Parris & Burwell Show Note Thursday 11.05.09

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9:02a-- Brian Feldman and Derrick Goold are filling in for Pat Parris and Bryan Burwell on today's show. Feldman's got something to say: the best team won the World Series this year, and that doesn't happen often enough. Goold's got something to say: baseball is more interesting when the Yankees are involved in the playoffs, due to their historical magnitude and the fact that most teams and fans love to hate them. Feldman says this is the first time since 1984 that the World Series champions have led the league in runs scored and home runs; proving that offense was more of a factor this year than pitching. Feldman says Scott Boras won't let Matt Holliday sign before any of the other free agents this winter.

9:23a-- Did the Yankees buy their World Series title this year? Feldman says that since the last time the Yankees won a World Series in 2000, they have paid loads of money for names like Jason Giambi and Randy Johnson; but this year the talent they've been developing finally helped them win. Goold thinks you could make the argument that the Yankees bought their championship and that this was one of the first years the Yanks signed talented players and not just big names. Feldman argues that their is a competitive balance in the MLB, because there hasn't been a back-to-back championship winner since the Yankees won in '98, '99, and '00. Goold says the MLB lacks competitive balance because there are very few teams i.e. Rays, Indians, Brewers, etc. that can keep a talented team together year after year.

9:42a-- Hideki Matsui was named the 2009 World Series MVP last night; should a DH be eligible to win such a coveted award?  Feldman doesn't mind that Matsui won the MVP as a DH, because his bat was so valuable. Goold doesn't think Matsui should have won the MVP because he only pinch-hit in the games that were played in Philadelphia; Goold argues Matsui won the World Series MVP in one game. Goold says that back in 2006, David Eckstein was named the World Series MVP, when it probably should have been Scott Rolen. Likewise, in the 2006 NLCS when Jeff Suppan was named MVP but it probably should have been Yadier Molina. Feldman thinks people will remember Matsui's performance in game 6 more than any other aspect of this World Series, including Chase Utley's 5 homeruns. Feldman and Goold both agree that if Matsui hadn't won the MVP, it would've gone to Yankees closer Mariano Riveria.

10:05a-- Rams insider Brian Stull joined the show to talk some St. Louis football. Stull says most Rams players are taking the weekend off and recharging their batteries before preparing for New Orleans next Sunday. Stull thinks it's good that the Rams have a bye this week because there are a few banged up players that could use the time off; however after finally getting their first win, he also believes they need to get back on the practice field ASAP. Stull says the Rams haven't been blinded by their lone win. Stull believes Marc Bulger gave his critics more ammunition after saying he "wasn't concerned" with his early slide in the 3rd quarter last Sunday. Stull says it's possible Bulger returns next season, especially if the Rams play better in the second half of the season. Stull also argues that none of the quarterbacks in this year's draft are proven enough to start in the NFL next year. Stull wouldn't use the Rams first pick on Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford due to his shoulder injury. Stull says that the Rams primary objective should be developing talent to play around Steven Jackson, who is in the prime of his career.

10:23a-- How will Chase Utley's 2009 World Series performance be remembered? Goold says that Chase Utley was the best hitter in this World Series, hands down and is curious to see how his perfomance will be remembered since the Phillies ended up losing the series. ESPN 950 in Philly's Mike Missanelli joined the guys to breakdown the World Series. Missanelli thinks Chase Utley is the best pure hitter in Philadelphia history.  Utley does get a free pass from Phillies fans on not talking to the media because he is such a great player. Misanelli also says the Phillies lost to a better team, plain and simple and you have to give them credit because they bottled up every team they played. Missanelli believes that Charlie Manuel should have pitched Cliff Lee against CC Sabathia in game 4, not game 5.  Click below to listen to the entire interview.

10:44a-- ESPN 1050 in New York's Andrew Marchand joined the guys to break down the Yankees 27th World Series title. Marchand says there is a sigh of relief in New York after the clincher last night. The Yanks have been playing with a lot of fear in past seasons because they weren't confident in their starting pitching; that all changed with the addition of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Marchand says the Yankees have not spent money wisely in the past, but that wasn't the case this year since all of their off-season acquisitions contributed to their World Series title. Marchand says the big difference between the Yankees and the rest of the teams is that they have the ability to keep the big name players that they sign.  It was also a good move for A-Rod to come clean because a lot of pressure and speculation was off of the team and they could focus on winning; and 2009 will be remembered as Alex Rodriguez's post-season. Marchand doubts Matt Holliday will be a Yankee next season because the team finally realized you don't need an All-Star at every position in order to be successful and Holliday will be looking for a long-term contract.

11:03a-- If Matt Holliday leaves the Cardinals, who is plan B? Feldman doesn't want the Redbirds to overspend to compensate for Holliday. Goold thinks Jason Bay is a good fit for the Cards and a lot of other teams and the market for Bay is a lot bigger than people in St. Louis think. Goold says that after Bay and Holliday, there is a huge dropoff in terms of available outfielders. Goold mentions Xavier Nady as a possible sleeper option and one texter mentioned Johnny Damon. Adam Dunn is another interesting option that the Cards may want to look into trading for according to Feldman. Goold thinks the Cardinals need to be the team that makes the best offer to Matt Holliday.

11:22a-- Feldman believes the New Orleans Saints are the best team in the NFL and that they are the closest thing to the Rams's "Greatest Show on Turf". New Orleans Times Picayune writer Jeff Duncan joined the show to offer his opinion. Duncan says all of the comparisons to the 1999 Rams are justified other than the fact that they don't have an excellent running back like Marshall Faulk. Duncan thinks Sean Payton has one of the best offensive minds in the NFL today and it's impossible to predict who Brees' "go to" guy will be each week because he is so good at using all of his weapons. Duncan is extremely impressed with Drew Brees' work ethic and all of the extra time he puts in to preparing each week no matter who their opponent is going to be. Duncan says TE Jeremy Shockey has been a huge part of the team's success this year and he's been a welcome addition and huge boost for the organization.

11:41a-- It's time for the Crossover with Bernie Miklasz! Bernie doesn't think there is one overwhelming aspect that a team needs to win the World Series, but he would choose starting pitching over anything else even though that didn't work out for the Cardinals this year. Bernie doesn't understand why J.A. Happ was so underused duing the postseason since he was great all year and will be so going into the future.

It was just another beautiful day in Parris and Burwell Land.  We'll talk to you again tomorrow morning!

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