9/25 MLB Tonight – Musings of a Play by Play Guy

vasgersian.jpgWe have a must see segment on the show tonight.  Make sure you set your DVR’s between 6:30 and 7 as we’ll show you some of the great work from MLB Productions.  It’s a 5 minute vignette covering some of the greatest sound in baseball from memorable calls, interviews, sound bytes, emotions and live sound from games.  You’ll see some footage that you’ve never seen before and it will reaffirm that baseball is the greatest sport.  Our colleagues over at MLB Productions do great work so make sure you check it out.

I’d also like to talk about the Oakland A’s today.  This was my team growing up and considering how well the A’s are playing in September what’s going on in Oakland right now is a shame.

It’s nearly impossible for the A’s to compete consistently because they need a new stadium and have no prospects for one.  There are a few people we can thank for this.  The former Mayor of Oakland Jerry Brown is one who did not help the A’s get a stadium in any way. The second person we can thank is Raiders owner Al Davis.  He ruined the ballpark when he brought the Raiders back by blocking the great views of the Oakland Hills.

Think about the players that have come through Oakland this decade alone.  We’re talking Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Miguel Tejada, and Jason Giambi.  They were not able to keep this group together and with no new ballpark on the horizon they may not be able to keep their current crop of young talent.  Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill both registered double digit wins at the age of 21, but what is their future in Oakland with no new ballpark plans?

The reason I’m working at MLB Network today is because I followed the A’s growing up.  I carried a Shooty Babitt card in my velcro wallet.  In addition to the great job I have now I’d love to be a front office executive for the A’s with my only responsibility being to find a new ballpark.  They deserve it and so do the fans.  Make sure you watch MLB Tonight at 6. – Matt Vasgersian

   

9/24 MLB Tonight – The Hot Corner with Hazel Mae

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Here’s what’s HOT……The Albert Pujols Golf Tournament.

Don’t know if you guys caught the early edition of MLB tonight.  In addition to the A’s crushing the Rangers, and maybe crushing their playoff hopes, you would have seen highlights of the Albert Pujols Charity Golf Tournament!

Yours truly got to tee it up with Pujols, and the rest of the Cardinals team.  Bobby Knight, Tony La Russa, and The Wizard of Oz, Ozzie Smith, were also a few who came out to support Albert’s foundation.   

One thing that really amazed me was the fact that every player on the Cardinals showed up.  In the middle of the season to see them all out there says a lot about the character of the Cardinals as a team. It also shows how much respect Albert’s teammates have for him on and off the field.  

And here’s a shocker: Albert Pujols is an amazing golfer!  He just continues to prove he is an overall incredible athlete.

Being there also gave me a great chance to improve my developing golf game.  One of Albert’s tips was to stop using my Red Sox golf balls.

I’ve got to tell you, it made me a little nervous hitting in the group in front of PGA golfer Chris DiMarco. That and my golf partners calling me Heather Mae really took me out of my game.

Overall, it was a great experience for a great cause, way to go Albert, knocked it out of the park!

So check it out; it’s the Pujols Family and Faith Foundation.  They do amazing work with people with Down Syndrome, disabilities, life threatening illnesses, and families struck with poverty in his native Dominican Republic. 

Till next time, keep it in the fairway. – Hazel Mae

9/24 MLB Tonight – Hart of the Matter

hart.jpgWe’re coming on after the World Cup game between USA and Cuba so make sure you tune it a little earlier tonight. 

We’ll begin with the Cardinals who can clinch a playoff spot with a loss by the Cubs this evening.  It’s amazing the job Tony LaRussa has done.  At the beginning of the year he didn’t know what to expect from Chris Carpenter and he didn’t have a closer.  Carpenter is back to being his ace and Ryan Franklin has stepped up to be his closer.  Also, remember he didn’t have anyone to protect Pujols to start the season, but he had his team in good shape until they got Matt Holliday and we all know how that trade has worked out.  Let’s not also forget the moves to bring in DeRosa, Lugo, and Smoltz.  The Cardinals know how to stay in the race year in and year out and a lot of the credit has to go to their manager.

Another team that’s interesting is the Twins.  This is a team that is always in the mix year in and year out and they have to do it with a low payroll.  They lose players like Johan Santana and Torii Hunter, but can replace them with a Joe Mauer and Justin Morneuau.  Even with Morneau out for the season they are right there with the Tigers with players like Michael Cuddyer stepping up.  Their race with the Tigers down the stretch will be fun to watch.

Speaking of the Tigers they are playing in our Thursday night game tonight against the Indians.  They have had a great turnaround from a year ago with letting players go like Gary Sheffield and Edgar Renteria and allowing young players to flourish like Rick Porcello.  With Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, and Porcello at the top of that rotation the Tigers could be a tough out in the playoffs.-John Hart

 

9/23 MLB Tonight – The Left Wing

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Tonight we’re going to focus on teams that are postseason bound, mainly closer situations.

With the exception of Mariano Rivera, most playoff bound teams have some closer issues going into these last few games.

Ryan Franklin, Brad Lidge, and Brian Fuentes, have all been inconsistent this season, and going into the postseason, that’s never a good feeing in a managers gut.

What strikes me going into October this year is that any of the 8 teams in the mix will have as good a chance as any to win it all.

The Yankees are the best team right now, with the Cardinals right behind them.

Having a one-two punch of CC Sabathia/A.J. Burnett (who got back on track today) or Chris Carpenter/Adam Wainwright at the top of the rotation is solid, and adding those dangerous lineups into the mix is what makes them my favorites right now.

It’s important for teams like the Yankees and the Cardinals, who have their playoff births wrapped up to rest their players, but it’s usually the team playing their best at the end of the season that does the most damage.  It’s time for them to turn it on.

To me, they’ve got some big targets on their backs this October; let’s see how they’ll handle that added pressure.

And how about Chad Billingsley tonight, taking a no-hitter into the 7th is a step in the right direction because the Dodgers really need him.   Adding him to Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw will really step it up for them. – Dan Plesac

9/23 MLB Tonight – Billy Ripken’s Take

ripken.jpgSo the New York Yankees are the first team to qualify for the postseason.  The thing we’re going to find out from this club this year is can you truly buy yourself a world championship? 

The Yankees went away from devoloping players a long time ago and have gone the free agent route.  Now this did not work with Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi, but it may for CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira.  If it does what does that say to the rest of the baseball teams out there?  These teams have to outwork the Yankees with shrewd moves and proper scouting where NY can just throw money at any problems they have. 

The Yankees have a long way to go though before we say their offseason was a success.  They need to come away with a championship.  If not, they spent over 400 million dollars this season with nothing to show for it and as we know it’s all about rings with the Yankees who haven’t won one since 2000 when they had home grown players and excellent role players. 

Do the Yankees have an unfair advantage?  If they win people will say yes.  If they don’t then it’s a different story.  You need intangibles to win a championship.  The Yankees may have brought in the right players to win this year, which shows you that it’s not how much money you spend, but who you spend it on.  We’ll find out if it works out in about 6 weeks.

Make sure you watch MLB Tonight starting at 6.-Billy Ripken

 

9/22 MLB Tonight – B. Larks Blog

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Tonight we’re going to break down the playoff races to see what’s carrying teams into October baseball.

The Angels and Yankees might just be a preview of what we will see in October. Last night the Angels seemed to put it all together, and there’s no better time than now.  With all the injuries to key players, inconsistency, and the tragic death of Nick Adenhart, there have been two keys which have carried the Angels:
Bobby Abreu’s consistency and patience in the line up.
Mike Scioscia’s professional approach to managing the ballclub.

It’s remarkable what they have done this season.

With Joe Girardi giving his players time off, the Yankees haven’t been cruising into October, but with 9 games left, it’s time for them to get focused, and revved up so they don’t stall in the playoffs. 

In the Central, the Tigers will have a big test tonight against an Indians team they have dominated all season.  Let’s see if Edwin Jackson can bounce back tonight, because with Jarrod Washburn’s bad knee, and an inconsistent offense, the Twins are knocking loud and hard on the door atop the AL Central.

And let’s talk about those Twins who have been simply amazing, mainly because they have been doing it without that “wow” guy going out there every five days.  Their pitching staff reminds me a lot of Brad Radke, getting hitters out with sinkers, and backed by the always consistent defense, this year led by Orlando Cabrera.

The Twins seem to have taken a page from the Angels’ book on playing winning baseball. They have won with a patient approach and guys stepping in for injured stars.  Joe Mauer, MVP???  Guys like Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer have really stepped up since Justin Morneau was shut down with a bad back.  They need to keep playing well going into their crucial series in Detroit.

Denard Span has also been a huge part of the Twins offense.  I’m interested in seeing how Span comes back from being hit in the head last night.  I got hit early in my career and it took me a while to get comfortable in the batters box. 

One guy to keep and eye on tonight is Zack Greinke. If he wants to win the CY Young, he’s going to have to pitch well against playoff teams.  This is also his 1st appearance since being drilled on the elbow, so let’s see if he can get the job done. 

Turing to the NL race, it’s do or die for the Giants.  Tonight against the Diamondbacks they’ve got to take care of business, especially against Mark Reynolds, who has 43 Home Runs going into tonight.

In San Diego the Rockies are going up against a Padres team which has been playing well of late.  Can they do to the Rockies what they have done to the Giants and Dodgers?  Or can the Rockies hold on to what they’ve got, with Jorge De La Rosa on the hill tonight, a hot Troy Tulowitzki, and a resurgent Jason Giambi?

See you next time- Barry Larkin

9/22 MLB Tonight Pre-Show Meeting

amsinger.jpgOne of our main themes tonight will be who will be the 3rd starter for some of these teams that could make the postseason?  We’ll begin that discussion in the first hour with former Twin and current broadcaster Bert Blyleven.  If the Twins make it they’ll start with Scott Baker and Carl Pavano, but who do you go to after that?  Is it Nick Blackburn after his performance last night or is it rookie Brian Duensing who is 4-1 since being called up from the minors.

Another pitcher with an important start tonight is Ervin Santana of the Angels.  Right now the Angels are set with John Lackey, Jered Weaver, and Scott Kazmir.  Can Santana change Scioscia’s mind and get a start in the postseason?  He also has to think about Joe Saunders who pitched well last night.

How about the Phillies?  Is your number 3 Joe Blanton or Pedro Martinez behind Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels?  What about Jaime Moyer who has 12 wins?

Another interesting team is the Rockies.  They’ll begin with Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis, but who do they go to after that?  Is it Jorge De La Rosa or Aaron Cook?

Finally, what do the Cardinals do?  We know Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are a given, but is Joel Pineiro definitely their number 3?  What about John Smoltz or Kyle Lohse?

This is some of the things we’ll be talking about tonight starting at 6. -Greg Amsinger

 

9/21 MLB Tonight Pre-Show Meeting


vasgersian.jpgWe’re coming on a little early tonight due to the firing of Astros manager Cecil Cooper.  I’m a little surprised by this one.  Houston is 16.5 games out with 2 weeks to go.  Sometimes I understand these moves late in the season, but not this one.  Last year, the Brewers fired Ned Yost with 2 weeks to go in the season, but they were still alive in the playoff hunt and this move worked as they won the wild card.   We’ll learn over the course of the night if he completely lost the clubhouse.

 

We’ll also discuss Milton Bradley tonight.  The question here is what were the Cubs thinking?  Everyone saw disaster coming here except the Cubs and now they’re on the hook with him for another 2 years.  Bradley was advised to take the money when he could have stayed in Texas for a little less and with much less scrutiny and a better fit on the field.

 

I was in San Francisco last week calling the Giants-Rockies game and I got to see Barry Zito pitch like he did back in 2002 with the A’s.  His curveball was nasty.  Our Dan Plesac is going to breakdown his 2nd half resurgance. 

 

Finally, the last piece of Tiger Stadium will be down by October 1st.  I’ve loved this place.  The broadcast booth was unique is that it was so close to the field.  You had a good chance to get hit by a foul ball if you didn’t use the netting, which we didn’t do one time when I was with the Brewers.  My partner Bill Schroeder took it right in the chest.  If I were sitting where he was sitting I would have taken it right in the face.

 

I can’t believe USC lost to Washington on Saturday.  Their annual upset by a Pac-10 team on the road happened much earlier this season. -Matt Vasgersian