Monday, April 18, 2016

Johnny Cueto Ya Es Un Favorito De Los Fans



Johnny Cueto Ya Es Un Favorito De Los Fans Por Michael Saltzman

Johnny Cueto fue un fichaje sorpresa por los Gigantes de San Francisco en la temporada baja. Después de entintado Jeff Samardzija a un contrato de $ 90 millones a principios de invierno, los aficionados no estaban seguros de lo que los Gigantes ver con su otro lugar abierto en la rotación.

Iban a dar el trabajo de Chris Heston, quien lanzó un juego sin hits el año pasado en un fuerte 1ª mitad de su temporada de novato? Iban a tratar de traer de vuelta a Tim Lincecum o Ryan Vogelsong por una temporada pasada? Iban a firmar un lanzador menos proclamada sea para poner en la parte final de la rotación, con la esperanza de un rayo en una botella? En cambio, los Gigantes no hizo ninguna de esas cosas y firmaron Cueto por $ 130 millones y lo colocaron justo detrás del as Madison Bumgarner en la rotación.

La medida ha dado sus frutos a principios de como los Gigantes están 3-0 en sus aperturas y sus 21 1/3 entradas lanzadas conducir el personal. Él ha lanzado al menos 7 entradas en cada inicio, incluyendo su primera apertura contra el rival de Los Ángeles Dodgers, donde se rindió 5 carreras en la primera entrada y todavía fue otro 6 entradas.

Vencer a los Dodgers dos veces, la segunda vez en el Dodger Stadium, es la manera más rápida al corazón de cualquier fan de los Gigantes. Pero es la forma en que ha ganado y cómo él va sobre su negocio que él en una estrella en los ojos de los aficionados ha hecho. Se niega a ser convencionales en el montículo, a partir de lanzadores rápida, a shimmying antes de que él lanza, para todo tipo de otras peculiaridades antes de que él lanza. Todos estos movimientos están diseñados para interrumpir el tiempo bateadores y hacer que el bateador incómodo. Se ha estado trabajando.

Cueto es el mejor amigo de un jugador defensivo como parece odiar a tomar cualquier tiempo entre lanzamientos. Su insistencia para quitarse el sombrero al segundo se le permite después de una entrada termina se darán cuenta real rápido en AT & T. Podía ver la multitud retirar sus gorras al final de un turno como un tributo a Cueto a medida que camina de nuevo en el banquillo.



En última instancia, la producción es siempre más larga que la espectacularidad y entretenimiento. Pero esto es un juego y esto es dólar de entretenimiento de un ventilador. En este momento, si le preguntas a un fan que estarían dispuestos a pagar para ver el lanzamiento, la mayoría podría decir aún Madison Bumgarner, no sólo por su habilidad en el montículo, pero para ver a oscilar la madera en el plato también.

Cueto, por el momento, ha producido más que cualquier otro lanzador en la rotación, y si se sigue produciendo, a su pitcheo solo se convertirá en la estrella del espectáculo en 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

Johnny Cueto is Already a Fan Favorite


Johnny Cueto was a surprise signing by the San Francisco Giants in the off-season. After inking Jeff Samardzija to a $90 million contract earlier in the winter, fans weren't sure what the Giants would do with their other open spot in the rotation.

Would they give the job to Chris Heston, who threw a no hitter last year in a strong 1st half of his rookie season? Would they try to bring back Tim Lincecum or Ryan Vogelsong for one last season? Would they sign a less heralded pitcher to put at the back end of the rotation, hoping for lightning in a bottle? Instead, the Giants did none of those things and signed Cueto for $130 million and placed him right behind ace Madison Bumgarner in the rotation.

The move has paid off early on as the Giants are 3-0 in his starts and his 21 1/3 innings pitched lead the staff. He has pitched at least 7 innings in every start, including his first start against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers where he gave up 5 runs in the first inning and still went another 6 innings.

Beating the Dodgers twice, the second time at Dodger Stadium, is the fastest way to any Giants fan's heart. But it's the way he's won and how he goes about his business that has made him an instant star in the eyes of the fans. He refuses to be conventional on the mound, from quick pitching, to shimmying before he throws, to all sorts of other quirks before he pitches. All of these motions are designed to disrupt the hitters timing and make the batter uncomfortable. It's been working.



Cueto is a defensive player's best friend as he seems to hate taking any time between pitches. His insistence to remove his hat the second he is allowed to after an inning ends will catch on real quick at AT&T. I could see the crowd removing their caps at the end of an inning as a tribute to Cueto as he walks back into the dugout.



Ultimately, production is always longer lasting than showmanship and entertainment. But this is a game and this is a fan's entertainment dollar. Right now, if you asked a fan who they would pay to see pitch, most might still say Madison Bumgarner, not only for his ability on the mound, but to see him swing the lumber at the plate as well.

Cueto, at the moment, has produced more than any other pitcher in the rotation, and if he continues to produce, his pitching alone will become the star of the show at 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Happy Birthday West Coast Baseball



On April 15, 1958, West Coast baseball was born in the Major Leagues. The Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants had left New York and settled in Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively. For the last 58 years, one of the great baseball rivalries has become the greatest sports rivalry on the West Coast.

On April 15, 2016, reigning Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw took on three time World Series champion Madison Bumgarner. This was already their second time facing one another this season. Neither pitcher got a decision in the first matchup, with the Dodgers winning 3-2 at AT&T Park. Bumgarner homered off of Kershaw in the first meeting. It was the second time Bumgarner has done that against the three time Cy Young winner. The second matchup also ended with the same result as Kershaw outpitched Bumgarner for the second time this season.

This rivalry has always been one of the best in sports. From the days in New York to the nearly six decades in California, these two teams have constantly been battling for supremacy in the National League. In the 1,024 games the Giants and Dodgers have played since 1958, the Dodgers hold the slight edge at 522-502 for just a .510 winning percentage. That is also over 200 games more than they've played versus any other team in baseball in that time. The Dodgers also hold the edge in World Series at 5-3.

The Giants recent success is what has taken the rivalry to another level. With the World Series won by the Giants in 2010, 2012, and 2014, the Giants have made this rivalry even more competitive. Overall, the Giants lead the World Series count 8-6 with their wins in New York. The Dodgers only won one World Series in Brooklyn in 1955. The Giants also hold the overall lead in wins in the regular season when you go back to the beginning of the rivalry in 1884. The Giants also hold the National League record with 23 NL pennants and 20 World Series appearances.

However, on the birthday of the West Coast rivalry, it is important to note that for the first fifty years in California, the Dodgers took control of the rivalry. It is only because of the last six years in San Francisco that the rivalry truly has become great once again. No rivalry is great unless both organizations are strong.

For years, the Giants had Hall of Fame players but no post-season success. In 1962, they were one out away from a World Series, but lost and didn't make it back to the Series until 1989. They got there once again in 2002, but lost again. The Dodgers, who won in 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988, had established clearly that they were the better team.

Now that the Giants franchise has turned around and success has come with it, the 2016 season has a great chance to be another great year for the rivalry. If Bumgarner and Kershaw have anything to say about it, it will be great for many more years to come.

As we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day to honor one of the bravest baseball players our game has ever known, don't forget that April 15th is also the birthday of the Giants in San Francisco and the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

2016 is Already Controversial



In a year where a certain Republican candidate for President of the United States is trying to "Make America Great Again" by making America hate again, baseball has already had it's fair share of controversy.



Whether it's comments from Baseball Hall of Famer Goose Gossage ripping slugger Jose Bautista and others for their bat flips and emotion, to Bryce Harper playing off of that presidential candidate's slogan with a "Make Baseball Fun Again" hat in his post game interviews, baseball is seeing people take sides.



Some people who embrace old school baseball and old school America want the game to be played the way it used to be when the times were simpler and the game was policed on the field. People that long for baseball the way it used to be played, forgot how it actually used to be played.

People that call the game soft with the new slide rules at home and at second forget how devastating it was for Ray Fosse when Pete Rose ran through his body to try and win an exhibition game.

People forget the collisions that were considered good hard baseball when breaking up a double play led to broken legs and concussions.

This is already a sport that can't control when 100 mile per hour baseballs travel towards players heads unintentionally. It is also a sport that sees 110 MPH comebackers hit pitchers in the head unintentionally. We can no longer accept policing on the field. We can't allow pitchers to try to hit batters intentionally for breaking unwritten rules. We can't allow baserunners to slide and run into defenseless players anymore.

Baseball now has MLB Extra Innings and 24/7 social media coverage and every game, every inning, and every pregame and post game interview is recorded and broadcasted. Beat writers don't protect players anymore from possible criticism and players can't get away with dirty slides or controversial comments anymore, just because the game was a day game in the middle of the week that nobody went to.

So when John Gibbons was furious about the new slide rule directly impacting his team losing a close game, his comments veered in the wrong direction quickly and the controversy was instant.



Regardless of Gibbons opinion on the new rule or whether Bautista violated the new rule on this particular slide, he is out of line to say "maybe we'll come out and wear dresses tomorrow."

We live in a world where the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities are being attacked and legislation is being written to discriminate against them. We live in a world where women make less money than men for the same job. We have made progress in several areas since the 1700's when we 1st became a country, but we are still marginalizing groups and treating people like less then what they are.

Gibbons comments, regardless of intent, imply that men are better than women and that dresses being worn signals a lesser, softer and gentler game that he doesn't want to be a part of.

He came out today and doubled down on his comments, saying his mom thought it was funny.

This is where the problem gets even more obvious. By finding a female who wasn't offended, he is admitting unintentionally that he knows some women must have been offended. Instead of accepting that publicly and apologizing for his insensitive remarks, he tried to defend his comments further.

Denial is unacceptable in 2016. Understanding that demeaning women is wrong is essential to anyone who is being asked to be a leader. As a manager, it is Gibbons responsibility to understand that his comments were offensive and that his frustration about the rule gets lost in his sexist comments.

Bautista did grab Logan Forsythe's leg. Was it blatant and dirty? No. But was it intentional? Yes. This is why the rule is in place. Players are going to make mistakes and in the heat of the moment and in the real time, are going to make split second decisions that are now illegal. To say the game is softer dismisses that the game is also safer. In a game where players have retired prematurely from multiple concussions, and in a sport that is more profitable than ever, we must continue to move in the right direction and continue to make this game safer and better for today's player and for the next generation.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Bumgarner had the flu, but Giants bats look healthy



The San Francisco Giants enter the 2016 season with expectations at an all-time high. Spending huge money on starting pitching in the off-season left Madison Bumgarner as the lowest paid starter in the rotation. However, there is no question who is the ace of the Giants staff heading into 2016.

Bumgarner started his third straight opening day today in Milwaukee, but didn't look himself. He was pitching with the flu, and his day began my walking Chris Carter with the bases loaded and giving up home runs to Scooter Gennett and Jonathan Villar. It was only the second time in Bumgarner's career he has walked a batter with the bases loaded. It was also only the third time in his career a left handed batter homered off of him when Gennett went deep.

Despite Bumgarner's struggles with his health and his command early on, he struck out the side in the fifth against the heart of the Brewers order. The Giants bats, on the other hand, weren't struggling at all. Denard Span, Brandon Belt, Matt Duffy and Angel Pagan felt right at home at their new spots in the lineup and the runs piled up early on as the Giants scored seven runs in the first five innings.

Duffy, who spent much of his rookie year in the third spot in the order, batted sixth today. His drop in the lineup was to provide some balance with both Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford left handed and Buster Posey and Hunter Pence both right handed. His first at bat provided instant dividends as he came to the plate with two on and drove in the first two runs of the season for the Giants. His third at bat added two more runs with a home run to left.

Pagan, who was batting ninth, walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single from new leadoff hitter Span. It was another move by the Giants that created instant results, as the Giants moved Bumgarner to the 8th spot in the order to allow for their two lead off hitters to bat 9th and 1st.

Span's biggest moment came later as he hit a three run home run to give him five RBI's for the game. Joe Panik and Posey followed it up with home runs of their own. When all was said and done, the Giants scored 12 runs. The staff made all the headlines this off-season, with the additions of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. When you include former Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy and the return of Matt Cain from an unhealthy 2015, you have the makings of an impressive staff.

If today's Giants game is any indication, the lineup will be making even more headlines this season than the rotation.