What I've Been Doing

(This guy is not me)

Not the most exciting 10 minute video you will see on your computer. I am part of a statewide commission that is looking at redrawing school district maps in our state. We have to file our report by December 31, and things have heated up quite a bit lately. It's kept me from participating in the finer things, like OOTP baseball.

Honestly, I'd rather be facing Ki-son fastballs.

Bonds: Hero or Villian?

What happened
A federal grand jury indicted baseball slugger Barry Bonds on Thursday on charges that he lied to a grand jury when he said he never knowingly used drugs to boost his performance. Bonds has said the record he set in August "is not tainted," but the indictment sparked fresh criticism from fans and sportswriters who say Bonds doesn’t deserve to be recognized as professional baseball’s career home-run king. (The Columbus Dispatch)

What the commentators said
The indictment was “hardly surprising,” said Dave Sheinin in The Washington Post (free registration). He is the “most polarizing figure” in baseball, and “his transformation from lithe leadoff hitter in the 1990s to hulking slugger” has drawn suspicious sneers for years.

So go ahead and slap an asterisk next to No. 762, said Tom Verducci in SI.com.

[more from The Week Daily]

Bonds To Boycott Hall

Barry Bonds says he will boycott the baseball Hall of Fame if the museum displays his record-breaking home run ball, which has been branded with an asterisk.

Bonds told MSNBC in an interview that aired Thursday that he is prepared to be a no-show if inducted into the Hall; players are not eligible for election until five years after their retirement.

"I won't be part of it," he said. "I won't be there. You can call me but I won't be there."

Slayton Honored by League, Team

Veteran Indians slugger James Slayton was named the American League Player of the Week for his performance at the plate. Slayton went 12 for 25 in 6 games last week against Texas, Pittsburgh and New York. Six of Slayton's hits were for extra bases, including 2 homers and 3 triples. He scored 9 and knocked in 9 while the Indians went 4-2 over that stretch.

James was accepting his award during a live pre-game telecast before the Indians-Yankees game on April 23 when teammates presented him with an award of their own. Slayton is currently leading Indians hitters with a .441 average and 5 homers through 17 games this season. The Indians are currently second in their division and fifth overall in the American League.

A Kinder, Gentler.... Billy?

Boshears: Have Bat Will Travel

Michael Boshears has hit 399 home runs. One more dinger would put him with Ross Augustus (451) and Richard Boos (410) as the only players in NOBL history to surpass the 400 mark. Both Augustus and Boos retired at the end of last season.

Boshears's home run woes were highlighted near the end of last season. He finished 2017 with 9 homers for the New York Mets, well below his career average of 30. The Mets did not re-sign Boshears and he is currently a free agent.

Boshears's agent Greg Genske says the "future Hall of Fame candidate" is looking to play at least another season. "He went to nine straight All-Star Games. He's won Gold Gloves at two positions. He's about to hit his 400th home run. Michael can still play. Why someone has not jumped on him is beyond me."

Boshears was drafted back in 2002 by the Colorado Rockies before being traded to Philadelphia where he played for nine seasons. He played two years with Houston, including 2014 when he helped the .45's win the World Series. His two previous years, both disappointing, were with the Mets.

3 - 0

Harry Nash

Harry Nash has been a very good player in the NOBL for a very long time.

How good?

This year, his fifteenth, he will surpass 2500 hits, 400 home runs, 1500 runs, 1500 rbis... and is quickly approaching 450 stolen bases. How will he rank against the all-time greats in NOBL lore?

Arguably 1-2 or 2-1 with Ross Augustus. There are seven MVPs and four World Series championships between them. While Nash played in more postseason games than Augustus, their numbers match up quite well:

Augustus: .336 AVG, 22HR, 79 RBI, 98 games
Nash: .339 AVG, 21 HR, 99 RBI, 130 games

Their career numbers are also somewhat similar, albeit Augustus was more power, Nash more speed. Augustus had career percentages of .319 AVG, .380 OBP, .538 SLG, .917 OPS. Currently, Nash has .323 AVG, .383 OBP, .534 SLG, .918 OPS.

If we could do it all over again, which would you take in the draft, Ross Augustus or Harry Nash? Check the poll on the right.

Cleveland Welcomes Kemmerer to the Reservation

While his first start in an Indians uniform didn't end the way he would have liked, Michael Kemmerer still seems excited about his new home in Cleveland.

"This team is going to surprise a lot of people," he said at his official signing announcement during the offseason. "The new direction ownership is moving is a positive one. They brought in the talent. Now it's our turn to deliver."

The "talent" Kemmerer is referring to includes himself, outfielder Kevin Vandeberg and Cuban defector Ray Beltran. The Indians invested over $50 million of their payroll in those three and are hoping it pays off with a World Series ring.

Kemmerer will be out early before Monday's start against the Royals meeting fans and signing autographs. Cleveland will open the stadium up an hour earlier than normal to allow fans access to their new ace.

An opening day match-up saw Kemmerer face the Keith Brown and the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Both pitched well (Kennemer: 9IP, 2ER, 11K; Brown: 8IP, 1ER, 4K), but neither figured in the decision. Both aces were highly sought-after free agents this past year, and both will surely compete for the AL Cy Young Award this season.

Hope Springs Eternal

I miss Shoe. Is it still carried in any newspapers?

Weil Impresses in Debut

Indians rookie hurler Anthony Weil took the mound for his major league debut on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds and wasted no time in notching his first major league complete game victory. He scattered four hits and two walks over nine innings, striking out six en route to a 5-1 win in front of the Cleveland faithful.

Cleveland jumped out to a quick 4-0 league in the second when Reds pitcher Harold Argueta started the inning by walking Flori Figuera and Al Quinto. First baseman Greg Desjardins scored both with a double and later scored when Elmer Sweet doubled him in with two out.

With the signing of three high profile free agents in the off-season, the Indians have the league's third largest payroll at nearly $82 million. Cleveland's front office is counting on revenue from increased ticket sales to offset their bull market trading. At 1-3, things could have started out better.

Weil's solid performance came before a crowd of nearly 30,000 who had come out to Jacob's Field for Bat Day. But at 1-3 the Tribe is going to need to notch a lot more wins to bring out the fans with any consistency.

OPENING DAY!

Here's hoping your team starts out hotter than the Indians did in '07.