Spring Training Games Start Today

Its finally here! The first spring training game in between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Florida State Seminoles. The game means next to nothing and is not meant to be all that competitive. But think about this for a minute. If you were on the field playing against the Phillies and beat them, you could go the rest of your life saying that you beat the Philadelphia Phillies. That would be one of the coolest feelings in the world, even if it was only a spring training game.

Its not only fun and exciting for college teams, but its exciting for the major league clubs as well. You get to see all the pieces of your team working together. You get to see the improvement of your players. If you involved with fantasy baseball, you get to root for your players which makes the game even more fun. No matter how your involved in baseball, there is something to have fun with. That's why I love this game.

Members of the Grapefruit League.



Zimmerman Gets Paid

Ryan Zimmerman has signed a six year, $100 million extension with the Washington Nationals. The deal also includes a full no-trade clause. He has now become one of six players that has a contract through the 2019 baseball season. "I've wanted to be the guy that everyone looks to. I've wanted to be the so-called leader. I relish being that guy. I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way," said Zimmerman. This all but guarantee's that Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and Bryce Harper will all play in the same game, at the same time, on the same field, on the same team.

Wow.

Most deals that guarantee one player so much money and are for long amounts of time are not reasonable and they are ridiculous (See Albert Pujols). But Zimmerman is a complete player in every sense of the word. He is easily one of the top three defensive third baseman in the game, if not the best. He can also do some real damage with the bat. He is a career .288 hitter, which is impressive for a guy who hits about 20 - 25 home runs a year. Another great thing about Zimmerman is his durability. In his seven year career, he plays in about 120 games a season. That number is misleading though because in 2005 he only played in 20 games because he was a late season call up. Its also lower because this past season he only played in 101 games because of an abdominal strain. Either way, at only 27 years old, Zimmerman deserves this deal and will earn every penny.

Ryan Zimmerman

Miami Marlins

All the talk coming from Miami is about Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Ozzie Guillen, and the new stadium. Nobody is talking about their 22 year old right fielder named Mike Stanton. In his first full year as a starter he belted 37 home runs. These home runs were not barely clearing the fence either, they were tape measure shots that may still be in the earth's orbit along with Pujols home run that came of Brad Lidge. This kid has the potential to be scary good. He now has Reyes, Hanley, and even Emilio Bonafacio to protect him now in the batting line up. Gaby Sanchez is a decent player to have at first base as well. Watch out for Mike Stanton this year. He could be the key to their success this season.



Omar Vizquel

Omar Vizquel has announced that he will most likely call in quits after this upcoming season. The 44 year old short stop is signed to a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. This will be his 24th season in the majors which is a remarkable feat. Vizquel has the best fielding percentage all time among qualifying short stops. The number you ask? An amazing .985. If you round up, that is 99%. Yes, you read that right, 99%. Vizquel also said that he would like to begin a managerial career after his playing career is over.

Roy Oswalt may join team mid season

Roy Oswalt announced that he may join a major league club at about the midway point in this 2012 season. He failed to get any offers that were to his satisfaction before spring training began. So instead, he said that he will remain in shape and be prepared to start day one on the job.

Oswalt has always been better after the All - Star break, so if a team needs a pitcher to help them get into the playoffs, Oswalt's phone number will be on speed dial. His career winning percentage after the All - Star break is .739 (Source: ESPN). The Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Houston Rangers were all interested, but they couldn't get a deal done between the two of them.

Source : http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7607108/roy-oswalt-willing-join-team-midseason-source-says

Ryan Braun Wins Appeal

Ryan Braun's 50 game suspension is no more. The Brewers left fielder won his appeal on a 2 - 1 vote.

My question is this: How? First off, how is the test wrong? Second, and most importantly, how is it a 2 -1 vote?

He either used performance enhancing drugs, or he didn't. There is absolutely no middle ground. Two scenarios are possible here. The test was wrong and led to a false positive and in that case, what is Major League Baseball doing? They have worked so hard to get steroids out of baseball, yet their test provides false information. How does that happen? The second scenario is that the test was accurate and the two people who voted that he was innocent need to be off that panel.

Seriously, someone please tell me how is isn't unanimous. The one person that voted Braun was guilty, what did he see that the other two didn't? Yet again, baseball gets its publicity because of possible steroid use. GET STEROIDS OUT ALREADY!

Buster Posey

Bruce Bochy, manager of the San Francisco Giants, has told his all star catcher not to block the plate any longer. This is all because of the violent collision that Posey was involved in this past season where he tore three ligaments in his ankle and broke a bone in that same left leg.

I was really angry when I heard about this news. Catchers are supposed to block the plate, that's part of the job. How do you think Yogi Berra would have reacted if Casey Stengel would have told him not to block the plate? Yogi would have told him absolutely not, he would continually block the plate. The catchers job is to be a good defender, to manage the pitching staff, block wild pitches, call out defensive alignments. Their job is not to get out of the way of players trying to score.

A third base coach is a lot more likely to wave a guy home now on a play at the plate because he should know that Posey will be hesitant. Is this really what baseball has come to? Play the game the way its supposed to be played.

Right way.




Wrong way.

Manny Ramirez

Man Ram is back. Again. He has signed a one year deal with the Oakland Athletics for half a million dollars. Before he can play this season, he must serve his 50 game suspension for his use of performance enhancing drugs for the second time.

The A's most likely signed Manny because they recently signed Yoenis Cespedes and he was interested with the idea of playing with Manny. The A's should expect next to nothing of Manny because the earliest he will be able to play will be on his 40th birthday, assuming there are no rain outs.

When will he just retire? (Brett Favre anyone?)

Get steroids out of baseball. Seriously.

Yoennis Cespedes

The Oakland Athetics have signed Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for four years and $36 million. That contract surpassed the one that Aroldis Chapman signed with the Cincinnati Reds who also came from Cuba. Cespedes is 26 years old and is now entering his age 27 season, his prime. Cespedes has been able to perform and put up great numbers. He also did well playing for his native Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. As with almost every prospect, Cespedes has the talent to perform, but is still very raw. The other concern was how he would transition and adapt to major league pitching. I see no reason why he would struggle with the transition. I think Cespedes will have a productive career in the MLB.

Yoenis Cespedes

Its almost that time of year

That's right. Baseball is almost back!

Pitchers and catchers will report on February 19, 2012. Although, the Mariners and A's will get to report a week earlier, February 12, 2012. When pitchers and catchers report and spring training begins for teams, there should be a national holiday. There is nothing more exciting than the beginning of a new season.

A team like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox have their sights set on making it to the World Series and winning it this year. Title aspirations are everywhere and you hope that your team is the one to make it there. On the contrary, for teams that are not going to be in the World Series, don't worry. There is something for everyone when spring training comes around. For example, the chances of the Royals making a serious push for the title are slim, possible, but slim. But all hope is not lost as you can see your future stars mature and get better every time that they play.

People may say that baseball isn't our national pastime anymore, but there is hope every time spring training comes around. No matter who you root for, there is something to look forward to and that's what makes baseball great.