youth vs. experience

As expected the AL beat the NL. (yawn) -- actually this year was a little more intriguing. The NL takes a one run lead into the ninth. Trevor Hoffman (who is second in all time saves) comes into the game to seal the deal. Right. There are three points that any intelligent person could have noted to predict what was about to happen.

One, the NL never beats the AL - no matter what. This is like the University of Tennessee beating Steve Spurrier. It just doesn't happen.

Two, the AL hitters were not going to be held to one run. I know the NL pitchers threw like champions tonight, but regression toward the mean is a truth as real as gravity. If a batter starts off 2 for 3 the chances of him getting a hit in his fourth at bat aren't so hot. Conversely if a whole lineup is cold for a long stretch of time, it is inevitable (usually) that there will be a stretch of heat.

Three, lately Trevor Hoffman has been getting about as many saves as those raging televangelists who condemn people to hell, if they don't wrap a 200 lb boa constrictor around their neck. Sure he's got 420 for his career but he blows more saves that Todd Coffey. It's horrendous, if you want stats then just bring back Dennis Eckersley to toss that ninth inning.

::

What we've learned by watching 83 games:

1) The Cubs will never win the World Series. Who cares if they have Dusty Baker, Derek Lee, 'the next Lima' Zambrano*, healthy Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Who cares if Glenallen Hill, Shawon Dunston, Ryne Sandberg, and all their other greats come back. Who cares if Marmol-aid, 'The other' Cedeno**, Matt Murton and all their little kiddos come through. Who cares. The Cubs won't win the series until Henry Rowengartner and Chet Stedman decide to ham up and lead the pitching staff. Right now that staff is so weak that Garth Brooks could make the team.

*'the next Lima' Zambrano refers to Carlos Zambrano and his eerily similar style to one, Mr. Jose Lima.

** 'the other' Cedeno refers to Ronnie, as opposed to Roger. If you come in second in the Cedeno lines to a one hit wonder base stealer, you know you're not on good footing. Sorry Ronny.

2) The White Sox should be banned from sports. My new theory is that the American sports (NBA, MLB, and NFL) should get together and hire Vince McMahon. His job would be to fashion a new sports league that no one will ever watch. Then the leagues can toss all the teams that don't belong (Raiders, Pistons, White Sox, Steelers, Knickerbockers, Globetrotters, Yankees) into Vince's care and watch them rot.

3) The stretch run is going to be absolutely insane. The AL will obviously win. However which AL team? The scary as Freddy in Halloween Angels who always underachieve? The foursome (Mauer, Morneau, Liriano, Santana) in MN? The terrorists (White Sox)? The nursing home (Yanks), the "I see dead people" Tigers? or maybe, jus maybe the good ol' boys in Boston.