Yankees Making A Mockery of MLB

FROM DMAN AT The Thought Spigot

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

Across the Major League landscape, anyone who knows a thing about baseball, realizes that, "any given day, anyone can win." The Devil Rays last year had a great story, in the 2008. The Oakland A's, in the late 1990's, were a team that used a light payroll and a mix of great scouting to win (going to the playoffs). However, the margin of dollars spent by big name, or "big market," clubs is getting ridiculous. Aside from the one to two teams, a year, scratching and clawing their way to a playoff spot, dollars is the actual name of the game. In any other sport, if there was no salary cap, a team could buy their way to the title.

The Yankees, this off season, have just made a mockery and a demand for a baseball salary cap. The Yankees, with the signing of C. C. Sabathia, A. J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, the New York Yankees are now (by far) paying for a title, in an obscene way. They have Sabathia, Teixeira, A-Rod, and Jeter, all on the same team and are the four highest paid players in baseball. Things do not stop there, with Burnett at 5 years at $82.5 million, putting the Yanks' over $215 million for the season. Overall, the Yankees have added a mere $79.05 million this year. Of course, these players have to stay healthy (not pulling the Carl Pavano), mesh and play team ball (not in fighting and splashing headlines, all over the "N. Y. Times," ala A-Rod/Madonna, or A-Rod vs. Jeter), and they have to actually play between the lines for 162 games, as a team.

It seems you either hate the Yankees, or you love them to death, and everyone loves to complain. Although, what most people do not understand is baseball is not the NFL, or the NBA. The NFL and NBA teams, if a salary cap was not in place, a team would be able to almost buy a title every year. Look at the addition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, for the Boston Celtics (and the Celts' are under a cap), had the Celtics from a "non-playoff team"/"non-factor for a title" to winning a title, and have a 21-3 record this year. The NFL would be a little more tough, to buy a title, because of the smash mouth play, health problems and the players of reckless abandon. However, almost half the teams, or maybe just any team (not owned by Jerry Jones) could take a shot at it and would come close. Baseball is longer season, at 162 games, long road trips, and team cohesion on and off the field, is not something even the Yankees can buy.

So where does that leave the Yankees this year and why even write this, if I don't think you can buy a World Series Ring? Because the Yankees, with the addition of Sabathia, Burnett and possibly Andy Pettite, mixed with 20 game winner Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, and Phil Hughes (if Pettite, or another pitcher doesn't come back) have a staff of four potential Cy Young Award winners. They were the highest scoring team in baseball last year, but their pitching was giving up close to five runs a game. The Yankees also have added Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte, and Nick Swisher, not counting the players coming back (Matsui $13 million, Damon $13 million, Robinson Cano, and "The Sandman" Mariano Rivera). Problem solved, now the Yankees will give up 4 runs a game, and have the potential (night in and night out) to put up 7 to 10 runs a game, in a brand new, state of the art, Yankee Stadium. It is ridiculous and shows how badly the teams need to even up, before the fans lose interest and the sport loses a large portion of their total fan base, period.

Here is what a Yankee line-up would look like, assuming everyone is healthy:
C- Jose Molina, 1B- Teixeira, 2B- Cano, 3B- A-Rod, SS- Jeter, OF- Nady, Swisher, Matsui, Melky Cabrera, Damon, DH- Shelley Duncan (or an extra OF'er)

Starting Rotation- Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Chamberlain, Hughes/Ian Kennedy (possibly Pettite)
Bullpen- Kennedy, Bruney, Marte, Humberto Sanchez, Albaladejo, (plus three other potentials)
Closer- Mariano Rivera

Just plain scary and no team will not complain about it, some fans may be disgusted by it, and there will be plenty of talk about it. one thing is for sure, on paper, the Yankees should be around 160-2, with a playoff and World Series sweep. That is just on paper, not between the lines, and as they say, "everything in the game, only counts between those white lines."

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"Sweet Lou" Loses Game 1 For Chicago Cubs, in Playoffs

The "Billy Goat Curse," a sense of tension caused by a 100 year drought, or just a regular "on any given day, any team can beat another" may be the reason the Cubs lost to the Dodgers (in game one) in the playoffs tonight. The Chicago Cubs came out to play, in game one of the playoffs, and looked like a team facing extinction. In a five game series, there is countless strategies involved, and Lou Pinella can take full responsibility for the loss in game one. It wasn't a curse, no billy goats, history was not against the "loveable losers," instead it was Pinella playing for game two, rather than playing for a lead in the playoffs and for game one.

Ryan Dempster is a fine pitcher, but he is not a Carlos Zambrano. Carlos Zambrano is the ace of the staff, the "C.C. Sabathia" of the Cubs, and he is clutch, a man/player who feeds off of emotion, and a great hitter (one of the best, as a pitcher) to boot. Yet, "Sweet Lou" started Ryan Dempster, in game one. Some may ask themselves why, or maybe they are not giving it a second thought, but there is only one reason. Lou Pinella thought, if the Cubs lose game one, then he will be able to bring "Big Z/Baby Bull" out for game two, and there is a lock. Pinella played for the split, at home, in front of a sell out Wrigley Field crowd, with the best National League team (possibly the best overall Cubs team, since 1984), and there is nobody to blame, but Lou Pinella. In a short series, teams have to play for the day, using momentum, and every single advantage at their disposal. Pinella did not utilize his most prize possession, in game one, momentum and his ace.

The whole Cubs team looked tight, not confident and timid, and they lacked a leader on the field, to pull them out of this funk (from beginning to end). If Carlos Zambrano was on the "bump" for game one, the Cubs would have had a completely different feeling, going on the field. Zambrano is a fiery, no frills, flame thrower, who also has three other dominate pitches. Maybe, three, or even two years ago, Zambrano (like other fiery pitchers before them) would have been "to excited/fired up," but not this "Z". He has been able to harness his most beneficial asset, his fire, drive, and love for the game, to make him a constant top five Cy Young pitcher year in, year out. Starting Zambrano, who had more than enough rest (6 days), who had a 14-6 record, 3.81 era, 130 K's and a 1.21 WHIP, all with a month out in the middle of the season (also bringing a .337 avg., 14 rbi's and 4 home runs). The Cubs are the only team that did not start their ace (with the exception of the Brewers, who had to pitch C.C. Sabathia, three times on three days rest, to get to the playoffs). A team's ace is not always the player with all the best stats, either.

The bottom line, with Zambrano sitting game one, he is not going to have the option of pitching two times, if the series goes to five games (which it now may). 24 of the last 28 teams to have won game one, of a five game playoff series, have gone on to win the series. When the time comes to "play to stay," a team's manager must put their most dominate, player with the most situational prowess, and mostly the pitcher who makes the whole team better (both in the field, at the plate, but most importantly to the team's psyche). Lou Pinella did not only let the Chicago area down, the Cub fans around the world down, his team down, but he also let Carlos Zambrano down. The energy he would have channeled thru a 2-0 lead (after the 2 run homer from Mark DeRosa) would have gone a long way with "Z" and the team. Instead, the constant back and forth panning of the camera, to Zambrano, showed him stewing and flipping a ball in the air, but now his energy in game two will be set to a "can't lose effort," rather than giving him the ball in game one, for a possible win and game five appearance. The Dodgers now have the momentum, but more importantly (Lou Pinella) has given the Cubs a huge desperation feeling of, "Oh no, not 101 years, without a World Series win." Nice going "Sweet Lou," nothing like playing behind the eight ball, but the Cubs would have it no other way.

Hopefully, I am wrong, and they come back and sweep, the next three.

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A Natural Player Will Clark Vs. Rafeal Palmeiro A Roid Player (by the stats)

There are very few players who can be compared over their careers, in baseball, in a sense of a "steroid player" vs. a "non-steriod player" and see almost perfectly what steroids can do. Over a career, there are not a lot of players who balance each other out. Some are faster than other players, others have a lot more power numbers, still some have more awards and even others played in different era's. However, there is an almost perfect example of two players, who fit the bill and are scarily identical. Will Clark and Rafeal Palmeiro, are those two players. I do not know why there has never been a full on comparison, but there is one now.

Will Clark and Rafeal Palmeiro both played their college baseball, were All-Americans, and competed feverishly, for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team. Will Clark and Palmeiro were both recruited, as first baseman, but thru superior defensive skills Clark beat out "Raffy" sending him to right field (where Palmeiro was not comfortable playing, but they needed him in the lineup everyday). Both Clark and Palmeiro came out of college, in 1986. Will "The Thrill" Clark jumped right into the San Francisco lineup out of college, and Palmeiro took two years of minor league seasoning (which is nothing, in a MLB career and is not a strike on Raffy). In Clark's first year, he finished 5th in the "Rookie of the Year" balloting, and in his second year he was fifth in MVP voting (as well as, in his 3rd year, 4th year he finished 2nd and was named an All-star). Palmeiro did not step out of his shell until the third major league season, with the Cubs, but was traded to the Texas Rangers (in his 4th year). Looking at the records and statistics of Will Clark and Rafeal Palmeiro, there is not any doubt, Will Clark was a major stand out and was crushing Palmeiro in almost all departments, accolades, and overall leading the Giants and Orioles in offensive (and was a Gold Glover, at first, as well) categories, thru 1992. In 1992 thru 1995, something really changed in Palmiero's game and numbers?

He went from a player that never hit over 26 home runs (one time, in 1991), over 89 RBI's, and had over a .322 AVG. (.389 OB% & ..532 Slugging %), to having standout and double production years? While Will Clark had his most success in his the years, between the years of 1988 thru 1994 (in the MVP race and an All-star each year, but one), when he would have been in his late 20's and early 30's. In that same time period, Palmeiro was an above average player, being an All-star one time (with good statistics, for the time frame of baseball). However, after the strike year of 1994 (when most experts think, the heat was on to "bring the fans back to ball parks, with the long ball"), Palmeiro struck out into the stratosphere. Between the years of 1995-2003, "Raffy the Roid Boy" never hit less than 38 home runs, under 104 RBI's, under .546 Slugging % (minus the two years he had injury problems, where he still slugged over .504). Will Clark in the years after the strike, continued with his regular numbers (that were held as A.S. numbers, until the "chicks dig the long ball fever, Steroid Fever" began). They slowly began to decline, in the "POWER DEPARTMENT," yet Clark (who had 20/4 eye sight, like Ted Williams, his idol) did not hit under .302 (except for one year), until his retirement.

A look at these two players statistics, the way they played the game, the crowds reaction to them, and most of all the way they treated the game shows a lot. Before the Congressional hearing, nothing said anything more about the two All-stars, than "The Thrill" and "The Natural". The two nicknames given to Will Clark, who's eye blacked cheeks, divisive glare at the pitcher and the game, and his heart for the game, defined the game for fifteen years. A player (Clark) who punished pitchers, but was liked by all, stood down when he felt his time was thru with the game. Maybe not because "The Thrill" could not play anymore, but because he had more respect for players, the fans, and most of all for the love and pristine nature of the game, he loved so much. Will Clark is off, maybe in a fishing boat, or in a hunting blind, somewhere in the world, with the same love, respect, and overall passion for life. If only the passion, for the game and the sacred treatment of the diamond, could get players like Don Mattingly, Paul O'niel, and Will Clark into the Hall of Fame, justice would be done. Though, no one will hear Will Clark complain, which is for the best (as he did not desecrate the game, or himself, for glory). However, "Raffy" will always be remembered, wagging his finger at Congress, stating, "I never, ever took steroids." All things considered, Will Clark is probably glad, he is remembered for what he did between the lines, rather for the lies he told (with his body and mouth). Always will an asterisk, by his name, and doubt in all of the fans hearts.


WILL CLARK's STATISTICS (as a professional):

===================================================================
Year Age Games Runs Hits HR RBI AVG. OBP SLG% Awards

1986 22 111 66 117 11 41 .287 .343 .444 RoY-5

1987 23 150 89 163 35 91 .308 .371 .580 MVP-5

1988 24 162 102 162 29 109 .282 .386 .508 MVP-5, AS

1989 25 159 104 196 23 111 .333 .407 .546 MVP-2, AS

1990 26 154 91 177 19 95 .295 .357 .448 All-star

1991 27 148 84 170 29 116 .301 .359 .536 SS ,MVP-4, AS

1992 28 144 69 154 16 73 .300 .384 .476 All-star

1993 29 132 82 139 14 73 .283 .367 .432

1994 30 110 73 128 13 80 .329 .431 .501 All-star

1995 31 123 85 137 16 92 .302 .389 .480
1996 32 117 69 124 13 72 .284 .377 .436
1997 33 110 56 128 12 51 .326 .400 .496

1998 34 149 98 169 23 102 .305 .384 .507

1999 35 77 40 76 10 29 .303 .395 .482
2000 36 130 78 139 21 70 .329 .418 .546

===================================================================
Total Years Games Runs Hits HRs RBI AVG. OB% SLG% Awards
15 Seasons 1976 1186 2176 440 1205 .303 .384 .497 Top 5 MVP (4)
All-star (6), SS (1)
===================================================================

Rafeal Palmeiro's Statistics (as a professional):

Year Age Games Runs Hits HR RBI AVG OBP SLG% Awards

1986 22 22 9 18 3 12 .247 .295 .425
1987 22 84 32 61 14 30 .276 .336 .543

1988 23 152 75 178 8 53 .307 .349 .436 All-star

1989 24 156 76 154 8 64 .275 .354 .374

1990 25 154 72 191 14 89 .319 .361 .468

1991 26 159 115 203 26 88 .322 .389 .532 All-star

1992 27 159 84 163 22 85 .268 .352 .434

1993 28 160 124 176 37 105 .295 .371 .554

1994 29 111 82 139 23 76 .319 .392 .550

1995 30 143 89 172 39 104 .310 .380 .583

1996 31 162 110 181 39 142 .289 .381 .546

1997 32 158 95 156 38 110 .254 .329 .485

1998 33 162 98 183 43 121 .296 .379 .565 SS, All-star

1999 34 158 96 183 47 148 .324 .420 .630 SS, MVP(5) All-Star

2000 35 158 102 163 39 120 .288 .397 .558

2001 36 160 98 164 47 123 .273 . 381 .563

2002 37 155 99 149 43 105 .273 .391 .571

2003 38 154 92 146 38 112 .260 .359 .508

2004 39 154 68 142 23 88 .258 .359 .436
2005 40 110 47 98 18 60 .266 .339 .447

===================================================================

Seasons Games Runs Hits HRs RBIs AVG. OB% SLG% Awards
20 2831 1663 3020 569 1835 .288 .371 .515 2 Silver Slugger/4 A.S.
MVP (5th)
===================================================================

From DMAN, at TheThoughtSpigot.com
http://thethoughtspigot.com/
"Where the news, sports, politics, and public opinion collide in one site"

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RAYS BRANDISH STYLE, OF BASEBALL'S PAST

"Speed kills" and it is also the ultimate weapon, in major league baseball. Some teams are not built for the "chicks dig the long ball," way to win. Yet, they still win with speed, team play, and "small ball." Going into the MLB season, this year (in the AL East), the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees were to do battle until the death. Then possibly the other would be the "wild card" team (with just a small shot at the Blue Jays, in the East, being any kind of problem). However, the Tampa Bay Rays are the best team in the East, and the Red Sox and Yankees are playing catch up.

The last team to look like this and go to the playoffs (and ultimately lose in the World Series) was the St. Louis Cardinals (1985). They were a team of pieces to a puzzle, solid pitching (not a staff full of aces), dominate defense, and HUGE amounts of speed. Through the whole 1985 regular season, here is a map of the Cardinals way of winning. Focusing on steals, batting average and on base percentage (as only Jack Clark (22) hit more than 20 home runs, for the whole year).

1985 St. Louis Cardinals
Pos. Players Stolen Bases Avg. OB%

2B Tom Herr 31 .309 .379

3B Terry Pendleton 17 .240 .289

SS Ozzie Smith 31 .276 .355

LF Vince Coleman 110 .267 .320
CF Willie McGee 56 .353 .384
RF Andy Van Slyke 34 .259 .335
OF Lonnie Smith 12 .260 .377


2008 Tampa Bay Rays (1/2 way thru the season)
Pos.--Players-- Stolen Bases-- Avg.-- OB%

3B Evan Longoria 6 .276 .353
INF Akinori Iwamura 5 .275 .351
SS Jason Bartlett 18 .258 .302
OF Carl Crawford 23 .267 .308
OF B. J. Upton 30 .269 .378
INF Eric Hinske 7 .254 .344
OF Johnny Gomes 8 .195 .308

Playing out the final half of the season, aside from Vince Coleman's 110 (massive amount) of steals, there will be a very close comparison, to the Cardinals of 1985. Scott Kazmir is a solid and sometimes dominate pitcher, but aside from him, there is not a set of three starters, needed for playoffs wins. There is not a huge presence in the middle of the lineup, that is going to bring 3-4-5 hitters, that strikes fear in pitchers, changing a game with three swings, either. Yet, the Rays are the best team, in maybe the best division in baseball. Only certain fans and real hard-core fantasy players may see a big correlation to the '85 Cardinals. However, play out the rest of the season (according to first half stats, for the Rays). There will be three players stealing over 36 bases and another set (4 players) stealing close to 20+ bases.

The 1985 Cardinals (like the Rays) also had defense, just in the outfield, Willie McGee (CF and batting champ), Coleman (LF), Slyke (RF had a hose, and in his prime was a five tool player). Ozzie Smith, a hall of famer and "The Wizard" at shortstop, Tommy Herr (.993 fielding percentage) and Pendleton at third was a very solid player, defensively (having a 15+ year career). Looking at the Rays defense, they are in the exact same position. The team's outfielders can flat out fly and get any ball hit. Bartlett at short, is not an Ozzie Smith (but who is), makes every routine play and sometimes the spectacular. Evan Longoria and Iwamura are rookies, but field their respective positions and play above their rookie status, day in and day out.

It is way to early to see what the Rays will do, having a one game lead, going into this week and playing in the division they do. However, they are in good company, with some of the older teams in baseball's great past, like the '85 Cards, '82 Cards, 75 Reds, 85 Royals (even). Where they go from here, will mainly be decided by picking up some pitching, getting a little luck, but mainly stealing bases, playing fundamentally sound baseball and using their speed, speed, speed!

From DMAN, at TheThoughtSpigot.com
http://thethoughtspigot.com/
"Where the news, sports, politics, and public opinion collide in one site"

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BASEBALL IS MORE THAN, THE TRADE DEADLINE

Projection is everything in baseball. Whether, a player is being looked at for the real team, or for a manager in a fantasy league, the player is always graded out, all five tools are anylyzed, and then projected over the alotted time period (whether a career for Major League Baseball players, a season and/or several seasons for the fantasy manager). The overall cunundrum is what is a team willing to give up, for a perspective player. Over the years, several teams have made deals for the playoff run, made the all knowing cry of "we are in a rebuilding cycle" and/or the team needs a certain kind of player for the team (a teammate, a category player, or just rookies for veteran talent).

Decisions managers, general managers, and owners have made have been brilliant: whether using the draft, trades, or sifting thru "rule five players" and waiver picks. Then others have done quite the opposite, and have banished a team for years, in squaller. Trades and acquisitions like:

TRADES DURING THE YEAR, WHICH HAVE YET TO 100% PAN OUT, BUT COULD:
1. John Danks (White Sox) for Brad McCarty---advantage Sox
2. Josh Hamilton (Texas) for Edinson Volquez (Reds)-- As of now, Draw
3. Kevin Millwood (Phillies) for Johnny Estrada (Braves)-- advantage Phillies (then)

ACQUISITIONS/WAIVER PICKS/RULE 5 DRAFT PICKS:
1. Robinson Tejada (Royals)--Waivers from Texas-- Great Arm & Pitches, but pitched in Texas
2. Rule 5 Draft Selections-- JoHann Santana (Mets from Astros), Dan Uggla (Marlins), Josh Hamilton (Rangers), Joakim Soria (Royals)

WORST TRADES, AT THE TRADE DEADLINE, IN THE PAST:
1. Jeff Bagwell (to the Astros) for Larry Anderson (Boston)
2. Mark McGwire (to Cardinals) for 3 players: T.J. Mathews, Eric Ludwick, Blake Stein (A's)
3. John Smoltz (to Braves) for Doyle Alexander (to Tigers)
4. Derek Lowe & Jason Varitek (to Red Sox) for Heathcliff Slocumb (to Mariners)

When looking at the overall players above, the teams that won and lost, one thing is 100% for sure, and that is nothing is 100% for sure. When a pitcher, like Kevin Millwood goes to the Phillies (pre-new ball park) it managed out to be a great/good trade, for the Phillies. However, when Millwood was off to Texas, things changed dramatically. It was not because Millwood's talent, arm, or skills were shot, but the fact was, he was playing in the Arlington ball park. In the summer months, in Texas, the air is thin and hot, and balls fly out of the park like they were shot out of a cannon. This alone, could add a full point onto any ERA, so Millwood goes from a 3.46 ERA, to a 4.46 ERA, just by pitching half of his games in Texas.

Rule 5 draft picks, are the players who are not protected by the club, on their 40 man roster. Teams take chances, leaving player who have talent, good tools, and great attitudes unprotected, because another team may not move another out, for a "flier, chance player." Obviously, there are diamonds in the rough, found in players like Johan Santana, Dan Uggla, Hamilton, and others who become all-star players. However, most of the players picked up, in rule 5 drafts, are players like Robinson Tejada (Royals). Tejada is a guy who has a great arm, three solid pitches, but will have to struggle for a year in the big leagues (the other problem with taking "rule 5" players, a team must keep them for the whole season, on the major league roster, or sell the player back at half price to the other ball club). Tejada may struggle this year, along with many other "Rule 5" picks, but after a season, or two in the minors (after taking their lumps for a year), they may come back to flourish. A good "Rule 5" player, could be a saviour to small market teams and for late season fantasy managers, who may need a specific category.

Finally, there are the obvious trades, which may not seem obvious at the time. Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson, was one of the biggest mistakes the Red Sox have ever made, as Bagwell played fifteen seasons with the Astros, put up huge numbers and will be a first ballot hall of famer. However, for every Bagwell trade that is a horrible mistake, there are five other trades, which help out the teams for the end of the season, playoffs, and maybe even getting a team a World Series Ring.

The bottom line, there are always "do's and don'ts" for real teams, trades, waiver, rule 5, and fantasy baseball managers. They are not always on the front burner though. A player with heavy tools and a great attitude (Josh Hamilton), is not always a sure thing. Hamilton was picked number one, overall, by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in 1999. He signed a record contract, out of high school, was a five tool player and was a sure pick to be the next big superstar. Drugs, poor decisions, and a string of injuries took Hamilton out of the game altogether. Upon losing the contract, with the D-Rays, he was picked up by the Cubs (who left him unprotected, in the Rule 5 Draft) and the Reds picked him up. He was drug free and on the road to becoming a great person, but was not panning out as a player. The Reds made the trade, Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for Edison Volquez (back to the Reds). Now Hamilton is leading the American League in home runs, and Volquez is 10-3, and in the race to win the Cy Young Award and possibly Rookie of the Year awards. It is a big gamble, being an owner, GM, and manager dealing in the Rule 5 players, rookies, deadline trades and all that comes with them. At least, playing the fantasy league sports, a person will not lose there job, only (possibly) winning, or losing their league. Right?

From DMAN, at TheThoughtSpigot.com
http://thethoughtspigot.com/
"Where the news, sports, politics, and public opinion collide in one site"

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STOLEN BASES FOR K's & BASEBALL'S LINES BLURRED

Major League Baseball has undergone a huge change in just ten to fifteen years. There is the obvious reasons, that have kept everyone's ears ringing for about five years now: steroids, HGH (human growth hormone), and other things like "beaning up," "greenies," or "speed" (a legal form of speed, in pill form). Obviously, these drugs and the performance enhancing aspect of them, are a huge boon to Bud Selig and the game, itself. However, when the average and some of the above average people following the game, saw the signs, really they did not know what they were actually seeing, or did not care to look.

Before the 1992 season, there was a form of baseball, called "station to station" and manufacturing runs. The majority of teams had a guy, or a group of guys, who were fast and had knowledge of the base paths. They were stealing machines. From the beginning of the game, itself, there was not a lot of people who actually hit a lot of home runs, but there were always players who had speed and stole a lot of bases. The usually were shortstops, second basemen, and centerfielders, but even a catcher could run (John Wathan, Ivan Rodriguez, Yogi Berra even stole a couple of bags), at times. However, from 1980 to around the 1986, there were a lot of players who prided themselves on the stolen base, so much so, the standard for a season was around one hundred stolen bases. Players like Willie Wilson (Royals), Ron LeFlore (Expos, Tigers), Vince Coleman (Cardinals, Mets), and Ricky Henderson (A's, Yankees, many others) were all hundred base stealers, or close to it. Plus, players like Ozzie Smith, Harold Reynolds, Omar Mereno, Tim "Rock" Raines, and even as late at 1992 Kenny Lofton stole over seventy bags. Although, there are still players like Carl Crawford, Jose Reyes, Rollins, and Chone Figgins, who may still steal one hundred (it isn't like a hallowed number, like hitting in fifty-six straight games, like DiMaggio), the art is basically gone and teams do not "draft on speed," or at least stolen base speed. The term "five tool player" (hitting for avg. hitting for power, fielding, throwing arm, and speed) still exists, but the speed part of the equation is more toward the fielding part of the game, not necessarily stolen base speed. Although, players like Crawford, Figgins, and Reyes are great stolen base guys. The consideration for "a threat to steal," is taken up by men like Julio Lugo (Boston Red Sox), who had around thirty thefts last year, far from the seventy to one hundred of years past.

Symmetrically, over the past fifteen years (roughly), the same is the going rate for strike out ratio, for hitting. Striking out over one hundred fifty times, in a season, was once a dubious and shameful feature. It possibly earned a player, a demotion to the minors. Very few good players and only the most "all or none" players, like Rob Deer (Brewers), Sam Horn (Red Sox), Ron Kittle (White Sox), and older players Bobby Bonds (multiple teams) would fan this many times in a season. With the exception of Mike Schmidt and Reggie Jackson, both Hall of Famers, there are no players who struck out more than 140 times in a season, without a very short career (until the change, around 1997, when Sammy Sosa struck out 174 times). The change over, to excepting a huge amount of strikeouts, like the limited stolen bases, happened around the same time. However, stolen bases are a positive stat, but the statistics of K's, are the most hurtful thing to a team. They brutalize the line up, are a "negative stat," in the sense, there is no positive outcome (other than a possible passed ball, letting an advance of a runner). Striking out one hundred and fifty times, to close to two hundred, in a season is not part of most great players careers and most past great teams. They did not want players who could whiff, in that amount. The change in the last ten years, has afforded players like Jose Hernandez, Mike Cameron, Jim Thome, and Ryan Howard (who is now on the cover of the newest baseball PSP/Playstation 2 & 3 game), the option to make a career hitting .250, with 30 home runs, but striking out one hundred and fifty to two hundred times, in a season.

Baseball is the only game, where you can fail 70% of the time, and still be a Hall of Fame player and/or a star. It is also a game, where speed is a lethal weapon, most say "there is no substitute for speed." However, there is a rise in strikeouts and a deep fall in steals, over the same period of time. General managers and owners have given way, in drafting and training their players, for hitting for power and being fast in the field, rather than stolen bases and fundamental hitting (putting the ball in play). After the 1994 strike shortened season, where there was no World Series, and all of America was fed up with both the players and the owners. It was the lowest baseball had been, since the "Black Sox Scandal" of 1919 (where the Chicago White Sox teamed up with the mob, to throw the World Series, getting "Shoeless Joe Jackson" banned from the game, for life, along with seven other players). Whether it was the owners showing a blind eye, or the players taking advantage of a blossoming situation, in stepped steroids, HGH, and "little green pills." The game was transformed from being a paria (after the 1994 strike), to a game filled with huge and larger than life players, crushing monumental, moon shots, out of every park, but Yellowstone.

Couple "the juice" and a huge crop of big time talent "up the middle" (at shortstop, second base, catcher and centerfield), with players like AROD, Jeter, Garciapara, Omar Vizquel, Andrew Jones, Ivan "pudge" Rodriguez and a young crop of five tool players, and there was a change in the game forever. The "new crop" was fast enough to speed to thirty, maybe forty steals, but their power numbers and solid speed in the field (plus glove work), transformed the game. Then, came the home run race of 1998, between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire (two obvious 'roid guys), and that was the beginning of the end, of the American past time, or the way it was played. It was not just at the major league level, either. The players in college, at the same time period, during the college world series (in Omaha), were also not "typical baseball players" anymore. Players like JD Drew (Arizona State), Lance Berkman hitting 40 Hr's (Rice), Pat Burell leading the nation in hitting as a freshman (Miami), and even pitchers, like Braden Looper (Clemson) and Kris Benson (Clemson), all looked like they were cavemen. As a test, feel free to check out Todd Walker's (LSU) home run, to win the CWS, to Stanford star Carlos Quentin. After games, they came out of "Rosenblatt Stadium" with power mandibles and Major League Baseball bodies, in college. Therefore, when the players came out of college, they were major league ready. When they came out of high school and the Dominican Republic, they needed some extra "seasoning." For whatever the formula, they "Pro Ready" before the usual stint, in the minor leagues.

The Bottom Line: I am a true blue, 100%, unwavering baseball player and a life long fan. I am not looking to put another black eye on the sport, blaming steroids, or looking to pin anything else on the players. The only thing I blame, the sport I love so much for, is for players choices to due the drugs. Changing it before I could have shown my kids the way the game used to be played, to bring them up with an equal shot (by playing true to their performance and talents), and most of all, to allow them to blossom without worrying about the "business of baseball," rather than the game of baseball. I still love the game, all it's pure form and impurities, and all it has to offer. However, I do hope and pray the game gets cleaned up, because without it going back to it's roots, MLB will never surpass the other professional sports (the NFL & NBA, maybe in time MLS), and become "America's Past Time," once again.

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