Pete Alonso Sets National League Rookie Record with 68 RBIs Before the All-Star Break

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Pete Alonso may be a rookie, but he’s already makin’ a name for himself in Major League Baseball…

The 24-year-old part-Spanish American professional baseball player and New York Mets first baseman, ready to play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Cleveland, has set the National League rookie record with 68 RBIs before the break.

He hit his 30th home run of the season Sunday in an 8-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, driving in two runs with the shot, to set the mark.

He was tied with Albert Pujols, who had 66 for the St. Louis Cardinalsin 2001. Walt Droposet the major league mark of 83 for the Boston Red Soxin 1950.

His 30 home runs are tied for the second most by a rookie in major league history before the All-Star break. The New York Yankees‘ Aaron Judge also hit 30 in 2017. Mark McGwireholds the major league record, with 33 for the Oakland Athletics in 1987 before the break.

Alex Cora Agrees to New Deal with Boston Red Sox

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Alex Cora is getting a much-deserved pay raise…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican Major League Baseball manager, the Boston Red Sox‘s first-year manager, has agreed to a new deal with the team that includes a one-year extension through the 2021 season and, most likely, a significant raise. Terms have not been announced.

Cora was one of the lowest-paid skippers in the MLB last season on his way to winning a franchise-record 108 games and the World Series.

“We have consistently been impressed by Alex at every turn,” said Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. “His knowledge of the game, ability to connect with our players, and his incredible instincts and decisiveness led us to an historic championship season. We know we are in good hands, and could not be more pleased to know he will be with us for the foreseeable future.”

“Alex did a tremendous job for our club all year long and we wanted to reward him for his efforts after an amazing season,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “We are extremely happy that he will be with us and leading our club on the field.”

Last season, Cora made $800,000, tied with the Braves’ Brian Snitker and the Mariners’ Scott Servais for the lowest salary among managers to start the season.

Snitker won Manager of the Year in the National League, and Cora finished second in voting for the American League award.

“Since day one, John and Linda Henry, Tom Werner, Mike Gordon, Sam Kennedy, and Dave Dombrowski have been incredibly supportive of me and my family, and for that I am extremely grateful,” Cora said. “For me, 2018 was not only historic, but it was special as well, both on and off the field. We have a great appreciation for our accomplishments this past year, but now our focus moves forward to the season ahead and defending our World Series title.”

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy and Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who retired following the season, all made $6 million last season.

Cora became only the second Puerto Rican-born manager in major league history, joining Edwin Rodriguez, who managed the Florida Marlins for parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Cora was the fifth major league manager to win a World Series in his first season, joining Bob Brenly (2001, Arizona Diamondbacks), Ralph Houk (1961, New York Yankees), Eddie Dyer (1946, St. Louis Cardinals) and Bucky Harris (1924, Washington Senators).

CC Sabathia Agrees to One-Year Deal with the New York Yankees

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

CC Sabathia is heading back to the mound…

The 33-year-old Dominican American Major League Baseball pitcher has reached an agreement with the New York Yankees valued at $8 million, according to ESPN.

Sabathia, a lefty, has played the past 10 seasons of his 18-season career with the Yankees.

Sabathia went 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts last year for a 100-win New York club that lost in the American League Division Series to the Boston Red Sox.

He took a cut in salary from $25 million in 2017 to $10 million in ’18. An ejection in his final start of the regular season cost Sabathia a $500,000 bonus that he would have earned for reaching 155 innings pitched.

Sabathia, who underwent right knee surgery in October, is one of just three returning members of the Yankees’ 2018 rotation, joining Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.

Starter J.A. Happ is a free agent, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had said the team hopes to re-sign him, as well.

Cashman also is expected to pursue a group of free-agent pitchers that includes left-handers Patrick Corbin and Dallas Keuchel.

New York already this offseason re-signed Brett Gardner, so keeping Sabathia maintains two veteran presences in the clubhouse.

“These are known commodities,” Cashman said. “We know exactly who they are in that clubhouse, who they are dealing with our press and our fans, and obviously — most importantly — competing on the field of play.”

Detroit Tigers Designated Hitter Victor Martinez Registers 2,000th Career Hit

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

And the hits just keep coming for Victor Martinez…

The 38-year-old Venezuelan baseball player, a designated hitter and first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, reached 2,000 career hits on Friday night.

Martinez, heard the crowd roar and felt his heart swell, as he picked up the milestone hit on the same field where he began his MLB career, against the franchise that signed him as a teenager out of Venezuela.

Detroit’s switch-hitter singled in the second inning off Cleveland Indians‘ Carlos Carrasco to reach the plateau. After reaching first base, Martinez received a lengthy standing ovation from the large Cleveland crowd, fans that adored him during his eight seasons with the Indians from 2002-09.

Martinez hugged Detroit first-base coach Omar Vizquel, his teammate in Cleveland and a fellow Venezuelan, before tipping his cap to the crowd. Players on both benches applauded and the game was briefly halted to acknowledge the feat.

“It’s special to have it done here,” Martinez said following the Tigers’ 11-2 loss. “For me, it was even better. Nothing against the Indians, I feel like it’s where everything started for me. I will always remember this day, until I die. What the fans did to me with that ovation. It made me feel so proud and so good that they stand up for me. I just want to let them know too that I will always have the Indians in my heart, always.”

Martinez is the ninth active player to reach 2,000 hits, joining Ichiro Suzuki, Adrian Beltre, Albert Pujols, Carlos Beltran, Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Matt Holliday and Jose Reyes.

To attain the milestone in Cleveland and with Vizquel, the career hits leader among Venezuelan-born players, at his side made it even more meaningful for Martinez.

“He congratulated me and told me it was awesome, and at the same time, I wasn’t hearing and stuff,” Martinez said. “It was a pretty cool moment.”

Martinez was a three-time All-Star with the Indians, who signed him in 1996. He broke down in tears when Cleveland traded him to the Boston Red Sox at the deadline in 2009 for three pitchers.

And although he’s had a long run with the Tigers, Cleveland will remain dear to Martinez.

“This is my seventh year in Detroit, but this was a place that I called home, and I’m always going to have Cleveland in my heart,” he said. “It was the team that gave me a chance to be a professional baseball player, gave me a chance to become a major leaguer. It’s a pretty special place.”

Martinez, too, is a pretty special hitter.

He entered the season with a .301 career average and the five-time All-Star has been one of the game’s toughest outs from the day he broke into the big leagues.

“There aren’t a lot of people who can say they got 2,000 major league hits,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “He probably grinded out every single one of those at-bats to get those hits. It’s something he should be proud of.”

Cepeda to Have Street Named After Him in San Francisco

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Orlando Cepeda will see his name on a street sign soon…

The 79-year-old Puerto Rican retired first baseman, who made his Major League Baseball debut with the San Francisco Giants in April 1958, will receive a ceremonial sign for a street that will be named in his honor in the Bay City.

It’s all part of the redevelopment of the old Candlestick Park site.

Cepeda, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, played for the Giants from 1958 until 1966.

During a career that lasted sixteen years, he also played with the St. Louis Cardinals, helping the team win the World Series in 1967, as well as the Atlanta Braves (1969–72), Oakland Athletics (1972), Boston Red Sox (1973), and Kansas City Royals.

Other San Francisco iconic athletes to have a name after them include San Francisco 49ers legends Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and coach Bill Walsh, as well as former Giants players Willie Mays and Barry Bonds.

Quintana Teaches Jimmy Fallon Spanish as a Special Thank You

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

If Jose Quintana decides to leave baseball, he could become a maestro…

The Chicago White Sox left-hander appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” teaching the late-night host a few Spanish phrases — some more useful than others — as a thank you for Fallon’s role in Quintana picking up English.

Quintana said he learned English by watching Fallon’s show, and now the 28-year-old Colombian pitcher regularly does interviews in English.

“I arrived in this country and watched your shows,” Quintana told Fallon. “So funny.”

Quintana taught Fallon how to introduce himself in Spanish, to tell people he hosts “The Tonight Show” and to ask others, “Can you pay for my thong?”

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Fallon, a Boston Red Sox fan, attended the New York Yankees game against the White Sox on Tuesday night.

White Sox manager Rick Renteria watched “The Tonight Show” clip with his wife and called it “pretty funny.”

“He’s trying to get outside of the box, make sure that people see him as a well-rounded individual,” Renteria said of Quintana. “Hopefully, that’s an example for everyone else to get out there and relax and take advantage of some of the opportunities they’re going to be getting.

“I’ll tell you, he did a nice job with it.”

Lopez to Serve as Special Instructor During the San Francisco Giants’ Spring Training

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Lopez has a Giant(s) responsibility…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican former baseball pitcher, who recently retired from the San Francisco Giants, will work as a special instructor for the team at spring training.

Giants general manager Bobby Evans says that Lopez — an important reliever on the Giants’ World Series winners in 2010, ’12 and ’14 — would join the team at its Scottsdale spring home. Pitchers and catchers report Monday with their first workout Tuesday.

“Good for him. We really appreciate what he did here,” manager Bruce Bochy said of Lopez. “When we acquired him in 2010, he helped solidify that bullpen and helped us win that World Series in 2010, getting those big left-handers out for us. As good a player as he is, he’s a better person. Javi’s one of those guys that everybody likes, very much respected and appreciated as a teammate and of course, for me, what he did in the bullpen.”

The four-time World Series champion, who began his career with the Colorado Rockies in 2003, has also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Altuve Claims Three Players Choice Awards, Incl. MLB Player of the Year

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Jose Altuve had a remarkable year… And, he’s got the hardware to prove it.

The 26-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball, a second baseman for the Houston Astros, picked up three awards at this year’s Players Choice Awards, as announced by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Altuve took home the MLB Player of the Year award, as well as the American League‘s Most Outstanding Player prize. Mookie Betts and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox were the finalists for Player of the Year, while Betts and Mike Trout were finalists for AL Most Outstanding Player.

For the second straight year, Altuve also won the Majestic “Always Game” Award, “given to the player who — game in and game out — constantly exhibits grit, tenacity, perseverance and hustle; all for the benefit of his teammates and fans.”

In one of the best individual seasons in Astros history, Altuve batted an AL-best .338 and set career highs in home runs (24), on-base percentage (.396), slugging percentage (.531) and games played (161). He was previously named The Sporting News‘ MLB Player of the Year, which is also voted on by the players.

Meanwhile, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating accident in September, was voted the National League Comeback Player of the Year by his peers in the annual awards.

Fernandez was the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year, had Tommy John surgery the following year, returned in July 2015 and was 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA this season, earning his second All-Star selection.

He died at age 24 on Sept. 25, and autopsy reports released by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office said he had cocaine and alcohol in his system when his boat crashed into a Miami Beach jetty.

Balloting among big league players took place in mid-September and results were announced Wednesday.

Ortiz Becomes Oldest Player in MLB History to Hit 30 Homers in a Single Season

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

David Ortiz is proving that age is but a number…

The 40-year-old Dominican baseball star, nicknamed “Big Papi,” became the oldest player in Major League Baseball history to hit 30 home runs in a single season in the Boston Red Sox’s 4-3 loss to the the Tampa Bay Rays in 11 innings on Wednesday night.

“It’s hard to lose a game like that at this time,” Ortiz said. “You expect to win that kind of game, especially the stage that we are in now. ”

Ortiz hit the first pitch he saw from starter Matt Andriese in the first inning for a two-run homer.

Ortiz is the only player with 30 homers and 100 RBIs in each of the past four seasons, and he is the first Red Sox player to drive in 100 runs 10 times.

“We need that, we need offense,” Ortiz said. “We’ve had a good offense this year, and that’s what’s keeping us alive, so hopefully it continues.”

Ortiz has 533 home runs, one shy of Jimmie Foxx for 18th on the career list. Ortiz plans to retire at the end of the season.

Ramirez Logs First-Ever Three-Homer Game Against the San Francisco Giants

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Hanley Ramirez is celebrating his Giant(s) night…

The 32-year-old Dominican professional baseball player, a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox, hit three home runs for the first time in his career and drove in a career-high six runs on Wednesday night as he helped his team hold on for an 11-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Boston won for the eighth time in nine games and moved into first place in the American League East, a half-game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles.

Ramirez also reached base when he was hit by a pitch in the fourth, glowering at Giants reliever Albert Suarez before the umpire quickly warned both benches. With the crowd chanting Ramirez’s name for his final at-bat in the eighth, he grounded out weakly to the pitcher.

Ramirez began the day with eight home runs this season before connecting for his first three-homer game. He hit two-run drives in the second, third and sixth inning.

The major league record for home runs in a game is four. It’s been done 16 times, most recently by Josh Hamilton for the Texas Rangers in 2012.

Ramirez, a three-time MLB All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, also made a few good plays in the field. He dove to his right to stop a line drive in the first inning, and made a play to his right on a hard grounder from Grant Green. Then, with the bases loaded in the sixth, he gloved a sharp grounder, stepped on first and threw home.

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