The Reds' Badge Of Courage.

In what has been viewed as the biggest trade this offseason, the San Diego Padres sent starter Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Edison Volquez, first baseman Yonder Alonso, and two prospects. Even though many have said that the Padres completely fleeced the Reds in this trade, the opposite is true. Volquez has never quite lived up to his hype, Alonso wouldn't see much major league time in Cincy as long as Joey Votto was around, and predicting the future careers of prospects is always a crapshoot. On the flipside, the Reds get a young pitcher who has proven that he has potential, and even though injuries have plagued him since he got to the majors, Latos is still young at 24 and is now with an organization that has a knack for developing talent.

With the St. Louis Cardinals still reeling from losing their biggest star a month after winning the World Series, the Milwaukee Brewers adding two washed-up veterans to "improve" half of their infield, the Houston Astros one year away from moving to the American League, the Chicago Cubs adjusting to life with Theo Epstein, and the Pittsburgh Pirates continuing their streak of mediocrity, the stars seem to be aligning in the perfect way for the Reds to make a huge splash in the NL Central. 2011 was disappointing for them, as they watched the Brewers and Cardinals duke it out in the NLCS, missing the playoffs entirely just a year after their stunning division title in 2010. While it may have been nothing more than a fluke, it seems as if the Reds are done rebuilding, as so many teams seem to be doing as of late, and are ready to wrestle.

Jay Bruce hit a walkoff homer to clinch the division for the Reds in 2010. Is this a scene that might soon be repeated?

Adding Latos to the rotation makes this young Reds team even more interesting to watch. Their youthful enthusiasm, driven by Votto (2010 NL MVP), Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, drives them on the field to be as dominant as possible, while still maintaining a relaxed demeanor. Phillips is the oldest of the core group of youngsters at 30 years old, but his smile and huge presence on Twitter makes him seem 10 years younger. Votto is 28, and with Albert Pujols gone and Prince Fielder seemingly on the way out as well, he's poised to be touted as the best first baseman in the NL Central. And Bruce, 24, had a breakout year in 2011 that saw him garner his first All-Star appearance and early consideration for the MVP award before his numbers dropped off a bit in the second half. While the offensive power is there for the Reds, the pitching leaves a little to be desired. Even though they got rid of Edison Volquez as part of the Latos trade, a hurler that did more to hurt the team than he did to help it, the rotation needs to step its game up. The top three starters (Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto) had 27 wins between them last season (each pitcher had 9), anemic strikeout levels (104-108 on average), and only Arroyo had a full season (Bailey and Cueto had 22 and 24 starts respectively). While also young like the lineup (Arroyo is 34, but Bailey, Cueto and Latos are all 24 or 25), they have yet to reach their full potential. If they do, though, they will be absolutely deadly.

But will they reach said potential? MLB is chock full of rookies and veterans alike that, at some point or another, were touted as the hottest prospect on the planet, or advertised as one of the most promising young players of this generation. But not every player can be a Pujols, a Jeter, a Ramirez. Some kids show flashes of brilliance and then fade away. Some old-timers show consistency over their careers, but never make the kind of splash necessary to carry a team into prominence. Who's to say the Reds won't fall victim to the dreaded overhype? It has killed teams in the past (for some reason, the Great Red Sox Collapse of 2011 immediately springs to the mind of this young Yankees fan) and will continue to do so throughout history. A single injury to an outfielder, or Tommy John surgery for a long reliever, and just like that, a team can crumble in an almost disturbing way. The Reds have the necessary stuff, but they need further conditioning. A young team is always an exciting idea, in that it seems to be built for long term stability, but you never know when Joey Votto might eat a bad hot dog and miss 10 games. A solid, youthful rotation looks nice, but Mat Latos might sprain his arm lifting a box and he's out until the All-Star break. Power and consistency are not the only things necessary to drive a team. The Reds have a great opportunity with the somewhat weakened position of the NL Central, but unless they retain the youthful enthusiasm and swagger that they've shown streaks of in the past few years, they're likely to lose their footing and slip while the Cardinals and Brewers race back into prominence.

The Evil Empire Stands Pat.

I've tried my best to keep quiet about this. I've held my tongue when I really wanted to say something to fellow baseball fans. I've covered my mouth when people have asked me where I thought certain big name free agents would go. I avoided conversations about what this offseason could mean for 2012. But I can't contain myself anymore.

WHY AREN'T THE YANKEES DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST, SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AND IMPROVING THEMSELVES THROUGH FREE AGENCY?!?!?!?! HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO WIN A WORLD SERIES WITH FREDDY GARCIA AS THEIR THIRD STARTER AND ANDRUW JONES AS A SEMI-REGULAR OUTFIELDER?! IT ISN'T 2002 ANYMORE!!

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, let's get down to brass tacks.

It feels like a long time since the Yankees last won a championship, even though it was only 3 seasons ago.

Things have gone somewhat downhill for my beloved Yanks since they won a title in 2009. Derek Jeter had his worst offensive year in 2010 and only mildly rebounded in 2011 (even though he hit slightly under .300 and had his 3,000th hit in July), Andy Pettitte and now Jorge Posada have played their last games in pinstripes (potentially), AJ Burnett became the second most hated person in New York, and the most hated person in New York became even more despised when he couldn't stay healthy and struck out to end both the 2010 ALCS and 2011 ALDS (you know who you are...ALEX RODRIGUEZ). There have been a few bright spots: Jeter's 3000th hit, Mariano Rivera's 602nd save, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano forming a modern-day Murderer's Row...but at the end of the year, watching the Rangers advance to two straight World Series and losing to the Tigers in the first round means that 2010 and 2011 can be chalked up to nothing more than failed seasons. While it's a rough mentality to have (most teams would be thrilled just to win the Wild Card), it's the norm in New York.

What's even more upsetting for a Yanks fan is that they've sat idly by, both last offseason and this one, while other teams snatch big name players up like Manny Ramirez snatches up fertility drugs from his wife. They lost the Cliff Lee Sweepstakes to the Phillies last season and had to put together a rotation that consisted of ace CC Sabathia, joker AJ Burnett, and some cards that didn't even belong in the pinstriped deck like Garcia and Bartolo Colon, two pitchers who hadn't been effective since 2005. There was a highlight in Ivan Nova, a rookie who won 16 games despite posting a 3.70 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. However, they felt the pang of letting Lee slip through their fingers; thankfully, they didn't allow CC to do the same when he filed for free agency after 2011, signing him to an extension. The offense didn't suffer in the same fashion, as they ranked 7th in BA and in the top 3 of all other offensive categories, but notorious choker A-Rod couldn't come through in the clutch in the bottom of the 9th inning of game 5 of the LDS versus the Tigers this season, in the same way he froze up in the EXACT SAME SITUATION a year before in game 6 of the LCS versus the Rangers. 

This offseason, they watched CJ Wilson and Mark Buehrle, two hurlers who could have stopped the bleeding in the rotation, sign lucrative deals elsewhere, and didn't bother making offers to Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder or Jose Reyes. Admittedly, this would have been pointless, because they already have some established superstars at first base and shortstop, but it would have been nice to see them try, if only to assure us that they're still the big bad moneymakers we know and love. In reality, this is actually kind of nice. It seems like a maturation of the Yankees organization, that they believe in spending frugally, and cultivating exciting young players in the minor leagues. They're becoming more sensible in who they sign, and are more rational in their expectations of how a season will be viewed at its conclusion. Naturally, this has confused and infuriated Yankees fans. 

Keep those eyes covered, CC...things don't look much better for 2012.

We're not used to the Yankees not being linked to every free agent that could help bring the Commissioner's Trophy back to the Bronx. It's not like anyone named Steinbrenner to not spend more money than the national budget of most third-world countries to fill a hole in left field (no offense, Swisher, but your time is up). So what gives? Could the greed finally be sated? Are we happy with the mega-signings of the 2008 offseason? Will Jesus Montero, Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances be the new Key Three in a few years? Even worse, could the Red Sox, Blue Jays or equally intimidating Rays leapfrog the Yanks as the talk of the AL East? It's a scary situation. We could see both Jeter and Mo gone within the next 2 years, Cano and Granderson will reach free agency within the next 3, and A-Rod's contract is set to expire just after the turn of the next century. The Rays have a youthful, strong roster (how is it possible that Evan Longoria is only 25?), the Blue Jays continue to hover around .500 waiting to strike, and worst of all, the Red Sox STILL exist. And the Yankees sign Eric Chavez to back up A-Rod at third. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

It's a sad, sorry state that the Yanks are in as we look toward the 2012 season. Lest we forget that they are still the New York Yankees, who always seem to win no matter how many people want them to lose. But with the lineup skewing too old, the rotation raising more questions than it answers, and a second wild card to be added in the American League this year, it's tough to be optimistic. Now and forever, though...GO YANKEES.

Everyone's Waiting For Yu.

Japanese pitcher and current hottest prospective free agent this side of the Rising Sun Yu Darvish recently announced that he would indeed be posted to Major League Baseball in the hopes of signing with an American team and playing in the good ole USA.

At only 25 years old, Darvish is considered one of the best pitchers in the world right now, except in Detroit. He came up to the big leagues with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball, the Japanese counterpart of MLB, on June 15th, 2005, 2 months shy of 19. He promptly began blowing everyone away with his amazing speed, his strikeout rate that seemed to skew outward exponentially, and his odd, side-arm delivery that confuses batters to no end, and reminds many fans of the 2-time Cy Young "Freak" Tim Lincecum. His record stands at 93-38, with an ungodly 1.99 ERA and 1,259 strikeouts to his already-famous name. He's a 2-time Pacific League MVP winner, 5-time NPB All-Star, won the strikeout title in 2007, 2010 and 2011, and took the ERA title in 2009 and 2010. So, to say the least, Darvish is the real deal.

Now that Darvish has asked the Ham Fighters to post him, American teams are allowed to send a sealed bid to Hokkaido's front office with an undisclosed amount of money. This is simply the posting fee, the rights to exclusively negotiate with Darvish. The team that wins the rights then can negotiate a contract with Darvish to play for MLB, at which point he becomes a regular player under the regulations of the American big leagues. If Darvish and the team that won the rights to negotiate with him cannot come to an agreement, the team receives its bid back and the team with the next highest offer gets a shot at signing Darvish. It's a complicated process, one that many say is flawed and highly expensive, but it's simply in the best interest of both the player and the potential organization, to see if they're a good fit for each other. However, with international players, there's always a chance that their skills might diminish by playing in a new league, and in a new country.

Darvish drives Japanese batters crazy, but will his immense talent translate in America?

Japanese players in the past 20 years, especially pitchers, have been viewed as a hot commodity in MLB. They are conditioned well, they work hard, and they can normally dominate opposing teams for a while, since they're new and untested by American players. What's more, they're already developed. There's no waiting for them in the minor leagues, owners and managers don't have to go through all the thumb-twiddling and toe-tapping like they do with fresh-faced youngsters plucked out of high school or college. But there's a big difference betwen MLB and NPB, as there's a big difference between America and Japan. Japanese baseball games can end in a tie if neither team is winning after 12 innings. There are fewer home runs hit and a much smaller focus on offense. The baseball itself is smaller and more tightly wound. That final difference is often the biggest reason Japanese pitchers have a difficult time transitioning to American baseball, as they and the teams that have signed them have found out the hard way over the years.

Hideki Irabu, who spent the first 8 years of his career with Chiba Lotte Marines, threw the fastest pitch ever thrown in NPB at the time at 98 MPH and won strikeout, ERA and win titles from 1994 to 1996. The San Diego Padres took notice and purchased his contract in 1997, which angered other MLB teams that wanted to negotiate with him, leading to the inception of the posting system we all know and love. Eventually, he signed a lucrative contract with the New York Yankees instead, and won World Series with them in 1998 and 1999. However, his skills quickly took a nosedive, and he was unable to retain his power. After spending a few more seasons in MLB and NPB, he retired after being unable to regain his former glory. He tragically killed himself this past July.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who came to prominence with the Seibu Lions, won the Pacific League Rookie of the Year in 1999, was a 7-time All-Star, and pitched the Lions to a Japan Series title in 2004, pulled in the largest posting fee to date, slightly over $51 million, submitted by the Boston Red Sox. In addition, they signed him to a 6-year, $52 million contract in the hopes that he would shore up their rotation and help them continue their resurgence as one of the best teams in baseball. Since then, he's gone 49-30 with an ERA almost 2 points higher than his career ERA in Japan, 568 strikeouts over 5 years, and has only made 105 starts, including an embarrassing 7 in 2011, before it was announced that he would have season-ending surgery that he's currently recovering from. Even though he helped the Red Sox to a title in 2007, their second of the decade, he's been worth way under what he's being paid.

Perhaps the best example of overspending for a Japanese pitcher, Kei Igawa had a career year in 2003, winning the Central League MVP, the ERA title, the wins title, the Pitcher MVP, and the Eiji Sawamura award. Considered one of the best pitchers at the time, the Yankees won the rights to negotiate with him for $26 million and signed him to a 5-year, $20 million contract, considerably less than the Red Sox did with Matsuzaka. Unlike Dice-K, Igawa never put together anything that resembles a good season: of those 5 years, he pitched professionally only in 2007 and 2008, and the line is unimpressive - 16 games played, 13 starts (only 2 and 1 in 2008), just 71 innings pitched, a 2-4 record in the Bronx, and an unsettling (for a few reasons) ERA of 6.66. After spending the final 3 seasons of the contract toiling away in the minor leagues (at $4 million a year), Igawa is now a free agent and says he wishes to continue pitching in MLB. It seems unlikely any team will be willing to give him a chance.

Whoever Darvish pitches for hopes to be as happy as he'll be with his contract.

So who's to say that Darvish won't follow in their footsteps? True, he's younger than they were when they were posted. Yes, his stats are better. Admittedly, scouts and team officials who have watched him pitch say they believe his career in MLB will be as prolific as it's been in NPB. But it's clear that the transition between countries is a dangerous risk to take for teams. It stands to reason that Yu will command a very expensive contract, not to mention the largest posting bid to date. But who will pony up the cash? The two biggest spenders, the Yankees and Red Sox, are clearly a little gun-shy when it comes to Japanese hurlers. The Texas Rangers have been rumored to be big spenders, and could certainly use a lot of rotation help after losing ace CJ Wilson to Anaheim. The Seattle Mariners is a highly celebrated and greatly loved American franchise in Japan because of its proximity to the island, its being owned by a Japanese-based company (Nintendo), and for housing veteran phenom Ichiro Suzuki for the past 11 years. The Kansas City Royals may not have the money, but since they're still looking toward the future and trying to create the youngest lineup imaginable, they could be a dark horse candidate for Darvish.

The highest bid will be revealed on Wednesday, at which point the team that wins will hope to sign Darvish quickly and get him fitted for a cap and jersey before spring training arrives. There's a lot to look forward to...for Yu, and for me.

MV-PED.

Some disheartening news surfaced yesterday that Milwaukee Brewers outfielder and reigning NL MVP (for now, at least) Ryan Braun tested positive for a illegal substance, and could serve a 50-game suspension to open up the 2012 season.

Before the postseason, Braun and every other player on a playoff team had to submit to a drug test, the results of which showed heightened levels of testosterone in Braun's blood, which were determined to be synthetic. While it's not as bad as full-blown steroids or human growth hormone, testosterone is still a banned substance and qualifies for suspension. Braun is appealing the suspension and contesting the legitimacy of the results, saying to USA Today, "It's B.S.", and that he never knowingly took any illegal substance.

Many Brewers fans find it difficult to see Braun as anything more than the opening act for Fielder, but he's a legitimate batter in his own right.

I love Ryan Braun. He's Jewish, so as a fellow tribesman, I have to love Ryan Braun. But he's one of the strongest, most powerful hitters in the game, even without the use of any illegal drugs. He consistently hits over .300, has hit under 30 home runs or 100 RBIs once, and has a career OPS of .934, pretty good for someone who many fans think is "overhyped" and "nothing without Prince Fielder batting behind him". He's been an integral part of the Brewers' surprising playoff runs in 2008 and 2011, won the Rookie of the Year award in 2007, is a 3-time All-Star, won the Silver Slugger award from 2008-2011, and also, as you may know, won the MVP award this year in one of the most closest races in years. So, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, that this ugly scandal is the result of a one-time boost, and that he hasn't done this over his entire career, especially because there have never even been whispers of Braun's name in connection to steroids before now. Like I've said many times before, we as fans are so jaded because of what's happened in the last 20 years with the outrageous PED usage in the game, that we can no longer look at a player who's a solid, powerful batter without crying "STEROIDS!!" We're so quick to vilify and degrade any player who gives us even a hint of reasonable doubt, that we often can't look past the initial news and see the forest for the trees. Braun obviously had a good reason for ingesting synthetic testosterone (one would assume).

Does that make what he did any less immoral? Unfortunately, no. No matter how he, the media, or the Brewers front office try to spin it, he took an illegal substance in an attempt to boost his performance and give him a slight edge against his opponents. He also claims he did it unknowingly. Do athletes really think we're that stupid? Do they think the fans are nothing more than belching, cursing fat pigs who are so ignorant of the actual workings of the game because we'd rather just yell at a pitcher who intentionally walks a batter for giving up a base? Has that defense ever worked in an athlete's favor? To quote Braun himself from 2009 when Alex Rodriguez admitted using steroids, "The best thing he can do is come out, admit to everything and be completely honest...the situation will die a lot faster if he tells the whole truth." It seems that Braun already knows what his best course of action is, but instead, he's contesting the results, most likely because he doesn't want to lose the MVP award he won this year.

No player has ever been stripped of the MVP award. Will Braun be the first? Should he?

While there is no precedent for any awards being stripped post-scandal, there are already cries from angry Dodger fans (and maybe even some other people) that either Braun should have his MVP award from this previous season taken away, or that there should be a revote. This year's voting was already hotly contested, as Los Angeles outfielder Matt Kemp quietly put together a monstrous season, falling one home run short of joining the 40-40 club (and, after losing out on the award, boldly predicted he'd go 50-50 next season in an interview). But many fans believe that, since Kemp was on a .500 team and Ryan was on the playoff-bound Brewers, it gave Braun the advantage in the voting. Many fans believe that it doesn't matter if a player who has the best statistical season of anybody leads his teams to the postseason or not; rather, whichever player was the best should win the award. However, it's called the Most VALUABLE Player award, meaning the player was more VALUABLE to his team than any other player was to his (for further reading, I expanded on this in my post about Justin Verlander a few weeks ago, scroll down far enough and you can't miss it). Without Braun, the Brewers are just Prince Fielder and a few good pitchers, not nearly enough to make it to the NLCS. His ability to get on the base and to clear them made him an almost unstoppable offensive force. There's no denying he deserves the MVP award, even if Matt Kemp had an extremely comparable season.

But in light of this news, does Braun also deserve to have the award taken away? As I stated earlier, no player who's ever gotten in trouble after winning an award has had it stripped, or had his accomplishments officially diminished. In case you've all forgotten, Barry Bonds won 7 MVP awards, and still has every single trophy sitting in his trophy case, next to the deadened, shriveled remains of what used to be his genitals (steroid usage is no joke, kids). Sammy Sosa can still gaze into his ghoulish face in the reflection of his own MVP award. And nobody's trying to pry Jose Canseco's hardware away from him...if only because nobody wants to associate with Jose Canseco. What's done is done. It may seem foolish, or undeserved now, but it's final: Ryan Braun is your 2011 NL MVP, and he took an illegal substance. Whether or not he is stripped of the title, or there is a revote (in which case he's still completely eligible to win it again, in what would be a spectacular display of true hypocrisy in baseball), the fact still remains that he won the award first. Whatever fallout he, the Brewers or MLB suffers from this scandal, he was still voted the Most Valuable Player in the National League. And there's not a thing Dodger fans can do about it.

Angels In The Infield.

With all the talk about the Miami Marlins' shopping spree at this year's winter meetings, the dealings of most other teams were thrown into the background. But now, the Los Angeles Angels have slammed into the Marlins as the busiest team this offseason, signing both Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson within a few hours on the last day of these meetings.

While the Halos had been one of the favorites for Wilson since the World Series ended, they hadn't even contacted Pujols' agent until the last 2 days. While everyone was focused on whether the Cardinals or Marlins could one-up each other for Pujols, or whether or not the Cubs were a legitimate contender for him, the Angels quietly entered the fray as a "mystery team" and managed to win the Albert Sweepstakes. While we all slept, LA owner Arte Moreno and Pujols were both praying, Pujols praying for God to show him the way, Moreno praying that the way ended in Los Angeles. Shocking doesn't begin to describe this morning's events.

Pujols leaves behind a home, a legacy, and a couple of popular restaurants behind in St. Louis. It's expected that the Cards will make Lance Berkman their full-time first baseman, with an outfield of Allen Craig (who will become the full-time right fielder), Jon Jay and Matt Holliday. Even though they will miss his bat at the plate and his positive influence in the clubhouse, the defending World Series champions still project to be serious contenders going forward, as they still have a dominant rotation with Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia and a healthy Adam Wainwright, and a lineup that contains a revitalized Berkman and Holliday, as well as NLCS and WS MVP David Freese. So, although Pujols leaves a devastated St. Louis fanbase in his wake, it doesn't seem like people in Missouri will be mourning for too long.

Wilson joins a rotation that contains Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana. 5 years ago, none of them were starters, and Weaver and Santana were just starting in the majors. Separately, they're solid pitchers who eat innings and throw strikeouts at an amazing rate. Together, they comprise what could be the strongest rotation in the American League. They all have low to average ERAs (the highest ERA last season of any of the 4 was Santana's with 3.38, which most pitchers would kill to have), high innings counts and high strikeout rates, overall and on average through 9 innings. Similar feelings towards the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies rotation are already being applied to the hurlers in Anaheim: that the Angels could allow a fan to pitch every 5th day, and they'd still win 100 games. The best part about these boys, aside from their consistency, is that they all stay healthy. Over the past 3 years, only Santana has missed some time due to injury. A healthy, consistent rotation is what wins championships, and the Angels certainly have that.

As we learned last year, we can't predict what will happen in baseball based solely off of the teams on paper, but if we could, the 2012 World Series would appear to be the Los Angeles Angels vs. the Miami Marlins. But that's why they play the game.

The Elite Meet And Greet.

As the dust settles during the aftermath of the winter meetings, let's take a few steps back and see if we can't make sense of some of the confusing/somewhat aggravating events that took place in the last 4 days.

First, the elephant...or, rather, the big fish in the room, is that the Marlins seemingly pursued every big name on the free agent list this year quite aggressively this week. The surprise, though, is that they managed to land quite a few of them. Heath Bell, Jose Reyes, and now Mark Buehrle will all be taking their talents to South Beach to play for the retooled Marlins. The Marlins will pay out close to $200 million over the next 3-6 years just to the 3 of these players, showing a marked change from past seasons where they've either been quite frugal or have had their notorious "fire sales" in which they completely break the team up and trade everyone they can't afford away (although, this normally occurs after a postseason run or a World Series championship), one main reason they didn't land Albert Pujols like they so aggressively wanted to. The money and years (10 years at $220 million) were right, but in their fashion, they didn't want to offer a no-trade clause even to a player who is considered to be the very best of this generation, while St. Louis offered that and more for Pujols to resign.

But when it comes right down to it, as hard as the Marlins pressed, there was never a chance of Pujols leaving the Cardinals. Sports analysts have hemmed and hawed when presented with that scenario, spouting cliches such as "Anything's possible" and "He'll go where he thinks is best", but St. Louis is Pujols' town. He has built a life, a career, and a few fine restaurants there. The draw to be included in the discussion of the all-time great Cardinals, along with Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson and Ozzie Smith, all of whom spent their entire careers only with the Redbirds, was too much. Albert has always expressed his strong desire to spend his playing days solely in St. Louis, even if the money wasn't exactly what he wanted (pressure from the fans and players' union was on Pujols to sign a contract that surpassed Alex Rodriguez's outrageous deal, but in the end, it just doesn't prudent to give $28 million in 2021 to a 42 year old whose best years will most likely be far behind him). In actuality, it seems that the Marlins, who still officially have a deal in place for Pujols but have come to the understanding that they are no longer the favorite for his services, were really used by Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, to drive up the price and incentives for the Cardinals, so that both sides would be satisfied. It may not be kind, but that's business.

A small jump away from Miami, we've had some interesting come out of Japan: Hiroyuki Nakajima, 29 year old shortstop for Japan League's Saitama Seibu Lions, was not only posted to MLB but has already had his negotiating rights bought. And what team has won the right to give him a ton of money to hit a ball with a stick? You guessed it: the New York Yankees. They reportedly won the rights with a posting fee of only $2 million, a far cry from the hundreds of millions of dollars they wasted on Kei Igawa and the late Hideki Irabu. So, understandably, the Yankees may be a little gunshy to pull the trigger. If he signs with them (there are rumors that he'd much rather sign with a West Coast team), it would stand to reason that he'd spend the next 2 years as a super utility man/powerful bat off the bench before taking over for Derek Jeter in 2013 (with him and maybe Eduardo Nunez waiting in the wings by then, chances are likely New York will decline their option on Jeet for 2014). If he declines, there's always a chance a team in California or Washington could swoop him up.

The Mets are preparing for life without shortstop Jose Reyes...which, obviously, means shoring up the bullpen. They've signed relievers Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco, both of whom spent last year with the Blue Jays, and received Ramon Ramirez from the Giants, as well as outfielder Andres Torres, in exchange for outfielder Angel Pagan. So, the Mets will begin 2012 with an injury-riddled infield, an incompetent outfield, a rotation in shambles, no sure-thing closer, but a damn good bullpen. They better rebuild fast.

CJ Wilson is feeling a lot of love, being viewed as the last premium starter left on the market with the signing of Buehrle. It seems the Marlins are vying for him (no surprise), as are the Angels. The Rangers, the team he's spent his entire career with to this point, offered him $60 million over the next 4 years, but the Marlins have offered him 6 years at an undisclosed amount, and it's likely the Angels won't be able to match the deal in terms of length. Texas already has plans in place to prepare for live without Wilson: they signed reliever Joe Nathan to be their closer to fireball-thrower Neftali Feliz could move to the rotation, and they've had multiple talks with the Cubs about a possible trade for Matt Garza. Wilson has been highly effective in his 2 years as a starter, going 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 223.1 innings last year, but has struggled so much in the postseason (0-3, 5.79 ERA in 5 starts this past October) that many teams who desperately need a solid pitcher in their rotation (I'm looking at you, Yanks) quickly backed off. It should be noted that he is the only pitcher in history to be the losing pitcher on Opening Day, the All-Star Game, in an LDS, LCS AND World Series. Approach with caution.

David Ortiz accepted the Red Sox' arbitration offer, and will return to Boston in the hopes of a multiyear deal with the numbers he's looking for. The Sox offered Big Papi a 2 year, $18 million dollar deal, well below the value of the $12.5 million one-off deal he signed last offseason, but sources say the two sides are still working on a longer deal. Ortiz, a 6-time All-Star, has been an incredibly dominant force at the plate for the Sox since he was traded from the Twins in 2002, and has helped propel Boston to 2 World Series, where they swept the Cardinals and Rockies in 2004 and 2007. He's considered to be the face of the franchise, more respected than fellow veterans Kevin Youkilis, Tim Wakefield and captain Jason Varitek (the last 2 of whom were not offered arbitration and are in that difficult "play somewhere else or retire" stage in their careers). Oddly enough, there didn't seem to be much interest in the 36-year-old designated hitter this offseason, even though his services could certainly be valuable on many teams in both the AL as a DH or the NL as a super bench player. It's for that reason that the Sox feel they have leverage against Ortiz during the negotiations about the length of his contract, but the truth is, Big Papi not only wants to retire as a Red Sox (God only knows why anyone would want that), he deserves to.

Always the busiest week in baseball's offseason, this year's winter meetings certainly did not disappoint. However, many free agents, including the ex-Brewers first baseman that everyone seems to have forgotten about in Prince Fielder, still remain unsigned. We'll keep you posted on all the wheeling and dealing that has yet to ensue.

Revenge Of The Nerds.

Remember the days when watching a baseball game meant nothing more than going out to the ballpark, spending some time with friends and family, eating hot dogs, and rooting for your favorite player to hit a home run, or for your favorite team to win? Remember the magic that came from seeing a rookie make a spectacular diving catch, or the veteran jumping to rob the opposing batter of a homer? Remember when the game was solely about the love of baseball, and nobody worried about properly calculating stats?

Yeah, me neither.

For the past 3 decades, statistics new and old have come to dominate how we view position players, pitchers, and teams overall. At the forefront of this mathematically-minded revolution is the raging debate between regular stats versus sabermetrics, tradition versus change. After all this time, stats like batting average for a batter or wins and losses for a pitcher don't satisfy as proper indicators of how good that player is. There's WAR (Wins Above Replacement), UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating), FIP (Fielding-Independent Pitching), and a slew of other confusing acronyms that mask formulas even more perplexing. Managers and front office workers are now lauded by their ability to create not the best baseball team, not even the most popular baseball team, but the most efficient baseball team. Billy Beane, Oakland Athletics GM and notorious wunderkind, is now hailed with the likes of Bill James (the godfather of sabermetrics) and Earnshaw Cook (whose 1964 book Percentage Baseball was the first book dedicated to promoting the usage of advanced statistics in baseball) because of his ability to spend low on players that are, based solely off these stats, theoretically create the most dominant team in baseball. Now, we all know how his approach has worked out so far (the A's haven't gone deeper into the postseason than the Division Series other than in 2006), but it's not for lack of trying. And, in Beane's defense, the numbers told him they'd be a good team, and for what he paid, he got a solid team, just not one tooled for the postseason.

Even at 21 years old, I'm an old school baseball fan. I abide more by the ideology that anything can happen on a baseball field, regardless of what the numbers say. In all fairness, though, I'm delving myself into the practice of sabermetrics, and I have to say, I'm being impressed with a lot of it. These math geeks who now influence many team owners and GMs have really figured their stuff out: the formulas are solid, and plugging in data from the past can often be a very good indicator of how a player will do in the future (you know I love you, Derek Jeter, but the naysayers may not be so wrong when it comes to your defensive abilities). The most intriguing sabermetric I've found so far is the Pythagorean expectation, a formula created by Bill James to figure out how many games a team "should" have won, based on how many runs they scored and allowed. I won't go into explicit detail, since the formula looks like something you'd expect in a masters-level engineering class (and I'm an undergrad majoring in journalism, do the math...so I don't have to), but this stat seems very cocky, in a way. Predicting the number of wins a team SHOULD have had? Give me a break. If a team SHOULD have had those wins, they SHOULD have gotten them. Albert Pujols SHOULD have hit 10 more home runs than he did. Felix Hernandez SHOULD have thrown more strikeouts. The Cubs SHOULD have won a title in the last 100 years. There's no true stat that can accurately account for what SHOULD happen, or SHOULD have happened. Bill James could calculate that the Red Sox SHOULD have won 110 games last year instead of 90, but they DIDN'T. MLB isn't going to redact the Cardinals' World Series win and award it to Boston solely on merit, and the result of this formula.

Baseball, like it or not, isn't a game of numbers. You can't completely predict what a ballplayer will do based on math. Sure, a lot of it CAN be properly calculated. Stats accumulated at the end of a season can certainly be used in sabermetrics to determine how good of a season the player had, but can't possibly state to the exact number, or even close, to how that same player will perform next year. Take Jered Weaver, Angels ace and 2011 Cy Young runner up: in 2009, his FIP (which is calculated, bear with me, as number of home runs allowed multiplied by 13 PLUS number of walks allowed multiplied by 3 MINUS number of strikeouts multiplied by 2, all of which is DIVIDED by number of innings thrown, then the entire equation has 3.10 added to it so that the result resembles a traditional ERA) was 4.04, not bad for a starter. With that kind of FIP, one might expect him to perform at an average level, but not be a formidable ace. In 2010, though, he improved quite handily: his FIP dropped almost an entire point, to 3.06, and even though his record worsened (16-8 to 13-12), his ERA dropped, as did the number of hits, runs, home runs and walks he allowed, while his innings count and strikeouts increased handily. While this isn't extreme, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of mathematical evidence to explain it. The sabermetrics predicted he'd be a middle of the pack starter, but for all intents and purposes, his performance then helped to make him one of the hottest hurlers in 2011.

There is a lot of merit in these stats and sabermetrics, don't get me wrong. And I'm going to keep exploring them and their applications to this great game. But I'm just saying, for all of you out there who use them religiously and rely on them to help you in every argument...it's been said before because it's true, baseball is a magical game. You can't account for everything. Players coming through in the clutch, the force of the fans, even the weather can make or break any team, regardless of what the math says.

Reyes Of Hope In Miami.

It's been rumored, it's been speculated, it's been debated...and now, it's been confirmed: free agent Jose Reyes has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Miami Marlins, the first "big" free agent to be signed this offseason. If nothing else, this shows that the Marlins, who have reached out to almost every star player since the World Series ended, aren't just talking; they're highly interested in getting things done and becoming a perennial contender.

According to ESPN.com, the deal was worth $90 million for 6 years at first before Marlins brass upped it to $111 million ($106 million guaranteed with an option for a 7th year at $22 million, and a $5 million buyout clause if the option isn't picked up). The Mets and Brewers were supposedly in the running for Reyes' service (Reyes spent his entire 8-year career in Flushing before the end of this season, and Milwaukee was also kicking the tires with their shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt also being a free agent), but neither offered more than $85-90 million, and couldn't match or surpass Miami's offer once it was increased. The deal comes a few days after the Marlins signed closer Heath Bell, who passed his physical and is expected to be announced during the Winter Meetings that begin tomorrow in Dallas, and the Reyes signing means that Miami shortstop Hanley Ramirez will be converted into a third baseman, which effectively kills two birds with one stone.

With this move, and the decline of the powerhouses in Philadelphia, it seems like the Marlins are emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the NL East. As I wrote in the last post, a Marlins lineup with Reyes, Ramirez, Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison would be tough to control for opposing pitchers, and a rotation with a healthy Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco could prove to be dominant, especially with closer Heath Bell in the bullpen for them. The worst part for fans in Atlanta or Philadelphia (and especially those in New York), the Marlins are still players for the services of Mark Buehrle or CJ Wilson, making their formidable rotation even scarier. Before we start touting the Marlins as the 2012 World Series champs, however, we need to remember that the way teams look on paper doesn't necessarily translate onto the field. Injuries, weather and bad luck can ruin a team's season (2011 Red Sox). Reyes' injury history is not only well-documented, it's one of the reasons many teams didn't even make an offer to him. When healthy, he's the best leadoff hitter in the game today, but it won't matter if he only plays in 100 games. The Marlins are taking a big risk, but if he stays healthy, the reward far outweighs that risk.

This move does have some interesting implications, though. First, Hanley Ramirez will be moving to third base, a move that he said he'd be willing to make if the Marlins signed Reyes, but not necessarily happy to do so. Ramirez isn't known for having the "team-first" attitude, which was one of the reasons former manager Jack McKeon benched him in one of his first acts last season (another reason was his rapidly declining batting average/OBP). But even Ramirez has to understand that Reyes has not only been around longer, but has played shortstop longer, and the metrics prove that he's better defensively than Ramirez (.968 fielding percentage to .957, and a whopping 6.2 to Ramirez's 1.3 in WAR). Plus, Ramirez would be more valuable, both to the Marlins and as a free agent, as a power-hitting third baseman, while Reyes is still tabbed as the leadoff shortstop who gets on base frequently (strains of Jeter and A-Rod are blaring in this Yankees fan's head). As for the Mets, they're left to pick up the pieces...which won't be that difficult, as youngster Ruben Tejada is the heir apparent to the shortstop position in New York. And it'll be difficult for Mets fans to miss Reyes for long, since Tejada is another light hitter, in that he won't be smashing balls into the stands frequently, but a .284 batting average and .695 OPS in 96 games is nothing to turn your nose up at. If he had more of an opportunity to strut his stuff, we'd have more of an idea of what he'll be like, so it'll be easier to see how he'll flourish in 2012.

So, with Reyes signed to a new team, we can focus even more energy on worrying about whether or not Albert Pujols will resign with the Cardinals, or if Prince Fielder will switch to the AL. Stay tuned for any more updates as they happen.

Something Kinda Fishy Going On.

The Florida Marlins recently unveiled their new uniforms, their name change (to the Miami Marlins), and hope to host the reigning world champion St. Louis Cardinals in their new stadium near downtown Miami. They've also acquired a new manager, the never-subtle Ozzie Guillen from the Chicago White Sox. Since the season ended and all these grand changes have occurred, Marlins ownership has been quickly and heavily aggressive, giving most of the marquee free agents a tour of the new stadium and a nice, if not pedantic, offer before they have a chance to say, "Wait, you mean I'd have to wear THAT when I play?" While the chances of many of these players being fool enough to take what have reported to be less than flattering offers is slim, Miami brass is at least sending a good message, that they're willing to explore literally every option to turn this team into a true contender.

Still, something doesn't feel right. The Marlins have rarely been in the mix for any big players since their creation in 1993, and even though they won titles in 1997 and 2003 and most of the players for those teams went on to have very good careers elsewhere (it was almost an unspoken team policy that when the Marlins won the World Series, they immediately had to dismantle the team to prevent it from happening again, no matter how much the talented tried), they were never seen as the hotspot for impact infielders and power pitchers. But, all of a sudden, the new stadium and those Godawful uniforms have given them the swagger necessary to make a push for Albert Pujols AND Prince Fielder? CJ Wilson AND Mark Buehrle? Jose Reyes AND just about every other player who doesn't already have a guaranteed contract for 2012? They managed to sign dominant Padres closer Heath Bell to a 3-year deal, which already eats up the majority of the expected increase in payroll (they're projecting $80 million, up from $55 million last year, and Bell is supposedly taking $9 million home a year), but the chances of them getting any of the other big names they've lusted after seems somewhat slim.

In all actuality, the Marlins don't really need to rely heavily on the free agents. They have an incredibly powerful, young lineup consisting of Hanley Ramirez, Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison among others. Their rotation also has Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, two of the best young starters when they're healthy. This is a team that has an amazing future ahead of them...if the homegrown talent can get their act together. Ramirez's season was one we'd all like to forget, Morrison is having surgery soon, and Johnson is still recovering from his own surgery. If they can get the whole band grooving at the same time instead of a few solo projects, they can make some beautiful music. Now, if they do manage to get any of the free agents, the one they're most likely to reel in (and the one that makes the most sense) would be Reyes. He's still moderately young, a true demon on the basepaths (led MLB in triples last year, no small feat), and a defensive maven at shortstop. However, the liability of his health make it difficult to have a lot of faith in him, but it's a move that would really help the Marlins out. It would mean moving Ramirez to 3rd base, a move that Hanley himself said he was more than willing to make should Reyes want to take his talents to South Beach. A lineup of Reyes-Ramirez-Stanton-Morrison would be enough to instill fear in the grizzliest of veterans (watch out, Halladay), but might be a little difficult to bring to fruition, if reports of the Marlins' offer to Reyes (6 years at $90 million, seen as vastly underpaying for someone with Reyes' abilities) is true.

The Marlins are trying their hardest to make a splash with free agents. But if they manage to get the production out of their guppies, they can make a formidable team of big home-cooked fish without any necessary, expensive side dishes.

The Greatest Non-Rivalry In Baseball.

Let me preface this post by saying it has no basis in current events, it's just something I've noticed over the past few years, and it's finally bothered me enough to write about it.

Since interleague play began in 1997, many natural rivalries have been cultivated: Yankees and Mets, White Sox and Cubs, Angels and Dodgers, etc. These make the most sense because, after all, these teams exist in opposite leagues in the same state. One rivalry, though, seems incredibly confusing, and that is the rivalry (yes, it's apparently a real rivalry) between the Mariners and the Padres.

This may not seem like a big deal to the majority of readers. The reason for that is because it's not. These teams almost always underperform, neither team has ever won a championship (Padres lost in 1984 and 1998, Mariners made the ALCS once or twice in the late 90s/early 2000s but never advanced to the World Series), and both teams are more notorious for their mediocrity than anything else. And yet, every single season, baseball fans find themselves subjected to these forced, uninteresting series between the San Diego "Huh?" Padres and Seattle "What?" Mariners. However, there is a little more history to this odd matchup than it seems.

Back in the 1930s (yes, this "rivalry" is older than the majority of baseball fans), when the Padres were just starting out as a minor league team, they had a fierce competition with the minor league team in Seattle which was a precursor to the short-lived Seattle Pilots (the now-Milwaukee Brewers). For most of the teams' history, they actually did have many meetings, and they each seemed to hold a small amount of interest and solicited a fair amount of passion from the fans. Once both teams became part of MLB, though, and were put in opposing leagues, they didn't face each other at all from the 1960s until 1997, when the at-the-time unpopular interleague play was instituted. The two faced each other for the first time as major league teams, and the anticipation was...well, there wasn't any, really. While it was a treat for fans to see Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez play against Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman, the excitement surrounding the matchup was less than palpable. Neither team appeared to be poised for greatness that season, so the series was largely ignored...as nearly every single other series that followed it would be.

Now, if either team becomes a powerhouse (or, even better, if both do...although the Cubs will probably win a World Series before the Mariners make another ALCS), then this rivalry might have some meaning to it, especially if they happened to meet in October for the Fall Classic (I know, I know, but a man can dream). But until then, it's hardly Yankees and Red Sox...it's not even Twins and Brewers. But it will go down as the best, most heated rivalry that never was.

Bobby, Won't You Be My Valentine?

Nearing the end of the search to find a manager to replace Terry Francona, the Boston Red Sox have reportedly offered the vacant position to former manager Bobby Valentine, who has reportedly accepted.

This is a great move by the Red Sox, something I hate to say and hate even more to sincerely mean. Valentine is a good baseball man, managing the Texas Rangers and New York Mets in separate stints, even taking a Mets team consisting of Mike Piazza and almost no one else of consequence to the all-New York World Series in 2000, eventually falling 4 games to 1 to the Yankees. His record isn't impressive, with only 45 more wins than losses (1,117-1,072 lifetime with 2 back-to-back postseason appearances), but it's his vigor and spirit that make him desirable as a helmsman for any team.

Valentine may not be the most universally loved or respected manager, but he has something that the Sox desperately need: he's a man who refuses to accept halfheartedness from his players. His methods may be a little unorthodox (i.e. returning to manager a game in disguise after being ejected during his tenure with the Mets, saying insulting things about his players to light a fire under them during the World Series, etc.), but considering all the things we heard about the state of the Red Sox clubhouse this year (reports of players eating fried chicken, drinking beer and playing video games during games, arguing and fighting amongst teammates, and Francona's personal life affecting the way he managed), this may be the kick in the pants that this incredibly powerful team needs. These guys need discipline and accountability, two things that Valentine is notorious for instilling in his players. With the proper attitude (and again, don't underestimate how much it pains me to praise the organization that always poses a huge threat to my beloved Yankees), Valentine could help these boys to the World Series they were supposedly entitled to during the 2011 season.

In other news, former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton agreed to a 1-year, $4 million contract with the Kansas City Royals, supposedly joining them as a setup man for established closer Joakim Soria. While the idea has already sprung up that this move might actually mean that Soria will either be moved to the starting rotation (a la Rangers signing Joe Nathan from the Twins meaning Neftali Feliz will become a starter) or traded (due to the lack of reliable closers still on the market, Soria could theoretically garner a large return for the Royals), it seems as if the two will be working together in the late innings of the game, with Soria keeping his hold on the 9th inning. This signing is the definition of "low risk-high reward": Broxton comes moderately cheap, and even though he is often injured, he is one of the most dominant closers/bullpen pitchers of this generation when he's healthy. Should he spend extended time on the disabled list, it's not like the Royals have invested too much money or years into him, as he was willing to sign a contract that would land him right back in this situation next year. If he performs well, the Royals can resign him to a long term contract (after all, he's still just 27 and could fit in quite nicely with the "Look to the future" milieu the Royals have going right now), and if he doesn't, they don't have him locked up and therefore have no obligation to bring him back. Who knows: if things go as predicted (which they rarely do, but anything's possible), Broxton could be responsible for the final out of the 2015 World Series that the Royals are expected to make.

Peace In The West, Central And East.

MLB owners and players reached an agreement on a new, 5-year labor deal, extending the time of labor peace to 21 years at its conclusion, the longest period in the sport since before the 1970s. Highlights of the deal include: the Astros moving to the American League, an additional wild card in the playoffs (extending the number of playoff teams to 10 and necessitating a 1-game playoff in which the winner moves to the Division Series), extended use of instant replay, and increased testing for HGH and other steroids, among other things. It also outlines a new process of the amateur draft and free agent compensation.

This might be one of the best agreements in MLB history. Let's break it down one part at a time:

We already discussed the Astros moving, but it bears repeating: realignment is a good thing. The Astros need a change of scenery, baseball's divisions will finally be balanced, and an interdivisional rivalry with the Rangers might increase interest in MLB in Texas.

Another wild card in October has been a point of contention: many think it's unnecessary, forced and pointless. A team already plays 162 games for the chance to make it into the postseason (and most teams almost limp into the playoffs as it is), why make them play one more? And if you're going to add another team to the mix, why just one game? Anything can happen in just one game, momentum can shift and an 86-win team can power past a 91-win team, which will spark an even larger fire. However, it adds more incentive to teams to play better and win the division. No team wants to celebrate winning the wild card one day, then go home after being upset the next, so the drive to play to win the division and not settle for the wild card will be even stronger for all 30 teams.

We've been singing the praises of extending instant replay since well before Armando Galarraga's perfect game was spoiled by Jim Joyce's missed call in 2010, so expanding its usage is something that should sate even the most bitter Tigers fan. However, the replay is only being applied to disputes over fair or foul calls, as opposed to controversial calls on the basepaths. This is a step in the right direction, but until instant replay can be used to fix human error THAT WILL ALWAYS EXIST, then the accomplishment pales in comparison to those elsewhere in this agreement, and in all aspects of bettering the game.

For the last 10 or so years, we've all been exposed to the dirty underbelly of the national pastime: the majority of our favorite players, heroes and role models have been injecting steroids into their bodies to increase their abilities. This is also known as cheating. Now, we as fans are so bitter that, if a player has a career year or does something extraordinary, we immediately cry out that they're juicing. In baseball, smoke doesn't always mean fire. Jose Bautista has hit 97 home runs over the past 2 seasons, after hitting 57 over the 5 years before that...he must be doing steroids, right? Wrong. We're so jaded as fans that we can't accept when a player does well after being less than great. Now, this testing will hopefully help put some of this unmitigated, unwarranted outrage to bed. Players will be tested both at random and when there is reasonable doubt, and the punishment will be the same as with any other positive drug tests. Whether this will help or hurt our perception of the players will only be told with time.

In other news, award season is finally over. With the dust clearing, here are the winners for the 2011 season.

Rookies of the Year: SP Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays (AL); RP Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves (NL).
Managers of the Year: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays (AL); Kirk Gibson, Arizona Diamondbacks (NL).
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers.
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers.
AL Most Valuable Player: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers.
NL Most Valuable Player: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Making An MVP Pitch.

To the surprise of some, Tigers ace and new Cy Young recipient Justin Verlander also took home this year's AL MVP award in a landslide. He received 13 first place votes, followed by Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (4), Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (5), Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson (3), and Verlander's teammate, Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (2).

Verlander, who won the pitching Triple Crown this year (his 24-5 record, 2.40 ERA, and 250 strikeouts in 251 innings all led the league this year), became the first pitcher to win the MVP since closer Dennis Eckersly in 1992, and the first starter to win it since Roger Clemens in 1986. Verlander is the first Tiger to win either the Cy or the MVP, not to mention both, in the same season, since their championship season of 1984, when Willie Hernandez took both awards home. Verlander was also the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and has thrown 2 no-hitters.

Would you believe us if we told you that he's only 28 and therefore not even truly in the prime of his career yet? Are you scared? If you live in Cleveland, Kansas City, North Chicago or Minnesota, you should be.

This announcement has caused the debate over whether a pitcher should be eligible to win the MVP to absolutely skyrocket. Personally, I think that if a pitcher adds more to his team than any position player, he should definitely be allowed to take both the Cy and MVP. Without Verlander's wins, Detroit is only 1 game above the Indians, and the season turns out completely different. His ability to last deep into games (taking his 4 complete games out of account, his average outing lasted 7 1/3 innings, over a full inning longer than most starters last these days) and his dominanting stature (6'5", 220 pounds) make him a true force to be reckoned with. Despite some odd meteorological problems during the postseason, when the rain seemed to know when he was starting and proceeded to unleash hell, Verlander persevered, going 2-1 in 4 games with 25 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings (admittedly, he had a 5.31 ERA, but with such a small sample size, and going against the two best teams in the corresponding divisions, it's understandable), dispelling the notion from the 2006 playoffs that he was an October choker. Going forward, Verlander is going to be a crucial part of the Tigers' core, which includes sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila and closer Jose Valverde (who also had an impressive season, going 49-for-49 in save opportunities), and they can't possibly make a splash in the AL Central without him. So, seeing how he's so important, why would you give the MVP to another, less deserving player, simply because "Verlander already won the Cy Young, and that's the award specifically for pitchers"? If the powers that be really felt so strongly about it, they would bar pitchers from being eligible and quash the debate once and for all. However, if a pitcher has such a strong impact on his team, and they're theoretically a .500 team without him, you can't give it to Ellsbury or Granderson, both of whom are on teams that perennially make the playoffs as it is. Bautista led the league in home runs for a second straight year, but couldn't boost the Blue Jays' offense enough to make them a contender like Verlander did. The bottom line is simple: even though he only plays every 5 days, if Verlander or any other pitcher has the impact on and importance to a team that he had in 2011, not only should he win the MVP for pitchers, he should win the MVP overall, and he did.

Congratulations, Justin Verlander, on everything you accomplished this past year. I hope to see you in pinstripes next year (just kidding...not really).

Tricks Of The Trade.

Less than a month into the offseason, there have already been a few trades that have slightly rocked the baseball world before the tremors of certain first basemen being signed completely shatter all 30 continents.

First, the Braves shipped Derek Lowe out of town to the Indians for a Double-A pitcher in return, on the condition that Cleveland would eat $5 million of the $15 million Atlanta owes Lowe for 2012. A perfect representation of how Lowe's reputation had changed in Atlanta, they gave him up for almost nothing. Not without provocation, of course: aside from the DUI he was charged with early last year, he went 9-17 with a 5.05 ERA, not to mention 0-5 in September in what ultimately led to the second-worst collapse in baseball history (only behind the epic Red Sox Collapse of '11). He lost the command that made him a fan favorite at Turner Field, and the fans let management know just how badly they wanted him out of town. Sure, he'll be a great veteran presence in an Indians clubhouse that's beginning to trend younger, and he'll be fantastic as a number 5 starter who throws more than 200 innings and saves the bullpen some trouble every once in a while, but it would appear as if his days as a marquee player are well over.

Next, the Royals and Giants made an interesting swap: San Francisco shipped out starter Jonathan Sanchez, while Kansas City sent outfielder Melky Cabrera in return. Sanchez saw a dip in production from his 2010 numbers, going 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA compared to 13-9, 3.07 in '10, but he spent a significant amount of time on the DL. Conversely, Cabrera enjoyed a career year, going .305 with 18 home runs, 87 RBIs and 201 hits, as well as posting career highs in almost every other offensive categories. This is a trade that seemingly benefits both teams on paper: the Royals get a young, somewhat reliable starter that can throw a lot of strikeouts and bolster an incredibly weak rotation, as well as an outfield spot to give top prospect Lorenzo Cain a chance to make an impact, while the Giants get a young outfielder who could not only boost their anemic offense, but could also give them a reason not to resign floundering 2010 NLCS MVP Cody Ross to a long term deal. Only time will tell if this trade will work out for either side, or both, but in theory, this should be one of the rare trades that's actually great for everyone involved.

And now, the Rockies have sent utility man Ty Wigginton to the Phillies to a player to be named later or cash. This is a trade that can only further strengthen the Phillies, who have been very busy already this offseason: Wigginton, although not necessarily an offensive powerhouse, is super useful off the bench, and has seen time at nearly every position on the field. He's hit 158 home runs in a 10 year career, and even though he's 34 and a little past the meager prime he had (his only career accolade is that he was an All-Star with the Orioles in 2010), he's a very powerful ace in the hole for any team. Considering that first baseman Ryan Howard injured himself in his last at-bat, it seems like the Phils are scrambling to find viable options to replace him while he's on the DL. With this trade, and the signing of veteran slugger Jim Thome (who used to be a first baseman long ago), they'll at least be able to plug one hole in the dam before it bursts.

An Astro-Nomical Change.

For the first time since 1998, a Major League Baseball team will switch leagues. With the approval of Jim Crane's purchase of the franchise, the Houston Astros will move from the National League Central to the American League West by 2013, creating a balance between both leagues as a part of the proposed realignment.

While opinion has been heavily divided regarding the issue of whether or not there should be realignment (and, if there was, which team or teams should move/switch leagues), I've always been a staunch supporter of it. Think of it this way: there are 6 divisions in baseball today, and 4 of those divisions have 5 teams. However, the NL Central has 6, whereas the AL West has 4. That means that the odds of a team in the former making the playoffs is 1-in-6 compared to 1-in-5 for the others, and a team in the latter has a 1-in-4 chance. This kind of imbalance has made for some interesting circumstances (the Rangers had never won a postseason before 2010, yet they're now 2-time AL champions), but it's always looked silly to me. Why should MLB make it harder for the Brewers or Reds to reach the playoffs, but give the Mariners a better shot at it? Now that every division has the same number of teams, there's a feeling of fairness that's more present than I believe there has been since the last realignment. Let's face it, the Cubs probably won't be making a splash anytime soon, but now their chances are just as good as the other 29 teams (well, not really, but you get the picture).

This move also creates the possibility of a stronger Texas rivalry: the Rangers and Astros always face each other in interleague play, a ploy by MLB to generate interest in such a matchup that has largely gone unnoticed. These series have rarely had much impact, mostly because both teams have been bad for most of their history (the Rangers lead the Astros by 1 year as the expansion team with the longest World Series drought, 51 years to 50), and because a mid-June series between the two never had implications on the chances of either team winning the division. With the Astros' move, though, another layer is added to the rivalry, in that they could square off in September with the division on the line. This will definitely fire up Texas fans, and hopefully continue to garner some attention for baseball in a football state.

One of the main things fans are unhappy about with this move is that it would require an interleague game every single day of the season, making the supposed excitement and authenticity of the AL-vs.-NL matchups anything but interesting. Sure, everyone loves those forced snooze-fests between the Mariners and Padres (a nonsensical "rivalry" more perplexing than the one to be cultivated in Texas) that occur each June, but those games might now become commonplace. And for that matter, would this eliminate the 3-game series altogether? If a team is supposed to play not just the 14 other teams in their league but also the 15 teams in the opposing league, how do you fit at least 29 3-game series alone in a single 162-game season? There must be a system for rotating which teams an organization will face from year to year.

Until that time, though, we can sit back, relax, and enjoy the Astros' continued mediocrity in the National League before they take the show on the road to the American League. Maybe a league change is just what they need.

It's A Scary World Out There.

Some unnerving, unsettling news came out of the baseball world last night: Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped last night by four armed men from his house in Venezuela, and there has been no evidence of his whereabouts yet, or even if he's still alive.

This is not the first time a disturbing event like this has occured: in 2009, catcher Yorvit Torrealba's son was kidnapped before being returned unharmed, and former pitcher Ugueth Urbina's mother spent 5 months in captivity back in 2005. However, it appears to be the first instance in which a Major League Baseball player was actually the one kidnapped. Ramos, who's 24 and just finished his first full professional season, hit .267 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs, a promising sign of things to come for a player who's on a team looking to have a young core turn them into a contender within the next 3 to 4 years.

Unfortunately for Ramos and everyone else who lives in Venezuela, this is not an uncommon occurrence. Venezuela has one of the highest kidnapping rates of any country in the world, and professional sports players who make a lot of money would be an obvious target for a person or people who are desperate for financial help. It's a disgusting display of human indeceny, but sadly, one that seems to happen frequently in lower-income countries. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ramos, his family, and the entire Nationals franchise, and we hope he's returned soon, safe and sound.

In less frightening but still upsetting news, Jorge Posada confirmed the suspicions of many by saying that, although he would love to return, he understands that his time as a New York Yankee is almost certainly over. His clarity is pretty amazing for a baseball player, as he seems to realize that the Yankees won't resign him. It's not a matter of respect, it's just the way they do business, and while it may sting, Posada will be able to make the decision that's best for him; that is, whether to keep playing with another team, or to simply retire and try to enjoy the dreaded Life After Baseball. Whatever he decides, we here at TBF support and cheer him on.

Cubs On The Prowl.

By now, everyone knows about/has finished celebrating/lamenting the epic Red Sox collapse, where they squandered an AL Division and Wild Card lead so large, there was no possible way they COULDN'T make the playoffs. But due to some timely controversy and a clutch home run by Evan Longoria on the last day of the season, a very cold, lonely winter kicked off early in Boston, MA. As a result, ownership all but vacated management, with dugout whiz Terry Francona playing the role of sacrificial lamb and front office genius Theo Epstein turning tail and running to the Cubs.

In return, Epstein showed how the more things change, the more things stay the same, and fired Cubs short-lived manager Mike Quade in the first move of what is expected to be a bustling offseason. Quade was 95-104 during his limited tenure as manager, which is considered to be a spectacular record in Chicago. In a slightly more surprising move, Epstein called longtime fan favorite Ryne Sandberg...to tell him he was not in consideration for the open spot this time around (there were rumors he might replace Lou Piniella after he retired before the end of the 2010 season). So, just like his contemporary/old underling in Boston, Ben Cherington, Epstein finds himself in need of a new leading presence on the field.

One interesting rumor is that Epstein could be toying around with the idea of bringing back his good buddy Francona, with a few caveats regarding clubhouse etiquette. Hey, the two managed to revive the Red Sox organization and bring them 2 World Series titles after the team had suffered 86 years without one, who's to say they couldn't turn around a franchise that hasn't sniffed the World Series since 1945, and hasn't won it all since dinosaurs roamed the earth? If they could, they would go down as the greatest GM/manager tandem in history...and, as a Yankees fan, it pains me to praise anyone from the Red Sox, let alone 2 of the men highly responsible for turning them into a contender after decades of glorious Bronx dominance, but it's true. Epstein and Francona are both highly intelligent baseball men, and any organization would be lucky to have them. If Larry Lucchino is too busy partying on his yacht to realize that, maybe it's time the long suffering Lovable Loser Cubbies get a shot at glory. It's never too late to make history.

Maybe that history might involve a certain Greatest Player Of This Generation as well. Let's say, hypothetically, that the Cubs happen to throw a huge amount of dollars at a particular first baseman who has spent the first 11 years of his already-HOF-worthy career with their biggest rival, a specific team in St. Louis that just completed one of the most miraculous championship runs in the history of this sport, and then had the man who led them through it retire suddenly a few days ago. Wouldn't it just beat all if that man...let's call him Albert (purely hypothetical, mind you), led this franchise to an amazing postseason like the one he just played a huge part in, and won like he has done frequently in his career? Could it be possible that this might happen?

Yes.

Folks, if you didn't believe before this season that literally anything is possible in baseball, you hopefully have seen the folly of your ways by now. We're to the point where even a 100+ year championship drought seems likely to end within the next 5. And Theo Epstein could possibly be the man who presides over it, sitting atop a float in Lake View, Chicago at the end of October, 2014. Anything is possible.

Going Out In Style (Kiss The Rings).

After 33 years of managing, capping it off with an improbable run to a World Series title for the Cardinals, longtime manager Tony La Russa retired suddenly Monday.

La Russa spent a few years as a player, then had a somewhat mediocre stint with the White Sox before leading the Athletics to 3 straight World Series in the late 80s, winning in 1989 against the Giants. In 1995, he took the job for the Cardinals, reaching 3 more World Series and winning 2, in 2006 and 2011. He retires as the 3rd winningest manager in history with 2,728 wins, and is 1 of 2 managers ever to win a championship in both leagues (Sparky Anderson did it with the Reds and Tigers).

Although his reputation has been tarnished both by his perceived whining or placing blame where it's not due (such as claiming that the shadows in Miller Park helped the Cards lose a pivotal series against the Brewers, and the now-infamous bullpen mixup in Game 5 of the World Series this year), and by seemingly turning a blind eye to the rampant steroid usage in the Athletics clubhouse in the late 80s, often referenced to as the true birthplace of the widespread steroid usage that gripped the game for the past 2 decades, La Russa has often been hailed as a genius for his tactical managerial skills, often making calls and switches during games to either wear his opponent down or confuse and frustrate them, then capitalizing on their slip ups. At times, his methods seemed unorthodox, unfounded, or downright outrageous, but he was often vindicated by the results of the team he put on the field, and it's hard to argue with his success: he went to 6 World Series, 14 postseason appearances, and a .547 record in those playoff series. Very few managers have had the success La Russa enjoyed, and with good reason: it's an incredibly difficult task to make a team a perennial contender, regardless of payroll or talent. Mark McGwire, although heavily boosted by steroids, had a finely tuned swing that La Russa watched over and developed. Albert Pujols was a 13th round pick who was given a chance by La Russa and is now hailed as the best overall player of this generation. The White Sox hadn't even sniffed the postseason since 1959 when La Russa brought them to the ALCS in 1983. Say what you will about him, but make no mistake: these things didn't happen on accident, or due to luck. It was La Russa's involvement that helped drive these things.

Even though his days in the dugout are over, La Russa hasn't ruled out a return to the Cardinals or MLB, saying he might like to come back in the capacity of a special advisor to one of the organizations. Only time will tell. But for now, Tony La Russa's retirement marks the end of a great era in Cardinals history, topped off by one of the most unlikely World Series titles ever.

Committing A Cardinal Win.

It was a chilly night in Missouri on October 28th, 2011. Around 11:15 PM, David Murphy hit a fly ball that landed in Allen Craig's glove. After that play, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the 107th World Series in baseball history. It was the 11th title in Cardinals history, the most of any franchise not named the New York Yankees. David Freese, St. Louis native and NLCS MVP, also took home World Series MVP honors.

This, from the team that was basically eliminated in August. From the team that was 10.5 games back before September began, 3 games back with 5 to play. From the team that knocked the powerhouse Phillies and the beast-mode Brewers out of contention to face the 2-time AL champion Rangers against overwhelming odds. They batted and pitched like every game might be their last...because it just might have been. They kept fighting and never gave an inch. They were down to their final strike not once, but twice during Game 6, and somehow, they still won, and took Game 7 in masterful style.

This, from a team consisting of a slow-footed catcher, an old outfielder, some ragtag rookies and other unconsequential men, a soon-to-be-highest-paid-player-on-the-planet, and a rotation missing its best pitcher, forced to turn to their number 2 to be number 1. They relied not on names like Pujols, Wainwright and Holliday so much as they did on names like Carpenter, Freese and Motte. Twice in the first 2 games, they found themselves celebrating Allen Craig (who?) for his huge RBIs, both off of the previously unhittable Alexi Ogando. They gave the ball to Mark Rzepczynski (didn't even look that up, thank you very much) and Octavio Dotel in the late innings whether they had a lead or not, and they were lights-out. They survived The Bullpen Gaffe, when they lost Game 5 because of some severe miscommunication regarding who should be coming out to pitch. They put a tremendous amount of faith in a common rodent dubbed The Rally Squirrel. They put their trust in players who have never been known for their amazing abilities (or known at all), took immense gambles with the roster and lineups, and still came out on top. I don't know what Tony La Russa's IQ is, but to say he's a genius when it comes to baseball is not a stretch.

This will go down as one of the greatest World Series ever. Much has to be said about the Texas Rangers. Charging into their second straight World Series, and their second one in franchise history, they were strongly favored by almost everyone outside of the Arch...but just like 2010, they just couldn't pull it together and come through in the clutch. Josh Hamilton, the reigning AL MVP who was told by God that he'd hit a huge shot last night, has been battling a hernia for the entire postseason. Nelson Cruz, the ALCS MVP who helped propel the Rangers into The Show, missed a basic catch in the bottom of the 9th of Game 6 that not only sent the game into extra innings but also sent their hopes for a Series win packing. Ian Kinsler, a demon on the basepath, was caught stealing 3 times in this World Series; to put that in perspective, he was caught stealing 4 times the entire season. They also scrapped and fought to get here, but in the end, they couldn't capture lightning in a bottle like the Redbirds did.

This completes the greatest comeback in MLB history. This is a team that was supposed to crash and burn, to fall from grace after flying too close to the sun.

And here they stand, at the precipice of the highest mountain of postseason glory. The St. Louis Cardinals are the 2011 MLB World Series Champions.

...And We're Moving Back!

After a failed experiment of moving this blog to Tumblr, we here at The Baseball Freak have decided to bring our talents back to Blogger. Better no one reading our posts here than no one reading our posts on Tumblr, as the old saying goes. After the World Series, get ready for all the in-depth analysis, hard-hitting opinions, and charming wit and humor that you've come to expect from...well, other blogs. But this blog will start having those things too. See you in November.

We've Moved!

All future posts will be posted at http://thebaseballfreak.tumblr.com/.

Tick Tock Goes The Deadline Clock, But Rumors Are A Bunch Of Schlock.

In a week, on July 31st, the trade deadline for this season will come and go. And, seeing as the biggest trade that's occured to this point was the Mets sending Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers, or the Royals sending Wilson Betemit to the Tigers for 2 minor leaguers, it seems as if it might possibly be a quiet week. But, just in case, we'll hedge our bets and discuss some of the players whose names have been mentioned more than Adam Dunn gets hits. Remember, until any deals are finalized, this is all purely speculation from a jaded Yankees fan.

First off, it seems that the marquee trade would be Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran to, well, anywhere. Most reports say that Beltran would most likely remain in the NL East and go to either the Phillies or Braves, but the Red Sox have also been mentioned, while the Giants still seem like they're vying to get him. Since the Mets made it clear that star shortstop Jose Reyes would not be shipped off before his impending free agency after this season, Beltran seems to be the most attractive trading chip they have in Queens. While not necessarily a huge impact player, his offensive prowess would fit nicely in the lineup of a contender like the teams in Philadelphia or Boston. What makes Beltran even more attractive to teams is that Mets ownership has said they would cover the remaining money he's owed this year, which is $6 million that any team he would join wouldn't have to add that to their payroll, a real plus for any small-market teams that may be making a run at him. As to where he may end up, chances are best that he'll be staying in the National League, probably with the Braves or Giants. Either way, it seems that Beltran's days as a Met are numbered, and the number is quite small.

Next, there's Rays centerfielder B.J. Upton. A young player with a sweet swing and swift feet, Upton has been a big part of why the Rays are viewed as contenders, and are able to hold their own in a division that also has the Yankees and Red Sox. In spite of that, Upton's name always seems to be thrown around a lot this time of year. There have been two potential trades that are most heavily discussed amongst fans: a straight swap with the Cardinals for fellow young centerfielder Colby Rasmus (and probably some pitching help for St. Louis), or sending Upton to the Phillies for a few top prospects. While the Rays are notorious for drafting highly-rated pitchers, their young hitters in the farm systems are sometimes less than spectacular, so they could use some heavy hitters with a few good years ahead of them, which the Phillies might be more willing to provide than the Cards. Plus, Upton not only would add a large amount of power to a lineup that can't always support its amazing rotation, but would be playing in the same league as his brother Justin, which would certainly spice up an otherwise boring matchup between the Diamondbacks and the Phils. It seems likely that, if Upton is traded, the Phillies will be his new team, but don't count the Cardinals out.

Speaking of Cardinals centerfielder Colby Rasmus, his name is also mentioned a lot lately. While it's no secret that he and manager Tony La Russa don't get along too well, GM John Mozeliak has stated that he has little to no intent of dealing Rasmus. However, with his season not going so spectacularly, and the Cards in dire need of pitching help, it wouldn't be impossible if they made the aforementioned deal with the Rays for B.J. Upton and some young arms. Other teams that have apparently inquired about Rasmus include the Nationals, who have a moderately weak outfield (including Jayson Werth, who is being paid millions to hit under .220 in the middle of July), and the Red Sox, who are probably envisioning a starting outfield of Rasmus, Carl Crawford, and Jacoby Ellsbury, which would give them 3 ball-shaggers that can get on base and then steal a few. As nice as this scenario may be for Boston fans, it seems highly unlikely that Rasmus will be traded this season, and if he is, the smart money is on him joining the Rays.

Astros outfielder Hunter Pence seems to be viewed as a consolation prize for whatever team that makes a strong bid for Carlos Beltran and doesn't get him. However, Pence is having a pretty terrific year and, after his first All-Star appearance, is projected to have one of his best seasons yet. Unfortunately, he plays in Houston, so it's easy to forget about him. This wouldn't be the case if he gets traded to a contender like the Phillies or Reds, who seem to be the two teams showing the most interest in him. It seems like the Phils are interested in any outfielder that can make contact frequently, but the Reds could have a young, powerful platoon in right field with Pence and Jay Bruce, who would face righthanders while Pence would take care of the lefties. However, the Astros are supposedly asking a hefty price for Pence, most reports say that they want 3 major league-ready top prospects, something most teams aren't clamoring to part with. While the Reds' minor league system has some very impressive young players, they're more likely to opt to cultivate their talent in the organization rather than ship them out for Pence. Still, if Pence is traded, it'll most likely be to Cincinnati.

Padres closer Heath Bell is already heading into free agency after this season, but it seems like San Diego prefers to ship him out and try to get him back in the offseason than take the chance of him signing elsewhere once the year is over. As one of the most dominant closers in the National League, he's likely to pull in some big free-agent dollars if the Padres aren't able to resign him. The Rangers seem to be the frontrunners to get Bell, and are apparently aggresively talking to the Padres about him. He's also piqued the interest of the Cardinals, Angels and Braves. It wouldn't make much sense for Bell to go to Atlanta or Anaheim, as both teams have a young, lights-out closer (Craig Kimbrel for the Braves and Jordan Walden for the Angels) and using Bell as a setup man would be a true waste of his talent. The Rangers would love to have him in the bullpen, since they've stated that current closer Neftali Feliz will be joining the starting rotation within the next couple of years if everything goes well. The Cardinals don't have a very strong bullpen, but since their rotation is pretty durable, and most of their starters eat innings like David Ortiz eats cheesburgers, Bell might not be a great fit in St. Louis either. It's most likely that, should be leave San Diego, he'll land in Arlington or St. Louis.

Finally, although the Rockies have firmly stated that starter Ubaldo Jimenez is not on the trading block, there are still plenty of suitors for him. The Yankees and Tigers have asked about him the most, while the Reds are also curious as to what it would take for GM Dan O'Dowd to deal the ace, who stated that any team that wants to trade for Jimenez would have to send their very best prospects, and that any potential trade would have to "blow [the organization] away". As with Pence, the Reds would have to be willing to part with their top pitching prospects, and the same would be true if they made an offer for Jimenez. The Tigers would love to have him in a rotation that includes Justin Verlander, but it doesn't seem like they have much to offer in return in the way of minor leaguers. While the Yankees have the manpower in their farm system, they're just as hesitant to trade their young players as they are to call them up to the big leagues. Even though the Yanks could use the pitching help the most, all of the teams interested in Jimenez have yet to make an offer to the Rockies. And while the Colorado brass firmly denies that he's seriously being considered as a trade piece, if Jimenez goes anywhere, it'll probably be to the Yankees, who will have to decide if he's worth depleting the farm system.

All of these fantasy scenarios are nice to think about, but if there's the same level of activity this upcoming week as there has been the last few weeks, we'll still be imagining these wonderful situations this time next Sunday when the deadline comes and goes. Stay tuned for info on any and all blockbuster trades.

A Brief Exposition Of Random Musings Regarding The 2011 Season Thus Far (Part 4).

First off, we here at TBF extend our deepest condolences to Shannon Stone, the fan who flipped over the fence and died last Thursday at the Athletics-Rangers game. Stone and his family, especially his young son who was with him, remain in our thoughts and prayers, as is Josh Hamilton, who threw the ball Stone was trying to catch. A truly sad occurrence that hopefully will not be repeated.

Albert Pujols is truly The Machine. Coming back from an injury in 3 weeks that was supposed to keep him out until August? It'll be difficult for the Cardinals to keep him in their uniform if they're not willing to put up the kind of money he deserves. Maybe he really should be the 300 Million Dollar Man (I can just see it now, a Cubs executive pitching to the owners: Gentlemen...we can rebuild this franchise...we have the technology).

Roy Oswalt's still out of the Phillies rotation, and they seem to be doing just fine without him. In fact, since he went on the DL, the Phils have won 8 of their last 12, 2 of which were won by the better Roy. He's supposedly the unsung hero of the Big Phour, but it clearly should be Cole Hamels, who's almost been pushed to the background since the arrival of the Roys and Cliff "Bronx Kryptonite" Lee's glorious return. But my doctor said I need to watch my blood pressure, so I won't go into further detail about my intense dislike of Oswalt.

For the second straight year, and the second time in the past 16, the National League has managed to best the American League in the 82nd All-Star Game, powered by a 3-run shot off of Rangers starter C.J. Wilson by none other than Prince Fielder, the Brewers first baseman who's mounting a very impressive campaign that we've entitled "Hey, There's More Than One Talented, Powerful First Baseman In The National League Who's Headed Into Free Agency After This Season!!" Also making headlines regarding the All-Star Game and break: the Mets traded troubled closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers, a deal that was finalized during the game, and he will share duties with the existing closer John Axford, while Jason Isringhausen has been tabbed as the new closer in Flushing...Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano beat out Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to win the Home Run Derby, and a further emotional level was added in that Cano's father, Jose, was the pitcher for him...adding more fuel to the trade talk fire, Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran flew out to Phoenix for the ASG with the Giants, who've long been rumored to go after him in free agency this season, but according to Beltran, there was no talking about that (meanwhile, Giants closer Brian Wilson stated that Beltran would be a great fit for the team).

Just to really blow everyone's mind, here's a nice little tidbit to end this installment of Brief Expositions: today, July 16th, right after the beginning of the second half when division races begin to heat up...the Pittsburgh Pirates are tied for first place in the NL Central with the Cardinals, and the Brewers are a half game back of both of those teams. Just let that simmer in your head for a little while.