Emergence of the Tampa Bay Rays, Closing of Yankee Stadium, Mets Collapse and More!

As I sit here sipping my coffee, wondering if it’s too cold outside to smoke a cigar, I got to thinking about a few baseball things that happened last week and it got me to thinking, maybe I should start a new series summing up my thoughts on the week that was in baseball. So guys, here is my first post in what will become a “Weekly Rant” on a few things that happened during the prior week. Let me know what you think!

Manny Still being Manny:
It was reported earlier this week that Manny Ramirez is upset that he’s not getting the offers he would like and he might consider retiring. Manny has since come out and said that those reports are not true. Nevertheless, I think it’s time that Manny realize a couple things:

1. When you think about the big bats that are on the market, teams may be more interested in Mark Texeria over Manny. I know they play different positions but if you need a bat, Texeria might be a better option because he’s younger.
2. While Manny is a great hitter, all of his antics he pulled in Boston may have turned some teams off. The “Manny being Manny” phrase may be wearing a little thin with some folks. 

Fighting Phils:
I’m wondering why the Phillies are paying so much attention to the Mets? Cole Hamels was on WFAN earlier this week and stated that the Mets are choke artist. During the Phillies World Series Parade, Jimmy Rollins made reference to the Mets and Johan Santana. Isn’t all this smack talking the Phillies are doing the same type of in your face celebration they hate the Mets for doing? Oh how I can’t wait for the first time these two teams play…

Those Pesky Nats:
You got to give it up to the Washington Nationals. They are trying their best to put a good product on the field this year. Earlier in the off season they traded for Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen. They most recently made contract offers to Mark Texeria and Brian Fuentes. I doubt either will sign but at least their GM is working hard and they are making an attempt to better the team.

Quick word of advice to the Nats. Try and build from within, put together a winning season or two first and maybe you will have better luck getting a big name free agent to sign. Would you sign with Washington right now if you were a big name free agent? I know I wouldn’t.

What’s Next for The Mets:
The New York Mets have now taken care of the Bullpen by signing K-Rod and trading for Putz. As I previously stated, that had to be their #1 priority so I am pleased that they took care of it. Now they need to turn there attention to starting pitching. I’d prefer to see them either sign Oliver Perez or Derek Lowe, or both
BUT at the same time let’s not forget about Left Field.

I said it before I want Manny. I’m one of the few people who don’t care about all the baggage that comes with him as long as he hits. I also think now may be the perfect time to grab him. He’s not happy with the way the Dodgers are handling his situation and no other team has made an offer. The Mets could swoop in and possibly get him on the cheap. What do other Mets fans think?

A few Random Thoughts from this season:

1. Joe Torre is a Great Manager.

• All I heard last year from the New York Yankees is it time for Joe Torre to go. For 13 straight seasons Torre was a key piece of the Yankees making the playoffs every year. A year after Torre left New York for the LA Dodgers, he continued his streak and made the playoffs for the 14th year in a row while the Yankees missed the playoffs in their first season post Joe Torre. Granted Torre greatly benefit from the economical resources the Yankees have but at the same time there could be something said for a manager who continues to make the playoffs year after year.

2. AROD is the real curse.

• I’m beginning to think that Alex Rodriguez is a baseball curse. He may well go down as arguably the most talented baseball player ever, but one thing is certain up to this point in his career. Any team he plays for doesn’t win. For example, let’s look at his Yankee career. AROD has been a New York Yankee since 2004 and to be frank, the team has got worse every single year. ARODs first year as a Yankee saw the Boston RedSox come back from a 3-0 lead in the playoffs and completely reverse the curse and they have not looked back since while on the other hand the Yankees have not got past the first round of the playoffs.

3. The Tampa Bay Rays are here to stay.

• While their luck ran out in the World Series, I think it’s safe to say that the Tampa Bay Rays are not going away anytime soon. The Rays are one of the youngest teams in baseball and have one of the best pitching staffs in the game. Everyone in baseball kept expecting them to fade away at some point throughout the season and they never did. The Rays have served notice to the New York Yankees and the Boston Redsox that the NL East is not a two team race anymore.

4. Heart and Hustle > Talent

• As a New York Mets fan, this comment hurts but its the truth. Heart and Hustle Trump Talent any day of the week. I think if you stack the Philadephia Phillies vs the New York Mets roster, pound for pound the Mets have a much more talented roster but there are two reasons why the Phillies are baseball champions and the Mets choked for the second straight year: 1) Heart and 2) Hustle. Two qualities the Phillies are full of and the Mets have absolutely none. In 2009 the Mets need to focus more on being a team with a killer instinct and less about creating new handshakes and dances.

5. Fan Cost Index

• Dispite the country in an economic recession, the cost to go to a baseball game will continue to climb. According to Team Marketing Research, if some average guy out there wants to take his family of four to a game it would have cost him about $112 in 2008. And that is just for four tickets (upper deck) and parking. That’s not factoring in food, drinks and beer. Your looking at $200 easily to enjoy a saturday afternoon at the ball park with your family. While I go to my fair share of games every year I have to wonder if the prices will level off sooner or later. I mean things are going to get to a point where people are going to have to start decide, do I go to a few games this year or take my family on vacation, no?

There are plenty of great World Series moments. In no particular order, here are five that come to top of mind when I think about the World Series. Note: These are moments that I have actually seen (watched on TV) in my 32 years of existence.

Joe Carter:

“Touch em all Joe. You’ll Never hit a bigger homerun in your life!” — Tom Cheek 

Joe Carters game winning, series winning homerun in game 6 of the 1993 World Series. A moment that every kid dreams of growing up as a baseball fan. Joe Carter made his dream a reality in 1993.

Kirk Gibson:

“I don’t believe what I just saw” — Jack Buck
Kirk Gibson’s game winning homerun in game one of the 1988 World Series helped the LA Dodgers to one of the biggest upsets in World Series History. They went on the beat the mighty Oakland A’s four games to one.

Jesse Orosco: 

As a New York Mets fan, there aren’t too many more memorable moments that you can put ahead of the Mets winning the series in 1986 over the Boston Redsox’s. And for all Mets fans, the lasting memory is that final out when Jesse Orosco throws his glove high in the air!

Josh Beckett:

One of the best single game World Series pitching performances ever. 2003, game six and Josh Beckett goes out there and throws a complete game, five hit shutout in Yankee Stadium, helping the Florida Marlins win the championship.

Kirby Puckett:

“And we’ll see you tomorrow night!” — Jack Buck. 

Puckett’s 11th inning homerun helped the Minnesota Twins win the 1991 World Series over the Atlanta Braves in seven games.

What are some of your memorable moments?

I was having a conversation with my boy Ryan the other day and like we always do, the topic of baseball came up. The question that was thrown out there: If you had one at-bat to win a game, what current player would you want at the plate?

My Response: This is a no brainer, Manny Ramirez every day of the week and two times on Sunday. Say what you want about Manny being Manny, the stories are well documented. The bottom line is Manny Ramirez is the best right handed hitter in the game today and there are four reasons why:

1. Career Numbers: .314 AVG, 527 HRs, 2300 Hits and 1700 RBIs. Bottom line, he’s a first ballot Hall of Fame Player.
2. He’s Mr. Clutch: Numbers with RISP w/2 outs: .315 AVG, 71 HRs, 300 Hits and 484 RBIs. If that is not coming through in the clutch then what about my next point…
3. Career Post Season Numbers: .282 AVG., 27 HRs, 106 Hits and 73 RBIs in 102 post season games.
4. Intangibles: Manny makes players around him better. Perfect example David Ortiz. Did anyone know who Ortiz was before he came to Boston and hit in front of Manny? Is it a coincidence that now that Manny is gone Ortiz can’t get a hit this post season?