Sports

MLB needs to exorcise Devil Rays


The Mendoza Line

Ed De La Garza

Remember when the All-Star Game was special because fans got to see players from both leagues compete against each other in a non-World Series game? Back in the day, seeing St. Louis play Kansas City in a game meant only one thing: Ozzie Smith was battling George Brett for a championship ring.

Interleague play brings in people drawn by the opportunity to see stars like Roger Clemens or Alex Rodriguez, but do Astros fans really care about Aubrey Huff or Jason Johnson? Who the hell are these people?

Lou Piniella used to be a highly regarded manager. He went 116-46 with Seattle in 2001. What happened to him? He left the Mariners for Tampa Bay, a team that will never win more than 70 games.

Interleague play would be great if only teams with natural rivalries (Texas/Houston, Yankees/Mets, Cubs/White Sox) played each other. Thereis no reason to see the Astros play the Devil Rays or Orioles. Neither series is likely to be a preview of the World Series.

Instead of worrying about gimmicks like interleague and giving homefield advantage to the winner of the All-Star Game, baseball should make changes that really matter. Get rid of the DH rule. And Tampa Bay.

Drafted by the MLB

The Astros drafted Phil Nevin with the No. 1 pick in 1992. He proceeded to flounder in the organization for three years before being traded to Detroit. He finally lived up to potential in 2001 (he was named an All-Star and hit .306 with 41 home runs and 126 RBIs).

Tampa Bay probably hopes it doesnit take Delmon Young that much time to develop. The Devil Rays drafted Young, kid brother of the Detroit Tigersi Dmitri Young, with the first pick of the 2003 draft. Delmon (6-3, 205 pounds) hit .544 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs his senior year at Camarillo High School in California.

UH fans may get to see reliever Ryan Wagner pitch in Houston past this season. The National League Centralis Cincinnati Reds selected the righthander with the 14th pick. And considering Oakland doesnit spend money on free agents and would rather develop its farm talent, landing in the Ais organization may suit Brad Sullivan just fine. Oakland selected Sullivan with the 25th pick.

Bring in the closer

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling was placed on the disabled list for the second time this season. He suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand against San Diego on Friday. Randy Johnson isnit scheduled to come back from arthroscopic knee surgery for three weeks.

Yeah, itis over for Arizona.

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