Bonds, black players and platooned Cubs

Friday, July 13, 2007

BONDS, BLACK PLAYERS AND PLATOONED CUBS

July 13, 2007

A few weeks ago, one of our Pelham Mets pitchers, Stefan Rapaglia, told me that he once managed a Harvard pitcher named Jamie Irving, who pitched in Independent baseball. Stefan used him as a right handed starter and as a lefty reliever. INCREDIBLE. This brings up the question: Did anybody in the major leagues ever do this? I don't think so, but there was once a pitcher named Calvin (Coolidge, Julius Caesar, Tuskahoma) McLish who was in the big leagues from 1944 through 1964.

Calvin (Coolidge, Julius Caesar, Tuskahoma) McLish

There were stories that he could pitch with either arm, but he never did so in a regular season game. McLish wound up his career at 92-92 with a respectible ERA of 4.01. He pitched for 7 different teams in both leagues, including 4 years with Cleveland and 3 with the Philadelphia Phillies. One thing is factual, though. McLish was a switch hitter.

It's been some time since I had the time to see a minor league game, but what a game it was!!! The Somerset Patriots beat Lancaster, 3-2, in 11 innings, but the way it ended was very unusual. Somerset had the winning run on third with one out in the 11th. It was decided to purposely walk the next two batters. That's not unusual. But how about the pitcher wildly lobbing the ball past the catcher while intentionally delivering a walk that ended the game? I couldn't do that if I tried. Did this ever happen in the majors?

I do recall that the late, great, Joe Medwick, was being intentionally passed one day, but he leaned over and smacked a base hit. It could have gone for a double. Anybody remember the facts?

As of this moment, Barry Bonds has 751 home runs. The closer he gets to the record, the further away Hank Aaron runs. I said it before: Aaron has to be first in everything. His planning to play Golf when Bonds breaks his record is a cowardly act. But that's Aaron.

Barry Bonds Hits No. 750 Off Livan Hernandez

As for Commissioner, Bud Selig, would you believe that he hasn't yet made up his mind whether or not to be present on the big day Barry hits #755 and #756? Selig is thinking about being the judge and jury. Sure, Bonds probably had some enhancing drugs, but so did at least 40% of other players STILL ACTIVE.

That means Selig should not attend ANY games anywhere and just resign. There will never be enough proof to condemn enough players, including Bonds. If they took drugs, very few are still on it. Go play detective.

Bud Selig

I am not defending drugs, nor am I looking for any evidence. Maybe you should look carefully at Barry Bond's major league stats, and even when his HOME RUN PRODUCTION increased dramatically in his late 30's, he had ENOUGH TALENT at that time to qualify for the Hall of Fame anyway.

Bud Selig, who I always respected, especially when the Players Association nearly ruined baseball, is definitely wrong in his handling of this problem.

He'd better be PRESENT when Bonds ties and breaks the record. My prediction? He'll be there.

There is no question that there is a noticeably sharp decrease in Black Americans playing major league baseball. The new interim president of the NAACP has decided that there is some kind of scheme to keep Blacks out of the game, or certainly there isn't enough being done to make it easier for the young kids to play ball. Some even feel that if there aren't enough youth programs, that young Blacks will become EXTINCT in the major leagues. I say, "ridiculous".

First of all, there ARE concerted efforts to encourage the black community. KPMG is donating one million annually to encourage black kids in baseball. But the NAACP thinks that not enough is being done.

I think that Dave Winfield just said it best. He said that Basketball, Football, and even Soccer have gained prominence in this country, having a negative effect on baseball.

My opinion is that if the NAACP thinks there is a Ku Klux Klan plot out there which is now depriving young black kids from getting ahead, they're plain nuts.

Everything happens in cycles. The percentages will change. After all, how many Cubans, Hispanics, and Dominicans were in the majors when Jackie Robinson broke the color line?

Isn't it possible that many black kids do not want to play baseball like their fathers did? Do you know why there are no Indians in the major leagues? That's because they choose NOT to be players. They'd rather be Doctors.

How about Jews in the Rodeo or playing Hockey? Who's stopping them? They just don't want to play, that's all.

Dave Winfield was right.

A WORD ABOUT THE SECOND PLACE CHICAGO CUBS: Manager Lou Piniella has the hottest team in the majors at the All-Star break, yet there is still going to be a MAJOR trade shortly. Outfielder Matt Murton, who led the Cubs in hitting last year with .297, is in the minor leagues, leaving the Cubs with a .250 average. Jacque Jones, who hit .285 last year with 27 home runs is now batting .230. What's wrong with them? NOTHING.

Matt Murton

REGULARS CANNOT BE PLATOONED SUCCESSFULLY. The Cubs have too many outfielders, and one extra infielder, ALL who should be playing regularly. Last year's shortstop, Ronnie Cedeno is in Iowa with a .360 batting average and hitting long home runs. There's no room for him. And there's no room for infielder Cesar Izturis either. He's hitting .240 because he is being platooned. Rookie sensations , infielders Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot should be playing every day. And there's much more...........................

The Cubs are mired by PLATOONS. It isn't going to work.

If you can't platoon regulars, what do you do? The answer: You TRADE them. Therefore, I am predicting a few major trades by the Cubs to deal some quality players in exchange for one or two pitchers and a solid catcher. The changes will benefit all the teams involved.

These trades will take place shortly after the All Star break, which I am now watching.

Good night.