Bubba Links
Baseball Links
Because how can you not love a baseball player named "Bubba"?
Irene left quite a mess in upstate New York. And I hear it's worse in Vermont.
I wonder how we're going to pay to fix all this.
From an anonymous informant...some scans from Bubba Crosby's senior yearbook.
The Bellaire High School varsity baseball team:
Bubba was a "Birdkeeper" - a senior chosen to protect the school mascot. Which appears to be a cardinal. (That's him on the left.)
Bubba was chosen by his classmates as the most handsome senior. Or was it a runner-up? Something like that.
And here's his senior photo.
Bubba was a pitcher as well as an outfielder in high school.
The yearbook also has some photos of Ray Knoblauch - Chuck Knoblauch's dad. He was a coach at Bellaire.
(There was an interesting NY Times story about that.)
Labels: Bubba Crosby
Tony Cingrani keeps getting better and better:
Cingrani unhittable for Mustangs
Earlier in the year, Tony Cingrani drew raves for his work in ending games. On Saturday, it was how he started one that garnered praise.
Cingrani fanned a career-high 13 batters over six no-hit innings to earn his first pro win as short-season Billings defeated Casper, 3-1.
Labels: Tony Cingrani
The Reds faced the Nationals last night, with former Yankee Chien-Ming Wang on the mound. Wang hasn't been terrible since returning from surgery, but he's not the pitcher he used to be, either. His sinker doesn't have the velocity it used to have, and his strike out rate, never high, is pretty bad. Perhaps he's still recovering from the surgery. In any case, he managed to keep the Reds in the park. He gave up only a couple of extra-base hits - two doubles to the pitcher, Dontrelle Willis.
The Reds won, but only after Wang had left the game. Another former Yankee, Miguel Cairo, got the walkoff single. It's really amazing how well Miggy has hit since he's become a Red. His OPS is almost 100 points higher than his career average. This at age 37.
Paul Janish started at shortstop, and got on base in the 6th via a walk after a very nice 10-pitch at bat. He scored from second on a Brandon Phillips single. I was kind of surprised they sent him, but Mark Berry, the third base coach, knew who was fielding the ball in left: former Red Jonny Gomes. Gomes' throw was a little off, enabling Janish to slide in behind the plate and under the tag. (Janish is a pretty good baserunner for a guy who doesn't have blazing speed.)
But I guess Dusty wasn't impressed, because he pinch-hit for Janish in the 7th. That's the earliest he's done it when Renteria wasn't available. Miguel Cairo was the pinch-hitter; he struck out, then took over third base. Todd Frazier played two innings at short. He did all right, though I think a real SS would have at least had a chance at DP in the 8th.
Janish seemed pretty bummed at being pulled. The Reds announcers chose that moment to talk about how well he'd done in the previous inning, with the two-out walk, then scoring from second. So they showed him walking across the dugout, into the clubhouse. He was shaking his head and muttering to himself.
Poor Janish has really been a funk lately. That walk was the first time he got on base in a week, aside from a reached on error the day before. I know he can hit better than he has been, but he just seems to be a head case right now.
I wonder whether he'll even make the roster next year. I'm not sure Walt Jocketty will be comfortable going with Zack Cozart (11 big league games) and Paul Janish as his shortstops next year. He might want to get veteran backup for Cozart. Janish has an option left, I believe, and could be stashed in Louisville in case of emergency.
Renteria is starting at shortstop tonight for the Reds, but I expect Janish has a good chance of getting into the game eventually.
Labels: Paul Janish
Good grief. Just when you think it can't get any worse...
Ex-Met Lenny Dykstra charged with indecent exposure
(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra has been charged in Los Angeles for allegedly exposing himself to women he met on Craigslist. The city attorney's office said Thursday the 48-year-old former baseball star could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for each indecent exposure count.
Dykstra is accused of finding victims by placing online ads seeking personal assistants or housekeepers. He allegedly exposed himself to women who responded to the ads on several occasions between 2009 and 2011.
Labels: crime and punishment, Lenny Dykstra
Hurricane Irene's current path is a "nightmare scenario."
All eyes were on Irene's projected path, which showed it bringing misery to every city along the I-95 corridor, including Washington, New York and Boston. The former chief of the National Hurricane Center called it one of his three worst possible situations.
"One of my greatest nightmares was having a major hurricane go up the whole Northeast Coast," Max Mayfield, the center's retired director, told The Associated Press.
He said the damage will probably climb into billions of dollars: "This is going to have an impact on the United States economy."
The Reds are playing a doubleheader today, because Hurricane Irene is expected to rain out the scheduled game tomorrow. (Northeasterners - forget about the earthquake, worry about the hurricane.)
Edgar Renteria is in the lineup for game one - his first start since straining his groin a week ago.
Paul Janish will probably start in game 2. Mark Sheldon notes:
In a somewhat limited sample size vs. Marlins Game 2 starter Chris Volstad, only one Reds player has a home run. It’s Paul Janish, who is 2-for-3 in his previous encounter against Volstad.
Labels: Paul Janish
Crazy game last night. Paul Janish had very nice night. Two for five with a double and two runs scored.
He also had some great plays on defense, including a diving stop up the middle.
He even had a stolen base. He's not a very speedy guy, but he’s a good baserunner. Got to first base in the 8th inning on a hustle single, stole second base, then got to third on a Miguel Cairo bunt. It was ruled a single, but really, if the Pirates had gone for Miggy at first instead of Janish at third, they'd have gotten an out. Janish got a good jump and slid in ahead of the tag. Janish then scored on Brandon Phillips forceout. The first run of the game for the Reds that scored without a home run.
The Reds pen was awful, which is why the game was such a roller coaster. The pen just couldn't hold a lead. But offense and defense went all out. Left it all out on the field.
I've been critical of Dusty Baker for playing to win in a lost season, instead of playing for next year, but after this game, I can understand why he wants to win, even though the postseason is likely out of reach. It would be different if the players were playing like it didn't matter, but they're not. They're still playing like it matters, and it would be very hard not to give them the best chance to win, even in "meaningless" games.
MLB Depth Charts picked Tony Cingrani for the Under the Radar Minor League NL Pitching Performance of the Week.
The Reds have decided to give Cingrani another shot in a rotation, but have been stretching out his innings to ease him back into the starter's workload. He throws a power fastball that has potential for improvement. He topped the guns at 97 mph as a reliever, but levels into the low 90’s as a starter. The outcome of his mechanics overhaul has shown a quicker, easy arm action with deception that keeps hitters off-balance. He has potential for a good change-up and solid breaking ball and shows a skill of mixing his off-speed pitches with his plus fastball. The fastball may have him destined him for a relief role, but overall improvement of his secondary pitches could keep him in the rotation.
Labels: Tony Cingrani
Paul Janish made a couple of great plays last night, at the expense of former teammate Jonny Gomes. In the fifth, Janish scooped up a ball that shot past third baseman Miguel Cairo, then fired it across the diamond, just getting Gomes, who was so mad he threw his helmet. Man, what an arm.
The ninth inning got a bit hairy. It looked like the game was slipping away, especially after Janish slipped making a sliding stop, and bobbled a Jonny Gomes grounder for an error. But before fans could even draw breath to call Janish a bum, he turned this great double play (with Gomes sliding in hard). And just like that, the game was over.
Beat writer John Fay's headline: Janish saves it for Cordero, Cueto.
Even Dusty Baker was impressed.
"That was a great play by Jannie with Jonny Gomes bearing down," Baker said. "He did get him pretty good (with the slide), but Jannie got a good throw off."
Labels: Paul Janish
Edgar Renteria left the game last night with a groin strain. He'll be evaluated this morning to see if he has to go on the DL, but whatever they decide, it looks like Paul Janish will be starting again for awhile.
If I were the superstitious type, I'd think that someone up there wants Janish to start. Every time Dusty benches him, something happens that gets him back in the lineup.
It's probably in the Reds' interest to get Janish more playing time this year. He'll probably be back on the team next year, if only as a backup, and he is still adjusting to the big leagues. (He's got about 800 at-bats, spread out over four years. Bobby Murcer used to say that you saw a big improvement once a player had 2,000 to 2,500 at-bats.) Renteria probably won't be back next year, and at his age, more at-bats aren't going to make him any better.
And it's not clear Renteria is a better option even if the plan is to win now (which it shouldn't be - the Reds are out of it at this poing). Defense was brutal for the Reds last night. Though Renteria had a RBI double, it didn't make up for the runs he let score with his porous defense at SS.
Chien-Ming Wang had a pretty good night, starting for the Nationals. He repeated a pattern he used to have with the Yankees for awhile: bad first inning, then solid after that. His sinker doesn't have the velocity it used to have; perhaps that will come back in time. He's still an excellent fielder, which is a good thing for a groundball pitcher. Wang was always one of my favorites, so I was glad to see him doing well.
Labels: Paul Janish
A lot of negotiations went down to the wire last night, but most of the big name draft picks were signed by the deadline, including Anthony Rendon.
Meanwhile, Tony Cingrani is turning heads in Billings. He's sporting a 1.84 ERA. They are using him as a starter, and have stretched him out to 4 innings. Not sure if they seriously think he can start, or if they just want him to get more playing time.
A Reds fan who traveled to Montana to see the Mustangs has a game report here, including some photos of Cingrani on the mound.
Labels: Tony Cingrani
Labels: Bubba Crosby
Hall of Famer Hal thinks that, with the Reds season more or less over, Dusty Baker should play the young guys from here on out...including Paul Janish.
Well, it looks like Janish will be getting regular playing time, though it's probably not how he hoped or expected. Brandon Phillips will be out for a week or so after being hit by a pitch on the elbow. And Zack Cozart will have season-ending surgery on his elbow Friday (about time). With Miguel Cairo nursing a sore oblique, the Reds are a bit short of infielders.
Janish started at 2B tonight, and had a pretty good game. He was 2 for 3 (breaking up Kevin Millwood's no-no), and even his fly out was hit pretty hard. Just hung up a little too long.
He also turned three double plays, including one that was absolutely spectacular and will no doubt make the highlight reels.
Labels: Paul Janish
Not a great day for the Cincinnati Reds. The lowly Cubs kicked their butts. Their ace, Johnny Cueto, had a terrible outing. The Yonder Alonso left field experiment isn't working. Todd Frazier did not look like the third baseman of the future. Brandon Phillips collided with Drew Stubbs; I suspect Phillips will miss a game or three.
Paul Janish didn't get into the game until it was all over but the shouting, but he didn't have a great at-bat, popping out to shortstop against lefty John Grabow.
It's only one at-bat, but it's puzzling, how much he's struggling against lefties this year. He's hit lefties better than righties throughout his minor league career, and in the big leagues...until this year. I used to say that if he hit righties as well as he hit lefties, he'd be an All-Star. Not true this year. His splits are reversed this year. He's hitting only .163 / .200 / .186 against lefties. A fluke of small sample size, or have the other teams' scouts found a hole in his swing?
However he hits, Janish's roster spot is likely safe. Zack Cozart had to shut it down when he tried to take batting practice for the first time yesterday. He will have to have surgery, and I think the Reds will eventually admit that it might as well be sooner rather than later. With Brandon Phillips' sprained ankle, the Reds are rather short of infielders. Outfielder Chris Heisey also went on the DL today; center fielder Dave Sappelt will take his spot.
The Reds are now playing for next year. They are nine games back, and I think even Dusty Baker accepts that they won't make the postseason this year. That being the case, I hope he plays the younger guys, including Janish. Renteria won't be back next year. Might as well give Janish a second chance. And see if Yonder Alonso can figure out left field, and Todd Frazier can be an everyday third baseman. At this point, why not?
Labels: Paul Janish
Paul Janish started at shortstop tonight, to my surprise. I was really expecting Dusty Baker to write Edgar Renteria's name on the lineup card today. Janish was 0 for 3 with a walk, which doesn't sound that great, but I'm pleased with how he played. His first at-bat was fantastic. It was an 11-pitch walk:
Maybe even Dusty was impressed. Janish was due to lead off in the 9th, with the Reds trailing by one run. I wondered if Dusty was going to pinch-hit for Janish, but he didn't. Janish, the hit by pitch expert, was hit by the first pitch.
Unfortunately, the Reds couldn't get him home. Lead runner on, no outs, the team's best hitters due up...and they fell short. Again. The Reds have the worst luck with one-run games this year.
Meanwhile, it's looking more and more like Janish doesn't have to worry about being sent back to Louisville this year. It sounds like Zack Cozart won't be coming off the DL on time. I wouldn't be surprised if his season is done. It sounds like his elbow needs surgical repair. They are hoping he can play with a brace on his arm, then have the surgery in the off-season. But with the Reds now 8.5 games back and in fourth place, they have nothing to play for but the draft picks. Why rush Cozart back? IMO, it would be smarter to let him have the surgery now, so he'll have plenty of time to recover before spring training next year.
Labels: Paul Janish
Labels: Joe Savery, Lance Pendleton
Paul Janish got the start tonight in Houston. I had a feeling he would. Renteria played two days in a row, including a day game after a night game, and his veteran bones need rest. Dusty's been trying to match Renteria up against lefties; Wandy Rodriguez is starting tomorrow for the Astros, so Renteria will probably get that start. Also, Janish is from Houston; Dusty likes to play guys in their home towns, knowing that their friends and family will be in the stands.
Yonder Alonso got his first start in left field tonight, and that probably was a factor as well. Dusty was looking for the center fielder and shortstop to help out Alonso if he needed it, and Janish has more range than Renteria at this point.
Janish had a great night, going 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk. (His mom must have been there. He says his mom brings him hits the way other moms bring cookies.) He's now hitting .357 / .437 / .571 since being recalled.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. The Reds lost in OT, in a heartbreaking manner: Brandon Phillips made a nice pick and a great throw home, but Hanigan dropped the ball. What a waste of a rare good Arroyo start.
The Reds are downright confounding this year. When they're hitting, the pitching is terrible. When the pitching is good, the hitting is bad. When both hitting and pitching are working, the fielding sucks. They swept the world champion Giants over the weekend, but lost to the lowly Astros tonight.
They're now 7.5 games back. Barring an epic collapse by the Brewers and the Cardinals, things aren't looking good.
Labels: Paul Janish