Black History Month Profile: Josh Gibson

Considered one of the most amazing home run hitters in the history of the game, Josh Gibson was dubbed the “Babe Ruth of Black Baseball” by those who saw him play. His home runs were stuff of legend, and it said that he once hit a home run out of Yankee Stadium. Throughout his career, he played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Homestead Grays, as well as stops in Latin America and Puerto Rico.

Seen as a decent catcher, it was his powerful bat that got attention and did most of the damage. Although he was known best as a power hitter, he also hit for average, had speed, as well as rifle arm for a catcher. He according to records, he hit 800 plus home runs throughout his baseball career, as well had a lifetime batting average perhaps higher than .350 in the Negro Leagues, although the league did not keep records.

In the world of Negro League Baseball, Josh Gibson was respected by the ballplayers & fans; therefore, he had a stature comparable to Ruth or Gehrig in that era within the black community.

Sadly, he died a few months before Jackie Robinson played his first game in the Major Leagues at 35. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Can the Motor City Get Back into the World Series? Detroit Tigers 2007 Season Preview

The Motor City was in a celebratory, party-like mood as the Detroit Tigers were in the World Series for the first time since 1984. After an amazing wave of momentum going into it, they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals who’d limped their way to finish the regular season. Although the team lost the AL Central title on the last day to the Minnesota Twins; nevertheless, they got into the playoffs via the wild, they dismantled the Yankees and the Athletics on an impressive playoff run.

Having been to Detroit a few times, I know the city loves their sports teams and 2006 was a magical year for the city. The Tigers and their spirit woke up a city that in the eyes of many was dead & like the team last year; the city is on the upswing.

Under the guidance of the grizzled, yet passionate Jim Leyland, the Detroit Tigers were the surprise team in all of sports and the feel good story of all baseball. Now, after their amazing 2006, the Tigers need to prove the baseball world that their past season was not a fluke heading into 2007.

After the amazing success of 2006, the fans returned to a franchise that was moribund, are now backing itching for more. This offseason, GM Dave Dumbrowski ushered in a few more changes. The Tigers lost pitcher Jamie Walker to free agency and traded Humberto Sanchez, but added Gary Sheffield, Edward Campusano along with Jose Mesa.

For the most part, the team that led the Tigers on their magical run to the World Series will return. Armed with incredible starting pitching and an offense that was potent, but at times undisciplined at the plate & free swinging, the city will expect bigger and better from the Tigers this upcoming season.

The pitching rotation in 2007 is very much in the same as it was last season with Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman, Kenny Rogers & Mike Maroth returning from an injury-riddled 2006. Although the young starters Verlander, Bonderman, and Robertson were not dominant at all in the World Series, they impressed the baseball world with their pitching. Even though the young trio faltered somewhat towards the end of 2006, 2007 should bring a lot of promise and improvement. Verlander won 17 games en route to the Rookie of the Year Award, and the Tigers are hoping he does not regress at all. Bonderman won 14 games and also should be a candidate to stay at the same level or improve. Robertson was 13-13 with a 3.84 ERA, but he’s got the makeup and araensl to improve on his 2006.

Kenny Rogers dominated opposing lineups in the playoffs, and even though the pine-tar thumb incident was a focus, his ability to mix the changeup and curveball up was an arsenal that few in the league could master. He’ll be 42 when 2007 begins, but he was 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA. Even though there’s a chance age may catch up to him, it’s not likely for now, after what he displayed in the playoffs.

The wild card in the pitching rotation is Mike Maroth. He once lost 20 games in a season, but yet worked his way to a 14-14 record a 4.74 ERA, and he started off 5-2 until he sat out the rest of the year with bone chips in his elbow. He should be healthy for 2006, and if he can build upon his 2005 and 2006 campaign, the Tigers should be in excellent shape for the upcoming season with their pitching.

The Tiger bullpen was a source of strength in 2006 with amazing performances from their staff, and 2007 should provide more of the same. Jones ended up with 37 saves, a 3.94 ERA and only 24 strikeouts. The big question will is since Jones will once again be the closer, at 39, could he still be effective? The bullpen will be stacked with fireballer Joel Zumaya who wowed with his 100 mph plus fastball, 1.94 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched, Fernando Rodney, Wil Ledemza, and newly acquired Jose Mesa, Felix Heredia and Edward Campusano.

Let’s go to the batting lineup. Although Detroit showed a lot of power and were in the league in batting average, the Tigers were free swinging, not drawing many walks at all. With exception of Gary Sheffield, the lineup is pretty much the same from last year.

The newest addition to the team, Gary Sheffield, should help out the team tremendously. He might be the DH or might play some outfield, and he’s a patient hitter with a super quick bat and has always hit for average and power. However, he’s 38, coming off a wrist injury and always seemingly controversial, but his career numbers speaks for itself. If he doesn’t have any residual effects from his injury, Sheffield should only make the Tigers more dangerous and might also help to influence the young players on the team.

Curtis Granderson, the leadoff hitter and a highly athletic centerfielder who batted .260, but hit 19 homers and drove in 68 runs. He drew quite a bit of walks, but his OBP of .335 was middle of the road in the league, and will need to be better in terms of discipline from the leadoff spot.

One the key players who helped the Tigers in ‘06 was outfielder Magglio Ordonez. He hit .298 and drove in 104. He was signed in 2005 to a long term contract even though he came off a major injury and produced last season. The Tigers hope he can avoid the injury bug in ’07.

The other outfielder starting on an everyday basis will be Craig Monroe who batted .255 and slumped in September, but hit 28 homers & drove in 92. However, he only walked 37 times and struck out 16 times and will need to be more disciplined at the plate for next season. On the bench will be Marcus Thames, who will platoon quite a bit as he hit 26 homers and drove in 60, along with Brent Clevlen.

The infield is unchanged from 2006. At first base will be Sean Casey who was one of the few bright spots in the World Series, as he returns for one year. Although he only hit .272 as Tiger, he may be a candidate to improve as he batted over .300 in both 2004 and 2005. He’s always had a good batting eye, and although his power numbers have dipped, he’s always managed to hit for average and draw a good on-base percentage. At second base will be Placido Polanco who missed time with injury, but batted .295 and played a solid second base. At shortstop will be Carlos Guillen who had an impressive year where he hit .320 and hit 19 homers and 85 RBI and should remain consistent at the plate; however, his downside is that he made 28 errors at shortstop, and his defensive will need to improve.

Brandon Inge will play third base and recently was given a four year extension. He hit 27 homers along with 83 RBIs, although he only hit .253. He’s the wild card in an infield which hits relatively well for average, as he’ll need to be more disciplined at the plate – which seems to be a common theme for the Tigers.

On the bench for the infield will be Omar Infante who can play all the infield positions, Neifi Perez, and first baseman Chris Shelton.

At catcher will be longtime veteran Ivan Rodiguez. A future Hall of Famer, his numbers last year were consistent with his career marks. He hit .300 with 13 home runs, drove in 69, and with his experience along with intangibles, he’s no doubt one of the leaders on the young Detroit Tigers. His only downside is that he only drew 26 walks, but his aggressiveness and play led the Tigers, and although he’ll be 36 next season, he should be productive for many more years. Backing up Rodriguez will be Vance Wilson.

In the end, as seen in the past several years, getting back into the World Series will be a hard test for the Detroit Tigers. In 2007, the AL Central will be stacked with the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and perhaps the resurgent Cleveland Indians battle for supremacy of the American League Central. The upstart Tigers captivated the nation with their feel-good story, and perhaps once again they could do the same in 2007. With their pitching, the Tigers should do well in the spring and beyond unless there's a regression with the young players.

Time will only tell if GM Dave Dumbrowski and the team under the tutelage Jim Leyland can get the Detroit Tigers into the World Series again.

Quick Hits...

* Brian Roberts: Second baseman Brian Roberts avoided arbitration with the Orioles, signing a one-year, $4.2 million contract Thursday & avoiding arbitration. One of the most popular players on the team, his new contract includes incentives for making the All-Star team, earning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award, and being named MVP for the season or in the playoffs.

* Happy Trails: Former San Francisco catcher Mike Matheny was forced to retire due to post-concussion syndrome. After a 13 year career, his own doctor refused to clear Matheny to play in 2007 after a concussion sidelined him for the final four months of last season. He was a lifetime .239 hitter.

* Austin Kearns: Austin Kearns signed a 3-year deal with the Washington, thus avoiding arbitration, but also he secured his future for the short-term. Kearns will get $3.5 million this year, $5 million in 2008 and $8 million in 2009; the Nationals hold a $10 million club option for 2010, with a $1 million buyout. The contract does not include bonus clauses, but Kearns would receive a one-time payment of $100,000 if traded. He will clearly be part of the rebuilding effort in the nation’s capital, as he’ll be part of the core.

* Brett Myers: Right-hander Brett Myers agreed to a $25.75 million, three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, thus avoiding arbitration.

* Tony Armas: Longtime former Expos/Nationals pitcher Tony Armas, Jr. will now be a Pirate, as he signed a 3.5 million dollar deal with the team. Armas gets $3 million this year, and the deal includes a $5 million mutual option for 2008 with a $500,000 buyout. His 2008 salary can increase depending on his performance this year.

* The Hundred Years’ War Plus Continues Overseas: The Red Sox and Yankees are fighting for the fans in Japan.

Quick Hits: John Kerry, More Roger, This and That...

Politicans sure love baseball: I’ll give props to the blog, Babes Who Love Baseball for this one, as I was out last night and spent some the morning finishing up the San Francisco Giants review along with my Black History article & didn't check the news wire until very late.

It seems like John Kerry and other politicians love to get into the business of baseball, and the whole debate about Direct TV and the Extra Innings Package is no different.

Kerry says that he wants to bring up the DirectTV with the Federal Communications Commission at a hearing this Thursday, stating he is "opposed to anything that deprives people of reasonable choices." As well, he opines, "In this day and age, consumers should have more choices - not fewer. I'd like to know how this serves the public - a deal that will force fans to subscribe to DirecTV in order to tune in to their favorite players. A Red Sox fan ought to be able to watch their team without having to switch to DirecTV."

That’s quite peachy.

While I agree that Kerry has a point, he may not have a leg to stand on this one. I think a lot of this deal with private enterprise, not an entity that has governmental oversight; therefore, in the end, basically one company outbid another one for a product. In other words, DirecTV has exclusive right to a product and there may not be a thing anyone can do to stop it.

A lot of fans are really upset about this move, and may force some of the more hardcore fans to switch to DirecTV and dump their provider. As well, some communities don’t allow DirecTV, such as some living in apartment housing or in homeowner associations.

Roger, Roger, Roger: The biggest mercenary in sports, Roger Clemens says he’s no closer to deciding whether he’ll play baseball or not.

"I'm nowhere near ready to play baseball at this time," Clemens, 44, said at the New York Athletic Club before he spoke at the St. John’s University baseball dinner. "I'm in good shape, but nowhere near the playing shape I need to be in to play another season."

I’m sure he’ll change his mind around May, and we’ll all be talking about endlessly.

Also, from the NY Times Article”

He threw 45 minutes of batting practice Monday and Tuesday at Minute Maid Park in Houston and said he would go to the Astros' spring training as part of his personal-services contract.

Clemens said that he and Andy Pettitte speak often, but he did not say whether Pettitte had tried to persuade him to rejoin the Yankees.

"I still think I could pitch at a high level," Clemens said. "I wish this was an easy decision. I guess I'm just failing at retirement."

Um, let’s see. He’s have come back every year since 2004, and his ERA was in the high 2’s last season (if not for the lack of run support, the Astros would have won the Central with him in the fold), and he’s used the same dance steps over and over. As well, at the tune of at least $3 million per month or more, could he say no?

He’ll be back. Of course the standing will determine where he ends up, but right now it looks like it will be between the Astros, Yankees and Red Sox.

This and that: Thanks to everyone who left comments for me this past week on the team reviews, as they were kind of tough to accomplish. I need to give thanks to those from Chicago who gave their input, I appreciate it greatly.

As well, if there’s anyone who wants to be a guest blogger, or whatever, let me know by sending an email to mdguy2415@aol.com.

Next on the docket are the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers & then the Detroit Tigers; thereafter to finish up the AL East, the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Can the Giants Win the NL West in '07? The San Francisco Giants 2007 Season Preview...

The San Francisco Giants expected 2006 to be a year where they’d contend and win the NL West title, along with a possible playoff run with their mix of young players and veterans. However, the plan did not go as envisioned, as the Giants were in the playoff hunt in a real weak National League West into September, but a poor run of luck dashed their hopes.

In addition, the team had to endure injuries, especially to big boppers Barry Bonds & Moises Alou, closer Armano Benitez, catcher Mike Matheny, as well as streaky play with both the pitching rotation and batting lineup. The world was left to wonder as the saga of Barry Bonds took center stage for the Giants, with the pursuit of the home run record along on-going legal situation with the BALCO case would affect the team.

The organization had a lot of turnoverr in the winter as Felipe Alou retired and joined the front office, pitcher Jason Schmidt signed with the hated Dodgers and Shea Hillenbrand, Mike Stanton, & slugger Moises Alou all signed with other teams. The Giants have had several new additions, most notably Barry Zito along with Ryan Klesko, Rich Aurilia, Bengie Molina, speedy Dave Roberts, Ryan Klesko and Russ Ortiz. Taking the reigns as the manager is Bruce Bochy, formerly of the San Diego Padres.

The starting rotation for the Giants potentially could be formidable and make waves. As we know, the Giants signed Barry to a monster 7 year contract for 128 million dollars. Although critics had issue with the signing for Barry’s lack of velocity, he relies greatly on his changeup and curveball to get hitters out. Barry Zito has gone to another pitcher’s ballpark, so he should do well. He’s still in his prime, and he’s been healthy and never on the disabled throughout his career, though the law of averages may catch up with him. He’s got an ERA of 3.55 in his career and has pitched over 200 innings in each of his last 6 seasons, so the Giants should expect him to be reliable.

Matt Morris should be a candidate to bounce back. As a solid pitcher in St. Louis, it was expect he’d translate his success to the Giants, but he had a 4.98 ERA and 10-15 record. His track record shows that he should bounce back to numbers more in line with his career stats.

The other starters include Matt Cain who’s coming off a great rook campaign where showed flashes of brilliance. He went 13-12 with a 4.15 ERA, so based on what I saw in ’06 from him, he should be able to build on those numbers heading into the ’07 season. Noah Lowry will also be slotted as a starter and he had a down year with only 7 wins and a 4.74 ERA. He had good year in ’05 as he went 13-13 with a 3.83 ERA and if he could get back to his ’05 level with a few more wins, he’ll pay the Giants huge dividends.

Right now, the fifth starter role is up for grabs, as Brad Hennessy was 5-6 with a 4.26 ERA. However, also vying for that role could be former Giant Russ Ortiz. He has been nothing short of awful these past two seasons, and I saw more than plenty of him in Baltimore. Anyhow, if he could somehow re-capture his ability and pitching from his days with the Giants and the Braves, he could be a steal. As well, Jonathan Sanchez might have a chance to start as well.

The bullpen was a major problem for the Giants in ’06. Closer Armando Benitez was out for much of the season due to an injury, and right now it’s looking unclear as to when he’ll return or if he’s healthy. Also in the bullpen will be Brian Wilson who could serve as a closer, Steve Kline, Kevin Correia, Jonathan Sanchez & Vinnie Chulk. Right now, there could be several other men favored for the bullpen, and with the retirement of Tim Worrell, things are in flux.

The batting order for the Giants has undergone some change, and is pretty old in comparison to other lineups throughout baseball.

Much of the attention in the batting order is given to Barry Bonds. As we all know, Bonds is in pursuit of the home run and has been a force in the game since the 1990’s, but in 2006, age caught up with him as he missed a good portion of the season with knee and elbow issues, but came back strong finishing up with 26 homers and a .270 average. If he’s healthy, he’s a dangerous hitter and has a great on-base percentage. I expect him to sit out a game once or twice a week, but if he’s in shape, he’s a good as any hitter in baseball right now. He’s not much on defense anymore and look slow, but he’s in the lineup for his bat.

The outfield will be manned by speedy Dave Roberts, who makes great contact and has a good on base percentage, but his power is lacking. However, he is a great fielder and base-runner, so he’ll taking over centerfield. In right field, will be Randy Winn who only hit .262 in ’06 after coming via a trade from Seattle. Hopefully in ’07 he’ll be slightly better.

The bench for the outfield will probably be Jason Ellison & longtime veteran Ryan Klesko who should see some time in first-base, right and left field, considering the condition of Barry Bonds and others during the season.

The infield will be manned by Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham, Omar Vizquel and Pedro Feliz. With exception of Vizauel, the infield is not great at all, but just merely adequate. Rich Aurilia returns to San Francisco and will probably be the main guy at first, although he could moved around to play other positions. He was a productive player in Cincinnati the last two season and the Giants hope he can maintain his numbers.

Ray Durham was a pleasant surprise last season where he hit 26 homers with 93 RBIs. He easily topped all his career numbers on ’06, and he’ll be 35 when the season begins. The Giants are hoping he can reproduce what he did last season for ’07. Slick-fielding shortstop Omar Vizquel returns for his 18th season, and at 40, he’s not as quick as he used to be, but hopefully he can still be productive. He hit .295 last season, and had an OBP of .369, so might be able to continue for another year or two. Pedro Feliz had some pop with 22 homers and 98 RBIs, but his .244 batting average does need to improve along with his plate discipline.

The infield bench should consist of first baseman Lance Niekro or maybe Mark Sweeney, along with Kevin Frandsen.

Catching for the Giants will be Bengie Molina. He had a good year with Toronto where he hit 19 homers with 57 RBI and a .284 batting average. His OBP is low, he’s slow footed and he does not draw many walks at all, but he calls a great game and handles a pitching real well. Backing up Molina will be Elizer Alfonzo.

The Giants may improve on their lackluster ending to ’06 in the upcoming season. The team may not be complete enough to win the NL West, but the division is wide open right now. Much of how the Giants fare will do with how Bonds recovers from his ailments in ’06 and if he can swing the bat as he did before the injuries (based on the end of last season – he can). As well, will the media attend surrounding Bonds and his BALCO case affects the ream.

What remains to be seen is can Zito be the ace and doubt the skeptics, as well can the young pitching step up and deliver? As well, the team is older and built to win now, but can they? Nevertheless, it should be an interesting year in the City by the Bay.

Black History Month Profile: Buck O'Neil

February is Black History Month, and as an African-American myself and a student of history and a fan of the game itself, I have decided to take a player and profile him for each day this month.

As yesterday was Jackie Robinson’s birthday, it’s time to remember what men such as he, Satchel Paige, Buck O’Neil, and countless others did to diversify and enrich the game today.

The first man to be profiled will be Buck O’Neil.

Buck O’Neill as we all know passed away last year at the age of 94. Due to the injustice in America at the time, he was unable to play in the majors and was relegated to the Negro League. Sadly, he was one vote of being enshrined into the Hall of Fame in ’06, but his legacy has been long-lasting, although he’s not in Cooperstown. He was a great ambassador to the game, and his virtues and spirit inspired many.

Although he probably faced more injustice living in the era of Jim Crow and barnstorming the country, he maintained a sunny disposition and an optimism that was so hard to dampen. An excellent hitter and first baseman in the Negro Leagues, he also coached & managed, and was the first black coach ever hired in the Major Leagues by the Chicago Cubs in 1962.

Buck O’Neil’s story and his influence in the game were brought forth by Ken Burns and his documentary baseball. In his later years, Buck was a link to ugly part of history and the sport, but was also a bridge to the present of the game.

I wrote a blog entry about him a little while back about how I met him at the All-Star Game. It was my only time meeting him, but looking back it something I can always cherish and now has a far deeper meaning to me than I cover envision and I am happy for once in my life, I was in the right place at the right time and didn’t blow the opportunity to meet a great man and American.

Quick Hits - Fast O's News...

Brian Roberts: According to the Sun, it looks like he and the Orioles are close to a 1 year deal in ’07 for $4.2 million, potential avoiding an arbitration hearing. Right now, a long term deal is still being worked out.

Spender Fordin of the Orioles.com previews of the 2007 season in his latest entry, and the focus is with the pitching starting.

Quick Hits: This and That...

Barry, Barry… Well, the commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig, has rejected Barry Bonds’ contract drafted by the San Francisco Giants. Originally, the contract signed by Bonds contained a provision giving the club the right to void the deal if he is indicted; however, his agent, Jeff Borris, says the language is unenforceable under baseball's collective bargaining agreement. An issue with the contract also deals with the amount of appearances he’s required to make.

In the end, the contract will probably be done, whether it has to go to an arbitrator or it will be hammered out between the Giants and Bonds’ party. The Giants and Bonds need one another and when it is all said done, expect him to be a uniform.

Steroids and Baseball: The United States Congress could once again intervene in the business of baseball if MLB does not cooperate with the Mitchell Investigation. Basically, Congress wants all active players and owners to cooperate fully with the probe, or they will get involved. Personally, the only way baseball will ever get rid of the perception of the sport being tainted is to just adopt Olympic style drug testing advocated by the WADA, World Anti-Doping Agency.

More on Bernie: CNNsi.com reports that the Yankees have invited Bernie Williams to camp, but not offered a contract to him at all. It looks like the Yankees are ready to sever ties with a player integral to their team the last 2 decades, and considering he hit .281 with 12 homers as well as still productive something is not right about this. Even though he could play with another team, he clearly wants to be a Yankee. Bernie seems to very hurt and a victim a bruised ego, but I wish him the best.

Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/01/31/williams.yankees/index.html

News of the Weird: Donald Trump appeared on WWE’s Monday Night RAW, and during a fan appreciation segment where Vince McMahon invites a young lady into the ring and offers a poster of himself posing for a magazine, he appears on the screen and gives the fans what they want – money in denominations of 5’s, 10’s, 20’s, 50’s and 100’s. Vince walks out huffing and puffing and some fans walk in with more money than what they had initially. Video here: http://www.tmz.com/2007/01/30/trump-says-mcmahon-is-the-new-rosie/

Jackie Robinson's Birthday...

Today is Jackie Robinson’s birthday, and he’d be 88 if he were alive. He helped not only sports integrate with his courage and willingness to play in such a turbulent time, but in all society as well. The world was not made perfect, but better with Jackie in the game of baseball.

He was a part of 6 World Series teams, and won the Rookie of the Year, and an MVP Award. However, it’s his greater impact that matters.

Even though he wanted to fight at the ugliness on the field and around him, he didn’t knowing that he’d hold back progress. In the end, if it was not for Jackie Robinson, we may not have not seen Satchel Paige, Larry Doby, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron or the other African-American players suit up and play ball for a while after 1947, if not even longer.

He was a fine athlete, but even a finer human being and it’s a shame he had gone so early.

Cal and Harrisburg...

According to the Associated Press, Orioles legend and Future of Hall of Famer, Cal Ripken is expected to bid on the Double AA Harrisburg Senators. He submitted a bid before the Tuesday 3pm deadline. As the city is struggling, they want to sell the team to balance their budget.

Ripken spokesperson John Maroon asserted (from the Post):

"Let's call it like it is," Ripken Baseball spokesman John Maroon said. "Our owner sets us apart. Cal Ripken has earned a lot of respect from fans and businesses. And the fact that he knows what he's doing, as he's demonstrated in two places so far, really serves us well."

As well know, Cal owns the Ironbirds with among several other minor league teams. He has spent much of his post-baseball career cultivating the game with kids and working on various business ventures.

Cal, good luck!

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013101201.html

Quick Hits...

Mike Boehm of MVN’s Oriole Magic writes a wonderful article about Memorial Stadium. He opines on Memorial Stadium today and his thoughts of the place while he was growing up. Good job, Mike!

Anyhow, my memories of the place are quite faint. I’m only 28, so I don’t have the recollection of the place that other people do, but it was basic stadium, perfect for it’s time. I had only been there perhaps 4 or 5 times as a kid before Camden Yards opened, as I grew up near Washington D.C., and my parents who were not the biggest baseball fans in the world only drove up there when I forced them to or pleaded to go.

I also went to a few games with my friend back then David and his dad, who loved baseball and really got me into the beauty of the sport and got me playing it. I think I went to the stadium once for like a safety patrol day or something like that in elementary school.

I just remember thinking it was like the Roman Coliseum (remember, as a kid anywhere huge is grand) and the field was perfect. The scoreboard had the cute little swinging board, and there was the smell of smoke everywhere. I never sat up close, and sat in the cheap seats (I think one time I sat behind a pole).

Looking back, Memorial Stadium served it purpose for the years it was up. In the age of luxury boxes, state of the art sound and newness, Memorial Stadium is more or less, substandard. However, for many Baltimore citizens and those who lived through the 50’s to 90’s, the stadium served as a house of magic, where you saw Frank, Brooks, Cal, Eddie, Johnny, Art and many others become icons and cement their legend in Charm City.

Because of my lack of exposure to Memorial Stadium and I not really growing up in Baltimore or the suburbs of the city, I cannot write as well or in a romantic sense that Mike was able to express, but nearing 30 and hoping for kids & family one day, I can now fully understand the bond that people had with the stadium, the Orioles the Colts.

Yankee Doodle-Dandy, the New York Yankees get the 2008 All-Star Game: Well, I said here a few days ago that the team will be getting the 2008 All-Star Game (ok, a very poorly kept secret in the baseball world), Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg were on hand Wednesday at City Hall for the announcement

Can the South Side Boys Do it Again: Chicago White Sox 2007 Season Preview

On the South Side of Chicago, fans were euphoric after winning the World Series in 2005, and fans were looking forward to the boys in black to have a back to back championship season. White Sox GM, Ken Williams worked in earnest to improve the team from what it was in 2005 into 2006 with more wheeling and dealing. In the end, their mission was not successful and the White Sox finished third with 90 wins in a stacked division featuring the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers. The White Sox were strong throughout the season, but a bad August & September all but doomed the team.

In light of not heading to the postseason in 2006, the White Sox seem ready to make a run at the AL Central once again in 2007. Under the watchful of charismatic, yet controversial manger, Ozzie Guillen, much of the core of the team returns as well as several new additions, such as former Angel Darrin Erstad, Andrew Sisco from the Royals, along with Gavin Floyd, Toby Hall, & David Aardsma. The team jettisoned several players such as Freddy Garcia, Neal Cotts & a few others via trades. As well, the team traded Brandon McCarthy to Texas for 3 players who will probably be in the minors for now.

The powerful offense of 2006 should return this upcoming season, as they led in most statistical categories and once again put the fear in opposing pitchers.

As with every team, the key to a good season lies with starting pitching and the White Sox have a great staff, but it went through some changes as well in the winter. The rotation seems pretty much set with Jon Garland, Jose Contreras, Javier Vazquez, Mark Buerhle and possibly Gavin Floyd in the fifth spot being that Freddy Garcia got traded to Philadelphia.

The White Sox starting pitching which was so dominant and efficient in ’05 went to through quite a bit of struggle. Garland won 18 games in ’06, although he had an ERA and the mid 4 range and will have to improve on giving up runs; however, it may not be much of a concern providing the offense the team has. Mark Buerhle and Javier Vazquez finished with records below .500 and will need to regain their ’05 form for the team do well. Considering their track records, especially Buerhle, you should expect some improvement amongst the staff.

Jose Contreras went 13-9, but had an injurt after a great 2005. He’s one of the guys who should be better as well.

The wild card in the starting rotation is Gavin Floyd. A young pitcher with a lot of upside, he went 4-3 with an ERA above 7 in 2006. He will have to get it all together in the Windy City in which the crowd can rival anything he faced in Philadelphia. The White Sox will need him to maintain stability within the rotation and contend in the ever-tough AL Central.

Now, let’s move onto the bullpen. Closer Bobby Jenks also had a down season from 2005, as his ERA was at 4. However, he did save 41 games and showed at times flashes of brilliance which made his 2005 so great. Hopefully, he can bounce back and help the team in the bullpen. New members to the White Sox, David Aardsma & Andrew Sisco will share in the setup role for Bobby Jenks. Also in the bullpen will be Matt Thornton, Mike MacDougal, Nick Massett and possibly Gavin Floyd if he’s not a starter.

In terms of the everyday starting lineup, the offense should look just as formidable as it did last year, with key members Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Joe Crede and AJ Pierzynski in the fold.

Jim Thome will be the DH, as he hopes to maintain his level of play and focus behind the plate en route to a possible spot in Cooperstown. After his struggles in Philadelphia which saw him traded from the team in favor of Ryan Howard in 2006, he picked himself up from his struggles and batted .288 with 42 home runs and 109 RBIs. He should be able to keep his numbers as he will be 37 in August, but could the period of decline. With exception of 2005, his track record shows he should be a nightmare to opposing pitchers in 2007.

The infield for the White Sox features two of the best corner infielders in the game, Paul Konerko and Joe Crede who played a huge role in the White Sox winning 90 games. Paul Konerko carried a big stick as he hit 35 home runs with 113 RBIs and considering the past few years, he should be counted on keeping up his production. Joe Crede has a career year, as he hit 30 home runs and drove in 94 runs, as well as played great defense. Crede has always been a player to watch, and in 2006 he cemented himself as one of the premier third baseman in the game. Only 28, he should be expected improve and he can be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come.

The rest of the infield is in flux because of the situation with shortstop Juan Uribe. He’s currently in legal trouble in his home country of the Dominican Republic due to a shooting he’s alleged to be involved in. Even with his current situation, he struggled in 2006 to a .235 batting average and lack of discipline at the plate. Hopefully his situation can be resolved, but even if it is, he’ll still need to devote himself to improving his offensive numbers.

Tadahito Iguchi will be the second baseman and provided the team with solid numbers along with incredible defense in ’06. He’s been nothing but reliable, and the White Sox hope he continues his solid play.

The bench for the White Sox infield will be covered by Alex Cintron who hit .285 and provided some solid infield support, along with Josh Fields who may play a huge role in the team’s future along with Andy Gonzalez and Pablo Ozuna.

The outfield for the White Sox will be manned by Jermaine Dye, in right field, Brian Anderson in center fielder, Scott Podsednik in left and Darrin Erstad should see a good amount of playing time. The team hopes that Jermaine Dye can follow up on his MVP caliber season where he slammed 44 home runs, drove in 120 runs and hir for a .315 batting average. Obviously, he should a key cog in a very potent offense. Although he’s had some injuries in the past, the White Sox hope he remains healthy from here on out.

However, the rest of the outfield is shaky in terms of its offensive output. Scott Podsednik, one of the core players on the 2005 Championship team had a 2006 full of struggles. He started off real bad in ’06 and all his numbers dipped across the board with exceptions of RBIs and runs scored. As the leadoff hitter for a team with an offense so potent, he needs to do much better in ’07. The other player who struggled even greater was Brian Anderson, a rookie in 2006 who only .225, but provided a great glove. Anderson will be heading into year two in the majors, so hopefully he can improve from his rookie season. He’ll be the wild card in the outfield, and if the Sox want to improve offensively, both Anderson and Podsednik improving would go a long way.

Former Angel Darin Erstad joins the fold, after a productive career in Anaheim before injuries took its toll. He’s also can play infield, as he was a first baseman for the Angels, but for now will man Podsednik’s position while he recovers from offseason surgery. On the bench for the outfield will be Rob Mackowiak.

The catcher’s position is covered by the controversial A.J. Pierzynski. He had a very solid season where he batted .295 with some power and drove in 64 runs. Always reliable behind the plate, his numbers were good across the board, however, with the struggles of the pitching staff last year, he’ll needed to help the pitching get back to it’s 2005 level. Backing up A.J. will be veteran Toby Hall.

In the end, repeating as a champion in any sport is hard, and the White Sox know that all too well. Even though the team came back better on paper in 2006, things do not go as planned. In Chicago, 2007 should be another interesting with the White Sox looking to take supremacy of the loaded American League Central.

Time will only tell if Ken Williams moves in the winter help the White Sox earn another trophy.

Orioles Fan Fest

Fanfest is on for April 1st at Camden Yards. I am in the middle of doing some stuff with some friends, but Baltimore Sun blogger Roch Kubatko has details on it, and the announcement is up on the Baltimore Orioles website.

Quick Hits: News on Former O's and Other Prattle...

Well, if you have been under a rock, just to update you all, Sosa and the Rangers finalized a minor league contract Tuesday. If added to the major league roster, he would get a $500,000, one-year deal with the chance to earn $2.1 million more in performance bonuses.

Also not to go into ancient history, but Sammy Sosa struggled mightly in Baltimore as he only hit 221 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs and was sent on his way after being on the disabled list and a team cancer. It’s unknown whether he did steroids or used performance enhancing drugs, but 2007 will be crucial test to see if he still has some skills to play baseball or not.

Another old friend, Bruce, the Comedian: According to CNNsi.com, the Rangers are interested in signing LHP Bruce Chen to a minor league deal. Chen, who pitched well in Puerto Rico this winter, is weighing similar offers. As well, the Twins were rumored in signing him as well.

And um, Another - Good ol' Sir Sidney: According the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune:

"Free-agent pitcher Sidney Ponson pulled out of TwinsFest one day before it started because he needed to take care of some unexpected business.

That left Twins General Manager Terry Ryan a little disappointed, but he said Ponson had a good reason to stay home.

Ryan wanted Ponson, who has struggled the past three seasons, in town for several reasons. He wanted to see what shape he was in. He wanted Ponson to meet his teammates. And he wanted Ponson to see how excited the fan base is.

The Twins hope Ponson thrives off the atmosphere in town and the camaraderie among teammates enough that it brings out the talented sinkerballer who went 17-12 in 2003."

Also not to go into ancient history, but Sammy Sosa struggled mightly in Baltimore as he only hit 221 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs and was sent on his way after being on the disabled list and a team cancer. It’s unknown whether he did steroids or used performance enhancing drugs, but 2007 will be crucial test to see if he still has some skills to play baseball or not.

Buster Olney quips, “This will raise questions, going into spring training, about what kind of condition Ponson is in”.

It may or may not be a big deal, but let’s hope it’s not.

I’m one of few Orioles fans who hope the man works out his issues and shows the promise he had with the team way back when. He’s still young enough to turn the tide, but hope he’s got the will power, discipline and guidance to get himself together.

Barbaro: Barbaro was put to sleep Monday after complications from his awful injury at the 2006 Preakness. Doctors tried in vain to keep him alive and get him into health, but the ordeal was too much for the horse to bear.

In the end, I can understand why it was done.

Even though people will say "it's just a horse", if you're a pet owner of any kind, losing your pet would be like losing one of your children and the trauma is indeed very real.

Quick Hits: O's News and Roger...

The O’s Sign a Minor Leaguer: According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles claimed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie off waivers from the Cleveland Indians yesterday and added the right-hander to the 40-man roster.

Jim Duqette quipped: "We like him," … “He's a guy who our scouts think has two to three above-average pitches. He threw 94 to 95 miles an hour the past year. To this point, he hasn't put it together, but we are very optimistic."

For the most part, this is an okay move. Right now, we need to focus on rebuilding the minors as well the big league team and any guy who can throw in the mid-90’s is worth taking a look at.

Other O’s Stuffage: As well from the Sun, the Os reached one-year agreements with four players: outfielders Nick Markakis, Adam Stern, and pitchers Kurt Birkins and Ryan Keefer. As well, the team announced that they will invite catchers Eli Whiteside and Ryan Hubele, outfielder Cory Keylor and pitchers Garrett Olson and Radhames Liz to spring training camp.

MLB Stuff:

More Indecision from the Rocket: Well, once again, the biggest mercenary in sports, Roger Clemens is indecisive as to when he’ll come back or pitch in 2007. Although he donned Astros gear and threw for more than an hour in a minor league workout at Minute Maid Park, he asserted he’s not ready for baseball yet.

According to ESPN, Roger said when asked about a return: "I'm not even interested in playing right now -- that's my handicap for you. Other than that, my golf handicap needs to come down." He also asserted in the same article, “It's a lot of work … I have fun doing it, but it's a lot of work. That will be a tough decision again.”

He’ll be back, as the money is too good. It just depends where, and you have to remember he did the same song and dance with the Rangers and Astros last year.

Quick Hits: Late Night, O's Stuff and Stuffage...

Ok, I am very behind. After a long day and following the Nationals all day for another blog, I am finally getting to updating the site before dreamland. Thanks to everyone who has left me comments, taken a look at my photos and have sent emails in the support of the blog - I greatly appreciate it.

O's Stuff:

* The Orioles.com website has an article by Spencer Fordin on Markakis signing a deal for 2007, along with roster and spring training info. He also updates the mailbag on Mora's status, the bullpen, John Parrish and Rodrigo Lopez.

* Roch Kutbako has some Oriole news in his blog.

* Ben of Oriole Central has a funny, satirical post on junk mail and relates it to the O's.

From Around the Blogosphere:

* Yankees' Chick has a debate on whether the Red Sox are like the Yankees, and I agree her as much it pains me to do do.

* We Should be GM's has one of the funniest posts I have ever read...

* Here's my writeup on the Nats' Caravan - I met Ryan Zimmerman and he impressed me a great deal.

MLB Stuff:

Did you really think he was going to leave? The Giants and Barry Bonds have completed their deal. Ah, the marriage of convenience goes on for more year.

Helton Ain't Going to Beantown: It looks like the deal is dead between the Rockies and Red Sox, but it was great to chat about it while it lasted.

The Return of an Old Friend: Sammy Sosa and the Rangers agreed to a minor league contract that was to be announced Tuesday. He will have to go to spring training and earn his spot on the roster with the Rangers, though.

Can the Curse of the Billy Goat be Erased? The Chicago Cubs 2007 Season Preview

For those who bleed the Cubbie Blue, it was another season in a continuous line of disappointment in 2006. With a last place finish in the National League Central, Cubs GM Jim Hendry instituted a radical change in the roster. With the Cubs not having won the World Series since 1908, and not having an appearance in it since 1945, the folks in Chicago are now becoming restless and wondering if and when they’ll ever see a trophy.

As the Cubs have been criticized in the past for not spending any money on premier talent, and only looking to make a buck and fill seats; this winter the Cubs spent about $300 million in acquiring free agents and talent in hopes of winning the NL Central and getting back into the World Series. Dusty Baker who led the Cubs to the playoff in 2003 is out; Lou Piniella who was lured out of the broadcast booth is now the Cubs new manager.

The team spent a lot of money this offseason to secure free agents like Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly, Mark DeRosa & Jason Marquis. The Cubs also spent big money to re-sign Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood and Wade Miller. The offense should be greatly improved to complement a hopefully healthy Derek Lee. The Cubs last year were killed by injuries, lack of offense and poor pitching production. Gone from the team is Juan Pierre who signed a huge deal with the Dodgers, and Greg Maddux who was traded to the Dodgers in July of '06.

As much as the Cubs spent in the offseason, the offense may score a lot of runs, but the pitching situation is still shaky as ever.

The starting rotation is anchored by Carlos Zambrano, who is probably one of the best starters in the game. He went 16-7 with a mid 3 ERA, and his wins accounted for nearly a quarter of their wins. For the Cubs to have a shot at the postseason in ’07, Carlos needs to be on. In addition to being a free agent in 2008, it is unknown whether the Cubs will re-sign him, but a good season from him will set up an even larger payday from what he’s expecting already.

After Zambrano, the Cubs go into the unknown in terms of their rotation. Ted Lilly was one of the ballyhooed free agents signed by the team and was given a contract that many thought was a bit much for his abilities. He finished with a 15-13 record and a 4.31 ERA, and he could do slightly better in the NL, his track record shows that he should finish a few games over .500 with an ERA in the 4’s. The Cubs will need to rely on him to win games and pitch quality outings.

Jason Marquis is a coming a very poor year with the Cardinals, as he was 14-16 with an ERA at 6. He was so bad and unreliable in ’06 that the Cardinals left their longtime pitcher off the playoff roster. He’ll be one of the wild cards in the rotation as he really needs to be a lot better than he was in 2006. His history shows that he should bounce back and keep in line with his career numbers. It is critical that he pitch well in 2007 in order for the Cubs to be contenders.

The other wild cards in the rotation include Mark Prior and Wade Miller, as both men are trying to recover from injuries and a poor 2006 season. Mark Prior who showed flashes of brilliance in his career, and once won 18 games, struggled to come back in ’06 only winning 1 game and losing 7 along with an ERA over 7. In addition, his pitching looked flat and he was hit hard. Hopefully, he can come back from his bad ’06 and produce in ’07. He’s only 26 and perhaps could regain some of the magic and form that made him seem like the “next big thing” before all his problems. As well, Wade Miller will be trying to come back from injuries as he only pitched in a handful of games before missing the rest of the season. If both Prior and Miller can contribute for the Cubs, then the team might be in decent shape.

Other contributors to the starting rotation may be Rich Hill who was 6-7 with a 4 ERA along Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol. The latter two pitchers struggled in the majors, as they got called up due to the rash of injuries and ineffective pitching of the regular starters. Both may be in Iowa pitching in ’07 to get some more seasoning.

Let’s move onto the bullpen. The bullpen was another component of the Cubs shaky pitching corps, although Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre had a good year. The closer, Ryan Dempster struggled in ’06 with 24 saves to go along with a 4.81 ERA and 9 losses. He pitched well in 2005, but however regressed last season. He’ll need to improve going into next season, or he may sent on his way out of Chicago.

The wild card in the bullpen will be Kerry Wood. He got notoriety as a young starter who once fanned 20 batters in a game, but has been struggling with injuries for the past couple of seasons. As it is, his days as a starter are probably over and he re-signed with the Cubs to work in the bullpen. With Wood in the bullpen, the Cubs are hoping he can stay healthy and not have to face the wear and tear he would have otherwise as a starter. He’s still got decent stuff and at this point in his career, if he rebounds, he could become a force as a reliever.

Other members of the Cubs bullpen include Neil Cotts who came across town as he played for the White Sox for the past few seasons, Will Ohman, Roberto Novoa, and possibly Jae Kuk Ryu, Michael Weurtz and Angel Guzman.

Another major focus of the offseason was upgrading the offense. The major cog in the Cub offense, Derek Lee missed significant time with a wrist injury and then having to face an illness with his young daughter. This time, Derek Lee is healthy and ready to help the Cubs win. In 2005, he hit .335, 46 homers, 107 RBI, while in ’06 he only managed 8 homers and a .286 average. If Lee can return to his ’05 form, the rest of the offense should follow suit.

The newest addition, Alfonso Soriano is coming off a career year with the Nationals, after an initial rocky start as he was forced to the outfield. Alfonso hit 46 homers, 95 RBI playing while playing in cavernous RFK Stadium, along with 40 plus stolen bases. He’s right now one of the most electric players in the game, but he might struggle a little in the outfield, and his strikeout rate along with his on-base percentage may not be ideal, but the power makes up for it. He signed a huge 8 year, 136 million dollar deal and the fear will be in year 5 and beyond if he starts to age and regress. For now, he should pay the Cubs great dividends.

The other big powerhouse of the order is the recently re-signed Aramis Ramirez. He’ll strike fear with opposing teams, as he hit .291 with 38 homers 119 RBI in ’06. He’s only 28, and he recently signed with the Cubs for another 5 years; therefore, he should only get better as well become one of the premier power hitters in the Majors. In ’07, Ramirez should provide ample protection for Derek Lee in the lineup.

Aside from Ramirez at third, and Lee at first, the infield for the Cubs should have Cesar Iztruris at short shop and Mark De Rosa at second. Izturis is a slick fielding shortstop, but basically will bat at the bottom of the order as he’s got limited power with a lifetime .259 batting average. Mark De Rosa should do fairly well in Chicago as he batted .296 with some pop for the Texas Rangers. With playing in Texas, he blossomed and hopefully the Cubs will see his success translate from the AL to the NL.

The outfield including Alfonso Soriano should see Matt Murton, Jacque Jones or Cliff Floyd starting. Murton had a good year where he almost batted .300, drove in 62 runs and had some power. He may platoon in the outfield with Floyd in town, but he was consistent in 2006 and should garner lots of playing time. Jacque Jones slammed 27 homers with 84 RBIs and hit .285, but his on-base percentage was tad below average and he doesn’t draw walks at all, but still is a good bat with some pop.

The wild card in the outfield will be Cliff Floyd. A hitter with amazing power, he’s has problems staying healthy throughout his entire career. Floyd only hit 11 homers and .244 due to being injured, but if he’s intact, he can smash the ball. He played 150 games in 2005 with 34 homers and 98 RBI, so he being healthy and able to contribute is not too far fetched. Floyd signed a contract with the team which pays quite a bit of incentives, so with a deep bench, Floyd may not have to play every day and expose himself to injury. Also on the bench for the outfield will be Angel Pagan and longtime veteran Daryl Ward who can either play the corner positions or first.

The regular catcher is Michael Barrett. He batted over .300 with some pop and 53 RBIs. He was steady throughout 2006 and the Cubs will need him to be at the same level or better in ’07. Henry Blanco will be his backup.

The Cubs in 2007 should have an improved team, but with the Cardinals and Astros in the National League Central, things may be tough. However, based on the results of 2006, the division may be wide open next season and with questions concerning the Cubs and Astros, the Cubs might be back in the playoffs if all goes right and the team can stay healthy. Derek Lee and others must stay healthy, Soriano needs to duplicate what he did in Washington, and the starting pitching outside of Carlos Zambrano must come together and be consistent. Lou Piniella has a great track with a World Series win, so big things should be expected – but, however, can the Cubs get closer to erasing the curse of the Billy Goat? It remains to be seen.

Quick Hits: Quickie Updates and MLB Stuffage

Sorry for the lack of activity this morning, I had a travel to see a client with my everyday job, as well as cover the Nationals' Winter Caravan at the University of Maryland this afternoon. I'll have the Chicago Cubs done tonight, but at the moment, I am very much behind with things.

Schilling will be in the fold for ’08: Erstwhile pitcher Curt Schilling will not return after this year as he has exclaimed in the past. In an interview with WEEI, Schill asserted, “I’ll play in 2008”

He also added, "Over the last probably 5-6 months and my wife and kids and I have been talking and we came to conclusion about a week or 10 days ago that I was not going to retire in 2007, that I was going to go ahead," Schilling told WEEI. "I always believed physically I was going to be more than OK, I feel like last year, while I certainly didn't have a year like I know I could have, toward the end I became a lot healthier and my wife and kids want me to continue to play which was the only reason I was retiring in the first place.”

Okay, Schill. I’m sure Boston will be happy, but Yanks fans, um, not so much.

Bonds a Giant - could it not be any other way? Barry Bonds is expected to complete the final negotiations towards a new contract for ’07. Much of the delay could be attributed to federal probe of him and his drug use, along with the recent positive test for amphetamines.

Orioles Updates from Roch Kubatko: Roch Kubatko updates us on some former Orioles, pitchers around the league and more FanFest stuff.

Can Ryan & Co. Lead Philly to the Playoffs? Philadelphia Phillies 2007 Season Preview

The city of Brotherly Love saw their hometown team, the Phillies contend valiantly for a wild card spot in 2006, but fell a couple of games short. The team had a poor first half in which they found themselves jettisoning off several players such as Bobby Abreu, the late Cory Lidle, David Bell, Rheal Cormier, Dave Delucci and a few others.

Most experts and pundits figured that the Phillies threw in towel near the trading deadline & waved the white flag for surrender. The players had other plans as the team was white hot from late summer into September and were wild card contenders until the last week of the regular season under the tutelage of manager, Charlie Manuel.

Thanks to the emergence of Ryan Howard as one of the premier run producers & home run hitters, to the equally amazing Chase Utley, who carried a 36 hit streak and had a career year, the Phillies should be in great shape to contend in the National League this upcoming season. The Phillies under the guidance of GM Pat Gillick made some big moves in the winter adding Freddy Garcia, Adam Eaton to shore up a rotation that should help the team improve on their 85 win season.

The starting pitching has gone through a number of changes which were made to improve the team. The rotation has gone through a complete makeover, with Brett Myers being the only pitcher who started the season with the team in ’06. Jamie Moyer came to the Phillies via trade and Cole Hamels was brought up from the minors last season. Meanwhile, the Phillies got Freddy Garcia in an offeseason trade and Adam Eaton came to Philadelphia in a controversial free agent deal.

The anchor of the rotation will be the newest member of the team, Freddy Garcia. Coming off a 17-9 campaign with an ERA in the mid-4 range, he’ll need to perform like he has in the past while in Chicago for the Phillies to compete. Brett Myers had a decent 2006 with 12 wins and an ERA under 4, but had problems with his marriage during the season which led him to having to take time off. If he can perform or exceed his numbers last season, the team will accept that.

Well traveled veteran Jamie Moyer returns again to the team after a good year with the Phillies. He does not have overpowering stuff, so he’ll need his curveball and change-up to be successful; therefore, the team will need him to be consistent and have quality outings. Young Cole Hamels will be expected to take his game to the next level in ’07 after having a good ’06 at the major league level.

The big unknown in the rotation right now is John Leiber. He’s coming off a subpar season in ’06 and there’s talk he’ll traded before the season for relief help. However, he has a decent track record and should still be able to help the Phillies, or could be used a a trade chip.

The wildcard in the rotation is Adam Eaton. The signing of Eaton was widely criticized in baseball, as he has never pitched over 200 innings and missed part of ’06 with injury. He’s got decent stuff, but is only a few games over .500 for his career. Eaton will need to step up his game big time and contribute to the Phillies quest for the playoffs.

The bullpen for 2007 is in flux at the moment. Well, Tom Gordon will be closing games again in 2007, after a year where recorded 34 saves. Ryan Madsen will return as the setup man after being going back and forth between being a starter and reliever in ’06. Other members of the unit will include Matt Smith & longtime veteran Antonio Alfonseca. Pitchers Eude Brito, Fabio Castro, JimWarden, Alfredo Simon & Anderson Garcia will battle for a spot for possible openings in the bullpen.

Let’s move to the starting lineup. The lineup has its core hitters in place, as superstar and National League MVP Ryan Howard returns to follow up on amazing 2006, along with Chase Utley who had a career year, Jimmy Rollins & Aaron Rowland. Pat Burrell had good numbers, but struggled at times, especially in key situations.

The main weapon in the lineup will be Ryan Howard, who had a team record 58 homers and 149 RBIs. Needless to say, the Phillies would have not been successful in 2006 without him and hopefully he can continue his great numbers in ’07 and beyond. One of my personal favorites, Howard not only hits homeruns – he crushes them, and he captured the imagination of America through his exploits. The rate he’s going now, his ceiling is limitless and we could be talking about one the greatest sluggers to have ever played the game once all is said and done.

Chase Utley also broke out in ’06 and became a household name as he hit 32 homers with 102 RBIs, as well with a 35 game hitting streak. He along with Ryan helped the Phillies come back surge for a playoff spot in the National League only to come up short. He recently got a huge contract extension and should be part of the core of the team for seasons to come.

Jimmy Rollins will play shortstop as he also had a great ’06 with 25 home runs and 83 RBIs, and was a pleasant surprise on the offensive front. If he can duplicate or exceed his numbers last season, he’ll be another part that will compliment the Philly offense nicely. With the trio of Rollins, Utley and Howard, the Phillies should not only have a great up-the-middle combo, but also one of the premier offensive infields in the game. Manning third base will be Wes Helms as he had a great season hitting .329 along with 10 homeruns and 47 RBIs. He’ll be expected to maintain that same level in ’07 at the plate. Also on the bench for the infield will be Abraham Nunez, & Danny Sandoval.

The outfield will be manned by Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino & Aaron Rowand and the wildcard in the scheme of things will be Pat Burrell. Pat Burrell, mentioned earlier, struggled in the clutch and with men on base, but he still hit 29 homers and drove in close to 100 runs. However, he was often the name used to trade talks, as he was seen as a malcontent and could not produce in key moments. As he was not moved, he’ll be expected to return and hopefully produce to his potential. Shane Victorino did a decent job while covering for an injured Aaron Rowand.

Aaron Rowand became a legend in baseball after breaking his one after making an incredible catch. He spent time on the DL for that injury and hurt his ankle at the end of 2006. He hit .262 and should be back in the fold for ’07 and man center field.

The bench for the outfield may consist of Michael Bourn, Jayson Werth, & Chris Roberson.

The catching situation is different in 2007, as longtime veteran Mike Leiberthal left the team and the Phillies signed Ron Barajas from Toronto. He had a solid year in Toronto and he’ll be expected to translate his numbers in the AL to the NL. Serving as his backup will be Carlos Ruiz, or one of the better stories of 2006, Chris Coate who batted .328.

Pat Gillick spent the winter to try to build a team that will contend for ’06, however, he may not have gotten the pieces he needed. Even though the Mets are the powerhouse team of the division, the Phillies may serve as a dark horse to win the division and as well contend for a playoff sport. The team must avoid a start like last year, and the offense needs to produce like last year. Big things are expected of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell, so if the offense and pitching can come together, Philly might have a playoff spot reserved for them in ’07.

Markakis, Loewen, & the Relationship of the Orioles and the Washington DC Area...

Wow. I caught this after surfing around the web and various forums just right now.

...Baltimore Orioles players Adam Loewen and Nick Markakis were booed when shown on the scoreboard telescreen, while D.C. United soccer star Ben Olsen drew cheers from the crowd of 16,924....

As a resident of Maryland, an Orioles as well as a Nationals fan, I certainly understand all too well the sentiments of those in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. I can attest that those in that area who dislike the Orioles don’t necessarily hate the players, but the owner, Peter Angelos. I sometimes walk through the city with a Orioles cap on and I’ll get smart remarks like “Angelos Sucks”, “Orioles Suck” or if you’re in DC or Virginia, "why do you still have Orioles stuff on ?”

For example, if you’re an O’s fan and shout “O” during the National Anthem while at RFK, you will get a lot of heat from Washingtonians.

A quick review: Peter Angelos fought tooth and nail to prevent the Montreal Expos (who became later the Washington Nationals) from moving to Washington D.C. as the team would be encroaching on his territory. MLB only moved the team to the nation’s capital for the fact there was no other viable market that could sustain a team and have a facility up and ready to play in.

As a concession for the Expos moving to into Washington D.C., MLB set up a regional sports network, MASN, for both the Orioles and Nationals, but Peter Angelos and the Oriole would own the majority of the network permanently. Also, the Orioles now could not be sold at open market for less than $365 million, almost double the amount the team was originally purchased for.

In addition, the vast majority of fans could not see the Nationals until late 2006, as MASN and Comcast, a cable provider fought over a contract over Orioles coverage in 2007 and beyond, so Comcast refused to put MASN on their cable systems.

The experience of the cable network along with the fight to get the Expos into Washington led D.C. area to resent bitterness and hatred towards Angelos along with the Baltimore Orioles. A lot of Orioles fans who lived in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia became Nationals fans, as some were former Senators fans, some wanted to root for a team in their own vicinity, as well a few did because there were not satisfied with the team under ownership with Angelos.

Was it a bit crass and immature for some angry D.C. fans to rail against Nick Markakis and Adam Loewen, two young players who have nothing to do with the Orioles and their business practices? Yes, but it is America, and sports fans have the right to voice their displeasure. I can not criticize Washington area fans for their anger, because in my mind it is in a way rightly justified and sports is an emotional thing in people’s lives.

However, as I look at things from Angelos’ view and in a corporate sense, the moves he made were smart and in a way, he needed to protect his investment. Now, I am not agreeing in the way he conducted himself, but a lot of what did made sense and with his skills as a lawyer, he surely did benefit greatly from the Expos moving into the Mid-Atlantic region although the Orioles have not been competitive and attendance has dropped greatly.

In the end though, it comes back to Markakis and Loewen were sadly the target of the ire of Peter Angelos. Did they deserve it – no; but nevertheless, the incident is representative of what the Orioles face in Washington D.C.