Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

- Don't forget that A-Rod was traded for Alphonso Soriano. So far this year A-Rod is 2nd in the AL in total bases with 142 but Soriano is just 4 bases behind him with 138. The money the Rangers saved by shedding A-Rod's contract has allowed them to be more balanced. Four of the top 10 in total bases in the AL play for the Rangers.

- Todd Helton leads the NL with 10 intentional bases on balls. He's got no protection in the Rockies line-up.

- The Mets need some offense out of 1st base. How ironic would it be if they acquired Kevin Millar from the Red Sox? Millar and Mientkiewicz would be back together again. I see a certain elegance to that.

- John Olerud needs 4 more doubles for 500 in his career. That would also move him past Rusty Staub for 41st place on the all-time doubles list.

- Maybe the Red Sox could trade Kevin Millar to the Braves. They could use his bat either at 1st or in the outfield. Have you gotten the idea that I'd like to see the Red Sox trade Millar yet?

- So far this year I think the Rookies of the Year for both leagues are pitchers. Chris Young of the Rangers in the AL and Brad Halsey of the Diamondbacks in the NL. Clint Barmes was a shoe-in for the NL ROY before he got hurt.