The Picks - Post Season Award Talk

Arguably, the most ridiculous of all of the pre-season predictions are the awards. Which player will be the most valuable to his (or her) team? Which pitcher will have the best season? How about best rookie? The questions themselves seem simple enough, but when asked before a pitch has been thrown, they're a bit silly.

But, nonetheless, it's tradition. Before every baseball season, even if it's only in your own head, you have to think of some predictions, even if that only means picking your Silver Sluggers (and if that's your thing, more power to you...get it, more power to you. bah dumpt, chhhh). And so, Jordan and I have berned long and hard over these, stewing and brewing over predictions that will more than likely fall by the wayside due to injury or incompetence (on either the players' or our parts).

So, without further ado, the 2009 Berning On Sports Pre Season Award picks...

AL Rookie of the Year:

Jordan: Matt Wieters, BAL

Assuming he plays most of the season, this guy is bound for stardom. I expect once he comes up in May he'll hit near .300 and hit 15-20 home runs while making a big impact on the Orioles both offensively and defensively.

Scott: Same, BAL

I don't really know many other rookies. He's supposed to be good.

NL Rookie of the Year:

Jordan: Colby Rasmus, STL

This guy has been in the minors longer than the Cardinals wanted him there because of an already crowded outfield. Assuming he'll get plenty of at-bats this season, he'll do well because he plays for St. Louis and if you play for them, you hit, no matter what your name is.

Scott: Come on. My only other guess, Daniel Murphy, NYM. He'll bat second, and they say the kid can really rake, so long as his lack of a real position doesn't kill the Mets too bad.

AL Cy Young Award: J

Jordan: Jon Lester, BOS

He's an excellent pitcher primed for a huge year. With the benefit of a winning club that has a great offense, he'll win a lot of games, and statistically he's as good as anyone.

Scott: Roy Halladay, TOR

I love the pick of Lester, and while I'd love to echo Jordan's sentiment's a third time, I'm going to stay in the division, but head further north. The only thing holding him back is that he might not get enough wins playing for such a poor team, but his stuff and track record show nothing other than greatness and no signs of slowing.

NL Cy Young Award:

Jordan: Jake Peavy, SD

This one is harder because there are so many dynamite pitchers in the National League. But the 2007 Cy Young is going to be pitching with the extra motivation of wanting to be traded from San Diego so he'll have a huge year. The only way he doesn't get consideration is if he doesn't win enough games because his offense is so bad.

Scott: Johan Santana, NYM

This might seem like a pick made based on the fact that I live in his area, but he'd have likely won it if the Mets had any semblance of a bullpen at any point last season. He won 16 games with a league leading ERA last year, and now he has Frankie Rodriguez and J.J. Putz to lock down a few more W's for the resume.

AL Most Valuable Player:

Jordan: Mark Teixeira, NYY

The MVP almost always comes from one of the best teams that is playoff bound. Big Tex is a fantastic player as it is, but now he'll be the focal point of an already excellent offense since A-Rod will begin the season on the DL.

Scott: Justin Morneau, MIN

With Joe Mauer out of the lineup for a chunk of time, the Twins will count on the Canadian to pick up the slack, and he will. He might not slug you to death, but Morneau will carry the Twins all the way to a division title.

NL Most Valuable Player:

Jordan: Manny Ramirez, LAD

He's playing his first full season in the National League, which he destroyed last year. I understand it was in a contract year, but the guy mashes no matter where he is. The Dodgers will likely be NL West champs again, and Manny will be credited with leading them there.

Scott: Albert Pujols, STL

This is a give-up pick, but here's how I look at it: the guy's always great (which, I know can work against him for this award, a la Kobe Bryant or even Shaq), and no one on the Cubs stands out to me as a guy that would clearly deserve an MVP award. So, Pujols it is, if even by default. Again.

30 Teams In 30 Days

New York Yankees: The Billion Dollar Bombers

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Keeping It Real

The Yankees dumped a disgusting amount of money (recession or not) on three of the best free agent available this off-season. It came to a whopping 423.5 million. But, the reality is they actually trimmed payroll from last year (amazing as that sounds, it's true). Gone are heavy burdens like Jason Giambi (back to the Bay), Mike Mussina (retired), Bobby Abreu (allowed to avoid walls in Anaheim now), Carl Pavano (allowed to quit for another franchise), and Kyle Farnsworth (allowed to flex his muscles in purgatory...err, Kansas City). They added serious rotation depth, not just in A.J. Burnett and C.C. Sabathia, but also in the form of former ace, Chien-Ming Wang, who is healthy after missing most of last season with a freak ankle injury. Mark Teixeira may have seemed like a greedy pick up, but they needed him for a) his defense, and b) his bat (Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano aren't likely to get either younger or more consistent).

Alex Rodriguez Plays Baseball (among other things)

What can be said about this guy that hasn't been said? What more can he say or do wrong? Just a few days ago he said he wished he could play with Jose Reyes all the time. I guess Derek Jeter and Cano don't do it for ya? I can't say the steroids won't distract him, but, it won't be the first time (or last) he'll be bombarded with media coverage. My advice to Rodriguez? Take your time recovering from surgery, keep your mouth shut, and hit a home run or two when you come back.

And The Award For Most Time Spent On The DL Goes To...

With the types of players on the Yankees, the amount of money invested in them, and the history the Yankees have had with the DL, it's not a matter of who, but how often and how long. If I was running Vegas, the odds on favorite would be A.J. Burnett, and that's hard to argue with. But, to keep it interesting and because he's already starting the season on the DL, Alex Rodriguez has to make the list.

Running Proof the ROY Means Nothing

Just in case you hadn't noticed, Angel Berroa, AL ROY in 2003, is battling Cody Ransom (who at least can do this) for the back-up infielder spot. Apparently, striking out at a rate four times more frequently than walking is detrimental to your career success. Who'd have thought?

Bold Predictions

Robinson Cano will start (and finish) strong, bouncing back from a poor 2008. People have compared him to Rod Carew (easy with that) and while he's no where near that now, he'll finally have a complete season. I'll say a steady .295/20/95.

Phil Hughes in another attempt to distract people from the fact that his fastball tops out at 92 MPH, will try glasses again while pitching. When that doesn't work, he'll wear the same mask that Rip Hamilton wears.

Up Next...Friday, Atlanta Braves

Hump Day Headlines: Afternoon Edition

In this week's Hump Day Headlines, we discuss good sportsmanship, A-Rod's new memories, Tiger's impending return, and an NBA trade deadline update:

• Amidst all that is wrong with sports right now, kudos to the Dekalb, Illinois High School Boys Basketball team. In February 8th's contest against Milwaukee Madison, WI High School senior Johntell Franklin of MM decided that despite the passing of his mother the night before, he wanted to play in the game. Franklin's coach, Aaron Womack Jr., didn't list Frankin as an eligible player, anticipating Franklin wouldn't play. If Franklin did enter the game, a technical foul would automatically be called against Milwaukee Madison. Dekalb coach Dave Rohlman got word of this, and instructed his team that whoever would shoot the technical free throws would miss on purpose in tribute to Franklin. He didn't want his team to benefit from the opportunity at two points that he felt wouldn't be right. Franklin did enter the game. Madison's Darius McNeal rolled both free throws toward the basket. After this act, the entire crowd stood and clapped for McNeal's gesture towards Franklin. Finally, something in sports to be proud of, and a reminder of one of the biggest reasons we love sports. (Click here for a discussion on this from ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning.
  
• While I was visiting Fenway Park, I know many of you and Scott watched closely as A-Rod re-explained his admission to using performance enhancing drugs. Still, he didn't seem completely contrite and once again there were inconsistencies in his commentary. Convenient to bring in his "cousin" to take some of the fall. All of a sudden, he knew what drugs he was taking. Even though he didn't think he was doing anything wrong, he didn't tell anyone. Yeah. Sure. Today it was a circus at Yankees spring training. ESPN's Hannah Storm said the clubhouse was so full of media that "it felt like a playoff game". We knew with their plethora of big off-season free agent acquisitions, they'd have a lot of attention coming to them this spring as it is. But now guys like C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira will have to learn quickly what it's like to be a Yankee. They can all thank A-Rod for this mess. So with all the alleged support the Yankees are reportedly providing to A-Rod, if I were his teammate I'd be very frustrated.
• Tiger Woods is apparently on his way back, and soon. So here's what I say to you, PGA Tour pros: start getting used to the fact that your year-long reprieve is over. Now that Tiger is "95% of the way there" according to Steve Williams, his caddy, things have suddenly become terribly difficult again for the field. Williams says his swing has been retooled a bit, an he is still having a little trouble walking. But we all know this about Tiger Woods: if he's coming back, he thinks he can win. And that alone is scary for any golfer in the field. Now that Tiger is the father of two, he can get back to work. He reportedly plans to play in a couple of tournaments as a tune-up for the Masters at Augusta National come April.
• As the NBA trade deadline looms in the next day, some teams are already busy. The Thunder has acquired Tyson Chandler from New Orleans. Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith will be heading to the Hornets. In the newest move, Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com reports the Bulls have acquired Brad Miller and John Salmons from the Kings in exchange for Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni and Cedric Simmons. Both moves were reportedly fueled by opening cap space for the famous 2010 free agent class. BERNing on Sports will have complete coverage of the NBA trade deadline as it approaches and passes.

Would You Sign This Guy? I wouldn't.

He has 527 career home runs and 1725 career RBI. He has a .314 career batting average and a career on base percentage of .411. He's also a 10 time all-star.

Yet he remains unsigned, because he's an expensive liability.

If I were a major league baseball general manager, I would never sign a guy like Manny Ramirez. I don't care how clutch he is, or the fact that he's won two world series rings. I don't care that he has hit 28 post-season home runs or that he has a .399 career on base percentage in the post season. He'd never be on my team.

He's lazy. He doesn't run out ground balls and he trots after fly balls that he knows will fall. He's a brutal outfielder whether he's trying or not.

He whined year after year about how he wanted out of Boston and how much he hated it when the fans there adored him and defended him no matter what, even when during a pitching change he urinated inside the green monster. It was just "Manny being Manny", they cried.

He laid down. He faked injuries and made up excuses to force the Red Sox to trade him to Los Angeles.

His performance with the Dodgers made this even more infuriating. His .396 batting average and 17 home runs in just 53 games in Dodger blue only showed what he's capable of if he's motivated. He basically carried a team that really wasn't all that good to the NLCS, and in the process was in serious consideration for National League MVP. And while he's an incredible player when he wants to be, how do we know he'd be motivated once he gets the contract he covets?

Obviously, that's why he hasn't been signed, and that's why he'll be a hard sell by agent Scott Boras to get him the four or five year, 25-plus million dollar per year contract he desires. The Giants pulled out of the race today, and the Dodgers say they're "talking" to him and Boras, but they're still not close to a deal. The Yankees opted to sign Mark Teixiera instead, and other teams that might have the finances to land the 36-year-old Ramirez are opting not to take the risk.

Some team will eventually bite the bullet and overpay to have him. They'll justify it by saying that he's a great hitter and he'll sell tickets. With those reasons, they'll be right. But they'll be taking a considerable risk that in a year or two his numbers will decline. They'll be making a bigger gamble that Ramirez won't destroy his new clubhouse or be an enormous off-field distraction in the near future.

But if it were me, I wouldn't pay him a cent.

Hump Day Headlines

On today's Hump Day Headlines we discuss winning streaks, big dollars, Plaxico's guns and a match up for the ages...

• The Celtics won their nineteenth straight game last night, walloping the 76ers 110-91.  The win gives Boston, the winningest basketball franchise in history, a new club record with the streak.  The last Celts loss came back on November 14th in a 94-85 loss to Denver at home, and ironically the Nuggets went without Allen Iverson in the lineup.  Thirty-nine days later, Boston heads into a Christmas Day match up with the Lakers still without another loss.   And since you're probably wondering, Boston is now ahead of the pace of the 95-96 Bulls team that went 72-10.  That Chicago club, led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, was 26-3 through its first twenty-nine games.  Boston is 27-2.  We might be watching the greatest team ever this season.  Also, check out my previous post that explores this topic here.  
• Four-hundred thirty-one million dollars.  That number is the amount of cash the Yankees have doled out to four players over the last couple of weeks to overtake the Red Sox and Rays next year in the AL East.  With the acquisitions of C.C. Sabathia ($161 million) and  A.J. Burnett ($85 million), avoiding arbitration with Chien-Ming Wang ($5 million), and inking Mark Teixiera today for $180 million over eight years, the rich are certainly getting richer.  I guess we can throw that whole recession crap out the window, and the notion that the Yankees would try to cut payroll after dumping nearly $80 million off the books this off-season prior to these moves.   What will the Yankees do next year if they don't win it all?  Probably blame A-Rod.  (For more on this, check out Scott's earlier post here.)
• Two guns were found in Plaxico Burress's house yesterday.  Whoops.  I guess whatever story Plax tries to tell to get himself out of this mess is moot at this point.  Then again, he is a professional athlete, so constitutional law only partially applies to him.  And, he'll have a big money lawyer likely representing him in court March 31st.  But while he did bail himself out of jail on $100,000 bond, that money may only buy him three months of freedom...just enough to watch the Giants playoff run while he sits on the non-football injury list.
• Speaking of New York football, what a sweet match up we'll be treated to on Sunday when Miami visits Giants Stadium to take on the Jets.  Yes, it is a match up that will help decide who wins the AFC East.  But what makes this far more intriguing is that former Jet QB Chad Pennington will get to face off with the man that replaced him, in Brett Favre.  Imagine, for the already snake-bit Jets fans, to have to watch ol' Chadwick come back to knock them out of the playoffs on their home turf with a team that was 1-15 a year ago! And consider this, the Jets were 8-3 just five weeks ago, coming off victories over New England and Tennessee on the road.  Now, 1-3 over the last month, New York will need some help to get into the playoffs.  Guess Broadway Brett wasn't the savior after all.

Teixeira Headed To The Bronx: Yankees to Sign Every Good Free Agent Available

As of slightly before 4 PM eastern time, word is that the Evil Empire has done it again.

Sources I have (including the NY Daily News, and, oddly enough, Facebook, which alerted me to the signing first), indicate that Mark Teixeira and the Yankees are reportedly closing in on an eight year deal worth over 170 million.

Talk about your all-time hogwash stories.  All those following the Teixeira "saga" heard was that the Yankees were distantly involved.  Earlier today, Buster Olney reported that the Red Sox and Nationals were the serious destinations for the 1B.  Brian Cashman has said that there wasn't anything on the table for the switch hitter.  

Suddenly (read: all along), the Yankees emerge as real contenders for Teixeira, and, within a seeming instant, they've signed the last remaining true prize left on the market.

How on Earth do you begin to analyze this?  Let's take a stab, shall we?

Yankee Apologist

On a baseball level, strictly on the field of play, it's a great move.  They needed a first baseman with the Giambino gone, and they went out and got the best one available.  Truth is, their offense outside of A-Rod is either really old (Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada) or really inconsistent (Robinson Cano), and adding a huge bat to protect Rodriguez is a great thing.

Yankee Hater

Here they go again!  What was it, one summer ago that they wanted to hold onto all their prospects, do this winning "thing" the all-natural way?  Yeah, way to stick to the game plan.  Not to mention, do they have to sign everyone?  First C.C, then Burnett, and now Teixeira?  Let me guess, tomorrow they'll sign Manny to a 6 year deal, Lowe to 5 years, and Oliver Perez to a 4 year contract.

Financially Oriented Yankee Fan (As If It's Their Money Anyway)

This idea that the Yankees have spent over 400 million in the past few weeks is ridiculous.  These aren't 180 million, one year contracts.  In fact, with 88 million coming off the books from last year, the Yankees salary will actually be close or even under where it was last year.  

Scott Boras

See, I told you there was a mystery team!

Not Yankee Haters, per se, But Let's Just Say They Wouldn't Call The Yankees Back After A First Date

This is awful for baseball.  The Yankees, more importantly, the power of the almighty dollar is ruining professional sports, at a time when we're simultaneously seeing the ruin of our current economy and financial structure.  When people are losing their jobs, right and left, these jerks are going out and dumping hundreds of millions on ball players.  The Yankees aren't necessarily to blame, other teams were offering similarly high amounts (the Nationals were, in fact, offering more), but, the symbolism of this move just demonstrates the decline of the true spirit of the game (editor's note:  we have no idea what that actually means, but "real" fans always say it, so it has to be true).

BERNing on Sports' Take (read:  Scott's)

As a fan of baseball's most hated team, I'm quite torn.  Are they better with him? Yes.  Is it a boat load of money?  Yes.  Is it my money, is it honestly costing me anything?  No, and not really.  Will I cheer for him, and still root for the Yankees? Yes, no doubt.

However, it'll be with a heavy heart.  Recently, I remarked to a friend of mine that I'm feeling more and more detached from the Yankees.  It just seems like its a new team every year, filled with a new, free agent du jour.  Gone are the days where the young stud comes through the farm system, and he's actually given time to develop.  Your either Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy, it seems, in the eyes of Yankees brass.

While I can't say I'm thrilled about it, what I can say I'm angry about are people that will act disgusted by the Yankees.  They play by the rules, they have the money, and they're aggressive.  Albeit, overly aggressive, but still, if the Steinbrenners were running the Cubs or Red Sox or Dodgers or Angels, no one from those markets would be complaining.

The real crime is, with all that they've done, all they've added, what happens if they don't win the World Series?  Rumor has it that Moses (no, not Malone, the biblical one) will be up for free agency next winter.

And so, as a Yankee, I'm caught in between a desire to see my team win and not be constantly picked on by fellow baseball fans.  Between a desire to see them bring home another championship and to see them actually earn another championship.

In effect, that's what it comes down to.  Sure, they can win, and, they should.  But, did they earn it?  Are the Yankees better, just because they spend more? It's almost like the kid that used to beat the crap out of the weaklings at lunch for their money.  Was that kid really to blame for being stronger?  No, but, should he feel good about beating up a bunch of younger, skinny nerds?  

Regardless, I'll root, upset or not.  I'll watch the press conference, where he'll tell me how badly he wanted to be a Yankee (yeah, sure, like Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were together because she was sooo smart).  And, if they win, I'll be happy, though, it won't feel right.  It won't feel earned.

Enough Already

It's December 23rd, sometime in the afternoon, do you know where your targeted Scott Boras client is?

Likely sitting at home.

As reported by Y! Sports, only one Boras client has signed a FA contract his winter.  His name, Felipe Lopez, and he's now a Diamondback, in case you cared.  Quick aside...best line of the whole article, came in the comments section:

"Shocking Boras even accepted him as a client."

While that observation is quite true, the more shocking fact is that he's the only one that's signed.  Then again, when you consider that Scott Boras could very well be the anti-Christ of Major League Baseball, it isn't that surprising.

Boras' supremely talented clients, Mark Teixiera, Oliver Perez, Manny Ramirez, and Derek Lowe among them, sit at home, while their agent postures and preens and pauses.  There are usually a few "mystery teams" that no one seems to know much about (their whereabouts, how they are offering that player a contract without anyone knowing about it, or why they are the only team offering 2 more years and 40 million more).  

There usually is a ridiculous waiting game played, where teams go back and forth saying they are "out" of the bidding.  Boston said they were out last week.  The Angels have withdrawn their offer.  Sure.  And the Yankees were really done bidding on A-Rod when they said so last year.

Now there's word out of Washington that the Nats are offering more money (up near the 180 million mark), with the potential for more years.  As has been said previously here on BERNing, that's clearly not a good idea.  Though, Collin Balester might have something different to say about that.

However it winds up breaking down, with Marky Mark wearing Bo-Sox red next year or Natty gray (who even cares what color they are?), I've had quite enough of this Mark Teixeira saga.  Let's get a move on this whole process.  Let's get him signed, let's get these other guys signed.  Who cares if it's for too much money?  At least, once it's over, we'll be able to get rid of Scott Boras til next winter.

Nationalistic Plans

How on Earth, under the the watchful eye of the sun and the moon, did the Washington Nationals ever become serious contenders (or contenders of any sort) for Mark Teixeira?

Better yet, why?

I can't be the only one confused as to how a team that, only a few short years ago, was making its home north of the border, and now finds itself playing to just over half capacity crowds in a brand new ballpark.

As it stands currently, the Nationals payroll sits at approximately 55 million. Their highest paid player, Nick Johnson, makes just over 5 million. The offer that the Nats made to the 1B from nearby Severna Park, MD? 20 mil a year, for 8 years.

This one is confusing four ways to Sunday.

First, the Nationals, as on obvious low level team nearly each and every year, have so many holes to fill, it's not even funny. No really. This, is funny.

Adding more than a third of your already existing payroll in one player, that's not funny.

Second, if there is one position where they really don't need help, it's at first base. Nick Johnson and Meat Hook Young both play there, and have been decent players in the not so distant past. Of course, Teixeira's an all world player, and better than these two, but, why not go hard after say, a pitcher?

And that, naturally, brings me to my third and final point. This is a team that, in its existence since 2005, has had only 2 pitchers with both 10 or more wins, and a winning record. Both were in 2005. There's only been one pitcher with 10 or more victories in the last two years. and his name is Timothy Redding.

If that doesn't clearly indicate that pitching is the greatest need, then I don't know what does. Does Pedro Astacio need to come back and start for the Nats? How about Chan Ho Park?

Point is, one man, let alone one first baseman, isn't going to save that team. In this instance, it'll likely only lead to their further ruin.

The Best Signing You Didn't Hear About (Until It Was Made Official Today)

If I could give you a player that's averaged over 95 RBI's, 20 homer runs, and a batting average better than .290 over the last seven (yes, seven) seasons, would you sign him?

I'm sure you would. But, likely, you're desperate refrain would be something to the effect of , "Well, unless we're the Yankees, we don't have the dough to sign Mark Teixeira."

What if I told you it'd only cost you around 30 million? Still intrigued?


I'd have to imagine so, and apparently, this line of reasoning intrigued the Phillies enough to give this guy right here a three year deal worth just over 31 million.





The question I have is, why weren't more teams going after Raul Ibanez? Sure, he throws likes a Pony Leaguer, and doesn't have great range. But, how many left fielders are signed for their defense?


Nowadays, to get a player that puts up the numbers that Ibanez has (in a pitcher's park like Safeco, no less) you've gotta be prepared to shell out well over the century mark. To get him for a third of that, for only three years...well, folks around my way call that a bargain.


Not to mention, the soft-spoken Ibanez (who, granted, isn't a spry chick, but isn't the kind of guy anyone's counting on to lead a rebuilding effort) replaces the ill-tempered, disliked Pat Burrell.


If you're the Phillies, it's a win-win. If you're just about anyone else, you're wondering, why didn't we think of this?