OK, OK.

I think we should all collectively stop pretending that we care about players hustling.

Melky drove me crazy.

Cano drove me crazier.

Still, it wasn't a deal breaker. As long as they're productive due to steroids, the fans will embrace them.

Machado is insincerely spinning and we are supposed to be alarmed by his immature behavior and commentary.

Get over it.

If you sign Machado, you will get a player who tanks it from time to time and drives in 125 runs.

Reggie Jackson even chimed in and said not hustling doesn't cut it in New York.

This Reggie Jackson.

I'll take Harper and Macahado, thanks.

A lot of great ballplayers have bad attitudes.

A lot of Championship ballplayers have bad attitudes.

The fans will forgive them if they win.



This silly yearly ritual of acting shocked at the large size of the pending free agent contracts.

Gimme a break.


I don't expect the Yankee to sign Harper or Machado ... I expect they'll stick with the rookie of the year runner-ups and spend money on starting pitching.

We'll all find out together in October if that's a wise decision.

Five-game series, one win apiece.

Here's the new guy to win Game Three.

If he wins, we're all happy.

If he doesn't, he's a bust.

Nobody knows if he will and no pitcher on Earth can guarantee a victory.

No need to apologize for putting Scherzer ahead of deGrom.

Jeez, I'm surprised Steve Somers treated this guy so rudely.

Who cares, anyway?

Almost unanimous is no shame.

2018 AL MVP

BBWAA

Name	Points
Mookie Betts	410
Mike Trout	265
Jose Ramirez	208
J.D. Martinez	198
Alex Bregman	192
Francisco Lindor	169
Matt Chapman	141
Khris Davis	41
Blake Snell	38
Justin Verlander	26
Mitch Haniger	16
Aaron Judge	10
Xander Bogaerts	9
Jose Altuve	9
Blake Treinen	7
Andrelton Simmons	7
Whit Merrifield	6
Edwin Diaz	5
Giancarlo Stanton	4
Didi Gregorius	3
Jed Lowrie	3
Trevor Bauer	1
Aaron Hicks	1
Chris Sale	1

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Mookie Betts	35
J.D. Martinez	19
Mike Trout	16
Jose Ramirez	10
Alex Bregman	7
Khris Davis	3
Francisco Lindor	1

2018 NL MVP

BBWAA

Name	Points
Christian Yelich	415
Javier Baez	250
Nolan Arenado	203
Freddie Freeman	174
Jacob deGrom	141
Paul Goldschmidt	115
Lorenzo Cain	109
Trevor Story	108
Matt Carpenter	105
Max Scherzer	59
Anthony Rendon	21
Ronald Acuna Jr.	19
Aaron Nola	16
Justin Turner	10
Max Muncy	8
Jesus Aguilar	7
Anthony Rizzo	6
Nick Markakis	2
Eugenio Suarez	2

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Christian Yelich	38
Nolan Arenado	13
Javier Baez	12
Matt Carpenter	5
Justin Turner	4
Lorenzo Cain	3
Trevor Story	3
Jesus Aguilar	2
Freddie Freeman	2
Paul Goldschmidt	2
Brandon Nimmo	2
Jacob deGrom	1
Bryce Harper	1

2018 NL Cy Young Award

BBWAA

Name	Points
Jacob deGrom	207
Max Scherzer	123
Aaron Nola	86
Kyle Freeland	49
Patrick Corbin	23
Miles Mikolas	13
Josh Hader	4
Mike Foltynewicz	3
Jon Lester	2

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Jacob deGrom	44
Max Scherzer	22
Aaron Nola	19
Kyle Freeland	3
Miles Mikolas	2
Walker Buehler	1
Patrick Corbin	1
Jeremy Jeffress	1

2018 AL Cy Young Award

Happy to get decent participation this year. I had forgotten that I skipped the poll in 2017.

BBWAA

Name	Points
Blake Snell	169
Justin Verlander	154
Corey Kluber	71
Chris Sale	59
Gerrit Cole	26
Trevor Bauer	13
Blake Treinen	13
Edwin Diaz	4
Luis Severino	1

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Blake Snell	40
Justin Verlander	18
Corey Kluber	14
Chris Sale	11
Trevor Bauer	2
Blake Treinen	2
Luis Severino	1

Recalling a gripe from 15 years ago.

I think Andujar had a decent case, but that's not my gripe.

My gripe is the voters who wouldn't give the Rookie of the Year to Matsui in 2003, arguing that he was overpaid and a veteran from Japan, and therefore not really a rookie.

This was right after giving the Rookie of the Year award to Sasaki and Ichiro.

What Bill James said is not controversial.

Of course the players are replaceable. More talented and expensive than beer vendors, but replaceable.

No one knows who will win a title.

Sonny Gray and J.A. Happ will be the final piece of the puzzle.

"And yet, there might be a deal to be made if the Yankees are willing to sacrifice their best young players outside of Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar. Coincidentally, these include left-hander Justus Sheffield (MLB.com's No. 31 prospect) and slugging outfielder Clint Frazier, who originated in Cleveland's system. Outfield prospect Estevan Florial (No. 45) would also have to be involved."

Of course the Yankees want Kluber, but this price seems high to me.

He lost zero dollars and zero cents.

This article was posted on the same day Kershaw signed a $31M-per-year extension.