With the All-Star break upon us, and the trade deadline imminent, The Riot! has decided to pick two players from each squad and deem them "Untouchable." Players we feel shouldn't be moved for any reason. With the AL East and AL Central in the books, let hit the NL East; a personal topic for me so i will try not to get too emotional. Here we go.
Philadelphia Phillies - The reigning NL East champs seem to be dominating the league again this season. With a 3.5 game lead on the Bravos after annihilating them yesterday, the Phils look like they maybe one move away from running and hiding in the 2nd half.*The Three-Headed Monster - The Phils biggest issues all season long has been there lack of offense and injuries to there bullpen; so that makes the Godzilla-like three headed monster at the top of the Phils rotation all the more Untouchable. Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.45 ERA, 6 Complete games), Cliff Lee (9-6, 2.82 ERA<0.21 in June>, 4 shutouts, 4 CG) and Cole Hamels (11-4, 2.32 ERA) have been as good a rotation as any in baseball. Huh? Cole Hamels? Yes, Cole Hamels. I know the bally-who was surrounding Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt joining the group when the season started, and Roy may still be heard from before it's all said and done (he's been injured), but it's been Hamels who has stepped up and become the 3rd guy in this rotation. If the Phils get any offense come October, they will be a very hard out.
Atlanta Braves - The Braves are coming along very nicely. This isn't your father's Braves circa 1991 who snuck up on everyone and stayed for 14 seasons making them one of the all-time NL teams, oh no, this team is coming slowly. The Wild Card leaders are searching for there second playoff berth in two years and seem like they may be a move or two away from being legit challengers for the Phils and Giants to deal with in the playoffs. First the Untouchables:*Jair Jurrjens - Your first half cy-young award winner has to be Jair. With a 12-3 start and a minuscule 1.83 ERA, Jurrjens is carrying the Braves pitching pedigree on to the post Bobby Cox era. Jurrjens is the clear ACE of this staff and cannot be moved unless Cy Young himself rises from the grave to reclaim his spot at the top of the heap.
*Brian McCann - This was a tough pick for me because the Braves have a host of young talent that I wouldn't move, but I felt McCann was the best pick for this year's Untouchable list. First reason is he's having a great season for a catcher offensively (.310 avg., 15 homers, 50 RBI) and even though he's having a tough time throwing runners out this season, he's considered a good defensive catcher. The second reason is on a very young team, McCann is one of the few carry overs from the Bobby Cox years, and knows the tradition of the Atlanta Braves well. McCann is the only true veteran on this team at the age of 27. Untouchable.
New York Mets - Oh boy, being a Mets fan myself this has been a very frustrating season actually. A team I picked to lose over 100 games because it appeared that with injuries to Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana that carried over from last year, and the Bernie Madoff nonsense, that the Mets were just a complete mess of a franchise. Don't get me wrong, they still are. The frustration comes about because they are playing well and don;t seem to be fading. Two games over .500 at the all-star break is a long way from where I thought they would be and there is one and only one reason why they are there, the Untouchable.*Jose Reyes - SIGN HIM NOW! Look, given the recent events in Reyes's season, I would try and hammer out a deal now. He's shown his cards, and I think he is nervous about going out to the market and being shut out of the "big money." So give him some. Not $20 mil a year, but at least pay him what every other Shortstop, other than Jeter, is making. He's worth it. I know I've questioned it in the past, and I also feel that giving a speed guy anything over 5 years is crazy, but he's put in his time here. He gave a great deal the first time around now give it to him. He's keeping your team alive this season. After what I saw last night in San Fran, the Mets can't score without Reyes. Sure they can beat up on a depleted Dodger squad or a Nationals team that's on there level, but the Giants who have legit pitching, shut the Mets down in the last two games. No Reyes, No Runs, Untouchable.
*Jose Reyes's Hair - We cannot do without those dreads. I believe that if Reyes loses the dreads, he loses that swing. Just a thought from the Sampson camp.
*Stephen Strasburg - The over hyped pitcher has been shelved for almost a year now with major elbow surgery. Now I know you're wondering "how can a pitcher who has so massively blown out his arm already be so important," well let me tell you. First off, Nats fans are completely in awe of the potential of Strasburg because they've seen it. Briefly, but it was there. And the idea that Strasburg will come back and solidify what is already a strong, young staff; it's exciting for fans in Washington.
*Bryce Harper - The brash young bats-man has a lot to learn about the game yet and it shows in the minors thus far. But what he doesn't need to learn is how to hit, he's got that covered. Harper is tearing up the Minors and I predict you will see him in September and he will make this team at that point. Watch out for Bryce Harper to make the Nats a legit Wild Card contender next season, and if they can hang around, maybe even this season.
*Josh Johnson - I know he's on the shelf for the year but he is a top 5 pitcher in the NL and if this team has any designs on ever being a contender, Johnson has to be a part of that equation.
*There is no one else, just pack it up and SELL, SELL, SELL.
That's half the league, stay tuned for the rest of the "Untouchables." If you are a fan of a team, and there is a player you either want to keep at all costs and deem "Untouchable" or a guy you want out, email us at thesportsriot@yahoo.com, or follow us on Twitter @thesportsriot.
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