Sunday Notes: Badenhop’s Reds, Twins, Pirates, Papelbon, more
Burke Badenhop wasn’t expecting this when he signed with Cincinnati last winter. The free agent reliever thought he was joining a club that could contend. Instead, the Reds have floundered. With a lone game left on the docket, the team built by Walt Jocketty is 64-97 and will finish in last place for the first time since 1983.
Injuries weren’t the only issue, but they played a big role in Cincinnati’s crash-and-burn campaign.
“We never really got a chance to hit the ground running,” said Badenhop. “Right off the bat, Homer Bailey went down. Then Devin Mesoraco went down, Zack Cozart had a catastrophic knee injury just running to first base. We’re playing in the toughest division in baseball – the Cardinals, Pirates and Cubs would be in first place in every other division – and facing teams like that while battling injuries makes for a real uphill battle.”
Despite their doldrums, the Reds drew over 2.4 millions fans to Great American Ballpark this summer. Not that they were always there to see the home team.
“Last weekend, pretty much the whole third base lower level was Mets fans,” Badenhop said. “There were a lot of ‘Let’s Go Mets’ chants. That’s a little disheartening to hear in your own ballpark, but it is what it is. There are a lot of Cubs fans in Cincinnati as well, so it was kind of the same when they played their last series here. But at the same time, we’ve had pretty good fan support, especially when you consider the weather. I think we had something like 40 hours of rain delays at home.”
Joey Votto was one of the few bright spots. Badenhop has played for five teams over eight big-league seasons, and he’s only had one teammate impress him as much with the bat.
“Hanley Ramirez’s batting title season (2009) is probably the best display of pure hitting that I’ve seen,” said Badenhop. “Joey’s approach is different – he’s more patient – but what he’s doing is every bit as impressive. He’s reached base 48 games in a row and his OPS is over 1.000. I’ll probably never get a chance to play 162 games with somebody like that again, not unless I’m lucky enough to come back here next year.”
Badenhop has a mutual option for next season, which includes a buyout. Whether the 32-year-old sinkerballer stays or goes, he’ll do so having finished with his highest ERA in five years. It stood at 3.99 when we spoke before yesterday’s game, and his response to my suggestion that he keep it below 4.00 speaks to his stat-savvy.
“If someone doesn’t want to sign me because my ERA is a tenth of a run too high… I’d like to think that’s not how teams make decisions,” said Badenhop. “For relievers, ERA isn’t the heaviest thing you want to lean on.”
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On June 4, I wrote an article called “The Twins as the Orioles.” It included the following:
“(For) the first-place Minnesota Twins… a descent in the standings – possibly a steep one – is imminent. Unless it isn’t. What if they continue to outperform their expectations and their peripherals? What if the Twins are this year’s Orioles?”
I’d like to say I predicted what’s come to pass. The article spelled out reasons contention was plausible, but in all honesty, I didn’t expect them to defy the odds. Somehow they did. Four months later – on the last weekend of the season – they were still alive for the second Wild Card spot. Had Glen Perkins not battled injuries in the second half, they quite possibly would have advanced to the postseason.
They didn’t – Paul Molitor’s overachievers were eliminated yesterday – but Twins fans shouldn’t be too dismayed. Their team had a fantastic year.
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The Pirates will have a plan when they go up against the Cubs in the National League Wild Card game on Wednesday night. Clint Hurdle doesn’t follow a strict script, but his team is as well-prepared as any. With few exceptions, every decision he makes has been thought out beforehand. That was in evidence when the Pittsburgh skipper was asked about about a decision-gone-wrong during last month’s four-game set with the Cubs.
“It depends on which side of the argument you want to be on,” Hurdle told a group of reporters. “We have had a rhyme and a reason, and a consistent method, for what we’ve done all year. This wasn’t an outlier for any reason; we just didn’t get the result we wanted.
“When you sit on this side of the desk, you make decisions expecting to get them all right, knowing that you’re not going to. When they work out, you expected them to, so it’s not like you pat yourself on the back and go, ‘That was really smart.’ The ones that don’t work out the ones you pay a little more attention to.”
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I didn’t include the following quotes in last Sunday’s look at Logan Forsythe. I probably should have, because his words were bluntly poetic. Addressing his career-best numbers, Forsythe said:
“I think the game is going to tell all. This year is going to end up like this year is going to end up. Whatever they are, next year I’m going to try to get better.”
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As of Friday, 253 players had made their MLB debut this season. Every one of them will have a story to tell someday, regardless of how long they play.
Charlie Montoyo’s career began and ended in 1993, and consisted of five at bats over four games. The Tampa Bay third base coach played his first with the Montreal Expos on September 7, and he made the most of it.
“I found out I was getting called up before the second game of the (Triple-A) playoffs,” recalled Montoyo. “Mike Quade was the manager, and around 2 o’clock in the afternoon he asked me, ‘Do you want to play today?’ I said, ‘Yeah; I don’t know why I didn’t play yesterday.’ He said, ‘Well, you’re going to go play for the Expos.’
“We were in Ottawa, and I rented a car and drove to Montreal. I got lost and stopped at a a gas station, but they spoke French, which didn’t help me any. I ended up getting to the ballpark at 7 o’clock, for a 7:15 game.
“In the bottom of the eighth inning, (manager) Felipe Alou says, ‘If they bring in the lefty, you’re going to pinch-hit.’ I got lucky. They brought in the lefty and I got the game-winning RBI; my first at bat in the big leagues and I got a hit to win the game.”
What does Montoya remember thinking as he stood on first base?
“I got my ball,” said Montoya. “Nobody can take that away from me. It was pretty cool.”
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Steve Sparks appeared in one postseason. The former knuckleballer – and current Astros broadcaster – played for the Oakland A’s when they lost to the Red Sox in the 2003 ALDS. It was a nail-biting series that featured extra-inning games, a Tim Hudson off-the-field fracas, and a dramatic home run.
Game One was won on a bunt.
“Ramon Hernandez was up in the twelfth inning with a runner on third and two out,” remembered Sparks. “Ramon was our catcher and he bunted for a hit to score the winning run. The third baseman was back behind the bag and (third base coach) Ron Washington pointed to his eyes with two fingers. First pitch, Ramon laid it down and we won the game. It was awesome, and Ron Washington is very smart.”
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Some further thoughts on backup sliders – a subject in recent columns — courtesy of Royals pitcher Chris Young:
“Even though you see backup sliders resulting in outs and swings-and-misses, there are others that result in balls, hit-by-pitches, and even home runs. It’s not always a positive outcome.
“Why don’t (pitchers attempt to throw them)? We’re so in-tuned to doing things correctly that when we do something incorrectly, we’re probably not even aware of how we did it. We know what the correct feel is, and we know how to make that correction, but to repeat something that you don’t consider correct… inherently, your mind tells you that’s not right.”
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The recent set-to in the Washington Nationals dugout has elicited no shortage of strong opinions. Many have pilloried Jonathan Papelbon, and for good reason. Putting your hands around someone’s throat is by no means an acceptable way of getting your point across.
Following from afar, I can’t help but think back to the numerous interactions I had with Papelbon earlier in his professional career. As a minor-leaguer, he was fun-loving, personable, and accommodating. As a young major-leaguer, he remained much the same. Most scribes in the Boston market will agree with that observation.
He’s changed. Based on what I’ve read and heard – and from a brief conversation two years ago in Philadelphia – Papelbon has grown increasingly gruff and aloof. Even before the Bryce Harper episode, the supremely-talented reliever had devolved into one of the least-liked players in the game. Knowing how likable he once was, that’s sad to see.
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I get both sides of the unwritten-rules argument as it pertains to showboating. I’m not a big fan of the Fernando Rodney arrow shoot – to cite one example – but I also don’t get my proverbial panties in a bunch when he aims at the sky. Ditto when a batter takes his sweet time rounding the bases after a home run. Baseball is supposed to be fun, and a little pizzazz is entertaining and good for the game. I temper my old-school predisposition with that in mind.
Even so, I think the Twins had every right to take umbrage at Jose Ramirez’s bat flip earlier this week. What the Indians rookie did was part youthful exuberance, but it was also button-pushing. Flipping lumber 10-15 feet in the air while passing in front of the opposing dugout? That’s inviting a ball in the ear, whether you’re from Peravia Province or Paducah.
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I don’t have an awards vote this year. One drawback of being in the Boston chapter of the BBWAA is that there are far more members than there are voting slots. Each chapter has two votes per category, which means eight Boston writers are casting votes for the four American League awards.
This is what my ballot would look like if I had a vote in every category, in both leagues:
AL MVP: 1. Josh Donaldson, 2. Mike Trout, 3. J.D. Martinez
NL MVP: 1. Bryce Harper, 2. Joey Votto, 3. Paul Goldschmidt
AL CY Young: 1. Dallas Keuchel, 2. David Price, 3. Chris Sale
NL Cy Young: 1. Clayton Kershaw, 2. Jake Arrieta, 3. Zack Greinke
AL Rookie: 1. Francisco Lindor, 2. Carlos Correa, 3. Eduardo Rodriguez
NL Rookie: 1. Kris Bryant, 2. Jung Ho Kang, 3. Matt Duffy
AL Manager: 1. Paul Molitor, 2. Joe Girardi, 3. Jeff Bannister
NL Manager: 1. Joe Maddon, 2. Clint Hurdle, 3. Terry Collins
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Last week’s Random Facts and Stats mentioned Mike Cuellar, who pitched for the Astros and Orioles in the 1960s and 1970s. This past week I discovered that Cuellar was a member of the 1963 Double-A Knoxville Smokies, who were a Tigers affiliate at the time. It was a memorable squad. Six ’65 Smokies – Cuellar, Pat Dobson, Frank Lary, Denny McLain, Joe Sparma and Tom Timmermann – won a combined 653 big-league games, and had ten 20-win seasons between them. The Knoxville outfield — Willie Horton, Jim Northrup and Mickey Stanley – went on to hit 595 home runs and capture four Gold Gloves.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
LaTroy Hawkins, who plans to retire at the end of the season, ranks 10th all-time in regular-season pitching appearances. His 1,042 games is even more impressive when you consider that 98 of his first 99 appearances came as a starter.
Matt Thornton has appeared in 55-or-more regular-season games in every one of his 11 full seasons in the big leagues. The southpaw – currently with the Nationals – has pitched in 60 or more in each of the last 10 seasons.
The Phillies go into today’s finale with 99 losses. They haven’t lost 100 games since 1961.
MLB games have lasted an average 2:56 this season, down from 3:02 a year ago.
Minor league games lasted an average 2:43 this season, down from 2:49 a year ago.
On this date in 1906, the Chicago Cubs won their final game of the season to finish 116-36 (with three ties). They went on to lose the World Series to the White Sox. whose starting staff included “Big Ed” Walsh. On Friday, Chris Sale broke Walsh’s White Sox record for strikeouts in a season. Walsh had 269 in 1908; Sale has 274.
In 1886, William Van Winkle “Chicken” Wolf of the Louisville Colonels hit an 11th-inning game-winning inside-the-park home run against the Cincinnati Red Stockings. On the play, Cincinnati outfielder Abner Powell was attacked by a dog that had been sleeping near the fence.
David Laurila grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and now writes about baseball from his home in Cambridge, Mass. He authored the Prospectus Q&A series at Baseball Prospectus from December 2006-May 2011 before being claimed off waivers by FanGraphs. He can be followed on Twitter @DavidLaurilaQA.
Why Bannister 3rd for Manager of the Year?
Yes, any display of enthusiasm by batters should be rooted out of the game by violence. While pitchers preen like cockatoos, immune to any recourse.
Or maybe when you intentionally walk someone to get to a batter, your pitcher should get them out, or you should shut your mouth in the dugout and let them have their moment.
If kids playing little league for the first time were read the MLBs unwritten rules on celebrations and celebratory punishments, many would walk off the field and go home.
2 comments. First, it’s good to see someone else appreciates the season had by Jung Ho Kang, with zero minor league experience.
Regarding the unwritten rules, I believe that many of them including the backflip are based more on good sportsmanship. Not making the pitcher feel worse than he already does when he gives up a HR is the right thing to do. Do unto others. This is what separates MLB from NFL & NBA and why I still enjoy baseball
Why then do pitchers get a pass on fist pumps and blowing on their index finger like it is a pistol after recording a strikeout? Doesn’t that make the batter feel worse?
If you walk a batter to get to the next batter and that batter hits a home run, I think you should expect a little “in your face” celebration. Didn’t you make that batter feel worse by walking the prior batter?
Especially in a 7-1 game in the late innings. It’s one thing to walk a guy with a man on 2nd and 2 outs in a 1-run game, but the Twins walked Kipnis in a 7-1 game in the 8th
Value ARB could not be more wrong. You can show enthusiasm for a team effort. But showing enthusiasm for an individual effort is another thing. Because baseball is one on one. A pitcher versus a batter. There is no way to make yourself look better without making the other person look worse. And as I said earlier, players with class don’t do this because they are good sports. They have manners. They have self control, something that is essential to being a good athlete.
You can advocate not embarrassing another player with batflips, etc. without advocating violence. As the great coach Vince Lombardi 7 football. When you score a touchdown, act like you been there before. In other words, if you’re a professional, act like a professional. You’re being paid to hit home runs. So when you hit one, you’re basically doing your job. I don’t jump up and down when I crack open a chest in the ER and save a life. I don’t spike the patient’s chart. I don’t do a touchdown dance. I did what I was paid to do, what I expected to do, and what others expected me to do. It felt good to be successful yes, but… I’m a professional and didn’t want to look like a foolish kid. And how embarrassing would it be the next time when I wasn’t successful? You inviting booze the next time you don’t hit a homerun if you do a backflip every time you hit one.
The value of the agreement can not be wrong. Can you show enthusiasm and teamwork. But it shows the enthusiasm of individual efforts is another matter. Because it’s one on one, baseball. Glass of hitters against. There is no better way for themselves without having others look up. And as I said earlier, the players do not work because you’re a good athlete. They have good manners. They have self-control, but more importantly is a good athlete.
I try not to cause problems with the player batflips, etc., without advocating violence. Being a football coach Vince Lombardi large 7. When you have made your point, the game had earlier. In other words, if you are a professional, act like a professional. You get paid to click the shutter. So, when one, in fact, you do your job. Do not jump down when I crack open the chest in the emergency and save lives. I do not throw darts at the table the patient. I do not work for touchdovn dance. Yes, I am, what I want to do other work and hope. It’s good to be a success, but … I was an expert, and I do not want to believe that I was stupid. And what a shame that when I left. You called wine after a shock if you’re doing acrobatic moves, each time you press.
I am soooooo glad I started this.
This is the best one yet.
Do not jump down when I crack open the chest in the emergency and save lives. I do not throw darts at the table the patient.
This especially is just gold.
lol
You might feel and act a little differently if someone was trying to tackle you or throwing baseballs in your general direction while you were cracking open a chest and saving one patient in three was considered an excellent result. Apples and oranges is what I am saying.
You crack open chests in the ER? You must be awesome on tv.
needs a note about Mark Buerhle. a lot of rumors flying around that today will be his swan song. 200 innings and then off into the sunset.
Is he not going to pitch in the playoffs?
As long Relief, maybe.
This is where i get frustrated. You are an amazing writer, and obviously a very smart and informed baseball fan…..and yet because you are from Boston, you manage to slip Rodriguez a free ROY vote….for no apparent reason. He’s not even top 10 in AL rookie war or even top 5 in rookie pitcher era or fip. He hasn’t even been up the whole year. How does he get your 3rd ROY ranking?
If even the smartest, most informed, and most reasonable of boston media – which you are – still end up overrating red sox like this, what hope is there for the rest of them?
He’s first in WAR among AL rookie pitchers, so there’s that.
Per ESPN that is.
I am guessing that you are not in favor of pitchers winning the MVP award?
There isn’t even a clear front-runner for Cy Young, so who do you propose should win the MVP in favor of two hitters who are having “greatest of all time”-type seasons?
The fact that there are three pitchers worthy of the Cy Young does not preclude the possibility that all three could be in the running for MVP too.
Harper’s my NL MVP, but if I had a vote, there would be two pitchers in the top three. Which two is another question.
Here to the shout out to Paducah, KY. We used to have a minor league team and still have an awesome stadium where they play American Legion and college tournaments.
The Cuellar year at Knoxville was 1963. I feel like those things happen from time to time, where a core of some great teams (in this case the Tigers) was together in the minors. But to add a star from a competing team is a nice touch
Thanks for the best-written and insightful baseball column anywhere.
Glen Perkin’s injury probably hamstrung the Twins’ shot at the playoffs much less than the failure to promote Berrios.