The 2008 Catch-All Baseball Thread

[soxmuscle]

Barry Bonds tested positive for... oh wait. That didn't happen.

Well anyways, how about this is the thread for anything and everything baseball this season?

[soxmuscle]

Mike Hampton threw to hitters Friday and will only be restricted during fielding practice at the beginning of camp.

***

It's looking like Mike Hampton will be back to 100% for the Braves this year. The Mets are the clear favorite in that division, but with the addition of Tom Glavine to go along with John Smoltz and Tim Hudson, this could be a very good year for the Braves IMO.

[soxmuscle]

Asked Thursday about who will start for the Red Sox in center field, manager Terry Francona replied "I don't know" before adding that "we're not going to forget as an organization that [Coco Crisp] is the incumbent."

***

It's becoming a real possibility that Crisp will start the year as the starting centerfielder for the Red Sox w/ Ellsbury beginning the season in Pawtucket. The reasoning is that if Ellsbury can stay in the minor leagues for just over a month, his service clock won't start and the Red Sox will have him under their control for an extra season. It also wouldn't be too bad to showcase Coco Crisp during the first month and get top value for him. I like this.

[soxmuscle]

The Chicago Tribune speculates that Kerry Wood enters spring training favored to become the Cubs' closer.

***

Former Cubs closer, Ryan Dempster, has already guaranteed a World Series victory for the Cubs this season.

[soxmuscle]

Ian Kinsler indicated Thursday that he's in talks with the Rangers regarding a possible five-year contract.

***

You're starting to see an awful lot of teams do this with their young studs. Save a couple million dollars in the long run and pay more money now. Smart business.

[soxmuscle]

Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Barry Zito will be the Giants' Opening Day starter.

***

Do the Giants do anything right?

Matt Cain > Barry Zito
Tim Lincecum > Barry Zito

Start your best pitcher on Opening Day.

[soxmuscle]

Francisco Liriano is having visa problems stemming from a 2006 DUI arrest, and expects to miss the first week of spring training.

***

Let the big guy in the states, for christs sake.

[soxmuscle]

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said there's a "strong possibility" Brandon Inge will get traded.

***

He's owed a lot of dough, but he'd make a great super-utility man for a competitive team ala the Red Sox. Unlike most utility players, Inge is a catcher by trade, only switching to third base because his job was stolen from him by Pudge.

[soxmuscle]

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Padres have signed Josh Bard to a one-year contract worth $2.2375 million.

***

Theo Epstein's worst move of his career? Perhaps.

[soxmuscle]

The Los Angeles Daily News suggests that Juan Pierre will enter camp behind Andre Ethier in their competition for the starting job in left field.

***

What a terrible signing that was from day one for the Dodgers. With Ethier, Kemp, etc. they had no need for a useless outfielder like Pierre.

[soxmuscle]

Aramis Ramirez admitted to raising roosters for fighting in an interview with a Dominican cockfighting magazine.

***

Spaniards use bulls, Michael Vick uses dogs, Dominicans use their cocks.

Whatever floats your boat.

[soxmuscle]

And to make you Yankee fans happy...

ESPN - Teammate Mike Mussina hopes that Andy Pettitte is ready to answers all of the questions regarding Roger Clemens and human growth hormone this spring, according to Associated Press.

"You know, this is a different animal than anything that he's had to deal with before," Mussina said Thursday. "Do I think he can deal with it? Sure I think he can deal with it. But until you actually are put in the situation and have to deal with it, you really, really don't know. We'll just have to move forward and see how it plays out."

***

Fuck Roger Clemens.

[IainDaniel]

BJ Ryan will be back as closer with the Jays for opening day from Tommy John Surgery last year.

Hopefully the Injury woes will be gone this year.

[soxmuscle]

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

BJ Ryan will be back as closer with the Jays for opening day from Tommy John Surgery last year.

Hopefully the Injury woes will be gone this year.

The Jays could be real good this year.

They have some solid players to go around the core of Wells and Rios, something they never had when it was Delgado/Wells.

They have a prolific 1-2 punch and a very capable bullpen with or without Ryan as we saw last year.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming season?

[IainDaniel]

I am optimistic much like last year. And the year before.

2 years ago there bats were untouchable, but the bullpen blew donkey balls.

Last year there pitching was on fire, and there bats blew chunks.

So hopefully they can put together a solid season. Injuries was a killer last year. Need Wells and Rios to come back strong. A good young team.

[soxmuscle]

A good young team, but a solid crew of veterans too.

Rolen, Thomas, and Overbay are professional hitters.

Eckstein, while he sucks, is a very capable hitter at the bottom of the order.

Aaron Hill was excellent last year, Fresno State's own.

I don't know, I kind of like your roster this year.

[IainDaniel]

Yeah there is a good mix.... They just need to put it all together for the whole season. Hopefully Halladay will be able to complete a full season without some type of injury or illness, and the young pitchers continue to progress like last year.

It will be interesting to see how the Rolen-Glaus deal works out.

I am not a big fan of Frank Thomas, at least in a Jays uniform. He was ok last year.

I have been excited about this team the last few years, I am hoping they can finally make that run.

[min0 lee]

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

Mike Hampton threw to hitters Friday and will only be restricted during fielding practice at the beginning of camp.

***

It's looking like Mike Hampton will be back to 100% for the Braves this year. The Mets are the clear favorite in that division, but with the addition of Tom Glavine to go along with John Smoltz and Tim Hudson, this could be a very good year for the Braves IMO.

I hate Hampton and the Braves just bore the shit out of me.
Glavine....

[min0 lee]

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

The Chicago Tribune speculates that Kerry Wood enters spring training favored to become the Cubs' closer.

***

Former Cubs closer, Ryan Dempster, has already guaranteed a World Series victory for the Cubs this season.

If my team doesn't make it I hope the Cubs do.

[min0 lee]

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Padres have signed Josh Bard to a one-year contract worth $2.2375 million.

***

Theo Epstein's worst move of his career? Perhaps.

Who were the players involved?
I thought it was the Brandon trade that was bad.

[soxmuscle]

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Who were the players involved?
I thought it was the Brandon trade that was bad.

Remember how short the leash was on Bard catching Wakefield? ESPN made a big fuss about it.

The trade was Cla Meredith (who has been excellent for San Diego) and Josh Bard for... ugh.. Doug freakin' Mirabelli.

[soxmuscle]

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I hate Hampton and the Braves just bore the shit out of me.
Glavine....

He wanted to pitch close to home, so I can't really blame him. The only thing I blame him for is leaving home in the first place to make an extra couple million to go to his home teams arch rival.

[min0 lee]

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

He wanted to pitch close to home, so I can't really blame him. The only thing I blame him for is leaving home in the first place to make an extra couple million to go to his home teams arch rival.

So true.

[soxmuscle]

Frustrated that he's going to arbitration with the Angels, free-agent-to-be Francisco Rodriguez believes he's entering his last season in Anaheim.
"Yeah, probably. Probably," he said. "If they wanted me here, they would have done something a long time ago. But, in the meantime, I have to put that out of my head. I can't be thinking they don't want me here or anything like that. Just do my job." As emotional as K-Rod gets, it's not a good sign that he might enter the season disgruntled. The Angels have the money to pay him and still figure to make him a large offer at some point. He'll probably want $13 million-$15 million per season for at least four years.

***

One of the best closers in baseball.

[min0 lee]

Hmmm.....A-rod and K-Rod on the same team.