Combing the Wires

2/18/10 2:25 PM

  By now, all of the biggest free agent names have signed and with teams closing in on spring training, it has become crunch time for GMs to solidify and augment their roster from what remains in the free agent market. Most would think that this means getting bench players and long relievers, but due to the economy and a changing attitude in the MLB, the free agent pool has a level of talent and depth that has been absent in years past. So what kind of signings can we expect in the coming weeks? I’ll break down the top 5 free agents and give you my thoughts on where they will sign. 1. Johnny Damon – Projected 2010 team – Detroit Tigers Armed with an agent who normally gets what he wants, Johnny Damon turned down a two-year offer from the Yankees...

A Phoolish Move

2/6/10 7:18 PM

I know it is old news, but considering the fact that I have had yet to discuss the Philadelphia Phillies’ moves this past offseason, particularly the acquisition of Roy Halladay and the trading away of Cliff Lee.   Phillies manager Charlie Manuel came out in a press conference and reaffirmed my belief (along with some others in the baseball world) that the Phillies’ trading away Cliff Lee may not have been in the team’s best interest for 2010. “Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball right now. Lee is a tad behind him. Of course it would’ve been nice to have both of them.” Manuel said to the media. “It’d be good to have Halladay, Lee, (Cole) Hamels. I’d be looking good. I might even be buying more expensive furniture than...

The Steroid Era

2/6/10 6:29 PM

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in about three weeks, the 2010 baseball season is not too far away. In recent weeks baseball has been pushed to the forefront of the sporting world with former slugger Mark McGwire’s “admission” (I use that term lightly) of using performance enhancing drugs throughout much of his playing career. For those of us who are diehard baseball fans we can vividly remember McGwire’s onslaught of the single season home run record during the summer of 1998, almost as vividly as we remember his dismissive responses and attitude in March of 2005 in front of a congressional panel.   With McGwire’s confession comes the question of whether or not this will allow him to fall back into the good graces of...

One for the Ages…

11/4/09 11:59 PM

  Count me as one of those who doesn’t believe there is a legitimate rivalry between the Yankees and Phillies, but after this World Series the Yanks-Phils rivalry may make its way into the realm of the New York – Philadelphia battle that is so prominent in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB (Mets – Phillies). There are a few reasons why this rivalry has suddenly grasped not only the northeast, but the nation as a whole during this year’s Fall Classic.  First off, I believe that these are the two best teams in baseball, and nothing sparks a rivalry more than competitive play on the highest level, which regardless of with whom your allegiances lay, you have to recognize.   Secondly, Pedro Martinez has become the Kurt Warner of baseball, and I do not think I...

The Fall Classic

10/28/09 4:44 PM

 The beasts of the east will clash in the 2009 World Series, and it couldn’t be more exciting from a baseball fans perspective.  The Yankees are finally back in the World Series and in a year that featured walk-off after walk-off they look to carry their magic for one final series against the reigning champions, the Philadelphia Phillies.  What is there to expect in the upcoming series?  Well let me break down for you each aspect of the matchup and give you my prediction as to who will win the 2009 World Series. Starting Pitching – Edge: Phillies – The Phillies have the best pitcher in this series in Cliff Lee, who is doing what his former teammate CC Sabathia couldn’t do after being traded mid-season last year.  The Phillies ace comes into...