Mauer's MVP Reminds Cubs Fans Dusty Screwed Prior

Joe Mauer's near-unanimous American League MVP selection reminds Cubs fans that he was one executive decision away from being a Chicago Cub.

But this is blog is not about that.

The Cubs "settled" for Mark Prior in that draft like a rapper would settle for 26-inch rims on his Cadillac instead of 28.  There was no belly-aching out of Chicago when the team selected the stud Southern California pitcher.

In 2009, it is easy to point out that a decision that was made by a franchise accused of pinching pennies on the local kid rather than meeting Prior's demands was a wise one by Terry Ryan.  But really, it should have never came down to that.

Baseball fans should have been treated to careers that featured big hits, big whiffs and a few big games down the line.  Mauer held up his end, Prior could not.

Thanks Dusty Baker.

Yep, that's right, kids.  Another blame Dusty Baker blog.  Can you blame me?  Of course not.  Dusty's pitchers are known for big bursts of greatness followed by bigger flameouts.  Prior is just one of the many examples.  The one-time face of the Cubs franchise broke out with a big 18-6 season in 2003, a season that might go down as the biggest double-edged sword in Cubs history.

Prior saw his mechanics break down and his arm fall apart as time went on with the Cubs, and a lot of it has to do with the wear-and-tear put on his arm by none other than that toothpick-chewing S.O.B.  Prior averaged 126 pitches per start in a September.  Note that Prior had thrown at least 120 pitches only three times before the Cubs' September run.  The first came in an 11-5 win against Milwaukee on May 12.  The second occurred on June 3 in a 3-2 win against the Rays, 22 days later.  The third and final time came June 26 in a 5-3 loss against the Brewers, 23 days later.

So what does Dusty do to his best pitcher?  The guy the Cubs were supposed to build a new winning tradition with?  He throws Prior to the wolves to throw at least 124 pitches in five of his six September starts.  The only start in which he didn't throw more than 124 pitches was his Sept. 11 start against the Expos, which ended in a 3-2 defeat.

• Sept. 1 vs. St. Louis: 131 pitches, Cubs win 7-0
• Sept. 6 @ Milwaukee: 129 pitches, Cubs win 8-4
  
• Sept. 16 vs. NY Mets: 124 pitches, Cubs win 3-2
• Sept. 21 @ Pittsburgh 131 pitches, Cubs win 4-1
  
• Sept. 27 vs. Pittsburgh: 127 pitches, Cubs win 4-2
  

That's 642 pitches in five starts.  Yikes.  Other than the Sept. 11 start, they all came consecutively.  Prior would go on to throw another 133 pitches in a 3-1 complete game victory in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Braves.  The straw that might have broken the camels back was the 116 pitches he threw in the Cubs' 12-3 win in Game 2 of the NLCS.  Chicago held an 11-0 lead through five innings, and at the time I though to myself, "The Cubs should probably let Prior rest seeing that this game looks to be in hand."  Instead, Dusty Baker trotted him out to make sure he hit at least triple digits in pitches thrown.

Did those extra throws cost Prior in the infamous Game 6?  The world may never know.  What the world does know is that Prior's arm troubles began in 2004, a season in which Joe Mauer went on to post a .308/.369/.570/.939 slash line in 122 plate appearances.

Prior's last win came on Aug. 5, 2006, a 7-5 decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He struck out five batters in 5.2 innings and only 103 pitches.  Baker must have been feeling cautious that day after chowing down on a few infamous Devonshire Sandwiches or something.

On that date, Mauer went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, a run and three walks in a Minnesota Twins 14-3 win against the Kansas City Royals.  Mauer would go on to post a .347/.429/.507/.936 slash line to go along with 13 home runs and 84 runs batted in en route to a playoff berth in the Twin Cities.

Since 2007, Mauer has posted a .328/.413/.488/.901 line and won an AL Most Valuable Player award.  Prior has thrown countless towels en route to a Simulated Cy Young award.

Thanks a lot, Dustbag.

Cubs manager Dusty Baker watches another one of his pitchers go to the emergency room after another case of abuse.

Hot Stove Hopefuls: Joe Nathan

Editor's Note: Nothing says playoff baseball like the MLB hot stove.  The only thing more amusing than fans playing GM is when beat writers do it.  Usually they do it with more pizazz and insight than Joe Blogger -- myself included.  Hot Stove Hopefuls highlights some of the hot names on the market and tries to find a spot for them on the Cubs.

Today's feature: Joe Nathan

Player: Joe Nathan (baseball-reference.com bio page)
Age: 34
Current Team: Minnesota Twins
Contract Details: 2 years, $22.5 million signed in March 2008 (plus $12.5 million club option and $2 million buyout for 2012)
Publication: "2. Get out from under the last half of Nathan's large contract (two years, $22.5 million) by trading him. The Cubs might take him."
Source: Patrick Reuse, Minnesota Star Tribune 

Despite Milton Bradley's antics and lack of production, there is no Chicago Cubs player I despised more than Kevin Gregg.  Whether it was his goggles or the flat low-90s fastball that opposing hitters teed off on, nothing was more aggravating than watching the Cubs closer deliver walk-off wins for the opponents.

Enter stage left, Joe Nathan.

Nathan has been one of baseball's best closers since being acquired by the Minnesota Twins (along with Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser) from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for A.J. Pierzynski.  (Yet, Brian Sabean still finds a way to get a contract extension.  I digress.)  He has averaged 41 saves since becoming the Twins' closer in 2004 and has made four All Star Game appearances in his six years in Minnesota.

Over the last three years, Nathan has accumulated 123 saves for a competitive Twins team.  He's racked up 240 strikeouts in 206 2/3 innings.  Nathan's WHIP has only crept above 1.00 once, and that was in 2007 where he converted 37 saves and posted a WHIP of 1.019.  In his tenure with the Twinkies, Nathan's WHIP is 0.934 and earned run average is 1.87.

This past season, Nathan posted a 2.10 ERA -- his highest since posting a 2.70 ERA in 2005.  He is among baseball's elite closers, and even though Carlos Marmol was perfect after replacing Kevin Gregg, there is no such thing has having too much depth in the bullpen.  It would move Marmol back into the eighth inning and Angel Guzman back to the seventh.  And all of a sudden, the Cubs are playing in six-inning ball games.

WHAT CAN THE CUBS OFFER?

Among Reusse's list of demands is a shortstop that won't be as pricey or old as free-agent-to-be Orlando Cabrera.  This is where GM Jim Hendry gives Ryan Theriot a one-way ticket to Minnesota and wishes him good luck on his future endeavors.  As much as I bash Theriot, he'd be a perfect fit with the scrappy Piranhas.  The Riot is a career .295 hitter March through August.  If he can finally figure out September, who knows how much better he could be.  (Hint: Only marginally better.)

Also on Reusse's list for Santa Twins management to get is a starting pitcher, preferably one not named Livan Hernandez.  Lucky for the Twins, the Cubs have several of those guys ... and they all happen to be younger, cheaper and not as fat.  The Cubs could offer any of the following: Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Samardzija, or even Randy Wells.  The Cubs have a bevy of young arms they seem pleased enough to throw in as a middle of the rotation starter that would be a better, less expensive version of Livan.

The Twins also seem to be lacking bullpen arms, so the Cubs could theoretically dangle middle relief help in the form of Jeff Stevens, Justin Berg, Mitch Atkins or Esmailin Caridad.  Heck, I'd become a Twins fan if they took Aaron Heilman off the Cubs' hands just for shits and giggles.

Finally, Reusse also asks for outfield help, seeing that he wants Carlos Gomez to get a full year of seasoning in Rochester, N.Y.  The Cubs' youthful outfielders are limited, but Sam Fuld and Tyler Colvin come to mind.  And at what point do you think the Cubs could trade Jake Fox while his value is high?  Minnesota seems like a good fit for a right-handed hitting, lefty-mashing designated hitter to complement the hitting prowess of Jason Kubel.

The Cubs and Twins nearly made a deal for Rich Harden, but that fell through when Hendry didn't have the foresight to know the Cubs were no longer contenders despite the fact that everyone else in Chicago knew how things would transpire once September began.  The last time these two hooked up on a deal, it helped land the Cubs Nomar Garciaparra, but it might always go down as the deal that sent Orlando Cabrera (there's that name again!) to Boston.

Can Jim Hendry do it again?  Maybe if you entice him with a glazed donut, it might speed up the process.

Should the Cubs try to acquire Twins closer Joe Nathan?

• Yes. Anyone but Kevin Gregg!
• No. Carlos Marmol is the man!

Created on Oct 16, 2009

View Results

poll by twiigs.com

 

Fraudtober: Where Amazingly Bad Happens (With Poll Question)

[Ed. Note: If the NBA is where amazing happens, then Fraudtober is where amazingly bad baseball happens.  It seems that every October brings a goat -- and being a Cubs fan -- I know October failure when I see it.  So after every round of playoffs, there will be a poll after the jump to see who will be named each round's OctoberFraud.  In the end, we'll take all the winners and pit them against one another.]

Matt Holliday was not the only star to fall in October.  Check out the rest of the OctoberFrauds after the jump.

Holliday's struggles are well documented.  He hit only .167 (2-for-12) in the NLDS after posting a .353/.419/.604/1.023 line in 270 plate appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals after posting  who were expected to be the National League's representative in the World Series.  His homer, one of only two dingers hit by the Cards, gave his team a 1-0 lead in Game 2.  But it was his error that opened the flood gates to a Dodgers come-from-behind win, and eventually, a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers.

But he's not the only Cardinal up for the LDS OctoberFraud award.  Teammate Joel Pineiro took to the bump for Game 3 and struggled.  After going 15-12 with a 3.49 earned run average and 1.145 WHIP, one of Dave Duncan's pet projects allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings in the Redbirds' Game 3 loss.

After winning Game 163, the Minnesota Twins were swept out of the playoffs as All-Star closer Joe Nathan was amazingly bad in his two outings.  In Game 2, Nathan allowed a game-tying two-run home run to Alex Rodriguez in what turned out to be an extra-inning loss.  He would go on to allow two more runs in the team's Game 3 loss, as well.

Nathan's numbers: 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1 blown save, 5 hits, 2 IP

Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon was more like Papelboned... am I right?  In two innings of work, Papelbon posted an 0-1 record, 13.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and allowed three earned runs and four hits.  His blown save ended the Red Sox's season while sending the Angels to an ALCS showdown with the Yankees.

Let the trade rumors begin!

The only hugs Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street received might have been from Phillies fans, because for the second straight game, Street picked up the "L" as Philadelphia escaped the NLDS to set up another showdown with the Dodgers.

Street's numbers are astonishingly bad, especially for someone who converted 35 saves and notched a 3.06 ERA.  In 2.2 IP, Street allowed six hits, four earned runs and posted a 3.38 WHIP en route to failing his October test.

So, who wears the goat horns after the LDS round?

Biggest LDS OctoberFraud?

• Matt Holliday (2-for-12, 1 HR, 1 costly error)
• Joe Nathan (9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1 blown save, 5 hits, 2 IP)
• Jonathan Papelbon (0-1, 13.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 blown save, 2 IP)
• Huston Street (0-2, 13.50 ERA, 6 H, 4 ER, 3.38 WHIP, 1 blown save, 2.2 IP)
• Joel Pineiro (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 4 IP, 4 ER, 7 H)

Created on Oct 13, 2009

View Results

poll by twiigs.com

Why I Hate Your Playoff Baseball Team

Confession: I am a baseball nerd.  Really.  When I was younger, I found myself watching playoff baseball despite the fact that my favorite team had been eliminated from playoff contention for a good chunk of those years.

But now, after back-to-back soul crushing playoff sweeps, my favorite team failed to make the postseason altogether.  I thought about latching myself to the bandwagon of one of the remaining teams.  Upon further review, I couldn't find it within me to do it.

And this is how "Why I Hate Your Playoff Baseball Team" got started.

The longest (and arguably most offensive to those of you who take your favorite team way too seriously) post in TBDS history after the jump.


YANKEES

Everyone hates the Yankees because they are what their favorite team is not.  Honestly, if your favorite team's owner/management group went balls out to put a winner on the field, how would you feel?  Whether it be through the minor league system or buying the open market's best player, if the Cubs did that, I would be happier than Derek Jeter on ladies night.

Speaking of which, screw you Jeter.  My one hope in life is to date one girl that is out of my league.  However, I can't because they're all swooning over you. His dating resume includes Jessica Biel, Minka Kelly, Mariah Carey and others.  Then there was this experiment with a college girl.  I have enough trouble dating girls my own age, Jeets, there's no reason to be dipping into my pool.

The One Thing I Like:  With all that said, I'd kill to be Jeter's wing man.  His sloppy seconds and rejects are 10s.  I'm down with OPP.

RED SOX

When I was younger, I used to like the Red Sox.  They were my "other" team.  My godfather played for the BoSox from 1989 'til 1993.  He always hooked me up with tickets and it was flippin' sweet.  I got autographed balls from Mike Greenwell, Mo Vaughn, Roger Clemens, Eric Wedge -- all those guys.  Heck, I got to meet Wedge and others one time when he was Cleveland's first base coach.

Those memories are gone, replaced with this story.

I went to a Cubs-Red Sox game in 2005 at Wrigley Field and hit it off with an attractive young lady.  A baseball fan with a passion for the game and the willingness to buy a then underaged Cubs fan a beer or two.  Then I told a funny joke.  A rarity still in this day and age ... she laughed ... and sounded like Peter Griffin.

Un.  Attractive.

We went our separate ways.  I wanted no part of that.  She's ruined Boston fans until I go to Boston and need a place to shack up.  I guess I could always hang out with Tom Brady.

The One Thing I Like: See first graph.

ANGELS

I'd be a terrible person if I wrote bad things about the Angels after the tragedy that struck them this year.  So I'll be kind.  Sorta.

I hate that you have baseball's best manager, Mike Scioscia.  He's awesome.  I hate that you reload, rather than rebuild.  I hate that you beat Dusty Baker in the World Series in 2002.  The loss cemented the end of Dusty's stay in San Francisco and began his run in Chicago, where he would go on to ruin the perfectly good arms of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.  His effect has also touched the careers of Matt Clement and has started to do so for Carlos Zambrano as well.

The One Thing I Like: Vlad.  VladGuerrero's style at the plate encapsulates my collegiate dating career.  Swing hard and hope you make contact.  However, Vlad's been a little more successful with his style.

Then there was this...

TWINS

I was ready to write this about the Tigers, but I've got my fair share of beef with the Twinkies.

First of all, thanks for Andy MacPhail you asshole pricks.  Thanks a f****** lot.  Never have I met such an egomaniacal baseball jerkwad.  Never.  That includes every Philly, Yankee, Red Sox, Cardinal, Bradley Braves fan I've ever met and despised.  A member of the lucky sperm club, MacFail was the sonofabitch whose 5 year plan didn't hatch a playoff team until 1998, and a division champion until 2003.

Then there's that whole cheaping out for Joe Mauer thing.  Mauer would look mighty fine in a Cubs uniform right now.  You know, that left-handed run producer Jim Hendry craves more than three dozen freshly baked jelly donuts.

The One Thing I Like: Oh yeah, and Favre can go to hell too.  Oh, this is where I say something nice.  Joe Mauer is a bad ass.  So is Joe Nathan.  If Mauer doesn't win AL MVP, someone should piss in the cereal of the baseball writers who voted for someone else.

PHILLIES

Philadelphia is looking to win its second straight World Series.  It won't.  Brad Lidge sucks and if he gets into the game, every other pitch he throws is going to end up putting another crater on the moon.  If the Phils somehow meet the Cardinals in the NLCS, they might have to put Lidge in the witness protection program.

Overall Philly isn't that terrible.  It's the place that helped raise The Fresh Prince, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Kobe Bryant.  On the other hand, it's the same town that throws batteries at Santa Claus when they don't get what they want for Christmas.

And you thought Jay Cutler was a whiny bitch.

The One Thing I Like:  Ryan Howard.  I drafted Howard in my fantasy league and traded him at the All-Star break for Alex Rodriguez.  In the second half, A-Rod hit .310/.394/.518/.912 with 13 homers, 50 RBIs and 11 steals en route to a fantasy title.  Howard performed well, but my third baseman prior to that trade was Mark Teahen.

ROCKIES

As a Cubs fan, I'd like to thank the Rockies for Don Baylor.  Not.  Don Baylor sucked.  He was a terrible manager who promised free agent hitters would come in droves to Chicago.  And the best we got was Moises Alou, who absolutely tanked in his only year under Baylor.

Then there's the Jason Marquis factor.  Did you know every team Marquis has pitched for has made the playoffs.  He's Dave Kaplan and Steve Stone's golden boy, despite the fact that neither of them were crying a river of Cubbie blue tears when he was shipped out west.

In total, Colorado sucks for many other reasons.  It's cold.  Who wants to play baseball in the snow?  No one with a brain.  Your big tourist attraction is skiing in mountains.  The only thing that would be as dangerous would be if Florida tried to sell vacation plans in which tourists would hang out in the swamps with gators not named Tim Tebow.

The One Thing I Like:  Thanks for Jeff Baker, pricks.

DODGERS

The Dodgers are lucky to even have a baseball team.  Their fans are a joke.  They come early and leave early.  They have a rich history, most of which revolves around the team's Brooklyn roots.  Oh, and the entire NL West can screw itself.  Two transplanted New York teams, two expansion teams and a team that had to build its ballpark so it wouldn't get crushed by one player that retired three years after the damn thing opened.

Back to the Dodgers.  They're blessed with one of baseball's best minor league systems, hence the team's young and talented roster.  They also have Alyssa Milano who is absolutely smoking hot.  And she's only a fan because her daddy was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan.  I would give up five Wrigley Field bleacher babes for one night with Alyssa Milano.  And that is after taking into consideration she's been in more major league clubhouses than Milton Bradley.

Also, it was the Dodgers' sweep of the Cubs that sent me into a heavy drinking binge last October.  Like, heavy.  I mean, cashing a bottle of Jack Daniels and a case of Miller Lite and waking up wishing I hadn't, kind of binge.

One Thing I LIke:  Vin Scully.  He's the sh*t.  The best announcer in any sport, ever.  Better than Marv Albert.  Better than Joe Buck.  Better than Jack Buck.  Better than Harry Caray.  Vin Scully is the Jay-Z of broadcasters.  I'd go out of my way to listen to Scully.  It's too bad Dodgers fans or too much of uberdouches to realize they are blessed with greatness.

CARDINALS

What can I say about the Cardinals that hasn't already been said about herpes, chlamydia or genital warts?  I would rather see eight more years of George W. Bush running this country than see one more St. Louis championship.

Mark DeRosa will make his third straight playoff appearance and is bound to break the hearts of Cardinals fans just as he did Cub fans, right?  He was the man who turned a 3-1 count with the bases loaded against Livan Hernandez into an inning-ending, rally-ending double play.  He was the man who couldn't handle what should have been an inning ending double play ball against the Dodgers last year as L.A. completed the sweep.

Yet, women love him ... why?  Because of his stubble.  F*** his stubble.  If that's all they loved, I would have been knee deep in 20something college co-eds since I was 12.  Go choke, DeRosa.  History tells me you will.

One Thing I Like: I know a pretty girl that happens to be a Cardinals fan.  A.  Pretty.  Girl.

At least I'll always have this to keep me warm at night.

Is Ron Gardenhire the last great manager?

It's a serious question and not meant to be a jab at the recent struggles of the Chicago White Sox.

But let's think about this for just one moment.

No Johan Santana and no Torii Hunter, two of the franchise's best players in history.

Matt Garza has been solid for a Tampa Bay Rays team that is going to the playoffs for the first time in the team's history.

Francisco Liriano was garbage during the first half.

Yet, a win by the Minnesota Twins tonight puts them 1/2 game ahead of the White Sox as baseball enters its final weekend in a season where they were pegged to finish behind the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and in some opinions, the White Sox.

Now only the Sox stand in their way of a division title.

Ron Gardenhire has got to be the last great manager. Baseball manager. In the classic meaning of the word that baseball old farts get all nostalgic about.

You know, with sacrifice bunting, hit & run plays, double steals, lefty-righty match-ups no matter the numbers. Match-up for match-up sake.

Gardenhire has turned water into wine this season, and even though it's not over, it has to be considered a success.

In a world where baseball managers are expected to master massing the egos that come with big cash contracts, Gardenhire plays the role of a micromanaging button pusher.

And to this point, none of the button's he has pushed have been the self-destruct button.

The Twins' line-up, other than Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau doesn't strike fear in anyone.

But don't sleep on Dernard Span, Alexi Casilla, Jason Kubel and Carlos Gomez.

The pitching staff, is full of young overachievers such as Nick Blackburn, Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey.

It's like having Scott Erickson, Eric Milton and Brad Radke all over again.

The team's best reliever is Joe Nathan, you can thank the San Francisco Giants for that.

"Gardy" isn't even close to being named manager of the year, unless Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon is found out to be a steroid dealing child molester in the coming days.

But she should get some consideration.

Some, not all.

Daily Dosage: The Johan Santana trade works for everyone

Finding the daily eye candy is harder than you think. Finding pretty girls is harder than you think. But that's what makes this fun.

So rather than search far and wide for the next best thing, I typed "Halle Berry" in my Google search bar and that's how I came up with today's choice.

On with the Dosage.

Insert another Santana, Supernatural headline here. If you listened the reports by baseball's talking heads this offseason, you would have thought Johan Santana was going to go 34-0, undefeated in the playoffs and bat .400 with 40 home runs and 150 RBIs.

Santana improved 8-0 with a 2.26 ERA in his last 16 starts in the New York Mets' 6-2 victory against the Chicago Cubs.

Maybe that's what I get for spewing my venom yesterday. I don't care, I needed that yesterday.

Javier Vazquez's ears are likely being filled with expletives. Maybe Ozzie Guillen was right about Javy.

Vazquez, who was challenged by the White Sox skipper to be more aggressive, dropped his record to 12-15 by allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings in the South Siders' 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

The win by the Twinkies brings them within 1.5 games of the Pale Hose, whose magic number remains at 5.

The magic number for this segment, 3, as in different nicknames I used for Chicago's South Side baseball team.

As for the other part of the Santana trade, Carlos Gomez, he went 2-for-4 with his 32nd stolen base of the season.

Quality Linkage:

• Matt Millen is done, son. [Fox Sports] The Lions still suck and I'm convinced Jay Glazer doesn't sleep.
• The Yankees dynasty is officially over. [ESPN] It's time to pop champagne like we won a championship game!
• Rodgers > Romo. [Dallas Morning News - Cowboys Blog] Blogs like that discredit bloggers like me.
• Donovan McNabb talks to a blog. [The 700 Level] I think that's cool.
• The Pierre Pierce saga continues. [Associated Press] Steve Alford still defends him. Still an asshat.