Manager Lou Piniella slumped in the dugout this weekend, exemplifying a talented Cubs team that has slumped far too often this season. Meanwhile, Mets manager Jerry Manuel provided a study in contrasts, standing erect in the opposing dugout, and generally not giving off the same sort of negative vibe. It must be a matter of style, and/or personality, since Manuel's Mets are is having a season just as horrific.
When a team is struggling and falling far behind in the standings, its players will often invoke the Colorado Rockies, the team most famous for coming out of nowhere to make it to the World Series. Players on these fading teams inevitably suggest they could become the new Rockies. But few do.
It's time now to start dreaming about the best possible World Series matchups. Here are my favorites for this year.
When commissioner Bud Selig told us he had faith in the Washington Nationals back at his All-Star Game briefing, it was assumed he was being more hopeful than realistic. But Selig looks now like he might have been on to something. The Nationals put together an eight-game winning streak recently, they are competing daily and playing better than the Royals, Pirates, Padres, Mets and several other teams lately. And they topped off their recent run of respectability by making the acquisition of the year Monday.
The Red Sox were rightly considered a winner on deadline day for acquiring big-time hitter Victor Martinez, who has continued to thrive since leaving Cleveland for Boston. But now, a couple weeks later, with the Red Sox still struggling, it looks like they could have used even more help.
Guesses from a multitude of executives around baseball for ballyhooed/deified No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg's eventual signing bonus have ranged anywhere from $12 million to $30 million. Every estimate represents a record bonus.
Right after the Blue Jays' talented yet underperforming outfielder Alex Rios was claimed on waivers by the White Sox, Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi gave it a couple shots for a home run. Ricciardi first requested a player off the White Sox's big-league roster, then reduced that request by sending the South Siders a list of prospects he'd consider taking for Rios. Though in the end, Ricciardi couldn't have been shocked when White Sox GM Ken Williams, as experienced a trader as there is, wasn't going for it. Williams instead countered the player request by first suggesting Toronto pay part of Rios' contract, and after Toronto declined to do so, then politely telling Ricciardi something along the lines of, "We'd be thrilled to receive the player, but that's about it.''
Call them the Blew Jays. Because they blew the Roy Halladay trade talks big time.
Several baseball executives are calling this the "softest deadline ever'' because they anticipate many more players than ever going unclaimed on waivers and thus remaining eligible to be dealt.
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