The Offseason Blues...

With the start of the NBA season last night, and being that the NFL season is already more than half over, it can only mean one thing... Yes as much as i am trying to deny it, it is offically the MLB offseason. YET i know if the monsoon will ever give way in Philly we can hopefully be in for an exciting end of a magical year on many fronts. The 2008 season was great for baseball in more way than one. With the Steroid Era finally behind us, we are starting to see a new brand of baseball before our very eyes. The Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa's of the world are now gone, and we can FINALLY appreciate true hard fought baseball games and players. I would much rather root for a guy like Dustin Pedroia who plays the game hard, and does it the right way. Not that i have a love affair with Pedroia because its not just him its the New Generation of baseball players that makes me excited for years to come. the Mauers, Morneaus, Pedrioas, Hamiltons, Sizemores, Longorias, Uptons, Utleys, Fielders, Loneys, of the world that make me think that baseball has an upside like no other!

If I were to sum up the year that was 2008 in one word I would have to say "unpredictable" becuase when you have teams like the Twins and Rays who were suposed to finish last in their respectable Divisons and did as well as they did, on pure smart drafting and personel that play and manage this game we love the right way. And teams that suprised many in their own ways such as The Brewers, white sox, Atros, Oakland (before the Firesale), and how can we not mention The Marlins in this conversation especially with the payroll compairable to one outfit of Sarah Palin. and i just want to take this time to give props to Trey Hillman and the Kansas City Royals, who although had another awful year did make great strides to becoming competitive in the Near future and i hope for them and their fans, and even for the sake of the Americal League Central that they will become a contender soon!

If we are going to include the teams that overachieved, then we have to mention the teams that didnt do as well as expected. My favorite being that for the first time since the first year of the Clinton Administration the New York Yankees watched october baseball from their couches.. while Joe Torre laughs from his convertable in the state farm commericals all the way in Cali ... lifes a b**ch aint it George hehe. but to be serious for a minute, who would have guessed that the Yankees, Indians, Padres, Mariners, and the Tigers would have done as horrible as they did.. I guess it just goes to show you that money wont buy you a ring, as much as those teams wouldve liked!

Now as we move forward what needs to be done to make sure that we can avoid that one game playoff situation all together and just wipe the Sox and other Central contenders off the map.. that is going to be the big task for Billy Smith this offseason. With a payroll that has a little wiggle room to expand, and as long as we dont play the rent-A-Washup game like we did with Livan, Lamb, Bautista, must i continue? didnt think so, we should be able to really improve this team into a true contender! If we can get a quality 3b which i have my money on Atkins only because i have had him on my Fantasy Baseball team for 3 years running, and i really like what this kid has to offer.. over Beltre and some of the other options that were mentioned. As for the Delmon young Saga that i am sick of hearing about it, my position stands as follows, we already look like fools for trading away Garza and Bartlett for him, so why would we want to ship him off right away, this Kid has some MASSIVE upside, no matter how you look at it. and even if we were to trade him, why now? why trade him after a down year? doesnt make sense! if we were going to trade anyone right now i would have to say it would be Cuddy in my mind, athough i do like him, i dont see him playing into any of our future plans, considering a Young, Go-Go, Span Outfield makes me drool! the Starting Pitching Looks good going into next year, The Bullpen is an interesting area for me.. if i were Bill Smith i would Let reyes and his blow up neck go get his 7 millon dollar contract to throw 1 pitch every 5th day.. he was good while he lasted but we got breslow, and that flame throwing Majares who i believe is going to Develope into a STUD, with those two guys from the left side, we through in guys like a healthy crain coming off year 2 of surgery, a NOT overworked matty G, and that one guy.. whats his name?.. oh yeah Neshek.. hes pretty good hehe , and as much as people think we should shop Bonser this offseason, i really believe he has found his calling in that late inning leave it on the mound fireball that he can become, in the 7th or 8th inning! as far as im concered Dennys and EddieG can pack their bags, and maybe we can bring in an arm like Luis Ayala who has proven he can gets guys out late in games, and i believe is a free agent this year!

This Offseason should be fun to say the least, we have money and talented pitching and Outfield that other teams need, there should be NO reason that we cant fill needs and get to a point where we are expected to win, although its proven that the twins prefer to be the underdog, but we will take it however we can get it! get it done Billy!!