CLEVELAND -- Joe Borowski wasn't happy with the Phillies. Steve Smith wasn't happy with Major League Baseball. Cole Hamels wasn't happy with himself.Can't we all just get along?
* In a candid interview before last night's game, Borowski (left) railed against the Phillies, claiming they determined he failed a physical last November, then leaked the information to the news media, in order to low-ball him with a free-agent contract offer. The Phils have a different version of the story. We'll just have to draw our own conclusions. Regardless, Borowski is 22-for-24 in save chances for the Indians and says he couldn't be happier. In one of his more revealing comments, he said some of the former Phillies now with the Indians (David Dellucci, Jason Michaels, Aaron Fultz, Roberto Hernandez and Paul Byrd) told him he's better off that he didn't wind up in Philly.
* Smith was suspended for three games for his confrontation with first-base umpire Laz Diaz on Sunday. He thinks MLB is watching his behavior closely after his previous suspensions.
* Down the street from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Hamels got rocked. Did it cost him a chance to start in the All-Star Game? Most likely. Jake Peavy is my bet to start for the NL. But I think Hamels is still a lock to be an All-Star. So is Chase Utley, who is leading in the fan balloting among second basemen. To me, Jimmy Rollins and Aaron Rowand are long shots. Ryan Howard is a longer long shot.
Rowand has the best case for All-Star consideration. Among NL outfielders, he's tied for first in runs (45) and ranks second in batting average (.320), third in hits (82), third in on-base percentage (.396), sixth in OPS (.909), ninth in slugging percentage (.500) and 10th in doubles (16). He's also tied for 11th in RBIs (38) and tied for 13th in home runs (10). Right now, Carlos Beltran, Ken Griffey Jr. and Alfonso Soriano are the top three vote-getters in the fan balloting. Carlos Lee, Barry Bonds and Matt Holliday likely will be picked, and someone like the Pirates' Jason Bay may be selected as the only representative from a weaker team (although I think Ian Snell should also go for Pittsburgh).
How about you? Who do you have on your NL All-Star team, and is Rowand included?
1 comment:
Well, it's not hard to imagine all those guys, except maybe Fultz and especially Byrd - saying that.
David Dellucci - Felt he was a starter, though his #'s sure don't indicate that any longer.
Jason Michaels - Shipped out of town and buddies with enemy #1 Burrell.
Roberto Hernandez - Terrible.
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