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Risky Business: Rich Harden and the Chicago Cubs

I decided to give myself the night to sleep on it before I posted about Rich Harden. If I had tried to blog yesterday, I would have come off as an excited school girl who just got asked to prom by the captain of the football team. I've took some time and gathered my thoughts and I am now here to tell you all why this trade is probably the best trade for a starting pitcher this season (dating back to Bedard) and definitely better than the CC trade.

I'll state it here and now: Rich Harden has a history of injuries. I accept that and understand that for awhile (if not for the rest of the season), we might only see 5-6 innings a start out of Rich Harden. Every pitcher is an injury waiting to happen - pitching is one of the most unnatural motions we force our bodies to do. Rich Harden has been injured more than most, but as of right now he is strung together a nice streak of quality and healthy starts. I believe Hendry said it best that if he didn't have these health issues recently, he wouldn't even be on the market. While you would love to be getting a Rich Harden whose made 30 starts the last three years and has been just as electrifying throughout it all, he wouldn't have been available and even if he was you weren't going to get him without a package including your top two or three prospects.

That being said, obviously the package obtained by the A's reflect those concerns. There is no Carlos Gomez, no Matt LaPorta, and definitely no Adam Jones in this package. Matt Murton has hovered between Triple A and a 4th outfielder even though he is/was touted to be much more than that. Sean Gallagher is a young and talented pitcher. He could bloom into something good (not great), but there is a risk he won't. With any prospect, it is a very real possibility that nothing will come of their talent they have shown at lower levels of competitive play. So while I completely see the risk of Rich Harden, at least we know he can play and dominate at the Major League level. Not many people can say that about their talent and execution. If I could have made a package without Gallagher, I would have, but he is the only part of the package that I am somewhat going to miss.

While Murton was shuffling back and forth between MLB and Triple A, Eric Patterson proved he can play but was still not hitting enough. He is an OF and can play second base. The OF is a bit full with Soriano, Fukudome, and Pie (eventually). Even after that, DeRosa is still hanging around for another year. Long story short - We have a bit of a jam in the OF/2B position. I wasn't sold on Patterson (maybe I'm still hurting from Corey) so again, he is someone that I won't miss. We sold from a relative strength in our OF since we've been able to get players from the free agent pool. The final piece was a Double A catcher Josh Donaldson. With Soto showing he can field and hit his position well, I don't mind sending a low ball catcher away in a package.

This post started with me accepting that there is a huge risk in getting Rich Harden. Well, there is a huge risk that Matt Murton never becomes more than a 4th outfielder. That Sean Gallagher is never more than a mediocre pitcher. That Eric Patterson never finds his swing in the big leagues. These are the risks you see with all prospects and the reason why you try to hold onto them is because you hope they reward you with success in the MLB. No one in that package offers the reward that Rich Harden offers if he does put his injuries behind him. On top of the fact that his upside outweighs all of the others, the Cubs also got the A's to put an insurance policy into the deal: Chad Gaudin. Is he Harden? No. But this isn't a deal that if Harden goes on the DL we can officially say we handed the A's four prospects.

There is one more aspect of this trade that I'm excited for that is more of an intangible. The idea of competition within a team is not always a bad thing. Kevin Garnett talked about what it felt like to truly play with people he considered on his skill level in Boston. It often drives you to play up to your maximum potential. That isn't to say Garnett wasn't trying in Minnesota, but sometimes you don't even realize you have another level until the skill around you catches up to your own level. Carlos Zambrano hasn't had another ace on his staff since 2003. In 2003, he was sort of the young, wild guy who was hoping to be Mark Prior and Kerry Wood (I still get emotional thinking about it...). After that, Big Z was on his own here to lead the staff. He has done well and pitched like an #1 pitcher. I personally want to see what Harden and Zambrano do for one another. I won't claim that this had anything to do with Zambrano 8 inning 1 hitter against the Reds tonight but hopefully you can see my point. There will never be a way to measure it or even be sure it is happening, but I think adding a pitcher of Harden's quality to a group of good pitchers brings everyone up a level. Aside from the rotation, Harden can hopefully help the bullpen as well. While he might not eat innings, you can actually rotate your bullpen pitchers into games a lot better if you are calling for them in 4-0 and 5-0 games instead of going to the same guys that you look to in close games.

And on top of all this, Rich Harden isn't even a rental. The Cubs control Harden for '08 and '09. So when the Brewers have to accept two draft picks and hope they find the diamond in the rough in next year's draft, the Mariners trade away Erik Bedard for pennies on the dollar because their team sits in last place, the Diamondbacks hope that not all 5 prospects sent over to Oakland turn out to be studs even though Haren has been great, and the Mets pray that Santana is worth the money in years 4 and 5 of his deal, the Cubs get a year and a half of one of the best pitchers in baseball. If they are smart and they watch his pitch count, which is hard because when he strikes out 8 in 4 innings and hasn't allowed a hit you think its going to be an off day for your bullpen but he needs to throw a lot of pitches sometimes to get those strikeouts, and give him that extra day each time it comes up throughout the season, the Cubs will put Harden in the best position possible to remain healthy. The Cubs also have 6 starters (Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster, Marquis, Harden, and Marshall), a starter turned reliever (Lieber) and a reliever-starter hybrid (Gaudin). Obviously some of those names are more marketable than others but adding Harden may turn the Cubs into a minor seller at the trading deadline in order to add a prospect or maybe address other needs. There is always a need for a starting pitcher and teams who need to trade for them (the New York Yankees anyone?). It just opens the door for Hendry to throw a few more names around the league.

As a Cubs fan, I am not saying that this is a flat out steal of a deal because I realize that he needs to stay healthy, but I can only help but smile when I think about what it might be like if he does. Forget the curse and the World Series, lets just see 6 quality innings this Saturday. I'll be wearing my Rich Harden T-Shirt Jersey until then.

The Return - Matt and Joe Radio - July 10th 2008 - 10 PM - Listen Here

The Kids Come to New York City

Last night maybe the two best pitchers in baseball were pitching in New York. And yes, those two are both only 24 years old. Scott Kazmir went to the mound at Yankee Stadium while Tim Lincecum went to the mound at Shea Stadium. Both will be at Yankee Stadium next Tuesday for the All-Star game, but last night was the chance to watch these two studs throw in the biggest city in the world.

However, while Lincecum and Kazmir were pitching, the night went to another youngster; Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey defeated Lincecum, going seven scoreless innings while striking out five. Pelfrey is now 5-0 in his last eight starts with an ERA of 2.70. His season record is now 7-6 and his ERA is below 4 (3.93).

On the other side of the Triborough Bridge, Andy Pettitte showed Kazmir that he's been a very good lefty since before Kazmir entered high school. Pettitte was definitely a senior citizen on this night for pitchers in New York.

But it's truly a refreshing feel seeing young stars taking the mound, and maybe even another young one ready to blossom. What Kazmir and Lincecum are doing are in ways comparable to how all those great pitcher from way back when busted onto the scene. They are mowing people down and doing it very, very easily.

Maybe the best part about seeing young pitchers develop is the fact that this decade is most recognized for big hitting. And the reality is the real die-hard baseball fans absolutely loves his nine-inning pitchers duel.

Just taking the New York games last night, they were mostly a pitchers duel. While the final results read the Mets winning 7-0 and the Yankees winning 5-0, if you watched these games you saw a pitcher on each side having command. Yeah, the Mets got to Lincecum with the long ball, but other than that nothing more could really be done. And for the Yankees, they got to Kazmir early and his night was done after six. But it was something at least a little special (unless you're a Rays or Giants fan) having four pitchers in one city who just know how to pitch. There were the three kids and an old guy... OK, older guy.

But you know what, those kids are alright.


Tune in to the return of Matt and Joe Radio on Thursday July 10 at 10 PM

The Great Trade For Second Place

We're Back. I had a long and elaborate intro to this blog about the return of Matt and Joe but honestly - We're All About Business. So here we go....

In the past 48 hours, the most interesting in season trade in the last few seasons has been finalized. CC (note the lack of periods between the C's, you're welcome CC) Sabathia is now a Milwaukee Brewer. This blog isn't to analyze the trade itself but talk about the timing of the trade. While it is impressive to see a GM go out and make a move with the trade deadline forcing him to do so (and thus maximizing the time they get to use CC and possibly negotiate with him), to me the trade was made with a team that doesn't seem to have the parts to make a run this season. The Brewers are turning things up offensively (recently, J.J. Hardy went on a 6 homer tear in a 8 game stretch) and Ben Sheets is reminding us that he is a true ace but I still see a team that isn't ready to make that push into the playoffs (or further).

Yes - The NL is WIDE OPEN. The NL West is making its yearly threat to send a sub .500 team into the playoffs (or is it a promise since one of those teams HAS to be in the playoffs?), the Brewers are currently better than the top of the NL East (Phillies only have 48 wins to the Brewers 49), and the Cubs are only 4 games ahead in the NL Central. This may seem like a great reason to go out and get yourself a stud like CC for a much lighter price than the ransom paid for Dan Haren. However, the Brewers still put Mike Cameron out in CF every day. Jason Kendall still takes batting practice with the pitchers just to boost his self confidence (that could be completely false). Gabe Kapler is the #4 outfielder and backup to all three positions. The bullpen is horrendous (better since they threw Gagne away, but still, not very good). Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy have heated up after slow starts while Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall (who lost his starting job to Russell Branyan) continue to play poorly. Ryan Braun is hitting well but not at the pace he set for himself with his amazing rookie season.

The list goes on and on - Jeff Suppan, though injured, will be a starter when he returns just because of the money invested in him - Ben Sheets already has 118 innings under his belt and while he has remained healthy, who knows what to expect as he approaches season highs in IP and pitches thrown - etc... This is a team that has pieces but while on a hot streak now doesn't seem to me like a team that righted the ship and is now playing up to their potential. This is a team playing a bit over their head and while that might mean they slow down a bit, it doesn't mean they are the San Francisco Giants. Adding CC to this group makes them better - How can you add an ace to your rotation, not lose any every day players and not call that an improvement? That being said, I don't think CC changes them from an good team to a great time. If the Brewers make the playoffs and the hitters are clicking, CC makes them a scary first round team just because you have to face either CC or Sheets twice if it goes to 5. However, even in the soft NL, I don't think CC necessarily is the piece that helps them get to the playoffs. I believe that the NL East (yes, this is mostly my belief in the NY Mets/Phillies) will produce the wild card team because I think the Mets have yet to play their best baseball of the season. Even with my NL Central bias as a Cubs fan, I think the Mets (assuming the Phillies take the East) have a better team and should win more games than the Brewers from here on out.

Again, not to analyze the trade, but LaPorta was a blue chip prospect that could project to big power numbers in the outfield. If the NL plays out the way I think it will, the Brewers will maybe keep it interesting but again miss the playoffs. While CC could sign with the Brewers, I don't think he will. Sure, you get 2 draft picks for him, but in the end draft picks are almost meaningless. Sure, you'd love to have a ton of them but honestly, first round players bust almost as often as 20th round players turn out to be aces. Scouting reports and work outs can only take you so far and in the end you just hope to get lucky and land on a true blue chip prospect. The Brewers traded talent to get talent but I don't think it was the move they needed to make to secure a playoff berth and therefore could be a move not worth making. Again, you love to add a pitcher like CC whenever you can but if he turns out just to be a rental and you don't even get a trip to the playoffs out of it, you have to ask yourself that one question: Was he worth it?

If the Brewers make the playoffs, this post is worthless and I'll delete it no one can read it and tell me just how wrong I was. Hell the trade would also be worth something if the Brewers don't make it but CC signs long term and LaPorta busts in Cleveland. But in the here and now, a team that needed some stability in its bullpen, a bit more offense from a few positions, a bit of consistency from their starting eight, and their ace to stay healthy just added another ace to the mix. I wouldn't complain about it but I don't think this makes them a lock for the playoffs. Only time will tell if this a move that should have been made, but for now, it seems to me like it will be the greatest trade of the season for a second place team. Maybe it is just wishful thinking from a hopeful (and jealous) Cubs fan, but CC might be more Bedard than Schilling at the end of the day.

The Return - Matt and Joe Radio - Thursday Night - 10 PM - 12 AM

I ask you to relax about Pedro

Well Mets fans, I'm sure many of you are freaking out today. On the Rider University campus I've had numerous Mets fans approach me today with their concern about Pedro Martinez. While I haven't heard any reports yet, I am at a great state of ease regarding his injury. I could be wrong, but I really don't think it will be that bad when we hear the news. I love Gary, Keith and Ron on SNY, but they were over-doing it I felt with Pedro. And then of course the same went for the Baseball Tonight folks on ESPN.

But here were my impressions; Pedro slipped, hurt his hamstring. Maybe a little pop. But, and this is key, he walked... fine, he hobbled off to the clubhouse on his own. He was not carried, he was not guided, he simply limped by himself. Obviously he wouldn't be normal stride since he did just hurt his hammy a bit, but it did not look like an "Oh God, we're finished" moment. Mets fans, just think back to 2003 when Mike Piazza landed poorly and popped his groin. Remember how painful that looked? That's how you can tell how bad a leg injury is. That day Piazza was carried off by three Mets players. Last night Pedro walked away with the trainer at his side. That's a positive, if you think there can be one.

Again, this is just me going off of what I saw. Call me an optimist, but I've strained my hamstring and I've strained my groin in the past. When it was bad, I couldn't stand up. When it wasn't anything severe, I hobbled away much like Pedro. I think by this evening whenever the Mets release the report, we'll be saying it's not that big of a deal.

This Should Be a Holiday

You gotta love baseball. Opening Day hands down is one of my favorite days of the year. Yeah, it's an insignificant day in the win-loss column since the most you can be up is a game and the most you can be down is a game, but it's the return of baseball. Something that we all love so very much comes back, and that is a great thing.

My Opening Day wasn't spent the way I wished, but it was a great one. Due to practice followed by an exam, I had to set the VCR for the Mets opener and avoid all human contact. My cell phone was turned off from 4 to about 9:30, AIM was off. I was unavailable. I returned basically right when the game ended around 7:30, which was very perfect. Pushed play sat back and enjoyed Mr. Santana in a Mets uniform. Then with the ability to skip commercials and pointless down moments, I watched the Mets cruise to a 7-2 victory over the Marlins.

Johan Santana most definitely headlines Opening Day with a tremendous outing in his first start with the large contract. But other than the Mets defeating the Marlins, there was plenty more to enjoy on Opening Day 2008.

There were a handful of poor outings from starters. Mark Buerhle and CC Sabathia combined to give up 12 runs in their match up. Buerhle was the uglier of the two. Joe made mentions before of how flat he looked. Barry Zito picked up right where he left off; sucking. Zito got tagged for 4 runs in five innings. Justin Verlander didn't look so hot leading the Matt and Joe AL favorite Tigers, giving up 4 in six innings. And yep, the Tigers lost to the Royals. Brett Myers put a smile on my face with his performance today, giving up 4 runs in the fifth inning.

It was the battle of bad closers in Chicago today, with the Kerry Wood coming into a scoreless game and giving up three runs in the 9th, only to be matched by Eric Gagne matching him with a blown save.

I'll quickly some up my days good news; The Mets won. The Phillies lost. The Braves are losing. The Yankees didn't get in the way (they were postponed to tomorrow night).

All in all a pretty good Opening Day for Matt Dahl.

Still one game to go, Padres and Astros are underway with my fantasy pitcher (Jake Peavy) facing Joe's (Roy Oswalt). We'll both be watching this one.

Until tomorrow, folks! Hope you all enjoyed Opening Day.

We're talking baseball....

Well, I might of missed the first pitch of what I like to consider the real opening day, but I'll be here all afternoon for your blogging needs. Don't forget to go to www.blogtalkradio.com/mattdahlradio to check out our show from last night!

4:40 PM - Its early. I can't stress that enough. But the Detriot bullpen is BAD. I know I joked about Todd Jones, but he might be the least of the concerns. Cubs and Brewers are back at it....the Dodgers/Giants are starting and the Rockies are out to 1-0 over the Cardinals. There is almost too much baseball (thats a lie). I love it.

4:30 PM - Teahen thrown out at the plate in the 11th inning!!! Thank God for baseball. But the excitement didn't last as on the next at bat Tony Pena Jr. knocked in the run. Royals lead in the top of the 11th. Mets game just started, where is Matt Dahl? Jo-Jo-Jo-Johan and the Mets.

4:15 PM - Side note...if you had to give me one player who'd have a shot at breaking Joe DiMaggio's streak for hits in a game, I'd take Chase Utley. It is scary how good he is at everything he does. People said he was a subpar fielder, he decided to become a good fielder. He hits like a corner outfielder and he does it with average and power.

4:10 PM - Power Surge in Cleveland! 11 Runs already and its only the 3rd inning. Matt's Homey Jim Thome has gone yard twice and has 4 RBI's. He's early leader for the Matt and Joe Opening Day All Star Award.

3:50 PM - Not that I love baseball because of fantasy baseball, but sometimes I amaze myself. Mark Buerhle looks HORRIBLE. Not horrible cause he has given up 7 runs in one inning, horrible because his stuff is just completely flat.

3:45 PM - I step away for a second and things go wild. The Tigers lost the lead and then tied it up. A lot of other MLB action going including my Cubs/Brewers match up. For all the loyal readers, sorry if I step away from the Tigers/Royals but the Cubbies gotta take priority here. Elsewhere: Baltimore jumps out to a quick lead; Offensive explosion in the White Soxs/Indians game where the Tribe leads 5-2. I'll stop there because you can all read box scores but how about Mark Buerhle getting LIT UP for 6 in the 2nd (and it is still going)!

3:00 PM - After five beautiful innings, Verlander meets his first hickup: 2-Run homer by Alex Gordon. 3-2 Tigers. If I'm a Tigers fan, you can't be upset that Verlander gives you 6 innings, 5 K's, and 2 ER's on opening day, but you see a score like 3-2 and you have to take a breath and say: Oh wow, Todd Jones will be coming into this game in just two innings. Here is hoping that the Tigers either score 9 more runs or Todd Jones attached Zumaya's shoulder and arm onto his body while no one was looking...

2:45 PM - FINALLY! A homerun by this Tigers's offense. I was starting to get worried they were all bark and no bite. For those keeping track at home, Miguel Cabrera just hit homer #1 of the season. Update around the league: Cubs/Brewers - Delayed, D-Backs/Reds - Delayed, Yankees/Blue Jays - PPD

2:35 PM - Better yet, the Yankees/Blue Jays are postponed. No epic matchup between Halladay and Wang for us today...

2:30 PM - I got excited at the idea of a Verlander perfect game, even though it was way too early to think about it. He's looked dominant so far. Maybe thats partially because its the Royals, but whatever spring worries you had about Verlander, it looks like just another case of spring numbers meaning nothing. Side note: The Yankees/Blue Jays are still in a delay.

2:00 PM - Its the bottom of the third in Detriot and the Detriot offense has only scored 1 run. Talk about over hyped. The way everyone (including Matt and I) went on and on about them, you'd figure it'd be 10-0 already. Its only the first game, but Gil Meche might be better than everyone thought he was. Not a shut down ace, but a very nice pitcher. The inning just ended. All jokes aside, I really don't like Cabrera batting fifth in the lineup. I can see him really exploding from the 3 or 4 holes, but I imagine its Leyland's call that his is the best hitter of Sheffield-Magglio-Cabrera so he doesn't need the other to to protect him.

Gotay Claimed by Braves, and Minaya Screws Up Again

IF Ruben Gotay has been claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. The Braves expect to put Gotay on their 25-man roster.

The Mets put Gotay on waivers late on Wednesday, and Gotay had the following comment when placed on waivers:

"I thought I did a good job last year and I didn't deserve this."

He's right. I was a big fan of Gotay and last year even said I'd be fine with him as our everyday second baseman. His defense wasn't like Castillo's, but give me a break. It's not like he had no mobility out there and couldn't field the position. His bat was great, and I loved it when Willie toyed around with him batting second behind Reyes. This is a shame, Gotay should be on this team.

And I hate to say this because I do like a lot that Omar Minaya has done, but Gotay is no longer on the Mets because Fernando Tatis is a Minaya guy. He was brought into Texas by Minaya, he was in Montreal when Minaya was running that show and he's been invited to Mets camp since Minaya has been back here. It's a joke that Tatis is gonna be our 25th man because he has versatility. He's a 32-year old failed steroid subject who's played one season since 2003 and only has one good year to his name, and that was 1999.

This is what's gonna happen; Tatis is gonna start the year 1-for-24, he'll be designated for assignment and the Mets are gonna wish they held onto Gotay because now they have to force Jose Valentin and Damian Easley into the lineup when Castillo needs days to rest his terrible knee, and then the bench is weakened because now we have to call up someone who isn't a Major League bat.

Maybe this is a Mets fan liking a scrappy player too much, but I don't understand why you wouldn't want Ruben Gotay on this team. He'd be a great asset. This is a shame. And it's even worse that he's going to Atlanta, because I'm sure he'll come back to kill us sooner rather than later.

I'm a fan of baseball, not the dramatic series

Well Jose Canseco is at it again. He intends to release a follow up to his book "Juiced" on the Tuesday after all all teams have opened their season (April 1), looks to put more claims on people, mainly Alex Rodriguez.

Now I'm sure it's well known that I am not a big fan of A-Rod (The Lightning Rod), but can Jose Canseco please sit down and shut up? If he wants to try and help find a solution for the part steroids have in Major League Baseball, fine. But he's doing more than naming names. He's going out of his way to do it at a terrible time to make more money for himself, to appear on TV more, and to basically just get himself out there. His whole demeanor truthfully just irritates me. He goes out to sound like the one that brought steroids into baseball, and then he acts like he did absolutely nothing wrong.

Well not only what he did then was wrong, what he's doing now is totally wrong. If you have names, don't keep making books and appearing on any national TV show. Go to the commissioner in private.

Jose Canseco comes off to me as nothing more than a big jerk, and that's exactly what he was even in his playing days. This is becoming more and more of a joke every time he opens his mouth. Look, I hate the issue of steroids in baseball, but you know what I really want to hear about? The New York Mets. Joe wants to hear about the Chicago Cubs. The loud-mouth in Philly wants to hear about the Philadelphia Phillies (I'm just kidding about the loud-mouth part... kind of).

Opening Day is just around the corner. Come Monday, I don't give a damn who's accusing who about steroids. Message for Canseso; your days in baseball are over, just let it be. Move on and go away. You're ruining the game now as much as you did by presenting others to steroids.

Opening Day should be a happy time. I'm gonna enjoy it and push all this steroid BS aside.

Follow the Maine Man

While there's been plenty of concern on the offensive side for the New York Mets, the pitching staff seems to have solidified itself even more this spring. You knew Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez would provide a lethal 1-2 punch in the National League, and everyone's always talked about the ace-like stuff that Oliver Perez brings to the table. But maybe the biggest key in making this a seriously dangerous comes from the development of John Maine.

In the spring of 2006, Omar Minaya struck an under-the-radar deal with the Baltimore Orioles, sending Kris Benson to the O's in efforts to add bullpen help, which came in Jorge Julio. With Benson's so called "potential", Julio wasn't quite enough, and Minaya requested a young pitcher by the name of John Maine. The Orioles accepted, and the Mets rid themselves of one-half of Black Friday '04.

Maine began the year in the minors and wasn't given real consideration for the rotation in his brief stint at Mets spring training camp. But due to an injury-plagued team in 2006, he got his chance after Brian Bannister and Victor Zambrano (the second and worse half of Black Friday '04) went down with injuries. To no surprise, Maine developed a blister during warmups of his Mets debut. Despite a so-so outing that evening (at a game I was in attendance), Maine still looked to have good stuff. He soon returned and proved himself to be a winner at the big league level, putting together a string of 23 scoreless innings to begin the 2nd half of the season. His most impressive showings came in the postseason, having to fill in as the NLDS Game 1 starter and then showing up in the biggest game the Mets had played at that point, Game 6 of the NLCS with the Mets facing elimination. He showed up both times, and in Game 6 he pulled out a win with a tremendous performance shutting down the Cardinals.

Then last year, he was incredible to start the season. Maine went 12-5 in the early goings, but finished 3-5, stumbling a bit with all the innings. You can't knock him though, he had a tremendous first full ML season for someone who was a "throw in" during spring training 2006. And once again, showing up on a day the Mets without a doubt needed a win, Maine was nearly perfect, going 7-2/3 shutout innings only allowing the one hit which was a dribbler down the third base line to Pat Hoover. And oh yeah, he had 14 strikeouts.

Now Maine is expected to be an impact guy on this team. No, he doesn't have the dominance that Santana brings to the table, and no, he doesn't have the charisma that Pedro has, but he's got all the right tools to be a 17-game winner. Hell, if all the cards fall into place, he could be a 20-game winner.

It's no secret that I'm personally a big John Maine fan. Maybe it was being at his Mets debut, but there's something about him that I've always liked. He's got a great attitude and goes out there to win. He realizes his importance to the team each night he goes to the mound. He's not a kid anymore, he's a proven pitcher. And I'm sure some will continue to question Maine, and that's fine. But don't be shocked when he rolls through opposing teams this season. Just look at what his spring has been; dominant.

He's reliable and he's one of the reasons the Mets are more than alright even if Moises Alou and Carlos Delgado go through constant injuries this season. There's a lot of teams in baseball who would love to have John Maine in their rotation, and for the Mets he'll be a No. 3 or No. 4 guy. That's pretty damn good if you ask me.

It's hard to find a better Maine Man.

Where's Matt and Joe?

We apologize for being quite MIA as of late. March has not been the friendliest of months to Matt and Joe. Luckily things have been going slow enough in the baseball world where we haven't missed a whole lot.

We do intend to return full-time post Easter Sunday.

Please Be Confused

Over at Metsblog.com, Matt Cerrone takes note that Ed Coleman on WFAN has reported that the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox are discussing a swap of Angel Pagan for Coco Crisp.

Very strange. Is there more to this?

This is all just talk right now, so don't go thinking the Mets have Coco Crisp. Pagan has been playing very well so far in spring training for the Mets, and with recent injuries there's every right to believe he would make the team. Maybe the deal for Crisp would be to take a guy with success as an everyday player. I'm really not sure.

This could mean the Red Sox are entirely set on giving the starting job to Jacob Ellsbury, and maybe they'd like to just take your typical fourth outfielder, which Pagan pretty much is.

I'm split here. Crisp is good, but I think Pagan would provide enough for the Mets filling in for Alou and then being the platoon guy with Ryan Church as the year goes on. And as I type this Pagan just blasted a 2-run homer in spring training action against the Orioles. He now has 10 RBI in the spring. Maybe the Mets should keep him.

Pedro throws well in Simulated Game

Pedro Martinez found himself in another simulated game on Tuesday afternoon in Port St. Lucie. Pedro faced Carlos Beltran and three minor leaguers. He threw 59 pitches, 43 of which went for strikes.

Pedro came out of it saying he feels "really healthy" and is not concerned about not having seen a live game yet. He told all the doubters that he will indeed be ready for April, after all it is only March.

I've been saying for a while I'm not worried about Pedro. I trust him to be healthy and ready to rock come game two in Florida this season. I'm excited to see Johan Santana and Pedro front this staff, it's gonna be a lot of fun.

BREAKING NEWS: Yankees Sign Star to Minor-League Deal

Sports Net New York is reporting that the New York Yankees and Actor/Comedian Billy Crystal have come to terms on a 1-day minor-league contract.

Crystal, 59, was captain for his team during his senior year at Long Beach high school. He batted .343 that season.

Crystal is excited to be joining the Yankees and is expected to be in uniform tomorrow afternoon when the Yankees take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training play.

There's No Crying in Baseball!

So are we supposed to dog it in spring training or prepare ourselves for the long haul? I say long haul.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi turned out to be quiet aggravated after Saturday's spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays. There was a crucial collision at the plate in this game, where Tampa's Elliot Johnson plowed over Francisco Cervelli of the Yankees. Cervelli will now be out 10 weeks with a broken wrist. Girardi wasn't a fan of the "hard" play.

"It's just disheartening. It's spring training, I just don't understand," Girardi said. "I told all my players to play hard, but when you do something like that you take your chances that you will get someone hurt."

Don Zimmer, who is a now a senior adviser for the Rays, has been close with Girardi during the Yankee bench coach days, but he strongly disagreed with what the new Yankee manager had to say.

"You block the plate. If I slide into him and break a leg, nothing is said. Instead of breaking my leg I bowl him over and it's not the right play?" Zimmer said. "Well, to me it's the right play, spring training or no spring training. Play the game the right way. To me, our kid played it the way he thought it was right, and I think it was right."

And this may be the one time I say this, but I agree with Don Zimmer. Sure, maybe you can say 'oh, Matt, you just hate the Yankees'. And yes, I do. But really, I feel like the game should be played the way it is meant to be. I love listening to Keith Hernandez during Mets games always making the point of how no one plays as "aggressive" as they did in his day. Poking fun at players coming into home plate insisting they're practically saying "excuse me, old chum". Truthfully, players need to start going in for a little more kill. And I like that there was a collision at the plate in March. Sure, it's terrible that the kid broke his wrist and will be out for about eight weeks, but it's part of the game.

Zimmer hit it right on the head that if Johnson were to just slide feet-first into the plate being blocked and if he broke his leg nobody would have made a fuss out of it. But because he went out his way to get to the plate, the best approach to scoring. Spring training is to tune you up for the regular season, might as well tune up the attitude if you want to win at all during the year.

So Girardi, please, pipe down. You used to be the tough, scrappy player. This is the way the game should be. Sometimes you just gotta get yourself dirty.

And Tom Hanks was absolutely right, there is no crying in baseball.

Mostly Joe Radio at 7 PM!

Hey Everyone,

Just a reminder. Mostly Joe Radio is on tonight at 7 PM. Matt is off traveling the world so we'll see if we can touch base with him.

Heres the Link: Mostly Joe Radio

Why are Mets fans so calm?

We haven't even been in spring training for a full month yet, and already 12 players who you figure would make the Major League roster are nursing injuries. Some are going back to New York for MRIs and CT scans, some are hobbling around the clubhouse unsure of when they'll be back on the field, and of course the old guys keep crumbling.

So why is no one panicking? I don't want to say I represent the die-hard Mets fan, but I feel most share my feelings and current optimism about the team, even if injuries are coming left and right. There's a memorable scene in "Seinfeld" from season 3 that explains the feeling of a Mets fan before the season begins.

"Seinfeld" - Season 3, Episode 13, The Subway

Naked Man on Subway: They still have no pitching, Gooden's a question mark. You don't recover from those rotator cuff surgeries so fast.

Jerry Seinfeld: I'm not worried about the pitching, they got enough pitching. They got no hitting.

Naked Man on Subway: No, they got hitting. Bonilla, Murray. They got no defense.

Jerry Seinfeld: Defense, please. They need speed.

Naked Man on Subway: Speed? They've got Coleman.

Jerry Seinfeld: They need a bullpen.

Naked Man on Subway: Franco's no good?

Jerry Seinfeld: They got no team leaders.

Naked Man on Subway: They got Franco. What they need is a front office.

Jerry Seinfeld: But you gotta like their chances.

Naked Man on Subway: I love their chances.

That very attitude which existed before the 1992 seasons, one of the worst Mets teams ever, is always carried. No matter how good or bad the team is, the fans will always love their chances. It's that simple.

So what, am I supposed to be freaking out because Moises Alou is expected to be out 4 to 6 weeks? No. And chances are that turns into 8 weeks. Should I be panicking to get a first baseman because Carlos Delgado has a balky hip? Well I won't be. Not now.

Nothing has gone smoothly since arriving to camp. Nothing. But as Mets fans we will not begin to worry. The fact of the matter is that we will absolutely always believe in this team, whether the stars are Ty Wigginton and Jason Phillips or David Wright and Jose Reyes. There is a certain faith that exists in Mets fans, even at the worst of times.

Delgado, Alou, Marlon Anderson, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, Duaner Sanchez, Carlos Beltran, Endy Chavez, Luis Castillo, Ruben Gotay, Jose Valentin, Orlando Hernandez. There's the list. And that list can be topped by the ongoing questions about Pedro Martinez being able to stay healthy. It doesn't phase me. None of it.

Look at the bright spots. Pedro's happy adjusting as the team's No. 2 starter. Johan Santana is enjoying things at Mets camp. Beltran is speaking up finally. David Wright and Jose Reyes seem more mature than ever. Oliver Perez was kept happy by getting his money. John Maine didn't throw a fit like other young players (ie. Cole Hamels) and did not oppose his contract renewal. Mike Pelfrey looked solid in his first outing. Aaron Heilman finally seems accepting of his bullpen role. Things have been just fine.

So really, I'm not worried, and no Mets fan should be. This team is going to be good. All these little nicks and nacks will work themselves out. 2008 will be a fun year, so don't allow yourself to get caught up with negative reactions swarming from the media due to Mets injuries. It's no big deal. Come see me on March 17.

But for now, just enjoy baseball being back. We're 25 days away from Mets opening day. Everything will be set according to plan.

I want to wish everybody a Happy Pedro Day. Pedro Martinez will be on the mound tonight at 7:05 as the Mets take on the Nationals in spring training action. The game will only be available on MLBtv and MLB.com Gameday Audio.

Why the Rockies are Ruining Baseball

Since the late 1990s, all you've heard is how the Yankees are ruining baseball because of the way they utilize their bottomless wallet. They used their seemingly limitless resources to go after every free agent and either raised the price on the free agent or eventually signed the player. They were 'ruining the competitive balance' of the league. They were the reason why baseball needs a salary cap. While the Yankees are the prime example of this, there are other culprits. The Red Sox, Cubs, and Mets (among others) spend heavily and do so with no apologies for teams like the Tampa Bay Rays or Kansas City Royals.

It is now 2008. The Yankees still spend closer to 200 million than 100 million and they have 3 infielders making at least 19 million dollars annually. Is this good for baseball? Probably not but the Yankees have zero titles in the last 7 season so we can't say that spending equates to victories. But I propose another demon in the baseball world that will be the cause for the future failure of teams and a higher percentage of salary inflation than the Yankees were ever responsible for: The Colorado Rockies.

You heard me correctly. 'Rocktober' has turned into 'Rockonomics' as they have signed many of their young players to long term deals very early into their careers. Not all of these signings are as bad as others but we'll list a few:

• Brad Hawpe - 3+ years of service time - Signed $17 Million/3 Years Contract


• Manny Corpas - 1-2 years of service time - Signed $8 Million/4 Years Contract


• Aaron Cook - 4 years of service time - Signed $34.5 Million/4 Years Contract


• Troy Tulowitzki - 1+ year of service time - Signed $31 Million/6 Years Contract

Now, I can probably see the Hawpe and Cook signings as your typical buy-out of arbitration years. That is an exchange of a discounted price for security and it is a standard practice in Major League Baseball. The other two signings - Tulowitzki and Corpas - are the cause of the complaints of players like Cole Hamels, Prince Fielder, Jonathon Papelbon, and Nick Markakis and the reason why we cheer players like John Maine for 'being grateful' for being paid a couple hundred thousand dollars for playing a game.

The salary ladder in the MLB is somewhat complicated and can be frustrating to players, especially when they hear the league is making 6 billion dollars in a year. During the first years of a player's career, they are under 'team control' where they can be renewed at whatever price the organization sees fit. Entering their third year, a player is allowed to post a price he believes he deserves and the organization can decide whether or not to match that number. These are a players 'arbitration eligible years' since they have some say in their salary (if the team/player can't come to an agreement, an arbitrator will decide which number to go with). After these years, a player can become a free agent if he is not signed to a long term deal beforehand. Standard practice in baseball has been to keep players under team (and salary) control as long as possible and potentially strike a deal that will buy out the last few arbitration eligible seasons and a year or two of free agency.

Those first three (potentially 2 if they enter the 'Super 2' Exception, which we won't go into) years of a players career are under the team's control. This isn't indentured servitude, it just means that the league is only required to pay you the league minimum. With young players, teams usually increase their pay from year to year if they are continuing to compete at the MLB level but they never approach the numbers that players can reach once they enter salary arbitration. These are the few years where an organization gets a true discount on a player's services since the salaries in the MLB have skyrocketed. It was sort of an accepted way of the game as it is in any other job in the world. You have to do your time. The millions will come if you are a special player, like Troy Tulowitzki, but you went through the system and eventually got your payday.

The Phillies set a $900,000 mark for Ryan Howard that now Jonathon Papelbon wants to match. So maybe the Rockies aren't the only people to blame, but giving a player with 1+ years of service a 6 year contract? While the annual numbers will probably work out to a reasonable salary increase and end up being a huge discount to the Rockies (as long as he doesn't get hurt), what does that say to other players? If I was Cole Hamels, to see Tulowitzki get guaranteed money and years after just one year would piss me off too. Cole Hamels and Troy Tulowitzki might not be fair to compare since the injury risk with pitchers is completely different than with position players, but if I were Nick Markakis, I would be pissed at the Orioles for a simple renewal.

Is this a good financial decision for the Rockies? As I said earlier, absolutely. If the Rockies treated Tulowitzki the way the Yankees handled Derek Jeter, he would have taken them to the bank in salary arbitration and probably held them ransom during his free agency years (again barring injury). However, in the world of baseball, these decisions give other young players the idea that their teams are doing something wrong or disrespectful by not doing the same thing for them. This creates tension between sides and could eventually lead to situations where players leave teams not because of a team's lack of financial freedom to sign them but because the two sides have animosity towards one another.

So when Cole Hamels leaves Philadelphia after years of arguing over his salary and signs with the big market team that would love a fire-balling left hander, is it the poisons of the overpriced free agent market, the lack of 'team loyalty' now a days, or this new precedent being set among teams (Cleveland with Sizemore is another example) where they are throwing their initial years of salary control out the window in exchange for a discount later? When Prince Fielder leaves, who do we blame then? While I don't agree with the idea that Jonathon Papelbon will settle for a $400,000 contract in protest of the Red Sox not giving him $900,000 or Hamels being upset at $500,000, I can see the logic to be honest. The system functioned. That wasn't the area that was ruined competitive balance. A player worked through his first few years and would be rewarded in salary arbitration or with a long term deal. Even the Yankees followed that model (see: SP Wang). The Yankees took Derek Jeter year to year and eventually paid for him. I am not suggesting that teams should go year to year and pay top dollar for their homegrown talent. Teams buying out arbitration years makes sense and that practice has helped smaller markets keep their players at a relative discount. But the idea that organizations would give so much so soon to players makes no sense from a financial standpoint.

There is a lot of money in baseball and if the game is making so much money I think the players should as well, but business is business. Teams should use those first three years to reward their young players in small increments and maybe build a relationship that can settle a deal for the arbitration years. Those three years are a way for a team to avoid Carl Pavano-itis. As a fan, I would want my team to audition a player for as long as possible as long as it made financial sense but kept a healthy relationship between the player and team before they signed him to 6 years. If organizations start to feel pressured to pay up sooner in order to avoid tempers flaring and scarring away talent, you might see more one year wonders turning into 8 year headaches than you see Rookie of the Years turning into MVPs (which Manny Corpas and Troy Tulowitzki were not...that would be Ryan Howard, and he is still going through arbitration).

The next time you complain about prices of the game and the salary of the players, save a few curse words for the Rockies while you rant about A-Rod and the Yankees. Remember, the Yankees can only 'steal' players with their evil money if they make it to free agency and if the model being utilized in Colorado isn't adapted by other teams, you can bet many young stars will grow very upset with their teams and look to leave as soon as possible and strike it rich in the free market. Or just ask yourself this...if you went out to dinner and the bill read $20, would you pay $60? If yes, I would love to be your waiter. If not, why should teams be expected to pay A-Rod money for players whose service time says they can make league minimum?

Disagree? Comment or call in this Sunday on Matt and Joe Radio.

Will Ferrell has the solution

Not much in the early goings of today- just Cole Hamels and Prince Fielder are complaining about their contract "renewals". I don't have a whole lot of commentary on that except just play and shut up- wait for your arbitration to come.

So, in the spirit of slowness, I'm gonna keep the Youtube ball rolling. And this is for Knicks fans and Will Ferrell fans.

Here's a funny spot on SNY from a few nights ago with Will Ferrell promoting his new movie "Semi-Pro" and discussing some Knicks and their woes.



"Semi-Pro" is in theaters now, and I'm personally looking forward to seeing it.

Matt and Joe at 7!

Why read this when you can listen to us over at BlogTalkRadio.

The call in number is (646) 478-4588. Tune in for week three of the Matt and Joe MLB preview, this week covering the NL West.

Just click the link and prepare for the best hour of your life.

Delgado Leaves for New York with Sore Hip

WFAN reported earlier today that Carlos Delgado has left Port St. Lucie, FL and is headed back to New York to have a further check up on his sore hip.

Delgado missed time last season with the same issue, and was having trouble swinging the bat in yesterday's spring training game.

Delgado is expected to return to Port St. Lucie tomorrow.

I'm not worried, I just hope it's not an issue.

The Road to Perfection Goes Through Scottsdale

While Matt got his first taste of New York Mets’ baseball with a 4-4 tie yesterday, I had to wait until today to start my 2008 Cubs season. It was worth the wait. I know it is early, but you can just feel that this maybe the team to finally do it…162-0.

Ok, ok. Perhaps that is a bit over the top but I’ve slowly learned that the pain of a letdown is no different if I set my expectations at the playoffs, World Series’s champions, or the Perfect Team. They did look like a team today though. It wasn’t the awkward group of athletes that walked into spring training last year. They looked different and to be honest, it made me excited about the season. I am not basing this on a win over the Giants in spring training. They just looked different, and sometimes the smallest things are reasons for excitement among us fans of the Cubbies.

That isn’t to say the game didn’t have its moments. Kosuke Fukudome made his Cub debut and got on base in 3 consecutive at-bats (HBP, BB, and a single). Again, it is spring training but it must be nice to step onto the field and not go 0-3 with 2 strikeouts. More importantly, Ryan “I am playing so far over my head I don’t even know what to do with myself” Theriot was 3-3. I rode the fantasy drain that was Ryan Theriot simply out of love for him last season. He is trying to suck me in again with his empty numbers. Yes it is only spring training (is that the forth time I mentioned that?), but today will be the beginning of a Matt and Joe exclusive: The Ryan Theriot Watch. Take a look at our side menus later on tonight as we monitor Ryan Theriot throughout the season. I think the only question you need to ask yourself: Is he the NL MVP or the unanimous NL MVP?



Sorry for that little detour. The game didn’t show much else. Felix Pie homered as he attempts to convince me he isn’t Juan Pierre and Noah Lowry couldn’t find the strike-zone for the Giants. The Cubs's lineup will look a lot different if Pie lives up to the potential everyone says he has (especially if Soriano will forfeit the lead-off spot and make the 3-4-5-6 of this lineup one of the best in recent history).

It is early, but it wasn’t pretty. As a fan of baseball, it was nice to see a Giants team without Barry Bonds penciled into the lineup. While we are going to be dealing with the fallout of the steroid era for many years, it is small things like this that remind me that the game is moving in the right direction. We’re moving away from a period where our greatest hitter and our greater pitcher may have been supplementing their tremendous talents with who knows what.

All in all, it was a good day for the Cubs and a good day for baseball. Opening Day here we come!

Classic Mad Dog Moments

I've been listening to Mike and the Mad Dog since I was about 10 years old, and I know there have been some fine moments on that program. A friend passed along a few to me on Youtube, and there are worth a listen.

Here's a nice rant on Pacman Jones. It's about 7 minutes, but the Mad Dog gets going...




Here's Mad Dog absolutely snapping at his San Francisco Giants. This gets great at about 1:30...




You'll appreciate these if you're a Mad Dog fan or just a sports talk fan. Absolute classic. I'll do more of these for now on.

Jose, Jose, Jose

Jose Reyes went from maybe the most lovable guy in a Mets uniform to one of the many having the finger pointed out for fault of the collapse. All winter the long, any talk revolving around Reyes has been "will he be okay?" or "will he break his bad habits?". If you ask Reyes, he says he'll be a new guy out there, one that's focused on baseball.

Reyes was only back and forth in his first few years in the bigs. He'd get hot, but then the holes in his game would become glaring. In 2006 though, he exploded, being one of the many reasons the Mets were as dominant as they were. Last year, Reyes was a force for about four-and-a-half months, but then just seemed like a different player. He wasn't running out ground balls, he was making errors, he was getting picked off of first and he was starting to strike out a lot like the Jose Reyes of 2004 and 2005.

But now we put the past behind us and look to 2008. Reyes says the dancing and the handshakes will be much less this year compared to the past. While we definitely want Reyes to be focused on baseball, we don't want to take away Reyes having fun, because it really is a huge part to his game.

There's been a lot of talk that all the celebrations the Mets have fire teams up to beat them. If that's the case, then it didn't really make a difference in 2006. Reyes handled himself exactly the same in the dugout and on the field in 2006 and 2007. He was always first one on the step after a homerun to do the certain handshake with that player, he always had his smile on before, during and after games, and he just knew how to enjoy a game that really is a fun. My point here is that Jose Reyes was the life of the 2006 Mets party, and that was for the most part a successful one. The reason the Mets collapsed last year isn't because teams got so fed up after almost two full seasons of the same things that everyone just outplayed the Mets. The Mets just stunk, it's the simple.

Absolutely I'm all for Reyes saying he wants to focus more on baseball, but I want to see the same fun-loving Jose Reyes I've seen since he came to the bigs in 2003. He brings a lot of energy and excitement from the dugout that carries over to any energy or excitement this team has on the field.

All I want Jose Reyes to worry about is hitting, running and fielding. If he takes care of all that the way Jose Reyes does it, then the Mets will win. And then maybe they'll dance.

AL Central: Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers used to be a 100 loss team. Now, two years removed from a visit to the World Series, this might be a 100 win team. They have reloaded and are one or two good years from a few starting pitchers from running away with the AL and possibly the World Series Championship.

Lineup: What does it mean when you have one of the best offensive catchers of our time, Pudge Rodriguez, batting 9th? It means that your team might score enough runs so that you never have to worry about bringing Todd Jones in with the game on the line. The lineup is loaded. Even if Granderson and Magglio come down to Earth a little, the lineup doesn’t have an out. The lineup may change and you can expect to Marcus Thames in place of Granderson and Jones when tough lefties are on the mound, but that is about it. The additions of Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cabrera turned this team from a good offensive team to one of the best in recent memory. For me, Placido Polanco is going to be the key part of this lineup. He is often overlooked but if he stretches pitchers out and gets on base like he has been in the last few seasons, Sheffield, Magglio, and Cabrera are going to knock in 350+ runs together.

Bench: With the addition of Miguel Cabrera, Brandon Inge moves from starting third basemen to back up infielder/potential back up catcher. He will most likely be traded. Marcus Thames will see a good amount of time in place of Jones or Granderson. Again, American League benches are very small and relatively pointless since the DH is like having a pinch hitter ever 8 batters.

Rotation: While everyone is talking about Miguel Cabrera, I like the idea of having Dontrelle Willis as your number 2 or 3 starter. While moving from the NL to the AL usually means a jump in a pitcher’s numbers, there are some benefits awaiting Dontrelle. The AL hasn’t seen his delivery as much as the NL did, so there is at least some element of surprise there. He is returning to a competitive team and Dontrelle is a very emotional player that can feed off something like that. It is hard to get up and pitch every fifth day when you know you are destined to finish right above the Nationals in the NL East, but when you have a chance to win a division and maybe even a World Series? That’s a different story. Justin Verlander is the ace here and he is probably one of the best pitchers in the game and will continue to get better. Bonderman and Robertson are both potential 15 game winners and if they play up to this potential, you could be facing a rotation that has its ace, a former ace only 2 years removed from dominating the game, and two starters who are just as good as many of the #2 starters in this league. The fifth spot is Kenny Rogers’ until he gets hurt/realizes how old he is. Zach Miner is waiting in the bullpen, but the fifth spot shouldn’t be a major concern if Robertson and Bonderman pitch to their potential.

Bullpen: The closer will give you an ulcer. Rodney is already complaining of discomfort. Zumaya is at least half a year away. It is going to be interesting, but the rotation is solid and there are some options here. Todd Jones will never be the dominant closer that teams love but he isn’t as bad as the one they got in Cleveland. When Zumaya returns and if he is back to form, the bullpen will be good. Until then, it is more of a luxury anyway for a team that has this lineup and this rotation to have options in the bullpen as well.

Outlook: It is hard to call them anything but one of the top 3 teams in the AL. While they shouldn’t look past winning the AL Central first, it will be hard because this team knows what it gave up to get the All-Star third basemen and potential ace from the Marlins.

AL Central: Cleveland Indians

Maybe the biggest surprise in 2007, the Cleveland Indians look to compete for the tops of the AL Central once again. The exact formula for success last season came from getting hot at the right time. This year it will be a bit more of a war with the Detroit Tigers loading up big time and Chicago White Sox seeming to have a good group. The Indians will be putting a lot of stock in C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. The good thing is those are two guys you should okay with depending on.

Lineup: Not lethal, but it's good. The Tigers have a lethal times 10 lineup, but the Indians aren't a push-over by any means. They won't kill you, but if it's like last year they'll beat you when they have to. Grady Sizemore is a great guy to have at the top and he will be the fuel that burns the Indians fire. Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez are a pretty good 3-4 punch in the American League. Maybe no Manny-Ortiz or even now Magglio-Cabrera (or Sheffield-Magglio), but it's still good, both having 20+ homerun and 100+ RBI seasons. After that you have the scrappy type players which I personally like, but they don't strike fear in anybody. Casey Blake, Ryan Garko, Johnny Peralta (who bounced back nicely in 2007) and the platoon of David Delluci and Jason Michaels are your typical "play hard" players, and all will annoy the hell out of a pitcher. It's a good mix of a lineup. The glarring holes are second base and right field, Asdrubal Cabrera (2B) and Franklik Gutierrez (RF), but neither are locks for the lineup.

Bench: Josh Barfield will be competiting to try and take the second base job from Cabrera. There's a chance the planned platoon of Delluci/Michaels becomes a three-man platoon with Gutierrez in that mix too. It's the AL, bench is insignificant mostly. But Barfield or even Andy Marte may be able to pump Cabrera out of the lineup, and Michael can easily win playing time in the outfield.

Rotation: Sabathia and Carmona were one of the best 1-2 punches in 2007. A great pair to head a rotation and there aren't necessarily slouches behind them. Paul Byrd was a 15-game winner last year, and while Jake Westbrook struggled with injuries, he was a 15-game winner in 2005 and 2006. The Indians will need Byrd to be as good and Westbrook to return to his 2005-06 form if they want to stand a chance with the incredible rotation of the Tigers. The fifth slot is open, watch out for Cliff Lee if he can bounce back to make the cut. 22-year old Aaron Laffey is still a possibilty.

Bullpen: Strange to have a not-so-solid closer and to have a great setup man. Joe Borowski had 45 saves last year with an ERA over 5. He's better than that, but not by a whole lot. He's your typical get-three-outs closer while giving up a run in the meantime. However, Rafael Betancourt is a great setup man. Last year in 79-1/3 inning pitched he had a 1.47 ERA with 80 strikeouts. It would be interesting to see if he takes away the closer role from Borowski if he doesn't get the consistent two or three run leads like last year. Also to note the Indians signed Japan free-agent Masahide Kobayashi, who saved 30 games over in Japan last year. He will be a good arm for this pen.

Outlook: Not as good as last year, but definitely a good season ahead. I feel this is a 90-win team. I like the offense, even though they don't pound the ball, and I like the 1-2 punch of the rotation. The Tigers will be great, and tough for the Indians. I feel this team is better than the White Sox and will compete for the AL Wild Card.

AL Central: Chicago White Sox

The good times shall return to the Chicago area, both in the AL and the NL. The Sox are primed for a season that should help people remember their World Series Champions rather than the Wanna-Be-Royals of last season.

Lineup: It is a decent blend of speed, talent, and experience. You still can’t write off Jim Thome and Paul Konerko. They make up a pretty nice middle of the lineup. The lineup gets even better if Joe Crede comes back healthy but he most likely will be traded after a strong start to make room for Josh Field (who did pretty well for himself last year). The biggest questions in this lineup (second base and centerfield) will be answered during spring training. Jerry Owens seems to be the likely centerfielder and leadoff hitter, which puts Carlos Quentin into the fourth outfielder role, which is pretty nice. The addition of Cabrera at shortstop and Swisher in the outfield makes the lineup even deeper. It has the potential to be a very good lineup but Konerko, Thome, and Dye need to avoid slow starts.

Bench: Having Carlos Quentin as a fourth outfielder is a nice luxury. The Sox are going to carry at 7 bullpen pitchers so the bench is a bit light. It is the American League, so it doesn’t matter that much. Is it even worth it to look at the bench of AL teams? That is a debate for another day.

Rotation: Well, it has Mark Buehrle. While his strikeouts have dropped in the last few years, he is still a good #1 starter. After that, this rotation is completely dependent on how Javier Vazquez and Jose Contreras perform. If they have down years ago, this is a very bad rotation because while John Danks has some upside, I don’t have much confidence in Gavin Floyd. If they both win 14-15 games, this is a good rotation with its #1 and two good pitchers to help balance the younger pitchers. Contreras is projected as the forth starter in an attempt to break up Danks and Floyd. So not only do they need 14-15 wins from Contreras, they also need him to step up during the times where both Danks and Floyd are struggling to avoid losing streaks.

Bullpen: Of all the teams we’ve analyzed thus far, this is my favorite bullpen. Matt and I are very vocal about our love of Bobby Jenks because his stuff is filthy. He does have some consistency issues but he is one of the best closers in baseball currently. The other reason I like this bullpen is just because of the number of options. There are a lot of question marks but a lot of live arms, and I’ll take live arms any day of the week. Even if some of the question marks don’t pan out, they have so many options that they’ll be able to bridge the rough spots with their other options.

Outlook: They have the potential to surprise the Indians but I don’t think they are on the same level of the Tigers. It should be a good time in Chicago, with the Cubs being one of the best in the NL and the White Sox returning to one of the better teams in the AL.

Matt and Joe on the Radio Now!

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AL Central: Minnesota Twins

It’ll be a new look for the Twins in 2008, with key departures of Johan Santana and Torii Hunter. Definitely a new time in Minnesota, but doesn’t necessarily mean a bad time. The core of Joe Maurer and Justin Morneau were given some more youth with the additions of Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young. Patience may be what the 2008 Twins are about.

Lineup: Not a deep lineup, but the top of the order can definitely be a hassle to some pitching staffs. While it’s not “murderer’s row”, while consistent it can do some damage with small ball. Carlos Gomez will provide a new look in the leadoff spot and in center field. Maurer, Young and Morneau follow, and provide some quality hitting with some pop. Unfortunately, any seriousness in this lineup will come from whether or not Young is ready to be somewhat of a big-time hitter. Time will tell. As for the rest of the lineup, it’s weak, and definitely won’t help late in games. Not much after the front four and this will ultimately bring down the Twins productivity.

Bench: Nick Punto and Craig Monroe will be good guys to have coming off the bench, at least it looks that way. I say expect Monroe to get into the everyday lineup in time, let’s see how his spring goes. The rest of the bench is not much, but it is the American League. So… who cares?

Rotation: One a difference a player makes. The loss of Johan Santana makes this a very weak rotation. Youngster Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey return after debuting in 2007 and look to be main parts of this rotation. Livan Hernandez was added to replace the going Santana. He’ll replace the innings, not so much the performance. Boof Bonser brings the strangest name in baseball to the rotation and Francisco Liriano attempts to stay healthy. If Liriano can be healthy and dominant, the Twins will have an ace. But that’s like playing roulette. Watch out for Phillip Humber, too, coming over from the Mets in the Santana deal.

Bullpen: They have Joe Nathan, so they have one of the best closers in baseball. If they can get to the 9th inning, that’ll be a huge plus for the Twins. Most of last years bullpen contributors will return in 2008. There’s hopes that Juan Rincon can return to form after a disturbingly-awful season in 2007.

Outlook: Okay. Nothing special. They’ll be a fun team to watch at times, the other times they’ll be a boring team. Maybe the biggest thing to watch for this year is whether or not they trade Nathan before the deadline.

Another Reason Why I Hate Philadelphia

Honestly, the only good thing to ever come from Philadelphia is Rocky. And obviously Philadelphia would be the place to lead to the disaster that was Rocky V.

On the college-friendly Facebook, I found something interesting today; an event where "Phillies Fans take over Shea Stadium". Are we serious? The event description is as follows:

“Are you sick and tired of stupid Mets fans taking over Citizen’s Bank Park? Well its time to return the favor! On Saturday September 6th Philadelphia will be taking over Shea Stadium. Right now we are in the process of talking to sales reps at Shea Stadium to get group tickets available. As soon as they are available we will post a log-in id and password so you can order your tickets! This game will be a FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME which means its on NATIONAL TV!!!! I want as many Phillies fans there as humanly possible! Lets send Shea Stadium out with a bang! F@#K THE METS!!!!!!”

I guess their intention is to show the national public that fans from Philadelphia are a bunch of careless, obnoxious degenerates compared to those of New York. And as of now there are 647 confirmed guests with another 731 on the maybe list. Mets fans, let's do our job and keep these bastards out of our building.

There are some Philly fans I don't mind. I'm in Trenton, I'm around a lot of Phillies fans. And you know what, a large amount of them don't give a damn until there's any drop of success. I definitely don't wanna see any half-ass fans in my building.

Then over at Metsblog.com, Matt Cerrone addressed the issue and brought up the great point of there being two nationally televised Mets/Phillies games at Citizen's Bank in April (the 19th and 20th) and brought to Mets fans attention the back door link the Phillies post for their fans to purchase tickets before the actual sale date.

Click here to flood Citizen's Bank those days, Mets fans.

Also noted on Metsblog is that there are organized groups of Mets fans already planning to attend these games. So get going. The Phillies can go to hell.

Already, now I'm fired up. When does baseball start again?

AL Central: Kansas City Royals

It is weird to think of a Royals team without Mike Sweeney but the Royals are on a very slight upward swing as they start to expose their young stars.

Lineup: While times might be brighter in the future for the Royals, it won’t necessarily be without a few more dark years. The lineup leaves a lot to be desired but there is potential. If Alex Gordon, Mark Teahen, and Ryan Shealy produce as projected, it might be a decent year for the Royals. Realistically, they will have decent seasons with peaks and valleys. The lineup is protected with a few veterans (Grudzielanek and Guillen) to help try and bridge the gap when one or more of the younger stars struggles. It isn’t built to be a great lineup this season, but it could show some of the potential it has. Since this isn’t a 2011 preview, the forecast for 2008 is inconsistency.

Bench: Not much here, it is a pretty weak bench when all things are said and done. When the offensive isn’t offering much, it is hard to expect the bench to pack a huge punch. The names aren’t going to be household names anytime soon but no matter how bright the future could be, these are still the Kansas City Royals.

Rotation: This is actually a decent group. I mean, I don’t necessarily buy into Gil Meche as an ace. After that though, a rotation with Meche, Bannister, and Greinke is a nice starting point. Again, there isn’t a Cy Young in any of their collective futures, but it will keep them in games. The back end of the rotation could be anywhere from passable to very bad.

Bullpen: Again, it is a collection of names that you might have a hard time convincing people it is a professional baseball team but it is all they have. That being said, it is not much and therefore will be an issue throughout the season. Joakim Soria has a live arm that could be a bright spot this season for the bullpen. The question here: how do you bridge the gap between starters who are not necessarily 7-8 inning guys to Joakim? A lot of team find themselves asking that question and that’s why middle relievers are being paid so much more nowadays.

Outlook: Better than the last few seasons, but not ready to compete…yet. This season can be seen as a step in the right direction as the team looks to be competitive for years to come.

Carlos Beltran: We're the team to beat

The mood was light around Port St. Lucie for Mets camp on Saturday morning. Carlos Beltran was talking reporters, and before walking away, he had the following to say....

“With (Santana), I have no doubt we’re going to win our division. I have no doubt about that…So, this year, tell Jimmy Rollins we are the team to beat.”

Ah, bringing back the rivalry on only February 16. Who can forget Jimmy Rollins speaking so boldly about a team that finished 14 games out the year before? No one. Sure, he backed up his talk. And now of course Beltran has to back up his. But was he wrong to do this?

I've been hearing many mixed things about what Beltran decided to say. Santana is obviously a huge addition, and the feeling of 2006 should be there with such an improvement. Do I consider the Mets a favorite now? Yes. Santana and Pedro are a level above Cole Hamels and Brett Myers, and even John Smoltz and Tim Hudson if you want to throw the Braves into the conversation. And let's be honest, it was about time Beltran wasn't afraid to shake things up with the media. Always the soft-spoken one, it was only a matter of time after being a teammate of Pedro Martinez for over three years that he started opening up a bit.

Now there's a lot of talk that he shouldn't have said anything because no team wants to enter the year with a target on their backs. I've been a Mets fan my whole life and I've felt like every year there was a target on their backs. People want to beat the Mets, it's as simple as that. Beltran added some incentive to it, but even if he hadn't said a word the same target would be there. This is nothing new in the world of Orange and Blue.

I'm glad Beltran said it, because truth be told I'm sick of Jimmy Rollins, I'm sick of the Phillies, I'm sick of their fans, and I'm truthfully just sick of Philadelphia. The Mets collapsed last year, the Phillies picked up the pieces. The best way to get over a collapse is showing you haven't lost any swagger. The Mets are a team that should have a lot of swagger.

As far as Beltran goes, good for him I say. He started to open up a bit more I felt as last year went on. Now maybe he's finally ready to act like this is "his team". Obviously you figure Pedro and Wright to be the vocal leaders for the most part, but it would be nice to see more of this from Beltran.

And hey, April 8th at Shea the Mets and Phillies face off for the first time. See you there, Jimmy Rollins.

Pettitte Apologizes to Yankee Nation

He wasn't going to be able to stare down the media storm that is New York City like he has done to hitters and base runners since the early '90s. Andy Pettitte had to know what was waiting for him after the Mitchell Report and the Congressional Hearings about Steriods and HGH. There was no avoiding it and yesterday Andy stepped up to the media to address the organization, fans, and baseball world. Beyond just apologizing to both the Yankees and the Astros, Pettitte was pretty thorough in answering questions from the media, unlike many other players linked to steriods, HGH, or the Mitchell Report (He didn't go Jason Giambi on us). It is sort of a non-story since everyone was waiting for it but I thought it could be a nice bow on the steriod story with Pettitte.

I don't think this excuses him, but he came out and was open to almost any question as long as it didn't pertain to Roger Clemens's 'misremembered' statements.

The last bit I took from it was this assertion from Pettitte: "I wish I never would have done it, obviously, but I don't consider myself a cheater, no." That is sort of the question we have to ask as we analyze the Steriod Era in baseball? Did someone who took HGH when it wasn't banned by MLB officially cheat? Is someone like Pettitte, who is admitting limited use at the times given, really cheat?

That is what we have to decide.

Main Article: Pettitte Apologizes

NL Central: Chicago Cubs

Pain has been a regular thing in Chicago, but let's not forget the Cubbies are defending NL Central Champs going into the 2008. Sure, it was a wash of a showing in the playoffs, but Lou Piniella fired his team up for an impressive finish to 2007. Now the Cubs look to carry last year's momentum into this year.

Lineup: Overall it is pretty solid. Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez will be the keys to this offense. The good thing is they are all typically durable players. Both Soriano and Ramirez missed time last season, but have handled 150-game seasons before. Right now Piniella says Soriano will be his lead-off hitter, but that can very well change, even if Brian Roberts isn't brought in. Kosuke Fukudome comes in with hopes of changing the Cubs offense from serious to legit. The lefty power-hitter comes over from Japan hoping to find success in America. Maybe not on the level of Ichiro, but along the lines of a Hideki Matsui. With those four it's already a good looking offense, but the remainder of it is something Cubs fans should be satisfied with. Ryan Theriot and Mark DeRosa will fill the middle of the infield and the rest of the lineup is filled with two youngsters in Felix Pie (CF) and Geovany Soto (C). Pie by the way is labeled as a "can't miss" - you know I hate that label. Theriot is expected to be penciled in at No. 2 behind Soriano. But again, Piniella has openly said he'll shift around the lineup during spring training to find what "works". It's a well rounded lineup and will be able to put pressure on teams from all different angles.

Bench: It's not the greatest, but it's suitable. Ronny Cedeno could see a good amount of regular time, so he won't be a typical role player. Henry Blanco will be a good backup for the young Soto at catcher. Daryle Ward will be expected to provide the pop off the bench. That fits him better than playing at a somewhat regular basis. It's a bench that will work, not necessarily strike fear into team's bullpens late in games though.

Rotation: It's good. Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill at the top are a very solid 1, 2 and 3. The back end concerns me, Jon Lieber and either Ryan Dempster or Jason Marquis. It leaves your stomach a little unsettled, but how many teams really have a strong 4 and 5? Not many. The front three will need to be on like they were last year, especially during the Cubs hot streaks. It's really hard for me to see much support from any of the 4 or 5 guys. Unfortunately it will expose the bullpen a bit.

Bullpen: Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood. A lot of the Cubs eggs will be in that basket for the bullpen. Howry may very well be the closer. He's serviceable, but beatable. Marmol was very impressive and will most likely take over the closer role at some point this year. If he's as good as he was last year, then it'll be a huge plus for the Cubs bullpen. Wood is the mystery, and this is where the weak 4 or 5 starters will hurt the bullpen. It's doubtful he'll be able to pitch back to back days. That's when the likes of Scott Eyre get exposed, and that's not good.

Outlook: Good, maybe great, but maybe sub-par. Disasters needing to be avoided seems like a theme in the NL Central. I think the bullpen will be serious issue other than Marmol for the Cubs and will leave Piniella with some very stressful days.