Amazin' Stories

Christmas Shop for a Cause

Nelson Figueroa captivated much of New York last year with his long-awaited arrival in the Major Leagues. But Figueroa and his family are focusing on the story of another ballplayer, Ricky Stone, and you should, too.

The Stone family details the story in a blog that they have created. Stone has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and many of his fellow players have contributed to the cause, providing memorabilia for an auction to raise money to help the family. The auction, which will be part of Ebay's Giving Works, will feature some Mets items such as an autographed Johan Santana practice jersey and a pair of autographed Jose Reyes' spikes.

It's a great cause and a great chance to find a great item for the fan in your own family. The press release for the event follows below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DEREK JETER, A-ROD, DAVID ORTIZ, ICHIRO, DAVID WRIGHT, JOHAN SANTANA, GRIFFEY JR., AND JIM THOME ARE AMONG MORE THAN 100 MAJOR LEAGUERS DONATING TO AN ONLINE MEMORABILIA AUCTION TO BE HELD THIS WEEK TO BENEFIT A FORMER MAJOR LEAGUER STRIKEN WITH A MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR

 

Two large boxes from the New York Yankees arrived at the Chandler, Arizona, home of Alisa and Nelson Figueroa on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.  They were filled with autographed Yankees jerseys, baseball caps, and baseballs, their donation to Rally for Recovery, an online auction being held to benefit 33-year-old former National League relief pitcher Ricky Stone who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in August.

 

They were a signed at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, September 21st, the day the Yankees played their last game at the House That Ruth Built. The jersey Derek Jeter signed was one of the jerseys he wore that last day. Included were signed jerseys of A-Rod and Mariano and a number of signed caps including one signed by Yogi Berra who was at the Stadium that day to say goodbye.

Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Ichiro, David Wright, Johan Santana, Ken Griffey, Jr., Jim Thome, Ryne Sandberg, Jeff Kent, Jose Reyes, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Quentin, Mark Belhorn, John Smoltz, Brad Ausmus, Joe Nathan, Adrian Beltre, and Roy Oswalt are among over 100 baseball players donating to an online memorabilia auction to be held this week to benefit 33-year-old Ricky Stone, relief pitcher for Astros (2001-2004), Padres (2004), and Reds (2005, 2007), who was stricken with a malignant brain tumor in August 2008.

In May 2008, Ricky Stone was signed by Taiwanʼs Uni-President Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He suffered an injury in Taiwan and he returned to the United States. After Ricky had a Grand Mal seizure, it was discovered that he had a malignant brain tumor. Nelson Figueroa, who pitched for the New York Mets in 2008, had pitched for the Uni-President Lions in 2007. His wife Alisa and Erin Pote, wife of Lions pitcher Lou Pote, founded Rally for Recovery to raise funds for the Stone Family.

Other highlights of the auction of signed baseball memorabilia include a selection of game used items: a catcher mask worn by the Astros Brad Ausmus, a cap worn by Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, a bat used by Red Sox 2^nd baseman Mark Belhorn during Bostonʼs 2004 World Championship season, spikes worn by Padres shortstop Khalil Greene, and a baseball used in practice by Mets pitcher Johan Santana before his 3-hit shutout on the next to the last game at Shea Stadium. Also, jerseys signed by Ryan Howard, Andy Pettitte, Ichiro, and Miguel Tejada, spikes signed by Jose Reyes and David Wright, bats signed by Ken Griffey, Jr., Jim Thome, and Morgan Ensberg, caps signed by Jeff Kent, Mike Mussina, Jorge Posada, and Joba Chamberlain, bobbleheads signed by Roy Oswalt and Adrian Beltre, and dozens of single signed baseballs. A 2008 All Star Game ball signed by 26 All Stars and a Cincinnati Reds team signed bat and helmet will also be auctioned.

The Rally for Recovery auction items will be listed on http://stores.ebay.com/Rally-For-Recovery-Baseball-Auction in random order from 6 PM PST to 8 PM PST on Sunday, November 23, 2008. The auction will end on Sunday evening, November 30, 2008.

Please take a look at Rally for Recovery.  This sports memorabilia auction will benefit former Major League Baseball player, Ricky Stone, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in August 2008. 

http://rallyforrecovery.blogspot.com

THE MVP Debate

The National League MVP results were announced this afternoon with Albert Pujols taking his second MVP award. I had a vote this season and I went another way - the way that today's stat guru's will rip me for - and picked Ryan Howard for the top spot.

I am getting old, but I am open to the new stats and even push for more changes (like why doesn't a guy get a sacrifice fly when he clearly goes to right field and moves someone from second to third base with no out?). I checked every statistical permutation and Pujols clearly is the statistical leader offensively - and he's better than Howard defensively. But this is not a most outstanding play award.

From the time I began trying to figure this vote with about two months remaining in the season the one thing I held to, a point that I was going to adhere to if I could, was that the team had to be a winner. Pujols said it himself when the Cards made the playoffs and the Phillies didn't in 2006 and he wondered aloud how Howard could get the award without making the postseason. I agreed with him then and I agree now.

Unless the performance is so extreme that it can't be ignored - the crazy Barry Bonds seasons for example - I think a player should help his team to win or you can revert to the argument of, "Could they have finished fourth without him?"

So I voted Howard first and my reasoning was that my preference was to find someone from the Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers or Brewers for the top spot. While his numbers can be picked apart - although 146 RBI, 105 runs and a record-setting performance in September are pretty good stats to put out in his behalf - it was more than numbers. I talked to baseball people and they agreed with what I saw when the Mets played the Phillies - like Pujols, his impact was not nearly just about his own at-bat. You had to plan for innings to avoid him. And he seemed to come up big every time he had to down the stretch.

It was a tough year to come up with a winner. I told some people I spoke to about this that I felt like I had 10 second-place candidates. The split seasons by Carlos Delgado and Manny Ramirez, not to mention CC Sabathia, affected my votes on them. As much as David Wright's numbers impress, watching the team on a daily basis I thought it was clearly Delgado who carried them over the final four months of the season.

My ballot went like this: 1. Howard, 2. Pujols, 3. Delgado, 4. Ramirez, 5. Braun, 6. Santana, 7. Sabathia, 8. Lidge, 9. A. Ramirez, 10. H. Ramirez.

This is the final vote totals from the entire panel:

I can't get it to fit exactly - or at all, so here's the link.

Player	Club	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	Points
Albert Pujols	St. Louis Cardinals	18	10	2	1	—	—	1	—	—	—	369
Ryan Howard	Philadelphia Phillies	12	8	6	—	1	1	2	—	—	1	308
Ryan Braun	Milwaukee Brewers	—	2	3	5	5	2	2	3	2	1	139
Manny Ramirez	Los Angeles Dodgers	—	2	4	7	2	3	2	—	1	2	138
Lance Berkman	Houston Astros	—	2	4	4	1	3	3	4	1	1	126
CC Sabathia	Milwaukee Brewers	—	4	5	1	2	2	3	—	1	2	121
David Wright	New York Mets	—	2	1	4	3	3	2	5	2	1	115
Brad Lidge	Philadelphia Phillies	2	—	2	—	4	3	2	3	1	2	104
Carlos Delgado	New York Mets	—	—	5	1	2	5	—	2	3	—	96
Aramis Ramirez	Chicago Cubs	—	—	—	2	4	1	1	4	3	1	66
Hanley Ramirez	Florida Marlins	—	—	—	2	2	2	1	2	2	5	55
Chipper Jones	Atlanta Braves	—	1	—	—	—	2	4	1	2	2	44
Geovany Soto	Chicago Cubs	—	—	—	3	1	—	3	—	1	—	41
Player	Club	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	Points
Johan Santana	New York Mets	—	1	—	1	—	1	1	—	2	1	30
Chase Utley	Philadelphia Phillies	—	—	—	1	1	1	1	—	3	2	30
Ryan Ludwick	St. Louis Cardinals	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	2	3	1	17
Brandon Webb	Arizona Diamondbacks	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	1	—	14
Adrian Gonzalez	San Diego Padres	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	4	13
Matt Holliday	Colorado Rockies	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	—	1	13
Prince Fielder	Milwaukee Brewers	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	1	1	11
Derrek Lee	Chicago Cubs	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	—	—	10
Carlos Beltran	New York Mets	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	1	—	1	10
Tim Lincecum	San Francisco Giants	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	1	2	9
Jose Reyes	New York Mets	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	3
Jose Valverde	Houston Astros	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	3
Stephen Drew	Arizona Diamondbacks	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	2
Nate McClouth	Pittsburgh Pirates	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1

Mets strike first

Okay, the Mets strike first as in they have secured first base. I mean, the first base coaching box.

On the first day of free agency, the Mets made a move that wasn't going to stop the presses, or even the blogs. The Mets completed their coaching staff for 2009, finally naming a first base coach to succeed Ken Oberkfell, who succeeded Tom Nieto. It's Luis Alicea, who served in a similar capacity with the Red Sox for the last two years. Actually, it looks from the photo like Manny Ramirez owes him one - so maybe it's not such a small move after all.

Here's the release:

Manager Jerry Manuel completed the New York Mets’ coaching staff today by naming Luis Alicea the team’s first base coach.

 

For the last two years, Alicea was the first base coach for the Boston Red Sox. Luis also was a manager in the Red Sox minor league system for three seasons. He directed Lowell (A) of the New York-Penn League from 2004-2005, Greenville (A) of the South Atlantic League in 2006 and Peoria of the Arizona (A) Fall League, also in 2006

 

Luis, 43, a native of Santurce, PR, played in the major leagues for 13 years with the St. Louis Cardinals (1988, 1991-1994 and 1996), Boston Red Sox (1995), Anaheim Angels (1997), Texas Rangers (1998-2000) and the Kansas City Royals (2001-2002).  He compiled a .260 batting average with 47 home runs and 422 RBI in 1,341 games.

 

Primarily a second baseman, he also saw action at the other three infield spots and in the outfield during his big league career. Luis, a switch hitter, experienced his best season in the majors with the Rangers in 2000, establishing career highs with a .294 bating average, 139 games, 85 runs, 159 hits and 63 RBI. In 1992 with the Cardinals, he ranked fourth in the National League with 11 triples. In 1995, Alicea hit .270 and was the Red Sox regular second baseman, helping them capture the American League East Division crown.

 

Luis was St. Louis’ first round pick in the 1986 First Year Player Draft. He earned first team All-America honors at Florida State University in 1986.

 

Alicea joins Dan Warthen (pitching), Howard Johnson (hitting), Sandy Alomar, Sr. (bench); Razor Shines (third base), Randy Niemann (bullpen) and Sandy Alomar, Jr. (catching instructor) on the Mets coaching staff.

Johan Santana Takes Third Place

It would be hard to imagine a better show than what Johan Santana put on down the stretch this season. But it still was not enough to earn him the National League Cy Young Award.

Santana finished third behind winner Tim Lincecum of the Giants and Arizona's Brandon Webb, even though he led the NL in ERA, finished with a 16-7 record (that could have been far better if not for the bullpen hijinks that cost him at least seven wins) and nearly carried the Mets on his shoulders through the last three months of the season.

Santana did not lose a game after July 28 and after putting up a career-high 125 pitches in his penultimate start, he then took the ball on three days rest and kept the Mets alive with a masterful performance on the second to last day of the season - a feat that became more impressive when it later was revealed that he did it with a torn meniscus in his knee - a fact that he was aware of when he asked for the ball.

“No one likes the way last season finished,” said Santana. “But, we can’t look backwards. We have to look ahead and make it better this season. I loved my first year in New York. The fans were great and I can’t wait for spring training. Right now, I’m rehabilitating my knee and everything is fine. I’ll be ready to go in February.”
   

Willie Lands a Job

Willie Randolph breezed past the media at Joe Torre's Safe At Home Foundation Gala Friday night and maybe it was because he had a secret.

After being passed over for the Milwaukee Brewers managerial job, Randolph was added to Ken Macha's staff as a bench coach - a role he filled for one season under Torre with the Yankees.

Randolph, who was fired as manager of the Mets on July 17 in his fourth season at the helm, was provided an out in his deal with the Brewers which will allow him to take a job as manager if he is offered one. Randolph is under consideration for the Seattle Mariners job.

Vote for Change

I t's election day, but I'm not talking about that vote or that change - although you certainly should get out and vote (as long as you're voting with me). I'm talking about change as in the Mets starting rotation.

Omar Minaya told reporters at the GM meetings in California that he will talk to Fern Cuza, the agent for Pedro Martinez, about the possibility of a return by the aging, oft-injured right-hander (Vote for Pedro! Ah, that's a whole different movie).

Before you move too quickly to vote against that, here's something to consider.

My copy of The Bill James Handbook 2009 arrived last night and has a few disturbing projections for the Mets in 2009. Counting on Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and maybe Oliver Perez to back up Johan Santana? Not so fast.

The projection for Pelfrey is an 11-12 record with a 4.35 ERA. He's got Oliver Perez at 11-12 with a 4.53 ERA, so maybe the Mets shouldn't back up the armored car for OP. And he's got Maine at 9-8 with a 3.98 ERA.

Not exactly floating to a pennant with those sort of results.

He's got Pedro at 9-5 in 20 starts with a 3.36 ERA. Maybe that's not the sort of thing you want to give away from a potential fifth starter.

By the way, James has Derek Lowe at 14-9 with a 3.60 ERA.

El Duque Declares

It's official. Orlando Hernandez filed for free agency Saturday. And we all know what that means: If your softball team needs a pitcher...

Actually, it's a shame that El Duque could not shake the foot problems that have plagued him over the last two years because when he was healthy enough to pitch in 2007 nobody was better than him on the Mets staff. But with bunion surgery, his career is likely over now.

Here's the list for today's filings, which includes of more interest to the Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson.

XX B FREE AGENT FILINGS FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2008

Today, the following 23 players filed for Free Agency pursuant to Article XX B (2) of the Basic Agreement.  The filing period began Thursday, October 30, and will run through Thursday, November 13.

Arizona
Dunn, Adam (OF); Hudson, Orlando        (2B)

Atlanta

Baltimore

Boston
Kotsay, Mark (OF)

Chicago Cubs
Ward, Daryle (1B)

Chicago White Sox
Cabrera, Orlando (SS)

Cincinnati
Fogg, Josh (SP); Weathers, Dave (RP)

Cleveland
Rincon, Juan (RP)

Colorado
Fuentes, Brian (RP); Herges, Matt (RP); Hernandez, Livan (SP); Podsednik, Scott (OF)

Detroit Tigers

Florida
Rhodes, Arthur (RP)

Houston

Kansas City

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Dodgers
Park, Chan Ho         (RP)

Milwaukee
Branyan, Russ        (3B); Durham, Ray (2B); Sabathia, C.C. (SP)

Minnesota

NY Mets
Hernandez, Orlando (SP)

NY Yankees

Oakland
Foulke, Keith (RP)

Philadelphia
Gordon, Tom (RP)

Pittsburgh

St. Louis
Isringhausen, Jason (RP)

San Diego
Hoffman, Trevor (RP)

San Francisco

Seattle

Tampa Bay
Hinske, Eric (OF)

Toronto

Texas

Washington