Haynesworth a big risk

Bill Belichick has never been shy about taking risks, as we've seen in the past with reclamation projects like Corey Dillon and Randy Moss, which have proved to be successful.  This time around he may be taking the biggest risk of his tenure in New England, and that's not a reference to a Phat Albert joke.  After spending the past two seasons as a walking punchline in Washington, Albert Haynesworth has been shipped to New England in exchange for a 2013 5th round draft pick.

This deal strikes me as a move that comes with some risk, but could produce a big reward.  It's the type of value move we've come to expect from Belichick, where he pounced on a chance to potentially buy low on a struggling star player.  If Haynesworth plays up to his ability then this deal is a steal for the Pats.  In his last season in Tennessee back in 2008, Haynesworth was a dominating force, piling up 8.5 sacks and 51 tackles.  At his best, he's an elite defensive lineman capable of providing some much needed pass rush.

The move certainly comes with it's fair share of risk.  Haynesworth has been shadowed by issues on and off the field over the past couple of years.  He repeatedly clashed with former coach Mike Shanahan in Washington.  He openly complained about his role in a system he was not happy playing in.  He skipped several workouts, failed conditioning tests and became insubordinate to the extent that his team benched him for the final 4 games of last season.  For Redskins fans, he may always be remembered for laying down on this play, which perfectly summed up the lazy, selfish attitude Haynesworth had shown them since he joined the team.

It can also be questioned how well Haynesworth will fit in New England (seriously, not a fat joke).  Aside from the obvious impact he could have as a locker room cancer, it's yet to be seen how Haynesworth will fit into the system.  He thrived in the Titan's 4-3 defense, but like Washington, the Patriots play in a base 3-4 defense.  This could place him in a similar role to the one he was adamantly displeased with in Washington.  However, keep in mind that the Patriots version of the 3-4 is much different from the one that the Redskins use.  The Patriots last year used sub packages more than half the time, including several four man lines, which Haynesworth may be more comfortable in.  Even if he isn't a player they intend to use on every down, we should expect that Belichick has a plan for how to effectively use him.  After the Redskins debacle provided plenty of evidence of how not to use him, it's unfathomable to think that the Patriots won't have learned from the Redskins' mistakes.

After the headaches he caused in Washington, the Redskins are just happy to rid themselves of Haynesworth and move on.  For a player they had no intention of bringing back to their roster this year, getting anything for him was an upgrade in their mind.  From the Patriots perspective, the cost is fairly minimal.  A future 5th round pick is a bargain price for a player with his skills.  Haynesworth is entering the 3rd year of an expensive 7 year, $100 million deal, but the majority of the $41 million in guaranteed money has already been paid by the Redskins.  The Patriots will be on the hook for his base salary of $5 million for this season, and if he doesn't work out then they can cut him without having sacrificed much for their gamble.

Desperate for some pass rushing help after they mysteriously avoided it in the draft, the Patriots made a bold move to acquire a player that is capable of being one of the best at his position.  As we saw last year, he's also capable of being one of the laziest, most immature prima-donnas in the league.  He left the Redskins no choice but to wash their hands of him.  Perhaps Belichick can work his magic the way he has in the past with other disgruntled stars, like a certain diva receiver that came to New England and posted record breaking numbers.  Perhaps the veteran leadership of the Patriots locker room will again prove too strong to be divided by Haynesworth's negative influence and they will hold him accountable and demand he contribute with his full efforts.  Or maybe he'll show up out of shape and unmotivated, which will surely get him sent packing.

Haynesworth is a physical beast, at 6'6'' and 335 lbs (or likely more).  He's only 30 years old, so he should still be in the prime of his career.  He possess all the physical skills, but his issues are all with his head.  If it's screwed on right then he could still be an impact player.

Personally, I have mixed emotions on the deal.  One one hand, I've been an advocate on the need to upgrade the pass rush, which this move has a chance of doing in a big way, with minimal cost.  This could end up being the master plan Belichick envisioned to answer the questions as to why we passed on so many quality defensive ends in the draft, failing to address our biggest need.  Perhaps now it has been addressed.  On the other hand, Haynesworth's attitude makes him far from likable, and extremely difficult to root for.  The change of scenery could do him some good, as could joining a potential Super Bowl contender.  He's already made his big money contract, so if that doesn't motivate him then I don't know what will. 

Patriots fans can hope for the best, but don't expect much or you'll risk being disappointed.  Just ask a Redskins fan (assuming they are willing to admit to being a Redskins fan).  If Haynesworth doesn't fall in line and play the "Patriots Way" then expect him to be shown the door fairly quickly.  He'll be on a short leash.  Given that they invested relatively little to obtain him, the Patriots will find it a much easier pill to swallow if they are forced to cut him than it would have been for the Redskins to do so.  If he plays a key role in leading the Patriots to another Super Bowl then it will just be another embarrassment to add to the growing list of blunders by Redskins owner "Chainsaw" Dan Snyder.

Call me skeptical, but I'm not expecting much from him, which is why the Patriots are taking a big risk with this move.  Yet the reward for what he could offer this team is great enough to make it worth the risk.  If not, then expect to hear a lot more Phat Albert jokes.

Lockout Lifted

Are you ready for some football?!

After over four months of hearing the millionaires argue with the billionaires over money, the NFL lockout has officially been lifted.  We knew this had to be settled eventually given the amount of money at stake.  This isn't like the NBA, where owners are prepared to miss games, if not the entire season, due to the fact that several teams are legitimately losing money.  Their system is a mess and needs to be revised.  The NFL, on the other hand, is the nation's most profitable sport.  Owners risked forfeiting billions of dollars if the season were jeopardized, while the players, who have shorter career expectancies than other professional athletes, couldn't afford to begin missing paychecks.  Thankfully, the owners and players finally voted to approve a new CBA just in time to avoid endangering the upcoming season. 

Now it's back to business for the league, which has opened it's doors to the players.  Beginning this week, teams will finally be able to communicate with their players, distribute playbooks and begin to frantically organize and prepare themselves for a shortened training camp.  Here is a timeline for the league's return to business.

Monday: Players voted to approve the league's proposal for a new CBA, ending the lockout. 
Tuesday: Teams are allowed to negotiate contracts with rookies and free agents.  They can also trade with other teams.
Wednesday: Players can begin to report to training camp.  Their arrival can be no earlier than 15 days before the start of their first pre-season game, so not every team will report the same day.  The New York Jets and Houston Texans won't report to camp until Sunday.
Thursday: Teams can start cutting players from their roster.
Friday: Teams can file free-agent signings with the league office.

In a typical season, training camps would already be well under way, with rookies and free agent signings already getting up to speed with their new teams.  The delay means that there is less time to prepare for the season, which is a disadvantage for teams with new coaches or systems.  Teams that won't have much turnover amongst their coaching staff and players will benefit, such as the Patriots, Colts, Steelers and Packers.

So who came out ahead in the deal?  Well, it's pretty even actually, as both sides were able to compromise on certain issues to allow each side to get things they wanted.  Here is a breakdown of some of the key points of the deal:

• The owners will receive 52% of all revenue (up from 47% in the previous deal).
• Teams will operate under a $120 million salary cap, with a guaranteed spend provision that ensures they will spend at least 90% of that cap.
• An additional $20 million will be set aside for player benefits.
• Rookie salaries will be reduced.  Gone are the days when a number one overall pick like Sam Bradford can be given a contract with more guaranteed money than Peyton Manning before ever playing an NFL game. 
• This is key for both sides, because it frees up more money to be spent on veteran players, and also protects teams from investing too much in unproven players that may never pan out (we're looking at you, Matt Leinhert).  The Patriots are an example of a team that are infamous for trading back in the first round because they prefer value picks.  If the higher picks are no longer costing such a sizable chunk of their salary cap space then teams may be more enticed to keep their higher picks or try to trade up.
• Minimum salaries will be increased for veteran players.
• The off-season will be shortened by about 5 weeks.  A reduction in organized activities and full-contact practices before and during the season should lessen the wear and tear on players, as well as help prevent injuries.
• Plaintiffs in the Brady vs NFL case will not receive additional cash rewards or benefits.  Meaning guys like Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson will not become free agents or be given a cash settlement as part of this agreement.
• The season will stay at a 16 game schedule, instead of moving to the 18 games the owners wanted.

So when it's all said and done, you can consider both sides winners.  They each got at least some of what they wanted in this deal and both will remain extremely rich.  Now that we can put all this behind us, the real winners are the fans.  Now we can finally move on and have football back in our lives again.  Fantasy football, tailgating, and lazy Sunday afternoon's planted in front of a flat screen watching football all day.  It was nearly taken away from us, but now it's back.  I'm ready for it!

What to do with J.D. Drew

You may have heard this before, but Red Sox fans are disappointed with the play of J.D. Drew.  That seems to have been the story for Drew since he arrived in Boston after inking a 5 year, $70 Million deal. 

For a variety of reasons, Drew has never been accepted by Red Sox Nation.  Many believe he is overpaid.  His soft spoken nature hasn't gone over well in a big market city that craves a sense of charisma from it's star players.  He seems almost robotic on the field, never showing emotion.  He could take a called strike three at the plate and his facial expression wouldn't reveal a clue about whether he just struck out or walked.  He doesn't dive for balls or go crashing into walls like the dirt dog style players fans tend to embrace.  He also has a frustrating habit of being left out of the line-up due to nagging injuries that have kept him from playing in no more than 140 games in a season since coming to Boston.  His style of play is so smooth and effortless than fans often mistake him for not caring enough.  They of course are as wrong about this as they have been wrong about Drew's value to the team during his career in Boston.

There's no doubt that Drew can be a frustrating player to watch at times, particularly when he's in a slump.  Yet he's also capable of getting red hot at the plate and carrying a team for stretches at a time.  He's been a streaky player his whole career, but at the end of the year the numbers are typically where you would expect them to be for a player of his caliber.

Casual fans ridicule him for not living up to his contract because he doesn't hit 30+ Home Runs or drive in 100 RBIs every year, but more modern statistics show that Drew has still been one of the most valuable outfielders in the league for most of his contract.  His best season in Boston was 2009, when he batted .279 with a .392 OBP and Slugged .522.  His OBP was good for 2nd best amongst AL outfielders, while his SLG was 4th best in the league at his position.  He only hit 24 HRs and drove in 84 runs, but that's not where the value in Drew's game comes from.  At his best, he's the type of player that gets on base at a high rate, hits for decent power and plays above average defense in one of the game's toughest right fields at Fenway Park.  That season he earned a 5.0 WAR according to FanGraphs, meaning he was worth an additional 5 wins more than a replacement level player.  On the open market, 1 WAR is typically valued at approximately $5 million, so you could make a case that season that Drew was actually underpaid.  His previous season was very similar, when he earned a 4.1 WAR.  Those two seasons alone made him well worth his contract.  Even his other two full seasons in a Red Sox uniform, while not quite at that elite level, were still well above average.

At least until this year.

2011 has thus far been a dismal landslide for Drew.  His .233/.321/.309 slash line are well below his career averages.  He's striking out more (20.7 K%) and walking less (12.2 BB%).  His career low BABIP could be a sign of some bad luck, but it's more likely caused by swinging at bad pitches and making weak contact. 

Perhaps he just needs to find his groove, but time is running out.  Manager Terry Francona typically gives a long leash to his veteran starters to let them figure things out, and he seems convinced that Drew could go on one of his patented hot streaks at any time.  But as the sample size grows, at what point does a slump turn into a sign of a declining career?  Drew is 35 years old and in the last year of his contract.  He's not expected to return next season and has even hinted at retirement.  A changing of the guards is coming soon in right field, but instead of waiting until next season, perhaps the time to make a move has already arrived.

The future belongs to promising your stars like Ryan Kalish or Josh Reddick.  With so much money being committed this past year to new acquisitions like Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox ownership may be eager to let Drew's pricey contract come off their books and replace him with younger, cheaper alternatives.  So why wait?

Kalish has missed a large portion of the season due to injury, which has delayed his development and may keep him from making an impact this season.  Reddick on the other hand is already up with the team and has been impressive in a limited sample size.  It's only been 28 games, but his .367/.418/.671 line dwarfs Drew's production (and just about everyone else's in the league).  Of course he can't be expected to continue at that pace, but it's a sign that he may be able to contribute more at this time than a struggling Drew can.    The two don't appear to be a natural platoon, as both are left handed hitters.  Drew is lost against left handed pitching at this point, but doesn't fair much better against right handers anyway.  Reddick has actually been mashing left handed pitching so far, but the sample size is far too small to consider it a trend. 

If the Sox do make the switch to make Reddick the starter, as they should, then they would still be wise to search for a right handed hitter to bolster their bench to help compliment him.  Rumors have been swirling about a potential trade for All-Star Carlos Beltran, but that idea seems far fetched, as the Mets would be looking for a top prospect in return.  It's more likely they will look for cheaper alternatives, such as Josh Willingham or Ryan Ludwick.  That could push Drew to the end of the bench, where he essentially would become a wasted roster spot.  It's conceivable that if he doesn't turn things around soon that he could be placed on waivers after the trade deadline and either given away or released.

It appears we are heading towards a disappointing ending to the career of J.D. Drew.  With Crawford back in the line-up and David Ortiz about to return from suspension, Francona is going to need to make a decision soon about who to stick with in right field.  From what we've seen this season, the right answer appears to be Reddick. 

There are plenty of people that wanted to see this move made long ago, even prior to this season.  They would be wrong.  J.D. Drew has been a valuable part of this team over his past 4 seasons here.  Whether you like him or not, he earned a spot in the line-up.  Until now.   It's time for a change.

Clemens off the hook

I'm not a lawyer, and I've never played one on TV.  I won't pretend to understand all the complexities of our legal system.  Yet it doesn't take a law degree to see how badly the prosecution botched this one.

After years of investigation and build up, the Roger Clemens perjury trial ended rather quickly and uneventfully.  The case was thrown out after being a ruled a mistrial when the prosecution introduced banned evidence.  The video shown to the jury included footage of Elijah Cummings referring to former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettite regarding conversations he had with his wife, Laura, about Clemens and steroid use.  The judge had already ruled that Laura Pettite's testimony was not admissible because she never had any direct conversations with Clemens on the subject of steroid use.  When the video showed Cummings quoting Laura's statement that her husband had told her about Clemens' use of HGH, the judge quickly cut off the tape.  If Laura Pettite was not allowed to testify, then clearly a statement from Cummings quoting her was not admissible.

Perhaps the prosecution "misremembered" that they weren't allowed to do that.

“I would think that a first-year law student would know that you can’t bolster the credibility of one witness with clearly inadmissible evidence,’’ said Judge Walton.  Well that really makes the Feds look foolish.  They really dropped the ball on their chance to make a statement on the issue of steroid use in baseball.  A high profile case condemning one of the game's all time greats would have gone a long way towards keeping the game clean.  Yet despite mounds of evidence supporting claims that Clemens had lied in court about steroid use, with the proverbial smoking gun in his hand, the prosecution was unable to win the case due to a rookie mistake.  That's just embarrassing.

Throw out all the evidence, the used syringes and gauze pads, the parade of celebrity witnesses and the testimony from former trainer Brian McNamee.  None of it matters now.  Clemens is off the hook.

Sure, there's a hearing scheduled for September 2nd for the judge to decide whether the "double jeopardy" amendment prevents Clemens from being re-tried.  Does it really matter?  The Feds did so much damage to their case that they'd be hard pressed to get a conviction at this point.  This trial has already proved to be a waste of tax payer's money, so why drag this out longer and waste more?  There are certainly still those that want to see Clemens punished, but at what cost?  The legal system has bigger fish to fry than a former ball player that may have lied about cheating.  Clemens' fame turned this into a high profile case, but in the grand scheme of things it's importance to society is underwhelming.  The Feds had their chance and they blew it.  It's time to move on.

For now, Clemens is off the hook in terms of possible jail time, but that doesn't mean he goes unpunished.  He has already been found guilty in the court of public opinion.  His legacy is tarnished, his reputation in ruins.  His 354 wins, 7 Cy Young awards and World Series ring have been overshadowed by his lies and deceit.  It doesn't matter that a flawed legal system failed to find justice, we all know what Clemens did to extend the "twilight of his career."  Or at least we think we know, and that's all that matters. 

Clemens will forever have his name linked to controversy, placing him in the same boat as other shamed stars like Bonds and McGuire.  Regardless of the outcome in court, the perception most people have of him as a liar and a cheater could still keep him out of the Hall of Fame.  He may be a free man, but he's not free of judgement from fans and voters that will never look at him the same way. 

Perhaps some day the steroid era will be looked at differently.  One day we may realize that steroid use was just an unfortunate trend of the era.  In the history of the sport, players have always looked for some sort of edge to get ahead, so this is nothing new.  Before steroids, players took amphetamines.  Before that, pitchers would use spit, tar or scuff up the ball in order to alter the break of the pitch.  We already have "cheaters" in the Hall of Fame, so perhaps one day players like Clemens will be viewed the same way.  Sure it was wrong of him to do, but that's just how the sport was in those days.  The game evolves and we move on.  With advancements in training, nutrition and medicine, it's impossible to fairly compare players of today to those of 25, 50 or 100 years ago. 
For now, Clemens is safe from legal prosecution, but it won't be until our perception changes regarding how the steroid era really impacted baseball that Clemens will really be off the hook.

All-Star Game Re-Cap

The annual Mid-Summer Classic was held last night in Arizona, showcasing the best baseball has to offer.  Well, sort of.  Except that a handful of the best players missed the game due to injury or "exhaustion."  Or the league's rule that prevents pitchers that started on the Sunday before the game from being eligible for the All-Star game deprived us of aces like Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, CC Sabathia, and James Shields.  Oh yea, plus Albert Pujols, the most dominant hitter of the past decade, was mysteriously left off the roster.  All the missing stars that need to be replaced added up to a lengthy list of "All-Stars" for each side.  Apparently half the league is now an All-Star.

But hey, the game still counts! 

Here's a rundown of what transpired last night:

• The pre-game introductions took a while due to the number of players attending (regardless of if they were able to play or not).  There was still plenty to keep us entertained during this long stretch.  Some players, such as the Diamondback's representatives Justin Upton and Miguel Montero received big ovations.  Arizona natives Paul Konerko and Jacoby Ellsbury did as well. 
• Yankees players of course got booed, because that's what fans outside of New York should do to Yankees players. 
• Prince Fielder got the loudest jeers from the crowd, as the fans apparently haven't gotten over the fact that Prince left Justin Upton off his Home Run Derby team. 
• Division rival Giants players got booed as well, but it was interesting to see that the Dodgers apparently aren't relevant enough to have their player's booed. 
• Awkward moment of the night goes to when Joe Buck messed up and introduced Seattle's Felix Hernandez when Detroit's Miguel Cabrera was clearly next in line.  Miggy looked confused, but played it off well, getting a good laugh out of it. 
• Roy Halladay deservingly gets the start for the NL and retires the first three batters in order to start the game.  Asdrubal Cabrera gets the start and hits in the 2 spot in place of Derek Jeter, who is home resting.  He strikes out, which is something the Yankee Captain would not have done.  Jeter would have at least hit a weaker grounder for an out.
• Brian Wilson introduces the starting line-up for the NL in a pre-recorded segment.  For some reason he only mentions three players, including Carlos Beltran, who he points out has been linked to trade rumors.  He openly campaigns for Beltran to come to San Francisco.  I'm not sure that's actually allowed, and less sure that Wilson really cares if it is or not.  He's kind of a weird dude.
• Jered Weaver is the AL starter.  The league leader in ERA doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves.  I'd still place Justin Verlander ahead of him, but with the Detroit ace ineligible for the game due to his start on Sunday, Weaver was a good choice to be the AL starter in this game.  He gives up a walk to MVP front runner Matt Kemp before retiring the side in his one inning of work.
• Red Sox Nation gets a scare when it's announced that Josh Beckett has been scratched from the game after his knee stiffened up during warm-ups.  It's likely just a precaution, but the knee did give him some issues before the break, so this has to raise some red flags.  With Lester and Buccholz already on the DL, the Sox can't afford to lose Beckett.
• Instead of using Beckett in the 2nd, manager Ron Washington turns to Yankee reliever David Robertson for the 2nd inning.  The decision was made because he was able to warm up on short notice easier than a pitcher that typically is a starter, but why not just let Weaver pitch another inning?  It's not like he threw many pitches in the 1st.  Doc Halladay went 2 innings for the NL.
• The decision to bring a set-up man into the 2nd inning doesn't backfire, as the inning ends with a strike 'em out, throw 'em out, double-play.  Not clear if it was a botched hit and run.  Holliday didn't even swing at a pitch right down the middle of the plate, and it's hard to imagine Berkman being given the green light for a straight steal given his speed (or lack thereof). 
• Cliff Lee exchanges 1-2-3 innings with Mariners rookie Michael Pineda for a quick 3rd inning.
• Home Run champ Robinson Cano grounds out in his first at bat.  Too bad his dad wasn't still pitching to him.
• The AL gets on the board first when Adrian Gonzalez hits the first All-Star Game Home Run in the past three years.  Nobody told A-Gon that the HR derby is over, so he's apparently still trying to catch Cano.  
• That run equals the total number of runs Lee gave up in the entire month of June. 
• Things begin to unravel quickly for Lee after giving up the long ball, as he gives up singles to Jose Bautista and Josh Hamilton.  All of this coming with 2 outs, before Bochy makes the move to bring in Tyler Clippard.  Yes, I'm confused on why he made the team too, but I suppose someone from the Nats had to and Ryan Zimmerman was injured for most of the year.
• Clippard gives up a single to Adrian Beltre, but Bautista is thrown out at the plate by a mile.  It was a great throw by Hunter Pence, but considering the ball was hit so hard that Pence had it in his glove by the time Bautista was at 3rd base, there's no way he should have been waved around to try to score.  That 3rd base coach is no All-Star in my book.
• Either the AL team is running out of pitchers already, or Washington is just favoring his own guy, as he brings in CJ Wilson for the bottom of the 4th.  Maybe he should have tried using his better starters for more than one inning.  Wilson gives up a three run shot to Prince Fielder, which hits the top of the wall before bouncing over for what would prove to be the game winner.
• CJ Wilson's response to blowing the game: "Bummer."
• Troy Tulowitski singles in the 5th and is replaced by pinch runner Starlin Castro.  We're told that Tulo has been battling a sore hamstring, which is why he's being run for.  That, and the game is half over so they needed an excuse to get another SS in the game.
• Castro steals second and third to put him in position to score on Andre Either's single.  Not sure why Either thought he could advance to second, as he's easily tagged out when the throw to home plate is cut off.  Luckily for him, the run scored first, so damage done.  4-1 NL lead.
• Justin Timberlake is interviewed about his new movie, which apparently is about him getting to hook up with Mila Kunis.  Wow, that sounds like a tough job. 
• Was he drunk for this interview?  When asked what his favorite food at the ball park was, his response was "Beer.  Beer goes with everything.  It goes with hot dogs, it goes with nachos.  Beer doesn't get mad at you when you don't call her back."  It got even weirder when he kept praising Joe Buck for the job he was doing commentating the game.  Buck got a little annoyed, as he seemingly wasn't convinced of the sincerity of JT's remarks.  When he went on to also praise Tim McCarver we knew he must have been joking.
• So this game is supposed to mean something, but the AL decides it's a good idea to put in Carlos Quentin, Matt Joyce and Matt Weiters despite that they're trailing.  Apparently he didn't get the memo and just wants everyone to get a chance to play, like in little league.
• Miggy Cabrera left the game with an injury to his left side.  He was replaced by Michael Cuddyer, who's only here because Joe Maur missed too much time this year to get an All-Star vote.  Yup, the AL is in trouble.  Detroit fans are sadly nodding as they wonder what's wrong with Miggy.
• Youkilis singles and Konerko walks to give the AL a chance to get back in the game.  The comeback attempt stalls when we realize that Howie Kendrick had already replaced HR champ Robbie Cano.  Thanks Ron Washington!
• Pablo Sandoval hits a ground rule double to put the NL up 5-1.  See, this is why Bochy brought Kung Fun Pando along, it's not just because he wanted to pick "his guy."  Nope, that example is named Ryan Vogelsong.
• How many commercials for the movie Moneyball are they going to show during this game?  Funny how the movie doesn't come up until after most teams have already evolved to the next stage of sabermetic team builder, centered around pitching and defense.  The book was great, but it will be interesting to see how it translates into a movie.  Not that it matters, people will see it anyway because of Brad Pitt.
• Not much action until the 9th inning when the NL brings in Joel Hanrahan in to try to close it out.  I'm convinced Bochy instructed the Pirates closer, who must have just been happy to be on national TV for once, to allow a couple of base runners in order to make it interesting enough to bring in his guy, Brian Wilson, for a save situation.  Fear the beard!
• Wilson retires the last two batters to secure victory for the NL - their second straight win.

So the NL will once again get home field advantage in the World Series.  Not that it matters, since we know when the Red Sox make a World Series they sweep anyway, so at least Game 4 will be in Boston this time.

Jeter's 3K

Call him Mr. 3000.

Granted he's not the first player to reach the 3,000 hit milestone - there in fact were 27 other players to do it before him - but Derek Jeter did just become the fist Yankee player to join the prestigious 3K club.  Down in the Bronx, anything that happens outside of a pinstriped uniform doesn't really count, so as far as they are concerned, their Captain is the first to accomplish this feat.

Jeter's quest for 3,000 came in the middle of the most frustrating season of his career.  He has put up career low numbers thus far in every statistical category and has struggled just to hit the ball out of the infield.  Weak ground balls have become a more common result as his skills continue to fade while his career winds down faster than he thinks it is.

Yet on a Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Jeter was able to turn back the clock to finally reach the elusive milestone in a game that could not have been scripted any better.  Jeter entered the game two hits shy of the 3K mark.  He would later admit that the pressure of pursuing the historical mark had been affecting him, pressure which only increased that weekend as he realized he only had two more games to attempt to meet his goal in front of his home fans.  Jeter emphatically meet the challenge en route to a 5 for 5 performance to barge triumphantly passed the barrier keeping him out of the elite club.  Hit number 3,000 was a rocket that cleared the wall for his 3rd Home Run of the season.  Not only did Jeter get to that 3K mark, he did it in style.

Jeter was able to accomplish this rare milestone by remaining remarkably consistent over his storied career.  He's appeared in at least 148 games in all but one of his seasons since he became a regular in the Yankee lineup back in 1996.  He's had 10 seasons already in which he's tallied at least 190 hits, which only 4 other players in history have accomplished.  3 of those guys are Hall of Famers, and Ichiro, the only other active player on the list, is as sure a bet as Jeter is to join them someday.

Jeter has racked up awards throughout his career at a pace only outdone by his collection of actresses and models.  As a flag carrying member of Red Sox Nation it's much easier for me to point out his flaws rather than praise his accomplishments.  At least a few of those 5 World Series rings were purchased with the Steinbrenner's money.  His popularity got him voted into several All-Star appearances that were based more on reputation than production (with this year being the most glaring example).  His collection of Gold Glove awards is a joke.  He's far overpaid and overrated by New Yorkers that seem to think he's the greatest player that ever lived.  It's easy to hate Derek Jeter as the poster boy for the pinstriped enemy.  Yet he's made it impossible not to respect him.  Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Jeter is one of the classiest players in the game.  He plays the game hard every night and has piled up a list of accomplishments that most anyone would be envious of.  The latest of those accomplishments is joining the 3K hit club.  He deserves all the applause and praise that comes with achieving that milestone.  He's earned it - one hit at a time.