Andruw Jones hits his 50th home run...

[blur2005]

...yet the Braves completely suck and lose to the Phils. The Braves need to be careful and not get over-confident in their 5 game lead over both the Fish and the Phils.

Anyway, Andruw becomes the 12th player to hit 300 home runs before his 40th b-day. I'm pretty sure he should get the MVP, considering a glance at the numbers in the rest of the Braves lineup. I mean, Chipper is hitting .300, but he was hurt part of the season, and is second on the team in home runs at 17. Yes, he would have like 30 had he been healthy the whole year, but he's played 94 out of their 146 games. But Andruw is averaging a little over a home run every three games, and besides that, he has an overwhelming lead in the NL in runs batted in. Andruw is definitely hitting the ball better than he has over his entire career. He's cut down on his strikeouts, walks more. If he hit twenty, thirty points higher in average, he'd be the best player in baseball right now...but we can't all be perfect, can we?

Compare his numbers to other NL MVP candidates:

Andruw Jones, ATL: .277, 50 HRs, 125 RBIs
Albert Pujols, STL: .335, 39 HRs, 109 RBIs
Derek Lee, CHC: .340, 42 HRs, 100 RBIs
Morgan Ensberg, HOU: .278, 35 HRs, 96 RBIs

Then consider the Braves this season, with the 12 rookies currently on their 25-man roster, and the fact that Andruw has been the sole continuous power source and RBI machine for this team. Pujols has a better all-around team by far, and Derek Lee plays for a team that just sucks. Andruw's case is a lot like Chipper's back in '99...except Chipper was more obvious with a .300 something BA. But Andruw already has more homers and RBIs than Chip had that season (45, 110). I like Andruw's chances.

[Baldy]

Andruw should be a shoe in, but you never know. It's amazing what a simple batting stance adjustment can do. He's only 28 and has another 8 or so years where he can put up some really outstanding numbers, maybe more if he takes care of himself (Andruw's been known to come to Spring training a little "fluffy"). If he just hits his average number of HR's over the next 8 years, that will be 600+ for his career.

Look for Chipper's numbers to explode next season if he can stay healthy. He's never really had any protection in the lineup, but with Andruw having this kind of season, Chip will see some really good pitches next year.

As a team, the Braves don't "suck", they did have the toughest schedule in MLB this year. If anything sucks, it's their bullpen. Just take away half of the games they blew and their record would be as good, if not better than the Cards.

With the emergence of Francoeur, Johnson, Betimit, McCann, Langerhans, etc. don't be suprised if the streak continues for a few more years to come.

[eagleskins]

Pujols is a shoe in. Andruw has a terrible avg. and strikes out more than just about everyone in the league. Yeah he has 50 HR's, but if you don't believe he is juicing like Bonds, than you are crazy. Look at the size of his head.

[blueballs]

Pujols is a shoe in. Andruw has a terrible avg. and strikes out more than just about everyone in the league. Yeah he has 50 HR's, but if you don't believe he is juicing like Bonds, than you are crazy. Look at the size of his head.

Mandatory random drug testing assures that AJ isn't juicing.

As Baldy stated, a simple adjustment of widening his stance keeps his tail from flying out and makes him less vunerable to breaking balls away. That in itself, plus the added confidence hitting that many bombs gives, is the difference in his offensive performance this year.

When you compare the numbers one thing jumps off the page. Of the 4 players listed by blur2005 who are contenders for the award only one is NOT a corner infielder and is widely recognized as the best defensive centerfielder of his generation. Can you name another player who has recorded 300 putouts and 350+ total bases in a year? Jones may well do that this year. Runs produced vs. runs saved. He's in a class by himself. THAT, and his GWRBI's, is why he's MVP.

[89Hen]

IF the Phillies win tonight, do the Braves start sweating a little? A Phillies and Marlins win tonight puts both 4.0 back with them facing each other next and then each facing the Braves again this month. I don't think either can catch the Braves, but do they start sweating?

[Ivytalk]

I'm going to tonight's game. Out of the 15 or so games that I've seen, Myers has started at least 5, and he's been Jekyll-and-Hyde all year. We'll see which one shows up tonight.

[blueballs]

IF the Phillies win tonight, do the Braves start sweating a little? A Phillies and Marlins win tonight puts both 4.0 back with them facing each other next and then each facing the Braves again this month. I don't think either can catch the Braves, but do they start sweating?

I think they're already sweating. They have 6 games remaining against the Marlins, two sets of 3 at each park. I think the Braves need 10 more wins to feel comfortable.

This is a BIG start for Sosa of the Braves tonight. The Braves need somebody other than Smoltz, Hudson and Farnsworth to step up in the pitching staff if they entertain any hopes of playing more than one series in the post season.

[Baldy]

Pujols is a shoe in. Andruw has a terrible avg. and strikes out more than just about everyone in the league. Yeah he has 50 HR's, but if you don't believe he is juicing like Bonds, than you are crazy. Look at the size of his head.

If anyone "looks" like their juicing, it's Pujols.

Pujols will finish a distant second. You and your hate will just have to live with it, sorry. :(

[Bub]

Sorry, all those mopes look like they're juicing. I don't think the policy of random testing assures every player is tested. And if they do test they can't pick up everything. JMHO

[ngineer]

I saw Andruw's poke last night. It was a monster. About 6 rows up in left center field UPPER DECK. In CBP that is one poke because the upper deck is so far back from wall. To me, Jones is as close to Willie Mays as anyone in the last 40 years, sans the average. It appears he has carried the Braves this year and, at least til now, (footsteps coming from Philly), he'd be my MVP.

[blur2005]

Pujols is a shoe in. Andruw has a terrible avg. and strikes out more than just about everyone in the league. Yeah he has 50 HR's, but if you don't believe he is juicing like Bonds, than you are crazy. Look at the size of his head.

So do you know anything about baseball? Because if you did, you would know a few stats, like Andruw's strikeouts this year. Or the fact that Andruw has always had a large head...though that seems irrelevant to me. He would've be caught by now, just like the others who have been nailed.

Andruw struck out 141 times last year. He has 99 this year. Unless he strikes out 42 times in 16 games, he won't do that again. Also, his "terrible" average is .277, which is not terrible. It's not excellent like Lee or Pujols', but it's certainly not .250.

[Ivytalk]

I'm going to tonight's game. Out of the 15 or so games that I've seen, Myers has started at least 5, and he's been Jekyll-and-Hyde all year. We'll see which one shows up tonight.

Mr. Hyde showed up, giving up two bombs to Chipper "I'll screw anything that moves" Jones on changeups and having no control over his fastball. Phils had 12 or 13 more LOBs in a game that was a microcosm of their season. That Burrell sure is a great hitter, except when there's a guy on third with less than two outs and all you need is a drive to the outfield. I'm going to start calling him "Popup Pat." :mad: The only "plus" was the continuing development of Ryan Howard, who is going to be a great player.

[89Hen]

Mr. Hyde showed up, giving up two bombs to Chipper "I'll screw anything that moves" Jones on changeups and having no control over his fastball. Phils had 12 or 13 more LOBs in a game that was a microcosm of their season. That Burrell sure is a great hitter, except when there's a guy on third with less than two outs and all you need is a drive to the outfield. I'm going to start calling him "Popup Pat." :mad: The only "plus" was the continuing development of Ryan Howard, who is going to be a great player.
I was 'watching' some of the webcast and was shocked to see all the LOBs the Phils had early in the game. I know Citizens is a hitters park, but what were there, five HR's last night? :eek: Ryan Howard is going to be an INCREDIBLE player if he continues at this pace.

[Marcus Garvey]

I was 'watching' some of the webcast and was shocked to see all the LOBs the Phils had early in the game. I know Citizens is a hitters park, but what were there, five HR's last night? :eek: Ryan Howard is going to be an INCREDIBLE player if he continues at this pace.

He is good. I'd been fearfull the last 18 months that their GM, Ed "Brain Dead" Wade, would trade him for some washed-up veteran so as to make a futile run at the post-season.
He reminds me of Schmidtty though. He has tremendous power, but strikes out a lot too. If he can keep his average around .280, with 30+ homers a year, I'll love him!

[blueballs]

The question is, Phillies fans, what do you do with Howard next year when Thome and his untradable contract is healthy again? Neither of them can play anywhere else in a NL lineup except 1B.

[Marcus Garvey]

The question is, Phillies fans, what do you do with Howard next year when Thome and his untradable contract is healthy again? Neither of them can play anywhere else in a NL lineup except 1B.

Phil Sheridan of the Philly Inquirere has the best idea:
Trade Thome, even if the Phils have to pay a good part of his contract. Currently, the Phils get Howard on the cheap. If he turns into the stud he seems destined to be, he'll command big money later, but not now.
So, worst case scenario: The Phils trade Thome, but honor most of his contract, minus what Howard is making. In effect, they're paying the same amount for a slugging first baseman. Playing Thome in place of Howard seems like a lose-lose proposition.

[blueballs]

Good call Marcus.

Trade him to an AL team for pitching.

[Ivytalk]

Good call Marcus.

Trade him to an AL team for pitching.

I'll drink to that. Do I hear Thome for Johan Santana? Jim would hit 50 homers in The Big Trashbag (i.e., the Metrodome)! ;) No question that the Phils need a couple of "hoss" starters.

[Marcus Garvey]

No question that the Phils need a couple of "hoss" starters.


Problem is that not many good starters are going to want to play for the Phils until they blast 10 rows out of left field! With "no-trade" clauses, it might be tough for them to get quality pitching on the market. They'll need to develop their own talent.

Speaking of which: What the hell is up with the "no-trade" clause? I think that's $%^king bull*****! With free-agency, a player is free to go anywhere when is contract is up. Why in the hell do they also have that power while their contract is in effect? Man, ownership screwed up big-time long ago. The MLBPA is the most powerful union in the country.

[blur2005]

Problem is, who wants Jim Thome? The Phils will have to eat almost all of his contract to get any interest. And all they'll get is some average prospects. I seriously doubt anyone will want to risk giving up something good for Thome.

[Marcus Garvey]

Problem is, who wants Jim Thome? The Phils will have to eat almost all of his contract to get any interest. And all they'll get is some average prospects. I seriously doubt anyone will want to risk giving up something good for Thome.

If his injuries heal up and the Phils eat most of his salary (say all but 500,000), there'll be plenty of takers in the AL. He's still considered a bonafide slugger, when he's healthy. Half a million for a slugging DH is a good deal for anyone in the AL.

This theory has two problems however:
1) Thome must be healthy and have his swing back. That's a complete uknown right now.
2) To make such a deal would require some progressive thinking on the part of Phillies' management. Unfortunately, they've demonstrated no ability to come up with creative solutions to problems, so i doubt this would ever happen.

Frankly, a best case scenario is that Thome simply retires.