Around the Division
Tampa Bay
The Devil Rays announced on Thursday that they will spend $10 million before the 2006 season opener (April 10) trying to make Tropicana Field more appealing. Is that all it costs to bring in a team to play INSTEAD of the Devil Rays? Since the D-Rays had the lowest home attendance in Major League Baseball last season, the team hopes the improvements will "give fans a better experience - and . . . draw more of them to games." New principal owner Stu Sternberg also plans to spend another $10 million over the next few years on other upgrades, including a new scoreboard.
Toronto
With their most recent acquisition of Lyle Overbay, the Blue Jays have made Shea Hillenbrand worry a little about what position he'll be playing for them in 2006. Hillenbrand found a computer program that "breaks down the swings of the game’s top offensive players, allowing him to study certain traits and adopt them." Hillenbrand says, “I’m very confident that it’s now going to allow me to become a player who can hit 30 home runs and drive in 100. I’ve been in this game a certain number of years and I felt it was time to take things to the next level. You can quote me on that: I think I’m going to hit 30." He qualified his remarks though, "Of course, it’s one thing to say it and another thing to go out and do it. But that’s how good I’m feeling.’’
New York
Even as the Yankees continue to be among four teams on Nomar Garciaparra's list, newest Red Sox-turned-Yankee Mike Myers is making a push for Johnny Damon to join him in New York. And according to the Bronx Pride, everyone in New York except Robinson Cano has personally spoken to Nomar about coming to play in the Bronx. The only Yankees fan I associate with (no choice, he works with me!) sent me the following email yesterday:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10464742/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10452580/
The New York Red Sox??? What’s happenin’ to my team??? Hell must be freezing over again!
So, it sounds like he dreads the possibility as much as we Red Sox fans! Add to that the possibility of Roger Clemens returning to the Yankees, and you're talking about a nervous Red Sox Nation.
Baltimore
Should He Stay or Should He Go Now? David Steele asks, "Why is it so hard for Orioles to just say no to Tejada trade?" He makes a pretty darn good argument. I agree that for a team that made a run at the AL East Division title with a record of 42-28 through June 21 and then finished the season 14 games below .500, trading your franchise player could end up being a huge mistake. Following the problems the Orioles dealt with in 2005 with Palmeiro and Ponson, "players like Tejada have to stay." Or, as Dan Connolly says, the "Orioles may be left with one option: Deal Tejada." He points out that "Tejada's tremendous ability can't magically rub off on his teammates," and "his fervor for winning can only take the team so far, like first place in early July."
Boston
Perhaps the biggest news in Boston over the last few days is that there has been no news about Theo's return. Then again, Christmas ain't here yet! The Red Sox are on the short list of teams interested in trading with the Orioles for Tejada. However, the Sox did "balk at dealing a pitcher with Ramirez," reports Michael Silverman. The lastest on The Buzz over at The-Boston-Globe-owned-by-The-New York-Times is that the Red Sox are waiting for the Indians to sign Nomar Garciaparra so they can trade newly acquired prospect Andy Marte and reliever Guillermo Mota for Coco Crisp. Reportedly, the Indians are interested in getting Bronson Arroyo in the deal.
The Devil Rays announced on Thursday that they will spend $10 million before the 2006 season opener (April 10) trying to make Tropicana Field more appealing. Is that all it costs to bring in a team to play INSTEAD of the Devil Rays? Since the D-Rays had the lowest home attendance in Major League Baseball last season, the team hopes the improvements will "give fans a better experience - and . . . draw more of them to games." New principal owner Stu Sternberg also plans to spend another $10 million over the next few years on other upgrades, including a new scoreboard.
Toronto
With their most recent acquisition of Lyle Overbay, the Blue Jays have made Shea Hillenbrand worry a little about what position he'll be playing for them in 2006. Hillenbrand found a computer program that "breaks down the swings of the game’s top offensive players, allowing him to study certain traits and adopt them." Hillenbrand says, “I’m very confident that it’s now going to allow me to become a player who can hit 30 home runs and drive in 100. I’ve been in this game a certain number of years and I felt it was time to take things to the next level. You can quote me on that: I think I’m going to hit 30." He qualified his remarks though, "Of course, it’s one thing to say it and another thing to go out and do it. But that’s how good I’m feeling.’’
New York
Even as the Yankees continue to be among four teams on Nomar Garciaparra's list, newest Red Sox-turned-Yankee Mike Myers is making a push for Johnny Damon to join him in New York. And according to the Bronx Pride, everyone in New York except Robinson Cano has personally spoken to Nomar about coming to play in the Bronx. The only Yankees fan I associate with (no choice, he works with me!) sent me the following email yesterday:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10464742/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10452580/
The New York Red Sox??? What’s happenin’ to my team??? Hell must be freezing over again!
So, it sounds like he dreads the possibility as much as we Red Sox fans! Add to that the possibility of Roger Clemens returning to the Yankees, and you're talking about a nervous Red Sox Nation.
Baltimore
Should He Stay or Should He Go Now? David Steele asks, "Why is it so hard for Orioles to just say no to Tejada trade?" He makes a pretty darn good argument. I agree that for a team that made a run at the AL East Division title with a record of 42-28 through June 21 and then finished the season 14 games below .500, trading your franchise player could end up being a huge mistake. Following the problems the Orioles dealt with in 2005 with Palmeiro and Ponson, "players like Tejada have to stay." Or, as Dan Connolly says, the "Orioles may be left with one option: Deal Tejada." He points out that "Tejada's tremendous ability can't magically rub off on his teammates," and "his fervor for winning can only take the team so far, like first place in early July."
Boston
Perhaps the biggest news in Boston over the last few days is that there has been no news about Theo's return. Then again, Christmas ain't here yet! The Red Sox are on the short list of teams interested in trading with the Orioles for Tejada. However, the Sox did "balk at dealing a pitcher with Ramirez," reports Michael Silverman. The lastest on The Buzz over at The-Boston-Globe-owned-by-The-New York-Times is that the Red Sox are waiting for the Indians to sign Nomar Garciaparra so they can trade newly acquired prospect Andy Marte and reliever Guillermo Mota for Coco Crisp. Reportedly, the Indians are interested in getting Bronson Arroyo in the deal.
posted by David Welch at 12/16/2005 06:09:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home