Monthly Archives: July 2010

Yunel Escobar’s antics may finally have caught up with him. Atlanta has traded its enigmatic shortstop, getting veteran Alex Gonzalez from Toronto as part of the five-player deal. Though he was slumping this season, Escobar can play, no doubt. But his showboat habits were always troubling, even when he was with the Mississippi Braves in 2006. He’d double-pump on ground balls just to show off his arm, snatch throws with his bare hand, nod in agreement or disagreement about ball-and-strike calls, chirp and whistle in the infield and sulk when things weren’t going his way. He was never Bobby Cox’s kind of player. But his talent had won the Braves over. Remember, they traded away Elvis Andrus in part because they had Escobar already producing in the big leagues, apparently entrenched. Now he’s gone. Maybe the time was right for this move. The Braves could be better this year with Gonzalez. But what about 2011? Brandon Hicks?

As ridiculous as it is that the MLB All-Star Game “counts,” we shouldn’t diminish the significance of Brian McCann’s game-deciding hit on Tuesday night. MVP of the Midsummer Classic is a big deal. And it would be only fitting if McCann’s clutch knock translates into home-field advantage for the Atlanta Braves in the World Series come October. If the Braves get there, he’ll be a main reason why. Beyond that, McCann is a star who doesn’t act like one, unfailingly polite but driven to succeed. In one of his first interviews after arriving in Mississippi in 2005, he said that he wasn’t overly concerned about adjusting to Double-A pitching because the Double-A pitchers would also have to adjust to him. And he was right. In his short stay with the M-Braves (48 games), he demonstrated a sweet swing that you just knew would work at any level. He batted only .265 here, but had he stayed all year, he’d have been up around .300. And among the six homers he belted as an M-Brave was a ninth-inning, walk-off blast onto the cafe roof in right field that broke up not just a shutout but a no-hitter, as well. It will always stand as one of the great moments in Trustmark Park history. Afterward, he apologized for taking so long to get out of the shower room; his devious teammates had trapped him inside as a joke. McCann was the first M-Brave to be promoted to Atlanta and had two hits in his June 10, 2005, debut while catching John Smoltz. We never saw him again here. There was a strong sense when he left that he was headed for bigger and better things. So true. And he’s not nearly done yet.

In a year when there are no Mississippi-born players in the major league All-Star Game, it might be a good time to remember how many great MLB players the Magnolia State has produced. You could win a lot of games with this all-time squad of Mississippians: Leading off and playing center field Chet Lemon (Jackson); batting second and playing shortstop Buddy Myer (Ellisville); hitting third in left field Ellis Burks (Vicksburg); the cleanup batter and right fielder Dave Parker (Calhoun City); in the 5-hole playing first base George Scott (Greenville); batting sixth at third base Bill Melton (Gulfport); hitting seventh and playing second base Frank White (Greenville); hitting eighth and catching Jake Gibbs (Grenada); and batting ninth and pitching Guy Bush (Aberdeen). Boo Ferriss (Shaw), Claude Passeau (Wayneboro), Roy Oswalt (Weir) and Oil Can Boyd (Meridian) would round out the rotation. Joe Gibbon (Hickory) could close. On the bench you’d have the likes of Harry “The Hat” Walker (Pascagoula), Gee Walker (Gulfport), Don Blasingame (Corinth), Sam Leslie (Moss Point), Charlie Hayes (Hattiesburg), Barry Lyons (Biloxi) and Herb Washington (Belzoni). If we made Negro Leagues stars eligible, then you could throw in Cool Papa Bell (Starkville), Howard Easterling (Mount Olive), Luke Easter (Jonesboro) and Sam Hairston (Crawford). That is a star-studded group that stacks up with any state’s all-time squad.

Too early for pennant fever? Nah. It’s the All-Star break and temperatures are rising. Mississippians look to be at the center of several title chases, and a horde of ex-Mississippi Braves are contributing in Atlanta, which has the best record in the National League. But let’s start in Colorado, where the surging Rockies have joined the NL West race. Jackson’s own Seth Smith, the early leader for the second annual Cool Papa Bell Award (see previous posts), has helped fuel Colorado’s rise, hitting .287 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs. The Rockies like his pinch-hitting abilities, but they might be wise to give him more starts in the outfield. Also in the NL West race is former Delta State star Eli Whiteside, still getting plenty of at-bats as the backup to Buster Posey at catcher for San Francisco. In the NL Central, surprising, first-place Cincinnati recently called up Ole Miss alum Matt Maloney, who pitched well enough in his two starts (3.09 ERA) to merit sticking around in the second half. In the NL East, former Rebels star Chris Coghlan (.268) has overcome a slow start and is one of the reasons Florida has hung within shouting distance of Atlanta. The return of Vicksburg native Taylor Tankerlsey to the Marlins’ bullpen hasn’t hurt their cause. Texas has suddenly become the sexy team in the American League. Forget Cliff Lee’s ragged first start for the Rangers on Saturday; the Meridian Community College product will play a huge role down the stretch, as will Starkville native Julio Borbon (.280 after a slow star). Ole Miss alum Matt Tolbert should get another chance to contribute in Minnesota, with the Twins in a heated battle with Chicago and Detroit in the AL Central. In the AL East, Nettleton’s Bill Hall, now starting at second base, has begun to hit a little more for injury-ravaged Boston, and former Mississippi State star Jonathan Papelbon has been his usually reliable self with 20 saves for the Red Sox. Former Gulf Coast CC standout Fred Lewis (.276) has been a revelation as Toronto’s leadoff batter. And East Central CC product Marcus Thames homered and drove in two runs for the first-place New York Yankees on Sunday. If he can just avoid stepping on his own bat and stuff, Thames can provide the Bombers with power off the pine. And let’s not forget the wild card, Weir’s Roy Oswalt, who’ll impact a division race wherever he lands in the inevitable trade by Houston.
P.S. Ex-Itawamba CC star Desmond Jennings went 0-for-3 in Sunday’s All-Star Futures Game but managed to get on base three times and score three runs. He can make things happen. Former M-Brave Mike Minor threw a perfect inning for the victorious U.S. stars. … Ex-M-Brave Anthony Lerew played an unwitting part in a milestone on Sunday, serving up Andruw Jones’ 400th career home run as the White Sox shelled Kansas City.

Roy Oswalt twirled his second career one-hitter on Thursday night, beating Pittsburgh 2-0. The former Weir High and Holmes Community College star was a part of one of the oddest no-hitters in history — when six Houston pitchers combined to no-hit the New York Yankees in 2003 — but has never tossed one of his very own. In a season when no-no’s seem to be practically falling off trees, here’s a bold prediction: Oswalt will get one this summer. If his body is sound, as it appears to be, he’s got nasty, no-hit caliber stuff. It’s noteworthy that no Mississippi native has thrown a solo no-hitter in the big leagues. Another prediction, less bold: When Oswalt gets the no-no, it’ll be for a team other than the Astros. Though the trade rumors have cooled a bit lately, it’s still a safe bet Oswalt will be dealt before the July 31 deadline. And he’ll be pumped to be working for a team in a pennant race.

Seth Smith established himself as a clutch hitter last season, when he led the National League with 17 pinch hits. But the former Ole Miss standout set a new personal standard for high drama on Tuesday night. His first walk-off home run — a three-run shot — capped a Colorado record nine-run ninth inning as the Rockies beat St. Louis 12-9. Smith, who was in the Rockies’ lineup, had made an out his first time up in the ninth and told mlb.com that his mindset when he came to bat the second time was simply not to make another one. No worries. He crushed a Ryan Franklin pitch into the right-field seats to trigger a crazy celebration at Coors Field. Though there were no Mississippi-connected position players (natives or collegians) selected to the MLB All-Star Game, Smith might be the most deserving among that group. Playing more frequently in the Rockies outfield this season, he is hitting .291 with 12 home runs.

Where will Cliff Lee wind up? Rumors are rampant about the former Meridian Community College star’s trade destination. Seattle may be shipping its left-handed ace to Minnesota. Or New York. Both the Yankees and Mets are interested. Then there’s Tampa Bay. The Chicago White Sox. Even Philadelphia might be bidding to get him back. As many as 15 teams are said to be interested. We do know that he’s headed to Anaheim next week for the All-Star Game. And he should be the American League starter, without question. Lee’s numbers are amazing: He is 8-3 for a mediocre club with a 2.34 ERA and five complete games. When you consider his strikeouts-to-walks ratio, Lee enters another realm: 89 K’s and just six walks in 103 2/3 innings. Give him the ball next Tuesday night.
P.S. The Mississippi Braves’ roster shuffle continued on Monday when infielder Dan Nelson was promoted from Class A Myrtle Beach. He might help with his bat — he homered in his first game — but, sadly enough, he’s not a prospect, just another recycled veteran on a club filled with them. Nelson is 26 and with his fourth organization. The loss of right-hander Jeff Lyman to Oakland on a waiver claim last week was a blow to the bullpen, but it might be offset by the return (from two months on the DL) of Kyle Cofield, who will pitch in relief for a couple weeks before moving back into the rotation. Cofield has quality stuff, as he showed last year. A rotation of Cofield, Brandon Beachy, Scott Diamond, Erik Cordier and Tim Gustafson would be pretty strong. Now if they can just get Brett Butts back (from injury) into the bullpen mix …

George Scott, the Greenville native and onetime Boston Red Sox slugger, lovingly called his home runs “taters.” Everybody, save for the pitchers who throw them, loves taters. Every true fan knows the significant home run numbers: 60, 61, 70, 73, 714, 755, 762. There’s another, lesser publicized tater number of note: 62. On July 2, 2002, major league players launched a single-day record 62 homers. Considering the recent decline in home run numbers, this is a record that very well may stand forever. Of course, Mississippi-connected players hit their fair share that day. Vicksburg native Dmitri Young, playing for Detroit, hit two, as did former Jackson General Lance Berkman of Houston. Gulfport’s Matt Lawton, then with Cleveland, hit one, off Roger Clemens, no less. Also taking the trip around the bases that day were ex-Mississippi State star Rafael Palmeiro (Texas), Hattiesburg native Wendell Magee (Detroit) and former Southern Miss standout Kevin Young (Pittsburgh). If we were to honor the home run by naming a day in its honor, today would be it.

Passed over in the major league draft, former Mississippi College standout Tyler Seaman has launched his pro career in independent ball. The 6-foot-4 right-hander won his debut on Monday with Fargo-Moorhead of the Northern League. Seaman, a Pascagoula native and Jones County Junior College alumnus, went 15-4 in two years at MC, often dominating hitters at the NCAA Division III level. If bloodlines count for anything — and it seems they do in baseball — Seaman has a chance to get into affiliated ball and even make the big leagues. His father is former Jackson Mets left-hander Kim Seaman, who appeared in 27 big league games (3.16 ERA) with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979 and ’80. The elder Seaman was 10-4 with a 2.13 ERA for the 1978 OJMs.