Hello Ball Fans,
In the Spring games we are starting to see some of the aces pitch five or more innings now and the lineups resemble more of a mid-season look than a 40 man roster style. Things are heating up in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues as Opening Day is just two weeks away from today when Seattle takes on Oakland in Japan for a two game series. Here in the U.S., Miami will open against St. Louis on April 4th. The real season will be here before we know it so let’s review and update some of the off-season’s events.
We all know Albert Pujols went to the A.L. as an Angel for the opportunity at 800 bombs and the money. He follows fellow great first sacker Adrian Gonzalez, who was traded last year from the Padres to the BoSox. Prince Fielder followed both of those first basemen to the A.L. as he signed in Detroit to anchor first just as his estranged father did twenty years ago. It’s crowded with those three for the A. L. All-stars and don’t forget about switch-hitting, and probably the best fielder of the four, Mark Teixeira from New York. Johnny Damon says he is still willing to sign with Detroit to be their everyday DH. They may not need him due to the already powerful lineup. The Yanks left him out in the cold and signed former Philly Raul Ibanez to a one year deal. I’d have gone with Damon, who I think will still catch on and get his 277 hits for the magical 3,000th.
Hanley Ramirez makes the A-rod adjustment to play third to make way for newly-signed former Met Jose Reyes to play short for the new look Miami Marlins. Ozzie Guillen manages the team so they got him his lefty ace Mark Buerhle from the ChiSox to make things easier. Buerhle pitches quickly, efficiently, and deep into games. That, combined with signing lockdown closer Heath Bell from San Diego, is any manager’s dream. Roy Oswalt has said he’d go the way of Roger Clemens. No, not by signing on to workout with trainer Brian Mcnamee, rather by coming in mid-season for a team looking to make a playoff run. That could be great for a serious contender and even better for Oswalt, considering the rest and training he’ll get.
The near lock future Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero is also still looking for a job. He had a good average at .290 last year for Baltimore, but not much power considering he had 590 plate appearances for just 13 HR and 63 RBI. Still, no team needs that at DH? Come on. It’s not like the O’s signed three power hitters this off-season either.
Well, I might as well finish where it all starts anyway. That’s right, behind the dish, where the view is always best. The Yanks and BoSox will continue their rivalry without Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek for the first time since 1996. Posada retired instead of giving it another shot at DH this year, which most likely was not going to be in those pinstripes. Some are calling for him to be enshrined one day. IF, and it’s a large IF, he does, it won’t be until close to 2031, which is the year his 15 times on the ballot runs out after he sits out five seasons to be eligible. Here is why he will need close to the max. to pull it off: His mitt (0 Gold Gloves) and his five championships that people give him credit for are actually only 4 because he was not on the roster for the ’96 playoffs at all (he also only had 15 plate appearances in the regular season). O.K., four is a HUGE number, but it’s also a team number. The HOF is an individual award. Individually, Posada hit .219 in 29 Series games and .248 with 11 HR and 42 RBI in 125 post-season games overall. He also only made five All-Star teams. That’s not exactly the stuff of legends and won’t get it done. A great career nonetheless, just not spectacular, which is mandatory at Position #2.
Three time All-Star and ’05 Gold Glover Varitek also did the math and found it to be better to retire with his team than to go out and compete against it. He was the captain in Boston for years and led the team two titles. He also famously put A-rod in his place on July 24, 2004 in Boston. After being hit by an off-speed pitch by Bronson Arroyo, A-rod was challenging Arroyo and cussing at Varitek. The Captain had enough and gave A-rod the physical challenge his pretty boy face didn’t want. Varitek is said to have told A-rod, “We don’t hit .250 hitters” as A-rod was struggling that year (and actually batting .278 at the time). Great stuff, unless you’re A-rod. Varitek also goes down as the only masked man to call four no-hitters. He got one each with Hideo Nomo, Derek Lowe, Clay Buccholz, and Jon Lester. His stats are well short of Cooperstown in many ways, but he did have a very good career and will never pay for a drink in Beantown. Johnny Damon, yes, that could’ve been you.
Ivan Rodriguez, the 13 time G.G.er and 14 time All-Star is also still a free agent. He played in less than fifty games last year in Washington and is now 40 years old. I think he may be done too. We shall see soon enough. When it’s official, we’ll be ready to analyze the stats for Pudge 2 as well as 400 HR Club Member Mike Piazza. Considering Rodriguez’ all-around game and Piazza’s offense-first game, they could go in together if Piazza has to wait a few years…..ahh, another debate for a different day!
Later Fans.