Still Americas Pastime

Two nights ago, the Yankees won the World Series.  Due to an incredible amount of homework, I’m mentioning that for the first time right now.

But then again, the Yankees have now won the World Series 27 times, so it’s not really news.

Ok, that was a little unfair.  After all, isn’t part of the reason so many people hate the Yankees is because they’ve won more World Series than any other team?  In fact, the franchise with the most wins not named Yankees is the St. Louis Cardinals and they only have 10.

But this post isn’t really about the Yankees, it’s about the Free Agent market this offseason. 

Last year, the market was really interesting.  Some big name free agents signed massive contracts rather quickly.  But most free agents watched the fitful economy make teams bide their time and agonize much more over each dollar they offered.

Both sports and news analysts commented on the recession/depression lowering the amount of money that teams were going to spend on the Free Agent market.  With the U.S. economy supposed on the mend, could this year’s Free Agent market be a sign of better financial times to come?

There are few things sweeter than the sound of the ball hitting the sweet spot of a baseball bat.  Well, as long as it’s a wooden bat.  There’s a reason the expression is “the crack of the bat” not “the ping of the bat.”

While less than impressive, the sound of the aluminum bat is not the real reason for my dislike of the aluminum bat.

Aluminum bats can reinforce bad mechanics in a swing.  This is because when you hit the ball off the end of the bat or get jammed, you can still hit the ball pretty far.  You don’t have to worry about hitting the ball with the sweet spot.

I’m not proposing that we stop using aluminum bats.  For younger kids they’re great.  They’re lighter and you don’t have to replace them as often. 

But by the time kids get to middle school, they should only use wooden bats.  That when they’ll have enough experience to know what they’re doing, but still be young enough to not be totally set in their ways.  Plus they’ll have enough time to get used to wooden bats and fix their swing before high school and college.

As I was fact checking my last post to make sure that the Red Sox were indeed the only team to win more than one World Series in the decade, I noticed something interesting.  Since the Wild Card and three division set up made it through a full season (the idea was meant to start in the 1994 season, which was strike-shortened), it looked like the World Series have been more one-sided.

In the 14 years that the Wild Card has been in place, the team that lost the World Series has won a mere 18 games, or 1.29 games per series.  There have been 5 World Series sweeps in those 14 years, or 35% of the series.  Additionally, only 3 of the World Series have gone the full 7 games, or 21% of the series.

On the other hand, in the 14 years leading up to the Wild Card era, the team that lost the World Series has won 26 games, or 1.86 games per series.  Over those 14 years there have been only 2 sweeps, or 14%, and 5 went the full 7 games, 35%.

So it’s up to you to decide if it’s significant or merely a minor variation that will diminish as the Wild Card era continues?  Personally, I don’t know if I’m ready to say that it’s had that much of an effect, but I do know the only time I want to see a sweep in the World Series is when my Braves are sweeping someone (which hasn’t happened since they were in Boston in 1914).

Again, here’s a summary:

Wild Card Era: Losing Team 1.29 wins/series, swept 35% of the time, won three games 21% of the time

Previous 14 years: Losing Team 1.86 wins/series, swept 14% of the time, won three games 35% of the time

Well, as the next round of the MLB Postseason kicks off tomorrow, I find myself wondering if it’s the Dodgers turn to win it all.

The Dodgers are the only team of the four left that has yet to win a World Series title this decade.  The Phillies won last year (2008), the Angels won in 2002, and the Yankees back in 2000.

Additionally, there has only been one team this decade (the Boston Red Sox) who has won more than 1 World Series (2004 & 2007).  It seems as though the Dodgers would be heavily favored by recent history.

The Dodgers do have a tough road through the Philadelphia Phillies, but it should be a better series than last year.  I feel as though the young stars have matured greatly this season, plus Rafael Furcal is healthy.  I’m looking forward to it.

Of course, also being an Atlanta Braves fan, I want the Furcal (and the Dodgers) to beat the crap out of those Phillies.

The Division Series are now over.  When the Phillies came back to beat the Rockies, the fields were set for the Championship Series.

The Phillies and the Dodgers will meet this Thursday in Los Angeles.  In a rematch of last year’s NLCS, the Dodgers will hope to redeem themselves.  The Dodgers won the season series 4-3, so it should be a good series.

The Angels and the Yankees will face off on Friday in New York.  Both teams have exorcised the ghosts of last year, when the Angels were swept in the ALDS by the Red Sox and the Yankees didn’t even make the postseason.  The teams split the season series 5-5, so it looks like both Championship Series will be good matchups.

One further story to watch, the Angels and Dodgers have never meet in a World Series.  And so you could have an all-Los Angeles series…providing that you agree that Anaheim and Orange County are part of L.A…like the owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim does.

Pitching and defense win championships.

You hear it all the time.  Or at least people who watch or listen to baseball games hear it all the time.  Well tonight, as the playoffs got underway, the Phillies used a premier pitching performance to try to repeat as World Series Champs.

The first game of the MLB playoffs was played between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies.  Cliff Lee, who came to the Phillies in a deal just before the July 31st trade deadline, pitched a complete game masterpiece.

Over the nine innings, Lee only gave up six hits and didn’t walk a batter.  The one run he did give up was in the ninth with two outs, after the Phillies already had a comfortable five run lead.  Not content to only pitch nine innings of 1-run ball, Lee also stole a base, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to do so in the postseason.

Two other Division Series started today.  Right now (9:16 EDT) the Yankees have what seems to be a comfortable 7-2 lead over the Twins in the eighth, who are likely still recovering from last night’s 12 inning affair.

Later tonight, two of baseball’s best hitters will square off as Albert Pujols and the Cardinals take on Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The final matchup gets underway tomorrow as the Boston Red Sox travel to Los Angeles to take on the Angels

Here’s the standings as of 9:00pm 9/29/09.  

* denotes Division Winner

^ denotes Wild Card Winner

American League East

1. *New York Yankees (103-59)
2. ^Boston Red Sox (95-67)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (84-78)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (75-87)
5. Baltimore Orioles (64-98)

American League Central

1. *Minnesota Twins (87-76)
2. Detriot Tigers (86-77)
3. Chicago White Sox (79-83)
4. Cleveland Indians (65-97)
5. Kansas City Royals (65-97)

American League West

1. *Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (97-65)
2. Texas Rangers (87-75)
3. Seattle Mariners (85-77)
4. Oakland Athletics (75-87)

National League East

1. *Philadelphia Phillies (93-69)
2. Florida Marlins (87-75)
3. Atlanta Braves (86-76)
4. New York Mets (70-92)
5. Washington Nationals (59-103) E

National League Central

1. *St. Louis Cardinals (91-71)
2. Chicago Cubs (83-78)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (80-82)
4. Cincinnati Reds (78-84)
5. Houston Astros (74-88) 
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (62-99)

National League West

1. *Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)
2. ^Colorado Rockies (92-70)
3. San Francisco Giants (88-74)
4. San Diego Padres (75-87)
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (70-92)

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Before you read this, make sure you read Parts One, Two, and Three.

Over the past seven months, I’ve made my case against the Designated Hitter.  I’ve used emotional arguments, statistical arguments, and historical arguments.  These have not been an exhaustive list, and if I wanted to invest the time, I could continue railing (?) against the DH much longer.  But I feel like if I’m able to convince you, I have already.  Perhaps awhile down the road I’ll feel the need to continue arguing against the DH.

I’ve done enough for now though.  I now leave it up to you, my readers.  Do you like the Designated Hitter Rule?  Do you have your own reasons to dislike it?  Perhaps you agree with everything I’ve said.  Let me know.  Let others know.

The argument over the Designated Hitter is a great one, and one that is not likely to be resolved soon.  How would you solve it?

I know how I would solve it.  I’d get rid of it effective next season.  What other options would I be ok with.  Get rid of it in up to 5 years.

Here’s the standings as of 9:00pm 9/29/09.  

Teams that have an “E” instead of a number of games back have been mathematically eliminated from the division. 

* denotes Division Winner

American League East

1. *New York Yankees (101-56) 0 GB
2. Boston Red Sox (91-65) E
3. Tampa Bay Rays (80-76) E
4. Toronto Blue Jays (73-84) E
5. Baltimore Orioles (60-96) E

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers (83-73) 0 GB
2. Minnesota Twins (82-74) 1 GB
3. Chicago White Sox (76-81) E
4. Cleveland Indians (64-92) E
5. Kansas City Royals (64-93) E 

American League West

1. *Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (92-64) 0 GB
2. Texas Rangers (85-71) E
3. Seattle Mariners (80-76) E
4. Oakland Athletics (75-81) E

American League Wild Card

1. Boston Red Sox (91-65) 0 GB
2. Texas Rangers (85-71) 6 GB

National League East

1. Philadelphia Phillies (90-66) 0 GB
2. Atlanta Braves (86-70) 4 GB
3. Florida Marlins (83-74) E
4. New York Mets (67-90) E
5. Washington Nationals (53-103) E

National League Central

1. *St. Louis Cardinals (90-66) 0 GB
2. Chicago Cubs (81-74) E
3. Milwaukee Brewers (77-79) E
4. Cincinnati Reds (74-82) E
5. Houston Astros (73-83) E 
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (59-96) E

National League West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-64) 0 GB
2. Colorado Rockies (88-68) 4.5 GB
3. San Francisco Giants (83-73) E
4. San Diego Padres (72-85) E
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (68-88) E

National League Wild Card

1. Colorado Rockies (88-68) 0 GB
2. Atlanta Braves (86-70) 2 GB
3. San Francisco Giants (83-73) 5 GB 
4. Florida Marlins (83-74) 5.5 GB
5. Chicago Cubs (81-74) 6.5 GB

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No, I’m not talking about the Olympics or the World Baseball Classic (WBC).  The US defeated Cuba today 10-5 to win their 2nd consecutive Gold Medal and 4th overall Gold in the World Cup.

Although at it’s unveiling the WBC was called by some as “the Baseball World Cup”, this speaks more to the obscurity of the Baseball World Cup than the ignorance of the speakers. 

The World Cup has historically gotten little press coverage, probably because it occurs during the regular MLB season, and no Major League players participate.  The US does have some minor league players on its team.

The World Cup has been around since 1938, although it has grown since then (the first Baseball World Cup had two teams, with the United Kingdom team beating the American team).

Not only did the US win their 2nd consecutive Gold Medal, but they faced a familiar foe.  The Cubans lost to the US in the finals last year as well.  In face the two teams have met 8 times in the finals, with the Cubans winning the first 6.

Even after only earning the Silver Medal, the Cuba remains far and away the best performing team in the Baseball World Cup.  In total medal they lead the 2nd place US 30-15.  Also they are severely outpacing the world in Gold Medals, leading (again, with the US in 2nd) 25-4.  In 2007 when the US won their first of these consecutive titles, the Cuban team had won the previous 9 World Cup Gold Medals.