Still excited over NU Day at Wrigley, but don’t know the rest of your baseball? Just throw out some of these names and stats, and you’ll have Ronnie Woo Woo convinced you know what you’re talking about.
Three Up:
1. Florida Marlins: The high-flying fish have won four straight and somehow have opened up a 3-game lead in the N.L. East. Not bad for a team whose payroll is $100 million less than the second-place New York Mets. Things have been going pretty well for the Marlins off the field as well. A new stadium is set to open in 2011 and this week, star shortstop Hanley Ramirez agreed on a six-year, $70-million contract to stay in Miami. Ramirez, who has the potential to win a Triple Crown one day, is hitting a blistering .329 with 9 home runs. Cubs’ fans will also be happy to recall that the Marlins are celebrating the 5th anniversary of their 2003 World Series win.
2. Aaron Cook: By starting out the year 15-23, the Colorado Rockies have done little to show that their surprise run to the 2007 World Series was anything but a fluke. The team’s slow start can not be blamed on pitcher Aaron Cook. Cook has a 2.26 E.R.A and has won six decisions in a row. The last three wins all came against division rivals. Fellow pitchers Jeff Francis (5.27 E.R.A.) and Ubaldo Jimenez (5.53) need to drastically improve if the Rox are going to climb back into the race.
3. Oakland A’s: The A’s regained first place and have the second-best record in the American League. The question is how? Only one A’s hitter is batting above .300, no player has more than four home runs, ace Joe Blanton is 2-5, and closer Huston Street already has two blown saves. The A’s just seem to come through when it matters most. In Wednesday’s game, for instance, second basemen Mark Ellis smacked a tenth inning walk off homer to beat the Orioles. Ellis had entered the game on a 0-16 skid. These are the kind of teams that prove very dangerous come October.
Three down:
1. Richie Sexson: Mariners’ first baseman is suspended five games for charging the mound and throwing his batting helmet at Texas Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard. The original suspension was for six games, but Sexson appealed and had it reduced to five. It is a wonder the M’s did not try to get the suspension appealed for longer than the six games. Sexson is hitting just .202 and has already managed to strike out 36 times.
2. Eric Gagne: The free fall continues for the pitcher once nicknamed “Game Over.” In less than five years Gagne has gone from winning the Cy Young award to being removed from the Brewer’s closer job, which happened Sunday. Manager Ned Yost thought it best to give the native Canadian, who has blown five saves, a “mental break.” Meanwhile, the disappointing Brewers remain at .500, and four behind the Cardinals and Cubbies.
3. Gary Sheffield: The Tigers’ slugger turns 40 in November of this year and it looks like his age has finally caught up to him. Sheffield’s batting average stands at .208 and he has hit but one homer since April 15 against the Twins. Hoping to jump-start Shef, the Tigers moved Sheffield from third in the order down to sixth. The designated hitter, who has 482 home runs, denied that the quest for 500 homers has distracted him. “I don’t really focus on numbers,” Sheffield said. “I’m kind of a rebellious person. If it wasn’t a big deal to anyone else, I would probably want to do it more.” I guess that means he’s a team player?
Series of the Week: New York vs. New York, April 16 to 18: Ensuring that there is a Yankees vs. Mets series, and a Cubs vs. White Sox series every year is by far Bud Selig’s greatest accomplishment as commissioner. The last regular-season Subway Series ever at Yankee Stadium will feature the intrigue of opposing fans competing to see who can boo and show the most disrespect towards their own players.
Youtube Clip of the Week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPWaL-B1tl4
Because water skiing gets old after a while.