Wednesday, November 22, 2006

NL/AL MVP's

Hey fans,

Yes, Ryan Howard wins the NL MVP, justice is served. Justin Morneau wins in the AL, was justice served? Ryan Howard led all of baseball in producing runs for his team. A team with only Pat Burrell, not even an everyday player, due to foot and batting stroke problems, hitting behind him. Albert Pujols, continued to be the most feared right handed hitter in the game, missed several weeks, and it cost him a chance at two in a row. Without question, these two will duke it out for NL MVP honors for years to come. The key to Howard's production in years to come will be the Phillies ability to find a solid 5 hole hitter to back him up. I always say, what makes Big Papi Big Papi, is Manny being Manny behind him. Pujols has Rolen or Edmonds, Howard has a cast of characters.

Morneau or Jeter? We don't see much of Morneau around the country. We are force fed Jeter and the Yankees. Jeter is the most baseball savy player to come along in a long time. He has a nose for the ball, as they say. He is a winner. He's today's Pete Rose. He can do whatever the situation calls for. But, and hear this, if the Yankees traded Jeter for Jimmy Rollins, nothing would change for the Yankees. We have a Jeter on the Phillies, Chase Utley. He might be a better Jeter, because he hits 30 home runs, drives in 100 runs, hits 3rd, and plays everyday with the same nose for the ball. Jeter just makes 15 million more $. Rose got little credit for being the heart and soul of the Big Red Machine, Bench, Perez, and Morgan got all the awards. Jeter and Rose got their reward every 15 days. Morneau produced runs in a big way for a team that needed him to get to the playoffs. Yes, the had Mauer, who should have gotten more credit, but not much else. He is an upcoming star and this award will only serve to make him more confident.

Last, could you imagine, Justin Morneau at first and Ryan Howard the DH, for the Yankees in a couple years? How else are they going to get 20,000,000 a year for 10 years?

Happy Holidays

Friday, November 10, 2006

World Series

Hey fans,

Well, the Cardinals are the champions, in what I feel was a less than entertaining World Series. They don't care about that though. They'll hang the banner with pride in the accomplishment, as all Champions do.

The poor play by the Tigers, and lack of hitting made for a sub par Series. Fans always want offense and great defense, and close games. I think the Tigers over did it in their celebration following the playoffs, add in the layoff, and they got stale. That's too bad because they're a great team.

Baseball is a sport that can go this way over a short series. Good pitching always stops hitting, just like bad hitting causes good pitching to occur. Why did Polanco light it up in the playoffs, and go stone cold in the Series? Why did I hit .400 in the 1983 NLCS and go 1-20 in the Series as we lost to the Orioles in 5? Who knows? That's baseball!

A-Rod will stay with the Yankees, what about Soriano, Carlos Lee, Clemens...we'll see over the next month.
MS