Alternate History

Today is Friday, and although my post is very late at night, it still remains as Fiction Friday. However, I want to change it up a little bit. I've watched many Phillies games on the opposing team's network. Although this doesn't happen anymore, I want to make my fiction today based on what could have happened had one specific trade not happened.

Let's say that Bobby Abreu was never traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Philadelphia Phillies for Kevin Stocker. The aging Stocker was wearing down even though he was only approaching 30, so the Rays decided to keep the young prospect Abreu. Without an answer in right field, the Phillies went out to drain a ton of money into a right fielder who happened to not pan out while Stocker retired a year later. Abreu, on the other hand, gave the Rays exactly what they needed to complement the savvy veterans on the original expansion roster and actually not be pathetic for so many years. What's more, the Phillies continue to stick with Stocker through his early 30s hoping that someday he will turn around his performance, and that totally miss on another young shortstop who should have debuted in 2000, Jimmy Rollins.

Although this is only a very brief alternate history, and you can see why one of the most talked about trades in recent Phillies history was vitally important to the franchise.
Photo by emples on Flickr

All-Star Celebration

The All-Star Break is upon us. Some of the best baseball has to offer are converging in Anaheim to fight for home-field advantage in the World Series. Tonight of course is the Home Run Derby. Over the years, I have enjoyed watching this event, but it often seems like if a player has an amazing day, the rest of the year is not quite as stellar. Does anybody remember Bobby Abreu's monster day at the Derby? If you do remember, you will remember that he was amazing. However, the end of the year was not quite as amazing and eventually led to him being dealt to the Yankees. It was as if he burned all of his home runs in one night and then couldn't keep up with it the rest of the year. I hope that doesn't happen to anybody this year. Do you know what else should not happen again this year? I vote for no more ties ever in the All-Star Game. I know that this is a few years old, but we are still making jokes about it. It was a joke, and I hope it never happens again. Enjoy the break, then tune in tonight!
Photo by Evan Wohrman on Flickr