Opinion

Dave Cameron, of FanGraphs.com, posted an interesting <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/beltres-market-value/">article</a > this morning projecting the value of Adrian Beltre on the free agent market at 3 years, $45 million.

The St. Louis Cardinals' run at an 18th National League pennant took a serious hit Tuesday, when the team learned that rookie third baseman David Freese re-injured a sore right ankle in a rehab start with Double-A Springfield, and will miss the rest of the 2010 season.

After injuring the ankle on June 27, Freese was expected to help rejuvenate a limping Cardinals offense sometime this month. Instead, it appears St. Louis will have to do without him.

But without adding another bat, another National League Central crown seems unlikely.

Ryan Zimmerman has played on a Washington Nationals team that has been, in a word, lowly since they've shed their Canadian-ness.

Before Stephen Strasburg came along, Zimmerman was quite possibly the only thing the Nationals had to celebrate—an established big league star who hits for average and power, and plays marvelous defense at third base.

But because he plays for the Nationals, Zimmerman has been a very underrated player in baseball but he is far less recognized for his clutch play.

As the July 31st trading deadline passed with a flurry of excitement over the last week, it was all quiet on the western front. Specifically, in Oakland. The unusual and abnormal lack of movement was the focus: for a change, the A’s did not trade away their players—veteran starters or minor league prospects. This is surprising news for the organization, because traditionally around this time of the season, the Athletics rid their roster of salaries and stock up on loads of minor leaguers.

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Are the Mets really doomed? Believe it or not, there is a realistic chance the Mets can make the playoffs, even if the Braves series doesn't turn out well. Heck, even if the week as a whole doesn't turn out well. After taking a look at the Mets' schedule, it's not so unrealistic. 

See that guy in the picture? That's outfielder Magglio Ordonez. Do you know why he is sticking his tongue out at you? Because he is not on the field driving in runs. Because the Tigers look more deserving of a berth in a trash heap than in a pennant race.

Anyone out there have any faith that the Tigers are still in a pennant race?

I certainly hope not. If so, I'm sorry to burst your soap bubble, but allow me to disillusion you. The pipe dream you were in has expired, welcome back to reality.

Ozzie Guillen next rant should be against the National Football League.

The Chicago White Sox fiery manager should speak not only for Latinos but in defense of all baseball. A sort of spokesman for MLB.

For first time in history the NFL is about to rank its 100 best players.

In the year 2010, any baseball fan who hasn't heard the term sabermetrics must be living in a cave, and anybody who doesn't buy into the program has to be a dinosaur.

At least, that's what they want you to think.

Bill James, currently of the Boston Red Sox, is thought of as the godfather of using statistical analysis to change the way the game is played and what should be valued.

Now that the 2010 MLB trading deadline has passed, we now have to look forward to the potential waiver deals. The waiver deadline is exactly like the trading deadline except that players have to clear waivers first before they can be traded.

Here's what waivers means according to Wikipedia:

Intense. Driven. Competitor. Tough. Gritty. Clutch. Leader. Intelligent. World Champion.

These are all words that immediately come to mind when Angels fans think of Darin Erstad, but seem far removed from the vocabulary one would use to describe the current Angels club.

This young Angels team seems long on talent and short on competitive will.

Are the 2010 Angels less talented than the 2002 roster that won it all, or did Erstad and company simply want it more?