Category: MLB General

The first part of this story is found here.

Next it was on to our nation’s capital, and the newest addition to the Major League Baseball landscape, the Washington Expos/Nationals, who are inexplicably in first place in a division that also includes the annual NL East champs (Atlanta), the Boston Red Sox old-timers team (Mets), the 2003 World Series champs (Florida), and the perennial underachieving Phillies.  Somehow, Curley and I landed a penthouse hotel room at the Alexandria Hilton with a panoramic view of D.C. that reminded me of the view from the Jedi Council room on Coruscant.  Or if that image doesn’t work for you, think of Ferris Bueller leaning on the window on the top floor of the Sears Tower, only not quite as high.  Either way, we had a fantastic view.

When you pick up the newspaper, you won’t see the Oakland A’s anywhere near the top of their division, let alone the American League. This leaves many people stunned. How could the “Moneyball” approach not be working this year? Has icon Billy Beane lost the magic, or is there more going on then meets the eye? Obviously Beane’s squad is in the midst of a rebuilding year, but why haven’t the Braves had to have a rebuilding year in over a decade?

Bill Shanks book Scout’s Honor has been proclaimed the “Anti-Moneyball” book. In reading both, there are obviously many differences. Emphasis is placed on stats over appearance for the A’s, and “makeup” over numbers for the Braves. However, the two franchises don’t have as much as contradicting ideas as either side would like to admit. The importance might be placed different, but both teams take the others main points into consideration.

Baseball has seemed so desperate over the past few years in the attempt of trying to have fans watch their all-star game.  It doesn’t make much sense that the sport, which is America’s Pastime, would try so hard at attempting to attract viewers.  Well, Major League Baseball has made so many adjustments over the years to the “Midsummer Classic” that it isn’t even funny, and now many of these changes have not fared too well for the game of baseball.  The one thing Major League Baseball wants its fans to remember from now on when they watch the gathering of the league’s all-stars is that “This Time It Counts”.

Here’s the power rankings through the first half of the MLB season.

By Ryan McGowan

A couple of weeks ago, the blood started boiling in anticipation of summer, and I started to experience what a certain ESPN.com sports writer refers to as the “Tingly Ball Feeling.”  I was getting a little stir-crazy in Boston and needed to get out and travel around this great country of ours.  It was time for a road trip.

Here are the power rankings for the MLB to this point. Questions and comments are appreciated.

I can’t take it anymore; I am almost losing my interest in watching baseball on national TV.  ESPN is out of control, as is Fox.  It seems every where you turn, its all about the Boston Freakin’ Red Sox.  

Everyone jumped on the bandwagon last fall, everyone except me and the other millions of Yankee fans, but the Red Sox temporarily inspired a country and a city by breaking the all mighty Curse of the Bambino.  They also brought some much needed interest to the Fall Classic.  Those are all good things.  In my opinion, however, it should have ended there.

Confessions of a Kool Aid Drinker
Week 9
Heath Cummings
May 30, 2005

Once again I face the bleak prospect of the best story about the Royals coming from the team they’re preparing to play. Yes, at 13-37, with a six game losing streak, and a managerial search that’s looking more doomed by the moment, happiness is no where to be found at Kauffman Stadium. Today, hitting Coach Jeff Pentland got the ax. Tomorrow, the hated Yankees come in to town. Speaking of hated, my ode to the Evil Empire:

Five Things I Hate About the Yankees

Another month in the MLB has flown by, here are the power rankings after the month of May. Feedback of any variety is appreciated.

I wonder how Billy Beane will feel when he’s watching the MLB playoffs at home, with his Oakland A’s floundering to the deep, cold, piteous cellar of the AL West, after he single-handedly abolished any chance of his team making the playoffs when he traded away two of his most electrifying starters, thus entrusting his reputation with the less-than-proven likes of Rich Harden and Danny Haren.

Probably humiliated.