Easter Woes

Baseball and Relativity

Easter has come again and while Christ is risen and the sins of the world redeemed, all is not well in the land of Toronto baseball. From the top pitcher Casey Jansen, a promising young arm who was vying for a spot in the rotation, has been shut down for the season. With Jesse Litsch continuing his 2007 success Toronto doesn't need to be too worried but recount Jansen's impressive bullpen numbers and realize that we were much better with then we will be without him.

The second issue; Reed Johnson has been released. Johnson, a fan favorite, was aware of the potential for release when the Jays tendered Shannon Stewart a minor league contract. Johnson, who's spring statistics have been much better than Stewart's (Johnson is batting 60 points higher), is a fan favorite and will be missed. Expect fan support to be quite low for Stewart if he falters early in the season despite his past history with the club.

The third issue; Don't lament the loss of Glaus. Like I've said before, even if he does well in St. Louis keep in mind that he left Toronto due to foreseeable perpetual injury. That being said, Rolen is already ailing from a fractured hand that was a result of a freak fielding practice accident.

God, please help the Jays. They need it - hours from the start of the MLB season and there's nothing but injury on the horizon.

DB

Fantasy Update: Trades!

Baseball and Relativity

There's a precise art to completing good trades in fantasy baseball. This week I've been trying to exploit my gamut of middle of the pack pitching to prey on friends who have a couple of extra sluggers but a less than stellar starting rotation. The results, as of yet, have been uninspiring. This is less because the trades I'm offering aren't good and more because inexperienced fantasy baseballers often develop a trade allergy.

The trade allergy finds its roots on the manager's fear of being burned. Nobody wants to trade me a bonafied slugger as they fear that his production, if substantial, may cause regret down the road.

Here are some tips for trading (based on a head to head Yahoo! styled league).

1. 4000 rbi's will not win you the SB category: As I have said before you need to develop a balanced squad to compete in fantasy sports. That means that if you have a lot of one thing, trade some of it to get another. This is most notable in HR/RBI/win biases. Most inexperienced players can't see beyond the more prominant stats to realize the value of trading Manny Ramierez to pick up a pitcher with a low ERA and Shane Victorino who will steal bases and will not hurt your avg./OBP.

2. Take chances: If you're making a trade get the other guy to throw in a low risk/high reward player like Jack Cust or Justin Upton to accentuate the deal. If the low risk player doesn't pan out its no real loss. If he does and the trade's primary chip flops then you can at least salvage your managerial dignity!

3. Get trades done early: Don't wait until your overachievers have lost value or until mid season when people aren't paying enough attention. Get the trading going while people are still interested!

4. Pay attention to the experts: They'll let you know way before you recognize yourself if one of your players is hot/cold. Despite the occasional mistakes experts are much better at predicting player trends than World Series winners.

5. Stay away from basement dwellers: In my opinion going after an Oakland Athletic, a Royal or a Pirate is just foolish. Take a lesser guy on a much better squad - better run support and offensive production improves stats.

DB

Blue Jays' Chances

Take me out to the ball game!!!

In a recent article the fine young gentlemen at Fox Sports opined as to whether or not the Blue Jays have a chance at making the playoffs this year. I felt a certain geographical necessity to comment on this issue, not to mention that I have slotted them as my wild card choice.

The biggest issue that is present for the Blue Jays, that which stands between them and a playoff appearance, is health. I won't spend too much space recapping the Blue Jays awful injury issues of 2007 (they lost around 950 man games to injury) but I will note that they still managed to finish above .500. What does that mean? Essentially with their 2008 roster, which is slightly improved and should benefit from players bouncing back from difficult statistical seasons this year past, the Jays are fairly confident that they can compete for a playoff position. While I'm unconvinced that they will win the East over the Red Sox the Blue Jays may be able to capitalize on a weak Western division and a highly competitive yet self deprecating Central. There are some key areas of concern though;

1. The trade - If the Jays intend to compete they will have to watch the trading block to pick up a big arm/bat for a playoff run if they are in such a place after the all star break. Its unlikely that a playoff bound team sports starters like Jesse Litch or fielders such as Shannon Stewart/Reed Johnson bar a renaissance or break out year. I suggest that the Jays either throw their name into the Joe Blanton sweepstakes or look to pluck a Konerko/Dunn calibre player from a team who finds themselves hopeless in July.

2. The Coach - I'm simply not a fan. He's had two altercation with players that have spilled into the public arena and makes questionable decisions with his bullpen. What's more puzzling is his inability to break out of the big show American League slug fest and allow his faster players to run more. Vernon Wells and Alex Rios should have 20-30 sbs a year. Running is key because it adds stress to the opposing pitchers. C'mon Gibbons!

3. The Catcher - Greg Zaun as your number one catcher is only acceptable because of how hard it is to find catching these days. He is only acceptable as a hitter and can't throw out runners. Essentially that makes him a catch-mate.


Here's to a 2008 playoff birth in Toronto.
DB

Fantasy Baseball Woes

He who drafted Evan Longoria in round 9, drafter wrong.




Baseball and Relativity



For a second, let's put aside the real world and talk about the planet of fantasy baseball. Regardless of how often I have won my baseball pool (2 of the last three years, with a narrow second place finish to compliment) I am rarely happy with how I draft. I get caught up in all the same trends as other people do; participating in panick stricken positional runs, drafting with my heart, not being fully prepared when the player I've targetted for the given round is scooped up one pick before and drafting sleepers so early that their 'sleeper status' is relatively voided. In order to combat these tendencies I've compiled an ever growing tip list for would be-fantasy baseball kings.



1. In the first five rounds draft the best player available regardless of position. You may end up with 2 or even 3 of the same position but think long term; one can act as your utility and the other a trading chip (both more valuable than reaching!)



2. That being said, don't draft a pitcher in those first five rounds (even if his name is Peavy or Santanna.) I know many will argue with me but I argue that beyond the odd mega season, which Santanna may have legitimately, most pitchers fantasy stats are rather comparable and a large chunk of pitchers exist in the middle rounds of a well run league. On the other hand NO good middle infielders do (other than sleeper candidates and Aaron Hill.)



3. On the topic of pitchers - fill your bench with them! FILL! If you're carrying more than one extra batsmen once the season starts you're crazy unless you're in an update once a week pool. Batters play every day, for the most part. AND if they do not play it is rare that you will know far enough in advance to adjust your roster. Carry one extra stud but realize that you will not sit David Ortiz for a lesser player on any given day. If one of your players is hurt move him to the IR and pick up a replacement. If a player is slumping drop them. Pitchers only pitch once every five days so carrying a surplus of servicable starters will help you boost your IP, wins and K's (sometimes as the expense of era and ops).



4. Balance, balance, balance: A team made up of huge slow average beastly sluggers will sink you. The most underated and difficult stat to procur is the stolen base for batters. So draft at least one speedster. With regards to pitching draft for k's and low eras - big win pitchers who have strong offensive support will not win you pools.



5. On the other hand its always useful to have powerhouse squads represented on your team. Mike Lowell would not have produced 120 rbi in 2007 had it not been for the high team ops. of the Boston Red Sox. This goes double for pitchers - if you don't have crafty, versataile arms you may as well draft pitchers who throw for winning teams. Contradiction noted.



6. Don't get caught in that run: If there's a run in closers and you're reaching for one to ensure yourself saves you're making a mistake. Draft quality players in every round and realize that with waiver wire/trade/sleeper persistance its very likely that you can grab saves (etc) in later rounds or ever part way into the season when players flourish/falter.



7. More balance: On the other hand its not too much of a reach to descend your draft strategy a few spots to pick up a good SS when you should be drafting a that OF you had your eye on. Its much easier to pick up fantasy studs at OF or 1B than it is to pick up middle infielders or 3B.



8. Prepare: The best drafted team will either be the prepared person or the random guy who picked players based on how pretty their names were. Regrettable but true on the latter. I subscribe to the tier system and I back that up with a list of young players/sleepers who I will resolve myself to pick in the case I can't get a premier position player.



9. Remember that your team today will be radically different than your team tomorrow. The person who picked Adrian Gonzales up in mid April last year laughed all the way to his championship. The person who dropped Chris Shelton in May two years ago, or even better, traded him early did the same. Pay attention to the waiver wire and injury reports, notice trends, don't be afraid to make moves.



10. Finally, cheat your friends. Trades are all about foresight and dishonesty. Very few trades that looked even on the day they were made ended up so at the end of the year. Last season I made one bad trade and two great trades. The moral of the story; trade trade trade - not only does it keep the pool fresh, but it adds to the wonderful sense of competition that fantasy sports foster.



PAX
DB

Take that New York City

The Absurd



According to our friends at Fox Sports the NHL is coming to Yankee Stadium http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7896146/Report:-NHL-may-play-Yankee-Stadium-finale



In a bid to recreate this year's popular NHL Winter Classic (played in Buffalo in very cold temperatures) the New York Rangers have been vying to play their last season game at Yankee Stadium in April. Without consulting sources to learn the specific plans I have to question the potential for catastrophe in playing hockey on a man-made (sic) rink in the middle of April.


Fans are being asked to lower their body temperature and to pack ice packs in their arm pits and genital area prior to the puck drop.

DB

Up to Date

Considering that I took the better part of the last three weeks off I have decided to forgo the tedious process of breaking down the devisions (especially with our high level of readership) so I'm going to push through and post more often/briefer posts on day to day topics.

Nevertheless:

American Central:
Best: Tigers
Worst: Royals
Watch Out For: Indians

American East:
Best: Red Sox
Worst: Orioles
Watch Out For: Blue Jays


Its not as though I would wager on the Jays, I'm just going to stay blue and send up the big hope for the Jays to stay healthy and depend upon a couple of young arms to defeat the Yankees.

DB

AL West

Baseball and Relativity



"Please God, let me hit one. I'll tell everybody you did it." Reggie Jackson

AL West

With all due respect to my National League counterparts I'm more than a little happy to be finished with the Senior League and safely back where I belong both geographically and existentially; the American League. At one time, if you can recall, Montreal's Expos represented Canada in the NL. With the Expos serving as only a memory as a Canadian I'm bound, by proximity and television contracts, to watch American League baseball. Not only do I love the DH (I've never had the urge to watch Roy Halladay wiff at three and sit down, give me the Big Hurt) but I also enjoy the high octane offense that enables me to bring my mostly disinterested friends to ballgames with me to enjoy the over-priced beer and the home runs. That aside, the AL West is looking to be a one team race in 2008. That doesn't mean it will always be that way. Oakland, with firesale'n Billy Beane smartly disassembling his underachieving 2007 roster, will compete sooner than later with a young talent base (as usual). Texas is quickly building a young, powerful team that may bring them back to the playoffs in the next 3-5 (not as usual). Seattle, unfortunately, has a number of highly talented players nestled between an underachieving rotation and a few overpayed, unskilled dinosaurs (nee. Richie Sexson).

The League's Best: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim



Stupid name, great team. The Angels added John Garland and dropped the slumping and injured Bartolo Colon to improve their already stellar pitching staff. They have a very good bullpen and a bizarrely stacked outfield that will compliment their speedy/defensive infield. One must wonder why they didn't add a big offensive bat to the infield, but upon a review of the available options this year one realizes that they were slim. Expect the Angels to run away with the race early on.

Key Players:
K-Rod: Excitement is mounting in Los Angeles and Anaheim. K-Rod is well aware that he's pitching for a contract this year and he's hoping to cash in, big time. He'll want the ball often and he'll want to mow down batters with his dominating combination of pitches. Fear this man.

Vladdy Guerrero: Vlad needs to do what's required of him to stay healthy and play 150+ games. That may mean that, much to his chagrin, he plays the bulk of his games at DH. With nagging leg injuries just around the corner Vlad needs to come to term with the fact that a .325+, 40hr, 125 rbi season is much more valuable than outfield assists when the Angels have ample talent to spell him in the field.

Chone Figgins: I enjoy writing Chone's name for obvious reasons. The super utility man will need to keep his offensive/defensive numbers high while he mentors the younger members of the squad.

The League's Worst: Oakland A's



After the fire sale Oakland stands to be blown out in 2008. That's more than acceptable considering the draft picks and young talent that Beane managed to secure may provide Oakland with their next renaissance. Expect the A's to be a team to watch in the future, that is if their fans would show up to the ballpark.

Key Players:

Eric Chavez: Let's hope that Chavez really is back at full strength and can provide the fans with something to watch this year and can mentor the youth of Oakland.

The Youth: Both those that are already and those that are to come are key to Oakland's success from here on in.

Watch Out For: Seattle Mariners



It's not as though I expect the Wild Card to be won here. In fact I would be shocked if it wasn't won in the East. Not that I'm doubting the Central's quality, just that there are more competitors in the Central with the Orioles and the Rays playing in the East that will equate to inflated win totals. The Mariners have a good combination of talent. They're not good enough to make the playoffs but they'll provide quality games and fans shouldn't be terribly disappointed. I'm frustrated with the Mariners because they blow money on big name players who fail to succeed. If they could capitalize on some young talent and shed some of their dead weight they would easily compete with the Angels. In 2008, however, this is not a reality.

Eric Bedard: Don't think I'll write about the Mariners without discussing Bedard. Let Adam Jones go. Bedard in Seattle makes a lot of sense. Way more than Brad Wilkerson and slightly more than Carlos Silva (who may prove to be a real asset).

Ichiro: McLaren has said it; its time for Ichiro to step up! Baseball's best for-average hitter has the potential to lead his team back to the playoffs if he really wants to.

Raul Ibanez: With the low-average joes that drag Seattle down Ibanez has to combine with the settled Beltre and the promising Betancourt to get on base and knock in the likes of Ichiro. Only then will the team possess the sort of balance that Suzuki has been talking about this offseason.


DB

NL East

Baseball and Relativity

"Don't call us (ballplayers) heroes. Fireman are heroes."
- Sparky Anderson

NL East:

While the West figures to be the best division in the National League, the East will be the best one to watch. Not only will the Phillies present a powerful squad, but the deconstructing Mets are coming in to 2008 with a dangerously improved squad. The Braves figure to compete again with a number of young players being primed for big years but the other two squads, the Marlins and the Nationals, represent some of baseball's weakest. Overall, though, with the firepower in the East and the opportunity to watch Pedro Martinez come back for a healthy year next to Johann Santana, who will be pitching in his prime, there will be sold out ballparks in many of these cities (Florida being the exception) all year long.

The Division's Best: New York Mets



Before the blockbuster deal that brought Johann Santana to the Mets from Minnesota that did not include the roster of high caliber prospects that should have went to the Twin Cities the Mets catapulted to the top of the Eastern division. Its rare in baseball that one player can swing a team's fate so drastically but Santana, now pitching in the lo-fi offensive environment in the National League, stands to win 20 games and post a sub 3.00 ERA. Combine that with the excellent offensive production that can be expected in New York and the only thing that stands between the Mets and the World Series is their closer's ability to forget about his late season collapse.

Key Players:

Johann Santana: Needs to post the wonderful numbers he's capable of.

Alou/Delgado: Healthy/productive seasons by these too veterans will give the Mets the kind of run supported needed to pace the National League.

Jose Reyes: Needs to overcome personal ego issues and run out ground balls to first. Reyes could be the best player in baseball this year if he wants it bad enough.

The Division's Worst: Florida Marlins



Despite having some of baseball's best young players such as Hanley Ramirez, Cameron Maybin, Jeremy Hermida and Dan Uggla the Marlins are destined for failure in 2008. Unfortunately their pitching staff is mostly unknown and contains very few potential stars. The Marlins, once again, are doomed to be trapped in their perpetual rebuilding stage. This is bound to continue until either they buy another championship or fans decide to support baseball in Florida.

Key Players:

Hanley Ramirez: If you can't expect a team to win you may as well expect them to be entertaining. Watch the Marlins to see other teams flex their muscles. Watch the Marlins to see Ramirez develop into a great five tool player.

Luis Gonzales: Now that his steroid use is behind him, his age is catching up to him and his production is slumping expect Gonzales to act as a mentor to the young players in Florida. Look past the steroid induced gawdy numbers from a few years back. Who wasn't juicing then? Gonzales will be a positive influence.

Watch Out For: Philadelphia Phillies.



In a near dead heat for first in the NL East the Phillies stand to field another excellent squad in 2008. With some added pitching depth and young sluggers that include consecutive MVPs Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins the Phillies should overpower, even if they can't outpitch, most teams in the National League. Carlos Beltran has responded to Jimmy Rollins and claimed the division for the Mets. Let's see how this battle develops.

Key Players:

Brad Lidge: Can Brad reclaim his past form or did Pujol's homerun in the NLCS from a few years ago really destroy Lidge's confidence.

Brett Myers: His return to the rotation may provide the Phillies with the edge necessary to compete with the Rockies for the Wild Card spot.

Cole Hamels: Has very exciting potential. Needs good run support.


DB

The NL Central Division

Baseball and Relativity



You can't hit what you can't see. - Walter Johnson

Since I'm sure ever other blogger/news site on the planet will be closely following the hubub surrounding the Clemens/McNamee HGH circus, I've decided to plug on with my divisional breakdown and to completely ignore the events that are disrupting attention that should be given to more interesting aspects of the sport.

The National League's Central Division

Despite being the largest division in baseball, the NL Central has the dubious honour this year to be considered the worst. While the AL West is sporting some of baseball's worst teams it is the NL Central that, this year, seem to lack a clear cut powerhouse. There are upsides on every squad, with the exception of the Pirates, but no single team seems poised to emerge as a potential World Series candidate. The Brewers have the firepower, but they dwindled down the stretch and they cannot count on their pitching to bail out their offense as the season goes on. The Cardinals, a mere shadow of their World Series team from two seasons ago, have shipped off most of their big name talent and will be forced to deal with injury woes from most of their remaining stars, Albert Pujols included. The Cubs, eternally damned as the Red Sox once were, have once again made some intriguing moves but don't present a compelling playoff threat. That being said...

The Division's Best: Chicago Cubs



Despite what I have just said, the Cubs are shaping up to be the best team in the division by a slim margin. Even without an outbreak season by young Felix Pie the Cubs have one of the better outfields in baseball with the addition of Japanese superstar Kosuke Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano. Combine that with an above average offensive infield and a serviceable rotation and we can almost forget that their bullpen is slight lacking.

Key Players:
Derek Lee: He's not likely to repeat his 2005 numbers ever again but expect Lee to at least repeat his 2007 showing. In the instance he can improve on 2007 Lee would once again be an elite 1B.

Kerry Wood: Years spent waiting for Wood to become an outright superstar have produced no results. With Mark Prior gone Wood has the opportunity to emerge as a force in the bullpen, sweetening his legacy slightly after the demise of the once feared young tandem of which he was one half.

The last two members of the rotation: After Big Z, Rich Hill and Ted Lilly the Cubs need a couple of young arms to win 12-15 and post sub 4.00 eras if they want to barnstorm the NL and make it to the World Series.

The Worst: Pittsburgh Pirates

Freddy Sanchez

Mail it in. If the Pirates were playing in any other division in baseball they would be a lock to lose 100 games this year. In fact, they may do that anyways. Their only salvation lies in that they will play the majority of their games against the weak Central division against opponents such as the Astros and the Reds. There is no redeemer on the Pirate's 2008 squad. Jack Wilson is aging rapidly at 31, Matt Morris figures to be their ace and Jason Bay wants out. That equates to an abysmal season in the once grand confines of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Unless the team can seriously rebuild like its Western counterparts with meaningful rookies or Willie Stargell comes out of retirement in top form the Pirates stand to be the worst team in baseball. Yes, far worse in fact than the Royals. There is little use in breaking down the key players for a team as bad as this one.

Watch Out For: Milwaukee Brewers



The Brew Crew did what baseball analysts had been predicting for a number of seasons: they burst out of their miserable multi year slump and became a force in the National League. With their youth movement, lead by Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, amongst the best in baseball the Brewers figure to compete until they lose their players to free agency. While their offense is wonderful and they added depth by signing the dependable Mike Cameron the Brewers lack dependable pitching and an offensively capable catcher. On staff they have a number of pitchers such as Jeff Suppan and David Riske who can contribute but due to injury their ace, Ben Sheets, has struggled to play the sort of role people come to expect from a young, talented pitcher such as himself.

Key Players:
Ben Sheets: Sheets may be the deciding factor in a playoff appearance for the Brewers. If he stays healthy he is a certifiable ace. If he falls ill, which is all too likely given his track record, don't expect for Milwaukee to find enough pitching elsewhere to cope.

Rickie Week: Still young, Weeks has a lot of room to grow. While he's in the right environment as a young, budding star Weeks will have to exhibit more discipline and better work habits to emerge into an elite 2B.

Ryan Braun/Prince Fielder: Move over Ramirez/Ortiz. The new lights-out duo in MLB will be wowing crowds and filling seats in Miller Park. Moving Braun into left field, where his defense will be less of a liability, is a wise move. Expect combined HR/RBI totals for these two to be around 100/230 with good averages and a couple of stolen bases increasing their value.



DB

Breaking down the divisions: NL West

Baseball and Relativity





After a lengthy lay off I'd like to return to this blog, retitled Baseball and Relativity sans my co-contributors and now with an obvious new solitary focus: that of baseball (not like I wrote about anything else anyways...). Look for, at the beginning of April, a lengthy ethical piece discussing the difference between performance enhancing drugs and drugs used legally for rehabilitation.

In the meanwhile I'm going to spend some time breaking down the divisions in baseball and assessing the likely division leaders, basement dwellers, an who I believe will surprise in 2008. Note that I will not be dealing with every team, as that would take too much of my time.

Firstly, allow me to present to you the National League's West division. Surprising many in 2007 as the Senior League's best division, considering their relative rot over the past half decade, the NL West looks to be the best again in 2008. With the exception of a surprise in the East where the Phillies and Mets will engage one another in near AL like combat, expect the Wild Card and likely the World Series representative to come from the West. I am almost regretting how scarce it is to find their games on Canadian television.





The Division's Best: Arizona Diamondbacks
Locked in a tight battle last season with the Colorado Rockies, the D-Backs presented a low scoring, pitcher-centric winning machine in 2007. What was most exciting about Arizona in 2007 is that different players came through on different days, making them a very watchable team. What's exciting about the Backs in 2008 is that they actually managed to improve on their pitching. Capitalizing on Oakland's bi-annual fire sale the D-Backs picked up the wonderful young ace Dan Haren, a player who should contribute mightily to the squad in the upcoming season. Move over Colorado, the D-Backs are going to return to their 2001 form when pitchers Randy Johnson (poised to contribute this year after returning from an injury-plagued 2007) and Curt Schilling combined to win 43 games. Haren, combined with 2006 Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb and a bevy of talented young defenders, are poised to barnstorm the West and head to the World Series to do battle with an AL Behemoth.

Key Players:

Dan Haren: Cy Young? Very possible against the less powerful NL batsmen.

Randy Johnson: Even a mediocre year from Johnson would constitute a significant improvement for Arizona in the fourth or fifth spot in the rotation.

Chris Young: Expect a Break out Year for this wonderful young fielder.



The Division's Worst: San Francisco Giants


With the loss of Barry Bonds (if he had a qualifying number of plate appearances in 2007 he would have paced the league in OPS and would have been amongst the leaders in slugging) and the continuing aging of the Giants, the Bay Area Boys figure to be the worst in the NL, not only the West. On the one hand the Giants sport a great nucleus of starting pitching of which Barry Zito, the rich free agent pick up, is likely the lesser. On the other hand the Giants offense and defensive play is amongst the worst in the League and figures to deteriorate over the season as aged veterans such as Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia break down. If I were a Giants fan I'd watch the A's. While they are allergic to signing players to big contracts, at least they know when to rebuild.

Key Players:

Matt Cain and Tim Linecum: Young pitchers who may prove to be the best tandem in the Majors in the next five years.

The Seniors: Aurilia? Vizquel? Durham? Maybe in 1998, but certainly not in 2008


Lookout For: Colorado Rockies
Despite their best efforts to improve, including the additions of Joe Torre and Andruw Jones, the Dodgers are doomed to mediocrity once again. A stacked outfield will not make up for an underachieving infield and a pitching staff that's staggeringly behind what the rest of the division has to offer. Expect the Rockies to win the Wild Card and make a strong showing in the playoffs. Unless they are able to sign their flourishing young players to affordable contracts the Rockies will quickly deteriorate. Enjoy them while you can.

Key Players:

Troy Tullowitzki: Expect him to improve on his outstanding rookie year. Yes, I said improve. Yes, I said rookie.

Brad Hawpe: Many predict he's due for a decline. While he isn't the player that Holliday is, he may be the linchpin in the offensively superior NL West lineup.

Josh Towers: Really, he isn't a key player. Expectations are low for Towers considering his demise in Toronto. But as a Jays fan I just wanted to see his name in print concerning a team other than the Birds. This is a happy day.

DB

Rocket Man... burning out his fuse up here alone.

The Mitchell report has been released and although many players including Andy Pettit, Miguel Tejada, Eric Gagne and Gary Sheffield were all singled out, none so worse as the great hurler Roger Clemens. Clemens, whose name appears 82 times on 9 different pages will surely see his immortal legacy effected by George Mitchell's universally condemning report on steroid abuse in baseball. Stay tuned for an updated article on how I feel the Steroid Era should reflect in the record books and in Hall of Fame voting.

Why Oh Why are we Paying this Guy?

The man I am referring to is J.P. Riccardi. If they Jays make the playoffs this year, clad in their retro powder blue jerseys, I'll eat my words. Otherwise I beg this question - Why are we trading Alex Rios? With Halladay, Burnett, Marcum and McGowan pitching is not what we need. We need offense! An outfield comprised of players such as Reed Johnson, Matt Stairs and Adam Lind is terrifying considering that the Jays field underachieving offensive players at short and behind the plate already. Couple that with the injury threat of players like Glaus and Thomas and I would not be surprised if the Jays finish this year worse than last.

Forget Cabrera

Forget Miguel Cabrera, a phenomenal talent in his own right. As the Tigers get set to add Dontrelle Willis to an already stellar rotation that includes Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman and Kenny Rogers the rest of the American League should be terrified. Forget the Angels and the Yankees, the only hope for the rest of the American League is if the Red Sox make a trade for Johan Santana. Quite honestly, I'd rather they didn't.

Oakland Scrap Heap

Despite the fact that J.P. Riccardi has, as of yet, been more warmly received than the Blue Jays last general manager, the deconstructive Gord Ash, I would like to argue that Riccardi has in fact inflicted a woeful disease on the blue birds.
This disease's title? Oakland Trashitis. Since Riccardi was instated as the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays he has, for lack of a better analogy, picked from the Athletic's plate. Hinske, Lilly, Kielty, Thomas and most recently the mediocre Marco Scutaro have all been brought to Toronto by J.P. from Riccardi's former home in Oakland, with mixed results. In Hinske we had a utility corner infielder who won the Rookie of the Year award in 2003 due to a lack of better options. In Lilly Toronto received a 15 win-a-year pitcher with limited faculties. In Thomas an aging slugger who managed to lead the club due to an absence of offensive prowess elsewhere. And then the worst sin of all; obtaining Marco Scutaro when another former Oakland shortstop, Miguel Tejada, was readily available.
J.P.'s merits include a fantastic eye for pitching talent but he seriously lacks sufficient sense to make trades and free agent deals. Aside from temporary success Riccardi's dealings often involve over payment and injured results. Glaus, Burnett and even Ryan are all great examples of this. It seems that in only the most accidental cases, see the case of Canadian Matt Stairs, J.P. manages to score on his off season dealings.
The most recent mistake, obtaining Scutaro when a deal for Tejada could have been made may be the final nail in the coffin for Riccardi and his now defunct and unmentionable 7-year plan. Let's look at how their stats match up over the last three years:




















Scutaro

2005 2006 2007
Hits: 97 94 88
HR's: 9 5 7
RBI: 37 41 41
OPS: .260 .266 .247

Tejada

2005 2006 2007
199 214 157
26 24 18
98 100 81
.304 .330 .296

Clearly, Tejada outclasses Scutaro in all offensive categories. Add in the fact that Tejada is a premier offensive player who can fill a defensive position such as short stop for the likes of John MacDonald and his Miguel's only real drawback is that he is right handed - while the Jays really need another lefty. I believe that his down season in 2007, where he only played 133 games, is an upside as he can be gained for less from Baltimore (it has been suggested that a package who's best player is AA Ricky Romero would have sufficed) and Tejada is still young enough to produce at a high level for the next couple of years. The bottom line is that Tejada is roughly a million times the player that Scutaro is and could have been had for next to nothing - so why not?

Alas J.P. saddled Toronto with a super-utility man to fill holes that should be filled with full time player of a high caliber. To compete in the AL East, a division that does not stand to ever get any easier, the Jays are going to have to make a move on a more aggressive general manager. Hope, a topic I address often in sports, is my faculty for wishing for a Gillick-like GM to return to baseball's Northern front.

For Randy

This ain't so hard afterall.

A raucous debate

Recently Hugo Chavez was heard remarking: 'I think it's imprudent for a king to shout at a president to shut up. Mr. King, we are not going to shut up.'

Answering, his majesty King Juan Carlos made this observation;

"Es Hugo evidente, soy de goma y usted es pegamento."

Just a hope

Here's hoping - my Red Sox affiliations aside (which usually weaken as the Sox win) I am going to put this out there -

Miguel Tejada in Toronto for 2008!

Despite our general bad luck with free agents and Tejada's recent post steroid stat slump he constitutes a monumental upgrade at short, even if his defense is lesser than that of John MacDonald, and he will upgrade what is already a fairly powerful lineup.

The other reason why I am supporting this move is the alternative: nothing.
If the Jays do not make a trade for Tejada they will do nothing, bringing their underachieving 2007 squad into 2008.

Make mine Miguel.

DB

Pillar or Pillars?

It seems that some of the major figures of the new conservatives (meaning sarkozy , harper, merkle) are portrayed as being largely centralized and personally controlling. I don't buy that there is something inherent to liberalism or conservativism about this, so is there a structural reason? I'm not dispute the fact, just wondering why it is. Now given we’re dealing with just a few examples, it might be a coincidence that these leaders have this personal style. But maybe its not, and if not, why? I came up with three reasons, though I'm sure there are lots more.

One reason is the media. All are commonly portrayed as having a “hidden agenda”, and so reporters scour the public record, looking for candidates, staff, etc who might say something off message, since it will be taking as what Harper “really is planning”. The incentive is to vet every statement centrally, to make sure it doesn’t say anything they don’t mean to say.

At least in Canada, the Reform movement (populist, grassroots, very decentralized) was the total opposite of the current trend in Conservatives. That movement watched the Liberals win majority after majority, no wonder they’ve changed their minds.

Or maybe there is something to Naomi Kline’s new book “shock capitalism”. People always want the easy way out (government should fix it), and since conservatives generally denies them. Karl Rove was wrong, people are generally tend not to be conservative, so selling the conservative “self-help” message is innately harder to sell, requiring greater communications skill, meaning you have to rely on the best people (person).

The Democratic Way

Even though Bill is campaigning for his wife these days, he still finds time to renew old passtimes. Regrettably, interns aren't what they used to be.

Tickets to a Giants game: $40
A personalized Barry Bond's autograph: $100
Realizing that a phantom report naming numerous players allegedly linked to the BALCO steroid scandal is about to emerge as Mr. Bonds waltzes over to the American League to take a cushy DH role, thus avoiding the wrath of MLB's steroid fury: Priceless