Category: Players

Contains content concerning past and present Major League Baseball players.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

The Crashed Rocket: The Story of a Great Pitcher Taken Down by Steroids

Roger Clemens could have easily been regarded as the best pitcher in history if it weren’t for his performance enhancing drug connection. One can mindlessly say a man with a record seven Cy Youngs should be in the Hall of Fame, but a man with multiple steroid allegations from writers and former teammates can easily be curbed. Even after spending many years on the ballot, Clemens has still not be admitted into the Hall. Roger Clemens, donning the nickname “The Rocket,” finished his career nothing more than a great pitcher taken down by steroids.

It was 1984. Rookie pitcher Roger Clemens toed the mound for his first career start. Even though he did not find noteworthy success until 1986, Clemens went 9-4 with 126 strikeouts and a 4.32. In 1986, he truly broke out winning 24 games, striking out 238 batters, and posting a 2.48 earned run average in 254 innings pitched. To go along with the All Star Game MVP, he took home his first Cy Young award and won his only MVP. Although he was great for the rest of his career, Clemens never quite matched his numbers from his breakout 1986 season.

During the regular season, Roger put up a 354-184 record with 3.12 ERA over his 24 year career with the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Astros. He also compiled 4,672 strikeouts thanks to 97 mile per hour fastball that earned him the name “The Rocket.” He would win a Cy Young award in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, and 2004. Despite winning two World Series titles with the Yankees, Clemens was not a great postseason player. He went 12-8 with a 3.79 ERA in 197.1 innings pitched. He only had one postseason where his ERA was below three, and there were three separate occasions where his ERA was above 5.00.

He has a strong case for being one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history if it weren’t for his involvement in the steroid era. Roger’s former trainer, Brian McNamee, testified that Clemens used anabolic steroids in his career. His former teammate, Roy Halladay, said via Twitter that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame. Many baseball writers and other Hall of Fame voters share Halladay’s views as Roger Clemens has not been elected in even though he has been on the ballot for 5+ years. It is still a question whether he will ever get in.

The record books show Roger Clemens as one of the best pitchers, maybe even players, to ever step on a baseball diamond. Many fans believe he is nothing more than a person with great potential who ruined his reputation by using drugs, or in other words, a rocket who knowingly used the wronged fuel and crashed.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

This Week in Baseball

Giancarlo Stanton continues his rapid tear by smacking his 44 home run this season. He has homered in six straight games and has already set a Marlins’ franchise record. Another story line in National League East is Mets’ prospect Logan Taylor. He was attacked by a homeless man with a tire and a rock filled sock after the homeless man demanded his wallet. He needed lots of stitches on his head and the homeless man was taken into custody. Rockies’ pitcher Chad Bettis made his return from cancer and pitched seven innings of shutout ball. Superstar Bryce Harper was diagnosed with a deep bone bruise after slipping on a wet base during a game against the Giants.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

BREAKING NEWS: DEREK JETER BUYS THE MARLINS

After many rumors, msn.com confirms that former Yankee Derek Jeter, businessman Bruce Sherman, and other associates have purchased the Miami Marlins. The previous owner, Jeffery Loria, put up an asking price of $1.2 billion dollars. It took months for Sherman and Jeter’s 16 investors to pile up the $1.2 billion dollar asking price. The other investors including Sherman helped for the money while Jeter will manage baseball related tasks. Jeter hasn’t been in any baseball related positions since 2014 when he ended his 20 year playing career with the Yankees.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Albert Pujols New Record

Angels’ designated hitter Albert Pujols is known for holding many records. He has 600 home runs, more than 1,500 RBIs and runs scored, plus 500+ doubles. On August 4 (2017), Pujols set another record. He grounded into a double play with Mike Trout on first. This was his 351 GIDP (grounded into double play), passing Cal Ripken Jr. for first on the all time list. Needless to say that this is one record one does not want to have on their résumé.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

News Around the League

Since the All-Star break, many things have happened. Rangers’ third baseman Adrian Beltre collected his 3,000th hit, Yankees OF Brett Gardner hit a walk off home run and a walk off single in three games, Rays’ Evan Longoria hit for the cycle becoming the second player in franchise history to complete this feat, and Edinson Volquez went down for the year with Tommy John surgery. Also, the Yankees made a lot of moves in their race to the postseason. They acquired pitcher Sonny Gray from the Athletics, Todd Frazier, Tommy Kahnle, and David Robertson from the White Sox. Yu Darvish went from the Rangers to the Dodgers, and the Rockies got Jonathon Lucroy.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Autographs In My Possession

Over the years, I have been able to put together quite an autograph collection. I have an Edwin Rios autograph from Bowman Baseball 2017, a Johnny Bench from 1999 Donruss Significant Signatures, and a John Franco from 2015 Topps Archives. I also in-person autographs. I have Dellin Betances, Jim Leyritz, Jacob deGrom, Luis Sojo, Jeff Nelson, John Wetteland, Ken Singeleton, Joe Panik, Frank Thomas, Gaylord Perry, Bert Campaneris, Howard Johnson, and Al Bumbry. (Zack Hample also signed a baseball for me at Yankee Stadium and Brandon Steiner signed a Steiner Sports ad) My favorite auto in my collection is Dellin Betances because I spent so much time with him.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Top Ten Starting Pitchers (UPDATED)

“It’s a simple game. You hit the ball, you throw the ball, you catch the ball.” -from Bull Durham

Some pitchers are better at throwing the balls than others. Here is an updated top ten list for starting pitchers (Based on stats from 2016 to 2017):

10. Jose Quintana

9. Jon Lester

8. Jacob deGrom

7. Justin Verlander

6. Michael Fulmer

5. Zack Greinke

4. Madison Bumgarner

3. Chris Sale

2. Max Scherzer

1. Clayton Kershaw

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Steal Facts: Thurman Munson

Thurman Munson

  • Thurman Munson was born on June 7 of 1947.
  • Thurman weighed in at 190 pounds and stood at 5 feet 11 inches.
  • He played his full 11 year career with the New York Yankees.
  • After a short stint with the Yankees in 1969, Munson won the American League Rookie of the Year in 1970 after posting a .302 batting average with 6 home runs and 25 doubles.
  • Thurman won the MVP award in 1976 after batting .302 with 17 home runs and 105 RBIs.
  • From 1975 to 1977, Munson had 100 or more RBI in each season.
  • He was named team captain by the Yankees in 1976.
  • He won the Gold Glove for American League catchers in 1973, 1974, and 1975.
  • Thurman Munson died at the age of 32 in a plane crash on August 2, 1979.
  • The Yankees retired Munson’s number 15 on September 20 of 1980 at Yankee Stadium.
  • The Yankees left Munson’s locker untouched until they moved it to the new Yankee Stadium in 2009.
by Jacoby Nolnaho

Cody Bellinger Hits for the Cycle!

On July 15, 2017, Dodgers’ rookie sensation Cody Bellinger accomplished one of the hardest feats in baseball. He hit for the cycle. The cycle in baseball is when a batter hits a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. As of July 16, there have been five cycles this year: Nolan Arenado, Wil Myers, Carlos Gomez, Trea Turner, and now Cody Bellinger. Along with his four hits, Cody drove in three RBIs and scored two runs. He became the youngest player to hit for the cycle at exactly 22 years of age and became the first Dodger rookie to hit for the cycle.