If Cuba does get in..and BTW..if they don't, the International Baseball governing body ( whatever the hell that is) has said they will pull their sanctioning authorization ( whatever the hell that is..LOL)..I'm wondering..what's the over/under on the number of Cuban players who will defect while in California? at least 4..One can imagine that the number of security people surrounding the Cuban team will be exceeded only by the number of agents trying to sign a player...I fully expect to see a plane flying overhead, trailing the banner.."WANT TO DEFECT...Dial 1-800 DEFECTO!!"
Here's an image..Cuba playing the USA in the finals..A Cuban player goes from 1st to 3rd on a hit and run...the throw comes into A-Rod, covering the bag..and he gets spiked by the Cuban player sliding into the base..injuring A-Rod's right hand...and he is out for at least half the season.unable to grip a bat or throw a ball..
Seriously, it's hard to imagine that these players will be in good enough condition that early without some of them suffering some injuries...And if the Bush administration keeps Cuba out..the whole thing implodes...they don't even have a back-up plan..and where is Bud Selig, by the way? He'd probably rather be testifying before Congress about steroids...
OK, that's my take....yours?
and in other news.....
1. Theo Epstein is back with the Red Sox...He apears to have gotten the $$$, but doesn't have the formal title..can this work?
2. Which teams did the best in the offseason..(hint: my Metsies) and the worst..Which moves do you like, and hate?
3. Whither Manny? and who plays CF for the Red Sox?
4. On the list of remaining free agents...will anyone take Sosa? Where will Frank Thomas and Mike Piazza end up?..Indeed, which of those three would your take for a DH? and what will Clemens do after the Classic?
5. In case you forgot, the new St. Louis stadium opens next month..Our good friend SCALEMAN is excited no doubt...I expect he has tickets, and will give us a firsthand report on his impressions of the new ballpark, though I think he's still NOT QUITE SURE what to make of the Cards' winter moves ( or lack of).
That's it for me...pile on and opine, about anythign and everything....FYI..my intent is to do another thread about the time the WBC starts..and keep it running, then another thread to discuss the spring thraining.....then, as we did last season..to post a new discussion thread late Sunday/early Monday each week of the regular season..
If anyone has any ideas suggestions on the format/content of the thread, please let me know. If you'd like to host it for a week, or more, I'm always happy to have a pinch hitter..just ask....and if anyone wants on or off the ping list, please freepmail me..
And here's the closing thought, to warm the cockles of all our hearts....
Since Hillary Clinton told the world in 2000 ( as she ran for the Senate ) that she was really, absolutely, positively a NY Yankees fan, the Evil Empire has NOT won a World Series...hmmm???? she's running again, probably a shoo-in ( sigh)..so can we expect another 6 years of futility in the Bronx? What are the odds that A-Rod fails to win a ring in pinstripes?)
FYI..pitchers and catchers alert
You post like the MSM...a little east coast bias concerning baseball...
I don't know about the Yankees futility.
For a change in the offseason, they didn't overpay for a borderline pitcher. If they can find another contributor for their rotation, they will be hard to beat in the AL east.
Just look at that lineup. they might just break some offensive records this year. and I'm not a Yankees fan.
The WBC is an idea that isn't ready yet. As usual, Selig is rushing it, and it will be a mess.
And all is right with the world again. ;^)
Seriously, Boston and the Damn Yankees better watch out. Toronto has made some pretty good offseason moves and looks poised to break through this year.
Hopefully not getting too fat and happy....
Here's another question for us to ponder, will somebody finally catch Atlanta in the NL East? 14 years and counting...
I just heard last night on KMOX that the actual "first game" will happen April 4 when the Springfield Cardinals (AA) take on the Memphis Redbirds (AAA). Tickets were said to be priced from $5 to $20 for what's being called a 'dress rehearsal' to work out any kinks at the new ballpark before the Cards' April 10th home opener.
though I think he's still NOT QUITE SURE what to make of the Cards' winter moves ( or lack of).
I don't know about this scaleman fellow but, unlike many of my fellow Cardinals fanatics, I have complete confidence in Walt Jocketty and the rest of the front office. And, if anybody can put Sidney Ponson on the right track, it's Dave Duncan and Tony LaRussa. If September was any indication, Jason Marquis should have a better year; another like 2004 would be a great.
But, as I see it, the season mainly hinges on how well Scott Rolen (possibly the best third baseman ever to play the game) comes back from shoulder surgery.
The 'Stros signed FA Preston Wilson, who will probably be playing outfield. Which means that Bagwell is probably done, and Twinkie aka Maybelline aka Berkman will be moving to first, his natural position (he's a liability everywhere else, but a solid first baseman).
Oh, and Clemens is done. At least for now. The front office refused to match what he wanted, and so the Rocket is laying low. He wasn't bluffing; I'm sure he wants to play, but he has no need to. Furthermore, I think his age is finally catching up with him, and he costs a pretty penny. He had a great, immortal career, but the time has come to retire and enjoy the non-baseball world.
I was hoping our semi-new GM Purpura would get some blockbuster trade, but it doesn't seem to be happening. Can't say that's all that bad, because the team plays well together. However, without Roger we are short an ace pitcher and even with the addition of Wilson we are still a bit short on offense (can't expect Ensberg to have the same type of year, although that be most welcome). There was briefly the hope of getting Bobby Abreau or even Tejada, but those guys carry a heavy price tag and would have meant losing great players in a significant trade. The hope is getting slim of getting Adam Dunn, at least until he becomes a FA.
I believe the Reds hold the most INEPT general manager in baseball.
Dan O'Brien has made me long for the NFL preseason to start in hopes of seeing something successful come out of Cincinnati again.
I hope Castenelli (new owner today) fires his sorry butt and hires someone who knows something about baseball.
I trust Theo. I welcome him back.
Manny's not going anywhere, which is how it should be. The idea that we'd trade away the only WS MVP in our lifetime, an annual contender for AL MVP, and a guy who helps make David Ortiz a contender for AL MVP because we are too poor is ridiculous.
We have plenty of spare pitching to get a CF who can hit, without giving up our stud prospects. We'll probably stick with Cora, who had some streaks of good hitting last year and is nails in the field.
We currently have 7 capable starters: Bronson Arroyo, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, Jonathan Papelbon, Curt Schilling, David Wells and Tim Wakefield. Schill and Clement are the big question marks, but that's a lot of wins credited to the starter right there.
Lenny Dinardo is at least a replacement level fill-in option as an extreme groundball pitcher in his limited IP-- 17-5 GO/AO ratio in his two multi-inning appearances last year. Jon Lester could be ready by August call-ups. Honest Abe Alvarez is available for help, too.
2006 BP vs 2005 BP: Papelbon, Mota, Seanez, Vermilyea, and Hansen vs. Halama, Harville, Mantei, and Remlinger (plus Timlin returning and Foulke hopefully making a positive difference)
Youks can be our 1B fulltime, based on his above average glove and his bat. Ortiz and Peta are still available in a pinch. JT Snow is available to lock down wins late in the game.
We can do SS by committee if we want, with Cora, Loretta, and Graffy (all having played at SS before). Alejandro Machado can play in a pinch. Pedroia could well be our late-season solution at SS-- and he's projected to be a great contact hitter.
If we can get Coco Crisp reasonably, we'd be all set, frankly. I'd even consider Drew from LA.
Now that the Cubans are in, I wonder how many will defect?
My team, the Expos, no longer exists. Thank you for asking.
I wonder how many of their players will defect?
Treasury department to let Cuba into the World Baseball Classic:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2299485
Great news! Now let's get some defections! Maybe another Jose Contreras (doubt it, but who knows?).
I don't know about worst offseason in baseball, but the Braves took a few on the chin. They lost Rafael Furcal even after Chipper took a pay cut to free up some salary room, they lost Old Man Franco (who will become the oldest player to hit a home run as a Met), and ace pitching coach Leo Mazzone. The last loss will hurt them the most. Ah well, all good things must end.
Oh, and Mike Schmidt rocks. He played great defense and was the top home run hitter of his time (as much as it pains this Dale Murphy fan to admit it). He even led the Phillies to their only World Series win (with a little help from some guy name Rose).