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The recent trade of Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners to the New York Yankees has created a lot of buzz, both in baseball circles and fantasy baseball debates. In regard to fantasy value, many people have stated that Pineda’s value immediately increases with his trade from the lowly Mariners to the mighty Bronx Bombers. Why is this? Simply because he will win more games. Or so the theory goes.

It got me thinking. Since Wins are an entire category in most fantasy baseball leagues, there is always the chance that pitchers will get over-valued simply because they play for good teams (and thus should have the opportunity to win more games). I don’t like chasing Wins. Never have. Never will. The deciding factors which come into play when determining if a starting pitcher will be awarded a Win are far too diverse and reliant upon external factors to ever be predicted accurately.

A talented pitcher may throw for seven solid innings, surrendering only one earned run but if his team’s offense scores no runs, that pitcher is faced with a loss. Conversely, a pitcher may go six innings and give up seven earned runs but if his offense comes up big with eight runs of their own, that pitcher gets a cheap +1 in the Win category.

So, what’s the bottom line? It is simply too unpredictable to go chasing Wins in fantasy baseball. By looking at other factors, you will be much better served.

Going back to the example of Pineda, he is moving from one of baseball’s worst teams to one of the best. As such, it makes sense to predict that he will naturally be in line to see an increase in his Win total and as such, his fantasy value is on the rise. However, pitching in the American League East is much more treacherous than pitching in the American League West so Pineda may be in line to see some regression in his outlying statistics such as ERA and WHIP. Is this risk worth the chance of an extra Win or two over the course of 30 starts? Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston all scored significantly more runs than the L.A. Angels or Oakland Athletics in 2011.

A better strategy would be to draft and fill your fantasy baseball roster with pitchers who display extraordinary skills, regardless of the uniform they wear. Pitchers like Madison Bumgarner (SF), Cory Luebke (SD),Brandon McCarthy (OAK) and Scott Baker (MIN) all have shown talent and promising peripheral statistics but are often undervalued by your fellow fantasy owners because the teams they play for don’t pile up the wins.

By choosing pitchers from winning teams, you may give yourself an opportunity to be in a position to pick up a few extra Wins. However, by focusing on one category too strongly, you may just overlook pitchers who can help you in several other categories.

In fantasy baseball, the only Wins you should be chasing are those against your league opponents.

Looking for the perfect item to get your baseball fix on TV in the offseason?  Well, you can stop looking once you acquire Baseballs Greatest Games. Put out by MLB and A&E Studios in 2011, this 11 disc DVD set will occupy any baseball lover for hours (29 hours and 56 minutes to be exact).

The set features ten of the most hotly contested games in MLB history. Watching these games is made even better when the viewer notices that they can actually watch baseball without having to wait for inning changes and commercials.

The games featured in this set are:

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Game 7 of the 1960 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates: Fans will quickly remember this as the Bill Mazeroski game when he hit the historic walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the Series for the Pirates.

Game 6 of the 1975 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox: This is the game when Carlton Fisk hits his childlike walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 12^th inning to send the Series to seven games.

Slugfest at Wrigley Field in 1979 between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs: This game went into extra innings eventually ending with the Phillies winning 23-22 in the tenth inning.

Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Saint Louis Cardinals: Ozzie Smith makes this game memorable with his walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Game 6 of the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox: This is a game that is etched in Red Sox fans’ hearts for all time as they see Mookie Wilson’s grounder bounce down the line.

Game 7 of the 1991 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Minnesota Twins: Jack Morris put his mark on this fall classic by throwing a 10 inning shutout.

Game 7 of the 1992 National League Championship Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves: This game is remembered by Sid Bream’s slide across home plate in the bottom of the ninth to bring the Braves all of the way back from down 2-0 at the start of the inning.

Game 6 of the 1993 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays: Joe Carter’s walk-off blast in the bottom of the ninth is the play that most remember about this contest.

Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees:  To Red Sox fans, this is the Aaron Bleeping Boone game.

Game 7 of the 2004 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox: No team had ever come back from being down 3-0 in a seven game Series until David Ortiz helped the Sox change all of that with his historic homerun in game seven.

In addition to the ten games, there is an extra disc as well that provides viewers with postgame interviews and analyst reaction to the happenings of those games. These interviews further help to put the games into context of what was happening in baseball at that time.

One of the more interesting aspects of this DVD set is that viewers have the option to view the games either with the commentary from television or from radio. This is a great feature as many fans enjoy the radio broadcast more than television because it tends to be more descriptive. This feature has them lined up correctly so there is no delay between radio and television like there usually is if the viewer attempts to do this live.

These games can either bring back memories, or increase one’s knowledge about the teams and players of the different times in baseball history.

Rating: 3.55/5

What’s In A Name?

I used to chuckle when my mother would sometime look at me quizzically and ask, “When were you born?” My reply was generally, “You were there, weren’t you?”

But as I continue to ponder the ongoing dilemma that Major League Baseball faces in the Dominican Republic concerning age and identity fraud among young prospects, my mother’s occasional memory lapse has become increasingly understandable, particularly in a country where record keeping is often lax.

Major League Baseball recently revealed that of the 500 prospects a year it investigates; more than a third are rejected because of inconsistencies about who they are or when they were born. I am convinced more and more that a substantial amount of the identity questions are not because of deliberate attempts to mislead, but part of a cultural anomaly. But it is virtually impossible to separate the intentional from the unintentional, further exacerbating the dilemma.  Baseball has taken to labeling such cases as “inconclusive,” but still locks questionable prospects out of the game.

In a recent case, Juan Carlos Paniagua, who had signed a $1.1 million contract with the New York Yankees, had his contract voided by MLB –  and the right-handed pitcher with a 95 mph fastball was suspended for a year – after his identification paperwork was deemed faulty.  This came after he was suspended for a year in 2010 for providing false identification to the Arizona Diamondbacks under the name of Juan Collado.

According to The Miami Herald, Paniagua’s problems began when his grandmother registered his birth, declaring herself as his mother. A new birth certificate was issued under his correct name, listing his real mother, but then baseball investigators said his school registry appeared altered and he was ruled ineligible, his coach Dario Moreno Martes said, explaining, “He has never had a different date of birth.  If he is not Juan Carlos Paniagua, then tell me who he is?”

Who he is – and dozens of others like him – is an ongoing problem. “We try to be as comprehensive as possible,” Major League Baseball Senior Vice President Dan Mullin told the Herald. “We try to be as fair as possible and try to help the player prove he is who he says he is. But if you can’t prove who you are, you can’t get a visa to come to the United States.”

The proof is often a mystery that resists unraveling, whether there is deliberate intent or not to deceive.  Very often in the Dominican Republic, births are not registered until years after, when memories have become sketchy with regards to exact dates, locations and circumstances.  A relative could take a child to register the birth and not recall the exact date, or be provided incorrect information by the mother and father who may be juggling the birth dates of several children in their heads.  But, it would be a stretch of the imagination to believe that someone would falsify the identification of a 6-year-old in anticipation that 10 or 11 years hence that lie would benefit them in getting their child signed to a professional baseball contract.

Dominican birth certificate

Also, people in the Dominican Republic traditionally carry the last name of both the mother and the father, but in general usage prefer one over the other.  Over years, if one parent is absent, a name that appears on a birth certificate could be dropped from use, but become questionable when an identity search is made.  With that parent unavailable for verification, the matter could end as inconclusive.

I have also seen identification further compromised by the spelling of a name.  In the U.S., I would generally call someone “Jimmy,” but in the Dominican Republic, it might be written “Gemmy.” Or, in many cases, someone has been called a nickname – Chico – all their lives; in school records, hospital records – and that becomes who they are – not Joaquin.  But over the years, people would write “Jimmy” to the point that it would become the accepted spelling – until the question of identity surfaces.  And Chico turns out to really be Joaquin when baseball checks his identity. While there was no deliberate attempt to confuse anyone, red flags go up in a system where there are so many covert efforts to conceal identity.

And, further adding to the problem, according to one development academy owner who had three prospects’ contracts voided by identity questions, there is a cultural lack of understanding about the problem.  “They figure if the birth date is close, or the name is close, what’s the big deal,” he said. “They know it is their son, so they don’t understand why it is a problem.  We really have to get parents – and these kids – to understand that their identities have to be solid, have to be accurate, or we can’t get them signed.”

But there are certainly those who forge their identities to profit in a baseball world where 16-year-olds become instant millionaires while an 18-year-old with the same skills commands far less or could go unsigned.  Since I have been in the Dominican Republic, I have gotten to know Edgar Ferreria, one such casualty of growing old.  At 19, his value was dropping quickly until he was convinced to forge a new identity, that of a 17-year old, in part by paying off a local school to say he attended.  With a new age and identity, he was offered a $75,000 contract with the Anaheim Angels.

Edgar Ferreria (Where Baseball Is Born photo)

When the lie fell apart, Edgar’s contract was voided.  At 23, he now works as a trainer at a development academy, his big league dreams shattered. “I am worthless — an old man who nobody wants to sign,” he says, his sad, empty eyes reflecting his pain.

Baseball has embraced numerous investigative techniques – including fingerprinting of prospects as first advocated in the INFORMER two years ago – and now uncovers more of the fraudulent cases.  And, as the Dominican Republic adapts new measures to register births, the record keeping is becoming more accurate and less subject to tampering.  But it will be years before those with the new accurate records reach 16 – the magic age when MLB teams can sign Dominican players.  In the interim, baseball is saddled with the task of sorting out who is who, whether the prospect planned a deception or not.

The case of the Florida Marlins Leo Núñez – who is actually Juan Carlos Oviedo – is an example of just how pervasive identity fraud is.  Nunez played under his assumed name – and an older age – for 10 years before coming clean, and I am told there are more than two dozen current major and minor league players in the same fix.

Recently, a television feature on Dominican baseball referred to me as a critic of Major League Baseball, an evaluation I have worked hard to avoid because it positions me as an adversary.  I have never considered myself as an opponent of Major League Baseball, merely an advocate for education of the talent baseball mines in the Dominican Republic.

I avoid criticism in favor of observation and, based on those observations and my experience here, offer my opinions on problems in Dominican baseball that have become increasingly documented by others as well.  These include the use of steroids among prospects, abuses at the hands of greedy flesh merchants, and most recently the errant age and identify fraud that undermines the integrity of the game.

The major problem leading to age and identification fraud has been and will continue to be the devaluation of Dominican players as they age.  A 16-year-old with a 90 mph fastball is more valuable than a 19-year-old with the same skills, and with lax record keeping and a culture so rabid for baseball, the temptation to become someone younger, to fit the mold, is often irresistible.

I also try to offer viable solutions to the problems that plague Dominican baseball. I said it before and I will say it again that it seems to me that some of the age fraud could be avoided if these baseball Methuselahs could get a legitimate shot at the stardom all Dominican baseball players crave.   Logic dictates that if a 19-year-old believes he still has a chance to reach his dream, he will be less likely to lie about his age. Sure, you would still be getting what many consider an aging diamond in the rough, but the upside is a more mature, more focused 19-year-old man as opposed to a 16-year-old boy.

I suggested more than a year ago that baseball teams in the Dominican Republic offer a combine similar to what the National Football League uses to evaluate talent prior to its annual draft, but only for those players 19 and over.  Once, twice a year bring these so-called over-the-hill players to a location for workouts to assess their skills; make those workouts open to all teams who can then select promising players directly or via a special draft.

These players can easily be identified by the baseball’s expanded scouting bureau that now covers all of Latin America, and giving those 19 and over one last shot at a baseball career can only help eliminate their need to lie about who they are and when they were born.

Changing Of The Guard

Rafael Perez, the first head of operations at Major League Baseball’s office in the Dominican Republic, is returning to that post, the INFORMER has learned.

Rafael Perez

The return of Perez, who was Director of International Relations for the New York Mets, may signal a new, even tougher attitude towards reform in the Dominican Republic   As a Dominican who came through the system, he has an intimate knowledge of its complexities.   When he originally headed MLB’s office in the Dominican Republic, he fought to curb the influence of buscones, the flesh merchants who peddle prospects to MLB teams and often encouraging age and identity fraud and the use of steroids, problems that have plagued Dominican baseball.

After graduating from high school in the Dominican Republic, he went to Chipola Junior College in Marianna, FL, transferring in 1987 to the University of South Alabama where he finished his college baseball career while obtaining a degree in accounting.  He then played for two seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

After a stint with an international software company, Perez became a consultant with the Toronto Blue Jays, advising players on transitioning to playing baseball in the United States.  In 2000, he took over Major League Baseball’s new office in the Dominican Republic.  While there, he established standards for all MLB academies in the country.  His oversight of Major League Baseball operations in the Dominican Republic ended when he left for the Mets in 2005, despite an offer to remain in Santo Domingo.

With the Mets, Perez was responsible for the team’s operations in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, coordinating the Winter Leagues, and developing an international education program as well as special international projects.

While Perez is returning to old familiar places, the move can be viewed as a natural progression in the reform movement that started almost two years ago.  Sandy Alderson, currently the Mets’ general manager, originally led the reform effort in the Dominican Republic; he was also responsible for establishing MLB’s office in Santo Domingo.

Alderson turned the reins over to Jorge Perez-Diaz, a lawyer from Puerto Rico who reportedly will continue as a legal consultant with Major League Baseball.  Perez’ familiarity with Dominican baseball makes him a great fit a this juncture of the reform movement; I believe he also brings with him a healthy respect for the value of education, having received a college degree, as well as working with several international education organizations.

Education, in my mind, has to be a top priority of Major League Baseball if true reform in Dominican baseball is to be achieved.

Pomp And Circumstance

I recently had the honor and privilege of attending graduation ceremonies for a group of young Dominicans receiving their high school diplomas.  What made the event unusual was that it was held at the Pittsburgh Pirates Dominican Republic baseball academy and the graduates are all Pirates’ prospects.

The Pirates are the only Major League Baseball team in the Dominican Republic that provides a mandatory education program for its prospects, and the ceremonies – the second since the program was instituted – reflect what can be accomplished if MLB teams make a commitment to education.

It was not the first time I visited the Pirates academy, a state-of-the-art complex that includes administrative offices, recreation facilities, a spacious kitchen, and a dormitory. The baseball facilities have a modern weight room, training room, locker room, film room, and more, and immaculately groomed fields.  There are large classrooms that include computers and video setups.  When the facility opened, the Pirates vowed to offer educational programs to all players and not only have they been promise keepers, they have set a standard all Major League Baseball teams need to emulate.

At the graduation, I met face-to-face for the first time with Trevor Gooby, senior director of Florida and Dominican Operations for the Pirates, who told me awhile back that the Pirates embrace a philosophy to develop the whole player.  “This means physically, mentally, educationally and culturally,” he said.

He added, “I truly believe that it is our duty to develop the person.  We can’t be blind to it………Realistically, many of our (prospects) will never make it to the majors. They will go back to their towns and villages.  We want them to be productive members to their community and not a burden on the society.  I truly believe that our educational program will assist them in their post-baseball lives.”

The program is not without a price tag – estimated to be around $75,000 a year – which may be why the Pirates are the only Major League Baseball team with such an education program, but Gooby says the Pirates believe the money is an investment in the future.  The education program is conducted by CENAPEC, a nonprofit education company hired, in part, because the organization understands and incorporates Dominican education requirements into its curriculum.

The recent graduation ceremonies were held in a batting cage converted for the day into center stage. An array of fans circulate the air on a humid day as the graduates, and their fellow students, filed into the building in their baseball uniforms, accompanied to the strains of the Chariots of Fire theme song.

The graduates donned traditional cap and gown as beaming parents and friends gathered behind them to cheer  their success –  not on the baseball diamond – but in the classroom, a place many of them left years ago in pursuit of a dream.

The scene was inspiring as the graduates crossed the stage to receive their degrees, the sense of pride – of accomplishment –  etched in their faces.  They appeared to have a renewed swagger as they exited the stage, clutching their diplomas.  One student, Yunior Antonio Valdez, choked back tears as he expressed his appreciation for the opportunity afforded him and the others, opportunity unavailable to the majority of Dominicans seeking the pot of gold at the end of the baseball rainbow.

Yunior Antonio Valdez

Life is a process of growth and learning, and education is a crucial component in that process.

The promise of education is to empower its recipients with knowledge, with confidence, to raise self expectations and expand the promise of a successful future.

That the Pittsburgh Pirates understand that gives me hope that other teams will follow their lead, and also gives me renewed confidence that the DRSEA mission is a sound one.  I commented to Gooby that next year the team should invite baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to attend.  I think he would be as inspired as I was.

  “Some men know the value of education by having it.  I know its value by not having it.”

– Frederick Douglass, U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, 1890-91.

Image taken from Google Images

We heard it a lot.  At the end of September and during every playoff series, we heard “this could be the last time Albert Pujols has an at-bat in a Cardinal uniform,” sometimes tweaked with the last home appearance.  So much so that someone made a chart out of how he did in those situations.  (Spoiler, not all that well.)

So I’m here to lay out the reasons why all of that was moot.  I’m staking my (not so) considerable reputation as a blogger that Albert will be back in St. Louis for 2012 and for many years to come.

I admit, I come at this from a St. Louis bias.  That’s pretty much to be expected when you read a post written by a Cardinal blogger, don’t you think?  However, I’ll lay out my numerous reasons and you can decide if it is sufficient for you to believe as well.  I’m sure there will be numerous objections to some of my reasons (that’s what the comments are for).  Even if you disagree with one or two, though, hopefully the others will make you think.

The first and biggest reason is that the market for Pujols is not as strong as you’d expect for a legend heading into free agency.

Let’s look at the teams in MLB:

Arizona

Atlanta

Baltimore

Boston

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Cincinnati

Colorado

Cleveland

Detroit

Houston

Kansas City

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers

Miami

Milwaukee

Minnesota

New York Mets

New York Yankees

Oakland

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

San Diego

San Francisco

Seattle

St. Louis

Tampa Bay

Texas

Toronto

Washington

Right off the bat, we can eliminate roughly a third of the league, the teams that just don’t have the financial resources to make a splash like this.  I’m counting the Dodgers and the Mets, who would normally be in the mix on this, but have ownership situations that create uncertainty and the inability to really make this kind of commitment.  Atlanta and Arizona also don’t strike me as the types that would be willing to spend this kind of money, but I’d be willing to hear other sides of that argument.

So what does that leave us with?

Baltimore

Boston

Chicago Cubs

Chicago White Sox

Cincinnati

Detroit

Los Angeles Angels

Miami

Milwaukee

New York Yankees

Philadelphia

San Francisco

Seattle

St. Louis

Texas

Toronto

Washington

The next step is to eliminate those teams that have a first baseman under contract already and wouldn’t be inclined to move him for Pujols.  Boston has Adrian Gonzalez, New York has Mark Teixeira (and most likely wouldn’t want to lock up their DH slot as Alex Rodriguez might be needing that in the near future), Cincinnati Joey Votto, the White Sox Paul Konerko, Detroit Miguel Cabrera, Philadelphia Ryan Howard.  Let’s take those teams out.

Baltimore

Chicago Cubs

Los Angeles Angels

Miami

Milwaukee

San Francisco

Seattle

St. Louis

Texas

Toronto

Washington

Still a good number of teams, but I think we can narrow it down some more.  If Milwaukee had the wherewithal to sign a big name first baseman, they’d resign Prince Fielder.  I exchanged some emails with bloggers today and got the sense that while Miami is going to raise payroll, Pujols would eat up that whole raise and they are not likely to do that.  The San Francisco bloggers tell me that the team is still focusing on pitching (which is really surprising, given their obvious issues on offense last year) and they are limiting their payroll to around $120 million, which doesn’t leave them room for AP.  Seattle is looking at about $95 million already in payroll and I can’t see them going much higher than that.  Let’s remove those.

Baltimore

Chicago Cubs

Los Angeles Angels

St. Louis

Texas

Toronto

Washington

The nightmare scenario is, of course, that Pujols goes to the Cubs.  Some even got more worried when Theo Epstein signed with the Chicago team.  However, my opinion is that Epstein is smart enough to know that the Cubs are more than one player away from being a contender, and by the time he’s able to strengthen the farm enough so that he has players to surround Pujols with, AP will be on the downside of his career.  I think Epstein is smart enough not to go big with Albert, knowing that he doesn’t have to make a splash in his first offseason.

Baltimore has tried for the big names before, pursuing Teixeira before he signed with the Yankees.  However, they weren’t able to get him and one of the drawing cards was supposed to be that he was a Baltimore native.  I don’t think they go high enough to get Albert and, even if they did try to spend the money, I think Pujols’s competitive nature wouldn’t want to be sitting on a fourth place team on a regular basis.

I don’t think Toronto is going to be in play, partly because of the AL East scenario again (though I think Toronto is on the way up) but also because of the major upheaval it would be to go to a different country to play half your games.  Also, I’m not sure exactly what AP’s relationship to Colby Rasmus was, but I’m thinking there’s a good chance they aren’t dying to play together.

So what’s left?

Los Angeles Angels

St. Louis

Texas

Washington

Four teams, and I think Washington is only on the fringes.  They obviously don’t mind spending money, as we saw with the Jayson Werth contract, and they have a lot of good talent such as Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper on the way.  Washington is in a position where the addition of Albert could make them favorites (or close to it) in the NL East, especially with Ryan Howard being out in Philadelphia most of the 2012 season.

Los Angeles has been rumored to be interested in Pujols for quite some time.  They are supposed to get Kendry Morales back, but he’s proven that you can’t plan on his health.  However, they have some serious payroll commitments and I’m not sure Arte Moreno is going to want to extend the payroll that far into the stratosphere, as a Pujols contract would likely have them into the luxury tax range if they made no other moves.

That brings us to Texas.  Texas could use a first baseman, that’s true.  They have no problem spending money, another plus.  They are obviously a winning organization, having gone to back-to-back World Series.  All the pieces are in play for them to try for a little revenge and steal away Pujols.

However, according to reports Texas is going to go the pitching route in the offseason, and you can’t really blame them.  They’ll either have to spend big or they’ll lose C.J. Wilson, so either option requires them outlaying a lot of their capital for the guys on the mound.  Plus, in that ballpark, either Mitch Moreland develops or they can go out and find a first baseman that normally hits 15-20 and get him up to 25-30 without too much trouble, just from playing in that hitter’s park.  There’s no reason to shell out big bucks to get Pujols, who won’t be that much of a step up for a team that already has plenty of big bats.

Process of elimination has very few competitors for St. Louis.  However, there are other reasons.

The second reason (and one that I think is huge) is the fact that the Pujols Family Foundation is based in St. Louis and Pujols has said it will stay here.

All we know about Pujols is his public persona, right?  From everything that we read, that we see, that we hear from others, his faith is a huge part of his life and the Foundation is the best way he can put that faith into action.  The Foundation does outstanding work both locally in the St. Louis area and in the Dominican Republic.

All of these works, though, take money.  There’s no doubt that Albert will be able to fund PFF with his next contract, but he can’t do it all.  If he leaves St. Louis, you have to figure that donations drop significantly.  (If he signs with Chicago, they drop by over half, I’d think, maybe more).  That’s got to weigh into his calculations.  Sure, his new city might step up and shower the Foundation with donations, but how long would that take?

Coming into a new place, you don’t automatically have the rapport and connections that you do in your old place.  I mean, the fans may love him, but would they love him any differently than any other free agent signing?  To some degree, until you’ve been in a place for a while, you are a mercenary, a hired gun.  People don’t often donate to hired guns.

(On the flip side, imagine what levels contributions might soar to if he stays in St. Louis!)

Third, I think that the Cardinals will make a competitive offer, one that will not be that far off of what he is looking for.

Let’s take a look back at the beginning of spring training.  Albertgeddon was huge and there was a press conference on the first day that both John Mozeliak and Pujols spoke at.  You can read some of the comments on this old post, but the sense I got from listening to both Mozeliak and Pujols was that the two sides weren’t miles apart.  Both of them seemed to indicate that the media didn’t have the full story, which was completely believable.

Just look at how well the front office kept the secret that Tony La Russa was looking to retire at the end of the season.  That’s huge news, but because only a couple of people, people that had integrity and character, knew about it, the news stayed secret and was a big shock when it was finally announced on Monday.  I don’t think there’s any doubt that the two sides could have been extremely close and neither side leaked it.  For all we know, there were some informal negotiations during the season that we weren’t privy to.  I just don’t think it’s a huge gap that these two sides have to bridge, which makes me optimistic that it can get done.

Fourth, Pujols knows and respects Stan Musial, hopefully to the point that he realizes just what he could be to this town if he stays.

Pujols has always shown deep respect for The Man, going so far as to dissuade people from calling him El Hombre.  He knows what the love for St. Louis is for Musial and he has to recognize that, if he stays his whole career under the Arch, he’s going to have that same sort of goodwill and adoration when he’s 90 as well.  It wouldn’t be a stretch to see people pushing for him to get the Presidential Medal of Honor, due to his on and off the field work.

This happens nowhere else.  He can’t go to Texas, put up 10 great years, and be that beloved.  First off, putting up 10 great years is a stretch at his age, we all recognize that.  But again, it’s the hired gun mentality.  It’s tough to fully embrace a guy that comes to you in the middle of his career.

Don’t get me wrong, if Pujols went to Texas or Washington or wherever, I know the fan base would go nuts for him, buy the Pujols jerseys, and honor him at the end of his career as one of their own.  But it’ll always have a different tinge, a different feeling to it.

For instance, Cardinal fans love Lance Berkman, even though he’s been here only a year.  I was excited when he signed his contract extension and I’m glad he’ll be around in 2012.

That said, do we as Cardinal fans think we even approach what Astros fans felt about Berkman throughout his career?  Watching him develop at the big league level and then leading them to their first World Series?  If he’d been able to stay in Houston, he’d have probably moved right into some sort of role with the club and been their icon for years to come.

It just seems different to me when you go through the trials and tribulations with a player versus when they come to you already developed, already having lots of success somewhere else.  It may be only in degree and it may not be much, but I think there’s a difference.

If Pujols leaves for somewhere else, yes, his number will likely be retired by the club, but he’ll never be held in the regard of Bob Gibson, Lou Brock or Ozzie Smith, much less the great Musial because he didn’t end here, he chose to leave.  If he stays, he’s the only person that might someday bump Musial out of the top spot as greatest ever.

Fifth, I think this playoff run reinforced what playing in St. Louis was all about.

If this team had limped to the finish line, winding up 8 or so games back, maybe it’d be easier for Albert to think that the best days of Cardinal baseball were behind them and that it’d be a while before this team really contended again.  He might have been more likely to mentally start disconnecting from the organization while playing his final games.  It might have made it more likely to leave.

Instead, this team put on a run for the ages with packed houses every night, full of fans going wild.  Not only getting to the playoffs but succeeding in them, bring home another trophy and reminding Pujols just what it’s like to win in Baseball Heaven.  There’s no way that didn’t affect him somewhat, giving him even more of a connection to the city and the fan base.

Along with that run, he can look and see that the window for this team isn’t closing anytime soon, that it will still be very competitive.  You get Adam Wainwright back next year.  Berkman is back.  Matt Holliday, Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia are all here.  Shelby Miller will be coming soon.  There’s a lot to like about this team.  It’s not one that looks to collapse any time soon.

Plus, it generated some unexpected money for the organization, money they could use to help shorten that gap between the two sides.  That’s what we call a “win-win”.

There are other reasons as well.  I think the fact that he has some great friends here, people like Yadier Molina who he is so close to, has to weigh into his decision.  There’s also the specter of setting some team records, which has to mean a lot when you think about the history of the Cardinals.  He’s already been passing some big names, but he could own the whole record book by time he is done.

Finally, though, today may have been the clincher on the whole argument.  Today, a statue of Pujols was unveiled in front of his restaurant in Westport Plaza.  Now, really, if you thought you were going to leave a fandom as passionate as St. Louis’s, do you really think you’d put up a statue?

Apparently the funds were provided two years ago by an anonymous donor.  Even granting the time it took to make the statue and all of that, would you really want to dedicate that just weeks before you left town?

If you were going to leave, wouldn’t you perhaps just quietly put the statue out if you had to do something with it?  Not have the big ceremony and hoopla?  Because you know that if you walk out of St. Louis, that statue is not going to look very nice unless you put 24-hour guards on it.  Would the restaurant even stay in business if he went somewhere like Los Angeles?  You’d think the dropoff in business would be pretty significant.

All in all, putting up a statue like this seems to scream that, if at all possible, Pujols wants to stay in St. Louis.  I think the organization is going to make that possible.  It might take some creativity, it might take some bending by both sides, but I think it’s going to get done and we’re all going to feel much better.

Put all of that together and I don’t see how he can walk away from St. Louis.  That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but I think the odds are very low.  Of course, until the contract is signed, you just never know!

Starting at square one, it is the responsibility of the batter to swing at anything, no matter where the pitch is located. If possible, hit the ball to the opposite side, whether it’s toward the second baseman if you are a right-handed hitter or toward the shortstop if you are a left-handed hitter. At the very least, you should try to hit the ball on the ground, because a line drive caught by an infielder will probably kill your inning.

To improve your chances of making contact, some batters swing with their hands only, take no stride and keep the swing extremely simple. (It’s amazing how when some hitters do this, they actually hit the ball very well even though they are keeping it quite simple. There may be something to be learned by this. Sometimes less is indeed more.)

By far, the best count to hit and run on is 2-1. It used to be 2-0 or 3-1, which doesn’t make any sense at all and has become obsolete. Why should a hitter have to swing at a 2-0 pitch if it is going to be ball three? Why should a hitter have to swing at a 3-1 pitch if it is going to be ball four?

The hit and run play should be strongly considered if there is one out and a weak hitter is on deck. The reason is that if the hitter gets a single and the runner advances from first to third base, the weaker hitter that follows does not have to get a hit to get the runner in from third base.

Responsibilities Of The Batter and the Runner:

1. First of all, the runner breaking from first base must be sure that the pitcher throws the pitch home.

2. The runner takes off for second base and either the shortstop or second baseman breaks to cover second base, thinking it’s a stolen base attempt.

3. The runner should look toward the plate after a couple of steps. He should do this because it’s very important that he knows whether the ball has been hit in the air, hit on the ground, swung at and missed, gets by the catcher, etc.

4. The batter must swing and try his best to make contact.

5. If the batter misses the pitch, the runner simply tries to steal second base. If the ball is grounded to an infielder or the pitcher, chances are there won’t be a play at second base and the runner simply stays on second base. If it’s a ground ball to an infielder, the runner has a chance to make second base safely or at the very least, a very good chance of breaking up the possible double play. If the ball goes through the infield for a hit, the runner can usually go to third base without hesitating.

6. The only time the runner needs the third base coach is if the ball is hit into right field because he cannot turn around while running and to get a good view of the play as it unfolds.

7. The batter’s objective is to simply meet the ball and hit it sharply on the ground. If he can “shoot the ball” through the vacated area left by the second baseman or shortstop who are covering second base, that’s an added bonus.

Usually, it’s better to hit and run with a right-handed batter at the plate. If a righty shoots the ball the other way with the second baseman covering second base, the runner can almost always go to third base because it’s a longer throw to third base for the right fielder.

If a lefty shoots it the other way toward left center field with the shortstop covering second base, the runner probably cannot go to third base because it’s a very short throw for the left fielder to third base. The speed of the runner is very seldom a factor in determining whether or not to attempt the hit and run.

Something to consider before putting on the hit and run play is you should have a hitter up who is a contact hitter and very seldom swings and misses at pitches. Remember, you’re looking for a well hit grounder so if the pitcher is one who throws high heat, you may not want to risk the hit and run against him.

The Best Possible Situation For A Successful Hit And Run:

If you have a contact hitter against a pitcher who strikes out very few batters and the pitcher is a low ball pitcher who gets a lot of ground balls. (You have three very positive things working in your favor.)

Your chance for success is very high in this ideal hit and run situation!

DRSEA INFORMER

 Volume IV, Issue 6: A Publication For Your Reading Enjoyment

The accelerated signings of Dominican baseball prospects, coupled with a record signing bonus by the Texas Rangers, appears to be an indication that Major League Baseball teams have increasing faith that efforts to curb age and identity fraud in the Dominican Republic are working.

The $5 million signing bonus given 16-year-old Nomar Mazara eclipses the $4.25 million awarded Michael Ynoa by the Oakland A’s in 2008, and was one of several $1 million-plus bonuses awarded young Dominican players after the July 2 date when 16-year-olds are eligible to be signed.  The Rangers also signed Ronald Guzman, a 16-year-old outfielder, for $3.45 million.  Among other notable Dominican signings reported:

• Elier Hernandez, OF – Kansas City Royals, $3.05 million
• Helsin Martinez, OF – Seattle Mariners, $2 million
• Adalberto Mondesi, SS – Kansas City Royals, $2 million.
• Dawel Lugo, SS – Toronto Blue Jays, $1.3 million
• Enrique Acosta, SS – Chicago Cubs, $1.1 million
• Dorssys Paulino, SS – Cleveland Indians, $1.1 million
• Raymel Flores, SS – Boston Red Sox, $900,000
• Manuel Marcos, OF – Boston Red Sox, $800,000
• Miguel Andujar, 3B – New York Yankees, $750,000
• Adelin Santa, 3B – Detroit Tigers, $750,000
• Luis Reynoso, SS – Houston Astros, $700,000
• Miguel Gonzalez, RHP – Minnesota Twins, $650,000
• Dioscar Romero, RHP – Boston Red Sox, $600,000
• Francisco Miguel, OF – Cleveland Indians, $200,000

This does not include agreements reached with players from other countries including Venezuela, Columbia and Panama. International signing bonuses topped $100 million last year and speculation is that when signings are completed this year, they will exceed that total.  All signings are subject to the approval of MLB’s Commissioner’s Office.

Rangers Ronald Guzman was among top Dominican signees
The signings appear to reflect calmer waters in the Dominican baseball ocean after more than a year of tempests that tossed the sport in the country, threatening to undermine its integrity. Widespread allegations of age and identity fraud made many teams cautious in their pursuit of Dominican prospects.

In the wake of the allegations, as well as reports of steroid use by prospects and money skimming charges, baseball launched a major reform movement, beefing up investigations into the fraud, and instituting several measures to curb it, including the use of fingerprints to positively identify prospects, a process advocated in the INFORMER  two years ago.

Jorge Perez-Diaz

Jorge Perez-Diaz, a lawyer from Puerto Rico who now oversees the baseball reform movement in Latin America, told the Wall Street Journal that MLB teams have been subject to “an unreasonable amount of fraud and use of drugs” among Dominican prospects. “We needed to do this to make the industry sustainable here for the long-term,” he said.

My mind still boggles over handing a 16-year-old Dominican kid so much money without putting in place better programs to help them handle their new-found wealth.  Such large sums of money are life changing, but in the hands of the uneducated, as so many prospects are, it is tantamount to putting a loaded gun in their hands. Without supervision the results can be tragic.

Baseball will tell you that financial planning is provided these youngsters, but my belief is that it is insufficient in teaching them how to wisely protect their money, make sound investments for their future and that of their families, and prepare for a life without baseball, which is the fate of 98 percent.  The average signing bonus is around $100,000, and once an “agent” has taken his cut – usually around one-third – the “take home” is reduced.  I know of far too many Dominican prospects who have been handed more money than they can imagine, and within a short time are penniless, having spent the money as if it flowed from an eternal fountain, providing for family that has known only poverty and has been handed a taste of la buena vida.

The same happens to American athletes as well; teenagers suddenly transformed into millionaires, but most are better prepared to deal with the trappings of wealth.  When the DRSEA recently designed an educational program for a development academy here, we first conducted extensive diagnostic tests designed to determine the ability to do such simple things as interpret safety signals, use maps to identify home towns, locate information in television and movie listings, and identify driving regulations.  The majority had very limited ability to read and comprehend numbers, letters and simple words and phrases related to those needs, let alone manage money.

As baseball continues its reform movement, particularly with regards to education for prospects, I think it is critically important that teams provide more intensive financial advice, including budgeting, investments and long-range planning, helping them prepare for the day when a career in baseball is no longer an option – whether they are among the lucky few who have been handed millions or the majority whose riches, at best, are a few thousand dollars.  Wealth is subjective; managing it is not.

And while there is significant proof that Major League Baseball has made strides in addressing age and identity fraud, the problem has not been resolved, as evidenced by the recent suspension of Cincinnati Reds prospect Jonathan Correa for a year for lying about his age.

MLB determined the pitcher supplied an incorrect birth date when he signed in 2008.  Adding to his misdeeds is that after signing, Correa was suspended for 50 games for steroid use.

On the surface, October 1964 appears to be about the World Series in 1964 between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. The reader quickly finds out, however, that there is much more to this book than its title.

This World Series had a lot of characters even the casual baseball fan would have heard of. On the Yankees there were Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford being managed by the ever popular Yogi Berra. The Cardinals were full of famous names as well like Lou Brock, Curt Flood, Bob Gibson, Bob Uecker and Tim McCarver. Just looking at the make-up of these names, it is clear that there was something different about the Cardinal stars than there were with the Yankees.

The Cardinals being one of the first teams to fully accept the role of African American players, their stars had much more to face than those with the Yankees who many at that time thought to be privileged.  Because of this, the stories of how these two franchises reached the 1964 Series greatly differ.

Halberstam presents the Yankees as a team who is just ending a run of dominance against not only the American League, but also dismantling their National League opponent in the World Series as well. The author tells stories of how scouts would entice players away from playing for other teams to play for the Yankees for less money because of the pride that came with being a Yankee, and the chance for what they almost guaranteed was a World Series bonus check at the end of every season.

The team picture is quite different when looking at how the Cardinals were put together. From the description of their owner Gussie Busch, the owner of Anheuser-Busch Brewing, to the explanation of why he hired famed scout Branch Rickey to take over baseball operations, to how their championship team was assembled, it is clear that the Cardinals are a very different breed of organization than their opponents from the Big Apple.

The difference between the two teams can be easily seen by Halberstam’s stories regarding the two biggest star players on each squad. Most are familiar with the story of Mantle as being a freak athlete who made spectacular plays at the plate and in the field as soon as he signed for the Yankees. It is also somewhat common knowledge that Mantle was a fan of the night life and that had he taken care of himself, he may have hit 600 homeruns and certainly would have finished with a career average above .300. Even so, Mantle was adored by fans across the nation.

This is much different from the story of pitcher Bob Gibson of the Cardinals. Halberstam tells the story of how when Gibson was in the Minor Leagues, he played for the Harlem Globetrotters in the off season to make ends meet until the Cardinals organization gave in and awarded him a salary large enough to prevent him from that possible injury. No Yankee would ever dream of doing this.

Those are just two of the more than a dozen men profiled in great detail by Halberstam in October 1964. This work is one of the most in depth looks at the behind the scenes make-up of a World Series match-up that has ever been written. While certainly not a quick read, it is extremely informative and is a must for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the history of the game. The book reads like a story and not once loses the attention of its reader.

Overall Rating: 4.25/5

Volume IV, Issue 4: A Publication For Your Reading Enjoyment

Show Me The Money

The baseball industry is spending more money in the Dominican Republic than I previously believed, according to the latest economic impact study by Major League Baseball.

At an astounding $126,326,008, the annual expenditures are over $25 million more than I had calculated, and is $50 million more than presented in Major League Baseball’s first economic impact profile in 2003, meaning baseball’s financial impact on the island continues to grow.

According to Major League Baseball, several factors have contributed to the increase in investment in the Dominican Republic, most directly the production of quality players, coaches, scouts and other baseball personnel.  But there have also been negatives that have affected the investment as well, including age and identity fraud, steroid usage and increasing competition from other countries in the development of prospects, leading baseball to ponder the sustainability of its substantial investment.

Prospects were paid $37,233,500 in signing bonuses during the 2009 calendar year, Major League Baseball said, actually a decrease from the previous year. MLB said the fluctuations in signing bonuses reflect supply and demand in the baseball marketplace, as well as the fact teams are less willing to take monetary risks as a result of age and identity fraud, which is viewed as a detriment to the growth of the baseball industry in the Dominican Republic.

A whopping $17,961,384 was spent in 2009 for player development academies, according to the economic study, which reports that currently there are 30 academies in the Dominican Republic operated by major league teams, as well as six in Venezuela and one in Brazil, for a total of 37 camps in Latin America.

Operating baseball academies in the Dominican Republic cost teams $17,961,384 in 2009

An additional $3,213,750 was spent on operating the Dominican Summer League, originally created in 1985 as a development platform for prospects who did not have a visa to travel to the United States. It has become one of the most productive minor league systems with 326 players from various nationalities in the majors.

Teams spent $360,000 for travel to the Dominican Republic to observe and monitor scouting and player development.

The economic impact study also factored in Dominican Major League players’ salaries and the percentage directly reinvested in the Dominican Republic.  Conservatively estimating that 20 percent of those salaries directly comes into the Dominican Republic, Major League Baseball calculated the reinvestment using the opening day roster for 2010 – with 77 Dominicans earning a total of $309,773,477 – for an assumed 20 percent reinvestment of $61,954,695.  Major League Baseball added in its report, “Although we do not quantify the economic impact of former players, it is important to mention their investment in real estate and businesses that have a recurring positive impact on the local economy.”

Major League Baseball also calculated minor league players’ salaries, and the percentage reinvested in the country was estimated at 50 percent, for a total of $3,508,055.

Baseball also contributed $844,624 in donations and support for governmental institutions in the Dominican Republic, including to the National Baseball Commissioner of the Dominican Republic, community initiatives financed by USAID, and the Dominican Republic RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) programs.  Major League Baseball also pointed out that its economic impact has fostered donations and support from other sources that directly or indirectly benefit the Dominican Republic including charity golf tournaments, holiday activities and others.  It was noted in the report that more than $3,379,500 was donated to Haiti earthquake relief through baseball related sources.

And finally, $1,250,000 was spent on operating Major League Baseball’s office in the Dominican Republic.  The size and operating budget have increased as investment by teams has increased over the past decade.  The office opened in 2000, a few months after a delegation I led to the Dominican Republic at Major League Baseball’s behest filed a report citing the need to improve conditions at existing academies.

Major League Baseball headquarters in Santo Domingo

One economic impact that could not be calculated was that on the informal sector of the economy whose operations and income depend on Major League Baseball and its teams.  “Although it is difficult to place an amount on this value,” the report said, “we witness hundreds of leagues, agents, and independent trainers that develop activities to sign prospects.  During the last five years, the investment by the informal baseball sector has grown significantly with the operation of new and more sophisticated academies and programs.”

And there was one more important impact the industry has, according to Major League Baseball; that of “name recognition,” having projected the name of the Dominican Republic to many parts of the world.  “Due to the efforts of many star players and managers, many foreigners know the name of the Dominican Republic through its baseball players,” the report stated.  “As the country seeks to increase its exports and tourist potential to the US, Canadian and Japanese markets, the names of its baseball players become an important asset.”

By The Numbers

The Dominican Republic has again led the way in delivering the most foreign-born players to Major League Baseball this season.

According to MLB, there were 846 players on season-opening rosters (749 on 25-man rosters and 97 on disabled or restricted players).  Of that number, there were 234 players who were born outside the United States, meaning that 27.7 percent of players this season are foreign born, representing 14 countries and territories.

The Dominican Republic delivered the most players with 86.  Next is Venezuela with 62, Puerto Rico with 20 and Canada has 16.

The New York Yankees have 16 foreign-born players, the most of any team in the majors. Four teams rank second with 11 foreign-born players (Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers). The Milwaukee Brewers have eight players born in countries other than the United States.

Last season, there were 231 foreign-born players. This season’s percentage of foreign-born players is down slightly from the all-time high of 29.2 per cent in 2005.

For the second year in a row, I was recently honored to attend the induction ceremonies at the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in La Romana.  It was also an opportunity to reunite with one of the inductees, Luis Tiant, who I worked with 20 years ago.

Tiant, from Cuba, was inducted along with Fernando Valenzuela, a native of Mexico, Nicaraguan pitcher Dennis Martinez, Panamanian catcher Manny Sanguillen, Puerto Rican designated hitter Edgar Martinez, Dominican outfielder Rico Carty and Venezuelan first baseman Andres Galarraga.

Jennifer Steinbrenner, Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez

Special honors were also awarded to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez to recognize his 600^th career home run; the family of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died last year, received the Tommy Lasorda Award given to non-Latinos who advance the cause of Latinos in baseball.  And yes, Rodriguez was accompanied by his girlfriend, Cameron Diaz.

But it was Tiant who made the night special for me.  Twenty years ago, we were colleagues at the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University.  Luis was very involved in community activities in Boston, where he had pitched for the Red Sox, and it was great to work with him because of the respect he had earned.  He also had a great sense of humor that kept everyone in a good mood.

“El Tiant”

When I reminded him that we had worked together, he said he remembered, but I have my doubts, it being so long ago, but it was still nice of him to say.  And it was just great to see him again.

Taken from: Volume IV, Issue 2: A Publication For Your Reading Enjoyment

One-time high-ranking Chicago White Sox executive David Wilder recently pleaded guilty to federalfraud charges that he solicited hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from poor Dominican prospects hoping to make it in the big leagues.

“I understand what I have done,” Wilder said as he pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud in federal court in Chicago.

David Wilder

No sentencing date was immediately set by U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle. Wilder, who lives in California, was released on bond.

Baseball sources previously told the Chicago Tribune that the investigation began in 2008 after Wilder was stopped at an airport leaving the Dominican Republic with $30,000 to $40,000 in cash. Wilder told customs officials that the money was gambling winnings from local casinos, according to the sources.

Wilder, who had been a close friend and adviser to White Sox general manager Ken Williams, was indicted last November. He had been fired in 2008 as the White Sox’s senior director of player personnel amid the federal probe.

The indictment against Wilder alleged that he and two former Sox scouts, Jorge Oquendo Rivera and Victor Mateo, fraudulently inflated the signing bonuses of Latin American prospects and then had the players kickback the extra money to them. All totaled, they pocketed about $400,000 intended for 23 prospects, authorities said. Rivera and Mateo still face fraud charges.

They “enriched themselves by taking advantage of vulnerable ballplayers, who were anxious to pursue their dreams of stardom in the major leagues,” Robert Grant, head of the Chicago FBI office, said in a statement at the time of the indictment.  Federal authorities said the kickback scam was hidden from the White Sox and its “more senior officials.”

To get the kickbacks, Wilder, Oquendo and Mateo inflated the amount of money needed to sign the prospects, causing the White Sox to pay signing bonuses and buy the rights to players from other teams at ballooned prices, the indictment charged.

The FBI has been investigating a number of major league clubs, including the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Nationals in addition to the White Sox.