MLB Week in Review (July 27-August 2)
Posted by thesportsjunky on August 3, 2013 · Leave a Comment
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This past week the tradition would continue as fans flocked to Cooperstown to see the legends that created the MLB. The Baseball Hall of Fame is a celebration of what the MLB treasures most, their history. It is a place where the best and worst of the league are displayed, still waiting for the steroid era display, for all to find out how the league became what it is today. This happens every year around this time as the hall of fame invites all fans to Cooperstown to see the newest inductees to the hall. Traditionally the Baseball Hall of Fame is one of the toughest to get into with only a few players being elected every year. This weekend there was something missing in Cooperstown though, as the hall of fame would not elect any new members. The Baseball Writers Association of America would not select any player to go into the hall this year with only three player’s from the veterans committee making the cut. Deacon White would hold the honour of the only player to make it to the Hall of Fame as former owner Jacob Ruppert and umpire Hank O’Day were the other two new members to the hall. It is not the only time that the BWAA has decided not to elect anyone into the hall and this year it was for a very specific reason. This marked the first year that the steroid era would creep into the conversation for the hall of fame. This year marked the year that players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were up for induction. The overall connection between all of these players is the fact that they had all been linked to steroids. This year the hall of fame was a measure as to how the history of baseball would be written for that era. Bonds and Clemens were the best pitcher and hitter in the game when they played beyond a doubt. The problem was that they likely both used steroids to reach that dominant level putting doubt into their numbers. Were they really that great or was it the illegal substances that helped them be as good as they were. Not only were these two players apparently cheaters but both also had plenty of run-ins with the media and continue to deny their use of PEDs. Time will tell if the writers do overlook the apparent use of steroids for both of these players as they will once again be on the ballot next year. The BWAA has been known to punish players for indiscretions by keeping them out of the hall for their first year of eligibility but eventually overlooking the indiscretion and letting them in. this happened in 2012 when the BWAA would elect Roberto Alomar in his second year of eligibility after keeping him out in his first year of eligibility likely over the spitting incident. As the induction weekend is now in the past the concentration becomes the next year as 2014 will have some great talent. Pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux highlight the list along with the HR hitter who has never been linked with steroids in Frank Thomas. The biggest question though is whether those linked with steroids will get their chance. Is the punishment done for Bonds and Clemens or will the BWAA continue to keep them out of the hall putting them closer to be taken off the ballot. The hall of fame weekend would be a scarce one with no players elected by the BWAA as questions were answered and will continue to be answered next year when another ballot is submitted to determine the next class of hall of famers.
Extra Innings:
(Thoughts on the past week in the MLB)
The End for A-Rod?
Biogenesis continues to make headlines this week when Alex Rodriguez became the focus with the MLB reportedly offering him a deal of the remainder of this year and all of next year or the MLB will ban him for life ending a drama filled career
The Big Moves that weren’t
The trade deadline has come and gone with a few moves that will change the teams involved but with many more that never panned out as the deadline was a relatively quite one with few big names moving
More Suspensions to come
Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are just the tip of the iceberg as there are 13 other players that could be suspended as soon as Monday including Texas All-Star Nelson Cruz which could be the most impactful suspension
MLB Standings
American League
AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox (.595)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (.587)
3. Baltimore Orioles (.555)
4. New York Yankees (.519)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (.459)
AL Central:
1. Detroit Tigers (.579)
2. Cleveland Indians (.550)
3. Kansas City Royals (.509)
4. Minnesota Twins (.434)
5. Chicago White Sox (.374)
AL West:
1. Oakland Athletics (.578)
2. Texas Rangers (.555)
3. Los Angeles Angels (.463)
4. Seattle Seahawks (.459)
5. Houston Astros (.333)
National League
NL East:
1. Atlanta Braves (.591)
2. Washington Nationals (.486)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (.459)
4. New York Mets (.458)
5. Miami Marlins (.398)
NL Central:
1. Pittsburgh Pirates (.596)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (.593)
3. Cincinnati Reds (.545)
4. Chicago Cubs (.450)
5. Milwaukee Brewers (.422)
NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (.546)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks (.514)
3. Colorado Rockies (.468)
4. San Diego Padres (.464)
5. San Francisco Giants (.454)
Scores:
Oakland Athletics 10 – 6 Los Angeles Angels
– The A’s are in a tight battle with the Texas Rangers for the AL West and every game is becoming more important and this was no different as the A’s scored 5 runs in the 6th inning and would get their important win
Pittsburgh Pirates 9 – 2 St. Louis Cardinals
– The battle for the NL Central is getting very heated as the Pirates are looking to finally put together a winning season and make the postseason and would take a step towards that beating the Cardinals who sit one place behind the Pirates
Philadelphia Phillies 7 – 3 San Francisco Giants
– The Giants continued to fall from their great start as they would lose by a big score to the Phillies who are still holding out hope that they can make that last second run to the postseason
Texas Rangers 8 – 3 Oakland Athletics
– The Rangers are trying to take down the A’s in the race for the AL West and this win was one game that could help them as they look to try to take the division from the Athletics who still lead the division
Next Week:
Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals (Monday August 5th; 7:05 pm ET)
– The Nationals are falling out of the postseason race face as they continue to lose ground to the Braves and this series could be one of the last chances for them to get back into the race while the Braves are just looking to pull further away
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Tuesday August 6th; 8:15 pm ET)
– Two of the oldest franchises in the league will face off again and both are in the fight for their division and for the postseason giving this classic series more importance as a win here could mean a lot in their hopes for the postseason
Miami Marlins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (Thursday August 8th; 12:35 pm ET)
– The Pirates are looking to end a 20-year losing season streak and with only two months before the end of the season every game becomes more important including this one against the Marlins who have struggled most of the season
Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees (Friday August 9th; 7:05 pm ET)
– Both teams used to be juggernauts in the MLB but now the Tigers stand alone as the Yankees continue to struggle and may even miss the postseason while the Tigers will take this opportunity to try to beat the Yankees and get further ahead in the AL Central
Filed under Baseball · Tagged with Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Baseball Hall of Fame, Baseball Hall of Fame 2014 ballot, Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2013, Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014, Baseball Writers Association of America, BBWA, Biogenesis, Deacon White, Frank Thomas, Greg Maddux, Hank O'Day, Jacob Ruppert, MLB, MLB Hall of fame, Nelson Cruz, Roger Clemens, Tom Glavine
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