Dropped Third Strike

City of Brotherly Love?

Check this out: Philly Fix My Car.

I am not sure what to make of this... So, we just won the World Series, now what? Why don't we vandalize our city and destroy other people's property? 

After winning the World Series, Philadelphia fans celebrated in a fashion normally reserved for riots and coups in Eastern European countries.  This is not surprising, given the history of Philadelphia fans - I will still never forget when Philly fans cheered as Jose Reyes lied face down at second base earlier this season.  The Tampa Bay Rays had a downtown rally/party for finishing second - what a lame way to celebrate.  Maybe they should have flipped a few cars...

IMHO - 10.5.08

What a week - not only did the Mets miss the playoffs, but the two teams that caused this are playing each other, so one of them will get to move on.

The Cubs, however, will not get to move on. I feel badly for Cubs fans (at least they made the playoffs...), but I don't care that they have waiting 100 years. I have not been alive for most of those 100 years, as is the case with the vast majority of the Cubs fans, so lets stop using that battle cry. I thought this might be the year though, they just ran into a Dodgers team that played very well.

I am sorry to see that the Phillies moved on - I was hoping for a humiliating defeat. Maybe the Dodgers can do this. The Dodgers have been good - Manny has been huge, and Joe Torre is one of the best. What if the Dodgers played the Red Sox in the World Series. That would be some story line - Manny coming back to Fenway, and Joe Torre vs. the Sox yet again. This won't happen though, I think the Rays will come out of the A.L.

Good for Joe Torre, finding success in L.A. It goes to show you, he wasn't the problem in NY, it was everyone else. I wonder how the view is from third place.

It's not fair, I have been to Rays games when there were 7000 fans in attendance. They become successful, and I lose a lottery to get tickets to a playoff game. Meanwhile, the other winners are selling them on Ebay. Oh well, at least a soda doesn't cost $5 when I watch the game at home.

IMHO - 9.27.08

Here we go again - the Mets' chances of making the playoffs come down to the last day of the season. I would imagine that Mets fans have a higher level of stress than most - and may even have a shorter life expectancy because of it.

Johan Santana is worth every cent spent on him. I have said this all along. He proved it again today by tossing a three-hit shutout, on three days rest, in a game where he was needed the most. 16-7, 2.53 ERA - only a few wins away from a Cy Young. The bullpen is to blame for this. For everyone that said his stuff isn't as good as it used to be - this is his lowest ERA over a full season. He also gave up 10 less home runs this year than last year.

I would like to change my pick for NL MVP. As much as it hurts, Ryan Howard is the correct choice. His level of production has been incredible, and the timing is even better (unless your a Mets fan).

Please come back Mark McGwire.

Where in the world is Barry Bonds? Is he still working out hoping some one signs him? I haven't seen anything.

The Rays did it. The are the Anti-Mets. The won the AL East when no one thought it was possible. Thank you Rays for knocking the Yanks out of the playoffs. I am glad to see them go, just like the Braves a few years ago.

Is Larry (Chipper) Jones going to name his next child Citi?

We could see a Cubs-Rays World Series... That would be different. I am not sure the Tropicana Dome is ready for the World Series. I love the stadium - parking might be a problem!

If K-Rod wins the Cy Young because he leads the league in saves, then Ichiro should win the MVP for leading the league in At-Bats.

Jason Giambi is a dork.

IMHO - 9.13.08

The Mets started the day at the dreaded 145 game mark - at that point last year, they were up by 7 games with only 17 games left to play. It seemed almost impossible for them to not make the playoffs, but, they ended up one game behind the Phills - Mets fans will never be the same, myself included. We will never be comfortable with a lead again.

This year, however, I think will be different. The resurgence of Carlos Delgado, the emergence of Pelfrey, and the presence of Santana change the dynamic of the N.L. East race, and the Mets are a much tougher team to beat. Jon Niese looked good tonight, too.

I keep reading about teams' payrolls and who they can afford to sign this off-season. It is a little interesting, but I just don't care how much is spent on players. There is this backwards notion that ownership and management really care about winning and fans really care about the bottom line. As a fan, I only care about seeing my team win. I don't care how much they spend to do it. I will never say, "oh, I don't mind that they finished last because they have a $30M payroll, at least they turned a profit." For the owners, this is a business, and if they go bankrupt, winning the wild card doesn't make it any better. For them, it is all about the bottom line.

That being said, if another person tells me how great the Marlins did this year considering their payroll, I may throw up. The Marlins are full of good players who are under team control. Give me a break, every infielder has at least 25 home runs, that's ridiculous. They are loaded with great talent, and still no one goes to the games! If you are a Marlins fan and you are upset that some of your players might not be back next year, then go to some games. You can't pay salaries if you aren't making money on ticket sales. It is all about the bottom line. The Marlins management has down a good job securing great talent on a pathetic budget. Imagine if they were selling out some games...

The AL East race is a little too close for comfort. The Rays let the Sox sneak back in, but I still think Tampa Bay will hold on. It is a great story, but not as great as the story about the other New York team that is sitting in fourth place. That's right, I said it, the other New York team, the Yankees. Hank is nuts, I think he will sink one of the greatest ships in baseball, if not sports, history.

IMHO - 9.7.08

I am excited to see two Mets-Phillies games today - they are always fun to watch. This is probably a make-or-break situation for the Phillies. If the Mets win two today, they will have ended the last head-to-head match-up up four games with only a couple of weeks left. Now, I know what you are thinking - the whole 7 back with 17 left last year, but this is a different Mets team. Last year, they started strong and fizzled for the entire second half. This year, the Mets have been playing well for a couple of months, and just finished a dominant sweep of the Brewers. They are playing great baseball, and besides, the Mets spend the next two weeks playing the Nationals and Braves... The Phillies need to make a move today.

I cannot believe the Marlins played a game this week with something like 600 fans in the stands - absolutely pathetic. Fans only get part of the blame though, maybe if the management were more committed to winning, fans would actually care. Instead, the will sell off parts to other teams this off-season. The Marlins are the junk yard for Major League Baseball.

K-Rod should not be considered for the Cy Young or MVP.

The Mets have three legitimate MVP candidates - Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Delgado. I hope that the fact their are three doesn't prevent one of them from getting it. The Mets have been waiting a long time for an MVP. Jose Reyes seems the most likely - the Mets have scored more runs in the first inning than any other MLB team by far - Jose Reyes has scored many of those. He is also among the league leaders in many categories.

Cliff Lee should win the Cy Young in the AL. I guess Brandon Webb in the NL...

Watch out - the Dodgers are now in first place. The have been my pick all year.

As a Mets fan, I would like to thank Omar Minaya again for not making any stupid moves at the trade
deadline. Just pick up a couple of pitchers this winter.

David Murphy is going to learn to play second base. Anyone need a vastly-overpaid second baseman with bad knees (Luis Castillo).

That's all.

IMHO - 8.30.08

We're down to the final month - and some interesting story lines are developing...

K-Rod is going to destroy the record for saves in a season, probably earning over sixty by the end of the season. He has been getting some talk in Cy Young discussions, but does he deserve it? I don't think so - the save is a highly-overrated statistic. It means very little. For example, tonight for the Mets, Ayala gave up two runs in the ninth, but because he came in with a three-run lead, he gets a save. Awful performance, but gets a save... Here some reasons he shouldn't even get one vote:

- Of the 19 closers with at least 25 saves this year, 8 have a better ERA than K-Rod. His ERA is good, but not incredible for a closer.

- He has pitched in 62 games, but has only pitched about 56 innings.

- Yes, he has 51 saves, but has had 56 opportunities. This has nothing to do with his skills.

- There are other closers with a better percentage of saves per opportunities - he just plays for a team that wins more.

Jack feels strongly about this, I think he is going to go into more detail this weekend...

Staying on the "saves" topic - The Mets/Phillies game on Wednesday was the perfect example of how overrated the closer role has become. Carlos Delgado came up to bat with two outs in the eighth, he was having a good night, and was facing a pitcher who (in a small sample of at-bats) he has had some good success against. Brad Lidge was available, but it wasn't the ninth. Charlie Manuel decided to save Lidge for the ninth. The result - a very predictable hit from Delgado, specifically a game-tying home run. He then brings Lidge in for the ninth in a tie game, and Lidge gets lit up. At what point do managers stop managing for stats, and start managing for wins. That decision probably caused that loss, and is the reason the Phillies are in second place.

Another example, the Mets are 16-7 (I think) since Billy Wagner went on the DL. Not bad...

The Yankees are out. Will everyone please stop talking about the Yankees. They irrelevant.

How cool would a Twins/Rays world series be?

The Mets need to pick up Carlos Delgado's option.

The Rays continue to roll, even with poor attendance. It's about a two-hour drive to the stadium for me, but I go when I can. It is exciting, how are they not selling out every game. The stadium is very comfortable, and is air-conditioned!!

Marlins tickets should be free. They will again trade or not sign some of their best players, so they don't need the money for payroll.

I used to love Baseball Tonight, and I still like it, except when Eric Young and Eduardo Perez are on it. I'd rather mute my TV and just watch the highlights. Seriously, please let me know if there is anyone anywhere that likes it when they are on. The whole "Souvenir City" thing is old, very very old.

I do, however, enjoy watching Mets games with Gary, Keith, and Ron. They provide so much insight, and I feel like I understand what is going on much better when I watch them. Just one request for Keith Hernandez, in case he ever reads this (which I doubt he will): Please never talk about Men's underwear on TV again. I am not going to say much more, but you spent to much time talking about Jason Giambi's undergarments a few weeks ago. I couldn't stomach it, and I am still disturbed by it. I have forgiven you for this though.

That's all.

IMHO - 8.19.08

We are half way through August, and things are getting interesting in some divisions, and pretty boring in others.

- The Angels, Rays, and Cubs should be a lock for the post-season. The Rays and Cubs don't have huge leads, but I don't see anyone catching them. All of the other races should make for some exciting September baseball!

- The A.L. Wild Card winner looks like it could be the Sox, I don't mean the Red ones. A Boston and Yankee-free post season will be nice. With the Yankees' season ending at the end of September, Sidney Ponson will have a full winter to hibernate!

- If the Mets can figure out their bullpen mess, the will easily win the East. The only reason it is close is because of all the blown saves. The Mets having good starting pitching. Johan has been excellent (more on him in a second), Ollie has been much more consistent, and Mike Pelfrey has continued to improve throughout the season. John Maine is back, and Pedro has been effective. The bullpen, however, is still a mess.

- I still think the Dodgers will win the West - I have said that all year.

- Johan Santana has been excellent - and has been clutch. Like I said last week, the Mets' bullpen has blown six of his wins - with those he would 17-7 (pretty good for August). His ERA is 2.75, only 0.15 higher than the league leader. The bullpen has cost him a shot at the Cy Young.

- I enjoyed Lee's article about the Twins - maybe someone should forward it to Hank and George Steinbrenner, and teach them to win and save a few bucks. Maybe they need a good mascot. How about someone like Mr. Moneybags - he looks like Mr. Met, but he carries around bags of money and throws excess cash at over-aged, over-rated baseball players.

- Riveraveblues.com speculates about the future of Derek Jeter. I couldn't imagine him somewhere else, I am sure the the Yanks will throw huge amounts of money at him, too. I mean, he is worth more than Jorge Posada, who they over-paid for. Maybe Ford will kick in some, I heard he drives a Ford Edge... Yeah, he's got an edge. (I am so sick of those commercials).

Adam Dunn vs. Ryan Howard

As the trade deadline quickly approaches, we are finally starting to see some interest in Adam Dunn, and why not? The guy is putting up great power numbers and would add power to any lineup in baseball. In my last post, I half-heartedly compared him to Ryan Howard. I have gotten a comment and a couple of phone calls from people who disagree, so lets take a look:

Here are their comparisons this year:
Average - Dunn .243, Howard .237
Home Runs - Dunn 32, Howard 30
RBI - Howard 94, Dunn 74
Runs - Howard 67, Dunn 58
Slugging % - Dunn .567, Howard .499
OBP - Dunn .385, Howard .323
Walks - Dunn 76, Howard 50

Neither hits lefties very well (Dunn .212, Howard .188)

AB per HR - Dunn 10.35, Howard - 13.63
OPS - Dunn .952, Howard .822

Dunn is leading in most categories, except Runs and RBI, which can be affected by the rest of the lineup, and Ryan Howard is surrounded by a much better team.

Adam Dunn is 2 inches taller, and 10 pounds heavier. Dunn is even 10 days older than Howard.

Why not compare them??? Dunn would be very productive in a better lineup - and it looks like there is a chance he will find one, possibly with the Tampa Bay Rays. In my opinion, the biggest downside with Dunn is the team he is playing for.

National League Predictions - Mike's picks...

With a little more than two months remaining in the season, here are my picks for the National League:

N.L. East - New York Mets

Obviously the Mets are the strongest team in this division. For those of you who don't see them as the obvious choice, here are my reasons: First of all, they have the strongest pitching rotation in the East. Johan Santana has been very good this year, but has lacked run support. Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey have been really strong in July, and they are still getting better and more consistent. The offense has started to heat up too. It is true they were underachievers for most of the 1st half, but the production has been great as of late. Carlos Delgado will be the difference maker. Look for the Mets to put some distance between them and the rest of the division in August. Their biggest weakness is the bullpen, they are too inconsistent. I think Jerry Manuel should let his starters go a little deeper into games to take some pressure off of the bullpen.

Longshots - Marlins and Phillies - The Marlins can't pitch and I hate the Phillies.

By the way - the Atlanta Braves are pathetic. They were waiting to decide whether they were buyers or sellers. You've got to be kidding me, did anyone besides them and their fans think they were still in this?

N.L. Central - Milwaukee Brewers

C.C. Sabathia is a great rental. It would be sad if they didn't win with him, because this is their only chance. The Cubs have a good team, but will blow it because they are the Cubs.

N.L. West - Los Angeles Dodgers

Isn't it a shame that every division has to be represented?? Almost every team in the A.L. East would be in first place in the N.L. West. I guess someone in the West has to win it, and at least Joe Torre knows how to win (at least in the regular season).

Wild Card - Chicago Cubs

Well, we can forget about anyone in the West. The Marlins don't have the pitching, and I hate the Phillies.

National League Champs - New York Mets

Well there are my picks - no bias at all.

What do you think? Leave me a comment.