Kuzul

There is this beautiful song out on the country radio charts. In fact, it is now ranked at No. 2 for this week, and it is called, “The Boys of Fall,” and its artist is Kenny Chesney.

It talks of high school football and wearing the jerseys, digging in the cleats, and roughing up the shoulder pads. It is an emotional song that still manages to stay away from the label of “cheesy.”

Down where I live in Texas, it fits the culture like a glove because Texas is all about football.

The Dallas Cowboys have five Super Bowl wins, the University of Texas has the “Hook ’em Horns” sign with the index and pinkie finger, and because football is more popular than baseball, it just makes sense that the world of baseball would be overlooked.

Well, there is a subculture of baseball here, and it is usually found in my sect. The tall, lanky boys that wear caps on the weekends, and wear sunglasses so the girls don’t know we are looking at them.

We are the laid-back, cool under pressure/live for the moment which is baseball.

I love baseball. I have more memories of baseball than any other sport. I get those skin-tight white pants and my white socks, then I’d put on my cleats, and my jersey and my cap.

I still have my old brown glove sitting on the desk right next to me. I still have my ball with Tony the Tiger’s face on it.

I remember going to practice, and just throwing a ball around. It was athletic yet relaxing because it was so simple for us. We didn’t think about getting under the hoop for a inside pass to dunk it or making the trap block here.

It was simple. Catch/field the ball, throw it to first, hit the ball, run to first.

Best of all, it was a game where you took time to be friends. In football games, you’re studying the team across, and heaven forbid you talk about your favorite action figure.

When I was a kid, I sat in that dugout next to my friend Jeff, and between my other friend Scott, and we just talked.

We drank Gatorade from paper cups, we chewed sunflower seeds, and we talked about what video games we wanted for our game systems.

When we won, we may argue cheese vs. pepperoni on our pizzas. When we lost, we got some sugary sweet snack in a package that our parents brought (each parent had a set week for snacks), and then we planned to fool around in our backyards on Sunday.

We grew apart as we hit middle school, but the constant for us was baseball.

I may have thought about law school and swimming. Scott wanted to do medical school and tennis, and Jeff and Zach went into tennis with him. Taylor was obsessed with golf, but we all remembered those days.

I will never forget winning the championship with my friends. I was playing third base, and there was a pop-up and it looked like it was going to fly beyond my grasp for a hit. I still said to myself to go after it anyway, what could it hurt?

I was always like that, and so were my teammates. We never gave up on a game or on each other, which was wonderful because I was jealous of my pals.

I couldn’t even throw a ball straight half the time while Jeff was a switch-hitter. Zach was just awesome at second base, Scott just did his thing always, but me? I knew I was the underdog, the last guy picked, but it didn’t affect our friendship.

Yet, it was the defining moment of my life at the time when that ball just curved and plopped downward into my glove with me staring at it.

I looked at the ball with confusion on my face, and I’ll never forget it when coach just hugged me and lifted me up in the air with all the pride in the world. I had caught the last out of the game.

We had won the championship, we had won it all. We were the happiest set of boys alive in the state of Texas.

Today, as I lay back in my chair and gaze at my glove, I think of that day. I think of that, the sunflower seeds, the soda bottles, the white and brown stains on our clothes when we went home to take our baths, and I smile.

Today, me and my friends add more memories. I see Jorge Cantu’s double into left field that gave him the first RBI of his Ranger career to put us in the lead. I see Nelson Cruz, Julio Borbon, and Jeff Francoeur catching fly balls.

I see Ron Washington and Nolan Ryan, the men who kept this organization on course even though the Rangers were almost bankrupt.

I see a gigantic dogpile and everyone hugging. I’m wishing the guys were all here, so we can do the same.

I see Michael Young embracing every man on the field because he, Mr. Ranger, is finally going to the postseason after 1,502 games with the Rangers. The all-time hits leader for the Rangers is finally going to the postseason.

I see myself throwing my glove in the air along with the players as I watched that last out happen. I see Neftali Feliz getting his 38th save, a new rookie record for the MLB, as the Rangers clinch playoffs.

We’ve been waiting a decade, and while I’m still at home, and Jeff is at Texas Tech, Taylor is here, Zack and Scott are at Texas A&M, and Chris is at Texas; I know we are, in our hearts, in our tiny cleats and little caps.

And we are playing at Meadowcreek Park, and we are hoping the Rangers win this year.

The Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics today, and they are going to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years!

Eleven years, guys. Was it worth the wait? I think it was.

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2010 has blessed Major League Baseball with a memorable rookie class.

Fantasy owners in Dynasty and Keeper leagues were quite familiar with this cast of characters long before they arrived in the show.

In commemoration of their foresight, let’s take a gander at the top 10 pitching keepers for 2011.

Check out our Positional Rookie List too!

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It’s time to continue our journey around the league, looking at each team’s closer situation.  

The AL West saw a major change in their closing duties, with Brian Fuentes dealt in a waiver wire deal.  Let’s take a look at their updated situation, as well as the other three teams in the division:

Los Angeles Angels

Closer: Fernando Rodney

Waiting in the Wings: Kevin Jepsen/Francisco Rodriguez/Jordan Walsen

Closer of the Future: ?

Brian Fuentes had been fine in his role, but did anyone truly have faith in him?  He went 23-for-27 in save opportunities thus far, but he struggled a bit with control (4.2 BB/9) and home runs (1.2 HR/9), while benefiting from some luck (.250 BABIP). 

Now, he’s a setup man for the Minnesota Twins, being traded yesterday.  Rodney has had his own problems this year, with a 1.45 WHIP due to a 4.7 BB/9.  In fact, his WHIPs the previous two years had been 1.59 and 1.47.  He’s going to get save opportunities, so he’s a low-end option, but that’s about it. 

Clearly, at 33 years old, he is not a long-term answer in the closer’s role.

The Angels don’t have a specific solution past 2011 (Rodney is signed for another year), though Michael Kohn and Ysmael Carmona have potential and any of the guys who are “waiting in the wings” could emerge if they can put a positive streak together. 

Kohn posted a 2.15 ERA over 46.0 innings between Double and Triple-A, while also posting a 3.27 ERA in the Majors. 

Carmona posted a 2.60 ERA over 55.1 innings at Double-A.  Unfortunately, both have struggled with control. 

Of course, a starter like Fabio Martinez Mesa could ultimately transition to the bullpen, but he’s impressed at Single-A (3.92 ERA, 141 K in 103.1 innings), so at this point it’s tough to predict that.

Oakland Athletics

Closer: Andrew Bailey

Waiting in the Wings: Michael Wuertz

Closer of the Future: Andrew Bailey

Bailey suffered from injuries this season, but that seems to be the only thing that can stop him.  He’s gone 20-for-23 in save opportunities while posting a 1.52 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. 

That comes after a rookie year in which he posted 26 saves with a 1.84 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.  If you want to nitpick, his strikeouts are down, but you’d expect that to rebound. 

At this point, the 26 year old is entrenched for the long haul.  Wuertz did fine in his short stint while Bailey was on the DL, but he’s not likely to get many opportunities moving forward.

Seattle Mariners

Closer: David Aardsma

Waiting in the Wings: Brandon League

Closer of the Future: Brandon League

Aardsma was one of my least favorite closers entering the year, and he hasn’t disappointed with a 4.14 ERA.  I know, it hasn’t been all bad (24 saves, 43 K in 41.1 innings), but he’s not long for the job. 

League, who was acquired for Brandon Morrow, has the potential to grab hold of the job and possibly hold it long-term.  While he’s not an elite strikeout artist (6.1 K/9 this season, 6.7 for his career), he has good control (2.8 BB/9), which certainly helps.

Couple that with an elite groundball rate (62.9% this year, 62.2% for his career) and you get a pitcher with the potential to excel.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see him assume the role full-time in 2011.

Texas Rangers

Closer: Neftali Feliz

Waiting in the Wings: Frank Francisco

Closer of the Future: Neftali Feliz

Feliz has been fantastic since taking over for Francisco, saving 32 games in 35 opportunities with a 3.44 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.  The biggest question is if the Rangers decide to leave him in the bullpen or ultimately transition him back to the rotation. 

While Francisco is no longer the long-term answer, the system is stocked with young arms who could step into the role at some point, like Tanner Scheppers for example.

Still, with the success Feliz has shown, it would appear likely he is going to be there for a while (much like the situation the Red Sox had with Jonathan Papelbon).

What are your thoughts on these situations?

Make sure to check out our look at the other divisions in baseball:

• NL East
• AL East

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM

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Previously, I had written a tribute to the Texas Rangers. But I had to pull it. 

Not because my feelings had changed, but because it was just a bunch of excited chatter I had thrown together in a hurry to show support for my favorite team.

To put it plainly, I did not do justice to the rise in prominence of my favorite team, the Texas Rangers.

It’s true the Rangers have had a bit of bad luck lately, with a recent series loss, a few slumps, and some injuries. But none of those are reasons to throw in the towel.

So this by no means is a retraction, but a reinvention. Much like what I see the Rangers have with players, coaches, and management.

But now looking at it again, I can’t think of a better way to describe the feelings that I share with all Rangers fans.

Except for a few small changes and the questioning of the title: The Rangers, for Real? Because in my mind, there is no question.

So here it comes again, The Rangers Revolution!

The Texas Rangers are for real! It’s hard for me to believe too. But these guys are doing it. 

Things we haven’t seen in years from a team filled with clutch performers. All the pieces are in place. Every one of the Rangers believes it too. This is a real team. All for one and one for all!

This has always been my team. Win or lose. My baseball season lives and dies with them. This year it’s alive and I think for the long run. I got a feeling I’m gonna be watching baseball in October this year and it’s going to be great!

We’ve got solid starting pitching. I’ve seen complete games, reliable relievers, and a closer that throws smoke.

We’ve seen clutch hitting, including walk off singles and home runs. And not just from one or two guys. Any player on this team can come up with a great play at any time, and even when it counts most.

I love this team! I mean what’s not to love?  It’s mid August in Arlington and it’s hot, really hot. And the Rangers are creating more heat than we’ve ever felt at the Ballpark. And it feels great!

And again, I’d like to give a special thanks to each and every member of the Texas Rangers organization.

ROCK ON RANGERS! 

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Let’s call the American League West for what it is, over. Pull out the white flag, hook it up, and raise it to the top of the flag pole and let it fly proudly.

That’s the note that I would write to the front office of both the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It’s time for these two teams to call it a season, pack it in, and start planning their off season capabilities.

So, let it be known, on this 10th day of August 2010, that the AL West was declared for the Texas Rangers (insert the sound of crickets here). Where is everybody? Where is the champagne, where is the celebration?

Oh wait, the fans here in Dallas are waiting for one of the most monumental collapses in sports. They’re waiting for the Rangers to fall on their face like they’ve done so many times before.

Let me soothe you Ranger fans. Let me put your fear at ease. The AL West is a wrap. At no time has a Texas Ranger team held an eight game lead two weeks into the month of August, the second to last month of the regular season.

This is not the team that has fallen in seasons past. These are not the same players that have quit on each other because they didn’t know how to handle a division lead, or a divisional race for that matter.

While the Ranger fans work their way out of hiding, I’ll talk to the other baseball fans whose teams wish they had an eight game lead in their division. They would love to be breathing a little easier at this point, just ask the fans of the White Sox and Twins who are in a dead heat in the AL Central. Ask the fans of those two teams if they wouldn’t love to have that kind of lead and be able to call their division, over.

The Rangers are doing all this despite Vladimir Guerrero hitting .232 after the All-Star break with just a single home run after hitting 11 prior to the break. During the first half of the season, Guerrero struck out just 30 times in 323 at bats.

So far, through just 82 at bats, he has almost half that number (13).

The first three months of his time with the Rangers, it looked as if they had gotten a diamond when all the Angels saw was a guy past his prime. He hit .333, .330, and .356 from April to June respectively. However, those numbers took a huge fall as Vlad hit just .210 in the month of July and had his second highest number of strikeouts (12) that same month.

Not only has Vlad struggled, but they’ve been without second baseman Ian Kinsler who was put on the disabled list on July 28th with a left groin strain.

One guy that they have been getting production from is outfielder Nelson Cruz. Prior to the All-Star break, Cruz was hitting .299 with 11 home runs and 41 runs batted in through 174 at bats. Since the break, Cruz is hitting .344 with four home runs and 20 runs batted in.

However, that’s not the most telling stat. Cruz had struck out 44 times in those 172 at bats but has just 15 in 90 at bats. If he keeps that up, he would have cut down on his strikeouts considerably.

The hottest Ranger of them all since the All-Star break, a guy who’s making one heck of a case for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award, is outfielder Josh Hamilton. While his numbers in the first half of the season were more than respectable, hitting .346 with 22 home runs and 64 runs batted in, his numbers post All-Star break have been nothing short of astounding. Hamilton is hitting .395 with a .457 on base percentage not to mention hitting .454 in June and .418 in July.

Two players can not carry this team, especially if they hope to make a serious run through the playoffs. Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz can’t carry this offense on their own.

Michael Young (.247), Elvis Andrus (.258), and Benjie Molina (.232) are all guys that they need to step up as the team reaches October, each of three haven’t exactly been impressive since the All-Star break.

However, it’s not the hitting that will make or break this team in the next two months, it’s their pitching. Rich Harden, just this past weekend, showed just how much the team can’t trust him as a starter down the stretch. His five walks and one hit batter through two and a third innings was not what manager Ron Washington was hoping to see.

The best move the Rangers made prior to the trade deadline all but guaranteed them a playoff spot. That move was landing left-hander Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners, a guy that most thought was about to be traded to the New York Yankees.

Since his arrival to the Rangers, Lee is 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA. While he’s going to be instrumental for this team over the last few months, his previous playoff experience will prove to be exactly what will help this team come October. There’s no substitute for having a guy anchoring your rotation that knows what it’s like to get to the World Series. Not only that, but he knows what it’s like to pitch in those games.

Outside of Lee, the Rangers have been getting big performances in their rotation from Tommy Hunter (9-1, 3.01) and C.J. Wilson (10-5, 3.30) not to mention Colby Lewis (9-8, 3.37). Aside from those four, when the starters can turn the ball over to their bullpen and not worry about a lead getting squandered, it helps their confidence that much more. Darren Oliver (2.33), Darren O’Day (1.18), and Alexi Ogando (1.19) have been nothing short of solid when they get the ball in the late innings. Though Oliver has struggled of late, giving up six earned runs in his last five appearances (4 1/3 IP).

What every team needs is a guy that can come in to the game in the ninth and shut the door. The Rangers have that guy in young right-handed flame thrower Neftali Feliz who has racked up 29 saves this season and has blown just two save opportunities all year.

So, for all you Ranger fans who are afraid to come out of the woodwork and believe that this team has it wrapped up, you can come out of hiding and wear your Ranger colors proudly. Sure the Cowboys are almost a month away from kicking off, but there’s another team in Arlington that might have their best shot at a championship this year.

Doubt all you want, question if you must, but admit that this is not the same team or the same players that have let the fans down in the past. This is a team that is gearing up for October.

So, as Brian Dalgin says so well…Let’s go!

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The 2010 MLB season has been quite a season for rookies may it be Stephen Strasburg, Jason Heyward or Austin Jackson.

This season has brought us the debuts of some of baseball’s most touted prospects and has shown us waht the future of baseball may be.

The most touted prospect of all, Strasburg, debuted about a month ago against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Strasburg phenomenon has struck the country.

There were even talks that the rookie Strasburg could possibly be named an All-Star which would have been completely idiotic due to the fact that he has only pitched in six games though I do feel he is a potential All-Star in the near future.

The phenomenon has struck so much that other rookie pitchers are hardly being spoken about so here are the top ten rookie pitchers not named Stephen Strasburg.

Begin Slideshow

Saves….some people care about them, some people could care less.  For those that do care, it’s time to take a close look at each team’s closer role.  It’s July and the sample sizes are large enough to see some trends.  So here we go…

What to watch for

Blue Jays –  Either Kevin Gregg beat out Jason Frasor or Frasor lost the job to Gregg. No matter how you slice it, the Blue Jays should have a few save opportunities each week.  Gregg has all the experience of a closer who has lost a job before; will they go back to Frasor if Gregg falters? 

Scott Downs or Shawn Camp could get looks at the end of games, but by the time that happens the Jays would be out of contention this year and could look elsewhere.  But I could be getting ahead of myself. There are a lot of reasons to think Gregg is going to continue to get the job done.  Gregg is 18 for 21 so far this year, his ERA could be a concern, but if you’re looking for saves…he’s got them.

Mariners –  The Mariners’ last save was earned by Brandon League, who converted his second save of the year.  David Aardsma had pitched the previous two days, so there isn’t much to read into the save chance for League. 

But then Aardsma went on to blow the Mariners next save opportunity.  Aardsma has now blown more saves than he did all of 2009.  At 3 percent owned in Y! leagues, League will be presented with more chances this summer and now is the time to take a shot.

Angels –  There is nothing more frustrating than being an Angels fan with the lead in the ninth inning.  Brian Fuentes has made for great baseball drama, but he still closes games out and continues to get the chances for the Angles. 

In waiting is Fernando Rodney (38 percent owned in Y! leagues), who has done well when given the chance.  Rodney recently blew his second save chance, but if the Angles look to move past Fuentes, Rodney will be their guy. 

The move has to be coming soon.  Fuentes is so good at blowing saves, he blew a save without even giving up a hit!  And to top it all off…. the front office could dictate a move since Fuentes owns a contract clause which forces the Angels to pay him $3.25 million next year if he gets 59 appearances (he’s made 25 so far this year).

Red Sox –  Get to know Daniel Bard (23 percent owned), who is leading the Red Sox bullpen in appearances, innings, ERA, Ks, and WHIP.  But the closer is Jonathan Papelbon today and he’ll be the closer tomorrow.  However, if a window of opportunity comes up, Bard is next in line.

White Sox –  The White Sox closer, Bobby Jenks, has been on the bereavement list this week and the team just kept rolling on.  Jenks has only blown one save this year, so his job isn’t in jeopardy.  If he is to slip up, the Sox can turn to Matt Thorton (57 percent owned) or a rejuvenated J.J. Putz (13 percent).

Nothing to see here

Orioles –  There is not much to be said about the situation in Baltimore.  The team doesn’t win often and unfortunately, your team needs to win the game in order to qualify for a save.  Alfredo Simon has saved 10 games so far, but he’s only seen 19 innings of action this year.  And when he’s seen playing time, he hasn’t put up the strikeouts and statistics that are important to us.

Indians –  The Indians sit in the cellar of the AL Central, therefore there just aren’t that many save opportunities to go around.  Kerry Wood is getting the rare save chances today, of which he’s converted eight saves. 

Chris Perez was doing the closing earlier in the year and he managed to get seven. The Indians could go back to Perez, but the team won’t offer up enough save situations to give either pitcher much value. 

Even though they’re riding a hot streak, the team figures to trade veterans this month and make moves with their future in mind.  Therefore we shouldn’t expect the hot streak to continue.

The closer role is on lock down…

Yankees –   Death, Taxes, and Mariano Rivera….the three guarantees in life.

Rays –   Reminds me of taking a kicker from a good team—you know you’ll do good enough.  Rafael Soranio just has to stay healthy to continue closing.  If he did get hurt, someone could be in line for saves and the Rays have a few solid arms.  Look for Grant Balfour and Dan Wheeler to back up Soranio if he gets hurt.

Twins –  The Twins haven’t missed a beat since Joe Nathan was put on the shelf this spring.  Jon Rauch has settled in nicely to the closer role and it doesn’t appear that anyone is threatening his role.

Tigers  – H is antics on the field aren’t the classiest, but Jose Valverde’s results are top notch.  So far this year he’s locked up 18 saves and posted a minuscule 0.53 ERA.  Valverde is supported by one of the best bullpens in baseball, but they just lost Joel Zumaya to a fractured elbow and this could impact Valverde’s opportunities.  Still, he’s one of the best at what he does and the Tigers win games.

Royals –   A really effective closer on a bad team can be a good thing.  Joakim Soria has managed to accumulate 108 saves in his four years of service with the Royals.  There aren’t any indicators to think that he won’t keep racking up saves for the rest of the year, with 21 so far.  Look for Soria to top 40 saves this year and flirt with 50 if the Royals can put together some wins.

Rangers –  The Rangers close out their games with one of the hardest throwers in baseball, 22-year-old Neftali Feliz.  Feliz has saved 21 games this year and he didn’t even have the job out of spring training—Frank Francisco won the job out of camp. 

But since taking over, Feliz has been dominant, striking out 38 in just over 35 innings.  Feliz is a must-own and if you’re looking for saves he should be a buy high target given the Rangers hot streak and weak division.

Athletics –  The 2009 AL Rookie of the Year, Andrew Bailey, has saved 16 games so far this year and posted a 1.64 ERA.  He’s blown three chances, but all things considered, it is safe to say that Bailey has faded the sophomore jinx.  Even if he struggles, the Athletics will stand behind Bailey and give him time to work things out.  

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2010 certainly seems to have provided one of baseball’s most dynamic draft classes in years. Every corner of the Majors seems to have itself a prominent and productive rookie.

Whether its speed, power, consistent hitting, or power pitching; every base seems to be covered.

Here’s to the rookies of 2010. If an All-Star team was strictly comprised of MLB rookies, it would probably look something like this…

Begin Slideshow

The Texas Rangers led the AL West by 1.5 games going into action on Friday, May 28th. It is clear that this team has plenty of all-star caliber players, but which ones really deserve to play in the 2010 summer classic?

Begin Slideshow

What I’m Reading

• The Rangers are sticking with Neftali Feliz, Frank Francisco, and their two-closer system for the time being. Good. Because these situations alway pan out favorably.

• Twinjury update: Joe Mauer received some good news about his bruised heel , but J.J. Hardy will be missing a few games with a sore wrist .

• Not quite an “Ankiel-ian” transformation, per se, but the Royals’ mandated switch of Alex Gordon to the outfield is a sign of things to come.

• The Braves currently employ a guy with one of the coolest baseball names around—Jair Jurrjens. Unfortunately, due to several nagging injuries his next start has been pushed back to Saturday . And thanks to a pesky abductor muscle, Yunel Escobar has been placed on the 15-day DL .

• To semi-quote George Costanza, “He’s back, BABY!” Yes, Kevin Millar is back . And not just with any old team. Millar has re-signed (yes, he’s played there before) with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Yup.

What I Think About It

Rangers’ Closers

The Rangers’ closer job has Feliz’s name written all over it. But right now, in manager Ron Washington’s eyes, the 22-year-old isn’t ready to take on the position full-time.

“He’s young, and he’s got to learn how to do this. At some point he’s going to learn about himself. He’s doing something he’s never done before,” Washington said, according to the Dallas Morning News.

In the meantime, Feliz will share duties with Francisco who, despite a recent string of six straight scoreless appearances, has surrendered nine earned runs in just over 11 innings of work this season.

I know plenty of Rangers fans.

None of them are confident or satisfied with Francisco touching the ninth inning.

Feliz hasn’t been untouchable this season, but his electric arsenal, once honed, will drive hitters crazy.

But until then, he has to share crunch time outs with Frankie, which I’d think would have to make for some awkward interactions.

I wouldn’t dare think of what would happen if Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard shared the role.

It wouldn’t be pretty .

Twinjuries

Believe it or not, this whole foot injury business might end up with Joe Mauer raking in one “heel” of a profit.

I should probably stop using that joke.

It’s all good news for the Twins right now.

They’re still winning despite Joe’s absence.

Mauer isn’t as hurt as he could have been, had it been a bone bruise instead of a soft tissue bruise.

He’s in talks with Nike about a special, more cushioned pair of cleats designed to aide him in his return, which will be totally marketable to kids for the organization.

And J.J. Hardy played the hero last night. Luckily, Hardy didn’t break his wrist sliding into third on his ninth-inning triple.

But he’s still out today and likely for a few more games, which Minnesota will probably still win.

Main point, though?

2010 just feels like the Twins’ year.

Alex Gordon

And here I was thinking I was done talking about Alex Gordon for the rest of the year.

First off, I’d like everyone to check out his Facebook page again.

He’s up to 15 fans now and I have inside information that I am solely responsible for his sudden boost in popularity.

You’re welcome, Alex.

Now, it’ll be interesting to see how he fares as an outfielder. As long as he is coordinated enough to catch fly balls and throw them back to the infield, I believe this could work.

Since his struggles were mainly offensive, I think Gordon has gotten to the point where he doesn’t know what to do in order to remedy his glaring bat issues.

Luckily, he’ll be concentrating mainly on learning a new position and figuring out the best way to make himself useful to the organization.

It’s inexplicable, but sometimes parts of a player’s game come back to them when they least expect it, or when they are distracted by another challenge—such as a position change.

I’m not saying it’s likely, as his MLB ship may have sailed right around the time the Royals drafted him, but I can’t rule it out.

That being said, the influx of major league talent is rapidly increasing with scouts now using a global comb to find the best talent.

Look for players increasing their versatility in the coming decade.  This way, they can avoid situations where moving to another position out of necessity could be a career ending move.

Jair Jurrjens/Yunel Escobar

Jurrjens might be getting exactly what he needs: A step back to getting healthy, and getting over some minor nuisances that have kept him from staying consistent.

It’s only a few days of extra rest, but as a fellow sore-hammy patient (from the 30 minute walk I took yesterday), I know these situations are no fun.

Although Atlanta sits in last place in the NL East, the luxury of early-May is that nobody is really “out of the running” in any division—yet.

They have the time to give him a few days and let him cope before his start on Saturday.

Unfortunately for Yunel Escobar, his recovery time will require a DL stint.

But—in the meantime, replacement Omar Infante has produced, and this might give Escobar a chance to clear his head and focus on struggles at the plate.

Kevin Millar

I fully expect this kind of press conference to take place once the mainstream media picks up wind of Millar’s continued career.

I don’t think Millar will ever be back in the majors as a player. But seriously, wouldn’t he make the greatest bench coach?

Now that he’s a member of the prestigious Independent League, he can go one of two ways. He can play for a year, realize that it’s time, and retire into the sunset.

Or he can go the “Ricky Henderson Way.”

Thankfully, I think Millar knows better than to teeter back and forth on retirement for the better part of a decade.

I do, however, fully expect him to dress like this .

PD

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