Maybe the Wild Card will be coming from the AL East after all...
The White Sox came out of the All-Star break and obligingly lost 10 of 12 games, getting swept by the Yankees and Twins, and losing two of three from both Detroit and Texas. The previously unbeatable Jose Contreras lost three consecutive starts. Mark Buehrle, who for the last several years has been one of the best and most dependable pitchers in all of baseball, has suddenly turned into... Josh Towers? Since July 1, Buehrle is 0-5, 11.48. He's allowed 47 hits and 8 HR in just 26.2 innings.
Who's stepping up to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity? Who the hell do ya think?
Chien Ming-Wang pitched a two-hit shutout yesterday, improving his record to 12-4. Despite striking out just 45 guys in148 innings. The chances are remote that Wang can have a long and prosperous career with so few strikeouts - you have to go back at least 50 years to find a starting pitcher who was successful more than a year or two with such an approach - but it's working right now, which is all that really matters for 2006. The Bombers' only recent blip came when they dropped three of four on their most recent visit to the RC. Aside from that little misadventure, they've won 13 of their last 15. They've taken over the lead in the Wild Card, and they're just half a game back of the Red Sox for first place in the division.
And Gary Sheffield has just had the cast removed from his hand. Hideki Matsui, who ha been at the park every day working on his recovery, is hitting off a tee.
Still... no one is surprised that the Yankees are once more in the thick of things. They paid good money to be there, lots and lots of it. The surprises... those would be the Tigers and the Twins, right? The amazing Florida Marlins (37-22 since May 22? Who are these guys?)
So, Bauxites.... let's have some nominations. Biggest surprises of the year, teams and players. Biggest disappointments. Let's celebrate the Unexpected and Unforeseen...
The White Sox came out of the All-Star break and obligingly lost 10 of 12 games, getting swept by the Yankees and Twins, and losing two of three from both Detroit and Texas. The previously unbeatable Jose Contreras lost three consecutive starts. Mark Buehrle, who for the last several years has been one of the best and most dependable pitchers in all of baseball, has suddenly turned into... Josh Towers? Since July 1, Buehrle is 0-5, 11.48. He's allowed 47 hits and 8 HR in just 26.2 innings.
Who's stepping up to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity? Who the hell do ya think?
Chien Ming-Wang pitched a two-hit shutout yesterday, improving his record to 12-4. Despite striking out just 45 guys in148 innings. The chances are remote that Wang can have a long and prosperous career with so few strikeouts - you have to go back at least 50 years to find a starting pitcher who was successful more than a year or two with such an approach - but it's working right now, which is all that really matters for 2006. The Bombers' only recent blip came when they dropped three of four on their most recent visit to the RC. Aside from that little misadventure, they've won 13 of their last 15. They've taken over the lead in the Wild Card, and they're just half a game back of the Red Sox for first place in the division.
And Gary Sheffield has just had the cast removed from his hand. Hideki Matsui, who ha been at the park every day working on his recovery, is hitting off a tee.
Still... no one is surprised that the Yankees are once more in the thick of things. They paid good money to be there, lots and lots of it. The surprises... those would be the Tigers and the Twins, right? The amazing Florida Marlins (37-22 since May 22? Who are these guys?)
So, Bauxites.... let's have some nominations. Biggest surprises of the year, teams and players. Biggest disappointments. Let's celebrate the Unexpected and Unforeseen...
