SubscribeJML Update, May 23
As mentioned, Kevin Youkilis was 1-3 with a home run in his return from the disabled list as the Red Sox lost to the Orioles, 4-1. Youkilis batted fifth and played first base, moving Adrian Gonzalez to right field and allowing rookie sensation Will Middlebrooks to remain at third.
Ryan Braun was 1-4 with his 31st RBI of the year, but the Brewers fell to the Giants, 6-4. I read an interesting post on the Jewish Sports Collectors Yahoo group, projecting Braun to post MVP-like numbers again, if he can keep up this pace and stay healthy. According to ESPN’s projections, Braun would enjoy career-highs in home runs (45) and runs scored (117), with 113 RBIs.
Ike Davis was 0-4 with two strikeouts as the Mets held off the Pirates, 3-2. You wonder how much longer this will go on. Manager Terry Collins has been very supporting, but it’s really getting ugly.
Craig Breslow had his second straight rough outing, giving up three hits and two runs (one earned) without retiring a batter in the Diamondbacks’ 8-7 loss to the Dodgers. Breslow entered the game in the sixth inning with Arizona leading 6-2 and runners on second and third and nobody out. The first batter singled to drive in two (6-4). The next man hit into a fielder’s choice and was safe on an error. Next: single to drive in one (6-5). Next: single to load the bases. Exit Breslow.
Ian Kinsler was 0-4 in the Rangers;’ 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. Scott Feldman did not appear in the game.
Jason Marquis remains in limbo. Naturally, I would love the Mets to take a chance on him. He’d be pitching close to home (he lives on Staten Island), which may offer some emotional support.
The numbers seem to be dwindling every day. Danny Valencia and Michael Schwimer were demoted earlier this month and now Marquis. And who knows how much longer Davis will be around at this point?
Yooooouuuukkkk!
You can’t make this stuff up.
Kevin Youkilis hit a home run in his first game back from the disabled list. Unfortunately, it was the only run the Red Sox had in a 4-1 loss to the first-place Baltimore Orioles. It was his third homer of the year.
Youkilis struck out in his other two at bats, but that’s just details.
David Ortiz high-fives Youkilis after Youkilis' solo home run in the fourth. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Happy Anniversary, Shawn Green
Ten years ago today, Green — the best JML to come along since Hank Greenberg — had a monster day: As a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he blasted four home runs, a double, and a single for a Major League record 19 total bases against the pre-Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers.
Read all about it here, courtesy The Hardball Times.
Green has committed to playing with the Israeli team in the World Baseball Classic qualifier in Jupiter, Fla. in November.
So long, Ping-Pong
From the JTA:
Hanging up its paddles
Israel’s Table Tennis Association is hanging up its paddles.
Instead of training Israeli athletes for future Olympic competition, the association has ceased operation due to budget cuts.
The cuts stem from a decision to treat table tennis as an individual and not a team sport, which slashed its government funding in half.
The closure of the association means that Israel will not participate in next month’s European Youth Championships in Austria, according to Ha’aretz. And Israel was fielding a contender — Nicole Trosman, 15, a candidate for the 2016 Olympics. Trosman is currently training in China.
Things getting serious for Israel’s WBC team?
If The Sporting News takes note, it must mean something.
“World Baseball Classic: Israel squad could be dangerous with stars Ryan Braun, Ian Kinsler available,” reads the headline for an article on the TSN website. But I guess the thing is if, Kinsler and Braun are available. The Rangers are a favorite to make it into the post-season; the Brewers, not so much. The “Israeli” team plays its qualifying round in Florida in November, so if Kinsler’s Rangers make it back to the World Series for a third straight year, that would make him one tired doggie.
You don’t have to be Jewish to qualify for the team, just a “citizen.” Anyone who has at least one Jewish grandparent qualifies as an Israeli citizen, so that would take care of those matralineal descent issues, like Braun, whose father is Jewish, but not his mother.
According to TSN, “Israel can tap into the formidable pool of Jewish-American baseball talent that includes about 15 major leaguers” (this includes several athletes like the injured Sam Fuld (Tampa Bay Rays) and minor leaguers like Ryan Lavarnway, Michael Schwimer, and Danny Valencia, who made their ML debuts but are currently in the minors and recently retired players like Shawn Green, Gabe Kapler, and Ausmus.)
On a similar note, whither Ike Davis?
According to the rumor section on ESPN.com:
The New York Mets are no longer dismissing the idea of sending struggling first baseman Ike Davis to the minors if his production doesn’t improve.
“There is nothing etched in stone,” manager Terry Collins said Sunday. “We will never, never say something is not going to happen.”
In recent weeks, Collins has dismissed the idea of platooning Davis, let alone floating the idea of a demotion. But we are now more than six weeks into the season and Davis is hitting .161, the second worst-average among qualifiers behind Rickie Weeks.
Mike Puma of the New York Post says Davis’ grip on first base continues to weaken. Another example came Monday night in Pittsburgh where Vinny Rottino, who arrived from Triple-A Buffalo, started against Pirates’ southpaw Erik Bedard.
Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com notes the Mets are going to need to clear roster spots for the returns of Ruben Tejada (quadriceps) and Jason Bay (rib), both of which may be a week to 10 days away. Justin Turner is an option at first base if Davis is demoted.
Twins to release Marquis? Can’t say I’m shocked.
The rumor mill has the Minn. Twins designating Jason Marquis for assignment after his last disastrous outing in which he allowing eight earned runs in 1.2 innings.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Marquis, signed as a free agent during the offseason for $3 million, was 2-4 with a 8.47 ERA in seven starts. In 34 innings, he gave up 52 hits and walked 14 batters. His inability to throw strikes and find his good sinking fastball led to his demise with the Twins.
The club will have 10 days to trade, release or, after he clears waivers, send him down to the minors. But all indications are that the Twins will release the 13-year veteran.
On the other hand, it’s not like he’s weighing them down. You can’t blame Marquis for the Twins languishing in last place in the AL Central Division with a Major League-worst record of 14-27.
I don’t know the man so can’t assume what’s in his head, but just maybe his heart is still back home with his young daughter, who sustained a serious bicycle accident during spring training that necessitated Marquis’ leaving camp and missing several weeks to be with her. Former JML reliever Scott Schoeneweis was out of baseball relatively early (for a loogy) following the sudden death of his wife in 2009.
Marquis is only 33,although he’s been around for 13 seasons, making his debut as a 21-year-old with the Atlanta Braves in 2000. Prior to signing with the Washington Nationals as a free agent following the 2009 season, every team on which he played appeared in the post-season. Since then he’s suffered through some major injuries and hasn’t been able to get back on track. Here’s wishing him well.
JML update, May 22
Ryan Braun hit his 13th home run of the year, a two-run shot in the eighth inning to tie the Brewers with the Giants. He came out of the game in the 11th with groin tightness and the Giants put across the winning run in the 14th.
Braun reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning to the the game against the Giants. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Ian Kinsler had two of the Rangers’ six hits, but it wasn’t nearly enough as Texas fell to the Mariners, 6-1. Scott Feldman did not appear in the game.
Ike Davis came into the Mets-Pirates game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the sixth. He came up to bat twice, striking out both times: with men on first and second and one out in the seventh and in the ninth to end the game.
Craig Breslow allowed one hit — a home run – in 1.2 innings of relief as the Diamondbacks fell to the Dodgers, 6-1.
No game for Jason Marquis and the Twins yesterday.
Kevin Youkilis batted third for the Pawtucket Red Sox in their 4-0 win over the Norfolk Tides. Youkilis had a double an RBI, and walked twice. Most of the articles you’ll find speak about the difficulties/disruptions his return will mean to Boston, but in a pleasant way. After all, it’s not like he’s messing with the chemistry of a successful team; the Sox are 21-21. (Ryan Lavarnway was 0-4 in the Paw-Sox game.)
Take dad to the Museum of Jewish Heritage for Father’s Day
This release comes from Museum of Jewish Heritage:
Whether you root for the Yankees, the Mets, or are still kvetching about the Brooklyn Dodgers, longtime New York Times sportswriters Robert Lipsyte, Ira Berkow, and Gerald Eskenazi will celebrate Father’s Day with a discussion about the American-Jewish love affair with sports. “From the Sidelines” will take place on Sunday, June 17, at 2:30 p.m. at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
Lipsyte, Berkow, and Eskenazi have witnessed and reported on the most memorable and controversial sports legends, the integration of women in sports, and the changing field of journalism, all without missing Yom Kippur services, much like the beloved Sandy Koufax. They will share their favorite tales from the press box in this engaging conversation that is sure to entertain dads, granddads, and sons of all ages, not to mention the female sports fans in their lives.
Tickets are $10, $7 students/seniors, and $5 for members. Tickets are available on-line at www.mjhnyc.org or by calling the Museum box office at 646.437.4202.
About the Panel
Robert Lipsyte is a former New York Times columnist, an Emmy-winning television host, and the author of many best-selling, award-winning young adult novels. A sportswriter since the 1950s, Lipsyte contributes to ESPN and USA Today, and just published his memoirs last year called, An Accidental Sportswriter: Lessons from the Lockerroom.
Ira Berkow started at the New York Times in 1981. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards and commendations. Among them: He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary. In its “Best of New York” issue, New York Magazine named him The Best Sportswriter in New York.
Gerald Eskenazi was one of the country’s longest-running sportswriters. He is the author of several books including Gang Green: An Irreverent Look Behind the Scenes at Thirty-Eight (Well, Thirty-Seven) Seasons of New York Jets Football and A Sportswriter’s Life: From the Desk of a New York Times Reporter.
With purchase of program ticket, get a DVD of the acclaimed Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story at the special price of $26 including tax (regular price: $30). Ticket price with purchase of DVD is $36, $33 students/seniors, $31 members.
Hammerin’ Hank hamsa
A hamsa is the Jewish symbol for protection. Although I know my daughter doesn’t cotton to such gestures, I have her one before she started college.
Here’s one “featuring” Hank Greenberg that appears in an on-line baseball magazine published by EephusLeague.com, wonderfully eclectic baseball entity for the artistically oddball items of the game. The navigation takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s well worth the effort, so check it out.
