Play Ball!

Well 2005 is underway, and the outcome of the first game is Yankees-1, RedSox-0. Actually it was 9-2 Yanks, as David Wells got beat up for 10 hits in 4+ innings, and Randy Johnson, well, looked like Randy Johnson. Now that he's pitching in front of a lineup that can mash, he's got Cy Young #6 right in his sights if he can make all his starts. If he does? I predict 25 wins. And that's not something that happens very often these days...

Pads open today in Coors, and hopefully Woody can survive w/o a brutal 'mile-high' beating. Same goes for Eaton on Wednesday. Got to hate to be a pitcher making your first start of the season in CO. A few notes around the league. Ichiro nearly hit .500 this spring and after the way he closed last year has a legitimate shot at .400, especially with newly acquired bats Beltre & Sexson hitting behind him. Albert Pujols has not struck out yet. Look for another MVP run with better results now that Bonds will miss time AND be off the juice...

Interesting payroll tidbit in the paper today, the Pads will shell out appx. 65mil in salaries this year, but drop to only 28m guaranteed in 06, and just 7mil in 07. That is MAJOR flexibility shortly down the road. The list of players who are in the last year of a contract include T.Hoffman(who incidentally needs just 7 saves to hit 400, and 31 to catch J.Franco at 424, who is currently second all time but an active player, albeit one who may not register another save), C.Hernandez(who I think they really should try and sign now), B.Giles(show me first what you're really worth), D.Roberts(already missing time) and manager Bruce Bochy. The sportswriters seem to be giving ownership beef about not extending his contract, but short of 96 & 98 when we went to the postseason, Bochy hasn't really produced anything in the last 10 years. Granted he's had a pile of shit to work with most seasons, but last year was an exception, and we really didn't 'overachieve' by any means, so I think they want to see if he can get them over the top this year. If not, you have to question if he's really any better than anyone else. I know his 'laid back' style fits San Diego well, but if you have the players to win and you're coming up short, someone has to take the blame.