Circling the Bases

The Market for Pujols

2011-03-05T18:18:00.001-08:00

When the news came down that Adam Wainwright's elbow would require Tommy John surgery, aside from feeling relief that he's not on my fantasy team this year, I immediately thought of how this impacts Albert Pujols impending free agency.

The St. Louis Cardinals were

already facing an uphill battle against defending NL Central Champion Cincinnati Reds. The loss of Wainwright for the entire season means the Cards have even more work to do.

I hate speculating about potential off-season moves, especially when we stand a few short weeks away from opening day, but let's face it, everyone's thinking about it. Another failure to make the playoffs will all but seal Albert's departure. The list of those lining up for his services will be long, but most have zero chance, realistically.

All the big dogs have long term options at first base. The Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Reds and Phillies have Teixeira, Gonzalez, Cabrera, Votto and Howard, respectively, and won't be in pursuit. That's 5 down, but there's still 25 more. We'll take a second to acknowledge the team's whose entire payroll won't compare to Pujols' salary. You can cross of Florida, Tampa, Cleveland, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Houston, San Diego, Minnesota, Oakland and Arizona. Atlanta, San Francisco and Seattle all have big time prospects ready to bust out in Freeman, Belt and Smoak.

It's an even dozen now.

We have to assume Pujols won't resign, eliminating the Cardinals. The Mets are a joke, so forget them. The Rangers have a ton of money tied up with their offense and are in desperate

need of pitching. White Sox GM, Kenny Williams is never afraid to get creative, but with Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko signed for the next few years, they won't have the flexibility to land Sir Albert. Toronto is in re-build mode and after unloading the disastrous Vernon Wells' contract, they won't likely put themselves in the same position. Milwaukee will also be losing their big-time first baseman, slugger Prince Fielder, further saturating the market and giving interested parties a Plan B. They've made it clear they're going for broke this year and have little faith in getting either man signed after this season. The Dodgers are still sorting out the McCourt divorce mess and while they've shown they can spend this winter, James Loney is still young and very affordable. Colorado doled out somewhere in the range of $200 million to re-up Tulo and Car-Go, plus will need to find a few shekels for Ubaldo Jimenez.

That leaves four. Each one with a legitimate shot at Pujols.

First off there's the Los Angeles Angels. After missing out on Carl Crawford, they'll be eager to make a splash. Unfortunately, they always seem to be a day late and a dollar short when it comes to the big free agent. I can't see them pulling the trigger with that kind of money at stake.

Next we have the Baltimore Orioles. The O's are intriguing for a lot of reasons. First off,

Baltimore is a great baseball town with a fantastic ballpark. Their history is deep, despite years of agony in the AL East. Staring up at the Yankees and Red Sox for a decade has to get old. Ownership could decide this is the time to make a move and extend a mega-deal for Albert. Ultimately, I don't think Pujols risks having to compete for a playoff spot with two teams that have done whatever it takes to get there.

Everyone expects the Cubs to be a major player here as well. It makes a lot of sense. They've been good, but never great. And how do you go from good to great? Signing the best player in the league definitely helps. They've set themselves up to make a run by signing Carlos Pena to only a one year deal this past offseason, giving them a giant hole to fill at first base. Pujols can justify taking a huge payday by playing the hero role. He can say he wants to be the one to end the Curse of the Billy Goat and finally bring a championship to the Cubbies. Chicago would put him right up there with Michael Jordan if he could resurrect the Cubs.

And then there's the Nationals. Last year, they would have been on the joke list and rightfully so. But these aren't your father's Nationals. Back-to-back years of number one picks have yielded the phenoms, Strasburg and Harper. Strasburg will miss 2011 but should be ready to roll for 2012, about the same time Harper should have ascended to the show. The signing of Jayson Werth may have seemed insane, but it added legitamacy to the Nats and made it known that they were serious about changing the culture in the Nation's capital. A very young line-up could re-energize Pujols without draining him of the ability to play for a winner. Between Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, Wilson Ramos, Harper and Werth, they could be quite enticing to a basher like Pujols. If another of their pitching prospects develops we could see a very dangerous squad. And you can't tell me other free agents wouldn't line up to play for that team if Pujols signs on.

It may be a long shot, but crazier things have happened. Hell, no one saw the Rangers landing A-Rod or the Phillies Cliff Lee. We've proved the market will be thin and the Nationals could put together the best pitch to land the talent of a lifetime. Much can happen between now and November, but rest assured, one thing that won't change is everyone guessing where Albert Pujols will call home next year.

Now is Not the Time

2011-01-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

The relationship between a city and its head football coach is an important one. If your city doesn't like its coach, then nothing on the field really matters. On Monday morning, no matter how the game turned out, the coach iscriticized in some way, shape or form. Philadelphia has never been in love with Andy Reid. With the Eagles most recent first round playoff departure, many are calling for Reid's 12-year tenure as Head Coach to come to an end.

The naysayers will point to Reid's misdiagnosis of the talent he had at quarterback. What little faith he get by shipping Donovan McNabb's sorry behind to Washington, he quickly lost when he had no idea who would be taking snaps each week. He first named Kevin Kolb the starter. Then when Kolb got hurt he plugged in Mike Vick. But while Vick was starting in Kolb's stead, Kolb was still officially the starter. Just an injured starter. Then Vick played out of his mind

and won the job outright. Then his reckless play caught up to him and he injured his ribs, putting Kolb back in - but only temporarily.

As mismanaged as it was, it ultimately worked out pretty well as the Eagles won 10 games and the NFC East. But with an inexcusable loss to the Vikings on Tuesday Night Football, with a chance at a bye-week on the line, the team never recovered. Reid rested the starters against Dallas in week 17 and then waited until the 4th quarter to get it going against Green Bay.

It's easy to blame Reid for his teams lack of preparation and focus. And don't even get me started on his horrible time management. I can't remember the last time the Eagles actually won a challenge or had a timeout remaining under 10 minutes to go in the game. But let's look at what Reid did this year and evaluate it without the bias we all so vehemently hold against Big Red.

The Eagles turned parted ways with two of their most recognizable players of the last decade in the same off season. No more Donovan and no more Brian Westbrook. He couldn't have expected to truly compete this year and balked at spending money on the defensive side of the ball via free agency. Julius Peppers wanted to come to Philadelphia, but Reid wouldn't pony up the cash required to reel him in. Instead, he drafted two promising defenders, D-End Brandon Graham from Michigan and Safety Nate Allen from USF. Both had solid season that unfortunately ended on Injured Reserve. One of the league's best corner backs, Asante Samuel, was also plagued by a bum knee all season and inside linebacker Stewart Bradley played with his head in the clouds after a week one concussion before dislocating his elbow on a gruesome play later in the season.

And with all these injuries, Reid still managed to guide them to the playoffs. If there was a legitimate replacement to Reid out there, I would consider replacing him. But Bill Cowher isn't an option and either is Jon Gruden. I don't want to kick Reid to the curb only to replace him

with an Eric Mangini or some unknown defensive coordinator or college head coach. Now that Reid knows what he has in Michael Vick, give him an off season to put together a plan. Last season lacked consistency because of all the changes he had to make on the fly because of the unknown with his personnel. Now is not the time to make a change.

Nnamdi Asomugha is a free agent and would fit nicely opposite Samuel. Haloti Ngata is also a

free agent and could be a menace anchoring the defensive line. And there's always Albert Haynesworth. The Eagles have a reputation of being penny-pinchers, but when it comes to a need position they are always willing to spend. Unlike some teams just down I-95 who spend for the sake of spending, Philadelphia evaluates the cost of a free agent versus drafting a rookie at the same position and have generally had good success. The opened their wallets for Asante and Jason Peters when they needed them and I think they will do the same this year. If they move Kolb for a first round pick they can start to rebuild the offensive line as well. The skill position players are some of the most dynamic and dangerous in the league. DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin are nice weapons for Vick and another year of working together and developing a rapport will only help.

It sounds crazy to even suggest this to Philadelphia fans, but just be patient. Reid may not be the best coach in the league, but he's gotten to a handful of NFC championship games and one Super Bowl and knows his time is running out. That sense of urgency will work in his favor and his constructs a contender in 2011. He gets more blame when they lose and never enough credit when they win. I've turned a corner on Andy Reid this year. I see the fire and passion in his eyes. Big things are yet to come and Reid will be at the helm for all of it.

Humble Pie

2010-12-30T17:38:00.000-08:00

I didn't want to write this post. For years, hockey has provided me with a multitude of jokes. Not just about the sport, but the hyperbole that ensues when comparing it to anything I didn't care about. I grew up not giving hockey the time of day. Then the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins moved to my hometown and I started to kind of like it. I used how great live hockey is as an excuse to go the games, but I never cared about the NHL.

Then I moved to Philadelphia.

I've only gone to a handful of Flyers games, but the ones I have were incredible. The atmosphere beats every other sport hands down. I think its because hockey is such an exclusive club. You have to really be a fan to know the players and all the rules. So if the guy next to you knows what he's talking about then you immediately respect him and have a bond. I started last year just following the Flyers and fell in love with many of the players. Miraculously, the Broad Street Bullies made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. This year, however, I find myself paying attention to more than just the Fly Guys. It culminated about two weeks ago when HBO kicked off its 24/7 series following the Penguins and Capitals as they lead up to their New Year's Day Winter Classic match-up at Heinz Field.

Simply put: It's AWESOME.

You learn all about the protocols that take effect when it comes to fighting and the preparation. It follows players to their home lives and you see them off the ice. I'm sure that's exactly what Gary Bettman wanted when he OK'd the show, but I've got to tell you, it definitely worked. Between Sydney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, I can't stop watching. The coaches are enthralling and I find myself watching more and more hockey, even when Philly isn't playing. Not only are these guys superb athletes, they are tough as nails. Myself, standing at a mere 5'10'', always find myself rooting for the little guy. While most of these hockey guys could double as NFL linebackers, there are the occasional 'little guy' who gets the snot kicked out of him nightly and keeps coming back for more.

I can't pretend to be a loyal hockey fan. But I'm trying. I regret the years I spent bashing the NHL and now truly appreciate its place in sports culture and everything it provides to a city. My name is KC Jordan and I'm a hockey fan. It's been two days since my last game. And I can't wait to fall off the wagon.

Guess Who's Back?

2010-12-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

It may be 20 degrees in Philadelphia today, but you'd never know it. For the second time in 18-months, the Phillies acquired stud left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee. It came out of nowhere. Somewhere around 6 p.m. last night word started to spread that the Phils were the mystery team still involved in the negotiations for Lee's services. But they were up against the Yankees unlimited budget and the fact that they scorned Lee by shipping him to Seattle this time last year to make room for Roy Halladay. Everyone wanted him back but in the eyes' of the fan base it was more that a million-to-one shot. Then the news came down just after midnight, Lee accepted the Phillies offer and would be teaming up to form the greatest rotation in the history of baseball.

After the initial exuberance subsided and more details began to emerge, it became even more unbelievable that the reports were true. He left $50 million on the table from New York and $30 million from Texas. He signed for less guaranteed years (5) then the Yankees and Rangers offered (6). This marks the third time in the last year that a coveted pitcher has asked to go to Philadelphia. First it was Roy Halladay, who went on to win the Cy Young this year and then it was Roy Oswalt at the deadline. Both players were acquired via trade, but both had no-trade clauses and could have easily nixed the deal. Halladay took much less than he would have commanded had he reached free agency because he wanted to go to Philly. This just doesn't happen. It's too good to be true. Based on the trade that brought Halladay in and sent Lee out last year, I fully expected Amaro to trade Hamels to the Rockies by lunch today. But it didn't happen and now the Phils will have Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels leading the way to October next season.

For all of you loyal Phils fans who kept your Lee #34 jerseys, don't fret. Lee will wear #33 but no one will chastise you for rocking last years uni. Personally, I couldn't be happier. I've followed Lee since his younger days in Cleveland where he quickly became one of my favorite players and the fact that he spurned the Yanks makes me love him even more. My only wish now was that I could fast forward time to Opening Day 2012 because this season will be more fun to watch than any other in the sport's history. Eight weeks til pitchers and catchers. Until then, it's the Mike Vick show in Philly.

The Hot Stove Just Got a Little Hotter

2010-12-04T17:27:00.000-08:00

I have tremendous respect for baseball journalists. In fact, when I was little, instead of wanting to play baseball, I wanted to cover it. The offseason has to be difficult when it comes to finding enough content to fill the pages, but I had to laugh at an ESPN.com article that reported the Red Sox were willing to non-tender Jonathan Papelbon had Mariano Rivera accepted their two year/$30 million offer.

I understand where they're coming from but does anyone in the baseball world think the Red Sox had more than a 0.0001% chance of landing Mo? Not only is he the greatest closer who ever picked up a baseball, he's done it for the most historic and legendary team in baseball. Why on Earth would he ever pick-up and leave for the one team he's automatically programmed to hate with the fire of a thousand burning suns? I don't think there's any amount of money that could have taken Rivera out of the Bronx. At some point, you have to just sit back and say, "we might not want to even bother posting this article".

Of course Rivera was going to re-sign. Of course Jeter was going to re-sign. And of course Andy Pettitte is going to re-sign. Tomorrow I'll have a blog post about Christmas coming and it being cold in Alaska. Or I'll do what ESPN should have done and just assume everyone knows that in the first place.

Oh to be a fly on the wall in the Derek Jeter negotiations. Here you have your captain and face of the franchise. He's the most beloved athlete since, actually I can't think of anyone more beloved than Jeter. Even if you hate him, you secretly love him. His skills obviously are declining as is to be expected by any athlete approaching 40 not named Barry Bonds. I wouldn't have budged from my initial offer if I was the Yanks. What's Jeter going to do? Go play for the Minnesota Twins because they might have offered him more. No way! In all seriousness, the Yankees were generous at 3 yrs/$45 mil. If I'm running that team I offer him 2 yrs for $20 million and make him decide not be the short stop of the Yankees anymore.

Some argue that he should get paid for his past accomplishments. Not only is that horrible business sense, last I checked Jeter just finished a 10 year contract that paid him $189 million. Not exactly underpaid, especially for a guy that doesn't steal bases or hit for much power. I'd argue they won that World Series in 2009 in spite of Jeter and not because of him. Robinson Cano is clearly the best player on that team and yet is making money comparable to Juan Uribe. Have we heard a peep out of Cano? I didn't think so.

Unless the Yankees sign Cliff Lee, which I bet dollars to donuts doesn't happen, they're going to struggle this year. Oh they'll win their division and cruise into the second round of the playoffs, but there is no reason to believe their pitching we'll get them another World Series. Lee doesn't strike me as a New York guy and I think if Texas offers anything close to what New York offers, he'll stay with the state you don't mess with. I have the same feeling with Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth. Werth is going to get ridiculously overpaid and the only place where he can put up stats close to what he's going to earn is Boston. With that heavy uppercut swing, I can't think of a park more suited for his services than Fenway. Crawford is most certainly on his way to Anaheim and I think it's because of his hatred for New York after all those years in Tampa.

With Lance Berkman signing in St. Louis, that leaves the Yankees with some definite holes. A-Rod can't catch up to the inside heat anymore, Jeter is losing range at a higher rate than the ozone layer and Mark Teixeira's April slumps are turning into May and June slumps as well. Cano's a beast but Posada is older than any catcher should be. Granderson is erratic and while I love Brett Gardner, he just doesn't fit the make up of the club. Guys who play small ball need to play a role in a team dedicated to manufacturing runs. The Yankees are a wait for three-run homer kind of club. And if I'm right and Crawford and Werth sign elsewhere, that leaves Swisher in right (ouch) and no solid DH.

The rotation is a mess. After Sabathia, who obviously isn't sticking to that Subway diet he endorses in the commercials, you have the head-case AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes who has been pushed past his innings limit in past seasons and will undoubtedly show it in 2011. Vazquez left for Florida and that leaves two spots to fill. There's help on the farm but no matter how good you look in Triple-A, the Major Leagues are a different beast and there's no way to tell how playing in the Big Apple will affect a guy.

Maybe its more wishful thinking than fact, but the Yanks have a lot of work to do if they want to get back to the promise land. The Red Sox just acquired Adrian Gonzalez, Tampa's going to lose Crawford but they've got Desmond Jennings ready to step in. The Blue Jays have a tremendous pitching staff and the Orioles played like a team possessed under Buck Showalter down the stretch. The AL East is once again the best division in baseball and it's going to be a 162-game knock down, drag-out fight. How long 'til pitchers and catchers report?

No Man!

2010-10-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

The official attendance was listed at 46,661. Twenty years from now, half a million people will claim they were in attendance. But I was there. In standing room only. In the rain. In the cold. With 46,000 others. Screaming at the top of my lungs.

This game was unlike any other I've been to before. Even before it started, there was a different feeling in the air. We all knew Doc was going to throw zeros, but that was in terms of runs allowed. We figured the Central Division champs, which led the league in hitting, slugging, OPS and virtually every other offensive category, would be able to get one measly hit. We erupted in excitement as he retired lead-off hitter Brandon Phillips to start the game.

"He's perfect so far, 26 to go," I said.

The fans huddled around me laughed. But my friends who attended with me nodded, knowing there was a distinct possibility he could do it. We felt it. The crowd got louder with every out. In the long list of games I've attended, I don't remember the Bank being louder than when the home plate umpire rang up Scott Rolen on a pitch that was a solid 4 inches off the plate. Forty-six thousand people expressed their disdain for Rolen, who argued briefly. Had he been ejected, the ground may have collapsed from everyone jumping up and down.

Not one batter that came to the plate looked comfortable. A first pitch strike to 25 of 28 batters will do that. His fastball had pinpoint precision. His curve ball was a knee-buckler and he threw 10 of the greatest change-ups I've ever seen in the history of baseball. He didn't want to come to the National League because he hated to hit, yet on this historic day, he had more hits than he surrendered.

The ninth inning was unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life. Most professional athletes will preface expressing their joy by saying something to the effect of "Next to the day I married my wife and the day my son was born, this is the greatest day of my life." Well I'm not married. And I don't have any kids. And just being honest, unless that kid comes out tap dancing, last night will be the greatest night of my life. I hugged complete strangers for well beyond what is considered socially acceptable. Nine innings ago we said hello, yet we will remember each other for the rest of our lives.

We climbed onto the railing where those standing place their drinks and food. The woman working as usher immediately instructed us to get down. We ignored her completely. By the time the second out was recorded she had changed her stance to, "just be careful". She understood. When Phillips hit the little tapper in front of the plate, every rally towel plummeted to waist high. The clapping stopped. The cheers fell silent. It was pure torture for all of one and a half seconds. It's like milli-second when you see the squirrel run out in front of the car but you don't have enough time to brake or swerve. Your heart jumps into your throat and it's out of your control at this point.

We had the utmost confidence in Chooch making the play. But it was a difficult one and no one would have blamed him had he been unable to retire Phillips. Instead, Ruiz makes what turns out to be a remarkable play. Dropping to both knees and looping the ball to Howard. Chooch's heart was obviously pounding as well and for him to stay cool and make that throw, when he had to make sure the throw avoided Phillips, who was clearly running inside the baseline, is incredible.

We jumped up and down. We screamed until our voices gave out and then we got hammered. No one left the stadium. It took forty-five minutes for anyone to even move from their seat. The ballpark bar, McFadden's, was electric. Women dancing on the bar, shots being poured everywhere and good times being had by all.

It was the greatest game of the year...and it was only Game 1!

It's Nights Like These We Live For

2010-07-27T09:25:00.001-07:00

What is it about the game of baseball that brings out so much emotion in people?

Yesterday was on of the best day's of baseball I can remember watching in a long time. For me, it was the perfect storm of sporting days. It started around noon when the maintenance staff at work came to me to discuss painting my office. I had my laptop and with my office building Wi-Fi enabled I was able to relocate to the lounge where I flipped on the Phillies/Rockies game. I did everything that was asked of me work-wise and was able to kick back and enjoy some day baseball. The Phils looked good, getting timely hits and capitalizing on some Colorado defensive struggles. The ninth inning served as a stress test having to watch the inconsistent Brad Lidge nearly give the game away before finally nailing down the save.

I drove home listening to my favorite local sports radio talk show and knew it was going to be one of those days. I planned on watching my Indians take on the Yankees with Alex Rodriguez sitting on 599 career home runs. Cleveland hung in there against the best team in baseball despite the fact that the Tribe have a team payroll totaling 25% of the mighty Yankees. As Cleveland attempted to tie the game in the 9th against the greatest closer of all time, I felt safe in bouncing around the channels to see what else was going on in the wide world of sports. Much to my delight, I find out Matt Garza of the Rays is 3 outs away from this season's 5th no-no. Stumbling upon history like that is truly remarkable. I don't think I'd be as happy if a found a $100 bill sitting on the sidewalk as I walk to work.

Garza was dealing and managed to get the 27th out without surrendering a hit. My favorite part of any no-hitter is watching the teammates mob the star of the night. The jubilation on the face of Rays' ace David Price nearly brought me to tears. Price could be seen throughout the game sitting on the top step of the dugout hopping around like a little girl. When the bullpen guys come sprinting to the mound to tackle their comrade, I always get choked up. After watching the celebration and obligatory pie-in-the-face, I jumped over to watch the Twins hang 19 runs on the Royals.

I picked the White Sox to win the Central before the season began and they haven't disappointed so far, but the Twins play such a unified game and really do the little things that make teams successful. I'd be surprised if they didn't make a run at the division before all is said and done.

The night ended for me with the Red Sox and Angels. Clay Buchholz took the bump for Boston. I remember watching Buchholz toss a no-hitter against the Orioles in only his second big-league start. Opposite Buchholz was the newly acquired Dan Haren. Haren is anchoring my fantasy team staff this year so I wanted to see how he responded to the trade. Unfortunately for Haren, he was struck by a line-drive in the forearm, prematurely ending his night. The game was still a great one to watch as the rejuvenated Big Papi smacked two balls deep into the night.

As I laid in bed watching SportsCenter, I had this tingling feeling running through my body. I wanted to call everyone I know and tell them about how amazing the baseball played on this night was. LeBron James had a humungous billboard in Cleveland with the text 'We Are All Witnesses' plastered on the side of a building outside the Quicken Loans Arena. Well last night we were all witnesses to the greatest game ever invented and I can't wait for the action to resume today to see what history will take place.

Yes He Can!

2010-06-09T04:47:00.000-07:00

I rearranged my entire evening last night to be in front of the television at 7pm. I don't do this often. As a sports fan, I like to be close to the game. Ideally I would like to be sitting behind home plate, but often resort to Plan B, aka my couch. Fifty inches of stunning high definition leave little to be desired. If I'm in the car I'll pop on the radio and get my fix there. Worst case scenario, I follow the box score on my BlackBerry. I like to know what's going on but I don't always need to be watching.

But not last night.

Aside from Jesus himself coming back to Earth, I was not missing the Washington Nationals game. I made sure dinner was already prepared and the dog had been emptied. I turned the ringer on my phone off and left my laptop upstairs in my office. I wanted an uninfluenced account to the Major League debut of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg. We've been hearing the hype since his final days at San Diego State. It was a foregone conclusion that Strasburg would be drafted first overall. After a few minor league starts the legend began to build. I felt there were unjust expectations on this kid. He played in to it as well. When asked by the Nationals if he would like to throw out the first pitch the day after he was drafted he declined. His rationale was that the first time he stepped on the mound at Nationals Park he wanted it to be his first start. I knew on that day that he had a good head on his shoulders. But still, there was no way he could live up to the hype. A dismal franchise that has regularly finished last in the NL East was grooming this kid as a the savior: the pitcher who would turn around the franchise and establish them as a force to be reckoned with. I thought the pressure was unfair. No one player could do that, no matter how good they were projected to be.

The Nationals had issues well beyond the disastrous product they were putting on the field. A former GM was investigated for skimming a percentage of the signing bonuses given to Latin players and pocketing the cash. They played in a ballpark that was never meant to house baseball and their best player was refusing to report to the outfield after the manager determined he could no longer adequately play second base any longer. Last year, the team wore jersey's with Natinals draped across the front. Pretty sure there is an 'o' missing somewhere in there. One kid could never change this team.

Enter Stephen Strasburg.

The eyes' of the baseball world were focused on the nation's capital last night as Strasburg took the bump. What ensued is difficult to properly describe with words. Let's start with the stuff you can measure. Seven innings, two earned runs on four hits, one of which was a long home run off the bat of Delwyn Young. He didn't walk a batter and worked extremely quickly, not wasting time between pitches. Oh and he struck out 14 batters. The first start of his career and he struck out 14 batters.

Now let's get to the intangibles. His mound presence was menacing. He's 6'4'' but looked like Randy Johnson up there. His fastball, which topped out at 100 mph, was dynamic. We've all seen what Ubaldo Jimenez has done with a 100 mph fastball this season, but Strasburg's has movement. That's right, 100 mph with movement. I've never seen velocity and movement combined like that. His change-up appeared to be the pitch he had the least confidence in and still got batters to miss. He throws a slider-curve hybrid that goes 3-8 on the clock. He threw it at the heads of right handed batters and it ends up on the outside corner at their knees. On top of that he has a heavy 2-seamer with late-breaking sink. All of these pitches thrown with superb command. He didn't seem affected after surrendering the home run. As a matter of fact he seemed to pitch better striking out the side in his final two innings.

You can't give him a Cy Young after one start but there's reason to be excited in DC. The naysayers will tell you it came against the Pirates and that once the league gets some video tape on him they'll make adjustments. Well the Pirates have a pretty good line-up and the league has had videotape on Roy Halladay for ten years and still can't hit him. He's only 21 so things can change. Like any young pitcher he'll have his struggles. But keep on eye on Washington every fifth day for the rest of this season. You might just see something you've never seen before.

No One's Perfect

2010-06-04T09:35:00.001-07:00

I can't stop thinking about this missed perfect game. Even with an excellent Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals and a mediocre but still entertaining Game 1 of the NBA Finals, my mind remains in Motown. Commissioner Selig made the right decision in not reversing the call. While it was a rare and special circumstance, the legitimacy of the game was at stake. Had he reversed the call, the entire umpire's union would be undermined and lacked any sense of authority going forward. The only reason I thought Selig might reverse it was because the call in question had zero impact on the outcome of the game. The only thing that would have changed is Galarraga's WHIP and Jason Donald's batting average. All things considered, Bud did the right thing.

As I thought more about it, I began to realize some of the subtleties that may be overlooked by a casual fan. A perfect game isn't just something accomplished and celebrated by a pitcher. It's effects loom large organizationally. Tigers' catcher Alex Avila would be able to add catching a perfect game to his resume. Announcers for both Detroit and Cleveland would always have the distinction of calling a perfect game. These are things that get you remembered forever. While Galarraga and everyone who watched know in their hearts that he was perfect for 27 outs, the accolades his supporting cast would have received will be lost to the wayside.

The scene at home plate yesterday was what makes baseball the greatest sport on the planet. Galarraga walked to home plate where the umpires were gathered and presented Jim Joyce with the day's line-up card. Joyce was visibly emotionally, wiping away tears as he accepted the line-up card olive branch. Noticing the sensitive moment, Galarragga reached out and patted Joyce on the back, reassuring him that everything would be alright. After collecting himself, Joyce returned the smack on the back and baseball was played. While the boos from the fans poured down for Joyce, the overall tone was one of empathy. It was a great lesson for little leaguers to take note of. Amid travesty, the game prevailed and brought together an elite fraternity of Major Leaguers. No one is bigger than the game and at the end of the day, we're all people. I was truly impressed with the compassion showed by the Tigers and especially Galarraga. That man has reached a level of respect in my book that is not easily ascertained. Everyone's opinions will be different, but we can move on and get excited for what promises to be another outstanding year of baseball.

Not Envious of Bud Selig Right Now

2010-06-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Wow! Still trying to find the words to properly express my feelings on last night's game in Detroit. Tigers' starter Armando Gallaraga retired the first 26 batters he faced before Indians short stop Jason Donald reached base on a blown call by first base umpire Jim Joyce. Donald hustled hard down the line after chopping a ball near the hole between first baseman Miguel Cabrera and second baseman Carlos Guillen. Cabrera got to it and after settling himself fired a perfect strike to Gallaraga who was covering the bag. Joyce was in position, yet ruled Donald safe when clearly he was out by one-half step. The term 'bang-bang' is used to describe a play close enough to go either way. This was no such play. Donald was out and it wasn't close.

While Tigers skipper Jim Leyland argued profusely after the game concluded, it was too late for anything to be done. Gallaraga admitted his disappointment but also recognized that umpires are human and mistakes are made. Joyce ran back to the clubhouse and watched the replay. Upon realizing his error he apologized immediately and publicly. The emotion in his voice was genuine and sincere. No one feels worse than Joyce that he robbed this kid of something that only 20 men have done in the lengthy history of this game. Leyland even admitted that Joyce is one of the better umpires in the game and he was merely protecting his player and venting his frustration when he confronted Joyce after the game.

Today, every media outlet that covers sports is talking about this tragedy. As I'm writing this, Commissioner Bud Selig is discussing the possibility of reversing the call. This is a dicey situation. First of all, the main glory in tossing a perfect game is being mobbed by your teammates and receiving a standing ovation from the fans. Reversed call or not, Gallaraga will never have that feeling. Secondly, while I think all of Major League Baseball would agree that reversing the call is the right thing to do to get this kid what he deserves, the precedent being set is volatile. This is a very special circumstance where an epically historical moment took place. The call in question didn't happen in the third inning or sixth inning, or even on the first batter in the ninth inning. It happened on the the would-be 27th out. Had the call been made correctly, the game is over and history is made. In this circumstance alone, I agree with over-turning the call and making things right. However, this should not and cannot be an everyday thing. When video footage clearly shows a call was kicked, the Commissioner cannot reverse every ruling. I fear that teams will get too loose with their requests for review. That will ruin the game of baseball.

The kid pitched one hell of a game; an absolute gem. He deserves to have his performance recognized as perfect. Selig has to make a tremendously difficult decision. I just hope this phenomenal moment doesn't alter the way games are officiated from here on out.

Laugh a Little, Will Ya?

2010-05-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

As if ESPN wasn't already the leader in everything that is sports, they are now dominating commercials as well. Advertising is one of the most difficult professions to make a living on. When a commercial hits its' mark I like to applaud it.

Watch this quick spot and enjoy the subtle hilarity that makes this commercial simply amazing.

Arnold Palmer has nothing left to prove. His legendary status is firmly planted in the history of professional sports. Yet he

saw an opportunity to connect with a youthful fan base and I

must say, my respect and fondness of him has since gone

through the roof.

This next one is only for the nerdiest of baseball nerds. Check it out.

I can't tell you how many times I wish I knew sign language,

just for this very situation. Mike Scioscia plays the part

perfectly and Torii Hunter's infectious laugh and engaging

smile make this commercial brilliant as well.

While I enjoy the MLB Network and Fox Sports Network,

ESPN still holds the heavyweight title. Never resting on their

laurels, they continue to have the Midas Touch with

everything they choose to take on.

Junior Being Junior

2010-05-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

In a weekend filled with great sports moments, my favorite has to be the one involving Ken Griffey Jr. Reports out of Seattle are that when Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu wanted the lefty to pinch-hit during a game last week, Junior was asleep in the clubhouse. Two unidentified teammates were quoted as saying Griffey ran back to the clubhouse to grab a jacket in the fifth inning and was found 'sound asleep' in a chair in the seventh.

I don't blame him. Have you tried to watch a Seattle Mariners game lately? They should prescribe videotape of M's games to insomnia patients. Forget counting sheep, watch a Casey Kotchman at-bat. It will be morning before you know it.

Seriously though, enough's enough with this guy. I've heard of pitchers sleeping in the clubhouse on their off-day or closers catching a few z's until the seventh inning stretch, but this is a tad ridiculous. You're making a couple million dollars, at least stay conscious during the game if you're only going to hit your weight. Manny might show up at the wrong stadium or in the wrong clubhouse but he's always ready to play. I just hope Seattle doesn't react to harshly and cut him, which is what any player other than Griffey would probably get dealt. His legendary status in that city will save him, but for how much longer remains to be seen. He was so dynamic and spectacular during his career, this is not the way I want to remember him. Had it not been for several unfortunate injuries, brought on by how hard he played, we would be looking at Junior approaching 1000 home runs. The sweetest swing in baseball history is now used only to cool off the pitcher when he's feeling a little too hot. Please Junior, just hang 'em up. You'll sleep much better at home.

The Voice of the Tigers

2010-05-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

RIP Ernie

January 25, 1918 — May 4, 2010

Whiz Wit

2010-04-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

I attended my first live baseball game of the season today. It feels as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. In this day and age of high definition televisions and a dismal economy requiring many families to cut back on luxuries, going to the ballpark is no longer the top option for viewing a game. For me there is nothing that compares to attending the game live. There's so much more than just the balls and strikes on the field. The camaraderie of being in complete agreement with total strangers is a special feeling. The zany antics of the mascots and the promotions staffs to engage the fans truly makes the game an event that can transcend your attitude. The interactions between players and coaches often go unnoticed during televised broadcasts, but when you're up close and personal you get to see all that. It's what makes baseball the greatest sport in the world. If you're reading this then I need not convince you of the wonders of baseball, so instead I'll air a grievance that I encountered during my trip to the ballpark.

The game I attended was between the Philadelphia Phillies and Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Everyone knows the staple of most Philly diets include the almighty cheese steak sandwich. Some may call it a hoagie but true Philadelphians know better. When ordering a steak sandwich you must specify what type of cheese you would like and whether or not you would like onions on your sandwich. It's a thing of beauty as the cooks chop up the meat and build this masterpiece. I always like to compare a good cheese steak to cotton candy. You don't even have to chew it, just melts in your mouth. The cheese steak sandwich pictured to the right is from Pat's King of Steaks, my cheese steak provider of choice. Unfortunately, what the cheese steak delivers in total awesomeness, it lacks in general healthiness. I devoured a steak sandwich that was just over a foot long, tossed in a few french fries and washed it down with several ice cold beers. Recently I've completely revamped my diet, personally preparing and cooking everything I eat as well as eating organic foods almost exclusively. As much as it pains me, I haven't had my beloved Taco Bell in months. I took one bite of my sandwich and realized I had completely abandoned my new healthy diet.

I was so wrapped up in the allure of the ballpark that I failed to keep my priorities in order. The game was a snoozer, with runs coming few and far between so on my way back from the facilities I decided to investigate what my healthier options could have been had I been thinking clearly. Turns out there are several healthy options including veggie and vegan substitutes for burgers and hot dogs as well as garden salads and veggie-packed sandwiches and hoagies. I asked one of the workers how well these healthy foods sell and the response was dismal. While I commend the Phillies organization for providing these options, I condemn the fans, myself included, for failing to take advantage of them. While I recognize this is America, a country that guarantees freedom to choose disgusting food, I would like to see Major League Baseball step up and mandate health reform in the concession stands. Smoking is no longer permitted in the stadium, so why should food that can contribute to your death just as easily as a cigarette be allowed?

Business will dictate that the greasier foods sell better but my contention is that people will not starve. If they are hungry they will eat and if the only options are healthy options then they will eat the healthy foods. We watch athletes who are in supreme physical condition, yet we view them from a stagnant position indulging in foods that will only further ensure we never become the players we adore. Time and time again, Americans have proved that given the ability to make a decision, we will inevitably make the wrong one. Let's remove the decision making and make our health a top priority. It sounds radical but people are able to adapt and adjust at incredible speed. Sooner or later it will just become the norm. The amount of children that attend these games is tremendous and the example we are setting is disastrous. Teach them the right way to treat your body and those little fans will one day become the teachers. My next tickets are for the May 2nd game against the Mets and I will be eating a veggie wrap at that game. Change starts one person at a time. Will you be next?

Something Left to be Desired

2010-04-07T20:41:00.001-07:00

Let me preface this post by saying how spoiled I was for the first 21 years of my life. At just 16 days old I heard Harry Kalas call Michael Jack Schmidt's 500th home run. And every summer since then I've let Harry the K teach me about the game of baseball. Until I was 10 years old, Whitey Ashburn sat next to Harry forming one of the greatest broadcast booths in the history of sports. Since Harry left us last year, baseball just hasn't been the same. An organization as stacked as the Phillies needs to recognize their shortcomings in the broadcast department and make a change.

Chris Wheeler and Tom McCarthy have zero chemistry. T-Mac needs to drop the showmanship and just talk. The voice he has crafted is unappealing. Wheels on the other hand, needs to add some professionalism to the job. His comments are uninspired and lackluster. The hunky-dory, aw shucks attitude is not what an organization like the Phillies need. And then there's Gary Matthews. Thank goodness he's only in the booth for 3 innings because I don't know what I would do if he called all nine. Sarge has great rapport with players and is stellar in the post game on field interview. He should be in the stands getting fan input during the game instead of complaining about the same things every game. If he describes one more Ryan Howard home run trot as 'cadillac-ing' around the bases I'm going to lose my mind.

The Comcast post-game show is fairly good when it's Michael Barkann and Mitch Williams but Ricky Bottalico is just plain awful. His insight as a former closer is great, but all he does is talk about the negatives and has absolutely no personality or character at all. Is it too much to ask that you get top notch guys? The recent addition of Darren Daulton has potential, but having met Dutchie before I can tell you he's absolutely crazy. Hopefully he can bottle the craziness and be a great analyst.

If there was no legitimate replacements out there then I wouldn't complain this much. However, sitting in the booth next to them is Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen. Anyone who has listened to Franzke and L.A. knows how well they work together. Andersen is a total homer but that doesn't bother me because his passion is so genuine. He played for the Phils much longer than Sarge and has legitimate love for this organization. Franzke never tries to do too much and always sets up Andersen for the perfect line without making it obvious. Harry's son Todd Kalas is the 'sideline' reporter for the Tampa Bay Rays. He bounces around the stands for a couple innings and then will do either color or play by play for a couple innings on radio or television. Since he's not the primary guy for the Rays, I don't see why they wouldn't be willing to part with Kalas to an organization that he basically grew up with.

I respect T-Mac, Wheels and Sarge, but the time has come for a change. The Phillies were fortunate to have Hall of Famer Harry Kalas carry the booth with less than spectacular talent around him, but without HK it is no longer acceptable. Make the switch to get these guys off a television and bring in some true broadcasters.

Opening Day

2010-04-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

It all starts in our nation's capital, where President Obama climbed to the rubber and lobbed in the ceremonial first pitch. Staying true to form, he wore a Nationals jacket but made sure he represented his hometown boys by donning a Chicago White Sox cap. After the pitch he went over and shook hands with each member of the umpiring crew. The crowd, largely compiled of Phillies fans, cheered and applauded loudly for our Commander-in-chief.

I wasn't overly impressed with the pitching performances. Newly acquired Phillies' ace Roy Halladay looked rusty. Failing to locate pitches early and surrendering hits to a weak Nats line-up. Fortunately for Doc, the Phils offense exploded for 11 runs. Astros' ace Roy Oswalt looked sloppy as well. Inconsistency seemed to be the theme for many pitchers. While Lincecum and Haren looked good, the majority of supposed 'aces' seem to need a little more seasoning before they gain their true form.

Shaun Marcum, who missed the entire 2009 season, took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. A remarkable feat for someone who hasn't faced professional hitters in a truly competitive nature in over a year. Unfortunately, Nelson Cruz took him yard after Vlad Guerrero broke up the no-no. The excitement didn't end there as Rangers catcher Jared Saltalamacchia sent everyone home happy with a walk-off single. Seeing the players pounce on Salty made everything in life seem just a bit easier to deal with. Another reason I love baseball.

The most anticipated Major League debut was that of Braves outfielder Jason Heyward. On the third pitch he saw in his big league career, the Jay Hey Kid took a violent hack and launched a ball deep into the right field stands. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I had goosebumps as he rounded the bases. This kid is going to be special.

Albert was Albert, mashing two home runs and going 4-5 at the plate. Garrett Jones of Pittsburgh also hit two, including a splash down shot into the Allegheny. There were two grand slams, one from Placido Polanco and one from Yadier Molina. But the play of the day and maybe of the year was turned in by Mark Buerhle. After deflecting the ball with his shoe, he raced after the ball into foul territory on the first base side and flipped the ball with his glove between his legs to first where Konerko snatched it bare-handed in time to retire Indians catcher Lou Marson.

I know it's only one day, but if it was any indication of how the next 161 games will be we are in for a treat. Play Ball!

Whose Eagles? Not My Eagles...

2010-04-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

Really failing to find the words to describe how I'm feeling right now. In case you missed it, the Philadelphia Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins. You know, the Redskins that are right down I-95. The same Redskins the Eagles share a division with and play not just once, but twice per year. The very Redskins that just added two-time Super Bowl champion Head Coach Mike Shanahan.

Andy Reid now hands over the team to Kevin Kolb, who's thrown 130 passes in his entire career and hadn't thrown a touchdown until this past season when McNabb was injured. Presumably, Michael Vick stays on as backup, a role he will undoubtedly be thrilled with.

Which begs to ask the question: Whose Eagles are these?

It was just two years ago when Brian Dawkins was crawling out of the tunnel and bringing the crowd to its feet. Fast forward to today when the Eagles roster no longer includes McNabb, Dawkins, Brian Westbrook, and Sheldon Brown. My Eagles are gone. They claim this is not a rebuilding process. One thing is for sure though, they are much younger. The starting running back is coming off his rookie year, as is the number two wide-out Jeremy Maclin. DeSean Jackson is only entering his third year and Kolb, in his fourth year, experience wise is basically a rookie.

While I hate to see McNabb go, I understand where the Eagles were coming from. He had a decade to win there and was given every opportunity to do so. Five conference championship games is nothing to hang your head at, but ultimately he was unable to win the big one. I'm not going to miss wide-open receivers getting balls thrown at their feet. My gripe is dealing him to a very solid and division opponent in Washington. When the trade speculation included the Oakland Raiders and talks of Nnamdi Asomugha coming back in return, I was ecstatic. But a couple of draft picks, nothing of huge significance, leaves something to be desired.

It took intestinal fortitude to make a move like this and I commend Andy Reid for that. If he truly turns the page on the past and re-invents himself as a Head Coach with Kolb then this could be a success. However if the same old conservative Andy trots out there, there's going to be hell to pay.

It's Out of His Hands

2010-03-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

When the Phillies traded Cliff Lee to Seattle to make room for Roy Halladay, it raised some eyebrows. The only thing most sportswriters considered was how epic that rotation would have been with Cliff and Doc and Cole. What most people failed to consider is that Cliff Lee is now on his third team in the last 9 months. At this time last year, Lee was preparing to defend his American League Cy Young for the lowly Cleveland Indians. By the end of the same season he found himself pitching the opening game of the World Series for Philadelphia. Now he sits on the disabled list in Seattle, wondering when his Mariner debut will come.

How does a player this talented get moved this often? There was some concern about his attitude in 2007, when the Indians sent him to Triple-A Buffalo and failed to include him on their playoff roster as they went to a seventh game in the ALCS. He only responded by winning the Cy Young the next season. His teammates in Philadelphia never spoke a poor word about him, but with only 3 months of getting to know each other, maybe the relationships forged weren't as deep as perceived. He's already stirred the pot in Seattle, getting suspended for throwing at Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder in a meaningless Cactus League match-up.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro likely breathed a sigh of relief after completing the trade for Halladay. A pitcher with a better track record and hungry for a World Series ring versus a talented, but erratic lefty whose only success has come on the heels of impending free agency. Amaro likely failed to realize that should Seattle fall out of contention, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik will be forced to move Lee. So now, the Cliff Lee who said he felt 'blindsided' by the trade out of Philadelphia, could return to the National League with a vendetta against the Phils. The Dodgers clearly have the prospects and need for a starting pitcher. The Cubs never shy away from a blockbuster deadline deal and the Rockies are only one player away from being serious pennant contenders. And it gets worse. Maybe Seattle doesn't mind trading him within the AL. I'm sure the Yankees would come calling. The very same Yankees the Phils could potentially play in a World Series rematch. On top of all of that, Lee will be a free agent, free to sign with any team, including the division rival Mets, who will clear some salary with expiring contracts and will be pressured to make a big signing after failing to land John Lackey this past offseason.

This could all be for not, but the possibilities remain. Never count out the Yankees ability to throw a wrench into the playoff picture. The Wild Card may go to the best non-division winner, but the true Wild Card this season will be Cliff Lee's employer.

It's Not All About the Numbers

2010-03-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

I love Jamie Moyer. How can you not? He's 47 years old. Let me repeat. He's 47 years old. At its hardest, his fastball tops out around 86 mph. He's facing kids who are young enough to be his son. He's been treated less than fairly by the Phillies over the last year and has handled himself marvelously. Unfortunately, with the season just over a week away from starting, Moyer still finds his role with the team uncertain.

The Phillies have one of the best rotations in baseball. Roy Halladay sits at the top, with Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ all lining up behind him. The fifth starter is still a bit of a mystery. Kyle Kendrick has pitched very well this spring, stating his case for the final spot by only allowing three earned runs in close to 20 innings. Moyer's ERA is in the threes and his still has been for more consistent than his injury riddled 2009 campaign.

From a numbers standpoint, you would have to give the nod to Kendrick. But there are other numbers to consider. The age difference is by far the most glaring factor influencing the decision. The odds say Moyer is likely to break down given his age and the amount of pitches his shoulder and elbow have endured over the course of a brilliant yet lengthy career. On the other hand, Moyer is scheduled to make $8 million this season, a hefty price tag for a long man out of the 'pen. Although the Phillies have rarely made decisions about playing time or roles based solely on salary.

And then there's everything you can't measure about the situation. Moyer gets people out. Plain and simple. He throws 'junk' that is so far off from what hitters are used to seeing that it becomes effective. His knowledge and experience is clearly unparalleled by anyone on the team. His fatherly figure and cool demeanor has a calming and peaceful effect on the locker room.

The case for Kendrick is more complex. With injuries to Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero the loser of the fifth starters job will be sent to the bullpen. For Moyer that transition will be no problem, but for a young kid like Kendrick, you don't want to mess with his psyche too much. Confidence for a pitcher is almost as important as talent and ability. Should Moyer go down with an injury, throwing Kendrick into the rotation would be difficult. The same situation arose with Joba Chamberlain and we've all seen how the Yankees handled that disaster. Kendrick has become the shadow of new ace Roy Halladay. There's no one better to learn from and with some tutelage from the Doc it can only help his cause.

It appears as though Manuel is leaning towards Moyer, but it's a dicey situation to say the least. I'm glad I'm not the one making the decision. If you renamed Moyer Player A and Kendrick Player B and compared their resumes side-by-side I think Kendrick would get the job. Unfortunately, we have emotional ties to Moyer that make the decision exponentially harder. If I'm the skipper, I give the ball to Moyer and explain to Kendrick that his time will come. When I watch the 2010 Phils I want to be able to look into the dugout and see Old Man Moyer chatting it up with the boys, not chewing on seeds in the bullpen. It's a great problem to have, but a problem that will impact the season greatly.

Nathan's Famous Surgery

2010-03-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Let me begin by stating, if I ever write about the Minnesota Twins twice in the same week again, it will most likely come from a frigid portion of Hell. The teams two most prominent players have been making headlines of late for very different reasons. With Mauer's deal signed, sealed and delivered, the front office still has one headache to deal with. Closer Joe Nathan's elbow did not respond well to rest and will be undergoing the dreaded Tommy John Surgery.

The surgery is more common these days, with over one hundred players, mostly pitchers, having the procedure done. It's not a career-ender anymore, although the rehab is extensive. Some players have even come back stronger and throwing harder with more velocity and movement after the ligament is repaired. In Nathan's case, the timing of the injury is the most threatening to his career. He's 35 and will miss the entire 2010 season. The contract he signed in 2008 calls for him to make just over $11 million this season and next. Under ideal circumstances, Nathan could return midway through the 2011 season. If the Twins want to contend, they'll likely need an established closer to replace Nathan. Upon his return, he would likely assume eighth inning duties, making him grossly overpaid as a setup man and nearly ensuring they decline the $12 million option the ball club holds for '12.

If he were to hit the open market, he'd be a 37 year old closer with a history of elbow problems. Luckily, Nathan is with a great organization that would likely work with him in attempting to restructure his contract and guarantee he retires a Twin. Nathan's been dominant in his career, amassing nearly 250 saves for the perennial contenders of the AL Central. While the team has largely allowed its star players to go (i.e. Johan Santana and Torii Hunter) Nathan was the exception to the rule. I've always been opposed to long-term deals for pitchers, especially closers, given the volatility in their health. The role of the closer has been massacred over the years. Identifying your best pitcher is simple, but limiting him to entering a ball game during one specific scenario is moronic. Recording three outs without surrendering three runs is no monumental task. Any reliever on the team should be capable of that. A dominant closer like Nathan however, can set the tone for entire pitching staff, stabilizing and maintaining order.

The odds aren't stacked against Nathan's return, but they certainly aren't tipping in his favor either. It will take the determination and hard work that made him an all-star closer, to get him back there.

Spring Fever

2010-03-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

The 2010 MLB season will commence with the reigning World Champion Yankees visit the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, April 4th. The time has come for my long awaited 2010 season predictions.

STANDINGS
AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays

AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Kansas City Royals

AL West
1. Seattle Mariners
2. Texas Rangers
3. Los Angeles Angels
4. Oakland Athletics

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves
3. New York Mets
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West
1. Colorado Rockies
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. San Diego Padres

AL Wildcard
Texas Rangers

NL Wildcard
San Francisco Giants

World Series
Phillies defeat Yankees in 7 Games

Awards
AL MVP: Joe Mauer
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
AL ROY: Justin Smoak
NL ROY: Jason Heyward
AL Comeback: Ben Sheets
NL Comeback: Jeff Francis
AL Manager: Don Wakamatsu
NL Manager: Bobby Cox

AL All-Star Starters
C - Joe Mauer
1B - Mark Teixeira
2B - Dustin Pedroia
SS - Derek Jeter
3B - Evan Longoria
OF - Ichiro
OF - Curtis Granderson
OF - Carl Crawford
SP - CC Sabathia

NL All-Star Starters
C - Brian McCann
1B - Albert Pujols
2B - Chase Utley
SS - Hanley Ramirez
3B - David Wright
OF - Manny Ramirez
OF - Ryan Braun
OF - Jayson Werth
SP - Tim Lincecum

Joseph Patrick Mauer

2010-03-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

As Spring Training progressed, it became more apparent that the Minnesota Twins would extend the contract of the best hitter in baseball, Joe Mauer. Today, the announcement came that the two sides have agreed to an 8 year/$184 million contract, ensuring Mauer would remain a Twin through 2018. There's obviously a lot to like about this deal. Mauer would have commanded much more in terms of both years and money had he hit the open market next season. The Yankees, with an aging Jorge Posada, would no doubt be chomping at the bit and make every resource available in attempting to court Mauer. While the contract was still significant in terms of annual salary ($23 million), it was considered a hometown discount. This contract does not significantly handcuff the Twins financially going forward. With only six years of experience, Mauer has already made over $20 million, not to mention the $5 .15 million signing bonus he received in 2001 when Minnesota drafted him. Being born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, he clearly made staying in 'Sota a priority. It's refreshing to see a player of his caliber with that kind of attitude. It's Joe being Joe, a stark contrast to the aloof and often times absent-minded Manny Ramirez.

The only fault I could find is that Mauer's already 26, meaning he would be 34 when the contract concludes and making what I assume will be over $30 million given the typical backloaded and deferred contracts most stars sign. Aside from the freak of nature that is Pudge Rodriguez, most catchers have difficulty remaining healthy past 30 years of age. The wear and tear is just too much for average catchers, let alone the best catcher in the league and leader of the team who will feel pressured to play as much as possible to fulfill the mega-contract he signed. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is a brilliant baseball mind and will need to be forceful enough to sit Joe when the situation calls for it, regardless of the objections he might receive from his backstop and the fans. Luckily Minnesota can DH Mauer occasionally, relieving him of his catching duties while keeping his offensive production in the line-up. Discount aside, $184 million is a lot of money for a traditionally small market team. While they have been more generous of late, a contract of this stature can only make the remaining money to be spent shrink significantly. Will this translate to higher ticket prices? It remains to be seen. The full no-trade clause included in the deal may also make things difficult for the Twins down the road, should they fall from contention in American League Central. While Mauer would likely okay a trade to a contender, limiting the list of potential suitors only weakens Minnesota's bargaining power and could diminish the quality and quantity of players exchanged.

Overall, it's a great day to be a Minnesota fan. The future is bright, despite the unfortunate news for Joe Nathan and his elbow difficulties. This signing makes the Twins a contender for years to come.

Man Among Children

2010-03-07T14:08:00.001-08:00

You sir, have one magnificent beard

Dear San Francisco Giants Front Office...

2010-02-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

Just pay Timmy whatever he wants. Seriously. Back-to-back Cy Youngs and hair that would make an Olsen Twin jealous. Give him a blank check and a bottle of moose and stop letting this PR nightmare ruin what was a very productive off-season. The Dodgers are declining, the Rockies are still stacked but I have two words. Jim Tracy. He can't do it again. You could win the NL West this year but not if you have a pissed off Lincecum. He'll be a Yankee someday, but while you have him, pay him. That is all.

Life is Just a Fantasy

2010-02-11T18:11:00.000-08:00

The second the Super Bowl ends, I immediately check out on football and get into baseball mode. Since pitchers and catchers haven't reported yet, the only thing I can legitimately give thought to is my fantasy baseball team. I've been playing fantasy baseball for 12 years. May not sound that long, but considering I'm only 22 years old, I've spent more of my life playing fantasy baseball than not.

While I've typically played in 10-12 man head-to-head snake draft leagues, last year I dove head first into my first auction-style keeper league. This league has it all. There's a $55 salary cap and other than that there are very few limits. In the beginning of March you can protect up to 12 players for the Rule V draft. Once that is completed, you can protect 10 players and the rest are gone from your roster. All remaining players are put up for auction with your $55 cap less the salaries of your protected players. When you draft a players he's automatically signed to a 3-year deal. Any expiring contracts can be renewed for one year by adding a dollar to their salary. Sounds complicated but its incredibly fun and addicting.

So here's my dilemma:

I know the 12 guys I'm protecting for the Rule V draft, but narrowing it down to 10 is proving extremely difficult. I can only keep one of the following five: Carlos Pena, Roy Oswalt, John Lackey, Joba Chamberlain or Rick Porcello.

Pena hit 39 dingers and missed most of September so there's upside there, however he only hit .220 and I got crushed in batting average last season.

Oswalt struggled last season but I chalk that up to not a lot of motivation being on a horrible Astros club. If he thinks he's auditioning for a trade, he may pitch out of his mind. Would hate to let go of him if he's the Oswalt of old.

Lackey is a head-case. He's missed time each of the last three seasons and moving to Boston will only make him more crazy. I love his stuff but don't know if I can depend on him for an entire season.

Joba is always a question mark. We've been hearing about his potential for years. Is this finally his breakout season? He's worthless fantasy-wise in the bullpen yet not as effective as a starter. There's the rub.

And then there's Porcello. The kid had an outstanding rookie season last year. He's in a very good park for a pitcher and may have matured in the offseason. On the flip side, maybe the American League figures him out or he breaks down after having his workload increased tremendously. Tom Verducci has long been a proponent of staying away from pitchers who increase their innings by more than 30 in one season.

Smart money is to keep Oswalt, but I'm seriously leaning toward Porcello. His contract is cheap and he has tremendous upside. Main problem is if he does pan out I'd lose him at the end of this year and probably only had him on the cusp of his true breakout year. So I turn to you. Any thoughts or facts I should know about? Fill me in.

It's the Future

2010-01-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but when I used to think about the year 2010, I imagined flying cars, space exploration of mars and of course, the ability to watch baseball on my mobile phone. While technology works on the first two, watching baseball has never been easier or more convenient. The unveiling of the new Apple iPad today was met with much fan fare. While the overall specs of the device reveal it to be merely an over sized iPhone, it falls short in comparison to the netbooks that have dominated sales in the recent months.

One application that will benefit greatly from the iPad is Major League Baseball's MLB.TV service. I've been subscribing to MLB.TV for three years now. Living in the Philadelphia market and being a Cleveland Indians fan leaves me without the ability to catch my Tribe more than a few times per season. With MLB.TV, I can watch every game live or on demand. I can choose between the home or away team broadcast, giving me the ability to choose between Cleveland's dynamic duo of broadcasters or catch the legendary voices of the opposing team, say the legendary Vin Scully when they happen to play the Dodgers. Being a college student leaves me away from my television and computer frequently, yet my desire to be watching live baseball never fails.

For a meager $100, I can watch all 162 games of my beloved Indians as well as several of their Spring Training match-ups. The service does not require you to choose one team exclusively either, so say there's the odd chance that a Yankees/Red Sox game isn't on a national broadcast, I just click on the NY and viola, baseball. While the iPhone gives you the convenience of baseball anytime, the size of the picture is quite limiting. Enter iPad. The 10'' screen is now more than adequate for watching a game. Granted the increased size poses transportation limits, it's nothing a small briefcase or shoulder bag won't eliminate. I can only imagine how the commute to work on buses and trains everywhere will become tremendously less excruciating.

As a baseball purist, I never want to be more than a click away from live game action. Today might not be remembered as monumental a day in baseball history as the day Lou Gehrig delivered his famous speech or the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier or the day Kerry Wood struck out 20 batters. But for baseball fans everywhere today has forever changed the way we'll remember those moments.

Thank You Captain Obvious

2010-01-26T14:47:00.000-08:00

Phillies' skipper Charlie Manuel told reporters he would have loved to have Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee in his rotation.

All I can say is...duh!

Who wouldn't want both Doc and Cliff pitching on back to back days. The difficult part to swallow is that according to GM Ruben Amaro, it wasn't a payroll issue. Cliff Lee is slotted to earn $9 million during the 2010 season while righty Joe Blanton will earn $7 million. For a mere $2 million, Amaro could have dealt Blanton and headed to 2010 the clear cut favorite to win a third consecutive pennant. What Amaro did was take a stand that he had to know would be fairly unpopular among fans. The prospects exiting Philadelphia to get Lee and Halladay left the farm system woefully depleted. While Blanton would have received something in return, it would not be nearly the quality or quantity that the Phillies got from Seattle for Lee.

Basically Amaro opted to be competitive for seasons to come instead of stacking the deck for another run in 2010 and then having a large void once completed. There is definite doubt as to whether the Phils would have the payroll to sign Lee at the end of 2010. While their rotation this season would look stellar, its 2011 rotation would be lacking and not much help would be on the way from Triple-A.

Another factor to consider is the free agency of breakout right fielder Jayson Werth. Werth is going to want to get paid and given his production during his stay in Philly, I'd say it's reasonable. Cliff Lee did wonderful things over the last two seasons, but his career is still young and riddled with inconsistency. In sacrificing Lee for Halladay, Amaro shrewdly changed the course of the organization for the next few seasons and ensured a competitive product will take the field day in and day out.

Not many general managers would have the gusto to make a move like this, especially less than one full year into their tenure. Amaro has proved he is the right man for the job and will not let media or fan pressure dictate his moves. I can't wait for the day Roy Halladay accepts his Cy Young and World Series MVP Awards, purely to see the satisfaction on Ruben's face.

It's a New Year!

2010-01-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010 everyone!

I never liked living in the past, so instead of reviewing 2009, let's consider what we can look forward to in 2010.

Tiger Woods return to the golf course

At some point, he's going to need to get back on the links. The million dollar question is how will his impending divorce affect his game play. I would have to think it will be burdensome initially as the gallery heckles America's favorite golfer. Once he gets in front of a microphone and actually addresses the incidents and fields questions from legitimate reporters, I think things will get easier for him. The question I'd most like answered has nothing to do with his infidelity, but instead the report that linked him to a Canadian doctor detained for unlawfully distributing performance enhancing supplements. For someone who allegedly cheated without remorse off the course, is it too much of a stretch to think he cheated on the course as well? Undoubtedly he will reclaim his title as greatest golfer on the planet, but it will truly take a miracle for him to regain all his endorsements and admiration that he once had.

The NFL Play-offs

For so much of this season the question was whether or not the Colts and/or Saints could complete the perfect season. Well that question has been emphatically answered on both sides, yet each team remains in the hunt for the Super Bowl. With two differing strategies on use of starting players in 'meaningless' games, we may finally see which strategy is more effective. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he will 'look into' the Colts strategy of resting starters. Personally, I think its ridiculous that a rule could be imposed requiring teams to play their primary players when play-offs births have been clinched. Would you rather have an awesome week 16 schedule or a Super Bowl that features fully healthy players? I think that one is simple to answer. The only change we may see in 2010 is the overtime format. If an important playoff game is decided on the first possession of overtime with the losing team never touching the ball, I think the competition committee will take a closer look at what is in the best interest of the sport.

Can the Yankees repeat?

It remains to be seen whether they will re-sign Johnny Damon, but regardless, the Yankees still looked primed to repeat as AL Champions. And given the moves the Philadelphia Phillies have made in acquiring former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, they look to be in great position to reach their third consecutive World Series. Although it appears both teams are finished making major moves this offseason, the Yankees still need a left fielder and Matt Holliday remains unsigned. Unlikely? Sure, but if there's one thing I've learned from the Yanks is never count them out of any major free agent. There was virtually no connection last year to the Yankees and Mark Teixiera, yet we all now how that one ended. The Phillies could still move some players as well, given the uncertainty of the outcomes of salary arbitration. Joe Blanton and Shane Victorino will be getting rather significant raises and given the Phillies payroll constraints, it is not out of the realm of possibility that one of them is calling a new city home next year.

Where will LeBron end up?

Although the 2009-10 NBA season is far from over, many have already begun to look to the offseason when King James becomes an unrestricted free agent. Speculation has been that he and USA basketball teammate Dwyane Wade will look to join forces, forming one of the most explosive and dynamic duos in the history of the sport. Hip Hop mogul Jay-Z will undoubtedly be a large player in attempting to attract James and Wade to Brooklyn where the Nets look to be relocated. Cleveland's only chance at keeping LBJ may be a NBA title this season. Wake up Shaq, the clock is ticking.

Can Jimmy Johnson win his 5th consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Title?

I'm not going to pretend I know much about NASCAR, but what this man has done over the last four years is nothing short of remarkable. Given the popularity and advancement of the sport, this has to go down as one of the most impressive records in the history of sports. A fifth consecutive title will only further establish his place in history.

So many questions yet all we can do is wait. It's 365 days anyway you slice it. Might as well enjoy it.

Let's Make a Deal

2009-07-29T11:42:00.001-07:00

It's the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline this week. As the deals come across the wire, I'll be analyzing them.

Phillies acquire Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco from Indians for prospects Carlos

Carrasco, Lou Marson, Jason Knapp and Jason Donald.

From the Phillies POV:

Lee is the reigning Cy Young winner from the American League. He costs about $8

million less than Halladay would for next season. They keep Happ, Drabek and Donald. I can't think of one negative. Donald would most likely play third base when Feliz's contract ended. Now they must re-sign Feliz or look for another third baseman but that's not a huge problem. Marson has all the making of a stud catcher but he's not ready to play everyday in the big leagues and Carlos Ruiz is more than serviceable. Francisco is nothing special but he is a little more seasoned than Mayberry.

This deal overloads the Phillies with left-handed starters. Hamels, Lee, Moyer and Happ. Blanton is pitching better than anyone on the team now and Pedro Martinez is working his way through a rehab stint and will be back soon. Rodrigo Lopez is as good as gone, which is a shame because he pitched well, but he will undoubtedly be scooped up by another team and could earn himself a nice paycheck this offseason. With 34 games over the final 34 days of the season, including two September double-headers, the Phils will need extra arms. Amaro knew the Phils would wrap up the NL East, but with this moved he may have wrapped up another pennant and perhaps more.

From the Indians POV:

No point spending $9 million on Lee when you have no chance at the playoffs. Save some money and get some young guys in return. Francisco is addition by subtraction as his long swing was not helping anyone and his roster spot was blocking Brantley or LaPorta's call-up.

Marson would allow the Indians to trade Victor Martinez now, which could net a big pitching prospect as well. This trade signals not only a white flag for this season (which was obvious) but for next year as well.

Shapiro may have faltered in this one. Carrasco has great stuff but it hasn't translated in games. There's a reason Cleveland turned down a deal with the Phillies last year centered around Carrasco for CC Sabathia. There's also a reason the Phillies called up Bastardo, not Carrasco, to replace the injured Brett Myers and then called up Lopez, not Carrasco to replace the injured Bastardo. The kid hasn't developed. At only 22, there's still hope, but the Phils must be thrilled to get rid of him and keep Drabek in their system.

The City of Doctorly Love

2009-07-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Despite being in first place and ten games above .500, the Philadelphia Phillies aren't sitting back and doing nothing. Pedro Martinez will be taking a physical tomorrow and if all goes well signing a contract shortly there after.

Kyle Drabek, coming off a solid outing in the MLB Futures Game yesterday has all but made himself untouchable. The Phils still have the pieces to go out and make a play for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. Halladay has said he would welcome a trade to the Senior Circuit especially if it gave him a shot at a World Series ring. As a player with 10 years Major League service and 5 with the same team, Doc can veto any trade agreed upon. With this kind of bargaining power, I would take advantage of it and demand some things from Philadelphia.

We've all seen how awesome the Blue Jays look when they wear their 1993 World Series uniforms. The powder blue blue jay is one of the best logos ever constructed. So if I'm Doc Halladay, I would tell Phillies GM Ruben Amaro that I would agree to come to Philly only if the Phils bring back the maroon unis on home games when I'm pitching. It's a simple request and one that the city of Philadelphia has been clamoring for all season.

Halladay would be the right-handed Steve Carlton. Imagine a rotation with righties Roy Halladay, Pedro Martinez and Joe Blanton and lefties Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and J.A. Happ. Happ would likely get kicked to the bullpen as would Brett Myers if/when he returns from hip surgery in September. It wouldn't surprise me if the Phils made a run at former Blue Jays closer BJ Ryan as well. It never hurts to have an extra lefty in the 'pen.

Do it Doc. It can't hurt to ask. It would make the perfect transition to the NL. The Phillies can't waste this opportunity. A pitcher of Halladay's caliber don't come around often. This is why you build the farm system. The Phils will get a good look at him tomorrow evening when Halladay toes the slab in the All-Star game. And with five Phillies taking hacks against him and Charlie watching from the dugout, I expect the recruitment process to be heavy.

Threes a Crowd

2009-07-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

Raul Ibanez will have some friendly faces in the outfield with him Tuesday in St. Louis. Ibanez earned a starting spot on the All-Star team by putting up stellar numbers over the first half of the season. With the fans given the opportunity to send one final player, fellow Phillie Shane Victorino was given the nod. One day later, a replacement for injured Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran was appointed. Jayson Werth will now be packing his bags for St. Louis too.

Many will argue that J-Dub only got it because his skipper, Charlie Manuel made the selection. The numbers tend to disagree. Werth smashed his 20th homer of the year last night, his fourth in as many games. His range and arm strength undoubtedly helped his cause.

Membership has its privileges and nowadays it pays to roam the outfield in Philadelphia. Now if only they could get their starting pitching straightened out. Matt Stairs better stay close to his phone, because if Ryan Braun pulls a hammy this weekend...

Bulls 1 Spaniards 0

2009-07-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

A man was killed at the annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain this year.

In my short 22 years on this planet, I've accomplished many of the things I've wanted to. But one thing yet to be crossed off my bucket list is running with the bulls. Call me crazy, but this is one of the coolest things I think a human being could do.

Most people would object to jogging with 20,000 pounds of wild bulls. It may not be the smartest way to depart this life, but it's got to be one hell of a story when you get to Heaven. I've got to assume that there's special sections at the bar in the clouds for those who died in amusing ways. And being gorged by a bull will probably earn you free drinks for eternity.

BRING ON THE BULLS!

Oh Charlie

2009-07-06T17:35:00.000-07:00

The rosters for the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis were announced yesterday afternoon. These rosters did not include any of the top ten active career home run leaders. Perennial all-stars like Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Ken Griffey Jr were all conspicuously absent. Many feel this is a statement from the fans condemning the use of performance enhancing drugs. A lot has changed since last season. Both A-Rod and Manny have admitted to PED use, while Griffey's numbers have dropped dramatically with a limited role and advancing age in Seattle.

Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel was able to pick eight players from his roster of 33. He took his own first baseman, Ryan Howard, but mainly made the right moves. Ramirez, despite his 50-game suspension, was sitting in the top 5 in votes for outfielders. When push came to shove, Manuel failed to add Manny's name to the roster.

But did Charlie have a plan?

Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran was elected by the fans, but due to a knee injury, will be unable to participate. In this scenario, Manuel will get to pick his replacement. He could go with his own center fielder, Shane Victorino. The Flyin' Hawaiian is on a list of five players who could potentially get the nod based on the fans' final vote.

And then there's Manny.

Manuel has said in the past that Manny is like a son to him. Going back to their days in Cleveland, when Manuel was the Tribe's hitting coach and Ramirez was setting the world on fire en route to the 8 year $160 million contract he signed with Boston. While eyebrows would absolutely be raised, Manuel could easily justify picking Manny.

Thanks to the wonderful Allan H. 'Bud' Selig, the All-Star game determines home field advantage in the World Series. With the Phillies in first place in their division, why wouldn't Manuel want a lethal bat like Manny on his bench? Last year's game went 15 innings before a winner was decided. Manny doesn't have to play all 9 innings to make an impact. One swing and he could send the NL home with its first victory in a decade. Charlie has an obligation to his employer, the Philadelphia Phillies, to do everything he can to secure home field advantage for them should they repeat as NL Champs.

And there's no better bat in Major League Baseball that isn't already heading to St. Louis than Manny. The argument that he shouldn't be available to play, given his suspension for essentially cheating seams valid. Manuel, however, is in the unique position to stake a serious claim to Selig's decision to 'make the game count'. For a regular, meaningless exhibition, maybe Manuel leaves Ramirez at home. But could anyone blame Charlie for trying to put together the best possible group of players?

It's called the All-"STAR" game. Not All-"STARS WHO DIDN'T GET SUSPENDED" game. Manny's a star. For Manny, the Phillies and the NL's sake, I hope Manny gets the call. And Charlie, you've got a cheese steak and a beer on me if you pick him.

Why Shouldn't We Wonder?

2009-06-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez has been turning heads all season long. At 37 years of age, Ibanez is having a career year. With 22 home runs already, he is only one shy of the 23 he hit last year, while playing in all 162 games.

Recently, a Philadelphia sports blogger speculated that Ibanez was surpassing his usual production because of performance enhancing drugs. Normally, when a player reaches his late 30s, the stats go down.

Ibanez exploded when a reporter asked him to respond to the bloggers accusations. Ibanez said he would give urine, hair, blood and stool samples for drug testing in order to prove his innocence. It seems the media's questioning of his talent struck a chord with the veteran.

While I believe it is unfair to accuse Raul of juicing without any evidence besides inflated numbers, I think it's reasonable to wonder. As a product of the steroid era, which saw the greatest home run hitter statistically in Barry Bonds and the projected greatest home run hitter in A-Rod, both test positive for performance enhancers, questions will emerge. With such prolific names like Mark McGwire, Raphael Palmeiro and Roger Clemens all tied to steroid allegations, why shouldn't we speculate that a 14 year veteran, suddenly looking like a man amongst boys, is on the juice?

For starters, Ibanez spent ten seasons with Seattle, including the last five. He averaged nearly 25 home runs per season during his second stint with the Mariners in a ballpark that is widely considered one of the tougher parks to hit a homer in. Now, he has switched to the bandbox that is Citizens Bank Park. There's a reason Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley regularly lead their respective positions in dingers each season. Citizens Bank Park is extremely friendly to left-handers with any kind of pop. Simply put, if Ibanez can hit 33 hr in SafeCo, there's no reason he can't hit 40+ in Citizens Bank.

It's a shame that Ibanez has to face steroid allegations (if he is in fact clean), but he shouldn't be mad at the media. Instead, focus that blame on Major League Baseball and commissioner Bud Selig who sat back and did nothing while steroids ran rampant during the past two decades. Maybe it will take something like this for players around the league to give-in to blood testing for HGH and other performance enhancers that cannot be detected through urine analysis.

Don't feel sorry for Jose Canseco or Eric Gagne or any other player who ruined his career by taking steroids. Feel sorry for those who haven't and are still lumped in with those who have. The fallout from the steroid scandal isn't tainted numbers. It's people questioning and doubting a great man and athlete who has worked his tail off in the pursuit of a World Series ring in the twilight of his career. And that is the biggest shame of all.

How Quickly We Forget

2009-06-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ten minutes ago I settled down to take a nap. I had Pardon The Interruption on in the background but wasn't really paying attention. My dog was fidgeting around trying to get comfortable while simultaneously taking up 2/3 of my bed. I, myself found a comfortable spot and was just about out of consciousness when I heard "Swing and a loooooong drive....".

Immediately I snapped out of my daze. The voice continued, "...that ball's outta here". For a moment I thought that I merely dreamed that Harry had left us and that with his deep voice resonating from my television I was back listening to the legendary voice of the Philadelphia Phillies.

And then reality hit. I was hearing a commercial for Super Pretzels. They were trying to say that their pretzels were just as good as ballpark pretzels and there was no need to go to the park. The commercial commenced with an old black and white photo of Harry the K and the text of "Harry, we will miss you" in the bottom right corner.

I'm not trying to play into the dramatics, but I turned into a Native American watching someone litter. A single tear rolled down my cheek. It was two months ago tomorrow that Harry left us. It still feels like yesterday. RIP HK.

The Royal Unit

2009-06-07T16:31:00.000-07:00

Randy Johnson won his 300th career game against the Washington Nationals Thursday night in what was a great moment in baseball history. The Unit, in all likelihood, will be the last person ever to record 300 victories.

While his stuff wasn't as filthy as it used to be, Johnson looked like the old Unit. Six innings and only two hits. We tend to forget how dominate this man was during his prime. Last year, NL Cy Young winner (and current teammate) Tim Lincecum struck out 265, a number that separated him largely from the field. Johnson has six seasons with over 300 strikeouts and three seasons in the 290s. When he took the hill for Seattle and Arizona (the first time) the game was over before he even threw a pitch. With 100 complete games in his career, Johnson finished what he started in an era largely dominated by bullpen strength and managers that played the percentages on late inning match-ups.

In the ninth inning, with the Unit on the bench, his son, who served as bat boy was standing with one leg up on the top step of the dugout. With the cameras fixated on the always stoic Johnson, his son was loving life. A smile that stretched from ear to ear was quickly erased as he shot quick glances in his fathers direction after every batter Brian Wilson faced reached a full count. Finally, with two outs, the elder Johnson called over to his son who took his place beside his father on the bench and posed for pictures. That was the first time I've ever seen Randy Johnson smile before the 27th out was recorded. Folks, it's a game and even the mighty Unit enjoys himself.

Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing something three times and expecting a different outcome the fourth. Clearly I'm insane because I didn't think Tiger Woods had a snowball's chance in hell at winning the Memorial this afternoon. Is there anyone more clutch in all of professional sports than TW? It's difficult to make comparisons across sports, especially with the four major sports all being team sports and golf, clearly is not, but I'm willing to make the argument that Woods is the most clutch athlete in professional sports (Sorry Big Papi).

Anyone who has ever golfed knows that making up four strokes, even against the goofballs you and I play with on the weekends, is a daunting task. Now try and do it against the best in the world, a group that included Davis Love III and Jim Furyk. Tiger is on another planet and will not only break every record ever recorded in PGA history, but do so with relative ease.

Not much can pull me out of bed before noon on Sunday, but when Roger Federer is in the final of a major, I'm up before the roosters.

This morning, Federer won the French Open, completing the career Grand Slam and tying Pete Sampras for the most majors won at 14.

Tennis, much like golf, looks extremely easy on television. When you lace 'em up yourself and grab a racket, it's a whole new ballgame. The ease at which he blasts backhands down the line with pinpoint precision amazes me.

Federer has taken the backseat to Rafael Nadal over the past few years and although his victory at the French did not come against Rafa, Federer looked spectacular. Even in the post-match interview, he addressed the crowd at Roland Garros, first in French and then in English for the American television cameras in front of him. Tennis majors aren't exactly the Super Bowl, but anytime two superb athletes with insane competitive drives are pitted against each other, I'll be tuning in.

Ripe with Anticipation

2009-03-27T18:11:00.001-07:00

The 2009 MLB season will commence with the reigning World Champion Phillies host the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, April 5th. The time has come for my long awaited 2009 season predictions.

STANDINGS
AL East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays

AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Detroit Tigers

AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. New York Mets
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

AL Wildcard
New York Yankees

NL Wildcard
New York Mets

World Series
Red Sox defeat Dodgers in 5 games

Awards
AL MVP: Grady Sizemore
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester
NL Cy Young: Dan Haren
AL ROY: Matt Wieters
NL ROY: Cameron Maybin
AL Comeback: Carl Pavano
NL Comeback: Chris Carpenter
AL Manager: Bob Geren
NL Manager: Joe Torre

AL All-Star Starters
C - Victor Martinez
1B - Mark Teixeira
2B - Dustin Pedroia
SS - Derek Jeter
3B - Evan Longoria
OF - Ichiro
OF - Josh Hamilton
OF - Grady Sizemore
SP - John Danks

NL All-Star Starters
C - Brian McCann
1B - Albert Pujols (Howard should get it but the game's in St. Louis)
2B - Chase Utley
SS - Hanley Ramirez
3B - David Wright
OF - Manny Ramirez
OF - Ryan Braun
OF - Carlos Lee
SP - Cole Hamels (Charlie Manuel is the skipper for the NL)

Bold Prediction: At least 7 of these players will go 30/30 this year.
1. Hanley Ramirez
2. Grady Sizemore
3. BJ Upton
4. Alfronso Soriano
5. Brandon Phillips
6. Nate McLouth
7. David Wright
8. Nick Markakis

The Darkest Day

2009-03-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

The city of Philadelphia lost a great man yesterday. A man with more heart, spirit and dedication to the city than anyone before him. The Philadelphia Eagles, who are roughly $47 million under the salary cap, declined to re-sign safety Brian Dawkins. Dawkins signed a 5-year, $17 million contract with the Denver Broncos.

Earlier this week, Donovan McNabb said he would not consider signing an extension with the Eagles until he saw a commitment to improve the team around him by the front office. How did Andy Reid respond? With a disrespectful and down right pitiful one year offer to the heart and soul of the Eagles for the last 12 seasons. As sad as I am to see Brian go, I'm glad he's going to a team who wants him. The Eagles should be ashamed of themselves.

Anyone who has ever attended an Eagles game knows the effect Dawkins has even when he's not on the field. His optimism and encouragement is unparalleled. The tenacity and all-out effort he exerts on every play has left him suffering self inflicted wounds from his bone crushing hits. He did that for the other 52 guys on the team, for the coaching staff that put in brutal hours to prepare the team and for every member of the city of Philadelphia.

Brian Dawkins wasn't just an athlete in Philadelphia, he was Philadelphia.

As stated by sportsonbroad.com:

Enjoy your cheesesteak tonight Andy. I hope you choke on it.

Lebron's World - The Rest Of Us Are Just Living In It

2009-02-18T18:31:00.000-08:00

In the copycat society we live in, I can't say I'm shocked at what I've witnessed in the NBA in recent years. But I am disappointed.

This past weekend's All-Star festivities were just another reminder of why I don't watch basketball anymore. The so called 'savior' of the game, LeBron James, is the sole reason I won't watch the NBA no matter what the circumstances are. Now, if I happen to be at a bar that has it on I might cast an interested eye toward it, or if I'm watching SportsCenter I won't change the channel just because he's on, but it's getting closer to that.

On Saturday night, during what was a rather entertaining Slam Dunk competition that featured polar opposites in Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson, LeBron decides to get the cameras on him by mentioning he 'might' consider competing in next year's dunk contest.

Taking it further, he called for the Western Conference to stand down in the final ten seconds of the All-Star game while he performed a ridiculous jam by lobbing the ball off the backboard to himself before slamming it through the cylinder. Exhibition game or not, you don't ask for a free lane to the basket in order to look good, do it in competition and we'll talk. As an aside I must thank LeBron because I took the Over at 264 and his dunk made the total combined score 265 but I digress.

Why does he feel the need to make everything about him?

There are superstars everywhere in this league, yet LeBron constantly shines the spotlight on himself. Earlier in the year, he began commenting on his impending free agency, which I might remind you doesn't occur until after the 2009-10 season. He said he doesn't know if he'll re-sign with the Cavs and that it has been a dream of his to play in New York. He further evidenced this by slapping hands with partial New Jersey Nets owner and rap mogul Jay-Z who regularly sits court side at Nets and Knicks games. Jay-Z has made no secret of his intentions to move the Nets to Brooklyn and sign James as their superstar.

Even before games he tries to make a spectacle of himself. He pours an extravagant amount of talcum powder into his hands before sending it skyward in a cloud of dust. Where could he possibly get this idea from? Could it be Kevin Garnett, one of the original high school defectors who paved the way for LeBron and so many others. KG has been doing the talcum cloud since his early days in Minnesota.

LeBron needs to come up with his own gimmick and start establishing himself as someone who is unique. Did Michael Jordan ever make things about himself? The answer, as we all know is no. MJ left during the pinnacle of his career to explore other endeavors. He didn't need to prove anything to anyone, regardless of how much he disappointed fans. Jordan won six NBA titles in his career largely because he made everyone around him better. How did LeBron fare in his only trip to the Finals so far? Swept at the hands of another selfless and team oriented MVP, Tim Duncan.

If you've ever watched a Cavs game, you will see LeBron cry that he was fouled every time he drives to the hoop. He does get hacked fairly hard but that doesn't mean you need to lobby for the call every time. Superstars generally get all the calls, but LeBron's crybaby rants are getting old and deterring officials from listening when he has a legitimate gripe. James is still young and can restructure his image but it's got to start by letting go of the limelight. Until then, he will never achieve the legendary status he thinks he has.

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

2009-02-07T20:14:00.001-08:00

On August 7, 2007 Barry Lamar Bonds broke the most hallowed record in sports. He hit his 756th career home run deep into the San Francisco night. The Giants' fans erupted as their hometown hero trotted around the bases. The rest of the baseball world had a different reaction. Many of them were disgusted that a record of this magnitude was broken by a man who used performance enhancing drugs. Shirts adorned with "756*" across the chest clearly show how some people feel. The general consensus around baseball was that this atrocity would only have to be tolerated until Alex Rodriguez broke Bonds' record. At 33 years old, Rodriguez has amassed 553 career home runs. With nine years remaining on a 10 yr/$275 million contract, he would only need to average just over 23 dingers per season to surpass Bonds.

The prospect of ten years of Bonds on top was tough to swallow, but the wait would all be worth it when a natural, non-steroid using athlete broke the record. That was until today, when Sports Illustrated reported that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two steroids during the 2003 season; the very season in which he won the home run title and his first MVP award. While it is assumed that Rodriguez is clean now with the inception of MLB's drug testing procedure, his marks are forever tainted.

Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiero and Roger Clemens have all fallen out of favor with the public following steroid allegations against them. McGwire has failed to gain admission into the Hall of Fame since he became eligible in 2007. The eighth most prolific home run hitter of all-time with 583 bombs received less than a quarter of the vote to gain election.

With Bonds inability to gain employment since his record breaking 2007 campaign, baseball seemed to be distancing itself from the steroid scandal of the last two decades. The reports of an alleged positive test from A-Rod is devastating to the image upgrade baseball has so desperately been working for. Rodriguez' name is undoubtedly the most significant to date connected to a positive sample. It is unclear whether the names of the remaining 100 players who tested positive along with Rodriguez will be leaked.

The most ironic aspect of all the steroid controversy is that Jose Canseco seems to be the most reputable and accurate source to date. Everyone he fingered in his book "Juiced" vehemently denied his allegations, most of whom have had other outlets corroborate Canseco's claims. Even Joe Torre's depiction of A-Rod as "A-Fraud" in his new book seems more accurate than abusive.

The Mitchell Report was supposed to be the final chapter of the devastating steroid era. Now, however, we have reason to doubt any and every player who hit an opposite field home run off the fists, who played in all 162 games and who had the courage to sign multi-million dollar contracts that they never statistically fulfilled. With close to 100 players still without jobs as we sit a mere week before pitchers and catchers report, this is a prime example of how greatly steroids still affects baseball. The out-of-this-world numbers that were produced during the late '90s and early '00s caused player salaries to skyrocket. Now, the wage scale is so inflated that quality ball players cannot find jobs without accepting contracts at a third of what their counterparts make.

The game of baseball needs to rid itself of this black eye. Unfortunately, as long as A-Rod and other past offenders are still on active rosters, the eyebrows of the media and fans will remain raised with skepticism.

Hugs Not Drugs

2009-01-31T18:55:00.001-08:00

Olympic athletes failing drug tests is nothing new. Since the German engineered super athletes of the 1930s, there have been gold medal hopefuls looking for unfair advantages. Some resort to steroids. Some get caught.

It's an altogether new thing for a 14 time gold medal winner to be photographed smoking marijuana from a bong.

Michael Phelps, the greatest swimmer to ever compete in the Olympics, had his picture taken while at a party in South Carolina engaging in what some might classify as 'suspect behavior'. I don't want to come off as supporting pot smoking by Olympic athletes but let's put some things into perspective.

First of all, the man has the lung capacity of a bottle nosed dolphin. He would have to smoke more weed than Tommy Chong to even feel anything.

Second, the man is on vacation. He worked his ass off for years and was rewarded for it with the most record breaking and remarkable three weeks anyone has ever had in China. If he wants to celebrate by taking a bong rip, I say God Speed John Glenn.

Third, with the amount of calories he was burning in the pool, he needed to intake around 12,000 calories per day. There's really only one way to do that. It's called the munchies.

Finally, if he can smoke pot, a drug that among other things, makes you lethargic and winded easily, and still win 8 gold medals, more power to him. All he was really doing was leveling the playing field. Without the pot, his races wouldn't even have been close.

They say he is no longer a role model for aspiring young athletes to look up to. That's the kids problem, not his. He's paid to swim fast and look good doing it. He's not a 65 year old CEO of a publicly traded company, he's a 23 year old freak of nature kid who likes to party. There's more important things in the world to worry about than this kid puffing on a joint.

A Few Thoughts...

2008-12-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

...from the Winter Meetings transactions.

1. He Who Shall Not Be Named - New York Yankees - 7 years - $161 Million
The Yankees got the best left-hander in the game. Sounds good right? For now, this deal is a slam dunk. But what happens four years from now When CC is a biscuit shy of 400 lbs and is still owed $69 million? Brian Cashman better introduce CC to Al Roker while he's in NYC so he can learn about gastric bypass surgery.

2. K-Rod - New York Mets - 3 years - $37 Million
I generally tend to frown upon giving closers more than $10 million per year, given the fact that closers come from anywhere and dominate (i.e. George Sherrill, Matt Capps, Brandon Lyon, etc...) and not make that much money. But in the Mets case, their bullpen was so terrible that they needed to go out and get the best closer money could buy. Six months ago K-Rod was thought to have commanded 5 years/$65 million, so for Mets GM Omar Minaya to get him on these terms was a slam dunk.

3. Mets acquire JJ Putz from Seattle in 3 team trade
What's better than getting the best closer available? Getting the second best closer available as well to set up for him. Provided Putz can take the ego-check and pitch the 8th inning, the Mets went from having one of the worst bullpens to one of the best. Be wary though, last year the Metropolitans acquired Santana and every sports writer in America handed them the NL Pennant. The Mets are still a few pieces away from "Elite" status, but they will definitely give the Phils a struggle in the East.

Side note: This may be one of the fairest three team trades in the history of baseball. The Mariners got two very good defensive outfielders in Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez as well as a quality starter in Aaron Heilman and several above average prospects. The Indians walked away with a slick fielding Venezuelan second baseman and a ground ball inducing side armer in Joe Smith.

4. AJ Burnett - New York Yankees - 5 years - $82 Million
Commissioner Bud Selig told Cashman he could only sign pitchers with initials this offseason, but I think they would have been better off with OJ Simpson than AJ Burnett. The Yanks may have gotten a little greedy with this one. They couldn't just settle on Sabathia, they needed another starter but FIVE YEARS to AJ Burnett? I would rather bring back Randy Johnson or signed Braden Looper for two or three years. AJ Burnett has more arm problems than John McCain (low blow, I know).

5. Raul Ibanez - World F@#king Champions - 3 years - $30 Million
Let's be honest, he's 5 years older than Burrell. He hits slightly less but plays slightly more defense than Burrell. He probably works harder, but there's no way he cares more about the city of Philadelphia. Pat the Bat grew into a legend in Philly this season. He will be missed. Ibanez is a suitable replacement this year, but the final year of this deal, when Ibanez turns 39, Amaro is going to have some headaches.

Sin City was quiet this week but there are still plenty of names out there. Keep it here for your (un)biased opinions and analysis of every deal.

PS - Must mention the absolute stellar deal Oakland GM and genius Billy Beane made to get Matt Holliday. The Angels better get cracking because Beane's boys will be bringing the heat in the weak AL West next season.

CC Sabathia...

2008-12-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

has turned to the darkside. As penalty, he is forever ex-communicated from this blog. Never again will his name be spoken from my end.

The Rivalry Still Exists

2008-12-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to dance around this one. Sports need more rivalries. They really don't exist much anymore. Not even the sacred Yankees/Red Sox rivalry was interesting this year.

Today USC head coach Pete Carroll will suit up his team in their scarlet red uniform tops against the baby-blue uniform tops of the UCLA Bruins. This is a violation of NCAA rules, which requires visiting teams to be adorned in white, costing Carroll's Trojans two timeouts, one per half. Carroll was fine forfeiting the timeouts since USC is a 33 point favorite and will likely walk to another PAC-10 championship.

Carroll purposely violated this rule because he wanted to restore the rivalry between USC and UCLA. While it came off as smug and arrogant to sacrifice two timeouts in a championship game, I think Carroll is on to something. With Rick Neuheisel taking over the reigns at UCLA, it is largely expected the Bruins will to return to prominence in college football in the not too distant future. Basically, this game that few will watch today, could be must see television for the next decade. Neuheisel is on the record saying he didn't feel disrespected by Carroll's decision and would like to encourage the rivalry building effort himself.

Last year, even before the Celtics and Lakers battled in the NBA playoffs, restoring one of the oldest and greatest rivalries in professional sports, the Lakers had a similar idea to Carroll's. As the Celtics visited Los Angeles for a regular season game, the Lakers took the court in short shorts, in homage to the way players wore them back when the Celtics/Lakers rivalry meant something. After being down at the half, the Lakers switched back to the baggy shorts for the second half, but the point was made.

Army had the same notion as they unveiled camouflage uniforms for their annual season finale against Navy this afternoon.

I can't tell you how much I like this concept. Rivalries are what make sports great. History and tradition are what sports are all about. The more ways organizations can find to accentuate their current rivalries or restore older ones, the better. It takes away from the 'me' concept in sports and brings back the 'team' concept.

I think this trend will only continue to increase and for good reason. The excitement built around a good rivalry game is unparalleled by much in sports. I hope coaches everywhere take note of what is going on and implement their own twist to expand their biggest rivalry.

Yes We Can!

2008-12-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

So much has been made about the controversy at the top of the College Football rankings. Since the No 1. and No 2. ranked teams are automatically awarded bids to the National Championship Game (and those rankings are determined by a computer) it hasn't been received as the fairest way to solve a season. Every year we have this argument and every year more and more people who don't understand the system start marching on City Hall that there should be a play-off system.

As this year draws to a close we have the undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide sitting atop the rankings with a slew of one-loss teams following, all crying about not getting a chance to play for a national title. Last year Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops complained to every media outlet he could find about the atrocity that is the BCS rankings. This year, with his Sooners ranked No. 2 by the computers (even though they lost to the team ranked directly below them, Texas, who also only has one loss) Stoops has been quieter than Notre Dame's offense.

Now I can sit back and listen to all the sports talk shows debate the need for a play-off system all day long, but I was taken aback when the President-Elect of the United States, Barack Obama said during an interview that he would "throw his weight around" in order to get a play-off implemented during his stay in the Oval Office. I thought the President had duties like running the country and being Commander-in-Chief. I had to read the Declaration of Independence twice but I did actually find the clause where our Forefathers wanted to implement a play-off system and that's why we were breaking away from England.

How about instead of worrying about something that is merely providing Las Vegas with more gambling revenue you worry about something that makes a difference in young men and women's lives. In March of this year the United States Army implemented the Alternate Service Option to allow exceptional athletes in their program to avoid their mandatory two years of active duty and go directly to the pros. The program stipulates that cadets serving two years in the professional ranks of sports could serve six years of reserve time instead.

Citing this rule, the Detroit Lions drafted Army defensive stud Caleb Campbell in the seventh round of the NFL Draft this past April. It provided for a feel good story as Campbell walked down the runway at Radio City Music Hall in New York City to thousands of fans screaming, "USA, USA" at the top of their lungs. Campbell did a quick interview with ESPN who quickly got Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli on the phone. Marinelli, a Veteran of Vietnam, told Campbell to "be in shape and ready to tackle" when he reported to camp.

Then, on the eve of the day Campbell was scheduled to report to Lions Training Camp, the Department of Defense reversed the ruling, saying Campbell would need to serve two active years before being eligible to return to the NFL. They claimed the Alternate Service Option was unfair to Campbell's classmates and those in the Navy and Air Force who did not have the option of playing in the NFL directly and avoiding the perils of war in Iraq.

I can't think of a more egregious act. At least honor the commitment you made allowing Campbell to pursue his dream, just as he honored his commitment to serve his country thus far. If the rule is unfair, then abolish it from this point forward, but to retroactively take away Campbell's shot at the pros is disgraceful.

If President Obama really wants to make a splash, he should investigate this scenario and re-implement the Alternate Service Option. For Campbell, his shot is likely over as the Lions season nears completion but future cadets can benefit from this. America prides itself on learning from its mistakes and correcting them in the future. Could Obama 'throw his weight around' and get this taken care of? Yes He Can! And yes he should.

Hot Stove League

2008-11-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

The Major League Baseball off season is one of the most captivating off season's in sports. On the very first day of NFL free agency, virtually every big name signed. Not in baseball. We are ten days into the free agent market and thus far none of the big names are even reportedly close to signing. The intricacies of the MLB regulations are quite confusing. Here is a crash course in everything you could possibly wonder about baseball's off season.

Free Agency
Players are eligible for free agency after they have accumulated six years of Major League service, provided they have not signed a contract.

Arbitration
Players are eligible for salary arbitration after three years of Major League service. Before three years, organizations can renew a contract of a player for any amount they see fit, provided it is at least the league minimum.

Any player with an expiring contract who is unable to reach a new deal can be offered arbitration by their current organization. If the player accepts, the team and player will exchange salary figures until a deal is reached or taken to a hearing. If the player declines arbitration, the team will receive draft pick compensation from the team who signs the player. Two draft picks are awarded for Type A free agents and one draft pick is awarded for Type B free agents.

Rule 5 Draft
Any player signed at the age of 19 or older has four years to be placed on a Major League 40-Man roster. Any player signed at the age of 18 or younger has five years to be placed on a Major League 40-Man roster. If the player is not on a 40-Man roster at this point, they are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. The draft order is determined by the previous season's standings, with the team with the worst record selecting first.

If a team selects a player in the Rule 5 Draft, they must keep them on their Major League roster for the entire season or return the player back to the team they selected them from. It costs $50,000 to select a player in the Rule 5 Draft.

Japanese Posting System
Any player under contract in the Nippon Professional Baseball league wishing to play in the MLB must following the Posting process. The Japanese league team will notify the Commissioner who then notifies all 30 MLB teams. Teams then submit sealed bids to the Commissioner. The Commissioner then notifies the NPB of the highest bid, without revealing which team has submitted it. The NPB team has four days to accept or reject the bid. If accepted, the MLB team then has 30 days to negotiate exclusively with the player's representatives. If a contract is reached the posting fee is paid directly to the NPB team. If a contract is not reached, no money is paid to the NPB team.

So there it is. Without a salary cap, baseball organizations have always seemed simple to run, however you can see how complicated it can get. Any questions or further clarifications needed? Comment on this post and I'll be glad to further explain any of the above.

Stop It! Stop It Now! Just Stop It!

2008-11-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

I've bitten my tongue long enough. I can no longer sit in silence while this travesty takes place around me. The most over used and wrongly used phrase in sports has been taken to an entirely new level of wrong.

After last night's Monday Night Football game saw the Arizona Cardinals defeat the San Francisco 49ers by stopping Michael Robinson from the 2 yard line as time expired, the ill forsaken phrase was uttered, "Walk-Off Goal Line Stand".

Come on. Really? That's the best you could come up with?

It's the second time in a week where the infamous "Walk-Off" phrase was uttered when it shouldn't have even entered the mind of the play-by-play man. Last week, when Brandon Roy of the Portland Trailblazers hit a 30 footer at the buzzer to sink the Houston Rockets, it was described as a "Walk-off three pointer".

Two years ago, the NHL issued statements to networks covering the NHL (yup, all both of them) to address any goal scored in the sudden-death overtime period as "skate-off goals". This is by far the most asinine thing I have heard since Mike Tyson's farewell to boxing speech.

I won't single out individual broadcasters because it is poor taste and everyone is doing it. This epidemic needs to stop. It's not cool and you're not cool for saying it.

There is one sport and one sport only which can use this phrase and it is baseball. They coined it first and it fits the sport. Baseball would never describe a low-scoring game as a defensive struggle because they have their own terms, like pitcher's duel.

I understand the meaning they are trying to convey, but be a little more creative and let baseball have this phrase. The sport is suffering enough through suspended title clinching games, horrid weather delays and lower ratings than Who's The Boss reruns. ESPN does a tremendous job filling the public's thirst for sports information but their on air personalities are becoming too cute while trying to become celebrities. Report the news and move on.

I'm glad we had this talk. Now don't do it again

PS. An apology to Phillies fans for the Joe Carter photo, but let's be honest, you've gotten a little too smug over the last week. Just bringing you back to reality.

Didn't See That One Coming

2008-11-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

Buckey Dent and Aaron Boone move over.

Chase Utley joined an elite club of Major League Baseball players yesterday. What club you ask? The infamous middle name club. Order the new social security card, because Chase Cameron Utley no longer exists. From this point forward, he will forever be known as Chase F. Utley.

During the Philadelphia Phillies 2008 World Series Champion parade and subsequent ceremony at Citizens Bank Park, Utley was given the microphone by Hall of Fame voice of the Phillies Harry Kalas.

Chase matter of factly proclaimed, "World Champions". After pausing a second and looking at his teammates behind him, he shouted, "World F@%king Champions". The stadium erupted in cheers while parents everywhere turned as white as Casper the Ghost on this Halloween Day.

Many have criticized the Phils' second baseman for his remarks. Last time I checked this was America, where the freedom of speech is a right everyone has.

As a role model in the city of Philadelphia, should he have chose his words more carefully? Perhaps. There's no reason to use that type of language with thousands of children present and millions more watching live on television, where censors were caught unprepared for the atomic f-bomb, letting it air on virtually every news channel in Philadelphia. The crazy thing is that Chase Utley was the one who said it. Had those words come from Pat Burrell's mouth no one would have even blinked.

I hate to break it you but anyone who has ever attended a sporting event in Philadelphia has heard a thousand times worse language from every mean and rotten fan guzzling down beer after beer. Utley epitomizes the true Philadelphian. He's a bring your lunch pale to work kinda guy. He's got long hair, facial hair and ain't afraid to get dirty. Just because you speak one way doesn't mean that's who you are. Language has evolved in the 21st century and Utley's remarks weren't all that horrible.

Rugged on the outside, Utley, like so many Philadelphians, has a sincere and genuine inside. He works wonders in the community and has donated more money to various charitable organizations than most of us combined. We all have our faults and no one is perfect, but for the city of Philadelphia, Chase is the perfect representation of this city.

A Sigh of Relief

2008-10-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

At the University of Florida in 1965, researchers created a drink designed to better hydrate the football team during the relentless heating during two-a-days.

Paying homage to the University that employed them, they named their creation "Gatorade" after the schools mascot, the Gator. Forty three years later, Gatorade is on of the most successful beverage companies in the world.

Rumor has is that the University of Notre Dame had a similar creation which they called Irishade. Common folk may refer to it as whiskey.

All kidding aside, I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude at how fortunate we were that Gainsville had the researchers that created Gatorade.

Without further adieu, the ten worst alternative colleges or universities that could have created Gatorade.

10. Chanticleerade
(Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers, Conway, South Carolina)
No one would drink that.

9. Anteaterade
(University of California-Irvine Anteaters, Irvine, California)
Who doesn't love an anteater?

8. Banana Slugade
(University of California-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, Santa Cruz, California)
Really? Banana Slugs? Are you f@#%!$ kidding me?

7. Eeph-Ade
(Williams College Eephs, Williamstown, Massachusetts)
I've actually been to Williams College. Their mascot is a giant purple cow.

6. Missionarie-Ade
(Whitman College Missionaries, Walla Walla, Washington)
Pfizer got the naming rights to that one. Viva Viagra!

5. Trojanade
(University of Southern California Trojans, Los Angeles, California)
There's entirely too many inappropriate comments for this one.

4. Nad-Ade
(Rhode Island School of Design Nads, Providence, Rhode Island)
The official sponsor of jock straps everywhere

3. Flying Dutchmenade
(Hofstra University Flying Dutchmen, Hempstead, New York)
Honus Wagner just sat up in his grave an applauded.

2. Purple Pride-Ade
(Nyack College, Nyack, New York)
Not that there's anything wrong with that.

1. Cockade
(University of South Carolina Gamecocks, Columbia, South Carolina)
I'm not touching that one, no pun intended.

So stay hydrated America, and breath a sigh of relief when you reach for that Gatorade, for the alternatives could have been much, much worse.

Week 3

2008-09-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

I improved from Week 1 but still a pretty bad week. Six wins, eight losses and one push.

ATL 6 KC
MY PICK = ATL

BUF 9.5 OAK
MY PICK = BUF

TEN 5.5 HOU
MY PICK = HOU

NYG 13.5 CIN
MY PICK = CIN

WAS 3 ARZ
MY PICK = ARZ

NE 13 MIA
MY PICK = MIA

CHI 3 TB
MY PICK = CHI

MIN 3.5 CAR
MY PICK = CAR

SEA 10 STL
MY PICK = STL

SF 4 DET
MY PICK = SF

DEN 6 NO
MY PICK = NO

PHI 3.5 PIT
MY PICK = PIT

IND 5.5 JAC
MY PICK = IND

BAL 2.5 CLE
MY PICK = CLE

DAL 3 GB
MY PICK = DAL

SD 9 NYJ
MY PICK = NYJ

Hindsight is 20/20

2008-09-18T16:15:00.001-07:00

Ten years and ten days ago, the nation turned its watchful eye on St. Louis, Missouri where baseball history was made.

For many it was the first time since the 1994 player strike that they had given baseball the time of day. Many had sworn off the game forever. As an eleven year old boy I read the newspaper every morning as I slurped up the remaining milk from my daily bowl of Rice Krispies.

I wasn't concerned with the goings-on of the world around me. The truth was I couldn't care less about the escalating tension in the Middle East. I discarded every page dealing with legitimate journalism. Instead, I turned directly to the one page that could have been compiled by a monkey with a typewriter.

The box scores were all I cared about.

I hadn't developed the gambling addiction I carry today and the heart pounding fear I have when I check box scores now with my rent money on the line. The winners of the previous night's games worried me very little. Sure I checked to see if my beloved Cleveland Indians had managed to outscore their opponents but my focus was off the American League. The Senior Circuit reigned supreme in the nineteen hundred and ninety-eighth year of the last millennium. And two players in particular stood above the cut.

Big Mac and Slammin' Sammy.

When Mark McGwire finally hit the 62nd home run of the season, I sat wide eyed with amazement as the opposition, Mickey Morandini and Mark Grace extended their right hands for the congratulatory handshake. It was truly a life altering moment for me.

Fast forward to the present where we now know that the hallowed 61 home runs in a season record was broken using performance enhancing substances. I was always a fan of baseball but that moment thrust me into a full on obsession with baseball that has yet to subside.

I feel cheated.

It's like learning on your 21st birthday that you are really 22 and the monumental birthday that separates man from boy is no more.

What McGwire and Sosa did in the summer of '98 was magical and brought the game of baseball to where it is today, but the consequences of that statistical anomaly also known as the record breaking season have forever altered baseball history.

Week 2

2008-09-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

I took last week on the chin, going a dismal 4-11. I'm predicting at least 8 wins this week.

KC 3.5 OAK
MY PICK = OAK

CIN 1 TEN
MY PICK = CIN

IND 2 MIN
MY PICK = IND

NO 1 WAS
MY PICK = NO

GB 3 DET
MY PICK = DET

CAR 3 CHI
MY PICK = CAR

NYG 9 STL
MY PICK = STL

JAC 5.5 BUF
MY PICK = JAC

TB 7 ATL
MY PICK = ATL

SEA 7 SF
MY PICK = SF

ARZ 7 MIA
MY PICK = ARZ

NYJ 1 NE
MY PICK = NYJ

HOU 4.5 BAL
MY PICK = BAL

SD 1 DEN
MY PICK = SD

PIT 6 CLE
MY PICK = CLE

DAL 7 PHI
MY PICK = PHI

Week 1

2008-09-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

Every Friday I will pick each NFL game for the upcoming Sunday. Lines are courtesy of BoDogLife.com

CIN 2.5 BAL
MY PICK = CIN
NYJ 3 MIA
MY PICK = NYJ
NE 17 KC
MY PICK = NE
PIT 6.5 HOU
MY PICK = PIT
JAC 3 TEN
MY PICK = JAC
DET 3 ATL
MY PICK = DET
BUF 1 SEA
MY PICK = SEA
NO 3.5 TB
MY PICK = NO
PHI 8 STL
MY PICK = STL
DAL 6 CLE
MY PICK = CLE
SD 9 CAR
MY PICK = SD
ARZ 3 SF
MY PICK = SF
IND 10 CHI
MY PICK = IND
GB 2 MIN
MY PICK = MIN
DEN 3 OAK
MY PICK = DEN

Ocho Cinco

2008-09-04T15:28:00.001-07:00

It's official. The Cincinnati Bengals no longer have a player on their roster named Chad Johnson. After an off-season full of distraction, the Bengals have finally removed Johnson from their roster. Unhappy with his contract, Johnson demanded a trade and threatened to sit out regular season games.

I'll take this opportunity to break another story from within the same team. The Bengals have a new No. 1 wide receiver in their clubhouse. His name you ask? Chad Ocho Cinco. Johnson officially changed his name from Chad Johnson to Chad Ocho Cinco. His new surname will appear on his jersey during games, as seen above.

Never has the NFL seen a character quite like Chad. They've fined him for his over-the-top celebrations after touchdowns. The "No Fun League" as Chad likes to refer to it has made several attempts to suppress the joy with which Chad plays. To sidestep their rigidness, Chad will now be officially referred to by announcers, in the media guide, and on his paycheck as Chad Ocho Cinco.

I love players expressing their individuality and think the precedent and defiance Ocho Cinco is showing is really going to stir the pot. The NFL kicks off its season tonight and with so many question marks in the league, anything is possible.

Value, Value, Value

2008-08-19T14:45:00.001-07:00

Six weeks remain in the Major League Baseball season. Six weeks for the best of the best to prove their worth. It's tradition that each league names a MostValuable Player at season's end. This year's pool of possible winners is so tightly packed that even Bret Favre admitted he wouldn't want to make this decision.

The argument comes down to your interpretation of the letters MVP. Most valuable is vastly different than most outstanding, which is how most people vote.

The Philadelphia Phillies have dominated the award the past two seasons with Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins each taking home the hardware. After two months of this season, it looked as though thePhils would three-peat as Chase Utley was on another planet. Nagging injuries have brought Utley's numbers back to reality. Coupled with Howard and outfielder Pat Burrell's success, Utley's value in the line-up is not the strongest.

I love Ryan Braun. In only his second year of big league service he is putting up Ruthian numbers. His 31 home runs are impressive but with only 86 RBI, the majority of his destruction occurs with no one on base. Speaking of no one on base,Braun walks less than Stephen Hawking, evidenced by his .340 OBP. Compare that to Burrell, while only batting .266, his OBP is .393.

Manny Ramirez has only been in the National League for two weeks, so he's out.

The Cubs have gathered the National League's best record by utilizing a balanced attack. Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano have fueled off each other's success though no one has stood out as the most valued in Pinella's line-up.

So who's the last man standing? Albert Pujols. He's batting .348 with an OBP of .459. He's walked twice as many times as he's struck out. He's launched 27 dingers and is slugging .617. The Cardinals line-up is anything but threatening, yet Pujols has made everyone around him better. That's how I define an MVP.

If the Cardinals fail to make the playoffs, we'll see how much the baseball writer's think of Pujols' value. I'd be willing to put my money on Albert being named MVP regardless of how St. Louis finishes in the standings.

Manny being Manny

2008-08-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

"Where's Manny?"

The answer to this question depends on two things: who's asking it and what's going on?

The final week of July, Red Sox skipper Tito Francona would have answered this with, "I wish I knew."

In the top of the ninth of Monday's game against the Phillies, Joe Torre's answer was, "In the can."

The latest 'Manny being Manny' moment has added to the infamy of one of the greatest hitters the game of baseball has ever seen. Since being acquired by the Dodgers, Ramirez is hitting .476 (20-42) with 4 HR and 14 RBI in just 11 games.

Ask any member of the American League East the same question and they'll likely smile as they respond, "3,000 miles west."

Boston's 19 run output last night might not indicate how much Ramirez is missed in Beantown, but time will tell as the Red Sox attempt to defend their World Championship.

Absent minded at times, Ramirez is in a zone that most hitters never experience in a career. His offensive outburst has kept the boys in blue in the National League West race and forced the first place Diamondbacks to acquire outfielder Adam Dunn from the Reds. LA is caught up with Manny Fever as the surrounding line-up has benefited exponentially from his mere presence.
His notorious lack of hustle doesn't matter when the ball lands in the stands.

While the rise in contracts to nine figures has placed more responsibility and added a sense of professionalism to baseball, let's not forget that this is a game. In my 20 years of watching America's pastime, I can't say I've witnessed a player having more fun on the diamond than Manny.

Next week, the answer to the million dollar question will be, "At the barber."
Torre informed Manny of his affinity for a clean cut look. Manny immediately agreed and said he didn't want any preferential treatment.

While some may be annoyed by his antics, I will watch every second of the remainder of his prolific career. There may never be a player like Manny again. On the last Sunday of July, five years after Manny hangs up his spikes, the answer to the question will be one word, "Cooperstown".

They say a picture's worth a thousand words. This one left me speechless.

Learning from the Past

2008-08-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Sources close to the Red Sox are reporting the reigning World Champs are interested in signing former Cleveland Indian closer Joe Borowski.

I can only offer these words of advice to Sox GM Theo Epstein: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

Have you forgotten the terror that was Eric Gagne last year? Not only were you forced to give up a legitimate starting pitcher in Kasson Gabbard, but you got literally no return for it. Terry Francona placed his misguided faith with the erratic Gagne all the way through the ALCS. It took the Fenway Park mound filing a restraining order against Gagne, requiring him to stay 100 yards away from the rubber at all times for the BoSox to win the World Series.

So if you can't learn from the past, let me explain to you why signing Joe Borowski is literally the worst possible move you can make. His fastball is slower than Jamie Moyer's and has less movement than Bartolo Colon's. He's a fly-ball pitcher in a park where the left field fence is 314 feet away. In a year and a half in Cleveland, Borowski amassed an ERA over 5.50. His WHIP in 2008, was nearly 2.00. He allows more home runs than Nuke LaLoosh when Crash Davis tells the hitter the deuce is coming.

I know the market for relief pitching is thin, but the risk/reward here is not tilting in the Red Sox favor. I never smoked a cigarette in my life until I saw Borowski take the ball for his first save opportunity two April's ago. I now smoke a pack a day. Terry Francona lost 15 lbs dealing with the phenomena that is Manny Ramirez. Now that Manny is wearing Dodger blue, have mercy on Tito. A man's health is at stake here. Say NO to JoeBo.

Just Doesn't Look Right

2008-07-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

On a day that we saw two future Hall of Famers, who combine for over 1100 home runs, change caps, I must say I'm having a hard time dealing with it. Ken Griffey Jr is in his 20th year of Major League service. He spent 11 years with the Seattle Mariners and the last 9 with Cincinnati. Now, Junior takes his act to the South Side of Chicago and back to center field as well.

Manny Ramirez takes the "Manny being Manny" show to LA. Like Griffey, Manny has played for only two teams during his 16-year career, eight each with the Indians and Red Sox. The eccentric slugger will now take orders from Joe Torre. A clash of the titans could be in store as Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa is notorious for riding guys who don't hustle. It will be interesting to see how the remaining 8 weeks of the season play out.

I'd like to see Griffey get to play in the World Series, but seeing him in black pin stripes is going to take some getting used to.

Gateway to the West

2008-07-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

While many have credited the St. Louis Cardinals success this season to manager Tony La Russa, the real reason for their success sits five feet to the right of him on the pine. Not many figured the Cardinals would be players for the National League Central crown when camps broke last Spring. Aside from the model-of-consistency that is Albert Pujols, the Red Birds were full of question marks. The most prominent being: How are we going to find 5 guys to throw in the rotation?

With Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder sidelined with injury, the outlook looked bleak. So the Cards signed Kyle Lohse as an insurance policy for their dismal rotation. Braden Looper, Joel Piniero and Todd Wellemeyer don't exactly frighten hitters.

Enter Dave Duncan.

With his son roaming around in left field, Duncan has transformed his staff into the '05 ChiSox. They throw deep into games and allow minimal base runners. Kyle Lohse looks less and less like Eric Milton and more and more like Bob Gibson every time he toes the rubber.

Duncan is the only active pitching coach who didn't pitch during his big league career. He caught for the A's, Indians and Orioles and batted only .214. The 62 year old was responsible for the out-of-nowhere resurgence of Jeff Weaver during his teams '06 World Series run. That team however, was equipped with Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter.

With Carpenter scheduled to return in early August, Duncan may get some time off while the Cardinals make the push for the post season. La Russa may get most of the credit, but Duncan's work can be seen nightly in St. Louis. Without him, the Cardinals would be the cellar dwellers everyone expected them to be.

Dutch

2008-07-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the poor picture quality (my photog had one too many jager bombs in them), but last week I had the privilege to meet former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton.

"Dutch" as he was commonly referred to as, was one of the nicer professional athletes I've met. He showed off his Florida Marlins '97 World Series ring and reminisced about his favorite characters from the Phillies. We laughed til it hurt as he told story after story of Krukie and Dykstra. One thing I took away from our conversation was how much enjoyment Daulton had as he told his stories. He truly loves the game and had a blast while he was playing.

Retirement looks to have treated Dutchie well. His golden tan and massive physique have not diminished since his playing days have ended. Plug him into any line-up today and he could rake with the best of them...and have a hell of a lot of fun doing it as well.

Bring Back the Juice

2008-07-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

How pitiful is tonight's line-up for the State Farm Home Run Derby from Yankee Stadium? The lead-off hitter from the last place team in the AL Central is competing. True, Grady Sizemore is leading the Junior Circuit in four-baggers but come on. If you're going to rid the game of steroids then get rid of the home run derby. Instead, have a sacrifice bunt derby, or a work-the-count-and-draw-a-walk derby. The days of Big Mac and Slammin' Sammy crushing balls out of the stadium are long gone. Major League Baseball should bring back all those suspected steroid users and put them on display.

Official Prediction: Dan Uggla defeats Lance Berkman in the final round, winning a home in Miami for one lucky individual who will then negotiate relocating said home to somewhere where he can draw better.

Exercise in Caution

2008-07-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

At the risk of beating a dead horse, I will offer my two cents once again at the impending C.C. Sabathia deal.

Cleveland is overly optimistic that they will be able to re-sign the south paw at season's end. When the '08 campaign commenced, Sabathia was clearly distracted by his possible free agency. He regained his Cy Young winning form since April and has been virtually unhittable in his last 8 starts. The lack-luster Indian offense has been unable to pick him up resulting in a sub .500 record for Sabathia.

So Tribe GM Mark Shapiro is in a belts and suspenders situation. Clearly the Indians have nothing to play for, yet upsetting the fanbase could result in decreased season ticket sales. So while I would like to see a return in top notch pitching prospects from a potential trade partner, the two draft picks Cleveland would acquire by losing Sabathia to free agency could prove to be worth it given the Indians excellent draft history.

A healthy Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook could team with Cliff Lee and Aaron Laffey to form a dominant rotation. Increased offense is much more critical, given the Indians needs.

So man up, Mr. Shapiro. Given an inevitable lose-lose situation, exercise caution and prove that no matter what, you are confident in your decision regardless of its analysis from the press. The Eerie Warriors have a tremendous core and while Sabathia's loss would be felt not only on the field but in the locker room, forcing the young athletes to assume more prominent roles may deem beneficial in the long run.

Bucking the Trend

2008-06-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

Many Philadelphia Phillies fans were caught scratching their heads when the Phils failed to lock up first baseman Ryan Howard to a long term deal this off season. The perplexity turned to hostility as Howard got off to a horrendous start to the '08 campaign. The lack of financial security for the former NL MVP appeared to have derailed his focus. Howard was awarded the largest one year contract ever in arbitration, $10 million.

Phillies' GM Pat Gillick announced he would be retiring at season's end. So why not get Howard inked long-term and let it be someone else's problem down the road?

The truth is, Gillick may have been ahead of the curve as he declined to pay the big bucks for the masher in the middle of the line-up. The post-steroid era power outage in the big leagues this year has changed the offensive philosophy of many teams.

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia has agreed quite well with hitters since opening in 2004. Problem is, the Phitins have struggled to find the pitching consistency necessary to exceed in post-season play. Offense can win you an NL East crown, but without pitching you can't expect to win a pennant.

So with LF Pat Burrell in the final year of his contract, it appears the Phils will have some money to throw at starting pitching in the off-season. Chase Utley was signed to a seven year, $85 million deal because of his ability to hit for average as well as tattoo balls into the cheap seats.

Conventional wisdom would say pay the man who won Rookie of the Year and followed that up with an MVP award. But Gillick's experience, wisdom, and intestinal fortitude allowed him to stand pat (pun intended) and keep his team in a position to succeed for a long time.

So Long, C.C.

2008-06-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

Throughout this dismal year, the Cleveland Indians have maintained that they will not trade reigning AL Cy Young winner CC Sabathia. Despite a sub .500 record and a firm grip on last place in their division, the Tribe still hold high hopes that they will re-sign Sabathia.

Experts predict the big lefty will get moved before next month's trading deadline. While any potential deals are merely speculation, the Phildaelphia Phillies have the prospects and motivation to make a deal.

If there are two organizations in baseball that I know inside and out, it's the Indians and Phillies.

So here's the deal:

Phillies acquire
LHP Carsten Charles Sabathia
OF David Dellucci

Indians acquire
RHP Carlos Carrasco
OF Shane Victorino

Carrasco is projected as a front of the rotation guy with a fastball he can run up to 96 mph, a plus change up and devastating curve ball. He lacks command of all three which is the only reason he isn't pitching for Philadelphia today. Cleveland will have contractual control over him for several years and won't be losing that much if he pans out as expected.

Victorino plays exceptional defense and was born with a genetic mutation that resulted with a cannon for a right arm. He controls the bat well and uses the entire field. More importantly his salary is $480,000 this season. He is a high-energy guy who could team with Grady Sizemore to form one of the most athletic outfields in baseball. Imagine all the Web Gems.

Sabathia is looking for a contract similar to that of former Cy Young winners Johan Santana and Barry Zito. The small market Indians don't have the bank to pay Sabathia especially as they eat $11 million of Jake Westbrook's contract as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Given CC's rather large physique, guaranteeing him anything past 4 years is a huge risk.

If Sabathia is merely a rental player for the stretch run, he will command much less than the prospect packages the Twins received for Santana and the A's received from Arizona for Dan Haren this past winter. As a compromise the Indians would be wise to package Dellucci and his $4 million contract for next season as he has largely been a disappointment.

The loss of Sabathia would be nauseating, however Cleveland will offer shots of Pepto Bismol to the first 10,000 fans in attendance. My guess is they may have a few left over.

Joba the Ace?

2008-06-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

The Yankees have won 7 straight games. Alert the media. Is it possible that the mighty Bronx Bombers are going under the radar as they chase the Boston Red Sox and (gulp) Tampa Bay Rays?

They do still sit 5 full games behind the defending World Series champions. And they are dealing with inconsistent pitching from their young studs who they counted on excelling when they balked at a Johan Santana trade in February. Their ace, Chien-Ming Wang has injured his foot and will be out until at least September.

So how have they done it?

One word is sweeping the city so nice they named it twice: JOBA. Since Hank Steinbrenner complained that only an "idiot" would leave Chamberlain in the pen, the 22 yr old flamethrower has been stellar under treacherous conditions.

Imagine you were great at what you did for a living. Imagine you were so good and dominant that you were scheduled to replace the greatest closer of all time and no one was even sweating. Then imagine you are thrown into a completely different role and expected to resurrect the franchise. Not exactly a walk in Central Park.

So what has Joba done since his inclusion into the rotation? Limited by pitch count as they cautiously transition him to pitching every 5th day, Joba has been electric. The fear of losing significant velocity throughout a start has been non-existent. Last night he threw fastball after fastball past the San Diego Padres en route to striking out 9 over 5 and 2/3 innings.

The Yankees are about to get a tremendous momentum boost as the host the Mid-Summer Classic for the last time in the House that Ruth Built. It's true they may be on the elder side but with a young, fiery upstart skipper in Girardi and the best player on the planet in A-Rod they are on the verge of exploding. As heart-warming a story as the Rays have, it seems inevitable they will fade down the stretch. If Joba keeps on his torrent pace, he may be able to pitch the Yanks right into the World Series.

Never underestimate Cashman's ability to go out and add pitcher or another bat off the bench to try and catapult the team into a winning streak. With CC Sabathia on the market, look for those once untouchable pitchers, Hughes and Kennedy to be dangled to the Tribe for the best left-handed pitcher in the American League.

Wrong vs Right

2008-06-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's human nature to want things to go well and be in control. When facing something we don't want to do, most people will attempt to resolve the situation and make it more enjoyable. But there's a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. If you are a believer in karma you know what I'm talking about. And if you're not, look no further than what transpired last night as a perfect example.

Last off season, when it appeared the Los Angeles Lakers would be staring at another mediocre season, Kobe Bryant when on Stephen A. Smith's radio show letting the world know he wanted to be traded. He had given up on his team. With the league's largest contract and most talent, Kobe was immovable from the get-go. He threatened to sit out the entire season and ripped his teammates and the front office.

After the way the city of Los Angeles supported him during his sexual assault trial, I would say bailing on LA was immature. Nevertheless, he did what he felt was best for him.

Now let's take the red-eye to the east coast where the Lakers' biggest rival calls home. In Boston, Paul Pierce was also dealing with an identity crisis coming off the worst season in Celtics' franchise history. Pierce grew up rooting for the Lakers and wanted to get back to his roots on the West Coast. With a much more sensible contract, he could have easily demanded a trade to get out of Beantown.

So the General Managers of each franchise set out to surround their star players with the necessary talent to better the team and make their guys happy. Mitch Kupchak acquired Pau Gasol while Danny Ainge got Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

Both teams sailed through their respective conferences and arrived at the NBA Finals. It was a hard fought series but in the end the better team won.

Last night the Celtics captured the NBA Title for all the right reasons. So this off season, for karma's sake Kobe, keep your mouth shut.

Junior Griffey

2008-06-02T16:58:00.000-07:00

When I was six years old, I thought I was Ken Griffey Jr. I wore my hat backwards and held my bat by the barrel instead of the handle as I swaggered to the plate. I drove my friends insane as I described every play I made as "Junior-esque". I would hit long fly balls into the neighbor's shrubs (also known as the green monster) and unstrap my gloves and admire my bomb with three steps before breaking into my home run trot. I wore No. 24 in little league and played center field. I told everyone I would be the next Ken Griffey Jr.

Until it was pointed out to me that Griffey was a southpaw and I unfortunately was north-pawed.

Not many things can devastate a six year old. Aside from the green Power Ranger being killed off the show, I cannot recall any more demoralizing event during my youth. Fortunately, I was able to overcome this travesty. My admiration for Junior has wavered as he's been banished to baseball obscurity, also known as Cincinnati. But no longer.

Tomorrow night at this time I will be sitting somewhere in the bleachers at Citizens Bank Park hoping to witness history. For the great Ken Griffey Jr has amassed 599 home runs throughout his stellar career. If Griffey does hit one tomorrow, it will make him only the sixth human being to hit 600 home runs. I've seen my share of ballgames in my day, but to see Griffey up close will cross off one of my biggest "to-do's" in sports. I have a feeling another home run may cross off one of Griffey's "to-do's" as well.

Pace of Game

2008-05-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

I had to share this quote with you. Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland on the pace of game memo handed down from the Commissioner's Office, "I'm not looking for trouble, I honor whatever the Commissioner does. If he wants me to do jumping jacks on the way to the mound, I'll do it. I'll do a cartwheel. I'll be glad to do it. I might look like a fool, but I'll do it.

Crafting a Winner

2008-05-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

I’ve just won the lottery, $300 million. Enough to purchase the lowly Florida Marlins perhaps.

If I were to buy a Major League franchise, here’s what I would do. First off, I would be the owner/general manager ala Jerry Jones with the Dallas Cowboys.

We’ll use the Marlins for this example since they have the lowest payroll at the moment and have just agreed upon a new deal with the city of Miami for a new stadium.

I’d make sure I had a say in the ballpark development. The recent post-steroid era power outage in baseball has drastically changed the way the game is played. No longer is the best logic to sit around and wait for the 3-run homer to give you the lead. Instead, small ball and manufacturing runs have come back into style.

The new ballpark would be enormous in terms of field size. The fence in center would be at least 440 ft. Down the line in right field would be 350 ft and the left field line would be close to 375 ft. The gaps in left and right center would be a minimum of 400 ft.

It sounds insane but let’s not forget that the original dimensions of Yankee Stadium before its renovation in the ‘70s was 457 to left center, 461 to dead center and 407 to right center. These were the dimensions of the yard that Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Lou Gehrig and all the great Yankees hitters launched balls out of.

I would grow the infield grass high and slope the dirt toward the grass so all bunted balls remained fair.

My first goal to compiling my roster would be to get the two best catchers money could buy. Do you think it’s a coincidence that virtually every big league manager is an ex-catcher? Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, Mike Scioscia, Eric Wedge, and Jim Leyland were all backstops during their playing careers.

I firmly believe that a team is only as strong as it’s back-up catcher. The position is so brutal that you need to give your starter plenty of days off in order to keep him healthy and sane. So get the best two you can and teach them both to play first base. That way when one’s behind the dish you can DH the other or put him at first to spell him but still keep his bat in the line-up.

The rest of my positional players will all be guys who can handle the bat and hustle hard through every play. My dream line-up would consist of nothing but No. 2 hitters. In a ballpark as big as the one I’m proposing, concede the fact that you won’t be a home run hitting team and instead sign guys who can go the other way with two strikes, beat out infield singles, and sacrifice runners to the next base.

Derek Jeter and Placido Polanco are two guys who come to mind when it comes to doing whatever it takes to get on base or drive in a runner. They may not be the most gifted athletes, but they maximize what God gave them and have turned it into exceptional careers.

I want speed in the outfield as they will need to cover much more ground than your typical outfielder. Adam Dunn isn’t going to cut it in this ballpark; I don’t care if he can hit the ball a mile. Ideally, I would put three center fielders in my outfield and rotate them weekly at each position.

The size of the field wouldn’t limit my pitching staff to one specific type of pitcher. I would love to have a handful of sinker-ball pitchers as they tend to induce more ground balls and double plays. Another favorable aspect about sinker ball pitchers is they tend to work quickly. They don’t waste much time between pitches. They develop a rhythm that the infielders are fond of.

It’s a new era in Major League Baseball and General Managers across the league should take note of the changes. It’s my prediction that pure home run hitters will not receive as lucrative contracts as the players who can hit for average. Hanley Ramirez is arguably the best player in baseball and he hasn’t even peeked yet. On the open market it was predicted he would command around $200 million. Instead, he extended his contract with Florida for only $70 million and Hanley isn’t just a home run hitter.

You wait and see, the World Series champion this year will be a team that does the little things and it will change the course of baseball for the next decade.

Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God you know me and have access to my dementia?

2008-05-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

I haven't been sleeping lately. Maybe it's the change in climate, or the fact that my workload just doubled, but I've found it increasingly difficult to recharge my batteries at night. As a result, I've utilized my insomnia and focused my attention on the only love in my life, the Cleveland Indians.

After last night's shutout of the Oakland Athletics, the Tribe's starters have recorded 34 consecutive scoreless innings. Nine innings each from Carmona and Lee, 7 and a third from Byrdie, and seven each from Sabathia and Laffey. As thrilled as I am with the recent performances, I must say it worries me horribly as well.

Last year Cleveland rode their two 19-game winners (C.C. and Fausto) into the ALCS. Only problem was, they had each fired so many innings that they ran out of bullets when it counted. Cleveland blew a 3-1 lead. In the off season Cleveland didn't make any substantial moves.

So here's my proposal. Currently Jake Westbrook is on the DL with a right rib cage muscle strain. He's scheduled to return in about three weeks. When he returns, it appears Cleveland will send Aaron Laffey back to Triple-A Buffalo. Let's keep him and utilize the dreaded 6-man rotation.

Sabathia, Carmona, Lee, Westbrook, Byrd and Laffey would not only get the job done, but with an extra day of rest over the course of the season they will make less starts and therefore be more apt to pitch well in September. This strategy could also keep Sabathia's stats down, possibly making it easier to re-sign him at season's end.

The pitchers will adjust after only a few starts and with scheduled off days and rain outs, pitching on an extra days rest is nothing new. If someone were to succumb to an injury, just plug in Jeremy Sowers who will make a spot start Friday against Cincinnati after the rain-out on Mother's Day.

We have the resources, why not use them in an effort to maximize our potential when we need it most? The playoffs.

Inter-League Play

2008-05-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

I've spent many a work day bored out of my mind in my office and pondering ways to make Major League Baseball better. I do this so when I finally become commissioner I won't have to waste any time. This idea may need some convincing, but I like it and if you look at it with an open mind, you may as well.

I absolutely hate inter-league play. It has completely taken out the sanctity of the World Series. Nothing is worse than a World Series that includes two teams that played a home and home series in June. We'll get rid of that and instead, replace it with a divisional positioning series that begins on the last Monday of each month.

The site for each contest will be predetermined at the beginning of the year. The southern most team geographically will host the April series and the site will move north as the season progresses and temperature increases.

For this series alone, rosters will be allowed to expand to 32 players. Teams will compete in double-headers beginning on Monday and play each of the other teams in their division. The teams with the best records will then play a weekend series with 7:05 local start times. The third and fourth place teams will also play each other with 1:05 local start times. In the National League Central the fifth and sixth place teams will also play each other.

This leaves one odd team for the AL East and Central as well as the NL East and West. The fifth place teams in the mini-tournament will play each other at a neutral site predetermined based on geographical closeness.

This new format will accomplish two things. First, it will add excitement to the divisional races and help build rivalries, which in turn will help increase ticket sales. Second, it will help the weaker teams in the division catch up by directly playing those above them in the standings. The NFL has thrived on parity over the last decade (aside from the Patriots mini-signal stealing dynasty).

Of course the logistics of this idea will have to be hammered out but to compensate for the double-headers each team will have the following Monday off to rest and travel to their next destination.

It may sound whacky but I think it can work. No one loves the game of baseball more than myself, that's a bold statement but I stand behind it. I've thought about all the negative aspects of this but I think ultimately it can work.

Man Crush

2008-04-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

For the record, I'm not gay (not that there's anything wrong with that). Although I do have a crazy man-crush on Chase Utley.

I mean seriously, is there a better role model in the game of baseball than Chase Utley. I'm a Cleveland Indians fan, but Utley has stolen my heart away from Grady Sizemore (sorry Grady, you're still my boy).

Yesterday, in a series against the Cubs, Utley double clutched before firing to Howard while attempting to turn two in the 10th inning. The ball took a weird hop, eluded Howard and made its way into the dugout, allowing the Cubs runner to score the decisive run. We're all human, nobody's perfect. What impressed me most was post-error, Chase sunk down, putting both hands on his knees and his head down. It's one game, in the middle of April against a non-division opponent. Yet, Chase cares.

As an Indians fan, I've witnessed too many players who didn't care (i.e. Joey Belle and Manny Ramirez). The only thing I ask of a player, is to give your all and CARE. In the post game interview, Chase owned up to his mistake, saying it was completely his fault, he let the team down, etc, etc. All I can say, is what a stand-up guy. No one blames him for the loss. The blown call homerun by Derosa in the 6th had a larger impact than Utley's throw (which, I watched the replay 11 times, I think Howard could have had it).

Chase signed a huge contract before the '07 season and has not let down the city of Philadelphia. His nickname is 'Dirtball' because of his Charlie Hustle style of play. He and his wife are active members in the community and volunteer at animal shelters throughout Philadelphia. Billy Joel may be right in "Only the Good Die Young" but if the good guys win a World Series this year, "Dirtball" will have a large say in it.

3 Worst Words

2008-04-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

In February, I wrote a post titled "The Three Greatest Words in Sports". Well this weekend, I was unfortunately able to experience the three worst words in sports. Before I reveal that, it got me thinking what other 3 word phrases are least acoustically appreaciated. This list is not restricted to sports although my favorite ones are.

5. License and Registration
We've all heard it. It's usually accompanied by "Do you know why I pulled you over?" or "Do you know how fast you were going?". Now, if you're reading this from the male perspective you can understand why this phrase is in this category. We never get out of tickets based our flirting abilities.

4. Last Call, People
I've only been 21 for two weeks but it didn't take long for me to dread hearing this phrase. The lights flicker, everyone quiets, it's a depressing moment. The true veterans pace themselves to need another drink at this exact moment. I'm still retaining my amateur status while I pursue my dream to one day drink in the Olympics.

3. How many fingers?
Everyone, at some point or another was knocked to the ground and undoubtedbly a coach or trainer was standing over you with fingers extended, usually four asking the question: How many fingers? You have no doubt been either embarassed, or de-cleated, or any other negative word you may be fond of.

2. You're outta here.
This may be higher on Lou Pinella or Larry Bowa's personal list, but for now, I'll keep it at 2. Officials are human and can kick a call from time to time. In the heat of the moment, coaches may use some magic words that will result in them watching the rest of the game from the locker room.

1. You're still away.
I went golfing over the weekend. My playing partner was much better than myself. On a par 4, I hooked my ball into the rough off the tee. My partner hit a brilliant tee shot. My ball was burried. I grabbed my hybrid 2-iron and took a mighty whack. I was barely able to unearth the ball enough to get it back into the fairway. My partner, sitting in the cart evaluated my shot and replied, "you're still away". I cannot begin to explain the defeated feeling I was experiencing.

I consider myself a superstitious person and with the post, I hope to single handedly put the kay-bash on all my bad luck for years to come. Take that fate.

Expectations

2008-04-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Oh no! It's 2006 again!

In 2005, the youthful Cleveland Indians won 93 games and missed the playoffs by a mere 2 games. Heading into 2006, expectations were high that Cleveland would make its first postseason appearance since 2001. How did they respond? They won 78 games and finished fourth in a division they were largely regarded to run away with.

In 2007, no one knew what to think of the Indians. They had signed their young core to lengthy contracts giving them all financial security and making sure they would be together, through thick and thin. Notoriously slow starters, Cleveland got off to a tremendous start. The division lead changed hands, seemingly every week. The Tigers of Detroit were looking ferocious as ever after their disappointing World Series loss to the Cardinals the previous year.

When September came, Cleveland's inexperience didn't betray them. They won the division, tied the Red Sox for the best record in the Major's and looked poised to capture a World Series title that eluded the dominant Indian teams of the 90's.

The vaunted New York Yankees came into Cleveland and the youngsters said, "The hell with tradition." Without showing any intimidation, the Tribe systematically devoured the Yanks and marched into the ALCS to face the BoSox. After gaining a 3-1 series lead, Cleveland's dual aces showed signs of fatigue and lost the series in seven games.

So as many professional analysts picked Cleveland to win the pennant in 2008, anyone who followed the team knew to be wary.

Here's what Cleveland had going for them: Hafner had, by his standards, a forgettable 2007. No way he stumbled through '08. With Pronk mashing again in the middle of that order, it would take the pressure off of Martinez. Asdrubal Cabrera and Franklin Gutierrez gained valuable experience down the stretch last year and figured to be on the verge of breaking out. David Dellucci's injuries had subsided and his track record pointed to him having a solid year in left field. The starting rotation and bullpen were strengthened during the Spring and all signs pointed to "YES" for this to finally be the Tribe's year.

What no one looked at was what was working against the Tribe: C.C. Sabathia, in the last year of his contract, tables negotiations in order to 'focus' on the season. The 200+ innings thrown by each Sabathia and Carmona figured to have some lingering effect on the duo. Career years out of Peralta, Garko, and a plethora of timely hits seemed to have the forces of balancing leaning towards Cleveland coming back to reality in '08.

So what's happened so far in '08. That rock solid rotation has faltered. Sabathia and Byrd each own ERA's over 11.00. Borowski, blew another save in epic fashion, surrendering a walk-off grand slam to Torii Hunter. Aside from Sizemore, Tribe outfielders are hitting a miserable .147 (10-68) with only 6 RBI. Martinez strained his hamstring on opening day and has been like a UFO since (highly talked about, rarely seen).

Reigning AL Manager of the Year, Eric Wedge needs to refocus the team. Four wins in ten games aren't going to cut it in the American League Central Division. Fortunately for Cleveland, the Tigers can't discern a curveball from an apple pie. After this weekend's series with Oakland, Cleveland hosts two 2-game series with Boston and Detroit. This is where Cleveland can turn it around. I know it's early, but this team has proven that the pressure of expectations can influence them greatly. If they dig a hole too deep, they may never escape.

Opening Day

2008-03-31T06:09:00.001-07:00

Today's the day. Finally, it's here. Opening Day 2008. I am eagerly awaiting the 3:05 start of the Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago White Sox today. The reigning Cy Young Award Winner CC Sabathia toes the rubber for The Tribe as they look to defend their American League Central Crown. The beauty of opening day is it's the one time you're guaranteed (barring injuries) to see each staff's ace face off against each other. Our 'guy' versus your 'guy'. Forget about last year, because it means nothing. It's a fresh start for everyone. Wipe the slate clean and let's get to it.

Last night's game between Atlanta and Washington was a real treat to watch. The Nationals debuted an absolutely beautiful new stadium last night as the featured game of the week, broadcast nationally on ESPN. It warmed my heart to hear Jon Miller and Joe Morgan back to their old routine with Peter Gammons occasionally chipping in with insightful nuggets of gossip that grabs my attention like The Young and the Restless captures my grandmother's. Ryan Zimmerman sent everyone home happy hitting a frozen rope over the left-center field wall for his fourth career walk-off home run. While no one expects the Nats to contend this season, they are running their team the right way and will be in a position to contend within the next 10 years.

Every day I am forced to grow up more and more whether I like it or not. But when I'm watching a baseball game, I can be a kid again and truly be captivated by the magnificence of this sport. I can barely contain my excitement as we get ready for, what could be, a season to remember.

MILESTONE ALERT: Keep a close eye on the Red Sox for the next few weeks. Left fielder Manny Ramirez connected for his 491st career home run in Japan last week. Nine shy of the vaunted 500 homer club. Manny will be the 24th player in Major League history to achieve this milestone. Good Luck Manny!

Student/Athletes or Athletes with Benefits

2008-03-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Let's set the scene for you. It's noon on Thursday, the opening day of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I've just finished building the ultimate sandwich and as modest as I am, I have to admit, this thing is a masterpiece. I'm on a health kick right now so my sandwich is a variety of cured meats, thinly sliced provolone cheese, baby spinach leaves, bacon bits, and to finish it off, this monster is smothered in ranch dressing. OK, it might not be the healthiest sandwich ever, but it was that or a cheese steak, so I'm not going to split hairs. I've got a nice tall glass a V8 for even more nutrients and a bag of sunflowers seeds. The baseball purist in me can't fully give in to the domination basketball takes on this weekend.

I settle down on the couch, grab my laptop and shoot off a quick e-mail to my professor, letting her know the dreaded 24-hour Ebola virus has consumed me and I will be unable to attend class today. As I click 'send' it hits me, "I'm skipping class to watch these guys, when the hell do they go to class?!"

So often we hear the term student/athlete used to describe those participating in athletics at the collegiate level. But with conference tournaments tipping off at noon on a Wednesday and playing straight through the weekend, when do these kids find time to fulfill the student part of student athlete. Missing one class from my heavy workload puts me so far behind, I need to claw and dig my way out just to get a breath of fresh air. March Madness is what is occurring behind close doors at these Universities as students are drinking Red Bulls to assist the all-nighters so they can pass their midterms while those able to throw a leather ball through a cylinder are being pampered and given exemptions from class.

Now, am I only ranting because I'm jealous? Absolutely, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. I waste a significant amount of time that should be spent on my studies watching these games, imagine playing in them. It's impossible to participate in a top notch Division 1 basketball or football program and take on a normal schedule of classes (12-15 credits) without receiving unfair advantages that the average student does not benefit from. I'm not even considering the fact that these students are paying tuition inflated heavily to cover the athletes scholarships, most of whom will bail for the pros before every receiving a degree.

I love watching college sports. LOVE IT. But this system is flawed and the blind eye needs to be focused back on to doing what is right.

Not-So-Good Fellas

2008-03-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to lie. I love baseball brawls. They beat out altercations in every other sport by far. Hockey fights are commonplace. NASCAR crashes are dangerous and potentially life threatening. Basketball fights get out of hand fast (just ask Ron Artest) and football fights are primarily non-existent.

Baseball however, has real fights. For the most part, baseball players police themselves. When someone gets out of line, he'll catch some chin music that will put him back in his place. Occasionally suspensions are handed down by the almighty Bud Selig (I cannot put into words how much I dislike Bud Selig, actually maybe I can, check back for a later blog), but usually the players take care of it by themselves. Until ill-tempered veterans, pissed off by losing playing time to 60 year old comedians, put their ego ahead of logic and rationale and do stupid things.

The recent Yankees/Rays feud finally boiled over yesterday. It began with Tampa Bay outfielder Elliot Johnson running over New York catcher Francisco Cervelli on a bang-bang play at the plate. Cervelli suffered a broken wrist which required surgery. New Yankee Manager Joe Girardi lashed out against the Rays' hard nosed style of play in 'meaningless' spring training games. In the first inning yesterday, Yankees starter Heath Phillips struck Rays third baseman Evan Longoria. Phillips was ejected. Later on, Shelley Duncan of the Yankees slid spike-high into second base. Duncan was out by seven feet and slid late, spiking Rays shortstop Akinori Iwamura. Duncan was immediately ejected. Jonny Gomes, right fielder for Tampa Bay at the time, rushed in from the outfield and shoved Duncan. Benches cleared and bullpens emptied. Five players were ultimately ejected and suspensions are likely to follow.

While I feel no moral obligation to advocate for peace, I compliment every player involved, except Duncan. Johnson had to pull a Pete Rose on Ray Fosse because he's trying to make the team. If he pulls up and is tagged out, he could be red-tagged and replaced by Billy Crystal by sunset. Cervelli shouldn't have been blocking the plate if he didn't want to get hit. Heath Phillips wanted to defend his catcher and show his new manager he is a team guy so he sent the necessary message to Tampa Bay. But what Duncan did was disgraceful. I've played baseball and am perfectly aware of the accidental spiking a player can deliver/receive. But when you are dead to rights at second on a ground ball, there is absolutely no reason to wait to slide until you are right on top of the base and come in with your legs at your opponents waist. I would have reacted the exact same way as Gomes if I saw a teammate in harms way.

They say spring training is meaningless, but this incident, when looked back upon, may have been the most meaningful moment of the Rays season. Tampa Bay is loaded with talent and on the verge of breaking out. It takes something like this to unite the team and put a chip on their shoulder. We are witnessing what the Houston Rockets are doing despite doubters counting them out after the injury to all-star center Yao Ming. Tampa Bay has a powerful one-two punch with Kazmir and Shields. They follow that up nicely with Garza and Sonnanstine. An explosive line-up consisting of Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria will be exciting to watch all season long. The addition of veteran Troy Percival at the back end of the bullpen could be one of the most underrated moves of the off season.

So watch out for Tampa Bay. In a division dominated by the Yanks and Sox, it could be a three horse division with the Rays making a name for themselves and yesterday's events could be the reason why.

Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Robert Ford

2008-02-29T14:46:00.001-08:00

I had the privilege yesterday of meeting Bob Ford. Bob is a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer and a damn good one at that. He is a perfect example of how an exceptional writer can transcend the sports he writes about. He's not an imposing figure, in fact you would pass him on the street and never take notice. He's an everyday guy who shares something that so many of us are guilty of: being fans of the game. Starting off beat writing for the local teams, he has earned the top prestige a writer can achieve at a paper, the title of columnist. He is responsible for printing such articles including the infamous and controversial Charles Barkley article where Barkley was quoted as saying after a tough loss, "This is the kind of game that makes you wanna go home and beat your wife." While Bob admitted it came in the heat of the moment after a difficult defeat, he even offered Sir Charles an opportunity to take it back. When the 76ers forward, refused, Bob did what any journalist would, print the story.

As he spoke, I was enamored with his candidness as he revealed cycling was his favorite sport and how his dream is to cover an athletic contest in Palio, Italy where members of each village race horses among other contests for bragging rights and village supremacy. I asked him several questions regarding journalism as a business and he was brutally honest in his responses. He joked at how some people read his work and say, "Well that story wrote itself." He said he can't wait for the day when he can turn his laptop on, step back and say, "have at it". No story writes itself and Bob is tremendous at what he does because he takes the time and pays attention to every detail as he compiles others' thoughts as well as his own in an effort to entertain some of the most brutal fans in sports. Let's face it, the city of Philadelphia is rarely forgiving and Mr. Ford has managed to win over this fickle crowd with the gift he was given. My conversation with Bob had a powerful impact on my dreams and desires to be a sports writer and I thank him for taking the time to spread his wisdom on me. I encourage everyone to read Bob's column in the Philadelphia Inquirer and also at http://go.philly.com/bobford

My Preseason Predictions

2008-02-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

2008 MLB Preseason Predictions

Division Winners
AL EAST: Boston Red Sox
AL CENTRAL: Detroit Tigers
AL WEST: Los Angeles Angels
AL WILDCARD: Cleveland Indians

NL EAST: NY Mets
NL CENTRAL: Cincinnatti Reds
NL WEST: San Diego Padres
NL WILDCARD: Philadelphia Phillies

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera
NL MVP: Chase Utley (Although Hanley Ramirez will have the best offensive numbers but be penalized by his Marlins' lack of success)
AL CY YOUNG: Roy Halladay
NL CY YOUNG: Dan Haren
AL ROY: Evan Longoria
NL ROY: Kosuke Fukudome
AL MANAGER: Joe Madden
NL MANAGER: Dusty Baker

You heard it here first. Boldest prediction: CC Sabathia traded at the deadline, yet Indians still march into the playoffs!

Set The Record Straight

2008-02-27T07:06:00.000-08:00

Just so there are no accusations of band-wagon jumping or flip-flopping, I will state my affiliations with each pro sports league now, so future references cannot be called into question.

MLB - Cleveland Indians
NFL - Cleveland Browns
NBA - Boston Celtics
NHL - Pittsburgh Penguins

It should be known that while these teams are officially my teams, I do live 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia and root heavily for each Philadelphia team (76ers, Eagles, Flyers and Phillies)

3 Greatest Words in Sports

2008-02-20T06:38:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl is over and I have to say, I had trouble getting the bitter taste out of my mouth. I feel cheated. For months we were led to believe we were witnessing history as the undefeated New England Patriots were poised to complete the greatest season in football history and finally banish Mercury Morris into insignificance. Then, the unthinkable happened. Eli Manning orchestrated a tremendous fourth quarter comeback culminating with a perfectly placed over-the-shoulder touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with :37 seconds on the clock. I looked at my roommate Nick and said, "They left too much time, Brady will get it done." Nick echoed my sentiments as we prepared to witness history. I was so confident that I waited to pick myself up off the couch and make the twelve step trek to the fridge for another beer. I waited to call my bookie and arrange for payment of the many (and I mean many) prop bets that I had won. I waited to call my father, who I always call 3 seconds after a major sports championship is decided. I waited to call my NY Giants fan friends and gloat at how Eli will never win the big one. And instead, the Giants front seven did what they did the entire game, pressure Tom Brady. Brady had no other option than to launch up a few prayers that all, ultimately, went begging. And as the clock read triple zeros, the unthinkable had happened. The New York Giants had defeated the mighty New England Patriots on the ultimate stage.

Disgusted, I immediately said aloud, "How long 'til pitchers and catchers report?" Which brings me to my next point: There are no 3 greater words in the English language than "Pitchers and Catchers". Those three words can single-handedly lift even the most down-trodden of spirits into euphoria. My calendar has had a countdown on it ever since my beloved Cleveland Indians were eliminated in Game 7 of the ALCS by the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox. Now, as we sit a mere hours away from the first Spring Training game, I embrace the frigid temperatures outside with the knowledge that a thousand miles to the south of me, pitchers are throwing BP, hitters are running poles, and coaches everywhere are spreading their tutelage to young, eager ball players. I know it's cliche, but it's officially time to say "PLAY BALL"