Baseball

A mixed bag this weekend.  Good stuff Saturday, but it sounds like Sunday was a doozy.

Let's hit up Saturday's game against the Astros first. Remember that I said that a good start from Joel Pineiro might get me dreaming about this team? Well, he did his part, throwing one-hit ball through four innings and striking out three.

Venezuelan manager Luis Sojo must have known it would end like this. He must have realized that he has only three All-Star-quality pitchers on his staff. He must have known that American bats would not be quiet for long.

Yesterday in Toronto, Team USA guaranteed that they will play in the next round of the WBC with an awesome display of offense. A huge sixth inning broke the game open for the US, proving that once they got past starter Armando Galarraga, no one in the Venezuelan bullpen could shut them down.

1. The Return of Yovani Gallardo

Who knows where the Brewers would have ended up in 2008 in Gallardo had been healthy. However, Gallardo missed most of the season with a torn ACL and did not return until late September.

In 2009, the Brewers will be depending on Gallardo to put up big numbers. The team no longer has the dynamic duo of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets and the Brewers need Gallardo to show that he is indeed fit to become the Brewers new ace.

2. Prince Fielder

If you're a baseball fan your probably at least checking out the World Baseball Classic. Chances are a handful of players on the MLB team you cheer for are playing in the WBC.

However, do you care more if they do well? Your country wins? Your home teams players coming out of this "exhibition," healthy is what you should really care about. This Bud Selig created monster is a disaster waiting to happen.

All it does his hurt some players development during what should be spring training, putting them in a false "big game," mentality.

This week, I am going to look at five outfielders, at least 36-years old at the start of the season, who have the potential to make an impact on fantasy rosters this season. 

The most obvious to be included is Manny Ramirez, but having recently discussed his signing (click here to read), we aren’t going to include him here.  Instead, let’s look at a few other potential options.

Raul Ibanez - Philadelphia Phillies - 36-years old

This was a great week to be a Twins' starting pitcher, and a bad week to face the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Twins starting pitchers threw a total of 21 innings this week, working between three and four innings as they begin to stretch out, but gave up just one run. Kevin Slowey continued his strong start to the spring and has yet to give up a run since coming to camp.

The other particularly bright spot was Francisco Liriano

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is on the precipice of game changing decision...

How will the "Steroid Era" and the Mitchell Report impact future HOF stars Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds?

Normally, this question is answered with a bevy of options from suspensions to rehab. Those aren't going to be enough this time around. Yes, people have admitted they made mistakes and people have said they are sorry.

Despite an uncharacteristically rocky start from Roy Oswalt, the United States gained passage to the next round of the World Baseball Classic with a 15-6 victory over Venezuela.

Oswalt went just 3.2 innings before running into the 70-pitch limit, giving up six hits, two walks, and three earned runs in the process. His counterpart, Armando Galarraga, fared a little better with a line of 5H, BB, 2ER in his four innings of work.

This game, however, was a testament to the importance of a solid bullpen.

Don't hate the writer, but I was right about A-Rod.

He had his cyst drained but now it appears that there is more damage and he won't be able to play through the pain. The damage to the labrum is more severe than expected. It had to be because the Yankees pulled him out of the WBC.

If he was able to play with the pain he should be playing in the WBC. It is no different than playing the Spring Training games.