Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects

Baseball America released its 17th annual Top 100 Prospects list and I wanted to try and break it down and see if any of the numbers mean anything; they don't but I'm a baseball geek so here is a team-by-team breakdown of how many prospects they have in the top 100 and what their highest porspect is ranked.

1. Dodgers - 9 prospects; highest #7 (didn't really see this coming)
T-2. Angels - 7 prospects; highest #3 (scary because they are a good team already)
T-2. Diamonbacks - 7 prospects; highest #2 (including 4 in the top 20)
T-2. Marlins - 7 prospects; highest #4 (with their latest fire sale, the prospects will get to the majors sooner rather than later)
5. Twins - 5 prospects; highest #6 (more pitching help on the horizon, maybe they should find someone who can hit)
T-6. Braves - 4 prospects; highest #18
T-6. Indians - 4 prospects; highest #14 (Marte will be the quickest to make an impact)
T-6. Orioles - 4 prospects; highest #21
T-6. Red Sox - 4 prospects; highest #22 (Booooooo!)
T-10. A's - 3 prospects; highest #28
T-10. Brewers - 3 prospects; highest #11 (there is a giant-fat Prince a-coming)
T-10. Cubs - 3 prospects; highest #27 (sorry Murph, no help coming till 2007)
T-10. Devil Rays - 3 prospects; highest #1 (hey, finally #1 in something)
T-10. Mariners - 3 prospects; highest #33 (they still play baseball in Seattle? Poor Ichiro)
T-10. Pirates - 3 prospects; highest #43
T-10. Rangers - 3 prospects; highest #56
T-10. Royals - 3 prospects; highest #13 (and Gary's Nebraska boy is supposedly the stud of the system)
T-10. Tigers - 3 prospects; highest #8 (look at that glimmer of hope in Den's eye, ahhh, two months till it's gone and he's hopeless again)
T-10. White Sox - 3 prospects; highest #24 (like they need any more freakin' help)
T-20. Astros - 2 prospects; highest #52
T-20. Blue Jays - 2 prospects; highest #48 (good, they're a division rival, stay in 3rd place where you belong)
T-20. Giants - 2 prospects; highest #10 (they'll need a lot more help than that, have they figured out how to clone Barry)
T-20. Mets - 2 prospects; highest #9 (Omar will probably mortgage these 2 off soon too, he's like the latino George)
T-20. Phillies - 2 prospects; highest #68 (may have already produced two All-Stars in Utley and Howard)
T-20. Reds - 2 prospects; highest #38 (do people in Cinci even care about this team)
T-20. Rockies - 2 prospects; highest #16 (had a couple guys make the jump last year that could be good)
T-20. Yankees - 2 prospects; highest #39 (just happy they're on the list)
T-28. Cards - 1 prospect at #41 (who cares, they're already one of the top teams in the league)
T-28. Nationals - 1 prospect at #15 (Zimmerman will play this year)
T-28. Padres - 1 prospect at #88 (bottom feeders here)

Hall of Fame B.S.

I know a lot is being made of Effa Manely being the first woman elected to the HOF, but I don't think nearly enough is being made of Buck O'Neil and Minnie Minoso getting the shaft. Heck, if Manely is historic, O'Neil is just as if not more. He was the first black manager in all of MLB...how can you not have this guy in the Hall? On top of that, he hit .288 lifetime (some say he was almost good enough as a player to be in the Hall), was a major factor in getting the Negro League museum built, and he freakin' sat on the Veteran's Committee for the Hall for almost 20 years. As for Minoso, check out his stats on baseball-reference.com. I know his stats won't knock your socks off, but considering the era, the fact he played 2 or 3 years in the Negro Leagues first, and other players of the time that are already in, and you can't tell me he's not a Hall of Famer. You got to give it up to a guy who led the league in HBP 10 times. I think I might start my own Hall of Fame and I'm starting with Buck, Minnie, Donnie Baseball, Andre Dawson, and Pete Rose.

Red Sox Preview - Pitching

Note: For brevity's sake, I'm going to do the starting and relief pitching together and in a bit of a different format...I know most of you will greatly appreciate this.

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Pitcher
Probable Starters: Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, Bronson Arroyo, Tim Wakefield (for arguements sake I'm going to assume that Wells is getting traded and the Papelbon is not yet ready to be a starter)
Relievers: Johnathan Papelbon, David Riske, Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke, Leonard DiNardo, Rudy Seanez, Julian Tavarez

For both starters and relievers I'm going to answer what I see as the 3 most serious questions facing Red Sox pitching this year.

STARTERS
1) Are Schilling and Beckett healthy?
With Schilling, I believe that he is finally recovered from the ankle injury that nagged him all of 2005. I definitely see Schilling returning to form this season. Although I don't see him being completely dominant like the old Schilling (I think age and his body may be catching up to him), I still believe he will utterly dominate some games this year. I do think he will hit the DL atleast once this year, but only for something minor and for just a quick 15 day stint.
To me, Beckett is a bigger worry here. We are talking about a guy who has never thrown 180 innings or more in a season. Not only are the weird recurring blister problems, but there are constant whispers about a possible shoulder problem as well. I see Beckett being solid, but I still don't think he reaches 200+ innings this year. Good thing the Sox have a deep rotation.
2) Will left-handed hitting kill the Red Sox this year?
If, when Wells is traded, that leaves Boston with no lefty starter to match up with the likes of Damon, Giambi, and Matsui in division play and players like Konerko, Thome, Haffner, Teixeira, or Chavex possibly in the playoffs. I think this could come back to bite Boston.
3)Will starting pitching have to carry the team?
Beyond Manny and Papi, this Red Sox team has more questions on offense then any in recent memory. The place it most improved and kept its strong core was in the starting rotation. I'd look for many more lower scoring games this year with the starters asked to work deeper into games with the question marks in the bullpen. With the nice mix of youth and experience, this Boston staff could very well carry them to the playoffs.

RELIEVERS
1) Is Foulke healthy?
This will be a huge thing to look for early in the season. Foulke claims his bad knees (which cost him most of his 2005 season and made him look horrible when he was playing) are now healthy and the shoulder pain, caused by compensating for his knee pain, is gone as well. Beyond the physical stuff, Foulke must also get past last year mentally. From personal issues, injuries, and the negativity the Boston crowd gave him while struggling, Foulke has more than a sore knee to bounce back from. I think he'll be a top 25 closer again, but I think the lights out Foulke is gone. Look for 30 saves, but an ERA above 3.00.
2) In late innings, can they get the lefties out?
Much like with the starters, this may be an issue for Boston. Boston is only carrying one left-handed reliever in their bullpen, Leonard DiNardo who has appeared in 30 career games and was actually worse against lefties than righties last year. Papelbon will have to step up here (he held lefties to .190 BA last year) if Boston is to succeed. Much like with the starting pitching, this could be an issue and Theo "the boy wonder GM" will need to work some magic to make them better.
3) Who else will step up this year?
We all know Timlin was lights out last year (and hopefully his arm doesn't fall off this year from how much they used him), but who else will be a go-to guy in the bullpen. DiNardo? Tavarez? I wouldn't bank on it. Look for Papelbon (as long as he doesn't have to jump to the starting rotation) and Riske (WHIP under 1.00 and an ERA hovering around 3.00 last year) to make the biggest impacts for the Red Sox bullpen outside of Timlin and Foulke. I think most of the other guys will just be inning eaters.

Red Sox Preview - Designated Hitter

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Designated Hitter
Primary player and backup(s): David Ortiz

HITTING - David Ortiz has quickly become one of the most feared hitters and best offensive producers in all of MLB. Over the last 3 seasons Ortiz has hit over 30 HRs and knocked in atleast 100 RBIs. The last 2 seasons alone he's combined for 88 HRs, 213 Rs, and an eye-popping 287 RBIs. Although his power numbers drop against lefties, what some say he struggles with, he still hit .302 against them last year. With 8 HRs, 32 RBIs and a .301 batting average in the postseason, nevermind the countless game winning or tying hits and homers, Ortiz is no slouch in the pressure situations either. With only being 30 and no day-to-day fielding responsibilities to wear him down, one can only expect his numbers to stay among the elite in the league. One thing to pay attention to though, Ortiz has finished in the top ten in strikeouts the last 2 years. Regardless, A+.

FIELDING - With Snow and Youkilis already at first, I would expect to see little or none of Ortiz there (except for some interleague games). Although he isn't horrible with his glove, it is his lack of mobility and range that will always keep him from being an everyday first baseman. Really though, they don't need him there. D+

BASE RUNNING - Although Ortiz is below average in the speed department ( 1 SB in the last 3 years) he is a heads-up base runner who picks the right time to try and stretch an extra base hit (87 doubles and 4 triples the last 2 seasons). He's not a burner, but he'll rarely get doubled up on a liner or thrown out trying to stretch a play that just isn't there. C-

DEPTH - I'm really not sure about depth here, but I don't think it's a big worry when Ortiz has played in atleast 150 games the last two years. I'm sure that Snow, Youkilis or Graffanino could fill in, but it'd be a huge drop off from a production stand point. If the Sox have any chance at winning another World Series ring, they need Pappi in the lineup. C-

INTANGIBLES - Pappi just gets it done in big situations. From 2003-2005 in only 221 AB in late inning close games, Ortiz has hit .326 with 22 HRs and 73 RBIs. The man thrives under the spotlight. There is no player that any team would rather have up in the ninth inning when trailing more than David Ortiz. He has also slowly become a team leader and the face of this franchise. You can honestly say that without Ortiz, Boston is no where near as good of a team. A+

OVERALL - Forget the glove, the base running, or the depth, the Red Sox have the elite DH in the game right now and I don't see that changing anytime soon (unless somehow the Boston front office screws it up). Don't be suprised if Ortiz leads the league in another category this year, intentional walks or walks overall. He is a true force in the game and deservedly he get an A+ from me.

Around MLB - The possible looming labor issue

I'm intrigued by this Sporting News piece for a few reasons: 1) With all the to-do about the looming NFL crisis, no one has really mentioned it. 2) I swear Fehr, do not fuck this up. Baseball seems to be growing again and I would hate to see a work stoppage that cripples the game for 5 years again. 3) If a new CBA isn't in place by Dec. 19 there is no luxury tax for the 2007 season. You know what that means, "St. George" will spend like there is no tomorrow. I'm picturing Richard Pryor in Brewsters Millions. 4) From the tone of Fehr and the article, it seems like nobody is in a big rush to get it done. Isn't that how they always act right before all hell breaks loose and they either miss some or all of the season or get a deal done at the last second?

One of these days owners and players are going to realize they both get a shit-ton of money for being a part of a game and they should bury the hatchet and enjoy it. Greedy bastards. I'm proposing a new plan to end all labor problems in pro sports; once a year, make all owners, ceos, team executives, GMs, and players work either a construction, fast food, janitorial or any minimum wage job for a week so they'd remember what'd they have to do if they weren't involved with baseball. Not fool proof, but I think it'd atleast get the point across and make for far less labor issues.

Red Sox Preview - Right Field

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Right Field
Primary player and backup(s): Trot Nixon

HITTING - From 2001 to 2003 Trot was swinging a mean bat and taking advantage of the short right field in Boston. In that span he averaged 26 HR, 90 RBI, and a .281 BA. Since then he has struggled. In 2004 he only played in 48 games due to a couple different injuries (including back problems that I think are still a factor) and in 2005 he was a shell of his former self, particularly in terms of power, batting .275 with only 13 HR and 67 RBI. Looking at almost all of his batting numbers, he experienced a 25% drop off or more from the 2001 to 2003 averages. His .241 BA after the All-Star break isn't encouraging either. Not good news for Boston. I will say that he can still be a contributor, especially against right-handers who he hit .299 with 12 of his homers off of. I see him getting more and more days off against lefties if he continues to struggle (I'd look for the Youkilis maybe moving to right with Snow becoming the everyday 1st baseman). As one of the faces of this team and maybe one of the toughest outfielders I've ever seen, we may be seeing a real decline sooner rather than later. C

FIELDING - As much as his bat may be suffering, the leather never is with Trot. He plays the tricky right field in Boston better than anyone I've ever seen and routinely makes those diving catches into the seats to rob a homerun or snag a foul ball for an out. Great fielder, above average range, and a solid arm. No need to say more. A

BASE RUNNING - Never has been Trot's forte, never will be. Over his last 3 seasons when he's played atleast 124 games, he's never stolen more than 4 bases. However, he is a smart base runner and, with the fact he's scored over 80 runs 3 times, he knows how to get to the plate. Won't kill you, but also won't stretch the defense. C+

DEPTH - Like I've said with the other outfielders, this is an issue. It could especially flair up with Trot though. Besides 2004's 48 game campaign, he also only played in 124 games last year. If his back acts up, the Red Sox could get stretched pretty thin. D

INTANGIBLES - Trot is one of the true leaders of this team and backs it up by playing his ass off every time he steps on the field. You have to respect that about the guy. Also, with his homer ability (although his postseason stats leave something to be desired) and his play with the glove he has the ability to ignite the home crowd. He definitely brings things to the table in this aspect for the Sox. A

OVERALL - I'm going to give Trot a B- overall, but I could easily see this dropping dramatically if his bat doesn't return or his bad back does. I think the Red Sox really need him on the field if they have a chance at either winning the division (not likely) or advancing deep into the playoffs. I still think Trot makes a difference for his team, I just don't think it will be with the bat as much.

Red Sox Preview - Centerfield

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Centerfield
Primary player and backup(s): Covelli "Coco" Crisp, Adam Stern

HITTING - It is hard to get a feel for how good Crisp may be due to the fact that 2006 will only be his 3rd season as a starter. If 2005 was any indication, the Red Sox may have a very solid player on their hands. In 2005 Crisp's stats looked like this; .300 BA, 86 R, 16 HR, 69 RBI. NOt bad for a guy that's only 26. The biggest change facing Crips is that he batted primarily 2nd in Cleveland and will be asked to take over the leadoff role in Boston. For that, I'm sure that Boston would like to see him raise his .345 OBP a bit for the big bats behind him. I think Crisp can succeed as a leadoff hitter, but I think his 20 HR potential would fit better in the 2 spot. As for Stern, he's a 25 year old with 15 career AB in the majors. He did bat .321 while on rehab in Triple-A in 20 games, but that isn't much of a sample to make a call on how well he'll fare. I'm going to go B- here till Coco proves he can bat leadoff.

FIELDING - As much as Shark already expounded on Crisp's fielding abilities, it calls for a little clarifying. Crisp's first two years he started a total of 120 games and only committed 2 errors. Over the last two years is when he committed the other 9. While impressive, most scouts think he is much better suited for leftfield rather than center, and I will look forward to how he adjusts to the odd dimensions in Fenway. Also, although his arm is an improvement over Damon's (hell, my arm is better than Damon's), he isn't exactly gunning guys out on the base paths (8 assists over the last 2 years). Not much on STern here, except that with his speed, some see him as a possible late-inning defensive replacement. They get a B here until Crisp proves he can make the move to center.

BASE RUNNING - Over the last two years Crisp has stolen a combined 35 bases. Pretty good speed for a guy with 20 HR capability too. The only red flag here is that he was also caught stealing 19 times over that same span. If he can cut down on that, which he has too with the likes of Manny and Pappi hitting behind him, he could be a real weapon for them. Batting 2nd last year Crisp also scored 86 runs, you can gurantee this will increase with the move to Boston's potent line up. Speed is what Stern will primarily bring to the table this year for Boston. Between his senior year at Nebraska and his first two years at Single-A and Double-A, Stern stole 95 bases. The guy is anything but slow. The Sox hope that the injuries that plagued him the last few years are gone and he can especially contribute in pinch-running situations. They get a B- here till Crisp doesn't get caught so much and Stern actually plays.

DEPTH - As I've mentioned before, the Red Sox entire outfield has depth problems. Mainly the fact that Stern is the only backup listed for every position. Although Crisp has never missed significant time due to injury, he's also only played two full seasons. We'll see how the third one goes. You can't feel comfortable either as a Sox fan knowing the injury prone and unproven Stern is waiting in the wings. D

INTANGIBLES - No offense Shark, but I'm not sure what extra Coco brings, besides a funny name to the outfield. He does add youth to the roster and 20/20 potential, but I don't see an x-factor here that can help push the Red Sox to that next level. The biggest thing I see him contributing is for the Yankke fans. It's like getting a whole new round of ammo when someone named Coco joins the team. Good times! D

OVERALL - I actually did like this move overall by the Red Sox. They get younger and save some money. I just think they should have gotten a more pure leadoff hitter so Crisp could bat 2nd with Manny and Ortiz following him. I think that would have been the best offensive lineup for them. Heck, who knows, maybe they'll move Loretta to leadoff. Really though, the biggest questions will be if Crisp can handle the move back to center and the leadoff spot. I look for him to produce along the lines of his last couple of years with a little bump up on offense and maybe a little bump down on defense. He'll be solid, but I don't think he's an All-Star yet. C+

Breaking News - Bonds to Retire After '06

Could it be true? Could I finally be rid of the man I dislike most in all of sports? According to USA Today that day maybe less than a year away.

"I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," Bonds told USA TODAY in a wide-ranging telephone interview near his home in Beverly Park, Calif. "The game (isn't) fun anymore. I'm tired of all of the crap going on. I want to play this year out, hopefully win, and once the season is over, go home and be with my family. Maybe then everybody can just forget about me."

Barry, we would all love to forget about you. Every time we see you we have to wrestle with the idea of you breaking the all-time home run record and being hopped up on the juice while you were doing it. How can you bitch about getting attention for the steroids scandal when your best friend and trainer, Greg Anderson, was a major player in it. That, and the fact that nobody believes you thought you were taking flaxseed oil or an arthritis balm. The only thing we all hate worst than a cheat is one that lies about it. Go ask Palmeiro about that.

Around MLB - Jeter Batting First?

Check out Tom Verducci's article on SI.com arguing for Jeter to bat leadoff and for Damon to bat second. He actually makes some good points, including the fact that Jeter had the top OBP of any leadoff man last year. The more I think about it, the more I am getting behind this idea. Could you imagine a Jeter/Damon/A-Rod/Giambi/Sheffield 1 through 5? It gives them a nice mix of lefties and righties especially, as Verducci points out, if Cano is in the nine hole. The only flaw I see in his idea is that I think Williams or Phillips will bat ninth. Regardless, I think this is a great point nobody else has really raised.

Red Sox Preview - Left Field

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Leftfield
Primary player and backup(s): Manny Ramirez

Note: MLB.com lists no official backup at left field and only one backup in the entire outfield. As he is listed as the backup in centerfield.


HITTING - I'm not sure I even need to say much here. Manny is hands down one of the best hitters of his generation. Only once since 1995 has he failed to produce 30 HR and 100 RBI. Let me give you a quick rundown of his accomplishments: 1 World Series MVP, 8 Silver Slugger Awards, 5 times he was top 5 in BA (including leading the league in 2002), 4 times he's finished top 3 in OBP (twice leading the league), 3 times he's led the league in slugging percentage and OPS (finished 2nd in slugging once and OPS twice), and he has a HR crown and an RBI crown. The man has Triple Crown potential every year. I don't think I really have to say much more here. A+

FIELDING - One of the biggest things that people don't know about Manny is that he has one of the best outfield arms in the game. He really is one of those guys you do not try and strectch a single into a double on. It is a good thing he has that arm too, because he can be one of the laziest outfielders in the game too. There are very few times you really see Manny go all out for a ball, but when he does he usually makes a nice play. Every once in a while though, Manny's non-chalant attitude can cost Boston an extra run or an extra base. His career .977 FP isn't the greatest, but it's not the worst either. I will say that Manny has become very adept at playing balls off the Green Monster, and his bat and his arm usually make up for the rest of his mistakes. B+

BASE RUNNING - Much like in the outfield, Manny can occasionally be a lazy ass here to. Manny routinely doesn't run out ground balls and he sometimes gets himself in bad situations when it seems his mind is somewhere else. Also, Manny isn't exactly a big base stealing threat racking up a whopping 7 SB in the last 6 seasons. If there is a true weakness to Manny's game, this is it. D+, only because of the he-might-not-be-paying-attention factor.

DEPTH - This is a huge factor for the Red Sox if anybody out there goes down. They have only one listed backup outfielder (although I'm sure the athletic Youkilis could move out there if need be) and nobody listed behind Manny (although Coco could always move over, but then who would play center?). Luckily Manny has played in an average of 153 games over the last 3 years. Here's to hoping the treads don't fall off. D-, and look for the Sox to add a veteran backup in the outfield before the All-Star break.

INTANGIBLES - Manny is a game changer. He likes being up in the big spot (not as much as Pappi, but that's another article) and he tends to step up when it's needed. Manny is also one of the most consistent hitters which means he doesn't tend to get in big slumps and hurt the team over extended period of time. He also plays a role in the clubhouse atmosphere creating a relaxed and fun environment for his teammates. Where Manny may cause problems is in just being Manny. He tends to make stupid comments to the media and, oh about once a year now, he asks to be traded. I really think it'd be a trip to be inside Manny's head for one day. Instead of Being John Malkovich, it'd be Being Manny. Who wouldn't want to take that wild ride? I'm going with a B here, who knows what may happen this year.

OVERALL - Yes, Manny is a head case. Yes, Manny can be a distraction. Yes, Manny can be lazy. However, he is still one of the best pure hitters to ever play the game and will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Despite all the things that come with Manny, no one out there could say in all honesty that they wouldn't want him on their team. He's like T.O. without all the excess baggage and mouthing off. In any case, I hope he breaks his leg (come on, he played for my two least favorite teams in his career, I have to get atleast one spiteful thing in here). A

Red Sox Preview - 3rd Base

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: 3rd Base
Primary player and backup(s): Mike Lowell, Alex Cora, Tony Graffanino

Note: I will also be only focusing on Lowell as I have already discussed the backups at other positions.

HITTING - Lowell has a seriously bad year in 2005 for him. After averaging almost 28 HR a year for the last 3 seasons he had only 8 and he batted only .239 compared to his lifetime .272 BA (I'm sensing a pattern developing with all the Red Sox hitters here coming off horrible years). From 2002 to 2004 though, Mike Lowell was one of the top 3rd basemen in the game and a perennial All-Star. He still had 36 doubles last season and you can expect that number to rise with him banging them of the monster. He is making a jump from a pitchers park to a hitters which could aid in his returning to form. The only thing that scares me is that at times last year he looked god-awful with the bat in his hands. As a former Yankee farm hand I've always liked Mike, but that doesn't mean I'm not hoping he crashes and burns in his new surroundings. I think he plays better than last year, but I don't forsee a return to the caliber he was. Look for a .255 BA, 19 HR, 68 RBI, and 66 R. Decent, but not great. B-

FIELDING - In Mike Lowell the Red SOx get one of the best defensive third basemen in the game today.In 2005 he committed only 6 errors in 135 games and in 2004 he set an NL record for fewest errors by a 3rd basemen. Although he only has a career .975 fielding percentage, his last 3 years he hasn't committed more than 9 errors. Let's face it, not matter what he brings offensively, he'll be a rock defensively. Look for him, if he can produce offensively and stay in the lineup, to get Gold Glove consideration. A

BASE RUNNING - Lowell has never stolen more than 5 bases in his career and has never scored more than 88 runs. Here, he is average at best. He's a vet that won't make any stupid mistakes, but he's not going to test any arms either (maybe Damon's, but not many). C-

DEPTH - This could be a major area of concern for the Sox if Lowell doesn't produce. None of his listed backups are pure 3rd basemen. However, since 2000, Lowell has played in over 130 games every year, so injuries shouldn't be a worry. The Sox could always move Youkilis back to 3rd where he played in college and the minors, but you would hate to see him try and make that transition during the season. It could cost Boston games. D+

INTANGIBLES - Like many of Boston's offseason moves, Lowell adds another veteran guy who has gotten it done at the highest levels. He has a ring, he has the All-Star selections, he's moving to a hitter friendlier park, and he is getting to play next to the exact same guy he played with on the left side of Florida's infield (Gonzalez). However, he isn't a true leader (Boston already have theirs anyway) and he doesn't always produce in the big spots (career .196 BA in the postseaon) Also, there is the ever rising question of whether he can shake off last year. C-

OVERALL - I've always been a fan of Mike's, but he was just really bad last year (I wonder how many fantasy teams he helped crush last year) and I haven't heard any excuse about an injury oe other problem. He may really be on the decline. I think his stats doubles and homers wise will improve, but I still see his BA and OBP sucking big time. He's got a great glove and will be a rock at 3rd, but I think the All-Star hitting is a thing of the past. This, like many of the moves the Red Sox made in there infield, is a big gamble. C

Around MLB - Henry Critical of Reveue Sharing

Wow! If anybody would have said there was an owner bitching about revenue sharing, 99% of baseball fans would have picked "St. George". Not only that, I bet Henry gets off with a free pass from analysts and fans. $1,000 says if "St. George" would have made these comments everyone would be saying he's just trying to force his will even more and he just wants a even bigger competive edge. And I'm not saying if he made comments like these, I'm saying if he made these exact comments. You know what this means Shark, Henry and "St. George" may end up being allies on the disbursement of money in the MLB. We may be the Evil Empire, but you too may be lured to the Dark Side.

Around MLB - Albert 'Joey' Belle charged with stalking

Two things that are great about this ESPN.com story: 1) I get to remember the great Albert, no Joey, no Albert, no Joey, no Albert times. I actually remember having, and may still have in storage at my mom's, a Joey Belle baseball card. 2)The laundry list of other things he has done at the end of the article. I had actually forgot how crazy this guy was at times. He was like Mike Tyson is today. Hell, Kenny Rogers is a wussy compared to this guy.

Red Sox Preview - Shortstop

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Shortstop
Primary player and back-up(s): Alex Gonzalez and Alex Cora

HITTING - When you take a look at the new Red Sox SS's 2005 career highlights and one of them is that his .264 BA was his highest since the .277 his rookie year, things could obviously be better. Gonzalez sports horrific career stats of .245 BA and .291 OBP. Ouch! He could be a huge gamble. Although last year he had his highest OBP of his career, .319, his power stats were way down. He did, however, battle some elbow injuries that could have contributed to this. Even looking at his 2004 numbers (which many consider his best year) when he smashed 24 HR, he still K'd 126 times, had a miniscule .270 OBP (the lowest in the NL) and paired that with a .232 BA. Not exactly All-Star stats. He could possibly provide Boston with a bit of pop at the back end of their line up that they've been missing for the last couple of years. In Cora you get a serviceable fill in, but not somebody you are going to rely on to drive in the big run (career BA .244). I see this, even if Gonzalez can repeat his 2004 power, as a major hole in the Boston lineup. C-

FIELDING - Gonzalez isn't a player that will kill you with his defense, but he won't be a Gold Glover either. However, over the last 3 seasons (16 errors per, about a .975 FP) his defense has definitely improved from his earlier days in the league. He features a solid arm and turns a nice DP and his range is slightly above average. As far as Cora, well, he'll make the play that is right at him, but he lacks the range and arm to be a late inning replacement here. Overall, B-.

BASE RUNNING - Once again I don't see these guys bringing much to the table. Gonzalez (career 23 SB and 17 CS) and Cora (career 25 SB and 13 CS) are neither a huge threat on the base paths. Another troubling stat is that besides 1999, when Gonzalez scored 81 R, neither has eclipsed the 70 R mark in their career. I think I atleast have to expect Gonzalez to have some speed in his legs for only being 29 and playing SS. Maybe I'm just thinking of the stereotypical SS. C

DEPTH - Outside of Cora and Gonzalez, the SS position could be filled by Graffanino (who I discussed in the 2nd base preview as being a big hit-or-miss guy) or the young Pedroia (who with his meteoric rise through the Boston farm system Shark may have to write something about soon). This position could be classified a total disaster if things don't go right for Boston. You could potentially be forced to bring up Pedroia early if none of the others click and I wouldn't be to confident with a rookie in there in a September pennant race. If Gonzalez struggles, look for the Sox to make a move for a vet near the All-Star break. C-

INTANGIBLES - Athough he does have a World Series ring, I'm not sure that matters in this clubhouse full of domineering personalities. There is the possibility here for a breakout year though, look at the factors; 29 years old (baseball prime), World Series champ that has done it before, power to hit 20+ HR, and a team where he doesn't have to be a leader, just a cog in a finely tuned machine. Is it possible? Yes. Well it happen? I don't think so. C, and only because of that stuff I just listed, it was almost making sense to me.

OVERALL - I think if anything Boston was just making a money saving move here. Renteria ended up with a decent year last year, and he really seemed to come on last year towards the end. I think Boston figured the could get 75% of the production from a guy that cost 80% less and thought it was good baseball sense. I agree with the logic, but lets see what happens if Gonzalez struggles. I bet they open up the wallet then. Beyond that, I think they have a guy that could add some pop in the 8 or 9 spot and not kill them defensively. Nothing special here really. C-

Around MLB - St. George

George the Saint

Tell me Steinbrenner isn't a good guy. Check out this ESPN.com article on the man I will now refer to as "Saint George" (that is until he does something mean and pompous again). Who's the Evil Empire now? Between this and A-Rod saving that Boston kid last year, I believe the team is finally making strides as not being the outright most hated team in baseball. I do realize, however, that no matter what the Yankees do in real life, outside of catching Osama, they will continue to be reviled between the lines. Comes with the territory when you are the greatest franchise in sports history!

Red Sox Preview - 2nd Base

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: 2nd Base
Primary Player and Back-up(s): Mark Loretta and Tony Graffanino

Note: Boston's official depth chart lists a couple others as back-ups at this position, but I'm going to focus on the two most likely people to get playing time there.

HITTING - If Mark Loretta can return to his 2004 form, Boston could have a formidable #2 hitter. In 2004 Loretta set career highs in almost every offensive category and led all 2nd basemen in batting average, hits, runs scored, and on-base percentage (2004 stats). Loretta's 2005, however, was a dissapointment plagued by injuries. The pop in his bat did seem to return towards the end of the season, but overall it wasn't nearly as impressive. I could definitely see Loretta having a nice year at the plate this year. He's a career .301 hitter and if you can get on base in front of the big boys (Manny and Ortiz) you are going to score a lot of runs. I think the biggest worry here is his rather low OBP (.365) for a guy who bats over .300 and you would really like to see near the top of your order. Look for another .300 season with over 100 runs scored if he can shake off last years rust and hit at the top of the order. Tony Graffanino impressed the Boston faithful last year hitting safely in 41 of 51 games and batting .319 while with them. Although impressive, I wouldn't look for a repeat of this performance. Tony is a career .268 hitter and with the addition of Loretta, I just don't think he's going to get enough at-bats to get comfortable. Overall I'm going to give them a B here due to Loretta coming off the injury year and what will most likely be a big drop off from Graffanino.

FIELDING - Loretta has proven to be a fundamentally sound 2nd baseman that turns the pivot as well as anyone. The biggest question here is whether he and new SS Alex Gonzalez are on the same page. Graffanino won't be much help as a defensive replacement (career fielding percentage .974) but he won't kill them when he's in there either. I'm gonna go B+ here. As long as the thumb injury doesn't pop-up again, Loretta will be real solid here.

BASE RUNNING - Neither one of these guys is a real burner here. Loretta's highest steal total in the last 5 years has been 8 (getting caught 4 times that year as well) and Graffanino's 10. What you do get, especially with Loretta, are guys who aren't going to kill you with bone-headed or lazy mistakes. I'm gonna go B- here. Not bad, just not great.

DEPTH - Most likely not going to be a factor. Besides these two, the Boston depth chart is currently boasting two other players (Alex Cora and 21-year-old Dustin Pedroia) who could fill in if needed. If Graffanino can play as a back-up like he did as the starter last year, Boston will be pretty well stacked here. B, till Graff can prove it.

INTANGIBLES - I'm not sold on either one leading (not that you need any in this clubhouse), but Loretta does bring that nice x-factor of being the best 2nd baseman in the league for a year and that can be dangerous. Will his fresh face in the locker room help rejuvenate this team? I wouldn't go that far, he just doesn't have that type of personality. Does he have a long career of winning games and pushing his team into the playoffs? Also, no...but to be fair he was in Milwaukee a good portion of his career. I think the biggest thing will be that every body still knows his name and reputation from 2004 and they will believe he can get the job done. Your teammmates having confidence in you can rub off and make you more comfortable in a new situation. B, just because of that I-was-once-the-most-dangerous-2nd-baseman-in-the-league factor.

OVERALL - This is another area that could peak or valley for the Sox this year. Loretta could easily regain his form and be a top 5 2nd baseman in the whole league (considering the lack of good ones this might not be hard to do) or, he could really show signs of age (he'll be 35 in August) and injury and really drop off. Likewise, Graffanino could be the confident guy who came in and started 51 games for Boston while stroking the ball all over the field or, they could get the career .268 hitter. I think Loretta will regain much of his form and Graffanino will regain his negative form. B for now, but this has the total possibility (like Giambi for the Yanks) of jumping up to an A or even A+.

Around MLB - Soriano 'loses' arbitration

Today Alphonso Soriano loss his arbitration case with the Nationals, but will still get $10 million this year (ESPN.com story), an arbitration record. Poor baby! Let's talk about the bigger issue here which is where the heck is he playing for the Nats. Will he play left field, center, 2nd? This is really wreaking havoc with fantasy baseball players everywhere. If I draft him at 2nd (where he's a top pick) will he lose eligibility there half way through the season? Will he be eligible at draft time for another position? Are the going to trade him? I need to know these things as I'm sure many of you do. Somebody in that befuddled organisation needs to make a decision for their teams sake and for the rest of us that see draft day quickly approaching.

Red Sox Preview - 1st Base

Shark and myself are updating our Yankees/Red Sox preview in the interest of not babbling on for thousands of words and us repeating each other. The rest of this will be done with Shark doing a position-by-position preview of the Yankees and myself doing the Red Sox. We will examine each position using a five-category system and discuss their strengths and weaknesses in each of the following: hitting, fielding, base running, depth, and intangibles. So, let’s get right into it.

Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: 1^st base
Primary player and back-ups: Kevin Youkilis and J.T. Snow

HITTING – The primary first basemen for Boston will be Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis is a bit of an unknown to anybody that doesn't closely follow the Red Sox. He holds almost every major University of Cincinnati batting record and was quite a force in Triple-A ball with Pawtucket (.322, 8 HR, 27 RBI in just 43 games). With Boston, while mostly platooning around the infield, he was a bit shakier overall (.278, 1 HR, 9 RBI in 79 AB in 2005), but that also could account to uneven playing time not allowing him to find a groove. He did however bat .300 against lefties and posted a nice .400 OBP, which makes me think he could be solid for Boston. Francona seems to believe in him saying "he's going to definitely play a lot [because] he deserves it, and I think he'll be able to handle it." I think a year from now he could be a solid top of the order guy, but for this season I see a decent year, not a breakout year. J.T. Snow, a former Yankee farm hand by the way, will also be a nice fill in at the plate. He lacks the power potential of Youkilis, but is a solid contact hitter that can move runners (.313 with RISP). If he can reproduce his 2004 numbers he will be a great addition. I'll give the Sox a B here for now. This could be a low estimate or an overly gracious one depending on how the year goes.

FIELDING - Snow is obviously the big story here. He brings with him 6 career Gold Gloves and a history of highlight reel plays (Mattingly must have rubbed off on him). He'll be a nice addition for spot starts against righties and as a defensive replacement late in games. Youkilis once again is a bit of a question mark here. He was a third baseman by trade, but scouts say he possesses the hands and agility to handle first. I would say he has some experience at first, but 5 games last year hardly can give anyone a real feel for how he'll perform. I give the defense at first a A- only because if things get bad, they can always start Snow.

BASE RUNNING - Not much to speak of here for Boston. Youkilis has had 20 SB since he left UC (although he did steal 22 in 2001 at UC) and Snow has 20 SB in his 14 year career. Youkilis is a young athletic guy though so he can't be that slow (he's not David Wells after all). Hopefully for Boston Youkilis is a smart base runner if he really is a "on-base machine" like they say. Until I actually get a full year to see him on the base-paths and with what I know about snow I'm giving them a C-.

DEPTH - I think if Youkilis is a solid guy the Red Sox will boast great depth at first with the addition of Snow. They basically have two guys who could start there and, in a pinch, can even through Ortiz out there if one gets injured. For all the reasons I discussed above, I'll give their depth at first an A.

INTANGIBLES - This is an area I feel that could hurt the Sox or make them really dangerous. My gut leans towards hurt and I'll explain why: 1) You are banking on a talented, yet unproven, player to switch positions and produce offense in an intense city like Boston. 2) Snow is 38 years old and not getting any younger. His bat could be slower and his aging body could make him a bit slower to grounders than before. I could be totally wrong about these things, but I think with the high expectations for Youkilis I don't see him living up to them. I give them a C for intangibles, I just don't think these two will have as big an impact as some might expect.

OVERALL - B Should be two solid performers, but I think expectations are rising quickly and they may not be able to meet the challenge. Still, anything is better than Kevin Millar!

Yankees vs. Red Sox Preview - Catchers

Shark

BOSTON - Jason Varitek

The unquestioned leader of this team can be found behind home plate 140 times a season. His offensive statistics are solid - (3 year average) - 22 homeruns, 76 RBI, 67 runs, .283 AVG, .369 OBP. His defensive statistics are solid - 25% caught stealing (could be better), 18 passed balls in the last 3 years (top 10 in MLB). But what sets this guy apart is his leadership, on and off the field, and the deft with which he handles this pitching staff. He calls as solid a game as anyone in baseball and plays to the strength of whoever is on the mound. He always knows the situation and makes sure that everyone else on the field does as well. It is those intangibles that makes 'Tek one of the best backstops in the game today.
There are a few concerns here, however, that could become weaknesses. Who is going to catch Wakefield? I like the trade that brought Mark Loretta to Beantown, but it came at the expense of the best backup catcher in baseball. Mirabelli handled Wake expertly and contributed with his bat when Francona called on him. With Mirabelli gone, what happens now? The backups are now John Flaherty and Josh Bard. Neither has ever caught a knuckleballer (to my knowledge) and neither has a very good bat (Bard hit .197 last year). These questions will likely answer themselves as the season unfolds, but neither guy can fill Mirabelli's shoes.
Overall, the position is one of the this team's greatest strengths.
GRADE - A minus
VARITEK'S 2006 LINE - 23 HR, 80 RBI, .291 AVG, 8 SB

NEW YORK - Jorge Posada

The workman-like Posada is generally overlooked on this team. His offensive stats are solid - (3 year average) - 23 HR, 84 RBI, .272 AVG, .386 OBP. His defensive stats are solid - 30% caught stealing, 30 passed balls (a little high) in the last three years. Although the stats are a bit more impressive than Varitek's, they have been trending downward the past three years while 'Tek's are trending upward. But in this lineup, Torre doesn't need the offensive production quite as much. Jorge's real strength is behind the plate. He is a leader and has a cannon for an arm - the offense he provides is a bonus.
The issues at this position are similar to Boston's - the rift between the Big Unit and Jorge is a little troubling. Why does Randy insist on being caught by the backup (Kelly Stinnett, this year as Flaherty made the jump to Boston)? Shouldn't your best catcher catch your best pitcher? I believe so. And Stinnett is average at best defensively and below average with the bat. I thought this team would take a run at Benji Molina this off-season - but I am glad they didn't.
GRADE - B plus
POSADA'S 2006 LINE - 17 HR, 81 RBI, .275 AVG.

Chachi

I’m going to go a bit of a different route on my analysis. I’m going to compare the two teams over 5 categories: hitting, fielding, base running, depth, and intangibles.

HITTING – Both Posada and ‘Tek finished in the top 10 or top 5 in every major offensive category and are considered “elite” when it comes to producing offense at their position. Varitek definitely provides more pop in the Boston lineup, but Posada is an RBI machine for a 7 or 8 hitter in any lineup. With the other offensive threats ahead of him, Posada is sure to continue seeing plenty of quality pitches. Like Mark, I worry more about a slide due to age for both of them. I think this is probably a bigger worry for Posada then ‘Tek. Advantage: Boston

FIELDING – Neither catcher is a stud or a total wreck defensively. Both leave something to desire though. Posada’s biggest weakness is his ability to block bad pitches or pitches in the dirt. I think a lot of this may stem from what seems to be the pitching staff and him not being on the same page all the time. Heck, with how much turmoil the staff has gone through the last few years with injuries, can you blame him. ‘Tek is excellent at keeping the ball in front of him, but occasionally his arm leaves something to desire. His biggest challenge this year will be handling Wakefield and the knuckleball. I have seen ‘Tek look absolutely horrendous a few times when he was forced into a situation of catching for Wakefield and there could be the possibility that if he struggles early it could hang with him all year. Do I expect this to happen? Of course not, but for that reason I’m going to lean Jorge’s direction on this. Advantage: New York

BASE RUNNING – Well, in future positional breakdowns this may matter a bit more, but here it isn’t much of a point. Neither is Cecil Fielder, but they also aren’t going to break any speed records. I will say both are smart base runners who keep mistakes on the base paths to a minimum. Against weaker arms both can score from second, but Vlad would nail them any day of the week. Neither really stands out in my mind. Advantage: Push

DEPTH – Catcher is a position where your back-up can make a huge impact, but most teams you couldn’t name the back-up if your life depended on it. I really like the Yankees adding Stinnett because he has a previous relationship with Johnson from Arizona and it’s well publicized that he doesn’t like Posada catching for him. I look for this to add to Randy’s comfort level this season and I look for an improved performance due to it. I think the biggest thing here though isn’t who was added, but who was lost. Mirabelli was great at catching the knuckleball and the Red Sox didn’t lose as much offensively as most teams would with their back-up in. Bard could be serviceable or could be a complete bust, but who really knows. I think the subtraction is the huge story here. Advantage: New York

INTANGIBLES – Here is where Varitek shines. Although Posada has grown into one of the leaders of this team, it is based more on tenure then leadership. This is Jeter’s team and he knows it. Varitek on the other hand is the unquestioned club house leader of this squad and also shows it on the field. Everyone seems to like him, everyone seems to respect him, and everyone knows they have to play their ass of for him or he’ll speak up. I also think Varitek as more of a flair for the dramatic; a big hit or homerun, setting up a batter with his pitcher just right in that big spot, or just starting a fight with a certain high paid third basemen that helps his team believe they can beat their rival. Basically, for his team, he’s right where they need him right when they need it. Advantage: Boston

Overall both teams should be pleased with their player at this position and know they have a guy who rarely gets hurt, produces offensively, and isn’t a major liability defensively. I think about 25 other teams would kill for either one of them. Next year may be different with the potential decline of both due to age, but right now they are still solid. Overall Advantage: Boston

Possibly the worst Super Bowl in the last few years!

Congratualtions to the Steelers and Steeler nation, but I had quite a few problems with this year's Sub-Par Bowl. Don't get me wrong, the game had its moments and was ok overall, but this is supposed to be the "Super" Bowl. And no point did I feel nearly as excited about this game and I think everything encompassing this game was just not as great as in years pass. Maybe it was the 2 week layoff (which should never, ever, ever be allowed again) or maybe it had to do with some of these problems:

The Officiating - Everyone likes to say that a well officiated game is one where you don't even know the refs are there, and I couldn't agree more. I'm not going to make the excuse that this is why the Seahawks lost, but it certainly contributed to some degree. This may be the first time ever that the losing team wins the turnover battle (2 to 1), has more total yardage (396 to 339), has a greater time of possession (33:02 to 26:58), and their quarterback out plays the opposing teams (Hasselbeck-26/49 273 yds. 1 int. 1 TD 67.8 QB Rating to Roethlisberger - 9/21 123 yds. 2 int. 0 TD 22.6 QB rating) and STILL can only muster 10 points and loses by 11...give me a break. Don't get me wrong, I still think Pittsburgh wins in the long run, but it could have been a much closer, and thus more exciting, game than it was.

The 4 biggest officiating misteps I had a problem with were 1) The pass interference in the end zone. I understand that's the rule, but it was almost as if the ref waited for the DB to complain before throwing the flag. If you think it was a penalty, throw that flag with authority as soon as you see it. I still say that's a weak call anyway, especially in the Super Bowl. 2) The holding call on Locklear during the play that got Seattle to the 1 yard line. That was horrendous enough that even Madden saw it. This call effectively took 7 points off the board for Seattle. 3) What phantom crap were they calling on Hasselbeck on the tackle after the interception. He wasn't blocking anyone, he made the tackle. That was a huge swing in momentum and field position. 4) Big Ben's TD run. On something that close I can't see calling that a TD when the ball lands short of the goal line after the play is over. Maybe he got in maybe not, but if you aren't certain, you can't say that's a TD in my opinion.

The Star Spangled Banner - Was Neville's mic even on? Was Aretha just too fat and old to make it all the way through the song or something? I liked her, hated him, and hated the idea of splitting up the song. Next time, just let Aretha do it by herself.

The Halftime Show - I never in my life need to see a 62 year old British man prancing around in a belly shirt. I'm not sure if I can ever recover from this. Not only that, but was it just me or was the sound horrible for their preformance. It sounded awful, looked awful and was a harsh reminder that the Stones are on a downhill slide. I still think they should have gone all Detroit legends for all the music involved with the Super Bowl. You can have the Stones any time, but we'll most likely never see the Super Bowl in Detroit again.

The Commercials - This is what everybody wants to see besides the game, and I think they were a bit lack luster this year. Their were a few good ones, but most were just boring or making a stupid joke that any drunk 3 stools down at the local bar could make. And the one where the robot and giant monster have a Hummer for a kid was just fucking disturbing! I really need to find a way into marketing because I believe I'd be hailed as a genius for coming up with one original idea.

Let's recap: Officiating=horrible, Music=sub-par and disappointing, Commercials=ok, but no real memorable one that every body and their brother can recite at the office for the next 6 months, Game=once again the game was good, don't get me wrong, but it could have been great. Overall I'm going to give this game a B grade. It would be a C or C+, but I'll always have the fond memory of Mark jumping into Law's arms to make me laugh. Congrats to you Steeler fans out there for getting to see your team bring home the hardware. And if anyone has a touching Jerome Bettis story to tell, let us know because I'm not sure that angle has totally been ran into the ground and beaten to death.

Super Bowl XL

Although it kills me, I do believe the Steelers will pull this one out. However, I believe the Seahawks will cover the for-none-gambling-purposes spread. Hey, I've been right the last two years with my wagers, have you (Murph I'm lookimg in your direction)?

Final Score:
Pittsburgh 27 Seattle 24

Call your bookie, this one's in the bag.

Welcome, welcome, welcome

Welcome to our new blog. This will be a new experience for both myself and Shark who are novices at best when it comes to web page building, but we hope to make the site as informative and entertaining as possible.

Most of what we'll discuss will center on baseball, football (both college and pro) and maybe even some college basketball. Every once in awhile we may through a NHL bone out there (probably centered on the Blue Jackets or a drunken encounter with one of their players), but Shark and I both agree that the NBA is dead to us. The only NBA you'll probably hear us discuss is if someone does something stupid or if one of them starts touching 19 year old white women again (Hi, Kobe!). Regardless, it is a safe bet that a unhealthy amount of time will be spent discussing our baseball obsession and more importantly the Red Sox and the Yankees (I'm the Yankee fan by the way, you can start lobbing hateful epitaphs....now).

I just want to say welcome and enjoy our blog.