photo credit: Keith Allison
And we thought Jeter was good.
The Yankees already have the highest payroll in baseball. Now, they have the hottest commodity in baseball. Pat Venditte is ambidextrous AND he can pitch–well. He came in relief of C.C. Sabathia in spring training yesterday and managed to show good stuff from both sides of the mound. Southpaw–righty–he doesn’t really care.
Not only is it impressive, but it’s scary. I don’t think we’re going to see a rash of switch-pitching prospects–because it’s freaking hard–but we are going to see a rash of maniac parents trying to make their kids into switch-pitchers. It would be the Tyler Hansbrough syndrome. “You were BORN for this” will be the phrase du jour. Read more... (4 words, 4 images, estimated 1 secs reading time)
photo credit: Rich Anderson
Can YOU do that with a sore back?
Roy Oswalt had a back injection and now he’s ready for Houston’s Opener next week. It would be one thing if her were w young guy, but he isn’t. Is a back injection really going to do the trick?
I mean, I like Roy Oswalt, but Roy’s getting up there. He’ll turn 33 this season. I’m a year younger than Roy and I know I’m not a pro athlete, but if I needed a back injection to get ready to play a baseball that means I am HURTING!!! Read more... (4 words, 4 images, estimated 1 secs reading time)
Okay, I don’t believe I am going to say this. After all when the wild card was first introduced into baseball I said to myself, “What is this the NFL? Wildcards like crying don’t belong in baseball.” But then the wildcard came and guess what I kind of liked it. I guess I like any change that gives my teams a chance to go to playoffs. After all since wild card started in 1995 it has allowed the Yankees and Mets each two extra trips to the playoffs. More teams getting to the playoffs can’t be a bad thing. Right? Read more... (331 words, 2 images, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
Okay, we are just 10 days away from opening day. Here are my top 10 thoughts on the Mets upcoming season. As I analyze my thoughts I see a lot of my thoughts are questions which probably doesn’t bode well.
1) Wow we could finish first this year but A LOT will have to go right. We’ll have to stay healthy and a lot of people will have to have some really good years. If a few things go wrong and wrong persons get hurt we could finish fifth.
2) Why did they send Ike Davis down? Why? Why? Why? Read more... (293 words, 3 images, estimated 1:10 mins reading time)
photo credit: bradleypjohnson
When Jacque Jones signed a minor league deal with Minnesota they let him know that he probably wouldn’t make the team, which is fine. They brought him into camp and he had a great camp. Now the words start spilling out of Minnesota and I see what’s really going on.
Ron Gardenhire kind of showed his hand when he said:
“Jacque’s had a great spring. I just don’t have a roster spot for him right now.”
“It’s been fun watching him play this spring. He’s done pretty doggone good, and he becomes a very, very serviceable player in this organization, a guy that can be useful this year.” Read more... (314 words, 4 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)
Since I gave my thoughts on the Mets yesterday thought I’d share some thoughts on our other New York team the Yankees today. The Yankees had a good year last year. They beat out the Red Sox by 8 games and the Rays by 19 games to fairly easily win the American League East. They then swept the Twins in three in the first round of the playoffs. They beat the Angels in 6 games to go to the series. They ended the year as World Champs when they beat the Phillies in 6. All in all, quite a good year. Read more... (411 words, 2 images, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)
photo credit: ConspiracyofHappiness
You’ll get it in just a minute–stick with me.
Minnesota is in a major conundrum. They lost Joe Nathan for the next 18 MONTHS to Tommy John Surgery and they have no “true” closer. So, what did they do? They decided to go “Closer by committee”. I can’t argue with trying to make things work, but this just ISN’T going to work.
Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch and Jesse Crain and left-hander Jose Mijares are all supposed to be the potential members of the committee. Ron Gardenhire says: Read more... (269 words, 4 images, estimated 1:05 mins reading time)
Major League Baseball is going to do something really smart. Since they know that the NBA playoffs 400 years to play then they are going to tighten their belts on playoff scheduling.
They’re taking out the extra off-days and making the series’ go a little quicker. Also, they are considering moving Divisional playoff series’ to 7 games. I think this is a good idea. We’re aligning the playoffs to themselves and making everything look the same.
With the current format you have teams playing best-of-5 bouts and then having to change strategy to play a 7 game series. This would be like having NFL teams play 45 minutes games until the Super Bowl–which is 60 minutes. Read more... (317 words, 4 images, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)
photo credit: Kevin.Ward
When Caberera and Willis went to Detroit to join Jim Leyland and Bonderman and company everyone thought the Tigers had made the signings of the century and they’d be well on their way to winning a World Series–if not then–very soon.
Then Willis and Cabrera played ok. Ordonez almost won the MVP. Bonderman was alright, but not perfect. Verlander got REALLY good and the team was never consistent from top to bottom. Read more... (279 words, 4 images, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)
photo credit: ajagendorf25
A-Rod was supposed to meet with federal investigators the other day about a Doctor who was–allegedly–selling illegal performance enhancers to pro athletes. Well, he didn’t meet with the feds, so what’s up with that?
A-Rod seemed pretty cool about it–which is weird–he said:
“Here’s what I can tell you — nothing has changed. We’re going to continue to work together, we’re going to cooperate, and we’re going to talk to the feds and Major League Baseball shortly.” He also said that he “couldn’t say” if he was even Buffalo for the meeting or not. Did the Feds decide they don’t need him, did they decide they’re done investigating? I don’t understand, but when A-Rod says he “can’t say” whether he even traveled to the meeting it makes me think of James Earl Jones and “The Hunt For Red October”: Read more... (312 words, 4 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)
