Jim Baker breaks down the weekend’s featured tilts, including a mismatchup of historic proportions.
The Devil Rays appear ready to move B.J. Upton off of shortstop for good, most likely to third base. It won’t hurt his value as much as you might think.
News on Bill Mueller, Roy Halladay and Ivan Rodriguez pales in comparison to some interesting information about Matt Morris’ performance.
HOUSTON ASTROS
Played an old-school eight games and went 5-3, though it could have been a bigger week; Pittsburgh gave them more trouble than they should have. In the three losses in Steeltown, the offense couldn’t get started, though most of the principles did well on the week. The restaurant scene in Pittsburgh is said to be lacking, that could bring a team down… In a reversal of the usual order of things, Brad Ausmus batted .368/.400/.421, but opponents were safe in five of six stolen base attempts. Happy new year, Brad! Life is (a) a bowl of cherries, (b) a beach, (c) none of the above, (d) a mixed bag at the best of times, (e) all of the above. GRADE: B-
Addition by subtraction is today’s theme, although “the only PTP with three playoff teams” could also work.
The Braves are racing to avoid the Cardinals, the Devil Rays are racing towards their best season ever, and the Blue Jays are racing towards the future.
It’s a bad day for infielders on contending teams, as Scott Rolen, Khalil Greene and Bill Mueller all deal with health problems.
As we wait for Barry Bonds to go where just two men have gone before, Joe Sheehan gets inside the numbers of another ridiculously great season.
David Wright exceeded expectations, while James Loney was a disappointment. All the hitters in our Top 50 Prospects list are put under the microscope in today’s Lies, Damned Lies.
Since it’s the Yankees, let’s play six degrees of Casey Stengel. First test: Casey Stengel to “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson. Casey Stengel went to high school with William Powell. William Powell co-starred with Clark Gable in “Manhattan Melodrama,” 1934. Gable headlined “Gone with the Wind” with Vivien Leigh. Leigh was married to Sir Laurence Olivier, who was in “War Requiem” with Sean Bean. Bean was “Boromir” in Jackson’s trilogy.
Yesterday, it was Barry Bonds. Today, Derek looks at the performance of another 40-year-old who just keeps getting better.
The Yankees get good news on a number of fronts, while other playoff contenders deal with their own health issues. The top story, however, involves a team that hasn’t contended in years.
Barry Bonds’ greatness in the batter’s box has been well established. But what would his numbers look like if he were a pitcher?
One of the best players in baseball this season isn’t going to show up anywhere near the top of the MVP balloting.
While the Sox look ahead to 2005, the A’s are focused on the next few weeks and their matchups with the Angels. Also, a look at the Phillies’ farm system.
Two teams have salted away playoff berths in the NL, while a third is almost there. The wild card, however, is up for grabs.