The Code: Lost in Translation

I just finished reading this book, The Code: Baseball's Unwritten Rules and Its Ignore-at-Your-Own-Risk Code of Conduct, by Ross Bernstein. I wanted to read this book from the first moment I heard of it. But, as I said, I just finished reading it, but I didn't actually finish the book. When it came right down to it, there are only so many ways you can say, "If they throw at our guys, we throw at theirs." Turns out, Mosaic Law still rules in Baseball.

There are all sorts of things baseball's "code" dictates. Unlike the Code of the Order of the Brethen, which according to Cap't. Barbosa, "is more of what you call guidelines than actual rules," baseball players adhere to and live by their code. So, with that in mind, here's a list of what will earn you (or someone on your team, if you're a pitcher) a free pass to first base and the mark to prove it.

1. Bunting or stealing late in a blow-out.
2. Sliding too hard into Second Base to break up a double play.
3. Plunking your opposition's all-star with a fastball.
4. Attempting a bunt to break up a perfect game or no-hitter.
5. Stealing signs and passing them on to your hitter, tipping him off to what pitch is on its way.
   
6. Running up the score late in a blow-out.
7. Plowing through the opposing catcher in a play at the plate.
8. Celebrating excessively after a homerun.
9. Celebrating excessively after a strikeout.
10. Celebrating excessively after anything.

So there you have it. Basically, if you do anything that either harms or disrespects your opposition, you'd better be on your toes the next time you come to bat. But even if you're not thrown at in your next at bat, know that you are on someone's list, and sooner or later, you will be the object of retaliation.

With this in mind, did anyone see the game between USA and China in the Olympics?

NO?

I didn't think you did. Well, neither did I, but I did see some highlights. The first time I saw the highlights, there was no sound, so this is what I saw:

In a play at the plate, US player hits the Chinese catcher so hard that Ronnie Lott would have been proud. The two of them exchange glares and words (though it is unknown if they actually understood each other).

Later, a Chinese pitcher throws at US batter, hits him in the head, resulting in a concussion, sending him to the hospital for examination.

The last highlight was a Chinese player blasting a homerun to deep left field, and then holding his index finger high in the air and screaming the entire time he rounds the bases, then stomping on home plate. He meets his teammates in the dugout and they continue to celebrate like it's 1999 (though, to be honest, that whole Y2K thing really ruined the whole celebration, didn't it).

So I'm thinking, nice; way to go guys... Dole out the punishment and the smack only to give up a game-winning dinger to the lowly Chinese. But then (remember, no sound the whole time), I saw the final score: USA 9, China 1, at which point I thought, hmm, that was a lot of celebration for just ruining a shut-out.

At any rate, the game got ugly. I tried to find the highlights on YouTube, but all I could find were the NBC highlights. But, here's the point: Maybe the code hasn't been translated into Chinese yet (I'm looking to you to get on that, Nate), because in that book I mentioned, the only thing said more than "if they hit us, we hit them," was "no matter what, you don't throw at a guy's head." The general consensus, and rightly so, is that you could seriously hurt someone and take away their livelihood by head-hunting. Oh well. I guess it makes for some entertaining baseball.

Olympic Dreams

Okay... I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for the Olympics. Winter, Summer, it doesn't really matter. I'm a sucker for most anything I can wave the Star Spangled Banner for. We missed the opening ceremonies last Friday, but we've watched nearly every minute of coverage since, including some online-only stuff like Badminton and Baseball.

This morning I've had USA vs. Korea baseball game on my iMac streaming live from Beijing. From the looks of things, the Koreans are going to win (though one of our guys just mashed a huge homerun to bring us to within one, and the next batter singled). NBCOlympics.com allows you to watch virtually anything live at the Olympics. And, since the general public would rather watch swimming and gymnastics in prime time, this is only way I'll be able to see any Team USA baseball.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but while most kids grew up dreaming of playing in the Major Leagues. Not me. I wanted to be an Olympian. I dreamed of representing my country out there on the mound.

*Update: now there's guys on second and third, no outs, still down one run, top of the ninth.

You see, I knew fairly early in my "career" that I probably didn't have the arm to pitch in the Big Leagues. But, I was pretty sure I could get the job done in college. And I thought that Team USA was comprised of collegiate athletes.

Unfortunately for me, the team is actually a collection of Minor Leaguers, with only a few of the best college players in the country. Oh well.

*Another Update: Matt Brown, member of the Salt Lake Bees, just fought off three or four pitches with an 0-2 count before belting a single to left center to give Team USA the lead 7-6, after the two players ahead of him failed to knock in the tying run.

Anyway, my guess is that you are easily classified as a geek when you sit in front of your computer this early in the morning to watch an Olympic baseball game being streamed live from China. What can I stay? Some dreams die hard.

*And, in the bottom of the ninth inning, after some really stupid plays, Korea comes from behind to win the game 8-7.

Keeping the Mexicutioner Closing

I know there's this push by many Royals fans to move Joakim Soria, the Mexicutioner, to the starting rotation next season. I follow the logic. I understand that 600 outs is worth more than 180 outs in a season (the difference between 200 innings pitched as a starter and 60 as a closer). I understand that other guys at the back of the bullpen have been really good this year too, and that either Ramon Ramirez or Ron Mahay could be competent closers. I get all of that. And the argument isn't a bad one. To be honest, from the time Soria threw the perfect game down in Mexico about a week after the Royals acquired him, I was looking forward to having him throw another one here in Kansas City.

But, here's my hang up: If it ain't broke, don't fix it (at least, not in the middle of the season).

Case in point: Joba Chamberlain was tearing up the league as the set up man for arguably the best closer of time and all eternity, Mariano Rivera (I overheard my cousin's eldest predicting that Joba's number will eventually be retired and on display at Monument Park at Yankee Stadium). Mid-season, the Yankees decided to move Joba to the starting rotation. So, as is the accepted process, his outings gradually lengthened until his stamina and pitch-counts were up to starting levels. And, by all accounts, the kid continued to show that he could mow-down opponents, posting numbers like 3 wins, 1 loss, and a 2.76 ERA since becoming a starter.

But as impressive as the numbers are, they're less impressive if Joba can't lift his golden right arm over his head because of rotator cuff tendinitis. The Yankees had to place him on the DL recently because of this new development. And, though this seems to follow a pattern (not one that I've researched, just something that I think I've noticed) of Yankees pitchers being placed on the disabled list mid-summer and returning fresh, just in time for the playoffs, you've got to believe that they would rather have a healthy Joba starting every fifth day as they try to catch both the Red Sox and the Rays.

I've pitched enough to know the cause of rotator cuff injuries, and it almost always comes down to being overworked. Had Joba stayed in the bullpen for the remainder of this season, I seriously doubt he would have had this set-back. And, what really sucks about rotator cuff injuries is that only time (and a lot of ibuprofen) can heal them.

I was having a hard time thinking of guys that had transitioned from closer to starter. Loads of players have gone the opposite direction. One name that came to me was Rick Dempster, of the Chicago Cubs. He had been the closer for the past few seasons, saving 87 games. But, since starting didn't work out so well for Kerry Wood, he went to the bullpen, allowing Dempster to move back to the rotation. The difference between Dempster and Joba is time. Dempster had four months in the off-season and Spring Training to re-condition himself for starting pitching, while Joba's transition occurred mid-season, and with considerable pressure from fans and media.

So, here's my point: If Soria is to become a starter, it had better happen during this off-season. I'll admit, a starting rotation of Zach Greinke, Gil Meche, and the Mexicutioner (and, of course, an off-season signing of free-agent C.C. Sabathia, as long as I'm dreaming) makes me salivate like I'm sitting in front of a piping-hot deep dish pizza from Edwardo's. But, for that to happen, the Royals need to find a suitable replacement at closer (preferably one with another awesome nickname).

However, have you been to a close game at Kauffman Stadium recently (probably not)? It is exhilarating to hear "Welcome to the Jungle" blaring and to see Soria trotting in from the bullpen to get the final three outs. You know the game is over.

Like I said, I get the whole starter vs. closer debate thing. But, let's face it... right now I'm pitching as much and as well as "The Great Joba" (and for a lot less money...). Besides, it's just so sweeeeeet having a lock-down closer. I just don't want to go back to hoping our guy can hold the lead and get the save. So for now, let's just be grateful that the Mexicutioner is healthy and still, well, mexicuting.

Follow-up on the Manny Trade

As luck would have it, the Red Sox came to town yesterday, so I had a good chance to see their Manny-less lineup. I'm still unconvinced as to whether this was a good move for the Sox. Case in point: yesterday's game, 9th inning.

The Mexicutioner is pitching, of course, so I've already chalked up another win for the Royals. However, leading 4-2, Coco Crisp leads off with a single. J.D. Drew then strikes out on a check-swing with a full count. Had he held up, it would have been ball four. Dustin Pedroia comes to bat and bloops a ball into left field, but because the outfield was playing deep, guarding against a double, the ball drops for a single. So, now it's men on first and second with one out.

A few weeks ago, the man at the plate would have been Manny Ramirez (who has historically man-handled Kansas City pitching). Instead, up comes Big Papi, David Ortiz. Trust me, I'm not glad to see him up to bat in this situation either, but at least it wasn't Manny with Papi still on deck. Soria coerces Ortiz to ground out to the first baseman, and the runners move to second and third, but now there are two outs. The next batter is Kevin Youkalis, who is intentionally walked, bringing up Jason Bay, the man the Sox got in return for Manny Ramirez. With a two-run lead, two outs in the ninth, and the bases loaded, I was practically giddy that the batter was Jason Bay instead of Manny.

As it turned out, Bay hit a soft ground ball between short and third, and Alex Gordon and Tony Peña Jr. collided, so he actually earned an RBI single. Now the lead was down to one, with Sean Casey at the bat. Strike one, strike two, and then, everyone knew what was coming, including Casey. Soria let fly his 65 mph looping curveball. Casey launched it into right field, but right at Mark Teahen, who made the third out.

Not having Manny Ramirez in that lineup changed its dynamic just enough for the Royals last night. Hopefully they'll be able to take advantage again tonight and tomorrow night. Personally, I'm hoping that it affects the Sox so much that a Central team can sneak in and steal the wild card, keeping both the Yankees and the Red Sox out of the playoffs. What would FOX do if that ever happened, huh?

Missing the Trade Deadline

My wife and I just returned from a 17 day road trip. We left our home in Kansas City on July 18th, and got back yesterday. It was quite the vacation. We visited my family the first week, and spent time with my wife's side in Yellowstone and Jackson Hole the second week.

I read a few blogs and baseball news items the week we were in Salt Lake City with my family, but that second week spent in the mountains, I was completely unplugged. So, first thing I did this morning was catch up on my baseball news. Looks like the Royals have won seven of their last ten (of course, now that I'm back, things will probably get back to normal), so that was a pleasant surprise. But what really threw me was pulling up the MLB homepage and seeing a picture of Manny Ramirez in a Dodgers uniform.* It was then I realized that I had missed the Trade Deadline.

*Not sure which was stranger: seeing Manny in Dodger Blue, or seeing him, or any everyday player, for that matter) wearing number 99.As a Royals fan, I'm glad that Manny will no longer tear-up Kansas City pitching. Keep in mind that I haven't read anything but this generic news brief from MLB on this issue. I am just having a hard time imagining why the Red Sox traded him. In return, they gained 29-year old All-Star Jason Bay from the Pirates. Bay is a good hitter, and maybe his numbers will increase when he is surrounded by the big bats in Boston's lineup, but he's no Manny. Then again, that may be a good thing, if you're the Red Sox. And who knows? Besides trading for a more stable personality, perhaps they unloaded Manny just in time. Although, with Andruw Jones not meeting expectations, I would feel really bad for the Dodgers if Manny's production takes a downturn upon his arrival as well.

And Junior is now with the White Sox? Wow. That's hard for me to picture. Then again, he'll probably always be a Mariner in my head. I had heard that the Reds had been looking to deal him, but the White Sox? They must really be pushing hard for other pennant this season. Too bad the Mariners have stunk so badly this year. Otherwise, Junior could have helped his original team with a playoff push. It would have been a nice homecoming for him if he'd have been able to return to Seattle. But now that he's in the American League Central Division, at least I'll be able to see him play before he retires.