TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE

MLB Preview 2008

by Buster Olney (AL) | Tim Kurkjian (NL)

Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images

No investigation of baseball would be complete without testimony from those experts in Congress. So while Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian scouted all 30 teams to assemble facts and hearsay, The Mag's team of reporters queried U.S. reps from across the land. In an election year, the results were predictably partisan: They all love their hometown teams! But in the end, the gentleman from Chicago and the gentleman from Cleveland will be placing the ceremonial World Series bet. In a matchup of the game's most accursed franchises—Cubs and Indians—someone's gotta come out on top. Guess what: Kucinich wins!

Yankees | Red Sox | Blue Jays | Rays | Orioles
1. NEW YORK YANKEES JUST THE FACTS

Not the same old Joe. New manager Joe Girardi won't honor veteran allegiances like Joe Torre did. So Bobby Abreu and Johnny Damon arrived at camp in better condition this year. As a result, the offense could produce 1,000 runs.
Joba will be a starter. Someday. For now, he's a rock in the bullpen.
Derek Jeter could get yanked. He turns 34 in June, and defensive metrics used by opposing clubs say he's among the worst shortstops in the majors. If he takes another step back, he may be asked to move to first or the outfield.
Keep an eye on the boss. It remains to be seen if Hank Steinbrenner will flip out like George did at the first sign of trouble.

HEARSAY "They're relying on Andy Pettite and Mike Mussina for another year," says an AL exec, "But if they don't get what they need from them—and they don't need that much—they'll be in trouble." HOUSE CALL "Something has to be done to honor Bernie Williams. At a time when so many athletes have attitude, Bernie was a true gentleman. In my own diplomatic way, I'll nudge the Yankees every so often to remember Bernie." —Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.)

Indians | Tigers | White Sox | Royals | Twins
1. CLEVELAND INDIANS: JUST THE FACTS:

Pronk's got the power.The Tribe won 96 games even though Travis Hafner, their best offensive player, struggled (.266 BA, 24 HRs). Insiders blame contract negotiations. But now Pronk is locked into a multiyear deal and ready to mash.
Rafael P�rez's stuff is filthy.So nasty, in fact, that coach and former catcher Joel Skinner says even the reliever's fastball breaks six inches.
They're tough against the run. Opposing basestealers succeeded on 82% of attempts in '06, but just 68% last season. Credit V�ctor Mart�nez for improving his throwing mechanics.

HEARSAY: "I'd worry about Joe Borowski as closer, but they have a lot of choices if he fails," says an AL advance scout. "Other than Mart�nez and Grady Sizemore, you can say that about every part of their team. They don't rely too much on one guy." HOUSE CALL: "Naming rights are one of the biggest frauds on the fans, because for the most part the public is paying for these stadiums. Progressive Field [formerly Jacobs Field] ought to be called Taxpayers Stadium." -Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio)

Mariners | Angels | Athletics | Rangers
1. SEATTLE MARINERS JUST THE FACTS:

They overpaid for Eric Bedard. Or at least some rival execs think so. but he gives the M's an ace to line up in front of young Felix Hernandez.
Richie Sexson promises to be better. After hitting .205, he's improved his conditioning. M's manager John McLaren says Sexson could win AL Comeback Player of the Year.
They're focused on fundamentals. McLaren brought in Rich Amaral and Jay Buhner this spring to teach pitch recognition, baserunning and defense.
Ichiro is incredible. He's just 130 hits shy of 3,000 as a pro. With another 1,408, he'll have 3K on this continent alone. And at age 34, he has plenty left in the tank.

HEARSAY: "If everything goes smoothly for the Angels and Mariners, then the Angels are better," says an AL GM. "But if something goes wrong for the Angels—an equalizer like an injury—then Seattle can take them. The Mariners are that close." HOUSE CALL "Ichiro is beyond a national hero; he's international. He's made the Mariners Japan's team. People there wake up each morning and watch the Mariners' game on TiVo. I don't know any politician who can bridge the international gap like Ichiro does. I hope he finishes his career here." -Jim McDermott (D-Wash.)

Mets | Braves | Phillies | Nationals | Marlins
1. NEW YORK METS JUST THE FACTS

No more picking the rotation out of a hat. With Johan Santana and a healthy Pedro Martinez around, no more starts for Brian Lawrence, Chan Ho Park or Dave Williams.
Yep, Johan will dominate. He's just hte second lefty under age 30 with a winning percentage of at least .650 (minimum 100 decisions) to be traded or sold since Babe Ruth.
They're on a mission. What do you do after your team blows a seven-game lead with 17 to play? "I took it out on the weight room," says David Wright.
They need an AARP health plan. Moises Alou, 41, will miss April after hernia surgery. Carlos Delgado, 35, has a hip problem. Both might be finished as productive players.

HEARSAY "Last year, basically three guys [Wright, Tom Glavine and Paul LoDuca] talked to the media," says a local reporter. "So Brian Schneider will help. He was a team leader in Washington." HOUSE CALL "I'm with Carlos Beltran in his war of words with Jimmy Rollins. Maybe it's because I was raised in the school yards of New York City, but a little trash-talk never hurt. I'd like to see the Mets have more fights this year." —Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.)

Kerry Wood is still nasty. But if he wants to keep the closer's job, he needs to prove his arm and bad back can withstand the workload..
Chicago will love Kosuke Fukudome. He can run, throw, take a pitch or hit it out. He's the perfect No. 2 hitter, but he might bat third, fifth or sixth in Lou Piniella's evolving lineup.
The O is one hitter short. And that guy is O's leadoff man Brian Roberts, whom the Cubs have been trying to pry away from Baltimore for months.
There's one No. 1 and four No. 4's. After ace Carlos Zambrano, the rotation doesn't scare anyone.
The 100-year drought ends this season.Okay, that's not a fact. But a palm tree that flowers once a century recently bloomed in Madagascar.

HEARSAY: "Lou is not going to let them rest," says an NL exec. "He'd love to make the Hall of Fame, and winning it all with the Cubs would put him in." HOUSE CALL: "In politics, I don't think anyone could survive a drought like the Cubs'. The Republicans didn't control the House for 40 years, but that ended in 1994." —Dan Lipinski (D-ILL.)

Diamondbacks | Rockies | Dodgers | Padres | Giants
1. ARIZONA DIAMOND BACKS JUST THE FACTS

Brandon Lyon is not Jos� Valverde. Lyon, who has 25 career saves, was chosen to close over Tony Pe�a because Pe�a can get flustered. The D-backs led baseball in one-run wins in '07, so the pressure is on Lyon.
Randy Johnson won't go away.To keep Johnson's back healthy, the D-backs wouldn't let the 44-year-old lefty do fielding drills or take BP this spring. He needs 16 wins for 300, and that will drive him to stay in shape.
The kids are alright. Chris Young, Stephen Drew and Justin Upton are well short of their offensive potential. That's scary for opponents.
Last year was a fluke. Arizona was 18 games over .500 despite being outscored by 20 runs. That's scary too.

HEARSAY "I don't know how they won last year," says an NL scout. "They brought up young guys and threw them right into the pennant race, which I thought was a mistake. But it worked. And now those young guys have been through the fire. Plus, their top two pitchers might be the best duo in the league." HOUSE CALL "They were miraculous last year. They did things no one thought they should have. The young players like Drew and Mark Reynolds add a lot of excitement and hustle to the game." —Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.)

editor.espnmag@gmail.com
Billing or subscription issues? Call 888-267-3684. Go here for change of address.

Buy This Cover

Oct 5, 2009

Mag: The rise of the Blackhawks

View This Issue
Subscribe Now