Sheffield: Javier Baez Needs Work on Swing

http://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/the-javier-baez-gary-sheffield-comparison-is-uncanny/

They do have an uncanny resemblance as noted above. The size, the strength and power, the quick bat, the torquing of the bat as a timing mechanism. All very similar. You almost wish the Cubs had hired Sheffield as his batting coach rather than Manny Ramirez. You almost couldn't go wrong with either one, the two most lethal RH power bats of the era, both better hitters overall than McGwire.

from Bleacher Report:
Sheffield: Javier Baez Needs Work on Swing:

"When I saw this guy swing [in December], I knew he was going to be a big leaguer for them soon," Sheffield told ESPNChicago.com on Tuesday. "Right now when I watch his swing, he has something in his swing that can be fixed real easy. He collapses his back leg. And anytime you do that, a pitcher is going to have a field day on you. 

"When you collapse your back leg, anything over the belt line you have to uppercut. You can't stay on top of it." 

"Keeping that back foot anchored is important," Cubs hitting coach Bill Mueller said. "It's necessary for sure in keeping square. What's most important is him getting games played. It's a small sample size." 

Manager Rick Renteria added: "When we look at his film, the one thing that stands out is if he swings at strikes, he does damage. When he swings at balls, he doesn't. That has nothing to do with mechanics." 

Sheffield disagrees, to an extent. 

"I see all the ability," said Sheffield, who hit 509 home runs in 22 seasons. "And I see someone has to get with him real quick and fix that little mechanical issue that he has before it gets worse. When you're trying to create that much torque with your lower half collapsing, that's a lot of moving parts. People would ask me, 'How could you do that with all that wiggling the bat like that?' Because it's not how you start it's how you finish. I was always focused on my finish, not how I start." 

'via Blog this'

It looks like, from the motion picture of Baez (shown below), that Baez lunges or almost leaps forward at the pitch rather than staying back as well as he should. The back leg will collapse like that when you stride out too far and miss.

That may just be his youthful exuberance rather than a purely mechanical mistake. He will learn pretty soon that you get the same credit for the HR's that go 325 feet as you do for the 450 footers. But what do I know, I still think chicks dig the long ball, so maybe longer is better.

Also, agree with Renetria on the plate discipline issue. He can be a guy who hits 25 HR's with a .230 average or a 35-40 HR guy hitting .280 - .300 if he corrects that because this yard will not hold him, and once they get Bryant and Rizzo surrounding him or behind him, watch out. He has to fix the ball / strike discipline issue or he'll be hitting lower in the order, behind those other power guys.

YOU MAY BE RIGHT, I MAY BE CRAZY...

You may be right
I may be crazy
Oh, but it just may be
A lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right
Bill Joel - You May be Right



It seems to me that Gary Sheffield was raked over the coals pretty good for these comments he made about Latin players being easier to control than black players a while back. Maybe somebody owes Sheff an apology. HAHAHAHAHA.
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http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/19013033/

Comments not meant to be ’derogatory’ toward Latin players, slugger says

updated 7:52 p.m. CT, Tues., June. 5, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas - Detroit Tigers star Gary Sheffield insists he meant “nothing derogatory” toward Latin players when he said Major League Baseball found it easier to “control them” than blacks.
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But now after the story broke about the FBI investigating numerous major league employees skimming the bonuses of many of these players, it seems as if Sheff's comments are not nearly as crazy as they were portrayed by MLB's lackeys in the media.

Where is the media's self-righteous indignation and desire to protect the integrity of the game when said integrity is now being soiled by management? You won't see it, of course, because said media is in bed with management. Remember the old saw about not taking a dump where you eat. It's not a good idea.

I feel the same about the story that broke regarding various members of management being involved in gambling, another story that is being quietly investigated and minimally reported, again because it's management soiling the integrity of the game.

Oh Mr. Selig, you have a call on Line 2, from a Mr. Stern regarding public opinion manipulation and damage control. He said he'll send the Donaghey case file right over for you to review. He said good luck and don't forget to use your friends in the media to spin the story. He said he can teach you how to spin those boys like a top if you need to.

Goodbye Bracketology, Hello Baseball!! As soon as the Masters is over

Well, thanks to the semi-pro Florida Gators, Team Slavik finishes tenth in the local office pool, costing us the $5 entrance fee. I HATE GAMBLING!!!! Now, I'll never be able to retire.

Bonds looks good, hitting a home run, stealing a base, and making defensive plays in LF. Maybe he'll make the All-Star Game (being held in San Francisco this year). And maybe he'll break Aaron's record, which of course will cause the end of the world as we know it. HAHAHA.

Devil Rays look good, taking one of two in Yankee Stadium. I'd be really excited about their chances if they had more pitching. Upton, Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes, three of the four Devil Rays bad-boys seem ready to make their mark on the field instead of by doing and saying stupid things. Good for them.

And the fourth bad-boy, Josh Hamilton, a former 1st pick overall, now Rule 5 reclamation project of the Reds, was one of the the feel-good stories of the spring. Yes, Johnny you too can virtually piss away your career by doing and make a comback in the minds and hearts of America. That's been proven once again by the Josh Hamilton story. Pssst, Johnny....just make sure you're a white-boy, or as they say, it just won't play in Peoria. Sorry folks, but if you can cite an example that shows where I'm wrong about this, please let me know. The tone and theme of the stories would be entirely different if any of the other three guys (Upton, Young, or Dukes) were drug users to the level and repetiveness of Hamilton. It would not be portrayed as a feel-good story, I can assure you of that. I'm still not sure the media is done demonizing Delmon Young for tossing a bat at a scab umpire (who hasn't wanted to do that?). He sure hasn't been publicly forgiven yet. I bet umpires as a group have forgiven him more than the media and the public at-large.


Nice to see baseball doing the right thing by honoring the anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut with the Dodgers. And it is a nice touch to have ANY African-American who desires, wear his number on that day in honor of the event. Kudos to Griffey for coming up with the idea. MLB marketing honchos can take the rest of the year off, if necessary.

Every Dodger will wear number 42, which will be a scorekeepers nightmare. Not really, the names over the number will give them a clue.

In discussing the event this week, it was interesting to hear some of the commentary from the major players in the mass media. Some commentators made note of the declining numbers of Afircan-Americans who play the game today as opposed to 10-20 years ago and launched into a search for the answers.

It was pricless to hear Gary Sheffield interviewed and asked his opinion why the numbers are declining. His answer ran along the lines of white owners don't promote black superstars, if anyhthing they run them down or promote inferior white players instead. The NBA and NFL, by contrast, will positively promote black superstars. They almost have to in most cases. They have no choice.

After the interview, it was hilarious to hear the two clown-asses (KO and DP of ESPN)
try to make the case why Sheff was wrong and of course, these two had a better answer. I mean, who would be in a better position to know the hearts and minds of young African-Americans, Gary Sheffield or Dan Patrick and Keith Olberman?

When you ask a brother a question about the brothers and he give you an answer, perhaps you should give it some serious consideration. Not dismiss it and come up with speculation of your own. It makes white people sound stupid at best, mean-spirited and stupid at worst. PLEASE STOP.

And things like the new DIRECT TV deal and no afternoon World Sereris games are not the answer either. That's just stupid talk. I became a fan when there was ONE GAME a week on TV not the daily saturation of games and highlights available now. My dad left me handwritten notes of the results of west coast Giants games on the refrigerator. That was my version of Sports Center. And I became and remain a fan. There's never been a better time, in my opinion, to be a baseball fan.

To hear a self-absorbed, douchebag commentator whine about the DIRECT TV deal because his Manhattan association won't allow installation of sattelite dishes, smacks of elitist whining, not the concern of REAL baseball fans. Go figure out, how to link President Bush to this decision and leave the sports commentating to the full-timers.

They mentioned the entry cost of playing baseball, the equipment, fees, etc. Which are no higher on a relative basis than the were 10-20 years ago. And then they detour into celebrating what the arrival of Tiger Woods has done for the numbers of AA who are able to play golf. Ever priced how much it costs to play golf? Are the number of young African Americans playing golf really increasing enough to explain the dissapearance of number from baseball. Kids and lower income families can't afford cable or satellite installation, but they can afford golf equipment and greens fees. COME ON!! Let's be realistic.

Sheff's right, it's time for a reality check. And in the same way that owners and the baseball media closed their eyes to the PED scandal, they are metaphorically closing their eyes and ears, but unfortunatley not their mouths, to the issue of race and racism in baseball. Denial is not just a river in Egypt fellas.

Aaron passed Ruth thirty years ago, but Ruth was still the deity, THE REAL HOME RUN CHAMPION, not Aaron.

We fixate today on whether or not Bud Selig will be there when Bonds passes Aaron, as if that's a big deal, and conveniently forget to mention that Commissioner Bowie Kuhn (GRHS) did not attend the game where Aaron passed Ruth. Just another case of history repeating.

Let's hope we someday do a better job of righting the wrongs of racism and the declining numbers of African American males participating in baseball, than we did trying to FIX the PED problem. It might require that some, who have little knowledge of the subject matter, do less pontificating about the subject and more listening to those who are in a better position to know the answers. And if you don't know who you are, I'd be happy to let you know.

Judging how the debate and the formulation of a solution to the PED issue has gone, unfortunately, I fear the worst. But I'm willing to hope for the best. For all that he went through to blaze a trail for his fellow man and raise hope for a better day, Jackie Robinson deserved better.

Baseball News and Stories that just won't go away

Agents raided the Signature Pharmacy Lab in Orlando to provide fresh names and reputations to add to the fire that is the story of steroids in baseball. Not surprisingly only Gary Matthews name (black) is leaked.

Gary Sheffield (black) meanwhile is skewered publicly for not throwing Barry under the bus either in his new tell-all book or in his interview with Hall of Famer Peter Gammons, who pointedly reminded Sheffield that he and Bonds did not get along. In fact, Sheffield must have confounded Gammons and all of white America by stating in the interview that he was rooting for Bonds to break Ruth's record, more than anyone.

That fool must be on drugs, huh? When you can't be prompted into saying what you're supposed to say by a Hall of Famer, maybe you yourself are not qualified to be a Hall of Famer, even though you're closing in on 500 home-runs. Get ready for the end of career bend-over job Sheff, you have to know it's coming.

Speaking of which, the Veterans Committee met today, as it does apparently every two years now, and failed to see their shadows, which means that guys that were previously F_ _ _ ed over by sport writers for the fifteen or so years they had a chance to elect them, now have to wait another two years until this group of morons meets again in two years to say to Ron Santo, Jim Kaat, Gil Hodges, Tony Oliva among others, YOU'RE NOT WORTHY!!! YOU'RE NOT WORTHY!!!

And how about Curt Flood and Marvin Miller? Curt Flood is a player who if you asked baseball fans of today I'll bet anyone not older than 40 would even be able to tell you who Flood was and what he did that influenced baseball so much. And Marvin Miller is reviled too much to ever make it in. And both men did more to make baseball what it is today, in spite of the fact that the know-it-alls of the day told us both would destroy baseball. And they are not allowed entrance because they are judged by those whose contributions to baseball pale in comparison or are non-existent. But those pricks are already in the Hall and damned if they are not going to keep it an exclusive club.

Hey guys, it's not Augusta, you can be inclusive and it doesn't reflect in the least on your accomplishments. Yes, it does add to the pool of people who can sign autographs with the cute little HOF initials next to it on a baseball and sell them on E-bay for outrageously inflated prices. Maybe that's the motive, economic greed, turf protection.

By the way the Veterans Committee is made up of all the current living Hall of Famers, who seem to think that they are voting on people for sainthood, or for passage into heaven. It's a joke.

In fact the initial Baseball Hall of Fame process as voted on by the sportswriters is a joke. CAN YOU SAY...INHERENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST??? I thought that you could.

These sanctimonious pricks, many of whom don't come close to the standards they seem to hold out for other people should have their ballots disclosed publicly. If they can't justify why they are keeping people out, they shouldn't have a ballot. Same with sports writers or whomever is delegated to vote.

Football seems to elect almost anyone who didn't kill someone (allegedly) and can't wait to send in others who were active participants in events that led to the murder of multiple people. Oh, and drug users, hey they'll just be more fun at the subsequent Hall of Fame get togethers. Who's turn is it to bring the hookers? Hell, let the Playmaker do it he's a rookie.

Disgusting, really disgusting. The more I think about it, those that they let in vs. those that they keep out, in both football and baseball, every year it seems like they turn what should be a great PR event for and celebration of the individual sport into a mockery and a sham.

The Veterans Committee's actions are so stupid, disgusting and revolting that it actually made the details of Tommy LaSorda's forays with the newest version of the Hollywood Madam understandable and palatable.

Yuck, mental image of Tommy LaSorda naked, I'm scarred for life.

Mental note: Don't read Deadspin on a full stomach.



P.S. - Of course, today we also hear from the law-breaking reporters from S.F. (exempt from the law of course because they are reporters and the only Amendment that counts is the first Amendment, right?) details about Barry Bonds hat size and other examples of his physical change over the years, like nobody has noticed Roger Clemens' head turn into the Great Pumpkin over the years and his body type transform from ectomorph to mesomorph before our very eyes. Sorry ladies, I don't know details of his shoe size, you'll have to find that out for yourself.

The take home message the media seems to want to deliver almost daily is that only the few black guys that are left in baseball cheat. Or they are seemingly the only ones the media cares about or seems to want to harp on ad nauseum. The white guys will get a pass or our sympathy, but they are allowed to move back into the publics good graces at warp speed compared to persons of color.

And it was the same type of coverage when baseball was suffering a public black eye due to the cocaine abuse headlines years and years ago. You can look it up.
So we really haven't progressed that much as a society, as much as we'd like to believe otherwise and that is truly disgusting.

And this is the foolish, hysterical climate in which we are making the type of public policy decisions that lead us to testing High School athletes for drugs, not all students, just athletes. We don't care if the other kids do steroids apparently.

I've always heard that you should not see how two things are made, laws and sausage. Well, laws or public policy made in this type of climate is like making sausage in a public restroom (or a NYC Taco Bell - Yum Yum, no pun intended, this sausage tastes a little mousey today)

Whether you agree with the mans politics or not, I thought one of the good things Bill Clinton did as President was attempt to open a dialogue on race in this country. And like most problems, our reflex as a country was to say "We don't have a problem, really we don't".

Well maybe we do. And the first step of course is to recognize the problem and admit to it. A poll taken by Markitecture recently, asked people if they thought:

"There is very little racial prejudice in Sports". Simple Question.

In 2002, 31% Agreed - 40% Disagreed - 29% I presume were Not Sure.
In 2006, 19% Agreed - 41% Disagreed - 40% Not Sure???

So clearly we are moving in the wrong direction, just from a public perception standpoint.

And equally as clear IMO, is that this is an issue that is as important or more important to remove as a scourge from our society. Isn't it? Or do we need a poll rather than our common sense to tell us:

Which is a more important problem to solve in our society today?:
a) Steroids - Cheating in Sports
b) Racial Prejudice in Sports

Someone asked me recently why I write about the steroids issue so much, and it's not so much about Bonds or Sosa or McGwire as it is about the ripple effect some of the issues have throughout society, from youth sports, to civil rights, to race relations, to character in sports and on and on and on.

There's too many layers to the story to have it presented in as simplistic and moronic a fashion as it currently is. That's why. I'd rather write about just sports. Maybe someday.