I find very interesting contrast and irony here.  Bounty hunter free agent  Jeff Suppan, a pitcher with a lifetime 106-101 mark, a 4.60 lifetime ERA and who played for five teams during his 12 year career thus far signs a  $42 million, 4 year contract leaving his previous team, the St. Louis Cards for big bucks in Milwaukee while former outfielder Jim Rice struggles hoping to win induction to Baseball’s Hall of Fame having played 16 years compiling 2,452 hits, 382 homers and a lifetime .298 batting average — all with one team; the Boston Red Sox.

Sure Suppan was 2006 NLCS MVP, but I’m a throw-back to the days when baseball players were identified with one team, as Rice was with Boston, as  Lefty Carlton and Mike Schmidt were with the Phillies, as Spahn and  Burdette were with the Boston, and then Milwaukee Braves, Carl Yastrzemski was for the Red Sox and as Stan Musial was with the Cardinals.  All of them either played their entire careers, or the prime of their careers with one team and who only appeared for other clubs once their careers wound down and their talents were dissipating.

Rice didn’t make the big bucks until late his career and we all know that Boston did not win a World Championship between the years 1919 and 2003 primarily because of the “curse of Ruth” which curse lore claims occurred because;

Boston owner and theatrical producer Harry Frazee used the proceeds from the sale to finance the production of a Broadway musical, usually specified as No, No, Nanette. In fact, Frazee backed many productions before and after Ruth’s sale, and No, No, Nanette did not see its first performance until five years after the Ruth sale and two years after Frazee sold the Red Sox. 

At any rate, in 1986, Rice was in the same lineup with perennial All Star infielder Wade Boggs who possessed a .328 lifetime batting average, fellow power-hitting outfielder Dwight Evans, outfielder/first baseman Don Baylor and, of course Billy “Buck” Buckner who’s error lost the 6th game in the 10th inning of that year’s World Series. Boston lost the Series in game 7 after having held 2-1 and 3-2 leads in games won.

Boston Globe staff writer Nick Cafardo reports on Jim Rice and the Hall of Fame;

Jim Rice tries not to think about it anymore. When he does it only raises his ire and his blood pressure. All of the instincts he has about what’s right and what’s wrong are thrown askew.

In this often unmarked, confusing road to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., he did it the right way.

He knows his numbers match and surpass those of Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez. He knows that along with Dave Winfield and Eddie Murray he was the dominating slugger of the mid 1970s-mid ’80s. Last year more voters understood the numbers — 64.8 percent of them, just 10.2 percent (or 53 votes) short of induction. He’s only got two years of eligibility remaining after this.

If there is truly justice, when the balloting closes Dec. 31, there will be enough voters who have checked off his name, as this voter has for the last 13 years.

If there’s any justice, he will be elected along with Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, and Mark McGwire will not.

He did it the right way. McGwire is suspected of taking performance-enhancing drugs. Until McGwire’s name is cleared, if it ever will be, he will not receive the support of voters who would rather wait until there’s evidence one way or the other.

“So do you think you’ll get inducted this time?” Rice was asked after returning to Boston from his other home in South Carolina.

“I don’t know the answer to that,” he said. “I don’t understand the voters sometimes. If you have the numbers to get in, if they compare to other people you’ve already put in, if the numbers are there, then why aren’t you in? Why is Bert Blyleven not in with all of those wins and all of those strikeouts? Why is Lee Smith not in? Goose Gossage? Doesn’t he have the numbers to get in? If the numbers are there, then why not? Why are so many people excluded? I never understood it.”

Nor should he. The voting is subjective. It takes many factors into consideration, including the character issue, for which McGwire will be penalized. “If you cheated, you shouldn’t be in. If you broke the rules, you shouldn’t be in. That’s why Pete Rose isn’t in. He gambled on baseball,” said Rice. “McGwire, you know, he was always a power hitter, but if he took something he shouldn’t have taken then he shouldn’t be in.”

Most observers of Hall of Fame voting feel Rice would have a better shot next season because this time the focus is on Ripken, Gwynn, and McGwire. But why should that matter? Voters are allowed to put 10 players on each ballot. Why wouldn’t Rice get all the votes he got last year? Why wouldn’t some of those voters who are ignoring McGwire stand up and say Rice played the game hard, played the game right, and amassed the numbers. Why can’t Rice get in now?

“I’ve been an advocate for Jimmy for years,” said former Sox second baseman and NESN color man Jerry Remy. “I played with him and I knew compared to the rest of the league for those five or six years there was nobody better. He was the most feared hitter. Nobody wanted to pitch to him. I think there were times Jimmy played when he shouldn’t have. But playing every day whether he was hurt or whether he felt fine was important to him. He respected the game and wanted to help his team win.

“There’s got to be a place for him in Cooperstown. People have to understand what he was.”

Rice hit .298 with 382 career homers, 1,451 RBIs, and an MVP award in 16 seasons . He points to former teammate Perez and to Cepeda (who played in Boston in 1973, a year before Rice’s debut) as comparable players. Cepeda hit .297 with 379 homers, 1,365 RBIs, and one MVP (1967) in 17 years. Perez hit .279 with 379 homers and 1,652 RBIs in 23 seasons with the Big Red Machine.

“If you look at the numbers, we’re close,” Rice said. “But Tony played 23 years. Cepeda played longer than I did. I played 16. If I had played 23 years what would my numbers look like?”

Though in fairness when Rice was done, he was really done.

What Remy likes to point out is Rice was not only a slugger, he was a hitter. Rice is the only player in history with 35 or more homers and 200 or more hits in three consecutive seasons. He’s one of 31 players with more than 350 homers and a .290-plus career batting average.

If voters had a negative perception of Rice it appears it’s fading. He is now perceived positively against this generation of steroid-tainted players. We’ll soon find out whether his new image, of the clean, hard-working, and, most importantly, natural ballplayer, wins him the recognition many of us feel he deserves.

Somehow, I think that the fans today don’t look at players as embodying the spirit of the home club as they did in years past, and it takes something away from the spirit of the game when both players and teams have no loyalty.  But then, that’s my opinion.

In my humble, players like Jim Rice and Tommy John deserve a whole lot more consideration for the Hall of Fame than does Mark McGwire. 

Here’s hoping that Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Freddie Garcia remain with the Phillies for many successful seasons.

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As baseball talk turns more a more to the annual Hall of Fame balloting in January, it seems a hall of shame why Tommy John didn’t make the Hall long ago.

As a Phillies fan, I remember how John continually baffled the Phillies with his no-speed pitches.  He drove the Phils crazy over his 6 years (1972 thru  1978) with the L.A. Dodgers, particularly when the two teams locked up during the National League Championship Series in both 1977 and 1978.

 Baseball Library writes this about Tommy John;

A sinkerballer with impeccable control, John’s major league career spanned 26 seasons and seven U.S. presidents, both ML records. In mid-career, he made history by becoming the game’s first “right-handed southpaw” when he had a tendon transplanted from his right forearm to his left elbow to remedy a tear that threatened to drive him from baseball.

In 1973 he led the NL in winning percentage with a 16-9 record. John seemed to be embarking on his best season in 1974, posting a 13-3 mark before injuring his pitching elbow in July.

Dr. Frank Jobe performed the revolutionary surgery that saved John’s career, and it was amazingly successful. The soft-throwing John joked that he told Jobe to “put in a Koufax fastball. He did, but it was Mrs. Koufax’s.” He underwent rehabilitation for a year and a half, missing the entire 1975 season, and his 10-10 record in 1976 earned him the Comeback Player of the Year Award. He then won 20 games in three of the next four seasons. John was 20-7 for the Dodgers in 1977 and 17-10 in ‘78, helping them to the World Series each year. But the Dodgers lost to the Yankees both times. John then signed with the Yankees as a free agent before the 1979 season and won 21 and 22 games in his first two seasons in New York.

• Oct 5, 1978 - Tommy John notches a 4-hit shutout to beat the Phils 4-0‚ as Davey Lopes drives in 3 runs. The Dodgers lead 2 games to none.
• Nov 2, 1977 - The Phillies Steve Carlton outpoints the Dodgers Tommy John to win his 2nd Cy Young Award. Carlton led the NL with 23 wins‚ losing 10‚ and posting a 2.64 ERA.
• Oct 8, 1977 - The Dodgers clinch the NL flag with a 4-1 win in front of an LCS-record crowd of 64‚924 at Philadelphia. Dusty Baker‚ the playoff’s MVP‚ hits a 2-run homer and scores twice as Tommy John allows 7 hits in 9 innings of work.

Tom Singer of MLB reports on Tommy John’s feelings about the Hall of Fame;

At some point, having more wins than anyone not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame loses its distinction and becomes just a festering frustration.

Tommy John, winner of 288 games, reached that point a long time ago. And he still appears a better bet to make the American Medical Association’s Hall of Fame than baseball’s.

As a pitcher, consistency was his chief asset. He won 13-plus games 11 times, with an amazing 22 seasons spanning the first (1965) and last (1987).

As a Cooperstown candidate, John has been just as consistent, which, in this case, isn’t such a good thing.

The left-hander is in his 13th year on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. He reached his highest vote total percentage of 29.61 in 2006, but his annual support has been in that same range since his first year of eligibility, in 1995.

A candidate must get 75 percent of the vote to gain election. Results of the 2007 BBWAA Hall of Fame election will be announced on Jan. 9, and the induction ceremony will take place on July 29 in Cooperstown.

While puzzling, John’s steady-but-not-sensational Hall of Fame run appropriately reflects his reputation during his active years. He didn’t put fear into batters who, quite the contrary, couldn’t wait to grab a stick against his soft stuff. Then they would go to bed muttering about another hapless night of flailing at it.

Similarly, the sum of his accomplishments have been no more impressive to voting members of the BBWAA.

John, who had every right to expect to be quickly ushered into Cooperstown, has dealt with his disappointment.

“I have no control over it. I don’t really worry about things I can’t control. Let it fall where it may,” he has told MLB.com.

He was the epitome of the crafty left-hander, a soft-thrower who kept infielders busy dealing with the products of his sinker. For John, however, it was just another form of dominance.

He had 162 complete games. Randy Johnson, a left-hander on the opposite end of the spectrum perceived as the ultimate southpaw poison, is still looking for his 99th as he heads into his 20th season. John had 46 shutouts; Johnson is stuck on 37.

John will always be synonymous with a historic elbow operation that now bears his name. Dr. Frank Jobe performed the medical miracle, transplanting a ligament into his dead left arm, but John performed the ensuing pitching miracle.

He won more games following the surgery (164) than before it. But Hall voters who recently rewarded Dennis Eckersley for having two successful careers (as a starter, then a closer) haven’t shown John the same consideration.

John must wonder whether he would at least be closer to Cooperstown, if not already on the wall, had he won 40 fewer games but taken six fewer seasons to do it.

To the skeptic, he hung around from 1984-89 to chase personal goals, persistence now perhaps being held against him.

To John, it was a matter of still being able to pitch at a high level and still being asked to do so. He didn’t pitch out the string in Detroit or Pittsburgh or some other doormat of the times, but in the Bronx, going 29-24 for the Yankees in his last four seasons.

“I was one of the five best pitchers the Yankees could find in baseball for the last four or five years,” he recalled, with some pride and some lingering bitterness.

“I didn’t strike guys out and I gave up hits, but I didn’t let runs score and I won ballgames. That’s what you’re supposed to do,” John has said. “I think my win total, my longevity, coming back from the arm surgery, all of the wins I had post-surgery — that should be enough.”

Tommy John’s eligibility for the BBWAA ballot for the Hall of Fame expires in 2009 after 15 years.

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Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has had an awards-filled November.  If  Reggie Jackson is forever remembered as “Mr. October”, than Howard is worthy of “Mr. November” for the multitude of awards, plaques and honors bestowed upon him this month which still has 8 more days to go.

Well actually, the honors started flowing Ryan Howard’s way 11 days into October with his receiving the Sporting News Player of the Year Award.  Then on October 29, he was honored along with Derek Jeter with presentation of the Hank Aaron Award.  But the deluge of awards was yet to begin.

The MLB All Stars travelled to Japan to take on the Japanese All Stars in what has become an annual exhibition series.  During the first 9 days of November, Howard decimated Japanese pitching with 5 homers, some monumental tape-measure jobs, in the 6 games (including the opening “friendly” exhibition game) and was awarded Japan Tour MVP honors.

On November 9, Howard received more honors outpolling Albert Pujols for Player of the Year and NL Outstanding Player Awards.

And finally, 2 days ago on November 20, Howard won the most coveted award of all, the NL MVP award once again outpolling Pujols for the honor.  Howard thus is one of the few to win MVP honors in his second year after first winning Rookie of the Year honors in the previous season, 2005.

Philadelphia Columnist Bill Conlin says it all at the conclusion of a column devoted to Ryan Howard and his awards;

Mr. November has pretty much won it all. Any of the 11 major awards to fall his way in less than two full seasons would have been career highlights for a lesser star. Or, enough for a good team during a hot decade.

Now it is time for Gillick to delve back into the Rolodex he keeps in his head and continue the most important job he has had since taking the helm of baseball’s Flying Dutchmen.

Gillick has to start putting the pieces in place that will make a new and even more important nickname possible for Ryan Howard, 2006 National League MVP:   Mr. October.

(*Pat Gillick is the Phillies General Manager.)

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In what has to be the biggest surprise in all of the ballot for MLB post-season honors, Minnesota Twins’ 1st baseman Justin Morneau won AL MVP honors in balloting by a panel of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Morneau edged out Yankees Derek Jeter on the strength of his .321 BA, 34 HRs, 130 RBIs and 97 Runs and his contribution to the Twins winning the AL Central Division.

AP sports writer Ronald Blum writes on the voting and Morneau’s reactions; 

Morneau received 15 first-place votes, eight seconds, three thirds and two fourths for 320 points in voting by a panel of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Jeter got 12 firsts, 14 seconds, one fourth and one sixth for 306 points.

“Last night even I was saying I don’t expect to get it. I might have given myself maybe a 50-50 chance,” Morneau said. “I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment if I didn’t get it.”

Three Twins finished among the top seven in the MVP voting. Joe Mauer won the AL batting title this year and Minnesota pitcher Johan Santana won the AL Cy Young last week.

“That says a lot,” Morneau said. “I’d love to play my whole career here. We have a great young team.”

Boston’s David Ortiz was third with 193 points, followed by Oakland’s Frank Thomas (174), Chicago’s Jermaine Dye (156), Mauer (116). Santana got 114 points, receiving the other first-place vote.

It was the 16th-closest MVP race since the current format began in 1938, and the 10th closest in the AL.

Morneau hit .321 in helping the Twins win the AL Central for the fourth time in five years. Jeter batted .344 with 14 homers and 97 RBIs, finishing three points behind Mauer, who became the first catcher to win an AL batting title.

Morneau became the second Canadian-born player to win an MVP following Colorado’s Larry Walker in 1997.
 

Both Morneau and Ryan Howard proved to be bargains to their respective teams earning $385,000 and $355,000 respectively for the season.

 David Ortiz, Frank Thomas and Jermaine Dye who have mega-contracts earned $100,000, $100,000 and $60,000 for their 3rd, 4th and 5th place finishes in the balloting.

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Philadelphia is a happy town today despite the Phils not making the post-season and the bad news of Eagles having lost star Quarterback Donovan McNabb until sometime next season with a knee injury sustained in Sunday’s game vs. the Tennessee Titans.

Phillies 2nd year lefthanded slugger 1st baseman Ryan Howard was awarded the NL MVP award in balloting by a panel of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Howard won the award after leading the majors in home runs and RBIs.  The balloting was close between Howard and St. Louis Cardinals 1st baseman  Albert Pujols.

Howard, who was 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, clubbed 58 homers and had 149 RBIs with a .313 batting average.  His 58 homers were the most in the major leagues since Barry Bonds hit a record 73 homers in 2001.

Ronald Blum, AP Baseball Writer lists some of Howard’s 2006 accomplishments;

He set Phillies records for home runs and RBIs, producing the highest totals in those categories in big league history for a second-year player. Twenty-three of Howard’s homers put the Phillies ahead and five tied games. The Phillies went 32-18 in games in which he homered.

Howard may have been helped by Philadelphia’s surprising second-half push. He hit .355 with 30 homers and 78 RBIs in second half as the Phillies fell three wins short of the NL wild-card berth.

“People were talking about the trades that were made, how we were kind of written off,” he said.

Howard beat out Albert Pujols for the MVP honors.  Philly.com’s AP report relates Ryan Howard’s humility on receiving the MVP designation;

“It definitely means something special,” Howard said of beating Pujols, also on MLB.com. “He’s a great player, and to be able to get in that company, that’s a feat in itself. It’s an honor, because of what he’s done for his team and the game of baseball itself.”

For more background on how the Baseball Writers’determined their votes, click Howard or Pujols? The Writers’ Picks for MVP,  by Inquirer Staff Writer Claire Smith

On Tuesday, we’ll find out the results of the apparently too-close-to-call AL MVP race.

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Minnesota Twins lefthander Johan Santana, who finished the season with a 19-6 record, a 2.77 ERA, 245 strikeouts and only 47 walks, was unanimously voted the AL Cy Young award for the 2006 season in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Sports Illustrated’s AP report writes this about Santana;

 Santana won the AL Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second time in three years, and the Minnesota Twins’ ace was a unanimous choice once again.

“This year, I wouldn’t say it was easier, but you definitely have a better idea where you are,” he said. “I definitely feel more comfortable.”

Santana received all 28 first-place votes for a perfect total of 140 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Chien-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees finished a distant second with 15 second-place votes and 51 points. Toronto’s Roy Halladay was third with 48 points.

“This was not such a big surprise as in 2004,” Santana said at a news conference at home in Venezuela.

Still, the announcement set off another wild celebration in his baseball-crazy country.

“I can’t describe what’s going on here. People here love the game, they follow the game, they know everything we do,” Santana said. “Today, we made a lot of people happy.”

The left-hander separated himself from all others during a dominant season, going 19-6 with a 2.77 ERA and 245 strikeouts to propel Minnesota from a poor start to the AL Central title.

With a baffling changeup and excellent control, he tied Wang for most wins in the majors and led the AL in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched (233 2-3).

Forget the Triple Crown — it was the pitching version of a Quadruple Crown.

“I was trying to show people that what happened in 2004 wasn’t a fluke,” Santana said.

And here’s a scary thought: At 27, he thinks he can become even more effective, because there’s more to learn.

“In the future, I want to be consistent from Day 1. We’re still making adjustments,” Santana said. “I still believe that I can be better.”

For winning the Cy Young Award, Santana receives a $100,000 bonus.

                               

Santana is also a contender for the AL MVP award, but faces muh stiffer competition from the likes of Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and others.

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