The Phillies Unassisted Triple Play

For those of you who missed it, here’s the recent unassisted triple play by the Phillies 2B Eric Bruntlett. Would Chase Utley have made this play? You decide!

The All-August Free Agent Team

Joe Mauer, Ryan Howard, and Mark Reynolds. Everyone knows their names, and most people know they’ve played exceptionally well in August.

What most people don’t know, however, is that Will Venable has batted .311 with six HR and 17 RBI in August.

Being able to scour players like Venable from the waiver wire is a vital component to your playoff run. For this reason, I present to you the All-August free agent team:

Catcher – Ivan Rodriguez

Pudge isn’t quite the hitter he used to be, but that hasn’t stopped him from posting respectable numbers in August. Over the last month, Rodriguez has scored 16 runs, hit one long ball, driven in five runs, and has even swiped a bag, all while batting .274.

It’s not pretty, but in deeper leagues this type of production is useful from a catcher, and Pudge is currently owned in only 19 percent of Yahoo! fantasy leagues.

First Base – Lyle Overbay

Overbay isn’t driving in runs at the clip he was earlier this season, but he’s recorded a hit in 12 of his last 14 games, and is batting .348 in August.

The 32-year-old also has three HR on the month, the same total as Justin Morneau. Deep leagues should take notice.

Second Base – Mark Ellis

Ellis’ season totals aren’t pretty, but what he did in May and June isn’t going to help you win now anyways. What’s important to know is that Ellis ranks second among players at his position with 21 RBI in the month of August.

What’s most impressive is that he’s batting .340 this month, meaning his presence on your team can only help you. Ellis is currently owned in just 24 percent of Yahoo! fantasy leagues.

Third Base – Ryan Roberts

Roberts has spent the majority of his time playing second base this season, but he’s eligible at third base as well.

In 86 August at-bats, Roberts is batting .360, with 16 runs, four HR and 11 RBI. He’s even displayed good plate discipline, walking as many times (11) as he’s struck out.

Roberts is owned in just 26 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but is making a strong case for a starting job with the Diamondbacks next season. Keeper and dynasty league owners should take notice.

Shortstop – Erick Aybar

Aybar has been very useful over the past month, batting .307 in 101 at-bats with 19 runs, two dingers, 10 RBI and five steals.

The 25-year-old provides just what you need at the shortstop position; a solid batting average, a good amount of runs, and the ability to swipe a few bases. If the rest of your league hasn’t picked up on him yet, you probably should.

Left Field – Carlos Gonzalez

Gonzalez struggled in his first crack at the big leagues last year in Oakland, but he’s recently showed why Baseball America named him Arizona’s No. 1 prospect in 2008.

In 66 August at-bats, Gonzalez has smashed six HR, driven in 13 runs, and has scored 15 times; all while batting .379. He’s forced his way into the Colorado lineup, and there’s a good chance he’s playing well enough to belong in your lineup as well.

Keeper and dynasty league owners should take notice, as the soon to be 24-year-old is currently available in 57 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

Center Field – Will Venable

Most fantasy owners have never even heard of Venable, but he’s caught my eye over the past month. In 90 August at-bats, he’s hit six HR and tallied 17 RBI, while scoring 16 times. He’s even stolen three bases, and he’s batting .311.

According to Baseball America, some scouts in the organization have compared Venable’s skill set to a guy like David Justice; a player who hit 20 HRs 11 different times and was a career .279 hitter.

The 26-year-old is still available in a whopping 79 percent of leagues, so go out and grab him.

Right Field – Angel Pagan

In 527 career at-bats prior to August, Pagan hit a whopping nine HRs. In 98 at-bats since, he’s hit six jacks to go along with 19 RBI, 18 runs and four steals. The 28-year-old has even posted a respectable .286 average this month.

Although this hot streak is unlikely to continue, it’s definitely worth mentioning.

Starting Pitcher – Carl Pavano

Over the past month, Pavano has posted better numbers than Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, and Josh Beckett.

In 39 August innings (six starts), Pavano has gone 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. He’s even posted a very respectable 28:8 K:BB ratio.

On the season, Pavano has amassed a 3.73 K:BB ratio, and his 4.07 FIP (Fielder Independent Pitching on an ERA scale) is a full run less than his 5.11 ERA, suggesting he’s pitched much better than his ERA indicates.

Pavano’s recent trade to Minnesota puts the 33-year-old in the thick of a playoff race, meaning he’s got something to play for. Pavano is owned in only 34 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so there’s a good chance he’s available to aid your playoff run as well.

Chad Durbin on the Phillies, The World Series & ShowcaseU

Today we’d like to welcome 2008 World Series Champion relief pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies, Chad Durbin. This interview was originally conducted at Baseball Reflections.com and they have agreed to share it with The Dugout Doctors. I contacted Chad to talk about the World Series, his career and to discuss ShowcaseU.com which he co-founded.

Showcase U gives high school student athletes a way to showcase themselves so that they can increase their opportunity to be recruited by college coaches and pro scouts. To read more about ShowcaseU go to their About Us page or just read what Chad has to say about it below (or you can do both). Now, without further ado…the interview!

Peter @ Baseball Reflections: By the way, congratulations on your first major league hit this year! Can you tell us what it was like to accomplish that feat?

Chad Durbin: First Major League hit, man…that one was a long time coming!! I grew up dreaming of my first hit and not my first strikeout…so, it was great!

BR: This may be a dumb question, but which do you prefer starting or pitching in relief?

Chad: I prefer succeeding, to be honest. I had some success in Detroit starting, and in the previous year in AAA-Toledo starting. The bottom line, though, is the obvious jump into an important role in the bullpen. So, I’ll do what I’m asked to do…but I enjoy where I am and what I’m doing now, winning.

BR: Would you say that you have finally felt at home in the bullpen now after a year that saw you pitch in 71 games while keeping an ERA of 2.87 with a WHIP of 1.32?

Chad: I definitely agree with you, I’m comfortable in the bullpen knowing how important a bullpen is to accomplishing the ultimate goal—A World Championship.

BR: What would you say you’d attribute your new found success to? Was it working with Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee or bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer or something else altogether?

Chad: I would say the new found success was attributed to feeling like I’m playing an important role and my family was in a good situation having signed a contract before the 2008 season for $900,000. I had great pitching coaches throughout my career, so it’s not to take away from anything they did or didn’t do. Mick and Rich are fantastic and help out on every level they can and it’s very appreciated.

BR: Aside from Philadelphia (for obvious reasons), where did you like playing the most (KC, Cleveland, Arizona or Detroit)?

Chad: Cleveland and Detroit stick out most because of the personal relationships I had with some great guys. Kansas City will always be memorable because it’s where I broke into the Big Leagues.

BR: What adjustments did you have to make after having Tommy John surgery? Did it affect your velocity?

Chad: I made some mechanical adjustments after reconstructive elbow surgery in 2002. The obvious thing about having surgery is that you’ve done something mechanically to expose a weak point in your body. I put a lot of time and effort into looking at the pitchers with longevity and a look of effortlessness. I try to incorporate those aspects of pitching into my own pitching motion today.

BR: What has been the best thing that has come from being a World Series Champ?

Chad: I might not be ready for this question. I think the sense of accomplishment, permanent accomplishment, is amazing…knowing that the World Series Championship can never be taken away. I think I’ll be better equipped to answer this question as my career goes forward.

BR: Who are you most impressed with as a player in the way they handle the pressures with being a major league player both on and off the field?

Chad: The person that sticks out most to me, because of the demanding exposure and venue, is Derek Jeter. It just seems like he never has an off the field incident and anything he says in the media is said with integrity and conviction. And let’s not forget the caliber of baseball he brings to the park every game.

BR: How much longer do you think you will be able to pitch at the major league level?

Chad: I’ll work hard every season and offseason to stay healthy and competitive. I can’t control the variable of time, it will not wait for anyone. So, I try to take notes as to what Jamie Moyer has done, or Kenny Rogers did, or anyone who has had that type of longevity. If I can play one or two more years than I otherwise would have because of their experience, I’ll take it!

BR: Who had the original concept for ShowcaseU; Jake Chapman or yourself? When did you both start talking about this concept and how long was it before the concept became a reality and did the website come after the forming of the company or in conjunction with it?

Chad: Jake Chapman had the original conceptual idea for ShowcaseU.com. Jake mentioned his experience with the recruiting process to me while we were playing minor league baseball together in the Kansas City organization and it was compelling. When Jake retired in 2004, he started kicking the idea of an internet database where college coaches could find players by criteria (such as velocity, GPA, SAT, Batting Average, 60 yard dash, etc.). In 2005, he approached me again with the idea after he’d fine tuned some of the concept. From there, we took the idea to fruition over the next two years. Jake continued to work and I continued to play while we exchanged phone calls and emails to finish our Business Plan and Business Model. The website was always in concept, but the actual beta launch was in late May 2008 and we took the beta tag off the website in August. So, we’re young!

BR: Has the concept of ShowcaseU changed since you first started it?

Chad: The concept of ShowcaseU.com is changing right now. The users, mentors, investors, friends, etc…they all give feedback and our community will drive the site, with our subtle guidance.

BR: How do you see ShowcaseU evolving in the next few years?

Chad: I see ShowcaseU.com evolving into a hub for students and student athletes to Showcase themselves to colleges through video, messaging, verified information, and eventually through live feeds where anyone in the ShowcaseU Community can sign in and experience a virtual “audition” or “tryout.” Every day we have new ideas.

BR: How do you think that the current economic downturn will affect ShowcaseU?

Chad: I’m not going to say that the company is “Recession Proof,” but the aspects of what we do help families find options for their sons and/or daughters to find athletic scholarships. College is expensive and the more options available, the better off a student is moving forward and making those tough decisions. At $99/year, we are very affordable and provide many of the resources in the site for no cost. The site is free for college and high school coaches, as well as summer coaches, facility owners, instructors, and vendors. The cost per student athlete is in place for two reasons. One being the unlimited video uploads, and the second is the verification of statistics and information.

BR: How well would you say that ShowcaseU is going so far?

Chad: I would say that ShowcaseU.com is gaining momentum every day. I’m also ambitious in my vision for the company and think we are about 5-10% of where we want to be in the next 12-24 months.

BR: Do you see yourself coaching, broadcasting or working with ShowcaseU after your playing career is over?

Chad: Good question! I see myself taking a hard look at the options available and making a decision involving my family as the lens through which I view those options.

Thanks Chad, I had a lot of fun on this one! I’m sure Phillies Phans are sure glad to be seeing # 37, Chad Durbin back on the mound in 2009. Good luck with the Phillies this year, Chad. And for all of you student athletes, college coaches and recruiters who read this blog, please check out ShowcaseU if you have NOT already done so!

Ellsbury Stole Home Against the Yankees

Top 10 Stolen Base Threats of All Time

This list of the most prolific base stealers in the history of the game of baseball was taken from the Baseball Almanac’s list of the most stolen bases in a single season. My top 10 is taken from men on this list who appeared the most times. For example, recent Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson appears on this list seven times and Lou Brock only twice.

1. Rickey Henderson

2. Billy Hamilton

3. Vince Coleman

4. Hugh Nicol

5. Arlie Latham

6. Tom Brown

7. Harry Stovey

8. Ty Cobb

9. Tim Raines

10. Lou Brock

Who did I miss or who have I listed in the wrong slot? Let us know below!

Jacoby Ellsbury Sets A New Red Sox SB Record

On Tuesday, August 25th, “the human spark plug”, Jacoby Ellsbury made Red Sox history by stealing third base for his 55th stolen base of the season. The previous mark was set by former first base coach Tommy Harper who had secured the record over the past 35 years, but he knew Ellsbury was going to eventually break it.

Here are some quotes from a recent Boston Herald article, Harper Welcomes Ellsbury to the Record Book written by Sean McAdam.

Tommy wasn’t at Tuesday’s game, but he was watching and here is his comment upon watching the pitch that Ellsbury broke the record on, “I saw the ball pop out of the catcher’s glove,’’ said Harper this morning. “He got a good jump – I could see that. With Freddy Garcia, he’s pretty slow to the plate. It was a pretty good combination.’’

McAdam then asked how he felt about his 35 year record being broken and here’s what he had to say about that, “I’m glad for him,’’ said Harper. “I was there Sunday. I spoke with Jacoby Sunday. Over the course of the season, I would make some notes and every month or so, we would talk. But lately, he’d been going so well, there was no reason. I wished him luck. I’ve always told people that it’s good to know somebody personally who’s going to break (your record).’’

Harper was then asked about when he first started working with the man who would eventually break his record. “The minor league people wanted me to work with him,’’ Harper recalled. “He was playing in an intra-squad game. I went over and introduced myself to him and we went from there. I could see right there that he was eager to learn. We just hit it off. He’s a nice person and respectful. I didn’t work with him on technique – just theory, when he should run. I told him about team philosophy.’’

To catch a glimpse of the potential of “the human spark plug”, please read what Harper told McAdam about the difference between their two styles. “His style was a lot different than mine,’’ said Harper. “I got a bigger lead. As an instructor, you can’t make people do what you did. The main goal is to be safe at second. I got a bigger lead and stood a little taller. He has a crouch, like Rickey (Henderson). He stays down and drives from there.’’

To further compare Ellsbury’s potential, all one has to do is take a look at his AL base stealing rival, LF Carl Crawford of the Rays and see how the two players compare statistically so far during this season (2009). As of this writing (Thursday afternoon, 8/27) Ellsbury has a 1 steal lead over Crawford (currently in his eighth season). It is my belief that in the next few seasons Ellsbury will easily top this season’s stolen base totals with improvements made in the following key statistics. First, Crawford is currently hitting 21 points better than Ellsbury which translates into 10 more hits, which translates into 10 more possibilities to steal. Likewise, Crawford’s OBP is also 31 points higher, giving him that many more attempts more than Ellsbury.

So far, the player I like to call “the human spark plug” has been stealing bases at a clip of 11/month which would put him at 66 or so by the end of the season. What I am speculating is that if Ellsbury can improve upon his BA and OBP like he has shown possible from last season to this one, it is entirely possible to see him gain more opportunities to improve upon his SB numbers because he will be on base more. Therefore, I can see him stealing 80 or more bases next year and even reaching 100 in a few years from now. We have already seen him steal home against the Yankees, so the sky’s the limit, wouldn’t you say?

Nike’s: Chicks Dig The Longball

Talking about when pitchers were hitters reminds me of this Nike commercial featuring Atlanta Braves Cy Young Award winners Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

Nike – Chicks Dig The Long Ball

Top 10 Hitting Pitchers in 2009 in BA

Here’s a list of the top 10 hitting pitchers by BA so far in 2009 with at least 20 ABs

1. Mike Hampton of the Astros is hitting .324
2. Oliver Perez of the Mets is hitting .273
3. Chris Young of the Padres is hitting .261
4. Micah Owings of the Reds is hitting .255
5. Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs is hitting .245
6. Cliff Lee of the Indians and Phillies is hitting .238
7. Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies is hitting .234
8. Dan Haren of the Diamondbacks is hitting .228
9. Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals is hitting .226
10. Brett Myers of the Phillies is hitting .222

Top 12 Power Hitting Pitchers so far in 2009

Here’s a list of the Top 12 Power Hitting Pitchers so far in 2009

1. Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs has hit 4 HRs with a BA of .245

2. Micah Owings of the Reds has hit 3 HRs with a BA of .255

3. Josh Johnson of the Marlins has hit 3 HRs with a BA of .163

4. Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers has hit 2 HRs with a BA of .180

5. Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals has hit 2 HRs with a BA of .155

6. Mike Hampton of the Astros has hit 1 HR with a BA of .324

7. Dan Haren of the Diamondbacks has hit 1 HR with a BA of .228

8. Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers has hit 1 HR with a BA of .213

9. Randy Wolf of the Dodgers has hit 1 HR with a BA of .208

10. Russ Ortiz of the Astros has hit 1 HR with a BA of .179

11. Aaron Harang of the Reds has hit 1 HR with a BA of .149

12. Paul Maholm of the Pirates has hit 1 HR with a BA of .083

When Pitchers Were Hitters

Before there was the DH, all pitchers HAD to hit and there were some greats, if you can remember. I recall someone by the name of Ruth who came up in the Boston organization as a starting pitcher. We all know what happened to George Herman Ruth once he was traded to NY and transitioned into an everyday player in the OF. Now-a-days, you have players like Micah Owings, who, in a short period of time, has been looked upon as one of the best hitting pitchers of recent history as the Diamondbacks even used him as a pinch hitter last year before trading him to the Reds. Somewhere in between, you had Glavine and Maddux reminding us that “Chicks Dig the Long Ball” (video to be found later today). Both were decent hitting pitchers in their younger days.

But let’s take a look back to Owings and what a good hitting pitcher can do for a ballclub. Having a pitcher on your team that hits better than some of your position players must almost feel like cheating. It just gives a manager a whole heck of a lot more options. For one, you don’t have the headache of deciding to pull the pitcher for a pinch hitter when he’s pitching well in a close game or carrying a weaker hitting position player who is great defensively, but can’t hit well because now you have a one off option who wouldn’t be going into the field anyway. The risk here is of course, the extra chance of an injury, getting hit by a pitch (especially in retaliation), fouling a ball off himself or even injuring himself on the base path.

If I were a major league manager who isn’t in Cincinnati, I’d be highly jealous, bordering on covetous, of the Red’s Micah Owings. By the way, does Jim Leyland know how good of a hitter D-Train is? Or how about the Mets Livan Hernandez, a former innings eater? For a list of the top 10 current players, go to Baseball Prospectus and either look up Nate Silver’s article on this topic entitled “Evaluating Pitcher Hitting”. By the way, it’s also a good read if you bother to read the whole article and not just look at the top 10 list.

Other good hitting pitchers that I can remember are Steve Avery, Josh Beckett, and Tom Seaver; all were within the past 30 years, but to look beyond this timeframe go to the Baseball Think Factory and look at their article on pitcher hitting which you can find HERE. Here is another site titled Career Batting Records From Great Hitting Pitchers.

In my opinion, High School and College pitchers should be held accountable to work on their hitting skills almost as much as they do their pitching. For proof, just look at players like Rick Ankiel of the Cardinals. You just never know!

If you remember a pitcher who stood out to you at the plate, please list him in the comments section of this post!

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