Senior Circuit currently in a sorry state
By Punch N. Judy
BASEBALL BIGMOUTH baseball blog
Ok, hardball fans, at what point are we going to draft a petition demanding that MLB commissioner Bud Selig seriously consider revoking the National leagues standing in this years World Series?
The Senior Circuits’ ineptitude over the last round of inter-league play has been downright astounding. Considering the league held a narrow advantage (1,104-1,095), going into the 2006 season, the result of this years games just might be a macrocosm of a greater problem that exists in the land of the bat wielding pitcher.
A quick glance of the National League standings reveal a true lack of even decent teams. The Mets, a hodge podge collection promising youth, (David Wright, Jose Reyes) and veterans that have seen better days, (Jose Valentin, Cliff Floyd) are easily the class of the loop.
The Florida Marlins, a team that just conducted a fire sale of almost its entire major league roster is actually hanging in there, ahead of the likes of moribound Philadelphia and the depleted Atlanta Braves.
Speaking of Philly, what will that disgruntled fan base spend the off-season complaining about this year? A couple seasons ago it was the hard-driving Larry Bowa’s fault for not bringing together a roster that many believed was poised for a play-off run. Then last year the axe mercifully fell on longtime GM Ed Wade, who assembled what is essentially the same roster that is still underachieving today. At 36-44 heading into Sundays action against the Blue Jays, the Phills are on the verge of a Veterans Stadium-like implosion that should have manager Charlie Manual’s pants smoking.
While cruising along at a .624 clip through Saturday, the American league has offered its weak sister little hope of winning its first World Series game since 2003. Not since the 1970s has there been such a discrepancy in talent between the two leagues.
In that era when the Big Red Machine could have probably won the All-Star game by itself, “Spaceman” Bill Lee actually feigned injury during the mid-summer classic to avoid facing the rocket launching bats of Mike Schmidt, Willie Stargell and company. It kind of gives you pause to consider why the Players Association agreed to extend the plan to award home field advantage in the Series’ to the winner of the All-Star game. Odd.
For a little perspective on just how dire things are National league, look no further than the weekends highlights. Three names still kicking around the game really bring it home for this Detroit Tiger fan.
Adam Bernero-Once a promising prospect (according to who?) in the Tiger system, Bernero was a stinker from the word go. With five wins and 20 losses in a forgettable Tiger career, this loser was one of the many reasons why the Bengals’ became irrelevant for an entire era in the Motor City. In 2003 Adam got bombed to the tune of a 1-12 record with sparkling 6.08 ERA. Flash forward to Friday night and you’ll see that Bernero somehow cracked Philly’s rotation and threw up a nice little line score in his start against the Jays: IP 2, H 7, R 8, ER,8 BB 2 ERA 36.00. Nice job Adam.
Brian Moehler-I actually kind of liked Mo when he was in Detroit. But I liked Walt Terrell too. Another member of the Randy Smith long-term contract club, Moehler went a respectable 48-51 for some of the worst teams in modern history. After all the arm woes, I just can’t believe he’s still hanging on. Well, after last night, it looks like its by a thread. In a game against the Red Sox last night, Mr Moehler, who now toils for the Marlins, tossed up this dandy: IP 0.2, R 3, ER 3 H 3, BB 2, SO 0, ERA 6.84. At 5-7 on the year for a terrible club, who knows maybe Mo will triumphantly return to the Tigers at the July trade deadline.
Eric Munson-The 3rd overall pick in the 1999 draft, the Tigers dropped the ball yet again when in possesion of a top five pick. Is he a thirdbaseman? Is he a firstbaseman? Why of course not, he’s a catcher capable of a backup role with the Houston Astros. Watching this road-apple do a mean Gino Petralli (while catching Charlie Hough), on the highlight shows has given me cause to giggle like a teen-age girl.
While the NL continues to play “Who’s your Tiger?” with there pathetic rosters, maybe the time has come for Honest Bud to consider a true World Series by pitting MLB’s best against a rep from World Cup victor, Japan.