Tim Wakefield For The Hall Of Fame!

God I love shocking discussion to life.

Wait, Wait, Wait…before you scroll to the comments section and blast me. Hear me out.

I am not saying that today, May 26, 2009 that Tim Wakefield is a lock for the hall. I am not even saying that Tim-ah as the locals call him is worthy.

My thoughts began to wander last Tuesday as Wakefield worked his way through eight innings of five hit, one run baseball. My first thought was, how does a guy 42 years old pulls this off?

Then my next thought was, who had done it better?

Well the truth is Phil Niekro holds the record for most wins after the age of 40 with 121.

Phil is a hall of famer on the strength of a 318-274 and 3342 strikeouts over the course of his 24 season career. I am not here to debate the Hall of Fame standing of Phil Niekro after all.

There are 72 pitchers in the Hall of Fame, from Don Drysdale and Nolan Ryan, to Cy young and Hilton Smith. Nobody has more wins than Cy Young, or losses for that matter, nobody has the more Strikeouts than Nolan Ryan, and Nobody has a lower ERA than Ed Walsh, and I am not suggesting that Tim Wakefield will pass any of them.

So as I sat in my seat at Fenway behind home plate. Section 21, Row 07, Seat 15, entered through Gate A in case anyone wanted to know, I couldn’t help that Wakefield looked better than ever. Then I looked at what Wakefield has done in 2009 when I got home and here was what I learned.

In eight starts, Timmy is 6-2 and has fashioned an ERA of 3.59. Now as is the mystery that is the knuckler he has given up 21 earned runs in eight starts, 12 of them coming in just two outings that accounted for 9.2 of 52.2 innings this year.

Why do I bring this up?

Well because I think you can compare Phil Niekro and Tim Wakefield.

Sure the era’s were different, but are they all that different when they are dealing?

Through the 1978 season Knucksie had won 197 and lost 171.

Wake on the other hand had fashioned record of 151 – 134.

So Niekro going into was would seem to be the twilight of any career was 26 games over .500. From age 40 through 48 he was an additional 18 games over .500

Now I mention this before Wakefield since hitting the big four zero has gone 32 – 25.

Now the first thing people will notice that Phil is plus 46 in the win column and he is also plus 37 in the loss column. Under the age of 40 Phil Niekro made 86 additional appearances, and 83 of those were starts.

He had an additional 83 decisions, which is not surprising when you see that as a product of his era that Niekro had 245 career complete games to Wakefield’s 62.

I would submit to you that part of the strength of Phil Niekro’s case is that he is one of only 16 players with 3000 plus strike outs. But when you look at Phil vs. Wakefield in a head to head comparison, Wake strikes out 6.1/nine for his career, Niekro only 5.6/nine innings of work.

For the record Wakefield who is not known for the K would be 16th among hall of famer’s in strikeouts per nine. That stat places him in front of Don Sutton, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn, Phil Niekro, Walter Johnson and Gaylord Perry.

Remember that stat of 72 pitchers in the hall? Well if Wakefield is able to duplicate Niekro’s 121 win after the age of 40, he will have more wins than 36 of them. Since turning 40, Wakefield has won .561 percent of his decisions, which is actually 26 points higher than his career average.

Over the 17 years so far Wakefield has mustered an average of 13 wins per year and a percentage of .535. To put that in perspective, Niekro’s winning percentage of .537 and 14 wins preseason.

Wakefield has never led the league in wins which Niekro did on two occasions in 1974 and 1979 (age 40). On the other hand Timmy has only led the league in losses once, compared to Knucksie’s four time, each season from 1977 through 1980 in fact.

What about walks? Great question, 1809 for PK, and 1095 for WK, so both turn in an average of 78 free passes per season.

Now that only puts him ahead of  Rich “Goose”Gossage and Hal Newhouser in the walks per nine category, but again throwing the knuckleball does exactly up your stats that indicate control.

We’ve seen the signs around the ball park, Wake for President, Wakefield for Mayor.

Considering we are in the era of the reliever, and closer, an era of less starts and less decisions.

121 wins after the age of 40 may seem more difficult to catch than the knuckleball itself. Considering his strikeout per nine ratio it’s not unreasonable that Wakefield could get to 2600 to 2800 strikeouts, or between 25th and 17th, I’d ask is it that unreasonable.

I can hear it now, he’s a compiler.

Only in baseball is longevity a curse.

He started, he relieved, he closed, he was on the mound to give up the Aaron Boone home run, you know when it mattered most. He also has two world series trophy’s in his pocket.

As he was putting the finishing touches on an eight innings gem at age 42 and Fenway was starting to sway to Sweet Caroline, I couldn’t help but wonder, Wakefield for Hall of Fame?

Penny Locks Down Red Sox Rotation Slot

While the Red Sox management has yet to make an official announcement, it seems clear that Brad Penny has nailed down the fifth starter spot and will make his first start in a Red Sox uniform on April 12th in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.

Penny, who was signed as a free agent during the offseason, made his third Spring Training start on April 2nd against the Twins, throwing 79 pitches (49 for strikes) and allowed three runs on five hits.

According to Adam Kilgore’s Extra Bases blog on Boston.com, (http://www.boston.com/), felt better on the mound than he did at any point last season.

Penny told Kilgore that he never reached 90 mph last season but reached 96 mph on one pitch versus the Twins.

The Red Sox enter the season with as deep a starting rotation as there is in major league baseball. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield will join Penny in the rotation with John Smoltz expected to return from rehab in early June.

As if that isn’t enough, top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz had a tremendous Spring but was demoted to AAA Pawtucket to begin the season.

RBI Magazine To Preview All Teams For 2009 Season

Welcome to RBI Magazine’s first annual Season Preview Edition. Over the next two weeks RBI Magazine will focus on previewing each individual team for the upcoming 2009 Season.

The previews will include; Key Additions, Key Subtractions, and in-depth looks at the lineup and pitching rotations.  We will also be including a season outlook along with predictions of what we expect from each organization.

Please feel free to comment and share these fantastic articles written by our finest authors at RBI Magazine. As each preview is posted, a link will be provided below. You will also be able to view each preview from our homepage.

Atlanta Braves Season Preview

Seattle Mariners Season Preview

Oakland A’s Season Preview

5 NL East Players To Watch For 2009

It’s been a wild offseason for the National League East.

The Mets welded their leaky bullpen by signing two closers.  The Braves loaded up on starting pitching by grabbing 365 wins off the market and recently added a hall of famer. Florida locked up their franchise player, Hanley Ramirez, to a six-year contract.  Even the lowly Nationals got involved, stealing Adam Dunn for $20 million.  The World Champion Phillies found themselves a new left fielder and brought back the majority of the 2008 squad.

Even though the spring is just starting, it will be April before long and each of these teams will be looking to a special player to lead them.

Each NL East team has to incorporate a new player or players into their plans and some will work out, and some won’t.  Here is a look at five players to keep an eye on in the NL East for 2009.

Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia Phillies LF
-Ibanez really the no-brainer choice for the Phillies being the newcomer.  He takes over for Pat Burrell in left field and has to bring the offense east.

The former Seattle Mariner is a steady bat and run producer, and although he lacks the power of Burrell, he was hardly housed in a launching pad at Safeco Field.  Ibanez has a career batting average of .286, and has not dipped below 100 RBI’s in the past three seasons.  Consistency was not a word in Pat Burrell’s vocabulary, so that part of Ibanez’s game will be welcomed.

For the Phillies to remain the cream of the crop in the National League, Ibanez will have to bring that stability to Philadelphia.  As of now, it looks like the six hole suits Ibanez best, and he could very well knock in a ton of runs in that spot.

If his track record is any indication of what he can provide this year for the Phils, everyone should be in for a treat.  Ibanez hit .327 with runners in scoring position, over 100 points higher than Burrell.  While Burrell was leaving his friends on the island, it’s safe to say Ibanez should bring them home.

There are many positives in the upgrade of Ibanez, one however, is not age.  He is going on 37-years old and seems to be aging well.  The Phillies need him to fend off father time for a few more years.

Dallas McPherson, Florida Marlins 3B
-If you’re a diehard fan, you may remember this name.  The guy was supposed to be a stud, but has played like a dud.

McPherson started out with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and was destined for stardom.  The third baseman of the future in Anaheim, McPherson smashed 40 homers between double-A and triple-A in 2004, and was poised to make the leap to the pros in ’05.  But over the next three seasons, McPherson did little in the bigs, and people began to call him a quadruple-A player.

He has since moved to Miami and is still the third baseman of the future, but now is 28-years old.  At 6’4”, 210 pounds, McPherson should be a perennial 35-homer guy, but it hasn’t panned out that way.  Instead, he is hoping to stay at the major league level for an entire year, something he has yet to do.

McPherson is yet another project player the Marlins so often find on their hands.  He is a reclamation story hoping to hit it big on a team filled with young players and castaways.  And even though the Marlins look shoddy on paper, they always find a way to be involved in the NL East. McPherson will be an need to be the power in the middle of the order, because the Marlins just don’t have anyone else.  Besides their franchise player Hanley Ramirez, they have traded both Josh Willingham and Mike Jacobs and Jeremy Hermida has not been able to put it all together.

Hopefully the kid is ready for stardom, because the Marlins are in need of that big bat.

Jeff Francouer, Atlanta Braves RF
-The dude has an absolute cannon for an arm, which has not changed.  What has changed for Jeff Francouer is his ability to hit.

Looking like an all-star caliber outfielder in 2006, Francouer went 29/103 and the sky was the limit.  In ’07 his home runs dropped (19), but his RBI’s went up (105) and he was still a special player in the making.

2008 was an entirely different story for kid with the killer arm.  Francouer struggled so mightily last year that he was sent down to the minors briefly in an attempt to wake up the sleeping bat.  Nothing worked and the slugger limped to the finish with this line: .239/11/71.

This year, the Braves need the Jeff of old if they want to compete. Complete with a refurbished rotation, Atlanta needs an offense to work with.  Chipper Jones has been the focus of the lineup for more than a decade and while injuries continue to hinder him, they have yet to find someone else to produce consistently in front of, or behind him.  Brian McCann has been one of the best catcher in baseball, but he is a catcher and they aren’t known for their bats.  Yunel Escobar is a nice player, but still has holes he needs to fix.

It all rests on the wide shoulders of Jeff Francouer to take over as “the” guy.

Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals 3B
-Last year was a long one for everyone involved in DC.  Zimmerman has suffered through three straight dismal seasons, with 2008 being the worst.  The Nats went 59-102,  never really showing much promise with a group that was thought to be on the up and up.

None of that was true, and no one suffered more than Zimmerman, who fought through injuries and played just 106 games.  His numbers hit three-year lows as he managed to hit just 14 home runs, which happened to be the most on the team.  How’s that for low.

Zimmerman was the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, and in his first full year in the bigs he looked like the real deal.  His 20/110 line was “star in the making” type stuff, and his second season was almost as nice, going 24/91.  But last year was an abomination, as the team tried to fly, but couldn’t get off the runway.  One of the main reasons was their ailing third baseman.

For this to be a positive year, and anything can be positive after a 59-win campaign, Zimmerman must be healthy and be the leader the Nationals drafted him to be.  He is the heart and soul of this franchise and although they have another big bat in the clubhouse these days, it’s still his squad.  Adam Dunn will join Zimmerman in the lineup and the two could have a huge impact on how Washington does in the criminally tough NL East. But, it could go south just as easily as last season.

Washington still has questions in the rotation and in their crowded, but underachieving outfield.  The one constant they need is Zimmerman.  He’s the engine that makes this club run.

JJ Putz, New York Mets RP
-It’s funny that a relief pitcher would be one of the most influential players in an entire division, but such is the case when you’re a New York Met.  Last season, the Mets were second in the league in blown saves with 29.  The back end of their bullpen was a leaky faucet and the offense couldn’t have been happy about that.

The Mets bats did their job, and the starting pitching wasn’t half bad either.  New York was tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the second most runs in the NL with 799.  It clearly was not the offense that let them down.  The rotation was stellar as well, as the starters had a cumulative ERA under four in 2008.

The bullpen was where the blame shall lay.  JJ Putz and Francisco Rodriguez have combined for 309 saves in their careers, and each have been an all-star.  They will now team up and anchor a bullpen that crumbled down the stretch last year and took their playoff hopes down with it.  Putz is the key here.

Putz right now is slated to be the eighth inning guy, but his role is just as important, if not more so, than the closer.  They now have a veteran presence that can actually get the game to the ninth inning, rather than blowing it after six or seven, which was the norm.  Putz may also need to step in for K-Rod once in a while, and it’s nice to count on another solid arm if that is the case.  The Mets should feel comfy with a lead after seven innings, because with two closers, they hope it will be game over.

Patrick Gallen is the Philadelphia Phillies Examiner for examiner.com.  He also hosts his own internet radio show, “Basketball Roundup” on the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. The show airs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am-12pm est.

Decision Time For Jason Varitek

Baseball fans across the country will possibly know by this afternoon if free agent catcher Jason Varitek will play another season with the Boston Red Sox. Varitek is expected to make a decision about continuing his career as a catcher in a Boston uniform or possibly sitting out the 2009 season, which may lead to his retirement according various sources.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Varitek has until 11:30 A.M. EST today to make his final decision. However, ESPN’s Jayson Stark just reported at 11:40 A.M. EST. that the 11:30 deadline (which has now passed) was nothing but a “media creation”.

It has also been said that Varitek is seriously considering sitting out the 2009 season or just hanging up the spikes on his career. Either way a decision is expected to come very soon!

The Red Sox have offered the catcher a 1-year $5MM contract that still remains on the table.

Jason Varitek is a Type A free agent who rejected the Red Sox’ arbitration offer earlier this offseason. He started 120 games for the Red Sox in 2008, his lowest number of career starts recorded – except in 2006 when injuries played a role.

Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Spring Training on Feb. 12.

Developing Story…..

Red Sox Make Offer To Jason Varitek With Deadline

The Red Sox have made it clear that it is “now or never” for catcher Jason Vartiek. According to various news sources the Boston Red Sox have formally made an offer to Varitek, that includes a deadline. The offer is expected to be worth $8-10 million over two years including a club option for $5 million or a $3 million player option for the 2010 season. Details about the deadline have not yet been released.

The offer comes after Varitek and Red Sox owner John Henry took part in a meeting on January 16th. The meeting was initiated by Varitek and agent Scott Boras to discuss the catcher’s future in Boston.

Jason Varitek is a Type A free agent who rejected the Red Sox’ arbitration offer earilier this offseason. He started 120 games for the Red Sox in 2008, his lowest number of career starts recorded – except in 2006 when injuries played a role.

Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Spring Training on Feb. 12.

Red Sox And Varitek Working Towards Possible Deal

RBI Magazine has learned from mulitple news sources that the Red Sox have begun negotiations with last year’s Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Varitek’s agent Scott Boras and Red Sox officials are still “exchanging ideas” even after their recent troubles.

Jason Varitek is a Type A free agent who rejected the Red Sox’ arbitration offer earilier this month and started 120 games for the Red Sox in 2008, his lowest number of career starts recorded – except in 2006 when injuries played a role.

Red Sox Say No Way To Mark Teixeira

RBI Magazine has learned that the Red Sox made a drastic attempt to sign Mark Teixeira yesterday morning in Texas. Red Sox officials boarded a plane and flew to meet with Teixeira and his agent Scott Boras.

According to MLB.com, during the meeting Red Sox officials examined the other possible deals that Teixeira was previously offered by the other teams still hunting for the switch-hitter’s services.

Red Sox principal owner John Henry decided that these offers could not be matched saying “No Way!” to Scott Boras and Mark Teixeira dropping all potential offers and the idea of Teixeira becoming part of the Red Sox organization.

Other teams said to be interested in the first-baseman are the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Angels.

Update 9:22 EST: Teixeira and his agent Scott Boras are seeking $195 million contract. Is he really worth this much? RBI Magazine says NO WAY!

RBI Magazine Forum Discussion

Yankees Are Chasing After Manny

“Manny” New York Yankee fans would love to see Manny Ramirez play baseball in the Bronx. The unrealistic thought of Manny in a Yankees uniform may not be so unrealistic for long.

According to multiple news sources like the Bleacher Report the Yankees will give everything they have to acquire Manny Ramirez if they can not get their hands on Mark Teixeria. The Yankees are expected to offer Ramirez roughly $20 million over a span of three years if there chances at the first baseman Teixeria do indeed bust.

The Yanks have already restructured their organization as promised, adding CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett to the defensive roster and tapping the cap for over $200 million.

The Los Angeles Angels and Washington Nationals have allegedly offered Teixeria an 8-year -$160 million option sometime over the duration of the last two weeks, an amount the Yankees will need to meet or beat.

Chances are in favor that one of these two players will be a valuable entity and acquisition to the Yankees come the 2009 season. Updates to follow….

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Phillies Place Calls To A.J. Burnett & Derek Lowe

While contract negotiations continue between veteran pitcher Jamie Moyer and the Philadelphia Phillies, the Phillies have added an interesting twist to the situation.

Reportedly, Philadelphia has contacted the agents of Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett.

Phillies analysts believe that the Phillies contacted Burnett  and Lowe to help speed up the process of working out a deal with Jamie Moyer.

However, other sources such as The Bleacher Report are reporting that Burnett has narrowed his list of potential teams down to six. Still on the list is Philadelphia!

Also, caught up in this bidding war are the Boston Red Sox who are continuing to pursue catcher Jason Varitek. The ‘Sox have been after Burnett also since the beginning of the off-season, but recently the Atlanta Braves seem to have the upper hand on Burnett.

How much will A.J. Burnett impact the decision surrounding the addition of Jason Varitek back to the Red Sox roster? Timing seems to be the key.

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