by Nick Underhill on July 22, 2008
I still remember the first time I encountered Francisco Liriano’s name. I was doing some research for my old column at Pro Fantasy Sports, it was my job to know the up coming stars, and try to locate them before everyone else. All I thought was that I had just discovered a brilliant pitcher that was flying low on everyone’s radar, what I didn’t realize is that because of it, I would be fired from my first paying job as a sports writer.
When I found him, Liriano was a mere footnote on the now infamous A.J. Pierzynski trade. He had made somewhat of a name for himself at the minor league level, but Baseball America still had him ranked as the third best prospect in the Twins organization behind Matt Garza and Joe Mauer heading into the 2006 season. Even worse, the Twins were oblivious to how special Liriano really was, as he appeared to be sentenced to a year of bullpen duty until something opened up in the rotation.
[click to continue...]
by Nick Underhill on July 17, 2008
Maybe its Manny’s fault, it’s not like he’s the most subtle person in the world. He’s done nothing to quell the grumblings and moans that have been omnipresent throughout his career due to his aloof nature on the field. Due to this, he’s managed to become a colossal figure; he’s one of those rare athletes with the magnitude to transcend the game. But not in the Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth sense, no, the public perception about him lies more along the lines of Dumbo. In other words, within the media and living rooms, this man is viewed as a joke.
Is it fair? Absolutely not, Ramirez is arguably one of the most effective hitters alive today. But, is the diagnosis unwarranted? That’s where things get sticky. Ramirez almost plays into the persona, not by design, but more because he doesn’t care. Maybe we just don’t misunderstand the man, or want to. David Ortiz and various other Red Sox teammates have gone on the record numerous times to voice their admiration for his dedication to his craft. [click to continue...]
by Nick Underhill on July 16, 2008
We just witnessed one of the greatest All-Star games of all time, it had the late inning rally, it had drama, it was packed with suspense from start to finish, yet, for some reason the detractors have come in full force to rally against the sport. Everyone always wants to fix baseball, but here’s the thing: it doesn’t need fixed.
What the casual observers don’t realize is that the game is perfect in all of its imperfections. I’ll admit that I have been one of the biggest proponents for instant replay, and if implemented with delicate hands, it would add to the value of the sport. But with that said, I’ll concede to the fact that my rant on the subject might have been a little premature. [click to continue...]
by Nick Underhill on July 13, 2008
Matt Cain is the unluckiest pitcher in all of baseball. His tale is one of grief, disappointment, and failure, despite being one the most talented and hardest working pitchers in major league baseball. By all accounts, he is one of the most gifted young talents in all of baseball. It was Cain, not Tim Lincecum, who was supposed to end his career with mantle full of Cy Young’s. Now it appears to be the other way around. Don’t let the results full you, though. Cain may have fallen behind in the race for the time being, but he has the stuff to come back. [click to continue...]
by Nick Underhill on July 8, 2008
Yesterday it was just a rumor that was starting to get some traction: The Cubs were after Rich Harden. The A’s were so sure they wouldn’t get any serious offers, that a club official went out of his way to announce that the oft-injured pitcher would not be dealt. [click to continue...]
