A-Rod's future and an under-the-radar top 10
Posted: Monday, September 24, 2007 4:53 PM
Isn’t it delicious to read the report from New York magazine that Scott Boras has already started negotiating a mega contract for A-Rod with a prospective owner of the Cubs?
For two decades, baseball has lived with the constant whine of collusion from union officials and agents. Certainly guilt was established in the 1980s and a steep price was paid to players hurt by collusive behavior. Since then any attempt by a team to exercise fiscal control is met by at least a whisper of illegal action.
Now, the tables turn on Boras if this story is true. He has denied it. Remember that, like the BALCO-related stories involving Barry Bonds, if this story is false, we should expect legal action from Boras. The absence of such motions from Bonds can only be interpreted as a tacit admission to the truth of what has been reported. Same goes here for Boras.
Now on to those out of the limelight in the season’s final week. Here are the top 10 players that flew under the radar in 2007:
SCOTT KAZMIR, TAMPA BAY
The Mets shipping Kazmir to the Devil Rays is still the worst trade in recent baseball history (and the Mets are poised to win a second consecutive division title in spite of this horrid 2004 deal), Kazmir leads the AL in strikeouts (229) and is 13-9, 3.54 for another bad Tampa Bay team. Opening Day 2008 age: 24.
ERIC BEDARD, BALTIMORE
Would have won the AL strikeout crown had his season not been shortened to 28 starts. Still, he is the one pitcher to advance under Leo Mazzone’s reign as Baltimore's pitching coach: 13-5, 3.16 ERA, 221 K’s.
BRIAN BANNISTER, KANSAS CITY
Another poor trade by the Mets (not to pick on them, but a steal for Royals general manager Dayton Moore), Bannister is in the top 10 in the AL ERA race, 3.61, for a slightly improved, but still losing Royals team.
TOM GORZELANNY, PITTSBURGH
The Bannister of the NL. A young “crafty lefty” who, despite a second-half fade, will still post solid numbers, 14-9, 3.73 ERA. And he has conquered the Pittsburgh hex that has seen too many promising pitchers fall prey to injury at an early age.
ALEX GORDON, KANSAS CITY
This is a half-season award since after a terrible first half; the Royals’ hope at third base has a strong second half. Kudos to the patience of manager Buddy Bell for sticking with Gordon.
AARON HARANG, CINCINNATI
How does anyone post these numbers, 16-4, 3.70 ERA, in a complete bandbox with a losing team? Cy Young votes are worthy here.
BRAD HAWPE, COLORADO
The Rockies are making a terrific late push for the wild card and Hawpe is a key. Problem is few notice his numbers .286 BA, 28 HR, and 106 RBI (.310 BA, 60 RBI since the All-Star break) given the monster year being had by his teammate Matt Holliday.
ADAM LaROCHE, PITTSBURGH
Another horrid first half, the difference being the Pirates had invested too much to bail on him, but LaRoche has answered with a .319 post All-Star break average.
JACK CUST, OAKLAND
The poster boy for baseball’s all-offense team, he hits the ball as hard as you can in the era where not many care about defense. He has established himself as a DH. He strikes out an absurd amount of times and will shatter records in that category once he plays a full season. But look at his OPS (.932) and realize someone will put him in their lineup.
MATT STAIRS, TORONTO
At 39, look at what he has achieved for the Blue Jays: 296 BA, 20 HR, 61 RBI while having to play the outfield due to Frank Thomas’ presence as DH. This guy can flat out hit. Teams will look at Stairs and project his fine offensive career onto a Jack Cust.
