On this date in 2006, September call-up Kevin Kouzmanoff hit his first career home run for the Indians. It wasn't just his first career homer either, it was a grand slam that came on the first pitch he saw in his first big league plate appearance. Edinson Volquez, then of the Rangers, was the victim. Kouzmanoff joined Jeremy Hermida and Bill Duggelby as the only players in history to hit a grand slam in their first career at-bat. Daniel Nava has since joined the club.
These links won't have that kind of immediate impact, but they're definitely worth your time…
- 1 Blue Jays Way interviewed Blue Jays prospect Deck McGuire.
- Phoul Ballz spoke to Phillies prospect Jesse Biddle.
- U.S.S. Mariner mused about Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik and his new contract extension.
- Brotherly Glove broke down the Phillies 40-man roster.
- MLB Reports looked at the future of Adam Dunn.
- Giants Nirvana provided some thoughts about the recent moves the Giants made.
- Yankees Fans Unite says the Yankees improved their pitching by adding Russell Martin.
- Cream City Cables wrote about the experience and maturity of the Brewers.
- Twins Fan From Afar remembers the good old days of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.
- Puckett's Pond looked at some recently departed Twins (part one, part two).
- Bleacher GM put together offseason previews for the Yankees and Red Sox.
- BK Sporting News wonders if Justin Verlander is the AL MVP.
- Meanwhile, MLB Dirt wonders why a pitcher can't win the MVP award.
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A couple of comments on Bleacher GM’s Red Sox evaluation.
1) Putting Lars Anderson in the top five prospects, but not Ryan Lavarnway is a joke.
2) The Sox don’t have nearly as much money to play with off-season as he seems to think because:
A. It will take the combined salaries of Drew, Scutaro, and Wheeler to take cover the raises Gonzalez and Crawford are already contracted for.
B. The Sox will probably bring back the league’s best DH and second best closer.
C. Everyone else whose contract is up makes 2.5 million or less and most of that money will be eaten up by raises for Ellsbury, Salty, Aceves, Buchholz, Bard, Lowrie, and Reddick.
That leaves pretty much nada for a new starter (or two).
This whole debate of whether pitchers can win the MVP award can be solved by creating a hitter specific award comparable to the Cy Young and then elevate the MVP to the status its name indicates, Most Valuable Player. We have ROY for rookies, SS for offensive positions, GG for defense but no hitter specific award. This would eliminate all the consternation and whining when a pitcher does win the MVP.
There is an offensive award. It’s called the Hank Aaron Award. It’s just not a very glorified award. Last year it was won by Joey Votto and Jose Bautista.
Only problem with the Hank Aaron Award is that it is voted on differently than the Cy. It was created to be equal but falls under different rules. Doesn’t make sense.
Since it’s not really a glorified award, giving a pitcher MVP means that no Hitter in baseball is really getting anything oh so special. A Hank Aaron and Silver Slugger award probably mean as much as a Home Run Derby winner or All Star Game MVP. It’s just something that people pay little to no attention to.
I always start with position players/batters, and if no one has anything worthwhile to look at (Ex. .315 highest BA, 30 HR leads the league and 120 RBI leadds the league). Unless that all went to 1 player and win a Triple Crown, I just don’t see those numbers ever leading the league again.
Yankees need Russell Martin in 2012….he has been very very good for them this year