Tagged: Jason Bay
Return of the Sting
While the Yankees settle in to play their required subway series set against the Mets, the former NY franchise known as the Dodgers are paying Boston a visit, marking the first time Joe Torre has to face them in a long while, but more importantly, the first time Manny Ramirez has to play there since being traded.
Lets recap that, shall we?
At the deadline 2008, Manny Ramirez was bannished from Boston in a 3 team deal that also involved the Pirates. Ramirez got the hell out of Boston and Boston got rid of Ramirez. Everybodys happy!
Pitt got prospects, Boston got Jason Bay and the Dodgers now got to tout around the most feared righty in the NL. Again, everybody wins (except Pittsburgh, who never win)
As time passed, it turned out the only long term winner here was Manny. Not LA, not Bay, not Boston, not Pitt and certainly not those guys who were sent to Pitt. Just Manny. All 3 teams are still ringless and pennentless, while Bay had to play in Boston for a year and a half before sprinting out the door to the Mets (gotta be desperate to jump on that trainwreck in advance). But Ramirez? Getting out of Boston was the ultimate goal.
Sure, he also wouldve liked to win a title in NY and rub it in Bostons face, but we’d be nit-picking then…Manny wanted out. Mission Accomplished.
Anyway, after the trade, Boston fell short in the playoffs while Manny single handedly put LA in the NLCS when they werent even suppose to show up to October.
Now Manny returns to Fenway. What kind of reception will he recieve?
Will it be the Johnny Damon reception of Boos?
Will it be the cheers? Though, come to think of it, when has an ex-Red Sox player ever been cheered for with a Ramirez type reputation?
Seriously, remember the game in 2008 vs NY, when he decided he wasnt gonna play? Yankees won 1-0. How big of a difference could he have made in that? 2008 ALCS? Boston lost in 7. How big of a difference could he have made there?
Ramirez single handedly saved LAs 2008 while effectively killing Bostons.
And since Boston is populated by classless fans, I dont expect many cheers.
Though more boos will probably be directed towards Torre if he steps out to make a pitching change.
Loooooooooooong games
So…I’m bored and I mindlessly wonder if todays Mets-Cardinals game is still on FOX and am rewarded by a long distance affair, currently entering inning #14…and its SCORELESS!
Now, this game has easily gone far and beyond 4 hours, meaning Selig is probably cursing the sky, because apparently a long baseball game has become taboo in the MLB.
Seriously? I guess its karma after the Yankees-Rangers game last night ended after 6 innings. Tonights games seems to be making up for it. Elsewhere, the Rays and Red Sox have finally ended a game that began last night, which if you factor in the rain delays, started about 30 hours ago or so.
Call me crazy, but I’m loving this 14 inning game. Im actually starting to tolerate Tim McCarver a little (hes still pissing me off, but a little less than usual). I love these long games. Let these guys earn their massive contracts. Most people work full 8 hour days and could never dream to make a million dollars a day. Baseball players make millions a year and work maybe 5 hours a day (Starting pitchers work maybe 2 days a week)
I said this before, but MLB has been getting on the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers collective cases for “Taking too long” and some holier than thou umpire (who needs to be fired) has called this a disgrace among other things.
The most notorious time killer games have been the biggest crowd pleaser in baseball: Yankees vs Red Sox. People often b*tch over how long those type of games last.
Has anyone besides the respective fans ever seen a Yankees-Red Sox game? They’re epic chess battles from the 1st pitch to the last out/walk off. Theres so much at stake, that you need to think good and hard over every pitch you throw. Every game is like game 7 of the ALCS, every time. The fact that its these two teams down to the wire every year shows just how important these games (even in April) can become.
Dont rush these games!
Besides, I’d rather watch a good 4 hour win than watch a tidy 2 hour loss.
Also besides: taking time is how the Yankees win games. Their #1 game plan: take pitches and wear out the starter so they can feast on the relief pitching. I’d say the plan works, what with a world championship last year.
Take todays game against the Rangers. Scott Feldman threw over 70 pitches in just over 2 innings. Is it any wonder how the Yankees rocked 7 runs in that game?
Bottom 14 in St Louis
Cards are threatening to end this thing. Runners on 1st and 3rd w/ 0 out….and Pujols is looming…
This game has now entered its 6th hour
…Ludwick wiffs….Pujols up, with 1st open…I wonder if theres an IBB comming up…
…This game has seen John Maine come out to pinch-run….and 2 different Cardinals relief pitchers come up and hit. How awesome is this game?
Blake Hawksworth up for his 1st major league at bat and Ks with the bases loaded. Thats the 2nd time a Cardinals relief pitcher has struk out w/ the bases loaded to end the inning in the extra innings in this game! Jason Motte was the other one.
Top 15 in St Louis
Utter confusion in the Mets dugout. Who is gonna hit? Pitchers spot up! Starting pitcher Jon Niese is up to pinch-hit…and strikes out…and the scorelessness goes on…
I think we’ve seen 20 Mets in this game.
Bottom 15 in St Louis
Jenrry Meija in to pitch for the Mets…21 players. Who are the other 4? 2 starters, 2 relievers and 0 position players.
Screw you FOX, bringing up that fact seconds after I post it…
19 Cardinals in this game. Of the 6 remaining, 5 are pitchers…
Latest dumb*ss Tim McCarver quote: “Small thing, but its not a small thing. Its a big thing.”
Joe Mather singles to left witha runner on 1st…Felipe Lopez, no guts no glory, goes all the way to 3rd.
End of 15 in St Louis
Brendan Ryan grounded out and the game goes ON…
As bad as the Mets have been at getting hits…the Cards have been worse at getting hiots w/ RISP
Best non-Yankees involved Mets game I’ve ever watched. Easily.
Top 16 in St Louis
FOX said they were planning on doing some prime time games this season. I guess this is what they meant by that.
Mets w/ a runner at 2nd, 1 out. Can they???
Elsewhere…
Top 9 in Atlanta
Something about Saturdays and no-hit bids cuz Ubaldo Jiménez is 3 outs away from one against the Braves….and yes, since theres 3 outs to go, I AM ALLOWED to talk about it!
Middle of 16 in St Louis
Luis Castillo is a statue and the Mets strand a runner on 3rd…and the shutouts go on……..
Middle of 9 in Atlanta
….And here we go…!
Bottom 16 in St Louis
Brian Anderson, the LAST position player, will now pinch-hit.
Game Over in Atlanta
Jimenez did it!
End of 16 in St Louis
Ludwick tries to score on an attempted double play, but gets caught and tagged out in a rundown. Thats a 4-6-2 DP
Again, How AWESOME is this game?
Top 17 in St Louis
Cardinals are out of relievers. Both teams out of hitters.
I’d hate to be Jason Bay…0-7, 4Ks
David Wright nailed trying to steal 2nd by a PERFECT throw by Yadier Molina. Inning over. Molina will lead off next…
Bottom 17 in St Louis
Raul Valdez is in for NYM. Player #22 for the Mets. Only 2 starters and their closer remain…
1-2-3 inning….oh GOD, Inning 18, here we come!!!
Top 18 in St Louis
Interesting moves for the Cards. Now pitching: Felipe Lopez! The utility man can add a new position to his resume!
Nick Swisher of the Yankees can relate:
Yup…though he came in during a blowout to save the bullpen some work…Lopez is in because there is no more bullpen.
Poetic justice? Valdez gave up a grand slam to Lopez last night. Now Lopez is the one pitching to Valdez.
…Valdez gets a basehit to short…throwing error and he tries to go to second and gets gunned down before he gets there. WOW.
….and Lopez pitches a scoreless 18th!
Bottom 18 in St Louis
So we’re officially gonna get 2 games for the price of 1. Awesome.
We are now in hour 7…eat your heart out, anyone who hates long games!
….and a double play…a more conventional version this time.
Top 19 in St Louis
…and its Joe Mather’s turn to pitch. I’m sure Ryan Ludwick will be available for relief work.
Castillo bunts runner over, then limps back to dugout. Bad sign, what with no position players available…
2 walks and a hit batter? Bring back Lopez!!!
….and the Mets score a run. Jeff Francoeur with the sac fly to pitcher left fielder Kyle Lohse.
Middle of 19 in St Louis
After 18 failed tries, Cardinals need to pull out a run right now…
Bottom 19 in St Louis
Mets player #23 is…Francisco Rodriguez? How the hell was he not used in this game? Holy crap!
Cardinals inability to score yet? Boy, Mark McGwire has got some explaining to do…
…Ludwick walks….Pujols is up…uh-oh!
Ludwick tries to steals, Castillo blindly tries to make a tag behind his back and Ludwick is safe…but the umpire calls him out. Umpire wants to go home much?
……And Phal Albert doubles…man, if Ludwick didnt try stealing…
Neither team has a hit with RISP tonight….thought Id put that out there…
……..and a groundout…Pujols on 3rd. 2 outs….
………….and Yadier Molina SINGLES! Pujols SCORES and we’re tied!
…………..and the inning ends….Here we come 20!
Top 20 in St Louis
So…lemme get this strait. Lopez pitches a scoreless 18th, and thats all….but Joe Mathers gives up a run in the 19th and hes left in? Lopez threw strikes at least!
…and another sac fly for the Mets. They lead 2-1 now.
Middle of 20 in St Louis
Here we go again. Cardinals need to dig deep again.
Bottom 20 in St Louis
Mets player #24 Mike Pelfrey
Oliver Perez, the only Met to not play in this game.
Cards blew WAY too many opprotunities in this game, especially for a 20 inning game….nothing bigger than the 19th inning CS for Ludwick.
This game could have some interesting fantasy results. Will Lopez and Mathers get credit for their pitching? Are Pelfrey owners expecting a save?
And after 2 quick outs, the Cards put a couple aboard. It aint over till its over, baby…
…and with a groundout to 2nd. The 20 inning marathon comes to an end.
Mets win, 2-1.
I named this post “Loooooooooooong games” originally to address the whole taboo over certain teams taking too long to play a 9 inning game. And as fate would have it, it also serves as the perfect title for a 20 inning war between the Cardinals and Mets.
I also said earlier that an average person puts in an 8 hour day for their paychecks…This game (7 hours) as well as an maybe an additional hour means that today, the Mets and Cards have put in an honest days work.
….and the St Louis field crew is happy. They gat paid by the hour.
Imma goin to sleep now. Yankees have an early game later….
One more thing:
Mets starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey currently has more saves than the closer Francisco Rodriguez!
2010
Everyone have a good christmas? Kwanza? New Years? Alrighty then…
Yankees at Fenway to begin, and end the season?
Phillies and their new ace go to Toronto?
Manny returning to Boston?
Yankees at Dodgers?
This season will have no shortage of great games to watch.
…but since at the end of the day all I care about it what the Yanks are doing, lets take a closer look at what the future holds…and some lingering questions…
Yankees vs Red Sox: opening day/end of the season.
We got spanked by the BoSox early last year right before we turned around and gave it right back to them just as hard, and took the division right in front of them…
It seems the most likely scenerio will be CC vs Beckett, then AJ vs Lackey, then Pettitte vs whatever overrated bum they have next. Either team could win any of those games and Id be an idiot to guess who would before pitchers/catchers have even reported, but there will be no sweeps…unlike last year where almost every set was a sweep.
Yankees at Dodgers
This was the dream world series matchup last postseason, even more so than the Angels vs Dodgers possibility.
Joe Torre vs Joe Girardi, Matt Kemp vs Curtis Granderson, Mark Texeira vs Andre Ethier, Derek Jeter vs Manny Ramirez, C.C. Sabathis vs…uh…can any Dodger compete with any Yankee pitcher?
Point is, this would be a great matchup of managers…not so much teams. Dodgers didnt do much this offseason, and if I didnt think they stood a chance against the Yankees then, then they definatly dont stand a chance against the Yankees now…
Left Field?
Damons still up in the air, and right before he signed with the Cubs, I was telling my dad about how good Marlon Byrn might be for us. The list of available fixes is growing short…
Heres a short list of people I nominate(d) to play left for NY in 2010, in order of ranking…
DamonHollidayDeRosaDye
ByrdBayGardner
Cabrera
Guererro
Hoffman
#5 Starter?
CC-AJ-Pettitte-Vazquez-???
It seems to be between Joba and Hughes…but never count out Gaudin or even Mitre.
…any hey, with C.M.Wang gone, the Yankees have a vancancy at the position of “Once a great pitcher but got hurt too much” that Ben Sheets could fill.
‘Twas the Hot Stove Before Christmas…
Since my little free agentgasm post, the Angels indeed did close the deal on Rodney. As for any last minute X-mas gifts, it looks like there wont be any Tex-caliber presents for anyone this year. The A’s do however find themselves with a gift for them under the christmas tree in Duchscherer, and the fact that the tag technically reads “To: Oakland Athletics…From: Oakland Athletics”
Anyway…I’m bored, tired, and figured why not make a christmas-y poem for baseball?
‘Twas the Hot Stove Before Christmas
‘Twas the hot stove before christmas
and all over the news
the Angels get Rodney
and Justin D stopped singing the blues.
But do the other teams
simply find coal in their stockings?
Good thing the Yankee Hater Haters here
to keep everyones fans from mocking.
Jason Bay to the Mets
to much Boston jeer
since the Mets traded their future
just to be here.
Angels might want Vlad
but thanks to Matsui
Guerreros hopes in Anaheim
just went kablooie.
Yankees would already have Damon
if not for the grinch
Scott Boras’ dealing
put us all in a pinch.
Speaking of Boras
that guy is sure greedy
and may have ended the Twin days
of Mr. Joe Crede
The Rangers were short
of having pretention
But adding Dye this year
would give them contention.
While Smoltz and LaRoche
wait for a suitor
Branyan might end up back
playing with Junior
I know that last rhyme
was a bit iffy
and just to be clear
“Junior” meant “Griffey”
I’d rather not be cliche
with a Holliday holiday rhyme
while on everyone wishlist
DeRosas behind him in line.
In the NL Myers might take
Valverdes spot out in Texas
While up north the Mets want
Bengie Molina for christmas.
While Pedro’s November failures
made him get fired
Ankiel and Delgados DL stints
wont make them get hired
And while Tejada might make plans
to be an Astro again
Merry Christmas to all
see you in 2010.
Remaining free agents
Last year had Bobby Abreu and Manny Ramirez homeless until the last possible moments…what about this year? Could the Yankees use any of them to fill a couple holes, mainly Left field?
…Lets rifle through the list of free agents to see what weve got left…
Justin Duchscherer
Oakland denied him abritration and let him go as a free agent, neither of which could possibly help his depression. Too injury prone for the Yankees to want and Oakland really wants to youth the team up.
Jason Bay
The man wanted out of Boston and it looks like New York wants him…not the Yankees though, too much money. The Mets are the only non-Boston team interested in him to fill their void in left.
Vladimir Guerrero
We wouldve killed for this mo fo the last time he was a free agent, not this time though. With Matsui in LA and the Angels not needing 2 DHs, Vlad-the-impailer is a man without a country. Yankees dont want him now seeing how if we wanted a full time DH we wouldve kept Godzilla.
Johnny Damon
If I were in charge of the Yankees, Id make it policy to have at most 1 Scott Boras client on roster at a time. With Cabrera gone the Yankees have a hole in left field that Damon used to fill. We want him, at OUR price. This has turned into the same stand off BS that we did in 07 with ARod, another Boras client. We’ll get him, as soon as Damon smacks Boras and tells him to “Shut up and go stand in the corner while I talk with the Yankees”
Erik Bedard
The reason the Mariners let him go is because of back-to-back injury filled seasons. Also a reason no team with thoughts of contention would wanna sign him either.
Jermaine Dye
Giants want him. Rangers want him bad. Whispers say the Yankees could plug him in left field. Dye is good. For some reason he always manages to quietly put together a good season. Had he been on the Giants or Rangers LAST season, they mightve made the playoffs.
Adrian Beltre
Heres the dilemma in Boston. They want Lowell out real bad, Ortiz cant play the field to save his life, if Victor Matrinez could play a decent 1st base he wouldnt need to also be a catcher (and vice versa) and Adrian Gonzalez is a pipe dream at best…so they need SOMEBODY besides Youkilis to play the corner infield. Beltre may be their best chance, which isnt a good think offensively.
Russell Branyan
Why not him for Boston? If not Beltre than why not sign Branyan? Decent bench 1st baseman. Seattle might actually want to keep this one.
Hank Blalock
…Never a defensive choice and his average has been lacking. Plus theres the thing where hes always a lock to get hurt every year…
Fernando Rodney
Angels are apparently all over this though. Should the Yankees grab him, he would complete an unstoppabel bullpen. Hey, if the Red Sox are dreaming for Adrian Gonzalez, I can dream for Rodney…
Marlon Byrd
Heres a guy who could but up decent numbers and/or split time with Gardner in left. None of his numbers scream out at you but he could quietly produce…which for the Yankees is better than nothing…
Joe Crede
Wants to play for the Twins again in 2010…but his agent is Scott Boras…
Melvin Mora
Aging…crappy stats…already a surplus of free agent 3rd basemen…PASS…even the Orioles dont wanna bother…
Miguel Olivo
Pretty good power numbers for a catcher, but low stats everywhere else, plus the fact that the Royals dont want you….as long as any “Molina” remains on the market, Ovilo wont have a home…
Matt Holliday
Cardinals want him, and for a long time. Boston wants him because Bay ran away. Yankees could sign him just to be as*holes. probably wont since hes too much money. If I were him, unless the Yankees come calling, stay in St Louis.
Mark DeRosa
Officially known in St Louis as “Plan B” in case Holliday gets away. Yankees might grab him to put in left.
Jose Valverde
For some reason no one wants him. I’m not sure why. I’d take him over Rodney, but thats just me…
Brett Myers
Houston wants him in their bullpen to help fill holes left by a couple people leaving, including the aformentioned Valverde. Myers could do worse than the Astros.
Miguel Tejada
Houston wants him back, which sounds smart on thier part.
Bengie Molina
Mets want him. Then again the Mets want everyone.
Pedro Martinez
The man didnt pitch last year until the 2nd half and he still had nothing left when the world series came. Now he wants to pitch for an entire season? Since the 03 ALCS he just hasnt been as dominating as advertised and last November proved he STILL cant beat the Yankees. Philles should pass, and any team that wants to win should pass too…then again, sign him, let him pitch decent for you until July, then trade him before he craps out. GMs can thank me later.
Joel Pineiro
Good, not great. Too many decent pitchers on the market in front of him. Not many, but he wont go until the better ones go.
Carlos Delgado
HA! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
John Smoltz
If he proved anything last year, its that the Red Sox cant judge pitching worth a damn. He can start, relieve or possible close. A do anything pitcher like him will definatly find a home…probably in the NL.
Adam LaRoche
Braves might want him for 1 more year. Might be his best option.
Rick Ankiel
He’d be a decent pickup…if he werent so injured all the time. If anyone picks him up, itll prolly be to just fill out the roster or a 5th outfielder.
Orlando Hudson
Last year he was one of those last minute signings and the Dodgers looked like geniuses as a result. This year might feature another last minute signing for Hudson, and he’ll once again make whatever GM look smart…might end up being the Dodgers again…
…My God this took longer than I thought…
I gotta learn not to talk during the Hot Stove months
1st I talked about the potential Granderson deal and how it may or may not be wise…then it went through…
Earlier today I talked about how I think Halladay might not move this winter…and he just might move now…
While the rest of the stalkers in the sports world are following Tiger Woods and where hes been sticking his 9 iron, someone was keeping tabs on Roy Halladay and found out he went to Philly to take a physical.
…and John Lackey wants to help Boston win the wild card for the next 5 years as he seems to have agreed to a 5 year deal.
Thats a double slap to the Yankees, who wanted at least one of those pitchers. We can still stick it to Boston by picking up Jason Bay…maybe…
Roy Halladay a Philly? Before anyone starts, no, he wont be any help against the Yankees in the World Series. Reports say the Sillies would have to give up Cliff Lee to the Mariners (I wonder what Lee did to piss off Philly so bad) for the deal to happen. Lee was the only pitcher to beat us in the series. So Halladay would help the Phillies reach the series again in 2010, but do nothing to help them do an better against the Yankees.
So the silver lining here is that the Red Sox didnt get Halladay…but they did get Lackey…..so its Beckett/Lackey vs Sabathia/Burnett…I still take the Yankees…
The What-if World Series
2 whole nights without Yankee playoff baseball? I needed to occupy my self…so I went and made a device that would transport me to an alternate world where things are very different to that of this world…either that or I tripped down the staircase drunk again. Either way, this is what I saw:
The 2009 World series: Cleveland Indians vs Pittsburgh Pirates
How did it happen in this world, when it clearly didnt happen in ours?
Cleveland chose not to rebuild for the future and instead decided to gamble and try to win with their current team. Disappointed, but not discouraged by how 2007 ended, C.C. Sabathia didnt leave the Indians and along with Cliff Lee in 2009 became the most feared 1-2 pitching punch in baseball. Betancourt was given a shot to be the full time closer in 2008 when it was decided enough was enough with Joe Borowski. Betancourt flourished in his 1st full year as closer and was easily able to close out the leads CC-Lee always handed him.
On offense, Shoppach found his 2008 stride and Victor Martinez was never traded. In their outfield, Sizemore and Choo were join, of all people, by Manny Ramirez, who grew tired of Boston and its ungrateful fans. Cleveland didnt have Yankee-caliber money, which meant 2009 might be the last time theyd have all these superstars around. So the managment went all-or-nothing and signed Manny for a 1 year deal before the Dodgers could work out a deal with him, Manny excited just to have a chance to win where he originally got started. Inspired by Manny returning and by a certain icon returning to Seattle, Jim Thome pushed for a trade at the deadline and returned to Cleveland as well, offering some needed pop off their bench.
The Indians ran away with the weak AL central, clinching a playoff spot before any other AL team. Round 1 had them facing the Yankees. A CC-less Yankee team fell short against the Indians, who won the ALDS in 4 games in front of their home fans. The CC-Lee duo also proved too much for the Angels, that series ending in 5 short games.
In Pittsburgh, teams tried trading them prospects for their Bays and McLouths, but in this world, Pittsburgh didnt bite. In fact those two along with the emerging of McCutchen made them the best outfield trio in baseball. Along with Sanchez still on roster and Doumit having an injury free season at catcher gave the Pirates a solid offense.
With some actual run support with McCutchen-Sanchez-Bay-McClouth-Doumit at the top of the lineup, the Pittsburgh pitching staff had a much better year. In our reality they only had a refreshing start to the year but soon spiraled back to crappyness…but in alternate land, Duke leads this pitching staff, which gives him better support and makes him their ace. The Pirates this season not only defy the world with their first winning record since forever, but they actually make the playoffs-falling short of the Cardinals for the division but barely edging out the Manny-less Dodgers for the wild card.
In thier first NLDS ever, the Pirates continue their amazing year by shocking the Rockies with a sweep. Faced with the defending champs in the NLCS, the Pirates wage a 7 game war with the Phillies, emerging as the winners to head to their 1st world series since 1979.
I woke up/teleported back from my dellusion before I could watch Sabathia throw out the game 1 pitch to McCutchen in Cleveland. Too bad. I wouldve had my money on Cleveland though, for what its worth…pretty interesting if it happened that way…
…but we live in a world where Manny went to LA, the Yankees got CC, Pirates traded everyone away and Cleveland chose to rebuild.
Go figure.
…and the 2009 turtle-wax goes to…
…This aint the car polish awards, but if they wanna sponser me, I’ll have no problem selling out…
These are the awards you DONT want to win…
The way the playoff format is set up in baseball, at least 1 team from each division gets to move on the the playoffs, plus one other team. Sometimes though, doing so leaves out a deserving team in favor of a team that won a crappy division. Example: the 2008 Yankees had the 4th best AL record, but went home for October. So, there should be awards for these little quirks in the playoff format, so the team that got the short end of the stick can feel good about itself…
The “You dont belong here” award
(Awarded to 1 of the 8 playoff teams that shouldn’t be in the playoffs)The winner of the Twins/Tigers play-in game.The Minnesota Twins
The “Sucks to be you” award
(Awarded to the team going home with a better record than playoff teams)
The Texas Rangers
Tim Cowlishaw said it best when he displayed no sympathy for the Twins/Tigers where the winner has to play the rested Yankees the very next night. The winning team will have 87 regular season victories. The Texas Rangers played their butts off this year, falling just short of Boston for the wild card. They have 87 wins after 162 games. Both the Twins and Tigers have 86 wins after 162 games. Math says the Rangers should be playing the Yankees…but the division layout states the Rangers dont play in the central (they’re actually closer to most, if not all, AL central teams than any of their AL west counterparts) But division layouts always confused me (I always thought that the Braves and Pirates should switch divisions)
All digressions aside, the Rangers finished 1 game better than both the Tigers and the Twins
The “Orioles and Blue Jays would rather play in this division” award
(Awarded to the crappiest division in baseball)
The American League Central Division: Tigers, Twins, White Sox, Indians, Royals
Since the AL east will always produce at least 2 powerhouse teams every year, I’d rather highlight a division at the other end of the spectrum. At first it seemed like that AL central was the obvious choice, but it just barely beat out the NL central. Take the Cardinals out of that division and it becomes a steaming pile of sh!t. There was also the NL west to consiter (I’ll never forget the 2005 San Diego Padres, winning the NL west with their 82-80 record.) but they churned out a couple winners, and the Giants put up a fight too…
The NL central did give us the Pirates and their sub .400 winning percentage and had only 2 teams above .500…but the AL central also had just 2 teams above .500 and featured 2 other teams with .401 winning percentages. The NL central may have had the quantity crap this year, but the AL central had the quality crap to win (or lose…depends on how you look at it)
The “steroid accusation rookie of the year” award
(Awarded to the slugger who is probably gonna get accused of steroids next, if not already)
(I am NOT accusing the winner of steroids. I’m just saying he’s probably gonna get scrutinized next)
Aaron Hill of the Toronto Blue Jays
2009 HR total: 36
Jason Bay couldve won this. But I wrote his career year off as “Hes just happy to get out of Pittsburgh” so hes clean (for now)…Raul Ibanez deserves a nomination, but I’m here to highlight whos next, not whose already.
The most long balls Hill had launched in a year before 2009 was 17. What the hell? 2nd basemen aren’t known for the long ball…which is why Yankees fans were excited as hell when Alfonso Soriano came on the scene…it just turned out he couldn’t play 2nd very well, but that was besides the point.
The “What the hell happened to you?” award
(Awarded to the team that fell off the map when they were suppose to be contenders)
The New York Mets
Bad enough that they have to deal with being the 2nd New York team, usually be the 2nd NL east team…but theyve also had to deal with back-to-back chokes before doing their routine September choke in June this year and letting Philly have a less dramatic division title. Injuries crippled the Mets and they never had a chance, since the injury replacments got injured too.
Thats the equivilent of breaking both legs, then having the wheels fall off your wheelchair.
The “Shut your God damn mouth!” award
(Awarded to the team that apparently talked too much during spring training)
The Chicago Cubs
The Cubbies win this one for 2 reasons. 1) For talking about being world series favorites while still unloading their spring training gear…and 2) An entire seasons worth (well, almost an entire seasons worth) of Milton Bradley.
For a team that spoke of high hopes for ending that 100+ year “curse”, they ended up stumbling-then-falling out of the gate, letting Bradley be the most talked about player, but certainly not for his playing ability (a miserable .257 hitter with 12 homers and 40 ribbies)
The “This years miracle, next years Rays” award
(Awarded to the team that made a suprise playoff run this year, and will fall well short next year)
The Colorado Rockies
Theres always a team like this. They come out of nowhere only to shock us all and make some noise down the stretch…kind like what the Rays did last year, and the ’07 Rockies, and the ’06 Tigers, and the ’03 Marlins, and the ’02 Angels…you get my drift? Then the very next year, with everyone watching, lightning doesnt strike twice and they fail. They wont be terrible, but they wont be good enough. The Dodgers are long term contenders in the west and next year will have Tommy Hanson all year for the Braves, Tim Licecum and his Giants, and the Cubs and Mets can’t both suck forever.
The “This years Nationals, next years miracle” award
(Awarded to the team that sucked this year, but can make a run next year)
The Chicago White Sox
I wanted to say the Reds, but I think they’re still another year from serious contention. The White Sox now have Jake Peavy. If he stays healthy next year, the White Sox will definalty win that weak AL central. Thats all they really needed.
The “AAA team is diguise” award
(Awarded to the team that might have better luck in AAA)
The Washington Nationals
Theyyyyyyy SUCKED…and yet, their AAA team, the Syracuse Chiefs, made the AAA playoffs. Did the two switch before the season? I wouldnt be suprised if they did.
The “Dull knife in the drawer” award
(Awarded to the player(s) with the biggest mental error this year)
The Washinton Natinals
No, that wasn’t a typo. Most teams go with an alternate uniform…The Nationals went with an alternate spelling of their name, redefining the term “Uniform fail” in the process.
…Jorge Posada deserves an honerable mention for this award for not being able to count to srtike three, but Washington wins over him since I can’t imagine not realizing the typo on the uniform…either that or none of the Nationals can read…
So thats the 2009 Turtle Wax Awards. Maybe next year I can make trophies to hand out to the winners losers to have.
Better late than never
Ok, so, summer 2009 is over and I’m finally getting around to doing this…go me! But fear not, there are still 18 teams in the math to go to the playoffs, so the summer isnt over yet. 18 teams, 3 from each division, and none are officially in either. The Yankees need 1 more win or Ranger loss to be the 1st team in October and eventually the Cardinals, Angels and Phillies will follow. Boston looks safe to get in too as does the other LA team leaving just the AL Central and NL wild card up fro grabs. The Twins and Tigers are in a brawl for the central, personally I think the Twinkies’ll take it. This wouldnt be the 1st time the Twins steal the central from Detroit if they pull it off. Meanwhile the Rockies try to fight off the “We dont need no stinkin’ Bonds” Giants for the wild card…
2 teams in the playoffs from the NL west? This leads me to my first big revelation of the summer: the NL west dont suck so bad anymore. It seemed like only last year when the Padres barely kept themselves over .500 and it was good enough to win that lousy division. Not anymore thanks to LA, Colorodo and San Francisco. The Dodgers are a lock thanks to their hot start and the fact that they remained hot even after Manny went out on maternity leave.
So if the NLwest dont suck no more, which division s the weakest? Gotta be the NLcentral. Lets face it, after St. Louis, theres nothing. My (2nd) beloved Reds can never make it into the break with a .500 record, the Pirates always stink, Houston is passed its prime years, the Brewers are nothing without CC and the Cubs will never win, especially if their own outfielder hates them. So yeah, the Cards are a quality team, but the 2nd place team down is nothing but crap!…by the way, the ALeast remains the division to beat as always.
…back to the Pirates for a moment. The reason they’ll never win is because they always get rid of their good players. Imagine the Pittsburgh lineup if they kept Bay and McLouth to go along with McCutchen? Laroche 1 and 2? Sanchez still at 2nd? Healthy Doumit? Their pitching showed signs of life this year too. Stop trying to build for the future, cuz the future was here already for Pittsburgh, and they traded most of it away…
…So I might as well make some postseason predictions while I’m here since thats what everyone and their brother are doing right now. In the AL we’ll have New York, Minnesotta, LA and Boston with the wild card. I really wanted Texas to pull of a wild card upset, but they’re not ready this year it looks like. The Yanks have both Detroits and Minnesottas number this year, so they’ll easily pass either team. Boston likewise, has always had the Angels number, so it might be another New York Boston set up for the AL.
In the NL, we’ll have Philly, St. Louis and LA. The wild card will be tough, but I think the Giants can pull it off. They have the pitching in my opinion. Though if this one comes down to a 1 game playoff for the wild card, the Rockies hope they get the same home plate umpire they got in the ’07 play-in game. Whoever does win the wild card though probably wont make it to the NLCS, so it doesnt really matter anyway. meanwhile I doubt LA can get passed St. Louis…
…One final note. If the Angels want any real chance to beat Boston this year, they better start rooting for the Yankees. The only way I see LAA beating Boston this year is if they have home field in round 1. If New York clinches the east, Boston will be on the road. It probably wont hurt their cause to let the Yanks sweep them in this series cuz Im confident Texas is too far back to make a solid run now.
The Yankee Hater Hater 