Editor’s note: This will be the final Buck Martinez blog for 2010. We thank you for reading every week and look forward to Buck’s blog returning in spring training.
KEN ASKS: Hi Buck, what do you think of the Blue Jays choice to name Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell their next manager? Thanks.
BUCK: Ken, I think it is a great hire. John was a pitcher and only Bud Black of the Padres is currently managing having been a former pitcher himself but as we have seen with the success of San Diego it should make a difference that Farrell was a pitcher when he played. John has prepared himself well for this opportunity. It has been reported that he was the Director of Player Personnel for the Cleveland Indians and during his tenure the Indians were named Minor League Organization of the Year. He understands the link between the player development side and the Major League club. Not many managers really have a grip on that which should serve him well in making roster moves and callups. He also comes from a very successful run with the Boston Red Sox as their pitching coach, so he knows the league and the division. He was involved in developing a game plan for his pitching staff to attack the opposition which should complement Bruce Walton very effectively. I think Farrell’s decision to keep Walton and Brian Butterfield is also an indication he is comfortable in this position, keeping two very competent and effective coaches that already have a very good relationship with the players. I am very much looking forward to watching him work with this team knowing that he has one goal, winning the World Series. Good job by Alex Anthopoulos.
JOAN ASKS: Hi Buck, now that we’re down to the Giants and Rangers, who do you think will win the World Series? And does Texas catcher Bengie Molina get a ring either way since he played a good chunk of this season in San Francisco as well? Thanks!
BUCK: Joan, that is a very interesting question about Bengie Molina and the World Series ring. I don’t think he would like a SF Giants ring if they happen to win as it was the Giants that traded Bengie to Texas. As for the series, I think the Rangers have the upper hand with the deep lineup and diversified offence they possess. They can beat you with the long ball, the bunt and their wheels. Texas has a good team with great defence up the middle with Elvis Andrus at short and Josh Hamilton in center. Watch Hamilton in center and notice how much ground he covers on fly balls. He will “run like a deer” (antlers) in Pac Bell Park. It should be a very good series but because Cliff Lee didn’t have to pitch Game 7 in the ALCS against the Yankees he may get three starts in the Series.
ALLAN ASKS: Hi, Buck, can you educate me on why left-handed pitchers have an advantage over left-handed batters? It’s something I’ve never understood.
BUCK: Allan, the basics are the fact that the lefthanders have a better angle of attack against the left-handed batters. The fastballs appear to be coming from behind the hitter and the breaking balls seem to never stop breaking and end up so far away from the hitter they are tough to stay on. A good lefthander like Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia can command the down and away strike so consistently that the left-handed hitters never get good swings on a regular basis.
WILL ASKS: Hi Buck, I have a 14-year-old son that loves baseball, in particular pitching. He likes to try throwing different pitches, such as curve balls. I’m concerned he might hurt his arm. What would you recommend he do to build up his arm strength, especially over the winter? Thanks.
BUCK: Will, if my son was an aspiring pitching I would insist he learns control first and foremost. If you watch Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum or Cliff Lee they all throw a high percentage of strikes and stay away from hitter counts, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, and 3-1. The hitter always feels like he is behind, never getting a comfortable feeling in the batter’s box. The next thing they do is change speeds with their fastballs and throw change ups. The entire essence of pitching is to disrupt the timing of the hitter and you can do that with two pitches, the fastball and change. I would keep your son from trying to throw breaking balls until he is a junior in school. His body is growing all the time and his bones and muscles are not fully developed which may lead to injury. The pitching motion is an unnatural act and the body will break down, so you have to protect his health. If he loves pitching let him continue but encourage him to be a master of the strike zone as he will always have a chance to pitch at a higher level because he throws strikes. How many times have you heard us talk about a pitcher with good command being successful? That is the most important aspect of his development. As he progresses, he will learn how to sink and cut the fastball and create movement with his changeup. All of the Jays starters can throw a change at will which is a key factor in their success. Good luck to your son.
RYAN ASKS: Smokeless tobacco usage continues to be widespread in the major leagues. Even though it has been banned in the minor leagues for a number of years, that doesn’t seem to have significantly curbed its usage in the majors. If an outright ban on smokeless tobacco in the majors isn’t feasible in the near-term (a ban would require the approval of the MLBPA), what additional steps do you believe the league should take to discourage its usage among
players?
BUCK: Ryan, as you have pointed out the Players Association will fight for the rights of the players to make their own decisions in this matter. I was a tobacco chewer when I played and I don’t really know why. I agree that it is a terrible habit that should be eliminated, but unless the players decide to do it I don’t see any short term changes in the policy but there is hope. When I got to the big leagues in 1969 I was shocked to see players smoking in the dugout and that has gone away so there is hope that one day the smokeless tobacco use will end as well.
ANDREW ASKS: Hi Buck, I was watching the Game 3 of the Yankees-Rangers series last week and Gregg Zaun said something that perked my interest during one of his segments with Jamie Campbell. He mentioned Yankee Stadium as being a “bandbox” ball park in regards to Josh Hamilton’s home run in the first inning. I always thought there was a set of regulations as to the minimum size a major league park in order to ensure a competitive field for teams. Is there any particular reason Yankee Stadium has a short right field porch and does a set of regulations as to the minimum/maximum size of ballparks exist? If it does, what is it? Thanks.
BUCK: Andrew, there are minimums set in the official rules of baseball. The original rule is that the foul lines shall be at least 320 feet from home plate and that center field shall be a minimum of 400 feet. In June, 1958 the foul line measurements increased to 325. Now let’s talk about specifics. Boston’s Fenway Park was built in 1912 and we all know about the “Green Monster” in left. The sign on the wall down the left field line says “310” while the right field is 302. Now that park has been there forever so I understand why they leave it alone. New Yankee Stadium foul lines are short according to the rule book since left measures 318 and right is 314. I don’t know why they were allowed to have these dimensions in the new park. But the problem that Zaun pointed out is the right field fence goes out from the corner at a right angle creating a “short porch” in right center and “cheap home runs”. Old Yankee Stadium and most major league parks arc away from home plate beginning at the foul pole creating deep power alleys. That is not the case for the Yankees at home. Every one of the Yankees hitters had a better average at home this season except Robinson Cano who hit for a higher average on the road. The hitters are aware of the short porch and realize the right-handed hitters don’t have to pull the ball to hit well at home. This gives them an huge advantage since they can be more patient, wait on the pitch, recognize what it is and go with the pitch to the opposite field. It is a bandbox as Gregg Zaun so aptly pointed out.