MLB 2006

[El Crab]

Thank you, Chicago, for letting us grab Nomar. 6 million a year and he's hitting .370 through about 40 games. Seems about every night he goes 3 for 5 with 2-3 RBI. And playing flawless defense at 1st, which is a new position for him and one of the hardest in baseball.

JD Drew is really hot right now, too. Always a good thing. And this big ol' kid named Matt Kemp, whom they called up recently, has 4 home runs in only 33 at bats, and is hitting .333. Seems like all the rookies they're playing are hitting .300 or better. And have been for weeks.

Brad Penny is looking good for a Cy Young chance, being 7-1 with a 2.34 ERA, after last night's 8 1/3 of scoreless pitching. He hasn't allowed a run in 14 2/3 inings.

And Gagne's back, which will help the bullpen immensely.

[Tricia]

Nomaraparra ...!

I think I read today that he made the list of the top five undervalued players, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. I would wholeheartedly agree with that assessment. Though I haven't a clue to his contract with the Dodgers, I do know the Cubs bought him for a song (okay, one million) in 2005. Injury-prone, but the more-than-once winner of the AL batting crown, Nomar has proven himself time and time again, most recently, this year. I think the big problem with Jim Hendry and Cubs management came when Nomar said he wanted to continue to play SS, and with the loss of Corey Patterson and later, Jeromy Burnitz, the Tribune Company needed him in the outfield. As I recall, no club showed interest in him as a shortstop, hence his move to a wonderful first baseman with the Dodger organisation. And as he has said, he has returned to the place where he watched baseball as a kid (Chavez Ravine).

Haven't checked the All-Star balloting (and of course, there's Pujols and Lee), but Garciaparra would get my vote. If not in that show, perhaps he deserves a nod as comeback player of the year? I think Junior won that title last season ...

Regards,
Leyton McLean

(Bubbabod--you're absolutely right about Nevin. He's proven himself a power threat--when he makes contact--and he hasn't even played at Wrigley as of this posting!)