MLB.com Implores You to Check Your Brain at the Door

Pity the poor scribes under MLB's official employ. While Mr. Bastian and friends enjoy the steady work that Major League Baseball provides, they are often asked to publish not even thinly-veiled press releases for MLB.com "events." Today Jordan was tasked with promoting Vernon Wells as the Blue Jays nominee for the Hank Aaron award. This paragraph is paraphrased on 30 different team sites, all in the top slot of "Headlines" section:

The Aaron Award is presented annually to the best overall offensive performer each league, with each club having a nominee. Fans can vote until Oct. 12 to select the winner in each league. The winners will be announced prior to Game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 26.

I enjoy Vernon's work, and his rate stats give reason for hope. But does anybody think he would be a more deserving winner than say, Carlos Quentin? Josh Hamilton? Not even the most devout Jays fan wearing the darkest blinders could advocate Vernon Wells winning any award over those two mashers.

Poor Jordan didn't even get the worst of it. Can you imagine having to stump for Mike Aviles - Slugger of the Year? What about Lastings Milledge? And I quote:

Since the second half of the 2008 season, Milledge is hitting .299 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs. For the season, Milledge has an outside chance to go 20-20 for the first time in his career.

Milledge already has 23 stolen bases and is six home runs shy of 20 home runs. He would likely have already reached that milestone if he didn't go on the disabled list in late June.

He's but 6 home runs short of 20 for the season. Meaning he has 14. Three fewer than punchline-inducing team leader Vernon Wells. Much like the Tao pointed out in his take on the ridiculous Team MVP debate, this is another waste of people's time. Bastian has been bringing the goods all season with his blog, so it's disappointing to see someone talented forced into writing something he can't possibly believe.