Before-

After-

Boo, bring back the beard!!!
Meanwhile, Doc Halladay is gracing the latest cover of Sports Illstrated. I'm not queer, but damn that's sexy!


Unfortunately, he will not be starting for the Rangers this year, because he would be fun as hell to watch. But keep your eyes on Justin Smoak, as he is sure to be a solid fixture in baseball's future. Smoak can hit from both sides of the plate with impressive strength and consistency. Covering first base, he is also a force to be reckoned with, earning a .992 fielding percentage in his last two seasons in the minors. Had he been on any other team, Smoak would more than likely have landed himself a starting position, but as it is the franchise has decided to send Smoak and two other players (Mitch Moreland, OF and Chad S. Tracy, INF) back to the minors for a bit more conditioning.
While attending the University of South Carolina, Smoak lead the school in home runs, rbi's, and walks. He never hit below .300, including a .385 during his junior year. He was drafted out of school as a first round draft pick for the Rangers in 2008. In his two seasons with various minor league teams, he has earned a solid .292 batting average. Last year, he was named the IBAF World Cup MVP, after helping Team USA attain gold medal status with 9 home runs and 22 rbi in 55 at bats. For his outstanding performance, he was also named to the World Cup All-Tournament Team. This past December, Smoak was also honored as the IBF Player of the Year in the 'Senior Athlete' category. His perfomance on the field and at the plate is often compared to Mark Teixeira or Chipper Jones. Currently, the 23 year old will be heading back to the Oklahoma City Redhawks, with the hopes of a 2011 debut.
Chad Gaudin was placed on waivers by the New York Yankees earlier this week. The defending World Series champions have many pitchers at their disposal, so it's not a huge surprise Gaudin was a roster casualty. The recently turned 27 year old righty isn't exactly Cy Young or even Chris Young for that matter. However, he's posted a mediocre 4.50 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 7 MLB seasons and is coming off a year in which he pitched 147.1 innings with nearly a strikeout per inning (139 k's). That's good enough to be a #4/#5 starter of a lot of teams. If I were the GM of the Royals, Pirates, Astros, or any other rebuilding club I'd sign him and hope he pitches well enough to flip him for a prospect come Trade Deadline time. I'm a Phillies fan, and their GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has expressed interest in adding pitching depth, but apparently Gaudin doesn't fit their criteria. Not sure why, but I'm sure another club will swoop in and snatch him up.
With Opening Day a week away, baseball fans are chomping at the bit to get the season started. Sometimes, though, it is good to pause and reflect on baseball's past. Even during spring training significant, future-altering events can occur. The following is a short list of important events that helped to shape baseball as we know it today.
1973 - The career of two-time Cy Young Award winner, and former MVP Denny McLain comes to an end after being released by the Braves. McLain joined the MLB in 1963 as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. By 1970, he was named as an All Star, had helped the Tigers to their first World Series victory since 1945, and was a back-to-back Cy Young winner in 1968 and 1969. But young McLain was arrogant, brash, and involved with illegal bookmaking, which at the start of the 1970 season resulted in a 3 month suspension from commissioner Bowie Kuhn. In September of that year, Kuhn dismissed him for the rest of the season for illegal gun possession. The Tigers had enough, and traded McLain to the Senators for the 1971 season, where he lost 22 games; the league's highest that season. After a brief stint with Oakland, McLain was traded to the Braves, but he still couldn't keep his act together. By 1973 he was overweight, his pitching was sub-par, and his attitude was rotten. He was released from the team with no fanfare or love lost. Denny McLain was only 28 years old.
1986 - The position of the designated hitter is extended for postseason and All Star play in American Leagues parks. 


Joe Beimel had to settle for a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. The lefty has a lifetime ERA of 4.23, but that's inflated due to his first 3 years in Pittsburgh (5.00 ERA). Over the past 4 seasons Beimel has posted ERA's of 2.96, 3.88, 2.02, and 3.58, while also proving to be durable (287 games in same span). So why only a minor league offer? Greed. He was holding out for a contract similar to what he had last year with Washington (1 yr $2M), but in this deflated market for league average relief pitchers that's not really the going rate. So much like Johnny Damon overplaying his worth and holding out for a bigger contract to get slapped in the face and having to settle with a low-ball offer, Beimel does now too. He'll likely make the Rox roster because of Huston Street's injury, but my guess is that he had contract offers out there far more lucrative than the one he just inked yesterday.
There’s something to be said for longevity. We Should Be GMs began years ago as a joint venture for Phillies and Pirates fans, hoping to unearth all the funny out of both teams in Pennsylvania. Soon they realized the Pirates weren’t actually a team, so the focus became all Phillies, a smart move. WSBGMs keeps hilarious regularly with frequent posts, off-centered features like “Name That Phillie” and “Phlashback Phridays” and pretty awesome photos. Their Hall of Fame includes Pat Burrell and Eric Bruntlett; they even coined a statistic: The Howard (a home run, strikeout and error in the same game). Crude and revolutionary, We Should Be GMs still has it.



What the hell was Ron Washington thinking? Cocaine? Seriously? Partaking in some herbal ecstasy (aka- weed) is understandable, many Americans experiment with the drug in their early years, but co-f*cking-caine...idiot! The Texas Rangers manager said he only sorted the baseline once last season, but you know that's a lie. Back in his playing days he took amphetamines and smoked pot, but he's turned to the nose candy now that he's the leader of young men. Makes so much sense doesn't it. Despite all of this, the Texas organization is keeping him aboard for the 2010 season, but has issued a warning that no more slip-ups will be permitted. Don't worry Ron, maybe you can get some of those designer drugs that lab rats are creating that go undetected to get your high. Dumbass!


Zero wins, nine losses. If that were the regular season nobody would bat an eye at the record of the Washington Nations because they've become synonymous with suck. However, it's spring training and even the lowest of the low are supposed to be able to win a damn game. Not the Nats. They've scored 45 runs while allowing 90. That's double the amount of runs they've scored and at a clip of 10 runs a game allowed (-45 run differential). Just sad. At least we know the W on their cap does not stand for win.
Reeding iz 4 tha Dum:







Strasburg Sizzles:
Nothing Nathan:
Muhammad Ali stopped by the San Diego Padres spring training facility to meet the players. Many of the Pads were thrilled to get their photo taken with the boxing legend. Ali also took time to shake hands with many of them. My question is- did he really shake their hands, or did he merely just shake about as he normally does while players gripped his hand and thought he was extending a friendly gesture? I know, I know, I'm a bastard for poking fun at Ali. I better watch out, or he might take a shaky swing at me...good thing I'll have about 3 minutes to dodge it.
"WANG RETURNS TO NATS, STARTS IN WITH LONG TOSS"
While the boys of summer are enduring rigorous training and practice games, the rest of us are gearing up for Fantasy drafts and a baseball season full of nachos and beer. So what do we, as baseball fans, need to do in order to prepare for the upcoming season? I have a couple of suggestions for a regimen of workouts that will, over the next 28 days, acclimate our atrophied bodies and minds back to where they were at the close of the 2009 season.
***Step One: Before beginning this exercises, it is necessary that you are wearing proper clothing. Sweatpants, loose fitting jeans, and boxers are appropriate, as are tank tops, T-shirts, and flannel shirts. Ball caps are optional.
***Step Four: Move backwards until your back is firmly against the back of the chair and relax. If the option is available, pull down on the footstool release and prop up your feet. A dog, coffee table, Ottoman, stool, or stack of magazines can also be used as a suitable substitute. When it is getting up is necessary, use the following procedure:
Every good exercise routine must include cardio. During commercial intervals, as the beer is getting empty, or the bladder is getting full, quickly remove yourself from the ending position from the first exercise. Run, jog, or walk to the desired location allowing yourself enough time to perform necessary actions, and return to the recliner. Note: Ambling, loping, and moseying is not advisable, as you may miss a portion of the broadcast.
Staying hydrated is critical while exercising. This activity is designed to keep you hydrated while working the often neglected wrist, elbow, and forearm.
New York Yankees backup catcher Francisco Cervelli was plunked on the noggin yesterday by an errant Toronto Blue Jays Zech Zinicola pitch. Cervelli was able to leave the field under his own pair of legs and the precautionary CT scan at the hospital came back normal. "I feel good. Just a little scared. Everything is OK. Rest for a couple days and be back. I'm dizzy a little bit, a headache."
The St. Louis Cardinals seem to be a smart franchise. They've been in contention in the National League Central for the past decade and have built themselves a solid pitching staff from other teams' scraps (Ryan Franklin, Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright). But then they go and sign Brad Penny for 1 year and $7.5 million. Seriously? Dude had an ERA/WHIP of 6.27/1.63 in '08 and 4.88/1.40 last season. I just don't get it. I'm not saying Penny is horrible, but it just doesn't make sense to sign him for that many cents. Hahaha, get it? Penny...cents, I'm so f'n clever!
Got Clicks?
After his breakout season of 2007 (24 hr/23 sb, .892 OPS), Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart has saw his production decline in the past two seasons. This left him wondering...what's going on? Well, turns out Hart is nearsighted."It kind of started last year, but I didn't really think about it. I just kept playing. The ball was a little fuzzy at times, but I didn't think it was that big of a deal."


"I'm hoping they work for me," he said, according to the report. I don't want to have any trouble picking the ball up. Right now, it's a little fuzzy."



