Articles I noted in passing

What’s it like to be Latino in MLB today? Prospects, starters and future Hall of Famers share their stories.

From ESPN: Beisbol Experience MLB 50-man interview

“We are not understood. We have to adapt. There are things we are not used to doing in our countries. When you keep doing things wrong, people get tired; I even got tired myself. There should not be so many rules. You just have to do your job and let people have fun, which is what I was doing in 2013. They’ve wanted to change so many things about me that I feel so off. I don’t feel like the player I was in 2013.”

YASIEL PUIG, DODGERS, CUBA

Unused sports venues can represent millions in wasted money, but also in lost moments of joy and sorrow.

Via the Dodgers Dugout email from Houston Mitchell of the LA Times:

Since the All-Star game began in 1933, which Dodgers have pitched the most career innings for the team without ever appearing in the game?

  1. Doug Rau, 1,250 2/3
  2. Ismael Valdez, 1,065
  3. Tom Candiotti, 1,048
  4. Luke Hamlin, 1,011
  5. Joe Hatten, 961 1/3
  6. Pedro Astacio, 886 2/3
  7. Darren Dreifort, 872 2/3
  8. Hugh Casey, 867 2/3
  9. Roger Craig, 814
  10. Tim Belcher, 806

And which Dodgers batters appeared in the most games without ever making the All-Star team?

  1. Eric Karros, 1,601
  2. Wes Parker, 1,288
  3. Steve Yeager, 1,219
  4. Willie Crawford, 989
  5. James Loney, 896
  6. Dave Hansen, 884
  7. Billy Cox, 742
  8. Dave Anderson, 713
  9. Joe Ferguson, 699
  10. Alex Cora, 684

It doesn’t startle me that none of those pitchers ever made the All Star Game, but I am surprised that neither Karros nor Parker ever made it. It may be that first base has been a traditionally star-laden position.

38 thoughts on “Articles I noted in passing

  1. What an odd collection of venues, from the famous to the really obscure. I knew the Astrodome was still standing, which is stunning in itself, but I’ve never heard of Hinchcliffe Stadium, and I grew up in northern Jersey. Tiger Stadium would’ve been on that list until recently.

    Have they torn down Turner Field yet?

  2. Yeah, 1st base a power position. In Parker’s best season he had only 7 dingers at mid-season. Stretch and Dick Allen were the NL ASG 1st basemen that year. Meanwhile, Karris did have some pop. His best year in 1996 saw McGriff and Bagwell in the ASG ahead of him.

    • Eric at TBLA says that 1995 and 1999 were years when Karros has his best shots. Crime Dog and Mark Grace were at 1st base for the NL in 95 and McGwire and Sean Casey in 99.

      • I think Karros was overshadowed, also, by playing on the same team with Piazza.

      • MIght be interesting to see most games played without winning a gold glove. I always thought Loney should have won a gold glove. He was the Dodgers best defender in 2011 when Kemp,Ethier, and Kershaw won gold gloves.

    • And earlier in the 60’s Ernie Banks would’ve been there, too, along with Orlando Cepeda and Bill White.

  3. After Kenley’s tweet, I decided to vote for JT, but keep getting an error message. Grrrr. About to give up.