Retweet of the Day - July 17, 2013

New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (7-2, 2.35 ERA, 147 Ks) started for the National League in last night's 2013 MLB All-Star Game. Harvey has been a shining bright light in what has been yet another otherwise dark and dismal Mets season.

Harvey has 15 quality starts out of 19 starts this season. One of his two losses was in a game in which Harvey pitched seven innings and only gave up one run. Most of Harvey's starts this year have resulted in no-decisions. While he has been lights out, the Mets are one of the worst hitting teams in baseball. If your team can't get you a lead, even a small one, befreo you leave the game, you don't get the win. It's that simple.

Today's retweet is yet another zinger from Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton), who is becoming a Retweet of the Day regular:

"To Matt Harvey, tonight was just like any other game. And just like any other game, Matt Harvey will leave with a no decision."

Harvey struck out three American League batters in two innings pitched in his home stadium at Citi Field.

Image from http://ftw.usatoday.com

Changing the Game

New York Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera entered last night’s 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in the 8th inning at Citi Field in New York. Rivera, who is retiring at the end of this season, emerged from the American League bullpen on to an empty field. He received a 90 second ovation from all of the players in both dugouts and the fans in the National League ballpark. Rivera was set to pitch in his 13th and final All-Star Game, of which he would be named Most Valuable Player.

1

THE BIG DEAL 

No professional sport has more pomp and circumstance than baseball. For this reason, I appreciate the special moment in MLB, but very few truly stand out and make a lasting impression on me. However, there was something about Rivera, on his Farewell Tour, trotting onto the field to “The Sandman”, being the only person on the field, and receiving the extended ovation from teammates and opponents alike that stayed with me after it was over.

Rivera is among the first generations of career closers in Major League Baseball. While the role of closer became more formalized, structured, and regimented in the 1980s, a typical closer was, frankly, a washed up starting pitcher with some good stuff in short bursts. That is not to say there weren’t dominant closers before Rivera. Hall of Fame closing pitcher Dennis Eckersley was the uncontested saves king of baseball after moving from a starter’s role to the bullpen with the Oakland Athletics in the late 1980s. Eckersley was the American League Most Valuable Player and A.L. Cy young Award winner in the A’s division winning year of 1992.

Rivera, however, entered the game during an age of increased specialization among pitchers. Starters, long relievers, middle relievers, setup men, closers and even situational relievers brought into a game to face a single batter were becoming the norm in 1995, Rivera’s rookie year. The Sandman found his role, embraced it, did it better than anyone ever and set the standard for his craft.

M.V.P. 2

ONCE IN A LIFETIME PLAYER

There has never been a player like Rivera before. While his records may be broken at some point in our lifetimes, there will never be another player like him. Besides his dominance from start to finish in his career (he is currently second in the majors for saves with 30, in spite of being on a fourth place team), he has been the model of a first class professional athlete. Zero off-the-field issues…accessible to the fans…great teammate.

Mariano Rivera will leave the game at the end of this Yankees season as baseball’s all-time saves leader. Fans will have the rare experience of watching the greatest of all-time walk off the field for the final time. Until then, sports fans, regardless of rooting preference, are wise to take in and savor every moment Rivera offers us while he’s still playing. Last night, the people in Citi Field – players, coaches, fans – spoke for baseball fans everywhere.

A fitting send-off....

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1) Image from www.bleacherreport.com 
2) Image from www.faniq.com

Swinging a Hot Bat

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter played in his first game of the season last week following a long layoff from an ankle injury in the 2012 American League Championship Series. While he won't be playing in tonight's Major League Baseball All-Star Game in New York, he might be there. If so, there's a good chance you'll see his latest premium arm candy, his current girlfriend, model Hannah Davis.

1

If you go to the game, you may get lucky and see this view in the concessions line. 2

Casa de Jeter after the game (or before)? 3

This would be after the prior photo. 4

She wears the girl next door look well. 5

Take a close look. You may recognize Ms. David as "Genie" from the DIRECTV commercials. 6

I'd expect nothing less than a nice red carpet shot. 7

1, 2) Images from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
3) Image from www.picstopin.com
4) Image from www.fanshare.com
5) Image from www.modelsrating.com
6) Image from www.zimbio.com
7) Image from www.imgur.com

Must See Sports - Second Weekend of July 2013

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record, excluding series: 2-2
Last week's advantage/disadvantage record in series: 1-1
2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record, excluding series: 27-27 

2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record (series only): 3-4-1

It's all baseball this week, guys!


Friday, July 12

Major League Baseball

Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves

Bronson Arroyo (7-7, 3.55 ERA) - Reds vs Kris Medlen (6-8, 3.45 ERA) - Braves

Both pitchers appear to have shaken off rocky start to the year. Arroyo appears to have settled down and found his groove after giving up a lot of runs in the month of April and into early May. Medlen was the victim of some hard-luck losses (and no decisions) early in the year, but has won five of his last seven decisions.

Medlen was torched in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies and Arroyo posted a loss in spite of a quality start in his last appearance against the often punchless Seattle Mariners. Both men are looking to get back on track.

This could be a playoff preview. Both teams are among the best in the National League, though the Reds are embroiled in an N.L. Central division dogfight with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, with two of the three best records in Major League Baseball. This game and this series appear very even on paper, but the Braves are very tough at home and I think that gives them the edge in this pre-All-Star matchup.

Advantages: Game – Braves, Series – Braves

Arroyo's got his groove back. 1

Saturday, July 13

Major League Baseball

Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers

Tyler Chatwood (5-2, 2.74 ERA) - Rockies vs Zack Grienke (7-2, 3.91 ERA) - Dodgers

I don’t know much about third year Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood, but any Rockies pitcher with an ERA under 3.00 through 11 starts has my attention. Greinke has also been hot. He has won five straight decisions. He’s anything if not a seasoned game manager.

The Dodgers are on fire after being in last place last month. Unless you’ve been in a coma, you’ve heard about the rapid ascension of rookie right fielder Yasiel Puig (.397, 8 HR, 19 RBI) to stardom. However, shortstop Hanley Ramirez’s (.402, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 1.185 OPS, 36 GP) hot streak since returning to the lineup last month has flown under the radar. He has reached base in 22 of the last 23 games and is tearing the cover off of the ball.

Puig, Ramirez, and the starting pitchers have helped L.A. close to within a game and a half of the first place Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies have a couple of hot hands in outfielders Carlos Gonzalez (.307, 25 HR, 64 RBI) and Michael Cuddyer (.332, 15 HR, 52 RBI). It is also not clear if Puig, who left yesterday’s game with a hip injury, will play. But the Dodgers are hot and I like them in this series.

Advantages: Game – Dodgers, Series – Dodgers

Things are looking up for Hanley Ramirez and the Dodgers. 2

Sunday, July 14

Major League Baseball

Texas Rangers at Detroit Tigers

Martin Perez (3-1, 2.08 ERA) - Rangers vs Justin Verlander (9-6, 3.71, 122 Ks) - Tigers

The young Venezuelan Perez is off to a rapid start, with three wins in five starts this year. However, the first place Tigers are hot right now and the Rangers appear to be cooling off, being passed this week by the Oakland A’s for first place in the American League West division.  

Tigers third baseman and reigning American League Most Valuable Player Miguel Cabrera (.366, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 1.138 OPS) is playing like some kind of superman right now. Also, the Rangers will be without designated hitter Lance Berkman (.254, 6 HR, 34 RBI), who is on the 15 day Disabled List with a hip injury. Berkman has been dogged all season with nagging injuries. That’s enough to tip the scales in the Tigers’ favor on Sunday, in my opinion.

Advantages: Game – Tigers, Series – Tigers

Miguel Cabrera is the first MLB player, ever, to hit 30 home runs and 90 RBIs before the All-Star break. 3

Monday, July 15

MLB Home Run Derby presented by Chevrolet

The best sluggers in the National League go head-to-head with their American League rivals. American league headliners include Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees, former two time (2009, 2012) derby champion Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers, and Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles. National Leaguers include New York Mets third baseman David Wright, Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, and Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies.

Well, he is a vegan. 4

Tuesday, July 16

MLB All-Star Game

American League All-Stars at National League All-Stars

The Midsummer Classic pits the best against the best for the fans. For the players? One unlucky team will not have home field advantage in the World Series as a result of this exhibition game played by players and managed by managers who won’t give a damn the next day.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1) Image from http://commons.wikimedia.org 
2) Image from http://articles.chicagotribune.com
3) Image from www.bleacherreport.com
4) Image from www.mlbmemes.com
5) Image from www.thatsenuff.com

To Star or Not to Star

It's July, the slowest of the slowest days in American sports. Still, there are enough topics for debate to go around in the sports world. One such topic is that of rookie super sensation outfielder Yasiel Puig (.414, 8 HR, 19 RBI, 1.109 OPS) of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

PUIG-MANIA

The Dodgers have seen a bevy of stars over the years. Duke Snyder, Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Steve Garvey, Fernando Valenzuela, Kirk Gibson, Mike Piazza, Hideo Nomo, Manny Ramirez...there has been an endless supply of stardust in Dodger Blue and at Chavez Ravine.

However, just a month into his major league career, I've never seen anything quite like Yasiel Puig. His story of how he simply made it to the majors is compelling. He defected from Cuba and (I am loosely paraphrasing what has been reported) floated into United States waters in a dinghy or a small motor boat. He and the passengers were rescued by the United States Coast Guard and processed. Upon processing, the officials were able to make the connection that he was a coveted baseball prospect trying to reach the promised land in America.

That in and of itself is a fascinating story about the human spirit and the American dream. But Yasiel Puig is not just any other foreign prospect. Oh no! No! No! This guy, so far, has been out of this world.

Puig mania! 1

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

Before we discuss his performance, let's take a step back at the physical specimen Puig is. Puig is 6'3", 245 pounds. He is only 22 years old. His arm is like a cannon. He is fleet of foot, playing in right field and having stolen 5 bases in just 34 games played. In contrast, San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, a superior physical specimen in his own right, is 6'1", 240 pounds. Puig has the body type to light suckers up and knock chumps out on the gridiron.

Puig has gunned down opponents three times from the outfield in the last month. As mentioned, he is a base stealing threat. His current batting average? A paltry .414. He has hit eight home runs since being called up with 19 RBIs. Did I mention he has only played 34 games?!? Arm, speed, power, hitting for average. Puig has demonstrated four of the five tools of a Major League player at an eye-popping level (the jury is still out on his glove, with two errors committed in the outfield).

I just hope the young man realizes what a cesspool L.A. can be. Just keep Lindsay Lohan away from him, no matter what! 4

HEY NOW! (MAYBE) YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR

With the Midsummer Classic approaching in the next two weeks, the sports world has been abuzz with whether or not Puig has earned a spot on the National League All-Star roster. The traditionalists think he hasn't "earned" a spot and John Q. Fan doesn't give a damn. He wants to be entertained. He wants to see Puig play!

Personally, I am of the opinion that the All-Star break and its festivities are for the fans. Major League Baseball would be doing those fans a disservice by not giving them what they want. Postseason awards are about the players. The All-Star Game is an exhibition game with a caveat (deciding which league is awarded home field advantage in the World Series) that only affects two teams out of 30 in MLB.

Major League Baseball made the right choice by putting the decision to the fans for a vote. Puig is among the five National League candidates for the Final Vote, determining the last spot on each team. I am going to go out on a limb and guess that the fans will put Puig in that spot.

Bryce Harper: The fans wanted him in the 2012 All-Star Game and they got it. It should be no different with Puig. 2

SHOW ME

Last season, rookie Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals made the All-Star cut in spite of being called up well after the start of the season. The traditionalist argument has been that Harper had played 63 games by the All-Star break, much more than the 40 games or so Puig will have played by the same time this season.

While Puig still has six games remaining before the All-Star break, he currently has 55 hits, 17 extra base hits, 8 of which are home runs. Puig has 19 RBIs. Harper had just 15 more hits, the same number of homers,  and only six more RBI while having played more than 20 additional games. The point being that Puig has comparable production numbers in spite of playing far fewer games.

Harper is a rookie phenom. There are veterans on the All-Star roster who pale in comparison to Puig. Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon has not missed a game this season and only has 27 extra base hits (nine home runs). He has played nearly three times as many games as Puig yet does not even have double the base hits.

Puig is a rookie. Puig is new. Puig is inexperienced. Puig...is...a...STAR! Major League Baseball made the right decision by putting Puig in the final vote. The fans, as I anticipate, will make the right decision by putting Puig on the roster for baseball's signature single game event.

How many players have hit a grand slam this year? How many did it in the first month of their careers? 3

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1, 2) Images from www.usatoday.com
3) Image from www.elitedaily.com
4) Image from www.bubblews.com