Tis the Season...

for column's about football playoff momentum and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball Hall of Fame argument columns bore me (unless I agree with it). Football playoff momentum articles have been kept to a minimum from what I've seen, most of them actually agree that there is no such thing. I'm in that same boat so I can't really rip on them. Well at least the USA Today gave me this to work with:

The best team realistic money can buy, all for $80 million

Catchy title. I'm think of calling my next expense report at work: The Best Lunches that can be Bought with a Client for a Reasonable Amount in the Greater Bronson Area. Rolls off the tongue.

So the basic premise of the list/article:

We've managed to assemble a formidable roster for Team 2009, USA TODAY Sports Weekly's annual exercise of creating a 25-man roster of the best players in their actual roles. But sticking to a realistic and responsible payroll was more difficult than it has been in several years.
This is not an All-Star team, but a selection by USA TODAY baseball editors and reporters of a realistic roster, including 2009's best No. 1 starting pitcher, No. 2 starter, No. 3 starter, etc.; a bullpen with each role covered; a starting lineup; and a complete bench. Then, we pick a manger, hitting coach and pitching coach.

This is in depth, and long, very long.

The challenge was deciding where the difference in performance between higher- and lower-priced players was small enough to warrant going cheap.

Sounds like a fantasy baseball article to me.

Starting pitching had a major impact on our payroll, with the $8.352 million cost of our rotation more than tripling from our 2008 starting five. Still, we came away with the American League Cy Young Award winner, Zack Greinke, and the National League wins leader, Adam Wainwright. And, in the bullpen, we still found room for closer Mariano Rivera, the only member of our 11-man pitching staff who was picked last year.
Our offense has both MVPs in catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Albert Pujols, and both batting champions in Mauer and shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Pujols and Ramirez are the only offensive players to return from Team 2008.
We have power, speed and lineup flexibility. It's a team that mirrors the major league trend away from lining up sluggers to bludgeon the opposition into submission.

Oh yeah, major league teams are always trying to get away from lining up sluggers to produce big offensive numbers. That's what makes the Nationals so successful. So lets see, you have Pujols, H-Ram, and Mauer. Yeah that's how you get away from big-time mashers, by having the best offensive players at their positions on your team. I mean they're incredible players who anyone would love to have, but it's not some new strategy you've stumbled upon. You did not pick them for "lineup flexibility" unless you plan on benching Pujols cause he only OPS's 1.500 again lefties instead of the 1.750 he hits against righties. (Yes I'm aware those are not the actual numbers.)

So the article goes on and picks people you'd pretty much expect. Whenever it's not the biggest name at the position Sladky explains that's it's a monetary pick. Lynne even gets in a shot at Jeter.

Shortstop
•Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins: The discussion sounded like the discussion surrounding this year's AL MVP.
Everyone wants to talk about shortstop Derek Jeter's season for the New York Yankees, but when all the statistics are spread out and we're reminded that we're talking about the best of 2009 and not a lifetime-achievement award, the sentiment gives way.
Ramirez won the batting title from the third spot in the lineup after proving in previous seasons he can be one of the game's top leadoff hitters.

Left field
•Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays: Probably the most contested position in our starting lineup, and the supporters of Crawford finally prevailed, while admitting that we might not be able to afford his $8.25 million price tag.

What the heck is that? The whole POINT of the article is to pick a team you can afford. Picking a guy you can't afford misses that.

Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers was a close runner-up — and at a more affordable $745,000.

Gee...looks like you can actually afford Braun. Maybe you should of picked him instead.

Crawford's 60 stolen bases and .305 batting average fit nicely into our lineup

You don't say...

Right field
•Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks: This was another difficult decision and, in the end, the one that allowed us to meet our payroll limits and still keep enough of the All-Stars we wanted.
The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki emerged from our debate as the first choice but only barely over Upton and the Philadelphia Phillies' Jayson Werth.
But when all our first choices totaled $107 million, moving from Suzuki's $17 million to Upton's $412,000 was the immediate first move.

So here's my main exception with this article. They basically took their first pick in EVERY POSITION except for two of the highest paid players in the game, Suzuki and A-rod. 80 million is a good amount of money to work with. If they had say taken the Royals budget and made a team, then they might have something.

Not the most interesting concept I've ever read. About as bad as a blog where some guy spends an hour a day ripping sport articles. The pitching stuff is boring and adheres to the concept of #1 vs. #2 starters instead of just finding some inexpensive talent that fans may be overlooking which, you know, may have made for a interesting article. Oh well.

As the kids say, case closed!