2011 Predictions.

Sure, it's too early to fully expect anything in the 2011 season...but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try. Let's predict some highlights first:

Both Andy Pettitte and Chipper Jones will return after claiming they'd retire after this past season; Pettite will win 9-12 games, Jones will hit 10-15 home runs, and both will still consider coming back in 2012, even though both will be 40 then.

Alex Rodriguez will pass Ken Griffey Jr. on the home run records list; in the same vein, Albert Pujols will hit at least 30-35 homers and pass names such as Piazza, Ripken Jr., Jones, and Guerrero.

4 of the 5 pitchers in the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation will win between 15-20 games. No other pitcher in the National League (aside from Tim Lincecum, Ubaldo Jimenez, Adam Wainwright and Zack Greinke) will win that many, or even come close.

Derek Jeter will get his 3,000th hit, CC Sabathia will win 18+ games, and Mark Teixeira will hit 30+ home runs...and the New York Yankees will still only make the playoffs as a wild card for the second straight year.

Dan Uggla will continue his streak of 30+ home run seasons, bringing his total to 5, and the Atlanta Braves will promptly thank him by choking down the stretch as usual.

Bryce Harper will be called up by the Washington Nationals in May or early June, and every pitcher in the National League will do their best to give him a warm welcome by striking him out frequently.

The Oakland Athletics will slip behind the Seattle Mariners for last place in the AL West division.

Barry Bonds and Pedro Martinez will both talk about a possible comeback, then realize nobody wants them to come back.

Troy Tulowitzki and Joe Mauer will both make use of their long contracts by each hitting 20+ homers with 80+ RBIs and BAs of .330 or higher.

Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs will be banned from the game for strangling an umpire, a coach, a teammate, or all of the above, when one of them calls him a "sissy" and angers him.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have another 100+ loss season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks will join them. The Kansas City Royals will just miss this by a few games, as will the Mariners.

The Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox will play a tiebreaker game at the end of the regular season; the White Sox will just barely win. A similar situation will play out between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, with the Giants edging the Padres out.

The American League team will win the All-Star Game 6-3, returning postseason home-field advantage to them.

And now, award/playoff predictions:

AL Rookie of the Year: Jesus Montero, New York Yankees.
NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals.

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees.
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies.

AL MVP: Carl Crawford, Boston Red Sox.
NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies.

AL East: Boston Red Sox.
AL Central: Chicago White Sox.
AL West: Texas Rangers.
AL Wild Card: New York Yankees.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies.
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals.
NL West: Colorado Rockies.
NL Wild Card: San Francisco Giants.

ALDS: Boston Red Sox beat Texas Rangers in 3 games, Chicago White Sox beat New York Yankees in 5 games.
NLDS: Philadelphia Philles beat Colorado Rockies in 3 games, St. Louis Cardinals beat San Francisco Giants in 4 games.

ALCS: Boston Red Sox beat Chicago White Sox in 6 games.
NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies beat St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games.

World Series: Philadelphia Phillies beat Boston Red Sox in 7 games. Chase Utley is named WS MVP.

If I'm right about a single, solitary thing in this entire post, I'll be satisfied.

When I'm Wrong, I Get Really Greinke.

Boy, I have yet to be right about a single thing this offseason, huh? Just like everyone else, I thought Cliff Lee would sign with the Yankees or the Rangers: WRONG. I thought Carl Crawford was going to be an Angel: WRONG. But more than anything, I thought Zack Greinke would somehow end up in New York pinstripes: WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Early Sunday morning, the Royals, who've been dangling Zacky boy in front of other teams for months, shipped him off to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for some young players and prospects that Kansas City hopes will help turn them into a championship-caliber team in the next few years. For the Royals, this may not be the worst move they've made: sure, the rest of their starting pitcher is pretty weak, and their offensive power, in comparison to other teams, is like bringing a water gun to a friendly game of Russian roulette, but these young ones still have potential, the bright-eyed innocence and blissful ignorance that they're on a team that hasn't done a single important thing since 1985 (before the majority of them could even pick up a bat). Youth is a dangerous thing: you can't tell for sure what these kids will help Kansas City accomplish, and it's likely that's what the Royals brass is counting on. With the signings of outfielders Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera, they've already added a few more non-impactful players, so some fresh new blood could help jumpstart their dying batteries, but it will take a lot more than that to drive them into October for the seventh time in franchise history. The only problem that they had (and why they couldn't truly afford to keep Greinke, and vice versa) is that their run support is truly atrocious. If the players in the lineup can find the power they've been lacking in so heavily, maybe they can recoup their loss of a Cy Young-winning hurler and begin to lay the foundation for becoming a stronger team.

The Brewers, and Greinke, both benefit in ways the Royals do not. The Brewers get a reliable pitcher with good command and a high strikeout rate who's young and has only been on the disabled list once in his career, and Greinke gets to pitch in a different league with a stronger emphasis on pitching, and also with a team that has big hitter (literally and figuratively) Prince Fielder, as well as other sluggers like Casey McGehee and Ryan Braun. Now, this sounds like a nice 1-2 combo on paper, but by no stretch of the imagination does this make the Brew Crew sound anything like a contender. Sure, they probably won't end up in last place in the NL Central with this roster, and they will probably beat out the Astros and Pirates, and may even take down the Cubs. But they're also lumped together with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are just returning to glory, while the Cardinals have Albert Pujols (at least through next year). And let's say, by some wild cosmic incident, that the Brewers win the NL Central, or at least make the wild card. A rotation of Greinke/Gallardo/Marcum sounds nice and threatening, but when you consider the powerhouse pitching in Philadelphia, they can't raise that white flag of surrender high enough. Still, they can make some noise in the division and possibly shake things up, so this just adds one more interesting component to the upcoming season.

Cliff Lee Signs With The Phillies.

I usually try to make a more clever title...but I just don't have it in me this time.

It's nearly official: Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms for a contract still to be made public; sources have indicated that it's for 5 years/$100 million, a few steps down from offers made by New York and Texas, but this has yet to be confirmed. After weeks and months of speculations, rumors, and posturing, Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, informed both the Yankees and Rangers Monday that both were out of the running for Lee, and now we all know why. Whether the Phillies made this offer a while ago and kept it completely secret, or if it truly surfaced and was signed in the matter of 2 or 3 hours, as it's sure seemed, is not clear as of now. Lee was originally acquired by the Phils in late 2009 from Cleveland, where he went 7-4 in 12 starts through the regular season, and went 4-0 for them in the postseason, including handing the Yanks their only losses of championship number 27.

And now, let's all sit back for a moment and take a look at (not in the specific order they may be in) the Phillies' starting rotation in 2011.

Roy Halladay
Roy Oswalt (ugh)
Cole Hamels
Cliff Lee
Insert any human being capable of throwing a pitch here, because they're basically redundant

You know that bully who used to pick on you when you were younger? He'd always dominate you and make you feel worthless, because you could never beat him? Yeah, he grew up and became the Philadelphia Phillies' 2011 starting rotation.

What's the regular season wins record for a team? 116 wins by the Seattle Mariners in 2001? That's child's play compared to what Philadelphia will unleash next year. The better, easier question to gauge is, how many games will they lose? That answer will be significantly smaller.

Keep in mind, all this praise and confidence in this rotation is coming from the most diehard Yankees fan this side of the Mason-Dixon line. Speaking of my Yanks, this monumental snubbing can really only predicate one logical conclusion: seeing banners in October that say "Congratulations to the 2011 American League Champions, the Boston Red Sox". Call me crazy, but with this opportunity forcibly passed up, and considering the way Mr. Epstein stacked his lineup, you can't call me wrong.

I need to go to bed...maybe I'll wake up and this will all have been a bad, bad dream...

Red Stax For Red Hot Feet, Blue Logo For Cold Bat.

Just hours after reports that free agent Carl Crawford was most likely going to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, the Boston Red Sox swooped in and snatched him up tight, for 7 years and a whopping $142 million. Just days after acquiring first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres, this is another Boston move that seems almost overly aggressive. After missing the playoffs entirely following 2 World Series titles in the past decade, ending their 86-year drought, it seems like GM Theo Epstein is so embarrassed about their near-miss last season that he's leaving no stone unturned in this year's Winter Madness. The new boys in town certainly make a lineup that's extremely potent, both in the field and at the plate: Crawford's speed on the basepath and Gonzalez's predisposal to hit hotly will make a very nice 1-2 punch either atop the lineup or snugly in the middle. Hopefully, they'll regain some important pieces of the puzzle that led to them falling short of October: Dustin Pedroia should be healthy from his foot injury; Jason Varitek, although he'll have to split time behind the plate with recently-acquired Jarrod Saltalamacchia (say that 5 times fast), will hopefully have a healthier season than his 39 games in '10; and Mike Cameron will find himself in a bit of a predicament with this situation, as he'll most likely be coming off the bench in favor of Crawdaddy...although, for Terry Francona, this isn't a terrible problem to have. Some analysts were already projecting Boston to be the "Team to Beat" in 2011; with these recent developments, even this hardcore Yankees fan is feeling uneasy about the BoSox.

Also making news today was Crawford's ex-teammate, fellow free agent Carlos Pena. He signed a 1 year deal with the Cubs for $10 million. Quite an awful lot of money for such an underperforming player: 28 homers are nice, but 158 strikeouts contributing to a .196 batting average is pretty unacceptable. You have to truly work to strike out as often as he did in 2010. At least in an American League team, he would have had a chance to be a full-time designated hitter, but his defensive prowess seems to outweigh his offensive woes: he's committed only 55 errors in his 10 years in the majors, nearly half of them coming in his 4 years in Tampa. Considering the lack of depth the Cubbies have not only at first base but nearly everywhere in the infield, this move is a lot better than it seems. Aside from upstart shortstop Starlin Castro, the Cubs' infield seems to be inexperienced and weak, so maybe Pena can liven things up a little bit. However, I'm still concerned with that batting average: that's coming in a league where once you get past Sabathia and Greinke, you won't have much trouble hitting off of anyone else. Now, Pena's in a league where he'll have to face Roy Halladay, Ubaldo Jimenez, Adam Wainwright, Tim Lincecum, and so on. Who's to say those whiffs will go down? Here's hoping.

Speaking of Chicago and first basemen, the White Sox made what will probably be their best move this offseason and resigned Paul Konerko to a 3 year/$37.5 million deal. This deal makes the possibility of having freshly attained Adam Dunn handle designated hitter responsibilities all but a certainty. Of course, it also means that Dunn can take care of business on the field should Konerko be incapacitated for any amount of time. The White Sox are certainly determined to end Minnesota's recent fortunes after capturing 3 division titles from underneath old Ozzie Guillen's nose since their World Series win in 2005. With these two in the lineup and the added defensive depth they now have, putting them together with young infielders such as Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez (both of whom have shown tremendous potential), a limitless amount of depth at catcher with A.J. Pierzynski (spelled without looking, thank you) and Ramon Castro, and the seemingly unflappable Mark Buehrle pitching every 5 days, they can certainly give Manager of the Year Ron Gardenhire and unstoppable Joey Mauer a run for their money in the AL Central.

Finally, things are heating up this offseason. Stay tuned for more updates as they happen.

Werth Every Cent...Others, Not So Much.

Jayson Werth, potentially one of the most important free agents on the market this year, has been signed by the Washington Nationals for 7 years/$126 million, quite a pretty penny for a player who used to be a bench rider for the Dodgers and Blue Jays before helping the Phillies during their historic run to the 2008 World Series. This can be considered one of the first true big signings of what's sure to be an eventful offseason, and it was completed just a day before the owners' meeting, during which many people expected talks for Werth, Carl Crawford, and Cliff Lee to really heat up, if not get finished. Obviously, Werth didn't want to wait anymore and took what was most likely the best deal he had been presented with. This may have been one of the best scenarios the Nats could have ended up with: they're expected to make a push for Lee sometime soon, but most understand that unless you're Brian Cashman or Jon Daniels, you're not going to get him (hell, one of those two doesn't really stand a chance as it is). So, it was down to either Crawford or Werth. To be honest, they both have their strengths that make either a valuable fit for any team lucky enough to have them: Crawford is a little younger and significantly faster, with 409 career stolen bases to Werth's 77, but Werth can be counted on a lot more reliably in the clutch. Werth also has a bit more postseason experience, having made it to at least the NLCS every year for the past 4, compared to Crawford's 2 years (in '08, they faced each other in the Fall Classic when the Phils and Werth took it all) and hasn't gotten the exposure Werth has. And now, with Werth joining a lineup that Adam Dunn just left, he'll have Bryce Harper joining him very soon (the Nationals don't really believe in keeping a good thing under wraps for long) and hopefully a healed Stephen Strasburg down the stretch, Werth just might be what they need for a postseason push. Well, maybe not next year, but very soon.

For that matter, did Werth's signing just make Crawford's stock rise considerably? He's now basically the last man standing when it comes to utility players in this year's pool of free agents. There have, of course, been multiple rumors of him garnering interest from the Yankees, Angels, and Red Sox, but do any of those have legitimacy? I wasn't aware that the Nationals were even going after Werth, so how many dark horse teams are making a run for Crawdaddy? We'll most likely have a clearer idea in the coming days at the winter meetings, so stick around.

The Padres just traded star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox for some minor leaguers and a player to be named later. This is a big move for both teams: the Pads lose one of their strongest hitters, while the Sox gain a reason not to resign Adrian Beltre. Boston's usual first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, will be taking over daily duties at third while Gonzalez takes over at first (naturally). An eye for an eye...rather, an Adrian for an Adrian. Considering that the Athletics reportedly withdrew the 5 year/$64 million deal they offered Beltre, could it be possible that he possibly signs with San Diego in a fit of retaliation? Unlikely, but possible. And while that's brought up, I believe Oakland made a big mistake by withdrawing their offer. Beltre was a huge asset to the Sox this past year, and could clearly make a larger impact than the A's regular third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff: offensively, Beltre's 2010 stats blow Kouzy's out of the water with a batting average nearly 75 points higher, 12 more homers and 31 more RBIs; Beltre is faster, with 113 career stolen bases to Kouzmanoff's meager 4. To look at them defensively, Beltre certainly wins out in errors, seeing as he's committed 224 compared to Kouzmanoff's 49. However, Kevin is younger (by 2 years) and has less big league experience (4 full season and 16 games in 2006) compared to Adrian (he's been in the majors since 2000). I think Beltre would have made a good fit in the Athletics' lineup, but they must have more faith in Kouzmanoff's abilities. I know this took a strong turn away from my original point, so I'll regress: Adrian Gonzalez will be a humongously positive asset to the Red Sox, and with Kevin Youkilis switching corners, this may be the jumpstart they need after a disappointing playoff miss this previous season.

Speaking of third basemen (good connection, right?), the Diamondbacks just traded their corner man, Mark Reynolds, to the Orioles for two relievers. This actually seems like a match made in heaven. Reynolds and the Orioles have a lot in common: both have strong potential that's obscured only by their tendency to fail spectacularly in most situations. The Orioles showed a strong surge down the stretch last season (mainly after they'd already been eliminated from playoff contention), but still came up short. Reynolds hit 32 homers this past season, and struck out an astounding 211 times. They both don't show much of their power often, but when they do, they make it known far and wide that they can be effective. Reynolds is still young, only 27 with 3 years experience. He's known already for having a hot bat, when and if he can make contact. His 121 homers in that short time are impressive, but the 767 strikeouts make this equation that much more complicated. Hopefully Buck Showalter's coaching staff can help him read pitchers better and fine tune his approach at the plate to minimize those whiffs and turn him into a deep offensive threat.

Another big contract recently signed was for Derek Jeter. He and the Yankees brass finally made something that resembles a compromise, for 3 years/$51 million. Is there anyone outside of Jeet and his agent that believe he's even worth $17 mil for 3 more seasons of struggling to pretend like he's still 26, 29, or even 33? Regardless of what he's done for the franchise, it's becoming more and more clear with every passing day that he's not only past his prime, it's nearing the point where it's just embarrassing to keep watching him fumble around in the field and struggle in the batter's box. Of course, you can't forget everything he's contributed in his career to the city of New York (if you want specifics, read nearly every other post I've written), but should past achievements hold that much weight in consideration of future potential? Since there have been no legitimate rumors of steroid usage, Jeter's going to age naturally, as a human being does, and will therefore get weaker and less effective. And in this game, power and speed are the names of the game; without one or the other, you can no longer be considered a star player. Derek may still have some speed, but his power is diminishing rapidly, and it stands to reason that it won't increase, at least not enough to compare him to his former self. As I've said in the past, I think it's best that Jeter retires with dignity and grace, but after the visceral display he and GM Brian Cashman put on in the preceding weeks, he'll be more recently remembered as the greedy shortstop who didn't know when to quit. I just really hope he can show he's worth what he's paid and lead the Yanks to championship 28.

Wow, I managed to go a whole post with just barely mentioning Cliff Lee. I'm kinda proud of myself.

It Takes Two To Tango (And Negotiate).

Zack Greinke is kind of like the pretty, chubby girl at a school dance: approachable, but doesn't seem to be getting many offers from suitors, until they basically throw themselves at someone who somewhat reciprocates. The Royals have made it clear this offseason that they'd be more than happy to trade him to a team where run support isn't as taboo as mentioning PEDs in a Giants clubhouse, but they're going to want some sweet compensation in return. As such, many teams have decided to pass on Greinke, seemingly leaving him to wallow in the scoreless valley of Kansas City, where runs go to die.

Suddenly, Zacky boy has made his intentions known: he wants out, and fast. He's even willing to waive his no-trade clause to New York and sign with them if they make an offer. He's been adamant this entire time about not wanting to pitch in the Bronx, not wanting to deal with the pressure from media and fans alike, but he's viewing things very differently now: if you're a free-agent pitcher this winter and your name doesn't rhyme with Shmiff Lee, you're fighting a losing battle against obscurity. So, he now wants to pitch for the Yankees. The question is, do they still want him? There were reports early after the World Series ended that they had some interest in the young hurler, but their hopes were quickly dashed due to the aforementioned no-trade list, the baseball equivalent of a cock block. And, of course, the majority of the Yankees' attention before spring training (and after the conclusion of the most pointless battle of wills between themselves and Mr. Jeter) will be focused on signing the man known as the "Yankee Killer." Is there still room in the rotation (and the budget) for Greinke should this megadeal come to pass? Yes. If Derek stops acting like a child and accepts the meager $15 million per year over 3 seasons New York has offered him, and once the ink is dry on Lee's deal for 100 years/$1 for every person on this planet, Greinke could still comfortably take a small paycut while receiving the $27 mil over the next 2 years owed to him by Kansas City. As I said before, a Yankees rotation of Sabathia/Lee/Greinke...music to my ears.

In other news (there's other news?), the Colorado Rockies decided they would like to continue their streak in recent years of actually being a contender, and signed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to a deal that will extend into 2020. Tulo, who will only be 36 when his deal expires, came alive down the stretch this past season, hitting .322 with 15 homers and 40 RBI in the month of September after a pretty average season before that. Interestingly enough, 2009 was a better year for him, as he hit 32 homers and had 15 more hits than he did in '10, but he also played in 30 more games that season (he had a few stints on the DL this year). Still, the Rockies understand what a powerful player he is and will become, and wasted little time beating out this deal for him. He's reportedly going to be paid nearly $158 million over the next decade, rivaling the contract CC was presented. If he's not the best shortstop in the NL (only Hanley Ramirez on the Marlins could possibly be comparable), I'd like to see the player who is better than him. There are a few parallels between him and Jeter (what do you expect, you all know I'm a diehard Yanks fan): they both wear number 2, play shortstop, and will hopefully spend their entire careers in one city, building them up and making them powerful teams that reach the playoffs with the same frequency as Manny Ramirez gets traded. However, while it seems that Derek's star is burning out, Troy's star is just now rising. Wow...that was one lame metaphor.

The Dodgers have been doing anything but dodging the spotlight: they signed pitcher Jon Garland to a one year deal, utility infielder Juan Uribe to a 3-year deal, and sent another utility infielder, Ryan Theriot, to the Cardinals for their pitcher Blake Hawksworth. Still stung about not making the playoffs this season thanks to a surprisingly strong Giants and Padres team, the NL Los Angeles team has wasted no time in trying to build themselves stronger. Signing Uribe, a large (literally) proponent of the championship-winning Giants, was a very good move for the Dodgers, as he can play nearly any position in the infield while also providing power hitting that's moderately scant in their league compared to the other one. Jon Garland pitched for the Dodgers in '09 and spent this past season with the Padres, and his 14-12 record and 3.47 ERA was apparently enticing enough to have LA resign him (admittedly, he's not the greatest pitcher to play the game, but his 131-114 career record and 1,096 strikeouts are nothing to be ashamed of). They gained a young pitcher with potential in Hawksworth, though: he's only 27, and an 8-8 record belies the fact that he spent 2009 as a setup man before starting in '10, and his career ERA of 4.07 is sure to go down once he gains control of his pitching. So, the Dodgers haven't done too shabby this offseason, but will it be enough to end the Giants' sudden dominance? We'll just have to see.

All Quiet On The Western (And Central, And Eastern) Front.

It's almost hard to believe that, after a crazy season that we just finished, that the following offseason hasn't captured the same flair as the months preceding. So, we'll get to what's happened so far, little as it is.

The Florida Marlins seem to be one of the few teams that realize that it's time to wheel and deal now that there are no games to play. They shipped Cameron Maybin and Dan Uggla out to San Diego and Atlanta respectively, and signed ex-Jays catcher John Buck to a 3-year deal. Signing Buck was a big plus for Florida, seeing as they had nothing this season that resembled a reliable starting catcher. Now, John Buck is no Joe Mauer, but after finally having a breakout season last year (his 6th season as a major leaguer), his trade stock rose considerably and the Marlins snatched him up before anyone else could. As far as Maybin goes, he should help the Padres' outfield with his youth (he's 23, going to a team where the average age of an outfielder is 30), but after a moderately disappointing tenure with the Marlins, he's going to have to improve quite a bit to make a splash. I can't see how the Fish benefit at all from losing Uggla; he's 26, never been on the DL, and is the first second baseman in history to reach 4 consecutive 30+ home run seasons. He'll definitely add a lot of depth and power to a Braves lineup that could certainly use it. On the flip side, gaining Omar Infante is not something I would necessarily call positive, but seeing as he's a strong utility player on a team where consistency is not something normally associated with many of the players not named Hanley Ramirez, he may be able to have a bigger effect on Florida's playoff hopes than he did for Atlanta's.

I read on ESPNNewYork.com that Derek Jeter's personal trainer has completely lost touch with reality, in that he believes Jeter could be a viable, worthwhile player for the Yanks until 2017, coincidentally the same year fan favorite Alex Rodriguez's deal expires. Now, as even the casual reader of this blog will know, it's true that 2010 was Jeet's worst statistical year of his career. However, 2009 was one of his best, something not usually said of a 35-year-old shortstop playing every day in a game full of kids half his age. The trainer claims that his client will bounce back and have a remarkable season in 2011, and hopefully beyond. Of course, this is mainly contingent on Jeter and Yanks GM Brian Cashman ever agreeing on his future and what he's worth, but only The Almighty Himself knows when that deal will come to pass.

2 of the big 3 awards have been presented in the time since I last posted: Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young. No surprises in 3 out of 4...Buster Posey won the NL award for rookies, and Neftali Feliz won it in the AL...Roy Halladay won the NL Cy Young, becoming just the 5th pitcher in history to win the award in both leagues...and then, something miraculous happened. Felix Hernandez, a starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who went just 13-12 the entire regular season, beat out CC Sabathia, the only pitcher in the AL with 20 or more wins this season, for the AL Cy Young. Apparently, this comes as a shock only to me. Every analyst I've watched or read predicted this would happen. And it makes sense: King Felix led in ERA (2.27) and innings pitched (249.2), and came second in strikeouts (232), trailing the Angels' Jered Weaver by only 1 K. However, it's always been my understanding that all those unimportant stats are thrown out the window come voting time, and that it's all about what you have to show for your efforts: those precious wins. It seems this is no longer the case, and rightfully so. If a pitcher's stats are great, but his win-loss record is not far from south of .500, it reflects more on his team's inability to provide sweet run support to boost him up and away. This is a problem Zack Greinke is far too familiar with. It'd certainly be nice to see both hurlers on teams where they can have a bigger effect in the coming years.

Boy, I wish more trades and signings would happen...is that too much to ask?

Money Makes The World Go 'Round.

I was reading a blog for the St. Louis Cardinals, and they were taking a poll: is Albert Pujols worth $20-25 million per year?

Now, the only answers you could put were "yes" or "no"; however, there should have been a third option, "That depends, how badly do you want a shot at a championship?"

Questions like this are becoming more and more apropos of this offseason. It's all about the money. And it's not just my boys in New York that are looking to spend more money than the movie Avatar grossed on some choice free agents; Texas is prepared to spend their entire budget to keep Cliff Lee, Boston hopes to sign Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford for extravagant prices, and Kansas City is looking to unload Zack Greinke for any team willing to "make it rain". This year, it seems like team loyalties and the like mean much less than the number on the paycheck. Call it greediness, chalk it up to a bad economy, or wish ill on the agents for playing into all this so heavily that it's better than following a soap opera. The fact of the matter is that large amounts of money could change the game heavily in the upcoming months (surprisingly enough).

As I like to tell anyone that argues with me on how the Yanks spend more money than they can make on players, money buys just that: the physical human being to play for them. It does not buy, guarantee or even determine talent. Here's some examples: Randy Johnson was one of the greatest pitchers of all time, that's non-negotiable. But the time he spent on the Yankees was quite possibly the worst time of his career. Barry Zito made more money this year than everyone reading this will make in their entire lives combined, and he had a 9-14 record with a 4.15 ERA and was left off the Giants' postseason roster completely (maybe that's why they won?). And how much money do you think the Rays spent on Carlos Pena this season, when he hit for .196 and was injured for 2 weeks down the stretch? The answer is over $10 million. MONEY DOESN'T BUY CHAMPIONSHIPS. It buys players. And the players do what they will from there, it's all in their hands once the contract is signed.

However, as disgusting as the lucrative side of baseball is, any fan knows teams have to spend money to get said good players. Would Ichiro have stayed long enough in Seattle, a town he's given so much to and they haven't even given him a playoff berth in return, if it weren't for the millions of dollars they throw his way to make sure that as he's reaching hitting milestones and earning his 10th consecutive Gold Glove in a Mariners uniform? Would Chipper Jones have spent his entire career in Atlanta instead of going elsewhere to a city with a team that doesn't immediately gag when they play in October, if it weren't for the millions of fans willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to watch him fumble around like a true veteran? Hell, I'm able to admit that, without the ungodly contracts they're signed to, half of the Yankees' lineup and rotation would still be playing in Cleveland, Texas, and Detroit. So let's remove the stigma from spending a lot of money to buy players. Every team does it in some capacity, no one's exempt.

Boy howdy, I wish more stuff had happened already regarding offseason signings and free-agency...there's nothing to talk about right now.

Now, The Real Fun Begins.

Sure, the 6 months of playing, fighting, winning and losing is fun, but if it weren't for the multitude of trading, signing and dealing during the deceptively-named "offseason", we'd probably have nothing to talk about. Thankfully, free agency is a gift that just keeps on giving, all year round. And we here at The Baseball Freak will gladly receive this joyous present all the way through the end of spring training, at which point, we suppose we'll begin to talk about games and all that again.

I'm going to talk about the Yankees trying to sign Cliff Lee, only because no one else is talking about it and I think it deserves at least a little exposure (note: if you're not a hardcore fan or don't follow the offseason closely, I'll let you in on the secret that this sentence might be the most sarcastic thing I've ever written). Apparently, the Yankees brass contacted Lee's agent today, simply to tell him that they will be contacting him again soon. Boy, they're already playing hard to get, huh? What's the point of that? There isn't a baseball fan on earth that DOESN'T know he's their biggest priority in the upcoming months, and that they'll spend an amount of money roughly equal to the GDP of several third-world countries to lock him up for the rest of his supposed "good years". Of course, Texas is going to try their best to keep him where he is, considering that he was a big part of them making their first World Series in franchise history, and despite a spectacularly poor showing in 2 games agains the Giants, they still understand in Arlington that he's far and away one of the best hurlers in the game today. And there's the paltry matter of any of the other 28 teams in the sport possibly making a bid for him, though little has been said about any of the rest showing more than an interest once they realize New York is after him. Assuming he does end up in pinstripes in 2011 (purely hypothetical, of course), he'll bring his 102-61 record, along with a 3.85 career ERA (remember, he DID play with the Cleveland Indians for 7 years, and the Seattle Mariners the first part of this past season) and 1,085 strikeouts to his name. The most important thing, though, is that he'll be playing for the team that he consistently beats: I believe he's 6-1 against them in the past 3 years with an ERA that would make Steinbrenner roll over in his grave. And with Sabathia and Lee atop the rotation, together again in a town where they can actually win, the Bronx boys become that much more threatening to anyone's postseason hopes.

Believe it or not, there ARE other free agents out there this year. For instance, Carl Crawford, the number 2 focus of any team based in the Northeast or Southwest. He's still somewhat young, fast on the basepath, a pretty heavy hitter, and available: what more do I really need to say? Speculation is that whoever misses out on the Yanks/Lee extravaganza will be awarded Crawford as a consolation prize; there is more legitimate talk that he'll be in a Red Sox uniform, though. Think about it...who's the most recognizable name in the Boston outfield? J.D. Drew? Ryan Kalish? Give me a break, the only reason we pay attention to the Green Monster is to see poeple hit balls over it. Jacoby Ellsbury is the only saving grace there, and he's injured more often than not. Throw Crawford in there, especially in a lineup that possesses a David Ortiz that just won't quit (who wins the Home Run Derby in their 13th season? Shouldn't he be close to retirement instead?) and Pedroia and Youkilis (again, when healthy) as backup, and the BoSox finally become a threat again. There's also whispers that he'll be traded to the Los Angeles Angels; should that come to pass instead, Crawford would either see a lot of time on the bench, or designated/pinch hitting, or knocking Bobby Abreu out of a starting job. This only lends more credence to the theory that he'll be a Red Sox by spring training, but only time (and money) will tell.

Another player in the same vein as Crawdaddy is Jayson Werth, who apparently just got the memo about the "Caveman" look Johnny Damon so famously wore during Boston's historic World Series run in '04. Although he's 31 and a 8-year veteran (mainly riding the bench with the Blue Jays and Dodgers before bursting onto the scene with the Phils in '07), he's highly valued for his inexplicable ability to somehow make the right hit or play in most any situation for Philadelphia. I'm sure they'd love to resign him, but there is a lot of talk that he'll be looking elsewhere. Of course, New York and Boston have been mentioned...surprisingly, so have places like Atlanta and Detroit. To be honest, he's not a terribly showy player, which is what makes him enticing to many teams: he quietly gives the run support and defensive capabilities any team would desire. However, his career stats are somewhat less than impressive, and they say numbers don't lie, so he may not be as much of a hot topic as the aforementioned two.

I suppose that's all for now. I'll write again when there's been more action. Keep it here, all.

Sometimes, Goliath Beats David.

I'll be damned. The San Francisco Giants have done something they haven't done since they were based in New York...they won the World Series. Not only that, they won it in truly fantastic fashion.

Beating Cliff Lee isn't simple. Beating Cliff Lee in the postseason is even more difficult. And yet, these Giants did it with such ease that it begs the question: why couldn't the Yankees or Rays do it before them? What made this National League team light their bats up against a pitcher that's supposedly one of the most dominant in the game right now? How is it that Edgar Renteria, who only hit 3 home runs the entire regular season, hit 2 just in this World Series? How is it that Josh Hamilton, the ALCS MVP and one of the best hitters on the Rangers, went 2-20 against San Fran? Should we all truly fear Brian Wilson's beard, or his 6 saves out of 7 opportunities with an ERA consisting solely of goose eggs? Why won't Tim Lincecum get a haircut? Does his long hair and striking resemblance to Alanis Morrisette throw batters off? Does Bruce Bochy know something about molding players into champions that Ronnie Washington just can't recreate? DID THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS REALLY JUST WIN THE WORLD SERIES BY BEATING THE TEXAS RANGERS IN 5 GAMES IN 2010?!

It's hard to process. But, as I've said, this is a good way to end such an unpredictable season. Seriously, who on earth would have guessed either of these teams would make it to the Show? Hell, even when they did, I guessed Rangers in 6. I didn't anticipate Giants in 5. No one anticipated Giants in 5. Even the Giants didn't start off anticipating Giants in 5. And no one is anticipating Giants in 5 in 2011. The best thing for either of these teams (yes, even Texas benefits from this) is that it shows that they've finally become teams that are legitimate contenders. This shows us that my beloved Yankees and the Phillies aren't the only boys that can win in October. This shows us that nothing in this game is predictable, that anything is still possible. In a game full of performance-enhancing drugs, millionaires arguing with billionaires, dumb policies that shouldn't be in place (and some that should be), this series has shown us that nothing is a given. It's entirely possible that my joking prediction of a Twins/Padres showdown in late October may not be as silly as it sounds. Anything is possible.

The Giants' pitching accounted for most of the dominance, but if Renteria, Cody Ross, Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff hadn't had some timely blasts, things may have turned out a little differently (not much: they had 29 hits, compared to San Fran's 42). However, due to Cliff Lee completely melting down, and the starters following him pretty much following suite (and an absolutely spectacular failure of the Texas bullpen), it may have been best if team president Nolan Ryan jogged back onto the mound. Hey, the way his pitchers threw, it certainly couldn't have hurt. The fact of the matter is this: the Rangers, although favored by many to win (including myself), simply emulated the defending champs of both leagues last year...they played in a manner that they didn't deserve to win. As much as I would have loved to see Ian Kinsler be the first Jew to have a World Series win since Sandy Koufax, and I think it would have been a better story for the Rangers to take it all, they didn't play like they wanted it, and they damn sure didn't get it.

And so, as we move into what is sure to be an eventful offseason, we here at The Baseball Freak would like to salute the San Francisco Giants for completely defying all my predictions (remember, I didn't even think they'd make the playoffs) and winning the 106th Fall Classic. You certainly earned it. And as a final thought before we move towards 2011...GO YANKEES.

Stranger Things Have Happened...But This Takes The Cake.

Well...this is certainly not what I expected. If, at the beginning of this season, someone had said to me, "Hey, Baseball Freak, I think the Rangers and the Giants are going to be the two teams in the World Series this year," I would have most likely laughed at them and caught the first bus out of San Francisco or Arlington (not sure what I'd be doing in either place). Honestly, who would have predicted this? What analyst on the face of this planet, while pondering the potential matchups for this season's Fall Classic, was on enough LSD or heroin to mindlessly scribble "Rangers/Giants in October" before passing out? Who in their right mind would ever guess that two of the only teams not to have a championship title (for the Giants, they haven't won a World Series since they were in New York) would finally both be competing for their first? Sure, it's been a strange, eventful season, and plenty has happened that has been surprising: A-Rod hitting home run number 600, 5 no-hitters (including 2 perfect games), and a slew of rookies bursting onto the scene and making some noise. But this is a little too much.

First of all, if I hear anyone say they "saw it coming" that either of these teams would make it to The Show, I'm going to hit them. You didn't see this coming. Until the past 2 or 3 days, nobody saw this coming. This was unseeable. I know that's not a real word; that shows the magnitude of this event. For God's sake, THE TEXAS RANGERS ARE FACING THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS IN THE WORLD SERIES!!! What?! Is that sentence even possible?! Are we bending the rules of time, space, and reality here?! The mighty Yankees and equally powerful Phillies BOTH fell to the underdogs, neither even forcing a full series on the way out?! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!

Second, even though I'm predicting the Rangers to win it all in 6 (I can't help it, I'm an AL guy), the truth is that this may be the most unpredictable, outrageous series yet. It's two teams that nobody expected to even move past the first round, let alone get past the two teams that have the last 2 championships to their names. It's two teams with excellent pitching, each with one ace and a reliable rotation/bullpen behind them, and roughly equal batting (though I'd say the Rangers, being in the American League, has a better focus on hitting, there are plenty of Giants capable of launching some timely bombs). It's two teams that don't have any titles to their name, or at least for the city they're in now. So how do you determine which team is going to win? These predictions being made by analysts, statisticians, and the Jewboy writing this post are mostly either based on league/team/hometown preferences or sheer guessing. Who's to say that Tim Lincecum won't toss a no-hitter, or that Cliff Lee will pitch every game he doesn't start from the bullpen? How do we know that Grandpa Vlad Guerrero won't suddenly keel over, or that Aubrey Huff might actually show a flash of the power that helped him lead his team in every offensive category? Isn't it entirely possible that Ian Kinsler and Buster Posey collide at home plate and explode into a fantastical show of lights and fireworks, delighting the crowd and making everyone forget about the silly little game being played? Hey, this series happening is already pretty unrealistic, so why not REALLY get strange here?

I need to lie down...the room is spinning...see you all Wednesday.

You May Be Right, I May Be Crazy.

I apologize to my faithful readers (all 3 of you), I was locked out of my account and couldn't seem to remember my password. But now I'm back. And just in time, it seems...

Well, the rematch of the 2009 World Series I predicted and anticipated will no longer be coming to fruition, at least this year...the Texas Rangers, THE TEXAS RANGERS, have managed to overcome the New York Yankees, THE NEW YORK YANKEES, and will advance to their first Show in their 50-year franchise history.

This is not just good. This is completely, entirely, incredibly unexpected. When you think about the Rangers, the main things that come to mind are: former president George W. Bush owning them for a while, Nolan Ryan (his pitching career and his ownership), and Alex Rodriguez's monumental snubbing of them to join the New York crew in '03 (as a final kick in the teeth, they have to honor the rest of what his contract would be, so he not only gets his lucrative salary in the Bronx, he also gets a few million every season from the team he gave the middle finger to). History has shown them as a stepping stone the few times they've reached October: they were the only franchise before this season that had never won a single series in the postseason. The only times they made it, 1996, 1998, and 1999, they were swept by the Yankees in the ALDS on their way to winning the World Series all 3 of those years. It would have been difficult for anyone to truly suggest that they, with all this history and statistical improbablities against them, would move on to the Fall Classic in 2010.

After the last out last night (ironically, an Alex Rodriguez strikeout), my father asked me 3 reasons why I thought the Rangers had this miraculous run. I told him this: the batting, the pitching, and the managing. It's hard to just put it into 3 things. Every player in the lineup came alive all season and these playoffs: Ian Kinsler has a .286 average with 9 homers to this point, a far cry of what he's capable but good considering his time on the DL this season; Vladimir Guerrero has managed to defy his age and hit .300 with 29 blasts; Nelson Cruz had 17 stolen bases while hitting .318; and, of course, the big man Josh Hamilton deserves the AL MVP for bouncing back after his battle for sobriety for a .359/32/100 RBI season, not to mention 4 homers (most of which were multiple-run shots) just in this LCS. A further testament to how intimidating his sheer presence is: the Yankees pitchers intentionally walked him all 3 times he got up to the plate last night, afraid of what could happen if he had a good pitch to swing at. Tell me THAT'S not a sign of his abilities. We all know about the Texas pitching: C. J. Wilson pitched the only Rangers losses, but had a WHIP of 1.20; Lewis and Hunter both pitched well; we'd all be stupid if we didn't understand the effect that Cliff Lee had on this series. He only pitched Game 3 (had the Yanks managed to push the series to 7, they'd have to face him again), but that one game was apropos of what Lee does to New York players. He pitched 8 of 9 innings, had only 2 hits, no earned runs, and 13 strikeouts against what is supposedly the best offense in baseball. He's 7-0 in 8 games in the past 2 postseasons, with an ERA of 1.26. 3 of those wins were against the Bronx boys. He's been dubbed "The Yankee Killer", and they just can't seem to hit off him. Is it any wonder why the Yankee brass is already chomping at the bit for the Rangers to win, simply so they can start contract negotiations with Lee?

On that note, let's take a look at what this offseason will (or, at least, SHOULD) hold for the Yankees. It's clear to everyone that the starting rotation (really, their pitching overall) is the area with the biggest problems: after CC Sabathia (who didn't pitch terribly well in this series, going 1-0 in 2 games with a 5.63 ERA and only 10 strikeouts), there is no feeling of security. Phil Hughes has the potential to be good, but he's too young. On the flip side, Andy Pettitte is too old (and his contract is up). The Yankees bullpen is where good games go to die, and Mo is 40 years old and coming off his worst season in his career. How do they stop the hemorrhaging? Well, getting Cliff Lee is a start; no matter what happens in the World Series, you can bet all the money your team saved on not buying Roy Oswalt earlier this season that the Yanks will throw everything they have into the Lee pot. You know the old saying: If you can't beat 'em, make 'em play for you (I don't know if this is applicable anywhere outside of New York, Boston, Anaheim or Philadelphia). And as I pontificated on a few months ago, ESPN's Buster Olney reported last night that they will at least be talking to the Kansas City Royals about possibly picking up Zack Greinke, also coming off a disappointing season (10-14 with a 4.17 ERA, although his 1.25 WHIP and 181 strikeouts show that it has more to do with a lack of run support from his team), but if he landed in New York, you can't tell me that a rotation of Sabathia/Lee/Greinke couldn't take on Halladay/Oswalt (UGH)/Hamels on equal footing.

And, as has been looming all season, the Yankees have a difficult decision: what to do with Derek Jeter. As you may have heard, Jeet's coming off his worst season: .270/10/67, a far cry from even last season. He's injured more often, he strikes out more often, and he's 36. If anything, the Yanks should just resign him as a DH/backup shortstop, and either trade for a better player (Troy Tulowitzki, maybe?) or call someone up from the farm system. There's little Jeter hasn't done in New York: he's been able to play for his favorite team since 1995, he's only 74 hits away from 3,000 and only 66 homers away from 300, he's got 5 World Series wins, and has passed names like Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle on the all-time Yankees lists. 1 or 2 seasons as a DH and he could most likely hit those remaining milestones. It's sad to see such a seasoned, respected veteran probably reduced to something like this, but as I stated long ago, it's time for Jeter to just bow out and we can all start missing him.

I know this post took a sharp Yankees turn (I can't help it), so I'll finish by making one final prediction: the Giants will win the NLCS today, and the Rangers will beat the Giants in 6 games to win their first World Series title in franchise history.

Don't Mess With Texas.

For the first time in franchise history, the Texas Rangers have finally won a postseason series, taking 3 of 5 from the Tampa Bay Rays and eliminating them from the playoffs. The Rangers were the last team to never win at least one series in October: that is no longer true, thanks to Cliff Lee's 34298563297 complete game this season and a 2-run insurance homer by Ian Kinsler in the 9th. They now move on to face the Yankees in the championship series.

I have never breathed a bigger sigh of relief than I did 10 minutes ago as Longoria, Pena and Upton all went down without a fight. It doesn't mean that the Yanks' return to The Show is guaranteed, but it'll be easier to get past the Rangers than it would have been to get past the Rays. Now, whichever game Lee pitches, the Bronx Bombers will undoubtedly lose (I believe he's something like 6-1 against them since 2007, with a 2.46 ERA), but I have faith that a lineup of Rodriguez, Cano, and Teixeira can beat a rotation of Wilson and...who? Colby Lewis? Tommy Hunter? All 3 have higher ERAs (3.35, 3.72 and 3.73 respectively) than Lee, and Lewis has a 12-13 record, something that doesn't bode well for his defensive abilities. However, as always, you have to consider the sorry state of New York's rotation as well: Sabathia can be counted on for a win at all times (just like his ex-teammate (and possible future teammate, come this offseason), Lee), Pettitte still comes alive every once in a while, and then...there's A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, and (insert crappy reliever thrust into a starting spot in a moment of desperation, most likely Javier Vazquez). It all comes down to the batters. Ian Kinsler is 5 for 18 and has 3 home runs in his first postseason appearance, Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 tonight and scored 2 of Texas' 5 runs, and Elvis Andrus has a .333 batting average in the past 5 games. However, with the aforementioned Yanks, and newcomers Granderson (who had a phenomenal September that's been translating into an aready-impressive October) and Berkman (the 34-year-old vet finally earned his spot in the lineup a few games ago) coming alive in their first postseason appearances (EDIT: I apologize, Berkman was on the 2005 Houston Astros that were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series), I have even more confidence in my boys in pinstripes.

Now, while I'm happy for Texas, not only for winning their first postseason series in history but also for knocking the Rays out, let's be realistic: the only times they made the playoffs (1996, 1998, and 1999...why do those years sound familiar?), they were beaten by the Yankees in the ALDS all 3 times, only forcing a game 4 in '96 and being swept the other 2 years, and the Yanks went on to win the World Series all 3 years (THAT'S why those years are familiar!). The only difference here is that it's the championship series, Cliff Lee wasn't playing, and it's a best-of-7 instead of best-of-5. Are these game-changers? Aside from Lee, I wouldn't say so. And he's only available to pitch 2 games, meaning there are 5 potential Yankees wins in this series. I like those odds.

So, here are the final four:

ALCS: Yankees at Rangers, starts Friday.
NLCS: Giants at Phillies, starts Saturday.

As we say "so long" to Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minnesota and Tampa Bay, we look ahead to this weekend, where things only get more intense from here. See you all in a few days.

For Whom The Tomahawk Chops (Hint: It's Not The Braves).

Let me pitch you a hypothetical situation: a team that is notorious for dropping important plays, at-bats, and full games in the postseason makes it back for the first time in 5 years, and people expect things to be different. You'd think they were crazy, right? Especially if you weren't a fan of said team in the first place.

This is my reality. I live in Atlanta, where the Braves were just eliminated from playoff contention by the Giants, who (unfortunately) move on to timidly face the Phillies in the championship series.

Now, I'm not saying the Giants beating the Braves means that San Fran's going to have much of an impact on the Phil's inevitable return to their 3rd straight World Series. Even if Atlanta managed to get past the Giants, they'd be in a similar spot, and I'd trust Lincecum/Cain/Sanchez to take on the Big Philly Three more than Lowe/Hanson/Hudson. So it's not as if I'm trying to play favorites, or that I'm biased, but let's face it, the Giants stand a much better chance against the Phillies than the Braves would have.

The only lowlight of this loss (to me, at least) is that it means the end of Bobby Cox's legendary career. Even though he only has 1 World Series ring in 3 appearances (a higher percentage than plenty of players and coaches), his 2,504 wins is good for 4th on the managerial wins list, his 32 year career is the longest of any manager, and 158 ejections also places him atop that specific list. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985, and won the NL Manager of the Year 3 times in a 15 year span (1991, 2004, and 2005). As much as I may not care for the Braves, I do have the utmost respect for Bobby Cox, and what he's accomplished in his incredibly tenure. Bobby, my hat (with the Yankees logo) is off to you.

The only undecided division series is the one between Tampa Bay and Texas. Game 5 is tomorrow, and as I stated in my previous post, it's the same matchup as Game 1 was, and I can only hope it ends the same way, with a Rangers win. I'd feel a whole lot better about New York facing Texas than I would Tampa Bay. That in no way means I feel great about Cliff Lee facing the Bombers again, but this may be his last chance to see things from the outside, as it seems almost inevitable that the Yankees will try to sign him in the postseason. As I've said this entire time, this series is up in the air, so I can't accurately predict the winner tomorrow, just state what I hope will come to fruition.

So, the Braves go into the offseason as they often do, the Giants advance to be slain by the Phillies, and the Yankees still lay dormant while the Rangers go into St. Petersburg for a do-or-die game with the Rays. More tomorrow.

The Reds Have The Blues.

For the third time in 4 consecutive playoff berths, the Philadelphia Phillies are headed back to the NLCS after a 3-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds that included the second no-hitter in postseason history courtesy of the Doc, Roy Halladay. Even the casual reader of this blog knows just how I feel about this insanely strong Phillies team: I have no doubt that they'll make it back to the World Series for the 3rd straight season, and I have a feeling that they'll win it all again. And considering the way Cincy went down, they really didn't fight a whole lot. The Reds' offense had 11 hits adding up to 4 runs over 3 games, a far cry from Philadelphia's 18 hits and 13 runs. Poor performances at the plate by Joey Votto (still a leading candidate for the NL MVP), young power hitter Jay Bruce, seasoned veteran Scott Rolen (with a World Series ring from the 2006 Cards), and Jonny Gomes all helped contribute to the minimal offense, and the plays in the field were not much better: the Reds committed 7 errors in 3 games, compared to Philly's 3. Overall, there was no way this Reds team was going to advance by taking down the Phillies. It seemingly just can't be done.

The Yankees fan in me hates myself for typing the blasphemous phrase I just wrote when I said the Phillies are still my pick to win it big, but I can be realistic: if the Bronx Bombers make it back to The Show, it'll be difficult to contend with the baseball equivalent of Miami's Big Three: the almost-unfairly dominant 3-man rotation consisting of Halladay, Roy Oswalt (ugh), and Cole Hamels. When it comes to pitching, New York doesn't stand a chance even against the likes of Kansas City or Pittsburgh. As anyone well knows, during the 4 days between CC Sabathia's starts, it's easy to silence the Yanks defensively. While I still like the chances of a lineup that boasts Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano (and that's just the infield), pitchers like A.J. Burnett (Philadelphia gets the best pitcher around, and we get Toronto's consolation prize?) and Phil Hughes that have failed spectacularly, and Andy Pettitte has really shown that he's been pitching for 14 years straight (when and if you could find him off the DL), do little to instill faith in the believers.

However, when talking about fans that may have a little too much faith, we turn to the Braves (oh yes, you disgustingly rabid Atlanta fans, it's a paragraph about why the Braves will not advance...if you're too detached from reality to believe this, please shut your computer down right now). They're lucky to be in the division that they're in: there's no way they would even have a chance to get past the first round if they had to face Philadelphia right off the bat. But they look like they won't even get past San Francisco. Dropping a game to Tim Lincecum is understandable, of course...14 strikeouts normally does not yield a victory in your team's favor. But Eric Hinske even had a pinch-hitting game-tying home run today, and thanks to a Brooks Conrad error, Freddy Sanchez scored the game-winning run. Just because the Braves have finally made it back to the postseason for the first time since 2005, everyone around where I live suddenly believes that this is the year for the 4th World Series win in the team's history. For the love of God, what on earth would make you believe that? They can barely beat the Giants! The Giants, man! They let the San Diego Padres have the lead in the division almost all season before barely reclaiming their respectful place at the top (let's face it, that division is the most up in the air of all 6)! And yet you can't knock the crown off their heads with Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson, and Tim Hudson? What good would advancing do? So you could get annihilated by the surging Phils? Jason Heyward's just a kid, after all...does he really need to experience that kind of heartbreak in his very first season? THINK OF THE KID!!

The Braves ought to take a page out of the Rays' book. Tampa Bay somehow came from the brink of elimination to tie things up in this series against the Rangers. Does home field advantage mean nothing anymore? The Yanks won both games in Minnesota, and both the Rays and Rangers won their games as visitors. Unfortunately for the Rays, they're going to be in the same situation they were in Wednesday, facing Cliff Lee at home, and we all remember (if you're a Yankees fan) how that turned out. However, thanks to timely homers by Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, and Carl Crawford (who's also had a nice few stolen bases in this 4-game stretch), Tampa Bay has managed to win the last 2, absolutely essential to even be in this position. As I've said since the matchup was determined, this series would be the one that was hardest to predict the winner in (if I were smarter, I would have also expressed how this would be the only series to play out all 5 games, but I don't seem to have that kind of foresight).

So, things might be shaping up for a possible rematch of the 2009 World Series, and the Reds go the way of the Twins: quietly and without much of a fight. All that's left to see in the division series is to see if Atlanta will do some of the same, and who will threaten New York's further advancement.

Don't Party Like It's 1991.

For the second year in a row, the New York Yankees have swept the Minnesota Twins in the AL Division Series and have guaranteed themselves a spot in the Championship Series. They now just await the winner of the Rangers/Rays matchup, a series that could have possibly been decided tonight if it weren't for the renewed energy of Tampa Bay's batting.

For the Yanks, it only gets more difficult from here. They'll either face the Rays, who won the regular series season 10-8 this year and seem to really dominate the Yanks lately, or the Rangers, who have Cliff Lee, the one pitcher who almost always beats them (I believe he's 6-1 against them in the past 2 seasons), which is a sign that they'll try their hardest to sign him in the offseason (and what a blog post I'll write THAT day). So, really, is the sweep cause for celebration? It's just like last year: they would have either faced the Red Sox, their biggest rival in history, or the Angels, this season's Rays' predecessors. Just because you sweep a good Minnesota team doesn't mean in the slightest that easier days are ahead of you. And if the Yanks do make it back, they'll have to contend with (let's face it) the Phillies, yet again. Even though that last matchup in October went in New York's favor, Roy Halladay was still offseason-ing it up in Toronto. This will not be the case this year.

As far as the other series, I still pick the Giants to take the NLCS over the Braves. One extra-innings walk-off win doesn't mean much, you still have to take 2 more, and dropping one on the road while the visiting team in every other series being played gets up 2-0 doesn't make me believe that the one that goes 1-1 has a great chance at advancing, but as I just told a friend who's a hardcore Atlanta fan, stranger things have certainly happened. I think the Phillies will ensure themselves of the same immediate fate as the Yanks in tomorrow's game in Cincy, although I will be sad to see Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, and Jay Bruce go without much of a fight (if you get no-hit in the regular season, no big deal; in the postseason, you're just not trying). As far as the other ALDS, I can only hope the Rangers take it, simply because I think the Yanks have a better chance of making it back to The Show if they play Texas, but as I stated above, it's still not a guarantee. And if New York is eliminated, I can only hope that Philadelphia makes short work of whichever AL team they face.

So, the Yanks sweep and move on, the Phils have a chance to follow suit tomorrow, the Rangers can still advance, and either San Fran or Atlanta can get a leg up on the other. Stay tuned, folks.

What's Up, Doc?

Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in the game. This is a fact. Try to dispute it; you are automatically wrong. You may not have known this before this year; don't worry, most baseball fans didn't. Because he played for the Toronto Blue Jays. The TORONTO Blue Jays. As in Canada. Somewhere American baseball fans don't often pay attention to. But since being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, already a powerhouse, he's been very difficult to ignore. Let's check his stats:

According to ESPN, in the 2010 regular season, he was 21-10 with an ERA of 2.44, a WHIP of 1.04, and 219 strikeouts. That's Cy Young-worthy on its own. Did I mention that one of the wins was the 20th perfect game in history? This wasn't a fluke, like Dallas Braden's perfect game and Armando Galarraga's almost-perfect game. Those two pitchers are average, at best. Halladay is a true dominator. If that wasn't enough proof, please reference Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds tonight. In his first postseason game ever, he threw a complete game. If it weren't for one pesky walk, it would have been his second perfect game this season. Alas, it was only a no-hitter. It was ONLY the second no-hitter in postseason history. It was ONLY the sixth time one pitcher has thrown a perfect game and a no-hitter in their career in baseball history. It was ONLY the first time a pitcher has thrown 2 no-hitters, with 1 being a perfect game, in the same season.

So, the simple question is this: what the hell makes Roy Halladay so incredibly good?! Steroid allegations are out of the question, we would have heard something about it by now if there were a drop of legitimacy to it. Obviously, as with any pitcher, the man throwing the ball is only as good as the team behind him, so the switch from Canada to the good old US of A might have something to do with it. I'm sure that going from the batter-friendly American League to the pitcher-friendly National League might also play a part. However, all these things still don't answer the question. And the truth is, there may not be an answer. Roy Halladay may just be the best pitcher around, and we just have to accept that. He works out hard, he's always improving himself, he looks for new ways to make his pitches faster and harder to hit. Maybe we're no longer used to seeing a pitcher with such raw talent actually use it to his full ability. We fawn over young upstarts like Stephen Strasburg, surprisingly good players like Ubaldo Jimenez, or reliable veterans like CC Sabathia, and yet we've let this guy fly mostly under the radar for the majority of his career. Even though reports paint a picture that Halladay keeps to himself off the field, he refuses to be ignored anymore on the mound. So, with a Cy Young already and one almost guaranteed on the way, a postseason no-hitter, and a perfect game to his credit, all Roy Halladay's legacy, and his insurance into being a first-balloter into the Hall of Fame, is a World Series ring. And this season, it may be Doc's time to give everyone a dose of his medicine.

Jeez, in all this excitement over Halladay's no-no, I almost forgot that today was the first day of the playoffs. Here are the scores:

Reds 0, Phillies 4. Phillies lead series 1-0.
Rangers 5, Rays 1. Rangers lead series 1-0.
Yankees 6, Twins 4. Yankees lead series 1-0.
Braves at Giants, Game 1 tomorrow.

It's too early to tell in any of these matchups, but the Rangers/Rays was already one of those series that could go either way, so we'll see. It's clear that the Phillies will advance, and we know the Yanks will too, but the Twins sure aren't going to let them go without a fight. As far as Braves/Giants, there's no way to tell until at least game 1 has played. More to come tomorrow.

What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Win): Playoff Edition.

Well, folks, we've finally arrived. Welcome to the 2010 MLB playoffs. Can you smell it in the air? That's the smell of pure emotion. 8 teams enter, all fighting for the single greatest payoff a baseball team can get any given year, but only 1 of those teams leaves victorious. Who will it be this season?

First, here are the 8 teams:

AL East - Tampa Bay Rays.
AL Central - Minnesota Twins.
AL West - Texas Rangers.
AL Wild Card - New York Yankees.

NL East - Philadelphia Phillies.
NL Central - Cincinnati Reds.
NL West - San Francisco Giants.
NL Wild Card - Atlanta Braves.


ALDS - Yankees vs. Twins, Rangers vs. Rays.
NLDS - Reds vs. Phillies, Braves vs. Giants.
ALCS - Yankees/Twins vs. Rangers/Rays.
NLCS - Reds/Phillies vs. Braves/Giants.
World Series - AL team vs. NL team (shocking, right?).

After 6 months of speculations, predictions, skepticism, hopefulness, laughter, tears, and the like, we're nearing the beginning of the end. It's certainly been a thrilling season: 5 no-hitters, two of which were perfect games by Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay, Alex Rodriguez joined the 600-homer club, living legend Ken Griffey, Jr. called it a career, Yankees commander George Steinbrenner passed away, Lou Piniella tearfully retired early, Bobby Cox announced his retirement effective whenever his season ends, David Ortiz won the Home Run Derby, there was an exciting race in both leagues for a Triple Crown, multiple impressive rookies made their mark, and some veterans showed there's still some steam left in the tank. But it's all come down to this. This is what we live for. This is what we want to see. This is where it all starts, and where it all ends. This is what players live and die for. This is the postseason.

First off, the Yankees and the Twins. This is an interesting matchup, probably moreso than it was last year. There's a few crucial differences on both sides this time around. For the Yankees, it's their starting rotation. Aside from CC Sabathia, no other starting pitcher is worth much. For the Twins, though, it's been DH Jim Thome. At 40, he's the baseball equivalent of Brett Favre: 20 seasons playing, and yet still performing at a level comparable to his much younger teammates, if not better. With Thome, Joe Mauer, and hopefully a healthy Justin Morneau in the lineup against New York pitching that a child could hit, things might turn out differently than in '09. However, you can never underestimate the Yankee spirit and magic, especially in October.

The Rays and the Rangers is a hard one to pick. Both teams have good, solid players, both defensively and offensively. Both have dominant pitchers: David Price and Matt Garza for Tampa Bay, Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson for Texas. Both have only one playoff appearance in the past 12 years. The only difference is that the Rays have a slightly younger defense, but there has been little indication that the older Rangers players can't keep up. I'd say this one may be too close to call. After game 1, I'd probably have a better idea of who could move on, but as of now, I think this one is pretty up in the air.

I think the Phillies are the worst team the Reds could have possibly faced in the very first round of the playoffs. There's no doubt that Cincy is on fire, but Philly is white-hot. You've got to like the chances of a team that's got Joey Votto, who could possibly be this year's NL MVP, and Jay Bruce, a third-year player who's been going the yard very often (when and if he plays), and their pitching is pretty solid as well. But Philadelphia's got Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and...as much as I hate to say it, Roy Oswalt. End of discussion.

As far as the Braves and the Giants go, this will definitely be a battle of the bats instead of coming down to the pitching. With Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, and Derek Lowe on Atlanta's side, and Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, and Matt Cain on San Francisco's end, you can see that defensively, they're pretty evenly matched. Plus, rookies Jason Heyward and Buster Posey, the two frontrunners for this season's Rookie of the Year, should be an interesting matchup to see.

So, there you have it. This year's initial matchups, all rolled into one nice little package. All signs point to this postseason being as nuanced, complex and interesting as the entire regular season was. Keep checking back for updates on what's going on throughout October.

You Are 27, Going On 28...

All right. I'm going to do my best to keep this post as professional and unbiased as I can.

YANKEES CLINCH THEIR 15TH PLAYOFF BERTH IN 16 YEARS!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Dammit...

That's right, folks: no matter what, the Yankees will be in the playoffs for the 15th time in 16 years. Aside from an embarrassing miss in 2008, every October has brought with it two certain things: someone will win the World Series, and there's always a good chance it'll be the men in pinstripes.

Now, none of this is to disregard the other fine competitors that have already clinched a playoff berth (just a few minutes before the Yanks got theirs, the Rays guaranteed themselves a spot in the postseason as well, and then the Reds followed suite shortly after), nor does this negate anything I've said about the Bombers or the other teams I've talked about. Nothing has changed, aside from the guessing. Now, only certainty. New York's better team will be getting their 15th chance in 16 years to win the Fall Classic. And with that, the American League's playoff teams have been decided. The only thing left to find out is if Tampa Bay will win the East, or if the Yanks manage to dethrone them. Either way, both will face either Minnesota or Texas in the division series, and with both of the latter teams on significant losing streaks, it's looking more and more likely that these two East Coast teams will meet up in the championship, both looking to face Philadelphia (purely my own prediction as of today) yet again. And, if I may continue to be so bold in my predictions, I'm guessing that, should it come to pass that the Yankees and Phillies meet up again, it could turn out the same way it did in 2009. At least I sure hope it does.

And with that, I'll be taking a break from blogging until Sunday, when the regular season ends, at which point I'll begin to work on my guide to the postseason: What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Win).

Those Phucking Phillies (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia).

Before I start this post detailing Philadelphia's incredibly high chances of winning their second World Series in the past 3 years, I just have to get one thing out of the way:

Roy Oswalt, I still hate you. A lot. You are not a good pitcher; rather, you finally have a good team behind you. If you were any good, your record in Houston would have been better. You're not worth the hype you're getting, and you're damn sure not worth the money you demanded. You've got one of the best teams behind you. I could have a 7-0 record with the Phillies behind me too. Kindly retire and leave the game forever, please.

Gosh, I already feel a lot better. Now, onto why these Phreaks will make me cry by the end of October.

First, I truly don't know if the Yankees will repeat. Their bats have been hot, but the defense (especially the pitching) has suffered lately. Worst of all, Mariano Rivera can't seem to get his pitch under control anymore, leading to a few blown saves in the most crucial part of the season. Everyone's mechanics have to get better if they want to bring championship number 28 to the Bronx this year, because it sure would be nice not only for the Yanks to repeat this year (as they used to do years ago), but against the same team they won number 27 from as well. And for all we know, they could be beaten out by Boston in this next week for the wild card. However, Boston's injury woes will prevent them from making an impact against the Phillies: aside from David Ortiz, they have no bats powerful enough to beat out the Philadelphia pitching.

Second, the Rays are one of the best teams in the game, but they're still too cocky for their own good. Lest we forget, the Phils are the ones who nearly swept them in the 2008 championship, and not a whole lot has changed for the Rays, at least not enough to get a different outcome should the two meet in the Fall Classic again. Lately, they've failed to even ensure a playoff spot in a time when their closest competitors were falling to the wasteside, courtesy of the team underneath them. So who's to say they can get a repeat of 2 years ago and flip it around?

Third, whether the Twins or Rangers can beat out any team in the AL East (and then do it to the other one, or possibly each other) or not, they could face a surging Phillies team in the championship. For the Twins, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are absolutely essential for a legitimate shot at bringing home a World Series to Minnesota for the first time since 1991. Without either of them, or if they can't deliver at the plate, the rest of the team will have to pick up a major amount of slack. The Rangers are lucky enough to have Cliff Lee pitching for them, guaranteeing a win in any game, especially one against the team he pitched in the World Series for just last season. However, with Ian Kinsler not performing the way he should, and having dropped a few games immediately after clinching the division, Texas' hopes are wavering.

As far as the teams opposing the Phils in their own league, it seems like the only team that could really pose a threat is the Cincinnati Reds. With Joey Votto, Jonny Gomes, and Jay Bruce still managing to take care of business offensively, and Aroldis Chapman holding wins for pitchers while frying the pitch speed radar guns, they're the biggest internal threat to the Phillies making a 3rd consecutive World Series appearance.

As far as San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta and Colorado go, they'll all be too tired from fighting with each other for the 2 remaining playoff spots that they won't be rested enough to take on the white-hot Phillies, so I don't believe any of them can pose a true threat to their postseason hopes.

For Philadelphia themselves, all the pieces of the puzzle have really fallen together. They have the same players, or comparable ones of the same caliber, as they've had the past few years, only this time, their pitching is even better than last year. I mean, as good as Cliff Lee and (ugh) Pedro Martinez are, I'd rather take Roy Halladay and (UGH) Roy Oswalt, especially in October. Cole Hamels is just as good, if not better, as he's been last year and before. With Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley finally all back and healthy, and players like Jayson Werth, Placido Polanco, and Raul Ibanez lighting pitches up as they've quietly been doing all season, I think it's a good bet that these boys might take the championship trophy back to Philly yet again. I can only hope they'll have to go through my Bronx boys first.

Just When You Think They're Out, They Pull Themselves Back In.

For the past month, the Boston Red Sox have been all but eliminated from contention. They were the Detroit Tigers of the AL East: a strong team, but their chances of making the postseason dwindled faster than the number of people who believe Jose Bautista isn't taking steroids (more on that in a little bit). Well, unlike the Tigers, who rolled over and purred for the Twins and even White Sox ahead of them, the Red Sox, accustomed to statistical failure, sure as hell haven't given up. In fact, they've made a late playoff bid against the one team who really needed to beat them to keep their own hopes alive: their hated rival, the New York Yankees. A far cry from the 2009 championship team (even though they're fundamentally the same players), these Yanks have really dropped the ball lately, literally and figuratively. They're currently on a 4-game losing streak, after dropping 2 to the team ahead of them and 2 to the team below them. Not a pretty sight for Jeter and his crew. If they lose tonight (at the moment of this writing, the BoSox are up 1-0 in the bottom of the 7th), they'll not only be a game and a half behind Tampa Bay, but will only be leading Boston by 4.5 games. It's incredible how the past 6 years have changed Boston's playing over the previous 9 decades. Since breaking the alleged "Curse of the Bambino" in 2004, they've made the playoffs every year except 2006, won championship number 7 in 2007, and more importantly, were partially responsible for forcing the Yanks out of the 2008 playoffs, the first year they failed to at least reach the ALDS since 1995 (game update: Alex Rodriguez, in another bid to finally make New Yorkers like him, just belted a 2-run shot to put the Yankees up. A-Rod, you're all right in my book). This is pretty apropos of how their seasons would go between 1918 and 2004: come into October, knock some good teams out before finally losing...except that last part changed in '04. The fact of the matter is this: Boston can be 10 games out in the middle of September and still be in playoff conversations. I checked the ESPN preview for Friday's game between the two teams, and I scoffed at the following sentence: "With their playoff hopes nearly extinguished, the Boston Red Sox are looking to spark something in this away series at New York." How can you say a team who's 6.5 games out of the wild card, THE WILD CARD, on September 24th, with roughly a full week left of play, is NEARLY out of contention?! They're as far away from the playoffs as Barry Bonds is from making a comeback (look out, 2011)! Or so I thought. Even with 6 home runs in Friday's game, including 2 from A-Rod and 2 from Mark Teixeira, the Yanks STILL managed to lose, 10-8. All right. No big deal. Still sitting on 5.5 games. This is totally manageable. And then on Saturday, apparently still dumbfounded by Boston's signs of life, they lost 7-3. What is going on? Is this the same Red Sox that The Baseball Freak wrote about just a few weeks ago, when he discussed their limited options and laughed to himself, the Yankee fan in him vastly satisfied? No...it can't be...this must be a Red Sox team rejuvenated. They're channeling the spirit of Ted Williams and forcing him into David Ortiz's body! They're nursing Adrian Beltre with Native American chants! They've tied Theo Epstein up and hidden him from sight! All AL contenders, watch out for these boys!!

Two great players on two separate teams both hit impressive milestones this past week: Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners reached his 10th consecutive 200-hit season, and Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays hit his 50th homer of the season, the first player to do so since 2007. We already know (and have known for years) what a dominant player Ichiro is, but Bautista has literally come out of nowhere this season. He's been playing since 2004 (the year he played for 4 different teams), but until this year, he had only hit 59 home runs total. And now, a week before the regular season ends, he's hit 52 just this year. This is a truly amazing feat: and, as with every incredible accomplishment, people want to figure out how he's done it. And, as is common procedure by jaded baseball fans and reporters this decade, plenty of people have started accusing him of juicing. I understand being suspicious, but give me a break. In this day and age, with the advanced testing and multiple methods of determining if a player is taking steroids, wouldn't we have heard something legitimate towards this already? Are we really so far gone as fans that we have to automatically assume that, when a player does something good, regardless of how unexpected it may be, is cheating? Can't we guess that he changed his swing? Or that he worked to improve his eye-hand coordination during the offseason? Maybe pitchers started throwing him easier pitches because they underestimated him, then couldn't stop? Maybe he's a late bloomer? Or maybe it's just part of the magic and mystique that surrounds the game: there are plenty of incredible, amazing, holy-crap-did-you-see-that?! moments in major league baseball...this could simply be a season-long one. We really need to collectively get out of the mindset that every player who excels is doing something wrong.

What Are The Odds?

In this post, I'm going to make three separate predictions about this postseason: the results I personalliy want to see, the results I think are pretty outlandish but not entirely impossible, and the results likely to happen. Some of you may not like or agree with the predictions made in this post...if that's the case, stop reading and go back to your home in Boston or St. Louis, you sore loser.

First, the way the standings look as of the date this is written (which is halfway through September, so don't expect to see much deviation from this in real life before the playoffs):

AL East - Yankees.
AL Central - Twins.
AL West - Rangers.
AL Wild Card - Rays.

NL East - Phillies.
NL Central - Reds.
NL West - Padres.
NL Wild Card - Braves.

My personal predictions (what I'd like to see):

ALDS: Yankees beat Twins, Rangers beat Rays.
NLDS: Phillies beat Reds, Braves beat Padres.
ALCS: Yankees beat Rangers.
NLCS: Braves beat Phillies.
World Series: Yankees beat Braves in 5 or more games.

The main reason I want this result is so I get to see the Yankees play without having to spend the money going to New York. Now that these are out of the way, my next two sets of predictions are the ones more based on facts and stats than my own desires.

My potentially unrealistic predictions (what I think are pretty unrealistic, but still possible):

ALDS: Twins beat Yankees, Rays beat Rangers.
NLDS: Phillies beat Reds, Padres beat Braves.
ALCS: Twins beat Rays.
NLCS: Padres beat Phillies.
World Series: Twins beat Padres in 6 games.

My slightly more realistic predictions (what will probably happen):

ALDS: Yankees beat Twins, Rays beat Rangers.
NLDS: Reds beat Phillies, Padres beat Braves.
ALCS: Rays beat Yankees.
NLCS: Padres beat Reds.
World Series: Rays beat Padres in 5 games.

And now, to defend myself.

I really like the Twins. Nearly as much as I like the Yanks. Joe Mauer is quickly becoming one of the best players in the game, and they've got such a great lineup and a pretty strong rotation, so it's hard for them to be downtrodden, but New York is very good at upsetting teams in the clutch...just ask Derek Jeter. The Rays and Rangers are a similar situation: good lineups, good rotations, both with strong players, but it seems like the guys from Tampa Bay just keep getting better, and I don't believe Texas has the chops to stand up to them either way. The Phillies/Reds was a tough one (so much so that I decided to switch the results for the more likely predictions), I really think it could go either way at this point: having Roy Halladay would certainly give any contender a real edge, but you've got to like a team that has potential Triple Crown winner Joey Votto. The Braves have finally regained some of the magic that propelled them through the late '90s and early '00s to 14 division titles, but the Padres have managed to hold on and maintain the lead even after a horrible August, which really shows the true tenacity and what a good team they have, so don't be surprised if Atlanta's Jason Heyward and his supporting crew begin to choke just as they've done in many recent years.

What do you think October will hold for baseball? Let me know your thoughts.

For Our Next Trick, We'll Make Our Playoff Hopes...DISAPPEAR!

I knew that the San Diego Padres' incredible luck this season was bound to run out, it was just a matter of time. For a team with no World Series wins or even appearances in late October, was anyone shocked to watch their season explode as specatularly as the champagne bottles they've rarely been able to pop open? Surprisingly enough, their dominance didn't come to an end during or immediately following their atrocious 10-game losing streak, but has come during this crucial series with the team that's been breathing down their neck lately, the red-hot San Francisco Giants, followed by the ice-cold Colorado Rockies' own 10-game streak during which they've been winning. For a true dark horse this season, how did the Pads suddenly come into the light?

Luckily for them, they haven't been too bogged down by season-limiting or -ending injuries to important players, unlike the BoSox. Their players have been moderately healthy, and the pitching has been truly awesome this year, both the starters and the bullpen led by scary-looking closer Heath Bell. They've been getting big hits, making good plays, winning games and maintaining a solid lead over their closest competitors for most of the season. So why are they suddenly losing the massive amount of ground they had during the part of the season where it's as valuable as Jim Thome's most recent home run (you know, the one that propelled him past Frank Robinson for 8th all-time on The List)? I think it doesn't have so much to do with them as it does with the Giants and Rockies finally getting their respective grooves back. Don't get me wrong, a 10-game losing streak actually hurts a team more than it helps them, but even after that, they still had a few games on San Fran. But after a 3-game series against the Giants this weekend, they're now in a tie for first in the division. Mat Latos, the losing pitcher today, normally gets the win for San Diego, but he couldn't stand up to the defensive powers of Alanis Morrisette....I mean, Tim Lincecum. Throw in Buster Posey, the guy who's making Jason Heyward's chances at winning Rookie of the Year dwindle rapidly, and a lineup that's finally finding some power, and you've got a perfect disaster on your hands. Even worse, the Rockies have been turning to Troy Tulowitzki for some power, and boy howdy, has he happily obliged: in the past 5 games, he's homered just as many times, and hit 2 blasts in 2 of those games. Now they're just a game and a half behind the two tied at the top. Whew. And I thought the AL East race was tight. All I'm saying is, it'd sure be nice for San Diego citizens to finally have something to be proud of their baseball team for this season, but don't be surprised if it doesn't come to pass for the Fathers.

Every sport has that one veteran who doesn't seem to know when to call it quits and retire. The NBA has Shaq. The NFL has Favre. And when it comes to that one player in the MLB, the answer is obvious and, for me, quite painful: Derek Jeter. I really can't believe I'm about to write what I'm going to say...I even had a good cry before typing this out, but it's true: Jeter needs to go gentle into that professional good night. He's one of the most acclaimed Yankees (and players overall) of all time, passing names like Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle over the years; he was the Rookie of the Year in 1996; he's been the captain of the team since 2003; he's been an All-Star every year except '96, '97, '03 and '05; he's "Mr. November" thanks to the walk-off homer he hit in the delayed 2001 playoffs; he's been a notoriously good hitter with a .315 average overall; and, oh yeah, he's got a World Series ring for every finger on one hand. He's been living the only life he's ever wanted for 15 years...and it's time to let go. This season hasn't been kind to the 36-year-old shortstop; after batting .407 in last year's World Series, he's lost too much speed and power to really keep up statistically even with the infielders that surround him: Teixeira, Cano, and A-Rod. He's had a few minor injuries that seem to be increasingly getting worse. Not to mention the tiny detail that his contract expires at the end of this season, and for the first time, it looks like the Yankees brass may not be so interested in bringing back their golden boy. In most players' cases, this would simply mean the player becomes a free agent and can sign with another team, but come on - could you seriously see Jeet in anything but pinstripes? Derek's made it clear over the years that he wanted to play his entire career with New York's better team, so if he's not resigned, it stands to reason that the only viable option for him is to take his awards, his notoriety, his money, and his 5 championships, and sit back and let the new generation take over as he did a decade and a half ago. It kills me, but Derek Jeter, if you happen to read this, just know that you're one of my favorite players of all time. I wouldn't be saying these things without a reason. If the Yanks don't bring you back, walk away with pride. You'll be in Cooperstown before you even know it.

Royal Pains, And The Itch You Can't Control.

You know, something's bothered me all season. Zack Greinke, Kansas City's ace, is truly a great pitcher. Even though he has an 8-11 record, his ERA is 3.87, which isn't terrible, but his 1.22 WHIP helps to paint a slightly different picture. Either way, his records could be a lot better if (stay with me, now) he played with nearly any other team in the major leagues.

Now, I'm not suggesting this team simply because they're my favorite team, but I can't be the only one who thinks Zacky boy would look pretty good in pinstripes. It would sure give New York a great opportunity to get someone like Vazquez or Burnett and their lack of production out of town. And as far as the run support Greinke so desperately needs in his games, he's much more likely to get the win with a lineup of A-Rod, Robbie Cano, and Teixeira behind him, as opposed to major Royals superstars like Yuniesky Betancourt or Wilson Betemit (who, sadly, are probably the two best offensive players on that team right now). If the Yanks could get rid of at least one of the two pitchers I named and reserve a spot in the rotation for Greinke, that already-potent lineup of starters becomes so much more dominant. Sabathia, Pettitte, Greinke...it has a nice ring to it. Of course, there are plenty of good teams Greinke could go to in which he'd be a regular Curt Schilling. Maybe it's time he spent some time in the pitcher-friendly National League. If he went to Philadelphia, it'd be a similar situation to New York: Halladay, Hamels, Greinke...sounds pretty nice as well. Or maybe he could go to a struggling team with some potential and create a possible playoff run, or at least a .500 record for the team. For example, maybe the Marlins or that other New York team could benefit from his performance. He'd fit in nicely either place, and like I said, as long as he has that crucial offensive help from his team's lineup, Greinke would be a great fit almost anywhere. It's truly a shame that he's toiling in borderline worthlessness simply because he has the misfortune of playing for what is possibly the worst baseball team in history (well, aside from any team that comes through Seattle). When Zack accepted his Cy Young award last season, he didn't put much emphasis on the team behind him as help towards his stellar performance. And, really, why should he? He's played with the Royals his entire time in the league, and that's why no one really knows just how great he could be. He's got a 58-64 career record (again, it would be better were he playing almost anywhere else) and a 3.75 overall career ERA, but his minor league stats tell a much happier story: in his time in the Royals farm system, he pitched for 2 different teams. He had a 15-4 record and an incredible 1.93 ERA. You also have to consider the fact that he's still only 26, meaning he could potentially have 10 more years in the game. He signed a 4-year contract in 2009 with Kansas City, but if he's smart, he'll try his hardest to get himself traded to a good team, not even necessarily a genuine contender right now. I would list his best options for where to go, but truly, almost any team would be lucky to have him (and, again, I selfishly think the Bombers should try and make this happen).

Speaking of options, the Cardinals are rapidly running out of them. Their recent run of losses are like a bad rash: it keeps spreading, and there seems to be little they can do to ease the burn. Luckily, like a magic bottle of calamine lotion or Gold Bond, they picked up two soothing wins out of three games against their hated Cincinnati rivals this past weekend, but it might not be enough. While Matt Holliday has been doing all he can to help (he hit a 3-run homer during Sunday's game, and was responsible for 6 of the 8 runs the Cards scored over this series), the Golden Goose Albert Pujols seems to be experiencing a shortage of eggs; he's had 1 hit in his last 20 plate appearances, a shockingly poor showing from the best player in the game today. This is, of course, not to mention the fact that the Reds' Joey Votto has all but robbed the chances of Al earning a Triple Crown this season, but he certainly hasn't helped himself lately. Could the Redbirds' problems be the pitching? Wainwright and Carpenter are still taking care of business, but without the power in their lineup, they could pitch no-hitters and still not necessarily win. It doesn't help the Cards that young upstart Colby Rasmus, only in his second year in the majors and quickly becoming a great player despite nagging injuries, has caused a bit of a distraction by requesting a trade out of St. Louis, earning him the wrath of Mr. Pujols, who released some public comments about what a lack of respect Rasmus is showing with this. Now, as I stated in an earlier post, Colby has become one of my favorite players, a happy surprise in my fantasy draft that made me become a big fan of him and his sporadic but growing production. However, if you've got a chance to play on the second-winningest team in MLB history with a player that will go down as legend as well, you've got to appreciate what you have. From what it looks like, St. Louis will be happy to let him go, meaning he most likely won't be a Card come 2011. So, I don't know about you, but I'll be keeping a closer eye on Rasmus' moves this offseason than what the Cardinals do the rest of this season; I think the former has a brighter future than the latter does in 2010.