Baseball. Blogging. Whenever.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Killer advice

Reluctantly, he answered the phone, and a voice brightened his day: "Hi Justin, it's Harmon Killebrew." "He knew I was down after we lost," Morneau said. "He knew I blamed myself for everything, and he just told me: 'It was a great year. You did a great job. Don't worry about what didn't happen.' That was pretty cool. He's probably the nicest Hall of Famer you'll ever meet." Killebrew, 72, spent more time talking to Morneau recently on his annual spring training visit. Morneau, who has hit 34, 31 and 23 home runs the past three seasons, asked Killebrew for tips on hitting more.

Killebrew gave Morneau the same advice Killebrew once received from Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner.

"When I was a young player, I hit for a high average and hit the ball all over the ballpark," Killebrew said. "One year in spring training, I think I was 18 or a little older, Kiner came up to me and said, 'Kid, you're never going to hit a lot of home runs consistently if you don't pull the ball. That doesn't mean you pull every pitch, but to hit home runs consistently, that's what you have to do.' "

Kiner also suggested standing closer to home plate.

HOK is no more

HOK Sport Venue Event is no longer.

The Kansas City-based sports architecture giant, now a stand-alone company, officially has changed its name to Populous.

“Populous allows us to enthusiastically embrace the expertise we uniquely claim — drawing people together, “ Joe Spear, a senior partner, said in a statement released today.

HOK Sport, now Populous, announced in August it was buying its independence from St. Louis-based HOK Group, and the transaction was completed Dec. 31. The firm was begun in 1983 when a group of architects approached HOK about establishing a sports-focused architectural office in Kansas City.

Fred Haney Would Not Be Amused

Gentlemen, do you have the right stuff to be a hip Milwaukee bachelor?

Face it: Milwaukeeans are a different breed. Your stuff should reflect that. And being a Milwaukeean, bachelor or not, means you wear your cheesehead pride like a badge (or a yellow triangular foam hat). If you’re unattached, there’s no better way of showing love for our area than by celebrating the great ways we spend our free time with your wardrobe and home furnishings. This week, I'm suggesting six items every single guy should have if he wants to be a first-class Brew City bachelor. Beginning today, a new item will be posted at noon each day through next Wednesday (except Monday) until the list is completed. Here's the first one . . .

. . . No. 1: Milwaukee Braves memorabilia. What to get: Something vintage. A game-worn jersey might be costly, but baseball cards and promotional material, like ads or pocket schedules, are less pricey. If you can’t find something authentic, retro-styled pennants and hats are abundant. Avoid Hank Aaron items. Too cliché. Go for something from other key players, like Eddie Mathews, Lew Burdette, Bob Buhl or Billy Bruton. Just be prepared to explain who the player was.

We weren’t expecting that

Bye-bye Gary

The Tigers released designated hitter Gary Sheffield this morning, a startling development since the team had already guaranteed him $14 million this season. It's the second-highest amount owed to a released player in club history, behind Damion Easley's $14.3 million in 2003.

“You’re going to pay him, one way or the other,” said club president/general manager Dave Dombrowski.

The decision is surprising from a historical perspective, because Sheffield’s next home run will be the 500th of his career.

Get me! I’m givin’ out wings!

There could be a shortage of chicken wings in the greater Phoenix area.

The Angels have a promotional tie-in with Claim Jumper, the restaurant offering a free order of "Angel wings" to fans holding ticket stubs to Tempe Diablo Stadium games in which the Angels score 10 runs or more. The Angels reached double figures for the fifth straight home game today, pounding out 18 hits in a 13-3 exhibition victory over the Chicago White Sox. They have scored 103 runs and have 134 hits, 26 of them homers, in their last nine games.

New Dodgertown

The Dodgers distributed a total of 131,134 tickets for their 14 home games at Camelback Ranch this spring, an average of 9,367 a game. Their highest average reported attendance at their previous spring training home in Vero Beach, Fla., of 6,504 per game was set in 1991.

The Hype

Baseball scouts and executives like to blame the media for excessive hype. Reporters like to say they’re just relaying what’s told to them by scouts and executives. Both sides are trying to feed fans’ curiosity and knowledge. Everyone is an accomplice in this.

It is a fine line. A scouting director’s job depends on the performance and perception of his draft picks. He needs to talk up the prospects to justify their selection and money but needs to temper expectations to protect the investment. Sometimes it feels like damned if you do too much, ridiculed if you do too little.

The Orioles’ scouting director predicted Wieters to be “an annual All-Star” before he played his first minor-league game. If he says anything less, the kid’s not worth the draft status and money, right?

“Expectations are nothing but trouble,” says Dan O’Dowd, general manager of the Rockies. “We put expectations on a player, and all those do is lead to disappointment.”

Deadbeat Browning

Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning has been arrested and charged with not paying child support, according to jail records uncovered by the Associated Press.
Browning, best known for throwing a perfect game in 1988 and currently a Minor League pitching coach in the Reds organization, was arrested Friday and was being held on $99,008.36 bail, according to the AP.

RIP Ottawa and Atlantic City

After 10 years of poor attendance and a struggle for attention blocks away from the casinos, the minor league Atlantic City Surf has struck out.

The team, which played in the independent Can-Am League, is discontinuing operations, along with another Can-Am team, the Ottawa Voyageurs.

Miles Wolff, the league's commissioner, said Monday that a deal to sell the Surf last week fell through. Without strong ownership and the money to back it, Wolff says it made no sense to continue to operate the club.

"We are tremendously disappointed that the Can-Am League will not be in Ottawa and Atlantic City in 2009," Wolff said. "These are two cities that we believe can be strong members. However, without solid ownership and the financial commitment behind these teams, it is in the best interest of the league to go with six clubs."