The Republican Party Has Jumped the Shark
I didn’t grow up in the heyday of the Happy Days, but I remember the infamous episode when Fonzi jumped over a shark. History showed that Happy Days was never the same after that episode. The phrase “jumping the shark,” was born and is still used to signify when a TV show goes crazy.
You can add political party to the list of things that can “jump the shark.” The Republican Party has jet-skied over the shark of sanity and landed in a sea of hyperbole.
It all started with Sarah Palin’s death panels remark and was perpetuated by Glen Beck’s 9/12 rally and the Tea Party. Republican leaders were inspired that people were actually getting off their butts to protest something. Does it matter that the things they were protesting (taxes, healthcare reform) were actually helping them? That was clearly answered by the thousands of people who showed up at the Tea Party Tax Protest on April 15. Middle-class taxes are at 20-year low, yet these glorified weekend warriors don’t seem to care.
Instead of steering the conservative base towards legitimate arguments (the national debt notwithstanding), Republican leadership has decided to pander to the protesters. They’ve bought into the hyperbole thrown around by the bloggers and some are actually planning to campaign on it.
I heard one attractive woman on Hannity say that the midterm elections were going to be “a reckoning,” and another say it’s going to be a “bloodbath.” Republican leaders hear stuff like that and are as happy as a pig rolling around in its own feces.
Hyperbole is commonplace in politics and people are allowed to exercise their right to free-speech. What I don’t want is hyperbole invading actual policy. The queen of hyperbole, Sarah Palin, quit a highly respected government position to earn a ton of money making speeches and other appearances. She’s not unlike the kids from Jersey Shore capitalizing on their 15 minutes of fame.
Hannity, among others, is counting on Democrats not showing up for the midterms. Remember, the Tea Party only represents a small portion of the American conscience. Republicans will be sorely disappointed when they see Democrats show up at the voting booth. Sarah Palin does a lot of good in terms of riling up the conservative base, but she also scares the ever-living-sh#$ out of Democrats.
Liberals are going to lose seats, but a bloodbath? I don’t think so. Even Ann Coulter of all people said that Republicans shouldn’t expect to win back the House and Senate. Republicans are setting themselves up for a let-down.
I’m not scared of a more conservative House and Senate. I think it’s necessary to be for there to be balance. What I am scared of, though, is a bunch of inexperienced crazies who won’t negotiate invading our political system.
Conservatives need to get back in touch and get realistic because they’re letting stupid bloggers (like me) dictate the policies they enact.
Beck, Hannity and the Harlem Globetrotters
I remember the look in Michael Jordan’s eyes when he would go up against Isaiah Thomas. His eyes said “I’m going to kill you.” Every so often he would grin subtly as if to say “I’m glad that you feel the same way I do.”
Jordan loved going up against the best because it made him better. Its one thing to drop 50 points on a scrub, but doing it against an all-star is much more satisfying.
I’ve never seen Sean Hannity or Glen Beck defend their position against a legitimate opponent. Neither of them has appeared on Bill Maher, Jon Stewart or Steven Colbert.
The last time Beck went against a liberal (Eric Massa) he had to apologize for wasting his viewers’ time. I wouldn’t put it beyond Massa to have set Beck up by promising to expose the corruption in Washington, specifically within the Democratic party. Maybe Massa lied to Glen Beck just like Beck lies to the American people.
Karma…is a bitch.
Hannity, while isn’t in the same absurd stratosphere as Beck, still perpetuates an irrational fear that Barack Obama is a socialist ready to take over America. It’s easy to do that in your studio with people that won’t call you out.
Let’s face it, Glen Beck and Sean Hannity are the Harlem Globetrotters of political pundits. They’re just two very skilled men playing a game made for them to win. The Globetrotters beat the Washington Generals because it’s a show, not a basketball game. You know what would happen if the ‘Trotters were to play the Cleveland Cavaliers? LeBron would score 60 points and the Cavs would win easily.
What would happen if Beck or Hannity decided to step into Rachel Maddow’s studio? I’m curious to find out. These guys have strong beliefs about politics and it would be great to see them go head to head. Bill O’Reilly bravely walks onto The Daily Show every now and then, so why not Hannity? Why can’t these guys compete with opponents at their level?
I honestly think Fox is holding them back from mainstream media because they’re followers can’t afford to watch them lose on a large scale. Fox knows neither Beck nor Hannity can hold their own in the land of reason on someone else’s turf.
Maybe that’s the larger point, though. Like the Wicked Witch of the West, maybe Sean Hannity and Glen Beck know they can’t be exposed long enough to have a bucket of water thrown on them.
Until they decide to compete against equals they’re just an agoraphobic, fear mongering sideshow.
MLB Preview: NL East
The NL East is the division of future legends. Steven Strasburg, Jason Heyward, Logan Morrison and Ike Davis are giving their teams crazy amounts of hope right now. Heyward’s batting practice power has prompted the Braves to put a net up to protect the cars in the parking lot, seriously. Strasburg has a chance to be the ace of the Nationals pitching staff within a year of being drafted. Morrison, the Marlins future first baseman, has drawn enormous buzz. Ike Davis’s dominant spring has taken attention away from Jose Reye’s thyroid and Carlos Beltran’s knee.
It’s not just those four guys, though. Each team in the NL East stands to be better than they were last season with the possible exception being the Phillies. The division is a little more open than people think. Yes, the Phillies got to the World Series last season, but they managed to stay relatively healthy. The Mets, on the other hand, fell apart completely due to injuries. Anything can happen.
Washington Nationals: Jordan Zimmerman’s shoulder surgery will prevent him from teaming with Stasburg to become a dominant one-two in 2010. Next season could be a different story. The Nationals will have a lot of trouble competing this season even with Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn.
Pitching- Most of the reason why the Nationals will find it tough to compete will be because of their pitching. Jason Marquis, an all-star in 2009, was signed to give veteran leadership to a young staff. John Lannan is a relatively soft throwing lefty who can be really good when he controls the strike-zone.
The Nats signed former Pirates closer, Matt Capps, to shut down the ninth. Yankee exile Brian Bruney will be the set-up man in what looks to be a solid bullpen. Sharon Martis looks like he’s headed for the minors, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him wind up in the bullpen.
Hitting-Ian Desmond is the latest in a long line of Hanley Ramirez clones. Desmond has a cannon arm and has the potential to be a real threat down the line. Ryan Zimmerman set career highs in batting average and home runs, while Adam Dunn continued to prove that he’s one of the premier power hitters in baseball. Nyger Morgan hit .351 in the 49 games he played after being traded to the Nationals. Morgan is a prototypical leadoff hitter in a league bereft of those guys.
Divisional rank, 5th
Florida Marlins: Tom Cruise almost makes as much per movie as the Florida Marlin’s payroll. Major League Baseball actually called out teams like the Marlins because they felt they weren’t using the money they got from revenue sharing to improve their team. The Marlins quickly locked up Josh Johnson to a 4 year, $34 million dollar contract. If there was one team that could compete with a payroll under $30 million, it would be the Florida Marlins. They have great scouts and a farm system filled with future stars like Morrison.
Pitching- Josh Johnson led the way in 2009 with 15 wins and only 5 losses. Ricky Nolasco had to be sent down to Tripe-A, but came back and won 11 games in his final 22 starts. Anibal Sanchez has thrown a no-hitter in his career. Injuries have limited him for the better part of the last four seasons. The real sleeper in this rotation, though, is young Andrew Miller. He has the stuff to be a dominant starter. The problem is that he just hasn’t quite figured it out yet. Also, Chris Volstad is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 09’ season. This rotation has real potential.
Leo Nunez, a relative unknown, is slated to be the Marlins closer now that Matt Lindstrom is in Houston. Nunez has a fastball clocked in the mid 90’s and a nasty slider. He actually saved 26 games last season in his first season with the Marlins. Behind him are a bunch of guys I’ve never heard of.
Hitting- Emilio Bonafacio is one of the fastest guys in baseball, yet is slated to come off the bench for the Marlins. Hanley Ramirez, the team’s star, has MVP potential. The Marlins decided to not trade power hitting second baseman, Dan Uggla. Jorge Cantu has been a reliable veteran for the Marlins. He drove in 100 runs last season. Cameron Maybin certainly has all the talent in the world just like Miller and can’t put it all together. This should be the season where Maybin establishes himself as the player everyone thought he’d be. Don’t forget the Marlins have the reigning NL ROY, Chris Coghlan. He hit .322 in 2009.
Divisional Rank, 4th
Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones was in kindergarten when Bobby Cox entered his first season as manager for the Atlanta Braves. Cox will end his reign in 2010 and veterans like Brian McCann and Jones will try to do everything in their power to get Cox another division title. The Braves are fortunate to have had a guy like Cox coaching them. Now, the Braves are entering a new era with the likes of Jason Heyward and Tommy Hanson leading the way.
Pitching: Jair Jurrjens would have competed for the NL Cy Young award if he had won a few more games. He ended the year with a whopping 2.60 ERA, but only won 14 games. Jurrjens is quietly turning into an ace along with Hanson. Speaking of Hanson, I love his overhand delivery. He really throws downhill. The Braves traded away Javier Vasquez to shed payroll and Tim Hudson will try to stay healthy enough to fill his shoes. Derek Lowe, always dependable, gives this staff a solid veteran presence.
The Braves let two of their top relievers go and decided to sign Billy Wagner to be their closer. Wagner is a shadow of his former self and is still recovering from major shoulder surgery. The Braves need more out of their bullpen this season if they want to be contenders.
Hitting- The Braves have a serious lack of speed in their lineup and an excess of power. They look to be built like an American League team. They signed Troy Glaus to play first base. Melky Cabrera will try to adjust to the National League after spending his entire career playing for the Yankees. Yunel Escobar is getting better every year and Martin Prado quietly hit over .300 last year. These are all good signs for this Braves team.
Divisional rank, 3rd
Philadelphia Phillies: I think the Phillies are going to tail off after two straight World Series appearances. They’re solid at every position. Their rotation is lead by the best pitcher in baseball, yet I still think the Phils are headed for a downturn. Something is going to go wrong whether it be a slew of injures ala the 09’ Mets or guys falling off the map.
Pitching- Cole Hamels had an embarrassing 09’ campaign by his standards, going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA. Every year experts say someone is going to win 30 games and this year, it’s Roy Halladay. Here’s a secret: no one can win 30 games anymore. You’d need a 4 man rotation, 40 starts and a ton of run support. Pencil in Halladay for 25 wins at the most. Joe Blanton keeps churning out innings and bad ERAs. He’s had an ERA under 4 once in is entire career. If the Phillies don’t score, he’s screwed.
Brad Lidge dominated the 08’ season and crapped out in 09’. Phillies fans hope for 08’ Lidge to return, but will probably get a better version of his 09’ season. He will blow a few games in dramatic fashion and will save a few in dramatic fashion. Remember, Lidge really doesn’t have to outthink himself considering his team is basically a lock for the postseason. Ryan Madson continues to be the most underrated setup man in the game. He’s no closer, though.
Hitting- Ryan Howard and Chase Utley continue to be two of the most feared hitters in baseball. Jimmy Rollins had down year in 09’ and it felt like fans were waiting for him to break out of a perpetual slump. He’d have a few good days and everyone thought he had figured it out. Then he’d go 0 for his next 11 and he’d be back in the slump. Placido Polanco was signed to replace Pedro Feliz at third base. Jason Werth is coming into a contract year and most likely won’t be resigned by Philadelphia. The Phillies have the most dangerous lineup in the National League by far.
Divisional rank, 2nd
New York Mets: I know, I’m a homer. If there was a gun to my head, I’d pick the Phillies to win the NL East. There’s no gun, though, and that means I can do whatever I want. It’s America for gosh sakes! After watching them this spring, I really think they can prove the doubters wrong. David Wright looks to have gotten some of his power back. Jason Bay is still a great hitter and won’t have a problem dealing with the media pressure. All of a sudden, the Mets have a few young players to help them while Reyes and Beltran are out. It’s going to be a fun year in Flushing.
Pitching- Don’t forget about Johan Santana and his ability. The dude’s an ace and now he’s healthy and has his slider back. Jenry Mejia has the look of a dominant starter and he’s only 20 years old. What I have a problem with is John Maine and Mike Pelfrey. Maine will be fine if he can utilize his high fastball the way he used to. Pelfrey needs to solve his problems with runners on base. Oliver Perez came into the spring healthy and in shape. Now he just needs to pull off a miracle and pitch well. Potentially, the Mets have three lefties in their rotation with young John Neise being the fifth starter.
Francisco Rodriguez is a closer with playoff experience. His skill have declined a bit, but he still can be dominant. The Mets have had problems finding a setup man. Bobby Parnell should have won the job eons ago. The Mets will probably use a committee approach for that role.
Hitting-The Mets have potential gem if Jeff Francoeur can learn a little plate discipline. His personality has lit up the Mets clubhouse and taken attention away from David Wright. We’re really not going to see the true identity of this offense until Beltran and Reyes are both healthy again. They should both be back in May. Reyes will probably return mid-April. Daniel Murphy probably won’t be the Mets first baseman for very long. Ike Davis was supposed to be pushing Murphy next season. He’s doing it this season instead. Fernando Martinez is crushing the ball this spring. He’s giving the Mets all the right signals. The young outfielder might push Francoeur out of the lineup.
Divisional rank, 1st
MLB Preview: AL East
Everyone knows the story of the Yankees’ 2009 season, but the way that story is told depends on whether you’re a Yankee fan or not. Most Yankee fans won’t mention A-Rod’s admission to steroid use and his Katie Couric interview (him and Sarah Palin have something in common). Rodriguez’s domination in the playoffs wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t hit rock bottom. The Yankees made their rivals look like pathetic excuses for baseball teams by bashing home run after home run. It wasn’t fun for Mets fans to see.
Toronto Blue Jays: The Jays biggest move this offseason was trading away their best pitcher, Roy Halladay. Their plan is to retool their farm system and hope a few of their prospects become stars. Clearly 2010 is not going to be their year and neither is 2011 or 2012. This team will not be any good until Vernon Wells is off their roster. They thought that Alex Rios and Vernon Wells were going to catapult them past the Yankees and the Red Sox. The good thing for them is that they can copy what the Rays and Diamondbacks did and sign their young stars early on the cheap instead of waiting for them to become free agents.
Pitching-The Jays do have a few nice young starters. Ricky Romero is evolving into their ace. He struck out 141 batters in 178 innings and is going to be better this season. The combination of McGowan and Marcum will be back this season. Both guys sat out 2009 with injuries and will join Romero and the electric Brandon Morrow to form their rotation. There’s a lot of potential there.
B.J. Ryan did not work out for the Jays after hurting his shoulder. Now that I think about it, the Blue Jays have had a ton of bad luck with their pitching. The Jays got former Cub, Kelly Gregg, to be their closer. He will be good in the few save opportunities he gets. Morrow might not be suited for the rotation and could get a shot as their closer.
Hitting-I feel bad for Aaron Hill. The dude hit 36 homers last year and has no lineup protection. What’s good about Hill is that he’s not a prototypical middle of the lineup hitter. I don’t think he’s duplicating his 2009 numbers. The Blue Jays aren’t the most powerful lineup, either. Edwin Encarnacion can do some damage and so can Adam Lind. They lost Marco Scutaro in free agency.
Divisional rank, 5th
Baltimore Orioles: I love Camden Yards and I’ve never been there. In 3 years, the Orioles will be serious contenders. 2010 could be the year they finish over .500 and make a serious push for third place. Two of their best prospects (Matt Weiters and Chris Tillman) came up last year and had mixed results. Clearly, though, you can see they’re headed in the right direction.
Pitching- The O’s traded for veteran Kevin Millwood to give their young starters some veteran knowledge. He also might get pushed out of the rotation. You may not know the names of their starters, but you will. Tillman has the stuff of a future ace. Brian Matuz went 5-2 in 44 innings. Brad Bergeson won seven games.
Left handed closers are a tough find nowadays and the Orioles have one in Mike Gonzalez. He only saved 10 games last season for Atlanta, but he’s healthy this season. Gonzalez could save 30 games if he stays consistent.
Hitting-I have a fondness for Adam Jones because I took a late-round flyer on him in my fantasy baseball draft last year. In April, he had an at-bat against C.C. Sabathia that made me believe he was going to be a star. Sabathia tried to toy with Jones by throwing him sliders away, but Jones wouldn’t bite and worked himself into a hitters count. He crushed a ball into the right centerfield gap and drove in a run. It signified that he wasn’t going to be tricked anymore.
The O’s signed Miguel Tejada to bolster their lineup and got Garret Atkins to replace Aubrey Huff at first base. If Matt Weiters continues to improve, watch out for the Orioles.
Divisional rank, 4th
Tampa Bay Rays: Dioneer Navarro is the thing that separates the Red Sox and the Rays. He’s the one weakness in the Rays lineup. What’s scary is that Ben Zobrist might only have to play one position this year. Zobrist was an All-star playing multiple positions and that goes to show you how good a player he is. He and Jason Bartlett were the two bright spots for the Rays in otherwise dismal season.
Pitching-How good is Wade Davis going to be? Right now, he’s slated to be their number 5 starter. Next year he could be their number one. David Price has to much pride to not improve on his 2009 season. Jeff Niemann went 13-6 in 2009. He walked a few too many batters, though. Matt Garza is as talented as they come.
The Rays big acquisition this offseason was closer Rafael Soriano. Yes, the Rays spent money ($7 mil) on the piece they so desperately needed. It’s tough using J.P. Howell to close games against the Yankees and Red Sox. Grand Balfour showed he didn’t have the stomach to be a closer. He should dominate setting up games for Soriano.
Hitting- Minus Navarro, the Rays are stacked to the rafters with good hitting. They’re led by Evan Longoria, who is definitely going to make an MVP run in 2010. B.J. Upton hit a measly .244 last season after his breakout playoff run. Carl Crawford hit .305 and stole 60 bases last year and 2010 is a contract year. He might go berserk.
Divisional rank, 3rd
Boston Red Sox: The Yankees won the World Series and made the Red Sox change their philosophy. Instead of trying to out-hit the Yankees, they’re improving their pitching and defense. They figure that preventing runs is more important than scoring them. It’s one of the first times a big market team made a conscious effort to not outscore people.
Pitching-John Lackey was signed as the principle piece of their new philosophy. He teams up with Josh Beckett, Dice-K, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz to form baseball’s top rotation. Three of those guys might contend for AL Cy Young and that’s scary. Tim Wakefield will be the spot starter for the Sox. I feel for him because he can still be an effective starter. Clay Buchholz is ready for a full season in the majors and he will win 10-12 games for the Red Sox.
Jonathan Papelbon went 38-41 in save opporunities last year, which tells me that he’s still a dominating closer despite the doubts about his future with the Red Sox. Do the Sox have the gall to not pay Papelbon in free agency and let Daniel Bard be their closer? Bard certainly has the stuff to be a dominating closer with his triple digit fastball. Maybe Bard will get more save opportunities in 2010 and push Papelbon to higher levels.
Hitting- Make no mistake about it, the Red Sox can still hit. They lost Jason Bay and signed Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron to replace him. No, Cameron is no Manny Ramiriez, but he can still play. Beltre is going to whack a ton of fly balls off and over the Green Monster in 2010. Kevin Youkilis and Victor Martinez will provide power, as will Jeremy Hermida (who’s secretly good). Marco Scutaro, formerly of the Blue Jays, will combine with Pedroia to form a solid defensive middle infield. Scutaro overachieved in terms of hitting. He plays hard and has a ton of heart.
Divisional rank, 2nd
New York Yankees: The AL East is still the Yankees division. Curtis Granderson was traded to a Yankees team that really didn’t need him. Javier Vasquez will be the best fourth starter in the league. Teixeira and A-Rod are still crushing the ball and Derek Jeter competed for a batting title. Jeter is supposed to be tailing off, not getting better. The Yankee captain put it all on the line in 2009 and came away with another World Series title.
Pitching-C.C. Sabathia has pitched over 230 innings the last three years. I think it’s time for the Yankees to realize that and stop letting him pitch deep into games so much. The Yankees know they’re going to be in the playoffs and don’t need Sabathia racking up innings in the regular season. Who is going to be their number five starter? It looks like Phil Hughes will try to be that guy. Joba Chamberlain will be relegated to set-up duty. I don’t think either guy is suited for the rotation because they’re throwers, not pitchers. In all honestly, the Yankees could put Chad Gaudin in the rotation and he’d win 10 games. They’re better off trying to shorten games.
Mariano Rivera continues to be the best closer in baseball after going 44-46 in save opportunities. The Yankees have a ton of young relievers to unleash on opponents. I think having Joba in the bullpen all year will make up for the loss of Phil Coke.
Hitting-The Yankees don’t have the best lineup in baseball. They have a great set of hitters and a ballpark that’s home run crazy. Granderson will love having a short porch in right field to hit home runs over. Jeter hit .334, his best average since 2005. A-Rod will come into the season healthy and motivated. It’s a scary team.
Divisional rank, 1st
MLB Preview: AL Central
In 2009, we were all treated to an extra day of regular season baseball thanks to the Twins and Tigers. They finished the season tied for the AL Central lead and had to participate in a one-game playoff. Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers’ best hitter, decided to go out drinking the night before and had an incident with his wife. He got to play the next day and went 0-3 and promptly blew the Tigers’ chances by stranding numerous runners on base. It was a sad day in a sad city.
2010 will be a different story because a third team has jumped into contender status in the AL Central…that team is the Chicago White Sox. I predict that spiteful words will be spoken, batters will be thrown at and adrenaline will flow. Ozzie Guillen is someone I absolutely admire and just love the way he goes about his business. He reminds me of the coach from Major League, only sassier. It’ll be another fun and competitive year in the AL Central.
Cleveland Indians: The Royals and Indians will be battling each other to stay out of last place in the division. The Tribe has more potential, but their rotation scares me because they’re counting on Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona to carry their rotation. I’m not sure Westbrook is ready for ace status just yet. Indians fans have a full season of Matt LaPorta to look forward to. LaPorta, the gem they got when they dealt away C.C. Sabathia, hit 7 homers in 181 at bats last season. I think he hits 25 this season.
Pitching: Jake Westbrook hasn’t pitched a full season (200 innings) since 2006. Getting to 150 should be his goal in 2010 because the Indians won’t be contending. They shouldn’t be overworking him, nor should they force Justin Masterson to be their workhorse. Masterson only has two pitches.
One thing is for sure, though. Kerry Wood and Westbrook should stay far away from each other. The Indians injury prone closer managed to save 20 games in 2009. He also gave up 26 earned runs and had a high ERA. Wood started off his career as a starter for the Cubs and hasn’t quite learned how to pitch as a reliever. The guys behind him don’t add up to much.
Hitting: Travis “Pronk,” Hafner has hit a combined 21 home runs the last two seasons. The Indians’ DH must figure out a way to stay healthy and productive because he’s headed towards part-time status. Grady Seizmore had an injury plagued year that allowed him to play in only 106 games. This is a guy who played nearly every game in four straight seasons. The Indians also signed Russell Branyan late in the offseason to bolster their lineup. He might take time away from Hafner at DH.
Divisional rank, 5th
Kansas City Royals: Do the Royals have a bad farm system? I’m not sure, but they had to sign a couple veterans (Jason Kendall and Rick Ankiel) to fill holes. That leads me to believe that they did some bad scouting the past few seasons and don’t have the requisite talent in their farm system. They do sport the AL Cy Young award winner, Zach Greinke. It’s unlikely he’ll do it twice.
Pitching: Gil Meche, the $11 million dollar man, sits behind Greinke in rotation. Luke Hochevar had some good starts in 2009 and so did Brian Bannister. Kyle Davies showed promise in 2008 and promptly tanked in 2009.
Joakim Soria is my favorite closer in all of baseball. I can’t quite explain why, but it has to do with him throwing his 68mph curveball to set up his other pitches. Rarely do you see a closer that has the confidence in his secondary pitches to do what he does. Brett Myers, for example, never throws his big curveball for strikes. Soria does it in the 9th inning. That, my friends, is gutsy pitching.
Hitting: The Royals lineup is in prime position to be last in the majors in home runs. Ankiel can hit 20-25 and he looks to be the only one. Alex Gordon might be a bust. He’s coming off a season where injuries limited him to just 49 games. It would certainly be the time for him to finally break out. Josh Fields is a potential bright spot, as is Chris Getz.
Divisional rank, 4th
Detroit Tigers: I don’t think Jonny Damon is going to have fun playing in cavernous Comerica Park, in fact, I think he’s going to regret hiring Scott Boras. I wonder if Damon thinks he can hit for power. Either way, he’s not sniffing the 24 home runs he had last season. I say he hits 15, maybe. The good thing is that he didn’t leave the American League, so he’ll be facing somewhat familiar pitchers. The good thing is that Austin Jackson will be there to hear Damon tell stories about how great the Yankees were, which might inspire Jackson to become a superstar the Yankees would sign someday.
Pitching: Clearly, this is the Tigers’ strength. Justin Verlander returned to form in 2009 and won 19 games. Rick Porcello pitched really well as a rookie. The key for this rotation, though, is young Max Scherzer. They aquired the young fireballer from Arizona in the Curtis Granderson deal. Scherzer has the stuff to dominate and he’ll be fun to watch mature. Jeremy Bonderman is coming off an injury and Armando Gallaraga looking to bounce back. It’s a potentially dominant rotation.
I highly doubt the Tigers will be winning games with their offense, so their relief pitching must close games for their starters. Jose “Uh Oh” Valverde is their closer. Joel Zumaya could be ready to supplant him if he can prove himself worthy. Zumaya can still throw 100mph fastballs, he just needs stay healthy for a full season. Phil Coke, also acquired in the Granderson deal, is going to love pitching in Detroit. He’s much more than a situational lefty. I wouldn’t be surprised if Coke evolved into the primary setup man.
Hitting: The Tigers are going to have a lot of trouble scoring runs. They don’t have any protection for Miguel Cabrera. Clete Thomas and Ryan Rayburn have power, but also don’t have positions. Magglio Ordonez needs to step up and so does everyone else in their lineup. It’s going to be sad seeing them lose games 4-2 because they can’t score.
Divisional rank, 3rd
Minnesota Twins: It’s funny that the AL Central produced the Cy Young winner (Greinke) and the AL MVP. Joe Mauer was a borderline god last season. He hit .365 with 28 home runs. He’s also on the cover of MLB ’10: The Show. Also, he’s going to get a contract that will pay him nearly $30 million per season. Mauer might be the best player in baseball right now.
Pitching: Who are Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn and Brian Duensing? Well, they form the foundation of the Twins starting rotation. Carl Pavano is slated to be their number three starter and Francisco Liriano is their wildcard. Liriano, after having elbow surgery a couple years ago, hasn’t quite gotten his stuff together. If he does, WATCH OUT.
Joe Nathan has quietly been one of the top three closers in baseball the past six years. In fact, you could make the case that he’s baseball’s best closer not named Mariano Rivera. He stays healthy and hasn’t had fewer than 36 saves since 2004. Pat Neshek’s funky delivery still confuses hitters. Matt Guerrier looks ready to be the primary setup man.
Hitting: The Twins sport two former MVPs and have a solid lineup around them. Orlando Hudson was signed to get them offensive production at the second base position. Jim Thome was signed to be their DH and give the Twins some pop. Delmon Young lost some weight and seems motivated. Minnesota should be proud because the Twins are solid at every position.
Divisional rank, 2nd
Chicago White Sox: Something about the White Sox leads me to believe that they’re winning the AL Central. Maybe it’s because they went out on a limb and traded for an injured Jake Peavy last season. Maybe it’s because they took a chance on Alex Rios. Maybe it’s because of the way Gordon Beckham played. I’m not quite sure what makes them better than the Twins.
Pitching: Jake Peavy, when healthy, is a dominant ace starting pitcher. I also like Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd. Freddy Garcia is iffy, but they’ll find someone to take hold of the fifth spot in their rotation. Honestly, I think Danks comes out and wins 15-17 games this season. He can be filthy at times. Peavy’s health is going to be the key to their success.
Bobby Jenks isn’t just shaky, he’s big and shaky. Jenks lost his closer status to Matt Thornton last season and regained it. Thornton looks like closer material. The ‘Sox took a flyer on J.J. Putz, who also has a lot of closing experience. Scott Linebrink continues to decline, but won’t be asked to be their best reliever.
Hitting: Here’s where the White Sox are going to excel. Beckham took the league by storm when he came up last season. Carlos Quentin is sure to bounce back. Their biggest weakness, though, is speed. Alexei Ramirez should push himself to steal more bases this season. Juan Pierre is the only player that is a speed threat. Also, Andruw Jones and Omar Vizquel were signed to provide depth. Vizquel will give this ‘Sox team some veteran leadership.
Divisional rank, 1st
MLB Preview: NL Central
I’m either a bad writer or an incredibly reasonable person. The blogosphere has an overwhelming amount of bad writers and part of that bad writing is due to the fact people are unreasonable. When I re-read my MLB Western division preview I noticed that I kept using the word “but,” a lot. I even did the whole “yeah, but” thing in consecutive sentences in a few cases. Part of that is due to me writing a 2,300 word column in two hours and part if it is my inherent indecisiveness. You can’t be reasonable without being balanced, and that’s why I was writing in that manner.
Now that I’ve identified my problem I can fix what I’m doing. Part of that fix means that I’m going to write from a position of certainty. The other part of it is slowing down. So everyone, all five of you, take a deep breath and let’s take on the NL Central!
Pittsburg Pirates: There’s no hope for this Pirates team, not in 2010 or 2011. You can’t win without putting proven players on the field, even if those guys aren’t the most talented players in the league. Andrew McCutcheon is a dynamic young center fielder in a league lacking 5-tool players. He’s one of them and I sense a breakout, star-making year for him.
Pitching- Paul Maholm is considered their ace and Pirates fans know that he’d be nothing more than a weak #3 starter on a contender. Out of guys that are behind him I like Ross Ohlendorf. He won 11 games last season and finished with an ERA a shade under 4 with (presumably) no run support. I think he wins 13-16 games next season.
The Pirates let Matt Capps slip away and signed Octavio Dotel to replace him. It wouldn’t be a bad move if it were 2004. We all know Joel Hanrahan is going to be their closer. It’s just a matter of when.
Hitting- The Pirates have a real chance to score more runs this season if Ryan Doumit returns to his 08 form. I already mentioned McCutcheon and the potential damage he could do, but what about Lastings Milledge? It’s his make-or-break year and I bet he knows it. Garret Jones adds a power dimension that they sorely need. Akinori Iwamura hits for average and Ronny Cedeno can fly around the bases. The Pirates are going to have a more efficient lineup than people think.
Divisional rank, 6th
Houston Astros: I love Michael Bourn, not because he stole 61 bases last season. I love him because he got 606 at-bats, which means he stayed healthy enough to play in 157 games. Leadoff hitters, especially speedsters, tend to encounter minor injuries because of the risks they take. I can’t imagine patrolling the outfield in Houston and continually sliding head-first, all for a measly 97 runs. The Astros need to find a way to drive Bourn in.
Pitching- Speaking of not scoring runs, look at the season Roy Oswalt had in 2008. He went 8-6 in 181 innings. Oswalt lead baseball in no-decisions. Wandy Rodriguez went 14-12 with a 3.02 ERA. Neither of those guys won enough games last season because Houston didn’t hit enough. Philadelphia exile Brett Myers is slated to be their number three starter. It’s in the Astros’ best interest to hire a psychologist to help Myers become more consistent. When he’s rolling, Myers sports a curveball that’s nearly unhittable and his fastball sits in the mid-90s. He used to kill the Mets, so I’m glad he’s out of the NL East.
Matt Lindstrom has the stuff to be a dominant closer in this league. His fastball can touch 100-mph, but the key is the development of his secondary pitches. Brandon Lyon signed a contract that will pay him an average of $5 million per season, which looks stupid considering he only saved 3 games and pitched in a mere 65 last season. You pay for saves or innings, not guys who can barely do both.
Hitting- Will the real Lance Berkman please stand up? Berkman did slam 25 home runs in 2009, but finished with only 80 RBI, his lowest total since 2000. He’s still got enough left in the tank for another great season. Carlos Lee is their best hitter right now and there’s no reason to think he can’t duplicate his 2009 numbers. People in Houston keep waiting for Hunter Pence to take over. I think this is the year where he hits 30 homers and goes over 100 RBI.
Divisional rank, 5th
Milwaukee Brewers: Everyone hated the Randy Wolf signing, including me. What I do like, though, is the way Prince Fielder carries himself. He’s going to be a free-agent at the end of the year and I haven’t heard anything salacious about him. This is a guy who hit .299 with 46 homers and 141 RBI in 2009. He turns 26 in May, while Ryan Howard has already celebrated his 30th birthday. They both only have four full seasons under their belt.
Pitching- Yovani Gallardo only won 13 games last season and must pitch like an ace for the Brewers to have any shot this year. Wolf, Doug Davis, Jeff Suppan, Manny Parra and Dave Bush sit behind Gallardo in the rotation. Parra has great stuff and can be dominant at times. One great season out of him could push the Brewers into contention.
Todd Coffee is my favorite middle-reliever in baseball. He’s a workhorse who appeared in 78 games last season. Coffee is an intimidating reliever because of his 6’4 240lb frame. He has solid command of all his pitches and is the perfect setup man to Trevor Hoffman. The Brewers have one of the best bullpens in baseball.
Hitting- The Brewers traded for Carlos Gomez to give them speed. They have a lot of power in their lineup with Fielder, Braun and McGehee. Young shortstop Alcides Escobar is going to be with them a full season. The kid is great defensively. Corey Hart had a down year in 2009 where he only hit 12 homers. He found himself being involved in trade rumors this offseason. Hart made the all-star team in 07 and has the skills to get back on track.
Divisional rank, 4th
St. Louis Cardinals: Kyle Lohse went 6-10 last season in 22 starts. The Cardinals are looking for someone to fill in for Joel Pineiro and guess who would be the perfect fit? The answer is Kyle Lohse, circa 2008 when he won 15 games. Right now, MLB.com doesn’t list the Cardinals has having a fifth starter. The Dodgers have the same problem as well and it’s weird that two of baseball’s best managers don’t have a clue who their number five starter is going to be.
Pitching- Adam Wainright and Chris Carpenter are the best one-two punch in the National League. They combined to win a whopping 36 games last year. Both guys have had problems staying off the disabled list in recent years and 2009 was the season everything went right. Everything will be fine in St. Louis if both of them stay healthy, but if one goes down it could mean big trouble. Brad Penny is going to be fun to watch this season because there’s a ton of pressure on him.
Ryan Franklin is their closer and I personally think he won’t be saving 38 games for them again. Jason Motte is going to be their closer by season’s end. I think he’s ready to step up and take the reigns.
Hitting- Having Matt Holiday, Ryan Ludwick and Albert Pujols is enough to scare any and everyone. Skip Shumaker’s 2009 season was a nice surprise for St. Louis. I think Colby Rasmus breaks out in his second full season. He’s certainly capable of hitting .280 with 20 homers. I don’t think there are enough words to describe the greatness of Albert Pujols. It would have taken a magician to avoid steroid controversy and Pujols somehow pulled it off. Pujols led baseball in home runs (47), runs (124) and slugging percentage (658). He’s not slowing down anytime soon, people.
Division rank, 3rd.
Cincinnati Reds: The legend of Aroldis Chapman grows greater every day. He supposedly throws in the triple-digits and has nasty breaking stuff. What I’ve heard is that his control is going to keep him out big leagues for the start of the season. Once he’s ready, though, watch out. No one expected the Reds to take a chance on Chapman considering they already have the enigmatic, but talented Jonny Cueto in their rotation. When Chapman makes his first spring start, I’ll be watching.
Pitching- The Reds biggest mid-season acquisitions are going to be those of Chapman and a healthy Edison Volquez, who is still on the disabled list and might come back in June. Bronson Arroyo and a rejuvenated Aaron Harang will try to hold down the fort until reinforcements arrive. Cueto fell apart last season after being left off the all-star team. This is the first year I can safely say that the Reds have better pitching than hitting.
Francisco Cordero is the closer in a less than solid bullpen. Someone is going to have to make a giant leap for them because Arthur Rhodes is no more than a lefty specialist nowadays. I think Micah Owings could be that guy for the Reds. He’s got a solid four-pitch repertoire and has never really made it as a starter. The Reds are probably going to make a trade for a reliever or two if they’re in contention, which I think they will be.
Hitting- Orlando Cabrera was a good signing for the Reds. He’s a solid defender and can still hit for average while giving the young Reds some veteran guidance. I’m going out on a limb here, but I think Jay Bruce is going to have a monster year. Injuries limited him to 101 games in 2009, yet he still cracked 22 homers. I think he hits 30-35 of them this year. Joey Votto and Bruce are going to be the dynamic bashing duo that Cincinnati has been waiting for.
Divisional rank, 2nd.
Chicago Cubs: I love the depth of the Chicago Cubs. Xavier Nady is their fourth outfielder and Micah Hoffpauir can really hit. Mike Fontenot is a solid player as well. The Cubs also have one of baseball’s best prospects in shortstop Starlin Castro coming up this season. Jeff Baker is another unspectacular, but solid backup. I like deep teams, there, I said it.
Pitching- Randy Wells led Chicago’s starters with 12 wins in 2009. Wells is just the type of young starter the Cubs need. Carlos Zambrano is looking to bounce back. Actually, Ted Lilly and Ryan Dempster both had down years too. I guess they’re all trying to bounce back. The Cubs are going to win the NL Central if Zambrano, Lilly and Dempster can win 15 games apiece.
Carlos Marmol has saved a combined 22 games the last two seasons. He might be in a position to double that total with the way the Cubs rotation is set up. Cubs fans know that Marmol has the stuff to be a great closer. John Grabow, the Cubs setup man, has saved six games in his entire career. That doesn’t bode well for the Cubbies if Marmol can’t hold it down. Jeff Samardzija is competing to be their number five starter. Losing out on job wouldn’t be the worst thing, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if Samardzija is closing games in September.
Hitting- Giovanni Soto hit .218 last year and needs to dramatically improve that number. Derek Lee, for a guy in his mid 30s, had a great year posting 35 home runs and 111 RBIs. The guy who really needs to step up is Alfonso Soriano. When he gets hot, he can carry a team. Kosuke Fukudome gets to move back to right field in 2010, which might ease his mind and allow him to hit a little better. Marlon Byrd gets to come back to his National League roots after posting a 20 homer season for Texas. Aramis Ramirez only played half a season, but still hit 15 homers and drove in 65 runs. You can count on him doubling those numbers if he stays healthy.
Divisional rank, 1st.
MLB Preview: The Not-So Wild West
Something about the start of the baseball season fills me with a sense of optimism. Maybe it’s because the sunshine will soon melt away the snow and spring will be upon us. Maybe it’s because the sounds of baseball are relaxing. Maybe it’s because MLB ’10: The Show will soon be released and I’ll be able to continue ignoring my girlfriend to sit on my butt and play videogames. Either way, I’m giddy.
There’s no better place to start my season preview than somewhere that’s 3,000 miles away and gets springtime all year round…the West.
AL West
Los Angeles Angels- This team, well, they had a tough offseason to say the least. The Angels lost out on the Halladay sweepstakes with a better offer. John Lackey, their best starter, is pitching for Boston and Chone Figgins signed with the Mariners. They did get Joel Pineiro, Hideki Matsui and Fernando Rodney. No one is impressed.
Pitching-Their starters, 1-5, looks pretty good even without John Lackey. They’re solid with Jared Weaver, Ervin Santana, Joel Pineiro, Joe Saunders and Scott Kazmir. Santana should be better than he was last season, as should Kazmir. No, they don’t have a prototypical #1 starter, but there are so few of those guys out there. It might haunt them come playoff time, but you have to get to the playoffs first.
The Angels have questions in their bullpen. Brian Fuentes had a good year last season with 48 saves in 55 opportunities. He, however, has been inconsistent as has Fernando Rodney. The Angels must score more runs this season because I have a feeling they’re going to blow more than a few saves in 2010.
Hitting-Booby-Their outfield (Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter, Juan Rivera) has a few questions. Is Rivera really a starting-caliber outfielder? Can Abreu strike lightning twice? Is Hideki Matsui really suited to play out there? The Angels lineup has no table-setter anymore. They won’t be able to rely on Figgins to move their offense along and are going to depend on their big bats for their offense. The Angels might have to play a little more like the Yankees, but with less talent. That’s not good
Projected rank, 3rd.
Oakland Athletics- I’ve always felt bad for the penniless Oakland A’s. Billy Beane deserves better and I was genuinely upset when Steven Soderberg walked off the “Moneyball,” movie five days before production started. Can anything go right for them this season?
Pitching- Every season the A’s bring a rotation full of talented young starters and 2010 is no different. They did, however, spend big money on Ben Sheets and have a healthy Justin Duchscherer on their side, which will allow their younger starters to enter a more competitive atmosphere because there are only three slots left. Dallas Braden and Trevor Cahill have the inside position on two of those slots, but the third will be up in the air.
Relief-wise, the A’s have all-star closer Andrew Bailey on their side and not much else. Small-market teams usually spend their money on the essentials (starting pitching and hitting) and don’t have much left for quality relievers. On the other hand, why spend money on proven bullpen guys when you can cultivate your own?
Hitting- Oakland doesn’t have one guy in their lineup that scares me or anyone else for that matter. Jack Cust can hit, but he looks like the only one that can hit home runs for them. I really don’t have much else to say.
Projected rank, 4th.
Texas Rangers-Here’s your AL West darkhorse. They sport a scary lineup that will have a healthy Josh Hamilton and an improved Elvis Andrus. Chris Davis can’t be any worse than he was last season. Vlad Guererro is going to be the primary DH for them which could translate to 20+ home runs.
Pitching- The names in their rotation won’t scare you (Feldman, Holland, Harden, Lewis, McCarthy) but they were better than expected last season. There’s no reason to think Holland won’t improve. Maybe Rich Harden stays off the DL and gives them a spark because he still has some of the best stuff in baseball.
The Rangers relievers, especially their closer, are inconsistent. Frank Francisco doesn’t intimidate me, nor does C.J. Wilson. Their best bet is to let Neftali Feliz become their closer and let him blow his 100mph fastball by guys.
Hitting- Catcher is their only real weakness but are strong in the other eight spots. The good thing for them is that Salty and Teagarden are still young and young players tend to get better. A weakness could turn into a strength awfully fast if one of them steps up.
Division rank, 2nd.
Seattle Mariners- What an offseason! Cliff Lee and Figgins would have been fine, but they managed to get rid of Carlos Silva too. Yes, they got the manic Milton Bradley back in return, but at least Bradley can be productive when healthy. Silva might not win 10 games pitching against guys in high-A ball.
Pitching-Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez are the most feared 1-2 punch in baseball, hands down. The other three spots are a mixed bag. Is Ryan Rowland-Smith any good and can Erik Bedard stay healthy? Ian Snell has good stuff, but can never figure out how to be consistent.
David Aardsma appeared in a whopping 73 games last season and was 38-42 in save opportunities. He’s a fine, but undervalued closer. The guys behind him are good, but not spectacular.
Hitting-I like their lineup to be honest. They may not showcase the type of power-hitting American League style of play, but they do have speed and guys who hit for average. Ichiro has shown no signs of slowing down and Franklin Guitierrez had a breakout year last season. The Mariners will score more runs than they did last season, but will it be enough to support the other 3 guys in their rotation?
Division rank, 1st.
NL West
San Diego Padres- The Padres have all the elements of a good team (a feared hitter, great closer, potential ace starter) and nothing else. Beyond Adrian Gonzalez, who’s going to hit for them? Who can set up Heath Bell? This is a train-wreck waiting to happen.
Pitching-The Padres do have Mr. Latos, or as I call him, their only effing hope. Chris Young is healthy and John Garland did pitch well down the stretch for the Dodgers last season. There’s no reason to think their rotation won’t be okay.
Heath Bell, the former Met reliever, has turned into a dominating closer for a team that can’t score runs. His name even turned up in trade discussions, as did everyone else on their team. I like Edward Mujica setting him up and I don’t know much else about their relievers beyond that.
Hitting-If the Padres could score runs, they could be a frisky team with a good rotation that no one wants to play, but they can’t and that makes them basement dwellers. They should make a rule that Adrian Gonzalez can’t be intentionally walked more than 10 times during the season because I’d hate to see the best thing about their team negated by stupid strategies. Here’s a secret, no one else can hit, let the man get his cuts.
Divisional Rank, 5th
Colorado Rockies- This is a good team that plays with fire, but the other three teams they’re competing against do the same things. I’ll be honest, it’s a cramped division filled with good, but not great teams. The Rockies probably have the best middle-relief in their division, though, and that says something about their plans for 2010.
Pitching-The Rockies are operating without a #1 starter, but Ubaldo Jimenez sure looks like one sometimes. Aaron Cook’s sinker is effective, even in Coors Field. Jorge De La Rosa brings a dynamic lefty prescience to their rotation and Jeff Francis is healthy again. They’ll be better in 2010 for sure.
Rafael Betancourt used to be a dynamic set-up man for Cleveland and Manny Corpas has a live fastball. Huston Street, their closer, is a question mark. Can any of their relievers close? If Street struggles, we’ll sure find out. Franklin Morales got 7 saves last season, so watch for him to take the reigns when trouble starts.
Hitting- Chris Ianetta was supposed to have a breakout year in 2009, but he ended up having a bad one instead. Dexter Fowler is talented, but needs to be more disciplined at the plate If he gets his average up to .280, it will allow him to steal more bases and wreak havoc. Colorado is depending on him to be their catalyst.
Division rank, 4th
Arizona Diamondbacks- Arizona had a quietly good offseason. They aquired all-star pitcher, Edwin Jackson and lefty first-baseman, Adam LaRoche. The D-Backs will also get another all-star in the form of a healthy Brandon Webb. Their lineup is dynamic and their top three starters are great.
Pitching-Webb, Jackson and Haren combine to give Arizona their best rotation since Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson left town. I wouldn’t be surprised if all three made the NL all-start team in 2010. Beyond that, though, there’s not much else. Arizona managed to pick up former Yankee farmhand Ian Kennedy and former Met farmhand Kevin Mulvey. Kennedy was one of the reasons the Yankees didn’t trade for Johan Santana and Mulvey was in the deal that netted the Mets their ace.
Looking at the D-Backs bullpen, it really seems like they’re going to depend on their starters because Chad Qualls should not be closing for a playoff team. They have to get someone else to shut the door, even if it means trading a solid prospect or two.
Hitting-I love a lot of Arizona’s hitters. Justin Upton was amazing last season, as was Mark Reynolds. The problem with their lineup is that they strike out way too much. A guy who hits for average would really help them because Stephen Drew can’t be the only guy who doesn’t strike out 100 times.
Division rank, 3rd
San Francisco Giants- Mark DeRosa may have quietly been the most coveted free-agent on the market this offseason and The Giants got him. DeRosa’s ability to play multiple positions makes him a manager’s best friend. He’ll probably start the season in left-field, but will play almost everywhere throughout the course of the 2010 season.
Pitching-Some people are saying that Tim Lincecum’s change-up is the best pitch in all of baseball and I agree. He makes hitters look helpless. He’s won the last two NL Cy Youngs and there’s no reason to think he won’t contend for a three peat. Beyond him you have Matt Cain, who came back after a down 2008. Barry Zito’s 85mph and heinous contract will be in the rotation along with Jonathan No-Hit Sanchez.
Brian Wilson has flown under the radar the last few seasons. I see him saving 45 games for the Giants in 2010 if he stays healthy. The Giants are a small-market team and don’t have the best middle-relief. It should be enough to get by.
Hitting-Aubrey Huff was signed to give them some offense and clarify their first base situation. Bengie Molina, surprisingly, is back with the Giants after turning down an offer from the Mets that would pay him $1 million more that he’s making now. The question with both of those guys is who is going to give at-bats to uber-prospect Buster Posey? The Giants are going to score more runs than they did last season because of the contributions of their newcomers. The Giants have a real x-factor in Eugenio Velez. He might be the fastest man in baseball and the Giants would be greatly served if he could get on base more often.
Division rank, 2nd
Los Angeles Dodgers- This is the best all-around team in the NL West. Manny Ramirez doesn’t plan on missing 50 games, but he does plan on leaving town after the seasons over. Is 2010 the year when Matt Kemp turns into the superman that he’s shown he could be? Clayton Kershaw really showed poise and made solid adjustments.
Pitching-Today (February 24) MLB.com’s depth chart of the Dodgers does not show them having a fifth starter. It’s Kershaw, Billingsly, Kuroda, Padilla and a blank space. I’m guessing there’s an open competition filled with guys that don’t exist. All jokes aside, Billingsly needs to prove he can bounce back and Padilla needs to be a good teammate and not throw at opposing players for no reason. Also, they need to find a fifth starter….seriously, get one.
The Dodger’s middle relievers are great. George Sherill, Troncosco and Belisario are shut-down type guys in the middle innings. Jonathan Broxton is an all-star closer who throws in the triple digits. With that type of relief, your starter only needs to concentrate on pitching six good innings.
Hitting-The Dodgers have a good combination of veterans in their lineup. Manny Ramirez is still a joy to watch at the plate. Russell Martin has to hit better than .250 in 2010 and Ronnie Belliard can’t be relied on for 162 games. It could get ugly if one of their big guys gets hurt. Luckily Joe Torre is coaching them. It’s too bad the McCourts own that team, though. Just imagine if they had money to improve their team.
Sarah Palin’s Political Career…Not Over
Writing that title made me cringe, but it’s true. The career of Sarah Palin, the politician, is still alive and well even though she herself has tried to kill it numerous times. Palin’s career in politics and fictional serial killer, Michael Myers, have one thing in common. They can’t be killed. Heck, they could have conversations about their near-death experiences. Michael could talk about how his little sister stabbed (among other things) him and Sarah could tell him about how she wrote on her hand and defended Rush Limbaugh’s use of the word “retarded.”
Most liberals would say that Palin’s done, but here’s where they’re wrong:
1.) Politicians come in all forms: Let’s say Palin stops corresponding for Fox News and moves to a conservative state, like Texas, and runs for the House of Representatives. Is her winning completely out of the question? Of course it’s not. Palin could even be a Senator if she was in the right circumstances, no pun intended. No one expects her to become the President, but she could be making important decisions that shape policy on the Senate or House floor. Sarah Palin, Senate Finance sub-committee chairwomen? It’s possible.
2.) She’s a brand: Palin, like Coke or Pepsi, is a unique brand who’s widely known. She has convictions and principles…written on her hand. She’s Manny Ramirez without all the success. You can always say hey, that’s “Palin being Palin,” anytime she says anything wacky. The problem with selling something is if it can be sold to a wide audience. Selling Palin-Aid to teabaggers is one thing, making idependents drink it is a different ballgame.
3.) The blame game: If Palin wants to be accepted by a larger audience, she’s going to have to defend her past indiscretions. There’s no better way of doing that then blaming other people. “My PR team made me defend Rush Limbaugh,” is much better than saying “the GOP sticks together no matter how bad we screw up.”
4.) There’s no one else: Conservatives need a semi-mainstream politician to take the reigns and go against Barack Obama in 2012. The problem is that there’s a serious lack of those types of guys. Republicans would be foolish to think someone from the far-right would win. Palin is already in the public eye, all she has to do is say the right things and change her stance on a few issues (something politicians do from time to time).
5.) The Bush-factor: George W. Bush was President for eight years and nearly threw us into a depression. The guy who was President after him was bi-racial. Anything is possible in America.
If all that is going to happen, Palin is going to have to make the conscious choice to get back in the game. Trust me, I’d love her to continue being a talking-head. I can’t imagine politics without her. Keith Olberman, Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert would have less material to make fun of if she were to start choosing her words wisely.
Exhibiting wisdom, an indicator of intelligence, would be a major step forward for her. When she says something dumb or contradicts herself, the question of whether she’s actually smart comes up. Is she just a dumb person that says dumb things or is she an intelligent woman who says weird things when she’s nervous?
I don’t know the answer to that question, but what I do know is that you don’t need to be smart to succeed in politics. Look at George W.
Bernie Goldberg, My Hero and My Foe
Bernie Goldberg may be one of the best investigative journalists of our time, and any other time for that matter. The great work he does for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel is only a footnote in a long and illustrious career. It’s where I first noticed his journalistic genius. Goldberg has the rare ability to be objective and not come off as robotic. He communicates with words that people can understand, which makes his pieces that much more impactful. Telling tough stories is something I want to do with my life and Goldberg has a gaggle of experience doing it.
The dude’s one of my heroes, a man with whom I’d like to shake hands with and talk about how he managed to dress up like a fat Hispanic teenager to play the goalie in the Mighty Ducks. (They’re both named Goldberg. Okay, I’ll stop telling jokes now.)
But wait, Goldberg’s a conservative, which makes him my foe (sorta). Watching Goldberg on Fox News almost makes me regret respecting him so much because he does say things that I disagree with. Watching Goldberg, a highly educated man, talk about how stuck-up liberals are kind of makes me laugh. Jon Stewart pointed that out in his interview with Bill O’Reilly, but it’s worth mentioning again.
Situations like these bring up the age old question of whether people should lose complete respect for someone because of what they do in their personal life. Can we still root for Tiger Woods even though he likes random tail (bad example, but still relevant)? Can Yankee fans root for A-Rod because he may have slept with a haggard Madonna (you thought I was going to say steroids, didn’t you?)? Can liberal journalist wannabes like myself still respect Bernie Goldberg?
The answer is simple, yes we can. Why the hell not? A-Rod still hits home runs, Tiger is still better than the field and Bernie Goldberg still cranks out great stories. It doesn’t matter how much you hate random tail, Madonna or conservatives. The accomplishments don’t change, unless an asterisk is put next to A-Rod’s Hall of Fame plaque and the field chases down Tiger because he stops chasing women. Bernie Goldberg, the conservative doesn’t change who Bernie Goldberg, the journalist is.
Last night (Feb. 22, 2010) Goldberg refused to call Barack Obama a socialist on the O’Reilly Factor. Good job, Bernie, way to show people that all Republicans aren’t nut jobs.
The people who I feel really bad for are all the young, liberal actors who idolize John Voight…
