Dunn Like Dinner

           The 6’6”, 285 pound Adam Dunn was invincible at the plate during Sundays White Sox game against Washington. Dunn joined the “Golden Sombrero” club after striking out in all four of his at bats on the afternoon. The White Sox designated hitter brings no defensive element to the Sox and when he is not hitting in is no good to any team other than the opposition.  It is clear that Dunn is lost at the plate this season as he is hitting a loathsome .173 with just 7 home runs (HRs) and only 29 runs batted in (RBIs) after 67 games. When facing left-handed pitching Dunn is 1 for 53 (0.019 Avg), while striking out 100 times which leads the league in that category shows that he has clear holes in his all or nothing approach at the plate. Even his biggest critics could not have predicted this poor of a showing from Dunn thus far in 2011. Some potential reasons for his struggles could be the necessary adjustment needed when facing a new group of pitchers in the American League (AL) or the fact that Dunn has some financial security. Dunn who is in the first year of a four year $56 million deal ($14 Million annually) has left many shaking their heads, none more so than White Sox fans who booed louder after each strikeout on Sunday.
            For the time been Ozzie Guillen and White Sox management have little choice but to keep sending Dunn out there due to the amount of money invested in him.  The only viable option I see is moving Dunn into the three hole in the batting order with Paul Konerko batting behind him in order to provide protection. One thing is for sure it will be interesting to see what if anything the White Sox do with Dunn both for the rest of this season and the remainder of his current contract.  

 The 31 year old Dunn has played in 1515 games over eleven seasons with the Reds, Diamondbacks, Nationals and White Sox with a career average of .247 to go along with 361 HRs and 909 RBI. Dunn was drafted by the Reds in the second round of the 1998 amateur draft out of New Caney HS in Texas.

2011 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

 Yesterday, I  headed to beautiful St. Marys a small town located in southwestern Ontario that is home to The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum to witness the 2011 induction class that included Tom Henke, Allan Simpson & George Wood. Bob Elliott received the Jack Graney Award for his work covering baseball as a writer for the Toronto Sun and Canadian Baseball Network.  

I had  never been to the Hall of Fame or St. Marys for that matter; this was also the first time I had attended an induction ceremony I decided to make the trip from my St. Catharines home with a friend of mine as I had heard nothing but good things about the Hall of Fame through the grapevine over the years and I was sure glad I did as the day did not disappoint.

Honestly I’m not sure where to start in telling about my day. So much was going on at the Hall of Fame. There was a silent auction, tours of the museum, the sale of baseball memorabilia, and youth baseball being played on the back field. If you liked baseball you found that you  had came to the right place. For me personally one of the thrills of the day was meeting Fergie Jenkins, who played 19 seasons in the Major Leagues and is the only Canadian member of the [U.S] Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and currently does a variety of charity work with his foundation, The Fergie Jenkins Foundation. Other baseball personalities on hand included Paul Quantrill, Pat Gillick, Jim Fanning, and Ron Stead.

It was a great day as the weather fully cooperated, as it was warm and sunny. I have met a handful of baseball people both past and present and have always been treated with the utmost respect. I recommend that next June you personally make the trek to St.Marys as it will be a worthwhile journey regardless of how far you come from. I plan to attend the 2012 inductions when they roll around regardless of who the individual inductees are that is how much I enjoyed the experience.

Happy Fathers Day!

     The first time I went to a baseball game was when my dad took us as a family. The first set of baseball cards I had my dad bought me. I know that if it was not for the support that I have received from both of my parent over the years my life would be very different as their support is second to none. Growing up it was my dad and grandpa who taught me the value of hard work and the importance of doing the right thing even when nobody is watching. In life things do not always go the way you plan or hope for and there will be a few detours along the way. Believe me if it was not for perseverance I would not be doing what I am today, getting to chase my dream. Words can’t express how thankful and truly blessed I have been to have both my dad and grandpa in my life all these years. I get to do something that I love, in large part because of my family. We sometimes get caught up in the rat race that life presents and maybe take things for granted at times. Make sure to take time to say thank you today; it’s the least you can do.   

Welcome to the Show- Elih Villanueva

It is a special day when a player makes his Major League debut and today right-hander Elih Villanueva (ranked as the 14^th best prospect in the Marlins system by Baseball America entering 2011) got the start for the Florida Marlins in the first game of a double header in Philadelphia. Villanueva was the 2010 Marlins minor league pitcher of the year after posting a record of 14-4 with a 2.26 ERA over 28 starts for Double-A Jacksonville.  This season Villanueva began the year in Triple-A New Orleans where he made 13 starts going 4-5 with a 5.23 ERA. The 24 year old south Florida product who graduated High School in 2004 from Westminster Academy in Ft. Lauderdale went on to play college at Florida International, Miami-Dade Community College and Florida State University before being selected in the 27^th round of the 2008 amateur draft by the Marlins. 

UPDATE: The game did not go the way that Villanueva and the Marlins would have liked as he pitched 3 innings allowing 8 runs on 5 hits while walking 5 on 91 total pitches as he struggled with his command. The Marlins lost the game by a final score of 8-1. Villanueva was optioned back to Triple-A New Orleans following the first game of the doubleheader. 

 

Mike Cameron & Me

On August 27, 2000 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington, USA I attended my first Major League Baseball game at the age of thirteen. The starting centerfielder for the Mariners that day was twenty-seven year old Mike Cameron who went 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored while batting in the 7^th in the Mariners batting order. The final score was 2-1 in favor of the visiting Chicago White Sox in front of a crowd of 45,525. Fast forward almost eleven years later to June 12, 2011 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the age of twenty four I once again crossed paths with the now thirty-eight year old Cameron who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh inning and took over as the left fielder for the remainder of the game. During his short time in the game Cameron went 0 for 2 as the visiting Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays 14-1 in front of the 30,364 in attendance.

Many things have changed over the last eleven years as one can imagine both in baseball, with many players coming and going over the years and in my personal life. At thirteen I was watching baseball, playing golf with my friends and entering eighth grade; now at twenty-four I watch baseball, play golf with my friends and am entering my fourth year of my sport management degree. Okay, so I guess some things stay the same. This is evident by the fact that out at the ballgame on Sunday afternoon I felt like a kid again just enjoying the game and hotdog at the ballpark. Although the fans, players, and city the game was played in differed I still had an amazing day at the ballpark, a place that never gets old and always brings me back to that special day in 2000 when I was lucky enough to witness my first live MLB game. Thank you Mike Cameron for being a part of the journey and when we cross paths again I’m sure certain things in both our lives will be very different but our love of the game of baseball is going to be one of those things that stays the same, I’m positive of that.      

Cameron was an 18^th round pick by the Chicago White Sox in the 1991 amateur draft, out of high school in LaGrange, Georgia. He made his MLB debut on August 27,1995 in Toronto against the Blue Jays at the Skydome (now Rogers Centre) were he started in centerfield and batted 2^nd in the White Sox line-up going 0 for 3 on the day. Over the course of his 17 seasons in the Majors Cameron has played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox. Cameron has played in 1,903 games while collecting 1,664 hits for an average of .249, along with 276 home runs and 296 stolen bases. Most notable Cameron is remembered for some of his outstanding defensive plays in the outfield that helped him win 3 gold gloves (2001 AL, 2003 AL & 2006 NL) during his career. Cameron also was a member of the 2001 All-Star game in Seattle as he represented the hometown Mariners.

The Drabek Dilemma

 Kyle Drabek was ranked as the top prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays entering 2011 by Baseball America yet so far in his brief Major League career he has been inconsistent at the best of time.  Drabek was awarded a September call-up and made 3 starts at the end of last season and although he had a record of 0-3 it was evident that he has big league stuff.  What was most impressive was his ability to throw strikes and willingness to challenge hitters as he walked only 5 batters in 17 innings of work, while compiling 12 strikeouts for a strikeout to walk ratio (K/BB) of 2.4 and although he gave up 18 hits and finished 2010 with a 1.35 WHIP it was clear that Drabek was heading in the right direction.

The 2011 season has been a different story one of two different pitchers at times as Drabek has shown flashes of brilliance and at others looks completely lost and overmatched on the hill. To date Drabek has made 14 starts compiling a record of 4-5 in 72.2 innings of work on average lasting 5.1 innings per start. What is most alarming is the fact that he currently leads the majors in BB with 52 and wild pitches with 10, while striking out 48 for a K/BB ratio of 0.92 and has given up 78 hits as his WHIP sits at 1.79.

So what has lead to his inconsistency during games and from one game to the next? Of the 14 starts catcher Jose Molina caught the first 6 starts where Drabek had a record of 2-1 with 21 BB and 25 K or a K/BB of 1.19 while surrendering 31 hits over 32.1 innings pitched with a 1.61 WHIP. In the other 8 starts that were caught by J.P. Arencibia, Drabek has a record of 2-4 with 31 BB and 23 K or a K/BB of 0.74 while allowing 47 hits over 40.1 innings with a 1.93 WHIP. It was clear throughout the game on Sunday versus the Boston Red Sox that Drabek and Arencibia were not always on the same page and it would make more sense to have Molina catch Drabek due to his veteran presence behind home plate. Drabek has displayed in the past that he is an emotion competitor who needs to channel his emotions in a more positive way rather than beat himself up on the mound thus improving his focus during the game.

The Blue Jays have to consider all of the options available to them when it comes to the long term development of Drabek even if that means sending him down to triple-A Las Vegas for 4 or 5 starts so he can regain both his pitching form and confidence. All young pitchers experience growing pains and it is more difficult at the Major League level with the additional pressure of winning and increased media attention.

One just has to look at the development of Roy Halladay as a prime example of refining not just the physical elements of the game but more importantly the mental side of the game. What took Halladay to the next level of his game and placed him among the elite starters in the game today is his preparation and work ethic in between each start something that comes with experience.

Drabek needs to go about his day to day business while controlling the little things that he can, while learning not to take everything so personally, as more often than not it is the little things that will ultimately lead to success or failure. No one questions the stuff in the arm of Drabek and at the age of 23 he still has a bright future ahead of him as he continues to mature and learn the nuances of what it takes to be consistently effective at the Major League level.  

2010 MLB Draft, Where Are They Now?

1. Bryce Harper, OF- Washington Nationals

-Currently starting in the OF for Lo-A Hagerstown in the Nationals system

2. Jameson Taillon, P- Pittsburgh Pirates

-Currently in the starting rotation at Lo-A West Virginia in the Pirates system

3. Manuel Machado, SS- Baltimore Orioles

-Currently starting at SS for Lo-A Delmarva in the Orioles system

4. Christian Colon, SS- Kansas City Royals

-Currently at SS for AA Northwest Arkansas in the Royals system

5. Drew Pomeranz, P- Cleveland Indians

-Currently in the starting rotation at Hi-A Kinston in the Indians system

6. Barret Loux, P- Arizona Diamondbacks

-Did not sign with Diamondbacks

-Became a free agent and signed with the Texas Rangers

-Currently in the starting rotation at Hi-A Myrtle Beach in the Rangers system

7. Matthew Harvey, P- New York Mets

-Currently in the starting rotation at Hi-A St. Lucie in the Mets system

8. Delino DeShields Jr., OF- Houston Astros

-Currently starting at 2B for Lo-A Lexington in the Astros system

9. Karsten Whitson, P- San Diego Padres

-Did not sign with the Padres

-Currently in the starting rotation for the Florida Gators (NCAA)

10. Michael Choice- OF, Oakland Athletics

-Currently the starting in CF for Hi-A Stockton in the Athletics system

2009 MLB Draft, Where Are They Now?

1.*Stephen Strasburg, P- Washington Nationals

-Currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery

-Started 12 games in 2010 compiling a record of 5-3

2. Dustin Ackley, OF- Seattle Mariners

-Currently starting at 2B for AAA Tacoma in the Mariners system

-Not yet played in the Majors

3. Donavan Tate, OF- San Diego Padres

-Currently starting in CF for Lo-A Fort Wayne in the Padres system

-On DL with a knee injury

-Not yet played in the Majors

4. Tony Sanchez, C- Pittsburgh Pirates

-Currently the starting C at AA Altoona in the Pirates System

-Not yet played in the Majors

5. Matthew Hobgood, P- Baltimore Orioles

-Currently on DL with shoulder injury expected to join Hi-A Frederick rotation in Orioles system once healthy

-Not yet played in the Majors

6. Zach Wheeler, P- San Francisco Giants

-Currently a member of the Hi-A San Jose starting rotation in the Giants system

-Not yet played in the Majors

7. Mike Minor, P- Atlanta Braves

-Currently a member of the AAA Gwinnett starting rotation in the Braves system

-Played in 12 games over 2 seasons with the Braves compiling a record of 3-4

8.*Mike Leake, P- Cincinnati Reds

-Currently a member of the Reds starting rotation

-Played in 36 games over 2 seasons compiling a record of 13-6

9. Jacob Turner, P- Detroit Tigers

-Currently in the starting rotation at AA Erie in the Tigers system

-Not yet played in the Majors

10.*Drew Storen, P- Washington Nationals

-Currently a member of the Nationals bullpen

-Played in 83 games over 2 seasons compiling 17 saves

-4 of 10 have played in the Majors

-2 of 10 currently on active MLB roster

2008 MLB Draft, Where Are They Now?

1. Tim Beckham, SS- Tampa Bay Rays

-Currently starting at SS for AA Montgomery in the Rays system

-Not yet played in the Majors

2.*Pedro Alvarez, 3B- Pittsburgh Pirates

-Currently starting at 3B for the Pirates

-Played in 131 games over 2 seasons

3.*Eric Hosmer, 1B- Kansas City Royals

-Currently starting at 1B for the Royals

-Played in 30 games all in 2011

4.*Brian Matusz, P- Baltimore Orioles

-Currently a member of the Orioles starting rotation

-Started in 42 games over 3 seasons compiling a record of 16-14

5.*Buster Posey, C- San Francisco Giants

-Currently starting C for the Giants (on DL with leg injury)

-Played in 160 games over 3 seasons

6. Kyle Skipworth, C- Florida Marlins

-Currently starting C for AA Jacksonville in the Marlins system

-Not yet played in the Majors

7. Yonder Alonso, 1B- Cincinnati Reds

-Currently starting in LF for AAA Louisville in the Reds system

-Played in 22 games with the Reds in 2010

8.*Gordon Beckham, SS- Chicago White Sox

-Currently starting at 2B for the White Sox

-Played in 292 games over 3 seasons

9.*Aaron Crow, P- Washington Nationals

-Did not sign with the Nationals was drafted by Royals 12^th overall in 2009

-Currently a member of the Royals bullpen

-Played in 24 games all in 2011

10.*Jason Castro, C- Houston Astros

-Currently a C for the Astros (on DL with knee injury)

-Played in 67 games, all in 2010 

-8 of 10 have played in Majors

-7 of 10 currently in Majors