SMALL BALL....

I'm taking a break from Cubs news for today and want to say a few words about "small ball." You know...the hit and run, stealing bases, and running from 1st to 3rd on a single.

I think baseball is finally exiting the "chicks dig the long ball" era of baseball. Steroids and HGH are leaving the ballgame with tougher penalities for offenders. I see a shift moving towards good pitching, base running, and defense. While good pitching has always won titles for years and years, I don't think teams necessarily have to hit home runs anymore to win.

Home runs are down from a year ago. Ryan Howard leads the majors with 47 home runs. Unless he hits 3 dingers in his final 3 games we will not see anyone eclipse the 50 home run mark. That will be the first time since Dodger Adrian Beltre hit 48 in 2004.

2007 ML Leader---Alex Rodriguez 54
2006 ML Leader---Ryan Howard 58
2005 ML Leader---Andruw Jones 51

I think the transition is happening quicker in the American League. Take a look at the playoff teams as they would be today: Tampa Bay, Boston, Los Angeles, and Minnesota.

Excluding Boston, the other three teams win exclusively with pitching, defense, and good baserunning.

The class of the league, the Angels, have won this way since Mike Scioscia arrived in 2000. They won the World Series in 2002. Since that title they've won 4 division championships. In my opinion, Scioscia could win the Manager of the Year award every single year. He only won in 2002. His Angels have averaged over 90 wins for the past 5 seasons. A little East Coast bias there...

Look at the Minnesota Twins...After a sweep of the Chi Sox, they have a half game lead on the division going into the weekend. They are looking for their 5th division title since Rod Gardenhire arrived in 2002.

Tampa Bay of all teams has proven this point as well. Their magic number to win the division sits at 1 with 3 to go. They've already punched their ticket to the postseason.

If small market teams like the Twins and Rays can win with "small ball" maybe it's a lesson to be learned for teams across baseball.

Don't forget, Rays Manager Joe Maddon is a former Angel. Something to be said there...

Finally, I have to give a shout out to former Angel, and now Minnesota Twin Alexi Casilla. He got the game winning single last night against the White Sox in the 10th inning to give the Twins the division lead. If Minnesota goes on to clinch the division, that will go down as one of the big hits in Twins history.

The second baseman came over from the Angels in the JC Romero trade back in 2005 and has earned his way to a starting spot for the Twins. Alexi played in Cedar Rapids with the Kernels as part of the Angel organziation back in 2004 and 2005. A great guy who has made his mark in the big leagues.

Nice job Alexi!