and better yet...

benatworkblog.blogspot.com

There, I said it. Do I believe it? Not really, but I actually think they have a pretty decent shot. If I had to put money on things, I'd (obviously) take the Yankees and their $150 Million lineup that more-or-less discredits the fairness of Major League Baseball, but hey, (word that rhymes with "sit") happens.

As for an actual preview...

ALDS

1. Yankees vs. Tigers

This series *could* be a lot closer than people think. The Tigers are the type of team that gives the Yankees trouble. Like the '02 and '05 Angels and the '03 Marlins, the Tigers have a deep rotation, decent bullpen, and a lineup that can get hot at any time. Of course any team that enters the playoffs 19-31 of late, has a five-game losing streak, and just lost three in a row at home to the Royals doesn't really seem like they have much of a shot. If they manage to steal game one tonight, it'll be a series. If the Yankees win 13-4, as they likely will, then forget it.

2. Twins vs. A's

In a seven game series vs. the Yankees, the A's have a much better shot than the Twins. Of course they have to get by Johan Santana twice to do do. Can they? Of course. Will they? I dunno. I can see Frank Thomas and (welcome to the Big Stage) Milton Bradley carrying them, but it might be too hard of a task. Of course now that I've been caught up in my real job for a few hours, the A's are up on Santana 2-0 in the 6th inning. Hmmm...

NLDS

1. Mets vs. Dodgers

El Duque is going to be much better than anyone realizes. The Dodgers are incredibly streaky, but I can't really see their lineup (Marlon Anderson, anyone?) stacking up against the Mets. It'll be a good series, but the Mets should win.

2. Padres vs. Cardinals

The Cardinals are fielding their worst team in years and are running on fumes. The Padres wil have a tough time facing Chris Carpenter (possibly twice), but St. Louis doesn't have any other arms of note. Two words: walk Pujols. Two more: Pods win.

ALCS

It'll probably be Twins-Yankees and it probably won't be a very good series. In fact, I bet Johan Santana wins game 5 vs. the A's and the Twins will head back to Minnesota down 0-2 after dropping a pair in New York. The Twins will win a pair of games at home -- where they're a much better team, and where the elderly Yankees will struggle in the field -- but the Yanks are too much for them. Should the A's  make it, they'll give the Yanks a tougher time. Frank Thomas is determined to get a ring for being on the field instead of off it, and I really think Milton Bradley needs a big stage to be the All-Star he's always threatening to be. But do I trust the A's bullpen to come through against the Yanks? Not really, no.

NLCS

The Mets have been slumping at the plate recently, and if they face a team that can run out any one of five ENTIRELY different starters in Jake Peavy, Chris Young, David Wells, Clay Hensley and Woody Williams, it won't be pretty. The Padres are harly the '27 (or 2006) Yankees, but they have enough firepower to get by the likes of John Maine, Steve Traschel and a pair of 40-year-olds. Plus, it doesn't get much more "Mets" than losing an already-punched ticket to the World Series to a team with the franchise player they kicked to the curb. Call it Piazza's revenge. The Padres stay in New York.

World Series

Can the Padres beat the Yankees? Absolutely. Will they? That's another story. They've got the best pitching, and nice defense, but I can't see a team that's almost useless on offense beating the Yankees in the World Series. Having Mike Piazza DH for four games will be a big help, but probably not enough. If the Mets make it to the World Series, they'll give the Yanks a good fight -- and might actually win -- but I'm just not sure they can top the Padres to get there.

Whatever. I just hope the playoffs are fun. And that the Yankees don't win.

1. Great Debate: 2007 Preseason Fantasy Team

Is what it is.

2. The final roundtable: Fantasy awards!

This one was kinda fun, though I really didn't have much time to give it proper thought. My votes were...

Fantasy MVP: Albert Pujols
Most people chose Soriano, which probably would have made sense. Oops.

Fantasy Cy Young: Johan Santana
Nobody voted for anyone else. Yup, he's that good.

Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Papelbon
Simply a monster year. Lirano was great, but only mattered for half a season. No need to vote for him.

Disappointment: Morgan Ensberg
I voted for Jorge Cantu, mainly because I rode Ensberg's hot streak and then traded him, which I didn't find very disappointing at all.

Draft-day steal: Justin Morneau
'bout time.

Waiver-wire Pickup: J.J Putz
Hee hee. I said Putz.

Comeback: Frank Thomas
Nobody else deserved a vote.

Utilityman: Bill Hall
Freddy Sanchez won a batting title, but Hall had over 30 homers. I'll take the dingers, thanks.

Inconsistent: Dontrelle Willis
You never knew what you'd get. Francoeur makes sense as well though.

Biggest Fizzle: Chris Shelton
Obvious choice.

Best moustache: Burt Reynolds and Dave Bush
Neither got a mention. What can you do.

Don't ask. Just read.

2. This week's roundtable: Which great rookie won't be so great in 2007.

Nine writers. Everyone chose Dan Uggla or Jonathan Papelbon except for me (Cole Hamels) and Tim (no relation to Mel) Ott, who chose Josh Barfield. Can't say I agree with the Barfield thing, as he's supposed to be a decent player for a long, long time, but Papelbon and Uggla? Will Big Pap have an ERA under 1.00? Of course not, but he'll be a fine starter or reliever. He's hardly a one-hit wonder. As for Uggla, it's not CLEAR to me why he's doing so well. This sudden (h)GROWTH(h) in his stats does make you think. I just didn't write about him because I knew everyone else would, and I gave him some love in my football column the week before.

3. The previous roundtable: Which "big name" should you cut ties with.

This turned out to be an interesting topic, as everyone chose a different player. No need to go into all of them, but I chose Mike Piazza, who promptly homered in back-to-back games as soon as the column was posted. BUT, he was playing in Cincinnatti, where some dude named David Ross has been blasting homers left and right all season. Since leaving Cincy, Piazza is 1-for-11. I feel justified.

Earlier this year I made the executive decision to not have a fantasy football team for the first time this century, and I'm 180% happy with my decision. Fantasy football drives me nuts. Every year one team is done because one of the 15 "best" players inevitably suffers a season-ending injury in week one. In fantasy baseball, at least you have a 24 man team to make up for the loss of a big gun. In fantasy football you're pretty much screwed.

There's also the fact that in 2004 I had the best team BY FAR in my league and then in week one of the playoffs Shaun Alexander had his worst game of the year and Terrell Owens broke his leg. Not that I'm still bitter or anything. Or am I bitter that the following week my team scored more points than any other team all season. Hooray for fantasy football!

I am doing an NFL "Pick 'em" pool at work, which will give me reason to spend Sundays yelling at the TV like every other American this fall. So at least I've got that going for me. But those games I'll take week-by-week. Other than that, I've done precious little preparing for the season. No NFL Live, no football reading...I just haven't wanted to care.

With that said, it's time for me to make some BOLD predictions about the season. Considering I know nothing about the league, who cares if I'm wrong? And if I'm right? How 'bout that...

AFC EAST

1. Patriots
Not because they're so great anymore, but because the competition doesn't seem that stiff.

2. Bills
It's cold up there!

3. Dolphins
Speaking of stiff, did you watch Culpepper's debut last night?

4. Jets
Another reason I hated fantasy football? 55-year-old Curtis Martin ALWAYS came up huge against me, costing me 4-5 wins the last few years.

AFC North

1. Steelers
Why pick against the champs?

2. Bengals
Why pick against the (former) chumps?

3. Ravens
Real men do NOT wear purple.

4. Browns
Browns? Reds? Why aren't Ohioans more creative?

AFC South

1. Jaguars
Always liked the cars.

2. Colts
Blah, blah, blah.

3. Titans
I really, really, really don't like college football, but Vince Young's performance in the Rose Bowl was one of the best things I've ever seen.

4. Texans
Blah, blah, blah.

AFC West

1. Chiefs
I feel like they go 10-6 or 9-7 every year.

2. Chargers
You stay classy San Diego.

3. Broncos
You stay bearded Jake Plummer.

4. Raiders
Though I feel like the super-quiet Randy Moss will have a 2,000 yard season.

NFC East

1. Cowboys
You might not want to invite him over for tea, but Terrell Owens is pretty good...

2. Eagles
...and the Cowboys will only win if Owens makes it out of Philly alive this season.

3. Giants
I don't know football, but I know baseball. And Tom Coughlin seems to be football's Buck Showalter. That works almost never.

4. Redskins
Not without Coach Janky Spanky at 100%.

NFC North

1. Lions
It's about time, isn't it?

2. Bears
They'll probably finish in first, but in case the Lions are good, I wanted to say "I told you so, even though I know very little about football."

3. Vikings
Third place? You betcha.

4. Packers
Just retire, Brett. Please. You and Clemens need to leave us alone.

NFC South

1. Panthers
As far as I know they're the only professional sports franchise whose name in Spanish can double for a heavy metal band.

2. Falcons
One of these years it will be their year.

3. Bucs
Third place doesn't sound great, but on the bright side, it's higher than the Devil Rays will ever finish.

4. Saints
Would love to pick them to finish higher, but barring an injury to Cadillac Williams or Michael Vick, it won't happen.

NFC West

1. Seahawks
Though their QB's sister-in-law needs to shut the uck-fay up.

2. Cardinals
Sure, why not.

3. Rams
A city not know for a plethora of Rams. But then again, neither was Los Angeles.

4. 49ers
I can name two people on the team. And I'm pretty sure they're tight end's name is Brent, but then again whose isn't?

AFC Title Game: Cheifs over Steelers
NFC Title Game: Panthers over Cowboys
Super Bowl: Panthers over Chiefs

And if that's not remotely correct, just remember: I have no idea what we're yelling about.

Do yourself a favor and watch. It's not like you've got anything better to do on Sunday Nights. Who do you think you are, John Madden?

In which me and Tim Ott (no relation to Mel) discuss which players fantasy-nerds should hold onto for the long haul.

2. This week's Roundtable

In which we're asked to name a reliever who'll help your ERA and WHIP. Anytime I get to write about the merits of Brett Tomko, it's a good time. Not that I would have been allowed to mention the fact that A.J Pierzynski dislikes him so much, he paid out $100 to a teammate for homering off him, but hey, it's all good.

In this one I drop some Garko on your unsuspecting ***...

Y'all can read it here.

10 Most Played Songs Since I Had to Replace My ipod That Died an Untimely Death.

1. "S.O.S (Rescue Me)" by Rihanna
Played so much because it's prominently featured in my Summer Jamz playlist, but still, this song is pretty spectacular. Great sample ("Tainted Love"). Great chorus. Just a great summer song.

2. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by The Walker Brothers
Going from a song that's brand new to one that's 30 years old. That's my ipod for ya'.

3. "Stars are Blind" by Paris Hilton
The first couple listens were for ironic value. The next few were because it's actually very catchy. And yes, I'm embarassed by this.

4. "Crazy *****" by Buckcherry
Still (listening to) "Crazy..." after all these weeks.

5. "Starlight" by Muse
Took 10 years for me to accept this band as more than shameless Radiohead ripoffs, and that's probably just because Radiohead don't sound like Radiohead anymore.

6. "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado
In a few years, when people make lists of the 100 best songs of this decade, how many will be produced by Timbaland? 5? 10? Pretty impressive for a dude named after a boot.

7. "Bethamphetamine" by Butch Walker and the Let's Go Out Tonights
I heart Butch Walker. Even more now that he sounds like Sweet.

8. "Town Called Malice" by The Jam
Even though it's hard to listen to without picturing that little **** from "Billy Elliott" balleting.

9. "Rick Rubin" by Spank Rock
Funky, cool and all futuristic. Good times.

10. "Wolf Like Me" by TV on the Radio
Not completely sold on them, but this song is fantastic.

1. The Reds

Last night the Reds beat the Giants and climbed into a tie for first place. All season long, baseball writers haven't really given the Reds a fair shake. They keep saying that the team will fall apart and not make the playoffs. Well, guess what? Looks like they will. Thanks to my NL-only fantasy team, I've watched a lot of Reds games this year -- they're probably third in my "most viewed" list behind the Red Sox and Mets -- and they look like they have "it." Sure, sometimes they get blown out, but they often find ways to win close games, and a number of players (Dunn, Phillips, Freel, Griffey,  Encarnacion, Aurillia, Hatteberg, David Ross, etc...) have come through in big situations. I like this team. I think they're "for real," as the kids would say.

2. Shawn Green

What, he's not a 45-home run hitter anymore? You're kidding! I love how baseball writers feel the need to point this out, as if Omar Minaya's media guide ends with the 2001 season. Look, the Mets knew fully what they were doing, and what's the downside about adding a veteran lefty who takes pitches, makes contact, and can easily slide into an already talented lineup? I'm all for the trade. Plus, Shea Stadium easily has the highest percentage of **** in the crowd of any Major League stadium. Big ovations for Shawn every time he comes up. Good vibes.

3. Johnny Damon

He's got eight homers in the last three weeks. He hit 10 all of last season. Not saying someone should ask if he's been spending too much time with Jason Giambi, but if you think there's nothing fishy about this, you should have your head examined.

4. Edwin Encarnacion

He's got seven homers in the last three weeks. But unlike Damon, he's a young power hitter entering his prime. Very happy to know I can keep him for the next few years on my NL-only fantasy team.

5. The Wire

The only thing this show has to do with baseball is the constant references to the Orioles. But it's amazing, and I'd reccomend anyone to watch the old episodes before the new season starts up again in a few weeks.

Well, he is and was wrong, and I wrote this really long thing to prove as much. Been meaning (and forgetting to post it here). Here it is...

Bill-
I've been an avid reader since the old BSG days. Over the last few years, when something important, exciting, repulsive – or most importantly, hilarious – happens in the sports world, one of my first thoughts is “I can't wait to find out what Simmons will have to say about this.” When the Sox went on their playoff run, causing The Biggest Choke in Sports History, you were one of the few writers/fans who captured the moment perfectly. The same with the Pats Super Bowls. And the C's. And the NBA draft. And…well, the list goes on. Bill, when it comes to sports…you know your stuff. When it comes to television…you know your stuff. When it comes to relationships…you know your stuff. When it comes to being a “guy”…you know your stuff. When it comes to movies…you (generally) know your stuff. But please, as a reader, a fan, and a friend of a few friends…when it comes to music…you have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm sorry. I hate to say it, but it's true. I first questioned your music knowledge/taste a long time ago when you bitched about how The Counting Crows sound different live than in person. The Counting Crows, Bill? The Counting Crows are the chick flick of bands. I was a freshman in college in the fall of 1994. You have no idea how many times I heard “Anna Begins” wafting out of the dorm room of some emoting Freshman girl who missed her boyfriend. “A Long December?” There might as well be a Meg Ryan movie with that title. Bill, if one of your friends copped to enjoying a movie where one character says to the other “Every time she sneezes I believe its love,” you'd buy him the Doug Christie jersey in 6.3 seconds. When I think about the Counting Crows, I always come back to one thing. Back when my ladyfriend was in college, I remember talking to her on the phone. She said her and her best friend had come from a CD store where her best friend bought some rap CDs and a Counting Crows CD? “Counting Crows?” I asked. “Yeah, she likes to listen to them when she's PMSing” my girlfriend told me. PMSing. She couldn't even handle them in a normal mood.

But this isn't about how lame Adam Duritz is. This is about your column about U2. But before we get to the sports equivalent of U2, let's first take care of something else you wrote in the column…

“With sports, there is nothing to do but  argue about this stuff. If music were sports, Kornheiser and Wilbon would be fighting to the death over "Who's better: Franz Ferdinand or The Killers?" But we don't approach music this way…

Now by “we” I can only assume you mean “you.” I spend an inordinate amount of time arguing about music with friends – as a good amount of people in New York do. At the bar, playing cards, watching baseball…it doesn't matter where. And as for the Kornheiser and Wilbon thing, each week in Chicago, music critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot do the same thing on the radio with “Sound Opinions” – “The world's ONLY rock n roll talk show.” And considering both Kot and DeRogatis have the Franz Ferdinand record in their top 10 of last year and NOT the Killers record tells you something about how people who follow music see the two bands. But to put it into terms you'll understand better, let's go back in time to the NBA of the mid 90's.

Franz Ferdinand are Grant Hill. They're seasoned, intelligent and stylish. They take the best bits of players from the past and spin them in new and original ways. While there are elements of Franz Ferdinand and '95 Grant Hill that remind you of those that came before them, despite being rookies, they've already cemented a place in music/NBA lore.

The Killers? The Killers are Glenn Robinson. They're a complete and total product of the era. Sure they'll give you 20 and 10 for a few years and make a few all-star teams, but that's about it. Their "style" (Duran Duran keyboards, Strokes chic and songs about androgynous sexy people) is as calculated as Robinson's (a shaved head and baggy shorts). Not to mention that you refer to Robinson as Glenn “I stole Antoine Carr's nickname” Robinson, while most music fans think of The Killers as “that band that completely rips off Pulp.” At best The Killers will be another Stone Temple Pilots of the 00's to The Strokes' Nirvana. Totally catchy and worth listening to, but in 10 years they'll be a footnote. In other words, you'll be telling your kids about Grant Hill and not Glenn Robinson, while I'm playing my kids the first Franz Ferdinand record and not the first Killers record.

Now as far as U2 goes, you can't possibly take a subjective look at the issue because you're a rabid U2 fan. Obviously you think no athlete – not even Jordan (aka The Beatles) – can compare to them. The same way that anyone would have a tough time convincing me that Pavement aren't the equal of Sandy Koufax.

But U2 has a perfect athlete equivalent. Bill, you're just too much of a U2 fan – and not to mention too much of a NON-fan of their jock doppelganger.

U2 is Cal Ripken Jr. That's right, Cal f'n Ripken Jr.

Right now you're head is exploding. You're filled with rage because I compared the band that shaped your life with an athlete you think is overrated and deserves much less attention than he deserves. This is how you feel as a REAL SPORTS FAN. The same way a lot of REAL MUSIC FANS feel that U2 is overrated. And by REAL FAN I mean someone that spends as much time listening to and/or reading about music as you do with sports.

And I know you think people don't argue about music, but let's check this out for a second.

1960: Both Bono and Cal Ripken Jr. are born. Coincidence? I think not.

1980-1982: U2 become big in Ireland and the UK before finally breaking into the American music scene with “I Will Follow” and “Gloria” – becoming one of the biggest “up and coming” bands around. Meanwhile, Cal Ripken jumps from the Rochester Red Wings to the big leagues, winning the 1982 American League Rookie of the Year award.

1983: Both hit the big time. Cal Ripken wins the AL MVP award and his Baltimore Orioles win the World Series. He's well on his way to becoming the most POPULAR baseball player of the 1980s. U2 relase “War,” becoming international superstars thanks to “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “New Year's Day,” and “40.” They're well on their way to becoming the most POPULAR band of the 1980s.

1984-1987: Now this is where U2 fans will throw their arms in the air and get as frustrated as Bono talking about genocide and fair trade. They'll say that this is where the similarities end. That in order for Cal Ripken to equal U2, then he'd have to have pantheon level seasons in 1984 and 1987 to match “The Unforgettable Fire” and “The Joshua Tree.” But again, that's just the way U2 fans will look at it. To the rest of us, it's simple…

From 1984 to 1987 U2 was the MOST POPULAR rock band on the planet while Cal Ripken Jr. was the MOST POPULAR baseball player on the planet. And yes, you can also make a case that during this time U2 was the best band, and Cal the best baseball player. Though you could more accurately say that U2 were the best mainstream rock band and Cal Ripken was the best shortstop. As for fame, U2 would routinely sell out stadiums, while Cal pretty much led all of baseball in all-star voting for all of these years.

During these years, players like Andre Dawson, George Bell, Kirby Puckett, Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly, Mike Schmidt and others put up equal and/or better numbers than Cal, but he was more “popular” than all of them. Also during these years, bands like Sonic Youth, The Smiths, R.E.M, The Replacements, The Cure, Metallica, Echo and the Bunnymen and others ALSO released great music that stands the test of time. Only none of them were as POPULAR as U2.

1988: The low points. Cal's Orioles start the season without winning for practically all of April. They finish 54-107. Also, bad publicity for the Ripken clan as Cal's less-talented brother Billy appears on a baseball card with “F@#$ Face” written on his bat. Meanwhile, U2 release the pompous movie/album “Rattle and Hum” and become caricatures of a superstar rock band. “Ok Edge, play the blues!”, “Charles Manson stole this song from the Beatles, tonight we're stealing it back.” Yuck. Meanwhile more exciting, drug fueled rivals such as Jose Canseco and Guns N' Roses steal the spotlight.

1991: The comebacks. Given up for past his prime, Cal Ripken wins the AL MVP award for a second time and finds himself back on the cover of Sports Illustrated. U2 reemerge with the brilliant “Achtung Baby.” Meanwhile, Cal's reign as the most POPULAR player around starts to fade as a new breed of player – Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. – takes shape. Meanwhile, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and eventually Nirvana and Pearl Jam t-shirts take place of all the U2 ones in my high school.

1992-2000: Cal tarnishes his reputation as he plays (often poorly) everyday just to break Lou Gherig's streak of the most games played. In 1995, he breaks the record and is celebrated (rightfully so) for his past accomplishments. Meanwhile, U2 release the annoyingly experimental “Zooropa” and then in 1997, the rather unlistenable “Pop.” They go on an enormous, big selling tour where they are celebrated (rightfully so) for their past accomplishments.

2001: In the weeks after September 11 th , Cal Ripken retires, cementing his place as a hard-working, All-American hero and touching media story. Around the same time, U2 releases “Beautiful Day,” and become similar American media heroes – despite (I'm pretty sure) still being Irish. Again, U2 fans will take offense to this comparison because U2 released a “great U2 album” and Cal Ripken simply retired. However it can be argued that U2 simply releasing a “great U2 album” is hardly revelatory.

2002-2004: Cal Ripken enjoys retirement, only coming out to appear in annoying commercials for (among other things), potato chips and a budget electronics store he'll never step foot in. Meanwhile, U2 resurface in the form of an annoying ipod commercial. Bill, you know how you felt every time you heard “You're risking a patient's life!” during the 2004 playoffs? Well I thought about smashing the few U2 records I owned every time I heard Bono yell “Hello, Helooooooo” between every inning silhouetted in purple. Cal and Bono don't need the money, they just share the sentiment of not wanting to be forgotten.

Which brings us to, as you put it, “the success of ‘Vertigo'.” Bill, do you really find it surprising that a song by a famous band that appears in a commercial every five minutes became a major hit? Are you kidding? And forgetting about the last three pages, “Vertigo” actually sums up the correlation between U2 and Cal Ripken, in that…

“Vertigo” is a great song to people who like U2, while Cal Ripken is a great baseball player to people who like Cal Ripken.

It's that simple. Both U2 and Cal Ripken have rabid fans, but are better known to “casual” fans of baseball or music. From 1983-2001, if you asked a casual music fan what they listen to, chances are they'd say, “well I kind of like U2.” And during the same time if you asked a casual baseball fan who they liked, chances are they'd say “well I kind of like Cal Ripken.” U2 and Cal Ripken are the safe, sanitized, mainstream choice for people who don't bother digging deeper. And that's not a rip against either of them.

Both U2 and Ripken are first ballot hall-of-famers. Both U2 and Ripken were the face of their resepective crafts for the 1980's. Both U2 and Ripken faded for the better part of the 90's. Both had a bit of the spotlight in 2001. And now? U2 is still milking the act of being U2 and Cal ripken is still milking the act of being Cal Ripken. You think Cal Ripken would be playing baseball if 45-year olds could still play? Instead he just announced that he'll be doing a radio show on XM Satellite radio with his brother Billy. And if satellite radio becomes a success, do you think there's any way Bono WON'T be promoting the new U2 record on it in 2009? Bono and The Edge will pop up on an internet radio station to play some exclusive songs from their new album that U2 fans claim as a “return to form?” And Bill it doesn't matter if you'll have XM or not. U2 will be there with Cal Ripken. With or without you.

That's all folks.

A weird question - which player with multi-position eligibility is worth trading for - was asked. The reason (as with a number of our questions) was because the writer who chooses the questions often has a guy in his head he wants to write about and then forms a question around him. He chose Ryan Freel. I chose Nomar because Nomar rocks the party (when not rocking the disabled list). Our question for the coming week is "which rookie pitcher should you add now?" I'm about 175% certain that the dude who poses the questions will pick Chad Billingsley. He has dreams about him. Dirty dreams.

2. The previous roundtable:

Which pitcher will "hit the wall" soon? The popular answer was Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees, which I think is hogwash. Pure, unadulterated hogwash. See, Wang doesn't strike people out, which means he *shouldn't* be as good as he is. That's one of those newfangled ways to evaluate baseball players. There's another way, which I call "watching the game." Wang has - and does - look good. Then again I copped out and said "The Marlins." Guess I was busy that week.