Mel Antonen

Injury-plagued Nats have struggled, while other teams battling DL have flourished

Injury-plagued Nats have struggled, while other teams battling DL have flourished
The Nationals have injuries, but several teams have made the injury excuse obsolete this season. The Cardinals have the best record in baseball, even though they have four starters - Jake Westbrook, Chris Carpenter, John Gast and Jamie Garcia - on their disabled list, as well closer Jason Motte and shortstop/leadoff batter Rafael Furcal. The Yankees are contending the American League East even though they have two shortstops - Derek Jeter and Eduardo Nunez - on the disabled list. Their DL...
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Mel Antonen

Davis, Cabrera took different routes to top of AL; Puig arrives with a bang

Davis, Cabrera took different routes to top of AL; Puig arrives with a bang
The Orioles' Chris Davis and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera are the two most dangerous hitters in the American League, but each took a different route to the top of the AL statistics. In 2003, at 20, Cabrera, who is now 30, was hitting four home runs in the postseason as the Marlins beat the Yankees in the World Series. Davis, 27, took a longer route to the bigs. Davis was a fifth-round draft pick for the Rangers in 2005. He hit home runs on his way up the minor league ladder including 23 in 2008...
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Mel Antonen

O's and Nats weigh in on interleague play as natural rivals face off this week

O's and Nats weigh in on interleague play as natural rivals face off this week
For the first time in its brief history, interleague play is a year-round occurrence. It used to be a novelty, but now it is a regular ho-hum thing, much like watching games on your telephone. But when interleague play came to be in 1997, this week's schedule is what had the baseball world excited: The unofficial "Natural Rivals" week, when the series were Angels-Dodgers, Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox and Nationals-Orioles. This year, with the leagues realigned into two 15-team leagues,...
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Mel Antonen

Bit by injury bug, Braves bullpen has gone from a strength to a question (other notes)

Bit by injury bug, Braves bullpen has gone from a strength to a question (other notes)
The Nationals don't have a lefty reliever in their bullpen, and the division-rival Braves are running out of bullpen lefties as well. The Braves will be without lefties Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty, their main setup guys for All-Star Craig Kimbrel. In addition, the Braves are without Jordan Walden, the right-handed reliever they acquired in a trade with the Angels, and ex-Oriole Luis Ayala, who is on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder. Walden should be back next week, but...
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Mel Antonen

Umpires need to admit mistakes to restore their credibility

Umpires need to admit mistakes to restore their credibility
As the umpiring issues involving Fielden Culbreth and Angel Hernandez continue to rage, and as Major League Baseball continues to look into expanded replay, it would be nice if the umpires would stand up and admit mistakes after controversial calls. That would go a long way in restoring their credibility with the players and fans. Instead, after missing a home-run call in Cleveland, and then refusing to change it after watching it on replay, Hernandez basically blew off the pool reporter...
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Mel Antonen

Anonymous but hardworking scouts finally get due in Cooperstown

Anonymous but hardworking scouts finally get due in Cooperstown
The most anonymous and yet most important people in baseball have made the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. The hall is recognizing the work of scouts in a two-year display that opened last week. In an age when advanced statistics such as BABIP and WAR take center stage in player evaluation, the old-time scout, the guy that puts 50,000 miles a year on a car looking for potential big-league talent, is being recognized. "It's about time,'' says Dan Jennings, vice president of player...
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Mel Antonen

Red Sox, Pirates and Royals might have staying power, other things we learned in April

Red Sox, Pirates and Royals might have staying power, other things we learned in April
The first month of the season is coming to a close, and here are things we can take away from April: * There's no need to panic when a team goes bad for a week. Last week, the Nats were struggling and on the verge of falling into a big hole in the NL East. But they won three weekend games against the Reds, and with the Braves getting swept in Detroit, things are calmer in the division. If the Nats had continued to play inattentive baseball and had the Braves not cooled down, the Nats could...
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Mel Antonen

Boo birds show up at Nationals Park for Cards' Kozma, other notes

Boo birds show up at Nationals Park for Cards' Kozma, other notes
Pete Kozma, the Cardinals' shortstop who delivered a knockout blow to the Nationals in Game 5 of their Division Series in October, returned to a chorus of booing Monday night at Nationals Park. Afterward, he said getting booed was a first. Given what he did against the Nationals last season, including a key two-run single in the Cardinals' 9-7 comeback win in Game 5 of the NLDS, Kozma is becoming to D.C. baseball fans what another shortstop, Bucky Dent, is to the Red Sox. The light-hitting...
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Mel Antonen

Injuries send teams scrambling with mixed results

Injuries send teams scrambling with mixed results
Teams are scrambling as a slew of big-name players wind up on the disabled list. The Blue Jays lost shortstop Jose Reyes with an injury to his left ankle, and the Dodgers will be without pitcher Zack Greinke because of a broken collarbone suffered in a fight with the Padres' Carlos Quentin. The Angels are without pitcher Jered Weaver because of a broken left elbow. The Nationals lost catcher Wilson Ramos. Oakland is without outfielder Yeonis Cespedes, and the Reds, after not having an injury...
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Mel Antonen

Red Sox better than most thought, Samardzija an underrated ace

Red Sox better than most thought, Samardzija an underrated ace
Lessons learned from the season's first week: * The Red Sox are going to be better than most thought. Lefty Jon Lester is back on track. The always-shifting defense, which some times has third baseman Will Middlebrooks playing in short right field, has been an improvement. Shortstop Juan Iglesias, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and catcher David Ross are important ingredients in the Red Sox's run prevention, and Red Sox fans aren't going to like when Stephen Drew comes back this week and...
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Mel Antonen

First impressions on Darvish's near perfection, Hicks' tough start, Harper's blasts and more

First impressions on Darvish's near perfection, Hicks' tough start, Harper's blasts and more
The first two days of the season are complete. Here are some first impressions: * Yu Darvish's perfect game was broken up with two outs in the ninth in the Rangers' 7-0 win in Houston on Tuesday night. It brought back memories of April 4, 2001, when the Red Sox's Hideo Nomo, who, like Darvish is from Japan, threw a no-hitter versus the Orioles at Camden Yards. The Orioles' Delino DeShields made the final out. Red Sox second baseman Mike Lansing's tumbling catch of a Mike Bordick's pop...
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Mel Antonen

An insider's look at the National League heading into 2013

An insider's look at the National League heading into 2013
The San Francisco Giants are taking aim at winning their third World Series in four seasons. But first, they have to conquer the National League. Here's what the NL looks like: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Storyline: After making the 2011 playoffs, the Diamondbacks took a step back last season. They have a deep rotation, more speed and better lineup balance. Bounce-back seasons from RHPs Ian Kennedy and Trevor Cahill will help. Players to watch: CF Adam Eaton, who will miss April because of a...
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Mel Antonen

An insider's look at the American League heading into 2013

An insider's look at the American League heading into 2013
What will happen in the American League this year? Here's a team-by-team look at the AL, the top storylines, key players to watch and one man's predictions. BALTIMORE ORIOLES Storyline: General manager Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter have brought stability and a winning attitude to the Orioles, who expect to contend with the rotation in developing stages. The Orioles, the No. 2 wild card team last season, have a deep bullpen to go with a tight defense and strong offense, but...
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Mel Antonen

Without Twins, where would Orioles, Nationals be?

Without Twins, where would Orioles, Nationals be?
Where would the Nationals and Orioles be without the Minnesota Twins? The Orioles and Nationals have five players who were key to the Twins' success since 2010. The Orioles have infielders J.J. Hardy, Danny Valencia and Alexi Casilla. The Nationals have outfielder Denard Span and catcher Wilson Ramos. Hardy, Span and Ramos will play big roles on the East Coast. Valencia and Casilla are trying to re-start their careers. * Hardy, who started with Milwaukee, came to the Twins in a trade for...
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Mel Antonen

Trout's low contract, Tigers' closer, Dodgers' Crawford among burning spring questions

Trout's low contract, Tigers' closer, Dodgers' Crawford among burning spring questions
As the World Baseball Classic gets under way around the world, here are the burning questions back home in Arizona and Florida: * Are the Angels being cheap by signing second-year outfielder Mike Trout, the AL Rookie of the Year, to a $510,000 contract for this season? His agent Craig Landis told reporters that he, not Trout, was disappointed in the Angels' contract. Given that Trout is going into his second season, the Angels have the hammer, which is how the labor agreement works. The...
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Mel Antonen

A look at a stacked rotation and another possible innings limit dilemma

A look at a stacked rotation and another possible innings limit dilemma
When it comes to baseball's best rotations, the Nationals, Phillies, Giants and Braves are usually the four teams mentioned first. But the team with the deepest rotation is usually overlooked. We're talking about the Reds. With Aroldis Chapman, a lefty reliever who can throw 100 mph, moving from closer to the rotation, the Reds have six quality starters. Like the Nationals' John Lannan a year ago, one talented Reds pitcher with nothing to prove will start the season at Triple-A. The Reds...
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Mel Antonen

Same old Giants: Loyalty is part of business model for World Series winner

Same old Giants: Loyalty is part of business model for World Series winner
As full-squad workouts hit full throttle, it is interesting to note that the San Francisco Giants will be fielding the same team that beat the Detroit Tigers in last October's World Series. Usually, teams change personnel even when they win a title. The Giants kept their outfield together, with Gregor Blanco, Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence. They re-signed second baseman Marco Scutaro, 37, to a long-term deal. Are the Giants putting their roster together with their heart? Maybe, but general...
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Mel Antonen

As pitchers and catchers report, some mound notes to start off spring training

As pitchers and catchers report, some mound notes to start off spring training
As pitchers and catchers report to camps in Florida and Arizona, here are two predictions for each of the local nines: Zach Britton will be the Orioles' fifth starter and the Nationals will not trade Drew Storen, the closer who has been unseated by Rafael Soriano. The first four in the Orioles' rotation will probably be Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez, with the No. 5 spot up for grabs. Britton, who was injured last season, will win the job because all he needs...
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Mel Antonen

Baseball just can't shed controversy surrounding PEDs

Baseball just can't shed controversy surrounding PEDs
As spring training nears, the question has to be asked: Would it be spring training without a performance-enhancing drugs controversy? Major League Baseball and the federal government are investigating a clinic in South Florida that links several players, including the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez and the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, to possible use of PEDs, but depending on the evidence, baseball could be in a difficult position. It would be difficult to suspend players without a positive drug test....
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Mel Antonen

Hall of Fame president confident in voting process despite no living '13 inductees

Hall of Fame president confident in voting process despite no living '13 inductees
The Baseball Writers' Association of America didn't elect any players to Cooperstown on Wednesday, but despite the shutout and the controversy surrounding the vote, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson said he sees no need to change the voting process. "We remain confident and comfortable with the voting electorate as well as the procedures we give the electorate," Idelson said in a conference call after the announcement that no player received the 75 percent needed to be inducted. "It's...
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