CheeringMetFan
My Daughter is a Yankee Fan!
Where did i go Wrong?
USA
Posts: 1685
(7/11/04 10:47 am)
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Bonds slugging, Rocket winning, Mets in contention
In a wise and perfect world, we would be halfway to figuring out baseball's 2004 equation - winners and losers, overachievers and knaves. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. The season is still sprinkled with mysteries, some of which won't be resolved until late September, if then. Which is to say, it'll be a wild ride from here to the postseason.
Of course, it's safe to assume the Yankees are headed for the playoffs, but they're just flawed enough to be interesting. The Royals, on the other hand, are already history, along with the Mariners and the equally pathetic Diamondbacks, who are begging Randy Johnson to stay. Meanwhile, the Mets, those April and May disasters, will have legitimate second-half muscle as soon as rookie David Wright arrives.
Here's a look at what the first half taught us, and what might lie ahead.
BIGGEST STORIES OF THE FIRST HALF:
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1. Randy Johnson's perfect game: The 40-year-old Johnson become the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game. Of his 117 pitches to the Braves, 87 were strikes.
2. Barry Bonds passing Willie Mays on the all-time HR list: Bonds entered Saturday's action with just 33 to go before catching Babe Ruth, and another 42 after that to set the all-time record. The only question is how soon Bonds does it.
3. Roger Clemens' 9-0 start: No one, not even the Astros, saw this coming.
4. Eric Gagne's consecutive-save streak snapped: This one will stand forever. Eighty-four games is still unthinkable.
5. Mets sweep the Yankees at Shea: The Bombers were clearly worn out by sweeping the Red Sox earlier in the week, but don't let them kid you: They wanted to win those last two games at Shea. Badly.
Biggest disappointment, AL
Royals
Remember when they were being hailed as the next small-market success story? The Royals went into the 2004 season with all the right blessings, including Juan Gonzalez and Matt Stairs to add girth to the Carlos Beltran-led offense. The experiment crashed miserably, and with Beltran gone and Gonzalez on the DL since May with back problems, manager Tony Pena is having a hard time keeping his sinking team motivated.
Biggest disappointment, NL
Astros
Just how troubled is this franchise? Manager Jimy Williams is on the verge of being fired, with Mets' hitting instructor Don Baylor among the possible candidates to replace him. The Astros are particularly upset at how well Richard Hidalgo has played since escaping Williams' doghouse. It's finally occurred to club officials that Williams might've been part of the problem. The only way to save the 'Stros' season is for Clemens to keep throwing 94-mph fastballs and for Andy Pettitte to stay off the disabled list.
Biggest surprise, AL
Devil Rays
This was a tough choice, because like everyone else, we figured the Rangers would spend another summer in the junk pile. But Tampa Bay's surge toward respectability is more remarkable because it has as much to do with Lou Piniella as their players. Sweet Lou is still all about fire and passion, taking the D-Rays over .500 despite an offense that's next-to-last in the league in run-differential (the difference between runs scored and runs allowed.)
Biggest surprise, NL
Mets
Whoever thought an Art Howe-led team could be this energetic. Opposing teams are beginning to notice how much harder the Mets play this year, and as one Mets executive put it, "That's the biggest compliment anyone can pay us. Our makeup is so much different this year." Even the Yankees took note of how motivated the Mets were in last weekend's three-game sweep at Shea. The already focused David Wright, who'll be summoned in the next week or so, could be the key to the Mets' hopes of winning the division.
AL MVP
Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
So much for the bad back which - the Mets feared - would render him useless. Instead, Guerrero has become the league's most feared all-around threat. Manny Ramirez is a close second, but there's no question Guerrero plays harder and is a better defender. With a .346 average and 77 RBI, it's still worth thinking what Guerrero would've meant to the Mets, had they not made him a low-ball offer last winter.
NL MVP
Barry Bonds, Giants
He's rude, mean, self-centered, and still has to answer to the feds in the BALCO investigation. All that aside, Bonds is still the most amazing hitter of our generation, leading the NL with a .362 average and 23 home runs entering Saturday. This despite the fact that he's drawn 128 walks, 40 percent more than Houston's Lance Berkman, who's second on the list. Bonds, along with righty Jason Schmidt, is keeping the Giants alive in the West, which will probably be too close to call for the next two months.
AL Manager of the Year
Lou Piniella, Devil Rays and Buck Showalter, Rangers
Both deserve this abbreviated honor. The Devil Rays are playing well enough to actually force the Red Sox to look over their shoulders, and Showalter has kept Alfonso Soriano from getting homesick for the Bronx. Don't discount how much the divorce between Alex Rodriguez and the Rangers has broadened Showalter's influence in the clubhouse.
NL Manager of the Year
Tony La Russa, Cardinals
Talk about motivators. Even Tony Womack is hitting over .300.
Best non-story
Mike Piazza and Roger Clemens as All-Star batterymates
There's a zero percent chance of any breakthrough moment for these two enemies; no handshake of peace and no arguments, either, not even a hard stare between them. Still, everyone in the baseball industry is wondering if Piazza and Clemens will even speak to other Tuesday, if just to go over signs. In an otherwise, slick and plastic media event, this is as close to reality TV as the All-Star Game will ever get.
Best developing story
BALCO
The investigation slogs along and won't make much progress before Labor Day. But the feds aren't going away and it's only a matter of time before Victor Conte, the man under indictment for distributing steroids to Bay Area athletes, cuts a deal to keep himself out of jail. That's when baseball's hierarchy, not to mention some of the sport's stars, will begin to sweat.
Best Yankees story
Miguel Cairo
We knew the Bombers would eventually punish the AL with all those home runs. We knew Kevin Brown would eventually get hurt. We knew Derek Jeter would initially blow a gasket having A-Rod around - and then come out of his slump. But who ever foresaw Cairo, a career .279 hitter who hasn't played a full season since 1998, surging over .300?
Best Mets story
Tom Glavine
With a better fastball and improved mechanics from his failed Met debut in 2003, Glavine has regained his credibility. The only possible danger is the long-term effect of a lack of run support. As Glavine said not long ago, "Time is running out for me." As much as winning the division means to Glavine, he's also intensely motivated to reach 300 career wins. He still needs 42, and is getting impatient.
AL Rookie of the Year
Bobby Crosby, A's
Easing the pain created by Miguel Tejada's absence.
NL Rookie of the Year
Ryan Madson, Phillies
Less than a hit an inning, with a 2.06 ERA.
NL hot seat manager
Jimy Williams, Astros
Houston management has to at least create the appearance of a shake-up - without trading Clemens.
AL hot seat manager
Lee Mazzilli, Orioles
Granted, it's cruel and unusual punishment to pressure a rookie manager. But remember, owner Peter Angelos is George Steinbrenner Lite.
AL team to watch
Athletics
NL team to watch
Braves
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