In his first full season, Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval batted .330, which was second in the National League, and slugged .557, which was sixth. In 787 career plate appearances so far, the 23-year-old is batting .333 with a .924 OPS.

Put your money on Kung Fu Panda being even better next season than he was in 2009.

Sandoval, you see, already started spring training 2010 at the Giants' complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Nov. 1. He was roughly 3 1/2 months early. Why?

Sandoval put up those gaudy numbers despite carrying way too much weight for a person listed at 5-foot-11 and (generously) 245 pounds. So, Panda wants to slim down into a leaner, not-so-mean hitting machine.

In a tremendous post by Giants' blogger Joan Ryan (also the author of "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes"), she goes into fine detail about Sandoval's recent lifestyle changes, a diet and exercise regimen that Giants trainer Dave Groeschner calls unprecedented for the club.

It's called: "Operation Panda." Of course it is.

"There are no guys who show up in November to get ready for the season,'' Groeschner said. "But this is something Pablo wanted to do."

Sandoval is being helped by his brother Michael, who is taking the same steps right alongside.

From MLBlogs.com:

Read More »

The Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme didn't hurt the financial empire of the Wilpon family, the Mets' owners, as much as first thought.

That might have been the only thing to go right all year for the Kings of Queens, and now the ultimate Mets fan can buy the season-from-hell's most salient piece of memorabilia.

Among the bling and the furs and the whatnot up for auction Saturday from the property assets of Bernie and Ruth Madoff is this exquisite New York Mets jacket.

It's personally embroidered with his last name and No. 25 — as if Madoff pitched out of the bullpen or coached on Jerry Manuel's staff.

Bidding, already at $110, is expected to finish between $500-$725, though it's your best guess as to how anyone could know that. 

The jacket looks old-school, but it does not come with a certificate of authenticity in the form of Wally Backman (or Tim Teufel, if you prefer right-handed hitters).

Thanks, Business Insider, for spotting this.

The next time someone compiles a list of the greatest baseball films ever, the work won't be complete until it includes this 4-1/2 minute animated short by artist James Blagden. It's a moment-by-moment imagining of the time in 1970 when Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Dock Ellis, so he famously claimed, pitched a no-hitter while tripping on acid.

Brought to light by the sports and culture site No Mas, the film is a surreal trip in itself. And no psychedelic drugs are needed to enjoy it to the fullest.

It uses audio — which is precious to begin with — of Ellis telling the story himself on an NPR program broadcast in March of 2008. It reveals some interesting details, such as Ellis getting his stimulants (which he claimed were used by "90 percent of the major leagues") from a female dealer in the stands at Jack Murphy Stadium before the game at San Diego.

Blagden isn't short on complementary touches, either, such as putting curlers in Ellis' hair — as the flamboyant pitcher was known to do. Details like that indicate how much Blagden loved making this movie.

Following the spoken word and the music, the film completes a Dock Ellis trilogy, of sorts. Earlier this season, we told you about a song based on Ellis' infamous trip by Todd Snider called "America's Favorite Pastime." Snider's album got great reviews; the film is no less worthy. Let's get some Oscar buzz going right now.

Sadly, Ellis died last year after long-ago turning his life around, becoming a drug counselor. How much he would have tripped, in a good way this time, seeing this movie.

Thanks to @OntheDLpodcast for the heads up and to With Leather for the redirect.

Welcome to Dave's Dozen (because Kaduk's not here, man), a streamlined selection of 12 morning-fresh links and items to start your baseball day. It welcomes your e-mail submissions or tips via Twitter.

1. The captain's career will never die. It just fades away ... but with the Red Sox. Extra Bases
2. Thanks for interviewing, but no thanks, Bobby Valentine (again). The Nationals name Jim Riggleman their non-interim manager. MLB.com
3. Mr. Selig dislikes having World Series games in November. Pennlive
4. Not only is Detroit's Edwin Jackson(notes) available, but so is Curtis Granderson(notes). N.Y. Post
5. Brandon Inge(notes), too. Is Ernie Harwell's statue headed to eBay next? Bless You Boys
6. Granderson? Granderson? Boba Fett? Boba Fett? Phil Rogers is on the scent! Chicago Tribune
7. Joey Votto's(notes) not part of the Reds' pending garage sale, is he? Cincinnati.com
8. Everything you wanted to know about what happened, or didn't, at the GM meetings. Fox Sports
9. C'mon, don't clown. Despite a lack of action in Chicago and conservative financial forecasts for major league teams, you know Scott Boras will be getting paid. USA Today
10. Ever wanted to put Curt Flood's driver's license in your wallet? Big memorabilia auction coming up at the Louisville Slugger Museum on Saturday. Louisville Courier-Journal
11. Bringing back Milton Bradley(notes) might not work so well for the Rangers. Dallas Morning News
12. Did Deadspin libel Arizona State baseball coach Pat Murphy? Well... Sports Journalism Today

As happened yesterday in the AL, the Gold Glove Award winners in the NL were announced today. There seems to be someone missing from the list. Our guest blogger, the Leprechaun, will explain.

Just who is it that's been stealin' Chase Utley's(notes) Glove o' Gold? Was it you, Brandon FitzPhillips, who turned 100 double plays and stole the Glove o' Gold last year from ol' Chase? Those look like blue diamonds in your pocket! No? Quit your thievin' ways, have ya'?

How about you, wee Davie McEckstein, who led NL second basemen in fielding percentage, making only two errors all season? You're short enough to be devious — you little green clover-picker — but not that short.

It was you, O'rlando Hudson! You stole Chase Utley's Glove o' Gold! It's the end of the rainbow for you, my purple horseshoe-wearing friend.

It might not have looked like it during the World Series when he got a case of the yips, but Chase Utley has been and still is the best defensive second baseman in the majors for a number of seasons.

The geniuses over at Fangraphs, with their UZR and their uzis, not only call Utley the best second baseman in baseball but its best player at any position on defense over the past three seasons. Yet, willfully ignorant voters are always stealin' Chase's Glove o' Gold! Do they not judge my boyo by the light of the yellow moon? His mates Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino won awards, so it's not some kind of anti-Phanaticism.

Next season, if Utley is good enough — again — the electorate ought to find it in their pink hearts to vote properly. So far, it's just not in the orange stars.

39-year-old Ken Griffey returning to Seattle and leading the Mariners to their first World Series championship was sports' feel-good story of the 2009 season — nay, the decade.

After reaching 40 homers in the regular season for the first time since 2000, Griffey hit a memorable two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7 ...

Oh, wait. That was for the Yahoo! Sports Blog in an alternate universe; !Oohay, that one's called.

As baseball fans in this realm know, the Mariners won a respectable 85 games in Griffey's return after losing 101 times in the nightmare season before. Much of the credit went to Griffey being back in the Pacific Northwest for the first time since being traded to the Reds after the '99 season.

Of course, any reasonable checking of the numbers will reveal that Griffey had the worst season of his 21-season career. A slugging percentage barely above .400, along with a .735 OPS, does not a good DH make.

So, why is it a good thing the M's re-signed Griff Jr. for 2010?

Read More »

The funniest exchange between agent and reporter at baseball's General Manager meetings probably was published this morning in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Scott Boras scoffed upon hearing the Cardinals characterized as a "mid-market" franchise, one that would be incapable of paying client Matt Holliday(notes) whatever the agent thinks he's worth.

"I don't know what a mid-market franchise is. That's like a midsize aircraft carrier," Boras said.

Capitalizing on the nautical analogy, Joe Strauss wrote that Boras had "commissioned the franchise the 'USS Moneybags.' "

Yuks aside, Boras has a point about the Cardinals being solvent:

"If you're drawing 3.3 million fans [third in the NL] and you're averaging $50 a fan coming in, I just don't know that mid-market term," Boras said. "I'm trying to think if that's part of the laissez-faire system. I don't know."

Laissez-faire! I love it when you speak French, Boras! He does omit how STL is the No. 21 TV market in the United States. Forbes lists the Cards as the eighth-richest team in the league overall.

Boras has been touting Holliday as a franchise player, someone like another client of his, Mark Teixeira(notes) — who got an eight-year, $180-million deal from the Yankees last off-season.

Where will Holliday go? Where the money is. Teammate Adam Wainwright(notes), via Rotoworld and Team 1380 in St. Louis says it will be at Busch Stadium, along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi.

Welcome to Dave's Dozen (because Kaduk's not here, man) a streamlined selection of 12 morning-fresh links and items to start your baseball day. It welcomes your email submissions and tips here or via Twitter.

1. Ruben Amaro says the Phillies tomorrows will include the 2008 World Series MVP. Philly Inquirer
2. It appears the no-longer bleeping champions are hot for Chone Figgins(notes). S.I.'s Jon Heyman
3. C'mon, are the Tigers considering dealing Edwin Jackson(notes)? He just got there. Bless You Boys
4. The Cardinals continue shielding new batting coach Mark McGwire from the media. He's not here to talk about the past. He's not here, period. Awkward! St. Louis Post-Dispatch
5. Brewers prospect Jonathan Lucroy(notes) just might be the starting catcher at Miller Park. BrewCrew Ball
6. Poor finances might force the Reds to get rid of Brandon Phillips(notes), Aaron Harang(notes), Bronson Arroyo(notes), the massage table, the team bus ... AOL Fanhouse
7. The Mets kick the tires on Matt Holliday(notes); Scott Boras says he comes fully loaded. NY Post
8. The Yanks tell everyone from Joba Chamberlain(notes) to Phil Hughes(notes): Be ready to start. NY Post
9. John Lackey(notes) might not have pitched his last game for the Los Anaheim Angels, after all. Fox Sports
10. Who's up for consideration by the Veterans Committe for the Hall of Fame? Seattle Times
11. Awesome, baby! Rays fan Dick Vitale hopes for a new baseball stadium in Tampa Bay. The Big Lead
12. The Dodgers might go to Mark Cuban in the McCourt divorce. Dallas Morning News

The topic of instant replay came up at the general manager meetings today, but conversation was apparently limited to the current system and did not touch upon expanding it past home run calls.

Instead, the stubborn general managers symbolically lined up behind commissioner Bud Selig in a stance that sees no use for making sure the game is called fairly and accurately.

I mean, it's enough to make a baseball fan run toward the nearest cement wall with his or her head lowered.   

Jimmie Lee Solomon, one of Selig's guys, said the GMs were briefed by an umpiring official on training, evaluation and structure. I would guess that means that MLB is looking to make umpires more accountable for their calls.

And after the disasters of the just-passed postseason, I suppose that's good news.

But it's not nearly good enough. Though hell hath no fury like the baseball blogosphere piling on an umpire's blown call, I still believe that no one feels worse in the aftermath than the man in blue himself. Umpires aren't going to get more calls right because they're subject to a harsher penalty; they're already putting enough pressure on themselves as it is.

And since we live in a world of 78 camera angles per game and frame-by-frame replay, there's no way for an umpire to be 100 percent accurate and escape public ridicule.

Look, the technology could easily be there to provide a safety net for the human element on the field. It came through without much lost time during A-Rod's camera home run during Game 3 of the World Series and has been streamlined in almost every other sport.

Why not let it come through in other spots that are just as crucial?

Why must this be so difficult?

There is only one thing in baseball that l hate more than Gold Glove awards and that is writing about Gold Glove awards.

So I'm going to make this quick.

The American League Gold Glove winners were announced today. You can find all the details here, but here is a quick summary:

Ichiro and Torii Hunter were each honored by the league's managers and coaches for the ninth time.

Evan Longoria, Adam Jones and Mark Buehrle won their first gilded mitts.

For the second time, Joe Mauer and Placido Polanco were ruled the standards at catcher and second while Mark Teixeira was tops at first for the third occasion. 

Oh, and Derek Jeter won his first shortstop Gold Glove since 2006 and fourth award overall.

Read More »