This week's edition of Diamond Digits wonders what's next after the game's premiere ace got lit up brighter than Time Square, looks at some epic stretches of futility and examines a losing team that is primed to play for -- and is succeeding at reaching -- individual goals.
OK, coming off the latest talk of pitch tipping and Alex Rodriguez, we're going to talk a little bit about cheating today -- but, hey, we're not talking morality. Everyone has their own level of distaste for cheating and lying. Some think it's wrong all the time. Some think it's mostly wrong except in certain sporting situations. Some believe the old line that if you're not cheating you're not trying. I don't want to get into that today, though I do find the topic to be fascinating.
Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada was sentenced Thursday to a year of unsupervised probation for lying to Congress about his knowledge of Major League Baseball players using performance-enhancing drugs.
The United States Attorney's office has recommended that Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada receive a sentence of probation for lying to congressional investigators in 2005, according to a memorandum filed on Thursday in Washington, D.C., federal court. The filing, which also calls for Tejada to pay a fine and participate in youth-based community service, is a suggested sentencing -- not a binding one -- for Washington magistrate judge Alan Kay.
1) The Orioles brought 37 pitchers to camp. Thirty-seven! The cast is so large that ace Jeremy Guthrie joked that the team encouraged him to play in the World Baseball Classic so they could divvy up his innings to some of the other 36 pitchers. This is exactly what a rebuilding team should do: restock the system with power arms (the trades of Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard were designed with just that in mind) and take every low-risk flier you can, such as Rich Hill, a left-hander who could not find the plate last year but has some big-league success on his resume. Baltimore is sitting on a decent inventory of pitching prospects. You're not likely to see many real results on the big-league level this year, but you may get some hints.
1. It's in the routine, not the spectacular. The Astros set a major-league record last season after committing only 67 errors. Houston's defensive range factor was a little above-average in six of nine positions, but its strength was in being steady with the balls it could reach. "We talk about not being spectacular -- in other words, routine," manager Cecil Cooper says. "Paying attention to the little details and making routine plays, that's the key. We've got veteran players, and they buy into that." The defense may be slightly better this season, with Geoff Blum taking over for Ty Wigginton as the primary third baseman. Riding that defense and a strong bullpen (see below), the Astros were only three games out of the wild card -- with the same record as the eventual World Series champion Phillies -- when Hurricane Ike interrupted a six-game winning streak and contributed in sending Houston into a tailspin. They still finished with the National League's best record after the
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Down here, about 120 miles south of Camp A-Roid, where the archrival Red Sox train, tranquility rules. Everything is neat and orderly. Boredom reigns. Or is it just better?
Shortly after pleading guilty in federal court to a misdemeanor count of lying to Congress about his knowledge of a former teammate's use of performance-enhancing drugs, baseball player Miguel Tejada apologized -- to everyone.
Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada is expected to plead guilty Wednesday in federal court to a count of lying to Congress about his knowledge of Major League Baseball players using performance-enhancing drugs, according to officials familiar with the case.
The big-hitting, big-bodied shortstop "revolution" that Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Edgar Renteria and Miguel Tejada were said to launch in the late '90s and early '00s never amounted to much, the same way the 6-foot-9 point guard "revolution" sprung by Magic Johnson didn't amount to much. Look around baseball right now. It's hard to remember a time when more teams needed a shortstop and more are available, though almost none of them are very good.
This week's edition of Diamond Digits wonders what's next after the game's premiere ace got lit up brighter than Time Square, looks at some epic stretches of futility and examines a losing team that is primed to play for -- and is succeeding at reaching -- individual goals.
OK, coming off the latest talk of pitch tipping and Alex Rodriguez, we're going to talk a little bit about cheating today -- but, hey, we're not talking morality. Everyone has their own level of distaste for cheating and lying. Some think it's wrong all the time. Some think it's mostly wrong except in certain sporting situations. Some believe the old line that if you're not cheating you're not trying. I don't want to get into that today, though I do find the topic to be fascinating.
Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada was sentenced Thursday to a year of unsupervised probation for lying to Congress about his knowledge of Major League Baseball players using performance-enhancing drugs.
The United States Attorney's office has recommended that Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada receive a sentence of probation for lying to congressional investigators in 2005, according to a memorandum filed on Thursday in Washington, D.C., federal court. The filing, which also calls for Tejada to pay a fine and participate in youth-based community service, is a suggested sentencing -- not a binding one -- for Washington magistrate judge Alan Kay.
1) The Orioles brought 37 pitchers to camp. Thirty-seven! The cast is so large that ace Jeremy Guthrie joked that the team encouraged him to play in the World Baseball Classic so they could divvy up his innings to some of the other 36 pitchers. This is exactly what a rebuilding team should do: restock the system with power arms (the trades of Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard were designed with just that in mind) and take every low-risk flier you can, such as Rich Hill, a left-hander who could not find the plate last year but has some big-league success on his resume. Baltimore is sitting on a decent inventory of pitching prospects. You're not likely to see many real results on the big-league level this year, but you may get some hints.
1. It's in the routine, not the spectacular. The Astros set a major-league record last season after committing only 67 errors. Houston's defensive range factor was a little above-average in six of nine positions, but its strength was in being steady with the balls it could reach. "We talk about not being spectacular -- in other words, routine," manager Cecil Cooper says. "Paying attention to the little details and making routine plays, that's the key. We've got veteran players, and they buy into that." The defense may be slightly better this season, with Geoff Blum taking over for Ty Wigginton as the primary third baseman. Riding that defense and a strong bullpen (see below), the Astros were only three games out of the wild card -- with the same record as the eventual World Series champion Phillies -- when Hurricane Ike interrupted a six-game winning streak and contributed in sending Houston into a tailspin. They still finished with the National League's best record after the
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Down here, about 120 miles south of Camp A-Roid, where the archrival Red Sox train, tranquility rules. Everything is neat and orderly. Boredom reigns. Or is it just better?
Shortly after pleading guilty in federal court to a misdemeanor count of lying to Congress about his knowledge of a former teammate's use of performance-enhancing drugs, baseball player Miguel Tejada apologized -- to everyone.
Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada is expected to plead guilty Wednesday in federal court to a count of lying to Congress about his knowledge of Major League Baseball players using performance-enhancing drugs, according to officials familiar with the case.
The big-hitting, big-bodied shortstop "revolution" that Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, Edgar Renteria and Miguel Tejada were said to launch in the late '90s and early '00s never amounted to much, the same way the 6-foot-9 point guard "revolution" sprung by Magic Johnson didn't amount to much. Look around baseball right now. It's hard to remember a time when more teams needed a shortstop and more are available, though almost none of them are very good.
To commemorate this past weekend's wedding of one of SI's best baseball writers to one of the SI Franchise's favorite editors, Diamond Digits includes someone old, something new, something borrowed and something (Dodger) blue. Plus we look at a Met on a tear and an Indians pitcher getting torn up.
The timing was said to be the surprise in the early firing of Wayne Krivsky as Reds GM on Wednesday. But really, it shouldn't have been such a shock. Cincinnati had just won two of three games to get to 9-12, and Reds owner Bob Castellini surely knew it would be harder to justify making the move if his club got to .500, even with his favored Walt Jocketty waiting for the job since he joined the team in January.
The way things are going for Indians left hander C.C. Sabathia, the C.C. is going to stand for Cheaper Cost.
Roy Oswalt propped up one foot on a wall at the Astros' clubhouse and crossed his legs at the ankle, leaned back in his director's chair -- he's a professional athlete, kids, so don't try this at home -- and considered, for about a half-second, the whole idea of Roy Oswalt and the Nobodies.
Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada and the vast majority of the 89 players mentioned in the Mitchell Report will not be suspended by Major League Baseball for their alleged steroid and HGH transgressions, and it remains possible that none of the 89 players will be banned, SI.com has learned.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Roger Clemens climbed out of his Hummer on Wednesday morning, looked up at the dozen or so reporters waiting for him at an entrance to the Astros' minor league facility here and shook his head slowly, grimly, side to side. It was, undoubtedly, the most telling comment the embattled pitcher made all day.
The AL East remains the game's glamour division, but the Red Sox and Yankees could be challenged by Toronto, and an emerging Tampa team is building a contender.
The forecast called for rain in Santiago, but the dark, heavy clouds were stalled on the horizon, allowing sunshine to illuminate the diamond at Estadio Cibao. It was Jan. 31, two days before Miguel Tejada was to lead the Aguilas, his Dominican winter-league team, against the Yanquis of Mexico in the opening game of Latin America's biggest baseball event, the Caribbean Series. The 31-year-old Houston Astros shortstop, four times an All-Star with the Oakland A's and the Baltimore Orioles, bounded up the dugout steps, still tucking in his yellow practice jersey as he ran to join teammates. After batting practice, he soft-tossed with a team assistant and then headed for the infield. When he wasn't taking grounders, Tejada swung an imaginary bat at an imaginary ball, as a third-grader might.
With Chuck Knoblauch having agreed to meet with the congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the full batting order is set for the Feb. 13 congressional hearing. On Wednesday, Andy Pettitte will meet privately with committee staff members, with Roger Clemens, Brian McNamee, Knoblauch and Kirk Radomski heading to Washington D.C. in the following days.
For almost all of the past decade, the Oakland A's have been baseball's premier example that small-market teams can still accomplish big things. Through smart drafts, good scouting, solid player development and wily trades the A's have proven that it is the way an organization operates, and not how much money it spends, that allows small-market teams to level the playing field with their big market brethren.
Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade anticipates Miguel Tejada to be at spring training, even as the FBI investigates whether the former AL MVP made false statements with to a congressional committee about possible use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Although the Justice Department has not yet accepted the invitation from Congressmen Henry Waxman and Tom Davis to investigate whether Miguel Tejada lied to the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform -- let alone has the Justice Department commenced an investigation or come to findings unfavorable to Tejada -- Tejada could find himself in serious trouble if the government can prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he knowingly and willfully lied about a matter material to the Committee's investigation.
Roger Clemens had another bad outing on Tuesday. And this time, it didn't come from a pitching mound, in front of a television camera or behind a microphone.
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, union head Donald Fehr and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell testified about baseball's steroids issue before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Tuesday. SI.com's Michael McCann answers the key questions.
George Mitchell, the senator-turned-baseball-investigator who last month linked dozens of players to steroid use, on Tuesday told a House committee that he firmly believes the former trainer who says he injected pitching ace Roger Clemens with performance enhancers.
The following is excerpted from Pages 201 to 204 of the Mitchell Report; footnotes are not included here.
No division in baseball is as easily winnable as the National League Central. Put an average team on the field, playing average ball in an average park for most of a numbingly average season and, in the Central, you have a contender. Put together something better than that -- even a little bit better -- and a team can practically start counting its playoff shares.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It used to be -- maybe a week ago or so -- that major league teams, every last one of them, would get all huffy about the importance of holding onto their young and talented prospects. Build from within, they all said. Scout and develop. Go homegrown. That's the way to do business.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. --Superstar pitcher Johan Santana is still more likely than not to be traded here -- perhaps even by the end of the day Monday -- and once Santana's gone, attention will then turn toward Dan Haren, the A's fine and inexpensive right-hander, and Erik Bedard, who is maybe as talented as any starter outside Santana and maybe Josh Beckett.
The Astros and Giants are among the teams that have expressed interest in Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, sources have told SI.com.
Alex Rodriguez has already exercised his option to be a free agent, and he immediately becomes the most attractive player on the market. With the supply of other top-tier free agents extremely limited, however, teams will be motivated to improve through other avenues. Here are five trade proposals that would benefit both teams.
Excerpted from CHANGE UP: An Oral History of 8 Key Events That Shaped Baseball, to be published by Rodale Books in March 2008. � 2007 by Larry Burke and Peter Thomas Fornatale with Jim Baker. Permission granted by Rodale Inc.
Dave Trembley might be 23 games into becoming the next Tom Kelly. Kelly was the interim manager of the 1986 Twins, whose general manager, Andy MacPhail, had no initial interest in keeping him as his full-time manager. But after a 23-game cameo, Kelly earned MacPhail's trust and was named Minnesota manager. Kelly promptly won a world championship in his first full season on the job, to which he added another four years later.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada extended his consecutive games streak to 1,152 on Thursday, but that's where it is probably going to end, reports The Baltimore Sun.
In concept, the Ultimate Fantasy Draft is pretty simple: If you were starting a team from scratch, which players would you build around? Here's Nos. 21-30. (Last year's rankings in parenthesis.)
In the top of the eighth inning of the March 23 exhibition game between the Red Sox and Orioles, Boston first baseman Eric Hinske looked over his shoulder, saw me umpiring first base, did a double take and said, "Hey, what are you doing here?" Hinske quickly figured it out. After all, he was with Toronto in spring training 2005 when I spent a week playing for the Blue Jays.
Embarrassment. Injury. Blunt force trauma. Estate planning. The mind quickly accelerates the possibility and the amplitude of catastrophe when you are standing on the infield grass, as I am, 75 feet in front of Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez while he bats with a runner on first base. No infielder ever would be so foolish to put himself this close to the potential harm of a Ramirez line drive, not even armed with world-class hand-eye coordination, a fielder's glove and a protective cup -- all of which, as I am most acutely aware, I do not possess at this moment.
Also in this column: • More on Jeter-A-Rod saga • Andruw Jones and the Braves • Rollins' brash talk • More news and notes
The Red Sox are up, the White Sox are down. The O's got a C, the A's a D.
HOUSTON -- The secret to this All-Star Home Run Derby thing -- just in case, you know, you ever find yourself competing in one -- is to avoid the urge to swing.
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