Video: Cespedes NAILS Pujols at Third

For the second time in two days,  Yoenis Cespedes makes an amazing throw!


Cespedes made the same play in the previous game! Wow!

My Thoughts on The Cubs

Yes, I am back for now posting about sports again. The layoff has been long and baseball's postseason picture has become clearer by the day. As we all know, the Chicago Cubs have had an awful season under manager Mike Quade. Carlos Zambrano had another meltdown, and hopefully never pitches for the Cubs again. The guy is a super talented pitcher, but his anger problems have been well documented on this team since he became the Ace of the staff in 2007. The Cubs made the first step torward respectability again by firing General Manager Jim Hendry. Hendry had been at the helm of the Cubs GM slot since 2002. Under Hendry, the Cubs won the NL Central in 2003, 2007, and 2008, but suffered unexpected postseason exits every time. Now that Hendry is gone, I will tell you what I would want to see with the Cubs come 2012.
 1. I Want A GM Who has put together a title winning team.
 I think this is imperative that the Cubs hire a guy who has put together a title winning team?. Why? Because the Cubs have the longest title drought in Sports history! I would like to see the Cubs go after a guy like Brian Cashman or Theo Epstein, two guys who have experience in putting together championship teams. Epstein built that 2004 Red Sox team that shocked the world in 2004. Facing elimination down three games to none in the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees, The Red Sox became the first team in baseball history to win four straight games to go on to the World Series! The Red Sox then made quick work out of the St Louis Cardinals, pulling off a four game sweep to win the World Series! Epstein was also on board when the Red Sox retooled with Florida Marlins castoffs Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, went back to the World Series in 2007, sweeping the Colorado Rockies to win it all again. Cashman led the Yankees to finally win the World Series again in 2009.
 2. NO Big Free Agent Signing!
 Albert Pujols is a big Power hitting first baseman. While most Cubs fans have dreamed about him signing with us this offseason, I have been dead set against the Cubs signing him. The Cubs already have signed guys to contracts for too many years and too much money (I'm looking at you Alfonso Soriano.) And with Pujols, I think his inevitable decline has started as a hitter. You can usually always count on him for a .300 season with 40 homers and 100 RBIS, he as of right now is right at .300 with a 37 homer mark with 97 RBIS. Pujols is 31. I don't want to sign a guy to a seven, eight year contract. This team needs to focus on starting pitching. I know that big C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees has an opt out clause after this season, but I don't think he's going anywhere.
New Manager, Pitching Coach as well.
As hard a pill as it was to swallow that Ryne Sandberg would not be returning in Cubbie Pinstripes to manage the team after spending three years managing Cubs minor league teams (each year finishing with a winning record and playoff appearance,) I decided to embrace Mike Quade as Cubs manager. However, it seems like the only players that respect him are the players. The umpires don't respect him (He is tied for the Cubs record for manager ejections) and the fans seemed mad that Ryno is now managing the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of Philly's Triple A system. He hates taking out pitchers and would rather watch a guy implode than take him out when it looks like he doesn't have his best stuff. Check out closer Carlos Marmol's ten blown saves, the most in baseball by Three! Larry Rothschild was the Cubs pitching coach for many seasons. He then left the team for greener pastures, as he is now the pitching coach for the New York Yankees. The Cubs replaced him with bullpen coach Mark Riggins. Riggins seems to have done more harm than good as a pitching coach to me. The starters are in the games too long, to the point where they're worn down stamina wise, and the relievers don't have the ability to shut guys down, especially in the late innings, that is required to get wins and save ballgames! In a dream world, Greg Maddux would be my choice for Cubs pitching coach,but he will probably stay in the Cubs front office. He is currently an apprentice to assistant Cubs GM Randy Bush.

My 2010 MLB Preview

Opening Night is just one night away with Yankees-Red Sox on ESPN. Here are my division previews. Sorry, I ran out of time to do a division by division preview like I wanted.

Anyway, here are my picks division by division.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL East New York Yankees
AL Central Minnesota Twins
AL West Texas Rangers
AL Wild Card Boston Red Sox
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NL East Philladelphia Phillies
NL Central Chicago Cubs
NL West Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wildcard Colorado Rockies

ALDS: Yankees Over Twins
ALDS: Red Sox Over Rangers
NLDS: Phillies Over Rockies
NLDS: Dodgers Over Cubs

ALCS: Yankees Over Red Sox
NLCS: Phillies over Dodgers

World Series: Yankees over Phillies.

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
NL ROY: Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
AL ROY: Nefetali Feliz, Rangers
AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Ron Washington, Rangers
NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Tony La Russa, Cardinals
NL CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER Roy Halladay, Phillies
AL CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER CC Sabathia, Yankees

2009 State Farm Homerun Derby Highlights

Baseball Tonight Previews Sunday Night Baseball

Baseball Tonight previews Sunday night's Cardinals vs. Cubs matchup.

2009 MLB Preview: NL Central

In 2008, The NL Central saw the Chicago Cubs win the division for the second straight season. The remaining teams seemed to stockpile for players for the following season.

What is in store for 2009? Let's take a look.

Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs played well during the 2008 season. However,They ended up their worst baseball of the entire season in the playoffs against the Dodgers. So, what do the Cubs do? They realize that they have to become more left handed, so they end up trading Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians, opening up a roster spot for the Left handed Mike Fontenot. To "replace" De Rosa, the Cubs signed Aaron Miles, a guy who has also played all over the field. The Cubs also signed Milton Bradley, a Switch Hitter who has run into trouble in the past but can really make a difference in a lineup.

The Cubs roatation is still the best in the NL Central. Carlos Zambrano threw a no hitter last year, but despite that, he was a real "tale of two Zambranos" as there were moments when he was lights out, and other times when he couldn't get anybody out.

Ted Lilly won 17 games last season, but the key to how well the Cubs will do in 2009 depends on whethr or not Ryan Dempster can replicate his career season from last season.


Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are getting up there in age. Taht's putting it nicely. Lance Berkman and Miguel Tejada will be tested this season. Carlos Lee swung a hot bat last season. He will have to it again for Houston to hang around. Mike Hampton returns to the Astros, I don't see that working out to good. Everyone in the rotation outside of Roy Oswalt has questionmarks.


St Louis Cardinals
The St Louis Cardinals have a good ammount of young players, but their season will hinge on ALbert Pujols and Chris Carpenter. If Carpenter returns to the Carpenter of old, Yhe Cardinals could battle with the Cubs for the division title.

Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers still have J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, and Ryan Braun, but the Brewers do not have Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia in their rotation. Expect Milwaukee to take a step back this season.

CINCINNATTI REDS
The Reds could be Baseball's biggest surprise in 2009. Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Edinson Volquez, and Johnny Cueto make for an interesting season in 2009.

PIITSBURGH PIRATES
Not this year. Again.
My Division Projections:
1. CHICAGO CUBS
Expect Milton Bradley to help this Cubs lineup return to the playoffs. Their rotation will be key to how well they fare in the division.
2. CINCINATTI REDS
The Reds young talent could hang around.
3. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The Cardinals still have baseball's best hitter, but their young players will have to step up for St. Louis to be cometitive.
4. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
It's more about the loss of Sheets and Sabathia that will do in this team.
5. Houston Astros
They had better be thankful for the Pirates.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
They are not going to compete again this season.

Albert Pujols Wins Second NL MVP Award

St. Louis Cardinals First Baseman Albert Pujols won his second NL MVP award.

Pujols won the NL MVP award by a substantial margin over Philladelphia Phillies First Baseman Ryan Howard.

Voting was done before the Playoffs began.

Pujols hit .357 with 37 homeruns and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow that required surgery. Howard hit 48 homers with 146 RBIs for the Phillies.

Congrats to Albert on winning his second NL MVP award.

Carlos Zambrano Wins Silver Slugger Award

For the second time in his career, Carlos Zambrano has won the Silver Slugger Award.

Here were the other Silver Slugger award winners, in both leagues:

AMERICAN LEAGUE
C Joe Mauer, MIN
1B Justin Morneau, MIN
2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS
3B Alex Rodriguez, NYY
SS Derek Jeter, NYY
OF Josh Hamilton, TEX
OF Carlos Quentin, CWS
OF Grady Sizemore, CLE
DH Aubrey Huff, BAL

NATIONAL LEAGUE
C Brian McCann, ATL
1B Albert Pujols, STL
2B Chase Utley, PHI
3B David Wright, NYM
SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA
OF Ryan Braun, MIL
OF Matt Holliday, COL
OF Ryan Ludwick, STL
P Carlos Zambrano, CHC

Congratulations to all the Silver Slugger Award Winners.