The Commish Online www.thecommishonline.com
BLOG ARCHIVE: 01/01/10 - 01/31/10
01/28/10
As much as I love to rip on the Yankees and their free spending ways, sometimes they do something that makes you say "yup, those are the little moves that help them win titles." This time around, it's the small signing of 35-year-old Randy Winn for 1-year at $2 million.
Don't get me wrong - Winn isn't going to be starting any All-Star Games and he won't make fans forget Bernie Williams, but at $2 million, he's a no-risk outfielder with remarkable consistency who should benefit from hitting in a lineup surrounded with stars (and men always on base). His tiny contract will help offset the sting of all those $150 million deals. Ok, well maybe it won't, but at least it helps the budget more so than promising tens of millions and several years to Johnny Damon or someone similar.
While the Braves, Cubs, Mets, and a dozen other teams fight and sign guys like Nady, Mathews, Dye, Damon, and others, the Yankees have taken a practical approach (not a statement you read very often) and signed a player who, while not as talented as some, is a great value per contract dollar and gives them pretty much all they need at the position.
01/12/10
It's January, and the Cubs Convention is just around the corner. During that weekend, scores of crazy Cubs fans will commiserate about how unlucky and unfortunate "their" team has been, desperately wishing for some success to head the way of the "lovable losers." Has it really been that bad for the North Siders? Is it really necessary to blame a goat or a Bartman for the lack of recent World Series appearances? The Commish takes a look at the entire history of the World Series and explains why the idea of a curse is absurd. In fact, he points out a team who's had it much worse since the 20th century began, and they play right in the Cubs' backyard. Read the latest Hot Corner now and find out why young Cubs fans shouldn't be crying in their beer - or at least not as much as Pirates fans.
01/11/10
It's official: Mark McGwire used steroids. Oh, and the Pope is Catholic.
01/06/10
Congratulations to Andre Dawson, who finally became a Hall of Famer today, earning votes on 77.9% of the ballots. Bert Blyleven was just short but figures to get the needed votes in the next year or two. Then there's Roberto Alomar. For some insane reason, some smug voters think there needs to be a paying of dues or something before enshrinement can take place. If you think a player is deserving, vote in him. If not, don't. Sure you can change your mind, but only if history suggests a reason.
In the case of Alomar, he was simply the best second baseman of his era, with Ryne Sandberg right next to him. He could hit (.300 career BA), he could run (474 SB), he could hit the long ball (210 HR), and he could certainly field (10 Gold Gloves). If you think a second baseman with those credentials in that era is not worthy of the Hall of Fame, then you're not thinking straight. If you think he is worthy, but not on his first ballot, then you're not even thinking logically.
Alomar will certainly make the Hall of Fame in a year or two, but every day that he is not in the Hall of Fame is an embarrassing one for sportswriters with the power to check a box.
