NFL: Vick’s a changed man, I promise!

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

I was being poked and prodded more than a cute child on his first birthday a few days ago.  I didn’t want quarterback Michael Vick in the National Football League after missing two full seasons due to the fact that he fought and killed numerous dogs in Virginia.  “He’s served his time, idiot, let him play!” was probably the phrase I heard the most after I put that link up on my Facebook wall.  “He’s the best athlete of all-time!” said one of my high school buddies.  I wasn’t really sure how that applied to the fact that he believed he should be allowed back in the league. (To clear things up, there’s no way Vick was ever the best athlete that ever lived, but I’ll let that go.”)  I was basically an idiot for even thinking that NFL Commish Roger Goodell should keep Mike Vick from playing this season.  If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I don’t take my few personal victories quietly, so please enjoy this piece.

You see, multiple sources are reporting that Vick was seen in a Virginia strip club with, of all people, Allen Iverson, on his first night of freedom.  Because there’s nothing a guy can do to improve his awful image and convince teams to sign him than by making it rain, right?  And before you jump on this post, like you did the last one, realize that I know strip clubs aren’t illegal, and if Vick wasn’t shooting the place up then he was already a better role model than Pacman Jones.  That’s not the point.

It’s really funny, actually.  You would think that after all he’s been through, after all the lawyers and PR people gave him recommendations on how to clean up his image, he would stay in and play Monopoly, apparently he got those privileges back, with his fiancée.  Nope.  That doesn’t satisfy the former Virginia Tech Hokie.  Why appreciate his wife-to-be when he can provide one-dollar bills for Candy and Jasmine while they take their clothes off so that they can pay the rent for their trailer?  Nothing screams role model louder than that, does it?

What can we take from this story?  Well, many things.  First, Vick is a liar.  He took forever to admit that he, in fact, was guilty of the dog fighting charges.  And now he is flat out denying that he visited the strip club with AI.  Michael, Michael, Michael!  Multiple people saw you there.  Don’t lie to us.  Secondly, I’m pretty sure NFL teams aren’t looking for quarterbacks devoid of common sense, because it’s pretty clear that Vick doesn’t have any.  He doesn’t care about playing in the league again.  If he did, he would be a choir boy until, at the very least, somebody signed him. But he didn’t.  All he did was prove once again that he doesn’t belong in the NFL.

It’s really sad.  He’s absolutely ruined a once promising career.  But you can’t feel sorry for him.  He knew what he was doing.  He just didn’t care.  The joke is on you, the supporters of 7, because 7 betrayed you.  He said he was going to change.  Tony Dungy put the fear of God into him.  Apparently, the veil of ignorance fell on his supporters.  Good news, though.  He’ll have plenty of time to hit up those joints this year.  He can even stop by on Sundays.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

MLB: Adam LaRoche traded to Red Sox – Well, that was interesting…. oh wait, it wasn’t, was it?

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

The “Big Breaking News” of the day is that the Pirates have reportedly traded first baseman Adam LaRoche to the Red Sox for minor league prospects Argenis Diaz and Hunter Strickland.  Doesn’t surprise me, but apparently the whole Northeast is throwing a party.  Let me rain on their fiesta if that’s alright.

The deal is a wash both ways.  In fact, I would say this is awful news for Red Sox fans.  The only explanation for them dealing for LaRoche, or any first baseman, for that matter, is that Mike Lowell must be really hurt.  Which means instead of a Lowell-Youkilis third base-first base combo the BoSox will have to rely on Youk at the hot corner, and Roachy at first.  Better than a Youk-Kotsay combo, but not great by any stretch.

But, I can hear Red Sox fans arguing now, he’s a second-half hitter.  You’re right, that’s his career M.O.  Unfortunately for your ballclub, Mr. LaRoche isn’t having a career year.  He’s hitting .247 with 12 homers and 40 RBI in 2009, and is just a .137 hitter thus far in July.  For those of you new to baseball, that’s not very good. 

Did Pittsburgh make out well in this?  Not really.  Diaz has a great glove at shortstop but can’t hit.  Strickland might one day make a major league ballclub.  His fastball may one day top out at 90 miles per hour and his secondary pitches have been described as average at best.  But the Pirates don’t try to make good trades.  They try to make as many trades as possible.  It’s their own little contest, so you really can’t analyze them ever because if they make a good deal it is some sort of divine intervention that they’ll make up for later when those prospects become players that can be traded for more prospects.

So, neither team wins this trade.  Not at all.  The Red Sox basically receive news that Lowell is hurt, and the Pirates get two players that they hope may make a major league roster one day.  Can’t wait to get home, watch Sportscenter, and hear them break this trade down like it’s Babe Ruth Trade version 2.0.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

NFL: Goodell knows what he’s doing

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

Apparently having one never-ending story wasn’t enough for the NFL offseason.  Joining Favre in the daily NFL Live and Sportscenter reports will be Michael Vick, who after being released from house arrest, is now a free man.  Will he play? Will he be a quarterback?  Will he even be reinstated?

Goodell has been commissioner since the 2006 season. Courtesy of: i2.cdn.turner.com/si

Goodell said that he would wait two weeks before meeting with Vick.  I like this approach.  I don’t want Vick to play again.  He was a black eye for the league, and let’s be honest, he was probably the most overrated quarterback in football during his time with the Falcons.  But, if you are going to reinstate him, make him wait a little bit. 

If I was Vick right now, I would be on the phone with every single humane society in the United States and Canada offering my services for PSAs to help reduce dog fighting.  NFL Commish Roger Goodell isn’t just going to let him back in for sitting on his couch the next two weeks.  Vick has to earn the right to play again.

And let’s think about it.  Vick hasn’t even really been punished at all by the league.  I mean if you want to be technical, he was suspended indefinitely about two years ago.  But that doesn’t matter.  How can you play from jail?  Even if he wasn’t punished by the league, he still would have missed the last two seasons.  So, Vick has to do a lot over the next two weeks to even think about being reinstated if I’m the commissioner.   

And even if he is reinstated, who’s going to sign him?  Why would you?  Let’s see, the economy stinks, season ticket holders will decide they don’t want any part of this, and all of a sudden you lose money.  Last time I checked, billionaire owners like money.  Do you honestly think any type of public relations can spin this to get more people to the stadium?  I mean, this isn’t the UFL, where people would go just to see Vick.  This is the National Football League, where the best athletes play, and head cases like Pacman Jones don’t get to play.  That’s just the cold truth.  And now, I’m seeing people begging for Goodell to allow Vick to play again.  This is a game, people.  When you were a kid, if you killed the family pet, you probably got your Monopoly taken away.  Football is Vick’s Monopoly.  You can survive without it.  It’s a game.  You make a lot of money playing the game, but at the end of the day, it’s a privilege, and Mr. Vick has been grounded indefinitely.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

MLB: Some salt for those wounds? Yes, please.

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

This isn’t 1969, and they are far from amazing.  The New York Mets (43-48) are the biggest joke in baseball, and it’s not even close. 

Spare me the argument that the Nats are about to complete the worst baseball season in MLB history.  Nobody expected anything more from them.  The team-turned-circus sideshow in Queens is a much greater disappointment.  And this is the threequel.  After two straight seasons of being the biggest choke artists in the history of September baseball, the Mets have found new ways to lose.  Injuries are a part of the equation, a huge chunk in fact.  But let’s face it.  There are things that they do that make you say “That could only happen to the Mets.”

A walk-off popup.  Could only happen against the Mets.  Luis Castillo dropped the ball, and yet A-Rod was the one who was mobbed by his fellow Yankees afterwards.  Somehow I think the Bronx Bombers congratulated the wrong guy.  Not scoring a run because you forgot to touch third?  In extra innings, no less?  Only the Mets could pull off this feat, and Ryan Church did on May 18th against the Dodgers.  Falling down while tracking down a can of corn fly ball?  Daniel Murphy has you covered, despite the fact that he made the play of the year so far at first base.  And, of course, the injuries.  Beltran, Reyes, Putz, Delgado, all stuck on the DL.  Could only happen to the Mets.

And it seems like it’s only getting worse.  Last night, in an ESPN Sunday nighter against the Braves, Fernando Nieve, one of the lone bright spots on a fourth-place team, got hurt.  How did he go down?  He tripped over first base trying to beat out an infield hit.  You just can’t make this stuff up.  Then, Alex Cora dropped a throw from catcher Brian Schneider, costing the team a force at second.  Only the Mets, folks, only the Mets.

The fun part is trying to guess what’ll happen next?  Walkoff balk?  Can’t be too far off the horizon.  Mr. Met going down with a season-ending concussion?  Hard to believe it hasn’t happened yet.

The folks in Queens better get used to this for at least a few more years.  GM Omar Minaya has three years left on his contract, so he won’t be cut loose anytime soon.  Jerry Manuel is a lame duck manager, and even if he isn’t around next year, you gotta wonder if this sinking ship has the ability to be salvaged.  David Wright will continue to star for New York’s second favorite team, but even he is about as overrated as they come.  Despite hitting .322, he hits .245 with runners in scoring position and two outs, and is a studly .167 this season with the bases loaded.  You gotta wonder whether he will ever live up to all the hype.  Bobby Parnell and Fernando Martinez were supposed to be the stars of the future.  They haven’t looked all that great in the bigs this year. 

The Mets won’t blow a division lead in September this year.  They’ll just be overjoyed if they have enough healthy bodies to field a team by the time the season concludes.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

MLB: Bud Selig just doesn’t get it

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

So, I was listening to “Mike and Mike” today on my way to work, when Bud Selig came on to the set outside Busch Stadium for a “State of the State” interview on baseball.  One of the first topics they discussed was the fact that the All-Star Game determines home field advantage in the Fall Classic, and it seems to me Bud Selig just doesn’t get it.

While Greenberg loves the idea of the victor getting all the spoils from the All-Star Game, Golic couldn’t disagree more, and he just pummeled Selig with solid arguments, and after every single point Golic made, Selig couldn’t defend himself.  It was quite humorous.  Basically, because Selig likes the idea, we are stuck with it, and that doesn’t make any sense.

Golic pointed out two valid solutions to solving who should get home field.  One, let the league with the best record during interleague play get to host Game 1 of the World Series.  This idea may be even worse than the way the system currently works.  Two, let the team in the World Series with the best record host the game.  HELLO!  This is exactly what needs to happen.  Selig had to have had a valid reason for why the system doesn’t work this way, right?

Selig has been the Commissioner of Major League Baseball since 1992. He will be 75 years old on July 30. Courtesy of: proathletesonly.com

Wrong.  His argument was that it would become impossible to have a World Series if they waited until October 4th before they knew where it would be.  He claimed it would be impossible to book hotels, the players would have nowhere to stay, and therefore we wouldn’t have a champion.  Really, Bud?  That’s your freaking argument?  Really?  That’s your final answer?  I’m just checking Bud, because that may be the most comical response I have ever heard to this topic.  The NBA does a pretty damn good job with the Finals, and they determine who plays in that by, guess what, the best record of the two teams in the Finals.  Yet, it’s just so impossible to do this in baseball, right?  Because we all know tourism is at it’s peak in early October, right? 

He also said that his argument is obviously valid because Ron Santo and Hank Aaron agreed with him.  Because we all know that these two opinions are the end all and be all, right Bud?  Selig said that the players play with much more intensity because the game means something, and that ratings have gone up.  Admittedly, that’s a better argument, but it’s still not very good.  I could care less if they play with all the intensity in the world, I don’t want a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, or Kansas City Royals deciding where the sport’s championship will start.  That’s just dumb.  You can brand this game all you want, you can say “This one counts” until the cows come home, people will watch it because they like baseball and these are the game’s best players.  That doesn’t mean squat to me.  A year ago, the Phillies and the Rays took part in the Classic.  How many of those players didn’t have a part in who got home field?  Only three Rays were on the AL roster (Scott Kazmir, Evan Longoria, and Dioner Navarro) and Chase Utley and Brad Lidge were the sole Phillies on the NL squad.  How much of an impact did they have on the 15-inning thriller at Yankee Stadium?  How come guys that mattered in October like David Price, Carlos Pena, Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels, and Ryan Howard couldn’t participate?

The whole system stinks.  And if Bud Selig doesn’t recognize that this is just an exhibition, then he shouldn’t be the commissioner of Major League Baseball.  Period!  “This one counts.”  You’re kidding, right?

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

MLB: Perhaps I’m Crazy

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

(Before I begin, let me apologize for an error in my last article.  Evan Longoria is, in fact, in the All-Star Game as the starting third baseman.  Sorry for the mistake.)

Normally when I write for this wonderful WSOE sports blog, I try to remain as objective as possible.  But, I thought this entry could be a change of pace.  You see, I am going to talk about my Atlanta Braves in this article, but I will attempt to keep all homerisms out of this post.  Well, here goes nothing.

For fourteen seasons in a row, the Atlanta Braves reigned king of their divisional domain.  It began when they were a member of the NL West, and continued well into their NL East lives. Those Braves, as we know them are over.  But they have two constants that remain from those years:  Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox.  What i am about to propose may shock you, so please take a seat.

Bobby Cox has won over 2,000 games as manager of the Braves, but he has now lost his touch.  Starting Jeff Francoeur, sending one of our best bench hitters in the game to bunt, overusing the bullpen.  That’s just a sample of the Cox of today.  It’s been great Bobby, but I think Atlanta need a change.  Now, General Manager Frank Wren isn’t going to fire the legend, but he shouldn’t give him a new contract when this one runs out after the season.  They should relieve Bobby Cox of his managerial duties, but should not go for new leadership.  I know what you’re thinking:  What the heck is he talking about?  Does he realize that what he just said made no sense?

Chipper Jones has played all of his 16 seasons in the majors with Atlanta. Courtesy of cache.daylife.com

Actually, young skeptic, it makes all the sense in the world.  For I am proposing that Frank Wren should promote Chipper from starting third baseman to starting third baseman/manager starting in the 2010 season.  Why?  Well, he’s already the player the young Braves come to when they are in a slump.  Not Bobby, not hitting coach Terry Pendleton.  Chipper Jones.  He’s the leader.  He does things quietly in front of the media, but he has told the media that at times of struggles he will hold a team meeting to address the problems.  How hard could it be for him to fill out a lineup card?  In away games, he could yell from his third base perch into the dugout and tell pitching coach Roger McDowell to warm up Peter Moylan or to get Mike Gonzalez ready so he can come in and retire the lefty.  Plus, it’s not like he’s a 162-game a year player.  He’s stayed fairly healthy this year and has avoided the DL, which is awesome.  But he will get days off, and on those days off, he can take a seat in the dugout and be a manager for the day, instead of a player-manager.  Pitcher hitting first in the next inning?  Simple.  Go up to the umpire and say you’re making a double-switch and that you’ll be coming into the game.  Disputed call?  He won’t have to get up from the dugout to argue with an ump, he’ll be right on the field, assuming his team is on defense.  Then, after his playing days are finished, he can remain in charge and lead us back to glory.

People love to play for Bobby Cox, but they JUMP at the chance to play with Chipper Jones, a future Hall-of-Famer that has done everything the right way.  Mario Lemieux was a player-owner for the Pittsburgh Penguins.  This is the next logical step.  Let Chip be the Skip, and watch the fortunes in Atlanta change for the better.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

MLB: “All Star Game?” More like the Yankees and Red Sox with other players mixed in.

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

Ah, the mid-summer classic.  Who doesn’t love to watch the best players square off against each other in a fun exhibition (even if it does decide the homefield team in the World Series)?  Who doesn’t like to see the most deserving players receive praise and get to play in a game honoring them for being the best of the best in baseball.  I know I love it.  I just wish it would happen.

Listen, the All-Star Game is a great idea, but it has to be done right.  And there are two glaring mistakes in the rosters from this year.  And I mean, they are HORRIBLE mistakes.  First, let’s go with the bigger, obvious error.  Can somebody please explain to me how, on God’s green Earth, Josh Hamilton made the starting outfield for the American League?  Dude’s played in less than half of his team’s games!  This guy is hitting .248! Only 6 HR, to boot!  And yet, he is starting in the game!  Would it be that hard to replace him in the starting outfield with somebody like Adam Jones, and fill Hamilton’s spot with a position player?  There are plenty to choose from.  Carlos Pena, despite a .231 batting average, has 23 home runs and 55 RBI.  He deserves a spot.  I can understand leaving Pena off the team though.  What I can’t understand is how the heck Evan Longoria didn’t make the squad.  E-Long is hitting .290 with 16 bombs and 64 RBI, but yeah, let’s put in a guy that’s played in 36 games instead! You gotta be kidding me!  How bout Ian Kinsler, hitting .253 with 20 HR, 53 RBI, 60 runs, and 16 stolen bases.  A true 5-tool player, yet he’s not in the game, and his undeserving teammate is.  Just mind-boggling!

I’m sorry to disappoint Red Sox fans, but not every single player on your roster deserves to go to the ASG. (Same goes to the Yankees, but I digress.)  Tim Wakefield is having a solid year.  10 wins is great.  But he’s not an All-Star.  Not with 53 K in 102.2 innings.  Not with a 4.30 ERA, and not with a 1.35 WHIP.  There’s just no justification in this.  For this argument, I am going to mention pitchers in both leagues that should be All-Stars, but aren’t, and reference their statistics, and then you tell me if Wakefield would have gotten in had he not been a member of the Boston Red Sox.  How about the season Kevin Milwood has had?  124 innings, a paltry 3.34 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, 8 wins and 74 K.  Tell me that ain’t more deserving than Mr. Knuckleball!  

Javier Vazquez has started 17 games for Atlanta. Courtesy of: daylife.com

NL pitchers who are better, you ask?  How about Javier Vazquez?  He may be 5-7, but he has no run support.  Consider these numbers.  In 112 innings he has amassed 130 K, a 3.05 ERA, and a 1.07 WHIP.  If he was a Yankee or Red Sox, you know he would be in the game.  How about his teammate, Jair Jurrjens?  Once again, a bad record (6-7) but that category is bunk. Why?  Well, when you have a 2.91 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP, with 75 K mixed in, you’re an All-Star.

The All-Star game has some obvious All-Stars.  Nobody questions that.  But at the end of the day, these aren’t the true 66, soon to be 68 with the fan vote, players in baseball.  Not even close.  And they aren’t the 66 (68) having the best season.  Baseball is a stats-driven game, and the stats don’t lie.  The fans, the players, and the managers made some big mistakes with these rosters.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

NFL: R.I.P. Steve McNair

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

On Independence Day, Steve “Air” McNair was fatally shot in a condominium, ending his life at the tender age of 36.  The circumstances, when all are revealed, will not paint McNair as the man of year he was once nominated for in the NFL.  His 20-year-old girlfriend that he had been dating for two months will not make him look good in the public eye, considering he had a wife and four children.  But, if Michael Jackson can be remembered for his moonwalk and not his fetish for children, then this is how I will remember McNair.

McNair grew up broke in Mount Olive, Mississippi.  He sung in the church choir, and possessed extreme athletic talent.  He was drafted to play baseball, but his love of football took him to historically-black Alcorn State, where he flourished.  He was third in Heisman voting in 1995, and was taken third in that year’s draft by the Houston Oilers.  Now, I was too young to remember all of that, but that background leads to where he will be remembered most. 

Steve McNair dropping back to pass in Super Bowl XXXIV. Courtesy of: daylife.com

He was best-known for his time with the Tennessee Titans, after the Oilers had relocated there.  Along with Eddie George, McNair had one of the most-feared air-ground combos in NFL history.  But, all that aside, his shining moment came in the 1999 playoffs.  First up, he was the quarterback in the “Music City Miracle” game against the Buffalo Bills, where the Titans miraculously managed to turn a kickoff into a game-winning touchdown via a series of unpredictable laterals.  I still remember watching that game downstairs and running outside in stunned amazement as I recounted the result to my neighbors.  Later in those playoffs, McNair had advanced to Super Bowl XXXIV, the best Super Bowl that I have ever seen. 

In a game that went back and forth all night long against “The Greatest Show on Turf,” the St. Louis Rams, McNair had one final drive to lead the Titans, who trailed by seven.  McNair took over with 2:12 left, and executed a near-flawless drive.  The last two plays of the drive were beyond belief.  First, McNair managed to evade about three tacklers and complete a pass to the St. Louis 10 with 6 seconds left.  Then, after evading tackler, McNair completed a pass to Kevin Dyson, but he came up a yard short, and the Rams were champions.  A great game.

And a great memory of a great quarterback.  This is the moment that will live on.  Just like Thriller will be MJ’s big moment to his diehard fans, or the moonwalk, or whatever you want to call it.  McNair will, and rightfully should, be remembered for his good years, the Titan years, and even the years with the Baltimore Ravens.  Rest in peace, Steve.  Football fans everywhere will miss you.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

MLB: The real deal of the MLB trading deadline

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

Well, I hope everybody had a happy 4th of July, and congratulations to Joey Chestnut, he of the 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes without having a fatal heart attack, Roger Federer, Mr. 15 now that he won Wimbledon, and Tiger Woods, who managed to interview himself after a win on Sunday.  You three are the big victors of the 4th of July weekend.  And before I start my rant, I would like to send my condolences out to the Steve McNair family. 

Well, it’s July, and you know what that means.  Endless speculation about what will happen on the July 31 (My 20th birthday) trading deadline.  Analysts make a habit of congratulating teams for acquiring big names on the deadline, so I thought I would examine some big deadline deals of years past and then provide my analysis of this whole process.

2008
Dodgers acquire Manny Ramirez from Boston
Red Sox get Jason Bay from Pittsburgh
Pirates get Andy LaRoche, Bryan Morris from Dodgers, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen from Red Sox
Analysts’ view:  Big win for the Dodgers.  Potential down the line for Pittsburgh, but we will not know for years to come.  Red Sox got squeezed, as Bay will not provide nearly the production that ManRam will.
Actual result: Manny Ramirez tore the cover off the ball for the Dodgers, but they lost in the playoffs.  Now, he just got suspended for fifty games, leaving fans of Dodgertown divided over whether or not they owe this guy loyalty and support over Mr. Do-Everything-Right Juan Pierre.  Pittsburgh is stuck in mediocrity.

Brewers acquire C.C. Sabathia from Indians
Tribe land Brewers outfield prospect Matt LaPorta
Analysts’ view:  Big win for the Brew Crew.  Now they will actually be able to contend for a World Series. 
Actual result:  Sabathia helped big time, until he left in the offseason.  Guess what?  No World Series championship for Milwaukee, and now the Indians have a star in the future in LaPorta. 

Angels acquire Mark Teixeira from Braves
Atlanta gets Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steve Marek from Angels.
Analysts’ view:  The team with the best record in baseball finally gets some power at first base.  Expect a victory parade in LA, because with Manny going to the Dodgers, we’re going to have a Freeway Series in the Fall Classic.
Result:  Yeah…. about that.  Teixeira left for the big bucks the Yankees dangled him.  Meanwhile, the Braves landed a gold glove first baseman that they can use for at least a couple of seasons while they await stud first base prospect Freddie Freeman as he navigates the minors.

2007
Braves acquire Mark Teixeira, Ron Mahay
Rangers get Braves prospects:  SS Elvis Andrus, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, RHP Neftali Perez, LHP Matt Harrison, and LHP Beau Jones
Analysts’ view:  Braves finally have the pieces to make a strong playoff chase in the NL East.
Result: Yeah, that didn’t happen.  Not even close.  And the Braves in turn dealt the probable AL Rookie of the Year this year in Andrus, perhaps the best pitching prospect left in the minors in Perez, and solid MLB players Harrison and Saltalamacchia for a hunch.  Perhaps the worst deal ever made by former Braves GM John Schuerholz

Okay, so you see a few deals of the past.  Analysts like Steve Phillips, who is a former GM for a reason, he couldn’t get that job done, touting deals as the final piece to a championship.  Well, guess what, that doesn’t typically work, and it normally works in the reverse.  The Rangers are finally able to compete in the AL West because of the sweepstakes they won when they raided the Atlanta farm system.  The Red Sox have an outfielder in Bay that is producing more than Ramirez.  And the Phillies are the defending world champs despite not making a major move at least year’s deadline.  The bottom line when dealing a big name, stud, player:  Get as many highly-touted prospects as you can, because it will help your club one day.  If you are getting a big name, stud player, buyer beware, because you will likely have him for half a season before the Yankees buy him away, so you better win it all.  Otherwise, you owe the fans an explanation.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu

MLB: Manny Ramirez to return Friday

By Adam Lawson, WSOE Sports

Congratulations, Juan Pierre.

You have done so well since Manram went AWOL.  While you don’t have a dinger on the season, you have hit .322, stolen 22 bases, and scored 37 runs.  You have even driven in 24 runs.  You have been a great influence on the Dodgers, on and off of the field.  So, with all of this, here is your reward:  the pine.

I guess that’s how the conversation must have gone down with Dodgers management and Pierre this week.  A man who has done everything right will be replaced by a man who got suspended for doing everything wrong starting Friday, when Manny Ramirez comes back from a 50-game suspension for taking a women’s fertility drug. This just goes to show that loyalty as we know it does not exist in baseball.

Here’s my suggestion to the Dodgers, and bear with me, especially you, Russell Varner!  Make Manny earn his job back.  Look at Mickey Mantle, and if I am wrong then it was some other world famous New York Yankee, so you catch my drift.  Mantle, or some other guy, got the job because he performed when the starter got hurt.  Well, Manny was gone, and for all intents and purposes, Pierre earned the starting job.  Make Manny pinch-hit for a while, give Pierre an occasional day of rest, whatever it takes.  But don’t give Manny the starting job right away, that’s ridiculous.  Sure, he can hit.  We all know what he can do, he’s a ballplayer.  But he hurt the team, or at least he would have if it wasn’t for Pierre.  For that reason alone, Manny shouldn’t start. 

But we all know come Friday, Manny Ramirez will be goofing around in left field, just Manny being Manny.  We all know Pierre will be benched, let’s just hope he gets traded somewhere where he can get a shot to play everyday, he deserves it after all.  The Dodgers are reopening Mannywood for a reason.  Loyalty isn’t the top priority in baseball.  ‘Cuz at the end of the day, this sport is all about the Benjamins.

Contact Information:
Adam Lawson
WSOE Sports
alawson2@elon.edu