Ken Davidoff's baseball insider

Ken - thanks for the update on Team Venezuela.

This will do damage to the HOF candidacy of Luis Sojo that we insiders have desired.

I am certain that this is simply the first salvo in what will be a well orchestrated conspiracy to keep Sojo out of the HOF.
Follow the money trail.

505:

career stats:

Bill Mazeroski .260 .299 .367 - and a world series winning hit
Luis Sojo .261 .297 .352 - and a world series winning hit

Venezuela has better candidates, he wasn't a very good 3rd base coach and was probably rushed into that job. he's got the right job now.
I think Horace Clarke needs to get some HOF recognition.

Another non-power hitting iinfielder is in the news....David Eckstein traded to D-Backs - someone tell RG!!

.285 .351 .362 - Two more years and he'll be in our Sojo HOF discussion.

There are bigger worries for Venezuela's baseball program long term than Sojo being manager.

See the Dave Zirin link - supposedly the government wants 10% of all signing money?

http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/742/38375

This is Hugo Chavez written all over, no question about it. Chavez has been a pain in the rear end for the US. He has all this oil that everybody in the world wants, including the US. He and Bush are not the best of friends. I wonder what players like Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano, Miguel Cabrera, etc. think of Chavez. I gather they love their country, but I don't know for sure what they feel about Chavez.

Oops..political comment alert - my bad!. Better go back to Eric Chavez and Ramon Castro conversations a.s.a.p.!

Rays finish August with their best month ever - 21-8!
Red Sox play great ball and lose 2 1/2 games in the standings.

Bob Tufts,

For years I have been closely following the theory that Maz was the originator of the corked bat with his Series winning hit. And as such the HR should now be disallowed and the Yankees given their 27th World Championship by default.

Was Maz's bat put in the Hall of Fame? NO.
Does anyone know where Maz's bat is right now? NO
One theory says it may well be the bat that's part of the Roberto Clemente statue outside of PNC Park.
I believe it is either tucked within the Holy Grail or buried under Area 51.

We all know that no such cloud hangs over Sojo's Series winning hit, but there are forces out there who fear Sojo's nomination for the HOF because of the close scrutiny it will bring to Maz's career.

There is a clandestine organization that has been protecting this story for 48 years now. They call themselves the "Murtaughian Princes (bob)" and they are fielded by the Forbes Foundation.

I'm working on a research paper/book as we speak.

I'm calling it the Heinz 57 Code.

The budding Sojo for HOF controversy is a major breakthrough and may cause a shift in the Allegheny (home) Plate.

More to follow.

I-505, I am more than willing to consider your complaint about 1960, and I eagerly await your evidence that Bill Mazersoki and Sammy Sosa went to the same bat doctor. Of course, you will also need to acknowledge that the Mets claim to the World Championship of 2000. After all, the Mitchell Report nailed no less than eight Yankee 'roid-ragers from that roster. That's almost an entire lineup filled with Mazeroskis! ;-)

Uh, I-505, Yankee fans need not go back to 1960 to find an unfairly acquired World Series. As we know, the Mitchell Report nailed no less than eight Yankees from that 2000 WS roster. We Met fans will gladly accept the trophy from the Clemens-led roid-ragers.

My bad! Occasionally, the site refuses to acknowledge that my submission got posted, leading to the near-identical posts above....

The Mets aren't the only ones who are threatening to turn away legions of future fans. If Citi Field's biggest vice will be its more limited seating capacity, then the Yankees are guilty of jacking up prices so far that games at the feel of the third incarnation of Yankee Stadium will be nearly identical to the Staples Center (on days that the Lakers, not the Clippers, play), as most diehard fans will be relegated to their homes and sports bars.

Maury Brown has the updated ticket prices here:
http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2438:yankees-release-season-ticket-prices-for-new-stadium&catid=56:ticket-watch&Itemid=136

JE I havent been to Yankee Stadium since 2005 because thankfully I dont live there anymore, but I can pretty much guarantee you even then the real fans were relegated to fair territory downstairs and mid-upstairs and the upper deck throughout the stadium since at least 2000. These new stadiums are meant for corporations to own tickets and treat their employees and clients to games. The rest of us can go f ourselves and do what we are supposed to--watch on TV. Part of it has to do with the lack of manners of the drunks in the crowd making a less family atmosphere and the majority of it is--MAKING AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE!! From what I understand Yankee Stadium will still have at least 45,000 regular seats and maybe 50,000 altogether and Shea will drop to 43,000. Now not only does that create demand for tickets which is important to these guys, it creates a priority to have tickets too, which means the tickets will be mostly sold way in advance and they can collect obscene interest rates on whatever investments the CFO is using for them.
And I do think that the teams want less to do with the regular fans because of the ways they act when they show up.

Sandy - I would gladly sit with the "regular" fans who want to watch a game. The people who show up in the 3rd inning, talk on their cellphones, yak with their friends, ignore the game and leave in the 7th inning are rich idiots - but those are the fans that MLB wants.

They know nothing about the game other than they are at an event that everyone else wants to attend - nothing more. Baseball attendance has doubled in the past two decades, but the quality of the fan has declined as much as the avaiable pitching pool has during this period.

I know when and what to cheer, I know not to get drunk and talk on my cell for 3 hours, I don't need subway races in the House That Ruth Built. I don't want to wear earplugs, buy crappy merchadise and food and pretend that it was a good time.

I just don't enjoy going anymore....

Let's face it poeple, its all about the money in every sport. Whether its tickets, TV contracts, naming rights on stadiums, sponsors, players and coaches salaries, etc. you name it. Owners and players are in it not only to win it, but make as much money as possible. And who benefits in all this? Corporated companys. And who pays the price for all this? The average fan. You think Giants and Jets fans are happy to pay PSLs for the new stadium at the Meadowlands? Hell no.

JE
"Of course, you will also need to acknowledge that the Mets claim to the World Championship of 2000."

Wasn't that the same year that Sojo delivered the Series winning hit?
The play that was possibly the WORST play by a Major League catcher in the history of baseball?
When Mike Piazza stood BEHIND home plate on the throw from centerfield, made NO attempt to block home, and allowed the ball to bounce off of Jorge Posada and go into the dugout bringing in another run?
And you wanna attribute that series win to Roids?
Roids? What roids....that was simply bad baseball by the losing team.
Time to show us your membership card to the Murtaghian Prince's Sect, JE.
Sojo For the HOF!!!

;)

.

Did you guys see CC's one-hitter?? A dribbler to the mound and they call it a hit!!

I'm sorry, I tried to be more politically correct here, but these official scorers HAVE NO CLUE!!!!! Delgado goes 3-5 and they give him 5 hits. CC gets a no-hitter and they rule it a hit. In Mr. Wood's 20 strikeout game, the only hit he gave up was a routine grounder to 3rd. Ken is right about the strikeouts...because if they put it in play and get on base, its a hit.

You all thought Bill Buckner is no longer a goat because the Sox won two World Series? Nu-uh. Its because they just ruled it a hit and an RBI for Mookie!!

I think the official scoreres are too worried about Juan Gonzalez going crazy on them to ever rule another error again. They clearly do not know baseball.

The whole CC one-hitter/no-hitter controversy is silly. What matters is that Milwaukee continues to solidify its hold on the wild-card.

Meanwhile, a no-hitter is so dependent on the defense behind the pitcher, whereas a perfect game at least demonstrates evidence that the pitcher is in full command of his pitches.

Also, even if one believes in the sanctity of the no-hitter, then let's remember that CC pitched with no pressure in the last two or three innings, since a hit had already been announced. Changing the hit to an error now would be unfair to those who had to endure the late-inning pressure and succeeded.

Moreover, the Brewers seem more interested in overturning the official scorer than watching the pitch count (117) in a 7-0 game.

Let me say this right now. If baseball changes the hit to an error and gives Sabathia a no-hitter, they should be a shame of thenselves. That would be the cheapest way to get a no-hitter. I understand that Sabathia wants to pitch a complete game all the time. But the Brewers need to be careful with how many pitches he throws in a game because they are going to need Sabathia in the playoffs.

JE and Dennis I agree. You never know how it would have turned out. You cant overturn the call now. But it was so obviously an error when it first happened! The official scorer said something about spin??? Spin!?!?! CC should have used his glove. That was his first error. And then he should have been able to control a ball that was going two miles an hour. I would have made that play!! I really would have. So how is a Major Leaguer not supposed to make that play??

ITs kinda like when a ball hits a runner its ruled a hit. Everyone says they'll change that rule once it takes away a no-hitter. Well why wait?

But JE, you are 100% right that you never know what woulda happened had they ruled it an error in the first place.

Agreed. It should have been ruled an error, but yesterday's official scorer is guilty of nothing more than most: give hits to the home team's batters and errors to the opponents' hitters.

The Yankees might as well release Ponson after the game today. No sense wasting anymore time with this.
I think MLB has overturned one official scorer's call in baseball history so I guess this is just grandstanding to show CC the team is behind him even though he's leaving at the end of the year. maybe they think he will change his mind.

Sandy I dont know if thats true or not, but Ned Yost said they changed one of their calls this season already. And I know Keith Hernandez once got a hit after the official scorer ruled it an error.

JE, I agree that it is the norm to always rule a hit and not give an error. But that doesn't make it right. Whether its a conflict of interest or whatever, I wish something was done about it. Its utterly ridiculous. Its like they think all Major League Fielders suck.

Ken if you are reading this: are the official scorers hired by the team or by the commissioner's office? It would help things a lot if they were baseball's responsibility not the team's, this way they don't feel loyalty and are impartial.

The commissioner's office hires the scorers, Sandy.

The official scorer, Bob Webb, has been doing this job for 20 years. I'll cut him some slack. It's a judgement call - so will we use replay for this issue next, too?

I don't like the theory that the first hit should be "clean". What happens if you have three plays that someone may say is borderline - do we rule them all errors? It isn't like we need jacks or better to open.

I also don't like the entire Brewers organization from the GM on down focusing on the no-hitter quest after the fact. They should've been watching films of the Mets, as it might have helped them in their game today. Their focus should be on the playoffs, which they haven;t reached since 1982.

Mr Tufts is right again.

Why do the Brewers care...? Sabathia will be playing for a left coast team next year anyways.

If the season ended today, the Mets would play the Brew Crew.

Back to the original topic, can you imagine Ozzie Guillen namanging the Venezuelan team?

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/11387481/

He'd keep it exciting on the A-Rod front.

Bob, I think its great that the orginization has thier pitchers back.

And I agree with you that the first hit shouldn't have to be clean. A hit is a hit and an error is an error.

But a little dribbler back to the mound is now a hit? Had CC thrown the ball away would that have been a double? The spin would have caused the errant throw so it should be a double.

Its just so ridiculous. And I'm not jumping on the bandwagon here. I've said this many times in this comment section how horrible the official scorers are throughout baseball. I hope they unionize and get Richie Phillips as their leader.

RG - CC's back is a huge one to support.

What is the real reason the entire Brewers organization is pursuing this and its side effects?

Are they spending time that should be used getting prepared to play the Mets and clinch a playoff spot? If so, they are taking their eyes off the prize...sending a message that stats trump wins fro a team that hasn't been in the playoffs for 26 years! ...if so, will they trade for/acquire ARod and relieve NY and its fans of his presence? Are they trying to curry favor with CC hoping that he'll stay? Is the "hit" causing fantasy league problems?

More replays!!!!! More Zapruder films of MLB plays!!!!

Bob, first off c'mon. Do you really think some video guy putting together a DVD to send to the MLB office in NYC is the reason the Brewers lost today? C'mon, it had ZERO affect on the game.

And yes...an official scorer SHOULD look at replays!! Why wouldn't he?? You get to see from every angle. It doesn't slow the game down. I would hope an official scorer has always looked at replays.

If the Brewers lose by a game, it will have HAD NOTHING to do with CC's one-hitter DVD.

I can definitely see Ozzie Guillen managed the Venezulean team. He would definitely stir things up. Not sure what Ozzie thinks of Hugo Chavez. I can see Ozzie and Chavez butting heads over how he managed the team.
The offical scorer has a very tough job to do. They have to make a judgement on every play that happens during the game. The play with CC was a no-win situation for the official scorer. He ruled it a hit, but could have easily ruled it an error.
The Brewers bullpen stinks. Gagne gave up a 2-run home run in the 8th to Delgado and he's not the same pitcher. Torres as the closer is someone I don't trust in a big game. The Brewers, like the Mets has some issues in the pen.

RG - I saw the play once, shrugged my shoulders and moved on.

And, yes, the focus on the no-hitter wasn't the reason they lost today. I'd just like them to be more concerned with winning than individual stats. A continued focus on that will hurt the team.

How can an official scorer look at replays from every angle? It can't happen during the game, as they will miss plays. You seriously want them to go over videos after the game?

If it's about getting every play right, at what point do we start doing replays at first base? There's probably a play per game missed by umpires....

I've had enough...moving on...

Bob I will just say this. They can look at replays because not every play they need to review. Baseball is a very slow game. Also...during commercials they have plenty of time. And some at bats take a very long time as well.

It should be ruled a hit today. They cant change it now. But as someone that caught a no-hitter in Little League when I was 7, I was pretty happy. I can only imagine how it would have meant to me as a Major Leaguer.

But thats not even the point. The point is if they always rule it a hit, why bother with an official scorer?

Richie G...

"It should be ruled a hit today. They cant change it now. But as someone that caught a no-hitter in Little League when I was 7"

Richie.....no offense buddy, but....are you certain YOU weren't hit that day? In the head?

I am beginning to think that all the hurricanes floating around are starting to suck the oxygen out of some parts of the country.

Whether it's baseball or politics(?) people are obsessing and talking too much about things that are, well......is nonsense the right word?
I'm not sure there is a proper word.

Just my opinion.

For anyone who saw the Yankee game today (Monday), and I realize that I am really WAY premature to say this (could be the lack of O2 factor) based on one appearance, but I saw a striking resemblance between Phil Coke and Sparky Lyle.
Same windup, delivery...good moving fastball and a NASTY slider.

Just a little baseball nostalgia on an otherwise REALLY BIZARRE Labor Day Weekend.

OK Islanders, I dont understand where your tone with me has started. But I was very happy I caught a no-hitter when I was 7. And most pitchers do enjoy throwing them in the Majors. CC did not give up a real hit. I am not the only one that thinks the official scorer was wrong.

Really well written!