Matt and Joe Radio

Matt and Joe Are Back!

2008-07-10T21:38:00.000-04:00

Make sure to tune in to the return of Matt and Joe Radio TONIGHT at 10pm EST : Matt & Joe The Return

Also, for the first time ever, watch the video feed of Matt during tonight's broadcast right here on Matt and Joe the Blog...

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Don't forget to take part in the BTR chat room and call in - 1-646-478-4588

Enjoy.

Risky Business: Rich Harden and the Chicago Cubs

2008-07-09T14:50:00.007-04:00

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

2008-07-09T09:10:00.002-04:00

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

2008-07-08T01:29:00.003-04:00

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

2008-04-02T14:34:00.002-04:00

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

2008-03-31T22:31:00.002-04:00

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....

2008-03-31T13:57:00.014-04:00

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

2008-03-28T15:56:00.002-04:00

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

2008-03-26T19:41:00.003-04:00

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

2008-03-25T13:16:00.003-04:00

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?

2008-03-18T12:12:00.001-04:00

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

2008-03-12T14:57:00.002-04:00

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

2008-03-11T18:21:00.004-04:00

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

2008-03-10T22:36:00.005-04:00

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!

2008-03-10T16:14:00.003-04:00

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!

2008-03-09T15:05:00.001-04:00

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?

2008-03-06T12:07:00.006-05:00

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

2008-03-05T12:06:00.004-05:00

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

2008-03-03T11:49:00.002-05:00

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!

2008-03-02T18:30:00.003-05:00

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

2008-03-01T13:58:00.004-05:00

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

2008-02-29T00:00:00.005-05:00

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

2008-02-28T21:46:00.004-05:00

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

2008-02-28T16:58:00.000-05:00

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

2008-02-27T20:42:00.002-05:00

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

2008-02-27T15:54:00.001-05:00

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

2008-02-27T14:11:00.003-05:00

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!

2008-02-24T17:55:00.002-05:00

Hey Readers,

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

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

AL Central: Minnesota Twins

2008-02-23T23:40:00.004-05:00

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

2008-02-20T14:49:00.004-05:00

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

2008-02-19T23:52:00.002-05:00

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

2008-02-19T12:27:00.005-05:00

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

2008-02-19T12:22:00.005-05:00

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

2008-02-18T19:30:00.006-05:00

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.

NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals

2008-02-18T16:22:00.001-05:00

From the World Series Champions to potentially one of the worst teams in the NL. This is the story of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Lineup: Albert Pujols is there but he is hurting. The Cardinals are very concerned with his elbow and while he always seems to be productive while being hurt, he may not be playing enough to carry this offense. The starting outfield has some upside but is relatively untested. There is an offensive void at shortstop in Cesar Izturis and at second base with Aaron Miles/Adam Kennedy. This puts a lot of pressure on Troy Glaus to stay healthy and produce like an all-star third basemen. If Glaus gets hurt/struggles and Pujols is out for extended periods of time, this is the worst a very bad lineup that will struggle to score runs.

Bench: No bench is deep enough for the injuries that may await the Cardinals. That being said, this isn’t a great bench either. Unless they add a center fielder to shift Ankiel and put either Duncan or Ludwick on the bench, it is a very weak bench that offers little pop.

Rotation: The ‘#1’ of this staff is Braden Looper. Let that sink in. Carpenter is still working his way back but won’t be ready for awhile. Wainwright has a good arm and has some upside but he isn’t an ace. The last three spots in the rotation will be filled by some mixture of whoever isn’t injured between Matt Clement and Mark Mulder, Joel Pineiro, and Anthony Reyes. To end our misery early, it is a very bad rotation. Unlike the Astros, it doesn’t have that stopper to save it. This is just a bad, bad, bad, bad rotation.

Bullpen: The bullpen and rotation are always linked on teams because if a rotation stinks, even the best bullpens will wear out and become bad bullpens. This bullpen is old and doesn’t have a ton of upside to it. Issy is still the closer but who is going to get him the ball? It is a weak bullpen that will become worse as the rotation struggles.

Outlook: This preview of the Cardinals was hard to write because you don’t want to keep writing about such a bad team but the Cardinals at best are a 5th place team and at worst (if a few key injuries happen), are battling the Giants for the Worst Team in the NL honors.

NL Central: Houston Astros

2008-02-18T16:05:00.002-05:00

The Astros are hoping that the additions to their offense will help carry a pitching staff that maybe one of the worst in the NL. Except for Roy Oswalt, he’s amazing.

Lineup: This lineup in this park could make pitchers request days off when the schedule rolls around to Houston. That being said, you never quite know with the Astros. Fixtures such Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee return to join new additions Miguel Tejada, Kaz Matsui, and Michael Bourn. The Astros also hope for a full season of production of Hunter Pence, who was a front runner for Rookie of the Year until he got hurt and Ryan Braun decided to destroy baseballs for a living. Ty Wigginton at third should produce decent numbers but he isn’t required to be a main cog in this offense. Tejada has rebounded this summer but we’ll see how he produces in the wake of the Mitchell Report. Again, this lineup can be destructive but the main question is: Will it be good enough to carry this pitching staff?

Bench: They have a deep bench with Erstad, Loretta, and Blum as the three big players. A deep bench is necessary since it seems like Lance Berkman always goes down for a small period of time. It will be nice to give some time off yet still fill your lineup with a Mark Loretta or Darin Erstad.

Rotation: Let us just begin with the fact that Roy Oswalt is one of the best 5 pitchers in the NL and will benefit from an improved offense and hopefully gain the national recognition he deserves. Now that we’ve separated Oswalt, the rest of this rotation is just bad. There is some upside in Brandon Backe, but it will be a long year for the Astros rotation. Without Oswalt, it would be one of the worst rotations in baseball. Oswalt is a stopper and an ace that few teams have and thus is a saving grace for this rotation.

Bullpen: While adding Valverde is an improvement over the closer-by-committee last year (or the Lidge experiment) on paper, I still don’t have a ton of confidence that Valverde will save 40 games a year like he did last year. The rest of the bullpen isn’t great either but it will appear to be even worse when it starts to get stretched out due to the horrendous starting pitching. The true cure for this bullpen would be to help the starting rotation.

Outlook: The lineup should score a ton of runs, but the rotation should give up just as many. For those who heard the show yesterday, I can’t see this team finishing 1st/2nd unless they really get a great season out of Backe and Valverde. Again, the NL Central is filled with question marks and 5 teams that could compete for the division (while the Pirates cheer from their pretty stadium).

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds

2008-02-18T15:42:00.002-05:00

To me, this may be the most interesting team in the NL Central. I don’t think they have the power to push through and win the division, but it could be a very good year in Cincinnati or a very bad year. However, unlike in past years, that doesn’t rely on the frail body of Ken Griffey Jr.

Lineup: The line up is average. They still have Adam Dunn who seems to put up similar numbers each year (a painful batting average but beautiful power numbers), so they have that presence in the middle of their lineup. If Ken Griffey Jr. is healthy, then that is another added bonus. They also just signed their stud 2nd basemen, Brandon Phillips (.288-30-94), whose numbers compare well with the power infield position and are right up there with Chase Utley among second basemen (not as good as Chase, but last season he was fantastic). The excitement for the Reds is that they have two great rookies that will probably be starting this season: Jay Bruce and Joey Votto. Bruce was the Minor League Player of the Year and Votto tore things up last season (in a small sample size). While young, these two impact players could turn this lineup into a nightmare of opposing pitchers. These two players also make Cincinnati’s bench deeper with veteran Scott Hatteberg and Ryan Freel coming off the bench as pinch hitters/utility players. A lot of questions but that is what makes them exciting. If things fall just right, they have the potential to be one of the best lineups in the NL but a few injuries or a large learning curve for Bruce of Votto could make it a very long season in Cincinnati.

Bench: This depends on how they utilize Votto and Bruce but the bench isn’t necessarily a weakness for the Reds. You’d like to see the young players thrive in the starting roles while veterans adjust to the pinch hitting and utility duties. If Bruce and Votto start, the bench is pretty good with Freel, Hatteberg, and Norris Hopper. It is not great again, but good enough. A lot depends on Bruce and Votto though.

Rotation: Another youngster to watch is Homer Bailey. The bar might have been set a bit high for his first season but he has all the tools to be an ace. He has two good pitchers in front of him (Harang and Arroyo) so he doesn’t necessarily have to feel the pressure of being the ace just yet. Arroyo had a disappointing season last season but is only one year removed from his stellar 2006 campaign. The four-five spots leave something to be desired, but in today’s MLB it is rare to have the potential in the top three that the Reds do.

Bullpen: While I don’t have a ton of confidence in Francisco Cordero, he is definitely an upgrade over David Weathers. He also shifts everyone in the bullpen to a more realistic role and makes them better just by being a member of the staff. It isn’t the prettiest or flashiest bullpen, but they have a closer and a number of different options to try and bridge the gap. The bullpen might not hold up for long so I would expect the Reds to make a run at a middle reliever if they are truly in contention come the All-Star Break or trading deadline.

Outlook: It will be a better year for the Reds than the last few years. If Griffey is healthy for the whole season, Bruce and Votto step into the starting roles and produce as projected, Arroyo returns to 2006 form, and Bailey breaks out, this could be a dangerous team. That is a lot of ifs, so I think we’re still 1-2 seasons away from seeing a playoff team from Cincinnati.

NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers

2008-02-17T10:27:00.004-05:00

A team that found success in 2007 and looked to be on the rise had a good off-season. Mike Cameron, Eric Gagne and Jason Kendall are among the new faces for Brew Crew in '08. Putting them with the young talent of Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy, Bill Hall and Derick Turnbow, the Brewers seem to have a good shot at not faltering as they did last season.

Lineup: Gotta be honest, it looks pretty good on paper. Even with Fielder, Cameron, Hardy and Hall, there's still a good cast around them. Youngster Ryan Braun is moving out to left field and should once again provide a good bat for the Brewers. As a rookie, Braun hit 34 homers with 97 RBI and hit .324. Cory Hart is also coming off a solid year (.295-24-81) and Rickie Weeks may finally start to turn the corner. Even if Weeks joins Kendall in being the weak-end of the lineup, the rest of the group definitely makes up for it. Just to note, Cameron will miss the start of the season due to failing the MLB stimulant test.

Bench: They still have Craig Counsell who will no doubt be a pain in the ass to any team in late games I'm sure. Tony Gwynn Jr. also provides a decent fourth outfielder and good bat for when you need a late base runner. With the offense they have, the bench for this team suits them pretty well.

Rotation: Ben Sheets is there, but will he be healthy? And after that you can't be too sure. Jeff Suppan is a No. 3, and then Dave Bush and Chris Capuanno are both coming off of a season with an ERA over 5. Yovani Gallardo is one to watch here, going 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA in his rookie year.

Bullpen: They lost Cordero and brought in Gagne. Can Gagne help? If not, Derrick Turnbow will need to return to his 2006 form. Dave Riske is expected to be in the bullpen, you can even assume the same goes for Salamon Torres and Guillermo Mota. But from there this will be another team rounding out the bullpen from what happens in camp.

I feel they could be on the rise once again. I like this team and it definitely has a good build to it for the 2008 season. The pitching needs work, maybe some people emerge. But it will be solid if Sheets and Gagne stay healthy and successful.

Outlook: Positive. Will continue to move forward and will compete with the tops of the division.

NL Central: Pittsburgh Pirates

2008-02-16T20:18:00.004-05:00

The Pittsburgh Pirates will basically be bringing back the entire 2007 group to the 2008 season. The problem is that if something is broke you should fix it, and nothing was fixed from the 68-94 disaster that came about in Pittsburgh last season. They at least had a change in manager, with Jim Tracy's time being up, and John Russell taking over. Unfortunately for Russell, he doesn't have a whole lot to work with.

Lineup: Jason Bay is very good, but he is not Superman. The cast that he has around him is decent, but in no way can help. Xaiver Nady, who would be a very useful third outfielder to any maybe any other team, has the burden of being a key 3, 4 or 5 hitter for this team. Adam LaRouche is another decent chip, but again, tough to be dependent on him as a significant bat. Then of course at the top you have Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez, both just average offense players. Ronny Paulino is the catcher, la-de-dah, and let's be serious, Jose Bautista and Nate McLouth are role players, not starters. Other than Bay, this is an offense filled with 6, 7 and 8 hitters, and unfortunately they have to fill out every spot but 3 or 4 (pending where Russell decides to throw Bay). I don't wanna say the worst offense in baseball, but I can guarantee you it will be close to the worst this year.

Bench: Considering I just mentioned two of their starters as guys who should come off the bench, the bench has a very bleak outlook. Chris Duffy is probably the only lock for the bench, assuming the role of backup outfielder, and that's what he is. Ryan Doumit can also be considered a lock for the bench, but after that a lot of it will be rounded out from their spring training. Unfortunately they didn't sign more free-agent role players to maybe compete for the starting jobs, since there's nothing positive coming from that end.

Starters: Matt Morris, Tom Gorzelanny, Ian Snell, Pat Maholm and Zach Duke will look to compete with the likes of Pedro and Santana or Haren and Webb in the NL this year. It's not happening, not even at a slightly competitive level. As I said the lineup is filled with 6, 7 and 8 hitters, this rotation is filled with No. 4 and 5 starters. Morris can be the exception, because he's had a good amount of success before. His days are behind him however, and if he can turn to smarts than maybe he can succeed again. Will be hard to do with this team. The rest of the guys are young, and it's hard to develop on this team. This will be a W-E-A-K rotation.

Bullpen: Matt Capps is the closer, he's not bad. They also have two lefties in Damaso Marte and John Grabow. The rest will be rounded out by whoever they want to look at this spring. Oddly enough this bullpen has succeeded in the past years with a constant changing cycle of "who's who" coming out of there. While it's not quite set in stone, this will probably be the most reliable piece to the Pirates season.

They're going no where folks; definitely not up because they don't have the talent to do so, and definitely not down because they just can't go to seventh place of the NL Central - there's only six teams

2008 Outlook: Painfully awful. Bleak. Depressing

Tune into Matt and Joe Radio on Sunday February 17 at 7pm for a full NL Central preview.

Roger v. The World - Part 2

2008-02-13T13:22:00.009-05:00

Update 2:41

It just ended. I only missed one speaker. Sorry about that guys. The hearings are done for today.

Update 2:35

New Speaker! Joe's Guess: Pro-Clemens - 2:15 PM
Now, if this guy stays true to his statement that he's more interested in the course of the report, we may have our first neutral examination of the day. This is boring. It is the question Matt and I have been asking since this report was released: How can Clemens claim ignorance if Mitchell states each athlete was contacted and offered the chance to talk to him?

Clemens claims he did not receive any notice about a talk about steriods. He says they would not disclose the reasons for the meeting.

Verdict: I may give him our first neutral vote, but for fun I'll say Anti-Clemens since he stuck to Clemens the entire time. It is just a game anyway (possible the newest drinking game sensation in college dorms. That is right kids, start taping these hearings now!)

Little chaos on the speakers here. Things got out of control. I lost track of who went where. No real questions were asked or answered. No harm, no foul.

New Speaker! Joe's Guess: Anti-Clemens - 2:21 PM
I really am guessing before they go into their questioning, I swear it. This guy wants Clemens's blood. I hope he asks the questions necessary to get it. I will write the longest letter of apology if Clemens never did steroids, but for now let us try and get the truth out of him.

My hopes for this set of questions was so high. I had so much faith that we might get somewhere. Some old questions though: Why were Andy's allegations true and not yours? Same stuff over and over again. These hearings are starting to become very predictable. They have about 20 minutes to win me over with some really strong questioning.

Verdict: Anti-Clemens: This was interesting cause at the end he called Clemens one of his heroes, but he also said over and over again that he finds it hard to believe Clemens. He was there to gun at Clemens.

New Speaker! Joe's Guess: Pro-Clemens - 2:26 PM
Quote: "I view you as a police officer who was a drug dealer" - Congressman on McNamee. Mike Francessa just interrupted a string of questions to tell me Jason Kidd got traded. The NBA ruins everything.

Quote: "I only did what the players asked, and that was wrong" - McNamee

The congressman is trying to to have McNamee admit being a drug dealer. He got a roundabout admission "Were you giving drugs? - Yes Were they illegal? - Yes" sort of thing. This guy is getting at McNamee. We get it. Both of these guys are jerks.

Verdict: Pro-Clemens. Maybe better: Anti-McNamee.

I'm tapping out for awhile. Nothing new.

Fight the good fight.

- Joe

Update 2:15

New Speaker! Joe's Guess: Pro-Clemens. - 1:50 PM
I'm getting tired of the mandatory 2 minute rant by each speaker about whatever it is they want to say (one talked about how congress does a lot of important things, this guy is about the overall use of PED in all levels of sports). Sorry for that rant - back to the hearings.

Nothing exciting here right now. They are just rehashing everything we already know/have known. Verdict: Anti-Clemens? We can debate that but it definitely wasn't pro-Clemens.

New Speaker! Joe's Guess: Anti-Clemens - 1:56 PM
This guy was short and to the point. Just stating that there are a ton of open questions left from both the report and these hearings.

Verdict: Pro-Clemens: The shot at the end at McNamee's credibility sold it. Nothing new though.

New Speaker! Joe's Guess: Pro-Clemens - 2:04 PM
Another 2 minute rant. This time: Why is Congress doing this? This lady doesn't like it. Well thank you, now ask Roger which cheek he prefers the needle in. Sorry about that (again).

Oh. I'm so right about this one. Her first question to McNamee: Are you going to try and make money off of this? McNamee wouldn't dare say yes to this, even though in 18 months we'll all be reading: The Rocket and Me: Blasting Steriods Into the Unknown by Mr. Dr. McNamee, SJ.

Clemens offers to read his wife's statement. I don't want to misquote any of it so I won't transcribe it but talks about Debbie's interest in human growth hormone after reading an article on it. Debbie admits using human growth hormone once with the help of McNamee. It is only once. Debbie feels like a pawn now that McNamee is coming out against Clemens. There is also a small section about why people should never do it now. Main point: Debbie Clemens admits to using HGH and admits that McNamee got it for her (offered it to her actually).

Ha! Now she is comparing pictures of Clemens before and after the alleged steriods use. He looks very similar in all the pictures. I nailed this one. She loves Clemens. Clemens must be loving this question.

Verdict: Pro-Clemens. If that is even fair to say. More like Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Clemens.

Update 1:45

This round of questions circled around a recorded conversation between Clemens's team and McNamee. It seems like Clemens's team was trying to find out what kind of evidence McNamee had on Clemens. Clemens claims no knowledge of the methods of his investigators. Good tactics, Rog.

Clemens, under oath: "This man has never given me HgH...or any steroids of any kind." I'll keep that to show my kids what it means to be a liar.

Interesting note from one speaker: From his experience as a lawyer, the needles would not be admissible in any American court. I'm going to make a few phone calls to see if that is true. That's interesting.

More sob stories from Clemens. These stories are meant to show that he is a very public/'findable' person. Basically, if anyone wanted to talk to Clemens about steroids and hear how much he hates them, they could have.

New Speaker!
There is a fun game to play if you're reading/listening/watching: Guess if the speaker is pro-Clemens or anti-Clemens before he starts to question and see how many you can get right in a row. If you've been listening to this all morning, no one is really staying neutral.

Fun moment: Clemens doesn't know what a vegan is. God Bless Texas. This speaker is trying to understand why a healthy, red blooded, meat-eating American would need additional B-12 injections if he wasn't a vegan, 90 years old, or anemic.

Clemens: "He jumped on me like he was trying to start a Harley-Davidson" in regards to his chiropractors trying to adjust his spine. This speaker is attacking why Clemens would use McNamee for so many of his medical procedures when McNamee isn't a trained professional (even if Clemens believed in his fake Phd).

New Speaker! Joe's Guess: Pro-Clemens.
It took all of 5 seconds for this guy to come out as Pro-Clemens. Just like his mother, we all should be taking B-12 injections. Nothing major from this guy. It is a good moment to refresh the blog.

Update 1:30

We are once again talking about the nanny. Clemens is explaining his contact with her and explains it as a meeting between old friends. He is not denying the nanny's claim that she was at the part or even that his family was there. He is sort of going back and forth here from he wasn't there to he could have been there to now he may have dropped them off but he definitely wasn't buying drugs there.

Questions pertaining to McNamee are interesting. Had he ever used Clemens' likeness without Clemens' knowledge? Does he have a degree? McNamee wrote his dissertation on training and increasing velocity in pitchers. That’s cute. It seems like he attended some mail-in school. 'Dr.' McNamee...hah! I forgot that from the Mitchell Report appendices. These questions went no where. What a waste.

New speaker (I'm bad at catching their names, mostly because most of them take a minute or so to realize they should speak into the microphones) is up.

Original Post

Now that Matt has gone to class, I will be picking up for a little bit. It’s about 1:20 PM and they just started up again. Here we go.

Clemens/McNamee at Congress

2008-02-13T11:13:00.013-05:00

Update 12:53

Full attack on Clemens it feels right now. He seems very on edge and now has turned back to that uncomfortable side. I also see his lawyers beyond uncomfortable. They're going to a 15-minute break right now, and unfortunately I have to step out for about the next two hours. So for now, the live updates will be on hold until 3 PM.

To just sum things up from my point of view; neither of these men seem comfortable in front of congress, and there is way too much stalling and moving when trying to answer. At numerous times Clemens was reminded that he was under oath on numerous occasions. Right now I feel the same way I did not too long ago, and that's that Clemens is the one stumbling most here. It'll be interesting to see where this goes when resume shortly after 1.

I'll be back around 3 myself.

Update 12:43

Turn up the heat! McNamee mentioned that he had noticed the Nanny of the Clemens family at the Canseco party, and Congress was in touch with the Nanny. After two different stories, Chairman Waxman explains that the Nanny confirmed being at the party along with Mrs. Clemens and the four children and that they actually spent the night at the Canseco house. She also noted that Clemens was there indeed, she was not sure how long he was there. But the fact that he was there is the big story. Clemens also apparently invited the Nanny to his Houston home just this past Sunday, despite telling the committee he did not have her contact information. She declined to appear at his home. This has really gotten the lawyers of Clemens back on their heals, and very jumpy might I add.

Update 12:33

I'm liking Representative Souder. He got off to a good start pointing out how frustrating this already two-plus hour hearing has someone still lying. He was very passionate in explaining the problem steroid abuse was in baseball, and even just drug use in general everywhere. He used examples from Chuck Knoblauch's deposition. Representative Clay went right to questioning Clemens' honesty to playing the game of baseball. Clemens went the route of explaining how he was raised by his mother, developed a great work ethic and how he was already established prior to meeting McNamee in 1998. He points out how he didn't have a car in high school and ran home every day. Alright, and we care why? But anyway, Clemens is still defensive. Doesn't seem as uncomfortable, but more angry and looks to have turned to making him look like a victim by running off all these tough life stories. Nobody wants to hear the pity party.

Also to note, good twist on McNamee here by Representative Clay asking if McNamee had any probation deals in place for telling his stories. McNamee denied.

Update 12:18

The nerd sitting between Clemens and McNamee finally spoke. That session really went no where. When moving back to Clemens, it was all regarding the B-12 and Lidocaine injections. Yeah, yeah, already heard it. I feel we're starting to move backwards. We'll see if the New York Representative has anything good for Clemens. Representative Maloney is up next.

Update 12:03

We're finally getting somewhere with these MRI's and reports from doctors. The abscess Clemens developed either came from the B-12 shots or the botched injection of winstral. McNamee isn't helping his cause by not having known the dates of the trip to Tampa. It does create an inconsistency. I'll give credit to McNamee for once again openly explaining his involvement as a problem creator for Major League Baseball.

Update 11:58

All these reports from the doctors seem to be going no where in conversations with Clemens. Representative Davis moved back to McNamee after finally steering away from the MRI reports. We now moved to the Winstral matter and McNamee confirmed Clemens saying to "get rid of this stuff". It's apparently linked to a time the Blue Jays were in Tampa, and I'm really hearing too much regarding faulty memory from both these guys right now.

Update 11:43

Representative Burton had this round for McNamee. The bloody gauze and needles finally came about. This was the first I've seen McNamee caught off-guard in the 90-plus minutes we've been watching this so far. We also went back to the Canseco party, with Canseco's affidavit being presented stating Clemens was not present on the 1998 party. The main attack on McNamee is about his past lies here. My problem with this is McNamee has openly been saying he's lied prior to the Mitchell Report to protect his employers, such as Clemens and Pettitte. I feel we're turning back to a known issue here. Representative Braun also went to Clemens, who really took forever to say anything. Slowly moving through his answers still. Neither are looking too good right now.

Update 11:31

Clemens got a nice attack from Representative Tierney, really proving how shifted Clemens' stories have gotten during the deposition. During this course, this was the most uncomfortable I've seen Clemens since the release of the Mitchell Report.

...Original Post...

We're through the first set of questions to both Clemens and McNamee. Representative Cummings questioned Clemens and Representative Davis questioned McNamee.

My overall feelings from the start to this is both men are very uncomfortable. I guess to no surprise. Clemens seemed to be stumbling a bit when the quotes for the Pettitte affidavit were being read. McNamee didn't seem so much stumbling, but seemed in a very tough place answering to congress.

The whole Canseco party and Golf outing thing seemed to be so out there. McNamee seemed pretty calm in explaining that story of seeing Clemens at the party, and Clemens was very much "I don't remember" when having to answer to the questions of his golf game. I found it very strange that he didn't really remember what his wife and kids were doing that day, especially for a guy who made the point of his family being such a priority.

Clemens and McNamee to testify at 10 AM

2008-02-13T09:38:00.002-05:00

Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee will testify for congress today. You can watch the hearing on ESPN or listen to the stream on WFAN.com.

Someone has been lying here. We may know more today. Word has already been coming out today that there is another affidavit from Andy Pettitte. That affidavit seems to have the evidence regarding Clemens speaking openly about steroid use. It's definitely something to follow today.

Personally, I've felt Clemens was using steroids since his time with the Yankees, and so does the Mitchell Report. I hope he goes down, maybe not today, but I hope he goes down.

All baseball fans should be watching this.

It's Over.

2008-02-08T18:21:00.000-05:00

While this is a few hours late day, just to follow up on Joe's post last night, Erik Bedard has officially joined the Seattle Mariners today with the completion of the deal we've been talking about for about 10 days now. In return, the Baltimore Orioles received Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Cam Mickolio and Tony Butler.

Goodbye hot stove and hello spring training.

Happy times at Matt and Joe.

New Bedard Post! ITS ALMOST OVER!

2008-02-07T20:35:00.001-05:00

Hopefully this is the last time I have to update the world on Eric Bedard, but he is officially in Seattle and going for his physical. I would imagine that Bedard getting his physical is the last step and that all the other players have had their physicals and passed.

Heres the story: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-bedard207,0,7467653.story?track=rss

When it comes to Canadian fireballers, no one does the news like Matt and Joe.

Pedro Martinez: Baseball's Ace of No. 2's

2008-02-07T13:15:00.000-05:00

Pedro Martinez will enter the 2008 season in a different role; as the Mets No. 2 starter.

With the addition of Johan Santana, the Mets are now able to take some pressure off of Pedro. All winter long people have been questioning Pedro's durability, being a year-and-a-half removed from major rotator cuff surgery. But now with Santana in the mix, Pedro is not counted on to be the 220+ inning ace the Mets would need to be successful. Pedro can now slide himself to the No. 2 slot, but don't think he'll pitch like a No. 2.

I get the sense that many doubt what Pedro can do. In 2005, he had a very impressive season, going 15-8 with a 2.84 ERA, along with 208 strikeouts in 217 innings. Then 2006, he was banged up and one thing lead to another. The Mets took their time getting him back, figuring he was being prepped for October baseball. While the Mets collapsed, Pedro was great, going 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA, with 32 strikeouts in 28 innings. And if you remember correctly, Pedro should have been 5-0 in his five starts. His one no decision was a game the bullpen blew to the Phillies (which cost them the season) and the loss was probably his best performance in the month, a loss against the Cardinals in which he went 7 innings only allowing two runs on seven hits.

Now I feel I'm one of the few who are banking on a great year from Pedro. And his September makes me confident enough. Yeah, the nay sayers will tell you that he can't hold up for an entire year, he's too old, and yada yada yada. While Pedro is now 36, that doesn't mean he can't be great. He's not the pitcher he used to be, obviously. But he's still a genius on the mound. He's accepted being a new pitcher since coming to the Mets. He's pulled away from this fastball and he now out-smarts everyone. Pedro will be the same genius this season and that gives me every right to believe he can be a 17-game winner.

Pedro holds a large key to any success the Mets have in 2008. And that fact makes me very confident as a Mets fan.

Uh-oh Roger...

2008-02-06T16:25:00.000-05:00

According to WFAN and the NY Daily News, Brian McNamee has turned over evidence to help back up his claims that Roger Clemens has used both human growth hormone and steriods.

This all started with the Mitchell Report and was followed up with Roger's denial on 60 Minutes. According to an anonymous source, McNamee has turned over vials with traces of steriods and human growth hormone as well as blood stained gauze pads and syringes. Beyond the questions of why McNamee started this very creepy hobby, this could be the nail in the coffin for Roger Clemens.

Here is an article on it: http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-sproger0207,0,1696182.story

I've Got That Johan Feeling!

2008-02-05T22:01:00.000-05:00

Johan Santana will be formally introduced to the New York Mets tomorrow, with a press conference at 1 PM tomorrow. The press conference will be aired live on SNY and you'll be able to listen on WFAN.

I'm personally pumped for the Santana press conference. Just one week ago it was announced that there was an agreement and then last night we all first saw the Santana jersey's available on Mets.com, as well as Santana in the Mets header. It'll be a fun way to kick off baseball season tomorrow afternoon seeing that No. 57 jersey being shown off.

Baseball is upon us, folks. And this is why we love life.

Superbowl XLII; A Night of Torture, Panic Attacks and Celebration

2008-02-05T12:36:00.000-05:00

In Matt and Joe Radio's final football post of the year (unless Chad Pennington wants to chat with us one day), I figured I'd go through some of the personal highlights of Superbowl XLII.

Pre-game:
...The mood is calm, we're confident in the Giants. The location of course is the same room as the first three playoff games, obviously all Giants victories.

Quarter 1
...Giants start with ball, good. Near 10-minute drive, good. Settle for a field goal, we'll take it. Relieved that the Giants scored first but we hate Tom Brady and need to make some stops

Quarter 2
...Alright, nothing is happening. Mood in the room? Bored and nervous. Great defense, but the casual football fans are distracting those locked in the nerve-wrecking state of a Championship game. So what's happening? The commercials. And they aren't funny. Who cares? Tom Brady just lead the Patriots to a touchdown. Giants down 7 - 3.

Halftime
...Tom Petty looks old. He is old. Why isn't he playing with excitement? He's old. Is that a guitar or an arrow? It's a guitar. That would've been cooler if it was a guitar going through the heart on stage. It is a guitar...

That's just the ongoing conversation within the room during the halftime show. Mind-boggling, I know.

Quarter 3
...Plaxico keeps dropping passes, the defense keeps the stops going. Commercials are still bad, again... who cares? The Giants are 15 minutes away from being Superbowl Champs or Superbowl Losers.

Quarter 4
...Eli gives the Giants a lead, BAM! Oh crap, there's Tom Brady. Oh crap, there's Randy Moss. "I need you to be nervous, Dahl!" The Patriots just need to score. "Stop being calm!" Hold them to a field goal. Oh crap, pass interference. Touchdown Pats. Three minutes to go. Giants down four. "Wait, can they tie it?" No they can't. "I don't get it." Three minutes till either heart-break or happiness. It was up to Eli. Why the hell are we confident? Nervousness, excitement, praying; all the things being done during the biggest drive of the Giants franchise. SHIT! He's about to get sacked. No wait! He's stumbling backwards! Get up Eli! Catch it, Tyree! HE CAUGHT IT! How?! We'll call that one the Eli Magic Scramble. Keep it moving. Floater up in the air. Plaxico in the endzone. TOUCHDOWN GIANTS! We love you, Plaxxi. Are you kidding me?! Is this really happening? Oh wait, it's still Tom Brady down 17 - 14 with the ball on the 30. Kill him. Giants attack, incomplete. Giants attack, incomplete. Giants attack, SACK! And down goes Brady! One more play. ONE MORE 'EFFIN PLAY. Up in the air, INCOMPLETE. Holy crap! I mean HOLY CRAP!

Water shower, high fives and jumping. We were all truly relieved, and thankfully one of the most stressful nights a room could ever create ended with a Championship.

That's my Superbowl 42 experience quickly summed up. I feel it was a good breakdown of the mood in the room from quarter to quarter, as well as some ongoing dialog. It may seem strange, but after all, the Giants are Superbowl champs... by beating the unbeaten. I think strange is the way to go here.

Below are some pictures from the late 4th quarter.

And now, football is closed. I'm sure Joe is happy.

-Matt

Bedard to Seattle Update

2008-02-04T01:33:00.000-05:00

UPDATE (11:45 PM): Sherrill was in Baltimore today to take his physical. The way this trade is working out, it might take some time before it is finalized but it looks like Adam Jones and Nick Markakis will be patrolling the outfield next season.

UPDATE (2:23 PM): This trade seems close to done. The Baltimore Sun is reporting that there still haven't been any physicals yet, but we're almost there.

Possible trade announcement tonight? I think tomorrow is more likely

- Joe

I know Matt and Joe often aren't the source the breaking news in terms of trade whispers and soon-to-be deals, but every now and then we are pretty quick on updating you guys.

Here is the latest in the Bedard drama:

Little article here says that Jones is on his way to Baltimore for a physical that should be the last step in this monster deal.

As you can all remember, because you all read so frequently and memorize my posts, I still think this is a bad idea for Seattle. I'll stand by it, especially after seeing what the Mets were able to send over for Santana.

My guess is we'll hear Bedard-to-Seattle on Tuesday. That will mark the 3rd big name pitcher traded this winter (4th if you count Dontrell, but that trade is in a league of its own). Sounds like a perfect little segment for Matt and Joe: The Return on BTR. One Week.

Sunday Feb. 10th, 2008 - 7:00 PM EST - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mattdahlradio

Congrats to the Giants

2008-02-03T23:05:00.000-05:00

Well just over an hour ago the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17 to 14, making them Superbowl Champions.

Football is not my sport, but that was the greatest game I've watched. I was very glad to be rooting for the Giants, it was a very fun game to be involved in.

Big time congratulations goes out to the New York Giants. Job well done, proving the doubters wrong really from day one. Great run on the year, and the best team won tonight.

I'm happy for Eli Manning, who for some reason I felt a great deal of confidence in with three minutes to go and the Giants down by four. And then he went on to leading the Giants down an impressive drive and the game-winning touchdown. In the middle he completed one of the biggest plays you could ever imagine, by avoiding a game-changing sack, and turning it into a momentum-shifting play, completing an amazing catch to Tyree, who somehow held onto that ball. It was only a matter of time after that, and then Eli to Plaxico... Superbowl Champions.

Tom Brady got his ass kicked by the Giants defense and my theory held up... nobody's perfect.

Most of all, I want to send out congratulations to the big Giants fans out there. I think I'm happy for you guys most being the die-hard Mets fan that I am. I know how big these games are to fans, and I know that a loss would be stab in the heart. Losses sit with fans forever, painfully. But I'm sure a Championship is the sweetest feeling you could ever imagine. Enjoy it, soak it in, and be happy.

I may come back tomorrow with a post of my Superbowl XLII experience, but for now, to satisfy Joe , I will follow up on his reminder that we are back in just ONE week. Mark your calenders, we'll be ready for baseball.

One Week 'til The Return

2008-02-03T19:29:00.000-05:00

I feel I have made it pretty obvious that I was done with the Superbowl before the NFC/AFC championship games were completed two weeks ago.

In the spirit of ignoring SB XLII, I just wanted to remind everyone that in just 7 days Matt and Joe will be on the air again! Starting at 7 PM and going until Matt decides to cut me off, we'll be discussing the world of sports and talking about where we've been for the last 2 months.

If you guys have any specific topic you want to cover just leave us a message here and we'll make sure it is in the show. We're men of the people.

So mark your calendars: Sunday Feb 10th 7 PM EST. The Return.

- Joe

Time to Support New York

2008-02-02T20:12:00.000-05:00

Well it can't be any secret, whether it be from knowing Matt and Joe Radio from the beginning, or just reading this blog for the past few days, or even knowing me and Joe since our beginnings; we are baseball people. But this weekend what is viewed upon as the biggest event in sports (not by me and Joe, of course) will be taking place. Superbowl XLII. While as I've gotten older, my interest has dropped in the Superbowl and the NFL in general, I've still watched without much care for the result. This year, however, will be different. New York Giants and the New England Patriots. What the hell, let's make another New York and Boston battle. The Giants come in as the red-hot team using all the momentum they've created. The Patriots come in 18-0 for the 2007 football season. Now can momentum lead David past Goliath, or will perfection be completed?

You know what they say; nobody's perfect.

I followed the Giants a little during camp; with all the Strahan issues and who could forget Tiki Barber running his mouth on the Today Show. I went into the year figuring they'd flop and Tom Coughlin would be fired and this organization could move on. But after two poor weeks, things changed. Sure, they had their bumps throughout the year (inconstancy in the offense and losing Jeremy Shockey for the year), they've battled through it all and have landed themselves in the Superbowl.

I remember Week 16 against Buffalo. Eli Manning had a dreadful first half and the Giants seemed like they'd lose another game they should win. But the defense came out with fire in the second half and clinched a playoff birth for the Giants. Then came the Pats. While the Giants lose that Week 17 battle in the Meadowlands, they showed more fire than we've seen all year. And that carried right over into the playoffs.

Sure, you could say the Giants have talked far too much since the playoffs began. Everyone said they needed to pull back on talking themselves up against Tampa Bay, everyone thought they were over their heads with confidence against the Cowboys, and how in the world could anyone think the Giants would beat Brett Favre at a FROZEN Lambeu Field? No one, but they did. And the talking from the players seems to do nothing but fire this team up.

So keep Plaxico in front of the press until Sunday. Let Strahan "threaten" Tom Brady that he'll feel pressure. And by all means, if the Patriots want to doubt, let them doubt.

Now for my ties to this game. I am a considerably neutral football fan. I will admit that if push came to shove, and I had to choose a favorite team, it would be the New York Jets. But I don't have to pick a team. Much like Joe, I am a loyal Chad Pennington fan, and therefore I strongly root for the Jets. But I'm a New York fan for teams that don't begin with a Y and rhyme with Stankees. Was that mean? Oh well, moving on. So yes, I support the Jets and Giants each football season and do get into their playoffs runs when it happens. So this year, with the Jets being a joke and ruining the days of Chad, the Giants have become a football focus for me. And come Sunday, it will be the same support I've been giving since that weekend in Tampa.

Tomorrow night, with perfection in balance, it will be Superbowl XLII in Arizona. One side will feature a team that has yet to be beaten, and the other will feature a team that hasn't lost on the road in five months. It'll be a battle of two teams that like to talk. One side has made the prediction of the final score, the other has a book ready for Monday morning release titled "The Perfect Season". Eli versus Brady, Plaxico versus Moss, New York versus Boston. At 6:30 tomorrow, I'll have my blue on, and my New York Mets hat on, and I'll be ready for some Giants football.

And remember, NOBODY is perfect.

Johan Santana and Mets reach agreement

2008-02-01T18:36:00.001-05:00

ESPN 2 reports that the New York Mets and Johan Santana have come to terms on a contract extension, pending a physical.

It was only a matter of time before this happened. I felt confident it would be done, but probably would've jumped off the nearest bridge if it weren't completed. This is a relief and I guess now Mets fans can officially celebrate the acquisition of Johan. I know I'm happy. Me and Joe will continue to update this as the numbers begin to emerge.

SI.com is reporting that the deal is worth a total of $150.75 million over 7 years (including this coming season). $7 million will be paid as a signing bonus.
Here is the original article: Santana Signs With Mets
- Joe

Santana has passed his physical. Welcome to the Jr League, Johan. It is scary how much better his stats can get now that he gets to pitch at lineups with the pitcher in the 9 spot.

- Joe @ 6:11 PM EST

Check out Seven Train to Shea

2008-02-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

As the Santana Friday continues past 5 PM, check out SevenTraintoShea for what's going down. Matt and Greg have done a tremendous job staying on top of what's become a stressing day for Mets fans.

The Mets have been granted two more hours which makes you assume it's close. But obviously being a Mets fan you're a pessimistic person and just want to hear it's been finalized.

Bedard vs. Santana: Why Agreeing With the Mets Doesn't Make Me a Hypocrit

2008-01-31T01:10:00.000-05:00

A tale of two trades. Two pitchers. Two franchises. Two cities.

If Charles Dickens were around, he'd have me arrested for plagarism. That's not true, but he would insult me for how weak of an intro that was.

While that lacked my usual charm (I apologize), it is true though. Pending the completion of the Alex Rodriguez Contract equivalent for pitchers by the Mets/Johan and Seattle getting Erik Bedard, the change felt by these transactions will be reflected in more than just depth charts and season handbooks.

The effect will not be the same for Minnesota (technically Minneapolis, just so everyone realizes I know that Minnesota is a state, not a city) and Baltimore. However, the trades look so similiar on paper:

Two #1 pitchers traded for 4 prospects each.
Both pitchers felt they weren't given an extension offer that was worth enough money/when they wanted it.
The majority of these prospects were the top prospects of each organization (Mets/Seattle).

So, why do I think Bedard-to-Seattle is a wrong move yet Santana-to-New York is the best trade (not acquisition, no one would argue getting a Bedard or a Santana isn't a great acquisition) of this offseason? Well, I think it is obvious but for the sake of blogs everywhere I'll lay it out for you here.

1. Santana and Bedard are not on the same level as Starting Pitchers

That is a pretty straight forward yet debatable sentence. I personally don't give Erik Bedard lights out ace status because of a year and a half of solid work. I didn't believe Josh Beckett was an ace just after a gusty World Series against the New York Yankees. He's getting there and is building his reputation, but it takes time. Bedard had a great season last year. He probably has accumulated a year and a half of time where it can be said that he was a dominant pitcher. Meanwhile, Johan Santana has been down right lethal since he's officially joined the Twins' rotation and is the greatest pitcher of this generation. Do you know the thing that Bedard and Santana do have in common? They are both 29 years old (soon to be that is; March 2008). In four years, Johan Santana has won 2 Cy Youngs and exceeded 235 strike-outs in each season. The best compliments given to Bedard is that he managed to win 13 on a very bad Orioles team. Ok, that is a bit harsh. The fact of the matter is that NO ONE is on Santana's level at the moment. Erik Bedard is a wonderful pitcher and has amazing stuff. I just think it is unfair to both Santana and Bedard to put them on the same level. Bedard's time line has been thrown off by a few injuries while Johan has become a stud. Bedard is in the midst of his explosion and I hope that he does take the next step towards the Santana-level. But frankly, when listing the top pitchers of the MLB, Bedard may not even be second or third behind Johan. But that is a different debate for a different day.

2. One year of team control vs. Two years of team control isn't a big enough difference to bridge the gap in talent

One of the major selling points on trading for Bedard over Santana back at the Winter Meetings was that trading for Santana was like paying the posting fee for a Japanese player since he only had one year left on his contract (at 13.75 million dollars). Anyone who traded for Santana would have to negotiate a huge contract negotiation, which would give them 6-8 years of Santana in their starting rotation. With Bedard, you could trade for him and not have to sign him immediately to a contract extension since he would be under team control for at least 2 seasons (salary control that is). I just have to ask, why is this a benefit? Any team that traded for either Santana or Bedard and failed to lock them up for multiple seasons would have made a bad trade. In the case of Santana, no trade will happen without an extension due to his No-Trade Clause. This is not the case with Bedard. Lets say that Angelos realizes that his team needs a one-to-two year reset and trades Bedard to Seattle. If Seattle sent that package of prospects over and didn't sign Bedard long term and Bedard walks in a few years, how can that trade be considered a success? The Mets are locking up Santana from 29 to 35/36 most likely. Without any major injuries, thats at least 4 years of this super human pitcher and another 2-3 years of just a 'regular' ace. A little over the top, I know, but that to me justifies mortgaging the future. You gave up years of the younger players for years of Johan. With Bedard, there is a chance that he will hate Seattle. He has no say in where he is traded (like a NTC or Limited NTC). If this deal goes down, and he decides,"I'm just going to play, win my arbitration hearing every year, and walk at age 33 and probably get a pretty great deal then from a better market or better location", how can you justify everything you sacrificed to get him there?

3. The Mets needed Johan Santana. The Mariners really like adding Erik Bedard.

A small disclaimer: Every team in MLB need starting pitcher. With so many teams in the MLB, the talent has become somewhat diluted in that there are 3rd/4th/5th starters that are considered solid options that might not have even played back in the days of a smaller league. So when I am differentiating between the Mets needing Santana and the Orioles adding Bedard, its already given that no team can have too much start pitching.

That being said, there are so many other needs for the Seattle Mariners that adding a starter might not have been #1 on the list of things to fix. The Seattle Mariners's rotation is not pretty to look at but it has it's current and future ace already in Felix Hernandez (I prefer King Felix) and signed Carlos Silva to a deal that he probably didn't deserve but that doesn't take away from the fact that Carlos Silva is a decent SP. It is not ready to face off against Beckett-Schilling-The Dice Man or CC/Carmona, but it isn't exactly horrendous either. One of the biggest problems the Mariners have is that they lack flexibility due to some poor signings. Richie Sexson was a mistake and hasn't really given much back for how much he was signed for. Beltre benefited from a perfectly timed career year and has had decent/good numbers since but nothing to match the numbers that he used to cash in a few years ago. They have somewhat of an offensive liability at SS and I don't think we can have a whole lot of confidence that Jose Lopez will be replicating his 2006 numbers or maybe even his 2007 numbers. Their DH is Jose Vidro (I dont think I need to really elaborate on that point...awesome as an Expo 2nd baseman, not so awesome as an American League DH). You get the idea. I will admit that I don't even know the Seattle Mariners as well as I know many other Major League teams yet I was able to rattle off at least 3 holes that should have been fixed before trading for Ace 1B. While Matt and I agree that OF prospects are especially hard to tell, Adam Jones is projected at #1 or #2 at all 3 OF spots on the depth chart of the Seattle Mariners. I feel that tells you the kind of impact the kid was expected to have and what his absence might mean to the team, especially if people start to get hurt throughout the season. Also, even if they get Bedard to sign a huge extension, doesn't that take away from their flexibility as an organization even more?

The Mets on the other hand are fresh off their historic collapse (awww, the New York clubs have something in common again) and managed to lose a proven innings eater (and former ace) in Tom Glavine. From the optimistic Mets's fan (Read as: Matt Dahl before Jan. 1st 2008), they weren't worried cause in 2008 there would be a full season of a healthy Pedro, John Maine after his break out season, and Ollie Perez has finally arrived and was here to be Pedro Jr. Realistically (Read as: Matt Dahl after Jan. 1st 2008), the Met's rotation is a collection of question marks. Similiar to Bedard's situation, John Maine is simply coming off a good season. That doesn't make him the next NY ace. I like Oliver Perez. I have since he debuted in Pittsburgh. You see flashes of greatness sometimes, but he is what he is: inconsistent. If he comes out in 2008 and is a true ace, then its an added bonus, but you can't bank your entire rotation and team on that. The Mets needed to send a message to their team, fans, and the city of New York that they were ready to fight for the NL East. Beyond the sentimental value of adding Santana, they really needed an anchor to their pitching staff. They didn't have the luxary of a King Felix. They have the old King and potentially some wonderful Princes, but Seattle had an ace (even if he isn't perfect yet) and the Mets really didnt. They needed to make this trade because they had a huge hole they needed to fill. Adding Bedard to Seattle will make Seattle a better team, I just wonder if those prospects/money could have fixed a few other places and made them even better.

I hope Seattle gets Bedard and he wins 20 games next season while winning the AL Cy Young. Meanwhile, Adam Jones becomes a nice fourth outfielder but nothing more in Baltimore. For all you supporters of the trade, I welcome you to hold your breath waiting for that to happen. I'd rather breath easy and criticize from afar and just hope I end up being right.

But that's just me.

Tune into Matt and Joe Radio Starting February 10th on BlogTalkRadio

Santana and Bedard: Worth the Farm

2008-01-31T00:45:00.000-05:00

It’s baseball’s big question; do you trade away the keys to your minor league system for the quick fix player? In some cases, no way (i.e. Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano), but when the deal is there for you team to go from good to great, you must get it done.

This winter has been swarmed with talks of the Minnesota Twins moving Johan Santana and the Baltimore Orioles moving Erik Bedard. Also, let’s not forget that the Oakland Athletics very quickly moved Dan Haren. Pitching wins, and those three you could argue were three of the best five AL pitchers last season.

Now the question that always comes into play when acquiring a big time pitcher is how long can he last? Or how many years can we really put into one guy? The two largest free agent contracts given to pitchers in this millennium (Mike Hampton’s 8-year/$121 million deal and Barry Zito’s 7-year/$126 million deal) have not looked so pretty. Hampton’s turned into the biggest waste of money since Ryan Leaf signed an NFL contract. And while the jury is still out on Zito, he has done nothing but decline in the last few years.

Now the Mets took the risk of giving away the prospects to get Santana, and are all set to take the risk of a long term agreement to a pitcher. Johan Santana is the ultimate exception. The best pitcher in baseball deserves to be treated like the best. Much like I had no problem with giving Mike Piazza what was then the biggest contract in baseball (7 years/$91 million… the game has come a long way), I have no problem giving Santana the biggest amount of pitcher’s money in baseball.

Moving onto Erik Bedard, which Joe touched up upon two nights ago. Not to play devil’s advocate against the sucker for young talent that Joe is, I feel the Seattle Mariners need to deal their youth to land Bedard. It will ultimately help restore the team back to full credibility and provide a team with plenty of talent a serious shot at the postseason.

The Mariners toyed with the AL Wild Card for a little last season, but their pitching had glaring holes. Felix Hernandez is good, but he’s young. From there it’s no one special, just some guys who will give you a solid six inning each time out. An addition of Bedard heavily bolsters the staff, as it would slide Hernandez down to the No. 2 slot and takes a load of pressure of him. Now Miguel Batista, Jarrod Washburn and Horacio Ramirez would be able to round out the 3, 4 and 5 spots… a respectable 3, 4 and 5 that is.

The Mariners would also be wise to bringing in Bedard the same offseason the best pitcher of the AL West in 2007 left the division (Haren). While it would all be on paper, the Mariners would have to be a solid pick to compete with the Angles who always just seem to be a team that’s there.

And even outside of the AL West this deal helps the Mariners. Look around the American League. You’ve got Sabathia and Carmona in Cleveland, Beckett and Schilling in Boston, Verlander, Willis and Co. in Detroit, and now you could have Berdard and Hernandez in Seattle. That definitely gives the Mariners are better shot at holding ground than it would with Hernandez and Batista at the top.

It’s a sensible move and worth the youth. Adam Jones could flop like anyone from the endless list for five-tool prospects have. To be successful, you’ve got to take some chances. Take a plunge in the deep-end, and it’s hard to argue taking that plunge with Erik Bedard.

But then again, Erik Bedard's fate is controlled by Peter Angelos, the biggest jackass in baseball. So this Bedard saga may be far from over. Hang tight, folks.

Don't Mess With Johan

2008-01-29T17:57:00.000-05:00

Joe lays it out right below; Johan Santana will be going to the Mets. Of course pending a physical and agreement to a contract extension. They have a 72-hour window to reach that agreement, but it will be no problem since Fred Wilpon has already come out saying he will pay Santana.

I've been saying it all along that the Mets could turn their winter from a bad one to a great one with one move, and that move is Santana. Omar Minaya did a tremendous job getting this deal done. I was a doubter back in November when hearing it would cost Jose Reyes to get Santana, then I was reluctant when I heard it would cost Fernando Martinez and Carlos Gomez to get him, but I caved around the New Year realizing whatever the cost of prospects is, they had to do it. After the collapse of last season and the lack of improvement this winter, the Mets absolutely needed to add an ace, and why not get the best.

Omar did what he had to do and that's entirely shake up the rotation. Santana-Pedro-Maine-Perez-El Duque looks great to me. You now have the two most winning pitchers in the game at the front of your staff. That should strike fear into all.

This is a very similar position for the Mets as it was in 2000 when acquiring Mike Hampton, but at much great lengths. Santana compels the Mets into a force, no longer a question.

More will come as the news comes. But really a great day to be a Mets fan.

Pitchers and catchers can't come soon enough.

Santana to the Mets: Matt Dahl's Dream Come True

2008-01-29T16:57:00.001-05:00

The Mets have won the Santana Sweepstakes.

Here is the package. Obviously this is still pending the completion of an extension:

Mets Get:

Johan Santana: Career: 93-44, 3.22 ERA, 1381 Ks. Not an official stat, but arguably the best pitcher in baseball.

Twins Get:

Philip Humber
Carlos Gomez

Deolis Guerra

Kevin Mulvey

The extension will most likely be for 6-7 years and over $150 million.

I'll let Matt dissect this one. He knows his Mets.

Here is the full story from ESPN. Nothing special.

Tune into Matt and Joe Radio Starting February 10th on BlogTalkRadio

Bedard to Seattle: When Pitching Holds the World Ransom

2008-01-28T22:23:00.000-05:00

Before I enter into this post, let me just say that I know the insane value placed on pitching in the Major Leagues. I can't even begin to put a value on someone like Erik Bedard. (Click Here for Bedard's Stats)

He's young.
He's under team control for two more years.
He's left handed.
He has won in the toughest division in baseball (AL East).

I'll admit here that I believe that he will be a great pitching in the MLB (barring any major injury of course). Acknowledging all of this, I can't help but question the deal from the Seattle Mariners' side.

Lets go off the three main components of the trade (with the fourth player not really decided on/released to the public):

Adam Jones: Five Star OF/SS Prospect
George Sherrill: Relief Pitcher; 2007 Stat Line: IP: 45.7 ERA: 2.36
Chris Tillman: Four Star SP Prospect; Seattle Mariners Minor League Pitcher of the Year

I think there is very little left unsaid about Adam Jones. While no prospects are sure things, he has the tools to become a great outfielder. He is obviously the centerpiece of this package. He was slotted in to compete for an OF position this spring training. Oh, and he happens to be only 22 years old. He only has 73 games of MLB experience, so he still has plenty of years under team control (six). Again, we all know what is said of Adam Jones and what everyone expects out of him. Five star prospects are a special bunch but its not just Adam Jones that makes me want to put the brakes on this trade.

On top of six years of Adam Jones, the Mariners are also throwing in a four star prospect in Chris Tillman. Tillman was named the Mariners' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Is Tillman the on the same level of Bedard? No, but he has shown the ability to be a very good pitcher. He needs to limit the number of base-runners he allows but he is a high level prospect and is only 19 years old (will be 20 by the start of the season). I guess it is worth mentioning that he is 'only' a right handed pitcher. I hope it goes without saying that the last sentence was dripping in sarcasm. Tillman does not have any exposure at the MLB level but it working his way through the system. Like any prospect, there is a lot of uncertainity around Chris Tillman but if there was ever a true 'can't miss prospect', he would never be traded and wouldn't be a prospect for long. The Orioles are taking him in the package because of his potential and because he will be under their control for at least 7 years (which gives him time to develop into the pitcher he will be). As a four star prospect, I wouldn't project Tillman to be an ace like Bedard can be, but I also wouldn't project him as a lifer in the MiLB.

Sherrill produced some very serviceable numbers in 2007. I use the word serviceable not because of his ERA but because of the lack of innings and his adjusted ERA for 2007 forecasts him closer to 4.00 than 2.00. He is 30 years old and can be a good reliever at the MLB level. He is a left handed pitcher with the stuff to potentially close in the AL East. As a matter of fact, many see him as a front runner for the closer position in Baltimore if the trade is completed. With the price and need for relief pitching, he has value even though its obviously not as high as Jones' or maybe even Tillman's. I don't believe Sherrill to be a potential stud closer, but the opinion on Sherrill ranges from a very good MLB reliever to a great reliever throughout the baseball world. He would help sure up Baltimore's bullpen even if he isn't closing at first.

I imagine the fourth prospect is not going to be a random throw-in but the clubs have not leaked who it will be. Again, I won't even begin to speculate who this fourth player could be because it could range from the likes of Jeff Clement to a much lower level prospect. I don't think it includes Jeff Clement personally, but would you be surprised if Baltimore was holding out for such a package while the Twins hold Johan ransom?

So you have a stud outfield prospect (who started as a SS prospect and is seen as a possible center fielder), a four star pitching prospect, and a decent middle relief guy. All of this plus another player for two years of Erik Bedard. I say two years because I feel it is a bit presumptuous to assume Seattle will be able to lock Bedard up long term. It is the same reason why I won't assume that Seattle would lock up Jones past his 7 years under team control. With the way the free agent market inflates contracts, it is getting harder and harder to entice players to leave some money on the table for a few years of security (Obviously, there are still exceptions a la Troy Tulowitzki).

Two years is all you can count on. What if Bedard likes the East Coast? What if Seattle can't afford to dish out the money Bedard knows will come from New York, Boston, Chicago, etc...? Obviously my opinion on the trade will be different if Bedard signs a huge extension that will probably end up being a discount being the price of starting pitching goes up each year, but you can't assume that will happen. Even if Bedard signs with Seattle, you just paid the ransom in players for the 'opportunity' to tie up possibly anywhere between $15-$20 million a year in one player? Ask the New York Yankees how that strategy has worked for them since the 2001 season. To be fair, at least the Yankees only forfeit a single draft pick each time they add to their 'all-star team'. In comparison, Seattle would be paying top dollar and losing two of their top 3 prospects. These arguments have been beaten to death with the Santana rumors flying around; however, no one complains about Bedard because of the fact that it isn't a one year rental.

I know I am sticking to the negative side of the questions that surround any trade. But to me, there are just as many questions around Bedard as there are Jones. Bedard's ace status is just a year old. He's always shown that sort of talent, but there have been a ton of 'aces' that turned out to be flashes in the pan. There are no serious worries about Bedard's health, but just to remind everyone: he was shut down at the end of last season with a strained muscle near his right rib cage. I bring this up only to show that for all the question marks about prospects, Bedard has a few of his own.

If I am Seattle, the price tag is already high when the deal involves Jones and Tillman. With the price of pitching, I can understand why it would take this much to get a top of the rotation sort of starter. I also understand the appeal of having a rotation that is headlined by King Felix and Erik Bedard. I wouldn't go as far to say that Seattle has a strength in starting pitching being their rotation is filled with the likes of Jarrod Washburn and Carlos Silva, but I also don't think it is such a great need that it needs the addition of Erik Bedard. Other teams need a frontline starter like Erik Bedard. One team that I think might have to match the ridiculous prospect demands of the Orioles or Twins: The New York Mets. I don't agree with the packages being supposedly offered for Santana either, but if I am the Mets I can at least justify it a little more because their rotation is headlined by Pedro Martinez (injured most of 2007), John Maine (unreal numbers, especially first half of 2007), and Oliver Perez (he is two different pitchers depending on whether or not he can find the strike zone on that given day). They also still have the taste of that historic collapse in their collective mouth and have yet to do anything to really make the team better this offseason. I'm sure with Matt waiting in the wings, we'll talk about the Mets enough, so we don't need to go any further on that subject.

Again, I would love to add Erik Bedard to any rotation but this trade doesn't make sense from a personnel or financial stand point for the Seattle Mariners. I don't think Seattle is equipped to 'win now' even if Bedard is added to this rotation (I still think the true form of Felix Hernandez is at least half a season away). I think it would definitely put them into contention, but they aren't in the same category as the NY Mets in my opinion (as stated earlier). There are many other questions and taking Jones out of the RF slot would just adds another one. Maybe in a market like Seattle the only way to get the premiere players is to pay the price in prospects and get a small (very small) discount by signing them while they are still under team control. I am not dumb enough to think that Seattle could wait for Bedard to hit free agency and go toe-to-toe with the Red Sox/Yankees but I feel they are sacrificing a lot to have the opportunity to try and get Bedard to sign long term in the next two years. If I am going to pay a ransom, I'd rather have the best pitcher in baseball (Johan). I can pass on Bedard, at least at this price.

If I'm the Orioles, I jump on this package and then ship Roberts to the Cubs and have a retooled team that could potentially sport an outfield of Markakis, Pie, and Jones in 2008/2009. But, if the rumors are true, Peter Angelos might save Seattle from making the trade due to his love of 'his players'. If I'm the Seattle's GM, I hope he veto's it so you can avoid this trade and come out looking like a winner.

But that's just me.

Tune into Matt and Joe Radio Starting February 10th on BlogTalkRadio