Today’s post is brought to you from Toledo, Ohio. With Spring Training wrapping up in just over a week, every team has reason to be hopeful that this will be their year. Though it is widely accepted that exhibition games are meaningless, the Giants should feel good about their 18-7 record this spring, and the Indians are certainly pleased that they have won 13 of their first 19 games. The reigning World Series champion Yankees, meanwhile, can shake off their 9-12 record as rustiness. It may not have the excitement of October, but April is when everyone’s glass is half full; no one has ground to make up or nagging injuries to play through. Every team has a share of first place, and that’s what makes it the most promising time of the year.
How ‘bout that?
How about Joe Nathan? Coming off a strong 2009 (47 saves, 2.10 E.R.A and 0.932 WHIP), the Twins closer will miss the entire season following Tommy John surgery. The back end of the Twins bullpen is now up for grabs, and the AL Central is anyone’s for the taking. Three different teams (Twins, White Sox, and Indians) have won the division the last three years, and each of the last two has been decided by a one-game playoff. Detroit and Chicago, the Twins’ main competition in 2009, will benefit most from Minnesota’s loss.
How about John Smoltz? The veteran right-hander will begin the season in the broadcast booth rather than on the mound, working as a color analyst for TBS. Smoltz did some commentating back in 2008 while on Atlanta’s Disabled List. If Smoltz is truly finished as a player, he combines with former teammates (and fellow retirees) Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine for 873 career wins and 154 saves. Not surprisingly, both Maddux and Glavine will remain in the game in some capacity, the former serving as an assistant to Cubs GM Jim Hendry, and the latter as a special assistant to Braves President John Schuerholz.
How about Joe Mauer’s contract extension? The eight-year, $184 million deal will ensure that Twins fans will see their hometown hero play half his games at Target Field through at least 2018, when Mauer will turn 35. The contract is the richest in major league history for a catcher, but will be a bargain if Mauer keeps winning batting titles like he has the last two years (and three of the last four) and continues to be the five-tool star all General Managers would love to build a team around. Gold Glove-winning catchers who can hit for both average and power don’t grow on trees.
Fantasy Ball
I haven’t done it since the 2006 season, but I was convinced by a friend to play fantasy baseball this year. The draft was held earlier this week, and I thought it went quite well. My team’s top hitters are Joe Mauer, Derrek Lee, Chipper Jones, and Ichiro Suzuki, and the pitching staff includes Josh Johnson, Chad Billingsley, Matt Cain, J.A. Happ, and Trevor Hoffman. I have no players from the Yankees, Red Sox, or Orioles; I wanted Curtis Granderson but he went to another team. I’m sure I’ll scour the box scores every morning to see how each of my players did in his game; it might drive me crazy, but such is the life of the fantasy baseball player.
Keywords: AL Central, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chad Billingsley, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chipper Jones, Cleveland Indians, Curtis Granderson, Derrek Lee, Detroit Tigers, Fantasy Baseball, Greg Maddux, Ichiro Suzuki, J.A. Happ, Jim Hendry, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, John Schuerholz, John Smoltz, Josh Johnson, Matt Cain, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Spring Training, Target Field, TBS, Tom Glavine, Tommy John surgery, Trevor Hoffman
