Opinion

I know the Giants are in the thick of the playoff race, but their recent troubles have got me wondering about next year and how we can improve.  I think it is clear that this team, while they still have a chance, remains behind the top teams in the National League in terms of talent.

What happened to Derek Lowe?

In the offseason of 2009, the Atlanta Braves signed Derek Lowe to a four-year, $60 million dollar contract. Lowe was one of the most accomplished pitchers in baseball. He was the man who broke the curse of the Bambino, he threw the first no-no in Fenway since 1965, and in his four previous years, his ERA never climbed above four.

Since 2005, the only National League pitcher to win more games than Lowe is Roy Oswalt.

That was the old Derek Lowe.

The Atlanta Braves' organization is one of the model franchises in Major League Baseball history.

The organization has been blessed with incredible talent, but, more recently in the era from 1991-2005, the Braves accumulated 14 straight division titles. It was the most consecutive division titles in any sport.

The most recognized of all Atlanta Braves athletes is obviously Hank Aaron, but there are many players besides Aaron that made this organization the storied franchise that it is today.

Here is a list of the top 10 Atlanta Braves of all time....

It's starting to look increasingly clear that—now some three quarters into the season—the Yankees have lost their gamble on Javier Vazquez.

It's been a tough road for the Detroit Tigers this year. In fact, it's been a tough couple of years for the Detroit Tigers. Losing a seven-game lead in the last month of the season on a walk-off single to the Minnesota Twins was tough to accept.

Sometimes the best roster moves are cutting the ones that DON'T belong on the roster. Such a move was the dumping of former Pirates' catcher Ronnie Paulino.

Paulino was just suspended for 50 games for substance abuse. While he appears to be contrite about the matter, and perhaps honestly didn't believe that his weight-loss drug was not banned, he is now an embarrassment to his team.

Fortunately, that team will no longer be the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Carlos Beltran is an extremely talented baseball player, but I don't see him as a part of the Mets future.  Ever since the whole surgery incident last offseason, I wanted Beltran out of Queens.

Beltran helped the Mets out a lot in the past, but this year, his comeback hasn't been what he was hoping for.  He has showed signs of the old Beltran, but he hasn't been consistent yet.

What's a home run leader gotta do to get noticed around here?

Seriously.  Who is this guy?  And why are we not making a bigger deal out of this?

Bautista, the journeyman of six different MLB franchises, currently leads the majors leagues in home runs with 38 with less than 40 games remaining.

To put that in perspective, MVP front runner Miguel Cabrera, who has single-handedly kept the Tigers in playoff contention, has 31. 

Albert Pujols has 32.

One thing that ESPN does well is take good athletes and promote them until they become huge superstars. Granted, if an athlete plays baseball in Seattle or basketball in Charlotte, then he or she is not going to get the same amount of press as his or her rivals in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago. Most athletes are able to run with it and make millions upon millions.

The team with the best record in baseball has some major issues as the calendar approaches September. The Yankees remain atop the American League East, leading the Rays by one game. They do, however, have some issues and I’ve noticed many fans becoming concerned.

While they have a right and reasons to be concerned, it’s not quite time to panic just yet. It’s not one area that causes concern either. It's multiple areas.