I'm going to give the Baseball Update a rest this week and compile a power rankings list instead this week. These power rankings are going to be a little different in that they will be stories that have caught my attention recently. I can't promise this will be a weekly adventure.
1. Realignment Talks: Yes there are reports that baseball might once again realign with an NL team (most likely Houston) moving over to the American League. There's one catch though, the divisions will be eliminated and five teams will play for a playoff spot in each league. So basically baseball wants to go back to the old pennant days when there were no divisions and the winner of the leagues would meet in the world series, except five teams in each league would meet in the playoffs with the top seed getting a bye. I have a simpler solution for baseball. Realign the leagues to give each of them 15 teams and keep the divisions. Of course none of this will probably happen in the next couple of years.
2. Anthony Rizzo: Rizzo was the prized prospect the Padres traded for in the Adrian Gonzalez trade. Rizzo made his MLB debut at the end of last week and is off to a very impressive start. .300/.563/.900. Now obviously the slugging percentage isn't sustainable, but the average and the power certainly is. The Padres must be dancing on the beach knowing they traded for a younger and cheaper Adrian Gonzalez.
3. Pablo Sandoval Catching: The Giants have suffered through so many injuries and offensive ineptitude, they're thinking about moving Pablo Sandoval back to catcher to fill that void offensively. Eli Whiteside is a disaster both offensively and defensively behind the plate. Chris Stewart can field at catcher, but is horrendous at hitting. And there really isn't an catching option for the Giants to trade for to replace the injured Buster Posey. So yes moving Pablo Sandoval to catcher would make sense for the Giants.
4. Tommy Hanson: The fourth brother of the Hanson Brothers, struck out 14 Astros yesterday the most batters struck out by a Braves pitcher since John Smoltz stuck out 15 back in 2005. The Braves are now two games behind the Phillies for first place in the NL East and they have the best run differential in baseball.
5. Todd Coffey in a Throwback Uniform: There are no words for this. (Via Big League Stew)
8. Fathers & Baseball: This great essay on fathers and baseball is a must read. And I agree with this clip below. If you have nothing else to talk about, you can always talk baseball. It's real and is an easy conversation.
9. Ad Yale: Yes he exists. I'm disappointed though his last name wasn't "sale". That would have been more appropriate.
10. Kirby Puckett and Matt Nokes?: Yes it was the immortal Matt Nokes who replaced Lance Parrish and made an All-Star team.
As a fan of an AL East team, I love the idea of junking the divisions and going back to a balanced schedule. It gets old watching your team get its brains beat in by divisional teams year after year.
ReplyDeleteHere's an novel idea. The Orioles should do better at drafting and signing players. If the Rays can make the playoffs twice in three years, the Orioles can as well. They just have to spend their money more wisely and be smarter/lucky with their draft picks.
ReplyDeleteI just want a balanced schedule. This can be done without demolishing the divisions.
Proper evaluation & development of talent is a big part of winning, and the Orioles have been a total fail at that for too many years. But, unless there is some type of salary restriction with teeth, Boston & New York will continue to win, no matter what type of schedule is put in place by MLB. All changing the format of the season would do is give some new teams a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
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