My Baseball Thoughts...

Sorry Folks. I have not been able to update this blog in a while. My internet's down and this library won't let me go to youtube for Nba videos, but here are my thoughts on Baseball and the start of the season.

BOSTON RED SOX HAVE TOUGH ROAD TO REPEAT
If the Red Sox want to repeat as World Series Champions, they are going to have to rely on the old veterans (Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz) while riding on some new former rookies (Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Bucholz.) OManny Ramirez won the MVP Award for the first game played in Japan (Boston won 6-5), Manny won A Million Yen, which equates to about $10,000 on this side of the pond. Ramirez considered using the money for gas or giving the money to his mother!

Manny Being Manny...You've Gotta Love It!

Oakland Beat Boston 5-1 in Game Number Two as a Manny Ramirez homerun in the sixth stopped Boston from being shutout.

TEXAS RANGERS DECIDE JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA NEEDS TRIPLE-A SEASONING
Gerald Laird won the job as Rangers starting Catcher today after the Rangers decided to send Jarrod Saltalamacchia to their Minor League Camp. Jarrod will start the season catching every day in Triple-A Oklahoma.

Good move for both teams, as Laird keeps his catching job (for now) and Texas hopes that Jarrod works on improving his hitting and defense in Oklahoma. The Rangers realized that Jarrod is the Rangers catcher of the future, and the future doesn't need to happen right away.

KERRY WOOD TO CLOSE FOR CUBS, DEMPSTER IN ROTATION, LIEBER IN BULLPEN
The Chicago Cubs have finally sorted out their rotation. Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill, and Jason Marquis all keep their starting spots from last year. Starting in the rotation this year is former closer Ryan Dempster. Dempster was a starter until 2005 when he was converted to a reliever. Pinella last year said Dempster would start, but later changed his mind. Lou won't be changing his mind this year.

Good move by the Cubs to give the Fireballer Wood the job in the ninth, as Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry will back him up in the eighth inning. If Wood can handle the load and stay healthy, the Cubs could be dangerous in the late innings.


CENTER FIELD BATTLE TAKES UNEXPECTED TURN
The battle for the backup center field job in Chicago just got very interesting. Felix Pie will start the year in Center Field. Backup Sam Fuld got sent to the minor leagues. To take his place, the Cubs signed former Toronto Blue Jay Left Fielder Reed Johnson. Johnson doesn't have a whole lot of experience in Center Field, but he can hit right handed pitching, something Felix Pie is trying to figure out.

There will growing pains for Pie, but Reed Johnson will be there to help Felix along the way.

JOE CREDE NAMED WHITE SOX STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
Joe Crede was named White Sox starting Third Baseman, as the Sox sent young slugger Josh Fields to Triple-A Charlotte. Crede will no longer be mentioned in trade rumors with the Dodgers (who need a third baseman after both Nomar Garciaparra and Andy La Roche are injured) Manager Ozzie Guillen likes to reward players for their hard work so, despite the face that he described Crede's hitting in Spring as a word I can't mention, Crede was an ungrade defensively. Chicago needs the best defense to win ballgames, and Crede is their best option.

MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE PLAYERS IN 2008
Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder will be battling for the National League Lead in Homeruns. it will not get into "Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa 1998" territory (nothing will. That will never happen again.) but it will be fun to watch.

Joe Girardi will have an easier time managing the Yankees than Joe Torre will have manging the Dodgers. I really feel like this one will come true. The Yankees may be old, but they are experienced. They have a shot to win the American League East this season, but only if they stay healthy and play to their full potential.

For Joe Torre, he's walking into a Hornet's Nest in Los Angeles. The Dodgers have Andruw Jones but not much else. They had better hope Nomar, Kent, Jason Schmidt, and Juan Pierre stay healthy. Matt Kemp and Andre Eithier can play any of the outfield positions, i'm not worried there.

I'm worried about the Dodgers because they are playing in the National League West, the Toughest division in the National League. Two of the four teams (Colorado and Arizona) made the playoffs last season and may make it again, leaving San Francisco and Los Angeles as odd men out.

Hopefully my internet starts working so I can update this soon.

EVERYBODY ELSE's OPENING DAY STARTS MONDAY!
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