Nick Markakis, formerly of the AL East Champion Baltimore Orioles, has reportedly signed a 4 year 45 million dollar contract with the Atlanta Braves. The Orioles declined the 17.5 million dollar club option and instead paid Markakis a 2 million dollar buy out option.
the Orioles lost slugger Nelson Cruz to the Seattle Mariners earlier in the week.
W.D. Barr's unique perspective on what's important in the world of Mexican Baseball!
Showing posts with label Nelson Cruz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nelson Cruz. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Monday, December 1, 2014
Nelson Cruz Signs 4 Year Deal With Mariners
It is being reported that Nelson Cruz, he of Biogenisis connections that resulted in a 50 game suspension in 2013, has signed a 4 year deal with the Seattle Mariners worth 57 million dollars.
Cruz played for the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 and was the only player in the majors to hit 40 home runs. The three-time All-Star holds MLB records for most home runs (six) and most RBIs (13) in a single postseason series (2011 ALCS).
Read the ESPN article here.
Cruz played for the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 and was the only player in the majors to hit 40 home runs. The three-time All-Star holds MLB records for most home runs (six) and most RBIs (13) in a single postseason series (2011 ALCS).
Read the ESPN article here.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Royals Take Game 1 of ALCS with Extra Inning Win in Baltimore
The Kansas City Royals, in this postseason, have doubled the rate at which they hit home runs during the regular season. Almost 4% of their at bats have resulted in home runs.
Coming into this postseason no Royal hitter had ever hit a go ahead home run in extra innings. These Royals have done it three times. Alcides Escobar homered last night. He had only 3 HRs in 500+ at bats during the regular season.
Why all the talk about home runs. The Royals didn't hit many HRs during the season. They won the small ball way. They won with speed on the basepaths, good bunting, timely hitting and good pitching.
Alex Gordon of the Royals had this to say about the power surge, "We know we're capable of hitting home runs. We didn't do it during the regular season, but it doesn't really matter. This is the postseason and we're starting to swing the bats better now."
After 162 regular season games it's nice to know the Royals are finally warming up.
Kansas City threatened to walk away with game 1 early when they scored 4 runs in the top of the third. With one out, Alcides Escobar sent a Chris Tillman 0-2 pitch over the wall in left for a 1-0 lead. Norichika Aoki singled to left and Lorenzo Cain drew a four pitch walk. Billy Butler beat out an infield single to load the bases. Alex Gordon then worked the count full before doubling to right to clear the bases and drive in 3 of his 4 runs on the night. The Ryals led 4-0 after their half of the 3rd.
Baltimore got a run back in the bottom of the 3rd. Nick Markakis doubled off of James Shields. Adam Jones singled to drive in Markakis to narrow the lead to 4-1.
In the top of the 5th, Lorenzo Cain hit a lead off double to right. Cain moved to third on an Eric Hosmer ground out to second. Tommy Hunter relieved Orioles starter Chris Tillman and Billy Butler hit a sac fly to center to score Cain for the 5-1 lead.
Baltimore came roaring back off Shields in the bottom of the 5th. Nick Markakis singled to left and Alejandro De Aza singled to right. Adam Jones hit into a fielder's choice that got Markakis at third. Nelson Cruz doubled to score De Aza and the Orioles had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Steve Pearce walked to load the bases. After JJ Hardy struck out, Ryan Flaherty singled to drive in Jones and Cruz and the lead was now 5-4.
Brandon Finnegan replaced Shields to start the bottom of the 6th. Lead off hitter Jonathan Schoop waited out an 8 pitch walk. Nick Markakis singled and the Orioles had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Alejandro De Aza reached on an infield single to score Schoop and that would be all for Finnegan. Kelvin Herrera replaced Finnegan and got Adams to hit into a fielder's choice and Nelson Cruz to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, but the Orioles had tied the game at 5.
The scored remained knotted at 5 until the top of the 10th. Darren O'Day in relief of Zach Britton gave up a lead off home run to Alex Gordon and walked Salvador Perez. Buck Showalter replaced O'Day with Brian Matusz. Mike Moustakas worked the count to 2-2 before parking a Matusz pitch into the bleachers in right center.. the Royals had an 8-5 lead through 9 1/2 innings.
Greg Holland came in for the Royals to close out the victory. He quickly got two outs then Ryan Flaherty singled. Jimmy Paredes, hitting for Nick Hundley, walked. Delmon Young, pinch hitting for Jonathan Schoop, singled to score Flaherty. The Royals lead was down to 8-6. Holland got Nick Markakis to ground out to second to preserve the Royals 4th extra inning victory in their last 5 games.
Wade davis picked up the win for Kansas City while Dan O'Day took the loss for the Orioles. Greg Holland recorded the save.
Coming into this postseason no Royal hitter had ever hit a go ahead home run in extra innings. These Royals have done it three times. Alcides Escobar homered last night. He had only 3 HRs in 500+ at bats during the regular season.
Why all the talk about home runs. The Royals didn't hit many HRs during the season. They won the small ball way. They won with speed on the basepaths, good bunting, timely hitting and good pitching.
Alex Gordon of the Royals had this to say about the power surge, "We know we're capable of hitting home runs. We didn't do it during the regular season, but it doesn't really matter. This is the postseason and we're starting to swing the bats better now."
After 162 regular season games it's nice to know the Royals are finally warming up.
Kansas City threatened to walk away with game 1 early when they scored 4 runs in the top of the third. With one out, Alcides Escobar sent a Chris Tillman 0-2 pitch over the wall in left for a 1-0 lead. Norichika Aoki singled to left and Lorenzo Cain drew a four pitch walk. Billy Butler beat out an infield single to load the bases. Alex Gordon then worked the count full before doubling to right to clear the bases and drive in 3 of his 4 runs on the night. The Ryals led 4-0 after their half of the 3rd.
Baltimore got a run back in the bottom of the 3rd. Nick Markakis doubled off of James Shields. Adam Jones singled to drive in Markakis to narrow the lead to 4-1.
In the top of the 5th, Lorenzo Cain hit a lead off double to right. Cain moved to third on an Eric Hosmer ground out to second. Tommy Hunter relieved Orioles starter Chris Tillman and Billy Butler hit a sac fly to center to score Cain for the 5-1 lead.
Baltimore came roaring back off Shields in the bottom of the 5th. Nick Markakis singled to left and Alejandro De Aza singled to right. Adam Jones hit into a fielder's choice that got Markakis at third. Nelson Cruz doubled to score De Aza and the Orioles had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Steve Pearce walked to load the bases. After JJ Hardy struck out, Ryan Flaherty singled to drive in Jones and Cruz and the lead was now 5-4.
Brandon Finnegan replaced Shields to start the bottom of the 6th. Lead off hitter Jonathan Schoop waited out an 8 pitch walk. Nick Markakis singled and the Orioles had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Alejandro De Aza reached on an infield single to score Schoop and that would be all for Finnegan. Kelvin Herrera replaced Finnegan and got Adams to hit into a fielder's choice and Nelson Cruz to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, but the Orioles had tied the game at 5.
The scored remained knotted at 5 until the top of the 10th. Darren O'Day in relief of Zach Britton gave up a lead off home run to Alex Gordon and walked Salvador Perez. Buck Showalter replaced O'Day with Brian Matusz. Mike Moustakas worked the count to 2-2 before parking a Matusz pitch into the bleachers in right center.. the Royals had an 8-5 lead through 9 1/2 innings.
Greg Holland came in for the Royals to close out the victory. He quickly got two outs then Ryan Flaherty singled. Jimmy Paredes, hitting for Nick Hundley, walked. Delmon Young, pinch hitting for Jonathan Schoop, singled to score Flaherty. The Royals lead was down to 8-6. Holland got Nick Markakis to ground out to second to preserve the Royals 4th extra inning victory in their last 5 games.
Wade davis picked up the win for Kansas City while Dan O'Day took the loss for the Orioles. Greg Holland recorded the save.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Orioles Sweep Tigers With 2-1 Win in Game 3
The 2014 American League World Series team will be one we haven't seen in some time. Last night the Baltimore Orioles beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 to win their ALDS series 3 games to none while later the Kansas City Royals completed a 3 game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with an 8-3 win in their ALDS series.
Buck Showalter, manager of the O's, had this to say about his team. "This is fun to watch. Believe me, I'm happier than you can imagine," Showalter said. "But most of it comes from getting to see the players get what they've put into it."
The Orioles were in the 2012 ALDS when they lost to the Yankees 3 games to 2. Prior to that the O's hadn't been in the playoffs since losing to the Indians in 6 games in 1997. In 1983, the Orioles beat the Phillies to win the World Series in 5 games. The Kansas City Royals haven't been in the playoffs since beating the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series.
As in the first game of the series, the Orioles faced a former American League Cy Young Award winning pitcher David Price. Baltimore had already beaten Cy Young winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in games 1 and 2.
Price was acquired from the Rays this season for a moment like this. He did not disapppoint. Through 5 innings he allowed 2 hits and the O's didn't get a runner to second base.
In the top of the 6th, Adam Jones singled to left with one out. Nelson Cruz then hit a 1-1 slider down and away for an opposite field 2 run home run. This wasn't a "mistake" thrown by Price. This was strength against strength and this time the batter won. The ball sailed over the 330' mark in right, probably the only spot in the park where it would have been a home run. The Orioles had the 2 runs they needed for the sweep.
Bud Norris, 15-8 as a starter for the Orioles, went 6 1/3 innings holding the powerful Tiger lineup in check. He allowed just 2 hits and issued 2 walks while holding Detroit scoreless.
The Tigers squandered an opportunity against Norris in the 3rd. Don Kelly singled to lead off the inning. After Ian Kinsler popped out to short left field, Kelly stole second. Torii Hunter sent a sharp ground ball to short. JJ Hardy caught Kelly too far off the bag at second and threw to Jonathan Schoop to get Kelly. Schoop dropped the throw and appeared to obstruct Kelly's attempt to get back to the bag. The Umpires agreed that Kelly was out. Miguel Cabrera then hit a ball to Hardy whose throw sailed over the head of Schoop for an error and the Tigers had runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Victor Martinez then flied out to short left field and the inning was over.
The Tigers would not threaten again until the bottom of the ninth. Zach Britton, the O's closer, started the 9th in relief of Andrew Miller. Britton gave up a double to Victor Martinez to start the inning. JD Martinez then hit a run scoring double to left and it seemed the Tiger's bats were coming alive. Bryan Holaday, who entered the game as a replacement when Alex Avila took a hard foul ball to his facemask in the 6th, struck out swinging. Britton walked Nick Castellanos intentionally.
Tiger manager Brad Ausmus, sent pinch hitter Hernan Perez to the plate to face Britton. Perez had been to the plate 5 times all year and just 3 times in September. He had grounded out in Friday's loss facing Britton. Perez hit into a 5-4-3 double play to give the Orioles the sweep and give the Tiger fans something to stew about all winter.
When setting the ALDS lineups prior to the series, Ausmus was asked why the right-handed-hitting Perez is on the roster, over the left-handed-hitting Collins, Ausmus responded: "The presence of the two left-handers (Andrew Miller, Zach Britton) at the back of their bullpen."
The Baltimore Orioles will now face the Kansas City Royals in a 7 game series beginning in Baltimore on Friday the 10th of October.
Buck Showalter, manager of the O's, had this to say about his team. "This is fun to watch. Believe me, I'm happier than you can imagine," Showalter said. "But most of it comes from getting to see the players get what they've put into it."
The Orioles were in the 2012 ALDS when they lost to the Yankees 3 games to 2. Prior to that the O's hadn't been in the playoffs since losing to the Indians in 6 games in 1997. In 1983, the Orioles beat the Phillies to win the World Series in 5 games. The Kansas City Royals haven't been in the playoffs since beating the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series.
As in the first game of the series, the Orioles faced a former American League Cy Young Award winning pitcher David Price. Baltimore had already beaten Cy Young winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in games 1 and 2.
Price was acquired from the Rays this season for a moment like this. He did not disapppoint. Through 5 innings he allowed 2 hits and the O's didn't get a runner to second base.
In the top of the 6th, Adam Jones singled to left with one out. Nelson Cruz then hit a 1-1 slider down and away for an opposite field 2 run home run. This wasn't a "mistake" thrown by Price. This was strength against strength and this time the batter won. The ball sailed over the 330' mark in right, probably the only spot in the park where it would have been a home run. The Orioles had the 2 runs they needed for the sweep.
Bud Norris, 15-8 as a starter for the Orioles, went 6 1/3 innings holding the powerful Tiger lineup in check. He allowed just 2 hits and issued 2 walks while holding Detroit scoreless.
The Tigers squandered an opportunity against Norris in the 3rd. Don Kelly singled to lead off the inning. After Ian Kinsler popped out to short left field, Kelly stole second. Torii Hunter sent a sharp ground ball to short. JJ Hardy caught Kelly too far off the bag at second and threw to Jonathan Schoop to get Kelly. Schoop dropped the throw and appeared to obstruct Kelly's attempt to get back to the bag. The Umpires agreed that Kelly was out. Miguel Cabrera then hit a ball to Hardy whose throw sailed over the head of Schoop for an error and the Tigers had runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Victor Martinez then flied out to short left field and the inning was over.
The Tigers would not threaten again until the bottom of the ninth. Zach Britton, the O's closer, started the 9th in relief of Andrew Miller. Britton gave up a double to Victor Martinez to start the inning. JD Martinez then hit a run scoring double to left and it seemed the Tiger's bats were coming alive. Bryan Holaday, who entered the game as a replacement when Alex Avila took a hard foul ball to his facemask in the 6th, struck out swinging. Britton walked Nick Castellanos intentionally.
Tiger manager Brad Ausmus, sent pinch hitter Hernan Perez to the plate to face Britton. Perez had been to the plate 5 times all year and just 3 times in September. He had grounded out in Friday's loss facing Britton. Perez hit into a 5-4-3 double play to give the Orioles the sweep and give the Tiger fans something to stew about all winter.
When setting the ALDS lineups prior to the series, Ausmus was asked why the right-handed-hitting Perez is on the roster, over the left-handed-hitting Collins, Ausmus responded: "The presence of the two left-handers (Andrew Miller, Zach Britton) at the back of their bullpen."
The Baltimore Orioles will now face the Kansas City Royals in a 7 game series beginning in Baltimore on Friday the 10th of October.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Orioles Pound Tigers 12-3, Take 1st Game of ALDS
47,842 Baltimore fans came to Camden Yards to watch their Orioles take on the Detroit Tigers with their reigning MVP and Cy Young Award winning players. Max Scherzer would start for the Tigers. Most likely Scherzer will win the Cy Young Award this year, 18-5/3.15 ERA/252K's, and Miguel Cabrera will be in the running for the MVP again with his .313/25/109 stats this season.
For 7 1/2 innings the fans watched a pretty good ballgame. The Tigers scored 3 runs on solo home runs by Victor Martinez and JD Martinez in the 2nd and Miguel Cabrera in the top of the 8th.
After a 2 run home run by Nelson Cruz gave the Orioles the lead in the bottom of the 1st, Detroit tied the game in the top of the 2nd on the home runs by Victor and JD. The O's scored a run in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. With 1 out, Ryan Flaherty walked and went to third when Jonathan Schoop singled one out later. Nick Markakis singled to drive in Flaherty.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the 5th. With 2 outs, back-to-back singles by Andrew Romine and Rajai Davis and a walk to Ian Kinsler loaded the bases but Torii Hunter hit into a 6-4 fielder's choice to end the inning.
The pitchers on both teams settled down until the bottom of the seventh when Scherzer threw a changeup high in the zone to JJ Hardy who jumped on the pitch and drove it 400' into left center for a home run and a 4-2 Baltimore lead.
"I've got to find a way to get the ball down," Scherzer said. "I wasn't quite able to do that tonight, and I paid for it."
Darren O'Day was pitching for the Birds in the top of the 8th. Ian Kinsler reached first on an infield single. Kinsler was doubled up when Torii Hunter lined out to short as Kinsler attempted to steal second. The Orioles caught a break here as Miguel Cabrera followed Hunter's double play with a solo home run to right center that pulled the Tigers to within a run at 4-3. The home run to Cabrera was the first home run to a right handed batter O'Day had allowed since May of 2013.
The dam burst for the Tigers in the bottom of the 8th when Baltimore sent 12 men to the plate and scored 8 runs. The O's took a commanding 12-3 lead. Every Oriole in the lineup scored but Nick Hundley. Baltimore got 6 hits, including 3 doubles in the inning. The Tigers used 4 pitchers in the inning and all of them surrendered earned runs.
The 12 runs scored by the Orioles were the most runs they have scored in the playoffs since scoring 11 runs in the 2nd game of the 1971 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The odds of winning this ALDS Series now swings in favor of the Orioles as the team who wins the first game of a 5 game series has gone on to win that series 70% of the time.
These two teams will have a quick turn around as they begin the 2nd game of the ALDS at 12:07 today.
For 7 1/2 innings the fans watched a pretty good ballgame. The Tigers scored 3 runs on solo home runs by Victor Martinez and JD Martinez in the 2nd and Miguel Cabrera in the top of the 8th.
After a 2 run home run by Nelson Cruz gave the Orioles the lead in the bottom of the 1st, Detroit tied the game in the top of the 2nd on the home runs by Victor and JD. The O's scored a run in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. With 1 out, Ryan Flaherty walked and went to third when Jonathan Schoop singled one out later. Nick Markakis singled to drive in Flaherty.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the 5th. With 2 outs, back-to-back singles by Andrew Romine and Rajai Davis and a walk to Ian Kinsler loaded the bases but Torii Hunter hit into a 6-4 fielder's choice to end the inning.
The pitchers on both teams settled down until the bottom of the seventh when Scherzer threw a changeup high in the zone to JJ Hardy who jumped on the pitch and drove it 400' into left center for a home run and a 4-2 Baltimore lead.
"I've got to find a way to get the ball down," Scherzer said. "I wasn't quite able to do that tonight, and I paid for it."
Darren O'Day was pitching for the Birds in the top of the 8th. Ian Kinsler reached first on an infield single. Kinsler was doubled up when Torii Hunter lined out to short as Kinsler attempted to steal second. The Orioles caught a break here as Miguel Cabrera followed Hunter's double play with a solo home run to right center that pulled the Tigers to within a run at 4-3. The home run to Cabrera was the first home run to a right handed batter O'Day had allowed since May of 2013.
The dam burst for the Tigers in the bottom of the 8th when Baltimore sent 12 men to the plate and scored 8 runs. The O's took a commanding 12-3 lead. Every Oriole in the lineup scored but Nick Hundley. Baltimore got 6 hits, including 3 doubles in the inning. The Tigers used 4 pitchers in the inning and all of them surrendered earned runs.
The 12 runs scored by the Orioles were the most runs they have scored in the playoffs since scoring 11 runs in the 2nd game of the 1971 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The odds of winning this ALDS Series now swings in favor of the Orioles as the team who wins the first game of a 5 game series has gone on to win that series 70% of the time.
These two teams will have a quick turn around as they begin the 2nd game of the ALDS at 12:07 today.
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