intsant replay

The debate use of instant replay in baseball is in full swing right now. The replay system instituted by the MLB in 2008 allows any person on the opposing team of a player who hits a borderline home run or a coach or player of a player who hits a home run but the umpires get the call wrong can ask the umpires to go under the booth to review any home run call. The 3 things an umpire would be looking for would be for a fair/foul home run or if there was any fan interference or the last reason would be to if the ball even left the park. The first time a call was challenged was in early September of 2008 A-Rod hit a drive in Tropicana park toward the left field foul pole that was ruled a home run by 3rd base ump Bryce DePuy but Tampa Bay coach Joe Maddon and catcher Dioner Navvaro argued it was foul. Charlie Reliford the crew chief that day allowed the review to happen but the call stood as A-Rod got his homer. The first time a call was over turned was also in September of 2008 also in Tropicana field. Carlos Pena hit a drive just over the fence. Originally the umpires ruled that there was fan interference but after several minutes of replay Pena was given the home run. The first time instant replay was used was in the post season game three of the 2008 world series A-rod had hit a drive that had bounced off a camera in right field initially played as a double the umpires reviewed the ball and ruled that if the camera wasn't there it would have left the park easily. And A-Rod was awarded the home run. I think instant replay is good for base ball what do you think?

top 5 baseball players of all time

I'm sure you've all pondered this question before, who are the all time top 10 greats. Here's my list.
Willie Mays New York/ San Fran Cisco Giants 1951-1972 New York Mets 1972-1973. 302 batting average over 1000 RBI 660 home runs and over 3000 hits. Willie was not only  great with a bat, he was great with a glove winning 12 golden gloves and being selected to 24 all star teams

Babe Ruth one of the alltime greats people sometimes forget he was a pitcher, a very good pitcher at that, his era was a small 2.28 with a win loss record of 94-46. But Ruth was known more for his hitting with 714 homers 3rd on the all time list. Babe had an amazing career 690 slugging percentage which is the all time best record and a 1.164 ops which is also atop the all time list. Babe was also elected to the MLB century team and ranks in the top ten in several other catagories.

Cy Young any guy with over 500 wins deserves a spot on this list. Cy started 815 games in his 21 seasons with the Cleveland Spiders the St. Louis Perfectos the Boston Red Sox the Cleveland Naps and the Boston Rustlers he completed 749 games! That's just absurd nobody in there right mind would even dream of that in this day and age. His ERA was amazing too 2.63. And to top it of Cy was elected to the 20th century MLB team

Ty Cobb Cobb is plain and simple the greatest hitter and base runner of all time. He has the numbers to back it up. Cobb batted over .400two times in his career, 420 in 1911 and 409 in 1912  times in his career! Ted Williams had  batted .406 in 1941 but it came down to the 2nd to last game of the season. He almost did it again in 1957. Ty had a unbelievable career average .366 the best ever by 8 points over Roger Hornsby's .358 career average. Cobb was also a magnificent base stealer swipping 892 stolen bases good enough to be 4th on the alltime list

bullpen catchers

Since this blog is named for the bullpen it seemed right to blog about the most important part of the pen beside the relievers, the bullpen catcher. Ever watch a game when there's a high foul pop over into foul territory in a park were the bullpens are tucked away in foul territory and you see your favorite reliever joking with a guy in old shingaurds pounding into a well worn catchers and has a number you might see on one of the guys on a football teams offensive line? Well that's a bullpen catcher. The guy probably went to a small college, played catcher, couldn't hit for his life but was a good receiver and probably could beat your dad in a footrace. Bullpen catchers bassically do anything everybody else hasn't got the time to do. Throw, catch  or shag batting practice, be a dummy base runner in a rundown drill, catch countless bullpen sessions, warmup the starting pitcher before the game and most importantly make sure the relivers are nice and warm to go into the gamehe's a jack of all trades simply put. Probably the most depressing thing about being a bullpen catcher is not actually playing in a real game since they're technically on the coach staff not a part of the active roster. But look on the bright side, bullpen catchers get paid any where from 30 to 60,000 doallars to play catch who wouldn't want to do that. They even get the same bonuses the stars of the team get when there team reaches the playoffs! They may not get the fame and fortune his teamates gets but he is a very important piece in the very big jigsaw puzzle which is a MLB team.

catchers

ever since i first put the catchers pads on when i was 8 in little league i have had an obsession with catchers my favorite being Jorge Posada(i have like 2 dozen cards of him) a power switch hitter part of the Yankee core four with Derek Jeter Andy Pettite and Mariano Rivera. With a .276 career average 259 homers 5 silver slugger awards and just over 1,000 RBI Posada is still known as one of the best offensive catchers after 16 years in the majors.
           Some of my all time greats would be names like Yogi Berra Thurman Munson and Josh Gibson. All three where very good hitters. Berra with 358 homers is one of the 7 catchers in the MLB with over 300 homers. The others being Carlton Fisk Lance Parrish Gary Carter Johnny Bench Mike Piazza and the latest one and the only active one Pudge Rodriguez. Munson Was one of the great postseason hitters batting .357 in the postseason and .373 in the world series. Also Munson was one of the 12 Yankee captains. If Josh Gibson were given the chance to play in the majors he would have won the MVP award every year. In his 16 years as a catcher in the negro leagues 5 years with Pittsburgh and 11 with the Homestead Grays Josh had an absurd .648 slugging percentage and a .359 batting average according to the official Negro League statistics.
             But in my opinion Johnny Bench is the single greatest catcher of all time. He not only hit for power but was pretty much the best defensive catcher in MLB history. Winning 10 gold gloves in row! In a row! I sure feel bad for Reds backup during Benches career Bill Plummer. Bench is second on the alltime list in homers for a catcher 2nd to Mike Piazza with 389.
          Joe Mauer and Brian Mccann are two of the best young catchers in the game today. Both with over 450 RBI and Mauer with a .327career average while Mccann has a .290 average
         Hopefully these won't be the only good catchers we see for a while on my list but only time will tell if there is another Johnny Bench or Yogi Berra out there

cubs trading lee

Yesterday it was relased that derek lee would be traded to the braves from the cubs. After 6 years as a cub 5 more rbis fomm 1000 of them over 300 homers the cubs traded lee for three young pitching prospects from the braves. Expect Xavier Nady to handle first sack.

Mickey's pen

Hi everybody! My name is Mickey. mickeys pen is a blog where you can check up your favorite sports teams and sports stars in pro and college baseball, football, basketball, soccer and others. I root for the new york sports teams in baseball and football and the boston ones in basketball and hockey. Hope you enjoy!