Tagged: mets

The Johan Santana Trade Revisited

On January 29, 2008, the Twins traded LHP Johan Santana to the New York Mets  receiving in return  CF Carlos Gomez, RHP Phillip Humber, RHP Deolis Guerra, and RHP Kevin Mulvey.  I am going to try to analyze this trade without using hindsight, though it probably won’t work.

Johan Santana, was acknowledged as one of, if not the best, pitcher’s in baseball when the Twins opted to trade him, the Twins selected the Mets’ offer of top prospect Carlos Gomez, and three pitcher’s, over offers by the Red Sox, and the Yankees.
In the 2008 season Santana put up ace numbers: 16-7, 2.53 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 234 1/3 IP.  He has put up similar numbers in 2009.
The prospects Minnesota acquired haven’t fared anywhere near that well.  Carlos Gomez looked like baseball’s next young star at the beginning of the ’08 season, but after a torrid start, including hitting for the cycle, it all went downhill, as he finished with a .258/.296/.360 batting line.
 Former first round draft choice Humber gave up 6 runs in 11 2/3 IP in 2008, and was DFA’d by the Twins in April of ’09.  He was demoted to Triple-A, where he is struggling as a starter.
Deolis Guerra has bad control problems, and has failed to impress, he is in his third season in Class A Advanced.
Mulvey, currently a 24-year old pitching at Triple-A, has some minor control issues to work out, he projects as a number 4 starter.
All in all, the Mets are clear winners in this trade, not because of Santana, but because they gave up a minimal amount of talent.  While Santana’s contract would have been up after the ’08 season if he hadn’t been traded, Minnesota certainly could have used him in ’08, and used the draft pick’s he would have netted.  Fire Bill Smith!!!
This Day In Baseball History

1916-At Braves Field, right-hander Tom Hughes no-hits the Pirates, 2-0. ‘Salida Tom’ will finish the season with 16-3 record, the best win-loss percentage in the National League, for the third-place Boston club.

1933-The previous season’s National League batting champ, Lefty O’Doul, and pitcher Watty Clark, a 20-game winner the previous season, are traded by the Dodgers to the Giants for first baseman Sam Leslie.

1957-In a three and two-third innings relief appearance, Dixie Howell hits two home runs helping the White Sox beat the Senators, 8-6.

1964-In a 7-1 victory over the Astros, Cardinal third baseman Ken Boyer hits for the cycle. In the same game, Lou Brock, recently obtained from the Cubs for Ernie Broglio, makes his debut in a St. Louis uniform with two hits, including a triple, and the fleet outfielder also steals a base.

1969-In an effort to return major league baseball to Milwaukee, the Chicago White Sox play a home game at County Stadium where only 13,133 fans show up to see the ‘home’ team beat the Pilots, 8-3. Ironically, the visitors will leave Seattle next season to move to the ‘Cream City’ with the one-year old American League franchise becoming known as the Brewers.

1969-In the bottom of the first inning at Metropolitan Stadium, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew complete a double steal swiping second and third base repectively. On the next pitch thrown by Angels’ starter Tom Murphy , the pair repeat the feat, as Carew steals home for the sixth time this season tying the American League record.

1978-Reds’ right-hander Tom Seaver no-hits the Cardinals, 4-0. It is Tom Terrific’s first no-hitter after coming close three times his 12-year career.

1989-Reds’ right-hander Tom Seaver no-hits the Cardinals, 4-0. It is Tom Terrific’s first no-hitter after coming close three times his 12-year career.

1991-Against the Reds, Phillies’ right-hander Andy Ashby strikes out the side on only nine pitches to become the 12th pitcher in National League history to use the minimum amount of pitches needed to record three strikeouts in one inning. The Philadelphia rookie becomes first in franchise history to accomplished the feat.

1997-At Yankee Stadium, the Mets beat their cross-town rivals, 6-0, in the first-ever regular season game between the two teams. Dave Mlicki throws a complete game shut out blanking the Bronx Bombers on nine hits.

2001-John Olerud becomes the 21st player to hit for the cycle more than once his career. Among all of the players who have accomplished hitting a single, double, triple and home run in the same game, the Mariners’ first baseman has the fewest career triples with just 12 in his 13-year major league stint

2006-In the sixth inning of 9-8 to Linx in Ottawa, Brandon Watson of the Columbus Clippers breaks the 95-year old International League record by extending his hitting streak to 43 consecutive games. The Nationals farmhand, who is batting .360 during this stretch, eclipses the mark set by Jack Lelivelt of the Rochester Hustlers by set in 1912.

Fire The Manager!

Your team is struggling, inefficiencies at the upper levels of management have resulted in these struggles.  You are the team president and co-acting general manager, you need to fix this, and you don’t know how to fix this personnel wise.  What do you do?  You fire yourself because you’re an idiot the manager!!!!!!!!  Yes this is what team president Stan Kasten, and the Washington Natinals Nationals

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plan to do on Monday.  Soon to be ex-manager Manny Acta, I feel for you, none of this is your fault.  Hopefully the players will stand up for you, just like the Rockies’ did for Clint Hurdle.

( I detailed the Nationals problems here)

This Day In Baseball History


1876-Philadelphia Athletic George Hall becomes first major league player to hit for cycle. The Englishman will also become the first player to be banned, along with others for throwing 3 1/2 game lead with 12 games to go 1877.


1940-At the Polo Grounds, Harry Danning hits for the cycle becoming the last player to have an inside-the-park homer as part of this rare feat. The Giant catcher is able to circle the bases because the ball gets stuck behind the Eddie Grant memorial and Pirates’ center fielder Vince DiMaggio cannot free it in time.


1963-In a 10-3 win over the Reds at Crosley field, Met outfielder Duke Snider hits his 400th career homer off of Bob Purkey.


1965-At Crosley Field, Jim Maloney no-hits the Mets for ten innings but loses 1-0 when Johnny Lewis connects for a homer in the eleventh.


1969-Hitting two home runs, two doubles and a single, A’s Reggie Jackson drives in ten runs as Oakland routs the Red Sox, 21-7.


1979-Giant first baseman Willie McCovey hits his 513th round tripper establishing him as the National League all-time left-handed home run leader.


1996-Cal Ripken sets a new consecutive games world record by playing in his 2,216th consecutive game The previous mark of 2,215 was held by Hiroshima Carp third baseman Sachio Kinugasa playing in the Japanese Central League.


2002-Due to 14 interleague contests all played in
National League parks, a designated hitter is not used in a full slate of major league games for the first time since 1972. Visiting hurlers will get plenty of opportunities to swing the bat as there isn’t a home game scheduled in American League park for the 10 consecutive days.


2006-Russ Ortiz (0-5, 7.54) becomes the highest paid player ever to be cut by a major league team. Although the team still owes $22 million of the $33 million of the four-year deal signed in December 2004, the Diamondbacks designate the 32-year old righty for assignment, meaning the club has 10 days to trade, waive or release the pitcher who is 1-14 record in his last 19 starts.

The Dan Haren Trade Revisited

Before I get to the main subject of today’s post,  a few quick notes…

  • Congratulations To Red Sox Pitcher Jon Lester For Taking A Perfect Game Into The 7th

Jon Lester is a success story to many.  A miraculous recovery from cancer, pitching again, winning the last game of the 2007 World Series, and finally pitching a no-hitter in 2008.  Lester’s story runs almost parallel with another player’s: Dave Dravecky.  At the beginning off the 1988 season, Dravecky had a cancerous desmoid tumor removed from his pitching arm, along with half of the deltoid muscle, and freezing the humerus bone.  On August 10, 1989, Dravecky made a remarkable return to the majors, pitching 8 innings, and giving up three runs.  However tragedy struck in his next start, Dravecky’s humerus bone snapped while he was delivering a pitch, ending his career.  Let’s hope that Lester’s career won’t mirror Dravecky’s that closely!

  • Chad Tracy, Stephen Drew, Chris Young, and Eric Byrnes, You Should Be Ashamed

Diamondbacks pitcher Max Scherzer has a .667 OPS, horrible, right?  What else would you expect from a pitcher?  Four D-back starters, 1B Chad Tracy, SS Stephen Drew, CF Chris Young, and RF Eric Byrnes, have lower OPS’s than Scherzer!  The D-backs offense should be ashamed.

Now the main topic, the Dan Haren trade Revisited
On December 15, 2007, the Oakland A’s traded RHP Dan Haren to the D-backs for six players, LHP’s Dana Eveland, Brett Anderson, and Greg Smith, OF’s Carlos Gonzalez and Aaron Cunningham, and 1B Chris Carter.  
After the 2008 season, in which they failed to impress, Smith, and Gonzalez were used as part of a package for Matt Holliday.  They will be left out of the analysis
How has Haren done for the D-backs?  Through 44 starts, Haren has gone 20-12 with a 3.09 ERA, and 284 strikeouts, including a career high of 206 in 2008, and a 1.06 WHIP.  Ace numbers.
But the A’s certainly received an ace’s haul for Haren.
LHP Eveland was one of the A’s starters in 2008, and at the beginning of 2009, he was solid in ’08, but with the A’s glut of young pitchers, I don’t see Eveland in the team’s longterm plans.
LHP Anderson, just 21 years old, has had a rocky start to his major league career, his minor league numbers are fantastic however, and he should be dominating in 2010.
Cunningham will take over in LF for 2010, he projects as power-speed combo, perhaps 15 HR’s, and 20 steals, with a high .OBP.
Chris Carter will defensively end up a 1B, or a DH.  But his hitting ability cannot be questioned, Carter is a slugger who gets on base a ton.  He projects as a 25-30 homerun bat in the majors.
All in all, Haren could have been a young veteran anchor in an even younger rotation, but with the potential of Anderson, Cunningham, and Carter, the A’s made the right move.  The D-backs paid a king’ s ransom to get a second ace, Haren’s been great, but the D-backs offense hasn’t put them in the playoffs yet.
This Day In Baseball History

1938-In a game against the Red Sox, Indians’ pitcher Johnny Allen storms off the mound and doesn’t return when he is ordered by ump Bill McGowan to cut off his distracting dangling sweatshirt sleeve. The shirt ends up in the Hall of Fame but the Lenoir, North Carolina native doesn’t.

1982-Dodger first baseman Steve Garvey becomes only the fifth player in major league history to play in 1,000 consecutive games.

1983-Steve ‘Lefty’ Carlton of the Phillies strikes out Cardinals’ outfielder Lonnie Smith for his 3,522nd career strikeout to pass Nolan Ryan as the all-time strikeout leader.

1989-For the first time in major league history, the same game is played partly outdoors and partly indoors as the Blue Jays beat the Brewers, 4-2 in a contest which features the closing of the SkyDome’s retractable roof in the fifth inning due to inclement weather.

1998-Dave Burba becomes the first Cleveland pitcher to homer in 26 years in a 6-1 victory over the Reds at Cinergy Field. Ironically, the right-hander was scheduled to be the Opening Day pitcher for Cincinnati but was traded to Cleveland the day before for Sean Casey.

2006-With the Yankees 10-3 victory over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Joe Torre wins his 2,000th game as a manager. The former Brav
es (257), Mets (286) and Cardinals (351) skipper becomes the first person in big league history to have to reached the milestone and also have at least 2,000 hits as a player.

2007-With two outs in the bottomof the ninth inning at Network Associates Coliseum, Shannon Stewart lines a single to right field to break up Curt Schilling’s no-hitter. Thanks to a first inning home run by David Ortiz, the Red Sox beat the A’s,1-0.

One Crazy Day

One no two no three big things happened in baseball yesterday…

  • The Pirates Trade Nate McLouth to the Braves

I will start off by saying that I am of the opinion that Nate McLouth is overrated.  He creates runs with his power bat, (which I am skeptical of), and his base running intuitiveness, but gives up runs with his poor defense.  However, he is still an excellent partial fix to the Braves’ outfield problems.  Atlanta was able to give up some good, but expendable prospects, to get McLouth.  The Pirates were able to get three players:

1. Charlie Morton, who’s been excellent at Triple-A the past couple of years, he is a strikeout pitcher with solid control.  He projects as a 3rd/4th starter.
2. Jeff Locke, currently playing at Class-A+, is another strikeout pitcher, however he’s seen a spike in his walk total this year, and will need to keep it under control to make it to the majors.
3. Gorkys Hernandez, currently playing at Double-A, is a fleet center fielder with no power whatsoever.  His main asset his his speed, he is a strong defender in center with a strong arm.  He must learn plate discipline, and that’s a problem.
All in all, the Pirates got a good deal, but they were building for the future with McLouth, if the wanted to make room for top prospect Andrew McCutchen, then all they had to do was move McLouth to a corner, and trade Brandon Moss, for a pitcher.  The Pirates new motto: Trade, Trade, Trade away
  • Pirates Promote Andrew McCutchen

Well, the Pirates did promote Andrew McCutchen, to replace McLouth.  What else were they supposed to do.

  • Sammy Sosa Retires

Sammy Sosa you helped save baseball in 1998.  PED’s or not, you belong in the Hall Of Fame.

  • White Sox Promote Gordon Beckham

Welcome to the first player from the 2008 draft to reach the majors.  Beckham’s here to stay, mark my word.

And in random news that doesn’t deserve a header, Tony LaRussa is suing Twitter.
This Day In Baseball History

1890-Submariner Tim Keefe of the New York Giants franchise of the Players League defeats the Boston Reds, 9-4, to record his 300th win. ‘Sir Timothy’, who won 19 straight decisions in 1888, will finish his 14-year career with 342 victories.

1937-Gus Suhr establishes a new National League record as he plays in his 822th consecutive game. The Pirates first baseman’s streak ends the following day when he attends his mother’s funeral in San Francisco.

1951-Pirates’ outfielder Gus Bell hits for cycle in Philadelphia as the Bucs beat the Phillies, 12-4. His son, Buddy, and his grandson, David, will also play in the major leagues.

1964-Dodgers’ southpaw Sandy Koufax throws his third career no-hitter blanking the Phillies 3-0.

1967-Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood’s errorless streak of 227 games and 568 chances ends when he drops a fly ball in a game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.

1968-Dodger right hander Don Drysdale pitches his sixth consecutive shutout defeating the Pirates, 5-0.

1976-In an 11-0 victory at Dodger Stadium, Mets right fielder Dave Kingman hits three home runs. Sky King’s two-run dinger and two three-run round trippers drives in eight runs, a new club record.

1986-In a 12-3 rout of the Braves, Pirates rookie outfielder Barry Bonds hits his first major league home run off Craig McMurtry. Bobby’s son will become the All-time career home run leader hitting 762 during his 22-year career playing for Pittsburgh and the San Francisco Giants.

2000-Esteban Yan becomes the 14th player in baseball history to hit the first pitch thrown to him in a professional game for home run. In addition to his historic homer, the Devil Rays hurler picks up the victory in the inter-league contest against the Mets.

2004-At Turner Field, Julio Franco became the oldest player in baseball history to hit a grand slam. The 45-year old Dominican first baseman’s first inning base-loaded home run proves to be the difference as the Braves beat the Phillies, 8-4.

Back to .500 Again

Why are the Cubs tanking again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


One week it’s the hitting, the next it’s the starting pitching, and now it’s the bullpen!!!!!!!  Poor Randy Wells, the journeyman minor league pitches 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, yet the bullpen can’t hold a 4-run lead for two innings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  First Carlos Marmol gives up a pair of runs in the eighth, fine 2-run lead for Kevin Gregg.  Two outs, and Gregg implodes again!!!!!!!!!!!  Game tying two-run shot by Jeff Francoeur, and Atlanta wins in the 12th.  The Cubs may only be 4 games out of first, but with Zambrano suspended, Harden injured, and nothing functioning, can this season get any worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Day in Baseball History

1888-Ernest L Thayer’s poem Casey at the Bat appears in the San Francisco Examiner.

1932-In Philadelphia, Lou Gehrig becomes the first player in the twenieth century to hit four home runs in one game and barely misses a fifth as the Yankees hammer out a major league record for total bases with 50 against the A’s.

1932-Citing poor health, the Giants announce the resignation of long time skipper, John McGraw; in his thirty-two year tenure, the fiery manager won three World Series and nine National League flags including a record four consecutive pennants.Citing poor health, the Giants announce the resignation of long time skipper, John McGraw; in his thirty-two year tenure, the fiery manager won three World Series and nine National League flags including a record four consecutive pennants.

1978-Phillies’ Davey Johnson becomes the first major leaguer to pinch-hit two grand slams in one season. His ninth inning bases-loaded shot beats the Dodgers, 5-1.

1980-The Mets select 18-year old Darryl Strawberry as the #1 pick in the June draft.

1989-It takes 22 innings and seven hours and 14-minutes for the Astros to beat the Dodgers, 5-4 making it the longest game in National League history.

1995-Expo hurler Pedro Martinez hurls nine perfect innings against Padres before giving up a double to Bip Roberts in the bottom of tenth after Montreal had taken the lead. Mel Rojas saves the 1-0 gem.

2001-Manny Ramirez’s 491-foot, fifth deck home run is the longest home run ever hit in the history of the SkyDome. The Red Sox DH’s moon shot eclipses A’s first baseman Mark McGwire’s record established in 1996.

2003-Slugger Sammy Sosa is ejected from the game during the first inning after he shatters his bat and the broken remains exposes cork. The Cub outfielder will be suspended by major league baseball for 8 games (will be reduced to 7) his offense.

Early NL Cy Young Candidates

Sorry, I didn’t have internet access yesterday, so no post.  On to the NL’s top pitchers…

1. LHP Johan Santana, Mets

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Santana had some bad run support at the start of the season, but has put up stellar numbers none the less.  He leads the NL in Strikeouts (86), and Wins (7), he is second in ERA (1.77), and fourth in WHIP (1.09).  He should maintain these rates, as is BABIP is average.  Santana is one of the best pitchers in baseball, yet he manages to be underrated; maybe fans are just taking this production for normal.  They certainly have a right to, Santana is the frontrunner for the NL Cy Young.
2. RHP Josh Johnson, Marlins

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Josh Johnson is one of many pitchers who have Cy Young talent, but just can’t stay healthy.  He’s among the league leaders in ERA (2.67), WHIP (1.10), Strikeouts (59), and Innings Pitched (67.1).  He has an average BABIP.  Durability will be the number one concern for Johnson, he just can’t seem to stay healthy.
3. RHP Dan Haren, D-backs

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I’ll start this off by saying that Dan Haren won’t win the Cy Young.  Then why am I including him?  Simply this, Dan Haren has excellent peripherals, a 2.57 ERA, a league-leading 0.91 WHIP, he averages 7 IP per start, he strikes out a batter an inning, hardly ever gives up a walk, and leads the NL in SO/BB rate.  His BABIP is on the low side, so his ERA and WHIP will go up, but he will still dominate.  If I could choose one pitcher to build a team around, Haren would be a top possibility.  Than what’s his problem?  The D-backs have a poor offense.  What’s that got to do with anything?  Haren has received no run support, in fact, he has a losing record.  He won’t win the Cy Young, because he won’t put up a flashy, (and meaningless), win total on the D-backs.  Danny Haren deserves much better.
4. RHP Chad Billingsley, Dodgers

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I consider Chad Billingsley a darkhorse candidate for the Cy Young, he will catch voters’ attentions with gaudy win totals, produced not by Billingsley, but by the Dodgers offense.  Billingsley has received an average of almost 6 runs per game in support, he’s not a Dan Haren.  Billingsley has a good 2.67 ERA, and a solid 1.19 WHIP, he also has a BABIP a sliver on the high side.  Billingsley rarely gives up homeruns, but his glaring weakness, not illustrated by his WHIP, is walks, he walks 4 batters per 9 innings, he offsets this somewhat, by striking out a batter an inning.

Haren has the best peripherals, Billingsley has undeserved win totals, Santana has the “dominate” numbers that voters will look for.

Early AL Cy Young Candidates

Today, I am going to examine the three leading candidates for the AL Cy Young Award, but first…

  • Another Day, Another Mets Injury

This was the Mets’ lineup last night, Angel Pagan CF, Luis Castillo 2B, David Wright 3B, Gary Sheffield LF, Fernando Tatis 1B, , Fernando Martinez RF, Omir Santos C, Ramon Martinez SS, Livan Hernandez P.  Besides Daniel Murphy getting the night off, starters Brian Schneider (C), Carlos Delgado (1B), Jose Reyes (SS), Ryan Church (RF), and the newest starter to go down, Carlos Beltran, (CF).



  • Early American League Cy Young Candidates
  1. RHP Roy Halladay, Blue Jays

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Halladay matches up almost completely with another Cy Young candidate, the Royals’ Zack Greinke.  Halladay is tied with Greinke in Wins (8), Winning Percentage (.889), and Innings Pitched (75.0).  However, Halladay is second in ERA, WHIP, Complete Games, and Shutouts, in all of which he is second to Greinke.  Halladay has Cy Young caliber numbers, and if Greinke fell over the edge of the Earth, Halladay would win easily.

2. RHP Justin Verlander, Tigers

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Just one year after leading the league in losses, Verlander has seemingly rediscovered his strikeout power that enabled him to be the 2006 AL Rookie Of The Year, and one of the top 5 pitchers in the AL in 2007.  Verlander even has a flukily high BABIP (batting average on balls in play) working against him, and has surely contributed to his 3.55 ERA.  Verlander’s strikeout numbers will appeal to the average awards voter, but right now, this race is between Halladay, and Greinke.

3. RHP Zack Greinke, Royals

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What is there to say about Greinke?  Through 10 starts he has an ERA under 1, he leads the majors in every major statistical category; if voting was today, he’d win the Cy Young easily, and maybe the MVP award as well.

What’s Wrong With The Cubs????

  • Padres 7  Cubs 2

This weekend the Padres, the Padres!!!!! swept the Cubs, this should not happen.  What is wrong with the Cubs?  Their offense was supposed to be improved after adding Milton Bradley, but every hitter except a much improved Kosuke Fukudome is slumping, some hitters, especially Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto, and Bradley, never even started hitting.  The Cubs’ bullpen is a mess, it looked good on paper, and I will admit that I supported the Kevin Gregg acquisition this offseason, but the fact of the matter is, Gregg is not a closer, he throws too many strikes right over the plate, and the rest of the bullpen can’t throw strikes.  The starting rotation has been good, but they haven’t been getting run support, and it would be nice if the starters weren’t taking turns going to the DL.  The Cubs need to right the ship now.

This Day In Baseball History

1923– Ty Cobb surpasses Honus Wagner ‘s record for most runs scored in a career. The ‘Georgia Peach’ crosses the plate for the 1,741 time.

1935– At Forbes Field, Babe Ruth as a member of the Boston Braves, hits three homers and a single. The ‘Sultan of Swat’s’ seventh inning solo shot of Gary Bush, which travels over 600 feet and clears the roof, will be the Bambino’s 714th and final home run.

1937- Future Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane’s career ends after being beaned with an 3-1 inside fastball thrown by Yankee hurler Bump Hadley. Near death at first, the Tiger catcher/manager will spend six weeks in the hospital and will return to the team only as its skipper.

1951– Willie Mays makes his major league debut.

1981– Carl Yastrzemski, playing in his 3,000th game, all in a Red Sox uniform, scores the deciding run in an 8-7 victory over Cleveland. The future Hall of Famer will finish his 23-year career in the majors appearing in a total of 3,308 contests for Boston.

1982– In the third inning of Chicago’s 2-1 loss to Padres, Cubs’ right-hander Fergie Jenkins whiffs shortstop Gary Templeton to record his 3,000th career strikeout. The Canadian-born hurler becomes the seventh pitcher in major league history to reach the milestone.

2005– In a game against the Orioles, the Mariners battery consist of a pair of 42-year olds as Jamie Moyer throws to backstop Pat Borders. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marks the first time in major league history that two players 42 years or older have been the starting pitcher and catcher for a team.

2008-Former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez imgres.jpg
 is killed by lightning standing on a dock in western Venezuela. The 33-year-old pitcher, who was signed by the Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1991, also hurled for the Devil Rays, the Red Sox, the Mets and the Brewers before being released by Milwaukee in 2006.

R.I.P. Geremi

Credit

This Day In Baseball History-www.nationalpastime.com
Geremi Gonzalez-ESPN.com

Interleague “Rivalry” Matchups

  • Geographical Interleague “Rivalries”

I understand that MLB is trying to create local rivalries, and some, like the Subway Series, and the Windy City Series are actually interesting, but others, such as the Battle Of The Beltway, the Rays-Marlins Series, and the Rangers-Astros Series are ridiculously one-sided.  For the 2010 season maybe MLB should try something different, perhaps Classic World Series matchups, like Red Sox-Cardinals, Twins-Braves, or Orioles-Pirates.

Yesterday’s Best Games

  • Mets 3  Red Sox 2

What does it take for a injury-depleted team working with a two-man bench to beat one of the best closers in the game?  Answer: A miracle

And that’s what happened last night in Boston… 
In the top of the 9th inning, with left fielder Gary Sheffield on first base after leading off the inning with a walk, and two outs, Mets rookie catcher Omir Santos, an injury replacement for Brian Schneider, crushed a first pitch fastball from Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon just over the Green Monster in left field, his hit was originally ruled a double, but was ruled a 2-run homerun following instant replay, and in the bottom of the inning, J.J. Putz shut down the Red  Sox, sealing the series win for New York.
  • Diamondbacks 8  A’s 7

This game turned out to be a thriller at the Oakland Coliseum, the D-backs scored four runs in the 8th inning on key hits by Eric Byrnes, and Chad Tracy, tying the score at 5-5.  The game went into extra innings, and the D-backs appeared to seal the game when they scored 3 runs in the top of the 11th inning, but Oakland came back in the bottom half, scoring a pair of runs off D-backs closer Chad Qualls, and had runners at the corners with one out, when Jack Hannahan grounded into a double play to end the game.  The Diamondbacks won their third straight, but are still 10 1/2 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West.

  • Two More Interleague Shutouts

White Sox 4  Pirates 0

Cardinals 5  Royals 0
Game Of The Day Preview coming soon…