ReaLesT
07-10-2008, 12:46 PM
As we approach the gravitational pull of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, don't mind if I wade into the first-half reflection pool.
Many of the sport's prevailing truths again are on display — and have been for quite a while.
All-Star starters Who will win the historic 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium? See how all the starters match up right here. For example, we've always known that Curt Schilling doesn't actually have to be on an active roster to cause a fuss.
We also knew that George's participation is not required for Steinbrenner interference to underscore a New York Yankee season. We've also been aware that players aren't much better than fans in making choices for the All-Star Game.
And the National League checking in as a punching bag during interleague play is nothing new.
But the first half of the 2008 season has delivered much more than the standard events. So, without additional fanfare, here's a list of what we've learned about MLB over the last three months
"Manny is still being Manny in Boston, but in at least two instances, Ramirez has behaved more like Pacquiao.
In his most offensive maneuvers this season, the career-long hit machine was involved in altercations with a teammate and the club's traveling secretary.
As this was being written, Manny was being Manny some 27 points lower than his career batting average.
Things figure to be different in the second half when Manny is Manny behind Papi.
We now know that scoring a high draft pick year after year really doesn't work out unless you have a smart personnel chief and a strong player-development system.
The proof has been supplied by the Tampa Bay Rays, whose combined big-league payroll number may not cover the left side of the Yankees' infield.
The Rays are not managed by Drew Carey. The guy's real name is Joe Maddon, who fooled us with the glasses.
We've always known that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is worth maybe one good expletive-peppered sound bite per week. But this season, we've learned that Ozzie is not beyond taking verbal shots at those who've been in his corner.
The target promoting this awareness was Sox GM Kenny Williams.
If Guillen manages to stay employed and presides over enough victories to reach the dugout-genius section at Cooperstown, his may be the first induction speech on seven-second delay.
Yankees slugger Jason Giambi has shown us that — in terms of performance enhancement — a mustache can be as effective as back hair.
Based on the pre-injury performance of first-year hire Andruw Jones (a .171 batting average with two homers and nine RBIs in 49 games), L.A. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti may be a long shot choice as Executive of the Year.
Ned is lurching toward a bit of redemption, however, thanks to the recent efforts of imported rookie Hiroki Kuroda and the (so far) refusal to part with top prospects in a trade that would swing the balance of (ahem) power in the already-winnable NL West.
Gotham City's criminals are no match for Maple Bat Man. It should be noted that the maple bat product has been accused of producing more splits than Madonna.
If the NBA can deflate its new ball because it was murder on Steve Nash's fingertips, MLB should sideline a bat that has the capacity to shatter and stab a fan in the neck.
Thanks to several home-run-judgment-related controversies, we're now faced with the very real threat that a three-hour game could be extended by five minutes.
Alex Rodriguez is a lot more entertaining than we'd imagined. There also seems to be a strong chance that A-Rod will not underachieve this October ... at least not on the field.
Almost everywhere you go, nobody's talking about Barry Bonds. I used the word almost, because there's been some talk in Boston. It probably won't happen, but it might be fun to see Barry and Schilling in the same clubhouse.
Viagra's not just for Rafael Palmeiro anymore. For the record, Roger Clemens denies having anything to do with Madonna.
Josh Hamilton is demonstrating that never giving up can be defined as attempting to be as strong as those who've continued to believe in you.
The Milwaukee Brewers are serious. By surrendering hotshot prospect Matt LaPorta and three other kids to Cleveland for 2007 American League Cy Young Award-winner CC Sabathia, the Brewers are taking a big swing at their first postseason appearance in 26 years.
While it's risky, losing Sabathia — as most experts forecast — to free agency this winter may not be as bad as it seems. Milwaukee will receive two compensatory first-round picks if CC doesn't return.
Then again, working long term in a brat-and-beer paradise might interest the 290-pound southpaw.
We've learned that the Chicago Cubs look like the best team in the NL, but we're miles from finding out if they're good enough to defeat the curse.
Joba Chamberlain is far more than the eighth-inning wonder of the baseball world. The trick is to remove him from any game in Cleveland before the bugs take over.
Based on their timely firing of manager Willie Randolph, we now know that it's never too late for the New York Mets.
Many of the sport's prevailing truths again are on display — and have been for quite a while.
All-Star starters Who will win the historic 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium? See how all the starters match up right here. For example, we've always known that Curt Schilling doesn't actually have to be on an active roster to cause a fuss.
We also knew that George's participation is not required for Steinbrenner interference to underscore a New York Yankee season. We've also been aware that players aren't much better than fans in making choices for the All-Star Game.
And the National League checking in as a punching bag during interleague play is nothing new.
But the first half of the 2008 season has delivered much more than the standard events. So, without additional fanfare, here's a list of what we've learned about MLB over the last three months
"Manny is still being Manny in Boston, but in at least two instances, Ramirez has behaved more like Pacquiao.
In his most offensive maneuvers this season, the career-long hit machine was involved in altercations with a teammate and the club's traveling secretary.
As this was being written, Manny was being Manny some 27 points lower than his career batting average.
Things figure to be different in the second half when Manny is Manny behind Papi.
We now know that scoring a high draft pick year after year really doesn't work out unless you have a smart personnel chief and a strong player-development system.
The proof has been supplied by the Tampa Bay Rays, whose combined big-league payroll number may not cover the left side of the Yankees' infield.
The Rays are not managed by Drew Carey. The guy's real name is Joe Maddon, who fooled us with the glasses.
We've always known that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is worth maybe one good expletive-peppered sound bite per week. But this season, we've learned that Ozzie is not beyond taking verbal shots at those who've been in his corner.
The target promoting this awareness was Sox GM Kenny Williams.
If Guillen manages to stay employed and presides over enough victories to reach the dugout-genius section at Cooperstown, his may be the first induction speech on seven-second delay.
Yankees slugger Jason Giambi has shown us that — in terms of performance enhancement — a mustache can be as effective as back hair.
Based on the pre-injury performance of first-year hire Andruw Jones (a .171 batting average with two homers and nine RBIs in 49 games), L.A. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti may be a long shot choice as Executive of the Year.
Ned is lurching toward a bit of redemption, however, thanks to the recent efforts of imported rookie Hiroki Kuroda and the (so far) refusal to part with top prospects in a trade that would swing the balance of (ahem) power in the already-winnable NL West.
Gotham City's criminals are no match for Maple Bat Man. It should be noted that the maple bat product has been accused of producing more splits than Madonna.
If the NBA can deflate its new ball because it was murder on Steve Nash's fingertips, MLB should sideline a bat that has the capacity to shatter and stab a fan in the neck.
Thanks to several home-run-judgment-related controversies, we're now faced with the very real threat that a three-hour game could be extended by five minutes.
Alex Rodriguez is a lot more entertaining than we'd imagined. There also seems to be a strong chance that A-Rod will not underachieve this October ... at least not on the field.
Almost everywhere you go, nobody's talking about Barry Bonds. I used the word almost, because there's been some talk in Boston. It probably won't happen, but it might be fun to see Barry and Schilling in the same clubhouse.
Viagra's not just for Rafael Palmeiro anymore. For the record, Roger Clemens denies having anything to do with Madonna.
Josh Hamilton is demonstrating that never giving up can be defined as attempting to be as strong as those who've continued to believe in you.
The Milwaukee Brewers are serious. By surrendering hotshot prospect Matt LaPorta and three other kids to Cleveland for 2007 American League Cy Young Award-winner CC Sabathia, the Brewers are taking a big swing at their first postseason appearance in 26 years.
While it's risky, losing Sabathia — as most experts forecast — to free agency this winter may not be as bad as it seems. Milwaukee will receive two compensatory first-round picks if CC doesn't return.
Then again, working long term in a brat-and-beer paradise might interest the 290-pound southpaw.
We've learned that the Chicago Cubs look like the best team in the NL, but we're miles from finding out if they're good enough to defeat the curse.
Joba Chamberlain is far more than the eighth-inning wonder of the baseball world. The trick is to remove him from any game in Cleveland before the bugs take over.
Based on their timely firing of manager Willie Randolph, we now know that it's never too late for the New York Mets.