First posted on Thursday, Sept. 8

How can teams that have so much trouble scoring runs still be in the playoff hunt? That's simple. It's pitching, my friend.

The Washington Nationals, Houston Astros and Florida Marlins all have the same problem, yet they are still in the wild-card hunt in the National League. ...

The Nationals are the worst offensive team in baseball, dead last, 30^th. They've only scored 542 runs this year. Yet because of their pitching, they still have a chance with 24 games remaining because they can get people out.

The Nats have one of the best bullpens in the game — 46 saves and 63 holds, led by Chad Cordero with 43 saves and a 1.30 ERA, Hector Carrasco (61 innings pitched and 43 hits), Gary Majewski (one HR in 71 innings pitched) and Luis Ayala (14 walks in 71 innings pitched).

The latter three guys all have ERAs in the low twos.

The Houston Astros have the best pitching staff in the game while boasting the 26^th-best offense in baseball.

Led by Hall of Famer Roger Clemens and his 1.57 ERA, Roy Oswalt and a healthy Andy Pettitte, these guys are great (61-46 as a rotation). Throw in a solid bullpen with Brad Lidge and his 35 saves in 38 chances, and that's why they lead the NL wild-card race. But the Florida Marlins are right on their heals.

The Marlins have the 19^th-best offense in the Majors, yet they have the sixth-best pitching staff in the NL.

Dontrelle Willis is having a Cy Young year, winning his 20^th game last night, along with Josh Beckett and AJ Burnett. This will be one tough rotation if they make the playoffs.

And one last note ... Marlins closer Todd Jones has been nothing less than amazing this year (35-37 in saves, a 1.15 ERA and 12 BB's in 63 innings pitched).

Are you kidding me? And he's only making $1.1 million? What a bargain!

So you see, it's not about $200 million offenses; it's about pitching and defense.

That's what gets you a ring.

First posted on Wednesday, Sept. 1

How are you feeling today?

Do you think your team let you down by not trading for that high priced help? If you are a White Sox fan, do you think getting Ken Griffey Jr. was going to guarantee you a championship? If you're an Angel fan, now that you didn't get Mike Sweeney are your playoff hopes shot?

Is the fact that the Baltimore Orioles couldn't land A.J. Burnett back in June the reason they have just imploded?

Don't be too sure.

Baseball is a very complicated, yet very simple sport, all at the same time. 15 years ago when I was a part of a World Championship team, we didn't get a big name guy at the trade deadline, in July or August, and I can honestly say we didn't need one, either. It may have done more harm than good.

You see, there is a very delicate balance in a major-league clubhouse, and a lot of it has to do with the fact that you trust each other and love each other. That started back in the minor leagues for some of us, back in spring training for others, but sometimes bringing in that NEW guy may just send you in the wrong direction.

Just look at the moves the Red Sox made last year. Before the 2004 season they picked up Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke, then later that season picked up a couple small, but important pickups like Dave Roberts, Orlando Cabrera, and Doug Mientkiewicz. All of which are great guys.

Not one of those new guys hurt the team and what they meant to each other and what they were trying to do.

It's a simple plan, but every team has a different way of looking at it. You have your own jokes, your own teammates who keep things loose, make things fun. Sometimes when you change just the smallest thing, the team goes down the drain.

So don't be so sad, the White Sox are still good, so are the Angels, and so are the other teams still in the playoff hunt. Trust me, I know. 15 years ago, even though we had been in first place the entire season, everybody (except us) said it couldn't be done.

But we did it.