Working out the Cobwebs

Had a few thoughts cross my mind this weekend, and because of that you needed to hear/read/dispute them. You Ready? Let's go:

• What Albert Pujols did this weekend was epic. 5 hits, 3 of them home runs, becoming the 3^rd player in baseball history to hit 3 dingers in one World Series game. The others, Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson. Pretty exclusive company no? Despite how incredible this was, Reggie's was still better. In a clinching Game 6 for the Yankees, which they won 8-4, his homeruns tied the game or put them ahead with each home run. Pujols' feat, while still uber-impressive, was piling on to a one-sided blowout for the Cardinals. My thought though is how does this affect his free agent status? He is still a machine, has been surprisingly durable, is still one of the Top 5 players in baseball and arguably one of the Top 10 all-around players of all time. Is he worth the 300 million dollar contract that people are throwing about?
  
• I'm an unabashed Tebow-lover, and a self-proclaimed Mark Sanchez hater, but I almost have to tone it back for the sake of not being contradictory, because their basic definition is practically identical: It's not pretty, ever, but they win. The big difference, which could be a coaching decision, was that when the game is on the line, Tebow wanted the ball in his hands and the Jets try to get the ball out of Sanchez' grasp. Call him contrived, call him a gimmick, but he comes straight out of the Al Davis mold, 'Just Win Baby.'
  
• The longer the NBA lockout looms the more it benefits the Boston Celtics, as long as the resume play sometime during this season. What was the biggest problem with the Celtics the last 2 years? They broke down. I truly believe they can beat the Heat, with their defense, and if they are playing 50 games instead of 80 they would benefit the most of any team in the league, with the continuity of their roster.
  
• Speaking of the Celtics, another thing that no one remembers is the status of Glen Davis. He was so bad in the playoffs last year and really was detrimental to the team at times in 2010-2011. I am of the opinion that the Boston Celtics would be a better "team" without him, but if his head is right he is probably the best player for the 6^th man job.
  
• Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's performance has been bad. For the people saying, "he was only brought here to be another cog in the offense", no he wasn't. Look at the Patriots business model. If you are one of the highest paid players you are expected to perform. It doesn't matter that he is the 5^th or 6^th option on offense; his skill hasn't declined to the point where he shouldn't be productive. When he has made a catch, he clearly has the best foot control on the team with getting his feet down inbounds. But his football acumen is clearly not what Bill Belichick thought it was when he acquired him, and unless he turns this around significantly, and fast, this will be a fantastic miss for Belichick and Football-Ops.
  
• I'm really done with this Theo Epstein to Chicago drama that is still dragging out. They most likely have a deal in place, but people can't move on from the precipitous collapse without finalizing the deal and having a new talking point. If I were the Red Sox I would ask for 2 players. Theo will have a say in the negotiations and he values prospects so I would ask for Reed Johnson to take the place of Darnell MacDonald. And I would ask for one prospect, Trey McNutt. When the Rays had Matt Moore to step in and give them a lift in September the Red Sox had, wait for it, Kyle Weiland. Trey McNutt has that stud starter quality about him if he can throw strikes. He consistently throws his fastball in the mid-90s and has a 12-6 hammer curveball. The Red Sox don't need McNutt for their immediate rotation in 2012 but they would be wise to try and obtain starting pitching insurance in the form of youthful exuberance.
  
• Is this clubhouse/dugout drinking situation done yet? I'm honestly not so sure. If Joe Torre feels he needs to insert himself into the situation there must have been something else going on. But if the story is complete and no more secrets get leaked out, than the MLB needs to leave it alone. These are grown men, and if they want to drink after a game, there should be no one standing in their way.
  
• I really hate thinking about the Brewers without Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun together. I think the Brewers have to think long and hard about re-signing him. His leadership along with production is invaluable, and I honestly think the Brewers are the Dark Horse in the Fielder-Sweepstakes.
  
• Put me in the camp for the Red Sox to seriously consider Roy Oswalt for 2012, if the Phillies decline the 16 million dollar option.
  
• The latest news from Dan Schulman of ESPN, points to the Blue Jays not standing in the way of John Farrell. John Farrell was next in line but left only because he thought Terry Francona was entrenched in the Boston Red Sox. John Farrell has the respect of all the pitchers on the staff, he knows the players, and would definitely be paid more in Boston than Toronto. If he goes to Alex Anthopolous (Toronto GM) and says "I'd rather be in Boston", why would the Blue Jays want to keep him? Maybe the reason the compensation talks are dragging on this long is that it's a 3-way compensation talk with the Cubs sending prospects over to Toronto as well.
  
• Tony LaRussa an eccentric man, but damn can he manage a bullpen.
  
• If Texas loses the World Series I firmly believe that it should fall on Ron Washington and despite back to back World Series appearances could be on the hot seat for his bizarre lineup choices, and strange pitching rotations. Josh Hamilton, when healthy, is one of the Top 10 hitters in baseball. But he is battling a hernia and hasn't been reliable in the 3-hole. Ron Washington has Nelson Cruz who is mashing anything that resembles a baseball from Arlington to St. Louis batting 7^th, and Mike Napoli who is almost as hot batting in the 8-hole. Time to make a tough decision, and move Hamilton lower in the order, and move those 2 up.
  

 

That's about all I have for you.

Stay Tuned

Norton