Bleacher Report - Articles by Colin Coulahan

It Ain't Easy Being a Pittsburgh Pirates Fan

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:16:00 -0400

You know, I have a lot of respect for Pittsburgh Pirates fans. I really do. They have had nothing to be happy about for the past 17 years. The pitching has been awful, offense mediocre, and front-office moves questionable. And then, of course, the losing season after losing season.

But this year really might have been the one. There was a definite chance that this team could finish at .500, maybe a game or two over.

The pitching certainly hasn't blown people away, but there has been improvement. That plus a good crop of young talent gave people hope.

Then the trades started.

First outfielder Nate McLouth was traded to the Atlanta Braves for three prospects. That was a great move for Atlanta, bad for Pittsburgh. McLouth is signed until 2011 and at a good price. He was one of the top players in the lineup, and some players had no trouble expressing their disagreement.

"Wow," second baseman Freddy Sanchez said Thursday of the trade, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I think the biggest thing was the shock factor. It's obviously a tough pill to swallow. Our No. 3 hitter just got taken away, the guy who leads our team in home runs and RBIs, and we were 6½ games out.

There ain't a guy in here who ain't [ticked] off about it," said first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to the report. "It's kind of like being with your platoon in a battle, and guys keep dropping around you. You keep hanging on, hanging on, and you've got to figure: How much longer till you sink?

Well the front office was not done sending starters away for prospects after all of that. They then sent Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett to the Washington Nationals and Eric Hinske to the Yankees. And of course there were some less than happy reactions from the Pirates locker room.

It’s tough for the guys who’ve been here and have seen these trades happen and absolutely do nothing,” Wilson said several hours after the deals were made. “I’ve seen these trades two or three times a year and we still haven’t had a winning season.

How hard is it for people to continue supporting this team? Morgan and Burnett were good players, with a lot of potential.

That Pittsburgh bullpen relied on Burnett. And now that support is gone. You're best overall hitter leaves, and then you're catalyst. And for what? Prospects. Players that may be good.

And honestly, what does that say about the front office's faith in the team? Yeah, they aren't a great team, but when you're only six games out in the CENTRAL division, you still have a chance. And it when you still have a chance, you do not give away stars.

The thing about rebuilding that I don't think Pittsburgh's front office has realized that eventually you are finished with the construction. The four players that have left the team this year are young players. Young players with gobs of talent.

This may be something we see every year. Develop some great players and when there aren't instant results trade them away for next year's stars. I really feel for Pirates fans.

First they can't get a winning season, now they don't even have the luxury of watching their stars play.

The Florida Marlins Are Set To Switch to the "LandShark" Tank

Colin Coulahan — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:21:00 -0400

On Friday, the Marlins announced that Dolphin Stadium will now be known as LandShark Stadium. This comes off of the Marlins business relationship with singer Jimmy Buffet, who owns a brand of beer call LandShark Lager.

"To the Marlins fans (author's note: because there is so many of them), this move is seamless," Samson told MLB.com. "To Marlins fans, this won't matter. I admire Stephen Ross. He's an intelligent businessman. He's trying to create a great atmosphere at Dolphins games, which is exactly what we try to create at Marlins games."

The article also says that after the 2010 baseball season, the lease is up. So obviously this is a way to get money into the stadium. Because, lets be honest, no one really shows up for baseball in Florida.

And, really, why would they? Have you ever been to Florida? It is easily one thousand degrees in the sun. No wonder Tampa Bay has a dome (that actually doesn't help with the fans showing up).

I'm sorry, but I don't think it's too much to ask that when you go see a baseball game you don't have to worry about a heatstroke death.

It's another way for the front office to beef up the total revenue made. Why else would you trade away a championship team?

The Marlins seem more interested in being one of those that will do absolutely anything to avoid paying guys huge dollars to keep them (outside of Hanley Ramirez). So, Marlins fans, enjoy Josh Johnson while you've got him.

Starting Lineups 5-09

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:33:00 -0400

Here are the big games on tap for the day. Home teams are in bold.

Kansas City vs. L.A. Angels
I have now made it illegal to miss a Zack Greinke game. How can you see that he is scheduled to pitch and choose not to watch it. He comes into the game tonight 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA. The Royals will be opposed by Joe Saunders, 4-1, 3.29.

Florida vs. Colorado
Another pitcher that you absolutely have to see is Josh Johnson. So far he is having a good 2009, 2-0, 2.57. Colorado, who have lost their past two games puts Jorge De La Rose, 0-2, 3.90 on the mound. Hanley Ramirez appears to have healed from the wrist injury, hitting .444, with 4 home runs and 5 RBI in the past seven days.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Baltimore
Alex Rodriguez's second game of the season after coming back from surgery. He was 1-4 last night with a three run homer. Phil Hughes will takes the mound for the Bronx Bombers, coming in 1-1 2.70 and will try to make the Yankees front office wonder why they spent over $100 million on two pitchers. Adam Eaton pitches for the Orioles, 1-3 7.18. I wonder how this one will go.

Pappy Being Pappy

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 09 May 2009 03:16:00 -0400

So, this may or may not be news to you, but Manny Ramirez has been suspended by MLB for violating the drug policy.

CSN took this opportunity to catch up with Manny's former team, the Boston Red Sox, to get their opinion on the situation.

And of all the guys who would give a professional and thought-out response, they chose Jonathon Papelbon.

I'll start with this: Papelbon does have a history of being blunt. There was the Manny is a cancer remark, and the All-Star Game quote last year.

But I like seeing stuff like this. Guys who don't have to go through the media training and give the same response over and over. The ones that go on like, so and so made a mistake, we'll stick by him, blah blah blah.

He also didn't bite when the reporter was trying to bait him, so he gets a star. Papelbon has that swagger that says I'm better than you and you can't do anything to prove me wrong. That carried into the interview, but he obviously held back.

This is what we should have more of. Players who will actually speak their mind, not what the team's PR people prepare. Because you know, original thoughts are dangerous and all. They make people THINK.

Bob Melvin Out, Some Guy In

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:09:00 -0400

Ok so if you didn't hear yet, the Arizona Diamondbacks released Bob Melvin from his position as manager. And they also announced their new choice as manager, in a move that I'm sure was clear- and level-headed.

A.J. Hinch was introduced as Melvin’s replacement as manager Friday at a news conference, where general manager Josh Byrnes acknowledged the hiring was “unconventional.”

“He brings unique leadership and perspective to the job,” Byrnes said. “We’re not here to reinvent the wheel, but to change the nature of the job a little bit? OK, we’ll do that. A.J.’s a leader. He connects with people. He gets things done.”

So it really is not the absolute worst move they could have made. Yes, they are almost nine games back. And yes, the guy has absolutely no management experience.

But, the guy knows his players. The front office also says that teams have gotten better wherever Hinch plays.

I think it is move of pure desperation. When teams fire a manager, it is usually because of blowing big games or going on a losing streak. They then put a guy in who will get the team back on track.

Everyone is reminded of the Mets and Brewers' moves last years and that turned out pretty good in the end.

However, there is more to managing than filling out a lineup card and understanding your players. Learning on the job is not a recipe for success.

This will defintely come back to bite them in the long run. What else so you expect from an inexperienced guy on a team with young players who need to be developed?

First Pitch (May 9)

Colin Coulahan — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:48:00 -0400

Just a quick recap of the games from last night

New York Yankees 4, Baltimore Orioles 0

Obviously a big night for the Yankees. CC Sabathia went nine shutout innings to improve to 2-3 on the season. Alex Rodriguez started his 2009 season after surgery and steroid-use discovery by hitting a three-run homer off the first pitch he gets. Shocking.

Detroit Tigers 1, Cleveland Indians 0
Justin Verlander also got a complete-game shutout, with some help from Curtis Granderson. Grady Sizemore hit what should have been a walk off home run, until Granderson saved the game for Verlander. 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee took the hard loss to go to 1-5 on the year.

Milwaukee Brewers 3, Chicago Cubs 2
Home runs from J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun pushed the Brewers past the Cubs. Nothing to note on this game is except OUUUUUUCH!!! Aramis Ramirez separated his shoulder on a diving stop. No word on how long he is out for.

MLB May 6 Starting Lineups

Colin Coulahan — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:43:00 -0400

Here are a couple of MLB games to look forward to tonight. Home teams are in bold.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets

Philadelphia gets their first crack at the Mets in Citi Field. Chan Ho Park takes the mound for the Phils, who is 0-1 with a 9.57 ERA. Philly hasn't said how many more chances they will give Park, so that means he better pitch well tonight. Johan Santana gets the nod for New York, whose starts have been getting wasted due to offense. One thing to note: Shane Victorino has 14 RBI in his past 10 games.

San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies

Randy Johnson chases win number 298 tonight against the Rockies. Ubaldo Jimenez has struggled for Colorado so far, going 1-4 6.58 ERA. Johnson has really beaten up on Colorado more than any other pitcher, 19-7, 2.223 ERA, and 251 strikeouts lifetime. Rockies catcher Crhis Ianetta is .358, four homers, and 20 RBI against the Giants.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees

The game of two teams that showed promise but are struggling. The Yankees have looked awful in their past two games, getting swept by Boston. The Rays have seemed to pick up the pace, taking three of four from Boston with Carl Crawford getting six steals in one game.

B.J. Upton and Dioner Navarro have gotten off to slow starts, who are hitting .157 and .179, respectively. Also, the Yankees put Jorge Posada on the DL.

Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers try to remain perfect at home tonight by taking on the Nationals. So, tonight, the Dodgers will remain perfect at home. Daniel Cabrera starts for Washington and Clayton Kershaw is on the mound for LA. Both pitchers are 0-2 with ERAs of 4.44 and 5.46, respectively.

MLB Morning Roundup

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:06:00 -0400

First Pitch is going to be a recap of the some of the games from the previous day, including highlights.

The home team is in bold.

Tampa Bay 6—Boston 2
Justin Masterson was making his third start on the season, filling in for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Masterson went 2-0 allowing 1 run in each start. So of course he gave up six runs to the Rays, including an Evan Longoria grand slam.

By the way Tampa, those cowbells make me want to kill myself.

New York Yankees 10—LA Angels 9
Catcher Jorge Posada hit a two-run walk off single for the win. It was also Brian Fuentes' second blown save of the season. Posada drove in two runs with a homer in the first inning to get four RBI's on the night. Andy Pettite got roughed up for his second straight start, allowing five runs in 5.2 innings.

Oh, and Mark Teixeira earned his money by going hitless with a walk and boosting his average up to .189.

Dodgers 1—Padres 0
In a less than thrilling walk off win, Russell Martin drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the winning run. Jake Peavy didn't suck for a night hurling seven scoreless innings.

Mets 7—Phillies 4
Daniel Murphy drove in a pair of runs and so did Mike Pelfrey?(Checks roster) Yea, pitcher Mike Pelfrey hit a two run single to help his cause.

Raul Ibanez kept up his offensive pace, driving in two runs. Check out tomorrow night's Mets game, Oliver Perez is going to try and keep his job in the majors after New York spent $36 million for three years. Perez is 1-2 with a 9.31 ERA so far.

I don't think anyone has been paid more to do less. Oh yea, this guy.

MLB Power Rankings, May 2: Pitchers

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:05:00 -0400

I'm going to level here, I really don't like ranking all the teams. It just seems overdone and hack. Also, one mistake can ruin it for the team, so right now I am going to start with the top ten pitchers for the past week.

1. Zack Greinke

Duh. How can this guy not be at the top of the list? Everyone was expecting big things from him and he has delivered. First, in his first four starts he doesn't allow one run and wins all the decisions (4-0).

This week he went up against Detroit and Toronto. In those two games he went 2-0, 15 innings, 8 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 18 batters. Is it too early to call him the best? Yes. But he will be.

2. Dan Haren

The 2-3 record is deceiving. In two of them he only allowed one run and two runs inthe third loss. Definition of hard luck.

His past two games weren't the case. Going up against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs, Haren went 2-0 and allowed two runs. Those two runs were against the Cubs in a complete-game victory. He also walked two and struck out 19. Arizona better enjoy him until he tubes in the second half.

3. Tim Wakefield

You will never see him appear on anyone's lists. He has been on fire for the Red Sox lately. And since one of his wins was a seven-inning game, I am going to include the game before that.

In each of his past three starts, Boston has needed him to go deep and he has done that. Against Cleveland, Minnesota, and Oakland, he went 2-0, 23 innings, allowed 3 runs and struck out 13. Oh, and if that isn't enough for you, he was five outs away from a no hitter.

4. Johan Santana

The lone bright spot in an otherwise horrible rotation, Santana killed it this week. 2-0 against Washington and Florida. In those wins, he gave up three runs and fanned 17. His control has been awesome, as he walked only four batters.

5. Tim Lincecum

How could the reigning NL Cy Young not be on here? He went 2-0 against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. He gave up four runs in his 15 innings and struck out 20.

I love this kid for two reasons: he doesn't look like he belongs in the show and he has the most violent delivery in the league.

Keep checking back for the next power rankings, whcih will be for the top hitters for the past few games.

CJC

My A-Rod Post

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:04:00 -0400

OK, so obviously, baseball fans by now have heard that Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees has done steroids. He said that he did them during his time with the Texas Rangers, when he won an MVP award. Oh wait....

The reputation of Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez takes a fresh battering in an upcoming book that claims the slugger possibly used steroids at school and into his Yankees career.

The claims come in the book "A-Rod," by Sports Illustrated journalist Selena Roberts, due to be published by HarperCollins on May 12, The New York Daily News reported.

You can read the AP story here. The story goes on to say that Jose Canseco and his high school coach knew A-Rod was juicing.

Look, at this point, who cares? He has already ruined his career. It's ruined. He can kiss away the Hall of Fame. He cannot be credited as the greatest player of all time because WE DON'T KNOW IF HE IS CLEAN.

And of course all of the Yankee fans are saying that Selena Roberts should be arrested for "stalking" Rodriguez.

Why? Because she was doing her job as an investigative reporter?

At this point, Alex has said nothing about this, but I will definitely be paying close attention to this. But I did want to get my two cents in really quick.

He should be gone from the game. Just like that. Done. How does that not make sense to anyone?

Pete Rose bet on games and he got banned. But Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Miguel Tejada and everyone else hasn't been given the same. I don't understand it.

Not only did they break the rules but the law. The law!

Bud Selig has got to do something about this quickly, otherwise everyone is going to walk away.

Red Sox-Rays: Beckett Buzzsaws Tampa Bay 5-3

Colin Coulahan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:59:42 -0400

So it took an extra day of wait, but the Red Sox opened up Fenway Park for 2009. Not only that, but they opened it up the way every member of Red Sox nation wanted them to—with vengeance.

In in his first game of the season, Josh Beckett looked like his Cy Young worthy 2007 player, not the 2008 player who struggled. In his seven complete innings, he allowed two hits, three walks, one run, and struck out 10. His injuries looked to be far behind him as his fastball was continually hitting mid 90s, and his breaking ball and changeup were right on the money. He did lose control in the third inning, but besides that hiccup he mowed down every batter he faced.

James Shields had a rough day, which he normally does at Fenway. In 5.1 he allowed nine hits (two of those home runs), three walks, two strikeouts, and five earned runs. For some reason Shields has just not performed well in Fenway. Maybe it was nerves, or maybe the cold. He should bounce back in his next start, that was not typical Shields.

At the plate, the Red Sox were just as on as Beckett was. Jacoby Ellsbury got off to a rough start, going 0-for-4. Dustin Pedroia reminded us why he won the MVP, blasting the second pitch he saw over the Green Monster.

Quick side note: I got MLB '09 The Show and played Franchise mode as the Red Sox. In my first at bat of the season as Pedroia, I hit a home run over the Monster. Weird.

J.D. Drew, Jason Bay, and Mike Lowell all had one RBI each and Varitek also had one with a homer over the right-field wall. The Rays at the plate really had no offense going until Hideki Okajima came in to pitch. They began a rally against him, getting two runs off of him. Justin Masterson came in to kill the rally, setting the scene for Jonathon Papelbon who got his first save of the season.

This game showed how the Red Sox are going to play this season. Good offense backed by great pitching. If the starters can go six or seven solid innings and give it to the bullpen for the rest this team will be successful. Without Manny in the lineup they cannot rely too much on offense, although it will be there.

The Red Sox are in action again tonight at 7:10 p.m. Jon Lester gets the start for Boston and lefty James Shields takes the mound for the Rays.

The 2009 L.A. Angels Preview

Colin Coulahan — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:05:56 -0400

I will start this preview by stating the obvious: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will be the AL West champions. They are one of the few teams that have absolute control of their domination by using a combination of minor league depth and money. Even after losing two stars, this team is still in much better shape than its divisional foes.

The real strength of this team is its pitching. In 2008, the Angels led the league in wins (100) and saves (66). They also had the eighth best ERA (3.99). The rotation that posted such great numbers took a big hit before the first pitch was ever thrown.

John Lackey has a forearm injury that will cost him at least two starts. Kelvim Escobar is out until at least the All-Star break, and may get bullpen duties. Ervin Santana had a breakout year in 2008, posting a 16-7 record and 3.49 ERA, but he's on the DL with no set date.

So that leaves a few open rotation spots to begin the season. It's going to be a lot of patchwork until the big guys get healthy. Dustin Mosely and Nick Adenhart may be called on. The Angels were considering trading for Jake Peavy but those talks have died down. Even though they are starting on a down note this team has a lot going for them to stay on top.

The bullpen is lights out. That is of course if is not raided for starters. Scot Shields will return to setup and 25-year-old Jose Arredondo, who had a team best ERA of 1.62 may get to close a few games down the road. Speaking of closing, a lot of fans were worried about losing the new single season saves record holder Francisco Rodriguez. Well, LA calmed those fears by signing three time All-Star Brian Fuentes. Fuentes has averaged 30 saves per year for the past four years. That isn't close to 66 but tat will absolutely satisfy needs in a weak AL west.

The lineup doesn't have that same luxury. Mark Teixeira is a huge loss and takes away some protection from Vladimir Guerrero. They still do have some good weapons, and added a nice piece with Bobby Abreu. A lifetime OBP of .405 will help this team and so will his consistency. Chone Figgins is an ideal leadoff man with his speed. Howie Kendrick, however, may be an issue.

Kendrick has issues with staying healthy. And it seems whenever he comes back he loses his timing. His patience is also an issue. Kendrick has the potential to be a batting champion, but he opens his zone and is too impatient at the plate. Kendry Morales has never gotten 200 bats in a season, so he is an unproven commodity. The real problem is Vlad.

His numbers have begun to decline, and his body is starting to give. He is the only real power hitter in the lineup. One thing to keep in mind however is this team's speed and defense. They were fifth in the league with stolen bases (129) and eight in fielding percentage (.985). Those are two skills that will keep the pressure of their losses of them.

Despite the offense questions and rotation injuries, this team has two big cards in their favor. The first is the leadership of the club. Mike Scioscia is without a doubt the smartest manger in the game. The other is the lack of competition. The AL west is very weak and will be for another year or two. LA will feast off of that.

One other question that I think of when looking at this season is their playoff competition. Since 2002 they haven't made it to the World Series. Twice in the past three years the Red Sox have stopped the Angels in the playoffs, despite putting a winning record against them in the regular season. So you cannot help but wonder if this will be the year the LA beats the Sox in the postseason.

This team is a winning club, despite some holes. They have to start building their offense for the future. The Rangers and Athletics are beginning to build winning teams. So as long as the west stays the way it does the Angels can enjoy their spot on top of their division.

Around The Horn: American League

Colin Coulahan — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:53:44 -0400

When you look at the American league this year, it's hard to predict which team will claim any of the divisions. All of these teams have amazing talent on them, which is good.

American League East

I cannot wait to see this battle get underway. This was Yankees' and Red Sox' stomping ground for the past few years, until the worm turned for the Rays.

Each team has a solid rotation, dangerous lineups, and good bullpens.

Everyone is picking the Yankees to take the title, but I am apprehensive to say as much. They have great pitchers in Joba Chamberlain and C.C. Sabathia, but A.J. Burnett gets hurt a lot.

And who is in their bullpen, besides Mariano Rivera?

Even with the great starters, there is very little depth on this team. If someone goes down, who is there to step up?

They have already lost Alex Rodriguez for a few weeks, and there is a good possibility that when he comes back, the Yanks could be down five or six games.

Any team would kill to have Boston's problems—too many young, talented pitchers.

Clay Bucholz has bounced back, and Micheal Bowden and Daniel Bard are on the verge of being impact players. Looking at the rotation, the only problem is Brad Penny's health.

He has traditionally been a power pitcher and the surgery he had really may have taken that away. The bullpen, however, is water tight.

Boston will not score as many runs without Manny Ramirez, but they should win a lot of games. They have sped at the top with Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, and good power guys with David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis.

J.D. Drew, Jason Bay, and Mike Lowell will be good run-producers as long as they can stay healthy. Jed Lowrie should be a decent bat, but we will have to wait and see how he handles a full season. Jason Varitek looks like he'll improve on last year's numbers.

Boston will be a team that relies on pitching and defense.

They have some incredible pitching, just like their newest rival, Tampa Bay. Even though David Price was sent down to Triple-A, Rays fans should not worry.

From Scott Kazmir to the back end of the bullpen, this is a team with tremendous arms. Andy Sonnanstine may be be worst in the rotation, and he had double-digit wins last year, thanks to the offense.

This is a lineup that can smash the ball and manufacture runs. They have great speed and decent power with B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford, and run-producers in Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena.

The addition of Pat Burrell gives them some more thump, which I like.

As far as the Blue Jays and Orioles, these teams need a bit more time. Both have pitching woes, but I think the Jays' problems may be more serious.

All Baltimore needs is time to get the young guys to develop. The Blue Jays may see their bullpen get raided to fill out a rotation

American League Central

The Central is hard to predict but Minnesota should win it with a healthy Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Joe Mauer.

The White Sox took a gamble signing Bartolo Colon and refusing to offer Ken Griffey Jr. a contract, but they are slowly starting to get more youth on the team.

Alexi Casilla should have a monster year, and the bullpen is looking good.

I honestly have no idea where to put the Detroit Tigers. Gary Sheffield was toxic and had to be dumped. I want to say they'll win the division, but after last year I can't.

They should win with their rotation and guys like Miguel Cabrera and Maglio Ordonez in the lineup. This is a wait-and-see team.

Same with the Indians.

There is a ton of talent on this team, but after last year I have trouble putting faith in them. It all hinges on Travis Hafner.

Injuries killed Hafner last year, and his numbers have been slowly declining. If he gets going again, especially with good speed at the top, they can absolutely challenge.

And do not forget about the Kansas City Royals.

They have rotation questions after Gil Meche and Zack Greinke, and the bullpen doesn't calm you either. But they have promise and they have a very good lineup, after getting the one thing they needed.

They were toward the top of the league in batting average, but at the bottom in runs scored. After trading for Coco Crisp, this team is going to make Detroit and Cleavland sweat.

American League West

The West belongs to the Angels. They have great pitching and a great lineup.

The Rangers were second, but by 21 games. I find it weird that this is the one team that can't put together a solid rotation.

This is a team that will score in droves, but with no decent pitching to back it, they are going to have problems.

The Mariners are heading in a decent direction.

I really do not know why they signed Griffey, probably only to get more people in the stadium. With all due respect to Griffey, the Mariners have a lot more work to do than just adding an old-timer.

Actually, now that I look at that sentence, he does add something: leadership. This clubhouse was toxic last year, so hopefully he can shape things up.

I could have sworn Oakland was in rebuilding mode.

Then they trade for Matt Holliday.

I didn't understand it at first, but then I saw why. If Oakland is not in the mix by the time the end of July comes around, the Athletics can get a ton for him.

Almost all of these divisions will be very, very competitive. It should make for a great season. With the quality of pitching and offense, it's anyone's guess who makes the playoffs.

Around The Horn: National League

Colin Coulahan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:49:57 -0400

I have to say, I really do not see a lot of teams competing for the National League Championship this year. Many of these teams look good, but I cannot see them going deep in the playoffs.

Starting with the west, you have teams with very good pitching. The Diamondbacks have a great one-two punch with Brandon Webb and Dan Harren. After them, it gets shaky. A lot of these starters really don't make batters nervous.

The offense has the same problems that the rotation has—lot of young guys. Arizona is waiting for a majority of their guys to adapt. Most of the youth on this team can be blamed on money problems—Arizona does not have money to throw around.

When you look at the Giants you see the same problem. Good pitching backed by very little offense. Their ballpark is an absolute nightmare for hitters who don't have the last name of Howard, Dunn, Fielder, or Ramirez. Their rotation is good enough to keep them in the mix, but their lack of firepower will catch up to them.

The Rockies traded away their big slugger and are in rebuilding mode, so don't expect too much from them. The Dodgers are poised to win the west, simply because Manny Ramirez is a game-changing slugger.

The central division belongs to the Cubs. They, without a doubt, have the best rotation from top to bottom in the NL. Harden, Zambrano, Lilly, and Dempster are money. Add in a solid bullpen and Derek Lee, Milton Bradley, Geovany Soto, and Alfonso Soriano in the lineup and the title is a lock.

Actually, I take that back. The Reds might make a little noise. They have given up on raw power and are ready to become a speed and defense team. I have feeling they will make the Cubs sweat a bit.

The east will come down to two teams—Mets or Phillies. Each team is really a mirror of each other, a sure ace in front of lineups that aren't sure things and a solid lineup. It really comes down to the bullpen, and I have to give the nod to Philadelphia. They have a seasoned pen, a good setup man in Ryan Madson, and solid closer.

Yes, the Mets got two of the best closers out there, but that does not make up for the rest of the bullpen.

So, out of all those teams, the NL title will come down to either the Mets, Phillies, or Cubs. The other teams are solid, but they all need more time to flesh out.

Around the Horn: Tampa Bay Rays

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:30:15 -0500

The Tampa Bay Rays have arrived. After years of being the AL's whipping boys, all of the time spent on development has paid off. This is a solid team, with great young pitching.

The offense is also solid, and they have made the AL East that much tougher. So now we look at the five questions heading into the 2009 season.

1) Was it a fluke?

You can't help but think that. You really can't The Indians were one game away from the World Series in '07 but finished at .500 last year. In reality it probably wasn't a fluke.

There is solid pitching on the team with young players, and going toe to toe with the Red Sox and Yankees makes you tough. Playing in the World Series makes you even tougher. But keep this in mind—there still is room to grow.

2) Where will David Price begin 2009?

He looked great in the regular season. He looked even better in the playoffs. So now we will get to see how he fairs as a member of the active roster. Or maybe not. He has not been guaranteed a spot in the rotation yet. And he has not been named the team's closer.

Right now, all signs point to him to going to Durham.

Which just might be the best thing for him. This way he can get better and get the cal when he 100 percent ready, not 96 percent.

3) Can Pat Burrell remain consistent?

He is notoriously hot and cold, which is probably why Philadelphia did not try to get him back. Obviously, Tampa saw something different in Burrell. The DH role should be good for Pat. He isn’t the world’s best fielder. And that could be why he so streaky; thinking about what to do every time can affect some people.

It can make them lose their groove. Burrell is a producer and now with that being his only job he should be improving his offensive numbers.

4) Is Troy Percival worth bringing back?

He is a solid closer, but there are worries about him. Injures knocked him out last year, and he is getting old. So now the question is, do the Rays want him in the bullpen? Joe Maddon has said that they really don’t need a ninth-inning guy if Troy is not back.

So maybe you just move guys in and out of the spot. Or you put David Price at the back end of the bullpen. But they need to determine if it is worth keeping an injury prone closer in their staff.

5) Will the fans show up?

The Tampa Bay fans really were not there last year. Residents of Tampa didn’t know they didn’t have a baseball team until the ALCS. So now that they have proven they are a legitimate contender, you can’t help but wonder if they will be back.

I’m sure they will, but what if they hit a major slump? All teams do. You can’t help but wonder that if Tampa hits a dry spell if the fans will go with them, too.

All in all, this a solid team. They have made the AL east the new power division. This is a team much like their rival, the Red Sox. There really are not that many holes to fill and they should be in the race until the very end.

Around the Horn: Boston Red Sox

Colin Coulahan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:48:45 -0500

"Around the Horn" is going to be a series of articles where I preview every MLB team going into the 2009 season. I'll also take a look at some of the biggest questions for each team.

Today, we'll look at the Boston Red Sox, who hope to contend in the American League East, which has become Major League Baseball's power league.

This was a team that really did not need to fix anything and had few holes that needed filling. But they made some small, low-cost moves which definitely improved their pennant chances.

1. Can everyone get healthy?

The main reason why the Sox did not go the World Series was health. Not to take anything away from the Rays, but look at everyone who went down—Mike Lowell, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, Josh Beckett, and Sean Casey, who went down before the playoffs.

Even some of the players that they signed have injury problems. Then, Mark Kotsay goes down after he signs. Hopefully, the offseason gave the returning members a chance to rehab and the new guys in Beantown are 100 percent.

2. Who will be the new Manny Ramirez?

Antics aside, Ramirez's bat will be missed. You can't say that was not a factor late into the season. But, the Sox have some good players to step up.

Kevin Youkilis had great production numbers last year. With Ortiz down, J.D. Drew had a good year as well, especially considering he had injuries of his own.

Jason Bay has 20-plus home run potential, but the Red Sox need to figure out who that permanent No. 4 hitter is this season. It's great to move people in and out, but you need to have your guy in there.

3. Will 1-2-3 continue to dominate?

Yes, the Yankees went out and bought a great rotation. However, the Red Sox already had one.

Jon Lester had a breakout year in 2008, and Josh Beckett will be well-rested from his grueling 2007 campaign.

The only real concern is Daisuke Matsuzaka. He throws a lot of pitches and gets into jams, but with runners on and runners in scoring position, he continually gets out of these jams.

I would personally like to see him calm down, but if he can pitch his way out, who needs him to?

4. Can 'Tek shake it off?

Jason Varitek had a horrible season last year and went through a long contract signing, but he ultimately got what he wanted.

So, now we need to see some improvement. I'm not saying he has to put up MVP numbers, only a little step upwards.

Yes, a lot of teams are willing to overlook bad numbers if a catcher is that good with pitchers but there is a limit.

Varitek needs to get his groove back, if only to prove he was worth all the worry in the offseason.

5. Who wins the shortstop battle?

The Red Sox have confirmed it—Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie will fight it out for the starting shortstop position.

This will be a good one, because where one is the strong, the other is weak. Lugo is much faster than Lowrie, and speed at the bottom of the order is a great weapon.

But if Lugo is not hitting, his speed is no good. Lowrie is much better defensively than Lugo and his 16 errors last year. But maybe Lowrie is better off the bench, so he can roam the field.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

This team is absolutely a playoff threat but has potential to be a World Series threat, too.

The main and only main problem is health. If everyone goes down again, their chances for a title go down.

They have great pitching depth, with Smoltz coming in late, and Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson waiting for the call to close.

That pitching depth alone makes them a dangerous, dangerous team.

Around the Horn: New York Yankees

Colin Coulahan — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:13:19 -0500

"Around the Horn" is going to be a series of articles that preview each major league baseball team's 2009 season outlook, and will answer five important questions heading towards opening day.

We start off today with New York Yankees, who play in the very competitive American League East. These guys have made the biggest offseason moves, and there really aren't a lot of big questions surrounding the team.

The only one is will their investments be worth it? The Yankees were already a good team and these offseason moves have made the AL East fight that much harder for their opponents.

1. Is it worth the money?

You can't help but ask that question. Almost half a billion dollars were spent on three players, so for that type of money, they had better win the World Series this year. Could you imagine if the team stayed average?

There are question marks around all of these guys, so Cashman better hope he gets a few championship rings out of these deals.

2. Can Sabathia get better in October?

This is probably one of the of the questions that the front office does not really want to face. This is definitely a playoff team, and if their multi-million dollar ace, newly-acquired CC Sabathia, can't improve on his October performances of seasons past, it will not be worth it.

He definitely does have a better offense behind him, though, so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Sabathia has said that he has put a lot of pressure on himself, and that could be a reason for his struggles. He better turn that around, because the last thing the Yankees need is on overpaid player who cannot produce in the playoffs.

3. Can Tex help A-Rod?

Alex Rodriguez has faced a lot of criticism for his lack of clutch hitting. Hopefully Mark Teixeira can help A-Rod and give him some protection. But also, it takes more than one or two guys to win a championship.

Some people have also said that even though Teixeira puts up some nice numbers, he is not a difference maker. But maybe that's what Rodriguez needs—someone else to produce runs.

4. Can Nick Swisher get his groove back?

Swisher is a guy you keep waiting to break through. He has a really nice swing, but he never seems to do what you expect him to. Maybe it was all the bouncing around the field he has done that messed him up.

Going from spot to spot and trying to remember what you have to do can mess with your head. I would really like to see him stay in the outfield and finally breakout.

5. Will Matsui and Posada be back?

Word is, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui will both be back in time for Opening Day, which is a very good thing. They may not put up huge numbers, but with Abreu, Giambi and possibly Xavier Nady leaving, there are some gaps in the offense.

So these two veterans have to come back healthy. Posada is one of the better catchers at the plate, and Matsui is always good for production.

When looking at this year's Yankees on paper, they appear to be World Series worthy. They have added some of the best players out there, and they should do much better than last year. But the Yankees did this in the 1980s, and that didn't produce the same results.

Buying the top free agents doesn't always mean success.

Why Donovan McNabb Needs To Go

Colin Coulahan — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:09:00 -0500

Donovan McNabb has been saying all week that he wants a new contract, and wants to retire an Eagle.

He doesn't deserve anything.

What has he done for the team lately? Yes, he took them to five NFC Championships. And lost four of them. Sure, he puts up great numbers but it never seems to be enough.

You know what separates good quarterbacks from the elite ones? It's this situation—late fourth quarter, down by a score, you got 70, 80 yards in front of you. What do you do? Both Mannings can lead their team down the field and score. Tom Brady does it. Ben Roethlisberger has won most of his games with fourth quarter comebacks.

What separates the good from the great is making plays in those clutch moments. McNabb cannot do it. When has he ever? The pressure just gets to him, and he crumbles.

And I'm tired of hearing the "he has no receivers" argument. That is totally false. Look at what he did the past few weeks with "no receivers". Great quarterbacks make do with what they have.

Peyton Manning wins with street receivers. Tom Brady won his first championship with nobody. Roethlisberger has no offensive line, no solid running game, and has played hurt all year. And all he does is win.

McNabb is a good quarterback, he obviously has talent. He can throw for 300 yards a game and a few TD's, but they aren't clutch. 300 yards can be deceiving. Joe Flacco didn't put up numbers as sexy as Donovan's, but his are much, much more effective.

You can also put blame on Andy Reid. His play calling might be questionable, but it's all about what happens on the field. If your players are not performing it's on them. If your quarterback is not winning games it is time to move on.

The Eagles game plan for next season should be this - tell all three QB's there is no starter. Use training camp as an audition. Use the preseason games as competition. And whoever wins, do not ever make them feel safe. Competition breeds excellence.

It's time for the Eagles to start looking towards the post-McNabb era. If this franchise wants a ring, they are not going to get it with Donovan at the helm. In this game, it isn't about the overall win, loss, and rating numbers. It is about the jewelry and No. 5 does not have what it takes to get it.

A Closer Look into Albert Pujols' MVP Season

Colin Coulahan — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:49:14 -0500

I have never been a fan of how these MLB awards are dished out.

I consider myself a member of the media (not because I write here), and I honestly could never imagine being qualified enough to be a deciding person of who deserves what.

The players should be allowed to choose. I've heard people say that most players would vote for themselves or teammates, but honestly, that's a childish statement. Have the writers choose the candidates and allow the guys who play with or against them all year to decide.

There really has been a lot of noise around this year's NL MVP winner, Albert Pujols. It was down to him and Ryan Howard, and it really was a tough decision.

Pujols has stated that the MVP should go to a player who made it into the playoffs and I 100 percent agree with him. An MVP should be a guy who carries his team and helps them succeed, not keep their playoff hopes alive. The MVP for any league should be a carrier, the guy who gets the team hot and that is Ryan Howard.

But then look at the numbers. Prince Albert was more consistent that Howard, had better OBP numbers and a much better batting average. He is also a better fielder than Ryan Howard will ever be, which supports my theory that Howard would do much better for himself as a DH on an American League team, but that's neither here nor there.

I really thought that Howard would get it, just because he carried his team through September and helped the Phillies win the World Series. That and his offensive numbers; 48 HR and 146 RBI's. Compare that to Albert's 37 homers and 116 RBI's.

This really came down the players' patience at the plate. Pujols went down on strikes just 54 times compared to Howard's 129. That, and Pujols' slugging and on-base percentage were much higher than Ryan's.

Honestly, the writers chickened out on this one. Like always, it was a numbers choice. The batting average was much higher just like the OBP and K's, but there is an intangible quality to an MVP.

When Ryan Howard gets hot, the entire lineup does. There was no better lineup in the NL than a hot Philadelphia batting crew.

If I have a team that needs a spark, I will take Ryan Howard first. But, if I have the tying run on and two outs, I would lean towards Pujols. With Howard, your gambling. There is a big chance he will strike out. Albert has the better chance of driving him in.

So does Albert deserve the award? Yes.

Does Ryan Howard? Yes.

I'm a person who will take the intangibles over the numbers any day, so I would give it to Ryan Howard first. He has something that every manager wants—he can carry an entire team on his back.

Howard was the sole reason Philadelphia won the division. Which is why the writers cannot be given this responsibility. There is more to baseball, and sports in general, than numbers.

Sports Is No Longer for the Fan

Colin Coulahan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:50:32 -0500

When I saw what happened in Game Five of the World Series, it finally dawned on me—sports organizations no longer care about the local fan.

Let's be honest. Us true fans, the ones who support our teams through the lows and are happier than any other human during the highs, are being left out in the cold. It's all about the sponsors, television ratings, and money.

Why can't there be day games for the World Series? That's what baseball was all about—going to the ballpark with your dad or friends for a good day of baseball.

It's because more people can watch the national broadcast of the game on TV that the games are on at night, and Fox does not want to interrupt their day broadcasts. It's now all about the national audience.

How many kids have not been able to see a championship game because it starts at 8:30? It's criminal. It's time to realize that some things do not fit into the corporate world and deal with it.

Need more proof? Patriot Place at Gillette Stadium. A mall outside of a stadium? So people can go there to shop and eat besides watching a football game. It's madness.

Why would there be a Bass Pro Shops, a Christmas shop, and a Bed, Bath, and Beyond outside of a place where you go to watch 300-pound monsters slam each other to the ground as hard as humanly possible?

What about the ticket availability? Ten percent of the total tickets available were released to the public. Season ticket holders had to win a lottery. So a guy who say, supported the Giants and had season tickets for 40-some years had to hope to see his team play. Where did everything else go? Sponsors.

I went to a playoff game last year for the Phillies, and what was everyone talking about? Not how Hamels was doing, or how scary Holliday was, but after the game: where are you guys going, where's the party, people standing up to wave at someone five yards away.

IT'S A PLAYOFF GAME!!!! You should be holding your breath with every pitch, biting your nails with every long fly ball—not talking about where the action is afterwards.

The new Giants stadium is the latest and biggest insult to the real fans. Season ticket buyers will now have to pay what is called a seat license. It costs up to $20,000 plus the ticket price. Can you name an average fan who can afford that? It's a blatant slap in the face. It's the Giants organization saying, "We don't need the real fans. We don't care about you."

It will never turn back around. As times go on, it will be worse and worse. The times for the real fans are over. We should just get comfy on our sofas with our cheap beer and enjoy yelling at the TV.

Bud Selig Screwed the Philadelphia Phillies

Colin Coulahan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:26:49 -0400

Major League Baseball commissioner Allan H. Selig, known to most as "Bud," has proven to me several times that he is the worst commissioner the MLB has ever seen. The steroid scare, Barry Bonds issues, and the fact that the Astros' game was moved to Wrigley North are just a few incidents to date. Now we can add the South Philly monsoon to the list.

Game Five of the World Series was suspended last night due to rain in the top of the sixth inning after the Rays tied the game at two. Before the suspension, the field was soaked, puddles were collecting at the plate and in the outfield, and the players could not handle the ball properly.

In my opinion, Bud Selig is an idiot. I did not see one forecast that called for clear skies, and numerous weather reporters called for rain all night.

I have worked baseball games, and the standard is to delay the game when it rains, and if it doesn't clear up, the game gets postponed.

We waited out the rain in Game Four of the series, which poses the question of why we couldn't do it again. I understand starting the game and seeing what happens, but continuing the game while it rains is stupid.

The game was official by the time the rain got bad. It should've been called, and the Phillies would be celebrating right now. Whether it is the World Series or not, it is still a baseball game and should follow standard rules, but Bud saw a tie and took it upon himself to change the rules.

There are several reasons "Commissioner Clueless" did not call the game official. He thought he could squeeze a few dimes out of it. Maybe he thought a World Series game shouldn't be called because of rain. There is only one difference between a World Series game and a regular season game: The winner gets a trophy.

What happens to the Phillies now?

They are screwed. Once again, Cole Hamels threw a gem, but it was for nothing.

Myers is getting the start and, in my opinion, he will slip up again. Myers isn't a solid pitcher. He has problems emotionally, and this might be the night he cracks. If this happens, the series goes back to Tampa Bay, and that's all she wrote.

In one shot, Selig wasted a start by Hamels and ultimately screwed the Phillies. Thanks, Bud, for looking out for baseball.

How the Philadelphia Phillies Can Beat the Rays' Pitching Staff

Colin Coulahan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:45:20 -0400

It's finally here. The big one. The World Series. For true baseball fans, such as myself, this could be one of the best series played. The upstart Tampa Bay Rays going against the never-say-die Philadelphia Phillies.

This series is going to come down to pitching. It will be who can score first and who can hold it. For Philadelphia, it's offense is it's shining star, so how will they fair against the Rays' young pitching staff?

Scott Kazmir

Kazmir has had a rough postseason so far. He's got a record of 0-2, an ERA of 9.00, and 14 walks and strikeouts. Kazmir needs to turn this around and fast. A large portion of Philadelphia's lineup runs hot and cold, but they don't swing and forget. They might have trouble sometimes figuring out a pitcher, but when they do, it can get ugly for the guy on the mound.

Scott's best pitch is his fastball, which can top out at 97 MPH. The tailing action will help guys like Howard and Utley chase. But if he makes one location mistake with the heater Philly will make him pay. It happened to Sabathia and Billingsley. The Philly lineup can't get tricked by his fastball, and Utley and Howard need to be careful with his slider. If the Phils can get a big hit off of him, he might collapse.

James Shields

He got banged up in his last start, but "Big Game" James is not going to let that affect him. The ace is going to be relying on his changeup and the curveball he throws sometimes. Shields can GATT guys like Burell, Howard, Utley, and Werth with the changeup. I'm guessing that it will be his out pitch, like his Philadelphia counterpart Cole Hamels.

Burell and Howard are very prone to strikeouts, and patience can be problem for those two. Shields has a very low number of walks, so that will help him. However, his curve is average, so if it hangs at all, you'll see hitters make contact with it.

Matt Garza

This guy is the total package. Not only does he have a large arsenal, he goes right after pitchers. He shut down the Red Sox in Game Seven and was named the series MVP for it. He'll be using the changeup and two-seam fastball against some of the more dangerous hitters.

With his movement on the two seamer, Rollins, Victorino, and Howard will get under it. It happened to Kotsay in the ALCS. His off-speed pitch will fool batters, and by using the fastball and slider to set up the off-speed pitch, he will shut down the Phillies' offense, the same way he did against Boston.

Andy Sonnanstine

If Tampa falls behind in the series I would be surprised if they put this guy in. You can't allow Philadelphia to get a large lead, with their bullpen. Sonnanstine is not a lights out pitcher, and the heart of the Phillies offense will have a field day with him. The key here is to wait for a something to float in and nail it. Andy will always give up two to four runs a game so Philly has to hop on him fast.

The Bullpen

Philadelphia cannot be intimidated by this monster bullpen. They were exposed in Game Five and it will happen again. Joe Madden will try to avoid another breakdown by throwing every single pitcher he can at the Phillies, but once an offense gets rolling, its hard to stop them.

There is no trick here, just work the count and make the pitchers earn the out. And when they make a mistake, capitalize.

Also, David Price is not impossible to beat. Yes, his numbers are intimidating, and he is the real deal. But he is young and inexperienced. Price makes mistakes in the strike zone. The Philadelphia lineup is made up of hitters who capitalize on mistakes. If Philly can get to Price, they can take the series.

All in all, the key to beating the Rays' pitching is patience. These guys are power pitchers and rely on the speed of their pitches. Philadelphia needs to wear down the pitchers and force them to make a location mistake. That's how you beat the Rays. Force them to throw you a good pitch.

Phillies Strike First against Brewers

Colin Coulahan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:35:14 -0400

It's officially on the books. Philadelphia takes game one of the NLDS.

They beat the Brewers 3-1 to lead the series 1-0 and win their first postseason game in 15 years. I had the privilege of watching the pitchers duel and I just had a few thoughts.

First of all, Cole Hamels, Cole Hamels, Cole Hamels. This guy look liked a Cy Young candidate today, pitching 8.0 innings, two hits, one BB, and fanned nine. I mean, he never seemed to struggle and his pitches hit the mark. The Phillies are going to need him down the stretch, especially since the rotation has a few hiccups every now and then.

Shane Victorino needs to be at the top of the lineup. In the third inning with the bases loaded Victorino drew a walk. How many guys do you see swinging for the fences in that situation? Patience is key at the plate and he obviously has it. Hit him first, then Rollins. Also, he is fast. I mean FAST. He flies down the line. Blink and you miss it.

If Victorino and Rollins were on that same time, we would be in for some fun on the base paths.

I wish Howard could have had some offense. He drew three walks—yes, three. That doesn't seem like the Howard I've seen. I'm sure he'll make some noise in the next game.

Utley came through with the two-run double. That is the reason why Philadelphia will be a tough team to beat this October. Even when they aren't lighting up the guy on the mound, one clutch hit can be enough. I kind of wish they wouldn't rely so much on the big flies to score, but today their manufacturing was solid.

I hate these Frank TV commercials. He is not funny and the commercials are overplayed. It's incredibly annoying.

Lidge stumbled a bit in the ninth. I really don't think he should have gone to the closer, especially when facing the heart of the lineup. Now these guys know what Lidge has got and the team takes that much more of a risk the next time he takes the mound. He threw around 30 pitches which exposes him way, way too much.

All in all, the Phillies are taking this series. Hands down. With Sabathia getting the nod in game two, Milwaukee might take one, but don't expect more than that.

What I Want to See from the MLB in October

Colin Coulahan — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:53:38 -0400

I love this time of year. It cools down, the leaves change colors, and we got some of the most exciting baseball ever.

As a die hard baseball fan (yes, I'll take baseball over football every time) this is better than Christmas for me. With most of the brackets set except for a few, here is what I want to see from each team when baseball's biggest spotlight is on them.

Dealing with the Devil—Just Rays Now

Man, has this team been a great story. After years of being the butt of every baseball joke, an injection of youth gave the Tampa Bay Rays a playoff spot for the first time in 10 years. This team has been doing everything right so it's hard to say what I want to see from them.

It will be interesting to see how they fare in the postseason, but I really want to see who comes out to hold the leads. Percival recently had an epidural so I wouldn't expect to see too much of him. To me, that's risky. David Price has been solid and so has Dan Wheeler so it'll be interesting to see who gets the ball to protect the late inning leads.

Two in a Row?

Is it just me, or is something up with the Red Sox? They don't seem to have that feeling that they can repeat. Maybe it's the loss of Schilling or getting rid of Manny, but something tells me this Boston team can't pull it off. On the flip side, they have lost some of their best players and were still able to clinch a playoff spot.

When the question is asked what I'll be watching for, the list goes on. Will J.D. Drew be back and will he still be as clutch? Will getting rid of Manny hurt them (they won their last two rings with him)? Can David Ortiz get over the wrist problem.

Nonetheless, it all comes down to one man—Josh Beckett. He's had trouble this year. Beckett has been one of the most dangerous pitchers in the playoffs, but can he get over what has been troubling him this year to give the BoSox two rings in two years?

Who Will Crack First?

It's still a toss up in the Central. Yes, it's a lot less exciting if Chicago beats Minnesota once out of three times, but that Central title is anyone's for the taking. Regardless of who gets the playoff berth I have the same questions about each team—the bullpen.

Both teams' pens have flaws. Chicago's is a bit better at holding leads than the Twins, but both could be better. It will be interesting to see (regardless of which team makes it) whose pen can knuckle down and hold leads. Expect the starters to go a bit deeper? That is exactly what I am thinking.

Quick side note: I want the ChiSox to get the title for one selfish reason—Ozzie Guillen. He blew up at his pitcher the other night and he lost the game. Does the yelling and screaming work? Not on every player. Let me tell you this, if the Sox do make it to the postseason he will be priceless.

Rings to Go with the Halos

I think the Angels are everyone's pick right now as AL Champs. Yes, they are scary good and almost everything with them is near perfect. For a team that can have the most potent offense in the league, however, they don't score that much.

The bats switch from hot to cold way too often and they rely too much on K-Rod and their other relievers. To allow one guy 60-some save opportunities will come back to bite you. I'm looking to see if the Angels can do something with their swings to take the pressure of the pen.

Another Batch of Curse Busters

What isn't there to love about the Cubs this year? They have rolled through all of their obstacles this year. They addressed their rotation issues by acquiring Rich Harden. They're corner men Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez have been the greatest strengths of a talented and balanced lineup.

All of the talent on this team makes them the most invulnerable NL team on the brackets.

What I want to see is basically the same as the two teams above—the bullpen. There has been a lot of mileage put on them, mostly coming from injuries. If they can get rested and 100 percent healthy, these guys could be the NL champs.

Agent 99

You know, Manny Ramirez is one weird guy. Weird, crazy, maybe childish, but he is an amazing hitter. After helping the Red Sox, or leading, to two World Series wins he is on the verge of doing the same for the Dodgers. It's like he attracts rings. It's still anyone's game in the West with Arizona catching up, but right now it's LA heading to October.

This team has been a revolving door for prospects and injured players all year long. My thing to look for—how these guys operate all together. I know it isn't a great point, but they have young players and seasoned veterans on the team. As a whole, I want to see how the Dodgers work together.

Capitalizing on a Collapse

New rule for the Phillies—pretend every month is September. They were fluttering in second place most of the year then sweeping the Brewers and the Mets hitting a bad patch put them back in the lead. These guys know when to get hot. The bullpen has a few hiccups but is mostly solid.

What to look for—the offense. These guys either smack it out of the park or have trouble scoring. They need to manufacture runs better or their postseason trip will be cut short again.

Another Collapse?

The wild card is still up for grabs. The Mets lost their southpaw Billy Wagner and their bullpen got exposed. New York pretty much handed the NL East title to Philly with blown save after blown save.

If the Mets can get the berth, I want to see how the bullpen can handle the playoffs. Yes, I've said almost the same for both Chicago teams, the Angels, and the Twins. This is different. Those bullpens are good.

The Mets' is flawed beyond repair right now. Their starters are going to have to go deep into games to hold the lead.

As far as Milwaukee goes, it all rests on Sabathia. I guarantee if they could start C.C. every night they would. The Brewers are going to start Sabathia on short periods of rest, that could burn him out and make him useless again in the postseason. The offense and other starting pitchers need to get their act together and step up.

Do MVP Voting Rights Belong to the Media?

Colin Coulahan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:10:05 -0400

As the final days of baseball are quickly approaching, I'm left thinking of one question.

It's not who will take the AL East, or if the Cubs will finally break the curse.

Here’s my question: does the Baseball Writers Association of America really deserve to pick the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie, and Manager of the Year?

They are the media. In the media, you have one goal. It isn't to make the right choices, not to go with the intangibles, but to sell. Sell, sell, sell. Look at the past winners. A-Rod got it three times in five years, Randy Johnson and Barry Bonds won the Cy Young and MVP four years in a row, respectively.

Honestly, yes, their choices make sense on paper. They go with guys with good numbers, but it is almost always the same guys because it’s those big names that get attention. People like Kevin Youkilis might never get an MVP. Ryan Howard deserves one this year, but won't get it.

Here is what I suggest: let the players and coaches vote. They are the ones playing against these guys. They are the ones who have to look at each player and say, "Wow. He is good."

What is an MVP? It isn't the guy who posts the best numbers. It really isn't. It's the guy who carries the team when he’s needed most. It's the guy who, when you need him to come up big, comes up big.

Just take a look at the Phillies. Towards the home stretch, Philadelphia's meat in the lineup took a nose dive. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Pat Burrell all went down. Their averages might not have suffered, but their clutch production did. And the team felt the effects.

Enter Howard. Even with his average a little above .200, he has been carrying the team with RBI and homers. They can count on him. But his batting average and strikeouts will keep him from getting the votes he deserves.

What about the two guys who switched leagues at midseason—Jason Bay and Manny Ramirez? Manny was the injection the Dodgers needed. He shot them to a possible (and likely) NL West title. But since the clock gets reset on his numbers because of a trade he won't get it.

Same goes for Bay. Sure, the Red Sox haven't improved by leaps and bounds with him, but Bay has made a difference. He will finish this year with around 30 home runs. He did all he could for the Pirates, and has helped the Sox stay afloat in the wild card race, but he won't get it.

C.C. Sabathia is the best pitcher in baseball right now. Even though he has been unstoppable with the Brewers and was still decent with the Indians, he won't get the Cy Young because of a trade.

So who will win the awards? Probably a guy from one of the worst teams. Let the players choose. They know who they couldn't beat or do without. The media is scared of shaking things up. The players know. Give them the pens to write down the people who truly deserve these awards.

Open Letter To The Houston Astros: Get Over It

Colin Coulahan — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:36:55 -0400

Dear Houston Astros,

Sorry about your record this year. Everyone had high hopes after signing Brandon Backe, Ty Wigginton, and Dave Borkowski. Shawn Chacon was a nice addition too. And boy I'm sure you felt really good about beating the Red Sox for the first time ever.

Sure, you got eliminated from the division title by the Cubs, but hey, only four games back from the wildcard! Of course, you have to hope the Mets, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee suffer huge collapses. But hey, a chance is better than no chance right?

Look, we all know that Bud Selig is an idiot. He is. He doesn't deserve to rake up the infield dirt, but there he is, commissioner of the league. But, seriously, he didn't stir up Hurricane Ike.

Yes, there were closer stadiums. Yes, it could have been a doubleheader. It made absolutely no sense to travel to "Wrigley-north" for you guys. But that is the card you were dealt, and you need to man up and deal with it.

Life isn't fair, and it never will be. You got the short end of the stick. You were on the bad side of a no-hitter, and even though I have never played professional baseball I am positive that's never a good feeling. But to blame Bud Selig is childish.

It is. To blame others for your shortcomings is childish. Even if Bud Selig only cares about money and wanted the came to go on, even though there are better options this is the one he chose—you guys go to Milwaukee and play ball in a place that is too far to be considered home.

To wear shirts that say it's Bud's fault is stupid. You look like children. Maybe if you had played better ball during the season your playoff chances wouldn't have been down to the wire. It's time to accept the fact that you guys got hosed. Put it behind you, and get over it.

There are six games left in the season boys. It's time to put down the finger and pick up a bat—you've got work to do.