February 23, 2007
As spring training opens and speculation about Minnesota's Gold Glove outfielder's contract begins for the second year in a row. What does he have to say about it? He says that he will refuse to let it distract the team from the ultimate goal and says that there are players in the organization whose situations definitely deserve priority, such as Cy Young winner Johan Santana and closer Joe Nathan who have been the glue of the pitching staff throughout the past few seasons. "You can't let those guys go year-to-year. You have to give the fans hope that you're going to keep the superstars around forever. You've got to let the fans know that at least for four or five more years, they can have somebody to cheer for," he said when asked to comment. Not to mention, this is all during the "optional" training camp period that most superstar players who are unhappy with their current contracts seem to be skipping these days.
Posted by glazeben at 08:19 AM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2007
Big Dreams for 2007
Sox bring size to the starting rotation and bullpen
As pitchers and catchers begin to report to Arizona, the revamped White Sox pitching staff brings a new look. Nine pitchers are 6-4 or taller including 6-10 left hander Andrew Sisco and 6-8 Adam Russell, as opposed to last year when 6-3 Bobby Jenks was the tallest member of the staff. With this size usually comes conditioning and injury issues. However, General Manager Ken Williams was pleasntly surprised with how well these players conditioned in the off-season. The Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was also very impressed by the young arms that the Sox aquired. Nick Masset and Charlie Heager are likily to grab the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation. It is going to be an exciting Spring Training watching all of these young pitchers develop and face off against major league hitters.
I am very interested to see how all of your teams finish in the Grapefruit League. I'm looking forward to March 1, where the Yanks meet the Twins in Legends Field. Since the Mets and Yankees don't actually play each other (till the regular season)we will have to see who finishes higher in the standings.
Posted by adamcole at 09:14 PM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2007
Cacti & Grapefruits
In the midst of all the heckling and badmouthing, we all failed to mention the beginning of training camp! In the past week, pitchers and catchers have been arriving to their respective ballparks, participating in their first workouts, and patiently awaiting their first chance to impress the coaches in a Grapefruit or Cactus League showdown.
The announcement of the arrival of pitchers and catchers made me excited. But it also made me a bit nervous. The Mets had 31 pitchers arrive to training camp, with 11 of them vying for a spot in the 5-man starting rotation. This wouldn’t be a problem if there were 3 or 4 solid guys who were guaranteed a spot. With an injury-riddled Pedro Martinez out until at least midseason, Tom Glavine moves into the #1 spot, and El Duque Orlando Hernandez moves into the #2 spot. No one else is guaranteed a spot. El Duque as the #2 starter on a team that barely missed a World Series appearance scares me a bit. The early favorites for the #3 and #4 spots are Oliver Perez and John Maine. Although Maine is a solid young pitcher, I’m extremely nervous entering the season with this rotation.
Hopefully, everyone will throw a little bit harder and show their true capabilities in the spirit of competition…
I wish the best of luck to the Twins and White Sox in their Spring Training. And yes, I did leave out the Yankees.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/sports/baseball/18mets.html
Posted by bryblum at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2007
A panicking Yankees fan? Hardly Mr. Blum. Rather, a baseball fan that holds his team to higher standards. As a Yankee fan, I don’t hope my team wins, I expect them to win. Nonetheless, the last few season's lack of post-season success is certainly cause for concern. Despite winning the AL East by a comfortable 9 games in 2006, the Yankees were once again eliminated in the divisional series. This year, expect that to change.
Offensively, there is no one that will outscore the Bronx Bombers. Last season, the Yanks were 1st in runs scored, 1st in hits, 2nd in batting average, and 1st in OBP. A healthy Matsui and entire season with Abreu in the lineup makes this year’s offense even more potent. Damon, Rodriguez, Giambi, Jeter and others will provide the run support this team needs. And quite frankly, backups Doug Mientkiewicz, and Melky Cabrera are good enough to start on most major league teams. At the plate, this team has loads of talent, and depth. Certainly enough to keep AL pitchers scratching their heads all season long.
Of course, the Yankees Achilles heel has never been their hitting, but always their pitching. In last year’s ALDS, Yankee pitchers gave up 22 runs in just 4 games. Well the good news is Randy Johnson and Jared Wright, who both were down right horrible in the postseason are gone. The even better news is Andy Pettitte is back in pin stripes, and newly acquired reliever Luis Vizcaino is a nice addition to an already sound bullpen.
This Yankee team is very good. But if you don’t trust me, trust vegas. After all, if you can't trust vegas who can you trust?
#27 in 2007 is looking awfully good
-Schleif
Posted by schleifj at 06:53 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2007
Adam, you bring up a great point about the weakness of the National League, but before you begin to rag on Minnesota Fans lets discuss the 12,000 fan per game attendance jump that the White Sox experienced in the last two years. Maybe because they finally had a good season? Surely the Twins will experience a jump like this when our $450 Million OUTDOOR stadium is completed in 2008 because, once again I agree, baseball is meant to be played outdoors. You are probably correct that the sport Minnesotans love the most is Hockey, which is probably why every home game in Minnesota Wilds 7 year history has been sold out. Check out this ticket brokerage site if you wanna try and compete with the loyal Minnesota Fans, but you probably won't be able to find a single original ticket for sale.
Posted by glazeben at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2007
The National League... Seriously?
AL Domination
- Teams from the American league have won 10 out of the last 15 World Series
- The National League has not won an All-star Game for the last 11 years
- The American League went 154-98 in 2006 Inter-league play
- The American League went 136-116 in 2005 Inter-league play
Bryan,
How can you cheer for the sub-par play of a weaker league? Year after year, the AL dominates the NL. Can you really call a team "panicking" when they have ONLY won 4 out of the last 11 World Series? By no means do I like the Yankees, but you have to respect what they did in the late 1990's. Shouldn't you be panicking because the Mets have only been to the World Series once since 1986, where they proceeded to get trounced by the Yankees 4-1?
I agree with Ben in the fact that you have to look to the Midwest to see true powerhouse baseball, but went a little to far west. Stop by the South Side of Chicago for foot-long hot dogs, deep dish pizza, and some great baseball. In an article by Jim Molony on the MLB website, he goes on to describe the AL Central as the "toughest division in all of baseball" with "four play-off caliber teams". Article
The White Sox revealed a potent offense in 2006, highlighted by the power of Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and Jim Thome. The highlight of the 2007 team will be the young gun pitching staff that the Sox acquired in the off-season. Dealing aging arms, such as Freddy Garcia, who wore down at the end of last season, will give the Sox the late season pushed that they lacked last season.
I dont know about the fair weather fans up there in Minnesota (baseball is meant to be played outside, not on artificial turf that you have to share with you equally pathetic NFL team), but I am counting down the day till April 2 when the Sox battle the Indians at US Cellular Field. After that we sweep that series, bring in your Twins and we will see what they've got. Personally I would tell them to stick to hockey...Posted by adamcole at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)
Payroll Isn't Everything
It is truly unfortunate that in a blog entitled “Baseball: America’s Pastime” someone who claims to be a fan would argue that it is game of money. Money is what has ruined the game. If only we could get back to the “good old days” when a team like the Minnesota Twins who recruit homegrown talent like Joe Mauer straight out of the Minneapolis high school system or Justin Morneau, this years AL MVP and coach them into players who have proven themselves to be the future of the league. How can a Yankees fan appreciate his players? Two years ago Yankees fans would have proudly worn “Damon Sucks” t-shirts to irritate their rival Red Sox, but $52 Million dollars later they have no reservations about calling him a Yankee. Speaking of Joe Mauer, anyone see he was signed to 4 years 33 million? I wonder why a player who just won the batting title would be willing to accept what seems like such a low salary in light of recent Yankee signings. Maybe he wants to win a championship on teamwork and camaraderie, not bankroll.
Twins Updates! Posted by glazeben at 04:39 PM
Cross-Town Rivals
Typical. A panicking Yankee fan, immediately on the defensive, begins a general baseball conversation by spewing the exact same protective argument. Why does it seem like every single time I begin talking baseball with a Yankee fan, within the first two minutes of conversation I hear the constantly cited “26 World Championships baby. How many do you have?” or “ 9 straight AL East Titles!”? I’ll tell you why. The Yankees are panicking. They have the biggest payroll in baseball, one of the biggest fan support bases in baseball, and they haven’t won a World Series in over 7 years! When I discuss baseball, I’m never arguing who the best franchise of all time is. There’s no question that the Yankees are the most revered team in Major League Baseball history. When I discuss baseball, I like to talk about current baseball and the future of my team.As far as the future is concerned, the Mets are the most promising young team in baseball. With young franchise-players like David Wright and Jose Reyes building off of monster break-out seasons, Carlos Beltran following possibly one of the most impressive seasons by a Met in franchise history, and a list of 9 solid pitchers fighting to break the starting rotation, I see the Mets building on last season’s impressive yet disappointing performance and making a well-deserved World Series appearance. Their opponent? I hope it’s the Yankees. Why? First, I feel bad for them with all of their recent letdowns. Second, to shut them up and reign supreme as the superior cross-town rival.
Bryan BlumPosted by bryblum at 03:09 PM | Comments (0)
Opening Post
Before my fellow posters begin their tirade, I’d like to dispel a ridiculous accusation that is sure to arise. As an avid Yankee fan, I am tired of hearing the same argument. Every October, when the Yankees win another AL East title (currently 9 straight and counting), I hear the same unintelligent line, “if the twins had 200 million they would win too.” News flash, they don’t. And nor should the Yankees be at fault for taking advantage of every opportunity provided by their large, new york city fan base. And its funny, these same critiques never say, “the florida gators should have won the national championship, afterall they do have the best in state talent to recruit from.” Its part of the game, so get over it. Yours truly, Justin SchleiferPosted by schleifj at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)
Topic Announcement
Baseball: America's National Pastime
With Spring Training scheduled to start on February 20th, a new season of baseball is quickly approaching. Under the cloud of steroids and contract negotiations, every team will start April 1 on Opening Day with the same record, 0-0. Fans from around the country will flock to stadiums rooting for either the home or away team, depending on where their heart lies, sporting the 2007 MLB authentic jerseys and hats of their favorite team. As these fans interact, arguments of who the team to beat of 2007 will be. Coming from different cities around the country, each author of this blog has one team that they love. The theme of this blog is friendly argument and debate concerning our individual hometown teams. Off-season moves and gameday updates along with historical data will be a key means for discussion in this blog. With this explained, I guess there is only one thing to say:
Play ball!Posted by adamcole at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)
Welcome
Authors
Our blog groups consists of the following people:
Adam Coleman (Section 2) - adamcole
Bryan Blum (Section 3) - bryblum
Ben Glaze (Section 3) - glazeben
Justin Schleifer (Section 3) - schleifj
Posted by adamcole at 10:07 AM | Comments (0)