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MLB Heavyweight Champion

If MLB champs were decided like boxing: beat the champ, and you're the champ.

The 2008 season started with the Red Sox as champs. They were beaten by the A's, who were beaten back by Boston, who were then swept by Toronto, who lost to Oakland, who lost to Cleveland, and so on, until we reached our current champion.

The Heavyweight of the Year is the team that wins the most title bouts at the end of the season.

2008 Heavyweight of the Year:
New York Mets

Final Regular Season Champion:
Atlanta Braves

2008 Title Bout Records:

Mets2619
Cubs164
Phillies1514
Athletics1313
Red Sox117
Padres109
Braves97
Nationals915
Rockies714
Brewers61
Angels64
Indians611
Cardinals55
Reds55
Marlins55
Dodgers57
Rangers46
Blue Jays33
Mariners21
Yankees23
Tigers12
Giants03
Orioles03
Pirates03

2007 Heavyweight of the Year:
Seattle Mariners

2006 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics

2005 Heavyweight of the Year:
Oakland Athletics

more info...

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Kendall Fast Over, Loaiza Fast Begins
2006-04-29 16:38
by Ken Arneson

Yesterday, Jason Kendall went his fourth straight game without grounding out to third. So my Kendall fast (see sidebar) is now over.

In its place, I am beginning an Esteban Loaiza fast. I can't stand watching the dude throw another 84-mph batting practice fastball. During today's game against the Royals, you could tell after about five pitches that Loaiza had absolutely nothing. You could send out any single-A pitcher from Kane County, and they'd have a better chance at getting people out than Loaiza did today.

I have no idea why Macha didn't just yank him right away. The guy has an injured trapezius muscle, has no velocity or control whatsoever, and they leave him in there to put a grand slam on a tee for Reggie Sanders. He needs to go join Rich Harden on the DL until whatever is wrong with him is fixed.

I don't want to see Loaiza again until he's back throwing his 90+ mph fastballs. Because otherwise, he's worse than useless. So my Loaiza fast begins right now. I'm not even waiting for this game to be over. Ideally, I'd like to keep fasting Loaiza until he throws a fastball above 90mph, but if I'm not watching the game, it's kinda hard to know when he throws that speed, because that data isn't readily available online.

So here's my Loaiza fast parameters: I'm not watching another Loaiza appearance until he throws five consecutive shutout innings. Because my walls and furniture deserve to remain intact.

Comments
2006-04-29 20:08:03
1.   Vishal
i hope your loaiza fast gets results as quickly as the kendall fast did.
2006-04-29 20:12:03
2.   Ken Arneson
Well, it kinda worked. Kendall didn't really start hitting well, he just stopped grounding out weakly to third, and started popping out weakly to center. But perhaps it's a good sign of a change in approach. I hope.
2006-04-29 22:18:10
3.   Vishal
maybe you shouldn't have made your fast so specific about the grounders, then. but then, if you set the bar too high (say, fasting till he hit a homer), it may never happen at all.
2006-04-29 22:56:57
4.   Ken Arneson
I think if I'm gonna fast, it has to be about something I'm genuinely sick of. I'm not really bothered that Kendall doesn't hit the ball over the fence. I am bothered that he doesn't hit the ball hard anywhere at all.
2006-04-29 23:25:56
5.   BigShmirdawg
The grey jerseys worked for Haren but alas they were not able to help Loaiza. Good thing the whole thing was erased by the rain. Or else the bullpen may have been erased by the Royals! Boycott Loaiza!
2006-04-30 08:58:20
6.   Philip Michaels
If only the Loaiza contract signing could be rained out as easily as last night's game...
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