Danny Mars: Getting to Know the Boston Red Sox's Outfield Prospect

Playing in the Boston Red Sox organization makes it hard for a young player to stand out. After all, their player development system is considered to have few peers. With all the top prospects, first-round draft choices and international signings, there is stiff competition when it comes to achieving recognition. Fortunately, mirroring life itself, hard work is the great equalizer, and because of that outfielder Danny Mars has as good a chance as anybody to earn his way to the major leagues.

The 20-year-old switch-hitter (throws right-handed) decided to attend Chipola College (Junior College) following his graduation from Sarasota High school. He was a star for the Indians, hitting .380 with four home runs, 35 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 48 games in 2014. A line-drove hitter and excellent defender, his production resulted in being a sixth-round draft choice of the Red Sox in 2014.

Mars signed quickly and was shipped off to begin his professional career with the short-season Lowell Spinners. He picked up right where he left off in college, batting .311 with two homers, 17 RBIs and 12 steals in 44 games. He was so impressive that he earned a call-up to Single-A Salem towards the end of the year, where he tapered off at .167 with four steals in 10 games. All in all, it was a tremendous debut for the young outfielder.

Right now, the scouting report on Mars indicates his speed and athleticism are his two biggest attributes. Given how he has started his career, it will be interesting to see how he develops in the coming years. To top it off, he has already stood out with his work ethic, making his eventual ceiling all the more intriguing.

Recently, Mars answered some questions about his career. Read on for more information on this prospect, and make sure to follow him on Twitter if you want to keep up with him during the 2015 season and beyond.

Danny Mars Interview:

Who was your favorite player when you were growing up, and why?: My favorite player growing up without a doubt was Chipper Jones.  I used to love watching him and it amazed me how great of a baseball player he was.  He always looked like the calmest guy on the field, and I modeled my game after him as a kid.  

How did you come to be a switch-hitter?: I actually became a switch hitter because of Chipper Jones.  When I was a kid, I always used to go outside and mimic him in the back yard growing up.  I never took it seriously until high school, but that is really where I learned to do it.

Chipola College has produced a lot of professional ball players. How did you end up there?: I ended up at Chipola after committing from playing baseball at Florida Gulf Coast, and I went to Chipola because I knew about the prestige and the coaching at the school.  I can't thank Chipola enough for the opportunity they gave me.

How did you first find out that the Red Sox were interested in you?: The first time I really knew they were considering me was after a workout I had at Fenway Park about four days before the draft.  I fell in love with the city, and Boston is where I wanted to be.

What are you looking forward to most in a few months when you head to your first spring training?: I'm looking forward to improving my game at the professional level.  I feel like I learn more and more every day I am on the diamond.

What is one part of your game that you hope to improve on the most?: I would really like to improve even more on the mental side of the game.  I feel I am very strong on the mental side, but there is always room for improvement and a big part of success in baseball is from having a good head on your shoulders.

What was the hardest thing you had to adjust to during your first professional season?: The hardest thing was playing every day, and getting used to playing on days with a fatigued body.

Your first professional manager, Joe Oliver, is a seasoned MLB veteran. What was it like playing for him?: Playing for Joe was an unbelievable experience.  He was my manager my first two months in pro ball and he was an awesome guy to play for.  Obviously he has a lot of experience from playing in the big leagues, and he just enjoyed being out at the field every day.  Playing for a guy like that makes being at the field an even better experience.  

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Podcast: Will MLB Return to Montreal Via The Tampa Bay Rays?

Recent rumors indicate the Tampa Bay Rays may be a team interested in relocating to Montreal. Will MLB return to the City of Saints? Check out the current edition of the Ramble On podcast with myself and Ron Juckett to hear what we have to say on the matter.

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Frank White’s Breakup with the Kansas City Royals: The Baseball Historian’s Notes for the Week of October 26

In less than a week’s time another baseball season will be finished. A new World Series champion will be crowned and major league teams will press forward with hard decisions about how to bring their 2015 plans to fruition. The lull following the Fall Classic is always a withdrawal-inducing time for baseball fans. However, it’s as necessary as the shifting weather seasons to see what new things will grow and take off the next year. The many who have “Pitchers and Catchers Report” as a bonafide holiday on their calendars will squirm and do unthinkable things like clean out their garage and watch college volleyball as the hours tick down until the game is upon us again.

With those somber thoughts in mind, let’s move on to the notes for the week.

*Lou Lucier, who had been the oldest living former Boston Red Sox player, has passed away at the age of 96. A right-handed pitcher, he had brief stints with the team in 1943-44 and also had cups of coffee with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 33 major league games over three seasons, he went 3-5 with a 3.81 ERA and a save. His best professional season came in 1941 with the Canton Terriers in the Middle Atlantic League, as he posted a stellar 23-5 record with a 1.49 ERA in 36 games.

*A lot of great nostalgia has enveloped the Kansas City Royals during this season’s voyage to the World Series. In addition to celebrating this year’s success, there have been many references to players from 1985, the last time they made it to the championship. Unfortunately, the memories are not so sweet for everyone, as Yahoo’s Jeff Passan outlines the fracture between the Royals and their great former second baseman and announcer Frank White. Having spent most of his life employed with the franchise, it’s a shame to see that they currently don’t see eye to eye. Here’s hoping Kansas City’s thrilling postseason run can help with the mending of these fences…

*His major league playing career lasted just 10 years but Ralph Kiner packed enough in that relatively brief time to ultimately earn a Hall of Fame nod in 1975. The slugging outfielder hit 369 home runs and drove in 1,015 runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians between 1946 and 1955—including leading the league in homers the first seven years of his career. He later became a long-time announcer for the New York Mets. Although he passed away earlier this year at the age of 91, he will always be remembered for his contributions to the game. An interview (part 1 and part 2) he did last year with the Hall of Fame lends fantastic insight into his career.

*The Baseball History Daily has ferreted out yet another of baseball’s forgotten figures from a bygone era. Harley “Doc” Parker was a right-handed pitcher who was a nondescript 5-8 with a 5.90 ERA in 18 major league games with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds between 1893 and 1901. Unfortunately, the game he is best remembered for was a minor league contest in 1894 when he was pitching for the Cedar Rapids Rippers and gave up 38 hits and 39 runs to the Kansas City Blues in a 39-10 loss. To be fair, his team committed 13 errors behind him, but it was a truly atrocious result.

The good news is that Parker’s meltdown makes his final major league game look like a gem by comparison, as he permitted 26 hits and 21 runs in a complete game loss to the Brooklyn Superbas on June 21, 1901—with future Hall-of-Fame outfielder Wee Willie Keeler going a perfect 5-for-5 with one of his 33 career major league home runs.

*Here’s an interesting piece by The New York Time’s Michael Powell about how Barry Bonds has bore the brunt of the baseball PED backlash for much of the past decade but is slowly returning to the game.

Bonds, who was essentially forced into retirement following the 2007 season because nobody would sign him, may still have a future with the game off the field now that he is 50. Commissioner Bud Selig, a nemesis of his, is retiring and the passage of time has eased the ill will directed towards him because of his transgressions. It will be interesting to see how far he is able to travel on this road to redemption.

*Former right-handed pitcher Ed Keegan has passed away at the age of 75. He got into 13 games with the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies (1959 and 1961-62) and was 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA. He struck out just 11 batters in his major league career, but two of them were Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente, which gives him major baseball cred for eternity.

*Did slugger Adam Dunn ruin baseball? The Hardball Times’ Neil Weinberg asks that question, citing the slugger as the poster boy for the three true outcomes approach (home run, walk, or strikeout) that has permeated baseball in recent years. In 14 major league seasons, Dunn has slammed 462 home runs while drawing 1,317 walks and whiffing an incredible 2,379 (third all-time) times. With the Royals and San Francisco Giants finding success this year with hitting approaches that value making contact and small-ball tactics, the tide may be shifting to their way of thinking. That being said, as Weinberg concludes, who is to say which approach is better than another in a game that requires so much skill to be successful?

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Ramble On: Author Jerome Preisler Talks Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees

Prolific author and former columnist for YES Network Jerome Preisler sat down with Ron Juckett and myself and talked about his time covering the New York Yankees. He shared his thoughts about the recently retired Yankees captain Derek Jeter, and gives a fascinating look at slugger Alex Rodriguez.

Check out the podcast HERE.

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Boston Red Sox: The Prospects That Got Away

The Boston Red Sox have developed an excellent reputation in recent years for their ability to identify, scout and draft/sign top-notch amateur talent. As a result, current key contributors like Dustin Pedroia, Clay Buchholz and Xander Bogaerts are all products of their player development system. Despite such strong examples, the organization hasn’t nailed every player development move—nor should they be expected to.

Just because a player has been drafted doesn’t mean they are in the fold. It can be a difficult proposition to come to terms with the dozens that are selected annually, and there are always some that go unsigned—typically because they are going to college or because they want more money than the team is willing to give. For the fun (and agony) of it, let’s take a look at some of the best players the Red Sox have drafted over the past decade, did not sign but have gone on to have success with other teams.

Steve Pearce, First Baseman- Drafted 10^th Round in 2004: 10 years and four organizations after being selected by the Sox, Pearce finally made a splash in the majors this season at the age of 31, hitting .293 with 21 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles. It took nine minor league seasons and parts of seven major league seasons before he was finally able to find a regular gig. However, he looks like he has finally stuck and may be a better-fielding Brian Daubach for a new generation.

Pedro Alvarez, Third Baseman- Drafted 14^th Round in 2005: A major prospect coming out of high school, Alvarez passed on signing in order to attend Vanderbilt. The move paid off, as he polished his game enough to become the second overall selection in the 2008 draft. Although he has 104 home runs in five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he has also hit just a combined .235 with 678 strikeouts in 592 games. Nevertheless, now playing third base, he has few peers in the big leagues that can match his power at the position.

Charlie Blackmon, Pitcher- Drafted 20^th Round in 2005: Boston thought enough of his pitching prowess to draft this future major league outfielder as a hurler. Electing instead to attend Georgia Tech, he ultimately became a 2008 second-round pick of the Colorado Rockies and developed into a starter for them midway through last year. This was a  breakout season for him, as he hit .288 with 19 home runs and 28 stolen bases, numbers that would have been a big help to the anemic production the Red Sox got from their outfielders in 2014.

Jason Castro, Catcher- Drafted 45^th Round in 2005: The Red Sox appear to have their catchers of the future on the horizon in Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart, but if they had retained Castro they could have had real a log jam on their hands. A solid receiver, Castro is better known for his bat, which has launched 32 home runs over the past two seasons and helped earn him a 2013 All-Star nod.

Brandon Belt, Outfielder- Drafted 11^th round in 2006: Passing up a chance to join Boston to go to school (community college and then the University of Texas), Belt became a fifth-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2009. Monster minor league numbers, including a collective .350 batting average have not yet fully translated at the big league level. Still, the large left-handed hitter is just 26 and has a career 125 OPS+ in his four seasons by the bay.

Yasmani Grandal, Catcher- Drafted 27^th Round in 2007: Following a standout career with the Miami Hurricanes, Grandal was taken by the Cincinnati Reds with the 10th overall selection in the 2010 draft. He was then flipped to the Padres in a trade the following December. Sandwiched around a 2013 suspension for PEDS, he has managed a combined 120 OPS+ in parts of three seasons for the offensively-challenged Padres. On the other hand, his lack of defense has led to him seeing more time of late at first base where his bat doesn’t play up nearly as much.

Nick Tepesch, Pitcher- Drafted 28^th Round in 2007: A career record of 25-12 with a 3.45 ERA in four minor league seasons in the Texas Rangers’ system carried the big right-hander to the majors in 2013. He is just 9-17 with a 4.56 ERA in 42 games (39 starts) over the past two years in the majors but is still young, and having already held his own, may see brighter days ahead.

Alex Meyer, Pitcher- Drafted 20^th Round in 2008: Just 24, the right-hander has long been considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball, including placement in MLB.com’s top-100 list in each of the past three years. Following a star turn at Kentucky, he was selected in the first round of the 2011 draft by the Washington Nationals but was traded to the Minnesota Twins following the 2012 season. He has struck out 10.4 batters per nine innings in his three minor league seasons, and having just completed a successful 2014 campaign in Triple-A should be a good candidate to join the Twins’ rotation in 2015. With the Red Sox in full rebuild mode—especially with their starting pitching, having a prospect the caliber of Meyer would be nice—even with the youngsters they already have competing for openings.

Yan Gomes, Catcher- Drafted 39^th Round in 2008: Yet another catcher that couldn’t come to terms with the Red Sox. After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and looking like a fringy prospect at best, he was traded with infielder Mike Aviles to the Cleveland Indians in November, 2012 for pitcher Esmil Rogers. Since then, Gomes’ emergence has been nothing short of amazing, as he has paired surprisingly solid defense behind the plate with impact offense. Playing full time for the first time in 2014, he batted an impressive .278 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs in 135 games for a Cleveland team that was in contention until the final weeks of the season.

Statistics and draft information via Baseball Reference.

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2014 World Series Prediction Podcast

My buddy Ron Juckett joins me to break down the 2014 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals?

Who do we pick? Find out on our 25 minute podcast.

(Spoiler: one of us is right. Shh.)

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Dave Roberts Stealing the Hearts of Boston Red Sox Fans: The Baseball Historian’s Notes for the Week of October 19

The 2014 World Series matchup has been determined with the surging Kansas City Royals taking on the battle-tested San Francisco Giants. The Royals are making the most of their first playoff appearance in 29 years while the Giants will now have appeared in three of the past five Fall Classics. Some don’t think that it’s much of a matchup but no matter how exciting it is, it will go down as another chapter in the annals of baseball history. That being said, on to this week’s notes…

*The eleventh anniversary of the “Steve Bartman game” has passed, marking an improbable Chicago Cubs loss in the playoffs to the Florida Marlins that was attributed to a hapless fan. Five outs away from a Chicago trip to the World Series in 2003, Bartman reached for a foul ball, a movement which impeded Cubs’ leftfielder Moises Alou from making the catch. Despite holding a commanding 3-0 lead, Chicago went on to give up eight runs in the inning and lose the game and eventually the series. This AOL.com article commemorates the game, but the real treat is the embedded video for “Catching Hell,” the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about that game and the role of scapegoating in sports.

*Better late than never, a Wisconsin banker has returned a banner to the Royals that he “borrowed” as a college student in 1985 during their last World Series appearance. He kept it all these years as a conversation piece and because of embarrassment. However, the team’s recent success prompted him to return the flag, a gesture much appreciated by the organization.

*University of Delaware English professor Bernard McKenna is in the process of researching baseball during the time when the game was still segregated. Having grown up in the Baltimore area, his interest focused on that particular region. Recently, his work turned up a long-forgotten 1930 photo from the archives of the Baltimore Black African showing Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige in the uniform of the Baltimore Black Sox—a team which he spent just one year during a lengthy career that saw him suit up for numerous squads. This rare find portrays Paige in just one of the many uniforms he donned during his lengthy and transitory career.

*Want to incorporate a little baseball history in your next vacation? Beth J. Harpaz from the Miami Herald has you covered, recently compiling a list of some of the best museums around the country that focus on that subject. Now that the heavy lifting has been done, gas up the Family Truckster and hit the road in search of these treasures.

*Former third baseman Ken Caminiti was one of baseball’s most recently polarizing players. He was talented and tenacious, who won the 1996 National League MVP in 1996 with the San Diego Padres but also openly past admitted steroid use in 2002 shortly after his career ended. His story became all the more tragic and complicated following his untimely death in 2004 at the age of 41. His career and demons have been explored in great depth and detail by Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller, which provides a lot more insight into one of the game’s great competitors, who also happened to have a very dark side.

*These days, when a player struggling at the plate wants to turn things around they might put in extra work with a coach or change up the equipment they are using. Times have changed, as the Baseball History Daily recently dug up a Hugh Fullerton article from a 1911 edition of The Chicago Examiner describing how former Detroit Tigers’ second baseman Jim Delahanty correlated receiving a blow to the head with increased success at the plate. The weirdness that is this story is best summed up by one of the former player’s teammates—’If I were you,’ said Davy Jones, ‘I’d hire a mule to kick me three of four times, and maybe I’d hit 1000 per cent.” A career .283 hitter, Delahanty must have taken a knock or two to the old noggin to have had success like that…

*The Boston Red Sox are an organization made up of many great moments and memories. However, perhaps none of them top the stolen base pinch runner Dave Roberts had in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees. With his team down three games to none at the time, his successful theft led to him scoring the tying run late in the game and jumpstarted the team to a historic comeback that culminated in them winning the World Series—the first time they had done so in 86 years.

Unbelievably, October 17th marked the 10-year anniversary of Roberts’ play. This clip from the ESPN 30 for 30 film Four Days in October bring the magic of the moment back to life.

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2015 MLB Free Agent Predictions

Although the 2014 MLB postseason is still being battled out on the field, many teams have started looking towards next year. Once this season concludes, the gates to the free agent market will swing open and allow interested bidders to rush in like early birds at a swap meet.

Here is an early list of speculative predictions as to where the top 2015 MLB free agents might land:

Pitcher Max Scherzer- Chicago Cubs: Having won 70 games over the past four seasons with the Detroit Tigers, the right-hander is deservedly about to come into a large sum of money. However, with the $180 million extension rotation-mate Justin Verlander signed with the Tigers last year starting to look very iffy, the team may reluctant to go all in on Scherzer, who is just a year and a half younger. Additionally, this may be the team’s line in the sand when it comes to picking between re-signing him and left-hander David Price, who is slotted for free agency next offseason.

Look for the Cubs, who have declared their intentions to compete in 2015, to swoop in with their dump trucks full of money and snag a pitcher who can potentially lead their rotation for the next decade.

Pitcher Jon Lester- Chicago Cubs: Why have just one shiny new toy when you can have two? The veteran lefty’s history with Chicago president Theo Epstein should create a mutual level of comfort. Locking in a pitcher of this caliber to pair with someone like Scherzer would make it difficult for the team, even with a roster of comprised mainly of young talent, to not be immediate contenders.

Red Sox fans who have hoped for Lester’s return following a 2014 mid-season trade to the Oakland Athletics need a reality check. If he was going to stay with Boston long-term, an extension would have been hammered out earlier in the year. Having him return now would be bad business given the extra money (quite a bit given his strong 2014 season) and draft pick they would need to give up to their prodigal son.

Pitcher James Shields- Boston Red Sox: About to turn 33, and with at least 185 innings in each of the last nine seasons, the right-hander has more wear and tear than most. However, he is a first-rate gamer and the type of pitcher Boston needs to start rebuilding their rotation. The Kansas City Royals would undoubtedly love to have him back but the Red Sox and their recent fondness of inking players of this ilk to lucrative deals in the range of three or four years will impede them.

Signing Shields smacks of a classic Boston move, as he won’t cost as much in dollars or years as the top tier pitchers, yet has the ability to come close to matching them in production over the next few seasons.

Catcher Russell Martin- Los Angeles Dodgers: There is little doubt that the Pittsburgh Pirates would like to retain their All-Star receiver. Problem is they don’t have the deep pockets of a team like the Dodgers, who could really use an upgrade behind the plate. Although he will be 32 next year, Martin may receive an offer from Los Angeles he can’t refuse to return to the organization where he began his career.

Shortstop/Third Baseman Hanley Ramirez- Los Angeles Dodgers: The career .300 hitter has played shortstop for most of his 10-year major league career. Given his age (31 next season) and reputation as a below-average fielder, his future is likely at the hot corner (where 35-year-old incumbent Juan Uribe is signed only through 2015). He has played well in his two-plus seasons with the Dodgers, who have the ability to beat any other offer the right-handed batter might receive on the open market.

Outfielder Nelson Cruz- Baltimore Orioles: Despite leading the American League in home runs with 40 in 2014, the right-handed hitter batted just .249 over the second half of the season. A 2013 PED suspension, a decided lack of defensive skills and an upcoming 35th birthday have all contributed to him never receiving a lucrative multi-year contract expected for most players with his offensive production. He and the Orioles seem to have hit on a good mutual relationship this season, so the likely lack of strong competition for his services should mean his return to the Birds.

Third Baseman Pablo Sandoval- San Francisco Giants: Kung Fu Panda has hit a combined .294 and may be playing in his third World Series during a seven-year major league career. However, the switch-hitter has battled weight problems and doesn’t possess elite power. The Red Sox are another team that could probably use his services the most but their caution of late on the free agent market may mean they will pass on Sandoval and allow him to return to the team with whom he has been such a big part of their recent success.

Designated Hitter Victor Martinez- Seattle Mariners: Believe it or not, even though Martinez is a legitimate 2014 MVP candidate, he may have a relative shortage of serious suitors. As a DH, he is limited to the American League, where many teams already have established players in the role or use the lineup slot to rest aging veterans. Detroit can likely afford to let him go, as they have a number of offensively gifted and defensively challenged players in their lineup that can have their gloves benched 162 times a season. On the other side, the Mariners made great strides in 2014 and could see their momentum push them into the playoffs next year by adding a hitter with of patience and ability of the switch-hitter.

Outfielder Yasmani Tomas- San Diego Padres: The Cuban slugger has been generating significant interest since it was announced he was an eligible free agent. The success of some of his fellow countrymen, particularly likely 2014 AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu, should have teams salivating over the 24 year-old prospect. The Padres have already outed themselves as an interested party, which should come as little surprise given their lackluster .226 team batting average and .342 team slugging percentage this season.. Although there is risk in signing such a relative unknown, this may be the Padres’ best chance to inject their lineup with a possible difference maker without breaking the $100 million mark.

Outfielder Melky Cabrera- New York Mets: Cabrera bounced back from a disappointing 2013 season and PED suspension in 2012 with a nice campaign this year for the Toronto Blue Jays. Although the 30-year-old switch-hitter has hit a combined .309 over the past four seasons, he might not receive the same attention as might be expected due to his poor glove work and sketchy past. Nonetheless, he will be a nice pick-up for somebody and this seems like the type of mid-level bargain the cash-strapped Mets may be able to fit into their budget. With Eric Young and his anemic bat patrolling left field for much of this year, adding someone like Cabrera would be a major upgrade.

Pitcher Ervin Santana- Seattle Mariners: Santana isn’t an ace but has averaged 12 wins and 188 innings pitched over the first 10 years of his career—all but last year spent with the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West. Prone to the long ball, pitching half his games in the Mariners’ spacious Safeco Field would help mitigate that flaw on his under-appreciated resume.

Shortstop Stephen Drew- New York Yankees: Drew was awful this season, hitting just a combined .162 in 85 games with the Red Sox and Yankees. He may have played himself out of a good chunk of money but his steady glove and reputation as a solid hitter in the past will still land him a gig. The most natural fit is returning to New York, which has a black hole at second base, no shortstop with the retirement of Derek Jeter, and a soon-to-be 40-year-old third baseman who won’t have played a regular season game in a year and a half. Drew’s ability to play all of those positions makes his return a strong likelihood.

Infielder Asdrubal Cabrera- New York Yankees: See above. Once considered a rising star, the 28-year-old Cabrera has merely been an average player over the past couple of seasons. However, he has positional versatility and as recently as 2011 hit .273 with 25 home runs and 92 RBIs. Although the Yankees are well-known for their free-wheeling spending, they have so many large contracts on file that this could be the offseason where frugality wins the day. He won’t come cheaply, but Cabrera could be more reasonable than other options.

Pitcher Jake Peavy- Pittsburgh Pirates: He’ll be 34 by next year’s All Star break but after going 6-4 with a 2.12 ERA in 12 starts with the Giants after coming over from the Red Sox in a mid-season trade, he showed he still has gas left in the tank and may be a better fit in the National League. Past arm issues and production that has been in decline since his 2007 National League Cy Young win will impact his offers. Enter the thrifty by necessity Pirates, who could offer him a reasonable multi-year deal, which could be all the more appealing for the veteran because of their playoff appearances the past two years.

Third Baseman Aramis Ramirez- Boston Red Sox: Even if 2014 Boston starter Will Middlebrooks has a major comeback in him, the team may have already decided to move on next year. A 17-year major league veteran, Ramirez still has a productive bat and would be available on one of those shorter contracts the team so enjoys.

The emergence of Brock Holt means Ramirez wouldn’t be required to play every day, which would hopefully maximize his impact.  The team has struck gold with third basemen in their 30s in the recent past (Bill Mueller and Mike Lowell), so it wouldn’t be a shock to see that happen again. The Green Monster at Fenway Park would be an inviting target for his bat, which has launched 464 doubles and 369 homers during his career.

Outfielder Nick Markakis- Baltimore Orioles: The left-handed hitter does a little bit of everything but never developed into a star. The current longest-tenured member of the Orioles probably won’t have enough outside interest to lure him away from the team where he has spent his entire nine-year MLB career, so a return seems imminent.

Pitcher Brandon McCarthy- Boston Red Sox: It’s hard to imagine the Red Sox beginning next year with a rotation predominantly made up of rookies and youngsters but unless they sign or trade for at least two veterans to join the returning Clay Buchholz, that’s exactly what would happen. The right-handed McCarthy was stellar (7-5, 2.89 ERA) after being traded to the Yankees this July.

Although McCarthy has struggled with injuries in the past, he reached 200 innings for the first time in his career this season, keeps the ball in the park and is very analytically driven—much like Boston. Having pitched into at least the sixth inning in all but four of his 32 starts in 2014, he is a solid veteran who could help firm up the Red Sox’s rotation—at a fraction of the price of some of his fellow free agents.

Pitcher Francisco Liriano- Kansas City Royals: Still prone to bouts of wildness, the left-hander reclaimed his career during the past two seasons with Pittsburgh after flaming out with the Minnesota Twins. With the Royals appearing World Series-bound and facing a likely uphill battle to keep current ace Shields, adding another impact arm may be a necessity. An added benefit of signing Liriano would be the ability of teaming him with Danny Duffy and Jason Vargas and giving the team a heavy southpaw theme in 2015.

*These are predictions based on speculation from reviewing team needs, history etc... No direct sources were utilized in the forming of these opinions.

**Statistics obtained from BaseballReference.com

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The Real Story of Donnie Moore: The Baseball Historian’s Notes for the Week of October 12

Baseball’s postseason is a magical time of year. Of the fortunate teams that make it to the last leg of the season, legends will be made and history written from the intense competition that determines the annual champion in the World Series.

The 2014 League Championship Series are currently being waged and have already created some amazing moments. Accordingly, a number of items in this week’s baseball historian’s notes relate back to postseasons past with teams and players that were once in the same position as the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are this year.

*The October 4th game between the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals lasted a whopping 18 innings before ending in a 2-1 victory for the Giants. Not only was it an exciting contest, it was also the longest game in MLB postseason history, which has stretched for over a century. The game was so long (six hours and 23 minutes) that it spanned across two days and losing pitcher Tanner Roark actually turned another year older before it was over. To see some of the other longest games in postseason history, check out this list by USA Today’s Ted Berg.

*1947 and Jackie Robinson are synonymous for even the most casual fans of baseball in describing the integration of the game. While Robby certainly paved the way for many others who came after him, his early years in the majors were certainly no walk in the park. Joe Distelheim, over at The Hardball Times, has written an interesting article arguing that baseball became truly integrated in 1951, when black players had a better foothold and more teams were willing to utilize them.

*Despite baseball’s integration, black players, coaches and other employees continued to experience discrimination. Tommy Harper, who had an excellent 15-year major league career as an outfielder, experienced that first hand. Playing for the Boston Red Sox from 1972-74, and later working as a coach and front office staff in the early 1980s, he successfully sued the team in 1985 for improper termination and discriminatory practices.

Just recently, Harper sat down with The Boston Globe and provided more details about his experiences. It’s important to note he later returned to work for the team under different ownership and was lauded by them for helping bring to light and fix those issues that cast a long shadow on their organization.

*With the World Series on the horizon, it’s a good reminder that the Black Sox scandal of 1919 is now 95 years distant in our historical rearview mirror. Some players on the Chicago White conspired with gamblers to throw that year’s Fall Classic to the Cincinnati Reds. Although they were acquitted (wink, wink) in a court of law, eight of those players were ultimately banned from baseball for life, sparking nearly a century’s worth of debate over their innocence and punishment. An excellent write-up of the saga recently appeared on History.com.

* William “Bad Bill Eagan had a nondescript playing career during the latter part of the nineteenth century. However, off the field was a different matter altogether. According to a Chicago Tribune article, “stories of his badness are told all over the league.” He became notorious for his erratic behavior, which was inflamed by alcohol. A number of times he was imprisoned for drunkenness, violence, and once for the attempted murder of his wife.  Despite his actions, he was continuously given chances by teams because of his ability to play ball. It is an intriguing comparison given the rash of current athletes in trouble with the law, and show that sometimes things elude change. His story is told in two parts (here and here) over at the Baseball History Daily.

*The 58th anniversary of Don Larsen throwing the only perfect game in World Series history was celebrated on October 8th. In Game 5 of that year’s series, the right-hander for the New York Yankees shut down the Brooklyn Dodgers in spectacular fashion. This video, which includes a lot of vintage footage and interviews, captures the magic of that game.

The Dodgers’ lineup, which featured four future Hall-of-Famers, could not muster any offense against Larsen. Backed by a two-run home run by Mickey Mantle off Brooklyn starter Sal Maglie, the Yankees took the game 2-0, and went on to win the series in seven.

*Dizzy Dean was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Between 1933 and 1936 he won 102 games (including 107 complete games) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Injuries curtailed his playing career but he became a well-known announcer and public figure later in life due in large part to his “aw-shucks” countrified persona—as seen in this classic clip from the television show Hee Haw.

*A baseball myth is that former All-Star closer Donnie Moore shot his wife and then killed himself in 1989 because he couldn’t live with having relinquished a home run to the Red Sox’s Dave Henderson in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS; something which ultimately helped shift momentum of the series to Boston. Michael McKnight of SI Longform has completely debunked that with his thorough re-telling of the hurler’s final troubled years. A violent past, alcohol abuse, troubled family life and a dwindling career were the actual contributing factors to his actions.

The homer relinquished to Hendu may have been a defining moment of Moore’s career but he battled demons far darker throughout his life than that one pitch. The entirety of Game 5 is available for free on YouTube.

*Although outfielder Curt Flood hit .293 over 15 major league seasons, his refusal to play is what he is best known for. In 1969, he declined to report to the Philadelphia Phillies after being traded to them by the Cardinals. His actions challenged MLB’s reserve clause, which essentially made players paid indentured servants to teams, and ultimately paved the way for players to have the rights of free agency. The New York Times has released a short documentary on this titled Rebel Without a Clause. It’s required viewing for any fan of baseball, especially since Flood isn’t remembered nearly as much as he should be given his impact on the game.

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Summarizing the 2014 Boston Red Sox's Season

Check out the most recent edition of Ramble On with Ron Juckett. This week we discuss the demise of the 2014 Boston Red Sox. It was certainly a disappointing season following last year's World Series victory, but there is a lot of promise (and questions) for 2015. Another season will be upon Boston fans before long, and in the meantime, there is sure to be plenty to hew on during the offseason.

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The Baseball Historian’s Notes for the Week of October 5

The major league playoffs are underway as the days grow shorter and the weather becomes more temperamental. As another season hurtles towards an unknown conclusion, a cornucopia of baseball historical happenings has sprung up over the past week.

*The Library of Congress recently made an extraordinary find—previously unseen film footage of the 1924 World Series, where the Washington Senators defeated the New York Giants. The black and white news reel is nearly four minutes of the deciding Game 7 of that year’s Fall Classic. Highlights include a Bucky Harris home run, watching Washington’s all-time great right-hander Walter Johnson and his amazing side-arm delivery, and a frenzied crowd celebrating the accomplishment of their team.

*Graham Womack of the entertaining and informative Baseball Past and Present website has begun an exciting new project. He is conducting a vote to determine the 25 most important people in baseball history. Anyone is able to vote as long as their submissions are in by October 26th at 8 p.m. PST. He will be publishing the results of the vote the following week. Not only will this be a fascinating exercise in identifying these hardball movers and shakers, he is also using the project as a platform to help raise money for the American Brain Tumor Association. More information on the cause and donating is available online.

*Dara Lind of Vox.com has written a piece on “The Secret History of Jews in Baseball.” It covers a wide expanse of territory, from the Negro leagues, to Sandy Koufax, to the present. Jewish baseball history doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, so it is nice to see what Lind has done.

*Mel Hall had a good but not great 13-year major league career, hitting .276 with 134 homers for four teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. Never achieving star status, he was viewed as an eccentric type as a player, but is now known as something much worse. SB Nation’s Greg Hanlon has written a terrific profile on Hall and a number of sexually-related crimes that led to a 45-year prison sentence in 2009. It’s a somber reminder of the power and influence that can be wielded by someone in the public eye, and the awful ways that can be used to exploit others.

*Here is an interesting look at the evolution of the value of baseballs from the first days of the game to the present. This covers not only some of the price points of balls at various times throughout history, but how they have been made and valued by others.

*Some sad news with the passing of a couple of old-time players. The first is likely the most recognizable in George “Shotgun” Shuba. He was an extra outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers between 1948 and 1955, and passed away on September 29th at the age of 89. In 355 career games, he hit a combined .259 with 24 home runs and 125 RBIs. However, he is best known for playing in three World Series and initiating a widely publicized post-home run handshake with black teammate Jackie Robinson in 1946 when they were minor league teammates and such things were considered taboo.

Additionally, Earl Smith, who played in five games with the 1955 Pittsburgh Pirates passed away last week at the age of 86. A career .299 hitters in the minors, Smith collected just one single (against Don Liddle and the New York Giants) and four walks in 21 major league plate appearances.

Atlanta Braves special assistant to the general manager, Jose Martinez, died on October 1 at the age of 72. Known for his talent in scouting players in Latin America, he was a beloved member of the organization for nearly 20 years. A native of Cuba, he played in 96 games as an infielder for the Pirates in 1969-70, hitting a combined .245 with a home run (a game-winning grand slam off Claude Raymond and the Montreal Expos on September 8, 1969 at old Jarry Park) and 16 RBIs.

*The success of the Kansas City Royals in the early stages of the 2014 MLB playoffs have evoked memories of their successful past, particularly the 1985 squad that won the World Series. Born as an American League expansion team in 1969, the franchise’s signature blue and gold logo has an interesting back story, as told by Seamhead.com’s James Forr.

* With 3.1 nondescript innings pitched for the 1905 Detroit Tigers over two appearances, the major league career of pitcher Walt Justis is a mere blip on the vast canvas of baseball history. However, a closer look shows an intriguing figure. He won 108 games in his minor league career, including four no-hitters in a two-month span in 1908, when he won 25 games for the Lancaster Links in the Ohio State League.

Despite his talent, Justis was held back by eccentricities and mental problems/illness. He was known for doing things like wearing ladies’ silk hose when pitching and mimicking umpires for hours in the hallway of his team’s hotel. He also suffered a number of mental breakdowns/attacks that may have been related to epilepsy. The Baseball History Daily has the full rundown of his story.

*Just when you thought you might have seen the last Derek Jeter story for a while; there’s one more. Business Insider’s Cork Haynes did an audit of sorts on the $262.5 million the New York Yankees’ legendary shortstop made in salary during his 20-year career—which ranks second to former teammate Alex Rodriguez ($356.3 million and counting) all time in major league history.

Starting from when Jeter was passed over by a number of teams in the 1992 draft to the present, the piece does an excellent job of showing how his coffers became so gilded over the years.

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