Orioles Event at the ESPN Zone: "Think Spring" with Mike Flanagan, Jim Duquette and Jim Hunter...

Even though Charm City is suffering through a severe arctic freeze in the dead of winter, about a few dozen fans huddled into the ESPN Zone and got an opportunity to take part in an hour long Q&A session with former Oriole and Executive Vice President of Operations, Mike Flanagan and Vice President of Baseball Operations, Jim Duquette. The event, dubbed “Think Spring”, which was moderated by Orioles’ announcer Jim Hunter, it gave fans got a chance in an intimate setting ask both Flanagan & Duquette going into 2007 about the state of the franchise.

As we are winding down on the winter and heading to spring training, and the Orioles are packed and ready for Florida, fans had questions and comments aplenty.

Much of the event focused on the moves the team made in the offseason, such as with free agent signings and moves made. The duo of Flanagan and Duquette were optimistic about the Orioles this season and how they will fare; however, they were realistic with what the team is up against, especially in the American League East. The two men were honest in the sense that the team is trying to recover from almost a decade of losing, and change may not happen immediately – but the team is improving.

The team felt that Aubrey Huff was the best signing, and that they got him for, “less than they expected.” Also, fans should expect Corey Patterson and Jay Payton to split time in the outfield, and pitching corps to be stronger and more mature, especially the bullpen. Overall, both Flanagan and Duquette were very happy with the offseason and asserted,”the team was happy to attract top talent.”

The O’s believe that the team will improve most effectively through their young stars, such as Nick Markakis, and young pitchers, Daniel Cabrera and Erik Bedard. The duo believes that the team, in light of its record, made strides in 2006, and perhaps it will translate into next season. As well, the minor leagues was also a focus, as the team wants to focus on young players and cultivating talent, not signing older or Four-A players.

A few questions were made of the offseason moves, and while the Orioles didn’t get the marquee free agents, Jim Duqette quipped, “rather than spending $72 million on one player and not knowing how things would turn out, we spent it on a few players and got depth and balance.”

They also said they the Orioles could not compete with financial powerhouses New York & Boston, as Duquette said, “yeah, we’d like to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox, but we have to finish at .500 first.”

What was expressed afterwards is that the team must be proactive and smart with trades, free agent deals, along with build up the minor leagues. The team for now will stay out of the Asian market, but they realize the value of the players coming out of that region.

Both Duqette and Flanagan also spoke very highly of Adam Loewen, who was a called a “sponge and a competitor”; as well as Kevin Millar, who asserted “as a winner and is great in the clubhouse”, and Leo Mazzone with the attitude he brings with the team. Also, the duo gave words of praise for Daniel Cabrera and his ability, while mentioning he needs to improve, simplify his approach to hitters and be focused; or he could have a repeat of 2006 where he could be spent up and down between the majors and minors.

The team is as well looking to sign second baseman Brian Roberts to a long term contract, but for now only signed him to a one year deal during the winter and will work on an extension during the season. Erik Bedard will be given a deal eventually, but the Orioles want to see how he’ll do in ’07 before going forward. The team recognizes his value, but they are in the end, taking a wait and see approach.

Those who showed up were able to learn a little about the inner workings on the team and get the perspective from the front office executives. For me, I found both Flanagan and Duquette quite frank and honest about the team and its outlook for 2007.

The Orioles may not contend in 2007, but it seems like the front office is taking proactive steps to make the team better and bring joy to Charm City.

Slideshow and Gallery of Event:



ESPN Zone Event - Orioles "Think Spring"

Can the Boys in Blue Win the NL West? Los Angeles Dodgers 2007 Season Preview...

The Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006 grabbed the National League Wild card, but were quickly disposed by the powerful New York Mets. Once again, the City of Angels is once again ready for west coast baseball in Chavez Ravine and the Dodgers once again will be gunning for a division title. The team had great starting pitching last season, but was devoid of power throughout the year, and they in turn at times suffered.

Back at the helm of the team is Grady Little and the Dodgers hope to improve from last season. The team has had quite a few new additions, including longtime San Francisco pitcher Jason Schmidt, veterans Luis Gonzalez, Mike Leiberthal, Randy Wolf and the speedy Juan Pierre. However, during the winter, the team lost several players including Jose Cruz Jr., J.D. Drew, Eric Gagne, Toby Hall, Kenny Lofton, Julio Lugo, Jayson Werth and the ageless Greg Maddux.

In light of losing Greg Maddux, the Dodgers have once again put the focus on the upgrading their pitching, as they acquired Jason Schmidt from the rival Giants. Schmidt was one of the premier free agents on the market, as he’s parlayed a successful career in into a 3 year, 47 million dollar contract. In 2006, Schmidt was 11-9 with a 3.59, and his track record shows nothing success, and with Dodger Stadium being a pitcher’s ballpark, he’ll do well. He won 17 games in ’03 with a 2.34 ERA in ’03 and was an 18 game winner in ’04 with a 3.20 ERA. He’ll be 34 when the season starts, he should be reliable for the life of the contract unless he regresses.

Following Schmidt in the rotation is sturdy workhorse, Derek Lowe who had a 3.63 ERA to go with 16 wins. He had a great year in ’06 and the Dodgers should expect him to be a reliable innings eater this upcoming season. Brad Penny is coming off a 16-9 year, and although the record looks good – he struggled badly after the All-Star Game. He’s still young with room to improve, but the Dodgers will really need for him to be on for most of the year, as they play in a wide open, competitive division.

The wild card in the starting rotation is Randy Wolf. He’s been injured for much of the past two seasons, and missed most of ’06 with arm surgery. He’ll be 30 when the season begins, but his best year was in ’03 as he went 16-10 with a 4.23 ERA. The Dodgers hope that Wolf can turn it around and be productive next season. The fifth spot in the rotation will most likely go to Chad Billingsley who had a good rookie going 7-4 with a 3.80 ERA. If Wolf and Billingsley can anchor the rotation, the Dodgers may have one the best starting corps in the National League.

The bullpen has a mix of young and veteran arms, and will look to help the starting pitching out of jams and close out games this upcoming season. 36 year-old rookie, Takashi Saito was a source of strength, as he had a 2.07 ERA to go with 24 saves. Although his age is a factor and there might be a chance he’ll regress, he should remain the close in ’07.

Young fireballer Jonathan Broxton struck out well more than a batter per inning in ’06, and he’s only probably going to get better. Only 22, he’ll be the bridge to Saito and he may be the closer sooner rather than later. The bullpen will also have longtime veteran Brett Tomko in the fold, Joe Beimel, Hong-Chih Kuo.

The offense for the Los Angeles Dodgers was an area of concern in ’06, and will be so next season. The Dodgers did not hit very many home runs; however, they are a disciplined team at the plate and led the league in batting. The Dodgers tried to add a few marquee free agents to the mix, but failed, and with J.D. Drew, a productive Kenny Lofton, along with Julio Lugo leaving, the offense once again is devoid of power in comparison to their rivals.

At the top of the order will be Juan Pierre, who’s got plenty of speed, but has career-wise had a poor on-base percentage and discipline at the plate. As well, he does not draw many walks at all - however, he does not strike out much and hits for average. He may or may not have deserved his contract he signed with Los Angeles, but the Dodgers hope he can live up to his potential and be a demon on the base paths.

Sharing the outfield with Pierre will be Andre Ethier and Luis Gonzalez as they are projected to be the starters.

In his second year, Ethier will be counted on following up his successful rookie campaign where he hit .308 with 11 homers and 55 runs driven in & he’ll be in right field. Long time veteran Luis Gonzalez will see quite a bit of playing time. He’s remained in the NL West after a successful run in Arizona, & while he’s remained a productive player, Luis is not the same player he was in the late 90’s and early part of this decade. Gonzalez is good for 10-20 homers, a .270-.290 average and 60 to 80 RBIs, and will probably be a complimentary piece to the lineup. Also sharing the outfield duties and backing up will be highly touted rookie Shawn Kemp, Delwyn Young, veteran Marlon Anderson who came in big during pinch hit and clutch situations in late ’06 and possibly Jason Repko.

The infield situation remains the same a last year with Nomar Garciaparra at first base, Jeff Kent at second, Rafael Furcal at shortstop, and Wilson Betemit at third base.

The wild card in the infield is Nomar Garciaparra. Once a sure bet for the Hall of Fame, he’s struggled the past several years with injuries, but he helped the Dodgers in a big way in ‘06. He’ll be at first base for the second year in a row as well as hit in the middle of the lineup. He hit 20 home runs to lead the team and drove in 93 RBI with a .303 batting average. At this point in his career, he might be injured or need a rest day here and there, but he’s productive when healthy.

Longtime veteran Jeff Kent will once again play second base and he hit 14 homers and 68 RBIs in 115 games. Los Angeles may be the last stop in a Hall of Fame career for Kent, and he should be productive once again in ’07.

At shortstop will be Rafael Furcal. A fairly complete player, he hit .300 with 37 steals and showed some pop with 15 homers. Always a consistent player, the Dodgers hope to see the same production or better in ’07. At third, will be Wilson Betemit who came to the Dodgers via a trade with Atlanta, and hit 18 homers with 53 RBI to go along with a .263 average.

Backing up the infield will be James Loney at first, Olmedo Seanz at third, with Ramon Martinez playing the middle infield.

The regular catcher will be Russell Martin who hit 10 homers and 65 RBI with a .282 average. Backing him up will be longtime veteran Mike Leiberthal.

In the end, the Dodgers should be counted on being contenders once again in 2007. With a good starting corps on paper, and a bullpen with reliable arms, the Dodgers should be the class along with the Padres of the National West. The glaring weakness is the offense with its lack of power, but overall, the team should be in fine shape for a division run.

Time will tell if the Dodgers do win the National League West, or if they end up short.

Can the Halos Win the AL West? The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2007 Preview...

For the past several years, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been one of the powerhouses of the American League and perennial division contenders. Stocked with plenty of pitching, young talent and offense, the Angels should once again compete toe to toe with the Athletics in the American League West. As the Angels share a portion of Southern California that compromises L.A. and Anaheim, Arte Moreno has taken steps to re-invest in the team and battle the Dodgers for area supremacy.

The Angels had incredible pitching, especially from Jared Weaver and flashes of brilliance from the other members of the starting rotation. However, the offense struggled and that in turn hurt the team.

Although the team came up short in the AL West in’06, Moreno has once again taken steps to improve the team. Gone from the team are Darin Erstad who signed with the White Sox, Adam Kennedy who joined the St. Louis Cardinals, J.C. Romero and Brendan Donnelly and Kevin Gregg who were traded. The team in the winter added Shea Hillenbrand, Gary Matthews Jr., pitchers Darren Oliver, Justin Speier, Phi Seibel and Chris Resop.

The starting corps has some of the best veteran and young arms in the sport of baseball, as they were formidable in ’06 and should remain the same in ’07. The top of the rotation should compromise of John Lackey who was 13-11 with an ERA of 3.56 in 2006. Although he had a down year from ’05 where he was 14-5, Lackey should bounce back this upcoming season.

The rotation will also have amazing youngsters Jared Weaver who earned an 11-2 record with a 2.56 ERA & could be considered the ace of the staff; Kelvim Escobar who was 11-13, but with a solid 3.61 ERA & Ervin Santana who was 16-8 with an ERA over 4. All three pitchers were good in 2006, but Weaver was nothing short of exceptional. Santana should maintain the same level, Escobar may chalk up a few more wins and Weaver may have his ERA rise; however, he if can pitch at the level he did in ’06, he could be a Cy Young candidate.

It looks like both Escobar and Lackey were victims of the offense, and could have easily tacked on a few more wins.

The wild card in the rotation is Bartolo Colon. He’s had a stellar career with the Angels, White Sox, Expos and Indians, but he struggled last year to a record of 1-5 with an ERA over 5 until he went down for the rest of the season with injury. If he’s fully recovered, in good condition, and in shape, he should bounce back and return to his form before his problems last season.

If all 5 starters are healthy, the team will have one of the most impressive & talented pitching rotations in the game. Another pitcher who could step in play a role is Joe Saunders, rookie in ’06 who went 7-3 with a 4.71 ERA. For now, he may be a long reliever in the bullpen, but he may spot start or find himself in the rotation if someone struggles or goes down with injury.

The bullpen for the Angels is just as impressive as their starting rotation. Returning to the closer role in ’07 is longtime mainstay, “K-Rod” Francisco Rodriguez. He was his usual dominant self with a miniscule 1.73 ERA and based on his record should be lights out in ’07 as well. Only 25, he’s got the chance to be one of the best closers ever in the history of the game.

Joining Rodriguez in the bullpen will be long time Angel Scot Shields, Greg Jones, as well as new additions Justin Speier; long time veteran Darren Oliver who came from the Mets, Hector Carrasco, and Phil Seibel.

Seibel is the wildcard, as he’s not pitched since ‘04 – and he only appeared in 2 games that year. Hopefully, he’s healthy and can contribute to the Angels.

The offense last year for the Angels was nothing short of anemic at times in ‘06, but 2007 might be the year where things come together. With the new additions to the team, Guerrero should have some protection and contribute as he always has.

The outfield may be manned by Gary Matthews Jr., Vladmir Guerrero, and Garett Anderson. The wild card in the outfield will be Gary Matthews Jr. who signed a 5 year, 55 million dollar contract which was seen as controversial because of the length and amount for a player until last season had never made a true impact. Matthews hit .313 with 19 homers and 79 RBI last season along with making some highlight reel catches which made him a player to watch. The downside is that he’ll be 32 going into the season and his track record shows that he may regress. However, if the Angels can get the same production from him that he achieved in Texas, the team will have a formidable lineup.

Perennial All-Star and most likely future Hall of Famer, Vladmir Guerrero will probably bat 3rd or 4th, and once again had an amazing year in ’06 with 33 homers and 116 RBI to go along with a .329 batting average. He’s been nothing but great since been in the majors and the Angels should expect nothing short of excellence from Guerrero at the plate next season and beyond.

The wild card in the outfield will be Garett Anderson. His numbers & production have gone down in the past few years; however, overall he’s been productive and can be counted to hit 15 homers, drive in +70 plus RBIs and hit .270-290. If he could find some of his 1999-2003 form again, then he’ll compliment the offense and make the team dangerous.

The infield will be manned by Casey Kotchman who will be at first base, Howie Kendrick at second, Orlando Cabrera at short stop, along with Chone Figgins getting majority of starts at third.

Casey Kotchman struggled in 2006, played in only 29 games and mustered a .152 batting average as well as only 6 RBIs before succumbing to injury. He should given the chance to start everyday, and should serve as the wild card in the infield. However, if he falters, veteran Shea Hillenbrand can play first along with Dallas McPherson, & Robb Quinlan who can play multiple positions, including third base.

Howie Kendrick played in 72 games last season, and should be the everyday starting second baseman. He had a solid season with a .285 average and drove in 30 runs. If he struggles, he’ll be backed up by Macier Izturis. Orlando Cabrera, hit .282 and provided a reliable glove, and will be the regular shortstop in ’07.

At third base will be super utility player, Chone Figgins. He had a down year in 2006 where he batted .267, but he had 52 stolen bases and drove in 62 runs. He may also see time in the outfield and the other infield positions, with exception of first, if someone comes down with injury or needs and off-day. His batting average may bounce back up, and the Angels should expect him to be solid in 2007.

The catching responsibilities may be split between Jose Molina, one of the famed Molina catching brothers, who’s known for his work behind the plate rather than his glove. The other catcher who may start will be Mike Napoli who hit .228, but showed quite a bit of power with 16 homers in only 268 at bats and 42 RBIs. He may win the starting job and will need to show more discipline at the plate and cut down the strikeouts. Jeff Mathis may sere as the backup, though he only hit .145 in the big leagues and may spend time in the minors.

Shea Hillenbrand will be the DH, but can also play some first base. Between the AL and NL, he hit .277 with 21 homers and 68 RBIs in 141 games. Although he was solid at the plate, he’ll need to show better plate discipline as he only drew 21 walks in 530 at bats. He does not have much speed, but the Angels will need him to be solid at the plate to shore up the offense.

If the Angels pitching and their offense come together, then they could possibly win the AL West and find themselves in the playoffs. Southern California has two potential playoff contenders in the Angels and the Dodgers, and in the end, the Halos led by Guerrero, Lackey, Weaver, and company could make 2007 a year to remember in that part of the region.

Can the Rangers Contend? Texas Rangers 2007 Season Preview...

Deep in the heart of Texas, the Rangers for the past two decades have always been known as a team with a dearth of power and offense, but the pitching has always lagged behind. Thanks to the cozy confines of the park, and perhaps due to sweltering heat, AmeriQuest Field serves as a launching pad, but a house of horrors for pitchers, both for the home and visiting team.

Changes took place during the winter in Texas, with taskmaster Buck Showalter being shown the door, and former Athletics’ coach Ron Washington taking the helm. Washington’s positive attitude should counteract the problems that players had with Buck Showalter.

The team did usher through many changes in addition to the manager, as they lost Gary Matthews who had a career year, steady Mark DeRosa, Rod Barajas, Adam Eaton, Kip Wells, John Danks, and Carlos Lee who came via trade from Milwaukee and took the big money down the road in Houston. The newest additions to the team include former Cy Young winner Eric Gagne, long-time veteran Kenny Lofton, Marlon Byrd, Frank Catalanotto and slugger Sammy Sosa who is trying to inch closer to 600 home runs and baseball immortality.

The Rangers have not been contenders for the past several seasons, and they have had a backseat to the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Although the team has not gotten into the playoffs this decade, they have a great core in Mark Teixeira, Hank Blalock, Ian Kinsler and Michael Young. As well, the pitching corps may not have as much firepower as the Red Sox, or the Yankees, but they have capable starters Kevin Millwood in the fold, plus Vicente Padillia and recent addition Brandon McCarthy.

Let’s start with the pitching staff. For many years, the pitching staff has been underwhelming for the Rangers; however, the team has made strides in improving the situation by fostering young talent and also getting talent to come to Texas. The top of the rotation should be manned by Kevin Milwood and Vicente Padilla. Both men have been signed to huge contracts within the past 2 years, and both will need to perform to help the Rangers move up the ladder. Both men were decent in ’06 atop the pitching staff, as Milwood was 16-12 & Padilla was 15-10 with ERAs in the mid 4 range. If Milwood and Padilla can duplicate where they were in ’06 into next season, or even perform better, they should serve the Rangers well.

The wild card in the rotation will be newly acquired Brandon McCarthy. He’s in a new place after struggling with the White Sox in both the starting rotation and bullpen compiling an ERA of 4.68 with a record of 4-7. He should be at the bottom of the rotation, and if could he live up to his promise, he’ll go a long way in helping out the team.

The rest of the rotation should have Robinson Tejeda and John Koronka. Tejada was 5-5 with a 4.28 ERA in 14 games, and Koronka was 7-7 with a 5.69 ERA. Both guys showed flashes of brilliance last year, while they struggled; however, both men are young and will figure prominently in the team’s long term plans if they pitch to their potential in ’07.

The bullpen for the Rangers remains pretty much like it did in ’06, though for one big addition – former Cy Young winner Eric Gagne. He’ll be the setup man for Akinori Otuska, who had a marvelous 2006 where he was 2-4 with a 2.11 ERA and 32 saves. Traded to the Rangers in ’06 from the Padres, Otuska was a reliable stopper for the team and should maintain at same level he was at in ’06 or possibly improve.

The big wild in the bullpen is the aforementioned Eric Gagne. He has missed much of the past 2 seasons with injuries and has only been in 16 games during that period. Before that, he was pretty much ‘lights out’ with the Los Angeles Dodgers, racking up 100 saves during ’03-04. If he could find his form that he had in Los Angeles, he’ll be a bargain and the perfect bridge to Otuska, or perhaps could find himself closing games as well. Also in the bullpen will be Wes Littlejohn, Rick Bauer, Josh Rupe, Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit.

Unlike the starting pitching, the Rangers seem to have plenty of offense. Although the team will miss the production of Mark DeRosa and Gary Matthews Jr., key players like Mark Teixiera and Michael Young return in ’07.

Right now, the wild card in the lineup is Sammy Sosa. As we know, he recently signed a minor league contract to join the team. He took of last season after struggling horribly in Baltimore in 2005 and as well trying to recapture his glory after a messy divorce with the Chicago Cubs. At 38, he’s attempting a comeback and Texas is a team that fits him well. Sammy will play in a hitters ballpark, and if makes the team and if he’s got some gas left in the tank, he may make the Rangers lineup formidable.

Sosa will probably serve as the part time DH, or might find himself in an outfield platoon if he even makes the team.

The infield for the team is very solid, and serves as the core of the team. At first base will be Mark Teixeira; at second, Ian Kinsler; at shortstop, Michael Young and at third, Hank Blalock. First baseman, Mark Teixeira struggled at times during the ’06 season and perhaps had a down year with a .282 average and 33 homers and 110 RBIs, but still had a very productive season. The Rangers should look forward to him to having another great season.

Ian Kinsler will be the everyday second baseman, and had a great rookie year with 14 homers, 55 RBI to go with a .286 batting average. Kinsler made an impression with the Rangers and with his skills; the sky could be limit for him as he’s already one of the better second baseman in the game. At shortstop, Michael Young returns as he had an excellent year batting .314 with 103 RBIs; therefore, based on his track record, more of the same should be expected from him in ’07.

At third base will be Hank Blalock. He batted .266 with 16 homeruns and 89 RBI and should be counted on keeping up the same production into 2007.

On the bench for the team should be Frank Catalanotto, who should see a lot of playing time at second, DH and various positions. He batted .300 in 128 games for Blue Jays, plus has had a very good track record the past few seasons.

Also on the bench for the infield will be Joaquin Arias & Jason Botts.

The outfield for the team is very crowded with established veterans. The everyday starters in the outfield should be a combination of Brad Wilkerson, Nelson Cruz, Kenny Lofton and Frank Catalanotto being a platoon guy, along with Marlon Byrd and Victor Diaz as backups.

Brad Wilkerson is a longtime veteran & came to the Rangers in ’05 via the Soriano trade with the Nationals. He should get the majority of starts in left field, but struggled last season with injuries and a .222 average. However, he’s got some pop and should be good for a .260-280 average and should bounce back after a down season.

Kenny Lofton should get the majority of starts in center, and although he’s nearing 40, he’s still been a productive player in part-time duty. Even though he does not have much power, he’s still got plenty of speed to swipe bases and hit for average. He will probably split time between Marlon Byrd and Brad Wilkerson, but he’s still very much a productive player and will help out the Rangers.

Nelson Cruz batted .223 in 40 games up at the big league level last year, and should start in right field, but should also share time with Marlon Byrd and Victor Diaz.

Starting at catcher will most likely be Gerald Laird, as he batted .296 in 78 games and performed fairly well in '06. Miguel Ojeda and Chris Stewart will serve as his backup.

In the end, the Rangers may not have enough to win the AL West, but the team has a core of young and established veterans that could make an impact in ’07. A lot of the success that the team will have this upcoming season will depend on their pitching and if the weaker parts of the offense from ‘06 picking up the slack.

Also, the other storyline that America will be watching is Sammy Sosa, and whether he can reclaim his glory, or he if he’s done.

Quick Hits: O's News and MLB Stuffage

Steve Barber’s Passing: Former Orioles pitcher, Steve Barber passed away at the age of 67 today. The Baltimore Sun’s Roch Kutbako has a full article about him with some comments from Jim Palmer, and also mentions it in his blog.

Miguel Tejada: The O’s shortstop wants the team to get into the winning spirit and believe in themselves. Remarkably, that type of attitude will a go long way with Orioles.

Spencer Fordin of orioles.com latest article is about the Orioles looking to change things in ’07 and break the tide of nine straight losing seasons.

MLB Stuffage:

* The Brewers settled agreed to a four-year, $24 million contract with Bill Hall, avoiding arbitration and locking down a potential young star to a long term deal.

* Reds reliever Eddie Guardado agreed to a minor league contract with the club while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament and tendon in his throwing arm.

* According to St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Twins are reportedly working on a four-year contract offer worth about $33 million star Joe Mauer.

* Happy Trails: Rick Helling is retiring from baseball after pitching in the major leagues for 12 years.

Black History Month Profile: Hank Aaron

The standard of excellence, grace and dignity in the sport of baseball, the Hammer, Hank Aaron is for now the all-time Major League home run leader. One of the most feared offensive threats in history, despite his small stature, he was able to smack 755 home runs for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves over a 27 year career.

Always a consistent hitter, in addition to his 755 home runs, he also holds the major league record for total bases, extra-base hits and RBI. As well, he was named the 1957 National League MVP, received three Gold Gloves, and played on an amazing 24 All-Star teams.

Born in Alabama, he was no stranger to the discrimination and the ugliness of the South. He played in the Negro League initially from 1948 to 1952, until the Braves purchased his contract. Even though he’d made the majors and had an illustrious career, he had to deal with the reality of being an African-American in America right up until broke the home run record.

Today, he serves as the Braves’ vice president and director of player development. In addition, he own several automobile dealerships, and as well been the recipient of many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982 and statues of his image stand outside of both Turner Field and Miller Park today.

Reflections of Super Bowl XLI...

Well, I wrote this article about the Super Bowl for a small Maryland outfit I write for, the Baltimore Reporter. It's obviously about the game, my reflections of it and a small bit of the history of the Colts with Indiana and Baltimore.

Hope you like the small piece. If you'd like to send feedback, leave a comment or email me at mdguy2415@aol.com. Thanks.

For most of the country, moreover the world, the Super Bowl is a cultural event that mixes up celebrity, commercialism, excess, celebration, football, and a slice of Americana. People, young and old; seemingly of every race and social class possible join for one Sunday every winter and celebrate the new national sporting religion – football.

Sunday night was a memorable one, as the team who left the city of Baltimore a generation ago, won a Super Bowl for the first time in 4 decades, as the Indianapolis Colts. In the end, cultural history was made with two African-Americans coaching in the biggest sporting event in America, and looking back, it was an incredible season that we soon won’t forget.

Under the tutelage of Coach Tony Dungy & with the arm of Peyton Manning, they defeated the Chicago Bears in less than ideal weather conditions, 29-17 in Miami, Florida. Manning was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player & now has cemented his legacy, & Tony Dungy, after a brilliant career, finally has joined the pantheon of coaches to have won the ultimate championship.

Although the weather conditions favored the Bears, the Colts were able to win the game by mistakes from the Bears themselves. Chicago had a running game which was ineffective and sloppy, plus the poor play from Grossman and his interceptions – the final, which sealed the team’s fate. Meanwhile, Indianapolis took the blown opportunities and made the most of them.

Thus, with one touchdown thrown, and 247 yards passing, Peyton Manning is now in the same echelon as Joe Montana, Brett Favre, John Elway and Joe Namath by winning the big one. Peyton, America’s favorite pitch man and prolific quarterback is now one of the immortals in the game.

The conditions surely must exacted a toll on Grossman; while Peyton, the veteran, maintained his composure and led his team to victory. The rainy weather and miserable scene may only add to the lore of this game as a perfect NFL Films movie, but there’s no question that both Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith wanted to win bad, thus you could not have gone wrong with either choice. Therefore, only one man could have won, and the Colts who everyone favored overwhelmingly won in the end.

In the end, the city of Baltimore might feel a little melancholy as to the result of the game. First off, the Colts beat the Ravens several Sundays back due to the kicking of Adam Viniateri, and second, don’t forget the whole history the role of the Irsay family in 1984.

I was only 6 years old when the events of 1984 happened with the Colts, and furthermore, I grew up outside of the Washington D.C. suburbs in Montgomery County, so I don’t feel a connection at all to the team. However, working and attending social and sporting events in Baltimore; I can understand how some people felt about yesterday.

Well, although the Colts have won, the bitterness of those in Baltimore has not subsided to the Irsay family. Some, to this very day feel that Indianapolis gloss over the contributions of the men who previously played in Baltimore, especially Johnny Unitas. Therefore, many fans feel bitter towards Irsay family as they seemingly took a piece of the city’s history and made it their own, while not leaving it where it was created.

I’ll leave that argument for another day, but yesterday was a game to remember.

Again, congratulations to Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning and the rest of the Indianapolis Colts – a job well done.

From the Sun: Flanny and Duquette at the ESPN Zone

From the Baltimore Sun: Executive vice president Mike Flanagan and vice president Jim Duquette will appear at the Inner Harbor ESPNZone Feb. 6, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., to answer questions from fans about the 2007 team.

The "Think Spring" event will be hosted by Orioles announcer Jim Hunter and will also feature Orioles trivia questions and prizes. There is no admission charge to attend.

Since I'll be in Baltimore working on Tuesday, I'll go to the event and see what is going on and I'll report and cover it.

Hopefully, this event will give some insight into the team next year, as well, perhaps give fans a chance to voice their concerns and opinions on the Birds heading into next year...

So Long Football, Bring on Baseball...

Peyton has got the monkey off his back, as the Colts beat the Bears 29-17 in a sloppy game filled with turnovers. Rex didn't look too hot, and just could not execute.

Congrats to the classy Tony Dungy and to the Indianapolis Colts organization. Cultural History was made, and looking back, it was an incredible season that we soon won't forget.

Now the the Super Bowl is over, and the Pro Bowl is on it's way, it's time for baseball. I'm glad, as spring is around the corner and the sight of ballplayers, no matter what your favorite team happens to be brings eternal hope.

Can the Pacific Northwest Rise Up? Seattle Mariners 2007 Season Preview

The Seattle Mariners in the early part of the decade were the class of the American League West & always counted on being contenders, however, they have struggled in the past few years. In 2006, the team improved from their 2005 campaign, but they still finished in last place for the third year in a row.

With the development of the young talent, the Mariners inched closer to .500, but were still far from contending. For the upcoming season, quite a few changes were ushered, especially with the pitching corps, but will it be enough to get the Pacific Northwest excited?

The team added former Washington Nationals players Jose Guillen, Jose Vidro, along with World Series hero Jeff Weaver, pichers Horacio Ramirez, Chris Reitsma and Miguel Bastista. However, the team lost Gil Meche as he signed a huge deal with the Royals, Eduardo Perez, Joel Pineiro, along with Chris Snelling, Emilino Fruto and Rafael Soriano to trades.

The starting pitching will compromise of Jarrod Washburn, Felix Hernandez, Jeff Weaver, Miguel Batista and Horacio Ramirez. Washburn is expected to be the number one starter, as he was anything but an ace last year as he finished 8-14 with a 4.67 ERA. If the Mariners expect to go anywhere in ’07, they’ll need him to perform like he did for the Angels in ’05 to justify the huge contract he received from the Mariners last winter.

The other pitcher from last year for the Mariners in starting rotation is amazing young phenom, Felix Hernandez. He was 12-14 with a 4.52 ERA, and had some growing pains, but showed flashes of brilliance, especially towards the end of last season. The Mariners hope that ’07 is the season where Felix puts his amazing ability and assortment of pitches together.

The pitcher I consider to be the wild card in the starting rotation is recently acquired Jeff Weaver. As we all know, he was a main reason why the Cardinals won the World Series, but the question remains, can he translate his playoff run into ’07?

However, his track record and career stats are not all that good, as he left ’06 with a 8-14 record and an ERA approaching 6. He found success in St. Louis during the playoffs after being released from the Angels in the first part of the season. The Mariners can only hope he can maintain the form and poise that made him such a force in the World Series.

The other pitchers who should get rotation spots are new additions, Miguel Batista and Horacio Ramirez. Batista also got a relatively large contract to pitch in Seattle and he was 11-8 with a 4.58 ERA for the Diamondbacks. Considering he is going to the AL, his ERA might stay the same or rise a bit, but they will need him to be effective. Horacio Ramirez had a down year for the Braves in ’06, as he was 5-5 with an ERA in the mid 4 range & the rest of ’06 on the DL. The Mariners will need him to serve as anchor for the rotation.

Young Jake Wood could also factor in the rotation if one of the starters falter. He was 7-4 with a 4.20 ERA and showed a lot of promise in ’06. However, he is most likely to be in the bullpen, most likely in long relief.

The bullpen should also have had a few additions as well. The closer, J.J. Putz is back in the fold and had a career year with 36 saves, 4 wins and a 2.30 ERA. He has progressed nicely in his career, and the Mariners will expect him to build upon his career year for the upcoming season.

The wild card in the bullpen is Chris Reitsma, and he struggled with the Braves with an 8.68 ERA and ended up on the DL for the remainder of the ’06 season. The Mariners hope he returns to his ’05 form with Atlanta, where he registered an ERA under 4. Another addition to the bullpen is longtime veteran Arthur Rhodes who hopes to jumpstart his career and beckon upon previous seasons which made him one of the better left handed relievers in the game.

Other members of the bullpen will be George Sherill, Eric O’Flaherty, possibly Jake Woods and Juilo Mateo.

The starting lineup for the most part remained the same at is was in ’06. For the Seattle Mariners, the main focus of the lineup is the amazing Ichiro Suzuki. Suzuki, who serves as the teams leadoff hitter has been one of the preeminent hitters in the history of the game, should remain at the same level he’s been at as he batted .331 with 9 homers and 49 RBI. 2006 was a down year for Ichiro, but he should bounce back in’07.

The outfield looks strong on paper heading into next season and joining Ichiro out there will be Raul Ibanez who had a great season in ’06 with 33 homers and 123 RBIs to go with a .293 batting average and Jose Guillen.

Guillen will serve as a wild card for the outfield, as he missed the majority of last season with elbow problems that required him to have surgery. He’s only 30 years old, but he been with a number of organizations and has had concerns about his attitude. However, Guillen has a lot of upside, as he always has had the ability to field, hit for power and average. If he could reproduce what he did for the Nationals in ’05 and in years’ past, the Mariners might have gotten a bargain for his services. On the bench for the outfield will be Adam Jones and Jeremy Reed.

The infield should remain the same last year. At first base, will be big bopper, Richie Sexson who hit 34 homers and 107 RBIs with a .264 batting average. He’s always had the ability to hit the ball out of the park, but he’s never really hit for average, strikes out a ton and doesn’t really draw many walks; however, if he can maintain his numbers, he’ll compliment the Mariners lineup well.

At second will be Jose Lopez who’s coming off a good year and at shortstop will be Youniesky Betancourt who had a solid ’06 as well.

The wild card in the infield is Adrian Beltre. He signed with the Mariners in ’05 after parlaying a career year in Los Angeles, and has not been the same player he was in California as he’s in Seattle. Although he had a good second half in ’06, Beltre’s numbers have been down all across the board, and he’s struggled in the American League. The Mariners will need Beltre to revert back to his ’05 with the Dodgers to not only help the team, but to justify his contract.

The bench for the infield will be Ben Broussard who may also platoon and DH, Willie Bloomquist, and Mike Morse.

Jose Vidro will be the designated hitter for the Mariners. Until a few years ago, Vidro was one of the best hitters in the National League who could count on to hit at least .300, hit 15 home runs and hit a ton of doubles. Injuries (he missed all of 2005) and conditioning have brought his numbers down across the board. He’s no longer got the range he used to have at second, but could do well in the AL if he could gain back some of the form which made him one of the NL’s more consistent hitters before 2005.

Kenji Johjima had a great rookie year in 2006 and hit .291 with 18 homers and 76 RBIs, after coming to the states from Japan. He’s got a lot of upside, as he calls a good game, and he’s very good with the pitching staff. The Mariners hope he can build upon his 2006. Backing up for Johjima will be Rene Rivera.

The Mariners play in a competitive American League West and it may be hard for the team to move up in 2007 in light of the additions made. The team has made a number of changes to attempt to get more competitive, but it looks like the Mariners may remain where they are unless the pitching rotation steps up and additions to the offense perform like they have in the past. Considering this is Ichiro’s walk year, it’s vital that the team make strides to move up the AL West standings.

The Mariners may be a few players away from seriously contending in 2007, but the young core that they have give the team hope for the future.

Black History Month Profile: Satchel Paige

Throughout baseball history, Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige is known as the oldest rookie ever to suit up in the majors, when he was signed at the age of 42 to pitch for the Cleveland Indians in 1948. Although it is known what his actual birthdate was, he was not doubt the oldest player ever to suit up as his last game pitched was in 1965 when he threw for the Kansas City Athletics.

Before he ever donned a major league uniform, he was a long time Negro League player and is commonly known as the greatest pitcher who played in it. Known for his flamboyance and his showboating, as well as his pitching prowess, he was the most dominant pitcher in the league for 22 years. During his time in the Negro Leagues, he barnstormed the country and his legend grew little by little.

Paige got into the Majors, only much for much like the same reason Jackie Robinson did – to help a team win, not so much to advance civil rights. Cleveland Indiana owner, Bill Veeck needed an extra arm for the team, and Paige helped them towards the pennant. In addition to the Negro Leagues, he managed to pitched parts of three decades in the majors.

Quipped once about his age, Paige asserted, "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

Skill, along with his pitching exploits, combined with his attitude made Paige a favorite in the Negro and as well, Major Leagues.

After his pitching career, he served as a coach for the Atlanta Braves in ’68 and got inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Quick Hits: Juan Gone, News on the Bucs

Juan Gone an O? According to Jesse Sanchez of mlb.com, Juan Gonzalez at 38 years old is eyeing a return to the majors to cross the 500 homer plateau. He’s been playing in the Caribbean Series and he says he’s in shape, pain free and feels good. However, he listed the teams that were interested in him, below…

“According to published reports in Puerto Rico, the Angels, Tigers and Orioles have all expressed interest in signing the former two-time American League Most Valuable Player.”

Why would the O’s want him? He’s well past his prime, and perhaps a bench player, pinch hitter or at best a DH, but the last thing the Orioles need is another DH, much less a player past his prime.

National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract Saturday with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As well, the Pirates also signed relief pitcher Dan Kolb to a minor league contract in which he’ll compete for a sport on the roster. Kolb will make $1.25 million if he makes the team and could earn another $1.3 million in incentives.

Only 11 more days until Spring Training!

The War of the Worlds - The Turner Hoax in Boston

We live in a very crazy world. Ok, in you case you didn't hear, the city of Boston was in a panic because two guys who worked for a marketing firm employed by the Turner Broadcasting Company decided to place electronic cartoon devices around Boston. Sorry, you can't hang devices with wires and battery packs on bridges and buildings without causing a ruckus whether the threat is real - or imagined.

Personally, I'd say perhaps before 9/11, the police over-reacted, but in the world we live in today, no. These days you don't know what could be a threat or not, but it was kind of stupid for these men and Turner Broadcasting to do this stunt in a major American city.

In the end, life will go on, but I feel sorry for the cops who had to deal with the situation, and the commuters whose day was turned upside down. However, Turner Broadcasting has earned more publicity than what the signs would have brought anyway for some show, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force", I and much of the nation has never heard of.

The video from a Boston station is below...



Then you have the brain surgeons arrested for the crime giving a press conference and holding court with the media.



Sigh.

For the Idiot File: Those Who Voted Against Art Monk Getting into the NFL Hall of Fame...

As were on the cusp of the Super Bowl, the NFL inducted six members into the NFL Hall of Fame - Michael Irvin, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Matthews, Roger Wehrli, Charlie Sanders and Gene Hickerson.

However, one name is glaringly omitted. His name is Art Monk.

I’m a big Redskins fan, and yes, I’d love him to be in as he’s a Redskin; however, he should be in on his merits. According to the Washington Post, Monk made the first cut in balloting by a panel of 40 media members when the field was reduced from 17 to 11 but failed to make the second cut to six candidates.

For the 7^th straight year, those who vote players in the Hall of Fame, inexplicably have left Art Monk out. When he retired, he was the leading receiver of all time (the record is now held by Jerry Rice). Apparently, those felt the need to leave out Monk felt, “his career lacked the sort of signature moments that a big-play receiver like Irvin, a key contributor to three Super Bowl titles for the Dallas Cowboys, produced.”

Whatever.

Sorry, if Art Monk was dull, but he was a playmaker on the field. As well, perhaps he lacked some pizzazz, but you don’t break records if you don’t have greatness.

However, if Irvin got in (no, I don’t want any grief from ‘Boys fans), then Monk should definitely get in.

Can the Rays Escape Last Place? Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2007 Season Preview

In the world of baseball, every spring before the season gives hope for a new start and perspective and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are proof of that. Every year since their inception, the Devil Rays have managed to be a second division team and end up in American League East basement. However, in light of their finish in 2006 and the past, with their young talent, they have hope for future.

Therefore, the question remains, when does it happen?

In the nine year history of the team, the team has only 70 games once. Will 2007 usher a change? That yet remains to be seen, but with the improvements the Baltimore Orioles made, a strong Blue Jays team, and the big-market, super-star laden New Yankees and Boston Red Sox, last place for the Rays may be all bit pre-determined.

However, the Rays boast a plethora of young talent that rivals any with up-and-comers Rocco Baldelli, Jorge Cantu, Carl Crawford, Delmon Young, B.J. Upton and Japanese import Akinori Iwamura. That being said, for the most part, the Rays will still be on the outside looking in terms of being a contender.

The 2007 season ushers in changes for the Devil Rays, as Tyler Walker, Brian Meadows, Damon Hollins, Travis Harper & Travis Lee were jettisoned, while Akinori Iwamura, Al Reyes, Stephen Andrade, Tony Peguero, Hee-Seop Choi, Jorge Velandia, Dustan Mohr, Yamid Haad, Scott Dohmann, Brendan Harris, Gary Glover, Jason Grabowski were added. As well, during the 2006 season, Toby Hall, Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo were traded for talent.

The starting pitching was a source of angst and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays once again heading into 2007 are fairly weak in this department outside of Scott Kazmir. The ace of the staff, Kazmir, went 10-8 with an ERA above 3 before he ended up on the DL in August and didn’t pitch at all for the rest of the season. If he do better than what he did in ‘06, he might give the Devil Rays a few more wins and perhaps push the team closer to .500.

As well, the Rays hope he can stay healthy – first and foremost.

James Shield should be slotted as the second starter, as he won 6 games and had an ERA under 5, so maybe he improves on those numbers. Occupying spots in the rotation as well are Jae Seo and Casey Fossum, two veteran pitchers under 30. Casey Foassum has never had a winning season in his career, and Jae Seo had a great year with the Mets in 2005, where he was 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA, but has been mediocre since. If these two guys can improve on their numbers from ’06, the team will inch that much closer to a .500 record.

Other potential starters for the Rays include Tim Corcoran, J.P. Howell or Edwin Jackson. In ’06, Corcoran was 5-9 with a 4.38 and could do slightly better, Howell was 1-3 with an ERA a tad above 5, and Edwin Jackson pitched 36.1 innings to an ERA of 5.45. If any one of these guys breaks through during spring training or the season, they could wind up in the rotation, or perhaps even replacing a starter who does poorly.

As with the starting pitching, the bullpen also has its own problems to overcome. For now, I see the only pitchers slotted for the bullpen being Dan Miceli, Shawn Camp, Seth McClung and new additions, Ruddy Lugo and Al Reyes. At times, Miceli and McClung were brought on to save games, and its unknown who the closer will be, although McClung closed out several games towards the end of ’06. The rest of the bullpen may be slotted with starters who did not get a rotation spot or call-ups from the minors.

Let’s move onto the offense and starting lineup. The Devil Rays lineup has a bevy of potential young stars who are good hitters or show that potential, but also some who are sub-par, and in ’06, a few who suffered down years. The offense can hit for power; however, overall, it lacks plate discipline, does not draw many walks and has a poor on base percentage. The Rays had big problems with the offense in ’06, and hopefully with the changes made, plus another year of seasoning for guys like Upton, Young, Baldelli and Crawford, 2007 can show some promise at the plate.

The outfield is stacked with talent, and is particularly strong. Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli and Delmon Young should be starting trio out there. Out of the bunch, Crawford is probably the furthest ahead, as he hit .305, slammed 18 homers and stole 58 bases last season. The talk of trade rumors in ’06, he put up great numbers and the Rays expect the same from him and more. With a combination of speed, power and great fielding ability, Crawford seems to have no limit as to how far he could go.

The Rays organization will be expecting big things from centerfielder Rocco Baldelli in ’07. Although he missed all of 2005 and 2006 with injury, he managed to hit 16 homers, 58 RBI while playing the entire second half of last season.

The wild card in the outfield is Delmon Young. Touted as one of the top prospects in baseball the last couple of seasons, he was called up at the end of 2006 and made an immediate impact on the team. Blessed with all many tools, he hit .317 in his first tour of duty in the major and will be expected to build upon his success in the minors.

Also playing in the outfield will be Elijah Dukes. Blessed with ability, he’s faced some off-the field incidents that may cloud his year potentially, but much like Delmon Young, he’s a highly touted prospect who’s also a 5 tool player. He’ll probably be on the bench to start off with, but expect him to platoon or play for someone who’s got an injury.

Jonny Gomes also could play some outfield, but most likely will be the DH. He had a down year in 2006 where he only batted .216, but had 20 homers and 59 RBI. He’ll need to revert back to his 2005 form where he hit .282 with 21 HR and 54 RBIs in 101 at bats. It will be critical that he does well in ’07 for the Rays to have chance to move up in the division.

The infield for the Rays will be relatively young and with little MLB experience, except for Jorge Camtu. The big addition to the infield is Japanese import, third baseman, Akinori Iwamura. In Japan, he was a career .300 hitter who slammed at least 30 homers during the past few seasons. He’ll be a mystery heading into the ’07 season, and it is unknown what he numbers might be power wise, but he should be a fairly good hitter who’ll show some pop and has a slick fielding glove.

The middle infield situation is shaky, as right now, the shortstop position is wide open. The leading candidate for the position is Ben Zobrist, who only hit .224 in 52 games and came via the Aubrey Huff trade. He’s got a lot of upside, as he’s got a good bat, although he struggled in ’06. The Rays expect him to break through. The other candidate for shortstop may be B.J. Upton, who’s been up and down between the majors and minors.

Second base will most likely be manned by Jorge Cantu, who struggled in ’06 only hitting .249 with 14 homers, while in ’05 he hit .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBIs. He’ll be the wild card in the infield, and the Rays will need him to revert back to his 2005 form. He was injured in ’06, missing some time, so he’ll need to be healthy and help out the Rays’ offense.

At the moment, first base is a position up for grabs, as Travis Lee was released by the team in August. For now, it looks like Ty Wiggington will get most of the starts there, and Greg Norton will be his backup. Veteran Hee-Seop Choi may also come into play at first base if he makes the club. Wiggington was solid with the bat, as he hit .275 with 24 home runs and 79 RBIs, and the team will need him to produce as he did in 2006 for next season.

Dioner Navarro will be the everyday starting catcher for the Devil Rays. In 2006, he batted .254 in 81 games. He came to the team from via the Dodgers’ trade for Mark Hendrickson, and his tangibles are that he calls a good game & he’s a great defense catcher. He may or may not improve at the plate, but he brings a good presence to the team. Backing up Navarro will be veteran Josh Paul.

For the near future, it does not look like the Devil Rays will have much of a shot at contending in the well-stacked American League East, but the team has several building blocks for the future. It looks like the team is making progress in terms of being a competitive team under new ownership, but as Tampa is a small market team, the new few years may also be growing pain, as they will have to build from within and develop talent than obviously improve on the free agent market. The young core of the team may surprise, but it may be last place of for the Rays again in ’07 in the AL East.

Quick Hits: O's Stuff, Pavano and MLB Stuffage

* Roch Kubtako updated his blog and recollects on Larry Bigbie, former Oriole and a story on Sidney Ponson.

* Orioles.com Spencer Fordin updates on prospects playing winter ball, as well as Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada taking on ambassador role in the Caribbean World Series.

* Did anyone watch the real long Caribbean World Series games on MASN last night?

MLB Stuffage:

Should the Yankees Demand a Refund? Oft-injured Yankee, Carl Pavano says he’s ready to pitch in the big leagues. All the New York papers give their take, but here are a few quotes that got my attention.

Earlier in the week, teammate Mike Mussina said Pavano "needs to earn the trust from the players, the coaches, the manager and the organization."

"I welcome any kind of thoughts like that, especially from my teammates, especially from someone that I respect like Mike Mussina," Pavano said during a telephone conference call.

"I couldn't really have said it better myself. I understand the position I put myself in with the things that have happened over the last couple of years," Pavano added. "I totally understand why there's question marks."

Carl, the last I remember, you’re getting 10 million dollars a year for non-performance - guaranteed.

Hell, if ended up injured away from my job, I’d only get 60% pay from disability. You make more than 300 times the average American, so would it not surprise him that fans and his teammates are so upset over the way the injuries were covered up.

Pavano has been working out, training and Arizona and says he’s in good shape for the season.

I’d be curious to know what Yankee fans think.

***

* Adam LaRoche avoided arbitration with the Pittsburgh Pirates and agreed to a one year, $3.2 million dollar contract. As well, his teammate, John Grabow, avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year contract for $832,500.

* Alex Rios of the Blue Jays agreed to Friday to a $2,535,000, one-year contract and avoided salary arbitration.

* Jim Parque is attempting a comeback after being out of baseball three seasons with shoulder trouble, has agreed on a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. He formerly pitched for the Chicago White Sox & Arizona Diamondbacks.

* The Colorado Rockies re-signed re-signed Josh Fogg to a one-year contract worth $3.625 million.

* The Milwaukee Brewers gave catcher Johnny Estrada a $3.4 million, one-year contract on Friday.

Black History Month Profile: Elrod Hendricks

My next athlete in tribute of Black History month isn’t in the Hall of Fame, nor will he ever get into it, but for much of Baltimore and myself, he meant a lot.

Elrod Hendricks was a catcher with the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees and only had a lifetime .220 batting average with 62 homeruns, but came up huge in the 1970 Series where he hit .364 with a homerun and 4 RBI to lead the O’s over the Reds.

However, he’ll be remembered with the Baltimore Orioles and the city itself as the longtime bullpen coach for 28 years & served the longest tenure of any coach with the team. All in all, he served 37 years with the team, but his contract was not renewed for that position as of October 2005 due to a mild stroke in April.

After his contract was not renewed, he was reassigned to another position within the organization, which would involve public relations and working with community. Sadly, his work in the community never came to fruition, as he passed away before his 65th birthday a few days before Christmas in 2005.

Myself, I saw him all the time at Oriole Park and got an autograph from him, but the only time I spoke with him at length was when I was in Boston three years ago at Fenway Park and incidentally had seats near the Baltimore bullpen. I introduced myself to him with my Orioles gear on and told him a little about myself. Rather than blow me off or say he was busy, we talked for 10 minutes about my trip, what I did for a living and the Orioles.

When you went to the park, he’d seemingly be the first one on the field, and always signing autographs, mingling with fans and putting a smile on everyone’s face. With respect to Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson, he’s probably recognized in the pantheon of Orioles’ legends due to his work and infectious attitude.

He was such a class act and nice man. In the end, Elrod needs to have his number retired or something needs to be done in his name for his contributions to Baltimore and the Oriole organization.

Can the Braves Return to the top of the NL East? Atlanta Braves 2007 Season Preview...

Since 1991, the Atlanta Braves have won their division 14 years in a row and sooner or later, their amazing run was going to end.

2006 was the year.

For the first time in 2 decades, the Braves and their fans were for a change not atop of the NL East standings, but towards the middle of the pack. Although the Braves were in the wild card hunt for a while, their 79-83 record was a disappointment and in a way surreal to the baseball world.

Since John Schulerholz joined the Braves, he’s always managed to put a competitive team on the field, both at the big league level and the minors, no matter their financial situation and Atlanta being a mid-market franchise. As well, under the tutelage of Bobby Cox, the Braves were able only to muster one World Series win in that run, but he was able to bring all facets of the game together and much like the sun riding, the Braves always ended up atop of the NL East.

The Braves were able to score runs, but the pitching staff struggled. Pitching was usually a source of strength for the team; both the starting rotation & bullpen were subpar due to injuries and a bullpen that was largely inexperienced. As well, pitching impresario, Leo Mazzone left Atlanta for Baltimore, and the staff under the tutelage of Roger McDowell struggled and didn’t match the success the team has had in that department in 14 years.

Going into 2007, the Atlanta Braves have made quite a few changes from last season. Second baseman Marcus Giles was non-tendered and signed with San Diego, Adam LaRoche was traded for pitcher Mike Gonzalez, Horcio Ramirez was traded for Rafael Soriano, and pitchers Danys Baez, Chris Reitsma and John Thomson left the team via free agency. The team signed in turn, pitchers Tanyon Sturtze, first baseman Craig Wilson and second baseman Chris Woodward.

While the bullpen is greatly improved, the lineup and the starting pitching have questions going into 2007.

In light of the starting pitching performance of 2006, this upcoming season does show a lot of promise. At the top of the rotation is John Smoltz, the long time ace of the teamand potential Hall of Famer. As he is heading towards his 40th birthday, he was 16-9 with a 3.49 ERA and there’s no reason to believe that John Smoltz can’t duplicate the success he’s had for the next couple of seasons.

The probable second starter will be Tim Hudson. He will need to regain the form he had with Oakland in order for the Braves to do well. He was 13-12 in ’06, but however, his ERA was 4.86, well above what he’s allowed in his career. The team hopes he can bounce back and compliment John Smoltz.

The wild card in the starting rotation will be Mike Hampton. He missed much of 2005 and 2006, and the Braves are hoping he can bounce back. Before the injury, he was a durable pitcher for the team and you could count on him getting double digits in victories. However, 2007 will be a test for him, as he attempts to return after a long layoff. If he can regain some of his form, it will go a long way to helping the Braves contend.

Battling for spots to round up the rest of the rotation are Chuck James & Kyle Davies. Davies only went 3-7 with an ERA over 8 and he regressed from his rookie campaign in 2005. He’ll need to do better than that obviously in ’07. Chuck James on the other hand, had a great 2006 where was 11-4, with a 3.78 ERA in his rookie season, and he was a pleasant surprise for the team. The Braves are hoping he can parlay his successful season last year into 2007.

The bullpen for the team was an Achilles’ heel last season, and the Braves spent quite a bit of energy to fix it up this winter. New additions to the bullpen are Tanyon Strutze, young electric pitchers Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano. Also, Tyler Yates and Macay McBride will return to the bullpen. The closer will once again be Bob Wickman who came via trade before the All-Star Break and had an ERA a tad above 1 and 18 saves for the team. The Braves will once again count on Wickman to close and hopefully repeat the job he did for the team in 2006 into next season.

The starting lineup should remain pretty much the same, although second baseman Marucs Giles and first baseman Adam LaRoche are no longer on the team.

The offense looks strong with long time veterans Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones returning along with Jeff Francoeur. Center-fielder and great all around player, Andruw Jones could possibly leave the team at the end of year, but the Braves once again look for big things from him in 2007. Although his power numbers were down from 2005, he still managed to hit 41 homers with 129 RBIs and the team hopes he can maintain the same level or perhaps be better.

Jeff Francoeur once again will man right field. He hit 29 homers with 103 RBIs, and at only 23, he’s not reached his potential yet. Although his stats look good, he’s still troubled by the fact he’s got poor plate discipline, and lacks patience. He’ll need to obviously be more patient at the plate, but he’s got a whole lot of upside as he’s still very young.

Left field will probably be manned with a platoon of Ryan Langerhans and Craig Wilson. Langerhans had a down season from 2005, as he only hit .241 and struggled against right handers, but he’s an asset in the field. Platooning with him may be a combination of Craig Wilson & Matt Diaz. Wilson may play against lefties, some first and serve as a pinch hitter.

The infield situation is in flux right now. With Adam LaRoche and Marcus Giles no longer on the team, both the first and second base positions are open. Taking over for Adam LaRoche will most likely be Scott Thorman, a player who excelled in the minors, who only hit .234 in 55 games. However, he did fairly well in the minors, so he might able to do well at the next level, but needs to obviously do better in ’07. If he struggles, Craig Wilson might be an option at first base as well.

In terms of second base, Marcus Giles also left the team, and the competition for the position includes Kelly Johnson, Martin Prado and Willy Aybar. Johnson and Prado did well in the minors, so either one of them will be the odd-ons favorite, although Willy Aybar may also get some time there or even win the starting job as he batted .280 with 4 home runs and 30 RBI in 79 games. He’ll most likely backup Chpper at third, but he could be a dark horse for second base.

Returning at shortstop will be Edgar Renteria, and although he hit .293 with 14 home runs, he struggled in the second half. His range at shortstop isn’t that good, but his track record shows that he’s always had a solid bat, and the Braves hope that he’ll keep up the success he’s had in previous seasons.

The wild card in the infield will be Chipper Jones. Although he spent a good bit of time with two trips to the DL, Chipper still managed to .324 with 26 homers 86 RBIs and was amazingly productive considering he was playing with a sore oblique muscle. He has missed a lot of time in 2 years, but still managed to be a key part of the Braves lineup. If he can stay healthy in ’07, he and Andruw will give pitchers fits, and he’ll compliment the Braves’ fairly good offensive lineup. Backing up Chipper will be Willy Aybar.

At catcher will be Brian McCann. He had an amazing year where he hit .333 with 24 homers and 93 RBI’s. Although Joe Mauer is considered the best young catcher in the game, McCann’s name too should be mentioned in the same sentence. Going into this third year, McCann hopefully will not regress and parlay his success from 2006 to ’07. He may not duplicate his numbers from 2006, but the Braves are hoping he’ll do well. He’s not known as a good defensive catcher, but he’s got a lot of upside, and his bat isn’t bad either. Serving as McCann’s backup with be Bryan Pena.

The Atlanta Braves hope that that the success that propelled them to 14 consecutive division titles can come back in ’06. The offense has the potential to score a lot of runs, and the bullpen should do well, but the starting pitching remains an issue. However, in light of the Braves’ failures in ’06, they were still in the Wild Card hunt for a while, and in the parity-filled National League, the Braves perhaps have an outside chance at the postseason.

In light of it all, the Braves play in a division the powerful Mets and Phillies, along with a young and talented Marlins team, so it may be hard for the team of Hotlanta to reclaim their spot at the top of the division.

Quick Hits: Quick O's News

Paul Shuey an Oriole: The Orioles signed Paul Shuey to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training. Shuey, 36, started in the majors in 1994 & spent 10 years in it, compiling a 45-27 record with a 3.57 ERA in 451 career games with the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers.

News on an Old Friend… Outfielder Larry Bigbie agreed to a minor league contract Friday with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was invited to spring training as a non-roster player. He’s with his fourth team in the last couple of seasons, as he’d never lived up to his promise as a player with the Orioles.

Quick Hits: Super Bowl, Morneau & Twins & MLB Stuffage...

I have not been able to give my two cents on the Super Bowl, just because I have had a crazy week being out covering the Nationals for another blog, writing for other commitments, and going out with friends on Wednesday night.

Well, once again America will have their collective attention fixed on Miami and the pomp and circumstance of the Super Bowl. A lady friend on mine got tickets and she’s going down there with a friend of hers, but I’m honestly not really into it this year. For me, I’ll have a chance to eat like crazy and drink highly carbonated substances.

These days, except for the fans of the Bears and Colts, the game is a smorgasbord of consumerism, materialism, excess, celebrity and good ol’ action.

Right now, I have been watching some of Super Bowl hoopla with the media day, ESPN and some MASN coverage, but I have not had the time or attention span to keep with everything.

I do think Tank Johnson has no business being in the game – sorry, Chicago fans. If you or I were up on his charges, we’d have a probation officer all over us and not allowed to travel outside of our respective state or locality. However, if you’re an athlete in the Super Bowl, the laws don’t apply to you. He’s just learning, as long as he’s a big name athlete and has a lawyer who can BS, all is well.

Well, onto the game itself. As of now, the Colts are now 6 point favorites and look like the odd-ons favorite to win. However, I think Chicago will have far less pressure, as most think that Peyton and his golden arm will trounce all over Rex (or Sexy Rexy, as Sooze, from BWLB thinks).

Rex has been bounced by the media for being so inconsistent, by being real good one week and then being real bad another.

Peyton needs to win this game to cement his legacy, while the Bears can shock the world and win.

I’m thinking that Indy wins, 28-21, but then again anything can happen, as my picks during this year’s NFL playoffs have not gone as planned.

All in good fun.

One more topic: The historic significance of this game. As we know, this will be the first Super Bowl where both coaches are African-American. Even though some people can say we have moved along in terms of race relations, and I don’t think it’s that big of deal (as I think a coach is a coach), but for me, seeing two guys who look me coach the biggest sporting event in America is a water shed moment. Even though we have moved well past Jim Crow and the turbulent era of the Civil Rights movement, the fact that America has brought this up endlessly only proves to show the race is still an issue especially in sports.

However, we can be proud, that two proud, honorable men made it to the ultimate game and we should be happy with whoever wins.

MLB News:

Justin Morneau, AL MVP and Twins first baseman agreed Friday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with the team. As well, Nick Punto and Lew Ford settled their cases.

Well, I don’t know if you remember the case of the doctor who decided to sue the Angels over a Mother’s Day promotion with some bags, but it was dismissed.

“A judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming the Angels discriminated against men by giving tote bags to women during a Mother's Day baseball game.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Cannon ruled Thursday that the giveaway was not biased against men and that the May 8, 2005, event was a way to honor mothers.

The lawsuit, filed by Los Angeles psychologist Michael Cohn, claimed thousands of men and fans under age 18 were each entitled to $4,000 in damages because they were treated unfairly. Women over 18 received the gifts that day.”

This fellow, Cohn filed a silly lawsuit, and to be perfectly honest, if he had probably just asked for a bag when he entered the park, he probably would have gotten one.

The Game Spreading Across the Atlantic, this time: Dusty Baker, Major League Baseball vice president Bob Watson, and former major leaguers Dave Winfield, Reggie Smith and Al Jackson also are making the trip along with Omar Minaya to Ghana to spread the game of baseball. Basically, they want to spread the game to Africa and hopefully foster some talent and more importantly, get young kids over there into the game. Unlike what the Yankees and Red Sox are doing, this trip seems to be a sincere effort to get more minority involvement in the game and truly make it a global one.

Last, but not least: Brett Favre is coming back...