My All-Time Favorite Players from 1970 and Beyond...

I have decided to compile a list of my favorite old school ball-players who played from 1970 and beyond. Anyhow, I figured it would be fun to start up a list as I’m not really doing much this afternoon and I saw quite a bit of baseball nostalgia yesterday. The list I drew up are players that impressed me, and while they may or may not have been necessarily the best at their respective positions, as a kid or seeing them on video, they left an indelible impression in my mind.

I left members of the Baltimore Orioles off this list, since I’ll have one for them in the next week or so.

Rickey Henderson: The greatest base stealer of all-time, and one of the most dangerous leadoff hitters to ever play baseball, his mixture of speed and power made the game that much more exciting to watch. My favorite thing about him was his uncanny ability to speak in third person.

Dave Winfield: The dude always scared me because of his height and stature (ok, I’m 6’4” as an adult; but when you’re young, when you saw him up close, he might as well been seen a redwood). However, he was a great player with who used all 5 tools with efficiency. He’s a class act and played the game with heart.

Mike Schmidt: He manned the hot corner in Philly, and even though at times he was booed, as most Philly athletes outside of Allen Iverson were, he delivered when it counted.

Goose Gossage: He had the wicked fu Manchu, the glare & the gaze. As we all know, he was a hell of a relief pitcher and I thought honestly he was a bit mad (ok, he looked a bit mad). Could you think of a more intimidating presence on the mound when he played?

Bob Gibson: Although I was not born when he played, I think he’s the man. He was like the enforcer, you know like the guy you’d always pick first in grade school for dodgeball just because you were going to win. With his assortment of pitches and his deadly fastball, the Cardinals more often than not won with him on the mound. The lord of intimidation with scary presence, he never smiled, always showed who was in charge and you always had the chance of getting drilled.

Hank Aaron: The Hammer. As we all know, he is the all-time Major League Baseball home run hitter, but he’s handled the obstacles he faced (racism, death threats before he broke the record) with dignity, class and grace. He’s the epitome of all ballplayers, past or present. Below is a video of Hank Aaron homering.

Nolan Ryan: He was my favorite pitcher to watch back in the day, and I was in awe of him. Even though some of my friends find him to be overrated, you knew that there was a chance something special might happen whenever he was on the mound. The man pitched through 4 decades and more often that not, he was utterly dominant.

My infamous memory of Nolan Ryan was when he got Robin Ventura of the White Sox into a headlock and pummeled a few roundhouses on him, after Ventura charged the mound while being beaned. Considering Nolan was probably at least a good 15 or more years older than Ventura, it was quite amazing to see him to do that and it also cemented Nolan’s reputation as a tough man.

Pete Rose: Although he is banished from the Hall of Fame for life, he was not doubt the hardest working ballplayer I ever witnessed on tape.

Here’s Pete in a commercial from 1977.

Kirby Puckett: Small in stature, but big in power and heart. He looked like an everyman, though a little more built, and played the game with unbridled passion and love. He seemed to always enjoy himself and was no doubt the leader of the Twins in the 80’s and early 90’s.

Ozzie Smith: He was the man in the infield and his defensive wizardry will always live in my mind. He was no doubt, a human highlight film.

Rod Carew: He was another small guy: but boy, could he hit.

George Brett: See Rod Carew and I will never forget his “pine tar incident”.

Frank Howard: He was the punisher down in Washington and hit the ball probably further than any other ballplayers, perhaps outside of Mantle and Ruth.

Tim “Rock” Raines: He may have been the complete ballplayer, and he was amazing to watch.

Quick Hits: Today, Helton & Weaver

Sorry for the delay in the updates, I was out most of Saturday throughout the day and later in the evening. I’ll try to have a Phillies team review by Monday. This upcoming week, I’ll do the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants.

Helton in Fenway? The Denver Post reports Rockie mainstay Todd Helton may be leaving the Rocky Mountains and heading to Boston. Helton has another *6* years and $90 million on his current contract with Colorado, but would waive it to go to the Red Sox.

Todd Helton has always been a good hitter, but his numbers are in decline, as he hit .302 last year, his lowest batting average since his rookie and his power has been zapped. However, Boston’s deep coffers can to subsidize this deal and his presence would make a great team on paper immaculate and possibly be better than the Yankees.

In addition, with the short distance to the right field wall and the American League being so offensive based, his numbers might rise.

Right now, Colorado may simply seek out Boston’s young guns like Craig Hansen, other prospects, or someone like a Mike Lowell.

In turn, the Rockies will most likely get pitching, but does ridding of Helton make them any better?

Weaver a Mariner. World Series hero Jeff Weaver & the Mariners have just about finalized a one-year deal worth $8,325,000 (the same salary he had last year). Like I said in a previous post, ‘buyer beware’ with his track record, as three postseason games do not make a career. Keep in mind, he got deposed from the Angels in '06 partly because of being so bad and in favor o his brother, Jered.

Can the Mets Finally Get to the World Series? New York Mets 2007 Season Preview...

In 2006, Omar Minaya with the blessing of the Wilpon family went out and built a team constructed for the World Series. The Mets were often looked at as the second team in the Big Apple, but due to their impressive season, they stirred up excitement in the city that never sleeps. However, in the NLCS, but lost out to a St. Louis team that won only 83 games. Although, the Mets have youngsters David Wright and Jose Reyes becoming stars, they are a team pretty much built to win now. With the contract extension recently given to Willie Randolph, he’s now got the security to lead the Mets corps for the near future.

Right now, the pitching situation is one that is of most concern. Ace Pedro Martinez on the shelf until summer, the Mets have two men in middle age in the rotation, and the rest of the pitching staff is unsettled. Although the pitching situation is shaky, the Mets probably have the best offense in the National League and that alone should get the team many wins. The Mets also dealt with a number of injuries last year, but hopefully this offseason gave a chance for some players to rest, relax and come back strong in ’07.

The team let quite a few players go such as pitchers Brian Bannister, Darren Oliver, Chad Bradford, Roberto Hernandez, Steve Trachsel, outfielder Cliff Floyd and infielder Chris Woodward. The offense is pretty much the same from last season, with Moises Alou taking the place of Floyd.

In light of it all, the Mets are favorites to win the NL East, although Philadelphia is also a contender, and the Braves could be a dark horse if things line for up for them.

Let’s start with the pitching rotation. In terms of pitching, 2006 was a great year for the Mets, but however had to struggle with patching together a staff throughout the season due to injuries. Tom Glavine, in his 40’s pitched well and is en route to 300 wins; Orlando Hernandez also near the watershed age of 40 was able to contribute, but got injured in the playoffs. John Maine, a former Oriole broke through and Pirate castoff Oliver Perez was a pleasant surprise in the playoffs.

However, the injury bug hit the Mets as ace Pedro Martinez started off hot, but cooled and then wound up injured and out for the rest of 2006. He’s been out with a torn labrum and will be back in the fold perhaps by summer. Brian Bannister also started out well, but ended up injured and he’s no longer with the team. Considering the events of 2006, the Mets knew they needed pitching, but however, the market was needless to say expensive. Even though the Mets have the funds to spend with anyone, they held off because of some of the questionable talent available. The Mets tried to go after Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt, but were unable to get either.

The ace of the staff right now is Tom Glavine. He was 15-7 with a 3.82 ERA and he bounced back after 2 years of struggling to a sub-par record. He may not be as good as he once was; his curveball and changeup are what get him wins. Considering his age, there’s no reason to believe he cannot duplicate the success of 2006. Although he’s got a great defense behind him along with offense, it’s critical he does well.

Orlando Hernandez will be a starter as well, and he’ll need to be consistent as well. He does not have overpowering stuff, but like Glavine, he’s got an amazing curveball and changeup and as well succeeds with deception and guile. John Maine will be another starter and he’ll need to stay at the level he was at in 2006 or perform better.

The wild cards in the pitching rotation will be Mike Pelfrey and possibly Philip Humber. Pelfrey showed flashes of brilliance in 2006 and will probably be slotted in the rotation. Humber is a youngster and will also be ready at some point to perform at next level. I’d expect these two play a role in the future of the New York Mets.

Oliver Perez may also be in the rotation, but he might end up in the bullpen or perhaps even the minors.

The bullpen for the Mets was a source of strength and helped the Mets to stay and finish up games. With a 3.25 ERA, they shout down teams and for the most part, when the Mets led they won. Led by the amazing Billy Wagner and his 100 mph-plus fastball, he saved 40 games and struck out well over a batter per inning. He’ll be expected to dominate like he did in 2006 for the upcoming season, and although he’s getting up in age, there’s no reason to believe why he still not be anything but effective for the next couple of years.

Aaron Heilman will be the setup guy, and the bullpen will consist of Duaner Sanchez who is coming back from injury, the recently signed Scott Schoenweis, Jorge Sosa, Pedro Feliciano had a sub 2 ERA in ’06, Guillermo Mota who will serve a 50 game suspension at the onset of start of the season, and possibly Dave Williams, Juan Padilla, & Jon Adkins.

Let’s move onto the starting lineup. The Mets last season had an amazing offense which I considered to the best and most formidable in the National League. It seemed every night a Met was doing something to win a game, whether it was a key hit or a home run. Carlos Beltran bounced back from a sub-par 2005 where he was constantly in the papers and tabloids over his performance, to 2006 as he showed the league his limitless potential and earned the respect of Mets fans. Beltran showed he was worth his salary as he hit 41 homers with 116 RBI along with spectacular defense.

Meanwhile, youngsters David Wright and Jose Reyes who man the left side of the infield broke through big and were a main reason for the Mets run last season. Wright in only his second year entered the superstar stratosphere with 116 RBIs along with 26 homeruns. There may possibly be no limit to his ceiling and New York Met fans can only see bigger and better things from Mr. Wright. Although he slowed down during the second half, he’s a complete 5 tool player who will no doubt be a multiple time All-Star.

The man who plays to the left of him, Jose Reyes, also broke out in 2006 and sometimes made Shea a party atmosphere. Blessed with great speed, a slick glove and superb bat, he led the league in triples, and showed power as he hit 19 home runs, along with stole many bases and over 80 runs. He’s another 5 tool guy who can only get better, and Reyes definitely makes the game fun and entertaining. As usual, he’ll be the leadoff guy.

Carlos Delgado signed with the team in 2006, and while he only hit .265, he hit 38 bombs and 114 RBI and became a feared part of the Mets arsenal. A long time Blue Jay, he was always known for his consistency and he was able to continue his body of work in New York City. Even though he’s now in his mid 30’s, he should be able to perform at the same level for at least a few more years.

The newest addition to the Mets, Moises Alou will be manning left field. Always a player blessed with great baseball instincts and with the ability to produce numbers, his injury history is always going to be a concern, and he’s sat out parts of seasons recently with various ailments. The Mets will probably give him several off days, as he’s now entering middle-age, but his track record shows that he will no doubt be productive. He’s only signed for one year, and should provide the Mets with another tool in their offensive arsenal. The Mets probably replaced one oft-injured player with another, but they should expect Alou to match or possibly exceed Floyd’s stats.

Paul LoDuca will probably be the bottom of the order. He calls a great game and is steady with the bat. Although he had issues with his marriage that ended and gambling, that didn’t affect his game and he was an important cog with the team, although he does not have a big bat like Beltran or Wright.

The wild card in the lineup is Jose Valentin. He had a surprising 2006, as he hit .271 and had some huge hits. He bounced back after a few sub-par seasons before joining the Mets. He took over second after Bret Boone was a failure and Kaz Matsui was traded. Will age catch up with him, or can he follow up with a successful 2007 campaign.

The Mets are blessed with an excellent bench, and they played a role to the Mets’ winning season. Ageless Julio Franco is defying Father Time and is a prime example that age may be nothing but a number. He’ll play sparingly, but in 2006 he came in huge in some situations, primarily with pinch hitting. Endy Chavez had one of the greatest catches I have ever seen when he robbed Scott Rolen of a homerun during the NLCS. He’s a serviceable bench guy, but at times you saw his flaws at the plate. Occupying the bench will be longtime veteran infielder Damion Easley, David Newhan, Anderson Hernandez and Ben Johnson.

Super hyped rookie Lastings Milledge may also play a role on the team, but he battled with inconsistency at the plate and some on the team has issues with him and later on the summer he got sent to the minors; therefore, it is unknown whether he’ll be on the team, in the minors of possibly traded.

Based on the outcome of 2006, the Mets and their fans expect big things in 2007 with the end result being a World Series. The Mets should be the favorites once again, although with their shortfalls, on paper they are, if not, the best team in the National League. In the end, although they have one of highest payrolls in the game and it’s assumed that they will win a lot of games, getting to the World Series is easier said than done. Omar and company will need the offense to produce as they did last season, and the starting pitching needs to hold up.

Baseball's Best 2007 & The Ripken Coaching Experience & Seminar

I just got home from the Baseball’s Best Memorabilia/Autograph show along with the Ripken Coaching Experience at the Baltimore Convention Center, and I’ll tell you I had one the longest, but yet, most enjoyable days I have ever had.

The first part of the morning was spent looking at memorabilia & the autograph show. I found the memorabilia show quite boring, but there were plenty of exhibits to see along with artifacts, pictures and stuff to buy. I ended up getting prints with signatures of Stan Musial, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken and Jim Palmer.

The morning was pretty much ho-hum. However, I did get a chance to chat with the Baltimore Sun’s Roch Kubatko and we talked about mostly Orioles baseball.

Later on, I ventured into a separate room where the autograph portion was taking place. You had to buy a ticket to even enter the room, and I ended up giving in and got an autograph of Tony Gwynn. Anyhow, I spent about an hour or so taking pictures of the festivities in the room, and in my time there, I saw Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Tony Gwynn Jr. Jim Palmer, Rick Dempsey, Eddie Murray, Frank Robinson, Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench, Don Mattingly, Preston Mattingly, Mike Boddicker and Al Bumbry all in one room.

Wow. I was just taking it all in.

After taking a break for lunch, I went to take part in the Ripken Coaching Experience & Seminar. The event took place in three separate rooms and each had a theme – hitting, pitching and fielding. Upon checking in, each participant got a packet which included a maual and some advertisements. Taking part in the seminar were the family Ripken, Cal and Bill along with Don Mattingly, Jim Palmer, former Orioles Scott McGregor, John Habyan, Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, and Doug DeCinces. The seminar was mostly geared to coaches who work with kids and teens, along with parents, but fans also took part in a chance to learn the game and meet their idols.

Having the opportunity to take part in the coaching seminar, I got learn a little more about the fundamentals of the game, but more importantly, got to hear the pros expound on their philosophy of what helped them at the highest levels. Much of the principles that the Ripkens’ shared with the participants follow the parables of the “Oriole Way” and the influence of their father, Cal Ripken Sr. The seminar covered all aspects of the game by the pros that included pitching, hitting, & fielding fundamentals, along with working with kids/teens.

It was amazing the wealth of knowledge shared by the pros, hearing a lot of their stories on the field, teaching kids and taking an interactive part in the seminar. There was ample opportunity to ask questions along with share comments, so quite a few people took a chance to ask the instructors whatever they wanted to know about pitching, hitting, fielding and whatever was on their mind. The highlight of the event for me was having the opportunity to shake Cal Ripken’s hand and tell him congratulations on being voted into the Hall of Fame.

However, the best part of the seminar was Billy Ripken. As much as I love Cal, Bill was absolutely entertaining and livened things with Doug DeCinces with his stories, and funny, boisterous attitude in conjunction with the instructional material. He made things absolutely memorable by joking with the audience and just having fun. Having the chance to just hear stories of particular incidents, games and events from the perspective of a player, especially ones you followed growing up just amazes and draws you into the experience.

The Ripken Coaching Experience and Seminar was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and taking part in it is something I will always remember. Having the chance meet both Cal and Bill Ripken in person, along with meeting Don Mattingly, Jim Palmer and Doug DeCinces is a dream for any fan, but learning the fundamentals and parables of the game from them in person is priceless.

Notes from the Event: Two people from ‘Yankees On Deck’ (not sure if it is a show, or website) got the opportunity to ask Cal Ripken about the “Streak” and he gave an honest, open answer concerning it from his perspective. Cal said that it was nothing he ever aspired to doing, it just came about from his willingness to play & having the opportunity to be in the lineup every day. As well, he asserted that it took a life of its own and admitted in a sense the “Streak” might have hurt the team at times when he struggled. Cal Ripken even considered ending it if really hurt the team, and one point nearly stopped it when he struggled mightily, but his wife talked him out of doing it.

“It’s funny that Yankee fans came down all this way to learn about the ‘Oriole Way’…” – Bill Ripken

Slide Show & Gallery of the Baseball's Best 2007 Memorabilia and Card Show



Baseball’s Best 2007

Slide Show & Gallery of the Ripken Coaching Experience



The Ripken Coaching Experience & Seminar

More Stuffage: Here's an article from the Baltimore Sun's Roch Kubatko about the events today, and his blog entry.

Quick Hits: Oriole Bits and Nolan Ryan

Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn Raise Money for Charity in Baltimore: Tonight in Baltimore, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn held a press conference & dinner to highlight the Aspire Gala, and theme of the evening was "A Tribute to Life's Coaches,"to raise money for the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. The event was not open to the public, but other baseball players, Hall of Famers, dignitaries and business leaders attended and raised about $1 million for the foundation and charity. The event was held in conjunction with the Baseball's Best 2007 Show being held in Baltimore this weekend.

Link from orioles.com: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070126&content_id=1787511&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal

Link from the Baltimore Sun:
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070126&content_id=1787511&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal


Brian Roberts: Roch Kubatko from the Baltimore Sun updates us on the Brian Roberts contract extension talks and there's really no movement on that front.

Catching Up With An Old Friend... Arthur Rhodes agreed Thursday to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for the Seattle Mariners. He'll be in the bullpen & will either be a long reliever or setup man.

Nolan Ryan: Baseball pitching legend Nolan Ryan is in the hospital recovering from an undisclosed condition. His son, Reid Ryan said he's at the Round Rock Medical Center in Texas for treatment of recurring symptoms from a pre-existing medical condition. Get well Nolan!

Fanfest Update - ok, there is no update...

Fanfest news - um, there's none to report for now. I called the Orioles a little while ago and I was more or less told, "just keeping checking out the website and an announcement should be made shortly..."

Why there was no a plan B in case of snow, etc. - I have no clue.

From the Examiner:

“It will be held before the season,” Orioles manager of communications Monica Pence said Wednesday. “It probably will not be a traditional FanFest-style event, but it will feature many of the FanFest activities.”

Here's some insight from Matt Palmer who wrote the article I got the quote from. I would think it might be something done right before Spring Training, or before the season done maybe in a another location that could hold a number of people or the club level of Oriole Park.

Quick Hits: Yankees in China, MLB Stuffage, Miscellaneous Things...

Are the Yankees Going Red? Some time in the next week, a contingent of staff along with team officials and executives will go to China next week to foster an agreement with China Baseball Association to develop academies and the spread the game. In the long run, the Yankees could develop their own academy and garner a foothold in the communist nation.

Ah, isn’t that idea noble? Well, maybe, but there’s an inherent motive in anything, especially with business of baseball being as it is.

Kids already play baseball in China, and China/Chinese Taipei have had teams in the Little League World Series and China had a team in the World Baseball Classic. However, the Yankees want China to become another Dominican Republic where baseball is now the sport – just that the team wants to be the first to stake claim to the nation of more than a billion people. The Yankees are looking that plan to develop a pipeline of players and in turn, which will help the game for other teams.

The Dodgers and Blue Jays first made inroads in the Dominican and the Latin America, and boon came. The biggest names in baseball, Pujols, Soriano, Guerrero, Tejada and the list goes on all came from that country. Imagine an athlete in China who plays baseball & turns into the next big thing, sort of Yao Ming, and ponder what will do for baseball in China, marketing and the Yankee brand?

Also imagine Yankee blue as part of kids’ wardrobes with the NY emblazoned on shirts, hats, etc.

Yes, a lot of the deal also has to with branding and marketing, especially as China being such a manufacturing and industrial power, people may be apt to spend their discretionary income on Yankee gear.

There’s nothing wrong with the idea of the Yankees going to Japan, but let’s say it for what it is. It’s as much to do about spreading the game, as it is about making money and instilling the values and traditions of those in Pinstripe Nation.

I think the Yankees have another aspect of their arsenal to use against the Red Sox in the One Hundred Years Plus and Still Going War.

Finally, Mr. Drew: (thanks to My Baseball Bias for the Info...)

Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe reported tonight that the J.D. Drew deal to Boston has indeed been finalized, five years/$70 million with some protections.

Here are the details on how the Red Sox will be protected in case something does happen to Drew’s shoulder:

*If Drew goes on the disabled list for a shoulder related injury in year three of deal, Sox can void final two years.

*If Drew is injured in the fourth year, Sox can void the final year of contract.

*The out clause applies only if the injury is shoulder related.

It remains to be seen if he will make it through the contract. Based on track his history, the Red Sox may want to have that contract handy and make sure the part about the injuries is highlighted in yellow.

His 15 Minutes aren't up yet... Kevin Federline will be in a commercial for Nationwide Insurance during the Super Bowl. He got paid a half-million for it & goes to show that infamy does pay.

Jeff Weaver a Mariner? According to CNNSi.com, "The Mariners are closing in on a deal with the 30-year-old right-hander, a baseball official close to the negotiations said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been agreed to."

He did great in the postseason for St. Louis, but the track record is not that good - buyer beware.

Jake Peavy: His disorderly conduct charge was dismissed after the pitcher apologized for a confrontation with a security officer when he double parked to unload baseball gear at Mobile Regional Airport.

Bernie Williams: According to NY Newsday, Bernie may know for sure now he's not coming back. Read some quotes from him below...

"Part of me says if they wanted me, they would have made an offer by now," he said in a story published yesterday. "When you play this game for a long time, you take things for granted and think it won't end. But the harsh reality of it is, it will." ... Williams also said, "My case is a little different. When you give a large chunk of your life to a team, it is hard. It's not like I am a journeyman."

And...

A Yankee from 1991 through 2006, Williams clearly is hurt by the Yankees' decision. Asked whether he would play for another club, he said, "Yeah, I think I could. The loyalty factor goes both ways. When a team that you've played for doesn't want to offer a contract, it is making a business decision. So I have to make a business decision.

Wow. I'd love to see him come back and even though I'm no fan of the Yankees, the man was always class act and seemed to be a genuinely nice person. It looks like he still has the fire and I can imagine him playing another year, but perhaps maybe not in pinstripe blue. After the year he had in 06, it might make sense for him to come back; however, if he leaves now, he'll walk out when he's still got his skills and a Yankee, assuming that means a lot to him.

O's News: Not much at all is going on in Oriole land, but Roch Kubatko updated his blog this morning about the baseball show going on here in Baltimore.

Can the Piranhas Win the AL Central Again? Minnesota Twins 2007 Season Preview...

The ever so-controversial manager of the Chicago White Sox, Ozzie Guillen christened the infelders of the Minnesota Twins the “little piranhas”, because of their style of the play, their tenacity & unwillingness to give in, along with the lack of household names. However, that should probably apply to the whole team.

The reasons above are how Minnesota came back from a horrendous April and May where they were well under .500 and pretty much buried to storming back to win the American League Central on the final day of the 2006 season. Under the guidance of manager Ron Gardenhire, and GM Terry Ryan, the small market Twins, despite their lack of resources in comparison to the powerhouse New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have been able to compete this decade thanks to intelligent scouting along with fostering a culture of winning and nurturing young talent.

Their amazing second half made for a great story for baseball and an unprecedented run for a division title, but things will probably be even more difficult in 2007. Sadly, the Twins due to their economic standing could not at all be players in free agency this winter and will probably need the same amount of good fortune it had in 2006 to be viable contenders this upcoming season. With the market is as it is right now, the Twins are handcuffed due to arbitration-eligible players, taking on Hunter’s $12 million dollar option, so much of the free agent signings were of journeyman players and reclamation projects.

Although the team wound up losing to the Oakland Athletics in the Division Series, the Twins no doubt had an amazing 2006 where hometown boy Joe Mauer won the batting title, Justin Morneau won the MVP, Michael Cuddyer broke out and had a career year, and Johan Santana was his usual dominant self. Minnesota became very scary, as a two headed monster was created in the starting rotation with Johan Santana and superstar rookie, Francisco Liriano.

Liriano went down with an elbow injury and missed pretty much the latter half of 2006 and he’s not expected to be back until 2008. As well, longtime Twin, Brad Radke struggled with arm and shoulder problems throughout the season and relied on guile as well as guts to succeed. However, after the playoffs, he decided to retire due to injuries.

As we head to spring training, the Twins have a lot of positives going for them, but they once again may have a mountain to climb. The positives are that the Twins really did not lose any of their core players, and much of the starting lineup you saw in 2006 should be back for 2007. With Twin mainstay and human highlight film, Torii Hunter returning, along with the aforementioned Mauer, Morneau, and Cuddyer, the Twins offense should be able to maintain or perhaps even exceed 2006. As well, the Twins also had some young pitching come up the pipeline and contribute as well in both the rotation and bullpen.

In light of the positives, the Twins also have a few negative forces to deal with. The forces working against them involve the lack of starting pitching, & with dealing with arbitration-eligible players. Based on the team’s track record in this decade, they might have a very good chance at working through their issues and once again surprise the league.

Let’s start with the pitching staff, most notably the rotation. Ace and perennial contender for the Cy Young, Johan Santana, will of course be back and be expected to anchor the team. For the Twins to succeed, it is vital that Johan Santana to keep up the success he’s had previously. The Twins also had young pitchers Boof Bonser and Matt Garza come up from the minor and contribute in the middle of a pennant race, although Garza had some growing pains. Probably now more so than ever, they will need to deliver in 2007 if the team has any chance of competing in the AL Central. The Twins will also need Carlos Silva to come back from a bad 2006 and regain his form in previous seasons.

The wild card of the Twins happens to be with well, the rest of the potential starting pitching staff. The team recently signed former Nationals pitcher Ramon Ortiz, former Baltimore, St. Louis and New York Yankee pitcher Sidney Ponson. I am very familiar with the two men, and Ramon’s 2006 numbers look bad, but he’s showed signs of brilliance at times and had a good track record with the Angels. If he can return to the form that he had with the Angels, he might be a diamond in the rough. Sidney Ponson’s troubles have been well chronicled, and he’s got talent, but his vices and poor conditioning have done him in. I would expect him to be in the bullpen and spot starter, but if he fails in Minnesota, this may be the last stop in his career.

As well, the Twins have rookies Scott Baker & Glenn Perkins, who might be able to secure starting pitching jobs as well. Both men struggled in the majors, but perhaps another shot at the big time may be motivation for them to pitch well in the majors.

The Twins bullpen was real strong last year, and should maintain the same level in 2007. The corps in the pen is led by super Joe Nathan who once again had a dominant year recording 36 saves. He should be good for many years to come and while he’s unknown to casual fans because he plays in Minnesota, the rest of the nation will soon see how good he is. Longtime Twin Juan Rincon, Pat Neshek, Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, Dennys Reyes, J.D. Durbin & Jose Mijares will also man the bullpen.

The offense for the Twins in the past usually was once of basic fundamentals, and hit & run with not a lot of focus on power. That changed in 2006. The middle of the lineup, Mauer, Morneau and Cuddyer will be the key for the offense.

The nation got to see Minnesota native, catcher Joe Mauer break through as he won the batting the title narrowly over Derek Jeter and emerge as a potential star. Mauer will probably bat third, and he at this point may have a limitless ceiling. He will probably hit for more power in 2007 and even improve on his impressive ’06 numbers. He’ll be expected to be a leader on the team and continue his production.

First baseman Justin Morneau won the MVP award and overall numbers are even more impressive considering he was batting in the .230’s in May. He ended up 34 homers and 130 RBI’s, and was probably a big factor as to how the Twins won the AL Central. He’ll be expected to live up to his 2006 numbers with the upcoming season fast approaching us. He’s yet another guy on this team who has potential superstar written all over him.

Right fielder Michael Cuddyer also broke out in 2006 with 24 HR and 109 RBIs. After bouncing around in various positions on the baseball field, he’s found a permanent home in the outfield. Like Mauer and Mornaeu, he’ll be expected to main or exceed his production in 2006.

The Twins also brought back one of my favorite players and fan favorite Torii Hunter after the team took on his option for 2007. Although he had a down year offensively, the team needs his outfield presence and defensive wizardry to help out the team. Rondell White was re-signed after a subpar 2006 and will probably man the left field spot or be the designated hitter most of the time, with Jason Kubel perhaps playing in the field.

The rest of the infield is pretty much set Jason Bartlett at shortstop, Nick Punto at third, and Luis Castillo at second. Bartlett with limited playing time batted over .300 and was hot for a stretch and the Twins hope can continue has production. Punto has a strong year as well, where batted .290 and should bat at the bottom of the order. Castillo, much like Punto and Bartlett had good year at the plate as he batted .296. Although the infield outside of Morneau doesn’t have much power, they seem to do the little things right, get the key hit and contribute in key situations. They will be expected to continue their role on the team if the Twins are going to be successful.

The bench will compromise of infielder former Royal Ken Harvey, Jeff Cirillo, Luis Rodriguez and outfielder Lew Ford & Jason Tyner. All five men will be expected to platoon, especially in the case of Ford and Tyner.

A lot will have to happen in order for the Twins to win the American League Central along with contend with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians, but won the division unexpectedly in 2006 and with their young talent and pitching. However, 2007 may be a different story with the pitching situation as it is right now and in turn, may play an outcome in what happens.

In the end, the Twins have surprised the baseball world before, and there’s not reason to believe it can’t happen again.

Quick Hits: Tiger Woods, Baseball's Best 2007 & The Ripken Coaching Experience, MLB Stuffage

I saw this video clip on SportsCenter last night. The clip is from an outake from Tiger Wood's latest commerical for Buick. Anyhow, Tiger is practicing his golf shots and an actor who plays a fan or unatic steals his balls and golf bag. The video shows Tiger literally tackling the actor and cuts his head slightly open. The reaction is unbelievable and everyone is a good sport about the situation. Pretty funny to watch and it's nice to see Tiger show another side of himself.



Baseball’s Best 2007: Well, I am going to check out Ironclad's Baseball's Best 2007 Baseball Card and Memorabilia show at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore this weekend. I had set aside a few hundred dollars to try to get an autograph or two, but instead I opted to join Cal and Bill Ripken's baseball seminar called the Ripken Coaching Experience.

I’d rather have the opportunity to spend some time and get value learning from a future Hall of Famer, some fellow Orioles and former major leaguers than waiting in line for a autograph. I don’t hate autographs, but it’s not everyday you get to learn from Cal and Bill Ripken, especially since I grew up watching both of them.

Here’s some more information on the Ironclad’s Best of Baseball 2007 and The Ripken Coaching Experience.

I’ll try to see if I can get pictures of the show and perhaps some of the coaching/baseball seminar.

MLB Stuffage:

* Houston Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg, shortstop Adam Everett and outfielder Jason Lane agreed Thursday to a one-year contract with the Houston Astros & thus avoided arbitration.

* The Toronto Blue Jays finalized a $1.5 million contract with pitcher Tomo Ohka on Thursday after he passed a physical. Ohka could also earn another $1.5 million in performance and bonus incentives.

* The New York Mets on Thursday signed pitcher Aaron Sele to a minor-league contract. He would get a $1 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and would have the chance to earn another $1 million in performance bonuses.

* The Texas Rangers on Thursday signed righthander Jamey Wright to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

* The Detroit Tigers on Thursday signed veteran Joey Eischen to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Team Previews: I'm going to see if I can get the Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies along with the New York Mets done by Sunday or latest Monday.

The Business of Ballparks - Yankee Stadium Gets the '08 All-Star Game and Fenway Undergoes Further Renovation and Expansion...

The baseball world has chatted about this expected announcement for a while, but it is widely expected that Yankee Stadium will get the 2008 All Star Game. Bud Selig and the Powers That Be in this instance went against the trend of giving All-Star Games to showcase new parks.

Yankee Stadium is expected to be torn down in 2009, so the MLB brass must have felt the need to give the game to a place that has had so many historic moments take place.

San Francisco will get the 2007 All-Star Game, and Busch Stadium will have it in 2009.

According to the New York Times, the press conference announcing the official awarding of the game is planned for Jan. 31 at New York's City Hall and will be attended by Commissioner Bud Selig and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

As a person who went to school in New York City and spent a lot of time up there, Yankee Stadium has a distinct charm, lovely Memorial Park and a lot of history, but it is certainly time for it to go. 2008 will certainly be an emotional time for Yankee fans, as the House the Ruth built will be a footnote in history thereafter.

The new stadium will probably be a playground for the rich with nice plush corporate boxes and amenities for those with the cash to spend. New York City, of course, is a place with enormous wealth and the new stadium will almost certainly cater that clientele.

What is unfortunate is that the average fan will have almost no chance to get tickets, unless they enter in a contest or get lucky. Corporate sponsors, MLB officials and teams get first dibs at tickets, and the season ticket holders. If there are any left, they will be dispersed to the public and considering prices in New York City, it will come at a premium.

Fenway Park is expanding.

According the official Red Sox website, the changes include renovations to some of the women's restrooms, more luxury box seats ans suites, a new concourse behind the third base seating area to accommodate standing room fans, vending machines to purchase Charlie Cards to make stumbling onto the Green Line easier after the game, and a "Bleacher Bar" under the center field seating area.

The Red Sox have done upgrades in the offseason since 2002, and notable improvements and additions have included the famous Green Monster seating, more available seating in the mezzanine and third tiers, and adding batting cages for both the home and visiting teams.

The changes, more or less, are to “enhance” the fan experience, but also to pump more money into the team as well as bring more fans into a place already cramped and tight.

Can the Redbirds of St. Louis Repeat? - St. Louis Cardinals 2007 Season Preview

The friendly city of St. Louis was awash in red after the underdog Cardinals surprised the nation & won the World Series. The Cards beat the heavily favored Mets in dramatic fashion to win the National League Championship Series and in the World Series, beat a Detroit Tiger team that was on an amazing wave of momentum. Skipper Tony LaRussa won his third World Series, while Albert Pujols won his first. The Redbirds may have limped their way only 83 wins to finish during the 2006 regular season, but they came through then it mattered.

Although Redbird Nation had an exhilarating end to 2006, the winter for the Cardinals has been relatively full of fanfare. Even though the Cardinals have not signed a marquee free agent, the team took the initiative to extend ace Chris Carpenter’s contract, as well as resigned Jim Edmonds and Scott Speizio, who was nothing short of clutch in the playoffs. Meanwhile, pitchers Jeff Suppan and Jason Marquis left the team for greener pastures and join rivals within the division.

However, fans should feel confident that the National League Central is fairly weak this season, with exception of perhaps the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cardinals have a good as chance to win the division. The Cardinals have won consistently in the past decade, and there’s no reason to doubt the team can’t do it in 2007. The Cardinals do not look as strong on paper as they have in past seasons, but there’s no doubt that they will be contenders in the Nationals League.

Right now, the Cardinal pitching rotation remains unresolved. The only pitchers penciled in the starting rotation are ace Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, who resigned with the team and is coming off an injury riddled 2006, and Anthony Reyes, a young pitcher who showed amazing composure during the playoffs. Carpenter, of course is the man in the starting rotation as he’ll be expected to win and put up solid numbers as usual. Mark Mulder will be counted on returning back to pre-injury form; Anthony Reyes will need take his success from the playoff run in 2006 and translate into to big things in 2007.

The team went to the bargain bin to shore up starting pitching and hope the gamble pays off. The Cardinals signed veteran Kip Wells, who has had an up and down career with the Pittsburgh Pirates & former Mariner Ryan Franklin who struggled in 2006.

The bullpen in 2006 was amazingly reliable and will be counted on to do the same in ’07. Adam Wainwright broke through last season after injuries to Jason Isringhausen. His deadly curveball buckled Carlos Beltran in the NLCS and he pitched well in the World Series. He’ll be counted on to close this upcoming season and put out the fires that will be waiting for him. The bullpen is deep with Braden Looper as the setup man, Ricardo Rincon, Randy Flores, Brad Thompson, Josh Kinney and recently signed Russ Springer.

The offense, although aging, still has a lot of firepower and will be productive. The team of course, has the deadly first baseman Albert Pujols batting the middle & we know he’ll do a lot of damage and put up some amazing numbers. Third baseman Scott Rolen also carries a big stick, and although he struggled with some ailments at times in 2006, especially a sore shoulder, he’ll be a key to the offense and should keep in line with his career numbers since.

At the top of the order will most likely be shortstop David Eckstein, who despite his size & stature, has a lot of intangibles and always manages to contribute in most every way. Based on his track record, he should continue to produce and be integral to the team. New Cardinal Adam Kennedy will be playing second base and he’ll be expected to continue his success that he had at the plate in Anaheim with St. Louis.

The outfield will be manned by longtime veteran Jim Edmonds, young Chris Duncan and Edwin Encarnicion. Possible contributors include longtime veteran Preston Wilson & So Taguchi.

Jim Edmonds is probably past his prime, but he’s a human highlight film in the outfield and can still rake at times, though his average and power numbers have gone down steadily the past few seasons. He’ll be expected to be still the traffic officer out there and fans should expect a SportsCenter moment or two.

The wild card in the outfield will be Chris Duncan. At times, he looked a little lost in the outfield, as he’s a former first baseman and learning the nuances of a new position; however, he has a potent bat, and should be expected to improve on his 22 home runs, plus have a monster year with more playing time. Edwin Encarnicion should be in right field everyday, but super bench guy So Taguchi should be expected to garner a lot of playing time, along with Preston Wilson who is serviceable & has power, but strikes out too much and lacks plate discipline.

Yadier Molina will be the everyday catcher, and hopefully can bring some of his World Series success into the regular season. Former Expo and National Gary Bennett will be the backup catcher.

Outfielder John Rodriguez and Larry Bigbie along with infielder Aaron Miles will come on the bench. They will be counted upon as part of a platoon or in pinch hit situations.

In the end, although the Cardinals lost a few key players that helped in their run to the World Series, Redbird fans should still count on the team to do well and contend in 2007. Although it is unknown if the Cardinals can duplicate their World Series run from 2006 in the upcoming season, but Tony LaRussa, Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter and company should keep Busch Stadium rocking. Even though the Cardinals didn’t make a huge splash this winter, expect the team to continue to win and possibly take the NL Central again.

Quick Hits: News on Some Old Friends, the Outfield and MLB News...

News on an Old Friend: Hall of Famer, former Nationals manager and Oriole legend, Frank Robinson has finally job in baseball -- with ESPN. According to the Baltimore Sun, he'll be a special analyst for ESPN and as well appear on "SportsCenter," "Baseball Tonight","Cold Pizza." and will work as a broadcaster during spring training. His participation will end with Jackie Robinson Day, April 15 -- the anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Link here: More

And Another Old Friend... Former Oriole, Fernando Tatis has signed a minor league deal with Los Angeles Dodgers. He playing sparingly with the Orioles mostly in a reserve role as a utility player.

The O's and the Outfield: Orioles.com writer Spencer Fordin looks at the team for the upcoming 2007 season, this time with the outfield.

MLB Stuffage:

* The New York Mets and manager Willie Randolph was rewarded with a 3 year, 5.65 million dollar deal that runs through 2009. As you know, Willie Randolph led the Mets to the NL East title, but lost in the NL Championship to the St. Louis Cardinals.

* Free agent outfielder Cliff Floyd agreed Wednesday to a $3 million, one-year deal with the Cubs. He can make an additional $4.5 million this year in bonuses based on plate appearances and time served on the roster (away from the DL). The deal includes a mutual option for 2008. The O's had talked about getting Cliff Floyd, but backed off of any notion of bringing him to Baltimore after he made it known he'd prefer to play in Chicago.

Quick Hits: Articles, More Oriole Ticketing Debate, and MLB Stuffage

Well, hope everyone is doing great this Wednesday, as I have been a busy man this week. I covered the Washington Nationals Caravan last night, and it was a good time out there as I got to talk with new team manager Manny Acta at length, as well as chat with radio broadcaster Charlie Slowes, and players Mike O’Connor from Elicott City, Maryland and Nook Logan.

The link to the article and accompanying pictures are here: Article Link

I have been doing team review articles at the moment, and have realized how much work entails in doing them, so bear with me. I have done the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox so far, and I’ll have another up on Thursday or Friday, this time with the World Champion, St. Louis Cardinals.

More Debate on the Orioles Raising Ticket Prices: Orioles Magic’s Mike Boehm weighs on the issue and believes the team is out of line. I beg to differ, as every fan has an equitable chance to purchase tickets, and it is in a way a poor reflection on Orioles fans that we don’t support the team as we probably should, especially when Red Sox and Yankee fans come to town.

Baseball is a business and a lot of other teams around the league institute “prime” and tiered pricing. I particularly don’t find an increase of 1 to 5 dollars for ticket prices for select games a real big deal.

To be quite honest, the team probably offers more discount nights than any other via email promotions, bargain nights, student nights, the Junior Dugout Club and the Citgo ticket promotion with 4 fill-ups of gas.

MLB News:

* Aww, that’s sweet… According to an ESPN report, assuming Clemens plays for the New York Yankees this upcoming season, Cano gave up his number, 22 and will switch to No. 24. I guess they are doing whatever to get Clemens to sign and it’s a show of respect.

* The White Sox will have Scott Podsenik sit out almost 2 months of the 2007 a groin injury in which he had surgery, so they signed Darin Erstad to a 1 year deal worth 1 million dollars depending on if he passes a physical.

* Angels’ infielder Dallas McPherson underwent surgery Tuesday to remove a herniated disc in his lower back and is expected to miss all of 2007.

* Update on Bernie: According to ESPN, Jorge Posada says that Bernie Williams is not ready to retire, or play for another team. Bernie hopes to play one more year, but space, much less playing time may tight for him if he returns to the team. More: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2740803

* Brendan Donnelly agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Red Sox, thus avoiding arbitration.

* The A’s treaded Kirk Saarloos to the Reds got the right-hander for David Shafer and each team will get a player to be named to complete the trade.

* First baseman for the Mets, Carlos Delgado, could miss a few games at the start of the regular season for the birth of his child.

Quick Hits: O's and MASN Related Stuffage...

photo from the baltimore sun...

Erik Bedard and Arbitration: There’s an article from the Ottawa Citizen about O’s pitcher Erik Bedard and his hopes for a contract extension. It’s an interesting read, and it sounds like at this point all he wants is the deal to be done so he can focus on pitching.

I think the Orioles seriously should start looking at possibly giving him a contract extension if Bedard so desires, as starting pitching is at a premium, and he if he continues his success, it would be far cheaper to sign him now than later down the road.

Ken Rosenthal and the O’s: In light of the media bashing of the Orioles and their winter moves, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal believes that Oriole might surprise the skeptics.

Here are some notable quotes from the article:

"They play in the wrong division. They've got the wrong owner. And after nine straight losing seasons, it's reasonable to call them the game's most underachieving franchise; the Orioles, playing at Camden Yards, possess far greater financial resources than say, the Pirates and Royals."

That much I agree with. We just don’t have the firepower to fight the Yankees and Red Sox.

Then he says:

"The only way for the Orioles to challenge the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays, however, is if Cabrera and Loewen make the same jump that left-hander Erik Bedard did last season. If that happens — and if the division somehow proves weaker than expected — then the O's could turn into the Tigers East, reviving with young pitching."

I think this statement is key, even moreso than the upgrade of the bullpen. I believe a team’s success is measured by its starting pitching. If Bedard, Loewen and Cabrera can take their pitching game to the next level, then the Oriole can seriously look at contending with anyone. Even though the Yankees and Red Sox do have the dominant pitching in the division, if the young arms develop – look out.

And finally…

More likely, the Orioles will improve modestly, then target a breakthrough in '08. Of course, the Devil Rays should be much-improved by then, while the Red Sox finally should have a closer and the Yankees could have Andruw Jones playing center field. Things never get easier in the AL East.

The statement above is why I think 2007 is critical to the long term success of the Orioles. If the Orioles can make can finish at or above .500, then the team is in perfect position to upgrade with marquee free agents in 2008 and perhaps make a serious at contention. However, if the Orioles finish at the same level as they did 2006, much of the moves done will mean nothing and the team will once again have to deal only with mid-level free agents rather than the marquee names needed to make an impact.

MASN News: According to the Baltimore Examiner’s Jim Williams, Rick Dempsey should be officially named to MASN this week. He’ll most likely work the pre and post game baseball shows for the Orioles. MASN is still looking for talent, and that will help shape the network, according to Phil Wood. I noted in a previous post that network may be going after ESPN’s Gary Throne.

As well, Williams says that Comcast Sports Net will still have a presence with baseball, especially at Camden Yards as it will too have its own pre-and post game shows.

In the same article, he mentions that Amber Theoharris might be leaving the network for a higher profile job in New York. I sorely hope MASN can keep her in town, as she is one of the better talents in the area and brings a great perspective on sports in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Quick Hits: O's Related

Gary Throne part of MASN?

I just read this from the Baltimore Sun’s Ray Frager:

“The Web site dcrtv.com -- a great source of scuttlebutt about Washington-Baltimore broadcasting matters -- reports a rumor that veteran sportscaster Gary Thorne will be the Orioles play-by-play voice on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Todd Webster, MASN's spokesman, said no decision has been made yet, but "we are talking with current and prospective candidates for the position." If MASN goes outside to add a TV voice, that would appear to end the previous arrangement of having Jim Hunter or Fred Manfra alternating between TV and radio. And it seems three full-time radio guys -- Manfra, Hunter and Joe Angel -- would be one more than the Orioles need.”

This is an interesting development. I like Gary Throne on hockey and baseball, and if I can recall, he’s sort like a jack of all trades guy. He’s got a distinct voice and I say the more premier talent, the better.

I don’t know if he’d fit in with MASN, but Throne is a great talent. Recently, MASN hired Don Sutton for its Nationals’ broadcasts, so perhaps it is trying to find established nationally known talent to help out the fledgling network.

O’s Manager Perlozzo Honored at the George Washington University: Washington Nationals owner Theodore Lerner, New York Yankees President Randy Levine & O’s manager Sam Perlozzo met at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. to discuss the economics of baseball. The three men, all graduates of the George Washington University were inducted into the university’s Sport’s Excutives Hall of Fame. Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-perlozzo0123,0,6815882.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball

More on an Old Friend: Luis Matos has signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Season Preview: Ben at Oriole Central gives and ode to a winter gone by for the Orioles, deals done and anticipation for Spring Training.

Will They Win it All? New York Yankees 2007 Season in Review - From the Desk of the Oriole Post

For the boys in pinstripe blue, every year brings high expectations from fans, the press and more importantly, George Steinbrenner. The Yankees have won the American League East division nine years in a row, but to most in Yankee nation, the season starts in October. In 2006, the Yankees lost in decisive fashion to the Detroit Tigers and disappoint reigned with all their fans. As a result of the loss, much of the offseason was spent wondering how it happened and to fix the team which seemed to lack chemistry and heart.

Since the New York Yankees missed their goal of winning the World Series, changes were abound and came swiftly. First, Randy Johnson, Jaret Wright and Gary Sheffield were traded and bench Lee Mazzilli was fired and replaced by Yankee legend Don Mattingly. Second, 2005 saviors Aaron Small was released and Shawn Chacon was traded during the 2006 season along with a litany of other pitchers. However, the Yankee method of operation has been altered & instead of spending big bucks to entice superstars to play in the bright lights of New York, the Yankees have now started to cultivate and trade for young talent, while being fiscally more conservative.

Like with every winter as of late with the New York Yankees, this one was particularly newsworthy. The trades of Johnson, Wright and Sheffield netted a lot of young talent and also dumped salary. Meanwhile, it seemed that the Yankees were covered 24 hours a day with news of deals, trades, rumors and drama. Longtime Yankees manager Joe Torre was rumored to be on the chopping block right after the team was disposed in the playoffs, but George Steinbrenner gave Torre one more year. On the field, enigmatic third baseman Alex Rodriguez was rumored to also be traded after a turbulent year in New York.

Much of the attention in the offseason for the Yankees was focused on the starting pitching. Although the Yankees coasted to the AL East title, the rotation was a big concern as it dealt with injuries and ineffectiveness. Randy Johnson had an oft-ailing back, Jaret Wright also struggled with few ailments, and Carl Pavano sat out pretty much all of 2006 recovering with shoulder problems and injuries from an accident.

Randy Johnson, as well know by now was traded back to Arizona after 2 lackluster years with the Yankees. While in pinstripes, he won 34 games in 2 years, but he dealt with a bad back, bouts of ineffectiveness and bad outings. He also never did fit in with Yankee culture, and in he looked uncomfortable while a member of the team. More importantly, he did not do the job in playoffs, and that got him jettisoned from the Yankees.

The Yankees biggest addition to the rotation is lefty Andy Pettitte, no stranger to the pressure and expectations of New York. While he was in the Big Apple, he won 4 World Series, and became identified with success. With the Houston Astros, he continued his winning ways, and ended up in the World Series in 2005.

The other new addition to the starting rotation is Kei Igawa from Japan. Igawa is a left-hander who had great success in the Japanese League, with good, but not over-powering stuff. The Yankees are hoping that Igawa can translate his success in Japan across the Pacific and contribute to the Yankees. He’s slotted to be the 4^th or 5^th starter.

In light of the injuries, the rotation had some stability with both Mike Mussina and Chien-Ming Wang. Mike Mussina will be 39 in 2007, but he relies on guile, pitch location and mixing his arsenal up as he no longer can throw as hard as he used to. He was given a 2 year extension and based on his track record should provide the team wins and quality outings. Chien Ming-Wang was a dark-house candidate for the Cy Young Award in the American League and won 19 games. He strikes out very few guys, but he gets by with a decent fastball, a great sinker and getting groundball outs with a great defense behind him. He’ll need to continue his 2006 success into 2007 in order for the Yankees to have a chance to compete.

There are two wild cards in the Yankee rotation – Carl Pavano and the young pitching.

Carl Pavano is a huge factor on how Yankee pitching will shape up after being on the DL for the better part of 2 years. In addition to not pitching much from a mound, he had irked fans, the media and even his own teammates with not disclosing his injuries from a car accident. Pavano has not been a very good pitcher with the Yankees, and it is yet to be seen if he can be the same pitcher he was with the Marlins. As it is, he needs to have a breakthrough year in pinstripes to justify his contract, or he’s a strong candidate to be moved.

The second wild card for the Yankee rotation is the young prospects in the organization. Much has been made of super prospect Phillip Hughes who has dominated the minor leagues until this point. He did very well in Double A, and will start off the year in Triple A. He repeats his success at the highest level of the minor leagues, he’ll be in pinstripes midseason, or perhaps sooner if the team struggles. Also, the Yankees acquired Humberto Sanchez and Luis Visciano from the Tigers and Diamondbacks organization, respectively. If the two pitchers stay healthy and progress, the Yankees have some good pitching up the pipeline.

The bullpen which was a source of strength during the 2006 season will be counted on again in 2007 to keep the Yankees in the game during tight situations. Led by future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera & workhorse Scott Proctor, Joe Torre had to rely on his relief corps more than he wanted to. Mariano was once again his old self in 2006, though concerns arose from his workload. Even though he may be reaching the twilight of his career, Rivera should be counted on another productive year in 2007. Scott Proctor worked a ton of innings out of the bullpen and showed was extremely durable, but showed wear and tear. The Yankees need to exercise caution against having him pitch too much many innings. Rounding up the bullpen will be Chris Britton, Kyle Farnsworth, & Brian Bruney. Pitchers T.J. Beam, Jeff Karstens & Darrell Rasner may also earn a bullpen shot as well.

The starting lineup remains pretty much the same one from summer of 2006 and it will be expected to produce plenty of firepower and score tons of runs. Loaded with plenty of talent, perennial All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, the batting order of the Yankees should be able to rival anyone from any era.

The top of the lineup starts off with the dangerous Johnny Damon and the Yankee captain, Derek Jeter. Damon is coming off a great year with the Yankees after leaving the Red Sox, with a combination of power, a good average and on-base percentage. Even though he is getting older, he should have a few years left to produce. Although his throwing arm is suspect, he is the perfect guy to have at the top of the order.

Derek Jeter lost out on the MVP in the American League last year, but he was not doubt the cog in the offense for the Yankees. He finished second to Joe Mauer in the batting race, but he had over 90 RBI’s in the number two spot, and was key in clutch situations throughout the season. Even though he is getting older and some pundits find his defense suspect, he’s still very athletic, clutch at the plate and embodies the game and spirit of baseball.

The wild card in the batting order is Alex Rodriguez, the lightning rod of all of those in Yankee Nation. Blessed with all five tools, and year that was considered to be subpar, although he belted 35 home runs with 121 RBI. He struggled mightily in the regular season, and even more alarming in the playoffs, where he faced the indignity of batting 8^th in the deciding game of the ALCS. Also he had a horrendous June, and faced a barrage of criticism from the fans, press and his own team. There were rumors of he being traded, but in the end, the Yankee brass decided to keep him. Rodriguez asserted he wanted to stay a Yankee and help them to the holy grail – a World Series title.

Sad as it to say, the greatest all-around player of our generation has to produce in the playoffs and win in the World Series before he can get the 800 pound gorilla known as public perception off his back.

Rounding up the batting order will Jorge Posada, a still productive and dangerous hitter who is on the downside of his career; Jason Giambi, a deadly hitter who can hit for power, but not for average like he did in Oakland and his season as a Yankee; Hideki Matsui, the Japanese slugger who will be trying to battle back from an injured wrist, on-base machine Bobby Abreu and uber-player, Robinson Cano who battled Jeter and Mauer in the batting title race in only his second season.

The bench will have Melky Cabrera, the subject of trade rumors during the winter who impressed the Yankees while subbing for Matsui while he was out, as well as longtime Yankee Miguel Cairo, defensive whiz Doug Mientkiewicz who’ll platoon with Giambi at first & Andy Phillips. Both Melky and Mientkiewicz should see significant playing time as Melky should get plenty of time in field, as Matsui can sit or bat as the designated hitter, and Mientkiewicz will cover for Giambi at first.

The Yankee brass and their fans expect big things from their players in 2007. With the highest payroll in the game comes huge and perhaps sometimes insane expectations, but the players in Bronx know now it’s the only way it can be. Cashman now it seems has the power wants and has learned to not mortgage the future for the present. The Yankees should be the favorites once again to the win the East, but getting to the World Series is much easier said than done.

Quick Hits: Ironclad Baseball Show and MLB Stuffage

For those of you in the Mid-Atlantic region, Ironclad Authentics will be hosting a baseball collectible show this weekend (Jan. 26 -28th) at the Baltimore Convention Center. Tickets and information are available here: http://www.baseballsbest2007.com/

Baseball legends Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Tom Seaver, Jim Palmer, Mike Schmidt and a littany of others will be there.

MLB Stuffage:

* Infielder Felipe Lopez and Washington avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million deal.. He's played most of his major league career as a shortstop but has agreed to shift to second base in 2007, when he's expected to be Washington's leadoff hitter.

* Ramon Ortiz, who won 11 games for Washington agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million, contract with the Minnesota Twins.

* Jason Michaels, an outfielder for the Indians, finalized a two-year, $4.25 million contract, a deal that includes a $100,000 signing bonus and $2.6 million club option for 2009.

* Justin Duchscherer and Oakland avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $1,187,500 contract.

* The San Diego Padres doesn't expect to finalize its deal with left-hander David Wells until next week.

Also, expect the New York Yankees 2007 Preview posted to the blog later this afternoon or early this evening, I am about halfway done...