It's getting to be that time of year again. . .
It's getting close to baseball season again, though ESPN.com still isn't spending much time on it, except for a few tidbits. The Yankees have a $164 million payroll? Good grief. If I understand the new luxury tax, they're going to get hammered.
For those who don't know it, I'm a Dodger fan, born and raised. They won the World Series in 1988, and their play since then has suggested that Tommy Lasorda might have sold his soul to pull it off. On the bright side, they've been making some moves in the off-season. The one that caught my attention was when they let Eric Karros go in a trade and picked up Fred "Crime Dog" McGriff as a free agent. Karros was popular in LA and a decent hitter, but great hitters are a dime a dozen these days--Karros was basically a below average first baseman, though he was healthy and talented enough not to be the liability the post Garvey occupants of the position were until he came along. McGriff is older than Karros and generally considered to be in steep decline, but IMO he's actually a better hitter than Karros even now, and the Dodgers didn't give anything up to get him. I like the move, and it bodes well for their chances this year.
The Giants fell just short in the Series last year, and with Jeff Kent heading off to Houston you have to think they ain't gonna get close this year, which leaves Bonds as the major attraction for 2003 in San Francisco. He won't get that World Series ring unless something changes, but he might well have another huge season. Players in their late thirties just aren't supposed to keep getting better, but as last season reached its climax it became clear that almost no one had any idea how to pitch to the guy, and they didn't care to try. If he ever does lose it, will anyone ever notice?
Two months, more or less. I can't wait. :-)
For those who don't know it, I'm a Dodger fan, born and raised. They won the World Series in 1988, and their play since then has suggested that Tommy Lasorda might have sold his soul to pull it off. On the bright side, they've been making some moves in the off-season. The one that caught my attention was when they let Eric Karros go in a trade and picked up Fred "Crime Dog" McGriff as a free agent. Karros was popular in LA and a decent hitter, but great hitters are a dime a dozen these days--Karros was basically a below average first baseman, though he was healthy and talented enough not to be the liability the post Garvey occupants of the position were until he came along. McGriff is older than Karros and generally considered to be in steep decline, but IMO he's actually a better hitter than Karros even now, and the Dodgers didn't give anything up to get him. I like the move, and it bodes well for their chances this year.
The Giants fell just short in the Series last year, and with Jeff Kent heading off to Houston you have to think they ain't gonna get close this year, which leaves Bonds as the major attraction for 2003 in San Francisco. He won't get that World Series ring unless something changes, but he might well have another huge season. Players in their late thirties just aren't supposed to keep getting better, but as last season reached its climax it became clear that almost no one had any idea how to pitch to the guy, and they didn't care to try. If he ever does lose it, will anyone ever notice?
Two months, more or less. I can't wait. :-)