Baseball returned. So far, it has mostly been good. Some teams surprised and a few others stumbled out of the gate. With that in mind, it is a test to see how things go in a no fan zone with the pandemic still going. Things will be interesting this week and if anything will reach the level of what is going on with the Miami Marlins.
Florida is one of those states that has seen a huge uptick in cases over the last month or so. For sports, the NBA is in Orlando. Baseball has Tampa and Miami. Same with football, but add Jacksonville into it. The Marlins have a couple handfuls of players and coaches testing positive for the virus. There are many challenges for MLB and the last four months has seen concern over how things can be handled. You have quite a bit of players that have opted out. So far, you can see why. Even within that state, the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team had a bit of issues with players testing positive a few months ago.
There has been postponement of the Marlins game against the Orioles. Philadelphia has a postponement of the Yankees Phillies game. The Phillies themselves experienced their share of players testing positive a while ago. They just played Miami. Better safe than sorry. Now, I wonder if the Marlins could continue their season. This will come in play if other teams have the issues they have experienced. MLB has tried to put in rules for spitting, chewing, travel. They can do whatever they can, but it's not solving much.
I'd like to see where the season goes over the next week or two. Travel will probably be the most dangerous part for baseball. Next would be eating and being around other people. If it gets more severe and at least five other teams get an uptick in positive cases, the season either goes into postponement mode or they can it entirely. I understand wanting a distraction and watching something to ease your mind for a few hours, but the 60 people in these stadiums do pose risks. When 2020 ends, the question will be asked of whether it was worth it or not.
You can only hope for good, but that's hard to find in a pandemic world.
Showing posts with label philadelphia phillies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philadelphia phillies. Show all posts
Monday, July 27, 2020
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Harper's Lucky or Unlucky Break
The number thirteen is something that can be viewed as mysterious. Whatever the case is for the Philadelphia Phillies, they are holding on Bryce Harper for a very long time. After seven years with Washington, he got a 13 year deal with the worth being 330 million dollars. He may not be making the most, but to get something long term may be good.
Given his career so far, he has been rather inconsistent. While capable of hitting home runs, he has been having years where he is great and then he slumps a little bit. Last year was a good indicator. Questions were asked on whether he was tanking or not. Comparisons have been made so far about Ryan Howard's contract from 2012 through 2016. While I would have fear if I was a Phillies fan, I think it's different. Howard was at the peak of his career and after 2011. He wasn't the same player like he was in his first three to four full seasons.
Harper still has a lot of prime years left in him to make his name in baseball. Now, he will be playing until he is 38 or 39. It's not like Howard's situation or even Albert Pujols' 10 year deal, which I'd say was a big bust. Teams are very concerned about these kid of deals. There is power to him, but the Phillies need to contain him and control his anger. If they want to be contenders in the next few years, they can't have him lose his cool and get ejected in critical moments of the season. Getting support around him and developing some of their prospects would also be a great help.
The National League East might become the go to division if it isn't the American League equivalency. Harper's deal will go down as the greatest ever or the biggest bust for any free agent when it's all said and done.
Given his career so far, he has been rather inconsistent. While capable of hitting home runs, he has been having years where he is great and then he slumps a little bit. Last year was a good indicator. Questions were asked on whether he was tanking or not. Comparisons have been made so far about Ryan Howard's contract from 2012 through 2016. While I would have fear if I was a Phillies fan, I think it's different. Howard was at the peak of his career and after 2011. He wasn't the same player like he was in his first three to four full seasons.
Harper still has a lot of prime years left in him to make his name in baseball. Now, he will be playing until he is 38 or 39. It's not like Howard's situation or even Albert Pujols' 10 year deal, which I'd say was a big bust. Teams are very concerned about these kid of deals. There is power to him, but the Phillies need to contain him and control his anger. If they want to be contenders in the next few years, they can't have him lose his cool and get ejected in critical moments of the season. Getting support around him and developing some of their prospects would also be a great help.
The National League East might become the go to division if it isn't the American League equivalency. Harper's deal will go down as the greatest ever or the biggest bust for any free agent when it's all said and done.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Too Soon: Roy Halladay's Legacy.
I would say the baseball world is still shocked more than 24 hours later of the sudden death of Roy Halladay. The pitcher was flying his own plane when it crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. An outcry of support has been seen by many and a little bit of ridicule by some individuals. (I hope those two guys from the Boston radio station 98,5 get fired. And Boston sports fans wonder why they are hated by most of the country) Nevertheless, he leaves behind a wife and two kids.
Until more details emerge, there isn't much that can be said for Halladay's career. It speaks for itself. One of those September call ups in 1998 for the Toronto Blue Jays, he wasn't anything special from 99 up until 2002. For his '02 campaign, he started lighting it up, becoming an All-Star and leading in innings pitched for the American League. His next season was even better. For 2003, he led the AL with 22 wins, the most out of any year in his career. He led his league again in innings with 266, nearly 30 games worth. Though he gave up a lot of hits, he had nine complete games, which helps to his legacy. All in all, he got a Cy Young for that year.
After a subpar 2004 season, Halladay got back to form. Within a few years, he was back to being dominant. In fact, he seemed stronger than ever. In a seven year span, he would lead in complete games for whatever League he was in for six of those years. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 and still put up stellar numbers. Most will think the highlight of his career would be the no hitter he threw in his first ever playoff appearance. Unfortunately, the Phillies were at the peak of their run as a decent team, so Halladay's playoff runs were only in 2010 and 11. He would wear off a bit in the final two years of his career.
The guy was very lethal. He knew how to play the game, and it certainly got him a bit of respect in the clubhouses of Philadelphia and Toronto. Halladay was probably one of the few bright spots in his time with the Blue Jays. It wasn't that they were playing horribly during his tenure. What doesn't help is the Red Sox and Yankees being more dominant during that period. There would have been benefits if the fifth playoff team was in effect 15 years ago. The stuff he was able to do could have changed outcomes, but that's all hypothetical. Either way, he gave the Blue Jays and Phillies hope.
So where does he stand as far as numbers go? The only guy I can think of for comparison is Pedro Martinez, and Martinez's numbers are obviously much higher. Halladay amassed 203 victories and 105 losses. He had a career 3.38 ERA to go with 2700 plus innings pitched. The two Cy Youngs help along with being an eight time All-Star. He pitched 67 complete games, and led leagues in innings four times. He certainly has stuff to be in the Hall of Fame, but I don't know. Then again, there are some players that get in with numbers you wouldn't think would be good enough.
No doubt, the Blue Jays and Phillies will honor Halladay for the 2018 season. It's always the people you least expect to end up in something tragic. Yankee fans will understand that with what happened to Thurman Munson in 1979 and Cory Lidle in 2006. Baseball will be in huge mourning for a good while.
Until more details emerge, there isn't much that can be said for Halladay's career. It speaks for itself. One of those September call ups in 1998 for the Toronto Blue Jays, he wasn't anything special from 99 up until 2002. For his '02 campaign, he started lighting it up, becoming an All-Star and leading in innings pitched for the American League. His next season was even better. For 2003, he led the AL with 22 wins, the most out of any year in his career. He led his league again in innings with 266, nearly 30 games worth. Though he gave up a lot of hits, he had nine complete games, which helps to his legacy. All in all, he got a Cy Young for that year.
After a subpar 2004 season, Halladay got back to form. Within a few years, he was back to being dominant. In fact, he seemed stronger than ever. In a seven year span, he would lead in complete games for whatever League he was in for six of those years. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 and still put up stellar numbers. Most will think the highlight of his career would be the no hitter he threw in his first ever playoff appearance. Unfortunately, the Phillies were at the peak of their run as a decent team, so Halladay's playoff runs were only in 2010 and 11. He would wear off a bit in the final two years of his career.
The guy was very lethal. He knew how to play the game, and it certainly got him a bit of respect in the clubhouses of Philadelphia and Toronto. Halladay was probably one of the few bright spots in his time with the Blue Jays. It wasn't that they were playing horribly during his tenure. What doesn't help is the Red Sox and Yankees being more dominant during that period. There would have been benefits if the fifth playoff team was in effect 15 years ago. The stuff he was able to do could have changed outcomes, but that's all hypothetical. Either way, he gave the Blue Jays and Phillies hope.
So where does he stand as far as numbers go? The only guy I can think of for comparison is Pedro Martinez, and Martinez's numbers are obviously much higher. Halladay amassed 203 victories and 105 losses. He had a career 3.38 ERA to go with 2700 plus innings pitched. The two Cy Youngs help along with being an eight time All-Star. He pitched 67 complete games, and led leagues in innings four times. He certainly has stuff to be in the Hall of Fame, but I don't know. Then again, there are some players that get in with numbers you wouldn't think would be good enough.
No doubt, the Blue Jays and Phillies will honor Halladay for the 2018 season. It's always the people you least expect to end up in something tragic. Yankee fans will understand that with what happened to Thurman Munson in 1979 and Cory Lidle in 2006. Baseball will be in huge mourning for a good while.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)