Archive for the 'Grant Balfour is the Mad Australian' Category

Jun 07

Grant Balfour Quits Australian National Team Because He Hates All The Drug Testing

Grant Balfour, Grant Balfour is the Mad Australian Cork Gaines No Comments »

In 2009, Grant Balfour, sat out the World Baseball Classic at the request of the Rays. And with the next WBC scheduled for 2013, Balfour says he is pulling his name out of consideration because he hates all the drug testing…

Balfour, who is currently on the roster of the Oakland Athletics, says he wouldn’t want to go through the time-consuming drug testing for the 2013 World Classic only to have his club again force him not to compete…”It gets a little hectic, you’ve got to fill out these forms every day,” Balfour told AAP after Oakland’s 6-3 loss to Boston at Fenway Park on Sunday…You’ve got to tell them where you’re at and what time of the day for all the drug testing and stuff and it got a little bit too much…I was like, `geez, I’ve got nothing to hide, I get tested here whenever they want’…It got a little bit much.”

Hey. We get it. Supporting your country can be a bitch when there is all that paperwork during the off-season. Poor guy.

And yes, that image above is from the STFD moment in the 2008 ALDS.

Jan 10

[THE HANGOVER] The Mad Australian Comments On His Nickname

Dan Wheeler, Dewon Day, Eric Hinske, Gabe Gross, Grant Balfour is the Mad Australian, JC Romero, Jon Gruden, Matt Joyce, Rocco Baldelli, World Baseball Classic Cork Gaines 1 Comment »

The Rays claimed Dewon Day off of waivers from the Red Sox. Day, 28, is a right-handed pitcher that split time between double-A and triple-A in the White Sox organization in 2008. He posted an ERA of 4.56 at triple-A despite 25 strike outs and only 6 walks in 23.2 innings.

Day was added to the 40-man roster, taking the last available spot. He does have minor league options remaining.

Rays claim Day from Red Sox [Rays Report]

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…

  • Grant Balfour’s nickname is catching on Down Under. [The Australian]

“Yeah, ‘The Mad Australian’. They call me that [in the U.S.] because I get pretty fired up sometimes,” Balfour admits. “It’s pretty full-on and intense during the season and I am just out there competing as hard as I can every pitch.”

  • Former New York Times columnist Murray Chass says there is good reason to group JC Romero with members of the Black Sox scandal. [Murray Chass...On Baseball]
  • Not sure how much of this is the new Spring Training home and how much is due to the Rays successful 2008 season, but tickets for Rays Spring Training games are selling fast. [Herald-Tribune]
  • Rocco Baldelli reflects on what it means to him to move from the Rays to the Red Sox. [Tampa Tribune]

“I think it’s beginning to sink in,” he said. “In a way, it’s sad because, obviously I’m from Rhode Island, but I also consider St. Pete my home. One way or another, the last nine years of my life have been spent mostly down there. I have a lot of good friends there, a lot of people who I’m going to miss. It’s a great place. I loved my time there and I’ll cherish it always.”

  • In her own special way, Her Rays went through all the stages of depression after Rocco Baldelli signed with the Rays. She was even willing to give the Red Sox John Gruden if they would have let the Rays keep Rocco…That doesn’t seem very fair for the people of New England. [Her Rays]
  • The other major leaguer from Rhode Island, Dan Wheeler, was named the New England Player of the Year. [Providence Journal]
  • Marc Lancaster says the Rays will likely head into 2009 with a platoon in right field with Matt Joyce in the minor leagues…It just seems to us, that as long as Gabe Gross is on the team, Joyce will start the year in triple-A. It just doesn’t make sense to have both players on the 25-man roster. [Tampa Tribune]
  • The Rays are working with Tampa Bay Watch to help restore salt marsh habitats. [TBN Weekly]
  • USA Baseball has released a list of 22 players that have expressed an interest in playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. That list does not include any Rays. [Rays Report]
  • Rays Prospects has the final stat lines for prospects in the various winter leagues. [Rays Prospects]
  • How rough is it for corner outfielders and DHs this year? It looks like Eric Hinske’s only substantial offer at this point is from Japan. [MLB Trade Rumors]

Dec 01

[THE MAD AUSTRALIAN] Balfour To Use WBC Participation As Chip During Contract Negotiations

Grant Balfour, Grant Balfour is the Mad Australian, World Baseball Classic Cork Gaines 2 Comments »

A couple of weeks ago we took a look at the toll of the 2008 season on the Rays’ pitching staff. The Rays have already tightened the reigns on the pitchers this off-season, several of whom will have delayed 2009 debuts in spring training.

One event that could derail the Rays plans is participation in the 2009 World Baseball Classic by members of the pitching staff. The WBC is to be held during spring training (March 5-23).

After one of the most dominating seasons ever for a relief pitcher, Grant Balfour is arbitration-eligible for the first time and will use his participation in the WBC as leverage during contract negotiations.

“I have no idea if I’m going to play or not,” Balfour said. “I’m going to see what the Rays come up with as far as a contract and see what they think.”

In other words, Balfour might be willing to forgo a spot on the Australian team if the Rays offer the right amount of cash.

Balfour is one of the pitchers who showed a significant increase in innings pitched (32.6%) from 2007 to 2008. A sharp increase in workload from one season to the next is a cause for concern moving forward.

If Balfour joins the Australian team, not only will he have to begin preparations earlier than would normally be expected, but he will also be giving max-effort during the WBC with little opportunity for tune-ups in the spring. That, along with the increased workload in 2008 and the shortened off-season could lead to a tired arm in 2009 or even injury.

This has to be very concerning to the Rays who will need a repeat performance from Balfour in 2009 if the team expects to make another run at a postseason berth.

Look At Toll Of 2008 On Rays Pitching Staff; Garza Could Take Step Back In ’09 [Rays Index]
Tampa Bay Rays plan extra rest for pitchers after long season [St. Pete Times]
Grant Balfour One Of Most Dominating Relievers In History Of Baseball [Rays Index]
Australians out to surprise in Classic [MLB]

Nov 20

[VIDEO] Several Rays Get Their Mohawks On Prior To Game 5 Of World Series

Aki Iwamura, Carl Crawford, Grant Balfour is the Mad Australian, Willy Aybar Cork Gaines 1 Comment »

The Rays, not surprisingly, are off to a slow start in the Hot Stove. What do we do when things are slow? We of course turn to YouTube. As a wise man once said, if you can’t find anything interesting on YouTube, you just aren’t trying.

Here is a somewhat mesmerizing video of several Rays getting mohawks prior to game 5 of the World Series. The players include Carl Crawford, Aki Iwamura, Willy Aybar and Grant Balfour. The barber in question is apparently a “barber for the baseball stars”. He even has his own website!

A couple of notes…

  • Japanese for Mohawk is apparently “Mo-hee-can”, which we guess makes sense.
  • Aki’s English has gotten much better than we realized.
  • Balfour will never win an Academy Award.
  • If Balfour ever tries to high-five Tiger Woods, the universe might implode.