Another week, another shake-up in the standings. The winning combo in the Longball League this week was to have slugger Jose Bautista and pitcher Roy Halladay. That combo enabled the Tax Dodgers to vault to the top of the standings. On the other hand, it was Mark Teixeira's poor week that helped the Tax Dodgers make their move. Also, we still have a logjam at the top with a couple of teams poised to make a move of their own.
Three things about this week in the Majors:
1. The Cardinals and the Reds are developing some real hatred between them. Could most of the tension between the two squads be coming from Cards skipper Tony La Russa who is trying to fire up his underachieving ballclub? I think so.
2. Looking ahead to the Cubs trip to Boston this week, I wonder how many times will Steve Bartman and Aaron Boone be mentioned? After all, these two teams were the World Series matchup a lot of people were hoping to see in 2003. The matchup didn't happen as both teams lost and we got the Marlins-Yankees instead.
3. Can anybody in the AL or NL west hit with runners in scoring position? This past weekend was pretty bad in that respect.
Trivia: The last time the Chicago Cubs visited Fenway Park was back in the 1918 World Series. It was game six to be exact. Cub Right Fielder Max Flack's error in the bottom of the third inning allowed two Red Sox runs to score. Those two runs would be all the Red Sox needed as they won the game, 2-1 and the series, 4 games to 2. The Cubs lone run came when first baseman Fred Merkle singled in Flack in the top of the fourth. Yes, that Fred Merkle. The Fred Merkle whose own base running error cost the New York Giants the 1908 pennant was on the field for another key error in baseball history. It's funny how Flack's error didn't make it into the lore of the game like Merkle's or Bill Buckner's in 1986.
Baseball Card of the Week: In honor of his big error, here's a look at Flack's 1916 M101-4 card.
It was a card given out at a local Chicago department store with a purchase of baseball equipment.
Until next week folks, remember that Vernon Wells is on the 15 day disabled list with a pulled groin.
-The Commissioner
