Alabama Alumni. Robertson was recently placed on the 15-day DL with a

optimistic that his fill in closer’s injury isn’t too concerning, “We

Those aren’t numbers that would blow you away, but he is an effective
pitcher.  His 2011 numbers as the set up guy for Rivera were
outstanding.  In 66.2 Innings, the 2011 All-Star posted a 1.08 ERA and
100 K’s… Spectacular season but to fill in for The Hammer Of God?  Big

last guys the Yankees needed to lose this year, but injuries happen to

Hamilton with four homers, going 5-for-5 in a 10-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. He’s the 16th player in MLB history to do so and if that wasn’t good enough, he also hit a double… 18 recorded bases in one game set the American League record! Sidenote: Hamilton and Matt Kemp have been the most impressive hitters so far this season and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. So, what about Albert Pujols? Where has he been? Quite frankly, he is not even close to living up to his the high expectations that were set at the beginning of the year. I knew the money paid for Pujols was outrageous. Anyways, back to positivity!

Hamilton was outstanding at the plate and impressed the baseball world on Tuesday, May 8th, but just give this a read, “I take the confidence with me of having a good game, like I would if I was 4 for 5 or 5 for 5 with five singles. I’m getting on base and scoring runs. You take all those things with you, but you don’t take the moment to the next day because 99.9 percent of the time it isn’t going to happen again. One hundred percent of the time in the case of this. Don’t live there. Just come in here, prepare, and move forward.”

NOW, it seems to me this is a guy who has complete control of his mental game. The obvious compliment in this incredible feat would be to shower him with praise over his night at the plate. But, what’s more impressive is his ability to keep a level head and remain even keeled. I’ve seen it in other sports where an athlete has a spectacular night and all of a sudden he’s a gift to the game. The player automatically thinks he’ll be signed to a big deal and his head ultimately swells to the size of a watermelon. In this instance, not the case.

Hamilton’s interview with Pardon the Interruption was absolutely captivating. The centre-fielder was more than humble and almost resorted immediately back to the mentality of a TRUE baseball player. Yes, he was stoked about four jacks in one game, but what he was most concerned with, was his next game/next at bat. It was almost as if he meant, everything is downhill from here on out so accepting this will make my life easier. It was refreshing to watch someone not get ahead of themselves and get overwhelmed with the fame.

Oddly enough, even with his recent success, Hamilton’s future is a little uncertain right now. He’s a free agent at the end of this season, but doesn’t really seem too stressed, (most players would be). The outfielder seems calm and collected and will most likely  continue to be good to the game that is good to him. Players like this are getting more & more rare that it’s nice to stop and congratulate them for it once in a while. I don’t really wear hats that often, but if I was wearing one right now, I would tip my cap off to Josh Hamilton. Younger baseball players and upcoming athletes should take on his approach to the game because from what I’ve seen in the past few years, role models in sports are something of the past.

Unfortunately, Hamilton hasn’t always been the good boy. He’s had his fair share of drunken photos after a couple of relapses, has been in and out of rehab and essentially disgraced himself publicly. He was an alcoholic and a drug addict, but you have to hope he’s turned a corner to where mentally, those days seem like decades ago.

What helped him get clean, was he found God. Despite your religion/non-religion and what many believe, that does help A LOT of people, including athletes. The remarkable comeback this guy has made is something to be valued. Hamilton essentially fixed his life right before it was too late. The media coverage he receives now is night and day from 2009.

His 2012 MLB campaign has been impressive, and for his sake I only hope he can continue on.

Now we go to the basement team of the American League East. There was a little bit of drama surrounding the Red Sox just last week. Boston Manager Bobby Valentine questioned Kevin Youkilis’ physical and emotional commitment to the team during a TV interview. When Dustin Pedroia heard about this, he stepped in and defended his teammate with a feisty comment in return.

The exact quote was, “I really don’t know what Bobby is trying to do. That’s not the way we go about our stuff around here. . . . Maybe that works in Japan.” Now the question is, was Valentine wrong to call out Kevin Youkilis like that? Or was Pedroia out of line for disrespecting his Skipper?

Either way, both sides were out of line, especially when the team is not playing well right now. Piling up distractions around a struggling team is a recipe for disaster. Valentine finally apologized for the unruly accusations, but in this instance, it might be too little, too late.

Boston also honored Fenway Park’s Centennial. An emotional night for some, but New York was the visiting team and slowly shut down the celebrations with a 6-2 victory vs. Boston. A lot of former players attended the party, well 240 of them, including Pedro Martinez (Who’s your daddy?), Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, icon Johnny Pesky, Nomar Garciaparra, Jose Conseco and former Manager Terry Francona. It was another milestone day for baseball.

On a lighter note, the Japanese right-hander that the Blue Jays so desperately wanted in the off-season, is unbeaten and shut down the Yankees last night with a season-high of 10 strikeouts. Not bad, if you ask me. Yu Darvish was also facing a fellow countryman, Hiroki Kuroda and completely out pitched him. I guess the Blue Birds are kicking themselves a little bit right now for not ponying up that dough.

Always a great topic to touch on, Chicago’s Phil Humber threw a perfect game vs. the Seattle Mariners in his 2nd start of the season! It was the third perfect game in White Sox’s history and the first in two years in all of Major League Baseball (21st of all-time)! Now, that’s pretty awesome, considering he had Tommy John surgery in 2005. Not only did he overcome a rigorous surgery, but he retired 27 batters in order, in one night with nine strikeouts. I have major respect for ANYONE who can come back from a big surgery like that, I have been there once before myself (rotator cuff). He is now on his way home, as his wife is expecting to have their baby. Life is pretty good right now for Humber, a talented right-handed pitcher for the White Sox.

There have been hundreds of prolific base runners that have played this wonderful game.  I want to map out who made an impact on the game, why they were so successful in stealing and how they helped their team win big games.

First up, in the modern era, Phillies centre fielder Shane Victorino has crazy speed on the basepath. What sets him apart is his ability to read a play. He does an incredible job of knowing who is on the field and what he can get away with. They call him the Flyin’ Hawaiian and he more than supports the name with his impressive speed.

I think the best runner of all-time is Rickey Henderson. I mean, the guy lead the Majors in steals 12 times, he was absolutely unbelievable. What made him so great, was his speed and quick reaction. If he saw someone fumble the ball even the slightest bit, he was GONE. Standing on the next bag, in scoring position. Now that helps his team in two ways; scoring runs and holding the momentum. Great base running can absolutely dominate another team, especially in a close contest.

Hall of Famer Willie Mays wasn’t too bad either. He rocked when it came to knowing who he was facing and taking advantage of other teams with his knowledge of the game. He played 22 years in the Majors and led the National League in steals for four straight years. Mays was also prolific for hitting triples, which is another example of how his speed and smarts made Mays such a threat.

What struck a nerve and what ultimately got me to write this blog was something that I saw live at the Rogers Centre. There’s something about being in the ballpark that’s so much more inspiring than watching on the tube. Rajai Davis’ base running this past week vs. the Boston Red Sox, as well as Brett Lawrie making a huge mistake trying to steal home against the Baltimore Orioles are two great examples of how base runners can alter a game. Lawrie’s steal attempt ended the inning while Davis ignited a spark for the team and changed the landscape of the box scores. He brought momentum to the club that really needed it and helped his team grab a win.

When I played Softball at UAB, it got a lot tougher to steal. I figured, if I can’t provide much speed, I can  sure as heck help my team by being smart on the bags and giving it all I had mentally. The key to great base running is not always having wheels. The secret is being able to read the play and recognize what you’re up against. All those prolific players I mentioned above all reveal what it takes to be an elite base runner in Major League Baseball.

Ten Standout Qualities of A Top Flight MLB Base Runner:

1. Ability to feel out the play.

2. Being aggressive, but patient.

3. Taking a sufficient lead.

4. Reaction time.

5. Reading a delivery off of opposing pitcher.

6. Recognizing the catcher’s arm strength

7. A great/sneaky slide

8. Natural Speed

9. Confidence.

10. Right place, right time.

A lot of players have moved teams, loads of re-branding, key injuries to big teams, the hard work has been put in throughout off-season. All this is true, but luckily it is still the SAME amazing game.

One of the biggest changes in the Majors this season is a second wild card chance in each league. This has massive implications on the landscape of the game and its playoffs. That would be the most dramatic difference that may put some teams in post-season play that haven’t had the chance for Fall baseball in YEARS!

You may ask yourself a few questions heading into this 2012 season.  Well, I will try my best to answer these common but brilliant questions:

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain is out until late June with elbow and ankle issues as well as newly acquired New York pitcher Michael Pineda with shoulder tendonitis. The A’s lost Scott Sizemore for the season with a knee injury. Ryan Howard of the Phillies is out until the beginning of May with his torn Achilles. AJ Burnett suffered an eye injury during Spring training trying to bunt (welcome back to the NL!) and will miss games for the Pirates for a little bit. He begins rehab on April 6th. It depends how bad each of these injuries are, but for example when he is ready, Chris Carpenter will return to the minors and work his way back to the bigs. So, if it’s a big-time player with a bad injury, he may be out longer than expected. You have to take reps into account. After an injury, a player isn’t at the same level they were when they got hurt.

1.L.A Angels

2. Philadelphia Phillies

3. New York Yankees

4. Detroit Tigers

5. San Fransisco Giants

A lot more to come this season people! Please stay tuned! You can follow me on twitter as I will have many comments on Ball all through the season!

@KaylaCHarris

The 27 year-old has earned respect from everyone in the game, much like his father Cecil Fielder who happens to be a three-time All-Star in Detroit. So, this must have been very cool news for his dad, almost nostalgic. Although he was shocked to hear the news of his son signing the nine-year $214-million contract, I am sure that he’s very excited to hear that they will never, ever have to worry about money again. Prince just better lock it up tight because Cecil has been known for sticky fingers. Hopefully you know what I am talking about, if not google it.

Anyhow, the HUGE contract says two things about the Detroit Tigers….

1. they want to win

AND

1. they are SERIOUS about winning.

Hello? This is the fourth biggest contract of all-time, Detroit’s largest deal by far and the guy is so young! He is officially the highest paid athlete in Detroit history. By the time this deal is up, he will be 36 years of age (if my math serves me right) and that is plenty of time to grab a few more million from the game of baseball. The hefty lefty was certainly dealt a sweet deal and one could definitely argue that 2012 is off to a great start for Prince Fielder. His bonuses are also ridiculous, you should check them out sometime. It makes the average person that does the 9-5 grind every week look like absolute fools!

There are only a handful of players in the game today making that kind of coin and for what? What can this guy provide? Well let me fill you in. Not only does this dominating hitter bring the numbers on both sides of the game, but success breeds in his family and Detroit is tired of losing in the playoffs.

Bottomline, Prince Fielder gives Detroit a shot to win the World Series. Was it an impulsive decision by Mike Ilitch? Maybe BUT the guy is driven by passion and wants to see his team do well. I am a strong believer in “you get what you pay for.” Buying your entire team is nonsense, HOWEVER it is necessary to have big-time players and show your fans that you are willing to make a big move. When you do so, the fans are serious about attending the games. It is all about circulation people! If your owners and GM’s sit on their hands and just watch every marquee player get swept up by other teams, than fans will stay at home and watch the damn baseball games on their televisions. I mean, take a look at the Blue Jays. They have done absolutely nothing to get their team in a position to contend. Personally, I am a huge fan of Alex Anthopoulos, but the team is in the AL East. You have to give your squad a fighting chance against powerhouses in that domain.

Another question that enters my mind, is Miguel Cabrera rubbed the wrong way by this? That is Cabrera’s spot and trust me, I know that this is a team game BUT, Cabrera can put up some numbers too and moving him to another position is not easy. It’s kind of hard to believe his feathers aren’t ruffled by this. The two may switch back and forth on the corners. Third base requires great reaction, a beautiful/spot-on throw and mobility. Does this Cabrera seem agile? I guess that is for Detroit to decide in Spring training.

The 40 year-old played 17 seasons in a New York Yankees uniform. He won five World Series titles, is fifth on the all-time home run list with the Pinstripes and I can’t help but focus on the relationships he will leave behind. He was a big part of the “Core Four” and during his retirement speech, he got very choked up when he addressed Jeter and Rivera. Of course, Andy Petitte has been out of the game for one season (another member of the Core Four) and they have already had time to let his exit marinate.

“It is the only thing I know how to do,” Posada told the world during his announcement. The now former player laid it out there, a hard reality to face when you’ve played a sport your entire life and one day, it’s finally over. Although it will probably take some time to allow the decision to set in, teammates that he associated himself with for many years send him off with a beautiful and humbling message.

His best companions are kind of obvious if you follow the team or baseball. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were two guys that struck a nerve while he was delivering his goodbyes. Rivera is arguably the best reliever in baseball history and it was clear that having his friend behind the dish gave him that extra push he needed in desperate innings/situations. “He made my job easy. I am very proud of him,” the reliever commented.

Above all, he found a best friend across the way in Jeter, “You never saw one of us without the other. I will miss him for selfish reasons.” It is so rare in sports today that players start and end on the same team and this is exactly what both of them did. The friendship they have built will live longer than the game and it is nice to see that Posada will have some comfort in the relationships he now has thanks to the game of baseball.

Even the captain admitted that their relationship was so united due to the passion they both shared. “He is very passionate, that is how I feel as well. We have the same feelings, but he shows his emotions a little more.”

The shortstop knew he was losing an incredible teammate and wasn’t afraid to admit the bond they shared because of baseball when it all started in the minors together.

Looking at all three of these players, it is certainly obvious that they completely understand what it means to be a part of the New York Yankees. Each of them accepted the duties and carried themselves in the same proud, respectful and professional manner. Jeter and Rivera will have to continue to carry the torch as they slowly lose some of their players from the starting line-up they have always known.

Posada will always be remembered as a role model and inspirational to many. Even Thurman Munson’s wife admitted that she lost her heart for baseball after she lost her husband, and she started watching baseball again because of the player he was. Diana Munson tragically lost the star baseball player to a plane crash and it took a special player to bring her back to the game that her husband was famous for.

For all of the baseball I have watched in the modern era, Posada is among the top three catchers in the past twenty years. He was strong on both sides of the plate, was a champion and constantly performed in high-pressure situations. Is he a Hall of Famer? In my books, yes! For the past couple of seasons, he was an aging star but the mark he left in his prime, remains forever.

Regardless of the flopping clubs, flat out, the 2011 World Series had great baseball and was simply fabulous to watch. St. Louis Manager Tony LaRussa and Texas skip Ron Washington battled wits, but in the end it was LaRussa that out managed and earned the franchise’s 11th title.  St. Louis defied all odds, as they squeaked their way into the playoffs, 10 ½ games back with five weeks remaining in the regular season. They refused to quit and ultimately shocked the world with their 2011 success. Chris Carpenter was very strong on the hill for St. Louis with help from pitching coach Dave Duncan and of course, his breaking ball was going for him. Carpenter’s win in Game 7 on three days rest was very impressive, moving him to a 9-2 career post-season record with a 3.05 ERA. Not bad, not bad at all.

Albert Pujols hit like the stud he is in Game 3 with three homers and five hits giving teams ammunition to want him for next year. Pujols didn’t really hit otherwise because he wasn’t given much of a chance to as he was walked seven times by the Rangers pitching staff. He is officially the most sought after free agent, come this winter. After all, Pujols is hitting .330 with 18 doubles/homers and 52 RBI’s in 74 post-season games. He’s a once in a generation player that can’t be denied, has had a dynamite career thus far and teams will be after this gem. Finally, good for David Freese earning the MVP award in the World Series. He is a hero in St. Louis with his stellar performance in October.

Texas had the upper hand in the series and had all of the power to end it in Game 6. What were they doing? Coming from behind again, the Redbirds put pressure on the Rangers and proved to be the most resilient team in the league this season.

Oh and for all of the people that say baseball is a dying game…Game 7 generated the best TV numbers since 2004 where the Boston Red Sox ended the curse of the Bambino. It is safe to say, this great sport isn’t going anywhere, especially when the caliber of the sport is still this high.

Colby Lewis, Texas’ strongest post-season starter is on the hill and although he got the Game 2 loss, he held the Cards to just one run in 6.2 innings pitched. His ball moves, he works fast and has a lot of poise/confidence which he will need for an away game. However, Lewis isn’t any less talented on the road. He has won all four post-season starts on the road and does it with a smile on his face, it is safe to say he is not scared to play at an opposing team’s yard. Texas’ hitters have also been very effective as of late. In Game 5, they had a lot of clutch hits in the eighth inning. Michael Young doubled and Mike Napoli answered with a double after David Murphy legged out an infield single. St. Louis bullpen collapsed, but they got the two runs they needed in that inning taking them to a 4-2 victory. Texas seems to have the desire every single play and the baseball gods are certainly on their side. It seems like easy street, but will they have such luck at Busch Stadium?

St. Louis has their rambunctious crowd supporting them in a must-win contest and that will definitely assist them because home turf always tips the scale in the home team’s advantage. Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday HAVE to step it up tonight if Texas is continuously walking Albert Pujols. The two power hitters (Berkman and Holliday) have left base runners on important situations. Out of respect, I hope the Rangers pitch to Pujols and give the guy a chance to do his job because you never know, this may be his last game in a Cardinals jersey.

St. Louis’ brilliant skipper Tony LaRussa will not go down without a fight and you can bet that the best is yet to come in this series. You think Monday night’s game was exciting? The Cardinals are a gritty team and their deadly bullpen/hit and run mistakes in Game 5 (that LaRussa already cleared up) will not be repeated. St. Louis has overcome many challenges this season including their fight to making the post-season. I would be surprised if they didn’t pull this one out tonight regardless of how strong Texas’ starter has been. Jaime Garcia, who has been shaky at times will get the ball for the Cardinals final chance this season. Without any assistance from the bullpen in Game 2, Garcia did not get the win despite allowing one run in seven frames. The left-hander has been so impressive at home that the decision makers for St. Louis made sure he had the ball for Game 6.

Texas Manager Ron Washington may have to hold off on the popular victory dance we have seen from him all of October, St. Louis isn’t going down without a fight. Even if the Rangers have all of the right tools to beat them.

Both Championship series were slugfests, but it seemed that the pitching was much more controlled with a 3-2 score in Game 1. It seems to me that the Rangers are at a massive disadvantage simply because their Manager Ron Washington is always a couple steps behind Cards skip Tony LaRussa. The Cardinals relievers were carefully used and it was apparent that LaRussa knew what he was doing in order to win. In a pinch, Washington seems lost. When he needed a clutch hit, he chose the wrong player to get the big hit. Esteban German who hasn’t hit in 20 + days vs Yorvit Torrealba seems like an easy decision, but apparently not. Mr. Washington took the hard route and let German hit in the seventh inning (a great time to cash some runs) and the guy ended up striking out. From then on out Texas was very quiet at the plate, so his decision to hit someone who has been inactive for quite some time was just plain stupid.

Texas is looking for their first win in the big show as they send Colby Lewis to do the job tonight, he will of course face Jaime Garcia who has been solid at home. The two clubs battle at Busch stadium and again, the redbirds have the upper hand. There are a couple shifts in Texas’ lineup tonight with David Murphy on the bench ready to hit in a tough situation and Josh Hamilton is in left. I hope that Washington will step it up tonight and use the players he has wisely.

I have to ask though, does the average baseball fan find this series appealing? I watched the first contest and to be honest, there was nothing that really made it worth while. Maybe it is just me, but this doesn’t scream “Classic October” baseball. There are no real story lines other than the Manager’s battling for smarter moves as if it’s a chess game. Are you serious? Where are the big hits? Has there been any juicy talk for the water cooler? Um, if you call an aged skipper not knowing what he’s doing juicy, than I just feel sorry for you.