Ever since Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947 the MLB has slowly become a multicultural society. During the early 90’s there was an influx of Japanese pitcher’s but never posistion players. Then in 2001 there was Ichiro Suzuki who became an instant star eventually setting the MLB record for hits. Hediki Matsui came over as well and provided Japanese born players can provide power as well. Along with all of the success stories, there have been failures as well most noteably with the Mets. As the Mariners and Ichiro shined the Mets had Tsuyoshi Shinjo, then the Yankees landed “Godzilla” Hideki Matsui, and the Mets signed the injury proned Kazuo Matsui. Now the Mets are going after catcher Kenji Jojima.
Category: MLB
MLB
When the Atlanta Braves named Roger McDowell as the new pitching coach set to replace Leo Mazzone, it brought two images to my mind: 1) the former major league pitcher Jack McDowell–who was known as much for his antics as he was his pitching ability, and 2) the mock hamburger restaurant in “Coming to America” that boasted of having the “golden arcs” as opposed to the “golden arches”.
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An exciting four-game sweep
It isn’t very often that a four-game sweep can be called exciting, but the 2005 World Series had a lot of excitement packed into a short series. Extra innings, timely hits, great defense, tough pitching, big home runs from unlikely sources… this was a series that should have gone the distance just for the possibility of further drama.
When Major League Baseball hands out its postseason hardware, it probably won’t look like this (but it should). Find out why David Ortiz is the AL MVP and why the Mets want a refund from Carlos Beltran.
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World Series Preview: Game 4
With a three-game lead in the series, the White Sox turn to former Houston minor leaguer Freddy Garcia to cap the White Sox first title in over 80 years. Houston area native Brandon Backe, in the biggest game of his life, will try and keep the Astros playing another day.
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World Series Preview: Game 3
With the White Sox ahead two games to none, the Astros will turn to NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt to get them back into the series.
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Sox in seven
To all who say this year’s World Series will be anything but “worth watching,” go watch football and leave me alone to watch what will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most even-matched Series in recent memory.
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"Flipping the switch"
By Alex Fitzsimmons, email [email protected]
It’s the worst feeling in the world. The kind of feeling you get when you step in an airplane and breathe in a whiff of unfiltered gook mixed with dead skin and a glut of infectious bacteria. Whether you dominate for 8 2/3 innings or get smacked around for 1 1/3, it doesn’t matter–you feel helpless, vulnerable.
With two on and two out in the top of the fifth inning, Wednesday, St. Louis Cardinals skipper Tony Larussa trotted out to the pitcher’s mound, lifted his finger, signaled to the bullpen, and sent starter Mark Mulder down the lonely, shameful walk to the clubhouse.
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World Series Preview: Game 1
The White Sox and the Astros are set to square off in the 2005 Fall Classic. Here’s a look at Game 1’s starters, and some series keys.
After two years of pitching in the shadow of Roger Clemens, Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt has shown this postseason why some consider him the Astros top starter.