Coming off a record setting postseason in 2004 where he hit 8 home runs, Beltran was rewarded by the Mets with the highest contract in franchise history—7 years for $119 million. For this tidy sum, Beltran turned in the most dismal season of his career with statistical lows in home runs (16), RBIs (78), runs scored (83), and stolen bases (17). In fairness to Beltran, he started out playing very well in April 2005 until he injured his thigh. A gamer, Beltran tried to fight through the injury and played despite his speed game being nonexistent and much of his [ Read More ]
Pujols’ accomplishments in his first five seasons have dwarfed such big names as Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, and Joe DiMaggio. An argument can be made that no athlete in any sport has ever dominated so quickly. In his first five seasons, he has averaged 40 homeruns, 124 RBI’s, 126 runs scored, and a .332 average. It is no wonder that his name was the first called out in Fantasy Drafts across the country this past March. Early this season, Pujols is making noise once again. He leads all of baseball with 12 homeruns and 28 RBI’s. [ Read More ]
All the hype recently has been about Barry Lamar Bonds trying to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list at 714. What everyone seems to have forgotten is that Babe Ruth is second on the all-time list to Hank Aaron, who has 755 homers. As good as Bonds is, this number seems almost impossible for him to attain this season with fewer than 130 games remaining. Now, this brings us to an interesting impasse. Bonds, with the exception of steroid allegations and cracks in his character, has had one of the greatest and most complete careers in Major [ Read More ]
Wasn’t it me that predicted that Twins manager Ron Gardenhire would be the first baseball manager to be shown the door in 2006? Yes I also think that Barry Bonds is being unfairly accused of using performance enhancing drugs? No Gardenhire is doing just fine these days as he and his troops prepare for a crucial three game set in the Twin Cities tonight. Minnesota (59-41) has won 34 of 42 since June 8 to cut what was an 11-game deficit in the wild card to a half-game. “We’re just playing really good baseball,” said manager Ron Gardenhire, whose team [ Read More ]
