It's all or nothing for Sexson in the Bronx

Even as Richie Sexson stumbled through a second consecutive abysmal season, I was part of a minority of baseball fans who believed he still has some good baseball left in him.

The numbers (.218 BA, 76 strikeouts, and just 30 RBIs) are terrible and the swings have been ugly, but Sexson is not yet 34, and he's just two years removed from a 34 HR, 107 RBI season.

Which is exactly why the Yankees took a chance on him. That, and he's fared well against lefties this year.

Sexson's problems, though, seem to have little to do with his physical abilities and a whole lot to do with his psyche. As the great Yogi Berra once said, "Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical."

I was convinced that a change of scenery would do Sexson a lot of good. Arizona, for example, made a lot of sense as a destination. He played well there in limited action in 2004, and a chance to return to National League pitching would likely be beneficial.

But New York?! If Sexson thought Seattle was bad, wait until he goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts! It's a low risk move for New York, which has more than enough money to throw around. If Sexson doesn't work out, they cut him and they're done with him. But if Sexson flounders again in the Bronx, he will significantly hurt his stock as a free agent this offseason.

Here's predicting Sexson isn't on the Yankees' postseason roster.

David Eckstein on the art of winning fans and influencing people

I was at the Mariners-Blue Jays game last night, and besides the fact that Roy Halladay is a dominating pitcher and Canadian fans are obnoxious, I made an interesting observation.

David Eckstein is not just a scrappy baseball player, but he's also a genuinely good guy.

An hour or so before the game, Eckstein signed dozens autograph and posed for every picture with fans along the third base line. Two or three times he had turned back toward the field to begin his stretching routine, only to be drawn back by another youngster who wanted his glove signed by a real live Major Leaguer.

No one else from either team was out interacting with fans at that point, and with a game looming you can't exactly blame them. But there was Eckstein, the Ex-Factor in all his shortness, making people's days.

That's how heroes are born.

Tiger's absence: good or bad for the sport?

Nice piece by Rick Morrissey in the Chicago Tribune, outlining all the reasons why Tiger missing the rest of the season is bad news for the PGA.

Namely, less people in the galleries, fewer people tuning into each tournament -- even the majors -- and as a result, less money for everyone connected with the sport. That is, except for the rest of the golfers on the PGA, who stand to benefit greatly. Think of all the extra prize money available with Tiger home on the La-Z-Boy!

But, as Morrissey points out, each of the tournament winners will have a figurative asterisk by their name, and the sports world will wonder how things had been different if Woods had played. Tiger, we can all agree, has become the standard.

Morrissey's arguments are all good and true, but I wonder if Tiger's absence might not be a good thing indirectly. We have all waited (thus far, in vain) for a worthy nemesis to emerge in the world of golf. Tiger, though, has kept the petal to the metal and no other golfer has been able to string together much of a challenge.

Now that's he's gone, though, perhaps a young, underachieving golfer can find his game, his personality, and his confidence. Sergio Garcia, for example, is long past due for such a renaissance. Phil Mickelson might find the fire in his belly after all. What about Zach Johnson?

It could be that in Woods' absence golf will become once again a sport of parity, and when he returns it will seem as if nothing has changed. We can only hope that's not the case, but if so, the brief interruption to Tiger's reign of dominance will seem like a blip on the radar.

Bavasi, Randolph take the fall...did they deserve it?

Two underachieving teams finally decided it was time to do something. One placed the blame with the general manager, the other with the manager.

Mariners GM Bill Bavasi and Mets manager Willie Randolph, scapegoats for their respective franchises, have been fired.

Bavasi was fired Monday after four-plus unsuccessful seasons. Seattle had one winning record and never made it to the playoffs under his leadership. His head-scratching moves included trading promising reliever Rafael Soriano for bust of the decade starter Horacio Ramirez. Bavasi also cut a struggling Brad Wilkerson just months after signing the right fielder to a $3 million contract.

But Bavasi will forever be linked to the deals that brought in Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, two contracts that have saddled the Mariners' payroll but never brought the returns Bavasi expected.

At 24-46, Seattle is the worst of the worst despite its $117 million payroll.

The Mets, meanwhile, have underachieved just as mightily. Their $138 payroll and the addition of Johan Santana had many believing this was a team that was World Series-bound. But 69 games into the season, New York finds itself under .500 and trailing two teams in the NL East.

After mulling the decision apparently all night, the Mets gave Randolph the pink slip in the middle of the night. Pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto were also let go.

This all leads me to something I've been pondering the last couple of weeks. When a team underperforms, who really is to blame? Is firing the manager -- who simply fills in the lineup card and tries to set the tone in the clubhouse -- an appropriate response? Does the general manager, who makes personnel decisions, deserve the blame when things don't pan out?

What about the players? Except for Sidney Ponson, you don't see too many guys told to take a hike. But in reality, the players are the ones not coming up with the clutch hit or failing to produce a quality start.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts in the comments or in the poll to the right.

House foundational to Celtics' comeback

There were many keys to the Celtics' come-from-behind victory Thursday night, but there's one that sticks out like the shine on Sam Cassell's forehead.

When Boston needed a spark from its bench, Eddie House was the man for the job.

The Celtics' backup guard scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in 24 minutes -- modest numbers, to be sure. But he brought something to the table that has been absent with Cassell in the same role. With the energetic House on the floor, the Celtics had a +20 point differential, the largest for any player on either team.

House had only a DNP to show for each of the first two games in Boston; Cassell was mediocre in limited action (though it seemed like he shot every time he touched the ball), but the Celtics didn't need much from him. But Rivers gave House a decent look in Game 3 and further integrated him into the game plan in Game 4.

If you're wondering what took Rivers so long, you're not alone.

Cassell has had a great career that includes two NBA titles, but the man is pushing 39 and clearly on his way out of the league. House is a 30-year old role player and hasn't won a championship, but you can tell he's starting to taste it. He's hungrier.

More than likely, this series has at least two games left. When the backup minutes are there, House should get them.

Donaghy alleges NBA Playoffs conspiracy

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy is a scumbag, and his actions were worse than anything Pete Rose ever did.

But that doesn't make Donaghy a liar by default.

The former referee's attorney filed an allegation in New York's U.S. District Court Tuesday, saying referees played an active role in fixing the outcome of critical playoff games.

"Tim knew referees A and F to be 'company men,'" the attorney letter read, "always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night, it was in the NBA's interest to add another game to the series."

The series in question is 2002 Western Conference Finals, in which Los Angeles won Games 6 and 7 to beat the Kings. In the critical Game 6, the Lakers shot 27 free throws to the Kings' nine in the fourth quarter alone.

"Referees A and F heavily favored [the Lakers]. Personal fouls [resulting in obviously injured players] were ignored even when they occurred in full view of the referees. Conversely, the referees called made-up fouls on [Sacramento] in order to give additional free throw opportunities for [the Lakers].

As fans of the game, we'd prefer to dismiss Donaghy's statement as a last-ditch effort to bring others down with him. But even in this NBA Finals, six years later, the tenor of Donaghy's words seems to ring true.

In Game 2, the home team Celtics shot 38 free throws to the Lakers' 10. In Game 3 in Los Angeles, the shoe was on the other foot, with the Lakers taking 34 trips to the line to Boston's 22. Attribute it to a difference in aggression levels, if you like, but the standard for a foul seemed to have drastically changed on the cross-country flight.

Home court advantage is always talked about as such a crucial component to success in the playoffs, and the fan mood undoubtedly has some influence on the outcomes of games. But Donaghy's accusations make me wonder if home court means you also get a little help from the officiating as needed.

Anything for a seven-game series, right?

Griffey's 600th less watched, but more praiseworthy than Bonds' 756

If Ken Griffey, Jr. hit career home run #600 but only 16,003 people were there to see it, does that mean it doesn't matter?

More than 22,000 sports fans passed on the chance to witness history at Dolphin Stadium Monday night, when Griffey joined an exclusive club. Only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa are members.

The story made the front page of ESPN.com and Yahoo! Sports (both sites featured a "Sweet 600" headline -- who's the mole?!), but where has all the buildup been? Where was the buzz?

For one, I think we're all experiencing a little milestone fatigue. We were all force fed Bonds' pursuit of 756, a chase that left most fans with a sour taste in their mouths. And fans were well aware of Manny Ramirez reaching the 500 milestone just over a week ago.

Maybe the bigger factor in our collective disinterest, though, is cynicism. The Mitchell Report (now that was an event that earned some buildup) taught us to disbelieve what we see on SportsCenter, and that many -- perhaps most -- of the greatest sluggers of our generation are also cheaters.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that Griffey is clean and always has been. You will never convince me that Griffey's 600 is the same as Sosa's 600. I would even go so far as to say that his 600 is more significant than Bonds' 756. Before Bonds, only Aaron, Ruth, and Mays -- three of the greatest of all time -- had hit 600. You can make the argument that he belongs in that company even without the benefit of steroids, but we can never know for sure.

Griffey, though (again, assuming he's clean), can rightfully stake his claim to presence in that elite company with tonight's home run. Home run #600 is not a record, not by anyone's counting. But it's a major milestone, achieved fair and square, by a good guy and one of baseball's all-time greats.

AP PHOTO

No Shake for You! Celebration costs Uruguayan handshake at French Open

Doubles tennis doesn't usually make headlines, which is a shame, because it's just as much a part of the sport as singles (and more fun to watch, in my opinion).

But semi-famous American doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan made the news at the French Open when they refused to shake their opponents' hands following a three-set loss in the quarterfinals.

Trailing 5-1 in the third set tiebreaker, the Bryans were miffed when opponent Pablo Cuevas celebrated by leaping over the net. In case you're wondering, the more orthodox and civilized way is to walk around the net post, taking a swig of your Evian water while you're at it.

The Bryans took umbrage: "He was really disrespectful," Mike said. "He jumped the net right in our face. It's classless." The brothers punished Cuevas the only way they knew how, by refusing to shake his hand after the match, and I'm guessing no hugs were exchanged, either. Cuevas seemed to be OK with that.

"Maybe I celebrated a little too much. But it's worth it," he said. "It's not every day you beat the No. 1 team."

Not very classy behavior by either doubles team, if you ask me. Hopping the net is juvenile and should be reserved for a Saturday morning practice session, but the Bryans could have easily risen above the fray by giving their excited opponent a pass.

It can't get much lower for the Rockies

We've heard all about how weird of a baseball season it's been so far, and who am I to argue?

Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League but still can't convince anyone there to see it for themselves, the Yankees are struggling just to stay out of the cellar, and the Cubs have the best record in the Majors. (They're the Cubs, though, so disaster is bound to strike eventually.)

But what I haven't heard many people talking about is the Colorado Rockies, the team that swept through the NL playoffs last year and seemed poised to at least duke it out with the Diamondbacks for tops in the West this year. Fifty-seven games into the season, though -- this year's more than 1/3 over, folks -- Colorado looks like the worst team in baseball.

Perhaps the lowest of lows came Friday afternoon when the Rockies surged to a 9-1 lead over the Cubs after five innings. Even at Wrigley, an eight run lead should be safe. Chicago rallied for three in the sixth and six in the seventh, and just like that, Colorado snatched defeat from the jaws of victory: the second in a four game sweep at Wrigley, and the fifth of seven straight.

Why the sudden turnaround, less than a year after the Rockies seemed to be building a dynasty? Three reasons, as I can see it (though there may be more).

First and foremost, it seems that last year was an aberration, not this. Before reeling off 14 of 15 to steal the Wild Card last season, the Rockies were 76-72. Respectable, but not outstanding. They got hot at just the right time, and their streak extended through the NLDS and NLCS. But let's not forget that Colorado finished last in the West in 2005 and 2006.

Second, the Rockies' pitching has been atrocious. The team ERA is 5.05, worst in the Majors. Jeff Francis, who was supposed to be the team ace, is 1-5 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Aaron Cook (7-3, 3.36) is the only starter who's been decent, but even he had a rough day Friday, coughing up seven runs in the Cubs' comeback.

Lastly, they've been without Troy Tulowitzki essentially the whole season. Tulo was off to a crummy start when he tore his quadriceps at the end of April. Without his leadership and energy on the field and in the clubhouse, this club is going to struggle. Injuries to Matt Holliday, Clint Barmes, and Brad Hawpe haven't helped, either.

Colorado proved last season that it has some streak in it, and with the crazy things I've seen so far this year, I'm not going to count them out. But at 12 games back and with four teams to pass, it's a long road to the top.

On Vacation!

Hi, everyone. I'm leaving this morning for vacation, so no blog posts for me until the first week of June. I suppose events in the sports world will just have to unfold without my being here to analyze them.

The wrong kind of chin music

One of the biggest critiques of the anti-metal bat movement sweeping the country is that it's primarily based upon anecdotal evidence. The hard data, people say, will show you that metal bats are no more dangerous than wood bats.

Try telling that to the family of a Lacey, Washington high school sophomore whose jaw was shattered by a rocket off an Easton Stealth Composite. The kid will spend the next 2-4 months with his jaws wired shut, could lose two teeth, and will know for the rest of his life that he was spared from death by millimeters.

I wrote a story for today's Olympian on the nearly tragic event and a sidebar on the player's parents asking for a change in the rules. Check them out, if you like.

In preparing to write the story, I recalled a blog entry I wrote months ago on this very subject. In it I said,

"If you take the metal bats away from baseball, kids and young adults will still sustain serious injuries and even death due to batted balls, simply because the nature of such events is so unforeseen. It's about being in the exactly wrong place at exactly the wrong time."

There is truth to the notion, but it's hard not to be persuaded when you're sitting in front of a kid whose jaws are wired shut and parents filled with fear and anger.

Is home court a self-fulfilling prophecy?

If you ask me, these NBA playoffs have become a little too predictable. Like top-tier tennis players slugging it out, holding serve until the set reaches a tiebreaker, the remaining teams seem invincible on their home courts.

When the series swaps cities, though, Dr. Jekyll stays home and Mr. Hyde doesn't seem to travel well.

Throughout the regular season, NBA teams playing at home were
769-491 (.611 winning percentage), but keep in mind that includes Miami and Seattle, which were woeful wherever they played. In the Conference Semifinals the home team is 11-1 (.917), with the only defeat coming to the Magic at the hands of the Pistons.

I understand that at home the fans are booing instead of cheering, and players can shoot free throws without the distraction of waving balloons or cowbells. And it makes sense that sleeping in your own bed and preparing in your own locker room and playing on your own home floor give somewhat of an advantage.

But I'm starting to wonder if the expectation of winning at home -- and by extension, losing on the road -- is as great a factor as any. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Home teams are supposed to win, so they play more focused, intelligent and physical basketball. Away teams are supposed to lose, so they loosen up the screws a bit, maybe try something different, and the net result is sloppy and/or lethargic play.

My theory is a little bit "out there," so I'd be interested in any other explanations for what we've seen in the last couple of weeks. In the meantime, excuse me while I watch the Hornets win Game 5.

Time for Houston to end the Bourn Experiment

Here's a riddle for the Houston Astros to chew on: how valuable is an incredible base runner that rarely reaches base?

When the Astros acquired Michael Bourn as part of the deal that sent Brad Lidge to Philadelphia, it seemed like a great fit. Bourn was born and raised in Houston, played at the University of Houston, and was originally drafted (but not signed) by the Astros.

Most of all, Houston envisioned a spark plug at the top of the order, a speedy center fielder who could get on and steal bases.

So far Bourn has fulfilled only the less important of the two expectations: he leads the Majors in stolen bases with 17, but that's only because he steals just about every time he reaches base. In 34 games, Bourn is hitting .198 with an OBP of .269.

Make no mistake about it, Bourn's base stealing abilities are outstanding: he hasn't been caught once. But an 0-4 every third night -- and a 1-4 or 1-5 on the other two -- just doesn't get the job done. Among regular Major League leadoff hitters, Bourn ranks near the bottom with just 16 runs scored. Rafael Furcal has 34, and even a slow-starting Ichiro has 26. Teammate Lance Berkman has a Major League-leading 40.

Houston is playing some great baseball at this stage of the season, so it's easy enough to overlook Bourn's struggles. But at some point, a "slow start" or an "early-season slump" are no longer fair descriptors for plain ineptitude.

If the Astros plan to make a run at the NL Central, they need to end the Bourn Experiment sooner rather than later. Let Hunter Pence play center and bat leadoff, and use Bourn in the role best suited for his talents: pinch runner.

Michael Bourn (Wikipedia)
Michael Bourn Statistics (Baseball Reference)

If you're looking for innings, Livan Hernandez is still your man

Say what you want about Livan Hernandez -- he's pudgy, he's got average stuff, and there's no way he's only 33 years old -- but the man is an innings eater.

Hernandez has been traded or cast away by four teams now, but when the dust settles, there he is, pitching late into games every fifth day. He was at it again Wednesday night, tossing a complete game victory over the White Sox to improve to 5-1 for the Twins, who now look brilliant for signing him for peanuts ($5 million with up to $2 million in incentives) in the offseason.

The strange thing about Hernandez is that he's really never been a dominating pitcher. Decent stuff, but never great; just ask the players who've taken him deep 279 times since 1996. His 4.24 career ERA is pedestrian, as is his 1.42 WHIP, but he always takes the ball and rarely relinquishes it before the seventh inning.

Since 1998, Hernandez leads the majors in innings pitched with 2,324. Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens are distant competitors. Granted, Innings Pitched is a simple stat that doesn't tell the whole story, as evidenced by his 126 losses -- or almost 12 per year -- over that time period.

But ask a manager with a tired bullpen how he feels about five earned runs in eight innings from his starter, and I bet he'll say he'd take it. That's Hernandez, though to be fair, he's often better than that. Even with a .500 record most seasons, Hernandez is an asset to any pitching rotation.

That Hernandez does it not only night after night, but also year after year -- seemingly without time off for injuries -- is all the more remarkable. Since 1998, Hernandez lowest start total is 30 games. Are you listening, Josh Beckett?

It seems that Hernandez's average stuff and seemingly cavalier attitude have turned off some of the teams he's played for. San Francisco, for instance, seemed convinced that Hernandez was over the hill after he bombed in the 2002 World Series, and they shipped him to Montreal for Jim Brower in 2003.

Think they'd like to have that one back? The later Nationals traded Hernandez, though, and Arizona let him walk after last season. Hernandez has responded to his sendoffs in the only way he knows: he just keeps pitching.

Livan Hernandez Statistics (Baseball Reference)

Yankees, Sox fans exemplify worst in sports rivalries

Sports rivalries are all fun and games until someone decides to "take this outside."

A Yankees fan who found herself among throngs of Red Sox fans at a New Hampshire bar has been charged with the reckless second-degree murder of one of her hecklers. When an argument over whose team was the best made its way outside, Ivonne Hernandez got into her car, pointed it toward a crowd of Red Sox fans, and gunned it.

Matthew Beaudoin, 29, was struck by her vehicle and later died of massive head trauma.

It all started innocently enough, when Hernandez walked into enemy territory and announced her loyalties. Probably a bad idea, but if you've got the stomach for it, you could have a lot of fun with the bantering. But with alcohol also involved, the bantering eventually became heated.

What Ms. Hernandez did was wrong in every way, and she will deserve whatever sentence she receives. But each Red Sox fan that poked and prodded her along the way, and especially those that followed her outside, share in the blame for what happens. And cold as it may sound, that includes Mr. Beaudoin.

Roger Clemens is sorry, but for what?

For all his high-ranking Republican friends, Roger Clemens took a page right out of Bill Clinton's book Sunday.

Clemens issued a heartfelt "no apology" apology to his family and the public via a statement to the Houston Chronicle. He was sincere, remorseful, and managed to avoid admitting -- and even went so far as denying -- the accusations levied against him about a supposed decade-long affair with country singer Mindy McCready.

"I know that many people want to know what I have to say about the recent articles in the media," Clemens said. "Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry. I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right."

So Roger, what specifically are those mistakes? What flaws do you have that you'd be willing to unveil to the public? Nice try, but he's not going down that easy.

"I realize that many people want me to simply confess and apologize for the conduct that I have been accused of, but I cannot confess to, nor apologize for, things I did not do. I have apologized to my family for my mistakes. And having offered this apology to the public, I would ask that you let me and my family deal with these matters in private."

The delusions of innocence continue unhindered, I suppose. Clemens has clearly told these stories so many times that he now believes them, and he continues to invite us to join him in his fantasy land.

Inside the mind of Barry Zito, baseball's most overpaid long reliever

Baseball's highest paid starter can add a new title to his resume: highest paid long reliever.

A slumping Barry Zito, 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA, was demoted from the San Francisco rotation Monday. The move, which the Giants hope to be short-term, is intended to give Zito the space he needs to pull his head out of wherever he's managed to lodge it.

Without any specific injuries to point to, we can only assume that the source of Zito's problems is his mind. And since we can only guess as to what might actually be going on in there, let's take a look at Zito's wisdom after his starts this season.

• 4/27 (3 IP, 8 ER, 7 H, 3 BB vs. Cincinnati): “I definitely want the ball. I’m not backing down from that,” Zito said. “But they know what’s best for the ballclub. It feels (bad) going out here and losing for these guys.”
  
  
• 4/23 (3.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB vs. Arizona): “I take all the blame here,” Zito said. “Our guys came out, did what they had to do against a good pitcher and I was unable to hold them down.”
  


• 4/16 (6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 5 BB vs. Arizona): “I know I have good stuff in me and it will serve us eventually,” he said. “Stick with my approach, keep going out there with my head up. You can’t get down. Baseball is fun, even though it doesn’t seem fun sometimes.”
  


• 4/6 (5 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 2 BB vs. Milwaukee): “The results aren’t what I want, but I made a lot better pitches consistently and got ahead consistently,” Zito said. “Got to work on keeping that ball true instead of having it come back.”
  


• 3/31 (5 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 1 BB vs. Los Angeles): “I wanted to come out here and start off the season on a good note, but that first inning got out of hand. If I could take a couple of pitches back, it’s a one-run game.”

Thanks for the pearls, Barry. Now how about some outs?

Tyler Hansbrough must really want a national championship

Tyler Hansbrough has announced he'll be staying for his senior year at North Carolina.

The AP national player of the year, who averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, has decided to stick around and pick up his degree. That, and take one more shot at the national championship.

The siren song of the NBA draft has already lured the likes of OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley, and DJ Augustin. Hansbrough's teammates Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will also declare for the draft but do not plan to hire agents, so a return to North Carolina is still possible.

The sky is the limit for Mayo and Beasley, who fared well in their season-long auditions for the NBA. But Hansbrough, tremendous heart and toughness notwithstanding, is still 6'9" post man that will never dominate at the next level.

That's why this decision makes sense. Why jump prematurely into a journeyman career? Hansbrough will put up more solid numbers next season, maybe get that coveted championship if Lawson and Ellington change their minds, and still be a mid-first round draft pick in 2009. And if an NBA career really doesn't pan out, Hansbrough will have a college degree in his back pocket.

Kudos to Hansbrough for putting the money on hold while he pursues things that matter more.

Shaun Alexander cut by Seahawks as the "Madden Curse" continues

It really shouldn't surprise us anymore when something bad happens to a former Madden cover man.

We all know the sad endings of Garrison Hearst and Michael Vick, and Daunte Culpepper hasn't exactly panned out as expected, either. Several others have had injuries in the season after they lent their image to the world's hottest sports video game franchise.

But this really shouldn't surprise anyone: the Seahawks have severed ties with Shaun Alexander. Two seasons removed from his MVP year -- 28 touchdowns 1,880 yards and a trip to the Super Bowl -- and a $60 million dollar contract, Alexander is a man without a team.

Seahawks release former MVP Alexander (ESPN.com)
Madden Curse (Wikipedia)

Steinbrenner to world: Joba Chamberlain belongs in the rotation!

If there was ever any doubt, let's put it to rest now: Hank Steinbrenner is a chip off the old block.

Steinbrenner made headlines again yesterday, announcing that it was time for Joba Chamberlain to enter the starting rotation.

"I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now," Steinbrenner told the New York Times. "There is no question about it, you don't have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a set-up guy. You just don't do that. You have to be an idiot to do that."

There are two problems with the statement. First, Steinbrenner is wrong. The Yankees have an assigned Chamberlain an innings limit, and if they plugged him into the rotation now, they would have to shut him down come September. No one, except maybe the Red Sox, wants that.

But even if he was right -- blind squirrels have been known to stumble upon the odd acorn -- Steinbrenner isn't in charge of personnel decisions. His job is to help supply the cash, steer the team in a general direction, and keep his nose out of Brian Cashman's and Joe Girardi's business.

Cashman, for his part, held his ground and diffused the potentially tense situation.

"Joba's staying in the bullpen right now," Cashman told Newsday. "That's where we're at. [Putting him in the rotation is] not something that's going to happen here early on, and [Hank] knows that. We've talked about it. I don't know what set him off."

Well said, Cashman. You can tell the man has dealt with Steinbrenners before. Girardi, though, has to be scratching his head right about now. What was so bad about the Orioles' job again?

Hank wants Joba to start (Newsday)
Chamberlain will start, later than sooner (NY Times)

MLB Power Rankings - 4/20

I'm participating on a power rankings panel over at Odds and Sods, but I figured I would cross-post my rankings in their entirety here. In case you're wondering, #6-25 didn't disappear. I just don't have that kind of time.

TOP 5

1. BOSTON – Perhaps the burial and subsequent unearthing of the Red Sox t-shirt in the new Yankee Stadium is having some sort of positive effect. More likely, though, the big Red Sox Machine is clicking on all cylinders and Boston looks like the team to beat.

2. ARIZONA – Remember when the Diamondbacks won the West despite scoring fewer runs than their opponents last season? Thus far, Arizona leads the Majors in runs scored by 14, and its team ERA of 2.80 is tops as well. The Brandon Webb-Dan Haren combo has been as expected, and the return of a healthy Randy Johnson makes Arizona a very dangerous team.

3. CHICAGO (NL) – The Cubs are the best team in the Central, hands-down. Derrek Lee is en fuego (.356, 7 HR), and Kosuke Fukudome (.317, 13 runs, 3 SB) has been a great addition to the lineup.

4. NEW YORK (NL) – The loss of Pedro Martinez was a blow, but the Mets didn’t exactly have his services available last season and shouldn’t have needed him to reach the postseason. Santana hasn’t been breathtaking, but he hasn’t been disappointing either. And when this offense starts to heat up, watch out.

5. CHICAGO (AL) – With Cleveland and Detroit off to abysmal starts, the White Sox have quietly assumed control of the AL Central. A rotation without Jon Garland is thinner, but third baseman Joe Crede (.305, 5 HR, 18 RBI) has been a huge part of a surprisingly productive offense.


BOTTOM 5

26. DETROIT - The Tigers may rank near the top of the game in talent and experience, but so far those intangibles haven't translated into victories. We'll see if Curtis Granderson's return is the boost they need.

27. SAN FRANCISCO – It should tell you something that the Giants’ 8-11 start is considered a pleasant surprise by this longtime fan. Every day ahead of the Dodgers in the standings is a good day.

28. PITTSBURGH – Despite terrific starts from no-namers Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit, the Pirates are battling it out with the Astros for last place in baseball’s worst division. Something tells me this race will go down to the wire.

29. HOUSTON – The Astros have the offense to compete, but the pitching staff is suspect at best. And with longtime ace Roy Oswalt on pace for a 6-plus ERA and 25 losses, things could go down the tubes fast.

30. WASHINGTON – The walk-off home run to usher in the new stadium seems like a very long time ago. A nine-game losing streak is part of a current stretch in witch the Nationals have lost 14 of 16.

Tejada's unscheduled "double birthday" adds insult to GM Wade's injury

Miguel Tejada is 33, not 31. We all know that now, thanks to his basically coerced confession.

ESPN and a team of lawyers got their hands on a copy of Tejada's birth certificate from the Dominican Republic and showed it to Tejada.

His confession, unsurprisingly, came shortly thereafter:

"I was a poor kid," Tejada said. "I wanted to sign a professional contract, and that was the only way to do it. I didn't want or mean to do anything wrong. At the time, I was two years older than they thought."

Must have been a relief to get that off of his chest. But whatever weight Tejada feels lifted is sitting squarely on the shoulders of Astros general manager Ed Wade. Wade pulled the trigger on a deal sending five players to Baltimore for Tejada, only to learn the next day that Tejada's name was among those listed in the Mitchell Report.

Oops. Talk about fortuitous timing. Think Wade could have gotten a better deal by waiting an extra day or two?

And now this, which in fairness to Wade, was probably unavoidable from a team standpoint. It's too bad people don't have some sort of objective indicator -- you know, like rings on trees -- that prove how old they are. Instead, it was taken as a given that Tejada was 31.

Wade gave his best poker face in addressing the issue:

“It was brought to our attention that the date we carry for Tejada, the year of birth, is incorrect,” Wade said. “We told Miguel we were going to go ahead and make the appropriate changes and all the information was put forward. But the fact of the matter is he’s playing like he was 25.”

True enough. Miggy is hitting .328 with 3 home runs and 11 RBI in the young season. But he's making $13 million this season and has a player option for another $13 million next season.

In his heart of hearts, you have to wonder if Wade is starting to hope that Tejada walks so that he can forget this deal ever happened.

How Tiger can use his "recovery" time

Tiger Woods "broke the news" on his Web site Tuesday that he'd had arthroscopic knee surgery, but there was something a little suspicious about the announcement and its timing. Woods did not seem to be favoring either leg at the Masters, and it wasn't his left knee that missed all of those birdie and par putts.

I'm not suggesting that Tiger didn't actually have the surgery, but just think about how convenient of an alibi it becomes for a disappointing finish. And think of all the things Woods could accomplish in a month-long hiatus in the middle of golf season:

Teach his daughter, Sam, to golf. She's almost 10 months old now, so she probably will be walking soon. Time to get her fitted for her own set of clubs, Dad. And while we're on the subject, if Sam becomes a great golfer 15 or 20 years down the road, will she be Tigress?

Work with Buick to create a branded car model. Gatorade already released a special, Tiger-branded line of drinks, including "Red Drive," "Cold Fusion," and "Quiet Storm." Buick should follow Gatorade's lead and release the Buick Roar, or something like that.

Go on vacation with his wife, Elin, somewhere far, far away from a golf course. Maybe Fiji. Then again, the paparazzi knows no bounds, and when they see him jogging along the beach, they'll know that the jig is up.

Start writing a book. If you're not a fan of golf, you may not know that Tiger has already written one book, an instructional piece artfully entitled How I play golf. It sold more than a million copies, but can you imagine how a memoir about his life so far would sell? The man is a legend in his own time. And the best part about writing books as a celebrity is that you don't even have to write it; in Terrell Owens' case, you may not have to read it, either!

Find a secluded putting green and start preparing for the U.S. Open. Putting is the weakest component of Tiger's game, and it more than likely cost him the Masters. I can just picture him now, working feverishly at a remote putting green somewhere, like a mad scientist searching for the magic elixir in his lab. The perfect stroke has to be in here somewhere!

We interrupt the conclusion of this baseball game to bring you NASCAR!

If you don't know how the Yankees-Red Sox game ended Saturday, you probably don't have access to cable television, internet, a newspaper, a library, friends, etc. But if all you have going for you is an antenna that beams FOX into your living room, Saturday evening was a disturbing time.

With two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth, Boston leading 4-3, FOX interrupted this copyrighted telecast of Major League Baseball to show the Subway Fresh Fit 500. The network's agreement with NASCAR superseded any obligations it had to a tight finish between rivals, so it was off to the racetrack it went.

In fairness to FOX, even with Red Sox-Yankees game being delayed more than two hours, they were this close to being able to seamlessly double up. And in a further display of fairness, it should be revealed that the conclusion of the game was available on the cable channel FX.

But fairness aside, what is this world coming to? We're talking about the Red Sox and Yankees! NASCAR fans can afford to miss a lap or two, especially when they've got 498 more coming. But if you peal away at lap 499, some people out there in our nation (who don't have maps) are going to come unglued.

This had me pretty upset until I read that a FOX spokesperson had offered a heartfelt apology on behalf of the network: "For any frustration on fans' behalf, we apologize." Forgiven!

Look who's 0-7, last place in AL Central

The Tigers, a team that many thought would contend for the World Series, are 0-for-2008.

In seven tries, including three each against Kansas City and Chicago, Detroit is winless. They are the only team in the Major League without at least one notch in the win column, and only the Giants and Mets don't have at least three wins in the young season.

Of course, as everyone has been quick to point out, there is plenty of baseball left to play. One hundred fifty-five games, to be exact. But at some point down this slippery-slope toward mediocrity, Detroit's players, its owners and its fans should become very, very concerned.

Not since 2003 have the Tigers started out this badly, and that year Detroit lost 119 games. Granted, this is a completely different team, and 119 wins is just as likely than 119 losses. But momentum is a funny thing, and it doesn't appear to be on Detroit's radar yet. In the meantime, the Tigers keep digging themselves into an ever-deepening hole.

Curtis Granderson is set to come back in the next week or so, and his bat and speed may be just the catalyst Detroit needs. If so, it wouldn't be a moment too soon.

Making the case for a third place game in the NCAA Tournament

In a perfect world, I would have just finished watching a tightly-contested battle between the nation's #1 and #3 teams, North Carolina and UCLA. Two of the best big men in the country, Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Love, would fight it out to the end, but my hunch is that the Tar Heels would have prevailed.

Does the fact that it would have been for third place really matter?

Forgive me if I'm feeling a bit of a letdown after Saturday's action, in which the teams I had predicted would meet in the championship fell at the hands of Memphis and Kansas. The Tigers and Jayhawks will make for an interesting game Monday night, and I look forward to watching it.

But don't you think the country deserves to watch a matchup between two of the most storied programs in college basketball, featuring two of the greatest college players in the past decade?

Here are five reasons to resurrect the third place game:

1. Everyone makes more money. The game would draw excellent television ratings -- in a year like this one, Sunday night ratings could exceed the ratings for a Monday night championship -- which means more advertisements, and in turn more money for the CBS network. Another game means more tickets to sell, too (see below).

2. It keeps the fans in town at least another day. Let's face it, if you're a Tar Heels fan, are you going to stick around and fork over the extra money to see Memphis and Kansas? But if you've got the chance to see Hansbrough leave on a high note, you'll make it happen. Host cities would love the third place game for the extra revenue.

3. One more team goes home happy. Love and Hansbrough will make millions in the NBA, but I'm sure either one would give their right arm to get a mulligan on yesterday's game. A third place game allows both teams that lost in the Final Four a shot at redemption, even though only one will actually get it.

4. There is a precedent. From 1946 to 1981, the NCAA held a consolation game for the losers of the Final Four. Don't ask me why they stopped, but don't say there aren't any grounds for having a third place game, either.

5. It keeps the momentum going. Two great games on Saturday, an off day Sunday, and the championship Monday. It just feels kind of weird to have the day off in between, wouldn't you say? It feels almost the same way as when the football world comes to a halt for the week leading up to the Super Bowl. A third place game allows the title contenders to have a day of rest, yet keeps the momentum going for the fans following the tournament to its conclusion.

So NCAA executives, if you're reading this, make the third place game happen!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Disabled List welcomes Mike Hampton back

It might be time for Mike Hampton to sit back, relax, and stop trying to earn his $15,000,000 salary. Or if that's important to him, perhaps Atlanta pitching coach Roger McDowell could use an assistant.

Because if the last five years are any evidence, the marriage between Hampton and pitching is on the rocks, and it's starting to show signs of irreconcilable differences. Before attempting to take the mound for the first time in nearly three years, Hampton was once again sidelined by injury Thursday.

This time it was Hampton's left pectoral, tweaked when Hampton warmed up for a start against the Pirates. When the pain didn't subside, he handed the ball to McDowell and called it quits. On the brighter side, Braves' manager Bobby Cox called Hampton's 23 warmup pitches "excellent."

Since 2003, the left-handed pitcher has had aches and pains in more places than the captain of the balloon volleyball team at the local convalescent center. In that five year time period, Hampton has had a strained calf muscle, Tommy John surgery, a torn oblique muscle, and a strained hamstring. Or, as Jeff Schultz at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, "Mike Hampton isn’t an injured pitcher anymore. He’s a wrenched ankle away from being the poor schlep on the Operation game."

Hampton has been placed on the 15-day DL, and Braves' trainiers said the injury was minor. They may be right, and Hampton may rebound with a great comeback season. But my hunch is this may spiral into the end of a long and injury-riddled career.

Hampton's $121 million contract -- the 23rd largest in all of sports, according to Wikipedia -- is up after this season, and it's hard to imagine teams venturing anywhere near him. Because whatever it is he has, they sure as heck don't want to catch.

Lute Olson returns, throws Kevin O'Neill under bus

Now that Lute Olson has resumed his head coaching duties at Arizona, feel free to put Kevin O'Neill at the top of any "Who's Not" list in sports.

Not only has the 73-year-old Olson returned from his leave of absence to coach the team, but he's also stripped O'Neill of the "handpicked predecessor" label. At a press conference Tuesday, Olson said that O'Neill would not be on the coaching staff next season, the last of his contract.

Following Olson's departure in December to attend to personal issues -- Arizona assistant O'Neill assumed interim coaching duties. He led the Wildcats to a 19-15 season and their 24th consecutive NCAA tournament berth, but apparently that wasn't enough for the looming Olson. O'Neill's coaching style didn't fit the bill, apparently.

"I apologize for what they had to go through this year in terms of the change," Olson said. "They came here to play a wide-open game, and they didn't. That's no one's fault, because that's not coach O'Neill's belief on the offensive end. It was his team once I left. But I said we're going to play Arizona basketball and we're going to have fun doing it."

Olson also reminded anyone who cared to know that he's the one who built the program, and it won't just continue winning by itself, you know. Another dagger to O'Neill.

"You know what, maybe the fans needed to realize that this program doesn't just operate -- we don't go into the gas station and fill the kids up with fuel and turn the key on," Olson said.

And lastly, to anyone who thinks his age is a problem, one more up yours.

"Well, they're all gone and I'm still here," he said.

So much for riding off into the sunset.

Olson says O'Neill won't remain on Arizona staff (AP, via ESPN.com)

MLB Previews: NL East

When Jimmy Rollins called the Phillies the favorites to win the NL East last season, the average fan would have thought he was just running his mouth. The Braves had owned the division from its inception in 1995, and the Mets were coming off a 97-win season. But last year was a different story: New York caved and Philadelphia surged, and Rollins' words proved correct. This year, Carlos Beltran beat him to the punch and called the Phillies the favorites, attempting to take a little pressure off of New York. I, for one, am not buying it.

New York, like the Yankees, has become a big-spending franchise; the Mets payroll this season is $116.1 million, third in baseball behind the Yankees and the Red Sox. Thirteen million of that is invested in Johan Santana, acquired from Minnesota in what might go down as the steal of the century. Behind Santana, the Mets stack up Pedro Martinez, John Maine, and Oliver Perez, a very solid 2-4 in the rotation. Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Carlos Delgado make for a formidable top of the order. With the sour taste of last year's implosion still fresh in their mouths, these Mets should come out strong, and I think 100 wins is not out of reach.

Because of the way they carry themselves -- if they're confident or arrogant, they sure are quiet about it -- Atlanta has been much overlooked in most predictions about the NL East race. At least, that is until Jayson Stark picked the Braves to win the World Series. Yikes! I like Atlanta, too, but Stark seems to be getting ahead of himself. John Smoltz and Tom Glavine are both in their 40s, and Mike Hampton has missed two entire seasons with injuries. If those three can manage to stay in one piece for the duration of the season, the Braves will be in good shape. But at this point, that's a big "if." Mark Teixeira was a huge addition to the middle of that lineup last season, and I predict he'll be an even greater force as he continues to adjust to the league. Atlanta is a very solid franchise: they are a professionally-run organization, have a world-class manager, and a great blend of youth and experience. This team will contend for the division, and the Wild Card is a good possibility.

It feels strange forecasting Philadelphia, the team that won the division last season, for a third-place finish. But that's how I see it. The Phils have a great corps of talent, but last year somehow felt too perfect. Jimmy Rollins is a great baseball player, but I think he overachieved last season; a .280, 20 HR, 75 RBI, 35 SB season seems more realistic to expect for this year. Good, but not great. And if Rollins isn't great, there will be a trickle-down effect through the rest of the lineup. Cole Hamels anchors what looks like a very average pitching staff, which also includes Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Kyle Kendrick (who wasn't traded to Japan after all!). I always feel a little skeptical about any team that has Brad Lidge as a closer, too; he seems like a nice enough guy, but he has not been the same after that horrible 2005 NLCS and World Series. The Phillies will be in the mix, but I see them finishing several back of the pack.

If you were to chart the successes of the Florida Marlins over their brief history, the result would resemble something like a roller coaster. Or a wave, for those more mathematically inclined. The Marlins have twice developed world champion teams, only to quickly disassemble them when it became clear that keeping them together would be costly. Florida's most recent championship in 2003 may seem like a long way away, but I would guess that we will see the valley of the roller coaster in the next season or two; if the ownership is willing to open the checkbook, sustained success may be here before long. Hanley Ramirez is one of the top five players in the game, and Dan Uggla, Josh Willingham, and Andrew Miller should be very fun to watch.

A few days ago, Ken Rosenthal was talking on the radio about how Washington failed to bring in a premier player to attract fans to their new stadium. On the one hand, he's right; I don't know that anyone other than Lastings Milledge would consider Lastings Milledge a big name player. On the other hand, the Nationals do seems to be assembling a young and fairly promising roster -- Milledge, Ryan Zimmerman and Elijah Dukes could be productive for a long, long time. And fans are going to come out to the new stadium regardless of the product out on the field, at least this year. But it's up to the management to leverage the increased revenue into some greater depth on their roster and in their farm system.

Predicted Standings

Team~~~~~~~~~~~~~~GB

New York____________--

Atlanta______________3

Philadelphia__________ 5

Florida_____________ 14

Washington__________18

MLB Previews: NL Central

The NL Central: the only six-team division in baseball, and it seems like every year the league about has to beg a team to win it. Chicago backed into the title in 2007 despite posting a record of 85-77, worst among division winners in baseball. The Cubs lost five of their last seven, but managed to edge the Brewers for the right to lose in the first round to Arizona. All in all, the division has the same kind of feel this season; anything can happen once you get to the playoffs, but the most likely scenario for the NL Central winner is a first round exit.

Despite a much tamer offseason than last year, Chicago figures to be right in the thick of things again this season. The addition of Kosuke Fukudome from Japan should bolster the Cubs' outfield, as long as he pans out as advertised -- one analysis calls him a cross between Ichiro and Hideki Matsui. But the biggest move was the one Chicago didn't, or perhaps more fittingly, couldn't make: the move to acquire Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts. The Cubs think they have holes at second base (sorry Mark DeRosa) and in the leadoff slot, and they seem convinced Roberts is the guy to fill both. Regardless, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez make for a very solid offense. The pitching, on the other hand, could be shaky and may ultimately limit the Cubs' chances in the postseason.

Milwaukee has the best shot at edging the Cubs for the division title. Their bullpen, if it's healthy, has the potential of being one of the best in baseball. Guillermo Mota, Salomon Torres, Derrick Turnbow, and Eric Gagne all have experience as closers, and at their best, the group could be unstoppable. Whether the starting rotation can get the ball to them with a lead is a different question. Ben Sheets tends to be fragile, but when he's healthy he's solid. After Sheets, you've got four #4-5 starters in Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra. Like most other teams, the Brewers' offense will be a matter of "ifs." Prince Fielder should have another huge year, but will returning to the infield help Bill Hall return to 2006 form? Will moving to the outfield hurt Ryan Braun's chances of repeating his offensive outburst as a rookie? And can J.J. Hardy avoid a midseason collapse and generate steady production all season? If the "ifs" are all answered in Milwaukee's favor, the Brew Crew will give the Cubs a run for their money.

When Dusty Baker took the job in Cincinnati, he walked into an interesting project. The Reds are a franchise that last made the playoffs 13 seasons ago, and while the team has some talent, this will not be the year that snaps the streak of futility. Having said that, the future looks fairly bright. Aaron Harang has the makings of a legitimate ace, and rookie Homer Bailey projects to be a star in the near future. Edinson Volquez, acquired from Texas in the trade for Josh Hamilton, projects to make the rotation this year as well. Offensively, second baseman Brandon Phillips was a nice surprise last season, and he, like the others mentioned above, could become the face of the franchise in the near future. Adam Dunn will be a free agent next season, and Ken Griffey, Jr. would become one if Cincinnati passes on its $16.5 million club buyout; if the Reds aren't in contention at the All-Star break, look for both to be traded for prospects.

I'm not quite sure what Houston was thinking when they traded five players for Miguel Tejada this offseason, a deal that coincidentally was struck the day before the release of the Mitchell Report. At 31, Tejada is by no means over the hill, but it's hard to know what to expect from a guy with the baggage uncovered in the Mitchell Report. He plays every game almost every year, (his "iron man" streak ended because of a wrist injury last season), but his power numbers have been down in each of the last three years. If Tejada can return to form, though, he'll be part of a great lineup that includes Hunter Pence, Lance Berkman, and Carlos Lee. The Astros' pitching, however, is less exciting. After the always-solid Roy Oswalt, there's Woody Williams, Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backe, and Chris Sampson. How's that for an intimidating rotation?

St. Louis was desperately in need of pitching this season, and what it got was Kyle Lohse. The Cardinals' rotation, which will be without Chris Carpenter until at least July, could be one of the worst in the Majors. When Adam Wainright is your Opening Day starter, you know you've got some problems. There are major question marks on offense, as well. Albert Pujols has a torn ligament in his right elbow and may eventually need Tommy John surgery, but he plans to play through the pain this year. Rick Ankiel was great for a few weeks last year but withered after news about his past HGH use came out, and newly acquired Troy Glaus is a former juicer and fragile to boot. So if Pujols goes down, that leaves Chris Duncan as your team slugger. It could be a long season for Cardinals fans, but they should take comfort in the fact that they don't root for the Pirates or Reds.

If you were creating a division for the worst teams in baseball, Pittsburgh might be your first selection. Their rotation is thin, their lineup is thin, and aside from Jason Bay, the best adjective you can bestow upon anyone on the roster is "decent." Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell have potential to become decent starters, and if Zach Duke can return to his form of 2005 and 2006, the Pirates rotation could be OK. But for the most part, this is a franchise that doesn't seem to know where it's going and it's getting there fast. For those of you scoring at home, Pittsburgh has a team payroll of $38.6 million, fifth lowest in the Major Leagues.

PREDICTED STANDINGS

Team~~~~~~~~~~GB

Chicago_________--

Milwaukee_______ 2

Cincinnati________6

Houston________ 10

St. Louis________ 12

Pittsburgh_______18

MLB Previews: NL West

With real-life, start keeping stats action opening a week from Monday, I figure it's about time to start my Major League Baseball season previews. I'll post one division at a time, and if it's a good day I may squeeze in two divisions. Between a busy week at work and a move from an apartment into a house, that may be all that happens here this week.

Starting with the NL West, which the Diamondbacks won by 1/2 game last year. Had to double-check that one, as the Rockies insane run that propelled them into the World Series made them seem like the best in the west.

The Diamondbacks made the most improvements over the off-season, the biggest of which was the trade that brought in Dan Haren from Oakland. Brandon Webb, Haren, and Randy Johnson -- if he's anything like healthy -- make up a top of the rotation that would rival any in baseball. Doug Davis and Micah Owings aren't a bad 4-5, either. Their lineup is young, and with Eric Byrnes as the best thing it's got going, Arizona could struggle offensively at times. Even so, pitching and defense win championships and I think that the Diamondbacks rotation sets them apart from the rest of the West.

The Rockies' appearance in last year's World Series came as a surprise to just about everyone, probably themselves included. Colorado had a very young and inexperienced roster heading into the playoffs, but only one of those labels still applies. The Rockies got hot at just the right time, and as the Cardinals proved the season before, an average season can be quickly forgotten with a surge of late-season momentum. I expect Colorado to struggle this season, especially once they realize winning 22 of 23 (or whatever it was) is a once-in-a-career phenomenon. Also, it's tough to predict whether everyone on the roster had a career season in 2007, or if guys like Matt Holliday and Troy Tulowitzki are just getting started.

For 160 games, San Diego was the best team in the NL West. But one out away from clinching the division, Trevor Hoffman coughed it up and the Padres failed to make the postseason. You have to think it's been a very long off-season. Somewhat typically, though, San Diego had a quiet off-season. GM Kevin Towers traded for aging centerfielder Jim Edmonds, signed LHP Randy Wolf, and bought the rights to pay Mark Prior's salary while he recovers from his latest injury. It's been a long time since the Padres wowed anyone with the big names on their roster, but they always seem to be in the hunt.

Things haven't gone well for the Dodgers this spring, and it wouldn't break my heart to see their struggles continue well beyond Opening Day. Jeff Kent has been bothered by a nagging hamstring and Nomar Garciaparra will likely start the season out with an injured wrist. Third baseman Andy LaRoche will miss the start of the season with a torn ligament in his thumb. Injuries aside, the Dodgers are a team loaded with young talent, not unlike the Rockies. Russell Martin had a breakout season last year; this season the distinction may belong to Andre Ethier. Even so, the nagging injuries and the apparent lack of chemistry that has troubled the team over the last few seasons will keep Los Angeles out of contention.

For the most part, the Giants' roster is a bad combination of has-beens (Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham, Omar Vizquel) and never will bes (Fred Lewis, Jack Taschner, Rajai Davis). In short, if it wasn't for Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, San Francisco would be indistinguishable from a AAA team. If that sounds harsh, understand that it pains me to say it more than it would anger naive Giants fans to read it; I've been a die-hard San Francisco fan since 1989. Having said that, let's focus on the good. I expect 10-15 wins each from Lincecum and Cain -- not bad for a team that may not crack 70 victories for the entire season -- and ERAs in the 3.75 range. If Zito can manage to return to Cy Young form, which seems highly unlikely given his ghastly 10.31 spring ERA, the Giants could actually be decent. More than likely, though, they'll be shipping off their older players for a player to be named later or a resin bag and a tub of sunflower seeds.

PREDICTED STANDINGS

Team GB

Arizona --

Colorado 3

San Diego 8

Los Angeles 13

San Francisco 18

NCAA Tournament Predictions

When it comes to the NCAA Tournament, I see filling out a bracket as more of an art than a science. I have only have enough time to watch bits and pieces of games throughout the season, and I couldn't tell you a thing about teams like Purdue and Butler.

But for what it's worth, I've got North Carolina beating UCLA in the finals, 74-62. If you care, you can click the image above to view the complete bracket.

Who do you like?

Why collusion isn't needed to keep Barry Bonds unemployed

The Major League Baseball Players' Association wants to know if the owners are colluding to keep Barry Bonds out of work, or at least that's how ESPN is reporting it.

If you read between the lines, this is somewhat of a non-story. The players' association does a similar review every year, it's just that this year Bonds happens to be involved. What's silly to me, though, is that the decision to avoid Bonds seems easy enough to make without having to violate anti-trust rules to reach it.

There are plenty of obvious reasons:

The man is 43 years old, and he'll be 44 soon after the All-Star break. Bonds has put up decent numbers in the last years, but he's definitely tailed off since 2004. And once you get past 40, there's always the threat your body will go on strike mid-season.

Certain substances seemed to have "cleared" his system. How can this be said delicately? If indeed he's been getting some "help," it will be tougher than ever to continue this season.

He'll cost a fortune to sign. Even if he takes a pay cut from the $16 million he earned last season, as he would almost certainly have to, it's hard to imagine Bonds settling for the $5-7 million a team might -- might -- be willing to pay him.

Bonds doesn't have the greatest reputation as a teammate. What team wants to sign a potential, dare we say likely, clubhouse cancer? The stories that have come out about Bonds' behavior in the Giants' clubhouse over the years, and even this spring, make it seem unlikely that a team would want to add an attitude like that to the mix.

Oh yeah, and there's that whole indictment thing. Always nice to know when you sign a player that he's got a decent shot to finish the season on your roster, not playing softball on the prison's rec yard. Bonds' trial will probably drag on for years, and he may never do jail time, but for now the legal cloud follows him wherever he goes.