Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.

The O'Brien Twins (South Amboy, NJ)

Eddie O'Brien - Pirates 1953-1958
Johnny O'Brien - Pirates/Braves/Cardinals 1953-1959

Career Highlights: Brothers became the first twins in major league history to play for the same team in the same game. They were bonus babies, which meant they went straight to the major league roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates, bypassing the minors after attending Seattle University.

The O'Briens were regulars in the 1953 season, Johnny served in the military in 1954 and Eddie did not play at all (bonus baby rule was you have to be on a roster, but do not have to play).

Johnny dabbled as a pitcher, appearing in 25 games with a 5.61 ERA and 1-3 record.

New York Baseball, Times Are A Changin

2013 could very well be the worst baseball New York City has to offer in a very long time. Fans of the Yankees have been treated to regular post season appearances and ultra winning seasons since 1994. Supporters of the Queens-based Mets have fallen on hard times since Carlos Beltran took that called third strike back in the 2006 NLCS.

Injuries, age, poor management and the emergence of other teams look to contribute to an early tailgating party at MetLife stadium for many Tri-Staters.

Over in The Bronx, the ARoid curse really took hold when the aging (but extremely productive) Derek Jeter was moving to his left to field a slow grounder by Jhonny Peralta in the final game of the 2012 ALCS. He broke his ankle and is still a question mark for this season, especially in the field.

Speaking of ARoid, he will probably miss half the season as a result of his steroid inflammed hip. That's alright, he will have plenty of time to count his undeserved salary, which by the way, is more than the entire Houston Astros team combined.

Injuries to Mark Texiera (in addition to his slow starts) and Curtis Granderson compound (sorry for the pun Grandy) the potential misery the Pinstripers are likely to have.

The irony of all of this is, that the Yankees have no where to turn in the free agent market. The LA-area teams have taken care of becoming the new spend-thrifts in baseball, leaving the Yankees to sign an now average Vernon Wells. No offense Vernon.

On the mound, gone are the days of Wells, Cone, Pettitte and Mussina.

Pettitte (40 years old) is still here, joining the more than able C.C. Sabathia (32), as well as Ivan Nova and Hiroki Kuroda (38). Phil Hughes is banged up with a bad back and will begin the season on the disabled list. Age and injury are issues in the bullpen, and Mariano Rivera (43) fits both categories. Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson are also tweeked.

Joe Girardi will have to manage his butt off this season to get the Yankees back to the playoffs.

Now the Mets. What can be said about Fred Wilpon's team. Not too much, but we will give it shot.

Starting with the newest news, Johan Santana is out for the year. While this is tragic news on the surface, it was really unclear what the Venezuelan lefty was going to contribute in 2013 anyway. His shoulder is shot and his career may very well be done.

Staying on the mound, Jon Niese is now going to be the ace and he has the makeup to perform this task. He has a winning record over the last three years for a dreadful team, so climb on his back and hope for the best every five days. Twenty-four year old Matt Harvey is a future star, and the Mets actually had the correct approach (imagine that) in bringing along this kid. He doesn't beat himself with walks and will pitch deep into games. Dillon Gee is the likely third man and is looking healthy after the blood clot in his shoulder has been resolved.

Let's talk bullpen. Bobby Parnell has finally got what I am sure he has always wanted. He is the closer. Frank Francisco is still banged up and will not be ready for Opening Day. No names and no talents make up the middle of the relief staff.

Offensively speaking, the Mets will be offensive (and not in the good way) in 2013.

David Wright is the only all-around batter the Mets have and is a potential Gold Glove winner, but with little protection in the lineup, he will have few opportunities to produce huge numbers.

Wright's protection includes, Lucas Duda, Kirk Neiuwenheiss, Mike Baxter, Reuben Tejada and John Buck. Young catcher Travis d'Arnaud (part of the R.A. Dickey trade) was sent to AAA in an apparent move to preserve his ML service. FML.

The Mets should let d'Arnaud start the season in New York this year and hold him to low offensive expectations with the opportunity to learn the staff and catch at the ML level, thereby "develop" ML skills at the ML level.

Whatever.

This could be a long season in New York and the upcoming regular season intra-city games (I will not call it Subway Series unless they play in October) should provide some interestingly meaningless games.

We can count on a lot of listening to John Sterling droning on and miscalling flyballs (ala Ralph Kiner) and Susan Waldman crying, this time sad tears. YES sound-a-likes John Flaherty and David Cone (the vanilla kids) will bore us with blowhard Michael Kay on the TV side.

At least the Mets have Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez to kill the time on the tube and Howie Rose on the radio.

It's going to be a long hot summer in N-Y-C....

MVP THROUGH THE YEARS - Same Position, Same Season

Diamond Nation takes a unique look back at the past winners of the Major League Baseball's Most Valuable Player award winners.

This week: Same Position, Same Season

Since 1950, there have been six occasions where the winners of the MVP in each league, in the same season have played the same position (we are not including OF for the purposes of this retrospective.)

Name the six times and the players if you dare.

HINT: Of the six remaining positions on the field (P - C - 1B - 2B - 3B - SS) only four positions have achieved this feat.

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.

Ray Narleski (Camden, NJ)
Indians/Tigers 1954-1959
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/narlera01.shtml 

Career Highlights: In 1955 for Cleveland, was 9-1, with an AL leading 60 games pitched and lead the league in saves, with 19. Pitched in 1954 World Series against New York Giants, giving up two runs in two appearances. Was involved in a five-player trade that included Billy Martin.

His father, Bill, played a couple of seasons with the Red Sox (1929-30).

BASEBALL THINK TANK: Since 1981, Lefty Pitchers, Season, More Than 200 IP, 200 K, Sub-3.00 ERA and 20+Wins

There have been seven (7) seasons since 1981, that a left-handed pitcher had a year with more than 200 innings, 200 strikeouts, 20 wins and an ERA below 3.00. Randy Johnson achieved this 3 of the 7 times.

David Price of Tampa did it last year and Clayton Kershaw got it done in 2011.

Who are the other two?

HINT: One guy did it in the 80's and the other was last decade.



Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.



Joe Cunningham (Paterson, NJ)
Cardinals/WhiteSox/Senators 1954-1966

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cunnijo01.shtml

Career Highlights: In 1959, finished second to Hank Aaron in the NL batting race, 10 points behind Hammerin' Hank (.355 to .345), but lead the league in OBP (.453)

From 1957-62, played in an average of 133 games/year and batted .305 over that period.

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.

Brant Alyea (Passaic, NJ)
Twins/Senators/Athletics/Cardinals 1965-1972

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alyeabr01.shtml

Career Highlight: Cover Boy on Sporting News.
Started two games and appeared in the third of the 1970 LCS as the starting LF and PH for the Minnesota twins going 0-7 with 2 BB annd 3 K's. Was traded by Oakland to St. Louis in May '72 only to be returned by the the Cards in August. 

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.


Allie Clark (South Amboy, NJ)
Indians/Athletics/Yankees/WhiteSox 1947-1953

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clarkal01.shtml

Career Highlights: Was member of back-to-back World Series champions.

In 1947, he pinched hit for Yogi Berra in Game 7 with a single, driving in Phil Rizzuto.

The following season, he was a member of the last Cleveland Indians team to win the World Series. In his only appearance, he was 0-3, but had a sac bunt that lead to a run in a Game 2 victory.

BASEBALL THINK TANK: Walked The Ballpark, But Blanks Opponent

Since 1916, FOURTEEN pitchers have thrown a complete game shut out and walked NINE or more batters in the game.

ONE pitcher actually had double figures in walks AND strikeouts.

I'll let the old timers reading this attempt to figure out the NL right-hander who averaged 17 wins a season from 1963-69 with a 2.90 ERA.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=Y0RPi

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.



Danny O'Connell (Hoboken, NJ)
Braves/Giants/Pirates/Senators 1950-1962

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o'conda02.shtml

Career Highlight: As a rookie in 1950, became a starting infielder for the Pirates and doubled and drove in Ralph Kiner in his first MLB at-bat.

His .292 avg had him finish 3rd in the NL ROY voting.

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.


John Orsino (Teaneck, NJ)

Orioles/Giants/Senators 1961-1967
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/orsinjo01.shtml

Career Highlight: With SF, pinched hit for Don Larsen in the 1962 World Series and grounded into a double play off Whitey Ford. Was the full-time starting catcher for the Orioles in 1963, belting 19 home runs.

Irish Baseball Hall of Fame

Click the link to see who is in the IABHOF

http://www.irishbaseballhall.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:bios-of-the-inductees&catid=37:about-the-hall&Itemid=54  

So who is in your Irish-Baseball Hall of Fame?

BASEBALL THINK TANK: Lefties With 2500 & 250 over the last 30

Since 1983, sixteen players have amassed at least 2500 hits and 250 home runs, most are Hall of Fame bound or already there. Some may be banished.

Name the lefty batters on this list, all SIX of them.

ANSWER: http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=tSOQ0 

I Know It Doesn't Matter, But Come On

The World Baseball Classic is now into the final stages and the USA Team is out of the running to win the title, again.

I know it doesn't matter, but come on it would be nice to make some real noise in this made for spring training tournament.

It truly amazes me that the USA cannot put together 25 guys, born in this country, that WANT to play with the Stars and Stripes on their sleeves. Perhaps it's their teams that truly don't want them to participate, or maybe not.

I know it doesn't matter to the Angels and Nationals, but come on, how great would it be to see Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, the emerging youth in MLB play for stoic Joe Torre?

Baseball is one of the true American traditions that was created here and adopted by other cultures and their passion for the game seems to have surpassed ours. Some of those countries have taken more of a serious approach to our game, and it shows by emotional performances in a seemingly meaningless event.

I know it doesn't matter, but come on, why aren't there Americans volunteering to play for our country and trouncing the rest of the world? Torre should have to turn players away at the locker room entrance.

The USA team, I'm sure, is not the only team in this tournament devoid of top notch players. It's the me first approach to team sports, the look at me, I just made a play mentality.

I know it doesn't matter, but come on, we American baseball fans deserved a better showing on and off the field, even if this a meaningless event to some. 

It is however, an event of our own creation, of our own game. Sad.

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.


Scott Schoeneweiss (Long Branch, NJ)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schoesc01.shtml

Angels/Mets/BlueJays/Diamondbacks/WhiteSox/Reds/Red Sox... 1999-2010

Career Highlights: As a lefty specialist for the majority of his career, there aren't many moments, however, he was a member of the 2002 Angels World Series champs. In 2000, he pitched his only shutout, a 3-hitter against Toronto.

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.


Eddie Kasko (Linden, NJ)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kaskoed01.shtml

Reds/Cardinals/Colt.45's/Astros/Red Sox 1957-1966

Career Highlight: Was the SS for the 1961 pennant winning Reds. Batted .318 in the World Series, hitting safely in all five games.

 

BASEBALL THINK TANK: More Than 200, Less Than .250

Today, we are speaking of switch hitters. There have been 28 of them in history (since 1901) with averages under .250 and have at least 3000 career PAs.

Name the FIVE with 200+ HRs.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=3ubu5

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.


Mule Haas (Montclair, NJ)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haasmu01.shtml

Athletics/White Sox/Pirates 1925-1938

Career Highlight: As a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, hit a 3-run inside-the-park homer in a 10-run seventh inning of Game 4 of the 1929 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. The A's were down 8-0 entering the frame and won 10-8. Two days later in the fifth and final game, Haas hit a game tying 2-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, helping Philadelphia to the world title.

BASEBALL DID YOU KNOW......

Two of the last four AL Rookies of the Year are from New Jersey!

In 2012, Angels sensation Mike Trout (Vineland) and in 2009 Oakland's Andrew Bailey (Voorhees) have represented the great Garden State in "The Show" by winning the award.

Honorable Mention go to Cincinnati Reds' infielder Todd Frazier (Toms River) 3rd place in the 2012 NL ROY race and Detroit Tigers' starting pitcher, Rick Porcello, was 3rd in the AL in 2009.

Who says baseball has to be played in a warm weather state?

BASEBALL THINK TANK: Alphabetically Speaking

Can you name the Rookies of the Year that are closest to the top of the alphabet, in both the AL and NL? Repeat the same exercise for the bottom of the alphabet. AL will have one at the top and one at the bottom, as will the NL.

The award begins in 1947, so get your history on.....


The answer is NL - Dick Allen and Pat Zachary and AL - Tommie Agee and Lou Whitaker

Since 1961, Pitchers Winning via CG SHO w/ 0 K's & 0 BB's

A couple of no-names, a disgraced righty and a converted reliever to name a few to accomplish this rare feat that has been done only 56 times since 1920.

Below are the 7 since expansion in 1961 to do it.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=Kotwb

Baseball Meme

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.



Johnny Gorsica (Bayonne, NJ)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gorsijo01.shtml

Tigers 1940-1947

Career Highlight: Out dueled Hall of Famer Early Wynn, 5/19/1944, as both pitched complete games. Gorsica had a career high 8 K's in the game.

Baseball Meme

Ode To a Player On a Team That I Seriously Dislike

I don't know who or what I dislike more, the uniform or the one's that worship the uniform.

I can say one thing for sure, the guy who wears 42 on that uniform has always had my respect. Not because he conducted himself with minimal exhuberance, if any, while pitching. Not for his precision against his opponents. Not for any other reasons you may come up with.

I respect Mariano Rivera because he was the best. Period. End of discussion. Don't bring up anyone else. Don't give me save numbers (Trevor Hoffman or Lee Smith, for example.)

Mariano Rivera will retire at the end of the 2013 season after missing just about all of 2012 with a blown out knee. The Yankees AND baseball will unlikely be able to replace him, now or ever.

By returning this season, he shows us all that he never took his career accomplishments for granted, a step that some would not have taken. Is it pride? Perhaps. Rivera did say he didn't want to go out like that, so he wanted to show he could continue his dominance, even at 43 years old. Ok, it's pride. So what, he has every right to dictate when he hangs them up.

Mariano, as many refer to him, simply would take the ball whenever his team needed him and would calmly mow down most batters in the biggest of situations. I can name two players that can boast beating 42 with their bats in a huge spot (Dave Roberts with his legs.)

With almost 100 post season games in his career (57 ALCS & WS) and a miniscule ERA in those outings, it is very easy for some, and diffucult for others to place Rivera among the best pitchers of all time just on that alone.

Go ahead make the arguement, I can't.

As a matter of fact, it is quite easy to proclaim Mariano Rivera one of the best pitchers of this or any generation. Whether you are speaking starter or reliever or regular season or post season, I'll take him on my roster any time.

Have at it Mariano. May I call you that?

Jersey Born

A look at Garden State-born Major League Baseball Players. Some you will know and some are unknown to us all, but represented Jersey in the show.



Sam Dente (Harrison, NJ)

Senators/Indians/Browns/WhiteSox/RedSox 1947-1955

Career Highlight: Struck out only 43 times in two seasons (1193 ABs), while amassing 305 hits for the 1949-50 Washington Senators, his only two full seasons.

One of three Major Leaguers to have attended Kearny HS.

Diamond Nation Returns for 2013

I'm back.

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Join the nation!!