Baseball Musings

With the trade deadline tomorrow, I wanted to touch on a couple things going on. I spoke about the Lee trade and the Halladay situation yesterday, so I'll leave those out.

1) Manny and Big Papi - With the NY Times article coming out today saying those two are on the same list as ARod was from 03, does anyone doubt that most of the main guys from that era were using some sort of steroid? I've no doubt the reports are true.... It keeps looking more and more that Canseco was correct in his viewpoint of how many players were using steroids back then. Whats going to happen when these guys retire (like McGwire) and start becoming eligible for the Hall of Fame? Do you start admitting them but with some sort of asterik or do you just exclude them all together?

2) Red Sox - While we're talking about current or in Manny's case, former Red Sox, I wanted to talk about them. They're scaring me...... I think their season is right now. They've come out of the break and have played absolutely awful. Not sure the reason for the slump and I'm not sure what's going to shake them out of it, but if things don't change soon, their season is over. Reports are they're looking at adding Victor Martinez or Adrian Gonzalez, so the hitting is the issue, not pitching. Bay, Youk and Pedroia have been struggling lately and we all know how poor a season Ortiz has been having. Lowell has been injured and it's hard for Varitek to catch with a fork sticking out of his back...... I do feel they need to add some pieces, so I'm hoping for a big trade from them. If it means trading Bucholtz, that's ok with me.

3) Pirates - It would be really hard to be a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. I understand the whole small market, can't pay the big superstar salary thing, but they're so bad, they're unloading good, decent players not making much, that you need if you hope to build a competitive team (see Marlins as an example). They traded Jack Wilson, Ian Snell and Freddy Sanchez yesterday, basically telling their fan base "our season's over this year and you can forget about next year also".... Who wants to go out to the ballpark in Pittsburgh with that team. Not only will they suck, but they've got no one of interest right now on the roster to get excited about. I like their 1st round pick last year (Yonder Alonso) and he'll probably get a shot at making the team next year, but he's not going to put anyone in the stadium if they're losing 100+ games..... They didn't really get back any "marquee" names in the trades, so there's nothing to be excited about there (update - they did get Alderson from the Giants and he has "stud" potential)... Maybe I'm missing something, so if you're a Pirates fan, please tell me why go watch a game there? I know Mark Cuban was interested in buying the team a few years back but current ownership wasn't looking to sell, but if you're a Pirates fan, wouldn't you want someone of interest (and competitiveness) like Cuban owning your team as opposed to what you have right now? I certainly would.

4) I miss The Boss running the Yankees. There, I said it.

5) Angels - As much as I'm down on the Red Sox right now, I'm excited for the Angels. They're finally healthy (as much as can be expected) and playing great right now. Yes, I know, Fuentes has sucked lately, but he's still leading Major League Baseball in saves and I'm confident he'll get the job done. They're not perfect and will probably get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs again, but they'll get there and have a shot.... That's all I can ask.

6) Marlins - As small a market club they are (lowest payroll in baseball this year at about $37 million) they know how to be competitive..... They're only 2.5 games out of the wild card in the NL, so here's the trade deadline and they're out looking to add a closer (reports have them interested in Heath Bell from the Padres) in order to shore up their bullpen. If I lived in South Florida, I'd definitely be a fan. They're competitive and have some great young players (Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson). They may not make the playoffs, but at least they'd be fun to go watch some of their games. Are you listening Pittsburgh?????????

Bill

Ramblings

1) If I'm the Phillies, I love the Cliff Lee deal. They gave up very little to get a stud pitcher. His won/loss record my not be very good, but for the last 3 months, he's pitched great.

2) I think Halladay stays with the Blue Jays thru the remainder of the year. Best deal would have been moving him to Philly, but that's gone now. Riccardi has said he won't move him in the division to the Yankees or Red Sox, so all thats left is the Dodgers and Angels and neither are offering what he turned down from Philly.

3) Vick - I'd sign him in a heart beat........ With the understanding it's a one year deal, he's not starting and it's an opportunity for him to redeem himself and get his reputation back. Use him in situations (Wildcat formation, returning punts, slot) and make other teams game plan for him. Best thing he could do for himself is sign a 1 year minimum deal with a contender (Steelers, Patriots, Giants, Redskins) and become a threat. Then next year, look to hook up with a team that needs a starting QB.

4) God I hope Brett Favre stays retired!

5) I think it's time the Met's fired Omar Minaya. What's he done since becoming GM? Have they won the World Series? No. Have they been to a World Series? No. They've won the division and sky rocketed their payroll and that's about it. For a team with their resources and high payroll, someone needs to take the fall. He's been there long enough, time to say goodbye.

Bill

Unprotected Sex

There's a catchy title huh???

I always hear about these athletes with the "6 kids by 5 different women" and wonder what the hell are they thinking? Why no condemn? I understand having 1 child out of wedlock.. shit happens I guess, but after the first time, you'd think they'd figure it out...

However, here's another thing. I understand the women wanting and getting child support, but after the guy's "earning power" (or in an athletes case, contract...) runs out, they need to change the terms of the support. It's one thing for the girl (or girls) to be getting some astronomical monthly support when he's under a 3 year, 20 million dollar deal, but once that goes and if he's done playing (or doesn't get the same big contract) you can't expect him to keep paying the support based on that contract. You hear about to many athletes that end up not paying support because they can't pay afford it anymore. It's one thing when the contract is in effect, but let's say he blows out a knee, arm, whatever and his career is over, he suddenly goes from making 8 million a year, to nothing..... Terms need to change.

Ex football player Travis Henry, who's an idiot mind you, just got sentenced to jail due to drug trafficking. His career ended and he couldn't afford his child support anymore, so he started dealing drugs in order to make his payments (9 kids by 9 women.......wow......). Of course he got caught and today was sentenced to 3 years in jail. As a reminder, I'm not blaming his issues on anyone but him, but still, once his career and contract ended, he couldn't afford all the child support, so he was forced to look at "alternative" ways to make the payments. Does this help the women and kids? No. What do they do for work? Why can't they bear some of the financial pressures of raising that child?

Anyway, just a pet peeve of mine. While the athlete is making that money, absolutely he should be paying a big portion of his income to support his kids, but when that contract ends, his support should be reduced to coincide with his new income, whatever that may be...

Just my 2 cents!

Bill

Harry Leroy "Doc" Halladay --- AKA "Roy"

Everyone wants him on their team, but at what cost? I see all these posts by fans saying their front office needs to go get him, but basically the team would need to give up their 3 best prospects to get him, plus an already established young pitcher on the major league roster. That's what it's going take. Is that worth it?

Some examples - Let's say you're the Dodgers. Any deal for Halladay is going to have to include Clayton Kershaw, plus your top minor league pitcher and position player. Do you do it? I wouldn't. How about the White Sox? They're mentioned as a possible trade partner. That deal would have to include Gordon Beckham (last years number 1 and now starting major league 3rd baseman) and again their top minor league pitcher and position player. Yankees? Joba, Hughes and their top minor league position player. Red Sox? Probably Buchholtz, Masterson (or Bowden) and Lars Andersen... If I'm any of those teams, no way, no how do I give up that talent for a 31 year old Halladay (who's awesome.....).

The fans are great at criticising upper management when they don't make a deal, but when they do make a deal and 2 years later the talent they gave up to get that one guy are having incredible years, the fans criticize them again.... It's a no win situation for the teams.

Bill