Tag Archives: MLB

Addressing Baseball’s Pace of Play

Baseball was once America’s pastime. Not anymore. Today, the NFL dominates professional team sports. Baseball, despite the unbelievable quality of the game, is quickly becoming the old guys sport. Why? Because the pace of play makes it “boring”.

At least that’s what most non-baseball fans believe. We live in a time of instant gratification. People care less and less about strategy, tactics, and the intricacies of a defensive shift or a pitching match-up. And, while they may still appreciate of the beauty of a well-turned double play, they don’t want to endure a fifteen pitch, four mound visit at bat to get there. Baseball is boring because baseball is slow.

The Problem at Hand

I am not trying to be the old guy yelling “get off my lawn”, but something has to be done about the pace of play. Countless pitching changes in an inning, lefty and right specialists who face a single batter, and catchers who walk to the mound so many times you think they’re trying to meet their daily Fitbit goal have driven the average game length to over three hours.

This season’s average was almost five minutes higher than 2016 and seven more than in 2000. Of course the average Red Sox game is higher, and the average Sox-Yankees affair is much higher. It is even worse in the playoffs.

Average Length of MLB Game 2017
REG SEASON	BOS-NYY	BOS-HOU ALDS	WORLD SERIES
3:05	3:27	3:48	3:42

Part of this is to be expected. Deeper line-ups, runners on base, and higher-pressure games slow the pace of play. Pitchers and catchers strategize each at bat like it’s the Invasion of Normandy, while managers scroll through pages of data weighing match-ups and bullpen options.

Past Proposals

Major League Baseball recognized the problem years ago and has tried in vain to address it. The two biggest measures proposed by Commissioner Rob Manfred last year were a 20-second pitch clock and a limit on mound visits. The Players Union rejected both suggestions.

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The union argued that forcing pitchers to work more quickly could lead to more injuries. But, according to CBS Sports, the average time between pitches last season was 24.2 seconds. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t speak to the rehabilitative magic that an extra four seconds between pitches does for a throwing arm. But what I do know is that in a game with 300 cumulative pitches, those extra four seconds translates to 21 added minutes.

Options Moving Forward

Manfred was on the right path with his recommendations last year. There are plenty of ways to reduce the length of ball games. Here are a few:

Pitch clock.

Damn the union, the commissioner needs to exercise his “in the best interested of baseball” powers and implement the clock by fiat if necessary. If that means that, in order to prevent injuries, teams will need to lower pitch counts per start and carry more pitchers – then expand the rosters.

I do not believe that awarding a ball for each violation is a realistic punishment. That will alter the game too dramatically. Rather, I recommend that MLB impose a $100-500 fine to the team for every violation. The team can, if it chooses, pass that along to the pitcher or pay it outright.

Under this plan, a pitcher who throws 200 innings stands to lose about $40,000 a year if even just ten percent of their pitches violate the pitch clock. That’s motivation.

Eliminate the lefty-righty specialist.

What’s worse than watching Clay “Molasses” Buchholz pitch? Watching him get pulled for a lefty-specialist who faces one batter only to be pulled himself. The specialization of relief pitching may be supported by analytics, but pitching changes add tons of time to games.

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The simple solution is to eliminate the one-out specialist. Not eliminate the roster spot, just require that every pitcher face not less than two batters. The only exceptions to this rule is injury or if the pitcher comes in and records the final out of the inning or game.

Limit Mound Visits.

As cute as it was to listen to Crash and Nuke discuss what to get Jimmy and Mille for their wedding, we need to cap mound visits so we can all get on with our lives.

As Matt Snyder noted, in Game 1 of the 2016 NLCS, the Dodgers had a mound visit before every single batter in the eighth inning. The Cubs had nine guys come to the plate that inning. How much time do you think that added? A lot. They scored five runs. How effective were those visits? Not very.

Under this proposal, there can be no more than one player mound visit per inning and it cannot exceed thirty seconds. Any subsequent player mound visit or any violation of time not related to injury would result in a $1,000 fine to the team.

A pitching coach or manager may visit the mound once per inning (not per pitcher) for not more than one minute. A managerial time violation would result in a $5,000 fine to the manager. Subsequent mound visits by the pitching coach or manager are allowed for pitching changes.

How Big an Impact

The total effect of these proposals would be revolutionary.

Games were 12-minutes shorter in AA and AAA ballparks with 20-second pitch clocks in 2015 than in 2014. Eliminate even one pitching change per team per game and you trim another 10-15 minutes. Keep catchers and managers from wearing out the grass to the mound with all those visits and it’s easily another eight to ten minutes per game.

I just cut the average baseball game down by 37 minutes from 3:05 to 2:28. You’re welcome.

Trade Jackie Bradley Jr.

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Writers That Cover the Red Sox

Writers of the Boston media don’t want to trade Bradley Jr. for Jose Abreu. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe wrote that Abreu offers more power, while Bradley is more a complete and arguably more valuable player, given his defense and base running. What is with the people that don’t want to trade for power? Bradley is better Okay let’s look at some stats. Abreu has 124 home runs in his career while Bradley only has 57 home runs. Abreu has 410 RBI’s while Bradley has 233 RBI’s in his career.

Trade Jackie Bradley

BOSTON – JULY 9: Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. made a spectacular diving catch to rob Chicago’s Tyler Flowers of a hit in the top of the second inning. The Boston Red Sox hosted the Chicago White Sox in a MLB game at Fenway Park. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Bradley in the postseason is batting a .160 average, but he’s better than Abreu, right? The Red Sox are missing power in their lineup. Stanton is not going to happen as the Giants seem to be the front runner to land him. Out of the Red Sox prospects: Bradley, Bogaerts, Betts, and Benintendi, the first to go out of those four is Bradley. The Red Sox have made it clear they won’t trade Benintendi and Betts. Abreu is the power bat you need to win now the Red Sox are done with the rebuilding stage. They have their core, they just need a bat. I’m sure many of the writers that cover the team wish Farrell was still the manager for some reason. They hate change and don’t want to win now.

Comparing Jackie Bradley to Jose Abreu

In 2017 Jose Abreu had 33 home runs 102 RBI’s and a .304 batting average. Bradley had 17 home runs 63 RBI’s and a batting average of .245, but his defense is going to win championships. Right, writers that cover the team? If the White Sox GM makes that trade for Bradley because he thinks Bradley is better than Abreu the GM should be fired. The Red Sox should really go through with this trade and bring the power hitter Abreu to the Red Sox.

HOF: A Case for Moose and Schill

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In our continuing series of articles on this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, we now turn our attention to two guys who didn’t enhance their stats through the needle. Unlike the greatly debated case of Roger “the HGH was for my wife” Clemens, Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling have never been linked to PEDs. Each deserves induction.

As I mentioned here, neither Moose nor Schill have Clemens numbers, but they also don’t have his PED baggage.

The Standard for the Hall

We used to believe that the standard for Cooperstown was 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. That is actually far from the truth.

There are 75 pitchers in the Hall of Fame. Taking away those who were exclusively or predominantly relief pitchers, including Eck, Rollie Fingers, Gossage, Bruce Sutter, and Hoyt Wilhelm, we’re left with 70. We should also take out Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, and John Smoltz from the sample.

Ruth only pitched a couple of years and is in the Hall for his bat. Paige, certainly an all-time great, only pitched in the major leagues for part of six seasons after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Smoltz earned induction based on a balanced career of excellence as both a starter (213 wins) and closer (154 saves).

Thanks to our friends at www.baseballreference.com, we know what the average starting pitcher in Cooperstown looks like. They pitched for 18 years, went to four All Star Games, won 253 games, lost 176, had an ERA of 2.98 and struck out 2,153. And, for those readers who appreciate modern, second-order stats, they have a WAR (wins above replacement) of 70 and a WHIP (Walks/Hits per Inning Pitched) of 1.197.

Mussina by the Numbers

Mike Mussina was a great pitcher, but he meets none of the traditional marks for Cooperstown. His 270 career wins are below the magic 300 but are above the Hall average. He also lost fewer games than the typical HOFer.

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The five-time All Star struck out 2,813 and had a career ERA of 3.68. His career WAR (83.0) was better than the average Cooperstown pitcher and his WHIP (1.192) is nearly identical. Mussina won seven Gold Gloves, but he never finished higher than fourth in Cy Young award voting.

Schilling Beyond the Numbers

I won’t pretend to be entirely objective about Curt Schilling. I’ve known him for years since his retirement and know that he’s not the caricature some in the media portray him to be. His Hall candidacy ceased resting on his baseball resume a few years ago. His numbers are beyond Hall worthy except for his wins total.

Schill (216-146, 3.46 ERA, 3,116 Ks, 79.9 WAR and 1.137 WHIP) finished second in the Cy Young award three times, and was a six-time All Star. His low win total is often used as an excuse for those who keep him off their ballot. There are 18 starting pitchers in the hall with fewer than 216 wins.

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No pitcher in the Hall has Schilling’s post season resume. The three-time world champion is universally understood as the greatest post-season pitcher of the modern era.

In 12 post season series, Shilling went 11-2, had an ERA of 2.23, a WHIP of 0.968, and was a League Championship Series (1993) and World Series MVP (2001). You would need a Pentagon super computer to calculate Schilling’s post season WAR. When the weather turned cold and the competition heated up, against the best hitters in the game, Curt Schilling was the best in baseball.

Tomes have been written about Schilling’s off the field activities. His failed company, his departure from ESPN, his political positions, and his social media presence. Some writers, including Boston’s “favorite” curly-haired boyfriend, have used one or more of these things to justify keeping Schilling out of the Hall. Many of these same writers ignore Curt’s long and substantial charitable work and his Roberto Clements award, but have no issues voting for steroid users who cheated, like Bonds and Clemens.

The Case For Both

If the Hall is really about baseball, and voters truly care how pitchers performed within the context of their era, than both Schilling and Mussina must be inducted. That these two pitchers accomplished what they did, in an era when juiced hitters were breaking every offensive record and when new and smaller ballparks popped up every year, is simply amazing.

To compete clean in the steroid era and achieve to their standard cannot legitimately go unrewarded. Of the pitchers who faced Barry Bonds, the poster child of the steroid era and the most prolific power hitter in history, at least 100 At Bats, Schilling held him to a lower batting average (.263) than both Greg Maddux (.265) and John Smoltz (.275). Both are in the Hall. Both were elected on their first ballot.

2018 Baseball HOF Ballot: The Pitchers

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The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) released their Modern Era committee Hall of Fame ballot yesterday. Over the next few weeks Boston Sports Extra will make our case for who should and who shouldn’t, and who will and won’t, get elected.

The Process

In order to walk into Cooperstown as anything other than a paid visitor, a player must be on at least 75% of the ballots. Last year, there were 442 ballots cast, so a player must have been on 332 ballots to be inducted.

Voting for induction to baseball’s greatest shrine has no more integrity than voting for homecoming queen at your high school. Writers, who weren’t good enough athletes to actually play baseball, check the box next to the names of the players they like. It’s a popularity contest. Some writers are more objective than others. Some are comically biased.

Last year Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek, and Edgar Renteria all received votes for the Hall of Fame. That’s not just ridiculous, it demonstrates that we should reassess who is allowed to vote. Every ballot should be made public. Any writer so obviously out of step with reality should have their voting privileges suspended.

For now, BBWAA Hall voters can keep their ballots private. Those who do simply lack the intellectual integrity to defend their stances on certain players.

2018 Class of Pitchers

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This year’s ballot includes fourteen pitchers. Trevor Hoffman, Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Curt Schilling, and Billy Wagner are all hold-overs from previous years. There are nine pitchers being considered for their first time: Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano, Jamie Moyer, Chris Carpenter, Livian Hernandez, Kevin Millwood, Kerry Wood, Jason Isringhausen, and Brad Lidge.

Here is how they stack up statistically.

					Pitching Stats
Rk	Name	YoB	% of Ballots	Yrs	W	L	ERA	ERA+	WHIP	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO
1	Trevor Hoffman	3rd	74.00%	18	61	75	2.87	141	1.058	1035	0	601	1089	846	100	307	1133
2	Roger Clemens	6th	54.10%	24	354	184	3.12	143	1.173	709	707	0	4916	4185	363	1580	4672
3	Mike Mussina	5th	51.80%	18	270	153	3.68	123	1.192	537	536	0	3562	3460	376	785	2813
4	Curt Schilling	6th	45.00%	20	216	146	3.46	127	1.137	569	436	22	3261	2998	347	711	3116
5	Billy Wagner	3rd	10.20%	16	47	40	2.31	187	0.998	853	0	422	903	601	82	300	1196
6	Johan Santana	1st		12	139	78	3.2	136	1.132	360	284	1	2025	1726	220	567	1988
7	Carlos Zambrano	1st		12	132	91	3.66	120	1.331	354	302	0	1959	1709	161	898	1637
8	Jamie Moyer	1st		25	269	209	4.25	103	1.322	696	638	0	4074	4231	522	1155	2441
9	Chris Carpenter	1st		15	144	94	3.76	116	1.276	350	332	0	2219	2205	220	627	1697
10	Livan Hernandez	1st		17	178	177	4.44	95	1.44	519	474	1	3189	3525	362	1066	1976
11	Kevin Millwood	1st		16	169	152	4.11	106	1.328	451	443	0	2720	2770	296	843	2083
12	Kerry Wood	1st		14	86	75	3.67	117	1.267	446	178	63	1380	1083	148	666	1582
13	Jason Isringhausen	1st		16	51	55	3.64	115	1.328	724	52	300	1007	901	85	437	830
14	Brad Lidge	1st		11	26	32	3.54	122	1.291	603	1	225	603.1	492	57	287	799
	AVERAGE HOF PITCHER			18	253	176	2.98			596	462	39	3801	3500	199	1052	2153

We will get into the details of a number of candidates in the coming weeks, but it is a safe bet that Hoffman will get the additional 1% he needs for induction. He will be the only pitcher elected this year.

Still Have a Shot

Clemens, Mussina, and Schilling will not only stay on the ballot next year, but should all eventually get elected. By the numbers, Rocket is a no brainer. But, as we’ll discuss later, his situation is more complicated than that.

Moose and Schill don’t have Clemens’ numbers, but they also don’t have his PED baggage. Mussina is safer bet than Schilling. His 270 wins are more in line with starting pitchers already in Cooperstown, and he hasn’t been nearly as controversial off the field. Much more on that later.

Good but Not Great

Of the newbies on the ballot, none of the starting pitchers are likely to make it, though some will stay above the 5% cut line for a couple of years. Moyer has more wins than the average Hall pitcher, but he has 209 loses and a career ERA almost a run and a half higher. Johan Santana was brilliant for a short time, but he wasn’t Pedro Martinez. He will eventually fall well short.

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Similarly, none of the other four predominantly relief pitchers on the ballot will make it. This includes Kerry Wood, who due to injuries had his gifted career cut short. Billy Wagner is the most other Hall-worthy candidate, but when judged against Trevor Hoffman’s candidacy you can easily see how far he is below the standard.

Will Jeter Send Stanton To Red Sox?

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Red Sox Stanton Talks Heating Up

According to the Miami Herald, the Red Sox Stanton talks are “heating up.” Dombrowski told the Boston Herald he could not comment on any trade talks at this time. Let’s take a look at what the Red Sox may have to give up. They really do need a power hitter, after missing David Ortiz. The question is, who has to go in order to get Stanton? The Red Sox would probably have to send them Jason Groome, Jackie Bradley Jr., and either Devers, or Nunez.

Will Andrew Benintendi Stay Or Will He Go?

Will Andrew Benintendi be in a Red Sox uniform next season? I sure hope so. You really don’t want to give up Benintendi. He is a great asset to the team, and has a future as a player. The Red Sox want to win, they aren’t in a rebuilding stage at this point. The Marlins are rebuilding. Stanton has made it clear he wants to win now, he doesn’t want to be on a rebuilding team. The other three teams interested in Stanton are the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.

Stanton’s Contract?

The Red Sox have to figure out if Stanton has a no-trade clause. With any trade for the outfielder, they have to deal with the $295 million owed over the next 10 seasons remaining on his contract. He can opt out after the 2020 season. The Red Sox hit the fewest home runs in the American League last season, a power bat would help their lineup greatly. Stanton has a better shot of winning with the Red Sox, with a new manager. They have the pitching, and really have controlled the division the last two seasons.

Red Sox Need The Bat In The Middle Of There Lineup

With Aaron Judge in the middle of the Yankees lineup, it’s clear the Red Sox need a big bat. Otherwise, they could find themselves in the wild card spot come next postseason.

Alex Cora Excited To Be Back

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Manager Alex Cora Is In Boston

Alex Cora was introduced yesterday at Fenway Park. My takeaway from that press conference was him saying Boston won’t be a challenge for him.

“Boston, for a lot of people, is a challenge. For me, it’s not, I don’t think experience is going to be an obstacle for me. I think I’m prepared.”

I think it’s a good look for this team with a lot of young talent. The Red Sox hired Tony Larussa to as a resource for Cora, if needed. Questions remain if Cora was Dave Dombrowski’s choice, or some believe ownership may have stepped in. Either way, this market is a tough place to manage. The Red Sox have a winning reputation, and division titles don’t mean anything. It’s all about world championships. This whole city is all about championships, from the Red Sox to the Patriots.

Alex Goes Down Memory Lane

Cora played with Dustin Pedroia back in 2007. He made his debut for the Red Sox in July of 2005. The Red Sox won the World series in 2007. He said yesterday, Boston talks baseball 24/7 and that’s what he grew up with. Cora was saying that experience as a manager didn’t really matter when he was a players coach and a bench coach. He watched how the game was played, and managed throughout his career as a player, and as a bench coach.

Alex Is Coming Off A World Series Win

Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora sits in the dugout during media day for baseball’s World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Cora just won a World Series with the Houston Astros. What an accomplishment that was, after everything Texas has been through. He talked about forming the relationships with the players now, so when they get down to Fort Myers, he has an idea of who the players are and what they want to get out of next season in 2018.

On To 2018…

Cora is all about moving forward in talking about David Price.

“For me, it’s unfair to talk about what happened last year. It’s in the past. I’m here to move forward This guy is very important for me. Whatever I can do to help him out, I’m going to be there for him. And at the same time, whatever I can do for him to be successful, I have to be there for him. The whole clubhouse thing, we’ll be fine. You guys know how I dealt with Manny with all the situations. We tried to bring this thing together. We’re going to be fine.”

He Sounds Confident

He sounds confident, and that’s good. Let’s see how this team looks in February for Spring Training. Until then, they need to find another power hitter.

Red Sox Prospects To Watch

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2018 Preview and The Prospects To Watch:

With the Red Sox offseason now in full force, we are going to hear a lot of information moving forward. The Sox found their new manager in Alex Cora. They still need to improve the offense. When Spring training begins, the young kids will get their time to shine. The future of the Sox is bright in the farm system. Five names fans should look for: Jay Groome, Michael Chavis, Bryan Mata, Sam Travis and Tanner Houck. These are the Red Sox prospects to watch.

Jay Groome:

Groome is the number one prospect in the Red Sox system. He was drafted 12th overall pick of the 2016 draft. He was the top prospect in the draft, but fell to the Red Sox due to sign ability concerns and his personality. Groome has the tools to be a top of the rotation starter, something the Sox have struggled to develop. The last Red Sox pitching prospect to make more than 20 starts in the majors, was Justin Masterson, who the Sox drafted in 2006. Masterson only lasted two seasons in Boston, then was traded to the Indians in 2009 for Victor Martinez. Groome’s curveball has drawn compassions to Clayton Kershaw’s, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in the last decade. The Sox would be more than happy if that comparison holds true.

Michael Chavis:

Chavis burst onto the scene last year when he hit 31 homeruns between Salem and Portland. The Sox drafted Chavis in the first round of the 2014 draft. He had struggled in the minors, and had never hit above .270 in his minor league career. Chavis is blocked by Rafael Devers at third base in the majors. If Chavis can continue to show the power like he did last season, it may be hard for the Sox to keep him in the minors.

Bryan Mata:

Mata is the Sox second highest ranking pitching prospect. He is only 18 years old. The Red Sox signed him as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in 2016. Last season Mata went 5-6, but showed impressive control. In 77 innings he struck out 74 batters while only walking 26 batters. While Mata doesn’t throw extremely fast, he has good control, and has quickly risen in the Red Sox minor league system at a young age.

Sam Travis:

Of all the players on this list, Travis is the only one with major league experience. The Sox were hoping Travis would take over first base last year, but things didn’t go as planned. In the minors, Travis hit for a high average and was able to get on base. He played in thirty-three games at the big league level but showed little power. While he did hit .263 in the majors last year, he dealt with injuries limiting his opportunities. The Sox still have high expectations for Travis, but will need him to show more power to earn a starting job in the majors.

Tanner Houck:

Houck is the third pitching prospect on this list. Like Groome, Houck has also been compared to another successful big-league starter. The Sox drafted Houck in the first round of this year’s draft. His pitches average 92-96 mph however he has topped out at 98 mph. Baseball America called him, “the second coming of Jake Peavy again with his velocity and location on his sinking fastball starting to rebound”. Houck has the potential to be a very good starter for the Red Sox, but must first improve his control. If he can, he could land in Boston very soon.

Summary:

After last season, there will be many changes with the Red Sox. They need to add more power to the lineup and improve the bullpen. The Sox will look for help through free agency and trades. They will also look to the farm system. The Red Sox have given up many impact prospects to acquire stars such as Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel, which has depleted the farm system. They still have talent in the minors, and these prospects are the ones to watch for a quick impact.

Manfred’s Reasoning for Delayed Suspension of Gurriel Full of Errors

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In the 2^nd inning of Friday night’s World Series match-up, Houston slugger Yuli Gurriel decimated a Yu Darvish pitch, sending a juiced Rawlings baseball careening down the left field line of Minute Maid Park. Upon arriving back to the dugout, fresh from a trek around the bases that gave Houston a 1-0 lead, Gurriel decided some good ol’ fashioned racism was in order!

Minutes later, cameras pointed in the direction of the latest World Series “hero” caught Gurriel making an inappropriate gesture directed at Dodgers starting pitcher, Yu Darvish. He would later admit to spewing a discriminatory remark as well.

Honestly, I don’t see how anyone can interpret Gurriel’s response as being anything other than racist.

Manfred Responds

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This afternoon, Major League Baseball commissioner, Rob Manfred, announced that Yuli Gurriel has been suspended without pay for the first five games of the 2018 season. Yes, you read that correctly. While Gurriel will be rightfully suspended for his blatant act of racism, he won’t have to serve his punishment until next season.

Why? Great question!

Manfred, speaking in front of the media prior to this evening’s Game 4, said now was not the appropriate time to suspend Gurriel.

“Mr. Gurriel will be suspended for five games without pay. During the offseason he will be required to undergo sensitivity training, and the Houston Astros in a gesture of support, have agreed to donate the foregone salary to charitable causes,” Manfred dished during his press conference.

Commissioner Manfred went on to say that, for 4 reasons, he is delaying the suspension until the start of the 2018 season.

Let’s take a closer look at these four reasons and discuss their validity, shall we?

Reason 1: “First of all, I felt it was important that the suspension carry with it the penalty of lost salary.”

Wait, so the players aren’t paid for these World Series games?

Oh, that’s right. They do get paid. In fact, they get paid very well actually.

Each player on last year’s World Series winning Cubs team earned $368,871.59. The Cleveland Indians, runners-up in the 2016 Fall Classic, saw each of their players receive a bonus of $261,804.65.

With those figures in mind, let’s examine Yuli Gurriel’s 2018 projected salary.

According to Baseball Reference, Gurriel is due 12.4 million dollars next season.

Assuming that cap figure is correct, the Houston slugger stands to lose approximately $382,716 during his upcoming five-game suspension.

While I’ll concede that the amount of money Gurriel will lose next year exceeds any bonus he will earn for appearing in the World Series, I’m hard pressed to believe your average fan cares. I know I don’t. Gurriel, along with his 47.5 million dollar contract, doesn’t care either.

It’s not about the money, Mr. Manfred.

It’s about accountability for one’s actions. It’s about standing up for what’s right. The league should have suspended Gurriel for the remainder of the series while also withholding his World Series bonus.

Final Ruling on Reason #1: ERROR

Reason # 2: “I felt it was unfair to punish the other 24 players on the Astros roster. I wanted the burden of this discipline to fall primarily on the wrongdoer.”

Oh, I find this reason for Gurriel’s delayed suspension to be the most egregious of them all.

It’s unfair to punish the other 24 players on the Houston roster by having a key player sit?

It’s a team sport! Don’t we teach children that we win and lose as a team? That we don’t point fingers at individuals for game-related grievances? As Bill Belichick continually preaches, it’s up to the players to “do their jobs” each and every game. If they fail to do their job, then the team sinks.

Well, my friends, Gurriel failed to do his job last night. He failed to be a decent human being, role model and professional. Yuli Gurriel deserved to suffer the consequences and so did his team.

Final Ruling on Reason #2: ERROR

Reason # 3: “I was impressed in my conversation with Yu Darvish by his desire to move forward, and I felt that moving the suspension to the beginning of the season would help in that regard.”

I have no doubt that Yu Darvish was nothing but respectful in the aforementioned conversation. I’m also sure that he does, in fact, wish to move forward. But how exactly does waiting six months help “in that regard?” This will continue to be an issue that Darvish, and Gurriel for that matter, will be asked about throughout the offseason and into spring training.

The league would not have to worry about such questions leading up to next season if they had simply chosen to do the right thing today.

Final Ruling on Reason # 3: ERROR

Reason # 4: “Last, when I originally began thinking about the discipline, I thought that delaying the suspension would allow the player the opportunity to exercise his rights under the grievance procedure. It now appears, and I have every expectation, that he will not be exercising those rights.”

Well, as a general supporter in unions, I can see where Manfred is coming from here. However, his wording is too formulaic for my liking. It’s nothing more than a justification to a cowardly decision thanks to the language found in the current CBA.

Do you think the players’ union would have put their necks on the line to defend a blatant display of racism that was caught on camera and displayed to an audience that garnered a 10.4 overnight rating (16% lower than last year’s Game 3, by the way)? Given the public’s harsh response to Gurriel’s idiocy, it would have been a PR nightmare.

I don’t buy it, Mr. Manfred.

Final Ruling on Reason # 4: ERROR

Deep down, Manfred knows that he would have likely succeeded in banning Gurriel for the rest of the series. He’s also aware that it would have been an unprecedented decision and one that would’ve attracted a lot of negative attention toward the league. By postponing Gurriel’s ban, Manfred must believe that he’s splitting the difference and placating to all parties involved.

Well, from this fan’s perspective, he’s wrong. Now Gurriel, and the Astros, stand to reap the benefits of the commissioner’s cowardly call.

McHale’s Musings Vol. 3

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Hello again, readers! It’s Ryan McHale with another edition of “McHale’s Musings.” I’m going to mix it up a bit and expand my horizon beyond the world of Boston sports.

That’s right…

It’s time to go national, baby!

NFL

Flacco Hit

I understand that football is not for the faint of heart. It’s a gruesome sport with bone-shattering collisions. However, there was nothing clean about the unnecessary hit Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso laid upon Joe Flacco last night. While Flacco may have gone into his slide a bit late, Alonso had more than enough reaction time to avoid slamming into the quarterback. The hit was as dirty as they come, and how he avoided ejection is beyond me. Hopefully he’s nailed with a significant suspension and hefty fine.

Suh’s Throat Punch

Speaking of dirty hits…

Surprise, surprise. Ndamukong Suh’s anger management issue has reared its ugly head again. This time it manifested itself by way of a failed attempt to land the Undertaker’s patented choke slam on Ryan Mallett – the Ravens backup quarterback forced into action after Alonso’s spear. I’m not sure how many infractions Suh has to amass before he’s out of the league. Instead of owners colluding to keep Colin Kaepernick out of action, why don’t they band together to give the boot to a player actively trying to injure his opponents?

Steelers Pose Biggest Threat to Patriots

While the Kansas City Chiefs remain the darlings of many NFL talking heads, I believe it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers who remain the biggest obstacle from keeping the Patriots from reaching yet another Super Bowl. Despite Martavis Bryant’s erratic, diva-like behavior, the team has started performing at the level most expect from the Steel City heroes. With Le’Veon Bell running at will, Antonio Brown catching everything that comes his way, and a defense suddenly creating turnovers, this team will be one to watch as we inch closer toward the playoffs.

The Buffalo Bills Are for Real

Ok, #BillsMafia. It’s time. As much as it pains me to compose this paragraph, I must swallow my pride and say what needs to be said. This Bills team is a legitimate Wild-Card team. Yes, wild-card. Even with the devastating, season-ending injury to defensive stalwart, Dont’a Hightower, they will not surpass the Patriots in the AFC East. With that said, don’t be surprised to see Buffalo playing football the first weekend of January.

On a non-football related note, my sincerest condolences go out to Buffalo’s tight end, Logan Thomas, and his family. If you’re unaware, Thomas’s daughter, Brooklynn was born prematurely and passed away on Tuesday. As a father, I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now, and I wish the entire Thomas family all the best as they attempt to heal.

MLB

Epic Game 2

How about that second game of the World Series? Without question, Wednesday night’s back and forth, extra-innings affair between the Dodgers and Astros was one of the more dramatic ballgames I can remember. If Game 2 of the series was just the start of things to come, we’ll be forever talking about this championship matchup.

Puig Discusses Correa’s Bat Flip

Yasiel Puig’s response to Carlos Correa’s 10th inning bat flip on Wednesday night was a thing of beauty. Here’s a guy who understands that baseball needs an injection of fun. After the phenomenal game, Puig had this to say about Correa’s so-called “antics”:

“I loved it,” Puig said. “It was a little bit higher than the bat flips I normally do. He was happy and that’s the way you should play in the World Series. Not everybody gets in a place like this. It’s good that he plays like that and it’s good that Latino players are able to contribute that way. He wasn’t batting too well, he was only getting a few hits and when he hit the home run, it was a moment for him to be happy. I’m glad he was able to celebrate that way.”

I personally love a well-timed bat flip. Sure, it’s showing up your opponent while relishing in your own accomplishment, but don’t we allow players to celebrate in every other sport? What about the Steelers offense playing hide-and-seek in the endzone after a touchdown last weekend against the Bengals? I’m pretty sure the sideshow was half-self congratulatory/half-showing up Cincinnati. What about an NBA player screaming and flexing after finishing off a huge dunk? Part of the intent is to make it known to their opponent that they’re unstoppable. I get that the majority of baseball viewers these days are on the older side, but in order for the game to not only survive, and thrive once again, we need to inject a bit of fun into the game.

NBA

LaVar Ball Not Helping Lonzo

I’m sure you, like many Americans, have stopped to ponder why today’s youth is overconfident with a massive superiority complex. Well, wonder no more. Thanks to LaVar Ball, we have our answer!

That’s right. You can place the blame on helicopter parents like LaVar Ball for producing children who grow up believing they’re untouchable. Unfortunately, these children eventually grow up to be adults unable to accept criticism or failure. I worry what will happen to Lonzo Ball when he inevitably hits a rough patch during his rookie season.

While Lonzo may have the talent to become a true superstar in the NBA, it’s his father who could potentially derail his fate. LaVar Ball, a former collegiate basketball player who dominated opponents with an blazing average of 2.2 PPG, continues living out his days by inserting himself into his kid’s career – opting to live vicariously through his more-talented son rather than carve out a path of his own.

For the sake of your son’s career, Mr. Ball, please sit down and shut up.

MLS

Atlanta United FC Attendance

Yesterday’s Knockout Round battle between the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United FC was played in front of a raucous crowd of 67,221 – a new MLS playoff attendance record. Who says Americans don’t appreciate soccer? It was an electric atmosphere at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Here’s hoping the soccer bug spreads from Atlanta to the rest of the country, much like airborne virus from Outbreak (highly underrated motion picture) did in 1995.

A Star is Born

Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

If you did happen to watch the Crew’s victory over Atlanta, you were more than likely witness to birth of a new US soccer star. Zack Steffen, the 22 year old netminder of the Columbus Crew, stole the show with 8 unbelievable saves that enabled the Crew (#SavetheCrew – story for another day) to shock Atlanta and their fans. The new coach of the USMNT will certainly have to look in Steffen’s direction when piecing together the next roster. The young goalie’s athleticism and personality would be the perfect addition to the lifeless squad that failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Until next time,

McHale

McHale’s Musings Vol. 2

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Hello again, everyone! Welcome to another edition of “McHale’s Musings.”

There’s been a lot happening in the world of Boston sports, so let’s get right to it!

Patriots

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Big-time win over the Falcons last weekend at Gillette. The effort from Matt Patricia’s defense was a stellar reminder of this group’s talent. If they can string together a few solid games, their confidence will grow.
Tom Brady is 40. 40!
Josh McDaniels needs to continue letting Dion Lewis be more of a factor on offense. He’s a dynamic running back who can stretch out a defense. He’s the ultimate weapon for Brady and Co. if used consistently. #fantasyfootballpickup
It sounded like Gillette was rocking on Sunday night. It’s about time! For myriad of reasons, Gillette Stadium is no longer a place opponents fear to visit. However, fans can help make a change. This team needs support from the 65,878 members of Patriots Nation in attendance each and every home game. Perhaps those early losses at the start of the season were a wake up call to fans. Things aren’t going to come easy on this “Blitz for Six.” Fans, you’ll have to do your part to make it happen. Get lubed up!

Celtics

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Hello, Kyrie. I’ll like to see your, “Suck my d**k,” and raise you a “Shut up and play.” You are a 25 year old professional athlete. You will be taunted by opposing teams’ fans. You’re the one with all the leverage here. By walking away, you’re making sure you don’t make headline news for all the wrong reasons. Sure, that Philly bro may hop on Instagram Live to boast, “Damn, you won’t believe what I said to Kyrie. He just took it like a chump.” However, I don’t think his 27 followers are going to band together and ruin your reputation. It’s like the world of teaching. Sure, I could rattle off some solid insults mixed with biting sarcasm at the student who refused to work, but what good would that do? At the end of the day, we can only control our own reaction. Kyrie, I urge you to ignore the taunts and move on with your day.
I see you, Jaylen Brown.
It’s too early to say that the Celtics made the better move in drafting Tatum over Fultz. With it becoming increasingly clear that Fultz has been hurt to start the season. Let’s give it some time before we declare that Danny Ainge bamboozled the 76ers.
Through four games, the C’s are 9^th in the league with an average of 46.3 rebounds per game. I’m hopeful that this team will be able to rebound with more efficiency than last year’s squad that finished 27^th in the NBA.

Bruins

Last weekend’s loss to Buffalo was a colossal failure. Thus far in his tenure as head coach, it appears as though Bruce Cassidy has been unable to strengthen the mental toughness of this hockey club. The 3^rd period and subsequent overtime was simply a train wreck. It will be inexcusable defeats such as Saturday’s debacle that prevents this team from making a deep postseason run.
What is up with the NHL schedule to start the season? I’m not liking this staggering of games, and I’m willing to bet the players aren’t fans of it either.
How good was it to see Bergeron back on the ice? The guy is a warrior through and through. He is Bruins hockey personified. With that said, he’s getting older and deserves to be surrounded by talent that has the potential of winning another Cup. Is he surrounded by that kind of talent now? Time will tell. One thing’s for sure…that kind of crippling loss to Buffalo can’t happen again.

Red Sox

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Dustin Pedroia is out seven months after undergoing knee surgery. I get the sneaking suspicion that we’ll soon be reading headlines along the lines of, “Pedroia Hopeful of Returning after All-Star Break.”
I love the Alex Cora hiring.
While I agree that we shouldn’t give up the farm for Giancarlo Stanton, it would be foolish not to put together a reasonable package for the All-Star slugger. This Red Sox lineup needs power in the worst way. He also has a personality that is sorely missing from the clubhouse after David Ortiz’s retirement. Go for it, Sox!

Revolution

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The Revs won a road game! I repeat…The New England Revolution won a road game!
In a match that proved to be well worth the watch, the Revolution closed out their disappointing season by finally winning a road match. The win over Montreal helps the team avoid going winless away from Gillette for the first time in franchise history.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…Diego Fagundez deserves to be the face of the Revolution. This young man is going to be a difference maker for the Revs for years to come.

That’s it for me! Until next time…

Ryan