July 25 - Phelps Washes Out in Montreal

I had to take a sabbatical because I was getting compulsive but I am back with some thoughts this morning.

What the hell happened yesterday morning in Montreal where Michael Phelps failed to make it out of the prelims in the 400 free at the World Swimming Championships? Phelps probably hasn’t missed a final since he was seven and swimming against ten year olds at Pimlico in North Baltimore. The bet here is Phelps will have a disappointing meet (in Phelpsian terms) and many in the mainstream media will come to view his Olympic year as a fluke. Don’t let them fool you – Phelps is still the most versatile and dominant swimmer ever and he will come back next near with added motivation.

Thank god the Lance Armstrong era has finally come to a close. I grew tired of this story four years ago and am glad that I won’t have to hear any more mention of Lance until he makes his inevitable comeback in 2008. I am not entirely sure why I am so luke warm on this guy, but there is something about Lance and his minions that put me off. Perhaps it’s the doping and perhaps it’s the fact that Lance’s army is comprised of thousands of jingoistic sycophants, but either way, I am not a fan. Don’t get me wrong - I like his ESPN Sportscenter spot and appreciate his accomplishments as difficult and perhaps even extraordinary, but I feel they are a bit overstated. After all, plenty of people have won multiple tours and when you get right down to it – tour racing is just one facet of cycling. If Lance truly wants my respect, he will win the Race Across America next year without Team Discovery backing him every step of the way.

It is becoming more and more clear to this scribe every day that the Boston Red Sox won last year despite the stupidity of manager Terry Francona. Here is the most recent travesty. During yesterday’s game at Comiskey, Boston trails 6-3 in the 8th with runners on first and second and one out. Facing a right-hander and with John Olerud and Edgar Renteria on the bench, Francona decides to go with Alex Cora and Tony Graffinino. Listen, I know Renteria was given the day off, but shouldn’t he be forced to attend sixth period if the game is on the line? Letting Cora hit in that spot was treasonous, but I guess Francona loves this .200 hitter in big spots because he let him hit in a similar spot last week against Big Mo. I can just see it now – sixth game of the ALCS and the following is heard: Now hitting for Ortiz: Alex Cora.

What the hell happened to Baltimore this weekend down in Tampa? Yesterday, the Birds got their ace back (Eric Beddard) but he got worked over by the Blade. In case you haven’t noticed, Casey Fossum has quietly had a nice year by shutting down lefties and challenging right-handers inside (13 hbp). But back to the Birds. In the throes of a pennant race, how do you go down to Tampa and get swept by the hapless Rays? It sure didn’t help that Brian Roberts went 1-12 with four whiffs. Roberts has had a real quiet month and the O’s need to turn him around quickly if they are going to stay in the hunt.

How bout this comment from Scott Boras this morning? Speaking of Bernice Willaims, Boras said: “He wants to play beyond this year, A lot of people in baseball want Bernie Williams to play beyond this year.” This doesn’t pass the laugh test and its time that Scott reveal his sources. I got to know who in the baseball world thinks Bernice Williams is still a major league baseball player? Obviously, this man has no business wearing leather, but is his bat any better? The answer is yes but only by default. This is a guy who is hitting .240 and slugging just .350. Those are Mark Belhorn numbers .To make matters worse, he has just one home run at the stadium in 150 at bats. And lest you think this is a recent development – think again. Bernice has been a sub .800 OPS woman for three years now and she needs to get on her horse to make sure 2005 is not a sub .700 year. Williams is currently projected to drive in just 60 runs this year and there is almost no shot that anyone other then New York will pay decent money for such services. So that begs the question: will Bernice agree to play next year for what he is worth? Will he swallow a $2 million dollar contract to be a part time DH in Seattle or Cleveland? Hell, why not - $2 million is a lot more then he can make playing that dopey guitar.

Why in the world is everyone so fascinated with A.J. Burnett? Sure, he has some gas and he was impressive yesterday, but this guy has an ERA of 3.5 in the best pitcher’s park in the National League. Is there a guy more set up to fail once he arrives in the American League? A curious thing about Burnett is that right-handers hit him much harder then lefties, casting serious doubt over whether he would be a good fit for Fenway Park. This is a guy who has a 3.85 ERA on the road and that basically translates into an ERA of 4.2 in the AL. So why would anyone give up a serviceable player and a top prospect to acquire what amounts to be a middle of the rotation guy? I don’t get it and I will not be happy if the Sox give up Annabel Sanchez in order to bring this guy to Boston. Sanchez is a 21 year-old strike out machine that hits 95 with a plus change and a nice curve. That sounds a bit like 1994 Pedro to me and I’ll take a poor man’s Pedro over AJ any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

I hate to admit it, but it seems to me as if the Assholes are going to walk away with the National League Wildcard. This team is just scorching right now and they can do plenty of damage this week as the Phils and Mets come to the little Juice Box. Most people are aware of the year Roger Clemens is having, but there are other guys on that staff, like Dan Wheeler, who have been brilliant as well. In case you don’t believe me, check out Dan’s numbers: 46 Ks in 44 innings and an ERA of 1.61. That is good stuff, especially when it comes as the bridge from Clemens and Oswalt to Lidge.