Revisit Game 1 with Obama, Biden
PHILADELPHIA -- A World Series is usually remembered most for how it ends, and this one between the Yankees and Phillies surely will be no exception.
But you have to watch again to see how this one started.
That's because the White House just produced the hottest new video on MLB.com -- a one-of-a-kind video set to music that takes you behind the scenes of the visit by first lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the Vice President, on that unforgettable first night when Major League Baseball got it all started by honoring veterans for Game 1 at Yankee Stadium.
The video starts in the motorcade on that rainy afternoon, when the pair, along with Major League Baseball executives, visited U.S. military veterans at a local Bronx V.A. hospital. You're in the back seat of one of the SUVs going to Yankee Stadium and Game 1 of the 105th Fall Classic, with windshield wipers on against a steady drizzle that would persist throughout that night's game.
Then you are at batting practice, and then walking behind Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden through the gray cement-block corridors of the new ballpark, sight unseen to the public. They are wearing red authentic World Series jackets, their names stitched onto the backs. The first lady rubs down an official Rawlings baseball just like CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee would do later that night when they first took the mound.
Then they make a friend named Yogi Berra. He played in 14 World Series from 1947-63, starting during the Harry S. Truman administration, and then in the Dwight D. Eisenhower years, and then three times while there was a young president named John F. Kennedy, including the last one in October '63 that would come a month before the unthinkable happened in Dallas. The first lady and Dr. Biden are on each side of the legendary Hall of Fame catcher in a precious Fall Classic moment.
Phillies and Yankees players are going through their pregame introductions to a global FOX television audience. Then, suddenly, the superstar celebrities walk through the tunnel leading out into the bright openness of the greatest sporting event on Earth, amid a glittering spectacle of camera flashes and the pomp and circumstance of pregame festivities.
You are with them out on the mound, and you watch again as Lt. Anthony Odierno, who lost his left arm during combat in Iraq, throws a beautiful first pitch to Derek Jeter. It's time for a group photo out there where Lee would soon catch a scorched liner behind his back, and they walk off the field arm-in-arm.
"They are outstanding fans," MLB president Bob DuPuy said of the first lady and Dr. Biden. "It was an incredible moment. We were honored to have them here and it was never a partisan matter at any point, just baseball and honoring our military veterans and their families."
That is how this World Series began, one that for the first time dedicated each game to a "Going Beyond" initiative pertaining to community service and charitable efforts. Every Fall Classic has a beginning and an ending. The ending is what always tends to be remembered, and now with this online video the way it all started is sure to be remembered as well.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
'Team of the Decade' debate heating up
Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies in running for unofficial crown.
With four more wins, either the Yankees or Phillies are going to have a joyous celebration. The mighty Bronx Bombers can become World Series champions for the first time since 2000. Either that, or the Phillies will be the first back-to-back champs in the Majors since those Yankees of 1998-00.
But there could be a less tangible honor that goes to the winner of this World Series. Could it be that the "Team of the Decade" is about to emerge? The decade we refer to, which has seemingly gone by in a blur, is 2000-09.
Then again, in the minds of some, the team of the decade is already done playing in 2009 -- that being the Boston Red Sox.
What can't be questioned is that the honor should go to the Yankees, Red Sox or Phillies, with the two American League East rivals currently shaping up as the favorites in the panel of baseball insiders polled by MLB.com.
The Red Sox are currently the only team with two World Series titles in this decade -- scored in '04 and '07 with Fall Classic sweeps of the Cardinals and Rockies, respectively. But either the Yankees or the Phillies will tie the Red Sox for decade championships once this World Series is over.
"For me, right now, if the Phillies win it again, it's the Red Sox," said Rick Sutcliffe, the 1984 National League Cy Young Award winner and current ESPN analyst. "But if the Yankees go on to win it, the way they've dominated their division, I would go with them. Their overall winning percentage is going to be a lot higher."
"It bothers me that the regular season doesn't mean more. It really is the true test of who the best team in baseball is. It's like the Cardinals in 2006. They weren't the best team in baseball."
The Red Sox qualified for the postseason six times in the decade, but only once as division champion. The Yankees, backed by eight AL East titles, only missed the postseason once since the turn of the century, that coming in 2008.
Not only that, but the Yankees averaged 96.5 wins per season. This, to go along with four AL pennants and an overall regular-season winning percentage of .597. So yes, if the Yankees bookend this decade with World Series titles, perhaps they surpass the Red Sox in terms of the overall body of work. But in the minds of some, maybe not.
"It would have to be the Red Sox," said FOX's lead analyst, Tim McCarver. "They won it after waiting for so long, and the way they came back against the Yankees for the first time ever. They swept both World Series they were in. It's pretty easy to me."
Johnny Damon has a unique perspective, having been the center fielder for Boston's '04 title team that came back from an 3-0 ALCS deficit against New York, but is now a key contributor to the 2009 Yankees.
Are the Yankees the team of the decade if they dethrone the Phillies?
"Possibly," said Damon. "The Yankees are the team of all time. They're the franchise that every kid grows up and says, 'I would love to be able to put the Pinstripes on.' I've been fortunate to be able to and some guys have been fortunate enough to do it their entire careers. I've enjoyed my time playing here, and hopefully we can go win a World Series, and hopefully I can be back for many more years."
There are those experts, however, that feel that what Damon's '04 team accomplished is one of the most impressive feats in baseball history, especially when you couple it with that they did in '07 (Damon wasn't on that team), coming back from a 3-1 ALCS deficit against the Indians. Not only that, but Boston's '04 title followed an 86-year drought.
"That one championship was so unique," said ESPN's Peter Gammons. "The Phillies could end up with two very easily -- I think they're going to end up with two. But it's still not quite the same as being down, 3-0, to the Yankees and coming back, and you look at the way they did it. All the drama and the history that went with it. The Phillies have been really good, too. They didn't have great years early in the century.
In truth, the Phillies would be better candidates for the team of the latter half of the decade. They didn't make the postseason until 2007, and didn't win a postseason series until last year. Over the past 10 years, the Phillies have averaged 85 wins for a mediocre winning percentage of .525.
But entering this World Series, they have dominated in the past two postseasons, winning 18 of their past 23 games. And there is something to be said for winning back-to-back titles in this age. In fact, no National League team has won two in a row since the Big Red Machine of 1975-76.
Still, the Hall of Fame second baseman from that Big Red Machine doesn't think that back-to-back titles by the Phillies would match the Red Sox.
"I would say Boston because of the way they did it," said Joe Morgan. "More than just the wins, but the atmosphere after 80-something years and all the stuff that surrounded it."
FOX play-by-play man Joe Buck also supports the argument for the Red Sox.
"When they won it again in '07, they had a ton of veterans," Buck said. "But they had kids who could play, too. They've had a good mix. They're not an old team. They're going to make changes as they go, but they don't have to retool. I just think they're consistent winners."
The Red Sox went to the ALCS four times in the decade and produced a solid postseason record of 34-23. But the Yankees lead them in division titles, 8-1, and Boston's regular-season winning percentage (.568) and average wins per season (92) is solid, but not quite at the level of the Yankees.
"I would say if the Yankees are in the World Series, they're the team of the decade," Sports Illustrated baseball writer Tom Verducci said just hours before the Yankees eliminated the Angels in Game 6 of the ALCS. "They would have the most wins in the decade and the most World Series appearances and the most pennants. Not the most world championships, depending on the outcome. But I don't think you can argue with choosing a team that won the most games, the most division titles, most pennants so I think winning this pennant clinches the team of the decade for them."
Jon Miller, ESPN's No. 1 baseball play-by-play announcer, admitted that he wasn't sure what the answer was, but he seemed to be leaning toward the Yankees. Miller also points out that the Yankees came within just three Mariano Rivera outs of winning another World Series in 2001.
"The Yankees have had the most success, really," Miller said. "If they win the World Series and have had eight division titles and been the best team in the American League four times, that's impressive. The Yankees lost the '01 World Series, but that was an all-timer. In '01, the only reason they lost is because Mariano gave it up. It was almost like Mariano gave it up to underscore how crucial he had been."
ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian, who prides himself on his knowledge of the game's expansive history, hasn't made up his mind yet. As of now, Kurkjian likes the Red Sox. But he admits he could have a new take by the end of this World Series.
"I think it's the Red Sox because they won two championships and when you gauge team of the decade, you have to start with how many championships and they have the most," Kurkjian said. "I believe only the Yankees have more wins in this decade. Only the Yankees have more postseason wins in this decade. The Red Sox haven't just won two. They've seemingly been in the playoffs every year and have fought for the division just about every year. They've re-done Fenway Park and given us the greatest comeback in the history of sports when they came back from 3-0. It's not an easy decision, but I'd have to pick the Red Sox."
What if the Yankees win beat the Phillies?
"I would have to look at it again," Kurkjian said. "If the Yankees have two [World Series championships], and they have more wins than anyone and have more playoff wins than anyone, I'd have to look at it again."
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
A Case for Don Mattingly Heading the Cleveland Indians
With the Dodgers chances of advancing to the World Series dwindling with every loss, the chances of the Indians getting their hands on Don Mattingly increase.
Among the finalists for the Cleveland Indians managerial post, are Torey Lovullo, Bobby Valentine and Manny Acta, none of which are currently active. Don Mattingly however is busy with this thing called the postseason.
And this is perhaps why his name was initially left off the list of finalists when they were first leaked by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. After some digging though and the mention of another candidate currently fulfilling other obligations, it became clear Mattingly is in the running.
With an off-day for the NLCS on Tuesday, the same day the Indians met with one candidate in Acta, it was a belief that would be the perfect time for the Indians to get Mattingly in for a visit.
Perhaps on his way to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, he made a quick stop in Cleveland?
Even though it isn't clear when, if, or how Mattingly will interview, one thing has become clear: Cleveland has it's final four and he's in it. As promised though, I said I'd make a case for each managerial candidate the best I could. Tuesday I ran down Manny Acta's case, now we cover Mattingly's.
Despite previous reports, it appears Lovullo us a finalist, not Travis Fryman as originally thought on Tuesday.
A Star Learning From One
They often say star players don't tend to make good managers, in much of any sport. How many Hall of Fame players end up being Hall of Fame coaches as well?
People love pointing out names like Wayne Gretzky's failures as coach for the Phoenix Coyotes in the NHL.
In baseball, guys like Joe Torre have the most success. Being a catcher is a popular trait for most successful manager, but so is not lasting long or not being very successful in the major league game.
Cleveland's previous manager had close to zero major league success. Eric Wedge was as unknown in his time as Wyatt Toregas was to the general baseball public.
So that's the main thing going against Don Mattingly when you think of him as a manager.
However let's not hold that against him. Everyone is a different person and just because Mattingly was a successful first baseman, doesn't mean he won't be a successful manager if given the shot.
For one, I couldn't think of a better person to learn from than Joe Torre. If anything, sitting behind him for as many years as he has, he had to have picked something up. Being both a bench coach for a year and a hitting instructor under Torre he's received a chance to learn from one of the greats.
However, Torre's teams have dealt mainly with high-priced veterans and getting egos to mesh, at least lately. Mattingly has only experienced the Alex-Rodriguez-spend-till-you-drop era of Yankee baseball and two years of Dodger baseball.
Perhaps though, maybe that's what makes this as good time as any for him to get his shot. He's learned how to deal with two different types of teams. The current Dodgers are ones of a really different ilk as those Yankee teams Torre managed the past few years.
They've got youth to them and Mattingly has had to do a lot more with the younger group of hitters than he did in New York.
Versatility is the name of the game and perhaps a big reason why Mattingly brings a lot to the table. There is no question he can teach given the work he's done in the Yankees organization for seven years before joining Torre's staff and what he's done for the Dodgers.
But being a manager involves a lot more than just teaching hitting and not everyone can do it. It doesn't hurt that he learned from one of the best though.
Other Ways of Convincing
I'll make no secret, the previous reason is both the biggest reason I don't like Mattingly and the biggest reason I do like Mattingly. I know it seems weird to think about it, but it really is the only way to describe it.
What better way to learn than from Joe Torre? However look what he was learning about. It's a double-edged sword in my eyes.
There are things about his candidacy though that I really think would make him a good hire.
Start with the fact that he's a total professional in every way. During his career he was a professional hitter, now he's a professional hitting instructor and as a guy, Mattingly is professional all the way through.
There would be no transition or fear for the Indians in replacing someone like Eric Wedge, who was class all the way, with someone like Don Mattingly. It would be a smooth effective change.
Perhaps that could work against him. I liked Eric Wedge, I thought he was a good fit for this team and I thought his personality worked well. So quite frankly if Mattingly is the same type of person, I'd have no problem with that.
But for a team that needs to change things up a little, is Mattingly different enough?
Fans will like this hire because it's a big name. It's a borderline Hall of Famer that played first base for the most storied franchise in the game. However what the casual fan doesn't realize is that Mattingly has a lot of the same personality traits that Wedge had and many fans did not like Wedge because of his personality.
Again, I have no problem with it, that's something I like.
But you just have to wonder how tolerable the fan base would be to some of the same things that they hated with Wedge, only difference being; this manager is a bigger star.
(c) 2009 Bleacher Report, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Dodgers to pay tribute to Lasorda
Dodgertown will become Tommytown once again on Friday, when legend Tommy Lasorda will be honored at Dodger Stadium for his 60 years with the club.
The Dodgers announced on Thursday that the first 50,000 fans at Friday's game against the Rockies will receive a commemorative Tommy Lasorda Hall of Fame replica plaque. In addition, Lasorda's official Hall of Fame plaque from Cooperstown will be on display in Autograph Alley.
"I am looking forward to sharing this celebration with the greatest fans in baseball," Lasorda said. "I have always said that it is an honor and privilege to be a Dodger, and the Dodgers have given me the opportunity to do what I love to do for my entire life."
In conjunction with the celebration, fans can purchase tickets to sit in Dodgertown, Italia, located in the My Town section in reserve sections 56 and 60. Fans in Dodgertown, Italia, will receive Dodgertown, Italia, T-shirts that read "This Is My Town" in Italian, as well as an all-inclusive menu featuring marinated artichokes, Tuscan-style barbecued chicken and grilled Italian sausage, as well as Dodger Dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn and soft drinks.
A Lasorda wine tasting will be held in the My Town, Italia, section, as all Lasorda Wine comes from Italy. Fans can purchase tickets for Dodgertown, Italia, at dodgers.com/sitinmytown.
After spending 27 years affiliated with the team in various capacities -- including Minor League player and manager -- Lasorda was named manager of the Dodgers on Sept. 29, 1976. He managed the Dodgers for 20 years (1977 to 1996), leading them to eight division titles, four National League pennants and two World Series championships (1981 and 1988). His career record is 1,599-1,439. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 13th all-time in wins. On Aug. 3, 1997, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Lasorda has since become an ambassador for both the Dodgers and the game of baseball, heavily involved in promoting the sport in the Olympics (he led the U.S. team to the gold medal in Sydney in 2000) and the first two World Baseball Classics.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
MLB: No arguing the value of Mauer, Pujols
This is it, the final installment of my columns where I select who I think should win baseball's top awards. I have already gone through Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, leaving just the Most Valuable Player for each league.
To stay consistent, I will start in the American League.
There are many people in the AL you could make an argument for. I have heard some suggest New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. He has never won one, so it wouls stand as a career award. I say the same thing to that as I did when it was suggested the Yankees' Mariano Rivera should win Cy Young as a career award -- ''they have that, it is called the Hall of Fame!''
So, no to Jeter.
However, a very strong case could be made for Jeter's teammate Mark Teixeira. In his first year with the Yankees, Teixeira tied for the AL lead in home runs (39) and led the league in RBIs (122). He also played stellar defense, which showed as Jeter had the second best fielding percentage of his career. That's what a first baseman who can scoop anything out of the dirt does for a team.
Another good candidate is Boston's Jason Bay. Bay carried the Red Sox early on and finished third in the AL in home runs (36) and second in RBIs (119). Unfortunately for the former Pirate, a midseason slump that helped the Yankees overtake the Sox in the AL East may cost him some votes.
Not that it matters much.
In my mind, no player was more valuable to his team than Minnesota's Joe Mauer. The catcher hit .364 to lead the majors, while hitting 28 homers and driving in 96 runs. I understand the power numbers are average, but there is more to it than just numbers.
When the Twins' prime source of power, Justin Morneau, went down for the remainder of the season on Sept. 12, Minnesota was 70-72 and 51⁄2 games back of the Detroit Tigers. From that point on Mauer hit .371 to lead the Twins to a 16-4 record over the final 20 games and tie Detroit for the AL Central lead. Mauer then went 2-for-4 in the tiebreaker game, which the Twins won 6-5 in 12 innings.
There is also the handling of the patchwork pitching staff, which Mauer has done masterfully. If you need proof, here it is: The Twins were 86-76 for the season using nine different starting pitchers and with their ace, Francisco Lariano, going just 5-13 with a 5.80 ERA. Mauer should be MVP just for keeping this pitching staff together.
In the National League, there will also be names thrown around, particularly Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (45 homers, 141 RBI, .279 BA) and Milwaukee's Prince Fielder (46, 141, .299). But St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is hands down the MVP.
Phat Albert led the majors in homers with 47, drove in 135 runs, which trailed only Howard and Fielder, and hit .327 to place third in the NL. And when the Cardinals' offense was struggling, as it did most of the season until a trade brought Matt Holliday in, Pujols single-handedly kept St. Louis in the playoff race. Once Holliday arrived, it wasgoodbye Chicago Cubs.
(c) The Meadville Tribune.
Votto earns NL Player of Week honor
Slugging first baseman led Reds' run with doubles barrage.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto's sizzling week, during which he hit .560 to lead the league, has earned him honors as the National League Player of the Week presented by Bank of America for the period ending Sept. 27.
Votto went 14-for-25 for streaking Cincinnati, with 10 of the hits doubles. That put him in position to also lead the NL with a slugging percentage of 1.080.
The 10 doubles came in the five-game span, Tuesday-through-Saturday, a concentrated display not seen in 77 years. Hall of Fame outfielder Paul Waner did it for the Pirates in 1932.
Waner was nicknamed "Big Poison," and Votto dispensed a little poison of his own to opponents as the Reds won five of six games, scoring 11 runs and driving in eight others to claim his first career weekly award. His 14 hits, 11 runs scored, 27 total bases and 10 doubles led the Majors in each category.
Other performers considered for honors included Ryan Howard of the Phillies, whose 14 RBIs led the Major Leagues, Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada, who batted .522 (12-for-23), Philadelphia right-hander Joe Blanton (2-0) and Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Tigers to honor '84 world champions
CLEVELAND -- While the Tigers begin a homestand that will determine whether they get to the postseason, they'll be honoring the last Detroit squad to win the World Series.
Two dozen members of the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers are scheduled to take part in their 25th anniversary reunion celebration Monday night, when the division-leading Tigers host the second-place Twins at Comerica Park.
Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, World Series MVP Alan Trammell, American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner Guillermo Hernandez, Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish and Jack Morris will join Dan Petry, Milt Wilcox, Dave Rozema, Juan Berenguer, Rod Allen, Tom Brookens, Darrell Evans, Johnny Grubb, Larry Herndon, Rupert Jones, Barbaro Garbey and coaches Roger Craig, Dick Tracewski and Gates Brown for an evening to remember the wire-to-wire champions.
The festivities begin soon after gates to the ballpark open at 5 p.m. ET. Members of the '84 Tigers will be answering fan questions at the FS Detroit Brushfire Grill while also taking part in photo opportunities in sections 125 and 144. Both run from 5:15 to 6:10 p.m.
The first 10,000 fans through the gates will receive a free 1984 Tigers replica road jersey. Once the game begins, the Tigers will be giving away autographed memorabilia from the '84 champions to hundreds of lucky winners selected at random.
Tickets remain available for Monday's reunion, as well as the entire week-long homestand to wrap up the regular season. Tickets are on sale online at tigers.com.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
|
