Gary Cohen and Howie Rose coming to you live from St. Charles, Illinois as pitchers and catchers report today...
Ah, well. Radio broadcasts will not be the same.
Anyway, here are 10 pre-season thoughts on the NY Metropolitans
1) Omar may have made one trade too many regarding the starting rotation. When he traded Kris Benson and his louder half for Jorge Julio and John Maine, the front office now says Maine is the guy they really wanted. Then couldn't we have given up a mid-level pitching propsect for him and kept Benson? I like the Seo-for-Sanchez deal. Duaner will be very effective. But now there is no depth in a rotation that is aging. I don't call Jose Lima, Iriki or whatever his name is, or Brian Bannister solid insurance like I would Aaron Heilman. We have three starters all over age 35, a roller coaster in Zambarno, and Heilman, who I like a lot, but has never pitched a full major league season in a starting rotation. Will teams adjust to his changeup when they start seeing it three times a game?
2) I really hope Jeff Keppinger gets a fair chance to win the second base job. He's not Superman, but he has a solid on base percentage and hit over 310 in AAA. If Bret Boone wins the job, it's only because everyone else has bombed out.
3) Who will get lefties out? I like Royce Ring if he can get some command. I like Pedro Feliciano as well. In the end, I think the man will be Matt Perisho. Please don't let it be Darren Oliver. He will be this year's Shingo Takatsu and Mike DeJean combined.
4) Have you seen the picture of Jose Lima on the first day of practice in his suit and Clyde-style hat? The man looks like a rejected pimp in CSI Miami.
5) Watch out for Bartolome Fortunato in the bullpen. If I ever have a son that's what I'll name him. And I'll throw in a middle name. Bartolome Bartholomew Bartolo.
6) Have you ever heard of a man make such a big deal out of a shoe? One that wasn't gay anyway?
7) Reyes, LoDuca, Beltran, Delgado, Wright, Floyd, Diaz/Nady, Matsui
8) What can Julio Franco do that Chris Woodward didn't do last year on the field?
9) Dae-Sung Koo is back. Hopefully as a designated hitter.
10) I hope pre-season expectations aren't too high. I hope...
1 comment:
you know this year THERE ARE NO EXCUSES THEY MUST MAKE THE PLAYOFFS--How about the Mets and Braves in the NLCS? we may never speak to each other again.
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