Charlie Jones an AFL original

I was saddened to learn that the voice of the American Football League, a league not thought capable of competing with the legendary NFL, Charlie Jones passed away at 77 years of age.
How fitting, 77, a number that for some bizarre reason elicits AFL action at its best. Didn't one of the key San Diego Chargers have some outrageous number like 77? (Actually, #77, was retired by the Chargers, for Ernie Ladd. It was #22 that was worn by both Dickie Post and Keith Lincoln. It was sort of their magical number, the way #20 was the Detroit Lions' number..Lem Barney, Billy Sims, and finallyBarry Sanders wore the number. The Lions retired the number, for Barry Sanders. Perhaps as a ploy to get Sanders out of retirement? Well that failed, but the number lives in a sort of sui generis.)

The San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Boston/NE Patriots, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Oilers have Charlie Jones to thank for putting them on the map. His unique voice and sense of humor added an ingredient to the fledgling league until Pete Rozelle and associates decided it was time to unite.

He was an NBC staple and did his share of baseball broadcasts. (Cincinnati Reds 1973-74; Colorado Rockies' first TV broadcaster, which began in 1993.) But what I remember about Charlie Jones , aside from his silver hair and stylish specs, was his willingness to say things in that waggish manner equipped with an unmistakable voice, as he expertly informed and entertained his audience and side-kick, as well. He, like all the jewels of their craft, was truly one of a kind.

He just may have been insightful enough to be the nearest thing to Branch Rickey, where the AFL was concerned. Branch broke the color line, Charlie broke the NFL/AFL barrier.
As a youngster watching the early AFL, I don't think I'm off the mark in this assessment.

(I know this is a San Francisco Giants blog. But anybody who contributes to the sports medium, and contributes in a Hall of Fame caliber, will get acknowledged by yours truly.)

Kevin Marquez (thanks to Wikipedia)

Uh, Woo, Well, Well...

Look down-hearted and confused
Because lately you've been startin' to lose
Losing out on everything you might try to do
Bad Luck's there, it's got a hold on you.

Losing money, 'bout to lose your home
Done lost your woman and everything you own
Law of averages plainly states that chances go around
But if you want to know the truth about it and tell you what's pulling you down, yeah

(You got) BAD LUCK
That's what you got, that's what you got (Yes, uh)
BAD LUCK
That's what you got, that's what you got
BAD LUCK
That's what you got, that's what you got (you got)
BAD LUCK, bad luck (bad)

Played a number 'cause that number's hot stuff
But the bookies get you for every cent you've got
Walk around in a daze with your pockets bare
Go to see your woman and she aint even there

??Don't seem to give a whiz about it and all your trapped in time??
The more I think about it, I think your 'bout to lose your mind
Some people call it jinxed, some say it aint my day (huh)
But if you wanna know the truth about it and tell you what's pullin' you way down
Bad Luck
That's what you got, that's what you got (Yes uh huh)
Bad Luck
that's what you got, that's what you got (you got)
Bad Luck
that's what you got, that's what you got (you got)
BAD LUCK, BAD LUCK (bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad)

One long week
Ooh, huh
Yeah, yeah
One more thing

Law of averages plainly states that chances go around
But if you wanna know the truth about it and tell you what's pullin' you down
Down, down, down, down
Bad Luck (yes, uh). Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes with Teddy Pendergrass at lead vocal.

How many times have we heard- per radio broadcast- a Giant's batter rip one into the GAP and the ball some way, somehow managed to hit something that allowed the sphere to projectile up and over the fence for a ground-rule double and your Giants' broadcaster almost reluctantly sighs when he says how the ground-rule double cost the Giants a run because the runner would have scored easily?

If you so choose to be a Giants' fan, YOU have to be a gamer! Because being a fan of the orange and black has things that go with it some may not be able to indulge. One of them being a souvenir, of all things. You know, that giant foam finger? It's NOT the index finger.

Kevin Marquez (thanks to Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. And Teddy P.)

Pitch Count vs. Performance

Why is pitch count more important than the performance a pitcher is giving? Didn't you sign the guy to those big bucks to help you win games? It seems like there is always this worrying about the pitcher's health and that outweighs his performance on game day.

How, in the world, did the powers-that-be in let that happen?

You start focussing in on pitch count and you're liable to get into that pitcher's head. In other words, his unconscious. And in psychoanalysis terms that's not a good thing to do. The dictionary.com definition of this is: the part of the mind containing psychic material that is only rarely accessible to awareness but that has a pronounced influence on behavior.

Counting an athlete's pitches and critiquing on how you believe him to be so much more effective at a particular number... it's all over but the fat lady singing. Whatever happened to effectiveness? Some players take a little longer to get the feel for what they are doing, don't interrupt them with some silly pitch count.

Sometimes things aren't as complicated as we make them.

Why would you want to replace a guy who is doing the job? In Juan Marichal's day, pitch count was something a bored scorekeeper did. And maybe the fan out in the cheap seats.

On June 12, 2008, Johan Santana pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball that included 10 strikeouts. And yet the Mets' Powers that Be decided to put the game into the hands of the bullpen. Effectiveness had absolutely nothing to do with this maneuver. This was a pitch count decision. And to replace someone who was signed to avoid the need for bullpen help, especially after the bullpen has been so heinous, makes me wonder why?

Why not judge a pitcher by performance rather than pitch count?

Well, Billy Wagner, whose nickname-this week- could easily be Gagsner, let another game slip away. And as for those of you, fans, wondering why Willie Randolph is getting the blame, let me ask you this, whose idea was it to replace Santana?

*****************************************
On this day in baseball, June 12, 2008, Ray Durham collected his 2,000th hit in the big leagues, as the Giants went on to win 10-7. Brian Don't Worry Baby Wilson collected his 19th save of the season with yet another stellar performance as the Giants' closer.

On June 12, 1959, San Francisco Giant lefty, Mike McCormick pitched a 5-inning no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies. Richie Ashburn rapped a single in the top of the 6th inning but the hit didn't count because the game was called due to rain.


Kevin Marquez (thanks to the Fresno Bee for This Day in Baseball stuff)

Baserunning and Roster Spots

Each and every baseball game has nine versus nine. With an umpire at every base. And coaches at first and third base. The latter of which I am really beginning to wonder why, judging on the overall base-running seen at the big league level.

Batter-runners with their heads down or perhaps thinking the coach is there merely to collect his (the batter-runner's) protective devices if he only manages to reach first base. On any extra base hit it's as if the batter-runner's ears are all the coach can penetrate because all of the arm-waving isn't going to change the fact that the batter-runner isn't paying a bit of attention to that coach. In most cases, they may as well be cardboard cutouts.

In last night's game at Coors Field (Colorado) on at least two occasions the Giants ran themselves out of innings. That and another poor performance by none other than Vinnie Chulk and it was too much to overcome as the Giants' road record of seven (7) victories in-a-row came to an end. (Back to Vinnie Chulk, the nicknames for this guy are endless. One could say Vinnie Choke or use the name of Rodney Dangerfield's doctor, Vinnie Boom Bah. Because when Vinnie toes the slab, opposing batters are all about the boom bah sound their bats are about to make when connecting with one of Vinnie's servings.)

Ray Durham got caught between third and second base only after the runner on third (Omar Visquel) had to apply the brakes because rookie Travis Denker appeared to be running in quick sand at about the shortstop position only after seeing that the centerfielder had dropped Durham's arcing liner.

Then a couple of innings later, on a deep fly into center field (that took the fielder onto the warning track with his back to the plate) the runner on second base decided it was in his best interests not to tag up. Who did he think that was in centerfield? I don't know what third base coach Tim Flannery was doing to- get the wandering Giant's attention at second base- but that guy in a Colorado uniform wasn't Willie Mays he was Willy Taveras. Know your opponents, will ya!

******************************
With Vinnie "BoomBah" Choke struggling I decided to look up the names of a couple of pitchers, on the Fresno Grizzlies, who seem to be holding their own as they await the inevitable telephone call from the big club.

Geno Espinelli (Lefty) W-1, L-0, ERA-1.29, G-22, Saves-1 IP-35, H-26, R-6, BB-4, SO-25, AGE-25.
Kevin Correia W-1, L-0, ERA-1.50, G-2, IP-12, H-8, R-2, BB-0, SO-15, AGE-27 (turns 28 in August).

Nate Schierholtz AB-213, R-35, H-66, 2B-12, 3B-8, HR-10, RBI-45, SB-8, AVG.-.310, AGE-24.
Ivan Ochoa (SS) AB-202, R-34, H-63, 2B-8, 3B-4, HR-3, RBI-24, SB-15, CS-9, AVG.-.312, AGE-25.

(thanks to the Giants' website for the information on their TripleA affiliate Fresno Grizzlies)

Kevin Marquez

Matt Cain- (Is he) not Able?

When it comes to raw ability nobody argues that Matt Cain possesses his share and then some, but so do most of the players in the major leagues, or they wouldn't be in the bigs, right?

Why doesn't Matt work on the execution of moving runners along either by bunt or making contact to a particular side of the field, opposite of where the runners will be going if he puts the ball in play? Or in fielding his position, does he put in the time to make sure that he is in position to field balls up the middle, near the mound?

He often gives the appearance of not having an idea about certain situations, relying only on his God-given ability. So when he goes mano y mano with another big leaguer, it just might be that the player with the "idea" is the one who wins most battles. Oh, sometimes, the hotter of the two, or perhaps at that moment, the better of the two, comes out on top. But in the long haul, say 4 at-bats, the opposing batter will get his knocks. And even if the batter did come out on the short-end by getting an 0-fer, if he was able to execute enough to move the runners along, maybe that was the deciding factor in the game. In other words, Matt Cain may win the individual battles but in the end does his team win the game?

I'm not in the clubhouse or at their facilities to see just how hard Matt Cain works at his craft, which should include the bat (preferably not maple or someone's safety could be at risk, eh?). I just wish he and most pitchers would use the approach of Gregory Alan Maddux, "Mad Dog" to his teammates.

Greg Maddux just goes about his business with a plan in mind. And he's going to do everything physically possible to put his team in the best position of winning the game. He won't walk batters. He'll move runners up one base, he will not be an "easy" out. And he'll rob hitters-who are trying to go back up the middle-more often than not. What was the old Clint Eastwood line in Magnum Force.."A man's got to know his limitations." Well, Greg Maddux knows his limitations but his opponents believe them to be ad infinitum.

From 1990 thru 2002 inclusive, Greg Maddux won the Gold Glove award. Then he won it again in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He won 4 Cy Young Awards in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995.

I used to think he, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz were the benefactors of the greatest strike zone known to a baseball fan. But after watching those 3 pitchers play ball for the length of time they have and for all three of them to maintain the ability to execute as they have, I came to realize that my only gripe was that I was not an Atlanta Braves' fan. I hated those guys because they were the best and it bothered me to no end how the umpires favored them. It was like my teams' only chance of defeating them was if the calls were fair but they were that good and my jealousy got the best of me.

I'd just like to see Matt Cain use every possible outlet he has so that he may execute every play to the best of his ability and to get the best results for his team. Because as long as he puts his team in the position of winning the ballgame that is and shall always be first and foremost.


Kevin Marquez (thanks to Baseball-Reference)

This Day in Baseball

Most newspapers will print up a few noteworthy things that happened on This Date in Baseball and on this day, June 5th, the home run gets center stage.

In 1955: Mickey Mantle hit a home run off of Chicago White Sox lefty, Billy Pierce (a key Giant on the 1962 team) that traveled an estimated 550 feet. The ball cleared the left-field upper deck at (the original) Comiskey Park. (Mantle's name popped up yesterday when Yankee shortstop, Derek Jeter, passed him on the all-time hits list for New York Yankees.)

In 1959: Dick "Dr. Strangeglove" Stuart hit the longest home run at Forbes Field. Stuart hit a shot over the center-field wall off Chicago Cub pitcher Glen Hobbie. (1959 was Hobbie's best season in the majors, having won-16 and lost-13, with a 3.69 ERA. Meanwhile, Stuart was legendary in his attempts at fielding his position. He came along before the designated hitter and was among the first in sluggers who's walks-to-strikeouts ratio was embarrassing. Stuart's lifetime BB-301 K's-957.)

1966: Leo "Chico" Cardenas of the Cincinnati Reds hit 4 home runs in a doubleheader. Two in the first game and two in the second game versus the Chicago Cubs. (Chico had his best power numbers that year, hitting 20-HR and driving in 81 runs. In 1971, with the Twins, he hit 18-HR, with 75-RBI. Chico was the 1965 gold glove winner for the National League at the shortstop position. He was one of the slicker fielders who had some pop in his bat, unlike say: Don Kessinger, Bud Harrelson, Gene Alley, Hal Lanier, Dal Maxvill, etc.

1986: San Diego's Steve Garvey was ejected for the first time in his career when he argued a play at home plate. Garvey, the on-deck hitter, protested the last out of a triple play, by the Atlanta Braves. Television replays showed that Bip Roberts (now a broadcaster on Giants' Comcast Network) was indeed safe.

1997: Alex Rodriguez of the Mariners became the first Seattle player to hit for the cycle vs. Detroit.

2001: Colorado pitcher, Mike Hampton hit 2 home runs , 3-RBI and recorded his 8th win as the Rockies defeated Houston 9-4.

Giants are off today. It's travel day to the nation's capital, Washington, DC to face the Nationals for a Friday to Monday series.

Kevin Marquez

#8 for the New York Yankees: Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (Born May 12, 1925 in St.Louis, MO.)
G-2120, AB-7555, R-1175, H-2150, 2B-321, 3B-49, HR-358, RBI-1430, BB-704, K's-414, AVG-.285
World Series totals for Berra:
G-75 AB-259, R-41, H-71, 2B-10, HR-12, RBI-39, AVG-.274.

Berra was one of only 4 players to be named MVP three times (1951, 1954 and 1955).
Berra was one of only 6 managers to lead both American League (1964-Yankees) and National League (1973-Mets) teams to the World Series.

The father of Dale Berra (Pittsburgh Pirates-INF) and Tim Berra (Baltimore Colts: KR-WR).

The Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Yogi Bear, was named after Lawrence Peter Berra.

He was taught the position of catcher under the mentorship of Bill Dickey. The Hall of Fame Yankee catcher was inducted into Cooperstown, NY in 1954.

As a fielder, Berra was truly outstanding. Quick, mobile and a great handler of pitchers, Berra led American League catchers eight (8) times in games caught and chances accepted (fielding percentage is calculated as chances accepted divided by total chances), 6 times in double-plays (a major league record), 8 times in putouts, 3 times in assists, and once (1) in fielding percentage.

Berra left the game with the AL records for catcher putouts (8723) and chances accepted (9520). He was also one of only four catchers to ever field 1.000 for the season, playing 88 errorless games in 1958.

Yogi Berra appeared in 14 World Serieses, winning 10 of them, both of which are records. It enabled him to establish the major league records for World Series games (75), At-bats (259), hits (71), doubles (10), singles (49), games caught (63) and catcher putouts (457).

In Game 3 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers, Berra hit the first pinch-hit homer in World Series history off Ralph Branca. (Branca delivered the "Shot Heard Round the World" pitch to Bobby Thomson.)

(Though Berra played in 14 World Serieses, he played a full game in just 9 of them, one fewer than Joltin' Joe DiMaggio, who played full games in all ten of his Series appearances.)

In 1946, Berra wore the uniform number #38, switching to #35 the following season. In 1948, he changed to #8 to honor his mentor, Bill Dickey. In 1972, the same year Yogi Berra was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame, his number was retired to honor both he and Bill Dickey.

William Malcolm Dickey. Born in Bastrop, LA, he broke into the major leagues with the New York Yankees in 1928. In 1928, Goose Goslin (Washington Senators) led in hitting with a .379 average. Babe Ruth hit 54-HRs. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig (NY Yankees) tied for the league lead with 142-RBI.

AB-6300, R-930, H-1969, 2B-343, 3B-72, HR-202, RBI-1209, SB-37, BB-678, K's-289, AVG-.313.

Dickey had been regarded as Lou Gehrig's best friend on those legendary Yankee teams.

A few Yogiisms:

- (as a general comment on baseball) "Ninety percent of this game is half mental."
- "It ain't over till it's over."
- "It's like deja vu all over again."

I am amazed at the importance of getting on back in Yogi's day and before. The walks-to-strikeouts ratio was such an important statistic to the players back then. Nowadays, if you see a batter with more walks than strikeouts it's more an aberration than anything else. It's as if someone surmised, 'It's generally understood that a good hitter makes an out 2 of 3 at-bats. So it isn't important how you get out as long as you get the one hit.'

Because all that really matters (to the media or All-Star voters) is that a player is batting .300, not how productive his .300 (or better) average is for his team. Strikeouts are non-productive outs. And it should always be the concern of the person batting to make his at-bat count and not be a free-swinger but a batter who adapts to what a pitcher is doing and makes contact. (Think of the strategy that would be involved if most batters were disciplined enough not to chase bad balls or fish for something they couldn't do anything with if they were able to get the bat on it?)

Take a look at all of the batters who are thought to be "great," (the most overused word in sports) and see what their strikeouts-to-walks ratio is...That being said, only Phat Albert or Prince Albert Pujols is worthy of being called "great." Currently, Pujols has 47-BB and 20-K's. Nobody (Chase Utley, Chipper Jones, Josh Hamilton, Lance Berkman) is close to his numbers and compared to those numbers prior to the 1970s it's a joke how bad the ratio has gotten for most position players.

Kevin Marquez (thanks to Wikipedia, Baseball-Reference)