The Forgotten 500

Last week, Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera did something that only 27 Major League ballplayers had done before him when he became the latest member of baseball's 500 Home Run Club. Becoming the first member of the exclusive club since Boston's David Ortiz joined in 2015, etching his name into the record books is something Miggy had been doing long before his historic blast off of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Steven Matz traveled 400-feet to tie the game at 1 in the sixth inning. In what ended up being a 5-3 win for the Tigers in 11-innings, Cabrera received both a standing ovation and a curtain call from the opposing fans at Toronto's Rogers Centre, knowing they just witnessed history from one of the game's all-time greats. Unlike those who've accomplished the feat before him, Cabrera is the first Venezuelan-born player to join the 500 Home Run Club and the first player to do so in a Tigers uniform. At 65-74 and 15 games back in the division behind the first place White Sox in the AL Central, the 2021 season will end with Detroit once again missing the postseason for the eighth consecutive year, so its likely this will be the highlight of their season. 

While reaching the 500 home run mark is barely a blip on the radar of sports fans these days, the accomplishment is one that does not garner nearly as much attention as it should or that it deserves, simply due to the explosion of players that joined the club in the early 2000's, fueled by baseball's famed and often frowned upon, "steroid era." Then again it probably doesn't help much that home runs is all guys focus on and try to do in today's game. With this sudden fixation on "launch angle", strikeout numbers are skyrocketing and batting averages are plummeting. Hell, guys barely even know how to bunt nowadays. Just his 13th homer of the season, the now 38-year old Cabrera is the 12th player to reach 500 career home runs since the start of the millennium. This after only 16 players reached 500 home runs in the 70 years between Babe Ruth becoming the very first to reach the mark in 1929 and the year 2000. 

While the celebration of the monumental number isn't what it once was, those of us who keep the game near and dear to our hearts, know the significance of the milestone. Although he had slowed down a bit over the past few seasons on his way to No. 500 with both injuries and age being a factor, Cabrera is one that seemed almost destined to reach the feat given his blazing hot start in the Majors which included a walk-off home run in his MLB debut at the age of 20 while playing for the then Florida Marlins.

After being sent to the Motor City before the 2008 season in an eight-player trade, Miggy did not skip a beat upon joining the American League and instead added to his resume. Among the many accolades and accomplishments of Cabrera's illustrious and future Hall of Fame career, he has 11 All-Star appearances, seven Silver Slugger Awards, two MVP Awards, a World Series ring and an AL Triple-Crown to boot. One of only nine players with at least 500 homers and a .300+ batting average, Miggy will join even more rarified air when he reaches the 3,000 hit plateau as he currently sits 36 hits shy of that mark. The elite company of players he would join with 500 homers and 3,000 hits include Hank Aaron, Alex Rodriguez, Willie Mays, Albert Pujols, Rafael Palmeiro and Eddie Murray. 

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Marlins reel in new skipper, get set for new look

Every one's favorite manager Ozzie Guillen is taking a page out of LeBron James' book by taking his talents to South Beach, but not by choice. The longtime skipper of the White Sox who spent 8 seasons at the helm on the south side of Chicago and brought the franchise its first World Series title in 88 years, was dealt to the Florida Marlins with just two games remaining on the regular season schedule. Better known for his often questionable and colorful behavior, Guillen will take over the reigns of former manager Jack McKeon who turns 81 in November and plans to retire. During his 8 year tenure with Chicago whom he also played 13 seasons for making three All-Star appearances at shortstop, Guillen finished with an overall record of 678-wins and 617-losses while winning two division titles.

Guillen's White Sox who came into the season with lofty expectations after acquiring All-Star slugger Adam Dunn via free agency, finished a disappointing 2011 campaign four games under .500 at 79-83, good enough for third in the division behind the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. That didn't stop the Marlins from finding their man, however, as the former Manager of the Year (2005) was awarded a 4-year deal with the Fish. The signing of Guillen made public on September 28, means the Marlins will have a new skipper to go along with their new state of the art stadium that is expected to open its doors on Opening Day 2012, bidding a farewell to the current Sun Life Stadium in which they shared with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. The baseball-only facility built in the Little Havana section of Miami will seat 37,000 fans comfortably and will feature something the team's been so desperately in need of -- a retractable-roof putting an end to both rain delays and the sweltering heat.

The stadium, however, won't be the only makeover the franchise will be getting in 2012 as new uniforms are also on the list to help the team make the transition to the Miami Marlins. Although a name change isn't needed as much as the one their cross-town rival Tampa Bay Rays made several years ago in 2007 when dropping the word "Devil" in Devil Rays, the team is hoping the adjustment will lead to good fortune much like it did in Tampa. Something else the new ballpark will help do is increase the amount of revenue they'll be bringing in. Having been notorious for having little money to spend during the offseason, the team's payroll is expected to jump from $58 Million to about $80 Million with the Dolphins no longer around to bully them. Looking to turn the page on a new chapter in Marlins baseball, the organization says it has plans to make a splash right away in branding a new ball club, starting off with the free agent market.

Though the best part of all will be that the new stadium is sure to attract a new audience, something their old ballpark deprived them of given it's been at the bottom of the list for years in terms of fan attendance.

Maybe it's a Florida thing?

For the third year in a row, attendance numbers in Major League Baseball have dropped. Much of this problem could be blamed on the economy, but that hasn't prevented fans from supporting their team during a pennant race. That is unless you're a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays. Upon finishing the season atop the AL East division with a 96-66 record and outlasting the New York Yankees by 1-game in the standings, Rays pitcher David Price called out Rays fans for not showing up to the ballpark during a game in which they could have clinched a playoff spot down the stretch. The game's official attendance? A whooping 12,446 fans showed up to the ballpark. All-Star third-baseman Evan Longoria also expressed his opinion, calling it an embarrassment.

However, fans of baseball have seen a similar lack of support from the fans of Tampa Bay's southern neighbor and inter-league rival -- Florida Marlins. Despite winning two World Series tittles in seven years (1997 and 2003), the Marlins fan base has been notorious for not showing up for games, including those in the Postseason. Even during their championship runs, the Marlins have had a hard time selling tickets, which has me wondering, maybe it's a Florida thing? Sure neither the Rays' Tropicana Field or Miami's Sun Life Stadium are no baseball paradise, but fans have flocked to see their team play in cathedrals and stadiums in poorer conditions than those in the Sunshine State.

To their credit, the Rays have never really had a big fan base to begin with since being introduced to the league as an expansion team in 1998, but that could simply result to their last place finishes year in and year out. But now that Tampa Bay has some of the best young talent in the league, Rays fans ought to watch their team play now before their key free-agents sign elsewhere after this year...At least that's what's expected. With one of the better records in the league when playing at home, filling up the seats would be huge for the Rays' tittle run. And with Texas in town for the first two games of the American League Division Series, I expect Rays fans to be at the yard in full strength, rooting their team on with their noisy cowbells and other annoying miscellaneous rally tools not named 'vuvuzela'.

Major League Throw Down

Continuing the downward spiral that is Nyjer Morgan's 2010 season, a benches clearing brawl ensued between the Florida Marlins and the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Front and center of the fracas was none other than Morgan himself who charged the mound after being thrown at by Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad for the second time in the game. The first bean ball was in retaliation for what took place the night before when the Nats' center-fielder collided at home plate with Florida's catcher Brett Hayes in what many believed could have been a more sportsmanlike manor and more importantly avoided if Morgan had slid. After the unnecessary collision that resulted in a separated shoulder for Hayes, Morgan was called out, failing to score the go-ahead run.

Before the dust-up occurred, Morgan took the first bean without glancing to the pitchers mound and trotted to first base, knowing it was only a matter of time before he was hit. It was then that Morgan did the unthinkable, breaking one of baseball's unwritten rules. Down 11-runs in a 14-3 ball game, Morgan stole both second and third base. The Marlins felt the move was disrespectful which caused for a second bean ball, this time sailing behind the back of Morgan. Morgan, who spent his earlier years on a Hockey rink playing in the Western Hockey League, rolled up his sleeves upon rushing the mound and threw a punch at the head of Volstad which eventually missed. Marlins first-baseman Gaby Sanchez then clotheslined Morgan, causing both teams' benches and bullpens to clear. Once the dust settled, Morgan walked away with his jersey open and his arms held high shouting at the Florida crowd as some several thousand fans watched from the stands.

This all comes after a series of events that has stained Morgan's 2010 season. First the incident during Interleague play in May when Morgan failed to catch a ball in centerfield at the wall, slamming his glove to the ground and throwing a temper tantrum in the process. Morgan mistakenly thought the ball had skipped off his glove and bounced over the fence for a home run. Instead the mishap was shown on highlight reels across the sporting world and resulted in an inside the park home run for Baltimore's Adam Jones. And just a week prior to the melee that took place at Florida's Sun Life Stadium, Morgan threw a baseball into the stands at a crowd of heckling fans in Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, hitting a fan in the head...The wrong fan. Morgan was given a seven game suspension for the incident, which he is currently appealing.

However, the episodes don't end there. Less than a few days later in a series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Morgan ran into catcher Bryan Anderson at the plate, despite not having the ball. Morgan missed home plate and was called out. The following day, Nats manager Jim Riggleman sat Morgan to avoid an incident similar to the one that recently took place, saying "If he [Morgan] was out there, they would've thrown at him." Morgan now finds himself in even hotter water with the most recent situation. "I'm a hard-nosed player, I'm grimy and if it happened again, I'll do it again." Said Morgan in an interview after the game in the visiting clubhouse. If Morgan does decide to "do it again", it'll cost him big. Sources say an undisclosed fine is expected to hit Morgan along with the eight-game suspension he was issued earlier today for his actions.

In my opinion, it was a relief to see the league step in and regulate given the circumstance that it was almost obvious Morgan was out there playing to hurt someone. The guy clearly has problems and hopefully the punishment issued will serve as much more than a slap on the wrist, or it's back to the hockey rink for Morgan where he'll be able to drop the gloves and fight whenever and whoever he feels like.

Major League Freak Show

Insult to Injury - Many would argue that this baseball season could possibly be the year of the pitcher with all the frequent perfect games and no-hitters being tossed thus far. Others would debate that this has been the year of freak accidents as there's been a handful of bizarre injuries that have plagued ball clubs across the league this season. But just when you thought it couldn't get any worse than the walk-off celebration that ended in a disaster and landed Los Angeles Angels first baseman Kendry Morales on the disabled list for the remainder of the year, the bar has been raised. Not one, but two abnormal injuries have occurred since then, starting off with San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Mat Latos.

While in Colorado to face the division rival Rockies, Latos was walking down the dugout steps when he tried holding back a sneeze before feeling a slight pull in his left side. The injury doesn't sound to severe, but it was enough for the Padres to place their young hurler on the DL. Since starting off his first full season in the Majors, Latos has been quite a surprise, posting a record of 11-4 and an ERA of 2.48 in 18 starts. Latos' success along with the rest of the Padres pitching staff has been a key in the Friars' surprising first place record of 59-40 which is also the best record in the National League. I'm not sure it can get any more ridiculous than that, but the most recent blunder to strike Florida Marlins' Chris Coghlan, gives Mat Latos a run for his money.

Last year's National League Rookie of the Year encountered a freak accident this past Sunday after the Marlins celebrated a walk-off victory over the division leading Atlanta Braves. Coghlan tried executing the pie to face method on the game's hero and Marlins third baseman Wes Helms before injuring himself. While Helms was being interviewed by Fox Sports Florida for his late game heroics, Coghlan who lacks of ninja stealth skills and quickness, jumped out from the dugout and was only able to pie the side of Helms' face as he eluded the tag similar to a play at the plate.

Coghlan seemed to be fine at first as there were no footage of him showing any signs of pain, but it was after the failed pie attempt that Coghlan had realized he injured himself. While Latos' injury only resulted in a missed start or two, the young outfielder and Florida native could miss up to 6-8 weeks if surgery is required after x-rays revealed a torn meniscus in Coghlan's right knee. Even though Coghlan hasn't produced like he did during his Rookie of the Year campaign last season, he's an important presence in the Marlins clubhouse as the Fish who currently own a sub .500 record, are fighting to stay afloat and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Although pieing has become synonymous with walk-off celebrations over the past few years, the Florida Marlins have banned the pie to the face jubilation after watching one of their players fall to an injury that could have been avoided. As another casualty falls victim to the ongoing freak accidents that have struck Major League Baseball this year, there's no telling what kind of bizarre injury will occur next. My guess is it'll be of the insect variety or will involve a toilet. What do you think will cause the next freak accident to strike baseball?

Party in the USA

Intimidation can often play a big role in sports, but no sport favors one player intimidating another than those in baseball. Whether it's a pitcher afraid of a certain hitter or vice-versa. And to help their case, players of the home team are greeted at the plate or out of the bullpen with a 30-second intro song of their choice. Whether it's the likes of Eric Gagne who was introduced coming out of the bullpen at Chavez Ravine/Dodger Stadium with Guns N' Roses' 'Welcome to the Jungle' blasting out of the speakers as he made his way to the mound to close a game in the 9th inning, or New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez stepping up to the plate with a Jay-Z song bumping in the background. And then there's those who select a song that relates to their name.

Take Cincinnati Reds third-baseman Scott Rolen for example, who makes his visit to the batters box to Limp Bizkit's "Rollin". Or former big league pitcher Mike Myers who came out of the bullpen to the theme song of the horror movie Halloween. Now to me, those all make sense. One song a number of players have recently been introduced at the plate to however, is raising quite a few eyebrows, including mine. Whether they're not afraid to share their soft side or they're just expressing their not so secret interest in Disney's Hannah Montana, the truth may never be told. That's right, Florida Marlins center fielder Cameron Maybin and New York Yankees designated-hitter Nick Johnson have both made trips to the plate this season with yep, you guessed it -- the young female pop mogul Miley Cyrus' hit song "Party in the USA." Now if this was woman's softball I can understand, but the Major League's?

Playing in the big apple, it was only a matter of time before Yankee DH Nick Johnson was asked about his song selection. Johnson says the song is a favorite of his four-year old daughter who often watches her father play from the stands, but Johnson also admitted he likes the song as well by saying, "I'll get up in the family room and sing it. It's got a good twist to it." I'm guessing he's joking about the last part, but Maybin on the other hand has no excuse. As the 31-year old Johnson can use his daughter as an excuse for the decision to choose "Party in the USA" as his walk up music, Maybin can't do the same considering he's only 23 and doesn't have any kids. Maybe Hannah Montana is his little sister's favorite TV show? Neh, I'm not buying that. But as cheesy as the song is for a grown man to step up to the plate to, at least Maybin can get away with it given he plays for the Marlins who own a fan base or the lack there of who are infamous for not showing up to support their team. Johnson was a member of the Marlins last season, so maybe it's a clubhouse thing?

What would be my ideal walk-up song you ask?...

Bling-Bling Part II

When it comes to athletes and their jewelery or as most like to call it "Bling" nowadays, the possibilities are endless on the ridiculous meter. As we've seen about a month or so ago with Boston Celtics guard Marquis Daniels who had a chain customized to fit only him, the bar was raised pretty high. Although I don't think anyone can top just how absurd Daniels' face pendant is, Florida Marlins All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez came pretty close. Last season saw the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year win the batting tittle with a .342 batting average, edging out San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval who finished the season hitting .330. But threatening Daniels' reputation for having some of the most head shrugging bling known to man, is the piece Han-Ram was given by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria prior to the start of the 2010 season.

In rewards to his impressive 2009 achievement, Loria surprised Ramirez with a customized diamond-studded necklace with Hanley's name, number and batting average on it. Paying homage to his coveted feat, the expensive neck piece consists of 394 diamonds and is guaranteed to turn some heads. However, if Ramirez plans to show off his new pendant, it will have to be off the field considering the Marlins have a team policy that bans long hair and jewelery. Ramirez was unhappy with the policy and wasn't afraid to let it be known as both he and the Marlins front office bumped heads around this time of year last season. But with a happy Ramirez and a fresh piece of ice around his neck at the start of the 2010 season, I don't think there will be any issues between last year's NL batting champ and the Fish.

Replica's of Han-Ram's necklace were given out to the first 5,000 fans at the Marlins' home opener on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. As sad as it sounds, I'm sure they still had some left granted the Marlins usually average around 4,000 fans or so per game...