March, 2010 | The Baseball Zealot

MJ at bat

Here’s a neat picture of basketball legend Michael Jordan as a 13 year old kid swinging a baseball bat.

Hat tip to Andy Gray at #si_vault.

Ugliest uniforms, really??

Life.com presents us with a slideshow of “Baseball’s Ugliest Uniforms. Ever.”

I respectfully disagree on some of them. Many include uniforms from the 1970s. Those unis were bright, colorful and some would even say gaudy. They reflected the times when people sought to differentiate themselves and saw no shame in it.

Later, the late 90s and the 00s brought us the era of conformity and corporate standardization in term of uniforms. Even the smallest change brings the loudest call of condemnation. The other symptom of recent times is the constant change in uniforms or excuses to bring out a new line uniforms presumably to increase the bottom line for MLB.

So yes, getting back to my original point, I do like the older 70s uniforms. They may be gaudy from today’s perspective but they hearken back to a day when I grew up with the game.

Besides, if you want to talk about ugly baseball uniforms, I’m surprised Life.com didn’t have THESE on their list:

Sorry Sox fans but those WERE ugly.

Beginner’s Guide to Following Chicago Baseball on Twitter

If you use Twitter, I assume you are on for on two reasons. To glean information and perhaps to give your own analysis/info on what you know.

If you are a Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox fan and on you are Twitter, there are some must-follow feeds to get the most out of the social networking tool. This is a general guide that will help you get started.

Let’s start with the basics.

The Teams

Here are the official twitter accounts for the two major league teams. Follow these if you want the latest news from the Cubs and Sox. Keep in mind that anything from here will most likely be links you will see on mlb.com or press releases. Certainly nothing too juicy.

Chicago Cubs @cubs

White Sox @whitesox

Search Hashtags

Since you all can can read the articles on mlb.com on your own, perhaps of more interest to Chicago baseball fans is search hashtags. This will allow you to follow all tweets from baseball fans having to do with say, the Cubs. Without going into a whole tutorial on Twitter (you can find a good one on hashtags here), suffice to say that any tweet with the “#” sign before the search term before it will be included in the search query and folks will see it when they follow that query.

So the ones that we’re interested in are:

Chicago Cubs #cubs

Chicago White Sox #whitesox

Keep in mind that Twitter programs (like Tweetdeck, Tweetie or Twitterific) take advantage of hashtags much better than the web version of Twitter.

MLB on Twitter

Let me throw out the general Major League Baseball Twitter links out there while I’m on the topic.

MLB on Twitter @mlb.

To follow the Major League Baseball hashtag, it’s #mlb

Other Chicago Baseball people to follow

Cubs fans will want to follow MLB Cubs beat writer Carrie Muskat (@carriemuskat). Similarly, Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) who covers the Sox for mlb.com is must for White Sox fans.

For the Cubs fans, here a few more.

Iowa Cubs @Iowa Cubs

Official Cubs Vine Line @vinelinetwitter (not too active yet)

Len Kasper and Bob Brenly’s Official Twitter @lenandbob

For the White Sox:

Charlotte Knights @KnightsBaseball

Sun Times Sox blog @CST_sox

I was thinking of throwing up some baseball blog twitter links for both teams but so there are so many I wouldn’t be doing justice to some good ones out there. Just know that most all of them out there have a twitter presence and it’s easy to follow them. Not only is it an easy way to get notified when they update their website but more importantly, you get some good insights from the bloggers in 140 characters or less.

Also, there aren’t too many active Chicago players on Twitter right now (no, the Carlos Zambrano you see is a fake). Former White Sox OF/1B Nick Swisher (@NickSwisher) has an account is quite active (and interesting). Fantasy Baseball Dugout blog has a list of current MLB players on Twitter. Keep in mind not all players with accounts are active or even post themselves.

I’ll throw one more in here for kicks just because it’s been in the news lately. Ozzie Guillen is on the Twitter thing now. And so far, he been having fun with it. So has the Twitter community because his Tweets have been quite nonsensical at times. I’ve said it before… I’m not a Sox fan but I kind of like Ozzie Guillen because I think he makes MLB a little uncomfortable. This Twitter venture on his part is just one more example. You can find Ozzie on Twitter @ozzieguillen.

I hope this help those of you baseball fans who are just starting to use Twitter. If you have other relevant Chicago baseball people to follow on Twitter, please let me know.

Fun with Minor League names

Bus Leagues Baseball compiles a list of the best names in minor league baseball

I just noticed Seth Schwindenhammer was on the list. Red Sox farmhand Schwindenhammer was drafted by the Illini. I remember his name because when I wrote about him, it was just plain easier to copy and paste his name than to type it out.

Let’s just pack it up now, cuz it won’t get any better for the Cubs

The Cubs won today. And you know winning the first game of spring training means everything in the world, right?

But the Cubs did get the right hits from the right people. Fuld, (homerun), newly acquired Marlon Byrd (2 for 2, homerun), Tyler Colvin (2 doubles, homerun), Derrek Lee (homerun, yawn), and Starlin Castro, who seems to be everyone’s freakin’ darlin’, (triple).

I kid, I love the guy. Castro came in relief for Ryan Theriot and his triple seemed to say, “Find a another position, Cajun dude!” Which just might happen. The baseball pundit hordes are calling for Theriot to move to second base and it’s probably on Cubs management’s mind, too.

But first and foremost on Cubs manager Lou Piniella’s mind, is how to spell Kosuke Fukudome’s nickname. From Cubs beat writer Carrie Muskat, Lou says it’s “Fuke”. I guess that “e” keep us Cub fans morally clean. Perhaps they should issue a press release.

The press (mlb.com and the Cubs in particular) have been making a big deal about Alfonso Soriano and how gosh darn healthy he is.

I don’t know about you but that kind of talk scares the beejeezus out of me. One, you don’t talk about it unless there is something to be worry about and two, why are they tempting fate? Almost like talking during a pitcher’s no-hitter. “Well, Ron, Soriano’s gone through the season so far a not a hint of a hamstring pull.” “We’ve been pretty lucky. He’s sure to go through the whole season without a visit to the DL.”

Then BAM!

Let’s just keep it quiet and count our blessings. And win another… even if it is just spring training.

Tale of Two (Baseball) Twitterers

Lately, I’ve switched to Twitter as one of my main feed of baseball news. Most sports news sources have a Twitter feed and Twitter while chaotic, is more convenient than Google Reader.

Anyway, here are two people of interest I’ve found on Twitter that readers here might also find useful, relevant or fun. I wouldn’t put these two under the category of hard news but they do make the day more interesting.

@michael_schlact

How many of you have heard of minor leaguer Michael Schlact? Yeah, me either till today.

But apparently, 1,089 other people have heard of him. That’s how many people are following Schlact on Twitter. Schlact has utilized the medium of Twitter to connect with his fans and quite frankly, to make new ones.

Schlact is a pitcher in the Texas organization (he ended up at the AA level last year). He’s a devout Christian and obviously familiar with new technology. Some athletes create online personas on Twitter or Facebook only to see them die on the vine or have others ghost-write for them. Schlact, however, is a pro at not just using social networking tools like Twitter but knowing how to interact with fans.

Schlact has been answering all kinds of questions from fans (he prefers creamy peanut butter and his baseball pitch-back was his favorite childhood toy). But he also asks questions of his Twitter fans too.

No doubt, it takes more than popularity and fan recognition to make it to the bigs. He’ll have to learn to pitch a mean curve ball too (if you’re interested here a decent scouting report from a year and half ago). But I have to like the way this kid is getting to know his fans because if and when he makes it to the majors, he’ll have a hell of a following.

@si_vault

I’m a sucker for old sports photos, especially baseball photos. And Andy Gray seems to be the go-to guy for some really good ones. According to Gray, he runs the Sports Illustrated Vault. Andy’s mission on Twitter is to provide us with links to “old photos of athletes”.

I’m enjoying them as he posts them. There are some wonderful ones like this one of Mike Schmidt wearing some weird kind of wig.

So follow Andy if you want more of that.

And yeah, if you want, you can follow me @BaseballZealot.

MLB preview of rookie draft, already?

Seems early to talk about the MLB First Year Player Draft already but it’s never early to talk about prospects. mlb.com has a good preview of some of players to watch this spring that will play a big part in the draft. They list the top five high school prospects and the top five college prospects.

No surprise, pitchers dominate the list.

A comment to article caught my eye and made me smile. Seems a young
(ok, not so young… he’s 28) man wants a part of the draft action too.

He says:

How do you get drafted ? I am currently in the Army and am playing winter ball. I also plyed a regular season here in the CA high desert area by where I am stationed. I am 6’3 230 LHP, 2 seam fb, 4 seam fb, change up, slider, spike/knuckle curveball. I have never played on the college level due to the NCAA not allowing players past 30 ( i am 28 currently ).

Uh, good luck with the draft thing. Hope the Army doesn’t mind.

Tim Lincecum models a Snuggie

A rather humorous, behind-the-scenes video of Tim Lincecum modeling a SF Giants Snuggie.

Yo Tim, you’re supposed to keep your pants on when you put a Snuggie on!

Has Theriot broken string of failed Cub shortstop experiments?

With the news that Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot will sign with the team for $2.6 million that might mean something. Assuming he doesn’t get hurt or he doesn’t get moved to second base, this will be the first time the Cubs will have the same player starting at the shortstop position for three years in a row since 1997 when the Cubs started Shawon Dunston there.

‘Thunderpup’ was a mainstay at short for over ten years for the Cubs. Since he left for the Pirates in 1997, there hasn’t been a solid starter for the Cubs for more than two years straight. If Theriot continues playing short in 2010, his third straight year. Maybe the Cubs can break that streak.

Here are the string of shortstops the Chicago Cubs have used since Shawon Dunston and up until Ryan Theriot.

Let’s start with the most current and move backwards.

2006: Ronny Cedeno
	I know a few Cub fans who were really hot on this guy when he came up. Ronny started out hot in 2005 by hitting .300 in 89 at-bats. Reality set in during 2006 when he started playing full time. He batted .245 with 109 strikeouts. The Cubs unloaded Cedeno after 2008 and he proceeded to hit .209 with Seattle and Pittsburgh.

2006: Ronny Cedeno

I know a few Cub fans who were really hot on this guy when he came up. Ronny started out hot in 2005 by hitting .300 in 89 at-bats. Reality set in during 2006 when he started playing full time. He batted .245 with 109 strikeouts.

The Cubs unloaded Cedeno after 2008 and he proceeded to hit .209 with Seattle and Pittsburgh.

2005: Neifi Perez
	Neifi played a full year in 2005 (609 ab) and got some big numbers but he really represented the Dusty Baker era of the Cubs by not being able to take walk (.298 OBP)

2004: Ramon Martinez
	Who? Martinez is now probably best known for being Geovany Soto’s cousin. Admittedly, Ramon didn’t put in a whole lot of time at short (he played 73 games there), splitting time with Nomar Garciaparra and Neifi Perez. Hey look! There’s Theriot in the photo.

2004: Ramon Martinez

Who? Martinez is now probably best known for being Geovany Soto’s cousin. Admittedly, Ramon didn’t put in a whole lot of time at short (he played 73 games there), splitting time with Nomar Garciaparra and Neifi Perez.

Hey look! There’s Theriot in the photo.

2002-2003: Alex Gonzalez
	This particular Alex Gonzalez, actually managed to start at shortstop for two full years for the Cubs. His numbers were a bit sub-par (.312 and .295 OBP respectively). After his error in the fateful playoff game against the Marlins, his days were numbered though.

2000-2001: Ricky Gutierrez
	A 1998 first round pick, Gutierrez gave the Cubs two full years at short and didn’t do half bad (.276 and .290 with 11 and 10 homers). He probably had his best years with the Cubs.

1999: Jose Hernandez
	I like this photo of Jose. He looks like he’s hitting one out. Or most likely, doing what he does best, striking out (he later led the league twice in Ks),

1998: Jeff Blauser
	One of the players that you forget played for the Cubs. He ended his career for Chicago in 1998-1999. We somehow put up with his .219 batting average in 119 games in 1998.

Honorable mention goes to Rey Sanchez who gave Dunston a break at short in 1996. Others worth mentioning during the period of 1997-2006 are Jose Nieves and Nomar Garciaparra,

Is positional consistency a thing of the past in an MLB team now? I guess we’ll see when/if the Cubs decide to move Theriot to second base. It does make for an interesting trivia question, though.