1st Place Royals, Still Need To Focus On Future

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The first month has come and gone, in Major League Baseball. Along with some great individual efforts (Zack Grienke, Carlos Quentin, Kemp, six stolen bases in a game, by Carl Crawford, and the list goes on and on) and major surprises in some teams records (Kansas City Royals, Seattle, & Toronto in 1st place in the A. L. and the Yankees, Angels, and D-Rays are looking up). There is some great young talent to emerge and solid veterans (like Michael Young) putting up great numbers, where some of the "superstars" (Ryan Howard, Mark Teixiera) who are not worth their salt, at the moment. However, one month into the season, there is not any person (aside from Peter Gammons), who can tell what is going to happen, who will win post season awards, and the World Series winner, so there is only two things ball clubs should be looking at: (1) winning each series (for record and winning their division) and (2) building a great ball club.

Focusing on the second, as the first point (winning each series), is self-explanatory. If a team wins two of three games, or three of four games, they will end with a record of around .700-.750, which will win any division. Therefore, the focus should be on creating and building, from farm system to the "big club." The Oakland A's, have been a staple, with Billy Beane at the helm. Beane, the A's G. M., has become a baseball team building phenom, on a general team salary of "small market team" (Royals, Twins, Brewers, teams who can't have a $200 million pay roll, like the Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox). The formula was keeping their own farm system, cultivating all stops in the major leagues, and signing those guys to longer contracts for middle money. Through the late 1990's-2004, the A's and Beane, brought up pitchers from their own system (Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder) and position players (Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, & Miguel Tejada). They held onto these players, long enough for an impact and their second contract to expire, before they dealt them and became less than their previous selves.

The Royals, in 2009, they should be building for the future, not reveling in today. They have a solid nucleus, of complete farm and draft picks (Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Zack Grienke, Joakim Soria and David Dejesus), all who make under $3.75 million a year. The pick up of Gil Meche, Jose Guillen, and others are stop gaps, and that alone. Look at Mark Grudzelaniak, last years Royals second baseman (soon to be Jose Guillen and Gil Meche next year), is gone in favor of Willie Bloomquist and Albert Callaspo. As it stands, the additions of Mike Jacobs and Willie Bloomquist are not the cornerstones of a playoff team. They are mediocre players, who have a handful of years left.

Therefore, what is the difference between the Royals of today and the A's of the late 90's? Commitment, value of the dollar based on the player being considered, and the fact the Royals (and other teams) can't evaluate and pull the trigger to sign their farm/minor league picks to longer term deals (in the 4-6 year range, after the original draft contract is over). The Royals have to find a way, not only to pay (Gordon, Butler, Soria, Grienke and maybe Callaspo), plus enhance a line up with players who are not past (within 1-2 years) their prime and are assets for 3-5 years. These 3-5 year enhancement players have to be like Coco Crisp (who will steal 25-30 bases, hit .275, and lead off for 4-6 years, if the Royals can do the right thing). They also need to do a better job with the "Rule 5" draft players, free agents in the $5-9 million a year range, and finally David Glass and the "Front Office" must open their wallets. The Royals have made excellent strides with their drafts, but they must focus on signing their big players first, while continuing to add on, with some mid-level talent (especially starting and relief pitching).

This year it is great for the Royals to be in first place, after over a month of baseball. Yet, Royals fans and the people Kansas City need to look to the next three years, not this year. This year the Royals are a .450-.475 winning percentage team, at best. This is not good enough for first place in the Central Division, and they will not sniff the "Wild Card," as the East will have the wild card pick. In three years, the Royals could not only be a cellar dwelling team, but they will have one of these top players left, after free agency and teams picking the Royals apart. Gordon, Butler, Dejesus, Soria, Grienke, Callaspo, Aviles, and even Jose Guillen and Meche will be gone. Outside of the box thinking, for the future, and just a little bit more cash out of David Glass' wallet, will be the only thing to save the Royals. They have no Billy Beane and they continue to lose farm talent, to teams who will pay. Continuing to leave the Royals, every five to seven years, on the brink of going to the top of the Central and being a basement team.

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CoCo Crisp, Over "Sentimentality" & Rookies.....

Copyright. "The Thought Spigot" http://thethoughtspigot.com/ Where a lot of fantasy baseball players go wrong, is drafting/playing rookies and using the "sentimentality players" (name recognition) rather than going with players with 2-3 years experience, or a player just past his prime. Players like Chris Carpenter (who is a great talent, when healthy, but when comes at a price), Troy Glaus, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Dmitri Young, Jose Guillen, are all sentimental picks, or picks which may have been solid just a year/two ago, but are now players which should be stayed away from, with every fiber of your being. Cameron Mayebin, David Murphy (Texas), Matt LaPorte (Indians) & David Price (D-Rays), are all going to be good to great players, but they are not going to get a chance to contribute (absent injury), until half the season is gone, to maybe even September.

Where the first players are to stay away from at all cost, even as spot starters, there are plenty of options where people will allow you to keep the solid players you have and go get some players to produce (in case of injury, a bad draft, or something else unforseen). Let's just say, you do not take Glavine, Hampton and Guillen, who would be a great substitute and everyday player? How about these three, are still in most leagues Jeremy Guthrie (SP-Orioles Opening Day Starter, threw 200+ innings and under 4.00 ERA), Gil Meche (who is often overlooked for Grienke, but another 200 inning guy, at the end of his prime), and/or Jason Marquis, Braden Looper (two other guys who play for winning teams, will thro 175+ innings and will get you stats). They are not Clemens/Smoltz, in their primes, but they do get enough stats (definitely more, over rookies).

The "Love of Rookies" is something long lived in Fantasy Sports, probably because guys want to "get the next great thing/be the first." However, how many rookies, true rookies, actually come in and make a huge impact, or enough of an impact to validate taking of a spot (for 1/2 a years worth of stats)? No very many, are there, let me keep you from checking. Rookie and players who have less than two full seasons, under their belt, are not worth saving spots for, as a rule, when you can go out and get some good waiver talent. (The only reason to commit to a rookie, this early, is if he is coming out of AAA/AA ball, raised up, rather than kept up, after spring training. Thinking "whole seasons stats" (rather than you loving "your man"/"you wanting to pick up A-Rod/K-Rod, before the A.S. Break), in fantasy sports, you have to get the most points out of each slot. "CoCo Crisp" is the example for the whole year, and why he is.

Crisp lost his slot in Boston, where he was completely uncomfortable (after a couple of shaky plays in the outfield) at Fenway, to the Kansas City Royals. First plus, is Coco does not feel the need to go out and win everyday, he can just go any play. He will be given the green light to steal, bunt and play his outfield, with the newly renovated Kauffman Stadium (a traditional medium size park, without any wall jags/jets out). Most of all, he is going to play every single day in center field, in a park that is rain out friendly (arti-turf), and is not to hot in the summer, but doesn't cost you/him games in the spring and fall.

So, instead of Camerin Maybin, Matt Laporta, and Matt Joyce giving you a 1/2 to 3/4 season, hitting .260'ish, 20-25 HR, 5-10 steals, and noting much else. Crisp will get a team, 500 AB's, .270-.290 Avg., 10 HR's, 55-70 RBI's and 25-30 Steals. It is pretty obvious why a Coco Crisp, David Murphy (once it heats up in Texas, and the ball starts to carry), Ryan Church (if he continues on), Scutaro, Jay Bruce (when everyone drops him). Long term thinking, especially in MLB and NBA, is the only way to look and win, being they have the most games and are more intricate, as a rule.

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Evan Longoria, The Next Mike Schmidt?

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Evan Longoria is the third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is also one of the poster boys for major league baseball. He is a five tool player (hits for average & power, runs, fields, and has a sizzling arm across the diamond), and he is drawing major comparisons to a Hall of Fame third baseman, Mike Schmidt. Longoria is a Tampa Bay favorite, is active in charity work, plus he is a man among men, when he steps between those chalk lines.

Today, where the headlines bleed stories on HGH, steroids, "greenies" (speed pills, allowing players to be "fresh" everyday), players putting themselves over team ("Manny being Manny" & A-Rod articles looking like a soft porn shoot), Longoria is far away from the scrutiny and works to be the best player he can be (naturally, no less). One example, of Evan's dedication and differential from other ball players, is in his pre-game regiment. The T. B. third base coach and Evan have a routine, after all of the other drills are done. He hits Longoria 10 ground balls, as hard as he can. If Longoria fields all 10 of the balls without any mistakes, then the coach makes him a "smoothie." However, if Longoria bobbles, drops, or flat out misses any ball, then Longoria is the "smoothie maker." Quite a difference, from "Manny being Manny," riding a three wheel bike (when he has a pulled hamstring, at Dodgers spring training) for the cameras.

The whole Rays staff and coaches (some older players and announcers) are drawing a flattering comparison, "Evan Longoria looks like a young Mike Schmidt, but better." Mike Schmidt, the Hall of Fame third baseman (for the Philadelphia Phillies), was nothing short of an offensive monster and a perennial "Gold Glove" winner, so this is high praise for a player who has just one season under his belt. However, the statistics do not lie:

Mike Schmidt's 1st Full Year (1973):
G-132, AB-367, Hits-72, Runs-43, 2B-11, HR-15, RBI-52, SB-8, AVG-.182, SLG%-.373

Evan Longoria's 1st Full Year (2008)
G-122, AB-448, Hits-122, Runs-67, Doubles-31, HR-27, RBI-85, Avg-.272, SLG%-.531

Looking at these eye popping numbers, in a rookie season (compared to Schmidt and other Hall of Fame players thru the years), the only thing possibly to side rail Longoria, is injury, or Longoria himself. Over the course of a 20 year career, there is going to be bumps, bruises, or some other act of God. However, Evan Longoria is the real deal.

It is very early to call him a Hall of Famer, but Longoria is on the fast track (with David Wright). On the Ray's roster, with the table setters of Carl Crawford, B. J. Upton, and the stability of power hitters around him (Carlos Pena, Matt Joyce, & Pat Burrell), he is in the best of situations. Only time will tell, on the injury front, but this smooth handed, laser armed, power hitting phenom has nothing except sunny days and big numbers ahead of him. In twenty years, he could be the best "true third baseman" (A-Rod came up and split his career at shortstop) to play the game. He is that good!

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Tourny Time, March Madness, & The 3 Things For A Final Four Team

From "The Thought Spigot"

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Conference and the NCAA Championship Tournaments are just around the corner. Teams like Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and a handful of others are always guaranteed a spot at the table, usually in the final four. Few teams have the wear-with-all to constantly become players on the main stage (deep into the tourny, or the Final Four), but more and more there is a new breed of "Bubble Teams," in today's college basketball. The days of UCLA's dynasty of championships is over, in the era of "one and done" ball. Players are forced to go to school (unlike Lebron, Garnett, Kobe, etc..etc...), whether they like it, or not. This has caused a major change in the game, recruiting and definitely in the NCAA Tournament. Only six #1 ranked teams have ever won the "Big Dance," thru the rigors of "March Madness" and Senior laden teams (Pitt '07, George Mason '06, Illinois '05, St. Joe's '04) are going farther into the tourny every year. The once "underdogs" of the game, like Valparaiso, Gonzaga, Davidson, and Butler's, of the college basketball world, are no longer sneaking up on anyone and continue to look stronger, each year (Although, they are not stronger, it is just the talent pool is leaving colleges faster). However, the month of march is still filled with just as much madness, as ever. There are three things colleges need to make it to the tournament, advance deep, and possibly win the whole ball of wax.

The first thing is a brilliant coach (Coach K, Roy Williams, Bill Self, J. Boeheim, to name a few). A coach who is able to bring kids together who are seniors, freshmen, going to the NBA, and those who are not. Cohesion/"gelling" at the correct time is essential. A team not playing together, is not a team, at all. Great coaches take the concept to the next level, making a team playing like a team, play like one player (almost). Plays run effortlessly, defense is suffocating, and the players on the benches know their roles and embrace the bench, as if they were playing on the floor. Few coaches ever achieve this kind of team, much less, repeat the process year in and year out. They are priceless to the university, their players, to the game, and they usually head to the hall of fame.

Next, constant tournament teams and some of the greatest teams have a magnificent point guard/guard. Whether the teams are today, or are teams of the past, these floor generals score, pass, play huge amounts of minutes, and always play defense. They can take over a game, if need be, but they are the metronome of the whole game. In a five game tournament, they must keep the other players in line, calm, and expressly are an extension of the coach himself, but are on the floor. These great guards (Isaiah Thomas, David Rivers, Bobby Hurley, Ty Lawson, Sharon Collins, etc..etc..) had all of those/these qualities, making them unforgettable and indispensable, at the same time.

The last piece to the puzzle has to be one strong and dominate big man. His presence inside the paint, both offensively and defensively, are so imposing he owns both sections of paint. His footwork, on both ends, allows him to block/alter all shots around him, score anytime he has position (which is often) and is generally unstoppable in all fazes of the game. He is a leader and does not fluster, no matter how much pounding he takes. As with the guard, a tourny bound team/elite team must have, the centers/forwards from the past and future (Russell, Chamberlain, Walton, Manning, Duncan, Hansborough, Thabeet, etc...etc..), all had these features. They play, as if they are possessed, fearless, and/or have hammer their will on the opposition.

A coach, dominate big man, and a great floor general is the only way teams make it to the tournament. This year is a prime example, Notre Dame has a great team on paper (once ranked in the top 10), a "good coach," guard (McAlarney) and big man (Harringody), but they have not gelled, not playing as a team, and they are now faced with having to win the Big East Tournament, to have a chance to go the "Big Dance." However, other teams who are not/will not have any problems making the conference tourny, much less "The Big Dance," are pretty easy to see: Duke, Missouri, UCONN, Florida State, UNC, Kansas, Louisville, Gonzaga, even Butler already clinched a spot, as conference champs. However, look for these teams to be the ones to beat, come "March Madness Tourny" time and the two players (a big time guard and inside player): Oklahoma ((T. Griffin/Blake Griffin), UNC (Ty Lawson/Hansborough), UCONN (Miller/Thabeet), KU (Collins/Aldridge), Texas (Pittman/Abrams). This handful of teams has all three parts, and should be a dominate force, when everything counts and teams play in a one and done atmosphere. In a five game tournament, for the national title, several teams can enter and play, but very few can win consistently.

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Pittsburgh Steelers, James "Cheap Shot" Harrison, A Goon!

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James Harrison was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, for the 2008-'09 season. However, after the Super Bowl, maybe he should be known as the biggest steroid, HGH, and just plain dirty player of the year. All of the interviews with Santanio Holmes and "Big Ben," after the Steelers win, days later few are talking about one of the most blatant disregards for NFL rules and the NFL game. In the fourth quarter, if you do not already know, Harrison was caught (in the middle of the field) beating the daylights out of Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco. The play was down field and Francisco was face down on the ground (due to a clean sweep from Harrison), thirty yards from the action, when the inexcusable happened. Harrison took multiple shots to his ribs and back, with clinched fists, then when the safety looked up/tried to get up, Harrison hit him full force, knocking him over backwards (for no reason at all, and looking like an obvious example of "roid rage").

Very few net articles, radio spots, and television channels have even touched on the incident, with the exception of John Madden (during the game) saying, "Harrison should be thrown out of the game for that, there is no excuse." The NFL and ESPN are not addressing the problem at all, but there is a bigger picture here. One billion people watched the Super Bowl this year, and countless numbers of those people were kids. If this was an isolated incident, maybe the Commissioner could have a talk with him and/or fine him. However, this is not the first problem and it does look like the player is a 'Roid Raging Idiot'. Earlier in 2008, law enforcement was called on Harrison, for a domestic dispute. Harrison was picked up later, after leaving the scene, for the following: "According to the criminal complaint filed in night court and obtained by KDKA, Harrison allegedly got into an argument with his girlfriend and she locked herself in her bedroom to call 911. Police say Harrison broke through the door, broke her cell phone in half and slapped her in the face."

The minimum for Harrison should be a $50-100,000 fine, a four game suspension, and he should be tested for Steroids, HGH, and other drugs, immediately! Regardless of what kind of man, player, and/or boyfriend Harrison is, he should pay a stiff penalty for his actions on Super Bowl Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the commissioner (Roger Goodell) should also be held to task for their lack of action, overall. Just a handful of days out, from the Super Bowl, there is still plenty of time for people to act. However, Roger Goodell can be the voice of reason and making things right. Although, the more days go by, the less and less the possibility of action against Harrison.

The bottom Line is the Pro Bowl is this weekend, which James Harrison is attending, and the "Almighty Dollar" will be the only thing NFL, Goodell, the Steelers, and Harrison will be concerned with, not the people and kids in America. The NFL will not risk any bad publicity. The media is gutless and will not be asking him questions before, during, or after the Pro Bowl. The Steelers hopes it all just goes away, and it is a shame. It would be a minor miracle if anyone takes action against "The Defensive Player of the Year," or should I say the "Defensive Steroiding Player of the Year" (another thing, the NFL won't touch with a stick). In a Super Bowl to remember, athletes with superior skill and amazing work ethic (like Hines Ward, Holmes, Big Ben, Warner, and Fitzgerald, to name a few), it is sad to see a brutish, hopped up man, make such a mockery of a great game. It is no wonder he was cut from three teams, before landing with the Steelers. It just looks like he didn't have the talent without the "helpers" and now that he has them, he is no role model for anyone. To bad, every time the game is shown, packaged for resell, or on ESPN Classic kids and others have to look at such a blatant set of cheap shots and how the media, Steelers, and the NFL handled the whole situation.

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Springsteen, "The Boss," Sinks At Super Bowl

From DMAN, At The Thought Spigot

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Bruce Springsteen has never been silent on his views, politics, and mostly he has lived on the American's view of him, as a working man's friend and one of the "Blue Collar" guys. However, nothing was more important, to "The Boss," than the "Born In The U.S.A." album. It made him a pop culture icon, but more importantly, it showed a "blue collar icon," for Americans and America, as a whole.Of the album, Springsteen broke out, worldwide, with "Dancing in the Dark" (with a little help from a young Courtney Cox, in the video), which won him a Grammy and reached #2 on the Billboard Top 100. Yet, "Cover Me," "No Surrender," "My Hometown," and "I'm On Fire" were all released and on the charts, but "Born In The U. S. A." became a mantra for America.

Presidents, politicians (John Kerry in his campaign), sports teams, radio stations and countless other people use "Born in the U. S. A." for a variety of situations, still today. "The Boss" was made into a huge mainstream star, becoming the "working class singer" (a modern day Bob Dylan, if you will).Fast forward to Super Bowl Sunday, at halftime. An older Springsteen, with the whole E Street Band, was in front of millions. Opening with "Born to Run" (a 70's staple and one single putting him on the map), "Working on a Dream," and finishing with an extended of "Glory Days." No "Born In The U. S. A." on the agenda at all.

The "Blue Collar," for the people, and working class hero decided on a stage where millions and millions of people are watching (looking forward, and expecting with two wars going on in Iraq/Afghanistan, plus countless Americans abroad) not to play a song for all Americans (not to mention, his "signature song"). Maybe, Bruce decided, or the NFL decided, the American people's voice wasn't that important, or it would offend someone?ESPN had a game, where a certain amount of questions were asked (in a fantasy game format). Example, "Will there be a run for more than 40+ yards?" Another question was, "Will Bruce Springsteen open his set with "Born in the U. S. A.?"

I suppose people do not know about "The Boss'" far liberal stance and on American policies, in his older age? Either way, on a night as great as Super Bowl Sunday, to be asked to play the whole half time festivities, one would think Mr. Springsteen would take some responsibility, using his clout and platform for America. It is just a song, but America needs all the help it can get now. Obviously, "The Boss" is more interested in "The Wrestler" (the movie coming out this weekend) and his Golden Globe award, then the American people's overall views and emotions, or maybe he is not the "working class icon" people have given him credit for (and his politics now play top fiddle, in his life, over Americans).

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Yankees Making A Mockery of MLB

FROM DMAN AT The Thought Spigot

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Across the Major League landscape, anyone who knows a thing about baseball, realizes that, "any given day, anyone can win." The Devil Rays last year had a great story, in the 2008. The Oakland A's, in the late 1990's, were a team that used a light payroll and a mix of great scouting to win (going to the playoffs). However, the margin of dollars spent by big name, or "big market," clubs is getting ridiculous. Aside from the one to two teams, a year, scratching and clawing their way to a playoff spot, dollars is the actual name of the game. In any other sport, if there was no salary cap, a team could buy their way to the title.

The Yankees, this off season, have just made a mockery and a demand for a baseball salary cap. The Yankees, with the signing of C. C. Sabathia, A. J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, the New York Yankees are now (by far) paying for a title, in an obscene way. They have Sabathia, Teixeira, A-Rod, and Jeter, all on the same team and are the four highest paid players in baseball. Things do not stop there, with Burnett at 5 years at $82.5 million, putting the Yanks' over $215 million for the season. Overall, the Yankees have added a mere $79.05 million this year. Of course, these players have to stay healthy (not pulling the Carl Pavano), mesh and play team ball (not in fighting and splashing headlines, all over the "N. Y. Times," ala A-Rod/Madonna, or A-Rod vs. Jeter), and they have to actually play between the lines for 162 games, as a team.

It seems you either hate the Yankees, or you love them to death, and everyone loves to complain. Although, what most people do not understand is baseball is not the NFL, or the NBA. The NFL and NBA teams, if a salary cap was not in place, a team would be able to almost buy a title every year. Look at the addition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, for the Boston Celtics (and the Celts' are under a cap), had the Celtics from a "non-playoff team"/"non-factor for a title" to winning a title, and have a 21-3 record this year. The NFL would be a little more tough, to buy a title, because of the smash mouth play, health problems and the players of reckless abandon. However, almost half the teams, or maybe just any team (not owned by Jerry Jones) could take a shot at it and would come close. Baseball is longer season, at 162 games, long road trips, and team cohesion on and off the field, is not something even the Yankees can buy.

So where does that leave the Yankees this year and why even write this, if I don't think you can buy a World Series Ring? Because the Yankees, with the addition of Sabathia, Burnett and possibly Andy Pettite, mixed with 20 game winner Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, and Phil Hughes (if Pettite, or another pitcher doesn't come back) have a staff of four potential Cy Young Award winners. They were the highest scoring team in baseball last year, but their pitching was giving up close to five runs a game. The Yankees also have added Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte, and Nick Swisher, not counting the players coming back (Matsui $13 million, Damon $13 million, Robinson Cano, and "The Sandman" Mariano Rivera). Problem solved, now the Yankees will give up 4 runs a game, and have the potential (night in and night out) to put up 7 to 10 runs a game, in a brand new, state of the art, Yankee Stadium. It is ridiculous and shows how badly the teams need to even up, before the fans lose interest and the sport loses a large portion of their total fan base, period.

Here is what a Yankee line-up would look like, assuming everyone is healthy:
C- Jose Molina, 1B- Teixeira, 2B- Cano, 3B- A-Rod, SS- Jeter, OF- Nady, Swisher, Matsui, Melky Cabrera, Damon, DH- Shelley Duncan (or an extra OF'er)

Starting Rotation- Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Chamberlain, Hughes/Ian Kennedy (possibly Pettite)
Bullpen- Kennedy, Bruney, Marte, Humberto Sanchez, Albaladejo, (plus three other potentials)
Closer- Mariano Rivera

Just plain scary and no team will not complain about it, some fans may be disgusted by it, and there will be plenty of talk about it. one thing is for sure, on paper, the Yankees should be around 160-2, with a playoff and World Series sweep. That is just on paper, not between the lines, and as they say, "everything in the game, only counts between those white lines."

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