MLB: Observations after the Completion of the First Two Weeks of the Season

With the completion of tonight's (Saturday 14 April) games the season is one-thirteenth complete. While it is still too early to draw any strong conclusions, some observations and outlooks about what are the trends can be offered.

-- Weather: this April has been been very cold so offenses have noticeably suffered. This will be reversed to a large extent as we get into May. By season's end, what has happened this month will be forgotten and largely unrecognizable in the statistics. There have been a large number of postponements due to weather (just ask the Indians and Mariners). Scheduling is a challenge for the sport always this early in the season as teams everywhere prefer to be at home at a minimum in exchange for better drawing games in the summer and in September if in any kind of meaningful race. But MLB needs to focus more on intradivisonal games in April as they would be easier to schedule for makeups in event of weather-related postponements. Scheduling once a season trips to places like Cleveland, Chicago, and Boston for teams like Seattle, Texas, and Tampa Bay for example is just plain foolish. This is another strong reason for the American League to expand to sixteen teams as soon as possible so that scheduling can be done better for the benefit of all clubs and particularly the players and the fans. Lets see those new AL clubs by 2010 or 2011 in Portland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, or San Antonio.

-- Results: predictably, Tampa Bay and Kansas City have already started to fall behind in the AL, and Washington and San Francisco are doing the same in the NL. Surprises are not that many so far with Atlanta, Arizona, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Baltimore having their heads above water still at this point. The one standout disappointment is Philadelphia.

-- Outlook: As what usually happens, the next two to three weeks will establish the first cut between the contenders and pretenders. Clubs like Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Washington, and San Francisco could be around ten games out by then. Teams like Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Texas could be 5-7 games out. The Yankees, Mets, Tigers, and Angels should be around .650 or better. Lets hope I am totally incorrect about this outlook and some of these perennial losers give their fans some reason for a little hope and the big money Yankees are underachieving and scuffling.

-- Colorado Rockies: my favorite team has their difficiencies and strengths as does everybody.
On the positive side, the starting pitching has been very solid as has been the defense. On the minus side, the hitting has been largely sorry, the bullpen has been poor and shaky, and there has been no power to speak of so far. Lets hope the bats warm up quickly and the bullpen starts to develop a greater rhythm and consistency in the coming weeks, if not days.

The upcoming schedule for Colorado includes a seven game home stand starting Monday 16 April with a pair of games each against the Giants and Dodgers and a weekend three game set against the Padres; then its on the road for a quick three game trip to play the Mets at Shea followed by a three game weekend set back home against the Braves then back out on the road for three at San Francisco, three at Cincinnati, and three at St Louis before starting another homestand Thursday, 10 May. Lets hope these next 23 games starting Sunday the 15th of April has the Rockies win around 13 to 16 of them to position themselves as a contender for the coming months.

Recent News Articles and Observations

Here are some recent news articles and opinions and my observations briefly on them.


A. Brutal Honesty from the Man Who Really Should be the Next President

I strongly maintain that Senator John McCain remains the most ably qualified candidate for the Presidency in 2008 and stands head and shoulders above all the other candidates, announced or unannounced. He has a strong grasp on foreign and domestic policy and clearly knows and demonstrates what a leader is and can be, unlike virtually all the other presidential candidates.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/us/politics/15mccain.html?ei=5065&en=8db1136256412d6d&ex=1177214400&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

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B. Thompson Poised to Join Race for Presidency

Longtime dramatic actor and retired two-term Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson will join the race for the GOP nomination for the Presidency later this summer, and his entry into the field will result in the inevitable and eventual failure of the candidacies of Rudy Guilianni and Mitt Romney, among others.

http://townhall.com/Columnists/RobertDNovak/2007/04/14/rove_left_out

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C. Amok Capitalism in the 21st Century

This article points out the serious flaws and shortcomings that exist in our Capitalist economic system that have largely emerged in the last generation and the peril and risk that such activities and pursuits to every citizen. What ever happened to ethics in the business world? Oh, I forget -- thats something that is bad for business, the profits they lustily crave, and the fat wallets and perks that business management demands and expects.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.capitalism15apr15,0,3938278.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

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D. Globalization's Bitter Price for American Citizens

Anyone with any kind of intelligence and compassion could see this coming 20-25 years ago. Ross Perot was not blowing smoke when he was talking about the consequences of globalism on the American citizenry 11-18 years ago. American citizens are paying a harsh price, especially older Americans, rural Americans, and people who are quiet, soft-spoken, and reserved. Many people are not cut out psychologically to be salesmen, hucksters, and hustlers for corporations.
Creating and making something that people need is a far more desirable occupation.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070430/greider

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E. Another Strong Reason for Breaking Up the Telecommunications Oligopoly

I firmly believe that Telecommunications corporations, like utility corporations, be restricted to be strongly regulated and broken up. These entities must not be allowed to do business in more than about 6-7 states. They operate as a public service and must remain small enough to be attentive to the needs of the citizenry and to allow maximum freedoms and choices for citizens at the most minimal cost. Beasts like AT&T, Comcast, Cox, Time-Warner Cable, Qwest, and Verizon are at the top of my targeted hit list for corporations to be broken up and shrunken to more manageable and responsible business for the citizens to choose from among many others that could be created to provided choice and competition with more reasonable and sensible pricing.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/15/532/

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F. Another View about What is Happening in Iraq

I do not believe things are getting much better in Iraq, but I will remain patient for next several months and give the ongoing mission time to succeed and make progress. There simply is no other logical alternative at this time and in the near future.

http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=186275

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G. Looking Ahead to Unemployment Trends for the Upcoming Recession

When the recession this year kicks in this summer, one demographic that will suffer enormously will be the older worker, those over age 45. Along with Blacks, rural citizens, and women, this upcoming recession and economic downturn will be quite cruel to the older worker, which includes me and many others I have known and continue to know.

http://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/bp162

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H. The Psychology of Conservatives?

Can these kinds of people possess a serious personality flaw that can be identified. My thought would be no...

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Society/Conservatives_Deconstruct.html

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I. Frightening Terror from the Deep Attacking Mankind & Pets !

Horror of Horrors, a killer beast terrorizing the local population and their pets ! Get every cop from a one-hundred fifty mile radius on this case ! Mobilize the National Guard (oops, I forget, they are all in Iraq and Afghanistan dealing with a different kind of terror) ! I know, Get the Govern-nator, Arnold, since it is happening in his state and have him pulverize the threat !

http://www.mercurynews.com/weirdnews/ci_5670526?nclick_check=1

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