Lefthander compliments
Scouts have praise for young arms in playoffs
While 45-year-old Jamie Moyer, who won 16 games for the Phillies, is nothing short of amazing for making a start in the playoffs, the postseason spotlight is squarely on three 24-year-old lefthanders - Boston's Jon Lester, Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, and Philadelphia's Cole Hamels - and one 20-year-old lefty - Los Angeles's Clayton Kershaw - each of whom could hold the key to which team emerges as the World Series champion.
A few scouts who have attended the playoffs agree that Lester is the most talented and battle-tested of the group, having already won a clinching game in the World Series last year and pitched two dominating games in the ALDS this year.
"With so many top lefthanded hitters, a strong lefty who can win you a couple of games and dominate in a seven-game series goes a long way toward assuring you're winning," said an American League scout. "Boston seems to have that right now in Jon Lester."
During the last Yankee dynasty, Andy Pettitte was that dominating lefty. Lester is often compared to Pettitte because of his cut fastball, but like the young Pettitte, Lester's velocity is in the mid-to-high 90s with a great curveball and changeup.
Another scout observed that Lester "is the toughest among those guys. He has that mental toughness that you need to be the best."
And yet another opinion offered was that Lester "is as good as anyone at blocking out his surroundings. He seems to be in his own world - pitcher vs. hitter - and nothing else enters it."
Getting up for big games isn't tough for Lester, who said, "That little extra intensity of the game, you know, I guess that's what puts you on your toes a little bit more. Being able to execute pitches, and I've been fortunate to do that."
Don't discount Hamels, though.
In Game 1 of the NLCS, he outpitched Derek Lowe, one of the game's best money pitchers, after falling behind, 2-0. He hung in for seven innings and held things status quo until the Phillies' offense got untracked with a pair of sixth-inning homers by Chase Utley and Pat Burrell.
Hamels, who has 29 wins the past two seasons, is different from Lester in that he throws 90-91 and relies on his changeup as his out pitch.
"He loves that changeup, and he should," said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "He has a good one."
Hamels is also unflappable; he can adjust to adversity and overcome it. He works quickly, and teammates love playing behind him.
Though Kazmir has been around for five years, physical issues have kept him from blossoming like Lester. He still throws far too many pitches and made it into the seventh inning in only five of his 27 starts.
While he's always among the league leaders in strikeouts (his 9.81 per nine innings were best in the AL) and his stuff is filthy, one scout said, "He's still erratic in the strike zone, and until he smooths out, he's not in Lester's class.
"Now, it could be that Kazmir has been hurt most of the year and he hasn't been able to really show what he can be. I know a lot of scouts who watch him question his health because he seems so tentative and unsure of himself at times, but now and then he puts together a gem."
Kazmir, who missed April with a left elbow strain, says his inconsistency is more mental than physical.
"After three or four outings where you feel it's mechanical, the next thing you know you think about everything that's going on with your delivery," he said. "You really just need to simplify it and concentrate on hitting the spot. I've tried not to concentrate so much on the mechanics."
Kershaw, 5-5 with a 4.26 ERA in his first season, is the X factor and potentially the best of them.
The first time Red Sox manager Terry Francona saw him in spring training, his jaw dropped. Kershaw retired the Sox on 10 pitches (Mike Lowell popup, J.D. Drew broken-bat ground out, Sean Casey strikeout). He has an incredible curveball that buckles hitters, and his fastball is very effective.
The scouts we spoke to feel the Dodgers rushed Kershaw to the big leagues out of desperation, and he took his lumps early. He was sent down to Double A Jacksonville to work out his issues, and since returning, he's been a dependable starter. In the NLCS, he is expected to be used in relief.
Have you begun work on the next season already?
DM: "Sure have. Spent a few days away from the office working from home, but we've got a few things on our plate right now that we have to sort through with our owner [Mark Attanasio]. You're never pleased to bow out in the playoffs in the first round, but I think, looking back at it, our team is making a lot of progress. They're playing much better now. Over the last four years, we've won more games than the Chicago Cubs, so now we have to find ways that we can build on that."
What are some of the more pressing issues right off the bat?
DM: "Well, I think over the next two weeks I'll come to a conclusion about our manager for next season. Our team really responded under Dale [ Sveum] and he got us into the playoffs. What I have to weigh over the next few days is whether there's someone else out there who I believe can be an effective manager for our ball club and whether that candidate can give us more in terms of experience and leadership. Dale did a great job for us and he'll receive every consideration to continue as our manager."
How about your own situation?
DM: "I have another year remaining on my contract so I'll continue to talk to Mark about my future. I feel that needs to be cleared up."
CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, both free agents; any chance you could re-sign one or both?
DM: "We'll definitely look at it. Those are decisions that will certainly involve our ownership in terms of how far we can go. On Ben, he's definitely had some injury issues here, and that's something we have to take a close look at. We also have to take a good look at what other options we have in trades and free agents."
Cuban appears to be the favorite in terms of the financial package he can offer to Sam Zell for the
Cuban was corralled by reporters at Thursday night's Bulls-Mavericks exhibition game, and he did make it clear that the price (which had been estimated north of $1 billion) and timetable (by the end of the year) have changed because of the financial crisis.
"Yeah, it's going to affect the deal structure," Cuban said. "Because of the way the deal was originally meant to be structured, it's going to create a challenge. So it'll certainly have an impact.
"Any time the cost of capital goes up, the cost of assets goes down. Which is what you're seeing in the stock market."
There have been rumors swirling around the Windy City that Cuban has recently tried to reach out to local partners to help him get the team.
With no salary cap in major league baseball, some owners might fear that a free-spending Cuban would ratchet up the marketplace. White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, a powerful owner, is said not to be a big supporter.
One of the questions we wanted to ask Cuban was whether he has a team of baseball management people ready to come in and take control if he gets the team. We certainly know Cuban's NBA style, but would it be similar in baseball?
Already names are swirling as potential candidates for president or CEO. One is Stan Kasten, who by all accounts wants out of his CEO position with the Nationals, as he has clashed with the Lerner family, owners of the team.
It would appear that, despite the disappointing end to the Cubs' season and given the likelihood that a deal is farther away from being done, general manager Jim Hendry (entering an option year) and manager Lou Piniella would not have to fret about losing their jobs for at least another year. Piniella recently had his option picked up for 2010.
Apropos of nothing: 1. The Philly Phanatic has a great routine in which he stomps on a blue Dodgers bandanna that is attached to fake dreadlocks. Wonder who he's stomping; 2. How much wealth have baseball owners lost during the financial crisis?; 3. Derek Lowe could become a Yankee; 4. I'll take A.J. Pierzynski on my team any day; 5. Injured reliever Tanyon Sturtze is working as the third bullpen catcher for the Dodgers just to be around the team.
Drop the subject
There is a baseball official or two who believes Reggie Willits could have been called safe when Jason Varitek dropped the ball after tagging him during the rundown in Game 4 of the ALDS. "There was no question he had the ball in his possession, tagged him with the ball," said one official. "But I understand that people believe Varitek was still in motion and the play wasn't over when he lost the ball. I think the right call was made, but with no rule per se governing that play, it's a judgment call and it could easily be argued in reverse. The Red Sox got the benefit because it would have been hard to rule in favor of the team that botched the [squeeze] play in the first place."
Rocky Mountain guys
Colorado manager Clint Hurdle is contemplating his new coaches after wiping out most of the staff last week. One name that has come up as a possible bench coach is Don Baylor, a former Rockies manager who was out of baseball this season. Also a possibility is Davey Johnson.
Brass tacks
Seattle president/CEO Chuck Armstrong will interview five candidates for the general manager job this week, as he seeks a permanent replacement for Bill Bavasi, who was fired June 16. Those five are: former Sox assistant GM Peter Woodfork, currently the Diamondbacks assistant GM; Jerry DiPoto, Diamondbacks director of player personnel; Tony Bernazard, Mets vice president of player development; Kim Ng, Dodgers assistant GM; and Tony LaCava, Blue Jays assistant GM. So far there's been no contact with Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer or vice president/player personnel Ben Cherington, though both appear to be in the mix. If they're not satisfied with the candidates, the Mariners may keep Lee Pelekoudas, the interim GM and a longtime organizational man, in place. After that, a new manager will be named. Former A's manager and NESN analyst Ken Macha could be given strong consideration.
Looking for bat signals
Major League Baseball's study into why maple bats are shattering so frequently has been extensive. According to one official, the committee has gone so far as to watch bats being made at manufacturing plants. It also has every shattering bat recorded on video and is examining where they shattered and under what circumstances. The information is being funneled to Harvard statisticians, who will try to find common threads. One issue is the sleekness of the modern bat. They are lighter with thinner handles, as opposed to the olden days, when bats were thicker at the handle and barrel and much heavier.
Valentine has change of heart
We're hearing more and more that Bobby Valentine, 58, is sending out feelers to return to the States to manage. He earns $1.5 million per year managing the Chibe Lotte Marines but appears to be growing weary of Japan and would love to return home to manage. "I know he's sent e-mails to a few 'future' GMs," said an American League scout. Valentine reportedly was interested in returning to the Mets, but they ended up retaining Jerry Manuel. He now has his sights set on Seattle, while Milwaukee also could be a possibility.
Direct results
The Rays' success has brought attention to their key management people. Gerry Hunsicker, brought in to help young GM Andrew Friedman in the role of senior vice president of baseball operations, may be on Texas's radar for a similar role, to advise youthful GM Jon Daniels. There's no doubt that the Rangers, who have a blossoming farm system, need some direction.
Iffy about Griffey
Ken Griffey said he'd like to return to Chicago, but there may not be a spot. The White Sox are going to kick it around in the next couple of weeks, but his production, while decent for a part-time player, would not warrant a return unless the salary was commensurate with his contributions. Griffey would have to take a low base. There might be an opening back in Seattle, which could use him as a lefthanded DH in a platoon. Of course, he's still very popular there.
Short hops
From the Bill Chuck files: "In the World Series, the Phils have played the Red Sox in 1915, the Yankees in 1950, the Orioles in 1983, and the Blue Jays in 1993. If they face the Rays this season, they can call 'Bingo!' They lost to all the AL East opponents." Also: "Granted, Arizona's Mark Reynolds did have 28 homers and 97 RBIs, but he set a major league record with 204 K's and led all third basemen with 34 errors. From 1965-67 combined, Brooks Robinson struck out 187 times and made a total of 38 errors." . . . Happy 68th birthday, Glenn Beckert (signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 1962).
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com 