Fan News

Do you remember the first time that you ever went to a baseball game? When you walked into the stadium, and saw that emerald green grass and the beautiful blue sky? Was it at the old Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field? Could it have been in Fenway Park or Crosby Field? One thing that is for sure, baseball stadiums over the last twenty or so years have made many beautiful stadiums, most of which take famous features from old stadiums, and blend it into the team culture that is at the new stadium?

I know that it is early in the season and that eight games it not enough of a sample to trend what a team and for that matter a player is going to do in the 2009 MLB season.

However, the early returns can begin to paint the picture of what is going to happen throughout the season. Right now the Rangers bullpen is heading down the wrong path.

The Rangers did get off to a great start by winning their first three games at home against the Cleveland Indians, but since then a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tigers and so far losing the first two to the Orioles.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired switch-hitting outfielder Delwyn Young from the Los Angeles Dodgers for either two unnamed minor league players or cash.

After returning from the disabled list, Young found himself buried on the Dodgers depth chart and has not recorded any playing time in 2009. The 5-foot-8 outfielder carries a .267 career average, but has been susceptible in the field.

There are no questions he can hit, though. With only 165 career at-bats, he just never found a place with the Dodgers.

With Lastings Milledge getting demoted to the minors, Elijah Dukes has become the top center fielder for the Washington Nationals.

The question now becomes should you go out and roster him?

My answer: absolutely!  You have to get this guy on your reserve list or on your bench, even if you are in a standard mixed 5×5 league.  What can he bring to your team?

In little over two months, Major League Baseball teams will sign this year’s Latin American and Caribbean talent during the international signing period starting July 2 and continuing until August 31.

No Cubs fan shed a tear when GM Jim Hendry traded Jason Marquis to the Colorado Rockies this winter. In fact, many were openly joyous over his departure.

But I ask you, dear Cubs fans, who would you rather have: Luis Vizcaino or Jason Marquis?

The reason I ask this is not so much because of what happened today because, hey, it's only one game.

But the reason I cautioned everyone that the trade may not be so good for us is that you can never have too much pitching, first of all. And, all we got in return is an over-priced middle reliever.

The Cardinals former ace and 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter enjoyed an offseason that could almost be called “normal”.  Cardinal fans were hoping for a strong return from the pitcher this year, but most were playing the safe bet that his health would keep him from taking the ball every fifth day.

After a very solid month of Grapefruit League play, Carpenter started to sway our opinions. What if he could continue his spring pace in the regular season?  How good would the Cardinal rotation be?

Perez can be one of the best in baseball when his game is good.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR