Can You See the Crack?

Can you see it? It's just over there, to the left of the place where the Knights of the Keyboard put their official "Destination: Cooperstown" stamp. See it? The crack in Albert Pujols' armor?

It started in the playoffs after being shut down by Tom Glavine, a player who's standing just outside the brick entrance to the Hall, as opposed to down the interstate. Albert Pujols knows he's good, and he's not afraid to tell you about it. Remember when he said Glavine had nothing? Even when Albert couldn't get a hit off of him?

That didn't go over too well. And now, Albert is lobbing mortars at the MVP award carried home by the Phillies' Ryan Howard. He may have a point, about the MVP being contingent upon a team making the playoffs, but then again, there are a ton of ways that the MVP award can be made clearer. Is it the numbers or he intangibles? Is it the season or the home stretch? Is it the playoffs or the effort?

It's these questions that make the awards doled out by MLB so great, and part of what makes baseball, in general, so great. It's so incredibly subjective, it's so incredible fallible, that it perfectly represents the imperfections of humanity. It's why instant replay shouldn't be allowed, and it's why players accused of steroid use are likely going to be allowed into the Hall of Fame. Sure things don't exist in this game (unless you're Derek Jeter).

In other news, the Red Sox are reportedly close to signing a two year deal with Japanese lefty Hideki Okajima, a move that would be beneficial on two fronts: it would help address the bullpen problem, and provide Daisuke Matsuzaka with some incentive and a safety net in the likelihood he signs with the Sox.