Tag: baseball

The American League MVP Is….

im6footLeave a comment

In my opinion the 2021 American League MVP should go to Vladimir (Vlad) Guerrero Jr.

Many will argue in favor of Royals catcher Salvador Perez or Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani. Perez and Ohtani both put up record breaking and setting numbers in 2021 but will both come up short in the AL MVP race.

Lets start with Perez. Salvador Perez put up ridiculous numbers, with a slash of .273/.316/.859. Perez also hit 48 home runs, breaking Red’s Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench’s prevision record of 45 home runs hit by a catcher. He also added in 121 RBI’s and 169 hits(72 of them for extra bases). Perez also played his usual gold glove caliber defense behind the plate, but it is a hot bat that will land the All-Star catcher 3rd in the 2021 AL MVP race

Shohei Ohtani is unique, a phenomenon, an a unicorn. This year Ohtani did something no one has ever done in the history of baseball. Pitch at an All-Star level and hit at an All-Star level, he was selected to the American League All-Star team as both a pitcher and a hitter. Let’s start with the pitching; Ohtani started 23 games for the Anaheim Angels going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA, he threw 130.1 innings, while striking out 156 batters. His ERA and strikeout numbers are excellent, placing him within the top 20 for strikeouts among AL pitchers. Now Ohtani the hitter is a different animal. Ohtani hit a respectable .257, but it is his rare combination of power and speed that makes his offensive game so special. He hit 46 home runs and drove in 100 while also stealing 26 bases and leading all of MLB in triples with 8. His elite pitching and hitting makes him a specimen, but he will fall just short in the AL MVP race.

Vlad Jr. arguably had the greatest season a 22 year old could ever have. Guerrero Jr. was the most complete hitter in 2021, he hit for power and average while having the ability to drive in runners at a high clip and maintaining an elite on-base percentage. Vlad slugged an impressive .311/.401/1.002 along with leading the league with 48 home runs, tacking on 111 RBI’s and 188 hits; he lead the AL in 5 of the 13 major offensive categories. His impressive age 22 seasons was capped with a 3rd place finish in the Al east and he lead the youthful Toronto Blue Jays to a well above average record of 91-71, missing the playoffs by a game. Guerrero Jr. was awarded All-Star game MVP at this year’s mid-summer classic in Colorado and we will take home American League MVP following the completion of the world series.

photocredit:jaysjournal.com

Roadtrip

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My Grandfather who lives in Illinois gave me his truck, so my Dad and I went back to his farm to pick it up. It is a three seat truck, and with three people, there’s a tight squeeze. We decided to bring him back with us on the trip. This was the third time we have all done this together .

 

You would expect it to be really fun. But it was really uncomfortable. We went to two baseball games because my Dad loves baseball so much. Then when we hit Colorado we had some problems. The truck broke down. We were stuck in a small town all day. I was actually kind of glad because it was an uncomfortable car ride. Plus, the situation could have been much worse. We could have been in Kansas. It’s the only place the whole way back that isn’t pretty.

Once everything was fixed we went back out on the road. Sadly we ended up back in the shop the next day. I was disappointed then because we needed to get home and we where going to have to skip the one place I wanted to go to, Bryce Canyon.

As we got closer to Bryce the weather was getting really bad. I haven’t seen that much rain in years, and we had to stop. We got the hotel closest to Bryce and I was able to go. The weather cleared up enough to go on trails and explore the amazing canyons. The rocks are bright red, and it looks different every time you go. The weather couldn’t have been better and the scenery was amazing. The wait to get there was definitely worth it.

Worst Person 27-Philadelphia Phillies

backinphillyLeave a comment

In professional sports, there are always some interesting transactions. Some are ground-braking, like trading a top-tier player for a bunch of prospects. You know, something interesting like that.

Watching players fly around teams like that is something that I, personally find very enjoyable. I was intrigued this morning when I was informed that the Philadelphia Phillies traded a relief pitcher from their minor league club.

Hmm, I wonder what we got. Maybe a low draft pick or some other minor league prospect? Maybe some cash compensation?

As I read the article, I kept trying to see if I was possibly reading over something.

But the headline reminded me that not all trades make sense.

“The Philadelphia Phillies Traded A Minor League Prospect To The Los Angeles Angeles For No Compensation.”

What? Nothing? No money? No prospects?

Yup, that’s right. The Phillies literally got NOTHING from the Angels. The Angels got Mike Cisco, and the Phillies opened a roster spot.

Granted, the Phillies made the move because they believed that they were holding too many minor league pitchers. Fine, send a guy away. But, don’t just hand him over. Get something back for him. It doesn’t have to be a player. Just get some cash or something.

But NOTHING?! That’s inexcusable. I’m honestly in shock. How can a professional front office actually make this kind of move?

This is just a total head-scratcher.

Right, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.?

Derp

The Season of the LAX Bro is Upon Us

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

I’m sorry to use the term “LAX Bro,” but I just love using it to piss people off.

It is almost that time of the year to go beat the crap out of people with metal poles and have some good old fashioned fun.

Lacrosse has been defined by Webster Dictionary and all other reputable sources as, ” (n) Lacrosse: The sport real men play during baseball season, (v) To Lacrosse: The act of beating opponents with metal alloy sticks whilst others throw leather balls into leather mitts and slide in dirt because dirt is fun.”

If you would like to check up on that I urge you not to because I would hope you trust me enough to know that’s true.

Lacrosse combines aspects of basketball, soccer, and hockey.

It is the sport of all sports, while it is not my favorite sport to play it comes in 2nd due to a 3 way tie between Football and Ice Hockey.

Lacrosse is raw.

Lacrosse is mean.

Lacrosse is what is up my friend.

Last year was my first season and I was just learning the ropes.

I chose to play defense because I enjoyed the idea of holding a 6 foot long metal stick that I can beat people with.

It is so hard to talk about lacrosse without billions of sexual innuendoes going through your head, but bear with me people.

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Why the Pro Bowl doesn’t matter

backinphillyLeave a comment

A lot of people await the rosters for the NFL Pro Bowl each year. I am guilty of the same thing. However, much like 95% of the NFL population, we couldn’t care less about the outcome of the game.

The Pro Bowl is the unlike any of the Big 4 All star celebrations. By the Big 4, I mean NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB. The NBA, which I despise, has the All Star game, the rookie and sophomore game, the Dunk competition and the 3 point shot competition.

The MLB is the only one to my knowledge whose All Star game actually has an impact on the actual season. The NL and AL compete. The winner is granted the majority (4 games) in the World Series. Home field is always nice. Anyway, the game is preceded by the Home Run Derby, which I am an annual viewer.

The NHL has the most impressive All Star break of them all. Along with the game, which is always exciting and VERY high scoring, there are numerous skill competitions throughout the weekend, which include the Sniper competition and the Hardest shot, which isn’t much because Zdeno Chara is a freak of nature.

Anyway, the Pro Bowl is useless in every way. There’s a game that has no lasting implications on the season and no side competitions. It’s used to fill the gap between the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl. It’s simply a waste of time. I almost never watch the game and will very rarely watch any of the highlights following.

I can’t stand the Pro Bowl, and neither do the players.

Except these guys…they seem to be enjoying themselves with some very attractive hula girls.

Baseball Photos

r3t5nom2 Comments

Last week the baseball team traveled through the windy road up the 33. It was a long drive up to Maricopa, CA to play against a school but the team made it up there and came out victorious. As a photographer I took it as an opportunity to take pictures of the team playing their sport, and that I did.

People might think that it is only standing in one place and pointing a camera but the truth is that if you take photography seriously you won’t just stand in one place, you will walk around like a mad man or mad woman trying to find the perfect shot and then moving on to find the next one.

While I was taking this photo..

I came up with the idea to take this next photo, I saw that the catcher was standing in pure dirt and his glove was getting all dusty, then it came to me. A ball hit his glove and dust blew out of his glove as if it was smoke, it looked awesome!

This is what I love about taking pictures! The fact that I can capture moments that we only see and forget without a camera. It is truly a great feeling to catch moments like these.

What do you think about the photo?

Here’s whats’ new

shredicusmaximusLeave a comment

Come next week, the Ojai Valley School varsity baseball team will play their final game against the hated Cate Rams. It’s been an eventful season to say the least and today we could have, probably should have, but came damn close to beating Dunn school. They’re playoff bound folks, they’re good. We went up there today and gave them a hell of a battle and showed resiliency and heart. I think our team is worth watching. We have a lot of talent invested in the future and we are gaining respect from teams around the league, the exact teams that once mercied us are now struggling for wins, or for their lives. So that’s Wednesday. Don’t worry, we’re at home, you don’t have to move.

Immediately following that game, I hop on a plane to NY to watch my sister get married. Mary Stevenson and Hari Mahedev are a great couple that I have known for years now. They’re both Ivy League graduates, they’ve both become doctors and they’re in love. Besides I’ll get to see most of my family again, I’ll be able to rock my new threads, I’ll get to witness a very happy moment, and maybe I’ll meet a few brides maids who I like. You never know but it’ll be great.

I’ve celebrated the end of AP exams (I took 3 in 4 days) with a healthy diet of South Park cartoons and Dominos Pizza. Plus I’ve enjoyed my guitar lately. I’m really making it sound good.

That’s my current life. What’s yours?

A Man Who Never Let His Disabilities Define Himself

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

For people with disabilities, life is anything but easy. However, seeing people with such hardships pursuing the things they love, despite this fact, is truly inspirational.

This Saturday night fans will be crowding the Los Angeles stadium for the Dodgers home game. Though in addition to the exciting strikes and home runs, fans will witness a “ceremonial” first pitch.

Tom Willis, a man who was born without arms, will be conducting this first pitch. However, with a lack of arms, Willis will be using his more than capable feet.
And this man is not simply pitching for fun but rather using it as part of his “Pitch for Awareness” national campaign in which Willis will travel to all 30 major league stadiums in order to promote a better understanding that people with disabilities are still capable of numerous things.

“I want to raise people’s awareness of the abilities of a person with a disability, not to focus o what they can’t do but on what they can do,” said Willis.

Willis was diagnosed at birth with a congenital bilateral upper limb deficiency in which both of his arms did not develop properly. However, Willis has found that his condition does not have to limit him. He drives his own car with the simple aid of a foot-steering system, can do his own laundry, pump his own gas, and is currently working as an independent TV producer and motivational speaker.

His campaign started in 2008 when he threw the first pitch at his hometown stadium of the San Diego Padres. Willis is now continuing his dream of traveling to Fenway Park on July 7 as well as numerous other stadiums throughout his tour.

Willis did not allow his disabilities to define who he was, but rather used what he could do to define himself.

My Current Thoughts (Literally)

shredicusmaximusLeave a comment

My thoughts as of this hour:

Why would you think of expanding the baseball playoffs Bud Selig? 10 teams by next year in the postseason? It’s kind of weird that we’re playing the October classic in November. If you want to watch your favorite team play the Fall Classic on Christmas day, let’s keep that as a fantasy.

Spaceballs was an awesome movie. Daphne Zuniga is totally hot and sexy in that movie and I wish I had a space winnebago. That’d be awesome.

My Kick Ass poster is falling off my wall, it’s a real eyesore.

I would love it for Facebook to stop sending me event invitations and offers to see who is viewing my profile. I don’t care because they never post anything or say hi. So stop giving me false hope by having the notification ad pop up! I’m a lonely soul folks!

I wish the Cate game didn’t get cancelled, I wanted to throw fire again. Go OVS Baseball!

I’m digging 90’s contemporary rock and punk music. Green Day, Soul Asylum and Third Eye Blind are really doing it right now.

Last but not least, it’s so refreshing to vent your emotions. You need to do it every once in a while. If you don’t, you’ll explode.

With Piercing Blue Eyes

shredicusmaximus3 Comments

This is the story

Of a pitcher named “Ry”

Armed with a fastball

And Two Piercing Blue Eyes

Last Saturday he

Faced a good Thacher team

Winning that game was a feat

That haunted his dreams

The morning was rough

Lap labor made him protest

“My arm is in pain” he said

“And I need badly to rest”

But when the game started

He felt right at home

He was the king of his palace

The mound was his throne

Who should feel all his malice

From a morning well spent

The baseball Toads of Thacher

Here’s how the game went

After a first inning

In which two runs were allowed

Ry found his cool groove

He had set-tled down

With Min and Cameron

With Barrett and Cole

The OVS Spuds

Put the Toads in a hole

A 5 run third inning

Made them feel they could fly

The Spuds were pumped up

Especially Ry

He threw fastballs and curves

Struck out guy after guy

Toad after Toad and seeing the zone

With his deadly and piercing blue eyes

When the carnage was over

Ojai won 12-5

The next game is on Wednesday

Yours Truly,

RY