Updated July 7
Steaming toward the All-Star break ... or simply steaming? You make the call. ...
From: Steve A. Re.: If I ruled the baseball world: Commish for a day
I enjoyed your story on commish for a day. But you left one rule out. How about Abolish the This One Counts All-Star Game. Using an exhibition game to decide home-field advantage is stupid and ends up providing the American League with an unfair advantage.
Nope, I like the relationship between the All-Star Game outcome and the World Series. Know why? Because baseball is far superior to the other sports and its All-Star Game shouldn't deteriorate into a meaningless exhibition. It's always been important -- at least, until managers started treating it as a Little League, everyone-must-play exhibition beginning in the 1990s. Thank goodness that trend has been reversed.
From: Chris E.
Mr. Miller,
I really enjoyed the different rules that you suggested, except for one: "There will be no more pointing to the sky upon crossing home plate following a home run. We have -- or supposedly have -- separation of church and state in this country. The least we can do is have separation of church and baseball. Unless you're Annie Savoy in Bull Durham. Besides, I don't think God has it in for the pitcher you homered against. Unless he's Roger Clemens. Then, maybe."
God doesn't have it in for the pitcher. It is the player who is acknowledging the fact that the reason they hit the home run was because of their God-given ability and they are simply giving credit where credit is due.
Not buying it, Chris. But thanks for playing.
From: Patrick B.
Mr. Miller,
Can you explain something to me: This whole pitchers must hit concept. Why should pitchers hit? We don't make hitters pitch. Baseball is a game composed of three acts: 1, Hitting. 2, Pitching. 3, Fielding. Pitchers do two of the three things. Hitters do two of three things. Why all of a sudden should Mike Mussina have to hit?
When a game is rained out and a team has to play a doubleheader, do they say, "Hey, Wilson Betemit, you're not in the lineup today and we need a pitcher. Go warm up"? No, of course not. And why? Because we don't ask hitters to pitch! I ask again: If we're going to make pitchers hit, why not expect hitters to pitch? Teams could slash payroll by having guys do double-duty.
I don't even know where to start with your crazy nonsense, my friend. The game actually is comprised of more than three acts. You forgot running (the bases). And throwing (from the outfield). Do you ask basketball players to shoot AND play defense? Of course. Pitching and swinging the bat are not mutually exclusive. The game has been played with pitchers hitting for more than 100 years. It was in the original rules. These guys are not porcelain figures. They're supposed to be athletes.
From: Scooter Re.: Fundamentally sound Twins getting it done with what they have
Hey, I just read your Jason Bay for Buffalo Bison legend Kevin Kouzmanoff trade! Please tell me that's a joke. Dear God, someone please stop the Pirates organization NOW!! Intervention! Whatever, just don't let this stuff that they do continue a minute longer! Stop the bleeping madness, people!
I want so badly for that franchise to enjoy a rebirth but they just won't let it happen. As a kid in Buffalo, we went to Forbes Field a few times and the Bucs have always been close to my baseball loving heart. Bob Friend, Vern Law, The Kitten, Harvey Haddix, Bob Skinner, Clemente. Great memories. But I'd like some new ones!
And Willie Stargell, and Bill Mazeroski. You've got me all pumped up now. Let's get us some new Pirates memories! The Brewers are doing it, the Indians have done it, hell, even Tampa Bay is rocking and rolling this year. The Pirates need to win before that perpetual, warm smile disappears from Manny Sanguillen's face for good.
From: Frank D. Re.: GMs scoping dangling arms as trade deadline nears
As usual, excellent analysis. I see Ben Sheets staying because the Brewers have a postseason shot. CC Sabathia, if dealt, should go to the NL. Why would the Indians want to see him two times a year and see him helping another team beat them out for a playoff spot? They have talent when healthy. This year may be shot, but next year they should be a contender. ... Bedard will stay as well. The Mariners may sell Raul Ibanez and a few others, but Bedard and King Felix Hernandez make a nice 1-2 punch. Cutting bait after half-a-year would be foolish. Bedard has stuff and he's a lefty. Greg Maddux and Randy Wolf are decent back-of-the-rotation guys. Personally, I like Wolf better. Maddux has become the right-handed Tom Glavine. I think he's toast. Randy can give you a solid six and he's younger. Bronson Arroyo is intriguing if he cost you little. He's been on a winner and has good stuff. Being on a team in a race may wake him up. A.J. Burnett has good stuff, but he's always hurt! I was hoping you'd have included Pedro Martinez. ;-
You're dangerously close to qualifying for work as a GM, Frank. Sabathia already has landed in the NL. Now let's see what happens next.
From: Tom
Thanks for the interesting piece! If you have a second, could you please point out the following to the person who puts up the site's poll questions: Best and worst are used when comparing three or more things. Better and worse are used when comparing ONLY two things? Yes, I'm a pedant. Hee, hee.
Thanks! Tom
Consider it done. And pedants are important and need love, too, Tom.
From: Corey S.
Kevin Towers is NOT a candidate for the GM gig in Seattle. Padres president Sandy Alderson, on XX Sports Radio, two days ago said the Padres have not been contacted, they don't expect to be contacted and if they are they will deny them permission to talk to him. END of story.
Yeah, because Alderson and Co. will need someone to blame for their failed philosophies. And don't be so quick to believe everything Alderson says, either: He's trying to stay one step ahead of the outraged Padres fans just like everyone else involved in the decision-making there.
From: Brian C. Re.: K-Rod's payback will be sweet during free agency
Scott,
I don't agree that K-Rod is his own setup man. Sure he's getting the saves but the Angels offense has been his setup man. They're the ones who are scoring just enough runs to make it another save opportunity for him.
Brian, Brian, Brian. See, it was a play on words. Francisco Rodriguez is his own setup man because he is setting himself up for a windfall on the free-agent market as a result of his dominance this season. You need to relax. Lighten up. Don't take everything so literally. Trust me, you'll enjoy life more that way.
From: Irv G. Re.: Mets front office puts worst foot forward with gutless firing
Scott,
I read your column regularly and usually sit back and laugh when some of your readers disagree with you and call you names. But I must say, your article about Willie Randolph's firing was a bit much. Like many journalists in the New York area, you've turned Willie into a martyr because of 'the way' he was let go. Let's get real, Scott. People are fired every day -- and they're usually shown the door and are never heard from again. Willie will make more money on the remainder of his contract then I will probably see the rest of my working life; he will be 'hired' by the Yankees so he can get a standing O at the All-Star Game in the Bronx, then will probably be hired full-time by the Yankees or the Dodgers.
So big deal, he was fired at night after flying on our dime to L.A. All that did was screw up some East Coast deadlines. Meanwhile, his team historically under-performed and as a 45-year Met fan, I wanted him gone yesterday. I know you admitted he didn't do a great job, but you really must have been 'personally' offended by the firing to use the words autopsy and homicide when talking about baseball! Please, Scott, let's save the histrionics for the talk shows. This is still sports, not real life. Let's come back to Earth a little on this story, okay?
Fair comments, Irv. But my point remains: The way the Mets bungled the firing is representative of the way the organization bungles other things. To me, it was just one more example of why their ceiling is lower than that of some other clubs.
From: Steve C.
Maybe if you watched and followed the Mets on a daily basis like us real baseball fans do, then you might have the credibility to make such asinine statements about them. Get a grip. When a manager is at fault, he's at fault. It doesn't matter when you fire a manager, it's never a great time. But guess what, it was time for him to be gone weeks ago.
Which backs up my point: Why wait until the club flew all the way to California to fire him? Why let Randolph dangle for two weeks or more while determining his fate? A decisive organization would have recognized the need for change long ago and handled it much differently.
From: Frank P. Re.: Broken bats a growing concern for players, officials
I am very concerned that the maple bat controversy will end in a life- or career-ending tragedy before MLB and the players union get their non-act together. All this hand-wringing is idiotic. Brian O'Noras injury is another example. I hope he sues the whole lot of them. In fact, where is the umpires union on all this? Umps should walk off the field when a batter comes to the plate with a maple bat.
Agreed. Baseball has been slow to act in many other instances -- steroids, anyone? -- and it needs to get out in front of this problem before, as you note, something tragic happens. Let's hope they do.
