Atlanta Braves: Oh, Dear Lord

It's never good having a ## (infinity) ERA instead of having an actual number. An infinity ERA is perhaps the grossest thing in all of baseball as it means a pitcher has given up at least a run without ever retiring a batter in that respective season.

For the Atlanta Braves, you know something went terribly wrong when two guys in the bullpen have infinity (###) ERAs after yesterday's game against the Phillies.

Atlanta Braves
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
J Vazquez	6.0	5	3	3	4	5	1	102-61	4.50
E O'Flaherty	0.1	1	2	2	0	0	0	17-11	10.80
P Moylan	0.0	2	4	4	2	0	0	16-7	###
B Boyer (L, 0-1)	0.0	0	2	2	2	0	0	9-1	###
J Campillo (B, 1)	0.2	2	1	1	2	0	0	21-9	13.50
J Bennett	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	14-10	0.00
Totals	8.0	11	12	12	10	6	1	179-99

So what the hell went wrong? Well, the Braves bullpen squandered a 7 run lead in the most excruciating way possible: by walking in four runs. Yes, in the seventh inning alone the Braves bullpen walked six batters. Talk about ugly.

Just take a look at this play-by-play from ESPN.com:

M Stairs walked, J Werth scored, R Ibanez to third, P Feliz to second.	10	6
B Boyer relieved P Moylan.	10	6
C Coste hit for C Condrey.	10	6
C Coste walked, R Ibanez scored, P Feliz to third, M Stairs to second.	10	7
J Rollins walked, P Feliz scored, M Stairs to third, C Coste to second.	10	8
J Campillo relieved B Boyer.	10	8
S Victorino singled to right, M Stairs scored, C Coste to third, J Rollins to second.	10	9
C Utley walked, C Coste scored, J Rollins to third, S Victorino to second.	10	10

Four runs on walks. Incredible. If you're a Braves fan and you watched this game in its entirety...I apologize.

I think Bobby Cox summed it up best:

"I've never seen anything like it," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of the bullpen's meltdown. "I've seen a couple walk-ins, but never like that."

And as you know by now, the Braves eventually lost the game, 12-11 because of their bullpen meltdown. What a tremendous and fun win for the Phillies and an agonizing and pathetic loss for the Braves.

After 3 games, the Braves bullpen looks very shaky and uneven right now, especially if Mike Gonzalez struggles as the Braves closer. This has got to be a major concern for Bobby Cox and Frank Wren right now.

Can Derek Lowe pitch out of the bullpen and start?

New York Mets: The Cardiac Bullpen

For any of the Mets fans out there who saw last night's game, I must ask: did you seriously think K-Rod was going to close the door? After the bullpen gave back 3 runs and K-Rod proceed to load the bases (thanks in part to the glove work of Delgado) with only one out, I must admit, my initial reaction was not too positive.

Oh shit. Here we go again.

But as soon as I started cursing at my TV like it was 2008 all over again, K-Rod shut the door. A strikeout and a fly ball later, and the Mets were home free with a 2-0 record.

New York Mets
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
M Pelfrey (W, 1-0)	5.0	5	4	4	4	2	1	104-56	7.20
R Parnell (H, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	2	1	0	21-11	0.00
P Feliciano	0.2	2	2	2	1	1	0	17-11	27.00
S Green (H, 2)	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	4-3	0.00
J Putz (H, 2)	1.0	1	1	1	0	0	0	14-10	4.50
F Rodriguez (S, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	2	1	0	30-12	0.00
Totals	9.0	9	7	7	9	5	1	190-103

Even though the bullpen struggled tonight, I do have faith in this crew. I really like what I've seen so far out of Green, Putz, and K-Rod; even after tonight's somewhat shaky finish to the game. Bottom line: K-Rod got the save and that's exactly what the Mets are paying him the big bucks to do.

Make no mistake about it, this bullpen will be under intense scrutiny for the entire season. It doesn't make a difference that most of these guys in the bullpen were not around for 2007 or 2008. What matters is that Mets fans have been so scarred by the late season demises over the past two seasons that the Mets bullpen needs to be dominant from the start.

I look forward to seeing if these guys can handle the pressure. But two games in: so far, so good.

Yo, Yovani Gallardo!

Pretty good night for Mr. Gallardo if I don't say so myself.

Not only did Gallardo pitch well:

Milwaukee Brewers
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Y Gallardo (W, 1-0)	6.2	6	2	2	2	6	0	104-67	2.70
M Stetter	0.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5-1	0.00
T Coffey (H, 1)	1.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	15-11	0.00
C Villanueva (S, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	13-9	0.00
Totals	9.0	6	2	2	3	9	0	137-88

But Yovani hit the eventual game winning three run home run off Randy Johnson!

HR: M Cameron (1, 2nd inning off Ra Johnson 0 on, 2 Out); Y Gallardo (1, 5th inning off Ra Johnson 2 on, 2 Out)

How's that for a night at the ball park?

The 2009 "Darren Oliver" Roster

Back in 2005, Darren Oliver's career was on life support. Oliver did not pitch in 2005 after being released by the Colorado Rockies, and was unable to put together a productive big league season since 1999. His statistics from 2000-2004 were ugly. Very ugly. There was no reason why a GM should have been compelled to give Oliver an opportunity in 2006 with the hopes that he suddenly became a productive major league pitcher.

But for some reason, Mets GM Omar Minaya decided to bring Oliver into spring training on a minor league contract in the hopes that Oliver could revive his declining career and help the Mets in the bullpen. And what do you know, not only did Oliver make the team in 2006, but he put up some pretty darn good numbers (4-1, 3.44 ERA) as the Mets long relief pitcher. Oliver made Omar Minaya look like a genius for bringing his aboard on just a minor league contract.

So no as the new season draws upon us, I thought I would take a look at some veteran players, who took minor league contracts like Oliver, in the hopes of reviving and extending their careers. Like Oliver, all of these players made their respective 25 man roster out of spring training, which at least gives them the opportunity to show the baseball world what they can do.

Darren Oliver Roster Criteria:
1. Veteran player with vast major league experience
2. Signed to minor league contract this offseason
3. Made 25 man roster entering 2009 season

*THE 2009 "Darren Oliver" Roster*

C- Michael Barrett
1b- Kevin Millar
2b- Miguel Cairo
3b- Rich Aurilia
ss- Juan Uribe
OF- Chris Duffy
OF- Andruw Jones
OF- Craig Monroe
DH-Mike Sweeney
Bench-Corky Miller
Bench-Doug Mientkiewicz
Bench- Omar Vizquel
Bench- Nick Green
Bench- Tony Graffanino

SP-Livan Hernandez
SP-Russ Ortiz
SP- Kris Benson
RP- Kiko Calero
RP- Juan Rincon
RP- Julian Tavarez
RP- Jason Jennings
RP- Eddie Guardado

(Note: Need more starting pitchers!)

So how many games could I win with this bunch? I'd say 68...as long as Andruw Jones doesn't completely bomb out.

Food for thought: which guy on this roster will actually become the next Darren Oliver and have a productive 2009 season in the majors? My guess is Kiko Calero.

Party Like It's 1999, A's Fans

Back in 1999, a Giambi-Garciaparra-Chavez middle of the order would have been incredible. All three guys were young, future stars, who were oozing with potential. This incredible trio would have put up some scary good power numbers if they were in the same lineup. I vividly remember having a dynamite Athletics lineup in Griffey Slugfest with both Giambi and Chavez. Could you imagine if Nomar was hitting in between them? I can dream, right?

Now, let's fast forward to last night's Athletics-Angels game. Athletics manager Bob Geren did not start Matt Holliday because of an illness, which left him no choice but to go with the Giambi-Garciaparra-Chavez middle of the order! Even if it's 10 years later, this trio did quite well together last night as the A's beat the Angels.

J Giambi DH	5	1	3	1	0	0	2	.375
N Garciaparra 1B	5	1	2	0	0	0	4	.222
E Chavez 3B	5	0	1	1	0	1	4	.250

Obviously, the A's will need the following if they are going to compete: lots of production from Giambi and healthy seasons from both Chavez and Garciaparra. These three veterans will play a large role in determining how far the Athletics go this season, especially if the young Athletics starting pitching struggles. Giambi and Chavez are especially important as they provide protection for the always dangerous Matt Holliday. As for Nomar, I cannot wait to see how Geren works him into the lineup. Nomar can still hit, that we all know, but it will come down to his health and the health of those around him (Giambi and Chavez!)

Sorrow for Morrow

Seattle Mariners
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
E Bedard	5.0	6	3	3	0	8	0	85-56	5.40
R Corcoran (H, 1)	2.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	22-15	0.00
D Aardsma (H, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	9-6	0.00
B Morrow (L, 0-1; H, 1)	0.2	0	3	3	3	1	0	28-14	40.50
M Batista (B, 1)	0.0	2	0	0	0	0	0	3-3	0.00

For Mariners fans, this has to be quite concerning. Even though Morrow was able to get the first two outs in the ninth inning today, he wound up blowing the game because of porous control. Once Wakamatsu was forced to go to Miguel Batista, you knew the game was over.

But back to Morrow, Mariners fans have to expect some bumps in the road from their young closer as he fully adapts to the role for good. In addition, Morrow missed a good portion of spring training, so there's a good chance that he is behind on his work. The control issues are a tell tale sign of that, but Mariners fans need be cognizant that Morrow has struggled in the past with his control (50 to 66 K/BB ratio in 2007, 34 to 75 K/BB ration in 2008) and he will obviously need to cut down on the walks.

I have no doubt that Morrow will be a very good closer in this league...eventually. When he is on, Morrow has fantastic stuff. Plain and simple.

But if last night is any indication, it might take a little time for Morrow.

Now That's a Celebration, Toronto

Great win last night for the Blue Jays, even if the crowd was unable to purchase alcoholic beverages. It's tough to get excited over two measly wins, but Toronto deserves a winning ball club. They have been stricken by the AL East (Yankees/Red Sox) Curse for far too long.

(Note: Even though the picture is quite emotional and entertaining, the live celebration on the field did not look exciting at all. Check it out.)

As for the Tigers, yikes. That bullpen is an absolute train wreck.

Get well soon, Joel Zumaya. Detroit needs you.

Giants Fans Could Get Used to This

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
MIL (0-1)	0	2	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	6	10	0
SFO (1-0)	3	1	0	2	1	0	2	1	-	10	12	1

10 RUNS!

Throughout the entire offseason, many fans and bloggers, like myself, were skeptical that the Giants offense would be able to produce this season. We all know about their potentially dominant starting rotation and solid bullpen, but the offense looked like the glaring sore spot on the Giants roster.

Well, for one day at least, the Giants offense made people like myself look stupid for questioning their ability. The Giants mashed out 10 runs against the Brewers pitching staff and most importantly, they were able to win a game where Tim Lincecum did not look like the 2008 CY Young award winner. If the Giants are going to compete, the offense will need to pick up the slack on days where the pitching is off.

I still contend that the key to the Giants' offensive success this season will be Sandoval and Ishikawa. The Giants are banking on these two youngsters to be as good as advertised and o Opening Day, both guys showed off their immense abilities at the dish.

P Sandoval 3B	4	2	2	0	0	1	2	.500
T Ishikawa 1B	5	1	2	3	0	1	5	.400

I would still expect the Giants offense to struggle at times this season, but hey, maybe just maybe, the Giants offense can surprise me and deliver. Make no mistake about it though, the pressure is one Ishikawa and Sandoval.

Still Farnsworthless

New team, new year, same result: Kyle Farnsworth blows the game by giving up a 3 run home run to Jim Thome. Could have seen that one coming.

Kansas City Royals
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
G Meche	7.0	7	1	1	0	6	0	91-61	1.29
K Farnsworth (L, 0-1; B, 1)	1.0	4	3	3	0	1	1	24-17	27.00
Totals	8.0	11	4	4	0	7	1	115-78

(Side note: Where was Ron Mahay to face Jim Thome? Doesn't it make more sense to have Mahay, the lefty specialist, face the Thome instead of Farnsworth?)

C'mon, Trey Hillman!

Greg Miller: Baseball is a Cruel Game

Back in 2004, I had the pleasure of going to Dodgers spring training in Vero Beach, Florida. The Dodgers training complex was notoriously open, which gave fans easy access to players for autographs, pictures, and whatnot. At Dodgers spring training, I was essentially a kid in a candy store as players were readily accessible and baseball seemed to be at your fingertips.

Even with all the opportunity to meet players and get autographs, I was not one to be fixated on the Dodgers big stars. Sure it was a thrill to see Eric Gagne and Shawn Green, but what really excited me was seeing big name prospects. Using Baseball America as my guide, I fully hyped up the Dodgers best prospects in my head and I was sure that after reading a measly paragraph in the Baseball Handbook that the best Dodgers pitching prospects were going to be studs. It's amazing what the 14 year old mind can believe simply by reading a book.

But anyway, my mind was made up, Edwin Jackson and Greg Miller were going to be the next big things in the National League, especially Miller. I hoped that I would be able to meet Greg Miller and perhaps get an autograph and a picture taken with him...I vividly remember thinking how easy it would be to meet Miller simply because he was "just a prospect."

What I didn't expect was a freakin' mob scene. Apparently Miller had quite a following of Dodger fans, who like me, thought he was on the fast track to success in the big leagues. I'm happy to note that I did indeed gets Miller's autograph with the help of a little pushing and some luck. No one ever said autograph hunting was easy. I walked away from Dodgertown that day thinking that I had just secured an autograph of one of the best prospects in baseball and a certain future all star.

But unfortunately, my predictions about Greg Miller were completely wrong.

Ever since being hailed as one of the best pitching prospects in the minors, Miller has dealt with serious shoulder issues that have sapped him of his pristine prospect status. Since 2004, Miller has been shuffled between the starting rotation and the bullpen as his struggles advanced and became more severe on the mound. No matter where he has pitched, the results have been the same: terrible.

So I guess it should come as no surprise that the Dodgers released Greg Miller yesterday. After posting an ERA above 7 in AAA, it has become blatantly clear the Miller probably does not have a future in the majors. How sad.

Here's the thing to remember about baseball: one day, you could be on top of the world with the fans clamoring for your attention and organizations salivating at your talents. However, it only takes one injury or one poor performance for the bandwagon to completely fall apart. Baseball is a humbling sport that has phenomenal highs for players, but at the same time, horrific lows of unfulfilled expectation, injuries, and poor performance.

In the case of Miller, it really is quite sad to see how far he has fallen. I will always remember seeing the large crowd push and shove in the hopes of having Miller sign their ball., You would have though this guy was Sandy Koufax or something! And just 5 years later, Miller is no longer a Dodger and likely will not have a major league career. How sad.

So often we focus on those select few who have made it big in the major leagues, and rightfully so, they deserve it. But just remember players like Greg Miller, who had so much promise and potential only to have their careers curtailed by injuries and whatnot.

I'm pushing hard for Miller to eventually succeed in the major leagues. Even though the odds are completely stacked against him, there is no such thing as impossible odds in baseball. Let's hope Miller can regain some of his old form so I can do some more reminiscing about gettin' Greg Miller's autograph. I'm sure the topic will be a fierce party starter and will make my Greg Miller autograph quite the momento.

Better Get Used to This, Arizona

Arizona	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Webb	4.0	6	6	6	2	2	2	13.50
Slaten	0.2	2	1	1	0	0	0	13.50
Buckner	1.1	0	0	0	1	2	0	0.00
Schoeneweis (BS, 1)	0.2	2	1	1	0	0	1	13.50
Pena, T (W, 1-0)	1.1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Qualls (S, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

A blown save by Scott Schoeneweis. As a Mets fan, I can honestly tell all the Diamondbacks fans out there to get used to it. There is no statistic out there that will counteract my view that Scott Schoeneweis is one of the most un-clutch relief pitchers out there. The thought of Schoeneweis entering a game in September last season made me sick to my stomach....

My thoughts are with you, Arizona.

Opening Day Shots: Nick Lachey...C'mon Cincinnati!

Seriously Cincinnati? You couldn't find anyone else to throw out the first pitch besides Nick Lachey. Mr. Jessica Simpson! Wasn't he famous like 10 years ago? Is there any reason why Lachey is still relevant?

If it were up to me, I would have loved to have Tony Perez, Johnny Bench, Pokey Reese, Sean Casey, or Pete Harnish throw out the first pitch. Any old time Reds player would do. Hell, even Dusty Baker's son would have sufficed for me. As long as he does not block home plate...again.

(photo: AP)

Opening Day Shots: Joe Biden Rode the Amtrak All the Way to Camden Yards

Who says politics and sports don't go hand in hand? George W. Bush and Joe Biden throwing out first pitches on the same day....hallelujah.

Interesting to note how Biden decided to wear a mitt during his ceremonial first pitch. Is there really a need for a glove? Call me crazy, but I don't think any balls will be put into play on the ceremonial first pitch. Perhaps Biden just feels more comfortable throwing with a glove on his hand or maybe he just wanted to look like an actual baseball player. Who knows?

Either way, Biden is nice opening act to next week when President Obama will throw out the first pitch at Nationals Park.

Political science students, rejoice.

(photo: AP)

Don't Get Used to This, Texas

Texas	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Millwood (W, 1-0)	7.0	5	1	1	1	5	0	1.29
Wilson	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Francisco	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

For one day at least, the Texas Rangers pitching staff looked quite good. Well done, Kevin Millwood.

But how long can the Rangers pitching staff keep this up? I give them 3 days. The combination of Vincente Padilla, Bradon McCarthy, and Kris Benson will bring Rangers fans down to Earth pretty quickly.

Any takers?

Opening Day Shots: Finally, A Place Where George W. Bush Will Not Get Booed

As a political science major, this picture was a must for me. 40,000 people cheering W! Only in Texas. I'm sure the Rangers were thrilled to have the former Commander in Chief throw out the first pitch!

As a baseball fan, this picture is a must for me to write about. Bush has pretty good throwing form...as we have seen before.

(Photo: AP)

Austin Kearns: Why Should He Start?

I hate to be a negative Nancy on Opening Day, but this really annoys me. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Austin Kearns is starting instead of Elijah Dukes. Yes, once again, we have the Nationals being the Nationals.

MLB.com:

"Manager Manny Acta has decided that Austin Kearns will be his starting right fielder when the Nationals open the season against the Marlins on Monday at Dolphin Stadium.

Kearns was given the news about 35 minutes before Washington played the Orioles at Nationals Park on Saturday.

According to Acta, Kearns outplayed Elijah Dukes for the job, hitting .279 with a team-leading four home runs and 10 RBIs this spring. Dukes, on the other hand, struck out 22 times in 52 at-bats.

"Austin really worked hard, not only during Spring Training but in the offseason, too," Acta said. "He made the adjustments during Spring Training. He had a good spring, offensively and defensively. After he led the outfielders in home runs, I think it would have sent the wrong message if we didn't give him the job -- at least to start the season."

I understand that Kearns had a better spring than Dukes. There is no doubt that Dukes still has a ways to go before his skills match his raw talent. A case can certainly be made that right now, Austin Kearns is a better player than Elijah Dukes.

But consider this, folks. The Nationals are not going anywhere this season and I think a majority of baseball fans/personnel agree with that statement. This is a ball club that needs to be building for the future and discovering pieces that will be in Washington DC for a long time to come.

Austin Kearns likely will not be with the Nationals after 2009. Kearns has a 2010 team option for $10 million that the Nationals will certainly not pick up and as a result, Kearns will become a free agent. Even if Kearns has a productive season in 2009, I cannot see the Nationals committing to a 29 year old average outfielder long term when they have so many other outfielders in the system (Willingham, Dunn, Dukes, Milledge).

Bottom line: you know what your gonna get from Austin Kearns-a mediocre corner outfielder, who will hit .260-.270 with 15 or so home runs. There is virtually no upside with Kearns.

On the other hand, Elijah Dukes could have a future with the Washington Nationals. Dukes is an immensely talented 24 year old, who has shown plus power, good speed, and the ability to get on base. The talent is there, but the Nationals will never know exactly what they can get out of Dukes if they do not give him consistent playing time. Dukes is raw and will struggle at times, but there is no doubt that his upside is far greater than that of Austin Kearns.

I understand that Manager Manny Acta wants to set the precedent that the best players will play and that you have to perform well in order to get playing time. That's an admirable and commendable stance...make no mistake about it. But at the same time, this is not what's best for the Nationals organization. They need to see exactly what they have in Dukes in order to determine if he fits into their long term plans.

Best case scenario right now is that Kearns puts up a month or two of good stats, which gives GM Mike Rizzo the opportunity to trade him for a peak return. But unless that happens, I think that Nationals are missing their opportunity to see what Elijah Dukes can do.

"Betcha' Don't Know Me" Pitching Staff

Cinderella isn't just a March Madness thing. Baseball has its own Cinderellas. As teams break spring training, inevitably, there are a number of players who wind up making the 25 man roster that a large majority of the baseball watching population has never heard of. Unless your a complete diehard baseball fan, there is no chance that you knew of all these players before today. Usually, these are not top prospects or even fringe prospects...instead, these are your average 4-A players just struggling to get by and searching near and far for opportunity.

Because I am a huge roster aficionado and just an overall admirer of the underdog, I decided to create the "betcha' don't know me" pitching staff. I have scoured 25 man rosters searching for the most obscure players, who have the least amount of name recognition. All of these guys have made a 2009 major league roster presumably against all odds, and dammit, it's about time they get their moment in the sun.

So without further ado, here is my pitching staff....starting pitchers and relief pitchers included.

Starting Pitchers
Walter Silva (Padres)
James McDonald (Dodgers)
Alfredo Simon (Orioles)
Scott Richmond (Blue Jays)

Relief Pitchers
Chris Jakubauskas (Mariners)
Shawn Kelley (Mariners)
Kevin Jespen (Angels)
Eddie Bonine (Tigers)
Warner Magridal (Rangers)
Andrew Bailey (Athletics)
Luke Gregorson (Padres)
Joe Martinez (Giants)
Brian Duensing (Twins)
Juan Gutierrez (Diamondbacks)

So how many of these guys can you HONESTLY say you have ever heard of in your baseball watching life? My total is 4....and yes, I have no idea who Chris Jakubauskas is. Have fun with that, Mariners.

And finally, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Warner Magridal.
Classic. I'm thinking Rich Garces meets Carlos Silva...what a wonderful combination.

(Note: I'm trying to come with a "Betcha' Don't Know Me" lineup, but I'm struggling pretty badly with it. Besides Clint Sammons and the Yankees new backup shortstop, I'm pretty much stuck.)

Good luck to the Cinderella pitching staff. Let's hope they stick!

Pat Gillick Does Not Throw Like a Girl

Welcome to the Richard Gere "Yes, I do know how to throw a baseball" Club. It's pretty exclusive...just ask Stephen King.

Seriously, for a 71 year old man, Gillick has some pretty impressive pitching form there. I'm going to guess that this pitch was a strike...or at least made it to home plate.

Can you tell that Gillick was a pitcher in his heyday almost 50 years ago?

Spring Training 2009: The "Released" Team (UPDATED)

(UPDATE 7): Added Chad Gaudin and dropped Ron Villone. That move should be good for another 2 or 3 wins right? Put me down for 61 wins.

(UPDATE 6): Added Frank Catalanotto and dropped Danny Graves...I honestly cannot believe that a player of Catalanotto's caliber got released. He's instantly my #2 hitter and a definite cause for optimism. I now believe that this squad can get 58 wins. Who's with me?

(Update 5): Added Mike Lamb to the roster...dropped David Newhan and his infectious eyes.
(Update 4): Added Wily Mo Pena to the roster for some much needed pop and strikeouts....gotta love a guy named Wily Mo....dropped Jay Gibbons. The McPherson-Sheffield-Jenkins-Pena middle of the order should be both powerful and frustrating at the same time. Can any of them stay healthy?

(Update 3): Added Dallas McPherson to the roster...dropped Morgan Ensberg. Roster is starting to look quite good! 55 Wins!

(Update 2): Added Geoff Jenkins to the roster...dropped Guillermo Quiroz. Too many catchers.

(Update 1): Gary Sheffield added to roster...dropped Yhency Brazoban. We found our cleanup hitter!

Spring training can be a cruel time. As players get overtaken on the depth chart, teams gradually begin the process of reassigning players to either a minor league camp, a minor league team, or granting the player his contractual release. For whatever reason, the player just did not stick.

So this season, I decided to field a 25 man roster simply based on players who were released over the course of spring training. I did not include players, who were released prior to the start of spring training (i.e Adam Kennedy), but I did include players who were signed after they were released. Bottom line: If you were outright released during spring training, odds are you made the roster.

The 2009 Spring Training "Released" Roster

C- Josh Bard (signed with Nationals)
1b- Daryle Ward
2b-Marcus Giles
3b- Dallas McPherson
ss-Esteban German (signed with Cubs)
OF- Frank Catalanotto
OF- Dave Roberts
OF- Geoff Jenkins
DH- Gary Sheffield
Bench- Wily Mo Pena
Bench- Rob Bowen
Bench- Mike Lamb
Bench- Trot Nixon
SP- Shawn Hill (signed with Padres)
SP- Odalis Perez
SP- Mike Maroth
SP-Adam Eaton (signed with Orioles)
SP- Chad Gaudin
RP- Aaron Fultz
RP- Jimmy Gobble (signed with Rangers)
RP- Duaner Sanchez (signed with Padres)
RP- Brendan Donnelly
RP- Tyler Walker
RP- Keiichi Yabu (resigned with Giants)
CL- Eric Gagne

What's the over/under on how many games I could win with this bunch over the course of a full season? I'd say 45. The offense would be terrible (no surprise), but I would have a wide array of pitchers to use at my disposal. I like the idea of using the absurd amount of relief pitchers on this team to lefty/righty the opposing team to death. Not to mention that the Shawn Hill/Odalis Perez top of the rotation should be very imposing...

At the same time, my shortstop has played only 6 games at the position in his career and my fifth starter (Villone) has not been a starting pitcher for years. Maybe I should lower the over/under down to 35...

'62 Mets anyone?

Food for thought: why were there so few position players released in 2009?

(Note: This roster is not set in stone. Since spring training has not yet ended, there are sure to be more released players to come)

Jorge Says No! 2009 Season Predictions

Without further ado, here are my picks for the 2009 season. I;m usually terrible at this sort of thing, but I figure it's worth a shot to see how inaccurate my picks are. If/when these picks don't work out, don't blame me.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NL East
1. Mets
2. Marlins
3. Phillies
4. Braves
5. Nationals

I know I'm going to get killed for picking the Marlins to come in second, but I love their young talent, especially on the pitching side. Defense remains a huge problem for the Fish, but I think they will surprise some people.

NL Central
1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Reds
4. Brewers
5. Astros
6. Pirates

The Reds are a hot sleeper pick, but I don't see it. I love their pitching, but I don't think they have enough to make a push towards the playoffs this season. The Cubs are far and away the favorite to win this division.

NL West
1. Dodgers
2. Diamondbacks
3. Giants
4. Rockies
5. Padres

The Giants are another hot sleeper pick in the National League West, but right now, I don't see it. Their rotation is stacked, but the offense could be a mess if Sandoval and Ishikawa do not perform up to expectations.

NL Wild Card
1. Diamondbacks

NLDS
1. Cubs v. Diamondbacks
2. Mets v. Dodgers

NLCS
1. Mets v. Cubs

NL Pennant
1. Mets (yes, I am a homer. My bias shines through on this pick.)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

AL East
1. Red Sox
2. Rays
3. Yankees
4. Orioles
5. Blue Jays

I love the Red Sox depth, especially on the pitching side. This will be a fantastic division to watch as three teams can conceivably win the division. The Jays and O's are not going to be pushovers either.

AL Central
1. Twins
2. Indians
3. White Sox
4. Royals
5. Tigers

Even without Joe Mauer, the Twins are the class of this division. The Indians would be strong competitors if they can find a few decent starting pitchers.

AL West
1. Angels
2. Athletics
3. Rangers
4. Mariners

I would pick the Athletics to win the division, but I'm just not sold on their young pitchers. The Athletics will need a few of their young pitchers to step up if they want to compete with the Angels.

AL Wild Card
1. Rays

ALDS
1. Red Sox v. Angels
2. Twins v. Rays

ALCS
1. Angels v. Rays

AL Pennant
1. Angels (I am hoping and praying that their arms (Lackey, Escobar, Santana) all come back healthy and dominant for a strong second half push)

WORLD SERIES: Mets v. Angels

Mets in 7

So there you have it, my picks are complete. Let's play ball already!

Poll Results: Who Will Win the AL West?

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

Well, 51 of you chimed in (c'mon people, VOTE!), and here are the results:

-Angels	25 (49%)
-Mariners	3 (5%)
-Athletics	15 (29%)
-Rangers	8 (15%)

I dunno about this one. I think if the Angels are healthy, then they should run away with this division. Even with all the improvements the Athletics have made offensively, they are still limited by the inexperience of their young pitchers. Like years past, the Rangers have a fantastic offense, but once again, no pitching. If the Rangers ever find some pitching, they will be competitive. Like last year, the Mariners will stink...even with Ken Griffey Jr.

What makes this division interesting is that the Angels are nowhere close to being healthy. Ervin Santana, Kelvim Escobar, and John Lackey all will start the season on the disabled list, which is a huge blow to the Angels. Even Joe Saunders has dealt with a "dead arm" phase and it will be interesting to see how that effects Saunders. Needless to say, if the Angels are without any of these four for a significant amount of time, it will open up the door for the Athletics to make a push for the division.

Next poll: What team will Pedro Martinez sign with? VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Manny Ramirez's Dreaklocks are in Midseason Form

And in other news, wow, that's a beautiful swing.

Let's play ball already!

(photo: AP)

Who Let the Strange Looking Kid with the Funky Hat into the Dugout?

Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2009 NL Cy Young award winner!

How Bad Will the Orioles be in 2009?

The Baltimore Orioles are one of the most fascinating franchises in baseball right now. Once a proud and storied club, the Orioles have been terrible over the past decade and have not made the playoffs since 1997.

But behind the leadership of GM Andy McPhail, the Orioles finally appear to be headed in the right direction by building their club around talented, young players.

With that said, most folks are expecting 2009 to be rough for the Orioles, even with their young talent. Michael Blouse, a writer from Lehigh Valley Live, believes that the Orioles will be the worst team in baseball in 2009:

Fans of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, and there are a lot of them in these parts, can claim to root for the best team in Major League Baseball.

I, meanwhile, am a fan of the Baltimore Orioles -- who will prove to be the worst team in baseball this season.

Can anyone out there name the Orioles' No. 3 starter as the season approaches next week? I did not think so. The O's third pitcher is none other than Phillies reject, Adam Thomas Eaton. Yes, that Adam Eaton, the same man who would be the No. 6 starter for Martins Creek of the Blue Mountain League. Eaton's projected stats for the Orioles: 8 starts, 1-7, 7.78 ERA.

I can see Blouse's point here. The Orioles will be playing in the toughest division in baseball that consists of three of the best offenses in all of baseball. Simply put, the Orioles do not have the pitching to counteract the potent attacks of the Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees. At least not yet. I can see the Orioles struggling on the pitching front, which will make it very difficult for the Orioles to win

But here is where Blouse's argument breaks down and loses credibility.

The Orioles pitching staff is absolutely awful, and their everyday lineup is almost as bad. Example, Cesar Izturis, who boasts a career sub-.300 on-base percentage, is the opening-day shortstop. Gregg Zaun is the starting catcher and Felix Pie is the left fielder. Right fielder Nick Markakis is the only Oriole who could legitamitely be considered a very good major league player.

Really? Just Nick Markakis? I'm a huge Markakis fan, but anyone who followed the Orioles last season knows that statement is simply not true.

How could Blouse not mention Melvin Mora, who hit .285 with 23 home runs and 104 RBIs last season? Or how about Aubrey Huff, who was an absolute beast in 2008 by hitting 48 doubles, 32 home runs, and a .304 batting average? And finally, what about Brain Roberts? Roberts was the backbone of an Orioles attack last season by posting a .378 OBP with 51 doubles and 40 stolen bases. (And I didn't even mention Adam Jones or Felix Pie, both of whom could put up big numbers this season at the plate)

(Side note: Why is Blouse upset with having Felix Pie as a left fielder? The baseball world knows this guy has talent, so what's the harm in giving him a shot to play this season? It's not like the Orioles expect to compete.)

I dunno about you, but I would say that all three of those guys are legitimately very good baseball players no matter what team they are playing for. The notion that Markakis is the only legitimately good baseball player is unfair and wrong.

I don't think the Orioles will be a very good team in 2009. I think they will be better than they were in 2008 assuming that Rich Hill, Adam Jones, Felix Pie, and Koji Uehara develop as planned and Matt Wieters shows the world just how good he really is. The pitching will prevent the Orioles from coming close to competing in 2009, and that's no surprise.

Even though the Orioles play in the best division in baseball, I don't think they will be the worst team in the majors. Their pitching is terrible and should be a major concern, but their offense will undoubtedly bail them out of games from time to time. This offense is deep and potent even with Cesar Izturis and more importantly, without Matt Wieters (for now).

And don't forget, there is lots of talent on this team. This is not one of those scrub filled Orioles teams of past seasons that consisted of players who had no future in the major leagues. I'd give the Orioles 70-75 wins in 2009, and I'm sure there are many Orioles fans who would be thrilled with that total.

But ultimately, the 2009 Orioles will not be judged by wins and losses. Instead, this season is all about the future and finding pieces to build lasting success in Baltimore.

At One Time, Mike Piazza was God

I present to you, the Piazza stampede. Yes, all those were eagerly following Piazza around hoping for an autograph, a glance, a touch, or just a smell. I'm pretty sure I was in the back of the stampede...ah, those were the days.

I wonder if this many people would have followed/stalked Piazza around if they knew about his bacne?

Say it with me, Mets fans: All hail Piazza.

This picture is an oldie, but a goodie, straight from the Bruce Levitt spring training archives.

Dallas McPherson: Baseball is a Cruel Game

When I saw Dallas McPherson at spring training a few weeks back, all I could think about was about damn time. I have followed McPherson's career since he was a top prospect in the Angels organization and it was great to see Dallas healthy and in a major league uniform competing for a starting job. After so many injuries and set backs, I truly thought that this was going to be the season where McPherson broke through on the big league stage.

And who could blame me? McPherson revitalized his career last season in AAA by hitting 42 home runs, 22 doubles with a .397 OBP. It's been four long years since McPherson showed that kind of power (40 HR in 2004) and you know what, it's about damn time. I honestly thought it was only a matter of time before McPherson made his mark with the Marlins. Power like that cannot be held back...

...Or so I thought. Because even after 42 home runs in AAA last season, the Marlins determined that after a poor spring training (.239, 1 HR), McPherson was not ready to be a starter in the majors. As a result, the Marlins released McPherson.

I can hardly think to imagine what McPherson is going through right now. After working so hard get back and rehab from hip and back problems, this is truly a cruel fate.

I admit, I wanted the happy ending. I wanted to see McPherson starting at the hot corner this season for the Marlins. I wanted to see McPherson finally live up to the promise and potential that he showed with the Angels in 2004. I wanted to see McPherson put up big numbers this season as sports writers eagerly wrote as many columns on McPherson's comeback as possible.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Not with the Marlins anyway.

Hopefully McPherson can latch on someplace and play in the big leagues in 2009. This guy deserves it. He deserves the opportunity to show the world that his power is for real. 42 home runs in AAA is no fluke. The great part about baseball is that a second chance is just a phone call away and opportunity never seems out of the realm of possibility.

But for now, opportunities will be few and far between at the major league level. Teams are just now finalizing their major league rosters, which means McPherson will likely return to AAA for whatever team signs him.

And you know what folks, that sucks. Free Dallas!

No Offseason Manny Watch in 2014...Rejoice!

I know there are many out there like me, who got sick of the Manny watch this offseason. I don't care how good Manny is, there is just no justifying how much Manny made the news cycle over the past five months. Even though Manny watch is likely to resume after this season, there is hope for people like myself that Manny watch will be a thing of the past...eventually.

ESPN.com:

The 36-year-old Ramirez struck out on three pitches in the first inning Wednesday against top San Francisco prospect Madison Bumgarner, the 10th player taken in the 2007 draft. Bumgarner, 19, is expected to start the season at Class-A San Jose after going 15-3 with a 1.46 ERA at Class-A Augusta in 2008.

"He's great. He's nasty," said Ramirez, who fouled off two fastballs before swinging over a curve. "Good fastball. Good curve. Sneaky."

Told he will be facing Bumgarner for the next five years, Ramirez chuckled.

"You crazy," he said. "I'm not going to play that long."

So if Manny has another 3-4 years left in him, how many home runs do you think he will end up with? I'd say 635....but that might be on the conservative side.

Opinions?

Say Cheese, Lou Piniella

What are the chances Sweet Lou is actually smiling in this picture? There would be nothing worse for this woman than for her to retrieve her photos from the local CVS, open the envelope, and see a stern faced Lou Piniella staring back at her.

That's a nightmare waiting to happen, folks.

Photo: AP

It's Not About the Money, Stupid...For Once!

Sorry, Jason!

This is exactly why you give a guy a 3 year/$42 million dollar extension at age 36.

ESPN:

"Nowadays, so many players play the game for the 1st and 15th [pay days], but I never have," he said. "Certainly, I want to be compensated fairly for what I do, but I wasn't going to hold the organization over a barrel. And I never wanted to be a player who makes so much money that we can't stay competitive on the field. That was my main concern."

Even as a Mets fan, I'm envious of Larry Wayne's stance. Take notes, David Wright. That's what being a franchise player is all about...doing what's best for the franchise (and hitting .364!)

Gary Sheffield: The Next Mr. 3000?

For any of you baseball movie buffs out there, you'll remember the very poorly made Bernie Mac film, Mr. 3000. In the movie, Mac is a arrogant ballplayer retires after getting his 3,000th hit, only to find out later that he actually only has 2,997 hits. Because he does not have 3000 hits, Mac's character is fails to get elected into the hall of fame and as a result, he does everything possible to make a comeback and try to secure his place in history. Eventually, Mac's character only gets 2 more hits, which left him one shy of the mark. However, Mac's character eventually gets put into the hall of fame (totally disagree with that decision).

Now, fast forward to yesterday. DH Gary Sheffield, who was owed $14 million bucks this season, was released by the Tigers, who decided that the newly acquired Josh Anderson was a better fit this season. Sheffield has looked awful thus far in spring training and hardly resembles the feared slugger that the Tigers paid so handsomely to acquire. It speaks volume that the Tigers were willing to eat $14 million instead of having Gary Sheffield on their roster.

Oh yeah, did I mention that Sheffield is stuck on 499 home runs for his career, just one away from the elusive 500 mark. It's surprising to me that the Tigers cut Sheffield before he hit his 500th home run given how much the Tigers could have profited with ticket sales, merchandise, T shirts, etc. Even after all this steroid era nonsense, people still want to be apart of history and I'm sure the Tigers would have made some money off Sheffield's quest. Ultimately, it was not meant to be.

But now we come back to Sheffield. For a guy who is so close to making history, he sure does not have too many friends around the league. Even with the record so close within his reach, there is no doubt that Sheffield is going to have a remarkably tough time finding a place to play. Amazingly, all the scenarios in the AL don't work, while NL teams are skeptical about adding a guy, who apparently cannot play defense anymore. Simply put, without his offensive production, Sheffield brings little to the table, even with 500 breathing down his neck.

For arguments sake, let's say that Sheffield falls just one home run shy of 500 for his career. Does anyone think he will make the hall of fame? I severely doubt it. Sheffield's association to steroids, whether he ever admits it or not, will prevents people from voting for him despite his fantastic numbers. Even though Sheffield was one of the best players of my generation, people will always think of Sheffield as an arrogant cheater.

So unlike Mr. 3000, I see no happy ending here for Sheffield. I have a tough time seeing any team taking a chance on him right now, which would leave him agonizingly close to 500. But in the case of Sheffield, the mark wouldn't come close to guaranteeing him a spot in the hall of fame.

(Note: I cannot believe that I just wrote a piece about Mr. 3000. As far as baseball movies go, this one was one of my least favorites...even with the Mac! Anyone a fan of the movie)

Blame it on the Bat, Nick Punto

Baseball rule #15: when you strike out, blame the bat. It's never your fault.

Even better, throw and scream at the bat in frustration. That'll teach the bat a lesson.

Photo: AP