Pitchers & Catchers are reporting today & tomorrow, the first Spring Training game is in two weeks, and Yankees Opening Day is March 31st (I hear other teams are starting around the same time, too).
So, what's going on? What's everyone talking about? Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee are in front of Congress, testifying whether or not Clemens ever used steroids or Human Growth Hormones (HGH). There are so many fingers pointed in so many different directions, I've lost count and gotten dizzy.
It's really a shame that every news item on baseball is about scandal. Baseball has always been the herald of Spring and the promise of Summer to me. Something to look forward to after all those cold winter months spent shivering in the long nights. How does the team look this year? Think we'll make the playoffs? (Although, for Steinbrenner and the Yankees, that question usually turns to so we're gonna win it all this year, right?) Etcetera, etcetera.
So let's talk baseball. If you want to comment on the whole Clemens story, go ahead. Otherwise, the Drake & I encourage y'all to get excited about your teams.
- Yankee fans -- what are Joe Girardi's prospects as the new manager? How about all those young pitchers we held on to this year? Joba rules!
- Mets fans -- how about that Johan Santana? Is a World Series possible?
- Tigers fans -- how about that line-up with Miguel Cabrera and friends? Dontrelle Willis?
- Cubbies -- could this be your year? Will the streak (ever) end?
- Red Soxers -- dynasty? or die-nasty? Is Schilling a shill? Big Papi, big sloppy? Manny on his fanny? (okay, I'll stop!)
- Philly Fanatics -- help me out here. I stopped paying attention after 1993.
- Cardinals Fans -- I need help here too.
- Fantasy Fans -- and . . . BEGIN!
2 comments:
As a Twins fan, I have to say that this has been one of the most exasperating fortnights I've ever been through. It wasn't really a surprise that they traded Santana, but I don't think anybody expected that they wouldn't get at least one top-flight minor league player out of it. Dan Haren got the A's 5 solid prospects with upside. Eric Bedard got one of the game's top outfield prospects and a potential closer for the Orioles. I understand that Santana's contract situation complicated the issue, but you're telling me that they couldn't even get the better Mets prospect for him? The Dodgers have more outfielders than they know what to do with, and a great system to trade out of. The Reds, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mariners all had players who would have been useful and had at least nominal interest in Santana. Instead, they got a defensive replacement (who will now get 550 ABs at the top of the lineup), a 19 year old A-ball pitcher, and 2 pieces of rotation filler with limited upside.
That might be acceptable if they needed ANY of those things. According to MLB.com, the Twins now have as many as 11 pitchers with a shot at the starting rotation, only one of whom belongs anywhere near an opening day start. No wait, make that 12 now that they have Livan Hernandez. He should fill the #3-4 slot if his arm doesn't completely fall off at some point. The only potential #1 is Francisco Liriano, who is coming off of arm surgery. At least they got the 2 extra #4-5 pitchers they needed from the Santana trade. I'd much rather have them than a legitimate chance to win once every 5 days.
I don't even want to think about the fact that they filled the gaping holes on the left side of the infield with guys who couldn't even stick on the Astros.
Yeah, I'm excited for the baseball season...excited to see if the Twins can finish ahead of the Royals in the AL Central.
Oh, Crafty, people are so excited about Santana in NY we forgot about the woes of the Twinkies!
But I'm sure Ron Gardenhire will put together a good enough defensive game to finish ahead of the Royals!
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