EVIL~! alkeiper

I wasn't aware my pick was up. Sideshow Raheem!

A few of ESPN's experts picked Joe Torre to win manager of the year. For what? I know he's respected and all, but this is a team that underachieved before Manny Ramirez arrived and drove them all the way to 84 wins. Award winners are Lou Piniella and Joe Maddon. No complaints. Charlie Manuel looks like a better pick given the World Series win, but these are compiled before the Playoffs.

Snowball should be two cats, I & II. The idea that the Simpsons had a previous cat was established in episode one. The 3-5th ones were just one really stupid episode which I absolutely hated.

Twins' legend Tony Oliva plays his grandson at Wii Baseball.

An undercard wrestler from Calgary who briefly wrestled in ECW.

Except that you had him #1 on your ballot. You're confusing my MVP and Cy Young ballots.

Yeah, looking at gamelogs Santana earned his last loss on June 28. Since that point he went 9-0 in 17 starts with a 2.09 ERA. That's a big reason why I placed him #2 on my MVP ballot.

So it looks like the Holliday deal involves Greg Smith, Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street to Oakland. Greg Smith had poor peripherals, nearly as many walks as strikeouts pitching in the spacious confines of the Oakland Coliseum. I can't see him surviving in Colorado.

Summerslam would work if they hype it right. I'd love to see a Northern venus that would not otherwise have the opportunity. Say the Meadowlands' new stadium, or Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

No complaints there. I picked Santana, but it was close and Lincecum is absolutely a deserving winner.

Fair point on the home runs. I only trust scouting reports so far, too often I hear them used to prop up analysis that turns out to be false (i.e. Carlos Delgado, Jim Edmonds). Funny enough though, Olsen really had a fine season for a 24 year old pitcher. 201 innings, league average ERA. Sad note today. Longtime Indians' announcer and former pitcher Herb Score passed away at the age of 75. Score is most famous for having his career altered by Gil McDougald's line drive. Score's 245 strikeouts in his debut season stood as a rookie record until Dwight Gooden in 1984. Score led the league in strikeouts his first two seasons, and led the league in K's per nine all three of his eligible seasons.

On a whim, I'm working on something I'm referring to as the "Homegrown Talent Index." Basically, what percentage of a team's production came from drafted and developed players. The 2008 Phillies got nearly 52% of their win shares from home grown talent. Compared to 25% for the '07 Red Sox, 27% for the '06 Cardinals, and 14% from the 2001 Diamondbacks. Is there a team in recent memory that got as much from organizational players as the Phillies?

I should add that Larry Beinfest is perhaps the most under appreciated GM in baseball. How he consistently builds contenders with the arse ownership in Miami defies logic.

I'm not terribly impressed with the trade myself. Willingham is a nice part, but any team should be able to replace a left fielder who hit 15 home runs. Olsen is a bit of a head case. I don't see this trade hurting the Marlins even in the short term. The interesting impact here may be on the Nats' defense. Willie Harris is one of the best defensive left fielders in baseball. Willingham is a converted catcher. I always surmised that Olsen's struggles were due to absolutely brutal defense on that side of the diamond. The Nats are foolish if they make a push. Willingham, Olsen and even Teixeira will not merit a division winner. And Teixeira will cost a valuable second round pick, and this is a team who couldn't even afford to sign this year's first rounder.

Nine points. That could be three second place votes, or another such combination. The voters simply made a mistake. I know Lance Berkman received votes several years ago. I imagine if Volquez placed he would be disqualified. Since he finished out of the top three though, little point to it.

That's what I get for going to work. My next pick is Sherri (but not Terri).

They could run the first Harts/Rockers match from April, that ran about ten minutes.

I HAVE to take this one, just in case. OZZIE SMITH! I can't find a single usable picture, unfortunately.

That has to be at least 50-60 hours of footage. I can't see setting out for a 15-20 dvd set for that show. It had good matches, rarely great though. Let's see what we can come up with for a dvd. *Andre/Hogan vs. Studd/Bundy (One of the most watched matches in history) *Hogan vs. Orndorff (Cage Match) *Battle Royal (Feb. '87, precursor stuff to Hogan/Andre) *Savage vs. Honky Tonk Man (post match angle with Elizabeth) *Savage vs. Bret Hart *Hulk Hogan vs. Bad News Brown *Hulk Hogan vs. The Big Boss Man (Cage Match/Zeus Angle) *Brainbusters vs. Demolition (Title Change) *Hulk Hogan vs. Genius *Hogan/Warrior vs. Hennig/Genius Few great matches, but there are a few hidden gems and some memorable angles.

I actually think Rocco Baldelli might be a suitable option. He could platoon with Jenkins and Stairs, giving him opportunity to rest. He's a right hander, which the Phillies need. And he has a world of upside.

Give me a team of Jayson Werths, I'll show you a pennant. The Phillies do need a lefty bat of some sort though, and if they can get it done with just prospects it might be worthwhile.

My next pick is... Duffman! "Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem!"

Mark Cuban would make waves. MLB wants their owners to be soul-less functionaries, presenting a united front in the name of profit-taking. I mean seriously, when's the last time you heard a non-Steinbrenner give an honest opinion?

Really need to take Marge Simpson with this pick, a cornerstone of the show.