JFrascella's Sports Journalism and Lists

MLB's Top 50 Players, Updated

There were some rumblings about the honorable mention section and guys who didn't make the top 30 last time around, so I've decided to update the list a little and extend it all the way to 50. I don't have the time, nor do I feel like providing explanations for every spot, so I'll just post it and let you guys do the talking.

Blast away.

1-Albert Pujols-1B, St. Louis Cardinals

2-Alex Rodriguez-3B, New York Yankees

3-Matt Holliday-LF, Colorado Rockies

4-Manny Ramirez-LF, Los Angeles Dodgers

5-Lance Berkman-1B, Houston Astros

6-Chipper Jones-3B, Atlanta Braves

7-Brandon Webb-SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

8-Jose Reyes-SS, New York Mets

9-Jake Peavy-SP, San Diego Padres

10-Roy Halladay-SP, Toronto Blue Jays

How to IMPROVE the Atrocious Mets Bullpen

Did anyone really think Scott Schoeneweis would pitch a scoreless inning with the game on the line in Philly? Of course not. I'm sure that's why he was the last man standing in the Met bullpen tonight -- Jerry didn't want to have to hand Scotty the ball.

But Schoeneweis wasn't the only one to blow d**k this evening, Luis Ayala, Pedro Feliciano, and Duaner Sanchez all struggled as well. I'm gonna cut right to the chase...this is the only way the Mets can have a decent bullpen in Billy Wagner's absence:

Other observations about the final Olympic basketball game

(1) Doug Collins is the most annoying color commentator in television history. Doug truly needs to stop pretending like he knows every possible thing about basketball, and start presenting himself accurately...as a failed head coach who couldn't even win when he had Michael Jordan on the Bulls. Collins has no right to question every single play that Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade, Melo, CP3 or any of our guys make out there. His perpetual negativity was absolutely painful to listen to.

USA Basketball Returns to Its Throne

"It's not about the names on the back of the jerseys, it's about the three letters on the front."

It's a cliche that's been overused throughout these Olympics, but when Dwyane Wade said that about two minutes ago in his postgame interview with Craig Sager, I got chills. In a game that was too close for comfort, the United States defeated Spain by the score of 118-107 to reclaim the No. 1 spot in international basketball. Gold medals for everyone.

Major League Baseball's Top 20 Players, Updated

I've been reading Bill James' revised Historical Baseball Abstract this week, in which he ranks players for about 500 pages, no exaggeration. I have to say, he inspired me to update this particular list of mine. The rinkle this time is that I will include pitchers in the rankings. Normally I like to separate positioned players from pitchers, but James doesn't, so on this occasion I will follow his lead.

1-Albert Pujols-1B, St. Louis Cardinals