Apologies

Woo Hoo. UK won! My head hurts.

Sorry I haven't done much blogging the past couple of days. I decided to have a social life last night, and today, I went all the way back to Louisville for the UofL-UK football game (Go Big Blue!). Therefore, I really haven't been able to do anything here. However, never fear. I shall return tomorrow with some nice installments in the Braves Series and whatever else I can find to blog about. Yet, I have a massive headache from sitting out in the sun all day, so I won't do anything tonight. Please come back tomorrow.

Also, I placed a site meter to the right just to see how many people show up to read through. I was happy to see a much larger number than expected. Anyway, leave a reMark and introduce yourself. One of the main reasons I do this is to meet and talk baseball with other people, so please feel free to argue/agree/discuss my blog topics. Again, thanks for stopping by, and I promise to be back at it tomorrow.

Ocho Cinco

Carson Palmer won't be able to do this anymore, I guess?

I promise not to rant too much about football, but this is just dumb. Chad Johnson, the wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, legally changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco. Wow. Why the hell would you do that? Does he even know any Spanish? Is this just a bastardization of a language because Johnson thinks he's special? I've given him the benefit of the doubt over the summer over his issues with the team, but this just takes the cake. I know he put it on his uniform a couple years ago, and for all I care, it can remain a nickname. But this is ridiculous.

So, when does Jonathan Papelbon legally change his name to Cinco Ocho? See I had a baseball connection. And you doubted me.

Chris Dickerson

You can see how highly the Reds viewed him in Spring Training.

Since joining the Reds a few weeks ago as a result of the Adam Dunn trade, Chris Dickerson has been a man on fire. In 15 games, he's hit .328/.406/.672 with 4 HR and 7 2B. In the meantime, Adam has hit .294/.493/.490 with 2 HR and 4 2B. It seems the trade is working out pretty well so far for the Reds. Huh, what's that? Small sample size? Yeah, I know. It's just nice seeing a guy who played in Louisville doing a good job in the major leagues. By the end of the year, Dickerson will be hitting something closer to .289/.373/.504. Still, I like him and think he can stick in the majors for a few years, but the question becomes whether or not the Reds keep him there. We'll see. Anyway, I figured no one really pays attention to the Reds, so I figured I would share a Reds story that doesn't include failure.

Count This Among Things You'll Never Hear Again

Maybe not but still.

After Josh Beckett went to Dr. Death, Terrry Francona described the visit as "awesome". I think most people use the word "cr*ppy", "sh*tty", and "horrible". Instead of ordering a Tommy John surgery, Dr. Andrews just ordered some rest and to begin throwing again soon. This is huge for the Red Sox. Without him, they get to the playoffs. With him healthy for September and October, the Red Sox still get in to the playoffs, but they become a favorite for the World Series yet again. The offense seems to be okay, but the rotation is in a constant state of flux. A 1-2 punch of Matzusaka and Lester is pretty damn good, but adding Beckett to that makes a huge difference. You have to think of it in terms of who he'd be replacing, and he's replacing starts by Byrd or Wakefield in the playoffs. You need three good pitchers to get you through the playoffs, and without Beckett, they wouldn't have that prereq. This is great news for Red Sox Nation.

Also, does it seem Dr. Andrews is getting much more publicity this year? Maybe not, but it seems as though ESPN and others are talking about him more often.

The Future of the Braves (Second Baseman Edition)

Don't expect Kelly in a Braves uni next season.

Sorry, I went to see Office Space last night, so I didn't post about the second baseman. Therefore, I'll do the second basemen now and the shortstops later tonight. Sound fair enough? Good. Anyway, this spot in the Braves organization is a bit different from most spots in that most of the decent players are close or are in the majors.

As of now, Kelly Johnson is the second baseman, but there are rumors about him being traded this offseason (I do believe I called this a long time ago). After last season's .276/.375/.457, Johnson seemed headed for stardom (okay, maybe just a solid, above-average major leaguer), but he's dipped this season to .264/.334/.405. The plus? He has more stolen bases and doubles. Defensively, he's pretty much a mess. He's made 11 errors, and he made 14 last season. He's on pace for 13, and that's not good for a second baseman. Still, a team trading for him will see the offensive potential that Johnson (who will only be 27 next season) has and the three years of control. He likely won't bring much back, but a decent starting pitcher or offensive player who has fallen a bit could be traded for Johnson. The Braves don't necessarily have to use free-agency to help themselves, and Johnson is trade bait #1.

The next two guys who could step in are in the majors in Omar Infante and Martin Prado. Infante has hit .306/.355/.451 this season with 19 doubles, and he does have some power potential given some playing time (16 HR in 2004 in 142 games). Right now, he's being used as a super-utility player, and because of his versatility, I expect that's where he'll stay (personally, I like him in that spot continuously moving around giving guys, especially Chipper, a day off while contributing offensively). I think, but am not sure, that next year is his last for arbitration, so he'll be around for one more year. After that, the Braves will have to look into making him the starter or just letting him go. I see him being let go.

The next guy is Martin Prado, who really has impressed the Braves this season. He's hit .333/.384/.500 in 54 games. While he's not that good, he still has done very well in his time in Atlanta this season. At age 24, he might be the best option to replace Kelly, but he might be a sleeper pick for a trade considering a team might want to take a chance on him at his age and affordability. The big problem is his 3 errors in 15 games at 2B, but I wouldn't give that too much credence considering he gets moved around a lot. It might be hard for him to continually adjust. I bet he'll be the Braves starter for the next few seasons unless ...

The Braves opt for Brent Lillibridge here. He's really slumped this year in Richmond with a .220/.286/.341 line, but his previous seasons indicate a much better offensive player. The other thing I like about him is his speed (22 SB with 42 and 53 in previous seasons). At age 24, he and Prado are similar in youth and affordability (Lillibridge will be under control for one more season I think), but Lillibridge has the same offensive potential while having much more speed. The thing is that Lillibridge is a shortstop, so he would have to switch positions. I think this would be okay considering shortstop is much more difficult than second. He's my pick to start at second next season based on his speed and similar offense to Prado. If he's not the Braves' pick, he might be traded as well this winter.

Diory Hernandez is another guy in Richmond that could plausibly be Johnson's replacement. He is .285/.317/.385 in Richmond with 22 2B, so he's another gap hitter. However, he's a terrible base stealer and not a good defender. He's not particularly patient at the plate either. In other words, I don't see him being the starting second baseman soon considering there are better options.

Another guy in Richmond is Ruben Gotay who previously played for the Royals and Mets. He didn't do much in Atlanta, prompting his demotion. Like Hernandez, he really doesn't scream starter at the major league level, but he could be a decent backup infielder.

At 5'9" and 175 pounds, JC Holt doesn't seem to be an everyday player, but he's been very good in Mississippi hitting .284/.351/.393 with 17 2B and 8 3B. He can steal bases as he has 22, but he gets thrown out a lot (11 times in 33 chances). With the other options ahead of him, I don't see him really getting any sort of shot, and he's 25 in AA. Next season, he'll be 26. I guess he could be a Pete Orr of sorts.

In High-A Myrtle Beach, the Braves have an interesting guy in Travis Jones who's hit .246/.361/.425 with 16 HR and 27 2B. He also has 16 SB, but he's been caught 8 times. Unfortunately, he's terrible defensively with 18 errors in 121 games, so he may not stay at second even if his offense allows him to continue on through the organization.

As I said, most of the plausible guys are at the top. If I had my way, Johnson would be traded, Lillibridge would become the everyday second baseman, and Infante would be a super-utility guy. However, my gut says Johnson is traded, Prado or Infante gets the second base job, and Lillibrdge rots in AAA again. I think Prado gets the job and keeps it for a few years, but I don't see him being too much better than league-average.

Shake and Bake

If you don't know who this is, it means your normal. If you want to be cool and not normal, watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force on Comedy Central.

Japanese pitcher Satoru Kotiyama has developed a new pitch called the shake. It is essentially a forkball without any pressure from the thumb. It comes in at 55 mph and just drops. I'm not really sure if it is really anything more than a palmball/eephus pitch, but it seems to have sharper movement. If Tim Wakefield combined his knuckleball with the shake, we could call him "Shakin' Wake". Okay, that was bad. I'm sorry. Anyway, check out the video.

*If you're interested, here is Daisuke's supposed Gyroball.

Interesting Thought

Maybe if he was still an Oriole ... Maybe.

I was reading Rob Neyer's blog about Mussina and his 20 wins. Hall of Fame stuff aside (we can b**** about that later), he notes that Mussina's last start would feasibly come at Fenway Park with 20 wins on the line. Neyer goes on to point out how it could still be possible for Mussina to get 20 wins (with which I agree), but he states how easily it could come against the Red Sox because the Red Sox may be resting their regulars for the playoffs. Who here thinks the Red Sox would start their normal lineup just to spoil a Yankee's season? Seriously, when was the last time a team just gave up a game to their bitter rival? Something tells me the Red Sox would know what was on the line, and each of those regulars would joyfully hop into the lineup to keep Mussina from getting 20 wins. It wouldn't be because Mussina is a bad guy (for the most part, I like the guy) but because he's a Yankee. Fair or not, I doubt the Red Sox give Mussina a get-out-jail-free card.

The Future of the Braves (First Baseman Edition)

I don't see Kotchman as a part of the Braves' long-long-term plans.

On to the next part of the series, and the Braves do have some interesting prospects. Unfortunately, the best of the group will be hidden away for a few years.

For now and probably the next three years, the Braves are set with Casey Kotchman, and though he's had a slow start, Braves fans shouldn't give up on him. A former first-rounder, Kotchman has had several injuries that have hampered his development, but don't be incredibly surprised if he flips the switch in the next year or two. Not known for his power, Kotchman's career high is 12 (this season), but again, this is really his second full season. At 6'3" and 210 pounds, he has the frame to hit for power, and if someone could reign in his stride, he might discover that power. Even without power, he hits for a high average and usually walks a bit as well, but he rarely strikes out. He may never hit more than 25 home runs in a season, but that would be better than what the Braves got this season. Defensively, he's one of the best, and I expect, if his power numbers go up (isn't it weird how usually you need some offense to win the Gold Glove -- ie. Adam Everett?), he could win a few Gold Gloves before he's finished. For the next three years, the Braves should have a solid, but not spectacular first baseman that has a higher batting average but lower power numbers than a regular first baseman.

In AA, the Braves have an interesting player in Kala Ka'aihue. While he only has 13 home runs this season, he has power potential, especially considering his 6'2", 230 pound frame. At 23, he is still young, and he may get promoted to AAA next season. In Mississippi, he hit .269/.412/.448 with 22 2B, 58 RBI, and 84 BB, but he does have 116 K in 122 games. In other words, he could be another Adam Dunn, or he could be Russell Branyan. Personally, I'd be okay with an Adam Dunn. The trick will be his adjustment to AAA pitching next season. If he does well, the Braves could use Kotchman's value (being affordable for 2+ years) to bring back much needed pitching, outfield power, or middle infielders (I'll get to that later). While he has been slow to adjust when switching levels, he has made the adjustments.

In A ball, the Braves have a few good options. One, as mentioned yesterday, could be Tyler Flowers, but he's more valuable as a catcher, and with the limited options there, the Braves will keep him there to give him more playing time. However, also in Myrtle Beach is Ernesto Mejia. He's having a breakout season hitting .270/.319/.501, which demonstrates his power but also a lack of plate discipline. He has 20 HR and 46 2B (46!), but he also has 135 K in 127 games. That type of lack of contact is a bit worrisome, but he could develop that ability as he progresses, similar to Carlos Delgado who dramatically decreased his strikeout totals during his minor league career. The real drag with Mejia, though, is his 23 errors. Ouch, that's terrible for a first baseman, but I don't see too many people complaining about Ryan Howard. He could also feasibly learn to play better defensively, although any dreams of Gold Gloves are way out of reach.

One level down in Rome, Freddy Freeman seems to be the brightest star of all. He's hit .318/.378/.525 with 18 HR, 95 RBI, 33 2B, 7 3B, and 70 R. He has 83 K in 128 games, but that's not too bad. One would like to see a bit better plate discipline, but he is only 18. He has plenty of time to learn a little more plate discipline, and some defense (14 errors for a .988 F% -- not bad but not good either). However, he and Jason Heyward may be a 3-4 combo in the making for the Braves. It's just too bad they'll have to wait ... oh, 3 more years (2 if they rush them) for that to even start.

Overall, the Braves do have some decent prospects, but Freeman may be the only impact bat in the group, and he's a few years away. Ultimately, I see Kotchman playing out the next three years in Atlanta (maybe less if Ka'aihue or Mejia progress) and then being waved good-bye as the Freeman-Heyward Era begins in earnest.

Joba Coming Back to Pen

At least, he won't have to deal with this again.

When Joba comes off the DL next week, it is expected that he will be coming out of the pen. Is this a good or bad idea? Let's think. On a positive note, it saves his arm after such an injury, especially with the Yankees essentially out of contention. There seems to be no reason to push him back out there for no reason. He's the ace of the future, and he could get hurt if he's pushed back into starting so quickly. Too bad that it'll cost him the any chance at the Rookie of the Year Award.

On the flip side, if he's not healthy enough to return to the rotation, he probably should just be shut down. He may only get about 15-20 innings over the next month, which wouldn't be a whole lot, and he could just throw simulated games instead.

Also, he's only up to 89 IP for the season, and if you want to use the no more than 30 IP more than last season rule, then he shouldn't throw more than 120-130 next year (150 if he pitches from the bullpen in September). If you don't think that matters because he was a starter in the minors, than he only threw 106 the year before. Not pushing him to throw the 40 innings he could throw in September may not be a good thing. If he did, than he could throw around 160-170 innings next season. If they really want to count on him next season, they may want that total higher.

It depends on how you want to look at it. He could get hurt either way, but the bullpen would put less stress on his arm. These are the things that drive GM's crazy, and get them fired.

Quick Question

Does anyone know how to create a list to the right? I would like to make some things easier to find/organize. For instance, how would I create a link to the right that would be entitled "Future of the Braves" and have all the articles pertaining to it appear when you clicked on the link? Each article would then show up. I know how to create a list, but then you'd have to go click on each one. I would like to make it easier. If anyone knows, please email me or leave a comment. I consider myself fairly computer literate, but this is a bit advanced for me.

The Future of the Braves (Catcher Edition)

He really should get more kudos than he does.

I did a post a week or two ago about the future of the Braves, but I figured I would take a more in-depth look at who's on the team, who's in the farm system, and how the Braves look overall heading into the future. I can't help but look to the future because the present is so depressing. In order to serve my own curiosity, I'm beginning this series to take a look at the Braves. Each day, I'll post about a new position, and at the end, I may or may not give a total view (knowing me, I probably will). It should be fun. Anyway, if someone wants me to look into their team, I am fully up for it, but I don't know who wants to see about whom so leave a reMark. On to the catchers.

This is probably one of the brightest places in the organization, even with the losses of Max Ramirez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the Rangers. First and foremost is Brian McCann. How can you not love him? His numbers this season are .295/.369/.526 with 21 HR, 72 RBI, 32 2B, his first career triple, 55 R, and just six more strikeouts than walks. That's pretty incredible. He may (is) the best offensive catcher in the game. His weakness is defense. He's middle of the pack in passed balls, so he's a decent receiver. He calls games well as the Braves pitchers haven't been as terrible as they should be (although that's becoming an issue as well, but I call that mailing it in). The real weakness lies in his 7 errors and 23% CS. His arm just doesn't work as well. Yet, he's becoming a leader for this team, and he's definitely the future face of the franchise. Absolutely nothing to worry about here.

His backup for the next few seasons will be Clint Sammons, who at age 25, should be able to be a capable backup for many seasons, and there's an outside shot he could be more than that (leading to a possible trade, but it's too early and speculative to think about that). He's not great at anything, but that's why he's not the starter. However, he's more capable than say ... Corky Miller, especially at the plate (although Sammons is no Johnny Bench). Again, he's a capable backup, and with McCann, that's all he really needs to be.

The next line of plausible help (Jose Camarena and Ray Serrano are probably lifers in the minor league system) is a bit further down the chain. The main guy is Tyler Flowers. He impressed during his time in Spring Training with his tape-measure power, and he's done well in advanced-A Myrtle Beach with a .285/.427/.485 line with 16 HR, 82 RBI, 29 2B, 65 R, and 96 BB (albeit with 98 K). He's very good with the stick, but the big question comes defensively. For his first two professional seasons, he was mainly a first baseman who occasionally caught. Now, he's a full-time catcher. How will he develop? Can he handle calling games? That's to be decided, but no doubt, his future is bright. I'm not sure where he'll end up. He could be a catcher, but he could be blocked. He could be a first baseman, which seems the most plausible considering Kotchman, but Freddy Freeman is only a step below him and 3 years younger. He could also end up like Salty and get traded.

Catcher is not as deep as it once was, but with McCann, it doesn't have to be deep. Tyler Flowers can continue to develop without feeling hurried. If something (God forbid) happens to McCann, Flowers will be in AA next year, and we all know how well the last catcher who came up from AA did. I feel very good about this position, and I think Flowers may be cracking a few top prospect lists this year.

Odd Man Out in Angels Rotation

I believe. I BE-LIE-VE.

There have been debates as to whom will start in the postseason for the Angels. Their rotation is one of the best in baseball with Lackey, Saunders, Santana, Weaver, and Garland, and having this problem is a good thing. Who do I get to start? Let's take a look.

John Lackey
19 starts, 137.1 IP (7.1 IP/start), 11-2, 2.95 ERA, 104 K, 31 BB, 1.10 WHIP

Joe Saunders
25 starts, 163 IP (6.2 IP/start), 14-6, 3.37 ERA, 78 K, 46 BB, 1.21 WHIP

Ervin Santana
26 starts, 176.2 IP (6.2 IP/start), 13-5, 3.41 ERA, 176 K, 42 BB, 1.13 WHIP

Jered Weaver
26 starts, 154 IP (6 IP/start), 10-10, 4.38 ERA, 127 K, 46 BB, 1.27 WHIP

Jon Garland
26 starts, 162.1 IP (6.1 IP/start), 11-8, 4.49 ERA, 72 K, 49 BB, 1.47 WHIP

To me, it seems as though Lackey and Santana have to be in due to their great ERA's and low WHIP's. Should Saunders be in due to his low ERA, even though his WHIP is similar to Weaver's? Let's look a bit further between those two. Their HR totals are similar (Sanders 18- Weaver 20) and their hit given up are almost identical as well (151-150). What's not similar? Their K/9 rates (4.31-7.42). This tells me that either Saunders has been incredibly lucky or Weaver has been incredibly unlucky. Weaver isn't necessarily getting hit harder, but runs seem to score against him. Is it a matter of Saunders buckling down better? Also, Weaver, although 2 years younger, has 15 more starts in his career. I think I'd take Weaver in the playoffs where his K rate is higher at a time where power arms seem at an advantage. Weaver is also a run and a half better since the break where Saunders is a half run worse. Small sample size? Probably, but Saunders may be wearing down (although still very effective). To me Garland really doesn't belong. He isn't that great of a pitcher, and his WHIP is much higher than the others. I guess this really wasn't as hard as I thought.

However, think about this. Saunders has no playoff experience, but Garland has a 2.25 ERA in 16 IP (8/start) in the playoffs. Weaver has one game under his belt. Also, would Garland be a good reliever. His low K rate says he wouldn't be a back of the bullpen guy, so he would have to be a long-reliever, which might be useful. However, you're probably almost out of the game at that point. Garland may be better served in the starting rotation, and Weaver could pitch the 6-7th innings and use his strikeouts to a better advantage. Furthermore, this could serve as an innings limit for Weaver, who is almost to his career-high in innings with a month left, while still putting him in game-changing situations. You may not want Garland there. I like Saunders in the rotation to split things up with the lefty. That way, no one can get on a roll always facing righties. Splitting up makes the hitter change things a bit, and some platoon situations would then come in effect. With Weaver and Garland's ERA's similar, they may not be worse or better than the other, and putting Weaver in the bullpen makes some sense.

Either way, the Angels will be fine. However, I'd go Lackey, Santana, Saunders, Garland, and repeat. Maybe Lackey and Santana should pitch twice in the Division Series. Then, bring in Weaver in the 6th, 7th, or 8th innings to team up with Arredondo, Shields, and K-Rod.

Braves Rally to Win

I haven't seen this in awhile, and it may be awhile until I see it again.

Normally, I wouldn't write about a specific game, but last night's game was so unusual that I had to. First, it was a one-run win (9-8). Second, they came back from two four-run deficits (6-2, 8-4), and with how much offense they haven't had, that was huge. Third, Francoeur had two hits and two RBI's (now, if he had just done this all year ... okay, enough with the ifs). Fourth, Jair Jurrjens pitched a bad game. Fifth, Jurrjens had pitched well lately but still lost, but tonight (probably his worst of the year), he gets the no-decision. Sixth, McCann wasn't in the lineup to help with the offensive outburst.

It's nice to see the Braves haven't completely given up. This gives Bobby a brief reprieve from my "Sh*t List", but it won't take long for him to get back on. If he wasn't Bobby Cox, would he be fired by now?

Also, Kotchman wasn't in the lineup again. He's on the bereavement list due to his mother's illness, and it makes me wonder if he shouldn't just stop for the year because I wonder if he'll be too distraught to play well. If so, playing badly would just make things worse, wouldn't it?

Which of the In-Contention Teams Has the Best Offense?

There should be more celebrations in Chicago by the end of October.

In the third part of this three-part series (I defined it ... so there), I'm going to look at the contenders' offenses and then say who the best team is overall after looking at them (I have a feeling that I'll be disgusted with who I choose).

Mets
Surprisingly, the Mets have more runs than the Phillies, but I think that has more to do with how bad the Phillies have played lately. It all starts at the top with Jose Reyes, who is quietly having a very good year, and without him, the Mets would sink. After him, David Wright, Carlos Delgado, and Carlos Beltran are also having outstanding years, although again most don't realize it. Isn't it weird how people forget about the Mets but never the Yankees? You know you're the red-headed step-child when ... Anyway, if not for the injuries to Castillo, Alou (although Murhpy is doing surprisingly well, but he can't keep it up, can he?), and Church, the Mets may have the best lineup in baseball. Too bad, those injuries exist, and the Mets don't have the best lineup. Good enough to win? Sure, but not the best.

Phillies
This should be the best in baseball, but for some reason, they refuse to allow themselves to be that good. Rollins, after his MVP season, has been a disappointment, but with his 8 hits in his last 8 at bats, he could be coming out of it at the right time. Further down, what happened to Utley in the second-half (his SLG dropped 100 points)? What happened to Howard (awful BA)? Burrell (see Utley)? Otherwise, they've gotten fairly solid, but not spectacular, performances from Feliz, Dobbs, and Werth. They should be really good, but they just haven't been.

Marlins
How would you like to have Uggla and Ramirez? I would too, just not the second-half versions. Uggla has been extremely disappointing since his great start, and Ramirez has settled down as well. Luckily, they have Jorge Cantu (really?) to save them. Hermida and Jacobs have been your run of the mill power guys (not TTO considering Jacobs can't take a walk). Otherwise, there isn't too much to be afraid of, and no one is hitting over .300 (Ramirez is close at .296). It's not a bad lineup, but they could use a few more bats (maybe Manny? Oh wait, they passed on him).

Cubs
Again, the Cubs might have the best in the category with their offense. Now, they are the best lineup run-wise among contenders (the Rangers are the best in the majors), and they're patient (1st in OBP). The Riot has been great (albeit with little pop). The middle of the order sees Lee, Ramirez, and Soto who are having very good seasons. Add in Fukudome (who has struggled recently) and DeRosa, and the Cubs have depth in the lineup. Edmonds and Johnson haven't been a bad platoon either. Just a tough team all around.

Brewers
Another team that should be better. Having a young lineup full of Braun, Fielder, Hart, and Hardy should score tons of runs, but they really haven't. Maybe Bill Hall's dismal performance (having Russell Branyan splitting time is never a good thing) hurt it. Mike Cameron has been decent. Oh that's right, Jason Kendall is still the catcher. Then again, few teams have good hitting catchers. Rickie Weeks really hasn't helped either. Still, this wouldn't be a fun lineup to face.

Cardinals
How the hell does St. Louis keep doing this? LaRussa makes me wonder if Bobby Cox is off his rocker (that debate is for another day ... but soon) because he just keeps it going no matter how bad things look. We all knew Pujols would be great. But Ludwick? Ankiel (he's a good hitter, but did we really expect him to be this good?)? Molina (not just a defensive whiz anymore)? Schumaker? This all forgets the reclamation project of Troy Glaus. I figured the Rolen-Glaus trade was a bad one for the Jays, but I didn't figure it would be this lop-sided. To think the Cards would score more runs than the Phillies was unimaginable at the beginning of the season, but here we are.

Diamondbacks
This is what happens with young lineups: inconsistency. Losing Hudson really doesn't help as Ojeda/Burke is no way to replace Hudson. Adding Dunn is a nice touch, but he doesn't make them that much better. Drew and Jackson seem to have figured it out, but Young, Upton, Snyder, and Reynolds are all pretty hit-or-miss (literally and figuratively). Tracy and Clark help but not that much. Good thing they have a pretty good pitching staff.

Dodgers
Adding Manny was a great step for the Dodgers, but as we've seen lately, he can't hold them up forever. Kemp, Loney, Martin, Either and Kent have all been solid but not impact bats in that lineup (it makes you wonder if the young guys will ever be). This team really needs Furcal. I mean really needs Furcal. They could also use the 2005/2006 version of Andruw Jones. Too bad.

Rays
With Longoria, the Rays don't have much power. Without him, they have even less. Good thing Peña snapped out of his funk and has held this team up on his shoulders. This lineup isn't spectacular, and without Crawford, they're even less so. So why do they keep winning? Great (and healthy) pitching. Iwamura and Bartlett have been better than I expected, but Upton has been worse. There's really no sting in those Rays, but with Longoria, it could be good enough to make a run.

Red Sox
This isn't last year's (or 2004's) Red Sox. Manny's gone. Big Papi lost his pop (due to his hand injury -- I expect he'll be okay next season). Taking up the slack is Youkilis and Bay who are doing very well (and in Youk's case MVP well). Pedroia and Ellsbury keep chugging along, and Lowrie is an upgrade over Lugo. Still, there seems to be a loss to the mystique. It's not just Manny being gone. It's Papi not hitting for power. It's Bay not being a proven clutch guy. It's Youkilis not being a big name (well ... not Manny big anyway). They just don't scare me, and they still wouldn't with Manny. Still, that lineup is still 4th in the majors in runs scored, so they must be doing it anyway. As they always do.

White Sox
They are the third best in the majors in runs scored, but is anyone sure how? Dye's had a bounce-back year. Quentin may well win the MVP. Ramirez continually makes a case for the ROY Award. Pierzynski has been solid (great for a catcher). Thome's been Thome. Too bad Konerko and Swisher really haven't been their old selves (albeit both have drawn plenty of walks), or this team would be just plain lethal. Cabrera and Griffey have been decent, but they don't scare anyone. Still, overall, this offense has plenty of pop and the experience to win in October.

Twins
Again, how are they doing this? Guess where they stand. 30th? 20th? 10th? Try 6th in the majors in runs scored. Pretty impressive for a team that no one thought could hit. Mauer and Morneau have been their typical outstanding selves. Denard Span has come on strong. Casilla and Buscher have done well in limited opportunities. Young hasn't been impressive. Yet, they continue to hit, but somehow, come October, they'll be an early exit, if they make it.

Angels
Adding Teixeira should have made this team the best in the majors, but has he? Has he affected the lineup that much? In August, they're 19th in the majors in runs scored. They're 18th overall. That's not a real impact. Still, they have Teixeira, Vlad, Torii, and Kendrick. Figgins is a nice spark plug, and Anderson has been pretty good. Not a bad lineup, but I don't think it's the best. Also, if they keep mailing it in, they might forget how to hit come October, just in time for Boston to knock them back out ... again.

So who's the best offense? I'm afraid I'll have to give it to the Cubs. They're statistically the best of the contenders, and they're healthy. You really can't make much of a case against them except that Fukudome has slumped lately. Still, they have the experience, patience, and power to succeed. The Phillies, Red Sox, White Sox, and Angels all fall in behind them and can make runs in the playoffs. The Rays really should have added Bay. With him, they'd be really good. With Crawford and Bay, they'd be close to the best.

So who's the best team? It's hard to argue against the Cubs (damn, I hate saying it). They have one of the top two or three starting staffs, the second-best bullpen, and the best offense. The Angels are close, but I think the Cubs' offense is much better even though the pitching is similar. The Rays are good, but again, the Cubs have a much better offense. The Red Sox are good, but the pitching is much better (at least healthier) in the pitching department and a little better offensively (just a smidge better if Big Papi gets his pop back). The sleeper team is the White Sox. I think they have a top 3 rotation, bullpen, and offense.

World Series according to themarksmith? Cubs v. White Sox (how cool would this be? Think someone would watch that World Series?) with the Cubs winning in 5. Now, I'm going to wash out my mouth with soap.

Glavine Pain-Free, Uncertain about Future

On the way back from Dr. Andrews. Wait a minute. Is that a Mets bag? You traitor! No wonder everything has gone with you this season. You're double-dipping. Benedict Arnold.

It could be because of the anesthetics and painkillers. Just sayin'.

Fuentes Placed on Waivers

Something about that looks unnatural.

So, the Rockies finally figured out what we all knew all along: they aren't going to make the playoffs. They placed Brian Fuentes and Willy Taveras on waivers, and my guess is that they intend to trade them. However, the Rockies may not because teams may not want to trade two minor leaguers or more to get a reliever they'll use for a month. As for Taveras, I don't know if anyone will give up more than a mid-level prospect for Taveras considering his numbers. Regardless, if they hadn't been too damned stubborn a month ago, they might have actually gotten enough in return to make it all worth while. Instead, they stuck around. It bothers me when teams don't realize how out of it they are. Twenty-one game winning streaks don't happen every year. That's why we call them miracles. Next year, give up and get the prospects if that's what you want. Don't wait. It only costs you.

Which of the In-Contention Teams Has the Best Bullpen?

Lowe feels better about doing this knowing his bullpen is themarksmith's favorite.

In the second part of an undefined-part series, I'll take a look at the bullpens of each team still in contention (or at least teams I think are still in contention). Tomorrow, I'll look at each team's offense.

Mets
Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha. Sorry. They're a robust 23rd in the majors in bullpen ERA, and without Wagner, things won't get any better. They have a big series in Philadelphia starting today, and then we'll see how Heilman, Feliciano, and Ayala really react to pressure situations. Somehow, I think they'll fail, but the talent is there to surprise some people.

Phillies
An underrated bullpen that is actually quite good. As far as ERA goes, they have the best bullpen in contention for a playoff spot (the Blue Jays are the team ahead of them). With Lidge closing games, things seem to be A-okay, but if he has any Pujols nightmares, they could be in trouble. Romero has also done a nice job, but Gordon needs to rebound to be the right-handed set-up guy. If not, lineups such as the Cubs and Brewers can give them fits. Still, this bullpen is solid with Condrey, Madson, and Seanez doing well.

Marlins
Kevin Gregg's ERA is only 2.72, but he has blown 7 saves so he's a bit of a question mark. Is he going to handle the pressure of the big time? Other than Gregg, the Marlins have some nice relivers. Arthur Rhodes has done a fine job in his stint, and he has the experience. Joe Nelson may be the best reliever you haven't heard of (1.89 ERA, 45 K in 38 IP), but he doesn't have experience and is a bit wild (16 BB). Matt Lindstrom will probably be the closer next year, and this flamethrower is lethal. However, outside of that, no one is really good. But, 4 relievers is better than most.

Cubs
The Cubs may well have the nastiest last three in baseball. If they are leading after 6 innings in the playoffs, you might as well give up as you'll face Samardzija, Marmol, and Wood (1.06, 2.79, and 2.56 ERA's respectively). Add in Cotts and Gaudin, and things in the Chicago bullpen look pretty good.

Brewers
Outside Shouse and Torres, this bullpen has a lot of problems. Gagne and Riske have been disappointing, and Gagne definitely can't be trusted anymore. There are major problems in this bullpen, and it wouldn't surprise me if that's what caused this team to collapse down the stretch or in the playoffs.

Cardinals
Jason Isringhausen's injury may have been the best thing for this bullpen as the closer's job can be handed to Chris Perez, who has been pretty outstanding. Add in Springer, McClellan, and Franklin, and this bullpen seems solid. However, McClellan and Perez don't have too much experience (disclaimer: see Cards '06), and no one else really strikes fear into opposing hitters. I don't think the bullpen is as much of an issue as some make it out to be, but it's not a strength.

Diamondbacks
Juan Cruz has been solid (if somewhat erratic), but everyone else has struggled and disappointed. Lyons has been a less-than-stellar closer, and Peña really hasn't been any better. Add in that Rauch has struggled, and the bullpen is glad that Webb and Haren are so good.

Dodgers
The injury to Saito hurts this bullpen, but Broxton has pitched well as the replacement. Also, Kuo, Beimel, Wade, Park, and Stultz have been very good, and they are the reason this bullpen is third in the majors (just 9 points behind the Phillies). If Saito comes back, this is the best bullpen of the bunch, but if he's still hurt, than it's just incredibly good.

Rays
The injury to Percival doesn't seem to be too serious, and his return to the bullpen will make this bullpen stronger. With Bradford (who's been living dangerously with a 1.86 WHIP), Balfour, Howell, and Wheeler, this bullpen is already good. They're fourth in ERA, and that's a major reason this team has stayed atop in the AL East (just don't let Miller pitch against lefties -- .306/.414/.429).

Red Sox
Papelbon is an absolutely dominant closer, and Okajima, Lopez, and Masterson have all been very good. The questions appear when you get past those guys to Aardsma and Delcarmen. However, the other (with a bit more help from the starting rotation) guys should be good enough to stumble into the playoffs and hold on if Beckett and the others get their acts straight.

White Sox
The injury to Linebrink dampens the mood surrounding this bullpen, but with his bullpen sessions seeming to be okay, he could return for a playoff push. Jenks has been very good, but there are concerns with his K rate dropping rapidly to around 5 from 7.75 last season (the two previous seasons saw him above 10 per nine). Thornton and Dotel have been solid as well giving the White Sox a nice back four, and if Carrasco continues to pitch well, this really might be the best bullpen here.

Twins
The Twins bullpen is oddly average (15th in ERA in the majors), but with the addition (or re-addition) of Guardado, the bullpen just became a bit stronger and more experienced. Nathan is still the best closer in baseball even though he doesn't get the same publicity as others. Breslow and Reyes have also been very good, but this team would really like for Neshek (the most underrated set-up guy in the majors) to not be hurt. If he wasn't, this could be a really tough bullpen, but for now, they'll just have to be moderately tough.

Angels
Wow, the publicity for this bullpen. I guess it is deserved in many ways. K-Rod has really split the baseball world. Some really like him based on his save totals, and some have bashed him for getting credit for them. Honestly, he's still one of the top four or five closers in the game, but he is definitely not the best. Add in Arredondo (who most still don't know) and Shields, and the last three innings are as tough as the Cubs. Having Oliver pitching well is another plus, and combined, this bullpen is 8th in the majors. They're a bit overrated, but they're still good.

Who who's the best bullpen in the majors? I'd have to give it to the Dodgers for quantity. They have the most solid to really good arms of anyone (I'd feel better about this pick if Saito comes back healthy). However, if there was a bullpen I want nothing to do with, it's the Cubs. Samardzija, Marmol, and Wood would make me seriously pee my pants. No one wants those guys in September. The Phillies are really good, and having the second-best ERA despite the park shows how good they are. The thing is I don't trust Madson to be the right-handed set-up guy.

Are You Kidding Me?

This is what scares adults.

A nine year old throws too hard? Apparently, the kid throws 40 mph, and the youth league he plays in banned him from pitching. Banned him. He has never hit a batter, but the adults are afraid he might hurt someone. Next, someone will not let a kid play football because he's too big. Come on people, this is ridiculous. I really hope another youth league comes in and lets him play there. It has to be the adults behind this because no kid can hire a lawyer to bring this up (yes, a lawyer is involved). Sometimes, parents worry too much. I understand you don't want your kid to get hurt, but by letting him play sports, you know that can happen. The very nature of sports leads one to think a kid can get injured. Honestly, I'm more worried about the flamethrower hurting his shoulder/elbow than I am about a kid getting hit. Absolutely dumb.

The worst part? The kid feels bad because he thinks this is all his fault. I hope some people feel like crap for doing this to a kid. He feels bad! Because he throws harder than everyone else. He should be ecstatic, but because some stupid parents are afraid to let the kids play and risk something happening, he's upset and thinks he is the bad guy in all this.

RIDICULOUS!

Which of the In-Contention Teams Has the Best Rotation?

With this fight, how could you not like the Rays? Then again, trying to break someone's face with your pitching is usually not a good idea.

This is in response to the debate going on at ESPN.com. They only focus on the Rays, Angels, and Cubs, but who really has the best rotation (bullpens later!)?

Mets
Can Santana pitch every game? If so, the Mets are set, but considering that impossible, the Mets may be in trouble, especially with concerns about Maine. Pelfrey and Perez have been solid with ERA's of 3.86 and 4 respectively, but can you depend on Pelfrey's inexperience and Perez's enigmacy? I doubt it. Pedro is also back, but he's not himself (well, not his 2000 self) with a 4.97 ERA. Sketchy with the possibility of brilliance describes this staff.

Phillies
After Cole Hamels and a resurgent Moyer, the talent drops unless you believe in Myers' last few starts. Hamels is a legit no.1 and can dominate any night, but Moyer may eventually tire and Myers may return to his first-half performance. Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick are essentially the same person, and neither is the front-of-the-rotation guy the Phillies need.

Marlins
They're quickly fading, but if they can get back, their rotation may have the biggest upside (upside is such a bad word because it states that talent exists but hasn't quite arrived, and who knows when the performance will match the talent?). A potential rotation of Volstad, Johnson, Nolasco, Sanchez, and Olsen would make any GM slobber and any team tremble. Volstad, Johnson, and Nolasco are performing well, but unless the offense comes through, it won't matter. Still, if they make the playoffs, be scared ... very scared.

Cubs
Arguably the best 1-2-3 punch, Zambrano, Harden, and Dempster are high-quality guys at the front of the rotation. Zambrano's 3.29 ERA is very solid, but his K rate has dropped (albeit so has his walk rate). Harden has been spectacular as a Cub with a 1.47 ERA and an almost 13 K/9, but there are serious questions about his durability from the standpoint that he rarely gets to and exceeds 100 pitches. With their bullpen, this isn't much of a problem, but that's not the question. Dempster has been a revelation (one which I admittedly did not see coming) this season, and he may be the best of the bunch for the postseason. However, after those three, there is a hug dropoff to Marquis and Lilly who have 4.25+ ERA's.

Brewers
The 1-2 punch of Sabathia and Sheets may be the best in the game, but after them, Parra, Bush, and Suppan really aren't getting it done with ERA's over 4.15. Yet, Sheets and Sabathia are good enough to propel them through the playoffs with dominating starts, but considering last season, Brewers' fans may not want to bank on CC.

Cardinals
I don't know how they've stayed alive, but the Cards are still there. The return of Wainwright makes things better, and if Carpenter can come back for a few September starts, they might be a good 1-2 punch (just not spectacular and definitely not dependable). The best thing about the Cards' rotation is there really isn't too much of a dropoff in talent. Wellemeyer, Lohse, and Looper all sit in the 3.90's in ERA, and while they might be pitching over their heads, playing over one's head usually lasts a full season. Maybe they can do it.

Diamondbacks
Webb and Haren may be the only 1-2 duo to take down Sabathia and Sheets, but not by much. After them, everything's up in the air. Is Johnson for real, and can he hold up? Is Petit for real, or will he regress to his 2007 form? Can Davis be better than his 4.63 ERA? All legitimate questions, and all may haunt this team in the playoffs. May.

Dodgers
With Billingsley, Lowe, and Kuroda, the Dodgers have a nice 1-2-3, but it's not the Cubs'. Having Maddux and Kershaw adds depth but not the fear factor a team needs in the playoffs. Maddux could throw 65 pitches breezing through 7 innings, or he could pitch like he did the other night. Kershaw could eventually make a nice duo with Billingsley, but can you count on that now? Probably not.

Rays
Kazmir, Shields, and Garza should strike fear into a few lineups with an unknown but very good 1-2-3 (all under 3.70). Jackson has come on to being solid back of the rotation guy with a 3.93 ERA, but don't believe too much in Sonnanstine (his 13-6 record is very misleading). Still, having to face the fron four may make the most difficult matchup of anyone, and Sonnanstine can just be a long-reliever (Wade Davis or David Price fill in the fifth spot?).

Red Sox
What a mess this rotation has turned out to be. Beckett's hurt and not sure if he can pitch anymore this season. Yet, Dice-K and Lester are a formidable 1-2, and if Beckett can get healthy and figure things out, that would be the best 1-2-3 of anyone. Add in two solid vets in Byrd and Wakefield and everything might be okay. Might be. I wouldn't count on Byrd and Wakefield with my life, but throwing out Daisuke and Lester twice a series would be the best option. This really comes down to Beckett. If healthy, they might be the best, but if not, they're just ordinary, if not less so.

White Sox
Danks, Floyd, and Buerhle make up an underrated 1-2-3, but low strikeout totals make me worry about how good they really are (except for Danks). Vazquez is a great 5 to have with his strikeout totals, but the 4.37 ERA tells me when he gets hit, he gets hit hard. Overall, a very solid group, and come playoff time, they are very difficult to matchup with, especially with two lefties.

Twins
Baker, Slowey, Blackburn, and Perkins make a nice rotation, and with Liriano acting as the ace, the Twins have stayed in this race when no one thought they could. However, they don't have the big 1-2 punch, but they are solid all the way through, which is very difficult to find. If they get in the playoffs, they need someone else to step up with Liriano to make it. Yet, look out the next few years as this rotation may be extremely good (in my opinion, a chance to be the sleeper for the next Great Rotation), and cheap. Just not now.

Angels
Has anyone gushed over the Angels? I didn't think so. Lackey, Saunders, and Santana are an imposing, if not real well known, 1-2-3 punch that will knock out all comers. Weaver and Garland are good enough to be back of the rotation guys in the regular season, but will they be for the playoffs? My sense is no, but with the other three, Garland and Weaver may not be needed. However, that again is not the question.

So who is the best out of all the contenders? I'll say the Rays because I think Jackson is the best 4 of anyone else, and in series of seven games with other teams with good rotations, they do make a difference. Sonnanstine isn't great, but he's no worse than someone else's 5 guy. The Cubs and Angels also have their great rotations with 1-2-3 guys, but the other guys make me shy away from them.

However, the other team from Florida could make some serious noise come playoff time if they can find the offense to get them there. Seriously, if the Marlins scratch out a way to get past the Mets and Phillies, neither of which seems to really want to win, they may take the World Series, a la 1997 and 2003.

Fine and Dandy in Camdy

I couldn't resist a Cabrera photo with Leo Mazzone.

Okay, so that may have been my single-worst title, but give me some credit (actually don't). Anyway, Daniel Cabrera was pitching (or at least throwing a baseball towards a white plate) last night, and everyone noticed his velocity drop. Of course, speculation ensues, and Cabrera says he can't answer the question. Look on the bright side, Mike Gonzalez lost his velocity one night, and he ... oh. Well, Tim Hudson lost his velocity earlier this season, and ... oh. The truth is this really (honestly) could be a completely different situation, and there isn't any evidence that Hudson's loss of velocity earlier this season wasn't due to his stomach virus. No one really knows what is or could be wrong. Maybe nothing is wrong, but if he goes to Dr. Andrews, look out.

Andruw Jones to Play First

Too many swings like this have taken their toll.

While in AAA Las Vegas, Andruw Jones has begun to play first base, and it has been reported that he could play there in the majors. My question becomes, "Why did you not trade James Loney for Mark Teixeira?" If you're going to bench him for Andruw, then you might as well have gotten something for him. Tex probably could have played a better center field or a better left field than Manny. Hell, you could have had both Teixeira and Manny. Does any of this make sense to anyone else? Loney has hit and done much better than Andruw, and yet because they are paying Andruw $18 million next season, they are thinking about benching a good, young player for Andruw who is too stubborn to see the right side of the field. This is when the whole "investment theory" is dumb. Just because you were dumb enough to give him a big contract doesn't mean he should start over someone making less money. Just admit your mistake and move on. I'll be the first to admit that GM's will make mistakes mainly due to luck, and I'd be happy to chalk a few up as such if the stupid GM would just recognize he made a mistake. When he doesn't admit it and keeps starting the player, then he is stupid.

The Reason Why Owings Wasn't Difficult to Trade

Isn't he pretty?

When the Dunn trade was completed, most people wondered who would be the other two players involved, but I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Micah Owings was headed to Cincinnati. Did I have inside information? Yeah right. However, I knew about Yusmeiro Petit. After pitching decently for a few starts last season with a 4.94 ERA, Petit was considered okay but not the future of the rotation. Yet, he was only 22, and now at age 23, he's turning the corner ... possibly. In 6 starts, he is 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA with a K/BB ratio of almost 5. His 4.80 ERA in Tuscon wasn't exciting, but he had 67 K in 64 IP with only 8 BB. That tells me the kid has good stuff and command, but he's probably been unlucky. In the majors, his BABIP is .165, which is extraordinarily lucky, but even if he regresses (which he will), his ERA won't be worse than Owings' 5.93. He also walks a lot more with his K/BB ratio closer to 2. Did they make the trade knowing they could use the publicity surrounding Owings' bat to get a bigger bat in Dunn while also knowing Petit would be solid?

Jordan Schafer Interview

Will someone please ask the hard questions? And, will someone please answer them?

For those who don't know, Jordan Schafer is the Braves top prospect who was suspended for using PED's. He sat down for an interview for AJC.com and answered some questions. What gets me about these interviews is the colossal elephant in the room that everyone somehow avoids. During the interview, Carroll Rogers never asks, "Did you use steroids or other PED's? Why did you refuse to talk earlier? When did you use? Where? How did you get started?" I know he's getting hassled in the minors (HGSchafe is pretty ingenious but cruel), but I want to know about the HGH usage. It's the only reason she's talking with him, but she never asks. Maybe he refused to answer, but still, don't interview him unless you're going to get something out of it, more than just "I'll do anything they ask." I know he will, and he better. He doesn't really have a choice, although I'm glad to see his mature approach to the situation.

Note: Here's a better interview from Baseball America, but the guy really didn't push him much.

Out of Nowhere

Aviles has done well, but too bad, it's for the Royals.

John Donovan, over at SI.com, wrote an interesting article about guys who have come out of nowhere to help their teams down the stretch, but he forgot about the little guys, the guys who are losing. They still have good players, so here's a list of them.

Omar Infante (ATL)
You knew I'd have a Brave, and when Chipper went down, he was there to pick up the slack. At the beginning of the season, he was only supposed to be a utility infielder. Also considering he had a hand injury coming into Spring Training and missed all of April, his 71 games played is fairly impressive for a utility guy. His line so far is .305/.354/.453 with 3 HR, 29 RBI and R, and 18 2B with a . His play has made a few people mention that Johnson should be traded and Infante inserted into the everyday lineup at second base. I think he's too valuable as a super-utility guy, especially with other options in the wings.

Matt Joyce (DET)
I wrote about this guy earlier, but he's been great so far. When Gary Sheffield has gotten his numerous injuries, Joyce has stepped in and given the Tigers an excuse to trade an outfielder this offseason. His .268/.327/.563 line with 12 HR, 33 RBI, 32 R, and 14 2B is pretty impressive when you understand he's only played in 63 games this season at age 23 (just turned 24). He should be a young, cheap option for a long time.

Mike Aviles (KC)
Unless you're Ron Rollins, you probably haven't heard of this guy, but he's been pretty good this season when Tony Peña Jr. decided to ... well ... not hit. In 69 games, Aviles has a .332/.358/.503 line with 7 HR, 35 RBI, 44 R, and 23 2B. Now, if he could only learn some patience at the plate because a .330 average usually doesn't hold up like that.

Chris Davis (TEX)
In 53 games, Davis has a .268/.310/.537 line with 12 HR, 36 RBI, 35 R, and 12 2B. Not bad for a guy called up in the middle of the year to take Blalock's spot at third. This guy wasn't totally out of nowhere if you paged through the number of good Ranger prospects, but unlike most of those, he's actually doing something at the major-league level.

Willie Harris (WAS)
This guy should be numero uno on the steroid watch list as he has 12 HR this year with no more than 2 in any other year. It's not an at-bats thing as he has had more at-bats in two previous seasons (one being last year). Yet, he's hitting .255/.344/.452 for the Nats with 46 runs scored. There's been talk of signing him for the next couple of seasons. Can you say Dmitri Young?

Paul Maholm (PIT)
Remember this guy from a couple years ago? In his first 6 games, he was 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA. In the next two seasons, he was a combined 18-25 with ERA's of 4.76 and 5.02. This season, he's a cool 8-7 with a 3.64 ERA, and with another 9 innings, he will surpass his career-high for innings pitched. Now, if the Pirates could just get their talented young pitching to all pitch well at the same time, Snell, Gorzelanny, and Maholm might be quite a 1-2-3 punch. But, alas, they are the Pirates.

Jody Gerut (SD)
After a 2003 season in which he had 22 HR and 75 RBI, Gerut has fallen off the face of the planet until a rejuvenation in San Diego (really, who wouldn't want a rejuvenation there?). So far in 93 games, Gerut is hitting .295/.354/.490 with 13 HR, 39 RBI, 44 R, and 15 2B. Not bad for a guy given up for dead, and that's in Petco.

Who Should the Braves Add in September?

Come on Tommy, we need you to be good. Please God don't be a disappointment like Reyes and Morton.

Considering the Braves are out of it, you know I'm not talking about trades or making a playoff push. Yet, in my spirit of trying to look forward to an optimistic 2009, I'll run through the guys the Braves should (although they may not be added) add to the 40-man roster if I didn't have to consider the option rules and waiving people.

Brent Lillibridge (2B/SS) - AAA
You'll hear me shouting from the rooftops to trade Kelly Johnson this offseason, and I think Brent needs to be the starter next season. His .209 BA is low, but I think he's more of the .300 guy from the past few seasons, and in the majors, I expect it to be more around the .270-.280 range. Also, he adds speed with his 21 SB in 27 tries. Might as well find out if he's the guy by playing him in September.

Josh Anderson (CF) - AAA
Gregor Blanco has been impressive this season, but it's time to see if Josh Anderson could be better. Anderson's the better hitter and base stealer, and he has more pop. Blanco is quite a bit more patient at the plate. Both are very good defensively. I say trade Blanco before someone realizes they should throw him more inside fastballs. Play Anderson to see if he's got it at the major league level.

Jorge Julio (RP) - AAA
Never able to stick in the majors, Julio's big fastball always gets him another shot. Might as well give him another one. Now, can he command that fastball? That's always been the big question.

Kala Ka'aihue (1B) - AA
Tired of Kotchman not hitting for power? Ka'aihue is a bug guy with big power although his 13 HR may not fully indicate that. However, he's hit better this season, making adjustments from a bad ending to last season. He still strikes out a lot, but his power-potential makes him appealing.

Jordan Schafer (CF) - AA
Another center fielder, Schafer had to spend 50 games on the bench after being suspended for PED's. While his initial return didn't yield much, he's been much better of late, and his 9 HR in 74 games is fairly appealing. Again, might as well see for next season. He might be better than Anderson and Blanco while also being about four years younger.

Tommy Hanson (SP) - AA
By far the most intriguing arm in the Braves system, Hanson has progressed very far and is excelling in Mississippi with a 3.27 ERA and 99 K in 88 IP. He could be the answer in the rotation, and a few starts in September could make him an early favorite for spot 5 in March 2009.

Todd Redmond (SP) - AA
You might remember him as the guy the Pirates traded for Tyler Yates. What did he do in AA? He has gone 12-5 with a 3.54 ERA, and his K/BB rate is almost 6:1. Again, he might be an interesting thought for next year's rotation. Imagine a young rotation with Jair at 23, Hanson at 22, and Redmond at 23. Too bad they have to succeed to make it a good, young rotation.

Stephen Marek (RP) - AA
He's the second guy in the Teixeira trade, and he's done well in Mississippi. For the year, he has 67 K in 58 IP, but he has walked 26. Still, he's kind of old for the level, but he could be an interesting guy in the bullpen.

Luis Valdez (RP) - AA
An intrigguing young arm at age 24, Valdez has excelled in AA with a 2.92 ERA and 73 K in 61.2 IP. Bring him up and see if he can do that to major leaguers.

James Parr (RP) - AAA
He's done fairly well in Richmond with 36 K in 44.2 IP and a 3.83 ERA. He might be interesting, and at the very least, he'll save other arms in the bullpen.

Jason Perry (OF) - AAA
He's got 8 HR in 57 games, but the problem is his age (27). He's not getting younger, so bring him up to see how he handles the pressure. Could he be the next Ludwick? Okay, probably not.

Of all these, pay special attention to Lillibridge, Anderson, Schafer, Hanson, Redmond, Marek, and Valdez. All of them probably won't be brought up (mainly the AA guys), but watch how they finish and if they get invited to Spring Training.

Top Players to Build Around

I really, really like this guy.

Nate Silver gave his version of the Top Players, but I figure I would disagree with a few spots. My picks are first with Silver's in parentheses.

1) Grady Sizemore (Hanley Ramirez)
Both players are very similar offensively. Good sticks, good OBP, great power, and great speed with which to steal bases. So why Sizemore even though he's a year older? First, he's a much better defensive player, and although shortstop is more important than center, Sizemore is that much better defensively and will probably stay in center, whereas Hanley will probably move to third in a few years. Second, Sizemore is a much better base stealer (31/34 as opposed to Hanley's 29/41).

2) Hanley Ramirez (David Wright)
Again, both players are comparable offensively. Ramirez does steal more bases, but Wright has more doubles. The difference? Wright is a year older and at a less important position. Although Ramirez will probably move to third (maybe center?), having him at short for three more years to find another shortstop is worth it.

3) Evan Longoria (Albert Pujols)
Tough call here. Between Wright and Longoria, there really isn't much of a contest. Both are very good offensively, but Longoria is three years younger and a better defender. With Pujols, I really wanted to pick him, but Longoria is six years younger. That much youth has to count for something, even though Pujols is the best hitter ever.

4) Albert Pujols (Evan Longoria)
Not counting his elbow (anyone can get injured and Pujols has dealt with this elbow for awhile), Pujols is the next best player. He's a Gold Glover at first and is the best hitter in the majors. He is probably the most feared hitter in the majors, and without missing two weeks, his power numbers would look better.

5) Jose Reyes (Grady Sizemore)
Shortstops just don't grow on trees. He and Wright are impressive. Reyes gives the speed and Wright gives the power, so why Reyes? They are the same age, but again, it comes down to position. Reyes is a good defensive shortstop who won't have to move, and it's not like he's a Juan Pierre lead off guy.

6) David Wright (Jose Reyes)
After bragging on Wright, he had to be here. Mauer seems close due to equal age and the fact that his position is much more important, but Wright's power is too much. Granderson is also close with him playing center, but Wright is two years younger.

7) Curtis Granderson (Joe Mauer)
Besides the OBP, Granderson really is better at everything else offensively, even with more pop. Plus, they both play important positions, with catcher being more important due to his being involved in every play. Tough call, but I'd rather have Granderson.

8) Felix Hernandez (Alex Rodriguez)
At age 22, Hernandez is younger than every other big pitcher. He's also really good (don't let the 7-8 record fool you). If someone gave me him to start a team around, I'd take him in a heartbeat. Why not Lincecum? He's two years older, and I guess there could be something to the herky-jerky motion and injury thing, although I'm still not sold on it. But it's really close, especially with Hernandez possibly having more mileage on his arm.

9) Tim Lincecum (CC Sabathia)
Talk about mileage, and Sabathia's name is the first to come to mind. Lincecum is also three years younger. While Sabathia is having a monster half with the Brewers, I'd still take Lincecum over Sabathia.

10) Joe Mauer (Johan Santana)
At age 25, there aren't too many better catchers in the game. McCann's name pops to mind, but Mauer is much better defensively. McCann has the edge offensively and that makes things close, but I'll take Mauer over McCann, I guess (damn, that was painful to say).

11) Brian McCann (Brian McCann)
For the reasons named above. Greatest offensive catcher in the game, by far and away. Too bad he can't throw out base stealers. He also makes too many errors, but he's a good receiver and game caller. Future manager might add a little value to him, too.

12) Miguel Cabrera (Jake Peavy)
In the fight between A-Rod and Cabrera, I'll take Cabrera. If not only for the fact that he's eight years younger, he'll probably, if he isn't already, be as good offensively as A-Rod. He's not good defensively, but he could plausibly learn. I doubt it, but the guy's 24. That has to count for something.

13) Alex Rodriguez (Chase Utley)
He's the second-best hitter in the game. Why does he fall here? He's 32.

14) Ryan Braun (Miguel Cabrera)
Great offensive player, and left field may be the best spot for him defensively. If he was more patient, he would be higher. If he was better defensively, he'd be higher. He hits that well.

15) Scott Kazmir (Tim Lincecum)
In a battle between the three lefty pitchers (Kazmir, Hamels, Lester) at age 24, Kazmir wins. Lester's K rate isn't as good as the other two. Kazmir's is better than Hamel's. Everything else is eerily similar.

So why not the young-ins Bruce and Justin Upton? Both are having their growing pains, and I need production now.

So why not the big lefty pitchers Santana and Sabathia? righties Peavy and Webb? Age and pitchers are not like age and wine, and all of them have lots of miles on those prized arms. Still, they're all really good, and I wouldn't mind having one ... or two.

So why not Hamilton and Utley? Both are older (27 and 29 respectively). They're also not great defensively in their important positions. Hamilton really needs to be in left or right. Otherwise, they're just a tad out of it.

Pedro Saves Mets Bullpen

I'll never remember Pedro for anything more than this moment.

The Braves seem to be allowing this to happen quite a bit lately. The Braves have scored four (once) or less (five) six times in their past seven games.

Quick note: I think the word "blow" is a bit much for Delgado's game-winning "hit" last night.

Arroyo Knows What Ails Reds

This explains everything.

You mean, more than your pitching? Your huge contract? The disappointment watching you pitch every five days?

Sorry. Anyway, Bronson suggests a new catcher and two new outfielders, but the pitching staff is fine. Uh dude, your pitching staff is 24th in the Majors this season. That's not getting it done. If all you needed was some offense, you would have been good this season considering you had two good hitting outfielders.

What really ails the Reds? Yes, they do need a new catcher and two new outfielders, but they could use a new shortstop (Gonzalez really isn't that good) as well. But that's not all, folks. They also need Harang to stop sucking, Arroyo to stop sucking, and Cueto to not be so bad. Also, pray that Volquez really is this good. As for the bullpen, it really is pretty solid as it's seventh in the majors. So overall, they need a new catcher, two outfielders, a shortstop, and two more starting pitchers. Actually, make that four new ones (unless you want to count Harang as good which would be fine with me).

Instant Replay to Lengthen Time of Games

We all wait eagerly ...

Duh. Who would've figured?

I've already commented on how I don't like instant replay, but my stance has changed a little bit. First, I've come to grips with the fact that instant replay will happen, and there's no use complaining about it. Second, why only for home runs? Why not plays at the plate? I've seen wrong calls there before. I'm not being sarcastic or "slippery slope" here. I genuinely want to know why only home runs. If it is, it shows that Selig and the MLB is only reacting to pressure and the outcry over a few miscalled home runs. Third, to be "slippery slope", what would've happened if this happened last year? Would we see the "slippery slope" take effect after a Matt Holliday slide? Fourth, don't you think they should have taken a bit more time to go through this? They should've taken at least the postseason and offseason to consider the possibilities and ramifications of adding this on. In doing this in about three months, they've hurried this along to appease everyone, and I can't wait for the first boos when the umpire takes too long even though he correctly overturns the call on the field. That'll be priceless. I hope it happens to the Mets. You complain about it not being there, but when it interrupts the game and takes too long, you know you're going to complain. But oh well, let's see if you were careful for what you were wishing.

Guys on the Way Back ... If They Don't Get Hurt Again

So where's the other half of the card?

Carl Pavano is actually slated to pitch on Saturday, but whether he makes it or not is a completely different story. Also, Bartolo Colon threw 4 no-hit innings in a rehab start, and if he can get healthy for September, that would be great news for a team in dire need of some starting pitching help. Pavano is pitching for pride at this point (and for a contract next season) as the Yankees probably aren't going to make the playoffs, but Colon could legitimately help the Red Sox hold off the pesky Twins and maybe even overtake the Rays.

I'm taking bets on who actually gets to pitch in the Majors and on who makes it the longest. I'll take both get in the Majors by season's end, but Colon actually pitches more.

Hum Dum

This is kind of a boring part of the year. My Braves are already out of it, so I don't really have a team to cheer for. There really aren't too many trades to worry about (unless Jose Bautista to the Jays counts). The season won't be exciting until the last week of the year when we really have to watch for the playoff push. So ... I don't know what to really write about. Add on that I'm moving back to college on Saturday, and the next few days may be a little slow around these parts. I'll probably add on a few posts later tonight, but I'll be packing tomorrow and unpacking Saturday. Therefore, there might not be much on here until Sunday. I'll try in the mornings and late at night like usual, but I can't guarantee anything.

Brett Myers a New Pitcher?

Everybody do the wave. Brett Myers is sort of good, again.

The Baseball Tonight crew thinks Brett Myers has turned the corner since his demotion because he's 3-1 with a 1.94 ERA. Pretty good, but is he the real deal? Is this the Real Slim Myers? I doubt it. At the beginning of the season, I wondered why everyone thought he was going to be this great no. 2 or ace pitcher when 3.72 was the best ERA he'd ever had as a starter. Granted, he could be better this season, but he wasn't going to be spectacular. When he had a 5.84 ERA before the break, it was probably just a bad half, which makes this one his good one ... which evens out his season. Even Barry Zito has a good stretch now and then, so Myers is going to have a good stretch. He is a fairly good major-league pitcher, so he has talent. However, he isn't good enough to be great all the time. Can we say small sample size? His starts now will most likely bring him back to his average ERA. Baseball and 162 games has a weird way of averaging things out, but they always even out differently.

Dude ... Matt Joyce

Can he sing, too? That's just not fair.

How many of us have heard of Matt Joyce? I saw a Tigers game with him, but I haven't paid any attention to him otherwise. Anyway, he's an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, and he's done really well. For the season (60 games), his line is .276/.335/.580 with 12 HR, 31 RBI, and 13 DB. For 162 games, that would be roughly 32 HR, 83 RBI, and 32 DB. Pretty good, and he's in his first year at age 24 (just turned on August 3rd). Add Brent Clevlen who is raking at AAA Toledo, and Magglio Ordoñez may find himself the odd-man out if the Tigers want to really cut costs next year. Oh, he would bring back pitching, pitching, and maybe some offense, too. Anyone else think this is a good idea? Or am I freaking out about small sample sizes? Probably the latter, but don't think the Tigers haven't thought about it.

Brett Wallace Moves to AA

I have no idea why, but this came up when I typed in Wallace's name. Nickname! Brett Wallace is now known as Mr. Pickles.

The Cardinals moved their number one pick from low A to AA without a stop in high A. Why do I care? Well, I like to watch the College World Series, and he was a player that caught my eye. Also, this has 2009 implications. Troy Glaus is the current third baseman in St. Louis, and he's having a spectacular season. However, counting on it happening again next season might be more than the Cardinals are willing to bet. Therefore, they'll need a replacement. As a college player, Wallace should be more polished and able to move quickly. He hit well in A ball, and if he hits well in AA, he might be the front-runner for the job. He'll be 22 and cheap, but he also has power. With Ankiel and Ludwick back next season, they don't need Wallace to be a middle of the order guy. The problem is that Wallace isn't a brilliant defender, and with Duncan's philosophy on sinker-ballers, that could be a problem. Yet, I think they'll manage. Watch Wallace. If he does well for the next month and in Spring Training, he could be the starting third baseman next year.

A Pain in the Yankee's Neck

We don't know, either. We don't know, either. At least, you've had some really hot chicks.

Carl Pavano's comeback has been put on hold again. This time, he had a stiff neck in the bullpen. All I can say is ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Sorry. But seriously, HAHAHAHAMIKEHAMPTONHAHA. Really? A stiff neck? I guess if Mike Hampton can eventually work his way back, then Pavano can as well, but Hampton at least pulled something instead of having a stiff neck. How does that affect your pitching anyway? If all it does is make it uncomfortable, then he has to understand how uncomfortable his contract his. Seriously though, a stiff neck? That might top Hampton's pulling a groin while walking (walking) on a treadmill. Nope, but it's close.

Baseball Hell

Update: I now realize the levels don't match up exactly, but my descriptions are in line with Dante's Inferno.

Get them Satan. Get 'em.

I saw this earlier today on Boys of Summer, so I created my own.

Dr. James Andrews
Circle I Limbo

Bud Selig
Circle II Whirling in a Dark & Stormy Wind

The New York Mets, The New York Yankees
Circle III Mud, Rain, Cold, Hail & Snow

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens
Circle IV Rolling Weights

Hank Steinbrenner
Circle V Stuck in Mud, Mangled

River Styx

Joe Morgan, Steve Philips
Circle VI Buried for Eternity

River Phlegyas

U.S. Congress, Donald Fehr
Circle VII Burning Sands

Latin American Scouts
Circle IIX Immersed in Excrement

People Who Hate Baseball
Circle IX Frozen in Ice

Design your own hell

Dr. James Andrews didn't do anything wrong (much like the non-baptized in Dante's), but he is a by-product of time, place, and occupation.

Bud Selig, for all his faults, really isn't that bad, but it's his desire for everything to be perfect in baseball and its resulting effects that land him here.

Yankees and gluttons just fit, don't they?

For all the demonizing, Bonds and Clemens aren't the worst people in the world, but they're desire for material wealth and glory, and the illegal means that brought them those, put them in hell.

Hank Steinbrenner and wrathful? A match made in ... hell.

Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips are heretical saying they know anything about baseball (Joe Morgan gets a slightly easier punishment for being a Hall of Famer while Phillips gets an extra flaming bomb up the rear).

U.S. Congress and Donald Fehr have each taken aggressive steps to hold baseball back. Congress for investigating every tiny thing wrong while they could be looking at education, health care, etc. Fehr just tries to make the players greedy while hiding their dirty laundry. They get a boiling blood river for making my blood boil.

The Latin American scouts who have been skimming bonuses from the less-fortunate Dominicans are definitely guilty of fraud and trechery and deserve every whip, human excrement, burning sole, and biting snake they get.

Finally, those who hate baseball deserve the worst fate for not attempting to understand, comprehend, enjoy, relish in, and lavish the best game on Earth. I hope Satan chews on them for all eternity.