Imagine your feelings after you have spent your entire professional career honing your craft as a position player, only to find out that the manager looks past you on the bench to call on a pitcher for a pinch hitter! Such has been the case this season for the Cincinnati Reds, using pitcher Micah Owings twice in this fashion during the first four games. A throwback to the likes of Don Newcombe and more recently Brooks Kieschnick, Owings has proved valuable as both a pitcher and a pinch hitter Owings versatility has effectively freed up another roster space for Dusty Baker to use. Owings has been penciled in as the team's fifth starter, leaving him available to pinch hit the other four days in which he is not pitching. Owings is batting .322 in 118 career at-bats with five home runs. Now does this situation speak to Owings prowess as a hitter, or lack of depth on the bench? A full season as a pinch-hitter will give us a better idea of how Owings rates once the book begins to circulate on him. If this plan is successful, it could become a trend within the major leagues as management looks to maximize the value of the players on their rosters. Another candidate for this role is Colorado Rockies pitcher Jason Marquis who is 6-for-26 in his career as a pinch hitter.Sunday, April 12, 2009
Now Pinch Hitting, The Pitcher! Micah Owings Does Double Duty
Imagine your feelings after you have spent your entire professional career honing your craft as a position player, only to find out that the manager looks past you on the bench to call on a pitcher for a pinch hitter! Such has been the case this season for the Cincinnati Reds, using pitcher Micah Owings twice in this fashion during the first four games. A throwback to the likes of Don Newcombe and more recently Brooks Kieschnick, Owings has proved valuable as both a pitcher and a pinch hitter Owings versatility has effectively freed up another roster space for Dusty Baker to use. Owings has been penciled in as the team's fifth starter, leaving him available to pinch hit the other four days in which he is not pitching. Owings is batting .322 in 118 career at-bats with five home runs. Now does this situation speak to Owings prowess as a hitter, or lack of depth on the bench? A full season as a pinch-hitter will give us a better idea of how Owings rates once the book begins to circulate on him. If this plan is successful, it could become a trend within the major leagues as management looks to maximize the value of the players on their rosters. Another candidate for this role is Colorado Rockies pitcher Jason Marquis who is 6-for-26 in his career as a pinch hitter.Saturday, April 11, 2009
Bob Scherbarth, 83, Boston Red Sox Catcher 1926-2009
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| Bob Scherbarth |
Scherbarth entered the Boston Red Sox organization in 1946 in Class B Roanoke, and retired from baseball after splitting the 1952 season with Class A Scranton and Class AA Birmingham. Scherbarth is part of a handful of major league position players who never had an at-bat in a Major League game. While Scherbarth's career may equate to a "sip of coffee," he was able to do what many men aspire to do, and that is to get a taste of the majors. Scherbarth will forever be a part of the select group that can call themselves major league baseball players. I attempted in late 2008 to interview him about his experiences that day, to find out if he knew that was going to be the only chance he had in the "big show." Sadly, Scherbarth was recovering from a stay in the hospital and wasn't up to taking the interview. He told me to try back in a few weeks, and my hesitation led me to find his number disconnected and the subsequent obituary detailing his passing. A private service was held to honor Scherbarth in Presque Isle, WI.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Nick Adenhart, 22, Angels Pitcher 1986-2009
On Thursday, April 9th, 2009, just hours after pitching six scoreless innings for the Los Angeles Angels, 22-year-old pitcher Nick Adenhart died along with two other people when their sports car was hit by a minivan that ran a red light. The sports car struck a light pole after being hit. Apparently, the driver of the minivan was driving with a suspended license due to previous drunk driving infractions. At an age when young men are maturing into adults, and a time when ballplayers are just beginning to smell the freshly cut grass of a new season, the flame of career was extinguished just as it was being lit. Adenhart was living the dream of many young men his age, starting during the opening series of the Major League season, while most are finishing up their final semester of college. Expected to start the season at AAA, he was summoned to the rotation when the Angles had injuries to three of their pitchers. He seized the opportunity by pitching six innings of shutout ball against the Oakland Athletics. Sadly, due to the actions of an irresponsible driver, we will never know how long Adenhart would have kept his flame burning in the Major Leagues. The Angels postponed their April 10th game with the Oakland Athletics to mourn the loss of their fallen teammate. Gone, but not forgotten, Nick Adenhart rest in peace.
Below: A photo from the accident.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Where does Gary Sheffield fit in the Mets plans?
The New York Mets announced on Friday that they have signed outfielder Gary Sheffield to a one-year $400,000 contract, with the Detroit Tigers having to pay the remaining $14 million due to giving him his release last week. One homer shy of five hundred for his career, Sheffield looks to make history in a Mets uniform early this season. A few questions surround Sheffield's signing to the Mets. Will he be healthy enough to play the outfield consistently? Will he be a positive or negative influence in the clubhouse? Which outfielder will be affected the most by Sheffield's signing?Currently, the Mets are carrying outfielder Nick Evans until Livan Hernandez makes his debut on April 11th. The Mets could send Evans down to the Minors to make room for Sheffield for opening day, however, that will lead to another roster move when Hernandez is activated for his scheduled start. Possible casualties when Hernandez returns include utility player Marlon Anderson and outfielder Ryan Church. Anderson provides a valuable left-handed bat off of the bench, and the ability to play both the infield and outfield. Church was envisioned to be platooned with Fernando Tatis in right field, but there are doubts that Church can hit left-handed pitching and whispers that he is not fully recovered from the multiple concussions he had last year. Tatis was expected to provide a right-handed power bat for the corner outfield positions, but that role will be greatly impacted with Sheffield's arrival.
Sheffield batted .225 in 114 games for Detroit in 2008, and .178 in Spring Training before his release. During the 2008 season, he only played 6 games in the outfield. How long will it take for Sheffield to get in shape to play the outfield regularly? With Sheffield expected to play alongside Daniel Murphy, that gives the Mets two below average defenders in the starting corner outfield positions.
Sheffield comes with a reputation for being outspoken and at times a polarizing figure in the clubhouse, suggesting that Joe Torre treated black and white players differently on the Yankees. A few Mets that were interviewed though, have positive remarks about Sheffield's presence.
"He's a great guy," said Hernandez, who played with Sheffield on the Marlins. "He's a great person. He plays hard every day. That's what I know."
"I've heard great things," third baseman David Wright said. "All the players that have played with him speak very highly of him. I'm sure we're going to welcome him. He's going to be a tremendous addition. He's a guy that just has a presence to him."
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Herman Franks, 95, MLB Catcher and Manager (1914-2009)
Herman Franks, pictured left with Willie Mays in Santurce, Puerto Rico, died March 30, 2009 at the age of 95 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Franks played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Athletics and New York Giants over parts of 6 seasons from 1939-1949, compiling a .199 batting average in 403 career at-bats. He lost three-and-a-half years of his career due to his Naval service in World War 2. His playing career was overshadowed by his success as a coach and a manager at the major league level.In Joshua Prager's book, "The Echoing Green", Franks was reportedly involved in relaying stolen signals from a hole in the New York Giants scoreboard to the hitters during the 1951 "Shot Heard 'Round The World" playoff between the Giants and the Dodgers. Franks managed what is arguably known as the best Winter League team ever, the 1954-55 Santurce Crabbers. The team featured an all-star Major League and ex-Negro League lineup including: Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Bob Thurman, Bus Clarkson, Don Zimmer, Ron Samford, George Crowe, Valmy Thomas, Ruben Gomez and "Toothpick" Sam Jones. Franks went on to manage the Giants to four straight second place finishes (1965-68) and the Chicago Cubs to a .497 record (1977-79).