Dexter Fowler's Cruel Twist of Fate

I love the fact that even the smallest players can make the biggest moves. Dexter Fowler, who was not really on anybody's mind two years ago, made a decision that impacted two teams at once.

Two days ago, after a week or so of speculation, a deal was made that would secure Dexter Fowler with the Orioles for a couple years. After getting Yovani Gallardo, the Orioles needed some outfield security, so they needed someone like Fowler who could take away some question marks back there, and a Jones-Fowler-(someone else) outfield would be a little better stomach. So people were already saying "man, the O's have a chance this season' and all that.

But then Dexter Fowler decided he would follow the example of his favorite Survivor players and completely jump ship on his plan, and pull a total blindside. Which he did, by deciding, at the eleventh hour, to re-sign with the Cubs.

A couple reasons why this move is amazing. First of which being that it allows Dexter Fowler to remain in the limelight. He goes to Baltimore, he sinks into an 'okay' team that skirts along the .500 line and doesn't make an impact (I assume). He stays in Chicago, he's a member of one of the best lineups in baseball. And last year, he was one of the difference makers. He stayed healthy, he kept hitting, he was a nice little outfield bat, something people were waiting for since he came up in Colorado.

Also, of course this helps the Cubs, because if I woke up one morning and discovered my outfield consisted of Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber, AND Dexter Fowler...I'd cry. When Jorge Soler is your BACKUP...you've got it good. They had an extra Chris Coghlan lying around, but they shipped him to Oakland, which is shaping up to a surprisingly coherent roster.

But this especially hurts the Orioles, because this hurts what would have been a sure thing outfield, and now they have to invest in maybe getting Nolan Reimold or someone who isn't as consistent as Fowler to play one of the corners. The Fowler move would have made them legitimate for 2016, and now that he's out...the Orioles are back to circling 4th and 5th.

Huge move that puts the Cubs in more of a sure shot to be a stellar team this season. And this is, like, INTO SPRING TRAINING. Huge roster moves are happening into Spring Training. That's how competitive 2016 is. Crazy stuff.

The Long Fall from the Top

When fans of struggling teams ask each other 'hey, remember when they used to be good?', they probably have to remember back to a long time ago. For The Royals, you'd have to remember back to the mid-80's, with George Brett, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen and a nice world series ring. For the Mets, you'd have to remember the 1986 World Series, or even the 1969 World Series. For the Cubs, you might be screwed.

But most Phillies fans can still remember the 'good old days' very well. You know, unless they've died since 2011.

Today, exactly three years ago, Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter against the Marlins, the first of two this season. He'd go on to win the Cy Young award that season. Also, the Phillies would come short of the World Series, losing to the eventual winners, the Giants.

Three years have passed. What the hell happened?

It reminds me of the movie Anchorman. No, not how overrated it is. I mean in the fact that after Ron is shunned from society, he has this very quick deterioration, and soon everything in his life turns to absolute crap, in the span of probably a couple weeks. In real life, that doesn't happen. In real life, people deteriorate slowly, and sadly. But in movie years, it just takes a few weeks.

That's what this is like. It takes most MLB teams about 5 or 7 years to go from wonderful to awful. It doesn't just happen in a year. Like, 2011 they were still a good team. And then the next season they come back and they're suddenly awful. That doesn't happen! That SHOULDN'T happen! But it did.

Now, there's more of a chance of the Phillies to BE no-hit than to throw a no hitter, and we'll be lucky if Roy Halladay ever throws like he did 4 weeks ago, let alone 4 years ago, again. And while it would be nice if the Phillies got back to the top again, it just seems like the two teams currently there won't let it happen.

But again, who knows. Maybe October will be 'Out of the Bear Pit' territory. Or you know, it could just be another round of 'Pass me another scotch Danny Trejo'.

You know. Like in Anchorman.