We have a new culprit to add to the ranks of the steroid-guilty. Yeah, it's that guy that won the NL MVP this year.
Here we go again.
Baseball seriously just can't catch a break. I don't even blame the commissioner anymore - ample rules and testing are in place to make sure those who use get caught. Unfortunately, those who use, at least as far as we casual fans know, are always the iconic players, the superstars, the athletes who we're supposed to be looking up to. Of course, as time has told over the past several years, we're looking up at phonies. And now Brewer fans get to share in that misery.
It's a real shame that it had to be Braun. He was so good already. He didn't need the juice, just like A-Rod didn't. Just like McGwire and Sosa didn't. And yet, he used anyway, presumably driven by greed and a thirst for further prominence. Are those qualities to look up to?
The reality is, baseball doesn't have any model athletes anymore. Our favorite players are probably the ones who would be first to be implicated in steroid usage if further users were discovered. For Braun, it doesn't even matter that he's appealing. It doesn't even matter if he's guilty or innocent. He has been forever linked to steroids, and personally, I won't forgive him for it. A lot of baseball fans feel the same way. It's a deep-rooted betrayal that takes place when a professional athlete cheats, because now the fan has had the wool pulled over his eyes. He's followed the moves, sprung for the jerseys, and screamed the loudest for the fake, the fake that everyone wants to believe is real with all their baseball hearts, but that none can anymore. Baseball has been tainted an eerie black, courtesy of not only performance-enhancing drugs, but of hypocrisy, inner corruption, and poor judgment.
And so we bury Ryan Braun with the rest of the suspended, as all the while baseball's authenticity continues to take brutal body shots. The sport knows exactly what's hitting them - yet attempts to stop it are still in vain. Is there a knockout on the horizon? Time has told, and will tell again.
December 12, 2011
December 8, 2011
Pujols' Christmas List: A Halo and $254 Million
Albert Pujols to the...Angels?
Wait, that can't be right, let's try it again.
Albert Pujols to the...Angels?
Hold on, hold on, third time's the charm.
Albert Pujols to the...Angels.
Seriously?
And so it is, during this angelic time of year, that Albert Pujols adorns a halo over his head. Not like he's a saint or anything, mind you. Greedy superstars who chase the green stuff and neglect loyalty entirely should end up on Santa's naughty list. Except this year Arte Moreno donned the red hat and the white beard.
Pujols now has 254 million reasons to be joyful this Christmas season, while bewilderment continues to set in everywhere else. How does an owner who never bites on big free agent contracts in the winter all of a sudden pull a rabbit out of his hat and give it #5? You can't explain it without using words like bizarre, random, strange, puzzling. This kind of spending has never been the Angels' MO...maybe they were in an especially generous mood this holiday season. Come on. No player is worth $254 million, are you kidding me? And that's not even the biggest contract Pujols saw! The crazy Marlins were offering him $275 million! A team changes their name and in a flash they're throwing New York Yankee-sized contracts out on the table. Baffling.
No one can argue Pujols' accomplishments to this point in his career, but this deal is ludicrous. Not to mention he's leaving the best baseball city with the best fans in the country for more cash. The sad truth in sports these days is that, for players of Pujols' caliber, home is where the money is. Whatever happened to loyalty and traditionalism? The Cardinals were offering Pujols $198 million over nine years. But that was an old toy. Like any kid opening presents on Christmas morning, Pujols wanted the best and newest, and he got it, from perhaps the most unlikely of sources.
And so it is, that with the signing of Pujols and former Texas Rangers ace C.J. Wilson, that the Angels appear to be on the rise to prominence once again. It might be the greatest exhibition of Santa Claus going broke that anyone has ever seen.
I don't think Pujols really cares much. After all, he's wearing the halo.
Wait, that can't be right, let's try it again.
Albert Pujols to the...Angels?
Hold on, hold on, third time's the charm.
Albert Pujols to the...Angels.
Seriously?
And so it is, during this angelic time of year, that Albert Pujols adorns a halo over his head. Not like he's a saint or anything, mind you. Greedy superstars who chase the green stuff and neglect loyalty entirely should end up on Santa's naughty list. Except this year Arte Moreno donned the red hat and the white beard.
Pujols now has 254 million reasons to be joyful this Christmas season, while bewilderment continues to set in everywhere else. How does an owner who never bites on big free agent contracts in the winter all of a sudden pull a rabbit out of his hat and give it #5? You can't explain it without using words like bizarre, random, strange, puzzling. This kind of spending has never been the Angels' MO...maybe they were in an especially generous mood this holiday season. Come on. No player is worth $254 million, are you kidding me? And that's not even the biggest contract Pujols saw! The crazy Marlins were offering him $275 million! A team changes their name and in a flash they're throwing New York Yankee-sized contracts out on the table. Baffling.
No one can argue Pujols' accomplishments to this point in his career, but this deal is ludicrous. Not to mention he's leaving the best baseball city with the best fans in the country for more cash. The sad truth in sports these days is that, for players of Pujols' caliber, home is where the money is. Whatever happened to loyalty and traditionalism? The Cardinals were offering Pujols $198 million over nine years. But that was an old toy. Like any kid opening presents on Christmas morning, Pujols wanted the best and newest, and he got it, from perhaps the most unlikely of sources.
And so it is, that with the signing of Pujols and former Texas Rangers ace C.J. Wilson, that the Angels appear to be on the rise to prominence once again. It might be the greatest exhibition of Santa Claus going broke that anyone has ever seen.
I don't think Pujols really cares much. After all, he's wearing the halo.
May 15, 2011
Topsy Turvy
It might have taken me a month to post anything simply because I've been attempting to recover from the shock of witnessing two upside-down division races early in 2011.
I'm speaking of the American League East and Central, where two teams I felt had great chances to finish last in their respective divisions are currently leading the pack instead. I'm speaking of the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays, neither threatening on paper, neither holding high expectations, neither projected to reach glory this season. Yet here they are, a month and a half in, one with the best record in baseball, the other at the top of the best division in baseball. Who would have thought?
The same is true for the cellars of these divisions. Minnesota, a perpetual contender in the AL Central, finds themselves on an eight game losing streak and, in fact, the worst team in baseball to this point, believe it or not. Boston was like that for a while too, but now is coming off a weekend sweep of the Yankees in New York and looks well on their way to changing things around in the AL East. Still, they are currently fourth, just half a game ahead of Baltimore and the dungeon.
You might still say its too early to tell, and you might be right. But Cleveland and Tampa have to be the most intriguing stories in baseball so far this season. I mean, seriously, neither of these teams was supposed to do ANYTHING this year, but they both have firm holds on division leads forty games in?? To say that is surprising would be a gross understatement. I can't wait to see where Cleveland and Tampa are at the All-Star Break. Can they seriously keep this up?
I'm speaking of the American League East and Central, where two teams I felt had great chances to finish last in their respective divisions are currently leading the pack instead. I'm speaking of the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays, neither threatening on paper, neither holding high expectations, neither projected to reach glory this season. Yet here they are, a month and a half in, one with the best record in baseball, the other at the top of the best division in baseball. Who would have thought?
The same is true for the cellars of these divisions. Minnesota, a perpetual contender in the AL Central, finds themselves on an eight game losing streak and, in fact, the worst team in baseball to this point, believe it or not. Boston was like that for a while too, but now is coming off a weekend sweep of the Yankees in New York and looks well on their way to changing things around in the AL East. Still, they are currently fourth, just half a game ahead of Baltimore and the dungeon.
You might still say its too early to tell, and you might be right. But Cleveland and Tampa have to be the most intriguing stories in baseball so far this season. I mean, seriously, neither of these teams was supposed to do ANYTHING this year, but they both have firm holds on division leads forty games in?? To say that is surprising would be a gross understatement. I can't wait to see where Cleveland and Tampa are at the All-Star Break. Can they seriously keep this up?
April 10, 2011
Manny Being Manny: The Final Act
When I heard Manny Ramirez was retiring this weekend, I didn't quite believe my ears. It's midseason, after all. For all I knew, this was just another of his infamous stunts to garner attention.
Then I heard he was retiring to avoid a 100-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs yet again. And the picture became crystal clear.
Because why should we expect anything else from Ramirez? What reason has he given us to believe he wouldn't call it quits after getting caught pulling a fast one on Major League Baseball for a second time? The answers are, we shouldn't, and, none. This is purely another decision that results from Manny Being Manny.
The overwhelming sentiment that I'm gathering from reactions to Ramirez's retirement is disappointment, and I think this is spot-on. Ramirez was an incredible baseball talent, who, towards the end of his career at least, let his personality trump his game. Pretty soon, it wasn't about baseball for Ramirez anymore - it was about his image. He was furious in Boston because they weren't feeding that image. They weren't appreciating him the way he felt they should. So he took bathroom breaks in left field. He stopped running to first base. He demanded a trade and took out his frustrations on a team secretary, all in an attempt to overcompensate for the lack of attention. Then he came to L.A., Hollywood, where the spotlight was. The spotlight he had been craving in Boston. And did he ever get it. Hollywood became Mannywood. He hit .396 in the second half of 2008 following the trade, and maybe this was because his image was satisfied. Better yet, maybe it was the estrogen, taken in an attempt to endear Los Angeles to both his antics and his game.
Whatever the case, the antics got old after a while, and here in 2011, Manny has turned to drugs once again in a desperate attempt to regain former baseball glory. Not Manny glory - baseball glory. But because he did it the Manny Being Manny way, he Manny Being Mannyed his way out of baseball, with the events of previous seasons plaguing him just as much as his decision to use again this offseason. An unceremonious end to an otherwise brilliant career, which, as mentioned earlier, is just plain disappointing. Manny Being Manny. So long.
Then I heard he was retiring to avoid a 100-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs yet again. And the picture became crystal clear.
Because why should we expect anything else from Ramirez? What reason has he given us to believe he wouldn't call it quits after getting caught pulling a fast one on Major League Baseball for a second time? The answers are, we shouldn't, and, none. This is purely another decision that results from Manny Being Manny.
The overwhelming sentiment that I'm gathering from reactions to Ramirez's retirement is disappointment, and I think this is spot-on. Ramirez was an incredible baseball talent, who, towards the end of his career at least, let his personality trump his game. Pretty soon, it wasn't about baseball for Ramirez anymore - it was about his image. He was furious in Boston because they weren't feeding that image. They weren't appreciating him the way he felt they should. So he took bathroom breaks in left field. He stopped running to first base. He demanded a trade and took out his frustrations on a team secretary, all in an attempt to overcompensate for the lack of attention. Then he came to L.A., Hollywood, where the spotlight was. The spotlight he had been craving in Boston. And did he ever get it. Hollywood became Mannywood. He hit .396 in the second half of 2008 following the trade, and maybe this was because his image was satisfied. Better yet, maybe it was the estrogen, taken in an attempt to endear Los Angeles to both his antics and his game.
Whatever the case, the antics got old after a while, and here in 2011, Manny has turned to drugs once again in a desperate attempt to regain former baseball glory. Not Manny glory - baseball glory. But because he did it the Manny Being Manny way, he Manny Being Mannyed his way out of baseball, with the events of previous seasons plaguing him just as much as his decision to use again this offseason. An unceremonious end to an otherwise brilliant career, which, as mentioned earlier, is just plain disappointing. Manny Being Manny. So long.
April 7, 2011
No Reason to Panic in Boston
The Red Sox are 0-6, in case you hadn't noticed, and now the Sox faithful are in panic mode.
My question is...why?
Many people have labeled the Red Sox a serious World Series contender in the American League this year, and rightfully so. Getting swept in two series to open the season doesn't change that. The panic would not be stirring as much if this six-game losing streak happened midseason. The fact that it's happening to start the season magnifies it and causes overreactions like what we're seeing now. Both of these series were on the road. The first was against the best team in baseball so far. No need to panic.
The Red Sox will be fine. They have too much talent to be this bad the rest of the way. Now they finally get a chance to play at home, against their hated rival, and they're angry at starting the season this way. I'm betting Boston takes the series over the Yankees this weekend. Remember the rocky start the Miami Heat got off to at the beginning of the NBA season, with all the superstars they brought in during the offseason? Now look where they are. Expect the Red Sox to bounce back in similar fashion.
This is just a classic example of putting too much emphasis on the opening moments of a baseball season. We have six months and 156 more games to go. It doesn't make sense for anyone to be panicking this early. The same message goes out to the Tampa Bay fans and the Houston fans. You can't measure a season by a six-game stretch. Especially not a six-game stretch in April. Come on, people. Have some faith.
And it works both ways. The Rangers are not going to go 162-0. The Baltimore Orioles will not finish the season in first place in the AL East. The season does not end today, so why make such a big deal about your team's start? And don't start throwing historical numbers at me. Those stats are kept specifically for instances like this where they can finally be put to rest or disproved. As far as I'm concerned, it will just add to the Red Sox legacy. This is a winning team, and pretty soon, we're all going to see it for ourselves. So what if we haven't just yet?
My question is...why?
Many people have labeled the Red Sox a serious World Series contender in the American League this year, and rightfully so. Getting swept in two series to open the season doesn't change that. The panic would not be stirring as much if this six-game losing streak happened midseason. The fact that it's happening to start the season magnifies it and causes overreactions like what we're seeing now. Both of these series were on the road. The first was against the best team in baseball so far. No need to panic.
The Red Sox will be fine. They have too much talent to be this bad the rest of the way. Now they finally get a chance to play at home, against their hated rival, and they're angry at starting the season this way. I'm betting Boston takes the series over the Yankees this weekend. Remember the rocky start the Miami Heat got off to at the beginning of the NBA season, with all the superstars they brought in during the offseason? Now look where they are. Expect the Red Sox to bounce back in similar fashion.
This is just a classic example of putting too much emphasis on the opening moments of a baseball season. We have six months and 156 more games to go. It doesn't make sense for anyone to be panicking this early. The same message goes out to the Tampa Bay fans and the Houston fans. You can't measure a season by a six-game stretch. Especially not a six-game stretch in April. Come on, people. Have some faith.
And it works both ways. The Rangers are not going to go 162-0. The Baltimore Orioles will not finish the season in first place in the AL East. The season does not end today, so why make such a big deal about your team's start? And don't start throwing historical numbers at me. Those stats are kept specifically for instances like this where they can finally be put to rest or disproved. As far as I'm concerned, it will just add to the Red Sox legacy. This is a winning team, and pretty soon, we're all going to see it for ourselves. So what if we haven't just yet?
April 3, 2011
Rangers Still Doing Their Thing
There are many things that one learns when taking in the opening weekend of the Major League Baseball season, but if there is one thing we should take away from Opening Weekend, its this:
The road to the World Series in the American League still runs through Texas.
Despite all the offseason talk about the Boston Red Sox and their free agent signings, the Texas Rangers are still the team to beat, and they showed it in their opening series against the Red Sox. Earning a sweep of the series, the Rangers hit 11 home runs on their way to early AL dominance.
Here's the thing about the Rangers: we've always known they can hit. Dating back to the A-Rod days, scoring runs was never the problem. It was always a lack of pitching that plagued the Rangers. So now that they have just a little bit of pitching (which is arguably more than a little bit with the young arms they have), they become a very dangerous team. They went to the World Series last year for a reason, and that reason seems to be holding true so far in 2011.
Make no mistake - Boston will be fine. In fact, they'll be more than fine. But for now, it's Texas that holds the reins, and this weekend's confirmation was a marvelous thing to behold.
The road to the World Series in the American League still runs through Texas.
Despite all the offseason talk about the Boston Red Sox and their free agent signings, the Texas Rangers are still the team to beat, and they showed it in their opening series against the Red Sox. Earning a sweep of the series, the Rangers hit 11 home runs on their way to early AL dominance.
Here's the thing about the Rangers: we've always known they can hit. Dating back to the A-Rod days, scoring runs was never the problem. It was always a lack of pitching that plagued the Rangers. So now that they have just a little bit of pitching (which is arguably more than a little bit with the young arms they have), they become a very dangerous team. They went to the World Series last year for a reason, and that reason seems to be holding true so far in 2011.
Make no mistake - Boston will be fine. In fact, they'll be more than fine. But for now, it's Texas that holds the reins, and this weekend's confirmation was a marvelous thing to behold.
March 31, 2011
Dodgers Open 2011 Aggressively
3:15 p.m., and I'm about to set foot once again on hallowed baseball ground: the venerable Dodger Stadium. In two hours, the Dodgers and Giants would be underway in the inaugural game of the 2011 season. Academy Road is lined with parked cars, tailgaters fill the parks, and alcohol abounds. The shadows from the late evening sun creep onto the freshly cut stadium grass, to be broken in for the first time in honor of a new season.
4:40 p.m., and we meet the rosters for both teams. The most massive American flag you will ever see is unveiled as a singing legend belts the notes of the National Anthem. Cheers erupt as a stealth bomber passes by overhead, and as a sell-out crowd hears the infamous pregame words of an infamous broadcaster, perhaps for the last time on an Opening Day.
And Opening Day this was, featuring the dreamy pitching matchup of Tim Lincecum and Clayton Kershaw, adding a new chapter into the book chronicling the Dodgers/Giants storied rivalry, casting the game of baseball in a glorious spectacle for all to see on national television. After all, isn't this how we're supposed to celebrate our beloved sport?
Tonight, it was the hometown Dodgers who were doing the celebrating, following a gritty 2-1 victory over the hated Giants. The game lived up to all expectations, and then some, with both starters turning in tremendous performances and every pitch mattering until the last fastball from Jonathan Broxton at 7:55 p.m. The Dodgers, with first-year manager Don Mattingly at the helm, showed a different side to themselves tonight, a side that brings hope and promise to what many believe will be another average season. It was an aggressive side that lifted the Dodgers to victory tonight, from the batters box to the basepaths. Good pitches from Lincecum early in the count were hacked at. Errors on singles were taken advantage of. An important base was stolen in the 8th. And Kershaw wasn't doing his usual dance around hitters. This was the most aggressive the Dodgers have looked in a long time, and they are a better team just because of that alone.
Still, there were some carry-overs from last season. An abysmal 1-11 with runners in scoring position prevented the Dodgers from breaking the game open. Rafael Furcal looked sluggish at the plate. Jonathan Broxton surrendered another home run to a right-handed hitter. Certainly, these are trends that have plagued the Dodgers in seasons past, and will hold them back again in 2011 if tonight is not an anomaly. I suppose with any Opening Day, one finds good and bad in a team's performance, but I was encouraged by what I saw tonight at Dodger Stadium. I saw a team with fight and resolve, and with confidence. Intangibles such as these are what will carry this team this year. That and Matt Kemp stepping up the way he did tonight. So far, so good.
4:40 p.m., and we meet the rosters for both teams. The most massive American flag you will ever see is unveiled as a singing legend belts the notes of the National Anthem. Cheers erupt as a stealth bomber passes by overhead, and as a sell-out crowd hears the infamous pregame words of an infamous broadcaster, perhaps for the last time on an Opening Day.
And Opening Day this was, featuring the dreamy pitching matchup of Tim Lincecum and Clayton Kershaw, adding a new chapter into the book chronicling the Dodgers/Giants storied rivalry, casting the game of baseball in a glorious spectacle for all to see on national television. After all, isn't this how we're supposed to celebrate our beloved sport?
Tonight, it was the hometown Dodgers who were doing the celebrating, following a gritty 2-1 victory over the hated Giants. The game lived up to all expectations, and then some, with both starters turning in tremendous performances and every pitch mattering until the last fastball from Jonathan Broxton at 7:55 p.m. The Dodgers, with first-year manager Don Mattingly at the helm, showed a different side to themselves tonight, a side that brings hope and promise to what many believe will be another average season. It was an aggressive side that lifted the Dodgers to victory tonight, from the batters box to the basepaths. Good pitches from Lincecum early in the count were hacked at. Errors on singles were taken advantage of. An important base was stolen in the 8th. And Kershaw wasn't doing his usual dance around hitters. This was the most aggressive the Dodgers have looked in a long time, and they are a better team just because of that alone.
Still, there were some carry-overs from last season. An abysmal 1-11 with runners in scoring position prevented the Dodgers from breaking the game open. Rafael Furcal looked sluggish at the plate. Jonathan Broxton surrendered another home run to a right-handed hitter. Certainly, these are trends that have plagued the Dodgers in seasons past, and will hold them back again in 2011 if tonight is not an anomaly. I suppose with any Opening Day, one finds good and bad in a team's performance, but I was encouraged by what I saw tonight at Dodger Stadium. I saw a team with fight and resolve, and with confidence. Intangibles such as these are what will carry this team this year. That and Matt Kemp stepping up the way he did tonight. So far, so good.
February 27, 2011
Loss of Wainwright Leaves Cardinals in Mediocrity
A lot of times, when people make predictions in sports, they dismiss health as a contributing factor to a team's season or chances to win.
I was guilty of this just last week with the St. Louis Cardinals.
A once promising season for the Cards, at least in my mind, now looks very bleak, as ace Adam Wainwright will require season-ending surgery on his throwing elbow. This is a huge blow to the Cards, who lose a player that has been the anchor of their rotation for the last three years. It also impacts the Cardinals' chances to win the division significantly. I would argue that the loss of Wainwright is almost as devastating as the hypothetical loss of Albert Pujols for the season. He's simply that good.
It's truly amazing to reflect on the significance one major injury can have on the entire scheme of a baseball season. Now, the NL Central is wide open. Cincinnati will come back strong again in 2011. The Cubs and Brewers are both much improved. And the Cardinals should still put together a winning season, even without Wainwright. They can thank the division they play in for that. I don't see the winner of the NL Central this year getting any more than 88 wins, but I feel like all the teams mentioned above are capable of reaching that mark. If a team like Milwaukee can sneak in to the playoffs, with an offense like theirs and a rotation that now includes Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum, it would make for a very interesting playoff dynamic, even if only because there would be fresh blood in the mix. Cincinnati did this last year and got outright mauled by the Phillies, but I really believe the 2011 Brewers would put up more of a fight. I think they're a team to keep your eye on now that the Cardinals no longer hold the high ground.
With all NL Central teams now mired in mediocrity, who knows? We may actually see some halfway-exciting baseball out of that division this season. Just not from the Pirates, of course.
I was guilty of this just last week with the St. Louis Cardinals.
A once promising season for the Cards, at least in my mind, now looks very bleak, as ace Adam Wainwright will require season-ending surgery on his throwing elbow. This is a huge blow to the Cards, who lose a player that has been the anchor of their rotation for the last three years. It also impacts the Cardinals' chances to win the division significantly. I would argue that the loss of Wainwright is almost as devastating as the hypothetical loss of Albert Pujols for the season. He's simply that good.
It's truly amazing to reflect on the significance one major injury can have on the entire scheme of a baseball season. Now, the NL Central is wide open. Cincinnati will come back strong again in 2011. The Cubs and Brewers are both much improved. And the Cardinals should still put together a winning season, even without Wainwright. They can thank the division they play in for that. I don't see the winner of the NL Central this year getting any more than 88 wins, but I feel like all the teams mentioned above are capable of reaching that mark. If a team like Milwaukee can sneak in to the playoffs, with an offense like theirs and a rotation that now includes Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum, it would make for a very interesting playoff dynamic, even if only because there would be fresh blood in the mix. Cincinnati did this last year and got outright mauled by the Phillies, but I really believe the 2011 Brewers would put up more of a fight. I think they're a team to keep your eye on now that the Cardinals no longer hold the high ground.
With all NL Central teams now mired in mediocrity, who knows? We may actually see some halfway-exciting baseball out of that division this season. Just not from the Pirates, of course.
February 20, 2011
Young's Relationship with Rangers not Symbiotic
I really don't think the Texas Rangers know what they have in Michael Young.
For ten major league seasons, Young has quietly built an impressive career with the Rangers. He's never been an overpowering personality, never craved the spotlight, never allowed his ego to drown his on-field performance. He's simply gone about his business, the business of playing professional baseball, and he's done so with remarkable class and dignity.
Too bad the Rangers are not reciprocating here in 2011.
After all Michael Young has done for the franchise, and what he means to it, you would think the Rangers would extend Young the same professionalism they have been beneficiaries of the last ten years. Apparently not. Instead, they take advantage of his accommodating personality and team-player attitude and switch his position three times in eight years. Then they sign Adrian Beltre this offseason, surely a slap in the face to Young and his talents, and mislead him about the team's intentions. And finally, when Young rightfully requests a trade following these managerial decisions, they vilify him and refuse to comply with his wishes. Michael Young doesn't deserve this treatment. A man of his character and stature commands much more respect than what the Rangers are giving him. Defending American League Champions or not, the Rangers have no rights to entitlement here. I'm not sure what general manager Jon Daniels is up to over there in Texas, but whatever he's doing, it's classless and just plain irrational, at least when it comes to Young.
But have you noticed the way Young is reacting? Where some would throw hissy fits and have public arguments with management and cause a huge distraction for the team, Young has quietly slid back into his baseball routine, and done his duty. He's shown up for training camp on time. He's made it clear he won't be a distraction. He's focused on winning again in 2011. Key word? Quietly. And that is what makes Young the professional he is, the kind of player that nowadays is as rare as a winning lottery ticket. No games. No whining. No cowering behind the media. Just business. Just baseball. Just further evidence that the Rangers have lost sight of what they have. Young deserves to play every day, and not be platooned as a DH or demoted to a utility man. He's earned it, and if the Rangers can't pony up the role, the least they could do is move him to a team who can. Simple symbiosis. The Ranger organization has leeched Young long enough. It's time they gave something back.
For ten major league seasons, Young has quietly built an impressive career with the Rangers. He's never been an overpowering personality, never craved the spotlight, never allowed his ego to drown his on-field performance. He's simply gone about his business, the business of playing professional baseball, and he's done so with remarkable class and dignity.
Too bad the Rangers are not reciprocating here in 2011.
After all Michael Young has done for the franchise, and what he means to it, you would think the Rangers would extend Young the same professionalism they have been beneficiaries of the last ten years. Apparently not. Instead, they take advantage of his accommodating personality and team-player attitude and switch his position three times in eight years. Then they sign Adrian Beltre this offseason, surely a slap in the face to Young and his talents, and mislead him about the team's intentions. And finally, when Young rightfully requests a trade following these managerial decisions, they vilify him and refuse to comply with his wishes. Michael Young doesn't deserve this treatment. A man of his character and stature commands much more respect than what the Rangers are giving him. Defending American League Champions or not, the Rangers have no rights to entitlement here. I'm not sure what general manager Jon Daniels is up to over there in Texas, but whatever he's doing, it's classless and just plain irrational, at least when it comes to Young.
But have you noticed the way Young is reacting? Where some would throw hissy fits and have public arguments with management and cause a huge distraction for the team, Young has quietly slid back into his baseball routine, and done his duty. He's shown up for training camp on time. He's made it clear he won't be a distraction. He's focused on winning again in 2011. Key word? Quietly. And that is what makes Young the professional he is, the kind of player that nowadays is as rare as a winning lottery ticket. No games. No whining. No cowering behind the media. Just business. Just baseball. Just further evidence that the Rangers have lost sight of what they have. Young deserves to play every day, and not be platooned as a DH or demoted to a utility man. He's earned it, and if the Rangers can't pony up the role, the least they could do is move him to a team who can. Simple symbiosis. The Ranger organization has leeched Young long enough. It's time they gave something back.
February 17, 2011
Cards, Pujols Digging In
Today, Albert Pujols walked into training camp without a contract extension. Do I have a problem with this? Absolutely not.
The Cardinals are smart not to give in to the little voice of the fan in their heads, telling them to pay Pujols what he wants. Pujols is smart not to settle for what the Cardinals may be offering as a result of them not giving in. Obviously, whatever offer has been made is not what Pujols is looking for, but both sides are playing this as they should.
There is no question that Albert Pujols has been the greatest player in baseball for the past decade. The numbers and the production are irrefutable. This is exactly why Pujols needs to test the market. If the Cardinals are not willing to pony up the cash to sign Pujols to a huge deal, then somebody else will be. There are teams that are that desperate, teams that would jump at grabbing the best player in the game no matter what the cost. Pujols has done his job, and in fact, has gone above and beyond in doing it, so it's safe to say the man has earned his paycheck, as well as a significant raise.
But how much of a raise? Enough to make him the highest paid player in baseball? I believe not. Dollar values on contracts should not be indicative of a player's performance. A contract that size would be based solely on what Pujols has done to this point, without taking into consideration what he will do. It's careless and impulsive. This is exactly why the Cardinals need to be patient. No player is worth $30 million. In fact, if you ask me, no player is even worth $20 million. I think the contracts for players like Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Joe Mauer, Cliff Lee, and others are outrageous. Pujols should not be looped into this category, but he undoubtedly will be. No matter what is decided between the two sides, Pujols will be overpaid when he gets his new contract, just like the aforementioned players were overpaid. It's just a matter of how much. And that's why I don't have a problem with him not having an extension right now. If teams are smart and wait him out, the price will come down. It's simple. The Cardinals realize this, and have acted accordingly.
I don't take sides here because I think both sides are handling this as they need to, given the arguments and the circumstances. But you know who really benefits from all this? The St. Louis Cardinals, on the field. Why? Because in 2011, Albert Pujols may have his best season yet. That's a scary thought, considering what he's already shown us he can do. If you're skeptical, just think about Pujols' motivations: a championship-caliber team; a chip on his shoulder from getting shunned by the Cards before this latest deadline; a burden to prove yet again what he thinks he's worth, both during the regular season and in the playoffs; a potential huge contract in free agency. Are you kidding me? If you're any other team in the NL Central right now, you can't be liking the fact that Pujols isn't signing on the dotted line yet. He will continue to dazzle in 2011, and will bring the Cards another division championship. But the price tag.....
The Cardinals are smart not to give in to the little voice of the fan in their heads, telling them to pay Pujols what he wants. Pujols is smart not to settle for what the Cardinals may be offering as a result of them not giving in. Obviously, whatever offer has been made is not what Pujols is looking for, but both sides are playing this as they should.
There is no question that Albert Pujols has been the greatest player in baseball for the past decade. The numbers and the production are irrefutable. This is exactly why Pujols needs to test the market. If the Cardinals are not willing to pony up the cash to sign Pujols to a huge deal, then somebody else will be. There are teams that are that desperate, teams that would jump at grabbing the best player in the game no matter what the cost. Pujols has done his job, and in fact, has gone above and beyond in doing it, so it's safe to say the man has earned his paycheck, as well as a significant raise.
But how much of a raise? Enough to make him the highest paid player in baseball? I believe not. Dollar values on contracts should not be indicative of a player's performance. A contract that size would be based solely on what Pujols has done to this point, without taking into consideration what he will do. It's careless and impulsive. This is exactly why the Cardinals need to be patient. No player is worth $30 million. In fact, if you ask me, no player is even worth $20 million. I think the contracts for players like Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Joe Mauer, Cliff Lee, and others are outrageous. Pujols should not be looped into this category, but he undoubtedly will be. No matter what is decided between the two sides, Pujols will be overpaid when he gets his new contract, just like the aforementioned players were overpaid. It's just a matter of how much. And that's why I don't have a problem with him not having an extension right now. If teams are smart and wait him out, the price will come down. It's simple. The Cardinals realize this, and have acted accordingly.
I don't take sides here because I think both sides are handling this as they need to, given the arguments and the circumstances. But you know who really benefits from all this? The St. Louis Cardinals, on the field. Why? Because in 2011, Albert Pujols may have his best season yet. That's a scary thought, considering what he's already shown us he can do. If you're skeptical, just think about Pujols' motivations: a championship-caliber team; a chip on his shoulder from getting shunned by the Cards before this latest deadline; a burden to prove yet again what he thinks he's worth, both during the regular season and in the playoffs; a potential huge contract in free agency. Are you kidding me? If you're any other team in the NL Central right now, you can't be liking the fact that Pujols isn't signing on the dotted line yet. He will continue to dazzle in 2011, and will bring the Cards another division championship. But the price tag.....
February 14, 2011
Baseball Makes for a Complete Valentine
Valentine's Day is generally perceived as an occasion where we let loved ones know just how we feel about them and how much they mean to us. While many have romantic dates and dozens of roses and delicious chocolates planned for tonight, I spend this Valentine's night offering tribute to one of the first loves of my life - the game of baseball.
And what a game it is. Baseball doesn't get enough love anymore, with the NFL growing as it is and our society steadily shifting pastimes towards the pigskin. People often question my love for baseball, as they would my love for a stripper if such a feeling existed. It's nonsensical to them, and why? Baseball is boring, they say. It is intolerable to watch on TV. There are too many games in a season. There isn't enough action.
These people are in love with the hot and flashy NFL, equivalent to a woman gorgeous on the outside but with no substance. Baseball may not have the looks the NFL does, but it has ten times the personality, and its inner beauty is what rings true when you come to know it as I have. To me, this is what matters, both metaphorically and in actuality. In baseball terms, its the mental wars waged in a 60-foot space between the pitcher and catcher; the chess game occurring between managers as runners reach base and bullpens are employed; the strategy present in each at-bat, which is so critical with only 27 outs to work with; the hundreds of statistics generated to evaluate a player's performance. These facets of baseball's inner beauty, hidden from those judging only the cover, are what lend the sport its radiance. Depth is the road to appreciation for this wonderful sport which, just today, rekindled its flames with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Today, I celebrate my love for baseball, in all of its grandeur, inner or otherwise, and I implore you to do the same if you too are looking for the complete package this Valentine's Day. I wouldn't settle for anything less, and with baseball, I don't have to.
And what a game it is. Baseball doesn't get enough love anymore, with the NFL growing as it is and our society steadily shifting pastimes towards the pigskin. People often question my love for baseball, as they would my love for a stripper if such a feeling existed. It's nonsensical to them, and why? Baseball is boring, they say. It is intolerable to watch on TV. There are too many games in a season. There isn't enough action.
These people are in love with the hot and flashy NFL, equivalent to a woman gorgeous on the outside but with no substance. Baseball may not have the looks the NFL does, but it has ten times the personality, and its inner beauty is what rings true when you come to know it as I have. To me, this is what matters, both metaphorically and in actuality. In baseball terms, its the mental wars waged in a 60-foot space between the pitcher and catcher; the chess game occurring between managers as runners reach base and bullpens are employed; the strategy present in each at-bat, which is so critical with only 27 outs to work with; the hundreds of statistics generated to evaluate a player's performance. These facets of baseball's inner beauty, hidden from those judging only the cover, are what lend the sport its radiance. Depth is the road to appreciation for this wonderful sport which, just today, rekindled its flames with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Today, I celebrate my love for baseball, in all of its grandeur, inner or otherwise, and I implore you to do the same if you too are looking for the complete package this Valentine's Day. I wouldn't settle for anything less, and with baseball, I don't have to.
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