NATIONAL PASTIME
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Amateur Hour - 2003 draft, Part III
It's time to wrap up our look back at the first round of the 2003 Amateur Draft by checking in on the final 10 picks. Once again, there are some diamonds in the rough, as well as a few players you've probably never heard of and never will again after you're done with this article. Five years later, the Dodgers are certainly happy with their pick, but the Diamondbacks have to be kicking themselves for giving up on theirs a couple months too early. By Tom Stad.
Prospect Q&A - 2008 Wrap-up
Since National Pastime kicked off in late May, we've tried to identify some of tomorrow's brightest stars, introduce them to our readers and allow them to discuss their developing talents in their own words. In this, our final Prospect Q&A column of the year, we'll check in on the 35 players we profiled this season and see what kinds of progress they've made since we had the pleasure of speaking with each of them. We'll also single out some of our favorite quotes of the year and see what interesting categories our Q&A subjects fall into. Enjoy. By Jay LeBlanc.
Cooperstown Bound? - Ron Santo
For a person who was once told that his life expectancy was going to be no more than 25 years and who later had both his legs amputated, a 15-year career in the major leagues is nothing short of extraordinary. That is exactly what former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo has gone through, and accomplished, in his life. While the BBWAA failed to elect Santo to the Hall of Fame during his 15 years of eligibility, he came within seven votes of being elected by the Veterans Committee in 2005 and fell just five votes short in 2007, and is on the ballot again in 2009. So, does he deserve to get in? By Nick Leco.
My Five - 2008 last hurrah & awards
One thing I have come to realize while writing for a very diverse national audience is that you can't please everyone. It's just not possible so I've stopped trying ... kind of. This week I'm offering up a unique awards presentation to close out this spectacular regular-season and my first summer of My Five columns. As a Boston fan, I walk a fine line in my attempts to utilize my passion and knowledge of that area of the country - which has some decent squads, by the way - and not turn off or neglect the rest of you clowns. So this week I'm going bi-coastal. Everybody wins! Let's celebrate. By Sean Raposa.
KILL - My Five - Awards & 2008 last hurrah
One thing I have come to realize while writing for a very diverse national audience is that you can't please everyone. It's just not possible so I've stopped trying ... kind of. This week I'm offering up a unique awards presentation to close out this spectacular regular-season and my first summer of My Five columns. As a Boston fan, I walk a fine line in my attempts to utilize my passion and knowledge of that area of the country - which has some decent squads, by the way - and not turn off or neglect the rest of you clowns. So this week I'm going bi-coastal. Everybody wins! Let's celebrate. By Sean Raposa.
Prospect Q&A - Pat Venditte, Yankees
Before Pat Venditte came along, the short-season Class A debut of a 20th-round draft pick had never been featured on SportsCenter. But then again, an ambidextrous pitcher and a switch-hitter had never engaged in a battle of wills in a pro game, either. The clip of the cat-and-mouse game between Pat Venditte and Ralph Henriquez will live on forever on YouTube, but lost in all the hoopla about Venditte's unique switch-pitching ability is the fact that he's actually really good. By Jay LeBlanc.
Amateur Hour - 2003 draft, Part II
This week in Amateur Hour, we'll continue our review of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft's first round. The first 10 picks included a handful of promising major leaguers, with a couple busts mixed in as well. Selections 11 through 20 have enjoyed just as much success as the top 10, as well as a fair share of failure. A couple of the players I'll look at this week have some serious potential and could develop into perennial All-Stars, while others ... won't. By Tom Stad.
KILL - Amateur Hour - 2003 draft, Part II
This week in Amateur Hour, we'll continue our review of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft's first round. The first 10 picks included a handful of promising major leaguers, with a couple busts mixed in as well. Selections 11 through 20 have enjoyed just as much success as the top 10, as well as a fair share of failure. A couple of the players I'll look at this week have some serious potential and could develop into perennial All-Stars, while others ... won't. By Tom Stad.
Prospect Q&A - Cole Rohrbough, Atlanta Braves
Cole Rohrbough was the last draft-and-follow player signed by the Braves before MLB instituted a signing deadline for draft picks last year, and the team is confident that they'll get a return on their $675,000 investment sooner rather than later. The 6' 3" lefty is just 21 but already mixes his three pitches - a low-90s fastball, a power curveball and a developing changeup - like a veteran, which helps explain why he was able to reach advanced Class A in his first full pro season. By Jay LeBlanc.
Cooperstown Bound? - Dave Concepcion
The Reds of the 1970s were one of baseball's all-time great teams. Known as the "Big Red Machine," the squad offered an interesting mix of dynamic players and personalities, many of whom left an indelible mark on the game. One player who played an integral role on that team was shortstop Dave Concepcion. While he was overshadowed by some of the other stars on that team, he was a very good player in his own right and enjoyed a long and productive career. The question is, was that career was good enough for the Big Red Machine to get one more of its members into the Baseball Hall of Fame? By Nick Leco.
KILL - Cooperstown Bound? - Dave Concepcion
The Reds of the 1970s were one of baseball's all-time great teams. Known as the "Big Red Machine," the squad offered an interesting mix of dynamic players and personalities, many of whom left an indelible mark on the game. One player who played an integral role on that team was shortstop Dave Concepcion. While he was overshadowed by some of the other stars on that team, he was a very good player in his own right and enjoyed a long and productive career. The question is, was that career was good enough for the Big Red Machine to get one more of its members into the Baseball Hall of Fame? By Nick Leco.
My Five - Fabled finishes
On Sunday we were treated to the Phillies completing a sweep of the Brewers to tie the N.L. Wild Card race, a pinch-hit eighth-inning grand slam by career minor-leaguer DeWayne Wise that propelled the White Sox to victory and, of course, the no-hitter tossed by Carlos Zambrano in his first start since returning from shoulder tendinitis. The action got my juices flowing once again, and while contemplating today's topic I was overwhelmed by the potential storylines that will be playing out in a few weeks. Here are My Five truly miraculous tales of triumph that could come to fruition this October. By Sean Raposa.
Welcome to the show, Bobby Parnell
Bobby Parnell is a man on a mission. When National Pastime spoke to the 6' 4", 200-pound righty just a couple weeks ago, he had just made his final start with the double-A Binghamton Mets, for whom he went 10-6 with a 4.30 ERA this season. After a five-start stint with the triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, Parnell was summoned to the majors on Sept. 1. He made his debut for the New York Mets this evening, becoming the second National Pastime Prospect Q&A subject to go on to play in the big leagues. By Jay LeBlanc.
KILL - My Five - Fabled finishes
On Sunday alone we were treated to the Phillies completing a sweep of the Brewers to tie the N.L. Wild Card race, a pinch-hit eighth-inning grand slam by career minor-leaguer DeWayne Wise that propelled the White Sox to victory and, of course, the no-hitter tossed by Carlos Zambrano in his first start since returning from shoulder tendinitis. The action got my juices flowing once again, and while contemplating today's topic I was overwhelmed by the potential storylines that will be playing out in a few weeks. Here are My Five truly miraculous tales of triumph that could come to fruition this October. By Sean Raposa.
Prospect Q&A - Jeff Bianchi, Royals
When Jeff Bianchi with .408 with six home runs and 30 RBI in just 98 at bats in his pro debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Royals in 2005, it appeared the second-round pick was destined for big league stardom sooner rather than later, but the 6-foot, 175-pound middle infielder's progress was slowed by injuries in 2006 and 2007. Bianchi got back on track this year with the advanced Class A Wilmington Blue Rocks, displaying good pop at the plate while making a smooth transition from shortstop to second base. By Jay LeBlanc.
