Heard in the Cheap Seats

Most baseball pundits hype the Red Sox and Yankees as the premiere rivalry in Major League Baseball.  The two teams kicking off a series today at Citizens Bank Ballpark might have something to say about that.  When the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets square off, it will be first chapter in what promises to be a season-long drama.

Both teams have stumbled out of the gates this season with the Phillies only recently finding their groove—winning 7 out of their last 10.  On other side of the token, the Mets sit at 9-12 and losers of 3 out of their last 7.  Their starting pitching has been downright dismal after Johan Santana and their lineup has just as many question marks in the early going.  Not to mention, the bullpen has not been able to live up to the lofty expectations that come with the mega-contracts handed out to J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez.

The Phillies on the other hand are looking for more consistency out of their starting rotation.  Although, the fact that Cole Hamels did not win a single game in April indicates improvement might be around the corner if he can outrun the black cloud that has been hovering over him the past few weeks.

Without a doubt, this series will be made out to be more than it really is in this early portion of the season.  It is not the measuring stick by which to judge the remainder of the season nor will it provide any lasting glimpses into the stability of these rosters.  But make no mistake, despite talk to the contrary from the players—games between the Mets and Phillies mean a little more.

The players have not been shy at firing verbal jabs through the media in years past and have built up a strong distaste for each other.  This year, the Phillies have an extra piece of hardware to bring to the table.  Tonight is just the introduction into a compelling narrative. 

Another Phillies series has concluded, which means another installment of “Inside the Numbers”.  The first stats are from the Philles series against the Brewers, in which they lost 2 out of 3 once again, and the second set of stats are the season totals.  I think we are getting to the point where we can start address problem areas for this team.  There seem to be quite a few, but I will try and zero in on the biggest issues based on the stats I am following.  It is still April so a lot can and hopefully will change, but it is better to identify a problem early and correct it rather than wait.  Once again. If you haven’t been following, these statistical categories come directly from areas of the Phillies that I identified before the season as possible concerns.  Statistics aren’t everything, but I believe that if the Phillies are lacking in one or 2 of these areas, it will be very hard to make it back to the postseason.  These are all areas that are crucial to winning baseball.  While it is easy to just check the standings and see how the Phils are doing, the whole point of tracking these numbers is that I believe it will be a great indicator of how the season will play out.  For example, even if the Phillies are in first place, yet their starting pitching and bench numbers are terrible, my belief is that we will see that come back to bite them.  Hopefully you are following what I am getting at with all of this, I know I can be confusing at times.  On to the numbers…

Brewers @ Phillies (Brewers took 2 out of 3)

TEAM BATTING

23 for 98, 7 XBH, 14 BB, 13 Runs

.235 BA, .342 OBO, .367 SLG

RISP

6 for 20, 8 RBI, .300 BA

STARTING PITCHING

1-2

15 1/3 IP, 19 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 13 K

5.36 ERA, 1.39 WHIP

BULLPEN

11 2/3 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 7 BB, 11 K

3.21 ERA, 1.52 WHIP

VERSUS RHP

14 for 68, 7 Runs, .206 BA

VERSUS LHP

9 for 30, 6 Runs, .300 BA

BENCH

2 for 6, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, .333 BA

2009 Season Totals Thru yesterday’s game

TEAM BATTING

72 Runs, 5.14 Avg. per game

.263 BA, .333 OBP, .453 SLG

RISP

.259 BA, .371 OBP, .455 SLG

STARTING PITCHING

3-6

7.18 ERA, .333 BAA, 1.69 WHIP

BULLPEN

3-2

3 for 5 in save opportunities

5.04 ERA, .225 BAA, 1.30 WHIP

VERSUS RHP

.262 BA, .332 OBP, .466 SLG

VERSUS LHP

.268 BA, .337 OBP, .390 SLG

BENCH

.250 BA, .313 OBP,.643 SLG

It is pretty simple when you look at these stats where the biggest problem lies.  Yes, the offense was terrible in the last two games of the Brewers series, but that offense will be punishing teams once Jimmy Rollins starts to hit.  Teams who struggle at the top of the order, will struggle overall offensively.  I’m betting Rollins will be just fine.  The problem is pitching.  April is almost over and the starting staff has just 3 wins!  Last year, Jamie Moyer finished with 16 wins.  Let’s assume Hamels will build off a decent few innings against the Brewers and he turns it around in May.  Is anyone really confident or comfortable that Blanton, Myers, and Moyer are going to be able to pitch well consistently?  A lot of fans felt like this would be a year where Myers would put all his talent together, which would make the starting staff look a whole lot better.  But, have you seen a different Brett Myers so far this year?  I haven’t.  I feel like a broken record, and I know it is early, but it is extremely alarming that the Phils starting staff ranks dead last in almost every single major statistical category.  I can tell you right now, if that doesn’t change drastically, there won’t be any pennants this year. The Phils head to Florida for a 3 game set against the division leading Marlins.  Maybe being away from Philly and matching up against a very good starting pitching staff will motivate these guys to start to get things heading in the right direction.  People always say that pennants aren’t won in April and May, which is true, but they can certainly be lost.  I will keep an eye on these stats all season, but if things look the same towards the end of May, I don’t care what the standings say at that point, there will be trouble.

How does it feel Philadelphia?  It’s a bit strange isn’t it?  Perhaps even a little foreign?

It’s no wonder you are having trouble identifying this feeling—you haven’t experienced it since 1983.  For the first time in 26 years, the city of Philadelphia has a World Championship to defend and that title defense kicks off tonight against the Atlanta Braves.

But beware Philadelphia: Heavy is the head that wears the crown.  

For the next 162 games, the Phillies will be sporting a huge red bull’s eye on their back.  In every game, every series, the opposing team will bring a little something extra in an effort to knock off the defending champs.

The Phillies can no longer claim the role of underdog.  Sure, some experts are picking the Mets to win the division and the World Series based on their offseason spending spree.  But plenty of other experts realize that this Phillies team still has the firepower to make another run deep into the playoffs.  In short: this Philadelphia Phillies team will not sneak up on anybody this year.

It is a role that the Phillies and this city are not accustomed to playing.  In the past two years, the Phillies thrived on the notion that most felt the Mets would win the NL East. Likewise, the city of Philadelphia relishes its reputation as a blue-collar town.  And living just an hour and 15 minutes from the world’s most recognized city only enhances Philadelphia’s grit.  The Phillies rivalry with the Mets mirrors that relationship.  Just up the NJ Turnpike, the Mets are the flashier team willing to spend money on high-priced free agents.  The Phillies on the other hand make their living by building a team from the ground up and feeding off the energy and grittiness of players like Chase Utley and Shane Victorino.  

The city of Philadelphia versus the city of New York.  The Philadelphia Phillies versus the New York Mets.  Two different flavors of the same rivalry. 

If history is any indication, the Phillies will be hard-pressed to repeat as champs.  It is a feat that is rarely pulled off and should provide some insight into the pressures of a season-long title defense.  It should also serve as a stark reminder that winning a title takes some measure of luck to avoid things like catastrophic injuries.  Perhaps the improbability of the feat will be just the carrot needed to play the underdog card, the “nobody thought we could pull this off” card.  

Whether or not the Phillies can take Philadelphia on another amazing journey remains to be seen.  But this much is certain: we damn sure better savor the feeling of defending a title.  Philadelphia of all cities should know that this moment can be fleeting.

Predicted End of Year Standings

Team Capsules:

Philadelphia Phillies:

Team Summary: The World Champs remain solid from top to bottom. The biggest offseason move was the addition of Raul Ibanez. While some question the wisdom of adding an aging veteran in left field, I happen to like the addition. Ibanez is a very solid hitter that has continued to produce on an everyday basis despite his age. Of course, there is some that say Ibanez is even worse in the field than his predecessor, Pat Burrell was. I haven’t watched enough of Ibanez to say this with certainty, but I have trouble believing that to be true. Pedro Feliz had offseason surgery that could potentially improve his numbers and Chase Utley is determined to shake off ill effects from his hip injury. What is most impressive about this Phillies lineup is that they can beat you in any facet of the game. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Utley are all legitimate stolen base threats. So if the situation calls for it, the Phillies can play small ball. But with Howard and Utley in the lineup, this team will rarely be outslugged. Defensively, the Phillies are excellent up the middle where it matters. Howard is obviously a liability in the field and Ibanez could be as well. But as a whole, this team is a solid defensive unit.

The starting pitching is a strength but also a minor concern. Of course, the health of Cole Hamels is going to be an issue until he proves it not to be one. Once he gets through the first few months of the season unscathed, this will become a nonissue. The Phillies rotation lacks some of the certainty you would like to see in a title-contending team. Brett Myers can be dominant, but he can also be dominated. Jamie Moyer will be hard-pressed to equal his numbers, while Joe Blanton is a solid option in the four spot. While the rotation is not a glaring weakness, it does give some reason for concern. Of course, if the Brad Lidge can muster some of the magic from last season, the bullpen will again be a strength for this team.

The Phillies are the defending World Series champs and will have a target on their backs all season long. They no longer can sneak up on people. Can they handle the added pressure? I believe so and Philly fans will once again be celebrating an NL East title.

Atlanta Braves:

Team Summary: The Atlanta Braves had one of the strangest off seasons in recent memory. It seemed every other week the Braves were being spurned by a trade partner or free-agent target. They were never able to acquire Jake Peavy after months of talks, A.J. Burnett turned his back on them for more cash, Rafael Furcal pulled a bait and switch and Ken Griffey Jr. backed out of a deal at the last minute. Amidst all of this, the Braves actually had a productive offseason.

The addition of Derek Lowe could pay huge dividends for a Braves staff that lost its top three starters to injury last season. While Lowe is not a prototypical staff ace, he will give you 200 innings, 15 wins and a sub 4.00 ERA. And what the Braves lack in a true ace, they make up for in depth on the rotation. Javier Vasquez will pitch deep into ballgames and may benefit from a change of scenery. Jair Jurrjens had a promising rookie campaign last year winning 13 games and posting a 3.68 ERA. Kenshin Kawakami is a bit of an unknown, but has shown in spring training that he has the ability to pitch at the major league level. Their five starter as it current stands is Tom Glavine. But if he is unable to bounce back from off season surgery, all-world prospect Tommy Hanson is waiting in the wings. The Braves starting pitching has gone from a large question mark to a potential strength. The bullpen too has the potential to be a formidable unit. But much of that depends on the healthy of Mike Gonzalez, Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano. If all three remain healthy, this bullpen will provide some much-needed support to the starters.

The Braves lineup is solid but not spectacular. The biggest question mark is where they will get their power from. In Casey Kotchman, Kelly Johnson, Yunel Escobar and Garett Anderson, they have a bunch of solid hitters that have 15 HR power. Jeff Franceour has the potential to be a power threat but he first has to bounce back to form after a dismal 2008 campaign. I think he will be okay this year hitting about .275 with 20 HRs and 100 RBIs. Chipper Jones is always a threat with the bat as evidenced by his .364 BA last season, but his health remains a question mark. Brian McCann is a reliable hitter and probably the second best hitting backstop in the league.

Overall, this team is solid all around with no glaring weaknesses. The problem is: they are not elite in any area. I think the baseball pundits are sleeping on the Braves a bit and with a little bit of good health, this team could hang around for the duration of the season. But in the end, I think they will come up just shy of the Phillies.

Florida Marlins:

As always, the Marlins are a tough team to figure out due to their youth and inexperience. There is no question that this team posses a lot of talent and potential—particularly in the starting rotation. At 26, Ricky Nolasco is the elder statesman of the starting rotation with fellow younins’ Josh Johnson, Annibal Sanchez and Andrew Miller backing him up. This Marlins staff has the chance to be lights out. But with its inexperience, it is probably more likely to be subject to some peaks and valleys. Likewise, the bullpen is largely untested. The closer reigns have been turned over to Matt Lindstrom and his 100-mph fastball. Whether or not he is up to the task remains to be seen.

The Marlins lineup again will be solid and athletic. Despite moving Josh Willingham and Mike Jacobs in the offseason, the Marlins still possess significant pop in Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla. In addition, this team can create runs by playing small ball and running the bases well. One thing to keep an eye on with this team is their defense. The old adage in baseball is that if you are strong up the middle on defense you can win. Well, Ramirez and Uggla both struggle defensively. While I would not be surprised to see this team compete for the NL East title, I expect their youth to catch up with them as the season wears on.

New York Mets:

The Mets were obviously determined to prevent another September collapse due to poor bullpen pitching. To address the need, they spend huge sums of money on Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz. And while the bullpen is certainly strengthened, the starting pitching still remains a question mark. Johan Santana is a bona fide ace at the top of the rotation but from there it gets a bit dodgy. Mike Pelfrey is still developing, as is John Maine. I think signing Oliver Perez was a mistake. He is too inconsistent with the benefit of a new contract may quickly lose focus.

The Mets lineup is definitely solid all around but has some question marks. Will Carlos Delgado be able to continue the form he showed in the second half of last year or will he revert to his first half form? Is Louis Castillo capable of playing a full, productive season? Is Daniel Murphy the answer in LF? No doubt, between Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Delgado and David Wright, the Mets have a solid lineup. However, between the question marks in the rotation and the holes in the lineup, I don’t believe the Mets will compete for the division title.

Washington Nationals:

While the Nationals made some moves to improve, they are still leaps and bounds away from the rest of the pack in the NL East. Adam Dunn was a solid addition to the team that will add some instant power to a lineup that was in dire need of pop. But beyond that, it is a bit difficult to figure out this Nationals team. They have an abundance of outfielders so it will be interesting to see how that situation plays out. Lastings Milledge and Adam Dunn will surely earn spots, so the last everyday spot is a toss up between Elijah Dukes, Austin Kearns and Josh Willingham. Why the Nationals continued to add outfielders when there were more pressing needs is puzzling.

Speaking of pressing needs, the Nationals starting pitching is brutal. John Lanan is a decent young pitcher whose numbers are victim of the bad team behind him. But after that, this starting rotation will have a tough time keeping the Nats in many ballgames.

All in all, this team will suffer through another dismal year.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have released outfielder Geoff Jenkins.  This move comes on the heels of the surprising news that the Detroit Tigers have released Gary Sheffield and will eat his $14 million salary.  Of course, speculation is swirling that the two moves could be intertwined.

Jenkins never quite provided the left-handed outfield pop the Phills were seeking when they acquired him last season and he was eventually replaced in the outfield by Jason Werth.  Going into this offeseason, talk ran rampant that the Phillies were in search of a right-handed bat to add to their bench.  Moises Alou and Nomar Garciparra were two of the early candidates to fill the void but neither of those deals ever materialized.

There are some serious questions that would have to be answered first if the Phillies do go after Sheffield.  The first is: would he even be willing to accept a bench role?  And the second is: is he still capable of playing the outfield?  His bat and power would be an asset off the bench, but his attitude and defensive decencies could be a liability.  More to come as any additional details emerge.

UPDATE: Again according to Todd, Chan Ho Park has won the fifth starter job over J.A. Happ.  Deteails to come.

There have been three popular questions around the Phillies camp in Clearwater the last few weeks.  Who will be the fifth starter?  Will the front office move Ronnie Paulino? And, will they get another left-handed reliever?  All three may have been answered in one fell swoop when the Phillies traded catcher Ronnie Paulino to the San Francisco Giants for left-handed reliever Jack Taschner. 

Taschner is hardly the lefty specialist Phillies’ fans were hoping for and won”t stir any memories of J.C. Romero.  Over the course of four seasons in the big leagues, Taschner has a 5.01 ERA and last season, left handed hitters batted .279 against him.  But with the Phillies looking for bullpen depth, they are taking a low-risk chance that a change of scenery might help Taschner develop into a reliable lefty specialist.

One of the consequences of this move is it may clear up the race for the fifth starter position.  Some people believed that J.A. Happ would lose out on the role simply because the Phillies needed left-handed depth in the bullpen.  But with the addition of Taschner, that is no longer an issue. 

The front office may have just paved the way for J.A. Happ to win that final spot in the Phillies rotation.

When Major League Baseball decided to switch the format of its All-Star game so that the outcome decided home-field advantage in the World Series, it conducted an ad campaign with the slogan: “this time it counts.”  Perhaps the U.S. baseball team should adopt the same mantra this year.

In 2006, the U.S. baseball team looked disinterested by the magnitude of the event and content to get back to Spring Training as soon as possible.  Meanwhile, the rest of the world was treating the event with the same fervor that soccer-loving countries treat the World Cup.  Players from countries like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Japan took great pride in representing their countries in the WBC and were intent on knocking off the U.S.  In some respects, the bull’’s eye worn by the U.S. team was akin to what the U.S. basketball team wears during International competition.  And in 2006, the U.S. team suffered from the same sense of apathy that plagued U.S. basketball.

Watching yesterday’’s opening matchup between the U.S. and Canada it was apparent that this time is different.  This time it counts.

Sure, leading up to the start of this year’’s WBC, the U.S. team was saying all the right things.  Players like Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins were talking about the honor of putting on the U.S. uniform and what it means to play for your country.  And that is all well and good, but until the games started I wasn”t going to be convinced. 

Well color me convinced.

Early on in the game yesterday against Canada, Adam Dunn slid hard into second base to break up a potential double play.   It was a good, clean play, but a play you likely would not have seen in 2006 out of this team.  To close out the game, J.J. Putz worked his way out of a precarious position with Jason Bay at the plate and a runner on second-base.  When Putz was able to get Bay to fly out to right field, his fist pump was in mid-season form.

The U.S. team is treating this year’’s WBC like the rest of the world treated it in 2006.  The players are in no rush to get back to their respective spring-training regimens.  Nope.  This year, the U.S. team is intent on contending for a WBC championship.  For them, this time it counts and I for one will continue to tune in to the games.

When I was in college, I took a sports journalism class and for my final paper, I wrote a story called, “The Video Camera of Sports.” The essence of the story was to get at the root of that burning question that has always lingered for me: what is the root of my special connection with sports? Much like a long-lasting friendship, I have felt a unique bond with sports that goes far beyond a simple enjoyment of the game. It is more than that.

In writing my story, I came to the revelation that my enjoyment of sports had as much to do with the game between the lines as it did with the memory it evoked. Each game I played as a kid prominently featured a friend or family member. Sports meant something to me because it framed my childhood—literally. My childhood is in some ways a tale woven through various sporting events. It helped connect me to what mattered most.

Today, I was reminded again of the power of sports when I learned of the death of long-time and legendary Atlanta Braves announcer, Skip Caray. I can’t look at Skip or hear him broadcast a game without hearing the legendary call of the Braves winning the 1992 NLCS in dramatic fashion over the Pirates.

Take it away Skip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuYKTv8nqhM.

“Here comes Bream! Here’s the throw to the plate! He iiiiiiiisssssssss … safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! … Braves win!”

Like many Braves fans, every time I hear that call it sends a chill down my spine, and often, a tear down my cheek. The chill? That can be attributed to the memory of a Braves team that fought back to win a tough NLCS with the most unlikely of heroes. The tear? That can be attributed to everything that goes alongside the memory of that night—namely, watching the game with my Mom.

When someone like Skip Caray passes away, all we can do as mere bystanders is remember what role he played in our lives. In my life, Skip Caray plays a role in that tear.

Every time I read or hear those words I vividly remember watching that game with my Mom. My brother, four years my elder, had gone to bed because the Braves had fallen behind, but my Mom and I stayed up to watch it from my parents bedroom. Even as a 10-year old, I remember thinking the Braves’ fortunes were doomed when a relative unknown came to the plate—Francisco Cabrera. But then the unthinkable happened. Cabrera lined a single to left field and I leapt to my feet on my parents’ bed and plead with the painfully slow Sid Bream to score. More than that, I remember my Mom screaming right alongside me, refusing to go to sleep until I was done watching the game. Of course he did score, and the Braves were on their way to the World Series. But the tear is not about the Braves, it is about the time watching that game with my Mom.

Few memories from my childhood stand out as vividly as the one watching the Braves win the 1992 NLCS. That is what Skip Caray meant to me.

First off, apologies on the near month-long hiatus here at “Heard in the Cheap Seats.” I took off for a jaunt across Italy and had a bit of trouble getting back into this blogging thing but I am ready to roll now.

To kick things off, I will put my hat in the ring for MLB midseason awards. Note: these are not predictions as to what will happen by season’s end, but who I believe deserves the award at this juncture of the season.

National League:

MVP:

As far back as May, the talk about potential MVPs had already been boiled down to three primary contenders: Chase Utley, Chipper Jones and Lance Berkman. Early in the year, when Chipper was hitting .400 and driving the ball to all fields, it looked like he would be the odds-on favorite. But injuries and a lackluster lineup in front of him have brought his power numbers back to earth a bit. That leaves Berkman and Utley. The smart money to win this award would be on Chase Utley. Utley is currently on pace to hit 43 HRs and drive in 120 runs–all for a division leading team. However, a closer look at Utley’s splits indicates he is benefiting greatly from playing in the bandbox that is Citizen’s Bank Ballpark. At home, Utley has 17 HRs compared with 8 on the road. To be fair, Lance Berkman plays in a bandbox of his own, but the HR splits for him are dead even–11 at home and on the road.

So the real question is how do you define the MVP award? Is it the best player on a team that has excelled, or is it simply the best player? If you are going with the best player, the answer is easy: Lance Berkman. As we are sitting at the midseason juncture, Berkman is my choice.

Cy Young:

The current race for NL pitching supremacy is a dead heat between Brandon Webb, Tim Lincecum, Edison Volquez and Ryan Dempster. A strong case can be made for each pitcher. Webb leads the league in wins, while Lincecum leads in Ks for a terrible team and Volquez leads in ERA. So who is the choice? Most experts are picking Volquez at this stage of the season and that is certainly a worthy choice, but my pick is Tim Lincecum.

What Tim Lincecum has done with the Giants has been nothing short of amazing. He is 10-2 with a 2.66 ERA and 126 SOs for a downright awful baseball team. In the end, his win total may prevent him from winning this award, but at the halfway point, Lincecum is the choice.

Rookie of the Year:

This is basically a 2-man race between Geovanny Soto and Jair Jurrjens. In the end, Soto will win out because he plays in a market like Chicago and his stats are even more impressive given the position he plays. Soto has certainly been a pleasant surprise this year, but it would be a mistake to overlook what Jurrjens has accomplished. When he arrived in Atlanta as the centerpiece of a deal that shipped Edgar Renteria to Detroit many questioned the decision. All Jurrjens has done so far this year is go 9-4 with an ERA sitting right on the 3.00 mark. So what is more impressive: 16 HRs as a rookie catcher or 9 wins as a pitcher? I would argue that achieving some semblanace of consistency as a rookie is much more difficult on the mound than at the plate–Jurrjens is the choice.

American League:

MVP:Everyone knows what Josh Hamilton has accomplished and the odds he has faced to do so. He deserves every ounce of praise that is being thrown his away. With apologies to Carlos Quentin and Alex Rodriquez–add AL MVP to the mounting praise. Sure, he plays in a hitter friendly park that enhances his offensive numbers, but the man is on pace to drive in 162 runs and hit 37 HRs. How can you ignore that?

Cy Young:

I guess I like to do things in threes, because I see this one as a three-person race as well between Cliff Lee, Justin Duchscherer and Roy Halladay. Although Cliff Lee has not been able to propel the Indians to the front of the division, he is the midseason choice for Cy Young. Put simply: he has dominated.

Rookie of the Year:

No argument possible here: Evan Longoria.

This Sunday morning marks the return of Sunday Smattering–the column that is my facade for not being able to narrow my ideas down to one post–so I call it a smattering and post everything. Pretty clever huh?

Without further adieu, Sunday Smattering ladies and gentlemen:

• Lakers vs. Celtics: After all the hype, drama and predictions, the two most storied franchises in NBA history will once again meet to decide the NBA title. The story lines here are endless. As much as I loathe both of these teams, I even have to admit that this final brings a certain nostalgic feel that is a rarity in the world of basketball. My prediction? Lakers in 6. Bolder prediction? Brian Scalabrine, in his only playing time of the series, gets so overwhelmed with nostalgia he clotheslines Kobe Bryant going to the bucket to reenact the Kurt Rambis and Kevin McHale incident.
• Taylor Wants Out: Does this really come as a surprise? Forget the fact that Jason Taylor is not a 3-4 defensive end, the preferred scheme of Bill Parcels. Forget the notion that Taylor is 34 years old. Forget all of the logical reasons why Jason Taylor and the Dolphins are about as good a match as Charles Barkley and Las Vegas. Did we really think that a guy that spent his offseason prancing around on national TV would mesh with the stone-faced, tough-as-nails, Bill Parcels? Not a chance.
• Rookie Phenoms Rule the Week: Between the debuts of Clayton Kershaw and Jay Bruce (I’m still pissed about the walk-off last night against my Braves) two heralded rookies showed their chops right from the outset. Both of these kids have bright futures, but let’s not forget they are rookies–struggles will come.
• Will the Braves Ever Win on the Road?: How is that the same team can be 7-20 on the road and 22-7 at home? Seriously folks, I am at a loss here. I understand that there will almost always be a discrepancy, but clearly this is a case of a Braves team that plays Jekyl and Hyde. If they don’t get it straightened out soon, they can forget about the NL East crown.
• Historic HRs: Last night, Manny Ramirez hit number 500 for his career and Griffey hit number 599. These two could not be more different. By all accounts, Griffey is a nice guy that plays the game the right way. Ramirez on the other hand is an immature prima Dona. Why he feels the need to constantly draw attention to himself through antics on and off the field is beyond me. He is one of the greatest right-handed hitters to ever play this game–let that do the talking Manny. I don’t care if that was his 500^th HR last night, if he ever posed that long and walked up the baseline like that in a game I was managing, the next fastball would be placed square between his ribs. Can we put out a referendum to the league on this? Throwing at hitters is illegal, unless it is Manny Ramirez after an unnecessarily long pose following a HR (or single for that matter).
• Heard in the Cheap Seats Gets a Makeover: Alright, so I am not a Web designer, nor will I ever be–hence the awkward orange and green colors from our previous design. We’ve gone with a new look, albeit still not perfect. In addition, check out the About section, it now reflects our staff of two instead of our staff of one–a long overdue change.