End of an ERA

In both, tragic, senses of the phrase.

Two men that comprise the file and rank of major league pitchers have recently fell into the myseterious Bermuda Triangle of lost ability. A trip includes a ballooning earned run average, multiple souveniers for fans, and a possible (and looming) trip to the disabled list. For these two, it should be re-termed the FL, or finished list.

Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon. Two men who, in the not-so-distant past, have seen both their right arms and, ultimately, careers completely fall apart.

Our star from the Country of Many Rafts, Mr. Contreras, was the best pitcher in baseball as recently as the first half of last season. Bartolo has had more issues of late, but had won 21 games as recently as 2005.

Both men could throw in the mid-90s and had another pitch to rely on. In Joey's case, it was the split fingered fastball. In Bart's case, a variety of fastballs and a changeup. However, the difference between the two comes in how they have lost whatever it was that made them successful. Contreras, for really no apparent reason, has no life on his fastball. At all. He's lost about 5 to 8 mph, rendering anything else he throws useless. The confusing thing on the other side of the ledger is that Colon hasn't lost much velocity, if any at all. He still throws in the mid-90s, but as straight as an arrow.

The end result? Pro longed batting practice for opponents for about an inning or 2 before they are yanked.

It's a sad state of affairs, but, as we've seen so many times, it happens to be the best of them. Or, to the worst of them.



Notes:

• Finally, Casey Jacobsen and his smoking hot wife are back in the ol' US of A. He makes his return to the association with the Memphis Grizzlies. Jacobsen was drafted in 2002 by the Suns. A few fun facts: over his career, Jacobsen has made more than 3 million bucks; in his second season, he made 75 threes (can anyone remember him even shooting that many?) which was exactly half of the shots he made all year.


• Former SU safety Anthony Smith made semi-national NFL news when he absolutely laid out WR Willie Reid in a non-contact, half speed practice drill. Said Smith when questioned by team leader Hines Ward, "It's football!".


• With the MLB trading deadline passed, some of the most interesting deals were those that didn't happen. A few examples? Kyle Farnsworth to absolutely anyone. Bad player, bad attitude, bad contract. Yummie. Kei Igawa to the Mariners. Come on. Have you seen this guy pitch? Adam Dunn to the Nationals. Not that the Nats have anything to give up thats worth holding on to, but is there a more "dead end" type of player to acquire? Jermaine Dye to the Red Sox. Yeah, it would've been a good deal if contracts could be erased, but, lest we forget, JD Drew is still on the books for at least 65 million.


• One deal that did happen still makes no sense. Matt Morris to the Pirates for a no name or two. First of all, Morris makes more than the league minimum (by several million), so right there he doesn't fit into the Pirates vision of an ideal ball player. Second, he's an aging right hander that has gotten generally worse over the past 4 to 5 seasons and the past month or so of this season. Third, aren't the Pirates out of the running for any sort of playoff spot this year (and every year, for that matter)?


• The Kevin Garnett deal to Boston was quite the deal for the C's. I'll admit, I liked it a lot, at least in the short term (as in the next 2 years). They should be able to go the Eastern Conf. Finals, at the very least. That is, of course, if they can fill a roster. Right now, we all know 3 of the starters (Garnett, Pierce, Allen). One assumes that Perkins fills in at 5 and Rondo at the point. But, outside of the Big Baby and a possible return for Tony Allen, who else comes off the bench? Not that a deep bench is absolutely necessary, but a bench of some kind is required. Have fun filling out that 12 man roster.