Okay, that might be a little bit strong, but the Atlanta Braves are building one of the best bullys ever right now. First they added Billy Wagner to the mix as the new closer. Then they added Takashi Saito to fill the set-up role. Then a strange thing happened, Rafael Soriano accepted the Braves arbitration offer.
Deep breathes, people. Soriano is not going to be the 7th inning guy. He is going to ask to be traded, just like Mark Bowman says in the article linked above. If he does not ask to be traded, the Braves will have to wait until June 15th to move him due to current MLB arbitration rules. The Braves could outright release him during Spring Training if they choose to, but that scenario is about as likely as me being offered the GM job in New York.
I just raked my own eyes out. Billy Wagner, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, is set to become a Brave. Apparently they have agreed on a one year deal, pending a physical. Wagner is set to make $7million for the 2010 season, with a $6.5million vesting option if dude finishes 50 games.
Wagner, whom I have always despised for various reasons, pitched well last season after returning from Tommy John surgery. In 17 trips to the mound, he compiled an ERA of 1.72 while striking out 26 batters in his 15.2 innings of work.
The move will make it hurt less if either Mike Gonzalez or Rafael Soriano leave via free agency. Like Wagner, who was offered arbitration on Tuesday by the Red Sox, both players have been offered arbitration and are Type-A free agents. K-Ros explains some of what that means in his column, and we will try to give a full breakdown when time permits.
So why are the Phillies looking to add offense, when they already dominate the NL in most offensive categories? To do so at the expense of Pedro Feliz’ glove is a crime, as dude is one of the best three baggers in the game. Speculation is that they will try to sign free agent Adrian Beltre, who would certainly have the potential to be a huge offensive upgrade over Feliz. Beltre, however, has not hit over 30 homers since 2004 in which he belted 48 of them. That is also the only year he did manage to hit over 30, by the way, and in 2009 he only managed eight in an injury plagued season that saw him play in only 111 games.
Here at The Sports Idiot we think that the Phillies should have picked up this option. The Phillies failed to ask us for our opinion, and have yet to return calls that we have not placed to them.
It is no surprise that the Bravos top two needs are also their top two prospects, outfield and first base with Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman. We will refrain from posting the entire lists so that you visit the BA entry.
The New York Yankees got a perfdormance for the ages from Hideki Matsui as they wrapped up the 2009 World Series. Since I am on the road I will have to keep this short.
Congratulations to the Yankees. Congrats also to the Phillies on a great year as well. It was a tough loss, but fret not Phillies fans as your boys are set up nicely for next season.
In last night’s Game Four of the 2009 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees we saw the offensive team finally use the shift to their advantage. With Mark Teixeira at the plate and Johnny Damon standing on first base, the Phillies put the shift on. Damon proceeded to do one of the smartest things I have ever seen a baseball player do. He stole second base, doing a feet first slide and popping right up to his feet. He then raced to third, where there was no one to cover the bag. Dude stole two bases on one pitch. Damon then scored the game winning run when Alex Rodriguez hit a double later in the inning.
In a series that base running figured to be a factor, this may turn out to be the biggest play of them all. The ironic thing is that most of us figured it would be the speedy Phils who would use their base stealing ability to wreak havoc, not old ass Johnny Freaking Damon.
Wait, what pre-established ground rules? Umpire crew chief Gerry Davis told Phillies Manager Charlie Manual that when the crew took their tour of the field, they saw the camera and decided then that if any ball were to hit it, it would be a round tripper. Fair enough, and that makes the correct call on this one a home run.
The problem that Phillie Fan is going to have with this is that the ball did not look like it would have cleared the top of the fence if the camera were not there. The problem with Phillie Fans’ impending argument about being screwed is that this happened on their home turf. While we are not sure who determines the location of the cameras and their clearance to the field, we are sure that if Chase Utley had hit this ball they would not have an issue with it.
That sound you just heard was all of the Phillies Fans that were screaming about disrespect and how their Phils would either sweep on win in five throwing their remotes into their TVs. I predicted Phils in six, but that prediction is looking shaky right now. As I said Friday, this series will turn when either Ryan Howard or Alex Rodriguez does something other than generate electricity via the human windmill. Unfortunately for the Phillies, it was not their guy who showed up first. Rodriguez reached base four times, the homer, a walk and he was drilled by two pitches. He also had a throwing error, for what it is worth, but did not strike out a single time.
Howard, on the other hand, continues to look lost in the batters box while striking out three more times and not reaching base a single time. Good thing for him the Phillies have a new super star in the mix in Jayson Werth. The bad news is that it will take much more than Werth to win three more games this series.
Back on track. Burnett was stellar last night, putting the ball exactly where he wanted it and outsmarting the Phillies lineup. Pedro was almost just as good, fooling Yankee hitter after Yankee hitter. There really is not anything bad we can say about what either guy did on the mound last night.
Which brings us to the point of this entry. Is this going to be one of those epic World Series’, like the previously referenced 1992 slate between the Twins and Braves? Right now it certainly looks like it has the potential, but there are some key missing pieces.
Where in the hell are Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez? Headed into the WS there was no doubt that these dudes were having statement postseasons. Through two games in the WS, however, they are a combined two for 17 with 12 Ks. Yes, that is correct, and those two lone hits were both Howard doubles, giving him and his monstrous one RBI the edge in the matchup. If this series is going to be one of legend, then both of these guys are going to have to figure it out.
Another missing piece, and what could be their eventual downfall, is the bully for the Yankees. Mariano Rivera may be the best closer in the history of ever, but he can not pitch two innings every night. If the Yankees do not get solid work from at least two more members of the bully, they do not stand a chance at winning this series.
Going into this thing we said Phillies in six. Hopefully we are wrong, for the mere fact that a Game Seven would be epic. In order to make that happen, either ARod or Howard are going to have to show up. Whichever one decides to first, may just be wearing the championship uniform.
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Who will rack up more Ks this season?
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