MLB: Remember When…
As I reflect back a bit more on the season a few things jump out at me that just never really came to fruition. So do you remember when….
… the Seattle Mariners were dubbed the favorites to win the American League West after dealing for Cliff Lee? I was never one that jumped on that bandwagon simply because there best power hitter was Milton Bradley and they are a team full of guys who, aside from Ichiro and maybe Chone Figgins, are probably not hitting any higher than sixth or seventh on most other teams’ lineups.
… Phil Hughes looked like a legit Cy Young candidate? Since starting the year 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA Hughes has gone 9-5 with a 4.98 ERA.
… Joba Chamberlain was going to be the next coming of Roger Clemens? Since the beginning of the ’09 season Chamberlain is 10-10 with a 4.81 ERA. It just goes to show that having a 95 MPH heater means nothing in the majors if you cannot locate it consistently and back it up with other quality pitches. One can only wonder if Joba gets as much hype as he did if he pitches for any other team than the Yankees.
… Alex Rodriguez was a mortal lock to claim the career home run record? He still has a realistic shot at doing it if he still has another five or six quality years in him where he can hit in the neighborhood of 30 homers. His home run numbers have dropped of quite a bit in the past couple of years and one only wonders if it has to do with getting off the juice or if the hip injury has sapped him of some of his power.
… some of the experts on ESPN were trying to tell us that Jason Heyward was a potential MVP candidate at the beginning of the season? Don’t get me wrong Heyward is a great talent but guys simply do not come up to the majors at the age of 20 and being putting up the numbers it takes to dethrone a guy like Albert Pujols.
… Todd Helton used to strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers and managers? It is kind of sad to see a once great hitter struggle the way he has the last few years.
… the Rockies were the odds on favorites to win the National League West without too much effort? What happened to the Rockies this season? They actually have a legit ace and now it is all they can do to stay above .500.
… the Dodgers actually mattered in the National League West? The team’s typically reliable pitching has let them down this year and without Manny being Manny the team is without a marquee bat to help pick up the pitching staff this season.
… Omar Minaya was a rising star amongst baseball GMs? How far has this guys star fallen since taking over in New York for the Mets? To be honest given all of the money he has spent since getting there and only one 90-win season and one playoff appearance I am kind of surprised he still has a job. He has handed out some big time contracts to guys who have not come close to living up to them.
… Johan Santana was regarded as the best pitcher in all of baseball? We have not heard a whole lot about him the past couple of years in New York have we?
… Jason Bay was actually someone opposing teams had to be concerned about? Man has that been one of the worst free agent deals in recent memory or what?
… nobody had Big Papi making through the month of May as a member of the Red Sox? He still is not hitting lefties at all but he has bounced back to put up some respectable numbers and should hit 30-plus homers and drive in 100 runs this season. Who woulda thunk it after hitting just .143 with one homer and four RBIs in the month of April?
… Tim Lincecum was arguably the most dominant pitcher going? It is interesting to see his numbers drop off as much as they have in what has been the year of the pitcher in the National League.
