If he gets a big hit off the bench — or if he gives a teammate a scouting report that leads to a hit off an unfamiliar pitcher — that would be enough to call the trade a success.
In the hills near Lake Iseo, Franciacorta often arrives at the table in a wide-mouthed ceramic pitcher that would be more likely, in this country, to hold ice water.
It could not be the same pitcher; that would be crazy.
We explored data, video and statistical information from the Bob Gibson era forward, hoping to find common characteristics among all great pitchers that would allow us to design a training system and achieve similar success.
There are no pitchers that would even think of starting 51 times in a season, let alone to be in position to win.
The Mets had discussed the possibility of trading shortstop Rey Ordóñez to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Scott Erickson, a move that would have relocated two highly paid but disappointing players.
Rawlings and other manufacturers are still working to develop a cap with a liner that would offer pitchers some protection against batted balls, an objective that took on more urgency after Brandon McCarthy of the Oakland Athletics and Doug Fister of the Detroit Tigers were beaned by line drives last season.
Mike's a fine guy and a great pitcher, but to pay a salary like that would be to take a step toward the cliff, toward going over the cliff for the industry of baseball.
To provide depth to the team at the shortstop position after an injury to Fernández, Steinbrenner approved a trade that would have sent pitcher Mariano Rivera to the Mariners for shortstop Félix Fermín, but Michael, by then the vice president of scouting, and assistant general manager Brian Cashman convinced Steinbrenner to give Jeter an opportunity.
