Buy or Sell: June 22nd
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by user JuTMSY4
Time for another addition of Buy or Sell. This time we’re going to look at some of the hotter topics in ArmchairGM and the sports world in general. With the big news this week, namely today, lets see who makes the grade. After you read the article, feel free to come out with your gloves up. And with that…
Buy or Sell
American League or National League
In what seems like a relatively easy debate, I think you might be surprised at what you learn. Namely Ii a recent debate mostly fueled by ASwaff and Christof, I think the NL might be better than people think. Aswaff’s main point was the when the two most recent NL teams won it all (2003 Florida Marlins, 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, the NL was considered weaker, but look who came out on top. To that end, currently 8 AL teams are .500 or better, while 9 NL teams are. However, The NL west represents 5 of those and was considered the weakest division last year. The question is really, do NL teams improve their record by virtue of playing so many bad teams. And finally, are the elite NL teams better than the elite AL teams? The NL elite teams are probably the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets whereas the AL elite teams are the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. I think that Chicago is easily better than St. Louis, and probably so are the Red Sox. The Mets are an enigma to me and they are probably better than Detroit and New York, but debatably better than Boston or Chicago.
Finally, to complete the debate, lets review the best player at each position:
Catcher
Joe Mauer or Michael Barrett The AL has a slew of good catchers and Mauer, on top of being the best of those guys is the best in the whole league, namely with his ridiculously high average and defensive skills
A.L.: Joe Mauer
First Base
Albert Pujols or Paul Konerko This one is a lot tougher because Pujols is hurt and Jim Thome is a 1b (who isn’t a very food fielder), but is currently a DH. Still, I think I’d take Pujol’s replacement Ryan Howard over either, namely because he’s at the top or close to it in Home Runs and RBIs and has equal defensive prowess to Thome. Still, when healthy, Pujols is better than all of them
N.L.: Albert Pujols
Second Base
Chase Utley or Jose Lopez This time, the NL has a slew of position players that are better than the AL’s. I did not include Alfonso Soriano namely because he currently does not play second base and guys like Dan Uggla or Rickie Weeks deserve consideration, but Utley gets the nod due to hit power and ability to get on base. For the AL, Chone Figgins deserved consideration, but he’s having a rough year. Utley, for the reasons above, remains the top choice
N.L.: Chase Utley
Short Stop
Miguel Tejada or Jose Reyes Tejada is a power hitter who can play a premium position. Reyes is a crafty speedster who produces runs. Still, Tejada more than makes up for that in power. Offensively, they both produce well, with Tejada providing power and a nice OBP, but Reyes run production abilities make the OBP seem a little obsolete. This one is difficult, but I give it to the pedigree.
A.L.: Miguel Tejada
Third Base
Alex Rodriguez or David Wright Normally, I think A-Rod would easily win this, but this year its considerably more difficult. To be honest, Wright has been better than Rodriguez, especially offensively. Wright has similar power numbers (Same HRs, 15, 5 more RBIs, slightly higher OBP), but its Wright’s average that makes me choose him. With a .335 average, .050 higher than A-Rod, Wright is the choice
N.L.: David Wright
Outfield
Vernon Wells, Carl Crawford & Alex Rios or Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee & Carlos Beltran I think defensively Beltran has improved and offensively, even in that huge park, Soriano has been a force. While Crawford and Wells are established good players, this year has really been a coming out party to display their talent, namely Crawford, who is having a better season than last regardless of his lineup. Wells and Rios are benefiting, not only from each other, but from the Toronto Blue Jays vastly improved line up. Lee is having another phenomenal year, which is to be expected, and he is also benefiting from a lineup that is getting more experience. I’m tempted to make this a clean sweep, but I have to give some credit so:
A.L.: Vernon Wells & N.L.: Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Beltran/Carlos Lee
I’m not even going to attempt pitching, because its way to close to call, but I think Brandon Webb might pull the win while Young Jonathan Papelbon could earn the closing role. Its just to hard to say.
As for the final count, 6 to the NL and 3 to the AL. Of course your banter will continue to rip me, but that’s to be expected. Really, all I’ve managed to prove is that the NL All-Star team is probably better, but the AL always seems to win. So, to be dangerous I’m going to defend my pick, but I think the NL is a lot better than people give them credit for, so:
Buy the National League
Ozzie Guillen’s Language
I’m sure most of you have already heard about Guillen’s tirade against poor Sean Tracy or the more recent rant about Jay Mariotti involving some terms I will not mention. At this point, Guillen is walking a very dangerous line. Sure, I agree that he has a right to rip Mariotti and tear his article to shreds, but the moment he pushes the homosexual slurs, it becomes a little too much. Being a white male, if I were a manager of a professional baseball team, how much flack to you suppose I would take for making, say a racial slur, regarding something like this. Look, we’re not trying to shut Ozzie’s mouth, just trying to keep it clean. You can complaint all you want Ozzie, but you can’t cross the line like this.
Conclusion
Sell the Color Commentary
Isiah the Coach
Ok, after his bumbling of the New York Knicks front office dealings, does anyone honestly feel comfortable allowing Isiah Thomas to coach this atrocity? The Knicks have been the butt of every basketball joke since the Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis trades and New York is about to say “enough is enough.” The way Elliot Spitzer has been going, he aught to investigate the Knicks for being a fraud of a franchise. Look what Isiah did to the Indiana Pacers. Sure they still made the playoffs, but they were never the same. You think Isiah can make this squad a contender, you must be about as serious as you are crazy.
Conclusion
Sell Isiah the coach, the GM and James Dolan, sell the Knicks!
USA Soccer
USA Soccer completed their embarrassing trip through the international play known as the World Cup with a 2-1 loss to Ghana, an upstart African nation with a purpose. The US team had probably its biggest chance at unleashing soccer upon this nation and failed, miserably. By virtue of their drubbing by the Czech Republic coupled with their tying of Italy, this team completely botched their chance to build on the ’02 run and subsequently, America will still think this sport is full or divers, girls and no goals. The World Cup continues to be a success (And yes, I’m enjoying it!), while USA Soccer kicks the bucket.
Conclusion
Sell that Team!
Date
Thu 06/22/06, 10:55 am EST
