Hamels inks deal with Phillies, but I have a problem

I like Cole Hamels. I'm actually a HUGE Cole Hamels fan ... at least as much as one can be as a Yankees fan. If he was on the Yankees, my Hamels collection would end rivaling my Derek Jeter collection.

But since his pinstripes are red, well, then he just goes into the binder and I don't actively look for his cards.

I'm happy for Hamels. However, here's my problem:

The new deal will pay the Phillies' World Series hero $4.35 million this coming season, then $6.65 million in 2010 and $9.5 million in 2011.

Hamels' base salary also will increase by $500,000 in any season after he wins a Cy Young Award and by $250,000 if he finishes second or third in Cy Young balloting.

See that part about where he finishes in the Cy Young voting. Now, as a reporter I would like to think people are more ethical, but what's to stop Hamels or any other players from bribing reporters who make next to nothing to vote for him in the Cy Young.

This was a big problem too when Curt Schilling signed a contract and he had an incentive that included getting just one vote for Cy Young. He didn't even need to place or show. He just needed a vote.

Something needs to be done for all these types of clauses in contracts because all it takes is one controversy to make the voting even more flawed than it is now. (Any time humans are involved, there are always going to be mistakes such as Rickey Henderson not getting 100 percent of the vote for the Hall of Game).

Maybe I'm alone in this thinking, but you have reporters who don't know if they are going to have a job tomorrow, have to take mandatory unpaid days off and aren't getting raises. A couple of grand could go a long way for those people and that's just pocket money for ball players.

Say it Ain't So J.C.

ESPN (and possibly other outlets) is reporting that J.C. Romero is suspended for 50 games under MLB's anti doping policy.

Ouch.

The Phillies just won the World Series and Romero, a Phillies reliever, had a huge hand in that. He won Games 3 and 5 of the Series and now he won't be working for a while.

Here's a quote from the story as you can see Romero is pissed. It seems as though he got hosed.

Three months after Romero was tested before a Phillies-Mets game on Aug. 26, the Players Association sent a Nov. 21 letter to players that stated, "We have previously told you there is no reason to believe a supplement bought at a U.S. based retail store could cause you to test positive under our Drug Program. That is no longer true. We have recently learned of three substances which can be bought over the counter at stores in the United States that will cause you to test positive. These three supplements were purchased at a GNC and Vitamin Shoppe in the U.S."

So how does this work? Since he is suspended for using illegal drugs does that mean his wins aren't eligible? Do we have to play more World Series games?

This is the never-ending Series. Maybe the Rays have a chance.

But which team does Pat Burrell now play for?

Is it March yet?

The northeast had an unseasonably warm today. I spent the day working, but it was in Wildwood, N.J. When I could stand on the beach with a short-sleeved shirt on in December, it really only makes me think of one thing.

Sadly, it’s not Global Warming. That was the second thought.

The first was Spring Training. I like football. As a New York Giants fan, it didn’t get much better than last year. This year is shaping up to be a great one as well.

But baseball.

Sweet, sweet baseball.

I love the sport. I would even call it a passion. It’s the reason my life has ended up the way it is. Baseball, in a sense, has directed my life. So, usually the first thing I think about is Spring Training when the weather starts getting warmer.

Although, it shouldn’t be warm yet.

It’s still 2008 and fans in the area are basking in the glow of the Phillies World Championship. It makes me eager for the season and the New York Yankees to get on the field. My ideal World Series would be the Yankees and Phillies, simply because I’m greedy and would be able to go to all the games for free.

So, here’s to the warm weather and the countdown to Spring Training.

In case any one was wondering, my New Year’s wish is to get Andy Pettitte back with the Yankees. (No, not sheets like I got for Christmas.)

By the way, the dot on the mound is a Christmas tree. It's field at Yankee Stadium.

-Sooz

National League Gold Glove Awards

This article was taken from the National League side of things, we have the article from the Phillies.com website. Congrats to the Phillies on the World Series, and to Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins for winning gold gloves.


Rollins, Victorino snare Gold Gloves
Shortstop wins second award; outfielder first-time recipient

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- The Oct. 10 box score shows Shane Victorino with two hits and four RBIs, a huge offensive contribution in Philadelphia's 8-5 win over Los Angeles in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.

Ask Victorino about one of his prouder moments from that game, however, and he'll likely start with the "F8" that retired Casey Blake -- a leaping grab against the wall that preserved a lead, keeping the Phillies in control.

Gold Glove Awards
National League
P, Greg Maddux, LAD
C, Yadier Molina, STL
1B, Adrian Gonzalez, SD
2B, Brandon Phillips, CIN
3B, David Wright, NYM
SS, Jimmy Rollins, PHI
OF, Carlos Beltran, NYM
OF, Nate McLouth, PIT
OF, Shane Victorino, PHI

For efforts like that, which came with two outs and two on, Victorino earned his first of what could many Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. He and teammate Jimmy Rollins, who won his second straight and second overall, were named Wednesday among National League winners.

"Of course, you want to do well offensively, but I always take pride in my defense," Victorino told ESPNews. "There's times you're struggling at the plate, [but] there's never a time that you should struggle on defense. There's no time that you feel, 'Oh, my first step is not there, or my legs aren't feeling good.' At the plate, you fail more than you succeed in this game. When you go on defense, it's about helping your team win."

The switch-hitting Victorino was in center field for 134 of his 138 starts this season, after shifting from right to replace Aaron Rowand. He committed just two errors in 323 total chances in center field and had a .994 fielding percentage, third best after Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth and Milwaukee's Mike Cameron.

Victorino is the fourth Phillies outfielder to win the award, joining Rowand (2007), Bobby Abreu (2005) and Garry Maddox(1975-82). This season is the 10th time in franchise history the Phils have had multiple Gold Glove winners.

The winners were selected by managers and coaches from each NL team. Managers and coaches couldn't vote for their own players.

The rest of the NL winners were Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, Mets third baseman David Wright and outfielder Carlos Beltran, McLouth and Dodgers pitcher Greg Maddux.

One of the standard methods of constructing a winning baseball team is to secure adept defenders up the middle, typically at catcher, second base, shortstop and center field.

The World Series champions have two of those spots covered in Rollins and Victorino.

Despite missing 25 games with a sprained left ankle, Rollins paced NL shortstops in a league that contains sterling defenders Jose Reyes (Mets), J.J. Hardy (Brewers) and Miguel Tejada (Astros). This is his second successive and second overall Gold Glove.

Rollins led the NL with a .988 fielding percentage and a career-low seven errors in 593 total chances. Rollins is the first Phillies shortstop to win the award in consecutive seasons and first player to do so since Scott Rolen in 2000-01.

"It's an honor anytime you are recognized as one of the best defensive players in the league," Rollins said in a statement. "It's something I work very hard at and I understand the importance of playing on both sides of the ball. I would like to thank all the managers and coaches for believing I'm one of the best."

The 2008 season marked the 52nd year of the Gold Glove Award. The first were awarded in 1957 to one player at each position from both leagues, then expanded the next year to include a lineup of nine players, one from each league.

"It's an honor," Victorino said. "Growing up as a kid, you heard about guys winning Gold Gloves and being known as the best defensive player at their positions. To be awarded that is definitely a reward."

Where have we been?

You might be asking yourself that question if you stop by on a regular basis, or if you were interested in the rest of our Masterpieces case. I am here to answer that question. I have been playing at the vending machine in Shoprite which has $1.00 packs of nothing, but are fun for 5 minutes. Sooz has been chained to the World Series, not playing with any cards.

Cheer for the Phillies to win tomorrow night so we can break the case, and have an hour of fun before it turns into eBay and work.

I want to also point out that I purchased a pack of 1993 Topps Stadium Club Series 2 Baseball from that vending machine and got a Members Choice Ken Griffey, Jr., Sammy Sosa, and Reggie Sanders... The rest of the pack played for about as long as it took you to read this blog so far. But there were 14 cards for a buck. I later came to realize there are some boxes of those cards selling on eBay for about the same price as the pack in the vending machine.

GO PHILLIES!!