With the start of football season and everything else going on in the sports world it's easy to forget about baseball season. Now that the marathon is approaching the home stretch in the National Pastime, and with Fall officially beginning, it's time to check back with the boys of summer as October approaches. With the season winding down, time to go around the horn one more time!
5 Things We'll Remember About 2009
1) Steroids Still Haunt Baseball
-From the A-Rod interview to the continued leaks of the 2003 list, one thing is clear: steroids and PEDs are something that baseball is still dealing with. Yes, the super sluggers and muscle headed freaks are dwindling, but the clouds remain. Remember Raul Ibanez going after the blogosphere? A-Rod's startling sit down? Sosa's name finally appearing? We may be beyond the Steroid Era, but that doesn't mean it still doesn't haunt the game.
2) Manny & Papi's Fall From Grace
-Even as big as A-Rod's expose was the news that Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Sure, Manny, those fertility drugs weren't used to come off a roid cycle, we believe you, don't worry. Then there was the shameful attempted cover-up over Papi's name being leaked from the secret list of positive testees (that doesn't look or sound right...). Those Red Sox titles now carry a sense of shame, and it's a pity that the Boston fans that waited a lifetime for those championships look back on those memories and see cheaters, like a lot of other fans.
3) The New Coors F.... I Mean Yankee Stadium
-What must the Bambino be thinking? He could have hit 7,000 HRs in this bandbox. The New Yankee Stadium made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Empty seats, homers flying out of the ballpark, and insane ticket prices have made us baseball purists long for the good ol' days. Nevertheless, with the postseason lights back on the Bronx, it'll be interesting to see how the House that George Built holds up.
4) Yawn... Is It October Yet??
-Maybe our lack of baseball updates recently has something to do with the crappiness of the pennant races in the late Summer. 5 out of 6 divisions are basically sealed, the Cards lead the NL Central by 10, and the Sox are running away with the AL Wild Card. The only "races" left are to see if the Rockies and/or Tigers choke away their leads in the NL Wild Card and AL Central respectively. Let's just say this, neither of those teams are doing damage in October. The playoffs can't get here soon enough.
5) Parity? What Parity?
-Look at the names of the likely playoff teams:
AL: Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, Tigers
NL: Phillies, Dodgers, Cardinals, Rockies
Including This Year:
-Yankees: 14 playoff appearances in last 15 seasons
-Sox: 6 playoff appearances in last 7 years
-Phillies: 9 straight seasons of 80 wins or more
-Angels: 5 out of 6 AL West Titles
-Cards: 6 playoff appearances this decade
Meanwhile...
-The Pirates put together their 17th straight losing season
-The Royals are on an impressive 14 of 15 losing seasons streak
-The Orioles have had 12 straight losing seasons
-The Reds have had 8 straight losing seasons.
-The Nationals/Expos haven't won more than 83 games since 1996.
-8 teams haven't made the playoffs for over 5 years
Parity in baseball, that is a funny joke.
4 Awards Predictions
1) AL MVP - Mark Teixeira
-He's been the main reason the Yankees are back. Yes, they might have overpaid for him, but he has still produced greatly. Big Tex just edges out Joe Mauer for our AL MVP honors because of Teixeira's power numbers (1st AL RBIs, 2nd HRs) and his Yankees will be playing in October while Mauer watches.
2) NL MVP - Albert Pujols
-The easiest of the lot. Pujols has been the dominant force in the NL as the Cards have blown past their Central Division peers. The Triple Crown is no longer a possibility with Hanley Ramirez batting .350, 22 points ahead of Alby, but leading the NL in HRs, Runs, RBIs, SLG%, and OPS will have to do.
3) NL Cy Young - Adam Wainwright
-A bit of a curveball (get it... curveball... pitching... aha ha) as Wainwright edges out his St. Louis teammate Chris Carpenter and Tim Lincecum of the Giants. Carpenter has a better ERA, but Wainwright leads the NL in Wins and Innings Pitched. It was Wainwright who was the Cards' workhorse this season, and that yeoman's effort gives him the nod.
4) AL Cy Young - Zack Grienke
Don't let the 15-8 record fool you. Grienke has been the best pitcher in the AL and one of the best stories in all of baseball this season. His microscopic 2.08 ERA leads all the majors and his 6 Complete Games and 3 Shutouts have made a statement as well. It's good that Grienke has got the attention that a lot of folks in small market losing teams don't get, hopefully it pays off with the Cy Young as well.
3 October Observations
1) Are we destined for another Yanks/Sawks ALCS?
-It sure looks that way. In recent years, the Angels have had the Yanks' number, but the Sox have had the Angels'. Unfortunately for Los Angeles of Anaheim fans (wow that looks bad, do Angels fans really call themselves this monstrosity?), the Halos will be matched up with the BoSox in the ALDS. Could this be the year the Angels break the Boston hex? Possibly, but probably not. Get ready for a long October middle America...
2) We could see the best Division Series ever in the NL
-Whichever 2 teams end up meeting out of St. Louis, Philly, and the Dodgers will produce a classic series. Each one of these teams are incredibly talented and certainly capable of winning the whole enchilada. These three teams have some of the best players and biggest stars in the game, so make sure you tune in and watch the great October baseball in the National League.
3) #27
-Sure, call it a homer pick, but it's appropriate to end the decade the right way: with hearing John Sterling scream, "YANKEES WIN! THEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEEEEES WIIIIIIIN!" It's hard to believe it's been 9 years since the last Yankees championship, but it's time to end the drought. They've got the most complete team in the bigs, and they will have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. What better way to officially christen the new Yankee Stadium, with the Bronx Bombers becoming 27-time World Champions. A guy can dream, right?
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