Game 5 dedicated to ALS advocate
PHILADELPHIA -- One of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history was struck down nearly 70 years ago by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and ever since then the disease has been synonymous with the name of Lou Gehrig.
Major League Baseball is dedicating Monday night's Game 5 of the 105th World Series to its ongoing 4-ALS Awareness initiative as a tribute not only to Gehrig, but also to the lifelong baseball fan who inspired MLB to make everyone aware of the disease that claimed his own life on Sunday.
Michael Goldsmith died at age 58 after battling ALS for three years. He passed away in a hospice at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, where he had been living since early August, according to his surviving family. The cause of death was respiratory failure from ALS, which is a progressive disease that destroys the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement.
As part of Major League Baseball's first-ever dedication of the World Series to community service, FOX and MLB Network will promote MLB.com/4ALS, which will provide fans the opportunity to donate money and link to "4-ALS" organizations for more information. A public-address announcement will be made at Citizens Bank Park to inform and encourage fans to get involved.
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Goldsmith," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "He helped us plan and arrange for ceremonies at all of our ballparks this past July 4 to raise awareness for ALS and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Gehrig's renowned farewell speech. On behalf of Major League Baseball, my condolences go out to his family and friends."
Goldsmith was honored at Yankee Stadium on July 4, the day that all MLB ballparks held "4ALS Awareness" events to get fans involved. Goldsmith, a New Yorker and law professor at Brigham Young University, stood near home plate that day and threw out the first pitch to Mark Teixeira.
Goldsmith spent the last three years of his life battling the same disease that struck Gehrig, baseball's "Iron Horse," in 1939. After he was diagnosed in 2006, Goldsmith attended a fantasy camp run by the Orioles -- the team he grew up supporting. In November 2008, he wrote a guest column in Newsweek that called on MLB to do more to fight the disease that ended Gehrig's life at the age of 37 on June 2, 1941.
"I now look to the game of my youth to help give me and others like me a chance for life," he wrote in that article.
Subsequent MLB efforts continue. MLB has been working with four leading organizations -- The ALS Association, ALS TDI, Augie's Quest (the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS research initiative) and Project A.L.S. -- whose primary goals are to find a cure for ALS.
The "4♦ALS Awareness" initiative logo was displayed frequently at home ballparks on July 4, from giant scoreboards to the bases to a logo on players' chests. Following the game, first base from each stadium was signed by players for MLB.com Auction bidding to raise additional funds for the participating organizations.
That same day at MLB and Minor League ballparks included players and celebrities reading Gehrig's famous "Luckiest Man" speech as a 70th anniversary tribute. People with ALS were introduced; public-service announcements recorded by former MLB players Curt Schilling and Nolan Ryan were played; and educational information was distributed.
"On July 4, more people received an introduction to ALS, what it is, what it does and what it means than on any day in the history of mankind," said Schilling, a longtime supporter of the fight against ALS, having raised more than $10 million through his "Curt's Pitch for ALS" program and other events.
Dorine Gordon, president and CEO of The ALS Association's Greater New York Chapter, described the initiative at Yankee Stadium as a "truly memorable experience," highlighted by Derek Jeter's reading of the Gehrig speech.
"It was very emotional for both the players and the fans, and it truly was a goosebumps moment," Gordon said.
Moments such as those were made possibly largely by Goldsmith.
"Being on the field with my father was the single greatest moment of my life," Austen Goldsmith told The New York Times on Sunday. "I think he was holding on for that."
Mr. Goldsmith's condition deteriorated, and in August, he was moved from Utah to be closer to his mother, Anitta Goldsmith, 80, who was born in Austria and moved to what was then called Palestine in 1939. Michael Goldsmith was born in Israel on March 5, 1951, and in 1955, the family moved to New York. He went to Cornell, and in 1975, was graduated from law school there. Goldsmith worked as an assistant U.S. attorney and later served as a counsel to the New York State Organized Crime Task Force.
Goldsmith continued to teach at Brigham Young after the ALS was diagnosed.
"I have spent more than two decades exhorting law students to take a proactive 'can do' approach to the law and life in general," Mr. Goldsmith wrote via e-mail in late June. "And I have tried to lead by example, showing them how creativity and commitment to a cause can produce positive results. The success of this effort demonstrates yet again how 'the power of one' can make a difference."
In the past few months, Goldsmith communicated with a mouse and synthesizer, using the last strength in his right hand.
Goldsmith is survived by his wife, Carolyn Goldsmith, and his two children from a previous marriage, Jillian Goldsmith and Austen Goldsmith, both of New York, as well as two sisters, Lynn Goldsmith and Edna Goldsmith, and their mother, Anitta Goldsmith of Albany.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Utley sets mark, then joins Babe in history
NEW YORK -- Chase Utley got off to a historic start in this World Series on Wednesday night, setting a Major League Baseball record by reaching base safely in his 26th consecutive postseason game and then joining Babe Ruth in the record books by hitting a pair of solo homers to lead the Phillies to a 6-1 victory over the Yankees.
Utley drew a walk off Yankees ace CC Sabathia in the first inning to break a record he had shared with Boog Powell, who had reached base safely in 25 consecutive postseason games for Baltimore from 1966-71. Then Utley homered off Sabathia in the third to start the World Series scoring, and then doubled the lead with another solo shot in the sixth.
"I didn't know that happened," Utley said, typically humble as media relayed a barrage of statistical records to him. "You know, every day, you try to put a game plan together, and you try to get on base for the next guy. Having Ryan [Howard] and Jayson [Werth] and Raul [Ibanez] hitting behind me, those guys can drive in a lot of runs. The more guys on base we have, the better opportunity we have to score some runs."
Both homers marked the first time a left-handed hitter had gone deep off Sabathia in new Yankee Stadium. Perhaps even more remarkably, Utley's two home runs marked the first time a lefty has hit two homers off a lefty since Babe Ruth homered off Bill Sherdel of the Cardinals in Game 4 of the 1928 World Series. Ruth hit three in that game -- the last one off legendary right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander.
"I guess that's pretty good company, but no," Utley said when asked if he felt that was important. "You try to take it game-to-game and keep working."
This also is the second World Series opener in a row that Utley had started the scoring with a homer for the Phillies and given them a lead they would not relinquish. He hit a first-inning homer off lefty Scott Kazmir of the Rays in a 3-2, Game 1 victory last October at Tropicana Field.
With the Game 1 homers, Utley tied a record for most career long balls in World Series openers with three. Among the 22 players who have hit two or more career Game 1 homers, Utley becomes the ninth with a two-homer Game 1, the first since the Angels' Troy Glaus in 2002.
"He must like Game 1 home runs," teammate Jimmy Rollins said, smiling.
This time, Utley did it twice, and it marked the third multihomer game by a Phillies player in a World Series. Howard did it last Oct. 26 in Game 4 against the Rays, and Lenny Dykstra, Oct. 20, 1993, in Game 4 against the Blue Jays.
Howard emphasized the importance of starting fast when he was asked about it after the game. But during his news conference, Utley continued to shake off anything that felt like a plaudit. It was as if he honestly did not want to be told he had just done something special.
"That's not your goal going into the game," Utley said of the consecutive Game 1 outbursts. "Your goal is to try to put good at-bats together and see what happens. Obviously, I was able to squeak one over the fence early in the game, but it's a good feeling when you can help your team win."
Both of Utley's homers came on two-strike pitches -- from a 2009 American League Cy Young Award candidate. The third-inning shot happened on the ninth pitch of a classic encounter with Sabathia.
"The majority of the time with two strikes I'll choke up on the bat a little bit to try to stay as short as possible," Utley said. "It doesn't always work out like that, but that's the goal."
Sabathia, the losing pitcher, tipped his hat to Utley. Not many other Phillies did any damage against him.
"The first at-bat he just has a good at-bat," Sabathia said. "He got a pitch out over the middle of the plate and put a good swing on it. The second home run was my fault. It was just a fastball right over the middle. I was trying to go in, and it came right back over the plate."
The record of 26 consecutive postseason games on base came for Utley with two outs in the first. Utley worked Sabathia for a six-pitch walk in that at-bat, and that was followed by a double by Howard and a walk to Werth. Utley was stranded at third on Ibanez's groundout, but it still put Utley into the history books.
Then Utley touched 'em all. Twice.
Utley went 0-for-4 in his first postseason game in 2007. He has since reached base safely in every postseason game in which he has played.
Powell played in an era of fewer opportunities as well; the postseason was merely a World Series until it was expanded to two rounds per league with 1969 expansion.
The record was the first thing Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was asked about in the postgame news conference.
"It says that he works the count and he's patient at the plate, and he finds ways to get on base," Manuel said. "He's always had a good on-base percentage. He had a good night."
Utley came through big after a long, seven-day rest following the National League pennant clincher against the Dodgers. He had a similar long rest last year.
"I think when you're a player like Utley, I think -- first of all, when he hits .282, if you want to know the truth, I think that's low for him," Manuel said. "I think he's a .300 hitter. I think he knows he's a .300 hitter. I think it's just a matter of time until he hits. I think he said it today or yesterday, but he's probably going to have a good series. He works hard, he's consistent."
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Yankees-Dodgers Is the Finish Baseball Needs
In the euphoria of the moment, Los Angeles Angels Manager Mike Scioscia was asked Sunday if he had thought about a freeway series between the Angels and the Dodgers. The Dodgers eliminated the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday in their National League division series and will play the winner of the series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies.
Scioscia, meanwhile, had just witnessed a breathtaking comeback by the Angels that ended the Red Sox' season. The Angels scored three during a ninth-inning rally at Fenway Park to win, 7-6, leaving Red Sox fans stunned.
''The season doesn't wind down,'' Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said afterward. ''It just comes to a crashing halt.''
Likewise, when Scioscia was asked during a postgame news conference about the possibility of a freeway series between Anaheim, where the Angels play, and Los Angeles, he said he had not even fully digested what had just unfolded in Boston.
''We're not going that far right now,'' he said. ''We have a huge challenge in front of us. Before we talk about a freeway series, we're going to have to beat an incredible team in the Yankees or a team that might be a team of destiny with the Twins.''
Hours later, Scioscia and the Angels learned that they would be playing the Yankees, a team they have often gotten the better of this decade.
As dejected Red Sox fans left Fenway on Sunday, Angels fans crowded around the Anaheim clubhouse. They roared when Erick Aybar and Torii Hunter came out and sprayed Champagne. One Red Sox fan walked by, looked at the scene and roared, ''Just beat the Yankees.''
The Yankees-Angels series gives baseball an East Coast-West Coast matchup. It's an intriguing showdown, as would be a World Series between the Phillies and the Yankees (they last met in 1950) or an Angels-Dodgers freeway series.
Still, what Major League Baseball needs is a great World Series, a Series for the ages. And with all due respect to those two other potential matchups, it's a Yankees-Dodgers World Series that could take the game back to its roots at a time when baseball desperately needs to recover a portion of the trust, if not the innocence, that it has lost in the steroid era.
***
There would be a number of interesting story lines in a Yankees-Dodger World Series, not the least of which would be the return of Dodgers Manager Joe Torre to New York to face the team that he unhappily parted with after the 2007 season. But the greatest attraction has to do with the history and traditions that the Yankees and the Dodgers represent.
Two venerable franchises competing in a World Series would recall an era in baseball when things seemed simpler and the game was more pure.
The teams would also bring a fitting final symmetry to the 2009 season.
In February, SI.com reported that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was among the players who failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
In May, Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games after it was reported that he had tested positive for a banned substance.
Rodriguez publicly, tearfully admitted that his name was on a list of players who had used steroids. He later said that he felt a sense of freedom, that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Ramirez also apologized to his teammates and to fans for being suspended.
Now Rodriguez and his Yankees teammate Mark Teixeira are as feared a combination as Ramirez and David Ortiz were in Boston.
If the Yankees were to face the Dodgers in the World Series, the season would end with two great players who had admitted culpability and moved on. It would represent a line of demarcation, that the game was ready to get past one of the most painful episodes in its history.
***
Other names from the 2003 tests are sure to surface, but the only major issue yet to be resolved is the government's perjury case against Barry Bonds. And now, even Bonds seems part of a bygone era.
Baseball needs a World Series for the ages, one that reinforces its roots and, yes, its relative purity. Granted, this is a lot to ask one World Series matchup to accomplish, but baseball needs an authentic fall classic.
It needs Yankees-Dodgers, for the good of the game.
(c) 2009 The New York Times Company.
For five Yankees, ALCS a happy return
NEW YORK -- They were going to the World Series. It wasn't official, but it might as well have been. It was Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series and the Yankees had everything going for them. They had Mariano Rivera on the mound, not to mention a one-run lead and a 3-0 lead in the series against the Red Sox.
But for one of the few times in his career, Rivera didn't protect an October lead. And for the only time in the history of Major League Baseball, the Yankees were unable to protect a 3-0 series lead, sending them down a trail of subsequent postseason frustration that didn't truly end until Sunday night, when they finished off an AL Division Series sweep against the Minnesota Twins.
Because the Yankees are a premier team, one that is always fighting for a championship, it seems almost unfathomable that Friday night's Game 1 against the Angels will mark the first time they've tasted the ALCS in five years.
And five years later, five players from that team remain. Finally, Derek Jeter, Rivera, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez have a chance to take away that sour taste from 2004 and get to the World Series.
"I didn't think it was that long, to tell you the truth," said Posada. "We play here, and we get ready for this. We come to Spring Training thinking that we have to be in the playoffs. The season doesn't really end for us. It just keeps going when it comes to October. We just hope that we can continue and play a little longer than we have in the last five years."
Perhaps because Jeter takes losing so personally, the time in between ALCS berths has not exactly flown by.
"Yep, it seems like a long time," Jeter said. "We were going home losing every year. That doesn't feel good, man. You work extremely hard to hopefully get to this point of the season and when you don't win, it's disappointing. We've had a lot of disappointment here."
And now, they will try to live up to their storied past and bring home what has been a fairly elusive 27th World Series championship, a goal the Yankees need just eight wins to fulfill.
When Matsui came on board as the much-hyped international signing, deep Octobers were a way of life for the Yankees. His rookie season was 2003, when the Yankees won an epic Game 7 of the ALCS against Boston, only to have the Red Sox return the favor a year later.
In fact, Matsui was on his way to the MVP of that 2004 ALCS, when the Red Sox countered with a stolen base by Dave Roberts, countless big hits by David Ortiz, Curt Schilling's bloody sock and everything else that got in the way.
"I certainly understood that it's not easy to get to the playoffs to begin with," Matsui said. "You can see over the past several years that it wasn't easy. In that sense, I'm just happy to have come this far. Obviously the work is not done, but you have an appreciation for advancing in the playoffs and being where you are."
How could Matsui possibly know it would be five long years before he'd be on that stage again as one of baseball's top four teams?
"I certainly didn't imagine that it would take this long to get back here," Matsui said. "Obviously our goal is to win the World Series. That's been our goal every year. I just didn't think it would take that long."
Winning is, well, hard -- which only makes it more impressive that the Yankees won the World Series four times in five years (1996, 1998-2000), and made it to the ALCS seven times over a nine-year stretch (1996-04).
"Even when we were going, we knew it was tough," Jeter said. "We made it look easy, but we knew how difficult it was to get to this point of the season. It's something you never take for granted."
"It is hard to win," Posada said. "What we've done in the past, it's hard to do that. It's not like we're supposed to be here. It's tough to get here."
The Yankees are back here now with one of the players who prevented them from getting to the next level in 2004, that being Johnny Damon. For Damon, who came to New York with high hopes as a free agent in '06, Friday night will mark his first ALCS action since Game 7 of '04, when he belted two home runs against the Yankees.
"I could not believe it," Damon said of the ALCS drought. "I felt like, in 2006, we had a very good team, but we ran into that rain -- that rainout game against Detroit -- and that felt like it changed the momentum, and then Detroit just caught that wind that they needed and they took care of business against us. But no, I can't believe it's been five years."
This stage is where all players -- not just Yankees -- want to be.
"You try to be here. You enjoy the moments and you enjoy the winning and hopefully we can continue that," said Posada.
Given the perspective of time, and the ups and downs of recent seasons, Jeter was asked if he still considers a season to be a failure if the Yankees don't win the World Series.
"Yep," said Jeter.
Finally, however, the Yankees have at least presented themselves with a fighting chance to reach that lofty goal, getting to the round that is closest to the World Series.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Tigers, Twins to go beyond on Tuesday
AL Central foes to decide division title in one-game tiebreaker.
Beyond 162.
For the third consecutive year -- the longest such streak in MLB history -- the regular season will go beyond the limit and require a playoff tiebreaker to finalize the postseason field.
Detroit and Minnesota each won in its 162nd games on Sunday, leading to a one-game tiebreaker Tuesday at the Metrodome to decide the American League Central champion.
The Twins become the first club ever to play such a tiebreaker in consecutive years, having lost the AL Central tiebreaker against the White Sox in 2008. The Rockies beat the Padres for the 2007 National League Wild Card to start this now-expected extension.
Tuesday's winner will play Game 1 of the AL Division Series either Wednesday or Thursday at Yankee Stadium, and the Red Sox will be at the Angels in the other ALDS. The NL Division Series are all set, with Rockies at Phillies and Cardinals at Dodgers, both on Wednesday.
"It's going to be fun," Detroit's Curtis Granderson said. "I'm sure Minnesota is going to be rocking."
The tiebreaker is scheduled to begin at 5:07 p.m. ET and will be televised on TBS, which also will be showing all four Division Series plus the National League Championship Series. FOX will broadcast the AL Championship Series and World Series.
Somehow you just knew that in this season of such little day-to-day turnover atop the standings, there would still be a mad rush of suspenseful drama. Here we are again. The Metrodome is hot right now, site of a huge "Monday Night Football" rivalry featuring Vikings quarterback Brett Favre against his former Packers team, hence MLB's wait till Tuesday.
Alex Rodriguez even stepped in to be a big part of the story, as he was when the season began, but this time he spoke with his bat, driving in an astounding seven runs in one inning on a three-run homer and grand slam. He is waiting on the tiebreaker, too.
It also was as if A-Rod reminded the Tigers and Twins pitchers about what could lie ahead for the tiebreaker survivor in the days to come. Remember in 2006, when the Tigers came in as underdogs against the mighty Yankees, only to see Rodriguez dropped far down the batting order amid a slump, and the Bronx Bombers dropped the series?
Justin Verlander, now unquestionably a real AL Cy Young candidate (no one in baseball has more wins or strikeouts), finished the regular season at 19-9 by beating the White Sox in No. 162 at Comerica Park. It came before a giddy crowd that hopes for the city's first World Series title in a quarter-century.
The Twins built a quick 7-0 lead against the Royals on what everyone in attendance knew could be the final day of baseball in the history of the Metrodome. Their team moves into outdoor Target Field next spring. As the game progressed, it became official that the Tigers had won and that the locals had to hold up their end in order to meet in a tiebreaker. Minnesota withstood a Royals rally and did just that, and can now wonder whether there will be a third and final World Series in that facility.
The tiebreaker will be in Minnesota because the Twins won the season series between the clubs. That is especially worth noting, because in the past it would have been a coin flip that decided where this game would be played. The rules were changed this year, so head-to-head decided it. In other words, it came down to what happened on the field instead of the pure chance of a coin falling on either side.
Detroit is trying desperately to avoid the ignominy of becoming the first team in history to be in first place on May 10 or earlier and remain on top until losing the title in the final week of the season.
A couple of right-handers will be the probable starting pitchers for the tiebreaker: Rookie Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.04 ERA) for the Tigers, and Scott Baker (15-9, 4.36) for the Twins. Two of Porcello's last three outings were against Minnesota, one a loss and one a no-decision, but both were quality starts. Baker tossed five solid innings, allowing no earned runs, to beat the Tigers on Thursday.
The only other time tiebreakers happened in consecutive years was 1998-99 -- and obviously the chances of it happening at all are greater in the Wild Card era. The Cubs eliminated the Giants at Wrigley Field for the 1998 NL Wild Card, and a year later the Mets won at Cincinnati to secure the same berth. The Yankees were the last to win a playoff tiebreaker and then win a World Series, thanks to Bucky Dent's unexpected homer at Fenway Park in 1978.
Right now, it is Beyond 162.
The regular season goes on -- again.
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Phillies eyeing historic playoff run
PHILADELPHIA -- It is a good time to be a Phillies fan.
The Phillies clinched their third consecutive National League East championship Wednesday after the Braves lost to the Marlins, 5-4. Moments later, the Phils defeated the Astros, 10-3, at Citizens Bank Park.
It is just the second time in franchise history the Phillies have made the postseason three consecutive years, and it guarantees them a chance to become the first National League team to win consecutive World Series since the 1975-76 Reds.
Yes, it is a good time to be a Phillies fan.
They are 618-512 (.547) since they finished 80-81 in 2002 -- the franchise's last losing season -- which is the fifth-best record in baseball in the past seven years. The Phillies are 446-360 (.553) since Charlie Manuel became manager before the 2005 season, which is the fourth-best record in baseball. Only the Yankees, Angels and Red Sox have been better since Manuel took the job.
This could be considered the second-greatest era in Phillies history, and certainly would become the greatest should they win another World Series this year or in the near future. The Phils were 705-536 (.568) from 1976-83, when they won one World Series, one National League championship and reached the postseason four other times in an eight-year span. Only the Orioles and Yankees had better regular-season records in that span.
"I hope this group has an opportunity to do something that they didn't do: win it all more than once," team president David Montgomery said. "But at the same time, I've said time and again, I think that with 162 games, winning the division is quite an accomplishment. I don't think there should be anything but satisfaction. Every year is a little different. Look at the starting rotation today compare to a year ago. I think right now the focus is on 2009. We'll see where it leads.
"Hopefully, we have the group together under [general manager] Ruben [Amaro Jr.'s] leadership to continue to contend. If we're one of those eight [teams in the playoffs], anything can happen."
The Phillies seem likely to face the Rockies next week in the National League Division Series, although that remains to be determined.
But they also have a couple issues to resolve before the playoffs begin:
* Home-field advantage: If the season ended Wednesday, the Phillies would have the second-best record in the National League. Manuel has to walk a line in the next four games between getting his everyday players some much needed rest while still putting a good enough team on the field to at least hold home-field advantage through the first round. "There are some guys that need to get some time off," Manuel said. "But we'd like to win home-field advantage, too. I think the guys that I want to rest I can rest. It's not like I'm going to take three or four out of the lineup at the same time." The Phillies witnessed the benefits of home-field advantage last season, when they won all seven games played at Citizens Bank Park.
* The pitching staff: Manuel is leaning toward taking 12 pitchers, which makes sense because there are so many health concerns at the moment. Does Pedro Martinez or J.A. Happ remain in the rotation? Who goes in the bullpen? Brett Myers, Chan Ho Park, J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre have health issues. Manuel hopes to get a better idea about them before rosters have to be finalized by 10 a.m. ET on the day of Game 1 of the NLDS. "There's no question we have concerns about our bullpen," Amaro said. "It hasn't been as consistent as it was last year. It's not as healthy as it was last year. We're going to have to be creative and hopefully get these guys back healthy and hopefully effective."
"I'm glad we clinched with a few days to go," Amaro said. "It gives us a chance to give a few guys a breather. But again, the record means something. We'd like home-field advantage. This is a great moment, but we've still got a lot of work to do."
(c) 2001-2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Hitters' strikeouts are baseball's most overrated stat
On Tuesday night, Royals righthander Zack Greinke and Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds made headlines for different reasons. Greinke, seeking to polish his AL Cy Young award resume, shut down the mighty Red Sox to pick up win No. 15. Meanwhile, Reynolds struck out three times to break his own single-season strikeout record. It raises the question: Does a pitcher's win total or a hitter's strikeout total mean less?
Stan McNeal argues that a pitcher's win total is the more overrated stat, but Chris Bahr explains why a hitter's strikeout total is more insignificant:
There hasn't been much for Diamondbacks fans to cheer about this season. In fact, you pretty much can limit the list of positives to a handful of players. Looking back, the season ended in the fourth inning of opening day when righthander Brandon Webb exited with shoulder soreness.
That makes what Reynolds did Tuesday worthy of applause. In the bottom of the second inning, Reynolds doubled in Miguel Montero to reach the 100-RBI plateau for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, it was what Reynolds did in three of his other four at-bats that garnered more attention. Reynolds struck out three times, setting a new major league record for single-season strikeouts (206). The old record? His own, set during the 2008 season when he became the first player in major history to strike out 200 times in a season. While we're piling on, Tuesday marked the 24th time this season that Reynolds struck out three or more times in one game.
His reaction afterward: So what? Good for him.
The fact that Reynolds probably will strike out at least 20 more times this season doesn't mean a thing. If he were a light-hitting middle infielder, perhaps his strikeout total would be more alarming. But because he is a power-hitting run producer, you must take the good with the bad. And there is plenty of good. Reynolds ranks among the major league leaders in homers, slugging percentage and OPS.
In fact, Reynolds has set or will set career highs in homers, RBIs, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, hits, doubles, walks and stolen bases. But it is the one negative number that makes headlines and somehow defines him as a player? Ridiculous. Reynolds is improving as a hitter even as his whiffs tick upward, so why try to rework his swing and/or approach? By doing so, you might do more harm than good.
Most sluggers are going to strike out often. Always have and always will. There just aren't many hitters like Albert Pujols. Four batters in major league history have finished a season with more than 190 Ks (Reynolds twice, Ryan Howard twice, Adam Dunn twice and Jack Cust once). In those seven instances, only Cust (82 RBIs) failed to drive in more than 90 runs the same season.
The evil of the strikeout is that it accomplishes nothing. It moves no runners over and doesn't even present the opportunity for a fielder to misplay a ball, allowing the batter to reach via an error. The strikeout is a sexy number for pitchers, so it given equal weight for batters. With a runner on first and no one out, give me a strikeout over a ground ball to second base any day.
And give me Reynolds any day.
(c) 2009 SportingNews.com and its licensors. All rights reserved.
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