Chicago White Sox: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Ozzie Guillen Explosions
-Between Magglio Ordonez, Jay Mariotti, and his incentive filled tirades; there is no doubt that White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen is a loose cannon. But hey, that's why we love him. I'm eager to see what will piss Guillen off this year....any ideas?

More classic Ozzie (for your viewing and listening pleasure):






2. A full season of Carlos Quentin
-Few people outside of Chicago realize just how good Quentin was last season for the White Sox. Before missing September with a self inflicted broken hand, Quentin was carrying the Sox offense. The power hitting left fielder was a revelation in 2008 by hitting 36 home runs, driving in 100 runs, and producing a solid .394 OBP. I still believe that if Quentin did not get hurt in September that he would have won the MVP award...hopefully Quentin can put up monster numbers for the entire season in 2009!

3. Josh Fields
-Fields is another one of these prospects that seems to have been around forever. Fields had a cup of tea with the Sox in 2007 where he impressed the team by hitting 23 home runs. However, Fields was a massive disappointment in 2008, spending a majority of the time in the minor leagues before undergoing surgery on his right knee. In 2009, Fields will get the opportunity to play everyday at third base and prove his worth to the White Sox. If Fields demonstrates plus power and raises his batting average, then the White Sox might have their third baseman of the future.

4. Alexei Ramirez
-The Cuban Missile is one of my favorite players to watch for a couple different reasons. Firstly, he gives skinny dudes like myself hope that yes, we can too play in the big leagues one day and have massive amounts of success (I kid....)! Ramirez is one of the skinniest ball players I have seen (Soriano comes to mind), but he brings a fantastic array of power and speed to the table for the White Sox. In just 480 at bats, Ramirez hit .290 with 21 home runs and 13 stolen bases. I'm eager to see what kind of ridiculous stats Ramirez can put up over the course of a entire season. The sky looks to be the limit for Ramirez, but he NEEDS to learn how to get on base and take a walk. A sub .320 OBP is simply not going to cut it. BE PATIENT!

5. Rookie Hazing

I, for one, cannot wait to see what Chris Getz is forced to wear.

The Furious Case of Will Ohman

Once upon a time, Will Ohman was considered to be one of the best relief pitchers on the free agent market.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman thought he had a market for his services.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman actually had a major league contract offer from the Atlanta Braves.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman thought he was in line for a huge contract similar to those given out to Jeremy Affeldt and Damaso Marte.

But like many of the horror stories that I read as a child, this grizzly tale does not turn out well for Ohman. Reality bit him in the butt. There would be no large contract for Ohman and no teams were feverishly competing for his services. Instead, all Ohman received was a great ball of frustration, which should make him want to punch a hole in the wall (or punch his agent in the face).

Today, Will Ohman came to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers after struggling to find a home for the entire offseason. Wooohooo! Finally a home! Time for Ohman to celebrate...right?

No. Absolutely not.

The deal Ohman signed with the Dodgers today was a minor league contract. That's right folks, there is no guarantees here for Ohman and even though he put up the best numbers of his career in 2008, he was left with no other option then to take a minor league contract. I don't care how bad the economy is right now...there is no reason why a guy of Ohman's caliber should have had to settle for a non guaranteed contract unless he was given some terrible advice by his agent.

Even though Ohman will definitely be with the Dodgers by the middle of April, it's mind boggling that Ohman was not able to receive a major league contract.

I imagine that Will Ohman is furious at his agent right about now. And you know what, he should be.

On the other hand, I think a few weeks/months into the season, there will be fans from all over the country, who will be furious at their respective general manager for not making a run at Ohman. Despite the minor league contract, this guy can pitch and is an effective left handed relief pitcher in this league, especially against left handed hitters. It's baffling that Ohman only received a minor league contract, but it's equally baffling that the Mets, Phillies, Braves, Pirates, etc. did not make a stronger push for Ohman considering how low his price tag became.

As for the Dodgers, you gotta love this deal. Signing Ohman makes the Dodgers a stronger team and gives them the situational lefty they were missing. Even though the Dodgers lost Joe Beimel to the Nationals, Ohman will be a solid replacement and will probably perform better than Beimel did against left handed hitters. Ohman will likely spend the first few weeks of the season in the minors simply catching up because he missed all of spring training. But look for Ohman to have a big impact in the Dodgers bullpen in 2009. The Dodgers are shaping up as a team that can seriously compete for the pennant.

Anyone Have a 10 of Diamonds?

Because dammit, Carlos Beltran seems to be in the way of my royal flush.

(Photo: AP)

Poll Results: Who Will Win the AL Central?

In our most recent poll, we asked "who will win the AL Central in 2009?"

Well, 34 of you chimed in (c'mon people, VOTE!), and here are the results:

-Indians	13 (38%)
-Twins	7 (20%)
-Tigers	3 (8%)
-Royals	9 (26%)
-White Sox	2 (5%)

We either have lots of Royals fans here or there are just lots more people who are far more optimistic about this team than I. But whatever the reason, the Royals sure found support in this poll and if they do indeed come in second, I will be surprised. Even though they have upgraded their talent, I still do not think they have enough starting pitching to compete nor can they get on base enough. Prove me wrong, Royals.

I am a long time fan of White Sox GM Kenny Williams and while some people might see this season as a rebuilding year for the Sox, I think the Sox will surprise some people and be very competitive in the Central. This team has a number of good, young players (Ramirez, Getz, Fields), who I think will fully breakout in 2009, a la Carlos Quentin last season. When you consider that the White Sox still have a strong starting rotation with Danks, Floyd and Buerhle; this team could be dangerous as long as the offense clicks.

Next Poll: Who win the 2009 AL West? VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Kansas City Royals: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. The Mexicutioner
-For the first time in a long time, the Royals have a dominant closer. In Joakim Soria, the Royals have found themselves a diamond in the rough, who is on his way towards becoming one of the most dominant closers in baseball. Armed with a wide variety of pitches and great control, Soria has made his living deceiving hitters. If the Royals can get the ball to Soria with a lead, then they will win lots of games in 2009.

2. Zack Greinke
-Expectations are high this season for Greinke. No one really knew what to expect from him last season in starting rotation, but luckily for the Royals, he flourished. Greinke showed phenomenal stuff and at times, was absolutely dominant. His 13-10 record in 2008 with a 3.47 ERA does not come close to underscoring just how much potential he has. If Greinke can improve against left handed hitters in 2009 (.287 BAA in '08), then there is a chance that he could put together a dynamite season for the Royals. He is that good.

3. Mike Aviles
-Where in the world did this guy come from? In 2008, Aviles put up huge numbers for the Royals by hitting .325 with 10 HR and 27 doubles in just 419 at bats. The question remains: can Aviles do it again? If Aviles is for real, then the Royals truly have found themselves their shortstop for the next decade. Only time will tell if Aviles was an aberration or not.

4. Kyle Farnsworth and Juan Cruz
-If the Royals are going to shock the world in 2009, then it will likely be largely because of these two gentlemen. Both Farnsworth and Cruz were brought in to serve as the bridge to closer Joakim Soria, a role of little glamor and high importance. These two have the potential to dominant hitters with their power stuff, which should be very exciting for Royals fans.

5. Jose Guillen's Temper

Seems like a lovely fellow...don't make him angry, Royals fans!

Should the Athletics Sign Pedro Martinez or Odalis Perez?

Uh-oh. Bad news for Athletics fans over the weekend:

MLB.com:

"A's right-hander Justin Duchscherer, a 2008 All-Star and Oakland's projected Opening Day starter when Spring Training opened last month, is headed for surgery on his ailing right elbow and will start the season on the disabled list.

Duchscherer, who pitched for the first time this spring in a Minor League game Thursday and had to leave after allowing a walk, two singles and a home run, will miss a minimum of six weeks.

A's manager Bob Geren on Friday said the date of the surgery, an exploratory arthroscopic procedure, and the doctor who will perform it, have not yet been determined.

"We can't really answer any questions until we know what they do," Geren said before his team's night game against the visiting Padres.

With Duchscherer, 31, out until mid-May at the earliest, the A's have four spots in their starting rotation available..."

This a very interesting scenario for Billy Beane. The Athletics committed a good deal of money this offseason into bringing in quality talent on the offensive side (Matt Holliday, Jason Giambi, Orlando Cabrera, and Nomar Garciaparra) thinking that the Athletics could compete in the AL West. However, if the Athletics starting staff cannot come together, than all of this offensive firepower will do little good.

And right now, the Athletics starting staff is a bunch of young and talented question marks. Just take a look at the Athletics depth chart of starting pitchers (with starts in the majors):

1. Dallas Braden (24 career starts)
2. Dana Eveland (35 career starts)
3. Sean Gallagher (21 career starts)
4. Trevor Cahill (0 career starts)
5. Brett Anderson (0 career starts)

As you can see, there is very little starting experience out of this group. None of these guys have had continued success on the big league stage, which has to be quite concerning to A's fans right now.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that these guys are not talented. Anderson and Cahill are two of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball right now and both guys have tremendous futures ahead of them. I'm just uneasy about "trying out" young starting pitchers during a season in which the owner has spent a good deal of money trying to improve the team and the fan base expects to compete for the playoffs. Even if experience is somewhat overrated, young players do experience learning pains and it will be no different for these guys.

So that brings me back to my original question: should the A's make a run at either Pedro Martinez or Odalis Perez? These two are the best remaining free agents out there and would provide some much needed experience to the starting rotation in the short term.

I'm going to assume that both guys are going to require a major league contract to sign...so with that in mind I would stay away from Martinez. Even though Pedro is a great leader and has tons of big time experience, I think he's too much of a risk for the Athletics. Even though Pedro pitched well against cruddy talent in the WBC, he is nothing more than a fifth starter at this point in his career. I really don't think Pedro would be an upgrade over the young guys (especially at $3-$5 million), even with his experience.

Perez, on the other hand, is a guy who I think can help the Athletics. In 2008, Perez put up good numbers for the Nationals (4.34 ERA, 119 K) and wound up revitalizing his bumpy career. While those stats leave much to be desired, Perez would be a solid middle of the rotation starter for the Athletics, who could conceivably give the Athletics a good amount of quality innings. The advantage of having Perez on the roster would be that either Cahill or Anderson would get more time to develop in the minors and hopefully, Perez would give the Athletics the best chance to win now.

The Athletics starting pitching will decide their season. If Beane decides to go with what hes got, then I'm sure the Athletics will lose some games early on because of growing pains. But the rewards could be massive, especially if Cahill and/or Anderson develop into stud pitchers. There is a heavy risk there for Beane given how much the Athletics have put into this season and I for one, am eager to see how the Athletics survive without Duchscherer.

It comes down to this: what gives the Athletics the best chance to win now? Is it Perez, or one of the young guys?

Richard Gere Does Not Throw Like a Girl

Looks like a fastball to me. Yes, Mr. Pretty Woman himself, Richard Gere, knows how to throw a baseball. Much better throwing form than Stephen King displayed throwing out the first pitch at a Red Sox spring training game.

(Photo: AP)

Hal McRae is Happy!

Life is good when Albert Pujols is on your side...as evidenced by Hal McRae's infectious smile/laugh/yell. Hal looks much happier with the Cardinals now than he did with the Royals in 1993....



Yes, this picture was a blatant excuse to post this amazing video. Not too mention that I'm diggin' the salt and pepper beard. Rather heavy on the salt though...

(Photo: AP)

Nice Form There, Stephen King

Horror novelist and Red Sox mega fan Stephen King threw out the first pitch at the Red Sox spring training game on Friday. And as you can see, King somewhat throws like a girl. Nice watch though.

Anyone else surprised that King is not wearing a Tom Gordon jersey? That would've been too awesome. The Matsuzaka jersey just doesn't do it for me.

Photo: AP

Boston Red Sox: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. The return of Big Papi
-Last season was simply not the same for the Red Sox. Besides the fact the Sox did not make it to the Fall Classic, the beloved Big Papi missed a significant amount of time because of a wrist injury. The Red Sox lineup was never fully in sync last season, especially after the Sox traded Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers. If Ortiz is healthy and productive in 2009, the Sox could have a lineup as good as anyone in baseball, but make no mistake about it, Ortiz is THE key cog in that lineup.

2. Jason Bay
-Enjoy him while you can, Red Sox fans. Bay is a free agent after this season and all indications are that Bay is looking for a huge contract. It remains to be seen if the Red Sox will be a major player for Bay, but it would be smart for the Sox to lock up the 30 year old Bay to a 3-4 year extension. The two sides have already broken off negotiations, so this drama will probably be on hold until the end of the season. Until then, enjoy Bay and the vast talents he brings to the Sox.

3. Yooooooooooouk!
-Did anybody really think this guy was going to be this good? I certainly didn't. Youkilis has developed into one of the best first basemen in baseball, both offensively and defensively. Youkilis is still an OBP and doubles machine, but his OPS is what set Youkilis apart in 2008. Youk raised his OPS more than 100 points to .958, which was good for fourth in the American League. Can Youkilis continue to improve in 2009 or has he reached his ceiling?

4. Tim Wakefield
-For more than a decade, Red Sox fans have been spoiled by being able to watch one of the best knuckleball pitchers of all time. Tim Wakefield has become a stalwart in the Red Sox rotation over the years. However, with several young guns rising through the Red Sox farm system (Bowden, Buchholz, Masterson, etc.), this might be Wakefield's last season with the Red Sox. At 42 years old, Wakefield is obviously a living legend in Red Sox Nation, so enjoy the knuckleball while you can, and pray to the baseball Gods that George Kottaras can catch the knuckler.

5. Red Sox Nation

Yup, this just about explains it. Poor Denis Leary.

Want an Autograph? Join the Mob!

From our good friends over at the AP photo wire, we have pictures of modern day autograph hounds. Want to turn an average group of ordinary citizens into a pushy, obnoxious, and sometimes violent mob? Simply ask/plead with your favorite all star (David Wright) to sign an autograph for you at stadium, and once he proceeds over to sign your baseball, you'll notice a massive throng of men and women of all shapes, sizes, and smells rampaging behind you. Before you know it, a stampede has formed behind you and all rules of an organized society are thrown out the window.

Ladies and gentlemen, the pictures you are about to see are from 2009 spring training. They involve hand crushing, child smashing, and awkward old man climbing all in the name of an autograph. As you scroll through these pictures, just ask yourself, what would you do to acquire your favorite player's signature?

Could you imagine that many people shoving balls and pens at you?

The "Manny Mass"
The Longoria Mob
Teixeira cool under pressure
Make sure to sign only with your right hand, Cole Hamels

I love Ichiro so much that I'm willing to jam my arm in between a fence
Ryan Howard better sign this guy's ball, or else he'll fall into the dugout
Yes, this is an actual photo of people trying to get Robinson Cano's autograph. Gotta love Yankee fans!

Signing with the chest protector on...gotta love it
I must admit, I'd love an autographed copy of Hamilton's book
So in conclusion, people are crazy about autographs. Perhaps for the memories...or maybe just for the money. Thanks ebay!

You Haven't Lived Until You've Been Flashed by the Phillie Phanatic

Anyone have beads?

This picture is just too good for words.

Photo: AP

Toronto Blue Jays: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Roy Halladay
-Enjoy him while you can, Blue Jays fans. Halladay will be a free agent after 2010, and who knows, after all these years of mediocrity, the big guy just might walk to greener pastures. Hell, it might not even get to that point if the Jays play poorly and decide to trade Halladay....interesting.

2. Adam Lind finally gets a chance!
-After riding the AAA express back and froth from Syracuse to Toronto, the Blue Jays finally seem to have come to the conclusion that yes, Lind is talented enough to play everyday with the Blue Jays. No longer will an aging mediocre outfielder prevent Lind from from showing the world what he can do. Lind should provide some needed pop to the Jays lineup from the left side, but he needs to raise his OBP.

3. A healthy Aaron Hill
-People are quick to forget that in 2007, Hill hit as well as any second baseman in baseball by hitting .291 with 47 doubles, 17 home runs, and 78 RBIs. Hill appeared to on his way towards becoming one of the best second baseman in baseball, but then in 2008, Hill missed a majority of the season after suffering a devastating concussion. Hopefully Hill can bounce back in 2009 and regain the form that made him one of the league's rising stars in 2007.

4. Travis Snider
-We have heard so much about Travis Snider since he was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2006 that it is hard to imagine that Snider is just 21 years old. However, don't let his age fool you, Snider can hit. Blue Jays personnel drool over Snider's power potential and are giddy at the thought of watching Snider develop over the course of the season. The Jays need Snider to develop into a franchise player that will give the Jays an identity for the next decade.

5. Ok, Ok Blue Jays!!


Hands down the corniest seventh inning stretch in baseball. Gotta love Canada.

The Josh Hamilton Extension

Josh Hamilton is a special player. We all know that by now. In his first full big league season as a starter, Hamilton wowed the Rangers and baseball fans all over the world by hitting .304 with 32 home runs and 130 RBIs. The sky seems to be the limit for the 27 year old Hamilton, as his power and consistency should only improve with time.

So on that thought, the Rangers are wisely trying to sign Hamilton to a long term deal. Even though the Rangers control Hamilton's rights until 2012, his price tag is likely to go sky high in the upcoming seasons thanks to arbitration. The Rangers would probably be saving themselves money in the long run by locking up Hamilton to a team friendly and cheaper contract. Buying out all of Hamilton's arbitration years and one or two of his free agent seasons could turn into a major coup for the Rangers down the road.

However, it does not look like things got off to a rockin' start between the Rangers and Hamilton. After the Rangers made their initial proposal to Hamilton today, Hamilton was not pleased with the offer.

Center fielder Josh Hamilton said he received the first offer on a contract extension from the Rangers on Tuesday night, and he and agent Mike Moye did not jump on it.

"My agent and I were disappointed with their offer," Hamilton said. "The negotiations have begun."

My guess is that Hamilton was expecting a contract somewhere in the range of Nick Markakis (6 years/$66 million), but instead, wound up with an offer in between what Ian Kinsler (5 years/$22 million) and Kevin Youkilis (4 years/$40 million) received. Hamilton is in quite a strange spot because he has only one full season as a starter under his belt and the Rangers control his rights for so long.

And also remember that there is still risk involved in signing Hamilton. He is still a recovering drug addict and even though Hamilton is a fantastic story, his past drug use must be taken into account when the Rangers talk contract with his agent. In addition, there is no telling what kind of impact his drug use will have on his body long term, so there is always the risk of his body breaking down. The Rangers must be careful not to offer everything but the kitchen sink to Hamilton in extension talks.

My guess is that these two sides eventually come to terms on a deal, hopefully sooner rather than later. By all accounts, Hamilton loves it in Texas and the Rangers want to build around Hamilton. As for terms of the deal, I'll take two stabs at this one.

-4 years/$34 million with a fifth year team option

-5 years/$45 million

This type of deal seems fair for both sides. Hamilton would get quite a bit of loot, while the Rangers would lock up their best player at a very good price. The deal should be somewhere in the 4-6 year range this way the Rangers buy out at least one of Hamilton's free agent seasons.

The Rangers would be smart to get Hamilton locked up now because once Hamilton reaches arbitration, the sky will truly be the limit. Hamilton is a once in a lifetime talent and eventually, he will be paid like it. If he puts up big numbers again in 2009, there is a chance Hamilton could reach $10 million in his first go around in arbitration.

Payroll Implications of Marlins New Stadium

As we discussed yesterday, the Marlins finally got the OK to start constructing a new stadium in Miami. The stadium for the new Miami Marlins should be complete by 2012, which means that Marlins fans only have to suffer the horrid humidity and pouring rain of South Florida in a football stadium that has business acting as a baseball stadium. Rejoice!

And rejoice, they have. And not just the fans either, but the players have been rather vocal about their excitement for the new stadium.

ESPN:

"I'm so happy for the Marlins," All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez said. "They've been after it for a long time, and finally they got it. The ballpark will bring a lot of fans, and that's what we need."

Ramirez is the only Florida player under contract through 2012. Teammates hope the new ballpark will prompt management to offer more multiyear deals.

"Everybody hopes to get a deal like that so they know exactly what's in store for the future," pitcher Josh Johnson said. "They can stay here and buy a house down here. It's definitely a good feeling."

I can see it now, come 2012, all the Marlins, who have been grotesquely underpaid over the years will form a line outside the offices of Jeffrey Loria, David Sampson, and Larry Beinfest clamoring for a better contract with some security. It makes all the sense in the world to assume that in 2012, the Marlins' payroll should increase because of increased revenue from the stadium. The Marlins can finally act like a normal baseball team!

But here's an interesting tidbit to chew on: will the announcement of the 2012 Marlins stadium in anyway alter the team's plans in 2010 and beyond? As we saw this offseason, the Marlins were very stingy about giving players raises in arbitration or even talking about contract extensions. Instead, the Marlins were very proactive in trading away quality players, who were due raises in arbitration. Payroll played a major role in any decision the Marlins made this offseason.

And now that it looks like the new stadium is a definite, will the Marlins be more willing to increase their payroll? Even though the additional revenue won't be coming in for another few years, would the Marlins give out extensions to young players or at least make a better effort to keep quality players around?

Right now it doesn't sound like David Sampson is too eager to give out long term contracts to anyone:

"The last thing we want to do is saddle ourselves with many, many long-term contracts that will get in the way potentially of our competitiveness," he (Sampson) said. "Having said that, having a higher payroll certainly enables you more flexibility on either long-term deals or just higher short-term deals."

The Marlins have performed so well under such extreme budget constraints that it would be wonderful to see what this organization can do with some funds. I would love to see the Marlins sign guys like Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu to fair market level extensions at the end of this season that would ensure that quality players would join Hanley Ramirez in the new stadium in 2012. When it comes down to it, Hanley can't do it alone and for all the success the Marlins have had building through the farm, it's about time they commit to some of these guys...even before 2012.

Who knows when the Marlins payroll will actually increase, but eventually it will. But Marlins fans, you better hope that it happens sooner rather than later or else guys like Uggla and Cantu will eventually be history.

Gary Matthews Jr: This could get awkward

Just two years removed from signing a 5 year/$50 million dollar deal with the Angels, Gary Matthews Jr. probably will start the season on the Angels bench. Matthews has been a disappointment for the Angels, who are loaded with quality outfielders and suddenly have no room for the once prized acquisition.

From the Angels perspective, this is totally understandable. They want to field the best team possible and if that means that Matthews is relegated to the bench, then so be it.

But here's where it's going to get awkward. Matthews Jr. wants to play. He strongly expressed his desires to play everyday and he still believes he's a starting outfielder in the majors. There is no doubt that if Matthews wants to play everyday, it will not happen with the Angels in 2009 unless there is a rash on injuries to any combination of the four guys ahead of him (Rivera, Hunter, Guerrero, Abreu). And keep in mind, the odds of Matthews getting traded in 2010 would decrease steadily if Matthews cannot get on the field in 2009.

The obvious solution to this problem would be to have Matthews waive his no trade clause and move him to another team. However, at this time, any GM who accepts the 3 years/$30 million left on Matthews contract should be declared insane. A better option would be for the Angels to eat a good portion of the contract, but in this economy, why would the Angels want to do that? Sure Matthews Jr. might become a liability in the locker room if he becomes agitated with the Angels, but he can still be productive, even in a bench role. With Matthews Jr. on board, the Angels improve the overall depth and quality of their club even if he is not a starter.

So look for 2009 to become an awkward season for the Angels and Gary Matthews Jr. Because of his contract situation, it will be nearly impossible for the Angels to find suitors. And honestly, there is no reason why the Angels should eat a chunk of his contract unless they get something valuable in return or if they trade him somewhere far, far away (i.e Pittsburgh).

Circumstances like this one usually have a way of working themselves out over the course of the season, but for right now, it's not looking good for Matthews Jr.

Tampa Bay Rays: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. David Price
-Eventually, sometime...Price will be in the majors. Maybe not right away, but make no mistake about it, Price will play a large role in how far Rays go in 2009. Price is immensely talented as we saw last season during the playoffs and has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. He's that good. It's just a matter of when the Rays give Price the call to join the rotation and hopefully, he won't have some crazy low innings limit when he does reach the majors. Let's see him pitch!

2. Pat the Bat
-If the Rays had one substantial weakness last season, it was that they lacked pop from the right side of the plate besides Evan Longoria. But luckily for the Rays, Pat Burrell fell into their laps this offseason when the economy tanked and prices came crashing down. Burrell is exactly what the the Rays offense needed and hell, Burrell won't even have to play defense in the American League. This deal was a true win-win for the Rays and could make the team even better in 2009.

3. A full season of Evan Longoria
-It seems like Longoria has been around forever at this point, but the reality is that Longoria has not even played in a full season in the major leagues. Some folks tend to forget that because Longoria had such a big impact for the Rays both offensively and defensively. This guy is an absolute stud and I'm excited to see how Longoria performs over a full season. I'm sure he will put up some huge numbers, especially in this lineup.

4. A healthy Troy Percival
-The Rays bullpen is fantastic. Make no mistake about it. I really feel as though this group will be one of the best in baseball. However, they still need a consistent closer. Hopefully, that will be Troy Percival. When Percival was healthy last season, he performed very well and was a stabilizing force for the young Rays bullpen. A healthy Percival would make the Rays bullpen even deeper and provide consistency in the ninth inning, something the Rays lacked too often in the second half of last year and into the playoffs.

5. The return of BJ Upton
-BJ Upton has been in the major leagues for two seasons now, but his potential still remains untapped. Upton has proven that he can hit for power (24 HR in '07), steal bases (44 SB in '08), and get on base (.380+ OBP in '07 and '08), all of which is very impressive. The potential is very much there. Upton needs to stay healthy and play 150+ times this season if Upton is going to fulfill his massive potential. Hopefully BJ won't miss too much time in April because the Rays are going to need him...big time.

Sal Fasano's got some splainin' to do!

Hands down, the best mustache in the MLB. Sal Fasano, you sir, are a legend.

Is this picture scary or creepy? Or both? I'm undecided at this point, but leaning towards both. What could Fasano be explaining to Don Baylor? Why is a camera guy taking a picture of Sal Fasano in the first place? Comedy?

I feel as though a Sal Fasano Halloween costume could be done...just gimme a crazy looking mustache, some eye black, a batting helmet, and an intimidating facial expression; and BOOM...Sal Fasano is born.

If there is a more intimidating picture of a ballplayer than this one, I challenge anyone to find it.

Thank you, AP, for this incredible picture.

Baltimore Orioles: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Matt Wieters
-No he's not going to start the season with the big club, but all indications are that Wieters will be up at some point for the Orioles this season. The wunderkid is the best catching prospect in baseball right now and has a chance to be the face of the Orioles for years to come. Orioles fans should be excited to see just how good Wieters really is and how he performs in the majors. If Wieters is the real deal, the Orioles could be really competative in a few seasons.

2. The real Adam Jones
-GM Andy McPhail scored a major coup when he acquired Jones last season in the now laughable Erik Bedard trade. Jones is a massive talent, who can do just about anything on the baseball diamond. Jones put up decent numbers in his first season in the big leagues (.270, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 10 SB), but the general feeling is that Jones is just scratching the surface of his potential. Look for Jones to breakout offensively in 2009 and the Erik Bedard trade look even worse for the Mariners.

3. Nick Markakis
-It's been a long time since the Orioles had a such a good, young player, who was brought up through the farm system. But Markakis really is that good and has improved immensely at the plate in each of his first three seasons. There is no doubt that the Orioles are now building around Markakis, who was signed to a 6 year/$66 million dollar extension in the offseason. Look for Markakis to continue his ascent towards becoming one of the best outfielders in baseball.

4. Trade bait: Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora
-Since Andy McPhail has been installed as the general manager, the goal has been to rebuild. So far, the process has gone very well as the Orioles have picked up a number of valuable assets. But come this July, the Orioles will probably have a fantastic opportunity to further their rebuilding efforts. They have two aging veterans (Huff and Mora), who will be free agents at the end of the season and should be valuable trade bait around the trading deadline. Neither player has a future with the club because of their age, so fans, hope and pray to the baseball Gods that Huff and Mora put up big numbers in the first half of 2009. The better these guys perform, the bigger the return!

5. What to make of Felix Pie?
-After years of teasing Cubs fans with his potential, Pie will finally get a chance to start with the Orioles. If Pie proves to be the real deal in left field, the Orioles could have a young and dynamic outfield for the next decade. But there is no doubt that Pie is the biggest question mark. Why didn't the Cubs give Pie a chance to play? Is Pie only a fourth outfielder? Can he get on base enough? Will he hit for power? How Pie performs in 2009 will play a major role in figuring out the next step of the Orioles rebuilding process.

The Marlins Finally Secure a New Stadium

Get ready, Miami. The Marlins are coming. Or at least they will be. 2012!

ESPN.com:

"The Florida Marlins will soon have a home of their own.

The team on Monday cleared the last political hurdle in its decade-long quest to get its own ballpark in Miami when the Miami-Dade County commission voted to approve the multi-million dollar deal.

After a marathon 9½-hour meeting, the county's 13 commissioners capped off the team's push for a retractable-roof park that is expected to cost at least $515 million. The commission by a 9-4 vote approved the stadium agreement itself.

The vote came four days after Miami city commissioners approved the stadium, which will be built near downtown in the city's Little Havana neighborhood on the site of the demolished Orange Bowl. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with the stadium opening for the 2012 season."

This decision is long overdue. The Marlins are currently playing in a stadium that houses the Miami Dolphins and has no business hosting a baseball team. It's impossible for the Marlins to convince fans to come to the ballpark when the ballpark is an absolute dump. It was a travesty that the Marlins did not have a world class facility to play in because without it, they could never gain credibility in the baseball world or from fans.

(Note: Remember all the talk of the Marlins potentially moving to Vegas a few years back if the team did not get a new stadium? Well now I think we can officially cross off that idea. Thank God.)

I think this stadium is not only good for the Marlins, but in the end it will be good for Miami as well. Obviously, agreeing to build a stadium with taxpayer money is not going to be a popular move right now given how poor our economy is. But the fact remains that stadiums can be huge source of revenue not only for the team, but for the surrounding community and local businesses. If they build the stadium correctly, this project in Miami could be very successful.

But a bigger question remains: will people actually show up to games?

The Marlins have been notorious for drawing terribly small crowds to their home games. At times, it makes you wonder if there are even Marlins fans. I swear, my little league games drew crowds comparable to some Marlins games in late September...ok, slight exaggeration. But will the good people of Florida, especially in Miami, show up at the ballpark? For the Marlins sake, let's hope so.

And if people do show up, the Marlins might just become a completely different organization. With the increased revenue from ticket sales, perhaps the Marlins could become active players on the free agent and maybe, just maybe, have a payroll that does not rank in the bottom of the MLB year after year. I'm sure there are plenty of ballplayers who would love the opportunity to play in the warmth of Florida especially in a new stadium, but Marlins ownership needs to make a strong commitment to the franchise and actually spend money on players for once.

As for the soon to be Miami Marlins, the name actually doesn't sound bad. Will they create a new logo? I absolutely think that should be in order...

Only three more years, Miami...get pumped!

Japan Wins! Do you care?

Last night, Japan won the second World Baseball Classic thanks to the heroics of Ichiro Suzuki.

Exciting right? Or did anyone in the States actually care about the finale of the Classic? Please chime in...I'm fascinated to know the interest level of the finale.

My take: whoppie. Hopefully no one got hurt too badly (this means you, David Wright). Now let's start the regular season already, dammit.

Poll Results: Who Will Win the AL East?

In our most recent poll, we asked "who will win the AL East in 2009?"

Well, 39 of you chimed in (c'mon people, VOTE!), and here are the results:

-Yankees	16 (41%)
-Red Sox	8 (20%)
-Rays	10 (25%)
-Blue Jays	2 (5%)
-Orioles	3 (7%)

Wow, I'm surprised how little support the Red Sox got. Despite the tremendous offseason the Yankees had and the breakout of the Rays in 2008, I think the Sox should be the odds on favorite to win the east. They have a fantastic starting pitching staff that runs about 8 deep and their bullpen should be vastly improved from last season. Oh yeah, did I mention that John Smoltz will be around hopefully sometime in May...can't forget the impact that he will have on the Sox. And the offense will be better...assuming that Papi and Lowell are healthy for the entire season.

To me, this is by far the best division in all of baseball. The Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees are three of the best teams in all of baseball and by the way, the Jays and Orioles aren't so bad either. It's conceivable that there will be three teams in this division approaching 90 wins this season, which is exciting for me as a baseball fan even though I have no particular rooting interest for either team.

Look for the Orioles to improve big time this season, especially if phenom Matt Wieters gets the call and Felix Pie turns out to be the real deal. This is a young team on the rise that will eventually challenge for the division title...just not yet.

Next Poll: Who win the 2009 AL Central? VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

New York Yankees: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Joba in the rotation...finally
-For all the hoopla surrounding the landmark signings of Burnett, Sabathia, and Teixeira this offseason, I still think Chamberlain is going to be the real key to the Yankees success in 2009. Joba has some of the best stuff in the league and will finally be unleashed, for good, in the starting rotation for the entire season. If Joba stays healthy, the sky is his limit. The thought of Joba taking the ball every fifth day should be VERY exciting for Yankees fans, who have not had a quality homegrown starting pitcher of this caliber since Andy Pettitte.

2. What next for A-Rod?
-Baseball's favorite tabloid star can't seem to spend a week away from the headlines? What embarrassing and very awkward story will appear next week? Will it involve hookers? How about a pop star? Any hint of steroid use involved? Any chance of this happening: A-Rod getting busted in a hotel room with Britney Spears, while getting injected with steroids by a bunch of hookers....somehow, nothing seems crazy in the weird and wacky world that is Alex Rodriguez. Strap on your seat belts, Yankee fans. May is right around the corner! A-Rod returns!

3. Brett Gardner
-Have the Yankees finally found their center fielder of the future? Well, after the Melky Cabrera experiment went sour, the Yankees have turned to Gardner this spring hoping that the young guy can inject the lineup with some speed. This spring, Gardner has been a machine at the plate, but it remains to be seen if he can keep up his torrid pace during the season. If Gardner can get on base consistently with the Yankees, he could become a real force at the end of the lineup and potential leadoff hitter in 2010 if Johnny Damon leaves.

4. A healthy Jorge Posada
-No amount of words that I type will be able to express just how important Jorge Posada is to the New York Yankees. Not only will the Yankees be depending heavily on his bat this season, but they will need a healthy Posada to anchor their star studded pitching staff while providing steady defense behind the dish. The Yankees sorely missed Posada in 2008 after he was forced to undergo major shoulder surgery, so they will need Jorge to remain healthy and productive if the Yanks are to challenge for the division in 2009.

5. CC
-This is a scary thought for all the Red Sox and Rays fans out there: the Yankees finally have an ace. After failing to win a championship in the past 8 seasons, the Yankees finally ponied up the dough (surprise, surprise!) and signed the best pitcher on the free agent market. Sabathia is a franchise changer; not only will he win lots of ballgames for the Yankees, but he will throw lots of quality innings and strikeout a good amount of hitters. When he is on, Sabathia is filthy and flat out dominant. Look for a big season out of Sabathia, who will be heavily counted on by the Bombers in 2009 and beyond.

Random Video of the Week: Barry Zito is Different...Very Different

Yup, Barry Zito is a strange guy. Pretty snazzy dresser too. Good to know that nipple-see-through-ness is included in his criteria to wear a shirt. Anyone know if Giants shirts come in polyester?



Did I mention that the Giants doled out $126 million to this guy? For that money, hopefully his shirts have plenty of nipple comfort while he's on the mound getting destroyed by opposing batters.

Will Scott Boras Redefine the MLB Draft?

Over the years, mega agent Scott Boras has become one of the most hated men in baseball. He is viewed as a money hungry villain, who will do almost anything to get his clients the richest contract he can get his hands on. Boras has repeatedly redefined the limitations of free agency by continually getting his guys gigantic contracts that most fans did not believe were humanly possible. Even after some missteps over the past few seasons (A-Rod, Manny), Boras still remains one of the best agents in baseball. There is a reason why players clamor for his services.

It now appears as though Boras is setting his sights on the MLB draft. Boras will be representing RHP Stephen Strasburg, who many believe is not only the best prospect in 2009, but one of the best prospects in a long time. Strasburg has been completely dominant this season by striking out 74 hitters in just 34 innings this season at San Diego State. Needless to say, this guy is dominant and flat out filthy.

So how is Boras trying to take advantage of this situation? By asking for a ton of money of course! As the legendary Peter Gammons writes,

"...some club officials think that if Washington takes San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick, Boras will ask for Daisuke Matsuzaka money (six years, approximately $50M) or take him to Japan for a year, a threat that may scare Stan Kasten into selecting a lesser prospect."

Let's digest that for a second. Even though Strasburg is dominant, he is still just a amateur player. There is no guarantee that he will be able to parlay his success in the college ranks into the bigs. Strasburg has no history in the bigs, yet Boras is still looking for a big league contract in excess of what many quality pitchers, who have pitched years in the big leagues, ever come close to getting. The idea that Strasburg will get a contract of that size before ever throwing a pitch in the majors is crazy.

And folks, keep in mind, the MLB draft is structured around a slotting system. Teams are supposed to try and stay within the slot that MLB recommends, but in years past, the slotting system has been overtaken by teams willing to go well above slot to ensure that a player signs. However, no player has come close to the type of contract that Boras is trying to get for Strasburg.

It will be interesting to see if any team actually meets Boras's demands for Strasburg. Because this contract is the first of its kind, I'm sure the negotiations will be long, drawn out, and very complex. Here's why:

On one side we would have Boras, who believes that he has the best prospect to come out of college in years, and possibly generations. He will try to set a high precedent for future clients and draft picks with this deal. In the process, Boras could destroy the slotting system (or what's left of it) as we know it.

But then on the other side, we have prospective teams (probably the Nationals). Strasburg is by far the best prospect on the board and there is no doubt that they would love to have him on board. But, prospective teams need to protect themselves. By my knowledge, no prospect has gotten more than $10.5 million dollars guaranteed (Mark Prior) from the MLB draft, so obviously there is no fiscal way that any team can justify paying Strasburg $40-$50 million guaranteed...or at least I hope.

I can see a prospective team guaranteeing Strasburg a bonus somewhere in the $10-$15 million dollar range, then followed by a wide range of incentives that could increase the value of the contract based on his performance. This way, both Boras and the team get what they want, while compromising with the other side.

But I'll admit it, I hate the way the MLB draft system is operated right now. The slot system has proven to be ineffective and if teams have to pass on Strasburg because of contract concerns, then MLB really needs to step up and try to institute a hard line slotting system that is far to both the team and player. It's only a matter of time before the system goes under for good.

And finally, if any team ponies up to Boras and his "alleged demands" for Strasburg, then whoever made the decision needs to have their head checked out.

Can the Twins Survive without Joe Mauer?

If there is one player who the Twins cannot afford to lose this season, it's Joe Mauer. Mauer is the heart and soul of this Twins team and provides so much both offensively and defensively. Losing Mauer for a significant period of time is the worst case scenario.

Twins fans have to be nervous about Mauer and his now infamous back. The guy has not played in spring training yet and seems "doubtful" for Opening Day.

"When asked if it’s doubtful that he would be ready for Opening Day, he said: “Yeah, I just have to get healthy. I don’t think I’m ready to get out there and play any games. I know it’s getting closer. I really don’t know if I’m going to be there or not.”

Not good news for Twins fans.

So the question remains, can the Twins survive without Mauer? There is no doubt that Mauer is vital to the team's success, but just how long can the Twins stay competitive for?

The answer obviously depends on how severe Mauer's injury turns out to be. If he is out for a significant period of time, then I'm sure many would be quick to eliminate the Twins from playoff contention. And quite frankly, I don't blame them.

But keep in mind that the Twins as a whole are a very good team. They have a bunch of quality arms in the rotation, a healthy Francisco Liriano, the beast that is Justin Morneau, a developing outfield, and what looks to be a solid bullpen. There is alot to like here, with or without Joe Mauer.

I still think the Twins would struggle without Mauer, but I don't think they would fall off that badly. There is simply too much talent here for the Twins not to be pretty competitive. The AL Central is not a terribly deep division, while again would play into the Twins hands if they were to lose Mauer.

Make no mistake about it: the Twins need Joe Mauer. Mike Redmond and Jose Morales might be able to produce for some time, but I have a hard time believing that either guy would be effective for a entire season. Twins fans need to pray to the baseball Gods that Joe Mauer gets healthy and remains healthy throughout the entire season.

What about Odalis Perez?

With roughly two weeks left until the regular season begins, pretty much all of the impact free agents are now off the board. Even though the offseason moved slower than molasses, players eventually found homes, even if they were for reduced rates.

One of the lone remaining impact player who remains unsigned is left handed starting pitcher Odalis Perez. Strangely enough, Perez did agree to a minor league contract in the beginning of February with the Washington Nationals, but apparently Perez was pissed that the contract was not guaranteed, so he held out. Subsequently, the Nationals released Perez.

One would figure that Perez would have a range of suitors vying for his services immediately after his release in early March. But now two weeks after his release, there has been little to no news on the Odalis Perez front.

What gives? Could it be possible that Perez's antics towards the Nationals have shied teams away from him?

I doubt it. Even though Perez looks terrible for holding out and forcing his release, more than likely, Perez is having a tough time finding a team willing to offer him a major league deal to his liking. Perez put up solid numbers last year with the lowly Nationals by going 7-12 with a 4.34 ERA while striking out 119 in 158 IP. Not overwhelming numbers, but certainly good enough for Perez to be someone's fourth starter.

I anticipate that some team will get desperate towards the end of spring training and ultimately cave in and sign Perez. Even with Pedro Martinez still on the market, Perez remains the best starting pitcher out there, despite his strange behavior this offseason.

Houston would be a wonderful fit for Perez, but will GM Ed Wade get the OK to spend the needed dough to sign Perez? Doubtful.

Any other potential suitors?

Colorado Rockies: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. The return of Manny Corpas
-It remains to be seen if Corpas will be used as the closer, but it's certain that the Rockies will need Corpas circa 2007 if they are going to compete in 2009. Corpas was fantastic in 2007 (2.08 ERA) and it looked as though the Rockies had a rising star on their hand. But Corpas regressed in 2008 and suddenly became very hittable and average. With Taylor Buchholz out until at least the end of May, the Rockies will need Corpas to perform at his peak for the team to stay afloat.

2. Ubaldo
-If there is a pitcher for Rockies fans to be excited about, it's Ubaldo Jimenez. Not only is Ubaldo one of the best baseball names out there, but he has a chance to establish himself as the ace of the staff in 2009. Sure Aaron Cook is great, but Jimenez has electric stuff (including a smokin' heater) and is a master at inducing hitters to hit ground balls. A ground ball pitcher like Jimenez should theoretically thrive at Coors Field (3.31 ERA in '08), which is known to be a hitter's paradise. If Jimenez can gain consistency in 2009, then look for him to become a rising star on the mound for the Rockies.

3. A healthy Tulo
-Make no mistake about it, Tulo is the straw that stirs the Rockies. Without him, the Rockies are a floundering team without an identity. Tulowitzki missed a significant amount of time in 2008 and without him, the Rockies struggled mightily. Tulowitzki's injury plagued season killed any chance the Rockies had to compete in 2008. But when healthy, Tulowitzki is a difference maker. He has the ability to hit around .300 with 20 HR and close to 100 RBI while playing stellar defense. Tulo could become one of the best shortstops in baseball...just stay healthy! Stay away from Bobby Crosby and Khalil Greene at all costs!


4. Humidor!
-Baseball in Colorado has survived because of this baseball steamer...pitchers can actually pitch in the thin air of Colorado. All hail the humidor!


5. Todd Helton's contract
-The countdown towards financial freedom for the small market Rockies will begin! After 2009, Helton is only signed for another 2 seasons at $35.7 million bucks total! 2011 can't come soon enough...this contract is absurd!

Joe Beimel: How Bout 'Dem Nationals!

It's not often that the signing of a middle relief pitcher excites me. Almost unheard of, really. The lone exceptions in the past have been LaTroy Hawkins and Kyle Farnsworth with the Yankees, but those two were simply for the comedic value.

When the last place Nationals came to terms with left handed relief pitcher Joe Beimel on a 1 year/$2 million dollar contract today, I must admit that I pumped my fist. And hell, I'm not even a Nationals fan.

What this move signals to Nationals fans is that the new front office, after so many missteps by previous GM Jim Bowden, actually cares about the team and believes it can produce a competitive product in 2009. I don't think there is anyone on the planet who expects the Nationals to compete for a playoff spot, but GM Mike Rizzo is sending a strong signal that the Nationals at least want to make noise in the NL East.

Joe Beimel is far from a savior and hell, he might not make too big of a difference with the Nationals when it's all said and done. But Rizzo's plan is clear: he wants to shorten the game the best he can by having as many quality arms in his bullpen as possible. Between Joel Hanrahan, Saul Rivera, Garrett Mock, and now Beilmel; the Nationals have a developing group in the back end of the bullpen that could enable the Nationals to actually hold leads late in games.

This deal has almost no downside for the Nationals and lots of potential upside. For "just" $2 million, the Nationals picked up a quality left handed arm out of the bullpen, who should help the Nationals become a deeper and more talented club. He can get out both lefties and righties with some level of efficiency, which would make him a solid 7th or 8th inning guy (I'm not sold on Beimel as a lefty specialist).

And you know what, if the Nationals struggle out of the gate, the Nationals could simply shop Beimel around the league for minor leaguers for prospects. And if Beimel has a good enough season, the Nats hopefully will get a draft pick (or two) from this signing. No matter how you slice it, Beimel is a no risk asset, which struggling teams like the Nationals need to have around.

It's refreshing to see a team picked by most experts to finish in last place actually spend some money on quality talent. The Nationals need to give people in DC a reason to care about baseball again, and while the signing of a left handed relief pitcher won't cause Nationals fans to jump up and down like 8 year old girls, it will make the team better in the short term and might help make the Nationals somewhat watchable this season.

And for the record, yes, I still think the Nationals will finish in last place in the NL East. But playing the Nationals will not be a cake walk for opposing teams like it was in years past. Expect lots of close games from this bunch. This team is far more talented than in previous seasons and I expect the Nationals to surprise some people and come close to 80 wins this season.

Are my expectations of the Nationals on the mark or crazy?

Arizona Diamondbacks: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Chris Young
-We all know that Young has plus power and the ability to steal bases, but at the same time, Young has not yet scratched the surface of his vast potential. In 2008, Young struggled to get on base consistently (.315 OBP), hit for a high average (.248) and struck out far too many times (165 K), especially for a leadoff hitter. Young has so many tools and such a high ceiling that Diamondbacks should be optimistic that Young can improve and get better in 2009. While Young may never be a leadoff hitter, there is no reason why he cannot be a very effective major league player. The time is now.

2. How good is Justin Upton?
-Like Chris Young, I beleive that Justin Upton has just scratched the surface of his potential. Upton struggled badly at times in 2008, but still demonstrated a great ability to hit for power (15 HR in 356 AB) and get on base (.353 OBP). Like so many young players, Upton struggled to find consistency in his stroke in 2008, but that will hopefully come with experience. The former first overall pick is only 21 years old and has lots of great baseball ahead of him...beginning in 2009.

3. Who is the real Felipe Lopez?
-A funny thing happened to Felipe Lopez in 2008, once he left the last place Nationals and joined the Cardinals, he began to flourish. Lopez went from being a waste of space with the Nationals to a surprisingly productive and effective second baseman, who could hit for average (.385) and get on base (.426 OBP). Lopez finally demonstrated his great potential in the second half (60 games) of 2008 with the Cardinals, but can he perform for the entire season? If so, the Diamondbacks' offense will become more potent and dangerous, but beware of a down season from Lopez.

4. Max Scherzer
-Scherzer electrified the D-Backs last season by demonstrating his electric stuff mostly out of the bullpen. Right away, you could tell that Scherzer had electric stuff that could make hitters look foolish and something special about him that would push him into the starting rotation in the future. This season, Scherzer will be in the Diamondbacks rotation and he will be heavily counted on. The Diamondbacks are depending on Scherzer to give them 170 innings in 2009 and hopefully his tremendous potential will shine through. If he pitches well, the Diamondbacks will have a devastating rotation.

5. How many times will Mark Reynolds strike out in 2009?
-My guess is 207...anyone willing to take the over?

Should the Astros Sign Pedro Martinez?

With the Astros signing Ivan Rodriguez this morning, it appears as though GM Ed Wade believes that the group he has assembled could be good enough to compete. Wade would not have made a push for the future hall of famer if he did not believe that this team was good enough to make some noise in the National League. However, as we talked about earlier today, the reality is that the Astros probably will not compete because their starting pitching stinks outside of Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez.

Usually in March, there is not much available on the free agent market as far as quality major league starting pitchers are concerned. However, several aging big name starting pitchers are still unsigned. The most recognizable of which is Pedro Martinez.

Martinez struggled big time with the Mets last season and looked like a shell of his former self. Pedro could no longer strike out hitters or even rely on his smarts and baseball instincts to get hitters out. His 5.60 ERA does not come close to underscoring just how much Pedro struggled in 2008. Bottom line, Pedro's performance was ugly.

Pedro has made it known that he wants to play in 2009. He still believes that he can be an effective starting pitcher. Two quality performances by Martinez against the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic might signify that yes, Pedro Martinez can still be an effective pitcher. I think Pedro showed enough in the tournament to at least turn some heads amongst baseball executives.

Pedro may be nothing more than a fifth starter these days, but I still think the Astros should make a push for him. Pedro is a welcome addition to any clubhouse and quite honestly, he would be a better option than Russ Ortiz even at his diminished state. And who knows, Pedro would probably help fill the seats in the Juice Box because trust me folks, Pedro still carries a buzz. People want to see this guy pitch.

And who knows, maybe Pedro will discover the fountain of youth an put together a big season. There is always the hope that Pedro can put it all together once again because well, he has done it so many times before. Maybe Pedro can be an effective third or fourth starter for the Astros if all goes well and he stays healthy...I would take my chances on Pedro over Brian Moehler anyday.

This makes logistical sense for Pedro as well. He has stated that he wants a major league contract and the Astros are probably one of the only teams willing to give that to him. A one year deal with lots of incentives would mitigate any risk for the Astros in this deal and keep Pedro very motivated. The Astros have no starting pitching depth and it would be worth it for the Astros, both economically and baseball wise, to bring Pedro aboard for 2009.

I can tell you this much, Pedro would be much more exciting to watch for Astros fans than Brandon Backe.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Manny being Manny
-Breathe easy, Hollywood. Manny is back and hopefully better than ever. After a rousing first act with the Dodgers in 2008, Manny returns as the superstar and the face of the Dodgers. Like so many things in Hollywood, this has pros and cons. Manny is of course Manny...and thus will tear the cover off the ball as long as he is healthy and motivated. But still, Manny is Manny, and is prone to cancerous and curious antics that tend to divide and hurt teams. Which Manny will the Dodgers get? Very interesting sub plot.

2. Can Jason Schmidt be a useful pitcher again?
-So far, it looks like a big, fat no. Since signing with the Dodgers three years ago to a 3 year/$45 million dollar contract, Schmidt has missed most of the past two seasons with serious arm issues. He has resembled nothing of the ace that the Dodgers paid handsomely for thanks to his serious arm injuries. 2009 represents Schmidt's last shot to show the Dodgers what he can do. But will he? Not right away (probably won't start the year in the majors), but Schmidt could make a major difference for the Dodgers down the stretch if he is healthy.

3. Development of Clayton Kershaw
-Clayton Kershaw is an absolute monster. This guy has all the makings of an ace and has absolutely fantastic stuff. A dominating fastball. Check. An overwhelming curveball. Check. The 21 year old has the potential to be a top of the rotation strike out machine and look for Kershaw to develop further in 2009.

4. Broxton the Closer
-If there was any guy who was made to be a closer in the big leagues, it's Broxton. He's got the 1970s faded, ridiculous sideburns to go along with his dominating and overwhelming fastball. The Dodgers have handed the ninth inning over to Broxton for good this season and it will be interesting to see how his persona and fastball translate when the pressure is on. I think Broxton will be a fantastic and potentially dominant closer...in time.

5. A healthy Rafael Furcal
-Make no mistake about it, Furcal is the key to the Dodgers offense. When Furcal is healthy and productive, the Dodgers offense is as good as any in the majors. Furcal can hit for average, get on base, steal bases, and yes, he does have surprising power. If Furcal can stay healthy for the entire season then the Dodgers offense could put up some huge numbers and all but guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs.

Does Ivan Rodriguez Make the Astros Contenders?

When the Astros signed Ivan Rodriguez yesterday, common sense finally prevailed. The Astros needed a starting catcher because the combination of Humberto Quintero, JR Towles, and Lou Palmisano was not going to get it done behind the plate. And Rodriguez needed a place where he could start and prove to all the detractors that he can still be a productive player even in his "advanced age."

So as we can see, this was a great fit for both sides. For $1.5 million bucks, the Astros got their starting catcher, who just happens to be one of the best catchers of all time and a certain hall of famer. This signing is a very low risk move for the Astros, who have nothing to lose by signing Rodriguez to a one year deal. Even though Pudge has declined alot from his glory days with the Texas Rangers, there is alot to like here from the Astros perspective.

But the question remains: does Ivan Rodriguez make the Astros contenders in the National League?

And the answer is....no. Rodriguez brings certain intangibles to the table: defense, leadership, power, batting average; but he cannot pitch. The fact remains that the Astros pitching staff is a mess. Aside from Roy Oswalt, Jose Valverde, and hopefully Wandy Rodriguez; there is just not much talent there. It's hard to see a team competing for a division title when the rotation consists of a washed up Mike Hampton, Brian Moehler, and whatever is left of Brandon Backe.

The key to the Astros competing this season has little to do with Ivan Rodriguez...unless he can fix their terrible pitching staff.

The Spring Training+WBC injury team

Injuries will always happen. They are inevitable, especially over the course of a long baseball season. But for some reason, it seems as though more big names than usual have suffered injuries during spring training. For whatever reason (WBC, too much spring training, or bad luck), 2009 spring training has been especially rough on the injury front.

So I decided to field the best team I could with all of the players who have been suffered injuries from both spring training and the WBC. This star studded roster is one that I would definitely go to war with...the names on this team are incredible. For the sake of the MLB, let's hope these guys make a full recovery.

C-Joe Mauer
back issues, causing Twins fans to panic
1b-Doug Mientkiewicz
Miraculously, he was the only first baseman of note to suffer an injury...weird!
2b-Dustin Pedroia
abdominal injury in WBC...says injury is minor
ss-Julio Lugo
underwent arthroscopic surgery in his knee...might miss 2-3 weeks
3b-Alex Rodriguez
hip surgery...likely out 6-10 weeks...A-Rod circus returns in May
OF-Manny Ramirez
trouble with left hamstring...probably out a few days
OF-Matt Joyce
lower leg problems...might miss the beginning of the season or start in the minors
OF-Mike Cameron
-tweaked rib cage...hopefully not serious
DH-Chipper Jones
-strained side muscle...will miss rest of WBC

BENCH:
Alfredo Amezega
Eric Chavez
Garret Anderson
Jesus Flores

SP-Johan Santana
-left elbow issues...briefly caused Mets fans to panic...stay healthy!
SP-Cole Hamels
-left elbow issues...causing Phillies fans hearts to race...insists injury is minor
SP-Ervin Santana
likely to start the season on DL with elbow troubles
SP-Justin Duchscherer
Sore elbow, likely to start season on DL
SP-Jeff Francis
shoulder surgery, out for the season

RP-Taylor Buchholz
sprained ligament in his elbow...will miss a month
RP-Jim Johnson
discomfort in right shoulder...shut down
CL-Matt Lindstrom
shoulder soreness in WBC...might be out for opening day

I don't know about you, but I think this team would win 100 games easily...as long as they remain healthy.

Random Video of the Week: Baseball in Colorado

This commercial is cheesy, hilarious, yet sentimental at the same time. Gotta love 90s commercials....and the Father's glasses. And you know what's the most amazing part, the commercial actually worked to some degree...the Colorado Rockies began play in 1993.

Here's the real question: why is the kid wearing a Cubs hat?

San Francisco Giants: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. 300
-GM Brian Sabean masterfully signed SP Randy Johnson to a one year contract that gives the Giants a veteran presence in the middle of their rotation. Even though Johnson is well past his prime, he can still be an effective pitcher and strike out plenty of hitters. Oh, and did I mention that Johnson is only 5 victories away from the elusive 300 victories plateau? Pretty exciting stuff for Giants fans.

2. Sandoval and Ishikawa
-Can these two young guys produce? That's the big question facing the Giants in 2009. Both Ishikawa and Sandoval had terrific seasons in the minors in 2008 and as a result, the Giants will be counting on both players to succeed at the plate. The Giants offense was terrible last season and Sandoval and Ishikawa will be the major reason why the Giants offense improves in 2009 or if the offense gets worse.

3. Will the real Barry Zito please stand up?
-When the Giants signed Zito after the 2006 season, the team believed that they had just signed their ace long term. However, Zito's two years with the Giants have been terrible. He has gone from one of the better pitchers in baseball to a complete waste of a roster spot. Zito has lost several MPH on his fastball and thus can no longer fool hitters with his breaking pitchers. Can Zito turn it around? This will turn out to be one of the better sub plots of 2009.

4. Tim Lincecum
-The reigning Cy Young Award winner gave Giants fans a reason to watch Giants games last season. The diminutive righty is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game today with his electric fastball and knee buckling off speed pitches. He is by far the best thing the Giants have going for them and it remains to be seen if Lincecum can defy physics and continue to perform at such a high level with his intense delivery. We're rooting for ya, Tim!

5. Will they score?
-The Giants offense sucked in 2008. Seriously, they had no punch, power, or consistency. As we head into the 2009 season, Giants fans will be eager to see if the offense improves at all with the additions of Edgar Renteria, Travis Ishikawa, Pablo Sandoval to the lineup. With the type of pitching the Giants have, if they are able to get substantial production from the offense, then this could be a team to be reckoned with in the NL West. If not, look for GM Brian Sabean to face intense scrutiny for not signing Manny Ramirez when he had the chance...

San Diego Padres: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Jake Peavy
-Miraculously, the Padres did not trade Jake Peavy this offseason. A Peavy trade seemed inevitable, but thankfully, GM Kevin Towers came to his senses. Or better yet, Towers did not find an offer good enough for Peavy. Or perhaps, Peavy's no trade clause prohibited a trade from taking place. No matter what the reason, the Padres still have their ace and Padres fans still have a reason to go to PETCO.

2. Can Heath Close?
-The Padres made a bold move this offseason by not resigning franchise icon Trevor Hoffman. By letting Hoffman walk, the Padres are putting their trust in Heath Bell, who was Hoffman's trusty set-up man in 2007 and 2008. But the question remains: can Bell close? Bell only has two career saves and has some huge shoes to fill. Bell has electric stuff and should be able to succeed, but it remains to be seen if he has the mentality of a closer and enough moxie to replace a legend.

3. Chase
-It's been a long time since the Padres have had a homegrown hitting prospect with as much potential as Chase Headley. The left fielder will finally be assured of consistent playing time with the Padres in 2009, so look for the 24 year old to flourish. There is no reason to think that Headley cannot hit .290 with 15-20 HR this season, even in the spacious PETCO Park. The Padres lifeless offense needs Headley to come through in 2009.

4. Adrian Gonzalez: superstar
-Does anyone outside the greater San Diego area realize just how good this guy is? Gonzalez put up huge numbers in 2008 (36 HR, 119 RBI) despite playing one of the worst hitters ballparks in baseball and being surrounded by the worst offense in the National League. If the Padres can put some offensive talent around him (doubtful at best), look for Gonzalez to emerge as a legitimate star in 2009. Enjoy him while you can, Padres fans...Gonzalez is a free agent after 2010!

5. Can Mark Prior do anything?
-At one time, Prior looked like he was about to become one of the best pitchers in baseball. But then a vast array of injuries and arm troubles set in, and Prior has not come close to fulfilling his potential. The sad reality of this situation is that Prior has not had a good season since 2005. Yikes. Prior is now with the Padres on a minor league deal and it would be quite gratifying just to see Prior on a major league field once again.

Why yes, that is Carlos Delgado's Pants

Now that I've had a few days to unwind from my spring training travels, I thought I would share one of my better stories from my trip.

Last Monday, at the Orioles v. Mets spring training game, my brother, Evan, left Tradition Field with a pair of Carlos Delgado's game worn pants.

Don't believe me? Here's the proof:







Still don't believe me? Take a look at this:






If the pictures don't show it, I'd like to state for the record that the pants are gigantic. Delgado's pants go from my head to my knees, which is somewhat scary when you think about it (I am 5'8).

(And for the record, there are no skidmarks present...)

So you might be wondering, how in the world did you guys wind up with Carlos Delgado's pants?

Luck, luck, and more luck.

While getting some delicious concessions in the middle of an inning, Evan noticed that there was a prize wheel where you had the opportunity to win a bat or a "grand prize." The rest of the prizes ranged from a soda to a key lanyard, which I'm sure any person would have been thrilled to win. The odds of winning a big prize were terrible, but Evan figured, what the hell, for $5, I'll give it a shot.

So Evan goes first and lands on "spin again." Awkwardly enough, he landed on "spin again" another two times after that. Jesus Christ...talk about holding up the entire line. But then finally, on his fifth spin, Evan finally avoided the dreaded "spin again."

And you guessed it, he hit the jackpot.

Somehow, someway, Evan's spin landed perfectly on "grand prize", to which Evan and me simply stared at the board in disbelief. Holy shit...this really happened.

So we both glance over to see what Evan had won. An older woman came up to Evan holding a huge pair of pants and gives it to him. What the hell? Pants? And before we could walk away, she states, "oh yeah, those are Carlos Delgado's. Look inside.

Holy shit. My brother and I could not believe it. These were Delgado's actual game worn pants. Wow.

And if you think the story cannot get any more ridiculous, well, it does.

After Evan's miraculous victory, I decided to give the wheel a spin. And, yup, you guessed it, I got the "grand prize" as well! Amazing? yes. Miraculous? absolutely. Rigged? No. My parents won a soda and two tickets to a future spring training game from the prize wheel...not exactly the "grand prize."

So what did I win? Well, if you're a fan of Ron Villone (there has to be one out there, right), then I have the item for you!



Don't believe me?



(And for the record, the pull over does not smell like B.O)

Number 92 on the Mets spring training roster is non other than Ron Villone. Yes, the same Ron Villone who has played for seemingly every baseball team on the Western Hemisphere.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled. Ron Villone's pull over jersey is my newest momento and will eventually be framed. Hopefully Ron makes the Mets and has big season! Is it too early to start the Ron Villone fan club?

(Note: It's creepy how happy my brother and I were to win the clothing of other dudes...gotta love baseball I guess...)

h/t: Evan Levitt

Poll Results: Who Will Win the NL West?

In our most recent poll, we asked "who will win the NL West in 2009?"

Well, 46 of you chimed in (c'mon people, VOTE!), and here are the results:

-Padres	1 (2%)
-Giants	9 (19%)
-Rockies	2 (4%)
-Dodgers	27 (58%)
-Diamondbacks	7 (15%)

I'm very surprised with how little support the Diamondbacks got from the people. This is a exciting, young team that has plenty of potential and two of the best starting pitchers in baseball (Webb and Haren). If the Diamondbacks can get some consistency from Chris Young and find a reliable closer, then this team could be a major sleeper in 2009. I'm tellin' ya, the pieces are in place.

The Giants have become quite a popular sleeper pick over the last couple weeks and I'm not entirely sure why. I love their pitching just as much as the next guy, but the fact remains that their offense stinks. I'm sorry, but if Bengie Molina is your cleanup hitter...you got some serious issues. Can Sandoval and Ishikawa put up big numbers? That question could determine the Giants fate in 2009.

And finally, we have the Dodgers, who should be the favorites to win the NL West. With Manny Ramirez now on board, the Dodgers have one of the best offenses in the National League, which complements their rapidly improving pitching staff. They will need to add another starter down the road, but look for the Dodgers to have a big season in 2009.

Next Poll: Who win the 2009 AL East? VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

St. Louis Cardinals: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Albert Pujols

-Here are the numbers Pujols put up in 2008: .357 batting average, 37 HR, 116 RBI, .462 OBP.

How amazing are those numbers? And did I mention that Pujols suffered from a major elbow injury for the entire 2008 season? Pujols is an absolute freak of nature and is unquestionably the best hitter in baseball. If Pujols is totally healthy in 2009, he could put up even better stats, which is scary thought for the National League.

2. A healthy Chris Carpenter

-Carpenter has missed the better part of the last two seasons because of various arm ailments. As a result, the Cardinals have been without their ace and not surprisingly, they have missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. If the Cardinals get a healthy Carpenter in 2009, then they could be a scary team that could challenge for the NL Central or the wild card.

3. The real Khalil Greene

-As we have mentioned before, Khalil Greene is at a crossroads in his career. He has shown vast potential at the major league level, but he has yet to produce consistently or remain healthy. It's time for Greene to put it all together....and if he does, the Cardinals would benefit greatly. Greene has surprising power for a shortstop and is one of the better defensive shortstops in baseball, so the Cardinals need Greene to flourish.

4. Mr. Closer?

-Who exactly will be the Cardinals closer? Ryan Franklin? Chris Perez? Jason Motte? At this point, no one is too sure. I'm pulling for Chris Perez simply because he throws really, really hard and would be an imposing force at the backend of the bullpen. Cardinals fans should be excited to see who Tony LaRussa eventually decides who will be the closer.

5. Colby Rasmus

-Will this finally be the year where wunderkid finally cements his role with the Cardinals? We have been hearing about Rasmus for what seems like the last 5 years, but he still has not made his mark with St. Louis. Rasmus has tons of talent and is a potential five tool player, but the question remains: will 2009 be his season? And you know what, it might be. With Skip Schumaker shifting to second (hopefully), left field is now vacant for either Rasmus or Chris Duncan. Put my money on Rasmus to win the job based on his vast talent, but he needs to get off to a strong start in a new league, something he has struggled to do in his career so far.

Spring Training Pictures (March 10, 2009)

Here are the best of the bunch. Enjoy.

*Mets v. Nationals*


The always stylish Razor Shines


Nick Evans


Daniel Murphy


Jeremy Reed strikes out


Eddie Kunz


John Maine


Darren O'Day's funky delivery


Darren O'Day's funky delivery (part II)


Bobby Parnell


Ron Villone warming up


Picked off by Rocky Cherry!



Jordan Zimmerman warming up


Ummm...ouch


Not too sure what they're doing here...Superman?


Lastings Milledge


Doooooooooooookes!


Brad Eldred taking a pitch


More Zimmermann


Gustavo Chacin


Ryan Wagner (arm injury waiting to happen?)


Michael Hinckley

Spring Training Pictures (March 9, 2009)

Here are the best of the bunch....Enjoy.

*Mets v. Orioles*


Razor Shines signs away


That's awkward Ramon...


We have confirmation...Luis Castillo can indeed move.


More proof


Japanese Import Koji Uehara


Uehara delivers a pitch


Ryan Church


Daniel Murphy


Bill Parcells looking ravishing in orange

*Marlins v. Tigers*

Even "Mad Dog" Russo was there


Leyland getting interviewed by Mad Dog


Look up, Cameron!




That, is a bigggg dude


Josh Johnson

Offseason Winners: Kyle Lohse

On September 29th, Kyle Lohse and the St. Louis Cardinals came to terms on a 4 year/$41 million dollar deal. The Cardinals rewarded Lohse for putting together the best season of his career in 2008. Lohse thrived in St. Louis by going 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA. Lohse stabalized the shaky Cardinals rotation and helped keep the Cardinals in contention for a majority of the season.

At the time, this deal looked good for the Cardinals. Quality starting pitchers have generally been given exorbinant contracts over the past few seasons, so it was not a crazy thought to think that Lohse would get a huge contract on the open market. The Cardinals thought by acting quickly, they were going to sign Lohse to a cheaper contract.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said (about Lohse's extension), "Clearly, deals like this are market-driven. What we were trying to do is avoid the market."

Mozeliak did the right thing by trying to avoid the market. Anything can happen on the open market and signing a player before he hits free agency is usually a good way to ensure that the price tag does not get too high.

However, it quickly became clear that the 2008 market was not shaping up like previous seasons. Teams were spending less than usual because of the rough economy and free agents who expected to find the endless riches that come with free agency were greatly disappointed. The money and years simply were not there.

So by avoiding the market, the Cardinals probably wound up overpaying for Kyle Lohse. Mid level guys like Jon Garland, Oliver Perez, Braden Looper, and Randy Wolf struggled to drum up interest from teams because of the economy. Perez was the only one out of that group to receive a deal longer than 1 year, and that was largely because of his age (27) and upside (high strikeout pitcher)

Can anyone honestly say that Lohse is a better pitcher than any of those four? The 30 year old Lohse is not a strikeout pitcher with a lifetime 4.67 ERA. Hell, 2008 was the only season where Lohse's ERA was under four. Those statisitcs are reminicent of a mid level starting pitcher with a minimal ceiling, not the front line starter that the Cardinals just ponied up $40 million bucks for.

If the Cardinals held off on signing Lohse, there is no doubt in my mind that his price tag would have come down significantly. Lohse should be thankful that he signed when he did because he clearly maximized his earning potential while so many others did not.

Once again folks, timing is everything.

Should the Twins Sign Ivan Rodriguez?

Yikes, Twins fans. Not good news about Joe Mauer.

From ESPN.com:

"We've got to figure out what's going on so we can get him back and get him on the field," manager Ron Gardenhire said after the Twins' 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. "This is another effort to try to figure out where we are at and what we need to do. He's not on the field yet. He's not able to consistently go out and do anything. Concerned? Yeah."

Wow. Those are some striking words from Gardenhire. The Twins need a productive Mauer both offensively and defensively if they are going to compete in the AL Central this season so this injury is already a major setback. Mauer brings so much to the table for the Twins that its tough to fathom this team seriously competing without Mauer...right now. He's the best player the Twins have and those simply do not grow on trees.

If Mauer is out for a significant period of time, the Twins would need to explore outside options. Mike Redmond is a solid backup catcher, but he has never been a productive regular for a extended period of time. He is a suitable backup for Mauer, but does anyone really believe that Redmond is anything more than a backup?

Enter Ivan Rodriguez. Pudge remains unsigned and unwanted by a majority for the league for some reason. The former all-world catcher is in the twilight of his career and not come close to putting up the gaudy offensive stats that he did with the Rangers. For that matter, Pudge has actually declined quite a bit at the plate, especially in the OBP department where Pudge has lived in the .300 area over the past few seasons. Simply put, that's unacceptable.

On the plus side, Pudge can still hit for a high average with some power. A .280 batting average with 10-15 home runs should not be out of the question for Rodriguez if he is given the chance to play full time.

But where Pudge really excels is with defense. The 37 year old Rodriguez is a 13 time gold glove winner, who can still get the job done. Pudge calls a very good game behind the plate, has great fundamentals, and has one of the strongest arms in baseball. Outside of the Molina brothers (Yadier and Jose), Pudge is still one of the best at throwing out would be base stealers (32% in 2008).

While Pudge leaves much to be desired at his diminished state, he would help the Twins remain competitive until Mauer returns. It remains to be seen if the Twins would actually pony up to sign Rodriguez, but that will be completely dependant on the extent of Mauer's injury. Hopefully Mauer will be able to get back on the field in the near future.

But if Mauer can't get back on the field, would Ivan Rodriguez be a good replacement?

Cincinnati Reds: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. No more Junior!
-Finally, finally, finally. The Ken Griffey Jr. era was an complete disaster for the Reds on many fronts and the team and the organization needed to move on from the injury prone superstar. 2009 will be the Reds first full season without Junior around, so look for the young guys to take charge.

2. Johnny Cueto
-At times in 2008, Cueto looked like the second coming of Pedro Martinez. However, he was still just a rookie and often times, pitched like one. His 4.81 ERA in 2008 is not indicative of the amazing stuff Cueto has and the limitless potential he has yet to reach. Reds fans should be very excited to see what kind of progress Cueto makes in 2009 because the Reds future could be very bright with Volquez and Cueto at their best.

3. The ascent of Jay Bruce
-This guy is the real deal. Not only does he have every baseball tool possible, but Bruce has a picture perfect swing that will make him one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Bruce is still young and somewhat raw, but once he masters pitch selection, watch out.


4. Is Wily Taveras the new Corey Patterson?
-This will be a big question for Reds fans. Manager Dusty Baker infamously stuck with Patterson in the leadoff spot far too often last season even though he was terrible and could not get on base. The solution? Sign Taveras, who is your classic no power, no OBP, tons of speed leadoff hitter. If he gets on first base, he's dangerous. But the problem is this: how often will Taveras get on base?

Taveras has produced before in his career, but he will need to produce a OBP of at least .330 for the Reds offense to roll this season. Then again, no matter what his OBP is, Baker will more than likely stick with him. Dusty makes me crazy!

5. Chicken Dance! (huh?)
-Need I say more....what a classic video. The mascot with the huge mustache is an absolute legend...why can't Mr. Met have a mustache?

Coming tomorrow: St. Louis Cardinals

Spring Training Extravaganza (March 9. 2009)

As some of you know, I'm in Florida with my family for a few days taking in as much baseball as humanly possible (we started with a double header today!). This has been a tradition in my family for more than a decade and I am happy to report that this trip has been a blast so far. Posting will be at somewhat of a minimum until Wednesday or Thursday, but I will have some great shots to show off from Spring Training.

Anyway, onto the highlights of Day 1: (LOTS OF PICTURES COMING SOON)

Game 1, Orioles v. Mets

-Seeing Jose Valentin play shortstop

-Yes people, we have confirmation, Luis Castillo can indeed move

-Watching Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen and John Franco give a pitching lesson to Mets owner Jeff Wilpon's son (I think). I'd like to think that Warthen has better things to do, but when the owner needs something done, there are no questions asked I suppose.

-Chatting with Brian Schnieder and Jonathan Niese about playing in New York

-seeing Bill Parcells (he was there for some reason)

-Talking to Razor Shines (no picture yet!) and getting his autograph

-Carlos Delgado's pants (story to come later)

Game 2, Tigers v. Marlins

-Watching Rick Porcello pitch (this dude is going to be amazing)

-Chris Volstad is a big guy

-Chatting with Wes Helms about the debilitating home run he hit against the Mets in game 162 last season...Helms stated that the home run "felt good." I bet it did...I still lose sleep about it.

-Getting Jim Leyland's autograph...the always candid Leyland responded to my question about how the team looked so far this spring by noting, "we don't look too good so far, we have tons of guys at the World Baseball Classic." How's that for honesty?

-seeing Bill Parcells (yes, he was at this game as well)

-Watching the Marlins bench before the game. Non stop energy, high fives, jumping around, and screaming. Gotta love it. That's what baseball is all about. This team has a great vibe right now and I am a true believer that big things are to come for the Marlins.

Those are just some tidbits for now...more stories and pictures will be on the way from spring training.

(Today: Nationals v. Mets): picture with Razor Shines?

Milwaukee Brewers: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. The Return of Yovani Gallardo
-Who knows where the Brewers would have ended up in 2008 in Gallardo had been healthy. However, Gallardo missed most of the season with a torn ACL and did not return until late September. In 2009, the Brewers will be depending on Gallardo to put up big numbers. The team no longer has the dynamic duo of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets and the Brewers need Gallardo to show that he is indeed fit to become the Brewers new ace.

2. Prince Fielder
-Enjoy him while you can, Brewers fans. GM doug Melvin wisely gave Fielder a 2 year/$18 million dollar contract that buys out two of his remaining three arbitration years. However once this contract ends, the Brewers will probably have a tough time affording the loveable star. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that the Brewers will be forced to trade Fielder when the contract expires. So hopefully Fielder puts up gigantic numbers for the next two seasons and hits a number of mammoth home runs along the way.

3. Hells Bells
-Sure Solomon Torres did a good job closing last year, but there is no doubt that the Brewers needed a stable presence in the back end of the bullpen, especially with Torres now retired. Trevor Hoffman is a fantastic fit for the Brew Crew. Hoffman is one of the best closers of all time and knows how to shut the door on close games...a skill that will pay huge dividends for the Brewers. Oh yeah, Hoffman has one of the coolest entrances in all of baseball. Second only to Mariano Rivera in my opinion. Hopefully Hoffman brings Hells Bells with him to Milwaukee.



4. A Normal Lineup
-For some reason, former Brewers Manager Ned Yost thought it was a good idea to have the pitcher bat eighth. I never understood the thought process behind this maneuver. Thankfully, new Manager Ken Macha will have the pitcher bat ninth like every other team (minus the Cardinals). Baseball purists can now celebrate! Wooo!
5. More bad acting


C'mon...fastball advice from Chris Capuano! Don't they know he's a finesse pitcher! Maybe next time the Young and the Restless will ask Jason Kendall and Craig Counsell to talk about their power strokes.

Coming tomorrow: the Cincinnati Reds

Poll Results: Who Will Win the NL Central?

In our most recent poll, we asked "who will win the NL Central in 2009?"

Well, 212 of you chimed in, and here are the results:

-Cubs	100 (47%)
-Brewers	15 (7%)
-Pirates	12 (5%)
-Reds	15 (7%)
-Cardinals	63 (29%)
-Astros	6 (2%)

Wow, lots of Cardinals supporters here. I think the Cards will be better in 2009, but I have a tough time believing that they are a legitimate contender at this point. The Cardinals need lots of things to go their way in 2009: a healthy and dominant Adam Wainwright, the resurgence of Chris Carpenter, find a good closer, another good season out of Kyle Lohse, another great season from Ryan Ludwick, and stable bullpen. Lots of question marks there...will see if the Cardinals can seriously challenge for a playoff spot.

To me, the Cubs are the clear cut favorite. They have the best offense, great starting pitching, and a very good bullpen on paper. Obviously, the Cubs need to stay healthy (yes, I'm talking to you Rich Harden), but they are probably the most talented team in the National League. The only thing preventing the Cubs from being the favorite to win the World Series in 2009 is the fact that these are the Cubs we're talking about...100 years and counting.

Strong showing from the Pirates here...12 votes! I'm sure there are plenty of Pirates fans who would just take a .500 season in 2009, but the sad reality is that even a .500 season might be a bit much for the Pirates, who still need to add talent.

Next Poll: Who win the 2009 NL West? VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Random Video of the Week: Very Strange Baseball Fight

And if you thought US baseball players were tough and intimidating...you obviously have never seen Korean baseball players fight.



Somehow I cannot see this catching on in the states...even though it would quite humorous. I can't imagine that Gary Sheffield or any other player for that matter would opt for the leg lift instead of a roundhouse right hook towards the pitcher's face after being hit by a 97 MPH fastball.

Can the Yankees Thrive without Alex Rodriguez?

It was reported today that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez will undergo surgery on his hip miss roughly 10 weeks. Obviously, this is a major blow for the Yankees. Anytime you lose a player of A-Rod's caliber, it hurts.

But these are the Yankees we're talking about. The franchise with the highest payroll in baseball and a roster stacked with all-stars and big money players. They should be able to weather the storm without A-Rod for a few months...right?

Well, maybe. A-Rod is such a huge part of the Yankees offense and quite frankly, it's impossible to replace him. Cody Ransom will probably get the first crack at holding down third base in A-Rod's absence, but Ransom has never proven himself on the big league stage before...let alone in the bright lights of New York.

So how do the Yankees attempt to replace some of A-Rod's production? Simple. They need to have Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Derek Jeter, and Robinson Cano perform at their optimal levels until A-Rod returns. Posada and Matsui dealt with serious injuries in 2008 while Cano and Jeter had down years offensively. If those guys can pick up the slack, then the Yankees offense will still remain very potent and dangerous.

(Note: Yankee fans should be thrilled that the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira...if there is a saving grace for Yankees fans, its that Teixeira will be able to put up gaudy stats...even without A-Rod. Without Tex, this lineup would lack firepower.)

Also keep in mind how much the Yankees starting pitching has improved since 2008. The Yankees added two of the best starting pitchers on the market (Burnett and Sabathia) and will have a healthy and motivated Joba Chamberlain in the rotation. Unlike previous seasons, the Yankees rotation could actually carry this club for a good stretch of time if the offense cannot get it's act together. The starting rotation has the potential to be dominant...and the Yankees will need all five guys at their best.

It's vital that the Yankees get off to a good start in 2009. The AL East is probably the best division in baseball right now and the Yankees simply cannot afford to fall 8-10 games behind either one of these teams. If they do struggle, the Yankees probably will miss out on the playoffs.

I think it's very possible for the Yankees to not miss a beat without A-Rod. Hell, they might even do better without him considering how much of a distraction he has become! Their roster is simply far to talented and balanced for them to fall off the face of the baseball universe...even without their star third baseman.

The goal for the Yankees now has to be: stay close to the Red Sox and Rays until A-Rod comes back.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. The LaRoche Brothers
-My brother and I played on the same little league together for one season. He was the stud pitcher while I called the shots behind the plate. Hands down, the best year of baseball I have ever experienced. The Pirates have the unique opportunity of having both LaRoche brothers, Andy and Adam, playing integral roles for the Pirates this season at the corner infield positions. I'm sure for those two guys this is a dream come true, but will the honeymoon last if the Pirates start to lose? I doubt it.

It remains to be seen if two brothers can survive an entire baseball season playing on the same team with each other. I'm sure it's been done before, but in the youtube/blog era, this could get interesting.

2. I Love Nate (Nate who?)
-Ok, so Nate McLouth is not Mickey Mantle. But the blonde haired wonder is the best thing the Pirates have going for them. McLouth put up big numbers in 2008 by hitting 26 homers with an impressive 23 stolen bases in his first full big league season. McLouth's incredible performance was a revelation for Pirates management and should give Pirates fans at least some hope for the future...(new contract extension as well!). I look forward to seeing his progress in 2009.

3. The Ryan Doumit Experience
-Doumit quietly put up some of the best numbers of any catcher in the big leagues in 2008. Doumit hit .318 with 15 HR and 69 RBI in just 116 games. Did anyone outside of the greater Pittsburgh area know this? That's quite impressive. If not for a broken thumb in May, this guy could have put up some really gaudy numbers in 2008. Doumit looks to be a useful building block for the future for the Pirates, who locked up their stud catcher to a contract extension (a la Nate McLouth). While Doumit is long ways away from Mike Piazza or Pudge Rodriguez territory, there is ample reason for Pirates fans to expect Doumit to develop into one of the best hitting catchers in the majors.

4. Who's Next to go?
-One thing to remember with the Pirates is that this franchise is building towards the future. Their main goal this season is to accumulate as many potentially useful pieces as possible. We should expect the Pirates to be very active in the trade market come July. We saw the Pirates trade away two of their best players last July for young talent and a few prayers that one of the eight players they traded for would become something. I expect the Pirates to be active sellers in July, starting with these players:
-Jack Wilson
-Freddy Sanchez
-Adam LaRoche
-John Grabow

Anything in the name of competing in the future...right Pirates fans?

5. Ramon "stache" Vazquez
-Hands down the best mustache in baseball right now...a close second if Jose Valentin comes back with the Mets.

Enjoy it while you can, Pirates fans!

Sounding Off: Manny Ramirez is Polarizing

In case you've been living under a rock for the last 24 hours, lemme inform you that Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers finally came to terms on a contract. The terms look like this: 2 years/$45 million bucks and the potential for Manny to opt out after this year if he chooses. I'd bet my bottom dollar that Ramirez will opt out after the season to once again chase the all mighty dollar. Anyone else ready for the Manny Ramirez saga: Round 2?

But what's surprised me most about the Manny signing is how strongly the opinions on Manny differ right now. It's hard for many to find the middle ground on Manny...it's seems as though people love him or they don't. The only thing more polarizing right now that Manny is the House of Representatives and we all know how effectively they work.

There are two differing schools of thought on Manny Ramirez.

First, we have the numbers folks. They make the common sense argument that the Dodgers are a much better team with Manny Ramirez in their lineup because of his ridiculous production. A motivated and in shape Manny is good for something along the lines of 40 home runs, 135 RBI, .420 OBP, and a .300+ batting average. Any team would kill to have production like that.

Also, there is the economic numbers side to this discussion. Manny brings in tons of revenue to the Dodgers simply based on his presence on the roster. Between ticket sales, t-shirts, souvenirs, concessions, advertising, and marketing; the Dodgers should be a much more profitable team with Ramirez on board. There is no doubt that fans will flock to see Manny and be apart of Manny mania in LA this season.

Ramirez is one of the best hitters alive and the Dodgers should feel fortunate to have Manny on their roster...right?

Well, not according to the other group of folks. We'll call them the Manny pessimists. They are the ones who remember how Manny quit on the Red Sox multiple times during his tenure in Boston, played when he wanted too and at times, faked injuries. These people cannot stand his antics. Manny being Manny is a hindrance to the ball club and Ramirez will ultimately become a cancer to the entire team if he is not motivated. Who knows if Manny will quit on the team if he is unhappy. In the end, Manny's shenanigans will outweigh his tremendous hitting ability and prevent the team from achieving their true potential.

It's tough to win a championship when the best player on the team quits on the other 24 guys...right?

With all that said, I would welcome Manny Ramirez on my team any day. Ramirez is simply too good of a hitter to ignore. He will go down as one of the best hitters in baseball history despite his larger than life persona. His power numbers leave baseball people salivating, pitchers in fear, and put fans in the stands. Manny offers a lot to everyone...there is no doubt about that.

I have no doubt that if Manny stays in a place to long, he will wear out his welcome. We have seen this happen before. As a result, I would not want Ramirez on my team for more than a season or two. Not only would this protect my team from getting stuck with a quitter, but it would keep Manny motivated to get another big contract.

That's why I like what the Dodgers did in signing Ramirez. Sure they had to overpay for his services, but they were able to sign Manny to a contract that should keep him motivated and hungry throughout 2009 and maybe 2010. I think the Dodgers did about as well as they could in ensuring that they get the best Manny possible and not the one who quits on teams. We'll see which Manny the Dodgers get-productive or cancerous...the answer will more than likely decide how far the Dodgers go this season.

So where do you stand on the Manny polarization scale? Are you a numbers guy, or a Manny pessimist?

2009 Offseason: The Eight Worst Free Agent Contracts

Every offseason, there are a handful of contracts that look foolish by the time free agency has ended. Even with the economic downturn, this offseason is no different. While the numbers have deflated, the questionable deals still remain prevalent. I'm not saying that the following players suck, but instead the contracts they were given do not fit the market conditions or were simply excessive. Simply put, teams could have done better.

Without further ado, here are my top 8 worst free agent contracts from this offseason (in no particular order):

Edgar Renteria (2 year/$18.5 mil):
Giants signed Renteria, who was coming off a down season, very quickly into free agency. Because they signed Renteria so fast, they did not let the market develop and grotesquely overpaid for the declining Renteria. To put this one into context, Orlando Cabrera, who is a much better player, got stuck with a 1 year/$4 million dollar contract because the market was so bad and his type A status.

Casey Blake (3 years/$17 mil):
Blake is a good player, who drew strong competition from the Twins and Dodgers because of the weak (at the time) third base market. As a result, Blake was able to parlay a few good seasons into a three year contract during an economic downturn. Seems a bit excessive, right? Well, the contract looks even worse to me when you consider that Ty Wigginton only received a 2 year/$6 million dollar contract. Blake is a better defender that Wigginton, but you can make the case that Wiggy is a better offensive player, especially against lefties. Blake was the beneficiary of good timing and I bet the Dodgers will regret giving the 35 year old Blake three years.

Juan Rivera (3 years/$12 million):
The Angels must be real high on Rivera because this is a contract that I just don't get. Rivera is a decent player, who can definitely be serviceable for the Angels. But three years? Really? Rivera missed most of the 2007 season because of a broken leg and played in only 89 games in 2008 because he was still recovering from the broken leg. The power potential is there for Rivera (12 hr in 89 games in '08), but giving a guy three years coming off a major injury is risky in my eyes. Will Rivera ever put up his 2006 numbers again?

Damaso Marte (3 years/$12 million):
In most offseasons, this contract would have been in line with other top relief pitchers. However, the market for left handed relief pitchers has been so bad this offseason that the Yankees look foolish because they gave Marte 3 years and a contract worth $4 million per season. No other free agent left handed relief pitcher got three years this offseason and only one (Affeldt) got a deal worth $4 million annually. Damaso Marte is a good pitcher, but there is nothing about Marte that STRONGLY separates him from Beimel, Ohman, or Dennys Reyes (all of whom remain unsigned). This was all about timing (sign early) and the Yankees ($).

Raul Ibanez (3 years/$30 million):
I still like this move...alot. I think Ibanez will be a great fit with the Phillies in 2009 and beyond. However, there is no denying that after seeing what Pat Burrell (2 yr/$16 mil), Adam Dunn (2 yr/$20 mil), and Bobby Abreu (1 yr./$5 mil) got on the free agent market, that Ibanez was vastly overpaid. Even though Ibanez is older than those three, he was the only one to get a three year contract and received the more money than any other free agent outfielder this offseason. Is Ibanez a better player than Abreu, Dunn, or Burrell? Probably not. Ibanez struck it big because of his opportunistic timing and the Phillies strong desire to add the aging outfielder.

Kyle Farnsworth (2 years/$9.25 mil):
How in the world did Kyle Farnsworth get more money than any other FA right handed middle relief pitcher? Farnsworth was no where close to being the best middle relief pitcher on the market, yet the Royals felt the need to give Farnsworthless a two year deal! What crazy world are we living in? Well, we're living in the crazy world of elias rankings, where Farnsworth becomes more valuable than guys like Juan Cruz and Brandon Lyon because teams do not have to forfeit a draft pick for his services. I guarantee the Royals will experience their fair share of headaches with Farnsworth over the next two years...just ask any Yankee fan.

AJ Burnett (5 years/$80 million):
I don't have a problem with AJ Burnett. I think he's a fine pitcher with tons of potential and a 95+ MPH fastball. But Burnett is 32 years old with a major injury history. How in the world could the Yankees feel comfortable giving Burnett a five year contract? The odds of Burnett getting hurt are rather high, don't cha think? And the Yankees are paying Burnett $16 million per season on a hope and a whim that he finally achieves his potential at age 32 and somehow stays healthy. But that's the Yankees for ya-swimming in cash.

Burnett is the lone exception to the "team could have done better" idea. Whoever signed Burnett was going to have to pony up, despite my begging and pleading not too.

Willie Bloomquist (2 years/$3.85 mil):
Somehow in a market where Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu had to settle for one year, Bloomquist was able to get a two year contract from the Royals. Huh? The 31 year old Bloomquist is nothing more than a utility man with limited upside. So why did GM Dayton Moore feel the need to give Bloomquist two years? Does he love his hustle? Was he bidding against some strong competition? Was this a joke? Either way, I don't get it.

So did I leave anyone off the list? Feel free to make your case in the comments section.

Houston Astros: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Roy Oswalt
-Can anyone outside of the Houston area name the other four Astros starters? Neither can I. Astros fans, enjoy watching Oswalt pitch every fifth day...it could get ugly on the other four.

2. The Development of Hunter Pence
-This is going to be a big year for Pence. The much beloved Astros outfielder is a solid player who can hit for power (25 hr) and run quite a bit (11 sb), but he struggles with his plate discipline. Pence only produced a .318 OBP in 2008 and he will not become a star player if he cannot get on base consistently. I can't help but think that Pence is just another version of Jeff Francoeur, which should be a scary thought for Astros fans.

scary commercial there Hunter...I want a homerun of a deal!

3. Brad Ausmus is finally gone!
-This should be a moment to celebrate for Astros fans. Ausmus was a fan favorite and a great defensive outfielder, but he was also an automatic out at the plate. But Ausmus finally left Houston paving the way for the Astros to sign a big name catcher! Oh wait, their stuck with Humberto Quintero, Lou Palmisano, and JR Towles....where have you gone, Ivan Rodriguez?

4. The Aaron Boone/Geoff Blum third base platoon
-GM Ed Wade is trying to answer the age old question: can two aging scrubs successfully platoon at one of the most important positions on the field and actually provide adequate production? I'm leaning towards no on this one. Should be fun to watch.

5. Jose Valverde celebration
-Seriously, is there a more passionate and emotional player in all of baseball? Valverde is absolutely crazy after that final out. Proof:

Bobby Crosby and Khalil Greene: Careers at a Crossroads

Back in 2004, Bobby Crosby and Khalil Greene appeared to be rising stars and potential building blocks for their teams. The shortstops were coming off impressive rookie seasons in which they both proved they belonged in the big leagues. Greene looked like a slick fielder with lots of power potential at the plate while the Athletics thought Crosby would become one of the best hitting shortstops in the game.

However, things began to go downhill fast for both Crosby and Greene. Both guys have dealt with lots of injuries since 2005, which have prevented them from getting on the field consistently. Greene has missed at least 40 games in three of the last four seasons while Crosby has played over 100 games in a season just once since 2005. It's impossible to grow as a player when so much is lost due to injuries.

So it should come as no surprise to us that both Crosby and Greene have struggled on the field as well. In particular, Greene, 29, has struggled to produce an OBP above .300 or maintain a quality batting average, which is unacceptable for a starting shortstop. The power is still there for Greene, but his inability to get on base or keep the strikeouts down have hindered his production.

As for Crosby,29, the power he displayed during his rookie season (22 hrs) seems to have evaporated. Crosby has not hit more than 10 home runs in any season since 2004 and his OBP and batting average have been on a steady decline since 2005. Crosby did hit 39 doubles in 2008, which is encouraging, but he needs to turn some of those two baggers into home runs.

Coincidentally, both Greene and Crosby are at crossroads in their respective careers. Both guys have been given up by the teams they came up with, the Padres and Athletics respectively, and it remains to be seen if either guy will re-capture the magic of 2004.

Right now, Greene looks like he has the best chance to explode. The Padres traded Greene to the Cardinals in the offseason, which gives Greene a fresh start to show what he can do. His split with the Padres was somewhat ugly, so it was definitely the right move for him to move on. Greene will be the starting shortstop in one of the best baseball cities in America, so odds are high that he finds some of the old magic.

As for Crosby, the outlook looks quite bleak at the moment. Crosby was preparing to be the Athletics starting shortstop in the offseason by training and hitting with Mark McGwire (hopefully with no steroids involved!) and focusing on the problems that have plagued him over the past few seasons. However, just two days ago, the Athletics gave up on Crosby and signed Orlando Cabrera. The veteran Cabrera will supplant Crosby as the Athletics starting shortstop as Crosby will now moves to the bench.

This was not exactly what Crosby had in mind. It's not surprising that Crosby has requested a trade because he wants to show what he can do. But it's obvious that he won't get that opportunity in Oakland-at least right now. Will the Athletics move Crosby before the season? Doubtful...especially considering how bad the shortstop market is right now.

The 2009 season is huge for both players. Greene and Crosby are both free agents at the end of the season and could be in line for a big contract if they produce in 2009. But they both run the risk of becoming obscure, fringe players if they cannot find some way to thrive in 2009. It has been quite a fall from grace for these two former rising stars, but hopefully they can turn their respective careers around...and fast.

Spotlight's On: Kosuke Fukudome

For the first two months of the 2008 campaign, rookie Kosuke Fukudome was the talk of baseball. The left hand hitting star out of Japan was drawing rave reviews from baseball people because of his ability to get on base, work deep counts, and hit for a solid average. Fukudome appeared to be the left handed bat the Cubs had been lacking for years as his mere presence seemed to solidify the lineup.

However, somewhere along the line, it all went wrong for Fukudome. After the all-star break, Fukudome only hit .217 with 3 HR and a very concerning .314 OBP. He looked over matched at the plate and those quality at bats that baseball folks raved about in the beginning of the season soon evaporated. The Cubs lineup became stacked with right handed hitters and lost that vital balance they sought to achieve by adding the left handed Fukudome.

By the end of the season, Fukudome began losing at bats to Reed Johnson, Mike Fontenot, and Mark DeRosa. Questions began to rise about Fukudome's long term potential with the Cubs.

2009 is a very important season for Fukudome. He needs to show the world that the struggles of 2008 are behind him and that he is a better player than he showed during the second half. Is he for real or nothing more than a defensive replacement?

In addition, the Cubs are counting on Fukudome to produce. Their lineup is filled with stars and quality players, but it is Fukudome who the Cubs need to come through. The Cubs need the first half Fukudome, the guy who worked pitchers to death and got on base at will. This kind of production will give the Cubs one of the deepest and most feared lineups in baseball.

However, if Fukudome fails to live up to the massive expectations put before him, expect Cubs manager Lou Piniella to act quickly by inserting Reed Johnson into the lineup more frequently. Johnson is a quality fourth outfielder and would be starting on most teams, which underscores just how talented Johnson is. Fukudome needs to produce to ensure that Johnson will not steal away more of his at bats.

The spotlight's on, Kosuke Fukudome.

What do you think, will Fukudome produce in 2009?

*Coming up tomorrow, the Houston Astros.*

Chicago Cubs: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Carlos Marmol
-Over the past two seasons, Carlos Marmol has established himself as one of the mos dominant relief pitchers in baseball. Marmol is a strikeout machine, who makes hitters look absolutely foolish with his filthy stuff. But the big question remains: can Marmol close? He is set to become the Cubs closer in 2009 and it remains to be seen if he can handle the pressue. I, for one, would put my money on Marmol...this guy should be dominant.

2. A healthy Alfonso Soriano
-This is a scary thought for the rest of the National League: the Cubs have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons without a healthy Alfonso Soriano. In each of the past two seasons, Soriano has missed time during the season because of various ailments. The thought of a healthy Soriano should make Cubs fans giddy inside...start praying to the baseball Gods that Sori stays healthy...he's a difference maker.

3. Milton Bradley Explodes
-It's bound to happen folks...let's hope Milton stays safe on the golf carts...especially with his injury history.


4. The rise of Aaron Heilman
-I'm thrilled for Aaron that he is finally out of New York. The guy needed a fresh start...and a place to start. If the Cubs give Heil the opportunity to start, I bet he will flourish. This guy has fantastic stuff and could be a real difference maker for the Cubs in 2009...like Ryan Dempster was in 2008.

5. Spelling Bee!
-How do you know your a Cubs fan? Spell Theriot or Fontenot.

How do you know your a Cubs fan from Japan? Spell Fukudome.

How do you know your a die hard Cubs fan? Spell Samardzija.

Five Random Guys to Root for in the World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic is built around the stars...we all know that. But what about the former scrubs, who currently comprise a sizable majority of WBC rosters? How come they get no pub? This atrocity needed to be taken care of.

So without further ado, here are five random WBC players, who I will be cheering for...no stars included.

5. Ruben Rivera, Panama
-Don't let Ruben anywhere near Derek Jeter's glove...or let him run the bases for that matter.


4. Karim Garcia, Mexico
-Karim Garcia in the United States...scrub...
Karim Garcia in Korea...superstar....what a world!


3. Ramiro Mendoza, Venezuela
-Mendoza gave up one of my favorite home runs...ever. I'm convinced that the moon shot Mendoza gave up to Piazza on that fateful afternoon in 1999 is still somewhere in orbit. What a shot.

In addition, I nearly witnessed a perfect game at Yankee Stadium thrown by none other than...Ramiro Mendoza. Details are a shade fuzzy for me, but I'm convinced that Carlos Febles was the culprit who broke up the perfecto. Anyone have any additional info on this?

2. Stubby Clapp, Canada
-Good question: who is Stubby Clapp? Better question: what is a Stubby Clapp? Great question: how can we not root for a guy named Stubby Clapp? And did I mention he's Canadian!

1. Randall Simon, Netherlands
-Yes, it's that Randall Simon. And he is from the Netherlands. Who knew? How can I not root for the guy? For your own safety, please keep all sausages away from Simon.

LaTroy Hawkins: Team USA gettin' Desperate

The World Baseball Classic is supposed to be a display of baseball from all over the world being played at the highest level. By no means is LaTroy Hawkins supposed to be involved in this tournament in any capacity. Relief pitchers with career ERAs above 4.70 should not come anywhere near this tournament unless they have a ticket.

But in a cruel, yet comedic twist of fate, LaTroy Hawkins is on the US squad!

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Astros pitcher LaTroy Hawkins accepted an invitation to participate in the World Baseball Classic and plans to depart for Team USA’s workouts in Clearwater, Fla., later today.

Marcel Lachemann, the pitching coach for the Americans, called Hawkins on Sunday night to gauge his interest. Hawkins didn’t commit until he spoke to several people, including his wife Anita and his grandfather.

He also spoke to several friends in baseball, all of whom said he should go. Included in that group were players Doug Brocail, Jacques Jones, Matt Lawton and Eddie Guardardo.

“My wife said, 'You always wanted to pitch in the Olympics or compete in the Olympics, whether it’s speed-walking or something,'” Hawkins said. “She said, ‘This is as close as you could get,’ and I said, ‘You’ve got a point.’”

C'mon USA baseball, we don't have anyone better than LaTroy Hawkins? This is the same LaTroy Hawkins, who was relegated to mop up duty with the Yankees just a year ago and was subsequently booed out of New York! This guy stinks.

What? Was Kyle Farnsworth unavailable for the tournament? How about Aaron Heilman? I'm sure Scott Schoeneweis would have loved to have been involved in the tournament.

Seriously, there has to be someone better than Hawkins...right?

Spotlight's On: Joel Hanrahan

Way back in 2004, I had the good fortune of meeting Joel Hanrahan at spring training. Being the baseball nerd that I am, I actually knew who Hanrahan was and sought him out for an autograph. At the time, he was one of the Dodgers best pitching prospects (along with Edwin Jackson and Greg Miller) and Baseball America ranked him in their annual top 100 prospects list. The outlook seemed pretty bright for Hanrahan and I was elated to leave Dodger camp that day with a sparkling Joel Hanrahan autograph.

The Joel Hanrahan bandwagon did not last for long. In a blink of an eye, Hanrahan went from being on the map to an afterthought. By 2007, the Dodgers had given up on Hanrahan and the Nationals decided to give him a shot.

And to be quite honest, Hanrahan sucked with the Nationals in 2007. He had no control (walked 38 batters in 51 IP) and compiled a horrific 6.00 ERA out of the Nationals bullpen. Hanrahan was now in jeopardy of never making an impact on the major league stage. By this point, the Joel Hanrahan bandwagon was virtually non-existent.

But for some reason, the Nationals decided to give Hanrahan another chance. Maybe they liked his stuff...or maybe they were encouraged by his strikeout rate (43 K in 51 IP)...but whatever the reason, the Nationals gave him a chance to prove himself out of the bullpen in 2008.

And guess what? Hanrahan thrived. In 84 IP, Hanrahan struck out an impressive 93 batters and produced an impressive 3.95 ERA and .233 BAA. At times, Hanrahan looked dominant, sporting a mid nineties fastball that overpowers hitters. By the end of the season, thanks to trades and injuries, Hanrahan was closing out games for the Nationals and he went 9 for 13 in save situations.

This season, the Nationals are expecting Hanrahan to be their closer. The bright lights of pitching in the ninth inning will shine squarely on Hanrahan and we'll see if the big guy can hold up under the pressure of the moment. This is a guy who was moved to the bullpen so that he would be able to relax more, but now the Nationals are counting on Hanrahan in the most pressure packed situations. This could get interesting.

No one is expecting much out of the Nationals in 2009, but if Hanrahan can deliver, the Nationals could surprise some folks and approach 75-80 wins. Not to mention that my autograph might have some increased value! The Nats have talent on the offensive side for once, now it will be up to the pitching to produce.

The spotlight's on, Joel Hanrahan.

What do you think, will Hanrahan produce in 2009?

*Coming up tomorrow, the Chicago Cubs.*

Washington Nationals: Five Things to Look Forward to in 2009

1. Light Tower Power of Adam Dunn
-It's been awhile since the Nationals had a legitimate power hitter of Dunn's stature. Actually, the Nationals have never had a power hitter of Dunn's stature. I'm sure Nationals fans will love Dunn's epic moon balls, likely traveling in excess of 400 feet. The modern day Dave Kingman has come to Washington!

2. Do you believe in Jesus?
Jesus Flores, that is. Somehow, the Nationals managed to steal Flores from the Mets in the rule V draft two years ago, and now Flores is the Nationals starting catcher. Flores showed signs of life in 2008 at the dish by leading the Nationals in RBI through August, but an ankle injury prematurely ended his season. Plate discipline is a major question mark for the young Flores, but he is a good, young catcher...which are a rarity in the majors.

3. The return of Ryan Zimmerman
The face of the franchise is coming off an injury plagued 2008 season and needs to stay healthy in 2009. Zimmerman has a world of potential and many people have forgotten just how good this guy really is. Look for Zimmerman to take off this season, especially now with the addition of Adam Dunn and the maturation of Lastings Milledge. Speaking of Milledge...

4. The development of Lastings Milledge
-After getting off to a rough start in 2008, Milledge turned it around in the second half in a big way. Milledge hit .299 with 7 homers and 11 stolen bases while improving his on base percentage to a respectable .355. Milledge has the potential to be something special in this league with his tremendous combo of speed, power, and quick wrists. Milledge needs to remain patient at the dish and take advantage of his opportunities.

Hopefully Nats fans will be exposed to more classic Milledge moments...just like this one.


5. The president's race
Because who doesn't want to see four of our nation's greatest leaders in mascot form running around with oversized heads for all of our amusement....count me in!

And the Jim Bowden Reign of Terror is Finally Over

Washington Nationals fans, go celebrate!

"Jim Bowden resigned Sunday after four seasons as the Washington Nationals' general manager, leaving under the cloud of a federal investigation into the skimming of signing bonuses given to Latin American prospects.

He has maintained his innocence in the matter but said Sunday, "I've become a distraction."

"My resignation is based upon my realization that my ability to properly represent the Washington Nationals has been compromised because of false allegations contained in the press," Bowden said in a statement. "I am disappointed by the media reports regarding investigations into any of my professional activities. There have been no charges made, and there has been no indication that parties have found any wrongdoing on my part."

Well, there are two sides to this.

There are those who will say that Bowden did the best he could with the hand he was dealt. Management did not give Bowden the ability to go after big time free agents (before this season) and when he arrived in DC, the Nationals had almost nothing to speak of down on the farm. Hell, they didn't even have their own stadium! This organization was in chaos and the situation was no conducive for success for anyone.

But then you have another side of folks who will say simply that Bowden was just a terrible GM. He is the one who got nothing for Alfonso Soriano at the deadline during his 40/40 season, the one who did not sign Aaron Crow, the one who signed Paul Lo Duca, the one who acquired Austin Kearns and Gary Majewski, gave Dmitri Young a 2 year/$10 million dollar extension, and lots of weak draft picks...so far. So as you can see, Bowden has made his fair share of stupid moves over the past three seasons that have brought the Nationals from a .500 team in 2005 to a team that lost over 100 games in 2008.

The Esmailyn Gonzalez scandal was another black eye on Jim Bowden's resume. Bowden oversaw a department that shelled out $1.4 million bucks to bring the 19 year old Gonzalez to the Nationals. This was supposed to be a sign from the Lerner family to Nationals fans that they were deeply committed to bringing the best young talent to the Nationals. However, it was later discovered that Gonzalez was actually 23 years old, which would make him a fringe prospect at best. Yikes....

It was Bowden's responsibility to ensure that the Nationals were making a sound investment. In this case, Bowden failed miserably and it cost the Nationals big time. Whether this scandal was a managerial error or simply a lack of judgement, the point is still obvious: this garbage is inexcusable.

Speaking of garbage, if Bowden did skim signing bonuses, then he was not just an incompetent GM, but an incompetent human being. That would be the lowest of the low. But hey, innocent until proven guilty, right!

It's obvious that the criticism of Jim Bowden will be immense. He has embarrassed himself and the Washington Nationals tremendously over the last few months. The worst of it may not be over for Bowden depending on the bonus skimming investigation...For his sake, I hope it turns out well.

And for the Nationals...good riddance Jim Bowden! I firmly believe that Bowden was not a good General Manager and needed to be replaced before these scandals even hit the presses. The Nationals had NO direction under the watch of Bowden and struggled to even remain marginally competitive. Even without the best resources, there were areas where Bowden royally screwed up and in doing so, he left the Nationals in the exact same way he found them: a mess.