The Most Valuable Player So Far
Posted by Rob Boudreau Categories: Championship, Editorial, MLB, Playoffs
If the playoffs were to end before the first pitch of the World Series, who would be the Most Valuable Player? Who is even worth mentioning? What defines a “most valuable player”? Is it even fair to have a “Most Valuable Player So Far” (MVPSF)? These are important questions to ask, as is, if offense is any more important than pitching or vice versa. So let’s do both.
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Alex Rodriguez Heating Up the Cold October Air
Posted by Rob Boudreau Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB, Playoffs
Love him or hate him, Alex Rodriguez came to play. As a notoriously poor playoff performer, A-Rod’s expectations going into the 2009 playoffs were low, and not only has he managed to raise the bar, he’s setting the standard for those around him as well. But will a hot October bat be enough for the much-maligned Rodriguez to finally shed himself of some of his negative steroid publicity?
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Albert Pujols - The Last Hope For Baseball?
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Fantasy, MLB
I am a huge Albert Pujols fan. I’m also glad that he is wrecking the ball because I own him in my fantasy baseball keeper league (seven years running!). Obviously, that last part doesn’t really affect you unless you’re in said keeper league. In any case, the question sometimes arises in fantasy baseball, especially nowadays, whether or not you care if one of your players is taking some kind of performance enhancing drug (PED). The obvious answer is two-fold: 1) not as long as he’s putting up crazy numbers and 2) only if he gets caught.
Which brings us back to Pujols.
He is one of those players under scrutiny as every ballplayer that does well is. It’s just natural in today’s game because of the steroids mess that started with Jose Canseco bringing it to the spotlight to Alex Rodriguez’s use. So, is there any way not to think that Pujols is juicing? I’d like to think so. Sure, I can pull up the consistency of his stats, his command of the strikezone, and the fact that he was never named on any list as being under suspicion. In fact, Pujols was erroneously mentioned as being a user at one point. But because I say what I believe doesn’t mean that you’ll believe it too.
In fact, I’d like to take back my, “I’d like to think so” statement above and say, “I believe so.”
Maybe I’m turning a blind eye or choosing to be ignorant, but with Pujols’ current chase of the NL Triple Crown (lead the league in Batting Average, Home Runs, and Runs Batted In), as well as the almost accepted opinion that all players juice, I’d like to think… no… I believe that Pujols is doing something special. Why? Because I love baseball and have since I was five-years-old and with the presence of steroids in the game, I need something to believe in.
And Albert Pujols is as good a bet to believe in as anything else.
Alex Rodriguez Is Tired
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Editorial, Injuries, MLB, News
The much maligned New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez is “fatigued,” so he will be taking tonight and tomorrow off when the Yankees go down to play the Florida Marlins. Rodriguez, who played high school ball in South Florida and almost attended the University of Miami before the Seattle Mariners signed the then 18-year-old, is quite a celebrity in the Miami area and his playing against the Marlins is considered somewhat of a homecoming… only, unless he pinch-hits, won’t happen until Sunday.
However, let’s call this rest period what it really is, a benching. For the month of June, A-Rod is only batting .145 in 55 at-bats and is mired in an 0-for-15 slump, mostly coming at the hands of the powerful pitching arms of the Washington Nationals… and, yes, that was sarcasm if you missed it. It could be argued in this day and age and considering Rodriguez’s admission of not knowing he used steroids for however long, that without the PEDs, Rodriguez won’t perform up to par. Well, it certainly seems so, doesn’t it?
However, in 38 games thus far, he does have nine dingers and 26 RBIs, which in a full season would put him at about 37 HRs and 105 RBIs, which aren’t too shabby numbers. Personally, I don’t like A-Rod and I’m a Yankees fan. Yes, I’m one of those that doesn’t feel like he’s earned his stripes yet and unfairly or not, I’m going to juxtapose him to the greatness of Derek Jeter, whom I’ve followed since day one when he played with the big club. Do I think that A-Rod is still juicing? No. Do I think he’s going to be as great as he was? No. But, I also don’t think he’s this bad. Remember, there was a period where we can assume he wasn’t on steroids or used PEDs and was still a pretty good hitter. I think right now, he’s in a slump as every hitter goes through and he is just coming back from hip surgery.
But enough with the double-talk. Haven’t we learned from Alex Rodriguez’s preseason press conference that the double-talk doesn’t work when it comes to A-Rod? He’s being bench because he stinks right now. If anyone is fatigued is those of us that know about semantics and reading between the lines.
The End Score Report 005: Kentucky Derby, Alex Rodriguez, Keyshaun Johnson, Sydney Crosby
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Kudos, NBA, News, NFL, NHL, Videocasts
In this edition of the End Score Report, Dan Devone gives his take on the latest news from the world of sports:
- Kentucky Derby: Horses built and bred to run, what we feel about it. Dan is pulling for Scat Daddy.
- April-Rod: Alex Rodriguez can’t be Mr. April in NY and have success. He has to be in it for the long haul.
- Keyshaun Johnson, the Mouth of the South.
- Sydney Crosby: The second coming of Wayne Gretzky, Crosby is going to bring attention back to the NHL and hockey.
- Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks: Dirk needs to take the Mavs to the Promiseland, and start going to the hoop to start making moves. You can’t be a 7-foot tall jumper.
Agree or disagree? Let us know your thoughts on the End Score forums.
The End Score Report 004: NFL Draft, JaMarcus Russell, Supersonics Leave Seattle, Alex Rodriguez
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Front Office, Kudos, NBA, News, NFL, Videocasts
In this edition of the End Score Report, Dan Devone gives his take on the latest news from the world of sports:
- NFL Draft: Publications, networks, etc. spend the entire year crunching the numbers, and most of the time they aren’t right, even on the #1 pick.
- We discuss the draft. JaMarcus Russell should be the #1 draft pick, not Brady Quinn.
- SuperSonics leave Seattle, possibly heading to Las Vegas if NBA betting disappears.
- A-Rod out of his mind and going bananas with the New York Yankees - 14 home runs in a month.
Agree or disagree? Let us know your thoughts on the End Score forums.
A-Rod Continues Hot Hitting
Posted by Milo Taibi Categories: Athletes, Editorial, MLB, News
In a game vs. the Boston Red Sox, Alex Rodriguez continued his unprecedented 2007 homerun trend. In just 15 games he has now hit 12 home runs, including two shots against Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling on Friday night. His second shot sent Red Sox centerfielder Coco Crisp over the right-center field wall in Crisp’s effort to rob A-Rod of a home run.
But Rodriguez would not be denied.
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Soriano Joins The 40/40 Club
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Front Office, Kudos, MLB, News
Washington Nationals 2B Alfonso Soriano joined Jose Canseco (Oakland Athletics, 1988), Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants, 1996), and Alex Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners, 1998) in the elite 40/40 club, where the four players hit at least 40 home runs and stole 40 bases in a season. The historic moment happened in the first after Soriano reached base on a single off of Milwaukee Brewers SP Dave Bush and on a 2-0 count to SS Felipe Lopez, stole second uncontested.
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American League Fantasy Notes: A.L. East
Posted by Tom Massimo Categories: Fantasy, MLB, News
BOSTON RED SOX
Mike Lowell has just three extra-base hits in the month of August. He is still batting a solid .289, thanks to a strong 90% contact rate and .79 batting eye. In his disastrous 2005 season, when had just 8 home runs, his G/F ratio remained low at .66 and in-line with previous seasons. This year it has risen to a still low .88. But with 15 home runs in 460 AB this season, it is starting to look like last season’s complete power outage was not a fluke, but rather the beginning of a decline in his power.
Alex Gonzalez is out until early September with a strained oblique muscle. Alex Cora and Dustin Pedroia should share time at shortstop until Gonzalez returns. Cora is completely devoid of power. His high contact rate and good batting eye could get him on base enough to generate a few steals, but it is probably not worth the trouble. Pedroia’s defense is better suited for second base and with Mark Loretta in and out of the line-up he could pick up some starts there. As a hitter, he makes excellent contact and has a very discerning batting eye. He does not have much power and with 4 caught steals in 5 tries in Triple-A, don’t count on any stolen bases either.
Jon Lester was scratched from his scheduled start today because of a sore back. Kason Gabbard will step in for him against Oakland. He is not recommended.
Manager, Terry Francona does not seem pleased that Manny Ramirez has missed 3 of the last 4 games with a sore knee. In any event, he should be safe to use this week.
Click to continue reading American League Fantasy Notes: A.L. East
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