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.

Tipping the Scales

Sausages beware.

I'm sitting here watching Sportscenter and just saw the Brewer highlight. Aside from Yost continuing to abuse Sabathia, Sabathia's hit made me wonder something as Prince Fielder scored. Has there ever been a scoring duo (one that scored and the other who knocked him in) that weighed as much as those two. Sabathia is a listed 250 pounds, but I seriously doubt that. Prince Fielder is 260, but again, I doubt that. Okay, Baseball-Reference let me down this time, but it doesn't happen often (I guess it can't be held responsible for weight). I looked at the Brewers' website (I know, I know. That should have been the first place I looked), and Sabathia is 290 and Fielder is 270. That's a combined 560 pounds shaking Miller Park. Anyway, anyone else know a heavier two-some?

The Thing Is ...

Jason Kendall attempting to explain that he can still be good. You just gotta believe.

Apparently, Jason Kendall's option for next year has been exercised due to the number of at-bats he has had this season, and he's happy he's coming back next season. The thing is do the Brewers want Kendall back? When most people thought the signing was a bad thing, the Brewers apparently had no one else because not only did they sign him, they gave him an easy-to-get option for next year. Now, they have to pay him around $4.5 million to be their catcher next season. I doubt that there will be better catchers next offseason in free agency, but I'm betting someone from AAA could pop in to hit .245/.328/.318. Vinny Rottino? Actually, Angel Salome, the AA catcher, seems to be the best option with his .367/.418/.564 line.

OH ... MY ... GOD!

No, you still need a few more fingers to count your losses.

Barry Zito combines with two pitchers on a seven-hit shutout of the Braves. WTF?!? Zito goes 7 while giving up five hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. I mean, I love the Braves, but seriously, Zito? In a season, especially second half, where runs have been hard to come by, this is the time to friggin' get some back. He doesn't throw hard. His curveball is loopy. Just hit the ball! Okay, Mark, calm down. I don't get it. The Braves lost Teixeira, but we still have a lineup. Chipper and McCann are still there, but Chipper's been rather unspectacular since his average dipped under .400 and McCann just can't do it all the time. They shouldn't be this bad. However, I've been watching the games this season, and they have never seemed interested in the game. Certain things such as not throwing to the right base, dropping relay throws, and generally not doing the little things (Will someone teach Escobar to bunt for God's sake?!?) have been abundant. They don't even seem interested, and since the Teixeira trade, they seem less interested. I know it's hard. I was playing my brothers in cornhole yesterday, and when I got down 12-3 (my mom tries but is not a good partner), I just didn't feel like it. I wanted the game over so the next one could begin. I think that's all the Braves feel. Guys like Johnson, Francoeur, and Escobar aren't necessarily having the years they thought they would, so they just want next year to start. Do I keep watching this? Is it worth it? I still want to watch and cheer them no matter how much they suck, but it would make me feel better if it seemed as though they cared.

I guess the only thing that makes me feel better about today is that Zito hasn't been all that terrible since the break. I choose to believe that Zito is just re-discovering himself (like Christy Brinkley apparently) and not that the Braves just suck that bad/don't care that much.

Top 10 Headline

Naturally, he's the first guy I thought of when the word "underachieving" came to mind.

I love it when people come up with really good titles for their columns. Today, Carroll Rogers has one, despite what it means for my team. It's "Doh! Braves Homers Lacking". I'm not a huge Simpson's fans, but I'm sure some of you are.

Comeback Players of the Year

Oh yeah, he's pumped.

I like comeback stories. It's cool when someone re-emerges from the previous poor season to have a great season this year. It's also a hard category to figure out who is doing what in, so I'll do the work for you.

AL Comeback Player

Cliff Lee (CLE)
-> (2007) 16 starts, 97.1 IP, 5-8, 6.29 ERA, 66 K, 36 BB
-> (2008) 24 starts, 170.2 IP, 17-2, 2.43 ERA, 134 K, 24 BB

Justin Duchscherer (OAK)
-> ('07) 17 games, 16.1 IP, 3-3, 4.96 ERA, 13 K, 8 BB
-> ('08) 21 starts, 139 IP, 10-8, 2.59 ERA, 92 K, 34 BB

Jon Lester (BOS)
-> ('07) 11 starts, 63 IP, 4-0, 4.57 ERA, 50 K, 31 BB
-> ('08) 25 starts, 160.2 IP, 11-4, 3.25 ERA, 109 K, 50 BB

Mike Mussina (NYY)
-> ('07) 27 starts, 152 IP, 11-10, 5.15 ERA, 91 K, 35 BB
-> ('08) 25 starts, 153.1 IP, 16-7, 3.35 ERA, 106 K, 21 BB

Carlos Quentin (CWS)
-> ('07) 81 games, .214/.298/.349, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 29 R, 16 2B
-> ('08) 118 games, .292.395/.582, 34 HR, 95 RBI, 87 R, 22 2B

Milton Bradley (TEX)
-> ('07) 61 games, .306/.402/.545, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 37 R, 9 2B
-> ('08) 97 games, .317/.442/.584, 20 HR, 63 RBI, 64 R, 26 2B

There are lots of worthy candidates here. Lee was going to get traded last offseason. Duchscherer in the rotation seemed a desperation move. Lester was coming back from cancer, and no one knew how well he'd do. Mussina's career was over. Quentin was traded because of injury issues and under-production. Bradley just had a torn ACL, and everyone worried about his attitude. Needless to say, lots of teams are shaking their heads knowing they could have had these guys.

NL Comeback Player

Jamie Moyer (PHI)
-> ('07) 33 starts, 199.1 IP, 14-12, 5.01 ERA, 133 K, 66 BB
-> ('08) 25 starts, 151 IP, 11-7, 3.64 ERA, 95 K, 47 BB

Paul Maholm (PIT)
-> ('07) 29 starts, 177.2 IP, 10-15, 5.02 ERA, 105 K, 49 BB
-> ('08) 24 starts, 161 IP, 8-7, 3.69 ERA, 113 K, 41 BB

Cristian Guzman (WAS)
-> ('07) 46 games, .328/.380/.466, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 31 R, 6 2B
-> ('08) 110 games, .294/.324/.400, 5 HR, 34 RBI, 60 R, 28 2B

Stephen Drew (ARI)
-> ('07) 150 games, .238/.313/.370, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 60 R, 28 2B
-> ('08) 117 games, .284/.326/.482, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 68 R, 32 2B

Jorge Cantu (FLA)
-> ('07) 52 games, .252/.331/.357, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 12 R, 9 2B
-> ('08) 121 games, .282/.331/.472, 21 HR, 68 RBI, 70 R, 30 2B

Troy Glaus (STL)
-> ('07) 115 games, .262/.366/.473, 20 HR, 62 RBI, 19 R, 19 2B
-> ('08) 123 games, .276/.375/.489, 21 HR, 81 RBI, 57 R, 30 2B

This past offseason, Moyer's career was over. Maholm was not the promising rookie he once was. Guzman wasn't close to the guy he once was and probably wasn't going to start this season. Drew, like Maholm, had lost his rookie promise. Cantu hadn't been seen in a few years. Glaus was not the big-bopper from Anaheim and was traded for Rolen (oops).

Biggio Has Number Retired

Take another curtain call Mr. Biggio.

The Houston Astros retired Craig Biggio's no. 7 today. I'm really glad this happened. There a few guys I genuinely respect as both a baseball player and person, and Biggio is definitely one. He played hard every game and for 20 years. In a time where Jimmy Rollins, Manny Ramirez, and BJ Upton don't run out balls, you never had to worry about him. There were several things I loved about him. First, he was a catcher. I will always have a soft spot for catchers. Second, his helmet. It was always covered in pine tar, and to me, it symbolized his style of play. Third, he is second all-time in hit by pitches, only two back from Hughie Jennings (287) who played in the late nineteenth century. Anyone with the stones to stand in there to take a few 90 mph fastballs for his team is okay in my book. Fourth, he has 3,000 hits. In an age where the home run is the be-all and end-all, I still like guys who can do both (291 HR). He made seven All-Stars, won four Gold Gloves, won five Silver Sluggers, and led the league in doubles three times. If he isn't a first time Hall of Famer, I might go have a word with some baseball journalists.

KLaw Explains It All

Who pictures Keith Law like this?

I never really understood everything about the draft, but Keith Law explained what the difference between major league contracts and minor league contracts when players sign out of the draft. In the meantime, he also explains all about service time and how that leads to free-agency. I understood the service team leading to free agency (six years at 172 days a year), but he does a really good job explaining everything. At first, I really didn't like KLaw all that much because I thought he was kind of a ... well ... arrogant jerk, but after reading him for awhile, I realize that he has strong opinions. While I may not agree with it all, at least he has good reasons for it. I'm not sure why he is not working on a team now, but I think he should probably get a chance. Then again, maybe he doesn't want one. It might be a bit more cushy with less responsibility at ESPN.

Another Marlins Firesale?

A usual game in Miami.

After a surprisingly good season, the Marlins may still be looking to trade all their arbitration-eligible players. Even Uggla is up to be traded. This is the saddest story in sports not including the double "s" stories (steriods and skimming). In a world where baseball is making lots of money and low-payroll teams make money before the season starts, no one should have a $20 million payroll. It shouldn't happen. Why would you come to the games? How many people would you recognize? You gotta spend money to make money, right? It makes me wonder though if the Marlins make money outside of the revenue sharing. How many Marlins hats do you see people wearing? How many people come to games? Are the Marlins losing money by simply operating?

Outside of whether or not it's ethical, there is no doubt the Marlins will once again bring in a load of prospects. Uggla would bring in a boatload. Olsen would bring in a boatload. Willingham, Hermida, and Jacobs will bring in a few good ones. This sale may affect free agency. Especially with all the trades last offseason, teams may choose to deal with Florida instead of buying over-priced free agents. The problem for me may be that Florida will probably not deal with Atlanta because of the dumb "no trading within division" thing. I'd take Hermida, even Uggla. I'm not sure Atlanta has enough because Florida likes major league-ready prospects, and most of Atlanta's good prospects are in A ball.

So, following the pattern, Florida will be surprisingly good again next season, suck the next, and then be surprisingly good again when they then decide to sell all their players off for younger players.

It's Crow's Fault, Too

You'll have to go to Fort Worth to see this.

Well, the draft signing deadline passed last night, and all but three picks signed. One of the most controversial seems to be Aaron Crow choosing to go to an Independent League instead of the minor leagues for the Washington Nationals. Most, including Keith Law, have been bashing the Nationals for yet another blunder which doesn't help their team. I agree that it's a blunder. They reportedly only differed by $700K, but on such a small number, I imagine a major league deal was also a big difference between the two. Prospects seem to really want those these days. If it was just those small differences, then yes the Nationals made a mistake. But what about Crow? He was the ninth overall pick by the Nationals out of college. Now, he has to wait for next year's draft when he'll be a year older. So, instead of taking $3.3 million dollars, he'll go play in the independent leagues, and wait for next year. He could get hurt and lose his stock. He could simply lose his stock just playing against the Independent League and falling off the radar. Maybe he won't. The thing is this now keeps him away from the Majors for another season. He could have budged, too. Then again, who wants to play for the Nationals?

Glavine to DL

He's just not this young anymore.

Well, after one game, Glavine is back on the DL. I'm not surprised. I guess this also means the end of Glavine's career. When you never have an injury before this season and this is the third trip to the DL this season, I think your body's telling you it's time. The problem is that guys like Glavine and Smoltz don't want to end their careers this way. They'll want to come back next year to prove they can do it. The problem is that when they prove they can still do it, they still won't want to leave because they can still do it. If they can't do it, it will be this season all over again. I love Glavine and Smoltz, but the best thing for the Braves is for both to retire. They can't pretend to depend on them next year. They can't think they're getting the ace they need and forget to bring in Sabathia or Sheets. That hurts them next year (maybe) and in the future (definitely). They're both Hall of Famers, but they do need to shut it down permanently. It'll be hard, but it's necessary.

Hargrove Has the "Edge"

Does that look like the face of a man who lost his passion?

After astonishing all of baseball by quitting in the middle of maybe his best managing season ever, Mike Hargrove says he wants to manage again. He said last year that he did not have the passion anymore, but now, he says it's back. Something tells me it never left. First, he was in the middle of an amazing season. No one expected the Mariners to be in it, but they were. That energizes people, not the other way around. Second, look at the mess that is the Mariners now. They just fired their manager and general manager. That tells me something bad was going on. Maybe he just lost his passion to manage the Mariners. Maybe their were fights between them. Third, Ichiro. There were reports that Ichiro and Hargrove were having issues. So why pick Ichiro? It's all economics. Ichiro boosted merchandise and attendance sales when he arrived. Hargrove? Not so much. Ichiro is the face of the franchise. Hargrove? Again, not so much. I doubt Hargrove ever lost his "passion".

I hope he gets another chance somewhere and I bet he does. Where? Padres? Indians (that would be cute, no?)? Pirates? Not Seattle.

Cardinals 5, Reds 3

I was able to get the Reds game tonight. I live in Louisville, so I'm not too far away. Yet, I'm not a Reds fan, and I have nothing invested in them. It was still cool to go there. For the most part, I really like Great American Ballpark. The only problem is the seating. It's really close so if you have broad shoulders, you're in for an uncomfortable night. Also, if you have long legs, it's not good either. As for the game, it was a good one. There was a lot of offense at first with Rick Ankiel and Chris Dickerson (his first MLB home run) hitting home runs in the first inning. The first two and half innings saw runs score each half inning. After that, the bullpens did very well. Arroyo had 100 pitches by the fifth, so he didn't make it past the sixth. He got hit hard anyway as he allowed five runs in five innings. Wellemeyer pitched well, but he was taken out after 5 innings. I'm not sure why. I guess he's pitched in the bullpen too long and needs to be stretched out. The only bad play was by Jason LaRue. On a pitch-out, he threw the ball into center field letting the runner get to third. On the very next play, he failed to block the plate when the batter hit a grounder to third. Glaus made a good throw, but somehow the run scored. Things slowed after that. Chris Perez came in to close the game, so I guess he's the closer in St. Louis even though LaRussa won't admit it.

More All-Star Bull****

I was reading Buster Olney's blog when I ran past this Paul Hagen article about the All-Star Game. He focuses on how it has hurt pitchers Aaron Cook and Brad Lidge. Hold on, Lidge warming up in the bullpen hasn't caused him to be terrible in the second half. First, you're working off a small sample size with 9.1 IP against 40 from the first half. Second, Lidge was ungodly in the first half with his 1.13 ERA. Isn't it logical to think that he is just having ... can I say it ... a rough patch. With Cook, fatigue in your lower back is caused by throwing 170+ innings when you really haven't done that before (212 in 2006, but no more than 160 otherwise with the other seasons more around 100). Second, his last start before the game was July 11, which gave him three day's rest to throw 3 innings. I think it was okay. Third, his next three starts were just fine as he gave up 5 runs in 22 IP.

This blaming the All-Star Game crap needs to stop. People get injured and have tough stretches of the season. Like Shyster said, correlation does not equal causation.

Also, you all (the media and fans) brought on the problems with the All-Star Game. You booed when Selig let the game end in a tie. You criticized him. You backed him into a wall. He knew that to get you to forgive him he had to try something. He made changes. Now, you have to live with them. Blame Selig for having a weak backbone against the criticism, but it was your fault for not understanding the situation. There was nothing he could do. He had to stop the game. Sure, we don't like ties, but he couldn't bring pitchers back out there. If he had, he could have injured guys then, and then you'd be having a field day. No, stop blaming the All-Star Game. Realize the totality of playing 162 games, of throwing 200+ innings.

Everything Not Good with Bueno

After Alfonso Soriano hit and then watched a ball hit the wall before running, Francisley Bueno threw at Soriano's head during his next at-bat. The ball hit Soriano's helmet, and Bueno was ejected (appropriately). Now, Major League Baseball has suspended him for three games. Apparently, Bueno thinks he has been mistreated because he is appealing. What is he appealing? One at-bat after he shows up your team/makes an a$$ of himself, you suddenly lose your grip on a fastball directly towards his head? I doubt it, and he won't win his appeal. I agree with throwing at Soriano, but at his head? That was dumb and inexcusable. Plunk him in the back if you're going to do it. He gets the message without brain damage.

To top it all off, Bueno was sent down before the game Thursday to make room for Tom Glavine. Therefore, Bueno has to sit out three games when he returns in September. The game was also Bueno's major league debut. Well done. Well done.

Francouer Comes to Painful Realization

We all knew it. The Braves sort of knew but refused to completely acknowledge it. Now, Jeff Francoeur finally admits it. He stinks. I feel for the guy. I really do. He went from being a promising young player to outcast in a matter of months. I've continued to believe that he can turn things around, but I can't say I have been entirely patient. It's hard be patient watching your team lose because they can't consistently drive in runs and know that Francoeur is a large reason why that is. That being said, this season is not Jeff Francoeur's fault. Braves fans can't give up on him. Trading him now is just selling low. DON'T LET HIM BE JERMAINE DYE! Jeff seems to think he worked out too much and put on too much muscle in his chest. When I was the equipment manager for my high school team, a guy put on about ten pounds, and his chest showed it. The problem is that the extra muscle restricted his motion. Here's the thing I don't understand though about Francoeur. He hit 29 home runs as a 22 year old. So it stands to reason that he didn't need to add muscle to hit for power. Also, does anyone know where you should add muscle? I would think your legs and lower half would be the best, but I'm not sure. I'm not going to write him off. I refuse to. Call me optimistic. Call me illogical. But Mark (see I can have fun with my name, too) my words, Jeff Francoeur will be a very valuable major leaguer again.

Interesting note: He hit a home run tonight after he says he's been losing weight over the last few weeks.

All Good Things Come to an End

The Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire. The Hapsburg Ring. The Ming Dynasty. The Incan Civilization. And now, Brad Ziegler's scoreless streak. I commend the man for going 39 innings to start his career without giving up a run, but we couldn't expect this to go on forever, could we? Anyway, the most hated Ray in Oakland? BJ Upton for hitting the home run to end the streak. At least, it wasn't a dinky bloop into center. At least, it was an authoritative blast over the fence. I could live with making a mistake, but I'd be pissed if he hit a great pitch just over the second baseman's head to bring in the run.

Now, the question becomes where does he go from here. Does he stay dominant and act like this is a bump in the road, or does he fade into obscurity never to be heard from again?

Donate to Charities

Because it is usually a nice thing to do. Most of us are pretty fortunate to be able to just get online and talk about things that don't mean too much in the grand scheme of things, and sometimes we forget (myself included), what other people are going through. Jason* over at IIATMS posted a few charities in which he is interested, and I encourage everyone to take a look and see what you can donate. Thousands of dollars is nice, but if everyone starts donating $1-10, the total builds quickly.

Here are the direct links to the sites:

Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon

American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

* Jason has made it more interesting by allowing someone to post whatever they want to his site if they donate $100.

Instant Replay

Reports indicate that it could be in place by the end of the month. For what it's worth, I still think it's dumb and unnecessary, and I was hoping everyone had forgotten about it.

Fantasy Baseball

One of the most frustrating parts of the baseball season for me is fantasy baseball. Every year, I get a few teams, but I can't keep playing it through the season. What makes me think about this is that I am currently drafting a fantasy football team. I never have trouble making it through that. It's not the length of the season because I don't even make it through the first two months of baseball. Does anyone else have this problem? I think there are a few reasons.

One, fantasy baseball makes you focus every day, whereas football is only once a week. I think that's the biggie.

Second, football starts at the beginning of school when nothing's going on. Baseball starts in the hectic final month of April.

Third, there are too many baseball players to worry about. There are more positions, and then you have to worry about pitchers as well.

Fourth, I do think the length of the season has something to do with it, just not for me.

Fifth, it's not as big as football. Not as many people do fantasy baseball for reasons named above, but a lot of people play fantasy football. You can talk about it with almost anyone.

Does anyone know of a good place to do fantasy baseball? I usually try Yahoo!, but I'm open to suggestions.

In and Out of Luck

Baseball is usually about 70% skill and 30% luck. So where is the most amount of luck that a player can't control? I think it's run support for the starting pitcher. They go out there and pitch, but they have almost (or none in the AL) no control over the amount of runs their teams score for them. It has nothing to do with how they pitch. Luck comes in on who they face, how their team hits, if anyone in their lineup is injured, and how lucky the batters happen to be (do bloopers fall? line drives? etc.). They can give up one run and still lose, and with the importance of win-loss records, it makes a guy with a 3.40 ERA seem to be a bad pitcher because he has a 6-10 record (*Who is it?). Anyway, here's a list of "Criminally Abused Pitchers" and "Undeservedly Blessed Pitchers".

Criminally Abused Pitchers

Chris Volstad (FLA) - 6 starts, 4-2, 3.03 ERA, 2.70 RS
John Lannan (WAS) - 23 starts, 6-11, 3.40 ERA, 2.86 RS *
Greg Smith (OAK) - 23 starts, 5-11, 3.92 ERA, 3.01 RS
Matt Cain (SFG) - 25 starts, 7-9, 3.67 ERA, 3.33 RS
Jake Peavy (SD)- 20 starts, 8-8, 2.86 ERA, 3.67 RS

These guys have pitched well, but their win-loss records don't reflect it (except for Volstad's which could be better if the Marlins would hit with him on the mound). Peavy's numbers are Cy Young quality except for the W-L. Now, I understand why Neyer gets so angry over wins and losses. Maybe one day, the Cy Young will be chosen by who is actually the best pitcher, not that Webb and Lee are undeserving.

Undeservedly Blessed Pitchers

Kyle Kendrick (PHI) - 24 starts, 10-6, 4.74 ERA, 7.15 RS
Vicente Padilla (TEX) - 23 starts, 12-6, 4.86 ERA, 6.36 RS
Livan Hernandez (COL/MIN) - 24 starts, 10-9, 5.94 ERA, 6.20 RS
Mike Pelfrey (NYM) - 23 starts, 10-8, 4.11 ERA, 6.20 RS
Bronson Arroyo (CIN) - 25 starts, 10-9, 5.44 ERA, 6.03 RS
Roy Oswalt (HOU) - 23 starts, 10-8, 4.52 ERA, 5.54 RS

These are just a few, and there are other pitchers with better run support. The thing is some of those actually have good ERA's. This time, the win-loss record covers up how bad most of these pitchers have been. Oswalt has been terrible. Hernandez is abominable, and the Rockies still took a chance on him. Who wants to guess someone in the front office said, "But he's a winner." I can't even believe Padilla has 12 wins. It things like this that get front offices into trouble when they give out big contracts.

It makes me wonder about the 300 win plateau to get into the Hall of Fame. Should that be the criteria? With what we know about wins, isn't ERA and WHIP more of an indication of a pitcher's worth (okay, we can argue about ERA+)? They include luck but not as much as wins. Where would the ERA plataeu be? The problem becomes longevity. Wins, to some extent, indicate longevity. Yet, should longevity be a factor in Hall voting? If you pitch really well for a few years but get injured, should that influence a decision? If he's that good, shouldn't he get in?

Out in Left Field

Manny still nowhere to be found.

Manny's Teammates Amused by Misadventure

Yeah, but for how long? I'm sure the Red Sox were amused at first, too.

* I was actually amused as well, but I was also amused by him coming out of the Green Monster. I am not amused when he (and others) don't run out groundballs.

Answers

I still think he/she deserved some credit for that one.

So here are the answers you have been eagerly awaiting. However, before looking make sure you have read the hints. No cheating!

1) Pirates, Reds, Nationals, Royals and Orioles. I hope you didn't put down the Rays. That part was a little tricky ... just a little.

2) Braves (Teixeira), Pirates (Nady and Bay), Reds (Dunn)

3) Nationals. This was really meant for the Padres, but they are only the third worst.

4) Rangers. This is why Ryan wants pitching.

5-8) I'm not going to list them all, but you can check out the standings to figure it out.

9) A's. That was a gimmee. Just imagine how good they'd be with them, but then again, when you're the worst offense in the AL, maybe it wouldn't matter too much.

10) Mariners. They have to be the most disappointing team in baseball.

11) Tigers. And their 1000 run offense only has 597 at this point.

12) Indians. Another gimmee. Cleveland might be the second most disappointing team.

13) Blue Jays. Ricciardi calls out Dunn but needs a power-hitting left fielder. Lately, he said Gaston will be back next season. The question is will he.

14) Yankees and Braves. Both are suffering from the complacency, late draft picks, and "parody" that comes with winning for so long.

15) Astros. Seriously, does anyone understand what the hell Wade was thinking?

16) Giants. Just imagine. Sabean trades away both Cain and Lincecum, and he gets easily eight really good prospects. That makes six more good players than they have now. Let them play okay for the next two years and trade them for 16 good prospects. Let them play for a couple years and ... Maybe they're finally good by, oooh, 2015.

17) Rockies. Hernandez really doesn't deserve the crap he gets because of how important he was to the '97 Marlins, his durability, and his consistency. Not many pitchers over the past 10-12 years accomplished what he did.

Steinbrenner Says Injuries Are Reason Why Yankees Are Where They Are

Probably true as the Yankees have too much talent, but then again, they aren't bad anyway. In another division besides the AL East and West and the NL Central, they'd either be winning the division or close. One quote I like is "No team I've ever seen in baseball has been decimated like this. It would kill any team." Yes, you are correct Mr. Steinbrenner about the decimation, but let me introduce you to the Braves and Cardinals. Both of them have lost a majority of their team this season. Anyway, I do have to give him credit as this is the most responsible thing he's probably said all season. They are too old and injury-prone.

Another thing, he mentions, "If we need to add a top veteran pitcher, we'll do that. We'll do whatever we need to do. Next year we'll be extremely dangerous." He's right about that, too. If they add Sabathia, which there's no reason they won't, they will be extremely dangerous. A rotation of Sabathia, Wang, Chamberlain, Moose/Pettite (I'm saying they bring back at least one), and Pettite/Moose/Hughes (maybe both) would be the answer to their biggest weakness this season. Now if they had just coughed up Kennedy for Santana things might have been different this season. Just think: Kennedy, Cabrera, and a prospect they won't use anyway could be holding the Twins down instead, and then they wouldn't have to go and fight for Sabathia this offseason.

Cyclical Nature of Life

No, this isn't the answers to the quiz, but if you want those, come back around 11 or 12. Anyway, this also is not a blog about some life changing event or "from ash you were made and to dust you shall return". It's simply about how baseball, and history for that matter, are cyclical. What started me thinking on this? Tim Lincecum wanting to go year-to-year on contracts.

For the past few years, teams have been trying to sign their young players to team-friendly, long-term contracts, and the players have usually agreed to them. Players such as James Shields, Evan Longoria, David Wright, Noah Lowry, and Ian Snell have all taken the security over breaking the bank. There has already been a reaction to this through the likes of Cole Hamels, Felix Hernandez, Ryan Howard, and, now, Tim Lincecum who want to risk injuries and ineffectiveness to make more money during arbitration and reach free agency as soon as possible. Honestly, if I were on the Giants, I would try to get the hell out of Dodge, too. I still think most young players will opt for the security (Jeff Francoeur wanted one but didn't get it) over the possible dollars. But in a few years, players will start realizing all the money people have been giving up, and they will start to go year-to-year. This just makes me wonder about other things.

Will pitchers eventually go back to pitching 280+ innings? I know it seems as though it's impossible as most starters now have trouble making it through six innings a start, but is it possible? Teams are already trying to get pitchers to pitch deeper into games, one team even tried putting starters in during the third inning to finish the game to develop the "ninth inning" mindset. Most teams, however, are simply being more diligent with their pitchers' development. Instead of rushing them for this year, they are monitoring their innings even though it seems it will hurt the immediate needs of the team (ie. Clay Buchholz last season). Also, with modern technology and training techniques, isn't it possible they will find a way to make arms more durable? If this happens, will we see an end to the closer and the specialized bullpen, or will it simply be incorporated into the renewed pitching staffs? Would it increase the specialization? Fewer innings mean that managers could be more creative and go by the righty-righty and lefty-lefty matchups all the time instead of some of the time.

Will we see a return to a faster pace of baseball? The steroids scandal has brought into question everything about the power game. Will the questions and scrutiny ultimately lead to speed and contact becoming more a part of the game? If everyone questions the legitimacy of your home run, try getting singles and doubles while stealing bases. Of course, someone would have to prove it could win against modern-day play, but haven't the Angels shown it could work?

Will wooden bats finally become mandatory in Little League and college games? Maybe ash bats would be the better choice instead of maple for health reasons (but seriously, is there a bigger risk or chance of being impaled by a bat than there is to a ball cracking someone's skull? I guess if you have another option, you should go with it). It has already become an issue with colleges, and parents worry about their little kids. I would like to see it, and it would make it easier for professional teams to scout if they didn't have to worry about the effect of the aluminum. Wooden bats may break, but metal ones aren't indestructible. Yet, the wooden bats are more affordable.

Will we see a return to pitching with location and movement instead of by power? It might help the pitchers pitch more and longer. Will scouts start looking for movement and location over velocity? Even KLaw first looks at the radar gun. Guys like Moyer and Maddux have shown it's possible to pitch well without a big fastball. It might be better to have a guy who can throw 95 with good offspeed pitches and good location, but if the increased velocity causes more injuries, is it worth the risk? Do you really want to have a dominant pitcher for three to five years over a guy who uses his defense more but still has good statistics and is more durable? Has modern technology such as the video camera allowing for increased scouting reports on pitcher caused this to be impossible? Players spend more time than ever watching previous games by pitchers, so if they see a pattern to the strategy, the decrease in velocity could make it easier to hit. A harder fastball and unpredictable location could make hitting harder ("effectively wild").

I don't know the answers to these questions, but I think it's fun to think about. How will the game change? It won't stay like it is, but what future events (or even current events) will shape the game in 50 years?

Longoria to DL

I know Carl Crawford is important to the Rays, but Longoria may be more so as one of the few power threats on the team (Carlos Peña as the other). Hopefully, the Rays sunny optimism of him being back in two or three weeks isn't too optimistic as he's been placed on the DL after a JJ Putz pitch broke his wrist. If he's out for longer or the season, we might watch another epic collapse that will bring the Red Sox another division crown. Seriously, when was the last time a rookie had so much influence on the success of his team? Dontrelle Willis? David Wright? The one thing that gives me faith about this team is how they've played. They don't give up and constantly come back. They'll need that without Longoria.

Rangers Seriously After Pitching

Maybe Nolan should suit it up again to add some pitching. He can't be much worse than what they have.

We all knew the Rangers needed pitching, so we were all waiting for them to realize it themselves. Apparently, Nolan Ryan finally gets it. He wants to open Tom Hicks' wallet and buy some pitching, leading to thoughts of Sabathia and Sheets. The Rangers will make this offseason more interesting with this attitude. Yet, I somehow see them as the losers here. I don't know how much Sabathia and Sheets will want to pitch in Texas, but if the Rangers give out an A-Rod deal, it's possible. I still see the Yankees, Braves, Brewers, and Cardinals as the major players for the "Big Two", but the Rangers have placed themselves into the discussion. If they don't get Sheets or CC, do they go after Burnett? Lowe? Garland? Burnett is likely as not to get injured, but he's much worse than Sheets as far as pitching is concerned. Lowe and Garland aren't front-of-the-rotation guys. Are they going to give away the money that Millwood and Padilla stole from them for little production? It seems like a better idea to open the vault of prospects and deal them away for some pitching. Maybe get one of the young three from the Angels or Masterson from the Red Sox. The Rangers have a loaded farm system, so maybe they should use that instead of Hicks' wallet.

How to Know Your Team Is Done

1) You're the Pirates, Reds, Nationals, Royals, Orioles, or Rays at the beginning of the season. Oh wait, the Rays are good this year. Who saw their domination coming?

2) You become a "seller" and trade away your clean-up hitter.

3) You have the worst offense in baseball.

4) You have the worst pitching in baseball.

5) You are 6 games back of getting into the Wild Card or Division lead.

6) You are 5 games back and have to leap frog at least two other teams.

7) You're under .500 (disclaimer: unless you're in the NL West in which you are probably only a game or two back).

8) You reassure your fan base by saying that your future is bright. Go ahead, comb through the farm system and try to find three guys who will impact your team in the next 5 years.

9) You trade Dan Haren, Rich Harden, and Joe Blanton.

10) You fire both managers (both General and specific).

11) You spend $138 million and forget to improve your already bad bullpen.

12) You trade CC Sabathia and replace him with Anthony Reyes.

13) You call out another team's player and then realize he might be the answer to your problems.

14) Karma finally comes back to bite you for winning too damn much.

15) You trade for Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins even though you're almost 10 games out of even the Wild Card.

16) You probably should consider trading your 1 and 2 pitchers for about a gazillion prospects to rebuild your team, or build it for that matter because there is nothing there.

17) You claim Livan Hernandez off waivers and expect him to resurrect your pitching staff. Maybe literally hold them up on his shoulders, but not metaphorically.

So who am I talking about in each line? Answers tomorrow. You can skip 5, 6, 7, and 8 because they will take too long.

Rookie of the Year

We have about a month and a half left in the season, so it's time to look at who's putting themselves in position for awards at the end of the season. I think the one most people don't know much about is the Rookie of the Year Award. These guys aren't established players, so their names aren't as known. I'll go through each league to find the rookies making an impact this season.

American League

David Murphy (TEX) -> .275/.321/.465 15 HR 74 RBI 64 R 28 2B
Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS) -> .271/.333/.377 7 HR 33 RBI 68 R 37 SB
Evan Longoria (TAM) -> .278/.352/.533 22 HR 71 RBI 56 R 27 2B
Ben Francisco (CLE) -> .276/.335/.458 11 HR 42 RBI 46 R 24 2B

Armando Galarraga (DET) -> 10-4 3.22 ERA 125.1 IP 86 K
Nick Blackburn (MIN) -> 9-6 3.60 ERA 140 IP 71 K
Joba Chamberlain (NYY) -> 4-3 2.63 ERA 89 IP 12 H 104 K
Jim Johnson (BAL) -> 2-3 1.93 ERA 18 H 1 SV 60.1 IP 32 K
Jesse Carlson (TOR) -> 4-1 2.11 ERA 14 H 1 SV 42.2 IP 44 K
Jose Arrendondo (LAA) -> 4-0 0.95 ERA 12 H 38 IP 31 K
Brad Ziegler (OAK) -> 1-0 0.00 ERA 9 H 1 SV 37 IP 17 K

There are quite a few young guys making an impact for their teams. For the position players, I'll go ahead and knock it down to Murphy and Longoria, and while much more has been made of Longoria's success, Murphy actually has more run production (R + RBI). However, Longoria is the middle of the AL-leading Rays team, so I give him the nod over Murphy. Ellsbury and Francisco have played well, but they have to compete against two really good players.

For pitchers, Joba is the big name, but his injury will hurt (no pun intended) his stock. He is the most dominating of the pitchers, and had he started the entire season, he would probably be the clubhouse leader as we enter the final round. As a starter, he is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA, so while he was an absolutely dominant set-up guy, he has been an ace pitcher. Armando Galarraga somehow continues to fly under the radar, but with his numbers, he should get some serious consideration. Without him, the Tigers would be absolutely terrible instead of just mostly. Blackburn has been solid but not as good as Galarraga. Johnson has been good, but his K rate leaves a little to be desired. Carlson has been very good, but his ERA is the highest. Arrendondo has been very good and could be the closer next season for the Angels. Ziegler has become a media darling with his story, sidearm delivery, and scoreless streak. If he stretches it past Hershiser, he'll become the favorite pitcher.

National League

Kosuke Fukudome (CHC) -> .271/.372/.403 8 HR 42 RBI 67 R 22 2B
Joey Votto (CIN) -> .280/.345/.448 14 HR 53 RBI 45 R 21 2B
Geovany Soto (CHC) -> .278/.356/.488 17 HR 63 RBI 45 R 27 2B

Jair Jurrjens (ATL) -> 11-7 3.18 ERA 144.1 IP 103 K

Jorge Campillo (ATL) -> 7-4 2.83 ERA 114.1 IP 81 K
Kyle McClellan (STL) -> 2-5 2.73 ERA 26 H 1 SV 62.2 IP 51 K

There aren't so many choices in the NL that are outstanding players, which seems odd because the NL is the league considered to be the one shifting to younger players. For position players, the three up there are surprisingly close. Votto hasn't gotten much attention, but he's been very good. He and Jay Bruce will be a nice 3-4 combo in the near future. Fukudome and Soto are the big guns for Chicago. Fukudome has cooled, but the 67 R are still pretty impressive. The OBP is good, but the SLG needs to be a bit higher. Soto is probably the front-runner with his higher HR, 2B, and RBI totals, and he's no slouch in the BA and OBP areas.

For pitchers, there aren't many guys with a lot of innings who have done real well. Jurrjens is probably the front-runner, and at age 22, he is ahead of his time. Watching him has been a joy in an otherwise terrible Braves season (similar to Galarraga for Detroit). Campillo has been a pleasant surprise, but I bet you couldn't find 15 regular baseball fans who know who the hell he is. McClellan's numbers have been very good and one of the few bright spots in the St. Louis bullpen, but he hasn't been dominant enough to warrant too much consideration.

The winners ---> Evan Longoria and Geovany Soto

We love offense don't we?

Barry Bonds to Be an Astro?

Update: Wade said that Barry Bonds is not option. Smart man ... for once.
With Carlos Lee out for the season, Richard Justice thinks the Astros should sign Barry Bonds. In other words, Justice is out of his mind.

First, this would be another bizarre move from the Astros organization as they sit 12.5 out of first and 8.5 out of the Wild Card. What the hell makes you think the Astros have a chance? The Rockies? There's a reason that their run was "improbable". No one usually does it. It shouldn't give a team hope. It should tell them that it happened last year, so it definitely will not happen this year. Maybe Bonds makes them better, but that appears to be a moot point at the moment. Everyone (even the Braves right now) puts together runs at some point.

Second, why is Jeff Kent a good clubhouse guy? He gets into a fight with Barry Bonds in San Francisco. Last year, he was a problem when the Dodgers self-destructed between the "old guys who still think they're 30" and the "new guys who think they've proven themselves".

Third, one offensive player doesn't mean an automatic move up in the standings. Remember Mark Teixeira last season? He hit out of his mind for the last two months, and the Braves didn't budge.

Fourth, why do you want the entire country talking about how you're under .500 and still wasting money on a guy who will be rusty, poor defensive player, and is only playing for himself?

Fifth, Barry Bonds may be the best hitter that ever lived, but is he still that hitter? He only hit .276 last season, and his HR and RBI totals dropped from 2003 when he played in roughly the same amount of games while also hitting .341. Now, you want him to show up to the park and instantly bring you back into contention?

I'll concede that the Astros will make more money from him than they'd have lost on his salary. People would show up for games, buy hot dogs, and buy jerseys. In the long run, this does nothing to help the organization. Use the money to sign draft picks who could help the long-term health of the team. If the Rays or Red Sox wanted to sign him, I would understand, but not the Astros. At least the Rays and Red Sox have a chance to play in the postseason.

That Has to Be the Ugliest Half Inning I Have Ever Seen

And surprisingly, it wasn't the Braves who were at fault. At least, they weren't the ones who weren't the ones losing out. I was watching tonight's Braves game against the Diamondbacks, and it was 3-2 D-Backs in the top of the sixth. First, Kotchman lines a ball into right, but it was right at Romero. Infante then comes up and hits a dribbler towards Reynolds, who can't pick the ball off the ground to make the play. Kotsay comes up and hits the ball down the left field line for a double, but the call was questionable as to if it was fair or not. Melvin came out to argue but to no avail. Kelly Johnson, who struck out four times, somehow hit the ball, which was an inch from the ground, down the first base line. The ball hits off a diving Tracy glove and skids into foul territory allowing Infante and Kotsay to score. Haren then lets Jurrjens poke a ball for a single. Melvin decides that Haren has had enough, so he brings in Juan Cruz. All hell breaks lose. Cruz throws four balls, none of which are within a foot or two of the strike zone, to Blanco. He then throws two balls and one strike to Escobar before Cruz hits him in the arm. Then, Cruz makes Chipper look silly and strikes him out to get two outs. So to recap, there are two outs and bases loaded for Brian McCann. It gets to a 3-2 count before McCann lines a ball down the left-field line. Reynolds dives, the ball hits off his glove, he runs to get it while two runs score, throws it past Drew (who was covering third base), Cruz runs to it, throws to second, the ball gets into center field, Hudson dives for it but McCann's slide comes between Hudson and the ball, Hudson's glove hits McCann, his wrist breaks, and another run scores. Hudson rolls around until the trainer takes him off the field while stabilizing the arm. Before the next pitch, McCann steals third as Cruz forgets to pay attention. Cruz throws it to third, but Reynolds can't get to a bad throw and turns his ankle attempting to get away from a sliding McCann. McCann scores, but Reynolds was not seriously hurt and stayed in the game (if he had been hurt, McCann may have needed bodyguards for the next day). To finish it off, Kotchman pops out.

I have never seen an inning quite like that. In the next inning, Jackson slid into the wall down the left-field line, but he wasn't hurt. Melvin had to be sitting in the dugout thinking "Please God let this night end". The Arizona bullpen was pretty ugly on its own while giving up 5 runs in 3 and 2/3 innings. You know its bad in Arizona when you make the Braves look good.

During the broadcast, the D-Back announcers kept talking about how good they looked (except for Escobar letting a ball go through his legs). Obviously, he hasn't watched the Braves very much.

Jeff Samardzija as a Man to Cheer for

Ken Rosenthal is the man when it comes to baseball, and today (or yesterday maybe according to the confusing link), he wrote an article on Jeff Samardzija. He was the Notre Dame receiver who was an All-American at his position. He was a fifth-round draft pick by the Cubs, but he probably would have been a first-round NFL pick. Count me among the people who thought he was an utter moron for just staying with baseball. I thought his future and fame rested on those big mitts, but I was wrong about how he would use those hands. Instead of catching oblongs balls, he has been throwing (no ... launching) spheroids. Even though I thought he was making a mistake, I was happy to see someone choose baseball over football (I love football, but I couldn't leave without baseball). Now, I'm happy that he is making a name for himself on the baseball diamond. At the beginnning, scouts said he was a little rough, but apparently, he's ironed some things out. Even though he's a Cub, Mr. Samardzija has earned a new fan in me and several million in Chicago.

Oliver Perez as the Human Enigma

Oliver Perez dominated the Marlins last night by going 7 innings and striking out 8 while giving up only 2 hits and 3 walks. It's this kind of start that will get him $13-15 million for the next 3-5 seasons. While you can't be that good every night, he's the very definition of feast or famine. In April, he either gave up 0 runs (3 starts) or 5+ runs (3 starts). May was a bit more usual as he gave up between 2-5 runs in each, so none were outstanding or particularly awful. In June, he was back to his old tricks by either giving up 1 run (3 starts) or 4-6 runs (3 starts). His July was truly outstanding as he gave up 0 runs (once), 1 run (3 times), or 3 runs (once) for a 1.38 ERA. In August, he's given up 4 runs or 0 runs (both once). While he's inconsistent, he's only 26 (he'll turn 27 next week), so he's still pretty young. On the season, he's 8-7, which isn't particularly good, but you really can't look at those numbers to indicate success. His ERA is 3.90 (pretty good, maybe worthy of a 3 starter). He's struck out 123 in 136 innings (I'll take that any day). The big knock on him seems to be that he walks more than 1 every 2 innings (not good at all), and that he's never thrown 200+ innings. He doesn't give up a lot of hits (114 in 136 innings), but his WHIP is 1.35 because of the walks. His 2004 season (12-10, 2.99 ERA, 238 K) was outstanding, but he hasn't been able to live up to that since. Last year (15-10, 3.50 ERA, 174 K) was a definite step in the right direction. With a good two months down the stretch, Perez could earn himself a lot of money. It will be the difference between turning the corner in his career and continuing to be the enigma. What will he be?

Giles Blocks Trade to Red Sox

See how happy he is to stay on the worst team in baseball?

Brian Giles blocked the trade to the Red Sox, which was expected. I think this was a good decision by Giles as I would also pass up a World Series ring for more playing time on a crappy team. Sounds like a great decision. No one wants a three month vacation to Boston anyway.

Run Differentials

Okay, so I'm bored this afternoon, so sue me (no, not you Shyster). Anyway, I was looking at the standings and playing around with it. I see the run differential column, so I find the date switcher-thingy and turn the clock back to last year. Here's what I found:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays --> -169
Tampa Bay Rays --> + 54
Uh, what?!? I guess dissociating yourself from Satan tends to turn things around.

Arizona (2007) --> -30
Arizona (2008) --> +25
And they're worse now.

St. Louis (2007) --> -103
St. Louis (2008) --> +31
And that's with a no-name pitching staff and Pujols missing a few weeks.

San Diego (2007) --> +52
San Diego (2008) --> -111
Going the wrong way. Make a U-turn at SigningguyslikeEdmonds and go straight towards GettingBurrell.

Chi Sox (2007) --> -93
Chi Sox (2008) --> +66
Oh, that's what happens when John Danks pitches like a former top prospect. Now I get it.

LA Angels (2007) --> +68
LA Angels (2008) --> +49
And they're better now?

Chi Cubs (2007) --> +44
Chi Cubs (2008) --> +143
Now, that's impressive.

Boston (2007) --> +129
Boston (2008) --> +107
They're worse because Manny left.

Oakland (2007) --> + 11
Oakland (2008) --> +15
Damn, that's consistency for you. Too bad they don't have a better record.

San Fran (2007) --> -7
San Fran (2008) --> -90
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what happens when we take you off steroids.

Toronto (2007) --> + 39
Toronto (2008) --> + 41
Sorry Oakland, you lose the contest by two runs.

The Yankees almost have identical records (63-51 to this year's 63-52).

Most of this just shows us how things change in a year. Younger players get better. Older ones get worse. Injuries suck.

Braves fans hold out hope. We can be next year's Rays. Now to remove the Devil from Devil Braves.

Rafael Soriano to See Andrews

He can't do this anymore, for several reasons.

Over the past few days (especially with The Joba Situation), Dr. Andrews continues to get his infamous ... fame. After the Braves have already sent a slew of their team to see him, Rafael Soriano was sent to see him today. Yippee! He's battled elbow problems all season, so this isn't a surprise. Actually, I'm surprised to see that it hadn't happened yet. Well, now that he's gone, we can look forward to try to find a suitable replacement next year for the set-up man. Sounds like we just need to keep Ohman and plug him in there. He's been fantastic anyway. Honestly, the Braves should just hire Andrews to be the team trainer just to cut out the middle man. So who's next? Ooo, ooo, Jeff Francoeur! Maybe that would explain his dismal (to put it lightly) performance this season. Blaine Boyer will probably need him next season after already throwing his 62nd game of the season last night. If you didn't watch the game, Mark Grace and the other broadcaster were absolutely hilarious when talking about that. Anyone else?

Poor Man

Roger Clemens has asked the court to make sure the defamation suit against Brian McNamee stays in Texas instead of New York, where the incident may or may not have occurred. Personally, I don't care where this takes place and whether or not he's found guilty. I feel for the man judging the case. At the bottom of the article on Yahoo!'s website, it states that US District Judge Keith P. Ellison is the judge for the case. Sorry, Mr. Ellison but your email box is going to be a bit full over the next little bit with hate mail, threats, and the occasional blessing. Not that people couldn't necessarily find the information anyway but still.

On a sort of related note, should people start questioning Mike Mussina and his use of steroids after his 15th win last night? I mean, the main evidence against Clemens is how his performance held up through his career into his forties. At age 39, Mike Mussina is still putting up ace numbers (15-7, 3.27 ERA, 96 K) after last season's dismal 11-10 record with a 5.15 ERA and 91 K. Hmm, seems a bit odd doesn't it? Maybe not, but in the world in which we live, we ask these types of questions.

Again, Am I Missing Something?

After reading Rob Neyer's article on Jacoby Ellsbury, I started looking through his stats. What do I see? A really weird anomaly with his walks. In April, he had 13. In May, he had 14. Since, he's had 5. Wow. How do you explain that? Is he all the sudden much more aggressive? In his 60 AB's since the break, he's had a whopping zero walks. ZERO! Hmm. Anyone?

Am I Missing Something?

The Boston Red Sox claimed Brian Giles off waivers from the Padres. While it remains to be seen if a deal can be worked out and if Giles will waive his no-trade clause, it is a very real possibility that he could be a Red Sox tomorrow. My question is why. You already have a glut of outfielders and no real place to put Giles. He is going to make $9 million next season, and they would be on the hook for the remainder of his salary for this season. $9 million isn't a lot for the Red Sox, but it is a lot for a bench warmer. With Bay, Ellsbury, and Drew, Giles is just an insurance option and pinch hitter who gives you a good average and OBP. Is this to keep the Rays from getting him? Probably not as Giles really isn't the "right-handed power bat" that the Rays wanted as he is left-handed and a contact hitter at this point in his career. So I doubt that scenario. Did the Angels want him? Again, I don't think so with their already old and sort of useless outfield (which I guess could be a reason that the Angels could claim him, but I still doubt that the Red Sox "fear" Brian Giles in any way), and Giles wouldn't add much more than OBP and walks. It has to be that the Red Sox really want him, but I can't figure out why. Would they trade him this offseason to get the prospect back? That seems pointless. You can talk about Lowell and Ortiz and their injury concerns, but it doesn't really matter much. Okay, so Giles would take over the DH spot in those situations, but isn't Sean Casey the same type of player (.354/.414/.444 as opposed to Giles' .295/.390/.423)? Or are one of the outfielders (maybe Drew) hiding an injury that the Red Sox are slightly concerned about? This just doesn't seem to make much sense.

The Future of the Braves

It seems as though everyone is jumping on the "hate the Braves and watch them burn" bandwagon. After 14 years of success, it was bound to happen. Now, John Donovan is reminding everyone that the Braves are not only bad this year, but most likely, they will be bad next year and a few years after that as well. Fair enough. I could see his point, but I like to argue. Therefore, I'll give you a different point of view that is as unbiased a Braves' perspective as possible (which means that it will be fairly unbiased, but I can't promise complete lack of bias). The Braves can indeed contend next season.

Let's start with the lineup because at least that's less muddled than the pitching staff. I'll go around the diamond. Behind the plate, Brian McCann is a three-time All-Star and the future leader of this team, and he won't be going anywhere for a very long time. He'll most likely hit fifth next year unless the Braves fail to grab a power-hitter this offseason, and in that case, he'll probably hit fourth. At first, the Braves have Casey Kotchman who is a downgrade from Teixeira, but when you figure in salary, it isn't too bad. Kotchman has a bright future, but he won't make many All-Star teams. He'll likely hit .290 with around 20 HR next season and top out around 25 by the time he leaves after 2011. He'll likely hit sixth. At second, Kelly Johnson continues to get better offensively but struggle defensively. As he begins to enter his prime, one can look for a .280 average with 15-20 HR for next season. Pretty good for a second baseman, and he'll hit eighth. Yunel Escobar will play short, and he has the brightest future outside of McCann. However, he'll need a bit more power to be an All-Star unless his BA rises, but he's still going to be good. He'll continue to hit second in the order and do it well. Chipper again will be playing third, but the question becomes for how many games. If he can play 140 games, he'll be very effective. The outfield brings questions. In left, no one knows who will be there, but with Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn available, the Braves can make a significant offensive upgrade but lose defense. They would hit fourth. If it ends up not being either of those and the Braves need an in-house option, Brandon Jones could be an answer, but he doesn't exactly scream power. In Mississippi, Reid Gorecki is having a decent year, but at age 28, he hardly inspires confidence. The Braves need outside help on this one. In center, Gregor Blanco has earned the nod in center and in the leadoff spot. Plus, he adds much needed speed to the lineup. There's no reason to go outside for a center-fielder, but in-house guys such as Josh Anderson and Jordan Schafer could steal the job. In right, they'll have Jeff Francoeur. There are two possible directions for him. Either he'll snap out of it and rediscover '07 with the help of McCann this offseason, or he'll be stubborn and continue his collapse. I'll be optimistic, but he still doesn't inspire thoughts of .270 with 20 HR, although I think it's definitely possible. He has the talent, and as most scouts say, if he could do it once, he can do it again. This offseason, he needs to forget the weight room and enter the batting cage. Overall, this lineup isn't terrible. If they can add Wren's "one piece" in a power-hitter for the four spot, the lineup will look a lot like this year, which should have been good but we all know how that turned out. Essentially, the four spot (LF) would equal Tex, but Kotchman brings an upgrade to our left field situation. A better Frenchy would be the final key. Again, it doesn't inspire too much confidence, but I can see what Wren means by being a piece away here. The problem becomes what type of offense we are. Right now, the Braves are a power-hitting mentality in a semi-power body. Either they need to add power or add speed. One thought would be to trade Johnson and a throw in like Chuck James for a good young power-hitter or a young pitcher (either a really good reliever type or a pretty good starter), and then bring up Lillibridge to add speed and a better glove (he supposedly has good pop, but the average may be worse; still, it would be worth a chance). The future power is unfortunately in Single A right now in Freddy Freeman and Jason Heyward, so they won't be here for at least two more years (AA next year and AAA the year after if they don't hide them too long in High A next year). Tyler Flowers could bring power, but as a catcher/first baseman, he doesn't seem to have a spot unless he can play LF (they'll suffer the defense for the offense he could generate).

As for the bench, things look good. Sammons will be the backup, and he should be an upgrade to Corky Miller. Infante needs to stay and continue to be the utility guy. Nitram Odarp will also be an excellent backup infielder. Greg Norton will then be a good guy to keep and add power off the bench as well as his defensive versatility. Next, Josh Anderson would be a great guy to bring up to utilize his speed and defense in the outfield to handcuff with Dunn or Burrell.

In the rotation, the Braves need serious help. With Hudson out for all of next year (I'm being pessimistic here), they need an ace. Luckily, a few will be available in the offseason in Sabathia, Sheets, and Burnett. I'll cross Burnett out now. One of Sabathia and Sheets would be a great start. That would leave Sabathia/Sheets, Jurrjens, Campillo, Morton, and Reyes/Tommy Hanson (a really good AA guy having an outstanding year; with the Braves pushing pitchers, he could very well be here next year). I'd be more comfortable adding a decent guy like Derek Lowe, who has pitched extremely well and with his age he won't command more than 3 years, to help the rotation. At that point, the rotation would be Sabathia/Sheets, Lowe, Jurrjens, Campillo, and Morton/Hanson. That would be pretty good, but it still has its problems. Sheets (or Sabathia because of workload) could get hurt, but all pitchers could get hurt. Lowe could become 36 and stink up the joint. Jurrjens may not be ready for the responsibility, but I have complete faith in him. Campillo could realize he's a Mexican leaguer, and the rest of the NL could kill him. Yet, I like his chances with that changeup and his determination (I love Campy). Morton hasn't been terribly impressive, but he's had signs of brilliance. Hanson is young and inexperienced, but if he's the best you got, he's the best you got. Overall, the rotation could be pretty good, but we're all out of depth.

As for the bullpen, oh God. Gonzalez could be a very good closer, and at a year and months after TJ, his arm should be healthy. Soriano needs to be shut down, but he still may not be completely healthy with his history. Moylan may not be back until May, but he may not be effective until probably June or July, if then. Boyer has been durable this year, but we all know when guys make a jump in innings in one year (Injuries!). Bennett has been great for the Braves and should be the long reliever again. After that, the Braves have a few options. They could bring back Ohman, but I doubt they'll do that. Another is Jorge Julio, who has been great but still has control problems, but he wouldn't be bad for middle relief. Phil Stockman and Zach Schreiber could also come in with their great stints in Richmond. Don't forget about Acosta (or maybe we should). The question becomes a left-handed reliever other than Gonzalez. Would Reyes be a thought? Could the bullpen increase his productivity? Is it too early to change him? The bullpen could very well be a strength next year, especially if the rotation can pitch more innings, which if the rotation looks as described above, it very well could.

Is Wren being too optimistic with his "few pieces" approach? Maybe. The Braves are only a few "pieces" away, but unfortunately, those pieces are more like chunks. They need a power-hitting LF, ace SP, and a reliable and good SP. The problem will be the competition to get these pieces as they won't be the only ones after them. Yet, the Braves will have about $40 mil to play with, so there won't be any excuses. If Wren is willing to spend, this team can contend (like the rhyme).

Blanco CF
Escobar SS
Jones 3B
Dunn/Burrell/trade guy LF
McCann C
Kotchman 1B
Francoeur RF
Johnson/Lillibridge 2B

Sheets/Sabathia
Lowe ?
Jurrjens
Campillo
Morton/Reyes/Hanson/trade guy

Gonzalez CP
Soriano SU
Moylan SU
Boyer
Bennett
Ohman?
Julio/Schreiber/Stockman/Acosta/random pickup(s)/Reyes?

Trade Bait --> Johnson/Lillibridge, James/Reyes/Morton, Anderson/Blanco, Francoeur (although they'd be selling really low)

Remember Fernando Tatis?

I do, I think. He's the guy who hit two Grand Slams in the same inning for the Cardinals a couple years ago right? He's only had one good season (1999) in which he hit .298/.404/.553 with 34 HR and 107 RBI. Other than that, he's never topped .276/.379/.491, 18 HR, and 64 RBI (most of which occurred in 2000). In other words, he was a one-hit wonder who didn't even play last season. Yet, he's back and kickin' in a Mets uniform with a .316/.361/.531 line and 9 HR and 33 RBI in 61 games. Last night, he hit two home runs and bailed the Mets out again. Maybe, just maybe, he's the power-hitting corner outfielder the Mets needed. Then again, you'll probably have go find the steroids he was probably using in 1999.

On Behalf of the Closer

Jim Caple wrote an interesting and well-written article today about how saves are overrated and so are the closers who garner them. In a half-devil's advocate mood, here's my response in favor of closers.

First off, the save is an overrated statistic. At least in that it equates "saving" a three-run lead with a one-run lead, it is overrated and false. If you want a "save", they should change it to coming in with a one-run lead and leaving with that one-run lead, but it shouldn't matter what inning one comes in during. Maybe have the hold mean from innings 1-8 and the save for the ninth because I still think closers are not overrated. However, that saving a game means coming in at the beginning of the ninth inning with a three-run lead is a bit ludicrous. I could probably come in and do that. No, I want to see the guys who buckle down and don't allow that run to cross in those close-and-late situations. Give me the guy who can stand up when the pressure's on and shut down the other team. Because according to saves, Francisco Rodriguez is better than Joe Nathan even though Nathan's ERA is half of K-Rod's. Which would you rather have? I'll take Nathan. Add in that Nathan has walked almost three times fewer hitters and has almost as many K's in fewer innings, and Nathan seems the better choice. No, show me the guy who can come in with a one-run lead in the ninth and shut the door. Is the save statistic overrated? Yes, but not the closer.

Why can I say this when the save and the closer are inextricably linked? Because they don't have to be. Just because they represent the statistic doesn't mean they are the statistic. It would be like saying that peanut butter is bad because a PB&J sandwich is bad. It's not the peanut butter's fault. It's the jelly's, but the two are always linked.

So why is the closer not overrated? Why do we want to save that one guy for the ninth inning? The seventh inning and the ninth inning both have 3 outs, and if the 3-4-5 batters are up in the 7th, shouldn't the closer pitch then than against the 9-1-2 hitters of the ninth? If you have bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning, wouldn't you want your best pitcher out there finishing that situation instead of coming in with no one out in the ninth? My answer is simply no.

Well, the seventh and ninth innings do have 3 outs each, but my point is the timing of the inning. In the back of the hitter's mind in the seventh inning is, "I'll still have one more chance if I screw this up." They may have another chance given that it is unlikely the next two innings will go by 1-2-3. In the ninth inning, the hitter knows this is his last shot. If they are down, he has to come through. The adrenaline pumps, the focus level goes up, and the determination goes up. You can't tell me the hitter isn't more focused in the ninth inning. Now, whether or not he succumbs to the pressure is another story. I want my best pitcher facing that pressure, that focus, and that determination. I want the guy with the biggest fastball, the nastiest slider to take them out. You need the high cheese or the low and off the corner slider to counter the adrenaline. You need the better stuff to counter the focus. You need the pitcher's determination to equal the hitter's. Some can handle it. Others can't. Should he only pitch the ninth? Maybe not. Maybe he should pitch the seventh or eighth along with the ninth, but he should be there with the game on the line in the ninth. Closers in college go longer times than professionals do, and granted, the seasons are shorter. Yet, if you're team needs the victory, shouldn't you (as the closer) pitch an extra inning. Sure, but that's not necessarily what we're talking about. You need the guy in the ninth. The guy who hungers for the chance, who hungers for the opportunity, whose competitive drive may make him crazy one day. If you want to win, you need that guy. There's no worse feeling in baseball than leading after eight, long innings to all the sudden lose it in the ninth. It kills the series. It kills any momentum. It causes doubt to creep into the players' minds the next time they lead after eight. They begin to doubt themselves. The closer is the guy to end that. The guy who inspires faith and fear. He's the guy you don't want to face. Is he going to throw the 96 mph heater or the devasting 88 mph slider? You don't know, but both scare the hell out of you.

Leave the set-up guys for the other situations. The ones willing to accept that they can fail because someone can bail them out next inning. Sorry, the closer is not overrated.

Joba Hurt

Joba hurt his shoulder last night against the Texas Rangers in the fifth inning. I watched it happen, and it didn't seem too bad. He wasn't freaked out or anything, but what the hell do I know? Tim Hudson wasn't worried about his elbow either. This could make things interesting for the Yankees as Wang isn't back yet, and no one is really sure if he'll be back. I predicted yesterday that a key Yankee would get hurt, but I didn't think it would be him. Just goes to show you how baseball works. At one moment, you're fine and cruising along, and the next, you give up a three-run homer and hurt your shoulder a batter later.

By the way, Hank Steinbrenner criticizes the MLB for continuing with a stupid, ancient rule made up in the 1800's that they have to play 9 innings. "If we didn't have to play nine innings, then my pitcher wouldn't have gotten hurt. It's a dumb rule made up in the 1800's, and it needs to stop. We should end the game after 4 innings."

You Know You Have Had a Bad Season When ...

I see a headline on SI.com that says "CF Jones to have CAT scan on foot", and I think of Adam (not "Pacman") Jones of the Orioles instead of Andruw Jones. Now, there's an O's news next to that link, but it wasn't there when I first saw it. Therefore, it was Adam Jones who is hurt, but that's beside the point. I'm not sure what this tells me. Maybe it's just how far Andruw has fallen in the past year and a half. Before 2007, we figured he'd get 7 years/$140 million, but he ended up getting 2/36. Now, he could be on the way to the minors. It makes me wonder if he'll be a Hall of Famer. His Gold Gloves and HR's should be impressive, but his fall from grace could spell the end of that thought. Is he such an afterthought to everyone else?

Around the Turn ...

I'm bored and decided I would handicap the playoff push for each division and the Wild Card races.

NL EAST --> Philadelphia Phillies

When I look at the New York Mets and the Florida Marlins, I begin to wonder how they're still around. Florida has the third worst ERA in the NL. However, they still have that very good offense (who needs Cabrera right?). The Mets are 7th in the NL in ERA, which isn't terrible but not division-winning either. Yet, they have a good offense, too. Actually, the Mets and Marlins are 6th and 7th respectively in runs scored while Philadelphia is 4th in team ERA and 2nd in runs scored. It seems like a no-brainer. Yet, I somehow wonder if this is the real Brett Myers. My heart tells me this is just one of those three game stretches that even Kyle Davies has, but I'm not sure. Still, Philadelphia is the best of the three remaining. They have the better offense and much better bullpen. The question comes in the starting rotation, which with Florida should be getting better with Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez coming back. Will they make that big of a difference? I hope so, but I doubt it.

NL CENTRAL --> Chicago Cubs

As much as I hate to say it, the Cubs are the best team in the NL. When they get Wood back from his DL stint, they'll be even better, and Wood will have had a nice rest. The Brewers tried to make things interesting with Sabathia, but Harden has been just as impressive. The Cardinals are somehow sticking around, and with Pujols, they always have a shot. But, 6 games back is a lot to overcome in the final two months. They'll need a big boost from Chris Carpenter to get there. If he can get back to close to his normal self in two weeks, the Cards might be worth watching out for. However, the Cubs have the best offense and 2nd best ERA in the NL. Hard to beat.

NL WEST --> Los Angeles Dodgers

Who here thinks Jason Bay would've looked really good in a D-Backs uni, especially because that would've meant that Manny wouldn't hav ended up in LA? That one player, even as much as I dislike him, is enough to push the Dodgers over the top. If anything, they at least have more confidence. Now, all they need to do is demote Andruw and stop playing Pierre, and their problems are solved. Not so fast, Arizona has a slightly higher ERA and a few more runs scored than the Dodgers (I realize that runs scored isn't the best way to look at offense, but bear with me anyway). If Justin Upton can heat up like he did in April, look out. However, the Dodgers seem to be the better team as their pitching shouldn't decline, but Manny will help the offense.

NL WILD CARD --> Milwaukee Brewers

It's really between the Brewers and the Cardinals. One of them made an important move, and the other stayed put. Yet, the Cardinals are getting Carpenter back. So who do you take? A healthy but heavily (no pun intended) used Sabathia or a recently healthy but rusty Carpenter? I'll take Sabathia. The offenses are pretty similar and both have their bullpen issues, but Sabathia makes a big (pun intended) difference. Then again, if Wainwright comes back healthy, the Cardinals will make this interesting.

AL EAST --> Tampa Bay Rays

Call this a hunch. I say the Rays stick it out through the rest of the season as their team holds up better than the Yankees physically and the Red Sox can't quite make up the difference. I don't know why. Everything points to the Red Sox coming back and winning, but I have this feeling that Longoria gets a big hit late in September to keep them afloat. Maybe Rocco Baldelli comes back and contributes as well. The Red Sox get close, but the Yankees have an injury or two to the older guys and fall from the race, just barely.

AL CENTRAL --> Chicago White Sox

I know the Twins just got Liriano back, but I still think the White Sox staff is better. As for offense, neither is inspiring, but I'll take the Sox and their better bullpen. Detroit won't get there as I predicted before the season. They just don't have what it takes this year.

AL WEST --> Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, of Orange County, of California, of the United States, of North America, of the Western Hemisphere, of the World, of the Milky Way Galaxy, of the Universe

I had to make that long because this division is too easy to call that it makes me think something's going to happen.

AL WILD CARD --> Boston Red Sox

For reasons stated in AL EAST

R.I.P. Skip Caray

I can't believe he's gone. This is the man who I grew up on, listening to him during the Braves games on TBS. Although sometimes I wondered what the heck he was talking about, he was a great man who will be missed. I have MLB.tv now that TBS no longer plays Braves games, and he was on Peachtree TV and FSN South doing Braves games. The other night, his son Chip and the other guy, whose name I can't remember, were jokingly yelling at Skip for stealing their pizza. It just doesn't seem possible that things happened so quickly. Although he had a major illness not too long ago, he seemed perfectly healthy. There should have been warning signs. There should have been more years of Skip Caray doing Braves games. He and Joe Simpson helped teach me baseball, although I still yell at the TV screen when they get off on random tangents. I used to wonder how people were so sad when a broadcaster died. Mostly, the problem was that I didn't know them or remember them, so it didn't matter to me. Last night, I realized how that works. It hasn't quite sunk in yet, but when I watch the Braves game tonight, it will.

Manny's First Gaffe

So, it's three days in, and Manny is already being, well, Manny. Chris Burke hit a drive through the infield, and then it made it through Manny and all the way to the wall. Now, they're in Los Angeles which has grass. How exactly does this make it to the wall? I love Chris Burke. He went to my high school, and he's kind of a legend. But seriously, Chris couldn't be that strong. Before you think that I'm criticizing Manny's effort (which may deserve to be questioned), I'm not. I'm criticizing his defense. How many of us think that Bay would have made that play and kept him to a single?

Also, I have never heard so many back-handed insults aimed at one player who definitely didn't deserve them. Everyone keeps saying, "He's [Jason Bay] good, but he's not Manny." What the heck do you mean? Do you want to compare Bay and Ramirez's stats for the season because they're almost identical? Do you want to compare defense because it's not even close? Do you want to argue over who is most likely to quit on his team because it's definitely not Bay? The only ... only ... thing Manny has on Bay is playoff experience. For all those who want to say that Manny is the guy you fear and the guy to hit 40 HR and 120 RBI, he's not that guy anymore. It's like expecting Greg Maddux to win 20 games and have a 2.18 ERA in 268 IP again. He's not that pitcher anymore, just like Manny isn't the 40 HR guy anymore. Hell, it's possible that he won't hit 30 this season. At age 36, he's only going to get worse. At age 29, Bay should be very good for the next few years and slowly decrease in about 4 years. Which do you really want? How do you know Bay won't come through in the playoffs? He's handled the pressure well so far. At some point, you have to stop thinking of Manny as what he was and start thinking of what he is. He ISN'T what he used to be. Sorry, but it's true.

Winners and Losers at the Deadline

Just because I can.

Los Angeles Dodgers (>)
They made an instant upgrade offensively in what makes them a favorite in the terrible NL West. They didn't seem to want Andy LaRoche (whether or not they should is a different story), and Bryan Morris seems like an intriguing arm. However, they gave up two prospects for Manny Ramirez and millions of dollars. Sounds like a good deal to me. Now, what are they going to do next year when they still have Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones taking up a spot in the outfield?

Boston Red Sox (-)
Anyone else think they gave up a lot for Jason Bay? Manny Ramirez, millions of dollars, aaaannnddd two prospects. Considering that Bay has the same stats as Ramirez, getting Bay isn't a bad idea, but why are you paying one of the richest teams in baseball to take Ramirez? Obviously, they were desperate. I feel sorry for Bay because no matter what he does, he's toast if they don't win the World Series. They'll say Manny could have done better. In the four games they'll play in the first round and lose, Bay can hit 6-14 with 2 HR and 5 RBI, but everyone will say that Ramirez would have hit 8-14 with 3 HR and 9 RBI even though he hit 1-12 in his series with the Dodgers. In Bay, the Red Sox solve their problems of a power bat in left field for years to come because as long as he does well, he won't be nearly as expensive as Ramirez with about the same production. As for the prospects, Moss is not considered to be more than a fourth outfielder, and Hansen has stunk in the Majors. Therefore, they got a new left fielder who will work hard and still kept all their good prospects.

Pittsburgh Pirates (>)
This could end very badly for Pittsburgh. They were on the verge of being good, and they trade away their best players. Granted, they got some good prospects, but what are the odds of any of them actually being good (especially good enough to lead the Pirates out of the gutter) in the Majors. Something tells me, this team was one or two good starting pitchers from a pretty good team (ok, maybe just okay). They should have traded McCutchen for a young stud starting pitcher. However, they did get a bunch of really good prospects for Nady, Marte, and Bay, so no one can really blame them. At least Huntington is trying. Who's also glad that the Pirates ownership nixed the Braves trade?

Florida Marlins (<)
You had your chance. You're in it in a division where no one really wants to win, and you did nothing except bring in Arthur Rhodes. I like Rhodes, but they gave up essentially a younger right-handed version for him. They didn't address their catching needs. They didn't get a starting pitcher. But they did keep Hermida, Volstad, and Stanton, so that's a plus. But that plus is for the future, not this season.

Atlanta Braves (-)
Got a decent young first baseman for the next three years until Freddy Freeman or Jason Heyward is ready for a guy they didn't need anymore. They also added an intriguing arm for the bullpen. The only part I really like about this trade is the Braves got a MLB-proven guy out of it.

New York Yankees (>)
They got Nady, Marte, and Pudge for four prospects and Kyle Farnsworth. What's not to like about these trades? They essentially switched Farnsworth for Marte, which can't be a bad thing. They got Pudge instead of a Molina or Chad Moeller, which unless last night was an indication shouldn't be a bad thing especially come the playoffs. And they added Nady to give them more offense which they kind of (?) needed. At least, he's a better defender than, well, everyone but Abreu. They still kept their young core of Hughes, Kennedy, and Jackson.

Los Angeles Angels (-)
They added a power bat for 2 months of kicking around the AL West for a young first baseman that they would have had for three years and a young bullpen arm they don't need. If they win the World Series, everything will be justified. Maybe. Because Tex still has to, you know, help win the World Series. He has to do something, and if his performances in Atlanta and Texas are anything, he may not show up. Otherwise, he isn't an upgrade to Kotchman. Also, re-signing him doesn't count as they could do that after the season anyway.

Tampa Bay, Arizona, St. Louis, New York Mets, Minnesota, Colorado (-)
You are all in the race, and you did nothing ... nothing. However, the races remain to be seen, and sometimes, doing nothing is the right thing to do. Yet, some of these teams really needed something. Tampa less so, but it could have used a SP and OF with power. Arizona needed some power, but they refused to part with anything at all (a good move for their future). St. Louis, NYM, and Minnesota have definite needs that they didn't address, and therefore, I don't think any of them will make the playoffs. Colorado needs to get off this "We'll win 30 games in a row again this year" kick and trade Holliday while no one knows he won't hit for power outside Denver and Fuentes before anyone realizes he isn't particularly good, but they look good for next year now.

Just Keep It in Your Stands

This is what makes me angry about sports fans. They throw things on to the field, like they did in Minnesota last night. I understand that you felt the umpire made a bad call and may have wrung up your manager pretty quickly, but seriously, why throw things? You almost made your team forfeit the game, endangered the players on the field, endangered the bat boys and security guards as well, and will probably receive some sort of punishment like not getting beer after the 6th (Did alcohol play a role; I doubt it, but they might use it as an excuse). This is the point: it's just a game. There is no need to throw things. It also makes me wonder how much stuff didn't make it onto the field. How much hit someone in the stands? Please stop taking everything so seriously and as a personal slight. There is no reason to throw crap on the field. If you are going to do things like this, throw them at home and break your own TV.

I Really Did Try But ...

It's always funny when I read post-Deadline articles that reference GM's around baseball. In this one from SI.com, several of them say, "We tried to get (insert name here), but they just wanted too much." Isn't this just another way of saying either "Our farm system sucks and couldn't afford to give up our really good ones," or "We didn't really try, but I'm saying this to get you off my freaking back." I mean, really, did they really try? Can we find out if they did? They all do it, so they aren't going to sell each other out. I don't want your excuses. I want your reasons for holding on to Will Ohman. Oh, you couldn't really get anything good for him, at least not as much as that supplemental draft pick you'll need when we re-sign those two big pitchers this offseason. Okay, that sounds fine. That's a reason. Not, we need an outfielder, so we refused to give up anything for Raúl Ibañez. That makes no sense. If it was the farm system, just admit you're a terrible GM.

Also, what's with everyone not wanting to give up prospects. If you're getting a good MLB player that has proved himself, isn't that better than a No.1 prospect that might be decent? I guess I wouldn't give up a No.1 for Joe Blanton, but if Jason Bay was hanging around, I think I'd do it.