Reed-y To Go

The door is open, and Chicago White Sox' rookie reliever Addison Reed should walk right through.

In early December, general manager Kenny Williams traded closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays, in exchange for a then-22-year-old starting pitching prospect, Nestor Molina, leaving the vital closer role vacated.

Only in his second year in Major League Baseball and first as a full-time closer, Santos' 30 saves ranked eighth in the American League, but with the team's plethora of young relievers, Williams felt he was expendable.

Atop that list is the 23-year-old Reed.

Reed made his Major League debut last season on September 4 as one of the month's usual call-ups, but it would be quickly known he was anything, but the usual September call-up, dazzling his piers.

In on mob-up duty with his team trailing 9-0, Reed threw 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run, on four hits, while striking out three in Chicago's eventual 18-2 lose to the division rival Detroit Tigers. Following his debut, Reed would appear in six more games for the White Sox in 2011, including a string of six straight scoreless innings before having it snapped by Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera, tagging the right-hander for a three-run home run.

It was the first home run surrendered by Reed in his career.

Reed finished the year with a 3.68 earned run average, while striking out 12 and walking just one in 7 1/2 innings. But it was his road to the show that is most impressive.

A Southern California native, Reed attended Los Osos High School, where he played varsity baseball all four years. However, known for his big bat in the middle of the Grizzlies' lineup, Reed didn't starting pitching until his junior year, pitching his first two high school innings that year.

It wouldn't until his senior season that Reed would flourish in his future home.

Reed went 5-1 during his final year with the Grizzlies, posting a 2.53 ERA and becoming the ace of the staff. Not to mention never losing his ability to hit, batting .446 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs and 34 runs batted in.

After his graduation, Reed attended San Diego State University, joining Hall of Famer, Tony Gwynn's squad. He spent three seasons as an Aztec, mainly closing games for National's ace and good friend, Stephen Strasburg. In 2009, he led the nation in saves, converting all 20 of his opportunities, setting a new team and Mountain West Conference record.

Reed decided to forgo his senior season at San Diego after being drafted in the third-round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft by the White Sox.

After a great season in the rookie ball for the Great Fall Voyagers, Reed begin this past season with only one thing in mind. Combining for 43 appearances for four different teams, including Class A Kannapolis, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, Reed rapidly ascended the Minor League system.

Prior to receive his call-up, Reed's numbers were eye-popping. In 78 2/3 innings, he posted microscopic 1.26 ERA, giving up just 43 hits. He also struck out 111 Minor League hitters compared to only 11 base-on-balls.

He was recently named to MLB.com's Top Prospect list, which increased from 50 to 100 this year. Reed found himself just making the cut, claiming No. 100.

Veterans Matt Thorton and Jesse Crain, both whom have experiencing closing, are the favorites heading into camp to land the closer job, but both have been discussed in possibly trade rumors this winter, leaving the door open.

Along with his intimidating 6-foot-4 stature and unorthodox delivery, Reed is armed with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a devastating change up that could have him closing games on the South Side by the end of 2012.

C'est La Russa

La Russa's gutsy decision making didn't always
pan out, but is the reason why he is one of the
greatest managers in history.

Just three days after capping in an improbable postseason run with his third World Series title, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has announced his retirement from the dugout.

It has been 33 years since La Russa took his first managerial position with the Chicago White Sox back in 1979 after a brief playing career for three different organizations in a six-year span. During that time he accumulated a .199 career average, an average that eventually lead to a career change and a wise one at that.

La Russa spent nine seasons on the South Side, where he won his first Manager of the Year Award in 1983, before being fired by the White Sox just 64 games into the 1986 season. He would not be unemployed for very long as the Oakland Athletics came calling just weeks after. La Russa managed Oakland's final 79 games that season, watching them go 45-34, far better than the 31-52 mark they posted prior to his arrival.

The following year La Russa saw his club finish the season at the.500 mark (81-81) with the help and emergence rookie Mark McGwire. With the guidance of La Russa, the eventual 1987 Rookie of the Year set a rookie record with a Major League leading 49 home runs and .618 slugging percentage.

La Russa followed up his first two campaigns in Oakland with three consecutive American League Pennants, 1988-'90. Despite winning only one World Series in those three appearances, a legend was born.

The Tampa native managed five more seasons by the bay before leaving for St. Louis. La Russa's departure from Oakland was mainly due to death of patriarch Walter A. Haas, Jr. and his team being under .500 each of the last three seasons.

La Russa would replace Joe Torre at the helm in St. Louis prior to the 1996 season, setting the stage for some of his best managerial work and a legacy that might never be matched.

With the Cardinals, La Russa was able to watch a historic and record-breaking 70 home run season, capture nine postseason appearances, including two wild card berths in 2001 and most recently this season, all seven of St. Louis' National League Central division titles, three NL Pennants and two World Series titles.

In 2004, La Russa lead the Cardinals to their first World Series appearance since '87, but they were swept by the curse-breaking Boston Red Sox. Two years later, La Russa and Co. would return to the Fall Classic, this time beating Detroit Tigers and their error-prone pitching staff in five games. That feat made him the only manager in history to win multiple pennants in both the AL and NL and the second manager in history, along with the late Sparky Anderson, to win the World Series in both, as well.

Then comes the story of his Cardinals impossible 2011 season.

Pronounced dead numerous times during the year, La Russa never let his team quit. They overcame a 10 1/2 wild card deficit and clinch a playoff spot the final day of the regular season. The Cardinals crashed the postseason party, defeating the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, their division rival Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS and the defending AL champion Texas Rangers in a thrilling seven-game World Series, where they were down to their final strike, twice.

The announcement comes as a surprise to many, but not the Cardinals front office. It has been said La Russa informed general manager John Mozeliak and Co. of his decision as early as August and could be the reason why the 67-year-old manager was so relaxed during his latest postseason run.

There are so many words to describe La Russa throughout his career, genius, daring and fiery to name a few. He is the most second-guessed manager in the history of game, living by the phrase, "Trust your gut, don't cover your butt."

Being the innovator of the late-inning relievers and sometimes batting his pitchers eight instead of ninth, La Russa won six pennants and is one of nine managers in history to win at least three World Series titles during their career, ranking him sixth all-time. He retires third on the all-time list with 14 playoff appearances and career wins with 2,728, trailing only Hall of Famers Connie Mack and John McGraw.

In 33 years of managing, La Russa finds himself second on the all-time list in losses (2,365), postseason wins (70) and games managed (5,097), joining Mack as the only other manager in history to manage more than 5,000 games in a career.

La Russa won four Manager of the Year Awards during his career, his last coming in 2002, but another could be waiting in the wings after what could be his finest managerial job yet. A year after losing soon-to-be Hall of Fame managers Torre, Cito Gaston and Lou Pinella to retirement, baseball has lost another. Mixing and matching his way to World Series titles, La Russa is one of the greatest managers in history and one day will have his day in Cooperstown.

After 16 seasons a new face will be at the top step of the St. Louis dugout in 2012.

Welcome Back, Robin

Welcome Thome, To The 600 HR Club

Is He Dunn?

Smiles have been few and far between for
Dunn this season.

It is no secret that the transition to the American League has not been an easy one for the Chicago White Sox' designated hitter Adam Dunn. Now the question is what will general manger Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen do with the thirty-one-year-old power hitter, or lack there of. Is it possible that a productive hitter like Dunn could be done in the prime of his career?

Dunn, who signed a four-year $56 million contract this winter, has struggled from the get-go and has yet to get acclimated with A.L. pitching.

After posting his second straight hitless day Thursday and the fourth in his last five games, the struggling DH did not find his name posted on the lineup card for this weekend's opening series matchup against the division rival Kansas City Royals.

In his last ten games, the six-foot-six Texas native has batted .139 with only 1 home run and 2 RBIs, including adding 15 punch outs to his league leading total, which now stands 146.

Dunn now sees his season average at a dismal .161, well below his career mark of .245. But capturing batting titles is not what made Dunn one of the most feared hitters in the National League for nearly a decade. His sometimes colossus home runs have and continue to be his bread and butter.

Between the start of the 2004 season and the end of 2010, Dunn has averaged 40 home runs while driving in 101 on a yearly basis. During that time only the Cardinals' Albert Pujols and his 322 home runs are more than Dunn's 293. And while the former Cincinnati Reds slugger has averaged 180 strikeouts during that time span--leading the league three times--it seems he might be a victim of some unfair criticism and never given the recognition he deserves.

To be fair you would think with the numbers Dunn has put up during his eleven seasons in the majors, he would be a perennial All-Star, whose constantly in the Most Valuable Player discussion.

That has simply not been the case.

Dunn has been named to only one All-Star team, that coming back in only his second year in the show. That season he batted .249 with 26 home runs and 71 RBIs and while most of those numbers at the time were career-highs for Dunn, they aren't his best.

Arguably his best season came in '04 where he hit a still-career-high 46 home runs and drove in 102, while batting .266. That year Dunn would finish 28th in the MVP voting, but on a fourth place team never really got much consideration.

Dunn hit 40 home runs five straight years ('04-'08) for Cincinnati and Arizona, something nobody else did during that stretch, but never even mentioned as a potential All-Star.

Known as the "Big Donkey", Dunn, despite the numbers has never been in the top twenty in the MVP voting even though most of his numbers are just as good if not better than previous MVP winners. That was never more apparent than in 2007.

Dunn's power numbers have been
similar to that of Albert
Pujols'.

That season Dunn finished the season with .264 average, 40 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 101 runs scored. He also managed to cut down his league leading 194 strikeouts from the previous year down to 165, but wasn't even considered for the MVP, not even finishing in the top thirty.

However, if you go look at Philadelphia's Ryan Howard and his numbers that same season they are awfully close.

Howard batted .268 with 47 home runs, 136 RBIs, and 94 runs scored, but led the league in strikeouts with 199. Howard, who just happened to be the reigning National League MVP, finished fifth in the voting, well ahead of Dunn.

There is no question with Howard on a first-place Phillies team and clearly better numbers, he should have finished ahead of Dunn and his fifth-place Reds. Even though the baseball writers have shown in recent years you can be on a last place team and win a major award, just like Zack Greinke in '09 and Felix Hernandez just a year ago, both winning the Cy Young.

It is the fact that Dunn had been snubbed yet again after an unbelievable season, despite not having the protection Howard did with players like Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins in the Philadelphia order.

Now with Dunn struggling in his transition to a full-time DH, everybody wants to hit you while your down.

If Chicago, who is currently at 58-60, wants to meet expectations they will need their struggling slugger to get off the mate. And if and when he does, this season long slump can be a thing of the past and baseball can go back to underappreciating one of the games giants.

No-No Lirano

Liriano receives congratulations after
tossing the 7th no-hitter in
franchise history.

The Minnesota Twins have not had many shining moments during the first month of the season, posting a 10-17 record before Tuesday night in Chicago.

When the calendar turned May the result was much of the same with a 10-3 loss in Kansas City and received a much need day off Monday.

Left-hander Francisco Liriano was set to take the mound with a 1-4 record and 9.13 earned run average, putting his future in Minnesota in doubt.

Something magical was about to occur for the 27-year old lefty at U.S. Celluar Field.

Liriano tossed the seventh no-hitter in Twins history, but was nothing close to perfect, struggling with his command of the strike zone, walking six Chicago White Sox. Liriano, who has been known in his young career to be a strike out pitcher, only recorded two strikeouts in Minnesota's 1-0 win.

That's the third fewest number of strike outs in any no-hitter.

The game's lone run came on Jason Kubel's third home run of the year in the fourth inning off right-hander Edwin Jackson. Jackson tossed a no-hitter of his own last season while pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The last Twins pitcher to toss a no-hitter was another left-hander, Eric Milton, who did so in the Metrodome against the then-Anaheim Angels on September 11, 1999. Oddly enough Lirano's comes days after the assassination of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

As a rookie in 2006, Liriano was an instant phenom with Minnesota, going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA, looking to follow in the foot steps on fellow teammate and ace left-hander, Johan Santana.

Liriano was hampered by an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery, costing him the entire 2007 season. It took Liriano two full seasons to regain form and get back to the pitcher that once had so much promise. Last season, Liriano got back to his winning ways throwing a career-high 191.2 innings and striking out 201 batters, eclipsing that mark for the first time in his career.

He also record a career-high 14 wins, helping the Twins win their sixth American League Central Division title in nine years.

2010 was known as the year of the pitcher with six no-hit and/or perfect games thrown, this is the first of 2011 and it comes from an unexpected customer. Prior to his injury, the baseball world always thought after watching Liriano in '06 that he would some day throw a no-hitter in the big leagues and now has done so.

Liriano had not thrown a shutout or even a complete game for that matter at the Minor or Major League level until now, one he won't soon forget. Liriano lowered his ERA to 6.61 on the season, but his strikeout-to-walk-ratio did not improve. He has walked 24 hitters this season compared to his 20 strikeouts.

Liriano threw 123 pitches on the South Side to complete the no-hit bid.

With a healthy Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer nearing his return from the disabled list, this might just be the jolt the Twins had been waiting for to shake off a terrible April. Fresh off his '10 AL Manager of the Year Award, Ron Gardenhire looks to the right the ship before the surprising division leading Cleveland Indians run away with the AL Central.

The win takes the Twins out of the division cellar for the moment putting them a half game up on Chicago.

At least for one night the Twin Cities can sleep a little easier knowing Liriano said No-No.

The Legend of Sam Fuld

Fuld's unbelievable diving play on April
9th in Chicago.

When All-Star left fielder Carl Crawford signed a seven-year $142 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays knew they needed to find a replacement.

They signed veteran Johnny Damon to fill that void, but since has become the team's full-time designated hitter with the sudden retirement of Manny Ramirez. This opened the door for longtime journeyman Sam Fuld.

Fuld was acquired in the offseason from the Chicago Cubs in an eight-player deal centered around Rays' right-hander Matt Garza.

Surprisley, Fuld made the Rays' 2011 Opening Day roster out of spring training after batting .277 in Port Charlotte.

Major League Baseball got there first taste of Fuld on April 9 in a game against the Chicago White Sox. With the bases loaded, White Sox leadoff hitter Juan Pierre hit a ball down the right field line, Fuld sprinted from right-center all the way to the line to make a diving Superman, citrus catch and rob Pierre of an extra-base hit.

The legend of Sam Fuld was born.

Just two days later, Fuld would play his first career game at Fenway Park and it would be a memorable one.

With both teams off to slow starts the Rays pounded out 19 hits in a 16-5 victory against the rival Red Sox.

Lead by Fuld's four hits and first home run of the season, he came a single away from the cycle. In one of his final at-bats of the game, Fuld hit a ball towards the Green Monster and chose to cruise into second with his second double of the night rather than stopping at first to complete the cycle. Not to mention the two terrific plays Fuld made out in left field to rob multiple Red Sox of base hits.

Fuld's spectacular defensive plays have been a recurring theme on ESPN's Baseball Tonight Web Gems and Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays, with him becoming the recent human highlight reel. Rays' manger Joe Maddon has called Fuld's play in the outfield "fearless" while other suggest it as daredevil like play.

With a 4-1 victory over the White Sox Wednesday, the Rays run their record to 9-9, reaching the 500 mark for the first time after a 1-8 start. The Rays currently sit in second-place in the American League East, behind the 10-6 New York Yankees.

Despite Fuld being hitless in his last eight at-bats, he is still batting .344 on the young season with five runs batted in. That is more than we can say about the guy he placed at Tropicana Field as Crawford is batting only .149 in Boston's first 17 games.

It has been a struggle for Fuld to get here, but it looks as if he may have found himself a home.

After attending Philips Exeter Academy, Fuld decided to play college baseball at Stanford University. There he would break the College World Series record for hits with 24, a record set by Keith Moreland in 1975-76 with 23 hits on his own. Fuld was then drafted by the Cubs in the 24th round of 2003 amateur player draft, but chose not to sign.

A year later, Fuld was drafted yet again by Chicago, this time in the 10th round, and signed in July of 2004.

Fuld would make his Major League debut as a September call-up in 2007, but was never given the opportunity to be any everyday player in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. The 5-foot-10 outfielder is still only 29 and might have just caught a break while entering the prime of his career after a long and hard earned journey through the Minor Leagues.

The Rays will need the spark of a legend to continue if they want to repeat as AL East champions for the first time in franchise history.

Colon Giving It His Best Shot

Colon has been impressive this spring,
auditioning for the Yankees rotation.

With Cliff Lee opting to sign with his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason and Andy Pettitte calling it a career after 16 big league seasons, it's no secret the New York Yankees rotation has some question marks.


The Yankees signed right-hander Bartolo Colon to Minor League contract and an invite to spring training back in January for a chance to make their staff. Colon has done his best to impress the New York and manager Joe Girardi.

Colon has pitched nine innings this spring, giving up three earned runs on eight hits while striking out 12 and only walking one.

Colon is competing with veterans Freddy Garica and Sergio Mitre along with youngster Ivan Nova for the final two spots in the Yankee rotation. With all four of them are pitching extremely well this spring, Garica and Nova are the predicted front-runners to land those two spots.

Although, the two-time All-Star, who did not pitch at all in 2010, last pitching in the majors with the Chicago White Sox in 2009, is making his case be heard. Colon is a former Cy Young Award winner, winning 21 games for the Angels in 2005. Since that time, Colon has only appeared in 48 games, posting a 14-21 record with a 5.18 earned run average.

At 37, Colon is no longer the power arm he once was throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s. He has learned to pitch and the importance of first pitch strikes. After raising eye brows coming into camp seemingly out of shape and weighing in at 265 pounds, Colon looks as good as ever a may be resurrecting his career. If Colon does not make the 25-man roster out of spring training, you can be sure the phone will be ringing with plenty of other suitors.

Girardi seems to have a problem on his hands with the competition reaching its peak and getting better everyday. It's a problem that he will not soon complain about.

65 Million Dollar Man?

Bautista led the majors with
54 home runs in '10.

Jose Bautista will be staying north of the border for the next five years, agreeing to a five-year extension with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bautista is coming off a career year where he led the majors with 54 home runs and was a first-time All-Star. The deal is worth about $65 million, but could have huge upside for the Jays, having a player enter his prime, or a daring gamble.

Over the last couple of years, Toronto has been notorious for signing players to long-term deals that seemingly do not work as planned.

Most notably the seven-year contract they gave to Vernon Wells in 2006 and the six-year contract with Alex Rios in 2008, both whom are no longer with the organization and never lived up to their respective agreements. Wells was injured much of the contract and after finally producing a bounce back year in 2010, he was traded to the Angels this offseason. As for Rios, he was placed on waivers late in 2009 and claimed by the Chicago White Sox in August.

Since then, Rios has also bounced back hitting 21 home runs in '10, while driving in 88 runs.

The Blue Jays have reason to be concerned, but hopefully that will not be the case with '10 Hank Aaron Award winner. Although, we are talking about a player that had never hit more than 16 home runs in an entire season until last year and had been with five different organizations in his short seven-year career.

Bautista made the biggest jump in home runs in a single-season compared to his previous season total in baseball history. His inability to go to right field with power could prove be a problem for the Jays as well, 53 of the 54 home runs were either hit to left or left-center.

The question has already been asked, is the Silver Slugger worth $65 million, or have the Jays made another huge contract gaff to kick off the decade? Only time will tell.