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As an out-of-market Yankee fan, I don't get to watch as many games as I'd like to during the year. I realize I don't have much to complain about, as ESPN/FOX love to show the Bombers whenever they can. However, I don't get to see my team play nearly all their games like I would if I rooted for the Cubs, White Sox, or Reds here in Indiana. (My thanks again to Jake's for their satellite TV.)
What did I get to witness during this game against the Royals? I got to see that 36 year old Andy Pettite is still able to throw good stuff and record outs like he did during the Dynasty run.
But can we really look ahead to a whole season based on a single start? If I were to behave like every other Yankee fan and baseball analyst, then of course I would. You see, Pettite was amazing in his season debut. His line (7IP, 3H, 6SO, 1.29ERA) was amazing and to be honest if Nick Swisher is a half step faster and plays that pop-up in the second inning better, Pettite likely gets a 2 hit shutout. If he pitches every game of the year like this, ESPN has him projected to start 41 times, winning all of them, throw 243 strikeouts, and keep his ERA below 2.00. What?!? Obviously, Pettite nor any other player this season is going to live up to those projected stats. This is what happens when you project that far forward based on one game.
As ridiculous as this example with Andy Pettite is, people have had no problem doing the exact same thing with CC Sabathia and believing his horrible projected numbers. CC pitched a terrible game on April 6th. His Yankee debut was atrocious (4.1IP, 8H, 6ER, zeroSO, 12.46ERA). I hope that CC never pitches another game like that again. But to think that this one bad start means his season is a failure and that he is going to be a bust is idiotic. His one bad start is no more evidence of a potentially bad year than Pettite's gem is an indicator that he'll defy the odds and his age and put up Cy Young-caliber numbers.
What will happen? I'm no psychic (see below for the real deal) but I'm guessing that Andy Pettite won't start 41 games and that CC will bounce back. Is he going to be a bust? No one knows, but it is too early to make that decision. If he's still stinking it up in July, then we've got a problem. However, I'm guessing that when that time comes and he's leading the league in strikeouts and the Yanks are in first place everyone will magically forget his bad debut and how they wrote him off for the rest of the season.
With the NFL season coming to an end, the NBA and college hoops in full swing, and the ongoing A-Rod scandal it can sometimes be hard to figure out what's going on with your favorite baseball teams and players. Here's a quick recap of some of the bigger moves that have occurred recently. 2/21/09 - Twins sign Joe Crede to 1 year deal. Crede had previously been with the White Sox.
2/20/09 - Braves resign Tom Glavine to a 1 year deal. Glavine was 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA last season. He is still recovering from the elbow injury that cut that season short.
2/19/09 - Mariners sign Ken Griffey Jr. to a 1 year deal. Griffey is returning to the team that he started his future HOF career with. He played with the M's from 1989-1999 prior to leaving for Cincinnati.
Brewers resign Eric Gagne to a Minor League deal. Gagne will also not be wearing his trademark goggles after having laser eye surgery.
2/15/09 - Angels sign Bobby Abreu to a 1 year deal. Bobby was one of the few people in baseball to not be offered a fat contract by the Yankees, though he put up a .296 average, 20 HR and 100 RBI in 2008.
2/12/09 - Nationals sign Adam Dunn to a 2 year deal. Dunn had been with the Diamondbacks at the end of last season after being traded by the Reds.
Other than the Gagne deal (Gagne hasn't mattered since his days with the Dodgers), I give all of the GMs that made these deals gold stars.
Dunn, Abreu, and Crede are going to improve the rosters of the teams that they head to. The Nats and Angels get sluggers (LA working to replace the power they lost in Teixeira) and the Twinkies get a solid all-around player in Crede (assuming he can stay healthy for once).
The Griffey and Glavine deals are more sentimental than practical, but I applaud them nonetheless. Griffey has only one more year in him, and it's nice to see him head back to the Emerald City rather than add another cap to his closet. Since he will likely don a Mariner cap on his HOF plaque, it's good to see him end his career there. Glavine is equally washed-up. However, if he is able to return to the Bravos, then perhaps he can end on a solid note for the team that he helped turn into a powerhouse of the 90's. [Editor's Note: Braves are often considered the team of the 90's; Braves titles: 1 Yankees:3, including 2 over Braves...hmm?]
The nicest thing by far about all of these deals is that they are short-term. Rather than the long term contracts that the Yanks, Mets, and others were throwing around like candy this year these teams have chosen to play it conservatively and sign big names to short contracts. We all know that players play harder in a contract year. It's a fact. It looks like these GMs pay attention.
I love baseball. I always have and probably always will. I remember watching Yankees and Cubs games with my dad and cheering on my favorites: Mattingly, Grace, Tartabull, Leyritz, and Jeter. I respected the Gwynns, Ripkens, Sandbergs, and Big Hurts of the world.
Now I can't help but wonder if the sport that I love is dying? I thought that the strike in '94 would kill baseball. Had it not been for McGwire and Sosa's slugfest in '98 that death sentence would have likely been true. But it seems we are now paying the price for that magical summer at the end of the last millennium. Every day it seems a new star or another living legend is being connected with this horrible black eye that is steroids/performance-enhancing drugs. I have not yet made up my mind as to where I stand on issues such as the legitimacy of Bonds' records or the place of some of these athletes in the Hall. I will continue to wrestle with these issues as a fan of the game and will post them on here as they come to light. There are even some who argue that most of these so-called issues are moot (Billynho being one, and I hope he will expand the conversations we've had into full articles). Regardless of my stance or anyone else's on the issue of sterioids, I do stand by one thing...
In any case involving scandal or alleged scandal, I think that humor is one of the best ways to expose and shed light on the issue and I think it is one of the best uses of our freedom of speech to lampoon and satirize the issues of our day. With that said, I came across a very funny picture on ESPN's Page 2 today. The original can be found here. Click the image below to see it in full size.
Does it answer all of the questions we have about this dark time in baseball? No. Is it 100% fair to all parties? No. But, does it make us laugh a little and maybe not feel so horrible about the direction that baseball has taken? I hope.
My beloved Boilermakers eked out a win today in Iowa City. With Play like that they'll likely be slaughtered by the Spartans on Tuesday. With that said, and in honor of how crazy the Big Ten season has been, I've decided to keep a Midwestern flavor in my recap of the web's best.
John Paxson ousted in the Windy City: With the Bulls being basement dwellers practically ever since His Airness left town, everybody saw this coming. Here we have a good recap of his stellar moves and signings. [Luol's Dong]
AL Central Preview Even though it's only February, diehard baseball fans are already looking towards the the upcoming season. I have to agree with picking the Twins, though the ChiSox may give them a run. With the AL East as stacked as ever, there will only be one playoff spot coming from the Central. [Midwest Sports Fans]
Tom Crean Continues to Bring Respectibality to Bloomington The Cartel has long been a fan of Crean. We loved what he did at Marquette and hoped that he might help heal IU after the disastorous exits of Knight, Sampson, and to a lesser extent Davis. It seems that he might be living up to this reformer hype. Though we will never be IU fans, we are glad to see this kind of action. [Larry Brown Sports]
Bears Make Roster Changes Long time Bears will be seen elsewhere next year. Mike Brown and Marty Booker were not offered new contracts. Also it appears that John Tait will retire. [Chicago Sun-Times]
My initial reaction to hearing that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids years ago was, "Oh well, he's still my second favorite player all-time behind Sammy Sosa."
But after listening to how pathetic, butthurt, and personally offended the rest of the world seems to be by the fact that Rodriguez took steroids when they weren't illegal in baseball, I've got advice for A-Rod. Retire.
If we were to do an old-fashioned pros and cons checklist about the decision, the list is overwhelmingly stacked with pros.
Pros: Already rich Won't have to be around Jeter Already hated, now it'll be so much worse You'll be able to enjoy October for once The paparazzi will let you buy hookers and strippers in peace No more steroids tests You can play shortstop again for any Sunday League team in the country
Cons: $250 million (that you don't need, but you'll be reminded of constantly) You'll miss out on records (that'll be astericked anyways) You've never won a World Series (you're A-Rod, so you probably wouldn't anyways) Billynho would miss you (but sadly, no one else would)
I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner, and most people will probably think I'm joking. But if I were Alex Rodriguez, I'd retire. It's a no-brainer. Which is good since the steroids may have cooked the ones he had.
When the Tony Kornheiser Pimp Cartel Cartel moved from PimpsLord to its own cyberspace in August, I decided to adopt a pen name. Why? I don't know. It doesn't make any damn sense. Especially since nine out of 10 people think my real name is made up or stolen from a comic book character, and the other 10% disclose after getting to know me that they couldn't believe my name when they first heard it. It happens every time. Look carefully around the site and you'll figure out what they're havin' a laugh about. Good times.
So, back to the redundant pen name... Did I mention no one can pronounce it? Oh, I'm sorry, I only assumed readers would be familiar with the best soccer/international football player this decade. You know who I'm talking about...
You have no idea do you? Seriously? Damn.
Ronaldinho!
Still nothing?
Really? (Sigh)
Okay, let me walk you through this.
Billynho is a play on the name of Ronaldinho, who is (was) like only the most amazing footie playing wizard of our time.
It's not pronounced Billy-N-ho or Billy-and-ho (like I'm some self-professed amalgamation of myself and Paris Hilton) or Billy No.
Bill-een-yo. Say it seven times so you never forget.
Onto The Siets. Not Sigh-etts. Or See-ets. It's mono-syllabic. Seats. The Seats. The Siets. You got it. 7 times... Go.
Finally, Orel Kornheiser. Free Kornheiser's Cartel shirt to whoever can first guess what his name is a play on. Orel Hershiser and Tony Kornheiser. Looks like I win this time. Pronunciation... Oral Corn-Hize-er. That's right, seven times. I'll wait.
And if you're wondering what happened to Barry Badrinath and dave-o... So am I. They had a few good pieces back a ways didn't they? Last I heard they were off working on Wilbon's Quintuple Squadoosh somewhere. Ever since Barry hooked up with Orel's roommate (that's what everyone is saying at least...), things got a little weird. If you ever come across him in person (or more likely in the virtual world of Call of Duty 5... his handle: Corn Nuzzler), don't bother engaging him in conversation. He's not nearly as funny in person as he is in writing. Despite what Orel tries to tell you.
Under direct orders from a poor, misguided chickfriend who lives and breathes MTV and insists I do the same, I watched Bromance tonight.
And it was even worse than you're probably imagining... It was basically a bunch of twitchy little freak dudes doing things dudes should never do to gain the Broffection of another dude. One dude ran around in circles in a wrestling ring like a chick, two dudes wouldn't dude-up and go out in the sun, three dudes cried, most the dudes came across as extremely homoquestionable, and all the dudes batted their eyebrows seductively in the direction of the main dude, Brody Jenner.
There's nothing wrong with Brody Jenner, he's got the right idea. But he's got a convoluted screening process and a show full of weirdos (the best way to describe that troupe).
If I were going to be Bromanced, I wouldn't want twitchy little freaks competing to be my friend. I wouldn't care if they could catch fish, sleep in tents, or beg chicks to come to my party by bribing them with the fact that they may get to be on MTV.
No, my dude friends have to be funny (still waiting for you to live up to the hype Drew Brown), out of control (you always come through Andy), smooth with the birds (except you Matt), classy (the decanter was a nice move Zach) or smart (Ladies, have you met my friend The Siets? He's a nationally-ranked College Bowl player, you know? So am I... but you'll have to look a ways down the list.)... and most importantly, my dude friends have to like sports (no exceptions).
After a bit of thought, I've realized my ideal friends would not only like sports, they'd be involved in sports. I know a lot about sports. I spend a lot of time watching sports. And reading about sports. And talking about sports.
But I've met a lot of athletes and most don't impress me. Some definitely would.
If I were to be Bromanced by anyone of my choosing from the world of sports, I'd roll with:
5. Kobe Bryant- Firstly, finding girls would never be a problem with Kobe around. If they don't want to hang, he'll make them. Sure we might end up in the slammer for a few days... but that's a story right!? Additionally, it'd be too much fun to play H-O-R-S-E or beer pong or throw things in the trash with him around and yell, "KOBE!" as you do it.
3. Charles Barkley- Barkley is hilarious. How funny would it be to sit around with Chuck as he talks about how he is going to be governor someday!? Probably while wasted, too. Seriously? Governor? Him? Plus, as recent events have confirmed, he knows how to party. And you could get rich playing poker with him. I have to admit, though, it might be a little weird if he tattooed my name on his ass. But if it makes him happy...
2. Drew Brees- Ummm, let's see. He's a perfect person. He's the nicest guy in the world. He's the smartest guy in the NFL. He's a great teammate/friend. He's a winner. He shares. He just had a kid who will be the coolest kid in the world as he grows up. He's a living God. Like this guy. Yeah, we like him a lot on this site, okay?
After a long hiatus, Orel Kornheiser is back!!! I'm terribly sorry for the delay, but I've been on suicide watch during the NFL season thanks to the tag team duo of Bob Costas and his butt dart sidekick Cris Collinsworth. Now that the Colts and Saints are out, my hands came off the revolver and are free to type again. Anyways, "Here's What's Burning Me": (copyright Jim Rome)
I'm going to have to disagree with Billynho on the issue of Milton Bradley. I am the better Monopoly player. Oh also, Milton Bradley (baseball player) is a steal.
For all the character problems Milton Bradley (video above) obviously has, the kid can swing a stick! And the last time I checked, dropping $30 million over three years to Milton Bradley, a lifetime .280 hitter with an OPS over .800 five of the last six years, is arguably a bargain. Compare it to Pat Burrell and the Cubs are getting a player two years younger with better production in a third of the games. Yes, the Cubs are taking a chance on Bradley's health, but if he only equals his production from the last two years, he is a better bet than Burrell. (Note on his injuries: there are no reported cases of injuries involving Monopoly. Just a hint for Joel Zumaya and Carlos Zambrano)
Also, if you check out the Cubs splits (insert link) from last season, it's easy to see that, as a team, they need help against right handed pitchers. The Cubs hit .274 against right handed pitchers, with a .350 OBP and .793 OPS. The ever reliable Mark DeRosa, who the Cubs reportedly shed to acquire Bradley, hit a disappointing .275 against these same pitchers and put up respectable numbers otherwise, .367 OBP and .842 OPS. Of the other three playoff teams in the NL last season, eight of the 11 pitchers who made starts were right handed.
I don't mean to dismiss the importance of DeRosa to the Cubs the last few seasons, but Bradley is clearly a freak athlete and remarkably skilled. If the oft-injured J.D. Drew can come up big in the clutch, then I don't see why Bradley couldn't do the same to take the Cubs to the next level. When Drew was 30, he had comparable numbers to what Bradley has now.
It's not outside the realm of possibility that Bradley can get some cajones and hit the Cubs through the playoffs. About this time two years ago, Red Sox fans were moaning about the acquisition of J.D. Drew. I don't see what all the fuss is about anyways. Whatever team does advance from the National League to the World Series will have to face the Dream Team a la New York Pinstripes.
Not that it really matters anyway because we all went James Joyce and experienced the epiphany that the Chicago Cubs will never win the World Series years ago, but general manager Jim Hendry's moves/missed moves this offseason have made it all the more unlikely (if an event can become more unlikely than never?), and I really think it's time he BUGGERS OFF already, but I don't think he will because he recently got a contract extension, and the thought of it all resulted in the longest run-on sentence in Kornheiser's Cartel history.
The already bitter Cubs winter sent another chill up my spine with the news that the rumored Milton Bradley-to-the-Cubs deal was rumor no more. It's being reported across the Internet as a done deal at three years, $30 million.
I don't get it... The Cubs have been looking to add a left-handed power-hitter for years, and Bradley is a switch-hitter coming off a monster year in Texas when he hit .322 with 22 HR's and posted a .999 OPS. On the surface, the signing makes sense.
Dig a little deeper, though, and there is reason to worry.
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is known as a hitter's heaven, and Bradley's home/away split stats suggest he lived in bliss in 2008. Of those 22 home runs, just six came on the road. Bradley hit .358 at home and just .298 on the road. In the last four seasons (the best of his career), Bradley's OPS has trended more towards .800 than 1.000.
Intangibles matter in baseball, too; Derek Jeter made more than $21 million in 2008 for a reason. Bradley is one of baseball's bad guys and seems to find trouble in every clubhouse he walks through. He's torn an ACL in an argument with an umpire. He was traded by Cleveland following a dust-up with manager Eric Wedge. He accused Jeff Kent of being racist (Kent does kind of look racist, but it's not something you go public with), and he tried to fight the Kansas City Royals television announcer last summer. He's a ticking time bomb that will surely bring the most negative attention Wrigley has seen since the Sammy Sosa bat corking incident in the next three years. In fact, it's highly unlikely he'll see out the three years in Chicago.
To sign Bradley, the Cubs cleared payroll by trading starter Jason Marquis and valuable utility-man Mark DeRosa. Marquis and DeRosa were the two big league Cubbies rumored to be involved in any move for Jake Peavy. It's easy to say the Cubs would be better off with Jake Peavy than Marquis and DeRosa. It's harder to make that case for Bradley.
For one thing, is Bradley even better than DeRosa? They've similar statistics, but DeRosa also offered incredible versatility. Add in the rotation depth offered by Marquis and the aforementioned problems that accompany Bradley into the clubhouse, and it may not have been worth the effort.
A smarter move may have been to sign Pat Burrell, who is not left-handed, but is a better hitter and cheaper at $16 million/2 years; Bobby Abreu, a durable, patient hitter who excelled in his last National League stint; or Adam Dunn, who has holes in his game, but was a Cubs trade target for a half-decade.
Outfield issues would be moot had Hendry acquired Peavy instead. A rotation of Peavy, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, Ryan Dempster, and Ted Lilly would've been baseball's best hands down, if not enough to finally end the franchise's century-long search for another World Series.
Instead, Cubs fans are left with Sean Marshall every five days and Bradley every day.
That is, until, Bradley's next inevitable meltdown (in June, sparked when he sees Mike Fontenot and Kosuke Fukudome playing the Parker Brothers' classic Monopoly... Milton Bradley board games or bust) reveals this signing and roster reshuffle to be a spectacular disaster.
[Editor's Note: Cartel devotee, Reds fan, and female arowsey has kindly contributed this piece in support of Joey Votto's Rookie-of-the-Year candidacy. Regretfully, she insisted on including the picture at right. Look past that and give her a read. I promise you'll find her to be funny.]
You have two choices, Cubs fans: You can continue reading and become enlightened to a larger world that exists beyond Wrigley Field, or you can stop in your tracks and close the browser window because that realization makes you feel like I said there is no Santa Claus. Either way I don’t really care since reading that sentence already gave this article a hit. Billynho will be so happy you stopped by the site. Alright, back to the matter at hand... Rookie of the Year awards will be announced Monday and Joey Votto deserves to win for the National League. Yes, you read that correctly. A Cincinnati Reds player should win the NL ROY award for 2008. Not only does this Canadian wonder have the nicest derrière in the league, but he has the stats to prove he’s a worthy recipient. With a .297 BA, 24 HR, 84 RBI, and 124 OPS, Votto has the edge over the competition. An edge I’m hoping the voters will recognize to push him past Geovany Soto, who is also majorly in contention for the award. I’m willing to bet this will be a narrow victory; possibly even a tie (which hasn’t occurred in the NL since 1976 and included Reds player Pat Zachry).
Now don’t get me wrong, Soto had an excellent season as well. Not only are his stats eerily similar to Votto’s, but so are his physical features including his age, height, and weight. And did I mention he’s not a native of the good ol’ USA, either? Perhaps not worrying about the Obama/McCain election is why these two young men had such outstanding seasons! Soto winning would make him the first catcher since Piazza to be honored with ROY, and it hasn’t hurt him that the Cubs were the talk of the nation, trying to close the century gap of World Series championship wins. Boohoo. We all predicted how that storybook fairytale would end. Everyone, that is, except Cubs fans who have clearly always been non compos mentis...
So like I mentioned before, these two are pretty much neck-and-neck for this award. But when it’s all said and done, Votto’s boyishly good looks and winning smile get my vote any day of the week. And it appears one of 2008’s most influential people agrees with me. Yep, shout out to Lil’ Wayne!
It's here. Actually it's been here for awhile now, I just write articles too sporadically. The it that I am referring to? The Fall Classic of course. So in today's installment of the best of the web, we look exclusively to that greatest of pastimes and take one final look at what's being said about baseball on the internet this season.
A Braves' fan rooting for the Phils? Next you'll tell me that Guy Ritchie has season tickets next year for Yankee Stadium along the third base line. Actually this is one extremely well written piece if you are a National League enthusiast, hate indoor ballparks, or just like your franchises to be old enough to vote. [The Launching Pad]
Counter the above article with a Rays' fan who has conceded defeat, but doesn't regret a thing. [DraysBAY]
Could ESPN be breaking up John and Joe on Sunday Night? Whether you love them or hate them (or hate how one always compares every great team to the Big Red Machine), there is no denying that it would be weird to see a change after almost 20 years. [NY Daily News]
It always amazes me how when there is a big name on the market, everybody (and this article proves that I mean everybody) feels they have a shot. Guess what? Johnny Damon wasn't leaving the Red Sox to go to Minnesota, Santana wasn't going to play for the Nationals, and Peavy will not have a KC on his hat come April either. [Royals Mailbag]
No, seriously. Take a look at this wonderblog! These deep observations are pretty dumb, but pretty genius at the same time: "I know the Rays got the Backstreet Boys to sing the national anthem before Game 1, and that's gonna be something. I thought Backstreet Road was closed for construction, but I guess not. Since I went to a postseason game in Tampa, I think they're gonna boo 'em. I really do. Those fans are wild. They were hardcore, trust me. More cowbell was serious and everybody has mohawks. I don't know how well the Backstreet Boys are going to do with the mohawk crew. It could get ugly."
Here Wayne takes an open shot at another artist (sic). You never see musicians do this. And yet what he says is so true. 12-year-old girls don't watch the World Series. Why ARE the Backstreet Boys going to play there?
"I still like the Rays to win the World Series. The Phillies' hitters are tough. They can shut your starting pitchers down fast and as for pitching, they've got Brad Lidge, and Cole Hamels is nice, but wow. I did not expect them to make the World Series. A lot of people are talking about Lidge and how he blew the save in the NLCS a few years ago but I guarantee he's not thinking about Albert Pujols right now. He's thinking about 46 saves in 46 tries. The number right there is scary. He's riding that wave. With that fact alone this should be a great World Series, but I still think the Rays are gonna come out on top. I'm basing that on the home field advantage."
Most convoluted logic I've ever read.
Honestly, I do not watch the Pro Bowl. I don't even watch the NBA All-Star Game even though I'm always involved in the NBA's All-Star weekend. I'm down there and I never watch the game 'cause it don't mean anything. In the Pro Bowl they wait till the fourth quarter to get serious, but in the NBA All-Star Game they never get serious, they just try to throw the ball off the backboard for 48 minutes. I don't want to sound like an old guy, but I remember NBA All-Star Games games with Jordan, Olajuwon, Ewing that were real games. They're out there f—ing with teammates, you hear about locker room fights, and this is the All-Star Game. That's what I love, but those years are long gone.
Who doesn't like thinking back about how competitive Jordan and Bird were back in the day? He's right; it is a joke today. Every year it seems like one team goes up 30, before the other team storms back, and the scores end up in the 120's.
"Poor Dallas. And poor T.O. He's gonna quit. He takes a loss differently than anyone on that team. I think he has nightmares about losing or something, because he looks like he's about to cry after every game they lose. You see him over there on the sidelines sitting by himself just pouting like a little kid. Remember last year? "That's my quarterback, man." I love when any sports channel just brings that clip back for no reason. They always bring it back for nothing, just out of the blue "That's my quarterback, man." T.O. is an amazing talent but he's definitely a situation. But that's another difference between the old days and now. Back then there's no way you play football and then go cry on TV."
Hilarious. And I never thought of T.O. like that, but I don't smoke weed (I don't), so I have to get this great insight from Lil' Wayne.
Did you see LenDale's touchdown this weekend? His little fat self ran 80 yards. They put the timer on SportsCenter and it took him like six seconds, but he made it and that's what matters. That guy is funny.
No, you're funny Lil' Wayne! LenDale White's "little fat self?" Hahahahaha. Then you say he ran an 80 yard touchdown in six seconds, over a second faster than Usain Bolt could run it in. I can't wait for the next installment.
In unrelated music news, I played this song four times while writing this piece... The song is pretty emo, but the video is really cool (kinda like Say Anything's "I called her on the phone, and she..." song and "Mushaboom"). While I go get some popcorn (I got the munchies REALLY bad!), take a look:
Daaaammmmnnnneeeeet! I thought you were already gone! What the hell! Seriously Roger, you're not going to rule out a return?!?
"I don't know if I will ever say no. I would have to know that I could perform at a high level and that my body would be able to hold up," Clemens told a Houston radio station Wednesday.
Well, I'll just go push your career into its grave and kick some dirt up on it: You didn't perform at a high level last time you played; in fact, you were a .500 pitcher with an ERA over 11 in the playoffs. And that body that so famously survived all of its military-style, grueling workouts? Turns out steroids helped you tear through that extra rep, burn those last few muscle fibers, and put you back together in time for the next day. Oh, right... you're denying you took steroids. So did Sammy Sosa, Miguel Tejada, and Brady Anderson. When we knew they were clear, they played up to their age. How many clean 47-year-old pitchers have performed at a "high level" in the major leagues? Satchel Paige. He pitched without fielders. You never could.
Don't come back Roger. I'm pretty sure you'd suck, I'm thinking no one would even want you, I'm positive there isn't anyone that would pay you $6 million a month, and I bet the Astros wish they hadn't signed you to that personal services contract. So you can't come back. If you did, you'd play like a 47-year-old. And Houston would really like you to go ahead and get the clock ticking on that long-term services contract. Go then. The sooner the better.
The New York Yankees failed to make the postseason for the first time since 1993, which also means that this is the first year in which Derek Jeter will not be playing in October.
Kornheiser's Cartel recently spent a day with the Yankees' shortstop, and we were able to record his routine.
8:00 AM - Wake up after a good night's sleep. Roll over. Shit... Mariah. I've had all of the pressure of not making the playoffs and the closing of the Stadium placed on my exquisitely cut shoulders being the captain and all. I don't know how Varitek was able to handle sitting at home 4 different seasons, but he does have a beard and a "C" on his jersey to get him through the tough times.
8:05 AM - Flip on my XM radio, chug a Gatorade, and head to the bathroom. After a quick shave using my Gillette Fusion, I hop in the ol' shower. When I'm done I throw on my Nike gear and slip on my Jumpman shoes. 8:30 AM - Breakfast Time! Even though I keep trying to tell myself that everything's alright, I can't help but feel a little blue. So, to cheer myself up I think I'll eat Wheaties from my private stash of Yankees World Series Champions boxes. '98 looks good, after all we were the greatest team to ever play baseball (suck on that Varitek). ARod wasn't on the Yanks in '98 as I recall.
9:15 AM - Flip on the tube and watch some SportsCenter. A video montage of great playoff performances? Wow, I was in over half those shots...totally need to fire my agent because I haven't seen a dime from ESPN.
9:30 AM - Phone Call. Bud Selig. Yawn. He wants to make sure that even though I'm not playing right now, I'll still make an appearance in Tampa or something. I tell him sure thing, after all I am the face of the entire league. Plus I know a few Buccaneers cheerleaders.
9:45 AM - Plop down on the couch and bust out my cell phone. I usually play about 2 hours of Derek Jeter Pro Baseball 2008 every morning. Since they named it after me, I get special cheat codes that allow me to unlock historical players. I put my boy Brosius in at 3rd and Bernie back in center. Believe me, they're improvements on the current players.
12:00 PM - Lunch downtown at Masa with The Boss. Seriously, that's what he makes even me call him. Not Mr. Steinbrenner. Not Your Excellency. Not even Papa Georgie (that's what Cashman always calls him).
He starts off by saying that he doesn't blame me at all for our failure to make the playoffs. In fact I'm pretty much the only guy he doesn't blame. He tells me he's fired half of our scouts, sold the Trenton Thunder to some Japanese investment firm, and that the guy who sells hot dogs in Section 126 better watch his back. For some reason he is super pissed at Alex too. I tell him nobody was to blame. Except Alex.
After going over what I want my plaque in Monument Park to read, The Boss says he has to use the restroom.
35 minutes later - Obviously The Boss isn't coming back. He always sticks me with the check. Yogi warned me, but nobody ever listens to that old crackpot. He's such a sellout too. The way he turned his old phrases into an Aflac commercial, not cool. I pay with my Visa card and hop in my Ford.
5:00 PM - I'm a guest on a radio talk show. This show doesn't even begin to compare to the stellar analysis and up-to-the-minute score alerts that can be found on XM radio. But my PR guy says it's good for me to mingle with the people. They ask me my thoughts on offseason moves and I mention that we should look at signing Teixeira and converting him to 3B. The hosts seem perplexed, but I tell them that Posada will likely be moved to 1st, so we don't need anybody at 1B. They still argue that we're set at 3rd as well, but I've tuned them out by now. I plug a charity or two and then I'm gone.
7:30 PM - Dinner with Pettitte, Mariano, and Posada. We reminisce about the good old days and none of us can figure out how Jorge's former backup has become our skipper. We all text Torre saying we miss him and he responds with a huggie bear emoticon. He's so adorable.
9:45 PM - Pettitte knows of a sick party going on, so we all head out, like in Swingers. I'm obviously the Vince Vaughn of the group, since these other guys are super lame and have wives they have to get back to.
11:30 PM - As I'm leaving the party the valet starts riding my ass for not leading the Bombers to another World Series. I run my hand (with those 4 large rings) through my hair, tell him it'll be alright, and help Miss New Jersey into my car. I don't think I'll have as restful a night tonight.
The internet is abuzz with all things sport lately, which makes writing articles like this fairly easy. In fact, I was able to churn this out in about the time it took Kimbo to get knocked out (too soon?).
Read on to see the best the internet has to offer (at least for the time being). Baseball:
The ALCS and NLCS are set! Games will begin on Thursday in Philly. The superbly written and designed Phillies Nation points out that usual stud Chase Utley has been less than stellar so far in the playoffs. For the Phils' sake, I hope he can rebound. [Phillies Nation]
One of the Cartel's favorites, Core-Pat, will be looking for work. [Red Hot Mama]
Apparently it's not just Prince Fielder and CC. Baseball Reference tells us that the big leagues are getting even bigger as of late. [Baseball Reference]
Football:
My buddy pointed out to me that the 'Cats of N'western are undefeated, but only after a cupcake first 5 games. With that said, they may stun the superior Spartans and there is no doubt that they'll knock off my Boilers in Evanston. As for their schedule to date, check it out. [ESPN]
BYU is rolling. But, will the Cougs stumble even before they play their toughest on-paper opponent (not to mention hated rival) in Salt Lake City? [Salt Lake Tribune]
Marvin Lewis may be a bad coach, but this little gem makes us chuckle. [Stripe Hype]
Billynho and I watched the 'Aints lose to the Vikes last night and we couldn't help but slightly disagree with some of the officiating decisions. Looks like the NFL is sending their cleanup crews around to tidy up this mess, including the Saints' homepage. [ProFootballTalk]
On September 21, 2008 Yankees fans witnessed the final Major League Baseball game that will ever be played in the Cathedral known as Yankee Stadium. Despite hosting numerous other tenants over the course of its 85 year history (New York Giants, New York Cosmos, Army/Fordham/NYU College Football), the Stadium was built for and is most famous for its namesake franchise: the New York Yankees.
Much will be written about this period in time due to the changing of venues, but let us not forget that this year also marks the 85th anniversary of the Yankees' first World Series victory which would be the first of a record 26 titles over the 85 year span. So in honor not only of 85 years in the House That Ruth Built, but 85 years of World Championships, I present my personal picks for an 85th Anniversary Team.
First Team
C
Yogi Berra
Aside from his 3 MVPs, 10 WS titles, and 15 All-Star game selections, Yogi earns this spot for being the face of the franchise for almost 60 years. Even with his own personal issues with The Boss, no other player has had such an association with one team for so long. Ruth will always be king, Gehrig and Munson will always be the fallen heroes, but Yogi embodies the soul of the greatest team in North American sports history.
1B
Lou Gehrig
He will forever be known for his streak, his speech, and sadly his death, but what I think eludes many members of my generation is how great of a player he truly was. 493 HR, .340 BA, 2x MVP (finished 2nd twice) all while sharing the Babe's spotlight for most of his career. Following his death, the distinction of Captain would not be issued for 35 years to honor his memory.
2B
Willie Randolph
Upon researching this article, I couldn't help but notice that this was a somewhat weak position for the Bombers over the years. However for 13 years the Yankees did have a great one in Willie Randolph. A five-time All-Star while wearing pinstripes, Randolph started 1688 games at second base for the Yankees. He later joined the team's coaching staff and during his 11 years as a base and bench coach helped oversee the most recent Yankee dynasty.
3B
Alex Rodriguez
Perhaps one of the more controversial picks on this list, it should be noted that at the end of next season A-Rod could be third amongst Yankees for games started at 3rd base. Despite putting up a majority of his gaudy personal statistics in Seattle and Texas, Rodriguez has the potential to shatter every major hitting record in baseball. Thanks to his massive contract, it looks like he will finish his historic career in pinstripes. He has already won two MVPs while in New York (the first since Mattingly in '85) and could easily win a couple more. Currently he has hit 553 HR, and he's only 32 years old.
SS
Derek Jeter
One of only 4 players to play on all of the most recent dynasty's championship teams and still wear pinstripes. On a team that is often criticized for its lack of a farm system, Jeter is one of the glaring exceptions. Drafted by the Yankees in 1992, he played 15 games in '95 but '96 was his true rookie season. He won the ROY, and in 2006 was narrowly beat out for the MVP. A 4-time world champion and 8-time All-Star, he has risen to not only be the Yankee's captain and leader but has positioned himself as one of the faces of MLB.
OF
Joe DiMaggio
When Paul Simon and Ernest Hemmingway allude to you in their art, chances are you have transcended your sport and you are a national treasure. When he wasn't busy marrying possibly the most famous actress of all time, and despite missing 3 years because of WWII, Joltin' Joe compiled a 56-game hit streak, won 3 MVPs, and 9 world titles. The epitome of grace on the field, it was once said that the only way to get a hit against the Yankees was to "hit 'em where Joe wasn't".
OF
Mickey Mantle
For anyone who had any doubts about his inclusion on this list, I believe that Mickey's wikipedia page says it best:"He played his entire 18-year major-league professional career for the New York Yankees, winning 3 American League MVP titles and playing for 16 All-Star teams. Mantle played on 12 pennant winners and 7 World Championship clubs. He still holds the records for most World Series home runs (18), RBIs (40), runs (42), walks (43), extra-base hits (26), and total bases (123)."
OF
Bernie Williams
His statistical accomplishments speak for themselves, but Bernie's reception at the final game speaks volumes for what he meant to the team during the 90s and into the new millennium. Another home-grown player, Bernie played in 2076 regular season games and 121 playoff games, all of them for the Yankees. He currently hold the record for most postseason games (121), doubles (29), RBI (80) and extra base hits (51). He also is in the top 6 in Yankee all-time categories, such as hits, HR, and RBI. 4 world titles and 5 All-Star selections round out his phenomenal list of accomplishments.
DH
Babe Ruth
I realize that the Babe played pitcher and outfield (with a little 1B), but I have extrapolated this anniversary team to play in the modern era. With that concession, I think everyone knows what position the Bambino would be filling in a modern roster: DH. Since that's clarified, I think the fact that Ruth is the greatest player of all-time is reason enough for inclusion on this list.
SP
Whitey Ford
The best Yankee pitcher of all-time. He recorded 236 wins for New York, a team record that still stands. The Chairman of the Board won six World Series (he was the MVP of the 1961 WS), was selected to 8 All-Star teams, and won the Cy Young Award in 1961 (25-4 record).
SP
Ron Guidry
Louisiana Lightning not only pitched for the World Championship teams in '77 and '78, but won the Cy Young Award in 1978 (he finished second in the MVP ballot). He won 170 games with a 3.29 ERA, playing his entire career in the Bronx.
SP
Lefty Gomez
Lefty was a 7-time All-Star, won the World Series 5 times, and played for the Yankees for 13 seasons. He pitched in seven World Series games, with a 2.86 ERA, 31K, and 6 Wins. He won the pitching Triple Crown in '34 and '37. The Yankee sluggers may have gotten most of the attention during the 30s and 40s, but together with Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez supplied the high-caliber pitching needed to win championships.
SP
Red Ruffing
Charles Ruffing played 14.5 seasons with the Yankees, and recorded 216 wins while wearing pinstripes. He was a six-time All-Star, six-time World Champion, and led the league in strikeouts in 1932. He won 20+ games 4 times during his career and recorded a 2.63 ERA in World Series play.
RP
Mariano Rivera
481 career saves. 2.29 ERA over 1022+ IP. All while with the Yankees. No one has done so much with only one pitch in the history of the game. His cutter has a legend of its own, rivaling the likes of Nolan Ryan's fastball and Randy Johnson's slider. Arguably the greatest relief pitcher ever.
Second Team
C
Elston Howard
This spot on the roster was without a doubt my hardest decision. Bill Dickey and Thurman Munson deserve to be considered, though I chose to go with the player that combined Munson's explosive statistics with Dickey's longevity. Howard was the 1963 MVP, won 2 Gold Gloves, was named to 9 All-Star teams, and won 4 titles. He broke the Yankee's color barrier and would go on to notch a career fielding percentage .993. Howard still ranks amongst the top 25 all-time for catchers in OPS.
1B
Don Mattingly
1985 MVP. 1984 batting title. 9 Gold Gloves. 14 seasons with the Bombers. Sadly he never played in a World Series, but was the leader of the squad for a decade and a half.
2B
Tony Lazzeri
An All-Star and a 5X World Champion, Lazzeri had seven seasons with 100+ RBI and batted .300+ five different seasons. He started 1441 games for the Bombers at 2B, second to only Willie Randolph.
3B
Graig Nettles
Nettles started 1509 games at 3B for the Yankees, the most in franchise history. He made 5 All-Star teams while with the Yankees and was the 1981 ALCS MVP. He won 2 Gold Gloves and 2 World Series (both in '77 and '78).
SS
Phil Rizzuto
1950 AL MVP, 5x All-Star, he started 1647 games for the Yankees at SS (second only to Jeter). After his stellar playing career, he would continue to be a part of the Yankee family by being a broadcaster for 40 years.
OF
Paul O'Neill
4x All-Star with the Yankees, won 4 rings with the Bombers, and won the 1994 AL batting title. More than his stats, Paulie was one of the leaders and veterans that helped turn the Yankees from mediocre to legendary in the 90s.
OF
Dave Winfield
One of the greatest athletes to ever live, Winfield chose baseball over basketball and football for his career. He played 8.5 years for the Bombers (mostly in RF), making 8 All-Star teams. He batted .340 in 1984 and tallied 226 HR during his time in New York.
OF
Roger Maris
2x MVP, 3x All-Star with the Yankees, and 61 HR in '61. Forever overshadowed by Mantle, but a solid player in his own right.
DH
Reggie Jackson
He was notoriously bad in right, which is why Mr. October would be a perfect fit for a DH spot. His powerful swing helped lead to world titles in '77 and '78. While with the Yankees he hit 144 HR, 461 RBI, and finished 2nd in the 1980 MVP race.
SP
Catfish Hunter
Though he only played 5 seasons in New York, Catfish made the most of them. His record-setting contract ushered in an entirely new era of free agency that has come to be the Yankees' hallmark. On the field he lived up to his hyped billing. With the Yankees, he won 23 games in 1975 (finishing second in the Cy Young race) and won two World Series titles.
SP
Don Larsen
He only played 5 years for the Yankees, but he was able to cement his legacy. He pitched on two World Series championship squads and threw the only perfect game in World Series history.
SP
Andy Pettitte
Pettitte was oh-so-close to making my first team. The only starting pitcher to play on all four of the most recent championship teams, he went on to be known as one of the best lefties to ever play and one of the most feared pickoff men to ever set foot on the mound. ROY, 2nd in Cy Young voting, and ALCS MVP are just some of his career accolades. If not for his stint in Houston, he might not only be a member of my first team, but go down as the greatest pitcher in Yankee history.
SP
Roger Clemens
Won 2001 Cy Young (first Yankee to win Cy Young since Ron Guidry in '78). Key part of pitching rotation for two world championship teams.
RP
Goose Gossage
151 saves while with the Yankees. 4-time All-Star. HOFer. 33 saves in 1980.
All I ever read these days from baseball columnists is that MLB teams should stress youth, stockpile draft picks, trade for the future, and play youngsters over free agents. It gets on my damn nerves, I suhwear. Sure Billy Beane is a (Money)baller and plays that theory to perfection, but he does it out of necessity. And for every Billy Beane, there are five Steve Phillips.
For the Yankees, money ain’t a thang. Pretending that it is has come back to haunt them this season.
Go back to last offseason and re-examine their refusal to include Phil Hughes in a deal for Johan Santana. I understand that they considered Hughes a top prospect, but he wasn’t special in his cameo last season and certainly couldn’t hold a candle to Santana’s flame.
Santana was as ready-made for the Yankees as any player in baseball; young, super successful, healthy, left-handed, and a good guy. Yes, he had high monetary demands, but Steinbrenner just wants to win. Don’t listen to all the baseball writers puckering up to GM’s, Brian Cashman in this case; fiscal issues don’t apply to the Yankees. They crashed-and-burned in passing on the Santana deal.
If Hughes and Ian Kennedy could’ve been packaged with other supposed supreme prospects in deals for Santana and Dan Haren, how could they pass? The Yankees should always target the top proven starting pitchers in baseball, acquire them at all costs, and build from there.
Tim Hudson, Carlos Zambrano, and Roy Oswalt are a few other prototypical, once available pitchers they missed out on in the past.
The Yankees starting staff is just the beginning, though. The entire roster is beginning to look like a wreck. And it will be worse in a few years as players signed to long-term deals age.
This offseason Brian Cashman should stop straining his brain. The Yankees holes are glaring and the free agent class is ready-made to fill them.
Here’s a position-by-position analysis: C- Jorge Posada- Posada is overpaid, but they’re okay here 1B- Jason Giambi if they pick up the option- A long-term problem, must be addressed 2B- Robinson Cano- Set SS- Derek Jeter- Set 3B- Alex Rodriguez- Obvious LF- Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady- Damon’s playing center now, Yankees have an option year on Nady CF- Damon RF- Bobby Abreu- Free agent-to-be DH- Hideki Matsui- Set Rotation- Crudely assembled mishmash of garbage
What to do, what to do… WWPD. What Would Preston Do? Buy an eight-gallon bucket of ice cream, of course. In other words, spend that money like it's going out of S-T-Y-L-E!
At first, Mark Teixeira is 29, one of the best defensive first baseman in baseball, and a proven hitter. Sign him up and the infield is set for the next five years at least (although Jeter’s slipping play may make me revisit that statement).
In the outfield, the Yankees are already loaded with talent, but it doesn’t all fit together defensively. Ignore that, sign Manny Ramirez in left and re-sign Abreu. The troika of Ramirez, Damon, and Abreu will continue to hit well even as they age as they all have great eyes at the plate and power ranging from pretty good to ungodly. Taking a flyer on Rocco Baldelli would be good business, too.
Now the real problem, the rotation…
Right now, Joba Chamberlain and Chien-Mien Wang are the only sure things for 2009 (health permitting).
Behind those two, Kennedy, Hughes, Mike Mussina (if re-signed), Andy Pettite (if re-signed), and Darrell Rasner (if desperate) are all candidates, none ideal for a team searching for perfection at any cost.
Once again, Cashman should consult Mr. Waters.
With two of the top young pitchers in baseball available in CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, the Yankees should move quickly to sweep them up.
Then, the Yanks should package one of Kennedy or Hughes, plus Austin Jackson and other top prospects for another superstar young pitcher. Chad Billingsley, Felix Hernandez, Tim Lincecum, and Brandon Webb should be targeted here.
Finally, I’d suggest signing Mussina to a one-year deal.
That’d leave the Yankees with a starting five of: Sabathia Sheets Wang Mussina Superstar young stud Joba and Hughes/Kennedy
Oh, wait, that's more than five...
That's because acquiring so many elite starting pitchers would allow the Yankees the flexibility to move Joba back into a set-up role where he can once again be the dominant bridge to Mariano Rivera.
And the Yankees would still have Hughes or Kennedy to plug into the rotation should someone get injured.
That Yankees team would be among the greatest of all-time, Preston Waters would be proud, and Cashman and Steinbrenner might have the following classic exchange.
GS: OK, just tell me where the money is.
BC: I, I spent it.
GS: All of it!?
BC: All of it.
GS: How'd you spend $500 million dollars in one offseason!?!?!?!?
Thanks to the guys over at BaseballReference.com, it has now come to my attention that Major League Baseball is on the verge of its 250,000th home run of all time.
That's a quarter of a million dingers for those of you who get flummoxed by numerous zeroes.
It all started on May 2, 1876 when Ross Barnes (pictured) of the Chicago White Stockings (Chicago Cubs) took Cherokee Fisher of the Cincinnati Reds yard. BR doesn't count postseason homers in this stat, as far as I can tell, so some may argue that we have already eclipsed this milestone. However if you go with their numbers we stand at 249,810 through the end of August 31st.
Who will hit the historic shot? Only time will tell, but an interesting side note to these numbers is that 1/5th of the 250,000 have been hit since 1999, only 9 years ago.
The 2008 MLB All-Star Game was a unique one. In terms of actual playing time, none before had ever taken as long. This scenario provided fans and analysts with a true sense of what can become a major problem in a baseball "exhibition" game.
The starters for the evening were voted on by fans and are theoretically the most popular, if not most talented, players the game has to offer in a given year. However, in an effort to try and be fair to all players, and allow everyone some playing time, most of these starters are pulled early.
In a game that only lasts the standard nine innings, or in a timed game without strict substitution rules (basketball or hockey),this is a great idea. Fans are able to see the maximum number of players, and with MLB's rule that all teams must be represented, every fan will get to see someone from their favorite team.
Yet, a year like this one proves how this philosophy can't really carry over from basketball/hockey to baseball. With no time limit, baseball games are theoretically endless and can drag on for several innings and hours past the original nine.
Therefore, by taking out your starters (and best players, at least in theory) early if a game heads to extra innings, a bulk of the playing time, and most of the late-inning heroics, is performed by All-Stars, but not the same ones who are usually on the covers of videogames or breaking home-run records.
This is not an entirely bad situation.
Most people get tired of hearing about the same dozen players over and over again, and it is refreshing to see the unique spectacle of an All-Star game being played by what can only be referred to as second-tier All Stars.
However, is it a good marketing move for the already beleaguered MLB to have guys like Dan Uggla and Russell Martin playing the exciting final innings while household names such as Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, and Manny Ramirez have all been removed from play?
I must admit that I don't have a solution. The real problem is that if the game is only going to last nine or so innings, the current strategy adopted by all managers makes sense. Fans are happy because they get to see everybody play, less experienced players are excited to get some playing time on a national stage, and the starters are allowed to rest.
However, if the game drags on, and with the added incentive of World Series home-field advantage, there is an ever-increasing likelihood that this might happen. There either aren’t enough players to comfortably field the team and/or the players that are still playing are excellent athletes, but not ones that draw in huge audiences through name recognition alone.
Ultimately, I don’t think either way is totally right or totally wrong, and I’m glad that the All-Star Game means something and isn’t called a draw after a set number of tied innings.
As this new “This One Counts” approach to the Midsummer Classic continues I think that managers will begin to better know how to handle this situation and perhaps MLB will grant an extra roster spot or two to the teams.
In the end, now that ties are no longer an option, we as fans will be treated to more and more exciting finishes like this year’s, whether it’s being played by future Hall of Famers or those guys simply glad to be a part of the second-tier.
When Marshawn Lynch claimed, "It don't get no better than solid, baby," it must have been out of respect for Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carl Crawford.
For some reason, it seems every sportswriter and pundit in America is operating under the assumption that Carl Crawford is perennially underrated.
I say nay: He is overrated.
He is a perfectly good, slightly above average, solid outfielder; he's viewed as an untouchable, franchise player by way too many people.
Crawford may be "stupid fast," but anyone who thinks he should be untouchable is stupid dumb. From '05-'07, the three best years of his career, he posted a nice .307 batting average, a very good 51 steals per season (and was caught, on average, just nine times per season), a respectable 15 home runs a year, and a ho-hum, but useful, .816 OPS.
This season, his average has fallen to .270 and his OPS is a miserly .700. The speed is still there (23 steals in 29 attempts), but he only has 21 extra-base hits, including a shockingly low eight doubles.
While his range in left is certainly elite, his arm is below average. On the whole, defensively, he's once again solid.
Where is his place in the pantheon of American League left fielders?
This season, AL left fielders Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez, Carlos Guillen, Carlos Quentin, Raul Ibanez, Luke Scott, Jack Cust, and Marcus Thames have all offered substantially more at the plate.
Delmon Young has posted similar numbers, but with a bit less than half the steals. That's nine left fielders (two from Detroit, where Guillen DH's frequently) with comparable numbers or more production than Crawford in 2008.
Going off his three-year peripherals listed above, he still wouldn't rank in the top 10 in the major leagues in terms of production at the plate.
So, how exactly is he underrated?
I get it, he's faaaaaaast! He puts pressure on pitchers when he is on base, and he can turn a single into a double with a steal.
What can't speed do? Speed doesn't advance runners, speed doesn't knock the ball out the park, and speed doesn't add extra lift on a throw from the warning track. His power numbers seem to be fading, and even in the best year of his career, his production at the plate doesn't measure close to the Beast Mode outfielders.
Speed can't change that.
At this rate, as he ages and his speed dwindles, he'll be another Jacque Jones. Solid.
Crawford better hope that, particularly in his 2010 free-agency year, baseball people agree with the sentiment cultivated by the media and Marshawn Lynch that, "it don't get no better than solid."
I finally got to watch a game on the YES network.
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