I’m just a 30 year old
singer who loves baseball.  I know
more random facts than most, and have received much hazing for the uselessness
of the majority of that knowledge. 
I played with one current major leaguer, and coached three current minor
leaguers.  I’m no expert, but I’m
in the vicinity!  HA!

Let me start by saying
how brokenhearted I am these days.  It wasn’t an enjoyable weekend in the
Nail household.  I’m not saying I expected (okay maybe I did) my Cardinals
to win the World Series, but I sure as heck didn’t expect them to bow out in
the first round.  I’ll save my comments for later, and I will apologize in
advance.

The Phillies and
Yankees should win, and it shouldn’t be close.  The Phillies scare me to
death.  They remind me of the Yankees’ of the 1990′s, in that they have
this unbelievable swagger about them.  It’s almost like they are
completely shocked when they don’t win.  That is a completely unrealistic
thought process in baseball with almost a 200 game season, but they certainly
pull the attitude off. 

I have to be unbiased
here, and so I must admit there’s just something about the Yankees this
year.  It’s almost like they are saying “Hey, we wanted you guys to
win a few during this decade, but we’re back, and we’re going to take it back
over.”  I mean did anyone ever think the Twins had a shot?  I
didn’t, and that was at least one thing I’ve been right about so far.

The fact that I’ve had
to wait till Thursday to see a game is absurd.  I don’t know who’s
decision that is, but come one!  Did you not want to compete with Boise
State vs. Tulsa last night in college football.  I’m pretty sure that’s a
matchup you want.  Now you got a bigger football game tonight, and this
weekend poses two of the biggest football games of the season in Texas/Oklahoma
and Notre Dame/USC.  You already could have some storylines forcing
viewers to skip at least some of the football on Saturday and Sunday.  Now
you better hope a few miracles happen!!!

If I’m the Cardinals
GM trying to resign Matt Holiday, I put a big still photo of him butchering
that flyball in the room when I sit down with Scott Boras, and I say simply,
“Does an 18 million dollar a year player boot that catch?” 
Thanks Matt!

If the Cardinals don’t
do everything, money included, to resign both Tony Larussa and Dave Duncan, it
will set the franchise back 10 years, and you can kiss Pujols goodbye.

If I’m Clayton Kershaw
tonight, I’d be very, very nervous about that Philly lineup.

If I’m the Phillies, I
would not let Matt kemp beat me.  I sincerely think the entire lineup
revolves around him.  That kid is scary good, and an absolute surefire
future superstar.

If I’m the Yankees, I
don’t know if any one player scares me?  I simply think they go do what
they do, and at least 4 out of 7 times they win.

If I’m the Angels, I
pray CC has some arm issues this morning after waking up, oh and the same for
AJ Burnett.  Maybe it wouldn’t hurt if Jeter gets kidnapped too.  Ha
Ha!  Just kidding Angel fans.  I played high school ball with Matt
Palmer, who’s in relief for you guys after nearly 10 years in the minors, so
I’m rooting hard for you guys.

K guys, I’m going to
go back to licking my Cardinal Red wounds.  Good luck to your teams
tonight!!!

Philly in 6, probably
5

New York in 5

-David

Justin Verlander

18 wins MLB Rank #3
264 K’s MLB Rank #1
3.45 ERA MLB Rank #6
= Playoffs?

I see everyone’s point with Zack Greinke, and I love the Royals being a native Missourian, but I think being the ace on a staff that looks like it is returning to the playoffs is why I feel Verlander would get my vote.  That’s the glorious thing about having a blog: I’m allowed MY opinions!

I’m sitting in my hotel in Traverse City, Michigan watching the last game of the Twins vs. Tigers series.  It looks as though it’s going to go down to the last few games with these two.  I think Detroit poses as the worst match-up in the playoffs with their lineup.  They also have decent pitching and defense, and again, that ballpark is special. 

I don’t understand the timing of firing Eric Wedge in Cleveland with 6 games left.  What exactly does that do?  I will acknowledge his squad underperforming, but why not wait a week and a half?  Are you trying to set the tone for 2010 the first week of October 2009? 

Once again Albert Pujols is having a season for the record books.  Having the chance to watch him up close this year in batting practice, it’s completely absurd how much smoother and effortless he is than the rest of the field.  It’s like watching man amongst boys.  He’s so fluid, and even and hour or so before the game, he’s very focused on improving, if that’s even possible.

Looks like I may be heading to some postseason games this year, and hopefully at least one in St. Louis.

I have 10, yes 10, fantasy baseball teams this year.  I’m currently winning two, and finishing no less than 4th in the rest!  If I win any, it will be a first!

Here are 5 things I think as we near the end of the 2009 season.

#1.  The Pirates need to figure out a plan, and present that plan to MLB, and if it doesn’t seem realistic, they need to start fining the owners.  No team has showed more signs of simply trying to turn a profit than Pittsburg, and it’s a shame, cause that city and ballpark are beautiful.

#2.  If Matt Holiday is smart, he will tell Scott Boras to get a fair deal in St. Louis, and not chase the money wherever it may lead.  He will not find a better fit anywhere else, both as a city and team.

#3.  Kansas City tries to use Zack Greinke as bait much like Cleveland did with Bartolo Colon and rebuilds their team with can’t miss young prospects like Cleveland received.  Wouldn’t Kansas City be better with Grady Sizemore, Brandon Philips, and Cliff Lee, cause that’s what the Indians got in return of then ace Colon? 

#4.  The Dodgers don’t scare me if my team runs into them at any point in the NL Playoffs!  However, they are about a year or two from being crazy good!

#5.  I don’t care for the Yankees in the least, but they absolutely scare the daylight out of me as a fan of potential opponent in the World Series.  I don’t know what’s different this year in that clubhouse, but there’s something more going on than simply their off-season additions. 

Till next time, peace out!

-David

These are just some thoughts while flying to Las Vegas and waiting on my Cardinals to clinch the division.  Spent Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago watching the White Sox play the Twins. I have to say I’m now a White Sox fan. The people there were so great to us.  From the parking attendants all the way up to meeting Mark Buehrle right before the game, everyone was spectacular.

I haven’t had too much time of late to watch many games.  I find myself checking scores each night from my phone. The Milton Bradley ordeal is a sad one.  I can remember wishing my Cardinals had signed him this past off-season, and I’m now extremely thankful they didn’t.

It seems like the Giants have cooled off considerably recently.  Maybe it’s because I’ve always been a Willie Mays fan, but I’ve always liked the Giants, so I was rooting for them to make the playoffs, and I think it’d have been great considering how awful they’ve been the last couple years.

Here are my early favorites for some off the post season awards:

NL ROTY – Co-winners Colby Rasmus and Tommy Hanson
AL ROTY – Rick Porcello in a landslide
NL Cy Young – Adam Wainwright over Chris Carpenter and Matt Cain
AL Cy Young – Justin Verlander
NL MVP – Albert Pujols in a landslide
AL MVP – Joe Mauer in a landslide

I think the Braves will make the playoffs next year for Bobby Cox’s final year managing.

I think I could win as manager with the Brewers talent.

I think Gordan Beckham is a future superstar.  The kid is as smooth as they come.

I would like to see a Dodgers vs. Cardinals NLCS and a Tigers vs. Yankees ALCS.

Those four teams have 4 of the most classic uniforms, great stadiums and fan-bases.

Well there’s a little over a week left in the regular season, and I hope you are all as excited for the playoffs as I am.  Talk to you soon!

-David