Well, Football (American) is over, so it MUST be time to start talking about baseball, since nothing else important happens between now and April when the season starts! 
So here is a thread for general ramblings and musings during what remains of the off-season for MLB.
On my part, I’m simply saying it now: CUBS WIN IT ALL! 
What’s up with Johnny Damon? There were rumors that the Tigers were going to snap him up but it hasn’t happened, at least yet.
I used to love this thread every year. I’d get to make cute little “oh look, I’m a Royals fan!” jokes, and pretend that I’m stuck in a time warp where George Brett, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen and Dan Quisenberry are going to lead me on an 8 month adventure to the pennant.
No more. This team simply pisses me off. Dayton Moore can go suck a big one. I’m tired of his bullshit signings and complete inability to stick to a cohesive plan. (Hint: When you say you’re going to focus on the fundamentals of getting on base, don’t hire/trade for Yuniesky Betancourt and Mike Jacobs, ferchrissake!) I’m going to focus on my minor league team here in Indy, its parent club Pittsburgh, the Cubs and the Rays.
So let me get this straight - you’re frustrated with the direction of the Royals, so you switch to following the PIRATES???
I still have hope for the Royals - I’m the eternal optimist. Greinke and Meche are a great front two, and maybe we get a great season from Bannister or Hochevar. Gordon and Aviles were injured last year, if we get them back healthy, maybe they + Butler, DeJesus and Callaspo - each of whom cal hit over .300, and Butler with some power - make a formidable lineup core. Soria’s solid on the back end, and should be even better without the World Baseball Injury-Fest to mess up his Spring Training.
I know, right? It’s not that I’d be rooting for the Pirates, just following the kids that head up there from AAA (and then immediately off to contenders if they show an ounce of ability for fear that doing well might cost them a high draft pick…).
Royals case in point: They just announced today that Kyle Farnsworth will be competing for a spot in the rotation. Over/under on his ERA will be… 6.11.
We had Farnsworth in Detroit. he is a mystery. He throws hard seems to have command of his pitches and gets hit like a drum.
Look for Damon to wind up in Atlanta. Word is he has an offer there.
Boston has better pitching and defense, but not much power until they close the Adrian Gonzalez deal. Look for more 4-2 games and fewer 8-6 ones in the meanwhile.
Tomorrow is Truck Day … 
I thought the Mets were the best team in the Nl in 2007 even after their collapse. I thought the same in 2008. This team is terrible, the once great core is now flawed, and there is absolutely no secondary talent. Quick question. Assuming, Bay, Krod, Beltran, Reyes, Wright, and Santana are the 6 best Mets, who is number 7?
Managementis saying that the Pirates are “where they want to be”, but I can’t keep the roster straight anymore. We trade way too often, and we can’t even decide who the infielders and outfielders are.
We’ve got the choice between Jones at 1st and Church in RF, or Jones at RF and Clement at 1st. Now, I’ll admit that I don’t know about the foot speed of these guys but Church has a much better bat. So why are we choosing the second option? Back when Adam LaRoche played 1st, it made sense. But Clement sucks! So what gives?
I’m excited about the Young/LaRoche/Iwamura rotation. I can’t decide who’s the best pair to have out there. I’m going with Young/Iwamura but the stats are so close, it’s hard to say.
Apparantly, the Blue Jays have interest in Russell Branyan. God only knows why.
Clement needs to go back behind the plate every so often and play every day in some capacity. He’s a tremendous talent. He succeeded at every level in the minors. Learning a new position quite often translates to struggling at the plate - and he had a hard time learning 1B. He’ll be 25 - he should be fine.
Cubs fans…eternal optimists. Maybe you guys should try NOT believing you’ll win the World Series this year. Lord knows the traditional approach ain’t working.
Gotta be excruciating, nursing the only remaining curse, ain’t it?
Isn’t there already one of these?
Damon to Detroit. Rumor is he was offered 1 year for 4 mill. Tigers offered 2 for 14. Easy choice. Illich was supposed to have personally OKed the offer.
Well, the Jays signed Kevin Gregg.
I have no idea why. The Jays have about 15 pitchers fighting for the 11-12 sports available and I don’t see that Gregg’s much better than any of them.
Still no hitters, but we’ve got Kevin Gregg. Maybe he can learn to hit.
What do they have against batting? Didn’t last year show them anything?
There are 27 pitchers on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster. And one catcher; John Buck.
The projected outfield of Lind, Wells and Snider might be one of the worst defensive outfields in baseball.
From the “words you never thought you’d see in print” department:
The scary thing is, it’s true.
It has been suggested that this thread should be merged with the one above. I have no idea what Hot Stove means, so if you all would like this to happen, it shall be done.
That thread was getting a smidge long; three pages, certainly no World of Warcraft. But anyway, if it would be helpful to have them together, I’ll be happy to do it. Others agree?
Ellen Cherry
Tepid Sports Fan
Avid Moderator