For those who are unaware, I went back to school in September. School has kicked my ass and stolen my soul, leaving me unavailable for blogging and baseball (or much else.) So the following is what I've been thinking about baseball-wise for the last two months. I am also writing this because my little baby has been sorely neglected.
So congrats, I guess, to the St.Louis Cardinals. I hope Colby Rasmus was in a secluded cabin somewhere, cleaning game and not aware of the whole "Cardinals won that trade!!! Ooooh WEEE!" silliness that kept being said on the broadcasts.
Watching the Rangers get within a strike of winning the whole show not once, but twice in Game 6 was both awesome and horrifying. If your relief pitchers are so burnt out they can't throw a strike to save themselves, you have mismanaged your bullpen, Ron Washington.
Justin Verlander 100% earned the Cy Young and I've come to terms with him winning the AL MVP. What I cannot accept is Bautista finishing 3rd to Ellsbury.
The Boston Red Sox had a historical collapse in September. It was a total shit show. Many sportswriters dismissed Bautista for not being on a contending team. But they then didn't hold Ellsbury responsible for the shit show that was his team. I don't hold him responsible for it either, I just think there is a gap in logic. So apparently having great numbers in the second half on a team that played terribly at the beginning and at the end of the season is more valuable than having at times historical, Bondsian numbers on a team that played steadily for the whole season. Whatever. Bautista got the Hank Aaron Award, so that's something.
The Texas writer who voted Michael Young first and Bautista 7th needs to be publicly shamed. And stripped of his credentials. And his pants.
The new uniforms are gorgeous. As was the sight of all the boys showing up in cold and dark Toronto to show them off.
Mmmmmm....serifs.
P.S. Phillies, you can't have d'Arnaud back. Piss off.
Great to see a post from you, though I understand about school and all. Have missed you as you write really well.
ReplyDeleteI do disagree about Ellsbury and Bautista. Ellsbury simply had the better year overall and was really much better in the second half than the great Bautista.
xoxo
ReplyDeleteBautista had historically great numbers in the first half and dropped off some in the second, but was still more than good. Ellsbury had a great second half....But who was the constant in the MVP talk all season? Bautista. It was Bautista and Granderson, Bautista and Gonzalez and Bautista and Ellsbury in the MVP talk at different times throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteBautista did all he did as a lone wolf, whereas those other guys did it with support.
Ellsbury was the only consistent piece in the September collapse. the teams ERA had to be over 5, there aint no way Ellsbury, let alone Jbau or Pujols or Fielder, can consistently help keep his team in it. not to mention his numbers are from a LEADOFF position and he made ZERO errors in CF...a more difficult position than RF. Ellsbury is MVP, Bautista is #2.
ReplyDeleteJacoby Ellsbury: .321/.376/.552
ReplyDeleteJose Bautista: .302/.447/.608
Yeah, I'd say Bautista wins.
Um, lead off only counts in the first inning. Bautista played right and 3rd, extremely well. And why is Bautista expected to carry his team, but Ellsbury isn't?
ReplyDeleteI don't hold Ellsbury accountable for the collapse...but was Bautista not also the most consistent piece of his team?
There is a lack of logic here, and some serious laziness on the part of sports writers.
And yes, as Fullmer Fan kindly points out- CHECK THE NUMBERS.