MLB Free Agency filings

Free Agency filings are here. The annual rush for more cash than a player is really worth is on. This year's free agents are:

Darin Erstad (OF), Adam Kennedy (2B), J.C. Romero (LHP),

Miguel Batista (RHP), Craig Counsell (SS), Damion Easley (SS), Luis Gonzalez (1B)

Danys Baez (RHP), Todd Pratt (C), John C. Thomson (RHP), Daryle Ward (1B)

Chris Gomez (SS), LaTroy Hawkins (RHP), Kevin Millar (1B), Russ Ortiz (RHP), Chris Widger (C)

Alex Gonzalez (SS), Gabe Kapler (OF), Mark Loretta (2B), Doug Mirabelli (C), Trot Nixon (OF)

Henry Blanco (C), Wade Miller (RHP), Juan Pierre (OF), Aramis Ramirez (3B), Kerry Wood (RHP)

Sandy Alomar (C), David Riske (RHP)

Royce Clayton (SS), Ryan Franklin (RHP), Todd Hollandsworth (OF), Jason Johnson (RHP), Dave Weathers (RHP), Paul Wilson (RHP)

Aaron Boone (3B), Lou Merloni (2B)

Ray King (LHP), Tom Martin (LHP)

Matt Stairs (OF), Jamie Walker (LHP)

Joe Borowski (RHP), Wes Helms (3B), Matt Herges (RHP), Brian Moehler (RHP)

Aubrey Huff (3B), Russ Springer (RHP)

Paul Bako (C), Doug Mientkiewicz (1B)

Einar Diaz (C), Nomar Garciaparra (1B), Julio Lugo (SS), Ramon E. Martinez (RHP), Aaron Sele (RHP)

David Bell (3B), Jeff Cirillo (3B), Tony Graffanino (2B), Rick Helling (RHP), Tomo Ohka (RHP)

Phil Nevin (1B), Shannon Stewart (OF), Rondell White (DH)

Chad Bradford (RHP), Cliff Floyd (OF), Orlando Hernandez (RHP), Roberto Hernandez (RHP), Yusaku Iriki (RHP), Ricky Ledee (OF), Guillermo Mota (RHP), Steve Trachsel (RHP), Michael Tucker (OF), Jose Valentin (2B), Chris Woodward (2B)

Miguel Cairo (IF), Octavio Dotel (RHP), Tanyon Sturtze (RHP), Craig Wilson (1B)

Jay Payton (OF), Frank Thomas (DH)

Aaron Fultz (LHP), Mike Lieberthal (C), Arthur Rhodes (LHP), Rick White (RHP), Randy Wolf (LHP)

Joe Randa (3B)

Ron Belliard (2B), Gary Bennett (C), Jason Marquis (RHP), Scott Spiezio (3B), Jose Vizcaino (SS)

Geoff Blum (3B), Doug Brocail (RHP), Alan Embree (LHP), Shawn Estes (LHP), David Roberts (OF), Rudy Seanez (RHP), Todd Walker (2B), Woody Williams (RHP)

Moises Alou (OF), Barry Bonds (OF), Ray Durham (2B), Todd Greene (C), Shea Hillenbrand (1B), Steve Kline (LHP), Jason Schmidt (RHP), Mike Stanton (LHP)

Gil Meche (RHP)

Tomas O. Perez (3B)

Rod Barajas (C), Mark De Rosa (OF), Adam Eaton (RHP), Carlos Lee (OF), Gary Matthews Jr. (OF), Vicente Padilla (RHP), Eric Young (2B)

Frank Catalanotto (OF), Ted Lilly (LHP), Justin Speier (RHP), Gregg Zaun (C)

Tony Armas Jr (RHP), Robert Fick (C), Jose Guillen (OF), Alfonso Soriano (OF)

2006 World Series

OK, so I'm a little late with this. But after 40 rain delays it was easy to put the World Series on the back burner.

The Cardinals won their 10th Championship in five games. SS David Eckstein won the MVP honors batting .364 in the Series.

World Series 2006

The Detroit Tigers and the St Louis Cardinals are going to meet in the World Series for the 3rd time. Call this the rubber match of Series. The Tigers beat the Cardinals in 1968 in seven games and the Cardinals beat the Tigers in seven games back in 1934.

Detroit is the far superior team. But somehow the Cardinals keep finding ways to survive. With 11 games remaining the Cardinals led the NL Central by more than 5 games. They simply needed to win 45% of their remaining schedule EVEN IF the rest of the division won-out their 10 games. And somehow the Cardinals made the race come down to the very last day...winning their division only because Houston lost 2 out of 3 to Atlanta...the 2nd of those losses on the last day of the season.

Yes, Detroit was also the victim of an incredible comeback. They blew a 10 game lead over 2nd place. They blew a 12.5 game lead over the eventual division winner. They from game 34 through game 161 they were in 1st place and had to settle instead for the Wild Card. They could have won the division with a win over the lowly Royals to close the season...instead they were swept.

The Cardinals and the Tigers both dominated in their Divisional Series matchups, both winning in 4 games. The differences showed in the LCS. The Tigers swept their series. The Cardinals took it literally to the end...winning in 7 games and winning the 7th game by scoring in the 9th inning.

Detroit's pitching is superior. St Louis' bats are better. Pitching is generally the key in the playoffs.

TradeSports has the Tigers as a 2:1 favorite (66.7% chance to win). I think the Tigers will win in 5.

MLB League Championships 2006

Well, I am 0-4 so far. Admittedly I did pick the Mets to lose against better judgement. So let's look as the LC Series.

ALCS
vs
The Athletics were the first team to complete their 1st round sweep. They did so in convincing fashion. Part of this is because the Twins overachieving finally ended, part of this is because, well, Oakland is a talented and capable team. The Tigers have been considered one of the better teams in the League. Except for two HUGE slumps they would have run away with the AL's best record. Instead they ended up losing the division and nearly losing a playoff spot. They are back on track and demonstrated that with their dismissal of Yankees. Good series coming, maybe, but I am picking the Tigers in 6. TradesSports investors have the series at as a toss-up.

NLCS
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The Cardinals limped into the playoffs, the Mets coasted. The Cardinals fought for their 4-game victory. The Mets cruised to a sweep. I really do not see how the Cardinals can pull this one out. Mets in 5...if the Cardinals are lucky. TradeSports investors are not so confident (since they got burned in the first round as well). They have the Mets with a 62% chance of winning the NL Pennant.

As for the World Series the TradeSports investors are undecided on who will win the World Series. The Tigers, Mets & Athletics are all listed at about a 27% chance while the Cardinals are at a 17% chance.

MLB Playoff 2006

Here we go-o-o-o-o...

AMERICAN LEAGUE
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Tigers are slumping, young & frustrated. Yankees are high-paid super stars and have home field advantage. Pinstripes Power will make the Tigers look like kitty cats. Yankees will advance and TradeSports has the Yankees at a 73.2% chance of winning.

vs
Twins are hot. Athletics are not. Twins pitching should be overpowering in Games 1 & 3 or 4. This will be a close series and the Twins will move on. TradeSports is slightly confident in the Twins: 60.9%.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
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Dodgers are hot (won 7 in a row) and the Mets are the best team in the NL. The Dodgers and Mets had a pretty good and close series in August and I expect this one to be close also. The Mets are going to be without Pedro Martinez. I am hoping for the Dodgers...in fact, I will say they will move on. TradeSports disagrees, they say the Mets have 60.0% chance. Of note, this is the weakest favorite on TradeSports.

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The Cardinals backed into their spot on the last day of the season...a spot that should have been locked up long before. The Cardinals went from having home field in this round to be the worst record of this year's playoff teams. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games. The Padres are 8-2 in their last 10. I think the Padres will move on, easily. TradeSports agrees: 61.0%.