For the first time since I started the Riff, I missed a baseball recap last week. So I thought I'd make up for lost time and riff about baseball as much as you can handle it:
-The ARoid saga just won't die; I suspected as he got closer to being ready to play again, more steroids crap would come out. Like ARoid using when he was in high school. Think baseball may want to consider suspending him now? (By the way, the Yankees are 13-11 without him, but that's because their pitching is pretty bad right now)
-My first "I told You So" happens now: the Cubs are mediocre and barely above .500 (12-11), while the Cardinals are 4 up, without Chris Carpenter. Albert Pujols is dominating, as usual.
-I am afraid MLB will ask Cubs SS Ryan Theriot to pee in a cup after back to back games of hitting home runs (including a grand salami). TheRiot had only 8 career HR's coming into Friday's game.
-As expected, attendance the first month of the season is down. Is it the weather or the economy? Or are people just damn sick of all the drug talk? Personally, I always go to a game or two bad economy or not. It's the ticket prices and overpriced concessions that will ultimately keep me from more games. $200 a trip is a lot to ask of a couple to go to a game in any economy.
Surprises this year (so far):
I meant to write this last week as April was ending, so I will throw it out there this week:
1. This whole swine flu or other illness (like staph) not reaching the big leagues. Granted the closeness and the whole locker room thing, I'm shocked there's hasn't been an outbreak of anything yet.
2. Florida Marlins. I'm not shocked, but it's still a bit surprising how well they've played. They've been on a roller coaster so far, but still hang on to first place.
3. Kansas City. Good to see this team in first place. Given that the AL Central could be wide open and mediocre, the Royals have chances long term.
4. The Stinbrenners not getting on Joe Girardi's case...yet. This Yankee team was not built to be 13-11. In the old days, Girardi would have been fired or something.
5. Seattle. Funny how Junior comes back and the Mariners are in first.
Hunter Flops.
Now for the ugly of baseball. The following are the flops of the first month of the season:
-Cleveland Indians. It's way too early to panic, but 9-15 in a bad division? And after some changes?
-Tampa Bay. At 10-15, should we be really surprised? Yeah... a little.
-Mark Teixeira. .182 BA after signing the huge contract. Not the best way to start in the biggest city.
-Derrek Lee. First time flopper. Very sad day for him to be on this list, but .207 and looking like a shell of his old self. He's playing hurt and needs to go on the DL.
-Jimmy Rollins. .200 won't get you very far for the defending champs.
-Edwin Encarncion. .127 BA is DFL ampong qualifiers.
-Justin Verlander. 6.44 ERA. 2 years of suck going on. Think he might already be washed up??
-Sidney Ponson. 0-4 and a 7.16 ERA. Imagine how much better the Royals would be without this joker.
-Josh Beckett. 7.22 ERA. I'm wondering if there's issues with this guy.
I conclude this week's recap with a Cubs rant. I've read already how Lou Pinella has mis- managed this year's team. Upper management did a terrible job building this roster and now that injuries have reared their ugly head, we're seeing how thin this team is. Milton Bradley?? You couldn't do better than that?? The pitching is a mess-they cant find the strike zone. The bullpen is crap. And yet, they're 12-11. A lot of teams wouldn't mind that. But these are the 21st Century Cubs and expectations are different. I expect better for the month of May....
Until next week....
Jp
-The ARoid saga just won't die; I suspected as he got closer to being ready to play again, more steroids crap would come out. Like ARoid using when he was in high school. Think baseball may want to consider suspending him now? (By the way, the Yankees are 13-11 without him, but that's because their pitching is pretty bad right now)
-My first "I told You So" happens now: the Cubs are mediocre and barely above .500 (12-11), while the Cardinals are 4 up, without Chris Carpenter. Albert Pujols is dominating, as usual.
-I am afraid MLB will ask Cubs SS Ryan Theriot to pee in a cup after back to back games of hitting home runs (including a grand salami). TheRiot had only 8 career HR's coming into Friday's game.
-As expected, attendance the first month of the season is down. Is it the weather or the economy? Or are people just damn sick of all the drug talk? Personally, I always go to a game or two bad economy or not. It's the ticket prices and overpriced concessions that will ultimately keep me from more games. $200 a trip is a lot to ask of a couple to go to a game in any economy.
Surprises this year (so far):
I meant to write this last week as April was ending, so I will throw it out there this week:
1. This whole swine flu or other illness (like staph) not reaching the big leagues. Granted the closeness and the whole locker room thing, I'm shocked there's hasn't been an outbreak of anything yet.
2. Florida Marlins. I'm not shocked, but it's still a bit surprising how well they've played. They've been on a roller coaster so far, but still hang on to first place.
3. Kansas City. Good to see this team in first place. Given that the AL Central could be wide open and mediocre, the Royals have chances long term.
4. The Stinbrenners not getting on Joe Girardi's case...yet. This Yankee team was not built to be 13-11. In the old days, Girardi would have been fired or something.
5. Seattle. Funny how Junior comes back and the Mariners are in first.
Hunter Flops.
Now for the ugly of baseball. The following are the flops of the first month of the season:
-Cleveland Indians. It's way too early to panic, but 9-15 in a bad division? And after some changes?
-Tampa Bay. At 10-15, should we be really surprised? Yeah... a little.
-Mark Teixeira. .182 BA after signing the huge contract. Not the best way to start in the biggest city.
-Derrek Lee. First time flopper. Very sad day for him to be on this list, but .207 and looking like a shell of his old self. He's playing hurt and needs to go on the DL.
-Jimmy Rollins. .200 won't get you very far for the defending champs.
-Edwin Encarncion. .127 BA is DFL ampong qualifiers.
-Justin Verlander. 6.44 ERA. 2 years of suck going on. Think he might already be washed up??
-Sidney Ponson. 0-4 and a 7.16 ERA. Imagine how much better the Royals would be without this joker.
-Josh Beckett. 7.22 ERA. I'm wondering if there's issues with this guy.
I conclude this week's recap with a Cubs rant. I've read already how Lou Pinella has mis- managed this year's team. Upper management did a terrible job building this roster and now that injuries have reared their ugly head, we're seeing how thin this team is. Milton Bradley?? You couldn't do better than that?? The pitching is a mess-they cant find the strike zone. The bullpen is crap. And yet, they're 12-11. A lot of teams wouldn't mind that. But these are the 21st Century Cubs and expectations are different. I expect better for the month of May....
Until next week....
Jp
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