Honest Stats Overshadowing Steroid Fakery

Lanky Cubbie Thriving In Post-Steroid Majors
The Chicago Cubs firstbaseman, Sacramento raised, Derrek Lee, has been this season's relevation. Lee has never hit for an average higher than .282 in six seasons, never hit more than 32 homers or knocked in 100 RBI's in a single season, yet, as of today, he's on a pace to be the first Triple Crown winner in the majors since Carl Yastzremski in 1967.

Lee's statistics through today:
AVG: .389
HR: 20 (he did hit a homer today vs. Milwaukee)
RBI: 61

Sure sounds like numbers that would make steroid watchdogs salivate with accusastions. Except in this new era of conspicuously slimmed down sluggers like, and particularly, Sammy Sosa; there may be an alternative theory.

With the demise of artificially produced numbers truly talented and athletic baseball players like the tall and thin Lee are being allowed to shine. We're are seeing the return of the baseball player this season. In addition to Lee, who, by the way, was already a solid firstbasemen, the American League's version is sweet fielding Baltimore Oriole, Brian Roberts, who leads the league in many categories, but fails to make a mockery of the game with video game-like power numbers.

Most likely, Lee's stellar performance is a half-season anomaly that will even out to a very good season for the Cubbie firstbaseman, but it should allow for more likely statistics to occur rather than the unbelievable 73 homers that emanated from Baroid Bonds in 2001.

MACHA AN ALL-STAR?
Terry Francona, the manager of the Red Sox and American League skipper for next month's All-Star Game choose his former boss, A's manager, Ken Macha as one of his coaches.

That kind of like your do-nothing, know-nothing, dithering boss being named Employee of the Month.

PROMOTING THE PROMOTIONS
Did somebody in the A's advertising department say, "We need to come up for a promotion to promote our promotions."

I'm not one of those marketing geniuses, but I understood a baseball promotion like bobbleheads or fireworks was meant to entice you to buy a ticket to the game.

The A's are advertising mini-season ticket package that includes bobblehead games and fireworks nights.