I know it's an early start... Looks like in the wake of Victor Martinez being sidelined this year with a torn ACL; the Tigers have come out of nowhere, and snatched Prince Fielder for a 9 year 214 Million $ contract. I'm guessing he will do part time 1st base, and part time DH shared with Cabrera. Like Father, Like Son... both Tigers with devastatingly powerful swings! [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcvaYgWc9eY[/ame] As a child, he hit a HR at the old Tiger Stadium... I think 12 years old!
I'm bummed the Cards didn't make a run for Fielder (or if they did, that they didn't get him). he's one of my favorite players. I'm a bit nervous for the Birdinals in a rebuilding year, hopefully they'll focus on pitching (and their starters will make it through Spring training intact). Matheny will be either a genius move or a disaster, I think. pitchers/catchers report in a few weeks, I guess....where does the time go....
I really feel like I missed out on going to St. Louis the last few years to watch a ball game. I can't believe that the Tigers have the 3 biggest stars in the game now... the Ace, the crusher with an Average, and the Crusher with an average! (Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder) I also believe Alex Avila will quickly become known as the best catcher (hitting wise) in baseball. Sadly, Maglio Ordonez likely won't be much of an impact player anymore, nor Carlos Guillen. Brandon Inge may get dropped if he doesn't maintain 250 with fewer SO's... and our Pitching staff is OK for 4 of our 5 starters; and an OK bullpen too.
After meeting Brandon Inge, I have to say I understand a big part of why people like him so much. He is very personable. He is very active in the community, and happens to like cars. I love baseball, but rather than talk with the club about what they do every day, we spoke of cars. With Inge, I asked him about a recent low speed car crash where he hit 4 or 5 cars with his F-350 Image Unavailable, Please Login
I am a die-hard Astros fan. It will be a while, before we even reach .500. They need to re-build the team with quality prospects.
I went from watching/listening to the Astros almost every game to I can't name one person on the team and don't care. Unlike a lot of fans I was glad Berkman was traded and glad he's having the success he is. He didn't deserve to be on such a crappy team. Im not bothered by the AL move and really hope we do get new uniforms that reflect the old school, yellow, blue, orange, white colors. I haven't like any uniforms since the redesigned the star in the mid-ninties. I hope the name doesn't change though.
The Mariners are going to be happy about it, though. ;-) I think the opening sequence to Major League (all the people discussion how sh**** the team is) is a perfect description of the PNW Mariners right now. Montero needs to be a smasher to have any hope of getting out of the cellar.
I'm picking the Rangers this year again. Third time will be the charm. I'm anxious to see what Feliz can do as a starter, and also anxious to see how Yu Darvish will do in the American big leagues. Anyone going to their teams' Opening Day games? Can't wait for Texas to put single game tickets on sale! Also, looking at our schedule, we have a 3 game series in San Fran...should be interesting to see these teams meet for the first time since the 2010 WS. Just know if they make the playoffs, they will lose every game that CJ starts. That was the case with us.
I cannot understand Detroit. What will they do with both Cabrera and Fielder, when they can no longer play in the field, and can only contribute at DH ?
And what is Arte Moreno gonna do when he realizes he's paying a 40 year old DH 30 million a year for next to no output? That's the problem with big contracts, but if you can command that type of cash, go for it. Pitchers and catchers are reporting right now, you can almost smell the peanuts, hot dogs and beer in the air,
Derek Holland, Yoshinori Tateyama, and Mike Adams were seen in an unofficial workout today in Arizona. Safe to say, Derek needs a haircut. http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s720x720/420366_10151309360350384_92931665383_23108882_1297238134_n.jpg
Yu Darvish is pitching two innings against the Padres tomorrow in Arizona. This will be the first time he will face batters from another team. He faced our regulars and I believe he only allowed one homer hit by David Murphy. I'm very anxious to see what he can do in the big leagues. From the footage I've seen...he seems incredible. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfWWQxcY064&feature=related[/ame] Already got tickets for April 7th against the White Sox!
It's a new season for the Cards,but a repeat is not the longest of shots. Lots of new,Lohse threw well,Adams impressed,no Freeze this game,Tavares either. But good day to be here...Go Birdnals Cheers, RE Image Unavailable, Please Login
Matt Adams has been tearing it up down there - I think he has a legitimate shot at making the opening day roster, at the very least he will be a mid season call up.
I have a feeling that 1st base for the Birds is the new SS...it took forever to replace Ozzie, I expect we'll go through a lot of 1st basemen in the next few years who just don't live up to an unrealistic expectation.
It took forever to replace Ozzie? We STILl haven't replaced him yet. Berkman should be a solid replacement, given that's his normal position, but I agree, after he retires it'll be tough to find a replacement. Luckily first base isn't as tough as shortstop, it's gonna be the offensive output at that position that'll take 20 years to replace, if ever.
SS,I know Raffy isn't the answer(in fact I didn't even see him on the roster)but cheers to him for coming thru in the WS. Cheers, RE
