Major League Baseball 2008 season

 

Red:

 

PHIGHTIN' PHILS!!!!!!!

 

Joe Carter can blow all of us! 

 

 

 

Sabathia has been amazing for the Brewers, not just pitching but also hitting!

 

Not sure how Rich Harden has been for the Cubbies but he is very talented so it should be good for both the team and the player since they are in contention.

 

Man Ram to Dodgers, hopefully the change of scenery, California Sun and the glamor chills him out.  I think he will do fine.  Jason Bay is no Man Ram but is no slouch either.  He should be good for something like .280, 25, 80 any year, I don't know what his numbers are this season though. 

 

Pudge for Farnsworth.  I have mixed feelings about this.  I'm not as critical some of my friends here in Michigan.  Tigers had Farnsworth before and I think he is one of the better middle relievers out there.   With Todd Jones struggling and Zumaya and Rodney still fresh from recovering, all three of them have question marks to say the least.  The bottom line is that they needed another middle reliever or possibly a closer.  Farnsworth can, in theory, fill in either role.  Now is he worth Pudge?  Is Pudge worth Pudge?  Don't get wrong I love Pudge.  I have no doubt he is a first ballot Hall of Famer.  I love the way he led that Marlins team to the WS Champs.  He is one of the best catcher ever to throw out the runners that they just don't run on him any more.  But this is not same juiced up pudge that used to put out .320, 30, 100, 20 for Texas.  But then again you don't need that from your catcher, though a big plus.  Past few years he's been undisciplined hitter with no power.  No power part I can live with, undisciplined part I can't.  He swings for way to many high cheese, usually about 6 inch below.  I'm not saying this is necessarily his weakness, again I can live a catcher that can't hit.  But I can not live with batters that gives away at bats.  But the most important part of being a catcher is not hitting or even throwing the runners out.  It's the game calling.  When I watch the Tigers game I try to call every pitch myself.   Fastball, breaking ball, change up, slider....  In or out.  High or low.  You know, trying to get into the pitcher's mind.   Texas is never a big pitching powerhouse, are they?  Again I love how he led that Marlins squad.  I mean that year alone can make Pudge my favorite catcher of all time.  But with this young Tigers pitchers I don't know if he has been that same guy any more.  yeah most of the blame should be placed on the pitchers being young and making mental mistakes but Pudge should share some of that responsibility.  Too many times the tigers pitchers get in troubles because they try too hard to pitch around the hitters.  They have good enough stuff to challenge the batters more.  That is the catcher's job.   

 

Having said all that there is the Inge issue.  I think Inge belongs in the third base.  He might not be the most consistent but he is one of the most if not THE most athletic third baseman out there.  He's got a canon arm also.  Guillen is actually holding down that position fine for now and he will give better bat from that position than Inge for sure.  And the third base is where traditionally you get some power out of.  But the Tigers have enough bats with powers already, they can afford to have a defensive third baseman.  In overall I'm happy with getting Farnsworth though I wish he was a lefty but doesn't everyone need a hard throwing lefty off the pen?   I'm sad to see Pudge go but i can live it.  Happy to see Inge getting a full time position but not the position that i want. 

 

Rich Sexon to Yankees.  Yankees always had that proven starter from other team comes off as the pinch hitter, from Chilli Davis to Aaron Boone.  i think he will fill that role unless there is an injury spot to fill in, then he could fill in  rightfield, 1at base or DH.  i think he could be even a starter and be more like how Sean Casey was for the Tigers when they went to WS.

 

Teixeira to Angels.  Not fair.  this officially put Angels as my pick to win WS at this moment.

 

Ken Griffey Jr. to Chi Sox.  I'm happy for him to play for a contenter.  One of my favorite player of all time.  Not happy that he's with Chi Sox though.  I've been wanting for him ende up with the Yankees for past few years.  Not that i want the Yankees to be better necessarily but I think his career deserves to end with a title, or least celebrated in limelight like how Roger Clemens finished his career.  But who knows?  Chicago is a big enough town and i think they have better chance winning the title than the Yankees right now.  My pick is still the Angels though.   

 

7. Ken Griffey, Jr. to the White Sox