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?

During the late 1990’s/Early 2000’s New York Mets fans had the pleasure of watching Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves break our hearts time and time again. It got so bad that Chipper Jones named his son “Shea” (after Shea Stadium) because he loved playing against the Mets in New York so much.

Fast forward to 2007 and 2008. In spring training 2007 Jimmy Rollins made the prediction that dispite all the talent the Mets had, the Philadelphia Phillies were the team to beat and they would be the ones that would win the NL East. Well, he backed up his prediction. Not only did the Phillies win the NL East, Jimmy Rollins went on to have the best season of his career, winning the National League MVP while the Mets choked and had one of the biggest season ending collapses in MLB history.

This season was no different. The Mets struggled down the stretch again, the Phillies went on to win the NL East for the second straight year on the last day of the season, rolled through the playoffs and won the World Series. It didn’t stop there. As most baseball fans know, during the parade to celebrate the Phillies victory, Rollins took time out to take another jab at the Mets. Rollins mentioned Johan Santana and stated “”It takes more than one player to bring home a championship.”

Personally, I wonder why Rollins is concerned about the Mets when he should be more focused on celebrating the fact that his team are World Series champions. Nevertheless, Rollins comments will definately add fuel to the fire for one of the most heated rivalries in baseball and in 2009 you can be sure that the chants of “Larry…Larry” will not compare to the roaring boos that Rollins will hear at CitiField in 2009.

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?

 VS

So here we are for the 2008 Baseball World Series, Phillies vs Rays. My post season predictions were totally wrong. I stink but I got a good feeling about this one. I am picking the Rays to win in 6 and here are five reasons why:

1. Home Field Advantage: Thanks to the All-Star Game, Tampa Bay has home field advantage and the Rays were an MLB best 57-24 at home during the regular season and 4-2 in the playoffs.
2. Rust Factor: The Phillies have been sitting at home for a week now with nothing to do. We saw what happened to the Colorado Rockies last year when they had a lot of time off. I think the Rays will jump out to an early 1 or 2 game lead and by the time the Phillies shake off the rust it will be too late.
3. Fearless: I think we have seen all season long that this young Tampa Bay team is not afraid of anything and time and time again they continue to fight back. They won the tough AL East, beat the battle tested Whitesox’s and Redsox’s in the playoffs. I don’t see why they can’t finish it off and beat the Phillies too.
4. Game Management: I think at some point in this series Charlie Manuel will either make a critical mistake or just flat out get out managed by Joe Maddon. This is always a concern of Phillies fans and at some point Manuel will cost them.
5. X-Factor: As he did in the ALCS, I think David Price will play an important role for the Rays. If there was one question mark going into the play-offs about this team it was late inning pitching. Price has shown he can come into a game and be that stopper the Rays so desperately need.

World Series MVP: B.J. Upton