Playoff Perspective

I hate to bring it up but here it is.

Maybe it's not over but it sure looks like it from where I sit.

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On the subject of the playoffs; isn't it interesting the complexion of the teams that are winning thus far.

It seems to me that the teams enjoying success thus far have developed a lot of their key talent and have been patient in developing rosters and pitching.

To me, if the last few years have showed anything, it has been that the Yankee model doesn't work, at least not right now. Spending extravagant amounts of money for free agents, you end up with huge payrolls, good players in non-pressure situations, i.e. regular season and then disappointment in the postseason, which Cubs fans, is the only thing that really matters.

And I'm not trying to patronize. I feel for you. I root against you but I feel for you.

The fact is that the Cubs, and to a lesser extent only regarding what seems to be one and done trades, the Brewers and Angels, have superstar laden teams which have performed during the regular year.

I saw it coming in May, as Cubs fans for the millionth time, drank the Kool-Aid and patted themselves on the back, again, watching a team with a $100 million+ lead-off hitter, that doesn't play good defense, is oft-injured and whose strikeout to walk ration is 103-43. In my model of a baseball team, lead off hitters are supposed to get on base, not be free swingers. And for the record, for all of you that bought Fukodome shirts early in the year; he sucks.

The Brewers sold their souls to get CC Sabathia, and why not this is their only year as they have a chunk of free agents leaving, namely Ben Sheets, Mike Cameron, Gabe Kapler, Jason Kendall, Salomon Torres, Russel Branyan and said Sabathia. WOW. Hello Pittsburgh and a race for fifth place.

Angels are done and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why forever and now I know. Look at their division race.
Gm. back

Los Angeles	100	62	.617	-
Texas	79	83	.488	21.0
Oakland	75	86	.466	24.5
Seattle	61	101	.377	39.0

They didn't play anyone good. They're done.

ON WHAT IS GOOD: Tampa Bay Rays, L.A. Dodgers and Boston Red Sox.

Tampa Bay with a payroll similar to our local McDonald's franchise, has developed players, i.e. B.J. Upton, James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Carl Crawford, and the enigmatic Evan Longoria. They are good, at a cheap price, real good.

L.A. has developed players like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Chad Billingsley, Johnathon Broxton. And unlike other teams who signed flashy superstars, lowercased emphasized, they stick with players who know how to win, i.e. Derek Lowe, Rafael Furcal and Manny Ramirez.

And you know the Red Sox, they spend money but they get it done with players like Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury. All young, all cheap and all good.

And once again, its not over. But with Manny being Manny I have my doubts.