Around the Bigs

A Change, A Change

2008-06-22T20:13:00.002-04:00

Well, like in most aspects of life, there has been a change for me in recent weeks. I have found a website, bleacherreport.com, which I find to be more fitting for future and my goals. This site allows me to write articles for a website where other readers can edit my articles, and leave comments. Therefore, I am leaving Around the Bigs, and can now be found at BleacherReport. For anyone who read my blog, I appreciate your readership, and hope you will continue to read my matieral at BR. And remember...

...LETS GO METS!

Wille Randolph: Not His Fault

2008-06-18T21:30:00.000-04:00

So Randolph is out as Mets manager. Clearly, this makes no sense. How can a guy win a poker hand when he is dealt cards that are fading and underachieving? That's what Randolph was given - Beltran, Delgado, Martinez, Castillo, Alou - cards that are making way more than they are giving.

They also canned pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. How can you fire one of the game's best pitching coaches? They players loved Peterson! And just look at the numbers. Peterson began his Mets coaching days in 2003. Other than that season, the Mets finished in the top 10 in the league in ERA every year. And even this season, the pitching hasn't been the problem.

So if it's not Randolph's fault, or the coaches, then whose fault is it? Well, you can't fire the team. How nice must it be to work for a job in which you can't get fired? That leaves the General Manager and the rest of the front office/player development area.

As a Mets fan, for the most part, I love what GM Omar Minaya has done for the Mets. I mean, who wouldn't be excited about having Beltran, Wagner, Delgado and Martinez on a team that includes David Wright and Jose Reyes? But it's what Minaya didn't do that irks me. In 2006, he had a wide-open chance to score Barry Zito, before he earned $126 million, and dropped the ball. Last season, he had so many opportunities to bring in a reliever for an over-worked bullpen, but couldn't pull the trigger.

It's not even so much that they fire Willie - it's how they went about it. How do you a fire a guy in the midst of a two-game win streak, and after having him fly 3,000 miles to Los Angeles? Minaya's inclusion on the trip indicates to me, at least, that there was intent on dismissing Randolph before the beginning of this road trip. So, why make him fly coast-to-coast, just to fly back to his home in New Jersey? Randolph grew up adoring the Mets, played as a Met, and this is how they treat him. Shameful.

So where do the Mets go from here? Well, Jerry Manuel is the interim manager. And all I have to say is, he better stay interim. I know Manuel had some good seasons with the White Sox, but he can't be the manager going into CitiField. The Mets need a manager with fire, passion and a name. Some guys I wouldn't mind seeing at the helm include: Lee Mazzili, Ray Knight, Bobby Valentine (though the Mets don't have enough Yen to lure him out of Japan) or Buck Showalter.

And keep in mind, the Mets are only six games out of first place coming into tonight's action. It's only the middle of June. There is plenty of time for them to pick up some pieces and right the ship. But Minaya needs to make some moves for them to have a shot.

Ahead of the Curve

2008-06-16T16:08:00.008-04:00

In the ranks of the Yankees farm system lies a relatively unknown, but dominant relief pitcher by the name of David Robertson. Drafted in the 17th round in 2006, Robertson, 23, is making a huge case for promotion to the Yankees big league bullpen. Similar to Edwar Ramirez in stature, the 5'11'', 180lb Robertson has a record of 2-0, 1.60 ERA in 25 games, with a .154 BAA. The most intriguing thing about this overlooked prospect is his curve ball. Robertson sports a devastating curve ball which he uses as his out pitch, to go along with his 90-92 mph fastball. What do the Yankees benefit from promoting him to the big leagues? For one it's an extra arm in a unbalanced bullpen. He also brings youth - at 25 he is at a ripe age for grooming. He has the make up to be a successful set up man, as his numbers indicate. For Scranton he has shown the ability to shut the door; the next step is to be the bridge to closer Mariano Rivera.

At the other end of the spectrum is a 25 year old starting pitcher Alfredo Aceves. Aceves is a veteran of the Mexican League, but an under the radar player new to Double-A Trenton Thunder. He is highly-touted by Yankees GM Brian Cashman. With a 2-2 record in six starts at Trenton this year, Aceves is primed to take the next step to Triple-A Scranton. He also has an amazing 33:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In his most recent effort, he pitched eight innngs, allowing only one hit and two walks along with four strikeouts. Indications are that he will be heading to Scranton very soon, with the Bronx only a few good outings away.

Hey Now, Who's an All Star?

2008-06-13T19:56:00.003-04:00

It's very hard to believe that we are almost to the All-Star break. That's right, in a month from now, we will be seeing the sport's "greatest" taking part in the Mid-Summer Classic, this year taking place in Yankee Stadium. Every year, a lot is made of who should be in? Who shouldn't be in? Who is going to be left out that deserves a spot? After all, one of the traditions of the All Star Game is making note of all the All Star snubs. And something that has always irked me as a fan, is players making the All-Star team because of their name, and not their numbers (or players being left off the rosters because of their lack of a name, despite their numbers).

But this post is going to focus around something the fans have no say in - the starting pitchers for both clubs. There are a handful of pitchers in each league deserving of a start in the All Star Game. You decide who should actually get the nod. For the record, I am taking the stance that this is the year the National League finally defeats its counterpart, a feat they haven't accomplished since 1996.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CANDIDATES:

Scott Kazmir, TAM - This kid is a future Cy Young award winner, perhaps as soon as this season. Kazmir does not yet have the innings pitched to qualify for the league lead in ERA, but his mark of 1.74 is absolutely solid. Kaz missed the first month of the season with inflammation in his left elbow. He returned to the mound on May 5, and did not pitch all that well. But since then, the 2007 strikeout king has gone 6-1 with 49 Ks in seven games started. He was actually named the American League pitcher of the month for May. This 24-year old southpaw has all the makings of a bona fide ace, and will only get stronger. He is a sure-fire All Star, and has certainly made his case to get the start from AL manager Terry Francona.

Cliff Lee, CLE - This left-hander will most likely win the AL Comeback Player of the Year this season, as he enters play today with a 10-1 record (with that one loss coming in his last start) and a nifty ERA of 2.55. He's pitched fewer than six innings once (5 2/3 innings against the Reds last month). In 2007, Lee had the worst season of his seven year career. He went 5-8 with a paltry 6.29 ERA . It got so bad that, after he was sidelined for a month with an oblique injury, Lee was demoted to Triple-A. And remember, Lee was a Cy Young candidate in 2005. So while some players have great "fluke" seasons, perhaps 2007 was just a hiccup in Lee's career path.

Joe Saunders/Ervin Santana, LAA - No, two pitchers can not start the same game for the same team. But Santana and Saunders have both had incredible seasons, and could both make Francona's decision even more difficult. After Santana struggled mightily in '07, he has had an absolute turn-around here in '08. So far this season, the right-hander has gone 8-3 and has recorded 82 punchouts. And his 3.40 ERA is good for ninth in the league. As for Saunders, he has had a very surprising season. No one really expected this lefty to be 9-3 on June 15. Saunders has never won more than eight games in a season, and his 3.32 ERA places him eighth in the league. Either Angel would make a great selection to start the All Star Game for the American League at Yankee Stadium.

Other possible candidates (Win-Loss, Strikeouts, ERA)- Shaun Marcum, TOR (5-3, 80, 2.43); Felix Hernandez, SEA (5-5, 76, 2.81); John Danks, CHW (4-4, 61, 2.90); Roy Halladay, TOR (8-6, 86, 3.09, 5 CG).

NATIONAL LEAGUE CANDIDATES:

Brandon Webb, ARZ - It's very hard to discuss All Star Game starting pitchers, and not mention Webb. This guy is a perennial Cy Young candidate, and his 11 wins his good for tops in the sport. And his 2.73 ERA doesn't hurt his chances either. When his sinker is on, Webb is the toughest pitcher to get a hit off of. Webb also has the second-best WHIP in the game, with a mark of 1.00.

Edinson Volquez, CIN - What a deal. Josh Hamilton for Volquez. Volquez leads all of baseball with a 1.64 ERA, and is tied for second with 10 wins. Oh, and his 105 strikeouts is the best in the game. Can you say pitching Triple Crown?

Tim Lincecum, SFG - If there is anyone to threaten Volquez's attempt at the Triple Crown, it's this young righty. Lincecum will not get the wins necessary on a bad Giants team, but his 1.99 ERA is second to Volquez, as are his 92 strikeouts. Lincecum has failed to pitch at least six innings once this season, and that was his first start of the season. Even more impressive, he's yet to give up more than three earned runs in any of his starts so far. This kid is also a future Cy Young winner, no doubt.

Carlos Zambrano, CHC - This guy has had All Star starting pitcher stuff for years. This year, however, he may be at his best. So far in 2008, Big Z is 8-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 66 Ks. He wouldn't be the flashiest pitcher to start an All Star Game, but you can't argue with the numbers. Manager Clint Hurdle is going to have a few more gray hairs after trying to figure out his roster.

Other possible candidates (Win-Loss, Strikeouts, ERA) - Ben Sheets, MIL (7-1, 72, 2.72); Johan Santana, NYM (7-4, 86, 2.85); Cole Hamels, PHI (6-4, 86, 3.27); Ryan Dempster, CHC (8-2, 75, 2.81).

Let's See That Again

2008-06-13T19:40:00.002-04:00

In case you've missed it, Major League Baseball is coming closer and closer to implementing instant replay in regular season games. Last month, a decision was made that baseball would try out instant replay in the Arizona Fall League, and the World Baseball Classic next spring.

Well, USA Today reported this afternoon that MLB would like to bring instant replay about earlier than that. They would like to see games using replay by August 1. There are still hurdles in the road to get there, however. Limitations and regulations have to be made to meet the approval of the World Umpire Association, the Players' Union and the Owners' Union. But if they can all come to an agreement, and soon, this could mean good things for the game of baseball.

It seems like there have been more missed home run and/or fair/foul calls made this season than any other season ,in recent memory anyway. Carlos Delgado, Alex Rodriguez and Geovanny Soto have all been victimized by an umpire who could not tell whether a ball had actually left the park or not. With instant replay, the umpires won't feel as much pressure to make an accurate call in the blink of an eye.

Not only could instant replay help the umpires, but it could also aide in moving the pace of the game along. It is logical to think that taking time to view a monitor to see an instant replay clip will take less time than it takes for the manager of one team to come out and argue, then have the umpires convene to try and come up with a call, and then have the other manager come out and argue that decision.

And if MLB is going to implement instant replay, better for them to do it sooner than later. The last thing Bud Selig and the rest of the sport want is for a home run to be overruled, or some other similar play, in a game that could affect the playoffs or a milestone. And remember, MLB is only going to use instant replay (at least to start out with) for calls regarding home runs and fair/foul calls - not balls and strikes or out/safe.

Good call!

Where Are They Now?

2008-06-12T19:06:00.003-04:00

It is rather astonishing how many once promising athletes and potential Hall-of-Famers are without jobs in 2008. Whether it's because of injuries, age or the Mitchell Report, there a a handful of players who have not been able to attach themselves to a team - or at least hang on to a team.

Take for instance, Freddy Garcia. Here's a guy who was 17-9 and struck out 135 for the White Sox in 2006. The right-hander, who is also a two-time All Star, has a career record of 117-76 and finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2000 with the Mariners.

But in '07, his first and only season with the Phillies, Garcia went 1-5 and had an ugly 5.90 ERA in 11 games started. On August 30, he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, also ending his Phillies career. His last start came on June 8, and he only last 1 2/3 innings. As a free agent heading into 2008, Garcia was not signed by any team, though the Mets and Red Sox both showed interest during Spring Training. Currently, Garcia is still rehabbing that shoulder, but should be ready to pitch (at least healthwise) in a few weeks. But will anyone want to take a chance on a 33-year old vet?

Even former sluggers like Mike Piazza and Barry Bonds couldn't get signed. Piazza wound up retiring, and Bonds is in the middle of courtroom dramas and may as well be retired.

Look at Sammy Sosa. What a story he is. He may very well be on his way to Cooperstown. His magical season with Mark McGwire in 1997 is still fresh in everyone's memories. Yet, he was out of baseball for all of 2006. Then, surprisingly, the Texas Rangers signed him to a one-year contract before the 2007 campaign, and watched him smack his 600th career home run (he now has 609). But as a free agent, no team decided to take a chance on soon-to-be 40-year old slugger. I find it a little strange that the Rangers would bring him on for a one-year comeback, and then he goes back into hiding.

Right-hander Jeff Weaver, was the primary reason for this post. Weaver, who has finished a season with a better than .500 win-loss record once in his career, was signed by the Brewers to a minor league deal in April, and had until today to either bring him up to the big club, or release him - they chose the latter. For Triple-A Nashville, Weaver was 2-4 with a 6.33 ERA and a 30/27 k:BB ratio. So clearly, cutting him was the right move.

However, Weaver is still not even 32 years old yet, and should be a somewhat serviceable piece for some team, either in the rotation or the bullpen. Weaver was a first-round pick by the Tigers in the 1998 first-year player draft. Overall, in nine career seasons, Weaver is 93-114 with an ERA of 4.72. He's always had electric stuff, but his command and his control have caused him to become a troubled member of the clubhouse, and now he is without a team.

Preston Wilson, Reggie Sanders, Kenny Lofton, Rodrigo Lopez, Eric Milton, Akinori Otsuka, and Ryan Klesko are some of the big name players who are left on the scrap heap, and may never see another major league contract again.

Statistical and biographical information courteous of baseballreference.com

Griffey the Kid

2008-06-11T16:49:00.000-04:00

Number one was on April 10, 1989. Number 600 happened June 9, 2008. Ken Griffey Jr. became the sixth member of the 600-home run club Monday, when he sent a 3-1 Mark Hendrickson delivery over the right field fence for a two-run bomb in Miami. This milestone should be the ultimate key into the Hall of Fame for The Kid - what hasn't this guy done?

First of all, he's a classy guy. He's always welcome to the fans and the media, even when the fans and the media aren't the most welcoming to him.

We know he can hit. But in his prime, Griffey was one of the most brilliant center fielders out there. Overall, he is a nine-time Gold Glove winner, and has made some memorable catches out in center at the Kingdome.

Griffey, an 11-time All Star, is the son of Ken Griffey Sr. The Griffeys are the only father/son duo to play in the same game. They also are the only pair to hit a home run in the same game, when they went back-to-back against the Angels on September 14, 1990.

Junior's career began in Seattle, when he debuted on Opening Day in 1989. After playing 11 terrific seasons with the Mariners, in which he hit 398 home runs, Griffey was traded to the Reds. On February 10, 2000, Griffey's tenure with the M's officially ended when he was dealt to Cincy for Mike Cameron, Brett Tomko and a couple of minor leaguers.

His tour with the Reds got off to a pretty good start. In the 2000 season, he hit 40 homers and came to bat 520 times. But a myriad of injuries has somewhat soured his image to the fans in Cincinnati. Before last season, Griffey did not reach 500 ABs after his Reds debut season. But when you look at the numbers, when he did play, Griffey performed better than most on the team, or in the league.

So now the question lies - when Griffey goes into Cooperstown (not if), which hat will he be wearing? Many would argue Seattle, where he made his debut and his name. But a case could be made for a Reds cap. He hit his 400th, 500th, and now 600th home runs in a Reds uniform, so why not?

But regardless of what hat he's wearing when he enters the Hall, Griffey is most certainly one of, if not the, most dangerous hitters of this generation. And in an era of steroids and other controversies, Griffey is one of the few pure hitters left in this game. Congratulations Ken Griffey Jr., and thank you for being a reminder of how this game is supposed to be played.

State of the Yankees: The Future is Now

2008-06-10T12:29:00.005-04:00

Accordingly, I found it necessary to follow up Jason's last post in regards to the standing point of our respective team allegiance. It has become apparent that this might be the year the Yankees miss the playoffs, as they've hovered around .500 all season and appear lacking the punch to make a strong run as they did last year. However, the future looks extremely bright for this squad. There are many questions that surround the team, to name a few:

1) What will Phil Hughes turn out to be? and can he stay healthy?
2) Will Joba Chamberlain translate into a legitimate ace?
3) Do the Yankees continue to have two starting outfielders who lack range and throwing accuracy?

Brett Gardner
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees-
Yankees Triple-A Affiliate

Three big questions, all can't be answered right away. However, if the Yankees could get something in return for trading Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui (with the numbers they have put up so far, it would have to be a considerable return), two promising outfield prospects in the Yankees system could have an opportunity to make the big club - Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson. Gardner is in Triple-A and seems major league ready, and Jackson is in Double-A but could be Major league ready very soon. These two excellent athletes excel in fielding and have good speed, both of which the Yankees lack. Jackson has 91 stolen bases in three and half minor league seasons, and has only been caught 27 times - a 77% success rate. Meanwhile, Gardner has amassed 141 swipes in the same amount of time, and has only been caught 30 times (82%)!

The only downside is the two both don't possess the same quality bats that Damon and Matsui have. Gardner has only nine home runs in his minor league career, but has shown patience with 207 walks and owns a .290 BA. "A-Jax" however hasn't shown the same kind of patience, striking out over 300 times, but can drive 'em in - he has 157 minor league RBIs.

The keyword to their promotion would be versatility. With their fielding skill and base running ability, they could translate as good bottom of the order hitters, with the potential to move up the line up. It would be interesting to see what these two youngsters could do at the Major league level. Trading Damon and Matsui could help in other areas to improve the other issues the team has, like the bullpen and lack of left handed pitching.

Austin Jackson
Trenton Thunder- Yankees Double-A Affiliate

For now the Yankees will stay the course, and hope to get production out of Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, but as September approaches, keep your eyes open for Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson, as the future is just a call-up away.

Fix the Mets, Fix the Mets

2008-06-09T20:27:00.003-04:00

It's well known that I am a die-hard Mets fan. So, I am entitled to a now-and-then Mets post. And after the Mets' recent four-game sweep at the hands of the Padres, I think it's time for a rant.

As the non-waiver trade deadline approached over the last few season, General Manager Omar Minaya has had several chances to improve his club, in hopes of making (and winning) the World Series.

In July of 2006, the year the team was one swing away from getting to the Fall Classic, the Mets had an opportunity to acquire Barry Zito for Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman. And, well, Minaya dropped the ball, I believe. Zito was an All-Star that season, and had a great year. And as a free agent at the end of that season, perhaps he would have given the Mets a discount if they had made it to the World Series. I mean, just imagine a playoff rotation of Maine, Zito and Glavine. Solid.

Last season, in what was the worst collapse in history, they had a chance to get some very decent relievers for a very beleaguered bullpen. Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, Juan Rincon, Ron Mahay, Eric Gagne all could have been had. Instead, the Mets acquired second baseman Luis Castillo and eventually signed him to a four-year deal.

Now, about that four-year deal. Castillo will turn 33 in September, and is well beyond his prime. His game is built around his speed, and with knees not as stable as they once were, his speed/defense has slacked. And with no real power to speak of, Castillo has become more of a burden than a help. What I would like to see is a deal for current Orioles' second baseman Brian Roberts.

Roberts is very much on the block - he was almost traded to the Cubs during the offseason. The Mets should be able to afford him, both financially and in talent. Maybe a deal that includes Mike Pelfrey and Aaron Heilman - two pitchers who have struggled in the Big Apple, but might flourish in a small-market city like Baltimore. That would pretty much designate Castillo to a bench role, but at this point in his career, that's what he is. He would be a $25 million pinch runner/defensive replacement. But I think the addition of Roberts, along with the bench presence of Castillo will save the Mets season.

I also think it's time for the Mets to give Mike Carp a look at first base - though that probably will not happen until at least September, if not next season. But this kid is hitting .351 with nine homers in Double-A Binghamton. He hits from the left side, just like the struggling Carlos Delgado, but perhaps an injection of young blood is what this team needs as a spark (a la the Reds' Joey Votto from a year ago). I'd also like to see some more depth on that bench - a nice power bat would be a great addition, like a Matt Stairs type.

There is a lot riding on this season. The manager, and general manager may both be gambling with their jobs for the rest of the year. And if the Mets don't win, there will likely be some changes made. Well, I think change has to be made - but not with Willie Randolph. Minaya needs to pull the trigger as July 31st approaches, and if he can't make the moves, than owner Fred Wilpon needs to find someone who can. After the debacle that was last season, the Mets have to win - and they need the rights pieces to do that with. So, LETS GO, METS!

Yankees Continue Building For The Future, What Were The Mets Trying To Do?

2008-06-06T12:00:00.012-04:00

Yesterday the Yankees drafted the top high school pitcher in California with the 28th pick overall, and he goes by the name of Gerrit Cole. Cole is a high ceiling flame-thrower who needs work on his demeanor on the mound. Scouts suggest he is similar to Phil Hughes, as they are both from California and both have high expectations. The Yankees had taken five other pitchers as well, including two promising prospects in Joseph Bittle and Jeremy Bleich.

Meanwhile, the Mets were busy getting infielders and outfielders. Out of 52 total picks, the Mets drafted 26 pitchers - none until the second round with the 33rd pick overall. And after drafting that pitcher in the first round, the Mets didn't draft another until the 224th overall pick. Saving pitching as a last concern may have been a flawed strategy, however. In a pitching-thin organization, GM Omar Minaya didn't use his picks wisely, I believe. The first round presented the best pitching talent, with the later rounds having considerably less. Only time will tell how these picks work for the Mets.

But on the other side of the city the strong draft presence is apparent. With the Yankees Triple-A and Double-A teams among the best in their respective leagues, the strong drafting of Yankees' GM Brian Cashman should continue to build an already deep farm system.

Here is a quick rundown of the first round of the 2008 First Year Player Draft.

Tampa Bay Rays: Tim Beckham, SS, Griffin High School (Ga.)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt
Kansas City Royals: Eric Hosmer, 1B, American Heritage High School (Plantation, Fl.)
Baltimore Orioles: Brian Matsuz, LHP, San Diego
San Francisco Giants: Buster Posey, C, Florida State
Florida Marlins: Kyle Skipworth, C, Rubidoux High School (Riverside Ca.)
Cincinnati Reds: Yonder Alonso, 1B, Miami (Fla.)
Chicago White Sox: Gordon Beckham, SS, Georgia
Washington Nationals: Aaron Crow, RHP, Missouri
Houston Astros: Jason Castro, C, Stanford
Texas Rangers: Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina
Oakland Athletics: Jemile Weeks, 2B, Miami (Fla.)
St. Louis Cardinals: Brett Wallace, 3B, Arizona State
Minnesota Twins: Aaron Hicks, RF/RHP, Wilson High School (Long Beach, Calif.)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Ethan Martin, RHP/3B, Stephens County High School (Toccoa, Ga.)
Milwaukee Brewers: Brett Lawrie, C/2B, Brookswood Secondary School (Langley, B.C.)
Toronto Blue Jays: David Cooper, 1B, California
New York Mets: Ike Davis, 1B, Arizona State
Chicago Cubs: Andrew Cashnear, RHP, Texas Christian
Seattle Mariners: Josh Fields, RHP, Georgia
Detroit Tigers: Ryan Perry, RHP, Arizona
New York Mets: Reese Havens, SS, South Carolina
San Diego Padres: Allan Dykstra, 1B, Wake Forest
Philadelphia Phillies: Anthony Hewitt, SS, Salisbury High School (Conn.)
Colorado Rockies: Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky
Arizona Diamondbacks: Daniel Schlereth, LHP, Arizona
Minnesota Twins: Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Miami (Fl.)
New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Orange Lutheran High School (Calif.)
Cleveland Indians: Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Pitt Community College (Greenvile, N.C.)
Boston Red Sox: Casey Kelly, RHP/SS, Sarasota High School (Fla.)

By the way, Keith Law of Scouts Inc. has some really good, in-depth analysis of each first-round pick on ESPN.com. I encourage everyone to check this out to get some real good information on these future big-leaguers.

Draft picks courteous of ESPN.com.

Joba The....Starter?

2008-06-05T11:26:00.006-04:00

In recent weeks, the Yankees have set New York ablaze with talk of transitioning their prized pitching prospect, Joba Chamberlain, into a starting pitcher. This all makes sense, but for some people it doesn't. Some people argue he was dominant as a reliever, he might not have the same success as a starter. Realistically that has yet to be seen, but check out his minor league numbers:

18 Games
15 Games Started
9-2 W-L
88.1 IP
135 Strikeouts
27 Walks
25 Runs
24 Earned Runs
2.45 ERA

The numbers speak for themselves. He dominated at every level in 2007. As the set up man for Mariano Rivera he was a pleasant surprise. He finished the year at the big league level with a 0.38 ERA. This year started similar to the tune of a 2.28 ERA before his first start. The anticipation of Joba's first start was very high. A capacity crowd gathered at Yankee Stadium on June 3rd, 2008 against the Toronto Blue Jays, to witness the first start of his career. Chamberlain reached the mound to a standing ovation. Chamberlain, who was limited to a 65-75 pitch count, got about halfway to his pitch count in the first inning, throwing 38, 21 for strikes. Chamberlain was wild in that first inning, but settled down in the second inning. He notched 101 MPH several times on the radar guns, including his final pitch.

All in all, the numbers were staggering. In 2 1/3 innings worked, he allowed two runs, one earned. The Blue Jays hitters did their job well, working him into several 3-2 counts. Of the 12 hitters he faced, he walked 4 and struck out 3. This was not like Chamberlain, but in a new role you will see this happen sometimes. Chamberlain had flashes of brilliance. Judging by his performance after the rough first inning, Chamberlain should gradually work his way to being a number 1 or 2 starter as scouts have suggested. He will extend his pitch counts in outings to come, and we should expect big things from the Big man from Lincoln, Nebraska.

Who Saw This Coming?

2008-06-01T17:46:00.003-04:00

As we flip the calendar to June, there are a bunch of surprises - both positive and negative - around the sport of baseball. There have been lots of head-scratching and eye-opening in 2008. Let's look at some of the surprises and disappointments from the first two months of the season.

SURPRISES

Many of the so called "experts" picked the Mets, Yankees, Tigers, Reds (or Brewers) Mariners (or Angels), and the Padres to at least battle for their respective divisions, if not win them. But as we look at the standings here on June 1, 2008, that is not the case. Instead, you have teams like the Rays, White Sox, A's, Marlins and the Twins are all either leading or close to the top of their divisions. Out of this bunch, the Rays and Marlins have been considered the biggest of the surprises. But in my eyes, the Marlins, A's and White Sox have been the most surprising, and most likely to flop in the second half. Ladies and gentlemen, the Rays are legit and will be competing the entire season.
On December 21 of 2007, the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds made a trade. The Reds sent outfielder Josh Hamilton to Texas for pitcher Edinson Volquez. Well, I can't recall a deal working out so well for both teams. For the Rangers, Hamilton is leading baseball in RBI, tied for the league lead in home runs, and is second in the league in batting average - can you say Triple Crown threat? Meanwhile, Volquez leads all of baseball in both strikeouts and ERA, and is tied for third in wins - can you say Triple Crown threat?
The Cubs have been an astounding story so far in '08. The last time the Cubs won the World Series was back in 1908 (exactly 100 years ago, for those keeping score at home). And the last time the Cubs were in first place on June 1 was in 1908. A lot was made about the 100-year anniversary of the last Cubs' World Series victory during the offseason, and the North-Siders have not disappointed. They have gotten very strong pitching from the always dependable Carlos Zambrano, but they have also received some surprising starts from former closer Ryan Dempster. New closer Kerry Wood has seen his bumps in the road, but has more-or-less flourished as the stopper. The acquisitions of Reid Johnson and Kosuke Fukudome have given the Cubbies some great defense in the outfield, as well as steady right-handed bats in the lineup. And catcher Geovany Soto is already a favorite to win the Rookie of the Year.

DISAPPOINTMENTS

When you think about the disappointments so far in 2008, you almost have to start with the Detroit Tigers. General Manager Dave Dombrowski pulled off some of the greatest transactions during the offseason in recent memory, acquiring Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Edgar Renteria for mainly prospects and minor-leaguers. But after two months, they sit in fourth place in the AL Central, seven games in back of the White Sox. Gary Sheffield, who was recently placed on the 15-day DL, has been no help, hitting three home runs so far this season. Curtis Granderson, who began the season on the DL, is hitting .254 and has only three stolen bases. And the starting pitching hasn't been any better. Former Rookie of the Year, Justin Verlander (remember, he threw a no-hitter last season) is 2-8 with an ugly 5.16 ERA. He also carries 44 strikeouts and 31 walks in 75 innings pitched. In fact, the only Tigers starter to have started at least eight games and have an ERA under 4.00 is Armando Galarraga (3.44). Galarraga, who pitched in three games last season for the Rangers, has been the lone bright spot on this super-talented team. To go along with his good ERA, he is 4-2 and has 33 strikeouts in just about 50 innings pitched. The Tigers rank third in baseball with a $137,290,196 salary, according to ESPN.com. It's about time they start playing like it.
The entire National League West Division (aside from perhaps the Arizona Diamondbacks) are a complete and utter disappointment. The D-Backs are the only team to have a record above .500, and are the only ones to be playing any kind of consistent baseball. The Rockies and Padres have battled all season so far for the worst record in baseball. The Dodgers have gotten nothing out of Andruw Jones, Brad Penny or Nomar Garciaparra. The Giants, surprisingly, are in third place, but really have no legitimate offense to stay there. This division was supposed to be one of the strongest and toughest in baseball - but instead, they remain the weakest of all six divisions.
And on an individual basis, there are a number of players performing well below their expectations. Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Carlos Delgado, Bill Hall, Trevor Hoffman, and Travis Hafner are only a handful of these players. Hafner has to be considered one of the biggest disappointments, as he currently sits on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain. So far in 2008, Hafner has hit a paltry .218 with only four homers and 22 RBI. We are talking about a slugger who belted 42 home runs two seasons ago. And what's disturbing, in my opinion, is players like these will make the All-Star game just because of their names, even though they don't deserve it statistically.

OTHER NICE STORIES

There have been some other great stories in baseball so far. Stories that do not focus on a struggling team, player or division. Like these:

Josh Hamilton, mentioned above, has had a tremendous season. This 27-year old from Raleigh, who was drafted in the first round by Tampa Bay in the 1999 draft, has overcome substance abuse which almost forced him out of the game entirely. But here sits, threatening to become the next Triple Crown winner, and looks like a sure stud.
Jon Lester pitched a no-hitter in May, after overcoming lymphoma in 2006-07.
The Cincinnati Reds finally called up slugging prospect Jay Bruce. Why the Reds waited so long, with Corey Patterson starting in center field, is beyond me. But so far Bruce has done nothing but impress. He hit his first career home run (a walk-off game-winning homer by the way) on Saturday. In his first six games since being called up on Tuesday, Bruce has put together this line: 13 hits in 22 at-bats, 10 runs scored, three doubles, two home runs, six RBI, two stolen bases and six walks. In comparison, last year's Rookie of the Year, Ryan Braun, had only six hits, four RBI, and three runs scored in his first six Major League games. Jay Bruce will be doing good things for a long time.

Statistical information courteous of MLB.com and baseballreference.com

May Days

2008-06-01T15:58:00.002-04:00

Believe it or not, the merry month of May is now behind us. As we enter the sixth month of 2008, let's take a look at what happened in the last 30 days.

Division Standings through 5/31/08

NL West:
Arizona 31-25 (.554)
Los Angeles 27-28 (.491) 3.5 GB
San Francisco 23-33 (.411) 8.0 GB
San Diego 23-34 (.404) 8.5 GB
Colorado 20-36 (.357) 11.0 GB

NL Central:
Chicago 35-21 (.625)
St. Louis 33-24 (.579) 2.5 GB
Houston 30-27 (.526) 5.5 GB
Milwaukee 28-28 (.500) 7.0 GB
Cincinnati 27-29 (.482) 8.0 GB
Pittsburgh 26-29 (.473) 8.5 GB

NL East:
Florida 31-23 (.574)
Philadelphia 32-25 (.561) 0.5 GB
Atlanta 29-27 (.518) 4.0 GB
New York 27-27 (.500) 4.0 GB
Washington 24-33 (.421) 8.5 GB

AL West:
Los Angeles 33-24 (.579)
Oakland 29-27 (.518) 3.5 GB
Texas 29-28 (.509) 4.0 GB
Seattle 21-35 (.375) 11.5 GB

AL Central:
Chicago 30-25 (.545)
Minnesota 28-27 (.509) 2.0 GB
Cleveland 25-30 (.455) 5.0 GB
Detroit 23-32 (.418) 7.0 GB
Kansas City 22-34 (.393) 8.5 GB

AL East:
Tampa Bay 34-22 (.607)
Boston 34-24 (.586) 1.0 GB
Toronto 31-27 (.534) 4.0 GB
New York 28-27 (.509) 5.5 GB
Baltimore 26-28 (.481) 7.0 GB

League Leaders through 5/31/08

NL Saves:
Brian Wilson (SFG) - 16

NL Earned Run Average:
Edinson Volquez (CIN) - 1.46

NL Strikeouts:
Edinson Volquez (CIN) - 83

NL Wins:
Brandon Webb (ARI) - 10

NL Batting Average:
Chipper Jones (ATL) - .405

NL Stolen Bases:
Michael Bourn (HOU) - 24

NL Runs Batted In:
Chase Utley (PHI) - 49

NL Home Runs:
Chase Utley (PHI) - 19

AL Saves:
Francisco Rodriguez (LAA) - 21

AL Earned Run Average:
Cliff Lee (CLE) - 1.88

AL Strikeouts:
Javier Vazquez (CHW) - 77

AL Wins:
Mike Mussina (NYY), Cliff Lee (CLE), Joe Saunders (LAA), Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS) - 8

AL Stolen Bases:
Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS) - 26

AL Batting Average:
Hideki Matsui (NYY) - .337

AL Runs Batted In:
Josh Hamilton (TEX) - 61

AL Home Runs:
Josh Hamilton (TEX), Carlos Quentin (CHW) - 14

Statistical and standings courteous of MLB.com and ESPN.com

Will-ie Stay, or Will-ie Go?

2008-05-28T21:17:00.003-04:00

It's May 28th. The New York Mets currently sit in 4th place in the National League East division, 6.5 games in back of the first-place Florida Marlins. Of course, playing in New York, there has been a media frenzy over the last few weeks, as the performance of the Mets' ballclub has been lacking. A lot has been made over the job security of their skipper, Willie Randolph. Well as an avid Mets fan, I say...LET HIM STAY!

As far as I am concerned, Randolph has done NOTHING that warrants termination. Granted, the Mets have been playing almost lethargically lately. But Randolph is doing the best he can with what he's got. Between injuries (Church, Martinez, El Duque, Alou, Anderson) and the media constantly on their doorsteps, the Mets have been victimized of some bad luck along the way. Everyone loses games - but at this point, it's as if a Mets player was dealt a Royal Flush in a game of Poker, and still managed to lose the hand.

There has been a lot of criticism about Randolph's lack of fire. But I pose this question: if a ship is sinking, or a plane is crashing, would you prefer the captain to be running around panicking? Or would you feel better if he was calm, cool and tried to resolve the problem logically and thoughtfully? I choose the latter. His mentor, Joe Torre, has been that way for years, and he lead the Yankees to a dynasty. Randolph can't choose his cards - he can only play with the hand he has been dealt.

A final point - who would replace Randolph? Obviously, the ideal replacement would be Bobby Valentine. But he is just short of a god in Japan, and the Mets would have to offer he and the country a lot of Yen to lure him away. I wouldn't mind seeing Lee Mazzili or Ray Knight at the helm, should a replacement be necessary. But other than that, there are slim pickings right now. Bench coach Jerry Manuel is not what the Mets need. Gary Carter is supposedly job hunting, but I don't feel he is a good fit with this group of personalities. Phil Garner, Tony Pena, and Ken Macha are all recent managers who were let go by their club, but all lack the passion and the fire that would spark the Mets.

So given those caveats, why would the Mets want to replace Randolph? Perhaps they should look into replacing some of their on-field talent first to try and salvage their season. I would love to see a trade of Mike Pelfrey and Aaron Heilman for a second baseman and/or an outfielder. Pedro Martinez is scheduled to come back June 3, so that should be a boost. But Mr. Minaya, and Mr. Wilpon, I implore to let Willie stay!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Kershaw

2008-05-25T19:28:00.003-04:00

He's only 20 years old, but his arrival in the MLB has been highly anticipated since he was drafted in the first round of the 2006 draft. His name is Clayton Kershaw, and he is a 6'3" southpaw from Dallas.

With the Dodgers in need of a fifth starter, they purchased the contract of Kershaw for him to start on Sunday against the Cardinals. He was impressive in his debut, going six innings and only allowing two runs on five hits. He also struck out seven.

Kershaw has some filthy stuff. He features a 95-97 mph fastball, and a nasty curveball at about 72-75 mph. He kept the Cards mostly off balance, though he labored through the first inning, throwing 32 pitches in the opening frame. But he kept the Dodgers in the game, and for the meantime, Kershaw may have installed himself into the Dodgers' rotation. Let's hope manager Joe Torre will be more lenient on the rookies than he was as the Yankees skipper.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The amount of players landing on the DL is astonishing. Just looking at this past week, we see a tremendous amount of injuries taking place.

5/19 - Ronnie Belliard goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left calf.
5/19 - Chad Fox goes on the 15-day DL with ulnar neuritis.
5/19 - Donnie Murphy goes on the 15-day DL with right elbow inflammation.

5/20 - Jake Peavy goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right elbow.
5/20 - Andrew Brown goes on the 15-day DL after undergoing an appendectomy.
5/20 - Gary Bennett goes on the 15-day DL with plantar fascitits in his left foot.
5/21 - Erik Aybar goes on the 15-day DL with a dislocated finger.
5/22 - Austin Kearns goes on the 15-day DL after undergoing elbow surgery to remove bone chips.
5/23 - (pitcher) Chris Young goes on the 15-day DL with a fractured nose.
5/23 - Josh Bard goes on the 15-day DL with an ankle injury.
5/23 - Moises Alou goes (back) on the 15-day DL with a strained left calf.
5/23 - Adam Everett goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right elbow.
5/23 - Juan Uribe goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring.
5/24 - Eric Gagne goes on the 15-day DL with right rotator cuff tendinitis.
5/24 - Jayson Werth goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique.
5/24 - Brad Hawpe goes on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring.
5/24 - Clint Barmes goes on the 15-day DL with a sprained right knee.
5/24 - Brett Caroll goes on the 15-day DL with a separated right shoulder.
5/24 - Marlon Anderson goes on the 15-day DL with strained left hamstring.
5/25 - Fausto Carmona goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left hip.
5/25 - Andruw Jones goes on the 15-day DL with an injured right knee.
5/25 - Matt Holliday goes on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring.

Anderson, Hawpe, Holliday, and Barmes all left from the same Mets/Rockies series.

On Friday night, when the game went 13 innings, Anderson left after attempting to beat out a ground ball in the 4th inning. Barmes, one of the Rockies' hottest hitters who had replaced injured shortstop Troy Tulowitski, left in the top of the 10th inning. Jose Reyes hit a bloop double, and took out Barmes on the slide into second base.
On Saturday, Holliday, who hit the game-tying and game-winning hits Friday night, strained his hammy running to first on a groundout to third.
Though Hawpe didn't actually get hurt during this series, he was placed on the DL on Saturday.
This series saw more injuries, not resulting in a DL stint (yet).

Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras bruised his knee when he crashed into the wall Friday night in the sixth inning.
Garrett Atkins missed the last two games of the series with a stiff neck.
Ryan Church, who suffered a concussion in the previous series in Atlanta, has yet to start a game since enduring the injury. He has appeared as a pinch-hitter, but still feels "funny".

No More Pizza

2008-05-23T23:18:00.007-04:00

On Tuesday, a career became a legacy. After 16 seasons, Mike Piazza has officially retired from Major League Baseball.

Piazza, a 12-time All-Star, began his career in 1992 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1993, Piazza was named the National League Rookie of the Year. That season, he hit .318 with 35 home runs and drove in 112 runs. Other than his debut season in '92, Piazza was an All-Star every year he was with the Dodgers, and finished within the top 15 in MVP voting as well.

But in 1998, he would shed his Dodger blues and would head south to Miami. In one of the biggest trades in recent history, Piazza, along with Todd Zeile, was sent to the Marlins in exchange for Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonilla, Charles Johnson, Jim Eisenreich and Manuel Barrios on May 14. In his tenure with the Dodgers, Piazza amassed 177 home runs, on his way to a remarkable career.

Piazza's time as a Marlin would be short-lived - five games to be exact. In those five games, Piazza went 5-18 (including his fourth career triple). On May 22, he was sent to the New York Mets for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall and a minor leaguer. This trade was the beginning of a dynasty for Piazza.

When he came to New York, the Mets were chasing the Braves for first place, sitting nine games behind in second place. That season, the Mets finished in second, 18 games in back of the Braves. But after years and years of terrible seasons, the team finally made a splash landing in Piazza. They signed Piazza to a 7-year contract, and for those seven years, Piazza would become the face of the franchise.

Piazza was part of a thrilling victory against the Atlanta Braves - one which I was lucky enough to attend. It was June 30, 2000. It was a dismal game. The Braves looked like they were going to win their second in a row against the Mets at Shea, up 8-1 in the 8th inning. But a 10-run inning gave the Mets an 11-8 victory. This inning was capped by a Piazza 3-run homer off Terry Mulholland, breaking what was an 8-8 tie - and giving the Mets the exciting win.

Piazza will forever be remembered for his part in the game on September 21, 2003 - 10 days after 9/11. It was the first game played in New York since the tragedies that took place on Sept. 11, and the Mets were facing their arch rivals, the Atlanta Braves. In the 8th inning, with the Mets trailing 2-1, Piazza drilled a Steve Karsay offering over the center field wall for a two-run bomb. Not only did that shot give the Mets a thrilling victory over the Braves, but it gave New York something positive to cheer about, after suffering through the horrors it endured just over a week prior.

In a May 13 game against the Colorado Rockies in 2003, Piazza solidified his name in Cooperstown. In the top of the second inning, Piazza took the first pitch he saw from Rockies' starter Shawn Chacon over the fence for his 352nd career home run - passing Carlton Fisk for the most ever by a catcher.

But, like most good things, Piazza's time with the Mets came to an end. After the 2005 season, Piazza had become a free agent, and the Mets decided to go in other directions. Piazza would sign a one-year contract with the Padres, where he would hit 22 dingers, and hit at a .283 clip in 126 games played. Piazza then spent 2007 with the Oakland A's, though injuries kept him out of the lineup for most of the season. With Oakland, Piazza only played in 83 games, and only hit 8 homers. He was a free agent at the end of last season, and no one was willing to take a chance on a 39-year old catcher who had lost his power swing. So after 16 seasons, Piazza has called it a career.

And what a career it was. Piazza was never known for his ability behind the plate, as he allowed 1400 stolen bases, and only caught 423 runners.

So now the debate begins - what uniform will Piazza don as he enters the Hall of Fame? The case for the Dodgers can easily be matched with the case for the Mets. Piazza spent more seasons with the Mets, and therefore had a higher quantity of statistics. However, Piazza was viewed as a more fearful hitter when he played in L.A., and he never came as close to winning the MVP award as he did in 1997 and 1998, when he played most of his games as a Dodger (he finished second in the voting both seasons). He was also named the MVP of the 1996 All-Star game, when he was still a Dodger.

But as a Met, Piazza hit 220 home runs; became the all-time leader in homers by a catcher; reached the playoffs three times, including one World Series appearance; and became the face of a franchise. It will be a debate that will garner lots of attention for sure. But in five years, we should have an idea, as Piazza will almost certainly be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

From a die-hard Mets fan, thank you Mike Piazza, for all you did for the Mets, the game of baseball, and the city of New York.

On a side note, you may have noticed I attribute much of my information to a website, baseballreference.com. If you like to research the history of the game, like to find out interesting information, or just like baseball, you NEED to check this site out. It has EVERYTHING a fan could want or need. I highly recommend this website to anyone.

Statistical and historical information courteous of baseballreference.com.

Against the Odds

2008-05-20T10:43:00.000-04:00

Getting a chance to pitch in the Major Leagues is special. Being the winning pitcher of Game 4, the clinching game, of the World Series is even more of a fantasy. Throwing a no-hitter is something many only dream of. But doing all of this, after overcoming cancer, is but a miracle. Red Sox lefty Jon Lester lived this miracle in what has been one of the most inspirational stories in (and out of) baseball over the last several years.

Lester, from Tacoma, was drafted by the Sox in the 2nd round of the 2002 draft. He made is Major League debut in relief on June 10, 2006 against the Rangers. He went 4 1/3 innings, giving up three earned in a loss. His first start came six days later against the Braves. He went six strong, giving up only one earned run and struck out five as he picked up his first career win. In his next start, he struck out 10 Nationals - still a career high.

Later that season, Lester was diagnosed with "anaplastic large cell lymphoma", according to MLB.com. Lester pitched his last game of '06 on August 23 against the Angels. He won this game, pitching five innings and scattering six hits. He allowed three runs, and finished the 2006 season with a 7-2 mark.

Fast forward 11 months to July 23, 2007. Lester makes his highly anticipated return to the mound, in grand fashion. In a start against the Indians, Lester pitched six innings, striking out six and only allowed two runs on five hits.

After completing 2007 with a 4-0 record, it was time for the Red Sox to go to the postseason. Lester was not on the roster for the Sox in the Division Series against the Angels. But he was on the roster for the League Championship Series against the Indians. And he was also put on the World Series roster against the Rockies. And did he flourish. He pitched 5 2/3 shut-out innings, leading the Red Sox to the promised land - the 2007 World Series Championship.

Jump to May 19, 2008. Jon Lester is taking on the Kansas City Royals in the first game of a four game series. And aside from walking Billy Butler in the second and Esteban German in the ninth, Lester was perfect and he no-hit the Royals, as the Sox went on to win 7-0. Lester, who threw a career-high 130 pitches, became the 18th Red Sox hurler to throw a no-hitter, and the first since, well...September when fellow youngster Clay Buchholz no-hit the Orioles. Lester became just the fifth left-hander to toss a no-no in Red Sox history, and the no-hitter is the first complete game of Lester's young career.

"It's something that I'll remember forever, a lot of excitement. I think I had more adrenaline going in the ninth inning than I did in the first inning, which I guess is normal for that situation. It was great. The fans were great; they're on their feet yelling and screaming. It was probably one of the loudest times I've heard Fenway when I've been out there pitching," Lester told MLB.com.

With the no-hitter, Jason Varitek becomes the all-time leader in no-hitters caught. He has been behind the plate for the last four Red Sox no-hitters (Nomo, Lowe, Buchholz and Lester), the most ever by a catcher.

"I'm very fortunate," said Varitek, according to MLB.com. "It's so exciting to be a part of one as a catcher."

Manager Terry Francona knows what Lester has gone through, and found difficult to keep his emotions in check.

"I looked up in the ninth, and you're trying to keep your emotions in check and I went to say something to [pitching coach] John Farrell, and he was being a big baby next to me. It made me feel a little bit better," Francona told MLB.com.

But all the focus is on Lester. Here's a 24-year old kid who has overcome so much in so little time. He beat cancer. There are already talks of Hall of Fame potential for this young hurler. The spikes he wore for his no-hitter were sent to Cooperstown. The sky seems to be the limit for this kid, and he is definitely riding high right now. Playing for a perennial contender like Boston, there's no reason to think this kid can't win 15-20 games some day. What an inspiration.

Statistical and historical information courteous of MLB.com and baseballreference.com.

April Recap, Part 2

2008-05-05T15:54:00.001-04:00

So, we've looked at the divisional standings, and some of the statistical leaders through the first month of the season. But there were some interesting news and story-lines that deserve some reviewing as well. Injuries, debuts, and some surprise transactions are recapped below.

INJURIES:

Orlando Hernandez, Curt Schilling, Scott Kazmir, John Lackey, Chris Carpenter, Mike Hampton, Noah Lowry, Joel Zumaya, Jason Schmidt, Mark Prior, Matt Clement, Chris Ray, and Kelvim Escobar are among the big-time pitchers who did not throw a single pitch in a Major League game in April, due to various injuries.

Dmitri Young, Eric Chavez, Chris Duffy, Moises Alou, and Rocco Baldelli are among the hitters not to have made a plate appearance in April, due to various injuries.

John Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Chad Cordero, Erik Bedard, Brad Lidge, Wandy Rodriguez, B.J. Ryan, Rich Harden, J.J. Putz, Dontrelle Willis, Pedro Martinez, and Yovanni Gallardo (who will likely miss the rest of the season) are among the pitchers who spent time on the disabled list in the month of April.

Kaz Matsui, Cliff Floyd, Scott Rolen, Michael Cuddyer, Curtis Granderson, Alfonso Soriano, Jimmy Rollins, Ty Wigginton, Shane Victorino, Howie Kendrick, and Mike Lowell are among the hitters who spent time on the disabled list in the month of April.

DFAs (Designated for Assignment):

Phillies - Wes Helms (traded to the Marlins for a player to be named or cash).
Red Sox - Kyle Snyder (Sent to Triple-A Pawtucket), Bryan Corey (sent to Triple-A Pawtucket).
A's - Dan Johnson (claimed off waivers by the Rays), Kirk Saarloos (sent to Triple-A Sacramento)
Mariners - Charlton Jimerson (Re-signed to a minor league contract), Greg Norton (traded to the Braves for a player to be named or cash), Brad Wilkseron (released; signed by the Blue Jays)
Astros - David Newhan, Humberto Quintero (sent to Triple-A Round Rock), Tomas Perez (sent to Triple-A Round Rock)
Blue Jays - Frank Thomas (signed by the A's)
Royals - Hideo Nomo (released)
Reds - Juan Castro (released)
Rays - Dan Johnson (sent to Triple-A Durham), Mike DiFelice (sent to Triple-A Durham)
Rockies- Jayson Nix (sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs), Jose Capellan (refused assignment to Triple-A Round Rock; released)
Giants - Rajai Davis (claimed off waivers by the A's)
Mets - Brady Clark (sent to Triple-A New Orleans)
Rangers - Jason Botts (sent to Triple-A Oklahoma)
Orioles - Greg Aquino (sent to Triple-A Norfolk)
Yankees - Sean Henn (claimed off waivers by the Padres)

Released:

Steve Kline - Giants
Ray King - Nationals
Matt Morris - Pirates (retired)
Mike Stanton - Reds

Last Minute Free Agent Signings:

The Brewers signed RHP Jeff Weaver to a minor league contract.
The Mets signed RHP Claudio Vargas to a minor league contract.
The A's signed DH Frank Thomas to a one year contract.
The Rockies signed infielder Juan Castro to a minor league contract.

Trades:

The Brewers dealt outfielder Gabe Gross to the Rays in exchange for minor leaguer Josh Butler.
The Rockies acquired LHP Jorge de la Rosa and cash from the Royals for a player to be named.
The Rockies also acquired RHP Jason Grilli from the Tigers in exchange for minor leaguer Zach Simmons.
The Phillies traded infielder Wes Helms to the Marlins for a player to be named or cash.

Transaction information courteous of MLB.com

April Recap, Part 1

2008-05-04T14:51:00.005-04:00

Well, it's been a while - school, both jobs, and trying to move have made blogging a tad difficult over the last several weeks. But school is over and it's time to write about some baseball. We are in the merry month of May now, so why don't we do a recap of the first full month of the season.

Division Standings through 4/30/08:

AL East:
Boston - 17-12
Baltimore - 15-12
Tampa Bay - 15-12
New York - 14-15
Toronto - 11-17

AL Central:
Chicago - 14-12
Minnesota - 13-14
Cleveland - 13-15
Detroit - 13-15
Kansas City - 12-15

AL West:
Los Angeles - 18-11
Oakland - 17-12
Seattle - 13-15
Texas - 10-18

NL East:
Florida - 15-12
New York - 14-12
Philadelphia - 15-13
Atlanta - 12-15
Washington - 11-17

NL Central:
Chicago - 17-10
St. Louis - 18-11
Milwaukee - 15-12
Houston - 13-16
Cincinnati - 12-17
Pittsburgh - 11-16

NL West:
Arizona - 20-8
Los Angeles - 14-13
San Francisco - 13-16
Colorado - 11-17
San Diego - 11-17

League Leaders through 4/30/08

AL Home Runs:
Joe Crede, Carlos Quentin (CHW) - 7

AL Runs Batted In:
Josh Hamilton (TEX) - 32

AL Stolen Bases:
Brian Roberts (BAL), Carlos Gomez (MIN) - 9

AL Batting Average:
Manny Ramirez (BOS) - .344

AL Wins:
Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana (LAA), Chien-Ming Wang (NYY), Cliff Lee (CLE) - 5

AL Strikeouts:
Felix Hernandez (SEA) - 41

AL Earned Run Average:
Cliff Lee (CLE) - 0.96

AL Saves:
Francisco Rodriguez (LAA) - 11

NL Home Runs:
Chase Utley (PHI) - 10

NL Runs Batted In:
Lance Berkman (HOU) - 25

NL Stolen Bases:
Willy Tavares (COL), Michael Bourn (HOU) - 11

NL Batting Average:
Chipper Jones (ATL) - .422

NL Wins:
Brandon Webb (ARI) - 5

NL Strikeouts:
Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez (SFG), Chad Billingsley (LAD) - 40

NL Earned Run Average:
Edinson Volquez (CIN) - 1.23

NL Saves:
Jason Isringhausen (STL), Brian Wilson (SFG) - 9

Statistical and standings courteous of MLB.com and ESPN.com

Shutting the Door

2008-04-17T00:08:00.004-04:00

What makes a closer a closer? How does one become a closer? Does a pitcher have to pitch the 9th inning for a certain amount of time before being considered a closer?

An argument recently arose at work (Sportsline). It was declared that Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer of all time. I countered by saying that no, Trevor Hoffman is the greatest closer of all time. So just who is right?

My argument is this: the save statistic is the one stat that differentiates a closer from any other pitcher. Only a closer can record a save. Even if he only records one save his entire career, that one game he is considered the closer. Any pitcher can have an ERA or a WHIP - but not a save. Therefore, with Trevor Hoffman having the most saves in major league history, statistically he is the best closer of all time. Here's a closer look at the debate.

Mariano Rivera
When Rivera came up with the New York Yankees in 1995, the team had some closer by the name of John Wetteland. Thus, Rivera came up as a starter, and started 10 games for the Bombers that season. The following year, realizing that Wetteland was coming towards the end of his Yankee career, the Yanks began grooming Rivera into the closer he would become. Rivera pitched solely out of the bullpen in '95, finishing 14 games and recording five saves. He also struck out 130 batters in 137 innings - by far his career best.

The Yanks were right about Wetteland, as he went to the Rangers before the 1997 season. With Wetteland out of the Bronx, Rivera was given the chance to become the team's full-time closer. And has he made the most of that opportunity! Since then, he's saved a total of 438 games, not including the five he's saved so far in 2008. And Rivera's postseason performance has been well documented. There's no question - Rivera is a future Hall of Famer.

Trevor Hoffman

But Rivera is not the best closer of all time, I argue. As I stated before, I view the save statistic as a clear indicator to who is and who is not a closer. Rivera has 448 career saves coming into Friday night. Hoffman has a total of 528 saves in his illustrious career. Now, granted, Hoffman has played more games as his team's "closer" than Rivera has. But not much more, and that's a slightly irrelevant point in my book. Entering Friday night, Hoffman has appeared in 889 career games during his 16 year career. "Mo" has pitched 793 in 14 years. And keep in mind, due to injuries, Hoffman only pitched in nine games in the 2003 season.

Hoffman began his big-league career as a fish. He was actually drafted by the Reds in 1989, and was picked by the Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft. In the middle of the '93 season, after pitching 67 games for Florida, he was traded to the Padres for some kid named Gary Sheffield. Since then, all he has done is surpass Lee Smith as the all-time saves leader, and became the first pitcher to record 500 saves. There is no way that he is NOT the best closer in the history of the game. Best pitcher? Certainly not - but as closers go, it gets no better than Hoffy.

Statistical information curteous of baseballreference.com. Photos curteous of MLB.com.

It's a Game of Wonders

2008-04-14T20:02:00.003-04:00

They say baseball is a game of wonders. Well, okay, I don't know if they actually say that - but it's true. This is especially so in the beginning weeks of the season. It's the time of the year when the teams who are slated to finish last are in first, and vice-versa. When the potential league home run hitters have zero, and the reserve/part-time players have seven. Let's take a look at a few examples here in 2008.

HOME RUNS

In 2007, Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder became the youngest player ever to hit 50 home runs in a season. After two weeks of 2008 baseball, the second-generation star has none. It took Fielder only two games to hit his first of the year last season. Of course it took him until game #16 to hit his second. But so far, the Brewers have played 13 games in '08, and Fielder has yet to go deep once. At their request, Fielder and fellow youngster Ryan Braun have switched spots in the batting order. Fielder was batting third in the lineup, while Braun, the NL Rookie of the Year last season, had been batting fourth. But the two spent the majority of 2007 flip-flopped in the order, and both went up to manager Ned Yost and told him they are more comfortable batting Braun third and Fielder fourth - an act that shows some major signs of maturity from the two young stars of the Brew Crew.

And while Fielder sits on zero home runs, how about Gabe Kapler? This is a guy who came up with the Tigers in 1998, had amazing potential, and his own K-Swiss commercial. And he looked good in his first few seasons in the bigs, as he hit 49 home runs from 1999-2001 with the Tigers and Rangers. But from 2002-06, he hit a total of 19 with the Rangers, Rockies and Red Sox. In 2005, he tried to play in Japan, but that was a complete failure. So after failing in the Far East, Kapler came back to the Near East and played again with the Red Sox. After rupturing his Achilles tendon, however, his playing career was pretty much over...or was it?

Kapler retired after the 2006 season and was hired as the manager of the Greenville Drive, a minor league affiliation of the Sox, in 2007. After spending the 2007 season managing the Drive, Kapler expressed interest in making yet another comeback to the majors. And he did just that, signing a contract with the Brewers. Kapler made the club out of spring training, thanks in part to the 25-game suspension handed down to Mike Cameron to begin the '08 season. And what a comeback it has been, as Kapler is tied for the National League lead in home runs with five, along with Bill Hall, Mark Reynolds, Mike Jacobs and Justin Upton.

Now, granted, it's early in the season. But considering this man was out of baseball for all of 2007, it's rather astonishing to see Kapler doing what he's doing right now. It will be tough for the Brewers to decide what to do with him once Cameron is eligible to play, but for the time being, Kapler will be determined to continue to put up the numbers he's flashing right now.

Speaking of home runs, which team enters Monday leading all of baseball in homers? The Yankees? No. The Red Sox? No. The Mets? No!...the MARLINS! That's right, the Florida Marlins (and the Arizona Diamondbacks) lead the major leagues with 21 home runs as a team. Meanwhile, the Mets sit dead last with a grand total of five (they are tied for last with the Royals). Can that be right?!

Division Standings

Coming into 2008, the Detroit Tigers has some incredible expectations. Many were predicting them to win the AL Central; most picked them to get into the World Series; and some even slated them to win it all. And why not? They have one of the most potent lineups in baseball, with some decent-at-worst pitching, and a great manager. So where do the Tigers sit after two weeks of baseball? Well, entering Monday night, the Tigers have a record of 2-10 and have the worst record in all of baseball - by a lot.

The Diamondbacks have the best record in baseball (9-3), which shouldn't surprise very many people. But what might surprise you to know is that the Cardinals have a 9-4 record to lead the NL Central, the Orioles and Blue Jays are atop the AL East with a 7-5 record, and the White Sox lead the AL Central with a 7-4 record. The biggest surprise may be the A's and their 8-5 record leading the AL West!

So things in baseball are a little wonky right now. The bests are the worst, and the worst are the best. But this seems to be the trend in the early parts of major league baseball seasons. By the end of May, we should see things start to shape up the way they are meant to. That being said, remember that baseball is a game of wonders, and anything can happen.

Statistical, biographical and historical information courteous of ESPN.com, MLB.com and baseballreference.com

Breaking out is hard to do- American League

2008-04-09T11:26:00.011-04:00

2008 could be the year of the break out for a number of players. On that note, there are a number of players that should live up to their potential. First up is a Kansas City phenom named Alex Gordon. Gordon is arguably the Royals biggest prospect, but he was somewhat disappointing last year. His line from last year was .247/.411/.314. The hype would suggest that his numbers would have to improve this year and for him to be considered one of the top third baseman in the AL. With other competitors in the AL Central at the hot corner, his outlook is good, but his production needs improvement at the major league level.

Then there is Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. His name was swirled around this winter with trade rumors when he was a Mariner. He was ultimately traded to Baltimore for Erik Bedard, in one of the biggest offseason trades. Jones will have to fill the hole in center left by Corey Patterson. He also has large hype to live up to; while he is short on major league experience he has unlimited potential. When the season progresses he'll either be a big story or a big bust.

In the pitching department there are a number of hot prospects. A few come to mind:

Notables
Red Sox: Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz
Yankees: Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes
Orioles: Adam Loewen, Jeremy Guthrie
Rays: Matt Garza, David Price
Royals: Brian Bannister
Twins: Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, Phil Humber, Glen Perkins
White Sox: John Danks, Gavin Floyd
Angels: Nick Adenhart, Dustin Moseley
Athletics: Fautino De Los Santos , Gio Gonzalez

The deepest young talent comes from the AL East and Central, with the Twins, Rays and Yankees have a surplus of young pitching either in the majors or waiting in the wings. While the Indians and Red Sox have a combination of veterans, 3rd-4th year players and young pitchers aboard their big league staffs. Youth brings inexperience for the present, but also an upside for the future.

Who will breakthrough?

Pitching is always hard to predict in the respect of success. As a Yankees fan I'm hoping the triple threat of top prospects (Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain) will succeed. Hughes showed his worth at the end of August through September and into the playoffs. He will have to live up the hype this year, after posting below a 2.25 ERA in his last six appearances last year. Joba Chamberlain will be in a familiar role from last year and he is appearing to be just as dominant as he was last year. I wouldn't say it's a lock, but Chamberlain could be a double threat if he can do well as a starter. And Kennedy had limited experience in the majors during the 2007 season, but if his minor league stats are any indication, this young right-hander should give us Yankee fans something to cheer about for years to come.

The Rays already have a very young staff with the barely 25 year old ace Scott Kazmir, and 27-year-old James Shields a solid # 2 and the rest of the rotation still isn't old enough to save money on their car insurance by switching to Geico. With that said, the face of baseball will change, league wide, with new faces replacing the old ones (Clemens, Maddux, Mussina, Randy Johnson, Tom Glavine). Only time will tell who will end up on the next Wheaties box.

Here's to you Johnny

2008-04-07T21:16:00.001-04:00

A 22-year old kid from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, named Johnny Cueto made his Major League debut on Thursday for the Reds at home against the reigning NL West Division Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Cueto was stellar, carrying a perfect game through five innings before surrendering a home run to Justin Upton in the top of the sixth inning. The home run was the only baserunner he allowed, in addition to striking out 10. The Reds were able to hang on to a slim 3-2 lead, giving Cueto his first major league victory. Cueto's 10 strikeouts are the most by a Reds' pitcher in their major league debut in over 100 years. Furthermore, the Reds have not harboured much in the way of pitching talent since the days of Jose Rijo, Tom Browning and John Smiley in the early to mid 1990's. They seem to be breaking the cycle, with a core of Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo. With the emergence of youthful talent in today's game, it's safe to say Cueto would excel as the Reds' #3 guy. All the pitching talent that we see come and go, with performance like Cueto's in his debut makes you wonder, could he be the "real deal". If you look at the past two years, he stormed through Double and Triple A, leaping to the bigs this year could be just the right dose of youth and talent the Reds may need to get into their division race. Like they say.. only time will tell.

A New Addition

2008-04-07T20:30:00.000-04:00

Life is complicated. It's full of twists and turns, hardships and luxuries. Well, right now, life is rather hectic for me, between working two jobs, going to school (which is like having a third job), trying to find a place to live, and trying to graduate, I simply do not have the time to maintain this blog single-handidly.

That being said, I would like to introduce a new contributor to Around the Bigs - Mr. Matt Cohn. Matt is a co-worker of mine at CBS Sports, and is trying his hand at this whole blog thing. I will still be making posts as well, but not as regularly as I did before. I give Matt my thanks as he will help me keep the blog going, while I can handle some of life's curveballs.

Between the two of us, we will still be giving great baseball news, notes, highlights and some of our wonderful opinions (that's an opinion). This could get interesting as I am a huge Mets fan and Matt is a Yankee fan...booooo! So we could see some great debates - almost as great as the Presidential debates!

For Matt's first post, he introduces us to a guy named Johnny.

Recapping American Opening Day

2008-04-01T11:21:00.000-04:00

The 2008 season may have gotten under way last week, but Monday was Opening Day. There was a flurry of games, some delayed; some not even played at all. There were players making returns to their former stomping grounds, some making debuts for new teams, and there were plenty of story lines. Here's a look at a handful of these headlines.

ATL @ WSH

While Monday was considered Opening Day for Major League Baseball, Sunday was actually the first regular season game played in America. The game saw the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals face off in the first game at new Nationals Park.

In what was a highly anticipated event, this Opening Day match up featured Tim Hudson getting the start for the Braves, against Nationals' newcomer Odalis Perez. Both starters were impressive to start the season. Perez limited the Braves to just four hits and one run (a Chipper Jones home run) over five innings. Hudson, meanwhile, was even better. He allowed three hits and two runs over seven innings of work, while striking out three and walking none. All of the hitting and scoring off Hudson came in the very first inning. After that, Hudson was perfect for the rest of his game.

The result of this game was in the hands of the bullpen, as the Nationals were ahead 2-1 going into the ninth inning. With Nationals' closer Chad Cordero suffering from shoulder woes, big Jon Rauch was called upon to try and shut the door. But he was unsuccessful in his attempt. With two outs, Martin Prado scored on a passed ball by Nats' new catcher Paul LoDuca. That tied the game up at two, and it looked like the teams were heading to extra innings.

But not so fast. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, future MVP candidate Ryan Zimmerman launched a rocket of a home run over the left-center field wall for a game winning, walk-off home run. The homer came off Braves' right-hander Peter Moylan. According to MLB.com, it was the fourth time Zimmerman ended a game with a home run.

"I've been lucky to be in this situation," Zimmerman told MLB.com. "That's half of the battle right there. You can't do it if you are not in that situation. It's a mind set - you have to stay calm. I haven't done it every time, but I want to be up there."

FINAL SCORE:
ATL (0-1) 2, WSH (1-0) 3

W: Rauch (1-0) L: Moylan (0-1)
HR: ATL - Jones (1, 4th inning off Perez, 0 on, 1 out) WSH- Zimmerman (1, 9th inning off Moylan, 0 on, 2 out)

NYM @ FLA

This game, which I attended, was a terrific baseball game. Johan Santana made his Mets debut and was all the Mets were expecting when they dealt for him during the offseason. In seven innings, the talented lefty allowed two runs (on a home run by Josh Willingham) on three hits while walking two and striking out eight. He logged 100 pitches and was sharp from pitch number one - he was perfect through three innings.

Meanwhile, the Mets offense provided more than enough support for Santana, as they won the game by a score of 7-2. David Wright, Carlos Beltran each had a pair of doubles and Angel Pagan added a two-bagger of his own. The six foot, nine inch Mark Hendrickson made his debut for the Marlins, and did not look good at all. The southpaw gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings of work. All-in-all, Santana was the absolute highlight of the game and should provide the Mets with much needed rotation stability for years to come.

FINAL SCORE:
Mets (1-0) 7, Marlins (0-1) 2

W: Santana (1-0) L: Hendrickson (0-1)
HR: FLA - Willingham (1, 4th inning off Santana, 1 on, 2 0ut)

MIL @ CHC

This game started out as the best of the day, as the teams' aces squared off against each other. For the Brewers, Ben Sheets took the hill, and was opposed by Big Z, Carlos Zambrano. The game remained scoreless until the top of the ninth inning - that's how great this game was.

The game was delayed over 40-minutes due to rain, and then was stopped for about 50 minutes when the rains decided to come again in the third. But that didn't stop these two teams from putting on one heck of a ballgame. Sheets and Zambrano were on top of their game, neither pitcher allowing a single run.

Zambrano left the game after 6 2/3 innings with cramps in his forearm - but nothing to worry about here, as the cramps were a result of some slight dehydration. Big Z will be fine. He finished the game with five strikeouts, one walk and three hits allowed. As for Sheets, well he was just as dominant. In 6 1/3 innings, he struck out seven, walked two and allowed two hits.

As for the game, the Brewers got the scoring started in the top of the ninth, when they got three runs off Cubs' new closer Kerry Wood. Ryan Braun and Corey Hart drove in the three runs, which made Cub fans nervous about Wood's ability to close out games. But the game wasn't ready to end just then. New Brewers' closer Eric Gagne had just as much luck as Wood did in the bottom half. After allowing Derrek Lee (walk) and Aramis Ramirez (single) to reach to begin the inning, Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome drove everybody home with his first major league home run - a three-run bomb to tie the game (again). The homer was part of a 3-3 day for Fukudome, an impressive debut indeed.

But it wasn't enough, as the Brewers came right back in the top of the 10th to regain the lead, and hold onto it. Tony Gwynn Jr. drove in Craig Counsell, who doubled doubled to lead off the inning, with a sacrifice fly off right-hander Bob Howry. Newcomer David Riske came in the bottom of the 10th, and retired the Cubs in order to record his first save of the year.

FINAL SCORE:
MIL (1-0) 4, CHC (0-1) 3

W: Gagne (1-0) L: Howry (0-1) S: Riske (1)
HR: CHC - Fukudome (1, 9th inning off Gagne, 2 on, 0 out)

KC @ DET

The Tigers opened 2008 with quite possibly the highest expectations of any team in baseball - even the reigning World Champion Boston Red Sox. With a lineup that includes Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield and Edgar Renteria, the Tigers are expected to finish first in the division, and make it to the World Series for the second time in three seasons.

But in order to that, the Tigers have to win ballgames, and they failed to that on Opening Day. The Tigers met the young and lovable Royals in game one, and the pitching match up was quite intriguing - Justin Verlander got the nod for the Tigers, as he squared off against Gil Meche. Both pitched fairly well, each going six innings and keeping their clubs in the game. The Tigers actually got off to a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, with Cabrera notching his first homer in a Tiger uniform. But the Royals scored two in the sixth and seventh innings to take a 4-3 lead, thanks in part to a two-run homer by third baseman Alex Gordon in the sixth.

Tigers' first baseman Carlos Guillen, however, did not let the Royals enjoy a lead for very long, as he smacked a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at four. It would stay that way into the 11th inning, when light-hitting Tony Pena blooped a single, scoring catcher John Buck to give the Royals the winning run. Joakim Soria came on to close the game, allowing one hit and striking out one. So in a nutshell, the team with the highest expectations lost to the team with almost no expectations.

FINAL SCORE:
KC (1-0) 5, DET (0-1) 4

W: Nunez (1-0) L: Bautista (0-1) S: Soria (1)
HR: KC - Gordon (1, 6th inning off Verlander, 1 on, 1 out) DET - Cabrera (1, 5th inning off Meche, 0 on, 0 out), Guillen (1, 8th inning off Tomko, 0 on, 0 out)

OTHER SCORES:

National League
SF (0-1) 0, LAD (1-0) 5
W: Penny (1-0) L: Zito (0-1)
HR: LAD - Kent (1, 1st inning off Zito, 1 on, 1 out)

ARI (1-0) 4, CIN (0-1) 2
W: Webb (1-0) L: Harang (0-1) S: Lyon (1)
HR: ARI - Young (1, 3rd inning off Harang, 0 on 1 out), Byrnes (1, 3rd inning off Harang, 0 on, 2 0ut), Salazar (1, 7th inning off Burton, 0 on, 2 out)

WSH (2-0) 11, PHI (0-1) 6
W: Rivera (1-0) L: Gordon (0-1)
HR: WSH - Milledge (1, 6th inning off Madson, 1 on, 2 out) PHI - Utley (1, 6th inning off Chico, 0 on, 0 out), Rollins (1, 7th inning off King, 1 on, 1 out)

PIT (1-0) 12, ATL (0-2) 11 (F/12)
W: Osoria (1-0) L: Boyer (0-1)
HR: PIT - Nady 2 (2, 8th inning off Acosta, 0 on, 0 out; 12th inning off Boyer, 2 on, 2 out), McClouth (1, 8th inning off Acosta, 2 on, 2 out) ATL - McCann (1, 4th inning off Snell, 0 on, 0 out), Francoeur (1, 12th inning off Osoria, 0 on, 2 out)

HOU (0-1) 0, SD (1-0) 4
W: Peavy (1-0) L: Oswalt (0-1)
HR: None

COL @ STL: PPD due to rain. Rescheduled for Tuesday 4/1.

American League:

CHW (0-1) 8, CLE (1-0) 10
W: Betancourt (1-0) L: Dotel (0-1) S: Borowski (1)
HR: CHW - Thome 2 (2, 1st inning off Sabathia, 1 on, 1 out; 3rd inning off Sabathia, 1 on, 1 out), Dye (1, 9th inning off Borowski, 0 on, 1 out) CLE - Gutierrez (1, 2nd inning off Buerhle, 0 on, 2 out), Sizemore (1, 2nd inning off Buerhle, 0 on, 2 0ut).

TB (1-0) 6, BAL (0-1) 2
W: Shields (1-0) L: Guthrie (0-1)
HR: TB - Hinske (1, 4th inning off Guthrie, 0 on, 0 out)

TEX (0-1) 2, SEA (1-0) 5
W: Green (1-0) L: Millwood (0-1) S: Putz (1)
HR: TEX - Young (1, 1st inning off Bedard, 0 on, 1 out)

LAA (0-1) 2, MIN (1-0) 3
W: Hernandez (1-0) L: Weaver (0-1) S: Nathan (1)
HR: None

TOR @ NYY: PPD due to rain. Rescheduled for Tuesday 4/1.

These Weeks in Baseball

2008-03-29T23:51:00.003-04:00

Well, believe it or not, the 2008 regular season has begun. With the dawn of a new season, Around the Bigs will undergo a slight change in format as well. Every week (likely each Sunday morning - assuming the combination of school, work and life doesn't get in the way) I will recap the games of the previous week. I will of course continue to give you the latest news and opinions. But now you will be able to read about the latest in on-field activity as well, here at Around the Bigs.

On Tuesday, the 2008 regular season officially got under way (at 6 am EST), when the Oakland Athletics and reigning World Champions Boston Red Sox met in a two-game series in Tokyo, Japan. This is the third time that the season has began in Japan - the Mets and Cubs played each other in the Land of the Rising Sun in 2000, while the Yanks and Rays opened the 2004 season in Tokyo.

It was a long journey for both teams, but you would never know it by their efforts on the field. Before playing their opening series against each other, the Sox and A's each played a game against the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers. Well the American ball clubs won all four games against the Japanese squads, outscoring them by a total of 29-12. But then it was time for the two teams to square off against one another for a two-game series in the Tokyo Dome.

GAME 1, 3/25/08

Game one of the series had all the makings. Last year's dynamic Japanese import, Daisuke Matsuzaka was the starting pitcher for the Red Sox, and he would be going up against the A's right-hander Joe Blanton. But as exciting a moment as it was, Dice-K's start wasn't exactly up to par. The righty went five innings, gave up two earned runs on two hits. He struck out six, but walked five and threw 95 pitches.

However, with the Sox down 4-3 in the top of the 9th inning, rookie outfielder Brandon Moss came to bat. Keep in mind, the kid was only playing because prior to the game, right fielder J.D. Drew complained of lower back pains. Well his pain meant pleasure for the Sox that night, because Moss ripped a 2-2 Huston Street changeup over the right field fence to tie the game up at 4 apiece. According to MLB.com, Moss became the first Sox player since 1945 to hit his first career home run on Opening Day. Ironically enough, Moss was sent down to Triple-A the very next day. The rewards a rookie gets.

But the drama wasn't finished. Sox slugger Manny Ramirez roped a two-out, two-run double in the top of the 10th inning to give the champs a 6-4 lead. It was an adventurous bottom of the 10th for closer Jonathan Papelbon, as he gave up an RBI double to Emil Brown, but managed to escape with the save in the Sox 6-5 victory. The closing story in all of this is that even though Dice-K ended up with a no-decision, a Japanese pitcher still got the W - Sox reliever Hideki Okajima, who pitched a scoreless inning and became the first Japanese pitcher to win a Major League game in Japan.

Blanton pitched well enough to win, giving up three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one, and left with a lead...a lead that would disappear in extra innings.

RECAP:
Final Score, BOS 6, Oak 5
W: Okajima (1-0) L: Street (0-1) S: Papelbon (1)
HR: BOS - Moss (1, off Street) OAK - Ellis (1, off Matsuzaka), Hannahan (1, off Snyder)

GAME 2, 3/26/08

After a thrilling extra-inning victory for the Boston Red Sox, it was time to take the field again, this time as the home team. Right-hander, and World Series hero Jon Lester took the mound for the Sox, and for the A's, it was the talented Rich Harden. This game didn't have as much drama as the first, but it did feature a brilliant performance by the young Harden, and a three-run home run from Emil Brown, as the A's took the game by a score of 5-1, splitting the two-game series.

Harden, who has been riddled with injuries throughout his career, pitched six dominating innings, yielding three hits and one run - a Manny Ramirez solo home run - while striking out nine and only walking three. If Harden is able to maintain this type of presence on the mound during the rest of the season, he might finally get the recognition he deserves as one of the top young pitchers in the game - as long as he can stay healthy.

Lester was not as impressive, only going four innings, giving up four runs on five hits, walked three and struck out four. With Curt Schilling out for most of the season, Lester is slated to be in the rotation for a good portion of the year. But he's going to need to up his game a bit if he wishes to remain with the team throughout 2008.

Recap
Final Score, OAK 5, BOS 1
W: Harden (1-0) L: Lester (0-1)
HR: BOS - Ramirez (1) OAK - Brown (1)

Other Spring Training notes of interest:

The Dodgers and Padres made a trip to the Far East themselves, as they played a couple of exhibition games in Beijing, China earlier this month. This marks the first time that two Major League teams played a baseball game in China. The teams played two games in the Olympic baseball stadium, where they drew a combined 23,000 plus crowd - for exhibition games! MLB is certainly attempting to become a global sport.
The Mets and White Sox took part in the second annual Civil Rights Game on Saturday. The two teams squared off in the final exhibition game for both clubs. The game, which was played under dismal weather conditions, was held in Memphis, TN at the Autozone Stadium - home of the Memphis Redbirds (the Cardinals' Triple-A club). The Mets edged the Sox, 4-3 after starter John Maine pitched five brilliant shut-out innings.
Reed Johnson found a home, not long after he was released by the Blue Jays. Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, after being cut by the Jays over the weekend. Johnson will likely be a utility-outfielder for the Cubs, giving them a hand in all three positions. In fact, on Tuesday, after signing his contract, Johnson started in center field for the Cubbies and went 2-5. Quite a day for the 31-year old outfielder.
In a rather surprising move, the Milwaukee Brewers released 29 year-old right-hander Claudio Vargas on Tuesday. Vargas, who went 11-9 in last season (his first as a Brewer), was owed $3.6 million in '08 by the Brewers and if he clears waivers, he will become a free agent. The move means the Brewers' rotation is set (at least until Yovani Gallardo returns from knee surgery). Ben Sheets will be the Opening Day starter, followed by Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Carlos Villanueva and rookie left-hander Manny Parra. Chris Capuano, another candidate for the rotation, will likely be out the entire season with a torn elbow ligament.

As I suggested the Mets to with Johnson, I feel they should definatley go after Vargas. Currently, the Mets' fifth starter is either Orlando Hernandez or Mike Pelfrey (the Mets are reportedly leaning on El Duke for now). Both pitchers had terrible springs. There is no telling how long Hernandez will be healthy for, and Pelfrey has yet to show he belongs in the Mets rotation. Vargas turns 30 in June, has a good amount of experience and success in the majors, and could give the Mets some much needed rotation depth to break camp with. Not to mention, he would be relatively cheap.

Is it time to Reed between the lines?

2008-03-23T12:38:00.002-04:00

The Toronto Blue Jays made their left field situation a little clearer. On Saturday, the team cut 31-year old Reed Johnson, likely meaning that free agent returnee Shannon Stewart will be the Opening Day left fielder for the Jays. Johnson was drafted by the Jays in 1998, and had a breakout season in 2006, when he batted .319 and and had a career-high 147 hits. But he battled a back injury in 2007, and was limited to only 79 games.

This season will be the second time around for Stewart and the Jays. He was drafted by Toronto in the first round of the 1992 draft, and played with the team until he was traded to the Minnesota Twins in the middle of the 2003 season. While playing with the Jays, Stewart racked up 73 home runs, and had a career-high 51 stolen bases in 1998. He was never able to stay healthy in Minnesota, and last season in Oakland, and his production took a hit over the years. He just turned 34 years old, and could have a couple more solid seasons in him, and the Jays were willing to take a chance on that.

As for Johnson, he could have a golden opportunity to play with the Mets. With left fielder Moises Alou on the shelf for at least the first month of the season, the Mets are looking for a right-handed hitter to take over in left, and provide the team with a solid bat off the bench when Alou returns. There had been rumors that the Mets were trying to work a deal with the Jays for Johnson, and now they can sign him for a few small bucks, and not have to trade any players away. If I were GM Omar Minaya, I would be talking to Johnson's representatives as soon as possible, and get him signed before the season begins.

There have also been rumors that the Mets have been talking to the Tigers about Marcus Thames and the Orioles about Kevin Millar. But there haven't been any known advancement in any trade talks. But the Mets need to make one more move - they need that right-handed batter, preferably one that can play the corner outfield, and infield positions. Millar, Johnson and Thames can all fit that profile. Here are some other Spring Training news & notes:

Miguel Cabrera has become a very rich man. In fact, he's become the richest man to ever put on a Detroit Tigers uniform. ESPN.com is reporting that Cabrera and the Tigers reached a preliminary agreement on a eight-year, $153.3 million contract extension Saturday. Cabrera was acquired, along with Dontrelle Willis, from the Florida Marlins in December for a package of young players, including Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin and Mike Rabelo.
The Nationals released former ace John Patterson, in a somewhat shocking move. Although, it's hard to blame the club - they simply ran out of patience. This once talented right-hander has only started 30 games once in his career (31 in 2005), and has been riddled with injuries over his career. This spring, Patterson, who was the Opening Day starter for the Nats last season, was 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA. If Patterson is able to latch on to another club, and if he can stay healthy, he should be able to have a pretty decent season - keep in mind, he just turned 30 years of age in January.
Javy Lopez is calling a career. The three-time All-Star catcher retired Saturday, after playing 15 seasons with the Braves, Orioles, and Red Sox. Lopez tried out with the Rockies in Spring Training in 2007, but was cut by the team and missed the entire season. In December, he inked a minor league deal with the Braves, in an attempt to make a comeback as a backup to Brian McCann. But the Braves decided to reassign the veteran to the minor leagues, and Lopez decided he'd rather hang up the cleats than play in the minors. Lopez finishes his career with 260 home runs and 864 RBI.
Bumps, bruises, groin pulls and other various injuries. They're happening all over Florida and Arizona. Here are some more injuries that may affect some teams' plans to begin the regular season:
The Brewers placed pitcher Yovanni Gallardo on the 15-day DL after going under minor knee surgery last month. Gallardo, who is expected to be a staple in the Brewers' rotation for years to come, is only expected to miss at most the first month of the season. He has the ability to strike out 150 batters, and should be able to win at least 15 games, even with the delayed start.
The Tigers are going to need Cabrera to be the typical slugger he is, right from the get-go, as their lead-off man and center fielder Curtis Granderson will start the season on the 15-day disabled list. Granderson was hit by a pitch on his right hand during a game against the Phillies, and one of his fingers is broken. He is slated to miss at least three weeks, according to ESPN.
The Giants' Noah Lowry will miss the first month of the season after having forearm surgery earlier this month. A healthy Lowry is one of the few bright spots for the Giants, as they are set to begin their rebuilding process. The surgery was a procedure meant to alleviate pressure in his forearm muscle, and was successful.
The Nationals placed two pitchers on the 15-day disabled list. Shawn Hill, who is expected to become the Nats' ace someday, has never been able to stay healthy, and 2008 will be no different. Whether its a shoulder, elbow or forearm, injuries have consistently gotten in Hill's way of becoming a stud pitcher. This time, it's his elbow that will force him to miss the start of the regular season. Ryan Wagner (shoulder) was also placed on the DL.
The Blue Jays will be without reliever Casey Janssen for all of 2008. Janssen underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum. The surgery was performed by none other than Dr. Lewis Yocum. He is hoping to be back in time for the start of the '09 season.

Two Diamonds in the Rotation

2008-03-18T16:52:00.002-04:00

In case anyone has missed it, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired right-hander Dan Haren from the A's in December for a bunch of prospects. Now, it's no secret the Haren is a good pitcher - he's an ace on most ballclubs. But he joins a rotation that already includes 2003 NL Rookie of the Year Brandon Webb. So just who is the ace of the D'Backs' staff?

What a tough question. Both pitchers have the same amount of years served in the major leagues, with Webb ahead in the games started department. But remember, Haren came up with the Cardinals in '03 and only started 14 games that season, while Webb started 28 that same season. Webb has won the Rookie of the Year, the NL Cy Young Award (2006), and came in second to Jake Peavy in 2007 for that same award. He is also a two-time All Star. But Haren was an All Star in 2007, and was named the starting pitcher - an honor which Webb has not received so far in his career.

Chances are, Webb is named the Opening Day starter for the Diamondbacks, and given his numbers, will be declared the "ace" of the staff. The term ace, however, is merely a formality, as both righties have the ability to be the ace of any rotation in the league. I mean, what team would not want these two atop their rotation? A combined 114-99 record, with a total of almost 1500 strikeouts between the two of them. If that's not the best 1-2 punch in baseball, it's certainly among the top three. Look out National League!

Spring Update

2008-03-15T21:49:00.004-04:00

Spring Training is half over, which means we are half way from yet another season of Major League Baseball. Let's see what has happened in the first half of spring, shall we?

Free agents are still finding homes. The most recent signing comes out of St. Louis, where the Cardinals gave right-hander Kyle Lohse a 1 year, $4.25 million contract on Friday. Lohse is joining his fourth club in the last two years, after spending time with Minnesota in 2006, and splitting '07 with Cincy and Philly. Last season, Lohse went a combined 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA and recorded 122 strikeouts. The Cards are in desperate need of some stability in their rotation, with injuries to ace Chris Carptener, free agent acquisition Matt Clement, and lefty Mark Mulder.
Last month, the reigning world champ Boston Red Sox signed right-hander Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. Colon, coming off a dismal 2007, will compete with Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester for a spot in the Sox rotation. In an injury-riddled 2007, Colon went 6-8 for the Angels with an ugly 6.34 ERA. The 2005 AL Cy Young Award recipient will look for a chance to rebound in 2008 with the "Sawx", but don't expect him to provide much for any fantasy teams.
The rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees has been well documented throughout history - ever since the Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for a couple of peanut shells. But there seems to be a new fued forming, and it started last week. In a Yankees-Rays exhibition game last weekend, Rays' infielder Elliot Johnson upended Yanks' catching prospect Francisco Cervelli, fracturing the young backstop's wrist in the process. Bombers' manager Joe Girardi was rather irate at the play, claiming the take out was too aggressive for an exhibition game. And revenge was to be had on Wednesday, when Yanks' first baseman Shelly Duncan slid his spikes into the body of Rays' second baseman Akinori Iwamura. This slide sparked a bench-clearing brawl between the two clubs. As a result, Duncan and center fielder Melky Cabrera along with Rays' Jonny Gomes were all suspended to begin the regular season. Cabrera and Duncan each got three games, while Gomes will miss the first two games. All that's left to say is, just wait until the first regular season series between the two: April 4-7 in the Bronx!
The Cincinnati Reds signed center fielder Corey Patterson to a minor league contract, and manager Dusty Baker will give the former first-round pick every chance to make the club out of spring training. Early on in the spring, top prospect Jay Bruce seemed to have the starting center field job wrapped up in a box with a bow. But Patterson played for Baker with the Cubs, and Baker likes his style, and now it's a Great American bash for the center field job.
The injury bug has certainly gotten around this spring. Here is a look at some key players who are expected to miss some time to begin the regular season:
Josh Beckett, back: Beckett has been dealing with back pain all spring, and will not fly to Japan for the Sox opening series against the A's. There is a chance that Beckett will be ready to pitch when the "real" season starts in April.
Moises Alou, hernia surgery: Alou will likely be out of the lineup until May, after undergoing hernia surgery last month.
The Mets have been riddled with injuries this month. Along with Alou, Carlos Delgado (hip), Luis Castillo (knees), Carlos Beltran (knees), Brian Schneider (tight hamstring), and Ryan Church (concussion) have all missed time this spring, with Castillo still yet to play in a game. Oh yeah, Pedro Martinez is scheduled to make his spring debut Sunday against the Tigers. There's no doubt - the Mets have a very veteran team this season, and injuries will be a huge part of their game. It will be up to the reserve players (Marlon Anderson, Endy Chavez, Damion Easley and Ramon Castro) to spark the offense in the absence of the main cogs of the lineup.
Two ace pitchers are expected to miss some time due to a couple of strains. The Angels' John Lackey could be out until May with a strained triceps muscle. The Rays' Scott Kazmir will not pitch on Opening Day, thanks to an elbow strain, but should be able to pitch sometime shortly afterwards.
The Nationals' Wily Mo Pena is suffering from a strained oblique muscle, and will miss at least six weeks, including Opening Day. Newcomer Elijah Dukes will likely take over the left field responsibilities while Pena is out - but don't be surprised if Dmitri Young sees some time out there, in order to get his bat in the lineup.

Statistical and historical information courtesy of baseballreference.com, ESPN.com, and MLB.com

The Prospects Are Good.

2008-03-10T12:30:00.001-04:00

Here we are, only three weeks away from yet another season of Major League Baseball. What kind of season will 2008 be? Will it be one for the ages? Will it be one to be forgotten? Will it be drowned out by - or will it drown out - all of the steroids non-sense? Each week for the next several weeks, will be a part of a "What to Watch for in 2008" series. This week, we are going back to the origins of this blog, and will talk about prospects and rookies who will look to make an impact in 2008. The following youngsters have less than a full year of major league experience, and are expected to start the season in the majors, or at least be called up before the end of the season.

Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays - I am personally stoked to see this kid in the big leagues. I drafted him in all three fantasy drafts I have participated in so far, and I'm looking forward to reaping the benefits. The 22-year old third baseman is already a candidate for AL Rookie of the Year, and could eventually vie for the MVP honors of the league. This kid split 2007 between Double and Triple-A, hitting a combined .299 with 26 homers and 95 RBI. His 110 strikeouts were a little high, but his 73 walks makes that not seem so bad. There's a slight chance he won't start the season in the majors, but with the Rays having no sufficient backup at the hot corner, there really isn't a reason to wait for Longoria - the future is now for the Rays.

Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals - Juan Encarnacion's eye injury sustained last August is nothing to smile about. His season is over before it began, and his career may be pretty much over with as well. But this does leave an opening in the Cards' outfield for young Colby Rasmus. Rasmus, the Cardinals' first-round pick in the 2005 draft, has never played higher than Double A, yet there are talks in camp about him being the starting left fielder in 2008. After all, he did hit 29 home runs and steal 18 bases for Springfield last season. However, the Cardinals do not have a huge gap in the outfield - Rick Ankiel is slated to play center field, and the team is trying to rebuild Juan Gonzalez to play left field. It's likely that Rasmus will start the season in AAA, but there's no reason not to expect him up in St. Louis shortly, and have a season comparable to 2007's Hunter Pence and Ryan Braun.

Kevin Mulvey, Minnesota Twins - One of the hardest teams to analyze heading into 2008 is the Minnesota Twins. They traded their two-time Cy Young award winner, and let their seven-time Gold Glove winning center fielder sign with the Angels. But the team also has a lot of young talent, most of which is ready to play in the major leagues. One of these young guns is Kevin Mulvey, who came over from the New York Mets in the Johan Santana trade. Mulvey, 22, was the Mets' second-round pick in 2006. Last season, he saw most of his time in Double A, where he racked up 110 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.32. But he did give up a lot of hits (147 in just over 157 innings pitched). If the Twins farm staff can help develop this phenom into a legitimate big league pitcher, given the state of the Twins' rotation from the early stages, I wouldn't be surprised to see Mulvey up with the Twins by the All-Star break - if for nothing more than to get his feet wet.

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds - Dusty Baker has taken the helm of the ship known as the Reds, and that could bode well for Mr. Votto. Votto comes into spring training competing with 38-year old Scott Hatteberg for the everyday first base job, and it seems like the position is all but Votto's. The 24-year old was the Reds' 2nd round pick in the '02 draft, and made 84 appearances at the plate for the Reds in 2007. His debut was certainly impressive, and if Baker still has the same managerial style as he had with the Cubs, be prepared to see Votto manning first base for the majority of the season - starting on opening day.

Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees - Bullpen or rotation? It doesn't really matter where this kid pitches, he is filthy. Chamberlain, the Yankees' 2006 first-round draft pick, played in all four levels in 2007, spending most of his time in the Bronx. While with the Yanks, Joba was solid in the bullpen. He gave up one earned run in 24 regular season innings, and struck out 34 hitters while walking only six! The only problem Chamberlain and the Yankees are facing is where to put this right hander. Every week, it seems, reports change as to whether he will be pitching in the Yanks' pen or rotation. But make no mistake - it's not a question of talent, as the 22-year old from Lincoln, Nebraska has plenty of talent to go around.

Other Prospects to watch:
Jay Bruce, OF, CIN
J.R. Towles, C, HOU
Justin Maxwell, OF, WAS
Homer Bailey, P, CIN
Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA
Daric Barton, 1B, OAK
Statistical and historical information courtesy of baseballreference.com and MLB.com.

Baseball is a Battlefield

2008-03-03T20:44:00.006-05:00

Here we are, only weeks away from yet another season of Major League Baseball. What kind of season will 2008 be? Will it be one for the ages? Will it be one to be forgotten? Will it be drowned out by - or will it drown out - all of the steroids non-sense? Each week for the next several weeks, will be a part of a "What to Watch for in 2008" series. This week, we are going to take a look at position battles heading into Spring Training, and then into the regular season.

Spring Training serves a variety of purposes. It's a time for the baseball world to see who is healthy and who will start the season on the DL. It's a time for hitters and pitchers to shake off the rust and get ready for six long months of work. And it's a time for position battles to be won. Just about every team uses the month of March to figure out the starting rotation, specifically the fourth and fifth spots. But there are a few teams who are trying to distinguish a couple of other positions in their starting nine.

Closer for the Cubs:

Kerry Wood

Wood, a starter for the majority of his professional career, is trying to rebound from several injury-plagued seasons to be the Cubs' closer in 2008. Wood has made a total of 14 starts since 2005 and hasn't reached 200 innings since '03. But he still has some nasty stuff in his arsenal, and to face him for just one inning is a daunting task. One inning might be all Wood pitches in a game, however. At least to start the season, Wood probably won't be able to go more than an inning a game, and likely will not be able to pitch back-to-back games, which could hurt him in his quest to be the Cubs' stopper.

Carlos Marmol

This kid is something special. Last season, his second in the major leagues, Marmol appeared in 59 games, and gave up 11 earned runs! He had a 96/35 k/bb ratio and was pretty much lights out the entire season. He's been warming up to be the Cubs' closer, partaking in the role during winter ball this offseason. He has the most upside, - he's only 25 years of age - and has the ability to go multiple innings, something that the Cubs could certainly take advantage of.

Bob Howry

Early reports out of spring training had Howry as the favorite to win the closer job. I am having a hard time understanding why, as I feel Marmol or even Wood could provide better 9th inning duties than Howry. But Howry did save 28 games in 1999 with the White Sox, so he has the experience. Keep in mind that since he saved those 28 games in the '99 season, Howry has saved that same number of games. I just honestly feel that the 34-year old righty has the closer mentality, and will be better used in a set-up role.

Ryan Dempster

Of all the candidates, Dempster has the most experience of being a closer. He served as the Cubs' full-time closer since the '05 season, and has saved 65 games since that year. But Dempster became less dependable as the season wore on last year, and may find himself back in the rotation in 2008 - hence the competition for the closer's role. There's a possibility that Dempster could find himself back in the bullpen if he falters as a starter (which was the reason for the switch in the first place), but not necessarily back in the closer's role.

Red Sox center fielder:

Jacoby Ellsbury

Ellsbury burst on to the scene in 2007 when he debuted with the Red Sox in June, and then came back up in September to stay. In his rookie season, the fleet-footed center fielder finished up with a .353 batting average, and a .394 OBP. He also swiped nine bases, and played an incredible center field. He did strikeout 15 times, which isn't much unless you look at his nine walks. But there is no doubt that the 24-year old will be patrolling Fenway Park's center field for a long time to come, and the fact that the Sox did not part with him to get the best pitcher in the game is clear evidence of that.

Coco Crisp

But right now, Coco Crisp is still in camp. And despite the Sox efforts to deal the speedy outfielder, there is no questioning Crisp's talent and ability to hit, run and field adequately. And it's not as if Crisp has been a liability for the defending World Champs - in his two seasons in Beantown, Crisp has a total of 250 at-bats, and in those 250 ABs, he hit 14 homers and swiped 50 bases. He has also been a very steady glove in that spacious center field. So who's it gonna be - Ellsbury or Crisp? The logical bet says Ellsbury will be the number one center fielder at some point in 2007. But until the Sox are able to deal Crisp, it will likely be a platoon situation.

Hot Corner for the South Siders:

Joe Crede

Remember a time when Crede was supposed to be the next big thing and was supposed to take the baseball world by storm? Well that has yet to happen, thanks primarily to injuries. After having a career year in 2006 when he hit 30 home runs and slugged at a .506 clip, Crede had an awful '07. Back surgery ended his season on June 4, and saw a young, fresh Josh Fields take over at third base for the Sox. Crede has been in the center of trade rumors for a good number of years now, and it may be time of for the soon-to-be 30-year old to find a new club to play for.

Josh Fields

Fields was the Sox number one pick in the 2004 draft, and made his debut two years later. But he broke out in 2007, knocking 23 home runs and driving in 67 runs. He finished in the top ten in Rookie of the Year voting, and has seemed to supplant Joe Crede as the everyday third baseman. But the youngster still has more to prove. He only hit .244 last season, and struck out 1225 times, compared to 35 walks. His minor league numbers point to this kid having a bright future in front of him, and if Crede is dealt, look for Fields to have a huge season in 2008.

Second baseman for the Rockies:

Jayson Nix

Jayson Nix is a 25-year old from Dallas, and a former first-round pick by the Rockies. He has yet to play a single minute in the major league level, but he is going to get a shot to prove he belongs there in 2008. Last season, at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Nix belted 11 homers, and swiped 24 bags. He topped 2007 off by leading Team USA to the World Cup and was named the tournament's outstanding player - not bad for a kid trying to make the major league team of the defending National League champs.

Marcus Giles

Giles has seemingly become a veteran overnight. He was drafted by the Braves in 1996, and will enter his 8th big league season in '08. The Rockies signed him to a minor league deal, to give Nix some competition, or perhaps some backup should Nix win the job. Giles had his break out season in 2003 with the Braves, and had similar success in 2005. But he joined the Padres before the '07 season, and had a rather disappointing year in San Diego, where he had the lowest offensive output of his seven-year career. The Rockies are giving Giles a chance to produce in the the thin air of Denver, but the second base job seems to be Nix's to lose.

Texas Backstop:

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

The Rangers almost have to make this kid their everyday catcher. He was acquired at last year's trade deadline from the Braves for Mark Teixeira -not a small move. So coming over in such a marquee trade, it only makes sense for this 22-year old to be behind the plate more often than not. And it's not like he doesn't deserve it. In his rookie 2007 season, Salty hit 11 home runs for the Braves and Rangers, and proved a steady bat for such a young kid. His defense could use a little work - he only threw out 8 of 37 would-be basestealers in '07. But keep in mind, this kid has a lot more growing to do, and given the opportunity to play, he will certainly grow into the next Ivan Rodriguez.

Gerald Laird

As deserving as Salty might be, he still has competition. Laird is a veteran catcher who has played for Texas his entire career. He doesn't put up the offensive numbers you would like, or could get from Salty, but his veteran leadership makes him more than capable to handle a rotation constantly in a state of flux. It will be tough for him to keep back the raging young superstar, but the Rangers are not handing the catching position to either man on a silver plate...or a white one.

Other key position battles to watch for in spring training:

Nationals' first baseman

Nick Johnson vs. Dmitri Young

Angels' shortstop

Erik Aybar vs. Brandon Wood vs. Maicer Izturis

Blue Jays' left fielder

Reed Johnson vs. Matt Stairs vs. Shannon Stewart vs. Adam Lind

Reds' center fielder

Jay Bruce vs. Corey Patterson vs. Ryan Freel vs. Norris Hopper

Marlins' third baseman

Jorge Cantu vs. Jose Castillo vs. Dallas McPherson

Indians' second baseman

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Josh Barfield vs. Jamey Carroll

Mariners' right fielder

Brad Wilkerson vs. Wladimir Balentien

Rays' closer

Dan Wheeler vs. Al Reyes vs. Troy Percival

Diamondbacks' catcher

Chris Snyder vs. Robby Hammock vs. Miguel Montero

Statistical and historical information courtesy of baseballreference.com and MLB.com

On the Comeback Trail

2008-02-25T11:55:00.003-05:00

Here we are, only one month away from yet another season of Major League Baseball. What kind of season will 2008 be? Will it be one for the ages? Will it be one to be forgotten? Will it be drowned out by - or will it drown out - all of the steroids non-sense? Each week for the next several weeks, will be a part of a "What to Watch for in 2008" series. This week, we will discuss potential Comeback Players of the Year.

Each year since 1965, a player from each league has been designated as the Comeback Player of the Year. Some of early names include Al Downing, Luis Tiant, Tommy John, Willie McCovey, Lou Brock and Joe Morgan. More recently, players such as Ray Knight, Andres Galarraga, Gary Sheffield, Tim Wakefield and David Justice have won the award.

Last year, it was Washington's Dmitri Young and Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena. 2006, it was Jim Thome and Nomar Garciaparra. These players had magnificent seasons, after having an absolutely dreadful one. Whether it's coming back from an injury or from just a poor season, the real players are those who are able to comeback and continue their success, despite hitting a speed bump. Here are some candidates for comeback seasons in 2008.

Cliff Lee, P - From 2004-06, the left-hander was one of the Indians' most consistent starter. In that span, Lee won 46 games and finished fourth in the Cy Young voting in 2005. But last season, Lee had trouble staying healthy, and staying in the major leagues. After returning from an abdominal injury, Lee's performance was so shaky, he was demoted to Triple A-Buffalo. With Cleveland, Lee went 5-8 with an ugly 6.29 ERA. Lee, and the Indians are crossing their fingers that 2008 was a fluke and the real Lee will be back in 2008. If he is, he could be the first pitcher to be named Comeback Player of the Year since Chris Carpenter in 2004.

Randy Johnson, P - Randy Johnson's career has been well documented, and he's a sure Hall of Fame candidate, once he retires. But that doesn't seem to be in Johnson's immediate future. Despite having two back surgeries in the last two years, the Big Unit is determined to make another comeback in 2008, and show that he can still be one of the most fearsome and dominant pitchers in the game. He has the talent, and he has the offense and defense behind him in Arizona to back him up. The question will be, can he stay on the mound and deliver 25-30 starts this year? He is 16 wins away from 300, and could be poised for a huge comeback season.

Nick Johnson, 1B - Since 2004, at least one of the players named Comeback Player of the Year was a first baseman (Paul Konerko, Jason Giambi, Thome, Garciaparra, Young and Pena). The trend could continue in 2008, as Nick Johnson tries to come back from a broken leg that cost him the entire 2007 season. Before getting injured, Johnson was a leader on a young Nationals team, which has since improved vastly. Johnson is healthy again, and is ready to contribute. The only thing standing in his way is last year's winner - Young. They both play the same position, and manager Manny Acta and the rest of the team's front office has not determined who will be the first baseman in '08. There is a pretty good chance that one of them will get dealt before the end of spring training. But regardless of where Johnson is playing, he is certainly itching to get back on the diamond and start producing as he was in 2006.

Scott Rolen, 3B - A new team, a new manager, a new country. This is the case for Rolen coming into 2008, as he was traded from St. Louis to Toronto for fellow third baseman Troy Glaus. Rolen could not, for the life of him, get along with Cardinals' manager Tony LaRussa, nor could he stay healthy (he hasn't played at least 150 games since 2003 - his first full season in St. Louis). But he heads into the '08 season with a new attitude and reportedly healthy. Rolen's bat still as potent as ever, and he is one of the best defensive third basemen in the game today. This season could be the season for the former Rookie of the Year and five-time All Star to shine once again.

Juan Gonzalez, OF - This is more of a "Hollywood" pick. Gonzalez hasn't played a big league game since he played one game for the Indians in 2005. But Gonzalez is back, after signing a minor league contract with the Cardinals. It's no guarantee that Juan-Gone will even make the club out of spring training. But he does have 434 career home runs, and is a two-time AL MVP. So if the 38-year old can shake off the rust, perhaps he can have a rather decent season in 2008. Hey, it's Major League Baseball - anything can happen, right?

Other potential candidates:
Juan Rivera, OF, LAA
Pedro Martinez, P, NYM
Jason Schmidt, P, LAD
Adam Everett, SS, MIN
Chris Capuano, P, MIL
Bret Boone, IF, WAS

Statistical and historical information courtesy of baseballreference.com and Bullpen Wikipedia

Arbitration Update

2008-02-22T18:56:00.000-05:00

Salary arbitration is a trying time for players, agents and clubs' front office. December 1 is the last day for teams to offer their former players arbitration before they become free agents. Then, the players have a week (December 7) to accept or decline the team's offer. If they decline, they become free agents and may sign with any team.

If they accept, the player and team go back and forth negotiating arbitration figures until they come to an agreement. If an agreement can't be reached, the two sides will go to an arbitration hearing, in which they each plead their case in front of an unbiased panel of arbitrators who will decide how much the player will make. These hearings run from February 1-21. Here is how arbitration went this offseason.

Players with three years of service time are eligible for arbitration. There are some players who have played more than two, but less than three years, and are eligible - these players are known as "super twos".

Arbitration Cases won by team:

2/14/08 - The Washington Nationals defeated infielder Felipe Lopez. Lopez, who requested $5.2 million, will earn $4.9 million in 2008.
2/15/08 - The New York Yankees were victorious over ace starter Chien-Ming Wang. Wang will make $4 million in 2008, as opposed to the $4.6 million he asked for.
2/15/08 - The Colorado Rockies won their case against former closer Brian Fuentes. Instead of the $6.5 million Fuentes requested, he will earn $5.05 million.
2/15 and 2/19/08 - The Houston Astros won both of their arbitration cases. First, the defeated closer Jose Valverde, whom they acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December. Valverde will make $4.7 million instead of the $6.2 he had requested. Loretta will make $2.75 million, rather than the $4.9 requested.
2/22/08 - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (breath) defeated closer (and possible free agent-to-be) Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod will make "only" $10 million, instead of the $12.5 million he had requested.

Arbitration Cases Won by Player

2/20/08 - Ryan Howard has set the bar. He won his arbitration case against the Philadelphia Phillies and will make $10 million, instead of the $7 million offered by the club. Howard now holds the record for the biggest award won in arbitration. He was also paid the most for any first-time arbitration-eligible player, win or lose.
2/22/08 - The New York Mets went to an arbitration hearing for the first time since 1992. This time, pitcher Oliver Perez beat his club, and will earn $6.5 million, instead of the offered $4.725 million.

Arbitration figures agreed upon by player and team, prior to hearings:

Wily Mo Pena (WAS) - 1 year, $4 million - 12/6/07
Ryan Langerhans (WAS) - 1 year, $500,000 - 12/6/07
Michael Barrett (SD) - 1 year, $3.5 million - 12/19/07
Ben Broussard (TEX) - 1 year, $3.85 million - 1/5/08
Chad Cordero (WAS) - 1 year, $6.2 million - 1/11/08
George Sherrill (SEA - now with BAL) - 1 year, $980,000 - 1/15/08
Adam LaRoche (PIT) - 1 year, $5 million - 1/15/08
Dan Wheeler (TAM) - 1 year, $2.875 million - 1/15/08
Nate Robertson (DET) - 3 year, $21.25 million - 1/16/08
Claudio Vargas (MIL) - 1 year, $3.6 million - 1/16/08
Juan Cruz (ARZ) - 1 year, $1,937,500 - 1/16/08
Jonny Gomes (TAM) - 1 year, $1.25 million - 1/17/08
Huston Street (OAK) - 1 year, $3.3 million - 1/17/08
Scott Downs (TOR) - 3 year, $10 million - 1/17/08
Gustavo Chacin (TOR) - 1 year, $725,000 - 1/17/08
Jason Frasor (TOR) - 1 year, $1.125 million - 1/17/08
Marco Scutaro (TOR) - 1 year, $2.65 million - 1/17/08
Brian Tallet (TOR) - 1 year, $640,000 - 1/17/08
Mike Gonzalez (ATL) - 1 year, $2.36 million - 1/17/08
Omar Infante (ATL) - 1 year, $1.4 million - 1/17/08
Mark Teixeira (ATL) - 1 year, $12.5 million - 1/17/08
Tyler Yates (ATL) - 1 year, $800,000 - 1/17/08
Joe Crede (CHW) - 1 year, $5.1 million - 1/17/08
Jimmy Gobble (KC) - 1 year, $1,312,500 - 1/17/08
Tim Redding (WAS) - 1 year, $1 million - 1/17/08
Marcus Thames (DET) - 1 year, $1.275 million - 1/17/08
Jose Bautista (PIT) - 1 year, $1.8 million - 1/17/08
Chris Capuano (MIL) - 1 year, $3.75 million - 1/17/08
Brad Lidge (PHI) - 1 year, $6.35 million - 1/17/08
Ryan Madson (PHI) - 1 year, $1.4 million - 1/17/08
Jason Kubel (MIN) - 1 year, $1.3 million - 1/17/08
Justin Morneau (MIN) - 1 year, $7.4 million - 1/18/08
Miguel Cabrera (DET) - 1 year, $11.3 million - 1/18/08
Bobby Seay (DET) - 1 year, $780,000 - 1/18/08
Matt Holliday (COL) - 2 year, $23 million - 1/18/08
Willy Tavares (COL) - 1 year, $1.975 million - 1/18/08
Rick Ankiel (STL) - 1 year, $900,000 - 1/18/08
Scott Kazmir (TAM) - 1 year, $3.785 million - 1/18/08
Maicer Izturis (LAA) - 1 year, $1.2 million - 1/18/08
Casey Kotchman (LAA) - 1 year, $1.45 million - 1/18/08
Aaron Heilman (NYM) - 1 year, $1.2 million - 1/18/08
Joe Blanton (OAK) - 1 year, $3.7 million - 1/18/08
Ty Wigginton (HOU) - 1 year, $4.35 million - 1/18/08
Alfredo Amezaga (FLA) - 1 year, $845,000 - 1/18/08
Kevin Gregg (FLA) - 1 year, $2.5 million - 1/18/08
Sergio Mitre (FLA) - 1 year, $1.2 million - 1/18/08
Horacio Ramirez (SEA) - 1 year, $2.75 million - 1/18/08
Gerald Laird (TEX) - 1 year, $1.6 million - 1/18/08
Javier Lopez (BOS) - 1 year, $840,000 - 1/18/08
Wilfredo Ledezma (SD) - 1 year, $620,000 - 1/18/08
John Grabow (PIT) - 1 year, $1.135 million - 1/18/08
Xavier Nady (PIT) - 1 year, $3.25 million - 1/18/08
Endy Chavez (NYM) - 2 year, $3.85 million - 1/22/08
Rafael Soriano (ATL) - 2 year, $9 million - 1/24/08
Kyle Snyder (BOS) - 1 year, $835,000 - 1/25/08
Chad Gaudin (OAK) - 1 year, $1.775 million - 1/25/08
Carlos Pena (TAM) - 3 year, $24.125 million - 1/25/08
Matt Belisle (CIN) 1 year, $1.25 million - 1/31/08
Joe Beimel (LAD) - 1 year, $1.925 million - 2/1/08
Casey Blake (CLE) - 1 year, $6.1 million - 2/1/08
Jorge Sosa (NYM) - 1 year, $2 million - 2/2/08
Alex Rios (TOR) - 1 year, $4.835 million - 2/5/08
Daniel Cabrera (BAL) - 1 year, $2.875 million - 2/7/08
Ryan Church (NYM) - 1 year, $2 million - 2/7/08
Zack Greinke (KC) - 1 year, $1.4 million - 2/7/08
Mark Teahen (KC) - 1 year, $2,337,500 - 2/7/08
Eric Bruntlett (PHI) - 1 year, $600,000 - 2/7/08
Kevin Correia (SF) - 1 year, $1.075 million - 2/8/08
Kevin Youkilis (BOS) - 1 year, $3 million - 2/11/08
Garrett Atkins (COL) - 1 year, $4,387,500 - 2/11/08
Takashi Saito (LAD) - 1 year, $2 million - 2/13/08
Josh Bard (SD) - 1 year, $2,337,500 - 2/14/08
Brad Hawpe (COL) - 1 year, $3.925 million - 2/14/08
Erik Bedard (SEA) - 1 year, $7 million - 2/15/08
J.J. Hardy (MIL) - 1 year, $2.65 million - 2/15/08

Ready for some BASEBALL!?

2008-02-18T14:56:00.001-05:00

MILESTONES. 2007 saw a numerous amount of milestones reached - some even on the same day. Whether it was a 500th home run, 3000th hit, or 300th victory, 2007 was a milestone season. There probably won't be as many in '08, but we should still see a bunch of future Hall-of-Famers reach important milestones.

Ken Griffey Jr. is only seven home runs shy of becoming just the sixth player in history to hit 600. He would join the company of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and the latest man to reach 600, Sammy Sosa (who hit number 600 in 2007). Remember when Griffey was an almost "lock-a-chino" to surpass Aaron and be the new home run king? Those were the good ol' days...
Last season, Frank Thomas, Jim Thome and Alex Rodriguez all reached 500 career home runs. This year, while there might not be another trifecta, we should see two more sluggers reach the magical number of 500. Gary Sheffield (480) and Manny Ramirez (490) are well in reach of the plateau and should each surpass 500.
If Greg Maddux can muster up another 15-game win season, he will pass Kid Nichols for 7th all-time with 362 victories. But even if he is only able to come up with 10, he will have passed Roger Clemens (who most likely will not be throwing any fastballs anytime soon) for 8th all-time.
Randy Johnson could become the next, and potentially the last in a long time, to reach 300 career wins. He enters 2008 with 284 victories, and if he is able to stay healthy the entire season, he should be able to get the need 16 wins.
Mariano River has seen a slight decrease in his saves total since 2004, but he still has saved more than 30 games in every season since 1997, safe for 2002 when he saved 28. If he can save just 35 more games for the Yankees, he will tie Lee Smith for second all-time with 478. However, Rivera may be hard-pressed to catch current leader, and current Padres' closer Trevor Hoffman, who begins the season with 524 saves.
Barry Bonds' career is probably all but over. Between aging, injuries, and some steroid conversations, Bonds will have a hard time finding a job, assuming he actually wants one. But if he does sign on with a team, his next milestone would be 3,000 hits. Bonds ended 2007 with 2,935 career hits, which puts him only 65 off the pace. Aside from his injury-shortened 2005 season, Bonds has never failed to accumulate 65 hits in a single season. 3,000 hits would only solidify an already Hall of Fame career.
Several players are within 2,500 hits and should reach that mark in 2008. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez should make it to 2,500 within the first week of the season, as he sits only five hits away. Kenny Lofton (2,428), Thomas (2,408) and Sammy Sosa (2,409) also have the potential to reach 2,500 hits this season.
Some additional milestones that have the potential of being reached: Jeff Kent, 41 RBIs needed for 1,500; John Smoltz, 25 strikeouts away from 3,000; Griffey, 55 and Sheffield 60 Runs away from 1,600.

90 Questions

2008-02-14T20:42:00.001-05:00

The snow is melting, flowers are blooming, and there are caravans of trucks heading to Arizona and Florida as Spring Training gets underway. Spring Training...the time when position battles are fought, injuries are evaluated, and predictions are made. It's also a time when questions are answered - questions that may impact an entire team's season. Here are the top three questions for each team, heading into the merry month of March.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Will Randy Johnson be healthy and effective? The Big Unit sits 16 wins shy 300, and certainly has the ability to reach that impressive milestone. But injuries (which are accompanied by age) are taking a toll on the 6'10" lefty. After having two back surgeries within a year, Unit is hoping to be ready in time for Spring Training. And if he is indeed over his injuries, and can still pitch like the Unit of old, there's plenty of potential for at least 15 wins and 150+ strikeouts for the future Hall of Famer.
How will Brandon Lyon fare as the new closer in the desert? The D-Backs traded away Jose Valverde, who led the league with 47 saves in 2007. Now, the team turns to 28-year old Lyon, who has experience as a closer after saving 14 games for the Diamondbacks in '05. But he also had a paltry 6.44 ERA that season, and only struck out seven more batters than he walked (17-10). The D-Backs do have some insurance in case Lyon can't handle the ninth inning duties, as Chad Qualls (who came over in the Valverde deal) along with Tony Pena will both be waiting in the wings for the call.
Will Eric Byrnes be able to match his 2007 breakout season? Byrnes has always had potential, and has had some really good seasons. But 2007 was quite possibly his best all-around season in the bigs, and helped lead a very young team to the playoffs. He has an golden personality to go along with his electric play in the outfield. He also stole 50 bases a year ago, and there is no reason to believe his production will decrease in 2008.

Atlanta Braves

Will Mike Hampton actually be able to play an entire season? Hampton hasn't thrown a pitch since the 2005 season! Hampton has had a myriad of injuries, and each time he tries to come back, he manages to suffer an injury to a different body part. With a healthy Hampton in the rotation, the Braves could be looking at another division title - without him, they will be grasping at straws to stay afloat in the NL East.
What about Glavine? Glavine will be 42 once the season begins, and while he hasn't exactly shown signs of slowing down, one has to wonder how much he has left. He's been a consistent 200+ innings pitcher for the majority of his career, and in 2008 he is reuniting with manager Bobby Cox and the Braves it what might be his final season in the MLB. But will he be enough to anchor that Braves rotation?
Just who will close for the Braves in 2008? Last January, the Braves dealt Adam LaRoche to the Pirates for Mike Gonzalez, in hopes of having a quality closer at the back end of the bullpen. But after only 18 2007 games, Gonzalez suffered an elbow injury and required Tommy John surgery. According to CBS Sports, Gonzalez will be sidelined until at least May, if not longer. And when he does return, it is unclear whether he or Rafael Soriano will be trusted with the ball in the 9th inning of close ball games.

Baltimore Orioles

Did Andy McPhail know what he was doing? McPhail, the Orioles' general manager, dealt away the team's ace pitcher and All Star shortstop. Erik Bedard is now in Seattle, while Miguel Tejada is wearing an Astros uniform, and while the Orioles did get some talent back in return, it is hard to replace the likes of Bedard and Miggy. But baseball works in funny ways, and maybe McPhail knows something the rest of us don't.
Can Daniel Cabrera, Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Loewen succeed as the anchors in the rotation? With Bedard out of Baltimore, the Orioles are lacking that legitimate ace. That means the three-headed monster of Cabrera, Guthrie and Loewen will have to emerge as number ones and show that they can lead a young and somewhat talented ball club. The club signed veteran, and former Oriole, Steve Trachsel to a minor league contract, and he should be able to help lessen the burden on the three youngsters in the rotation.
Can Dave Trembley end the Orioles manager revolving door? Dave Trembley is the fifth Orioles manager since 1998, and he will have his work cut out for him. The Orioles will lose, there is no arguing that. But the difference between a winning club and a losing club is the ability to come back the next day and forget yesterday's loss. Trembley will have to try and make this young team aware of this fact, while trying to keep the club's hopes high.

Boston Red Sox

What is the deal with Curt Schilling? A shoulder problem has sent waves through the baseball world, staking claims that Schilling could miss half of 2008, the entire season, or could be done altogether. At this point, Schilling has declined surgery, and will rehab the shoulder, and the forecast right now is for him to be back around the All Star break. But Schilling is 41 years old, has three World Series rings, and really has nothing left to prove. So is it really worth the $8 million to come back and pitch in '08, or is time to hang 'em up?
Will Coco Crisp be traded? The Red Sox are all but content with having budding star Jacoby Ellsbury being their everyday center fielder. So that leaves Crisp, and the $10.5 million the Sox owe him over the next two seasons, sitting on the bench, when instead, they could trade him for some help in the bullpen. But so far, the Sox have had no takers for the 28-year old, though he had been rumored to be part of a package that would have landed Johan Santana in Boston.
Can the Red Sox actually repeat, and thus build up a dynasty? It took the Red Sox 86 years to win one World Series. It took them only three years to win their next one. With their 2008 club almost identical to their 2007 club (which had plenty of leftovers from 2004), it's hard to argue the Sox repeating as champs this coming season - and many more for that matter. But the competition is only going to get tougher, with the Jays and Rays both much improved, and the Yankees being...well, the Yankees.

Chicago Cubs

Who is Kosuke Fukudome? Fukudome came over from Japan and signed a 4 year, $48 million contract to play right field for the Cubs. Fukudome (K-Fuk?) will give the Lou Pinella and the Cubbies a left-handed bat to break up all those righties - Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee. And Fukudome could have some legitimate success in his first season in America, if his Japan numbers are any indication. According to MLB.com, the 30-year old lefty won two batting titles in Japan, and averaged 29 home runs from 2002-06.
Who is the Cubs' closer? Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol, Ryan Dempster and Bob Howry are all candidates to be the stopper for the Cubs in '08. Of the four, Dempster has the most experience, Marmol has the most upside, Wood has the nastiest stuff, and Howry is the most consistent. Is it possible to have a four-headed closer? Currently, Marmol, who struck out 69 batters in 70 innings in 2007, has been used as a closer in the Caribbean series. Dempster has been a regular closer with the Cubs since the 2005 season, saving about 28 saves each year - but he also has a K/BB ratio of 219/115 over that same time span. Wood, coming of a myriad of injuries, can only be expected to pitch an inning a game. If the season began today, I would argue that Marmol makes the most sense to be the Cubs' stopper.
Who is Geovany Soto? In 2001, the Cubs drafted a 6'1", 195 lb catcher by the name of Geovany Soto in the 11th round. Soto made his debut (one at-bat) four season later in '05. He got a saw a little more playing time with the Cubs in '06 and '07, but this season will be his first full season in the big leagues. 2007 was easily his best season in AAA Iowa, smashing 26 home runs and hitting a very lofty .353! So perhaps Soto is ready to take over the full-time catching duties for the reigning NL Central kings.

Chicago White Sox

Are Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel enough to solve the bullpen problems face in 2007? Last year, manager Ozzie Guillen seemingly pulled out a strand of hair each time he had to make a call to the bullpen. The White Sox bullpen combined to have a 5.47 ERA, which was only better than the Orioles and Rays in the MLB. Because of that woeful statistic, GM Kenny Williams signed Linebrink to a 4 year deal, and inked Dotel to a 2 year contract. It is expected that these two, along with All Star closer Bobby Jenks, will right the ship and actually be able to close out those 2-1 ballgames.
Will Ozzie Guillen be able to keep his job? It's been no secret that Guillen's managing style is somewhat...unorthodox. He is notorious for calling out his players in the dugout and to the media. He doesn't exactly get along with his General Manager either. If the Sox have another disappointing season in 2008 (only 3 seasons removed from winning the World Series), one has to wonder if Guillen will be around much longer.
Will Jose Contreras be able to produce for the Sox in '08? In 2007, Contreras had the highest ERA (5.57) of any pitcher in baseball with at least 180 innings pitched. And currently, this man is slated to be the Sox number three starter in 2008. So the Sox are wondering if Contreras can revert to his 2006 numbers, when he was named to the All Star team and had 134 strikeouts. If he can, then perhaps the rotation won't be as bad as it appears right now.

Cincinnati Reds

How much change will Dusty Baker bring to the Queen City? Baker becomes the seventh manager for the Reds since 2003 (when the team had three managers throughout the year). And he has experience of taking over poor clubs and turning them around to reach the playoffs (1993 with the Giants and 2003 with the Cubs). So will he have the magic touch in 2008 with the Reds? They certainly have enough talent on that team.
Can Griffey stay on the field for an entire season? He came close last season, playing in 144 games (the most since his first season in Cincy in 2000 when he played in 145). But the injury bug still managed to bite the Kid, and forced him to miss the last few weeks of the season. He starts 2008 only seven home runs shy of 600 for his career, and once he reaches that milestone, he becomes an almost definite for the Hall of Fame. And if he is able to play a full season for the first time since 1999, the Reds should be able to reap the benefits.
When will Adam Dunn get some MVP recognition? Yeah, he strikes out an awful lot. But he also walks a lot. Dunn finished among the major league's top ten in walks each year since 2002 (aside from an injury-shortened 2003). He also knows how to hit home runs. On a Cincinnati team that has fallen short of its potential for a number of years, Dunn seems to be the only stable member of this club, and its a wonder that he's only made the All Star team once in his career.

Cleveland Indians

Do the Indians have what it takes to take on the Tigers? There is no doubt that the Indians are chock-full of talented players. Whether it's leadoff man Grady Sizemore, All Star catcher Victor Martinez, or slugger Travis Haftner, from top to bottom, they have one of the most potent lineups in baseball. And their pitching ain't too shabby neither. Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia anchors a rotation that also includes Cy Young candidate Fausto Carmona, Paul Byrd, Jake Westbrook and someday the very talented Adam Miller. But can they beat division rivals Detroit? It will certainly be a challenge, as Detroit is certainly looking like the favorites early on in 2008. But the Indians, led by manager Eric Wedge, seem to have away to pull rabbits out of their hats, and are very open to the competition that will come their way in '08.
Can Cliff Lee rebound? What a dismal season 2007 was for the left-hander. After coming back from an abdominal injury, finished '07 with a 5-8 record and an awful 6.29 ERA. He was even demoted to AAA during the season. In 2008, Lee looks to turn it around and try and match his 2005 numbers when he finished 4th in the Cy Young award voting. If he can't AAA might seem like a good place for Lee compared to where he may end up.
Is Joe Borowski a legitimate closer? Borowski has certainly had his share of ups and downs as a big league stopper, saving 33 games for the Cubs in 2003, and then saving 36 and 45 for the Marlins in '06 and the Indians last season respectively. But Borowski's ERA has increased significantly each one of those seasons, climaxing at a 5.07 clip in '07. Furthermore, before those 33 saves in '03, Borowski saved a total of two games in six seasons. If Borowski can't get the job done at the end of ballgames, the Indians may find themselves in a load of trouble.

Colorado Rockies

So, was 2007 a fluke, or can the Rockies actually repeat as NL Champs? This may be a trick question. Perhaps 2007 wasn't a fluke - but it seems unlikely that the Rockies can get back to the World Series in 2008. Then again, who predicted them to make it to the Fall Classic last season. But last season's success was primarily built upon emotion and adrenaline, and much of that may have gotten washed away with depressing sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox. Not to mention, with the Diamondbacks, Dodgers and many other teams in the National League all having improved themselves, the Rockies will be hard pressed to match last year's success.
Is Manny Corpas as good as he seems? After Brian Fuentes was named to the 2007 All Star game, he managed to blow four straight saves, and then get injured. This opened the door for 27-year old Panamanian Manuel Corpas to become the stopper. And he was impressive, saving 19 of 21 chances in 2007. That level of success means Corpas will begin 2008 as the Rockies everyday closer. And keep this in mind; even though he didn't save any games in his 2006 major league debut, he did save 19 games in '06 for AAA Tulsa. So perhaps Fuentes will become expendable around the trade deadline.
Sophomore slump for Tulo? Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies' young shortstop, missed being last season's National League Rookie of the Year by mere 2 votes in the balloting. Needless to say, "Tulo" had an incredible season and will look to match that in 2008. But there is a never-ending concern over the "sophomore slump" myth. Meaning, there is always a chance that Tulowitzki could become the next Angel Berroa or Erik Hinske. But in all honesty, Tulowitzki has way too much talent to be compared to either of those guys, and should flourish in 2008.

Detroit Tigers

Who's Your Tiger? Whoever it is, this team is stacked. They very well might be the best team in the game. I would argue that the pitching staff of the Red Sox makes them the best team, but the Tigers certainly have a case. Their offense is stacked - with off-season acquisitions Edgar Renteria, Miguel Cabrera and Jacque Jones only fortifying an already strong lineup. Magglio Ordonez is a perennial MVP candidate, and Gary Sheffield is consistently good for 25-30 home runs. And a pitching staff which now features Dontrelle Willis as a number four is still one of the best in baseball.
Which D-Train will be on the tracks in '08? What a disappointing season 2007 was for Dontrelle Willis, and for Marlins fans everywhere. Willis' 5.17 ERA was the highest it has been in his 5-year career, and his 87 walks were the most he's ever given up. It seems a like it's been ages since his 2005 All Star season, in which he finished second in the NL Cy Young award voting. But the D-Train has since been somewhat derailed, and will look to get back on track in 2008 for a true contender.
Will the Tigers be able to survive without Joel Zumaya? Some residents of Southern California might not have been able to, if Zumaya didn't aid and assist during the wildfires back in October. But due to his courageous act, Zumaya injured his right shoulder, and will miss at least half of the season. And even when he does come back, it is unclear as to whether he will have lost anything off of his 100 mph fastball. There is a chance that, should he come back healthy, Zumaya could take over as the team's closer towards the end of the season. But until then, the 9th inning duties will be reserved for veteran Todd Jones, who saved 38 games in '07. But the rest of the bullpen suffered without Zumaya, finishing 23rd in baseball with a 4.37 combined ERA, according to ESPN.com. It will be a tough task getting through the 6-8 innings without the fireballing right-hander.

Florida Marlins

Will the young and inexperienced pitchers be able to show some maturity and compete with the rest of the league? The Marlins dealt "veteran" left-hander Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers as part of a re-building program. Dontrelle, who turned only 26 last month, was the team's ace and anchor (even though he had a tremendously upsetting season). Now, Andrew Miller, 22, and Scott Olsen, 24, will be relied on to be the horses of a staff full of young arms. Not an easy task for a guy (Miller) who made his major league debut last season, and another (Olsen) who has yet to finish with an ERA under 4.00.
Did the Marlins get everything they needed from the Cabrera/Dontrelle trade? Coming into the offseason, the Marlins knew they needed a catcher, a center fielder and at least another pitcher. And they knew they had to cut budget. They were able to check all of those items off their Christmas list in December when they dealt their All Star third baseman and pitcher for a catcher (Mike Rabelo), a center fielder (Cameron Maybin) and some pitching (notably, Miller). Maybin is a five-tool caliber player, and Rabelo has some skills as well. So, all may not be lost for the Marlins.
Is Kevin Gregg a closer? A lot of people, myself included, were stunned at the fact that Kevin Gregg saved 32 games for the Marlins in 2007. In his previous four seasons, he saved a total of one game...and in his 10 seasons in the minors, he saved three! So how can Gregg be counted on to have another season of 30+ saves? Perhaps this is the season Matt Lindstrom, who has electric stuff and saved 13 games in five minor league seasons, transitions to the role of stopper.

Houston Astros

Who is going to start behind Roy Oswalt? If pitching indeed wins championships, as the late Ray Murphy truly believed, then the Astros are going to have a difficult time winning in 2008. Behind ace Roy Oswalt, the Astros are rather weak in the rotation. 44-year old Woody Williams, Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backe and number of unproven or unaccomplished pitchers will battle for spots in the rotation. And, other than Oswalt, none of these names will dazzle anyone or strike fear into hitters' bats.
Will Miguel Tejada be able to put all the steroids talk behind him and flourish in his first season in Houston? The Astros gave up a lot to acquire Tejada from the Orioles, knowing he was listed on former Senator George Mitchell's report and knowing he was a player in this whole steroid non-sense. But nevertheless, the shortstop's ability to hit the ball long distances (keep in mind that Minute Maid Park has a very short porch in left field) was enough to lure GM Ed Wade to bring the former MVP to Houston.
Will Cecil Cooper be a capable manager in Houston? Cooper started 2007 as the Astros' bench coach and took over as manager on August 27 when the Astros fired Phil Garner. According to baseballreference.com, the 'Stros went 15-16 in the 31 games under Cooper's reign. Cooper, a veteran of 17 seasons, should be able to remain in control of a team that is well balanced with veterans and rookies. Cooper is a 5-time All Star and owns 241 career home runs.

Kansas City Royals

Just how good will the Royals be in 2008? I have a feeling the Royals are going to surprise a lot of people this season, and could finish as high as third in the division. That could be a long shot, but they improved themselves immensely this winter, adding veterans Jose Guillen and Miguel Olivo to play right field and catcher respectively. They have some talented arms in their rotation with Gil Meche and Brian Bannister leading the way. And their core of young players, including Alex Gordon, Mark Teahen and Billy Butler could be good enough to impress the world of baseball and make them serious contenders for the first time in almost two decades.
Who is Trey Hillman and what will he do for the Royals? Trey Hillman, the latest man to be named manager of the Royals (he becomes the 6th since 2002). 2008 will mark his first season as being a major league manager, though he has managed in Japan. Hillman, who was still managing the Nippon Ham fighters in Japan, was announced as the Royals' latest manager back in October. Not only has Hillman never managed in the big leagues, but has also never even been a coach. But he seems to have an ability to lead a club - days before he was announced as the Royals' skipper, his Fighters defeated Bobby Valentine's Marines to win the Pacific League championship, according to MLB.com.
Can Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and the other young phenoms take the next step and become legitimate major leaguers? The Royals' have a ton of young talent, after spending the last several years rebuilding their system. Alex Gordon and Billy Butler sit atop of the talent list as far as the Royals' youngsters go. Both of these young men debuted last season, and both had good, but not great seasons. Gordon, the 2nd pick overall in the 2005 draft, finished with 15 homers, and a .247 batting average. But he did hit .325 at AAA Wichita in 2006, while also stealing 22 bases. So clearly he has the make up to be a real threat in the majors for a long time. Butler, the Royals' first round pick in the 2004 draft, wound up hitting eight home runs and slugging at a .447 clip in 2007. But over 4 minor league seasons, Butler slugged at a .561 mark and had 320 RBIs. Both of these kids have a ton of talent and an equal amount of potential. 2008 could be the year both of these soon-to-be superstars burst out and make their mark in the American League.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Who plays shortstop? With the Angels shipping Orlando Cabrera to the White Sox for Jon Garland, the Halos are short a shortstop. Maicer Izturis, Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar are going to have to battle for regular playing time at short, and it's anyone's guess as to who has the upper hand. Aybar has played slightly more games at shortstop than Wood, with Izturis well behind (he was pretty much split between second base and short during his minor league stints). But Izturis has by far the most major league experience. It will be hard to replace the presence of Cabrera, both in the field and at the plate - but the Angels should be able to get by with either of their candidates.
Who will be the starting three in the Angels' crowded outfield? Vladimir Guerrero in right and new center fielder Torii Hunter are, barring injury, automatic starters at their position. Left field, however, may not be as clear-cut. Garret Anderson, Gary Matthews Jr. and Juan Rivera all have the ability to be the starter. Chances are, one of the two who are not in left field will be the designated hitter for the Angels, and it's a strong possibility that both positions will be somewhat of a revolving door between the three. Anderson and Rivera are both rather injury-prone, and Matthews is still trying to prove that his incredible 2006 season was not a fluke.
Will the Angels be able to hold off those boys from Seattle? They improved their club as much, if not more, than the Angels this winter. They were able to smell October until a late-season slump crushed those chances. But 2008 could be a different story and the Mariners will certainly give the Halos a run for their money (at least all $90 the Angels spent on Hunter). The Angels still have the upper-hand, as I believe their offense is still slightly superior to the Mariners' - but that's no guarantee to get into October.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Is Hiroki Kuroda going to be the next Hideo Nomo? That's a two-fold question. Nomo was pretty much lights out his first few years in the major leagues, but now he's battling for a roster spot with the Royals at age 39. The six-foot right-hander from Japan, according to MLB.com, has a career record of 103-89 to go along with a 3.69 ERA in 11 seasons with Hiroshima. In 2007, he went 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA. The 32-year old has also been an All-Star the past three seasons in Japan.
Is Joe Torre the answer? For the first time in over a decade, Joe Torre will be managing a club that doesn't play in the Bronx. But the glitz and glamour, along with the paparazzi, will not subside in Tinseltown. But Torre is used to being under a microscope, as he was the subject of analysis for his entire tenure with the Yankees. Now, his assignment is to get the Dodgers to the World Series, and there may be no better man to do it. Whether it was Don Zimmer, the players, or pure luck, Torre has reached the playoffs every season since 1996, and there's no reason to think the Dodgers won't keep that streak alive. They have the talent and they have the drive to get to October, and now they have a solid manager to lead the way.
Who's on third? Actually, Who was on first...but that was the 1930's. In 2008, Andy LaRoche is likely to be the regular at third base for the Boys in Blue. But he has a lot of pressure on him to succeed, as former All-Star Nomar Garciaparra will be ready to hop onto the hot corner should LaRoche prove unworthy. The 24-year old from Kansas did not have a very impressive debut in 2007, hitting only one home run in 93 at-bats. But he did hit 18 in AAA Las Vegas in '07, and also had a .399 on-base percentage. So he could be ready to be the Dodgers' everyday third baseman, but he could also have some growing pains, and Garciaparra is there to ease those pains.

Milwaukee Brewers

Are the Brewers ready to take that next step and hold on to first place? The Brewers lost the division by two games to the Cubs in 2007, in what was their best season since 1992 when they won 92 games. They were the surprise of baseball, as no one really pegged them to be as good as they were, and they certainly impressed. But needless to say, they were not satisfied being left out of the playoffs by such a slim margin. The Brewers offense is made up of kids like Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks and J.J. Hardy. The core of young players will be a year older and wiser in 2008, and with the acquisition of veteran Mike Cameron, the Brewers should be ready to make that last push into October.
How effective will Eric Gagne be at the back end of the bullpen? Remember when Gagne was unhittable? Remember when he saved an average of about 50 saves a year between 2002-04 with the Dodgers? Remember when he was named NL Cy Young award winner in 2003? Seems like a completely different era, doesn't it? A variety of injuries have kept Gagne from being the elite closer he once was, and now that he is healthy, he has had trouble finding that magic touch again. He signed a $10 million contract to try and start fresh with the Brewers, and they're going to need him to be the guy who saved 84 consecutive saves in 23 months. For more on Gagne pre-injury, read this from ESPN's Jayson Stark...it's amazing.
Can Ben Sheets finally stay healthy and be the horse the Brewers need? Sheets hasn't started more than 30 games for the Brewers since he started 34 in 2004, when he actually struck out 264 batters. Since his emergence in the major leagues, Sheets has been relied upon to be the ace of the pitching staff, and when healthy, he has given the Brewers' fans something to cheer about. But staying on the mound has been a problem for him - blisters, groins, and a myriad of other injuries has kept this former first-round pick from reaching his full potential. The Brewers are fairly deep in the starting pitching department, but the rotation is built around Sheets, and without him, the Brew Crew will be hard-pressed to reach the promised land.

Minnesota Twins

How do the Twins move on after losing Johan Santana and Torii Hunter? It's tough to be a fan of a team that lost its ace and Gold Glove center fielder in the same offseason. The Twins missed the playoffs in 2007 for only the second time in the last six seasons. For all those seasons though they had Hunter's bat and glove, and Santana's left arm. For the first time, however, both of those men are gone and the Twins will have a tough time trying to win without them. Granted, they still have the M&M Boys (Mauer & Morneau), but it's hard enough to replace your ace, or your All-Star slugger - but both at the same time? Minnesota has a ton of young pitching waiting to show that they deserve to be in the rotation, and have some young kids to play in center. But I don't think it will be enough to overtake the dangerous Indians, Tigers and even White Sox in 2008.
Without Santana, who takes over as the Twins' ace? Remember Francisco Liriano? He took the baseball world by storm in 2006 when he struck out 144 batters in 121 innings. He was named to the All-Star team that season, and even finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting, despite the fact that a gruesome should injury forced him to miss the last two months of the season. That injury also caused him to miss the entire 2007 season. This talented southpaw will look to get back on track in 2008, as he appears to be healthy and ready to take over as the teams' ace in the hole. He has some big shoes to fill, as he replaced Santana. He also has a lot of pressure on him to show that he can still throw like he did before he needed Tommy John surgery. But when he's on, he can be one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.
We know Justin Morneau is the everyday first baseman - but who is going to play the rest of the infield positions? Santana wasn't the only pitcher the Twins dealt this winter. Back in November, they sent Matt Garza, along with shortstop Jason Bartlett to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for infielder Brendan Harris and outfielder Delmon Young. They also signed former Houston Astro free agents Mike Lamb and Adam Everett. It seems likely that Lamb will get most of the playing time at third, while Everett will get the nod at short. Harris could see the majority of the playing time at second base, but he will be competing with incumbent Nick Punto and youngster Alexi Casilla. Should be an interesting Spring Training for this group of infielders.

New York Mets

This is the one everyone has been asking - is Santana enough? The Mets' managed to complete the biggest collapse in the history of baseball at the end of the '07 season. Then, last month, they managed to acquire arguably the best pitcher in the game. There were (and still are) a lot of skeptics that claim the Mets gave up way too much for the talented lefty, and are still not guaranteed a playoff spot. But consider this - Santana was a two-time Cy Young award winner in Minnesota. In 2008, he moves to Shea Stadium, a much better place for pitchers, and he moves into the National League where he will face pitchers in the batting order instead of designated hitters. Santana won't be able to hand the Mets a World Series on a silver platter - but just his presence helps ease the pains of last September and gives the fans an immense amount of hope heading into Spring Training.
Can Carlos Delgado turn things around in 2008? It's no secret that Delgado's struggles in 2007 highlighted the Mets' problems last season. Delgado's .258 batting average and 24 home runs were the lowest of his career since he played 37 games for Toronto in 1995. The 35-year old first baseman sits 69 home runs shy of 500, and if he is able to string two or three of his typical 30+ home runs seasons, he should be able to reach that milestone and push towards the Hall of Fame. But for immediate purposes, the Mets' offense circles around Delgado's production, and for the Mets to be successful in '08, Delgado will have to lead the way.
If four years for Luis Castillo too long? Back in November, the Mets re-signed second baseman Luis Castillo to a four year, $25 million contract. Castillo, acquired at the deadline in 2007, seems to become less and less durable as his career moves on. And now that he is about to enter his 13th big league season, one must wonder how much he will be able to stay on the field. Castillo has fallen short of 500 at-bats only once since 2000, but his days of 30+ stolen bases appear to be over. His knees are going to constantly act up, and in four years, who knows what kind of shape the slick-fielding Dominican will be in. But, believe it or not, Castillo is only 32 years of age, so perhaps he can still offer the Mets some productivity for the next four seasons.

New York Yankees

Where will Joba pitch? Joba Chamberlain burst on to the scene in 2007 and didn't give up a single earned run until his 13th game - and didn't give up another one until the playoffs. He pitched as a reliever last season, and there was (and still is) rumblings in the Bronx about whether the 6'2" right-hander will start the season in the rotation or in the 'pen. Right now, reports are saying he will start the season in the bullpen, but there seems to be a contradicting report every other week. But regardless of where this 22-year old phenom pitches, he will deliver for the Yankees, and will continue to do so for a number of years.
Will Joe Girardi be an effective replacement for Joe Torre? Joe Girardi walks into 2008 as the Yankees' first manager since Torre took over in 1996. To say that this is a small matter is a drastic understatement. Think of what Girardi has to deal with - he replaces a manager that took this team to the playoffs every year in which he managed; he was a catcher for the Yankees for four seasons; he served as Torre's bench coach in 2005; he's a former teammate of current Yankees Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Kyle Farnsworth; and he has a reputation to maintain, as he was named the 2006 NL Manager of the Year in his only year of managing - when he managed the Marlins to a rather impressive 78-84 record. 2008 will not be an easy year for Girardi, but should he and the Yankees succeed and reach the playoffs, he will immediately be on the good side of the fans, and more importantly, the Steinbrenners.
Can Mike Mussina help stabilize the Yankees' rotation? Chien-Ming Wang is the Yankees' ace. After him, it becomes slightly unclear. Andy Pettitte has decided to come back for another season in pinstripes. But he has spent most of this winter dealing with Congressional hearings, steroid talks and his relationship with Roger Clemens. Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes have a tremendous amount of talent and upside, but have yet to prove their spot in the rotation. That leaves Mussina, who has 250 career wins and who also pitched 152 innings - his lowest total since his 1991 rookie season. If Mussina can remain healthy in 2008, and can give the Yankees seasons like his 18 win, 172 strikeout 1999 season, then the Yankees should be able to reach the playoffs for a 13th consecutive season.

Oakland Athletics

Are the A's waving the white flag before the season even begins? There is no question that this once dominant franchise is undergoing the ever-popular rebuilding phase. They've traded away their ace (Dan Haren) and one of their best sluggers (Nick Swisher), and got back a whole slew of prospects. And they're still rumored to be dealing their current ace, Joe Blanton, before the season begins. Daric Barton, 22 years of age, is set to become the A's regular first baseman, after playing in 18 games during his 2007 debut season. For the immediate future, neither the A's lineup nor pitching staff will make anyone say "WOW". They may end up to be better than projected, but don't expect another 103-win season like they had in 2002.
What is the status of Eric Chavez? What a tragic story Chavez is becoming. Here you have a 29-year old third baseman in his prime who can't seem to stay healthy. He finished 2007 with a .240/15/46 line and has missed a number of games the last two seasons with several injuries. And while he's tried to battle through them, they never seem to go away. But after a couple of offseason surgeries, he is expected to enter Spring Training healthy and ready to go. If he can stay on the field, he is still capable of hitting 25-30 home runs and is a tremendous third baseman in the field, as his six Gold Gloves can prove.
Who is there to cheer for in 2008? Barton should be fun to watch, as he has been highly touted for a few years now. He now gets the chance to be the A's everyday first baseman, and has the ability to draw walks and hit for a high average. He also could be good for 15-20 home runs. It's hard to cheer against Rich Harden. This kid has worked his tail off, in between injuries, to be the pitcher everyone expected of him. He's only made 30 or more starts once in his 5-year career. But he has a great fastball and has the mentality to become an ace - as long as he remains healthy. And Gio Gonzalez, who the A's received from the White Sox in the Swisher deal, has electric stuff. This marks the third time in three years he's been traded, but he's a left-handed pitcher who struck out 185 hitters in 2007, after striking out 166 the year before - all in AA.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phils have shown they can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk? There seems to be a new rivalry forming in the NL East, as the Mets and Phillies go back and forth with who is the real team to beat in the league. But with no clear-cut winner in the division, the Phillies are going to have to make sure they can back up their words with home runs, strikeouts and victories. And with the bullpen and rotation still in a bit of flux, the Fightin's will be challenged to indeed be the team to beat.
Will bouncing between the rotation and bullpen affect Brett Myers? In 2006, Myers, a former first-round pick, started 31 games and went 12-7. In 2007, he started three games, but also saved 21 games as he became a closer for the first time in his career. But after the acquisition of Brad Lidge, Myers goes back into the rotation, where he may feel more comfortable. But there will likely be somewhat of an adjustment period, as Myers will go back to pitching 6-8 innings every five games, as opposed to pitching one inning every game or so. This could take a toll on his arm, at least in the early going.
Will Lidge finally be able to hold it together? It was October of 2005. The Houston Astros, leading Game 5 by a score of 4-2, were one pitch away from going to the World Series, and BAM! A 3-run longball courteous of Albert Pujols sends the Cardinals/Astros National League Championship Series to a Game 6, and sends closer Brad Lidge (who served up the homer) into a downward spiral. Since that home run, Lidge hasn't quite been the same - despite the fact that the 'Stros came back and wound up making into the Fall Classic anyway. After practically getting booed out of Houston, Lidge gets a fresh start in Philadelphia. But how much Brotherly Love will the fans give Lidge if he blows but one game? Perhaps Lidge would have been better off in Kansas City or Miami where baseball is more of an after-thought.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Which of the young members of the Pirates' rotation will breakout first? Tom Gorezelanny, Ian Snell, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke. All four are under 30 years of age, and each has at least 44 games started in their young careers. They each have talent and the potential to become a true stud pitcher. And if we judge them by their 2007 numbers, Gorezelanny might have the best chance to become that pitcher this season. Last year, he led the Pirates with 14 wins, and was second with a 3.88 ERA. It was his first full season, and the 25-year old southpaw could be poised for an even better 2008. The injury bug bit Duke in 2007, but he might have the most overall talent of the four. In 2005, he finished 5th in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, and won 10 games for a very bad Pirates team in '06. If he can stay healthy, Duke should be able to have his breakout season in 2008.
Who are we watching in '08? There aren't too many names on this team that make you say "Don't let this guy beat you". A healthy Jason Bay is a very dangerous hitter, as is Adam LaRoche. Nyjer Morgan and Nate McLouth are going to be battling in Spring Training for the starting center field position. With Chris Duffy unable to stay healthy, the race is between Morgan and McLouth - two really good friends. It should be a fun battle however, as McLouth has the upper-hand on experience by a large margin (2007 was Morgan's first season in the major leagues). But both have a boat-load of talent, with speed and pop - both should be a capable center fielder for the Buckos in 2008. Additionally, 240 lb closer Matt Capps is a 24-year old fireballer with a huge build and should be able to match, if not increase, his saves total (18) of a year ago.
Will Jason Bay be playing in Pittsburgh on August 1? There have been a lot of rumors this offseason about Jason Bay finding a new home. The super-talented outfielder battled knee tendonitis in 2007 and saw a steep decline in production. But the former Rookie of the Year has failed to hit less than 20 home runs in a single season (other than 2003 when he had only 87 at-bats). He is reportedly healthy and ready for Spring Training, and if the Pirates' ship is sinking come the trade deadline, there are plenty of teams that will take this 29-year old slugger.

San Diego Padres

Who is the Padres' left fielder in 2008? Coming into Spring Training, that job belongs to 27-year old Scott Hairston (brother of fellow big-leaguer Jerry Hairston Jr.). The left field job is Hairston's to lose, as the Padres right now don't have anyone that can aptly play the position. But there have been reports that former second round pick Chase Headley has been shagging fly balls in left field, and if Hairston should prove unworthy, don't think the Pads won't hesitate in experimenting with Headley - or perhaps new acquisition, veteran Tony Clark.
Is Mark Prior finally going to have a full season in the major leagues? Prior hasn't made 30 starts since the 2003 season, and he might have to wait one more season to reach that plateau. Prior, rehabbing from last April's shoulder surgery that cost him the 2007 season, is not expected to pitch in the major leagues until at least May. But when he does, he will be pitching for his hometown team - he signed a one year contract this winter - and will look to prove he has enough in him to be able to compete at the major league level, and not be a 27-year old wash-up.
Who do the Padres have in their bullpen, in case Trevor Hoffman should wear down? Trevor Hoffman is the all-time leader in saves, a six-time All Star, and a sure-fire Hall of Famer. But he is also 40 years old now, and may show signs of age in 2008. Not to mention, he ended 2007 on a very sour note. First, he gave up the game-tying triple to Brewers' outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr., in a heart-breaking loss causing the Padres to play a tie-braker with the Rockies to determine the NL Wild Card winners. Then in that game, he blew a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 13th inning, sending the Padres home and the Rockies onto the playoffs. That's two blown games in the span of three days, both with playoff implications. That can't sit well, even with a man who has 524 career saves. And behind him in the bullpen are Heath Bell and Cla Meredith, who have a total of two saves between them (Bell saved two last season, while Meredith has never saved a major league game). So if Hoffman should show signs of ware, the Padres may be in a bind when it comes to the bottom of the ninth.

San Francisco Giants

Will Barry Zito give some return for his 7-year $126 million contract? Before Johan Santana signed his extension with the Mets last month, Barry Zito was the richest pitcher in baseball history. And when the Giants signed him for a robust seven years, they were indeed hoping to get something more than an 11-13 record with a 4.53 ERA. And while there were some excuses - not being used to National League hitters, not pitching for a contract, etc... - the Giants' brass and fans are going to want to see some better output from the 29-year old southpaw (he'll be 30 in May). With his feet now wet in the NL, there's no reason to think Zito won't go back towards his All-Star/Cy Young seasons.
How do the Giants expect to score any runs with only one proven run producer? The Giants made sure to have at least one big bat in their lineup for the next several years, signing center fielder Aaron Rowand to a 5-year, $60 million contract. And while he flourished in the cozy confines Philadelphia's Citizen Bank Park, his numbers are expected to decline in the spacious AT&T Park. And the supporting cast around him is anything but proven sluggers. Pedro Feliz and Barry Bonds, two of the Giants' top home run hitters last season, are gone (Feliz to Philly and Bonds to...well who knows?). And while Randy Winn and Bengie Molina can still hit, it's going to be a tough year to be a Giants fan, and pitcher.
Speaking of Giants pitchers, will Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and/or Noah Lowry ever get dealt? Lincecum, Cain and Lowry are three young, talented arms in the Giants' rotation, and all have some nasty stuff. But all will likely be hard-luck losers most of the season, unless they are dealt to a winning club. Look at Matt Cain's 2007 numbers: 200 innings pitched, 163 strikeouts, 3.65 ERA...7-16 record. As an owner of Cain in fantasy land last season, it was extremely painful to watch the Giants lose many 1-0 and 2-1 ballgames started by Cain. Each of these pitchers had their names circulating in trade rumors this winter, with Cain being the closest to being dealt (to the Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Alex Rios). Don't be surprised if at least one of these young studs is wearing a different uniform by season's end.

Seattle Mariners

Will Erik Bedard be enough to catch the Angels? In the pitching department, certainly. The Mariners now have one of the most balanced 1-5 pitching rotations in baseball. The 29-year old lefty Bedard is going to be the opening-day starter, followed by righty "King" Felix Hernandez, lefty Jarrod Washburn, and righties Carlos Silva and Miguel Batista. All five of these guys are capable of winning at least 15 games, and should be able to keep the opposition from scoring in bunches, as well as giving the Mariners some much needed innings from the rotation to protect J.J. Putz and the bullpen.
Will the Mariners' offense be enough to catch the Angels? Probably not. As great as their pitching is, their offense, or lack thereof, may keep them from winning the division. If Richie Sexson can't return to his 40+ homer days, and if Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt aren't able to make that next step into maturity, the Mariners will have a tough time in catching the Angels' stacked offense. Ichiro can't do it all on his own, and at least on paper, it just doesn't look as if the Mariners have enough, in my opinion of course.
Will Brad Wilkerson be able to keep the right field job to himself? The Mariners gave Wilkerson a 1-year contract at the end of January - a prelude to trading blue chipper Adam Jones for Bedard. It's no secret that Wilkerson can hit the ball a long way (he's hit at least 20 home runs three times in his career). But he has never hit higher than .270, and has only played in 57 career games in right field. Wladimir Balentien, the 2007 Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year, will pose as Wilkerson's greatest threat in 2008. Balentien, originally from Curacao (as is Andruw Jones), hit .291 with 24 home runs for AAA-Tacoma in 2007, according to Baseball America. He will likely start the season in Tacoma, but look for him to make a push in Spring Training and give Wilkerson a run for his money.

St. Louis Cardinals

Who is this Colby Rasmus kid? Ramsus is a 21-year old outfielder with loads of potential. This kid hit 29 home runs and had an OPS of .932 for AAA-Springfield last season. He was the Cardinals' first-round pick in 2005, and while he might start the season in the minors, look for him to have a season comparable to Ryan Braun and Hunter Pence from a year ago. He has Rookie of the Year written all over him...and with Juan Encarnacion slated to miss the entire season with an eye injury, and Jim Edmonds playing in PetCo Park, Rasmus may be up with the big club much sooner than later.
With Chris Carpenter out most of the season, can Adam Wainwright be the Cards' ace? Carp had season-ending surgery last year, and is expected to be out until August or even September. In his absence, youngster Adam Wainwright is expected to fill the role of staff ace. In Wainwright, you have a 26-year old right-hander who, before 2007, never started a major league game. He had a pretty good season for a first-time starter, finishing with a 3.70 ERA which was good for 11th in the league. But for the Cardinals to be at all successful in '08, Wainwright will have to step his game up even further, and lead the Cards' pitching staff.
Leading off for the Cardinals....? David Eckstein signed on to play with the Jays, and that leaves the Cards without a proven leadoff man. The Cardinals have made it clear that they will not spend money or talent to bring in a leadoff hitter in from the outside, which means the candidate lies within the team's roster. Some of these players include Adam Kennedy, Aaron Miles, Skip Schumaker, Rasmus and perhaps even Rick Ankiel. But none of these options are exactly superb - Kennedy, Miles and Schumaker aren't even guaranteed starting spots in the lineup, Rasmus is more of a number 2 or 3 hitter, and Ankiel doesn't get on base well enough to lead off. But with Tony LaRussa's managing style, perhaps the leadoff man will actually bat in the ninth position. Numerous times in 2007, LaRussa batted his pitcher eighth in the lineup, with the likes of Miles, Kennedy or Brendan Ryan batting last. Certainly an interesting situation for the 2006 world champs.

Tampa Bay Rays

Will Evan Longoria be up with the Rays the entire season, from start to finish? Longoria was the Rays' first round pick (third overall) in the 2006 draft. In 2007, he reached as high as AAA. That season, he combined (with AA) to hit 26 home runs with a nice .922 OPS. In fact, the Rays think so highly of the 22-year old, that when they signed Japanese import Akinori Iwamura last winter, it was understood that once Longoria was ready, Iwamura would be moved from third to second base. Well, Longoria is ready, and Iwamura is being moved to second base. With troubled Willy Aybar as the only capable body in camp to handle the hot corner, it stands to reason that Longoria could start the season with the big club (it seems unlikely that the club would have Iwamura start the season at third, and transition to second mid-season).

Do the Rays have what it takes to finally compete with the Yankees and Red Sox? Almost. They Rays have a core of players with some incredible talent and potential. Their rotation is going to be fierce, and their lineup will soon be one of the most feared in the league. They still don't have what it takes to finish first or second in the division, but even if they finish third, it will be the highest they've ended a season in the history of the franchise. Scott Kazmir and James Shields make a dynamic 1-2 combo. Carl Crawford is still one of the best-hitting speedsters in the game. And the team has three potential closers - all with the ability to handle the ninth inning duties. Fear not Rays fans...there is light at the end of this long tunnel.
What can we expect from Edwin Jackson in 2008? Edwin Jackson has been somewhat of a mystery over his career. He came up with the Dodgers in 2003 with lots of hype behind him. But a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness has severely limited his output and his value. After being traded to the Rays before the 2006 season, Jackson spent the entire'07 season with the Rays and had an ugly 5-15 record with a just as ugly 5.76 ERA. But he did strikeout 128 batters, and there is still time for him to mature and gain some control (he's only 24 years of age). And he showed a little bit of promise in the second half, which could carry over to 2008, when he should begin the season as the Rays' fourth or fifth starter.

Texas Rangers

After years of instability, will the Rangers' rotation actually be somewhat decent in 2008? Over the past decade or so, the Rangers have been notorious for having an above-average offense, but having a below-average rotation. After going through busts like Chan Ho Park, Joaquin Benoit, and Pedro Astacio, the Rangers are set to go into 2008 with a rotation that is certainly not at its best, but can still be effective. Vincente Padilla and Kevin Millwood are again expected to be atop the rotation, with Jason Jennings, Brandon McCarthy and Kason Gabbard set to follow them. It has the makings of a good rotation, if all hands (and arms) are at the top of their game. And with the top four of that rotation having dealt with a myriad of injuries, it is easy to imagine another season of instability in the rotation.
Is Hank Blalock ready to contribute again? Besides his rookie season, Blalock failed to reach 500 at-bats in 2007 for the first time in his short, yet impressive career. A shoulder surgery forced him to miss most of the season (he returned at the end of the season, but as a DH), and he's been rehabbing after surgery this winter. He seems poised to make a return to the Rangers' hot corner, and to fantasy lineups everywhere. A comeback season is well within his reach, which should include 25-30 home runs, and a bunch of RBIs in a rather loaded Texas lineup.
Was signing Milton Bradley a mistake? Offensively, no. When healthy, Bradley can have one of the more potent bats in the game, as shown by his 81 career home runs and .439 career slugging percentage. And in the hitter-friendly Ballpark in Arlington, Bradley should be able to slug his way past 100 career dingers. But that's only going to happen if he is able to stay in the lineup. Between injuries and behavioral problems, Bradley has only reached the 500 at-bat plateau once in his eight year career. Hopefully, manager Ron Washington will be exactly what the doctor ordered to keep Bradley focused on baseball and help his team march towards the playoffs.

Toronto Blue Jays

Could this be the year the Jays break through? Like their Tampa Bay counterparts, the Toronto Blue Jays have suffered from simply playing in the wrong division. They have some very good players on their squad and have the ability to win, plain and simple. But like the Rays, they have the Red Sox and Yankees in their way. Frank Thomas isn't getting any younger, and who knows just how healthy closer B.J. Ryan really is and right-hander A.J. Burnett are. By the way, I'll give 10 points to the reader who can find out how many DL stints A.J. and B.J. have endured over their careers (a little alphabet soup trivia). So the Jays are a very unpredictable team. They have the potential to be very dangerous, but they have an equal amount of potential to be a disappointment. So be prepared Jays fans for a possibly tumultuous season.
Why did two Cardinals head north for the summer? In two separate transactions, the Blue Jays took in two Red Birds - and they will take over the left side of the infield. First, the Jays signed sparkplug David Eckstein, who is expected to be their leadoff man. Eckstein signed a 1 year $4.5 million contract in December, and should give the Jays the spark they've lacked over the last several seasons. Scott Rolen, who wore out his welcome in the Cardinals' clubhouse, was acquired in exchange for fellow third baseman Troy Glaus. In a swap of close-to-equal players, the Jays will get a solid defender at the hot corner, as well as an absolute hitter. However, Rolen did not get along with manager Tony LaRussa in St. Louis, and Jays' manager John Gibbons has been known for not being the game's best player-managers. So there is the potential for some more fireworks in the Toronto clubhouse.
Can Vernon Wells rebound and have another MVP type season? There were a handful of big-name players who had down years in 2007 - perhaps none more than the Blue Jays' center fielder Vernon Wells. After signing a seven-year, $126 million extension before the 2007 season, Wells turned in one of the worst seasons in his professional career, hitting .245 and finishing with a paltry .304 OBP. He did have an elbow injury that cut his season a little short, and is expected to be healthy to start the season. If the injury was the reason for his down year, then it is reasonable to expect Wells to head back to his better numbers. We could see another .300/25/100/15 season from the two-time All Star center fielder.

Washington Nationals

Will Lastings Milledge be a good fit in D.C.? In November, the New York Mets sent Milledge to the Nats in exchange for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church. Milledge had pretty much kicked himself out of the clubhouse, showing up some of the veterans and being told to "Know your place rook", as a sign on his locker had expressed. Last winter, Milledge was involved in a controversial rap song/video, which the Mets front office got a hold of and was not at all pleased. Now playing in the nation's capital, Milledge will be the everyday center fielder, which is his natural position. He won't have the hustle and bustle that comes with playing in New York. And he is familiar with manager Manny Acta from when he was a coach with the Mets, along with Nationals' new catcher Paul LoDuca, whom they signed to a 1-year contract. I expect Milledge to flourish with his new team, and should have fun playing for an up-and-coming team. Watch for him to approach 20 home runs for the first time in his career.
Who's on first? That's more like it. Dmitri Young was named the National League's Comeback Player of the Year in 2007, and for good reason. He led the Nationals with a .320 batting average and a .491 slugging percentage. But was he actually just keeping first base warm for when Nick Johnson, who was recuperating from a broken leg, was healthy? Both players, when healthy, are capable of putting up good numbers, and neither one could be considered a bench player. So it is logical to assume that by the end of Spring Training, one of the two will be wearing a different uniform. Johnson has had trouble staying healthy, but he his about five years younger than Young and I expect Johnson to be playing first base for the Nats in 2008 - but that's pure, unofficial speculation on my part.
Can the Nationals be the surprise team of 2008? It's possible. Their starting pitching is still a little meager, but the upside is certainly there. The additions of LoDuca and Johnny Estrada will help with the young arms of the pitching staff. Elijah Dukes could be somewhat of a challenge, but Acta has shown that he can handle young and unpredictable players. The Nationals should be able to finish in fourth place again, and if they make the right moves, could even push for fourth in the division.

All biographical and statistical information courteous of baseballreference.com, MLB.com. ESPN.com and BaseballAmerica.com

Make It A Blockbuster Night

2008-02-10T10:22:00.000-05:00

I can use that headline because I gave five years of my life to that company...anyway...

It only took a little over three months, but left-hander Johan Santana finally changed his address. On Friday, January 31, the Mets officially acquired the two-time Cy Young Award winner, and signed him to a six year, $137 million contract extension, which includes an option for the 2014 season.

In return, the Minnesota Twins received sparkplug outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitching prospects Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. This group of players, as talented as they might be, is considered the third or fourth package the Twins could have gotten for Santana.

The Twins had offers from the Red Sox and Yankees. The Boston had two separate packages on the table, one featuring young World Series hero Jon Lester, and another featuring blue-chipper Jacoby Ellsbury. Meanwhile, the Bronx Bombers were offering a group including Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera and there were reports of the Yanks even offering ace Chin Mien-Wang.

But the Twins accepted the Mets' offer - and the Mets were most certainly the club with the most to gain from acquiring Santana, as they were lacking an ace starter to anchor the rotation. And perhaps just as significant, the Metropolitans did not have to give up former number one pick Fernando Martinez. Earlier reports suggested the Twins would not accept any deal that did not include Martinez, yet the Mets were able to retain the 19-year old phenom, who will likely see a call up at some point in 2008.

Gomez, who is slated to be the opening day center fielder, played in 58 games for the Mets in '07 and showed some of his high potential. The speedy outfielder swiped 12 bases, while driving in 12 runs last season. The Twins were in need of a center fielder after Torii Hunter signed with the Angels, and they now have a 22-year old who should become the next Hunter.

Humber, 25, also had some time with the Mets in his short career, albeit a small sample (five games combined in '06 and '07). But he is a former first round pick (third overall), and accumulated a k/bb ratio of 120/44 in his three minor league seasons.

Mulvey was the Mets' 2nd round pick in 2006, and is still a couple of years away from making his mark in the major leagues - but when he does, the Twins may have themselves a sure-fire ace. Guerra spent 2007 in St. Lucie, the Mets' Class High A ball. He started 20 games, striking out 66 hitters and ending with an ERA of 4.01.

A week later, the Orioles and Mariners have pulled off their own blockbuster trade.

The Orioles sent lefty ace Erik Bedard to the Mariners in exchange for the highly talented outfielder Adam Jones, reliever George Sherrill, and minor league pitchers Chris Tillman, Tony Bulter, and Kam Mickolio.

This deal had been boiling on the Hot Stove just about as long as the Santana trade. There was much speculation over whether or not this trade was even going to get done, or end up like the A-Rod for Manny Ramirez deal that never happened a few years ago. On January 27, Jones had told a Venezuelan reporter that he had been traded, and was on his way to Baltimore for his physical. This caused a panic between both sides, and almost put a halt on the whole thing. But Bedard traveled to Seattle to take his physical Thursday, and the deal was announced Friday afternoon.

Bedard, 28, further bolsters a rotation that already looked like one of the best in baseball. He joins "King" Felix Hernandez, free agent acquisition Carlos Silva, and holdovers Jarod Washburn and Miguel Batista, and gives Seattle a very dangerous 1-2 punch. Bedard finished 2007 with a 13-5 record and a 3.16 ERA on a very bad Orioles team. He also was third in the American League with 221 strikeouts (a franchise record according to ESPN.com), finishing behind Santana and league leader Scott Kazmir. But Bedard missed the last month of the season with a rib injury, and still managed to finish fourth in the league in ERA.

Jones, 22, can play all three outfield positions, and can play them extremely well. The former first-round pick made his debut in 2006, and since then has accumulated 139 major league at-bats. So he has some experience, and has five-tool potential. He has pop in his bat - he hit 25 home runs for Tacoma in 2007. He's got wheels and a superb glove.

Sherrill will turn 31 in April, and was a key part of the M's bullpen last season. He finished the year with three saves and an ERA of 2.36. He will give the Orioles some much needed stability at the back end of their bullpen, and may even have a shot at being their closer.

Tillman, the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007, Mickolio, and Butler have no major league experience, but all have some upside (particularly Tillman and Butler).

Oh the O's

2008-02-09T08:28:00.000-05:00

Baltimore Orioles 2007 Record: 69-93 (4th in AL East)

2008 Prediction: 5th in AL East

In

Luke Scott, Troy Patton, Matt Albers, Dennis Sarfate, and Mike Costanzo (HOU) - acquired for Miguel Tejada - 12/12/07
Lance Cormier (ATL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/22/08
Luis Terrero (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/8/08
Chris Roberson (PHI) - acquired for cash considerations - 1/2/08
Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mockolio (SEA) - acquired for Erik Bedard - 2/08/08
Steve Trachsel (CHC) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Out

Jaret Wright (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/23/08
Victor Santos (SF) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/11/08
J.R. House (HOU) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/9/08
Paul Bako (CIN) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/1/08
Erik Bedard (SEA) - traded for Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mockolio - 2/08/08
Victor Zambrano (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/31/08

Remaining Free Agents

Kris Benson
Paul Shuey
Alberto Castillo
Corey Patterson

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Ramon Hernandez
1B - Kevin Millar
2B - Brian Roberts
3B - Melvin Mora
SS - Luis Hernandez
LF - Luke Scott/Adam Jones
CF - Jay Payton/Adam Jones
RF - Nick Markakis
DH - Aubrey Huff

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Daniel Cabrera
Adam Loewen
Jeremy Guthrie
Brian Burres
Steve Trachsel

Projected Opening Day Closer
Jamie Walker/Danys Baez/George Sherrill

Improvements:The Orioles made two significant movse all winter, and in doing so they traded away their All-Star shortstop and ace left-hander. In return, Jones, a kid who has all the makings of a five-tool outfielder; Sherrill who will likely battle for the Orioles' closer position; Scott, who has decent versatility and some pop in his bat, and a bunch of young kids. Albers and Patton have each spent less than a year in the big leagues, Sarfate has had nothing more than a couple cups of coffee, and Tillman, Butler, Mockolio and Costanzo (whom the Astros acquired in the Lidge trade) have never seen the light of Major League Baseball. So did the Orioles actually improve themselves? On paper, and for the immediate future, perhaps not. But in a couple of years, Baltimore could finally be ready to compete.
Lack of Improvement: With Tejada now in Houston, the Orioles really have no legitimate clean-up hitter in their lineup. There is some talent on that team (Markakis, Roberts and Mora are always a threat). But the Orioles now lack that "don't let this guy beat you" hitter, which is a formula for disaster. And now with Bedard gone, the Orioles have no legitimate ace; no legitimate opening day starter. And the trade leaves Daniel Cabrera as the senior member of the staff, with four major league seasons under his belt. The O's did bring Trachsel back, but his productivity has declined over the last few seasons. Furthermore, closer Chris Ray had Tommy John surgery last August, and will miss most of, if not all of, 2008. His replacements, currently slated to be a combination of Sherrill, Danys Baez and Jamie Walker, do not exactly strike fear into the hearts of batters in the 9th inning. Sherrill has four major league saves (three of which coming in '07); Baez hasn't been a regular closer since he saved 41 games for the Rays in 2005; and Walker has 12 saves in 8 big league seasons.
Keys to sucess: The Orioles are going to have their problems this season, and new manager Dave Trombley will have his hands full trying to keep the team's hopes up. The team does have a fairly decent rotation, and even with Bedard gone, it has the make up to be one of the best in the league - in a couple of years anyways. And Markakis finished in the top 10 in Rookie of the Year voting in 2006 and had an even better '07. With Tejada and Bedard gone, it is expected that the 24-year old outfielder will become the new face of the Orioles and be their new franchise player.

They Took the Devil Outta Tampa

2008-02-08T12:21:00.000-05:00

Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays 2007 Record: 66-96 (5th in AL East)
2008 Prediction: 4th in AL East

In

Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett (MIN) - acquired for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie - 11/28/07
Troy Percival (STL) - signed to a 2 year, $8 million contract - 11/30/07
Cliff Floyd (CHC) - signed to a 1 year, $2.75 million contract with club option for 2009 - 12/17/07
Willy Aybar (ATL) - acquired for Jeff Ridgway - 1/17/08
Mike DiFelice (NYM) - signed to a minor league contract- 1/7/08
John Rodriguez (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/4/08
Al Reyes (TB) - 2008 $2.3 million club option exercised - 11/14/07

Out

Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, Jason Pridie (MIN) - traded for Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett - 11/28/07
Jae Seo (Korea) - signed with Korean Baseball League - 12/11/07
Shawn Camp (TOR) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
Elijah Dukes (WAS) - traded for a Glenn Gibson - 12/3/08
Brian Stokes (NYM) - traded for cash - 11/28/07
Raul Casanova (NYM) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/13/07

Remaining Free Agents

Greg Norton
Jorge Velandia
Jay Witasick

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Dioner Navarro
1B - Carlos Pena
2B - Akinori Iwamura
3B - Evan Longoria
SS - Jason Bartlett
LF - Carl Crawford
CF - B.J. Upton
RF - Cliff Floyd/Rocco Baldelli
DH - Jonny Gomes/Cliff Floyd

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Scott Kazmir
James Shields
Matt Garza
Edwin Jackson
Andy Sonnanstine

Projected Opening Day Closer
Al Reyes/Troy Percival/Dan Wheeler

Improvements: Garza will most likely start the season as the Rays' number three starter, behind Kazmir and James Shields. In two seasons with the Minnesota Twins, he compiled an 8-13 record with a 4.47 ERA and 105 strikeouts. With the Rays, he has a full-time rotation spot, and the chance to develop and mature (the Twins' rotation is rather crowded, and Garza may have been sharing a spot). Percival joins Dan Wheeler and Al Reyes as possible closer candidates, all of which have experience in that role.
Lack of improvement: Navarro is still young and has the ability to have a breakout season. And the Rays seem to be banking on that season being in 2008. But if it's not, they do not exactly have a terrific plan B. Shawn Riggans is currently the backup to Navarro, and he has played a total of 13 Major League games in his 2-year career. There are still a number of veteran catchers available to be used as a fail-safe in case Navarro should falter.
Keys to success: Kazmir has electric, filthy stuff. But he also has shown a knack for getting injured. The Rays are poised to have a fun, exciting season in 2008 and might even challenge some of the powerhouses in the division. But for that to be a reality, Kaz will have to stay healthy and provide the Rays with the ace pitcher that he can be.

Flyin' North for the Summer

2008-02-07T21:57:00.000-05:00

Toronto Blue Jays 2007 Record: 83-79(3rd in AL East)
2008 Prediction: 3rd in AL East

Scott Rolen (STL) - acquired for Troy Glaus - 1/14/08
David Eckstein (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $4.5 million contract - 12/14/07
Marco Scutaro (OAK) - acquired for Graham Godfrey and Kristian Bell - 11/18/07
Shawn Camp (TOR) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
Matt Stairs (TOR) - re-signed to a two year, $3.5 million contract - 11/12/07

Out

Troy Glaus (STL) - traded for Scott Rolen - 1/14/08
Howie Clark (MIN) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/22/07
Ryan Roberts (TEX) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/21/07

Remaining Free Agents

Projected Opening Day Lineup Starters
C - Gregg Zaun
1B - Lyle Overbay
2B - Aaron Hill
3B - Scott Rolen
SS - David Eckstein
LF - Reid Johnson/Matt Stairs/Adam Lind
CF - Vernon Wells
RF - Alex Rios
DH - Frank Thomas

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Roy Halladay
A.J. Burnett
Shawn Marcum
Dustin McGowan
Jesse Litsch/Gustavo Chacin

Projected Opening Day Closer
B.J. Ryan

Improvements: Other than Rolen and Eckstein, the Jays really didn't make too many earth-stopping moves. They acquired utility man Marco Scutaro from the A's, who will give the Jays some depth and experience as an infield/outfielder, who also comes with some pop.
Lack of improvement: The Jays really didn't have many holes to fill this offseason, which would translate into only a small handful of moves made. The team is pretty well balanced, and their biggest problems are the teams from Boston and the Bronx.
Keys to success: Vernon Wells had a down year in 2007, with only 16 homeruns and a .402 slugging percentage. He's going to have to rebound and have a season similar to 2006 when he hit 32 homeruns and had a nice .302 batting average for the Jays to have a shot of catching the Red Sox and Yankees in '08. Also, Frank Thomas will become 40 years old in May. He has shown so far that age will not slow him down, but will he be able to keep that mentality in 2008?

Bombers in the Bronx

2008-02-06T20:52:00.000-05:00

New York Yankees 2007 Record: 94-68 (2nd in AL East)
2008 Prediction: 2nd in AL East

In

LaTroy Hawkins (COL) - signed to a 1 year, $3.75 million contract - 12/27/07
Andy Pettitte (NYY) - signed to a 1 year, $16 million contract - 12/12/07
Alex Rodriguez (NYY) - signed to a 10 year, $275 million contract - 12/13/07
Jason Lane (SD) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/10/08
Jorge Posada (NYY) - signed to a 4 year, $52.4 million contract - 11/29/07
Mariano Rivera (NYY) - signed to a 3 year, $45 million contract - 12/17/07
Jose Molina (NYY) - signed to a 2 year, $4 million contract - 12/5/07
Joe Giradi (MGR) - signed to a 3 year, $7.8 million contract - 11/1/07
Bobby Abreu (NYY) - 2008 $16 million club option was exercised - 11/2/07
Morgan Ensberg (SD) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/31/08

Out

Luis Vizacino (COL) - signed to a 2 year, $7.5 million contract with mutual option for 2010 - 12/21/07
Tyler Clippard (WAS) - traded for Jonathan Albaladejo - 12/5/07
Doug Mientkiewicz (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Remaining Free Agents

Roger Clemens

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Jorge Posada
1B - Shelly Duncan/Wilson Betemit/Morgan Ensberg
2B - Robinson Cano
3B - Alex Rodriguez
SS - Derek Jeter
LF - Hideki Matsui/Johnny Damon
CF - Melky Cabrera
RF - Bobby Abreu
DH - Jason Giambi/Hideki Matsui/Johnny Damon

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Chien-Ming Wang
Andy Pettitte
Phil Hughes
Ian Kennedy
Joba Chamberlain/Mike Mussina

Projected Opening Day Closer
Mariano Rivera

Improvements: The Yankees didn't bring in very many new faces this offseason, other than Girardi of course. They did bring in LaTroy Hawkins to provide some veteran stability in the bullpen. But that's about it. They are still talking to the Twins about Santana, but their interest seems to be waning back and forth.
Lack of improvement: As poor as the Yankees' brass makes the team out to be, there really aren't any major holes to fill in the Yanks' lineup. First base may be somewhat of a weak point for the bombers, with Shelly Duncan and Wilson Betemit slated to get most of the playing time at first, and Giambi possibly getting the occasional start. But all-in-all, there really aren't any pressing needs for the Bombers.
Keys to success:The success of the Yankees is going to start with Girardi. He will certainly have his hands full with this group of egos and personalities, and has a lot of pressure heading into 2008. But he has the mentality and makeup to be a Major League manager, and learned all he knows from Torre. Having been teammates with five of his current players (Posada, Pettitte, Rivera, Farnsworth and Jeter), and having been a member of the Yankees for a total of 5 seasons with the Yanks (4 as a player, 1 as a coach), Girardi will not be in unfamiliar territory, and should have an easy transition as the new Yanks manager. Young phenom Joba Chamberlain has a lot of pressure on him, as he is being expected to flourish in his first full major league season. And as of yet, his role is still undetermined. There are reports that he will start the season in the Yanks' rotation, but may end up in the bullpen, where he dominated hitters last season.

They're Reigning Supreme

2008-02-05T19:34:00.000-05:00

Boston Red Sox 2007 Record: 96-66 (1st in AL East - World Series Champions)
2008 Prediction: 1st in AL East

Due to a shoulder injury, pitcher Curt Schilling will miss at least the first half of the 2008 season.

In

Mike Lowell (BOS) - re-signed to a 3 year, $37.5 million contract - 11/19/07
Curt Schilling (BOS) - re-signed to a 1 year, $8 million contract - 11/6/07
Mike Timlin (BOS) - re-signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract- 12/7/07
Julian Tavarez (BOS) - 2008 $3.85 million club option exercised - 11/2/07
Doug Mirabelli (BOS) - re-signed to a 1 year, $550,000 contract - 1/6/08
Tim Wakefield (BOS) - 2008 $4 million club option exercised - 11/2/07
Sean Casey (DET) - signed to a 1 year, $800,000 contract - 2/5/08
Bobby Kielty (BOS) - re-signed to a 1 year, $800,000 contract - 2/6/08

Out

Matt Clement (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract with a $8.75 million club option for 2009 - 1/3/08
Eric Gagne (MIL) - signed to a 1 year, $10 million contract - 12/10/07
Eric Hinske (TAM) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/7/08

Remaining Free Agents

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Jason Varitek
1B - Kevin Youkilis
2B - Dustin Pedroia
3B - Mike Lowell
SS - Julio Lugo
LF - Manny Ramirez
CF - Jacoby Ellsbury/Coco Crisp
RF - J.D. Drew
DH - David Ortiz

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Josh Beckett
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Tim Wakefield
Jon Lester
Clay Buchholz

Projected Opening Day Closer
Jonathan Papelbon

Improvements: This is sort of pointless - these Sox don't need improving. If they get Santana, he could be viewed as an improvement, I suppose. But an improvement to what? A pitching staff that had the best ERA in the league in 2007? It's tough to improve on that, and almost not worth it.
Lack of improvement: Again, the Red Sox don't really need improving, so they haven't lacked improving any part of their team. Their bullpen is already solid, with Manny Delarmen and Kyle Snyder leading up to the late inning guys - Mike Timlin, Javier Lopez, Hideki Okajima and, of course, closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Keys to success: For the Sox to succeed in 2008, they need to play with the same dedication and fire that they had in 2007. Manager Terry Francona has a very cool, calm, and collected personality. You hardly see him worry (and why would he with this team?). This team is stacked from top to bottom, and another World Series appearance is far from unlikely.

The Royal Treatment

2008-02-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

Kansas City Royals 2007 Record: 69-93 (5th in AL Central)
2008 Prediction: 5th in AL Central

In

Jose Guillen (SEA) - signed to a 3 year, $36 million contract - 12/6/07
Brett Tomko (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract - 1/21/08
Yasuhiko Yabuta (Japan) - signed to a 2 year, $6 million contract - 11/28/07
Miguel Olivo (FLA) - signed to a 1 year contract - 12/27/07
Ron Mahay (TEX) - signed to a 2 year, $8 million contract - 12/20/07
Alberto Callaspo (ARI) - acquired for Billy Buckner - 12/14/07
Chin-hui Tsao (LAD) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/31/07
Brian Lawrence (NYM) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/18/08

Out

Billy Buckner (ARI) - traded for Alberto Callapso - 12/14/07
Jason LaRue (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $850,000 contract - 11/19/07
David Riske (MIL) - signed to a 3 year, $13 million contract with a $4.75 million option for 2011 - 12/5/07
Emil Brown (OAK) - signed to a 1 year, $1.45 million contract - 1/11/08
Mike Sweeney (OAK) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Remaining Free Agents

Reggie Sanders
John Thomson
Odalis Perez

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - John Buck/Miguel Olivo
1B - Ross Gload
2B - Mark Grudzielanek
3B - Alex Gordon
SS - Tony Pena/Esteban German
LF - Mark Teahen
CF - David DeJesus
RF - Jose Guillen
DH - Billy Butler

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Gil Meche
Brian Bannister
Brett Tomko
Zack Greinke
Kyle Davies/Jorge De La Rosa/Luke Hudson

Projected Opening Day Closer
Joakim Soria

Improvements: Guillen will give the Royals a proven power bat with a gun for an arm in right field. And he'll only be 32 in May. As long as he is able to cool his temper a bit, and stay healthy, there's no reason not to expect at least 25-30 homeruns from him. The team also brought in Japanese right-handed reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta, and he will likely be the Royals' primary set-up man, along with Ron Mahay - the lefty was signed to a 2-year contract by the Royals. They also added veteran Brett Tomko to their rotation. Tomko adds a nice touch of experience to an otherwise young rotation.
Lack of improvement: The Royals seem to be lacking at their shortstop position. Former Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa has been reduced to a part-time player (at Triple-A Omaha too). And Tony Pena hit .267 and had 47 RBI to go along with a dismal .284 OBP in 2007, his first season in the big leagues.
Keys to success: Again, the Royals are chocked full of young bats and arms. If the team wants to make any waves in the AL Central, these youngsters are going to have to show poise beyond their age and prove they are indeed ready to be playing in the MLB. Once they do that, the Royals should be a team destined for greatness...but perhaps 2 or 3 years down the road.

Twin City Blues

2008-02-03T11:14:00.000-05:00

Minnesota Twins 2007 Record: 79-83 (3rd in AL Central)
2008 Prediction: 4th in AL Central

In

Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie (TAM) - acquired for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett - 11/28/07
Mike Lamb (HOU) - signed to a 2 year, $6.6 million contract with an option for 2010 - 12/14/07
Adam Everett (HOU) - signed to a 1 year, $2.8 million contract - 12/13/07
Craig Monroe (CHC) - acquired for a player to be named later - 11/13/07
Howie Clark (TOR) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/22/07
Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra (NYM) - acquired for Johan Santana - 2/1/08

Out

Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett (TAM) - traded for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie - 11/28/07
Carlos Silva (SEA) - signed to a 4 year, $48 million contract with a $12 million mutual option for 2012 - 12/20/07
Torii Hunter (LAA) - signed to a 5 year, $90 million contract - 11/21/07
Johan Santana (NYM) - traded for Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra - 2/1/08
Chirs Heintz (BAL) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/1/08

Remaining Free Agents

Sidney Ponson
Matthew LeCroy
Josh Rabe
Jason Tyner
Rondell White
Lew Ford

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Joe Mauer
1B - Justin Morneau
2B - Brendan Harris
SS - Adam Everett
3B - Mike Lamb
LF - Delmon Young
CF - Jason Pridie/Carlos Gomez
RF - Michael Cuddyer
DH - Craig Monroe

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Francisco Liriano
Scott Baker
Boof Bonser
Kevin Slowey
Phil Humber/Glen Perkins

Projected Opening Day Closer
Joe Nathan

Improvements:They might have lost their ace, but the Twins got a 22-year old speedster in the form of Carlos Gomez in return. The Twins also signed veteran infielder Mike Lamb, who will most likely play the role of third baseman in 2008. Lamb, a part-time player for the majority of his career, has never reached the 500-at bat plateau, but if he plays up to his potential, he could finally make that mark this season. He is certainly an offense upgrade over Nick Punto. Additionally, the Twins finally got their power-bat/DH man in Craig Monroe. While he only he hit 12 homeruns between the Tigers and Cubs in 2007, he does have 3 seasons of 20+ homeruns, and should provide some pop from the right side, to complement Morneau and Mauer. The Twins should also have 24-year old Francisco Liriano back in their rotation by Spring Training. Liriano, who had Tommy John surgery last November, could give the Twins a huge boost in the rotation.
Lack of improvement: The Twins have a lot of young arms in their rotation, and their bullpen for that matter. And with Santana now in Queens, none of the members of the rotation will have more than 3 years of big league experience. In 2007, the Twins experimented with a couple of veteran pitchers (Sidney Ponson and Ramon Ortiz) who didn't really pan out. But with Carlos Silva now donning a Mariners' uniform, the Twins are in desperate need for a pitcher with some veteran leadership-capability. Jeff Weaver is a name that comes to mind.
Keys to success: Now that Santana is finally dealt, the young arms of the Twins' pitching staff are going to have to show huge strides of maturity in 2008. And if Liriano is healthy, it will be interesting to see if he is able to fool hitters with his wicked slider like he was in 2006 before his horrific shoulder injury, leading to Tommy John Surgery. If he is, look out batters, as he has some of the nastiest stuff in the league.

The Sox of White

2008-02-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

Chicago White Sox 2007 Record: 72-90 (4th in AL Central)
2008 Prediction: 3rd in AL Central

In

Nick Swisher (OAK) - acquired for Gio Gonzalez, Ryan Sweeney and Fautino De Los Santos - 1/3/08
Scott Linebrink (MIL) - signed to a 4 year, $19 million contract - 11/28/07
Orlando Cabrera (LAA) - acquired for Jon Garland - 11/19/07
Carlos Quentin (ARI) - acquired for Chris Carter - 12/3/07
Juan Uribe (CHW) - resigned to a 1 year, $4.5 million contract- 11/7/07
Brad Eldred (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/11/08
Octavio Dotel (ATL) - signed to a 2 year, $11 million contract- 1/22/08

Out

Jon Garland (LAA) - traded for Orlando Cabrera - 11/19/07
Darin Erstad (HOU) - signed to a $1 million contract - 12/27/07
Andy Gonzalez (CLE) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
Ryan Sweeney (OAK) - traded for Nick Swisher - 1/3/08
Scott Podsednik (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/5/08
Mike Myers (LAD) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/25/08
Craig Wilson (CIN) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/9/08

Remaining Free Agents

Alex Cintron

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - A.J. Pierzynski
1B - Paul Konerko
2B - Juan Uribe
3B - Joe Crede/Josh Fields
SS - Orlando Cabrera
LF - Carlos Quentin/Jerry Owens
CF - Nick Swisher
RF - Jermaine Dye
DH - Jim Thome

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Mark Buehrle
Javier Vazquez
Jose Contreras
John Danks
Gavin Floyd

Projected Opening Day Closer
Bobby Jenks

Improvements: Nick Swisher is 27 years old and can flat out hit. His average may not be the prettiest in the league, but when a guy can give you 20-30 homeruns a year, and can play first base and all three outfield positions, he's got value. He adds versatility and depth to the Sox, and joins an outfield that already consists of Jermaine Dye and Jerry Owens. And Orlando Cabrera is a sold shortstop, both in the field and at the plate. And while many in the baseball world disagree with the Sox handing out multi-year deals with relievers (Linebrink and Dotel), when one looks at their bullpen in '07, it really is hard to question. The Sox pen had the third-worst ERA in all of baseball, but Linebrink and Dotel should add some stability and give manager Ozzie Guillen some much needed relief.
Lack of improvement: What the Sox have in offense, they may be lacking in pitching. Buerhle is a stud. But Javier Vazquez, John Danks and Jose Contreras have all been inconsistent and the Sox may want to think about picking up another arm to slide into that rotation (currently, Gavin Floyd is slated to be their number five starter).
Keys to success: The Sox have a large task at hand if they want to return to the playoffs - being able to defeat the Indians and the Tigers, two very talented teams. And for this to be a possibility, Guillen is going to have to start being less like Squawks Magrew from James Thurber's You Could Look it Up, and more like a human being. Guillen has been criticized for being harsh, blunt and overall mean at times. There is a lot of talent on this club, and a lot of personalities. It will be up to Guillen to make sure they are all in check and have their heads clear when they take the field day after day.

A Major Update

2008-02-01T14:03:00.000-05:00

Over the last several weeks, there has been a flurry of major, and minor moves. This post will be a quick rundown of a majority of those moves not including guys named Johan or Erik.

The Mariners made a move...and it didn't involve an Erik (at least not directly)! They signed veteran slugger Brad Wilkerson. Wilkerson, who can play first base as well as all three outfield positions, agreed to a one year, $3 million contract with the M's. He provides the team with insurance in case they do wind up dealing Adam Jones to the Orioles for Bedard. Wilkerson will likely be the Mariners' starting right fielder, now that Adam Jones has been dealt. In 2007, Wilkerson hit .234 with 20 home runs and had 62 RBIs for the Texas Rangers.
How about the moves that aren't getting done? We are about two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to training camps, and there are still a number of veterans still available on the free agent list. Pitchers Bartolo Colon, Jeff Weaver, Kyle Lohse, Livan Hernandez, Josh Fogg, Kris Benson, Tony Armas, Armando Benitez, Byung-Hyun Kim, David Wells and Steve Trachsel are all still looking for mounds to pitch off of. Additionally, Mike Piazza, Kenny Lofton, Tony Clark, Barry Bonds, Mike Sweeney and Rondell White are also looking for homes. Many of these players should find a job somewhere this spring and could be able to help out a team in 2008. There are rumors that the Mets are looking at Lofton as a replacement for Gomez (clearly not for age purposes). They are also rumored to still be interested in signing Lohse, even with the acquisition of Santana.
Sean Casey has signed on with the reigning World Champion Boston Red Sox. The first baseman agreed on a one year, $800,000 contract. The Mayor, as he is known, will be a back up for the first time in his career, but should still manage to flourish in Beantown. Casey has a reputation of being a well-loved guy, both in the clubhouse and on the field.
Catcher Johnny Estrada is joining his third club since the end of the 2007 season. Estrada, who was acquired by the Mets in a trade with the Brewers in November, signed a one year contract with the Washington Nationals. The deal, reported to be for $1.25 million. The negotiations between the Nats and Estrada escalated when free agent acquisition Paul LoDuca had arthroscopic left knee surgery, according to ESPN.com. LoDuca is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Estrada, who is coming off knee and elbow operations himself, was non-tendered a contract by the Mets last month, making him a free agent. It is unclear as to who will get the regular playing time behind the plate once LoDuca is healthy, but it should be an interesting situation.
Veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez signed a one year contract with the Florida Marlins. Gonzalez, who will be relied upon to share his veteran leadership with an otherwise very young ball club, is sixth among active players in hits, with 2,502 for his career. Gonzalez, who will earn $2 million in 2008, will be asked to play left field, along with some first base.
The Cincinnati Reds added a much need veteran arm to their pitching staff, signing lefty Jeremy Affeldt to a one year, $3 million contract on January 21. Affeldt will reportedly compete for a spot in the Reds' rotation, despite the fact he didn't start a single game for the Colorado Rockies last season, and has a total of 42 games started in his six year career. But whether Affeldt pitches in the rotation or in relief, he has shown a dependable arm and the Reds should benefit from his veteran leadership.
The Phillies shored up their hot corner situation on Thursday, finalizing a two year, $8.5 million contract with former Giants' third baseman Pedro Feliz. The signing of Feliz allows the Phillies to shop incumbent third baseman Wes Helms, possibly for pitching help.
The Texas Rangers added a couple of veteran pitchers to their staff. They inked Jason Jennings to a 1 year, $4 million contract, as they attempt to stabilize what has been a shaky rotation for several years. And they signed former closer Eddie Guardado to a one year contract, and he will likely be the Rangers' closer, at least to begin the season. Guardado has been hindered by injuries over the last couple of years, but has experience of being a closer, as he has saved 183 big league games, including 45 and 41 for the Mariners in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
The Brewers signed center fielder Mike Cameron to a one year $5 million contract. Cameron, who will begin the season serving a 15-game suspension for testing positive for performance enhancers, will give the Brew Crew another solid bat to add to an already potent lineup. The signing also means Bill Hall will move back to third base, and last season's Rookie of the Year, Ryan Braun, will move to left field. The Brewers' offense does indeed look scary - Rickie Weeks, Hall, Cameron, Prince Fielder, Braun, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart and Jason Kendall are expected to be the regulars, and can be very dangerous.
A pair of players trying to revert to previous seasons of glory have signed minor league contracts Thursday. Jorge Julio signed on with the Cleveland Indians, and Morgan Ensberg agreed to a deal with the New York Yankees.

Julio has struggled over the past several seasons and has traveled around. Since the 2006 season, Julio has played with four different teams (Mets, Diamondbacks, Marlins and Rockies). Julio has experience as a closer, with 99 career saves - the majority of which coming with the Baltimore Orioles from 2002-04.
Ensberg, on the other hand, will compete in Spring Training for the Yankees' first base job. He is in a battle with incumbents Shelly Duncan and Wilson Betemit. Ensberg, a third baseman for most of his career, has spent the better of his 7 seasons in the bigs with the Houston Astros, before being traded to the San Diego Padres at the trading deadline last season. Ensberg's best season came in 2005, when he hit 36 home runs with 101 RBIs and was named to that year's All Star Game. He also finished fourth in the MVP voting that season.

Juan Gone? Perhaps not. MLB.com has reported the St. Louis Cardinals are considering offering former All Star Juan Gonzalez (remember him?) a minor league contract! Gonzo hasn't played in the Major Leagues since 2005 when he had one at-bat with the Indians. But, the 37-year old does have 434 career home runs to his credit, and could have a Sammy Sosa-type comeback. Keep your eyes on this story!
The Royals signed right-hander Mike Maroth to a minor league contract. Maroth, who was dealt to the Cardinals from the Tigers mid-season, struggled in '07, posting a hefty 6.89 ERA between the two clubs. He still has a shot at the Royals' fourth or fifth rotation spot.
The Yankees and second baseman Robinson Cano signed a four-year contract extension, worth $30 million. The Yankees hold a $14 million option for 2012, and if that is exercised, they will then have a $15 million option for 2013. Cano has a lifetime batting average of .314 and 48 home runs in three big league seasons. He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2005.

A Progressive Team

2008-02-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

Cleveland Indians 2007 Record: 96-66 (AL Central Division Winners)
2008 Prediction: 2nd in AL Central

In

Masahide Kobayashi (Japan) - signed to a 2 year, $6.25 million contract with a $3.25 million club option for 2010 - 11/20/07
Andy Gonzalez (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
Aaron Fultz (CLE) - 2008 $1.5 million club option exercised - 11/6/07
Paul Byrd (CLE) - 2008 $7.5 million club option exercised - 11/6/07
Jamey Carroll (COL) - acquired for a player to be named later - 12/8/07
Joe Borowski (CLE) - 2008 $4 million club option exercised - 11/6/07
Jorge Julio (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/31/08

Out

Jason Stanford (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/27/07
Chris Gomez (PIT) - signed to 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/12/07

Remaining Free Agents

Kenny Lofton
Trot Nixon

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Victor Martinez
1B - Ryan Garko
2B - Asdrubal Cabrera/Josh Barfield
3B - Casey Blake
SS - Jhonny Peralta
LF - David Dellucci/Jason Michaels
CF - Grady Sizemore
RF - Jason Michaels/Franklin Gutierrez
DH - Travis Hafner

Projected Opening Day Rotation
C.C Sabathia
Fausto Carmona
Jake Westbrook
Paul Byrd
Cliff Lee/Aaron Laffey

Projected Opening Day Closer
Joe Borowski

Improvements: The Indians signed Japanese reliever Masahide Kobayashi, and it didn't cost them the world (a la the Red Sox and Dice-K) to do it. The right hander should provide the Tribe with more stability in the back end of the bullpen, as he saved at least 20 games over the last 7 seasons in Japan, according to MLB.com. The Indians already had the 4th best bullpen ERA in the league last season, also according to MLB.com, with the likes of the Rafaels...Betencourt and Perez, and closer Joe Borowski (who actually had an ERA over 5.00). But GM Mark Shapiro knows how the game works, and knows that a bullpen can implode at a moment's notice.
Lack of improvement: There wasn't much about the Indians that needed improvement - they WERE tied for the best record in the league (not to sound repetitive). Their rotation is set, their lineup is solid, and their bullpen is not too shabby either.
Keys to success: Joe Borowski had an ugly 5.07 ERA last season, but did manage to save 45 games for the Tribe. Borowski has never been the most reliable closer in the world - he's saved more than 30 games three times in his 11 year-career (including 2007). Borowski will have to show he is capable of being a big league closer, or Kobayashi might have to step in and assume the role - as long as he is able to adapt to American-style baseball. Lefty Cliff had a season to forget in 2007, missing the first month of the season with an abdominal injury, and eventually being sent down to Triple-A in July. The former 18-game winner will have to find his way back into the rotation (and the big league club) and show he can still pitch with the best of them. Travis Hafner will also need to find a way to go back to his .300/30+/100+ days and lead the Tribe to the promised land.

The Year of the Tiger?

2008-01-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

Detroit Tigers 2007 Record: 88-74 (2nd in AL Central)
2008 Prediction: 1st in AL Central

In

Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis (FLA) - acquired for Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo and 3 minor leaguers - 12/5/07
Edgar Renteria (ATL) - acquired for Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez - 10/29/07
Jacque Jones (CHC) - acquired for Omar Infante - 12/4/07
Denny Bautista (COL) - acquired for Jose Capellan - 12/4/07
Todd Jones (DET) - resigned to a $7 million contract -11/12/07
Kenny Rogers (DET) - resigned to a 1 year, $8 million contract - 11/30/07

Out

Jair Jurrjens (ATL) - traded for Edgar Renteria - 10/29/07
Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo (FLA) - traded for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis - 12/5/07
Jose Capellan (COL) - traded for Denny Bautista - 12/4/07
Omar Infante (CHC) - traded for Jacque Jones - 12/4/07
Chad Durbin (PHI) - signed to a 1 year, $900,000 contract - 12/20/07
Sean Casey (BOS) - signed to a 1 year, $800,000 contract - 2/5/08

Remaining Free Agents

Neifi Perez

Projected Opening Day Starters
C- Ivan Rodriguez
1B - Carlos Guillen
2B - Placido Polanco
3B - Miguel Cabrera
SS - Edgar Renteria
LF - Marcus Thames/Jacque Jones
CF - Curtis Granderson
RF - Magglio Ordonez
DH - Gary Sheffield

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Justin Verlander
Jeremy Bonderman
Nate Robertson
Dontrelle Willis
Kenny Rogers

Projected Opening Day Closer
Todd Jones

Improvements: Edgar Renteria, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis (all acquired via trade) give the Tigers an immense amount of talent to a club that already had more talent than most. They also added Jacque Jones to serve as a lefty power bat in the outfield and off the bench.
Lack of improvement: Nice guys really do finish last. Just ask fireball reliever Joel Zumaya. Zumaya hurt his throwing shoulder while preparing his suburban San Diego home for evacuation during the wildfires in October. He underwent reconstructive surgery, and will miss at least the first half of the season - which is a relief (pun intended), considering his career was in jeopardy at first notice. And with all of the improvements the Tigers did make, they didn't find anyone to replace Zoooomaya (not that anyone really could). So the bullpen of Fernando Rodney, Bobby Seay, and Macay McBride will have to bridge the gap to closer Todd Jones, without the 100 MPH fastball of Zumaya.
Keys to success: Dontrelle Willis was acquired by the Tigers from the Marlins (along with Cabrera) for a group of talented players. Willis will be expected to revert to his 03-05 seasons of great success, after having a relatively dismal season in 2007. Youngsters Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman, along with 30-year old Nate Robertson will have to keep showing signs of maturity and continue to grow and improve to the standards set for them by their early success.

B for the A's

2008-01-30T13:06:00.000-05:00

Oakland Athletics 2007 Record: 76-86 (3rd in AL West)
2008 Prediction: 4th in AL West

In

Emil Brown (KC) - signed to a 1 year, $1.45 million contract - 1/11/08
Todd Linden (FLA) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/21/07
Keith Foulke (CLE) - signed to 1 year, $700,000 contract - 2/7/08
Mike Sweeney (KC) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Out

Mark Kotsay (ATL) - traded for Joey Devine and Jamie Richmond - 1/14/08
Dan Haren (ARI) - traded for Dana Eveland, Chris Carter, Brett Anderson, Greg Smith, Aaron Cunningham, and Carlos Gonzalez - 12/14/08
Nick Swisher (CHW) - traded for Ryan Sweeney, Gio Gonzalez, and Fautino De Los Santos - 1/3/08
Marco Scutaro (TOR) - traded for Graham Godfrey and Kristian Bell - 11/18/07

Remaning Free Agents

Shannon Stewart
Mike Piazza
Todd Walker

Projected Opening Day Starters
C- Rob Bowen/Kurt Suzuki
1B - Dan Johnson
2B - Mark Ellis
3B - Eric Chavez
SS - Bobby Crosby
LF - Travis Buck
CF - Chris Denforia
RF - Emil Brown
DH - Jack Cust/Mike Sweeney

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Joe Blanton
Rich Harden
Chad Gaudin
Dallas Braden
Lenny DiNardo/Dana Eveland

Projected Opening Day Closer

Huston Street

Improvements: Well, the A's didn't really make any improvements to their 2008 ball club. They might have made some improvements to their 2009 and beyond teams, but not '08. If third baseman Eric Chavez and shortstop Bobby Crosby can come back from their injuries and be the offensive threats they were once drawn to be, they could be considered improvements to the team. The trade of Kotsay gave the A's reliever Joey Devine, who has a total of 25 Major League games under his belt. But he does have some promise - in three Minor League seasons, Devine recorded a 2.73 ERA and a k/bb ratio of 162/51, according to baseballreference.com. He SHOULD give the A's some more depth in their bullpen. Additionally, the A's also signed their own former draft pick Emil Brown to a 1-year contract on friday. He has played several games in all three outfield positions, and will give the A's a right handed bat with pop to balance out what is a predominatley left handed lineup. Oh yeah, and Keith Foulke is back!
Lack of improvement: Again, for 2008, the A's gave up much more than what they received in return. Rob Bowen and Kurt Suzuki are the top catchers on the club, and compared to Kendall (or some other replacements), they don't quite measure up.
Keys to success: With Haren gone, Rich Harden and Joe Blanton will have to step up and be the leaders of the A's rotation. Harden has always had tremendous potential, but injuries have derailed his once (and still) promising career. Blanton has shown signs of maturity over his 3 seasons, and looks ready to become the ace of the staff. And Chavez along with Dan Johnson and Jack Cust will have to provide the offensive boost that will no longer be present after the trade of Swisher.

Home on the Range..r

2008-01-29T12:38:00.000-05:00

Texas Rangers 2007 Record: 75-87 (4th in AL West)
2008 Prediction: 3rd in AL West

In

Ben Broussard (SEA) - acquired for Tug Hulett - 12/13/07
Jason Jennings (HOU) - signed to a 1 year, $4 million contract - 1/17/08
Josh Hamilton (CIN) - acquired for Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera - 12/21/07
Milton Bradley (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $5 million contract - 12/12/07
Jason Davis (SEA) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/5/08
Jason Ellison (CIN) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/24/08
Kazuo Fukumori (Japan) - signed to a 2 year, $3 million contract with a club option for 2010 - 1/14/08
Eddie Guardado (CIN) - signed to a 1 year, $2 million contract - 1/11/08

Out

Freddy Guzman (DET) - traded for Chris Shelton - 12/6/07 (Shelton was later released)
Brad Wilkerson (SEA) - signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract - 1/31/08

Remaining Free Agents

Mike Wood
Willie Eyre
Akinori Otsuka
Sammy Sosa
Jerry Hairston Jr.

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Jarrod Saltalamacchia
1B - Ben Broussard
2B - Ian Kinsler
3B - Hank Blalock
SS - Michael Young
LF - Marlon Byrd/Frank Catalanotto
CF - Josh Hamilton
RF - Milton Bradley/David Murphy
DH - Milton Bradley/Jason Botts

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Kevin Millwood
Vincente Padilla
Jason Jennings
Brandon McCarthy
Kason Gabbard

Projected Opening Day Closer

C.J. Wilson/Eddie Guardado

Improvements: The Rangers managed to obtain two former Cincinnati Reds in two different acquisitions. First they traded for center fielder Josh Hamilton, and then proceeded to sign closer Eddie Guardado. Hamilton (as long as he is over his mental issues) will simply add to that balanced Ranger lineup, and can play a solid center field. Guaradado will battle with C.J. Wilson to be the team's closer, and has the experience and leadership to win that role. And if Jason Jennings can rebound from a dismal 2007, he will give the Rangers another crafty veteran to help stabalize a rotation that has been shaky over the last decade or so.
Lack of improvement: Milton Bradley is a huge risk for a team trying to get back on its feet. He is extremely fragile - both physically and emotionally. He has had only more than 500 at-bats once in his career (516 in 2004 with the Dodgers), and is constantly on the disabled list. He also has a history of being a sour member of a clubhouse, and can bring down the morale of the team. His production, when he's on the field, is certainly valuable - but at what risk?
Keys to success: Clearly, the pitching staff is the key to the Rangers' success in 2008. If they have any chance of being in contention, they're going to have to put it all together and it starts with Millwood and Padilla. They both need to have at least decent seasons and remain healthy and in the rotation, which is otherwise full of young kids.

A Very Close Second

2008-01-28T11:54:00.000-05:00

Seattle Mariners 2007 Record: 88-74 (2nd in AL West)
2008 Prediction: 2nd in AL West

In

Carlos Silva (MIN) - signed to a 4 year, $48 million contract with a $12 million Mutual Option for 2012 - 12/20/07
Erik Bedard (BAL) - acquired for Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mockiolo - 2/8/08
Miguel Cairo (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $850,000 contract - 1/8/08
Brad Wilkerson (TEX) - signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract - 1/31/08

Out

Jose Guillen (KC) - signed to a 3 year, $36 million contract - 12/6/07
Adam Jones, Geroge Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mockiolo (BAL) - traded for Erik Bedard - 2/8/08
Ben Broussard (TEX) - traded for Tub Hulett - 12/13/07

Remaining Free Agents

Rick White
Jeff Weaver
Tomo Ohka

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Kenji Johjima
1B - Richie Sexson
2B - Jose Lopez
3B - Adrian Beltre
SS - Yuniesky Betancourt
LF - Raul Ibanez
CF - Ichiro Suzuki
RF - Brad Wilkerson
DH - Jose Vidro

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Felix Hernandez
Erik Bedard
Carlos Silva
Jarrod Washburn
Miguel Batista

Projected Opening Day Closer

J.J. Putz

Improvements: Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva upgrade the rotation significantly and give the Mariners one of the best1-2 punch (and possibly all-around rotations) in baseball. They also picked up veteran Miguel Cairo who will give the team some major versatility, as he can play all of the infield positions, and can even play in the outfield if necessary - and is a fantastic pinch hitter.
Lack of improvement: As good as the Mariners' rotation is, I still pick the Angels over them because, on paper at least, the Angels' offense seems better than the M's. Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt are talented, but have been inconsistent in their young careers. I think they should still go out and sign a veteran outfielder (Shawn Green perhaps?) for some more bench productivity.
Keys to Success: Richie Sexson is going to have go back to his ways of smacking 30+ homeruns and hitting at least .270 and be the clean up hitter he is supposed to be. And the bullpen is very talented, but also young and inexperienced. To be able to catch the Angels in the division, the bullpen will have to show some maturity and cling to close leads as much as possible.

The Other Los Angeles Team

2008-01-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2007 Record: 94-68 (AL West Division Winners)
2008 Prediction: 1st in AL West

In

Torii Hunter (MIN) - signed to a 5 year, $90 million contract - 11/21/07
Jon Garland (CHW) - acquired for Orlando Cabrera - 11/19/07
Ben Johnson (NYM) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/8/08

Out

Orlando Cabrera (CHW) - traded for Jon Garland - 11/19/07
Dallas McPherson (FLA) - signed to a 1 year contract - 1/31/08

Remaining Free Agents

Bartolo Colon

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Mike Napoli
1B - Casey Kotchman
2B - Howie Kendrick
3B - Chone Figgins
SS - Erik Aybar/Maicer Izturis
LF - Gary Matthews Jr.
CF - Torii Hunter
RF - Vladimir Guerrero
DH - Garret Anderson

Projected Opening Day Rotation
John Lackey
Kelvim Escobar
Jon Garland
Jered Weaver
Ervin Santana

Projected Opening Day Closer
Francisco Rodriguez

Improvements: Signing Hunter was a surprise to some in the baseball world. Now the Angels have themselves a talented, but crowded outfield - which may not be a bad thing. An outfield of Guerrero, Hunter, Matthews (right-to-left) will allow Anderson to be a full-time designated hitter, taking the pressure off of his many injured body parts. Garland gives the Angels another solid starter in their already superior rotation. And while they had to give up their starting shortstop, top prospect Brandon Wood should get some ample playing time in 2008.
Lack of improvement: To be completely honest, the Angels, in my opinion, have nothing else to be improved upon. If the catching duo of Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis can have themselves a decent season, the Angels will have all the makings of a winning team - a team that resembles their 2002 squad.
Keys to Success: The rotation has a lot of good names on paper. But in 2007, some of these arms started to ware down as the season came to an end, and in order for the Halos to continue their dominance the AL West, starters like Lackey and Escobar will have to perform at their maximum from April to September. Fortunately for the Angels, however, their pitching staff is quite possibly the deepest in the Major Leagues, so if any of these pitchers should go down with an injury, a replacement will not be hard to find.

Sinking Fish

2008-01-26T14:57:00.000-05:00

Florida Marlins 2007 Record: 71-91 (5th in NL East)
2008 Prediction: 5th in NL East

In

Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo, Eugenio De La Cruz, Dallas Trahern, and Burke Badenhop (DET) - acquired for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis- 12/5/07
Mark Hendrickson (LAD) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract - 1/16/08
Jorge Cantu (CIN) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/4/08
Jose Castillo (PIT) - signed to a 1 year contract - 12/24/07
Luis Gonzalez (LAD) - signed to a 1 year, $2 million contract - 2/7/08
Dallas McPherson (LAA) - signed to a 1 year, $425,000 contract - 1/31/08

Out

Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis (DET) - traded for Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo, Eugenio De La Cruz, Dallas Trahern, and Burke Badenhop
Todd Linden (SF) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/21/07
Aaron Boone (WAS) - signed to a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/6/07
Miguel Olivo (KC) - signed to a 1 year contract with a mutual option for 2009 - 12/27/07

Remaining Free Agents

Armando Benitez
Byung-Hyun Kim

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Mike Rabelo
1B - Mike Jacobs
2B - Dan Uggla
3B - Jorge Cantu/Jose Castillo/Dallas McPherson
SS - Hanley Ramirez
LF - Josh Willingham
CF - Cameron Maybin
RF - Jeremy Hermida

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Andrew Miller
Scott Olsen
Sergio Mitre
Mark Hendrickson
Ricky Nolasco

Projected Opening Day Closer
Kevin Gregg

Improvements: Included in the Cabrera/Willis deal was center fielder Cameron Maybin. He will provide the Marlins with an immediate spark, both in the field and in the lineup. The Fish were missing a center fielder last season, with Alfredo Amezaga getting the bulk of the playing time there in '07. Maybin also gives the Fish another lead-off hitter, allowing them to possibly move Hanley Ramirez down in the order to give them more pop. Catcher Mike Rabelo was also involved in the deal, and while Miguel Olivo gave the Marlins some power in the lineup, Rabelo may be a better overall catcher.
Lack of improvement: Kevin Gregg came out of nowhere last year to compile 32 saves...he had one in all 4 seasons prior. It's hard to figure how Gregg will be able to match last season's output, and the Marlins don't exactly have a back-up closer in case he falters. Additionally, with the departure of Willis, the Marlins are without a reliable, veteran starter to anchor an otherwise young and inexperienced rotation.
Keys to success: That being said, Scott Olsen is now the senior member of this Marlins rotation, and he had an absolutely dismal season in 2007. He finished with a 10-15 record and an ugly 5.80 ERA. He will have to improve on that and, along with Miller, be a stable presence in this young rotation. With the loss of Cabrera, the Marlins also lost some firepower in their lineup, and it will be up to the likes of Dan Uggla, Josh Willingham and Mike Jacobs to make up for the missing pop.

New Park, New Results?

2008-01-25T14:28:00.000-05:00

Washington Nationals 2007 Record: 73-89 (4th in NL East)
2008 Prediction: 4th in NL East

In

Paul LoDuca (NYM) - signed to a 1 year, $5 million contract - 12/11/07
Lastings Milledge (NYM) - acquired for Brian Schneider and Ryan Chruch - 11/30/07
Willie Harris (ATL) - signed to a 1 year, $800,000 contract - 12/13/07
Elijah Dukes (TAM) - acquired for Glenn Gibson - 12/3/07
Tyler Clippard (NYY) - acquired for Jonathan Albaladejo - 12/5/07
Aaron Boone (FLA) - signed to a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/6/07
Rob Mackowiak (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract - 12/13/07
Chad Moeller (LAD) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/27/07
Pete Orr (ATL) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/15/07
Ray King (MIL) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/30/07
Johnny Estrada (NYM) - signed to a 1 year, $1.25 million contract - 1/31/08

Out

Brian Schneider, Ryan Church (NYM) - traded for Lastings Milledge - 11/30/07
D'Angelo Jimenez (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/18/07
Micah Bowie (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
Billy Traber (NYY) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/15/08

Remaining Free Agents

Nook Logan
Tony Batista
Jason Simontacchi

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Paul LoDuca/Johnny Estrada
1B - Nick Johnson
2B - Ronnie Belliard
3B - Ryan Zimmerman
SS - Felipe Lopez
LF - Wily Mo Pena
CF - Lastings Milledge
RF - Austin Kearns

Projected Opening Day Rotation
John Patterson
Shawn Hill
Matt Chico
Tim Redding
Jason Bergmann/Mike Bacsik

Projected Opening Day Closer
Chad Cordero

Improvements: LoDuca will give the Nats some more firepower in the lineup, without taking away too much defense from the departed Brian Schneider. And while he is recooperating from knee surgery, switch-hitting Estrada will also provide some offense for the Nationals. LoDuca is expected to miss up to 6 weeks, and right now, it's anyone's guess who will be the regular catcher once he returns. Milledge has all the potential in the world to be a top-class center fielder, and will receive much more playing time than he would in the Mets' crowded outfield.
Lack of improvements: The main problem the Nats are going to face is their rotation. In '07, Matt Chico received the most starts of anyone in the rotation, and managed a 7-9 record with a less-than-respectable 4.63 ERA. Shawn Hill and John Patterson are both capable of performing well for the team - but both have been on the DL more times than not over their careers. The Nationals might have been better off trying to focus on the rotation, rather than the offense.
Keys to sucess: LoDuca will have to be able to handle a very young and inexperienced pitching rotation, and try to keep his temper down (and his knee from giving out). He (and Milledge) are familiar with Nats' manager Manny Acta, as he was a coach with the Mets in 2006, so that will help. Also, Johnson, Hill and Patterson have to be healthy for the Nats to have any chance of contention in a tough NL East division.

The Home of the Brave...Third Place

2008-01-24T13:16:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Braves 2007 Record: 84-78 (3rd in NL East)
2008 Prediction: 3rd in NL West

In

Mark Kotsay (OAK) - acquired for Joey Devine and Jamie Richmond - 1/14/08
Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez (DET) - acquired for Edgar Renteria - 10/29/07
Tom Glavine (NYM) - signed to a 1 year, $8 million contract - 11/19/07
Omar Infante and Will Ohman (CHC) - acquired for Jose Ascanio - 12/4/07
Josh Anderson (HOU) - acquired for Oscar Villareal - 11/16/07

Out

Chad Paronto (HOU) - signed to a 1 year, $500,000 contract - 12/18/07
Andruw Jones (LAD) - signed to a 2 year, $36.2 million contract - 12/12/07
Ron Mahay (KC) - signed to a 2 year, $8 million contract - 12/20/07
Octavio Dotel (CHW) - signed to a 2 year, $11 million contract - 1/22/08
Lance Cormier (BAL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/22/08
Willy Aybar (TAM) - traded for Jeff Ridgway - 1/17/08
Willie Harris (WAS) - signed to a 1 year, $800,000 contract - 12/13/07

Remaining Free Agents

Julio Franco
Rheal Cormier
Chris Woodward
Corky Miller

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Brian McCann
1B - Mark Teixeira
2B - Kelly Johnson
3B - Chipper Jones
SS - Yunel Escobar
LF - Matt Diaz
CF - Mark Kotsay
RF - Jeff Francouer

Projected Opening Day Rotation
John Smoltz
Tom Glavine
Tim Hudson
Chuck James
Mike Hampton/Jair Jurrjens/Buddy Carlyle

Projected Opening Day Closer
Rafael Soriano

Improvements: Once they officially acquire Kotsay, he will be looked at as somewhat of an improvement. Surely, he's no upgrade over Jones. But once the Braves acquired Teixeiria last summer, it was pretty clear Jones was not going to be a Brave in 2008. So heading into 2008, the Braves had a couple of young kids to play center - but now they have a capable veteran in Kotsay (as long as he can stay healthy). Getting Glavine back in Atlanta should help the rotation, Jair Jurrjens (part of the Renteria deal) could prove as a young back-up in case any of the veterans become unable to pitch.
Lack of Improvements: Before the 2007 season, the Braves acquired Mike Gonzalez from the Pirates in hopes he would be their closer. But 18 games (and two saves) into the season, Gonzalez was shut down for the season, and is now another Tommy John surgery story and probably won't be back on the mound until at least May. The Braves don't have Bob Wickman anymore, who picked up the slack left by Gonzalez' injury, which means saves will probably come from a closer-by-committee type method, with Rafael Soriano picking up the major bulk of the opportunities (he had 9 saves in 2007 - second most to Wickman). The Braves clearly needed to mend their closer issue, but have thus far failed to do so.
Keys to success: Chipper, Kotsay, and the majority of the pitching staff has had their histories of injuries, and will need to remain healthy for as long as possible to have any chance to regain their division crown. And while the combination of Chipper/Teixeira/Francoeur/McCann can be very good, they will have to be very good without Renteria and Andruw.

The Fightins Keep Fightin'

2008-01-23T12:36:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia Phillies 2007 Record: 89-73 (NL East Division Winners)
2008 Prediction: 2nd in NL East

In

Brad Lidge, Eric Bruntlett (HOU) - acquired for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary and Michael Costanzo - 11/7/07
Chad Durbin (DET) - signed to a 1 year, $900,000 contract - 12/20/07
Pedro Feliz (SF) - signed to a 2 year, $8.5 million contract - 1/31/08
Geoff Jenkins (MIL) - signed to a 3 year, $13 million contract - 12/20/07
So Taguchi (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $1.05 million contract - 12/23/07
J.C. Romero (PHI) - resigned to a 3 year, $12 million contract with a $4.75 million Club Option for 2011 - 11/10/07

Out

Rod Barajas (TOR) - signed to a 1 year, $1.2 million contract - 1/24/08
Tadahito Iguchi (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $4 million contract - 12/12/07
Jon Lieber (CHC) - signed to a 1 year, 3.5 million contract - 1/16/08
Aaron Rowand (SF) - signed to a 5 year, $60 million contract - 12/12/07
Chris Roberson (BAL) - traded for a player to be named or cash - 1/2/08

Remaining Free Agents

Kyle Lohse
Jose Mesa
Freddy Garcia
Antonio Alfonseca

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Carlos Ruiz
1B - Ryan Howard
2B - Chase Utley
3B - Pedro Feliz
SS - Jimmy Rollins
LF - Pat Burrell
CF - Shane Victorino/So Taguchi
RF - Geoff Jenkins/Shane Victorino

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Brett Myers
Cole Hamels
Jamie Moyer
Kyle Kendrick
Adam Eaton

Projected Opening Day Closer
Brad Lidge

Improvements: Acquiring Brad Lidge to the full-time closer in Phliadelphia allows 2007's closer Brett Myers to go back to the rotation, where he is more comfortable. Aaron Rowand is going to be patrolling center field for the Giants in 2008, but the signing of Jenkins will alleviate the offense vacated by Rowand's departure. Feliz gives the Phils a steady bat at the hot corner, something they've lacked since the days of Rolen.
Lack of improvement: The rotation for the Phillies seems to be in order, especially with Myers heading back in. But the bullpen is still a question mark. Lidge is a solid closer (as long as his mental issues are behind him in Houston). But the middle relief of Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, and 40-year old Tom Gordon might not be enough to bridge the gap between the starters and Lidge in a close 3-2 ball game.
Keys to success: The Phillies have the potential to be a very dangerous and explosive team. But they also have the potential to disappoint and be a sloppy team. Lidge will have to prove that he's forgotten that Albert Pujols hit a homerun off of him in the 2004 playoffs and get back to being the dominant closer he can be. Jamie Moyer is 45 years old, and is going to be expected to be a intricate part of the rotation. That could be a lot to ask someone of that age and he will have to use his experience and 83 mile-an-hour fastball to prove he can still pitch in the big leagues.

Now Who's the Team to Beat?

2008-01-22T11:14:00.000-05:00

New York Mets 2007 Record: 88-74 (2nd in NL East)
2008 Prediction: 1st in NL East

In

Johan Santana (MIN) - acquired for Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra and signed to a 6 year, $137 million contract extension with a club option for 2014- 2/1/08
Matt Wise (MIL) - signed to a 1 year, $1.25 million contract - 12/18/07
Ryan Church and Brian Schneider (WAS) - acquired for Lastings Milledge - 11/30/07
Angel Pagan (CHC) - acquired for Corey Coles and Ryan Meyers - 1/5/08
Brian Stokes (TAM) - acquired for cash - 11/28/07
Luis Castillo (NYM) - resigned to a 4 year, $25 million extension - 11/19/07
Moises Alou (NYM) - $7.5 million club option was exercised - 10/31/07
Marlon Anderson (NYM) - resigned to a 2 year, $2.2 million contract - 11/7/07
Damian Easley (NYM) - resigned to a 1 year, $950,000 contract - 10/31/07
Ramon Castro (NYM) - resigned to a 2 year, $4.6 million contract - 11/16/07
Jose Valentin (NYM) - resigned to a minor league contract - 1/18/08
Ruddy Lugo (OAK) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/30/08
Raul Casanova (TAM) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/13/07
Andy Cavazos (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
Tony Armas Jr. (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Out

Paul LoDuca (WAS) - signed to a 1 year, $5 million contract - 12/11/07
Ben Johnson (LAA) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/8/08
Tom Glavine (ATL) - signed to a 1 year, $8 million contract - 11/19/07
Brian Lawrence (KC) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/21/08
Mike DiFelice (TAM) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
Guillermo Mota (MIL) - traded for Johnny Estrada - 11/20/07
Johnny Estrada (WAS) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract - 2/1/08
David Newhan (HOU) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/29/08
Dave Williams (Japan) - signed with Yokohama BayStars - 12/7/07

Remaining Free Agents

Shawn Green
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Aaron Sele
Ricky Ledee
Jeff Conine

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Brian Schneider
1B - Carlos Delgado
2B - Luis Castillo
3B - David Wright
SS - Jose Reyes
LF - Moises Alou
CF - Carlos Beltran
RF - Ryan Church

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Johan Santana
Pedro Martinez
John Maine
Oliver Perez
Mike Pelfrey/Orlando Hernandez

Projected Opening Day Closer
Billy Wagner

Improvements: I'm not sure if Brian Schneider, the Mets' new catcher, is an improvement over Paul LoDuca, but he's not a downgrade by any means. He is arguably the best defensive catcher in the game, and with youngsters Oliver Perez, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey likely to start the season in the rotation, having a catcher who can call a great game and help develop these young pitchers will be a huge, and underrated plus. Adding Matt Wise to the end of the rotation was a wise move (pun intended). In 2007, with the Brewers, Wise pitched about 54 innings, and had an ERA of 4.19 - and a 43/17 k/bb ratio. And that Santana guy I understand will be an improvement of sorts...I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Lack of improvement: Picking up Santana 100% addresses the Mets' need for a frontline, top of the rotation starter. He is arguably the best pitcher on the planet right now, and the Mets will be signing his checks for the next 6 years. With them finally getting that centerpiece arm, they have no holes on that team - though I suppose one more stable arm in the bullpen couldn't hurt.
Keys to success: Even with Santana, for the Mets to be successful Martinez and Hernandez are going to have to remain healthy and consistent the entire season. And the other members of the rotation - Maine, Perez and Pelfrey - will have to mature and show they can handle the big pressure of pitching in New York. Carlos Delgado is being looked at as the key to the Mets' offense and will have to revert to his glory days of .300/35/120 offensive stat lines. The Mets have a deep offense, but if Delgado is healthy and on his game, it can be one of the most dangerous in the league as well.

Promising Pirates in Pittsburgh?

2008-01-21T20:51:00.000-05:00

Pittsburgh Pirates 2007 Record 68-94 (6th in NL Central)
2008 Prediction: 6th in NL Central

In

Chris Gomez (CLE) - signed to a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/12/07
Hector Carrasco (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/24/08
Elemer Dessens (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
Jaret Wright (BAL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/23/08
Casey Fossum (SD) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/24/08
Doug Mientkiewicz (NYY) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Out

Jose Castillo (FLA) - signed to a 1 year contract - 12/24/07
Cesar Izturis (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $2.85 million contract - 11/30/07
Salomon Torres (MIL) - traded for Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts - 12/7/07
Matt Kata (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
Dan Kolb (BOS) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/22/08
Brad Eldred (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/11/08
John Wasdin (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/19/07
Humberto Cota (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/27/07
Josh Phelps (STL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/10/08
Tony Armas Jr. (NYM) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Remaining Free Agents

Shawn Chacon

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Ronny Paulino
1B - Adam LaRoche
2B - Freddy Sanchez
3B - Jose Bautista
SS - Jack Wilson
LF - Jason Bay
CF - Nate McLouth
RF - Xavier Nady

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Ian Snell
Tom Gorzelanny
Zach Duke
Paul Maholm
Matt Morris

Projected Opening Day Closer
Matt Capps

Improvements: It's rather difficult to pinpoint a club's improvements when they really made no key additions to their roster, as is the case with the Bucks.
Lack of improvement: Pick one - the Pirates weren't able to improve in any area of their ball club, so they will have to do something before the trade deadline in order to have any chance of contention in 2008. One potential hole could be their closer position. Currently, right hander Matt Capps is slated to be the team's closer, after saving 18 games in 2007. The 6'3", 240-pounder took over as the closer last season after Solomon Torres continued to struggle at the end of games. If he opens the season as the team's closer, it will be his first full season in that position, a difficult task for the 24-year old big man.
Keys to success: The young pitching staff (aside from Morris) will have to show some major growth for the Pirates to have any shot in the NL central. They all have potential, but they're going to need to step up in '08 and become a real stud rotation. And Morris will be counted on to guide these young guns with his crafty veternanship and help them mature.

It's in the Cards

2008-01-20T19:08:00.000-05:00

St. Louis Cardinals 2007 record: 78-84 (3rd in NL Central)
2008 Prediction: 5th in NL Central

Outfielder Juan Encarnacion will miss the entire 2008 season, due to an eye injury stemming from last August when he took a foul ball to the face while waiting on deck. He will miss the season, and his career is in jeopardy as well, according to MLB.com on 1/16.

Cesar Izturis (PIT) - signed to a 1 year $1 million contract - 11/30/07
Matt Clement (BOS) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million with an $8.75 million club option for 2009 - 1/3/08
Troy Glaus (TOR) - acquired for Scott Rolen - 1/14/08
Jason LaRue (KC) - signed to a 1 year, $850,000 contract - 11/19/07
D'Angelo Jimenez (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/18/07
Aaron Miles (STL) - resigned to a 1 year, $1.4 million contract - 1/4/07
Josh Phelps (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/10/08
John Wasdin (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/19/07

Out

Troy Percival (TAM) - signed to a 2 year, $8 million contract - 11/30/07
So Taguchi (PHI) - signed to a 1 year, $1.05 million contract - 12/23/07
Jim Edmonds (SD) - traded for David Freese - 12/14/07
John Rodriguez (TAM) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/4/08
Gary Bennett (LAD) - signed to a 1 year, $825,000 contract with an option for 2009 - 12/17/07
Scott Rolen (TOR) - traded for Troy Glaus - 1/14/08
David Eckstein (TOR) - signed to a 1 year, $4.5 million contract - 12/14/07
Kip Wells (COL) - signed to a 1 year, $3.1 million contract - 12/19/07
Randy Keisler (MIN) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/10/08
Miguel Cairo (SEA) - signed to a 1 year, $850,000 - 1/8/08
Andy Cavazos (NYM) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08

Remaining Free Agents

Preston Wilson
Russell Branyan
Kelly Stinnett

Projected Opening Day Starters

C - Yadier Molina

1B - Albert Pujols

2B - Adam Kennedy

3B - Troy Glaus

SS - Cesar Izturis

LF - Chris Duncan

CF - Rick Ankiel

RF - Rick Ankiel/Ryan Ludwick/Skip Schumaker

Projected Opening Day Rotation

Adam Wainwright

Braden Looper

Matt Clement

Anthony Reyes

Joel Pineiro

Projected Opening Day Closer
Jason Isringhausen

Improvements: Glaus will be considered an improvement - or at least not having Rolen will. The Rolen/LaRussa struggles have taken their tolls on the team's morale, and now Glaus will be looked at as a replacement for Rolen. The Cards also picked up free agent Cesar Izturis, a replacement at shortstop for the departed David Eckstein.
Lack of improvement: The Cardinals really did not improve themselves very much at all, outside of Glaus (Rolen). As slick of a fielder as Izturis is, losing Eckstein will most certainly wind up hurting the club. And aside from Clement, the team didn't touch a single pitcher on the market, leaving Adam Wainwright as the team's (healthy) ace. Furthermore, the Cards found out that they will be without slugger Juan Encarnacion for the entire 2008 season, and possibly longer, due to an eye injury suffered in 2007. Losing the bat of Encarnacion will certainly be felt this upcoming season, and the Cards have yet to attempt to replace that firepower.
Keys for success: Wainwright will have to show that he is ready to be in the rotation - he showed some positive signs last season after being a reliever in 2006. Glaus will have to show the he is over his injury bug and is capable of being a full-time third baseman (after being a part-time DH in the American League for most of his career).

Cincy Seeing Red

2008-01-19T21:54:00.000-05:00

Cincinnati Reds 2007 Record: 72-90 (5th in NL Central)
2008 Prediction: 4th in NL Central

In

Francisco Cordero (MIL) - signed to a 4 year, $46 million contract with a $12 million club option for 2012 - 11/28/07
Dusty Baker (MGR) - signed to a 3 year contract - 10/15/07
Edinson Volquez (TEX) - acquired for Josh Hamilton - 12/21/07
Jeremy Affeldt (COL) - signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract - 1/21/08
Adam Dunn (CIN) - $13 million club option exercised - 10/31/07
Scott Hatteberg (CIN) - $1.85 million club option exercised - 10/31/07
Javier Valentin (CIN) - $1.35 million club option exercised - 10/31/07
Andy Phillips (NYY) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/4/08
Craig Wilson (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/9/08

Out

Eddie Guardado (TEX) - signed to a 1 year, $2 million contract - 1/11/08
Josh Hamilton (TEX) - traded for Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera - 12/21/07
Jorge Cantu (FLA) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/4/08
Jason Ellison (TEX) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/24/08
Kirk Saarloos (OAK) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/15/08

Remaining Free Agentsb

Eric Milton

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - David Ross
1B - Joey Votto
2B - Brandon Phillips
3B - Edwin Encarnacion
SS - Alex Gonzalez
LF - Adam Dunn
CF - Ryan Freel
RF - Ken Griffey Jr.

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Aaron Harang
Bronson Arroyo
Matt Belisle
Homer Bailey
Edinson Volquez/Jeremy Affeldt

Projected Opening Day Closer
Francisco Cordero

Improvements: David Weathers recorded 33 saves in '07, but he also blew 6. The acquisition of Cordero is an incredible upgrade in the closer department, and the results will be there. The Reds traded young outfielder Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers, and in return got pitcher Edinson Volquez, who could factor into the rotation in 2008.
Lack of improvement: The Reds will go to camp with the same catchers as they had in 2007 - David Ross and Javier Valentin. Neither are considered a number one catcher by most standards, even though Ross has shown signs of awakenings. The Reds have not stabilized the back end of their rotation, with the young Homer Bailey as the potential number three starter behind Harang and Arroyo.
Keys to success: If Griffey can stay healthy, and get at least as many at-bats as he had in 2007 (528), that could give the Reds a huge boost. But if Bailey is going to break camp as the Reds' number three starter, he's going to have to prove he is indeed ready for big league talent. Additionally, Phillips will have to show that last season was no fluke, and has blossomed into the superstar he was scouted to be.

Houston, We Have Offense

2008-01-18T20:41:00.000-05:00

Houston Astros 2007 Record: 73-89 (4th in NL Central)
2008 Prediction: 3rd in NL Central

In

Miguel Tejada (BAL) - acquired for Luke Scott, Matt Albers, Troy Patton, Dennis Sarfate, and Mike Costanzo - 12/12/07
Geoff Geary and Michael Bourn (PHI) - acquired for Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett - 11/7/07
Jose Valverde (ARI) - acquired for Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez - 12/14/07
Oscar Villareal (ATL) - acquired for Josh Anderson - 11/16/07 (signed to a 2 year, $2.85 million contract with a $2 million club option for 2010 - 12/28/07)
Kazuo Matsui (COL) - signed to a 3 year, $16.5 million contract - 12/2/07
Chad Paronto (ATL) - signed to a 1 year, $500,000 contract - 12/18/07
Geoff Blum (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $1.1 million contract with a club option for 2009 - 11/20/07
Doug Brocail (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $2.5 million contract with a club option for 2009 - 11/27/07
Darin Erstad (CHW) - signed to a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/27/07
Jose Cruz Jr. (SD) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/28/07
Brad Ausmus (HOU) - resigned to a 1 year, $2 million contract - 10/30/07
Jack Cassel (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $400,000 contract - 12/17/07
Reggie Abercrombie (FLA) - claimed off waivers - 10/11/07

Out

Adam Everett (MIN) - signed to a 1 year, $2.8 million contract - 12/13/07
Mike Lamb (MIN) - signed to a 2 year, $6.6 million contract with an option for 2010 - 12/14/07
Craig Biggio - Retired
Jason Jennings (TEX) - signed to a 1 year, $4 million contract - 1/17/08
Trever Miller (TAM) - signed to a 1 year, $1.6 million contract - 2/6/0

Remaining Free Agents

Orlando Palmeiro

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Brad Ausmus/J.R. Towles
1B - Lance Berkman
2B - Kazuo Matsui
3B - Ty Wigginton
SS - Miguel Tejada
LF - Carlos Lee
CF - Michael Bourn
RF - Hunter Pence

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Roy Oswalt
Woody Williams
Wandy Rodriguez
Brandon Backe
Chris Sampson/Felipe Paulino

Projected Opening Day Closer
Jose Valverde

Improvements: Valverde should prove to be a certain upgrade over Lidge. Tejada is undoubtedly an upgrade over Adam Everett. And Kaz Matsui has some big shoes to fill, replacing Houston legend Craig Biggio at second base. The Astros also reeled in Darin Erstad, Reggie Abercrombie and Michael Bourn - all of which will provide depth off the bench and in the outfield in 2008.
Lack of improvements: Once again, Brad Ausmus (almost 39 years of age) is slated to be the starting catcher for the Astros. His back-ups combined for 93 at-bats in 2007. It would have been nice for the team to pick up another pitcher to compliment Oswalt, as Woody Williams, who will turn 42 in '08, may find himself on the doctor's bed more than once this season.
Keys to success: The rest of the rotation, as it is, will have to show great strides and ease the pressure off Oswalt's shoulders in 2008. Kaz Matsui is going to have some big shoes to fill, as he takes over second base for fan favorite Craig Biggio who retired after the 2007 season. Biggio played 20 seasons in an Astro uniform, and now, Matsui will be standing on his grounds. Not to mention, Matsui had a career in Colorado last season, and he will be expected to show that it was more than a fluke year for this Japanese import.

Cubbie Hole

2008-01-17T20:00:00.000-05:00

Chicago Cubs 2007 Record: 85-77 (NL Central Division winners)
2008 Prediction: 2nd in NL Central

In

Kosuke Fukudome (Japan) - signed to a 4 year, $48 million contract - 12/19/07
Jon Lieber (PHI) - signed to a 1 year, $3.5 million contract - 1/16/08
Omar Infante (DET) - acquired for Jacque Jones - 11/12/07
Kerry Wood (CHC) - signed to a 1 year, $4.2 million contract - 11/26/07
Scott Eyre (CHC) - 2008 player option exercised - 11/7/07
Daryle Ward (CHC) - $1.2 million mutual option exercised - 11/3/07

Out

Omar Infante and Will Ohman (ATL) - traded for Jose Ascanio - 12/4/07
Cliff Floyd (TAM) - signed to a 1 year, $2.75 million contract with a club option for 2009 - 12/17/07
Jason Kendall (MIL) - signed to a 1 year, $4.25 million contract with an option for 2009 - 11/28/07
Mark Prior (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/26/07
Angel Pagan (NYM) - traded for Corey Coles and Ryan Meyers - 1/5/08
Steve Trachsel (BAL) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/11/08

Remaining Free Agents

Wade Miller

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Geovany Soto
1B - Derek Lee
2B - Mark DeRosa
3B - Aramis Ramirez
SS - Ryan Theriot
LF - Alfonso Soriano
CF - Felix Pie
RF - Kosuke Fukudome

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Carlos Zambrano
Ted Lilly
Jason Marquis
Rich Hill
Jon Lieber

Improvements: The Cubs signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to be the left-handed power hitter the Cubs lacked last season. His role to will be to split up the right-handed bats of Soriano, Lee and Ramirez in the batting order, giving the Cubs a very balanced 3-4-5-6 in the lineup.
Lack of improvements: Other than Fukudome, the Cubs weren't able to cash in on any other big name free agent or trade piece (a feat that is hard to accomplish after handing out around $300 million to free agents last offseason). But the Cubs did not upgrade their catching, and will rely on youngster Geovany Soto, who only had 54 at-bats in 2007, to do most of the catching duties.
Keys to success: Wood is going to have to show that he can still be the dominant pitcher he was destined to be, before injuries ruined his career. He has the potential to be a terrific closer for a good team, but he's going to have to stay healthy for the majority of the season for this to happen. And can Fukudome adapt to American baseball? If not, the Cubbies might want to go an hibernate for the summer.

Somethin' Brewin'

2008-01-16T19:29:00.000-05:00

Milwaukee Brewers 2007 record: 83-79 (2nd place in NL Central).
2008 Prediction: 1st in NL Central

In

Jason Kendall (CHC) - signed to a 1 year, $4.25 million contract with an option for 2009 - 11/28/07
Mike Cameron (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $5 million contract with a $10 million club option for 2009 - 1/14/08
Eric Gagne (BOS) - signed to a 1 year, $10 million contract - 12/10/07
Guillermo Mota (NYM) - acquired for Johnny Estrada - 11/20/07
David Riske (KC) - signed to a 3 year, $13 million contract with a $4.75 option for 2011 - 12/5/07
Salomon Torres (PIT) - acquired for Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts - 12/7/07
Abraham Nunez (PHI) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/23/08

Out

Ray King (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/30/07
Matt Wise (NYM) - signed to a 1 year, $1.25 million contract - 12/18/07
Scott Linebrink (CHW) - signed to a 4 year, $19 million contract - 11/28/07
Geoff Jenkins (PHI) - signed to a 3 year, $13 million contract with an option for 2010 - 12/20/07
Francsico Cordero (CIN) - signed to a 4 year, $46 million contract with a $12 million club option for 2012 - 11/28/07

Remaining Free Agents

Damian Miller
Kevin Mench
Tony Graffanino
Corey Koskie

Projected Opening Day Lineup

C - Jason Kendall
1B - Prince Fielder
2B - Rickie Weeks
3B - Bill Hall
SS - J.J. Hardy
LF - Ryan Braun
CF - Mike Cameron
RF - Corey Hart

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Ben Sheets
Jeff Suppan
Yovani Gallardo
Dave Bush
Chris Capuano

Projected Opening Day Closer
Eric Gagne

Improvements: Signing Cameron will likely mean a shift in positions for several key players. But when you have a Gold Glove caliber player patrolling center, who can also hit 25-30 homeruns, you have to make do. Cameron will likely play center, moving Bill Hall back to third base, and youngster Ryan Braun will play left field. The Brewers' bullpen is also much improved, bringing in Gagne, Salomon Torres (assuming he doesn't retire), David Riske and Guillermo Mota.
Lack of improvement: While Kendall is a terrific defensive catcher, he lacks in the offensive department. However, defense (especially from the catcher position) is vital to a team's success, thus, it is difficult to find any lack of improvement for the Brewers.
Keys to success: Ben Sheets NEEDS to stay healthy for an entire season. He is the ace and the horse of the rotation, and the Brewers are counting on him for at least 30 starts this season. Gagne also needs to show he is passed his injuries and can still be the dominant closer he once was (remember his Dodger days?).

A Giant Step Nowhere

2008-01-15T17:08:00.000-05:00

San Francisco Giants 2007 Record 71-91 (5th in NL West)
2008 Prediction: 5th in NL West

In

Aaron Rowand (PHI)- signed to a 5 year, $60 million contract - 12/12/06
Omar Vizquel (SF) - resigned to a $5.3 million contract with a club option for 2009 - 11/9/07
Victor Santos (BAL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/11/08

Out

Pedro Feliz (PHI) - signed to a 2 year, $8.5 million contract contract - 1/31/08

Remaining Free Agents

Barry Bonds
Ryan Klesko
Russ Ortiz

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Bengie Molina
1B - Rich Aurilia
2B - Ray Durham
3B - Kevin Frandsen
SS - Omar Vizquel
LF - Fred Lewis/Dave Roberts
CF - Aaron Rowand
RF - Randy Winn

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Barry Zito
Tim Lincecum
Matt Cain
Noah Lowry
Jonathan Sanchez

Projected Opening Day Closer
Brian Wilson

Improvements: The Giants were able to make one key acquisition this offseason, reeling in free agent center fielder Aaron Rowand. In Rowand, the Giants finally get a big bat in their lineup, not named Barry. Not to mention a terrific center fielder. And not having Bonds and his baggage will be an improvement of sorts as well.
Lack of improvements: The signing of Zito really put a lock on the Giants' back account, and thus they were not able to cash in on any other free agent other than Rowand. So, the rotation, bullpen and lineup all remain the same (or become worse, as they did manage to lose Bonds and Pedro Feliz to free agency). While the Giants won't miss Bonds' "publicity", they will miss his presence in the lineup. Even at 43 years of age, he still can strike fear into the hearts of pitchers and baseballs everywhere. And whether he juiced or not, he can still be a threat in any lineup.
Keys to success: One positive note the Giants have going for them is their young talent. Kids like Rajai Davis, Fred Lewis, Dan Ortmeier, Nate Schierholtz, and Kevin Frandsen will all likely have regular playing time in 2008. Not to mention the young arms of the pitch staff - Cain, Lowry, Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez, Brian Wilson and recently acquired Jose Capellan. But these young kids are going to have to show some major maturity in the Major Leagues, or the Giants could be seeing the basement a lot in the next several seasons.

Rockin 'N Rollin

2008-01-14T16:41:00.000-05:00

Colorado Rockies 2007 Record: 90-73 (2nd in NL West; Wild Card winner; National League Champion)
2008 Prediction: 4th in NL West

In

Marcus Giles (SD) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/8/08
Kip Wells (STL) - signed a 1 year, $3.1 million contract - 12/19/07
Mark Redman (COL) - signed a 1 year, $1 million contract - 12/19/07
Luis Vizcaino (NYY) - signed a 2 year, $7.5 million contract with club option for 2010 - 12/21/07
Yorvit Torrealba (COL) - signed a 2 year, $7.25 million contract with mutual option for 2010 - 11/29/07
Micah Bowie (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
Matt Kata (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/21/07
Jose Capellan (DET) - acquired for Denny Bautista - 12/4/07
Scott Podsednik (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 2/5/08

Out

Denny Bautista(DET) - traded for Jose Capellan - 12/4/07
Elmer Dessens (PIT) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/7/08
Jamey Carroll (CLE) - traded for a player to be named later - 12/8/07
Kazuo Matsui (HOU) - signed a 3 year, $16.5 million contract - 12/2/07
Jeremy Affeldt (CIN) - signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract - 1/21/08
Jorge Julio (CLE) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/31/08

Remaining Free Agents

Josh Fogg
Rodrigo Lopez
Ramon Ortiz
Steve Finley
John Mabry
Tom Martin

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Yorvit Torrealba
1B - Todd Helton
2B - Jayson Nix/Marcus Giles
3B - Garrett Atkins
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
LF - Matt Holliday
CF - Willy Tavares
RF - Brad Hawpe

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Jeff Francis
Aaron Cook
Franklin Morales
Ubaldo Jimenez
Jason Hirsh/Kip Wells/Mark Redman

Projected Opening Day Closer
Manny Corpas

Improvements: The Rockies did add a couple of veterans to their club. They signed reliever Luis Vizcaino for assistance in their bullpen. Vizcaino should be huge for the Rocks, as he will provide depth, experience and stability in a rather inconsistent bullpen. And veterans Kip Wells and Mark Redman will provide insurance for an otherwise young rotation. Yorvit Torrealba, who was re-signed by the Rockies, played a vital role for the Rockies in 2007, and he will be expected to help develop a young pitching staff.
Lack of improvement: The Rockies lost Kaz Matsui to free agency (Houston Astros), and are replacing him and his 32 stolen bases with the combination of the inexperienced Jayson Nix and diminishing Marcus Giles (who recently signed a minor league contract).
Keys to success: Willy Tavares came back from an injury to face the Diamondbacks in the NLCS in 2007. But he will have show that he is completely healed and is ready to be the table setter/center fielder the Rockies are expecting him to be. The same can be said for right hander Aaron Cook in the rotation. Cook was instrumental in getting the Rockies to the playoffs, and then injured his oblique muscle, and didn't play after August 10. He is expected to be the right handed answer to lefty ace Jeff Francis, after signing a 4-year extension last month.

Father's Day

2008-01-13T16:10:00.000-05:00

San Diego Padres 2007 record: 89-74 (3rd place in NL West)
2008 Prediction: 3rd in NL West

In

Tadahito Iguchi (PHI) - signed to a 1 year, $4 million contract - 12/12/07
Mark Prior (CHC) - signed to a 1 year, $1 million contract - 11/26/07
Randy Wolf (LAD) - signed to a 1 year, $4.75 million - 12/9/07
Jim Edmonds (STL) - acquired for David Freese - 12/14/07
Robert Fick (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/3/08
Greg Maddux (SD) - re-signed to a 1 year, $10 million contract - 11/20/07
Jeff DaVanon (OAK) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/3/08
Michael Barrett (SD) - re-signed to a 1 year, $3.5 million contract - 12/19/07

Out

Mike Cameron (MIL) - signed to a 1 year, $5 million contract with a $10 million club option for 2009 - 1/14/08
Marcus Giles (COL) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/8/08
Geoff Blum (HOU) - signed to a 1 year, $1.1 million contract with a club option for 2009 - 11/20/07
Doug Brocail (HOU) - signed to a 1 year, $2.5 million contract with a club option for 2009 - 11/27/07
Brett Tomko (KC) - signed to a 1 year, $3 million contract - 1/21/08
Milton Bradley (TEX) - signed to a 1 year, $5 million contract - 12/12/07
Rob Mackowiak (WAS) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract - 12/13/07

Remaining Free Agents

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Michael Barrett
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Tadahito Iguchi
3B - Kevin Kouzmanoff
SS - Khalil Greene
LF - Scott Hairston
CF - Jim Edmonds
RF - Brian Giles

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Jake Peavy
Chris Young
Greg Maddux
Randy Wolf
Mark Prior

Improvements: Edmonds may not be the hitter he once was, but the value he brings to center field and the clubhouse is worth trading for itself. The Padres also improved their second base situation, bringing in Tadahito Iguchi and his steady glove to team up with incumbent shortstop Khalil Greene as the double-play combination up the middle. And the logjam in the rotation may only end up bolstering the bullpen, as whoever loses their spot in the rotation (Mark Prior, Justin Germano and/or Clay Hensley) will just make the 'pen even deeper.
Lack of improvements: The Padres failed to adequately address their need for a hitter to protect Gonzalez. Edmonds is a good hitter, but not the power hitter he once was, and Brian Giles has been rather inconsistent over the past two seasons or so. The loss of Cameron will be felt in the lineup.
Keys to success: The Padres' rotation is very talented - but it is also very injury prone. Mark Prior and Randy Wolf have combined for 39 games started over the last 2 seasons. And while they might not be the liability David Wells was, their history of injuries is a cause for concern, and their health status will be critical for the Padres to succeed in 2008.

Singin' the Blues

2008-01-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles Dodgers 2007 Record: 82-20 (4th in NL West)
2008 Prediction: 2nd in NL West

In

Hiroki Kuroda (Japan) - signed to a 3 year, $35 million contract - 12/15/07
Gary Bennett (STL) - signed to a 1 year, $825,000 contract with an option for 2009 - 12/17/07
Andruw Jones (ATL) - signed to a 2 year, $36.2 million contract - 12/12/07
Mike Myers (CHW) - signed to a minor league contract - 1/25/08
Chan Ho Park (HOU) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/6/07
Rudy Seanez (LAD) - re-signed to a 1 year, $550,000 contract - 2/4/08
Joe Torre (NYY-MGR) - signed to a 3 year, $13 million contract - 11/1/07

Out

Chad Moeller (WAS) - signed to a minor league contract - 11/27/07
Mark Hendrickson (FLA) - signed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract - 1/16/08
Chin-hui Tsao (KC) - signed to a minor league contract - 12/31/07
Randy Wolf (SD) - signed to a 1 year, $4.75 million contract - 12/9/07
Mike Lieberthal - Retired

Remaining Free Agents

Luis Gonzalez
Mark Sweeney
Shea Hillenbrand
Roberto Hernandez
Olmedo Saenz
David Wells

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Russell Martin
1B - James Loney
2B - Jeff Kent
3B - Andy LaRoche
SS - Rafael Furcal
LF - Juan Pierre
CF - Andruw Jones
RF - Matt Kemp

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Jason Schmidt
Brad Penny
Derek Lowe
Hiroki Kuroda
Chad Billinglsey

Projected Opening Day Closer

Takashi Saito

Improvements: Torre and Mattingly, while won't be active on the field, will provide the Dodgers with stability and experience from the bench. Jones gives the Dodgers an exceptional outfielder, and the big bat in the lineup they have been lacking since the Piazza days. And a healthy Jason Schmidt (which they did not have in 2007) will make the Dodgers a truly fearsome club in 2008.
Lack of Improvement: For a while, the Dodgers were rumored to be in on trades for Johan Santana and Erik Bedard - neither of which is currently donning a Dodger uniform. Instead, they settled for Kuroda to complete their rotation...a rotation that has a history of injuries and inconsistencies. The Dodgers' failure to improve their rotation, along with their third base shortage, may hinder the team in their quest for dominance in the NL West.
Keys to success: Joe Torre will have his hands full in the clubhouse. On the field, he has an immense amount of talent - but off the field, he has an immense amount of egos. This team is extremely balanced with veterans and youngsters, but there may come a time when some of the personalities of these players might start to clash. It will be up to Torre to make sure the likes of Kent, Jones and Garciaparra can keep their heads on their shoulders and just play ball. The health of some of their veterans (Kent, Garciaparra and Schmidt for some) will also play a major role for the Dodgers in 2008.

To Boldly Predict What Many Have Predicted Before

2008-01-11T14:56:00.000-05:00

As Spring Training rapidly approaches, I will be giving my previews and predictions for each team in the 2008 season. Within each post will be the team's 2007 record, and my prediction of where they will finish in their respective divsion in '08. I will also give the team's additions, subractions, and who remains as a free agent. Also, I will give my projected lineups and rotations, as well as the team's closer. Finally, will be an improvements/lack of improvements/keys to success section. Tell me what you all think!

*Players in bold have no previous Major League experience.

**Updates will be made as the 2008 season approaches, so keep watch!

Arizona Diamondbacks 2007 record 90-72 (NL West Division winners)
2008 Prediction: 1st in NL West

In

Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez (HOU) - acquired for Jose Valverde - 12/14/07
Dan Haren and Connor Robertson (OAK) - acquired for Dana Eveland, Chris Carter, Brett Anderson, Gregg Smith, Aaron Cunnigham, and Carlos Gonzalez - 12/14/07
Billy Buckner (KC) - acquired for Albert Callapso - 12/14/07

Out

Carlos Quentin (CHW) - traded for Chris Carter - 12/3/07
Jose Valverde (HOU) - traded for Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez - 12/14/07

Remaining Free Agents

Livan Hernandez
Tony Clark
Jeff Cirillo
Bob Wickman

Projected Opening Day Starters
C - Chris Snyder
1B - Conor Jackson
2B - Orlando Hudson
3B - Mark Reynolds/Chad Tracy
SS - Stephen Drew
LF - Eric Byrnes
CF - Chris Young
RF - Justin Upton

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Dan Haren
Brandon Webb
Micah Owings
Randy Johnson
Doug Davis

Projected Closer
Brandon Lyon

Improvements: Haren, Chris Burke. It's only two names, but its hard to improve the best team in the league. It's rather clear how Haren improves this team. And Burke gives the team tremendous depth and versatility. For the Astros, Burke saw time at second base and all three outfield positions - and he has a pretty good bat as well.
Lack of improvements: They lost their #1 closer in Valverde, and possibly one of the greatest clubhouse presences in baseball, Tony Clark (to free agency). Both of those players will be hard to replace - but I'm sure GM Josh Byrnes and manager Bob Melvin will find ways to get by.
Keys to success: Randy Johnson. The Big Unit is only 16 wins shy of 300 for his career. There is no doubt that Unit still has the stuff to win 16 games...the only question is his health. He only started 10 games in 2007, and has battled injuries each of the past several seasons as the 44-year old is certainly reaching the end of what should be a Hall of Fame career. The continued offensive leadership of Byrnes and Hudson will also be crucial for the DBacks to repeat as NL West champs. Brandon Lyon is currently slated to be the D-Backs' closer in '08, and he has a total of 25 saves (including 14 in 2005), but he still has not proven himself as a reliable stopper. Lyon will have to step up and ease the gap left by the departure of Valverde, or Melvin may be forced to go in another direction when it comes to the 9th inning.

Golden Goose

2008-01-09T15:16:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Rich "Goose" Gossage for become the newest member to be enshrined in Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Gossage was announced Tuesday as the only candidtate on this year's ballot to be selected.

Gossage began is illustrious career in 1972 with the Chicago White Sox, and finished in 1994 while pitching for the Seattle Mariners. Over that span, Gossage compiled a 124-107 record and accumulated 310 saves and 1502 strikeouts. He was a 9-time All-Star, finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting five times, and in the top 10 in MVP voting twice, according to baseballreference.com.

Gossage becomes the third premium reliever since 2004 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. In '04, Dennis Eckersley was voted in, and two years agon in 2006, Bruce Sutter was welcomed into the Hall.

"Goose" received 466 total votes, or 85.8% of the votes in 2008. Former Red Sox great Jim Rice missed the call to the Hall by mere percentage points. A nominee must acquire at least 75% of the votes cast in order to be inducted - and Rice garnered 72.2% of the votes. Andre Dawson was a close third with 65.9%.

Gossage's career took him all over not just the country, but the world. He pitched 5 seasons with the White Sox, before spending a season in Pittsburgh with the Pirates. In 1978, he signed an unforgettable contract to play for the New York Yankees. And he would remain there until 1984, when he played for the San Diego Padres. 1988 took him back to Chicago, with the Cubs. After a year with the Cubbies, he split 1989 between the San Francisco Giants and a return to the Yankees. He then spent 1990 playing in Fukuoka, Japan. 1991 saw a return to the States, as he signed on with the Texas Rangers. He then spent the next two seasons with the Oakland A's, before retiring with the M's in 1994.

So Gossage was well traveled - but all of those miles sure paid off, as he now reaches the highest plateau a player can reach...the Hall of Fame. His name is now synonomous with the likes of Tom Seaver, Sandy Koufax, Ted Williams and other incredible players to grace the game.

This Just In

2008-01-03T19:55:00.000-05:00

Back to baseball...

The Oakland A's and Chicago White Sox swung a deal earlier today - a rather surprising one at that. The A's dealt slugging first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher to the South Siders for 3 prospects - pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Fautino De Los Santos, and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.

The switch-hitting Swisher has been a key member of the A's since the 2005 season, when he hit 21 homeruns and drove in 74 runs, according to baseballreference.com. Swisher has the ability to play all three outfield positions, along with first base. In 2007, Swisher smashed 22 longballs and drove in 78 runs while hitting at a .262 clip (injuries, and a poor A's team diminished the talent Swisher has in his game).

Ryan Sweeney is the only member of the trio of players the A's received with any major league experience, playing in parts of the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the White Sox - though he has yet to acheive his full potential.

In four minor leauge seasons, Gonzalez has started 91 games, and sports a 24-17 record with a nifty 3.54 ERA. He has also struck out 584 batters in his time on the farm. Gonzalez, along with De Los Santos were considered the top pitching prospects in the Sox organization.

In other news, the St. Louis Cardinals have signed pitcher Matt Clement to a 1-year contract. Clement is desperatley trying to ressurect a career that has been absolutley derailed by injuries. From 1999-2005, while playing with the Padres, Marlins, Cubs and Red Sox, Clement started at least 30 games each season. But in 2006, he started only 12 games, and did not throw a pitch in 2007. Reports are saying Clement should be ready to go by Spring Training, as the the 33-year old tries to revitalize what was once a promising career, with a new club.

A Tribute to Murph

2008-01-03T19:46:00.000-05:00

This post is not a baseball post...it's not even a sports post. This post is about a co-worker, and more importantly, a good friend. Ray Murphy passed away this weekend due to a massive heart attack. He brought life and laughter to the LDE war room at CBS Sportsline.

Murph could carry on an argument or discussion for hours, and never run out of things to say. He could talk to you about sports, music, movies, politics - anything. He always came to work with a smile on his face, and never had a bad day (or if he did, he wouldn't let anyone know it).

I only got to know Ray for the year and a half I have worked at CBS, but I feel like I got really close with him. He was the first person I considered a friend here at Sportsline, and was always the first person I went to say "hi" to when I got to work. He was my baseball buddy - I loved talking baseball with him.

He was witty, and loved to express his opinions. He always quick with a response and would constantly try and make people laugh.

He was a wealth of knowledge, knowing the answer to any trivia question anyone could come up with. But solving his trivia questions, well that's a real challenge.

Murph loved to glog at Sportsline. He took it real seriously, and constantly asked for someone to proofread his glogs. He even had his very own AP Style Handbook (from about the 1960s) in the drawer next to his date entry station, which he used as his own bible.

He was also a very tough fantasy competitor, using his vast knowledge of sports to his advantage.

But now he's gone on to that big LDE in the sky, and will certainly be missed by all here at Sportsline. It most certainly will not be the same without Ray Murphy.

No News, Good News?

2007-12-29T08:24:00.000-05:00

As I lay here in bed after (somewhat freakishly) spraining my knee Christmas morning, and I peruse through the Major League Baseball news sites, I am finding that all of a sudden the Hot Stove has turned into a Luke-Warm Stove. This offseason started off quite slowly, but picked up around the middle of November. And now, we're back to having to search really hard to find some real interesting news. So here is what we got:

Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies made their outfield a bit more crowded by signing a member of the St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Series Championship team; So Taguchi. Taguchi, according to ESPN.com, signed a 1-year contract with the Phils. He gives the Phillies an excellent bat off the bench, as he led all National League pinch-hitters with a .406 batting average, ESPN.com reports. He also gives the Phillies some versatility in that outfield - he played in all three outfield positions in 2007. The Cards released the veteran outfielder on December 5th to clear space on their 40-man roster. Taguchi was one of the heroes of the Cards' championship run in '06, as he hit a game-tying home run off Mets' closer Billy Wagner in Game 2 of the NLCS.
The Florida Marlins did some last-minute Holiday shopping of their own. On Monday, they signed former Pirates infielder Jose Castillo to a 1-year deal. The versatile infielder was released by the Bucks, and the Marlins swiftly scooped him up. He gives the Fish an option at second or third base. He doesn't give much in offensive production, as he failed to hit a single home run in 2007, but his steady defense could keep him in the Marlins' lineup on a regular basis, as they search for a replacement for Miguel Cabrera at third.
Mark Prior is homeward bound. On Wednesday, the oft-injured pitcher signed a 1-year contract with the San Diego Padres, after spending the first 3 seasons of his career pitching for the Chicago Cubs. But Prior underwent sugery on his right shoulder last April, and did not throw a pitch in 2007. He was the number 2 overall pick in the 2001 ametur draft, and made his debut in 2003 when he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA, and was named to the All-Star team. He will start the 2008 season on the DL, but hopes to be back on the mound in May.
On Thursday, the Houston Astros made yet another move in what has been a very busy offseason for the club. They signed versatile veteran Darin Erstad to a 1-year deal, in hopes he can find the magic that made him a real threat in the lineup back in the late 90's with the Angels. Erstad has also been a fantastic defender over his career. He is the only player in major league history to win a Gold Glove in the infield (first base) and the outfield! But injuries have hurt Erstad's play over the past several seasons, and after spending 11 years with the Angels, he signed on to play with the White Sox in 2007. Of course, he sprained his ankle and missed almost half of the season. He provides the Astros with a versatile left-handed bat off the bench, and a body to play first base or any of the outfield positions - as well as a veteran presence with playoff experience.
Also Thursday, the Royals signed a veteran of their own - former Marlins' catcher Miguel Olivo. The Marlins non-tendered Olivo a contract after acquiring Mike Rabelo from the Tigers in the Cabrera trade. So the Royals came on and signed him to a 1-year contract with a mutual option for 2009. After spending the last 2 seasons as a starter for the Marlins, he will be splitting time with incumbent catcher John Buck in KC. Olivo made the most of his opportunity in Florida, after spending much of his career as a back up (with the White Sox, Padres and Mariners). He hit 16 home runs in each 2006 and '07, while driving in about 60 runs each season as well.
Last month, the Astros acquired pitcher Oscar Villareal from the Braves for outfielder Josh Anderson. Well, it looks as if Oscar will be spending at least a couple of years in Houston. On Friday, the 'Stros signed the right-hander to a 2-year contract with a club option for 2010.

And other than former major leaguer Jim Leyritz being arrested on Friday, not much else is happening at the moment in MLB. Leyritz was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. I smell a "Where Are They Now: MLB Edition" coming!