Over the past couple of days several sportswriters have been taking great glee in predicting that the bruised and broken Astros are going to cut Hall-of-Fame-bound Craig Biggio at the end of this year to save some money in the name of rebuilding the team. And while it’s certainly true that Biggio has a $3M one-year extension that Astros management can buy their way out of for only $1M, thereby saving $2M and freeing up space for a “younger, healthier” player, I don’t think they should do it.
Category: MLB
MLB
When I was a child, above all dreams, I fantasized about being a dump truck. Unaware of the impossibility of this aspiration, I would wait eagerly, day after day, until the great truck would grace my driveway, promising a grand future.
By Ryan McGowan
It’s Olympic time, so let’s figure out who’s really number one. Americans are a rather competitive lot. Nothing in America can be appreciated for what it is; everything has to be quantified in a list as either better than or worse than something else. This is probably the reason why we get lists such as the "Top 25 Sports Movies," "America’s Most Wanted," and cookie-cutter value meals from McDonald’s. The Olympics would be a great topic for today in debating whether America, as many establishment types would lead you to believe, actually produces the best athletes in the world. But since I find watching most Olympic events about as riveting as a six-cassette set of "NPR’s Greatest Hits", today we’ll tackle a question which has been burning up the airwaves on WEEI today: Which team is REALLY number one in Boston, the Red Sox or the Patriots?
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Hall-worthy: remembering a great day
Me, Raffy and Greg, all the way to the Hall.
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The Amazin’ Braves
Nothing ever changes in the National League East, going back to 1991. Since then the Florida Marlins have won two World Series crowns. The New York Mets fell apart and bottomed out, rose again in a new era, and then fell apart and started over again. The Philadelphia Phillies escaped mediocrity and formed a loveable and grimy squad that almost won it all, imploded and started rebuilding with new stars. The Montreal Expos sent future Hall of Famers to every other team except their own, and never took a step in the right direction. There was a strike that cancelled the World Series. The wild card was invented and Major League Baseball went to three divisions per league from two. But nothing has changed. Every year over that extended span, the Atlanta Braves have always wound up as champions of their division.
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Get to know ’em? What for?
I am a Twins fan. There’s been a lot of talk over this four-way trade and what the Twins got out of it. Was it worth it? Should we be emotional over losing a player who was batting .238 so far this season? I think so. Some might argue that this makes me a “Mientkiewicz fan” and not a “Twins fan” or a fan of the organization. People can argue that all they want, but they’re wrong. Here’s why:
By Ryan McGowan
I’ve been thinking of metaphors over the last few days, searching for an elusive analogy of universal experience so I could begin to understand the complex four-team deal at the trade deadline that sent long-time Red Sox shortstop, five-time All-Star, two-time batting champion, and franchise icon Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs, in exchange for Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Dave Roberts.
By Ryan McGowan
There it was, the unmistakable trademark fist-pump after the last out was recorded, that he would later reveal was more to mask his fear of failure than to show up his opponents. The team in white ran onto the field and the crowd erupted in jubilation. The Eck had done it again, had finished off a big win one more time, the ultimate Omega to a host of various Alphas.
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Dodger Blues
It’s that time of year again. When baseball’s general managers frantically call eachother looking for a trade that will drive their team into the playoffs. A time when battles for divisions are either down to the wire or teams are far in front. Even a time when Paul LoDuca and Guierrmo Mota sit in the Dodger clubhouse before a battle with the second place Padres crying.
A questionable move by first year Dodger GM Paul Depodesta sent lights out set up pitcher Mota, right fielder Encarnacion and Dodger fan favorite and all star catcher Paul LoDuca to the Florida Marlins. All this for starting pitcher Brad Penny, first baseman Hee Seop Choi and a minor league pitcher. Say it ain’t so Depodesta, say it ain’t so.
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Red Sox NEEDED Some Fight
By Ryan McGowan
As an optimistic fan, I hope that a game like Saturday’s epic renewal of the ancient feud between the Red Sox and the Yankees can be a catalyst for the sudden phoenix-like revival of an otherwise frustrating 2004 season for the Boston Nine.
As a human being, I was happy to finally see the Olde Towne Team whup some ass.