MVP is not a word that has been added to the title of David Ortiz, yet. While Fenway has been rocked by the chant many times, the writers have yet to award Big Papi the recognition he most exemplifies.

            Fifteen walk-off hits as a member of the Red Sox should prove that Papi is the most valuable player in baseball. Unlike anyone else in the game, he routinely wins games simply on his own. When the game is tied late in the game, Ortiz is the last guy on the face of the planet that an opposing team wants standing at the plate. Albert Pujols? Alex Rodriguez? Derek Jeter? Sure, Jeter is scary in the postseason, Mr. November, but Ortiz does it all year long. If the game is up for grabs, Big Papi takes it for the Red Sox. That seems pretty valuable to me.

            Fifteen is just his number of walk-offs, which means that they are only at home. Game winning hits is not a stat used in many players’ repertoire, but Ortiz’s demands it. Last year’s American League MVP was Alex Rodriguez. While A-Rod has plenty of defining stats, Ortiz has defining moments. This season, Ortiz has no competition, boasting 5 games that he has won with a single swing of the bat.

            On Monday, he hit two home runs, the second of which came off of Cleveland closer Fausto Carmona in the bottom of the ninth. The Red Sox were down 2 runs, he was the fourth batter of the inning. Sure enough, they managed to get two men aboard, and with Manny Ramirez coming up next, Eric Wedge opted to pitch to Ortiz with two men on than load the bases. Then, almost like clockwork, shocking no one, David Ortiz blasted a 2-0 fastball over the deep centerfield wall, driving home the three winning runs, making it the 5^th win you can credit directly to Ortiz this season. Nobody else can say that.

            So, the knock on Ortiz is that he does not play defense. Well, if DH is a position, then it should not be treated any differently than a position in the field. It looks to me like it would actually help him. He has exactly one error this year. He definitely is not hurting his team with his defense. This is opposed to Alex Rodriguez, who has been struggling mightily at his position. With the Red Sox league leading defense this year, I think Ortiz is doing just fine with his defense.

            Big Papi for MVP should not even have to be said this year, but there it is. Not only is he having a monster season, leading the majors in home runs, RBI, and game winning hits, the voters know that they owe him. It will be almost impossible to keep Ortiz from walking off with the MVP award this year. Remember the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

Hokie Pokie

 

            Two teams, two seasons. Both in the AL Central, with new managers who brought a team picked to be mediocre at best to the best record in the game. Through 92 games, or how many games have been played to far this year, the AL Central leaders of 2005 and 2006 have the exact same record, 62-30. So, what’s the difference? The 2005 team, the Chicago White Sox, went on to win the World Series. Now they trail the 2006, the upstart Detroit Tigers, yet most still hold the Tigers as the underdog whereas the White Sox were hailed as favorites last year.

            Does playing in the same division as last year’s champion really make a difference? While the White Sox are still a great team, maybe even improved from last year, they are not ahead of the Detroit Tigers. At this point last year, the White Sox had established themselves as the team to beat from their amazing record, a .674 winning percentage through the first half and slightly into the second. However, this year the media and the general public simply refuse to recognize that the Detroit Tigers are the American League’s best team right now. If they have a misstep and fall into second, that’s fine, you can say they are no longer the favorite, however, right now, they are a second coming of the 2005 Chicago White Sox.

            Last year’s Champs had two things that amounted to the sudden jolt of wins and a World Championship: They got a new, enthusiastic manager that changed the whole approach and they got suddenly better results from the starting rotation. The team ERA went from 4.91 in 2004 to 3.61 in 2005. And even while scoring nearly 100 runs fewer than the previous year, the White Sox of 2005 won 16 more games than in 2004.

            This season’s upstart team has been the Detroit Tigers, also gained the insight and change a new manager can bring. Jim Leyland, former manager of the Pirates and Florida Marlins, brought a winning mindset to a very young team. He has milked the talent, while using veterans like Pudge Rodriguez and Kenny Rogers as an example. He has stated his mind to the media, a la Ozzie Guillen, and his pitching staff has been key. Even though the Tigers offense is still looking to get it together, the young pitching combo of Robertson, Bonderman, and Verlander is ruling the American League. The Tigers ERA from last year was 4.51, while this year it has dropped to 3.54. Now the Tigers are looking to add a left handed bat to make their offense even more potent.

            So, why not give credit where credit is due? The two teams had the exact same record through this point in the season, and they went through similar transformations. Why is this Tigers team any less promising that last year’s White Sox? They will have to make monumental history to miss the playoffs. They had the Major League’s best record at the All-Star break. No team with MLB’s best record at the break has missed the playoffs since the creation of the Wild Card. It is nearly impossible. The White Sox made a daring effort last year, almost losing their spot to the Cleveland Indians in the last series of the season. So, even if the Tigers do have a rough stretch, it is not the end of the world.

            Really, I cannot fathom how being 4.5 games up on last year’s World Series Champs hurts baseball’s best team. They have more home games than road games in the final part of the season, and it doesn’t matter to them where they play anyway, they are 33-15 on the road. This year’s White Sox have struggled in opposing parks, 24-20, and they have the bulk of their road schedule remaining.

            Over the last three days, the Tigers have the chance to show how strong they are in a series with the White Sox in Detroit. They increased their lead to 5.5 games by winning two of three from the Tigers with great pitching performances form Jeremy Bonderman and Kenny Rogers. Todd Jones, the closer proved up to the task and two “second tier” players came up with clutch hits. Craig Monroe and Marcus Thames, two guys who could be losing major playing time if the Tigers acquire Alfonso Soriano, had the two winning plays.

            Hopefully you can now see how odd it is that we are making the Tigers the underdog here. They seem to be a carbon copy of the 2005 White Sox, déjà vu, except apparently it has failed to register in the mind of America. If playoff experience is your cup of tea, remember last year as Tadahito Iguchi and Bobby Jenks came up big to take out the defending champion Red Sox. If these teams meet in the playoffs, it will come in the ALCS. Personally, I’d pick the new team. While every tiger’s stripes are different, unlike champions, patterns repeat all the time. Remember the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

Hokie Pokie

Midseason Baseball Checkpoint

 

This checkpoint comes at the halfway point, the All-Star Break. I will list all of the teams in their current division order, tell what moves you can expect them to make, and then rundown who I think will make the playoffs, starting with my favorite division, the AL East.

 

 

 

AL East

1. Boston Red Sox- I am almost scared we will be lured into a false sense of security because of the Yankees’ struggles, but they are only 3 games back while everyone is writing them off. Rumors have been flying about Bobby Abreu, John Smoltz, Ryan Klesko and others. Expect Theo to get at least one starting pitcher, probably not Smoltz, but a pitcher. Klesko could very well be brought to Boston for Rudy Seanez and a midrange prospect. An Abreu trade seems very unlikely.
2. New York Yankees- While injuries are their main problem, they cannot afford to wait until Sheffield and Matsui return, it could be September if then. Pitching is another big concern and nobody is injured their, just old. Randy Johnson looks shaky, Mussina is the clear ace here and he was not even an All Star. Jaret Wright has had one good start all season and Chien Ming Wang is not going to beat the contenders consistently. The Yankees will make moves, but they will not get the big names because they are insistent on holding their best prospects. There was talk of Bobby Abreu, but they want minor league star Philip Hughes, who is not going anywhere. Look for Jacque Jones or another midlevel outfielder to come to the Bronx.
3. Toronto Blue Jays- The 3^rd place team is hanging around behind the Yanks, just having gotten AJ Burnett back. They should get a boost and will likely make up ground on the idling Yankees over the next month, but they will be buyers in the trade market. Eric Hinske looks to be a spare part that they will try to move for either a starting pitcher or another outfielder.
4. Baltimore Orioles- They are fading fast, and will likely be passed by Tampa Bay soon. One bad thing is that Miguel Tejada looks like he is staying put, so they really do not have anything to offer anybody.
5. Tampa Devil Rays- This team has been playing well, getting another good starter to go with Kazmir in the emergence of Tim Corcoran. It appears they made their major trade this week with the Houston Astros, sending away Aubrey Huff for two very promising prospects. The only other deal I can see is the possible unloading of Julio Lugo in a small deal.

 

AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers- It would take some sort of disaster for this team to miss the playoffs, but they know they need to sure up their lineup to advance. Their pitching is sensational, and they have extra guys in the starters department. Their need is a solid left-handed bat. Mike Maroth could be the main chip dealt for that. Expect them to be active, trying to hold down the fort in the spectacular Central.
2. Chicago White Sox- The first big rumor involving the White Sox is just starting to be whispered. The favorite to represent the AL in the Series is looking to make a deal with the NL favorite. They Sox are reportedly shopping Javier Vazquez or Freddy Garcia, looking for top notch relief help. They say Brandon McCarthy is ready to step into the rotation. The Mets are ready to deal Aaron Heilman and one of their young pitchers, but will not let Duaner Sanchez go. In other reports, the White Sox have also showed interest in bringing Tom Gordon back to Chicago.
3. Minnesota Twins- As always, the Twins are not looking for a big impact player. They are playing with smaller toys, but they have a chance to make a move, and you likely will see them in a move or two. Torii Hunter has an outside chance of being traded. One sure thing is that they will look to trade starting pitcher Kyle Lohse. He has been kicked out of favor and lots of contenders are interested. For the right price, you could see Lohse with the Yankees, Red Sox or Mets.
4. Cleveland Indians- In a disappointing year, the Indians will still be active this month. They have several players of high interest to contenders looking to boost their lineup. With the return of Casey Blake, Todd Hollandsworth will likely be heading out to sure up someone’s outfield, possibly the Yankees. Another major name likely on his way out is Aaron Boone. The third baseman will likely be unloaded to make room for top prospect Andy Marte. The Brewers are a team interested in Boone’s services.
5. Kansas City Royals- Amazingly, in all of their turmoil, the Royals are once again a key player in the trade market. Many teams are looking to test the Reggie Sanders mojo of his past success in the playoffs. He is probably the best outfielder on the market. There are a countless amount of possibilities for Sanders. In addition to Sanders, you will likely see either Mark Grudzielanek or Tony Graffanino packing his bags. One of the infielders will probably be headed for a playoff contender in need of a boost.

 

AL West

1. Oakland Athletics- Barry Zito has been the subject of many rumors, but it appears he will stay in Oakland for the season due to the unpredictability of Rich Harden’s injuries. The A’s will likely be looking for a corner outfielder at a low cost and maybe an insurance pitcher. Their core right now will probably not change much.
2. Texas Rangers- It is the same story every year with the Rangers, except this year they are tied for first in a slumping division. They need pitching. The Rangers need relief and starting pitching, and do not really have top prospects to trade for it. Jerry Hairston will almost certainly be on the move again, and Vincente Padilla is not nailed to the floor either.
3. Seattle Mariners- While they are still in the race, they seem to be pretty content right now. A centerfielder would be nice for them and the way they would get it is starting pitcher Gil Meche, a pitcher of interest for many contenders like the Red Sox.
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim- While they have struggled with pitching injuries and are in last, they are just a whopping 3 games back and I still think they will win the division. No doubt, this organization will dabble and be very active in the market. They have Jered Weaver up now and he has been sensational. Adam Kennedy and Juan Rivera could be on the move. Most teams are begging them to trade Ervin Santana, but they would need to be overwhelmed. Torii Hunter could be a target for them.

 

NL East

1. New York Mets- This club is the best team in the National League. Their lineup is spectacular and needs no adjustment. However, if they plan on winning the World Series, they need a better starting rotation. They already got Orlando Hernandez, but now they are bidding on Javier Vazquez or Freddy Garcia and have also shown interest in Greg Maddux.
2. Philadelphia Phillies- Bobby Abreu and Tom Gordon are probably the two best guys available, but the Phillies will take this all the way to the deadline, because they do not know if they want to be sellers or buyers yet. The Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Tigers all will place bids on Abreu, but it will likely take a good young pitcher to get him. The Yankees and Red Sox won’t trade theirs and the Mets don’t have any of good worth. I can see the Tigers getting Abreu if he goes, but if the Phillies have a good month, you might see a disappointment from all of those contenders. With a new rumor from about 5 minutes ago, Gotham Baseball is reporting that the Phillies are looking to clean house. Abreu is now rumored in talks with the Brewers while Pat Burrell is of interest in San Francisco.
3. Florida Marlins- While Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera were early locks to be traded, they now will likely stay in south Florida unless a team absolutely overwhelms the Marlins with top-notch prospects. I think Willis is staying put, period. But if the Angels want, they could put together a package including Brandon Wood that would lure Miguel Cabrera, but that is a low possibility with the prospects they have. Really, both guys would be going if the Marlins were not showing the promise they are. People can criticize their ways, but this organization does a spectacular job and could be in the World Series again by 2010.
4. Atlanta Braves- John Smoltz is the headliner here. As the Braves end their division winning streak, Smoltz could be on the move to bring in prospects. He could dramatically help a team here and several clubs have shown interest, including the Yankees, Tigers and Brewers.
5. Washington Nationals- They have just made a great deal in which they gave up the mediocre Gary Majewski and Royce Clayton to the Reds for two great hitters in SS Jose Lopez and OF Austin Kearns. This gives them the ability, because of the hitting an outfield spot that will be occupied by Kearns, to trade Alfonso Soriano. Everyone is interested in this. The Yankees desperately need him, but might not have the compensation to get him from Washington. Out of all the moves Detroit could make, this would be the biggest, and I do not doubt they are looking into it. Watch out for the Tigers, because they have the stuff to get him. Anaheim will also be a major player.

 

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals- Pitching is the problem here. The Cards are in the market for a good starter, someone to fill in as a 4 or 5. They picked up Sidney Ponson before the season in hopes he would be the guy, but he was just released and picked up by the Yankees. While they have not made much noise yet, they are certain to make a deal for a bottom of the rotation starter.
2. Cincinnati Reds- The Reds have already earned the stupid trade award for giving up Kearns and Lopez to get Majewski, Bray and Clayton. While they made one stupid trade, they did make a good move to get Eddie Guardado to be their closer. They have been wheeling and dealing early and I would guess they are not done yet. Expect an infielder to be coming Cincy’s way.
3. Milwaukee Brewers- This is the year that the Brewers will finally be in contention to win the division and make the playoffs. It will also be a year that the Brewers look to buy at the trade deadline. With brother Mike Maddux as the pitching coach, Greg Maddux is being pursued by the Brew Crew front office as a number 4 pitcher. While the pitching just needs one more decent starter, the lineup is in need of another good bat. The Brewers are still on the fence on whether or not to bring Carlos Lee back next year. And apparently they are leaning towards not, because in rumors hot off the press, they are looking into Bobby Abreu, something that would likely involve sending Carlos Lee somewhere, possibly San Francisco.
4. Houston Astros- Houston has one problem: offense. They cannot give enough run support to the great pitching staff they possess. They have already given up prospects for Aubrey Huff. He should make a difference, but there will almost certainly be another trade where Houston acquires a bat. This could be a possible landing spot for Reggie Sanders.
5. Chicago Cubs- Jacque Jones, Greg Maddux and Todd Walker could all be on the move in this disappointing season. Jacque Jones has drawn interest from the Yankees, while Maddux has been talked about in many circles, most seriously by the Brewers. Todd Walker is a contract that the Cubs do not want to deal with, and they have reportedly been in talks with San Francisco about Walker.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates- Really, they do not have any pennant changing players to deal, but two pitchers are of high interest to teams looking for that bottom of the rotation pitcher or long relief man. The starter would be the now exiled Oliver Perez, sent to the minors after having a terrible stretch in May. A change of scenery might revive his stuff. Damaso Matre is the reliever of interest. After a good performance in the playoffs last year with the White Sox, many teams will make offers for his services, possibly even his former team.

 

NL West

1. San Diego Padres- The reason this team is here is consistent starting pitching. The rotation is deep and the major strength for the Pads. Hitting has been decent, but they would like to add another bat and a relief pitcher. The relief pitcher is probably the priority, and two experienced bench players are on the block for it. Ryan Klesko and Mark Bellhorn are both rumored to be on the move. Klesko has been mentioned in a deal that would send him to Boston for Rudy Seanez. Seanez has been absolutely terrible for the Red Sox, diabolically bad, horrifically horrible, like death wish bad. However, he is a former Padre who consistently contained the National League.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers- Still the widespread favorite to take the division, the Dodgers are getting great play from young players and Nomar Garciaparra. The will probably look to add a bat at either third base or centerfield, and a relief pitcher is not out of the question. They would be a possibility for Aaron Boone. Kenny Lofton and Cesar Izturis look primed to move, and they might even throw an offer to the Cubs for Aramis Ramirez. If the Astros decide to move Brad Lidge, the Dodgers might be on the phone.
3. San Francisco Giants- Lots of AL contenders will be very happy if the Giants have a bad month and fall out of contention. If this team slips out of reach of the playoffs, you will see a selling team that will unload Jason Schmidt, Matt Morris, and maybe even Armando Benitez. However, a few minutes ago I saw rumors indicating that the Giants are very close to a trade with the Cubs in which they would acquire Todd Walker to sure up the infield hitting. Also, they are looking into acquiring either Pat Burrell or Carlos Lee. I think a huge deal involving the Phillies, Brewers and Giants could be in the works.
4. Colorado Rockies- After making a good push in late June and getting within a game of the Padres for the division, they have lost 5 in a row but are still just 4 games back. If they do anything, they will be buyers, but they look content with lots of young talent and first contracts. Oh yeah, they have Todd Helton too.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks- Also 4 games back, Arizona is looking to acquire another pitcher and maybe another bat. Criag Counsell is the prize if you make a deal with the D’Backs. A good utility infielder with a very good bat recently, Counsell will be sought after by teams like the Reds, Angels and possibly Brewers.

 

So, after all of this, who do I think will end up with the best teams? Who will make the playoffs? I am making no World Series picks, because that seems to work out badly, but I will tell who I see making the playoffs.

 

American League

East: Red Sox

Central: White Sox

West: Angels

Wild Card: Tigers

 

National League

East: Mets

Central: Cardinals

West: Dodgers

Wild Card: Padres

 

So there is what I think will happen, but you never know. Just as Manny will be Manny, baseball will be baseball, unpredictable. Remember the Faith. Hokie Hi.

Hokie Pokie

 

            Major League Baseball seemingly cannot understand how to do something in a simple fashion when it comes to the All-Star Game. Instead of having the fans choose all of the players, fans pick the starting position players through voting and the manager from the previous year’s World Series team from each league chooses the pitchers and the reserves. So, naturally, there is a great deal of politics and a fair amount of strategizing that takes away from the mid-summer classic, which is meant to please the fans. And due to all of this, plus the fact that the game ended in a tie 3 years ago, fan interest has declined.

            The American League manager this year is Ozzie Guillen, the much ballyhooed manager of the defending World Champion Chicago White Sox. He is not the first and he will not be the last, but he is somewhat corrupt in his picks for the pitchers. While he could not change the relief pitchers, taking the 4 best closers in the game in Ryan, Rivera, Jenks, and Papelbon, the starters for the AL will not be the best possible. Francisco Liriano and Justin Verlander were both snubbed while having fantastic seasons. Coincidentally, both play for division rivals of Guillen’s White Sox. Meanwhile, White Sox pitcher Mark Buerhle made the team with a good, but not great season going for him so far. There is also the inexplicable selection of Mark Redman, but that has no correlation to anything.

            He took two first baseman from his own team, Paul Konerko and Jim Thome. Thome should be on the team, but Konerko should have been passed up for Travis Hafner or Justin Morneau, two players also on division rivals, who are having far superior seasons. Ozzie Guillen simply decided he would take away from the game by snubbing guys he does not like.

            Francisco Liriano, Justin Verlander and Travis Hafner all had a chance to make the team in MLB’s “Last Chance Vote.” However, White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski somehow made it from the American League, along with Nomar Garciaparra from the National League. Thankfully, National League manager Phil Garner has taken the higher road than Guillen, giving credit where credit is due. Actually, he snubbed his own best pitcher, Roy Oswalt, likely for rest reasons. All of these problems should not really matter to the All Star Game. The American League should take the prize awarded to the winning league, home field advantage in the World Series, another blunder of Major League Baseball.

            Among the players you will see: Ivan Rodriguez, A-Rod, Jeter, Loretta and Ortiz on the AL infield. Manny Ramirez is not participating due to nagging injuries. Ichiro, Vladimir Guerrero and Jermaine Dye will roam the outfield. For the NL: Paul Lo Duca, David Wright, Jose Reyes (3 Mets), Chase Utley and Pujols mind the infield. Pittsburgh player Jason Bay is the venue’s home player. He will start in the outfield along with Alfonso Soriano, and Carlos Beltran (4 Mets). Keep the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

Hokie Pokie

 

            World Cup 2006 is down to four teams, and none of them are Brazil. Headed into the semifinals in Germany, all bets are off. Nobody can really say who the favorite is. Germany, France, Portugal and Italy, all European powers, have their chance at glory.

            Most would say that Germany has the advantage, being the host nation and have already taken out Argentina. The home team is getting great play from forwards Steve Podolski and Miroslav Klose, the tournament’s leading scorer so far. However, star midfield general Michael Ballack has been off of his game and seemingly is not back to full strength yet after an injury. The Germans get Italy for their semifinal match beginning at 3:00 PM on Tuesday. The game will be televised by ESPN.

            Italy is facing an immeasurable amount of distress among a gambling scandal and following the attempt of a former national team member, and close friend to many of the players, attempting suicide. However, the seem to be dealing with it and focusing on the task at hand, the host country, Germany.

            Brazil, the favorite coming into the tournament, lost in a classic game to the slow starter, France. After squeaking through the group stage, France has exploded in the knockout round, eliminating two of the strongest teams in the tournament, Spain and Brazil. Now they face what some would call and easier match against upstart Portugal, but they better hope they do not suffer a letdown in Zinedine Zidane’s final World Cup. France vs. Portugal will be on Wednesday at 3:00 PM on ESPN.

            Portugal is the underdog of this final four. I actually predicted that they would not even make it out of the group stage. Well, they did. Then they beat the Netherlands is the most terribly officiated game in the history of the world, in which they lost two key players for the next match, against England. In a game that most left them for dead, Portugal held their ground against England. It helped that David Beckham left the game with a phantom injury, in one of the best shows that soccer players need to man up and play. His exit cost England dearly, as his free kicks have created many of their goals. The English captain cost his team by being weak. Wayne Rooney was red carded and therefore ejected, for stepping on a Portugese player’s groin. So it went to a penalty kick shootout at 0-0. Struggling stars Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard had their shots saved by the Portugese keeper and Portugese star Christiano Ronaldo put a genius pausing PK into the net and won the match for Portugal. They get the red hot French team.

            All signs say that the winner of the Germany-Italy game should win the Cup, but all signs would also say that Portugal and France would not make it to the semifinals. I’m not going to make any picks, but the way my predictions usually go is the team I had doing the worst wins the whole thing. I will say that I love the way Portugal plays, but really cannot believe they made it this far, and they probably should not have. But, if you believe in my weird psychology, put your money on Portugal. Remember the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

 

           Pedro Martinez is from Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic. His dream when he left his original home was to be a great Dodger pitcher. I doubt he thought he would become the favorite son of a Nation. On Wednesday night he was returning home, but not to the Dominican Republic. He was returning to Fenway Park, as an opposing pitcher. Although he “returned” on Tuesday, he pitched against the Red Sox for the first time in his career on Wednesday, receiving standing ovations whenever he moved a muscle.

            Some people have been questioning how Red Sox Nation can welcome Pedro back with open arms while we took every opportunity to curse Johnny Damon. The answer seems simple: Pedro plays for the New York Mets. You see, the fact that he still rivals the Yankees and did not put himself in a position to rival the Red Sox makes him immune to boos. It also helps that he is the best pitcher in the history of the Red Sox. But those two sentences do not even begin to describe the feelings of Red Sox Nation for Pedro Martinez.

            While Fenway Park gushed with good feelings for Pedro, he acknowledged and every time he was interviewed, he gushed good feelings for Red Sox fans and for Boston. He did not pull the Johnny Damon trick: “Um, it was great, but I just had to move on.” Meanwhile the moronic LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke downplayed Pedro’s return to Boston, comparing it with Jarrod Washburn’s return to Anaheim (if you do not know who Jarrod Washburn is, don’t worry about it, you are not alone). He said that Pedro’s homecoming was overblown because of Red Sox Nation, that nobody cared outside of New England.

            Let me remind him that this was not just a Pedro reunion, it was the 1986 World Series 20^th Anniversary Reunion. To show you just how pleased everyone was to see Pedro, even Bill Buckner got a pleasant reception from the Fenway crowd.

            The meaning of Pedro Martinez to Red Sox fans is almost indescribable. While David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are both great characters and fun players to have as the face of your franchise, there is nobody quite like Pedro. He is the epitome, the beaming beacon of the greatest era of the storied history of the Red Sox. He is Larry Bird to the Celtics, Magic Johnson to the Lakers, Tom Brady to the Patriots. He to the Red Sox what Frank Beamer is to the Virginia Tech football program. Pedro is what made the Red Sox good in the early 21^st Century. When he came over from Montreal, he brought a Cy Young, and some questions. He was too small, not durable enough. Wrong, his seasons in 1999 and 2000 were the greatest 2 seasons from any single pitcher in anybody’s memory. He won 2 Cy Youngs and was absolutely dominant on a team that was still building. In those two years, he went 41-10 and struck out 597 batters. His ERA was under 2.

            However, it was not the numbers that made him the ultimate Red Sock. It was his heroic performance in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS against the Cleveland Indians. In the deciding game, Pedro came in as a relief pitcher with Boston down 8-7 after a terrible start from Bret Saberhagen, who only lasted 1 inning, then 2 more bleeding innings from Derek Lowe. Entering in the 4^th, Pedro halted any thoughts of a blowout. Not only did he shut out Cleveland for the rest of the night, he no-hit the Indians from the moment he came in. In six innings he struck out 8. Pedro became a hero with a little help from Troy O’Leary’s two home runs and led the Sox into the first of 3 ALCS appearances against the Yankees. While the Sox would of course lose that ALCS, Pedro’s performance that night in Cleveland sparked the golden era of Red Sox baseball, and it stopped a great period for the Indians, which would eventually lead Manny Ramirez to leave Cleveland for Boston.

            From 2000 to 2003, it was virtually neck-and-neck in Boston between Pedro and Nomar Garciaparra in the race to be the favorite son. But what we found out is that Pedro did not have to try. While sometimes not the model baseball citizen, he was like a living representation of Red Sox Nation. His explicit quote about Babe Ruth is my favorite soundbyte in the history of sports except for maybe Joe Castiglione’s call of the final out of the 2004 World Series. His beaming of multiple Devil Rays is a sore spot even today, and the brawl it created is hilarious. Another famous bean ball that did not come out of the hand of Pedro started a brawl in which he grabbed the cantaloupe that is Don Zimmer’s head and threw it to the ground, another classic Red Sox moment. I think I would pay to throw Don Zimmer down by his head. Everything Pedro does is pure and natural. He is the Red Sox.

            Nomar left town. Curt Schilling came to town, testing Pedro’s loyalty, as the Sox failed to offer Pedro an extension as he went in to the final year of his deal, 2004. While Pedro was the guy in 2003, the stress was off of him in the championship year. Schilling received the attention for his bloody sock moment, and Pedro was not stellar in the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. But he told America that the World Series was over with a 3 hit, 7 inning shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3, in St. Louis. Then, after Game 4, we got the final glimpses of Pedro’s faces and expressions as a Red Sox player. He was done with the Sox, but he had no more to accomplish. Sure, Curt Schilling was fantastic all season. Bronson Arroyo made the season turning pitch, Varitek made the punch, Dave Roberts stole 2^nd, Johnny Damon drove the knife into the Yankees, David Ortiz came through every time, and Keith Foulke got the out, but Pedro Martinez is still the greatest of them all, because Pedro started it all. He was their first. The original Idiot, Pedro’s personality is the model for every stereotype of Red Sox fans and players. The mound in Fenway Park has been home to many great pitchers, but none have ever been able to change the house around them like Pedro. Pedro Martinez may not have had a good night in his return home, but he put the one piece of wallpaper up that matters, 2004 World Series Champions. While he may not be living there anymore, he is just renting his mound out, Pedro Martinez owns Fenway Park. While Pedro did not build Fenway as Babe did Yankee Stadium, Pedro decorated, renovated, saved and filled Fenway. And someday, when his desired stay in Queens is over, he will return to his grand house in Boston and hang one more piece of history there, the number 45 high above right field, and the residents of a Nation will celebrate the greatness of their leader. Remember the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

Hokie Pokie

 

            As the final round of Interleague play continues in baseball, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the American League is almost unfairly supreme to the National League. And it is not just unfair to the National League representative in the World Series, whose season will likely end in disappointment, it is unfair to whichever of the 4 great AL teams that will not make the playoffs.

            It is sad that Major League baseball cannot seem to spread the wealth. It is no discrepancy in rules or style of play that has made the bias this way. It is the fact that the most committed and most wealthy owners own AL teams. The AL has the good, the NL has the bad. This is also true in that the East and Central divisions have better teams than the West.

            I can understand the eastern portion of the country being loaded, but the National League has no business being quite this bad. In the ultimate show of which league is better, interleague play, the AL has won 104 games, while the NL has won 64. A 40 game differential. There are just 3 teams in the AL that are under .500 against the NL, and just 2 NL teams over .500 against the AL. Who do you think will win the All-Star Game?

            Even the Devil Rays are 9-3 against NL teams this season. The best team in the NL by a mile, the New York Mets, are a whopping 5-4 against the American League and they take on the Boston Red Sox starting tomorrow in the homecoming of Pedro Martinez. Many could argue that the Mets’ secret to winning is that they play like an AL team. They have a go-get-‘em GM with power in the lineup and stars abound. You won’t see many sacrifice bunts from the 5 hitter here. Unless the Cardinals or Astros come on strong, you will most likely be seeing the Mets in the World Series playing one of 4 AL teams, one of which will not even have the chance to play for it.

            Tigers, White Sox, Red Sox, Yankees. Those are the 4 best teams in the AL. If you stick the Mets in there somewhere, you have the Top 5 teams in baseball. That is not a statement that will get much argument. However, when 8 teams go into the playoffs this year, 4 from each league, one of those teams will not be present. Due to the rule that one team from each division has to make the playoffs, one of the .500-ish teams from the AL West will make the playoffs. Two of those teams will win their division. The Tigers and White Sox will battle for the AL Central, while the Red Sox and Yankees will fight for the East. The fact is, if this is an 8 team tournament by seeding, those teams are all in the top 5.

            I’m not saying that you should combine the leagues, and owners should definitely be able to spend what they want, survival of the fittest. These things make baseball the great sport it is, but the National League needs to play and operate more like American League teams. Stars do not want to go to teams who look like glorified AAA teams due to the large amount of focus put on saving money. The Marlins sell their souls after they win the World Series and look like a great team, the Pirates have not had a star player since Willie Stargell, the Brewers have been a farm club imitation for as long as I can remember. The Rockies can’t get a decent pitcher to come to Coors, and several teams are struggling with bad or inconsistent ownership. Some of the owners consider the teams business ventures, but the problem is baseball teams in this country cannot be run like a suburban fast food franchise. Millions of fans want to see their team do well, not necessarily put the owner in the green.

            While the problems in the National League are not because of the league itself, it does center around the more traditional teams being in the American League. The old champions like the Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers and White Sox all have long histories and owners who are determined to uphold it. The National League just needs one team to win it all, preferably not the Marlins, that will try to continue their history and help competition in the League. The Cardinals, Dodgers and Mets are the teams with a chance to return the National League to dominance. One problem is that the Dodgers are coming out of a down period, the Cubs are headed into one and the Giants are on the cusp of rebuilding. Those are the teams that have to lead the NL. It does not help that Dodgers play on the West Coast and the Cardinals are somewhat boringly good.

            Although the National League still will not produce as many good teams as the AL for a while, I think the teams that go to the playoffs should be decided just like the way they used to decide the team from the League that would go to the World Series, the pre-playoff era. Why have the divisions? For scheduling yes, but for the playoffs, just have the two leagues, and pick the top 4 teams from each. It may give the bad teams less chance to get a team in the playoffs, but the overall competition will be better, and maybe more people will get interested in baseball because of it. To see the best battles of AL vs. NL, watch the Red Sox vs. Mets and Yankees vs. Mets series this week, including the return of Pedro to Fenway Park on Wednesday night on ESPN. Keep the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marlins Win on Big Little Play

 

            Maybe I’m a little too eccentric about little plays in baseball. It is possible that I am the only person on the face of the planet that thought Miguel Cabrera’s game winning single off of an attempted intentional walk was the best play of the year so far, but that is me.

            While you are talking to the person whose favorite baseball players includes Kevin Millar, baseball is a game of little things, and a little thing turned up big for the Florida Marlins last night in Baltimore.

            In the top of the 10^th inning, having just pulled a miracle in the top of the ninth, hitting back-to-back pinch hit home runs to tie the game at five, the Marlins scored the winning run in possibly the most unconventional way imaginable. With a man on second and Miguel Cabrera coming to the plate, Orioles pitcher Todd Williams showed all the signs of intentionally walking Cabrera. When Williams threw the pitch at about 60 MPH to the standing catcher, it floated towards the outside corner of the plate at about shoulder level on Cabrera. Saying that he had missed an opportunity earlier this year, Cabrera was ready and took his opportunity.

            "I said, 'I'm going to get ready.' A couple of games before it was close. I said, 'I'll be ready on every pitch and see what happens.' It feels good. I saw the ball coming to the plate, and I said, 'I have to swing.,'" Cabrera told MLB. Com.

            Cabrera slapped an RBI single straight up the middle and an alert Hanley Ramirez, who reached on a bunt for a base hit, scored from second. I, watching live, suddenly found myself jumping up and down for no reason other than that was the best hit of the season. It scored the winning run on a pitch that 99 out of 100 guys would not have swung the bat at. I have heard that the last guy to do that was Ted Williams. The little things go a long way.

 

Ozzie’s Mouth Runs Too Far

 

            White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is famous for his “tell it like it is” attitude on speaking to the media. However, this week Ozzie is telling it as it should not be told.

            Following a critical column by Chicago Sun-Times writer Jay Mariotti, Ozzie spouted off to a load of reporters, calling Mariotti, among other things, a “fag.” This is of course a derogatory remark aimed at homosexuals.

            Ozzie then proclaimed that in Venezuela, where he grew up, it did not mean that. However, I believe Ozzie knows American culture a little better than that, since he is an American citizen and has lived in this country for 25 years.

            After much media coverage and scrutiny, as well as pressure from the White Sox organization, Ozzie made a terrifically unsuccessful attempt at an apology. He said he was sorry to those who he “offended.” No joke, he did the air quotes. He proceeded to criticize Mariotti for not coming to see him at the ballpark.

            Then, Major League Baseball decided to step in. Bud Selig fined Guillen an undisclosed amount and ordered him to attend sensitivity training class. Ozzie? He burst out laughing while talking about it to reporters.

            While I cannot take away his free speech, baseball needs to do something about Ozzie’s mouth. He cannot go around making slurs about columnists, then defying his punishment. He is free to be who he is with his team, but he has to show restraint in the media.

            Winning the World Series does not make him immune from Selig’s punishment. He will soon be serving a suspension for intentionally plunking a Cardinal hitter, maybe baseball should extend that suspension and retaliate against Guillen the same way he retaliates against columnists and opposing batters.

Hokie Pokie

 

            Pat Riley has led the Miami Heat, with a role playing version of Shaquille O’Neal, to the NBA Finals Championship. The team that was assembled by Riley, full of former superstars relegated to role players trying to win a championship. Guys like Antoine Walker and Gary Payton (two of my favorite players of the generation) came to Miami because Pat Riley convinced them they could get the championship they had never gotten as superstars. Win a championship they did, together.

            However, Payton, Walker and Alonzo Mourning were not the only former team leaders that won this title as role players. The biggest (literally) guy was Shaq, Shaquille O’Neal. This title, while he was not particularly dominant except for one game in the Eastern Finals, is a huge victory for him. While people think he is humiliated because Dwayne Wade was the superstar and not Shaq, O’Neal really has taken the high road and he has won an unspoken war.

            While this is a huge victory for the Miami Heat, this will cause night-sweats for the Los Angeles Lakers. When it was obvious that Kobe either wanted Shaq to leave or he would leave, the second biggest town in America was not big enough for Kobe with anyone else that approached his stardom. I was not really rooting for the Heat or anything, but I now intend to rub it in Kobe Bryant and the Laker organization’s collective face that:

1. Shaquille O’Neal left LA because Kobe is a jerk and wanted the whole team to himself, and Shaq won a championship without being the main guy, without having to be arrogant and take all the publicity.
2. Pat Riley won another championship, something Laker fans love to say, that Riley could not win without the Lakers. Untrue. He pulled a copy job. Just as Kareem took a back seat to Magic to win titles in the late 80s under Riley, O’Neal has taken a back seat to Dwayne Wade.
3. Kobe Bryant is suddenly not the NBA’s featured star. He is not in the discussion as being the next Jordan. Dwayne Wade is suddenly the Air Apparent in the media, and next time a shoe company needs a big endorsement, Kobe is not going to be 1^st on the list, Flash will be.
4. Shaquille O’Neal called Pat Riley the best coach he has ever had. That might make Phil twitch during his meditation.

 

            As many superheroes and comic book writers apparently know, duos work much better than single selfish people with equally great powers. Think about it, aren’t most bad guys just as powerful as the superhero? Yes, but typically in those fantasy movies or shows, they are defeated when they miss their opportunity to rule due to their need to stand and brag about their greatness. This is what Kobe did. He was on top of the world, he had rings and power, but he figured he could be better if he did it without Shaq. So now, although he can score 81 points in a game, his team cannot win a championship because he ran his partners out of town.

            Really, who would you rather win a championship, Kobe and his ego (which I’ve heard gets its own hotel room on the road) or humble Chicago kid Dwayne Wade and the gang of guys who just want a ring? ‘Zo, The Glove and ‘Toine getting their rings along with Shaq adding another is much more likable than Kobe kissing the trophy. Shaq handed the trophy to Wade, Kobe would hand it to his ego.

            While Pat Riley is definitely not my favorite coach of all-time, he certainly has earned my respect with his assembly of this team. He has proved that hunger, experience and great role players are more important than whose star has the most endorsement deals. Suddenly Dwayne Wade is the best player in the NBA according to the media, as winning suddenly makes Wade better. While this sometimes gets a little out of hand, it is the way it should be. Congratulations to Wade, Shaq and Riley. But most of all, congrats to Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton, Jason Williams and Antoine Walker on getting their first rings. While the may have been “role players”, or secondary forces, the Heat could not have done it without them, because guys willing to give up star power for the team are a lot harder to find than superstars these days. Keep the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

I am sorry to report that today was quite a disappointment in terms of excitement.

 

Group C

Netherlands 0 Argentina 0- Both knew that they were advancing and both could care less about winning this game. Ruud Van Nistelrooy barely went past the half, Arjen Robben did not play. Hernan Crespo did not step foot on the pitch for Argentina. Argentina wins the group on goal differential, Netherlands finish second.

Ivory Coast 3 Serbia and Montenegro 2- In a game that meant nothing for the tournament, the Ivory Coast put their country into a state of ecstasy by winning their first World Cup game. Neither team will advance.

 

Group D

Portugal 2 Mexico 1- While Mexico lost, they still advance in the second spot behind Portugal.

Angola 1 Iraq 1- Angola missed a golden opportunity to advance, all they had to do was beat Iraq as the Mexicans lost. However this won't do, neither team will advance.

 

So two more matchups are set for the knockout round:

Argentina vs. Mexico

Netherlands vs. Portugal

 

I will be shocked if a Group D team advances past these stellar Group C teams.

 

Picks for Thursday:

Italy over Czech Republic, so that sets the stage for...

Ghana ties the USA, which sends Ghana into the next round.

Brazil over Japan

Australia over Croatia

Two groups were decided today, and we have two knockout round matchups set, here are the final results from Groups A and B.

 

Poland 2 Costa Rica 1- This game was useless in determining anything, both teams are now headed home.

Paraguay 2 Trinidad and Tobago 0- While they did not succeed in making it to the second round, T&T has a lot to be proud of as the smallest country to ever make the World Cup, and they have a good shot at coming back. Neither team will advance.

 

Two games contained the two advancees of each group.

 

Group A

England 2 Sweden 2- England still finishes first after a very late goal from Sweden tied it up, as England still has not defeated the Swedes since 1968, 0-4-8. Group A is won by England and Sweden advances in second.

 

Group B

Germany 3 Ecuador 0- Obviously overmatched, Ecuador will waltz happily into the next round in second place. They probably have a better chance to win against a streaky, searching English team. Germany's Miroslav Klose is the player of the tournament so far. He notched 2 goals today to put him at 4 for the tournament, a very large number in group play. Germany wins and Ecuador finishes in second from Group B.

 

So we have two of the knockout round matchups set:

Germany vs. Sweden

England vs. Ecuador

 

Two more matchups will be set tomorrow, as Group C and D action wraps up. Here are my picks:

Netherlands over Argentina for supremacy in Group C and just a hint, a possible championship game preview, no kidding. This is the game to watch in Group play, should be spectacular. Both will advance, it is just a matter of 1st or 2nd.

Ivory Coast over Serbia and Montenegro in a meaningless game that is pretty much just to see which teams comes home with at least something to hang their hats on. Neither will advance.

Mexico over Portugal in a game that will be serious for Mexico and somewhat cautious for Portugal. The Portugese have a spot locked up in the next round, while Mexico has an outside chance of not making it, if Angola were to beat Iran by a decent margin.

Iran over Angola in a game that really won't matter as long as Mexico wins or ties.

 

Hokie Pokie

 

            I have said that I would not believe the Braves run was over until I see it. I see it. It will take a miracle greater than anything the Braves have ever done for them to win the NL East.

            While it is only June, the Braves are now approaching the entrance to the cellar, typically where they grab the champagne for the Pennant celebration, it is now there place in the NL East. They are on the verge of dropping even below the Florida Marlins, who somehow, while picking kids off of Florida high school teams to play (or at least it seems like it) have put together a winning streak while the Braves have been swept in 2 straight series.

            They have lost seven in a row, are 1-9 in their last 10 games, and have fallen 14 games back of the Marvelous Mets. The Braves stand dead last now, as the young Marlins are on an eight game winning streak. The Braves are the 3^rd worst team in the National League, now 10 games below .500 at 30-40.

            Now many insiders are talking about the hard-nosed John Scheurholz going fire sale and trading names like John Smoltz and Marcus Giles. While I’m sure the Braves would get great future value for their stars, with this team going in the wrong direction, they are likely to lose Andruw Jones as well, a soon-to-be free agent who will likely bolt for a winner.

            While everyone knew it had to happen sometime, I think this sharp downfall could have been put off for at least another year. Maybe they could not have won the division, but they certainly could be in contention for the Wild Card. Atlanta’s problem has been the bullpen, full of young pitchers with inadequate direction due to the stupefying departure of Leo Mazzone. Although the Braves did not force him to leave, they certainly could have made a better attempt to keep the man who was maybe the most instrumental in their huge string of success. In the National League, shut down pitchers with adequate offense will win. Not only Mazzone, other former Braves are having stellar seasons, guys like Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. The young guns on offense are not the problem. The lineup is basically the same thing from last year, when they won the division. The only glaring difference is that Bobby Cox is missing his metronome. When you talk about the worst personnel moves of all time, forget Babe Ruth. Add the Braves letting Leo Mazzone walk to the list, the pennants and the records do not lie, the Rocking Man was the key to the Atlanta Braves NL East dynasty. Keep the Faith. Hokie Hi. Zc

A day you could have taken off at the World Cup, two ties and an expected win ruled the show in the middle stages of the group play.

 

Croatia really did not play very well, while Japan had a golden opportunity but blew it. These two teams could not manage to find a result after both lost their first match to the better teams in Group F.

 

 

Brazil is still not impressing the way they should or could be. Ronaldihno is constantly surrounded and seems a bit frustrated. Ronaldo looks out of shape and useless. He whiffed on a volley attempt that would have likely been a goal. However, Adriano is improving and Kaka is running a great show, and Brazil beat the likely companion from their group into the next round.

 

 

France scored their first goal in World Cup play since the 1998 final, but they also allowed South Korea to tie it up in the second half. Korea now will have to have a disaster to not advance, while France still has a lot of work to do. It is a start for France, but Zinedine Zidane is suspended for their next matchup, against Togo.

 

 

Picks for Monday:

Switzerland over Togo

Tunisia ties Spain

Ukraine over Saudi Arabia

In a day of judgement for America, another underdog stole the center stage.

 

Ghana, as I predicted, is not a bad team. They have a chance and they used their speed and energy to score early against the Czech Republic, who was without star striker Jan Koller. Ghana managed to sustain this energy long enough and held off the Czechs, putting themselves on the board in the group with 3 points, which promised that the Italy USA game would neither eliminate nor advance anyone. Ghana now can fly in under the radar and make it to the next round by beating the USA.

 

 

The USA, you could say, got lucky. Because Ghana won, they could not be eliminated, but also because the goal that made it a tie with Italy was not scored by an American, but was an own goal from Italy, an errant attempt to clear. Italy is ok. They just need to beat the Czechs or tie and hope for goal differential. The USA needs Italy to beat the Czechs and they have to beat Ghana, no easy task. All of this Group E action unfolds on Thursday.

 

 

No upset here, Portugal advanced to the second round following a stunning tie from Mexico yesterday. The Portugese avoided a repeat result from their fall of 2002. They took care of Iran to give themselves two wins, 6 points, in the group.

 

 

Picks for Sunday:

Brazil over Australia

Croatia over Japan

South Korea over France

Ok, bascially everything I picked went wrong today. I picked two ties and a big victory. Well, there was a big blowout in a game I predicted a tie, and a tie in the game I predicted a blowout. Two more teams punched their ticket to the knockout round.

 

Let's just say that Serbia and Montenegro's "stellar" defense did not come to the right stadium today. Argentina punched their pass to the next round. Now they showdown with the Netherlands to see who wins Group C.

 

Argentina 6 Serbia and Montenegro 0 I'm not kidding. To put it in perspective, this is kind of like a 52-0 football game.

 

The Netherlands faced up against Ivory Coast, and my Cinderella pick fought, but could not stand up to my predicted champions from Holland/Netherlands, whatever. They bowed out to the same score as they did to Argentina, making my Cinderalla pick wrong. Argentina and the Netherlands will advance from Group C.

 

 

In a shocking upset tie, Angola and Mexico fought to a 0-0 stalemate. With Portugal having beaten Angola, it gives them an inside road to the next round. It also brings Iraq back into reasonable contention. Mexico now has to win another game, against Portugal.

 

 

Tomorrow's picks:

Portugal over Iran

Ghana over Czech Republic

Italy over USA, sorry not happening.

Two big teams struggled to win win today as another surprise cruised to a second round berth.

 

The first game of the day was not close. Ecuador, thought to be good just due to their home field advantage in Quito, has proven to be worthy of a second round berth in the World Cup. They blew Costa Rica out of the water today and guarenteed themselves a spot in the Round of 16, coming out of Group A with Germany. Now it remains to be seen which team will take first place. They square off to find out which will take first and which second as they both will advance out of Group A.

 

 

While the end score belied the real game, England beat Trinidad and Tobago. However it took a late second round strike from David Beckham, off the head of the tremendously tall Crouch to put England on the board. T&T played tremendous defense, coupled with England playing sloppy, often useless offense for most of the game. England was energized by the return of their injured star Wayne Rooney in the second half. They added a cheap goal from Gerrard. England will advance to the Round of 16.

 

 

Sweden, after averaging 3 goals a game during qualifying, could not manage to score on Trinidad and Tobago in their opener. It did not look much different in the first half against Paraguay today, but they did manage to notch one on the board and grab the 3 points for a win, and they will likely advance to the Round of 16 from Group B.

 

My picks for tomorrow:

Argetina ties Serbia and Montenegro at 0

Netherlands over Ivory Coast

Mexico over Angola

 

 

 

 

Hokie Pokie

 

            For once, the best team in the northeast is not the Yankees. It is not my Red Sox. It is the brilliantly constructed New York Metropolitans. Yes, that is the full name for the Mets, the team that plays in Shea Stadium, Queens, New York, New York.

            No matter how skeptical you are, and trust me, I’m not picking them for the World Series yet (just not to jinx them), there is nothing to deny winning. Nobody can tell you that they do not have a 9 and a half game lead in their division over the Phillies, whom they just swept dominantly in Philly, and an even bigger lead on Atlanta. They are the best team in baseball both in terms of record and in many scouts and managers’ eyes.

            This team has the chance to claim supremacy in the Northeast in two weeks, when they will play back to back three game sets in Boston and across town at Yankee Stadium. Most teams would call that a torturous interleague swing, but the Mets should call it time to show off. While it is just a nice streak while dominating the Phillies, Dodgers and D-Backs, beating the Yankees and Red Sox in the most famous stadiums in the world is proof that the Mets have arrived. It is also nice practice for a possible showdown in a little event I like to call the World Series.

            Mets GM Omar Minaya is to credit for their success. Contrary to popular belief, he did not just go out and grab everyone that is a star, luring them in with the New York appeal, what I like to call the Steinbrenner Method. Minaya brought in two veteran guys who might fall off a bit but still form an amazing one-two. You may have heard of Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine. He cashed in on the Marlins fire sale and brought in Carlos Delgado. Seeing that Braden Looper was not a viable closer, he lured in Billy Wagner. He also grabbed Carlos Beltran, who was disappointing last year, but this year has returned to 5-tool form with Delgado protecting him in the lineup. Here is what separates Minaya from the Yankees. He also is utilizing a terrific set of prospects from their minor league system and a couple of wily utility veterans. The prospects are suddenly big league stars in David Wright (my favorite non-Red Sox player in the bigs) and Jose Reyes. Many people can tell you, I absolutely love David Wright, I get excited when he is pictured in a magazine. Also, more raw, Lastings Milledge, a young speedy outfielder is being put to the test in the big leagues, playing every other game or so, sharing time with Endy Chavez, who has come in and made great contributions. Many people, myself included, claimed that the Mets were weak at the bottom of the rotation and it would cost them. Minaya goes and grabs El Duque, Orlando Hernandez, former Yankee ace. They will also have Brian Bannister a big young pitcher back from injury eventually, who was pitching very well before being injured running the bases, but he did score.

            Frankly, I think this team is perfect. Let me rephrase that: As perfect as a modern day team can get. It does not involve running an All-Star team out there with and ego cloud rising over the stadium. It involves bringing in talented, driven guys who get excited about playing baseball. That is why I love David Wright so much. Every time he is interviewed, he talks about how much he loves to play baseball, and it shows. Omar Minaya has found the magic formula, of course, it will not be patented until this franchise wins another World Series. This season is the 20^th anniversary of their last Series Championship, you know the one that I can barely speak of because of a certain ball that trickled through a certain man’s legs named Buckner. But it is over, my Sox have won their World Series, and I now see a connection to the teams, besides Pedro, an inexperienced manager, and a brilliant young GM. Both teams have chemistry in addition to talent.

            Maybe when someone says there is a formula to building a winner, it is correct, but most people do not understand that chemistry is still the most important thing to put a team over the hump in a team sport, although a great closer doesn’t hurt. While I am not picking the Mets yet, I do believe they have the right formula and the right chemist mixing the elements, but we still need to watch the reaction. There is a new power brewing in New York. Zc