Chris Coghlan Named NL's Top Rookie

Major League Baseball has announced that Chris Coghlan of Florida Marlins has taken home 2009 National League Rookie of the Year honors posting .321 batting average with 9 homeruns while driving in 47 rbi in 128 games played. Coghlan also posted an .390 on base-percentage, a .460 slugging percentage and a .850 Slugging plus on base percentage.

Andrew Bailey Captures AL Rookie of the Year Award

Major League Baseball announced that Oakland A's right-hander Andrew Bailey has won the 2009 American Rookie of Year Award having recorded 26 saves while posting a 1.84 ERA in 83.1 innings pitched.

Masanori Murakami: First Japanese player in MLB History

We all know the monumental accomplishments that Jackie Robinson made in shaping Major League Baseball for African-Americans as well as opening the door for many other ethnic groups to play the game. Major League Baseball is truly a global sport due to the various diversity and cultures of the players that exist within the league. In fact, the 2009 World Series M.V.P. was one of Japanese descent, Hideki Matsui. Throughout the course of Major League Baseball history, there have been many Japanese players past and present who have achieved various accolades for their ability and outstanding play on the field; Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki, Hiroki Kuroda, etc.

However, many might not be aware of the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball, who ultimately paved the way for future Japanese players. His name is Masanori Murakami, a former pitcher who played for San Francisco Giants. Murakami saw success as a reliever, debuting at the age of 20 in 1964. Murakami showed extreme potential to be a superb and effective ball player. In 1965, he struck out over one batter per inning pitched and posted a sub 4 ERA with 8 saves.

Unfortunately, Murakami's stint in Major League Baseball was short lived. In 1964, the Nankai Hawks of the Japanese Pacific Coast League had originally sent him, along with two other young players, to the San Francisco Giants' Single- A Fresno team as a baseball exchange student. Murakami was originally only scheduled to stay in the United States until June, but the Hawks neglected to call him back to Japan, so he stayed with the Giants for the rest of the season. In August of the same year, he was promoted to the majors, and on September 1, 1964, he became the first Japanese player to play in the major leagues. Murakami pitched extremely well as a reliever, and because of it, the Giants refused the Hawks' order to return him to Japan. The argument escalated during the 1964 off-season, and the Japanese baseball commissioner was called in to make the final decision on which team Murakami would play with. The commissioner made a compromise; Murakami would return to the Hawks after he had played for another full season with the Giants. He wore number 10 with the San Francisco Giants.

Murakami headed back to his original Japanese club due to contractual obligations as previously agreed upon. In Murakami's Major League Baseball career, he posted a 5-1 record with a 3.41 ERA and 100 strikeouts.

Top 10 MLB Free Agents

This list comes courtesy of mlbtraderumors.com which has compiled what many believe to be the best available players on the market, but to acquire their services will come with a hefty price tag. Let's see what the project salary is for each potential suitor and what team has the most interest in signing these players:

1. Matt Holliday - Mets. The Mets could grab headlines by signing Holliday to a six or seven-year deal for more than $100MM.

2. John Lackey - Yankees. Last winter's strategy of signing the best two starters and the best hitter available contributed to the Yankees' World Series title. With rotation question marks after C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, it makes sense that the Yanks will pursue the best available starter in Lackey.

3. Jason Bay - Red Sox. It's been rumored the Red Sox are willing to offer four years and $60MM to Bay. That seems to be a fair opening bid, given his defensive struggles.

4. Chone Figgins - Angels. The Angels have internal options at third base, but he'd be hard to let go after a career-high .395 OBP and excellent defense at the hot corner.

5. Randy Wolf - Mets. The Mets regrettably chose Oliver Perez over Wolf a year ago. As the best available starter aside from Lackey, Wolf is primed to get a three-year deal worth more than $30MM.

6. Andy Pettitte - Yankees. With all the good vibes surrounding Pettitte's work this year, it's hard to see him anywhere else. The Yankees might have to guarantee more than $5.5MM this time though.

7. Jose Valverde - Phillies. One way to shore up a shaky bullpen: sign the best closer available. Few teams are seeking closers, and even fewer have money, so the Phillies should be able to get a relative bargain.

8. Marco Scutaro - Red Sox. It's difficult to place Scutaro, because not many teams with shortstop vacacies will be willing to pay the three years and $18MM+ he'll likely demand. The Sox would be getting the best available shortstop here, but they could instead choose Jed Lowrie and/or Alex Gonzalez.

9. Adrian Beltre - Twins. The Twins made a large upgrade at shortstop by acquiring J.J. Hardy. Beltre would give them fantastic left-side infield defense and another possible 20 home run bat. The Twins had no interest in trading for Beltre a year ago, though the Scott Boras client added them to his no-trade clause.

10. Rich Harden - Red Sox. A one-year deal with a $7MM base salary would be difficult for Harden to resist. His injuries are maddening, but he leads free agent starters with a 10.9 K/9.

Silver Slugger Awards

The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball (MLB). These voters consider several offensive categories in selecting the winners, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, in addition to coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value. Here are the winners from each league:

American League:

1B -- Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees 2B -- Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays 3B -- Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays SS -- Derek Jeter, New York Yankees OF -- Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners OF -- Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox OF -- Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels C -- Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins DH -- Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays

National League:

1B -- Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals 2B -- Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies 3B -- Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals SS -- Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins OF -- Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers OF -- Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers OF -- Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers C -- Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves P -- Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs

MLB Hands Out Annual Awards For Outstanding Individual Performances

At the end of every season, Major League Baseball presents one player at each respective position with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, which is an award given annually to the Major League Baseball players who exhibited superior individual fielding performances and stellar defensive ability at each fielding position in both the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), as voted by the managers and coaches in each league..

Here are the winners for the A.L.

P Mark Buehrle-White Sox
C Joe Mauer-Twins
1B Mark Teixeira-Yankees
2B Placido Polanco-Tigers
3B Evan Longoria-Rays
SS Derek Jeter-Yankees
OF Torii Hunter-Angels
OF Ichiro Suzuki-Mariners
OF Adam Jones-Orioles

Here are the winners for the N.L.

P Adam Wainwright-Cardinals
C Yadier Molina-Cardinals
1B Adrian Gonzalez-Padres
2B Orlando Hudson-Dodgers
3B Ryan Zimmerman-Nationals
SS Jimmy Rollins-Phillies
OF Shane Victorino-Phillies
OF Michael Bourne-Astros
OF Matt Kemp-Dodgers

Yankees....The Legacy Continues

The 2009 New York Yankees are baseball's top team, and I'm not just talking in terms of payroll, as they have captured their 27th world title in their illustrious history. It had been almost a decade since the New York Yankees captured a World Series Championship and while most franchises in Major League Baseball would hardly consider that a drought, it feels more like a twenty or thirty year hiatus to Yankee fans.

Commonly referred to as the "Evil Empire," due to their ability to monopolize free agent talent which coincides with an exuberant payroll, makes the Yankees one of the most despised sports franchises amongst the majority of non-New Yorkers, but I am here to actually commend the Yankees and to congratulate them on their World Series crown, as it takes more than deep pockets to achieve a World Series Championship.

I present to you exhibit A; the New York Mets, whos 2009 team payroll totaled $135,773,988 compared to that of the 2009 Yankee team payroll which was $201,449,289. Now granted, that is significantly more, but it balances out when you consider where the Mets finished in the 2009 Season. The Mets 2009 record was 72-90 placing them fourth in the National League East Division standings only in front of the Washington Nationals, who finished last in the division. The New York Mets and New York Yankees have been the top two franchises in terms of payroll in Major League Baseball dating back several decades, and all though the Mets franchise has only been around since 1962, it has produced just two world series championships; 1969 and 1986. To put this in comparison, the Florida Marlins, whos payroll is nearly a quarter of what the Mets payroll is, has two world championships in its franchise history, and they have only been in existence since 1993!

The point is this, spending inordinate amounts of dough and attempting to buy a world series doesn't always work and more often than not, this is not the recipe for success. You have to have good ownership, a crafty general manager, superb scouts, an excellent coaching staff, team chemistry, etc. There are plenty of MLB franchises that consistently spend well over 100 million dollars in an effort to field a winning club and lure free agent talent away from smaller market clubs. These high priced teams have had little to no World Series success, let alone a pennant. The Chicago Cubs stand out in my mind, as they spent $135,050,000 in 2009 and have consistently been in the top 5 in terms of team payroll in recent history. What have those spending results netted them? Only two world series championships...in 1907 and 1908!!

I am so sick of people complaining about the New York Yankees buying championships and how it's not fair that they can spend that much money, as its not about how much money you spend, but what players you spend it on. Take for example the San Francisco Giants, who shelled out a $126,000,00 contract for Barry Zito. This contract is the third richest contract to ever be given to a pitcher in baseball history and this contract has in no way, shape, or form, contributed to Giants' ultimate goal of winning a title. In fact, this bloated contract has merely been a hindrance as it has handicapped their ability to fill other necessary holes offensively. Barry Zito was a decent pitcher when he hit the free agent market, but you didn't see the New York Mets or New York Yankees come in there and outbid the San Francisco Giants for Zito's services, why? Because its not about the money, its about evaluating the talent, then spending appropriately.

The New York Yankees are the most successful franchise in sports history because they have made ingenious moves in regards to fielding a winner throughout the course of their franchise existence, which has led to championships, which in turn has led to a high revenue stream, which has led to the ability to spend. Their greatness is not because of how much they are capable of spending, its because they spend wisely and have received mass return on their investments, which ultimately created the domination of the league at the hands of the Bronx Bombers.

There is a nickname in the rap game, when individuals are jealous and despise other's accomplishments in which they are incapable of achieving themselves, its called, "haters." One does not need a high payroll to win a World Series Championship and many Major League Baseball teams have proven this point in the past. The main reason that non-native New York fans hate the Yankees is simple, because they are consistently successful while their teams are usually failures and rather than ridicule their own team, they will justify their team sucking by saying, "well, if we had the money the Yankees did, we could win the World Series too." Uh, sure, you just keep telling yourself that!

A Look Ahead To The Off-Season Not the Post-Season

There are only 8 teams headed for October baseball, so for the disgruntled, disappointed fans of the other 22 Major League Clubs, here is an excellent link to some of the news and rumors in regards to the eliminated teams' off-season outlook. They also focus on other various topics in terms of team record predictions, roster adjustments, etc. concerning all 30 teams.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Steroids: Good For The Game And Your Health?

So, with the steroid cloud incessantly looming over Major League Baseball, I ask this question, just how bad are steroids from a health standpoint and a business standpoint? After 1994 strike, baseball was in dire straits for the several seasons that followed it. It wasn't until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa battled for the homerun record chase in 1998, that baseball became the national pass time once again. Many credited the Sosa-McGwire home run chase in 1998 with "saving baseball," by both bringing in new, younger fans and bringing back old fans.

There was also Barry Bonds' record breaking season where he hit 73 homeruns in 2001, which captivated fans and generated much positive publicity.

There was Eric Gagne's single season record of 63 consecutive saves by a closer in 2003. All the aforementioned players showed up on the Mitchell Report and are alleged steroid users. One can make the argument that these records may not have been broken if it weren't for their steroid use, but regardless of steroids, no one can argue that these players are talented individuals and deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Bonds, Sosa and McGwire are still amazing hitters and just because one takes steroids does not mean that individual can suddenly have outstanding hand to eye coordination and can suddenly play major league ball. One thing is for sure, it was certainly a much more exciting time in Major League Baseball. Who doesn't want to see baseball players hitting 60 to 75 dingers a year or pitchers throwing 104 mph? Especially when that player is on the team you're cheering for.
As far as steroids being a legitimate health risk for users, well..there's use and overuse like any other drug. There are in fact several proven medical side effects from overuse of steroids such as acne, high blood pressure, lower sperm count, and the potential for gynecomastia, known in the gym as “bitch tits." None of these side effects are fatal. Columnist Jordan Heller wrote an article entitled, "Roid Rave: Steroids, They Do A Body Good?" Heller tackled the hard-hitting issues and asked a doctor trained in this specific field point blank questions in regards to the link between steroids and life-threatening side-effects. "It’s all anecdotal,” says Mauro DiPasquale, M.D., a widely renowned expert on ergogenic aids, of the so-called evidence linking steroids to various health issues. “The studies that blame steroids for certain heart problems, for sudden death, etc., are not the kinds of things that make up evidence-based medicine and the adverse effects of steroids have been wildly overstated.” There is a simple reason for this. Steroids are in fact still a drug and if not prescribed, why should an individual take them? A lot of it is simply sensationalized propaganda. The same way marijuana use is overtly criticized in our society, yet alcohol is legal and causes several deaths a year from drunk driving accidents to cirrhosis of the liver. How many people overdose a year on marijuana? What serious fatal illnesses are directly linked to marijuana use? I think you would be hard pressed to find any in either situation.
Heller indicated in his article that, "while Dr. DiPasquale won’t say that steroids are innocuous, he does allow that, under the right conditions, he’d give the green light to a healthy adult male wanting to use them."

http://www.thefanzine.com/articles/science/312/roid_rave-_steroids,_they_do_a_body_goodY/2

Major League Baseball And Their Attempt To Clean Up The Game

There has been much talk in regards to the rampant steroid use amongst players in Major League Baseball ever since mandatory, random testing began in 2004. In 2006, U.S. Congress questioned and made it their personal mission to investigate Major League Baseball's Drug Policy, which was originally implemented by Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, in conjunction with the Player's Union. The two parties reached an agreement to incorporate mandatory testing to all Major League Baseball players, starting in the 2004 season, but Congress members were unsatisfied and very critical of the effectiveness of these steroid tests.
After mounting pressure from Congress and several media outlets, due to the BALCO steroid scandal, former Senate Majority Leader and federal prosecutor, George Mitchell was appointed by Commissioner Selig to investigate the use of performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. George Mitchell and media outlets insinuated that players who failed steroid tests were considered cheaters, bad role models for our youth, and drug addicts. Baseball also launched several ad campaigns about the health risks of steroid use. ESPN used every waking moment to launch several allegations about many prominent players in their potential use of steroids, in attempt to diminish their career. In May of 2009, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez were among the roughly 100 major league baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results. The results of the 2003 steroid tests were supposed to be anonymous and at the time, there was no penalty for using steroids within the Major League Baseball, but the players' names have slowly begun to surface. Alex Rodriguez was forced to admit his name was one of those on the list after a Sports Illustrated report in the spring. The information was seized by federal agents investigating performance-enhancing drug use among professional athletes.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and their Reign of Dominance Over The San Francisco Giants

Let me first start off by pointing out that I am huge supporter and fan of The Los Angeles Dodgers, but I think there simply needs to be some acknowledgment of just how great of a franchise The Dodgers have turned themselves into and still maintain the best record in the National League despite the Manny Ramirez suspension, and their pitcher, Hiroki Kuroda, being beamed in the face by a line drive, just as he had battled back from an oblique strain which sidelined him for two months. Granted the Giants have some quality pitching, but that lineup is a joke offensively. I hate to burst the bubble of any Giants fans out there, but this team is not going to catch the Dodgers and is unlikely to even get the wild card spot. Face it, this season was a good run, as many experts didn't even expect The Giants to finish the season with a .500 record. The Giants are lacking two power bats in their lineup to be considered serious competition, but in the off season, maybe they will acquire someone to fill that void, until then, a post season birth is highly unlikely. Well...theres always next year right? The Dodgers record against their own division is 36-17 which is the best record in the Majors. Stats do not lie and that equates to ownage.

Batter Chatter and Brief Introduction To The Forum

Hello all! This blog is dedicated to Major league Baseball and any topic or issues surrounding, "The Great American Pass Time." Team to team coverage including, transactions, rumors, league rivalries particularly the the National League West rivalry i.e. The Los Angeles Dodgers vs. The San Francisco Giants, steroids, teams in the heat of a playoff race and pennant chase, A-Rod and his ongoing scandals with call girls, etc. etc.