Here's hoping that the big stories of the first half stay big

Sporting News, The, July 22, 2005 by Todd Jones

If you're a fan of the Nationals, White Sox, Red Sox, Padres, Cardinals or Angels, you're halfway home as the second half begins. If you follow the Rockies, Royals or Devil Rays, there may not be enough boos to get you through the season. And if you're a fan of any of the other teams, you've got to have hope. You're still in it. The ball is in your team's hands.

If you're a baseball fan, you hope Major League Baseball runs the Nationals the way you would want your team's owner to run his team. If the Nationals need a player, you hope they will get him. What these guys have been through the past three seasons and what they've done so far this season--despite Frank Robinson--is remarkable. Because the Nationals are, in essence, run by the other owners, I hope MLB lets them do a deal that keeps them in it to the last day.

I also hope Dontrelle Willis keeps it up, and not just because he's my teammate. He's good for the game. He's fun, he's good, and he loves to pitch. I hope he can finish like he wants and win the N.L. Cy Young Award.

I hope Chipper Jones comes back and helps the Braves. The N.L. East still goes through Atlanta. Bobby Cox has done a great job of keeping the team together, but when the Braves are dethroned, the team that does it doesn't want to hear, "Oh, yeah, well, Chipper wasn't there."

I hope the White Sox win the A.L. Central for Ozzie Guillen. He's a players guy, and his team is as loosey-goosey as it gets. Who knows, maybe even Frank Thomas will recognize he's got a good thing and won't rock the boat.

Last, I hope George Steinbrenner knows he shouldn't yell at his guys and question whether they want to win as much as he does. Such comments make you look dumber than you might think, Mr. Steinbrenner. Let your baseball guys make the baseball decisions, and just cheer on your players from Tampa.

It's hard enough playing in New York without you breathing down their collective necks. And excuse me for defending the Yankees and Bernie Williams, but mortality is something even you might have to face. You could give Bernie a break instead of crushing him for being nothing other than older. Derek Jeter is the captain, but Bernie Williams is a man.