The Cardinals, Angels and Rays are very much alive

Remember when I was with you last week, and I mentioned that if the Cardinals were to survive their series in Philly, they would have a great shot at making the postseason? Well, the Redbirds are one step closer to reaching October, as they took three of four from the Phillies in shocking fashion. In addition to that, St. Louis returned home and took the first two games in their series against the Mets, leaving them only 1.5 games behind the Braves with seven left to play.

The Cardinals' final seven games include their series finale against the Mets today, along with three against the Cubs and Astros. The Braves have just six left, three against Washington and three against the Phillies. With the relentless pace the Cardinals are on, it seems as if October is a mere formality for them at this point.

However, history tells us that there are reasons for Braves fans to remain optimistic about holding on to their Wild Card lead. Remember back in 2005, when it seemed like the Indians were on their way to the postseason with their ridiculous 38-16 record in August and September? It did not come to pass, as the Tribe lost six of their last seven to miss the postseason. Three of those losses came against the lowly Royals and Devil Rays, while the other three came against the White Sox, who basically started their Triple-A roster against Cleveland after clinching the Central.

In 2008, the Twins looked like they were well on their way to another AL Central  Division title after sweeping the White Sox in the penultimate series of the season. However, the Twins lost two of their last three against Kansas City, setting up a one game playoff against the White Sox which they would lose 1-0.

While this bit of history won't provide much comfort or consolation for Braves fans at this point, it just serves as a reminder that teams who go crazy in September don't always reach October. However, the Cardinals were 8.5 games behind Atlanta on September 5. Since then, they are 12-2, while Atlanta is 6-10. If the Cardials do pull this off, it will likely go down as perhaps the biggest September collapse/comeback in baseball history.

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There is also high drama unfolding in the American League Wild Card race, as Boston's free fall continues. The Carmines dropped three of four against the Baltimore Orioles this week, and have seen their Wild Card lead dwindle down to just 2.5 games over the Angels and Rays. On September 3, the Red Sox had a nine-game lead over the Rays in the Wild Card and a 9.5 game lead over the Angels. They could potentially upstage the Braves' NL collapse if they fall far enough.

Plus, this is a collapse in every sense of the term. You can still give credit to the Cardinals for getting hot at the right time, but the Rays are just 10-7 since September 3, while the Angels are 10-6 since that date. The Red Sox's record since then? A ghastly 4-14. Here's how the final games shape up for each of the three AL teams in the hunt for the Wild Card:

Joe Maddon could have his team on the brink of a historic
comeback.

Boston Red Sox:
Friday 9/23 @ Yankees
Saturday 9/24 @ Yankees
Sunday 9/25 @ Yankees
Monday 9/26 @ Orioles
Tuesday 9/27 @ Orioles
Wednesday 9/28 @ Orioles

Los Angeles Angels:
Thursday 9/22 @ Blue Jays
Friday 9/23 vs. A's
Saturday 9/24 vs. A's
Sunday 9/25 vs. A's
Monday 9/26 vs. Rangers
Tuesday 9/27 vs. Rangers
Wednesday 9/28 vs. Rangers

Tampa Bay Rays:
Thursday 9/22 @ Yankees
Friday 9/23 vs. Blue Jays
Saturday 9/24 vs. Blue Jays
Sunday 9/25 vs. Blue Jays
Monday 9/26 vs. Yankees
Tuesday 9/27 vs. Yankees
Wednesday 9/28 vs. Yankees

Looking at the schedules, it's basically a push for all three teams. Everybody faces somebody who they will have some difficulty beating. If I had to pick one team that has the toughest schedule to finish the season, it's the Angels, only because they will be battling the Rangers for the division crown in those final three games (should they still be in contention for the AL West title).

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What could also unfold from all of this is the ever-elusive three-way tie, which has never occurred in MLB history. From what I could ascertain, there have only been six instances in which there was nearly a three-way tie in MLB history:

2010 National League:
San Francisco Giants: 92-70 (NL West Champion)
Atlanta Braves: 91-71 (NL Wild Card)
San Diego Padres: 90-72

Former Padres First Baseman
Adrian Gonzalez

San Diego, after having a dreadful September, was placed in a position where they had to sweep the Giants to stay alive. The Padres took the first two games from the Giants, and if they would have won the season finale, the first three-way tie in MLB history would have taken place. Since the Giants lost the season series to the Padres, they would have traveled to San Diego to face the Padres in a one-game playoff to determine the champion of the NL West. The loser of that game would have traveled to Atlanta to play the Braves for the Wild Card title the following night. This "mini-playoff" would have put the entire NL postseason on hold, as the Phillies and Reds would have awaited the results of this extra postsesaon round.




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1967 American League:
Boston Red Sox: 92-70 (AL Champions)
Detroit Tigers: 91-71
Minnesota Twins: 91-71
Chicago White Sox: 89-73

Carl Yastrzemski's Triple Crown season in 1967
helped lead Boston to the American League Pennant.

This year nearly featured a four-way tie for the American League crown, as MLB was still two years away from implementing the playoff system. The team with the best record went to the World Series, and entering Wednesday, September 27, here's how the standings looked:

Minnesota Twins: 91-68
Boston Red Sox: 90-69, 1 GB
Chicago White Sox: 89-68, 1 GB
Detroit Tigers: 89-69, 1.5 GB

The White Sox crumbled badly unfortunately, losing their final five games to the dreadful Kansas City A's and Washington Senators. The Tigers hung tough, splitting a four game series with the California Angels to finish 91-71. The Twins would lose on September 27 to the Angels 5-1, setting up a tense, two-game series in Boston to determine the American League Pennant. The Red Sox would win both games against the Twins to capture their first American League Pennant since 1946.




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1964 National League:
St. Louis Cardinals: 93-69 (NL Champions)
Cincinnati Reds: 92-70
Philadelphia Phillies: 92-70

Phillies manager Gene Mauch watched things spiral
out of control during the end of the 1964 season.

This was the year of the infamous "Philly Phold," as the Phillies led the National League by 6.5 games with 12 left. Philadelphia would lose 10 in a row after that, with manager Gene Mauch going into panic mode, starting Jim Bunning and Chris Short (his two best starters) a combined five times during the losing streak. The Phillies managed to win their final two games against the Reds but it was too little, too late. St. Louis stormed back to capture their first NL flag since 1946. If the Cardinals lost their final regular-season game against the Mets, there would have been a three-way tie in the National League.




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1964 American League:
New York Yankees: 99-63 (AL Champions)
Chicago White Sox: 98-64
Baltimore Orioles: 97-65

Hall of Famer and relief specialist Hoyt Wilhelm
was one of many phenomenal pitchers on Chicago's
staff in 1964.

What a year! This year would be the Yankees' swan song, as they would capture their 15th pennant in 18 seasons, but not without some drama. The White Sox and Orioles hung tough with the Bronx Bombers all summer. New York caught fire in September, going 22-6 during that month, while the White Sox went 14-10 and the Orioles went 15-13. The Yankees, despite their impressive September mark, survived a late scare from the White Sox, who finished the year with a 10-2 kick, including a nine-game winning streak. It's a little complex explaining how there would have been a three-way tie that year, but I'll do my best.

The Orioles would have needed to sweep their doubleheader against Washington on September 30, which would have them finish the season on an eight-game winning streak;

The Yankees would have needed to lose two of three against Cleveland in their final series to finish 98-64.

New York would ultimately lose the World Series to St. Louis, and with an aging roster, would fall into oblivion for the next decade.




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1908 National League:

Fred Merkle was just 19 years old in 1908, but
he unfortunately made a baserunning mistake that
would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Chicago Cubs: 99-55 (NL Champions)
New York Giants: 98-56
Pittsburgh Pirates 98-56

The Cubs captured their third consecutive National League crown, thanks in large part to Fred Merkle's "boner" in the Polo Grounds earlier in the season. It would take a ton of time to explain, but if you want to find out more about Fred's baserunning blunder, please go HERE. Since the two teams remained tied at the end of the season, they had to replay the "Fred Merkle Game" at the end of the season as a de facto one game playoff, which the Cubs won.









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1908 American League:

Cleveland's Addie Joss pitched just the
fourth perfect game in MLB history in 1908.

Detroit Tigers: 90-63
Cleveland Naps (Indians): 90-64
Chicago White Sox: 88-64

Why does it seem like the Sox are always on the bad end of these things? Anyway, the Tigers captured the American League Pennant by a half-game (which wasn't nearly as controversial as their "half-game AL East Championship" 64 years later, but that's a story for another day). The highlight of this pennant race was when Cleveland's Addie Joss tossed a perfect game against the White Sox on Friday, October 2, to keep the Naps just a half-game behind Detroit with five left to play. However, the Tigers ultimately kept Cleveland at bay, as the Naps lost two of three against the St. Louis Browns at the end of the season, while tying the first game of the series against them.



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It may be a long shot, but here's to hoping that we can see the first-ever three-way tie this year in the American League. That's all for now. Take care.

The 30 Team/30 Day Report Cards: Day 13- Los Angeles Angels

We’re staying in the greater Los Angeles area, as we make our way south on I-5 to issue our next report card to Mike Scioscia’s Angels.

Los Angeles Angels

Record: 80-82 (Third place in AL West, 10 games behind Texas)

Batting Leaders

Batting Average: Torii Hunter (.281)

Home Runs: Mike Napoli (26)

RBIs: Torii Hunter (90)

On-base Percentage: Hideki Matsui (.361)

Pitching Leaders

Wins: Ervin Santana (17)

Strikeouts: Jered Weaver (233)

Innings Pitched: Jered Weaver (224.2)

ERA: Jered Weaver (3.01). Bullpen- Brian Fuentes (3.52)

WHIP: Jered Weaver (1.07). Bullpen- Brian Fuentes (1.20)

Saves: Brian Fuentes (23)

Highlight of the Season: On June 19, the Angels demolished the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 12-0. Starter Jered Weaver tossed seven strong innings in that game, striking out 11 and walking none.

Lowlight of the Season: On May 29, the Angels would lose their star first baseman Kendry Morales for the season in an unfortunate on-field accident. After hitting a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Mariners 5-1 in 10 innings, Morales jumped and landed awkwardly on home plate during the on-field celebration, breaking his leg and ending his season.

The Lowdown:

The 2010 season was a long and frustrating one for the Angels, one that resulted in the team missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2003. Many were expecting the team to be a bit weaker in their lineup after losing Vladimir Guerrero and Chone Figgins to free agency, however many still expected the team to be more competitive than what they were throughout the season. Making matters worse was losing their power-hitting first baseman Kendry Morales for the season due to a broken leg on May 29, something that severely crippled this lineup. Despite his injury, the scrappy and experienced Angels hung tough throughout June and July, but they began to fade badly once August hit, as the Texas Rangers hit their stride and ran away with the division.

Offense:

The Halos offense in 2010 was considerably weaker than 2009, thanks in large part to the absence of Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins, and Kendry Morales (due to injury). The team finished toward the middle or near the bottom of the majors in many offensive categories, including runs (19^th), batting average (23^rd), home runs (13^th) and slugging (20^th). Outfielder Torii Hunter took control of the offense as the main run producer, leading the team in batting average and RBIs while finishing second in homers to catcher Mike Napoli. Even though Napoli was the home run leader on this team, he only batted .238, along with getting on base at a paltry clip of .316. Hideki Matusi and Bobby Abreu began to show their age this year, too, as they only hit .274 and .255 respectively, despite each of them recording over 20 home runs. Howie Kendrick also suffered from an uncharacteristic down year, hitting only .279, a slight drop from his .291 average in 2009.

Unfortunately for the Angels, what was once their strength turned into a weakness for them in 2010, as their ability to manufacture runs declined considerably.

Final Grade: C

Pitching:

The Angels’ pitching was fair this year; however it wasn’t enough to make up for the team’s lack of offense. Even though the team could still use John Lackey at the top of their rotation, his presence isn’t necessary, as Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver are still there to pick up the slack. Santana rebounded back to his 2008 form this year, going 17-10 with a 3.92 ERA in 222 innings pitched, achieving career highs in both wins and innings. Weaver also put together a career year, finishing with a 1.07 WHIP and a 3.01 ERA, along with leading the majors in strikeouts with 233. Although his record was a seemingly mediocre 13-12, he was usually the victim of poor offense, much like Felix Hernandez in Seattle.

Perhaps the most disappointing arm in the rotation is lefty Scott Kazmir. Even though his potential is still high, his pitch velocity and numbers declined precipitously this year, finishing 9-15 with a 5.94 ERA. The Angels acquired him from Tampa Bay in 2009, thinking they got themselves a steal from the Rays; however, he unfortunately has yet to produce. A way the Angels tried to make up for his lack of production while strengthening the rotation for the future was by trading for Dan Haren, who put up solid numbers for the Halos. He would make 14 starts with the team, finishing with a 5-4 record along with an ERA of 2.87.

The bullpen was below average by L.A.’s standards this year, finishing 19^th in ERA at 4.03. No pitcher that appeared in at least 30 games finished with an ERA below three, and the free agent acquisition of Fernando Rodney did not work out, as he would finish with a 4.24 ERA in 72 appearances. Reliever Scot Shields finally appeared to be showing signs of wear, finishing with an ERA north of five in 42 appearances, while the team’s best reliever, Brian Fuentes, would be traded to Minnesota in late August.

Even though the staff collectively wasn’t that bad, they weren’t all that great, either.

Final Grade: C+

Wild Card: Stolen Bases

Unfortunately, this will not be looked upon in a positive light. Even though the team still finished 11^th in baseball in steals with 104, it is still quite a drop from last year, when they finished third in MLB with 148. Failing to get Carl Crawford in free agency was another kick in the gut for this team.

Final Grade: B-

Overall:

Even though this year was an uncharacteristic one for the Halos this year, one can only wonder if they would have been more competitive with a healthy Kendry Morales. Texas appeared to go into cruise control mode during the final month of the season, and if Morales was healthy, I think they would have put a lot more pressure on Texas. Depending on how you look at the situation, the AL West could be the most competitive division in baseball entering next year, or it could be the worst. If the Angels are healthy, they will definitely contend next year.

Final Grade: C

Check back soon for the report card on the Florida Marlins!

Now presenting the next manager of the New York Mets...Terry Collins! Wait...who?

Just yesterday, the New York Mets officially announced Terry Collins as their new skipper, ending his 11 year tenure in baseball oblivion. Collins has been out of the majors for so long that many people were wondering who he was upon his hiring. Well, in brief, he was the former manager of the Houston Astros (1994-1996) and Anaheim Angels (1997-1999), and he compiled a respectable 444-434 career mark in that time period. The closest he ever came to the postseason was in 1998, when his Angels finished only three games behind the AL West Champion Texas Rangers. That's not too shabby for a managerial career that lasted all of five seasons, but why wasn't he given another shot until now?

Well, as you might have expected, there is another side to the Terry Collins story. Apparently, he wasn't well-liked among the players that he managed back in the '90s. Matt Vasgersian, the host of MLB Network's "Hot Stove" program, even went so far as to call his managing style "despotic, at worst." Former major league reliever Mitch Williams, on that very same show, said without a hint of hesitation that "he was not a very good communicator with his players" (referring to his tenure in Houston). Rave reviews, huh?

What exactly is causing all of this acrimony towards a guy who hasn't managed in the big leagues since Tiger Stadium and the Astrodome were still active ballparks? One should not have to look any further than his drama-filled tenure in Anaheim. During the 1999 season, there was a virtual coup within the Angels clubhouse, as the players petitioned then-GM Bill Bavasi to fire him. The toxic atmosphere in the clubhouse was not entirely of his making, but his managing style, described by New York Times writer David Waldstein as "intense" and "confrontational," did not earn him many supporters.

My best guess is that the reason why he went so long without a big league managing gig is probably because many people saw how his clubhouse in Anaheim unraveled, and many believed that his militaristic style wouldn't mesh well with most ballplayers. However, Collins has paid his dues in the 11 years since, as he managed the Orix Buffaloes in Japan, and the China National Team during the second World Baseball Classic. Having two overseas managing jobs certainly has to involve some sort of patience, something that Collins could have used all those years ago. He also was a minor league coordinator during that time period as well, another job that I'm sure takes a great deal of patience, as you are working with many players that are fresh out of high school or college, or even new to the United States.

The 61-year-old Collins even admitted that he has mellowed over the years during his initial press conference, and he has owned up to his mistakes in the past as a manager. Now, he faces quite possibly the biggest challenge of his career: turning the listless New York Mets into a winner. A manager who is not afraid to confront even superstar players is a refreshing thing to see in today's game. Besides, one of the reasons the Mets hired him was because of his up-tempo personality and fearlessness. However, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda once said of managing that it's like holding a dove. If you squeeze it too tightly, you will kill it; if you hold it too loose, it will fly away. In a media market that's known for scrutinizing even minor situations, Collins must be prepared to show more deftness with regard to how he handles his players and the press. Otherwise, his tenure in New York could have an uglier end than it did in Anaheim.

The 30 Day/30 Team Report Cards: Day 29- Los Angeles Angels

It's time to head down the road from Dodger Stadium to Angel Stadium, where our next report card will be issued to the Los Angeles Angels!

Los Angeles Angels:
Record: 97-65 (AL West Champions).

Batting Leaders:
Batting Average: Erick Aybar (.312)
Home Runs: Kendry Morales (34)
RBIs: Kendry Morales (108)
On-base Percentage: Chone Figgins (.395)

Pitching Leaders:
Wins: Jered Weaver and Joe Saunders (16)
ERA: Jered Weaver (3.75). Bullpen- Darren Oliver (2.71).
Strikeouts: Jered Weaver (174)
Innings Pitched: Jered Weaver (211)
WHIP: Jered Weaver (1.24)
Saves: Brian Fuentes (48)

Highlight of the Season: Finally taking out their postseason nemesis, the Boston Red Sox, in dramatic fashion, sweeping them in three straight during the first round of the playoffs. It is also worth mentioning that on August 18, in a game against the Indians, the Angels became the first team since 1930 to feature a starting lineup with all nine batters hitting at least .300, with at least 200 at-bats.

Lowlight of the Season: The death of their future star pitcher, Nick Adenhart, in a car accident just hours after his start against Oakland, on April 8.

The Lowdown:
It was certainly a great time to be a baseball fan in Los Angeles in 2009, as fans of both the Dodgers and Angels were treated to some outstanding baseball during the regular season. Last year would mark only the third time in MLB history that both L.A. teams made the playoffs (joining 2004 and 2008), and it was also the first legitimate chance of there being a "Freeway World Series" as both teams made it to the LCS. The Angels though, unlike their National League counterparts to the west of them, reached the postseason on the strength of their overall hitting, instead of their pitching. While the Angels still featured a solid pitching staff, their lineup was one of the most potent in baseball, as there was not a single easy out in their order.

The Angels were also a team of perseverance, as well. They battled through injuries to some of their key players in 2009, including Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey, and on April 8, the most devastating blow of them all came when 22-year-old pitcher Nick Adenhart died in a car accident just hours after starting a game against the Oakland A's. The death shook the team to its very core, as Adenhart's personality and demeanor clearly made an impression on everyone that was around him. The team fought on through this though, and as the season wore on, they only seemed to get stronger mentally, as they overcame a 5.5 game deficit at the hands of the Texas Rangers on May 30 to eventually win the division by a commanding 10 games.

Offense:
The Angels were a team that did not feature one weak link in their lineup. Not one. Out of all of the people on their team that played in at least 100 games, eight of them hit over .290, which is nothing short of incredible. Even the people who did not reach .290 were still dangerous, as left fielder Juan Rivera hit .287 with 25 home runs and catcher Mike Napoli hit .272, with 20 home runs. This was a well-balanced lineup as far as power goes too, as six people hit 15 or more homers, with switch-hitting first baseman Kendry Morales leading the way with 34 of them. The emergence of Morales certainly made up for letting first baseman Mark Teixeira walk as a free agent after the '08 season.

Also, the presence of Bobby Abreu on this ball club would prove to be a big influence on this team, as far as their approach to the plate goes. While the Angels were once known as a free-swinging kind of team (no doubt influenced by 2004 MVP Vladimir Guerrero), the Angels followed Abreu's example and took a much more patient approach to the plate this year, waiting for their pitch to come and working deeper into the count instead of hacking away early in the count. This was likely a big influence on the increase in batting averages that you see on the team. While the Angels hitters were certainly a talented bunch long before Abreu's arrival, they certainly became even better with his influence rubbing off on the other players.

There is nothing really negative to say about this lineup; however, the gradual decline of DH Vladimir Guerrero is certainly raising some eyebrows among followers of baseball right now, including yours truly. While he's still hitting for average (he finished at .295 this season), he saw a drop in his power numbers, as he hit only 15 home runs and drove in 50 in 100 games this season. While he was injured for part of the season, his decline in power is still noticeable, as he has not hit 30 homers in a season since 2006. This decline likely made it much easier for the Angels to part ways with him after the season, as they let him walk away as a free agent at the close of the season.

The Halos would finish second in MLB in runs scored (883) and in batting average (.285), and they would also tie for first in hits (1,604) as well. They would also go on to finish third in on-base percentage at .350, and would tie for 11th in home runs with 173. While this lineup can certainly beat you with the long ball, they prefer to go about dismantling their opponents slowly and painfully, by rapping out base hit after base hit.
Final Grade: A+

Pitching:
The Angels rotation featured a decent group of starters, as Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, John Lackey and late-bloomer Matt Palmer all put up great numbers in '09. Weaver and Saunders tied for the team lead in wins with 16, but it was Weaver that ended up being the better of the two, as he threw more innings than Saunders (211 to 186), had a lower ERA (3.75 to 4.60) and had a much lower WHIP (1.24 to 1.43). Although Saunders still had a great year, he was likely the recipient of great run support from a phenomenal offense.

John Lackey also had another solid season in the rotation, going 11-8, with a 3.83 ERA in 27 starts. This was probably one of the least surprising stats out of everybody in the rotation, because once he came back in May from a forearm strain injury, everybody knew he was going to be stellar. However, the most surprising starter in the Halos' rotation would have to be the mysterious Matt Palmer, who went virtually unnoticed by many in the media during the season. The 30-year-old righty out of Missouri State had only 12.2 innings of experience in the majors before becoming a major part of the Angels' pitching staff last year, and once he settled in, the Angels knew they found someone who they could depend on, in relief and as a starter. He appeared in 40 games last year, and started in 13 of them, as he would finish the season 11-2 overall, with a 3.93 ERA in 121.1 innings pitched. While he's not going to be their next number one starter obviously, he will definitely be someone who they can trust with the ball going into this upcoming season.

The rest of the bullpen proved to be a decent crew in '09, as Brian Fuentes, Jason Bulger and Darren Oliver were their top three pitchers in appearances last season (Fuentes- 65, Bulger- 64, Oliver- 63). Oliver was probably their best man coming out of the 'pen, ERA-wise, as he posted a staff-low 2.71 ERA. Fuentes' and Bulger's ERAs were considerably higher than Oliver's, as they recorded averages of 3.93 and 3.56, respectively. While Fuentes was serviceable in the closer's role, he was not quite as "lights out" in that role as his predecessor, Francisco Rodriguez. While he did record a MLB-best 48 saves last year, he still surrendered 53 hits in 55 innings, along with blowing seven saves. Even though he could definitely get the job done, the end does not always necessarily justify the means, as his high-wire acts during the ninth inning would often have Angels fans looking for their Pepto-Bismol after games.

Overall, the Angels would tie for 20th in ERA (4.45), tie for 13th in runs surrendered (761), and would let opponents hit off of them at a .272 clip, which tied for the seventh-worst in MLB. Despite the performance of some of their starters, this was a pretty mediocre staff overall last year.
Final Grade: C

Wild Card: Perseverance
Losing a teammate during the season is always something that is difficult to overcome, and the Angels managed to still do it, as they won the division title in honor of their fallen friend. They also had to endure the loss of one of their most respected members of their organization too, as long-time consultant and former big league manager Preston Gomez passed away on January 13 of last year at the age of 85. They were both honored with patches on their jerseys during the season, and the fact that they were able to still perform at a high level during this adversity is nothing short of admirable.
Final Grade: A+

Overall:
The Angels were a stacked team this year, one that fell excruciatingly short of their goal of another World Series title. With all of the times they have fallen short since their first title in 2002, could they be becoming this generation's version of the Atlanta Braves? Only time will tell.
Final Grade: A

Check back soon for the final report card, which will be on the World Champion New York Yankees!

Rumor has it that....

The White Sox, Padres and Angels are discussing a three-way trade that would send Paul Konerko to Los Angeles, Adrian Gonzalez to Chicago and prospects to San Diego. A very interesting proposition, in my honest opinion. We would be getting a very great left-handed hitter who clubbed 40 home runs last year while playing in a pitcher's ballpark, not to mention a guy who can add some more balance to the lineup. With Thome's departure, there was a clear void in the lineup as far as left-handed power goes. If the Sox were somehow able to acquire Gonzalez, that void would be gone.

However, there is the issue of Konerko's no-trade clause, which is present only because of his 10-5 rights (10-5 rights means that if a player has been in the majors for at least 10 seasons, with the last five being on the same team, they have the power to veto any trade). According to the linked article, Konerko lives in Arizona during the offseason, and as you already know, Southern California is pretty close to Arizona. Nonetheless, I do not know how I feel about Konerko being traded. Yes, he is an "old" 33, but he is still very productive at the plate, and on the field as well. He hit .277 this year (his highest average since 2006), with 28 home runs and 88 RBIs, which is a pretty solid year at the plate. He was also one of my favorite players growing up, and I still have my Paul Konerko autograph on the bill of my Sox hat proudly sitting atop my trophy shelf. He is one of the greatest players in Sox history; he is second in team history in home runs, and he and Frank Thomas are the only two players in Sox history to post back-to-back 40 homer seasons. Sox fans will not forget how clutch he was during the 2005 postseason, when he hit possibly the biggest home run in team history in Game 2 (a 7th inning grand slam off of Chad Qualls). The day "Paulie" plays his final game in a Sox uniform will definitely be a sad one for me and many Sox fans.

But...if they do acquire Gonzalez, I would still be estatic. I would love to see him paired with Carlos Quentin in the lineup next year, and I would love to see him do work on American League pitching. He is similar to Konerko in a lot of ways. He carries himself with a quiet dignity that is similar to "Paulie;" he has unheralded power, just like him and he can field his position very well, just like him, too. The most awesome aspect about this trade idea is that he's 27 years old, which means he is just about to enter his prime. Now that I think about it, if this trade were to go through, I would be sad that Konerko left, but, at the same time, it would be like he never left at all once Gonzalez suits up at first. Like the old saying goes: "sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same." Kenny, if you were able to get this deal done, go for it!