The Current Baseball Scene
Washington has won 10 in a row. It is a great story, and much of the credit has been given (and deservedly so) to manager Frank Robinson.
Robinson certainly deserves credit, but what about interim GM Jim Bowden? Bowden's future is just as insecure as the manager, but he has still managed o make something out of nothing and turn the Nationals into a contender.
Bowden, who was the Reds general manager from 1992-2003, made a name for himself by making the occasional big deal, but also by picking players off the scrap heap.
The Nationals, with players like Jose Guillen, Livan Hernandez and Esteban Loaiza, are 37-26, in first place in a five-team race. In a way, I am pulling for them.
-The Yankees lost again today to the Cardinals, finishing their road trip with a Reds-esque 3-9 record. For those who believe money can buy happiness, this is the counterpoint.
The problem with the Yankees is age, but it's also prospects. The Yankees have finally put themselves in a straight jacket -- they have costly veterans who arn't producing. The contracts are too high for the Yankees to deal them. In addition, the farm system is dead at the moment, so New York can't deal for a veteran to put them over the top.
It's so sweet.
- Speaking of the Reds, they took 2 of 3 from the first place Orioles this weekend. The Reds scored 20 runs combined in the last two games. While the playoffs will not be in this season's plans, the Reds do two things well:
1. They play well at the Great American Ballpark.
2. They knock the cover off the ball.
Those two things should result in nice crowds for the remainder of the summer, and should, financially, justify the owner's increased investment in this year's club.