batmagadanleadoff

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I've gone back and retroactively named the Reliever of the Month Award winners for 2006 and 2007, and the Bench Player of the Month Award winners for 2006 through 2011... Nice, Grimm. And what about the cards?

Davey Johnson's Mets didn't win the World Series until this guy arrived. And it all went downhill when he sustained his first major injury while playing for the worst team money could buy. The game, reported below, would be his last as a Met. BASEBALL; Injury Inc.: Magadan Fractures His Wrist By JOE SEXTON Published: August 09, 1992 The images of doom and defeat for the Mets have become a sad blur. The fresh frames, though, keep being fed into the 1992 reel of regret, and today there were added ones of injury and insult. There was the scene of Dave Magadan, on his knees at second base in an explosion of dirt in the fifth inning, his right wrist broken. And in the ninth, there was the scene of Doug Dascenzo, in a second detonation of dust, sliding safely across the plate, another broken afternoon of effort for the Mets left in his trail. The Mets, who have lost players and games at an astonishing rate all season, lost to the Cubs, 4-3, at Wrigley Field. Then, when the diagnosis on Magadan was confirmed moments later, the Mets discovered they had lost their third baseman for a minimum of a month. Double Digits in Games Behind And so the vicious cycle of humiliation and hurt and backpedaling in the National League East has spun at last out of control for the Mets. The losing streak is at five games, the deficit is at 10 games, the disabled list at the moment is an overrun ward of essential performers. The season, squandered inexcusably for months, has gone off the screen, lost in an unforgiving vortex of failure and circumstance. "We're not in the miracle stage yet," said Manager Jeff Torborg. "But we're approaching it." Lee Guetterman ushered the Mets along today. The left-hander came on in the ninth with the score deadlocked at 3-3. Dascenzo singled. Ryne Sandberg fought off Guetterman's full arsenal of quality pitches and then nailed his first mistake, singling to right to advance Dascenzo to third. "The last pitch was up and away," said Guetterman. "Sandberg's got enough experience to know what to do with it." Fly Ball the Crusher Mark Grace then came to the plate understanding he only had to do the minimum. Get the baseball in the air and get the game over with. Grace's sacrifice fly to left was obviously a run-producer the second it began its ascent. It fell ultimately into Kevin Bass's glove, and Dascenzo slid over the plate, and gone in the riot of noise at Wrigley was Dwight Gooden's first start after coming off the disabled list and Bass's contributions of a run batted in, a run scored and a pair of stolen bases. If Magadan plays again in 1992, he'll be fortunate. The third baseman said the medical personnel at Northwestern Memorial Hospital reported that his fractured wrist would require perhaps six weeks to heal. "If it is the end of my season," said Magadan, "what a fitting end it is." Wrist Struck by Throw The end began with a routine play in the infield. The Mets had scored a run off Frank Castillo in the fifth on Magadan's single and there were Mets on first and third with Bass at the plate. His potential double-play grounder to second was fed from Sandberg to shortstop Rey Sanchez. Magadan, trying to fly into second hard, held his right arm high during his slide. Sanchez's relay smashed into Magadan's wrist. The run that scored from third came at exorbitant cost. "I wasn't conscious of where my hands were," said Magadan. "And then I was in total shock. I could tell from the sound that it was broken. It was a sound like a baseball would make crashing into eggshells." Every start is a tough start for the club's pitchers, and it was no different for Gooden. If there was added emotion because of the right-hander's return, it didn't add up to much on the scoreboard. The Cubs slapped a run on Gooden in the first, added another in the third and went ahead for good against him in the fifth. "There was no problem physically," said Gooden. There were, though, ample difficulties with location and velocity. "There's obviously no more room for losing," said Gooden. "There's room for hoping, I suppose. A lot of hoping." INSIDE PITCH The Mets, who had told PATRICK HOWELL he was being sent back to the minors to make room for KEVIN BASS, told him to unpack his bags after the game. The center fielder was needed to go back on the roster because of DAVE MAGADAN's injury. . . . "All I foresee is a chance to play," said Bass, who was acquired from the Giants on Friday. "But one guy can maybe ignite a different attitude with his air or flair. I'm not saying I'm necessarily that guy."

Edgy MD wrote: Usually, a diving catch means you extend, catch it, and then hit the ground, hopefully maintaining your grip as you absorb the impact. But look there. Rocky's knee has already hit the ground, his throwing hand his hit, and the ball isn't even in the frame. I've seen the catch a thousand times, and I can't say if his chest or catching arm lands before his catch, but if I had to bet, I'd say yeah, they did. You make the call: l7YRUnhqDeg I'm not convinced that the top-most Daily News Swoboda still is conclusive. Though it appears that Swoboda's left knee is on the grass before the ball arrives, it's possible that his left knee is as close to the grass as possible without actually touching the field. And the ball, traveling much faster than Swoboda, would arrive and land in Ron's glove in a micro-instant after that still.

"Did you see what I saw? Amazin'. Amazin'. Amazin'".

PROJECTION: 75 wins Predictions (within 2): - MFS / 74 - DocTee / 74 - VSage / 77 - Sharpie / 73 - GFafif/ 73

Zvon wrote: So what's gonna be the caption for Agee's 2nd great catch of the day -- his dive on Blair's shot towards the right-center field gap? Because how many days can Agee save in a day? There's only one day in a day, and only one day to save in a day. And if the day was already saved, then what? I just wanted to make up an excuse to post your card one more time.

________________ Name that game: May 30, 1970 Mets 4, Astros 3 OE:same game as the Agee card, it looks like. OEE: I'll bet thats Jimmy Wynn stealing second.(he and Joe Morgan stole bases that game.) Name that game: June 25, 1986. METS 4TH: Hernandez grounded out (first unassisted); Strawberry doubled to left; Foster grounded out (second to first) [strawberry to third]; K. Mitchell doubled to left [strawberry scored]; Knight singled to left [K. Mitchell scored, Knight to second (on throw to home)]; Hearn walked; Fernandez singled to left [Knight scored, Hearn to third]; SCHATZEDER REPLACED MCGAFFIGAN (PITCHING); Dykstra doubled to center [Hearn scored, Fernandez out at third (center to shortstop to catcher to pitcher to third)]; 4 R, 5 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Expos 2, Mets 4. Winners, winners, everywhere. Uncle Doc's Card Closet http://www.uncledocscardcloset.com/ is a Baseball Card web site that has it's own Name that Game section. It was Uncle Doc who created that splendid looking '66 Yogi DIY, though I say the image belongs on a '65 template. from Uncle Doc: This week�s Cameo Card was almost a Name the Game card, but I couldn�t be 100% certain of the exact play depicted. Hence, that is why this 1971 Topps Bud Harrelson (#355) card has been relegated to the Cameo Card Club. My research on this card showed that it is the May 30, 1970 matchup between the Houston Astros and New York Mets. I was able to deduce that nugget because of who�s on the mound. #30. The Ryan Express. Nolan Ryan tossed one home game against the Houston Astros and that was the May 30th matchup. Well, given all that information, you�re probably asking why I couldn�t name the exact play shown on the card. It�s obviously a stolen base attempt, since Ken Boswell is backing up the covering Bud Harrelson, while Nolan Ryan is off on the 1st base side of the mound. Problem is, there were two stolen base attempts in that game. One by Jim Wynn and the other by Joe Morgan (both safe). I�m almost positive that is Jim Wynn sliding into second because of the monster sideburns in the photo. However, the distance is too far and the resolution is too low to correctly Name the Game. Yet, this card fits nicely into the Cameo Card Club. I love the action in the shot with Nolan Ryan appearing to clench his right fist in a �we got�em out� gesture. But, if you look really closely, second base umpire, Ken Burkhart is beginning his �safe� motion. Man, I would have loved to have seen Ryan�s reaction after the �safe� call was made. By the way, this 1971 Bud Harrelson card is an inexpensive way to pick up a �71 Topps Nolan Ryan (cameo) card!! Name the Game - 1987 Topps Kevin Mitchell This is an epic baseball card. It was huge back in 1987, and unlike most of the junk wax era, I dare say this card has aged well. Before we delve into Naming the Game, let�s dissect this card. It is obviously a play at home given that the Expos catcher Mike Fitzgerald is in the frame. What else do we see? 1. Catcher�s mask in the foreground. 2. Fitzgerald with his head turned looking for a passed ball. 3. Kevin Mitchell rising like a Phoenix out of a swirling, cloud of dust. 4. Mitchell�s blue batting gloves, orange wristbands and orange undershirt. 5. Kevin�s huge pack of chaw and accompanying �woooooo� look. 6. The crowd is on their feet! I bet 100 cards that PlayatthePlate has this card in his collection! Now own to why we are here� In 1986, Kevin Mitchell played in six home games against The �Spos in 1986. A three game set in late June and a three game set at the beginning of August. Of those games, Fitzgerald appeared in four, the entire June series and the first game of the August series. Three of those four games were at night, so, easily enough, we are left with the June 25, 1986 game as the one shown on the card. Let�s try and figure out what play this is! In this game, Mitchell was 3 for 4, but only made it to home plate in the Bottom of the 4th. To get on base, Mitchell lined a double to left field off of Andy McGaffigan, scoring Daryl Strawberry. The next batter, Ray Knight, singled to Tim Raines in left, who then tried to nab Mitchell at home. The throw made it passed Fitzgerald, allowing Knight to advance�The Mets went on to beat the Expos 5 to 2. So, the play depicted on this card was during a June 25th 1986 day game at Shea Stadium between the New York Mets and Montreal Expos. Specifically, the play at the plate was in the bottom of the fourth inning. Quick Fact � Mike Fitzgerald began his career as a catcher for the New York Mets and was latter part of a trade that brought Gary Carter from the Expos to the Mets in December of 1984.

Thank you TMF I have to admit I drooled a little bit when I saw how this came out. Amazin', Zvon! ________________ Name that game: ... and a card that never was ... the '66 Yogi ... pleasant to see but unrealistic because Yogi announced his retirement early in the '65 campaign

Liz Taylor with a shout out to the world's serious and dedicated film makers of 1969. But to my ears, it sounds like a nod to the reigning World Series champs. AnPcKk3YO3s

I have a thing like that for Tommie Agee. As a kid I idolized him.... Same here. He was my first favorite Met. After Agee had left the Mets, and in fact professional baseball, me and my friends formed a neighborhood softball team one Summer. We even sprung for uniforms (jerseys). This was around Junior High School. I chose # 20 for my jersey. I was still Jonesing for Agee. Here's a terrific Sports Illustrated piece on collecting the autographs of every 1969 Met. It's a long read, but worth the time. Agee becomes the focus of the piece. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065221/index.htm

Edgy MD wrote: Oh, man. Somebody invite Muscles to post here. He's too big for us. Musclebound Met fan in gone viral video appears on TV's Today Show. http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/jacked-mets-fan-on-why-he-couldnt-open-that-water-bottle/

I see that you had to lay some new sod and dirt on the portion of the field right before the incoming Staub and to the umpire's right.

If you have the time to dedicate to this project, you should break some new ground. You're now the set designer, so apply your fantasies (or at least mine) in deciding what the set ought to have looked like. I'd use multiple shots and create multiple cards of that catch. Agee caught that ball 20 or 30 feet from the wall and had to run hard to catch it. The multiple cards would properly depict Agee's effort. The snow-cone effect would demonstrate that Agee had to run at full speed and extend his glove arm fully to have any chance of making the play. You could label the cards Part I, Part II etc. Here's an article I found on Agee and his Topps '73 card. The author mistakenly identifies the infielder in the card, Bud Harrelson as Ken Boswell. Card Corner: 1973 Topps: Tommie Agee by Bruce Markusen April 05, 2013 When Topps airbrushed photos for its cards in the 1970s, the company usually applied the artwork to portraits or posed shots. It�s relatively easy to airbrush the uniform colors and caps of a single player who is featured on a card. But the situation became more complicated when Topps decided to airbrush action shots, particularly those who featured other players within the frame of the picture. There is no better example of that than Tommie Agee�s 1973 Topps card. When this photo was taken during the 1972 season, Agee was still playing for the New York Mets. He�s the one on the far left. The other players pursuing the pop fly are the right fielder, Rusty Staub, and the retreating second baseman, Ken Boswell. None of these players played with the Astros in 1972, but when the Mets traded Agree after the 1972 season, Topps had to spring into action. With no photos showing Agree wearing the red and white colors of Houston, Topps decided to airbrush this action shot, which meant including the other players in the process. While Agee is the focus of the card, it�s interesting to note that Staub did not belong to the Astros in 1972 or �73, but he did play for the franchise from 1963 to 1968. Similarly, Boswell did not play for Houston in 1972 or �73, but he would eventually become a member of the Astros, in 1975. So perhaps we should call this card �The ghosts of Astros past, present and future.� There is one other oddity about this card. It is the only card in the 1973 set that shows Staub. He did not have a regular issue card with Topps that year, or in 1972 for that matter. The reason? At the time, Topps negotiated contracts individually with each of the players projected to be part of its new set. Staub chose not to sign a contract with the card company for two full years. He would not reappear on a regular issue Topps card until the 1974 season. Staub and Boswell give us plenty of side material to work with, but Agee is the player I find the most intriguing. We tend to remember Agee for his days with the Mets, but he began his career in the Indians� organization. Signing with the Tribe as an amateur free agent in 1961 and receiving a tidy bonus of $60,000, he made his major league debut the following season. Called up in September at the age of 20, he accrued 14 at bats, hitting .214. The late season recall marked the start of four consecutive cups of coffee for Agee. From 1963 to 1965, he made brief appearances, playing in no more than 13 games and hitting no better than .167. That last cup of coffee actually took place with another organization; after the 1964 season, the Indians traded Agee and Tommy John to the White Sox as part of a complicated three-team deal that also involved the Kansas City Athletics and returned Rocky Colavito to Cleveland. It would not take long for the Indians to regret the trade. After a 1965 campaign that was delayed by a broken hand and then split between Chicago and Triple-A, the White Sox made him one of their starting outfielders in 1966. The Sox thought so much of Agee that they put him in center field, moving the already defensively excellent Ken Berry to left. Though Agee was built like a fireplug at five feet, 11 inches and 195 pounds, he covered the outfield from gap to gap. Now more mature at 23, Agee took full advantage of his new opportunity. On Opening Day, Agee clubbed a memorable home run against tough right-hander Dean Chance. For the season, he hit 23 home runs and stole 44 bases, thereby becoming the first player in White Sox history to reach 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season. He also played such splendid defense in center field that he took home Gold Glove honors. He also won the Rookie of the Year, beating out a class of first-year players that included Dave Johnson and the �Boomer,� George Scott. The award voting proved to be no contest, as Agee swept all 16 first-place votes. He also received strong support in the American League MVP race, placing eighth in the annual sweepstakes. If there was a flaw to Agee�s game, it was his ability to make contact. He struck out 127 times, becoming especially vulnerable to right-handed pitchers with good breaking balls. Pitchers took advantage of the holes in Agee�s swing in his second full season. Despite coming to bat nearly 100 fewer times, he piled up 129 strikeouts in 1966. His batting average fell from his rookie high of .273 to .234. He reached base only 30 per cent of the time while compiling a meager slugging percentage of .371. Even in a pitcher�s era, those marks were clearly unacceptable for a power-hitting outfielder. Agee�s appearance in the All-Star Game was just about the only bright spot in a season that epitomized the sophomore jinx. He hit very poorly after the All-Star break, with just four home runs after the Midsummer Classic. The White Sox were so disappointed in Agee�s performance that they decided to cut bait with their slick-fielding center fielder; after the 1966 season, the Sox sent Agee and spare infielder Al Weis to the Mets for a four-player package headlined by two-time batting champion Tommy Davis and veteran pitcher Fat Jack Fisher. Yet, it was a trade that almost didn�t happen. It�s not particularly well known, but the White Sox nearly dealt Agee somewhere else, in a trade that would have pre-empted the Mets� acquisition of the young, athletic outfielder. At one point, Agee was supposed to have been sent to the Red Sox in a blockbuster deal�a one-for-one swap involving Hall of Fame outfielder Carl Yastrzemski. The White Sox and Red Sox came close to completing the headline-making trade, but Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey balked at the last minute, unwilling to give up Yaz, one of his favorite players. Yawkey�s veto prevented the Red Sox from making what would have been one of the worst trades in their franchise�s history. The trade to the Mets set up a reunion for Agee, who was now teammates with Cleon Jones. The two had grown up as close friends in Mobile, Alabama; in fact, they were born only five days apart. The reunion with Jones would represent just about the lone positive development of Agee�s first season in New York. In the Mets� very first spring training game, Agee was hit in the head with an errant Bob Gibson fastball, never a fun proposition. The beanball affected him all summer long. Though installed as the Mets� starting center fielder, Agee hit miserably. He endured a 0-for-34 slump in April, matching the 1962 futility record set by Don Zimmer and putting himself in a cavernous early season hole. He would hit only five home runs in nearly 400 plate appearances. He walked only 15 times while striking out 103 times, a ghastly ratio for an everyday outfielder who was expected to help offensively. With an on-base percentage of only .255, Agee put up an OPS of .562. It was the Year of the Pitcher, but clearly not the year of Agee. To their everlasting credit, the Mets did not give up on Agee. Gil Hodges kept Agee as his starting center fielder and leadoff man. The manager�s confidence paid off. In early April, Agee became the first and only player to hit a home run into Shea Stadium�s upper deck, as he victimized Montreal�s Larry Jaster with a mammoth 480-foot home run. (The Mets later marked the appropriate spot at Shea Stadium by putting Agee�s No. 20 on the railing where the home run landed.) It was one of the 26 home runs he hit that season. He also roamed center field at Shea Stadium with speed and precision, providing the Mets with a lynchpin to both their offense and their defense. Clearly, he was their best all-around position player. Agee�s performance took a further step up during the World Series. With the Series tied at a game apiece, the Mets and Orioles prepared for a critical Game Three. In the fourth inning, with runners at first and second, Baltimore�s Elrod Hendricks laced a ball deep toward left-center field. Shading Hendricks toward right field, Agee ran an estimated 40 yards, made a backhanded stab of the ball, and snared it in the edge of the webbing of his glove. Catching the ball near the 396-foot sign in left-center field, Agee saved two runs from scoring. Agee wasn�t done. In the top of the seventh, the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs, bringing Paul Blair to the plate. Blair slashed a line drive toward right-center field, the ball seemingly ticketed for a two-base hit. Agee tracked the ball with a full-out sprint before diving headlong. As he belly flopped onto the edge of the outfield grass, Agee grabbed the ball before it landed on the warning track. This time he saved three runs from being scored, which would have brought the Orioles within a run and put the tying run in scoring position. After the game, Agee assessed the two miraculous catches. �The first one was harder,� Agee told Lowell Reidenbaugh of The Sporting News. �Because I had to reach across my body and catch it backhanded. I thought I had the second one all the way, but the wind caught it and it dipped suddenly, so I had to dive for it.� For his part, Gil Hodges thought the second catch was the more difficult of the two, going so far as to call it the greatest play he had ever seen in the World Series. At the plate, Agee did additional damage. Leading off the bottom of the first, he had blasted a bomb of a home run to center field, victimizing one of the game�s toughest right-handers, Jim Palmer. Spearheaded by Agee�s all-around performance, which Sports Illustrated called the greatest single effort by a center fielder in World Series history, the Mets took Game Three on their way to a five-game Series win over the favored O�s. In 1970, Agee proved that his world championship efforts were no fluke. In fact, he hit even better, compiling a career best .286 average and an OPS of .812. His season included a 26-game hitting streak and a game in which he hit for the cycle. He also stole 31 bases, giving Hodges� Mets a much needed dose of speed. And he won his second Gold Glove Award. At 28 years old, Agee appeared to be in his prime. Then came an injury-plagued 1971 season. Limited to 113 games, largely because of an injured knee, he still hit .285 and stole 28 bases, but his power numbers fell off badly. The following summer, Agee�s overall game tailed off badly. Affected by an injured muscle in his rib cage, he hit .227 and saw his slugging percentage fall below .400. Even his defensive play suffered. Agee�s contributions to the world championship in 1969 and his popularity with New York fans could not make him a Met for life. After that disappointing �72 season, the Mets shopped the injury-prone Agee. There were also rumors, unsubstantiated but still existent, that the Mets felt Agee and Cleon Jones spent too much time together, to the point that they had created a clique within the Mets� clubhouse. Whatever the exact reason, general manager Bob Scheffing proposed a blockbuster seven-player deal that would have sent Agee, pitchers Gary Gentry and Danny Frisella, and another player to the Cubs for outfielder Rick Monday, veteran right-hander Bill Hands, and a third player. Scheffing was ready to make the trade, but Cubs manager Whitey Lockman reportedly called the deal off at the last minute. Scheffing instead made a trade with Houston, sending Agee to the Astros for outfielder Rich Chiles and tall pitching prospect Buddy Harris. Although the Mets might have been justified in trading a declining Agee, it remains baffling that they received so little in return for the talented center fielder. While the Mets claimed that they considered Chiles a legitimate candidate for their vacant center field position, the words of an unnamed Astros official provided less optimism. �He might help as a pinch-hitter,� the Houston official told The Sporting News, �but don�t expect him to play every day.� Chiles did little for the Mets, but Agee also struggled in Houston, where he found the Astrodome an even more difficult hitting environment than Shea Stadium. He also had to adjust to playing in left field, since the Astros already had the supremely talented Cesar Cedeno in center. Over the first half of the season, Agee showed some power, but all other aspects of his game fell off. On August 18, the Astros gave up on Agee, sending him to the Cardinals for the meager return of utility infielder Dave Campbell. Agee did little for the Cards over the final six weeks of the season. He hit only three home runs, batted .177, and found himself on the bench. At the winter meetings, the Cardinals dealt him to the Dodgers for veteran reliever Pete Richert. Although Topps printed a 1974 traded card that showed Agee wearing Dodger Blue, he failed to make his way to Los Angeles for Opening Day. On March 26, in the midst of spring training, the Dodgers released Agee. Even though he was only 31, no one put in a claim. He was forced to retire, at an age when many players still found themselves near their peak. Agee chose to leave the game completely, but he remained popular with Mets fans who recalled the era of the late 1960s and early 70s. He kept in touch with his fans by making regular charitable appearances and conducting numerous baseball clinics for children. He also made a memorable appearance as himself on an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. Yet, there was more than baseball to Agee�s life. A smart businessman, he opened up a bar near Shea Stadium and became a successful insurance executive in his post-playing days. Unfortunately, he also struggled with his weight and developed a heart condition. On January 22, 2001, Mets fans had to endure one of the saddest days in the history of the Mets. They learned that Agee had suffered a massive heart attack while leaving his New York City office. Shortly thereafter, he died at Bellevue Hospital. It was the same cause of death that had taken his manager, Gil Hodges, who had passed away during the spring of 1972. Agee was only 58, which made the news all the more unbearable to Mets fans. Although Agee played only a handful of his 12 seasons with the Mets and didn�t start or finish his career with the franchise, he had become a lasting symbol of the team�s unexpected success in 1969. Other quality center fielders have followed him in Mets pinstripes, including Lee Mazzilli, Mookie Wilson, and Lenny Dykstra. All became popular with New York fans, but none more so than their first standout in center, Tommie Agee. Bruce Markusen is the author of seven books on baseball, including the award-winning A Baseball Dynasty: Charlie Finley�s Swingin� A�s, the recipient of the Seymour Medal from the Society for American Baseball Research. He has also written The Team That Changed Baseball: Roberto Clemente and the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates, Tales From The Mets Dugout, and The Orlando Cepeda Story. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/card-corner-1973-topps-tommie-agee/

My baseball jibber-jabber thread vanished, so I'm gonna link this here. I was working on transferring files over 4g to a crappy laptop for work and got into a discussion about Jeff Francoeur's 100th HR and how irate Mike Sielski was over him getting benched by the Mets with just one to go. This deadspin article breaks it down, with a healthy dose of WTF Jerry Manuel?. good reading, even features this comment: Francis EnglertUblogsarefun1L @blogsarefun: Quick digression: Why aren't more people talking about how terrible Jerry Manuel is? Because, at this point, it makes our heads hurt, noses bleed, and our hands yearn to taste slappable fellow-human flesh. 9/22/10 3:29pm That there is gold, Ceetar, gold! Super snark from one of the fellers that brought us the Fire Joe Morgan blog. That article deserves its' own thread. And if it did have its own thread, I'd name it ********** Blues.

Zvon wrote: So on this card Grote was on deck and it must have been two outs cause hes half geared up. I've seen this card many times and never noticed that. Amazin'. Didier's not wearing the Braves' new 1972 duds.

ARod, the JDA and the CBA Posted by Eugene Freedman Now that Major League Baseball has announced that it will suspend Alex Rodriguez on Monday, there are a host of questions that need to be answered. Initially, it was reported that the Commissioner was planning to suspend A-Rod under the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), rather than the Joint Drug Agreement (JDA) in order to require him to serve the suspension immediately, prior to an arbitration hearing and award. The latest reports seem to indicate that the suspension will be under the JDA. Had the Commissioner attempted to suspend Rodriguez under the provisions of the CBA, it would have created different wrinkles. The Joint Drug Agreement (JDA) provides that the appeal be completed prior to the suspension being served. Initial reports had indicated that MLB and the Commissioner�s Office intend to suspend A-Rod from playing immediately, prior to the arbitration award under Article XII, Section A, of the CBA rather than the JDA. The problem for MLB is that the JDA covers just-cause suspensions as well as positive test result suspensions, among other violations. Specifically, Section 7(G)(2) of the JDA provides for just-cause suspensions. Section 8(D)(1) of the JDA provides that suspensions are to commence on the third business day after the suspension is announced, unless the player or union files a grievance, in which case it is stayed until the arbitration award has issued. Because just-cause suspensions are expressly contained in the JDA, any argument that the JDA does not apply likely would fail. There were also reports that MLB will instead use the Commissioner�s �best interests� disciplinary powers from Article XII, Section B of the CBA. That would have posed a problem for the union, not because of the language itself, or even the unilateral Commissioner authority �nuclear option� in Article XI(A)(1)(, but because of how the union�s argument would be made on that issue. A dispute over whether the suspension was under Article XII or the JDA would require bargaining history testimony about the meaning of the JDA and how it supplements and amends the CBA. Former MLBPA attorney Gene Orza has implied that the �nuclear option� in the CBA was negotiated to provide the Commissioner specific and unique powers in disciplining players for gambling. But bargaining history isn�t a legal argument; it�s a finding of fact on the intent of the parties regarding that section of the CBA. There must be evidence in the form of witness testimony and documents for arbitrator Horowitz to find in favor of the union�s argument on this question. The plain language doesn�t sufficiently support the union�s position. Therefore, it would be likely that a suspension under that section would commence even before the case is heard and decided. That is, even if the question of under which section the Commissioner may suspend Rodriguez is ultimately decided in favor of the union. Moreover, there is no irreparable harm to A-Rod if the suspension goes into effect immediately rather than after the hearing, even if no discipline is the result. His damages are strictly financial. He can be made whole for any financial loss. Many people believe missing games is irreparable, but if that were the case, all suspensions would be stayed until the conclusion of the process. They are not. Only those under the JDA are stayed. As an aside, normally the employer is judicious in discipline and discharge cases because of the risk of large back-pay awards. In this case, MLB has no skin in the game. If it loses, the Yankees�not MLB�have to pay A-Rod. While that may be moot given the deep pockets of MLB, it does make for an interesting situation that is quite uncommon. All that said, MLB appears to have abandoned both Article XII( and Article XI(A)(1)( as justifications for immediate suspension and/or no-appeal rights, and rightly so. As I�ve explained in several places, the JDA and its penalties are expressly contained in the CBA. If there is a dispute as to which section of the CBA/JDA applies, the arbitrator is going to make that determination as a contract interpretation grievance. The arbitrator also would make the determination regarding his own jurisdiction if the commissioner invoked the �best interests� clause and attempted to circumvent arbitration. Ultimately, the fact that the JDA covers offenses, penalties, and the appeals process would undermine MLB�s argument, potentially putting the entire discipline in jeopardy. I expect the hearing to commence relatively quickly and for it to last upwards of five days. It�s likely that arbitrator Horowitz will be on the phone with both parties Monday dealing with scheduling and procedural matters. As I�ve written before, MLB bears the burden of proof regarding proof that the misconduct occurred and that the discipline is reasonable and appropriate for that misconduct, both by a preponderance of the evidence. If the penalty is already contained in the CBA, MLB only has to prove the charged misconduct took place, but several provisions provide for a range of suspensions of no fixed period. There is no requirement for briefs in the Appendix A of the CBA covering the hearing procedures, but it is likely that the arbitrator will request them even if the parties do not, given that there likely are to be legal as well as factual arguments that will be made. It will be interesting to read the charges once they are leaked. Similar offenses require similar penalties. If MLB is truly pursing a suspension of the entire 2014 as well as the remainder of 2013, it far exceeds the penalty imposed on any other player. First use requires a 50-game suspension. MLB and the union appear to have agreed to that penalty contained in the JDA for all or nearly all of the other players implicated in Biogenesis. The JDA also contains a provision for an 80-to-100-game suspension for distribution or sale of PEDs. I have a hard time believing that providing Biogenesis� contact information to other players constitutes distribution. Even so, 150 games is not 214 games. Ryan Braun agreed to an additional 15 games because of his failure to cooperate in the investigation. Melky Cabrera engaged in an attempted cover-up of his positive test, yet he received no additional suspension beyond the 50 games. MLB appears to be overreaching. As I�ve repeatedly stated on Twitter, we don�t have all of the information, and we likely never will. The only parties privy to it are the individual players, the union, and MLB. Having that information was sufficient to resolve the vast majority of cases. Unions frequently advise members to accept discipline when the evidence is very strong against them and the penalty is reasonable. In this situation, some have taken this to mean that the MLBPA is now weak. I see it as pragmatic. But in the case of Rodriguez, it appears MLB was intent on overcharging him and overreaching on the penalty. So, we are where we are today: headed to arbitration. It doesn�t mean that the parties won�t settle before the final award, but given the reports that the Commissioner is taking this personally, it is unlikely. The best counsel can never overcome an irrational client. Regardless of the outcome this case, it is likely arbitrator Horowitz�s last for MLB and the Players Association. Whichever party is least satisfied with his decision likely will dismiss him. The difficulty would come if either party tried to dismiss him after a procedural ruling rather than after the issuance of a final award. Because termination of an arbitrator is a contractual matter under the CBA, the next appointed arbitrator would hear the case about Horowitz�s dismissal, filed by the party not desiring to terminate arbitrator Horowitz mid-case. And, that second arbitrator would no doubt reinstate Horowitz to hear the remainder of the A-Rod case. Finally, it should be noted that Rodriguez will not and should not sue MLB, nor should MLB or the Yankees sue him for violating his player contract or in an attempt to void his contract. While there are people suggesting any number of lawsuits, including injunctive and/or declaratory relief, these suits would be dismissed. These are matters to be dealt with under the CBA�s negotiated grievance procedure. The United States Supreme Court decided a series of cases known as the Steelworkers Trilogy in 1960. In those cases, the Court decided that all disputes regarding matters related to or covered by the CBA must go to grievance arbitration and cannot be heard in the courts. This covers discipline and termination of contracts, and The Supreme Court also greatly restricted judicial review of arbitral awards. Moreover, the JDA strictly prohibits individual clubs from taking action against players for violations of the drug policy. It vests exclusive power with the Commissioner. Whatever arbitrator Horowitz�s decision is in this case, as long as it draws its essence from the CBA, it is final and binding and not able to be appealed. Eugene Freedman is Deputy General Counsel for a national labor union. He received a degree from Cornell University in Industrial & Labor Relations and his law degree from University of Maryland. Follow him on twitter @EugeneFreedman.

Verducci couldn't cover a city council meeting without three Jeter references, but his ARod column is a fun read -- if you know what you are in for. Here's one of the fawning Jeter graphs.... "Former Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina, in speaking to me for The Yankee Years, cut to the difference between Derek Jeter and Rodriguez: motivation. Jeter, he said, was motivated to win. Rodriguez? What drove him was selfishness. "Alex may end up calling attention to himself, but he's not loud about it," Mussina said. "Alex has this motivation to be the best player in the game. When all is said and done, he wants to be the best player ever. That's his motivation in this. That's fine. That's good. Everybody needs a motivation, whatever it is." This makes no sense. I'll take the guy who is motivated to be the best player in all of baseball and then has a few seasons where he actually is the best player in all of baseball, over anybody else. A-Rod simply dwarfed Derek Jeter in their primes -- no mean feat in that Jeter is a first ballot HOF'er himself. As measured by WAR, A-Rod would typically double Jeter's seasonal WAR output. Double. Baseball isn't synchronized swimming. There's very little teamwork in the game despite what Willie Randolph wants you to think, and virtually none on the offensive side. The best player in baseball is .. well ... the best player in baseball. So if Verducci wants to suggest that Jeter compensated for not ever being the best player in baseball, and that Jeter made up the 25+HR deficit to A-Rod (25 conservatively) with a coupla extra sac bunts, I can only laugh.

Edgy MD wrote: He was asked specifically if he would mind if the Yankees acquired Rodriguez, and he specifically said, "No, as long as I'm the shortstop." He was a pre-emptive jerk, and pre-emptively challenged Torre's authority. That Torre backed down from that challenge is a related but different issue. Jeter bet that he had more juice than Torre and he bet right. Derek Jeter is no Mike Cameron. I agree. I also agree that Torre should've had the final say so on that matter. But should've and could've and would've are all different things and I just don't know where the power ultimately resided, as far as that decision was concerned.

I would've named this thread Flowers.

Twist and doubt: Brawny baseball fan can't open water bottle ck8nhq7Juak

seawolf17 wrote: Custom baseball cards are why I wish I knew how to use Photoshop. Me too. I've been wanting to DIY baseball cards for years, but I have no idea how to use Photoshop. I don't even own a version.

Put me down for due process and transparency. Let's all see, out in the open, what MLB's got against A-Rod instead of Selig's Star Chamber dispositions. Justice, Ethics, and Bud Selig's Legacy By Michael Baumann on August 5, 2013 12:00 PM ET I believe Alex Rodriguez used performance-enhancing drugs in violation of Major League Baseball rules. I believe this is wrong. I believe he should be suspended. And I think that sucks. I don�t remember much of baseball before the sport�s culture became as much about drugs as the game itself. And now the two best baseball players I�ve ever seen (pending the continued development of Mike Trout) have been eternally disgraced and are unwelcome in the game they helped make great, despite no failed drug tests between them. This isn�t about breaking the rules, because in pursuing suspensions for Biogenesis-related drug infractions against Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, and others, Major League Baseball, in the person of Bud Selig, pursued discipline in unprecedented ways. Even though the word of someone like Tony Bosch, a scumbag with a needle, a notebook, and a motive for selling out his former clients, has never been actionable evidence for Major League Baseball (otherwise Kirk Radomski and Brian McNamee would have brought down many more All-Stars than Bosch will), it�s good enough now. Even though there are procedures for the length of drug-related suspensions, we won�t pay attention to them now, because they�re inconvenient. Justice involves clear-cut penalties for wrongdoing and a specific process for doling out those penalties. Not an evidence set of "well, I guess that must be good enough" and penalties based on "well, I guess he�s allowed to do that." That�s not justice. That�s blackmail. This isn�t about ethics, either. Because it�s unethical to cheat at a game. Probably not as unethical as suing someone without the financial means to defend himself, just because he won�t do what you want him to. Probably not as unethical as hiring someone to resolve your disputes fairly, then firing him when you don�t like the result. Probably not as unethical as (allegedly) intimidating witnesses. And this isn�t about integrity. Integrity isn�t running your business into the ground, having it resurrected when your employees start playing fast and loose with the rules, then turning around and throwing those employees under the bus when they become inconvenient. Somewhere along the line, Rodriguez and Braun stopped being rulebreakers to Selig. Drug cheats fail drug tests or get caught with product and serve 50-game suspensions for a first offense. Someone who�s interested in justice and integrity and rules doesn�t try to give someone four times the agreed-upon punishment for a crime, then throw a tantrum when his chosen adversary tells him to shove it. Selig thinks he�s entitled to be judge, jury, and executioner for crimes he ignored that he professionally profited from 15 years ago. He thinks he�s entitled not only to stage a trial or a witch hunt, but to levy extraordinary punishments when those who break the rules don�t turn themselves in. It�s blustery hubris that would shame Rodriguez himself. It is the height of na�vet� to think Major League Baseball, by virtue of being Major League Baseball, is inherently in the right, or empowered, or legitimate. Major League Baseball is a business, run by men, and like all such organizations, must be judged by our satisfaction with its product and the conduct of its representatives. And in the latter case, it must be found wanting. This is not the first time an MLB commissioner has entered a berserker state. Baseball�s first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, used the power of his office to preserve the racial segregation of baseball. Ford Frick, a longtime friend of Babe Ruth�s, responded to Roger Maris breaking Ruth�s home run record by delegitimizing Maris�s record. And Bowie Kuhn used the commissioner�s office to keep female reporters out of locker rooms, as well as doggedly fighting the effective unionization of baseball players. His battle against the advent of free agency would delay the start of baseball�s most prosperous era and is characteristic of the arrogant, shortsighted conservatism that is reflected in Selig�s newfound vigilance toward performance-enhancing drugs. The irony is that by inflating the Biogenesis case, Selig is prolonging the public perception that drugs are a particular problem in baseball, as opposed to other sports. Cycling has reformed itself and moved on, even though the cloud of speculation hangs unfairly over the likes of Chris Froome (as it does over Chris Davis). Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde contended for this year�s Tour de France and nobody seemed unduly put out. In football, drug suspensions are routine, yet nobody cares. In basketball and soccer, not only is there no drug outrage, there�s also no fear of such outrage becoming necessary, which seems odd in two of the most physically demanding team sports in the world. And in hockey, whose media can be just as shrill and moralistic as baseball�s, we seem satisfied that the game is totally clean except for one scrub defenseman. Why is that? Maybe it�s because, instead of hysteria, those other sports have combated performance-enhancing drugs with rules and professionalism. The face of cycling�s anti-doping regime is one of measured discipline and solemn sincerity. Baseball�s face belongs to a finger-wagging septuagenarian who�ll pitch a fit if he doesn�t get his way. This isn�t about ethics or justice or rules. This is about ego. Rodriguez and Braun are going to baseball�s version of the stockade. And if Landis, Frick, and Kuhn are any example, Selig�s going to the Hall of Fame. http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/70400/justice-ethics-and-bud-seligs-legacyp _______________________ Justice Served? With the Biogenesis suspensions, the worst-kept secret in MLB history is finally out By Jonah Keri on August 5, 2013 Major League Baseball suspended 13 players for performance-enhancing drug violations Monday, closing the book on every Biogenesis-linked player except Alex Rodriguez. Commissioner Bud Selig elected not to deploy the collective bargaining agreement's "best interests of baseball" clause and suspend A-Rod for life, despite rumors that such a lifetime ban might occur. Instead, MLB announced a suspension that would knock Rodriguez out for the rest of this season, the 2013 playoffs if the Yankees were to make it, and all of 2014. The Major League Baseball Players Association reportedly tried to strike a deal today, but according to ESPN's T.J. Quinn, those efforts were rebuffed. Rodriguez appealed the suspension, which will be ruled on by independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. In the meantime, Rodriguez is expected to play for the Yankees, starting tonight at U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox. Nine players previously named in various reports thanks to MLB leaks to the press received 50-game suspensions that will begin immediately. They are Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Mariners catcher Jesus Montero, Yankees outfielder Fernandez Martinez, Mets minor league outfielder Cesar Puello, and free-agent pitchers Fautino De Los Santos and Jordan Norberto. Three players not previously named during the ongoing case will also serve 50-game suspensions effective immediately: Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo, Astros reliever Sergio Escalona, and Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin. Rumors had surfaced that other players could get suspended as well. But MLB elected not to punish A's starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, and Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera, since all three had already served 50-game suspensions that started last year. Two other players named in reports, Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez and Orioles utilityman Danny Valencia, were found not to have committed any violations of the Joint Drug Agreement and are now in the clear. [***] Rodriguez's case holds the most intrigue, though, for multiple reasons. In calling for a 211-game ban (it would take effect on Thursday), MLB is attempting to impose its longest suspension ever for a player suspected of PED-related offenses. An overreach in the form of a lifetime suspension triggered by the CBA's "best interests" clause might have set up a clash with the players union that could have had far-reaching effects, including more contentious negotiations before the current CBA expires on December 1, 2016, and the two sides go in to negotiate a new one. A "best interests" ruling might have created the (entirely accurate) perception that the league wasn't granting Rodriguez due process in this case. It might have created legal complications, too, which labor lawyer Eugene Freedman eloquently outlines in this excellent Hardball Times post on A-Rod, the JDA, and the CBA. Given that the JDA clearly outlines suspensions as 50 games for a first PED-related offense, 100 for a second, and a lifetime ban for a third, Rodriguez has plenty of grounds to appeal. Thanks to MLB leaks, we have countless reports that the league supposedly has overwhelming evidence of Rodriguez's transgressions, including text messages to Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch promising to exchange money for PEDs. A-Rod has admitted to using PEDs from 2001 through 2003, when he played for the Rangers. But he has never been suspended for a failed test, possession, or any other PED violation, thus setting up a 50-game ouster as the JDA-sanctioned punishment for a first offense. Of course, MLB has decided once before not to stick to the letter of the JDA on that front. The league suspended Ryan Braun two weeks ago for 65 games. Braun had failed a drug test in 2011, but avoided suspension after arbitrator Shyam Das upheld the Brewers outfielder's appeal, which cited improper actions by urine sample collector Dino Laurenzi Jr. In theory, then, MLB only had grounds to suspend Braun for 50 games for his Biogenesis-related violation. But the two sides agreed to a season-ending 65-game suspension instead, with MLB announcing merely that Braun had been found guilty of "violations of the Basic Agreement and its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program." The Braun suspension, and the one Rodriguez now faces, raise multiple questions. Is the JDA now obsolete, given that Major League Baseball can apparently impose more than the prescribed punishment for first-time offenders? Will future suspensions be subject to extensive negotiations involving MLB, the player, and the union, rather than following the steps negotiated by all sides during past rounds of collective bargaining? Moreover, what constitutes something more than a typical first offense? Making multiple orders for performance-enhancing drugs? Denying those purchases to MLB? Offering money to prospective witnesses in a pending PED case, because it's fine for baseball to cajole witnesses, but if a player does so he might be subject to a lifetime ban? If you want a reason to cheer Rodriguez's appeal (and you're not a Yankees fan), consider that MLB's evidence is now far more likely to be revealed than if the two sides had simply negotiated an agreed-upon suspension, thus likely answering many of these questions. Had the league and Rodriguez settled, we'd likely be left in the dark as to the full extent of the player's violations, the way we were with Braun. Here, the public stands a greater chance of learning exactly what MLB has on A-Rod, and thus how it might interpret future violations by other players when it seeks suspensions of various lengths. It is truly one of the great coincidences of our time that the two most famous players implicated in the Biogenesis case, including the least likable one, happen to be facing steeper penalties than anyone else involved. Consider the extent to which baseball lucked out here. Every player suspended in this case was found guilty of just a single PED violation, except for: � Braun, a player the league had been trying to nail for a year and a half for what it perceived as a technicality, especially after he lied repeatedly about his PED violations, and ... � Rodriguez, one of the most mocked athletes in the history of sports, a player who had been ridiculed for everything from having an image of an A-Rod centaur in his bedroom to his taste in women to his methods of avoiding tags to his general narcissism to his widely suspected but never proven use of performance-enhancing drugs. For everything to line up so perfectly in baseball's favor, you'd have to call this one of the greatest strokes of PR-related good fortune in the annals of Western civilization. After all, there's no way MLB would pursue certain players more doggedly because it believed the court of public opinion would tilt in its favor if it did so. As things stand, a suspension lasting 200-plus games stands to both hurt the Yankees and greatly benefit them. New York currently sits 4� games out in the chase for the second wild-card spot. Given the terrible players the team has installed at third base in Rodriguez's stead this year, even a gimpy 38-year-old coming off a long absence would stand a good chance of producing more value for the team. On the other hand, a suspension lasting as long as has been proposed would save the Yankees about $34 million. More than just saved salary, that money wouldn't count against the team's luxury tax threshold. That could open the door for the Yankees to aggressively pursue a variety of high-priced players, ranging from re-signing Robinson Cano and Hiroki Kuroda to courting free agents like Shin Soo-Choo, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Hunter Pence, and others. They could also look into trades for high-priced players the way the Dodgers did last summer (or more likely, something not quite that ambitious). As things stand, the Yankees have only seven players under contract for next season, including Rodriguez, with a total committed payroll of about $89 million � not counting multiple other players under team control who'll be eligible for arbitration or renewals. Ditch A-Rod's salary and you could, say, pay full freight to outbid L.A. and other potential suitors on Cano, bring back all or most of your team-controlled players not under long-term deals, and still fill out the rest with quality talent � all the while ducking under next year's $189 million luxury tax, thus saving tens of millions of dollars, now and in the future. There's one last sad element to this story, one that goes beyond unequal treatment of players depending on their nailability factor, keeping settlement details private so that the public can't see what actually happened, and burnishing Bud Selig's reputation as he prepares to leave the game: Sometime soon, Rodriguez will likely play his final game. Just as we lamented the end of the line for known performance-enhancing amphetamine users Hank Aaron (see page 268) and Willie Mays, I'll be doing the same for A-Rod. Whether chemically enhanced like Aaron, Mays, and 19th-century pitcher Pud Galvin or clean, Rodriguez was a breathtaking player to watch, one of the greatest of all time. He won three MVP awards and probably deserved at least three more, having led the American League in Wins Above Replacement six times. He was a five-tool player manning the toughest non-catcher position in the game, coming up with fellow shortstop stars Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra and putting up numbers that dwarfed both of theirs. Beyond the numbers and awards, A-Rod in his prime played with an unparalleled combination of power and grace. He cracked the big leagues at age 18. His first career home run, a monster blast on a hanging Tom Gordon curve, came at 19. He was a superstar by age 20, making spectacular plays at short, running like a deer, and swatting the ball into the stratosphere on a regular basis. Contrary to his reputation as a player who folded under pressure, he overcame tense situations such as wearing a Turn Ahead The Clock uniform, and also hoisted the Yankees on his shoulders throughout the 2009 playoffs, carrying them to a World Series title. Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds were the two best and most electrifying position players of the past quarter-century. Bonds never played again after 2007, despite posting a gigantic .480 on-base percentage that year, slugging .565, and launching 28 home runs. Unlike Bonds, A-Rod is under contract with a major league team, so he can't be swept under the rug for PED suspicion � at least not yet. Rodriguez might have cheated and he might have lied. But we will get to see one of the best baseball players to ever walk the earth, at least for a little while longer. Maybe you're like me and want to see an all-time great get his last licks in. Or maybe you simply believe in due process for everyone, no matter how vile you might find a person's actions. Either way, A-Rod being in the lineup tonight in Chicago is a big win for baseball. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9541151/jonah-keri-biogenesis-suspensions

Jeff Loria might be a scumbag, but he's a shrewd scumbag. In Miami, Jose Fernandez is on a Goodenesque 1985-like run, and the Marlins are suddenly poised to get real good real quick. Gone Fishing By Jonah Keri on August 5, 2013 Jose Fernandez already had 13 strikeouts through 7? innings when Mark Reynolds came to bat in the eighth inning of Friday night's game. He dominated the third-highest-scoring offense in baseball, shutting out the potent Indians lineup and allowing just two hits. Only now Reynolds was being annoying. Fernandez had struck out three Indians on three pitches apiece, eight more on four pitches. Here, Reynolds had worked the count to 2-2, preparing to face his sixth swing of the at-bat. This would not stand. Fernandez reached back and fired a curveball from the depths of hell, an 85 mph bender that will haunt Reynolds's dreams for a week. After that whiff, Fernandez blew on his fingers. Allegedly, he did so to combat the humidity built up at Marlins Park. Of course this was just a front. You do something like that only when you're shooting flames out of your right hand. Fernandez's monster performance Friday gave him 27 combined strikeouts over his past two starts, covering 16 innings. In his past 11 starts (75? innings) dating back to June 1, Fernandez has struck out 86 batters, allowed two home runs, posted a 1.67 ERA, and limited opposing hitters to a line of .164/.234/.219. When it comes to rolling big numbers, the Marlins' early-season attempts to limit his pitch counts have failed miserably: Fernandez ranks 13th in the National League with 138 strikeouts, despite ranking 37th in innings pitched with just 127 2/3. Only Cy Young front-runners Clayton Kershaw and Matt Harvey, the sparkling Patrick Corbin, and off-the-charts RISP performer Jeff Locke own lower ERAs than Fernandez's 2.54. We could keep going and going with R-rated Fernandez numbers, as ESPN Stats & Info did here. Some industry insiders question Fernandez's listed age. But if he's anywhere near 21 years old, as the program says he is � yikes. Fernandez's emergence as a potential Felix Hernandez 2.0 is just one of the multiple bright spots for a Marlins team that could become scary as hell much quicker than you'd think (as is, they're 27-23 in their past 50 games, having knocked off some good teams in the process). The Fish called up top outfield prospects Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick two weeks ago. Yelich was a first-round pick who hit .313/.387/.499 in 302 minor league games, many of those coming in terrible environments for hitters. Watching him at bat, you're struck by the plate coverage his 6-foot-4 frame provides, but also by how young he looks � he's as lanky as your typical high schooler, with the face of a 13-year-old. Hailed as a top prospect for both his tools and his numbers, Yelich could become a beast when he fills out and adds more power to his high�batting average profile. Marisnick isn't nearly as polished a prospect despite being a year older than Yelich. But he, too, projects as an above-average major leaguer down the road, taking a step forward this year with a .294/.358/.502 campaign at Double-A Jacksonville. Depending on what the Marlins do with star slugger Giancarlo Stanton, this could be the most dynamic outfield in baseball in a couple years. Though trade rumors have dogged Stanton and Miami for a while, he's still under team control through 2016 and he's still one of the best power hitters in baseball, with 106 homers in just 441 career games. Marcell Ozuna got sent back to the minors after hitting a rough patch, but he also showed flashes of potential earlier this year, giving the Fish four potential impact outfielders. The pitching staff isn't just Fernandez, either. Twenty-two-year-old Jacob Turner, acquired as the main piece in the Anibal Sanchez/Omar Infante deal at last year's deadline, has flashed a 2.68 ERA in 12 starts. Twenty-three-year-old Nathan Eovaldi is an easy name to forget, given he was the key guy coming back in the 2012 deadline deal for Hanley Ramirez, who has set the league on fire. But he, too, has shown flashes of brilliance, including a one-run performance Sunday against the Indians in which he was firing 99 mph fastballs in the seventh inning. Turner, Eovaldi, Marisnick, and multiple other intriguing prospects came over in recent trades, the biggest of which cemented Jeffrey Loria's reputation as a genius and looks even shrewder eight months later, with the Jays floundering on a gigantic payroll and the Marlins steadily building a young core with upside. The Marlins' tendency to call up top prospects when they're ready, rather than deploying all manner of service-time shenanigans, is an absolute breath of fresh air if you like to see the best young players actually play in the big leagues. The Marlins still have multiple holes left to fill, starting with just about the entire infield. A cynic would question the team's intentions, given that it tore down the roster just a year after moving into a mostly publicly financed $634 million stadium that has been mostly empty for much of this season. But with a few well-timed moves and a few dollars spent to add talent, this could be a dangerous team, maybe as soon as 2015. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9539550/jonah-keri-ranks-mlb-teams