A Political Pitch

Jason Michael Barker

As I write this on Tuesday evening, it's difficult to find a television station that isn't featuring election results and analysis. Even the sports networks have a stake in all this, as there are several stadium/arena issues on the ballot in cities like Houston, Green Bay, and Phoenix. Some state is even voting whether or not to ban greyhound racing, to which I say, "Can't you find anything more exciting to race than big buses?"

Well, no matter. There's plenty for us to talk about right here, even if the parallels between baseball and national politics jump right out at you like the steroids in Manny Alexander's glove compartment.

Are the Yankees Democrats or Republicans? After winning four World Series titles in five years they've got that incumbent thing going for them like the Democrats do in the White House, and like the Donkey stereotype George Steinbrenner and company are into big revenue -- taxes and television contracts-- and big spending -- government programs and payroll.

At the same time, however, Steinbrenner has the "small government" attitude about him, as he certainly doesn't want baseball to step in and force him to share his hard-earned revenue with the likes of Montreal, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. And you wouldn't catch the Republicans declaring the Yankees a monopoly, either.

I'll leave this one for you to decide.

Getting away from party politics to voter-driven races for a minute, is anyone else surprised that in a country when tax dollars can go to build multi-million dollar stadiums, nobody has tried an initiative to raise money for paying a soon-to-bolt free agent? In Seattle, voters could vote on a .1% sales tax increase to pay Alex Rodriguez, and Cleveland residents could authorize a slight property tax increase to pay Manny Ramirez.

One last political tidbit -- can you imagine if we had nationwide votes on baseball issues, such as an election for commissioner or a ballot measure to either abolish or make uniform the designated hitter? If you think the current ads are ugly, just think of the smear campaign between Bud Selig, Don Fehr and Bob Costas, with Costas assuming the Ralph Nader role, urging fans to "vote their conscience."

OK, enough with politics, but not with voting. The AL and NL Rookie of the Year awards were announced this week, and I have to say I agree with the selections of both Kazuhiro Sasaki and Rafael Furcal. Not only did Sasaki save 37 of 40, but he was truly dominant this season, holding batters to .185 batting average and .285 on-base percentage, with 78 strikeouts in 62.2 innings. With the Mariners fighting for a post-season spot in September, Sasaki allowed just one earned run in 10.2 innings and saved six of six.

Furcal, meanwhile, showed patience well beyond his years (assuming he's really 20) in drawing 73 walks and posting a .394 on-base percentage in 455 at-bats. When the season began he was tabbed as Atlanta's utility man, defensive sub, pinch-runner and occasional starter, but as time went on in became apparent Bobby Cox could not keep him out of the line-up. Furcal's combination of speed (he stole 40 bases in 54 attempts this year) and on-base skills make him an ideal leadoff man, even if he hits for all the power of your grandmother.

Finally, while surfing that "other" sports mecca the other day, I ran into a brief piece by everyone's favorite baseball insider mentioning that Chipper Jones might be on his way to the Atlanta outfield next season, in order to make room for prospect Wes Helms. Helms, it seems, hit .288 with 20 homers for Richmond, Atlanta's AAA club in the International League.

Quick quiz: Where is Chipper Jones more valuable, at third base or at a corner outfield spot? Wait, don't answer that, because it isn't even the pressing issue here. In his time at Richmond, Helms showed a special lack of patience normally reserved for the likes of Brian Hunter: he drew just 25 unintentional walks in 539 at-bats, leading to a .325 on-base percentage.

Now, I'm no scout and I've never seen Helms play, but to me a guy who hits .288/.325/.475 with terrible strike zone judgement at age 24 at AAA shouldn't even be on the major league roster of a team as good as the Braves, let alone have a superstar like Chipper Jones moved aside in order to open up a spot for him.

Jason Michael Barker knows the whereabouts of all those missing ballot boxes in Florida. Ask if it has anything to do with Larry Rothschild's contract renewal at jmb@strikethree.com.

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