Home Run Derby

How bad are things for SF Giants’ pitcher Barry Zito?

• He’s 4-12 this season with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP
• He started the season 0-8 with a 6.25 ERA
• Opponents are batting .305 against him with an .863 OPS
• His record is even worse in San Fran - In 9 games he’s 1-8 with a 6.66 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP 
• The Giants’ offense only supports Zito with 2.8 runs a game (only 2.4 at home)
• The Giants are 5-13 in games he’s pitched this season.
• Earning $14.5 Million this season, he’s got to be the most overpaid pitcher in MLB.

But aside from all that … Fathead is now selling his life sized wall decal at a bargain price. 

That’s right - usually Fatheads go for $99.95 - but you can get Barry Zito on your wall for a mere $19.95 - that’s 80% off the original price.

That kid must be wondering what he did to make his parents hate him so much.

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Jon Lieber’s not getting a lot of playing time this season with the Cubs … he’s only pitched 37.1 innings in 21 appearances (20 out of the bullpen for a 1.78 ERA and a 2-2 record - don’t ask about that one start). 

Because of that, there’s speculation that the 38 year old Lieber might call it quits if he can’t get a starting gig.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not getting some pitching in at Wrigley Field.  Check out this video of Lieber pitching to one of his sons (5-year old Justin Lieber) after a recent game.

Oh yeah - a warning … this is the same guy who recorded Joe Smith of the Mets swearing and heckling at some Cub fans … so get set for a lot of unnecessary commentary unlees you hit mute …

Yep.  Even five-year old lefthanded hitters can hit Lieber (for his career … lefties hit .310 against him while righties only hit .244).  Kid hit four balls out of twelve pitches that I counted - .333 average.

To Lieber’s credit, he’s putting balls right in Justin’s wheelhouse.  I think 7-year old Jared Lieber is shagging flies.

Jon might have a future as a Little League coach when his MLB career is over.  Because his kids might have a future in baseball.

So last year on July 8th 2007, the White Sox ponied up and did something they don’t usually do.  They signed a pitcher to a sizeable long-term contract. 

Their staff Ace, Mark Buehrle.  

Buehrle signed for Four years, $56 Million with a limited no-trade clause for 2008 and escalators if traded after that.  Plus, he got the White Sox to wear Camouflage jerseys for a game in 2008.

Buehrle deserved it.  He was HUGE in their World Series Championship run (2005) and an overwhelming fan favorite.  He was on the frickin Wheaties Box.  And even with all the contract speculation (read: distraction) in the first half of 2007, Buehrle was having a very good season for the White Sox.

Buehrle Pre-Contract 2007

Not to mention the No-Hitter he threw on April 18, 2007.  When you take into consideration the offensive woes and pitiful bullpen the White Sox had in 2007 … it’s even more impressive.

But since he signed the contract … like many players who get the big payday … Buehrle hasn’t been so great …

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In this crazy YouTube world we live in … you always need to remember to look for a camera before doing anything … shall we say … potentially embarrassing?

That goes double if you’re a professional baseball player. 

Triple if you’re a future first-ballot Hall of Famer like San Diego Padres pitcher Greg Maddux, who got caught in the dugout the other day … digging around.

And it wasn’t his nose.

I know there’s lots of crotch grabbing and adjusting in baseball (HRD did a big post with lots of pictures) … but there’s a line between adjusting and doing something else.   When your hands are down your pants … I think you’re crossing into “something else.”

And Maddux pitched the bottom half of that inning!  I hope he washed his hands.  Then again … maybe that’s why Maddux has such great control on the mound.

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So I read the other day that the Japanese professional baseball leagues are going to try to shorten their games this season.  They’ll do it by making teams switch from fielding to hitting in no more than 2 minutes and 15 seconds as well as limit the time between pitches to 15 seconds when no one is on base. 

Why? 

To help fight Global Warming. 

As part of the fight against global warming, Japanese professional baseball has come up with a plan to shorten its games and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at stadiums.  Teams will aim to cut playing time by six percent, or 12 minutes …

Why six percent?  Well, that’s what Japan pledged to cut their greenhouse gas emissions between 2008 and 2010 under the Kyoto Protocol.  And it sounds as if Japan needs all the help it can get in meeting that goal … which is why Japanese baseball is making this gesture.  According to the article, baseball games result in the emission of …

… a huge amount of carbon dioxides to be discharged through the use of energy to move players and spectators, supply electricity for lighting and other purposes.

They forgot to mention all the gas emissions caused by the mass consumption of nachos, sausages, peanuts, and beer consumed at baseball games. 

Do they eat that kind of food at baseball games in Japan? 

Mind you … if shortening the length of baseball games is a quick fix to help in the fight against global warming, I have a simple solution …

Stop Steve Trachsel from pitching anymore.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Trachsel is often referred to as “The Human Rain Delay” because he takes so much time between pitches.  Don’t believe me?  I present evidence …

Slowest Worker Ever
Slow Hand Trachsel
Human Rain Delay

Trachsel has been known to visualize every pitch before he throws it.  This can really slow a ballgame down.  In the 1998 Wild Card tiebreaker game between the Cubs and Giants, Trachsel pitched 6 1/3 of the most deliberate innings ever.  He pitched great (1 hit with 6 K and 6 BB) and the Cubs made the playoffs …  but wow, did that game take forever.  Three hours and 40 minutes for a 8.5 inning game.

And now, Trachsel has a starting gig and has assumed a mentor’s role in Baltimore, where he’s teaching the art of pitching to the young hurlers on the Orioles.   Hey Trachsel - this season’s already going to be a long one for O’s fans … don’t make it any longer.  Steve Trachsel’s slow speed makes for good concession sales, but he’s apparently bad for the environment (if the Japanese are to be believed.)

I guess we’ll never see Trachsel pitch in Japan.  Or be seen in the same room as Al Gore.

Think you’re good at picking Home Run hitters? 

Play homerderby.com’s Home Run Derby Contest and find out … and compete for $2,500 in prizes while you’re at it. 

See the Official Rules for details.

What the heck?

The New York Times says that Pedro Martinez occasionally practices throwing pitches with his eyes closed because it “has helped him develop a consistent arm angle and release point.”

But I’m pretty sure Pedro’s just imagining throwing a ball at the guy that found that video of him at the cockfight.

There have two bold predictions bandied about by a couple National League ballplayers so far this offseason …

• Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster has already told us that he thinks the Cubs will win the 2008 World Series
• Philadelphia Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins told us back in November that he thinks the Phillies will win 100 games in 2008.

Personally, I have no problem with players thinking their teams will succeed before the season starts.  I wouldn’t want a player on my team that thought ”Damn, we’re gonna get our asses handed to us this season.” 

But I present the counter argument to Dempster and Rollins.   One of the American League’s most dominant pitchers is no longer pitching in the AL.  Johan Santana is now pitching for the New York Mets.

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About a year ago, Jon Lieber’s truck was the talk of the Phillies’ Spring Training. 

It wasn’t just a pickup truck.  It was a ginormous beast that most people thought could have turned into Optimus Prime in its spare time.

Let’s remember … it was a tricked-out Ford F-650 SuperTruck with six doors, 45-inch wheels, a customized leather interior with seating for seven.  It held 200 gallons of gas (four 50-gallon tanks) and had a fricking satellite dish.  It set Lieber back $211,000.

Well, Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, fresh off his camouflage jersey victory will roll into Arizona with a ride that might hold up well against Lieber’s wheels.

Behold … Mark Buehrle’s Canyonero. 

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In advance of the Mitchell Report being published, there was a lot of talk this offseason about teams possibly shying away from players who had been associated with performance enhancing drugs.

Don’t count the Milwaukee Brewers among them.

Because with the Brewers’ signing of free agent outfielder Mike Cameron last week, the Brewers have acquired three players (since November 2007) who have either tested positive for PED’s or have been alleged to have purchased them.

Let’s take a look …

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