Why Major League Baseball Needs To Realign

by Zane Heiple

Late last month Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association came to an agreement on a new five year collective bargaining agreement.  Some of the major points of this agreement were blood testing for human growth hormone, provisions around how teams can spend money on the first year player draft, the addition of a second wild card team in the playoffs, and an increase in the minimum salary from $414,000 in 2010 to $480,000 in 2011 and eventually $500,000 in the future.

The last key point was the movement of the Houston Astros from the National League Central Division to the American League West Division in 2013.  This move will create three five team divisions in each league and cause interleague play to take place throughout the season.  For me the question now is why doesn’t Major League Baseball just totally realign and dissolve the NL and AL into a Western and Eastern Conference?  I know baseball traditionalists will think I’m crazy, but hear me out first.

First off a breakdown of the new conferences and divisions, the Eastern Conference will have three divisions.  The Northeast Division will be made up of the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays.  The Central Division will include the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates.  Finally the Southeast Division will consist of the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, and Washington Nationals.  In the Western Conference’s three divisions you will see the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, and St. Louis Cardinals in the Midwest Division.  A Southwest Division would include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers.  Finally the Pacific Division would host the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners.

After reading the new alignment where are the drawbacks?  Simply there are none.  If you are worried about rivalries, they are all still there.  Yankees still play the Red Sox, Cubs and Cardinals are still together, along with the Giants and Dodgers.  Plus look at all the new regional rivalries that will take place.  The Mets and Yankees would be going at it for division titles, Pittsburgh and Cleveland would no longer just be about the Browns and Steelers, the Beltway would be abuzz over the Orioles and Nationals, and maybe Florida could get excited about baseball with Marlins and Rays fighting over the division crown.  In the west the Windy City and Show Me State would have a division battle going all season, Texas would have a shootout between the Rangers and Astros and the battle of California would be going on between four teams.

So how do we schedule this?  Glad you asked.  Each team would play 12 games against their own division.  7 games would take place against each of the teams within your conference.  Finally 3 games would be played against teams in the opposite conference.  In total one game would be added to the schedule which owners would love since its one more game of revenue that would be added.  With an odd number of games teams would alternate yearly between having 81 or 82 home games.

The All-Star game could still be the deciding factor in home field for the World Series, and the playoffs would still consist of three division winners and two wild cards.  The other big question is what to do with the Designated Hitter?  Well I hate to say, but since there is no way that the MLBPA will let MLB to get rid of this position it will be adopted by both conferences.

Still not convinced?  Well look at this, the differences between the NL and AL have been fading for years.  With interleague play, umpires covering both leagues, the draft no longer alternating between leagues, no more league presidents, players switching leagues more often with free agency, both leagues feel the same other than the DH.  If keeping the National and American League names is so important just name the Western Conference the American League and the Eastern Conference the National League.

Major League Baseball has slowly been moving in this direction for years, so why not just pull the trigger and set this in motion.  Maybe having two separate leagues made sense before all this expansion took place, but face it the game has changed.  This format works for the NBA and NHL and I see no reason why it can’t work for the MLB.

Pirates Lose In Extra Innings, Swept By Indians

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: David Maxwell/Getty Images

For the third straight day, the Pirates were out-pitched and out-hit by the Cleveland Indians, and the result was a 5-2 loss and a series sweep at the hands of the team from the Mistake By The Lake (to quote our very own Zane Heiple).

The Buccos, despite tallying 11 hits on the day, scored just twice, while leaving 14 runners on base.  While they were unable to muster any type of offense in the first two games of the series, the Pirates got runners on base in every inning but the fourth, but still were only able to push a pair of runners across home plate.

Both runs came in the first inning.  Neil Walker singled home Xavier Paul, while Matt Diaz’s fielder’s choice scored Walker.  The Pirates took 2-0 lead into the second inning, but unfortunately for them, it was the last run they would score on the afternoon.

The loss certainly can’t be blamed on Jeff Karstens.  The Pirates’ right-hander delivered yet another impressive performance, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits through seven hits, while walking two and striking out four.  While recording a no-decision today, he continued to improve his personal statistics, with his WHIP sitting at 1.08 and his ERA lowered to 2.54 for the season.

After a two-hour rain delay and eight innings of shutout baseball between the two teams, Cord Phelps of the Indians hammered a three-run homerun in the bottom of the 11^th, giving the Tribe the win and the series sweep of the Pirates.  Tim Wood gave up the long-ball, taking his first loss of the season. 

After a tremendous showing in Houston by sweeping the Astros, the Pirates followed that up with a dismal series this weekend in Cleveland.  The Indians’ pitching staff was beyond impressive, but there is no excuse for the lack of offensive production from Pittsburgh.  The Buccos were outscored in this series 15-4 in front of a number of fans who made the two + hour trip to Cleveland for the weekend. 

The Pirates now sit at 35-36, one game under that elusive .500 mark.  A very difficult homestand awaits Pittsburgh, as they welcome in the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox for a pair of three-game series at PNC Park.  Hopefully the Pirates can forget about this past weekend on their short plane ride home to Pittsburgh tonight, and get back to playing better baseball tomorrow night against the Orioles.

Record Vs. Indians: 0-3

Record Vs. A.L. Central: 2-4

Record On The Road: 20-18

Overall Record: 35-36

Indians Take Series With Win Over Pirates

by Zane Heiple

Photo by Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled with Interleague play in past years, add that to a lack of offense when Paul Maholm takes the hill for the Pirates, and it is easy to see how the Buccos dropped tonight’s game to the Cleveland Indians 5-1.

Maholm didn’t have his best start of the year tonight going 6.1 innings allowing four runs seven hits, while striking out three and walking two.  With the offense only able to muster one run, Cleveland put the game away when they scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. 

Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco carried a no hitter into the sixth inning while giving up only four hits in 6.1 innings.  He also struck out four and walked one batter.  The Indians bullpen closed the door for Carrasco, as they pitched 2.2 innings of no hit baseball.

The only run the Pirates could muster on the night came in the seventh inning when Lyle Overbay would bring in Garrett Jones from third on a single to right field.  This brought the Pirates to only a two run deficit.  The Tribe however would counter in the bottom part of the inning to shut down any chance for the Pirates to comeback.

Tonight was another tough loss and marked the sixth time in the last ten games that the Pirates have scored one run or less.  The Buccos will send Jeff Karstens to the bump, hopefully to salvage a game in this series and give the Buccos another winning road trip before returning to PNC Park.

Record vs. Indians:  0-2
Record vs. A.L. Central:  2-3
Record on the Road:  20-17
Overall Record 35-35

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!

Pirates' Offense Struggles, Lose To Indians 5-1 In Series Opener

By Chad Carlson

Photo Credit: Jason Miller/Getty Images

The Pirates once again struggled to score runs tonight, and the result was a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Cleveland Indians in the opening game of a three-game series at Progressive Field.


Kevin Correia took the loss tonight, giving up just two runs on four hits through 5.2 innings. One run was given up by Correia’s balk in the third inning, which allowed Asdrubal Cabrera to score to give the Indians an early 1-0 lead. Carlos Santana added to the lead in the fourth inning with a solo homerun to deep right field. The Indians occupied a 2-0 lead as the fourth frame drew to a close.

The Pirates climbed back into the game in the sixth inning. After a Ronny Cedeno double, Xavier Paul smacked an RBI single to shallow right field, allowing Cedeno to score, but Paul was thrown out at second base trying to stretch a single into a double. Still, the Buccos had climbed back into the game, and trailed by only a single run as the inning came to a close.

Both bullpens did a satisfactory job keeping their respective teams in the game…that is, until the eighth inning. Reliever Daniel Moskos gave up three runs on three hits without recording a single out. The Indians took a commanding 5-1 lead into the final inning, in which the Pirates were unable to muster any type of a comeback. The Indians’ Tony Sipp closed out the game for the Tribe in the ninth, and the Buccos dropped the first game of the series tonight.

This was a game in which the offense simply couldn’t score runs. Correia, while not a shutdown performance, did well enough to earn a victory tonight. The offense managed only six hits total throughout the night. Garrett Jones led the way with two hits, while Paul, Neil Walker, Cedeno, and Josh Harrison added a hit a piece. Andrew McCutchen was held without a hit, dropping his average to .286 for the season.

The Pirates will try to even the series tomorrow night at Progressive Field against the Indians. Paul Maholm will make the start for the Buccos, who will look to stay above .500 in the second of this threel-game set against the Tribe.

Record Vs. Indians: 0-1
Record Vs. A.L. Central: 2-2
Record On The Road: 20-16
Overall Record: 35-34

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Meet Your Bucs: Wyatt Toregas

by Zane Heiple

Photo by zimbio.com

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed catcher Chris Snyder on the 15 day disabled list on Thursday for a herniated disk injury in his lower back.  Wyatt Toregas was called up from AAA Indianapolis to give the Buccos another catcher on the 25 man roster.

Toregas is a former 2004 draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in the 24^th round out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  He has spent the majority of his career in the Minor Leagues and did not make his Major League debut until August of 2009.  During that stretch he played in 19 games where he batted .176 with 6 RBI.  Behind the plate he threw out 2 of 10 batters that attempted to steal on him.  After spending the 2010 season with the Columbus Clippers, he was released by the Indians and then signed a contract with the Pirates in 2011.

So far he has spent all of 2011 with the Indianapolis Indians where he has hit .034 and thrown out 25% of runners who have attempted stealing.  While this is by no means an answer to the injuries of Ryan Doumit and Snyder, Toregas is an insurance policy incase Dusty Brown needs time off.  Pittsburgh has stated that they have started looking outside the organization for catching help, so there could be more updates from behind the plate coming soon.

Bucco Blast From The Past: Ralph Kiner

By Zane Heiple

Welcome, Pirates’ fans, to this week’s edition of Bucco Blast From The Past.  Today we look back on the Hall of Fame career of Ralph Kiner.

After serving as a U.S. Navy pilot during World War II, Kiner made his Major League debut on April 12, 1946 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He finished the season with 23 homeruns and 109 strikeouts.  During the offseason baseball great Hank Greenberg worked with Kiner and the results showed the following season, as his homeruns jumped to a league leading 51 and he struck out less than 100 times.  Ralph hit many of his homeruns over the short fence in left and left-centerfield at Forbes Field, during his time this part of the fence was known as “Kiner’s Korner.”

In 1949, Kiner became the first National League player to have two 50 homerun seasons, when he hit 54.  He topped 40 homeruns and 100 RBI from 1947-51.  Ralph was selected to six straight All-Star games from 1948-53 as a left fielder.

His career with the Pirates ended on June 4, 1953 when he was traded because of a salary dispute with general manager Branch Rickey, to the Chicago Cubs as part of a ten-player deal.  He played two seasons with the Cubs and finished his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1955.  His final career batting status were 369 homeruns with 1,019 RBI and a .279 batting average.

After his playing days, Kiner became a broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox in 1961.  The following year, he began broadcasting games for the expansion New York Mets.  2011 will mark his fiftieth year calling Mets’ games, although he only makes the occasional guest appearance.

Kiner was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.  In 1984 the Mets elected him to the team Hall of Fame.  The Pittsburgh Pirates retired his number 4 in 1987.  In 1999, The Sporting News named him the 90^th baseball player on their list of “The 100 Greatest Baseball Players.”

Be sure to check back next week for another edition of Bucco Blast From The Past.

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!

Bucco Blast From The Past: Zane Smith

By Zane Heiple

For this week’s edition of Bucco Blast From The Past, we look back at the career of Zane Smith.

Smith is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, and spent a total of six seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He went to college at Indiana State University and was drafted in the third round of the 1982 draft by the Atlanta Braves.  After parts of three seasons in the minors, Zane made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for the Braves.  During a game against the New York Mets in 1986, he struck out 12 batters to end their 11-game winning streak.

Smith had this best season in an Atlanta uniform in 1987.  His 15 wins that year led the team and ranked fifth best in the league.  He was also fifth in the league in innings pitched, first in starts, fourth in complete games, and third in shutouts.

The Montreal Expos acquired Smith from the Braves on July 2, 1989 for three players.  Zane was north of the border for only one year as he headed back to the “lower forty-eight” at the trade deadline the following season.  Traded to the Pirates for three players, most notably Moises Alou, many saw the move as a win for the Expos. 

Smith showed his worth as the Buccos were able to hold off the Mets down the stretch and win their first of three straight National League East Division titles.  The title sent the Pirates to the playoffs, making their first appearance in eleven seasons.  During this stretch, Smith went 6-2 with a 1.30 ERA.  Three of the wins were complete games, two of them being shutouts.

After the strike-shortened 1994 season, Smith signed a one year contract with the Boston Red Sox.  His time in Boston showed the beginning of the end of his career.  His final appearance with the Sox was a walk-off homerun to Tony Pena of the Cleveland Indians in the 1995 American League Division Series. 

After a year of struggling in Boston, Zane returned to Pittsburgh for the 1996 season.  He made his final start on July 5, as the Pirates released him the next day.

Zane Smith currently resides in Boerne, Texas.  For those of us too young to remember the 1979 World Series, but old enough to remember the 1990 seasons, Smith is a name that will carry on with us for a lifetime.

Be sure to check back next Tuesday to see who’s featured in the latest edition of Bucco Blast From The Past!

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!