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With the Hot Stove heating up and plenty of Major League teams already making moves, here’s a look at my top-5 free agents in this winter’s class. 5.) Dexter Fowler – OF Fowler proved in 2016 how valuable he is, both at the plate and in the field. He wasn’t one of the Cubs’ big middle-of-the-order thumpers, but he made that lineup go as the team’s leadoff hitter. A good leadoff man is incredibly valuable, especially one that can get on base consistently and has pop. This past season, Fowler hit .276 with 13 HR, a career-high .393 OBP, 79 walks and a solid .840 OPS, his best mark since 2012. He wasn’t among the game’s elite on defense, but Fowler patrolled center field well for the Cubbies, making six outfield assists and flashing above-average range. Fowler also used his speed to his advantage in 2016. “Daddy Long Legs” swiped a modest 13 bags and scored 84 runs, fueling the Cubs deep, lethal lineup. Fowler’s athleticism and well-rounded game make him one of the top free agents on the market this winter. Entering his age-31 season, Fowler should have no trouble landing a five-year deal in the range of $75 million. Potential Fits: Cubs, Rangers, Orioles, Indians, Nationals, Astros 4.) Edwin Encarnacion – 1B/DH Encarnacion wasn’t always the most-talked-about power hitter in the Blue Jays lineup the past few seasons, but he consistently produced and made a lot of noise with hit bat. As a first baseman/designated hitter, he’s essentially limited to signing with an American League team, but that doesn’t diminish his value at all given what he’ll bring to the team that signs him. This past season, Encarnacion batted .263 with 42 HR and a league-high 127 RBIs. He’s hit 42 homers twice in his last five seasons and has 34+ long balls and 98+ RBIs in five straight seasons. The three-time All-Star is undoubtedly one of the best power hitters in baseball, and although he’s on the back end of his prime years, he isn’t showing signs of slowing down yet. Entering his age-34 season, Encarnacion should get a solid three- or four-year deal with a high AAV, potentially in the $20-million range. Potential Fits: Blue Jays, Yankees, Tigers, Mariners, Red Sox, White Sox 3.) Yoenis Cespedes – OF Cespedes was one of the hottest names on the market last offseason, and he is once again after opting out of his three-year, $75 million deal with the Mets. The Cuba native brings serious power and a rifle of a throwing arm to whichever team signs him, and he’ll immediately make an impact in the middle of any lineup. Cespedes’ offensive numbers in 2016 were down a bit across the board, but he came on strong in the second half. He hit .280 with 31 HR, 86 RBIs and an .884 OPS and almost single-handedly carried the Mets’ offense after the trade deadline. He doesn’t have a ton of range but his arm is among the best in the Majors, so he provides value as a corner outfielder with the ability to play center field if needed. The fact that he’s performed well in the middle of a playoff run in consecutive seasons bodes well for Cespedes. He’s 31, but didn’t debut until he was 26, so he doesn’t have a ton of miles on him. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Cespedes land a $100+ million deal over five or six years. Potential Fits: Mets, Nationals, Orioles, Yankees, Mariners, Dodgers 2.) Kenley Jansen – RHP Jansen solidified himself among the league’s elite closers in 2016, converting a career-high 47 saves with a stellar 1.83 ERA in 68.2 IP. He struck out 104 batters with only 11 walks, good for a 9.45 K:BB ratio, and posted a career-best 0.67 WHIP. Jansen was the most important piece of the Dodgers’ pitching staff when Clayton Kershaw was out with a back injury, as he was almost automatic closing out games at the back end of a strong bullpen. He also proved he’s capable of working multiple innings a game and can come into a close game in the 7th or 8th inning and be a stopper, as evidence of his 2016 postseason performance. He’s only 29, and with a fastball touching the upper 90s, he’ll be one of the most sought after names on this winter’s market, especially with the starting pitching class so weak and dominant relievers in high demand. Jansen should easily cash in on a healthy five-year deal with an AAV around $13-$15 million. Potential Fits: Dodgers, Yankees, Giants, Nationals, Red Sox, Cubs 1.) Aroldis Chapman – LHP Chapman has been a top-three reliever since he came into the league and he’s in a prime position to cash in on a mega-deal this winter. In 2016, “The Cuban Missile” struck out 90 batters and posted a 1.55 ERA in 52 appearances over 58.0 innings of work. In his time with the Cubs alone, he converted 16 saves with a 1.01 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. Reaching triple digits on more than half of his pitches, Chapman’s fastball is arguably the game’s deadliest pitch. When he’s on it’s unhittable, and the southpaw also has a filthy slider. Like Jansen, Chapman proved he can work multiple innings and still be effective after racking up a high pitch count. He’ll be 29 when the 2017 season starts, so he’s young enough that he’ll still be effective long term, and there’s no telling how many prime years he has left. Mark it down now, Chapman will sign the richest contract for a reliever in Major League history this offseason, and he may get that $100 million deal he’s reportedly seeking, potentially over six or seven years. Potential Fits: Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Giants, Nationals, Red Sox Other Top Free Agents: Jose Bautista – OF/3B, Ian Desmond – OF, Wilson Ramos – C, Mark Melancon – RHP, Mark Trumbo – OF/1B/DH, Justin Turner – 3B
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Now that the 2016 Major League Baseball season has come to an end, here’s a recap of the best games of what was an exciting postseason. 5.) AL Wild Card Game – Blue Jays/Orioles This game was expected to be a slugfest between two of MLB’s best offenses, but it turned into a pitcher’s duel that went 11 innings. The Blue Jays went home winners thanks to a walk-off three-run blast from Edwin Encarnacion, but this game will be remembered for controversy, in more ways than one. Mid-way through the game, a Blue Jays fan threw a beer onto the field that almost his Orioles’ left fielder Hyun-Soo Kim. That’s not all. Zach Britton, All-Star closer for the Orioles and AL Cy Young favorite, did not pitch in the game. Buck Showalter instead decided to use a handful of other relievers out of his pen, and the O’s lost the game without their best pitcher entering the game. Nonetheless, it was a great game in its entirety. I mean, who doesn’t love a postseason walk-off home run? 4.) NLDS Games 3 and 4 – Cubs/Giants After Game 3, a lot of baseball fans were thinking the same thing: “Uh oh, the Giants’ even-year magic is happening again.” After dropping the first two games of the series and going down 3-0 in Game 3 thanks to a Jake Arrieta homer off Madison Bumgarner, the Giants used late-inning heroics to fight off elimination. With the Giants up two runs heading into the ninth, Kris Bryant tied the game with a homerun, which sent the game into extras. The Giants won on a Joe Panik walk-off hit in the 13th inning, in a game that featured 13 pitchers. The Cubs ended the Giants even-year title streak with a come-from-behind win in Game 4. San Fran jumped out to a 5-2 lead and looked well on its way to forcing a Game 5, but the Cubs rallied for four runs in an insane ninth inning to take the lead. Kris Bryant led off the inning with a single, Ben Zobrist hit a two-run double, Willson Contreras had an RBI single and the go-ahead run scored on Javier Baez’s RBI single. Aroldis Chapman mowed the Giants down in the bottom of the ninth, and the Cubs moved on to the NLCS. 3.) NLDS Game 5 – Dodgers/Nationals It’s a shame that this wasn’t a seven-game series, because it had all the makings of one. Game 5 looked like it was going to go to the Nats, as ace Max Scherzer was straight dealing and the Dodgers couldn’t figure him out. But Joc Pederson’s leadoff solo homer in the seventh inning sparked a four-run rally, and the Dodgers eventually held on to a one-run win. The mind games inside the game itself were wild. Dusty Baker used six pitchers in the seventh inning, while Dave Roberts made his share of pitching changes in the inning as well. In total, the seventh inning alone lasted over one hour, with six runs crossing the plate. That’s insane. But what was even crazier was Clayton Kershaw coming into the game in the ninth inning to get the final two outs on one-day’s rest, recording his first career save. 2.) World Series Games 3 and 5 – Cubs/Indians Aside from that incredible Game 7, these were the other two best games of the World Series. The Indians won Game 3, 1-0, while the Cubs won game 5, 3-2. Game 3 was as good as it gets pitching wise, as the Tribe used four pitchers to shutout the Cubs. Josh Tomlin gave the Indians a good start and with a runner on first and two outs in the fifth, Francona brought in his stopper, Andrew Miller, to get out of the inning. It was the Cubs’ last threat of the game, as they went down quietly after that. Coco Crisp’s seventh-inning RBI single plated the game’s only run, and the Indians won the way they had all postseason, with dominant pitching and timely hitting. Game 5 was the ultimate chess match. Joe Maddon and Terry Francona took turns making their strategic moves, giving everyone watching the game a headache trying to keep up with the lineup card changes. The biggest decision of the night came when Maddon, up one run and down 3-1 in the seires, brought closer Aroldis Chapman in for an eight-out save in the seventh inning. He got the job done and saved the Cubs’ season in the process. 1.) World Series Game 7 – Cubs/Indians In an already historic World Series, Game 7 between the Cubs and Indians will go down as one of the best postseason games of all-time. From Dexter Fowler’s leadoff home run (the first leadoff dinger ever in a Game 7), to Rajai Davis’ eighth-inning game-tying homer off Chapman, to the rain delay, to the Cubs winning their first championship since 1908, this game had everything. It was only fitting that a World Series between two teams with a combined 176-year title drought needed extra innings in a Game 7 to decide a champion. Ben Zobrist, the eventual WS MVP, drove in a run with an RBI double down the left field line in the 10th inning and Miguel Montero followed by knocking in what turned out to be the winning run with a single to left field. It was a long chess match between Joe Maddon and Terry Francona that had fans on the edge of their seats all night. The drama was unbearable and rightfully so, there was a lot at stake. No wonder it was the most-watched baseball game in 25 years, a game that ended with the Cubs’ winning their first World Series in 108 years. Honorable Mentions: NLCS Games 1 and 2 – Cubs/Dodgers, ALDS Game 3 – Indians/Red Sox, ALDS Game 3 – Blue Jays/Rangers Image credit: CNN.com - Jamie Squire, Getty Images
Before the Indians and Cubs play Game 3 of the 2016 World Series from Wrigley Field, the first Fall Classic game played at Wrigley since 1945, here are four quick takeaways from Games 1 and 2 of a historic series. Kyle Schwarber is the real deal You’re not supposed to be able to recover from a torn ACL in six months and hit Major League pitching in the World Series. That just doesn’t happen. But through two World Series games, Kyle Schwarber is defying odds. Serving as the designated hitter in both games in Cleveland, Schwarber is 3-for-7 with a double, two RBIs and two walks. And that’s after going hitless in four April at-bats and just 1-for-6 rehabbing in the Arizona Fall League. It just doesn’t add up. But then again, some guys just know how to hit. And a select few know how to hit in big moments. Schwarber flashed star potential in 2015. He slugged 16 homers in 273 regular season plate appearances before mashing five in the postseason, becoming the Cubs’ all-time postseason home run leader in the process. Yeah, let that sink in. And in just two World Series games this year, Schwarber is showing us all why the Cubs refused to include him in any trade offer this summer when the club was trying to add at the deadline. His double in Game 1 was inches from leaving the yard while both of his RBI singles in Game 2 were hard-hit shots up the middle of the diamond. In his other at-bats, he let the count run deep and has looked disciplined on breaking balls. In 11 career postseason games, Schwarber is hitting .353 with 10 RBI and a 1.274 OPS. Yep, you read that right. There’s no doubt the Cubs’ lineup is significantly deeper and more dangerous when Schwarber is in there. He hasn’t been medically cleared to play the outfield, so he won’t be in the starting lineup in Chicago, but he’ll still be a scary option off the bench in the late innings. Corey Kluber and Andrew Miller can carry the Indians The Indians’ convincing Game 1 win was the perfect indication that they can ride their two best arms to a World Series title. Kluber had everything working, specifically his two-seam fastball, which had insane movement all night. I’ve never seen a two-seamer move like that and I can’t remember the last time I saw a pitcher generate that much consistent movement on all of his pitches. Even in the cold air, Kluber was getting incredible tail on his two-seamer and his slider had a tight break throughout the game. He finished with nine strikeouts in six-plus innings of work. The Cubs looked awful against him all night and half the time, they left the bat of their shoulders. Chicago should be worried about facing Kluber in Game 4 and then facing him in a potential Game 7 in Cleveland. Once Terry Francona turned the ball over to Miller with a man on first in the seventh, it was game over. Even though Miller walked Rizzo and gave up a single to Zobrist to load the bases with no outs, it never actually felt like he was in trouble; Miller wasn’t going to let the Cubs get on the board. Miller has entered most of his appearances this postseason with men on base instead of starting an inning fresh, and he’s excelled in those high-leverage situations. He’s also been able to consistently work multiple innings at any point in the game, which has increased his already sky-high value. In 13.2 IP this October, Miller has 24 strikeouts and has yet to allow a run. With Kluber in line to make at least one more start and Miller available for extended work at any point, the Indians are in good shape with the series tied 1-1. They need just one win in Chicago to send the series back to Cleveland, and it’s clear that Kluber and Miller alone can just about will their team to victory. The Cubs are scary when they’re hitting The Cubs have arguably the deepest starting rotation of any of the 2016 postseason teams. Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta are proven aces, Kyle Hendricks is a rising star and John Lackey is a reliable veteran with big-game experience. They’re so deep, Jason Hammel couldn’t crack the postseason roster after posting very solid numbers in the regular season. But it’s the lineup that fuels this Cubs team. One through nine, they can all rake. After being shutout by the Dodgers in both Games 2 and 3 of the NLCS, the Cubs faced some unfamiliar adversity. But they broke out the bats in Game 4 of that series, exploding for 10 runs, and kept it going in Games 5 and 6 to secure the NL Pennant with ease. That’s when Anthony Rizzo locked in and Addison Russell started swinging the bat better. Now, Schwarber is back and already making his presence felt, and Ben Zobrist, who hit like crazy last World Series for the Royals, is locked in with five hits (two XBH) in two games against the Tribe. Then there’s NL MVP frontrunner Kris Bryant and Javy Baez, who both have hit consistently all October. The Cubs’ hitters know they’re going to get solid efforts from their starting pitchers every night, they just need to back them up. Well, after Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen shut them down in Game 1, the bats came back out in Game 2, and it looks like they’ll stay out as the series heads to Wrigley Field. Francisco Lindor is a future MVP He’s easily the best player on his own club, but after Kris Bryant, Lindor might be the best overall talent among position players in this series. He’s that good. Lindor’s phenomenal rookie season in 2015 was a direct indication that he is going to be a special player for years to come, and in just his second season, he’s the catalyst of this scrappy Indians lineup. He’s hit well all postseason, which is no surprise, because he was nothing short of outstanding with the bat during the regular season. But for him to be the best hitter on a World Series team at 22 years old is something special. In 10 postseason games, Lindor is batting .342 with a .954 OPS. Lindor had a tough go of it at the plate in Game 2, but he collected three hits in Game 1 and was a nightmare for the Cubs’ pitching staff. He was no slouch on the bases, either. Lindor swiped one bag in Game 1 and gave Jon Lester fits all nights, getting in Lester’s head with his antics leading off first. The shortstop from Puerto Rico also made things happen with his glove. In the middle innings of Game 2, he made a sweet diving stop on a hot shot to his left that might have been a double play if Jason Kipnis hadn’t dropped the ball at second base. Lindor has been flawless on routine plays as well. And maybe most importantly, the kid is having fun playing the game. You see the smile and how loose he plays on the field; it’s refreshing. Make no mistake, Lindor will win an MVP Award some time soon, maybe within the next two or three years, and he might just help the Indians bring home their first World Series title in 64 years before that. BONUS: Roberto Perez in elite company This isn’t an observation, but I had to share a few crazy stats about the Indians’ catcher from this World Series, thanks to his impressive Game 1 performance. *Perez is one of five catchers, including Johnny Bench and Gary Carter, to hit two home runs in a World Series game. *Perez and Yogi Berra are the only two catchers to hit two home runs and catch a shutout in the same World Series game. *Perez is the first player born in Puerto Rico to hit two home runs in a World Series game. Image Credit: ESPN.com
Los Angeles Dodgers’ first-year manager Dave Roberts and his eighth-inning decisions were the subject of serious criticism Sunday night after the Dodgers lost Game 1 of the NLCS to the Chicago Cubs. With one out and a man on second in the bottom of the eighth inning, Roberts chose to intentionally walk Jason Heyward to set up a force play and get a righty-righty matchup for Joe Blanton against Javier Baez. Now, this was just the beginning of the Roberts bashing. The critics questioned why he chose to walk Heyward, who had the third-lowest OPS in the Majors among qualified players in the regular season, to get to Baez, the Cubs’ hottest hitter. But Roberts trusted that Blanton’s stuff, specifically his slider, would be more effective against the free-swinging righty Baez than the disciplined lefty Heyward. It worked. Blanton got Baez to pop out for the second out of the inning. That's when the "chess match" truly began. Roberts decided to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan to load the bases and force the go-ahead run to third base, to get to Aroldis Chapman’s spot in the batting order, forcing Joe Maddon to pinch hit for Chapman, who came in with no outs and bases loaded in the top of the eighth. So when Roberts walked Coghlan, who entered that plate appearance 8-for-17 (.471 BA) in his career off Blanton, to get to Chapman’s spot, Maddon countered with Miguel Montero. Blanton had Montero down 0-2, needing just one strike to get out of trouble with the game still tied, but hung a slider, which Montero launched over the right-center field fence for a grand slam. The next batter, Dexter Fowler, followed with a solo homer, and the Cubs went into the top of the ninth up 8-3 and won the game 8-4. Despite losing the game and having his bold move backfire in the worst way, Roberts made the right call. Sure, Roberts’ gamble to get Chapman out of the game cost him five runs, but the rationale behind the decision makes perfect sense. He had an opportunity to essentially by himself remove the Cubs’ best pitcher from the game, and he took it. Current Dodgers are a combined 2-for-30 (.067 BA) in their careers in the regular season off Chapman. So instead of having to face the fireballer southpaw in the top of the ninth, the lefty-heavy Dodgers lineup was in line to face righty Hector Rondon, a much more favorable matchup, in a tie game. Although the Dodgers were down five runs by the time they actually got to face him in the ninth, Rondon’s underwhelming inning of work (two hits, one earned run) was all you needed to see to understand why Roberts gambled. Rondon looked incredibly shaky in a stress-free inning and the Dodgers were on him, so imagine how he would’ve pitched with the game on the line and no margin for error. There’s no doubt the Dodgers would’ve had a significantly better chance to score off Rondon than Chapman and take the lead with the game still tied, had that still been the situation in the ninth. Had the Dodgers escaped the jam, they would’ve been in much better shape than the Cubs moving forward in the game and potentially extra innings as well. Chapman was out of the game while the Dodgers still had their best reliever, Kenley Jansen, available. That scenario never came into play, though, because Robert’s move backfired. But just because it didn’t work, doesn’t mean it was the wrong decision. Roberts was thinking ahead to the ninth and beyond, which you have to do in a game like that. You still have to think about the current inning and get through that one first, but if you’re not thinking ahead, you’re putting your team at a disadvantage. If it were Andrew Miller on the mound for the Cubs, for example, no one, and I mean no one, questions the move to force him out of the game, so why question it to force out Chapman, arguably the second-best reliever in baseball? And not to put this all on Blanton, who was an unsung hero for the Dodgers all season and in the NLDS, but if he makes a better 0-2 pitch to Montero, the Dodgers get out of the eighth with no harm done. As anticipated, Blanton’s 0-2 offering was a slider, but instead of burying it in the dirt and having it break down toward Montero’s back foot like he wanted it to, he hung it... badly. If he bounces it almost like a waste pitch, or even intentionally thows a waste pitch, Montero probably swings at it and misses, and the inning ends as a crucial missed opportunity for the Cubs with the momentum in the Dodgers’ favor. Even with a man on third in a tie game in the late innings, burying a breaking ball in the dirt is the right call if you trust your catcher. Blanton said after the game that that’s what he was trying to do, so it’s clear he trusted Grandal to smother anything in his direction. So let’s recap that bottom of the eighth inning: Two intentional walks, one that forced the go-ahead run to third and the bases loaded, and two home runs later, Roberts still made the right decision. When you simplify the entire situation and break down the inning batter by batter, it’s hard not to justify Roberts’ decision making. The main critics of his managerial moves were the advanced stats/sabermetric guys. They’re the ones crying out against the move to load the bases with two outs instead of going after Coghlan because it increased the Cubs’ “win probability added” and hurt the Dodgers’ chances. I won’t deny that sabermetrics are improving the game in some ways, but as I recall, just a few days prior, the Cubs were given a 2.5 percent chance to win NLDS Game 4 against the Giants entering the ninth inning down three runs, and they won. The bottom line is, advanced stats can only take you so far. The game has to be decided on the field and in the dugout, not on a calculator or computer spreadsheet. And if Roberts’ moves paid off and the Dodgers had won Game 1, Maddon would’ve been the manager getting second-guessed, not Roberts. Instead of badgering the Dodgers’ skipper over his bold moves, reporters would’ve questioned Maddon’s decisions to pinch-hit for Jon Lester after he threw just 77 pitches in six strong innings, for waiting until the bases were loaded in the top of the eighth to bring in Chapman, or for not bunting with Addison Russell with a man on second and no outs in the bottom of the eighth. If the Dodgers lose this series, it won’t be because of Roberts’ gamble. But if they win this series, it could very well be because of their manager’s willingness to take risks. Image Credit: MLB.com I woke up two Sundays ago and checked my phone like I always do after I turn off my alarm. In between a few emails and text messages on my lock screen was an ESPN alert. I read it and my heart sank. I immediately said to myself something along the lines of, “What? Oh my God, no way.”
It was just too hard to believe. Then I checked Twitter, and it became real. It’s been about a week and a half now since José Fernández and two of his friends tragically died in a boating accident in Miami. I’ve taken this past week--this heartbreaking, emotional week for anyone in the baseball community--to sit back and try to wrap my head around it. I still haven’t exactly come to terms with the reality of the situation. One of Major League Baseball’s most beloved, genuine people and brightest young stars is dead at the age of 24. I’m not a Marlins fan. I never met José Fernández. And to be honest, I can’t remember if I ever saw him pitch in person. I must not have, because I easily would’ve remembered witnessing such an electric talent. But I have a handful of close friends and professional colleagues that knew him well. I’ve met a few of his Marlins teammates. My own mother knew him. I knew enough about José and enough about who he was as a person to feel the pain and sorrow that all of his loved ones feel. From last Sunday when the news broke, to last Monday seeing the Marlins’ on-field tributes to their fallen brother, to last Wednesday’s funeral procession in Miami, it was one tough week. I feel for José’s family, his friends, the Marlins organization, and anyone who had the privilege of knowing him. 24 years old and gone. It’s not fair. All week, I kept asking how something like this could’ve happened to anyone, to such a young person with a full life ahead of him. But then I thought this to myself: In a way, if you think about it, in just 24 short years, José Fernández already lived a full life. If you know his backstory, you know what I mean. Before he was one of the most unhittable pitchers in the Major Leagues, before he was the face of a franchise, before he was the José Fernández we all knew or knew of, he was a boy with a dream: a dream to come to the United States. He tried three times to escape from Cuba and was unsuccessful. After the failed attempts, he spent time in prison with actual criminals. Then he gave it another shot, and on that fourth try, he made it to the United States. On top of risking his life multiple times just to get out of Cuba, he put his life on the line again to save his drowning mother during their escape, not even knowing that it was her who was drowning when he initially jumped in the water. After his tireless struggle to just make it out of Cuba, Fernández worked his way to becoming a first-round draft pick. Not long after, he realized his dream of being a Major League pitcher, becoming a phenom by age 20, winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award in convincing fashion, and finishing third in the NL Cy Young vote. Then, in his second season, he was faced with more adversity. Fernández suffered an elbow injury early in the season that required Tommy John surgery. Just when he was about to dominate the league once again, his season came to a close. But less than 14 months later, Fernández was back on a big-league mound. He fought his way back from a devastating injury only to return better than ever toward the end of 2015. This season, he was making a strong case for the NL Cy Young Award and pitched what he called the best game of his life only two weeks ago, in what would be his last career game. And that was it. José was no stranger to having the odds stacked against him, but time and time again, he beat them. The irony of Fernández losing his life--the same life he risked multiple times just to get to the United States--in a boating accident is chilling, and it makes you think about what could have been, what should have been. It’s disheartening to think about Fernández’s world-class potential as a pitcher, his charismatic personality and unparalleled passion for baseball and life now that he’s gone, but we owe it to him to instead focus on everything he accomplished in just 24 years. What José did by the time he was 15 years old is more than most will ever do, and that’s worth celebrating. José Fernández’s 24 years of life were lived to the fullest. He epitomized the American Dream and did so with a fiery and contagious passion. Fernández leaves behind his grandmother, who by all accounts was his other half. He leaves behind his mother, whom he fled to the United States with as a teenager. He leaves behind his younger sister, who absolutely adored him. He leaves behind his beloved girlfriend, with whom he had just started his own family. But in all tragedies like this one, there is a silver lining. Fernández leaves behind his unborn daughter, which is heartbreaking any way you look at it, but it’s equally as beautiful. That child will never know her father, but there will be a countless number of people who will go out of their way to make sure she is the most loved little girl in the world, because she’s part of him. Amidst all the pain and sadness, there is joy and hope knowing that José Fernández’s spirit will live on--metaphorically and literally. Tomorrow is not promised, and José always lived “today” with that in mind. When you consider all he had been through in just 24 years on this earth, José lived a full life. If not now, in time, the impact and legacy he passes on will prove it. Someday, we’ll all tell the story of José Fernández: a story of perseverance, triumph and pure life. We’ll tell it with heavy hearts, but we’ll remember to crack a smile, because although his life was short, it was a life lived in full. I’ve wanted it since I was 10 years old. I spent countless hours preparing for it. I made sure I was ready for it. Then, it happened. This past summer, I got a taste of my dream: covering a Major League Baseball game as a credentialed reporter. As part of my internship with Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to cover my hometown Philadelphia Phillies on two occasions. When I accepted the internship back in January, I had no idea how many amazing opportunities I was going to get. Throughout the summer, I met a handful of CSN broadcasters, writers and producers, covered a Sixers workout and five Eagles training camp practices, and got to write over 20 stories for CSNPhilly.com. But the highlight of my internship by far was covering the Phillies. Baseball is and always will be my favorite sport and my goal is to someday work as an MLB broadcaster and writer. It was an honor, even for such a brief amount of time, to live my dream at such a young age and experience what a career as an MLB reporter is like. Both Phillies games that I covered were at 7:05 p.m., a standard start time for night games, so to get a feel for what an MLB reporter’s typical day is like, take a look at the schedule below. 3-3:30 p.m. – Get to the ballpark, check in at the media entrance, head up to the press box. 4 p.m. – Go down to the locker room for pre-game player availability and a quick manager press conference. 4:30-6 p.m. – Watch batting practice from the field/dugout area, get additional interviews, maybe start writing a pre-game story. 7 p.m. – Game starts. Take notes on the early innings, score the game, start thinking of your story angle. 6th/7th innings (9-9:30 p.m.) – Start writing your game story while keeping an eye on the game. End of game (10-10:30 p.m.) – Head down to media room/clubhouse for manager’s press conference/ post-game player interviews. 11 p.m.-12 a.m. – Transcribe interview quotes, finish writing your story with quotes in it, head home. Spending nine hours at a baseball stadium on a hot, summer day was tiring, but it was everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more. When you’re as passionate about baseball and journalism as I am, you don’t think of covering a baseball game as a job. Don’t get me wrong, a career in sports journalism is hard work, but it’s enjoyable work. And I’m not kidding when I say I got to live my dream covering those two Phillies games over the summer. In covering those two games, I wrote four stories for CSNPhilly.com. Of the four, there was one in particular that I’ll always hold close to my heart. On August 12, the second of the two games I covered, the Phillies honored former first baseman and future Hall of Famer Jim Thome by inducting him onto the team’s Wall of Fame. I was seven years old when the Phillies signed Jim Thome in December 2002 to what was then the largest contract in franchise history. He was the first “big-time” player the team brought in during their rebuilding process that ultimately led to a World Series title in 2008. He was a player I looked up to and one that brought hope to the entire city. 14 years later, it all came full circle for me. I watched his induction ceremony, sat in the front row of his press conference about 10 feet away from him, got to ask him a direct question, and finished the night off by telling his story as to why he means so much to Philadelphia, the Phillies and their fans.
That is the highlight of my journalism career to this point in my life, and I’ll remember it forever. I’m humbled by the opportunity and experience, and hungry to keep it going. Life is too short not to follow your dreams. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to get a taste of mine, and to get a glimpse of what my future holds. 1.) Little Big League Summary: A 12-year-old boy is named manager of the Minnesota Twins and tries to turn them back into a contending team, all while still trying to be a kid. My Take: Little Big League is and forever will be my favorite baseball movie. Most people I know have either never seen it or never heard of it, which I’m not shocked by because there aren’t any well-known popular actors/actresses in the film like other legendary baseball movies, but it will always have a soft spot in my heart. Even though the idea of a kid managing in the Major Leagues is complete fantasy, the movie itself is a friendly reminder of why I love the game of baseball. Billy Heywood, the kid manager of the Twins, has his adversity tested throughout the movie, and he and his team lose sight of what baseball is all about: fun. When he and the rest of his team start having fun again, they start winning. Having a kid manager reminds the Twins players that baseball is a kid’s game, and the team’s antics keep things loose inside the clubhouse. I get emotionally attached to all the main characters when I watch, which only happens with good movies. Baseball is an emotional game, and Little Big League does a great job of showing the ups and downs that surface throughout a long baseball season. The movie also has an awesome sound track. Nothing beats “Centerfield” by John Fogerty, and the scene in which the song is played is spot on. See and hear for yourself. 2.) 42 Summary: The inspirational story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in the Major Leagues, told through his darkest moments and greatest triumphs. My Take: There are a handful of movies and documentaries about Jackie Robinson out there, but 42 hits the nail on the head in terms of defining his legacy. Jackie Robinson was more than just a baseball player; he was an American hero. I never saw him play and I never will see more than just pictures and some video footage, but Jackie has been an inspiration to me since I fell in love with baseball. His uphill battle to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball is proof that you can do anything with hard work, perseverance, ambition and the right mindset. 42 captured that perfectly, regularly showing scenes in the movie that Jackie lived through in which his character and courage were tested. One that stood out to me the first time I saw the movie was when Jackie was spiked in the back of his ankle by an opposing player. He went down to the ground in pain and when his teammates came over to help him, they offered to retaliate. Jackie told them not to, got back up, and was ready to keep playing. Legendary Dodgers’ general manager (played by Harrison Ford), who signed Jackie to a contract in 1945, once said he picked Jackie to be the one to break the color barrier because he wanted a player with the will power to not fight back in the wrong way when the going got tough. Jackie was that guy, and 42 did an awesome job of showing why he was a legendary person on top of being a fantastic player. 3.) Field of Dreams Summary: An Iowa farmer builds a baseball field in his backyard after a voice tells him that the ghosts of legendary baseball players will come to play on it if he builds it. My Take: Believe it or not, I watched Field of Dreams for the first time just last year. For as big of a baseball fan as I am, people were always shocked when I told them I had never seen it. But after watching it once, I understood why it’s one of the best baseball movies ever made. The idea of someone building a baseball field for the ghosts of baseball’s past to come back and play on is insane, but the concept is magical if you appreciate how far-fetched it is. The notion of a baseball field in the middle of a cornfield is weird, but it’s equally awesome. “If you build it, he will come” is arguably the most popular baseball movie quote of all time, and it gives me chills when I hear it. I can't explain it, it's just that powerful. Throughout the movie, Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner), is laughed at when word spreads that he’s building the field for old players to come back and play on. He’s mocked and ridiculed because only he can see these players that play on the field. When they finally appear out of the cornfield and start to playing games at night, everything changes, and Ray realizes that all the time and work put into building the field was worth it, because he gave these “ghosts” of old players a chance to play the game they love one more time. Field of Dreams is a classic film that shows how powerful a creative imagination and a willingness to go against the crowd can go a long way. 4.) The Rookie Summary: A true story of a high school science teacher and baseball coach who, at age 35, reaches his dream of pitching in the Major Leagues after taking an unexpected path to get there. My Take: The Rookie is another one of those movies that I think people overlook. Nothing about the story is flashy, but the emotion behind it is genuine. Jim Morris (played by Dennis Quaid) was a former big-time baseball pitching prospect that never panned out. He makes a bet with the underachieving high school team he coaches that if they win their district championship, he will try to make a comeback. Lo and behold, they win, he gets signed by the Tampa Bay Devils Rays, and ultimately makes his Major League debut in front of his family and friends in his home state of Texas. I’m a sucker for an underdog story, and nothing beats this one. I’m a huge believer in chasing your dreams and letting nothing stop you along the way, and the story behind The Rookie is an inspiring reminder that it’s never too late to realize your dreams. I can’t say enough about the emotion behind this story; it’s real. Quaid and the other actors in major roles do an unbelievable job of bringing that to life. A small-town guy pitching in the Major Leagues having overcome a lot if something that puts The Rookie in my top five over a handful of other good baseball movies. 5.) The Sandlot Summary: A group of kids get together and play baseball throughout the summer, and are tasked with retrieving a priceless baseball from a grumpy neighbor with a scary dog when one of them hits a homerun into his yard behind a tall fence. My Take: The Sandlot is a true classic. You can’t call yourself a baseball fan if you don’t watch it a million times a year and can’t spit out the movie’s best lines. What I love about The Sandlot is that the plot is so simple, and in turn it reminds us all of simpler times when nothing else mattered but having fun when we were kids. The group of kids in the movie are the most rag-tag bunch out there, but that’s what makes them so funny and relatable. They wear blue jeans and Chuck Taylor’s to play ball, which is an awesome old-school touch to the movie and is a perfect representation of what baseball on “The Sandlot” is like. Nothing is more American than fireworks and baseball on the Fourth of July, which makes that scene in the movie truly heartwarming and nostalgic. If you don’t like the storyline, you at least have to like the characters. Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez is one of the best movie character names ever, “Squints” (he wears glasses) is a legend in his own right, and who could forget about Hamilton Porter?! “You’re killing me Smalls!” and “You play ball like a girl!” will forever live on in baseball infamy. Although it’s only number five on my list, it’s number one on a lot of other people’s for a reason. It’s that one movie that even non-baseball fans have seen and probably enjoy watching, and that says something in itself. |
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March 2020
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