Four winters ago, fans of almost any other team had good reason to be envious of the Washington Nationals. They were lucky – blessed, really – that their previous futility had earned them the top slot in the draft in consecutive years that produced once-in-a-generation talents in Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, their window for success was just opening, and they were armed with...
Read More
Mets’ fans are finally nestled, all snug in their beds, with visions of spring training – and Mister Cespedes, and a thrilling season – dancing in their heads. So with pitchers and catchers still maddeningly distant, and plenty of time for counting now that the dealing’s done (didn’t think I could fit St. Nicholas and (the good) Kenny Rogers in the same column, did you?), now is the...
Read More
If the Nationals are really honest with themselves, they will admit that Yoenis Cespedes is for them exactly as Sandy Alderson described him for the Mets – a round peg in a square hole. To be sure, a round peg can actually fit into a square hole. But it requires coming to terms – sooner or later – with the reality that it is not the fit designed for the opening. If you believe...
Read More
I know the last thing those of us bursting with excitement and anticipation for 2016 want to be reminded of is game five of the World Series, but stick with me here. I’ve been thinking about the 9th inning of that game an awful lot, but not because of the despair we all shared at the Mets blowing a golden opportunity to send Jacob deGrom to the mound for game six and the possibilities that...
Read More
Allow me to begin with a common stipulation for pieces such as this: I am not predicting here who will win NL Manager of the Year later today, but opining on who should win it. Joe Maddon blew into Chicago, changed the culture of the Cubs and made them relevant in short order and ahead of schedule. Mike Matheny took a Cardinals team that, on paper, would have done well to win 90 games, and...
Read More
