy Ballgame
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Today I went to Clearwater to see the Yankees play the Phillies. Before the game I observed a big white guy on NY, #17, hitting balls off a tee, into a net, with ARod setting him up. Later in the 1st inning, #17 stepped to the dish with two aboard, and knocked the first pitch over the leftfield wall. It turned out this big guy was none other than Shelley “Slam” Duncan, son of St. Louis Cardinals coach Dave Duncan, and younger brother of outfielder Chris.

Last season when Shelley was called up to the Yanks the end of July, he lined an RBI single in game #1, game #2 saw his first big league homer, he hit three more in his third game, and then hit his 5th in his 4th game in the show. Duncan earned his Slam nickname with his home run swing and his enthusiastic high fives! Joe Torre commented that he didn’t want to be near Duncan when he did something good, because of his powerful high fives.

In September of 2007 Slam signed an autograph for a 10 year old Red Sox fan, in addition to writing his name, he wrote, “Red Sox Suck!”, he later apologized to the youngster.

The 2nd time up in today’s game Shelley ripped a two run double off the leftfield wall, putting the Yankees up 5-0, a fancy slide into 2B got him there safely. ARod launched a long homer over the left-centerfield fence. The Phillies were there too, but I really can’t remember them doing anything.

Tags: 2008 Spring Training Trip, Articles by Teddy Ballgame, Spring Training by Teddy Ballgame
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Stepping into Knology Field in Dunedin, FL, finding my seat behind home plate, I looked up to see the smiling face of a good friend. “IF YOU CAN’T CATCH A BALL, CATCH A BUZZ”, is the booming refrain of beer vendor Chad Stypmann. Everybody seems more inclined to reconnect with big Chad than even seeing the ballplayers on the field. Whether you buy a beer from the outgoing Stypmann seems to be secondary compared with him taking your hand in his, in a warm handshake, as he looks into your eyes, and is genuinely glad to see you again. Big Chad asks, “Who’s thirsty for a beer?”, then picks up a frosty LaBatts-Weiser, and drinks it down in one gulp, to the delight of the crowd. He smiles as he offers up his genuine LaBatts in a Budweiser bottle. Then Chad stands on top of the Blue Jays dugout and leads the fans in the singing of, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, during the 7th inning stretch. This is like the Hokey Pokey, what it’s all about!

Of course there was a game too. The pitching matchup featured aces Justin Verlander for the Tigers versus Toronto’s Roy Halladay. Halladay was on my Illowa APBA League Chicago Champions team, but I dropped him when he fell on hard times, not one of my brightest hours. Verlander’s fastball was really popping the leather of his catcher’s mitt. I saw Curtis Granderson’s first big league game a couple of years ago in Detroit, still he wasn’t good enough to make the IAL. Curtis took Doc Hallady over the rightfield wall, showing off the power aspect of his well rounded game. Other highlights for me were when Blue Jay reliever Brian Wolfe struck out all three batters he faced in the one inning he threw and 20 year old Travis Snider, a Matt Stairs’ clone at 5′10″ 245, pinch hitting for DH Frank Thomas, worked an 0-2 count for a leadoff 8th inning base on balls. But alas the rally and Toronto’s hopes died when Chip Cannon’s line drive to first was turned into an inning ending DP, 3-1 Detroit.

Tags: 2008 Spring Training Trip, Articles by Teddy Ballgame, Spring Training by Teddy Ballgame
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Even though there’s still snow on the ground throughout much of the USA, Spring officially sprung into action for me watching MVP JRoll & his Phillies take on the Cincinnati Reds in Clearwater, FL today. Although it was only 53 degrees, with wind screaming across the field from left to right, it was time to play some baseball. I grabbed a Yuengling, some cheese pizza, and settled into my primo seats behind home plate. But then the 30 MPH wind reminded me it wasn’t quite spring yet. So I gave up my seats and moved by the thirdbase line. There was enough shelter there to be able to enjoy the National Pastime.

I’m always amazed when I see little Jimmy Rollins playing shortstop, somehow my brain can’t quite grasp the reality that he is the 2007 NL MVP. I can still remember when I first saw Rollins a few years back when the players were working out, before the games began, I was behind the chainlink fence by home plate, and Jimmy was standing next to me, almost eye-to-eye. I stand at 5′2″ and the Phils “short”-stop is listed at 5′8″. It seems like almost yesterday when Tony Gwynn was brought in to get Rollins to shorten his stroke, and take advantage of his speed. Now he is MVP, hitting 30 home runs, Little Big Man, indeed.

Back to the day, Jamie Moyer toed the rubber for Philadelphia, and made leadoff man Ryan Freel look sick swinging at a slow breaking ball for strike three. Then Moyer showed it was no fluke, as he got Ryan in his 2nd AB with the exact same Uncle Charlie. The first hit by the Reds belonged to super-hype prospect rightfielder Jay Bruce. It was impressive to see the big lefthanded hitter go the other way against Jamie with a duck snort single to left.

Ryan Howard fought the wind and the wind won. Still Howard pulled up at second with a two base hit, he hit the ball on the screws. Pedro Feliz looked really good manning the hot corner for the Phils. It’s gotta be nice for this kid coming over from SF to Philadelphia, and a contender. Greg Dobbs mashed a threw run bomb off some meat nameless lefty to put the game on ice for the home team. It was good to see Chris Coste flash some digits, certainly no quitter there, long time minor leaguer, playing in the show.

Dallas Green was sitting ten rows behind home, watching the action. He is very personable, it’s amazing to see the interaction between the fans and the big guy. Green chatted with fans and signed a few autographs.

Tags: 2008 Spring Training Trip, Articles by Teddy Ballgame, Spring Training by Teddy Ballgame
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The White Sox signed Cuban infielder/outfielder Alexei Ramirez to a four year $4.75 million dollar deal. Alexei’s natural position is SS, but that’s Orlando Cabrera’s spot. Ramirez can also play 2B & CF, both positions are wide open. He had 20 homers to lead Cuba in that category before going to the Dominican Republic. This guy is not a base stealer and cannot be considered as a leadoff candidate. He’s no Fukadome, but still a good signing.

Tags: Articles by Teddy Ballgame, Hot Stove, Rookie Watch, White Sox by Teddy Ballgame
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Aaron Cunningham & Chris Carter two former White Sox farmhands were traded to the Oakland A’s for Dan Haren, but they were traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks, not the Palehose. Cunningham & Carter were packaged with bluechip outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez to acquire Haren. Also going from Arizona to Oakland was 19 year old lefty prospect Brett Anderson.

The White Sox had traded Cunningham for Danny Richar and more recently sent the young power hitting firstbaseman Carter for the oft injured Carlos Quentin. Somehow I’d rather have Haren than Richar & Quentin, but to be fair Gonzalez & Anderson are also top notch talent. Actually I’d rather have Cunningham & Carter than Richar & Quentin. Oh well…

Tags: Articles by Teddy Ballgame, White Sox by Teddy Ballgame
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Jimmy Rollins - 2007 NL MVP

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was named NL 2007 MVP. Rollins had an incredible year! Jimmy batted .296, 41 steals, 212 basehits, 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 homers, and was named Gold Glove SS. The 5′8″ switch hitter started all 162 games, had 716 at bats, scored 139 times, and drove in 94 runs (mostly as a leadoff man). He follows fellow Phillie teammate Ryan Howard who was MVP in 2006.

Rollins is also a member of the Chicago Champions of the Illowa APBA League. He joins Champion teammate Alex Rodriguez as winners of the 2007 MVP Award. Other recent MVP Award winners on the Champs include 2006 AL MVP Award recipient Justin Morneau and 2005 AL MVP Award winner ARod. With all this talent it won’t be long before the Champions are back at the top of the IAL where they belong. In the 30+ years of the IAL History the Champions have won ten World Series Titles, but none in over the last ten years.

The highest paid player in the history of the game Alex Rodriguez totally earned his paycheck when he had a career year in Pinstripes. ARod batted .314, with 54 home runs, 156 RBI’s, and scored 143 runs. The slugger also stole 24 bases, had 31 doubles, walked 95 times, his onbase percentage was .422, and he did a pretty good job at the hot corner. I’ve been a big fan of Rodriguez’ since seeing him on Alex Rodriguez poster day when he played SS for the Appleton Foxes of the Midwest League in 1994. I still have that poster on my wall, as well a an A-Ball card he signed for me that night, actually paid the batboy $5.00 to get the signature, felt kind of funny getting an 18 year old kid’s autograph.

Tags: APBA Baseball, Articles by Teddy Ballgame, Awards, Tabletalk Teddy by Teddy Ballgame
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Darin Erstad

Last year White Sox GM Kenny Williams was lauded for picking up veteran CF/1B Darin Erstad. Now the club has declined to exercise their option on him. Erstad, who plays the game as hard as anybody, seems to have broken down at the age of 33. This past season Darin batted only .248 and was limited to 87 games as he experienced a myriad of injuries. It appears he may be at the end of the line.

Tags: Articles by Teddy Ballgame, White Sox by Teddy Ballgame
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Jed Lowrie

Boston Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie provided the most excitement of my visit to the AFL as his two-out two-run homer lifted Mesa over Scottsdale 9-8. It seems as though the rich get richer as Lowrie looks to be the real deal both in the field and at the plate. The former Stanford infielder might be the starting SS in Boston in 2008, move over Julio Lugo.

I’m looking forward to doing a podcast about my AFL experience, but in the mean time I thought I’d write a little bit about what happened.

Here are some prospects that were there…

PEORIA JAVELINAS
05/1 Jeff Clement SEA - didn’t see him, was with Team USA
05/4 Justin Maxwell WAS - didn’t impress, although he played with the Nats in 2007

PEORIA SAGUAROS
07/1 Joe Savery PHI - he was supposed to start the game I went to, but didn’t, disappointing
NO Chin-Ling Hu LAD - this LAD SS will provide lots of “Hu’s on 1st” in 2008

SURPRISE
03/1 Adam Miller CLE - looked good, should be ready for the Tribe’s 2008 rotation
05/1 John Mayberry TEX - big - just like his daddy, fast - not like his daddy

MESA
05/1 Jed Lowrie BOS - walkoff homer, next year’s Bosox SS, impressed in the field
05/4 Josh Flores HOU - out of Triton JC, just like Kirby Puckett & Lance Johnson
07/1 Matt LaPorta MIL - big time power, 2008’s Ryan Braun
04/10 Sam Fuld CUB - fast, with power, older though

PHOENIX
05/3 Ryan Mullins MIN - lefty strikeout pitcher, Big League ready
02/33 Nyjer Morgan PIT - played hockey in Canada explains late start, 2008 Pirates CFer
03/2 Ryan Sweeney SOX - didn’t impress, looked sluggish
05/1 Andrew McCutchen PIT - star of the future, this kid can do it all
04/3 Eduardo Morlan MIN - power pitching Cuban, 2008 MLB bullpen ready

SCOTTSDALE
02/39 Calvin Medlock TB - old, but impressive, should be in Tampa’s pen this year
04/2 Reid Brignac TB - Devil Rays SS of the future, looks like a star
05/6 Aaron Cunningham AZ - Sox giveaway OFer to AZ, this kid is a hustling, fast, leadoff man
06/1 Travis Snider TOR - 5′11″ 245, fast, with power, young, on the Blue Jays fast track
04/9 Mike Carp NYM - NYM firstbaseman, good power, nice glove, 2009 major leaguer
NO Wilkin Castillo AZ - can play everywhere, was a switch hitting catcher when I saw him
06/1 Evan Longoria TB - didn’t see him, was with Team USA

Here were some interesting facts I found in the Media Guide about the players…

OF JOSH FLORES (HOU) won the national junior college batting title by hitting .519 at Triton Junior College.

OF MATT LaPORTA (MIL) was a two-time SEC player-of-the-year at Florida. He hit a Gator single-season record 26 home runs as a sophopmore in 2005 and was a member of Team USA National Baseball Team.

C JEFF CLEMENT (SEA) played on the 2003 and ‘04 US/National team. He set the national high school record at Marshalltown HS (Iowa) with 75 career home runs. Clement also played on the 1996 Marshalltown team that played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

IF MATT TUIASOSOPO (SEA) is the youngest brother of NY Jets QB Marquis and the son of former Seattle Seahawk Manu. His grandfather is Chief Asovalu of a village of 800 people in American Samoa, one of six men who hold that title.

IF CHIN-LUNG HU (LAD) was MVP of the 2007 MLB Futures Game in SF.

LHP MARK ROSEN (AZ) was forced to take the mound in relief of Mobile AA teammate Matt Elliot, a 2006 AFLer, who was trapped in the bathroom for over 40 minutes after slamming the door shut behind him. The game continued with Rosen on the mound after a brief delay. The fire department eventually was called to extricate Elliot from the bathroom.

Also saw Team China defeat the Phoenix Desert Dogs 2-1. Team China’s manager is Jim Lefebvre. Some coaches instructing Team China are Bruce Hurst, Duffy Dyer, Barry Larkin, & Tom Lawless.

Some 2006 AFLers that made a big splash in the big leagues in 2007 were Yunel Escobar, Hunter Pence, Ryan Braun, Mark Reynolds, & Troy Tulowitzki. The AFL is a great place to see tomorrow’s stars today. The tickets are only $6.00, there are only about 100 fans in the stands, including scouts.

Some other highlights of my trip were meeting Tom (a freelance NY scout), meeting a 90-year-old fan (who’d seen Ruth & Gehrig, his wife was a vocalist for the Sammy Kaye band for five years), saw Ryne Sandberg at Don & Charlie’s in Scottsdale, said hi to Roland Hemond at the ballpark in Scottsdale, and the absolute best thing about my trip was the best pizza in the world at Pizzeria Bianco. I love baseball, but I love food more!

Tags: Arizona Fall League, Articles by Teddy Ballgame, Minor Leagues by Teddy Ballgame
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Alex Rodriguez

Last night while watching the final game of the World Series, with the sound off, I saw Alex Rodriguez’ picture flash across the screen. I said to myself, I thought the Yankees had been eliminated from the World Series picture. So I flicked on the sound to hear the knuckleheads talking about how the Yankees offered ARod a contract and he decided to test the free agent market. Could the timing be any worse? Here we are about to crown this year’s baseball champion and they’re talking about Alex Rodriguez and money. I turned off the sound and watched the Bosox clinch in a clean sweep.

Congrats to the Red Sox!!!

Tags: Articles by Teddy Ballgame by Teddy Ballgame
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