So, it looks like Manny may want to be a Yankee next year, maybe for a chance to get back at the Red Sox for the awful way they treated him. They were pretty awful too him, the whole $160M for 8 years really dampened his spirits. What's worse is that they expected him to do his best work. It hardly seems worth it for only $20 Million per year. Then they have the nerve to get mad at him for faking an injury - those knees seem to be working in L.A.
Speaking of $20 Million, Johan Santana is definitely earning his... The Mets owe him something for ruining his shot at a Cy Young, and blowing 6 potential wins for him. Do you realize that if they didn't blow those games he would be 15-7? I get tired of reading all of these stories about what a waste of money he is, and how he isn't living up to the hype. The bottom line is that he is, and the Mets can seem to back him up. A couple of years ago Steve Trachsel won 15 games with an ERA right around 5. At this rate, Johan might not win 12 with an ERA under 3.
The Rays are for real. We are in the middle of August, and they are up by 3.5 games. Two teams will make the playoffs from the A.L. East - and one of them won't be the Yankees. The Yanks starting pitching is a mess - I am not a doctor, but Joba's injury may have had something to do with him being switched to a starter in the middle of the year. Mike Mussina is having a nice year though, and could sure-up his Hall of Fame hopes with a 20-win season.
If they Rays win the division, Evan Longoria should be given strong consideration for MVP. He has 22HR and 71 RBI, and he wasn't even on the opening day roster. He always seems to be in the middle of their wind. MVP voters always seem to look at the playoff teams for candidates. He is the best player on the best team in the A.L. East - and maybe the league.
Jose Reyes is quietly having an outstanding year. People wrote him off with his poor finish last year and poor start this year. He is batting over .300, leads the N.L. in hits and triples, is second in stolen bases, and fourth in runs. If the Mets win the division, maybe he is an MVP candidate?
Speaking of the Mets - I think they should pick up Delgado's option for next year. He will cost $4M if they don't, so to keep him will only cost an additional $8M on top of that to keep him ($12M total). Can they get someone else who can produce for $8M? Probably not... Keep Delgado, spend the money on a big outfield bat. The guy is still hitting.
Are the Cubs really this good? I hope they do not go to the World Series, then what would we talk about? Baseball needs a team to feel sorry for.
Mark McGwire should be in the Hall of Fame. Seriously. He may have been the single biggest reason baseball recovered from the 1994 strike. As a fan, I stopped caring after 1994, and couldn't stop watching McGwire in 1998. We don't know for sure what he did (although some people claim to know), and he was hitting against pitchers who were probably juicing. I am sure he hit against Roger Clemens. His power numbers are outstanding, and he was a hero when baseball needed one. He hit 49 homers in his rookie year, weighing in at 185 pounds - can anyone admit that he just knew how to swing a bat?
The Washington Nationals are pretty bad...
I saw the Houston Astros' fans boo Carlos Beltran the other night. I can see why they would have bad feelings towards him, being as he played there for all of a couple of months - Didn't they know they were just getting a rental? Probably not, mlbtraderumors.com wasn't running then.
Why do the Astros keep looking like buyers? Has no one told them yet that they have no chance - they must not watch Baseball Tonight, or maybe the think they still play in the N.L. West.
That's all for this week.
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