A Rod Won't Be in NY Next Season
Batter Up March 25, 2007
Mesa, Arizona
Take a good look at Alex Rodriguez in a Yankee uniform this season. He won’t be back in the Bronx next year.
With A Rod challenging the tough New York fans to show him love before he decides whether or not to opt out of the remaining years of his contract, he is all but gone.
Advice to Alex: Don’t mess with the fans in New York, it’s a battle you won’t win.
A Rod’s agent Scott Boras rolled the dice with JD Drew in Los Angeles in a similar situation getting Drew a more lucrative multi year deal with the Red Sox. Look for Boras to guide Rodriguez to the Angels, Giants, or Cubs in ’08.
Click below for more!
With first base prospect Daric Barton ticketed for Sacramento, the A’s might think about adding an outfielder. Current first baseman Dan Johnson continues to work on his swing with mixed results. Nick Swisher is a much better alternative at first.
If Swisher moved to first and the A’s shifted Milton Bradley back to right field a capable center fielder with lead off skills would be a huge plus. Seattle’s Jeremy Reed, a longtime favorite of the A’s brass, might be available.
An infield of Swisher, Mark Ellis, Bobby Crosby, and Eric Chavez would be the best defensive infield in the game today.
The Giants are still searching for the right combination in the ‘pen. Closer Armando Benitez has thrown the ball well at times this spring, but there is no way he lasts the whole season. If I’m the Giants I trade him post haste before he breaks down again.
With the ‘pen in the hands of holdovers Vinnie Chulk, Brian Wilson, Jack Taschner, Scott Munter, and Steve Kline, things will get very dicey for the club once the starter leaves the game.
Where are the true pitching aces? I’ve seen them in Arizona.
San Diego’s Jake Peavey looks like he is ready for a break out season. Pitching in spacious Petco Park gives the righty a real shot at the NL Cy Young this year.
If the Brewers contend in the NL Central it will be because Ben Sheets is healthy. Sheets might win 20 because the Brew Crew can pound the ball.
The Angels John Lackey has been the talk of the Cactus League. I can’t wait to see Lackey match up with A’s Rich Harden at the Coliseum.
Seattle’s phenom Felix Hernandez lost weight, got in shape and found his fastball. If you think Lackey – Harden will be a duel of aces, just wait until King Felix faces either pitcher.
Barry Zito will give the Giants quality starts 90% of the time he takes the mound. A match up of Zito and the Cubs Carlos Zambrano is one worth watching here in the desert.
Arizona’s reigning Cy Young award winner Brandon Webb, a true number one starter, throws a devastating sinker.
White Sox ace Jose Contreras has regained command of his splitter this spring. The Sox and Diamondbacks share a facility in Tucson. How about seven innings of Contreras vs. Webb? That’s a spring game I’d pay to see.
Interesting that the Phillies are the chic pick to win the NL pennant. Ask any baseball person to name the Phillies pen, and they are at a loss for names after Tom Gordon, Geoff Geary, and Ryan Madson. With starter Jon Leiber available in a deal, you’d think the Phillies could find one situational lefty to help close games.
Wait until you see Royals third baseman AlexGordon. The rookie hits laser shots in the gap ala KC Hall of Famer George Brett.
Brandon Morrow has been the talk of the Seattle camp. He’s good enough to make the Mariners as a long reliever.
Esteban Loaiza pitched strangely versus the Rangers. With his pitches varying between 79-82 mph he got some outs, but it was tough to watch.
0 comments
DJ has stepped it up with his bat in ST, the trade for Jeremy Reed ain’t gonna happen, IMHO. DJ will start at first in April, Ruby will be sent down to AAA in reserve {in case needed for injury replacement to DJ or Piazza}. Bradley will patrol in center, Swisher in right, and Stewart in left. Kielty is making progress and should be back soon if not on opening day, as our fourth outfielder. Perez has looked OK playing some CF so he could be an emergency backup outfielder, and Swisher can play CF too, so we have that covered. DJ is not that bad defensively at first, so our infield should be solid. Jeremy Reed just isn’t that good for the A’s to waste prospects or dollars on, especially if Kotsay makes a timely rehab and return to the lineup in midseason. What we need, more than another outfielder, is a fifth starter — because Kennedy has been getting lit up all Spring. I can see going out and getting someone like BH Kim from the Rox, give him a chance for the fifth spot, why not? But then if we do that, the question will remain, what to do with Kennedy, since we have Embree to replace him in the bullpen. Looking forward to an exciting 2007 season, Marty. Thanks for all the good work you do for the Bay Area fans! 🙂
Well Shucks, I was wrong about most of my predictions except that, looks like for sure we’re still not going to go after Jeremy Reed — I surely didn’t anticipate Travis Buck making the team or Antonio Perez being released ..
You must log in to post a comment.