Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com.
Halftime…go to your individual corners, talk to your cut man and get some water. In what looks to be a wild second half, fans and players are going to need all the rest they can get.
Last year, the Astros, Braves, Padres, Indians and Yankees were leading their divisions at the all star break; only the Angels blew a mid season lead. This year there are races aplenty, including the D-backs against the Giants, Reds and Astros, Braves and Mets, Yankees and Red Sox and Rangers and Oakland. All are with-in at least 5 games of one another and all teams have the potential to get better. So now is as good a time as any to make some predictions for the second half of the season.
Division Winners: In the AL, New York, Cleveland (duh) and the Angels (yes, that’s what I said). In the senior circuit, the Bravos, the Astros and Giants will carry the day. The wildcards will be Boston and Arizona.
MVP: Sean Casey will have a lot of trouble winning support, even though he’s been the best player this year. Jeff Bagwell will finally get Astros fans to quit the complaining about being noticed, as he wins the annual popularity contest. In the softball league, there’s a guy named Jeter who’s on the best team and who happens to play in New York…by the way and he’s batting .380 with power and he’s a shortstop.
Cy-Young: Having an ERA under 3.00 is amazing in baseball this year. Pedro Martinez is sporting a 2.10. He’s also going to win around 25 games. No one else is even close. In the NL, Arizona will eventually start hitting when he pitches, and Randy Johnson will win his second. However if he continues to suffer from Nolan Ryan 87 disease, look for Curt Schilling to drive his value sky-high.
Manager of the Year: Despite what Joe Morgan may think about his age, “Trader” Jack McKeon has done more than any manager in baseball by trying to do less and letting his guys play. Listening to his everyday guys talk about him is like listening to Bagwell talk about an AARP version of Larry Dierker. Getting the White Sox to play .500 ball with those players is enough to get Jerry Manuel some hardware this year.
Executive of the Year: Even though Kevin Malone already made himself a trophy, he won’t win. If Greg Vaughn ever produces an average over .250, Joe Bowden will win in the NL. Cleveland’s GM, John Hart has built the best hitting team in baseball. If he can pry away another pitcher or two (say Mike Mussina?!?) he should be a shoe-in.
Playoff Predictions…The Astros will defeat the D-backs, mainly because they won’t be pitching any rookies against them. The Braves will sweep the Gints. Braves will defeat the Astros in 6 games.
Cleveland over Boston and the Yankees over the Angels. Cleveland will beat the Yankees in 7 games. The Injuns will win their rematch of the 1995 World Series.
All right some predictions have been made…here are some awards, because we here at Zipper Flap are generous if nothing else.
Biggest Disappointment, Individual…JD Drew, St Louis. This guy is supposed to be the next in a long line of great Cardinal hitters, and he may get there someday, but it’s looking more and more like it ain’t gonna be in 1999. It took about 2 days for veteran pitchers to stop throwing fastballs to him, and it’s shown as he’s sporting a monster .245 average with 4 homers and 13 RBIs sandwiched around a trip to the DL and a demotion to AAA.
Biggest Disappointment, Team…L.A. Dodgers. You could throw the Angels or the Astros in here, but those are both teams fighting unbelievable amounts of injuries (at least the Angels are used to it); the Dojers don’t have that luxury. I’d also like to call this the “Lennon/Ono Memorial Award”. It’s the best example of Instant Karma I’ve seen in years…GM Kevin Malone shot his mouth off from January until the start of the season about how everyone wanted to be the Dodgers and how they should be considered a lock for the World Series. Now they’re just a lock to break Davey Johnson’s personal winning streak.
Best Payroll Challenged Team…Pittsburgh Pirates. They’re a pretty scrappy team considering all the retreads and youngsters they play. Unfortunately, they’re about to make catcher Jason Kendall look like an MVP candidate. They’ve dropped 7 of their last 10 games and things are just going to get worse after Kendall’s Theissmann-esque injury. They’re still better than the Dodgers, Cardinals, Rockies and Cubs.
Most in need of a Hawkeye and Trapper John appearance…Houston Astros. In the last series before the all-star break, the M*A*S*H*stros have just 3 of their projected opening day starters available to play. Moises Alou, Ken Caminiti, Ricky Guiterrez, Mitch Meluskey, Alex Diaz, Sean Bergman, and Doug Henry have combined for the Astros to miss more player games than any other team in baseball this year. Add to that the losses of Dierker, Jose Cruz, and Tom McCraw, along with the fact that these guys have not completely folded is a minor miracle. The fact that they’re still 13 games over .500 is about to qualify someone for sainthood. Unlike Father Sarducci’s complaints about Lizzy Seton, there ain’t no card tricks involved.
Biggest Need For a Fire Sale…Baltimore Orioles. In 1997 they were old, in 1998 they were old and injured. Guess what? In 1999, they’re still old, but now they’re just bad. Horrible trades, horrible minor league system and some horrible overpriced players have led the second highest payroll in baseball to the 5th worst record in baseball. Mike Mussina, Jeff Conine or B.J. Surhoff could look awfully good to a contending club. No one else is worth a damn.
Biggest Surprise…Cincinnati Reds. No one outside the imagination of Joe Bowden and the home-run dorks at ESPN could have imagines they’d be close to the top of their division, much less leading it for much of the month before the break. That they’ve done it with young players (Sean Casey and Pokey Reese) castoffs (Ron Villone and Michael Tucker) and virtually no production from Denny Neagle and might as well be no production from the .232 average of Greg Vaughn. The question is how they handle the first pennant race for everyone but Barry Larkin and Vaughn.
BTW, could someone find some pajamas for Mr. Anderson? Preferably some with feet built into them.
Astro of the Week…Billy Spiers managed not to hurt himself and hit over .400 for the road trip. Dude has absolutely no power and little speed, but he’s a vacuum at the hot corner. No offense but here’s hoping he has a legit reason for playing a lot less in the field and getting a lot more pinch hits. Props also to Craig Biggio who seems to have righted himself before the break. Way to make me look like an idiot.
DisAstro of the Week…Gerry Hunsicker, who seems unwilling to admit that there might be anything wrong with this team. I don’t think we’re major pieces away, but there’s something missing. Here’s hoping that you make me look like an idiot also. Special mention goes to Ken Caminiti and Jose Lima for making commercials for Gallery Furniture with that boob Jim McIngvale…is there no other way to compromise your dignity? Don’t you guys make enough money? IS free furniture really worth it?