MLB

There was a time, not too long ago in fact, that every team in Major League Baseball could consider themselves a contender for a World Series crown.

It was a time of unbridled optimism for every fan of every team. A time where those fans could argue that this was the year that their team surprised everybody (or lived up to lofty expectations), without sounding the least bit ridiculous (except for Nationals fans, of course).

The Yankees were seconds away from losing the first game of the Subway Series and their fourth game in a row.

As Alex Rodriguez's threw down his bat in disgust after popping up a pitch from Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets' reliable closer, something unbelievable happened. 

The Mets' second baseman, Luis Castillo was attempting to settle under the pop up and as he was about to squeeze his glove on the ball, the ball dropped out of his glove, allowing Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira to score. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Washington Nationals are going to fire their manager Manny Acta. Acta, in his second season with Washington, led the Nationals to 101 losses, and has the Nationals off to a shameful start this season.

According to Rosenthal, Acta could be fired as early as Monday.

Acta was hired by the Nationals on November 14, 2006, in his first major league managerial stint, replacing Frank Robinson. He did a passable job in 2007, leading the Nationals to a 73-89 record, and a fourth place finish, a step down from their 81-81 record of 2006.

In every sport, there’s at least one team that seems to “stack the deck,” meaning rack up all the talent so that no one else can have any and the stacked team wins championship after championship. Sometimes, the team has so much talent, that great players languish on the bench, and they could be starring someplace else. When I say “broken up,” I mean that the teams should get rid of some of their talent so other teams have a chance at having a good team. McMullen’s Musings takes a look at teams that should do just that.

The New York Mets are always slow out of the gates. This explains the reason for them being four games back in the NL East. 

If the Mets can out last late season injuries they will undoubtedly be my favorite to win the NL and most likely the World Series in 2009. 

There are many reasons why I believe the Mets will be holding the trophy at the end of the season.

When you take a look at this Mets team it has one big difference that it hasn't had in the past. That difference is pitching. 

There is a certain amount of luck in Major League Baseball, those aspects of the game that are really very much out of the players’ hands.

Some people believe that batting average per balls in play is one of such statistics. With that said, I will examine the top and bottom five batters in terms of their BABIP, recap how they got to where they are, point out the things that will bring them up or down to normal, and show you that luck has very little to do with it.

1. David Wright, New York Mets

I have been reading a lot of articles over the past few weeks that have been throwing Jim Hendry under the bus.

In turn, over the same time period, I have put a lot of thought in to who is really to blame for the Chicago Cubs struggles.

While many didn't like his moves this past offseason, is it really his fault?  Or, is it possible that the personnel isn't holding up their end of the bargain?

To say this loss was a tough one is a huge understatement, this picture says it all.

The day started off with such promise, I got to the ballpark in the Bronx almost three and a half hours before the game, was the first one into the stadium at Gate 6, and was able to sit in the most comfortable seats in right field (for batting practice at least).

My friend (although a Yankees fan), caught one of two balls thrown up by the Ryan Church before security kicked everyone out who didn't have seats on field level.

Umpires always have the option of confirming a call with their crew, they also have the option of reviewing a home run call with instant replay, but they sometimes don’t.

That’s why I should be an umpire.