Jaime Garcia for Rookie of the Year

While all the hype was on the Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg, a future recipient of Tommy John Surgery, St. Louis Cardinals rookie pitcher Jaime Garcia has taken Major League Baseball by storm.  Garcia (born July 8, 1986) was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 30th round of the 2004 first year player draft, but after not signing he re- entered the draft the following year.  In 2005 the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Jaime in the 22nd round under the advisory of new scout Joe Almaraz, who had moved to them after the O's.

He started to pitch in the Cardinals Minor League system in 2006 at Class A Quad Cities.  With Quad Jaime went  5-4 with a 2.90 ERA before he was called up to High A Palm Beach where he duplicated his previous record but his ERA raised about a whole point but was still a solid 3.84.  He followed that with an up and down Year at Double A (AA) Springfield going 5-9 but he did have a respectable ERA of 3.75.  The following year his slow progression continued, as he went a combined 7-6 with a 3.65 ERA and earned a cup of coffee in the majors but his real Minor League breakout seemed to come in 2009 where in three different leagues and nine games he went 2-2 with a 2.87 ERA before he had season ending surgery.


This season, Garcia's first full one in the Majors Jaime has gone 12-6, a solid amount of wins for any starter, let alone a rookie that still has a month left in their season.  So far His incredible 2.33 ERA ranks sixth in the National League and he holds opposing batters to a .237 Batting Average against.  One cause for concern is his 58 walks, which compared to his 118 strikeouts is only a measly 2.03 K/BB which needs to improve for him to continue to dominate on the top level.


Overall, I think if Garcia continues to work hard and develop his pitches he can continue to be a a dominant pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals now and well into the future.  I also see him winning a few Cy Young awards over the course of his career, but I can guarantee you, no matter the vote, Jaime Garcia deserves the National League Rookie of the Year Award more than everything.


-A

Manny Ramirez to Join Chicago Today

Left Fielder Manny Ramirez formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers is set to join the Chicago White Sox today in time for their game against the Cleveland Indians, one of the worst teams in baseball. Manny though, is not expected to be in the starting lineup because of fatigue from the flight. This is a great opportunity for the aging Ramirez because he will be playing the Designated Hitter position for a team that is in the hunt for a playoff spot. Being a DH will take some pressure off of him and his legs, hopefully helping him stay away from the Disabled List to which he has been a frequent visitor this season.

The White Sox, although taking on an amazing hitter in the heat of a divisional battle have taken on an incredible financial burden. Over the remainder of the season Ramirez is expected to cost over 3.8 million dollars. So far Manny has had an off year hitting only eight home runs with 40 RBI but when he has been healthy, he hitting a deadly .311. In Chicago Manny will probably have to cut his trademark dreadlocks though, because although they want Manny to be Manny, both manager Ozzie Guillen and the Sox organization both want him to look professional while doing this. Actions like this could hurt the support from Manny fans, but if they see him playing in the post season this year all would be forgiven.

I can't wait to see Manny back out on the field.

-A

Stephen Strasburg to have Tommy John Surgery

Washington Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg is likely to undergo Tommy John Surgery to replace an elbow ligament.  After an MRI session on Thursday, a rumor that Strasburg had torn a ligament in his elbow was confirmed, probably the worst news possible for the re energized Nats who were depending on Strasburg to lead them along their rebuilding path.  Strasburg's development, and most likely that path, are going to be delayed another year, pretty much wasting the 2012 for if nothing else, to develop Bryce Harper in the minors and get other pitching prospects ready for a true run. 


Strasburg's injury also greatly hurts the chance that the Nationals will resign slugging first baseman Adam Dunn, who while still powerful, whiffs a lot and is getting up there in years.  The Nats figure, "why should they give an aging slugger a multi- year multimillion dollar contract when they wont even be in contention for a few years?"  And to be honest, I agree with them.  Why would you use money you could use to build your future on a "NOW" type off player, don't get me wrong, I love Adam Dunn and think he is a great player, I just do not see him playing a role in the future of this ball club.


One bright spot for the Nationals on the Day of Strasburg's MRI was that pitcher Jordan Zimmerman made his first start of the season after being out a year for undergoing the same surgery.  It gives the Nats a glimpse of hope and shows them its not a fatal blow to them, its just a minor setback.

-A

Puljols, 3rd youngest to 400

St. Louis Cardinals First Baseman Albert Pujols slammed his 400th career home run on Thursday night against the Washington Nationals.  Leading off the fourth inning at Nationals Park with the home team ahead 3-1, Pujols smashed a pitch from Jordan Zimmerman, who was making his 2010 MLB debut after needing to have Tommy John surgery last year.  With this homer, his 34th of the year Albert became the third youngest player in Major League history to reach that significant milestone and the only player to do so within a decade of their debut.  Sadly for Pujols his great day, 2-4, 3 IBB was slightly ruined because after going into the bottom of the ninth with a 10-8 lead the Cards blew it and ended up losing in 13 11-10.


We here at MVP Sports would like to congratulate Mr. Pujols on this historic and memorable achievement and wish him luck in the future.


-A

Nationals Morgan Suspended 7 Games

Washington Nationals Center fielder Nyjer Moran was fined an undisclosed amount and he was suspended for seven games by Major League Baseball for intentionally pelting a fan in the stands with a baseball. The incident occurred during the ninth inning of a Nationals win on Saturday in Philadelphia, a city widely known for having annoying and profane fans.

When asked about it Nyjer said he could not disclose details but he did say that he was not expecting a suspension for the incident. He has appealed the suspension so while Major League Baseball reviews it Morgan will be allowed to play.

-A

Will we see Strasburg again this year???????

Have we seen the last of Washington Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg for the season? We might have, yesterday night he was seen walking off the mound in Philadelphia wincing in pain. When manager Jim Riggleman and a team trainer rushed towards Strasburg Nationals fan's eyes were glued to the TV. As he was walked off the field to a chorus of boos in Philly Nats and Strasburg fans alike wondered if we will see the young rookie again this season. I firmly believe that the next time we see Strasburg throw a ball in a Major League game will be in the Spring of 2011.

If this game was his last for the season, he can surely be proud of the year he has had. When he is healthy he has been lights out going 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA, a WHIP of 1.07, and he has help opposing batters to a .221 average. Also if he has thrown his last pitches he would rank second among rookie years behind only another flamethrower, Kerry Wood with a 12.18 strikeouts per 9 innings.

As a baseball fan, I say leave Strasburg in we want to see him play. As a Cardinals fan I say put on the 15 day DL and don’t make us face him. But as a person who wants to see the Nats rebuild I don’t want him further straining his forearm or getting inflammation in shoulder again. I don’t expect to see Stephen Strasburg for the rest of the year, and I actually don’t mind it.

-A

Bobby Thomson, Dead at 86

Bobby Thomson, made famous by his "Shot heard 'round the world," a walk off Homer that Thomson hit off of Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) pitcher Ralph Branca to win the 1951 National League Pennant, died yesterday at 86. The Blast, which took place on October 3, 1951 won the game 5-4 for his New York Giants and took the playoff series 2-1 from the Dodgers after the Giants had a four run bottom of the ninth and that moment is one of the most famous in baseball history.

During his career, which spanned fourteen years from 1946- 1960 Thomson was regarded as a very good player. He was a three time all- star and often put up high triples numbers. His best season came 1949 when he played in 156 games batting .309 with 24 homers and 109 RBI.

He will be remembered as a very good player and for giving baseball one of its greatest moments. He will surely be missed.

-A

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Major MLB Deals

Here is a quick summay of all the  major deals that have happened in Major League Baseball the past few weeks as teams rush to add players fro the playoff hunt.


July 9th


Texas Rangers Accuire Righties Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe from the Seattle Mariners for Righties Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke, Infielder Matt Lawson, and top first base Prspect Justin Smoak.


July 25th


Anaheim Angels Accuire RHP Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP Rafael Rodriguez, Lefties Joe Saunders and Patrick Corbin, and a player to be named.


July 29th


Texas Rangers Accuire 3B Jorge Cantu from the Florida Marlins for Righties Evan Reed and Omar Poveda.


Philadelphia Phillies Accuire Star Righty Roy Oswalt and cash for LHP J.A. Happ, OF Anthony Gose and SS Jonathan Villar.


Chicago White Sox Accuire RHP Edwin Jackson from the Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP Dan Hudson and LHP David Holmberg.

Year of the Pitcher 2.0

Five no- hitters, one perfect game, that’s the total amount in 1968, which is referred to as the Year of the Pitcher. Five no- hitters, 2 perfect games, and if it were not for a horrible call by an ump, the respective numbers would be six and three. Those are the numbers for this season, and its only July 26th, just imagine what could happen in the next few months as the season draws to a close. Are we going to see ten no-no’s this year? If this keeps pace the Major League record of seven no hit games set in 1991 is sure to be shattered.

Its not just the no- hitters and perfect games that is turning this season into year of the pitcher 2.0, at this point there are seventeen hurlers that have ERAs under 3.00, heck there are even two with ERAs under 2.00 and up until June 11 Rockies Ace Ubaldo Jimenez who has hit a little rough patch this month held his below 1.00.


In short Matt Garza of the Rays followed up multiple pitchers this year by throwing the fifth no- no continuing pitching dominance over hitters.

-A

A Pitcher's Market

After, Cliff Lee, the top pitcher on the trade market was swapped from the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers for a load of prospects including the highly touted Justin Smoak, teams in the hunt for a pitcher to add a little something to their rotation had to look elsewhere. Luckily for those teams another top of the line starter is out there for the picking. That starter is Roy Oswalt of the Huston Astros. This season has been a down year Astros (39-56) and Roy Oswalt, although is 6-11 record doesn't show it, is having a very good season. So far to go with the pretty pathetic record Oswalt has an earned run average of 3.12 and only allows an average of just over a baserunner an inning. He also strikes out just under a batter per inning for good measure.


Although the teams are thrilled that a pitcher of his caliber is on the market they are less than happy over his demands and the demands of the Astros. What has delayed any deals from happening so far is Oswalt's demands that the team that picks him up exercises his $16 million option for 2012. This has had a big impact on team's abilities to trade for him to the two teams that have the most interest in him, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies, don't know if they can pick up the option because of how much money they have had to and will continue to invest in players that are already there. The teams are also wary to invest three good prospects, the price the Astros are asking for a pitcher that is nearing the end of his prime (he is about to turn 33).

If a deal cannot be made for Oswalt teams have plenty of other decent options that can make a significant impact to a borderline playoff team in a tight race. These pitchers include Dan Haren (Diamondbacks), Ben Sheets (A's), and Ted Lilly (Cubs). Haren could be a #1 starter for pretty much any team in the league and although he is not having even close to his Cy Young Caliber performance last year (he is 7-8, 4.60 ERA) that is a lot in part to bad luck. This batting average against on balls in play has jumped 70 points to .350 from just .280 last season. Ben Sheets, like Haren is off his form this year too. Usually a stellar pitcher, Sheets just hasn't had his stuff this year since returning from surgery. He is 4-9 with an ERA above 4.5 but if he has a new chance with a contender, I would not be surprised to see his season turn on its heels. It is also very likely that he is traded because Oakland picked him up pretty much only so they could get prospects in return for him. Unlike the other three pitchers listed above, Ted Lilly of the Chicago Cubs has never been, and never will be a great starter. What he can promise you though is very good production from the middle of the rotation (he has an ERA well under 4.00 and a WHIP of 1.12) and he can pitch over 200 innings a year providing some much needed relief for your bullpen in a tight pennant race.


Even though they didn't have a chance to land Cliff Lee if your team lands one of these solid players you can be sure that they will have much better production than your #5 starter (except for in St. Louis with Jamie Garcia), but only time will tell who made the move that helps propel their team to a postseason berth, through the playoffs, and to a World Series Championship.


-A

The winding road of Daniel Nava

Daniel Nava, the 27 year old from Redwood City, California and rookie Left Fielder for the Boston Red Sox has had a long and winding path on his way to the bigs. Daniel was always a small kid, especially during high school. He was only 4'8 70 lbs during his freshman year and by the time he was a senior he had only grown to 5'5 but had gained 80 pounds, increasing to 150 lbs, a little bit over the average weight for his size.


When he got out of high school he decided to attend Santa Clara University where he tried to walk on and was denied a spot on their baseball squad. He proceeded to be the manager of the team during his freshman and sophomore years before the cost of tuition caused him to transfer to the College of San Mateo, a junior college in San Mateo, California. During his first year there he saw an old friend that encouraged him to try out for the team. He did, made it, and by the end of the season he had performed so well that he was named a Junior College All- American. Santa Clara University, the same school that rejected his services just three years before, was so impressed with Nava's performance that they offered him a full scholarship to attend their school for a second time. In the one season he played at Santa Clara he performed well enough to show that he lived up to the scholarship he received batting around a .400 clip and with an On Base Percentage just a smidgen below .500 while earning First Team All- West Coast Conference honors. He also stole 15 bases without getting caught once and showed patience at the plate as he drew walks more often than he was put down on strikes.


After Nava graduated from Santa Clara he was undrafted and decided to sign with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League, and Independent League. (A league with teams that have no affiliation to Major League Clubs) Like with Santa Clara, the Outlaws rejected Daniel on his try with the team but brought him in a year later when a spot opened up. The move paid its dividends for the Outlaws because in 2007 Nava smashed 12 round trippers while having an outstanding batting average of .371 and a Ruth like OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.100. Following this amazing campaign Baseball America named him the number one prospect in the Independent Leagues.


The Red Sox, with the urging of their assistant director of pro scouting, Jared Porter, bought out the contract of Nava for only $1. Of course the total of the deal would add up to $1,500 if the Red Sox didn't release Nava right after spring training. As it turned out, that move was a huge bargain for the BoSox who sent him to Low A Lancaster after spring was over. At Lancaster, Nava continued his surprising run to the top batting .341, slugging 10 homers, and driving in 59 in only 85 games. His performance earned him a call up to High A Salem where he continued to dominate batting .339 before another call. This time he was sent to AA Portland where he played 32 games, batted .364 with 4 homers and an amazing 25-12 BB/K ratio earning the Red Sox Minor League Player of the Month for August/September.


Nava began 2010 with AAA Pawtucket and was there for about 2 months before an array of injuries left the Sox outfield depleted. The man who said he could hardly lift a 32 ounce bat just 10 years ago was now on his way to play in the same uniform and in the same position as Red Sox Legends Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. He finally got his chance on June 12, 2010 where he debuted as a starter in Left Field against the Philadelphia Phillies. The first pitch he ever saw in the Majors was while the bases were loaded and he abruptly cleared them. The man that couldn't even make his college team had just hit a grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the bigs becoming the second player to ever do so. He also became the only player to hit a grand slam on the first pitch he ever saw in the majors while in interleague play. He continued to after his hot start reaching base safely in each of his first 13 games. Currently through 26 games Nava is hitting .294 with 10 doubles.


In Hollywood this story would end with Nava going on to make the MLB Hall of Fame but this is reality, not Hollywood and when the regulars return from their injuries unless one of them has a major drop off this is probably the last we hear of Daniel Nava in a Sox uniform. In this past month he has taken us on a wild ride and hopefully he will have another chance to play regularly because as he enters the prime of his career he has shown potential to be a breakout player in the Majors for years to come.


In short, this amazing young man persevered after he was cut from his college team, went undrafted, and had his independent league contract bought out for a mere $1 is playing solid ball on the game's highest stage for one of the most prolific teams in all of baseball.


-A

2010 MLB Predictions: What to expect in the 2nd half of the season.

We here at MVP Sports Talk would like to introduce guest writer Charlie McDougall for what to expect during the second half of the baseball season.

The 2010 MLB Picks all star game really showed how the 1st half of the season was. The first half of the season was dominated by strong pitching, will this trend continue in the 2nd half of the season? This sports handicappers believes so. Now the divisional races are as good as they have been in a long time an no race is better than the one in the AL Central with the Chicago White Sox holding a 1/2 game lead over the Detroit Tigers and a 3' game lead over the 3rd place Minnesota Twins. The White sox open up an important weekend series a Minnesota on Thursday July 15th. The American league east is probably the best division in baseball, the New York Yankees have had an emotional week, will it take it's toll on the team or will it prepare them to make another world series run? This sports handicapper believes that the Tampa Bay Rays who are two games behind the division leading Yankees will bring in a hitter to improve their scoring offense and the Boston Red Sox just have too many injuries to key players and will fade away. The AL West has been dominated by the Texas Rangers but the team struggled the last week of the season, getting swept at home by the Baltimore Orioles. Texas will still win the division with the recent acquisition of Cliff Lee. The Rangers currently have a 4' game lead over the second place Los Angeles Angels and will easily hold on with the addition of Lee and the hitting of Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero. Hold on tight for a great finish to the Major League Baseball season.


The National League also has all three divisional races up in the air with the most interesting one going on in the NL East with the Atlanta Braves on top with a 4 game lead over the 2nd place New York Mets, the Mets have had a recent history of fading in the late month of the season. The 2 time National League champions Philadelphia Phillies have to overcome a lot of injuries but can still contend. The NL Central is led by the surprising Cincinnati Reds, 1 game in front of the 2nd place St. Louis Cardinals, this should be a great divisional race between these two teams with great history, the rest of the division will have to wait until next year. The NL West is probably the most competitive with the San Diego Padres 2 games in front of the 2nd place Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies, the Rockies are a team that scares a lot of teams and will make a run. The San Francisco Giants have the pitching staff to make a run also.

You can visit his site at http://www.charliessports.com/ Which is the authority on MLB picks and predictions.

MLB Midseason Awards and Predictions

At the Midseason point in the baseball season there has been many suprises in the standings.  In italics I have put my preseason choice for an award/playoff spot and next to it is my updated prediction.


American League MVP:  Miguel Cabrera (A- Rod)
National League MVP: Joey Votto (Albert Pujols)
American League Cy Young: David Price (Cliff Lee)
National League Cy Young: Ubaldo Jimenez (Adam Wainright)
American League Rookie of the Year: Brennan Boesch (Brennan Boesch)
National League Rookie of the Year: Jaime Garcia(Jason Heyward)
American League Manager of the Year: Terry Francona (Joe Girardi)
National League Manager of the Year: Bud Black (Tony LaRussa)


NL East Champions: Atlanta Braves (Phillidelphia Phillies)
NL Central Champions: St. Louis Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
NL West Champions: San Deigo Padres (Los Angeles Dodgers)
NL Wild Card: Cinncinati Reds (New York Mets)


AL East Champions: New York Yankees (New York Yankees)
AL Central Champions: Minnesota Twins (Minnesota Twins)
AL West Champions: Texas Rangers (Seattle Mariners)
AL Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays (Bos. Red Sox)


NL Pennant Winner: St. Louis Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
AL Pennant Winner: New York Yankees (New York Yankees)


World Series Winner: New York Yankees (St. Louis Cardinals)


-A



My top 3 for each major award with my preseason prediction:


American League MVP:
1. Miguel Cabrera (DET)
2. Josh Hamilton (TEX)
3. Robinson Cano (NYY)
Preseason Prediction: Joe Mauer (MIN)
National League MVP:
1. Joey Votto (CIN)
2. Albert Pujols (STL)
3. Adrian Gonzalez (SD)
Preseason Prediction: Albert Pujols (STL)
American League Cy Young:
1. David Preice (TB)
2. Cliff Lee (SEA/TEX)
3. Jon Lester (BOS)
Preseason Prediction: CC Sabathia (NYY)
National League Cy Young:
1. Ubaldo Jimenez (COL)
2. Josh Johnson (FLA)
3. Adam Wainwright (STL)
Preseason Prediction: Roy Halladay (PHI)
American League Rookie of the Year:
1. Brennan Boesch (DET)
2. Brennan Boesch (DET)
3. Brennan Boesch (DET)
Preseason Prediction: Brennan Boesch (DET)
National League Rookie of the Year:
1. Jaime Garcia (STL)
2. Mike Leake (CIN)
3. Jason Heyward (ATL)
Preseason Prediction: Jason Heyward (ATL)
American League Manager of the Year:
1. Ron Washington (TEX)
2. Joe Girardi (NYY)
3. Jim Leyland(DET)
Preseason Prediction: Mike Scioscia (LAA)
National League Manager of the Year:
1. Dusty Baker (CIN)
2. Bud Black (SD)
3. Bobby Cox(ATL)
Preseason Prediction: Joe Torre (LAD)
 Next up is my playoff picks (preseason pick):


NL East Champions: Atlanta Braves (Phillidelphia Phillies)
NL Central Champions: Cincinatti Reds (St. Louis Cardinals)
NL West Champions: San Diego Padres (Los Angeles Dodgers)
NL Wild Card: St. Louis Cardinals(Colorado Rockies)


AL East Champions: New York Yankees (New York Yankees)
AL Central Champions: Minnesota Twins (Minnesota Twins)
AL West Champions: Texas Rangers (Los Angeles Angels)
AL Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays (Boston Red Sox)


NLDS: Padres over Cardinals; Braves over Reds
NLCS: Braves over Padres
ALDS: Yankees over Rangers; Twins over Rays
ALCS: Twins over Yankees
World Series: Twins over Braves


 -M

George Steinbrenner, dead at 80

On Tuesday July  13, 2010 George Steinbrenner, the majority owner of the New York Yankees died of what was reported as "a massive heart attack."  Steinbrenner, hated by many and loved by few was one of the most controversial and unknown men in sports.  When I woke up on Tuesday and turned on ESPN I just couldn't believe my ears.  The man labeled by the media as "The Boss," was gone.  Even those that didn't like him or his style of dropping billions on players had to be sad and shocked by the news of this great sports personality passing and they couldn't deny the man's genius.  He was a great invester and he knew what he had to do to win. 

Sure anyone could buy championships, but he was actually willing to do it, unlike a lot of penny pinching owners that just care about making money.  He could also spend as much as he liked, he had made a very smart investment and it paid off.  A Yankee's Team which he bought in 1973 for a mere price of under $10 million is now worth upward of $1.5 billion and is the 3rd most valuable franchise in all of sports.

The man also seen as a cancer to baseball and ruled the Yankees with an iron fist has brought the game to great heights.  He helped create the flow of free agency and was willing to pay his players shooting up the price of players.  This helped other teams because they would get millikons from a luxary tax for overpaying.  Also teams sell put pretty much every game when the Evil Empire is coming town because they have millions of fans worldwide and many people will show up just to boo and hate on the visitors from New York.  His adventures in free agency have also helped fuel what is arguabley the best rivalry in all of sports, the Red Sox verses the Yankees.  What started with the curse of the Great Bambino was heated up by the need for the the Sox to battle the Yankees in free agency to be able to compete in the season.

Steinbrenner, also seen as a loudmouth who just fired people if they lost a game was also a very generous person.  You could meet him in a restuaraunt one day and the next he would give you a scholarship to college.  He supported the whole New York community after the tragic events of 9/11, when a Little League Team's near his home in Tampa, FL equiptment shed burned down he bought them a brand new one and stocked it with new gear.  Also he had bought wings for the hospital in which he died because even though he had some faults, he was a good man who wanted to help the community where ever he went.

Where's the love for Mike Leake

While rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals is hogging all of the attention another rookie pitcher has quietly helped his team to the top of their division.  Mike Leake (above), pitcher for the NL Central Leading Cincinatti Reds is right now one of the top contenders for the National League Rookie of the Year award, has a 6-1 Win/Loss record,  67 strikeouts, and a solid 3.38 ERA yet nobody outside of Reds Land seems to be paying him any attention.  Right now everyone is just pressed over Stephen Strasburg, his triple digit fastball, and why he should of, or should not have made the allstar team (I'm happy that he didn't, he hadn't had enough starts).  Now why would people ignore the real phenom here for a flamethrower with a .500 record (2-2)?  Maybe its because Strasburgs changeup has been clocked faster than Leake's fastball, maybe its that Leake only has 14 more Ks in 64 2/3 more innings, or maybe its because of Strasburgs miniscule 2.45 ERA and 1.06 WHIP?  Right now I don't know, But what I do know is Mike Leak deserves some respect and hopefully he will get it.

-A

Bryce Harper... The Future of Baseball

Bryce Harper
Drafted: #1 overall 2010 MLB Draft, Washington
Pos: Catcher (will probably be converted to OF)
DOB: October 16, 1992
Height: 6'3
Weight: 205 lbs
Mission: With the help of flamethrowing pitcher Stephen Strasburg turn a Nationals franchise with a history of losing into a World Series Contender.

Ever since he was 12 years old in 2005 and Baseball America Listed him as the best hitter in the country in his age group, Major League Baseball Scouts have been drooling over him. Well what does everyone want to ask when they hear this? "Who is this kid?" of course. Well this kid is Bryce Harper, whose legend just kept growing after he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated last June, an accomplishment made even greater by the fact that he was only 16 years old at the time. He can fire the ball at 96 miles an hour, faster than most Big Leaguers can throw, he has amazing baserunning skills and anticipation, but his biggest asset of all is his raw power.

When he was just 15 years old and a freshman in high school he smashed a 570 foot tater in a game. Then during his sophmore year he became the first sophmore to be named Baseball America's Player of the year and at a home run derby at the Ray's Tropicana Field he blasted a ball that was still alive and well when it crashed into the dome wall as the longest homer hit at the park a good 502 feet later. He also has the work ethic to make things happen for his career. Instead of staying in high school for his junior and senior years where he would have ended up playing and dominating the same competion he had for years he earned his GED and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college so he could enter the draft this summer.

In the draft, as everyone expected, the Washington Nationals chose the 17 year old Bryce with the #1 overall pick and for the second straight year they have to deal with the relentless Scott Boras, arguably the best agent in baseball. Both Bryce and the Nationals want to get him signed quickly so they could get him on the field to show his talents, bring in money for the Minor League Clubs, and to continue his rise because as everyone knows in baseball, no one is a sure thing.

-A