Take a deep breath. Like that Kleenex commercial with the song you can’t get out of your head. ‘Let It Out’. Our long national nightmare is finally over.
While the baseball world waited with baited breath for the past three months, a deal was finally reached this week that will change the power structure of the National League East.
Of course, I’m talking about the Phillies signing third baseman Pedro Feliz. The 32 year old received a deal that could pay him upwards of 15 million dollars over the next three seasons.
Feliz is a top notch fielder, but if you play fantasy, that’s not what you care about. You care about the 21 homers he has averaged over the past three seasons, while batting in a much tougher park than Philly. He should easily eclipse those numbers, when you take into account the ballpark and the supporting cast.
What irks me are the dopes who are putting down this deal. You can’t be upset about the money, because as far as baseball salaries go, Feliz is getting chump change. An average of 5 million over three years, a lot of that coming in the form of performance bonuses. That argument doesn’t hold water.
Greg Dobbs and Wes Helms weren’t that bad. Excuse me? Did I just write that? Wes Helms is a platoon player. Some guys just perform better coming off the bench. Lenny Harris, Rusty Staub, Manny Mota. Helms looks like he’s one of those guys. They tried him out as a starter and it didn’t work. HE HIT 5 HOME RUNS LAST YEAR!!! YOUR STARTING THIRD BASEMAN HAD FIVE HOME RUNS!!!
And don’t even get me started on Greg Dobbs. He’s 30 years old and has 12 more home runs in his career than I have. The Phillies picked him up after he was released by the Coors Silver Bullets. He’s a left handed bat who can come off the bench. Keep him, lose Helms and get a grip. Feliz is better.
Another N.L. East team made a move this week, though not quite as earth shattering. The Mets won the lotto, mainly because they were the only team playing. Johan Santana will be pitching in Shea next season and for many more to come. Not good news for Phillies fans.
The funny thing is, the Twins overthought the entire process and wound up getting screwed in the end. Minnesota gave up the best pitcher in baseball and in return received:
Carlos Gomez-OF-He’s 22 year’s old and fast. Word is he could develop 20 home run power in the next couple years. So Gomez will either be Carl Crawford or Chuck Carr. If I’m trading the best lefthander since Steve Carlton, I expect to get more than Chucky Carr as the lynchpin in the deal.
Phillip Humber-P-25-Already had Tommy John surgery. Good luck with that.
Kevin Mulvey-P-22-Comparisons are to Paul Byrd and Carlos Silva. A groundball pitcher who threw for Team USA last year. In other words….yawn.
Deolis Guerra-P-18-Described as the ‘hidden gem’ in the Mets farm system. If I had a nickel for every 18 year old who burned up the rookie leagues, I wouldn’t be writing this blog. Want to hear something else that will make you cringe. They say he reminds people of Daniel Cabrera. I think that’s actually an insult. In case you missed it, Cabrera has walked 212 batters over the past two seasons, racking up an ERA over 5.
It’s kind of like when you go to the liquor store and buy booze for all your friends who say they are coming over. Then it turns out, nobody shows and you’re stuck with two thirty packs, a case of Genny Cream Ale, some fruity thing for your buddy’s girlfriend and a bottle of MD 20/20.
Then, your unemployed neighbor comes over and says ‘Hey, I’ll drink with you. Here’s 5 bucks.’ You’re going to take it.
The Twins were left with nobody to dance with and had to take what they could get.
At least I’m not a Twins fan. Pass the Mad Dog.
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Why would the Twins accept that group of minor-league talent from the Mets when they had been discussing getting much better, major league-ready talent from the Yankees or Red Sox for all those months? Was it that important to them to get Santana out of the American League? Or are there legitimate concerns over Santana'a health issues? I just don't get it.
But I still think there is tremendous pressure on the Mets and Willie Randolph to win after last season's collapse and this highway robbery of an acquisition. And the Phillies seem to have their number, so I am not that worried. And unlike the rest of the national sports media, I am not ready to handy over the division to the Mets. It should make for an interesting race though.
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