Is anybody else bummed that with the Olympics just days away that baseball, America's pastime and now popular all over the world, won't be featured?
Baseball and softball won't be a part of the Olympics this year or in 2016, however efforts are being made to get them reinstated for the 2020 games. The two sports have united under one banner to try to convince the IOC to let them back in. They will be competing with other sports to fill one vacancy. The baseball and softball tournaments would theoretically last anywhere from 6 days to two weeks. One of the biggest sticking points is if Major League Baseball will allow their players to participate, as the Olympics fall in the middle of their regular season.
Call me crazy, but it's my personal belief that being picked to represent your country, win a gold medal, and hear your national anthem as you stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow American athletes ranks higher than anything MLB can offer. They tried to recreate these feelings with the World Baseball Classic, which, although a very successful event, doesn't compare with the Olympics. And with Japan now demanding a higher percentage of that event's receipts, maybe Major League Baseball should join the fight to reinstate baseball as an Olympic sport. But the problem remains. How do you pull America's best athletes out of the middle of their season and send them to an international tournament? And not just the Americans, but Dominicans, Cubans, Japanese, etc.
Take a page from the NHL. Hockey may have problems, but how they compensate for the Olympics isn't one of them. For baseball, the timing for the Olympics couldn't be better. They take place right around the trading deadline every four years. So here is what I propose. Skip the All-Star game every Olympic year and take a two week break for professional players to represent their countries in the Olympics. I know baseball traditionalists will go berserk without the annual popularity contest, and I'm as conservative as most people in baseball, but MLB can afford to skip its Midsummer Classic every four years. It will also give MLB fans something to focus on over the break: the trade deadline. It will almost be an additional off-season of wondering who will land where. Two weeks also gives a lot of time for those players being dealt to acclimate to a new home. Also a plus for the two week break idea is coaches for the Olympic teams will have enough time to play with that if they use their players wisely, they can use their whole roster without compromising a player's availability for their MLB team (unlike the All-Star game where multiple pitchers can't participate due to needed rest). The break also won't adversely affect the schedule. The games missed during the Olympics can be played at the "All-Star break" and tacked on to the end of the season. The break will also add some excitement creating a sense of urgency for teams knowing there's less than two months left in the season.
At the end of the day, I just want baseball back in the Olympics, but that may not happen without MLB support. In 8 years, I'd much rather be watching my favorite sport in the world than karate, squash, wushu, roller sports, climbing, or wakeboarding. Those are the other sports vying for the open slot in 2020. If you're reading this blog, then you probably agree that baseball is a way better option than those.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Halfway Home
All right, it's All Star Tuesday, which means kicking back with a beer and watching the National League hopefully beat the American League again and, of course, midseason awards. My picks for the major awards in both leagues:
A.L. MVP: Josh Hamilton
And it isn't even close. The dude is leading the league in 2 of the 3 Triple Crown categories (HR and RBI), is in the top 10 in basically everything else and is leading the team with the second best record in baseball. If that doesn't make you an MVP, then I don't know what does. Honorable Mention: like I said, not close but if I had to pick a few then Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, and Paul Konerko.
A.L. Cy Young: Justin Verlander
My heart wanted to pick Jered Weaver of my hometown Angels, but with him having a brief DL stint I have to go with the guy who's 1st in K's, 2nd in ERA, 1st in Innings Pitched, and 3rd in Batting Average Against. He is down at 7th for Wins, but most of that has been bad luck. He has still been his dominant self. Honorable Mention: Jered Weaver, David Price, and Felix Hernandez.
A.L. Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout
Look out. If Hamilton goes down, Trout could become only the third player in history to win ROY and MVP honors in the same season. He's leading the league in Batting Average and Stolen Bases (which means he is messing with pitchers all over the field), and since his call up in late April, he has rejuvinated a severely underperforming Angels team from the important leadoff spot. Honorable Mention: Yu Darvish (although in my humble opinion, he doesn't count as a real rookie)
A.L. Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter
If the playoffs started today, the Orioles would beat out perrenial powerhouses Boston, Tampa Bay, and Detroit for the final spot. A lot of that has to do with the quiet perseverance of Buck Showalter. He has done this before (see Diamondbacks and Rangers), but now he is doing it in arguably the toughest division in baseball. He deserves some recognition for it. Honorable Mention: Robin Ventura, Ron Washington, and Joe Girardi
N.L. MVP: Andrew McCutchen
Believe it. A Pirate will win the MVP, especially if they hold on to that ever so tough first place slot in the Central. This was a close race, but it's hard not to pick a guy who signs an extension with one of the worst teams in baseball over the last decade and then leads them to first place in a brutal division. Oh, and by the way, he is in the top 5 in just about every statistical category while leading the league in hitting and playing a stellar center field. Honorable Mention: David Wright, Joey Votto, Carlos Beltran.
N.L. Cy Young: R.A. Dickey
Has a chance to win the pitching Triple Crown (Wins, ERA, K's) and, along with David Wright, has seemed to will the Mets into the playoff race. Joining the ranks of great knuckle ballers like Niekro, Wilhelm, and Wakefield, he could best them all by becoming the only one to ever win the Cy Young. Honorable Mention: Matt Cain, Gio Gonzalez, and Lance Lynn
N.L. Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper
Rarely does such a hyped prospect live up to expectations, but Harper has helped lead a young Nationals team to first place in the East since his call up in April. In only 63 games, his aggressive play has overshadowed his mature hitting approach (53 walks and a .280 avg), but his daring on the basepaths and in the field has invigorated a mediocre baseball town in D.C. Honorable Mention: Wade Miley
N.L. Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle
Did I mention the Pirates are in first place? Go ahead, look it up. I'll wait. Another manager who's done it before (see Rockies), Hurdle has taken Pittsburgh from a laughing stock franchise to holy cow these guys are a good team. Outside of McCuthen, they don't have a single .300 hitter in their lineup. They don't have a single pitcher remotely in the Cy Young race. How are they doing it? Clint Hurdle. Honorable Mention: Don Mattingly, Davey Johnson, and Bruce Bochy.
There you go. I hope some of these picks hold up. I'd love to see the Pirates make a run and Andrew McCutchen get his due. I'd love to see Josh Hamilton run away with the MVP again. I'd love to see an old knuckleballer prove it's not just a gimmick pitch. I'd love to see the A.L. Cy Young race come down to the wire again between two of the most dominant pitchers in the game. I'd love to see the league's future talent become the talent of right now. This is why we love baseball.
A.L. MVP: Josh Hamilton
And it isn't even close. The dude is leading the league in 2 of the 3 Triple Crown categories (HR and RBI), is in the top 10 in basically everything else and is leading the team with the second best record in baseball. If that doesn't make you an MVP, then I don't know what does. Honorable Mention: like I said, not close but if I had to pick a few then Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, and Paul Konerko.
A.L. Cy Young: Justin Verlander
My heart wanted to pick Jered Weaver of my hometown Angels, but with him having a brief DL stint I have to go with the guy who's 1st in K's, 2nd in ERA, 1st in Innings Pitched, and 3rd in Batting Average Against. He is down at 7th for Wins, but most of that has been bad luck. He has still been his dominant self. Honorable Mention: Jered Weaver, David Price, and Felix Hernandez.
A.L. Rookie of the Year: Mike Trout
Look out. If Hamilton goes down, Trout could become only the third player in history to win ROY and MVP honors in the same season. He's leading the league in Batting Average and Stolen Bases (which means he is messing with pitchers all over the field), and since his call up in late April, he has rejuvinated a severely underperforming Angels team from the important leadoff spot. Honorable Mention: Yu Darvish (although in my humble opinion, he doesn't count as a real rookie)
A.L. Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter
If the playoffs started today, the Orioles would beat out perrenial powerhouses Boston, Tampa Bay, and Detroit for the final spot. A lot of that has to do with the quiet perseverance of Buck Showalter. He has done this before (see Diamondbacks and Rangers), but now he is doing it in arguably the toughest division in baseball. He deserves some recognition for it. Honorable Mention: Robin Ventura, Ron Washington, and Joe Girardi
N.L. MVP: Andrew McCutchen
Believe it. A Pirate will win the MVP, especially if they hold on to that ever so tough first place slot in the Central. This was a close race, but it's hard not to pick a guy who signs an extension with one of the worst teams in baseball over the last decade and then leads them to first place in a brutal division. Oh, and by the way, he is in the top 5 in just about every statistical category while leading the league in hitting and playing a stellar center field. Honorable Mention: David Wright, Joey Votto, Carlos Beltran.
N.L. Cy Young: R.A. Dickey
Has a chance to win the pitching Triple Crown (Wins, ERA, K's) and, along with David Wright, has seemed to will the Mets into the playoff race. Joining the ranks of great knuckle ballers like Niekro, Wilhelm, and Wakefield, he could best them all by becoming the only one to ever win the Cy Young. Honorable Mention: Matt Cain, Gio Gonzalez, and Lance Lynn
N.L. Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper
Rarely does such a hyped prospect live up to expectations, but Harper has helped lead a young Nationals team to first place in the East since his call up in April. In only 63 games, his aggressive play has overshadowed his mature hitting approach (53 walks and a .280 avg), but his daring on the basepaths and in the field has invigorated a mediocre baseball town in D.C. Honorable Mention: Wade Miley
N.L. Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle
Did I mention the Pirates are in first place? Go ahead, look it up. I'll wait. Another manager who's done it before (see Rockies), Hurdle has taken Pittsburgh from a laughing stock franchise to holy cow these guys are a good team. Outside of McCuthen, they don't have a single .300 hitter in their lineup. They don't have a single pitcher remotely in the Cy Young race. How are they doing it? Clint Hurdle. Honorable Mention: Don Mattingly, Davey Johnson, and Bruce Bochy.
There you go. I hope some of these picks hold up. I'd love to see the Pirates make a run and Andrew McCutchen get his due. I'd love to see Josh Hamilton run away with the MVP again. I'd love to see an old knuckleballer prove it's not just a gimmick pitch. I'd love to see the A.L. Cy Young race come down to the wire again between two of the most dominant pitchers in the game. I'd love to see the league's future talent become the talent of right now. This is why we love baseball.
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