Bleacher Report - Articles by Peter Laclede

NL Central: The Most Interesting Division Race In Baseball

Peter Laclede — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:32:43 -0400

Normally, the first parts of August are spent with contenders testing out their new trade acquisitions. Fading teams fade further, dominant teams dominate, and the rest sit there in limbo. For the NL Central, that was anything but.

The Chicago Cubs have continued their assertion as the best team of not only the NL Central, but the National League in general. They are 16-6 through Aug. 26 and are looking at a quick series with the Pittsburgh Pirates followed by an important series against the contending Phillies.

While they are only one game above .500 on the road, they have been simply unbeatable at Wrigley this year. They are also looking at a ninth straight series win. With numbers like this, it would take an utter meltdown (which is completely impossible in the minds of Cubs fans under the age of 100) to derail this pain train on the NL Central.

Playoff Berth: Guaranteed

The Milwaukee Brewers look ahead to a very important series in St. Louis starting tonight. While this series is crucial for the Cardinals, it is of less importance to the Brew Crew. While they could use a series win, even with a two game sweep by the Redbirds, the Brewers still maintain the lead in the NL Wild Card.

They also have a very important series starting next week against the Mets, which will set the tone for the next two weeks. However, the Brewers, while winning many games, have not been heavily challenged since they were swept by the Cubs at the end of July.

While they have seen a few struggles, the team that is supposedly so dominant has been nothing spectacular against superior teams. The next few weeks will begin to determine where they really sit as the division race heats up.

The pitching staff who was so dominant for so long also appears to be losing speed. While CC Sabathia has been so dominant of the teams he has faced, aside from the Cardinals, he has not seen any legitimate teams. Ben Sheets is fading, and while Prince Fielder isn't fighting anymore, the team unity doesn't seem to be there.

A good team, but unable to keep it together down the stretch, the Brewers will fall just short of the wildcard berth.

Playoff berth: Doubtful

The St. Louis Cardinals have another important week ahead. For them, this series against the Brewers, even though only two games, will set the tone for the two team division race.

The Houston Astros have come out of nowhere, as they always seem to, and have begun to put a damper on the three team dominance of the NL Central all season. While they are not going to take the Wild Card, they are going to prove to be a nuisance. Except them to give the Cardinals some trouble this weekend, and add enough wins in their column to make the baseball world do a double take at them mid-September.

After they square off against the powerful Florida Marlins, the single-handedly most important series of the season comes up, facing the Chicago Cubs in St. Louis. Helping the Redbirds is the fact that the Cubs have to travel to see them. However, Jim Edmonds has been nothing but an equalizer against his former club, punishing them game-in and game-out.

If the Cardinals want to remain in this race, they cannot lose two to the Brewers this week, must take the series from Houston, and also Arizona. Without those wins, the season is done for the miracle worker Tony LaRussa.

Nevertheless, this team has been fighting back against the odds all season. They won't stop now. Expect this team to bug the Cubs and prevail over the Brewers before all is said and done going into the NLDS.

Playoff Berth: Almost Certain

The Week Ahead: Yet Another Test For The Cardinals

Peter Laclede — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:13:42 -0400

At this point in the season, every game matters. It's like the NFL in that once you get past week 10, you cannot lose more than once if you want to be a real contender. It's do or die time. As August ends, the Cardinals again look uphill to what will be a tough end of the season, and one that is still very unsure of.

This week the Brew Crew returns to St. Louis. What will be on many people's minds is how much the Brewers have seemed to have the Cardinals number this season. While it's only a two game series, only 3.5 games separate these two clubs. If the Cardinals were to take both games, it would be a huge momentum turn.

With the Brewers set to dance with the Bucs in Pittsburgh after the short stint in St. Louis, the Cardinals need wins. It is no secret the Pirates are not a team who is a formidable opponent. It can almost be guaranteed that they'll take the series from the Pirates. The Cardinals need wins now.

Even worse for the Cardinals is that they don't have a team they can walk all over. As I predicted long before the All-Star break, the Astros haven't rolled over and died like they appeared to be on the way to doing. They will not be in the playoffs, but all of a sudden, they are figuring out how to win.

The Cardinals need to stifle the team who has seemed to be the bane of their September/October existence for the last five years or so. Even though Brad Lidge still wakes up in cold sweats hearing the crack of Albert Pujols' bat, this team does not ever let the Cardinals walk all over them.

After Pittsburgh, the Brewers do head to New York where a re-surging Mets (again as I predicted) will probably put them in their place. However, after that they welcome the Padres into town, so they really only have one series outside the Cardinals where they should be legitimately challenged.

The Cardinals do send Todd Wellemeyer to the mound tonight to face off against the slumping Ben Sheets, so expect the game to at least be kept close. Wellemeyer, who has been the most inconsistent starter who has remained all year, has finally settled down again and become one of the better starters as the untouchable Kyle Lohse has become touchable.

The Marlins also have begun to pick up the pace, so the Cardinals need to ensure at the very least a split with the Brewers to even remain in the Wild Card race. If the Cardinals are to lose both these games and then lose the series to Houston, the season is basically done.

To keep pace in the NL Central has been a feat even of itself this season, but if they want to prove why they belong, it's time to shine. May the bats of Pujols and Ludwick guide a team still without a solid bullpen, but a team who has proved day in and day out that they still belong.

Michael Phelps: The Feel Good Story For America

Peter Laclede — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:26:33 -0400

About a month ago, I asked bleacher creatures if Michael Phelps was the greatest Olympic Story in history. As the Olympics begin to draw to a close, and the swimmers finally hang up the speedos for the next four years, questions as to who the greatest story of this summer has been.

This article is not for that.

The Olympics are something Americans pretend to hold near and dear to their hearts. It is considered the time to step up and show the world how great America is. It is the time to win more Golds then our rivals in China and Russia. It is time for another miracle on ice. It is time to be the best.

For something Americans so desperately want to believe in, interest in the Olympics is fairly lackluster. Whereas the Olympic trials used to be on prime time television, now nobody even takes a second glance unless there's nothing else on. Nobody watches the small sports. Nobody watches MSNBC at 3:30 a.m. because the Olympics only happen every two years.

Then comes Michael Phelps. Tall, lanky, eating five times that of a typical adult male, Michael Phelps. The Savior of the Olympics in the US of A.

Aside from the obvious in terms of stats, Michael Phelps has done so much for the American perception of the games themselves. People became genuinely interested in the Olympics, dropping what they did to sprint down the hall to see Michael Phelps somehow out-touch a surefire loss.

So what makes Michael Fred Phelps the story of the Olympics? Easy, consistency.

America loves winners, as do everyone, but especially America. Americans hate to lose. Michael Phelps delivers on that ideology. He embodies a sure dominance that hasn't been seen in the games since Mark Spitz, rivaling Tom Brady of the Patriots for being most clutch.

Seven world records. Eight gold medals. Does it get any more consistent?

Even better, he's someone people recognize. This is his third Olympics. Sydney, Athens, Beijing, and most certainly London in four years. There are always star gymnasts, runners, etc. but their sports are simply too hard on their bodies to be a consistent threat from Olympics to Olympics. It's just not possible.

Phelps on the other hand, seems to never go away.

He makes Americans see themselves as they want to be seen, as winners. President Bush watches his races, famous Olympians cheer him on from the stands, TV crews blow off teammates who clearly won relays to talk to Michael, and he is endorsed by everyone who has ever been in or around a pool. He is the epitome of what Americans want; someone to follow. Someone to remember. Someone to trust in the ability to win.

So maybe Michael Phelps, born in Baltimore, molded into a swimmer because of ADHD, isn't the best athlete in Olympic history. Maybe he isn't the greatest character (many people like to point out his DUI at the age of 19). Maybe he's human.

But maybe, while still a human, he is the best winner the American people have had to grab onto in a while. And one who in four years they can still say "wow, remember when Phelps took eight gold medals, and remember that one race? Wow!"

Olympians come and go like ants on a picnic, but Michael Phelps seems to be one who will be around for a while, and one whom the Americans can again be proud of from event to event.

Can the St. Louis Cardinals Make The Playoffs?

Peter Laclede — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:07:39 -0400

Well here they sit. The real dog days of summer are here. The Cardinals are winning, yet they appear to still be slipping in the NL Central Standings.

It becomes a simple question of realism. Do the Cardinals have what it takes?

Yes. They do. But unfortunately for them, the question is no longer can they do it, but can the rest of the NL slide?

Right now it doesn't look promising.

The Brewers reverted to old form, fighting in the clubhouse and collapsing. Yet, they somehow have overcome those things and kept on winning. Their new ace in C.C. Sabathia has been more lights out then even the Brewers could have hoped for. Undefeated since the trade for him? That is out of sight.

The Cubs have done nothing but win recently. With one of the most potent offenses in Major League Baseball and a pitching staff not expected to last more than 6 innings a night, the Cubs have been everything their fans have been raving about for the last 100 years.

So, what do the Cardinals have going right for them right now? Ryan Ludwick, Braden Looper, and a few other constants. However, the problems seem to be, again, mounting in opposition to the Cards getting back on track.

Chris Carpenter, in trouble again.

Izzy, most likely out for the season.

Lohse, sliding, now being suspended by Major League Baseball for a pretty iffy call.

Are the odds stacked up too high against them? No. Anyone who has ever watched a club managed by Tony LaRussa knows that he never says die. However, he needs another team to say die. The Cubs, honestly, have a very little chance of slipping.

They are simply too potent. Their only chance is the Brew Crew collapsing. With the recent performances of that pitching staff, and the surprising ability to keep on, they seem to be poised to take the wild card.

Fortunately for the Cards, there is a lot of baseball left. Again, for a team expected to be a solid fourth in the division, it's been a good one. But with the potential of this team turned out for seemingly nothing, every fan will be disappointed with anything less than the playoffs.

The Cubs will not fade, but with any luck the Cards will again find their place, and make up the three game difference quickly. They can do it, the question is, will the others fail to help them out?

October would be a lot more fun if they do.

For St. Louis Cardinals, Monday Was the Most Important Day of The Second Half

Peter Laclede — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:09:38 -0400

As Cardinals fans got the first opportunity to venture out after 7:05 PM last night, for the first time in 18 jam-packed, emotional days, the organization that has seen anything and everything for the last three weeks got to breathe.

As anyone who follows the National League knows, the Cardinals have been in the midst of everything from 14-inning games, to division sweeps, to bullpen implosions (not really anything unique there...).

Yesterday, the Cardinals, the only team left in baseball without an off day since the Midsummer Classic, finally got to take a breather. Because of that "breather", the team got its biggest help since Albert Pujols' deep fly in Queens 10 days ago.

So why was yesterday so important? There are two easy and obvious reasons.

Rest

This is the most obvious. This club looks as it did all through the first half, when it was really battling injuries, exhausted. There is a difference between exhausted and sloppy, which the Cardinals were not.

However, they just appeared to be a team running on fumes. It is tough to go out there and play everyday. The bullpen was pretty hard hit in terms of innings, and some of the regulars have played upwards of 14-15 games. A day off was extremely necessary for these guys' bodies and peace of mind.

Coming off the game on Sunday night against Philadelphia, this was a team yet again decimated by a bullpen. Yesterday was important for all of them to get their composure and prepare themselves for the Dodgers.

They needed to regroup, get their thoughts clear, and go out tonight with a somewhat fresh start.

Watching the Rest of the League

For a night they didn't play, last night was big for the Cardinals. It is a known fact in sports, that as much as one controls their own destiny in the win column, you really only go far through the help of other teams.

The Cubs sat through a perfect-storm of such, and got absolutely devastated by it. Then, the Astros got the win on top of it. The Astros are not exactly setting the world on fire, so a win for them is a huge win for the Cards in what will be a close race down the stretch.

So, the Cardinals move up half a game on the division leader.

The Brewers, probably in the story of the night, had a little Monday Night RAW going down in the dugout. Prince Fielder, angry at teammates not staying involved in the game, went at it and chaos, of course, ensued.

It's like deja vu all over again. At this point last season, the Brewers started the infighting and collapse.

Last night, I am sure every Cardinal, at some point, saw their rivals fighting with themselves. That is a team that is now lacking confidence, teamwork, and a positive attitude.

The Cardinals now are thinking, "Hey, our pitching might be a huge flaw, but at least we are a team." It's corny, but true.

The Brewers, as seen by many fans with their star in Prince Fielder, are about to start an even worse slide than the one they are on. They have begun to implode and will start falling out of the wild-card race, starting with their series with the Cubs last week.

Last night, through the team's ability to stay at home (or go out to somewhere besides a ballpark), the team got the respite that they so sorely needed.

They will come out tonight with a rejuvenated look and take the series from the Dodgers. Yesterday, not Sunday night, was the most important day the Cards have seen since the All-Star break.

Tonight is a new beginning and hopefully a new style of pitching (one without blown saves).

Nationals-Rockies: Tim Redding Steadies After Rocky First as Washington Rolls

Peter Laclede — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:31:26 -0400

The Washington Nationals swaggered into Coors Field on Monday after a three-game sweep of the struggling, last-place Cincinnati Reds. It was their first sweep since taking the also struggling Seattle Mariners in mid-June.

While it was a high moment, much of the talk now turned to "surviving" a re-surging Colorado Rockies organization, who, like last year's amazing team, have been flying under the radar of the baseball mainstream.

The first inning started like many for the NL East anchors, a shaky starting pitcher, a defense not quite up to par, and just the general inability to get outs. Nevertheless, after being down 3-0, the Nats persevered and started to look like a ballclub again by the third.

A normally steady Aaron Cook was quickly undone by his lack of defense, with several throwing errors and mistakes, the team gave an added help to a Nationals team that was looking for all the help they could get. To go into Coors Field and beat Aaron Cook through offensive production is truly an accomplishment for the laughing stock of the NL East.

The real story from this game, as it has been since Friday when he got called up, is Emilio Bonifacio. This kid is a spark plug in every sense of the word. He gets on base. He has speed. He (while cliché) is a playmaker. When he comes up, things happen. His trade might be the brightest spot on a season marred by injuries and general disappointment.

Willie Harris also continued to be an offensive force, hitting a home run in the eighth and continuing to be an RBI producer. He has certainly been a surprise for this team. While he was quiet before, the acquisitions of Gonzalez and Bonifacio seem to have brought him to life. This team has something they've been lacking all season: energy.

Despite a great offensive night, not all was sunny in Colorado. The Nat's newest player Alberto Gonzalez, covering for the injured Christian Guzman, appeared to hyperextend a knee, or maybe he pulled a hamstring, but after the game it still wasn't clear.

While he had to come out of the game, it didn't look too serious. The Nationals cannot afford a player like Gonzalez to go down this early in his Washington career.

Between Bonifacio, Harris, Gonzalez, Flores (the catcher who knocked Paul Lo Duca out of DC), and the ever-improving Lastings Milledge, this team has really begun to come alive and look like a team.

They may not make the playoffs, but if the Nationals continue to play like they have in the last four games, they will be something that their fanbase isn't accustomed to: fun to watch.

The Future Is Now: Why the Nationals Needed To Win Now For 2009

Peter Laclede — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:59:41 -0400

After a rather surprising weekend in Washington, the Nationals are a brand new ballclub. No, they are not suddenly in contention. No, this season is not on a positive note yet. No, they haven't solved the problems of the first half.

But they have given themselves a glimpse of what 2009 might hold. Wins.

In a three game sweep of the Griffey-less Cincinnati Reds, the Nationals showed something that they have yet to really show on a consistent basis: the ability to get offense, speed, and quality pitching, resonated throughout the still unpaid ballpark in Southeast DC.

So what was the real difference? I hate to say "I told you so," but it was the young guys. Led by a rejuvenated Lastings Milledge, the Nat's hottest prospect, Emilio Bonifacio, and their newest acquisition in Alberto Gonzalez proved to be key players this weekend. These players, who have been touted on this veteran-gutted team, are the future.

So why was this weekend so important?

On Friday afternoon, Jim Bowden had to play defensively. He had to defend his actions for not trading before the deadline (poor performance equals poorer interest), why he cut some of his veteran money suckers (bad performance should not equal higher salaries), and what the future of this team could be. He said that this team would be starting to play around with the younger kids and they'd start working for the future.

In my last article, I said that on Aug. 1 the Nationals had to begin looking toward the future. They did that this weekend, with play resembling more of a future game than anything else. Yet, their bullpen held leads, their offense had speed, quality at bats, and their defense kept collisions on the infield to a minimum.

These wins were the most important of the season. They showed that this team has potential. While nobody in Washington would predict a win in October for the neglected Nats, their play this weekend demonstrated that they are a win-capable team.

The Reds are not a playoff team this year, nor will they come close. Still, the wins over a ballclub who swept them in four games earlier this summer demonstrates that these young kids have talent and heart, something most of the veterans on this team significantly lacked.

While they still have a very tough road ahead of them, they did what Jim Bowden claimed was possible on Friday. They utilized the farm system that they have worked so hard to preserve, even at the cost of the Major League team.

This team will not win the World Series next year, and they could very well be the bottom dwellers of baseball again, but at least now the country can see they have some potential to be better than the laughing stocks of baseball.

Joe Mather: Is This Kid for Real?

Peter Laclede — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:35:19 -0400

Coming off a red-hot week for the St. Louis Cardinals, rookie Joe Mather has been the talk of the town.

Since July 25th he has batted .270, with three long balls and seven runs, all in 37 at bats— pretty good for a kid who has been sent up and down more times than Chris Duncan while he was working through his health issues.

After being the hero in more than one situation this week, murmurs out of Cardinals camp have started to swirl that he could be the next surprise out of the farm system— particularly since Chris Duncan's career-threatening injury has surfaced and many fans beg the question, is he part of the long-term plan for this outfield?

Before it gets too hot and heavy, journey back to the summer of 2003.

The Redbirds, in an injury-ridden season, much like this one, found them holding onto a pennant that quickly seemed to be escaping them.

In a move to the minors, the Cardinals brought up an unknown rookie, with a name that would not be soon forgotten.

Bo Hart exploded like a rocket for this ball club.

He had questionably one of the most impressive MLB debuts in history, shattering Kirby Puckett's record for a batting average through ten games by hitting a whopping .460.

The kid made plays. He jacked home runs. For a 5'11”, 190lb second basemen, this was truly the story of the summer.

As time went on, the harshness of the sport got to Hart and sent him back to the minors, but the Cardinal faithful still whisper his name when rookies come out of nowhere and shock analysts and commentators alike.

Is Joe Mather the next Cardinal Bo Hart?

Unfortunately, no.

His numbers have been impressive, but not off the charts.

His fielding has been consistent but not stellar.

His has been enjoyable to watch, but not inspiring.

So, where does that leave this kid?

A future.

Every fan in the game of baseball wants to see some rookie come out of Tripple-A on a whim and blow the baseball world apart.

They want the next Craig Biggio, the next Albert Pujols, and the next Cal Ripkin Jr.

In reality, the best baseball players are not the ones who come up and do nothing, but light the world up.

They are the ones who come up and make subtle impact on their team. They are the ones who have to fight for a position and then keep it.

Joe Mather is that guy for the Cardinals.

While he stands a good chance of getting sent down again this season, he is not going to stay down there for his career.

He has demonstrated he has the skills; he just needs to harness them.

He still shows signs of a rookie.

Now, he's had a taste of the good life, hopefully he can work hard to make it permanent.

Joe Mather will be a consistent part of this team in the future; bank on it.

St. Louis Cardinals' Week in Review: Looking Ahead To Brotherly Love

Peter Laclede — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:32:34 -0400

Well, here they sit.

Five games out of first place, winning four of their last six, and looking like a team that still deserves to be in playoff contention.

In my opinion, they are a lot closer than they look right now because the Cubs managed to walk right over the Brew Crew in three of their four games. The Brewers "pulled a Cardinals" and just let the series get away from them.

At least the Cards were competitive!

So what did this team of underdogs learn this week?

The offense is back. There can no longer be questioning of it. These guys are back and swinging some hot sticks. Surprises such as Joe Mather (who has been a great go-to out of AAA for the outfield) and the continued offensive output of Skip Schumaker and Ryan Ludwick kept this team going this week.

Albert, who came out of his initial slump in New York, really came into his own this week, showing off quality at-bat after quality at-bat, and continued to guide the team from the three hole in the order.

Yadier Molina, one of my personal favorites, also showed that he has become quite the clutch hitter, and has been a great anchor in the bottom of the order.

The No. 9, non-pitcher, hitting slot. When I watch games that are not being broadcasted by the St. Louis FSN, one of the broadcasters' favorite things to do is belittle Tony La Russa's love of the pitcher batting eighth.

They debate it nonstop, and the second that the pitcher's slot comes up with men on and two outs we hear the classic, "Now this is where La Russa's gamble really seems to hurt him".

What they forget is that the No. 9 hitter comes up in these situations just as much.

Thank goodness that in Atlanta, the No. 9 hole started coming through, and Cesar Izturis seemed to regain some of his old form. Still, he is one who probably will not be back in a Redbirds uniform next season. While he's a Gold Glove fielder, fielding in the infield is not something we've struggled with.

The pitching is looking...decent. Braden Looper got a W; Todd Wellemeyer didn't get hit with the loss after a very shaky beginning; and Ryan Franklin threw two scoreless (though shaky) innings. All of this demonstrated that this pitching staff is calming down.

In a series that didn't see the Cards' go-to guy—Kyle Lohse—take the ball, this staff performed very admirably. Whether it was the promising performance from the 500-day bench sitting Chris Carpenter or the stability in the closer decision (though Izzy has yet to be used in the closer role yet), this staff appears to be calming down.

What can be expected from the Cards against the resilient Phils?

No brotherly love, that's for sure. It's going to be a tough weekend with the Phils rolling into town. While the Cardinals are coming off a great series, the Phillies were fortunate enough to be in Washington and danced all over the Nats' pitching staff. They were not challenged defensively.

While that could be good in that they had an easy week, it also means they are decently rested. No extra-inning games, no excessive lead changes back and forth, and no emotional roller coasters.

With Kyle Lohse taking the mound tonight, Philly is in for anything but a night off, but it will still take a red-hot offense to outlast the Phillies' offensive abilities. Lohse and the rest of the staff needs to be on their game and more—the speedy Jimmy Rollins and company will run them ragged if they are not in their best form.

Still, expect the Cardinals to take two of three from the Phillies in St. Louis. With the Brew Crew rolling into Atlanta to soak up the mess that the Cardinals left, and the Cubs headed into a series with the Bucs, this team needs wins to regain their position as the wild-card leader, and make up some ground on the streaking Chicago Cubs.

Manny Ramirez a Marlin? Why This Deal Is Good for the Fish

Peter Laclede — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:30:23 -0400

As nothing but the commissioner's office's approval looms ahead of the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Florida Marlins, the question turns from "who" to "why". Is this deal really what's best for the Marlins?

To the average eye, the Florida Marlins are really nothing too special this season. They have turned the tables to be a front-runner in the race for NL East, but they do not have many household names, except for Dan Uggla's stellar All-Star performance. So is bringing a big time star really worth it?

Yes.

Manny brings with him one of the larger egos in baseball. Normally, as a fan of the sport, I hate seeing players who make themselves bigger than the sport. Comments such as, "The Sox don't deserve a player like me" kind of infuriate me. How can a team who pays you millions of dollars not "deserve" you?

Is this ego something positive for the Marlins?

Again, yes.

Manny brings with him a swagger and a confidence. Normally, this confidence is in direct confrontation with upper management, but the Marlins know what they are getting themselves into.

Manny's big name, big drama, and bigger stats (yes, he will be a Hall of Famer even though he is a terrible fielder), will bring attention back to a club that hasn't seen much since winning the title in 2003.

He will put butts in the seats. That is something the Marlins desperately need. Manny, as much as we all don't want to see it, will attract people out of the woodwork. Maybe not exactly the fans a franchise is looking for, but fans nonetheless.

Finally, and most importantly, let's talk about statistics, without numbers. Manny is one of the best hitters in baseball. That is without question. No fan of the Boston Red Sox saw him come up (normally) and wasn't thrilled to see him in a clutch situation.

He murdered the ball at Fenway. It is generally considered that this year, the NL has weaker pitching than the AL. While Manny hasn't seen too much of it, I think he'll pick it up faster than say, Mark Teixeira, did in his first game with the Angels.

Manny is a tremendous hitter. If this club wants to keep its run for first place (because they will not take the wild card out of the NL Central), they need to keep pace with the huge offensive outbursts that are the Phillies and Mets.

Also, what is nice for the Marlins is that this is almost a tryout period for them. They have not said they'll pick up the option for Manny's contract in 2009, a catch that not many clubs are fortunate to get. If they don't like him, they can still get out of it. He will have to perform for this club.

Manny wants out of Boston. That much is known by everyone. I think most people are surprised this actually is happening, but it should make Manny happy, causing him to perform better, and hopefully jump-start the NL East into an even better race than it already is, here at the end of July.

Ken Griffey Jr. to the Chicago White Sox? Why?

Peter Laclede — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:02:50 -0400

News this morning is saying that the longtime St. Louis Cardinals GM, and now Cincinnati Reds GM, Walt Jocketty has agreed to a deal to give up their Hall of Fame veteran Ken Griffey Junior in exchange for...nobody, as of now.

So why would the White Sox agree to this trade? Do they really need a slugger that is, respectfully, of course, past his prime?

Griffey is not expected to play for more than another year or two, and the White Sox are stocked in the outfield and at the DH. Is this just another example of a playoff probable team getting greedy?

The only logical explanation for this trade is that the Sox intend to put Nick Swisher back to the infield in exchange for the struggling Paul Konerko. Even though he is struggling, is sitting him for an aging slugger really the best option?

This trade will probably not impact the White Sox as much as their ownership hopes. Griffey is a very solid fielder, but he is getting older. The acrobatic, Jim Edmonds-like abilities he used to showcase in Seattle are past him. He is still a threat in the batter's box, but will it really be worth who they gave up?

And why did Cincinnati agree to this trade?

The answer appears that they have begun the process of rebuilding for 2009. It is no secret that Griffey is an expensive catch, so by freeing up their payroll they can begin to explore options for 2009. As a rival of the Reds (being a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals), it will be a relief for bullpens throughout the NL to see Griffey gone, but he will be missed.

The final question: Will this be an end-of-career move for Griffey? Is all of the talk about his moving back to Seattle just said to make the people of Seattle remember him even more fondly? Only time will tell.

Griffey is regarded as one of the few "class acts" left in the game, and hopefully he can finish out his playing time well in Chicago. Thanks for the fun Griffey; we'll miss you in the NL.

Watch Out NL Central: Albert's Back

Peter Laclede — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:53:16 -0400

Not to state the obvious, but with the return of Phat Albert, the Cardinals are like a post coma-victim looking at the world for the first time in years. They seem to be doing something that they haven't done since before the All-Star break: have things working right.

To make one thing clear, in this current series, the Braves have shot themselves in the foot. They have made Little League-type errors, overthrown cutoff men, thrown to the wrong bag, and have had generally bad self-awareness. However, the Cardinals have induced these errors and forced the Braves into high-pressure situations, so not all the credit is due to Atlanta.

How has Albert Pujols led this team and brought them back to contention? Many people are going to argue that it's the longball. Of course his deep fly at what felt like 4 AM on Sunday morning against the Mets was the game winner. Of course his home run last night tied the game up after Todd Wellemeyer had lost all confidence on the mound.

But-it's been the little things since the series with the Padres that have shown this team why Pujols is still their leader and why he is the biggest predictor of success this team has.

As a Cardinals fan, I hate to point out that one player really steers the ship, but anyone who follows this team knows this is true. When he is making plays, the team does better. Steals, bases-loaded doubles; he is a playmaker (to be cliche).

So how do we know Big Albert is back in town? Baserunning, quality at-bats, and the way a pitching staff handles him. When Pujols was chasing 300, he was getting pitched to because he wasn't a threat. He was skying everything; the chase had consumed him.

Right before and through some of the Padres series, he was clearly trying too hard and looking to knock it over the wall rather than put it in play. Very un-Albert like, but expected when you are constantly counted on to be clutch like he is.

On the bases, he is putting pressure on the defense. With his burly stature, most fielders don't expect him to steal third. Many don't expect him to leg out a single into a double. His confidence is back and his abilities with it.

Pujols has always been able to hit the ball deep. When he wasn't hitting home runs, he was still putting the ball deep into the outfield. However, it would always be caught. Occasionally it'd strike the wall, but it seemed to many people that he was just trying too hard.

Recently, however, as pitchers are starting to intentionally walk him again, it is pretty clear the NL sees him heating back up.

It is terrific to see him back doing what we all have come to expect out of Pujols: lead the team offensively. With Albert in the three hole and Yadier Molina in the six hole, both the top and bottom of the order spells trouble for pitchers because of both these players' ability to make contact and not strike out.

Either way, as long as Albert keeps seeing the ball as well as he has recently, the NL should beware the Redbirds' offense.

Open Mic: Beach Volleyball—More Fun for Regular People

Peter Laclede — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:34:54 -0400

Beach volleyball is still a sport many Olympic "purists" scoff at. How can this sport clearly meant to be played between guys trying to show off and girls in bikinis possibly be something competitive on the world stage?

Easy: it's fun.

In an age when sports have become so commercialized, why not embrace the commercialism in something many sports fans around the world can compete in without much effort?

Take gymnastics. As much as I'd love to be as jacked as some gymnasts and be able to do the parallel bars (pommel horse is a little too terrifying for us guys) or the rings, it's not something the average person can just decide to go pick up. Volleyball is something most people who have ever been to a beach, college, local YMCA, or a wealthier friend's backyard can do.

Piggybacking off the ability for anyone to really get involved, volleyball is something that many people can associate with. Take your atypical American male, aged 25. He can sit there with his girlfriend and watch male or female volleyball and not get in trouble for remarking, "Wow Kerrie Walsh is really in shape!".

He can also sit there with his buddies and say "Man, Todd Rogers is jacked," and not get made fun of. It is the great American Association game. Men and women can watch men and women compete, get into it, and not feel guilty or less masculine because they would have given Carly Patterson a 9.7 instead of a 9.8 in that last event.

"You seem to be picking at gymnastics here." Astute observation, reader. Gymnastics is fun to watch, but beach volleyball trumps it in almost all facets.

This, unfortunately, isn't just a problem for gymnastics, but a problem for many events both Summer and Winter oriented. They just aren't things that the average person can pick up and become skilled at. They are all expensive, extremely time consuming, and really only get coverage once every four years.

Now, volleyball is not something these Olympians picked up on a whim three weeks to qualify with. This took years of work too. But it is work that the average person can appreciate because they have experienced it, just not to the degree of success. The average person gets volleyball. If the ball goes outside the line it's out, you get three hits to get it over the net, etc.

Take another atypical part of sports in the Olympics versus what people are used to—say, outfits. Gymnasts wear tight outfits with sparkles and bright colors. Volleyball players wear swimsuits.

Sure, the average nine-year-old American fourth grader will dream of the days they too can do a floor routine, but the average person will think that just makes it even more outlandish. Volleyball players play in whatever they feel like, wearing sunglasses even. That's just cool.

We can become more excited for things we can associate with. Volleyball players are all a heck of a lot more athletic then the average Joe—however, they do things we have all done, wearing things we all wear.

People love to see things done that they could never do. Sports such as the triathalon and archery are sports that the average person will never be able to just pick up and become competitive at, nor engage in on a regular basis. Volleyball is something we've all played, just not this well.

It's a lot of fun to watch, and with how good the American teams are, a lot of fun for the American people to watch them compete in.

Michael Phelps: The Best Olympic Story the World Has Ever Seen?

Peter Laclede — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:35:45 -0400

Dynasty. The single word turns sports fans faster than DUIs, betting, manslaughter, or steroids. The sports fans around the world, particularly American ones, hate dynasties.

Why do we always seem to hate the overachiever?

Is it the reason why in a Yankees/Rays series, most baseball fans choose Tampa Bay? Is it the reason why everyone wanted to see Shaq and Kobe just go at it one day on the court? Is it the reason why everyone EXCEPT the Patriots and their fans seemed to be cheering for the NY Football Giants?

Probably.

So how about a dynasty in another sport? A sport that, to be brutally honest, only sees national attention once every four years. A sport that has seen the likes of greats such as Mark Spitz and Ian Thorpe recently.

Does the world view Michael Phelps as a dynasty? Almost unquestionably he will leave Beijing in August with more medals than any other Olympian in history.

So where does that leave him? The greatest Olympian? That's a hard title to put on one man in one year. Certainly one of the best swimmers the world has ever seen, but the best Olympian?

With the likes of Olympic greats Carl Lewis and sponsors such as Speedo and Visa in his wake, has there ever been a bigger story than Michael Phelps? No, there hasn't.

Many people argue that Phelps' attention is self-induced. Many in the sport will admit that Phelps thrives off the attention. However, is all of this attention bad? It puts swimming back on a center stage.

For a sport that four out of five Americans couldn't name more than three national swimmers outside of the Olympics, this sport gets tremendous ratings. There is no question in any of the networks', sponsors', or Olympic staff members' minds that Phelps brings the eyes of the world upon the pool, and that can be nothing but positive.

Another voice, particularly in the media, seems to paint Michael Phelps as someone who has everything handed to him on a plate and then wastes it, particularly regarding his DUI in 2004.

But it would be one of the most naive statements in the history of sports writing to argue that any athlete is perfect or above drama. Almost every athlete who has garned the attention, prestige, and expectations of Michael Phelps has slipped up.

Athletes such as Josh Hamilton have garnered much of their fame and respect in their sports by being those who have risen above the trials and tribulations of their personal lives. They have made the sport bigger by making it not about themselves anymore, but about success.

The final, and easily most difficult aspect of the Phelps saga, is that of the expectations placed on himself.

Yes, Michael Phelps brought much of the pressure on himself, telling the world he could achieve this. But with the bonuses from Speedo, NBC putting all coverage on him during his races, and the disbelief on the world stage in his ability, Phelps was going to be thrust into this light whether he embraced it or fought it.

While he didn't qualify for his Speedo bonus, falling just short with a bronze (pff, a bronze medal?), Phelps still took a step back on the world stage to let his teammate Ian Crocker swim instead. That was a move that seemed to really take the media by surprise and show that while Phelps was a gold-hunter, he also understood the importance of the American team.

Finally, in the Olympic spirit, Phelps gave the country another reason to watch. The Olympic trials used to be as big as the World Series, as watched as the Super Bowl. People loved the Olympics. Now, nobody even follows the Olympic trials, except when there is nothing else on TV on Saturday nights.

Phelps brought many skeptics and Olympic dreamers alike back to the games.

His story of high expectations and success is something the American people love. Is he an Olympic, one man dynasty? Not yet.

However, through his over 30 miles of race swimming in Beijing, the debate he always brings into the broadcast booth with each time he steps on the blocks, and the precious medals he brings back to the US of A, can anyone in the Olympics be viewed as a bigger and more consistent source of interest?

Stories do not have to have a picture perfect result. Nor do they have to always have a happy ending. We just hope they do.

Cubs/Brewers, Who Would the Cards Prefer To Win? Go Brew Crew

Peter Laclede — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:46:07 -0400

So this week brings the Chicago Cubs into Wisconsin to face the recently surging Milwaukee Brewers. This is a series that the entire National League seems to be keeping an eye on. Is this a future playoff matchup? Will these teams go one and two in the NL Central (the answer is no)? Will this set the NL Central leader apart for the remainder of the season?

This series should begin to answer some questions, but in the end, as Cardinals nation, the question has to be asked, who do we want? It all has to come back to us eventually.

The answer to who we would rather see is rather easy. You can never root for your arch rival, even if they are against another, lesser rival. The Milwaukee Brewers need to win this series.

Let us look at the two possible scenarios for each team winning this series.

Cubs Win

If the Cubs win this series they will reclaim their position atop the NL Central and be relatively unopposed. With the Cardinals' disappointing week (Brewers-Mets), they have been removed from the running for at least the remainder of this Cubs/Brew Crew series.

Theoretically if the Cubs were to sweep this series and the Cardinals lose the series to the Braves (even with tonight's promising score thus far), the Cards could slip to six games out. That is entirely unacceptable. Anything worse than four makes many fans nervous.

Plus, this would give the Cubs organization such a boost mentally after their slump, they would have a new found fire which could potentially be carried out for the next two or three series following the Brewers.

Brewers Win

Following the four game slaughter (even though the scores were close the emotional killing was unreal), it is hard for any Cardinal fan to embrace the thought of Milwaukee winning.

However, this is what is best for the Cardinals' place in the standings currently. The Brewers are close to first, but not there. If they take the series from the Cubs, that potentially puts them at a minimum of one game out.

While it is fun to watch these two battle for the top, what it really means is either team has to lose every game, meaning that every time the Cards win they will advance on someone.

So, by pure mathematical skills (which I have very little of), by the Brewers winning more than the Cubs (and starting in second) they stand a much better chance of evening out the division.

Also, the Cubs are a team coming off an emotionally difficult week as well. A team labeled as a sure-fire World Series contender is looking human again, even with Alfonso Soriano. They need to be brought down to earth before the Cardinals visit Wrigley starting on Aug. 8.

It is hard to root for either team in this situation, and while many of us are still bitter at the schlacking the Cardinals bullpen took, it is better for the team if the Brewers can win and the Cardinals just follow them up the ladder.

Plus, what self-respecting Cardinals fan could cheer for the Cubs at a time like this when they are a legitimate team?

Jason Isringhausen Headed Back to Closer Role For the Cardinals

Peter Laclede — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:17:35 -0400

Well it's official. Jason Isringhausen will re-assume the closer's role from the struggling Ryan Franklin in a move more out of desperation than anything else to get this Cardinals bullpen back on track. Dave Duncan made the announcement on Monday from Atlanta, in what could only be considered a whisper out of Cardinals camp.

The question becomes, will Izzy restore this bullpen's pride and be able to get the job done? While Dave Duncan said that Izzy has looked much better in recent outings, it isn't necessarily a question of ability, rather than of mental fortitude.

It has been no secret that no Cardinal reliever has been able to shut the door on opponents in the past, but this year has struggled mightily to say the least.

The person who this announcement probably hurts most is Ryan Franklin, the Cardinals shamed set-up man. Franklin blew save after save, leading the Cards on an emotional nightmare that resulted in a five game slide and losing six of seven before pounding the Atlanta Braves tonight.

If the Cardinals had half of Izzy or Franklin's blown saves back they would be tied for 1st place in the division right now. That is how much this bullpen has hurt the team this year.

This move is another last ditch effort by this coaching staff to steer the Cardinals ship over pretty stormy seas in recent weeks. Jason Isringhausen has made no secret of the fact he wanted this job back and many said that helped demoralize Franklin to the point of failure.

With Izzy back where he thinks he should be, will Franklin be able to be a lights out setup man again?

Probably not, Franklin's season will never be the same. Hopefully in years to come he can find his niche, but as of right now, and watching his reaction to this news, he is purely shell shocked.

It's a shame he couldn't get the job done like many thought he could. Still, here's to Izzy's coming back and hopefully getting to 300 (so the Cardinals can record eight saves sometime soon).

Unfortunately, the drama for the Redbirds only seems to be getting worse as the season goes on. Maybe this will quiet all parties involved and get this club, who demonstrated tonight they positively have the ability to win, back to its winning ways.

Where do the Nationals go from Here?

Peter Laclede — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:52:49 -0400

A picture is worth a thousand words. The picture above, of Nationals skipper, Manny Acta, seems to sum up the entire season for the Nationals to this point. Disappointment. 19 games out of first place. How does a team slide so far in 100 games? How do you not win a single game on the West Coast (who are all below .500?).

What started out as a fairly promising season for the Washington Nationals has turned sour. Many of the factors have been out of their control, but what can they do now to get them ready for 2009?

Examine the Training Methods

It is pretty obvious to any casual observer that the Nationals' team is essentially a AAA team. They have only two players who were on the opening day roster that haven't gone on the DL. That is ridiculous. Although one of them is an All-Star, to see the injury bug hit this bad is unheard of. Something is not going right for this team.

For some reason, players are not taking care of themselves. Is it the stretching? Is it the way they take care of themselves on and off the field throughout road trips? Is it the way the trainers rehab players? Something isn't working. I am not saying people need to be fired, but I am saying something isn't quite as it should be.

Sign Some Long-Term Deals

The fanbase seems to think the biggest problem with this organization is its lack of stability. Players are coming and going so fast this might as well be Double A. The Nationals need to start making it apparent to the baseball world they believe in their guys, starting at the top with Manny Acta.

As a skipper, Acta has taken a lot of criticism and is in the line of fire a lot. He doesn't do enough during games, he's not proactive enough, He mismanages, etc.

The Nationals need to show that they believe in Manny, and sign him to a long term deal. If your skipper is worried about his job security, how does the rest of the team probably feel (unless you are Willie Randolph)? Show that you believe in the man you put in charge of your players. Give him some guidance if you feel he isn't at his best, but either support him or let him go.

Balance Out the Team

Finally, this past weekend, the Nationals stopped carrying four catchers with them. What team on earth needs to have four catchers? While the Nationals have nobody who is a sure starter behind the plate every night, their biggest problem is inconsistency. None of the players appear comfortable at these positions who are constantly switching and swapping.

How can a player become consistent if never given the chance to play regularly? The injury bug might be calming down, but if this team wants to salvage some respect from the NL, they need to start putting in players who want to play and will do a good job. Stop starting people such as Felipe Lopez.

Get on the Trading Block

This time of year, every fan and their mother wants to see their team make a trade. It's almost a fever. However, many of this trades are either blockbusters or busts. The odds of the Nationals turning in another solid trade since Bonaficio is low, so they need to hold on to all of their prominent players.

However, players such as Austin Kearns, Dmitri Young, and Paul Lo Duca all could find themselves another home, maybe even with a contender this year.

The problem this entire year has not been talent, but lack of consistency. Start bringing in players who can get to become part of the team so next year there are not the initial days of hardship for the newbies. This might be the big leagues, but it will only help a team to build for tomorrow today.

Bring up Some Prospects

The good thing is, the team seems to have a good farm system that is producing some quality players, most notably Ryan Zimmerman. Also, there are prospects who can begin to see Major League playing time so when next season rolls around they are ready to go and not green when it comes to staring down a big league pitcher.

Nowadays getting called up for a few games (or every other game seemingly if you are named Pete Orr) is very common, so minor leaguers have seen many major leaguers. However, there is no better teacher than experience. Get these guys some ABs and time in the field.

It is pretty obvious now that Ryan Zimmerman, Christian Guzman, and Emilio Bonaficio are here to stay. So why not start testing out this defensive triad? Ronnie Belliard is a solid backup, so start mixing them in.

Many Washingtonians believe the ownership has given up on this season. While that is certainly not true, the ownership needs to show the fans that this season still counts, and that next season will be their time to shine. The Nationals, this year, are in the third hardest division in baseball, but next year they could be in the easiest, or the hardest.

The people want to see effort (and results of course). The management of the Nationals, while trying hard behind the scenes, has many things it can do to show the Nationals faithful (with its proud four years of tradition) that they too want to put more Curly W's in the books then ugly L's.

They can do it, but they have to start now.

Weekend In Review: Sloppy Shea

Peter Laclede — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:09:56 -0400

What a weekend in Queens the Cardinals had. While it was still a lost series, more disappointment for the bullpen, and was the middle of one of the harder roadtrips of the season, not all was lost on the Redbirds at Shea Stadium this weekend.

Negatives

Pitching Staff

What could have gone more wrong for this pitching staff this weekend? Ryan Franklin's most notable blown save has to have been on Saturday night, with the Cardinals looking set to get to bed early with a win and head out for the rubber match the next day.

Kyle Lohse even got lit up, as was bound to happen sooner or later to this wonder-boy. However, don't expect it to happen to Lohse again soon. He is way too stable to let one bad outing ruin his near All-Star-esq season.

Needless to say, the Mets' starters and pitching staff really shut this team down. While they allowed ten runs on Saturday, it was all due to three rocky innings. Knight, who hadn't seen a start since '02 made the Cardinals look like Little Leaguers, and except for one mistake to Albert, were near perfect in extra innings.

However, this weekend does show that management needs to do something, fast. Whether it's pull the old switcheroo like Tony La Russa did in Oakland (having starters relieve and relievers start, though I don't recommend it), sending a starter (Adam Wainwright?) to the 'pen to regain that staffs confidence and ability, or trade for a closer (maybe Sherill or elsewhere), something has to be done.

While the ownership can play the "rebuilding" card and say that there are prospects in the farm system, this team is much too good to let this year get away. Action, now. Relievers, please.

(Out)fielding

What the crap happened out there this weekend? I did notice, especially on Saturday night that balls were bouncing funny into left field. However, I don't feel like Schumaker was the one struggling. Usually an outfield who plays deep flies so well and always has pinpoint accuracy was unusually sloppy.

Chalk it up to unfriendly bounces, exhaustion, or whatever, but this was a very uncharacteristic weekend out there. While Rick Ankiel has been known to overrun his share of fly balls, it was very uncharacteristic to see as many mistakes out there as there were.

Positives (yes, there were some)

Offense

Many people have called this offense streaky. Who hasn't? However, this offense is literally riddled with talent. When a team scores eight runs, they really shouldn't be losing. Especially when the starting pitcher is given a four run cushion before he ever takes the mound.

The offense this weekend was not the problem. Yes, on Sunday when they got blown out 9-1 they could have scored more runs, but this offense has consistently produced when they've needed to. Every team in sports across the world could use more offense, but this was not the issue this weekend, or has it really been an issue since the All-Star break.

Pitching (Again? I thought this was a negative?)

While all in all, the bullpen showed its inability to close a game, a few members of the 'pen showed why they still belong in the big leagues, most notably Kyle McClelland, and Brad Thompson. These two guys have been very under-appreciated on this staff.

While McClelland cleared the Cardinals of the biggest jam of the series (maybe even the week), Thompson came in at midnight to begin relief and was outstanding.

Even Izzy showed some signs of life as a middle reliever, although he still struggles with a bat, but since when have pitchers who have been closers for ten years had to bat?

Albert's on His Way Back

This is perhaps the most important part of the weekend for this club. Albert Pujols, who since he began being watched for his 300th home run, finally appears to be back in the swing of things. Between Skip Schumaker and him, they had the vast majority of Cardinal runs and even had two deep flies. More than he's had since the All-Star break.

Albert appeared to be getting back to old form and doing what he does best, giving the club the opportunity to win.

Hopefully whatever psyched this team out for last week is gone, and tonight in Atlanta the Redbirds can show why they still belong.

Why the St. Louis Cardinals Are Still Playoff Bound

Peter Laclede — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:32:48 -0400

Well, the grumblings out of Cardinal Nation have begun.

The bullpen isn't deep enough to hold the rest of the season together.

The offense is too streaky.

The leadership on the team is missing.

I have heard all of these things from various newspapers, analysts, ESPN, and radio commentators. So why do the 2008 St. Louis Cardinals still make a better playoff candidate than the Milwaukee Brewers and maybe even Chicago Cubs?

Simply put, they have the ability. They just have to put it all together.

Let's break this down by the three arguments from above.

Bullpen

This being the largest problem on the Cardinal horizon, is one that makes even the most surest quiver. Does the name Ryan Franklin equal blown save now? Should we just not even take the field in the ninth because we will give up the longball?

The answer, I believe, lies not in our bullpen fiasco, but in the starting pitching.

Although Kyle Lohse got shelled in the sixth yesterday, giving up his first loss in a long time this season, he is still a class act on this team. He has been the ace when there have been no other aces. He has been stable when there has been no stability.

If Chris Carpenter comes back with half of the Cy Young force that we remember, this staff will be improved immensely. He will add to the amount of quality starts, which will do what? Decrease the strain on the bullpen.

Leadership

Adam Wainwright's return will probably be the biggest for the Cardinals. This is not for the reason that he is going to be such a great starter for us, but this Redbird fan believes that the great closer from '06 needs to be put back there. There is no doubt that no starter wants to go back to the 'pen. However, his leadership is vital right now.

With Izzy looking over Franklin's shoulder, there is no set person for the other guys to follow. Even the vets like Russ Springer and Ron Villone have been having off outings (though Springer has been a good brake, slowing down the runaway train that is their bullpen), which means everyone out there is unsure of themselves.

Being a closer is mental, and right now, mentally, they think, "I can't do this." I'd love to see Adam starting, because he has been so lights out, but I think, for the good of the team, he needs to go get them back on track.

While Chris Carpenter is clearly labeled as this staff's "ace", and Lohse being nearly lights out during his run as top gun, Adam Wainwright could make the biggest difference by leading the rag-tag bunch of relievers back to their top form.

The bullpen wasn't supposed to be the issue this year. The starters were. Boy was that turned upside down.

If Wainwright can bring some order back, and Izzy can back off of Franklin, maybe those three could be some of the most dominant relievers in the game. They all have (or had, maybe, in Izzy's case) the ability.

Streaky Offense

Any offense in Major League Baseball is streaky. The Phils, who crushed the Cardinals 20-2, didn't put much offense forth the rest of that series. The teams labeled as heavily offensive usually don't last. It is about momentum.

I know Tony has been saying the offense is to blame, but we all honestly know this is not true. While hitters like Troy Glaus epitomize streaks (good and bad), and Rick Ankiel seems to strike out or hit a longball, the Cardinals offense has been consistent.

Especially after this weekend, with Albert not only ending the Cardinals' losing streak, but also his homerless streak, with his sweet stroke at what felt like 4 AM on Sunday morning. This team is here to stay in terms of offense. This is not their problem. Nor will it be for the rest of the year.

This team's biggest problem has not been the things out of their control, like injuries or long roadtrips. It has been their inability to put the pieces together. They were labeled as the surprise from the first half. They will do it again. While Budweiser may no longer be the "Great American Lager" as the billboard outside Busch dictates, the Cardinals could become the Great American Surprise.

Who Cares Anymore? Going Beyond the Red Sox/Yankees for This Week in Baseball

Peter Laclede — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:30:01 -0400

I'm going to go out on a limb and speak for the rest of baseball (excluding ESPN and Fox Sports). But who cares about the Yankees/Red Sox series right now? Nothing ever seems to change in this division. One of these two teams is always on the bubble.

Besides, your own analysts have conceded that this is a great "prelude to the series at the end of August." That's like saying an interleague series is a possible precursor to the World Series.

Yeah, we like to watch those games, but they don't matter worth anything right now. We've come to accept it, why can't the AL East and Media?

We don't care that Red Sox fans despise A-Rod, and he's involved with Madonna. We don't care that Yankees’ fans think Manny is the most arrogant player to ever put on Red Socks. We don't care that this might be a future series in the playoffs.

There is other baseball to be played. Besides, you have both been shown up by the second lowest payroll in baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays.

It is one the best rivalries in sports. I have to concede that. The anger and hatred between these two teams may be on an Israeli-Palestinian level, but there are other things going on in the sport.

Other races to be had. Other players playing their hearts out for their fans.

Let's take a look at the games in Major League Baseball that will not be the Fox Game of the Week.

Cardinals @ NY Mets. I know Yankees’ fans here have trouble admitting there is another team in New York, but the Mets are in the fight for their lives, and this is a crucial series. STL coming off a four game broom running by the Brew Crew need to regain ground fast to be competitive. The Mets, fighting off the Phillies, were counted out at the All-Star Break through a managerial circus and seeming indifference by the players. This will be a big one.

Marlins @ Cubs. The Cubs who have been struggling recently have to welcome into town a team who has been downright fishy in the past. The Cubs may have gotten out a win to open the series behind their ace, but now they have to send Ryan Dempster out to face his former team. This series is key if the Cubs want to prove to the NL they can handle out of central opponents.

White Sox @ Tigers. This series is crucial to the White Sox if they want to maintain dominance in the AL Central. They have to get through a surging Tigers squad only to face off against the second place Twins later on the road trip. If they want to stay atop the division, they need wins in both these series.

So, you see sports fans, there is more to life than the Red Sox, Yankees rivalry. It's a good one, full of heckling little kids, false accusations, and booing at the All-Star game, but not bigger than the sport itself.

The media need to realize that the people of this great nation want to do more than watch one of 72 games these teams face off in.

Maybe the reason why this rivalry is considered so big isn't just because of the two cities and always impressive teams involved, but maybe it's because it is all the television networks seem to make us think matters in baseball.

Maybe if this overexposure didn't happen every other week, every season, I would be a little more forgiving. But excuse me for wanting to watch one of the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball.

The Most Underappreciated Redbirds of 2008

Peter Laclede — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:17:23 -0400

This season, most of the focus on this Cardinal team has been in one of three directions.

1) Lack of pitching out of the Cardinals bullpen.

2) The amount of injuries on the squad.

3) Offensive Production.

These categories tackle most of the major players like Albert Pujols, Troy Glaus, and Rick Ankiel, all of the regular headline makers.

So what about the other players? Words like "gritty" "tough" and "complete" come to mind when trying to describe these performances. With other words such as "overrated" being used so often in sports now, let's take a look at those players who are way too "underrated".

Yadier Molina

He has been one of the most consistent hitters on the team this year. While he leads the team in double plays, it is because he is a contact hitter. Molina puts the ball into play almost every time he comes up to bat. He only has 17 strikeouts on the year, making him one of the hardest people in baseball to strikeout.

If he had some speed, the double plays wouldn't be an issue, but keep in mind, he is a catcher. An average above .300 and the lowest number of strikeouts on the team, what more can you ask for the guy running the game on the field?

Which brings us to the other point—leadership on the field. Despite the setbacks on the mound this year, Molina still has thrown out 50 percent of runners on the basepaths, and is known for picking greedy runners off the basepaths by catching them sleeping.

From the collisions behind the plate to the clutch hitting, without Molina, this team would be in much worse shape than it is coming off this series with the Brewers.

Brad Thompson

Brad is a pitcher who seemed to be at the bottom of his game early this season. He got sent back to Memphis, had an ERA two runs higher than any of his previous seasons in the majors, and he was in bad shape.

However, once he got the call to come back up, in a bullpen of unsure arms, he has been consistent. Far from perfect, but dependable. All this team needs is some leadership and dependability.

Also, he has only given up two home runs (something this staff seems to do with pride), and has pitched many more innings than the norm for a reliever who has been up and down in the majors this year.

Aaron Miles

This season more than any other in his career, he has really come into his own. He has always been a dependable fielder. He fields his positions well, but not perfectly. He is no Jeff Kent or Roberto Alomar at second, that is not even in question.

However, when the ball is hit to him, more often than not, he's going to make a good play. In fact, at SS and 3B, he's been perfect this season.

What has been even better for this squad is his hitting ability. This year, he is hitting a whopping .320. While has gotten a ton of attention for things such as his walk-off grand slam in the series finale with the Padres, it has been (like Molina) his ability to put the ball into play consistently that has been crucial.

He is a great singles hitter, which makes him even more pesky for opposing pitchers. He is not known for his power, but some of the home runs he has hit (at Fenway before the All-Star Break, at home against the Friars) have been huge turning points.

He has certainly gotten some attention this season, but still deserves to be recognized as an important building block in bringing this team back to the playoffs.

Without contributions like these from more than just these three, this team has stayed alive. Despite the recent setbacks, this is still a team to watch for sure going down the stretch. The unpredictability of baseball, like all sports, is what makes it so much fun.

MLB Needs a Remedy For Maple Bats, Now

Peter Laclede — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:32:57 -0400

When umpire Brian O'Nora was hit with the shard of a maple bat, the eyes of the baseball world really opened up.

What's going on with the wooden bats that major leaguers have come to know and love? Has something changed in the way major leaguers are swinging? Have the manufacturers of the bats changed? Are they using new material?

The biggest concern, of course, is injury.

Maple bats began to really become popular in the early 2000s, as Barry Bonds made his epic journey to 71. However, it seems that more recently injuries have begun to take the sport by the throat and not let go.

The answer isn't as simple as we all hope. The bats really are not breaking that much more compared to past years. Factors such as players shaving the handles too much, differing lumber from manufacturers, and players simply using bats that are not of the right weight proportions have caused upheaval in ballparks across America.

From coaches in dugouts being hit to fans having their jaws shattered to infielders dodging out of the way, this is getting out of control.

Think about it, where else in this world is this stuff tolerated?

Umpires staggering around home plate bleeding, coaches losing feeling in their face. It doesn't matter that Barry Bonds showed the world they can be used for power, they are going to do something really nasty, really soon.

So what can baseball do to fight this?

Ash Bats

Players across the country have remarked about the need to go to ash bats. However, the drawback is that ash bats are not as durable. While they don't splinter into dozens of pieces strewn across the infield, they simply don't last for more than a few at-bats.

Yes, if baseball mandates ash bats, we will see players go through more bats. While this can't be avoided, people are in danger. Cost should not be a concern. Why is this even a question?

The MLB Players Association is expected to throw in some qualms with this problem (when do they not have issues?). However, their players are in just as much danger, if not more, than fans at the games. It is in everyone's best interest to get maple bats off the field as soon as possible.

Home Runs may decrease, but I think people would rather not see a long ball and be safe, than the nice kid, three seats down, bleeding from a broken bat.

Longer Netting

Many fans initially are going to be mad about this. However, the NHL has done it, and nowadays fans can't imagine life without it. Ballparks have decreased foul territory to cram more seats into parks, and because of that, fans are much closer than they ever have been.

Also, issues such as line drives (little boys fracturing their skulls is a big problem, too) going into the stands are causing injuries left and right.

A game I was at on Saturday involved someone getting hit about five rows up from the Cardinals' dugout. I have been to over 15 games this season and almost every game you see someone get hurt. While I realize these are not new problems for baseball, in the safety-conscious world that we live in, why are simple decisions not being made?

Bat Maintenance

This is probably the most far-fetched of ideas. Simply put, MLB could begin to restrict how players can tweak their bats. Shaving becomes illegal. Weight and length become standardized, causing players to use a basic prototype and having to deal with it. They can pick a weight or a length and then make due with the other category.

Also, a batboy's new job could be to keep bats moist, which has been shown to help keep the lumber together on a more regular basis.

Unfortunately, baseball has this as one of its most pressing issues as the season progresses. Fans and players are growing ever more weary of projectiles, and sooner or later, a person will not be as lucky as only getting a deep gash.

The Greatest Baseball Families in History

Peter Laclede — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:59:03 -0400

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

That statement seems to ring true particularly in the area of professional sports. Think about all the greats the sporting world has seen. Perhaps some of these most memorable athletic gene repeats can be found in baseball.

It is literally an area riddled with family ties. Here are some of the arguably, best baseball families the sport has ever seen.

The Griffeys- Ken Griffey Sr, Ken Griffey Jr. As a 19-year-old rookie, no face was more known in baseball and the city of Seattle then that of Ken Griffey Jr. Not only was he their golden boy, but when he revisited the park in a Reds uniform, he told interviews that he would enjoy returning to Seattle if the circumstances were favorable to it. His father, perhaps not the most successful player in history, is still an icon to the Cincinnati Reds organization, and undoubtedly his pull in bringing Junior over gave the Reds a PR and Home Run boost. While the trade to Cincinnati did not pay off as well as the Reds or Griffey family had hoped (although he gets paid until 2024), Junior is where his father played, and the Griffey image in both Seattle and Cincinnati lives on. Also, they are one of the few father son tandems to play on the same team during the 1990 and 1991 seasons.

The Alomars-Sandy Alomar Sr., Sandy Alomar. Jr, Roberto Alomar. While this family has seen its fair share of controversy (most notable in Roberto Alomar's spitting fiasco with the Orioles), this family is considered one of the most successful in the history of the sport. All three have been named to All-Star teams with Roberto being credited as perhaps the best second basemen in the history of the sport. Matched with Cal Ripken Jr., the two were nearly unstoppable with the mid '90s Baltimore Orioles. While Sandy Alomar Jr. is a catcher who has been plagued by injuries, he is still credited with being one of the best rookie catchers (Rookie of the Year Award) and also a gold glove. Their father, Sandy Sr., was a switch hitter who after retirement went on to manage on multiple clubs and is still active today.

The Alous- Felipe, Matty, Jesus, Moises (son of Felipe). This family is one that has been a major front in the baseball community. All but Jesus are multiple All-Stars, and Felipe managed Moises during his tenure with the Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants. Interestingly enough, all four members of the family played the outfield positions (Moises and father Felipe also had 20 home runs in the same season), while only Moises remains active today (though injured currently) with the New York Mets.

The Molinas Bengie, Jose, Yadier. This family, much like the Alous, are specialists at their positions. All three Puerto Rican born players play catcher, Bengie for the San Francisco Giants, Jose for the NY Yankees, Yadier for the St. Louis Cardinals. All, initially being evaluated as great defensive players but lackluster hitters, have become known as assets in the batter's box as well. Bengie and Jose both won their world championship rings in Anaheim and Yadier received his with the St. Louis Cardinals. They are the only three brothers in the history of baseball to win world championship rings.

The Ripkens- Cal Sr., Cal Jr., Billy. While maybe not one of the best baseball families in the history of the game, this family is a good example of consistency. Cal Jr, being baseball's ironman and considered one of the best shortstops in the history of the game. Cal Sr. managed both of his sons on the Orioles, becoming the first father in history to manage two of his sons on the same team. Both Cal Jr. and Billy are still involved in baseball with both having radio shows on satellite radio. The Ripkens are some of the most recognizable faces in the game.

Honorable Mentions: The DiMaggios, The Bonds, The Hernandezs (Orlando and Livan)

Clearly, this is not the most comprehensive list in the sport, just a starting point.

Giving Up John Rauch: Good Call by the Washington Nationals

Peter Laclede — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:09:49 -0400

Anyone who read my article yesterday addressing the needs and wants of the Washington Nationals knows I said to trade John Rauch.

So, was the fact that they gave up a closing pitcher having a career year up for a middle-infielder prospect a good call? Absolutely.

John Rauch was a great asset to this team. He provided leadership in the clubhouse, and was having a better year than he's ever had in this organization before. But, the fact of the matter is the Nats are not using closing pitchers enough that they can be doing this.

Chad Cordero is paid so much money to be on this team and he rides the DL like it's his job, not closing games. In reality, he was a waste here in Washington. There will be no World Series for this team this year.

He may have been having a career year, but he still wasn't as dominant as a closer needs to be. The D-backs gave up a tremendous prospect, in a place the Nationals have been hurting for supposedly, second base.

Ronnie Belliard is a capable second baseman at this time, and Bonifacio has a great future ahead of him. The team is set on building for the future, not necessarily trying to win right now.

Rauch will be a great addition to the D-backs pen. Bonifacio will be a direction-changing addition for the Nationals.

Emilio Bonifacio has been widely touted as one of the fastest young players in baseball. While the Nationals are not hurting for speed, it is very important to add to it. Now with Christian Guzman, Willie Harris, Elijah Dukes, and Lastings Milledge, this team is now able to use speed as a weapon.

Bonifacio's defensive additions are going to be key as well. While Ronnie Belliard is still a better defensive player than Felipe Lopez, Bonifacio's range is going to be crucial, using the aforementioned speed as a decisive factor.

With the infield prowess of Ryan Zimmerman, Christian Guzman, Bonifacio (once he gets to the majors), and maybe Dmitiri Young, this team is looking oddly solid in the infield.

Unfortunately, this trade all but is a slap in the face to Felipe Lopez that his run as a National is done, but this should really gives fans a shot in the arm as this young gun comes up. While it is hard to part with the jolly green giant in John Rauch, his departing gave us one of the D-backs most coveted prospects.

Get excited, Washington!

Washington Nationals Should Focus on Thier Needs As Well As Their Wants

Peter Laclede — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:36:53 -0400

What a first-half it was for the Nationals. They suffered through injury after injury and disappointment after disappointment.

A parade of minor leaguers coming up for a week here and three days there. It has been hard to keep track of. But I think the first half showed what exactly the Nats are up against.

Here are what seem to be the biggest wants of the fanbase...whether they are right for the franchise or not.

Wants

More offensive Power: The Nationals, as any person who's ever watched more than two days of ESPN can tell you, are not exactly the staple of consistency. They are last in the majors in batting average and slugging percentage, and are near the bottom in on-base percentage. You cannot win with stats like that.

Most fans are at the point where they are calling for offense. That's great. More offense cannot hurt. But their offense is there, just sitting on the bench. Once guys like Ryan Zimmerman, Dimitri Young, and Nick Johnson come off the DL, they'll be in better shape. Patience is a virtue, something Washington's sports fans and media have always struggled with.

Barry Bonds: Calls have begun to be made for Barry Bonds. While he would teach the rookies a lot (steroids are tricky for first-time users) about hitting (and blowing off the media), it is a big if.

Yes, he would bring a lot of attention to this market. Would it be the right kind of attention? Or would it be a Dan Snyder (the Wretch of Washington) move? He would get more quality at-bats, but would that just mean that instead of having the lowest OBP in the league, they'd have the most double plays in the league?

I hesitate to say bring Barry in. Yes, I'd love to get a big name in here, but like Texas, bigger is not always better.

Firing Clint: I personally like Clint. I find him entertaining (in a pompous kind of way) and he at least livens up the park for a lot of first time fans. While some of the more purists in baseball seem to hate the idea of an emcee, this is a franchise struggling for an identity. I say keep Clint, and T-Shirt Tuesdays, going strong.

Here is, realistically, what the Nationals need to begin taking into account if they want to take the NL East by surprise next year.

Needs

Trade Aways: Nick Johnson, Chad Cordero, John Rausch, and Felipe Lopez. These four have been nothing but trouble for this ballclub. Cordero used to be solid. Used to be. He has been a liability this year, pulling in the largest salary for this team, year in and year out.

To be honest, how can a team justify paying the most money to a guy who is expected to pitch one inning every two or three games? It makes no sense. You have to pump that money into your starting pitchers or quality, consistent position players.

Consistent, thus ruling out Nick Johnson, who has been hurt for the better part of two years. Quality, that rules out John Rausch, who has been anything but for most of his last two years, and Felipe Lopez who looks like he couldn't care less.

Starting Pitching: This problem seems to be plaguing fewer teams, especially compared to bullpen issues found mostly throughout the N.L. (think St. Louis).

There is some chatter about some young guns in the minors, but the Nationals' farm system, for all of the money being pushed into it, is not producing. Maybe it's just bad luck. Every team hits their lows. But maybe it's the coaching staff below. Maybe it's the scouts.

Either way, they need to find some starting pitching. The inability of their starters to get quality outings is abysmal, and only when that problem begins getting fixed will they compete. You can score all the runs in the world (which they don't), but if you can't pitch, you can't win.

Lower Ticket Prices: For a team that is last in Major League Baseball, the ticket prices could be lowered. RFK, for all the grunge, had some cheap tickets. Plus, something really needs to be done about the franchise's image, starting with how the national market views it.

Start allowing regular people to sit behind home plate, because clearly it's not selling. TV networks do not show the upper deck. They show down the lines, behind home plate, etc. Make the country think the people care about this place, because they do. Make the country feel like the owners are reaching out, because they are.

More Exposure to the Younger Players: This city still believes that Ryan Zimmerman and Christian Guzman are the franchise. They need exposure to Elijah Dukes (a great young player on this team) and Lastings Milledge. Yes, neither player is a rookie anymore, but they need to begin to look to these guys as the future.

It's tough, but this franchise will probably trade Guzman away here soon, or Ryan Zimmerman if they don't put the franchise tag on him. The fans need to get acclimated to what the future holds, not necessarily what the present displays.

Angels in the Outfield: The Keys to the Cardinals' Success

Peter Laclede — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:02:08 -0400

Q. Jim Edmonds. Preston Wilson. So Toguchi. What do these three names have all in common?

A. They are the three starting outfielders for the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals, none of whom play for the Redbirds in 2008. Also, when you add in the Cards' #4 outfielder, Juan Encarnacion, you are looking at an outfield starting in 2008 that looks nothing like it did in 2007 coming off a World Series Title.

So what it is about the Redbirds' starting three (Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, Skip Schumaker) in the outfield this year that is going to lead the Cardinals to success?

1. Defense

In baseball, defense is often overlooked. It comes down to pitching matchups and who can hit the longball. The Cardinals' outfield has not been a source of problems this year. With the arms of Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick, and Skip Schumaker, baserunners have really struggled to make something out of nothing on these guys.

We've all seen the dazzling shots from Ankiel deep in center to gun men out at 3rd and home, but it's the consistent ability (particularly of the two corner outfielders) to keep the game close. Skip Schumaker (who I honestly thought didn't know what he was doing at the beginning of the year) makes sensational plays on a nightly basis. Their defense isn't perfect, but it sure has helped situations the bullpen has made worse.

2. Individual Performance

Initially, I was going to use this section to go on at length about the great stats of the outfielders offensively. With Schumaker, Ankiel, and Ludwick coming in 2-4th on the list of at bats; Ludwick leading the team in RBIs (even over the great Pujols); the Ankiel/Ludwick tandem racking in the deep flies (22 HRs apiece); and Schumaker's seven stolen bases, these three guys have been nothing but essential to the team's recent offensive explosion.

Finally, the most thrilling fact: when Ankiel has at least one RBI, the Cardinals are nearly unstoppable. When he hits, the team follows. He sets a great example out there.

3. Consistency

Now that Chris Duncan has seen playing time minimized with his batting average still slumping (though it is slowly coming out of the bowels of baseball), these three have really become rocksteady parts of this team. There isn't the constant question of who is going to be starting out there and whether they can perform. The team has enough of that to deal with. These three (four with Duncan) are not ones who seem to be down and out very often. When one of them isn't performing, another steps up, as has been seen multiple times this season.

What is even more fun to learn is that they are all getting better everyday. Schumaker is no longer dropping fly balls at the warning track like he did in Washington. Ankiel's strikeouts have dropped and Ludwick is still leading the team in RBIs. These guys are great sights for a team that has seen its share of inconsistency day in and day out.

Just through these three simple points, it's plain to see that when the Cardinals' outfield is performing, the team is as well. There has been so much uncertainty with this team, which is supposed to be in the basement. These three players have really stepped up in ways not expected of them.

Ludwick: All-Star selection. Ankiel: rising up from embarrassment as a pitcher. Schumaker: coming up as an unknown who has finally appeared to overcome his proneness to being sent down. As long as they keep performing, so will the Cards.

Washington Nationals: Why They Are Right for D.C.

Peter Laclede — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:41:50 -0400

A lot of media, writers on this very site, and friends of mine have really begun to question the validity of the Washington Nationals.

Yes, teams in their infancy appear to either be hot, or not, and right now the Nats are not. However, this is normal. Seeing all of these articles floating around bashing the Lerners, Manny Acta, Washingtonians themselves, are simply ludicrous.

Here are four reasons why people need to stop giving up on the Nats.

1. The Lerners

Ownership. Many people argue that motivation and attitude comes right from the top. I couldn't agree more. They set the tone.

While many people are blaming things, like withholding the rent on Nationals Park, as signs of weakness, these couldn't be misconstrued more. By the Lerners withholding the rent they are showing the city and their fan base they aren't going to take crap.

They want the best, and they expect the best. I think it's great they are standing up to DC Council. Not because being rebellious makes them look cool, but because they are setting a high standard and expecting people to stick to it.

Also on issues of not signing players, that is not just the ownership's fault. The Nats are still in a crunch. Unless this is the Yankees and the Steinbrenners are running this, I am pretty sure there are people who's entire jobs are baseball operations. Look within.

Yes the owners are ultimately responsible for everything but seriously? Come on. Stan Kasten did make the Braves one of the most successful franchises in MLB. Give it some time.

2. Major League Baseball's screwing of the franchise

It is without question that when the ownership of the Montreal Expos abandoned them, Major League Baseball was in a tough spot.

The league is not set up to support an organization without its foundation. It was tough. A lot of things fell through the cracks. Staff was let go, players went unsigned, and the fan base was devastated.

The Lerners came into a situation that could not have been worse. DC Council, while originally petitioning MLB to give them a team, the second they got it turned on the organization. There have been so many issues that it's a miracle the team is still here.

The MLB is not completely at fault here. It was a bad situation. However, the Nationals cannot be completely at fault for having to rebuild from within. They were decimated. Give them some time.

3. Expansion status

Let's take a look around the league. Many teams have come from expansion status. The Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Tampa Bay Rays are all teams who went through their struggles initially.

Yes, they had the fortune of expansion status so they could start fresh, which the Nats didn't have. They had to make do with the mistakes of the future. Also, all three of these teams (as of right now) have been successful.

It took a few years to get up to snuff, but it comes. Give it some time. Don't be ready to kick them out and resort to the O's again.

4. Fan base

What fan base? Many people argue that the O's are still Washington's team. That is crap. The O's graced the Washington area with their presence in the late '90s and now simply act as a barrier to expanding the Nats' influence.

Nowhere in dual-team cities is this such an issue. Owners blocking owners. The only good thing about these "cross-town but not really" rivals is the Battle of the Beltways. They have had one bump after another.

Also, it's hard to jump on a team that isn't winning. As the Nationals become more stable (the injury bug hasn't helped), the people will get excited. Nats Park is constantly packed, not to capacity but noticeably more so than RFK ever was.

If you build it (the franchise) they will come. But you can't build it in one summer.

Give this franchise some time. Let the Lerners and Stan Kasten do what they need to do. Give them more than a year and a half before we sell them down the river like we do with the Redskins.

Pledge your allegiance.