Baseball

What I’m Reading

• Pedro Martinez is still out there. He’s available. He even threw a side session at Fenway on Opening Day. What’s in store for his future , though?

David Ortiz went on a profanity-laced tirade against reporters who questioned his 0-for-7 start this season. Ortiz is the only Red Sox regular without a hit after two games. 

But that's just it; only two games have been played and perhaps it's premature to question Ortiz after just seven at-bats.

Look, when you're a long-suffering Cubs fans like myself, you have to find your success's where you can.

So, when I heard the news that the Cubs passed the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees for the highest non-premium average ticket, I shouted: "We're Number One! We're Number One!"

OK, so this isn't much to get excited about. In fact, it hurts because going to Wrigley Field is just so darn expensive these days that as a family man, I just can't afford it.

Red Sox “Ace” Josh Beckett signed a four-year, $68-million contract extension early this week to remain with Boston through the 2014 season. The signing effectively locked in the bulk of the Red Sox’ rotation for years to come and calmed the nerves of many the Fenway Faithful.

Fantasy owners—and Red Sox fans for that matter—beware.

Ask around Major League Baseball and most people close to the game will tell you the same thing about Spring Training—it's an incredible window into the game that a true fan needs to experience.

I've never gone myself, so I can only trust in the wisdom of those words, but my faith is strong.

Granted, the same thing that I'm sure makes the Show's exhibition run so exceptional is the same thing that makes it confounding to professional prognosticators—it's utterly meaningless.

Earlier today I pointed out one of my favorite blogs, Mike Ashmore’s Thunder Thoughts. There is another blog you should be reading called Confessions of a She-Fan written by Jane Heller.

She isn’t the tireless reporter in the vein of Ashmore, but she does have something in common with him: great writing. Her insights and humor are second to none. Aside from her great writing, you should be reading her blog these days because she’s running a contest in which the winner will receive cookies.

For over three decades, I've considered this time of year to be New Year's Day, rather than January 1st.

I can't think of any other way to describe the beginning of baseball season.

Inherited from my grandparents, my fondness for the game has evolved from feeling a child's excitement upon entering Dodger Stadium for the first time on my 11th birthday, to playing little league in my neighborhood park, to being in my forties and feeling like I'm eating comfort food whenever I catch a game on TV.

On April 4, the National League got its first taste of what the American League has had to deal with for much of the last decade.

Although I certainly do not play for the Washington Nationals, I think I can make a safe assumption about what their first impression was.

Damn, Roy Halladay is good.

Two days ago, he made his Opening Day debut for the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Nationals were his first victim There was a festive attitude at the ballpark before the game, and even the Nationals fans (who seemed to be outnumbered at the stadium) were full of hope.

The arrival of Opening Day inevitably leads to speculation about which players will take home trophies at the end of the season.

In the MVP races, many have raised questions about Joe Mauer's ability to replicate his fantastic 2009 numbers and whether Albert Pujols can sustain his god-like pace for another year.

There is no consensus pick for the AL Cy Young, but in the NL it looks to be a showdown between incumbent Tim Lincecum and newcomer Roy Halladay.

As for Rookie of the Year—well, that's anyone's guess.

But the first round of individual recognitions—the All-Star Game&mdas

For those of you who don’t know who he is, Mike Ashmore runs a Trenton Thunder blog for the Hunterdon County Democrat.

He’s also one of the better, and more hard working bloggers out there, covering the Yankees organization.

Well, I’d say he topped himself yesterday as he interviewed at least nine members of the organization during the Thunder’s media day.

Here are the interviews: