Random Thoughts

-Troy Percival, you sir have no business being the Rays closer right now. Your best days are behind you and you are a liability in the back end of the bullpen. Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour are much better options. I know Percival has a history of success in the playoffs and he means a ton to the team, but if they Rays keep him as closer, he could cost them a few games down the stretch.

-It had to end sometime right? The Jays lost to the White Sox tonight, which ended their 10 game winning streak. Even with their long winning streak, the Jays are still a long ways away from the playoffs, but are actually looking good for 2009. They have gotten large contributions from Joe Inglett, Marco Scutaro, Rod Barajas, Scott Downs, Jesse Carlson, and Jesse Litsch; all of whom should/will be back for the Blue Jays in 2009. I am saying this right now...the Jays are my sleeper pick for 2009. Obviously the Jays need to pick up a bat or two, but they have tons of pitching depth, which could lead them into the playoff hunt.

-Speaking of streaks, how bout dem Astros? They are making me look stuuuupid. And to think, they are winning all of these games without Carlos Lee because of the starting pitching. Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Randy Wolf, and Brain Moehler have stabilized the bullpen while the offense has continued to produce. I still think that they will miss the playoffs and I think they will be awful in 2009 because they have a bunch of aging veterans and an incompetent GM. But we'll see.

-Totally going against the norm here, but Manny Ramirez for MVP? Has any one player had a bigger impact on a team this season. Manny is hitting .396 with 14 HR and 40 RBI with the Dodgers in less than two months. Unbelievable.
-And finally, congratulations to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for clinching a playoff berth already. I mean, wow, the rest of the league is feeling pennant fever, but the Angels have the luxury of sitting this one out. And with all the injuries they have, taking the next three weeks off is not a bad idea. They look dominant on paper and should be the favorites to win it all, but I don't think they will. Just a hunch. I hope that they don't bring back the damn rally monkey. Anyone else hate that thing?