2008 MLB: Baseball Year in Review

November 9, 2008

By DailySkew

In a word, the 2008 Major league baseball season was unpredictable.

For many franchises, it was disappointing and for others it was exciting.

One major difference between 2008 and other modern seasons was the decrease in runs scored and homeruns. All of a sudden pitchers could…pitch.

The Winners

In the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays were the surprise team (every year baseball has at least one). This team, which was in last place for years, all of a sudden was able to pitch and field (they always had the hitters). The Red Sox and Yankees both had injuries, and were unable to run with the Rays. The Yankees had their most disappointing season in ages, not a great year for Joe Girardi’s first year at the helm.

The Chicago White Sox also surprised people to win the AL Central, as the Detroit Tigers were baseball’s biggest bust. The Cleveland Indians, who seemed like a dynasty fell to 81-81.

The AL West was easy for the LA Angels of Anaheim. In fact, the Angels were viewed as the best team in baseball all year. Oakland GM Billy Beane had put hiswhite flag up while still in contention.

In the NL East, the Mets swooned again, as the Philadelphia Phillies finally lived to their potential. They had the hitting and pitching. The Marlins did better than expected, and the Braves seem to be a franchise in jeopardy.

Lou Pinella’s Cubs did great, but the Curse was always on the back of fans’ minds, and sure enough, they didn’t go far in the post-season. The Brewers had internal struggles and self-destructed. The Cardinals had injuries.

The NL West was won by Joe Torre’s LA Dodgers. Unlike other teams, they overcame the injuries and outlasted the Arizona Diamondbacks in the weakest division in baseball.

League Leaders

Batting Averages
AL: Twins catcher Joe Mauer (.328)
NL: Braves 3B Chipper Jones (.364)

Homeruns
AL: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera (37)
NL: Phillies IB Ryan Howard (48)

RBI
AL: Texas CF Josh Hamilton (130)
NL: Phillies IB Ryan Howard (146)

Wins
AL: Indians Cliff Lee (22-3)
NL: Diamondbacks Brandon Webb (22-7)

ERA:
AL: Indians Cliff Lee (2.54)
NL: Mets Johan Santana (2.53)

Saves:
AL: Angels K-Rod (62) New Record
NL: Astros Jose Valverde (44)

Storylines

The biggest storyline before the season and at the beginning was Roger Clemens, steroids, and HGH. The MEDIA and Roger were dragging everyone into it. Roger tarnished his reputation, and it was found out that he had affairs. Roger gets filed with Pete Rose now in terms of fallen stars.

Because baseball was now “drug free”, owners and GM blacklisted Barry Bonds, while the mainstream MEDIA never got off their high horse.

2008 was a tough year for New York fans. The first half of the season in Queens was focused on if Willie Randolph would be fired from the underachieving Mets. Fans, radio, newspapers, TV, and internet wanted Willie fired. Only the Mets hierarchy could have botched it, and they did. Willie was fired in the middle of the night- by phone, after flying to the West Coast. Willie was instantly transformed into a martyr. The Mets got hot under new manager Jerry Manuel, but the team tanked in September again.

As far as the Yankees go, Joe Girardi’s New World Order was a bust, and the injuries just mounted up to the point of absurdity. There were two truly great and emotional moments at Yankee Stadium’s last year: the All Star Game and the last game played at Yankee Stadium. There were a few bright individual achievements (Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera), but most of the Yankees season can be left unsaid in this particular post (such as A-Rod’s affair, and the MEDIA second guessing Joba Chamberlain as a starter).

Josh Hamilton became a MEDIA darling for overcoming (at least for now) his drug addiction and life tradegies. Of course, only because he’s hitting now.

Meanwhile, Manny Ramirez was the most hated man in baseball thanks to the fact that he was faking injuries and pretty much refused to play for the Red Sox. However, most of that was forgooton after he was traded helped the Dodgers go deep into the playoffs.

As the old guard is slowly dying out (Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 600th HR with little fanfare and was traded, Greg Maddux gets traded yearly, Mike Piazza retired after not getting a contract, Frank Thomas was released from the Blue Jays, Pedro Martinez is married to the DL, Curt Schilling missed the season, etc) newer names dominated the headlines: Jon Lester, Chase Utley, Evan Longoria, Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Edinson Volquez, Josh Hamilton, Brad Ziegler, Chad Billingsley, Cole Hamels, and a bunch of other names that make older fans feel…old.

The competition is baseball is balanced; Bud Selig’s goal has been achieved. Of course, the Rays-Phillies World Series had horrible ratings, but “parity” had been achieved by MLB any team could win it all. No more dynasties.

Also, with so many great players (and injuries), it’s hard to say who is officially the best player in baseball anymore, although the Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols seems to having more consistent recent years than A-Rod.

It is a new world, that’s for sure.