Posted By: Z.Z. Rudin
May 10, 2009
Oh, I’m sorry, were you worried about the integrity of the game?
Were you frightened for the sanctity of the exalted Hall of Fame?
You couldn’t possibly be torn up about stars falling from grace, teaching our children to cheat to get ahead or that six out of the top 17 all-time home run leaders have been linked to steroid use, could you?
If you are, I’ve got a surprise, whiplash lesson for you: There are no morals in sports.
Posted by: Z. Z. Rudin April 12, 2009
In the summer of 2003, I was stuffing envelopes and collating papers a certain way, only to have to collate the same papers in the complete opposite way the following day when any one of my numerous bosses changed their minds. At the time, I was working a summer job for my middle school. I was nearly 17 and about to be a high school senior.
Continue reading "Nick Adenhart and Dealing with Celebrity Loss " »
April 6, 2009 By: Z. Z. Rudin
It appears many National League ball clubs are taking a page out of an American League strategy manual. The amount of teams that can straight out slug is kind of staggering, especially when you consider the dearth of starting pitching in the traditionally defensive-minded senior circuit.
We don’t have the same type of three-way race in the NL that is shaking out in the AL. There are only a few top-tier teams, with the Cubs topping that list and the Phillies and Mets trying to elbow their way into contention for the number two and three spots.
However, with the Cubs recent postseason ineptitude and the potential for many teams throughout the league to make a major jump if they can pick up another blue chip starting pitcher, the National League seems like it will feature a much more competitive and interesting playoff push.
Posted by: Z.Z. Rudin
Mar. 30, 2009
2009 American League Predictions
The American League has long been where all the major talent is - just go ask the All-Star game. This year is shaping up to be interesting with four teams looking like they can push 95 wins, but the rest of the circuit appears to be much more pedestrian in nature.
Though the Central may be down, or at least very unpredictable with various injury and pitching questions remaining at the end of spring training, the East is in a solid position to be back on top as the crown jewel of the league.
The West unfortunately looks worse than ever, which should make things easy on an Angels team that lost two of its best players. The fact of the matter is that the top talent in the AL definitely seems to be above and beyond whatever the National League will be able to offer, but 2009 could be the beginning of the end of an era of dominance by this designated-hitter laden league due to the somewhat suspect talent level of the also-rans.
Posted by: Z.Z. Rudin
Mar. 23, 2009
As Spring Training is gearing up for its big finish and position battles are being lost and won, the regular season and all the excitement and surprises that it brings are right around the corner. It’s that time of year where every fan believes his or her team has at least a shot, which is nice if you’re a Nationals fan and still just laughable if you’re a Cubs fan.
Continue reading "Buying Low: Who Will Be This Year's Tampa Bay Rays" »
Posted by: Z.Z. Rudin
Mar. 15, 2009
If you were to peruse the Rudin family archives, you would no doubt find an overwhelmingly lengthy series of correspondences between me and my father. You would sift through stacks and stacks of letters with boldface writing and all capital letters reading endless shouts and arguments over the likes of the Mike Sirotkas, Todd Heltons, and many other now-irrelevant players.
Posted by: Z.Z. Rudin
Mar. 8, 2009
The World Baseball Classic has rolled around again, and once again the question seems to be how can we get Americans to care? This is supposed to be the World Cup of baseball, which seems a fitting analogy for American apathy since we care so little about the actual World Cup.
Personally, I think both the World Cup and the WBC are great events, especially after seeing the U.S. squeak by Canada this afternoon.
Posted by: Z.Z. Rudin
Mar. 1, 2009
If you thought news of GDP contraction and the bailout controversy weren’t depressing enough, there is more proof from this MLB off-season’s free agent market showing that the recession is here in full force.
Now, I understand that talking about professional baseball players making X million dollars instead of Y million dollars when other people are being kicked out of their homes is a little ridiculous. But listen, jack, I’m here to talk about baseball – not some sad sack who defaulted on his bank payment.
Continue reading "The MLB's Free Agent Market Corrections" »
Posted by: Z.Z. Rudin
Feb. 22, 2009
With another winter storm advisory descending upon battered and beleaguered Chicago, it can often seem like the 2009 Major League Baseball season is years away. Luckily, we have the warming glow of steroid reports, shadowy cousins, and evasive commissioners to get us through this winter of our discontent. Many would be surprised to learn that pitchers and catchers have reported for duty – a phrase almost as sacred and uplifting in my opinion as "God Bless America" or "Free donuts!"
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