K-Rod’s Stupid Actions and Players Who Would Be Stars

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Francisco Rodriguez or as the haughty New York press refers to him, K-Rod, has just won the award for this season’s MSA – Most Stupid Act. Apparently when he went off and socked his kids’ grandfather last week he broke his thumb.

Thumb rhymes with dumb!

The brainless act has him out for the season for the team that has become the baseball version of The Hangover. Let’s see, Jose Reyes missed almost the first two months of the season, Jason Bay went on the dl while Carlos Beltran finally came off it. Jeff Franceour wants to be traded and Oliver Perez refuses to go to the minors.

Alex Cora was released and Ike Davis promoted. You need a calculator to count the number of starters. There have been only two suitably reliable players this year – David Wright and Johan Santana.  And the team probably still blames Willie Randolph. Sheesh!

This is a case study on what can happen to a team that spends hundreds of millions of dollars and still cannot win. The team needs to eradicate the bad chemistry and start over. As for K-Rod, will the fans boo him next year like so many have Milton Bradley? At least Bradley never assaulted a person close to this family. The Mets should rescind his contract and write a new one with a stronger character clause.

Players Who Would Be Stars.

Each year many players on teams that are bad or play in markets that are not New York, Boston, Philadelphia or Chicago are overlooked. These players would get much more rec if they performed in the aforementioned cities. Here then one person’s lineup of overlooked players:

Miguel Montero  c  Arizona Diamondbacks (.302/.366/.497)

Since coming off the DL, Montero has been so impressive that the club traded Chris Snyder with whom he shared the job with.

Billy Butler   1b  Kansas City Royals (.309/.378/.461)

Butler broke out last year leading the league in doubles and driving in 93 runs and hitting .301. This year the RBI are down but his numbers  at this point are comparable.

Jeff Keppinger 2b Houston Astros (.285/.348/.395)

Keppinger’s numbers are All-Star worthy this year. But on a team going nowhere there was no chance he would have been selected (that went to Michael Bourn) even if he deserved it over Omar Infante and Bourn.

Juan Uribe  ss San Francisco Giants (.258/.319/.440)

This veteran’s bat has been an important part of an otherwise weak hitting team. No, his average is not good (.258) but his power (15/65) and SLG (.440) are worthy enough to make this team.

Casey McGehee  3b Milwaukee Brewers (.284/.344/.469)

Placed in the recycle bin by the Cubs, McGehee was a cheap no risk pickup by the Brewers that worked out. Most wondered if he could play up to his 2009 numbers when he just missed out on Rookie of the Year and so far he has proven he can.  Perhaps as a testament of his stature, he  is 100% owned in the ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Shin-Soo Choo    of   Cleveland Indians (.290/.386/.467)

One of the better bargains around, Choo has had a stint on the dl but when healthy is good enough to bat third in the lineup.

Carlos Gonzalez of Colorado Rockies  (.321/.352/.569)

Perhaps the most productive hitter not to have been an All-Star this year, Gonzalez leads the Rockies in every offensive category except on-base pct.

Delmon Young of Minnesota Twins (.316/.347/.511)

Young has finally figured it out. One of the reasons the Twins are still competing in their division without Justin Morneau is because Young leads the team in RBI with 84.

Mat Latos   RHP    San Diego Padres   (12-5/2.32/ .99)

The “experts” like Roy Halladay or Ubaldo Jimenes but Latos is having a Cy Young Award year on the best staff in baseball. His omission off the All-Star team is a prime example of being overlooked for other players who are in bigger markets. He is a victim of the “Left Coast bias.”

Jaime Garcia LHP  St Louis Cardinals  (10-5 /2.71 /1.31)

Still considered a rookie, Garcia has claimed the number 3 position in the Cardinals rotation behind Carpenter and Wainwright and has not disappointed. He will not win the Rookie of the Year because of the plethora of prime rookies in the league this  year.

Rafael Soriano Closer  Tampa Bay Rays (34 saves/1.74/.84)

A trade made with little fanfare over the offseason, the Rays pickup of Soriano to be their closer has in many ways been the reason for the team’s run for the pennant this year. One wonders why the Braves gave up on him.