A-rod = Amazing Player + Horrible Judgement

In 1996, Alex Rodriguez tossed up an unprecedented rookie season. His .358 batting average led the league while popping 36 homers and 123 RBI. He also led the league in runs (141), doubles (54), and total bases (379). Factor in some great defense and you could argue not only that he's never been better, but that this was the greatest season ever for a shortstop. How do you follow this up? Well you can't really, but you can go on to be the best player of your generation and such a natural talent even accusations from a (sadly) credible source in Jose Canseco were laughed off despite the fact that his books have been eerily accurate to this point. When A-Rod's home run totals spiked to near 60 in '01-'02, people credited it to his natural improvement and the bandbox nature of his home stadium. When he got noticeably bigger after his trade to the Yankees, it was attributed to getting older, or adjusting to his new position of third base. All these red flags and even the biggest A-Rod hater wouldn't think to pin performance enhancing drugs on him. 

What makes Rodriguez different from Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and other all-time greats who have recently fallen under the cloud of steroids? He represented the purity of the game. An immense talent with an unquenchable need to succeed, and a willingness to work as hard as was necessary. This was the ideal that would topple the manufactured stats of the steroid era. Sure all the records were tainted, but A-Rod would heroically raise the bar in a matter of years. Now, he'll still be breaking all the records in the next decade, but it will only perpetuate the stigma of cheating that rots the heart of America's Pastime like a cancer. We won't be seeing another player like Alex Rodriguez for a long, long time. What a shame that it will be good riddance. 

C.C. Sabathia Run, Run Sabathia Run!

C.C. Sabathia is a hell of a pitcher. The Yankees are in dire need of help at the top of their rotation. As such, they have rewarded C.C. with the largest contract in the history of pitchers, $161 million over 7 years. 

That said, Sabathia is not without question marks. He is pushing 300 pounds, making him among the heaviest players in the history of baseball. He's only 28 years old, but he has averaged nearly 210 innings per year since 2001. That's an ungodly workload and ensures that there's considerable wear and tear on his arm. He's pitched over 500 innings the last 2 years. That alone makes him virtually unsignable for many teams as even the most durable pitchers (Kevin Brown, Pedro Martinez, etc.) break down after that kind of abuse. In addition, he has a lifetime 7.92 ERA in the postseason, and a history of poor performance against the Yankees chief rivals: the Boston Red Sox. 

Nonetheless, the Yankees were under a ton of pressure to get this deal done. They are still smarting from losing Johan Santana (still the absolute best pitcher in the game) to the crosstown Mets. They suffered through a poor year in 2008 due to an aging lineup and lack of depth on the pitching staff, finishing far behind both Boston and Tampa Bay. They absolutely must contend in their first year in the New Yankee Stadium. 

Quite frankly, C.C. Sabathia is a big risk to be rewarded with such a large contract; however, for the Yankees he is a necessary addition. He is likely to be placed on a fitness and conditioning program immediately and his workload will be drastically reduced to protect the huge investment. I am confident that the Yankees will come to rue this monster deal as it winds down, but in 2008 they simply had to pull the trigger. 

Still, the Yankees might not even be the best team in their own city as the acquisition of elite relief pitchers J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez will make the Mets extremely dangerous. Look out for the Mets in 2009! And if Boston locks up Mark Teixeira? Yikes!

World Series Post

So it all comes down to this, the Fightin' Phils and the Devil-less Rays. Put your chips on the table, its time to go all in!! Here at the Suite Spot we think a few things, the AL is a better league top to bottom, than the NL, look at interleague play where the AL smoked the NL again, as they do every year. All-Star game, no matter how much credit you give this game, the AL is dominant in the mid-season meeting of stars.

The Phillies- bring more experience, a proven lineup with two MVP's in Howard and Rollins, and Utley who is a top 5 MVP candidate every year when healthy. You have x-factors on this team, Victorino, who gets a big hit only when I watch him, bats .175 when I don't, J. Werth is a scrappy player who plays with heart is a good on defense and has a kid's winning mentality. You have Pat "the babe" Burrell, he will have one clutch hit this series I'm calling it now. The rotation- Hamels and Myers, Hamels an outright ace, and Myers has ace stuff when he keeps his head on straight. Behind them you have Blanton and Moyers, will give up some runs but keep you in the game. If the Phils can get 6-7 innings out of their starters, kiss the rays goodbye. Madson and Lidge are dominant, Lidge hasn't blown a save opportunity this year and I don't see it happening anytime soon especially not in this series, he's locked in and ready to dominate.

The Rays- youth drives this team, and also brings it success. B.J Upton has been powerfully stellar and could is one HR away from tying Carlos Beltran's 8 HR's in a postseason. Evan Longoria is a shoe in for AL rookie of the year (yes I had him on my fantasy team even though he wasn't in the majors until a month into the season) Don't get me wrong they do have some veteran leadership as well, Carl Crawford, a healthy Rocco Baldelli, Carlos Pena. This team is quick and can beat you with small ball or the power shot, a loaded young team. Their rotation is filled with great young talent, Kazmir, Shields, Sonnanstine,and ALCS MVP Matt Garza. Lefty David Price was also lights out in the bullpen and has dominate stuff, 96-98 mph on his heater, and a slider that will have the phillies guessing.

This is going to be a fun series, with Lefties Kazmir, Sonnanstine, and price giving problems to a Phillies lineup that holds power from the left side of the plate, Utley, Howard, both bat from the left side and will have to combat that. In the end the Phillies depth and experience will prove to much for the Rays in what will be a lowly rated, but very exciting World Series

The Suite Spot says----- Phillies in 7, The wait for a title for the last 25 years will finally come to an end!

Let us know your thoughts!!!

MLB Rd. 1 Predictions

With the October Classic officially underway... lets look at the Divisional Series matchups and hear the SuiteSpot's predictions...

A.L
White Sox vs. Rays- Rays in 4. Call it youth over old age, call it new blood over blood clots. A tired White Sox team that had to play 163 games just to make it to the playoffs will not have the gas in the tank necessary to get past the Devil-less Rays. Carl Crawford is back and claims he's "100% ready to play and could prove to be the x-factor in this 5 game set. Rays Pitching staff of "Big Game" James Shields and Scott Kazmir will outduel Mark Buherle and Javier Vasquez.

Red Sox. vs Angels- Red Sox in 4. The Yankees have struggled to beat the Angels lately and the Angels have struggled to beat the Sox all season as well. They have lost to them on 9 straight occasions, and this series will prove to repeat recent history. I'll say this now... the Sox will win one game in Anaheim before returning to Fenway to finish off the 100 win Angels. Put it plainly, the angels will need exceptional pitching to stop the potent Sox lineup and an Angel on their shoulder to get by the 10th position player in Boston, the diehard Red Sox Nation

Look for two A.L East teams to meet in the A.L.C.S late next week.

N.L.-
Dodgers vs. Cubs- Cubs in 5. While the yankees golf, Joe Torre will still be working! This series will go farther than most people are expecting. Joe Torre will do his best to lead his team to the next round, but ultimately will fail to the Cubbies at Wrigley Field in the final game of the series. Too many weapons, Zambrano, Dempster, Wood on the mound; Soriano, Lee, Ramirez at the dish will overpower Manny Ramirez and company.

Phillies vs. Brewers- Phillies in 4. C.C. Sabathia has got to be gassed, pitching on 3 days rest for 3 straight starts before the playoffs will have this stud tired and vulnerable to a potent philly led offense. Need I say more... don't think so..

check back for L.C.S predictions...