Baseball

There were very few things that Seattle Mariners centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez couldn’t catch in 2009; so few things that he earned the nickname “Death To Flying Things.”

A Rawlings Gold Glove award, baseball’s highest accolade for defensive prowess, however, was one of those things Gutierrez just couldn’t snag.

The Phillies begin the long process of the offseason as we take a quick look at what is on the horizon for the team, and what could come in the next couple of weeks.

Awards and Accolades

It kills me to say this, but Ken Griffey Jr. should not be wearing a Seattle Mariners uniform in 2010.

The news broke this morning that the 39-year old Kid will be returning to the tune of $2 million for next season to play an extremely limited role with the club.

Before I get into this, let me first say that Griffey is unequivocally my favorite player in the history of the game and the greatest player I have ever seen in person.

"The Kid" will be back for one more season in 2010.

Reports are coming out of Seattle (and Chicago) that George Kenneth Griffey Jr. will be signing with the Seattle Mariners for the 2010 season.

I know that he is not the same player that he once was, and that he doesn't add much to the roster at this point, but for the class act that he is, he deserves to go out when he wants to.

He is my favorite player of all time. And, over all major sports, he is my second favorite athlete of all time behind the great Michael Jordan.

The Baltimore Orioles may not have been to the postseason since 1997, but the Maryland franchise has a rich history which includes three World Series victories and a string of first place finishes in the AL East under Earl Weaver in the 1970s.

One question, hundreds of answers. Which Oriole had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best ever collection of stars. They are calling it MLB 9s.

We waited nearly three decades to celebrate a winner in Philadelphia. A quarter century of tormenting coulda’s, maddening woulda’s, and hopeless shoulda’s.  

Every team had their chance.

Allen Iverson led a no-holds-barred attack at the mighty Los Angeles Lakers, only to be shackled in five quick games.

After blitzing their way through the Eastern Conference playoffs in 1997, the Flyers were shown the door by the Detroit Red Wings in a four game shellacking.

Now that the World Series is over, we are now in the free agency period of baseball. It reminds me a little of the climax of Christmas and the letdown of the "After Christmas" sales that tell us that the season of excitement is all over. (Granted, there are those who will use the huge After Christmas discounts this year to do their Christmas 2010 shopping).

For the most part, the 2009 MLB Awards Season will be a snoozefest.

I know the title of the article will be controversial, especially among Philly fans, but I honestly believe it's the best course of action for the Phillies to take.  My hope is that the Phillies will not heed my advice, because as a Mets fan, the sooner they stink the better. 

Hear me out before you tune me out! 

Let's get some basic points down that we can agree on:

This has to be my favorite time of year. The beautiful leaves have fallen. The air is getting much cooler. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Gone is summer—the long days, the starry nights.

College Football Bowl season is so close we can taste it, NCAA Basketball holiday tournaments are getting ready to begin, and Hot Stove League baseball is in hyper mode.

The latter of that trio is one of my favorite aspects of the great sport of baseball. That time where everyone is 0-0. Every team has a shot.