All-star jab rubs manager wrong way
The Milwaukee Brewers, like other major league baseball teams, are trying to drum up support for players by encouraging fans to vote for their players to be named to the National League and American League All-Star Game rosters.
An attempt by the Brewers to rally support for catcher Jonathan Lucroy quickly reached St. Louis, where Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny said he was caught off guard to see his star catcher, Yadier Molina, as the centerpiece of the campaign spoof.
National League vote totals showed Molina holding a comfortable lead over the rest of the league's catchers. As of Sunday, Molina had nearly 600,000 more votes than San Francisco's Buster Posey, who's second on the list, and close to 900,000 more votes than Lucroy.
On Tuesday, the Brewers released a video that plays on traditional political campaign videos to poke fun at Molina and play up Lucroy.
"Do you want another St. Louis Cardinal to star in an All-Star Game? Isn't there a better way" the narrator begins, before going on to assert that Lucroy is the best catcher in the National League.
"Most importantly," the narrator adds, "he is not a St. Louis Cardinal."
The jab at the Cardinals was what irked Matheny.
"I think you have to take it in the nature in which it was meant, and it was meant to be geared toward their fan base," Matheny told MLB.com. "It was just amazing that it was that much directed at our organization. ... I think it can put a bad taste in a lot of peoples' mouth. That stuff [All-Star recognition and such] isn't just handed out. These guys have worked hard for that. They have deserved it, and they have earned it, and I don't think that's anything for us to apologize for."
Lucroy, who was not part of the development of the ad, said no harm was intended.
"Me, personally, I have nothing but respect for the Cardinals and Yadi," Lucroy said. "Yadi's one of the best catchers to ever play. I think that's the general consensus. That commercial was meant as a joke, and obviously, that doesn't reflect my personal belief. I don't want people taking it the wrong way."
Home runs missing
TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., is hosting its fourth NCAA College World Series this week. After watching some of the early games, Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel is convinced some changes need to be made.
"This is the College Weird Series, where the prevalent offensive weapons are the bunt, the stolen base and the error, not necessarily in that order," Shatel wrote on Tuesday. "The home run hasn't been seen at TD Ameritrade Park since last year. [C.J. Hinojosa of Texas changed that Wednesday night with a home run in a victory over UC Irvine.]
"TD Ameritrade Park has become the Bermuda Triangle, swallowing up deep flies and any chance of instant offense. And a lot of the drama, and legend, that came with it.
"Measuring tapes are now saved for the infield, not the fences. Texas hitting coach Tommy Nicholson said TD Ameritrade 'plays so big, you could play without fences. It wouldn't have any bearing on games.'
"Move the fences in? How about no fences?
"Pitching and bunting add to the game, but a home run should be a home run when it's hit. There's a balance to be found. The NCAA will find it. It won't be this year."
Sports quiz
Where did Jonathan Lucroy play college baseball?
Answer
Lucroy played three seasons (2005-2007) at Louisiana-Lafayette, where he set school records for doubles (54), RBI (184) and total bases (414) for a career.
Sports on 06/20/2014