Washington Nationals 2007 Season Preview - From the Desk of the Oriole Post....

Hope springs eternal for every team before the first game of each and every team before a season, and some teams know they are contenders and some do not. Sadly, for the Washington Nationals, most experts and pundits believe they will not be contenders at all in the National League and perhaps will lose 100 games or more. However, even though the Nationals are rebuilding their organization for the future, the team has potential All-Stars like Ryan Zimmerman & Chad Cordero emerging as the cornerstone of the franchise. With the exception of a few players, 2007 will be a year for many to show they belong on a major league club.

2006 was a year which saw ground break on the team's new home in 2008, the release of Frank Robinson as manager, to the hiring of former Mets’ coach Manny Acta, the upcoming 2007 season will determine the road that the Nationals are on for the years ahead. The team lost superstar player Alfonso Soriano & the team was widely criticized for not trading him, but they made one of shrewd deals of 2006 in which they traded away some members of their bullpen for youngsters Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez.

Right now, baseball is in a period of economic boom, and from that result, the contracts free agents have received this offseason have been unprecedented. However, the Nationals have pretty much stayed out of the fray and have had no big signings during the winter. The Nationals’ front office, led by Stan Kasten and General Manager, Jim Bowden have a plan in place to rebuild from within via draft picks, talent in Latin America and lower level players than rather than investing heavily in the free agent market. The team was able to get some young talent via trades and had a good draft; so much of the energy in the offseason was spent trying to rebuild a moribund minor league. Hopefully under the tutelage of Manny Acta, the Nationals perhaps could do better than expected.

As we are heading into the New Year, the Nationals’ have a litany of needs, primarily in the pitching department. The batting lineup and bench are in better shape; however, besides young star Ryan Zimmerman, Nick Johnson and perhaps Austin Kearns to an extent, the Nats’ have a lack of power and impact bats in the lineup and on the bench. With second baseman Jose Vidro being traded, strong bench guy Daryl Ward gone, Alfonso Soriano now in the Windy City, the Nats are looking to become younger and have a core of players that will help them to compete.

Let’s start off with the huge glaring area, starting pitching.

The only sure bet in the rotation right now is John Patterson. The pitching situation in 2006 was unstable, to say in the least. With pitchers such as the durable Livan Hernandez, Ramon Ortiz, Ryan Drese, Joey Eischen and Pedro Astacio no longer on the team, 2007 will be an open audition. However, the future does look bright for pitching staff as we have young stars John Patterson and Chad Cordero on board, a decent bullpen, and up and comers in Mike O’Connor and Beltran Perez.

In 2005, John Patterson had a breakout year with the team and was projected to be an ace in the making until last season. In 2006, he struggled with injuries and only started eight games until he was sent to the disabled list for the rest of the season. As it looks right now, Patterson must be healthy for this team to have any stability at all in terms of a starting rotation. He is the number one guy and a strong showing in 2007 is needed from him to build for the team’s future.

The two other youngsters in the rotation, Mike O’Connor and Beltran Perez, showed flashes of brilliance in 2006, as well as growing pains in their first year at the major league level. Mike O’Connor split time between Washington and AAA New Orleans to work on some things, and while he had some ups and downs, he will be counted on to maintain some stability in the rotation. The other youngster who caught the eye of many observers was Beltran Perez, who had a few quality starts in his brief time in Washington. He finished 2-1 with an ERA under 4, so the Nationals will be counting on him to keep up the good work and perhaps take his game to another level.

The wild card in the rotation at the moment will be Tim Redding. Signed to a minor league deal, he has decent numbers as a pitcher in his career; however, he has struggled with his pitching along with injuries over the last few years. He has bounced around with a few teams, as he was with Houston, then San Diego and had a stint with the Yankees. With major league experience, Redding will be counted on making a contribution to the rotation. Another pitcher signed from the free agent is Jerome Williams, a long time veteran, who’ll be expected to contribute and eat innings.

Other pitchers in the organization who might be slotted for the pitching rotation are Jason Bergmann, Jermaine Van Buren, Shawn Hill & Billy Traber.

The bullpen was a source of stability and strength in 2005, but in 2006, it wavered somewhat. Mainstays Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch were solid, however, the loss of Luis Ayala due to the World Baseball Classic hurt along with Gary Majewski & Bill Bray being traded to the Reds for Felipe Lopez and Austin Kearns.

The middle relief for the Nationals was last season sometimes shaky, but overall remains solid. The main cog in the middle relief in 2006 was Jon Rauch. It seemed to me that Rauch was in every other game, but he proved himself to be more than reliable, partly because of his experience as a starting pitcher. With a record of 4-5 and a sub 3 ERA, he’ll definitely be relied upon in 2007.

Luis Ayala will also be a main key to the bullpen, but it may be unknown how he’ll do in 2007, as he sat out all of 2006. In 2005, he was a workhorse, going 8-7 with a mid-2 ERA and was the go-to man in the bullpen. He’ll be needed to get back to his 2005 state in order for the Nationals to be competitive in the late innings.

Chad Cordero is still the closer, although he was the target of trade rumors. He had an incredible 2005 and his 2006 was not a bad follow-up, as he saved 29 games, won 7, and finished with a low 3 ERA. Once again in 2007, he’ll be looked upon to close games and shore up some wins for the Nationals. Saul Rivera was another contributor, appearing in 54 games and finishing with a 3.43 ERA. He’ll be needed to maintain or exceed the same level of numbers he had in 2006.

Other contributors to the bullpen may possibly be Ryan Wagner, long-time veteran Ray King, Brandon Claussen & Winston Abreu.

Now, we go to the batting lineup and the bench. In 2005, the Nationals struggled en route to 81 wins because of the lack of power and offense in key situations. In 2006, the situation remained the same as it did in 2005. In 2006, there were many bright spots in the batting lineup who should give the Washington Nationals hope for the future.

In 2007, the situation may improve with the development of Ryan Zimmerman, Felipe Lopez, and Austin Kearns; but, the return of Christian Guzman and the outfield raises a lot of questions. Also, Brian Schneider will need to improve upon his 2006 campaign, although he seemed to show that he was coming out of it late in the year. The good news is this team is young, so there’s a lot that can be improved on for the future.

The main cogs of the offense for 2007 will be emerging superstars Ryan Zimmerman, Nick Johnson, Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez.

Zimmerman, as all Nats’ fans know at this moment is the face of the franchise, and the future of the team. In his rookie year, he hit 20 home runs with 110 RBI and batted .287, which we were amazing numbers and helped him to finish near the top of the Rookie of the Year votes. He’s now the man of this team, and he will only better as time goes along. He can no doubt handle the pressure of being the anchor of team, as evidence with his walk off homerun on a June Sunday against the Yankees.

He’ll be the mainstay of this team for years to come.

Nick Johnson is a player who finally broke out in 2006, with 23 homeruns and batted .290. Always known as a great ballplayer, he was finally able to remain healthy enough to make an impact and become a leader on this team until he got into a freak accident with Austin Kearns while trying to catch a flyball. He’ll always have the reputation of being injury prone, but when healthy, he’s on point and the Nats will need him more than ever in 2007.

Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez came from the Reds in a trade for Gary Majewski and Bill Bray. Experts noted that the Nats’ got the best of the deal and both men showed flashes of brilliance with the team while struggling after the trade. Both men are good sized and both should be able to hit power and average. Lopez is slotted to be the every day second baseman, while Kearns will play right field. Both are young and should be able to contribute to the Nationals for many years.

Brian Schneider struggled in ’06, but his track record shows that he should bounce back and hit for power more next year. His tangibles are that he’s a good catcher handles a staff real well, and knows how to call a game; so in the end, that’s what matters to the team, though a good bat is always a plus.

The situation with the batting order and the field get shaky with Christian Guzman and the outfield.

Let’s start with Guzman. After an infamous 2005, where he batted .219 after being under .200 most of the year, and missing ’06 with injuries, he’s due to bounce back. Although 2005 was horrendous for him, his track record shows that he will do better as evidenced by the numbers he produced in Minnesota. However, the Nats’ organization has been criticized for signing him to the contract he received and he’ll always be a target for it unless he produces and justifies the signing with the numbers.

The outfield, outside of Austin Kearns, is up for grabs. Nook Logan played a lot of games towards the end of season and didn’t look terrible, and is a good fielder, but his past history shows a player undisciplined at plate that lacks power and has a poor OBP. That being said, perhaps with a good spring training and work, he will win the center field job.

The wild card with the outfield comes to who will even get to play out there. First of you have Ryan Church, a player with loads of potential who has not been able to put it together. Church is 28, and has been up and down with the organization, due to his erratic play at the major league level. Personally, I think he’s more suited for left field, or being a platoon player. In the end, to show he belongs on this team, he’ll have to work, play at a consistent level and produce with the bat.

The other men who are in consideration for the outfield are two of probably the best prospects in the Nationals organization, Larry Broadway and Kory Casto. Casto was named the Nats’ minor league player of the year and Broadway had always been seen as one to possibly play in the majors, so both men will get a chance to show what they have in spring training.

If they make the team, one or both may be on the bench unless the Nats’ get another veteran bat. A possibility for the outfield is Chris Snelling who came from the Mariners in the Jose Vidro trade. The bench does look weak right now, but Robert Fick has re-signed with the team and he plays multiple positions. As well other non-roster invitees with a chance to make the team are long-time veteran Travis Lee, catcher Danny Ardoin.

As well, the Nationals recently signed long-time MLB veteran, Tony Womack. Womack is 37, and probably towards the end of his career, but he’ll give the Nationals veteran presence, and will probably come off the bench, or platoon in the outfield or infield. His lifetime numbers are unimpressive to say in the least, but his experience may be a benefit to a young, rebuilding team.

In the end, the Washington Nationals look to be a “team in progress”. Projected to finish 4^th or last, the Nationals do have a lot of work ahead of them in order to create a competitive team for the new ballpark and beyond. The future is not too bad, as they have a few stars up and coming, along with a few signings that may produce lightning in a bottle.

How the talent develops will determine the future of this team for 2007 & beyond.

Quick Hits: O's News, Tomlin and Stuffage...

* Spencer Fordin of orioles.com has his latest article up on the site, and it looks at the Jay Gibbon situation, Corey Patterson and the bullpen situation.

* Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore sun updates his blog on the upcoming Orioles Fan Fest, Super Bowl stuffage, the Ironclad Baseball card show this weekend in Baltimore and gives his thoughts on a possible (joking) Brian Roberts extension.

*Mike Tomlin was hired as the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and My Baseball Bias has an article about it.

I’ll try to have a 2007 preview of the dreaded New York Yankees on either Tuesday or Wednesday. I may or may not post much on Tuesday as I have to go and cover & take pictures of the Nationals Winter Caravan in Greenbelt, Maryland (a suburb outside of Washington) in the afternoon & write an article for another blog.

I'll work my way through the AL East first, then the Central, then the West. The National League will follow that, I'm still trying to decide whether I'll do separate teams for the NL, or perhaps a divisional review. It's quite hard to write a team article, and I have a new a respect for the writers who do so. I appreciate those who have given me feedback, especially for the Red Sox article, as it is greatly appreciated.

Red Sox 2007 Season Preview - From the Desk of the Oriole Post

Needless to say, the Boston Red Sox had a very turbulent 2006. With a rash of injuries & ailments to key players such as Jason Varitek, Tim Wakfield, Trot Nixon, Manny Ramirez, along with David Ortiz’s heart condition and Jon Lester’s lymphoma diagnosis, the Red Sox who were at the top of the division during the first half, fell out of the AL East race after the New Yankees slaughtered them in a 5 game series at Fenway Park in August. That weekend tempered with the injuries, and Manny Ramirez controversy over his injuries pretty much sent a season with high expectations into a tailspin.

As with every season with recently, the fans and the media who cover the Red Sox have placed high, if not sometimes, unrealistic expectations on their team. Red Sox Nation has gotten accustomed to seeing their team go to the playoffs for the past few seasons and continuing their never ending war with the Yankees, but sadly that was not the case in 2006. The Yankees eventually won the division handily until getting beaten by the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS.

With the dawn of the 2007 season approacheing, New England and Red Sox Nation are once again ready for the fever, and this winter for the team was nothing short of successful for fans of the team, in my eyes. With a fan base itching for another World Championship and unbridled love for their team, GM Theo Epstein and company are once again focused into making the Red Sox a winner.

During the offseason, the Red Sox made a huge wave going from one continent to another by signing Japanese uber-stud, Daisuke Matzsuaka, whom the team big an earth-stopping $51 million on, beating out the Yankees and Mets for his services. In addition, the Red Sox signed shortstop Julio Lugo, pitcher Joel Piniero, and probably one of the most controversial signings of the winter, J.D. Drew.

Much of the offseason for the Red Sox was shoring up the pitching rotation. Curt Schilling returns in what could possibly be his last season, as well as steady mainstay Tim Wakefield, and Josh Beckett who won 16 games, but had a propensity for giving up long balls, too many walks, had problems with his pitching and struggled his way to an ERA over 5.

The wild cards in the pitching staff are wonder kid Jonathan Papelbon and Japanese stuff, Matsuzaka. Papelbon had a breakout 2006, becoming one of the most dominant closer is the game, ending up on the All-Star team, and having an ERA well under one, until he ended up on the shelf for the rest of the year due to shoulder problems. The Red Sox are letting him go into the starting rotation where they expect him to translate the success he had as closer into a starter.

Daisuke Matuzaska is the great unknown not only to the Red Sox, but to most of most baseball. Over the life of contract, plus the right to bid for him, the Red Sox have invested over $100 million for one player, and one who’s never pitched in the majors.

Based on what I saw in the World Baseball Classic, with the experts' opinion of him being a quality starter, and if he lives up to potential, Matzusaka will be a huge star – very much godlike in Boston. If he can translate his success from Japan to the majors, he should be quite successful and should win at least 15 games, with an ERA under 4.

Another unknown with the Boston Red Sox is with their bullpen. With Papelbon in the starting rotation, for now, the closing duties have been relegated to Joel Piniero. Well, Piniero is sort of an unknown entity, as he struggled with Seattle in 2006 with an ERA over 6, and he was jettisoned from the starting rotation due to being ineffective. With the lack of relief pitching in a pricey market, Piniero was on option that the Red Sox had to take a chance on. If he does not deliver, he’ll end up being in Boston for only a short while.

The bullpen is stocked with pitching, as tenured Sox pitcher Mike Timlin returns after a so-so 2006. He’s 41, and will most likely close out games if Piniero can’t, and his age is always a concern, but is track record shows he’s been nothing but effective in the past. As well, young guns, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen, Devern Hansack and Kyle Synder will work out of the pen and maybe called to close games as well & throw a few innings out of the pen. The pen also has longtime veteran Julian Taverez in the fold, and don’t count out recently signed Brendan Donnelly with his hard pitching to help out the corps.

The Red Sox tried to trade for Chad Cordero to close, but for now, he’s still with the Washington Nationals.

All in all, although there are a few unknown variables in the starting rotation, on paper it looks real strong & could contend to be one the best starting corps in the game. The bullpen is the great unknown, but it has a good veteran presence and young guns who might be able to surprise and do the job.

With a batting lineup featuring David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew and a cast of others, the Red Sox are primed to be a competitive force in the AL once again. The offense can both do the little things, and as well hit power and average and it will be little surprise if the Red Sox don’t end up as one of the top run producing teams in all of baseball.

The two big additions, Julio Lugo and J.D. Drew will be expected to contribute in a big way. Well, it looks like Lugo will bat leadoff or second and based on his track record; he should do well based on his numbers in Tampa Bay. With a mix of speed, some power and a good batting average he’ll be playing everyday and will be expected to produce.

The wild card in the lineup is J.D. Drew. With longtime mainstay, Trot Nixon now with the Indians, Drew will be expected to man right field. He’ll adjust well, as he’s got the ability to hit 20-30 homers, drive in at least 90 runs and hit at least .280. The Red Sox are still trying to work out a deal with him, and his reputation is one of a player who is apathetic and is a cancer, and may crack under the pressure in Boston. For the money the team is paying him, he’ll need to produce and show he’s worth it. He’ll probably be used after Ramirez to provide adequate protection for both him and Ortiz.

If Drew produces for the team, the Red Sox will have a supremely tough lineup.

The rest of the team will stay pretty much the same, with Varitek catching, after a tough ’06. He’ll need to kick it up into high gear again and return to his solid numbers before least season.

Kevin Youkilis will probably be batting leadoff or perhaps second with Lugo in town, but he had a good on-base percentage and hit for average. They’ll need to him to stay at the same level or better and help set the table.

Of course, studs David Ortiz and Manny are set for a return. Ortiz should still be his dominant self and hit the bombs when the game is on the line, but the big question mark is Manny. We all know he can kill the ball and hit for both amazing power and average, but he is dedicated to the team? There was much issue with him missing the latter of the season with an injury, his work ethic, and doubters who thought he gave up towards the end. As well, he demanded a trade once again, but found a hard time finding a suitor who could match what the Sox wanted in return, so he’s in Boston for at least another season. Manny being a productive hitter is key for the Red Sox offensive machine to be dominant.

The other big question in the lineup is Coco Crisp. After arriving from Cleveland with a lot of fanfare, he struggled and became the ire of many Red Sox fans, and as well missed the rest of the season due to injuries. He’ll be moved down the order, but the question is the real Coco Crisp the one that produced in Cleveland, or the 2006 version? Only time will tell, and being that Boston is a hard place to play, he might be moved sooner rather than later if he doesn’t produce.

Third base will be occupied by Mike Lowell who had amazing comeback in '06 after struggling with the Marlins and coming via the Beckett trade. They’ll depend on him to keep up his pace from 2006. Second base is open with the departure of Mark Loretta, but Alex Cora and rookie Justin Pedoria should battle for playing time.

Willy Mo Pena should find some playing time with his power, but right now his plate discipline is lacking, as he strikes out too much and can be a liability in the field. He’s only a young guy, and maybe with some more playing time, he can develop into a force with the Red Sox.

After a season of spending a few bucks to strengthen the team, New England and Red Sox Nation will be waiting for the 2007 season with great anxiety and anticipation. It’s a forgone conclusion with the additions and the mainstays that the team will be competitive and Fenway will be rocking for Ortiz’s exploits and dancing when “Sweet Caroline” blazes.

Will this season get them into the playoffs and more importantly, dethrone the hated New York Yankees from supremacy in the American League East? Will the disappointment of 2006 end up in 2007 to be another 2004?

Only time will tell.

Happy Trails, Bill -- Parcells Retiring from Coaching...

I just read this, but it seems that coach Bill Parcells is leaving the Cowboys & perhaps from coaching for good. In his time with the Cowboys, he made 2 playoff appearances, but got bumped out early in both. He was 34-30 in four seasons in Dallas, and after his devastating loss to the Seahawks in this first round of the playoffs due to a botched punt attempt, he looked tired and weary.

This may be very well the end for Bill Parcells, as he ends an amazing career that featured two Super Bowl wins. He's been known lately as a coach who comes into franchises that are dead and revitalizes them, and he's done that in the past with the Giants, Jets, Patriots and now the Cowboys.

After the drama of '06-07 along with the constant demands and stress of coaching, I would not blame him for hanging it up. I have joked with some friends, that I love for him to coach my team, but I would not want to play for him, because of his toughness and mind games - although it is to get the best of each individual player.

Even though he coached against my beloved Redskins many times and served as a nemesis, I always respected the job he did coaching and his desire to win.

He goes out as one of my favorite coaches of all time, and for the work done, Bill, I salute you.

Quick Hits...

Well, Peyton is finally going to the big game – nice. The Colts stormed back from a 21-3 deficit at halftime to win 38-34. Congratulations to the Colts and their fans. Good luck in the Super Bowl.

The same to Chicago Bears fans as well. History will be made when two African American head coaches face off in the biggest sporting event in America.

More on Bam Bam Bigelow: As well, I got a little a bit of feedback of about the untimely death of Scott “Bam Bam” Bigelow, as wrestler in Vince McMahon’s WWE, World Championship Wrestling and several other promotions. I remember him from my days of watching professional wrestling as a kid, and it was nice to hear some of the stories via email about how a few people who had the chance to meet him and their impressions. Thanks everyone who dropped a line to me and let me know their thoughts.

Like I asserted in my previous post about him, it seems like a good portion of wrestlers die before their time and I just wish there was a way to prevent it.

More on the Vick saga: Well, it didn’t look like Michael Vick had weed while he tried to board an Airtran flight from Miami to Atlanta, those in the NFL think he’s not going to be charged with anything. However, the decision will be up to the Miami police.

Surely, if it was you or I who acted funny while boarding a plane, we’d be whisked away, at minimum not allowed to board the plane and we’d be in a room answering questions. Oh, the perks and benefits of celebrity.

Orioles Stuff: I found this on Foxsports.com this morning. Writer Dayn Perry ranks all the GM's in baseball, and these are his top five general mangers:

1. John Schulerholz

2. Walt Jocketty

3. Terry Ryan

4. Billy Beane

5. Theo Epstein

6. Dave Dombrowski

7. Kevin Towers

8. Kenny Williams

9. Omar Minaya

10. Larry Benifest

I agree with this list as is. Dayn Perry does a great job listing the GM's and while his reasoning for each position are very brief, he places everywhere where they should be. To be honest, I don't have a problem with this list.

Well, the Orioles are ranked number 26th on the list. Here's what he says about the team:

26. Mike Flanagan, Orioles On the job since …December 2002 Playoff appearances: 0

The O's these days aren't as miserable as they're often made out to be, and the farm system is improving. However, the pointless — and expensive — patch job remains the hallmark of this once-proud organization. Flanagan has the smarts, but he lacks the autonomy to run the organization his way.

I'll agree with his sentiments for the most part. Flanagan does have the ability to pick talent, and I think he's also held back by Angelos, and that's the reason on why the O's placed where they did on the GM list. However, the GM is supposed to have the pull and the gumption to get the talent needed and for based on the results for the past several years, he's failed.

It all goes back to my opinions on the Sporting News article and this team. The Orioles right now have a storm cloud over their head as potrayed by the media. Until improvement is made by the team, and risks are taken, the O's along with Mike Flanagan will never get their proper due.

* I'll have a Boston Red Sox preview later up on the blog today, if not later tonight. If I do miss putting it up on the blog today, I'll have it first thing Tuesday morning.

Quick Hits...

Well, not much is going here today except football, and plus it is snowing outside, so I am confident that the return of winter will surely make things interesting for Monday morning. I don’t still don’t have high cable back yet and dial-up is sorely testing my patience. Now that it’s snowing, the likelihood I’ll sneak out will be slim to none.

This week, I am going to work on preview for perhaps selected teams, or for each division, since I also work on a few other blogs – I haven’t decided. I still need to work on my Ballpark article, so I’ll get trucking on those this week.

The Saints dream season is over, but let’s give them applause for all they have done. However, the Bears dominated them, so in the end they are going to Miami. The big game is coming up, and I’m going with the Patriots.

Oriole Article:

The Baltimore Sun’s Tim Plachke has a great article on Cal Ripken.

Around the Blogosphere:

My Baseball Bias has a post comparing Diasuke Matsuzaka and Kei Igawa. The site chooses Matsuzaka.

Read what the Joy of Sox has to say about Bud Selig and the new DirecTV deal, ouch.

Baseball News:

Chase Utley and his deal: According to MLB.com, All-Star second baseman for the Phillies, Chase Utley, agreed to a seven-year, $85 million contract that will keep him in Philadelphia through the 2013 season. The deal will average more than $12 million a season. Great move by the Phillies to lock one of their core players.

John Donovan of CNNsi.com goes over how a few teams including the Orioles were able to upgrade their bullpens. Also, there’s a photo gallery looking at the top 10 bullpen pickups around baseball.

ESPN.com looks at candidates for the commissioner position after Selig leaves in ’09.

For the Idiot File: Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh.

Anyhow, I caught this post on AOL by Michael David Smith while trying to kill time this afternoon before watching the big games.

Wow. Is this a guy just looking for attention, a response or what? Not go into past history or whatever, but in 2003, Mr. Limbaugh opined that Donovan McNabb was perhaps overrated because, “The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well”. He said this even though McNabb led the Eagles to 3 NFC East Championship titles before that statement.

That got him railed in the media and pretty much everyone and he resigned from ESPN. I listen to his show once in a while and yes, he has a history of saying some stupid and callous things on his radio ahow, especially about minorities.

He’s at it again.

He says: "There is a cultural problem in the NFL that has resulted in a total lack of class on the part of professional players. I love the game of football, but after every sack players are acting like they've won the Super Bowl; they're prancing around with these idiotic dances."

These guys are trying to enjoy the sport and celebrate. Rush may be right in a sense, but I think it is generally harmless. He also opines:

"Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

Huh? Where did you draw this conclusion?

I know he’s the hero of the conservative moment in America and that’s fine, but he’s once again crossed the line. Now, I wonder this guy even believe half of what he expounds, or just says it to get his listeners riled up. The dangerous thing is that he has millions of listeners and a good portion of them take everything he says as verbatim, and thus believe it.

There are idiots in every society. However to compare a football league with two dangerous and notorious gangs is just silly, irresponsible and dangerous. Yes, a few players have gotten arrested this season, such as Tank Johnson, but how do you correlate a football player as being a gang member?

I mean, I guess Reggie Bush, all-American boy Peyton Manning, LaDanian Tomlinson, etc. must be gang members. Sorry, this correlates into race and one assumes because football is a violent sport, and only a very small portion who have gotten in trouble, it means that the sport has been bastardized because of it.

Ok, so players sometimes showboat and look silly. So what? Players pump up their fists after hitting a home run and auto racers after a victory, drive around the track, show off, and then surround themselves with their team and models on a podium. Showboating has gone in sports since the beginning of time, and perhaps because of the TV age and SportsCenter it’s more pervasive.

The author of the post on AOL and Rush didn’t mention race, but as a minority, I think it’s an underlying factor that cannot be dismissed. Folks, this kind of stereotyping is dangerous and is a reason why America struggles with many issues of perception today – simply, because we give men like Rush Limbuagh a forum to talk.

We have the freedom of speech, but you also have to be culpable for opening your mouth and saying utterly stupid and dangerous things. Mr. Limbaugh, if you have nothing nice or constructive to say, perhaps you may want to keep your mouth shut.

My Favorite Current Athletes: Outside of Baseball...

Well, as you all know, I am a huge, huge fan of baseball and it's my first love. However, I do watch quite a bit of sports and consider myself a sporting fool, first and foremost.

As we know, the pantheon of sports spans a wise spectrum of activities and interests, and today I going to share my favorite athletes in the sport of football, golf, basketball, hockey, racing and yes, even pro wrestling.

In the end, sports help being us together, entertain and perhaps most important, let us forget about our problems and live life vicariously through our heroes for a few hours.

The List:

Tiger Woods: He’s the man; he’s rich, famous, loved by all and has a model for a wife. Yes, plus he’s nothing short of a killer on the golf course. Even though he does not win every tournament he plays in, he’s always a contender and his dominance of the game is unparalleled except for the play of Jack Nicklaus.



I like this commercial, artistic, simple but effective.



Gilbert Arenas: Agent Zero. He’s sometimes quirky and eccentric, but he’s been nothing short of deadly this season and I’m lucky enough to see him in person play.



Allen Iverson: He’s got heart, game and courage. He’s probably the player who gets the most out of his size and ability. It’s too bad he had to leave Philadelphia to go the Nuggets, but was he ever the heart and soul of that team.



Alexander Ovechkin: I’m not too big into hockey, but seeing this kid is amazing on TV and twice in person is amazing. I don’t know if he’s the second coming of Gretsky, or we’ll be mentioning his name in the same breath as Super Mario or Gordie Howe, but as young as he is, he’s been nothing short of awesome. It’s nothing short of insane the shots I have seen him take – wow.



LeBron James: The King, and probably one of the best all-around players in the game already. He’s nothing short of incredible and is a beast on the floor. He’ll be one of the best of all-time in the history of the sport when all is said and done.



Annika Sorenstam: The queen of golf and probably one of the most dominant athletes of her sport. I have gotten an appreciation of golf and have taken it up in the past few years, but every time I see her on TV, she’s amazing. She’s not at all flashy, but someone who can concentrate and dominate her sport as she does deserves some props.



Reggie Bush: Even though he’s a rookie, he’s contributed to the Saints’ amazing run in the playoffs. He’s a legend on the college gridiron and I’m sure he’ll continue his legend in the NFL. He’s a talented RB and I have never seen runs like he’s accomplished by anyone else, except for Walter Payton and Jim Brown.



Steve Nash: He may not be that charismatic, but he can play the game and do it all day long.



Brian Urlacher: I just love the way he plays football – hard nosed and old school.



Ric Flair: Many people don’t consider wrestlers athletes, and in fact consider them a joke. Wrestling may be fake, juvenile and scripted, but Ric Flair did it better than anyone else. They take a beating to entertain fans, much less a stunt man would do and that’s a reality of the field, but he’s been at for nearly 4 decades now and he makes me laugh t times with his “woos” and blabbering.



Tom Brady: I’m no fan of the Patriots, but he’s just deadly and the epitome of what a quarterback should be. He’s got 3 Super Bowl rings and the respect of everyone and everything.



Sidney Crosby: See Alexander Ovechkin. He and Alex will save hockey – he’s just amazing.



Last But Not Least, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: I really don’t consider myself a fan of auto racing, but I find some of it exhilarating. Anyhow, an ex co-worker of mine got me into it, and she had Dale Earnhardt’s junior stuff all over her cube and I wondered what the big deal was with him. I knew a little about his father and his tragic death, but his son is just as good and I really like the way he carries himself and represents the sport of auto racing.



Honorable Mention: Brett Favre, Shaquille O’Neal, Danica Patrick, Tim Duncan, LaDanian Tomlinson, Ray Lewis, Temmu Salamme

The Birds of Baltimore and the Outlook for 2007

As we are less than a month away from spring training, the Orioles have been beaten up in the media not their losing way over the last nine years, but the perception that the front office is inept. Even though the team didn’t make too many waves in terms of a “sexy” big name signing, or getting a marquee player, the Oriole have improved, but perhaps not enough to contend for a wild card spot. There has been a bit of bad news recently for the team as steady reliever, Kris Benson is most likely out for the season with a torn rotator cuff; Jose Acevedo, a relief pitcher in the organization may be out too for extended period of time as he recovers from a motorcycle accident.

Considering we are less than a month and a half from opening day, the anticipation of baseball not only here in Maryland, but around the nation is growing. For most fans of the Orioles, the season may bring renewed optimism, but hopefully by July the team will still be in the hunt and perhaps impact as well as be a player in many of the races in the American League.

However, once again, the Baltimore Orioles may perhaps be relegated to 4^th place again and looking up in the standings to their usual foes the Yankees and Red Sox at the top of the division, and the Blue Jays in third.

It has nevertheless been an interesting off season, not only for the Orioles, but for all of baseball. First off, we remade our bullpen, which was sort of an Achilles heel throughout the 2006 season. Second, we tried to get an impact bat and failed because of the market, but we were able to get Aubrey Huff, a versatile player has had some success in the past. Third, we tried to get a frontline starter, but did not for the same reasons we didn’t get an impact bat – money in comparison to the talent and the length of contracts of out in the market.

Let’s start with the bullpen. With the exception of Chris Ray and Chris Britton, the bullpen was a continuous audition for a bad play that resembled a train wreck, with guys from Triple-A being called up, reclamation projects such as Jim Brower, John Halama and Russ Ortiz pitching; as well, giving failed starting pitchers like Rodrigo Lopez and Bruce Chen an opportunity to fix their problems, but more often than not, failing.

This caused the team to take drastic measures. The Orioles completely retooled their bullpen with Chris Ray and Todd Williams being the only layovers from last year right now.

We were able to get pitchers with good track records, but I think we paid too much for them, in tune of $42 million total with the contracts handed out. The best signing was Scott Williamson, as he received a one year deal for $1 million and he’s trying to recover from an injury and this perhaps may serve as a tryout. The rest of the pitchers, most especially Baez, were signed for too many years. However, Chris Britton, a young reliever, was traded away to the Yankees for Jaret Wright, a starter.

Danys Baez has established himself as a reliable closer in MLB, as of late for the Dodgers, Braves, and the Devil Rays, but had a down year in 2006 and he’ll be doing setup work for The Birds. Jamie Walker is known as a left handed specialist and came from the AL Champions, Detroit, but I think in the end, he got too many years at an average of 3 million plus. Chad Bradford may be the most reasonable of the group, as he had a great year with the Mets and is a submarine/sidearm pitcher who’s had past success.

Well, the next area I’d like to focus on is the starting pitching. In my opinion, this is the place which will determine whether the Orioles will sink and swim, considering the expectation of the young pitchers in the rotation.

The rotation right now has a lot of upside, but not necessarily the expectation of anything great. The ace of the staff, Erik Bedard came off a great year where he led the club in wins and ERA, and this will be the season to see if he can take it to the next level. He became the leader of the rotation and excelled after he learned a changed and used it in his arsenal.

In my mind, he might be the only sure thing assuming he doesn’t regress.

The two wild cards in the rotation and that will make or break the Orioles are Adam Loewen and Daniel Cabrera. They both have great stuff, Cabrera especially, and both have youth and time on their side. Adam Loewen last year showed signs of brilliance, especially against the Yankees, but also showed his inexperience by sometimes losing focus and showing bouts of wildness, and not hitting his spots when pitching. I expect him to improve as he has more games under his belt.

Daniel Cabrera could be the next big thing or a pitcher who was unable to reach his potential. A towering presence, Daniel has a great fastball and great stuff, but he was way too inconsistent, wild and sometimes like confidence in his ability. Sometimes his mechanics were off, but it is more of a mental thing and not knowing to or having the confidence to battle out of tough spots. After his final start with the Yankees, the world got to see what he could and hopefully it will serve as motivation for him to get to the next level.

The two last pitchers slotted to start in the rotation are Steve Trachsel and Jaret Wright. Both men are pretty much seen as average starters and middle to end of the rotation guys. Trachsel is not bad, and he won 15 games in '06, but his ERA was a tad under 5. However, he does have a decent track record as a reliable pitcher and it remains to be seen how the switch from the NL to the AL will affect him.

Wright is probably a 5 or 6 inning pitcher at this point in his career and has had average numbers. He’s also battled a number of injuries too and is a long way from the pitcher he was in Cleveland and Atlanta.

The saving grace for the pitching staff is if Leo Mazzone can in year two spark the magic in the Orioles that he did in Atlanta. He’s pumped to be ready for camp, and this year will determine whether his reputation for working wonders with pitchers is real for just because of the talent he was able to secure in Atlanta.

My opinion, the bullpen has improved, but has the starting pitching? Like I said earlier, the pitching is the wild card and will determine whether the O’s will sink or swim. Not having Ortiz, Chen, perhaps Lopez will improve things by a lot, but the pitchers still need to perform to their ability.

The final portion of this post deals with the offense and fielding. With the exception to the additions of Aubrey Huff & Jay Payton, the lineup is almost identical to last year. During the offseason, we had a chance to sign Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee and a group of lesser name sluggers, but due to the market, we ended up with Huff and Payton. I figure this was primarily due to the amount of money and the contracts that many players wanted, even though it may not have been indicative of their ability or track record.

The priority for the Orioles this offseason was to get a big bat, and one to protect Miguel Tejada. The team was in the bottom half of runs scored and some work to improve upon that.

We were not able to get the big name, but the Orioles did get Aubrey Huff. Huff has had some solid numbers with Tampa Bay, but regressed last year with time split between the Rays and Houston. Well, it looks like he’ll be playing multiple positions and will be having a lot playing time. I think he’ll be good for 20 plus homers, 80 plus RBI’s and at least a .270 average. He’s always hit well at Camden Yards, and perhaps the short wall to right field will entice him to put up some good numbers. I still think the Orioles needed more, but with all things considered, if Huff has a good season, he’ll be a bargain.

Huff is expected to split time between the corner outfield positions, first base and third base.

Although he’s probably past his prime, resigning Millar was beneficial, as he’s got an good OBP, plate discipline and is good in the clubhouse. Although his numbers last year were subpar, when he’s given a chance to play, he is productive.

The middle of the field is secure for now with Brian Roberts, Tejada and Melvin Mora. Brian Roberts came back from a gruesome injury, and Tejada once again delivered with the bat, but his power numbers were slightly down. However, his fielding looked suspect last season and I sorely hope it was because of injury, and not because of age, because his range and performance were poor in the field. Perhaps a position change might do him good, either to first or third, but it looks like he’s in the field for now. Melvin Mora had an off year and his numbers look to be declining, but you can count on him to bat .280 with at least 15 homers and 80 RBIs. All three guys are fan favorites, and will probably be here for a number of years to come.

Even though the trade values of Miguel and Brian are fairly high, do not count a on a move to happen.

The outfield will be manned by Aubrey Huff, Corey Patterson, Mark Markakis as well as Jay Payton. Nick broke out in a big way this year after struggling in the first part of the year. After June, he came out blazing with an almost .400 average and was hot throughout the summer as he finally got comfortable at the plate and secured the everyday position in right field. However, he regressed in September and perhaps it was due to fatigue, but nevertheless he’s the bright spot on this team.

I expect Markakis to break out this year, bat close to .300 throughout the year and cross the 20 homer plateau.

The other two men in the outfield, Jay Payton and Corey Patterson are serviceable enough for now. Payton has a lot of miles on him, as he played for the Mets, Rockies, A’s and Red Sox, but he’s always been reliable and should give you solid numbers. Corey Patterson is a speed demon and great in the field, but he strikes out way too much and doesn’t do particularly well against lefties.

We also have Gibbons who may be slotted to be the designated hitter or first baseman. He’s battled injuries for a while now, but with his build and power, he should be at least hitting 25 homeruns with over 90 RBIs. The main question is can he stay healthy? He’s only 29, still has time on his side and maybe being out of the field will keep him intact for a whole season.

Right now, I am not sure who we will have on the bench, with the exception of Chris Gomez who was nothing short of great once he came back from his injury, and Brandon Fahey.

In the end, the Orioles need to decide whether they want to compete or rebuild. On paper, they look slightly better than what their 70-92 record indicates, but in my eyes, it looked like a lot of the players were not trying and accepted the way things were.

However, I think we are quite a bit away from contending, but if all goes well a .500 record is attainable. There needs to be a plan with the organization, whether to rebuild around Tejada, and get the bats we need, or perhaps consider trading our strongest chips, outside Bedard, Cabrera, Markakis and Loewen and see if we can get young talent under our control to compete perhaps in ’09 or ’10. The team looks to be greatly improved on paper, but as of now, we are no where near the Yankees, Red Sox or Blue Jays in terms of talent. We’ll have to see how the young pitching develops and if Markakis turns into the next big thing.

If competing and contending ever becomes palatable again here in Baltimore for the Orioles, there are more changes to be needed with the makeup of this team.

Who We Added:
Danys Baez, Chad Bradford, Scott Williamson, Jamie Walker, Aubrey Huff, Jaret Wright, Freddie Bynum, Jay Payton, Paul Bako

Those Who Dearly Departed:
Bruce Chen, Ramon Ortiz, LaTroy Hawkins, Rodrigo Lopez, Chris Britton, Chris Widger, Fernando Tatis

The Projected Starting Lineup:

• Catcher, Ramon Hernandez
• First Base, Kevin Millar
• Second Base, Brian Roberts
• Shortstop, Miguel Tejada
• Third Base, Melvin Mora
• Right Field, Nick Markakis
• Center Field, Corey Patterson
• Left Field, Aubrey Huff/Jay Payton
• Designated Hitter: Jay Gibbons/Aubrey Huff

Starting Rotation:

• LHP, Erik Bedard
• RHP, Kris Benson
• LHP, Adam Loewen
• RHP, Daniel Cabrera
• RHP, Jaret Wright

Bullpen:

• Closer, RHP Chris Ray
• LHP, Jamie Walker
• RHP, Todd Williams
• RHP, Danys Baez
• RHP, Chad Bradford
• LHP, Scott Williamson

Bench:

• IF, Chris Gomez
• C, Paul Bako
• OF/IF Freddie Bynum
  

Bam Bam Bigelow, RIP

Well, back in the day, I used to watch pro wrestling all the time and although I do partake in watching it from time to time, it's all fun and good.

Once again, another wrestler has died young and perhaps well before his time. Tattooed wrestler, Bam Bam Bigelow, passed away in Florida and he was just 45 years old. Link from WWE.com

Why does this keep happening? It is the beating they take, the grueling schedule, perhaps drugs, or just being out of shape? It may or may not be the case, but too many men who were in the game such as Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Eddie Guerrero, Louie Spicolli, Yokozuna, Crash Holly, Davey Boy Smith, Road Warrior Hawk, Miss Elizabeth and Owen Hart (who died in a stunt) have to die a premature death?

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, as these men are adults, but it is frankly disturbing. Put it this way, if NFL or MLB players died at the rate wrestlers do in a premature fashion, the world would be up in arms.

Wrestling may be scripted, but the pain that these men and women endure are all too real and perhaps it catches up with him in middle age.

Rest in peace, Mr. Bigelow.

Quick Hits...

Well, I have had a boring weekend. Nothing much has gone on, and winter has returned with a vengeance here in the Mid-Atlantic. I preferred it to be 70 out, but hey I’m glad winter is back and we are supposed to expect some measurable snow here in the region over Sunday into Monday which is wonderful.

Perhaps the wacky weather has been due to global warming, but that will be a discussion for another day.

In addition, I have had my high speed cable internet cut-off, partly due to my own incompetence, but it will be back on Monday morning. Life sucks when you have to use dial-up, so I have been running back between my parents’ and Kinko’s.

The Orioles aren’t doing much, nor has been there much news on their end, but on forums and around the blogosphere, people are ready to carry pitch forks and burn the Sporting News down.

Around the Blogosphere:

* Yankees Chick has a tribute to Bernie Williams. She realizes it’s time for him to go, and I sort of agree with her. The dude is a class act. It would be nice for him to get a position with the team, or he work alongside Torre.

* My Baseball Bias has a rundown of all the AL East News to print, ahem, or read…

* Check out the Critical Sports Blog, funny site with a lot going on…

* Check out the Church of Baseball - interesting & a little different, but creative & funny.

DirecTV signs Exclusive Deal with MLB: The Business of Sports

Well, unless you have DirectTV, if you’re a hard core baseball fan life is going to suck for you. According to the NY Times, Major League Baseball and DirecTV have come to an agreement for the MLB Extra Innings package. Now, DirecTV is the exclusive outlet for the Extra Innings package.

As well, MLB will have a baseball network starting up too, ala the NFL and NBA.

Anyhow, I have DirecTV, so it’s not a big deal for me. Besides, I usually just watch games via my laptop from MLB.com’s web service both at home and work.

From the NY Times article: “Extra Innings has been available to 75 million cable households and the two satellite services, DirecTV and the Dish Network. But the new agreement will take it off cable and Dish because DirecTV has agreed to pay $700 million over seven years, according to three executives briefed on the details of the contract but not authorized to speak about them publicly.

InDemand, which has distributed Extra Innings to the cable television industry since 2002, made an estimated $70 million bid to renew its rights, more than triple what it has been paying. Part of its offer included the right to carry the new baseball channel, but not exclusively.

The baseball channel is scheduled to start in 2009.”

I can understand why quite a few customers would be upset, as you’d have to ditch your cable service for DirecTV. The problem is there are a lot of apartment communities that will not allow you to have a dish, so that’s part of the market unable to access other games via TV. The only option for those without DirecTV would be to subscribe to the MLB.com package that streams video of the games (I’d strongly advise you only get it if you have a Broadband connection).

I think it sucks that MLB did this, but it’s all a business, and in the end, they want greater control of their product.

Fanning the Flames: You Have to be Kidding Me...

Wow. The internet is a whacked place. From online dating, chat rooms, people who need to tell you everything, to porn to buying whatever you need, as great as the internet can be, it can be the home of weirdos. I was looking at AOL blogs this evening and saw a post to this woman's blog, named Lisa Micelli about said about her relationship with Michael Jordan.

She thinks he'll marry her.

The poster, MJD has an entertaining write-up about this, and I agree with his sentiments.

Is she whacked, maybe. Could she be telling the truth, who knows. After looking at her blog, I don't know what to think. Why she'd want the world to know about her relationship or whatever she had with Michael other than the reason she might need attention, or whatever, who knows.

Or maybe she is just fibbing and perhaps after his money, pseudo-celebrity or fame.

Link the to blog: http://michaeljordansmistress.blogspot.com/

My Favorite Current Ballplayers: From the Desk of the Oriole Post

As I have played the game and also been a life long fan, there have been a lot of players I have been able to see and enjoy. Today, since I just got home and worked out, I decided to a top 10 list of players I enjoy seeing.

You have a few superstars, up-&-comers and one everyday player, but these are the guys I enjoy seeing and I think represent what the game should be in my mind.

Some play in the NL, some in the AL, and some for the enemy (see, Yankees, New York and Red Sox, Boston), but nevertheless, seeing these guys makes the game worthwhile.

David Eckstein: He looks like an undersized college student, but he’s small in stature; however, big in heart. Although he will most likely never get into the Hall of Fame, all of his intangibles have helped two teams, the Angels and Cardinals in the fast few years win a World Series.

Fans love him because he plays the game the right way and full of desire. He’s my favorite for the aforementioned reason, but more importantly, he gives all the average size kids hope they don’t have to the size of Ryan Howard to make it to the majors.

I’m nearly a foot taller than he, and I can’t play the game like he does. I find him just amazing. The most incredible play I saw him make was actually at bat in Washington two years, as he positioned his bat like he was going to bunt, but suddenly pulled his bat back and hit a homer.

From a guy listed at 5’7”. Wow. The video is from TNA wrestling, as I could not find a decent video of him, but it’s cool…




Derek Jeter: I dislike the Yankees with a passion, but Jeter is one of my favorite players to watch. He always money and seems to destroy my Orioles, but he’s got great athleticism and he’s the definition of clutchiness (I have no idea if it’s a word, but whatever).

Like I said, I may hate the Yankees, but I respect their team and a lot of their players. Jeter seems to be a good guy and actually uses his fame for good, unlike a lot of players out there.




David Ortz: Big Papi. He always seems to enjoy the game, attention and has fun out there. He hits the ball a mile and he’s always jolly. Anyhow, he’s just amazing to watch and if you have seen him in batting practice, you know what I mean. I can’t remember a player who seems to the big hit at the critical point of a game as effective and dramatic as Ortiz. I’m not a huge Red Sox fan, but it’s always a pleasure to see him play.



Dontrelle Willis: The leg kick, the delivery. He’s got charisma, flair and seems to enjoy himself on the mound. I have only seen him pitch twice in person, but he’s good for the game and real good with fans.

Ryan Zimmerman: He’s going to be the next big thing, and he’s also been money in quite a few clutch situations. Although the team is not going to be much good in 2007, he’ll be a player to watch.

Ryan Howard: He’s a big man. He crushes the ball a mile too, and although he really doesn’t put up a show during batting practice, during the game it’s another story. Too a great guy, the sky seems to be the limit for him after the damage he did in only his second season.



Ichiro Suzuki: It must be his stance, and his methodical approach to hitting, but I love to analyze his at-bats and see how he does each time he’s up at bat.



Torii Hunter: He’s like the human highlight film and is a great ballplayer. Though his numbers have declined somewhat, he’s a superman in the outfield and has made more catches that are amazing than any other player I have seen recently. He’s good with the fans and also one the great representatives of the sport of baseball.



Joe Mauer: One of the rising stars in the game, for much like the same reason I enjoy Ichiro, he’s amazing to watch at the plate and will join the superstar stratosphere, sooner rather than later.



Trevor Hoffman: Spending some time in San Diego and catching them in Washington, I got see a little of the greatness of Trevor Hoffman. Although he is not what he once was, he’s effective and it’s amazing to see how his pitches dazzle and fool batters. A Hall of Famer for sure, it’s always a treat to see him.

Honorable Mention: Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols, Grady Sizemore, Johan Santana, Andruw Jones, John Smoltz, Pedro Martinez, & Ken Griffey Jr.

More Sporting News Fallout about the O's...

Well, I just got up and logged onto the Baltimore Sun, and a segment called the Flip Side has a blurb titled, "Orioles Join Not-so-Elite Company".

Here's the blurb:

"So this is what nine straight losing seasons gets you - the company of the Oakland Raiders, New York Knicks and St. Louis Blues.

The Orioles have been lumped in with those teams in The Sporting News' selection of the worst pro sports franchises.

And how disrespectful is this? The pieces at sportingnews.com on the other three members of what Sporting News calls the "Feeble Foursome" at least are real articles. The Orioles get only a chronology - lists of dates with short summaries of what happened.

Sheesh. Would Sporting News have done the same if it had picked the Kansas City Royals?"

Well, I have no idea who wrote the piece, but like I have asserted before in a few posts, the Orioles got the mention as the worst franchise in baseball, not sorely because of our record, but because of the endless hirings, firings, players going in and out, our owner, the declining attendance, fan apathy, not using our resources at all properly and other reasons that I don't care to go into.

Sorry I must say this, but the fall from one of the elite franchises in baseball to a laughing stock has been shocking. I don't think has anything to do with us being the playoffs during the 90's and sucking it up, while the Royals, Pirates and Brewers have been just as bad or worse.

It's the soap opera storylines and car crash mentality that has now been placed on the Orioles like a black storm cloud by baseball, the media, and even some Orioles' fans.

Folks, I know it sucks that some magazine gave the Orioles such a dubious title, but in my mind the only way to erase the notion we are the worst baseball franchise in sport is to be smart & start winning - plain and simple.

Boomer and the Padres, News on a way, way old friend: The San Diego Padres and David Wells are going to be reunited. According to ESPN, 'The Padres and Wells' agent agreed in principle Friday to a $3 million, one-year deal that gives the 43-year-old left-hander the chance to make another $4 million in incentives.'

He's always been one of my favorite baseball players, not only for his pitching, but his outspokeness and how someone like him could possibly be considered a professional athlete.

Most of my friends trash him, but he made to that to the level thousands dream of, and throws the ball across the plate a whole lot better than I do.

I'd love to see him in better shape, but I'll take him as he is.

Guilty Pleasures from the Desk of the Oriole Post...

Well, sometimes, I love to waste time when I get a chance and as well listen or watch what others say in a course of the day. So, I decided to create a “Guilty Pleasures” list. Since I am bored right now and wanted to share my thoughts, I thought I’d devise a list of things that may not be good for me, or my soul – but I can’t resist.

In no particular order:

PerezHilton.com: I don’t know the guy, but he runs one of the most alluring, yet perhaps infamous blogs out there. With several million hits per day, it’s no wonder why he’s everywhere and has become a celebrity himself. Full of pictures of with celebs (sometimes in compromising conditions) with scribble on them, along with snarky commentary, I usually don’t admit it to my friends, but I check out the site at least once a day. TMZ.com can also be included in the same breath as Perez, but he’s a lot funnier.

Anderson Cooper: Perhaps it might be the grey hair, or the ever so competent-looking anchor/journalist/celeb, or that he is who is, but I really enjoy watching his show and his reports.

Bill O’Reilly: Ok, I don’t consider myself a conservative at all, but it’s nice to see Bill talk about whatever, be full of himself and get mad over such trivial prattle.

To be quite honest, it’s sometimes funny to see.

Colin Cowherd: Some people like him, some don’t, but he’s all right with me and I find him entertaining and different from the rest of the talk-radio guys on ESPN. Always full of commentary, he tells it like it is. He’s a big college football guy, and I always look forward to hearing him in the morning.

The non-standard radio voice, the snide remarks, and the commentary -- I love it.

Snickers Bars: Sometimes I need sugar, candy takes care of the fix and Snickers are oh, so good…

American Idol: I don’t admit to my friends I watch, but I do. After this first week, after five years on the air, have people figured out if you can’t sing, why start now? I think it is a little cruel that American Idol makes fools out of people sometimes, but honestly they are delusional, need attention or just need their 15 minutes of fame. I sometime watch when the competition really begins, but the first few weeks make my winter.

Simon is the best, Randy is Randy and Paula is so whacked out, good lord.

The I-Pod: I have the player for my car, one for the office and one at home. I wear it when I bike, workout or lounge. Yeah, everyone has it, and I cannot live without mine. I have 10,000 plus songs on my portable drive, so I have to find someway to play them all.

ESPN.com/MLB.com/CNNsi.com: If I have to explain why, perhaps you might not want to keep reading this blog. It’s the ever-so-perfect way to kill it time at work.

General Tso’s Chicken from the Chinese Carry-Out: Oh so bad, but yet so good. I usually do cardio after eating it, but man, it’s good.

M&M’s: See Snicker Bars.

Anything Under Armour: Expensive, yes. Comfortable, yes. The Fabric feels great and it keeps you either warm, dry, cool or whatever.

Youtube: Always a time killer at work and at home, it’s a treasure chest for video of all types. From the sublime, to the weird and the downright scary, Youtube has opened up a world to the internet I may or may have not wanted to know existed. However, it has found me a world of content, so I am satisfied.

Hats: I have 40 of them, but seven I wear on a regular basis. Two of them are O’s caps, the one with the O’s logo on it, and the 1966 cartoon bird cap. I have been wearing a Tiger Woods cap I got from my sister for Christmas regularly.

Saved By the Bell: It’s not been recently on TV where I live or on cable at all, but, in the 90’s it was on no fewer than 4 to 8 times a day on several channels. Everyone who was a part of Generation X watched it, so they cannot lie.

From the various incarnations and shows, it was corny and bubble-gummy, but it was entertaining and food for us who grew up in the late 80’s and 90’s.

For those of you under 18, you have no idea what you missed.

Jerry Springer: A staple of TV Talk Show crap, much like Rikki Lake or Jenny Jones, it was a not miss in college. I am at work during the day, and cannot watch it, but when I am home sick or on a mental, I have a space in my heart for Jerry.

From the trailer trash to the losers of society, Jerry does an impeccable job as the moderator and then tries to explain or justify what you saw with this “Closing Thoughts”.

It’s probably the worst show in TV history, but would American culture be the same without it? We’ve made him a very rich man, by the way…

The NFL Network: Great on a lazy Saturday, you can watch big overgrown men hit each other to cheerleaders in stupid games, and Rich Eisen.

An ever so good way to kill time.

Pearl Jam: My favorite band. I’ve been with them from the first album until now. Evn though they have been widely criticized for not rocking like they used to and their erratic albums, the group has aged nicely and they are one of the most intelligent bands out there. The clip below is Pearl Jam in concert playing one of their songs, a personal fave off their latest work, Severed Hand.

VH1: Yes, it may be a waste of time and brain cells, but from shows like the Best Week Ever to Celebrity Fit Club to Breaking Bondauce, you can’t stay away.

Honorable Mention: The Shield re-runs, Keith Olbermann, Nike Shox shoes (I have 6 of them), Ebay.com & my crab boxers.

Quick Hits: O's Related

Orioles Ticket Prices: As posted a week ago on the Oriole Post, the Baltimore Sun came out with an article today in the paper noting that the team was instituting “prime games”, in which regaular tickets would higher for select games, which were Opening Day and games against the Yankees and the Red Sox.

It would make perfect business sense for “prime games” to be in place for Yankee and Red Sox games, since they attract the majority of visitors to the park and vast majority of those fans who pay for ticket root for those teams.

From what I know, season ticket holders are exempt from the “prime game” pricing.

A lot of teams throughout the league already have this policy for select games against particular teams.


Around the League:

Finally: According to the MLB News Blog, “The Boston Red Sox are nearing the completion of their five-year, $70 million contract with J.D. Drew, a deal that was announced by agent Scott Boras in December but delayed due to concerns over the outfielder’s right shoulder. “We’ve moved forward on this and fully expect to have it completed in their near future,” Boras said Friday. The Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement with Drew at the baseball winter meetings on Dec. 5.”

What the hell took so long?

Football, No. Baseball, Yes: Notre Dame’s Jeff Samardzija went with his heart and chose baseball over football. He was projected as a first-round pick in the NFL draft this April, but agreed to a $10 million, five-year contract to pitch for the Chicago Cubs today. He may never make it to the majors, but the money is guaranteed.

* More News and Stuff at Fastballfans.com

Quick Hits: Babe Ruth Museum Event, and Blog Stuff

From the Babe Ruth Museum: Babe's Birthday Bash on Friday, February 9, 5:30pm.

I’m planning on going and taking in the festivities. It should be an interesting time and for those of you who live in the Baltimore/Washington area and love baseball; this might be an event worth going to.

Link: http://www.baberuthmuseum.com/news/index2.cfm?label=calendar#

***

Join Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts along with other former Orioles and local sports stars at Sports Legends on Friday, February 9th, as we kick off the 2007 baseball season by celebrating the 112th birthday of the sport's greatest star, Babe Ruth! Ticket price includes admission to Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards, unlimited food and beer, free parking at Camden Yards, and a free tour of Geppi's Entertainment Museum. For the first time ever, members of the Babe Ruth Museum will be invited to take an exclusive "white-glove" tour of the Sports Legends archives. A silent auction will feature a collection of unique memorabilia, including replica jerseys of the 1966 World Championship Baltimore Orioles, worn and autographed by the players during the reunion gala held in October 2006.

Baltimore Raven Edwin Mulitalo will be present to receive the first annual Babe Ruth Community Service Award, in honor of his work with Big Ed's Band Foundation, which provides instruments and musical support to Baltimore-area schools.

Also Scheduled to Appear:
Robin Roberts
Edwin Mulitalo
Ken Singleton
Joe Orsulak
Scott McGregor
Dave Johnson
Dick Hall
"Wild" Bill Hagy
...and more!

Birthday Bash ticket holders will also be invited to attend a special ceremony at the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum on Tuesday, February 6th at 5:30pm. The evening will feature a special guest speaker, a presentation of unique Babe Ruth artifacts by Museum curators, and a champagne toast and birthday cake in honor of the 112th anniversary of Babe Ruth's birth at 216 Emory Street.

Tickets to Babe's Birthday Bash are $40 for Museum members, $45 for non-members, $50 at-the-door on February 9th, and $40 each when 10 or more tickets are purchased together. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 410-727-1539, ext. 3013.

From Around the Blogosphere:

* The great Orioles blog, Camden Chat begins looking the starting rotation in 2007 by going over each pitcher, looking at their 2006 and projecting their 2007 numbers. Worth a peek!

* Take a look at American Legends, a great read for general sports news and opinion.

* Also, take a look at Awful Announcing, a great blog from the Washington DC area that takes a look at the whimsical world of sports casting.

* Take a look at Fastballfans.com, a site that I took over that takes a look at general baseball news, plus a few stuff that I have written on this blog...