DG150 - Part 2

Part 1 of my annual baseball DG featured three players who sadly are now on the ex-dread list - Eric Young, Carlos Santana, and Prince Fielder - as well as the four MLB pitchers with dreads in 2013. Now let's begin part 2 with the Weeks brothers.

In 2012 Milwaukee Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks and his younger brother, Oakland Athletics 2B Jemile Weeks, seemed to be playing their own version of "How low can you go?" - as in how low can your batting average go? Jemile ended up 'winning' the competition, finishing at .221 to .230 for Rickie. Of course, Jemile might complain it was an unfair competition since he didn't get to play the whole season after being demoted to the minors in late August. When spring training 2013 began, they both hoped to put 2012 far behind in the rear view mirror, as is mentioned in this article from MLB.com: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130217&content_id=41732402&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb ..... Well, at least that was the plan.
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1. Rickie Weeks practices the right way to do a rundown with Brewers 3B coach Ed Sedar during a drill early in spring training on Feb. 19. The reason I'm including this photo is that it shows how long Rickie's dreads were at the beginning of training camp. Unless my eyes were playing tricks on me, by the time the season began these dreads became noticeably shorter.
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2. Rickie Weeks gets his 1st hit of 2013 with a single during bottom of 6th on Opening Day on Apr. 1 but is tagged out by Rockies 2B Josh Rutledge trying to stretch it into a double.
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3. After being hit by a pitch and then stealing 2nd in bottom of the 10th, Rickie Weeks celebrates after scoring the winning run in the opener on a sacrifice fly by C Jonathan Lucroy. Rickie got off to a good start, going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored as Brewers defeated Colorado 5-4.
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4. Rickie Weeks connects for his 1st home run of the season, cutting the Rockies' lead to 2-1 during 3rd inning on Apr. 3: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/42930092/v25979431/colmil-weeks-solo-shot-cuts-into-rockies-lead/?c_id=mlb ..... Brewers ended up losing 7-3, dropping 2 out of 3 to the Rockies; but Weeks went 3 for 4 in the game and 6 for 11 in the series ..... However, it would take him 12 games to get his next 6 hits.
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5. Rickie Weeks is congratulated by 1B Martin Maldonado as he returns to the dugout after driving in C Jonathan Lucroy and LF Ryan Braun with a 3-run HR in bottom of 8th on Apr. 30 to complete the scoring in a 12-8 victory over the Pirates: http://m.mlb.com/video/v26740227/pitmil-weeks-jacks-a-threerun-home-run-to-right/?c_id=mlb ..... After driving in 4 runs in his first 24 games, Weeks had 5 RBI in this one game alone, as he earlier had hit a 2-run single. His 3 for 4 night raised his BA from .167 to .191 as April came to a close.
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6. Rickie Weeks runs into SS Jean Segura as they try to catch a pop fly off the bat of Dodgers CF Matt Kemp during 6th inning of a 9-2 loss at Milwaukee on May 22, and the ball falls for a single. This play was symbolic of the way things went throughout May for Weeks and the Brewers. The team had two 4-game losing streaks, a 5-game losing streak, and a 6-game losing streak - all in the same month, finishing with a 6-22 record. Weeks played in 26 of the 28 games and had only 14 hits and a measly 1 RBI as he ended the month with his BA at .183. 
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7. Rickie Weeks puts on a show for family members in attendance at Miami on June 10, going 3 for 5, including a HR on this swing during top of 3rd inning, to help the Brewers defeat the Marlins 6-1: http://m.mlb.com/video/v27925387/milmia-weeks-on-road-victory-family-in-the-stands/?c_id=mlb
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8. Rickie Weeks has not and will not ever win a Gold Glove for his defense but makes a nice play here on Apr. 5, getting to throw to 1st in time (or so said the umpire) to retire Diamondbacks CF A.J. Pollock during top of 9th: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/42930092/v26040851/arimil-weeks-makes-diving-stop-on-sharp-grounder/?c_id=mlb ..... The lesson to be learned (which after all these years still hasn't been learned by some) is never dive into 1st base. Umpires have shown almost without fail that they'll call you out on a close play when you dive into 1st like that.
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9. Rickie Weeks throws over the sliding CF Shin-Soo Choo as he turns a double play during 3rd inning of a 6-2 loss to the Reds on July 10. Weeks took part in 56 double plays in his 95 games played in 2013 and committed a total of 10 errors. His .975 fielding percentage for the season was slightly better than his career average.
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10. Rickie Weeks takes off his helmet after striking out to end the bottom of 9th at Milwaukee on July 21, and the game goes into extra innings still scoreless. I could find no photos of Rickie where you can see his dreads all the way down to his head, as he wore a skull cap over them constantly every single game. Brewers scored a run in bottom of the 13th to win 1-0 and complete a 3-game sweep in which they shutout the Marlins in all 3 games (2-0, 6-0, and 1-0).
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11. After being caught stealing in 5th inning at Milwaukee on July 6, Rickie Weeks gets it right after reaching base again in the 7th, getting his 5th stolen base of the season as Mets SS Omar Quintanilla leaps to catch a bad throw. Weeks came in to score on an RBI single by LF Logan Schafer to make the score 7-5, and Brewers held on to win 7-6. For the season Rickie finished with 7 SB and was CS 3 times.
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12. You can add Jeremy Hefner of the Mets to the long list of pitchers who have hit Rickie Weeks with a pitch, here during bottom of 2nd on July 7. Weeks was HBP 9 times in 2013, bring his career total for 9 full seasons to 117 HBP.
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13. Rickie Weeks follows through on his swing (left photo) and then rounds the bases (right photo) after blasting the 5th pitch thrown by reliever Hector Ambriz for a 2-run HR, giving Brewers a 2-1 lead in top of the 8th at Houston on June 19: http://m.mlb.com/video/v28182087/milhou-weeks-tworun-homer-puts-brewers-on-top/?c_id=mlb ..... Weeks went 2 for 4 for the evening (one of only 14 games in which he had 2 or more hits) as Brewers defeated the Astros 3-1.
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14. Rickie Weeks is welcomed back to the dugout by IF Yuniesky Betancourt after hitting his 2nd home run of the game, a solo shot during bottom of 8th on June 25, completing the scoring in the Brewers' 9-3 victory over the Cubs. This was Weeks' best game of the season, as he also had an RBI double and 2-run homer. After an awful May, Rickie had his best month in June, batting .355 for the month with 5 HR and 9 RBI and raising his overall BA to .228. 
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15. After leading off bottom of the 9th with a double on June 26 and being bunted to 3rd, Rickie Weeks is an easy out at home, as Cubs C Wellington Castillo hangs onto the ball after putting the tag on Weeks, who was trying to score the tying run on a hard grounder by Yuniesky Betancourt: http://m.mlb.com/video/v28380407/chcmil-valbuena-castillo-combine-for-play-at-plate/?c_id=mlb ..... Weeks went 2 for 4, but Cubs held on to win 5-4, the first of 6 straight losses for the Brewers.
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16. With his batting average headed south again as the season moved into August, the season came to a disappointing and painful end for Weeks here on Aug. 7 during at San Francisco, as he is unable to make it to 1st base after injuring his hamstring after hitting a ground ball during top of 8th: http://m.mlb.com/video/v29522581/milsf-weeks-exits-game-with-leg-injury?/c_id=mlb ..... I guess it's fitting that on his final at bat of the season Weeks one last time failed to get a runner in from 3rd base. He's been an OK RBI guy throughout his career; but last season, except for the highlights featured in the preceding photos, he couldn't drive in a run to save his life. I consider batting average with runners in scoring position and 2 out one of the most important stats in baseball. Weeks batted a horrific .059 (2 for 34) in that situation last season and .118 with RISP regardless of how many outs. Rickie's final numbers for 2013: 104 games, .209 BA (73 for 350), .306 OBA, 40 runs, 20 doubles, 1 triple, 10 HR, 24 RBI, 40 walks, 9 HBP, 105 strikeouts, 7 SB, 3 CS. The 24 RBI were a career low.
You can't continue to hit like that and keep your job, even if you're making $11 million; and so far in 2014 Weeks, for the first time in his career, has found himself on the bench much more often than not. He has been in the lineup only when the opponent starts a left handed pitcher, and through the first month his production has been close to nil. It's really disappointing to see him struggle so badly. At 31 years old he should be in the prime of his career. But unless he figures out a way to start getting some hits, his career is going to be over.     
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Whereas Rickie Weeks failed in his attempt to have a strong comeback season in 2013, Jemile Weeks' bid never got out of the starting blocks. He was demoted to the minor league camp with about week to go in spring training; and even though the Athletics made several roster moves throughout the season, none of them was to promote Jemile back up to the majors. And so ......

17. ..... On Apr. 1, while the A's were playing their season opener at home against Seattle, Weeks was in Sacramento, warming up for an exhibition game (left photo) and watching the game from the dugout (right photo) as a member of the Sacramento River Cats, the Athletics'  Class AAA minor league affiliate.
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18. Jemile Weeks charges a ground ball during the River Cats' 7-4 home loss to Tacoma on Apr. 10. The San Jose Mercury News did an entire 15-picture gallery of Weeks from this game, and if you want, you can view it by clicking this link: http://photos.mercurynews.com/2013/04/15/former-as-jemile-weeks-now-with-the-river-cats/?repeat=w3tc#1 ...... Jemile was one of the River Cats' better players, finishing with a .271 BA, 96 runs, 4 HR, 40 RBI and 17 SB in 130 games. In an attempt to increase his versatility (and thus his value to a major league team) he played several games at SS and CF in addition to his usual position (2B). 
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19. Finally called up to join the A's when the rosters were expanded at the beginning of September, Jemile Weeks, after fielding a ball that deflected off of P Pat Neshek,  flips the ball to 2nd to get a force out for the last out in bottom of 8th at Minneapolis on Sept. 11. With the A's way out in front, Weeks got a couple of at bats, going 0 for 2 with a run score in an 18-3 win over the Twins.
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20. After entering the game on Sept. 17 as a pinch runner in bottom of the 9th, Jemile Weeks trots home with the winning run (left photo) on an RBI single by 3B Josh Donaldson then joins his teammates as they mob Donaldson (right photo) after his hit gave them a 2-1 victory over the L.A. Angels.
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21. After leading off top of 5th with a single on Sept. 29 (his only hit in 8 games with the A's), Jemile Weeks rounds 3rd and comes in to score on an Alberto Callaspo RBI single, giving an Oakland a 5-0 lead over Seattle in the final game of the regular season. The Athletics went on to win 9-0, and Jemile went 1 for 4 with 3 strikeouts in his final game with the team.
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22. In DG139 a year ago I asked the A's (politlely) to trade Weeks to a team that would let him keep his dreads. I thought they did that (but didn't really know for sure) when they sent him to the Baltimore Orioles in a trade on Dec. 2. And when he showed up for spring training looking like this on Feb. 17, I thought his dreads were safe. But it turns out they weren't. The Orioles do have a no long hair policy; and after Jemile cut his dreads shorter to comply with that policy, he didn't like the look and decided to cut them off completely. Ouch!
Jemile began the season with the Orioles' AAA affiliate at Norfolk before being promoted to the Orioles last weekend. But without the dreads, I'm not going to be any big rush to watch him play any more.
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As you may recall from DG139, Darnell McDonald was forced to cut off his dreads in July 2012 after being picked up on waivers by the N.Y. Yankees, who then sent him to the minors less than two weeks later. But when McDonald returned the the majors - with the Cubs last August - the dreads were back. Since his hair couldn't have grown that fast in 13 months, I'm guessing that after he grew his hair long enough to have beginner dreads, he used the dreads he used to have for extensions.

23. In his most meaningful contribution during his 25 games with the Cubs, Darnell McDonald hits a 3-run homer on this swing (photo above) and is congratulated as he touches home plate (photo on right) after his blast gives the Cubs a 4-1 lead over the Pirates during bottom of the 6th on Sept. 25: http://m.mlb.com/video/v30930291/pitchc-mcdonald-launches-a-clutch-threerun-homer/?c_id=mlb .....Cubs went on to win 4-2 in what turned out to be a last hurrah for McDonald. After batting .236 in 92 games for Class AAA Iowa, Darnell batted .302 (16 for 53) for the Cubs, with a .351 OBA, 4 runs, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 walks, and 8 strikeouts. Unable to make the Cubs roster this year, McDonald announced his retirement on Apr. 6, ending a 16-year career in which he played for 12 different teams in the minors and 6 teams in MLB. Although he was no Crash Davis, Darnell did amass 106 minor league HR in 5,557 at bats with a .269 BA. His final major league numbers were a .250 BA (191 for 764) with 20 HR and 83 RBI. Farewell Darnell, and good luck with your new job as a baseball operations assistant (whatever that is) for the Cubs, a front-office position he was named to 9 days after he retired.
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In 2013 we welcomed 26-year old San Diego Padres OF Cameron Maybin to the house, but his first season with dreads was nothing to write home about.

24. Sporting baby dreads at the beginning of the season, it was difficult to notice that Cameron Maybin had dreads, even when his hat was off, as it was here in the Padres' home opener on Apr. 9, as he reacts after striking out with 2 runners on to end bottom of the 1st. Maybin ended up going 1 for 3 with a run scored as the Padres, after starting out with a 1-5 road trip, defeated the Dodgers 9-3. But Padres then lost their next 5 on the home stand to fall to 2-10. Bothered by a bad wrist during the first half of April, Maybin struggled to the tune of a .091 BA (3 for 33) before going on the disabled list.
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25. Cameron Maybin loses his hat and his shades trying (and failing) to make a diving catch of a ball hit by Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki that went for a double during 6th inning at Denver on June 8. Back in action after missing 7 weeks, Maybin had a productive 4-game series against the Rockies, going 5 for 18 with 4 runs, 1 HR, 4 RBI and 4 SB. But in the final game of the series he injured his knee after falling on the warning track trying to catch another drive by Tulowitzki: http://m.mlb.com/video/v27895809/sdcol-maybin-shaken-up-after-diving-stays-in-game/?c_id=mlb ..... Cameron tore the PCL in his right knee, and after being on the active roster just 4 days, he went right back on the DL.
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26. Here's the best look I could find of Cameron Maybin's dreads from last season, as he and 3B Chase Headley run onto the field to congratulate C Nick Hundley after his RBI single in bottom of the 15th inning gives Padres a 3-2 victory over the Cubs. Maybin never recovered enough from his knee injury to return to action and spent the entire 2nd half of the season on the DL. His final numbers for 2013: 14 games, .157 BA (8 for 51), 7 runs, 1 double, 1 HR, 5 RBI and 4 SB.
2014 didn't start any better for Cameron, as he injured a biceps muscle early in spring training and began the season on the DL. He finally returned to action last weekend, and here's a look - with his dreads noticeably longer - at his 1st hit of the season: http://m.mlb.com/video/v32428165/sdwsh-maybin-doubles-in-his-return-from-the-dl/?c_id=mlb ..... To this point in his career Maybin, now in his 6th major league season, has been a better defensive player than on offense. No doubt the Padres would like to see him start doing some great things with a bat in his hand more often; but maybe he's just going to be a .250 hitter his whole career. Regardless, I'm going to have to find some time to watch some Padres games this season.
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And now, let's take a look at some non-baseball player dreads at the ballpark last season.

27. For the 2nd year in a row, Baltimore Ravens starting CB Lardarius Webb makes an appearance at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, this time on May 22, before the Orioles take on the Yankees. Orioles won 6-3.
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28. On Apr. 26, one day after being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, G Jonathan Cooper is on hand at to throw out the first pitch at the Diamondbacks' game against the Rockies, caught by star P Patrick Corbin. Diamondbacks lost the game 6-3. Cooper, as you should know, did not play in his rookie season after breaking his leg during a preseason game.
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29. Honorary captain "Slick" Willie Shaw, long time member of the Harlem Globetrotters, brings the official lineup card to home plate alongside manager Dusty Baker before the Reds host the Phillies on Apr. 15. Reds were victorious 4-2.
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30. After participating in an OTA practice during the day on May 21, Houston Texans rookie WR DeAndre Hopkins, the team's 1st round draft choice, throws out the first pitch at the Astros' game that night against the Royals. The Astros lost 7-3. Hopkins, as well as a lot of other Houston area sports fans, will be hoping for brighter days in 2014 after both the Astros (51-111) and Texans (2-14) finished with the worst records in their respective leagues last year.
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31. Before watching the Mariners lose to the Rangers 4-3 on Apr. 11 last season, fans at Safeco Field got a chance to see the ubiquitous Richard Sherman throw out the first pitch before the game: http://www.seahawks.com/videos-photos/videos/Richard-Sherman-Throws-the-First-Pitch-at-Safeco/121d0063-22cc-4a02-9300-5b09e34cd2a9 ..... Richard is absolutely hilarious; notice how he checks the runner at 1st - two times - before throwing the pitch.
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Pittsburgh Pirates star CF Andrew McCutchen began the 2013 season with the difficult task of trying to improve on his 3rd place finish in the voting for the 2012 NL MVP award. But wouldn't you know it, he did exactly that (!) as well as help lead the Pirates to their first winning season in 21 years.

32. Before opening the season against the Cubs on Apr. 1, Andrew McCutchen poses with the hardware he earned for his outstanding play in 2012 - both the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards. As an outfielder, you can't do much better than that.
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33. Andrew McCutchen connects for his 1st hit of the season, a double to LF with 2 out in bottom of the 6th on Opening Day. During his next time up, in the 9th, McCutchen was hit by a pitch and came in to score Pirates' 1st run of the season - their only run in a 3-1 loss to the Cubs.
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34. Andrew McCutchen rounds the bases after hitting his 1st HR - and the Pirates' 1st HR (finally) - of the season to give the Pirates an early 2-0 lead in 1st inning at Dodger Stadium on Apr. 7: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/42930092/v26094913/pitlad-mccutchen-drills-tworun-homer-in-first/?c_id=mlb ......That was all for the Pittsburgh offense as Dodgers came back to win 6-2 and sweep the 3-game series. Pirate bats were in a coma the first week of the season, scoring only 8 runs in the first 6 games. Pirates went 1-5 the first week before heating up.
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35. Andrew McCutchen slaps a low five with LF Starling Marte after Marte's 2-run homer gives Pirates an 8-6 lead over Cincinnati during bottom of 8th on Apr. 14. McCutchen also contributed, going 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI as Pirates wiped out a 5-0 deficit, scoring 4 in the 7th and 6 in the 8th to defeat the Reds 10-7 and sweep the 3-game series, evening their record at 6-6. I think that this was the last time McCutchen played a game with his dreads unbanded. Throughout his career he has turned the dreads loose for a handful of games each season. But by last season they had become so long that they were becoming too much of a distraction whenever he swung the bat, so from this point on he always kept them banded together.
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36. Andrew McCutchen rips a 2-run double during bottom of 3rd to give Pirates a 2-0 lead over the Dodgers on June 14. Later in the game Andrew singled and scored the Pirates' only other run in a 3-0 victory.
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37. On this swing Andrew McCutchen hits a single to center field during top of the 3rd at Milwaukee on Sept. 3. Two batters later he scored on a Marlon Byrd RBI single to tie the game at 2. It was the 2nd hit and 2nd run of the game for Cutch. On his first time up he reached a milestone - his 100th career HR: http://m.mlb.com/video/v30289169/pitmil-mccutchens-100th-homer-puts-bucs-up-early/?c_id=mlb ..... Andrew wasn't done yet. He walked and scored the Pirates' 3rd run of the game in the 8th before Pirates won it on a Travis Snider home run in the 9th, 4-3.
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38. Earlier in the season Andrew McCutchen hurts the Brewers again, launching his 5th home run of the season leading off bottom of the 12th inning on May 14 to give the Pirates a 4-3 victory: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/28898650/v27126169/milpit-cutchs-clutch-homer-gives-bucs-walkoff-win ..... Then after the game .....
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39. ..... Andrew doesn't resist as P A.J. Burnett delivers the traditional shaving cream pie in the face while he is being interviewed. "It's OK in the face, A.J., just not on my dreads."
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40. This is always a good thing for Pirates fans, because Andrew McCutchen always and only touches his helmet like this just before he touches home plate whenever he hits a home run - this one coming on July 22 at Washington after hitting his 2nd 2-run homer of the game, giving the Pirates a 4-0 lead: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/70091656/v29039943/pitwsh-mccutchen-swats-two-tworun-homers-vs-nats/?c_id=mlb ..... Pirates held on to win 6-5. After batting .247 in April, McCutchen batted at least .300 in every other month, including .327 in July.
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41. After leading of bottom of 11th inning with a walk on July 12, Andrew McCutchen dives in ahead of the throw to Mets SS Omar Quintanilla with his 20th stolen base of the season (and 2nd of the night). Four batters later he came in to score the winning run on a Jordy Mercer RBI single with 2 out for a 3-2 victory.
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42. Decked out in gold shoes for the All-Star Game on July 16, Andrew McCutchen, pinch running in bottom of the 4th, steals 2nd base, beating the tag by Orioles SS J.J. Hardy. Making his 3rd straight All-Star appearance, McCutchen was stranded after this SB then struck out in 6th and 9th innings in his two at bats as the National League lost to the American League 3-0.
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43. I've watched a lot of Andrew McCutchen's games during his 5 seasons in MLB; but I don't think I've ever been more disappointed with him than I was here at Wrigley Field on June 9. With Pirates trailing 4-1 in top of 9th inning, McCutchen is tagged out by Cubs SS Starlin Castro (photo on left) while trying to steal 2nd base. You know, if had been the 8th inning, I would have been OK with it. But when it's the 9th inning and you're down 3 and it's your last chance, you need baserunners. In this situation you've got no business trying to steal a base. It doesn't do any good. To get thrown out is unacceptable and inexcusable. And I think Andrew realized his mistake (photo on right) as he heads back to the dugout. Pirates went on to lose 4-1.
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McCutchen did not win his 2nd consecutive Gold Glove award in 2013. He made too many errors - 6 (after committing only 1 in 2012). But he still made several outstanding, highlight reel catches throughout the season. Let's take a look at a few of them.

44. Andrew McCutchen slides and makes the catch of a hard line drive off the bat of Reds 2B Brandon Phillips for the 1st out of 7th inning on Apr. 14 then throws to double the runner off 1st base for the 2nd out: http://m.mlb.com/video/v26280867/cinpit-cutch-slides-for-spectacular-catch-in-center/?c_id=mlb
The play kept the score at 5-0 and changed the momentum of the game, as this was the game where the Pirates came back to win 10-7.
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45. In the waning sunlight in deep center field during 1st inning on May 16, Andrew McCutchen races back to the wall in pursuit of a drive by Brewers LF Ryan Braun. Cutch leaps and .....
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46. ..... makes the catch and ......
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47. ..... hangs on for the out despite crashing into the wall. Andrew was not able to get the double play this time but nevertheless it made the 1st inning a lot easier for P Francisco Liriano: http://m.mlb.com/video/v27172979/milpit-mccutchen-robs-braun-with-great-leaping-grab/?c_id=mlb ..... At the plate McCutchen went 2 for 5, including an RBI single during a 4-run rally in the 6th as Pirates rolled to a 7-1 victory.
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48. On June 28 it was P Gerrit Cole's turn to benefit from a great catch by McCutchen, as he turns on the jets to run down a liner by Brewers SS Jean Segura during top of 2nd: http://m.mlb.com/video/v28413355/milpit-mccutchen-makes-a-great-sliding-grab/?c_id=mlb ..... Once again, the catch kept the Pirates from falling farther behind and turned out to be a momentum changer. Pirates responded immediately, scoring 7 in bottom of the 2nd and rolling to a 10-3 victory. Cutch had an RBI single, RBI double, and solo HR in the game as Pirates their 7th straight, eventually ending June on a 9-game winning streak. 
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49. Andrew McCutchen gets back on his feet after making a spectacular catch to rob Cardinals RF Carlos Beltran then throws to 1st for a double play, getting P A.J. Burnett get out of a jam during 1st inning of a big doubleheader on July 30: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/11493214/v29266101/must-c-catch-cutchs-diving-catch-starts-double-play/?c_id=mlb ..... Andrew should have slapped Burnett with a pie in the face after that one. McCutchen would end up going 3 for 9 in the doubleheader, including a 2-run homer in the 2nd game, as Pirates won both games, 2-1 and 6-0. Pirates took 4 out of 5 in the big series against the Cardinals to go from a game and a half behind to a game and a half in front in the NL Central.
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50. One more time it's Andrew McCutchen to the rescue, hanging on to the ball after making a diving catch of a liner by Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria with 2 on during top of 7th on Aug. 6: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/11493214/v29485033/must-c-catch-mccutchen-keeps-bucs-tied-on-catch/?c_id=mlb ..... That one kept the game tied at 3. McCutchen also had a 2-run double and scored in the 3rd, and Pirates won 4-3 on a Josh Harrison home run in the 9th to improve their record to 68-44. 
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51. Andrew McCutchen slides into 3rd with his 2nd triple of the season, arriving just ahead of the throw to 3B Placido Polanco during top of the 8th at Miami on July 27 - much to the delight of family and friends in attendance: http://m.mlb.com/video/v29206295/pitmia-mccutchen-triples-with-family-in-attendance/?c_id=mlb ..... Four pitches later Cutch came in to score the final run of the game on a Pedro Alvarez RBI single, finishing 2 for 4 in a 7-4 victory.
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52. Andrew McCutchen slides home on an RBI single by C Russell Martin, tying the game against the Phillies at 1 during bottom of 5th on July 3. McCutchen reached base all 5 times he was up - 2 singles, 2 walks, and a triple - and scored twice in Pirates' 6-5 victory.  
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McCutchen's final stats for the season would have included one more triple - and one less double - had he not fallen down on this play at Cincinnati on July 20.

53. After driving the ball to the wall in right center field during top of 7th, Andrew was on his way to an easy triple until he suddenly stumbled and fell about halfway between 2nd and 3rd .....
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54. ..... With McCutchen down and just starting to get back on his feet, SS Zack Cozart alerts 2B Brandon Phillips to get the throw in quickly .....
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55. ..... McCutchen tries to get back to 2nd base but instead is caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out by 1B Joey Votto: http://m.mlb.com/video/v28976899/pitcin-reds-throw-out-mccutchen-after-he-falls/?c_id=mlb ..... Andrew went 4 for 5 in the game, including a HR, but Pirates lost 5-4.
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56. With Pirates trailing the Rockies 10-1 during top of 8th inning on Aug. 9, Andrew McCutchen gets a chance to kick back in the dugout and unleash his dreads. Rockies scored 4 in the 1st and 5 in the 2nd, so manager Clint Hurdle decided it would be a good time to give Cutch some rest.
If you like, you can click on the link below to see McCutchen's dreads unleashed in a video from earlier in the season of his visit to a NYC barber shop, thankfully not to cut off his dreads.
http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/17160334/v27171711/mccutchen-gives-fan-a-surprise-haircut/?c_id=mlb
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57. After reaching 3rd base on a triple with 1 out during top of 9th on Sept. 9, Andrew McCutchen is tagged out at home by Rangers C Geovany Soto while trying to score on a grounder by 1B Justin Morneau, keeping the Pirates lead at 1-0. Pirates held on for the 1-0 victory to improve their record to 82-61 and finally (!!) clinch their first winning season after 20 consecutive losing seasons.
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58. Andrew McCutchen is fired up as he returns to the dugout after following a home run by 2B Neil Walker with a home run of his own, giving Pirates a 2-0 lead during top of 3rd at Cincinnati on Sept. 28. Reds rallied to take a 3-2 lead before Pirates pulled away for an 8-3 victory to give them a 3-game lead over the Reds with 1 to play, clinching home field advantage for the Wild Card playoff game between the two teams.
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59. Three days later, in that playoff game between the two teams, Andrew McCutchen, after leading off bottom of 3rd with an infield single, comes in to score later in the inning on a sac fly by 3B Pedro Alvarez, upping Pittsburgh's lead to 3-0. A more than capacity crowd of 40,487 was on hand for the Pirates' first postseason game in 21 years and watched McCutchen reach base 4 times (2 singles and 2 walks) while thoroughly enjoying a 6-2 victory that advanced Pirates to the NLDS against St. Louis.
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60. Andrew McCutchen meets the wall in center field at Busch Stadium while trying to catch a drive that went for a double by 1B Matt Adams during bottom of 9th in Game 2 of the NLDS on Oct. 4. There was no harm done though, neither to McCutchen, who stayed in the game, nor the Pirates, who already had a comfortable 7-1 lead and held on to win 7-1 and even the series at 1.
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61. Andrew McCutchen pops out to 2B with a runner on 1st during bottom of 9th on Oct. 7 for the final out of Game 4. Leading the best-of-five series 2-1 and trying to wrap it up at home, Pirates got just 1 hit in a disappointing 2-1 defeat that tied the series at 2 and sent it back to St. Louis for Game 5.
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62. The end is near, as Andrew McCutchen and teammates look on from the dugout with the Pirates trailing the Cardinals late in Game 5 on Oct. 9. The Pirates' offense did manage 8 hits in the game but scored only 1 run in a season-ending 6-1 loss to the Cardinals. McCutchen went 0 for 4 in both Games 4 and 5, a quiet end to another fantastic season. Andrew 'celebrated' his 27th birthday the day after the season ended, so he still has yet to play a game on his birthday (which has to be a goal of his). But this was as close as he's ever gotten, and I got to believe it's eventually going to happen (but probably not this year).
McCutchen had 10 fewer home runs and 12 fewer than in 2012, but his final numbers for the season were still very strong: 157 games, .317 BA (185 for 583), .404 OBA, 97 runs, 38 doubles, 5 triples, 21 HR, 84 RBI, 78 walks, 9 HBP, 101 strikeouts, 27 SB, and 10 CS. Yes, there were players with better numbers than those; but I think it was the combination of his offense and defense and that he came up big in so many key situations that convinced the voters to vote him in as the NL MVP for 2013 - and an almost unanimous selection, at that: http://m.mlb.com/video/v31221837/mccutchen-talks-about-winning-the-nl-mvp/?c_id=mlb
At age 27, McCutchen should still be able to improve even more in the seasons ahead. But as well as he's played these last two seasons, you wonder how much more he can do?
In the first month of 2014 Andrew has walked 24 times so far (3rd most in MLB), indicating the opponents are going to make somebody else in the Pirates lineup beat them; and so far the strategy has worked - the Pirates are currently 11-18. But it's a long season, and hopefully they'll pick up their pace soon. But whether the Pirates make a return trip to the playoffs or not, I'll be watching McCutchen as often as possible again this season. More often than not, he gives me something to cheer about every day.
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When 2013 began Los Angeles Dodgers Hanley Ramirez didn't have dreads, having cut off the dreads he was sporting in the Caribbean Series in February before coming to spring training. But as the season moved along you could notice his hair getting longer. Then near the end of June he started wearing a skull cap. But still no dreads. And I was like, "What's he waiting for?" Well, it turned out he was waiting for the Dodgers trip to Miami.

63. With his hair twisted into baby dreads you can't get a good look at because he has a stocking cap over them, Hanley Ramirez smiles during warmups before the game (left photo) on Aug. 20 and during the game, congratulating RF Yasiel Puig (right photo) after his solo HR put the Dodgers up 5-4 in top of the 8th, the game wining hit in their 6-4 victory. When I saw Hanley looking like this, I was like, "Of course. He just wanted to stick it to the Marlins one last time." As you probably know (and do know if you read my "Here's Hanley" post back in February last year), Ramirez was an outstanding player for the Marlins in his first three seasons; but things started going south in 2009 when the team told him he couldn't have his hair in dreads. You know, if the Marlins hadn't made that decision, I bet he'd still be with them today. But that was their decision, and hopefully Hanley will make them pay for it for the rest of time.  
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64. Here's a better look at Hanley Ramirez's dreads (left photo) as he gets the day off on Aug. 22. After the series at Miami, Hanley kept the dreads for only a couple more days before reverting back to his short afro. Then after several changes in style during the offseason, he brought back the dreads before coming to spring training, showing them off (right photo) after hitting one of his 2 home runs in a preseason game against the Angels on Mar. 27. Hanley has changed his hair so many times over the years that I doubt he'll keep the dreads for long. Hopefully I'll be wrong, but I'm just going to enjoy them for as long as he does keep them. 
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65. In addition to Ramirez, we're also welcoming to the house Tampa Bay Rays P Juan Carlos Oviedo, the pitcher formerly known as Leo Nunez. Also free to grow his hair after escaping the Marlins following 2011, Oviedo missed the last two seasons while recovering from surgery on his elbow and recently made his debut with the Rays, here showing off the dreads before pitching against the White Sox on Apr. 26. Now 32 years old, Oviedo so far is being used as a late-inning reliever, as he's already appeared in 6 games since his debut on Apr. 24.
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With all the comings and goings, it's been hard to keep track. But the end result is that as of right now, there are 8 players with dreads in MLB: four pitchers (Oviedo, Edwin Jackson, Ervin Santana, and Johnny Cueto) along with four position players (Andrew McCutchen,. Hanley Ramirez, Rickie Weeks, and Cameron Maybin). Good luck to them all in 2014. Hope to see some of you in the playoffs.