How ’bout those Chargers? 10-3 and marching toward a playoff berth. Led by a quarterback who hadn’t done much in his first two years and in whom many folks had lost faith. Remind you of anyone?

In baseball news, according to ESPN, 58 players have signed big-league contracts so far. All but one of those (Geoff Blum) have dollar figures listed. Here are the averages:

Hitters (30)
  contract/age
 Yrs $M/yr  Age
1.67  3.47 35.1

             2004 stats
 AB  H 2B 3B HR BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG
336 91 18  2 10 30 55 .271 .333 .427

Pitchers (27)
  contract/age
 Yrs $M/yr  Age
1.74  4.59 33.9

            2004 stats
 IP  ERA  WHIP  H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9
124 4.02 1.324 9.07 0.98 2.84 6.18

Ages are as of July 1, 2005. Qualitative stats may not match quantitative due to rounding.

The hitter closest to average is Damian Miller, the pitcher is Paul Wilson:

Miller
  contract/age
 Yrs $M/yr Age
   3  2.83  35

             2004 stats
 AB   H 2B 3B HR BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG
397 108 25  0  9 39 87 .272 .339 .403

Wilson
  contract/age
 Yrs $M/yr Age
   2   4.1  32

            2004 stats
   IP  ERA  WHIP  H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9
183.2 4.36 1.388 9.41 1.27 3.09 5.73

Color me unimpressed with this year’s free agent market. There have been a few good signings, but way too much money is being thrown at mediocre players, particularly starting pitchers. The best value signings so far, according to this observer:

• Cal Eldred StL, 1 yr/$600k
• John Halama Bos, 1 yr/$1M
• Richard Hidalgo Tex, 1 yr/$5M
• John Mabry StL, 1 yr/$725k
• Matt Mantei Bos, 1 yr/$750k
• Matt Morris StL, 1 yr/$2.5M
• Dennys Reyes SD, 1 yr/$550k
• Glendon Rusch ChN, 2 yr/$4M
• Rudy Seanez SD, 1 yr/$550k
• Todd Walker ChN, 1 yr/$2.5M

Then again, I’m a cheap SOB.