Click here for a great deal on an autographed Mike Schmidt MLB authenticated Bat as shown in the picture on the right, below.

These MLB authenticated Mike Schmidt Bats are marketed by  onlinesports.com.  Schmidt’s autograph appears midway on barrell of the bat.

Note that when onlinesports.com has a product that they warrant as MLB authentic, they list it as such. Buyers should be aware that when they do not warrant a product in this way, it is not MLB authentic. Such authentication can be found on the left side of the product page under brand. 

Mike Schmidt is generally recognized throughout the baseball world as among the greatest all-around 3rd baseman the game has known.  No less than the  Phillies Nation blog has pronounced Schmitty as the greatest of all Phillies.  Schmidt hit 548 career homers, won 9 Gold Glove awards at third base and led the Phils to 10 winning seasons over his 18 year Hall of Fame career — an entire career spent with the Phils.

Among the highlights of Schmidt’s career are 6 divisional titles, 2 NL pennants, a World Series title and being in the center of 2 of the Wildest games in all of MLB history;  April 17, 1976 when Schmidt hit 4 homers tying the all-time one-game record, and the legendary May 17, 1979; 23-22 game — both against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Buy it here, Now: The Mike Schmidt MLB authentic autographed bat.

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Here is an All-Time MLB statistical oddity.

The boxscore of the Chicago White Sox 10-6 win over the Detroit Tigers reports that the Elias Sports Bureau says that this is an MLB First.

In the game’s second inning, White Sox rightfielder Jermaine Dye, in his 14th MLB season and batting 5th in the order, pounced on a 2-1 pitch from Detroit’s Zach Miner (1-1) and pounded it over the left-center wall for his 300th career homer to lead off the inning.  Then, the very next hitter, 1st baseman Paul Konerko worked a full-count against Miner before blistering his next offering out to leftfielder for his career 300th dinger.

The White Sox pounded 4 homers in all as leftfielder Carlos Quentin belted a pair of homers while going 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs.  The Sox amassed 16 hits in the game.

The AP recap caught this comment from Dye regarding their career homers;

“I think we’re just good hitters with power,” Dye said. “I think we both hit a lot of line drives that are able to get out of the ballpark. You look at Jim (teammate Jim Thome) and he’s 250 ahead of us. So I don’t know if you can call us home-run hitters.”

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5 year veteran 1st baseman Kevin Youkilis and the Boston Red Sox inked a four-year, $41 million deal 3 days ago.

Youkilis had a break-out season in 2008 hitting 29 homers, driving in 115 runs and hitting .312 in 145 games for the BoSox batting clean-up behind either Mike Lowell, who was often injured and used as DH in 2008, or  David Ortiz who was either injured or slumping for a large part of the season and who is generally the DH.  

The AP report notes:

The 29-year-old gets a $1 million signing bonus, $6 million this year, $9,125,000 in 2010 and $12 million in each of the following two seasons. Boston has a $13 million option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout.

Youkilis…. made just four errors in 125 games at first base, where he won a Gold Glove in 2007, then switched to third when Mike Lowell was injured.

Youkilis holds the major league record of 238 straight games at first base without an error, a streak that ended last June.

He finished third in AL MVP voting in 2008, behind Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau.

“Kevin has been a mainstay for us and a big part of our major league club through a lot of successful seasons and a big part of our future and we solidified that with this move today,” general manager Theo Epstein said.

Youkilis, who first achieved fame in the noted baseball book, ‘Moneyball,’ made his debut in Boston’s magical 2004 season, capped off with the first Red Sox World Series title in 86 years. However, the next season was the most trying of his career, as he was shuttled between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket.

Youkilis boasts a career .289 BA and got 2 doubles in 9 AB in Boston’s  2007 World Series triumph and hit 3 homers in the ALCS as the Red Sox rallied from a 3 games to 1 deficit to defeat the Cleveland Indians.

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Boston Red Sox 3rd year 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia was the hands-down winner of the 2008 AL MVP Award.  He becomes the first 2nd baseman in nearly 50 years, and only the 10th 2nd baseman to win the award since AL and NL awards were first presented in 1931.  Pedroia had won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2007.

The last 2nd baseman to win the award in the AL was Nellie Fox of the Chicago White Sox in their pennant-winning 1959 season.  In the succeeding 48 seasons since Fox won the award in the AL, the NL boasts four MVP award winning 2nd basemen; Cincinnati’s Joe Morgan in 1976 and 1977, Chicago Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg in 1984 and San Francisco’s Jeff Kent in 2000. In each instance from Fox to Kent, their clubs won either pennants or division championships.  And for trivia, Fox, the last AL 2nd base recipient, was the same height as Pedroia at 5′9″.  But, unlike Fox, Pedroia’s Red Sox did not win the 2008 AL pennant, losing out to Tampa Bay in the regular season as well as in the ALCS.

Pedroia far outdistanced Minnesota’s Justin Morneau who finished 2nd in  the balloting.

Yahoo’s Gordon Edes notes;

Pedroia made a strong case by becoming just the fifth second baseman since 1937 to have a season with 200 or more hits, 100 or more runs scored, 80 or more RBIs, and 40 or more doubles.

He started 155 games, had just one month all season in which he hit below .300, hit .307 with runners in scoring position, and had a .298 average with two strikes. He also stole 20 bases in 21 attempts, and and struck out just 52 times in 653 at-bats.

When the Red Sox didn’t have a cleanup hitter in August after Mike Lowell was hurt and Manny Ramirez was traded, Pedroia stepped in for four games and belted 12 hits in 18 at-bats.

“Pedroia said it’s long overdue,” Boston manager Terry Francona said of his new No. 4 hitter, “and Ortiz said he’s retiring.”

When Pedroia played in his first All-Star Game last July in Yankee Stadium, he noticed that Francona had dropped him from his customary No. 2 spot in the batting order to ninth.

Pedroia stuck his head in Francona’s office. “Hey,” he cracked, “I thought we were trying to win this game.”

That kind of brash confidence has been a critical component of Pedroia’s game, enabling him to win over detractors who questioned his size (he’s listed at 5-9 and 180 pounds) and his big swing. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen jokingly likened him to a jockey but said that he wished that the Sox had gotten rid of Pedroia instead of Mannny Ramirez.

“How do you not love him,” one scout said Tuesday. “He brings energy to the table, he plays with passion. Every manager in the American League will tell you they’d love to have him. He plays like a giant.”

AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker adds this on Pedroia for Yahoo sports;

Pedroia led the AL in hits, runs and doubles in helping the Red Sox win the AL wild-card berth. He batted .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs and also stole 20 bases. Earlier this month, he also won his first Gold Glove.

Pedroia, who made just $457,000 last season, didn’t have an MVP bonus provision in his contract. Morneau earned $75,000 and Mauer, Youkilis and Pena got $25,000 each.

Just a final observation about Pedroia;

He looks to be on a Chase Utley curve and Utley is seen to be THE preeminent 2nd baseman of of recent years. Take a look at Utley’s OBP and SLG for his 3rd through 6th seasons and you’ll see that Pedroia, aside from Utley’s predominance in hitting homers, was not far off in this, his 3rd season.

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Albert Pujols, 1st baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals was awarded the 2008 NL MVP Award over his closest competitor, Phillies 1st baseman Ryan Howard, in balloting which was much closer than it should have been.

Although this blog is partial to the Phils, 2008 World Series champs, the obvious truth is that the comparative 2008 performance numbers between Pujols and Howard, not withstanding Howard’s fine September finish, are not even close.

True, Howard led all of baseball with 48 homers and 146 RBIs, but he batted a a woeful (for an MVP candidate) .251 and struck out an unsightly 199 times in roughly 690 plate appearances.  That’s a strikeout every 3.47 plate appearances.

Also true, Pujols’ Cardinals finished in 4th place, 11 1/2 games off of the   Cubs’ pace in the NL Central Division, but check out his numbers compared with Howard’s above; League-leading .357 batting average to go along with 37 homers and 116 RBIs.  His 54 strikeouts in 624 plate appearances puts him at an astounding strikeout every 11.5 plate appearances.  Add to that his .462 OBP and .653 SLG % as compared with .339 and .543 for Howard.

Despite Pujols’ dissing of Howard’s receiving of the MVP in 2006 (they’re close friends) claiming that “Someone who doesn’t take his team to the playoffs doesn’t deserve to win the MVP,” Howard, despite his MLB-leading 48 homers and 146 RBIs just didn’t deserve the award in light of his appalling strikeout numbers.

PhilliesNation’s Tim Malcolm provides additional interesting stats and background to back up the fact that Pujols clearly deserved the award.

AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker notes the other award contenders for Yahoo sports;

Los Angeles outfielder Manny Ramirez and Milwaukee pitcher CC Sabathia, who both led postseason pushes after being traded by AL teams in July, also drew strong support.

Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun was third with 139 points, and Ramirez fourth at 138. Houston’s Lance Berkman was fifth and Sabathia sixth.

Personally, I don’t think that players who split leagues in a season should qualify off of their 2nd half performances.  It just somehow doesnt seem right or accurate.  Sabathia, while excellent at 11-2 since coming into the NL with 7 complete games, I view as problematic because of his “rented property status” with the Brewers.  Plus I hold that Manny, also “rented,” is extremely shabby and non-hustle on defense and has base-running issues and foibles which severely detract from his stick prowess.

Another Phil, closer Brad Lidge finished 8th in the MVP voting on the strength of his 41 saves in 41 opportunites in the regular season.  He finished going 48 for 48 including the playoffs and the World Series.

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Following a 48 hour rain suspension, the Phiillies and the Tampa Bay Rays, tied 2-2 after the top of the sixth inning, renewed play by trading single runs in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh before 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz singled in the winning run. J.C. Romero and closer Brad Lidge were lights-out in the eighth and ninth innings as the Phillies bested the Rays for the World Series Title by 4 games to 1 and a 4-3 score.

Ace lefthander Cole Hamels, who didn’t get his 4th post-season win, was awarded the Series MVP award for having pitched a solid 7 innings in series game 1 as well as another excellent outing going 6 innings in game 5 under treacherous weather conditions.

Reliever Grant Balfour stayed in the game to begin the Phillies’ sixth inning and gave up an inning opening double to Geoff Jenkins who pinch-hit for Hamels.  Shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ sacrifice bunted Balfour’s 1st pitch to 3rd base moving Jenkins to 3rd with 1 out.  Rightfielder Jayson Werth followed by lining Balfour’s 2-2 pitch to centerfield scoring Jenkins to put the Phils up 3-2.   J.P. Howell took over from Balfour struck 2nd baseman Chase Utley out on 3 pitches and got 1st baseman Ryan Howard to pop out to 3rd base to end the inning.  But the Phils had taken a 3-2 lead and it looked like Hamels would actually get his 5th post-season win.

Ryan Madson took over pitching duties in the seventh inning and struck out catcher Dioner Navarro for out 1.  But then Rocco Baldelli nailed Madson’s first offering for a solo homer to left and the game was again tied.  Two pitches later, shortstop Jason Bartlett singled to left and advanced to 2nd base on a Howell’s sacrifice bunt to the pitcher.  Manager Manuel then went to J.C. Romero who was greeted with lead-off hitter 2nd baseman Akinori Iwamura’s infield grounder over 2nd base. Bartlett went to 3rd and tried to score on the play when he was fooled on Utley’s alert bluff throw to first. Bartlett was a sitting duck being tagged out at home on the play as the Rays side was retired and Romero and the Phillies escaped a Rays go-ahead threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, leftfielder Pat Burrell led off by lining
Howell’s 1-1 pitch off the centerfield wall for a double.  Eric Bruntlett ran for Burrell and stayed in the game to play leftfield in the late innings.
Pedro Feliz then lined Howell’s 1 strike pitch to centerfield to drive in what turned out to be the winning run.  Catcher Carlos Ruiz and Romero both grounded out to end the inning but the Phils had the lead by 4-3.

After leftfielder Carl Crawford singled to open the eighth inning, centerfielder B.J. Upton grounded into a shortstop-to-2nd-to-1st doubleplay and 1st baseman Carlos Pena lined out to leftfield to retire the side.  Romero, who threw 14 pitches was credited with his 2nd win of the World Series.
 
The Phillies went down in the eighth as only Chase Utley reached on a  David Price walk.

Closer Brad Lidge, who went perfect for the season with 48 save in 48 opportunities through the World Series, rang up the Rays in the ninth inning.  Lidge only gave up a 1 out single to catcher Navarro and wound up the series in true Tug McGraw style — a swinging third strike on pinch hitter  Eric Hinske for the final out.  Then it was fireworks, horn-honking auto caravans and party-time in Philly with Harry Kalas giving another rendition of the Ole’ Blue Eyes tune — “High Hopes.”

Rays reliever J.P. Howell, who gave up the winning run in the seventh, was charged with his 2nd loss of the World Series and his 3rd of the post-season.

For the Phillies, 45 year old Jamie Moyer and all, it was their 2nd World Series title in the franchise’s 126-year history.  AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi noted for Yahoo sports;

The bullpen led the NL in ERA (3.22) and winning percentage (.589) during the regular season, and was even better in the playoffs. They were the biggest reason the Phillies were 89-0 this year when leading after eight innings— including 10 postseason wins.

MVP winner Hamels received both the MVP trophy and keys to a new sports car.

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