February 14, 2002

As the days slowly get longer, if one listens carefully the sound of the bat hitting the ball is heard in the distance. Once the Super Bowl is put to bed, balance is once again restored to the universe. The Super Bowl has always been welcomed by any true baseball fan as the first sign that the pitchers and catchers are reporting to the sunshine, beginning that long journey which they hope will culminate deep in October in the World Series.

This year, for the first time that I can remember, both the World Series and the Super Bowl turned on the last play of the game. Luis Gonzalez’ beautiful bloop over Derek Jeter’s head settled the Series for Arizona just as Adam Vinateri’s amazing last second kick split the uprights to give Boston ( I still call them the Boston Patriots) the football title.

I wasn’t sure when the Daily Dish would return in 2002, but I knew one day the winter would fade and it would be time to think about baseball.

I saw Dusty Baker, Reggie Sanders, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Jeff Tam and Art Howe at a Fox sports luncheon. All of a sudden, it was deja vu all over again for the 2001 season. The Giants and the A’s fighting through an amazing summer of baseball.

I saw video of the A’s summer surge which carried them to 102 wins. I’m ready. Their bat speed was amazing, the pitchers throwing smoke, and even without Jason Giambi who was surgically removed from all video references, they still looked pretty good.

The A’s most significant off season acquisition is rookie first baseman Carlos Pena from Texas. Notwithstanding the fact that they gave up every top prospect in the organization, the kid can hit with power, can field with the best, has a great eye, and is a model citizen, He has loads of potential.

In the wonderfully descriptive words of former Athletic and Mariner star Dave “Hendu” Henderson, “Having potential means you ain’t done nothing yet”.

If Carlos Pena can hit .270, with 17 homers and 79 RBI, he will have a great season. More importantly if he can pick the low throws, he will be invaluable since Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez bounce at least two or three over to first per game.

Texas has signed every pitcher in the universe, hoping one or two will make it. Hideki Irabu, Dave Burba, and Ismael Valdes are just a few of the high risk hurlers Texas hopes will keep the opposition down to 6 runs per game. The Rangers will score a ton of runs and stay in the game because the bullpen is deeper and GM John Hart knows what he is doing.

The Angels have “All April” Aaron Sele on the hill as well as Kevin Appier to go with Jarrod Washburn, Scott Schoenweiss, and now 29 year old Ramon Ortiz (when the season ended he was 26, but his recently discovered birth certificate now shows the righty is 29 years old). Scoring runs and infield defense is another story for the Halos.

If the Mariners win 92 games that will be 24 less than last year. If they lose 24 more games there will be a reason for the dropoff. I think it will come in the area of starting pitching. Eric Chavez’ homer off Jamie Moyer last September showed me Moyer can be hit if you stay close to him for five innings. Ichiro now wants to hit 20 homers after showing the Americans he can hit .350. Not what the manager ordered.

What a race it will be starting with division play in April.

There, I’ve written about the game I love. I knew the words would start to flow once the time was right. Over the course of the next month I’ll write often about baseball.

Marty Lurie

(510) 338-0907

luriem@earthlink.net